Skype coaching session, 14 May 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: E. L'ami, 2608. 
Black: A. Bezemer, 2312. 
Event: Unive Open, Hoogeveen, 2013. 
Result: 1-0 in 44 moves. 
Opening: Gruenfeld Defence, Exchange Variation, Nadanian Attack, D85. 

1. d4 Nf6 
2. c4 g6 
3. Nc3 d5 
4. Nf3 

| Introducing the Three Knights Variation, leaving black guessing if the mainline Exchange Variation system which starts with, cxd5, is planned or a sideline is on the agenda. || 

4. ... Bg7 
5. cxd5 Nxd5 
6. Na4 

| The dance of repertoires continues. White adopts the Nadanian Attack, placing the knight on a4 means when white pushes with, pawn e4, black is denied the option of trading with, Nxc3, to be followed by pressure from the g7 bishop up the h8 - a1 diagonal. || 

6. ... Nb6 

| Black gets a retreat in before it is necessary. To my knowledge, no one so far has ventured into, 7. Nc3 Nd5 8. Na4 Nb6 9. Nc3 Nd5, as a means of agreeing to an early draw. || 

7. e4 Bg4 

| Instead, 7. ... O-O, is less committal, leaving white guessing whether black is planning lashing out with, pawn f5, at some point. || 

8. Be3 

| Necessary to protect the d4 pawn which was under a double attack, Q-d8 and B-g7, and only singly defended, Q-d1, since the pinned f3 knight is not contributing. || 

8. ... Bxf3 

| Consistent. Imbalances abound. White is given the bishop pair in trade for doubled f-pawns. Who will be better? Come back in about 30 moves when the middlegame has had a chance to test each player. || 

9. gxf3 e5 

| Fighting chess. Instead, 9. ... O-O, seems sensible. With this central pawn challenge there is a little tactic to be anticipated. || 

10. dxe5 

| Surely this is a blunder? Isn't black just going to undermine by trading queens and then pick up a piece with, Nxa4, winning? || 

10. ... Qe7 

| Players with Elo ratings above 2300 can play a bit. Instead, 10. ... Qxd1+ 11. Rxd1 Nxa4 12. Bb5+, white has a skewering check which regains the apparently blundered piece. Then after, 12. ... c6 13. Bxa4 Bxe5 14. Rd2, or, 14, Bd4, there is still sufficient imbalance available for the game to still be a fight. However, 10. ... Qxd1+ 11. Rxd1 Bxe5, was also worth consideration. || 

11. f4 

| White isn't actually winning a pawn here. Black is employing a little trick designed to create significant pawn imbalances. || 

11. ... Qb4+ 

| Quadruple attack! A check, a double attack on the white a4 knight, an attack on the e4 pawn and an attack on the b2 pawn. White has only one satisfactory reply to avoid disaster. || 

12. Nc3 

| Removing the knight from danger and protecting the e4 pawn, but the b2 pawn is a goner. || 

12. ... Qxb2 

| Regaining the pawn leaving white with a 5 - 3 centre / kingside pawn majority, in return for a black 3 - 1 queenside pawn majority. Which side is going to be better? Whoever can get their majority rolling first to create threats will win a lasting initiative. || 

13. Qc1 

| White wishes to use the centre / kingside pawn majority to create a passed pawn, or if possible, two passed pawns. A queenless middlegame will assist in getting this short-term plan moving as quickly as possible. || 

13. ... Qxc1+ 
14. Rxc1 c6 

| A double purpose move. Firstly, this advance restricts the activity of the white c3 knight. Secondly, while it blunts the potential activity of the white c1 rook, it does not assist in setting the black queenside pawns into motion. As the game proceeds, please take careful note of how the white pawn majority gets moving while the black pawn majority remains inactive. || 

15. h4 

| A nice probing pawn push which gives black a tricky test. If black sits still, white can advance with, pawn h5, and trade, reducing the centre / kingside to a 4 - 2 majority. The more pawns that can be exchanged will increase the importance of those pawns remaining in that region. || 

15. ... h5 

| A case of win something, lose something. While black prevents the, pawn h5, advance, this in turn creates a weakness which will now become the focus of white's attention. || 

16. Rg1 

| Black has given up the light square bishop, so white can settles down to some light square action without any serious challenges. || 

16. ... N8d7 
17. Bh3 

| While this bishop clearly has no future on either d3 or e2, the h3 - c8 diagonal is a different story. Note how the probing push of, pawn h4, has dragged the black h-pawn forward. This means the black g6 pawn lacks a vital defender for the forthcoming centre / kingside activity. It is well known that hindsight is a wonderful gift. So we shall not dwell too long on the black advance of the h-pawn, other than to suggest it might have been better to keep it on h7, which permits white to advance with pawn h5, and trade h-pawns instead of trying for a kingside blockade as in game. || 

17. ... Bf8 

| A double purpose move. Firstly, the bishop escapes the x-ray attack from the white g1 rook. Secondly, the bishop on f8 supports either, Nc5, or a challenging, Bc5. White in the game has prepared sufficiently and the time for action is now here. || 

18. e6 

| A pawn fork which forces a pawn trade in some way. The reduction of the white centre / kingside pawn majority has begun. The black queenside pawn majority remains static. White is taking control of the game, it is going to be a defensive chore for black now. || 

18. ... Nc5 

| Instead, 18. ... fxe6 19. Rxg6, and the black e6 pawn will be captured next move. || 

19. exf7+ Kxf7 

| One set of white double pawns eliminates itself, and it seems likely that the other set is about to do the same. This tells us that if doubled pawns have mobility they can think of exchanging themselves out of play. Black on the other hand has no positive plan and must respond to whatever white is planning. || 

20. Ke2 Re8 

| Drifting. This only forces white to play a move which was planned anyway. Perhaps, 20. ... Rd8, asking white if this rook can remain unchallenged on the d-file was worth a try. || 

21. e5 Ne6 

| Black has prepared, Bc5, to exchange dark square bishops which should assist in mobilisation of the queenside pawn majority. It is however white to move, and passive spectatorship is not an option. || 

22. f5 gxf5 

| the white majority reduces to 3 - 1, leaving white with connected passed pawns ready to roll. That formation of doubled pawns on adjacent files has taken only 11 moves to unravel. With a little inspiration alleged weaknesses can be converted into strengths. || 

23. Bxf5 Rd8 

| There is no time for, 23. ... Bc5, because of the undermining, 24. Bxe6+ Kxe6 25. Bxc5, costing black a piece. || 

24. Rcd1 

| White has a big plus in the centre / kingside which is about to get bigger. However one should not be blinkered to counterplay for the opponent. A rook trade will suit white, the closer the game gets to an endgame, the greater will be the opportunities arising from the white passed pawns. Again, where is that black queenside counter-activity? || 

24. ... Rxd1 
25. Rxd1 Be7 

| Targetting the unprotected white h4 pawn and preparing the centralising, Rd8, it seems black fancies an endgame as well. It is white to play and find the best move of the entire game. 
Clue: Such comments usually hint at tactics. Not so this time, this is a strategic excellence in need of discovery. || 

26. Bc2 

| White is quite happy to let the h4 pawn go, the passed black h5 pawn will not get far. The light square bishop is making a very important re-grouping to become the strongest piece on the board. Combine this with the speedy advance of the f2 pawn and black is going to be put under severe pressure. || 

26. ... Rd8 

27. Rxd8 Bxd8 
28. Bb3 

| Claiming a very powerful diagonal aiming into the heart of the black position. It is positions like this and what is about to emerge which should get players asking themselves to think carefully about casually giving up a bishop for a knight in the opening. Black has had virtually no method of challenging on the light squares since playing, 8. ... Bxf3. This pin on the black e6 knight makes the advance of, pawn f4, and, pawn f5, into a threat which cannot be ignored. Then there is the further advances of, pawn f6, and, pawn f7, to be confronted. Not bad for a little fellow who was condemned to being the backward sibling in the Brethren of Doubled Pawns almost 20 moves ago. And the black queenside 3 - 1 pawn majority, established on move 12, has yet to get out of the starting blocks. || 

28. ... Bxh4 

| Might as well have the pawn, there is little else of use for black. || 

29. f4 Ke7 
30. f5 Nd8 

| Black chooses to defend the light squares of e6 and f7. Instead, 30. ... Ng5, or, Nf8, intending to place this knight on h7 was another attempted defence. The idea is to seek an opportunity to give up this knight for both of the white passed pawns if white permits this trade. Such a resulting ending of three white pieces plus the a2 pawn against two black pieces plus 4 pawns would be an interesting battle, much better than what happens in the game. || 

31. f6+ 

| Surely white is handing black the chance to remove both passed pawns at the cost of the h4 bishop? || 

31. ... Ke8 

| Black avoids the tempting, 31. ... Bxf6, because of the zwischenzug, 32. Bc5+, when the black king cannot stay in contact with his f6 bishop. A pair of bishops on adjacent diagonals exert powerful influences, ignore this type of formation at your peril. After, 32. ... Ke8 33. exf6, white has a decisive advantage. 

White in the game must discover an important defensive idea for black which must not be allowed. ||

32. Bxb6 

| What? smartly-dressed prelate voluntarily trades itself in for this flea-ridden horse? 
This type of decision can only be explained by some retro-thinking. 
Grand Rabbit will try to work through the thinking processes needed to make this move. 
The least active piece for white is the c3 knight. 
Imagine a good attacking square for it and then plan how to get it there. 
Since we are planning a pawn promotion and the f8 square is a logical location, then g6 is ideal for the white knight. 
How about playing, Kf3, to be followed with, Ne2 - Nf4 - Ng6, and then think again. 
Simple, as far as it goes. 
Unfortunately this is somewhat careless as it overlooks an important concept. 
When a piece moves it gains influence over new squares, but it also gives up influence over squares previously fought for, you win some, you lose some. 
If the c3 knight moves away, the d5 square has been reduced to having been under complete control to a status of only being challenged. 
If the white knight goes walkabout into the kingside, then black will have, Nd5, blocking that all-important light square a2 - g8 diagonal, and the monster lurking on b3 will be reduced to status of spectator. 
So, eliminate the black b6 knight and that diagonal should always remain open for the b3 bishop, irrespective of where the white knight wanders. 
Easy when you know how. || 

32. ... axb6 
33. Kf3 

| White has a plan of improving the position of the king, perhaps the f5 square beckons, which combined with the transfer of the c3 knight to g6, satisfactorily sets up the pawns for the final push. Black can sit and wait, almost certainly a defeat just waiting to happen. Instead, black finds an active plan and goes for it. || 

33. ... Kd7 

| Heading into the queenside hoping to find something with an active king plus a few pawns. || 

34. Ke4 Be1 

| This is not an attack simply for the sake of it. The black bishop intends to fight for control of the e7 and f8 squares from the a3 - f8 diagonal. || 

35. Ne2 h4 

| Should white be worried about this h-pawn? Not really, it can be rounded up if thought to be absolutely necessary. As it happens, it is about to become constrained by a necessary concession forced upon black. The white passed pawns are the key feature in the position, focus should be on preparing their advances to achieve maximum material gain. || 

36. Nf4 b5 
37. e6+ Nxe6 

| Instead, 37. ... Ke8 38. f7+ Kf8 39. Ng6+ Kg7 40. f8=Q+, is easily winning for white. Varying with, 37. ... Ke8 38. f7+ Nxf7 39. exf7+ Kf8 40. Ng6+, is similarly hopeless for black. || 

38. Bxe6+ 

| As well as winning a piece, this bishop capture guards the h3 square, that passed black h-pawn is going nowhere. It should be clear from previous analysis that the black king cannot stop the passed white f-pawn now. It is instead up to the black bishop to find a means to give itself up for that pawn. This would leave white with bishop, knight, and a2 pawn against the four black pawns. This should be relatively easy for a Grand Master, but club players could mishandle the position and find themselves confronted with having to round up several black pawns and then checkmate with bishop and knight. Hard work at best and hard luck at worst. Is there a strategic means to resolve the game without facing a lengthy test of endgame technique? || 

38. ... Kc7 

| Black is not really trying to find something on the queenside, there is nothing useful to be found over there. Moves are simply being played to let white show the relatively quick win. || 

39. f7 Bb4 

| White can win this bishop at the cost of the f-pawn, but is there a better plan available? || 

40. Ng6 Kb6 

| At the risk of annoyance, surely white is not going to promote which allows black to give up the bishop on the newly-promoted queen with all the previously explained hard work to follow? If not, then why is the knight being posted on the g6 square? 
Clue: It is not only the f8 square which the knight is controlling. Oh, and while, Nxh4, removes the black h-pawn, there is really no need for this. || 

41. Ke5 

| The white king is planning the ultimate insult to an opposing monarch. || 

41. ... Ka5 
42. Kf6 

| The idea is to block the a3 - f8 diagonal with, 43. Ne7, allowing the f-pawn to promote without losing the new queen. || 

42. ... Bc3+ 
43. Ke7 

| Just passing through. || 

43. ... Ka4 

| Instead, 43. ... Bg7 44. Nxh4 Ka4 45. Nf5, forcing the black bishop back with, 45. Bc3, but then, 46. f8=Q Bb4+ 47. Nd6, white keeps the new queen and wins. || 

44. Ke8 
Black resigns, 1-0 

| Claiming the a3 - f8 diagonal with, 44. ... Bb4, fails as white now blocks the path to the f8 promotion square with, 45. Ne7, revealing why the white king needed to sprint up the board and sit on the black monarch's throne. || 

*  *  * 

## Unannotated game. 

White: E. L'ami, 2608. 
Black: A. Bezemer, 2312. 
Event: Unive Open, Hoogeveen, 2013. 
Result: 1-0 in 44 moves. 
Opening: Gruenfeld Defence, Exchange Variation, Nadanian Attack, D85. 

1. d4 Nf6 
2. c4 g6 
3. Nc3 d5 
4. Nf3 Bg7 
5. cxd5 Nxd5 
6. Na4 Nb6 
7. e4 Bg4 
8. Be3 Bxf3 
9. gxf3 e5 
10. dxe5 Qe7 
11. f4 Qb4+ 
12. Nc3 Qxb2 
13. Qc1 Qxc1+ 
14. Rxc1 c6 
15. h4 h5 
16. Rg1 N8d7 
17. Bh3 Bf8 
18. e6 Nc5 
19. exf7+ Kxf7 
20. Ke2 Re8 
21. e5 Ne6 
22. f5 gxf5 
23. Bxf5 Rd8 
24. Rcd1 Rxd1 
25. Rxd1 Be7 
26. Bc2 Rd8 
27. Rxd8 Bxd8 
28. Bb3 Bxh4 
29. f4 Ke7 
30. f5 Nd8 
31. f6+ Ke8 
32. Bxb6 axb6 
33. Kf3 Kd7 
34. Ke4 Be1 
35. Ne2 h4 
36. Nf4 b5 
37. e6+ Nxe6 
38. Bxe6+ Kc7 
39. f7 Bb4 
40. Ng6 Kb6 
41. Ke5 Ka5 
42. Kf6 Bc3+ 
43. Ke7 Ka4 
44. Ke8 
Black resigns, 1-0 

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