It’s fun with bluster and bombast ~ the immodest approach to chess annotation
Hi Pilgrims,
In going over games annotated by today’s Master players I find a distinct lack of personality coming through the annotations. It’s as though a humourless computer has prepared the notes. Maybe that is what happens. Fritz is not noted for having much of a personality.
I miss the bombast, the snide asides at an opponent, the sheer chutzpah of the ‘I am wonderful and I saw it all’. The annotators I like are people such as Nimzovich, Alekhine, Tartakower, Larsen, Fischer, Bronstein, Tal, and of the non-champion level players, Chernev and Reinfeld. You learn something, and you know a human being with a sense of humour, a personality, is behind the notes.
Today’s players seem to have been infected by the computer disease: Think like a computer, play like a computer, annotate like a computer.
At any rate, the following game is annotated in a bombastic style which suits the actual play. An unusual defence and tricky play calls for the old fashioned annotating style.
Older readers should be reminded of some of the writings of past great players, from before the age of computer (uninspired) chess.
J. M. Bruere (2020) VERSUS G. Eraclides (1830)
Correspondence Chess League of Australia Tournament 2603/1997
Reti/b5
1. Nf3 Nf6
2. g3 b5!?
As always we intend to be original and put theory aside as much as possible. White is an experienced player and Life Master of CCLA; Black is a pain in the neck.
3. Bg2 Bb7
4. 0-0 e6
5. d3 c5
Bravely played. If space is there for the taking, and you want to play for a win, then a move like this is necessary.
6. e4 d6
We have assymetry: A solid Kings Indian type of formation for White; Queenside expansion and opportunities for Black.
7. Nbd2 Nbd7
8. Qe2 Qc7
Preventive prophylaxis (and is there any other kind?) against e5, which is a thematic idea for White in this kind of position.
9. c3 Be7
10. d4 a6
Karpov’s idea to stabilize the Queenside; c4 is also possible.
11. Re1 e5!?
Our move to destabilize the game! Black has not yet castled, but is taking measures to prevent White's threat to expand in the centre: 11 ...0-0 12. e5 dxe5 13. dxe5 leaves White with a strong position in the centre. An eye on the centre, and a squint to the flanks - that is the watchword.
12. dxe5
White does not want to lock things up after 12. d5 c4, with Black threatening Nc5/d3, or a long game of maneuvering in blocked conditions. He also reasons that as Black has not yet castled, any opening of the position must favour the more developed side. This is routine, classical thinking, of the year dot. It may be true in symmetrical openings, on which so much of the classical ‘pseudo-thinking’ was based, but with assymetry comes tension. This creative challenge for both players means that concrete analysis is the order of the day.
12 .........dxe5
13. Nh4
Intending Nf5 and/or f4 with a swift mobilization. Black reacts concretely.
13 .........g6
It may look ugly, but beauty, we have always maintained, is to be found in the effectiveness of the move. On the broader canvas on which we think, the assymetry and concrete play of Black has made this an interesting game, avoiding the soporific dangers posed by White's Nf3 opening.
14. Nf1
To unleash the Bishop on c1 to h6 and trap Black's King in the centre. Black replies accordingly, increasing White's frustration and need to think concretely at all times.
14 ......Bf8!?
15. f4 c4
Forget 15 ......exf4? White takes with the g Pawn and then just plays the rest of the game by the numbers. Black prefers a threatening gesture, and lays a deep positional trap for his opponent.
16. Nf3?!
With the Rook on e1 instead of f1, White's coordination is inadequate when Black does not oblige with exf4. If 16 fxe5 Black has Nxe5 (even Qxe5 is possible), 17 Bf4 Qb3+ (17...Be6 allows 18 Bh6/g7) with Nfd7 to follow and the isolated Pawn is blockaded; if now 18 Be3 Bc5 (18...Qc7 19 Bd4 Bc5 is also interesting) and matters are still unclear (Black's prefered strategy in the b5 line); 16 f5 is not strong with the Rook on e1; Black can play Nc5 and Bg7 or Rd8 or 0-0 after Bg7, with matters remaining complicated for both players. White prefers the clearer strategy of reorganizing his forces more effectively, and this gives Black time to act.
16.......Bc5+
Hoping to exchange black square Bishops, and if that does not occur, then following manoeuvre was already calculated as being creatively interesting.
17. Kh1?!
He wants the Bishop for attack on h6 and the weakened black squares, but in the creative complications, something has been overlooked.
17.......Nxe4
When he played 16. Nf3 he blocked the Bg2 diagonal defence of e4, making this charming exchange possible. We formed the impression that our unconventional play was becoming an irritation to White.
18. Be3
There is a danger on f2 if the dancing Knight should land there, so he defends this point first. Black's reply avoids helping White by exchanging.
18 .........0-0
19. Ne5 Rfe8
At this stage we feel rather pleased with our highly original game and can indulge in a positional move even traditionalists can understand.
20. Nxd7 Qxd7
Best. If Rxd7, 21. BxB is good for White (the Re7 is loose), and our preventive strategy cannot allow that.
21. Rad1 Qc7
Not a problem.
22. Qc2
Getting out of the line of the Rook.
22 ..........Bxe3
23. Rxe3 Nc5
Black now indulges his fantasy of being a positional player.
24 Rde1
Note that 24. RxR would simply reinforce Black's pressure on the open central files; 24. BxB QxB+ gives Black the d3 outpost after all the exchanges (as in the game). White hopes to bring his Knight out to defend g2.
24 ...........Rxe3
25. Nxe3
Poor Knight - finally coming back into the game, but on a less than optimum square.
25 .........Nd3!
What an outpost! Only our innate modesty prevents us from assigning this move two exclamation marks. The devious plan, first worked out with 2...b5, now bears fruit.
26. Re2 Bxg2+!
27. Nxg2
Begginers should note that 27. Rxg2 Ne1 wins the house and 27. Kxg2 Qc6+ is unwelcome.
27.........Qc6
A pin, an attack on the white squares, control of the diagonal - it doesn't get better than this.
28. Kg1 Qc5+
The step-wise technique (Troitzky) to acquire more space as we get closer.
29. Kf1 Qd5
If the Knight moves, its Qh1 mate! A triumph of restriction.
30. Kg1 Qc5+
Making up time; White would love a draw.
31. Kf1 Rd8
32. Ne1 Qd5
Threatening mate (not mateship).
33. Kg1 NxN
34. RxN Qd2
It’s time to cash in on on all that positional pressure. Otherwise, ‘What's it all about, Boris?’
35. Re8+
White is aiming to place his Rook as aggressively as possible for this ending, but 35. QxQ RxQ 36. Rb1 or 35. Qb1 Kg7 (or Rd3) are better, although Black is still for choice and to a player of our level, the win is a matter of technique.
35 ..........Kg7
36. Qxd2 Rxd2
37. Ra8 Rxb2
38. Rxa6 b4!!
Ka-Pow! This is the move White missed.
39 cxb4 c3!
White Resigns. 40 Rc6 c2 and it is over.
Thank you linesmen, thank you ball-boys.
We were pleased to win in the fashion that we did, demonstrating the soundness of our philosophy.
If a player can use the principle of ‘creative randomisation’, taking the game out of the natural flow which the opponent expects, then there are plenty of winning chances for both players.
The games of the pseudo-classical period (1885 to 1938) looked so impressive (Steinitz, Tarrasch, Rubinstein, etc...) because White was allowed to play symmetrical positions where the best Black could hope for was equality. The stale technique of these great players was such that Black was doomed if he made a slight error in position. As our modern praxis shows, asymmetry and a drop of chaos can do wonders for Black's game and the cause of chess as a spectacle.
Our ideas, which have hypermodernized the sterile play of the past, rarely lead to characterless equality.
PS
I want to acknowledge all the great players of the past whose phrases I have purloined, especially the great Aron Nimzovich.
In going over games annotated by today’s Master players I find a distinct lack of personality coming through the annotations. It’s as though a humourless computer has prepared the notes. Maybe that is what happens. Fritz is not noted for having much of a personality.
I miss the bombast, the snide asides at an opponent, the sheer chutzpah of the ‘I am wonderful and I saw it all’. The annotators I like are people such as Nimzovich, Alekhine, Tartakower, Larsen, Fischer, Bronstein, Tal, and of the non-champion level players, Chernev and Reinfeld. You learn something, and you know a human being with a sense of humour, a personality, is behind the notes.
Today’s players seem to have been infected by the computer disease: Think like a computer, play like a computer, annotate like a computer.
At any rate, the following game is annotated in a bombastic style which suits the actual play. An unusual defence and tricky play calls for the old fashioned annotating style.
Older readers should be reminded of some of the writings of past great players, from before the age of computer (uninspired) chess.
J. M. Bruere (2020) VERSUS G. Eraclides (1830)
Correspondence Chess League of Australia Tournament 2603/1997
Reti/b5
1. Nf3 Nf6
2. g3 b5!?
As always we intend to be original and put theory aside as much as possible. White is an experienced player and Life Master of CCLA; Black is a pain in the neck.
3. Bg2 Bb7
4. 0-0 e6
5. d3 c5
Bravely played. If space is there for the taking, and you want to play for a win, then a move like this is necessary.
6. e4 d6
We have assymetry: A solid Kings Indian type of formation for White; Queenside expansion and opportunities for Black.
7. Nbd2 Nbd7
8. Qe2 Qc7
Preventive prophylaxis (and is there any other kind?) against e5, which is a thematic idea for White in this kind of position.
9. c3 Be7
10. d4 a6
Karpov’s idea to stabilize the Queenside; c4 is also possible.
11. Re1 e5!?
Our move to destabilize the game! Black has not yet castled, but is taking measures to prevent White's threat to expand in the centre: 11 ...0-0 12. e5 dxe5 13. dxe5 leaves White with a strong position in the centre. An eye on the centre, and a squint to the flanks - that is the watchword.
12. dxe5
White does not want to lock things up after 12. d5 c4, with Black threatening Nc5/d3, or a long game of maneuvering in blocked conditions. He also reasons that as Black has not yet castled, any opening of the position must favour the more developed side. This is routine, classical thinking, of the year dot. It may be true in symmetrical openings, on which so much of the classical ‘pseudo-thinking’ was based, but with assymetry comes tension. This creative challenge for both players means that concrete analysis is the order of the day.
12 .........dxe5
13. Nh4
Intending Nf5 and/or f4 with a swift mobilization. Black reacts concretely.
13 .........g6
It may look ugly, but beauty, we have always maintained, is to be found in the effectiveness of the move. On the broader canvas on which we think, the assymetry and concrete play of Black has made this an interesting game, avoiding the soporific dangers posed by White's Nf3 opening.
14. Nf1
To unleash the Bishop on c1 to h6 and trap Black's King in the centre. Black replies accordingly, increasing White's frustration and need to think concretely at all times.
14 ......Bf8!?
15. f4 c4
Forget 15 ......exf4? White takes with the g Pawn and then just plays the rest of the game by the numbers. Black prefers a threatening gesture, and lays a deep positional trap for his opponent.
16. Nf3?!
With the Rook on e1 instead of f1, White's coordination is inadequate when Black does not oblige with exf4. If 16 fxe5 Black has Nxe5 (even Qxe5 is possible), 17 Bf4 Qb3+ (17...Be6 allows 18 Bh6/g7) with Nfd7 to follow and the isolated Pawn is blockaded; if now 18 Be3 Bc5 (18...Qc7 19 Bd4 Bc5 is also interesting) and matters are still unclear (Black's prefered strategy in the b5 line); 16 f5 is not strong with the Rook on e1; Black can play Nc5 and Bg7 or Rd8 or 0-0 after Bg7, with matters remaining complicated for both players. White prefers the clearer strategy of reorganizing his forces more effectively, and this gives Black time to act.
16.......Bc5+
Hoping to exchange black square Bishops, and if that does not occur, then following manoeuvre was already calculated as being creatively interesting.
17. Kh1?!
He wants the Bishop for attack on h6 and the weakened black squares, but in the creative complications, something has been overlooked.
17.......Nxe4
When he played 16. Nf3 he blocked the Bg2 diagonal defence of e4, making this charming exchange possible. We formed the impression that our unconventional play was becoming an irritation to White.
18. Be3
There is a danger on f2 if the dancing Knight should land there, so he defends this point first. Black's reply avoids helping White by exchanging.
18 .........0-0
19. Ne5 Rfe8
At this stage we feel rather pleased with our highly original game and can indulge in a positional move even traditionalists can understand.
20. Nxd7 Qxd7
Best. If Rxd7, 21. BxB is good for White (the Re7 is loose), and our preventive strategy cannot allow that.
21. Rad1 Qc7
Not a problem.
22. Qc2
Getting out of the line of the Rook.
22 ..........Bxe3
23. Rxe3 Nc5
Black now indulges his fantasy of being a positional player.
24 Rde1
Note that 24. RxR would simply reinforce Black's pressure on the open central files; 24. BxB QxB+ gives Black the d3 outpost after all the exchanges (as in the game). White hopes to bring his Knight out to defend g2.
24 ...........Rxe3
25. Nxe3
Poor Knight - finally coming back into the game, but on a less than optimum square.
25 .........Nd3!
What an outpost! Only our innate modesty prevents us from assigning this move two exclamation marks. The devious plan, first worked out with 2...b5, now bears fruit.
26. Re2 Bxg2+!
27. Nxg2
Begginers should note that 27. Rxg2 Ne1 wins the house and 27. Kxg2 Qc6+ is unwelcome.
27.........Qc6
A pin, an attack on the white squares, control of the diagonal - it doesn't get better than this.
28. Kg1 Qc5+
The step-wise technique (Troitzky) to acquire more space as we get closer.
29. Kf1 Qd5
If the Knight moves, its Qh1 mate! A triumph of restriction.
30. Kg1 Qc5+
Making up time; White would love a draw.
31. Kf1 Rd8
32. Ne1 Qd5
Threatening mate (not mateship).
33. Kg1 NxN
34. RxN Qd2
It’s time to cash in on on all that positional pressure. Otherwise, ‘What's it all about, Boris?’
35. Re8+
White is aiming to place his Rook as aggressively as possible for this ending, but 35. QxQ RxQ 36. Rb1 or 35. Qb1 Kg7 (or Rd3) are better, although Black is still for choice and to a player of our level, the win is a matter of technique.
35 ..........Kg7
36. Qxd2 Rxd2
37. Ra8 Rxb2
38. Rxa6 b4!!
Ka-Pow! This is the move White missed.
39 cxb4 c3!
White Resigns. 40 Rc6 c2 and it is over.
Thank you linesmen, thank you ball-boys.
We were pleased to win in the fashion that we did, demonstrating the soundness of our philosophy.
If a player can use the principle of ‘creative randomisation’, taking the game out of the natural flow which the opponent expects, then there are plenty of winning chances for both players.
The games of the pseudo-classical period (1885 to 1938) looked so impressive (Steinitz, Tarrasch, Rubinstein, etc...) because White was allowed to play symmetrical positions where the best Black could hope for was equality. The stale technique of these great players was such that Black was doomed if he made a slight error in position. As our modern praxis shows, asymmetry and a drop of chaos can do wonders for Black's game and the cause of chess as a spectacle.
Our ideas, which have hypermodernized the sterile play of the past, rarely lead to characterless equality.
PS
I want to acknowledge all the great players of the past whose phrases I have purloined, especially the great Aron Nimzovich.
posted by George Eraclides at 10:20 PM
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