Skype coaching session, 22 September 2019. Forthcoming coaching session in September will be on Sunday 29, at 14:00 UTC, which is 15:00 BST. The game discussed (29 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: I. Sukandar, 2217. Black: N. Zdebskaja, 2335. Event: EWS Cup Jakarta 2007. Result: 1-0 in 29 moves. Opening: Sicilian Defence, Najdorf Variation, B96. | Editorial. Useful quote: "Seek and ye shall find." Excellent advice when you cannot immediately find a bunch of keys. Whimsical observation: They are always in the last place that you look. Does any of this philosophy have relevance to chess thinking? Complex positions offer the opportunity to invest time to crunch through many lines of analysis, searching for a tactical crusher. A wonderful feeling arises when that crusher is found, the analysis stops and the imagination begins to be converted into reality. But what happens when the, "Seeking", fails to find the desired break-through? You know that lost bunch of keys exists, the question is just where are they? And as observed, they are always in the last place you look, because once they are found the searching ceases. Unfortunately in chess a search for brilliancy is based on opinion and not fact. Sometimes the feeling that a tactical crush is just waiting to be found is difficult to overrule. In this game it would be tempting to spend 20, or even 30 minutes on a move, going further and further to find that, "Winning Line". Therein the problem. Seeking keys is necessary, but searching for a win which may or may not be there is choice. when does one conclude that, "Seeking Is Not Finding", and the invested time has been wasted? || 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 | Both players have chosen a well-trodden path. So many different piece-pawn formations available here. Which is the best system? Wrong question. One should ask: "Which piece-pawn formation best suits my style of middlegame play?" Some systems have white castling queenside, others involve kingside castling. Despite such a massive difference in king location, a common factor remains. Tactics are almost certainly available for both sides across the entire width of the board. Continual vigilance is required in the Sicilian Najdorf. Make a slight misjudgement and your opponent will pounce. || 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 Nbd7 | For those who enjoy complications there is, 7. ... Qb6, homework should be undertaken before trying this. If white in turn is willing to permit complications the usual reply is, 8. Qd2 Qxb2, and the fun starts, but there is, 7. ... Qb6 8. a3, which defuses the situation, note that now, 8. ... Qxb2 9. Na4, traps the black queen. || 8. Qf3 h6 | A double-edged move, all part of an active black plan, this sideline should not be under-estimated. Generally speaking, Najdorf players are willing to give something to receive something in return, so do not be surprised if certain flank pawns are launched into an early attack. Instead either, 8. ... Qc7, or, 8. ... Be7, are much more often preferred here. || 9. Bh4 Be7 | The most stable choice, preferring to let white force the pace. A couple of more forceful sidelines run: (A). If, 9. ... e5 10. Nf5 exf4 11. Bxf6 Nxf6 12. O-O-O Bxf5 13. exf5, with unbalance in which white scores well. (B). Or if, 9. ... Rg8 10. O-O-O g5 11. fxg5 hxg5 12. Bg3 g4 13. Qf2 Nh5, again the few examples score fine for white. There is also the less energetic, 9. ... Qc7, keeping in more usual strategy. || 10. O-O-O g5 | Far more popular here is, 10. ... Qc7, intending, pawn b5, with, Bb7, and a threat against the white e4 pawn is mounting, white must think about what happens if black is permitted to get in, pawn b4, this is usually prevented with, pawn a3. || 11. fxg5 Ne5 | All according to the plan, the white f4 pawn has been deflected to g5, permitting the black d7 knight to sit on e5, all done with an attack-tempo on the white f3 queen. More usual here is, 11. ... hxg5 12. Bxg5 Ne5, when white chooses between, 13. Qf4, or, 13. Qe2, and yet again white scores well in this system. Does the slight change in the black move-order make any difference? || 12. gxf6 | The mutual testing of the, "Tactical Event Horizons", has begun. || 12. ... Nxf3 13. fxe7 Qa5 | Instead, 13. ... Nxh4 14. exd8=Q+ Kxd8, and black has lost a piece in the sequence. || 14. gxf3 | White has traded a queen for 3 black minor pieces, with the positional bonus of an extra pawn on e7 severely cramping the black e8 king. Capturing with the g2 pawn is important, the fully-open g-file is a perfect line of entry for a white rook. || 14. ... Rg8 | Black must do something about the strong white e7 pawn, the idea is, Rg6, then, pawn f6, allowing, Kxe7, white is not letting this happen for free. || 15. Bf6 | White finds a neat idea to force black into a material concession in order to eliminate the strangling e7 pawn. A different method of going for the throat was to blast away with, 15. Ndb5, some bio-organically generated ideas run: (A). If, 15. Ndb5 Bd7 16. Nxd6+ mate, but such variations only happen in dreams. (B). Or if, 15. Ndb5 axb5 16. Nxb5 Kd7 17. Rxd6+ Ke8 18. Rd8+ Qxd8 19. exd8=Q+ mate, demonstrates the power of the white f6 bishop x-raying at the promotion square through the e7 pawn. (C). Or if, 15. Ndb5 axb5 16. Nxb5 d5 17. exd5 exd5 18. Rxd5 Be6, 19. Nc7+ Qxc7 20. Bb5+ Bd7 21. Rhd1 Bxb5 22. Rd8+ Rxd8 23. Rxd8+ Qxd8 24. exd8=Q+ mate. (D). Or if, 15. Ndb5 axb5 16. Nxb5 Qxa2 17. Nxd6+ Kd7, and white has many discovered knight-move attacks to analyse along with black being ready for, Qa1+, then, Qxb2, with options to give the white king a good kicking around. If this line does not work for white then black is being given too much. activity from a position of virtually zero play. (E). Or if, 15. Ndb5 axb5 16. Nxb5 f6 18. Nxd6+ Kxe7, has white got compensation for the sacrificed knight? (F). Or if, 15. Ndb5 axb5 16. Nxb5 f6 17. Bxf6 Kf7, the black king has escaped his prison, sure, the white e7 pawn is still a headache, but has white sufficient play for the sacrificed knight? Another white idea is, 15. e5, when if black tries, 15. ... dxe5, then, 16. Nc6, is crushing, the black a5 queen is hit and the opening of the d-file is crucial as, 16. Qc7 17. Rd8+ Qxd8 18. exd8=Q+ mate follows. However, 15. e5 Qxe5, spoils this fantasy, so now we have some understanding why white chooses, 15. Bf6, white is intending, pawn e5, when felt appropriate. So what do we make of the position when white was thinking about move 15? If the idea of, 15. Ndb5, came to mind, was given some analytical time, and then felt to offer black too much play in the, Qxa2, lines, then that invested time would yield nothing. Similarly, how do we assess the lines where white spends time anlysing giving up a knight on b5 but black flicks in, pawn f6, giving the black king some breathing space? More time lost for no return? || 15. ... Bd7 | Strengthening the b5 square, but have the tactics involving white, Ndb5, been neutralised? Taking a pragmatic stance, black can do little other than develop / defend, if the white idea of, Nbd5, is good then it is for white to sift through the complications and decide. However be aware that when playing, Bd7, the black bishop denies the black king the only flight square available, if white can arrange a check, it will be mate. Instead trying to flee with, 15. ... Kd7, offers white the chance to chew up time with, 16. Ndb5, and all that comes thereafter. Chances are that, 16. ... Kd7 16. Bh3, intending, Nb3, tempo-attack on the black a5 queen, followed with doubling up the d-file would give white much joy. || 16. Bd3 | White is in no mood for, "Mega-Tactics", no thoughts of trying to black black off the board. Is white missing a big opportunity here? Who knows, a consultation with Fritz and friends might yield something, though it is more likely if something crushing is to be found it would have been back on move 15. Playing, Bd3, is a doubler. Firstly, the white rooks are connected, a challenge with, Rhg1, is prepared. Secondly, there is an x-ray attack through the white e4 pawn, the squares f5, g6, h7, will be claimed by the d3 bishop should white push, pawn e5. Instead, 16. f4, preparing to push, pawn e5, was worth consideration. || 16. ... Rg6 | The necessary removal of the restricting dark square prison begins, black assesses the white e7 pawn must be removed before white claims the g-file with a rook. Instead, 16. ... Bc6 17. Rhg1 Rxg1 18. Rxg1 Kd7 19. Rg7 Re8 20. Rxf7, the black e8 rook is completely tied up, perhaps, Bf1 - Bh3, should win more than just the black e6 pawn. || 17. e5 | A doubler. Firstly, the white f6 bishop is given a defence countering the attack from the black g6 rook. Secondly, the black g6 rook is attacked by the d3 bishop. Black must have an answer to these points, but what? || 17. ... Rxf6 | Black finds a way to smash the dark square prison but at the price of an exchange. Instead opening up the centre is dangerous, a couple of ideas run: (A). If, 17. ... dxe5 18. Nb3 Qb6 19. Bxg6 fxg6, allows the crusher, 20. Rxd7 Kxd7 21. Rd1+ Ke8 22. Rd8+ Rxd8 23. exd8=Q+ Qxd8 24. Bxd8 Kxd8, white has 2 knights for a pawn. (B). Or if, 17. ... dxe5 18. Nb3 Qc7 19. Bxg6 fxg6, and again we have, 20. Rxd7 Qxd7 21. Rd1, black can permit the rook invasion, Rd8+, or deviate with, 21. ... Qxd1+ 22. Kxd1, black having a rook against the 3 white minor pieces. || 18. exf6 Qg5+ 19. Kb1 Qxf6 20. Rhg1 | Simple threat of, 21. Rg8+, winning the black a8 rook. || 20. ... Kxe7 | Forced as, 20. ... Qxe7 21. Rg8+ Qf8 22. Rxf8+ Kxf8, leaves black 2 knights down. However the black royalty have now entered into a dangerous formation ripe for exploitation by the white pieces. Clue: Someone in the black camp is overloaded. || 21. Nf5+ | Exploiting the overloaded nature of the black e6 pawn, it cannot defend both the d5 and f5 squares. || 21. ... Kf8 | Forced, other choices are expensive: (A). If, 21. ... exf5 22. Nd5+ Ke6, 23. Nxf6 Kxf6, 24. Rxd6+ Be6, black emerges a whole rook down. (B). Or if, 21. ... Ke8 22. Rg8+ mate. (C). Or if, 21. ... Kd8 22. Rg8+ Be8 23. Nxd6 Ke7 24. Nf5+ Kd8 25. Bb5+ Kc7 26. Nd6 Bxb5 27. Ndxb5+ Kc6 28. Rxa8, black would have a queen against white 2 rooks plus 2 knights. (D). Or if, 21. ... Kd8 22. Rg8+ Be8 23. Nxd6 Ke7 24. Nf5+ Kd8 25. Bb5+ Kc7 26. Nd6 Rd8 27. Nxe8+, royal fork, forces black, 27. ... Rxe8 28. Rxe8, white has 2 rooks plus bishop and knight against the black queen. || 22. Nxd6 Bc6 | Black chooses to develop, sort of. Greed gains nothing, 22. ... Qxf3 23. Rdf1 Qh5 24. Rxf7+ Qxf7 25. Nxf7 Kxf7, black is a knight down. The white knight on d6 is about to show itself to be the most dangerous unit on the board. || 23. Be4 | Simple and good, white neutralises any black activity as soon as it arises. || 23. ... Rd8 24. a3 | White takes a safety-first approach. This humble pawn move permits both of the white rooks to advance off the back rank if they wish, without any fear of a back-rank mate. Instead there were some tactics available to pick up the black b7 pawn, some ideas run: (A). If, 24. Nxb7 Bxb7 25. Bxb7, the white mobile queenside pawn majority will provide a long-term win. (B). Or if, 24. Nxb7 Rb8 25. Bxc6 e5 26. Be4 Qb6 27. Na4 Qb5 28. Nbc5, white has snatched a bishop plus pawn for the cost of tying pieces up for a few moves, some careful unravelling and this should soon convert. (C). Or if, 24. Nxb7 Rxd1+ 25. Rxd1, black is helping white by trading pieces, the black queen alone has virtually zero chance of creating complications to catch white out. || 24. ... Qe7 | Perhaps black fears the aforementioned tactic against the under-defended b7 pawn? Unfortunately this black queen defensive retreat has made a serious change in the fortune of the black king, he has no flight squares available. Instead, 24. ... e5, at least makes a threat on the white d6 knight, forcing white to make a decision on how to avoid losing material. Any lines involving moving the d6 knight eliminate those tactics on the f-file against the black f7 pawn. White to play finds a counter-intuitive response which essentially shortens what could have been quite a long game. || 25. Bh7 | Simple threat of, 26. Rg8+ mate, the only means of disrupting this mating net is to move the black queen off the e7 square. || 25. ... Qh4 | The best of a bad lot, the black queen might as well go as active as possible. Shuffling sideways with, 25. ... Qc7, is however equally painful, some ideas run: (A). If, 25. ... Qc7 26. Rg8+ Ke7 27. Rxd8 Kxd8 28. Nb5+ Kc8 29. Nxc7 Kxc7, white is a rook plus knight up. (B). Or if, 25. ... Qc7 26. Rg8+ Ke7 27. Rxd8 Kxd8 28. Nb5+ Qd7 29. Rxd7+ Kxd7 30. Nd4, white is 2 knights up. (C). Or if, 25. ... Qc7 26. Rg8+ Ke7 27. Rxd8 Qxd8 28. Nf5+ exf5 29. Rxd8 Kxd8 30. Bxf5 Bxf3, white is a knight up. || 26. Rg8+ Ke7 27. Rxd8 Bxf3 | To have 1 rook en prise is unfortunate, to have 2 rooks en prise smacks of carelessness, right? Instead, 27. ... Kxd8 28. Nf5+ Kc7 29. Nxh4, white is a rook plus 2 knights up. White to play, with both rooks hanging, actually has a tactical means to win more material. || 28. Rd7+ | All en prise rooks are equal, but some en prise rooks are more equal than others. Played on the grounds that if black, Kxd8, was unpalatable, then surely, Kxd7, is similarly so. Bobby Fischer told us: "Tactics flow from a positionally superior game." Fine, but how can having a bishop sidelined on h7 combined with 2 loose rooks ever be thought of as being positionally superior? It is not only the white units which must be considered. The black forces must also be examined, the black king is short of defenders, the black queen has gone walkabout onto h4, the f3 bishop is nibbling the white d1 rook, none of them are showing any thoughts about the safety of the others. Here they are all existing in their own little realms, "Coordination Factor Zero", so it is hardly surprising white has a tactic just waiting to be found. As suggested at the start of these notes: "Seek and ye shall find." (SOMETIMES). || 28. ... Kf6 | Instead, 28. Kf8 29. Rxf7+ mate, hardly a surprise as a lonely king is surrounded by 3 enemy units. || 29. Rxf7+ Black resigns, 1-0 | If, 29. ... Kg5 30. Rxf3 Qxh2, black is essentially 3 minor pieces down. || * * * ## Unannotated Game. White: I. Sukandar, 2217. Black: N. Zdebskaja, 2335. Event: EWS Cup Jakarta 2007. Result: 1-0 in 29 moves. Opening: Sicilian Defence, Najdorf Variation, B96. 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 Nbd7 8. Qf3 h6 9. Bh4 Be7 10. O-O-O g5 11. fxg5 Ne5 12. gxf6 Nxf3 13. fxe7 Qa5 14. gxf3 Rg8 15. Bf6 Bd7 16. Bd3 Rg6 17. e5 Rxf6 18. exf6 Qg5+ 19. Kb1 Qxf6 20. Rhg1 Kxe7 21. Nf5+ Kf8 22. Nxd6 Bc6 23. Be4 Rd8 24. a3 Qe7 25. Bh7 Qh4 26. Rg8+ Ke7 27. Rxd8 Bxf3 28. Rd7+ Kf6 29. Rxf7+ Black resigns, 1-0 * * *