Skype coaching session, 18 June 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 34 moves is given with annotations by Chris Ross and then again without annotations. Paul Benson. * * * Annotated game. | Editorial note: The extensive annotations for this game are provided by Chris Ross and were written just a few days before his departure to play in the IBCA Olympiad. There have been slight editorial changes to conform with the usual format of these postings, some supplementary notes received from Chris post-session have been included into the text. || White: N. McDonald, (Wood Green A), 2407. Black: C. Ross, (Drunken Knights 1), 2158. Event: London League 2016-17. Result: 1/2-1/2 in 34 moves. Opening: Sicilian Defence, Taimanov Variation, B48. | This is no tame draw. Neither player knew they were going to be matched. Neil is my Second in many previous events and will be supporting me in Macedonia in June. At the time of this game, Neil had not had chance to study many of my latest games, so didn't have an in depth knowledge of my latest theory and sub-lines. A distinct and somewhat unfortunate disadvantage for him. || 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 | White has many options here. 5. C4 is a popular choice. White should be restraining the thrust, d7-d5 as much as possible, as this is a neutralising move desired by many Sicilian players. The signature of the Taimanov (4... Nc6) has many principals. Some unique to the Taimanov and some universally accepted aligned to the Sicilian in generic terms. Obviously, white's king's bishop is an issue for him. The naturally aggressive Bd3 is not possible due to the loose nature of the d4-knight. 5. Be2 permits d5 without challenge. 5. G3 is an accepted side-line, as then the desired d7-d5 would leave black with an isolated D-pawn, which can be duly attacked by the fianchettoed white light-squared bishop. Two principal purposes of the Taimanov which align to the Sicilian in generic terms, is the targeting of the e4-pawn and the attention down the half-open C-file. Two very important elements to keep focus on. || 5. Nc3 Qc7 | The Taimanov in its true state. 5... a6, 5... d6, 5... Nf6 are other Sicilian sub-variations. One unique signature of the Taimanov is the development of the black queen-side before any of the king-side pieces are brought to bear onto the white position. Knowing when to develop that king-side is a subtle but very important feature of the black setup. || 6. Be3 | Other sixth moves are possible. 6. Be2, 6. G3, 6. Nb3 and even 6. F4 are all acceptable variations. 6. Ndb5 achieves nothing at all for white. The only sole purpose of this move is to gain a move on the move counter. The black queen can hide perfectly satisfactorily on b8 and will evict the steed immediately with 7... a6, a move black wants to play in any case. A normal way to do this is the move order: 6. Ndb5 Qb8 7. Be3 a68. Nd4 Qc7 And the usual position has been resumed with an extra move on the counter. || 6... a6 | Taimanov principals. Black wishes to expand on the queen-side in order to develop the black light-squared bishop. This is usually how Taimanov players develop. The light-squared bishop targets the e4-pawn after all. The other purpose of the move is to prevent 7. Ndb5. Or, does it prevent it? || 7. Qd2 | Taimanov players have to be aware of subtle tricks that white may have by sacrifices on b5. When it works and when it doesn't. An important feature if a player is to play the Taimanov. Tempo can be gained in many ways and white may have opportunities of sacrificing a piece for three pawns were the black D-pawn on d6 and undefended in an adequate way. So, is 7. Ndb5 actually playable? A clever trick has to be known for black to wriggle out of this minor tactical trick of white's. 7. Ndb5 axb5 8. Nxb5 Qb8 9. Bb6 and there is no good way to prevent 10. Nc7+ picking up material or entombing the black queen with 11. Bc7. Interestingly, black has the clever 9... Bb4+ 10. C3 Ba5! 11. Nc7+ Qxc7 12. Bxc7 Bxc7 with three minor pieces for the lady. An interesting middle-game then occurs, but theory has given this as a perfectly playable variation for black with equal chances. Black can play it in a different way. 7... axb5 8. Nxb5 Qa5+ 9. Bd2 Bb4 10. C3 Be7 11. Bf4 d6 is just good for black. || 7... Nf6 | Again, as a Taimanov player, it is important to realise when it is essential when to develop the king-side at an opportune moment. Also, captures on c6 have to be calculated carefully. For black's natural recapture of Qxc6 keeps the C-file open and targets the e4-pawn. The re-capture dxc6 is both ugly and does not aid black in any of his strategic objectives. The purpose of the black queen is to restrain the thrust e4-e5, and to target the C-file. Qxc6 withdraws the queen's protection of the e5-square, so if white is enabled to do this, the king's knight on f6 needs a good flight square. In that sense then, black needs to retain the option of playing b7xc6 until the king-side is resolved and that the thrust e4-e5 has been prevented. White's seventh move also transmits that he is going to castle queen-side very rapidly and that a potential opposite-castled pawn chase is offered. In that sense then, black needs to grapple with his pieces to restrain that pawn race as much as possible, for his storm of b7-b5 is hindered by the reasons given above. || 8. O-O-O Bb4 | An unorthodox way to develop the dark-squared bishop, but with a specific strategic objective in mind, and one that needs to be handled very carefully from the positional point of view, for if judged poorly, black's position will collapse without too much resistance. Tactically, and as aligned to the principals of the Taimanov, the e4-pawn is immediately targeted. White has to resolve this on the move. || 9. f3 | Black's reached an important junction in his opening setup. His queen-side is somewhat restrained and his own pawn storm is restricted for the time being. White's storm of g2-g4-g5 is obviously arriving very quickly. Black needs a positional trump to justify all of his principled play so far. || 9... Ne5 | Although it seems illogical to move a knight twice without due purpose, black needs to generate a reaction to make an imbalance. By moving the knight, all of the issues of captures on c6 have been immediately taken out of the equation. Black can now happily advance with b7-b5 and begin his pawn storm. Critically though, the pinned knight on c3 is pressurised. The positional damage threatened to the white camp needs to be evaluated. The giving up of the dark-squared bishop is a big price, for in an open position and the black queen-side pawns being on light-squares, the positional justification has to be validated by a specific tangible consequence. || 10. Kb1?! | Intriguingly, the Grandmaster mixes up his lines and finds an inferior way to play the position. This innocuous move is a critical point, from which white is arguably, struggling to salvage the game. Tactically, white did not have many options to prevent any structural damage. 10. F4 is not playable, since this releases the protection of the e4-pawn, 10... Nxe4 snatches the e4-pawn with gain of tempo on the white queen. The white position will collapse very quickly then. 10. Nde2 is also not possible due to 10... Nc4 neatly justifying the knight's excursion into the centre of the board and netting the white dark-squared bishop in the process. Black would not create any structural damage, but would have a huge plus in obtaining the bishop pair. So, what is the point of the king move? Apart from attempting to put the king in a more secure position, it sets up annoying tactics for black. Although the knight on c3 is pinned, what the king move achieves is that the queen on d2 cannot be captured with check. In that sense then, 11... b5 is a blunder due to 12. Ncxb5 exploiting the undefended nature of the dark-squared bishop on b4. There are some fun lines in this variation for white involving Nc6 with Rd8 mate themes and other such things, so have fun working all of them out. Suffice to say, that 11... b5 is accepted to be poor for black. 10. Kb1 is not the theoretical move though. Best play dictates that 10. Nb3 is the preferred move for white. One must ask then, to why that is. Play could then go: 10... b5 11. Kb1, (threatening Nxb5), Nc4 12. Bxc4 bxc4 13. Nd4 and black has a number of ways to proceed, starting with 13... Rb8, 13... Qa5 (be aware of Nc6 tricks though! and other such themes. So, why then, is 10. Nb3 the preferred move? The answer lies within the d4-square. The dark-square bishop on e3 will need a possible retreat. A retreat can also be by moving forward. By playing Bd4, neither of the black knights can gain tempo on it by it's loose nature. On d4, the bishop exerts pressure down the long diagonal, when g7 is of particular attention. 10. Bf4 is seen as not a good variation for white. Black can respond with the ambitious 10... d5 or be solid with 10... d6 11. Nb3 Ke7! and black does well in both of these lines. The final point to 10. Nb3 is that pressure is created on the c5-square. Both the e3-bishop and the b3-knight focus their combined attention on that square. || 10... Bxc3 | Black has to justify his opening setup. He cannot develop the queen-side (due to the Nxb5 tactics) and the king-side is going to come under fire very quickly. As stated, giving up the dark-squared bishop has to have a long-term aim, for otherwise, black will be overrun by the dark-squared monster that white now has. Hint: Good-knight vs bad-bishop endgame looming? || 11. Qxc3 | If white is going to have structural damage, he wants the queens off the board, as black's attack will be reduced with the heavy fire removed. Also, with the black dark-squared bishop gone, there is no rival for the bishop on e3. Significant enough, but the silver lining for black is, that desired end-game of good-knight verses bad-bishop is one step closer than previously. || 11... Qxc3 12. bxc3 | Logically speaking, black should put his pawns on dark squares to blunt the white dark-squared bishop. Although in many positions, this would be a valid approach, there are two telling factors to why it is not applicable here. One reason is obvious, the other not so. || 12... d5 | The classical equalising move for many Sicilian positions. The first obvious reason for this is the natural targeting of the e4-pawn. This needs immediate resolution. It is here now where the nuance of the move order on move 10 becomes apparent. If the king were still to be on c1 and the knight had moved to b3, white would have 13. Bd4 here, which would gain time on the loose knight on e5 and threaten Bxf6 or even a supported e4-e5. In either case, white is creating space, got the bishop pair, with obviously better positioned than the black forces. || 13. exd5 | An exchange that white does not really want to make. The tension in the central pawn formation has been released and the black knights are offered a lot of space. 13. F4 only exploits the loose nature of the white dark-squared bishop, 13... Ng4 attacks both the bishop and the e4-pawn once again. Both cannot be salvaged. || 13... Nxd5 | Maintaining pawn integrity, while bringing the black king's knight over for a very important role on the queen-side. The tempo gained by the attack on the dark-squared bishop and threat to the c3-pawn, gives black enough time to execute a positional plan aspired from the exchange on move 10. || 14. Bd2 | A miserable retreat, but the c3-pawn cannot afford to fall with further material to boot. Black is at the pivotal point of his opening strategy and this needs to be executed without any further time loss. || 14... Nb6 | The whole purpose to the structure. Black has created structural damage to the white pawn formation and will need to target the c3-pawn. In order to do that though, the outpost in front of it (the c4-square) needs occupation. Once occupation has been accomplished, black can continue to strive for that good-knight verses bad-bishop endgame, having the desired intension of a white dark-squared bishop defending on d2 or e1 and a wonderfully outposted knight on c4, untouchably poised. || 15. Be2 | White needs to develop. There is no way in which he can prevent a black knight from occupying the c4-square. All that matters is to which knight is destined there. Since the e5-knight can be dislodged, it is only sensible that it will be the one to sit on the outpost. In the meantime though, black needs to develop and get a rook to the C-file as soon as possible. However, attention needs to be paid to the dark-squares in the queen-side. Playing b7-b5 will weaken b6, c5 and a5, both of the latter the white knight can occupy by dropping back to b3. Interestingly though, the b5-square is an ideal square for the black light-squared bishop, thus fortifying the c4 outpost. An awkward looking square for the bishop, but putting it on the f1-a6 diagonal may encourage an exchange of bishops, an ideal for that desired good-knight vs bad-bishop endgame. || 15... Bd7 16. Rhe1 Nec4 | White had cheap Bxa6 tactics to hand. The e5-knight is destined for the outpost in any case, so it might as well land on their sooner than later. || 17. Bc1 | Wanting to preserve the dark-squared bishop. After all, white has willingly given himself pawn damage in compensation for the ownership of this bishop. To give it up so easily would be an admission of the inferiority of that decision. White could go tactical here, although black can avoid any complications easily enough. 17. Nf5 O-O (If 17... exf5 18. Bxc4+ is not good) 18. Ne3 Bb5 and the c4-suare is neatly defended. || 17... O-O | Connecting the rooks. Another reason why the e5-knight was chosen to occupy the c4-outpost is that the knight on b6 is defending a potentially loose bishop on d7. || 18. f4 | White prevents black from dislodging the d4-knight by e6-e5, which is backwardly defended by the outposted knight on c4. White also belatedly begins a pawn march on the king-side, although this proves inevitably weakening. 18. Nf5 is another cheap shot, which achieves nothing. Black can calmly choose 18... Bb5 or the more accurate 18... Rfd8 since a check on e7 only entombs the white knight. || 18... Rfd8 19. g4 | White pushes for space in the hope of creating a weakness in the black camp. This, of course, comes far too late. || 19... Rac8 20. Bf1 | The light-squared bishop steps backward to open up the rook on e1. The third-rank is cleared for defensive horizontal duties by the white rooks. Tricks on the black back rank are also opened up. Now black has fully developed is forces, it is time to begin probing at the white structural damage. || 20... Nd5 | Attacking the c3-pawn from this direction gives the knight more scope. The f4-pawn needs protection, preventing Bb2 from being a defensive option. Also, the e3-square is taken away from a potential defending white rook. || 21. Rd3 | An unattractive move, but the pawn needs defending. For were that to collapse, the white position would become very shaky indeed. || 21... Ncb6 | Opening up the c8-rook's attack down the half-open C-file onto the vulnerable weakness. The d5-knight is offered protection, which eases the pressure on the e6-pawn when the F-pawn of white's advances. The b6-knight can jump into a4 to exert just more pressure on the weakness too. Effectively, the c3-pawn is now doomed. || 22. f5 exf5 | Isolating the white pawns. The e6-pawn could not be similarly isolated. || 23. gxf5 | Time for black now to reap his reward. The choice is difficult. Based on the principal of reaching that desired good-knight vs bad-bishop end-game, a rook exchange was sought. || 23... Rxc3 | 23... Nxc3+ is certainly an option. Having less material on the board will make things easier for calculation in a psychological sense, but in reality, this may not always be the case. || 24. Rxc3 | Slightly inaccurate. 24. Bd2 Rxd3 25. cxd3 Nc8 would offer white more fighting chances. || 24... Nxc3+ 25. Kb2 Nca4+ | Having connected knights is always a plus, but it must be remembered that connected knights can be undermined by the bishop pair if both are attacked simultaneously. 25... Nbd5 26. Bg2 will begin that process with Bd2 to follow. Arguably, black has enough material on the board to sustain this, but making progress, on an open board, would be challenging. || 26. Ka3 | A slightly awkward square for the king, but he cannot be checked so easily on this square. If permitted, he could wander into the queen-side via b4. Fortunately, the black knights keep him at bay. 26. Kb3 is better, but playing c2-c4 as a follow up only allows black to put his knight son c5 and then play a6-a5 and other such ideas. || 26... Rc8 | Activating the rook. Danger lurks down the C-file for white. Rc3 will begin to weave a mating net around the unsuspecting monarch. || 27. Bd2 | Preventing Rc3+. Worse would be 27. Bb2 Nc4+ 28. Bxc4 Rxc4 when c2 is fatally weak. || 27... Nc4+ 28. Bxc4 Rxc4 29. c3 | A horribly ugly move, but there is little else to save the c2-pawn. 29. Be3 Rc3+ 30. Kb4 b6! With a devastating a6-a5 mating idea, 31. Nb3 a5+ 32. Ka3 b5 and white is doomed. Moment of truth for black now. Big decision to take. || 29... Nc5 | Refusing the potentially easiest route to creating winning opportunities. 29... Nxc3 30. Kb3 Rxd4 31. Bxc3 Rd5 32. Rg1 g6 and black is two pawns up, but has a huge challenge in converting an opposite coloured bishop end-game. In tight time-controls and a massive potential to mess up and fall for a stupid tactic against a Grandmaster, opting out of this can be fully understood. Add on the pressure of a long commute home, never having taken a single half-point off a Grandmaster before, and the chosen text-move just about guarantees a result for black. White can do nothing but sits passively and wait for black to make a declaration of intent. || 30. Re3 | Black had the threat of 30... Ra4+ 31. Kb2 Nd3+ snaffling the exchange. || 30... Kf8 31. Kb2 b5 | The rook on c4 is secured. Black actually cannot advance any further on the queen-side, since a6-a5 and b5-b4, in an attempt to undermine the knight on d4 will only leave the rook on c4 loose. So, despite being a pawn to the good, there is no further progress that black can make. || 32. a3 Na4+ 33. Kb3 Nc5+ | If black really wanted to play on, then he has 33... Bc8 34. Kc2 and a transfer of the knight via b6 to d5. Otherwise, 33... Rc8 followed by Re8 is an option. In either case, the likelihood of finding a pathway to victory is very slim indeed. Why waste too much energy, time and worry when it is only a league game and the match already decided. || 34. Kb2 Draw, 1/2-1/2 | And as these annotations are a Chris Ross special, there now follows some useful opening references. || Opening references. A. 13. Bd3 dxe4 14. fxe4 Bd7 15. Nf3 Ng6 16. Bd4 Rc8 17. Rhe1 Ke7 18. e5 Nd5 19. c4 Nb4 20. Ng5 Ba4 21. Rf1 Nxd3 22. Rxf7+ Ke8 23. Rxd3 Rxc4 24. c3 h6 25. Rxg7 Nf4 26. Nf7 Kf8 27. Rdg3 Nh5 Izzat,K (2456)-Dale,A (2331)/Melbourne AUS 2015/1-0 (57)}) B. 15. Bd3 Bd7 16. Rhe1 Nec4 17. Bc1 O-O 18. Nf5 Bb5 19. Ne3 Rfc8 20. Nxc4 Bxc4 21. Re4 Nd5 22. Kb2 Bxd3 23. Rxd3 b5 24. Bd2 Rc6 25. a4 f5 26. Red4 Kf7 27. g4 Nb6 28. axb5 axb5 29. Bc1 Na4+ Shetty,R (2261)-Himanshu,S (2414)/Aurangabad IND 2011/0-1 (98) C. 15. Bc1 Bd7 16. Re1 Nec4 17. Nf5 O-O 18. Ne3 Nxe3 19. Bxe3 Na4 20. Bd4 Rac8 21. Re3 Bc6 22. f4 Bd5 23. Rg3 f6 24. h4 Bc4 25. h5 Kf7 26. h6 g6 27. Re3 Rfd8 28. Bxc4 Rxc4 29. Rd1 Rc6 Vuilleumier,A (2259)-Lindberg,B (2422)/Copenhagen DEN 2004/0-1 (38 D. 15. Bc1 Bd7 16. Re1 Nec4 17. Nf5 O-O 18. Ne3 Nxe3 19. Bxe3 Na4 20. Bd4 Rac8 21. Re3 Bc6 22. f4 Bd5 23. Rg3 f6 24. h4 Bc4 25. h5 Kf7 26. h6 g6 27. Re3 Rfd8 28. Bxc4 Rxc4 29. Rd1 Rc6 30. g4 Nb6 31. Rf3 Nc4 32. Rfd3 Rd5 33. Bf2 Rcd6 34. Re1 g5 35. fxg5 fxg5 36. Bg3 Rb6+ 37. Ka1 Na3 38. Rc1 Rdb5 0-1 Vuilleumier,A (2259)-Lindberg,B (2422)/Copenhagen 2004/CBM 101 ext (38) Chris Ross. * * * ## Unannotated game. White: N. McDonald, (Wood Green A), 2407. Black: C. Ross, (Drunken Knights 1), 2158. Event: London League 2016-17. Result: 1/2-1/2 in 34 moves. Opening: Sicilian Defence, Taimanov Variation, B48. 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Be3 a6 7. Qd2 Nf6 8. O-O-O Bb4 9. f3 Ne5 10. Kb1 Bxc3 11. Qxc3 Qxc3 12. bxc3 d5 13. exd5 Nxd5 14. Bd2 Nb6 15. Be2 Bd7 16. Rhe1 Nec4 17. Bc1 O-O 18. f4 Rfd8 19. g4 Rac8 20. Bf1 Nd5 21. Rd3 Ncb6 22. f5 exf5 23. gxf5 Rxc3 24. Rxc3 Nxc3+ 25. Kb2 Nca4+ 26. Ka3 Rc8 27. Bd2 Nc4+ 28. Bxc4 Rxc4 29. c3 Nc5 30. Re3 Kf8 31. Kb2 b5 32. a3 Na4+ 33. Kb3 Nc5+ 34. Kb2 Draw, 1/2-1/2 * * *