Skype coaching session, 18 August 2019. 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. * * * Annotated Game. White: C. Schlechter. Black: J. Mieses. Event: Blindfold Match Game 3, Stuttgart 1909. Result: 0-1 in 44 moves. Opening: Scandinavian Defence, Mieses Variation, B01. | Editorial. How should a sighted Grand Master approach playing blindfold? Obviously select a familiar opening system, even better if you can get the game into a variation which bears your name. Surely by following this simple principle there can be no shock tactics lurking in the background just waiting their chance to reveal themselves? And speaking of tactics, all calculations herein are made by an aging bio-organic unit, no Fritzing here, apologies for any miscalculations. || 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 | Only move 2 and white had to make an important decision. Capturing creates an open game, instead, 2. Nc3, tends to receive, 2. ... d4, when, 3. Nce2 c5, is a closed game. || 2. ... Qxd5 | Black is playing an opening which will resemble the open lines of the Caro-Kann system. Expect rapid piece development on both sides with pawn moves played only when felt necessary. Instead black might test white with, 2. ... Nf6 3. c4 e6, a gambit line. As with most gambits, white should only enter into such lines after having previously studied how to contain the black activity. || 3. d4 Nf6 4. Nc3 Qa5 5. Nf3 Nc6 | Instead, 6. ... c6, gives the black queen a retreat option of, Qc7. || 6. Bd2 | X-raying the black queen, she is not in any immediate danger, but such threats must not be dismissed lightly. || 6. ... Bg4 | Pinning the white f3 knight, black is now threatening to win a pawn with, Nxd4. || 7. Nb5 | A doubler. Firstly, the white d2 bishop directly attacks the black queen. Secondly, the white b5 knight threatens an exchange-winning fork of, Nxc7+, if black responds incorrectly. || 7. ... Qb6 | The black queen had to keep a guard on the c7 pawn. || 8. a4 | White is trying to trap the black b6 queen. Instead the similar and somewhat forcing line, 8. c4 Bxf3 9. Qxf3 Nxd4 10. Nxd4 Qxd4 11. Qxb7 Qe4+ 12. Qxe4 Nxe4 13. Be3, gives white the opportunity to demonstrate the bishop pair plus the better pawn structure are positive assets. || 8. ... Bxf3 9. Qxf3 a6 | Setting off some cute tactics, a mutual test of each players, "Tactical Event Horizon", is under way. Instead, 9. ... a5, leaves white with a pleasant position. Note that, 9. ... Nxd4 10. Nxd4 Qxd4 11. Qxb7, and white has the bishop pair, a better pawn structure, and a more active queen. || 10. a5 | Well that sure does trap the black queen, good answer required or the paying spectators will be heading home both early and disappointed. Instead, 10. Nc3 Nxd4 11. Qd1, black seems to have both the pawn and the compensation. || 10. ... axb5 | Aha, the a-file opens up for the skulking black a8 rook, but the tricks are much deeper than this simple line-opening. || 11. axb6 | White must play down the line or simply accept the loss of the b5 knight, which would you do? || 11. ... Rxa1+ | White now has to choose between a couple of tactical lines, not easy. || 12. Bc1 | White feels the king needs a safe flight square, so d2 is vacated at the cost of a bishop. Instead fleeing creates considerable complexities, it is a tremendously difficult task to unravel this lot while being blindfolded. (A). If, 12. Ke2 Nxd4+ 13. Ke3 Nxf3 14. Kxf3 c6, white is a rook down. (B). Or if, 12. Ke2 Nxd4+ 13. Ke3 Nxf3 14. Bxb5+ Kd8 15. Rxa1 Nxd2 16. Ra8+ mate, but black can avoid this disaster. (C). Or if, 12. Ke2 Nxd4+ 13. Ke3 Nxf3 14. Bxb5+ c6 15. Bxc6+ bxc6 16. Rxa1 Nxd2 17. Kxd2 Kd7, black is a piece up for a pawn. (D). Or if, 12. Ke2 Nxd4+ 13. Ke3 Nxf3 14. Bxb5+ c6 15. Bxc6+ bxc6 16. b7 Nd7 17. Rxa1 Nxd2 18. Kxd2 Kd8 19. Ra8+ Kc7, white will soon only have 2 pawns against 2 black pieces, but white missed a useful zwischenzug. (E). Or if, 12. Ke2 Nxd4+ 13. Ke3 Nxf3 14. Bxb5+ c6 15. Bxc6+ bxc6 16. b7 Nd7 17. Rxa1 Nxd2 18. Ra8+ Nb8 19. Rxb8+ Kd7 20. Kxd2 Kc7, white will soon only have a single pawn for a piece. (F). Or if, 12. Ke2 Nxd4+ 13. Ke3 Nxf3 14. Bxb5+ c6 15. Bxc6+ bxc6 16. b7 Nd7 17. Rxa1 Nxd2 18. Ra8+ Nb8 19. Rxb8+ Kd7 20. Ra8 Nc4+ 21. Ke2 Nb6 22. b8=Q Nxa8 23. Qxa8, white has queen versus black rook plus bishop, a slight advantage to the white queen. (G). Or if, 12. Ke2 Nxd4+ 13. Ke3 Nxf3 14. Bxb5+ c6 15. Bxc6+ bxc6 16. b7 Rxh1 17. b8=Q+ Kd7 18. Kxf3, black has 2 rooks for the new white queen, but the white queen and bishop will be ganging up on the black king first. Play might continue with, 18. ... g6 19. Bc3 f6 20. Ba5 Bg7 21. Qc7+ Ke6 22. Qxc6+ Kf7 23. b4, the racing white b-pawn must soon cost black a piece. || 12. ... Rxc1+ 13. Kd2 | Black to play, "Must", pay attention to the Fischerism: "Obvious Therefore Dubious!" || 13. ... Rxc2+ | The "Obvious", retreat, 13. ... Ra1, is hit with, 14. Bxb5, the ideas run: (A). If, 13. ... Ra1 14. Bxb5 Rxh1 15. Bxc6+ bxc6 16. Qxc6+ Kd8 17. Qxc7+ Ke8 18. Qc8+ mate. (B). Or if, 13. ... Ra1 14. Bxb5 Rxh1 15. Bxc6+ bxc6 16. Qxc6+ Nd7 17. cxb7 f6 18. c8=Q+ Kf7 19. Q8xd7, white effectively has a queen against a black bishop. (C). Or if, 13. ... Ra1 14. Bxb5 Rxh1 15. Bxc6+ Kd8 16. Bxb7 cxb6 17. Qc6 e6 18. Qc8+ Ke7 19. Qc7+ Ke8 20. Bc6+ Nd7 21. Qxd7+ mate. (D). Or if, 13. ... Ra1 14. Bxb5 Rxh1 15. Bxc6+ Kd8 16. Bxb7 cxb6 17. Qc6 e6 18. Qc8+ Ke7 19. Qc7+ Nd7 20. Bc6 Ke7 21. Qxd7+ Kf6 22. Qd8+ Kg6 23. Qxb6 Rxh2, white has queen plus 5 pawns versus the black rook pair plus 4 pawns, those white queenside passed pawns will soon cost black something. (E). Or if, 13. ... Ra1 14. Bxb5 Kd7 15. Rxa1 e6 16. Ra7, white is threatening, Rxb7, undermining the black c6 knight, after which, Qxc6+, will be crushing. || 14. Kd1 | Again that royal fork haunts white. Instead, 14. Kxc2 Nxd4+ 15. Kd2 Nxf3+ 16. gxf3 c6, black is a piece and 2 pawns up. || 14. ... Rxb2 | As well as capturing another white pawn, the hungry black rook also backwardly guards the black b5 pawn. Instead, 14. ... Nxd4 15. Qxb7, when white threatens both, 16. Qc8+ mate, and, bxc7, preparing promotion with check. || 15. Qa3 | A doubler. Firstly, the white queen has an attack tempo on the uncomfortably-placed black b2 rook. Secondly, she now has options of either, Qa7, or, Qa8+, as felt appropriate. Instead limited database offers just a single alternative here. G. Maroczy - J. van den Bosch, Rotterdam (Match) 1930, went: 15. bxc7 Kd7 16. d5 Rb1+ 17. Kd2 Nd4 18. c8=Q+ Kxc8 19. Qc3+ Nc6 20. Qh3+ e6 21. dxc6 bxc6 22. Kc2 Rb4 23. Bd3 Ra4 24. Qf3 Kc7 25. Qg3+ Kb7 26. Qf3 Kb6 27. Rb1 Be7 28. Qg3 Ra2+ 29. Rb2 Rxb2+ 30. Kxb2 Nd5 31. Be4 Bf6+ 32. Kb3 Rd8 33. Qf3 c5 34. g4 c4+ 35. Kc2 b4 36. Bxd5 Rxd5 37. g5 b3+ 38. Kb1Rxg5 39. Qe3+ Kb5 40. f4 Rd5 0-1. || 15. ... Rb1+ | The tactics are still hanging around just waiting their chance to materialise again. Instead trying to hold it together with, 15. ... Rb4, allows the white queen into the black position, it goes: (A). If, 15. ... Rb4 16. Qa8+ Nd8 17. bxc7 Rxd4+ 18. Ke1 Rd5 19. Bxb5+ Rxb5 20. cxd8=Q+ mate. (B). Or if, 15. ... Rb4 16. Qa8+ Nd8 17. bxc7 Rxd4+ 18. Ke1 Rd5 19. Bxb5+ Nd7 20. cxd8=Q+ mate. (C). Or if, 15. ... Rb4 16. Qa8+ Kd7 17. Qxb7 Nd5 18. bxc7 Nxc7 19. g3, with, Bg2, pressuring the black c6 knight. Black has a specific idea in mind when giving check on b1, this is not just a check to escape the attack of the white a3 queen. || 16. Kc2 Rxf1 | Proving there is altruism in chess. Black decides the white bishop would have too much fire-power on the light squares if it was allowed to remain in play. With the elimination of this white piece the remaining black knights and rook will be much safer on light squares. Note that the, "Rule Of Conservation Of Tempi", that is not trading a multi-moved piece for a lesser-moved piece is well and truly trounced here. The black rook has made 6 moves to eliminate a never-moved bishop, this is justified on the rational given of black safety on the light squares. Perhaps a eulogy for the departing black queen's rook is in order? Using the pawn-count scale of material values, it has captured 13 precious enemy points, plus forcing white into 4 zero-value tempi, not bad for an active lifetime of just 6 moves. || 17. Qa8+ | White shuffles the move order just to force the black king to move. before making the necessary recapture on f1. || 17. ... Kd7 | Instead, 17. ... Nd8 18. bxc7, pins and wins the black d8 knight with a new queen, which would be an 11 pawn-count points swing with a single move, plus it is mate. || 18. Rxf1 Nd5 | The queenside needs strengthening, the white f1 rook is about to pressure the black position from c1. || 19. Qxb7 | White chooses to try to undermine the black c6 knight. Instead, 18. bxc7 Kxc7 19. Qe8, making it difficult for black to develop the kingside without losing too many pawns might have been worth a try. || 19. ... Nxb6 Black is close to securing the queenside. In positions where there is a queen versus pieces with pawns, it is the job of the queen to randomise the coordination of the opposing forces, it is the duty of the pieces to make sure everything is defended before trying to make progress. || 20. Kb1 | A doubler. Firstly, the white king back out of any potential activity of the black knights, or so he is hoping. Secondly, the c-file is opened for the f1 rook to fire onto the black c6 knight. || 20. ... e6 21. Rc1 Nc4 | Black protects the vulnerable c6 knight by plugging the c-file, but surely the black b5 pawn is now unprotected? || 22. Qa8 | White pins the black f8 bishop, only a minor annoyance which is soon resolved. Instead, 22. Qxb5 Na3+, picks up the white queen, backward knight captures are ever-present. || 22. ... g6 23. d5 | White must get disharmony into the black position for the queen to exploit, something, anything, just sitting there will allow black to coordinate defences, then think about transferring forces into the white half of the board. || 23. ... exd5 24. Rd1 d4 | Black keeps it all under control. White to play recognises the position is giving zero play for the queen and rook, desperate positions demand desperate measures. || 25. Rxd4+ | is this losing a rook for virtually nothing? || 25. ... Nxd4 26. Qd5+ | At last, the white queen centralises, hitting in 8 directions, but the black position is showing resilience. || 26. ... Bd6 27. Qxd4 Re8 | Funny how chess can be. Of his initial 8 moves of the game, 7 were piece moves by black. Then another unit, the a8 rook, consumed 6 tempi. Now development is finally completed on move 27 as the h8 rook centralises. And despite all this bending of the wise guidelines given to beginners, black has a strong position. Now the black plan is to coordinate the pieces in the centre and then advance the passed b5 pawn. White must keep the queen active hoping for black to stretch his forces giving her the chance to pick off a careless unit. || 28. Qd5 | Hitting the unprotected black b5 and f7 pawns, black cannot save both, keep whichever will cause the opponent the greater problems. || 28. ... c6 | Black must keep the b5 pawn, this will become the main attacking unit once the necessary defensive / offensive black coordination is achieved. || 29. Qxf7+ Re7 30. Qg8 | White keeps the queen as active as possible forcing black to judge any dangers arising from letting the h7 pawn go. || 30. ... Re1+ | Black starts some rook prodding and probing. The white king will find no shelter on the queenside, the only means of escaping a continual barrage of checks is to run for whatever pawn cover the kingside can offer. However if the white king heads kingside, then the task of preventing the advance of the black b5 pawn falls to the white queen. Such a powerful unit is extremely unhappy when forced to defend in this way. || 31. Kc2 Re2+ 32. Kd3 | There is no safe haven for the white king in the queenside. Instead, 32. Kb3 Be5 33. Kb4 Bd4, and black threatens, Rb2+ mate, white can flick in several queen checks, but all these will do is push the black king to b6 after which the checks run out. || 32. ... Rxf2 |White cannot be permitted to have a mobile kingside pawn majority. Of course, if the worse came to the worst, and white began making advances with the kingside pawns, then black can afford to give up a piece on each of the remaining white pawns and it is still a draw. So this safeguard permits black to search for winning ideas in the knowledge he cannot lose. || 33. Qxh7+ Kc8 | Black prefers to keep the king out of the action. If white however chooses checking with, Qg8+, and, Qh7+, then black might have to seek shelter in the queenside. || 34. Kc3 | White has no constructive plan and so shuffles with the king. Instead, 34. Qxg6 Ne5+, picks off the white queen. || 34. ... Be5+ 35. Kd3 | Instead, 35. Kb3 Rb2+ mate, is painful. || 35. ... Rd2+ | Black is about to cluster the pieces in the centre while forcing the white king over to the kingside. Instead, 35. ... Rxg2 36. Qh3+ Kc7 37. Qxg2, black throws away the g2 rook and the entire game. || 36. Ke4 Rd4+ | Black creates the, "3-Piece Suite". This is where a circle of protection is established by a rook, bishop and knight. The rook protects the knight, the knight protects the bishop, the bishop protects the rook. A much more usual set-up for 3 units versus an opposing queen would be black, Rg8, Bg7, Nf6, with white, Qf7. The method to activate 3 such clustered black units is to retreat, Bh8, slide the g8 rook sideways to a safe square, then the f6 knight is free to move elsewhere. Here the black d4 rook protects the c4 knight, which means the b4 pawn is free to start advancing. || 37. Kf3 b4 38. Ke2 Rd2+ | More prodding and probing, the white king must tread carefully, the black pieces are capable of closing in one way or another for a royal kill. Instead the idea of, Rd7, to get the black king into the queenside to support the advance of the b-pawn is still relevant. || 39. Kf1 | The choices here were both limited and unpleasant: (A). If, 39. Kf3 b3, the black pawn is virtually unstoppable due to the white king blocking the 3rd rank, the option of a white, Qh3+, picking it off is ruled out. (B). Or if, 39. Ke1 Bc3 40. Qxg6 Rd6+, wins the white queen. (C). Or if, 39. Ke1 Bc3 40. Kf1 b3 41. Qh3+ Kc7 42. Qh7+ Kb6, the white queen has no immediate checks, the black pawn will hit b2 next move. (D). Or if, 39. Ke1 Bc3 40. Qg8+ Kc7 41. Qxc4 Rd4+, the best white has is, 42. Qxc3 bxc3, and black soon promotes. (E). Or if, 39. Ke1 Bc3 40. Kf1 b3 41. Qh3+ Kc7 42. Qxc3 b2 43. Qb3 Rd1+ 44. Qxd1 Ne3+ 45. Ke1 Nxd1 46. Kxd1 b1=Q+, black wins. || 39. ... b3 | A blunder most surely brought about due to the blindfolds. Having played so brilliantly in the opening / early middlegame, black now shows tactical short-sightedness. Instead closing in with ideas such as: (A). If, 39. ... Ne3+ 40. Kg1 Rxg2+ 41. Kh1 Rxh2+ 42. Qxh2 Bxh2 43. Kxh2 b3, black promotes. (B). Or if, 39. ... Ne3+ 40. Ke1 Bc3 41. Qh3+ Kc7 42. Qxe3 Rd3+, black will be a bishop plus pawn up. (C). Or if, 39. ... Ne3+ 40. Ke1 Bc3 41. Qh3+ Kc7 42. Qg3+ Kb7 43. Qf3 Rxg2+ mate. || 40. Qg8+ | Blunder is met with counter-blunder. Instead, 40. Qh3+ Kc7 41. Qxb3, and black must re-think about how to play for a win. Perhaps white noted the royal relationship of Kf1 and Qb3 was vulnerable to black playing, Nd2+, forking them, but black has a rook on d2 so the knight fork is not immediately possible. || 40. ... Kc7 41. Qf7+ Rd7 | The white queen checks are blocked for the moment, black will get the b-pawn onto b2 next move. || 42. Qxc4 b2 | Now all black need do is find a means of supporting the promotion, this is on a light square, so it must be the d7 rook to join in the fun. || 43. Qb3 Rd5 | black is seeking either, Rc1+, or, Ra1+, after which the b2 pawn can promote. || 44. Qc2 Rc5 White resigns, 0-1 | A little dramatic but does the job. If now, 45. Qxc5 b1=Q+, the extra black bishop will be decisive, though club players might flail around for a while before queens are forced off. A calmer method for black was to shuffle the rook with, 44. Rb5 45. Qb1 Ra5 46. Ke2 Ra1 47. Qxg6 b1=Q, white will not find a perpetual check. || * * * ## Unannotated Game. White: C. Schlechter. Black: J. Mieses. Event: Blindfold Match Game 3, Stuttgart 1909. Result: 0-1 in 44 moves. Opening: Scandinavian Defence, Mieses Variation, B01. 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. d4 Nf6 4. Nc3 Qa5 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. Bd2 Bg4 7. Nb5 Qb6 8. a4 Bxf3 9. Qxf3 a6 10. a5 axb5 11. axb6 Rxa1+ 12. Bc1 Rxc1+ 13. Kd2 Rxc2+ 14. Kd1 Rxb2 15. Qa3 Rb1+ 16. Kc2 Rxf1 17. Qa8+ Kd7 18. Rxf1 Nd5 19. Qxb7 Nxb6 20. Kb1 e6 21. Rc1 Nc4 22. Qa8 g6 23. d5 exd5 24. Rd1 d4 25. Rxd4+ Nxd4 26. Qd5+ Bd6 27. Qxd4 Re8 28. Qd5 c6 29. Qxf7+ Re7 30. Qg8 Re1+ 31. Kc2 Re2+ 32. Kd3 Rxf2 33. Qxh7+ Kc8 34. Kc3 Be5+ 35. Kd3 Rd2+ 36. Ke4 Rd4+ 37. Kf3 b4 38. Ke2 Rd2+ 39. Kf1 b3 40. Qg8+ Kc7 41. Qf7+ Rd7 42. Qxc4 b2 43. Qb3 Rd5 44. Qc2 Rc5 White resigns, 0-1 * * *