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                 IECC CHESS BITS & PIECES

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       Published by the International Email Chess Club
      Devoted solely to free E-Mail Correspondence Chess

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Volume 4, Issue 29                        December 15, 1997
Editor: Lisa Powell
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Special for this issue. Two of our analysts have analyzed
a game by Trevor Varley, the second member to join IECC
-- after Founder Lisa Powell.

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Joseph Wenger

I was born in Tel-Aviv Israel in 1949. I immigrated to the
United States in 1956. I immediately fell in love with
American sports (Baseball, Basketball and American
Football). In high school I played on the Football and
Soccer teams. (Soccer is called football by the rest of
the world.)

I'm married and have 2 children, a son 20 (attending the
University) and a daughter 16 (attending high school). I
graduated the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn and now
work as a Mechanical Engineer.

In college I first played serious chess. My friend Mike
Henderson taught me the game and destroyed me every time we
played -- until I finally won a game the spring I graduated
in 1969. We organized a chess club and I eventually became
an USCF TD. My best memory was after losing an over-the-board
game in a Brooklyn Club -- having this little kid ask me if
I won and when I said NO, he went and showed me the position
I had at one point of the game and showing me a winning
combination. Only a few years later did his name Joel
Benjamin become famous.

I played over-the-board and postal chess until the mid 1980s.
The pressure of work did not leave time for playing chess. I
was on the road about 2 weeks a month. But my support of
New York/New Jersey sports team grew. I also was a supporter
of Manchester United, a team I started following when I was
7 years old and still living in Israel.

In 1995 I was introduced to Lisa, who got me started in IECC.
I started at 1500 which was around my last rating in Postal
Chess. I never thought that at my age I could actually
improve. In 1996 I became an Asst TD for Thematics and
eventually the TD.

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Analyzed by Roy DeVault  2330

Peddie,Ian (2450) - Malmstrom,Jan (2400) [C30]
IECC P-577, 1997

2453  Ian Peddie               13-7-6       ENG  -10
2404  Jan Malmstrom            47-21-23     SWE  +15

1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Bc4

{White shows himself willing to play the old 3...Nxe4
4 Qh5 Nd6 line, which represents a quagmire of theory, but
has aways tended to favor White in practice.}

3...Nc6 4.d3 Bc5

{Larsen in ECO gives 4...Na5 5.Nge2 Nxc4 6.dxc4 d6
7.O-O Be6 as leading to equal play.}

5.f4

{With this move we leave the Vienna Game and transpose to
King's Gambit territory.}

5...d6 6.Nf3 Ng4!?

{An interesting and provocative try, instead of the more
prosaic 6...Bg4 7.h3 (7.Na4 Bb6 8.Nxb6 axb6 9.c3 O-O)
7...Bxf3 8.Qxf3 Nd4 9.Qg3 O-O 10.fxe5 dxe5 11.Bg5 Qd6
12.O-O-O Nh5 13.Qh4 Nf4 14.Bxf4 exf4 Slightly favors White.
ECO does not mention Malmstrom's 6th, but MCO-13 gives it as
6...Ng4?! 7 Ng5 h6 8 f5 with a White plus.}

7.Ng5!?

{Meets with an equally aggressive reply. This type of
position can get very complicated in a hurry. For example:
7.Qe2 Bf2+ 8.Kf1 Nd4 9.Nxd4 Bxd4 10.Nb5 Bc5 11.f5 Nf2
12.Rg1 a6 13.d4 axb5 14.Bxb5+ c6 15.dxc5 Nxe4 16.Bxc6+ bxc6
17.Qxe4 0-0 with roughly equal play.

7.Rf1? is an error: 7...Nxh2 8.Bxf7+ Kf8 9.Nxh2 Qh4+
10.Kd2 Qxh2 11.Bh5 Qxg2+ 12.Be2 Be6 and Black stands better.
After the game move, play becomes very forcing.}

7...exf4!

Malmstrom's move is much better than MCO-13's 7...h6.

8.Bxf7+

{White has 8.Bxf4 Bf2+ 9.Kf1 Nce5 10.Bb3 Ne3+ 11.Bxe3 Bxe3
12.Nf3 Bg4 13.Qe1 Bf4 14.Nxe5 Bxe5 15.Qf2 with only a small
edge for Black in his two bishops, but he is playing for
more.}

8...Kf8 9.Bxf4

{On 9.Ne6+ Bxe6 10.Bxe6 Nf2 11.Qh5 Qf6 12.Rf1 Qxe6 13.Bxf4 Kg8
Black stands better.}

9...Nf2 10.Qh5 Qf6?!

{10...Nxh1 11.Bc4 Qf6 12.Nd5 Qg6 13.Qf3 Nd4 14.Bxd6+ Ke8
15.Nxc7+ Kd7 16.Qf7+ transposes into the game, but is a bit
better than the game move, since the game move allows the
11 Nxh7+ line in the next note.}

11.Bb3?

{11.Nxh7+ Rxh7 12.Qxh7 Kxf7 13.Qh5+ Kg8 14.Qe8+ Qf8
(14...Kh7 15.Qh5+ Kg8 just repeats moves - if Black is
content to draw.) And he should be, since after 15.Qxf8+ Kxf8
16.Rf1 White is much better.}

11...Nxh1 12.Nd5

{Another try is 12.Nxh7+ Rxh7 13.Qxh7 but Black wins prettily
after  13...Be6! (13...Ne7?? 14.Qh8+; 13...Ne5?? 14.Qg8+ Ke7
15.Nd5+; 13...Bb4 14.Qg8+ Ke7 15.Bg5 Bxc3+ 16.bxc3 Qxg5
17.Qf7+ Kd8 18.Qg8+ Ke7 19.Qf7+ draws.) 14.Qh8+ Ke7
15.Qxa8 Qxf4 16.Nd5+ Bxd5 17.Bxd5 Qe3+ 18.Kd1 Nf2#.}

12...Qg6 13.Qf3 Nd4 14.Bxd6+ Ke8 15.Nxc7+ Kd7 16.Qf7+ Qxf7
17.Nxf7 Bxd6 18.Nxa8 Rf8 19.Nxd6 Kxd6 20.c3 Nxb3 21.axb3 Nf2

{Now we have one of those "mutual Knights in the corner"
games, where the player who can extricate his Knight will
often win. In this game, White succeeds in getting the Knight
on a8 back into the game, but, along the way, he is a piece
down.}

22.Kd2 Kc6 23.Rxa7 Rd8 24.d4 Nxe4+ 25.Ke2 Re8 26.d5+ Kd6
27.Kf3 Nd2+ 28.Kf2 Rf8+ 29.Ke1 Nxb3 30.Nb6 Kc7 31.Nxc8 Rxc8

{White has two pawns for the piece. He still has drawing
chances.}

32.Ra3

{A try for a swindle is 32.d6+ Kc6! (32...Kxd6? 33.Rxb7 Nc5
34.Rxg7 h5 35.Rg6+ Ne6 36.g4 hxg4 37.Rxg4 gives a very
difficult ending in which White has excellent drawing
chances.) 33.d7 Rd8 34.Ra3 Nc5 and Black should win.}

32...Re8+ 33.Kd1 Nc5 34.c4 Re4 35.b3 Re3 36.Kd2 Rxb3 0-1

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Analyzed by Don Camper   2390

Thuijls,Hans - O'Neil,Michael
KO-113.1 IECC (1), 1997

1303  Hans Thuijls             14-3-32      NED  -28
1015  Michael O'Neil           3-0-7        USA  +28

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 Bf5

{Czech Variation of Slav Defence: a solid line for black.}

6.e3 e6 7.Bxc4 Bb4 8.O-O O-O 9.Qe2 Bg4

{leaving my book, but frequently played.
[9...Nbd7 10.e4 Bg6 (10...Bg4 BCO 11.Rd1 Qe7 12.h3 Bxf3
13.Qxf3 e5 14.d5 Nb6+=) 11.Bd3 Bh5 12.Bf4 Re8 13.e5 Nd5
14.Nxd5 exd5+=.}

10.e4?

{10.h3! or 10.Rd1 certainly look better +=}

10...Bxc3?

{simply missing a pawn and releasing pressure on opponent
Better is 10...Bxf3 11.gxf3 Qxd4 -/+}

11.bxc3 c5

{11...Qa5 12.Qe3 (12.Bd2 Qh5=+) 12...Nbd7=
(12...Qh5 13.Be2+=); 11...Nbd7}

12.Bg5

{12.Ba3 another option 12...Nbd7 13.h3 Bh5+=}

12...cxd4?!

{12...h6=+

13.cxd4?

{13.e5 h6 14.Bh4 g5 15.exf6 gxh4 16.Qe4 Bf5 17.Qxh4 Kh7
18.Nxd4}

13...Nc6=

{13...h6 14.Bh4 Bxf3 15.Qxf3 Qxd4 16.Bxf6 Qxf6
17.Qxf6 gxf6=+}

14.e5

{14.d5 Nd4 15.Qd3 exd5 16.Bxd5 Bxf3 17.Qxd4 Bxe4
18.Bxf6 Qxd5 19.Bxg7=}

14...Nxd4 15.Qd3?!

{15.Qb2 Bxf3 16.exf6 Qb6 17.Qxb6 axb6 18.Be3 Rfc8
19.Rfc1 Ne2+ 20.Bxe2 Bxe2=+}

15...Nxf3+

{15...Bxf3 16.gxf3 h6=}

16.gxf3 Bh3 17.Qxd8 Rfxd8 18.Rfc1? -/+

{18.exf6 Bxf1 19.Kxf1 h6 20.Be3=}

18...h6 19.Bf1

{19.Bxf6 gxf6 20.f4 -/+}

19...Bxf1 20.Kxf1

{20.Bxf6 gxf6 21.Kxf1 fxe5 22.Rc7-/+}

20...hxg5 21.exf6 gxf6 22.Rc7 Rab8 23.Rb1 Rdc8?!

{23...a5! 24.Rcxb7 Rxb7 25.Rxb7 Rd4 -/+}

24.Rcxb7=+

{24.Rxc8+ Rxc8 25.Rxb7 a5 26.Rb5 =}

24...Rxb7

{24...Rc1+ 25.Rxc1 Rxb7=+}

25.Rxb7 = a5 26.Rb5 Rc1+

{26...Ra8=}

27.Kg2 Ra1 28.Rxa5 Kg7 29.h3

{29.Ra8! Push the pawn down the board to a7! The pawn can
cause some real concern here and at the very least offer
a draw!}

29...f5 30.Kg3

{30.Ra8! ditto}

30...Kg6 31.f4?

{31 Ra8, still waiting to be played would have drawn!}

31...f6?=

{31...gxf4+ 32.Kxf4 Ra3 33.f3 f6 34.Kg3 e5 35.Kg2 Kg5
36.Ra6 Kf4 37.Rxf6 Rxa4 38.h4 Ra2+ -/+}

32.fxg5 fxg5 33.Ra6

{Finally using the Rook!?!?}

33...Kf6 34.h4?

{King needs to stay home here in front of opposing king and
pawns. 34.Ra8!}

34....gxh4+ -/+

{34...Ra3+! 35.Kg2 gxh4 -/+}

35.Kxh4 Ra3 -+

{King is out of the action!}

36.Ra8

{Finally! ... but too late!!}

36...Rf3 37.a5 Rxf2 38.a6 Ke5 39.a7 Kf4 40.Kh3 Ra2
41.Re8 Rxa7 42.Rxe6 Kf3 43.Kh4 f4 44.Kg5

{44.Rb6 Rh7+ 45.Kg5-+ Kg3 46.Rg6 f3 47.Kf5+ Kf2 48.Rg8 Kf1
49.Ke4 f2-+}

44...Kg3

{And the pawn marches!}

0-1

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Analyzed by Chuck Cadman     2100

[Event "M-1210.2"]
[White "Varley,Trevor"]
[Black "Athens,Jim"]
[Result "0-1"]

1654  Trevor Varley            57-15-77     CAN  -16
1682  Jim Athens               26-5-12      USA  +16

1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 Nf6 3.d3 c5 4.Bg2 Nc6 5.O-O e5 6.e4 Bg4 7.Qe1

{This move doesn't look right, but I do not see a strong
continuation for black. Also possible is 7.Nbd2 with the
idea of h3, g4, exd5, Re1 getting play against black's
center.}

7...Nb4 8.Na3 Bd6 9.Bd2 Qd7 10..exd5 Bxf3 11.Bxf3 O-O
12.Bxb4 cxb4 13.Nc4 Qc7?!

{A wasted tempo.  13...Re8 is better.}

14.Nxd6 Qxd6 15.Qd2 a5 16.Rae1?!

{16.Rfe1}

16...Nxd5 17.d4?

{White emerges from the complications with a good position,
but here he should play 17.a3. Black's b4 pawn is a serious
problem for white, but it is weak due to the doubled
b-pawns.  With the better minor piece, white would be
winning.}

17...Nb6 18.b3?

{Perhaps white had missed 17...Nb6. Now he worsens his
plight by making the dark squares permanently weak and
suddenly has the worse minor piece. He should play the
fighting move 18.c3.}

18...exd4 19.Bxb7 Rae8 20.Be4 Re6 21.Bd3 Rfe8
22.Rxe6 fxe6?!

{The pawn turns out to be weak and black's heavy pieces are
blocked. 22...Qxe6 followed by ...Qe5, ...Nd5 gives black a
dominating position.}

23.f4 g6?

{23...Nd5 should be played to improve the knight.}

24.Re1 Rc8 25.Re4 Rc5 26.Qe2 Kf7 27.Qf2 Rd5 28.Re5?

{Black has gone astray and now 28.Bc4 wins a pawn.}

28...Kg7 29.Rxd5 Qxd5 30.Qg2 Kf7

{30...Qxg2? 31.Kxg2 Nd5 32.Bc4 is at least equal for white.}

31.Be4

{Now 31.Qxd5 Nxd5 32.Kf2 Nc3 is good for black.}

31...Qc5 32.Kf1 Qh5 33.Ke1 e5 34.fxe5 Qxe5 35.Qf3+ Qf6
36.Qxf6+ Kxf6 37.h4 h6 38.Ke2 g5 39.Kd3 Ke5 40.Bf3 gxh4
41.gxh4 Nd5 42.Bxd5 Kxd5 43.h5!

{This gets an exclamation because it is the only move that
draws.  43.Kd2 h5 loses as will be apparent in the next
note.}

43...Ke5 44.Kc4?

{Exchanging queens might be questioned, but this is the
losing move. 44.Kd2 Kf5 45.Kd3 Kg5 46.Kxd4 Kxh5 47.c4 bxc3
48.Kxc3 Kg4 (48...Kg5 shouldn't be much different) 49.a3 h5
50.b4 h4 51.b5 h3 52.b6 h2 53.b7 h1=Q 54.b8Q Qc1+
55.Kd4 Qxa3 56.Qc8+ Since white does not mind exchanging
queens, he should easily get perpetual check.}

44...Ke4 45.Kb5 Ke3 0-1

{46.Kc5 Kd2 47.Kxd4 Kxc2 48.Ke5 Kb2 49.Kf6 Kxa2 50.Kg6 Kxb3
51.Kxh6 a4 wins for black.}

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Analyzed by Ian Peddie   2458

[Event "Trio 334.2"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Smith,Michael D"]
[Black "Varley,Trevor"]
[Result "0-1"]

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d5


{At this point white can choose from c4, Bg5, g3, e3, and
the text move.}

3.c3 Bf5 4.Bf4 e6 5.Bg5? Be7

{White should be developing instead of shuffling around with
the bishop. Thus 5.Nbd2 is better.}

6.e3 O-O 7.Bd3 Ne4 8.Bxe7 Qxe7 9.Qc2 Nd7 10.Nbd2 Nxd2
11.Qxd2 Bxd3 12.Qxd3 c5

{White's very quiet opening has given him nothing, and black
begins to take the initiative.}

13.O-O Rac8 14.e4 dxe4

{14.Rad1}

15.Qxe4 Nf6 16.Qe2 c4?!

{I prefer 16...Qf4 and am not convinced that 16...c4?! is
best. I looked at 16...cxd4 17.Nxd4 Qc7 18.Rae1 Rfd8
19.g3 h6 which looks very drawish.}

17.Ne5 b5 18.a4! a6?!

{18...b4 19.Re1 Nd5 20.Qc2 Rfd8 21.a5 h6}

19.axb5 axb5 20.Ra5 Qb7

{I spent a long time looking at 20.Qf3, a move that controls
the long diagonal while staking a claim to a8.}

21.Rfa1 Ra8

{Black must challenge the white rooks.}

22.Qf3 Rxa5 23.Rxa5 Nd5 24.Qd1?! Ra8

{24...Nf4! 25.Qf3 (25.f3? f6 26.Ng4 e5 and black has
counterplay) Nd5 26.Qg4=}

25.Qa1 Rxa5 26.Qxa5 g6??

{This should have cost black the game. 26...Qc7 maintains
the balance. After 26...g6?? white has 27.Qd8! Kg7
28.Nd7 Kh6 29.Qf8+ Kg5 30.Qxf7 winning.}

27.g3? b4?

{The sortie above, beginning with Qd8+ is still on at this
point.}

28.Nxc4 bxc3 29.bxc3 Qb1+

{With the b file now open black has drawing chances through
checks.}

30.Kg2 Qc2 31.Ne5 Qxc3 32.Qd8+ Kg7 33.Qd7 Qc7 34.Qxc7 Nxc7
35.f4 f6 36.Nd3? Nb5

{36.Nc6}

37.d5 exd5

{37.Kf3 Nxd4+ 38.Ke3 Nf5+ 39.Kf3 g5 -+.}

38.Kf3 Kf7 39.Nc5 Ke7 0-1

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Analysis by Steve Lisseter  1927

Trio 334.2
1693  Michael D. Smith         1-0-1        USA  -20
1636  Trevor Varley            58-16-79     CAN  +20

Michael D. Smith - Trevor Varley IECC, 1997

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d5 3.c3

{A solid move which will take most people out of the
openings book. White may have been hoping to play the Colle
system in which he plays e3, Nbd2, Bd3, O-O, Re1 and e4 in
the hope of gaining a king side attack. 3.c4 should lead to
well-known paths with many possibilities, including the
Queens Gambit or the Grunfeld, according to Black's taste.}

3...Bf5

{An excellent move which fights for control of e4 and cuts
across the Colle plan. The Colle is most effective when
Black plays e6 and shuts out his QB. See Irving Chernev's
Logical Chess Move by Move for some splendid examples.}

4.Bf4

{White also wants his QB to be active}

4...e6 5.Bg5

{Accepting the loss of a move in order to pin the knight.
I'd have preferred to keep developing with e3.}

5...Be7

{Dealing with the pin and preparing to castle.}

6.e3 O-O 7.Bd3 Ne4

(A good freeing move in the tradition of the older style
Queen's pawn openings. See, for example, the Lasker
variation of the QGD. Black exchanges some pieces to give
him more room to breathe, while also giving White a chance
to go wrong. 7...Bxd3 8.Qxd3 was also OK, but there is no
need to help White develop!}

8.Bxe7 Qxe7 9.Qc2

{White seeks to increase the pressure on e4, where the Black
knight is somewhat annoying. White cannot play 9.Nbd2
because of 9...Nxf2}

9...Nd7 10.Nbd2 Nxd2 11.Qxd2

{Of course not 11.Bxf5 because 11...Nxf3 is check, winning
a piece}

11...Bxd3 12.Qxd3 c5

{Black has emerged from the opening with a small initiative
but White has no real weaknesses. c5 is a thematic strike
against the White d pawn which gains some space. The
alternative strike of e5 fails because Black's d pawn is
unprotected.}

13.O-O

{A sound move. If White wanted to mix it up then 13.Qb5 is
worth a look. White seems OK if Black tries for hand-to-hand
combat e.g. 13...a6 14.Qxb7 Rab8 15.Qxa6 Rxb2 16.O-O Rfb8
when White's extra pawn confers an advantage. It is too
risky to castle queen side here as Black could quickly storm
the position with his pawns. White's c3 pawn would be a
weakness.}

13...Rac8

{Black would like White to take on c5 when he can use the
space on the Q side to generate some pressure. White
sensibly does not fit in with these plans.}

14.e4

{By exchanging in the centre White in turn hopes to gain
some space to launch a kingside attack.}

14...dxe4

{It is right to capture here. Either of the pawn captures
will do, but this one is the better choice.}

15.Qxe4 Nf6

{This improves the position of the knight and defends the
pawn on b7}

16.Qe2

{If the queen goes instead to d3, then Rfd8 sets up an
embarassing pin and threatens cxd4, which would leave White
with a weak isolated d pawn}

16...c4

{A bold decision. Black tries to shut out the White queen
and play for a queenside attack. The safe alternative would
be to play in the centre with cxd4 followed by Rfd8 etc.}

17.Ne5 b5

{Black is forced to defend the weak c pawn}

18.a4

{White plays vigorously to try to exploit the weak pawns.
Many of the following moves are forced.}

18...a6

{Not 18...bxa4 19.Rxa4 when the c pawn falls and the a pawn
is weak}

19.axb5 axb5 20.Ra5 Qb7 21.Rfa1

{White has now got the initiative}

21...Ra8

{It is essential to challenge White's control of the a file
and prevent an invasion on a7.}

22.Qf3

{White hopes Black will move the queen away, when Rxa8 will
win a rook}

22...Rxa5

{Black in turn sets a little trap}

23.Rxa5

{Not 23.Qxb7 because Rxa1 is checkmate!)

23...Nd5

{Much better than exchanging queens when Black has a passive
position. The Black knight is really good here.}

24.Qd1

{The queen rushes to support the rook on the a file}

24...Ra8 25.Qa1 Rxa5 26.Qxa5 g6

{Logical, but flawed. For reasons which will become apparent
Black ought to have played h5 instead.}

27.g3

{White follows Black's example but misses a great chance.
27.Qd8+ Kg7 28.Nd7 is very strong. For example after
28...h5 29.Qf8+ Kh7 30.Qxf7+ Kh6 31.h4, White is a solid
pawn ahead with an attack.}

27...b4

{Black misses it too, otherwise he would have played
27...Kg7 here.}

28.Nxc4

{White was probably thinking about the choice of two
captures because 28.Qd8+ as above still works. Here is an
example of what could happen if Black does not find all the
right moves: 28.Qd8+ Kg7 29.Nd7 Kh6 30.Qf8+ Kh5 31.Qxf7 Kh6
32.Qf8+ Kh5 33.Ne5, and Black has to give up everything to
avoid mate 33...Ne3 34.fxe3 Qe4 35.g4+ Qxg4+ 36.Nxg4 and
wins.

Contrary to first appearances, the alternative capture does
not win a pawn. After 28.cxb4 Qxb4 29.Qxb4 Nxb4 30.Nxc4 Nc2,
Black gains the d pawn. However, White has good prospects in
the knight ending because of his passed b pawn.}

28...bxc3 29.bxc3 Qb1+ 30.Kg2 Qc2

{30... Qe4+ is also worth a look because of the next note.}

31.Ne5

{31.Nd6 may be stronger e.g. 31...Qxc3 32.Qd8+ Kg7
33.Qd7 Qxd4 34.Qxf7+ Kh6 35.Qxe6 with good chances.}

31...Qxc3 32.Qd8+ Kg7 33.Qd7 Qc7 34.Qxc7 Nxc7

{The knight ending is equal.}

35.f4 f6 36.Nd3

{I wonder if this was a typo? Many chessplayers have
suffered from d and f being adjacent on the keyboard.}

36...Nb5

{winning a vital pawn.}

37.d5 exd5

{The ending is now a textbook win, although the proximity
of the passed pawn means White can put up a fight if he
wants to.}

38.Kf3 Kf7 39.Nc5 Ke7 0-1

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Analysis by Phil Hildenbrandt  1903

 [Event "Swiss 43.2"]
 [White "Duncan,Jack"]
 [Black "Malmstrom,Jan"]
 [Result "1/2-1/2"]

2063  Jack Duncan              19-19-16     USA  +11
2348  Jan Malmstrom            29-21-18     SWE  -8

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d5 3.c4 c6

{The Slav defense to the QG declined. An attempt by Black
to solve the problem of the Bishop on c8.}

4.Nc3 g6

{The text allows a transposition to a Gruenfeld position
offering White all the winning chances.}

5.Qb3 dxc4 6.Qxc4 Bg7 7.e4 Nbd7

{Although the result of this game was a draw, I must prefer
[7...O-O 8.Be2 b5 9.Qb3 a6 10.O-O c5 11.dxc5 Be6 12.Qc2 Qc7
13.Be3 Ng4 14.Nd5 Nxe3 15.fxe3 Qb7 16.c6 Qa7 17.c7 Bxd5
18.c8Q Qxe3+ 19.Kh1 Nc6 20.Qg4 Be6 21.Qh4 Bf6 22.Qf2 Qxf2
23.Rxf2 Rac8 24.Qd2 Rfd8 25.Qh6 Bg7 26.Qh4 h6 27.Rff1 g5
28.Qf2 Bxb2 29.Rad1 Ne5 30.Rxd8+ Rxd8 31.Bxb5 axb5
32.Qxb2 Bc4 33.Nxe5 Bxf1 34.Kg1 Rd1 35.Kf2 e6 36.Qc2 1-0
Khalifman Alexander-Bareev E/09, Moscow PCA-Intel qual 25'
1995.}

8.e5 Nb6 9.exf6?!

{An interesting Queen sacrifice, but I am not convinced of
its soundness. It may be good to play in an OTB game but not
a correspondence (email) game.}

9...Nxc4 10.fxg7 Rg8 11.Bxc4

{White has three minor pieces for his Queen but in light of
the next two moves, I don't think his compensation is
tangible enough. White's initiative will dissipate fairly
quickly.}

11...Rxg7 12.Bh6

{If 12.O-O, Black's advantage is not entirely clear, but it
does exist. The text allows Black's advantage to remain
clear.}

12...Rg8 13.Ng5!

{After the text, Black still has the advantage but he must
walk a very thin line.}

13...e6 14.O-O b5 15.Bb3 a5?

{Black's advantage is gone. The text allows the d pawn to
become very menacing in a few moves. Also, it allows the
tactical shot 16.Nce4! f5 17.Nxe6 Bxe6 18.Bxe6 Rh8
19.Bg5 Qc7 20.Nf6+ By no means forced, but very pretty
nevertheless.}

16.Rhe1 Qc7 17.Nxh7

{White's advantage is now clear. In my opinion it is
decisive based on the strength of the isolani on d4.
Remember Nimzowitch's words, an isolani lusts to expand.
Soon it shall.}

17...Rh8 18.Nf6+ Ke7 19.d5!

{Now I am happy. 19...cxd5 is met by 20.Nfxd5+.}

19...Kxf6

{The only move.}

20.d6!

{Such a small piece yet so very dangerous; even when
isolated it can wreak havoc. That is why isolani's should
always be firmly blockaded. Only when they are immobilized
can they be destroyed with glee.}

20...Qb6

{The position, in spite of White's tower of strength on d6,
still appears to be equal, and apparently both players think
so too.}

21.Ne4+ Kf5 22.Ng3+ 1/2-1/2

{Incomprehensible in light of 22.d7 Ba6 (22...Bb7 23.Bg7
White wins; 22...Bxd7 23.Rxd7 Another White victory.)
23.Bg7, soon to be followed by a White victory.}

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Analyzed by Andres Valverde     2242

Esam Sadek - Mike Moston   1-0   Trio-336.2
1241  Esam Sadek               12-2-1       EGY  +22
1335  Mike Moston              8-0-1        USA  -22

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2

{The Tarrasch variation is one of the better weapons against
the French Defence. Black can play 3...c5,  or Nf6 which is
a more "French" option.}

3...Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.Ngf3

{Normal is 5.Bd3 followed by Ne2 and Ndf3, also  5.f4 is
played, 5.Ngf3 is not very usual.}

5... c5 6.c3 Nc6 7.Bb5?!

{It cannot be a good idea to change the "good" bishop and
open lines for the black's "bad" bishop.}

7...Qb6 8.Bxc6 bxc6 9.O-O Ba6 10.Re1 Rb8 11.b3 Be7

{Easier was 11...cxd4 12.cxd4 c5, although 11...Be7 is still
good.}

12.Ba3 cxd4?!

{Now 12...Qa5 would be much better.}

13.Bxe7 dxc3??

{This is an ugly error. Now the White's bishop will control
black squares without oposition. Also, Black cannot castle,
and probably has lost the game.}

14.Bd6 cxd2 15.Qxd2 Rb7 16..Qg5 Nf8 17.Qxg7 Ng6

{These moves have been forced.}

18.Nh4! f6

{18...f5 is better, but the game is lost anyway.}

19.Qxf6 Rf7 20.Qxe6+ Ne7 21.Bxe7 Qxf2+ 22.Kh1 Rxe7
23.Qxc6+ Kf7 24.Qxa6 Qxh4 25.Rf1+ Kg8 26.Rac1 Re8 27.Qb7

{Black resigns. If 27...Re7 then 28.Rc7 and checkmate in
a few moves.}

1-0

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Analysis by Phil Hildenbrandt   1903

 Ilan Noy - Sabahaddin Bilsel   1-0   Swiss-44.2
 1827  Ilan Noy                 43-7-5       ISR  +25
 2001  Sabahaddin Bilsel        6-3-3        TUR  -25

 [Event "Swiss 44.2"]
 [White "Noy, Ilan"]
 [Black "Bilsel, Sabahadin"]
 [Result "1-0"]

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bc4

{We now have the Sicilian Najdorf.}

6...e6 7.Bb3 b5 8.f4

{Not 8.O-O Bb7 9.f4 Nbd7 10.f5 e5 11.Nde2 Rc8 12.Ng3 h5
13.Qf3 Rxc3 14.Qxc3 h4 15.Nh1 Nxe4 16.Qh3 d5 17.Nf2 Bc5
18.Be3 Ng5 19.Bxg5 Qxg5 20.Kh1 Nf6 21.Rae1 e4 22.Qc3 Bd6
23.Nh3 Qg4 24.Qd4 Bxh2 25.Kxh2 Qg3+ 26.Kh1 Ng4 27.Qg1 d4
28.Rf3 e3 29.Rexe3+ dxe3 30.Rxg3 hxg3 31.Qe1 Rxh3+
32.Kg1 Rh2 33.Qxg3 Rxg2+ 34.Qxg2 Bxg2 0-1
Kokkila,Tero - Akesson,Ralf/It Open Heart Of Fin (6) 1996.}

8...Bb7 9.O-O Nxe4?

{The lure of a pawn is often a fatal attraction. You should
not play for a meager pawn advantage when your development
is not complete. White has a large lead in development and
it is a mistake for Black to open the e file with his King
in the center. 9...Be7 10.e5 dxe5 11.fxe5 Bc5 12.Be3 Nc6
13.exf6 Bxd4 14.fxg7 Bxe3+ 15.Kh1 Rg8 16.Qf3 Rxg7
17.Qxe3 Qd4 18.Nd5 O-O-O 19.Rf4 Qxb2 20.Nb6+ Kc7 21.Rg1 Rd4
22.Rf2 Rdg4 23.c3 Qa3 24.Rd2 R4g5 25.Rd7+ Kb8 26.Nd5 Qa5
27.Nf4 Ne5 28.Rxb7+ Kxb7 29.h4 Rf5 30.Bc2 Rxf4 31.Qxf4 Rg4
32.Qf2 Qxc3 33.Re1 f5 34.Bb3 Echavarria,Johan-Guthrie,D/XXXV
WJuCh, Medellin COL (10) 1996/0-1 (60).}

10.f5!

{White siezes his chance. This attack could get messy.}

10...Nxc3 11.bxc3 e5

{The opening of the a2/g8 diagonal can often be fatal when
White's Queen is on d1.}

12.Bxf7+?

{With such an attack White can hardly go wrong. The text
looks quite strong, yet it leads to a forced draw. The
correct way is 12.Qh5 d5 13.Re1 Bd6 14.Ne6 Qa5 (14...Qb6+
15.Be3 Qc6 16.Nxg7+ Kf8 17.Ne6+ fxe6 18.fxe6 with mate in 5
to follow.) 15.Nxg7+ with a clear advantage.}

12...Kxf7 13.Qh5+

{The only follow up to 12.Bxf7+.}

13...Kg8 14.f6 gxf6

{14...h6 15.Ne6 Qb6+ 16.Rf2 Mate follows in 5 after 16...Rh7
and in 6 after 16...Qxf2+.}

15.Qg4+ Kf7 16.Qe6+ Kg6

{Looks like a draw, but looks can often be deceiving.}

17.Nf5 Bc8 18.Nh4+ 1-0

{A win was pointed out by Ilan after 18...Kg7. For your
amusement I'll present all the winning variations.
18...Kh5 [18...Kg7 19.Bh6+ Kxh6 20.Rxf6+ Kh5 21.Rf5+ Kg4
(21...Kxh4 22.Re1! Qg5 23.Re4+ Kh5 24.Qf7+ Kh6 25.Rxg5 Kxg5
26.h4+ Kh6 27.Qf6+ Kh5 28.Qg5#) 22.Re1! Qb6+ 23.Kh1 Qc6
24.h3+ Kg3 (24...Kxh4 25.Qf6+ Kg3 26.Qg5#) 25.Re3+ Qf3
26.Rexf3+ Kxh4 27.Qf6#]
19.Rf5+ Kxh4 20.g3+ Kg4 21.Rg5+ Kf3 22.Qd5+ Ke2 23.Qd2+ Kf3
24.Qe3#}

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Analyzed by     Mark Brooks  FischerRandom TD
                Tim Nagley, FischerRandom Asst TD

Games from a FischerRandom Match (FR-15)

Part I (of 2) : FR-15.1
The counterpart game from the same starting position,
FR-15.2, will appear in the next Newsletter.

The analysis of these games was a collaboration between Mark
Brooks and Tim Nagley. It can be improved upon by better
players, we're sure. Tim's opponent was Jose Carrillo-Muniz.

The opening position for this match, in FEN, is:

[FEN "bbrkrnnq/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/BBRKRNNQ"]

[Event "FR-15.1"]
[White "Nagley,Tim"]
[Black "Carrillo-Muniz,Jose"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[FEN "bbrkrnnq/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/BBRKRNNQ"]

{We'll start this out by looking at some opening strategies.
There are three main elements to investigate: weak points,
good development squares, and when and on which side to
castle. In this position, the obvious weak points are f2 and
f7. These squares are not protected at all. On the other
hand, they can't be readily attacked either; and after the
knights are developed, it will be too late. Less obvious
weak points include the b2, b7, g2, g7 pawns.

Development is basically the same as the last match.  The
easiest way to activate the two bishops is to play b3 (b6)
and c4 (c5). The main difference is that you must activate
the queen quickly.

It's strange to be able to castle on the opening move
(a-side). Of course, you don't have to castle at all; it's
just a little dangerous to leave your king in the middle.
It seems best to castle h-side, but to delay that -- either
until it is necessary, or until the scope of the opposing
bishops is reduced.

One of the features of FR-games illustrated here is the way
the nature of the positions gradually becomes less unorthodox
as the games progress.}

1.d4

{Not a very active start. This fails to free up any piece.
Instead, it creates a target in the center, interferes with
the dark square bishop's development, and opens lines to the
king. FR-games are ideal for players with little opening
book knowledge to avoid a poor start against players with
extensive book knowledge, but it's also true that opening
habits, such as automatically starting to occupy the center
squares with one or more pawns, can be less appropriate in
these games.}

1...b6 2.c4 e6

{Black could wait and develop Nf6 first, or better yet the
simple g6.}

3.c5 g6

{Unfortunately, g6 is a rather bad move now. The knight on
f8 is doomed to a life of drudgery, which in turn forces
the king to stay in the center for some time.}

4.e3 Ne7 5.Bd3

{This option would be available in another move as well. It
might be better to go ahead and play Ng3 which would give
White the additional possibility of contesting the a8-h1
diagonal with Be4. At the time, he was (probably
unnecessarily) concerned that 5...d5 might have played well
for Black, as the en passant capture 6.cxd6 seemed less
satisfactory than 6.cxb6: it would allow e.g. 6..cxd6
7.Rxc8 Kxc8, leaving Black's king on its way to a potential
safer haven.}

5...Bb7 6.cxb6 cxb6 7.Rxc8+ Nxc8 8.Nd2 f5

{The king is homeless, which might have been avoided by
5...bxc5 6.Rxc5!? Nd5.}

9.Ngf3 Nd6

{This locks in the f-knight; better was d5. After the opening
phase, it can be seen that one of the difficulties of this
starting position related to the activation of the pieces.}

10.Kc2

{A waste of time, as Black's h-side pawns are really little
threat. Another possibility here was the progressive 10.Ne5,
although castling (O-O) seems a better move. (After 10.O-O,
White's king would be on g1 and his rook on f1). In the game,
White decided it would impede his Queen too much, although
making for b1 with his king has the same effect on his a1
bishop.}

10...Ke7

{Black might have tried 10...Qf6 as an alternative.}

11.Kb1 h5

{With White's king clearly moving towards the a-side, the
h-side pawn storm has lost whatever chance it had of being
effective. 11...h5 would perhaps not be a worthwhile plan,
though, even if White's king were castled h-side. White is
strong enough on that side (at this point) to fight back
any advance.}

12.Rc1 Nh7 13.Qe1 Rc8 14.Rxc8 Qxc8 15.Ne5 Nf8

{He finally moved, just to return. Why not Kf6 to protect
the g-pawn?}

16.f3 Nf7 17.Qh4+ Ke8 18.Nxf7

{White might have tried 18.Ndc4 but was worried about
18...Ba6, e.g. 19.b3 d5.}

18...Kxf7 19.b3 Qe8 20.h3

{There is the idea that, thanks to 19...Qe8, 20.d5 will lead
to either a better pawn structure for White, an exchange of
queens, or a mate: (20...e5 21.e4; 20...exd5 21.Qf6+ Kg8
22.Qg7#; 20...Bxd5 21.Qf6+ Kg8 22.Qg7#; 20...Qe7
21.dxe6+ dxe6 22.Qxe7+ Kxe7).}

20...Qe7 21.Qxe7+ Kxe7

{The exchange of queens clearly favors White.}

22.Kc2 d5 23.f4 Nd7 24.Nf3 Bc7

{Black might have tried Bd6 here.}

25.b4 Bd8 26.a4 Kf7 27.Bb2 Be7 28.Bc3 Bf6 29.Kb3 1/2-1/2

{29.Bb5 seems like a good continuation for White, although
it's hard to see what happens after 29.Bb5 Ke7. Exchanging
the limited bishop for the knight seems like an idea, though.
White probably should have played on longer.}

We hope you enjoyed this game, and that you'll look out for
its counterpart in the next Newsletter. Meanwhile, why not
sign up for a two-game match of FischerRandom chess?

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If you have won an IECC game against
a higher-rated player, please submit that game
to Editor Lisa Powell  <drpowell@uoguelph.ca>

Wanted: High-rated members to analyze games.
Also welcome: Members who wish to be submit biographies!

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