Skype coaching session, 09 June 2019. The game discussed (60 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: V. Toporov, 2205. Black: A. Bratchenko, 2383. Event: White Knight St. Petersburg 2001. Result: 0-1 in 60 moves. Opening: King's Indian Defence, Four Pawns Attack, E76. 1. c4 g6 2. Nc3 Bg7 3. d4 Nf6 4. e4 d6 5. f4 | After a little detour, we are back in familiar territory. Who knows what the move-order skirmishing was about, perhaps each trying to shuffle the opening into a pet system, or perhaps trying to avoid a tricky system discovered in the opponent repertoire? Whatever the rationale, we have transposed back into a mainline, let the fight begin! || 5. ... O-O 6. Nf3 c5 | Asking white the first big question: "Do you want a King's Indian or are you willing to permit a transposition into a Sicilian?" || 7. d5 | We will have a King's Indian, with possibilities of Benoni or Benko variations still available. Instead, 7. Be2 cxd4 8. Nxd4 Nc6, gives us a Sicilian Defence, Maroczy Bind formation. || 7. ... e6 8. dxe6 fxe6 | Instead, 8. ... Bxe6, is known but has dropped out of favour. White is now at another important fork in the road. || 9. Bd3 | Indicating aggressive thinking. Instead, 9. Be2, is a more solid approach. || 9. ... Nc6 10. O-O e5 | Claiming the d4 square, but offering white the opportunity to get on with the planned kingside assault. || 11. f5 Nd4 | And the third big question is floated across the board. Is white going to keep options of play across the entire board with a piece trade on d4, or take the fight purely over to the kingside? Both options are playable, so the decision is not on the grounds of which is better. No, it all comes down to the type of middlegame that suits your style of play. || 12. Ng5 | Kingside it is. The knight on g5 is not actually threatening anything, well not yet. However black should not leave such an active piece unchallenged for long, so the question black must answer is when to push the unwelcome invader back? || 12. ... h6 | Immediate response. Bizarrely, this move is desired by both players, almost as if by mutual agreement. Black is expecting the, "Database Majority Selection", reply from white, namely, 13. Nh3, with further re-routing, Nf2, when appropriate. In return for this apparent time-wasting knight's tour of the kingside, white has enticed the black h-pawn forward, to be a target when the battle really gets going. Which philosophy is correct? Is the black h6 pawn an easy target, or does black have sufficient resources elsewhere across the board to spoil the white anticipated kingside party? Chances are probably balanced, this is the sort of position where the stronger player is more likely to find stronger plans once the game becomes unique. It is white to play and play, "The Expected", right? || 13. fxg6 | We enter murky waters where each player tests the, "Tactical Event Horizon", of the other. While the previous 12 moves on both sides have been played enough times before to encourage repetition, this seems new (according to limited database). Is this home preparation or over-the-board inspiration? Who knows, but we do know that this passive knight sacrifice was discussed after the Christiansen - Kasparov Moscow Interzonal 1982 game. The thoughts of the Super-GMs post-mortem included: "Kasparov intended, 13. fxg6 hxg5 14. Bxg5 Ne6 15. Bxf6 Rxf6 16. Qh5 Nf8 17. Nd5 Rxf1+ 18. Rxf1 Be6, but white retains attacking chances with the subtle, 19. Be2, as Kasparov showed in the post-mortem." With Fritz and friends available in 2001, there could be improvements in the above bio-generated line. As it happens Christiansen retreated with, 13. Nh3, and we were treated to Kasparov demonstrating that tripled pawns are not automatically weak, game given in the 19 May 2019 session notes. || 13. ... hxg5 | Forced, unless black is happy to permit, 14. Nf7, picking off that vulnerable black h6 pawn. || 14. Bxg5 Ne6 | Not just an attack for the sake of it, this knight is to play an important part in the black defences. || 15. Bxf6 | This important black defender of the light squares in the black kingside must be eliminated, and as soon as possible. || 15. ... Rxf6 | When a unit moves it vacates a square for someone else. The Kasparov analysis suggested, Nf8, both pressuring the white g6 pawn and protecting the h7 square was the reason for capturing with the rook. Fine, but there are several, "Someone Elses", in the black defences. || 16. Qh5 | White does not have a forcing mating attack, so why the piece sacrifice? It is all about the disruption of the black forces, units finding themselves having to protect each other in a cramped position, with the safety of the black king being in doubt. Should black either lose a piece, or decide to give a piece back to neutralise strong threats, then the extra white kingside pawns will in the long term be very difficult to stop. In essence, this is a positional piece sacrifice. No immediate king-hunt, or demolition of defensive cover. It is just a number of active white pieces, "Threatening To Threaten". Black has the unenviable task of firstly calculating many advantageous attacking ideas for white and then needing to find a defence to all of them. White need only sit and wait for black to sift and select, and once black commits, find the best available against that black selection. It would not surprise me if white here went for a casual walk around the tournament hall while black settled down to the necessary data-crunching. || 16. ... Nf4 | This looks like a new idea. Kasparov only reported thinking of, 16. ... Nf8, and the f8 square would probably be occupied by the knight until the white kingside attack is fully neutralised. Here the f8 square is still available for another unit, but who could be thinking of making use of it? || 17. Qh7+ Kf8 | Aha, f8 is to be a flight square, but the black king cannot run too far, there is the little problem of the g7 bishop requiring defence. This means the black king must remain in an x-ray attack from the white f1 rook until that awkward fianchetto g7 bishop can receive alternate support. || 18. Nd5 | Appropriate Fischerism: "Tactics flow from a positionally superior game." Fine, but who has the superior position? It is not the material departed from play which judges a position, it is the opportunities available to the material remaining in play which matters. A quick scan of the position reveals the following points: White has a bishop on d3 en prise but chooses to ignore the black attack and instead make an attack of his own, hitting the black f6 rook. There is also the possibility of, Qf7+ mate, in the air should both the black g7 bishop move, and the black f6 rook move off the f-file. The white f1 rook is x-raying the black f8 king, but there are 2 black blockers in between. The white a1 rook is free to swing over to the kingside if called upon. The black a8 rook is doing nothing, and for what it is worth, the c8 bishop and d8 queen are offering some influence up diagonals pointing kingside. All in all, the white units have greater activity and are only a move or so away from breaking through. Black is being asked an important question... || 18. ... Be6 | ...And gives a good answer. The knee-jerk response to a possible material-loss is to find a means to avoid it. Fine, but once the hard calculating is done there often comes the conclusion that a material-loss is unavoidable. Instead of continuing to shuffle with an already developed piece, the f6 rook, black chooses a line which permits white to regain some material, with the bonus that white trades of a Well-developed d5 knight while black gains a couple of development tempi. There are also another couple of subtle gains about to occur in the black position, though as often happens in chess-life, there are a couple of positional losses being established. There were a couple of tactical traps to be spotted and therefore avoided: (A). If, 18. ... Rxg6 19. Qxg6, black cannot capture with, Nxg6, the f4 knight is pinned to the black f8 king. (B). Or if, 18. ... Nxg6 19. Qxg6, similarly, the black f6 rook is pinned to the black f8 king. Underestimate x-ray attacks at your peril, which can be re-expressed as, the power of the pin is to paralyse. Lastly, when playing, 18. ... Be6, the trappy black retreat of, Bg8, needed to be worked through. || 19. Nxf6 | Probably forced. Instead, 19. Bc2 Bxd5, eliminates the strong white d5 knight, a slight positional gain, but is there a trap to be sprung here? Howsabout, 19. Bc2 Bg8 20. Qh4, when the white queen is undefended andd in an x-ray attack from the black d8 queen? The idea is for black to throw in, Ne2+, trade rooks on f1, then snatch with, Qxh4. Unfortunately, 19. Bc2 Bg8 20. Qh4 Ne2+ 21. Kh1 Rxf1+ 22. Rxf1+, is a recapturing check, easy to miss, black will not pick off the white h4 queen. || 19. ... Qxf6 | With the positional gain that the g7 bishop is over-protected, which releases the black king to sprint queenside if need be. However there is the positional loss of both black royalty now being in an x-ray attack from the white f1 rook, the black f4 knight is under threat of a white, pawn g3. || 20. g3 | Remember the Kasparov comment on the possible white, 13. fxg6, piece sacrifice and his planned defence? He suggested retreating with, Nf8. In this game black instead chose the aggressive, Nf4, leaving the f8 square vacant for a fleeing black king. Fine, but here black has already felt compelled to give back an exchange and is now apparently losing at least a knight as well. Clearly Kasparov felt keeping the white queen out of h7 was simplest, perhaps here both players is beginning to feel the same? Warning: A chessboard compromises 8 files and 8 ranks, it is easy to focus on the region of activity and forget about the less active region. || 20. ... Ke7 | A doubler. Firstly, the black king is grateful to get out of the x-ray glare of the white f1 rook. Secondly, when a unit moves options for the rest of the army become available. || 21. gxf4 | The material imbalance now has White with an exchange and 2 pawns up. Is black regretting the attacking concept of, Nf4, as opposed to the Kasparov choice of, Nf8, defending? Instead, 20. Qh4 Qxh4 21. gxh4 Nxd3, and black has 3 minor pieces to fight against the white rook and 2 pawns, white would be significantly worse. Black to play and show there are 8 files and 8 ranks on a chessboard to take into consideration. || 21. ... Rh8 | Ouch! The piece which has done nothing all game slides into action to trap the white queen. The black material-returning plan of, Be6, allowing white, Nxf6, giving the d8 queen the chance to get off the back rank, which in turn allowed the f8 king to also get off the back rank, has actually given black a material-regaining manoeuvre. A chessboard has 8 files and 8 ranks, activity on the kingside does not exclude, "Stranded", queenside pieces from making a surprise visit. || 22. Qxh8 | Allowing black to play, Rxh7, would leave white with split kingside pawns and the h7 pawn would fall off very quickly. || 22. ... Bxh8 23. f5 | So we now have a material imbalance of, White with 2 rooks plus 2 pawns battling against the black queen and dark square bishop. Applying pawn-count evaluation suggests material equality, 12 points on each side. Fine as far as the maths goes, but remember, all mathematical equalities are equal, but some are more equal than others. Positionally speaking, white has a couple of advanced passed pawns, they must be very carefully constrained by black. The downside to white having advanced kingside pawns is that the black queen and dark square bishop will thoroughly enjoy themselves should they become establish behind that white kingside pawn chain. The game is about to become a mutual battle of constructing defences, after which each will be seeking opportunities to strike if the opponent gets careless. || 23. ... Bd7 | Perhaps a little discussion of opposing light square bishop future prospects might assist? White, on d3, is completely defensive, had white earlier been able to organise a central break of, pawn e5, then it could have been a good attacking unit, but it didn't happen. Black, on d7, seems destined to be restricted by the white pawn formation, but will at least have the joy of sniping at the white centre, not much, but far better than the future confronting the white d3 bishop. In essence, the black light square bishop can shuffle without consequence, but the white light square bishop dare not leave a defensive post, black has flexibility, white has inflexibility. || 24. Rf3 | White has an attacking plan (rather optimistic): Transfer this rook to h7, place the a1 rook on f1, and if black allows, Rxg7+, then, pawn f6+, forking the black royalty. This cannot happen by force, but if black is thinking of playing for a win, then this white plan, including variations on this general theme, must be envisaged and then neutralised. || 24. ... Qh4 | The queen is a powerful piece, not for her the humbling task of blockading an enemy pawn. A defensive re-grouping is taking place in the black camp, once complete thoughts can turn to prodding and probing at whatever defensive formation white will have constructed. || 25. Rg3 | Threatening, 26. g7, winning the black h8 bishop, this is easily prevented. There was however a tactricky line in need of crunching through right to the end. It goes, 25. f6+ Bxf6 26. Raf1 Bh8 27. Rf7+ Ke6 28. g7, apparently winning a piece, but, 28. ... Qg5+ 29. Kh1 Bxg7, and white has lost 2 pawns, fine, but, 30. Rg1, could be winning a piece providing black does not find, 30. ... Qxg1+, after which, 31. Kxg1 Kxf7, black is a piece up, tactricky, right? The concept of white breaking through with, pawn f6, did not work here, but this idea is never going away, at each move now both players must calculate the consequences of this possibility. || 25. ... Bg7 26. Rf1 Kf6 | The scene is set. White cannot break through as long as the black king and dark square bishop remain on blockade duty. Black on the other hand has only a queen and light square bishop to put pressure on white. It seems each side can cancel out the other, perhaps a quick handshake is on the horizon? || 27. Rff3 | With the idea of, Rh3, invade on h7, and start wondering about, Rxg7, then, pawn f6+, though as it stands, black will reply with, Qxf6, liquidating down to a same colour bishop ending, looks drawn from here. Black will not allow any of this pressure-relieving strategy, there are many defensive hurdles for white to jump before peace can be agreed. || 27. ... Bc6 | The squeeze begins, albeit by the quietest of means. White dare not permit the loss of the e4 pawn, any thoughts of getting a rook to h7 must be put on hold. || 28. Re3 | Retro-thinking might point out that if white needs a rook on the e-file then it should have gone to e1 immediately instead of shuffling up the f-file. Instead outright aggression fails, a few sample lines run: (A). If, 28. Rh3 Qe1+ 29. Rf1 Qd2 30. Rh7 Qxd3 31. Rxg7 Kxg7 32. f6+ Kxg6 33. f7 Qxf1+ 34. Kxf1 Kxf7, black is a piece up and the e4 pawn is also a goner. (B). Or if, 28. Rh3 Qe1+ 29. Kg2 Bxe4 30. Bxe4 Qxe4 31. Rh7 Qxc4 32. Rxg7 Kxg7 33. f6+ Kxg6 34. f7 Qxf7 35. Rxf7 Kxf7, black has a won pawn ending. (C). Or if, 28. Rh3 Qe1+ 29. Kg2 Bxe4 30. Bxe4 Qxe4 31. b3 Qg4+ 32. Kf1 e4, white has not enough time to thing of, Rh7, the black g7 bishop will soon join the attack, the white rooks will not hold the 3 black attacking units. So with a white rook now tied down to defending the weak e4 pawn, the only serious white threat of organising, pawn f6, seems off the white agenda, black can regroup the defences and then think of trying to make attacking progress. || 28. ... Bh6 | Heading for f4, where it pressures the white h2 pawn while blocking the f-file, that white dream push of, pawn f6, is becoming even more distant. || 29. Re2 Kg7 | The black dance of the dark squares is almost complete. The black king blockades the white g6 pawn while any thoughts of white, pawn f6+, will be answered with, Qxf6, and the white g-pawn is still blockaded. || 30. Rgg2 | A sign that the white rooks cannot organise a break through, it is now for black to stop and think on how to find ideas to further immobilise white. || 30. ... Bf4 31. Kf1 | White has no useful piece moves and is almost reduced to the chess equivalent of treading water. There was however, 31. b3, for consideration, just ensuring everything on the queenside is defended. || 31. ... a5 | Black begins probing on the queenside, if there is going to be any prospects of playing for a win, then another weakness must be created in the white position. || 32. Bc2 | Again, 32. b3, was worth a try, white cannot completely prevent black from opening up the queenside, but having a pawn on b3 seems to reduce the dangers in the position. || 32. ... a4 | Black is just claiming space before opening some lines on the queenside. || 33. Ref2 | The congestion in the white kingside begins to show, the white king and rook were potentially vulnerable on the a6 - f1 diagonal. Note that the white e4 pawn does not need to be doubly-defended as long as black has a bishop on f4. White has also now re-introduced the possibility of, pawn f6+, should black get careless with the dark square bishop. A wrong plan for black could be to go pawn-hunting with, 33. ... Bc1, when, 34. f6+, hits hard, pawn-promotion almost plays itself. || 33. ... b5 | The only dynamic move available to black, the c6 light square bishop must find a way to join in. || 34. cxb5 | Perhaps a different attempt to tough it out was, 34. b3 axb3 35. axb3 bxc4 36. bxc4, but those isolated white c4 and e4 pawns are sitting targets, once the black queen transfers queenside something should happen for black. || 34. ... Bxb5+ | Black has established, "Crossfire Bishops", observe how they fire into the heart of the white central defences from opposite sides of the board. Take note how their combined control of diagonals creates a cage for the white king while also severely restricting the mobility of the white 2nd rank pieces. The cross-diagonals control begins on the white 3rd rank, adjacent squares of, d3, and, e3. Then a similar control is seen on the white 2nd rank, again adjacent squares of, d2, and, e2. Lastly, the squares, c1, and, f1, are also under control. As the white king dare not run away with, 35. Kg1 Be3, costing an exchange, he is forced into the centre, where a decisive attack seems available to black. || 35. Ke1 | When white played, Rf2, it was to escape a threat on the a6 - f1 light square diagonal. By transferring the king to e1 white has set up a piece formation which is vulnerable on the dark squares. Black to play has a simple threat to find, and a much more complex idea available. Good luck in sifting between them. And take a Grand Rabbit Norm if you feel you found sufficient of the latter complex idea, accepting that any finer details would have been discovered once the concept really got rolling. || 35. ... Bg5 | International Master causes some disquiet within Grand Rabbit. Please, this is definitely a good idea from black, but maybe there is a quicker finish to be found? This game has been complex from the early middlegame, white choosing, 13. fxg6, sending both players into extremely rarely explored territory, perhaps this has drawn both players into time-trouble? A counter-suggestion came from the coaching session that black has an opportunity to gain a decisive material advantage. The idea involves the black queen combining with the, "Crossfire Bishops", with, 35. ... Qh3, preparing invasion across the white 3rd rank, many lines to be explored: (A). If, 35. ... Qh3 36. f6+ Kxf6 37. g7 Qe3+ 38. Kd1 Qc1+ mate. (B). Or if, 35. ... Qh3 36. f6+ Kxf6 37. g7 Qe3+ 38. Re2 Bxe2 39. Rxe2 Qg1+ mate. (C). Or if, 35. ... Qh3 36. f6+ Kxf6 37. g7 Qe3+ 38. Re2 Bxe2 39. g8=Q Bd3+ 40. Kd1 Qc1+ mate. (D). Or if, 35. ... Qh3 36. f6+ Kxf6 37. g7 Qe3+ 38. Re2 Bxe2 39. g8=N+ Ke6 40. Rg6+ Kf7, and white has 2 pieces en prise as well as the threat of, Bd3+, then mate on c1 again. (E). Or if, 35. ... Qh3 36. f6+ Kxf6 37. g7 Qe3+ 38. Re2 Bxe2 39. Rg6+ Ke7 40. Re6+ Kf7, and the white sensible checks run out, black gives mate on c1 again in 2 moves. Perhaps white could try a variation on the theme? (F). Or if, 35. ... Qh3 36. Rg3 Bxg3 37. hxg3 Qxg3 38. f6+ Kxg6 39. f7 Qg1+ 40. Kd2 Qxf2+, picking off the f7 pawn as well. (G). Or if, 35. ... Qh3 36. Rg3 Bxg3 37. f6+ Kxg6 38. f7 Bxf2+, followed by, Kxf7. So, the dramatics do not work, perhaps instead some defensive reinforcement then? (H). Or if, 35. ... Qh3 36. Bd1 Qe3+ 37. Be2 Qd2+ 38. Kf1 Qd1+ mate, the white e2 bishop is pinned. Lastly, how about some desperado defences? (I). Or if, 35. ... Qh3 36. Rxf4 exf4 37. f6+ Kxf6 38. g7 Qxg2 39. g8=Q Qe2+ mate. (J). Or if, 35. ... Qh3 36. Rd2 Bxd2+ 37. Kxd2 Qxg2+, black is a queen and bishop up. (K). Or if, 35. ... Qh3 36. Rd2 Bxd2+ 37. Rxd2 Qf1+ mate. Concluding Fischerism: "Tactics flow from a positionally superior game." All this looks impressive, and surely not beyond an I.M.? So perhaps over the board black simply found a different strong line, gave it the twice-over, and just hammered it out. After all, while the clock is relentlessly ticking down, any strong idea should be as good as any other strong idea. Perhaps perfectionism is often an ideal best left for the Annotator to enjoy? || 36. Kd1 | Escaping the pin on the h4 - e1 diagonal, but examine that, "Crosfire Bishops", cage restricting the apparently fleeing white king, it only has, d1, and, e1, for shuffling. || 36. ... Qh5+ | A move of mixed consequences. The Positive: This queen check forces the caged white d1 king back to e1, assuming white is not interested in giving up an exchange with, Re2, to block the check. The Negative: The black queen has given up fighting for control of the f6 square, better get calculating if white has a favourable, pawn f6+, king-deflection on the agenda. || 37. Ke1 Bh4 | Following the advice of the phrase: "Pin it and win it", right? White to play must play the, "Obvious", we are in mutual, "Tactical Event Horizon", testing territory again, so who has seen the further? || 38. f6+ | An attempted deflection, and looking at those connected white 6th rank pawns supported by rooks, black would be strongly advised to take this offering. || 38. ... Bxf6 | So white gives up a vital pawn in order to save an exchange, right? But surely on the next move the black f6 bishop will return to h4, pinning again? White has an answer ready, but what? Clue: Tactics flow from a positionally superior game, fine, but who is positionally superior here? || 39. Rxf6 | Black now has to choose between simply losing a piece or taking the white rook and releasing the white g6 pawn to sprint to promotion. || 39. ... Kxf6 | Black seems content to permit white to promote the g-pawn. It is all about that, "Tactical Event Horizon", testing. Clue: A chess board has 8 files and 8 ranks, limit your focus of attention to the immediate battlefield and chances will be overlooked. || 40. g7 | Looks like white is about to go a rook up in the sequence, right? Clue: 8 files and 8 ranks on a chessboard, distance from the immediate scene of action does not rule out potential influence. || 40. ... Bc4 | Aha, a distant piece influences the not-so-immediate scene of action, so white is not regaining a queen but only winning a piece. This tactical sequence was perhaps permitted by black on the understanding it would lead to the queen against rook and bishop ending. Fine, but how the game could have concluded had white earlier managed to establish a pawn on b3, denying black the, Bc4, resource, is anyone's guess. Perhaps black would shuffle a bit more until the, Qh3, idea comes to mind? || 41. g8=Q Bxg8 42. Rxg8 | Black to play and be accurate here or the advantage will slip. || 42. ... Qf7 | The black queen is getting herself into the white queenside with a useful tempo gain on the white g8 rook. Instead, 42. ... Qxh2 43. Bxa4 Qxb2 44. Bb3 c4 45. Bxc4 Qc1+, picking up the white c4 bishop would be great for black, but white has much better than this. It goes, 42. ... Qxh2 43, Rf8+ Ke7 44. Rf2, securing everything on the white 2nd rank, how does black get something going over on the queenside now? || 43. Rg2 Qxa2 | 8 files and 8 ranks on the chessboard, the black queen recently on h4 has flipped herself across the entire width. The tactics are over, pawn-count reports that black is 2 pawns up, should be a win, right? Fine, but won positions do not win themselves, technique is required. A little compare and contrast exercise should point the correct way to handle the position. The white king will always be vulnerable to checks from the black queen, staying close to the rook and bishop for mutual protection is required, mobility will be restricted by both of these factors. The black king must wander into the white defences, either to combine with the queen to doubly-attack white units, or to create a mating net. The white pieces must cluster together for defensive support, attacking options are virtually nil. The black queen has full freedom of mobility, the dark squares are hers for the taking. Black has a queenside pawn majority, a passed pawn must be created. The white outside passed h2 pawn cannot advance without support. So there are the relative plusses and minuses, black must make full use of the queen and that queenside pawn majority. || 44. Bd1 | Forced. Instead, 44. Bd3 c4 45. Bc2 Qxb2 46. Rf2+ Kg5, and the black a4 pawn is strong, note if now, 47. Bxa4 Qa1+, picks off the white a4 bishop. || 44. ... Qc4 | Black needed to resist trying to exploit the pinned white b2 pawn. Instead, 44. ... a3 45. Rf2+ Kg5 46. bxa3, when the trade of black a-pawn for white b-pawn only assists white. || 45. Re2 | White has 3 isolated pawns, but these can all be protected by the white rook from the e2 square. The passed h2 pawn is not an asset, if it ever starts sprinting for h8, it would very quickly get picked off by the black queen, so it is to all intents of no value while pieces are present. || 45. ... Qb4+ | A couple of dark square checks are required for the black queen to reach a square where she totally ties white down. || 46. Kf2 | Clearly, 46. Rd2 Qxe4+, will not happen. Instead, 46. Kf1, does not assist, black will adopt the same plan as about to be shown in the game. || 46. ... Qd4+ | An excellent square, the black queen puts pressure on the white d1 bishop, b2 pawn, and e4 pawn, white is close to zugzwang. || 47. Ke1 | Black to play finds a neat idea, though as it happens simpler methods seem equally playable. Clue: Defences can be direct or indirect, the latter usually involving a tactical threat persuading against the capture of an unprotected unit. . || 47. ... c4 | Forcing matters, fine providing it works. Instead a little black king shuffle seems to win material with less calculating to do, white would then have the problem of making a move without leaving a previously defended unit defenceless. It goes, 47. Ke6 48. Bc2 Qxb2 49. Bxa4 Qb4+, picks up the white a4 bishop for a simple win. Note that if, 47. ... Ke6 48. h4 Kf6, and the black king will pick off the white h-pawn, leaving white having to play, Bc2, with the same consequences. Any white rook moves leaves the e4 pawn en prise, any king move loses the d1 bishop. || 48. Bxa4 | White might as well take the, "Apparently-Unprotected", black a4 pawn. Instead, 48. Bc2 Qxb2 49. Bxa4 Qb4+, again picks up the white bishop. || 48. ... c3 | Demonstrating that the just-departed a4 pawn was protected with a tactic. || 49. bxc3 | Forced. Instead any move by the white bishop allows, 49. ... Qg1+ mate, again underlining the observation that simply focusing in the region of activity could miss opportunities further away from the immediate scene, 8 files, 8 ranks, use them. || 49. ... Qxa4 | White will find it impossible to defend all 3 isolated pawns. Black must first close in on the white king with the queen then bring up the king after which white will run out of safe moves. || 50. Kd2 Kg5 51. Kd3 | Trying to give defences to both the c3 and e4 pawns, which releases the e2 rook for shuffle-moves when the black squeeze begins. Instead shuffling the king with, Ke1 - Kd2 - Ke1, permits the black king to land on f3, after which the black queen hits with, Qa1, then, Qa2+, picking up the white e2 rook. If white responds to the black, Kf3, approach with, Rf2+, the black king just swallows the white e4 pawn for free. || 51. ... Qd1+ | The black queen makes gains by continual prodding and probing from the white back rank, assisted by the e5 pawn restricting the white king. The white king in reply must keep in contact with both the rook and e4 pawn while also having to think about protecting the c3 pawn, this is too much to do in too little space. As the mutual shuffling proceeds the black king will take every opportunity to get into the white kingside, the most favourable entry point is the f3 square. || 52. Ke3 | Forced, as, 52. Rd2 Qf3+, and the white king is pushed away from protecting the e4 pawn. || 52. ... Kg4 53. Rg2+ | This white rook check is ineffective, the invasion of the black king cannot be prevented. But white must make moves so this seems as good as any way of asking black to demonstrate the necessary technique. Shuffling fails, instead, 53. Rd2 Qf3+ mate, demonstrates the difficulties facing the white king - He must protect 3 units but they return the favour by restricting his flight options. || 53. ... Kh3 54. Rd2 | The alternative was, 54. Re2, but black can shuffle for zugzwang with the following ideas: (A). If, 54. Re2 Qb3 55. Kd3 Qb5+ 56. Kd2 Qc4, zugzwang. If the white king moves either the c3 pawn or e2 rook falls, if the white rook moves sideways the e4 pawn falls, if the rook moves up or down the e-file the h2 pawn falls. (B). Or if, 54. Re2 Qb3 55. Kd3 Qb5+ 56. c4 Qb3+ 57. Kd2 Qxc4, then black just gangs up on the white e4 pawn with king and queen, planning, Qxe4, giving up the queen for the white rook leading to a won pawn ending. (C). Or if, 54. Re2 Qb3 55. Kd3 Qb5+ 56. Ke3 Qc4 57. Kd2 Kg4, the black king gets onto the f4 square, after which the black queen gets back onto the white back rank again with similar results as to be found in game. Note, if white continues with, 58. Re3 Qa2+, picks off the loose white h2 pawn. || 54. ... Qe1+ 55. Kd3 | Instead, 55. Re2 Qxc3+, 56. Kf2 Kg4, black is planning, Kf4, and the same idea of giving up the queen on the e4 pawn for a won pawn ending. || 55. ... Kg4 56. Re2 Qd1+ 57. Ke3 | Instead, 57. Rd2 Qf3+, black wins the white e4 pawn. || 57. ... Qc1+ | Forcing the white king back to d3, the black king is at last about to have a decisive influence on the game. || 58. Kd3 Kf3 | With the threat of, 59. ... Qf1, pinning and winning the white e2 rook. || 59. Rd2 | Instead, 59. Rc2 Qe3+ 60. Kc4 Qxe4+ 61. Kb3 Qb7+, and the black e5 pawn begins rolling toward promotion. Or, 59. Rd2 Qf1+, forces the white king away from defending the e4 pawn. || 59. ... Qb1+ 60. Rc2 | White is effectively forced to enter into an unpleasant pin. Instead, 60. Kc4 Qxe4+, and black will promote the e5 pawn. Black to play has several ways to win here, there is a really neat way to finish the game off, and that is not a clue to think big. || 60. ... d5 | Instead, 60. ... Qf1+ 61. Kd2 Kxe4, and the black e5 pawn will cost black a rook. || White resigns, 0-1 | Black is getting a passed e-pawn in all lines, though how this will be used depends a little on white, some ideas run: (A). If, 61. exd5 e4+ 62. Kd2 Kf2 63. d6 Qe1+ mate. (B). Or if, 61. exd5 e4+ 62. Kd2 Kf2 63. Rc1 Qd3+ mate. (C). Or if, 61. Kd2 Kxe4 62. Rc1 Qd3+ 63. Ke1 Kf3, with no sensible means to prevent, Qe2+ mate. || * * * ## Unannotated Game. White: V. Toporov, 2205. Black: A. Bratchenko, 2383. Event: White Knight St. Petersburg 2001. Result: 0-1 in 60 moves. Opening: King's Indian Defence, Four Pawns Attack, E76. 1. c4 g6 2. Nc3 Bg7 3. d4 Nf6 4. e4 d6 5. f4 O-O 6. Nf3 c5 7. d5 e6 8. dxe6 fxe6 9. Bd3 Nc6 10. O-O e5 11. f5 Nd4 12. Ng5 h6 13. fxg6 hxg5 14. Bxg5 Ne6 15. Bxf6 Rxf6 16. Qh5 Nf4 17. Qh7+ Kf8 18. Nd5 Be6 19. Nxf6 Qxf6 20. g3 Ke7 21. gxf4 Rh8 22. Qxh8 Bxh8 23. f5 Bd7 24. Rf3 Qh4 25. Rg3 Bg7 26. Rf1 Kf6 27. Rff3 Bc6 28. Re3 Bh6 29. Re2 Kg7 30. Rgg2 Bf4 31. Kf1 a5 32. Bc2 a4 33. Ref2 b5 34. cxb5 Bxb5+ 35. Ke1 Bg5 36. Kd1 Qh5+ 37. Ke1 Bh4 38. f6+ Bxf6 39. Rxf6 Kxf6 40. g7 Bc4 41. g8=Q Bxg8 42. Rxg8 Qf7 43. Rg2 Qxa2 44. Bd1 Qc4 45. Re2 Qb4+ 46. Kf2 Qd4+ 47. Ke1 c4 48. Bxa4 c3 49. bxc3 Qxa4 50. Kd2 Kg5 51. Kd3 Qd1+ 52. Ke3 Kg4 53. Rg2+ Kh3 54. Rd2 Qe1+ 55. Kd3 Kg4 56. Re2 Qd1+ 57. Ke3 Qc1+ 58. Kd3 Kf3 59. Rd2 Qb1+ 60. Rc2 d5 White resigns, 0-1 * * *