Skype coaching session, 02 December 2018. 

The game discussed (44 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. 

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Annotated Game. 

White: M. Waddington, 2010. 
Black: P. Wells, 2426. 
Event: British Championship Hull 2018. 
Result: 0-1 in 44 moves. 
Opening: Sicilian Defence, Closed Variation, B23. 

1. Nc3 

| This move constitutes the Dunst Opening. 
So what does one do against this unusual first move? 
Perhaps virtually anything you want, right? 
No, do not try to refute it, and more importantly do not feel insulted by it. 
Instead briefly sift through your black opening repertoire seeking a system where the move, Nc3, is commonly played and select that defence. 
In essence, you are seeking a transposition back into familiar territory. || 

1. ... c5 

| Black proposes a transposition into a Sicilian Defence. || 

2. e4 

| White accepts. 
Clearly there are many other choices for white here, a deep discussion would not gain much, the important point to note is that the initial appearance of white wishing to avoid mainlines is incorrect. 
White must have been wishing to avoid something in the black defences against, 1. e4, and this is his chosen means of deflecting it. 
He is happy to fight in a Sicilian, but perhaps had black replied with, 1. ... e5, then maybe a more subtle approach of, 2. g3, might have been selected? 
Not to worry, we are back into mainlining, let the dance of the repertoires continue. || 

2. ... a6 

| A doubler. 
Firstly, this prepares the queenside expansion of, pawn b5, to be followed with, Bb7, placing pressure on the white e4 pawn, do not underestimate this simple plan. 
Secondly, some players with white enjoy answering a black, Nc6, with, Bb5, intending to trade off the c6 knight or force black to take evasive measures to avoid the trade, this humble, pawn a6, prevents this idea. || 

3. a4 

| Well this is certainly one way of preventing the immediate black queenside pawn expansion. 
It however does not seem to bring good results according to the databases. 
Similarly, the fairly obvious, 3. f4, does not score well either. 
Better statistics come with, 3. Nf3, and, 3. Nge2. 
Of course, it is only move 3, so perhaps drawing conclusions over the effectiveness of a move by pointing to the results is somewhat naive. 
However, something must be happening when some moves return much poorer dividends than others. 
Both players now get on with their own development plans, postponing any serious hand-to-hand fighting until the beginning of the middlegame. || 

3. ... Nc6 
4. f4 g6 

| First big decision from black is made, on which square will the f8 bishop reside. 
The alternative is e7, as part of the development plan of, pawn d6, pawn e6, Nf6. || 

5. Nf3 Bg7 
6. Bc4 

| White now makes a commitment, the alternate square for the f1 bishop is g2. || 

6. ... e6 

| Signalling another decision, the g8 knight is heading for e7. || 

7. O-O Nge7 
8. d3 d5 

| A thematic central challenge in this system which transforms a Sicilian into something closer to a French Defence. || 

9. Bb3 

| White retreats leaving the central tension intact. 
Instead, 9. ... exd5 exd5 10. Bb3, liberates the black c8 bishop. || 

9. ... O-O 
10. e5 

| White closes down the activity of the black g7 bishop. || 

10. ... f6 

| And black immediately sets about regaining activity for that blocked g7 bishop, this fight for suppression and freedom will carry on for quite some time. || 

11. exf6 

| Surely this voluntary capture gives life back to the black g7 bishop? 
Yes, but do not worry, white has a plan to close it down again. || 

11. ... Bxf6 
12. Ne2 

| A doubler. 
Firstly, this knight is transferring itself kingside primarily for defensive purposes, though if the opportunity arises, it will join in an attack. 
Secondly, when a unit moves it vacates a square for someone else, in this case white intends constructing a central dark square pawn chain to neutralise the black f6 bishop. || 

12. ... Bd7 

| This bishop lift off the back rank connects the black d8 queen and a8 rook, which allows the somewhat delayed advance, pawn b5. || 

13. c3 

| The first link in a white restrictive central pawn chain is forged. 
Black is not going to sit there and let his f6 bishop be squished out so easily. || 

13. ... b5 
14. Ng3 

| Keeping an eye on the f5 square. 
The black knight on e7 often lands there in order to fight for the d4 square or gang up on a white d4 pawn according to play. || 

14. ... b4 

| White is planning, pawn d4, blocking the a1 - h8 diagonal, black intends to eliminate as many links in the constructed pawn chain as possible. 
One of these conflicting strategies will succeed, but which? || 

15. d4 bxc3 

| A dramatically different approach could have been, 15. ... c4 16. Bc2 b3 17. Bb1, when the white light square bishop has no sensible moves, and the white a1 rook has no means of joining in. 
All black need do then is fix the white a4 pawn, shuffle the c6 knight somewhere useful, double on the a4 pawn with, Qe8 and snaffle it. 
What black can actually do with the extra pawn is up for debate, perhaps first put the a-pawn on a4, organise the c6 knight to sit on b5, place the f6 bishop on the f8 - a3 diagonal, and advance the a-pawn to a3 when white is forced to capture with, bxa3. 
This would give black a protected passed b3 pawn to play with, white a pawn down cannot afford piece exchanges, but how can they avoid them as the black forces flood in up the a-file? 
This is incredibly long-winded but if allowed to happen should be very good for black. 

So what can white do about this? 
The only defence would be a kingside campaign designed to hit hard at the black h7 - g6 pawn chain, create some open lines, and get stuck in over there as quickly as possible. 

Grand Rabbit feels black should be just about able to snaffle the white a4 pawn and suffer a little on the kingside before the white attack fizzles out. 
However, there is obviously some risk involved in forcing white to enter into kingside, "Hari-Kari Mode". 
Perhaps Grand Master comprehension of the position informs him that pawn snaffling is not necessary and that playing in the queenside / centre is the correct way to handle the position. || 

16. bxc3 Qa5 

| Attacking the base of the pawn chain and forcing a white piece to take up a defensive role. || 

17. Ra3 

| FIDE Master mystifies Grand Rabbit. 
It is not the tactrick that is mystifying, it is the attempt to tactrick a Grand Master which is the mystery. 
Sure, this idea prevents the loss of a pawn as, 17. ... Qxb3 18. Bxd5, grabs the pawn back with an unleashed rook attack onto the black c3 queen from a3, this is not good for black as the white light square bishop should be kept as inactive as possible. 
No, what is puzzling to Grand Rabbit is why white rejected the simple, 17. Bd2, when white can later transfer the a1 rook to the b-file with greater flexibility for the white army compared to what will emerge in game. 
But then again, Grand Rabbit has the advantage of knowing how the game concludes, while FIDE Master has to calculate it all in real time. || 

17. ... cxd4 

| The strategy of eliminating the central white pawns continues, vacant squares are appearing over on the queenside for pieces, and it seems that black will be having first pick of them. || 
18. cxd4 Qb4 

| Triply-attacking the now isolated and blockaded white d4 pawn, white is again pushed into defending while black is attacking. || 

19. Bb2 Rab8 

| White has sufficient defensive resources on the queenside to avoid immediate material loss, but the tension is mounting and white units are beginning to have their mobility reduced. || 

20. Rf2 Rfc8 

| A post-mortem comment from Kasparov to an opponent refusing to accept unfavourable judgement of the position: "Every piece of mine is better than every piece of yours." 
Of course, while having every piece better than the opposing pieces is distinctly advantageous, it does not necessarily mean the position is decisive. 
But which would you rather have, every piece better, or every piece worse? 
Whoever has the worse of it must play with much greater accuracy, perhaps just one more inaccuracy and the shaky house of cards might collapse. || 

21. Ne5 

| White is finally about to win, "The Battle Of The Long Diagonal", started back on move 10. 
Black has 2 options here. 
Firstly, permit the white e5 knight to remain in place and play around it. 
Secondly, eliminate it for once and all and not have to worry about any complications on the light squares, perhaps the g6 pawn could become a target much later in the game if the white e5 knight remained in play. || 

21. ... Nxe5 

| The white knight on e5 was too well-placed to be allowed to remain on the board. 
The downside of this exchange is that the h8 - a1 diagonal can only be opened with a loosening, pawn g5, break, which might not be to the taste of some players. || 

22. dxe5 

| When a unit moves it vacates a square for someone else. 
White has liberated the d4 square for a possible, Qd4, challenge to the well-located black b4 queen. 
Instead, 22. fxe5, opens up the f-file but perhaps it will be black who will be more able to gain from it as the white f2 rook is presently needed to defend the b2 bishop. 
The attacked black f6 bishop must now move, but where? || 

22. ... Bh4 

| As the saying goes, "As one door closes, another one opens." 
And as another saying goes, "A knight on the rim is dim." 
Why is there no such similar comment on a bishop placed on an edge file or rank? 
This black bishop on h4 has no safe moves, if attacked it cannot flee and so would need to be defended in some way. 
So why has it been sent to a square with very limited future prospects? 
The answer is that black is not anticipating moving the bishop from h4, it is doing an excellent job there, pinning the white g3 knight to the white f2 rook. || 

23. Ba2 

| A doubler. 
Firstly, the clutteration of white pieces on the queenside needs sorting out, this is part of an unravelling plan designed to permit static units to have options of mobility, the first unit to gain is the a3 rook now having freedom of movement along the white 3rd rank. 
Secondly, the white a3 rook now offers protection to the pinned white g3 knight, if black chooses to capture with, Bxg3, white can avoid doubled pawns by recapturing, Rxg3. || 
it is black to play and a very serious test of, "Tactical Event Horizons", is hovering over the board. || 

23. ... Nf5 

| Black wins the fight over who controls f5 due to the helpful h4 bishop pin on the white g3 knight. 
However, when a unit moves defences previous in place can be lost, is there any great difference in the position now that this black knight sits on f5? 
Yes, there is a big difference, the only question both players need to answer is does it matter? || 

24. Bxd5 

| The, "Tactical Event Horizon", test has begun. 
We are about to witness a long sequence of moves which are not exactly forced, but choices other than the game continuation will most likely offer worse prospects. 
One of the players is making a mistake here, has black allowed white a clever tactic, or is white not appreciating the depth of calculation required to judge, 24. Bxd5, correctly? || 

24. ... exd5 

| Anything else just accepts a simple loss of a pawn, but surely acceptance condemns black to losing more than just the d5 pawn? || 

25. Qxd5+ Kf8 

| Black correctly leaves the king in the open, other choices run: 
(A). Seeking shelter on the h-file fails, 25. ... Kg7 26. Qxd7+ Kh6 27. Nxf5+ gxf5 28. g3, forces the black h4 bishop back while giving the white king the useful flight square of g2. 
(B). Or if, 25. ... Kh8 26. e6+ Kg8 27. exd7+, costs black the c8 rook, but it does not need to be this painful. 
(C). Or if, 25. ... Kh8 26. e6+ Ng7 27. exd7, leaves black a couple of pawns down combined with having to control the white passed d7 pawn. 
On f8 the black king is not in any immediate danger,but perhaps as the game proceeds there could be a threat of perpetual check from the white queen, and if white were given the luxury of 2 free moves then, Ra1, with, Ba3, would skewer the black monarchy, but black is not going to be so generous. || 

26. Qxd7 

| The immediate knee-jerk responses are concluded. 
Now with black to play virtually every piece could be considered to be moved, quite a wide range of options, and all choices needed to be examined when black, allowed / fell into, 24. Bxd4. || 

26. ... Rd8 

| Surely this black rook had a perfectly satisfactory open file to control from c8? 
Yes, plenty of control up the c-file, but control is not the reason for movement to the d-file, invasion is the name of the game here. || 

27. Qxh7 

| Grand Rabbit wonders if FIDE Master could have forced a concession out of black with, 27. Qa7, claiming the important g1 - a7 diagonal. 
If the white queen remains on this diagonal then black will be denied a vital plan, as can be seen later as the game proceeds. 
Accepting that the white queen must be shifted from a7, then, 27. ... Ra8 28. Qxh7, and play can follow the game again, but not copletely, the black rook on a8 would be denied options which were available when sitting on b8. || 

27. ... Rd1+ 

| A powerful invasion, all possible because of the white a1 rook wandering to a3 much earlier in the game which has been compounded by a necessary, Rf2, to offer a protection to the white b2 bishop. || 

28. Rf1 

| Instead, 28. Nf1 Bxf2+ 29. Kxf2 Qxb2+, leaves white at least a rook down, there might even be a mate to be discovered with an investment of time. || 

28. ... Qc5+ 

| This necessary queen check forces a win of material, fine, but take a quick glance in the region of the black king. 
He is about to have very few defenders around him, leaving the white queen options of a series of checks, does the black king have a means to avoid perpetual check? || 

29. Kh1 Nxg3+ 

| The only defence to the white f1 rook is removed with check. || 

30. hxg3 Rxf1+ 
31. Kh2 

| Perhaps we should assess how the game stands as the dust settles. 
Firstly, would anyone care to comment on the coordination of the 2 forces? 
(Stop giggling at the back there!) 
White: The b2 bishop defends the a3 rook and there is a pawn chain running from g3 to e5. 
Black: What do you mean, coordination? 
Secondly, the material imbalance has black with an extra rook for 3 pawns. 
Thirdly, both bishops are en prise, as is the black g6 pawn, and there is the little threat of white, Qh8+, picking up the black b8 rook. 
In the game it is black to play and try to solve the various tactical threats before setting about finding some useful coordination. 
Clue: The white king has found himself some protection, or so he thinks... || 

31. ... Bxg3+ 

| The defences of the white king need stripping away which in turn permit the black forces to find coordination. 
A startling suggestion came forward during the coaching session. 
Black has the opportunity to gain a decisive material advantage if white chooses not to fall into the mate in 6 moves, and while searching for that mate, move 3 for black is the trickiest to find. 
It goes, 31. ... Qg1+ 32. Kh3 Qh1+ 33. Kg4 Rxf4+, said that one was tricky to find, 34. gxf4 Qxg2+ 35. Kxh4 Qh2+, and if white wishes to keep the queen then, 36. Rh3 Qxf4+ mate, the loss of the white queen up the h-file is a recurrent theme as the game unfolds. 
White can vary with, 31. ... Qg1+ 32. Kh3 Qh1+ 33. Kg4 Rxf4+ 34. Kxf4 Bxg3+ 35. Kxg3 Qxh7, when all white has for his queen is a bishop and e-pawn. 
The game continuation is much easier to envisage from the black perspective and almost certainly the first line of analysis to be calculated. || 

32. Kxg3 

| Instead, 32. Rxg3 Qg1+ 33. Kh3 Qh1+, picks up the white h7 queen. 
Or if, 32. Kh3 Rh1+, and yet again the white queen falls. || 

32. ... Qf2+ 
33. Kh2 Qg1+ 

| Black is repeating the position to place a couple of more moves on the scoresheet. || 

34. Kg3 Qf2+ 
35. Kh2 Qxf4+ 
36. Rg3 

| Blocking with, pawn g3, allows any of several quick mates: 
(A). If, 36. g3 Rxb2+ 37. Kh3 Rh1+ mate. 
(B). Or if, 36. g3 Rh1+ 37. Kg2 Qf1+ mate. 
(C). Or if, 36. g3 Rh1+ 37. Kxh1 Qf1+ 38. Kh2 Rxb2+ mate. 

Remember the comment to white move 27 recommending white flick in, 27. Qa7, when if black wishes to play the game sequence involving, Rd1+, and, Qc5+, then, 27. ... Ra8, would need to be played to push the white queen off the a7 - g1 diagonal? 
Just what could black do to continue the attack if, Rxb2, cannot be played here? || 

36. ... Rxb2 

| And if black were allowed another move then, 37. ... Rxg2+, would force mate as follows: 
(A). If, 37. ... Rxg2+ 38. Kxg2 Qf2+ 39. Kh3 Rh1+ 40. Kg4 Qf5+ mate. 
(B). Or if, 37. ... Rxg2+ 38. Kh3 Qxg3+ mate. 
It is however white to move and the above black mating plan can be easily disrupted with, 37. Qxg6, but after, 37. ... Qxe5, white would be simply a rook down for a pawn, good technique will find black comfortably claiming the full point. || 

37. Qh8+ 

| White can take the black g6 pawn at any time, so first comes a little test, can the black king escape the perpetual checks? || 

37. ... Ke7 
38. Qh7+ Kd8 

| Black has a simple plan designed to escape the checks while keeping an important pin on the white g3 rook. 
Instead, 38. ... Qf7 39. Qh4+ Kd7 40. Qd4+, picks up the loose black b7 rook. 
or if after, 38. ... Qf7 39. Qh4+, the black king tries to hide on the kingside there could be an untimely Rxg6+, thrown in, why take the risk when there is a good plan available? || 

39. Qh8+ Kc7 
40. Qh7+ Kb8 

| The black king is ready to step onto the a-file after which any white queen check can be blocked with a retreat by the b2 rook. || 

41. Qxg6 

| White acknowledges the black king can achieve safety and so snatches the black g6 pawn while also protecting the pinned g3 rook, this is not enough to save the game, white is only asking for black to show the necessary technique to finish matters. || 

41. ... Qxe5 

| Black eliminates a potentially dangerous white pawn, all that is needed now is to trade queens, trade rooks, and the battle of white g-pawn against the remaining rook is a trivial matter. || 

42. Qg8+ Ka7 
43. Qh7+ Rb7 

| And with the black queen on e5 ruling the dark squares, white has little chance of getting another check on the black king. || 

44. Qd3 

| The white queen harasses the black f1 rook, the only question is to where will it move, right? || 

44. ... Rg7 
White resigns, 0-1 

| Black demonstrates that an unprotected unit under attack can be left both unprotected and unmoved providing a strong threat can be set up elsewhere. 
Liquidation is now unavoidable, a sample of some of the finishes available to black run: 
(A). If, 45. Qxf1 Qxg3+ 46. Kh1 Rh8+ 47. Kg1 Qe3+ 48. Qf2 Rh1+, deflection, 49. Kxh1 Qxf2, black is a queen up for a pawn. 
(B). Or if, 45. Qxf1 Qxg3+ 46. Kg1 Qe3+ 47. Kh2 Rh8+ mate. 
(C). Or if, 45. Qxf1 Qxg3+ 46. Kg1 Qe3+ 47. Qf2 Qxf2+ 48. Kxf2 Kb6, the black king will win the white a4 pawn, if white tries to advance the g-pawn black will allow it to get so far before giving up the rook for it, and by that time the black a-pawn will have probably promoted. 
(D). Or if, 45. a4 Rxg3 46. Qxg3 Rh1+, deflection, 47. Kxh1 Qxg3, black is a queen up for a pawn. 
(E). Or if, 45. Qe3+ Qxe3 46. Rxe3 Rf2, white cannot keep the g2 pawn, a simple win for black. || 

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## Unannotated Game. 

White: M. Waddington, 2010. 
Black: P. Wells, 2426. 
Event: British Championship Hull 2018. 
Result: 0-1 in 44 moves. 
Opening: Sicilian Defence, Closed Variation, B23. 

1. Nc3 c5 
2. e4 a6 
3. a4 Nc6 
4. f4 g6 
5. Nf3 Bg7 
6. Bc4 e6 
7. O-O Nge7 
8. d3 d5 
9. Bb3 O-O 
10. e5 f6 
11. exf6 Bxf6 
12. Ne2 Bd7 
13. c3 b5 
14. Ng3 b4 
15. d4 bxc3 
16. bxc3 Qa5 
17. Ra3 cxd4 
18. cxd4 Qb4 
19. Bb2 Rab8 
20. Rf2 Rfc8 
21. Ne5 Nxe5 
22. dxe5 Bh4 
23. Ba2 Nf5 
24. Bxd5 exd5 
25. Qxd5+ Kf8 
26. Qxd7 Rd8 
27. Qxh7 Rd1+ 
28. Rf1 Qc5+ 
29. Kh1 Nxg3+ 
30. hxg3 Rxf1+ 
31. Kh2 Bxg3+ 
32. Kxg3 Qf2+ 
33. Kh2 Qg1+ 
34. Kg3 Qf2+ 
35. Kh2 Qxf4+ 
36. Rg3 Rxb2 
37. Qh8+ Ke7 
38. Qh7+ Kd8 
39. Qh8+ Kc7 
40. Qh7+ Kb8 
41. Qxg6 Qxe5 
42. Qg8+ Ka7 
43. Qh7+ Rb7 
44. Qd3 Rg7 
White resigns, 0-1 

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