Skype coaching session, 01 July 2018. The game discussed (53 moves) is given below with annotations and without annotations. 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 Paul Benson. * * * Annotated Game. White: E. Iturrizaga, 2653. Black: S. Sulskis, 2544. Event: Tromso Olympiad 2014. Result: 1/2-1/2 in 53 moves. Opening: Reti Opening, Advanced Variation, A09. 1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 d4 3. b4 g5 4. Bb2 Bg7 5. Nxg5 e5 6. Ne4 f5 7. Nc5 | Varying from the more commonly played, 7. Ng3. This knight is part of a master-plan to gang up on the cramping black d4 pawn, take careful note of how white brings 3 minor pieces to bear on the target. || 7. ... b6 | Not just a kick for the sake of it. Black now has possibilities of organising, pawn c5, to strengthen the important d4 pawn. || 8. Qa4+ | And similarly this is not just a check for the sake of it. The planned white queenside piece coordination demands the queen find somewhere to live other than the seemingly-obvious squares of, c2, or, b3. || 8. ... c6 | Black sensibly chooses to limit the activity of the white queen, the rejected piece interpositions give white a comfortable game: (A). If, 8. ... Bd7 9. Nxd7 Nxd7, white has the advantage of the bishop pair. (B). Or if, 8. ... Nd7 9. Ne6 Qe7 10. Nxc7+, costs black at least an exchange. (C). Or if, 8. ... Nd7 9. Ne6 Qc8 10. Nxg7 Kf7 11. Nxf5, white has snatched a piece and a pawn. (D). Or if the somewhat counter-intuitive, 8. ... Kf7, black can castle by hand with, Ne7, Rf8/Re8, and, Kg8, while keeping options of, Bb7, both pressuring the white g2 pawn and making white think twice about moving the f1 bishop. || 9. Nb3 Ne7 | Perhaps preferred over, 9. ... Nf6, which would reduce the protective force of the black g7 bishop up the h8 - a1 diagonal. || 10. e3 | The white central plan is beginning to take shape. White builds more pressure on the black d4 pawn, there is still not enough fire-power to win it, but what will happen when white has time for, Na3, and, Nc2, with 4 attacking units outnumbering the 3 black defenders of d4? || 10. ... O-O | White to play and make a serious decision on the queenside. || 11. c5 | White is preventing black from organising a supportive, pawn c5, by occupying the c5 square, either with a pawn or the knight, according on how black replies, all part of the conspiracy against that black d4 pawn. || 11. ... b5 | Black closes the queenside which actually suits white as well, as there is a plan of white king safety involving castling long. Note that the line-opening, 11. ... bxc5 12. Nxc5, would favour white, the black queenside pawn structure would be reduced to long-term targets just waiting to be hit. || 12. Qa5 | Instead, 12. Qa3, would deny the white b1 knight the a3 square meaning the plan of, Na3 - Nc2, hitting the black d4 pawn would require further shuffling. || 12. ... Qe8 | Black correctly keeps queens on, the middlegame strategy of constricting the white position needs as many units remaining in play as possible. White on the other hand, would be pleased with every set of piece exchanges, the closer the endgame becomes, the more important the gambit-pawn deficit becomes. || 13. Na3 Nd5 | Not just occupying a commanding central square from which it fights for control of dark squares in the white half of the board, this piece also backwardly guards the c7 square, preventing a potentially annoying, Qc7, activation of the white queen. || 14. Nc2 | There are now 4 white attacking units hitting the twice-defended black d4 pawn, black had better have a good plan in mind over the future of the threatened pawn, but what? || 14. ... Be6 | Is that it? Black's whole system embarked upon as early as move 2 demands the d4 pawn cramp any white activity in compensation for the gambit g-pawn, and yet nothing is being done to prevent the loss of the d-pawn. || 15. exd4 e4 | Aha, now that is a really neat trick. The white minor pieces were arranged on the queenside to win the black d4 pawn, mission accomplished. However, now that the threat has been successfully executed, they find themselves hampered by their own pawn on d4. Furthermore, the white d4 pawn has little prospect of advancing, which would release the skulking white queenside minor piece trio. In essence, a potentially dynamic central pawn formation has morphed into a static one requiring some manoeuvring from white before the extra pair of pawns can begin to make their presence known. || 16. O-O-O | So white has achieved king safety and is now ready to launch into an opposite-wing attack, right? Not so simple. The clutteration of minor pieces on the queenside is in need of a drastic feng shui session before any thoughts of counterplay can be undertaken. || 16. ... Nd7 17. Qa3 | The white queen had no action over on the queenside and so plans a transfer over to the kingside. Black in the game to play and find a concept likely to leave one thinking there must be a misprint with the game score. || 17. ... N7b6 | Yes, the black b6 knight is now en prise to the white c5 pawn. There must be some method in this apparent madness, but what? || 18. Na5 | White agrees, there is indeed method in the madness. Accepting the offered black knight is distinctly inadvisable. If, 18. cxb6 axb6, then, 19. Na5, would be forced to avoid losing the white queen for a rook and knight, not good housekeeping. Black could then hit immediately with, 19. ... bxa5, but perhaps preparing the recapture with, 19. ... Rf7, intending, Rfa7, before picking up the pinned white a5 knight might be more professional. Either way, the white queenside would open up for the black rooks, and all the fun will be for black, without any material gains for white in the process. By advancing the b3 knight to a5 there is not only an attack on the black c6 pawn in need of continual neutralisation, which at this moment is performed by the black e8 queen, but the a-file is also plugged against any black plans of opening with a random, pawn a5, at any time. Conclusion: Opening up lines in front of one's king needs very careful calculation, and in this instance it will only lead to tears before bedtime. || 18. ... Na4 | The black trick of, 17. ... Nb6, was not just a one-mover without further meaning. The b6 square was a stepping-stone for this knight to achieve an active location around the white king, nothing decisive yet of course, but if a few more black units can get into the white queenside then expect tactical ideas to be in the air. || 19. Ba1 Nf4 | Superficially one might think this knight is preventing the white f1 bishop from making a move, possibly so, but there is a deeper reason for this knight shuffle. Clue: When a piece moves it is tempting to think the movement of that piece is the only reason it has been moved. || 20. Qg3 | Another point of the white, Nb3 - Na5, shuffle is revealed, the white queen finds a 3rd-rank route to the kingside, and with a useful attack tempo on the black f4 knight. || 20. ... Nh5 | Kicking hard at the white queen, but she has a rather inviting aggressive invasion point available. || 21. Qd6 Rc8 | White in the game to play has a dynamic option available which solves an annoyance inherent to this opening variation. || 22. d5 | A game-changing move, the static centre becomes dynamic, pieces previously restricted become mobile, and kings will find themselves targets as enemy forces head their way. || 22. ... Bxd5 | So white gives up the one of the harvested pawns in order to gain activity for the restricted minor pieces. This rather suits black as well, the reason for earlier shuffling with, Nf4, which got pushed to h5, is also revealed, the bishop on e6 was destined to move to d5 to strengthen the pawn structure, which then offered the knight chances to probe and prod at the white position. White in the game to play and demonstrate the difference between a sacrifice and a combination... || 23. Bxb5 | That is certainly one way of solving the development problems of the awkward white f1 bishop, and as it happens effectively forces an indirect trade of the light square bishops, while also gaining a protected passed c-pawn into the bargain. The tactical tool used here is an overloading, that is exploiting the black c6 pawn who has the task of protecting both the b5 pawn and d5 bishop, it cannot do both in this position. || 23. ... cxb5 | Virtually forced, as, 23. ... Bxa2 24. Bxc6, gives white a mobile queenside pawn majority just waiting for their chance to expand once a few heavy pieces have been exchanged off. || 24. Qxd5+ | Bobby Fischer informs us: "Obvious Therefore Dubious!", which is not to be taken literally but to provoke one to avoid immediate knee-jerk moves based on general feelings, instead on should take the whole position into consideration before coming to a decision. With this recommendation in mind, it is black to play and thin counter-intuitively to find the game move. || 24. ... Rf7 | The power of the pin is to paralyse, and here we have black voluntarily entering into rook-paralysis, why? The answer is not easy to appreciate at first glance. Black is anticipating a dark square bishop trade somewhere, most likely on g7, as white is unlikely to allow it to occur on a1, which would unnecessarily decentralise the c2 knight. If this is so, then the black king can capture with, Kxg7, escaping the self-induced pin, meaning the f7 rook is then freed to swing across the black 2nd rank, the most likely square being d7, bringing pressure to bear up the semi-open d-file. Isn't, "Grand Mastery", grand? || 25. Bxg7 | Bobby Fischer warns us: "Obvious Therefore Dubious!", black in the game to play should sit on hands for a minute or so until the creativity juices have a chance to stir themselves into action... || 25. ... Nf4 | Known in the trade by the term, "Zwischenzug". This is essentially postponing an immediate recapture in favour of an attacking move which the opponent cannot ignore, resulting in a positional or tactical gain from the in between move. Here the white queen must be careful where she goes, there are some sneakies just waiting to ensnare greed. Had black foolishly ignored the advisory Fischerism, "Obvious Therefore Dubious!", and made the recapture of, 25. ... Kxg7, then, 26. g3, would have prevented the black h5 knight from enjoying the game continuation about to unwind. || 26. Qb3 | The tempting material-retaining tries get their just desserts: (A). If, 26. Qe5 Nd3+ 27. Kb1 Nxe5 28. Bxe5 Qxe5, white has lost the queen for a piece, an overwhelmingly decisive material plus for black, not to mention the little threat of mate on b2. (B). Or if, 26. Qd4 Ne2+ 27. Kb1 Nxd4 28. Bxd4, white has lost the queen for a couple of black minor pieces, a long-term win for black. || 26. ... Nd3+ | And now the relevant term is, "Zwischenschach", also known by some as, "Zwischen-check". Warning: This black knight has jumped from obscurity on h5 to be of considerable annoyance on d3, and it is far from finished yet. || 27. Kb1 Kxg7 | Black sensibly resists, 27. ... Nxf2 28. Ba1 Nxh1 29. Rxh1, when the 2 white minor pieces plus a pawn should eventually prove of greater value than the black rook, there would also be many problems for black on the dark squares, not to mention the awkwardly placed black a4 knight which at present is stranded without any means to re-enter the game. And as if the above was not enough, why should black give up a beautifully-placed d3 knight for an unmoved white rook with at present few prospects of finding middlegame activity? Conclusion: Pawn count piece values of, rook = 5, and, knight = 3, are general guidelines which will fit well in most positions, however there are always exceptions, as should be observed here. || 28. Rhf1 | What a picture! One black knight on d3 is totally restricting the white d1 rook and forcing the other white rook to guard the f2 pawn. Here is a fantastic demonstration that piece values using pawn-count, that is knight = 3, and 2 rooks = 10, need re-evaluation depending on the relative positions of all units concerned. Of course, the 2 white rooks are not going to be so easily controlled for ever, so it is up to black to take full advantage of the plusses in the position before white breaks out of the prison. || 28. ... Rd7 29. f4 | White wishes to fix the black f5 pawn, which strongly hints at a plan in mind. Instead, 29. f3, intending, 30. fxe4, but after, 30. ... Qxe4, black will have an more active position than the game continuation. || 29. ... Ndb2 30. Ne3 | The white d1 rook must sit tight as, 30. Rde1 Rxd2, to be followed by black increasing the pressure up the d-file with the other rook by doubling with, Rcd8, and possibly including the queen with,Qd7, looks very painful. || 30. ... Rd3 | Setting off a sequence of moves where neither side seems to have little choice other than the game continuation. Instead backing off with a defensive move such as, 30. ... Rf7, or, 30. ... Qf8, would offer white the opportunity to organise, pawn h3, and, pawn g4, initiating some kingside activity. || 31. Nxf5+ Kh8 32. Nd6 | Instead the tactically intriguing, 32. Qc2 Nxd1 33. Rxd1 Qh5 34. Nd6 Qxd1+ 35. Qxd1 Nc3+ 36. Kc2 Nxd1 37. Nxc8 Nf2, leaves black an exchange up, but with problems of how to cope with 2 active white knights floating around the queenside, in particular aiming to force through the passed c5 pawn, unsurprisingly this line is not the best for black. After, 32. Qc2 Nxd1 33. Rxd1 Qh5 34. Nd6, black takes advantage of the c-file pin with, 34. ... Rxd6, going a whole rook ahead, white must then accept the continuation, 35. cxd6 Rxc2 36. Kxc2 Qd5, black has the material plus of a very mobile queen against a white rook plus 3 pawns, but some of these white pawns must fall soon, everything indicates that black has the far better winning prospects. A different white idea of, 32. Qc2 Nxd1 33. Rxd1 Qh5 34. Ne3 Qxh2, trying to hold the position an exchange down should not work in the long term, hence white in the game must settle for an indirect trade of queens. || 32. ... Rxb3 33. Nxe8 Rxb4 | Black is still 2 pawns down, but now has 3 active units in the region of the white king, there is in particular the immediate black threat of a material-winning discovered check with the b2 knight in need of neutralising. White on the other hand has 4 units scattered around the edges of the board with no coordination worthy of mention other than a passed f-pawn ready to sprint for the 8th rank. Furthermore, the previous white trump-card of the protected passed c-pawn now has no protection. And if this is not enough, white has the problem of the d1 rook and e8 knight under attack, and no one move by either piece can solve their dilemma. || 34. a3 | The only move to avoid material loss. The idea is if, 34. ... Nxd1 35. axb4 Rxe8 36. Rxd1, and white has consolidated the 2 pawn advantage and can look forward to converting the extra material into the full point. Instead, 34. Kc2 Rxc5+ 35. Kb1 Nxd1+ 36. Ka1 Rc1+ mate is cute. || 34. ... Rd4 35. Nd6 Rxc5 | As the white potential danger-pawn on c5 is eliminated so is the defence to the white d6 knight, it seems white is running out of retaliations. Instead defending allows white to break out, 35. ... Rb8 36. Rc1 Rxd2 37. Nxe4 Rxg2 38. Rc2, and white can soon think in terms of making something with either passed pawn. || 36. Nb3 | What an reversal. Until this knight fork, it was black who was hitting vulnerable white units, now it is black who must tread carefully. || 36. ... Rxd6 | Instead, 36. ... Rcd5, leaves both players having to sift hard to determine which is wheat and which is chaff, some example lines: (A). If, 36. ... Rcd5 37. Nxd4 Nxd1 38. Rxd1 Rxd4 39. Nxb5 Rd5 40. Nxa7 Nc3+ 41. Kc2 Nxd1 42. Kxd1 Ra5 43. Nc8 Rxa3 44. Nd6, and it will be black under pressure to hold the draw, but black can improve on this. (B). Or if, 36. ... Rcd5 37. Nxd4 Nxd1 38. Rxd1 Rxd4 39. Nxb5 Rd5 40. Nxa7 Nc3+ 41. Kc2 Nxd1 42. Kxd1 e3 43. Ke2 Rxd2+ 44. Kxe3 Rxg2 45. h4 Rh2, black wins the white h-pawn creating a passed h-pawn of his own, white will find it impossible to keep the passed a-pawn, leaving matters to be decided on the kingside with white an exchange down, black should win this one. (C). Or if, 36. ... Rcd5 37. Nxd4 Nxd1 38. Rxd1 Rxd6 39. Nxb5 Rb6 40. a4 a6, and as the pinned b5 knight is falling off, the pressure is on white to hold the draw. (D). Or if, 36. ... Rcd5 37. Nxd4 Nxd1 38. Rxd1 Rxd6 39. Nb3 Nc3+ 40. Kc2 Nxd1 41. Kxd1 Rf6 42. g3 Rh6 43. h4 Rg6, and the black rook gets in amongst the white kingside pawns, combine this with a black mobile queenside pawn majority and black should win. (E). Or if, 36. ... Rcd5 37. Nxd4 Nxd1 38. Rxd1 Rxd6 39. Nf5 Rd5 40. Ne3 Rd3, and black is winning the white a3 pawn as white cannot afford, 41. Ka2 Nc3+, winning the white d1 rook. The above 5 variations all have black playing, Nxd1, in response to dropping a rook on d4. It is possible for black to consider, 37. ... Rxd4, or, 37. ... Rxd6, leaving white to decide the fate of the d1 rook while the other d-file knight is attacked. Aren't middlegames wonderfully complex when pieces find themselves hanging in fresh air without supporting pawns to help them? || 37. Nxc5 Nxd1 | This time the white d1 rook must be taken, instead, 37. ... Nxc5 38. Kxb2, black is an exchange and pawn down, white is easily winning. || 38. Nxa4 | Instead, 38. Rxd1 Nxc5, and white is a piece down for a pawn. With the departure of the black a4 knight the d1 knight is stranded without a flight route, but black has an answer. || 38. ... Rxd2 | Black who has had a material deficit since move 5 at last not only achieves material equality but has the more active position, sometimes gambiteering requires a little patience, right? || 39. Kc1 | The simpler route for white is to head for a rook and pawn ending. Instead moving the endangered a4 knight needs to be handled with a little care: (A). If, 39. Nc5 Nc3+ 40. Ka1 Ra2+ mate is unlikely to happen. (B). Or if, 39. Nc5 Nc3+ 40. Kc1 Ra2 41. Re1 Rxa3 42. Nxe4 Ra1+ 43. Kd2 Rxe1 44. Kxe1 Nxe4, white has lost a piece, black wins. (C). Or if, 39. Nc5 Nc3+ 40. Kc1 Ra2 41. Re1 Rxa3 42. Re3 b4 43. Nxe4 Nxe4 44. Rxe4 a5 45. Kb2, and despite the black pawns being more advanced white can easily hold the draw. || 39. ... Rxg2 | And shock-horror, black has actually gone a pawn ahead, gambiteering actually works! Instead, 39. ... Rd4 40. Rxd1 Rxa4 41. Kb2, should be comfortably drawn. Black should not fall into, 39. ... Rd4 40. Rxd1 Rxd1+ 41. Kxd1 bxa4, as the white king marches to gobble up the black e4 pawn for a simple winning pawn ending. || 40. Kxd1 bxa4 | Aha, black might be a pawn up but the doubled a-pawns are in effect worth only 1 pawn. || 41. Re1 | Now the game enters a curious phase where each player sets about guaranteeing they can hold the draw. White must first eliminate the potentially dangerous passed black e4 pawn, though as it happens black has no real means of using it as the h8 king is too far away to assist. || 41. ... Ra2 And now black need only eliminate the white a3 pawn and there is a well-known draw available, white cannot win with rook, f-pawn and h-pawn against rook, and this assumes that black is somehow going to conspire to lose all remaining pawns. || 42. Rxe4 | Again white takes the simple solution. Instead, 42. Re3 Kg7, and the black king given enough time will advance to the d4 square pushing the white rook around, the big threat would then be, pawn e3, Kd3, and Ra1+ mate. || 42. ... Rxa3 43. Ke2 Ra1 | If black is going to make anything with the a4 pawn then this rook needs to be on the black 8th rank. Of course, white has a few moves to set up the correct defence to neutralise the combined efforts of such a black rook and advancing passed edge-pawn. || 44. Kf2 Kg7 45. Re6 | A double purpose move. Firstly, the white rook prevents the black king from advancing any further up the board. Secondly, the rook will transfer to a6 placing itself behind the black a4 pawn, this is absolutely vital to prevent pawn promotion. || 45. ... a5 | At this standard one can be certain each player knows what the result will be, they are probably going through the motions to satisfy the demands of a team match by continuing until there is absolutely no chance of finding a win. Black could have left the pawn on a7, white will still put a rook on a6, designed not to win the a7 pawn but solely to hold the black advanced a-pawn from the rear. || 46. Ra6 a3 47. Rxa5 Kg6 | So by pushing, pawn a5, and letting the white rook gobble it up, the black king has managed to sneak a rank closer to the centre of the board. All very good, but there is no sensible means of getting the white a5 rook off the white 5th rank, or is there? || 48. Kg2 | White now has the necessary conditions to ensure the black passed a-pawn cannot promote, these are: (A). The defending rook must be sitting behind the attacking passed pawn, keeping it under attack from the rear. (B). The king must be sitting on either of the g2 or h2 squares, and please note the mirror-image position of someone trying to promote the h-pawn would demand the defending king sits on either of the b2 or a2 squares. || 48. ... Ra2+ | For a little extra rook ending theory please imagine the position altered as follows: White: imagine an extra pawn on g3. Black: Imagine 2 extra pawns on g7 and f7. The kingside is now equal, 3 pawns each. Black can try for a win with the following method: Step 1: March the king along the 3rd rank to the b6 square, attacking the white rook. Step 2: White should keep the rook on the a-file, so, Ra8, seems logical. Step 3: March the black king up the b-file to find a hiding place on the a2 square. Step 4: Create shelter for the black king by placing the rook on the b3 square. Step 5: Play, Kb2, followed by, pawn a2, and, pawn a1 promoting. Quite a long-winded process which white can thwart if the king can land on the c2 square, preventing black, Kb2. There would also be ideas of white trying to snatch at least 1 if not 2 of the black kingside pawns, return to the a-file anticipating having to give up the rook when black plays, pawn a2. This subtlety is necessary as after black plays, pawn a2, black has the option of, Ra3, and attempts to perpetuate from the black back rank with checks will soon run out as the black king simply runs backward toward the checking white rook, when contact is made the advanced pawn will promote next move. Black having successfully won rook for the a-pawn must then get both the king and rook over to the kingside before white can make something with whatever pawn majority was established before the white rook had to be given up. This process demands careful calculation, if the white pawns can get rolling before black wins the white rook it could be that white might find a draw as black is forced to give up his rook for a promoting pawn, or even worse, white might win the black rook and have sufficient resources to win the king and pawn ending. Well, there is the theory, now all one needs to do is analyse in real-time should it arise and judge whether a win is on or one is risking a defeat. || 49. Kg3 Ra1 | Having just given some theory on promoting edge-file passed pawns, black judges any attempts to get the king over to the a2 square will cost heavily, white will use his king to shepherd the f-pawn up the board, costing black a rook while the black a-pawn costs white a rook, then the white king will mop up the black h-pawn freeing the file for white to promote the h-pawn. || 50. Kg4 | White is demonstrating there are several ways to draw. The simplest method was to shuffle the king on the g3 and g2 squares in response to black playing,Ra2+, and, Ra1. || 50. ... Rg1+ 51. Kh4 Rf1 52. Rxa3 Rxf4+ | Perhaps the players have a sponsored move side-deal going on? || 53. Kg3 Rb4 Draw agreed, 1/2-1/2 * * * ## Unannotated Game. White: E. Iturrizaga, 2653. Black: S. Sulskis, 2544. Event: Tromso Olympiad 2014. Result: 1/2-1/2 in 53 moves. Opening: Reti Opening, Advanced Variation, A09. 1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 d4 3. b4 g5 4. Bb2 Bg7 5. Nxg5 e5 6. Ne4 f5 7. Nc5 b6 8. Qa4+ c6 9. Nb3 Ne7 10. e3 O-O 11. c5 b5 12. Qa5 Qe8 13. Na3 Nd5 14. Nc2 Be6 15. exd4 e4 16. O-O-O Nd7 17. Qa3 N7b6 18. Na5 Na4 19. Ba1 Nf4 20. Qg3 Nh5 21. Qd6 Rc8 22. d5 Bxd5 23. Bxb5 cxb5 24. Qxd5+ Rf7 25. Bxg7 Nf4 26. Qb3 Nd3+ 27. Kb1 Kxg7 28. Rhf1 Rd7 29. f4 Ndb2 30. Ne3 Rd3 31. Nxf5+ Kh8 32. Nd6 Rxb3 33. Nxe8 Rxb4 34. a3 Rd4 35. Nd6 Rxc5 36. Nb3 Rxd6 37. Nxc5 Nxd1 38. Nxa4 Rxd2 39. Kc1 Rxg2 40. Kxd1 bxa4 41. Re1 Ra2 42. Rxe4 Rxa3 43. Ke2 Ra1 44. Kf2 Kg7 45. Re6 a5 46. Ra6 a3 47. Rxa5 Kg6 48. Kg2 Ra2+ 49. Kg3 Ra1 50. Kg4 Rg1+ 51. Kh4 Rf1 52. Rxa3 Rxf4+ 53. Kg3 Rb4 Draw, 1/2-1/2 * * *