Skype coaching session, 29 January 2017. 

Due to unfortunate circumstances there is no recording of this coaching session available. 

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 49 moves is given with annotations and then again without annotations. 

Paul Benson. 

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Annotated Game. 

White: B. Spassky. 
Black: M. Taimanov. 
Event: Russian Championship (Semi-final) 1955. 
Result: 1/2-1/2 in 49 moves. 
Opening: Ruy Lopez, Norwegian Variation, Nightingale Gambit, C70. 

1. e4 e5 
2. Nf3 Nc6 
3. Bb5 a6 
4. Ba4 b5 

| More popular choices for black here are, 4. ... Nf6, and, 4. ... d6. With similar popularity is, 4. Nge7, and seems to score better for black than the game move. Less popular are, 4. ... f5, 4. ... Bc5, 4. ... g6, and, 4. ... Be7. || 

5. Bb3 Na5 

| Black simply intends to remove the white light square bishop. In doing so then the expansive libraries of theory involving white retaining the light square bishop becomes superfluous. || 

6. Bxf7+ 

| Drawing distinction between bravery and folly is sometimes difficult. If an 18-year old about to become a Grand Master is willing to play, 6. Bxf7+, then Grand Rabbit might be advised to stay silent. More popular and less adventurous choices for white here are, 6. O-O, and, 6. d4. Instead, 6. Nxe5 Nxb3 7. axb3 Qg5, and the white knight and g2 pawn are forked, black usually manages to find good play. || 

6. ... Kxf7 
7. Nxe5+ Ke7 

| Instead, 7. ... Ke8, denies black a very important defensive manoeuvre, and, 7. Ke6, seems to remind one of Medieval battles of about six hundred years ago, where the charge against the enemy was led by the reigning monarch. || 

8. Qf3 

| White has a couple of choices here to complicate matters and a couple of less aggressive options: 
(A). If both players are willing, 8. Nf7 Kxf7 9. Qh5+ Ke7 10. Qe5+ Kf7 11. Qh5+, there could be a draw by repetition. 
(B). Or if black wishes to fight then, 8. Nf7 Kxf7 9. Qh5+ g6 10. Qd5+ Kg7 11. Qxa8 Nc6, and the white queen seems temporarily trapped. This imbalance of two white pieces for two black pawns and rook is very unclear and in need of either some practical testing at master level or some good home study assisted by Fritz and friends. 
(C). Or another form of fighting imbalance is, 8. Nf7 Qe8 9. Nxh8, when the trapped white knight on h8 should give itself up for a pawn after black tries, pawn g6, and, Bg7. 
(D). Or if, 8. Qh5 Qe8, when the white queen should retreat with either, 9. Qh4+, or, Qe2. 
(E). Instead either, 8. d4, or, 8. Nc3, intending to get castled queenside as quickly as possible is a calmer approach for white. || 

8. ... Nf6 
9. Nc3 Qe8 

| An important defensive re-grouping for black. The queen vacates the d8 square to offer the exposed king a much-needed flight square. || 

10. d4 Bb7 
11. Bf4 

| Instead, 11. Bg5, might be tempting but would soon be challenged with, pawn h6, when white might feel obliged to exchange the useful bishop for the black knight. On f4 the bishop has activity which black must counter as the middlegame proceeds. || 

11. ... Kd8 
12. O-O-O Be7 

| Black has a threat of, pawn b4, which forces, Nd5, if white does not wish to lose the e4 pawn. So white decides to remove one of the black pieces targetting the vulnerable pawn. || 

13. Ng4 Nxg4 

| Instead, 13. ... Nh5, intending to remove the white dark square bishop was worth a try. White would then need to be careful about a subsequent, Rf8, pinning and winning the f4 bishop with, pawn g5. These threats cannot win material by force, but would instead disrupt the white plans for central activity. || 

14. Qxg4 Qg6 

| Black is happy to relieve the pressure with a queen trade, even at the cost of some weaknesses in doubled g-pawns. || 

15. Qxg6 hxg6 
16. f3 Nc4 

| The knight must find some activity, it has served its purpose on a5, that is to make sure that one way or another the white light square bishop does not remain in the game. || 

17. b3 g5 

| Black makes a useful pawn advance which pushes the white dark square bishop to a less active square. || 

18. Bg3 

| White does not wish for any unnecessary piece exchanges and so retreats the bishop so it can still assist with central pawn advances. || 

18. ... Nd6 
19. Rhe1 

| Instead restraining any kingside activity with, 19. h3, might have been a sensible precaution. || 

19. ... b4 

| Black must create open lines on the queenside. Note how both black rooks will find middlegame activity from their original squares. Opportunities to play in this manner are rare and can easily be overlooked. || 

20. Na4 Bc6 

| Instead seeking to remove the advanced doubled g-pawn with, 19. ... g4, was worth consideration. If, 20. fxg4 Nxe4, and white will find it difficult to avoid the exchange of the dark square bishop. So after, 19. g4, white should perhaps try, 20. Nc5, attacking the black b7 bishop and letting black play, gxf3, when he desires so to do. This would leave white with the f3 pawn as a target on the semi-open f-file as well as breaking up the white kingside pawn formation. || 

21. Nc5 Nb5 

| Aiming at some weak dark squares in front of the white king. || 

22. d5 

| White must open lines for the remaining pieces before black opens up the queenside with the advance of the a-pawn. || 

22. ... Bxc5 

| This reply seems forced. Instead, 22. ... Nc3 23. Rd2 Nxa2+ 24. Kb2, and black has two pieces hanging. If then, 24. ... Bxc5 25. dxc6 Nc3 26. Rxd7+. The white d7 rook rules the black 2nd rank, the c7 and g7 pawns are weak, and the passed e4 pawn is ready to roll. || 

23. dxc6 d6 

| Now white has a point to attack, the black d6 pawn. || 

24. Rd5 a5 

| Instead, 24. ... g4 25, f4, and white then has, Rg5, skewering the doubled black g-pawns. || 

25. Rxg5 

| Not just a pawn-grab but a necessary activation offering a potential invasion point on the 7th rank. If black chooses to defend the g7 pawn, then white will have tied down an opposing rook while keeping his own rook active. || 

25. ... a4 

| Lines on the queenside are about to open, and white has very few defenders around his king. || 

26. Kd2 

| The white king anticipates the opening of the a-file and begins to run away before he is forced to move. Instead, 26. Kb2 Bd4+, and white seems to have run towards quite a lot of trouble. || 

26. ... axb3 
27. axb3 Ra2 

| The white c2 pawn is now a serious weakness. White must now choose between trying for activity or defending, remember Fischer's recipe involving punch and duck? Instead black could consider, 27. ... Bd4, threatening, Bc3+. || 

28. e5 Nd4 

| If black tries to avoid complications with, 28. ... d5, white pushes on with, 29. e6, and after an invasive, Rxg7, white has strong pressure. || 

29. exd6 

| Having checked that a mating net is not closing in, white keeps on with the attack. Sometimes you need to duck, but sometimes you can just keep punching. || 

29. ... Rxc2+ 
30. Kd1 cxd6 
31. Rxg7 Rc3 

| White to play must find some much needed inspiration. Take some time to find the next move. || 

32. Bh4+ 

| What? Surely white is throwing away his important dark square bishop? Instead doubling rooks on the 7th rank with, 32. Ree7, cannot weave a mating net because the black c7 bishop backwardly controls the a7 square. If this square was not guarded then white would have the plan, Ree7, Ra7, Rgb7+, and finally, Ra8+ mate. If this mating pattern of two 7th rank rooks supported with a pawn on the bishop file is unfamiliar to you, perhaps spending some time memorising the mating process might yield rewards in later games. Please note the same pattern can be used had the white pawn been on the rooks file, but that it will not work if the supporting pawn is on the knights file. || 

32. ... Kc8 

| Black must avoid blundering with, 32. ... Rxh4, when white has a double rook mating net with, 33. Rd7+ Kc8 34. Re8+ mate. White also has the luxury of the less incisive but equally crushing, 32. ... Rxh4 33. c7+ Kc8 34. Re8+ Kb7 35. c8=Q+, and it is all over. || 

33. Bf6 

| The white dark square bishop is the most influential piece on the board. It offers attacking options in several directions while strengthening the weak dark squares in the white centre / queenside. || 

33. ... Rd3+ 

| Black is about to take a cautious approach, preferring to remove any white winning options rather than try to find some of his own with, 33. ... Rxb3, and try to make something decisive with the newly-passed b4 pawn. Some players always play for a win, some players prefer to play to avoid a defeat. || 

34. Kc1 Nxc6 

| And once this dangerous white passed pawn is eliminated then the immediate danger to the black king is removed. || 

35. Kc2 Rd5 
36. h4 

| This passed pawn must be kept under control. Note how the black king cannot easily get over to the kingside to assist in removing the powerfully-placed white pieces. || 

36. ... Kb8 

| Perhaps a panic move induced by some time pressure? The king is not particularly exposed on c8, the only serious threat white could mount is, Ra1, threatening, Ra8+ mate, which could be answered with, Kb8, when, and only when, the threat arises. While this king move does no harm, the game is about to enter the endgame, and the extra square further from the centre for the black king might have consequences. || 

37. Rg5 

| Discovering an attack on the black h8 rook while attacking the undefended black d5 rook. This forces a trade of rooks, which eliminates any possibilities of black either attacking or finding defensive resources with a pair of rooks. || 

37. ... Rxg5 
38. hxg5 

| Black must now play accurately otherwise the white g-pawn will be very difficult to stop. || 

38. ... Rh2 
39. Re2 Nd4+ 

| Black forces a liquidation which gains important control of the dark squares over on the kingside. || 

40. Bxd4 Bxd4 
41. Kd3 

| A very useful central space-gaining tempo, some kings get all the luck! This advancing monarch must quickly find itself in a position to support the kingside passed pawns if need be and at the same time prevent the black king from finding activity. Have a quick look around for a square which meets both needs, cement him there and wait to see how black responds. || 

41. ... Bc3 
42. Ke4 Kc7 
43. Kd5 Kd7 

| The kings are in opposition to each other, this offers white an opportunity to activate his rook and even create a few winning chances, but only if black gets really careless. || 

44. Ra2 

| The white rook now has options of a series of annoying checks to the black king who is very short of shelter. || 

44. ... Rh1 

| Effectively an admission that black cannot make progress. This re-location of the black rook is designed to keep options of pushing the white king away from it's dominating d5 location with checks from the white back rank. || 

45. Ra7+ Ke8 
46. f4 

| The white passed pawns will not advance far, instead they effectively force black to accept the extra piece can only be used for defensive purposes. Black no longer has any winning prospects. || 

46. ... Kf8 
47. f5 

| The white pawns sitting side by side on the 5th rank control the black 3rd rank, the black king is now restricted to his 1st and 2nd ranks. These white pawns must not be allowed to advance to the 6th rank, when white will threaten, Ra8+ mate. || 

47. ... Rh5 

| And black is winning a pawn. White must accept that all winning prospects have gone and call off the chase. || 

48. Ra8+ 

| White is not interested in taking chances when a clear draw is available. Trying for a win with, 48, f6, aiming for mate, is too optimistic and actually throws it all away. After, 48. ... Rxg5+ 49. Ke6, white threatens mate with the a7 rook but, 49. ... Re5+ 50. Kxd6 Rf5, and black has been gifted a win. Instead, 48. Kxd6 Rxg5 49. Ke6 Rxg2 50 f6, again threatens mate with the rook but, 50. ... Re2+ 51. Kf5 Rf2+ 52. Kg6 Rxf6+, and black is again winning. || 

48. ... Ke7 
49. Ra7+ 
Draw, 1/2-1/2 

| Black is not interested in trying to win with, 49. Kd8, which would allow, 50. Kxd6, threatening that back rank rook mate again. After, 50. ... Kc8, to break the mating pattern, white can force matters with, 51. f6 Rxg5 52. f7 Bg7 52. f8=Q+ Bxf8 53. Ra8+ Kb7 54. Rxf8 Rxg2, and even if black loses the vulnerable b4 pawn, it will be drawn by black simply placing the rook on g7 until white re-locates his rook away from the black back rank. When this happens black puts the king on b8, the rook on the black back rank, and shuffle the rook from side to side, white cannot make any progress. || 

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## Unannotated Game. 

White: B. Spassky. 
Black: M. Taimanov. 
Event: Russian Championship (Semi-final) 1955. 
Result: 1/2-1/2 in 49 moves. 
Opening: Ruy Lopez, Norwegian Variation, Nightingale Gambit, C70. 

1. e4 e5 
2. Nf3 Nc6 
3. Bb5 a6 
4. Ba4 b5 
5. Bb3 Na5 
6. Bxf7+ Kxf7 
7. Nxe5+ Ke7 
8. Qf3 Nf6 
9. Nc3 Qe8 
10. d4 Bb7 
11. Bf4 Kd8 
12. O-O-O Be7 
13. Ng4 Nxg4 
14. Qxg4 Qg6 
15. Qxg6 hxg6 
16. f3 Nc4 
17. b3 g5 
18. Bg3 Nd6 
19. Rhe1 b4 
20. Na4 Bc6 
21. Nc5 Nb5 
22. d5 Bxc5 
23. dxc6 d6 
24. Rd5 a5 
25. Rxg5 a4 
26. Kd2 axb3 
27. axb3 Ra2 
28. e5 Nd4 
29. exd6 Rxc2+ 
30. Kd1 cxd6 
31. Rxg7 Rc3 
32. Bh4+ Kc8 
33. Bf6 Rd3+ 
34. Kc1 Nxc6 
35. Kc2 Rd5 
36. h4 Kb8 
37. Rg5 Rxg5 
38. hxg5 Rh2 
39. Re2 Nd4+ 
40. Bxd4 Bxd4 
41. Kd3 Bc3 
42. Ke4 Kc7 
43. Kd5 Kd7 
44. Ra2 Rh1 
45. Ra7+ Ke8 
46. f4 Kf8 
47. f5 Rh5 
48. Ra8+ Ke7 
49. Ra7+ 
Draw, 1/2-1/2 

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