Skype coaching session, 30 April 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 32 moves is given with annotations and then again without annotations. 

Paul Benson. 

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Annotated game. 

White: Anand, 2788. 
Black: Svidler, 2754. 
Event: Tal Memorial 2009. 
Result: 1-0 in 32 moves. 
Opening: Gruenfeld Defence, Exchange Variation, D85. 

1. d4 Nf6 
2. c4 g6 
3. Nc3 d5 
4. cxd5 Nxd5 
5. Bd2 

| A solid line. White can now recapture on c3 with a bishop when the thematic central advance of, pawn e4, is played. This system avoids all of those sharp lines where black breaks with, pawn c5, and generates activity against whatever pawn centre white chooses to construct. || 

5. ... Bg7 

| Instead, 5. ... Nb6, opens up an attack on the white d4 pawn from the d8 queen. White should answer with, 6. Bg5, opening up a protection from the d1 queen. || 

6. e4 Nb6 

| Instead, 6. ... Nxc3 7. Bxc3, and the white bishop is ready to counter any activity black might hope for on the h8 - a1 dark square long diagonal. || 

7. Be3 

| The most favoured reply by white. Instead, 7. Nf3 Bg4, and black scores well. || 

7. ... O-O 
8. h3 

| Again the most favoured reply by white. The idea is to play, Nf3, while not allowing black the joys which can arise from the pinning, Bg4. One might think such a slow approach in the opening should receive stern punishment. Experience shows that not only does white survive, but actually maintains a comfortable position in almost all counter-systems tried by black. All part of the strategy adopted as early as move 5 when white put the c1 bishop on the d2 square. Black is not going to be allowed to have a dynamic middlegame plan of undermining a white central pawn formation so often found in the mainlines where white hits on move 5 with, pawn e4. Instead, 8. Bb5, or, 8. Be2, score well for white, while, 8. f4, scores about level. Choose whichever variation creates a piece-pawn formation with which you feel most comfortable. || 

8. ... e5 

| This logical dynamic central break seems to be the most solid reply for black here. Instead, the aggressive, 8. ... f5, gives fighting chances for both players, though take care, white gets better results than black. Challenging in the centre with, 8. ... Nc6, might seem appealing, but white scores well. The Gruenfeld Defence can be a powerful weapon in the hands of a player willing to offer white a big pawn centre. It seems however that the psychological battle is being won by white in many of the variations arising after, 5. Bd2. All those wonderful, enjoyable, sharp counter-attacking lines found in the mainlines of, 5. pawn e4, are no longer available. Black must find other means to create tactics, and history is suggesting they are not easy to find. || 

9. Nf3 exd4 

| Instead, 9. ... Nc6 10. d5 Ne7, and white scores rather heavily. || 

10. Bxd4 

| White is more than happy for the dark square bishops to be removed from play. || 

10. ... Bxd4 

| Instead either, 10. ... Nc6, or, 10. ... Qe7, lead to many drawn games. Perhaps a question is arising in the minds of some readers? Just what are the ambitions of white when choosing the, 5. Bd2, and the further, 8. pawn h3, system? Perhaps white simply wishes to avoid defeat while giving the opponent some chances to strike out in a position which might not fully justify such counter-measures. Club players with white might not like to admit to playing systems designed to avoid defeat, Grand Masters are a more pragmatic bunch. || 

11. Qxd4 

| Further indications that white is willing to simplify the game, black is not of a similar mind. Perhaps tournament standings dictate that black needs a win from this game to overtake white in the points table. A position which even the humblest of club players will find themselves at some time in their chess career. Setting out to play for a draw against an opponent who is in a must-win situation is almost always destined to fail. Instead, selecting variations which lead to quiet middlegames with a slight pull on the white side is an ideal plan. Hand all those critical judgement calls over to your opponent while you sit on your slight advantage. || 

11. ... Qe7 

| Instead, 11. ... Nc6, has been tried here but examples are too few to draw inferences. || 

12. Qe3 

| White breaks the pin on the e4 pawn while also placing the queens in a mutual x-ray attack. Perhaps, 12. Be2, is worth consideration, but spends a move with the light square bishop when it is not yet clear where this piece should be placed. || 

12. ... Nc6 

| About the only other move for consideration here is, 12. ... f5, creating some weaknesses in the hope the imbalances produce opportunities for tactics as the middlegame proceeds. || 

13. Bb5 

| White will be very happy to trade this bishop for the black c6 knight, any double black pawns on the c-file would surely be problems in the endgame. || 

13. ... Nb4 

| Black enters into a dance of knight and bishop on the queenside. The end result seems to be a gain of a tempo for the white bishop, but this is far better than allowing white the positional gain of, Bxc6. Ah, and don't forget that quiet positions can contain venom. That apparent avoidance of doubled pawns also threatened a crushing royal fork of, Nc2+. || 

14. Rc1 Be6 
15. b3 

| A double purpose move. White takes control of the c4 square while blocking the combined attack of black minor pieces on the a2 pawn. || 

15. ... a6 

| Designed to force the white bishop back which then permits the somewhat stranded b4 knight to return to the c6 square, as well as reclaiming the e8 square for a rook. || 

16. Be2 Nc6 

| So, the knight and bishop dance has resulted in the black knight spending two moves to land back where it was, while the white bishop has spent two moves and improved it's location from f1 to the e2 square. That is why when white chose to block the e-file back on move 12, it was the queen who was selected for the job. || 

17. O-O f6 

| Black creates a retreat square for the e6 bishop while also preventing the white knight from attacking it with, Ng5. || 

18. Rfe1 Rad8 

| Analternative plan for black was to advance with, pawn a5, and, pawn a4, intending to give white a queenside pawn weakness to defend. || 

19. Bf1 Bf7 

| While the two bishops might have indicated an unwillingness to fight, the white bishop does not interfere with the coordination in the white position. The same cannot be said for the black f7 bishop. || 

20. Nh2 

| A lovely example of retreating in order to advance. The white knight intends to probe on the kingside, black feels this should not be allowed. || 

20. ... Be6 

| Ah, so black intends to meet a probing, Ng4, with the trading, Bxg4. White is not going to be so easily frustrated. An order then comes down from above - There shalt be a probing, Ng4. Fine, but how? || 

21. f4 

| O.K., white has finally made a committal move. While this might seem contrary to the initial strategy of seeking a calm game, it is based on good strategic judgement. Black has a 3 versus 2 queenside pawn majority, but this is not easy to mobilise. White on the other hand, has a central / kingside 4 versus 3 pawn majority which can be mobilised. Combine these factors with some black kingside piece-congestion problems along with those black knights relaxing over on the queenside, and the scene is set for white to start kingside activity in earnest. || 

21. ... Nd4 

| Perhaps, 21. ... Rd7, waiting for white to continue with the commitment of, 22. f5 Bf7 23. Ng4, when now, 23. ... Ne5, leaves white deciding whether the centralised black knight should be allowed to stay on the board, was preferable. || 

22. f5 

| White judges the dynamic opportunities will outweigh the positional weaknesses following this pawn advance. || 

22. ... Bf7 

| Those mutual queen x-ray attacks up the e-file are beginning to look rather one-sided. Black must avoid, 22. ... gxf5 23. exf5 Nxf5 24. Qxe6+, when white wins a piece for a pawn. || 

23. Ng4 gxf5 

| Black chooses to start a tactical fight from an inferior position, though sitting back and waiting for white to increase the kingside pressure was equally unappetising. || 

24. Nh6+ Kh8 

| White to play must find the next move or the initiative will be allowed to drift. || 

25. Qf2 

| One of those quintuple purpose moves one just happens to flick in now and again. 
Firstly, The white queen steps out of the glare of the black queen along the e-file. 
Secondly, the white e1 rook now takes over the x-ray attacking duties against the black e7 queen. 
Thirdly, despite retreating, the white queen maintains pressure on the black d4 knight. 
Fourthly, the white queen creates pressure up the semi-open f-file, which will increase should black decide to capture with, fxe4. 
Fifthly, the white king is still shielded from any random black queen checks should the black d4 knight move away. || 

25. ... fxe4 

| Having started the fun with, 23. ... gxf5, black feels honour-bound to continue with the tactics, even if it appears that matters could be taking a turn for the worse. Perhaps pushing past with, 25. ... f4, with the previously mentioned plan of placing a knight on the e5 square with, Nc6, and, Ne5, was worth considering. || 

26. Rxe4 Qd6 

| Black dare not block the e-file with, 26. Ne6, as white takes advantage of the unprotected state of the black queen with, 27. Qe3, with the immediate threat to undermine the black e6 knight with, Nxf7+, leading to the win of the e6 knight. After, 26. ... Ne6 27. Qe3, black can try, 27. ... Rfe8, but then, 28. Re1 Rd6 29. Nf5, and white wins an exchange. As if that were not enough, black must also take care to guard the f6 pawn from a potential, Qxf6+, which would be mate. || 

27. Rd1 

| Who says centralised knights are an asset? The black d4 knight is under a powerful triple attack and is running short of defenders. || 

27. ... c5 

| White is going to undermine the black d4 knight but there is an important zwischenzug to be found first to ensure the tactics favour white in all variations. || 

28. Nxf7+ 

| A double purpose move. 
Firstly, the unprotected white h6 knight might have become a target as the tactics unwind. If it is not on the board, then it cannot be drawn into any desperate tricks from black. 
Secondly, the black f8 rook is dragged forward and as such the black d8 rook is now vulnerable to captures with check. || 

28. ... Rxf7 
29. b4 

| A classical case of undermining. If the black c5 pawn is either removed from the board or deflected from important defensive duties, then the black d4 knight will be triply attacked and only doubly defended. || 

29. ... f5 

| Black is desperately flailing around to find a tactrickal escape route. There isn't one to be found, it is now simply a case of testing if white can find the correct plan leading to victory. Instead, 29. ... cxb4 30. Rexd4, wins large amounts of material for white. Black, if succumbing to unnecessary masochistic tendencies, would then have to choose between: 
(A). If, 30. ... Qxd4 31. Rxd4 Rxd4 32. Qxd4 bxc3 33. Qd8+ Kg7 34. Qxb6, white has a queen and bishop versus the lone black rook. 
(B). Or if, 30. ... Qxd4 31. Rxd4 Rg8 32. Rxb4, white again has a queen and bishop advantage over a black rook. 
(C). Or if, 30. ... Rfd7 31. Rxd6 Rxd6 32. Rxd6 Rxd6 33. Ne4, again, white has queen and bishop advantage over a black rook. || 

30. bxc5 fxe4 

| Black must play for tactricks. 
Instead, 30. ... Qxc5 31. Rexd4 Rxd4 32. Qxd4, and white has won a piece for a pawn while keeping everything under control. 
Or if, 30. ... Qxc5 31. Rexd4 Rg8 32. Ne4, and again the white pieces, including the extra bishop skulking on f1, will soon take command of the position. || 

31. Qxf7 

| Black to play has one last throw of the dice. || 

31. ... Nf3+ 

| Desperation. This is known amongst Grand Masters as a 50% move. That is, it either wins immediately, or if the opponent notices and avoids the trick, then it essentially demands immediate resignation. Why is black trying this 50 - 50 gamble? The black queen is overloaded in a position where the black forces are uncoordinated. Other options gave zero chance of victory: 
(A). If, 31. ... Qxc5, setting up a nasty discovered check, black loses much material to, 32. Qf6+ Kg8 33. Qxd8+ Kf7 34. Qxd4. 
(B). Or if, 31. ... Qe6 32. Qxe6 Nxe6 33. Rxd8+ Nxd8 34. cxb6, black has lost a piece. || 

32. Qxf3 
Black resigns, 1-0 

| That was the 50% move which black was hoping white would miss. Instead the 50% move for the alternate result was, 32. Kh1 Qh2+ mate. Black chose resignation as the best option. 
Instead if, 32. ... exf3 33. Rxd6 Rxd6 34. cxd6 fxg2 35. Bxg2, black is simply a piece down. 
Or if, 32. ... Qe7 33. Rxd8+ Qxd8 34. Qxe4, again black is a piece down for no compensation. || 

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## Unannotated game. 

White: Anand, 2788. 
Black: Svidler, 2754. 
Event: Tal Memorial 2009. 
Result: 1-0 in 32 moves. 
Opening: Gruenfeld Defence, Exchange Variation, D85. 

1. d4 Nf6 
2. c4 g6 
3. Nc3 d5 
4. cxd5 Nxd5 
5. Bd2 Bg7 
6. e4 Nb6 
7. Be3 O-O 
8. h3 e5 
9. Nf3 exd4 
10. Bxd4 Bxd4 
11. Qxd4 Qe7 
12. Qe3 Nc6 
13. Bb5 Nb4 
14. Rc1 Be6 
15. b3 a6 
16. Be2 Nc6 
17. O-O f6 
18. Rfe1 Rad8 
19. Bf1 Bf7 
20. Nh2 Be6 
21. f4 Nd4 
22. f5 Bf7 
23. Ng4 gxf5 
24. Nh6+ Kh8 
25. Qf2 fxe4 
26. Rxe4 Qd6 
27. Rd1 c5 
28. Nxf7+ Rxf7 
29. b4 f5 
30. bxc5 fxe4 
31. Qxf7 Nf3+ 
32. Qxf3 
Black resigns, 1-0 

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