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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 5, Issue 3                          February 1, 1998
Editor: Lisa Powell                       Staff: Tim Nagley
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Michael Mathews  USA      2016

I'm 56 years old and live in Fredericksburg, Virginia USA
with my wife Susan, my son Michael, and my dog Sasha. I work
as a mission analyst for an aerospace contractor.

I didn't learn to play chess until I was a junior in high
school when I became friends with several students who did
play chess. I played many games against the school's best
player, losing my first 50 games against him. One day I saw
a chart on the back of his closet door on which he kept the
results of all his games. Sure enough, there was my name with
a string of 50 1's for him. That made me mad!

I got a few books and started to study. By the time we left
for different colleges I had not only evened the score, but
had pulled a few games ahead of him.

At Indiana University, I found I could hold my own with most
players there. One player (who had about a 2000 USCF rating)
and I became good friends. He decided I needed to play in
tournaments so he started coaching me to play with a clock.
My first tournament was the 1960 Indiana Open.

With only a few minutes left in the registration period, my
friend was excited that he was the highest-rated player
entered and then, in walked Robert Byrne (Yes THE Robert
Byrne). Grandmaster Byrne said he had just moved to
Indianapolis and thought he'd check out the local chess
scene by entering the tournament. He finished first, 6-0,
my friend finished 2nd, 5-1 (Guess who he lost to!) and
I won the unrated prize with 3.5-2.5.

Another exciting time during my days at the university was
when Samuel Reshevsky came to town to give a simultaneous
exhibition. As president of the University Chess Club, it
was my duty to meet Grandmaster Reshevsky at the bus
station, get him a room at the Student Union, and escort him
to and from the exhibition hall. I offered to buy him dinner
at the Student Union cafeteria, but he declined saying he
had "brought food with him". I was never certain whether it
was the cafeteria's lack of kosher food or its lack of
edible food that concerned him. He won all of the games
except two which ended in draws. I am still excited that I
got one of the draws.

He finally gave up and offered me a draw after 61 moves when
we each had a Rook and Rook-pawn left. He congratulated me
on a well played game.

After graduating from the University with degrees in physics
and astronomy, I played chess rarely. About every 10 years
I would get the chess "bug" and practice a bit and then
enter a tournament. I've played in only 3 over-the-board
tournaments since 1966 finishing 2nd, 2nd, and tied for 1st
through 3rd. The highest rated player in any of those
tournaments had about a 2100 USCF rating.

I tried some postal chess and earned a USCF postal candidate
master certificate but found postal chess to be just too
slow.

Now I spend a lot of time commuting to work by train and
bicycle so I carry a pocket chess set in my backpack and try
to get in some studying on the train. I get home about the
time the local chess club is closing up for the evening

Hence, the IECC has been wonderful for me since I discovered
it a couple of years ago. The pace is about right, I can
plot my moves on the train, and I meet a lot of really nice
people.

So, my thanks to Lisa and her crew of volunteers and I hope
to meet many of you "out there".

********************************************************************

Analysis by Erhard Frolik   2446

[Event "M-1339-2"]
[White "Gosme,Emile"]
[Black "Varley,Trevor"]
[Result "1-0"]

1563  Emile Gosme              8-2-14       CAN  +21
1640  Trevor Varley            62-16-82     CAN  -21

1.d4 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.Nc3 Bf5 4.f3 exf3

{4...e3 5.Bxe3 e6 6.Bd3 Bg6 7.Nge2 a6 8.O-O Nf6 9.Ne4 Be7
10.c3 Nc6 11.Qc2 Nd5 12.Bf2 O-O 13.a3 a5 14.Rae1 Nb6
15.Bg3 a4 16.Nf4 Na5 17.Kh1 Qd7 18.h4 Nd5 19.Nxg6
Schmikli,L-Lendvai,N/HUN 1993/1-0 (46)}

5.Nxf3 e6 6.Bc4

{seems to be a novelty. 6.Bd3 Bg6 7.O-O Nf6 8.Bg5 Be7
9.Qd2 Nbd7 10.Rae1 Nb6 11.Kh1 c6 12.Ne5 Nbd5 13.Nxd5 Qxd5
14.c4 Qd6 15.a3 Rd8 16.Rf4 Nh5 17.Bxe7 Qxe7 18.Bxg6 hxg6
19.Rxf7 Qh4 20.Nf3 Rxd4 21.Rxb7 Rxd2 22.Nxh4 O-O 23.Nf3 Rc2
24.b3 a5 25.a4 Nf4 26.Nd4 Rd2 27.Nxc6 Nxg2 28.Rg1 Nh4
29.Ne5 Rff2 30.Rb8+ Kh7 31.Ng4 Rf4 32.Re8 Nf3 33.Rf1 Rxg4
0-1 Markley,J-Frenkel,F /US Open Concord USA 1995}

6...Bb4

{maybe 6...Nf6 7.O-O Be7 was better 8.Ne5? Bxc2.}

7.O-O Nf6 8.Bg5 O-O 9.Ne2 Nbd7 10.Ng3 h6

{better seems 10...Bg4. It whould have avoided the weakness
on h6}

11.Bd2 Bxd2 12.Qxd2 Ne4 13.Nxe4 Bxe4 14.c3 Nf6

{14...Bxf3 15.Rxf3 Ne5 16.Rg3 Qd6 seems playable for black:
17.Qxh6? Nf3+!}

15.Ne5 Qd6 16.Rae1 Bd5?

{16...Bf5 would have avoided the following sacrifice}

17.Rxf6!

{a devastating blow}

17...gxf6

{loses immediatly. 17...Bxc4 was the only try, but after
18.Nxc4 Qa6 19.Re3 white has also a winning position:
19...gxf6 (19...Qxc4 20.Rg3) 20.Rg3+ Kh7 21.Rh3}

18.Qxh6 fxe5 19.Qg5+ Kh8 20.Re3 1-0

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Analysis by Jack Berry    2182

[Event "TH-M-60.2"]
[White "Storgaard,Flemming"]
[Black "Lannaioli,Alfonsino"]
[Result "1-0"]
[A-52]

1933  Flemming Storgaard       2-0-1        DEN  +24
2065  Alfonsino Lannaioli      6-2-3        ITA  -24

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5

{The Budapest defense gives Black good tactical prospects
because of his active pieces at the cost of a pawn.
There are ways, though, for White to return the pawn, avoid
the real sharp lines, and potentially keep a slight edge.}

3.dxe5 Ng4 4.Nf3

{4.Bf4 is more ambitious but I like 4.Nf3 too because it
seems to minimize Black's tactical potential.}

4...Nc6 5.Bg5 Be7 6.Bxe7 Qxe7 7.Nc3 Ngxe5 8.e3

{Simple and good. White has a slight edge because of the
strong d5 square for his knight.}

8...O-O 9.Nd5 Nxf3 10.Qxf3 Qe5 11.Bd3

{Good! White ignores the threat to his b-pawn, confident
that the pawn will be a great investment after 11...Qxb2
12.O-O}

12...Nb4

{A blunder.}

12.Nxb4

1-0

{If 12...Qxb2 13.Rb1 Qc3+ 14.Ke2, White consolidates
smoothly & Black has nothing to show for his missing knight,
other than a somewhat prettier pawn structure.}

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Analysis by Andres Valverde   2244

[Event "KO-113.1"]
[White "Thuijls,Hans"]
[Black "O'Neil,Michael"]
[Result "0-1"]

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 Bf5 6.e3 e6
7.Bxc4 Bb4

{This is an usual and quiet variation of the Slav Defense in
the Queen's Gambit}

8.O-O O-O 9.Qe2 Bg4

{This move is a waste of time, Nbd7 seems to be good}

10.e4? Bxc3?

{White gave a pawn for nothing and black saw "ghosts" and
did not take it. 10...Bxf3 and 11...Qxd4 and White has
not compensation enough for the pawn}

11.bxc3 c5 12.Bg5 cxd4 13.cxd4 Nc6

{Why not 13...Bxf3 and 14...Qxd4 ?, is this because I prefer
13.e5}

14.e5

{White chose a complicated line, 14.d5 looks better}

14...Nxd4 15.Qd3 Nxf3+ 16.gxf3 Bh3 17.Qxd8 Rfxd8 18.Rfc1

{18.exf6 was better}

18...h6 19.Bf1?

{and this is an ugly mistake, 19.Bxf6 was forced, with
white's advantage}

19... Bxf1 20.Kxf1 hxg5 21.exf6 gxf6 22.Rc7

{The rook in the 7th row is not enough to equalize the
game, Black has two pawns plus and a better pawn structure}

22...Rab8 23.Rb1 Rdc8 ?

{Black loses a great percent of his advantage, 23...Rd4
attacking the a pawn was much better}

24.Rcxb7 {Thanks!} Rxb7 25.Rxb7 a5 26.Rb5 Rc1+ 27.Kg2 Ra1
28.Rxa5 Kg7 29.h3 f5 30.Kg3 Kg6

{This position is a clear draw, white might advance his a
pawn to the 7th row to lock the black rook. He decides to
change pawns in the King side, and, as a result, he loses
one of them and probably the game}

31.f4 f6 32.fxg5 fxg5 33.Ra6 Kf6 34.h4? gxh4 35.Kxh4 Ra3

{The f-pawn is dead and the a-pawn is far of the 8th row,
the game is lost, surely}

36.Ra8 Rf3 37.a5 Rxf2 38.a6 Ke5 39.a7 Kf4

{With 39...Ra2 Black wins easily with his two passed and
joined pawns, the text win being worse.}

40.Kh3 Ra2 41.Re8 Rxa7 42.Rxe6 Kf3 43.Kh4 f4 44.Kg5 Kg3 0-1

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Analyzed by Wim Ratering   2173

[Event "P-427"]
[White "Ernst,Bob"]
[Black "Ketting,Peter"]
[Result "1-0"]

1562  Bob Ernst                6-2-0        USA  +23
1677  Peter Ketting            0-0-1        USA  -23

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Bf5

{normally Nf6 in this Slawisch-opening}

4.Nc3 e6 5.Bf4

{5.cxd5 cxd5 6.Qb3 =)

5...Bd6+=

{5...Nf6=}

6.Bxd6 Qxd6 7.c5=

{7.cxd5 exd5 8.e3=}

7...Qe7 8.e3 Nf6+=

{8... Nd7=}

9.Ne5=

{9. Qb3+=}

9...Nbd7 10.Nxd7 Nxd7 11.Be2 O-O 12.O-O e5 13.Qd2 Rab8

{13...b6=}

14.a4

{14.b4=}

14...b6 15.b4

{15.cxb6 axb6 16.a5=}

15...exd4=

{15... bxc5 16.bxc5 Rfe8=+}

16.exd4 bxc5 17.bxc5 Rfe8 18.Rfe1 Nf6

{18...Qh4=+}

19.Bd3 Qd7 20.Bxf5 Qxf5 21.Rxe8+ =+

{21.Rab1=}

21...Rxe8 22.Re1 Rxe1+ 23.Qxe1 h6

{23...a5=}

24.a5=+ g5=

{24... Qd3 25.Ne2=+}

25.g3=+

{25.Qe3=}

25...h5 26.Kg2

{26.h3=+}

26...h4 27.h3

{27.gxh4 Qg4+ 28.Kh1 Qxh4 29.Qd2=+}

27.. g4 28.hxg4 h3+

{28...Qxg4 29.Qd1 h3+ 30.Kh2 Qf5=}

29.Kh2=+

{29.Kxh3 Qxg4+ 30.Kg2 Qxd4 31.Qe3 Qxe3 32.fxe3 Ng4 33.Nd1-+}

29...Qxg4+=

{29... Nxg4+ 30.Kxh3 Qf3=+}

30.Qe3 Nh5+-

{30...Ne4 31.Nxe4 dxe4+=}

31.Ne2 Ng7 32.f3 Qh5

{32... Qf5 33.Nf4+-}

33.Qf4

{33.Nf4 Qg5 34.Kxh3 Nf5 35.Qe8+ Kg7 36.Qe5+ Kh7 37.Ne2+=}

33...Qh7??+-

{makes life more difficult. 33...Ne6 34.Qb8+ Kh7 35.g4

(35.Qxa7 fails because of Qxf3=+) 35...Qh6 36.Qxa7 Kg6

37.f4 Nxd4 38.Qa6 Kg7 }

34.Qb8+ Ne8 35..Qxe8 Kg7 36.Qxc6 Qc2 37. Qxd5

{37.Qb5+ and White can look forward to an easy win}

37...Qxe2+ 38.Kxh3 Qf1+

{38...Qb5 does not save the day 39.Qg5+ Kf8 40.Qd8+ Kg7 +-}

39.Kg4 Kg6?? and black is immediately lost

{39.....Qb5+- does not win a prize either}

40.c6 Qd3 {quite dubious}

41.Qg5+ Kh7 42.Qf5+ Qxf5+ 43.Kxf5 1-0

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Analysis by Stefaan Six     1912

[Event "P-713"]
[White "Coffield,Alan"]
[Black "Eilmes,Don"]
[Result "1-0"]
[C45]

1420  Alan Coffield            24-3-9       USA  +31
1908  Don Eilmes               3-0-1        USA  -31

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Qh4 ?

{Modern theory of the Scotch Game considers this move to be
too early.}

5.Nc3 ?!

{Why do I mark this move as dubious ? Isn't it a sound
developing move? Of course, it is, but it doesn't try to
refute Black's early Queen-move; in other words, he gets
away with it. White should have tried for:
5.Nb5 Qxe4+ 6.Be3 Kd8 7.N1c3 Bb4 (8.Nd5 is one of the
threats) 8.a3 Bxc3+ 9.Nxc3 Qg6 10.Bd3 Qxg2 11.Be4 Qh3
12.Qd5 Qe6 13.Qg5+ Nf6 14.Rg1, when White has a strong
initiative according to Panow. It is most surely difficult
to foresee all of these moves, but even if you don't, you
should try to work out some plan to refute your opponent's
over-ambitious attempt to force matters. As long as you stay
ahead in development, you should be able to keep control.}

5...Bb4 6.Be2 Nf6

{Trying to grab a pawn with 6...Qxe4? leads to complications
after 7.Nb5! Bxc3+ 8.bxc3 Kd8 (8...Qe5 9.f4) 9.O-O d6
(9...Nf6 10.Bg5 Re8 11.Bd3 Qd5 (or 11...Qe6?! 12.Qd2 with a
powerful attack) 12.Bf4 d6 13.c4 Qc5 14.Be3 Rxe3
15.fxe3 Qxe3+ 16.Kh1 Bg4 (16...Ng4? 17.Qe1, and White has
the edge) 17.Qe1 with an unclear position)
(back to: 10.Nxd6 cxd6 11.Qxd6+ Bd7 12.Bf4! Nf6 (12...Qxe2?
13.Qc7+ Ke8 14.Rfe1) or 13.Qc7+ Ke8 14.Bf3 Qf5 15.Rfe1+ Kf8
16.Bd6+ Kg8 17.Rab1 with White attack. Note that 7.Bd2 is
impossible because of 7...Qxd4.}

7.O-O Bxc3 8.bxc3 Nxe4 9.Bf3 d5 10.Nb5! 0-0 11.Nxc7 Rb8
12.g3 Qd8 13.Nxd5

{Stronger would be 13.Qxd5 Qxc7 14.Bf4 Qe7 15.Bxe4 Be6
16.Qd6. This is just a sample line, but I think in any
variation White is able to keep at least a clear positional
advantage.}

13...Ng5 14.Bg2 Nh3+ 15.Kh1

{Not giving the strong Bishop. The pair of Bishops is very
important in open positions, whereas Black's Knight is
virtually dead.}

15...Be6 16.Be3 Rc8 17.Rb1 b6 18.Qh5! g6 19.Qd1

{A key strategical idea is being demonstrated here -- at the
cost of a tempo. White has managed to weaken the dark squares
around Black's King. This is very valuable in view of a
future attack.}

19...Re8 20.Rb5?!

{White's play was very strong the last 5 moves, but now he's
not going the best way. His primary concern should be to
exploit the weakness of the dark squares. Therefore (20.f4!
threatening 21.f5) was distinctively stronger, when Black
would be condemned to passive defense. 20...Na5 is no good
either, because of 21.f5 Bxd5 22.Bxd5 Rxe3 23.fxg6 hxg6
24.Rxf7 with mate to follow. So, here we can safely say that
White has missed a chance. However, he is still likely to win,
because 20.Rb5?! doesn't really throw away the advantage.
Anyway, it is very important to focus on the game, no matter
how good or bad your position is. It is a mistake I myself
suffered for a long time. Always keep on fighting, especially
if you're winning; develop your `killer instinct' - but only
on the chessboard!}

20...Ne5 21.Qd4 Bd7 22.Rb4 Rc5

{22...Nc6 fails to 23.Nf6+ Kf8 [23...Kg7 24.Nh5+ Kf8
25.Bh6+ Ke7 26.Qf6#] 24.Bh6+ Ke7 25.Nd5+ Ke6 26.Bxh3+ f5
27.Re1+ Kd6 28.Bf4+ and it is over.}

23.c4 Bc6 24.Qh4 Qxh4 25.gxh4 Bxd5 26.Bxd5 Rc7

{At this point it is interesting to have a pause and ask
oneself: what are we dealing with now? It's clear White has
the better endgame. He couldn't find the winning combination
at move 20, but he DID manage however to secure his advantage
in the endgame. The point is: by playing maybe not the 'best'
moves but `good enough' moves, he was able to maintain his
advantage. Of course, in that case you have to feel confident
you can actually beat your opponent. Now, to return to the
position: White has the pair of Bishop's and is 1 pawn up,
but all of his pawns are weak. Black's Knight is trapped at
h3 and will be eliminated next move. White's plan is easy
after that: exchange and simplify as much as possible and
promote a Queenside pawn.}

27.Kg2 Ng4 28.Rb3 Ngxf2 29.Kg3!

{29.Bxf2?! might give Black counter-chances after 29...Nf4+
30.Kg3 Nxd5 31.cxd5 Rxc2}

29...Kg7 30.Bxf2 Nxf2 31.Rxf2 f5

{Part 1 of the plan has been completed. Now for part 2:
exchanging pieces.}

32.h5 Kf6 33.Rd3 Re1

{Black is putting up maximum resistance by occupying the
e-file. This `mercenary-style' of play often proves to be
a [half] point-saver! White is making things more difficult
for himself now. The simple 32.Kf3 Re1 33.Re3 Ra1 34.c3 is
probably easier.}

34.hxg6 hxg6 35.h4 Rce7 36.Bf3 g5 37.hxg5+ Kxg5 38.Rh2 Rg1+
39.Kf2 Rc1 40.Rh5+ Kf4 41.Rd4+ Ke5 42.Rd5+ Ke6 43.Rh6+ Kf7
44.Rxf5+ Kg7 45.Rc6 Rxc2+ 46.Kg3 Rc1 47.c5 Rxc5
48.Rcxc5 bxc5 49.Rxc5 Kf6 50.Kf4 Re6 51.Ra5 Re7 52.Ra6+ Kg7
53.a4 Rf7+ 54.Ke3 1-0

{Black resigned here. Play could continue:
54...Rc7 55.Kd4 Kf7 56.Kd5 (don't play 56.Rc6? Rxc6
57.Bxc6 Ke7 with drawing chances) Ke7 57.Bg4 Rb7 58.Kc6,
and now it is really over.}

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Analysis by Tim Couture    1951

[Event "Quad 351.10"]
[White "Coulding,Brad"]
[Black "Crowell,John"]
[Result "0-1"]

1451  Brad Coulding            0-1-3        AUS  -18
1433  John Crowell             6-0-0        USA  +18

1.d4 Nf6 2.e3 e6 3.Bd3 c5 4.c3 d5 5.Nd2 Be7 6.f4

{The Stonewall Opening. White gains a strongpoint on e5 at
the cost of hemming in his bishop on c1. Black must watch
for a quick kingside attack.}

6...O-O 7.Ngf3 Nbd7 8.Ne5 b6 9.O-O

{White could play 9.Nc6 followed by Nxe7, gaining the bishop
pair.}

9...Bb7 10.Qf3

{The queen seems misplaced on f3. It is on the same diagonal
as the black bishop and it hinders the knight on d2.}

10...Qc7 11.g4

{This begins a premature flank attack. White open his
kingside before he is fully developed. Black reacts properly
by attacking in the center.}

11...Nxe5 12.fxe5 Nd7 13.Qh3 g6

{to protect against Qh7 mate}

14.e4

(White opens the position too early. 14.Nf3 continuing
development is better. Also to be considered is 14.Qh6 with
the idea of Nf3-g5 or the stock sacrifice Bxg6 after g6.}

14...cxd4

{Now White's kingside is becoming open. The black pieces are
becoming active.}

15.cxd4 Qc6

{The queen-bishop battery is menacing.}

16.Rf4?

{16.Re1 seems better. The rook is vulnerable on f4. If
16.Re1 f6, then 17.exf6 Bxf6 18.Nf3 untangles White's
pieces.}

16... f6

{Again Black strikes at the center.}

17.exf6 Bxf6 18.e5 Bxe5!

{A very nice move. Black's pieces move into White's
position. White is so far behind in development that he
finds it difficult to defend his king.}

19.Rxf8+ Rxf8 20.dxe5 Nxe5 21.Bf1 Qc5+ 22.Kh1 d4+
23.Bg2 Qc2! 0-1

{White is helpless against the threat of Qd1+ with mate to
follow.}

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Analysis by Phil Hildenbrandt   1909

Jim Russo - Ken Weiner   1-0   M-1103.2
1629  Jim Russo                1-1-0        USA  +22
1728  Ken Weiner               6-3-6        USA  -22

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4

{Here we have the Najdorf variation of the Sicilian defense.}

7...Be7

{The text is an alternative to the ultra-sharp 7...b5. After
7...b5, we have the Polugaievsky variation. The better
tactician should usually win. Also playable is Bobby
Fischer's favorite 7...Qb6.}

8.Qf3 Qc7 9.O-O-O Nbd7?

{After 9...h6, White's advantage is a minimum. After the
text White's advantage is clear to see.}

10.Qg3

{The queen may have been better off left on f3. After 10.g3
or 10.g4, Black would have problems castling kingside. I

really don't think anybody besides me would be foolish
enough to castle aueenside.}

10...h6 11.Bh4 g5 12.fxg5 Nh5 13.Qe3 Qc5 14.Kb1 hxg5
15.Bf2 Ne5 16..Qd2 Qc7 17.Nf3 b5

{17...Nxf3 or 17...Rg8 is enough for a draw. The text does
offer a chance but it allows for a tactical bolt from the
blue.}

18.Nxg5!

{18.Be3 g4 19.Nxe5 dxe5 20.Bd3 Nf4 21.Qf2 Bb7 22.Ne2 Bh4
23.Qf1 Nxd3 24.cxd3 f5 25.Nc1 0-0 26.Qe2 Qg7 27.Nb3 fxe4
28.dxe4 Bxe4+ 29.Ka1 Bd5 30.Nc5 Rf7 31.Rc1 Qg6 32.Rhd1 Raf8
33.Qd2 Bf6 34.Nd3 a5 35.Bc5 Ra8 36.Bd6 Qg7 37.Qe2 e4
38.Nf4 Bc4 39.Rxc4 bxc4 40.Nxe6 Qg6 41.Qxc4 Qf5 42.Qc6 Rfa7
43.Qc4 Rf7 44.Qc6 Qxe6 45.Qxa8+ Kh7 46.Bf4 Bxb2+
47.Kxb2 Rxf4 48.Qa7+ Rf7 49.Qc5 Rb7+ 50.Ka3 Qf7 51.Rd5
Qe7 52.Rd6 Qf7 53.Rd5 Qf6 54.Rd6 Qb2+ 0-1
Kengis - Vitolinsh,A/Jurmala-mm 1983.}

18...Nc4

{18...Bb7 was better.}

19.Bxc4 Qxc4 20.e5

{20.Qd4 was better.}

20...dxe5 21.Nge4

{I tend to think that bringing the other knight to e4 was a
more natural move.}

21...Qc7 22.Bc5 Nf4 23.Nd6+?

{The advantage would have been more than enough to win after
23.Bxe7.}

23...Kf8 24.Qe3 f6 25.g3 Nd5?

{Black's last fatal slip.}

26.Nxd5 exd5 27.Rxd5 Be6 28.Rxe5 fxe5 29.Rf1+ Kg8 30.Qe4 Bxd6
31.Qg6+ Qg7 32.Qxe6+ Kh7 33.Rf7?

{33.Rf5 Qg6 (33...Bf8 34.Bxf8 Qf6 35.Qxf6 Rhxf8 36.Rh5+ Kg8
37.Rh8#) 34.Rf7+ Qg7 35.Qf6 Bf8 36.Bxf8 Rg8 37.Rxg7+ Rxg7
38.Qxg7#.}

33...Rhf8 34.Rxg7+ Kxg7 35.Qg4+ Kf6 36.Bxd6 1-O

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Analysis by Steve Lisseter    1927

John Coates - David Glew   1-0   M-1034.2
1499  John Coates              2-1-3        ENG  +23
1625  David Glew               14-1-3       ENG  -23

[White "Coates, John"]
[Black "Glew, David"]
[Result "1-0"]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4

{The Nimzo-indian is usually a fairly solid defence for
Black. At club level it is usually not necessary to memorize
too many variations.}

4.e3 O-O 5.Bd3 d5 6.cxd5

{This exchange has come back into fashion, being played,
among others, by I. Sokolov. If white instead plays 6. Nge2
then black usually captures on c4 and plays c5.}

6...exd5 7.Nge2 Re8

{Black has also tried c5 here.}

8.O-O c6

{Solid, but a bit passive as the pawn usually goes to c5 to
counter-attack in the centre. Other tries for black here
include b6, intending to develop the bishop on b7, and the
curious g6, planning to redeploy the other bishop on g7.}

9.f3 Be6

{Not a happy square for the bishop which seems to get in
the way or be a spectator for the rest of the game.}

10.g4

{A bold move which gains space and is the prelude to a
direct king-side attack.}

10...Qd6

11.Ng3 h6

{Creates a target for white's attack. Personally I prefer
not to move the pawns in front of my king unless I have to.
Perhaps g6 at some point?}

12.Rf2 Nbd7 13.a3 Bxc3

{It is usual to exchange in these sort of positions, but the
bishop could retreat via a4 to c7, hoping to exploit the
space around the white king in a counter attack.}

14.bxc3 Nb6

{An awkward square for the knight. It is difficult to find
a plan here but I would prefer to mobilise the queen side
pawns with a6 and b5 or strike at the centre with c5, cxd4
and Rc8 etc.}

15.Kh1 c5 16.a4 c4

{I don't like this move. In closing the centre black reduces
his scope for counter-play. The c pawn will also be weak if
white ever plays e4 to exchange off the black d pawn. White
now plays a fairly obvious attack, against which defence is
tricky.}

17.Bc2 Qc7 18.Qg1 Nc8 19.h4 Nd6 20.g5 hxg5 21.hxg5 Nh7

{21... Nd7 is no better. One variation - not the best - is
22.Qh2 g6 23.Qh6 Nf8 24.Rh2 winning}

22.Bxh7+ Kxh7 23.Qh2+ Kg8

{Of course not 23...Kg6 24.Qh5#}

24.Nh5

{White thinks he has a winning sacrifice on g7. However
24.Qh4 or Qh5 is also strong e.g. 24...Kf8 25.Qh8+ Ke7
26.Qxg7 Rh8+ 27.Rh2 Rxh2+ 28.Kxh2 Nf5 29.Qf6+ Kd7 30.f4 and
white is a solid pawn ahead.}

24...Rec8

{24...Rac8 is similar e.g. 25. Nxg7 Re7 26. Qh6 wins}

25.Nxg7 Ne4

{A brilliant defence which may have come as a surprise to
white. 25...Kxg7 would be fatal as 26.Qh6+ Kg8 27.Rh2 leads
to mate in a few moves.}

26.fxe4 Qxh2+ 27.Rxh2 Kxg7

{Now the board has cleared, black has hopes of equality but
there are still some problems to solve.}

28.Ba3 Rh8 29.Be7 Rxh2+ 30.Kxh2 dxe4

{This may be the crucial mistake as the pawn proves a
liability on e4. Instead 30...Rh8+ 31.Kg2 Rh4 activates the
rook. After 32.exd5 Bxd5+ 33.Kg3 Re4 34.Bf6+ Kg6, white will
have to work hard for the full point.}

31.Kg3 Rc8 32.Rh1

{Or 32. Kf4 which wins the pawn immediately, because after
32...Bd5 33.Bf6+ Kf8 34.Ke5 Be6 35.Rh1 Ke8 36.Rh8+ Kd7
37.Rxc8 Kxc8 38.g6 and the bishop falls.}

32...Rg8 33.a5 Bd5 34.Kf4 b6 35.Bf6+ Kf8

{35...Kg6 36.Rh6# is a rather pretty way to go.}

36.Ke5 1-0

{Black is virtually unable to move and can only wait for the
end. After 36...Bc6 37.axb6 axb6 white has a choice of
winning methods e.g. 38.d5 Ba4 39.Kd6 Rg6 40.Kc7 followed by
d6 and d7 when black is forced to sacrifice his bishop for
the pawn. An excellent game in which Mr Coates hardly put a
foot wrong.}

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"Giuoco Pianissimo" - A positional battle
------------------------------------------
Analysis by Norbert Fogarasi     2109

[Event "Swiss 53.1"]
[White "Loh,Bradley"]
[Black "Grazinys,Vidmantas"]
[Result "0-1"]

1756  Bradley Loh              0-0-1        AUS  -24
1612  Vidmantas Grazinys       16-6-0       LTH  +24

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.c3

{We have transposed into a positional, quiet line of the
Giuoco Piano, one might jokingly say "Giuoco Pianissimo",
although someone before me might have come across this play
on Italian words and labelled some similarly quiet
subvariation by that name.}

5...d6 6.O-O O-O 7.Nbd2 a6 8.Bb3 b5 9.Bc2 Bb6 10.a4

{Both sides seem to be making very logical moves, and the
struggle seems to have shifted to the queen side. Indeed,
the position now appears to have some features of the Ruy
Lopez, as black's Q-side pawn formation and white's bishop
on c2 - holding e4 in case of a d4 expansion - certainly
suggest so. The one big advantage black has compared to a
Ruy Lopez is that his bishop is a power-piece now on b6, as
opposed to being a useless spectator on e7 where it usually
is in a Ruy. As such, white's usual plan of Re1-Nf1 in
similar positions is not possible here right away, because
of black's Ng4 counter. So perhaps the prolific-looking
10.h3 could be played to prepare that plan. The text move
executes a different idea, as white's counter-slash on the
Q-side nets him the powerful bishop.}

10...b4?!

{10...Bb7 keeping the b6 bishop was a stronger alternative.}

11.Nc4 Rb8 12.Nxb6 Rxb6 13.d4

{White seems to have achieved all he wanted. He neutralized
black's strong bishop and has majority in the center now. In
return though, black has the upper hand on the queen side.
It will be interesting to watch which factor will prevail.}

13...bxc3 14.bxc3 Re8 15.d5?!

{15.Re1 to upkeep the tension in the center may have been
better. As we mentioned above, white should try to capitalize
on its advantage in the center to try and counter black's
queen-side dominance. Black exploits this slight error with
good play.}

15...Na5 16.Rb1 c6!

{A nice move that achieves many goals at once. First, it
allows the queen to help out on the Queen-side, and it also
challenges white's center.}

17.dxc6?

{A mistake. White should try to simplify matters by
17.Rxb6 Qxb6 18.Be3! where after Qd3-Rb1 the tables may have
turned! The text move gives black a significant advantage.
"It's a tough game, this chess!" - to quote a friend.}

17...Rxc6 18.Qd3 Qc7 19.Bd2

{All of a sudden white's pieces are tangled and passive, as
a result of the error of the 17th move. Black punishes this
mercilessly.}

19...Rc4 20.Rb4 d5!!  1-0

{Black has played extremely efficiently to exploit white's
positional mistakes. At first, resignation here may appear a
little premature, but given the threat of dxe4 fork and
21.exd5 e4! -+ or 21.Qe2 Rxb4 22.cxb4 Qxc2 -+, the fatality
of white's position appears. Probably the best line was
21.Rxc4 Qxc4! [21...dxc4 22.Qe2 =  or  21...Nxc4 22.Bb3! dxe4
(22...Nxd2? 23.Qd2 dxe4 24.Ng5!) 23.Qxc4 Qxc4 24.Bxc4 exf3
is advantageous for black also] 22.Qxc4 Nxc4 but black has
a substantial advantage. Perhaps not quite resignable yet,
but white must have been disappointed with his mistake on
the 17th move.

In conclusion, while many strong players give the advice to
under-2000 players to learn tactics, tactics and tactics,
this game demonstrates well that positional understanding
may become extremely important -- even on the 1600-1700
level. On the other hand, given black's play in this game
and his IECC record, he will likely not remain a 1600 player
for long.}

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