Skype coaching session, 28 August 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 28 moves) is given with annotations and then again without annotations. Paul Benson. * * * Annotated game. White: Miles. Black: Spassky. Event: Montilla 1978. Result: 1-0 in 28 moves. Opening: Queen's Indian Defence, Miles Variation, E12. 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 b6 3. c4 e6 | With a little mixing of the move order, we have arrived at the standard position of the Queen's Indian Defence. It is impossible to summarise it satisfactorily here. Suffice it to say, it is chosen by top Grand Masters as a solid choice with opportunities for counterplay should white stray from the well-trodden paths. Perhaps visit Wikipedia for a summary of main variations and styles of play in the QID. || 4. Bf4 | An offbeat variation which Miles made into a speciality around 1978-1980. In fact, so much of a speciality that the variation now bears his name. Other moves here for white include, 4. Nc3, 4. g3, 4. e3, 4. a3, and, 4. Bg5. || 4. ... Bb7 5. e3 Be7 | The alternative, 5. ... Bb4+, would test white as to how to block the check. Instead, 5. ... Nh5 6. Bg5 Be7 7. Bxe7 Qxe7 8. Nc3, gives a balanced position. || 6. h3 | Making h2 a potential flight square for the f4 bishop should black try, Nh5. || 6. ... O-O 7. Nc3 d5 | The first really important pawn-handling decision for black. This pawn advance might seem to block in the b7 bishop but in reality there are usually options for the centre to be opened up by either player if they wish. A different future for the black d-pawn was, 7. ... d6, intending to play, Nbd7, and, pawn c5. || 8. cxd5 exd5 | And now the second important pawn-handling decision is made by black. Capturing with the e6 pawn is designed to restrain the white centre, in particular make it awkward for white to organise the break of, awn e4. It also offers black the opportunity of playing, Ne4, if and when desired. Yes, yet again that black b7 bishop has been condemned to short-term passivity on b7, but this is far from a permanent state. Instead, 8. ... Nxd5 9. Nxd5 Qxd5 10. Bd3 Qa5+ 11. Nd2, is perfectly playable for black. || 9. Bd3 c5 | Black invites white to transform the pawn structure and create a middlegame with hanging pawns. || 10. O-O | White declines the invitation. Instead, 10. dxc5 bxc5, would create hanging pawns. The black c-pawn and d-pawn would be side by side but each without the possibility of being supported by a friendly pawn. These pawns would also be sitting on semi-open files and could become targets for the white pieces. However in return hanging pawns have dynamic options of advancing to create open lines for the black pieces. So, who has the better of the hanging pawns formation? Well, neither really. It is up to each player to maximise their own chances and to be ready to punish poor play by the opponent should it arise. Sort of sums up chess in general. || 10. ... Nc6 11. Ne5 | The point of having a bishop on the f4 square is revealed. It has nothing to do with aiming at the c7 square, but instead it ensures the f3 knight will be sufficiently supported should it choose to advance to e5. || 11. ... c4 | And now the third important pawn-handling decision by black which sets the scene for the middlegame. The advance of the c-pawn has created a mobile queenside pawn majority. The black plan is to play, pawn a6, pawn b5, pawn b4, pawn a5, and just keep those little foot-soldiers rolling as far as they can go. || 12. Bc2 a6 | White to play and, irrespective of the opponent being an ex-world champion, give black a bit of a scare. || 13. g4 | Very direct. Purists might choose to scoff at this sort of move. Perhaps a touch of the mid-1800s about it? There is however some good strategic sense being demonstrated here. Black cannot respond with a counter-attack in the centre,which is the usual recommendation when the opponent embarks on a wing assault. Black does of course have freedom to push hard on the queenside using the mobile pawn majority, but this might only win a piece at best. White on the other hand, or perhaps the other side of the board, is hunting bigger prey, the black king. So, white judges there will be chances for controlled bare-knuckle fighting where it will be black having to avoid royal blood-letting. Instead the more sober, 13. Qf3, to be followed by, Rad1, and then, Ng4, intending to trade off the black defensive f6 knight would give white a comfortable game without any risk. || 13. ... b5 | Perhaps taking the fight to the centre with, 13. ... Nxe5 14. Bxe5 Ne4, might be a sensible means to restrain the white aggressive intent. Instead, 13. ... h6 14. Qf3 b5 15. a3 Qb6, where the opposite wing attacks are conducted with greater subtlety was worthy of consideration. || 14. g5 | A double purpose move. Kicking back the black f6 knight from the best defensive post is obvious, but remember when a pawn / piece moves it also vacates the square from which it has just moved for another unit to occupy. So, who in the white camp would like to be located on the g4 square? || 14. ... Ne8 15. Qg4 | The queen casually drifts into the kingside. Her role here will be one of support only until the black kingside has been sufficiently dismantled, after which she can switch to becoming more directly involved. || 15. ... g6 | A double purpose move. Firstly this pawn advance blocks the b1 - h7 light square diagonal from a potential white queen and bishop battery. Secondly the vacated g7 square is now clear for the e8 knight to occupy it to try to strengthen the f5 and h5 squares. || 16. Rad1 Ng7 | Attempting to strengthen the h5 square. The white h-pawn must not be allowed easy passage up the board when it will assist in opening lines, in particular on the b1 - h7 diagonal. || 17. h4 Bb4 | Black is Intending to trade on c3 which will be followed by rapid advance of the a-pawn and b-pawn. White now initiates a subtle mix of strategy with tactics to gain a good grip on the black centre / kingside. Careful calculation is required here as white pieces are about to be committed past the point of no return. || 18. Nd7 Bc8 | Ouch! The invading white knight is pinned and doubly attacked, surely this means it is lost? Instead, 18. ... Re8 19. Nf6+, costs black an exchange. || 19. Nxd5 | Ah yes, when the white knight landed on the d7 square it interfered with the defence of the black d5 pawn from the black queen. That is fine as far as it goes, but what about the doubly attacked white d7 knight? || 19. ... Kh8 | The doubly attacked white d7 knight is protected with a tactical threat. If black tries, 19. ... Qxd7, then, 20. Nf6+, wins the black queen for a knight. Instead if black tries, 19. ... Bxd7, then white has the remarkable, 20. Qxd7, when the black recapture of, 20. ... Qxd7, runs into, 21. Nf6+, forking the black king and queen and white has won the d5 pawn into the bargain. Lastly, white must not fall for a miscalculation. Where black tries, 19. ... Bxd7, white must avoid, 20. Nf6+, thinking the fork will win the black bishop on d7, it will not. Black has the surprise zwischenzug, 20. ... Qxf6, and while both queens are under attack it is white who has already had two pieces removed in the tactics. This means that after, 21. Qxd7 Qe6, black has both an extra piece and the compensation. || 20. N5f6 | White places a second defence on the d7 knight. Fine, but what if black can find a third unit to attack the white d7 knight? From where can white conjure up another defender for the precarious invader? And if no further defences can be applied, then surely white is losing a piece? || 20. ... Ra7 | Ouch! Attackers 3, defenders 2. These moves should have been easy for a Grand Master to find when sending the white knight onto d7 back at move 18. So, there is more going on here than is obvious at first glance. The key piece in this position is the white f6 knight. It is restricting the already-constrained black king, but it needs some support. A quick look around the board reveals one white minor piece not contributing as much as it might. Ah yes, and the black king is on a dark square as well. The f4 bishop would thoroughly enjoy sitting on the a1 - h8 diagonal, wouldn't it? || 21. d5 Ne7 22. Be5 | Objective achieved. White is relying on the activity of the dark square bishop on e5 to create tactical opportunities against the black king. There are already ideas of, pawn h5, threatening, pawn h6, and should the black g7 knight run away, there are a variety of discovered checks available for the white f6 knight. Of course, black does not have to allow this, when white pushes, pawn h5, there is, gxh5, but this falls into white recapturing with, Nxh5, and the black g7 knight is doomed. This is all very good and doubtless part of the master-plan. However taking a little time to glance over the complete width of the board might have found, 22. a3, giving white the better game. If then, 22. ... Bxd7 23. Nxd7 Rxd7 24. axb4 Nxd5 25. b3, and the black queenside is going nowhere fast while white still has all the kingside joys to come. || 22. ... Rxd7 | Black offers the queen's rook in the hope of removing both of the white knights from the attack. Instead attempting to simply win a piece with, 22. ... Bxd7, seems tempting but perhaps the white grip on the kingside / centre would be too strong. Constructing analytical proof here would be a complex task. Instead general plans can be suggested and this position can be taken as an opportunity to test computational skills. Firstly white saves the queen with, 23. Qf4, and it is then over to black to find a sensible means to challenge the previously mentioned plan of, pawn h5, intending, pawn h6 if allowed. If the black g7 knight stands firm then white will take a piece with, hxg7+, to be followed by a discovered knight check. If when attacked, the g7 knight runs away then that discovered knight check again becomes available to white. So, upon white pushing, pawn h5, clearly black capturing, Nxh5, gives white a luxury win of a piece with, Nxh5+, and the position is still strongly in white's favour. Lastly after white plays, pawn h5, if black tries, gxh5, then white brings more pressure to bear on the black g7 knight with, Nxh5. In any lines which involve the white knight vacating the f6 square without giving check, then black might have an attempted liberating, pawn f5. There are also defensive ideas of black playing, Bf5, challenging on light squares and hoping for white trying, Bxf5, when black, Nexf5, strengthens the vulnerable black g7 knight. White does not exchange bishops on f5 if challenged, but instead can push, pawn e4, and the black defensive re-grouping to have tandem knights fails. One final plan for white which is also flying around is after, 22. ... Bxd7 23. Qf4, is to find a tricky move with the f6 knight and follow up with, Qf6, taking advantage of the just-vacated square to hit that black g7 knight again. So, lots of ideas to keep in mind while working out the specific lines. Happy analysing! || 23. h5 Rxd5 | Computer analysis shows this black choice to be far from the best. Complex positions can be computer-crunched while we rely on judgement combined to indicate which move is likely to be best. Fritz and friends now reveal that black could have still had fighting chances with, 23. ... Bd6, when the suggested, 24. Bc3 Rc7 25. Qf3 Bb4, is holding up white from making further progress. The point is that white needs the powerful dark square bishop to remain on the a1 - h8 diagonal for the kingside assault to work. Instead of the game move of 23. ... Rxd5, the silicon armies have also considered black trying the following moves: Ng8, Rb7, Rd6, Ra7, Nef5, Nxd5, gxh5, Re8. They decrease in value for black as the list proceeds but all are deemed better than the game choice. So, it seems even an ex-world champion when confronted with a tough test of strategic judgement combined with tactical awareness can fail to find the best move. || 24. Qf4 | White has a strong position and can afford some inaccurate play. While the game move is good,it seems that, 24. Qh4, is even stronger. The threat would then be, hxg6, followed by, Qxh7+ mate. Black could try, 24. ... Nef5 25. Bxf5 Bxf5, so that, hxg6 Bxg6, prevents the mate on h7. However white has, 26. Nxd5, with the threat of, pawn h6, still available. || 24. ... Rxd1 25. Rxd1 Qa5 | The fight is over. Black is just waiting for white to find a decisive continuation. || 26. Ne8 | And there it is. Doubly attacking the pinned black g7 knight while vacating the f6 square for the queen. || 26. ... f6 | Instead, 26. ... Rxe8 27. Qf6 Nef5 28. Bxf5 Rxe5 29. h6 Bf8 30. hxg7+ Bxg7 31. Rd8+, and black can only postpone the end with the unnecessary, 31. ... Qxd8 32. Qxd8+ Re8 33. Qxe8+ Bf8 34. Qxf8+ mate. A less brutal but similarly decisive continuation could have been, 26. ... Rxe8 27. Qf6 Rg8 28. h6 Nef5 29. Bxf5 Bf8 30. Bxc8, and black can do nothing about the g7 knight. White should retreat first with, Bh3, when next move, hxg7+, would leave white a piece up. If after, 30. Bxc8, black tries to relieve the pressure on the g7 knight with, 30. ... Qe7, white wins more material with, 31. Qxe7 Bxe7 32. hxg7+ Rxg7 33. Bxg7+, black is a rook down. || 27. gxf6 Kg8 28. Nxg7 Black resigns, 1-0 | Materially speaking, white has regained the lost piece and won a pawn along the way. It looks unpleasant for black, but does the position really justify resignation here? Perhaps at the dizzy heights of Grand Mastery id does. Lesser mortals are offered the following lines: (A). 28. ... Nf5 29. Nxf5 Bxf5 30. Bxf5 gxf5 31. Qg5+ Kh7 32. Qg7+ mate. (B). 28. ... Nf5 29. Nxf5 Bxf5 30. Bxf5 gxf5 31. Qg5+ Kf7 32. Qg7+ Ke6 33. Qd7+ Kxe5 34. Rd5+, with two choices for black. After, 34. ... Kxf6 35. Rxf5+, is mate, or after, 34. ... Ke4 35. Qxf5+, is mate. (C). 28. ... Nc6 29. a3 Bc5 30. Bc7 Bb6 31. Bd6 Rf7 32. hxg6 hxg6 33. Bxg6, threatening, 34. Qh6 to be followed with, Qh7+ mate. (D). 28. ... Nc6 29. a3 Bc5 30. Bc7 Bb6 31. Bd6 Rd8 32. f7+ Kxg7 33. f8=Q+ Rxf8 34. Qxf8+ mate. (E). 28. ... Nc6 29. a3 Nxe5 30. axb4 Qc7 31. Rd5 Nf3+ 32. Qxf3 Bb7 33. Be4 Bxd5 34. Bxd5+ Kh8 35. Ne6, black will lose an exchange and so be a piece down. (F). 28. ... Nc6 29. a3 Nxe5 30. axb4 Qc7 31. Rd5 Nf3+ 32. Qxf3 Qxg7 33. fxg7 Rxf3 34. h6, and black has no satisfactory defence to the threat of, 35. Rd8+, forcing promotion of the g7 pawn. (G). 28. ... Nc6 29. a3 Nxe5 30. axb4 Qxb4 31. Qxe5, white is a piece up. || * * * ## Unannotated game. White: Miles. Black: Spassky. Event: Montilla 1978. Result: 1-0 in 28 moves. Opening: Queen's Indian Defence, Miles Variation, E12. 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 b6 3. c4 e6 4. Bf4 Bb7 5. e3 Be7 6. h3 O-O 7. Nc3 d5 8. cxd5 exd5 9. Bd3 c5 10. O-O Nc6 11. Ne5 c4 12. Bc2 a6 13. g4 b5 14. g5 Ne8 15. Qg4 g6 16. Rad1 Ng7 17. h4 Bb4 18. Nd7 Bc8 19. Nxd5 Kh8 20. N5f6 Ra7 21. d5 Ne7 22. Be5 Rxd7 23. h5 Rxd5 24. Qf4 Rxd1 25. Rxd1 Qa5 26. Ne8 f6 27. gxf6 Kg8 28. Nxg7 Black resigns, 1-0 * * *