Skype coaching session, 12 February 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 44 moves is given with annotations and then again without annotations. 

Paul Benson. 

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Annotated Game. 

White: J. Slagle, 1688 (FTP). 
Black: J. Thoune, 1256 (FTP). 
Event: FTP Jan. - Mar. 2017. 
Result: 1-0 in 44 moves. 
Opening: Queen's Gambit Declined, Semi-Slav Defence, D45. 

1. Nf3 Nf6 
2. c4 e6 
3. d4 d5 
4. e3 

| Openings have a habit of transposing and can take a few moves to settle down. This game began as a Reti, wandered into and out of the English system, and due to the black responses, has evolved into a Queen's Gambit Declined. Now it is a matter of arguing over which variation of the QGD will be chosen as the stepping stones to enter the middlegame. Other popular choices for white here are, 4. Nc3, or, 4. g3, or, 4. Bg5. Less common are, 4. cxd5, or, 4. Qc2, or, 4. Nbd2. || 

4. ... c6 

| Black steers the game into a SemiSlav Defence, a system very popular with the Grand Masters because it offers early solidity with chances for counter-attacking once the middlegame interactions begin in earnest. There are many options for black here offering differing styles of middlegame. 
Perhaps, 4. ... dxc4, for those preferring a semi-open centre. 
Or, 4. ... c5, challenging in the centre and creating central tensions which might prove disastrous for anyone not prepared for this variation. 
Or, 4. ... Be7, safe and solid, postponing any decision over the future of the c7 pawn. 
Or, 4. ... a6, signalling a desire to expand with, pawn c6, and, pawn b5, trying to clamp down on the light squares. 
Or, 4. ... Nbd7, safe and solid, again postponing commitment of pawns waiting for white to make some more development and then respond accordingly. 
Or 4. ... b6, aiming to have a bishop on b7 fighting for control of the central light squares. 
Or, 4. ... Bb4+, entering the world of Bogo-Indian systems, quite useful providing you have done your homework and know the strategic aims for black over on the queenside. 

So, which of the above choices is the best? Perhaps the wrong question. Instead, ask yourself which of the above choices leads to middlegame piece and pawn formations which suits your style of play, i.e., close, semi-open, or open positions. || 

5. Nc3 Bb4 

| Taking the game into a curious hybrid of a Semi-Slav and the Nimzo-Indian, nothing wrong as such but rarely the choice of the top GMs. Again, 5. ... Nbd7, or, 5. ... a6, or, 5. ... Bd6, or, 5. ... Be7, are much more often chosen here. The slightly offbeat, 5. ... Ne4, is as popular as the game move and might be worth investigating by those players who like exploring less common variations. || 

6. Bd2 

| White breaks the pin before it can be exploited by black with, 6. ... Ne4. Instead, 6. Bd3, is also popular here. || 

6. ... O-O 
7. Bd3 Nbd7 
8. O-O Qc7 

| Black would be advised here to do something about the undefended state of the b4 bishop. The most popular and most sensible solution is, 8. ... Qe7, though, 8. ... Bd6, or, 8. ... Be7, are known. After, 8. ... Qe7, white has tried many moves with, 9. Ne5, being the most popular and scoring much better than the other scattering of white choices. It is now white to play and find a lovely tactical opportunity to take a strong hold on the game. || 

9. cxd5 

| White plans a tactical surprise to make some positional gains. Instead in the game Alekhine - F. J. Prokop, Prague 1942, the tactical genius produced, 9. Nxd5, taking advantage of the unprotected status of the black b4 bishop. If black replies with either pawn capture on d5, white has, 10. Bxb4, attacking the black f8 rook, white is winning a safe pawn here. Instead after, 9. Nxd5 Nxd5, black has protected the b4 bishop, and we are now wondering what mystery Alekhine has in mind when starting this combination. Simple, he continues with, 10. cxd5, when, 10. Bxd2 11. dxc6, and while white is a piece down, there are two black pieces on d2 and d7 under attack. Black tried to make a fight of it with, 11. ... Ba5, but after, 12. cxd7 Bxd7 13. Ne5 Be8 14. Rc1 Qe7 15. Qh5 f5 16. Qe2 f4 17. Be4 a6, 18. Qc2 g6 19. exf4 Rxf4 20. g3 Rf8 21. Qc5 Qxc5 22. dxc5, black did not have any compensation for the lost pawn, white went on to win in 46 moves. || 

9. ... exd5 
10. Nb5 

| White has found a neat way to simplify the game while retaining the standard strategic option of a queenside minority attack. || 

10. ... Qa5 
11. Nd6 

| All part of the plan to eliminate the black c8 bishop. || 

11. ... Bxd2 
12. Qxd2 Qxd2 
13. Nxd2 Nb6 

| Perhaps, Rd8, vacating f8 so that, Nf8 - Ne6, and perhaps, Ng5, to come in with, Nge4, was a plan to be considered for this knight. || 

14. a4 

| Taking queenside space, intending to open lines and create a black pawn weakness. || 

14. ... Rd8 
15. Nxc8 Nxc8 
16. b4 a5 

| Black fights for space on the queenside. Instead, 16. ... a6, intending to respond to the white advance of, pawn b5, with, axb5, and then trying to reduce the pawn weaknesses to a possible backward c-pawn was another idea. White would still have lots of piece play around such a backward c-file weakness and the black pieces would find themselves tied down to defending until the point arrives when the defence proves to be strong or the attack wins the pawn. || 

17. b5 cxb5 

| Perhaps, 17. ... Ne7, intending to recapture on c6 with the knight, after which the b4 square would become available to this piece was worth considering. If white does not immediately capture, then black simply keeps defending the c6 pawns with rooks. || 

18. Bxb5 

 White| intends to keep the b-file semi-open so the backward black b-pawn can be a target for a rook. Black now has two pawn weaknesses on b7 and d5 to defend. Not fatal, but some care now needs to be taken. || 

18. ... Na7 
19. Bd3 

| White understandably wishes to keep his bishop for the endgame. However, 19. Rab1 Nxb5 20. Rxb5, and white has pressure on the black a5, b7, and, d5 pawns in return for letting the bishop go. || 

19. ... b6 

| Controlling the c5 square,preventing the white knight manoeuvre of, Nb3 - Nc5. || 

20. Rfc1 h6 

| Black is not worried about a possible back rank mate. This pawn is advanced to avoid loss when the black plan of, Ne8, and, Kf8, are put into action. || 

21. Rc7 

| Perhaps, 21. Rc3, immediately, as the rook cannot maintain itself on the 7th rank without a challenge. || 

21. ... Ne8 

| This knight retreat pushes the white rook back, but removes the natural defender of the weak d5 pawn. || 

22. Rc3 

| The white rook cannot stay on the 7th rank. If, 22. Rb7 Rdb8 23. Rd7 Rd8 24. Re7 Kf8 25. Rb7 Rdb8, and white must either accept three-fold repetition or trade rooks which would reduce some of the pressure on black. || 

22. ... Kf8 
23. Nb1 

| The knight has plans of, Na3, Nb5, and, Nxa7, taking control of the c6 square. || 

23. ... Rdc8 
24. Rxc8 

| A very serious concession. Instead supporting the c3 rook with, 24. Raa3, ensures that black will not take control of the only fully open file on the board. Now it is black who has the initiative and white who must shuffle to reduce the black activity. || 

24. ... Rxc8 
25. Kf1 Nd6 

| Instead, 25. ... Rc1+ 26. Ke2 Nc6, to be followed with, Nb4, when appropriate gives black good play. || 

26. Ke1 Nc4 
27. Bxc4 

| The black knight on c4 was having too much influence on the position, so it is eliminated. Now both kings head for as much central activity as they can achieve, but there is a big difference between them. The black d5 pawn is in need of careful protection and black has no central breaks available. White has only the a4 pawn to worry about and can organise the central break of, pawn e4. || 

27. ... Rxc4 
28. Kd2 Ke7 
29. Nc3 

| A knight on the c3 square plays an important role during the opening / early middlegame phases of the Queen's Gambit. Some players with the black pieces go out of their way to eliminate this piece by employing the Nimzo-Indian Defence. Now it is the endgame and yet again a knight on the c3 square will bring a powerful influence to bear on the game. || 

29. ... Ke6 

| The black king and rook are about to enter into an unfortunate relationship. Instead, 29. ... Kd6, would avoid the danger in the position, but would deny the black a7 knight a means to find activity. || 

30. Rb1 Rc6 

| Compare and contrast the two rooks. 
The white rook is attacking a weakness which ties the black rook down to a defensive role. The white rook can choose between maintaining the pressure on the black b6 pawn, or move elsewhere without any consequences to the white position. The black rook cannot think of attacking options until the white rook decides to move off the b-file. A case of flexibility versus inflexibility. Such are the advantages of an attacker over a defender. White to play in the game now has the opportunity to establish a decisive advantage. || 

31. Rb2 

| White misses, 31. e4, threatening, 32. exd5+, forking the black king and rook. Black must avoid, 31. ... dxe4 32. d5+, which again falls foul of the same fork trick but from a different pawn. So after, 31. e4, black must move either the king or rook to the d6 square, which simply allows, 32. Nxd5, and white has won a safe pawn and is winning. Expect variations on this tactical theme to remain, disappear and reappear as the game proceeds. || 

31. ... Nc8 
32. Kd3 

| By advancing the king to the d3 square, the tactic now becomes spoiled as any, pawn e4, break can be answered by black with, dxe4+, and white must take time to escape the check. || 

32. ... f5 

| Black clamps down on any potential, pawn e4, break by white. || 

33. g3 Nd6 

| And with this knight move black establishes a triple guard on the e4 square. || 

34. f3 

| Is there luck in chess? This pawn move is clearly designed to prevent black invading with, 34. ... Ne4. It performs the required task, but is white accidentally stumbling toward an unexpected opportunity not originally planned? || 

34. ... g5 
35. Rc2 

| I ask again, is there luck in chess? White simply wishes to trade rooks and play with single knights when black has three pawn islands while white has two pawn islands. This is not decisive but something with which to play, ask questions and await answers. But on c2 the white rook also performs a very useful task if black chooses to fall in with an as of yet mutually unappreciated idea. || 

35. ... Nc4 

| With this quite natural invasive move black is setting up tactics again. White to play, is there anything interesting available? || 

36. h4 

| Tactics lurk eternal! Instead undermining the defence of the black c4 knight with, 36. Nxd5, seems to be a safe snatch of a pawn. Some sample lines of analysis offered in three sections run: 

(A). If, 36. Nxd5 Kxd5 37. Rxc4 Rxc4 38. e4+ fxe4+ 39. fxe4+ Kd6 40. Kxc4, an easily won pawn ending for white. 
(B). Or if, 36. Nxd5 Kxd5 37. e4+ fxe4+ 38. fxe4+ Ke6 39. e5+, white wins at least an exchange and is winning. 
(C). Or if, 36. Nxd5 Kxd5 37. e4+ fxe4+ 38. fxe4+ Kd6 39. Rxc4, and black cannot avoid the trade of rooks after which white has a won pawn ending. 

(D). Or if, 36. Nxd5 Kxd5 37. Rxc4 Rf6 38. e4+ fxe4+ 39. fxe4+ Kd6 40. e5+, white wins the black rook. 
(E). Or if, 36. Nxd5 Kxd5 37. Rxc4 Rf6 38. e4+ fxe4+ 39. fxe4+ Ke6 40. Rc6+, and after trading rooks white has a winning pawn ending. 
(F). Or if, 36. Nxd5 Kxd5 37. Rxc4 Rg6 38. e4+ fxe4+ 39. fxe4+ Kd6 40. d5 Kd7 41. e5, and white has a winning rook and pawn ending. 

(G). Or if, 36. Nxd5 Nxe3 37. Nxe3, white is a piece up and clearly winning. 
(H). Or if, 36. Nxd5 Ne5+ 37. dxe5 Kxd5 38. Rxc6 Kxc6 39. f4, white has solidified the centre/kingside pawns, the protected passed e5 pawn guarantees a white win. 
(I). Or if, 36. Nxd5 Ne5+ 37. dxe5 Rxc2 38. Kxc2 Kxd5 39. f4, and again that protected passed e5 pawn prevents the black king from invading with, Ke4, white is winning. 
(J). Or finally if, 36. Nxd5 Nb2+ 37. Rxb2 Kxd5 38. e4+ fxe4+ 39. fxe4+, and the white central passed pawns are eventually going to be the decisive factor. || 

36. ... g4 
37. fxg4 fxg4 
38. Nxd5 

| The kingside simplifications have not altered the underlying tactical theme. || 

38. ... Ne5+ 

| The tactical ideas given previously on move 36, when white played, 36. h4, still apply here. There is also an important additional option for white which was not available previously when black had a pawn on the g5 square. || 

39. dxe5 

| Avoiding, 39. Kd2 Nf3+ 40. Kd1 Rxc2 41. Kxc2 Kxd5, when white is a piece down for a pawn, black is winning. || 

39. ... Rxc2 

| Instead, 39. ... Kxd5 40. e4+, and the black king must lose defensive contact with the c6 rook which will be lost after either, 40. ... Kxe5 41. Rxc6, or, 40. ... Ke6 41. Rxc6+, white wins in both variations. In the game white now finds an important checking zwischenzug to emerge a piece up. || 

40. Nf4+ 

| The white knight escapes to a safe square with check, postponing the recapture on c2 for a move and so emerges from the brief tactical skirmish a piece up. || 

40. ... Kxe5 
41. Kxc2 Ke4 

| The black king might appear to be invading in anticipation of winning some white pawns, but as we all know, appearances can be deceptive. || 

42. Kc3 

| The white king plans winning both the black queenside pawns. Fine, but isn't the black king about to do similar liquidation over on the white kingside? || 

42. ... Kxe3 
43. Kc4 Kf3 
44. Nh5 
Black resigns, 1-0 

| The white knight backwardly protects the g3 pawn. The black king could march to displace it with, Ke4, Kf5, Kg6, but white can simply leave it where it is! Black must then take the knight and march back to the f3 square, the total journey taking 8 moves. In the meanwhile white will have played, Kb5, Kxb6, Kxa5, Kb4, and then another 4 moves with the a-pawn, ending with a promotion to a queen with check. This is an easy win for white. Of course, when the knight on h5 is attacked by the black king playing, Kg6, it could retreat with, Nf4+, but where is the fun in that? || 

*  *  * 

## Unannotated Game. 

White: J. Slagle, 1688 (FTP). 
Black: J. Thoune, 1256 (FTP). 
Event: FTP Jan. - Mar. 2017. 
Result: 1-0 in 44 moves. 
Opening: Queen's Gambit Declined, Semi-Slav Defence, D45. 

1. Nf3 Nf6 
2. c4 e6 
3. d4 d5 
4. e3 c6 
5. Nc3 Bb4 
6. Bd2 O-O 
7. Bd3 Nbd7 
8. O-O Qc7 
9. cxd5 exd5 
10. Nb5 Qa5 
11. Nd6 Bxd2 
12. Qxd2 Qxd2 
13. Nxd2 Nb6 
14. a4 Rd8 
15. Nxc8 Nxc8 
16. b4 a5 
17. b5 cxb5 
18. Bxb5 Na7 
19. Bd3 b6 
20. Rfc1 h6 
21. Rc7 Ne8 
22. Rc3 Kf8 
23. Nb1 Rdc8 
24. Rxc8 Rxc8 
25. Kf1 Nd6 
26. Ke1 Nc4 
27. Bxc4 Rxc4 
28. Kd2 Ke7 
29. Nc3 Ke6 
30. Rb1 Rc6 
31. Rb2 Nc8 
32. Kd3 f5 
33. g3 Nd6 
34. f3 g5 
35. Rc2 Nc4 
36. h4 g4 
37. fxg4 fxg4 
38. Nxd5 Ne5+ 
39. dxe5 Rxc2 
40. Nf4+ Kxe5 
41. Kxc2 Ke4 
42. Kc3 Kxe3 
43. Kc4 Kf3 
44. Nh5 
Black resigns, 1-0 

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