Skype coaching session, 19 January 2020. 2 Forthcoming coaching sessions in February will be on Sundays: 16, 23, at 14:00 UTC, which is 14:00 GMT. The game discussed (47 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: J. van Foreest, 2644. Black: D. Dubov, 2683. Event: Tata Steel Masters, Wijk aan Zee 2020. Result: 1-0 in 47 moves. Opening: Sicilian Defence, Alapin Variation, Stoltz Attack, B22. | Editorial. Advancing centre pawns to claim space appears in many opening systems. In some an advanced pawn remains in place for a long time, in others such pawns are soon going to be traded off to create open lines for the middlegame. In this game, played just 6 days before the coaching session, both players push pawns in the knowledge the opponent will essentially force an exchange. Surely this means tempi spent in advancing pawns are being wasted? Not necessarily so. The resulting pawn-structure imbalance gives both players something to play with, and as each player is making advances, the apparently lost tempi balances out. || 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c3 | The Alapin Variation, white supports the advance of, pawn d4, with the c3 pawn. || 3. ... Nf6 | A more dynamic approach for black is, 3. ... d5, which usually leads to white having an Isolated Queen Pawn in the middlegame. This sounds bad for white, but when correctly handled with the appropriate piece activity, it is black who needs to be more careful in the middlegame. Much strategic understanding demanded for both players when the Isolated Queen Pawn is present for either player. || 4. e5 Nd5 5. Bc4 Nb6 6. Bb3 c4 | Looks as if black is winning the opening skirmish, right? Not really. White will soon challenge the cramping black c4 pawn, and once liquidated, white will achieve the much-needed, pawn d4. || 7. Bc2 d5 | Direct. Instead, 7. ... Qc7, keeps white guessing as to how black will handle the centre. Note that after, 7. ... Qc7, white can choose between the calm, 8. Qe2, or speculate to accumulate with, 8. O-O Nxe5 9. Nxe5 Qxe5 10. Re1, which seems to give black a good testing. || 8. exd6 | White trades off the advanced pawn, the idea is for pieces to have plenty of play in the centre. || 8. ... Qxd6 | A different approach for black is, 8. ... e5, intending to capture with, Bxd6. || 9. O-O g6 | Black plans to make matters difficult for white on the central dark squares. Instead, 9. ... Bg4, is more popular here. White to play must find a sensible plan of development for the queenside. || 10. Na3 | With a pawn on c3, which is likely to remain in place for a while, white resorts to edgewise development, aiming at the black c4 pawn plus options of an annoying, Nb5, as appropriate. || 10. ... Bg7 11. b3 | If white is to achieve the central break of, pawn d4, then the cramping black c4 pawn must first be eliminated. || 11. ... cxb3 12. axb3 O-O 13. d4 | At last white gets some claim in the centre. It will now be for black to create as many problems as possible on the h8 - a1 diagonal. || 13. ... Bg4 | The process of softening up the dark square h8 - a1 diagonal begins. The white f3 knight is fighting for control of the d4 and e5 squares, if black eliminates it then these squares become weaker. However bear in mind that a black trade of, Bxf3, gives up the bishop pair in an open position. Black must then make sure the white bishop pair can be contained, or even better,find a means to eliminate the white c2 light square bishop. || 14. h3 Bxf3 15. Qxf3 e5 | Black now has a quadruple-attack on the white d4 pawn which is only singly-defended. Furthermore white is a development tempo behind, perhaps this indicates something is wrong with the entire system employed by white? Not automatically so. There is a factor in the black set-up which white can exploit, but it requires some tactical alertness. We are about to have a philosophical punch-up along the h8 - a1 diagonal. White is trying to restrict the activity of the black g7 bishop, black is seeking to have it rule the h8 - a1 line. || 16. Nb5 | A doubler. Firstly, the black d6 queen is attacked, this means black cannot yet gain from the pressure on the white d4 pawn. Secondly, a backward defence is given to the endangered d4 pawn. So the black-attack / white-defence count on the d4 pawn is now 4 - 2, white is not yet avoiding material loss, something else tactical needs to be added in. Of course, white could have liquidated the problem-pawn with, 16. dxe5, but after, 16. ... Bxe5, the pressure is then transferred onto the c3 pawn. Aren't released fianchetto bishops a pain in the proverbial? || 16. ... Qd7 | Keeping the tension. Instead Stockfish has helpfully supplied a couple of less complex tries for black: (A). If, 16. ... Qf6 17. Qxf6 Bxf6 18. dxe5 Bxe5 19. Ba3 Rfd8 20. Rad1 Nd5 21. c4 Nb4 22. Be4 a6, given as equal. (B). Or if, 16. ... Qd5 17. Qxd5 Nxd5 18. Be4 a6 19. Bxd5 axb5 20. Rxa8 Rxa8 21. dxe5 Bxe5 22. c4 bxc4 23. bxc4 Rc8 24. Be3 Nb4 25. Rb1 Bd6 26. Bxb7 Rxc4, with a tiny edge for white, hmmm, and who are we to argue? || 17. Rd1 | The white-defence / black-attack score on the white d4 pawn now reads, 3 - 4, surely this means the white is about to lose a pawn? || 17. ... a6 | The apparently, "Obvious", win of a pawn backfires on black, some ideas run: (A). If, 17. ...exd4 18. cxd4 Nxd4 19. Nxd4 Bxd4 20. Be3 Bxe3 21. Rxd7 Bxf2+ 22. Qxf2 Nxd7, black has only a rook and 2 pawns to counter the white queen, not enough. (B). Or if, 17. ... exd4 18. cxd4 Nxd4 19. Nxd4 Bxd4 20. Be3 Rad8 21. Rxd4, white is a piece for pawn up. (C). Or if, 17. ... exd4 18. cxd4 Bxd4 19. Be3, same problems for black, only at least there is an extra pair of knights on, not that this assists. Restraint by black has been seen before. D. Pavasovic (2526) - A. Grosar (2442), Bled Open 2002, saw white get a good grip on the position: 17. ... exd4 18. Nxd4 Nxd4 19. cxd4 f5 20. b4 Kh8 21. Ra5 Rac8 22. Bb3 a6 23. Bf4 Nc4 24. Rc5 b5 25. d5 Nd6 26. Rdc1 Rfe8 1-0. A surprise end. Black is losing a piece with simply, 28. Bxd6, the black d7 queen is overloaded, if, 28. ... Qxd6 29. Rxc8, white is winning a rook. Instead, after, 28. Bxd6, exchanging with, 28. ... Rxc5, gives white, 29. bxc5, protecting the d6 bishop. White in our game is to play has an important defender of the d4 pawn under attack, some tactical awareness is now required. || 18. d5 | White must complicate. Retreating drops a pawn, 18. Na3 exd4 19. cxd4 Nxd4, tempo attack on the white f3 queen and white does not have the option of a knight trade, 20. Qd3 Qe6, black is a safe pawn up. Black to play is about to have a little fun regarding the h8 - a1 diagonal. || 18. ... Nb4 | The white d-pawn target has moved but this does not mean the tactics are over. The black queen now has an attack on the white b5 knight as well as the b4 knight hitting the white c2 bishop. Instead, 18. ... axb5 19. Rxa8 Rxa8 20. dxc6 Qxc6 21. Be4 Qc7 22. Bxb7 Ra2, black might have a 7th rank rook, but white has the bishop pair along with a mobile queenside pawn majority, white stands better. || 19. Na3 | Anything else gives black the chance to choose between: (A). If, 19. cxb4 Qxb5, the white centre / queenside pawns are targets waiting to be attacked. (B). Or if, 19. cxb4 e4 20. Qxe4 Bxa1, black has an exchange for a pawn plus those white pawns are again targets. || 19. ... Nxc2 | Black is very happy to eliminate the white light square bishop. Instead, 19. ... N4xd5, is just asking for trouble: (A). If, 19. ... N4xd5 20. Be4 Qe6 21. Bxd5 Nxd5 22. Qxd5, white wins a piece. (B). Or if, 19. ... N4xd5 20. Be4 Rad8 21. c4, pins and wins the black d5 knight, unless black moves it and drops the d7 queen for the white d1 rook. || 20. Nxc2 Rac8 | Black is building pressure on the white c3 pawn, ideas of black, pawn e4, are now in the air. || 21. c4 | Well, this is the simplest means of ensuring the white c-pawn is not to be a target. However, some tactics along the h8 - a1 diagonal needed to be assessed before making this centre-strengthening advance. || 21. ... f5 | White has a mobile centre / queenside pawn majority plus a passed d5 pawn. Black needs counterplay in the centre / kingside in order to keep white playing across the entire width of the board. Tactical greed is overruled by strategic demands, black can win an exchange but it will cause serious problems. Instead, 21. ... e4 22. Qxe4 Bxa1 23. Nxa1, black will be permanently weak on the dark squares and will need an answer to the simple but strong white plan of, Bb2 - Qd4 - Qh8+. If you play systems involving a fianchetto bishop on the g-file combined with kingside castling, then think very long and hard before sacrificing your bishop on the opposing unmoved a-file rook. If you want a general rule, life will be much easier for you by keeping your fianchetto bishop if a proposed trade leaves your opponent with a bishop on the colour of your departing bishop. || 22. Ba3 | Taking control of some useful dark squares, especially f8, preventing black from doubling rooks on the f-file. || 22. ... Rf7 23. Rac1 | Since black has chosen to avoid giving up the g7 bishop white decides the offer is likely never to be taken and gives the rook the duty of supporting the mobile pawns. || 23. ... Re8 | A doubler. Firstly, this rook is to be a centre / kingside aggressor. Secondly, the c8 square is vacated for a possible re-routing plan. || 24. c5 e4 | A quadrupler. Firstly, the long h8 - a1 diagonal is opened up for the g7 bishop. Secondly, the black centre / kingside offence can be considered as having got under way. Thirdly, the white queen defence to the white d5 pawn is blocked, this pawn is now doubly-attacked and only singly-defended. Fourthly, hitting the white queen demands she move, in essence black, pawn e4, is played without costing black a tempo. || 25. Qe2 | White lacking a light square bishop fights for control of the light squares with the queen. There is also a tactical requirement for playing, Qe2, concerning point 3 of the black quadrupler comment. || 25. ... Nc8 | The black knight is re-routing itself back into the queenside. When white pushed, pawn c5, it took control of the b6 and d6 dark squares. Fine, but when a unit moves a negative, "Trade Of Controls", also takes place. When back on c4 there was a support to the d5 pawn and a fight for the b5 square. So the black retreat of, Nc8, is planning to land on an outpost with, Na7 - Nb5. Instead, 25. ... Na8, might not achieve the re-routing as white could play, 26. d6, and the only escape routes from a8, the b6 and c7 squares, are effectively owned by white. Note that, 25. ... Na8 26. d6 b6 27. Qxa6, drops a pawn for zero compensation. Lastly the careless, 25. ... Nxd5, loses material: (A). If, 25. ... Nxd5 26. Qc4 Nb6 27. Rxd7 Nxc4 28. Rxf7 Kxf7 29. bxc4, white wins a piece for a pawn. (B). Or if, 25. ... Nxd5 26. Qc4 Nb6 27. Rxd7 Nxc4 28. Rxf7 Nxa3 29. Rxb7, white is an exchange up with a powerful passed c5 pawn. (C). Or if, 25. ... Nxd5 26. Qc4 Rd8 27. Nb4, if black moves the triply-attacked d5 knight the above lines apply, if the d5 knight remains static white has, 29. Rxd5, winning a piece. || 26. Qc4 | Setting up an x-ray attack on the black g8 king. Ignore x-ray attacks at your peril, unless you are supremely confident in your, "Tacical Event Horizon", skills. || 26. ... Na7 | For an easier life perhaps, 26. ... Kh8, before re-routing the a8 knight might have assisted. White to play takes a look around the board, finds someone is not working as well as they could, and another re-routing plan emerges. Clue: Do not try to envisage various routes around the board for a poorly-placed piece. Instead simply find a lovely location for the unit and work backwards from that point to the starting square of the piece about to receive improvement. || 27. Nd4 | This knight is headed for the e6 square, controlling some dark squares in the black defences. Hopefully this location was spotted for the white c2 knight, and then the backward route of, Nd4 - Nc2, came to mind, determining the next couple of white moves. || 27. ... f4 | Black can do nothing about a white knight landing on e6, so if there is no defensive plan available then just get on with an offensive idea providing it does not compromise the defences. Attacking black options of either, pawn e3, or, pawn f3, are now available. || 28. Ne6 | A tripler. Firstly, the white knight re-routing is completed, black can only eliminate this excellently-posted unit with an exchange sacrifice, looks rather desperate and would almost certainly be handing white a decisive material advantage. Secondly, the defensive support of the black e8 rook to the e4 pawn is cut. Thirdly, an attack from the white c4 queen is revealed on the undefended black e4 pawn. Note, invading with, Ne6, is not given quadrupler-status, if thoughts of trading with, Nxg7, were emerging, please think again. The white knight is a far superior piece compared to the black g7 bishop, the only time the capture, Nxg7, should be considered is if it is part of a liquidation sequence leading to a won endgame. || 28. ... Nb5 | Played with a tempo-gaining attack on the white a3 bishop. Fine, but on b5 this knight has no further improvement plans, it is simply going to sit there hoping to restrict whatever centre / queenside plans white has in mind. Again, ignore x-ray attacks at your peril, perhaps a precautionary, 28. ... Kh8, was advisable? Yes, there are 3 units between the white c4 queen and black g8 king, but these can very quickly find themselves moving off the a2 - g8 diagonal. || 29. Bb4 e3 | While black, 29. ... f3, might have been the desired point of contact, white would have, 30. Qxe4, pickingg off an important black attacker. White to play finds a plan to take advantage of that lurking white c4 queen x-ray attack on the black g8 king. || 30. Ng5 | A doubler. Firstly, a blocker vacates the a2 - g8 diagonal. Secondly, an attack is placed on the black f7 rook. || 30. ... exf2+ | Black must get open lines against the white king as quickly as possible. || 31. Kxf2 | Sometimes it is advisable to leave the opposing pawn alone, permitting it to remain and act as a shield between the defending king and the attacking forces behind the pawn. But here, 31. Kf1, is not necessary and possibly counter-productive, as after, 31. Kf1 Re1+ 32. Rxe1 fxe1=Q+ 33. Rxe1, the black pawn interference has been liquidated along with a pair of rooks, plus white has lost a supporter for the centre / queenside pawn advances. Black to play needs some inspiration on what to do regarding the attacked f7 rook. || 31. ... Qf5 | Aha, an attacked unit is not honour-bound to move. And if it did want to move, where could it go? Some fairly brutal ideas run: (A). If, 31. ... Rff8 32. c6 bxc6 33. dxc6+, x-rays can be fatal, this leaves black to choose how to lose the d7 queen, probably 33. ... Qf7, getting the white g5 knight for it, or better would be resignation. (B). Or if, 31. ... Rff8 32. c6 Qc8 33. d6+ Kh8 34. d7, forking black heavy pieces, resignable. (C). Or if, 31. ... Rff8 32. c6 Qd8 33. Bxf8 Bxf8 34. d6+ Kg7 35. d7 Re7 36. c7, a pair of 7th rank connected passed pawns are virtually invincible, resignable. (D). Or if, 31. ... Rff8 32. c6 Qd8 33. Bxf8 Rxf8 34. Ne6, and black will be a double-exchange down, not to mention the white advanced pawns. So retreating the black f7 rook fails, how about advancing? (E). Or if, 31. ... Rf6 32. c6 Qd8 33. d6+ Kh8 34. c7 Qc8 35. d7 Qxc7 36. dxe8=Q+, white makes a massive 14-pawn-count material gain with a single move. (F). Or if, 31. ... Rf6 32. c6 Qc8 33. d6+ Kh8 34. d7 Rxc6 35. dxe8=Q+, the white pair of pawns have only netted a black rook for their trouble. (G). Or if, 31. ... Rf5 32c6, with lines similar to those with black, Rf6, the advancing white pawns will rule again. If these lines do not stand as a warning over the potential dangers of x-ray attacks then nothing ever will. || 32. Nxf7 | White clearly takes the hard-earned reward, this knight has now moved 8 times to capture a unit which has only moved twice. This can sometimes be very bad bargaining, but here it is perfectly correct. Black is going to struggle to contain the white central pawns, so beginning the process of exchanging down toward an endgame makes good sense. Black to play has a lost game materialising, the time for caution has gone, just throw threats at white and hope something positive emerges from the activity. || 32. ... Re4 | A move of mixed consequences. The positive, when the white queen retreats to safety the b4 bishop will be captured. The negative, there is very little protection of the black back rank, advancing white pawns will force black to take time to prevent them promoting. White to play is not in need of inspiration, but do not let that stop the imagination from running free. || 33. c6 | We should all know about the phrase: "Passed pawns must be pushed." Fine, but the white c-pawn is not passed, and nor is it heading for immediate promotion. Yet this highly-inspirational move is not just a crowd-pleaser. The strategic / tactical reasons for pushing, pawn c6, are not difficult to understand once the idea flashes into view. White is already a rook up, if the c4 queen falls to, Rxc4, white can capture with either the b3 pawn, attacking the black b5 knight, or the c1 rook, supporting further pushing of the c-pawn. Remember black could be losing both rooks, so something else must try to prevent d-pawn promotion. If the g7 bishop plays, Bf6, covering d8, it has given away the h6 square, white would have, Nh6+, a royal fork, black loses the queen for only a knight. Having pushed, pawn c6, it is black to move, several captures to analyse, all consuming time on the clock. || 33. ... Kxf7 | Black chooses to sort out the kingside rather than play in the region of the board where white clearly has a powerful initiative. Some ideas where white gets a winning position run: (A). If, 33. ... bxc6 34. dxc6 Rxc4 35. Rxc4 f3 36. g4 Qxf7 37. Rd8+ Bf8 38. Rxf8+ Qxf8 39. Bxf8 Kxf8 40. c7 Nxc7 41. Rxc7, white is a rook up. (B). Or if, 33. ... bxc6 34. dxc6 f3 35. g4 Qxf7 36. Qxf7+ Kxf7 37. c7 Nxc7 38. Rxc7+, gives white a tempo to save the b4 bishop, white will be a rook up. (C). Or if, 33. ... bxc6 34. dxc6 f3 35. g4 Re2+ 36. Kg1 Rxg2+ 37. Kf1, black has run out of immediate attacking ideas, there is also a white threat of, Nh6+, to be neutralised, and the advanced c-pawn will cost black the b5 knight at some point. But what about an immediate liquidation of the white queen? This would create play similar to game, so no analysis here as this might spoil the fun. || 34. cxb7 | White prefers to avoid, 34. c7 Rxc4 35. Rxc4 Nxc7 36. Rxc7+, when given the chance black might create play with, pawn f3, and / or, Qe4. The white passed pawn on b7 is going to be difficult to prevent promoting, it seems the result of the game will be decided on whether the black queen can find a perpetual check or not. || 34. ... Rxc4 | Black cannot prevent the white b7 pawn promotion and so reduces the odds before the inevitable arrives. || 35. bxc4 | White now has twin threats of, 36. cxb5, winning a piece, and, 36. b8=Q, gaining a new queen, no single move by black can prevent both. || 35. ... Qe5 | A doubler. Firstly, the b8 promotion square is covered by the black e5 queen, though if black is to find a perpetual check then this must be temporary. Secondly, the black queen has options of, Qb2+, or, Qe3+, to start an attempted perpetuation. || 36. cxb5 | A tripler. Firstly, winning a piece can do no harm. Secondly, white has an option of, bxa6, protecting the passed b7 pawn with a further option of pawn a7, when both passed pawns protect the promotion square of the other, though this plan is rather slow. Thirdly, the c-file is opened for the white c1 rook, idea, Rc8, supporting promotion. Black to play has a big decision to make on how to seek a perpetual check. || 36. ... Qb2+ | The black queen vacates the e5 square with check, the g7 bishop must now prevent the b7 pawn promotion. The alternative was, 36. ... Qe3+, some ideas run: (A). If, 36. ... Qe3+ 37. Kf1 f3 38. b8=Q Qe2+ 39. Kg1 Qxg2+ mate, white will not fall for this cheapo. (B). Or if, 36. ... Qe3+ 37. Kf1 f3 38. gxf3 Qxf3+, and black just gives a 6th rank queen shuffle to give check on the same file to which the white king runs, this will not happen either. So is, 36. ... Qe3+, a game-saving line? Not immediately, white can defend the 2nd rank with a rook. After, 36. ... Qe3+ 37. Kf1 f3 38. Rd2 fxg2+ 39. Kxg2 Qg5+, the options become too much for this aging bio-organic calculator. However some instinct suspects that by shuffling the white king towards the queenside there must be a hiding square somewhere on the a-file, after which the b7 pawn can be promoted. || 37. Kf1 | The white king avoids dark squares, why risk letting the black bishop into the attack with a check which might set up a draw or worse? || 37. ... Be5 | Guarding b8 again, but white has a trick in mind. || 38. d6 | Interference is the name of the game, the black bishop guard of the b8 square is blocked. || 38. ... f3 | A tripler. Firstly, black threatens a mate in 2 beginning with, Qe2+, but this is easily prevented. Secondly, the black queen must have open lines if a perpetual check is to be found. Thirdly, the b8 - h2 diagonal opens up for the black e5 bishop, the white king cannot relax yet. || 39. gxf3 | Mistakes are just waiting to be made, instead, 39. b8=Q Qe2+ 40. Kg1 Qxg2+ mate. || 39. ... Qb3 | The centre is quite open, expectations are that the black b3 queen plus dark square e5 bishop should generate a perpetual check, Right? Not so simple. The centre is indeed quite open, but white has several units influencing matters, it is more a case of which squares are available to the black attacking force. And it is not only the enemy units which influence the chase for a perpetual check, friendly units can also play their part. || 40. Ke2 | White must not allow the black queen in with, 40. b8=Q Qxf3+, resulting in at least a perpetual check along the white 3rd rank. || 40. ... Qe6 | Setting up an x-ray attack through the black e5 bishop, white must carefully consider the, "Obvious", reply. || 41. Rc7+ | A doubler. Firstly, the advancing rook gives check, black must make a king move in reply, meaning the white rook move makes gains while the black reply gains nothing, essentially a free move. Secondly, another interference is placed between the black e5 bishop and the b8 promotion square, the black tactics regarding promotion have been defused. Instead, 41. b8=Q Bxd6+, a discovered check, permit activation of x-ray attacks at your peril, 42. Kf1 Bxb8, and all the white victory plans are cancelled. || 41. ... Kf6 | Clearly, 41. ... Kg8 42. b8=Q+, with mate next move is not going to happen. || 42. b8=Q | White has a massive material-plus but black has a discovered check in hand, is this enough to save the game? || 42. ... Bf4+ | The material-minus is too much to claw back, some attempts run: (A). If, 42. ... Bxd6+ 43. Kf2 Bxc7 44. Qxc7 Qa2+ 45. Rd2, the checks have stopped, the white superior forces will close in on the black king. (B). Or if, 42. ... Bxd6+ 43. Kf2 Bg3+ 44. Kxg3 Qe5+ 45. Kf2 Qh2+ 46. Ke3 Qe5+ 47. Kd3 Qd5+ 48. Kc3 Qe5+ 49. Kb3 Qe6+ 50. Ka3 Qe3+ 51. Bc3+, white blocks a check with a check, the black king will soon perish. The white king must now tread carefully if perpetuation is to be avoided. || 43. Kd3 | The easiest way for the white king to avoid a perpetual check is to head queenside. Insisting on staying kingside seems to let black off: (A). If, 43. Kf2 Qe3+ 44. Kg2 Qe2+ 45. Kh1 Qh2+ mate will not happen. (B). Or if, 43. Kf2 Qe3+ 44. Kg2 Qe2+ 45. Kg1 Qe3+, and if now either, 46. Kh1, or, 46. Kf1, black has, 46. ... Qxf3+, with a draw by continually checking on the black 6th rank. (C). Or if, 43. Kf1 Qxh3+ 44. Kf2 Bg3+ 45. Kg1 Qh2+ 46. Kf1 Qf2+ mate is another line not going to happen. (D). Or if, 43. Kf1 Qxh3+ 44. Kf2 Bg3+ 45. Ke2 Qe6+ 46. Kf1 Qh3+, heading for 3-fold repetition, unless the white king finally gets the idea of running queenside. || 43. ... Qd5+ | Instead, 43. ... Qb3+ 44. Bc3+, it will now be the black king who will be chased with checks. || 44. Kc2 Qa2+ | It seems the white king must reverse his steps, and if so, then how can he escape the black queen checks if she also reverses her route? White to play must alter the sequence and in doing so drastically alter the black position. || 45. Kc3 | Stepping onto a dark square, the black queen on a2 has no safe check, the black bishop must join in. || 45. ... Be5+ | The black bishop re-locates to e5, this will not hinder the white king flight back to the kingside, so why has the white king bothered to take a single step onto the dark squares? || 46. Kd3 Qb3+ 47. Ke2 Black resigns, 1-0 | The massive difference between the black bishop being on f4 and e5 is revealed. Had the white king simply retreated kingside on light squares only, meaning the black bishop would be on f4, then black would have, 47. Qe6+, keeping up the checks. The single white king step onto c3, drawing the black bishop onto the e-file, ruled out, Qe6, being a check. The only sensible black check remaining is, 47. ... Qa2+, after which, 48. Rd2, forces the black queen to move without giving check, which allows the white b8 queen into the game. || * * * ## Unannotated Game. White: J. van Foreest, 2644. Black: D. Dubov, 2683. Event: Tata Steel Masters, Wijk aan Zee 2020. Result: 1-0 in 47 moves. Opening: Sicilian Defence, Alapin Variation, Stoltz Attack, B22. 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c3 Nf6 4. e5 Nd5 5. Bc4 Nb6 6. Bb3 c4 7. Bc2 d5 8. exd6 Qxd6 9. O-O g6 10. Na3 Bg7 11. b3 cxb3 12. axb3 O-O 13. d4 Bg4 14. h3 Bxf3 15. Qxf3 e5 16. Nb5 Qd7 17. Rd1 a6 18. d5 Nb4 19. Na3 Nxc2 20. Nxc2 Rac8 21. c4 f5 22. Ba3 Rf7 23. Rac1 Re8 24. c5 e4 25. Qe2 Nc8 26. Qc4 Na7 27. Nd4 f4 28. Ne6 Nb5 29. Bb4 e3 30. Ng5 exf2+ 31. Kxf2 Qf5 32. Nxf7 Re4 33. c6 Kxf7 34. cxb7 Rxc4 35. bxc4 Qe5 36. cxb5 Qb2+ 37. Kf1 Be5 38. d6 f3 39. gxf3 Qb3 40. Ke2 Qe6 41. Rc7+ Kf6 42. b8=Q Bf4+ 43. Kd3 Qd5+ 44. Kc2 Qa2+ 45. Kc3 Be5+ 46. Kd3 Qb3+ 47. Ke2 Black resigns, 1-0 * * *