Skype coaching session, 16 September 2018.

The game discussed (51 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.

*  *  *

White: V. Atanassov (Bulgaria II).
Black: P. Benson (Great Britain), 1928.
Event: IBCA World Team Championship, Sofia 2018.
Result: 0-1 in 51 moves.
Opening: Dutch Defence, Hopton Attack, A80.

Note: Prior to this event white did not have a FIDE rating, but played 9 
rated opponents in Sofia and is now rated 1896. ||

1. d4 f5
2. Bg5

| Here we go again!
The, "Preparation Machinery", has been running on overtime to produce what 
appears to be a, "Personal Novelty".
this development of the bishop on g5 is not consistent with the usual white 
repertoire of, Nf3, Nbd2, pawn e3, Bd3, O-O, pawn b3, and Bb2, giving white 
a solid position before whatever centre black has constructed is challenged 
with, pawn c4.
So, is white hoping to catch black out with a specific plan, or is this 
simply to disrupt whatever plans black had in mind against the above 
outlined white system?
Only one way to find out, keep calm and follow known ideas of the black 
defence and let white slowly reveal the preparation. ||

2. ... c6

| For those interested in a more brutal approach, there is the very risky 
kingside pawn expansion for consideration.
It runs, 2. ... h6, when white can, "Willingly", fall into the, "Trap", 
with, 3. Bh4 g5 4. Bg3, and black can apparently win a piece with, 4. ... 
f4.
This is an illusion as the next move for white, 5. e3, threatens a surprise, 
6. Qh5+ mate, while also doubly attacking the black f4 pawn.
There is also the white refinement of, 2. ... h6 3. Bh4 g5 4. e4, to study.
In essence, this kingside pawn expansion often wins a piece but at the cost 
of falling behind in development, white retains a strong initiative well 
into the middlegame.
Is the system sound from either perspective?
Too difficult to say, it comes down to attitude.
Some players will invest material for activity, some players will take all 
goodies on offer knowingly accepting the dangers believing they can tough it 
out.
Personal experience in this system over several decades has produced mixed 
results, in general the stronger player tends to win, perhaps suggesting the 
whole system is very unclear and difficult to handle.
But this is a team event, so a certain responsibility is required, there 
shall be no unnecessary risks taken today. ||

3. Nd2

| Aha, white seems to be following the usual repertoire with the addition of 
having developed the dark square bishop outside the pawn chain. ||

3. ... Qb6

| A double purpose move.
Firstly, the black queen has options of either, 4. ... Qxb2, or, 4. ... 
Qxd4, snatching a pawn.
Secondly, the d8 square has been vacated offering the black king a potential 
flight route should the materialistic kingside pawn expansion still be in 
mind.
Personal experience again suggests black can indeed win a piece should white 
comply, but be warned, the disruption is massive.
Black is placed under much pressure for a long period, all the fun is for 
white as black squirms around trying to organise the undeveloped units into 
something resembling coordination. ||

4. Ngf3

| White has no sensible means of protecting both loose white pawns.
Instead, 4. Nb3, seems unnatural, the white knight on b3 will not be 
assisting organising the thematic central challenge of, pawn e4. ||

4. ... d6

| Keeping control of the e5 square, white will not be permitted aggressive 
ideas involving, pawn e4, Ne5, intending a disrupting, Qh5+, black is 
settling down for a strategic struggle, there shall be no fireworks today. 
||

5. e3 Qxb2

| This seems to contradict all the advice offered to beginners on how to 
handle the opening.
White has already developed 3 units when the black queen chooses to satisfy 
her hunger.
In systems such as the King's Gambit such materialism could cost black very 
heavily, but here the white pieces are not coordinating against any weak 
points in the black position.
So the immediate future for black carries no risks, but this does not mean 
black can relax and settle down to enjoying an ending with an extra pawn.
White will have a lead in development well into the middlegame, the only 
question is whether a crucial central pawn challenge can rip into the black 
position.
There are too many plans to consider for both sides, so it comes down to 
judgement of whether the black position can absorb the pressure or not. ||

6. Bc4 Nf6

| Testing the white g5 bishop, the usual plan when playing a very early, 
Bg5, against the Dutch Defence is to capture, Bxf6, undermining the black 
control of the e4 square. ||

7. Bb3

| When a unit moves it vacates a square for someone else to occupy, here 
white is planning, pawn c4. ||

7. ... Qc3

| Spoilsport.
Black is going to use the queen to block the white advance of, pawn c4, for 
as long as possible, white must find another means of creating open lines 
for the active pieces, not easy. ||

8. O-O Nbd7

| Black must complete development, get the king out of the centre by 
castling kingside while keeping hold of the extra pawn.
The general idea is to close the a2-g8 diagonal with, pawn d5, fine, but 
surely this will concede the e5 square to white?
Yes, but king safety is more important than worrying about a centralised 
white knight. ||

9. Rb1

| Perhaps white is hoping for some tricks up the b-file? ||

9. ... d5
10. Qe2 g6

The alternative black plan of, pawn e6, Bd6, and, O-O, with ideas of some 
kingside activity was overlooked during the game.
Black decided to avoid unnecessary conflict, instead complete development 
and then slowly trade pieces anticipating an ending with an extra pawn. ||

11. Bf4 Bg7
12. Ne5 O-O

| White is at a crossroad.
There are two different plans for consideration.
#1. Strategic Strangulation - Keep pressuring black in the hope containment 
will make the extra pawn of no value.
#2. Brute Force - Break the centre wide open and rely on well-placed pieces 
coordinating to overpower the black position.
The former comes with little risk and is easier to organise.
The latter involves danger and will cost a considerable amount of mental 
energy. ||

13. Ndf3

| Strategic Strangulation it is then.
The alternative was to arrange, pawn f3, then, pawn e4, and before this 
happens white must ensure the d4 pawn is protected against, Qxd4, by black, 
this all costs time which black will use to complete development and be 
ready for the break. ||

13. ... Ne4
14. Rbd1 Nxe5

| Black begins the slow process of heading for an endgame with a trade of 
pieces while also giving white a triple-choice of recaptures, very often a 
useful time-grabber as the opponent sifts between the plusses and minuses of 
each choice. ||

15. Bxe5 Bf6

| Since black cannot sensibly avoid the exchange of bishops a 
defensive-strengthening plan of recapturing on f6 with the e7 pawn is set 
up, the doubling of the f-pawns is not to be feared, at some point the 
advance of, pawn f4, should arise.
White in the game is to play and give black a pleasant surprise. ||

16. Qe1

| Offering a trade of queens when a pawn down is surely just what black 
wants.
Instead, 16. Rd3 Qa5 17. Rc1, intending, pawn c4, and the white position at 
last becomes active seemed more appropriate. ||

16. ... Qxe1
17. Rfxe1 b5

| Black insists that white shall not be permitted any central activity 
involving, pawn c4, which in turn keeps the white b3 bishop a spectator.
Fine, but the advance of the black b-pawn also offers white a target. ||

18. a4 a6
19. Ra1 Bb7

| On b7 the bishop provides a potential defence to the d5 pawn as well as 
covering the a8 square should the a-file become fully open. ||

20. Red1 Rfd8

| Black is not yet sure of how to make the most of the extra pawn and so 
flicks in a move which sets white calculating whether, pawn c5, is being 
planned, it is not, but white cannot know that. ||

21. axb5

| Aha, the apparent threat of, pawn c5, has pushed white into an unnecessary 
commitment.
Instead, 21. Kf1, with the idea, Rd3, and then Ke2, waiting for black to 
make a commitment was worth a try. ||

21. ... axb5

| The opening of the a-file can only offer gains for black so perhaps, 21. 
a5, trying to keep the queenside under restraint creates less problems for 
white. ||

22. Rxa8

| White yields the a-file to black assuming that there are no entry squares 
for a rook, at first glance this is so, but there are a few tricks lurking 
in the position.
Instead centralising the king with, 22. Kf1, would have been more useful. ||

22. ... Rxa8
23. Ne1

| This retreat creates significant problems for white, though to be fair, 
finding anything constructive is difficult. ||

23. ... Nc3
24. Rd2

| Forced.
The lines to be rejected run:
(A). If, 24. Rc1 Ne2+, picks off the white c1 rook.
(B). Or if, 24. Rd3 Ra1 25. Rxc3 Rxe1+ mate.
(C). Or if, 24. Rd3 Ra1 25. Kf1 b4 26. Rd2 Ba6+ 27. Kg1 Rxe1+ mate.
The undesired lift of the white rook offers black the opportunity to 
activate 3 units on the queenside. ||

24. ... Ra1
25. Kf1 b4

| When a unit moves lines previously closed become open, there is now the 
powerful threat of, 26. ... Ba6+, to be neutralised. ||

26. f3

| Instead, 26. f4 Ba6+ 27. Kf2 Ne4+, winning a whole rook with, 28. ... 
Nxd2. ||

26. ... Ba6+
27. Kf2 Nd1+

| The black knight which white could have eliminated way back on move 7 is 
about to swirl around giving black a decisive material advantage. ||

28. Kg3 Nxe3

| With threats of, Rxe1, and, Nf1+, winning the black d2 rook to be 
answered. ||

29. Kf2 Nd1+

| White would probably resign after, 29. ... Nf1, the white d2 rook has no 
safe flight square.
Or perhaps, 29. ... Nf1 30. Re2 Bxe2 31. Kxe2 Bxe5 32. dxe5 Nxh2, and though 
the black knight is temporarily stranded on h2, there is no way for white to 
get after it. ||

30. Kg3 Bxe5+

| Black has noticed a forcing move sequence leading to a very favourable 
knight against bishop ending and goes for it. ||

31. dxe5 Ne3
32. Kf2 f4

| Yes, 32. ... Nf1, still wins an exchange.
Black missed the concept because the liquidating plan leading to knight vs 
bishop ending was overruling all other thoughts. ||

33. g3 Nd1+
34. Kg2 fxg3
35. hxg3 Nc3

| Yet again black gains a tempo by exposing an attack onto the hapless white 
e1 knight. ||

36. Nd3

| White is forcing a further trade of material, just what black wants.
Instead, 36. Kf2 Rd1, and a trade of rooks cannot be avoided, after which 
the black queenside pawn mass can begin to advance. ||

36. ... Bxd3
37. Rxd3

| Instead, 37. cxd3 Rd1, will force white to choose between exchanging rooks 
or moving the d2 rook and lose the d3 pawn, no contest. ||

37. ... Rd1
38. Kf2

| Instead trying to keep rooks on with, 38. Re3, allows, 38. ... c5, and the 
white bishop on b3 will be trapped next move with, pawn c4. ||

38. ... Rxd3

| The culmination of the plan started when the black knight began 
whirlwinding around, an ending of mobile black knight against the virtually 
static white bishop has arrived. ||

39. cxd3 e6
40. d4 Kg7

| With 2 extra pawns this ending should be simple to convert, and there will 
be several ways to do so.
The white bishop is tied down to preventing the promotion of the passed 
black b4 pawn.
The white king must remain within a move distance from the d4 pawn due to 
the black threat of, Nb5.
With both white units suffering such mobility restrictions there is an 
opportunity for black to deflect one of them from their defensive post, but 
which one?
The answer lies in the kingside pawn structures.
Black can create an outside passed pawn which is going to force the white 
king over to the h-file to prevent it promoting.
This then allows the black knight to snatch the defenceless d4 pawn after 
white there will be a mass of passed queenside pawns ready to roll. ||

41. Ke3 h5
42. Bc2 g5
43. Kf2 Kh6

| Not really necessary, the black king is not needed to create a passed 
pawn. ||

44. Ke3 h4
45. gxh4 gxh4
46. f4

| Black must ensure white cannot make anything with the centre pawns, so 
providing the king stays defensively placed there will be no reversals. ||

46. ... h3
47. Kf3 Nb5
48. Kg3 Nxd4
49. Bb1 Ne2+

| A different method of, pawn b3, followed by, Nb5, Na3, pawn b2, and 
finally, pawn b1=Q, costs white the bishop. ||

50. Kxh3 Nxf4+
51. Kg4 Ng6
White resigns, 0-1

*  *  *

White: V. Atanassov (Bulgaria II).
Black: P. Benson (Great Britain), 1928.
Event: IBCA World Team Championship, Sofia 2018.
Result: 0-1 in 51 moves.
Opening: Dutch Defence, Hopton Attack, A80.

1. d4 f5
2. Bg5 c6
3. Nd2 Qb6
4. Ngf3 d6
5. e3 Qxb2
6. Bc4 Nf6
7. Bb3 Qc3
8. O-O Nbd7
9. Rb1 d5
10. Qe2 g6
11. Bf4 Bg7
12. Ne5 O-O
13. Ndf3 Ne4
14. Rbd1 Nxe5
15. Bxe5 Bf6
16. Qe1 Qxe1
17. Rfxe1 b5
18. a4 a6
19. Ra1 Bb7
20. Red1 Rfd8
21. axb5 axb5
22. Rxa8 Rxa8
23. Ne1 Nc3
24. Rd2 Ra1
25. Kf1 b4
26. f3 Ba6+
27. Kf2 Nd1+
28. Kg3 Nxe3
29. Kf2 Nd1+
30. Kg3 Bxe5+
31. dxe5 Ne3
32. Kf2 f4
33. g3 Nd1+
34. Kg2 fxg3
35. hxg3 Nc3
36. Nd3 Bxd3
37. Rxd3 Rd1
38. Kf2 Rxd3
39. cxd3 e6
40. d4 Kg7
41. Ke3 h5
42. Bc2 g5
43. Kf2 Kh6
44. Ke3 h4
45. gxh4 gxh4
46. f4 h3
47. Kf3 Nb5
48. Kg3 Nxd4
49. Bb1 Ne2+
50. Kxh3 Nxf4+
51. Kg4 Ng6
White resigns, 0-1

*  *  *