Skype coaching session, 13 October 2019. Note: We approach the season where daylight saving might affect your time zone. Forthcoming coaching sessions in October will be on Sundays: 20, at 14:00 UTC, which is 15:00 BST. On Sunday 27 the coaching session will be at 14:00 UTC, which is 14:00 GMT. The game discussed (40 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. Miles, 2565. Black: L. Ljubojevic, 2605. Event: Bugojno 1978. Result: 1-0 in 40 moves. Opening: English Opening, A30, transposing into Queen's Gambit Declined, Tarrasch Defence, D32. | Editorial. All routes to the middlegame are equal, but some routes to the middlegame are more equal than others. The previous couple of session witnessed Benko Gambits resulting in dynamic play on both sides. Calmer approaches to the opening do not automatically mean calm middlegames, they just postpone the tricky stuff until development is completed. || 1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 e6 4. e3 d5 5. d4 Nc6 | White seems to have ended up with a Queen's Gambit Declined set-up, black has steered it into the Tarrasch Defence. So if white is happy for this type of position then why play around with the move-order? Why not just start with, 1. d4, then, 2. c4, and so on? Simple. White is willing to play this position but cannot guarantee such a system will arise if, 1. d4, and, 2. c4, are played. Black has some sharp counter-attacking systems available against these white opening moves: (A). The Benko Gambit, 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5. (B). The Modern Benoni, 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6. (C). The Budapest Defence, 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5. Surely a Grand Master should not be scared of these systems? Wrong question. Finding white systems to cope with all that black can throw across the board is not difficult, it just takes time. Surely a Grand Master has the time to study these black counter-attacking ideas? They do have the time, so why the avoidance-strategy? It is all about limiting the aggressive opportunities for the opponent, especially when that player is known to be a dangerous tactician and an expert in their, "Arsenal Of Offensive Weapons". Instead, 5. ... cxd4 6. exd4 dxc4 7. Bxc4, leaves white with the, "Isolated Queen Pawn", (IQP) middlegame. Is this to be feared? Not once how to handle such, "IQP", positions is understood, the pawn is a potential liability in an endgame, so the player with the, "IQP", must make sure the game is essentially decided before an endgame arises. || 6. cxd5 | White offers black the opportunity to accept the, "Isolated Queen Pawn". || 6. ... exd5 | Black accepts the possibility of having an, "IQP". || 7. Be2 Bd6 8. O-O O-O 9. b3 | More active tries are, 9. Nb5, or, 9. dxc5, but do not think this quiet move means weak. The white dark square bishop hopes for an active life up the a1 - h8 diagonal, patience is a virtue when adopting what is essentially a, "Queen's Indian Attack". || 9. ... cxd4 | Black finally takes the opportunity to exchange on d4, which maintains the d6 bishop pointing into the white kingside. || 10. Nxd4 Nxd4 | Black trades before white has the opportunity to trade with, Nxc6, which would give black hanging pawns. || 11. Qxd4 Re8 | Designed to support black, Be5, pushing the white queen around. Fine, but is not the black d5 pawn about to be a victim to a white tactic? || 12. Bb2 | The black d5 pawn is toxic. Instead, 12. Nxd5 Nxd5 13. Qxd5 Bxh2+ 14. Kxh2 Qxd5, white loses the queen for a piece. It seems x-rays can provide defences as well as attacks. || 12. ... Be5 13. Qd2 | White chooses a sound defensive approach, the b2 bishop is given a defence. || 13. ... Bg4 | A similarly dynamic approach is, 13. ... d4, when after, 14. exd4 Qxd4 15. Qxd4 Bxd4 15. Bf3 Rb8, the clearance of all the central tension combined with a symmetric pawn formation leaves the position somewhat dry. Instead, 13. ... Qc7, offers white a chance to permit imbalance, consider the curious middlegame clash of development vs material as seen in: N. Das (2440) - B. Adhiban (2486), Indian Championship Mumbai, 2009. 11. ... Qc7 12. Nb5 Bxh2+ 13. Kh1 Qb8 14. g3 Bxg3 15. fxg3 Ne4 16. Nc3 Nxg3+ 17. Kg2 Nxf1 18. Bxf1 Rd8 19. Ba3 Be6 20. Bd3 h6 21. Ne2 f6 22. Bb2 Re8 23. Bg6 Re7 24. Ba3 Rd7 25. Nf4 Bf7 26. Bf5 Rd8 27. Nd3 Re8 28. Rg1 Be6 29. Bxe6+ Rxe6 30. Qxd5 Qe8 31. Nf4 Qc6 32. e4 Qxd5 33. exd5 Re5 34. Rc1 g5 35. Ng6 Re2+ 36. Kf1 Rxa2 37. Bb4 Kf7 38. Ne7 a5 39. Bd6 Rd8 40. Rc7 Ke8 41. Nf5 Rd7 42. Ng7+ Kd8 43. Ne6+ Ke8 44. Ng7+ Kd8 45. Ne6+ Ke8 46. Ng7+ Rxg7 47. Rxg7 Rd2 48. Re7+ Kd8 49. Rxb7 Rxd5 50. Bg3 h5 51. Be1 Ke8 52. Kg2 h4 53. Ra7 Rb5 54. Bxa5 Rxb3, drawn in 83 moves. || 14. Bxg4 | Instead, 14. Bb5, Bd7, and white can exchange bishops on d7 assisting the black development, or retreat and risk repetition with, 15. Be2 Bg4. Black to play can take matters calmly or select a, "Randomiser". || 14. ... Bxh2+ | Black, "Punches The Random Button". The white king is about to become outnumbered as he is drawn up the board. Instead, 14. ... Nxg4 15. h3 Nf6 16. Rfd1 Rc8 17. Rac1 Rc6, seems fairly balanced. || 15. Kxh2 | Declining gains only headaches, some ideas run: (A). If, 15. Kh1 Nxg4 16. f3 Qh4 17. fxg4 Bg3+ 18. Kg1 Qh2+ mate. (B). Or if, 15. Kh1 Nxg4 16. g3 Qg5 17. f3 Nxe3 18. Kxh2 Nxf1+ 19. Rxf1 Qxd2+ 20. Kg1 Qxb2, black is a queen plus exchange up. (C). Or if, 15. Kh1 Nxg4 16. g3 Qg5 17. f3 Nxe3 18. Qxh2 Nxf1 19. Rxf1 Re6, black has won rook and 2 pawns for 2 minor pieces with some kingside play to be neutralised by white. (D). Or if, 15. Kh1 Nxg4 16. g3 Qg5 17. Nxd5 Qh5 18. Nc7 Bg1+ 19. Kxg1 Qh2+ mate, but white does not have to comply. (E). Or if, 15. Kh1 Nxg4 16. g3 Qg5 17. Nxd5 Qh5 18. Nc7 Bg1+ 19. Kg2 Qh2+ 20. Kf3, and the complications expand, black can consider any of, Rad8, Rxe3+, Bxf2, Nxe3, Qh5, white probably escapes with a material plus in all lines, but black can improve. (F). Or if, 15. Kh1 Nxg4 16. g3 Qg5 17. Nxd5 Rad8 18. Rad1, and black has a, "Complicator", with, 19. ... Nxe3, good luck working through that lot. Sometimes these aggressive bishop capturing h-pawns with check should be declined with a quiet king-shuffle. Is there a rule indicating capturing or declining? Not as such. Perhaps a good guideline is to count up the number of attackers against contributing defenders. A majority of 2 for the attack indicates danger, an attack majority of 3 suggests something decisive should be there just waiting to be found. Also take into account how quickly non-contributing defenders can swing across to assist the defence. It ultimately comes down to experience gained by a blend of live play and home study to build up a feeling of just what the defensive position can withstand. || 15. ... Nxg4+ 16. Kh3 | Stepping onto the dark squares seems to invite trouble, some ideas run: (A). If, 16. Kg1 Qh4 17. Rfc1 Qh2+ 18. Kf1 Qh1+ 19. Ke2 Qxg2 20. Rf1 Rxe3+ 21. Kd1 Qxf1+ 22. Kc2 Qxf2, black is an exchange plus 3 pawns up. (B). Or if, 16. Kg1 Qh4 17. Rfc1 Qh2+ 18. Kf1 Qh1+ 19. Ke2 Qxg2 20. Rf1 Rxe3+ 21. Qxe3 Nxe3 22. Kxe3 d4+ 23. Kxd4 Qf3, the white king is leading the march into the black queenside, when the a8 rook joins in he will struggle to survive. (C). Or if, 16. Kg3 Qg5 17. f4 Qg6, the white king must move to escape a ruinous black discovered check. || 16. ... Qg5 | The black queen must invade quickly to justify the piece sacrifice. In reply white must immediately attempt to challenge the black kingside material supremacy. || 17. Qd4 | A doubler. Firstly, the white queen must get into the kingside to neutralise the presence of the black queen. Secondly, there is now a double-attack on the black g4 knight, black must take a tempo either defending or moving it. Instead, 17. Qxd5 Re5 18. Qxb7 Rae8, black intends, R5e6, then swing the rook sideways to join in the kingside attack. || 17. ... Qh5+ 18. Kg3 Nh6 | A doubler. Firstly, by retreating the black knight saves itself. Secondly, there is now a royal fork threatened with, Nf5+. Just goes to show that retreating moves can make progress, don't get into the habit of thinking attacking ideas must always involve pieces going forward. || 19. Rh1 | This seems the only way to avoid serious material loss. Instead trying to break the fork-formation fails as follows: (A). If, 19. Qh4 Nf5+, white loses the queen for nothing. (B) Or if, 19. Qf4 Nf5+, white must give up the queen to cancel the black knight check. (C). Or if, 19. Qxd5 Re5 20. Qxb7 Rg5+ 21. Kf4 Qg4+ mate. || 19. ... Nf5+ | Black gives check in order to force the white king to advance. Instead, 19. ... Qg6+ 20. Kf3, and the white king is ready to find shelter on e2. Also for examination was the liquidating, 19. ... Qxh1 20. Rxh1 Nf5+ 21. Kf3 Nxd4+ 22. exd4, with approximate material equality, but this clearly calls off the attack and gives white a comfortable game into the bargain. || 20. Kf4 Qg6 | The black queen takes up the, "Knight's Jump", relationship with the white king, that is if the queen were a knight it would be check. This is a very good formation for an attacking queen to adopt when chasing an opposing king, it restricts the mobility of the target while waiting for reinforcements to arrive on the scene. || 21. Qxd5 | Capturing a useful pawn with a gain of tempo on the black f5 knight, which cannot be further defended and so must surely move away, right? || 21. ... Re6 | Leaving the black f5 knight hanging, right? All defensive strategies are equal, but some defensive strategies are more equal than others. If black had a pawn on e7 then playing, pawn e6, would provide a, "Direct Defence", easy to work out. There are however, "Indirect Defences", where the threatened piece is left hanging but the move played makes snatching the material anything between risky to very dangerous. Here black defends the f5 knight with a tactic, if white captures, Qxf5, then, Rf6, pins the incautious queen. || 22. Qxf5 | With white having an Elo rating of 2565 we must assume this is deliberate. Instead, 22. g4, creating a haven on g3 but leaving black with attacking units around the white king needed examination. The idea goes, 22. g4 Ne7 23. Qxb7 Rae8 24. Kg3 f5 25. f3 fxg4 26. fxg4, but now, 26. ... Nf5+, and the black attack is rolling, just 4 active units ready to pounce. So white accepts the pragmatic view that trading off the active black pieces will give the lonely white king some breathing space. || 22. ... Rf6 23. g4 | White uses the g-pawn to create some safety for the king, however temporary this will be, some cover is better than none. Instead, 23. Qxf6 Qxf6+ 24. Kg3 Qg6+ 25. Kf3 Qf5+ 26. Kg3 Qc2 27. Rab1 Rc8 28. Rhc1 Qg6+ 29. Kh2 Rc5, the black queen and rook will have some kingside fun on the horizon. Note that, 23. Qxf6 Qxf6+ 24. Kg3 Qg6+ 25. Kf3 Qf5+ 26. Ke2 Qc2+ 27. Kf3 Qxb2, being a piece down compared to game white will struggle in such an ending. || 23. ... Rxf5+ 24. gxf5 Qg2 | Despite the removal of the 2 active black units the white king has still to be wary, it must find shelter somewhere, but where? || 25. Raf1 g5+ | Black must create as much activity around the white king as possible, and the heavy pieces such as a rook and queen love open lines, so a kingside pawn push is the way to continue. || 26. fxg6 | Keeping the kingside closed does little good, some ideas run: (A). If, 26. Ke5 Kg7 27. f6+ Kg6 28. Rhg1 Re8+ 29. Kd6 Qc6+ mate. (B). Or if, 26. Ke5 Kg7 27. f6+ Kg6 28. Rhg1 Re8+ 29. Kd4 Qf3, white is losing the f6 pawn and the black h-pawn is ready to advance forcing white onto the defensive. (C). Or if, 26. Ke5 Kg7 27. Rhg1 f6+ 28. Ke6 Qc6+ 29. Ke7 Re8+ mate. (D). Or if, 26. Ke5 Kg7 27. Rhg1 f6+ 28. Kd4 Rd8+ 29. Kc4 Qc6+ 30. Kb4 a5+ 31. Kxa5 b6+ 32. Ka6 Ra8+ mate. (E). Or if, 26. Ke5 Kg7 27. Rhg1 f6+ 28. Kd4 Rd8+ 29. Kc4 Qc6+ 30. Kb4 a5+ 31. Kxa5 b6+ 32. Kb4 Qc5+ 33. Ka4 Ra8+ mate. (F). Or if, 26. Ke5 Kg7 27. Rhg1 f6+ 28. Kd4 Rd8+ 29. Kc4 Qc6+ 30. Kb4 a5+ 31. Ka3 Qc5+ 32. b4 Qxb4+ mate. There is another idea for black, 26. Ke5 Rd8, preventing the white king from running queenside, and if the black chase seems to be getting nowhere, then, Rd2, probably picking up at least the white f2 pawn can be considered. || 26. ... fxg6 27. e4 | When a unit moves it vacates a square for someone else, the white king is desperately trying to find shelter over on the queenside. || 27. ... Rf8+ | Black tries to use the f-file, fine, but perhaps trying to contain the white king with, 27. ... Rd8, was worth a try? But if black plays, 27. ... Rd8, then the job of surrounding the white king can only be done with the black queen, and this is too much to ask. So black starts to combine rook with queen to force the white king across the board in the hope a weakness might appear in the white camp as the king flees. || 28. Ke3 Qf3+ | Instead, 28. ... Rf3+ 29. Ke2, the white kingside is holding together, white can start re-grouping with, Rhg1 - Nb1 - Nd2. || 29. Kd2 Rd8+ 30. Kc2 Qd3+ 31. Kc1 Rc8 | It is getting critical, the white king is close to finding safety, but in the meantime black has managed to create a few tactics. || 32. Rd1 | White had to break the black grip on the queenside, when black played, Rc8, ideas such as, pawn b5 - pawn b4, and, Qxe4, both exploiting the pin on the c3 knight became possible. || 32. ... Qxe4 | Black understandably takes a potentially dangerous pawn but at the cost of letting all the white units invade the black position. Instead the liquidating, 32. ... Rxc3+, just about seems to keep equality, some ideas run: (A). If, 32. ... Rxc3 33. Bxc3 Qxc3+ 34. Kb1 Qf3 35. Rhe1 Qxf2 36. e5 Qf5+ 37. Ka1 Qe6 38. Rd6 Qe7 39. e6 Qxd6 40. e7 Qd4+ 41. Kb1 Qd3+ 42. Kc1 Qc3+ 43. Kd1 Qxe1+ 44. Kxe1 Kf7, black wins. (B). Or if, 32. ... Rxc3 33. Bxc3 Qxc3+ 34. Kb1 Qf3 35. Rhe1 Qxf2 36. e5 Qf5+ 37. Ka1 Qe6 38. Rd6 Qe7 39. Rd2 Qe6, white needs a 6th rank rook to displace the black e6 queen but when the white rook retreats the black queen returns to the blockade again, this is drawn. (C). Or if, 32. ... Rxc3 33. Bxc3 Qxc3+ 34. Kb1 Qf3 35. Rd8+ Kg7 36. Rd7+ Kf6 37. Rhxh7 Qxe4+ 38. Ka1 Qe5+ 39. Kb1 Qf5+, picks off the white f2 pawn, this is now a draw. Note: When the black queen took on e4 it did not matter how the white king ran, all choices would lead to a check somewhere forking the f2 pawn. || 33. Rd8+ | The first white genie is out of the bottle. Fine, but surely the d8 square is controlled by the black c8 rook? Yes and no. || 33. ... Kg7 | The white d8 rook invasion is possible because of the overloaded nature of the black c8 rook. It must keep a pin on the white c3 knight, any sideways move releases the white knight to capture, Nxe4. Once the black queen chose to make use of the pin on the white c3 knight, the black c8 rook was effectively committed to remain on the c-file until the black queen moves out of potential danger. || 34. Rd7+ | White is building an attack against the black king. Instead, 34. Rxc8 Qxh1+, indirectly trades a potentially strong white attacker for a black defensive unit without immediate prospects. || 34. ... Kf6 | Instead retreating, 34. ... Kg8, allows white to set up 3-fold repetition with, 35. Rd8+ Kg7 36. Rd7+, so if black still has ideas of winning this is the way to go. However on f6 the black king is vulnerable to a random white knight discovered check should the white king find time to get itself to the b1 square. || 35. Rhxh7 | Another white genie gets out of the bottle. There is no realistic chance of the white doubled 7th rank rooks creating a mating net on their own, but if the cavalry can advance then who knows? Instead, 35. Rdxh7, keeps control of the white back rank, but perhaps white is deliberately offering black an opportunity to go active? || 35. ... Qe1+ | Black seems to have to fall in with exactly what white wants. This queen sortie wins the white f2 pawn but at the price of permitting the white king access to the b1 square, meaning the white c3 knight is no longer pinned, with consequences that any knight move will be a discovered check. || 36. Kc2 Qxf2+ 37. Kb1 | And if white were now permitted another move then, 38. Ne4+, wins the black queen. So with black to move how is the queen to be saved? || 37. ... Qf1+ | Instead, 37. ... Qf5+ 38. Ne4+ Ke6 39. Rd6+ mate, is a wonderful example of how pieces can coordinate. || 38. Rd1 | Why is the white d7 rook chosen to block the check? Surely, 38. Nd1+, leaving rooks doubled on the 7th rank is stronger? Not so, white only needs a single rook on the 7th rank to restrict the black f6 king. So the d7 rook retreats to hit the black queen, forcing her to move, after which white can have a free move with the c3 knight to make progress. || 38. ... Qg2 | The black queen knows there is about to be a discovered check on the a1 - h8 diagonal and so places the queen on the opposite colour to which a moving white c3 knight can immediately hit. Other choices run: (A). If, 38. ... Qf2 39. Ne4+, is a royal fork. (B). Or if, 38. ... Qf4 39. Nd5+, another royal fork. (C). Or if, 38. ... Qf3 39. Ne4+ Ke6 40. Ng5+, and another royal fork. (D). Or if, 38. ... Qf3 39. Ne4+ Kf5 40. Nd6+, white has to be satisfied with only winning the black c8 rook, though there is a different white option in this line. (E). Or if, 38. ... Qf3 39. Ne4+ Kf5 40. Rf7+ Kxe4 41. Rxf3 Kxf3 42. Rd7 Rb8 43. Rg7, eliminates the black g6 pawn, white is a bishop up, just be careful not to be left with the infamous, "Impotent Pair", a bishop plus a-pawn when the black king have access to the a8 square. (F). Or if, 38. ... Qf5+ 39. Ne4+ Ke6 40. Rd6+ mate. (G). Or if, 38. ... Qa6 39. Ne4+ Kf5 40. Nd6+, winning the black c8 rook. (H). Or if, 38. ... Qa6 39. Ne4+ Ke6 40. Rd6+ Qxd6 41. Nxd6 Kxd6 42. Rxb7 Rg8 43. Rxa7, white will happily give up the bishop for the black passed g-pawn for a winning 2 pawns advantage. (I). Or if, 38. ... Qa6 39. Ne4+ Kd6 40. Rd6+ Qxd6 41. Nxd6 Kxd6 42. Rxb7 a5 43. Rg7, winning the black g6 pawn, white need only avoid that drawn dark square bishop plus a-pawn ending. White to play is clearly going to inflict a discovered check on black, the only question is is which square and why? Clue: Analysis must confirm which square is best, but strategic guidance as to which line to examine first is available by understanding how a knight relates to other units on the board. || 39. Nd5+ | Another white genie gets some action at last. But surely this blocks the action of the d1 rook up the d-file? Yes, but the d1 rook is not required to finish this game. By landing on d5 the white knight has set itself 2 squares apart from the black g2 queen. This means the knight will now have a couple of moves, Ne3, and, Nf4, which can hit the black queen next move. By contrast, 39. Ne4+, puts the knight a single square apart from the black g2 queen, the knight will not be able to make a move which immediately hits her next move. So just understanding how the relationship between an aggressive knight and a potential target works can suggest which knight move to analyse first. || 39. ... Kg5 | By choosing a dark square the black king cannot be hit next move by the white d5 knight. Instead moving to light squares cost black heavily: (A). If, 39. ... Ke6 40. Nf4+, is a royal fork. (B). Or if, 39. ... Kf5 40. Ne3+, another royal fork. With these 2 variations in mind, is there a way to force the black king onto an inconvenient light square? || 40. Bf6+ Black resigns, 1-0 | The final white genie escapes to grant white his wish. The black king is forced onto a light square with disastrous consequences: (A). If, 40. ... Kf5 41. Ne3+, a royal fork. (B). Or if, 40. ... Kg4 41. Ne3+, another royal fork. || * * * ## Unannotated Game. White: A. Miles, 2565. Black: L. Ljubojevic, 2605. Event: Bugojno 1978. Result: 1-0 in 40 moves. Opening: English Opening, A30, transposing into Queen's Gambit Declined, Tarrasch Defence, D32. 1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 e6 4. e3 d5 5. d4 Nc6 6. cxd5 exd5 7. Be2 Bd6 8. O-O O-O 9. b3 cxd4 10. Nxd4 Nxd4 11. Qxd4 Re8 12. Bb2 Be5 13. Qd2 Bg4 14. Bxg4 Bxh2+ 15. Kxh2 Nxg4+ 16. Kh3 Qg5 17. Qd4 Qh5+ 18. Kg3 Nh6 19. Rh1 Nf5+ 20. Kf4 Qg6 21. Qxd5 Re6 22. Qxf5 Rf6 23. g4 Rxf5+ 24. gxf5 Qg2 25. Raf1 g5+ 26. fxg6 fxg6 27. e4 Rf8+ 28. Ke3 Qf3+ 29. Kd2 Rd8+ 30. Kc2 Qd3+ 31. Kc1 Rc8 32. Rd1 Qxe4 33. Rd8+ Kg7 34. Rd7+ Kf6 35. Rhxh7 Qe1+ 36. Kc2 Qxf2+ 37. Kb1 Qf1+ 38. Rd1 Qg2 39. Nd5+ Kg5 40. Bf6+ Black resigns, 1-0 * * *