Skype coaching session, 22 January 2017. 

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 game was examined, the games 67 moves is given three times. 
Firstly with annotations by Chris Ross presented in a format usual for this list. 
Secondly with annotations by Chris Ross as originally given to me in database format. 
Thirdly without annotations. 

Paul Benson. 

*  *  * 

Annotated Game, (usual format). 

White: C. Ross, 200 (ECF), approx Elo 2200. 
Black: C. Hughes, 175 (ECF), approx Elo 2000. 
Event: London League 2016-17. 
Result: 1-0 in 67 moves. 
Opening: French Defence, Steinitz Attack, C00. 

| Annotations by Chris Ross. 

A dangerous opponent, who knows lots of theory. He plays quickly and is renowned for being able to complicate matters quickly and pressurise his opponent. Although he does not win many top-level games, he has a reputation for holding many a strong player to a draw. || 

1. e4 e6 
2. e5 

| The move of choice by Steinitz on the rare occasions that he faced the French. Obviously, the French was not played much back in the 19th century. Subsequently named the Steinitz attack, the point of the variation is not to strive for a discernible advantage for white. Instead, the principal objective of the line is to switch black from his familiar French-defence structures and indeed, transpose the game from a 1. E4 to formations similarly seen in 1. D4 games. || 

2... d6 

| Black has a number of ways to challenge this variation. Perhaps 2... d5 will only allow white to capture en passant as intended. Or perhaps 2... c5 is the accepted response for black, switching the game into a 2. C3 Sicilian, but many a French player is unfamiliar with the theory to that alternative defence's sub-variation. Saying that though, Steinitz himself tried 3. F4 against Winawer back in 1882 and won easily enough. After his first loss against this variation, Winawer went on to essay 2... f6 in the following encounter and the game got very messy indeed, where he actually eventually beat Steinitz. 

Suffice to say, that some forethought, preparation and some basic theoretic knowledge is needed before attempting this side-line to the French. Although it may be good against many an unsuspecting opponent, if you play it 
repeatedly against somebody, they will soon learn how to deal with it, and hence, why it is not played at the top level within the game. || 

3. exd6 cxd6 

| Instead 3... Bxd6 miss-places the bishop. When white plays Bg5, the knight on f6 may be pinned, and I have had many a game where black has then retreated with Bd6-Be7 thus losing a tempo. Also, the dark-squared bishop is a target to Nbd2/Nc4, the natural development method for the queen's knight. Instead 3... Qxd6 seems weird, but has some merit. The game may transpose into the C3-Sicilian again. || 

4. d4 e5 

| This, I have never seen before. I have had 4... d5, 4... Nf6, 4... Be7 and 4... Nc6, as well as 4... b6 played here. || 

5. dxe5 dxe5 
6. Qxd8+ Kxd8 

| The most telling point of the position is that in the end-game, white has a queen-side majority. Although that seems a long way away, the slight telling pull of that tiny advantage, will determine white's play from now on. 

White will essentially create a passed-pawn on that side of the board, to distract the black forces, whilst the white pieces will enter into the king-side to pick up loose pawns. Whether that be with minor pieces, rooks or even more powerfully, with the white king. Since black has already played e7-e5, holes have appeared in the black king-side structure, giving targets for the white pieces in the end-game. || 

7. Bc4 f6 

| Now the light-squares are looking particularly weak. F5 is of particular interest here for white. Penetration opportunities are appearing. || 

8. Nc3 Bb4 

| The d6-square is a point of penetration. 8... Bc5 9. Ne4 and if black wishes to hold onto the g1-a7 diagonal 9... Bb6 
is forced, when the white knight can immediately exploit the d6-square with Nf7 forks on the cards. 9... Be7 10. Be3 secures the c5-square for white and the long g1-a7 diagonal. || 

9. Bd2 

| An inaccuracy. 9. Nge2 is more accurate, to recapture on c3 with the knight. || 

9... Nc6 
10. O-O-O Bxc3 

| White threatens nasties with discoveries and Ne4 or Nd5 penetration ideas. Even Nb5/Nd6 is possible. || 

11. Bxc3+ 

| Played too automatically. Instead 11. Bh6+! Is better. The exchange will be won on h8, but more importantly, once won, the knight on g8 will be loose to the bishop on c4. Just goes to show that calculation is sometimes always needed in the simplest of positions. || 

11... Kc7 
12. Ne2 Nh6 
13. Bd2 

| Admitting the dark-squared bishop is misplaced. Naturally, the damage to the black pawn-structure is threatened on h6. Also, the bishop is re-located back to the g1-a7 diagonal. The c3-square is vacated for the white knight. || 

13... Nf5 

| Instead 13... Ng4 is an annoyance, but 14. Rdf1 and after the knight is driven back, Bxh6 is possible. 
So, 14... f5 is possible, giving the f6-square as a flight square, but this creates more weaknesses and the e5-pawn has become significantly weaker and the white bishop-pair will begin to exert more and more pressure. Even f2-f4 to prise open the position is possible, for when e5-e4 is played, the d4-square is taken away from black. White will then break with h2-h3 and g2-g4. || 

14. Nc3 a6 

| Stopping Nb5/Nd6 ideas, but creating a big hole on b6. || 

15. Nd5+ Kb8 
16. Nb6 Nd6 

| Black has to get tactical, as he is in danger of losing material. Again, a dangerous opponent, who found the resource quickly. Instead 16... Ra7 17. Nxc8 Rxc8 18. Be6 picks up an exchange as the knight on f5 is loose. || 

17. Bb3 

| Solid. White does not engage in the tactics, as his positional superiority will soon tell. Instead 17. Nxa8 Nxc4 and the a8-knight cannot retreat, giving black a material advantage. || 

17... Nd4 

| Black finds the most resistant continuation. Instead 17... Ra7 18. Be3! And black has too many discoveries to deal with. If then  18... Nd4 19. Bxd4 exd4 20. Rhe1 and black is pretty much paralysed. || 

18. Nxa8 Nxb3+ 
19. axb3 Kxa8 
20. Be3 Nf7 

| Black tries to cover up all of the penetration squares along the D-file. Without penetration squares, the white rooks will find it difficult to make progress. Since everything along the D-file is covered up, the c7-square is sought as
a possible penetration route. || 

21. Rd3 Bf5 
22. Rc3 Kb8 

| C7 is protected, but black does not have adequate play down the C-file against the weak c2-pawn, as the rook stands on a dark-square (where it belongs) and only a further penetration point is required. || 

23. Rd1 Rc8 
24. Bc5 

| Not exchanging yet, as the black king will support in covering up the penetration points. The d6-square is now used as a point of entry. Black also has to be wary of Bf8 in any end-game, as the king-side pawns may fall easily after g7-g6 and Bg7. || 

24... Re8 
25. Bd6+ 

| Happily giving up the dark-squared bishop to remove the annoying protective knight, that is covering a lot of entry squares. Without this exchange, the c3-rook will be allowed to enter via c7. || 

25... Nxd6 
26. Rxd6 Re7 

| Black attempts to hold up all of the penetration points. It is very difficult for white now to find a way through, but he can probe. With probing, an opportunity may arise. All he has to do is improve all of his pieces and ask black to find the defensive structure. || 

27. Kd2 

| Bringing the king into the fight and centralising it. He is, after all, headed for f5, right? || 

27... Be4 
28. f3 Bc6 

| Major-point to the game now. Black is generating counterplay and will force open the E-file by playing e5-e4, thus giving much life to his light-squared bishop and opening up the black rook. White can blockade with f3-f4 once the E-pawn has advanced, but it is very difficult then for white to make progress, as the blockaded position and the protected nature of the e4-pawn offers him very few prospects. Immediately, white has to resolve black playing Kc7 ensnaring the loose rook on c7, as it has no retreat squares. But the key to the position lies in the very first principal, determined back on move 7. White has a queen-side advantage and can use that to distract black in the end-game. That small, but pulling trait, will give him a winning advantage. So, the continuation for white is not difficult to find. || 

29. Rcxc6! 

| Returning the exchange, to win a pawn. But that pawn is another pawn on the queen-side, thus giving white 3 verses 
1 pawn on that side of the board. An essential element to the white strategic plan. 

Instead 29. Rd8+ Kc7 30. Rf8 is a slow positional way to play it, but yields little hope for white to make progress. With the text-move, white enters into a rook-pawn end-game, where he is assured of a small, but determining pull. || 

 29... bxc6 
30. Rxc6 Rd7+ 
31. Ke2 

| The black rook must not be allowed entry into d1, when Rb1 could pick up the backward b2-pawn. || 

31... Kb7 
32. Rc4 

| Rooks operate horizontally as well as vertically. A feature that a lot of people forget. The white rook can be used here to harass the black king-side pawns, forcing movement, thus creating weaknesses and penetration points for the white pieces. || 

32... Rd5 
33. Rh4 Rc5 

| Defending with counter-action. Exchanges of pawns will only assist black to survive his position. || 

34. c3 h6 
35. Rg4 Rc7 

| Wanting to retreat the active rook rather than create more pawn weaknesses. || 

36. h4 

| Forcing black's hand. If white is permitted to play h4-h5, then he has a clamp on the f5 and g6 squares. The white king will be allowed to march in at will then in the future once preparation has been completed. || 

36... g5 
37. hxg5 hxg5 
38. Rb4+ 

| Forcing the black king to the A-file, as any entry onto the C-file will allow an exchange of rooks, which is an easy king-pawn ending for white to convert. || 

38... Ka7 
39. Rc4 

| This can now be played, as the c8-square has been made available, due to the black king having stepped onto the A-file. || 

39... Rb7 

| Again, seeking to gain time with counter-play. Instead 39... Rd7 40. Rc6 will allow the white rook to target the f6-pawn, another reason why the black king had to be driven to the A-file. || 

40. b4 Kb6 

| Preventing the white rook entering into c6. || 

41. Rc8 

| With Rf8 ideas in mind. || 

41... Rd7 
42. b3 

| An annoying move for black to deal with, since it prevents the black king from getting counterplay through the queen-side. Instead 42.. Kb5 43. Rc5+ and the black king cannot get into a4 and b3 and hit the backward pawns. Not that 43. Rc5+ is forced, but the point is that the black king has no entry points. Also, the white queen-side majority is slowly, slowly being mobilised. || 

42... Rd6 
43. g4 

| Completely clamping down on the f5-square. The g2-pawn will no longer be a 
weakness and the white king has time and space to begin its advance. || 

43... Kb7 
44. Rc5 

| Maintaining the clamp on the queen-side. White has a final stage to achieve there, before he can make any progress on the king-side. || 

44... Rd8 

| Black desperately tries to find a waiting move. Now, white can accomplish what he realised on move 7 about his queen-side majority. || 

45. b5 

| Eliminating the last pawn for black on that side of the board. Once that has gone, there is nothing over there for white to be worried about. He can then begin to use his queen-side pawns to distract black whilst he wipes up the king-side ones. A simple, but highly effective plan. || 

45... axb5 

| Instead 45... Kb6 46. Rc6+ and Rxf6 and the e5 and g5 pawns will fall quickly enough. The a6-pawn is too far behind to create any annoyance for white, whilst the king-side pawns begin to crash through. || 

46. Rxb5+ Kc6 

| White's simple task now is to target the f6-pawn, in such a manner, that the black rook will be forced to defend it. || 

47. Ra5 Kb6 

| To prevent the threatened 48. Ra6+. || 

48. Ra4 Kb5 

| Black tries to hold up the advancing white queen-side pawns, despite white not having any interest in doing so. Black does not wish to leave the D-file with is rook, as the white king can advance forwards without worrying about any Rd1 penetration ideas. || 

49. Ra7 

| Now 50. Rf7 is a serious threat by white. || 

49... Rf8 

| Instead 49... Rd6 50. Re7 and the black forces are strangled as the F6-pawn cannot advance without e5 dropping and the black rook cannot move due to Re6 ideas. || 

50. Ke3 

| The black rook is now tied down to the defence of the f6-pawn. The white king can advance without concerns of the black rook penetrating from behind. The f5-square beckons. || 

50... Kc5 
51. Ke4 Rb8 

| Black seeks counterplay. But this just falls into white's hands. Black had no choice though, for the white king will penetrate onto f5 without any further resistance. Black hopes to target the white pawns and distract white enough to hold him up. || 

52. Kf5 

| White is unconcerned about his queen-side pawns, as he is content enough to give those up for the reward of winning the king-side pawns. Once the base of the pawn-chain (f6) falls, the others will fall soon after. || 

52... Rxb3 
53. Kxf6 

| The base collapses. The pawn chain is compromised. || 

53... Kb6 

| Annoyingly for black, 53... Rxc3 54. Rc7+ will force an exchange of rooks and an easy end-game for white to convert. White only has one tough move to find here, but it is logical enough considering all rook-pawn end-games. || 

54. Rf7! 

| Establishing the bridge formation to allow the white king to cross from file-to-file. In addition, the f3-pawn is offered protection, thus ensuring white of material gain. The game is now over. || 

54... Rxc3 
55. Kxe5 

| The better pawn to take, as then e5-e4 tricks for black are not possible. || 

55... Kc6 
56. Rf5 

| Constructing the bridge for the white king to cross back over the F-file to snatch the g5-pawn. || 

56... Kd7 
57. Kf6 Ke8 
58. Kxg5 Rc1 

| Black should resign here, but the game continued until a promotion was guaranteed. || 

59. Kg6 Rg1 
60. g5 Ke7 
61. f4 Ke6 
62. Re5+ Kd6 
63. Re2 Rf1 
64. f5 Kd7 
65. f6 Kd8 
66. f7 Kd7 
67. Re8 
Black resigns, 1-0 

*  *  * 

## Annotated Game, (database format). 

 [Event "London League 2016-2017"]
[Site "London, ENG"]
[Date "2017.01.09"]
[Round "6.7"]
[White "Ross, Chris"]
[Black "Hughes, Charles"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C00"]
[PlyCount "133"]
[EventDate "2017.01.09"]
[WhiteTeam "Drunken Knights 1"]
[BlackTeam "Hackney"]

{Annotations by Chris Ross. 

A dangerous opponent, who knows lots of theory. He plays quickly and is
renowned for being able to complicate matters quickly and pressurise his
opponent. Although he does not win many top-level games, he has a reputation
for holding many a strong player to a draw.}

1. e4 e6 
2. e5 

{The move of choice by Steinitz on the rare occasions that he faced the
French. Obviously, the French was not played much back in the 19th century.
Subsequently named the Steinitz attack, the point of the variation is not to
strive for a discernible advantage for white. Instead, the principal
objective of the line is to switch black from his familiar French-defence
structures and indeed, transpose the game from a 1. E4 to formations
similarly seen in 1. D4 games.}

2... d6 

{Black has a number of ways to challenge this variation. 
2... d5 will only allow white to capture en passant as intended.
2... c5 is the accepted response for black, switching the game into a 2. C3
Sicilian, but many a French player is unfamiliar with the theory to that
alternative defence's sub-variation.

Saying that though, Steinitz himself tried 3. F4 against Winawer back in
1882 and won easily enough.
After his first loss against this variation, Winawer went on to essay 2...
f6 in the following encounter and the game got very messy indeed, where he
actually eventually beat Steinitz. 

Suffice to say, that some forethought, preparation and some basic theoretic
knowledge is needed before attempting this side-line to the French. Although
it may be good against many an unsuspecting opponent, if you play it
repeatedly against somebody, they will soon learn how to deal with it, and
hence, why it is not played at the top level within the game.}

3. exd6 cxd6 

{3... Bxd6 miss-places the bishop. When white plays Bg5, the knight on f6
may be pinned, and I have had many a game where black has then retreated
with Bd6-Be7 thus losing a tempo. Also, the dark-squared bishop is a target
to Nbd2/Nc4, the natural development method for the queen's knight.

3... Qxd6 seems weird, but has some merit.
The game may transpose into the C3-Sicilian again.}

4. d4 e5 

{This, I have never seen before. I have had 
4... d5, 4... Nf6, 4... Be7 and 4... Nc6, as well as 4... b6 played here.}

5. dxe5 dxe5 
6. Qxd8+ Kxd8 

{The most telling point of the position is that in the end-game, white has a
queen-side majority. Although that seems a long way away, the slight telling
pull of that tiny advantage, will determine white's play from now on.

White will essentially create a passed-pawn on that side of the board, to
distract the black forces, whilst the white pieces will enter into the
king-side to pick up loose pawns. Whether that be with minor pieces, rooks
or even more powerfully, with the white king.
Since black has already played e7-e5, holes have appeared in the black
king-side structure, giving targets for the white pieces in the end-game.}

7. Bc4 f6 

{Now the light-squares are looking particularly weak. F5 is of particular
interest here for white. Penetration opportunities are appearing.}

8. Nc3 Bb4 

{The d6-square is a point of penetration.
8... Bc5 9. Ne4 and if black wishes to hold onto the g1-a7 diagonal 9... Bb6
is forced, when the white knight can immediately exploit the d6-square with
Nf7 forks on the cards.

9... Be7 10. Be3 secures the c5-square for white and the long g1-a7
diagonal.}

9. Bd2 

{An inaccuracy. 9. Nge2 is more accurate, to recapture on c3 with the
knight.}

9... Nc6 
10. O-O-O Bxc3 

{White threatens nasties with discoveries and Ne4 or Nd5 penetration ideas.
Even Nb5/Nd6 is possible.}

11. Bxc3+ 

{Played too automatically.

11. Bh6+! Is better.
The exchange will be won on h8, but more importantly, once won, the knight
on g8 will be loose to the bishop on c4. Just goes to show that calculation
is sometimes always needed in the simplest of positions.}

11... Kc7 
12. Ne2 Nh6 
13. Bd2 

{Admitting the misplaced dark-squared bishop. Naturally, the damage to the
black pawn-structure is threatened on h6. Also, the bishop is re-located
back to the g1-a7 diagonal.
The c3-square is vacated for the white knight.}

13... Nf5 

{13... Ng4 is an annoyance, but 14. Rdf1 and after the knight is driven
back, Bxh6 is possible. 
So, 14... f5 is possible, giving the f6-square as a flight square, but this
creates more weaknesses and the e5-pawn has become significantly weaker and
the white bishop-pair will begin to exert more and more pressure. 
Even f2-f4 to prise open the position is possible, for when e5-e4 is played,
the d4-square is taken away from black.
White will then break with h2-h3 and g2-g4.}

14. Nc3 a6 

{Stopping Nb5/Nd6 ideas, but creating a big hole on b6.}

15. Nd5+ Kb8 
16. Nb6 Nd6 

{Black has to get tactical, as he is in danger of losing material. Again, a
dangerous opponent, who found the resource quickly.

16... Ra7 17. Nxc8 Rxc8 18. Be6 picks up an exchange as the knight on f5 is
loose.}

17. Bb3 

{Solid. White does not engage in the tactics, as his positional superiority
will soon tell.
17. Nxa8 Nxc4 and the a8-knight cannot retreat, giving black a material
advantage.}

17... Nd4 

{Black finds the most resistant continuation.
17... Ra7 18. Be3! And black has too many discoveries to deal with.
18... Nd4 19. Bxd4 exd4 20. Rhe1 and black is pretty much paralysed.}

18. Nxa8 Nxb3+ 
19. axb3 Kxa8 
20. Be3 Nf7 

{Black tries to cover up all of the penetration squares along the D-file.
Without penetration squares, the white rooks will find it difficult to make
progress. 

Since everything along the D-file is covered up, the c7-square is sought as
a possible penetration route.}

21. Rd3 Bf5 
22. Rc3 Kb8 

{C7 is protected, but black does not have adequate play down the C-file
against the weak c2-pawn, as the rook stands on a dark-square (where it
belongs) and only a further penetration point is required.}

23. Rd1 Rc8 
24. Bc5 

{Not exchanging yet, as the black king will support in covering up the
penetration points. The d6-square is now used as a point of entry. 
Black also has to be wary of Bf8 in any end-game, as the king-side pawns may
fall easily after g7-g6 and Bg7.}

24... Re8 
25. Bd6+ 

{Happily giving up the dark-squared bishop to remove the annoying protective
knight, that is covering a lot of entry squares. Without this exchange, the
c3-rook will be allowed to enter via c7.}

25... Nxd6 
26. Rxd6 Re7 

{Black attempts to hold up all of the penetration points. It is very
difficult for white now to find a way through, but he can probe. With
probing, an opportunity may arise. All he has to do is improve all of his
pieces and ask black to find the defensive structure.}

27. Kd2 

{Bringing the king into the fight and centralising it. He is, after all,
headed for f5, right?}

27... Be4 
28. f3 Bc6 

{Major-point to the game now.
Black is generating counterplay and will force open the E-file by playing
e5-e4, thus giving much life to his light-squared bishop and opening up the
black rook.
White can blockade with f3-f4 once the E-pawn has advanced, but it is very
difficult then for white to make progress, as the blockaded position and the
protected nature of the e4-pawn offers him very few prospects.

Immediately, white has to resolve black playing Kc7 ensnaring the loose rook
on c7, as it has no retreat squares.

But the key to the position lies in the very first principal, determined
back on move 7. White has a queen-side advantage and can use that to
distract black in the end-game. That small, but pulling trait, will give him
a winning advantage. 
So, the continuation for white is not difficult to find.}

29. Rcxc6! 

{Returning the exchange, to win a pawn.
But that pawn is another pawn on the queen-side, thus giving white 3 verses
1 pawn on that side of the board. An essential element to the white
strategic plan.

29. Rd8+ Kc7 30. Rf8 is a slow positional way to play it, but yields little
hope for white to make progress. With the text-move, white enters into a
rook-pawn end-game, where he is assured of a small, but determining pull.}

 29... bxc6 
30. Rxc6 Rd7+ 
31. Ke2 

{The black rook must not be allowed entry into d1, when Rb1 could pick up
the backward b2-pawn.}

31... Kb7 
32. Rc4 

{Rooks operate horizontally as well as vertically. A feature that a lot of
people forget. The white rook can be used here to harass the black king-side
pawns, forcing movement, thus creating weaknesses and penetration points for
the white pieces.}

32... Rd5 
33. Rh4 Rc5 

{Defending with counter-action. Exchanges will only aid black survive his
position.}

34. c3 h6 
35. Rg4 Rc7 

{Wanting to retreat the active rook rather than create more pawn
weaknesses.}

36. h4 

{Forcing black's hand. If white is permitted to play h4-h5, then he has a
clamp on the f5 and g6 squares. The white king will be allowed to march in
at will then in the future once preparation has been completed.}

36... g5 
37. hxg5 hxg5 
38. Rb4+ 

{Forcing the black king to the A-file, as any entry onto the C-file will
allow an exchange of rooks, which is an easy king-pawn ending for white to
convert.}

38... Ka7 
39. Rc4 

{This can now be played, as the c8-square has been made available, due to
the black king having stepped onto the A-file.}

39... Rb7 

{Again, seeking to gain time with counter-play.
39... Rd7 40. Rc6 will allow the white rook to target the f6-pawn, another
reason why the black king had to be driven to the A-file.}

40. b4 Kb6 

{Preventing the white rook entering into c6.}

41. Rc8 

{With Rf8 ideas in mind.}

41... Rd7 
42. b3 

{An annoying move for black to deal with, since it prevents the black king
from getting counterplay through the queen-side.
42.. Kb5 43. Rc5+ and the black king cannot get into a4 and b3 and hit the
backward pawns.
Not that 43. Rc5+ is forced, but the point is that the black king has no
entry points.
Also, the white queen-side majority is slowly, slowly being mobilised.}

42... Rd6 
43. g4 

{Completely clamping down on the f5-square. The g2-pawn will no longer be a
weakness and the white king has time and space to begin its advance.}

43... Kb7 
44. Rc5 

{Maintaining the clamp on the queen-side. White has a final stage to achieve
there, before he can make any progress on the king-side.}

44... Rd8 

{Black desperately tries to find a waiting move.
Now, white can accomplish what he realised on move 7 about his queen-side
majority.}

45. b5 

{Eliminating the last pawn for black on that side of the board. Once that
has gone, there is nothing over there for white to be worried about. He can
then begin to use his queen-side pawns to distract black whilst he wipes up
the king-side ones. A simple, but highly effective plan.}

45... axb5 

{45... Kb6 46. Rc6+ and Rxf6 and the e5 and g5 pawns will fall quickly
enough. The a6-pawn is too far behind to create any annoyance for white,
whilst the king-side pawns begin to crash through.}

46. Rxb5+ Kc6 

{White's simple task now is to target the f6-pawn, in such a manner, that
the black rook will be forced to defend it.}

47. Ra5 Kb6 

{48. Ra6+ was threatened.}

48. Ra4 Kb5 

{Black tries to hold up the advancing white queen-side pawns, despite white
not having any interest in doing so. Black does not wish to leave the D-file
with is rook, as the white king can advance forwards without worrying about
any Rd1 penetration ideas.}

49. Ra7 

{Now 50. Rf7 is a serious threat by white.}

49... Rf8 

{49... Rd6 50. Re7 and the black forces are strangled as the F6-pawn cannot
advance without e5 dropping and the black rook cannot move due to Re6
ideas.}

50. Ke3 

{The black rook is now tied down to the defence of the f6-pawn. The white
king can advance without concerns of the black rook penetrating from behind.
The f5-square beckons.}

50... Kc5 
51. Ke4 Rb8 

{Black seeks counterplay. 
But this just falls into white's hands. Black had no choice though, for the
white king will penetrate onto f5 without any further resistance. Black
hopes to target the white pawns and distract white enough to hold him up.}

52. Kf5 

{White is unconcerned about his queen-side pawns, as he is content enough to
give those up for the reward of winning the king-side pawns. Once the base
of the pawn-chain (f6) falls, the others will fall soon after.}

52... Rxb3 
53. Kxf6 

{The base collapses. The pawn chain is compromised.}

53... Kb6 

{Annoyingly for black, 53... Rxc3 54. Rc7+ will force an exchange of rooks
and an easy end-game for white to convert.

White only has one tough move to find here, but it is logical enough
considering all rook-pawn end-games.}

54. Rf7! 

{Establishing the bridge formation to allow the white king to cross from
file-to-file. In addition, the f3-pawn is offered protection, thus ensuring
white of material gain. The game is now over.}

54... Rxc3 
55. Kxe5 

{The better pawn to take, as then e5-e4 tricks for black are not possible.}

55... Kc6 
56. Rf5 

{Constructing the bridge for the white king to cross back over the F-file to
snatch the g5-pawn.}

56... Kd7 
57. Kf6 Ke8 
58. Kxg5 Rc1 

{Black should resign here, but the game continued until a promotion was
guaranteed.}

59. Kg6 Rg1 
60. g5 Ke7 
61. f4 Ke6 
62. Re5+ Kd6 
63. Re2 Rf1 
64. f5 Kd7 
65. f6 Kd8 
66. f7 Kd7 
67. Re8 1-0 

*  *  * 

## Unannotated Game. 

White: C. Ross, 200 (ECF), approx Elo 2200. 
Black: C. Hughes, 175 (ECF), approx Elo 2000. 
Event: London League 2016-17. 
Result: 1-0 in 67 moves. 
Opening: French Defence, Steinitz Attack, C00. 

1. e4 e6 
2. e5 d6 
3. exd6 cxd6 
4. d4 e5 
5. dxe5 dxe5 
6. Qxd8+ Kxd8 
7. Bc4 f6 
8. Nc3 Bb4 
9. Bd2 Nc6 
10. O-O-O Bxc3 
11. Bxc3+ Kc7 
12. Ne2 Nh6 
13. Bd2 Nf5 
14. Nc3 a6 
15. Nd5+ Kb8 
16. Nb6 Nd6 
17. Bb3 Nd4 
18. Nxa8 Nxb3+ 
19. axb3 Kxa8 
20. Be3 Nf7 
21. Rd3 Bf5 
22. Rc3 Kb8 
23. Rd1 Rc8 
24. Bc5 Re8 
25. Bd6+ Nxd6 
26. Rxd6 Re7 
27. Kd2 Be4 
28. f3 Bc6 
29. Rcxc6 bxc6 
30. Rxc6 Rd7+ 
31. Ke2 Kb7 
32. Rc4 Rd5 
33. Rh4 Rc5 
34. c3 h6 
35. Rg4 Rc7 
36. h4 g5 
37. hxg5 hxg5 
38. Rb4+ Ka7 
39. Rc4 Rb7 
40. b4 Kb6 
41. Rc8 Rd7 
42. b3 Rd6 
43. g4 Kb7 
44. Rc5 Rd8 
45. b5 axb5 
46. Rxb5+ Kc6 
47. Ra5 Kb6 
48. Ra4 Kb5 
49. Ra7 Rf8 
50. Ke3 Kc5 
51. Ke4 Rb8 
52. Kf5 Rxb3 
53. Kxf6 Kb6 
54. Rf7 Rxc3 
55. Kxe5 Kc6 
56. Rf5 Kd7 
57. Kf6 Ke8 
58. Kxg5 Rc1 
59. Kg6 Rg1 
60. g5 Ke7 
61. f4 Ke6 
62. Re5+ Kd6 
63. Re2 Rf1 
64. f5 Kd7 
65. f6 Kd8 
66. f7 Kd7 
67. Re8 
Black resigns, 1-0 

*  *  *