Skype coaching session, 24 November 2019. 3 Forthcoming coaching sessions in December will be on Sundays: 01, 08, 15, at 14:00 UTC, which is 14:00 GMT. The game discussed (31 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: E. McElroy, 141 (ECF). Black: P. Benson, 162 (ECF). Event: BCA Autumn (Solihull) 2019. Result: 0-1 in 31 moves. Opening: Dutch Defence, Classical Variation, A80. | Editorial. For those not familiar with ECF ratings, 162 approximates to FIDE 1900 and 141 to about FIDE 1700. || 1. d4 f5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Bg5 e6 | Black should not permit white to double the f-pawns with, Bxf6. In lines with the black pawn back on f7, the doubling of f-pawns is not a problem, black can construct a formation of pawns on, h7, g6, f7, and f5, play, Bg7, and transfer the b8 knight, Nd7 - Nf6 - Ne4. However anything involving black pawns on f6 and f5 is usually bad news and so avoided. || 4. c4 | A completely different approach is, 4. Nc3, with, Qd2, and, O-O-O, leading to an opposite-wing middlegame, risk with opportunity. || 4. ... Be7 | Black chooses to break the pin on the f6 knight rather than create a pin of some sort with, 4. ... Bb4+. || 5. Nc3 O-O 6. e3 d6 | The other main choices here are either, 6. ... d5, entering the Stonewall Variation, or, 6. ... b6, a hybrid of the Dutch and Owen's Defence, both aiming to take control of the e4 square. || 7. Bd3 Qe8 | Black is focusing on kingside play, leaving the queenside alone until reinforcements for the attack are required. Instead, 7. ... Nc6, seems more consistent. || 8. O-O Qh5 | And this is really too optimistic. Instead either, 8. ... Nc6, or, 8. ... Bd8, with ideas of, pawn e5, seem preferable. || 9. h3 | A tripler. Firstly, any black ideas of throwing in, Ng4, are prevented. Secondly, the h2 square is vacated for another white unit. Thirdly, sometimes moves which appear defensive can turn out to offer attacking opportunities. || 9. ... Bd8 | A doubler. Firstly, the bishop previously unprotected on e7 is now guarded by the f8 rook. Secondly, the c7 pawn is now protected making a probing white, Nb5, of little value. || 10. Bf4 | White re-groups, any tricks involving black, pawn e5, will now require further preparation. || 10. ... h6 | Setting up a possible black kingside pawn-storm, which will be assisted by the white defensive push of, pawn h3. || 11. Nh2 | A chess paradox - It is possible to make progress by going backwards. White wishes to put a stop to the black kingside campaign before it begins, challenging queens by retreating the white knight is ideal. || 11. ... Qe8 | Black is stuck in, "Tactical Mode", and insists the centre / kingside is still ripe for some serious brutality. Instead switching into, "Strategic Mode", might have made gains, white would need to be alert to avoid difficulties, some ideas run: (A). If, 11. ... Qxd1 12. Raxd1 g5 13. Bg3 Nh5 14. Ne2 f4 15. exf4 gxf4, and as the black d8 bishop covers the h4 square, the white g3 bishop is doomed. (B). Or if, 11. ... Qxd1 12. Raxd1 g5 13. Bg3 Nh5 14. Nf3 Nxg3 15. fxg3, and the white pawn formation is slightly compromised and black has the bishop pair, not decisive but something to work with for some time to come. (C). Or if, 11. ... Qxd1 12. Rfxd1, vacating f1 for someone else, 12. ... g5 13. Bg3 Nh5 14. Nf1 Nxg3 15. Nxg3, and all black has is the bishop pair. When retreating with, Qe8, black intends to push, pawn e5, claiming central space while being a step closer to activating the c8 bishop. White to play justifies the curious knight retreat to h2. || 12. g4 | Having gone for speedy piece development in the opening white now switches into, "Tactical Mode". This is a double-edged plan, the white kingside is potentially weakened with such pawn advances, but if the white minor pieces can find coordination as the position opens up then such risks are justifiable. || 12. ... e5 | White has an, "Active Unit Count", of 4, defining the black, "Active Unit Count", is tricky. Are the black units of, rook on f8, queen on e8, and bishop on d8, active? They are definitely contributing in some way, but are they active? The clutteration of 7 units on the black back rank hardly inspires anyone to take up the Dutch Defence, right? Do not be fooled by appearances, white does indeed have superior activity, fine, but there are no obvious weaknesses in the black position on which they can focus. Moreover, their scattering across the board produces very little coordination. So as it stands, black can afford the time for another pawn move, claim some space which will restrict the white active minor pieces, then catch up on the queenside development. || 13. dxe5 | By trading pawns white will receive activity for the dark square bishop again should black continue to advance with, pawn e4. || 13. ... dxe5 14. Bg3 e4 | Closing down some of the white light square bishop activity but opening up the g3 dark square bishop. || 15. Be2 c6 | Surely not another black pawn move when the black queenside units are screaming for activity? This humble pawn advance is in actuality a tripler. Firstly, black is making certain white cannot advance with, Nd5, intending to trade off the black f6 knight. Secondly, a potential target of a c7 pawn is taken out of the firing line of the white g3 bishop. Thirdly, while a long way off, perhaps the c7 square could be used by the d8 bishop to either challenge the white defensive g3 bishop, or if that g3 bishop finds play elsewhere, then a black, Bc7, will point menacingly into the white kingside. || 16. Bf4 | More manoeuvring, white is unwilling to open up the position with, gxf5, bringing the black c8 bishop into play, and so instead finds a different plan for the g4 pawn. || 16. ... Na6 | This black a6 knight is headed kingside via either the c7 or c5 square as felt appropriate. Instead, 16. ... Nbd7, intending sitting on e5, fighting for some light squares in the white defences was the alternative plan. || 17. g5 | White accepts there must be 3 pawn islands, nothing wrong with such an approach, just make sure there is sufficient piece activity to restrict the black active units from ganging up on a weakness. || 17. ... hxg5 18. Bxg5 Nc7 | Black is still behind in development, but a quick glance at the white developed units reveals little coordination. This does not mean black can just drift, white has made some progress on the kingside, the g-file is semi-open, ideas of, Kh1, with Rg1, need to be considered. || 19. f3 | White needs to get the stranded h2 knight back into play, this requires a challenge be made to the black central light square pawns. || 19. ... exf3 | Black exchanges on f3 which keeps dynamic options still available to the f5 pawn, part of the strategy in the Dutch Defence is to hit on the kingside with, pawn f4. || 20. Nxf3 | Instead, 20. Rxf3, would offer defensive support to the white e3 and f3 pawns, but white is not in defensive mode. || 20. ... Ne6 21. h4 | Allowing black a material-winning tactic. Instead, 21. Bh4, keeps the tension. || 21. ... Nxg5 | Assessing the consequences of the, "Minor Exchange", is frequently difficult for club players. Here the black d8 dark square bishop action can now only be sensibly blocked by a white knight, the real problem for white is how to arrange such a cancellation. Once the d8 bishop places itself on the b8 - h2 diagonal it will be virtually unchallengeable, unless white is willing to offer up an exchange in the hope black will trade bishop for rook. || 22. Nxg5 | This white g5 knight cannot do anything without assistance, black must take great care not to allow the white queen to join in with an attack on the h7 or f7 squares. || 22. ... Qxe3+ | It is not just the loss of a pawn which makes life difficult for white, it is the lack of pawn cover in front of the king which denies the white defending pieces necessary support. || 23. Kg2 | The white king is going to be uncomfortable no matter what, at least on g2 it will be able to offer support to defensive pieces as they try to provide shelter. || 23. ... Bc7 | Claiming the b8 - h2 diagonal, the threat of black, Qg3+, must be prevented immediately. || 24. Rf3 Qe5 | And now the threat of black, Qh2+, needs neutralising. || 25. Rh3 | White fears a black queen invasion, Qh2+, which would pick off the loose h4 pawn. The alternative of, 25. Qh1, with the idea of throwing the h-pawn up the board, seeking confusion might have been worth a try. || 25. ... Ng4 | Black assesses the extra pawn plus the bishop pair will be a decisive advantage in an ending. Had matters instead forced black to enter, "Tactical Mode", then the dynamic opportunities involving, pawn f4, might have been discovered, some ideas run: (A). If, 25. ... f4 26. Rh1 f3+ 27. Nxf3 Qg3+ 28. Kf1 Ng4 29. Qe1 Ne3+ mate, but white can avoid this. (B). Or if, 25. ... f4 26. Rh1 f3+ 27. Nxf3 Qg3+ 28. Kf1 Ng4 29. Ne4 Ne3+ mate, is similarly avoidable. (C). Or if, 25. ... f4 26. Rh1 f3+ 27. Nxf3 Qg3+ 28. Kf1 Ng4 29. Qd4 Rxf3+ 30. Bxf3 Qxf3+ 31. Kg1 Ne3 32. Qd2 Qg3+ 33. Qg2 Qxg2+ mate. White can instead capture on f3 with the e2 bishop, this needs exploring, some ideas run: (D). Or if, 25. ... f4 26. Rh1 f3+ 27. Bxf3 Qg3+ 28. Kf1 Ng4 29. Qe1 Rxf3+ 30. Nxf3 Qxf3+ 31. Kg1 Ne3 32. Qf2 Qg4+ 33. Qg2 Qxg2+ mate. (E). Or if, 25. ... f4 26. Rh1 f3+ 27. Bxf3 Qg3+ 28. Kf1 Ng4 29. Ke2 Qf2+ 30. Kd3 Bf5+ 31. Be4 Rd8+ 32. Nd5 Qe3+ 33. Kc2 Bxe4+ 34. Nxe4 Qxe4+, black is already a piece up plus the pinned white d5 knight is doomed. (F). Or if, 25. ... f4 26. Rh1 f3+ 27. Bxf3 Qg3+ 28. Kf1 Ng4 29. Nce4 Ne3+ 30. Ke2 Nxd1 31. Nxg3 Nxb2, black is again a pawn up plus white has both the g3 and c4 pawn en prise, though that white kingside mass of pieces needs careful restraint. || 26. Qd3 | A doubler. Firstly, the white queen escapes the threatened black royal fork of, Ne3+, which would cost white an exchange. Secondly, despite the apparent non-coordination in the white position, a sneaky light square tactic has emerged which black must immediately neutralise. Clue: Someone in the black camp is overloaded, but who? || 26. ... Rd8 | It is the black f5 pawn which is overloaded, protecting the g4 knight and blocking the white queen access to the h7 square. White was threatening to capture, Bxg4, when the black recapture, fxg4, permits, Qh7+ mate, if the black rook were back on f8. So black tries to disrupt the white light square coordination by forcing the white queen to move. Instead, 26. ... Nh6, escapes the white tactic but unnecessarily de-activates the well-placed black knight. || 27. Qf3 | Trying to keep the pin on the black f5 pawn does not work, some ideas run: (A). If, 27. Qc2 Ne3+, costs white an exchange to save the c2 queen. (B). Or if, 27. Qb1 Ne3+, the target black knight avoids capture and white has voluntarily put the b1 queen out of play while imprisoning the a1 rook. || 27. ... Re8 | Black is seeking exchanges, especially a queen trade, and so lines up an entry on the e3 square. || 28. Bd3 | Lining up a double-attack on the black f5 pawn, if white cannot break through then this should at least prevent the black queen from her planned, Qe3, incursion, right? || 28. ... Qe3 | The black queen deliberately deserts the f5 pawn, there had better be a good reason or the black kingside will come under massive pressure when the f5 pawn falls. || 29. Bxf5 | White demands black proves that the f5 pawn is toxic. Instead anything non-tactical which allows an exchange of queens can be followed up with the slow black development plan of, pawn g6, Kg7, Bd7, Rad8, Bc8. Building pressure on the black f5 pawn looks slow, a few ideas run: (A). If, 29. Rf1 Qd2+ 30. Kg1 Re3 31. Qd1 Qxd1 32. Nxd1 Rxh3, white loses a rook. (B). Or if, 29. Rf1 Qd2+ 30. Be2 Re3 31. Qg2 Rxh3 32. Qxh3 Qe3+, queens will be forced off, black still has the extra pawn plus the bishop pair. Black to play can now quickly finish the game, the game continuation needed to be found before advancing with, 28. ... Qe3, which left the f5 pawn under-protected. || 29. ... Qxf3+ | A fascinating insight into chessplayer thinking occurred at this point in the coaching session. The majority view was to keep queens on and pursue the white king beginning with, 29. ... Qd2+, aiming for either a mate or decisive material gain. The analysis took some time to crunch out, some neat ideas eventually emerged, tiring fallible bio-organic engines concluded black should be winning. Attempting to reproduce the 25 minutes or so of evolving ideas here is not possible. This is not due to annotator laziness, but more down to the fact that your annotator was completely surprised by the lines which were emerging. Why? Because the thought that there could be something other than the game continuation was not considered in preparation for the coaching session. || 30. Rxf3 | Clearly, 30. Kxf3 Bxf5, losing a piece should not happen. || 30. ... Bxf5 | The captures must continue. Instead, 30. ... Ne3+, would leave white to choose between: (A). If, 30. ... Ne3+ 31. Kg1 Nxf5, white loses a piece. (B). Or if, 30. ... Ne3+ 31. Rxe3 Rxe3, white loses an exchange. || 31. Rxf5 Ne3+ White resigns, 0-1 | The white f5 rook falls off next move, at this level of play there is no way black will fail to convert. || * * * ## Unannotated Game. White: E. McElroy, 141 (ECF). Black: P. Benson, 162 (ECF). Event: BCA Autumn (Solihull) 2019. Result: 0-1 in 31 moves. Opening: Dutch Defence, Classical Variation, A80. 1. d4 f5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Bg5 e6 4. c4 Be7 5. Nc3 O-O 6. e3 d6 7. Bd3 Qe8 8. O-O Qh5 9. h3 Bd8 10. Bf4 h6 11. Nh2 Qe8 12. g4 e5 13. dxe5 dxe5 14. Bg3 e4 15. Be2 c6 16. Bf4 Na6 17. g5 hxg5 18. Bxg5 Nc7 19. f3 exf3 20. Nxf3 Ne6 21. h4 Nxg5 22. Nxg5 Qxe3+ 23. Kg2 Bc7 24. Rf3 Qe5 25. Rh3 Ng4 26. Qd3 Rd8 27. Qf3 Re8 28. Bd3 Qe3 29. Bxf5 Qxf3+ 30. Rxf3 Bxf5 31. Rxf5 Ne3+ White resigns, 0-1 * * *