Skype coaching session, 10 January 2016. 

Recordings of some previous coaching sessions can be found at: 

http://www.open-aurec.com/Skype/PaulBenson/PaulBenson.htm 

Note:There is a supplementary game included this time. 

The following game was examined, the game 43 moves) is given with annotations and then again without annotations. There is a third section, a game annotated by Rod Macdonald and posted to the Blind-Chess email list on 30 December 2013. The original posting can be found at: 

http://www.freelists.org/post/blind-chess/Annotated-Game-166-David-Bronstein-Grigory-Levenfish-Leningrad-1946/ 

Paul Benson. 

* * * 

Annotated game. 

White: P. V. Dubinin. 
Black: S. N. Von Freeman. 
Event: USSR Championship 1934. 
Result: 0-1 in 43 moves. 
Opening: Semi-Slav Defence, Meran Variation, D48. 

1. d4 d5 
2. c4 c6 
3. Nc3 e6 

| The black c8 bishop is blocked in, but this is only temporary. || 

4. Nf3 Nf6 
5. e3 Nbd7 
6. Bd3 dxc4 

| the start of the black plan to expand on the queenside. In three more moves the c8 bishop will have a development option. || 

7. Bxc4 b5 
8. Bd3 a6 
9. e4 c5 
10. e5 

| White is prepared to offer a pawn for activity. Instead, 10 d5 c4, is a different way to handle the position. || 

10. ... cxd4 
11. Ne4 Nd5 

| Instead, 11. ... Ng4, bringing further pressure on the white e5 pawn is known. || 

12. O-O Bb7 

| Instead, 12. ... h6 13. a4 b4, with roughly equal chances. || 

13. Bg5 Qb6 

| Instead, 13. ... Qb8, is examined in the supplementary game in section 3 below, Bronstein - Levenfish, USSR, 1946. || 

14. a3 

| Perhaps the cautious, 14. Kh1, might be advisable, removing the king from the same diagonal as the black queen. Yes, there is material between the opposing monarchy but it is surprising how quickly such line-blockers can disappear. || 

14. ... h6 
15. Bd2 

| Black to play and find some inspiration. || 

15. ... Ne3 

| With only two pieces having any serious influence on the position black conjures up a tactic. It is all due to the white king and black queen being on the same diagonal. || 

16. fxe3 

| White must capture the black knight or lose an exchange. The alternative, 16. Bxe3 dxe3, does not give white the f-file activity as found in the game. If then, 17. fxe3 Qxe3+, and the only way to avoid losing the doubly attacked e4 knight is to retreat with, 18. Nf2. || 

16. ... dxe3 
17. Kh1 

| Avoiding the blunder, 17. Be1 e2+ 18. Bf2 exd1=Q, and black has two queens while white has none. White can not take both with one move, black is winning. || 

17. ... exd2 
18. Qxd2 Be7 

| White to play must quickly do something with the lead in development. || 

19. Qf4 

| The white queen has plans up the semi-open f-file. Black to play, for better or worse, picks up the gauntlet. || 

19. ... g5 

| White has five developed pieces in the centre / kingside, such a provocative move like this must surely receive an active response. || 

20. Nfxg5 

| A piece sacrifice to permit the white queen and rook battery up the f-file to attack the f7 pawn. || 

20. ... hxg5 

| Attempting to run away with, 20. ... O-O-O 21. Nxf7 Rdf8 22. Ned6+ Kb8 23. Bg6, is not particularly helpful. It would then be black who would have to justify the loss of a pawn. || 

21. Qxf7+ Kd8 
22. Qg7 Re8 

| Black has an extra piece but no coordination. It is going to take a few moves to unravel. White must press the advantage before it dissipates. || 

23. Nf6 

| This choice generates a dangerous-looking passed pawn. There were three other options to consider: 
^A^. Playing to increase general threats with, 23. Rad1, and leave black to find moves which cope with all the possibilities for white. It is not pleasant to have to calculate defences to cope with good lines for your opponent. 
^B^. Immediately increasing the pressure along the black 2nd rank with, 23. Rf7. This rook invasion pins the black e7 bishop to the d7 knight, there is now a strong threat of white, Nd6, winning material. Black has a move to spare, such as, 23. ... Bxe4, and after, 24. Bxe4 Rc8 25. Bg6, white is threatening to retreat the f7 rook which discovers an attack on the black rook defending the e7 bishop. 
^C^. 23. b4, fixing the black queenside pawns with the future intention of opening it up with a later, pawn a4, which will be assisted if the a1 rook remains unmoved. Even if this costs a pawn, the open lines against the black king will be of greater importance. This idea of trying to create open lines on the queenside might hint of desperation, but if nothing positive emerges on the kingside then another region of activity will be needed soon. || 

23. ... Nxf6 
24. exf6 Bd6 
25. f7 Rf8 

| The white f7 pawn is strong but cannot easily advance further. White has no dark square bishop or knight to dislodge the black f8 rook, which means it must be the g-pawn, a rook or the queen to break the black blockade. This will take much time to organise, a luxury black will not permit. Note how the black bishop pair on parallel diagonals are pointing into the white kingside, which when combined with the black queen on the b6 square, are severely restricting any escape attempts by the white king. || 

26. Rad1 Kc7 

| Black takes time to ensure king safety before making plans of putting the extra piece to work. White does not have a sensible plan other than to promote the f7 pawn, which is going nowhere fast. || 

27. Be2 Rad8 
28. Qxg5 Kb8 
29. h3 

| Perhaps white could have tried pushing the h-pawn all the way to the h7 square. Once there, the threat is, Qg8, followed by, pawn h8=Q. Black dare not capture, Rxg8, as white will capture with a promotion. This white plan is slow, but what else is there to try? || 

29. ... Bd5 

| Further consolidation and also blocking the d-file from any future white rook invasions. || 

30. Rc1 Rd7 

| Subtle. Black could challenge the white c1 rook with, 30. ... Rc8, but wishes the challenge to be made from the black 2nd rank for a good reason. || 

31. Bh5 Ka7 
32. Qd2 Rc7 
33. Rxc7+ Bxc7 

| The point of placing the black rook on the 2nd rank is revealed. Black uses the rook trade on c7 to re-locate the d6 bishop such that a powerful threat against the white king is now available. || 

34. Qf2 

| Sadly necessary. Black was threatening, 34. ... Qd6, with a very powerful invasion on the h2 square. White can only prevent this at the cost of queens being removed, definitely not favourable for white when a piece down. || 

34. ... Qxf2 
35. Rxf2 Bg3 
36. Rd2 Kb6 

| The black king enters the game. In contrast, the white king will struggle to influence matters. In essence, black is a king up. Note carefully how black now uses the bishop pair to gain territory. It might be tempting to think of either advancing the passed e6 pawn or finding a means of removing the dangerous white f7 pawn. While either plan might work, they are not the most efficient means of finishing the game. The latter plan of winning the white f7 pawn requires the black move, Bxf7, which releases the pin on the white g2 pawn, which in turn means the passed white kingside pawns will be allowed to advance with assistance from the white king. Black should be able to contain such advances, but why put oneself to such unnecessary work? || 

37. Rd3 Be5 
38. b4 Kc6 
39. Kg1 Bc4 

| The white rook must play carefully now. || 

40. Rf3 

| Perhaps time trouble? It was necessary to play, 40. Rd2, but then black makes life difficult again for the white king with, 40. ... Bg3, which then gives black time to advance the e-pawn. || 

40. ... Be2 

| Trapping the unhappy white rook. If, 41. Re3 Bd4, wins an exchange and while the white king can join in, it will not be compensation for being a rook down. || 

41. Kf2 Bxf3 
42. Kxf3 Bb2 
43. Ke4 Kd6 
White resigns, 0-1 

* * * 

## Unannotated game. 

White: P. V. Dubinin. 
Black: S. N. Von Freeman. 
Event: USSR Championship 1934. 
Result: 0-1 in 43 moves. 
Opening: Semi-Slav Defence, Meran Variation, D48. 

1. d4 d5 
2. c4 c6 
3. Nc3 e6 
4. Nf3 Nf6 
5. e3 Nbd7 
6. Bd3 dxc4 
7. Bxc4 b5 
8. Bd3 a6 
9. e4 c5 
10. e5 cxd4 
11. Ne4 Nd5 
12. O-O Bb7 
13. Bg5 Qb6 
14. a3 h6 
15. Bd2 Ne3 
16. fxe3 dxe3 
17. Kh1 exd2 
18. Qxd2 Be7 
19. Qf4 g5 
20. Nfxg5 hxg5 
21. Qxf7+ Kd8 
22. Qg7 Re8 
23. Nf6 Nxf6 
24. exf6 Bd6 
25. f7 Rf8 
26. Rad1 Kc7 
27. Be2 Rad8 
28. Qxg5 Kb8 
29. h3 Bd5 
30. Rc1 Rd7 
31. Bh5 Ka7 
32. Qd2 Rc7 
33. Rxc7+ Bxc7 
34. Qf2 Qxf2 
35. Rxf2 Bg3 
36. Rd2 Kb6 
37. Rd3 Be5 
38. b4 Kc6 
39. Kg1 Bc4 
40. Rf3 Be2 
41. Kf2 Bxf3 
42. Kxf3 Bb2 
43. Ke4 Kd6 
White resigns, 0-1 

* * * 

## Annotated game 166 by Rod Macdonald. 

| Note: This is game 166 of 200 Annotated Games from Rod Macdonald. How to find the other 199 games is given below this game. This game was posted to the Blind-Chess email list on 30 December 2013. The original posting can be found at: 

http://www.freelists.org/post/blind-chess/Annotated-Game-166-David-Bronstein-Grigory-Levenfish-Leningrad-1946/ 

where the complete article can be found. This includes biographies of the players as well as the game. || 

15th USSR Championship Semi-Final. 
Leningrad 1946, Round 15. 
White: David Bronstein. 
Black: Grigory Levenfish. 
Result 1-0. 
ECO: D49 - Queen's Gambit Declined, Semi-Slav Variation, Meran System, Classical Variation. 
Notes by R.J. Macdonald. 

1. d4 d5 
2. Nf3 Nf6 
3. c4 c6 

| Transposing into the Queen's Gambit Declined. This would be the Slav Defense were it not for subsequent moves that transpose into the Semi-Slav. || 

4. e3 e6 

| The Semi-Slav Variation. || 

5. Bd3 

| The Meran System. || 

5. ... dxc4 
6. Bxc4 Nbd7 
7. Nc3 b5 
8. Bd3 a6 
9. e4 

| White can retain a slim edge after either 
^A^ 9. a4 Bb7 10. 0-0 b4 11. Ne4 c5 12. Nxf6+ Qxf6 13. Qe2 h6 14. Rd1 Bd6 15.Bc4; or 
^B^ 9. 0-0 c5 10. a4 b4 11. Ne4 Bb7 12. Nxf6+ Qxf6 13. Qe2 h6 14. Rd1 Bd6 15. Bc4. || 

9. ... c5 

| The Pirc Variation continues with 9. ... b4. White can retain a slight advantage after 10. e5 bxc3 11. exf6 cxb2 12. fxg7 Bxg7 13. Bxb2 Qa5+ 14. Kf1 c5 15. Ng5 Rf8 16. Qh5 Nf6 17. Qf3 Rb8 18. Bc3 Qa3 19. Rd1. || 

10. e5 

| The Classical Variation. Also possible is 10. d5, and then 
^A^ 10. ... Bb7 11. 0-0 c4 12. dxe6 fxe6 13. Bc2 Bc5 14. Ng5 Qe7 15. Qf3 b4, with equal chances; or 
^B^ 10. ... c4 11. Bc2 e5 12. 0-0 Bd6 13. Qe2 0-0 14. h3 Bb7 15. Bd2 Rc8 16. Rfc1, also with equality. || 

10. ... cxd4 
11. Ne4 Nd5 
12. 0-0 

| 12. a4 Qc7 13. axb5 Nxe5 14. Nxe5 Qxe5 15. 0-0 Nb4 16. bxa6 Nxd3 17. Qxd3 Bxa6 18. Rxa6 Rxa6 offers equal chances. || 

12. ... Bb7 

| 12. ... h6 13. a4 b4 14. Bc4 Bb7 15. Qxd4 Qb6 16. Rd1 Rc8 17. a5 Qxd4 18. Rxd4 Nc5 19. Nd6+ Bxd6 20. exd6 0-0 21. Bd2 Rfd8 22. Rc1 Rxd6 23. Bxb4 Rdc6 24. Bxd5 exd5 25. Rxd5 Rg6 26. Nh4 Bxd5 27. Nxg6 1/2-1/2 in 44 moves, as in the game V. Korchnoi (2645) - B. Gelfand (2700), Madrid 1996. 
Also possible is 12. ... Qc7 13. a4 Nxe5 14. Nxe5 Qxe5 15. f4 Qc7 16. axb5 Nb4 17. bxa6, with equal chances. || 

13. Bg5 

| White threatens to win material: Bg5xd8. 13. a4 b4 14. a5 Be7 15. Bc4 Nc3 16. bxc3 Bxe4 17. cxd4 0-0 18. Qe2 Qc7 19. Qxe4 Qxc4 20. Bg5 Nc5 21. Qb1 Bxg5 22. Nxg5 Nd3 23. Rd1 h6 24. Nh3 Qxd4 25. Qxd3 Qxe5 1-0, as in the game Li Wenliang (2443) - M. Novikov (2489), Moscow 2006. || 

13. ... Qb8 

| 13. ... Qb6 14. a4 
^ 14. a3 h6 15. Bd2 Ne3 16. fxe3 dxe3 17. Kh1 exd2 18. Qxd2 Be7 19. Qf4 g5 20. Nfxg5 hxg5 21. Qxf7+ Kd8 22. Qg7 Re8 23. Nf6 Nxf6 24. exf6 Bd6 25. f7 Rf8 26. Rad1 Kc7 27. Be2 Rad8 28. Qxg5 Kb8 0-1 in 43 moves, as in the game P. Dubinin - S. Freiman, Leningrad 1934 ^^ 
14. ... bxa4 15. Qxa4 Nb4 16. Bb1 d3 17. Nfd2 Bc6 18. Qd1 Nxe5 19. Kh1 Qb7 20. f4 Nd7 21. f5 Bxe4 22. Nxe4 Qxe4 23. fxe6 fxe6 24. Qd2 Bd6 25. Ba2 Nxa2 26. Rxa2 Qe5 0-1, as in the game A. Kaptsan (2210) - M. Styler, Philadelphia 1993. 
13. ... Qb6 14. Rc1 h6 15. Bh4 slightly favors black. || 

14. a4 

| The position is now even. Inferior is 14. Nxd4 Qxe5 15. Nb3 N5f6 16. Bxf6 Nxf6 17. Nxf6+ Qxf6 with a strong advantage for black. || 

14. ... Nxe5 

| 14. ... Nb4!? is worthy of consideration: 15. Bf4 f5 16. Nd6+ Bxd6 17. exd6 0-0 slightly favors black. || 

15. Nxe5 

| White now has a slight edge. Weaker is 15. Nxd4 h6 16. Bh4 Nxd3 17. Qxd3 Qf4 18. Nxb5 Qxh4 19. Nbd6+ Bxd6 20. Nxd6+ Ke7 with a solid advantage for black. || 

15. ... Qxe5 
16. axb5 a5 

| White has a new passed pawn: b5. || 

17. f4 

| White threatens to win material: f4xe5. || 

17. ... Qb8 

| 17. ... Qc7 18. f5 e5 19. f6 gives white a slight advantage. || 

18. f5 

| White now has a slight advantage. White has a king attack. || 

Key Move Diagram: 
rq2kb1r/ 
1b3ppp/ 
4p3/ 
pP1n1PB1/ 
3pN3/ 
3B4/ 
1P4PP/ 
R2Q1RK1. 
Position after white's 18th move. 

18. ... Qe5?? 

| 18. ... h6 was a better possibility: 19. Qh5 e5 leads to equality. || 

19. b6 

| White's position is now very strong. || 

19. ... Bd6 
20. Nxd6+ Qxd6 
21. fxe6 f6 
22. Qh5+ Kd8 
23. Bh4 Qxe6 

| 23. ... g5 24. Bf2 Nf4 is also very strong for white. || 

24. Rae1 Ne3 

| 24. ... Qxb6 doesn't get the cat off the tree: 25. Qf7 Qc7 26. Rxf6 Qxf7 27. Rxf7+ g5 28. Bxg5+ Kc8 29. Be4 is very strong for white. || 

25. Qc5 Qd5 

| 25. ... Ke8 in desperation: 26. Qxd4 Rd8 27. Qxe3 Qxe3+ 28. Rxe3+ Kf7 is decisive for white. || 

26. Qc7+ Ke8 
27. Qxg7 

| 27. Rf3 Qf7 28. Rexe3+ dxe3 29. Rxe3+ Be4 30. Rxe4+ Kf8 31. Qd6+ Kg8 32. b7 Rb8 33. Qxb8+ Qe8 34. Qxe8#. || 

27. ... Rf8 

| 27. ... Qxg2+ is a last effort to resist the inevitable, but 28. Qxg2 Bxg2 is still decisive for white. || 

Key Move Diagram: 
r3kr2/ 
1b4Qp/ 
1P3p2/ 
p2q4/ 
3p3B/ 
3Bn3/ 
1P4PP/ 
4RRK1. 
Position after black's 27th move. 

28. Bb5+!! 

| Deflection: b5. || 

28. ... Bc6 

| 28. ... Qxb5 29. Qxb7 Deflection. || 

29. Bxc6+ 

| 29. Rxf6 Qxg2+ 30. Qxg2 Rxf6 31. Bxf6 Kf7 32. Qg7+ Ke6 33. Qe7+ Kf5 34. Bd3+ Be4 35. Qe5+ Kg6 36. Bxe4+ Nf5 37. Qxf5+ Kf7 38. Bd5+ Kf8 39. Bxd4#. || 

29. ... Qxc6 

| White has a decisive advantage. || 

30. Bxf6 Rf7 
31. Qg8+ Rf8 
32. Qg5 Kd7 
33. Rf2 

| 33. Qg7+ Ke6 34. Rxe3+ dxe3 35. Qe7+ Kd5 36. Qe5+ Kc4 37. b3+ Kb4 38. Rf4+ Qc4 39. Rxc4+ Kxb3 40. Qb5+ Ka2 41. Ra4#. || 

33. ... Qxb6 

| 33. ... Rg8 praying for a miracle, but 34. Bg7 Qd5 35. Qxd5+ Nxd5 is still decisive for white. || 

34. Qg7+ Kc6 
35. Bxd4 Rxf2 
36. Bxe3 

| 36. Qh6+ Kd7 37. Bxb6 Rf1+ 38. Rxf1 Nxf1 39. Qxh7+ Kd6 40. Qc7+ Kd5 41. Qc5+ Ke4 42. Kxf1 Kf4 43. Bc7+ Kg4 44. h3+ Kh4 45. g3+ Kxh3 46. Qh5#. || 

36. ... Qxb2 
37. Rc1+ Kb5 

| 37. ... Qxc1+ ^ there is nothing better in the position ^^ 38. Bxc1 Raf8 39. Qc3+ Kb7 40. Qb3+ Kc6 41. Qc4+ Kd7 42. Qd5+ Kc8 43. Qa8+ Kc7 44. Qxa5+ Kc6 45. Qa6+ Kc7 46. Qc4+ Kd7 and white should win easily. || 

38. Qb7+ 

| 38. Qd7+ Kb4 39. Bc5+ Kb3 40. Qb5+ Ka2 41. Qa4+ Qa3 42. Qxa3#. || 

38. ... Ka4 
39. Rc4+ 

| 39. Qc6+ Ka3 40. Bc5+ Qb4 41. Bxb4+ axb4 42. Qxa8+ Kb3 43. Kxf2 h5 44. Qc6 Ka3 45. Rb1 b3 46. Ra1+ Kb2 47. Qc1#. || 

39. ... Ka3 
40. Bc1 

| Black resigned in view of 40. ... Rd8 41. Bxb2+ Rxb2 42. Rc3+ Ka2 43. Qf7+ Rd5 44. Qxd5+ Kb1 45. Qd3+ Ka1 46. Ra3+ Ra2 47. Qd1+ Kb2 48. Rb3#. || 

Black resigns, 1-0 

* * * 

## How to find games posted by Rod Macdonald to Blind-Chess. 

#1. Visit the Freelists Blind-Chess archive at: 

http://www.freelists.org/archive/blind-chess/ 

#2. Game 001 appears in September 2010, 09/2010, at: 

http://www.freelists.org/archive/blind-chess/09-2010/ 

#3. Work forward in time to find the rest of the games published each week except for the occasional break. 

* * * 
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