Skype coaching session, 26 June 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 by Chris Ross, the game 41 moves) is given with annotations and then again without annotations. 

Paul Benson. 

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Annotated game. 

White: Chris Ross (Drunken Knights 2), 2202. 
Black: John Emms (Wood Green), 2467. 
Event: Central London League, 2015-16. 
Result: 0-1 in 41 moves. 
Opening: Sicilian Defence, Rossolimo Variation, B31. 

1. e4 c5 
2. Nf3 Nc6 
3. Bb5 

| Played with the intention to trade with, Bxc6, if black permits. || 

3. ... g6 

| So black is willing to allow the suggested, Bxc6, trade. Instead, 3. ... Nd4, is a less usual option here. A more recent innovation to avoid the trade is the rather strange-looking, 3. ... Na5, with the plan of expanding with, pawn a6, and, pawn b5, and then retreating the edgy knight with, Nc6. Perhaps a more sober approach of, 3. ... Qc7, or, 3. ... Qb6, is preferable to some players. The game choice is a challenge of philosophies. White wishes to trade pieces on the c6 square for a positional gain while black is happy to be given the bishop pair so early in the game. || 

4. Bxc6 

| There she goes. The minor piece trade of a bishop for a knight has lasting consequences. The player trading with the bishop no longer has the bishop pair, which could lead to weaknesses on the 32 squares of that colour as the game proceeds. Such weaknesses can be exploited in a middlegame melee of tactics or a subtlety of squeezing in an endgame. Ah, but such coins have two sides, you know. It is not simply the minor pieces remaining in play which determines who will achieve an advantage. A very important cofactor is the pawn structures around which the minor pieces must manoeuvre. Pawns can restrict the activity of minor pieces. Pieces and pawns must live in harmony with each other. If they do not work harmoniously then prospects will begin to deteriorate. || 

4. ... bxc6 

| The alternative, 4. ... dxc6, is equally playable. If so, white should reply with, 5. h3, preventing a pin with, Bg4, on the white f3 knight. Some players with the black pieces prefer to keep the option of a future central break of, pawn d5, available, or to fight for control of the centre with, pawn d6. Which recapture is better? Neither really. It is more a question of how middlegames proceed which should determine whether you capture toward or away from the centre, so study sample games and choose accordingly. || 

5. d3 

| A double purpose move. Firstly, black must not be allowed at any point to play, pawn c4, removing the advanced c-pawn from the c5 square where it often becomes a target. Furthermore, for white to develop the c1 bishop there must be a pawn move with either of the b2 or d2 pawns, which would immediately allow black to exchange off the doubled c-pawn should it be permitted to land on the c4 square. Secondly, white has given up the light square bishop and so now needs to strengthen the light squares. This policy dictates placing pawns on the light squares combined with a demand bordering on dogma, that black must not be allowed to exchange the light square c8 bishop for a knight somewhere. That is the general plan for the opening and middlegame to come, but there is always the exception to the "rule" to be kept in mind. Should that lurking black c8 bishop become too powerful as the game proceeds then the pragmatic approach of eliminating it with a knight can be considered. || 

5. ... Bg7 
6. O-O d6 

| The apparently active, 6. ... d5, does not really help black. White can reply with, 7. c3, and as the game proceeds the black c5 pawn can be targetted with minor pieces. || 

7. h3 


| White must not allow black to play, 7. ... Bg4, which will be followed with, Bxf3, when convenient for black. When white chose the plan to exchange bishop for knight on the c6 square there was a long-term plan in mind. As crazy as it might appear here, an endgame of single white knight against single black light square bishop would be the ideal strategic conclusion. The white knight would then be hoping to hop around the board trying to take advantage of being able to transfer from one colour-complex to the other while the c8 bishop is stranded on the light squares. Any black pawn weaknesses, in particular the isolated a-pawn, would be targets for probing and shuffling. Such endgames are not automatically won for white, but instead a stern test of the defensive resources of black. Players continually under pressure can eventually make mistakes. Ah, but it is still only move 7, isn't it? Yes, we have a long way to go before that imagined endgame can emerge, with a lot of middlegame manoeuvring to be negotiated first. || 

7. ... e5 

| Surely breaking all the rules of handling fianchetto bishops? How is the black g7 bishop going to contribute to the middlegame now? Simple. Black is beginning to take control of the position, in particular a kingside assault with both the g-pawn and f-pawn is planned. White must find some play somewhere on the board. The queenside and centre seem devoid of prospects, so white must find play on the kingside. The only pawn break is with, pawn f4, and black will gladly capture this white pawn which gives life back to the g7 bishop. There is a deeper reason for black choosing, pawn e5, here. The plan is to play, pawn h6, controlling the g5 square, play, Be6, Ne7, O-O, and then think about kingside expansion. Well that is the theory, let's find out if it works in actuality. || 

8. Nc3 Ne7 
9. Nh2 

| The knight is retreating to allow the f-pawn to advance. || 

9. ... Rb8 

| Creating a minor annoyance. White cannot give the b2 pawn away and so in order to develop the c1 bishop time must be taken first to defend b2. || 

10. Rb1 

| The simplest solution. White is still planning a, pawn f4, break, so removing the a1 rook from the h8 - a1 diagonal is sensible, avoiding any tactical problems before they could arise. || 

10. ... O-O 
11. f4 exf4 

| Black should not give white the opportunity to fix the centre with, 12. fxe5 dxe5, after which the black c5 pawn would become a target to the plan of, Be3, and, Na4. || 

12. Bxf4 

| White must not blunder into, 12. Rxf4 Bxc3, and black wins a piece since the white rook on b1 is unprotected and the b2 pawn is pinned by the black b8 rook. Note that the white bishop on f4 has now created a pin on the black d6 pawn and while not relevant yet, a white knight on the a4 square would set up, Nxc5, taking advantage of this pin. || 

12. ... h6 

| A double purpose move. White might have tried for the plan of removing dark square bishops with, Qd2, Bh6, and Bxg7. Placing a pawn on h6 occupies the square, so if now, 13. Qd2, black has, 13. ... Kh7, foiling the white plan. The h6 pawn also supports the space-gaining, pawn g5, advance, the beginning of the black kingside attack. || 

13. Na4 

| With the immediate threat of, 14. Nxc5, winning a pawn since, 14. ... dxc5 15. Bxb8, costs black an exchange. White also now has a slower plan of, pawn b3, Nb2, and, Nc4, winning the black d6 pawn. Black must respond actively to stop these threats becoming reality. || 

13. ... g5 

| Putting the question to the white bishop - Which diagonal is the better location? || 

14. Bd2 

| The bishop retreats to the d2 square with the intention of moving, Bc3, in order to exchange dark square bishops up the a1 - h8 diagonal. Instead, 14. Bg3, trying to keep the tactic against the black c5 pawn falls into, 14. ... f5, when the intended, 15. Nxc5, loses a piece to, 15. ... f4, breaking the pin and white has two pieces attacked. Similarly, 14. Bg3 f5 15. exf5 Nxf5, and the g3 bishop cannot remain on the g3 square. || 

14. ... Be6 
15. b3 f5 

| The black kingside campaign is gaining momentum. As the middlegame proceeds there will of course be piece exchanges and that hoped-for endgame of single white knight against single black light square bishop becomes nearer. The black queenside pawn formation still has weaknesses to be exploited. Black must keep the middlegame going for as long as possible. || 

16. Bc3 Ng6 

| The black knight makes full use of the vacated g6 square, hoping to claim an excellent outpost for itself on the e5 square. || 

17. Bxg7 Kxg7 
18. exf5 

| White dare not allow black to further expand with, pawn f4, which will surely be followed with black establishing the knight on the e5 square, well placed to support a strong pawn storm against the white king. || 

18. ... Bxf5 
19. d4 

| White does not wish black to have a knight on the e5 square and this is the only sensible means to prevent this plan. || 

19. ... c4 

| Black seizes the opportunity to eliminate the weakness of the doubled c-pawns. || 

20. Qd2 

| The tactics work in favour of black. If, 20. bxc4 Qa5, black will generate good play. White cannot defend the attacked a4 knight with, 21. c3 Bxb1, as black wins a rook. Or, 20. bxc4 Qa5 21. Nb2 Qxa2, and white is on the defensive. || 

20. ... cxb3 
21. axb3 

| The opposing pawn formations clearly favour white. The two pawn islands against three will offer white good chances for a squeeze in an endgame. Black needs to avoid unnecessary piece exchanges and instead seek tactical complexity over on the kingside. || 

21. ... Nf4 

| The black minor pieces are ganging up on the white kingside pawns. At the moment there are no tactical shots which work, but white must now spend time calculating on each move if replies such as, Nxg2, or, Nxh3+, or, Bxh3, will dismantle the defences. || 

22. Rbe1 Qd7 

| Reinforcing the need for white to analyse on each move whether the tactics involving, Nxg2, or, Nxh3+, or, Bxh3, work for black. Continually having to calculate the consequences of such interesting ideas for the opponent is both tiring and unpleasant. || 

23. h4 

| A double-edged idea. White is intending to reduce the kingside pawn cover to one pawn each, again all part of the plan of creating pawn weaknesses to be exploited in an endgame. The downside of this advance is that when the h-file becomes open it is only black who will have the opportunity to make use of it. The battle of striving for the endgame versus maintaining the middlegame is about to hot up. || 

23. ... Rbe8 

| It might appear that black is simply challenging for control of the e-file. Not so, there is a black plan which must be immediately prevented. || 

24. Nc3 

| Stopping black from increasing the minor piece kingside pressure with, 24. ... Be4. Black is unperturbed at losing one idea and sets about finding another plan of action for the light square bishop. || 

24. ... Bg6 

| The bishop is now aiming to control light squares on the h5 - d1 diagonal. The black f8 rook has also been offered some influence up the f-file. The tactical opportunities are about to emerge. || 

25. hxg5 hxg5 

| The black f4 knight is temporarily immobilised, if it moves then the isolated and potentially vulnerable black g5 pawn will be captured by the white queen. || 

26. Rf2 

| Each player now has about two minutes remaining to complete 30 moves. White should have challenged the well-placed black f4 knight with, 26. Ne2. There was however some very murky tricks then on offer for black with, 26. ... Nxg2 27. Kxg2 Be4+, and white would need to have the courage to charge into the attack with, 28. Kg3. In the cold light of day, a cup of coffee at your side and 15 minutes or so at your disposal, then perhaps white will just be a piece up. The players had none of the just-mentioned luxuries and so white avoided the complexities on the grounds a Grand Master would find something if it is there to be found. 

When playing, 26. Rf2, white was trying to consolidate the kingside and keep matters under control. Difficult as it might seem, this defensive rook lift could be named as the losing move. So just where is the killer blow? There is no immediate crush here, it is just that the black forces can keep probing and shuffling around making threat after threat until the white defences become tangled. It requires good technique to take the full point from this position, but then again there is a Grand Master in control of the black forces. || 

26. ... Rxe1+ 
27. Qxe1 Re8 
28. Qd2 Bh5 

| Black is anticipating the white plan of, Nf3, to be followed with, Nxg5, undermining the defences to the black f4 knight. || 

29. Nf3 

| Instead attempting to fight for the e-file with a re-routing of the f2 rook with, Rf1, and, Re1, is too slow. After, 29. Rf1 Ne2+ 30. Kh1 Ng3+, white loses an exchange. An alternate line is, 29. Rf1 Ne2+ 30. Nxe2 Rxe2, and white will find defending the g2 pawn will be a problem. || 

29. ... Bxf3 

| So the potential endgame of single white knight against single black bishop disappears. Still, black does have three pawn islands against the white two, surely a plus for white? Correct, however there is the little problem of trading off the queens to be organised first. || 

30. Rxf3 

| Forced. Instead, 30. gxf3 Nh3+, white loses an exchange. || 

30. ... Qg4 

| A strong invasion. Every black piece is now better than every white piece. As Bobby Fischer tells us: "Tactics flow from a positionally superior game." The black knight is probing at the g2 pawn and the h3 square, as well as having thoughts on invading with check on the e2 square if allowed. There is now a threat of mate on the g2 square to be guarded. The black queen can make full use of the open h-file if required. The black rook has options of an entry up the e-file. These factors create a variety of threats for black which white must defend with each move, very difficult if not impossible now. The positional battle has been won by black, it is now a question of finding the correct tactics against whatever defensive wriggling white tries. || 

31. Qf2 

| Here are some sample lines of the tactics available to black in the position when white tries different moves. Please note how the black knight on f4 commands the light squares in the heart of the white defences: 
(A). 31. Kh2 Qh4+ 32. Kg1 ~Re1+ 33. Rf1 Rxf1+ 34. Kxf1 Qh1+ 35. Kf2 Qxg2+, and there are now two mates. If, 36. Ke1 Qg1+ is mate, or, 36. Ke3 Qg3+ is mate. 
(B). 31. Kf1 Qh4 32. Qf2 Qh1+ 33. Qg1 Re1+ 34. Kxe1 Qxg1+, black has a decisive material plus. 
(C). 31. Kf1 Qh4 32. Kg1 Re1+, transposing back into variation (A) above. 
(D). 31. Kf1 Qh4 32. Rf2 Qh1+ is mate. 
(E). 31. Ne2 Qxg2+ is mate. 
(F). 31. Re3 Rxe3 32. Qxe3 Qxg2+ is mate. 
(G). 31. Rf2 Nh3+, black wins the exchange and has a decisive material plus. || 

31. ... Re1+ 

| Another strong invasion. The rook is toxic, remember that mate threat against the g2 pawn. If, 32. Qxe1 Qxg2+ mate. || 

32. Kh2 Qe6 

| Strangely, the attack using the h-file does not work for black here. If, 32. ... Qh5+ 33. Rh3 Nxh3 34. Qxe1, and black can find nothing constructive with the discovered checks. If black tries, 34. ... Nf4+ 35. Kg1, and the white king is safe. So in the game black finds a retreat with the queen to protect the advanced e1 rook, which must stay on the white back rank to restrict the movement of the white king. || 

33. Rg3 Kh6 
34. Rf3 

| White has no constructive plan and must instead wait for black to find a plan and then respond to it. || 

34. ... d5 

| A double purpose move. The pawn on d5 now has complete control of the e4 square and the vacated d6 square could be used by the black queen to set up a devastating discovered check once the e1 rook finds a safe location. || 

35. Rg3 Rc1 

| The black rook finds a safe square while putting pressure on the white c2 pawn. || 

36. Na4 Qf5 

| Now the black queen and rook attack the singly defended c2 pawn. || 

37. Rc3 Qg6 

| Black is in the process of setting up a variation on a previous tactic which failed. The difference this time is that the black rook will be sitting on the c1 square as opposed to the e1 square. The difference between the two squares is dramatic. || 

38. Qd2 Qh5+ 
39. Rh3 

| Surely we have arrived at the same sort of position as proposed in a previous comment? It is black to play and both players have a rook which can be captured. Previously the black knight tried the capture on h3 and then could not find a decent discovered check. Will matters be the same this time round? Instead trying to run away with, 39. Kg3, falls into, 39. ... Qh4+ 40. Kf3 Rf1+ 41. Ke3 Qg3+ mate. || 

39. ... Nxh3 

| There must be a difference with the black rook now being located on the c1 square, but what is it? || 

40. Qxc1 Nf4+ 
41. Kg1 

| Instead, 41. Kg3, and the end to the story will be the same. || 

41. ... Ne2+ 
White resigns, 0-1 

| The difference is revealed. When the vulnerable black rook was captured on the c1 square a knight fork pattern was created capable of catching the fleeing white king. This pattern could not exist had the black rook been sitting on the e1 square. A very valiant performance by the lower rated player since the winner has been rated much higher in the past and over recent years devoting much time to writing chess books. || 

* * * 

## Unannotated game. 

White: Chris Ross (Drunken Knights 2), 2202. 
Black: John Emms (Wood Green), 2467. 
Event: Central London League, 2015-16. 
Result: 0-1 in 41 moves. 
Opening: Sicilian Defence, Rossolimo Variation, B31. 

1. e4 c5 
2. Nf3 Nc6 
3. Bb5 g6 
4. Bxc6 bxc6 
5. d3 Bg7 
6. O-O d6 
7. h3 e5 
8. Nc3 Ne7 
9. Nh2 Rb8 
10. Rb1 O-O 
11. f4 exf4 
12. Bxf4 h6 
13. Na4 g5 
14. Bd2 Be6 
15. b3 f5 
16. Bc3 Ng6 
17. Bxg7 Kxg7 
18. exf5 Bxf5 
19. d4 c4 
20. Qd2 cxb3 
21. axb3 Nf4 
22. Rbe1 Qd7 
23. h4 Rbe8 
24. Nc3 Bg6 
25. hxg5 hxg5 
26. Rf2 Rxe1+ 
27. Qxe1 Re8 
28. Qd2 Bh5 
29. Nf3 Bxf3 
30. Rxf3 Qg4 
31. Qf2 Re1+ 
32. Kh2 Qe6 
33. Rg3 Kh6 
34. Rf3 d5 
35. Rg3 Rc1 
36. Na4 Qf5 
37. Rc3 Qg6 
38. Qd2 Qh5+ 
39. Rh3 Nxh3 
40. Qxc1 Nf4+ 
41. Kg1 Ne2+ 
White resigns, 0-1 

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