Skype coaching session, 16 October 2016. 

Please note: Re-structuring of the sessions now offers the option for guests to bring their own games for group discussion. 

Recordings of some previous coaching sessions can be found at: 

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

The following were examined: 
The Philidor position is reviewed (on mp3 audio only). 
Study position #3 from practical play. 
Guest game, 54 moves with brief notes and without notes. 

Paul Benson. 

* * * 

Study position #3 from practical play. 

White to play. 
White: Kg5, Rf4, Pg4. 
Black: Ke7, Rd6, Pg6. 

Material is equal but white has two positional plusses. The white king is placing pressure on the black g6 pawn and the white rook is preventing the black king from crossing the f-file to defend the g6 pawn. Black should anticipate losing the g6 pawn and search for a means of preventing the white g-pawn from being promoted. Knowledge of drawn or decisive rook and pawn endings should dictate to black how to continue. There will also be occasions where knowledge of drawn or decisive king and pawn endings will be called upon. 

White has only one sensible means of making progress and so plays, 1. Kh6, with the plan of, Kg7, pawn g5, Rf7+, and, Rf6, winning the black g6 pawn, which will be a winning position for white. 

If the black king is to defend the g6 pawn, then the f-file must be challenged. This means black must now calculate the consequences of a potential king and pawn ending. Black does some analysis and reckons the king and pawn ending is safe and so plays, 1. ... Rf6, challenging for control of the f-file. It is now up to white to calculate the consequences of an exchange of rooks. 

White plays, 2. Ra4. White correctly backs off. The king and pawn ending is not a win for white, so keep the position as difficult for the opponent as possible. The analysis runs: 
(A). If, 2. Rxf6 Kxf6 3. g5+ Kf5, white is in zugzwang. In fact, both kings are in zugzwang. Any king move by either player loses their g-pawn. This position of both kings attacking and defending the head-to-head pawns is worth committing to memory. Once this formation arises then whoever has to make a move will lose their pawn. 
(B). If, 2. Rxf6 Kxf6 3. Kh7, should draw as, 3. ... Kg5 4. Kg7, and while the black king is attacking the white g4 pawn, it must also defend his own g6 pawn. So if, 4. ... Kxg4 5. Kxg6. 
(C). If, 2. Rxf6 Kxf6 3. Kh7 Kf7, a bad mistake by black. White can now win with, 4. g5, the black king must retreat from the f7square and the defence of the g6 pawn disappears. White converts after, 4. ... Kf8 5. Kxg6 Kg8 6. Kh6 Kf8 7. Kh7, and the g-pawn promotes. The black king can vary in this losing variation. 
(D). If, 2. Rxf6 Kxf6 3. Kh7 Kf7, losing, 4. g5 Kf8 5. Kxg6 Kg8 6. Kh6 Kh8 7. g6 Kg8 8. g7, the advancing pawn has arrived on the 7th rank without giving check and so will promote after, 8. ... Kf7 9. Kh7. 

Black now gets the king into action by playing, 2. ... Kf7, defending the vulnerable g6 pawn. But could there be another gain made as the king crosses the f-file? There was an alternative for black to consider here, giving the g-pawn away to reduce the activity of the white king. Some sample lines are: 
(A). If, 2. ... g5+ 3. Kxg5 Kf7, and black is about to lose the rook, 4. Ra7+ Ke6 5. Ra6+ Kf7 6. Rxf6+. 
(B). If, 2. ... g5+ 3. Kxg5 Rb6, keeping control of the 3rd rank, 4. Rf4. The black king is again cut off from the g-file and white plans, Kh5, pawn g5, pawn g6, Kh6, and Kg7, to be followed by attaining the Lucena position and a win for white. 
(C). If, 2. ... g5+ 3. Kxg5 Rf1, keeping control of the f-file, 4. Ra7+ Kf8 5. Kg6 Rg1 6. g5 Rg2 7. Ra8+ Ke7, and the black king is forced out onto the long side, 8. Kh6, and the white pawn will arrive on the g6 square, allowing, Kg7, and white then plays for the Lucena position and wins. 

White now has only one move to make progress and so plays, 3. g5. Now it is for black to call on previous knowledge of how to hold the position when the Philidor position is not available. 

Black plays, 3. ... Rf1, following the principles of holding the attacking pawn from the rear, though as it happens this is not necessary here, while also setting a cute trap. 

White plays, 4. Ra7+, disrupting the cheeky black mating threat which could have happened with the alternative, 4. Ra6 Rh1+ mate. Vigilence is vital at all times. 

Black plays, 4. ... Kg8, which leaves the black g6 pawn undefended but the black king is now occupying the promotion square of the white g-pawn. 

White finally makes a material gain by playing, 5. Kxg6 and also sets up a threat of, Ra8+, which will force a trade of rooks on the f8 square, which in turn will permit the white king to advance to the h7 square, winning. Black can easily prevent this. 

Black plays, 5. ... Rf8, and has achieved a known drawn position. The black rook now simply slips sideways along the black back rank, the squares of c8 and b8 are the most favourable locations on which to shuffle. This shuffling defence is waiting for white to advance the passed g-pawn to the attacking 7th rank. When this happens, the black rook will advance to give check on the defending 3rd rank, forcing the attacking king back, it is an easy draw. 

Condensed drawing line. 
1. Kh6 Rf6 2. Ra4 Kf7 3. g5 Rf1 4. Ra7+ Kg8 5. Kxg6 Rf8. 

* * * 

## Annotated Guest Game. 

White: Jim Slagle, 1674. 
Black: Curtis Cockayne, 895. 
Event: FTP Ladder 2016. 
Result: 1-0 in 54 moves. 
Opening: Queen's Pawn Opening, Colle System, D02. 

1. d4 d5 
2. Nf3 Nf6 
3. e3 a6 

| Unusual, perhaps wishing to permanently rule out any white, Bb5, pins. || 

4. Bd3 Nc6 
5. Nbd2 

| Careless. This knight will almost definitely develop to d2, but simply playing moves that fit the plan in any order can lead to occasions where problems will arise. Instead, 5. c3, fits in well with the general plan of preparing for the middlegame and also prevents the annoying manoeuvre now available to black. || 

5. ... Nb4 

| And black manages to eliminate the potentially strong white light squared bishop. || 

6. O-O 

| White had to let the bishop be eliminated, it was simply a question of how. Perhaps, 6. Qe2 Nxd3+ 7. Qxd3, when white still controls the e4 square with pieces was an idea worth considering. The retreat, 6. Be2, is a disaster as black has, 6. ... Bf5, doubly attacking and winning the c2 pawn. || 

6. ... Nxd3 
7. cxd3 Bf5 
8. Ne5 

| White has a dynamic plan in mind which requires this knight being on the e5 square. || 

8. ... e6 

| White to play and give black a surprise. || 

9. g4 

| Very bold. I believe the Chinese pictogram for the word, "crisis", is a combination of, "danger with opportunity". White is prepared to create what some people might regard as weaknesses in the belief the confusion must work in favour of whoever is ahead in development. This is probably generally so, but there will always be exceptions. Such a style of play will yield a healthy plus score for those who can find tactics in a position. There will however be occasional catastrophes. Win many, lose a few? || 

9. ... Nxg4 

| Meeting a surprise with a counter-surprise. Surely that white g4 pawn is protected by the e5 knight and the d1 queen? || 

10. Nxg4 Bxd3 

| Missing an opportunity to justify the previous shock reply. Instead, 10. ... Qg5, placing a double attack on the white g4 knight wile also pinning it to the white king, creating some enjoyable tactics seems to give good prospects. White could choose between either, 11. f3, or, 11. h3, both protecting the g4 knight, but does nothing to break the pin, which means black can play the zwischenzug, 11. Bxd3, attacking the white f1 rook. If white moves the rook, then black can continue with, 12. ... h5, regaining the piece at some point. Matters are far from clear who will emerge with the better position, both players would find themselves cast into a crisis of their own making. || 

11. Re1 

| Despite black having missed the complications arising from, 10. ... Qg5, an intriguing imbalance has still arisen. Black has a very strong light square bishop which will be difficult to challenge. White has a piece for two pawns, a material advantage which should be decisive, but as the phrase goes: "Many a slip betwixt cup and lip". Won games do not win themselves, a certain patience is going to be needed here. Black has no obvious weaknesses to attack while white will always have to be careful about the self-created space around his king. || 

11. ... Bd6 
12. f4 

| In chess it is important to know when to punch and when to duck. If time has to be taken to defend the position, then take the time earlier rather than later, there might not be a later available to you later. || 

12. ... Qh4 
13. Ne5 Bb5 
14. a4 

| White is hoping to trade the e5 knight for the black light square bishop, and then be able to use the queen to fight for control of the light squares. For instance if, 14. ... Bd7 15. Nxd7. This is good strategy, but unfortunately black is not going to be so compliant. || 

14. ... f6 

| Black must find some means of complicating the position before white completes development, starts to coordinate the presently uncoordinated forces, and slowly but surely sets about reducing the material to produce a won endgame. || 

15. axb5 

| Attempting to win a piece by retreating the threatened e5 knight with an attack tempo on the black queen does not succeed. If, 15. Nf3, black has, 15. ... Qg4+, a vital zwischencheck. Play might continue with, 16. Kh1 Bd7 17. Rg1 Qh5 18. Rxg7 O-O-O, and while white is a piece ahead for a pawn, black is about to break up the centre with pawn play, tricky. || 

15. ... fxe5 
16. dxe5 

| White snatches a pawn back. Perhaps capturing the other way with, 16. fxe5, was a better method to seek reduction of material. With the elimination of the black light square bishop white now has control of the f1 square again, which allows a doubling of the white rooks on the f-file. This would initially strengthen the defence, safety first, and can then soon offer some attacking chances. Black dare not seek exchanges of all rooks on the f-file, as such an ending would be a clear loss. || 

16. ... Bc5 

| Attacking a weak point, the e3 pawn, which would not be possible had white chosen, fxe5, on the previous move. When material ahead it is important to reduce the activity of your opponent. Do not let them think they can still keep fighting with the hope of finding something. Sure, white is still winning, but why give the opponent play unnecessarily? || 

17. Kh1 

| Sensible and probably necessary. The black c5 bishop was pinning the white e3 pawn to the white king, which means once black castles kingside there would be the threat of, Rxf4. Again, when ahead in material do not let your opponent have unnecessary activity. If the position demands you play patiently to win in another 40 moves, then make the necessary 40 moves. || 

17. ... O-O 
18. bxa6 bxa6 
19. Nf3 Qh6 
20. Qe2 Bb4 
21. Rg1 c5 

| The black d5 and c5 pawns control a few useful centre squares but they cannot make any further progress. The only active plan for black is to try and get a rook into the white kingside and hope something turns up. White on the other hand has several plans which will improve the position, but which is the best? One could spend a long time sifting and not finding a line which is dramatically better than the rest. So white should rely on general principles here and complete development, Bd2, challenging the black b4 bishop and connecting rooks. || 

22. Qg2 

| White seeks to trade queens. Instead, 22. Rxa6, converting the material advantage into a full piece should be fairly safe. || 

22. ... Ra7 
23. Qg5 Qh3 
24. Qg4 Qh6 
25. Qg5 Qh3 
26. Qg4 Qh6 

| White has been making moves quickly to gain time on the clock. There is now the little matter of finding a different move to avoid a claim of three-fold repetition. || 

27. Rg3 Rf5 
28. Rh3 Qg6 
29. Qxg6 

| The white objective of seeking a trade of queens has come to pass, with the bonus of weakening the black kingside pawn structure. || 

29. ... hxg6 
30. Rg3 Rh5 

| Instead, 30. ... Kf7, avoids losing the g6 pawn. White is now going to be a piece ahead but converting this position to a win is going to take time. Patience is a virtue. Careful re-grouping while keeping everything protected followed by slow infiltration is the sensible means to take the point. || 

31. Rxg6 Kf7 
32. Rg5 Rh6 
33. Bd2 Bxd2 
34. Nxd2 Ra8 
35. Rag1 

| White chooses to make the kingside into the battlefield. Black seems able to defend this region with his king and h-file rook. So perhaps swinging the action over to the queenside with, 35. Rgg1, followed by doubling rooks up the a-file to win the a-pawn was worth a try. || 

35. ... g6 
36. Nf3 Rb8 
37. Ra1 

| White judges that any activity black obtains with the queenside rook can soon be neutralised and that the gains of a white 7th rank rook will prove advantageous. A quieter approach of keeping it under control with the plan, R1g2, Rc2, Rg1, Ra1, and Ra5, using both rooks to target the black queenside pawns seems to make gains without offering black any counterplay. || 

37. ... Rxb2 
38. Rxa6 Rh3 
39. Ra7+ Kf8 

| With the black king confined to his back rank, thoughts of finding a mating net with the double white rooks are always in the air. However, black is not without threats if white becomes too ambitious. The only real weak point for white is the h2 pawn, the double black rooks must not be allowed to gang up on this defender. || 

40. Rg3 Rh6 
41. h3 

| With a possible re-grouping plan, Ng5, defending the h3 pawn, Rg2, and then the white king can begin to join in. Instead, 41. h4, intending, Rg2, when black should not exchange rooks, then Kh2, Kg3, and swinging the g2 rook over to the a-file, is another plan. || 

41. ... c4 
42. Rc7 Rb3 
43. Ng5 

| Combining defence and attack with one move. Black dare not let the e6 pawn be captured with check, and now that the h3 pawn is permanently secure, the white g3 rook can drift over to the queenside with ideas of creating a mating net. || 

43. ... Rb6 
44. Kg2 Ke8 
45. Kf2 Rh4 
46. Ke1 

| The white king will be better placed in the centre of the board, the particular route chosen does not really matter. || 

46. ... Kd8 
47. Rc5 

| Perhaps, 47. Ra7, keeping the rook on the 7th rank to restrict the black king to his back rank was more efficient. || 

47. ... Ke7 
48. Nf3 

| Perhaps white should keep the knight on the g5 square, backwardly guarding the h3 pawn. The white g3 rook could then re-group with, Rg2, Ra2, with ideas of either, Ra7, or, Ra8, depending on where the black king is located. || 

48. ... Rh8 
49. Rc7+ Kd8 

| The black king is again restricted to his back rank, again white can now think about re-locating the g3 rook via g2 and a2, aiming for a mating net. || 

50. Ra7 Rh6 
51. Nd4 Kc8 
52. Kd2 Kb8 
53. Re7 Rb2+ 
54. Kc3 
Black resigns, 1-0 

| There are several ways for white to win more material. Perhaps, Nxe6, creating a strong passed e-pawn. Or maybe, Rg7, followed by, R7xg6. Providing the black c4 pawn is not allowed to advance there are no threats for white to fear. White went a piece ahead for two pawns as the middlegame began. It took about forty more moves to take the full point. Patience reaps rewards. || 

* * * 

## Unannotated Guest Game. 

White: Jim Slagle, 1674. 
Black: Curtis Cockayne, 895. 
Event: FTP Ladder 2016. 
Result: 1-0 in 54 moves. 
Opening: Queen's Pawn Opening, Colle System, D02. 

1. d4 d5 
2. Nf3 Nf6 
3. e3 a6 
4. Bd3 Nc6 
5. Nbd2 Nb4 
6. O-O Nxd3 
7. cxd3 Bf5 
8. Ne5 e6 
9. g4 Nxg4 
10. Nxg4 Bxd3 
11. Re1 Bd6 
12. f4 Qh4 
13. Ne5 Bb5 
14. a4 f6 
15. axb5 fxe5 
16. dxe5 Bc5 
17. Kh1 O-O 
18. bxa6 bxa6 
19. Nf3 Qh6 
20. Qe2 Bb4 
21. Rg1 c5 
22. Qg2 Ra7 
23. Qg5 Qh3 
24. Qg4 Qh6 
25. Qg5 Qh3 
26. Qg4 Qh6 
27. Rg3 Rf5 
28. Rh3 Qg6 
29. Qxg6 hxg6 
30. Rg3 Rh5 
31. Rxg6 Kf7 
32. Rg5 Rh6 
33. Bd2 Bxd2 
34. Nxd2 Ra8 
35. Rag1 g6 
36. Nf3 Rb8 
37. Ra1 Rxb2 
38. Rxa6 Rh3 
39. Ra7+ Kf8 
40. Rg3 Rh6 
41. h3 c4 
42. Rc7 Rb3 
43. Ng5 Rb6 
44. Kg2 Ke8 
45. Kf2 Rh4 
46. Ke1 Kd8 
47. Rc5 Ke7 
48. Nf3 Rh8 
49. Rc7+ Kd8 
50. Ra7 Rh6 
51. Nd4 Kc8 
52. Kd2 Kb8 
53. Re7 Rb2+ 
54. Kc3 
Black resigns, 1-0 

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