Skype coaching session, 20 January 2019. 

The game discussed (57 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. 

| Editorial. 
Questions have been asked as to how games are selected for the coaching sessions. 
There is a considerable random factor involved. 
While chasing down a tricky Sicilian line on the limited database, it produced about 7 games, there in the list of players taking up the black argument the same name appeared winning twice, a somewhat rare occurrence, curiosity was prodded. 
Further investigation of the games of the Sicilian player threw up a name I recognised but could not recall why. 
So take a chance, investigate that game, it might be of interest, and here it is. 

Please pay attention to the contrasting fortunes of the white and black minor pieces, in particular who gets to play all the interesting moves and who finds their options limited by the opposition. || 

White: N. Umudova, 2176. 
Black: J. Gilbert, 2144. 
Event: 37th Olympiad (Women) Turin 2006. 
Result: 0-1 in 57 moves. 
Opening: Modern Defence, Two Knight's Variation, B06. 

1. e4 g6 

| Aha, white now has a target in the black position at which to aim, right? || 

2. d4 Bg7 
3. Nc3 d6 

| Black has been holding back on the development of the g8 knight for a good reason. 
The, "Obvious", Nf6, is not on the agenda today. || 

4. Nf3 

| Solid, white is planning a calm approach to the opening, preferring to postpone interaction until the middlegame begins. 
Instead, 4. f4, is adopting a similar wait-and-see policy, but indicates a far more aggressive intent once the middlegame gets going. 
There is also, 4. Be3, intending, Qd2, O-O-O, and launch a kingside assault involving, pawn h4, crude but quite often quite effective. || 

4. ... a6 

| Preparing the queenside expansion of, pawn b5, white is at a crossroad. || 

5. a4 

| Preventing black, pawn b5, but almost certainly ruling out any systems involving white organising castling queenside. 
As they say, "Win Something, Lose Something." || 

5. ... b6 

| The black system is beginning to take shape, a double-fianchetto will snipe at the white centre, well they will providing those undeveloped black knights decide not to get in their way. || 

6. Bc4 e6 
7. O-O Bb7 
8. Qe2 Ne7 

| The game of two halves continues, neither player is interested in establishing tension anywhere just yet, expect each to continue developing independent of the other. 
On f6 this knight would be pressuring the white centre, but in return would be vulnerable to attack from a white pawn push. 
On e7 it is less active but safe from harm when the enemy forces eventually interact. 
Win Something, Lose Something. || 

9. Bf4 O-O 
10. Rad1 d5 

| White has not been lured into making a central pawn advance and so black decides it is time to put the question to white. || 

11. Ba2 

| This piece looks out of play, and it is. 
This is however a temporary arrangement, but it might be of interest here and now to take a little time to find a means of getting the a2 bishop back into play. 
Instead, 11. exd5, would only assist black to make a few piece trades, usually favourable when the position is a little cramped. || 

11. ... Nd7 

| Warning: Serious strategic game-changing decision about to be made by white here, fine, but what? || 

12. e5 

| The centre is closed, we should now be thinking in terms of a French Defence, Steinitz Variation, with a few important differences. 
Black has a double-fianchetto, not usually part of the Steinitz Defence, but just about known. 
White has shuffled the light square bishop to a2, it usually finds itself comfortably placed on d3 against the Steinitz. 
Do these differences matter all that much in how each player should be handling the middlegame? 
Probably not, the general principle of black challenging the white central pawn formation still holds true. 
White cannot avoid some central pawn exchanges, it is just a question of how white wishes to arrange the pieces as black begins to undermine the central chain. || 

12. ... c5 
13. Rfe1 

| A doubler. 
Firstly, the rook on e1 over-protects the e5 pawn, suggesting some re-arrangement in the white piece formation is being planned. 
Secondly, on e1 this rook might have options of lifting to the 3rd rank at a later stage. || 

13. ... Nc6 

| Now it definitely has a distinct feel of the French about it. 
White now needs to start calculating carefully due to the increase in the central tension. 
A quick comparison of, "Attack-Count", and, "Defender-Count", of the white pawns might assist. 
The white d4 pawn: Attacked twice, the c6 knight, the c5 pawn, defended twice, the d1 rook, the f3 knight, so the d4 pawn is safe, right? 
The white e5 pawn: Attacked three times, the c6 knight, the d7 knight, the g7 bishop, defended five times, the e2 queen, the e1 rook, the f4 bishop, the f3 knight, the d4 pawn, so the e5 pawn is safe, right? 
The doubly-attacked and doubly-defended d4 pawn is indeed safe, but the e5 pawn is a different matter. 
Sure, it is only triply-attacked and quintuply-defended, so the sums favour the defence, right? 
Not so simple. 
Defenders can be eliminated, and matters become further complicated when the value of the next-in-line defender is greater than that of an attacker. 
White to play must do something to prevent losing the strategically important e5 pawn, but what? || 

14. dxc5 

| Probably forced. 
Instead, 14. Qd2, a defender of the e5 pawn moves away, 14. ... cxd4, a defender of the e5 pawn is eliminated, 15. Nxd4, a defender of the e5 pawn is deflected,15. ... Ncxe5, the e5 pawn had only 2 defenders and was triply attacked, it falls. 
White could also have made an inconsequential move which did not alter the critical central defences. 
Perhaps, 14. h3 cxd4, a defender of the e5 pawn is eliminated, 15. Nxd4, a defender of the e5 pawn is deflected, and now the e5 pawn is triply-attacked and triply-defended, so all is fine for white, right? 
No, because a very high value piece, the white e2 queen, is the 2nd defender, so black wins the e5 pawn with, 15. Ncxe5, as, 16. Bxe5 Nxe5, and the white queen cannot capture as black will reply, Bxe5, winning the white queen. 
So, it is not just the number of attackers and defenders which must be counted, but the value of the units and the sequence in which the captures occur must also be taken into account. || 

14. ... bxc5 
15. Qd2 

| White is lining up the d2 queen with the f4 bishop to play, Bh6. || 

15. ... Qb6 

| Nibbling on the white b2 pawn, but doesn't an old Hungarian cookbook suggest such dainty morsels are poisonous? || 

16. Bh6 Rfd8 

| The tactics in the centre do not favour black. 
(A). If, 16. ... Ndxe5 17. Nxe5 Nxe5 18. Bxg7 Kxg7 19. Rxe5, white has won a piece for a pawn. 
(B). Or if, 16. ... Ndxe5 17. Nxe5 Nxe5 18. Bxg7 Nc4 19. Qh6, white is a piece up, and how is black going to meet the simple plan of, Rd3, Rh3, with, Qxh7+, to follow? || 
(C). Or if, 16. ... Ndxe5 17. Nxe5 Bxe5 18. Bxf8 Rxf8 19. b3, white has won an exchange for a pawn. 
(D). Or if, 16. ... Bxh6 17. Qxh6 Qxb2 18. Ng5 Rfc8 19. Qxh7+ Kf8 20. Qxf7+ mate. || 

17. Bxg7 Kxg7 
18. h4 

| The white king will be perfectly safe without the defensive presence of the h-pawn, the same cannot be said for the black king. || 

18. ... h6 

| A concession, but better choices seem in short supply. 
Black is always going to have problems on the kingside, but this type of pawn advance needs very careful consideration. 
Clearly, 18. ... Qxb2, gets the treatment it deserves with, 19. Rb1 Qa3, and white can choose between, 20. Rxb7, or, 20. Rb3, trapping the black queen, both giving white a decisive plus. 
Back on the kingside, perhaps, 18. ... Rh8, so as to meet the white plan of, pawn h5, and, hxg6, with, hxg6, and the h8 rook will have some play up the h-file was worth considering. 
Also, 18. ... h5, stopping the white h-pawn from further advancing was another option, but that g5 square then seems horribly weak. || 

19. h5 Nb4 

| Fischerism: "In chess it is important to know when to punch and when to duck." 
White is preparing some kingside activity, this black piece should be heading kingside to assist with the defence, so, 19. ... Ne7, seems the right way to play. 
Instead, 19. ... g5, seems to be asking for, 20. Nxg5, when, 20. ... hxg5 21. Qxg5+ Kh7 22. Qf4, with ideas of, Qxf7+, and, Rd3, in the air. 
This white piece sacrifice might not be completely sound, but the onus is on black to determine just how dangerous such a sacrifice would be before pushing with a very committal, pawn g5. || 

20. hxg6 fxg6 

| Black declines, 20. ... Nxa2, perhaps thinking the white light square bishop is of a lesser value than the b4 knight? 
Perhaps in this precise position this is so, but piece-pawn formations can be altered and thus piece values can change, white to play and show considerable depth of understanding. || 

21. Bb1 

| A little comparison of the light square bishops might assist. 
The black b7 bishop can be immediately liberated with, pawn d4, but the white b1 bishop needs a little more work from white to find activity. 
So in time each bishop could be pointing kingside, but which will have the greater joy? || 

21. ... Rf8 
22. Nh4 

On move 1 a question was raised over the black g6 pawn being a weakness. 
Strictly speaking, the original black g6 pawn has been removed, but the f7 incomer on g6 occupies the same position, so for the sake of discussion, it is now the g6 pawn. 
Back then the g6 pawn was not a weakness, but now matters are different, white is scenting blood, this is the beginning of a long chase. || 

22. ... Nc6 

| Re-routing itself to the kingside, it seems black is waking up to the dangers arising over there. || 

23. Qd3 

| Another white units hits the black g6 pawn, the theme of the forthcoming middlegame is beginning to be revealed. || 

23. ... Ne7 
24. Ne2 

| A doubler. 
Firstly, this knight transfers itself kingside to assist on the attack against you-know-who. 
Secondly, when a unit moves it vacates that square for someone else. || 

24. ... Rf7 

| This natural rook lift might appear to be part of an attacking plan, doubling rooks on the f-file. 
Appearances can be deceptive, the rook has definitely vacated the f7 square for someone else, but not for the a8 rook. || 

25. c3 

| And the apparently trapped b1 bishop joins in with the attack on the black g6 pawn. 
White must have had this release mechanism in mind when retreating with, 11. Ba2. || 

25. ... Nf8 

| Latest score with regard to the black g6 pawn: White Attackers 3, Black Defenders 3. 
A quick glance should reveal white can add a 4th attacker with, Nf4, when appropriate. 
Black desperately needs another defender very soon, but who is available to assist? || 

26. Qg3 

| A quadrupler. 
Firstly, the white queen keeps an attack on the target g6 pawn. 
Secondly, the white b1 bishop is now directly exposed onto g6. 
The flexibility of, "Capture-Order", means the highest-value piece, the white queen, is now placed down the move order should a combination occur on g6. 
Thirdly, the d3 square has been vacated for someone else, but who? 
Fourthly, on g3 the white queen puts a pin on the black g6 pawn, this gain might not be of immediate use, but this small asset might be of use later. || 

26. ... Kh7 

| Escaping the pin up the g-file but walking into a pin up the b1 - h7 diagonal, so why bother moving the king at all? 
When a unit moves it vacates a square for someone else, black now has the option of, Rg7, increasing the, "Defender-Count", for the g6 pawn to 4. || 

27. Nf4 Rg7 

| Attack-Count = 4, Defence-Count = 4, should be a draw then, right? 
The attack forces are not being cancelled out by the defenders. 
White has freedom of choice with all the units attacking the black g6 pawn, if they choose so to do, they can become involved in manoeuvres elsewhere without any material loss to white. 
Black has no freedom of choice with the defenders, they must stay at their posts if the g6 pawn is not to fall. 
Such is the advantage of attacking over defending, attackers are free to give up the chase for action elsewhere, defenders are tied to their tasks until the pressure is lifted. || 

28. Nh5 

| Exploiting the pinned black g6 pawn to find a more aggressive location, and with the bonus of attacking the black g7 rook on the way. || 
28. ... Rf7 
29. Nf6+ Kg7 

| The black king returns to g7 and so enters into a pin up the g-file. 
The g6 pawn is still safe, but what if white could somehow place a 4th attack on to it? || 

30. Rd3 d4 

| A doubler. 
Firstly, the black b7 bishop gains activity up the a8 - h1 diagonal, in particular the f3 square is no longer available to the white d3 rook. 
Secondly, when a unit moves it vacates a square for someone else, d5 is now available for a black knight to challenge the well-placed white f6 knight, assuming circumstances permit such a black knight move. || 

31. Qg4 

| Vacating g3 for the d3 rook which would raise the, "Attack-Count", on the black g6 pawn to 4. 
Black must do something about this, and quick. 
If white is allowed to play, Nxg6, then whether black enters into a sequence of captures, or simply permits a discovered check such as, Nxe7, the white queen will be supported by the g3 rook to inflict a mate. || 

31. ... dxc3 
32. bxc3 

| Black to play desperately needs another defender to the g6 pawn. 
Clearly the a8 rook is of no help, the b7 bishop similarly has no means of assisting, so it is all down to the black queen, but how can she get over to the kingside when the knights and f7 rook dare not move? || 

32. ... Qb2 

| There is no entry route to the kingside via the black back rank or the a8 - h1 diagonal, so the queenside is the only path for the black queen to get kingside. || 

33. Rg3 Qd2 

| The black queen makes an attack tempo gain on the white e1 rook, fine, but how can this help? || 

34. Rd1 

| Those of a Neanderthalic tendency might enjoy calculating the ramifications of, 34. Nxg6 Qxe1+ 35. Kh2, when black has to find a means of avoiding mate. 
White is probably taking the view that the position is very favourable, possibly even decisive, and so plays a risk-free move. 
Remember, this is a team match, imagine trying to explain to all in your squad how you thought there was a mate there, but as it played out there wasn't one to be found. || 

34. ... Qg5 

| An unusual way to make the, "Defender-Count", up to the required 4, and in doing so also seems to force a trade of queens. || 

35. Qxg5 

| Trying to keep queens on fails as, 35. Qh3 Qxe5, not only would white have lost a very useful pawn but the white f6 knight is undermined and must retreat somewhere, the white attack would be beginning to falter. || 

35. ... hxg5 
36. Rxg5 Kh6 

The white kingside campaign has won a pawn and as the, "Attacker-Count", and, "Defender-Count", on the black g6 pawn are both 3, then black is still tied up, right? || 

37. f4 Nd5 

| Hey there Mr. King's-Knight, you do know you are deserting your defensive post, meaning the g6 pawn is now safely captureable by white? 
Hope you know what you are doing, or there are going to be some extremely harsh comments coming your way when you and your teammates return to the box after the game is over. 
Mind you, on reflection, there is an attack on the white c3 and f4 pawns, with some cute forks available whichever way you jump, so perhaps you could actually return a hero? || 

38. Bxg6 

| Nimzowitsch tells us: "The threat is stronger than it's execution." 
White has finally managed to capture on g6, this gains another pawn but there are consequences to executing a threat. 
All those defending units previously tied down are now released to seek activities elsewhere. 
Both sides are now confronted with re-organising their forces, many units previously focused on g6 must now find a new plan. 
Black must activate as many pieces as possible, perhaps snatch back a pawn or two or three, and if the worst comes to the worst, think of finding a means of giving up a piece or two on the remaining white pawns. 
All this seems rather vague, but such considerations need to be in mind as the late middlegame keeps rolling. 

And just what new plan could white have here? 
A quick glance reveals white has 4 active units plus a passed g-pawn on the kingside. 
So think in terms of trying to weave a mating net on the black king, possibly with options of using the g-pawn to force black to concede material to prevent mate or promotion. 
Which plan is going to succeed, black breaking out while regaining material, or white corralling the restricted black king? 
No one can calculate all variations from here. 
Instead consider which side has the better coordination necessary to achieve their aim, and then get down to the bookies. || 

38. ... Nxf4 

| A quadrupler. 
Firstly, black has regained a pawn. 
Secondly, the defence of the white g5 rook is eliminated. 
Thirdly, the doubly-defended white g6 bishop is now triply-attacked. 
Fourthly, there is an option of, Ne2+, picking up another pawn available. 
By capturing on f4 black has forced the white reply, there must be an indirect trade of rooks. 
Instead trying to mix matters with, 38. ... Rg7, falls into either, 39. Rh5+ mate, or, 39. Ng4+ mate. 
Another disaster to be avoided was, 38. ... Nxg6 39. Rxg6+ mate, a peculiar mating pattern where the f6 knight restricts the black king movement on the h-file, while the white rook flattens the black king onto the h-file. 
Less obvious but equally sad for black is, 38. ... Nxc3 39. Bxf7 Nxd1 40. Rg8, with the simple plan of, pawn g4, and pawn g5 mate. || 

39. Bxf7 

| Instead, 39. Rg4 N4xg6, white loses a piece. || 

39. ... Kxg5 

| The black king now has much more freedom and thoughts of white weaving a mating net must have dissipated, right? 
On the surface this appears so, but dig a little deeper and this opinion should soon reverse. 
The black king is not yet safe, remember how much danger there was around him when white had a rook controlling the g-file? 
This last point should give a very strong hint as to the new white plan... || 

40. g3 

| White keeps the h4 knight just where it is, the black king must not be allowed to escape from the kingside into the centre via the f5 square. || 

40. ... Ne2+ 

| Going for another pawn or two, and why not? 
Seeking liquidation might be tempting but seems to leave only white with winning chances: 
(A). If, 40. ... N4g6 41. Nxg6 Nxg6 42. Bxe6 Nxe5, can white make something concrete with the passed g-pawn? 
(B). Or if, 40. ... N4g6 41. Nxg6 Nxg6 42. Bxg6 Kxg6 43. Rb1, the white rook will land on b6, this must tie black down in some way, an unpleasant defensive time on the horizon for black. || 

41. Kh2 

| Centralisation seems inadvisable: 
(A). If, 41. Kf2 Nxc3 42. Rc1 Ne4+, permits black to force the trade of the well-placed white f6 knight. 
(B). Or if, 41. Kf2 Nxc3 42. Re1 Nxa4, an important option about to be revealed in game will not be available to white. || 

41. ... Nxc3 
42. Rc1 Nxa4 

| Hold the front page, black has actually gone ahead in material. 
Those black queenside passed pawns will definitely need stopping in the long run, but how? || 

43. Rc4 

| Chasing the black knight off the a4 square, with the intention of getting material equality with, 44. Rxc5, right? || 

43. ... Nb6 

| Instead, 43. ... Bc6, protects both the black a4 knight and therefore the c5 pawn remains protected as well, but yet again black would have both minor pieces tied up in another protection web. 
The idea behind, 43. Nb6, is to run the passed a6 pawn down the board as quickly as possible. 
white to play has an obvious move available, right? 
Clue: Appropriate Fischerism: "Obvious, therefore dubious." || 

44. Rg4+ 

| White is not interested in the black c5 pawn, there is a much bigger prey being chased. || 

44. ... Kh6 

| Yet again the hapless black king finds himself completely immobilised, and strangely enough with virtually the same set-up as before. 
The white f6 knight controls h7 and h5, the g4 rook controls the g-file, all white needs now is a check... || 

45. Ng8+ 

| But not this check. 
This white knight cannot both restrict and attack, white is putting a couple of moves on the scoresheet to gain time on the clock, time-control probably move 60. || 

45. ... Kh7 
46. Nf6+ Kh6 

| A couple of moves fewer to reach move 60, white now settles down to finding the kill. 
Instead, 46. ... Kh8 47. Rg8+ mate, was never going to happen. || 

47. Rg8 

| And just how is this rook advance going to snare the black king? 
It won't. 
When a unit moves a square is vacated which means a variety of options become open to other units. 
Aha, so white is thinking of re-routing the h4 knight to play, Ng4+ mate, right? 
This will not work, as soon as white plays, Ng2, black will eliminate with, Bxg2, so white must have another plan in mind, but what? || 

47. ... Nbd7 

| The white, "Cage", of f6 knight with g8 rook around the black king must be smashed immediately. 
Whether white trades with, Nxd7, or black is permitted, Nxf6, in either case the prison is wrecked, and once this white mate threat is over, black can start pushing the distant passed a-pawn. 
Instead, 47. ... Nfd7, loses control of the g6 square so, 48. Rg6+ mate, would conclude matters. || 

48. g4 

| How ironic. 
Black began the game with, 1. pawn g6, and now it is the white g-pawn who is threatening to end matters with, 49. pawn g5+ mate. || 

48. ... Nxf6 

| Clearly the greedy, 48. ... Nxe5 49. g5+ mate, is suitable punishment. || 

49. exf6 Be4 

| The irony continues. 
Black must yet again fight for the control of g6, only this time the fight is no longer for equality but for damage limitation. 
Instead optimistic queenside play by black suffers badly: 
(A). If, 49. ... a5 50. g5+ Kh7 51. Rg7+ Kh8 52. g6 a4 53. Rg8+ mate. 
(B). Or if, 49. ... a5 50. g5+ Kh7 51. Rg7+ Kh8 52. g6 Nxg6 53. Nxg6+ mate. 
(C). Or if, 49. ... a5 50. g5+ Kh7 51. Rg7+ Kh8 52. g6 Ne7 53. Rh7+ mate. || 

50. g5+ Kh7 
51. Rg7+ Kh8 
52. g6 

| With the threat of, 53. Rg8+ mate, black must give up a piece for the white g6 pawn. || 

52. ... Nxg6 

| The cheapest price, the more expensive options run: 
(A). If, 52. ... Bxg6 53. Rg8+ Kh7 54. Nxg6 Nxg6 55. Rxa8, white will soon mop up the black pawns and the extra white rook will count. 
(B). Or if, 52. ... Bxg6 53. Rg8+ Kh7 54. Nxg6 c4 55. Nxf8+ Kh6 56. Kh3 c3 57. Kg4 c2 58 Rh8+ mate. || 

53. Bxg6 

| White is determined to play, Ng6+ mate, if possible. 
There will now follow a prosaic dance of the light square bishops as white sets this up. 
Capturing with, 53. Nxg6+, does however also win, a few lines run: 
(A). If, 53. Nxg6+ Bxg6 54. Bxg6 a5 55. Rh7+ Kg8 56. f7+ Kf8 57. Rh8+ Kg7 58. Rxa8, and the white f-pawn will promote if black misses resignation. 
(B). Or if, 53. Nxg6+ Bxg6 54. Bxg6 Rf8 55. Rh7+ Kg8 56. f7+ Rxf7 57. Rxf7, the white bishop and rook will easily round up the black pawns. 
(C). Or if, 53. Nxg6+ Bxg6 54. Bxg6 Rg8 55. Rh7+ mate. 

Now that white has won a piece a re-thinking of how to convert to a win is needed. 
The obvious plan is to force a material-winning promotion of the f6 pawn, mop up the remaining black pawns, then set about the not-so-trivial task of forcing a mate with white rook, bishop and knight versus black rook. 
All this is possible, but might take anything up to 60 moves or more. 
Withe the white forces all over on the kingside and the black king stuck in a corner without defensive support, surely there should be a mate here? 
The trick is to find a white piece pattern which leaves the black king without a flight square. 
If this is how it is to be done, then it must be with either the white rook or knight. 
So, white must find a means of stopping black playing, Kg8, while having a follow-up move which inflicts check where black cannot capture the checking unit. || 

53. ... Bc6 

| Clearly 53. ... Bxg6 54. Nxg6+ mate, is not to be played. 
Was the c6 square carefully chosen or just a random-anywhere-will-do move one often finds thrown out approaching a time-control? 
Definitely planned - Black must be able to cover the g6 square and a possible retreat, Be8, is now available should white retreat with, Bc2, vacating the g6 square. 
Instead, 53. ... Bd5 54. Bc2 a5 55. Ng6+ mate. 
Or perhaps, 53. ... Bd5, 54. Bc2 Rg8 55. Rh7+ mate. || 
54. Rc7 
| Putting the question to the black bishop, on which diagonal can it prevent the various white threats, if at all? || 

54. ... Bd5 

| The other choices were: 
(A). If, 54. ... Ba4 55. Be4 Rd8 56. Ng6+ Kg8 57. Rg7+ mate. 
(B). Or if, 54. ... Be8 55. Bxe8 Rxe8 56. Ng6+ Kg8 57. Rg7+ mate, this pattern of immobilising knight with supported checking rook is worthy of memorising if it is not already imprinted on the brain. || 

55. Bh7 

| Counter-intuitive. 
Bishops more commonly make use of their ability to influence matters from a distance. 
And yet here the bishop is behaving like a pawn, it is controlling the g8 square while keeping control of the b1 - h7 diagonal. 
These factors permit the immediate, Ng6+, to be mate. || 

55. ... Rg8 

| Both players must have been in considerable time-trouble, this is played purely to be able to punch the clock and await a potential flag-fall as white seeks a mate. || 

56. Ng6+ 

| The planted, "Confusion-Bomb", is calmly defused by white. 
Ideas involving, 57. f7, should win but give white opportunities to blunder either a piece or the f7 pawn. 
Playing, 56. ... Rg8, placing the rook en prise is designed to shock white, it didn't work this time, but another lost position on another day, and who knows? || 

56. ... Rxg6 
57. Bxg6 
Black resigns, 1-0 

| All white need do is play, pawn f7, Rc8, and promote the f-pawn. 

It seems in this game every white minor piece performed better than every black minor piece. 
We are all allowed one bad day at the office. 
In the next coaching session the player of the black pieces here will satisfactorily demonstrate that her minor pieces know how to play... || 

*  *  * 

## Unannotated Game. 

White: N. Umudova, 2176. 
Black: J. Gilbert, 2144. 
Event: 37th Olympiad (Women) Turin 2006. 
Result: 0-1 in 57 moves. 
Opening: Modern Defence, Two Knight's Variation, B06. 

1. e4 g6 
2. d4 Bg7 
3. Nc3 d6 
4. Nf3 a6 
5. a4 b6 
6. Bc4 e6 
7. O-O Bb7 
8. Qe2 Ne7 
9. Bf4 O-O 
10. Rad1 d5 
11. Ba2 Nd7 
12. e5 c5 
13. Rfe1 Nc6 
14. dxc5 bxc5 
15. Qd2 Qb6 
16. Bh6 Rfd8 
17. Bxg7 Kxg7 
18. h4 h6 
19. h5 Nb4 
20. hxg6 fxg6 
21. Bb1 Rf8 
22. Nh4 Nc6 
23. Qd3 Ne7 
24. Ne2 Rf7 
25. c3 Nf8 
26. Qg3 Kh7 
27. Nf4 Rg7 
28. Nh5 Rf7 
29. Nf6+ Kg7 
30. Rd3 d4 
31. Qg4 dxc3 
32. bxc3 Qb2 
33. Rg3 Qd2 
34. Rd1 Qg5 
35. Qxg5 hxg5 
36. Rxg5 Kh6 
37. f4 Nd5 
38. Bxg6 Nxf4 
39. Bxf7 Kxg5 
40. g3 Ne2+ 
41. Kh2 Nxc3 
42. Rc1 Nxa4 
43. Rc4 Nb6 
44. Rg4+ Kh6 
45. Ng8+ Kh7 
46. Nf6+ Kh6 
47. Rg8 Nbd7 
48. g4 Nxf6 
49. exf6 Be4 
50. g5+ Kh7 
51. Rg7+ Kh8 
52. g6 Nxg6 
53. Bxg6 Bc6 
54. Rc7 Bd5 
55. Bh7 Rg8 
56. Ng6+ Rxg6 
57. Bxg6 
Black resigns, 1-0 

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