Skype coaching session, 05 June 2016. 

Notes: 
The Benjamin - Kramer game, English Opening A29, posted to various lists on 04 July was for the coaching session of 15 May. The reported coaching session date of 08 May inside the email is incorrect and should instead read, 15 May 2016. 
There were no coaching sessions on 22 May and 29 May 2016. 

Recordings of some previous coaching sessions can be found at: 

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

The following game was examined, the game 30 moves) is given with annotations and then again without annotations. 

Paul Benson. 

* * * 

Annotated game. 

White: Carlsen, 2844. 
Black: Tomashevsky, 2728. 
Event: Tata Steel, Wijk aan Zee 2016. 
Result: 1-0 in 30 moves. 
Opening: London System, Indian Game, A46. 

1. d4 Nf6 
2. Nf3 e6 
3. Bf4 b6 

| With the fianchetto of the black c8 bishop we enter into the variation known as the Indian Game within the London System. || 

4. e3 Bb7 

| If black tries to eliminate the white f4 bishop with, 4. ... Nh5, white could try, 5. Ne5 Nxf4 6. Qf3, attacking both the black f4 knight and the a8 rook. Black has three replies: 
(A). If, 6. ... Nd5 7. Qxf7+ is mate. 
(B). The greedy, 6. ... Nxg2+ 7. Bxg2, leaves black with the threatened mate on f7 and the a8 rook still hangs. 
(C). Black closes the h1 - a8 diagonal with, 6. ... d5. after which, 7. Qxf4, gives white a slight lead in development. || 

5. h3 

| Giving white the option to retreat with, Bh2, if desired. || 

5. ... Be7 
6. Bd3 O-O 
7. O-O c5 

| A different plan for black is, pawn d6, Nbd7, as preparation to a central challenge with, pawn c5. || 

8. c3 

| White supports the d4 pawn, anticipating a possible, pawn e4, advance once development is complete. || 

8. ... Nc6 
9. Nbd2 d5 

| A decision containing a balance of pluses and minuses. The d5 pawn supports a possible, Ne4, advance and also gives black an option to exchange the white e-pawn should it advance to the e4 square. The d5 pawn does however close down much of the activity of the b7 bishop. Instead, pawn d6, allows the b7 bishop to have central activity but does not fight for control of the e4 square. Which is the better plan for black? Wrong question. It would be more accurate to ask what type of game suits your style of play? The pawn on d5 is aiming to restrict white while the pawn on d6 will permit white central activity which can then be counter-attacked. It is all a question of recognising which style of play suits you and arranging your pawn formation as required. || 

10. Qe2 Bd6 

| Grand Master confuses Grand Rabbit. There might be a sound reason for this bishop taking two moves to challenge the white f4 bishop, but it is not so obvious from my humble burrow. || 

11. Rfe1 

| White prefers to keep the tension. If, 11. Bxd6 Qxd6 12. e4 dxe4 13. Nxe4 Nxe4 14. Qxe4 f5 15. Qe3 cxd4 16. cxd4 Rf6, with roughly equal chances. Instead, 11. Bg5 Be7, seems to gain white nothing. || 

11. ... Ne7 

| Black introduces a new move to theory. This knight is heading kingside with the intention to strengthen the defences. Instead, 11. ... Bxf4 12. exf4 cxd4 13. Nxd4 Nxd4 14. cxd4 Qd6 15. Qe3 Rac8, and while the white d3 bishop has better prospects than the black b7 bishop, black has some play. || 

12. Rad1 

| It is only move twelve and the d-file is looking rather cluttered with seven units on it. These apparent blockages can quickly be removed if needed. Perhaps come back in another twelve moves and matters might have improved. || 

12. ... Ng6 

| Forcing white to make a decision about the f4 bishop. Instead, 12. ...Bxf4 13. exf4 Qc7, would be less troubling for black. Take some time here to find the correct strategic plan for white. || 

13. Bxg6 

| Not an easy move for some players to play. The light square bishop is the attacking piece in the Colle, London or Zukertort systems which white wishes to keep on the board to be part of a kingside attack. White is exchanging the d3 bishop in order to achieve a totally different strategic advantage. Take some time here to work out just what positional gain white is now about to establish over the next two moves. || 

13. ... hxg6 
14. Bxd6 Qxd6 
15. Ne5 

| A potential ending of white knight against black light square bishop, with or without queens or rooks, is on the horizon. With quite a few black pawns on light squares the knight will have better prospects than the bishop. || 

15. ... g5 

| Preventing white from strengthening the e5 knight with, pawn f4. White to play finds a dynamic option which sets off dangerous complications resulting in black falling into time trouble. || 

16. f4 

| Just when it seemed white was settling for a positional squeeze of good knight against poor bishop. Again, take some time here to consider how white might reply after black makes the forced pawn trade on the f4 square. || 

16. ... gxf4 

| Here is a golden opportunity for you to draw on all your chess inspiration and play like a World Champion. Take as much time as you like here to find the next white move. || 

17. Rf1 

| White is offering a pawn for a strong kingside initiative where all the tactical gains will be for white. Instead, 17. exf4 cxd4 18. cxd4 Rac8, would give black a relatively comfortable game. || 

17. ... Nd7 

| Black correctly decides the white e5 knight must be eliminated if possible. Instead, 17. fxe3 18. Rxf6, creates complications, all of the white pieces are ready for a kingside invasion. A sample continuation to show some of the dangers is, 18. ... gxf6 19. Qg4+ Kh8 20. Qh4+ Kg7 21. Ng4 Qd8 22. Qh6+ Kg8 23. Nxf6+, and black must give up the queen to avoid mate, with white still having the option of a rook transfer of, Rf1, Rf3, Rg3+, creating further havoc. In the game position white must avoid losing a pawn to the black capture, Nxe5. || 

18. Qh5 Nf6 

| More precise would have been, 18. ... cxd4 19. Nxd7 Qxd7 20. cxd4. Black could then relieve some of the kingside threats with, 20. ... f6, after which, 21. Rxf4, and white would have some play but nothing decisive. Instead, 18. ... Nxe5 19. dxe5 Qd8 20. Rf3, intending to double rooks with, Rdf1, and then invade up the h-file with, Rh3, would give the black king very serious problems. || 

19. Qh4 Qd8 

| Black is now short of time and decides to trade queens to relieve the kingside pressure. Perhaps with more time black might have considered, 19. ... Nh7, when white can have a comfortable game with, 20. exf4. If white wishes to still push on the kingside there is, 20. Rxf4, but black can defend with the risky looking, 20. ... g5, when, 21. Rg4 f6 22. Nf3 Qc7, and black seems to be hanging on. || 

20. Rxf4 

| The position is now critical for black. There is a saving idea available but while the move itself is not difficult to consider, the reason why it will avoid future difficulties is not obvious to someone short of time. || 

20. ... Ne4 

| Heading for an ending to avoid kingside mating threats. This idea is correct but black has not appreciated how holding back the simplification for a move was necessary. Black had to first alter the central pawn formation with, 20. ... cxd4, keeping the d-file closed from a potential white invasion. White could then play simply with, 21. exf3 Ne4, and black can follow up with, pawn f5, or white can go for complications with, 21. Rdf1. Black must then find, 21. ... Nh7, which offers defensive resources. Instead after, 21. Rdf1 dxe3, going for material seems to create serious problems. One sample continuation is, 22. Rxf6 exd2 23. Ng4, intending, 24. Nh6+, with a mating attack. 

Now white in the game has a forcing sequence to gain a winning ending. || 

21. Nxe4 Qxh4 
22. Rxh4 dxe4 
23. dxc5 

| Had black earlier altered the central pawn formation with, cxd4, then this line-opening white capture would not have been available. || 

23. ... bxc5 
24. Rd7 

| A rook on the 7th rank is usually considered advantageous, but here the white d7 rook is totally dominating the black position. The b7 bishop is attacked, the f8 rook is now tied down to defending the f7 pawn, and if the black bishop moves then the a7 pawn is vulnerable. || 

24. ... Rab8 

| White to play and keep everything under control. Take some time to consider the changes which have occurred over the last five moves, especially with regard to the pawn structure. || 

25. b3 

| White is containing any black queenside activity before mopping up the vulnerable black queenside pawns. || 

25. ... a5 

| Black must create weaknesses in the white queenside pawn structure which might offer chances for activity for the b8 rook. Instead, 25. ... f6, trying to kick out the strong white knight falls into, 26. Ng6 Rf7 27. Rh8+ mate. || 

26. Rc7 a4 

| Instead seeking activity with, 26. ... Rfd8, allows 27. Rh8+ Kxh8 28. Nxf7+ Kg8 29. Nxd8, hitting the b7 bishop. If then, 29. ... Bd5 30. c4 Ba8 31. Nxe6 a4 32. Nxc5 axb3 33. axb3 Rc8 34. Ra7, clearly winning for white. || 

27. bxa4 Ba8 
28. a5 Rb7 

| Instead, 28. ... Rb2 29. Rxc5 Rxa2 30. Rf4, intending to transfer this rook either to the b-file or d-file, when the two extra white queenside pawns will eventually cost black at least a piece. || 

29. Rxc5 Ra7 
30. Nc4 
Black resigns, 1-0 

| There is no specific threat here. It is instead a miserable position for black combined with almost no time on the clock which leads to the decision to end the suffering. Here is just one strategic plan amongst many of how the win could be achieved. White can take the time to transfer the h4 rook into the queenside, perhaps the b6 square beckons, which will allow the advance, pawn a6. After that the c4 knight can transfer to the b5 square, followed by a, pawn a7, advance. Once this pawn hits the 7th rank the combined efforts of the two white rooks and knight can force the material-winning promotion of the a-pawn. || 

* * * 

## Unannotated game. 

White: Carlsen, 2844. 
Black: Tomashevsky, 2728. 
Event: Tata Steel, Wijk aan Zee 2016. 
Result: 1-0 in 30 moves. 
Opening: London System, Indian Game, A46. 

1. d4 Nf6 
2. Nf3 e6 
3. Bf4 b6 
4. e3 Bb7 
5. h3 Be7 
6. Bd3 O-O 
7. O-O c5 
8. c3 Nc6 
9. Nbd2 d5 
10. Qe2 Bd6 
11. Rfe1 Ne7 
12. Rad1 Ng6 
13. Bxg6 hxg6 
14. Bxd6 Qxd6 
15. Ne5 g5 
16. f4 gxf4 
17. Rf1 Nd7 
18. Qh5 Nf6 
19. Qh4 Qd8 
20. Rxf4 Ne4 
21. Nxe4 Qxh4 
22. Rxh4 dxe4 
23. dxc5 bxc5 
24. Rd7 Rab8 
25. b3 a5 
26. Rc7 a4 
27. bxa4 Ba8 
28. a5 Rb7 
29. Rxc5 Ra7 
30. Nc4 
Black resigns, 1-0 

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