Skype coaching session, 07 April 2019. 

The game discussed (37 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: A. Liang, 1832. 
Black: L. Kaufman, 2406. 
Event: Washington International 2012. 
Result: 1-0 in 37 moves. 
Opening: Scotch Game, Mieses Variation, C45. 

| Editorial. 
Imbalance comes in many forms. 
Queen vs 2 rooks, bishop vs knight, David vs Goliath. 
As if 1832 facing 2406 were not enough. 
How about 9 year old against 64 year old? 
Think of the varying chess experiences of the opponents, especially in the, "Department Of Endgame Knowledge". || 

1. e4 e5 
2. Nf3 Nc6 
3. d4 exd4 
4. Nxd4 Nf6 

| Only slightly less popular than, 4. ... Bc5. 
Black is willing to permit doubling of the c-pawns, anticipating that a later central break of, pawn d5, will be easier to achieve. || 

5. Nxc6 

| The Mieses Variation. 
Instead, 5. Nc3, is the Scotch Game Four Knights, which has a slightly higher ratio of draws compared to the Mieses Variation according to database statistics. || 

5. ... bxc6 

| A tripler. 
Firstly, black is preparing the central break of, pawn d5. 
Secondly, the c8 bishop has options of either, Bb7, or, Ba6, according to how white plays. 
Thirdly, the a8 rook may find activity up the now semi-open b-file. 
Instead, 5. ... dxc6, permits, 6. Qxd8+, when white has the more favourable pawn structure for the endgame. || 

6. e5 

| By far the most popular choice here, white pushes the black f6 knight over to the queenside. 
Instead, 6. Bd3, or, 6. Qe2, or, 6. Nd2, or, 6. Nc3, are less ambitious than advancing with, pawn e5, but do not think they are of lesser value, black still has those 3 pawn islands to protect as the late middlegame morphs into the endgame. 
So, does this imply black has a lost ending on the horizon? 
No, but it does mean black will need to be more careful than white as the amount of material remaining in play diminishes. || 

6. ... Qe7 

| Again by far the most popular choice. 
Instead, 6. ... Nd5, and, 6. ... Ne4, avoid the minor development congestion of placing the queen on e7. || 

7. Qe2 

| No one seems to play anything else here. 
Both queens radiate their x-rays at each other through the white e5 pawn, the pin on the white e-pawn is broken, the black f6 knight is again under attack. || 

7. ... Nd5 
8. c4 

| More, "Mainlining". 
White is claiming some space with pawns which will be supported by pieces until black decides on which way to break out. 
Sufficiently-tested here are, 8. Nd2, and, 8. h4, which are worth a try once the necessary home-study has been done. 
A rather, "Obvious", centrally-supportive pawn move appears only once in the limited database referenced for the coaching sessions. 
Take a look at: J. Mieses - L. Forgacs, Ostend B 1907. 
8. f4 f6 9. c4 Ba6 10. b3 fxe5 11. fxe5 O-O-O 12. Bb2 Qg5 
13. Nd2 Bb4 14. Bd4 Rde8 15. a3 Rxe5 16. Bxe5 Bxd2+ 17. Kd1 Bc3 
18. Rc1 Bxe5 19. Qf2 Ne3+ 20. Ke2 Bd4 21. Qf3 Bb7 22. Qg3 Qe7 
23. Kd3 c5 24. Kd2 Nf5 25. Qh3 Be3+ 0-1. 
Perhaps, 8. f4, is just a little slow, black took a tremendous lead in development and unsurprisingly tactics emerged. || 

8. ... Nb6 

| The more popular choice here is, 8. ... Ba6, pinning the white c4 pawn and so saving the black d5 knight, but should white immediately move the e2 queen, then black would have to play, Nb6, anyway. 
This little shuffling with the move-order does no particular good, but does no harm either, and might confuse someone learning the Scotch Game into making a mistake. 
With only a handful of examples to study, perhaps, 8. ... Qb4+, could be a surprise weapon for black. || 

9. Nd2 

| Another second choice in the database popularity charts. 
Instead, 9. Nc3, has a much greater fanbase. 
Again there is an example of a fairly, "Obvious", developing move only occurring once in the limited database. 
J. van der Wiel (2375) - A. McCarthy, Groningen 1978, gives us a nice lesson on black queens and white b2 pawns. 
9. Bf4 Qb4+ 10. Nd2 Ba6 11. Qe4 Qxb2 12. Rb1 Qxa2 13. Be2 Na4 
14. e6 Nc5 15. exd7+ Kxd7 16. Bg4+ Ne6 17. O-O Bd6 18. Ra1 1-0. 
A shocker, the battle appeared to be focusing on the black king, but actually it was the black queen who was being targeted. || 

9. ... a5 

| At last, we reach a point where 3 moves have almost the same popularity. 
Instead, 9. ... Bb7, or, 9. ... Qe6, are the other main choices here. 
Considerably less popular and in need of further testing are, 9. ... Ba6, 9. ... d5, 9. ... d6. || 

10. Qe4 

| This is one way of sorting out the congestion in the white camp. 
The other choices are, 10. g3, more popular and more successful, and, 10. b3, similarly popular but less successful. || 

10. ... g6 

| Only 10 games on the limited database now, so plenty of opportunity for home-study to find improvements. 
Instead, 10. ... d5, is the thematic central break, but perhaps this can be postponed for a few moves? 
So, 10. ... Ba6, and, 10. ... Qe6, have been tried, more testing of the game move and other choices are needed before a recommendation can be made. || 

11. Bd3 Bg7 
12. Nf3 

| White feels the e5 pawn needs direct protection, this is not so. 
Had white given the position deeper study, then, "Protection By Tactics", might have been employed. 
A few sample lines run: 
(A). If, 12. O-O Qxe5 13. Qxe5+ Bxe5 14. Re1 d6 15. f4, the pinned black e5 bishop will fall next move. 
(B). Or if, 12. O-O Bxe5 13. Re1 Bf6 14. Nf3 Qxe4 15. Rxe4+ Kd8 16. Ng5 Rf8 17. Nxh7 Re8 18. Rxe8+ Kxd8 19. Nxf6+, white has won a piece. 
(C). Or if, 12. O-O Bxe5 13. Re1 Bf6 14. Nf3 Qxe4 15. Rxe4+ Kf8 16. Bh6+ Bg7 17. Bf4 d6 18. Be4 Bd7 19. c5, with good activity for the pawn. 
(D). Or if, 12. O-O Bxe5 13. Re1 f6 14. Nf3 O-O 15. Nxe5 fxe5 16. Qxe5, white has won the pawn back. 
(E). Or if, 12. O-O Bxe5 13. Re1 f6 14. Nf3 d6 15. Qxc6+, white again wins the pawn back. 
In fact, 12. O-O, has been seen just once before in the limited database, black wisely declines the tactics as shown in: 
T. Fogarasi (2395) - M. Hebden (2520), Cappelle-la-Grande 1993. 
12. O-O O-O 13. f4 d5 14. Qe2 f6 15. exf6 Qxe2 16. Bxe2 Bxf6 
17. cxd5 cxd5 18. Nf3 Bg4 19. a4 c5 20. Bd2 c4 21. Kh1 Rfe8 
22. Bd1 Nd7 23. Bc3 Bxc3 24. bxc3 Re3 25. Rc1 Nc5 26. Ne5 Be6 
27. Nc6 Nd3 28. Rb1 Bf5 29. Kg1 Rae8 30. Bf3 Nxf4 31. Rb7 Bd3 
32. Ra1 Nh3+ 33. gxh3 Rxf3 34. Ne7+ Kh8 35. Nxd5 Re5 36. Kg2 Rf8 0-1. 
Having secured the back rank, transferring the black bishop to e4 next move, either with or without check, will win material. 
A Grand Masterly performance by black, one feels improvements for white from Fritz and friends are awaiting calculation. 

Black in the game to play and find a move to annoy white most thoroughly. || 

12. ... Qb4+ 

| Posing an awkward question to white, can the black queen be challenged with, 13. Bd2, when, 13. ... Qxb2, needs careful assessment by both players. 
Of course, from the black perspective perhaps the move, Qb4+, should only be played if the decision to follow-up with, Qxb2, had already been made. || 

13. Nd2 

| White is not taking any risks. 
Instead, 13. Bd2 Qxb2 14. O-O Qa3, intendingQe7, with, Re8, and then, pawn d5, leaving white wondering where is the compensation for the pawn? || 

13. ... O-O 
14. O-O Re8 

| Placing an x-ray attack on the white e4 queen. 
The white central pawn formation is not only losing flexibility, it is coming under attack from a couple of directions, those 2 tempi wasted by the white f3 knight are about to pay a price. || 

15. Nf3 d5 

| Also possible was, 15. ... f6, bringing a triple-attack onto the white e5 pawn. 
Another idea, 15. ... d6, anticipating, 16. Qxc6 Bd7 17. Qe4 dxe5, when black can think of a kingside campaign beginning with, pawn f5, needed careful consideration, white would be handed a mobile queenside pawn majority in return for the kingside play. 
The game move is instead targeting the white c4 pawn while keeping pressure from the black e8 rook and g7 bishop on the white e5 pawn, meaning white must now lose at least a pawn somewhere, perhaps more? || 

16. Qh4 

| The only serious try, white must remain active, it is now a case of trying to make the best of a bad job. 
White cannot organise anything by force on the kingside,but at least black will have to keep calculating possibilities and finding the refutations, it all takes time on the clock as well as forcing black into mental effort. 
Instead retreating creates problems, 16. Qe2 Bg4, and black will trade, Bxf3, when appropriate, to be followed with the capture of the white e5 pawn. || 

16. ... Nxc4 

| A doubler. 
Firstly, black snatches a pawn, creating a queenside pawn majority along the way. 
Secondly, a black triple-attack is now placed on the singly-defended white e5 pawn, the white reply is forced. || 

17. Bxc4 Qxc4 

| Black has no fears of tripled c-pawns, they are only weak if they can one-by-one be placed under multiple-attack and so picked off. 
Assume white captures with, 18. Qxc4, then just how is white to gang up on the leading black c4 pawn? 
Perhaps get the static c1 bishop out wit, Bf4, then attack with, Rac1, but black will simply reply with, Be6, and then, Bd5. 
Black will proceed to grab the semi-open b-file with, Rab8, advance with, Rb4, which threatens, Bxf3, undermining the white e5 pawn so that black, Bxe5, brings much pressure to bear on the white b2 pawn. 
In essence, if white trades queens with, Qxc4, it is the black pieces who will have much activity and targets to attack, the b2 and e5 pawns, finding a satisfactory white defensive piece formation to cope with a wide variety of black attack formations seems difficult. 
One simple black formation is to arrange the pieces, Bd5, Rb4, Rb8, pawn a4, and white is almost tied up in knots, the b2 pawn might be dropping off very quickly. || 

18. Bf4 

| The only sensible move, white must keep queens on at all costs. 
Some of the undesirable options run: 
(A). If, 18. Re1 Qxh4 19. Nxh4 Rxe5 20. Bf4 Rxe1+ 21. Rxe1 Be6 22. Bxc7 Bxb2, those black passed centre pawns will be impossible to stop. 
(B). Or if, 18. Re1 Qxh4 19. Nxh4 Rxe5 20. Bf4 Rxe1+ 21. Rxe1 Be6 22. Re2 a4, black then targets the white b2 pawn with, Rb8, this will tie down the white pieces, then black gets the centre pawns rolling supported with the bishop pair, again a long-term crush. 
(C). Or if, 18. Qg3 Qg4, forcing a favourable trade of queens, black then gangs up on those white weak pawns, all very difficult for white. || 

18. ... Bd7 

| A tripler, simple development, if not a little late in the day. 
Firstly, black defends the c6 pawn making any white, Rc1, of lesser value. 
Secondly, the d7 square is preferred over b7 so as to permit, Rab8, pressuring the white b2 pawn. 
Thirdly, on d7 the bishop backwardly protects the e8 rook, not of particular need yet, but should tactics start evolving up the e-file, a safe e8 rook might make all the difference. || 

19. Rac1 

| White diagnoses a long-term loss and decides the best plan is to randomise the position, "Initiative Over Material", is called on either for purposes of inspiration or desperation. 
So the white a2 pawn is hastily re-assigned as, "Queen-Fodder", or perhaps that is what white wishes black to think. || 

19. ... Qb4 

| Aha, you ask: "Why does black not play, 19. ... Qxa2, surely winning another safe pawn?" 
Good question, the answer is that white is trying to deflect the black queen from a very important duty. 
If, 19. ... Qxa2, one might think that white has ideas of, Ra1, give away the b2 pawn, then, Rfb1, for rook activity. 
No, this is not about the queenside, whatever danger there is here for black lies over on the kingside. 
If, 19. ... Qxa2, the black queen has deserted the white 4th rank, a pin on the white f4 bishop has been voluntarily broken, it would be free to move. 
So white would immediately throw in, 20. Bh6, and leaves black to sort out the complications. 
Note: White might not have anything forcing on the kingside, but short-term complexity is the only chance, the ideas run: 
(A). If, 19. ... Qxa2 20. Bh6 Bxh6, not a good idea, 21. Qxh6 Re7 22. Ng5 f5 23. exf6 Rf7 24. Nxf7 Kxf7 25. Qh7+ Ke6 26. Rfe1+ Kf5 27. Qxd7+, white is a rook up and the chase of the black king continues. 
(B). Or if, 19. ... Qxa2 20. Bh6 Bxh6 21. Qxh6 Bg4 22. Ng5 Re7 23. Qxh7+ Kf8 24. Qh8+ mate. 
It seems black trading with, Bxh6, creates many unnecessary problems. 
(C). Or if, 19. ... Qxa2 20. Bh6 Qxb2 21. Ng5 Qxe5 22. Nxh7 Bxh6 23. Qxh6 Qg7, forcing a queen trade and black has 3 extra pawns for a won ending, but has white an improvement on this sequence? 
(D). Or if, 19. ... Qxa2 20. Bh6 Qxb2 21. Rfe1, and here the analytical web expands dramatically, white still has the same idea of, Ng5, then, Bxg7, threatening a powerful, Qxh7+. 
Can black survive, perhaps when there is a free move, Reb8, might give the black king a chance to sprint queenside to avoid mate, "Happy Calculating!", as the clock ticks down. 

Conclusion: This white idea of, Bh6, with, Ng5, looks dangerous, so black declines releasing the white 4th rank pin, thus preventing the whole idea of, Bh6. || 

20. a3 

| White again offers black the opportunity to release the pin on the white f4 bishop. || 

20. ... Qf8 

| The black queen retreats to f8 to strengthen the kingside against any probing beginning with, Ng5, provoking, pawn h6, a potential weakness. 
Such white kingside prodding should not find anything forcing, but black is taking a safety-first attitude, the extra pawn combined with the bishop pair should, with careful technique, prove enough to take the full point. || 

21. Rfe1 c5 
22. Bg5 

| All white can do is set the pieces on good squares and wait for black to miscalculate. 
So, the white dark square bishop is heading for f6, where it again protects the e5 pawn, with perhaps a little sneaky potential defence thrown in for good measure. || 

22. ... Rab8 

| Aiming to invade on b2 with a rook, so surely this forces white to take time to defend it, right? || 

23. Bf6 

| A tripler, sort of. 
Firstly, the white e5 pawn is given another necessary defence. 
Secondly, the activity of the black g7 bishop is neutralised. 
Thirdly, an indirect defence has been given to the unprotected white b2 pawn, apparently... 
Instead, 23. Rc2, intending to just sit and wait for black to make progress seems advisable. || 

23. ... c4 

| And black trusts the white defensive plan. 
The idea runs, if, 23. ... Rxb2 24. e6, and black has 2 pieces under immediate attack, the d7 bishop from the white e6 pawn, and the b2 rook from the white f6 bishop. 
However, black has a neat trick to refute this attempted defence. 
It goes, 23. ... Rxb2 24. e6 Bxe6, leaving the undefended b2 rook to fall, so that after, 25. Bxb2 Bxb2, black has 3 extra pawns and the bishop pair for the exchange. 
This is further exacerbated by white having a knight, the black central pawns will be impossible to stop, black would be winning. 
With the game move of, 23. ... c4, black still retains the option of, Rxb2, next move, assuming white does not wake up to the apparent defence to the b2 pawn being flawed. || 

24. Qd4 

| A tripler. 
Firstly, the white b2 pawn is backwardly defended. 
Secondly, the black d5 pawn is attacked, black must now spend a move defending it. 
Thirdly, the white d4 queen is free to go walkabout in amongst the black queenside pawns. || 

24. ... Be6 

| The bishop locates itself on e6 as part of the long-term plan of, pawn c5, then, pawn d4, when the c4 pawn would be protected by the e6 bishop. || 

25. Qa7 

| Activity, a couple of black pawns are attacked, all because of the previous black advance of the c-pawn from c5 onto c4. || 

25. ... c5 

| Made possible by the previous, Be6, to protect the loose d5 pawn, had black instead chosen, pawn c6, to protect the d5 pawn, then the white invasion of, Qa7, would attack the loose d7 bishop. || 

26. Rc2 

| Appropriate Fischerism: "In chess it is important to know when to punch and when to duck." 
Instead, 26. Qxa5 Rxb2, hands black a very useful central mass of pawns just ready to roll. 
So with the white b2 pawn defended, black seems to have little choice other than to take defensive measures for a few moves. || 

26. ... Ra8 
27. Qc7 

| The white queen cannot achieve anything by force, she can however just drift around the black queenside making herself as annoying as possible until black finally unravels sufficiently to eliminate her. || 

27. ... Rec8 

| Black is not just chasing the white queen for the sake of it. 
The plan is to force a trade of queens, after which the combined forces of the bishop pair and the central pawn mass, with careful nurturing, should quickly take the full point. || 

28. Qb6 

| The white queen might appear to be short of safe squares, she is, but there is no danger of her being trapped by the black rooks and bishops. 
Black to play finds a plan which forces that desired queen trade. 
Fine, but having found a plan which, apparently, meets the present needs, perhaps if time permits, a search for an alternate plan to achieve the same end should do no harm? || 

28. ... Bxf6 

| Some moves totally transform a game. 
Black is planning to force white to either accept the loss of another pawn or to trade queens into an extremely sad endgame. 
Ah, those best laid plans of mice and men, right? 
Instead black could have kept shuffling the heavy pieces for a little longer to achieve the desired aim, the idea runs: 
(A). If, 28. ... Rcb8 29. Qc7 Qc8 30. Qd6 Ra6 31. Qe7 Bf8, the cheapest loss is, 32. Qd8 Qxd8 33. Bxd8 Rxd8, white loses a piece. 
(B). Or if, 28. ... Rcb8 29. Qc6 Qc8 30. Qa4 Bd7, the white queen is lost for minimal return. 
Of course, white can avoid these catastrophes by trading queens when black challenges with, 29. ... Qc8, so the heavy pieces shuffling works here for black, but what about the forthcoming game plan of, 29. ... Qd8, to force a queen trade? || 

29. exf6 Qd8 

| So there it is. 
White must choose between trading queens or backing the queen away somewhere, which permits black, Qxf6, neither particularly appetising. 
White to play must find, "A Third Way!", but what? 
Clue: Forcing moves, however, "Obviously Ridiculous", need examination, if only to reject them as the foolishness they clearly are. || 

30. Rxe6 

| An excellent try, the window of opportunity for white has opened for the first time in the game, anything else would condemn white to a slow but sure death. 
So, is this a combination, a sacrifice, or a tactrick? 
Who cares! 
White was heading for a loss, this randomisation gives white hope while putting black to a series of tricky decisions, and players under pressure have been known to crack. || 

30. ... fxe6 

| Black must take the offered white rook and suffer the forthcoming white activity, anything else just has black a piece down for a pawn. 
Instead, 30. ... Qxb6 31. Rxb6, black can do nothing by force with the central pawns, white need only centralise the king and then slowly improve the pieces, black dare not allow exchanges, it just requires patience. || 

31. Qxe6+ Kf8 

| A difficult decision. 
The white knight is coming to g5 next move setting up many threats. 
Black has a material plus, an exchange up, but the heavy pieces have yet to coordinate. 
White has a strong passed pawn on f6 performing a couple of important tasks. 
Firstly, it controls squares in front of the black king, thoughts of mating patterns should be in the minds of both players. 
Secondly, black must arrange a defensive formation capable of preventing promotion of this pawn. 
In essence, black has the extremely uncomfortable job of calculating all the white threats and then finding means to combat them. 

The aspirations of the players will also be influencing the game. 
Just a few moves earlier black was thinking in terms of trading queens and then organising the advance of the central pawns. 
Now black is confronted with threats against his king as well as possibilities of white knight forks picking up material resulting in a good ending for white. 
It is clear that white is fighting for whatever is available, if the best on offer is a draw, then so be it, better than the prospects before move 30 was played. 
However, is black still thinking of playing for a win, or will the immediate dangers downgrade the ambitions into accepting it might be wise to play for a draw? 

Instead, 31. ... Kh8, should ultimately force the game in the direction of peace, some ideas run: 
(A). If, 31. ... Kh8 32. Ng5 Qe8 33. Qxd5 Qe1+ mate, will not happen. 
(B). Or if, 31. ... Kh8 32. Ng5 Qe8 33. Qxe8+ Rxe8 34. Kf1 h6 35. Nh3 Re6 36. Nf4 Rxf6 37. Nxd5 Rd6 38. Ne3 Rd4 39. Nxc4, white still has much suffering to go through, improvement needed. 
(C). Or if, 31. ... Kh8 32. Ng5 Qe8 33. Qxe8+ Rxe8 34. Kf1 h6 35. Nh3 Re6 36. Nf4 Rd6 37. Nxg6+ Kh7, black plans, Rf8, how can white eventually avoid losing the f6 pawn, after which that black central pawn mass can be slowly mobilised, white has severe problems, improvement needed. 
(D). Or if, 31. ... Kh8 32. Ng5 Qe8 33. Nf7+ Kg8 34. Nh6+ Kf8 35. Qg8+ mate, is a definite improvement, but this is not forced. 
(E). Or if, 31. ... Kh8 32. Ng5 Qe8 33. Nf7+ Kg8 34. Nh6+ Kh8 35. Nf7+, heading for a 3-fold repetition. 
If a draw is unacceptable, then black must find another means to avoid a white knight fork on the f7 square. 
(F). Or if, 31. ... Kh8 32. Ng5 Qg8 33. Nf7+, black might accept it is checkmate or masochistically continue with, 33. ... Qxf7 34. Qxf7 Rg8 35. Qxd5, white has queen for a rook, easily winning, improvement for black needed. 
(G). Or if, 31. ... Kh8 32. Ng5 Qf8 33. Nf7+ Kg8 34. Nh6+, that double-check again, white can take a 3-fold repetition if desired. 
(H). Or if, 31. ... Kh8 32. Ng5 Ra7 33. Nf7+, a royal fork, black must give up the exchange with, 33. ... Rxf7 34. Qxf7 Rc7 35. Qe6, material is equal, chances for either player to force something looks remote. 

Conclusion: With, 31. ... Kh8, black has no serious winning attempts, so with the game move of, 31. ... Kf8, is black trying to keep options open regarding playing for a win? || 

32. Ng5 

| With the tempo-gaining threat of, 33. Nxh7+ mate, to be neutralised. 
Also notice the potential royal fork on e6, black must be very careful on how the king and heavy pieces are organised. || 

32. ... Ra7 

| Black had to play a rook to the 2nd rank, so either of them will do, right? 
Technically the answer is yes, but there is a subtlety still to be found. 
If black is to follow the plan played in game, then, 32. ... Rc7, would have been slightly better. 
Why is there a difference between having a rook on c7 rather than on a7? 
Unfortunately, to answer that question here would give away an important twist about to occur in the game. 
Though perhaps to assist strategic comprehension of what could be happening in the position, do not focus on the a7 or c7 squares. || 

33. Re2 

| Every white piece is better than every black piece, but there is no obvious way to take advantage. 
Slow plans for white such as, pawn h4, then, pawn f7, are foiled by an immediate black, pawn h6, kicking the white knight back. 
It seems that despite all the white activity, if black can find a means of trading heavy pieces by a successful challenge on the e-file, the black advantage of the exchange will begin to count. 
Black in the game is about to yet again get the right idea, but unfortunately repeat the type of action which allowed white back into the game a few moves ago. || 

33. ... Qd7 

| A direct challenge to the white queen, what should she do? 
If she stands still there will be an exchange on e6 which must be favourable to black. 
If she retreats then much of the pressure around the black king will be reduced. 
Instead preparing this challenge with, 33. ... Rb8, was strongly advisable for black. 
Why? Surely the white b2 pawn is defended by the white e2 rook? 
Correct, the black rook is not being placed on the b-file for attacking purposes, this is a necessary defensive precaution. 
Precaution? Precaution against what? 

White to play and demonstrate that the challenge of the black queen is too hasty. || 

34. Nxh7+ 

| White does nothing with the e6 queen, this forcing sacrifice wraps up the game, black has 2 choices, resign, or take the offered knight. || 

34. ... Qxh7 
35. Qxc8+ 

| And the reason why, 33. ... Rb8, was recommended is revealed. 
When playing, Qd7, black interfered with the a7 rook defence of the h7 pawn. 
When the black queen was forcibly deflected to h7 the c8 rook was left unprotected. 
Hence, the precautionary, 33. ... Rb8, removed the rook out of the firing line of the white e6 queen was advisable, after which black can then safely challenge with, Qd7. 
All that remains now is for white to mop up. || 

35. ... Kf7 
36. Re7+ 

| This will do to win, though the forcing, 36. Qe6+ Kf8 37. Qe8+ mate, must be regarded as better. 
Perhaps white was a little short of time, found a winning line and played it without seeking a safer / quicker finish. || 

36. ... Rxe7 

| The suicidal, 36. ... Kxf6 37. Rxh7 Rxh7 38. Qc6+, leaves black wondering whether to protect the g6 pawn or the d5 pawn, in both cases the white queen and extra pawn should win comfortably. || 

37. fxe7 
Black resigns, 1-0 

| Assuming black wishes to prevent an immediate white, e8=Q+, the finishes could have been: 
(A). If, 37. ... Kxe7 38. Qc7+ Kf6 39. Qxh7, white is a queen up. 
(B). Or if, 37. ... Qg8 38. Qxg8+ Kxg8 39. e8=Q+, white is again a queen up. || 

*  *  * 

## Unannotated Game. 

White: A. Liang, 1832. 
Black: L. Kaufman, 2406. 
Event: Washington International 2012. 
Result: 1-0 in 37 moves. 
Opening: Scotch Game, Mieses Variation, C45. 

1. e4 e5 
2. Nf3 Nc6 
3. d4 exd4 
4. Nxd4 Nf6 
5. Nxc6 bxc6 
6. e5 Qe7 
7. Qe2 Nd5 
8. c4 Nb6 
9. Nd2 a5 
10. Qe4 g6 
11. Bd3 Bg7 
12. Nf3 Qb4+ 
13. Nd2 O-O 
14. O-O Re8 
15. Nf3 d5 
16. Qh4 Nxc4 
17. Bxc4 Qxc4 
18. Bf4 Bd7 
19. Rac1 Qb4 
20. a3 Qf8 
21. Rfe1 c5 
22. Bg5 Rab8 
23. Bf6 c4 
24. Qd4 Be6 
25. Qa7 c5 
26. Rc2 Ra8 
27. Qc7 Rec8 
28. Qb6 Bxf6 
29. exf6 Qd8 
30. Rxe6 fxe6 
31. Qxe6+ Kf8 
32. Ng5 Ra7 
33. Re2 Qd7 
34. Nxh7+ Qxh7 
35. Qxc8+ Kf7 
36. Re7+ Rxe7 
37. fxe7 
Black resigns, 1-0 

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