Skype coaching session, 28 May 2017. 

Recordings of some previous coaching sessions can be found at: 

http://www.open-aurec.com/Skype/PaulBenson/PaulBenson.htm
 
The following two games were examined, the games 22 moves and 17 moves are given with annotations and then again without annotations. 

Paul Benson. 

*  *  * 

Annotated game 1. 

White: A. Nikitin, 2471. 
Black: M. Novik, 2463. 
Event: Russian Team Championship, Major League, 2008. 
Result: 0-1 in 22 moves. 
Opening: Gruenfeld Defence, Exchange Variation, Nadanian Attack, D85. 

1. d4 Nf6 
2. c4 g6 
3. Nc3 d5 
4. cxd5 Nxd5 
5. Na4 Bg7 
6. e4 Nb6 
7. Be3 O-O 
8. Nf3 f5 

| Surely a choice more likely to be played by club players wishing to engage in hand-to-hand fighting? 
Instead, the mainline option here is, 8. ... Bg4, with the intention of, Bxf3, at some point. 
Less popular and scoring heavily in favour of white is, 8. ... Nxa4. 
In need of further exploration is, 8. ... Nc6, but after, 9. Be2 Bg4 10. d5 Ne5, chances seem equal. || 

9. exf5 

| The combined efforts of three databases produces only three games with, 8. ... f5, and all players with white chose to capture like this. 
Irrespective of how black chooses to recapture, the pawn formations now offer sufficient weaknesses to spark the middlegame imagination. || 

9. ... Bxf5 

| The alternative of, 9. ... gxf5, will be examined in the annotated game following this one. || 

10. Nxb6 

| In the gains department, this capture permits the white f1 bishop to land on c4 with a check. 
In the losses department, white must find a means of ensuring the a2 pawn is always kept protected from the unwanted attentions of the black a8 rook. 
In the Barbera del Valles Open 2016, A. Darnell (1971) - M. Novik (2302), went: 
10. Nc5 Bc8 11. Ne5 Nd5 12. Bg5 Rf5 13. Nf3 Qd6 14. Bd3 Rf8 
15. O-O Nc6 16. Ne4 Qb4 17. Qb3 Qxb3 18. axb3 Nxd4 19. Nxd4 Bxd4 
20. Bc4 e6 21. Rad1 Bxb2 22. Bxd5 exd5 23. Rxd5 b6 24. Rd2 Be5 
25. f4 Ba6 26. Rf3 Bg7 27. g3 Bb5 28. Nc3 Bc6 29. Nd5 Bxd5 
30. Rxd5 Rae8 31. Rd7 h6 32. Bh4 g5 0-1. || 

10. ... axb6 
11. Bc4+ Kh8 
12. Ng5 

| This type of invasion is aimed at winning an exchange at the cost of several development tempi. 
Looks like we are in for that eternal battle of material gained at the cost of the initiative. 
Instead, 12. O-O, is an easier way for white to handle the position. || 

12. ... Nc6 

| Black ignores the threat and instead prefers to triply target the white d4 pawn. 
The debate must surely soon be about black offering an exchange in return for a pawn plus piece activity in the centre. 
White to play and continue to, "break", several of those pieces of advice all good players offer to beginners. || 

13. g4 

| Grand Rabbit recalls as a beginner being told, to develop your pieces early, to get your king into safety, and to try to avoid making weakening pawn moves in the region of your king. 
Instead the materialistic, 13. Nf7+ Rxf7 14. Bxf7, allows black to trap the invading white bishop with, 14. ... e6. 
In this instance it would then be up to white to make an important decision. 
First option, to be prepared to give up the trapped bishop with either, Bxe6, or, Bxg6, when necessary. 
Second option, to try to maintain the material imbalance with even more, "rule-breaking", as follows. 
The idea would be to set up a counter-trap against the black f5 bishop with, 15. f3, intending, pawn g4, but black can achieve great activity with, 15. ... Nxd4 16. Bxd4 Bxd4. 
White would then have to think long and hard about, 17. g4 Qh4+ 18. Kd2 Qf2+, when black appears to be winning. 
A few sample lines run, and these are after the moves, 
13. Nf7+ Rxf7 14. Bxf7 e6 15. f3 Nxd4 16. Bxd4 Bxd4 17. g4 Qh4+ 18. Kd2 Qf2+: 
(A). If, 19. Kc1 Bxb2+, is mate. 
(B). Or if, 19. Qe2 Be3+ 20. Kd1 Rd8+ 21. Qd2 Qxd2+, is mate. 
(C). Or if, 19. Qe2 Be3+ 20. Kc3 Qxe2 21. gxf5 Bd4+ 22. Kxd4 Rd8+ 23. Kc3 Qd3+ 24. Kb4 Rd4+, is mate. 

White can shuffle the move order in the above counter-trap idea. 
It goes, 13. Nf7+ Rxf7 14. Bxf7 e6 15. g4, but after, 15. Be4 16. f3 Bd5, the white f7 bishop is still entombed while the black bishop stands proud on the d5 square. 
Finally, white might try, 13. Nf7 Rxf7 14. Bxf7 e6 15. Qb3 Qf6 16. d5 Na5 17. Qa3 Qxf7 18. Rd1, perhaps this looks active, but, 18. ... Qf8, and the black queen now protects the a8 rook, which prevents the white threat of, pawn b4, which would have won a piece, all this leaves black with two pieces for a rook and standing better. 

Black in the game to find a rather surprising move which seems to force white into having to justify earlier decisions. || 

13. ... Qd6 

| The principle of meeting an attack against a piece with a counter-attack against a piece is well known. 
Fine, but just what does this black queen advance attack? 
In the strict sense of the word, it attacks nothing, but it contains a useful threat which white cannot ignore. || 

14. Nf7+ 

| If white does not snatch the exchange then the entire strategy since, 10. Nxb6, has been of no value to white, but has instead handed a strong initiative over to black. 
With, Qd6, black threatened, Qb4+, winning the unprotected white c4 bishop. 
Not only is white behind in development, but has weaknesses on the kingside, the centre, and the queenside. 
Let's hope he is not behind on the clock as well. || 

14. ... Rxf7 
15. Bxf7 Bd7 

| This bishop might be appearing to be running away, but sometimes one just goes backwards in order to go forwards at a later date. 
Instead, 15. ... Be4 16. f3 Bd5 17. Bxd5, allows white to trade light square bishops which is not in the interest of black. || 

16. O-O Nxd4 

| Black sets white a little test. 
There is still the threat of, pawn e6, and, Rf8, to win the trapped white f7 bishop. 
By capturing on d4 black gives white the opportunity to spend further tempi to retreat the f7 bishop into a defensive role. 
White is going to be an exchange up, but just how are the rooks to find activity? 
By contrast, all of the black minor pieces will soon be working in harmony. || 

17. Bc4 Rf8 
18. f3 

| White is desperately trying to create a defensive pawn structure on the kingside. 
If the f3 pawn can satisfactorily be maintained, then there could be hope of survival. 
This will however mean several white units will be dedicating themselves to becoming defenders with little chance of activity. 
If the constructed defences are breached then there is usually little chance of the defenders switching into attackers before the position becomes untenable. 
In essence, white must arrange and hold a defensive structure for a miserable draw, or suffer a breach of the defences with a quick defeat to follow. || 

18. ... c5 

| This pawn supports the powerful central black knight, the over-protection by three units will now give freedom to both the black queen and g7 bishop to consider activity elsewhere. 
Now all black needs is to activate the lurking d7 bishop and all units will be working with one aim in mind - To break down the white kingside pawn formation. || 

19. Be2 Bc6 
20. Kg2 

| White creates an over-protection by walking into a pin. 
It also now becomes possible to capture, Bxd4, without having to worry about the black recapture, Bxd4, being an annoying check. 
Black to play now demonstrates why several moves ago the white f7 bishop was never trapped with, pawn e6. || 

20. ... Qe6 

| Ouch! 
Loose pieces are targets for tactics. 
The unprotected white e3 bishop dare not move as the black queen and d4 knight would then combine against the e2 bishop. 
The black queen also threatens, Qxg4, as the white f3 pawn is pinned by the black c6 bishop. 
This queen fork would not have been possible had black earlier trapped the straying white f7 bishop with, pawn e6. || 

21. Bxd4 

| Black to play must get this move correct to reap the reward for all the hard work. || 

21. ... Qxg4+ 

| The flimsy white kingside pawn formation is dismantled with this zwischenzug. 
Immediately recapturing with, 21. ... Bxd4, would allow, 22. h3, strengthening the white kingside defences and black would then have to introduce the h7 pawn into the attack if progress is to be made. || 

22. Kh1 

| A king flight to the queenside would only be prolonged agony. 
After, 22. Kf2 Bxd4+ 23. Ke1 Qh4+ 24. Kd2 Bxb2, in order to achieve king safety white might have to let black have an exchange with, Bxa1, which would then be a decisive material advantage for black. 
Hanging on to material with, 25. Rb1 Rd8+ 26. Bd3, only gives black the joy of sifting between: 
(A). If, 26. ... c4 27. Ke2 Rxd3 28. Qe1 Qxh2+ 29. Rf2 Bxf3+ 30. Kf1 Qh1+, is mate. 
(B). Or if, 26. ... c4 27. Ke2 Rxd3 28. Qe1 Qxh2+ 29. Qf2 Qe5+ 30. Qe3 Qxe3+, is mate. 
(C). Or if, 26. ... c4 27. Qc2 Rxd3+ 28. Ke2 Qxh2+ 29. Rf2 Bxf3+ 30. Ke1 Bc3+ 31. Qxc3 Qxf2+ 32. Kxf2 Rxb3, black has a decisive material advantage. 
(D). Or if, 26. ... c4 27. Kc2 Ba4+ 28. Kxb2 Bxd1 29. Rbxd1 Rxd3, black has a decisive material advantage. 
(E). Or if, 26. ... c4 27. Rxb2 Rxd3+ 28. Kc2 Rxd1, black has a decisive material advantage. 
(F). If more direct play is the desired style then, 26. ... Rxd3+ 27. Kxd3 Qd4+ 28. Kc2 Ba4+, is mate. 
(G). Or if, 26. ... Rxd3+ 27. Kxd3 Qd4+ 28. Ke2 Bb5+ 29. Ke1 Qe3+ 30. Qe2 Qxe2+, is mate. 

The chosen game move of, 22. Kh1, only retreats down the diagonal which leaves the white king still caught in the glaring x-ray attack of the black c6 bishop. || 

22. ... Bxd4 

| White to play and produce a surprising move?... || 

White resigns, 0-1 

| White has the rook pair against the black bishop pair. 
Please, which pair of pieces seem to be having the better of it? 
All material advantages are equal, but some advantages are less equal than others. 

Many club players would struggle on here, hoping black will mishandle the position and let them back into the game. 
The big problem for white is how the king is to escape the x-ray attack on the a8 - h1 light square diagonal. 
Black has three attacking units combining on the f3 pawn, white has three defenders. 
If any of the defences are removed then black will have tactics on the pawn leading to a mate or worse. 
Black has two simple plans available. 
Place the h-pawn on h3, intending, Qg2+ mate, or play, Rf5, then, Rg5, again aiming for, Qg2+ mate. 
White must find a means to stop both of these plans while avoiding losing material. 

Here are some attempts by white to try to escape the grip, with a variety of options for black to achieve a win or winning advantage: 
(A). If, 23. Qe1 Rxf3 24. Bxf3 Qxf3+ 25. Rxf3 Bxf3+, is a rather cute parallel diagonals mate. 
(B). Or if, 23. Rg1 Rxf3 24. Rxg4 Rf1+, is a double check and even cuter mate. 
(C). Or if, 23. Rg1 Rxf3 24. Bxf3 Bxf3+ 25. Qxf3 Qxf3+, and black has a decisive material advantage. 
(D). Or if, 23. Rg1 Bxg1 24. Qxg1 Bxf3+ 25. Bxf3 Qxf3+ 26. Qg2 Qxg2+, and black has a winning rook and pawn ending. 
(E). Or if, 23. a4 Rf5 24. Ra3 Rg5 25. Rg1 Qxg1+ 26. Qxg1 Rxg1+, is mate. || 

*  *  * 

## Unannotated game 1. 

White: A. Nikitin, 2471. 
Black: M. Novik, 2463. 
Event: Russian Team Championship, Major League, 2008. 
Result: 0-1 in 22 moves. 
Opening: Gruenfeld Defence, Exchange Variation, Nadanian Attack, D85. 

1. d4 Nf6 
2. c4 g6 
3. Nc3 d5 
4. cxd5 Nxd5 
5. Na4 Bg7 
6. e4 Nb6 
7. Be3 O-O 
8. Nf3 f5 
9. exf5 Bxf5 
10. Nxb6 axb6 
11. Bc4+ Kh8 
12. Ng5 Nc6 
13. g4 Qd6 
14. Nf7+ Rxf7 
15. Bxf7 Bd7 
16. O-O Nxd4 
17. Bc4 Rf8 
18. f3 c5 
19. Be2 Bc6 
20. Kg2 Qe6 
21. Bxd4 Qxg4+ 
22. Kh1 Bxd4 
White resigns, 0-1 

*  *  * 

## Annotated game 2. 

White: A. Nadanian, 2402. 
Black: K. Sakaev, 2639. 
Event: ICC 2001. 
Result: 1-0 in 17 moves. 
Opening: Gruenfeld Defence, Exchange Variation, Nadanian Attack, D85. 

1. d4 Nf6 
2. c4 g6 
3. Nc3 d5 
4. cxd5 Nxd5 
5. Na4 Bg7 
6. e4 Nb6 
7. Be3 O-O 
8. Nf3 f5 
9. exf5 gxf5 

| Black chooses to make a pawn capture instead of the developing, Bxf5, as in the previous game. 
captures with pawns always alter the position which opens up new opportunities while closing down others. 
In this instance black has lost control of the h5 square. 
In return the e8 - h5 diagonal is now open for the black queen to use for possible kingside activity, as found in the Classical Variation of the Dutch Defence. || 

10. Nxb6 

| White eliminates the guardian of the c4 square, the f1 bishop is about to take control of the a2 - g8 diagonal. || 

10. ... axb6 
11. Bc4+ Kh8 

| In the first game of the 28 May coaching session white tried a kingside assault with, Ng5, with the aim of snatching an exchange at the cost of a few tempi. 
The ongoing battle between Initiative and Material turned out to favour Initiative on that occasion. 
But there must be occasions when Material manages to resist Initiative and go on to claim the full point. 
So should white become involved in an early skirmish which is most likely to only lead to a minimal material gain? || 

12. Ng5 

| An old Hungarian chess proverb runs something like: 
"It is never safe to take the opposing b-pawn with your queen, even when it is safe." 
This refers in particular to, Qxb2, captures by black in the Sicilian Poisoned Pawn Variation. 
Similar captures in other opening systems are available. 
GGrand Rabbit wonders if another phrase for white in systems like this one is in need of invention?: 
"It is never safe to fork with a knight check on f7 to win an exchange, even when it is safe." 

Ah, but hang on there, when a piece moves lines previously blocked by that piece are now open. 
There could be a valid reason other than going exchange-hunting for white to play, Ng5. 
Perhaps white is planning to exploit the absence of a black knight on f6 with an invasion of, Qh5, threatening mate on h7? || 

12. ... Qe8 

| A triple purpose move. 
Firstly, the white knight royal-fork pattern of giving check on f7 is broken, any attempts to invade on f7 will now cost white two minor pieces for a rook, not good housekeeping. 
Secondly, the black queen guards the h5 square and so prevents the white queen from joining in the attack. 
A sample of what is now apparently prevented is shown had black instead played, 12. ... Qd7, failing to appreciate the kingside danger as, 13. Qh5 h6 14. Qg6 hxg5 15. Qh5+ Bh6 16. Qxh6+, is mate. 
This line strongly hints that the white bishop on c4 has been permitted too much activity, which retro-hints that the advance of, pawn f5, followed with the capture of, gxf5, presented black with some very tricky questions to answer. 
Thirdly, the black queen has options of, Qg6, with pressure on the white kingside once the white g5 knight is pushed back with, pawn h6. 
White in the game must justify the knight advance to g5, take as much time as you like on this position, there is much tactical joy to be found here. 
Clue #1: White wants to get the queen into action, and the h5 square is most inviting, isn't it? 
Clue #2: Believe it or not, this position is so rich in possibilities that someone is going to resign on move 17. || 

13. Bf7 

| White reaches for the tactical tool of interference, the black queen guard of the h5 square is blocked. 
If this idea did not occur to you, then perhaps spend some more time trying to work out what could be happening here. 
Clue: Examine the obvious black reply first, and perhaps a couple of less obvious candidate moves for black should then receive consideration. || 

13. ... Rxf7 

| When engaging in tactics it is the captures / recaptures which demand immediate calculation. 
Once the wood-chopping variations have been worked through, then ideas of leaving the offered material untouched need examining. 
So instead, 13. ... Qd7, allows white to produce the idea offered earlier with, 14. Qh5 h6 15. Qg6 hxg5 16. Qh5+ Bh6 17. Qxh6+ mate. 
During the coaching session attention focused on 13. ... Qc6, as a possible defence to the white kingside assault. 
Black would be trying to get the queen across to the kingside to defend the black king, as well as preventing the immediate mating attack as the g6 square is no longer a stepping stone for the white queen to force mate. 
White would then have several reply moves to sift through, Qh5, pawn d5, and, Rc1, each producing an expanding branch of complexities. 
Does white have a forced win with any of the suggested moves? 
Without Fritz on hand to pronounce a definitive judgement, it must be good old-fashioned bio-organic opinion that there should be something for white here, if only keeping a strong grip on the position until the skulking rooks get over to the kingside to stick the boot in. || 

14. Qh5 

| With twin threats of, 15. Qxh7+ mate, and, 15. Nxf7+, when white is an exchange up. 
Black has just one simple move to avoid both threats, leaving Grand Rabbit wondering if white has forgotten the main reason why many attempted mating attacks fail. || 

14. ... Kg8 

| And there it is, sort of. 
The black king, according to self-preservation strategy, begins to sprint queenside, or perhaps in this instance, waddle away from the h8 corner, in order to escape the mating net. 
It is a fast-running king who is willing to abandon dispensable soldiers in his army to save himself which often causes confusion in the mind of the attacker. 
The thinking is that a sacrificial attacker expects the defender will seek lines which keep hold of the offered material. 
We all know that the severity of an attack can often be reduced by allowing some material to be regained providing liquidation of the attacking forces takes place as part of the process. 
But the thought of the defender making no effort to protect material, instead the target of the tactics scuttles sideways for salvation, often seems to escape the imagination of the attacker. 
Well, this is fine for explaining the strategic theory of why running away often works. 
If this is going to become reality in this game then black needs to create a flight route out of the congested kingside cage. || 

15. Qxh7+ Kf8 

| Well, the last two white moves were easy to find, but now it is time for some really hard work. 
Take as much time as you wish here, there is a Grand Rabbit Norm available to those who can envisage the next two white moves without consulting any of the following three clues. 
Clue #1: Anyone remember the maxim, "Initiative Over Material"? 
Well, how about a supplementary maxim, "Initiative For Material"? 
Clue #2: Sometimes it is just impossible to look the proverbial gift horse in the mouth. 
Clue #3: No matter what black does, this game ends in checkmate in just three moves, which implies something other than the obvious is required here. || 

16. Ne6+ 

| Which would of course be checkmate if black did not have a bishop skulking on c8. 
So what is the benefit of giving away the knight in order to drag the c8 bishop onto the e6 square? 
It is almost certainly nothing to do with the bishop which will be forcibly re-located onto e6. 
So just what is the point of giving up the knight? 
Two reasons come to mind. 
Firstly, when a piece moves lines previously blocked are opened up for other units to gain access to squares unavailable prior to that move. 
Secondly, when a piece moves lines previously open are now blocked and so deny other units access to squares available prior to that move. 
The two conflicting concepts are Access and Interference. 
So, what Access has white gained from, 16. Ne6+, and what Interference will, 16. ... Bxe6, impose on black? || 

16. ... Bxe6 

| The presence of a bishop on e6 prevents black from playing, pawn e6, which would create a flight route for the black king. 
White to play, is only two pieces down, his rooks are sitting unmoved, and yet the next move forces resignation. || 

17. Bh6 
Black resigns, 1-0 

| Congratulations on all those who discovered the two white moves to force resignation. 
Perhaps you might celebrate earning your Grand Rabbit Norm with a glass of carrot juice? 

Chess can sometimes be a tangled web of confusing contradictions. 
How many times has the coaching group received the advice that keeping sufficient protective strength ain the region of your king is strongly recommended? 
How many times has the coaching group received the advice that blitzkrieg attacks with few pieces are almost certainly doomed to failure? 
And yet here we are. 
Both these messages appear to have been refuted during this game in just 17 moves. 
The black king has queen, rook, and two bishops for defensive support. 
White has only queen and bishop in the attack. 
Perhaps as the phrase goes, it is not what you've got, it is what you do with it, that counts. 

When white threw the knight in with, 16. Ne6+, forcing, 16. ... Bxe6, the diagonal to h6 opened up for the white e3 bishop and the black e7 pawn was prevented from moving forward, resulting in the black king being completely entombed. 
In the final position if black tries, 17. ... Bxh6, then, 18. Qh8+, has white being three pieces down but a checkmate up. 
Instead, 17. ... Qc6 18. Qh8+, exploits the pinned nature of the black g7 bishop for another mate. 
Lastly, 17. ... Rf6, opening up the a2 - g8 diagonal for the e6 bishop to retreat to g8, only allows, 18. Qxg7+ mate. || 

*  *  * 

## Unannotated game 2. 

White: A. Nadanian, 2402. 
Black: K. Sakaev, 2639. 
Event: ICC 2001. 
Result: 1-0 in 17 moves. 
Opening: Gruenfeld Defence, Exchange Variation, Nadanian Attack, D85. 

1. d4 Nf6 
2. c4 g6 
3. Nc3 d5 
4. cxd5 Nxd5 
5. Na4 Bg7 
6. e4 Nb6 
7. Be3 O-O 
8. Nf3 f5 
9. exf5 gxf5 
10. Nxb6 axb6 
11. Bc4+ Kh8 
12. Ng5 Qe8 
13. Bf7 Rxf7 
14. Qh5 Kg8 
15. Qxh7+ Kf8 
16. Ne6+ Bxe6 
17. Bh6 
Black resigns, 1-0 

*  *  *