Wild Tactics in the Bogo-Indian

 

It has been a while since I posted on Pawn’s Progress. I had quite some issues with recovering from torn tendons (see previous post) and then the Covid-19 pandemic hit, which affected my mental health (we were in lockdown on and off, for about 9 months in Victoria, Australia; the longest in the world). Happily I managed to do some useful things and even managed some games on chess.com, LSS and ICCF servers.

I hope to be a more frequent poster from now on.

I offer for your enjoyment, a game featuring an important variation in the Bogo-Indian. It was played on chess.com and no engines were used by either player during the game. Below you will find it in pgn format followed by an analysis with the help of an engine.

[Date "2020.08.28"] 

[White "cabloo"]

[Black "Georgee53"]

[Result "0-1"]

[WhiteElo "1966"]

[BlackElo "2013"]

[TimeControl "7 days per move"]

[EndDate "2021.01.22"]

[Termination "Georgee53 won by resignation"]

 Bogo-Indian Defence

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Bb4+ 4. Nbd2 O-O 5. a3 Be7 6. e4 d5 7. e5 Nfd7 8. Bd3 c5 9. h4 g6 10. h5 cxd4 11. hxg6 fxg6 12. Qc2 Qe8 13. O-O Nc6 14. Re1 a5 15.cxd5 exd5 16. Qb3 Nc5 17. Qc2 Nxd3 18. Qxd3 Bf5 19. Qb3 Qd7 20. Nf1 a4 21. Qd1 Bg4 22. N1h2 Bxf3 23. Nxf3 Qg4 24. Bh6 Rf5 25. Qd3 Rh5 26. Bd2 Rf8 27. Rac1 Rh3 28. Kf1 Rhxf3 29. gxf3 Rxf3 30. Qb5 Rxf2+ 0-1

I am very proud of this game because while we both made mistakes (no engines allowed) I was able to find good, aggressive moves and found a brilliant checkmate at the end with Queen and Bishop. I particularly liked 27...Rh3 and of course 30...Rxf2+. One of my most brilliant (rare) wins at this time-control.

My rating went up to 2013 after this win. I am certainly no 2000+ player even in long time controls or correspondence chess rules but it is pleasing to get over that barrier and into candidate master territory even if only ephemerally.

 Below is an analysis after the game was completed, with the help of Stockfish from chess.com. 

[Date "2020.08.28"]

[White Cabloo rating1891 at start of game]

[Black Georgee53 rating 1966 at start of game]

[Result "0-1"]

[WhiteElo 1966 after end of game]

[BlackElo 2013 after end of game]

[TimeControl "7 days per move"]

[EndDate "2021.01.22"] ["Georgee53 won by resignation"]

 Bogo-Indian Defence

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Bb4+ 4.Nbd2 O-O 5.a3 Be7!? (5...Bxd2+ 6.Bxd2 b6 is considered better) 6.e4 d5 7.e5 Nfd7 8.Bd3 (Also good was 8.b4) 8...c5 9.h4 (Heading into the ‘wilds’; sound and conservative was 9.O-O) 9...g6 (Correct; if 9...h6 10.Bb1 cxd4 11.Qc2 f5 12.exf6 Nxf6 13.Nxd4 with the better game) 10.h5!? (Consistent, but sound was 10.cxd5) 10...cxd4 11.hxg6 (Good was 11.cxd5 exd5 12.Nb3 Nc6 13.Qe2 Qc7 14.Bf4 but White thinks he is opening up Black to a winning assault) 11...fxg6 (The only sound reply; if 11...hxg6 12.Nb3 Qc7 13.Qd2 Nxe5 14.Qh6 Nxf3+ 15.gxf3 Qe5+ 16.Be4 Qg7 17.Qxg7+ Kxg7 18.Bh6+ Kg8 19.Bxf8 Bxf8 20.cxd5 is a plus for White) 12.Qc2 Qe8 13.O-O (Also reasonable was 13.Rh6) 13...Nc6 14.Re1 a5 15.cxd5 exd5 (Up to here I was following Kozul V Arsovic, Sarajevo 2012, as given in my copy of ‘Opening Repertoire: Nimzo and Bogo-Indian’ by Christof Sielecki, Everyman 2015, where Kozul played 16.Bb5 and after 16...Nc5 we have ‘an interesting position’ according to Sielecki. However, Cabloo now varied and we were then on our own with a still ‘interesting position’) 16.Qb3!? (All I had was 16.Bb5 Nc5 and unclear but interesting) 16...Nc5 (Black must play actively or he will be overrun eventually) 17.Qc2 Nxd3 18.Qxd3 Bf5 19.Qb3 (Better was 19.Qb5) 19...Qd7 (Also reasonable was 18...Qf7; I did not like having to make defensive moves with my Queen, so I kept looking around for ways to play actively or what Purdy used to call ‘play moves that smite’) 20.Nf (Also possible but perhaps not as good was 20.Ne4 a4 21.Qa2 Bg4 22.Neg5 Bxg5 23.Nxg5 Rae8) 20...a4 (To hinder any Queen-side expansion by White) 21.Qd1!? (Not the best but if 21.Qa2 Bg4 22.N3h2 Be6 is reasonable for Black) 21...Bg4!? (Intuitively I liked the pin but Stockfish tells me that 21...Be4 22.e6 Qxe6 23.Bh6 Rf7 24.Ng3 Bxf3 25.Rxe6 Bxd1 26.Rxd1 Bh4 or 26...Rf6 are better; I could already see an attack on f3 coming at some stage if White was careless) 22.N1h2 Bxf3!? (Again Stockfish recommends 22...h5 23.Nxg4 Qxg4 24.Qd3 h4 25.Nh2 Qf5 26.Qxf5 Rxf5) 23.Nxf3 Qg4 24.Bh6 (Or 24.b4 Rf5 ) 24...Rf5! (I really liked this idea of getting the Rook into a threatening position with tempo) 25.Qd3 (Possible and Stockfish suggests better was 25.b4 Rh5 26.Bd2 Rf8 27.Rc1 Rh3 28.Ng5 Qxd1 29.Rcxd1 Rxa3) 25...Rh5! (A smite!) 26.Bd2 Rf8 27.Rac1!? (Better was 27.Rad1 Nxe5 28.Rxe5 Rxe5 29.Bh6 Rxf3 30.Qxf3 Qxf3 31.gxf3) 27...Rh3! (My favourite move of the game) 28.Kf1 Rhxf3! 29.gxf3 Rxf3! 30.Qb5?? (If 30.Qe2 Bh4! Stockfish gives 30.Re3 dxe3 with a bit of play for White but Black will win anyway) 30...Rxf2+ 0-1

 Black has a forced mate after 31. Kxf2 Bh4+ 32.Kf1 Qf3+ 33.Kg1 Bf2+ 35.Kh2 (5.Kf1 Be3++) 35...Qg3+ 36.Kh1 Qh3++

Thank goodness for the long time control (we had 7 days a move each). I was able to see all this in my own home analysis after 25...Rh5! but I did not dare hope that Cabloo would make the necessary error of 30.Qb5? or 30.Qc2/b1? but he did. In hindsight I suppose Qb5 had a compelling logic because of the check after Qxd5+ but it was wrong. One of my best games played in this way on the server of chess.com and especially because we did not use engines (forbidden by chess.com).

 I wish Cabloo the best of luck in future games. He played well and with a fine sporting character.

 

Beware of Dangerous Transpositions

Hi Pilgrims,

Sorry for the long delay between posts.

In late October 2017 I tore two shoulder tendons off my right shoulder. I did not know I had a bone spur which was pointing downwards into my rotator cuff like a shark’s tooth. Happens to those of us over 50. It shredded the tendons. I had surgery in November 2017 to reattach the tendons. The operation was successful but the severity of the injury meant an arm in a sling for 2 months then a long period of recovery. Alas, I got ‘frozen shoulder’ (Capsulitis) which happens in severe trauma cases involving the rotator cuff. As I am also right-handed, I was unable to do much for months, including type on a keyboard. Finally, nearly a year later, I am getting a lot better.

The following game is an instructive example of a transposition in the opening, from a positional (and some would say dull) game to a raging gambit.

This can take an average player by surprise and cause him or her to lose the game. Average players are not so familiar with openings. Going from a predictable formation, suddenly into a gambit, can be deadly, especially in a cross-board game where you cannot consult an openings manual. This happened to me in a correspondence game in 2015 and I was lucky I had the time to find the right moves to play. Across the board in a regular game, I would have been in trouble. More so because in a defence like the Caro Kann, you do not expect to suddenly be plunged into the great complications of a gambit. Not only are you unprepared technically, you are also psychologically vulnerable.

Potter, Chris (1579) Versus Eraclides, George (1980)

Australian BICYCLE B15 1/6/2014 – 27/3/2015

Caro Kann – transposing to Blackmar-Diemer Gambit

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.f3 exf3 5.Nxf3 Bf5  6.Bc4 (Bd3 or Bg5 are alternative main lines but Black can cope) Nf6 7.O-O (Ne5 is the other main line with 7…e6 8.g4 Bg6 9.h4 Nbd7 or Bb4 and it gets wild) e6 8.Bg5 (unusual and tricky; normal is Ng5 threatening Rxf5 which is a familiar theme in this variation; Black replies Bg6) Be7 9.Ne5 Nd5 (trying to simplify, given I am a pawn up facing a dangerous attack with the main threat Rxf5; if 9…Bg6 then after 10.Nxg6 hxg6 I thought the extra pawn would be devalued given the pawn formations, but in hindsight, it was probably the better option; note that 9…O-O seems quite risky after g4/h4) 10.Bxe7 Qxe7 (after Nxe7 I was worried about 11.Nxf7! Kxf7 12.g4!) 11.Nxd5 (now if 11.Nxf7 Qxf7 12.g4 Ne3!) cxd5 12.Bb5+ Kd8 (Kf8 looked too confining given White’s active pieces) 13.c4 (he hopes to bust open the position like any true gambiteer) a6 14.Ba4 f6 15.Nf3 dxc4 16.Bc2 (he has sacked another pawn and hopes to gain an advantage after  Bishops are exchanged because of the open position, a lead in development and Black’s exposed King) Bg4 17.Qd2 Nd7 (if Nc6 there comes d5!) 18.b3 c3!? (a clever idea, returning a pawn in order to activate a Rook) 19.Qxc3 Rc8 20.Qd2 Qd6 21.Be4 Qb6 22.h3 Bh5 23.Kh1 (to force d5) Bg6 (this Bishop exchange is now good for Black; White has failed in his gamble and now Black plans centralisation with a slow but very careful grind to realise his advantage) 24.Bxg6 hxg6 25.d5 e5 26.Rac1 Rxc1 27.Rxc1 Ke7! (stopping d6) 28.Rd1 Kd6 29.Qd3 f5 30.Ng5 Rf8 31.Ne6 Rf7 32.a3 (you know they are lost for ideas when they make these sorts of moves) Nf8 33.Ng5 Rc7 34.g4 Qf2 (at least another pawn will go with best play) 35.Nf7+ (a blunder; also losing was 35.Qd2 Qxe3 36 Rxe3 Kxd5; best was 35.Qf3 Qxf3 36.Nxf3 but it still loses) Rxf7 0-1

What can average players do to avoid being blown away in unfavourable transpositions? In preparing an opening or defence, I try to check transpositional possibilities, especially to dangerous gambits, and prepare a safe line I can easily learn. That is best for an amateur player limited by the two T’s: Time and Talent.

Until next time may you be winning and not whining about your games.

How not to play a hypermodern defence like the Nimzo-Indian

The following game was played under correspondence chess rules on the ICCF server. It is one of my shortest ever wins, a true miniature with some nice touches. It is also highly instructive for average players or those new to strategic play.

Beginners will benefit from a study of it and experienced players will shake their heads as they enjoy the punishment of Black for taking liberties with one of the finest defences in the chess canon. My opponent varied at move 4 with the non-traditional Bxc3+ and never recovered.

In the Nimzo, you cannot concede a powerful pawn centre (space) to White, as well as time, and then hope to survive.

George Eraclides (Elo 1831) Versus Wynand de Wit (Elo 1744) January 2017

Nimzo-Indian Defence

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 Bxc3+ (not recommended; in the Nimzo-Indian you should hold onto the King’s Bishop until forced to exchange it by a3 or for other sound tactical reasons, none of which apply here; that said some players like to double c-pawns early because they see them as a strategic weakness if followed up correctly and White commits later  errors; normal is c5, b6, Nc6, or 0-0) 5.bxc3 O-O (White’s centre must be challenged or Black will be destroyed; that is the essence of Hypermodern play so therefore c5 could be tried; even b6 was preferable and at least in the spirit of the venerable Nimzovich) 6.Bd3 (threatening e4 and more space control) Nc6 (better was d5 with a cramped position but not yet lost) 7.e4 d5 (one move too late) 8.e5! (Black now has a Nimzo-Indian players worst nightmare; a strong White centre, unassailable in the short term, with a severe space and time deficit; Black is lost) Nd7 (slightly better than the alternative) 9.Qg4 f5 10.Qg3 (refusing to free Black’s game with PxPep and threatening Bh6) Kh8 11.Ba3 (here the Bishop dominates a critical diagonal; White’s classical play of simple moves gaining space and time has been made to look better than it normally is by Black’s poor opening) Rf7 (anywhere else and White wins a pawn after cxd5) 12.Nf3 h6 13.h4 Nf8 (hard to recommend anything else; Black hurries to defend his King but walks into a sacrifice of sorts) 14.Ng5 hxg5 (14...Rd7 15.cxd5 exd4 – Rxd5 is even worse – 16.Bxf5 loses quickly as well) 15.hxg5+ Kg8 16.Qh4 Rd7 17.Bxf8! Kxf8 (17...Qxf8 18.g6! and it’s over)18.Qh8+ Kf7 (18...Ke7 19.Qxg7 Ke8 20.Rh8++) 19.g6+! (if Kxg6 then Qh5++; if Ke7 it is mate in two) 1-0

A massacre. The lesson? Hypermodern play is no longer the modern concept it was in the 1930s and its ideas are well known today. Black concedes a pawn centre (space) to White in order to undermine it from a distance or by later pawn thrusts to create weaknesses. It is based on the insight of Nimzovich that you do not need to occupy the centre in order to be centralised; you can contest the centre from a distance e.g. a fianchetto or by various pins and restrictive strategy. All that is true but I think Tarrasch was right; it is better to occupy the centre space with pawns and then support them. The indirect approach is much harder to play in practice. You have to get it right or you will lose quickly. I know this because I too play the Nimzo-Indian; it is sound but you have to get the strategic moves right or you will have the middle-game from hell assuming you survive the opening.

Avoiding humiliation in a Grandmaster simultaneous exhibition

GM Nigel Short in a simultaneous exhibition

On Wednesday, March 16, 2016 I attended a Lecture and Exhibition at the Melbourne Chess Club in Brunswick (suburb of Melbourne, Australia), given by an absolute legend: Grandmaster Nigel Short MBE. 

Short was one of the best chess players in the world in the 1980s and 90s. He was a child prodigy and arguably the strongest English player ever. Last time I looked he was still rated in the top 100. He played (but lost) a match against world champion Kasparov in 1993, has defeated ex World Champion Karpov in a match as well as many other top players in his long career.

In the 1993 match against Kasparov he drew with him in the second half of the match, quite a feat given Kasparov’s legendary preparation, arguably the best of any world champion to date. Short lives in Greece with his Greek wife and two children. He is now 51, a commentator on the game and tours the world lecturing, giving exhibitions and playing in open events.

I found his lecture very interesting, clear and instructive. He demonstrated two recent games he played and won, explaining the strategy of the openings and how the games unfolded. One thing I took out of it was that chess wisdom requires you to play moves you have to rather than those you want to. In difficult positions you must, like Korchnoi, play ugly/play hard. Many young players are selfish and see only moves they want to play. His two games illustrated this theme (one was a Nimzo-Indian, the other a Caro Kann). I applied this lesson myself in my game against him and it is a right and true principle. I was pleased that I independently saw key moves in his lecture before he demonstrated them.  Maybe I am finally getting some understanding of this game in my older years.

The simultaneous exhibition was Grandmaster Short against 30 players and I was on Board 10. I prepared the Modern and Old Indian against him, just in case. I wanted to avoid lines he would obviously know well. He played e4 and I replied g6 and then in the tense atmosphere promptly forgot my preparation because of nervous tension and I also do not normally play the Modern. I got into a bad position but applied the Korchnoi rule; fought back, defended really well, held on and was finally defeated in a Bishop ending where he squeezed out the technical win where I had a weak pawns including one isolated. I resigned on move 51 (coincidentally, his age) and he signed my scoresheet. He scored 26 wins, 3 Draws and 1 defeat where he just blundered a piece in an even position.

I had been dreading the humiliation of being among the first to lose. I have not played a cross-board tournament in 16 years and to say I am rusty is an understatement. But, I did play quite well and was the last or near last opponent he had to finish off, which he did deep into the ending. I thought I had a draw, maybe even a win at one stage but as players dropped out he came around to my board quicker and quicker so in the end it was almost blitz and I had no chance against a GM. He played carefully and classically, waiting for his opponents to make errors. This is a very professional simul-style which makes use of a GMs superb knowledge and patience.

Simultaneous exhibitions are very tough on players: the Master has numerous games and positions to work out; the other players have to make moves quicker than they normally would in a proper game. As players fall away the situation approximates blitz conditions.

But I did enjoy the energy and need to think quickly and pragmatically which is a feature of cross-board play. Real chess, let it be said.

Because I was pleased with my effort I am starting to think quite highly of the Modern; even when played badly by myself, it provided lots of complexity and counter-chances, even against a GM of Short’s class.

Short’s official website is at https://www.facebook.com/GM.NigelShort

The following is analysis of the game from my friend Clive Murden (ICCF IM) who used his computer program/engine to clarify the position. I have retained some of the engine values assessing the variations. It is interesting to see what could have been played if more time had been available to the players. Even the GM missed some strong moves.

Short,N - Eraclides,G [B06]

1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nf3 b6 [3...d6 4.h3 Nf6 5.Nc3 0-0 6.Be3 c6 7.Bd3 Nbd7 8.Qd2 ...0-1, Eliet Nicolas 2434 - Bacrot Etienne 2725 , France 5/ 5/2005 Ch France (team) 2005; 3...d5 4.e5 c5 5.dxc5 Bg4 6.c4 Qa5+ 7.Nbd2 Nd7 8.cxd5 ...1-0, Svidler Peter 2735 - Chernyshov Konstantin 2569 , Voronezh 2003 Match; 3...c5 4.d5 d6 5.Be2 Nf6 6.Nc3 0-0 7.0-0 Na6 8.Re1 ...0-1, Pelletier Yannick 2589 - Morozevich Alexander 2758 , Biel 2003 It (cat.16); 3...Nf6 +0.29; 3...Nf6 +0.29] 4.c4 Bb7 5.Nc3 d6 6.Be3 e6 7.Bd3 Ne7 8.Qd2 0-0 9.h4 h5 10.Bh6 Nd7 11.0-0-0 e5?! [11...a5!? 12.Kb1 Nf6 13.Bxg7 Kxg7 14.d5 e5 15.Ng5 Bc8 16.Rhf1 Neg8 17.Be2 +0.80] 12.d5? [12.dxe5! Nxe5 13.Nxe5 dxe5 14.g4 hxg4 15.h5 Qd6 16.Nd5 Bxd5 17.cxd5 Rad8 +1.27] 12...Nf6?! [12...Nc5!? 13.Be3 a5 14.Kb1 Bc8 15.Be2 Bd7 16.g3 a4 17.Ng5 a3 18.b3 +0.37] 13.Bxg7 Kxg7 14.Ng5 Bc8 15.g3 Nh7?! [15...a5!? 16.Be2 Bd7 17.Kb1 Neg8 18.f3 Nh6 19.Rdf1 Qe7 20.Nd1 Rfb8 21.Ne3 +0.80] 16.Rdf1 f6?! [16...Ng8!? 17.f4 Nhf6 18.f5 Nh6 19.fxg6 fxg6 20.Bc2 Nhg4 21.Ba4 Kh8 22.Bc6 +0.89] 17.Nxh7?! [17.Ne6+!? Bxe6 18.dxe6 c6 19.f4 f5 20.exf5 gxf5 21.Be2 e4 22.Bxh5 d5 +1.45] 17...Kxh7 18.f4 Bg4 19.Nd1 Qd7?! [19...Ng8!? 20.Ne3 Nh6 21.Nxg4 Nxg4 22.f5 Qe8 23.Be2 Nh6 24.fxg6+ Qxg6 +0.76] 20.Ne3 f5 21.exf5?! [21.Nxg4!? fxg4 22.f5 Qe8 23.Qg5 Ng8 24.Rf2 Nh6 25.Rhf1 Rg8 26.Qf6 gxf5 +1.27] 21...Bxf5?! [21...gxf5!? 22.fxe5 dxe5 23.Rf2 e4 24.Be2 Qd6 25.Rf4 Bxe2 26.Qxe2 Qg6 27.Rhf1 +0.80] 22.fxe5 dxe5 23.Qc3? [23.Nxf5! Nxf5 24.Re1 Qd6 25.g4 Ng3 26.Rhg1 e4 27.Bxe4 Rae8 28.Bd3 Rxe1+ +1.22] 23...e4?! [23...Bxd3!? 24.Qxd3 Nf5 25.Nxf5 gxf5 26.Qe2 Qe8 27.Rf3 e4 28.Ra3 a5 29.Rc3 +0.11] 24.Be2 Bh3?! [24...Ng8!? 25.g4 Bxg4 26.Nxg4 hxg4 27.h5 g5 28.Qd4 Rae8 29.Rxf8 Rxf8 30.Qxe4+ +0.85] 25.Rf6? [25.Rfg1! Rf2 26.Qe1 Rf3 27.Bxf3 exf3 28.Qf2 Rf8 29.Re1 Kg8 30.Rh2 Nc8 +1.36] 25...Rxf6 26.Qxf6 Ng8?! [26...Nf5!? 27.Rxh3 Nxe3 28.Rh2 Ng4 29.Bxg4 Qxg4 30.Qf7+ Kh6 31.Qf2 Kh7 32.Qe3 +0.18] 27.Qg5 Nh6 28.Rd1?! [28.g4!? Bxg4 29.Bxg4 Nxg4 30.Rg1 Qf7 31.Nxg4 hxg4 32.h5 Rf8 33.hxg6+ Qxg6 +0.76] 28...Rf8 29.Rd2?! [29.Rd4!? Qe8 30.d6 cxd6 31.Qd5 Nf5 32.Rxe4 Qd7 33.Nxf5 Bxf5 34.Re3 +0.00] 29...Bf5?! [29...Qd6!? 30.c5 bxc5 31.Nc4 Nf7 32.Qe3 Qe7 33.a3 Bf5 34.Na5 Ne5 35.Nc6 -0.52] 30.Bd1 Nf7 [30...Qd6 31.Bc2 Ng4 32.Nxg4 Bxg4 33.Bxe4 b5 34.Qe3 Re8 35.Rf2 Qe5 36.Rf7+ +0.00] 31.Qf6 Qd6 32.Qxd6 Nxd6 33.Rf2 Kg7 [33...a5 34.Kc2 Kg7 35.Kc3 Kf6 36.g4 hxg4 37.Nxg4+ Kg7 38.Ne3 Rh8 39.h5 +0.33] 34.Kd2 [34.b4 Rf6 35.c5 bxc5 36.bxc5 Nb7 37.Rc2 Bh3 38.Kb2 Rf7 39.a3 Kh6 +0.68] 34...Bd7?! [34...a5!? 35.Kc3 Kf6 36.g4 hxg4 37.Nxg4+ Kg7 38.Ne3 Rh8 39.h5 Bd7 40.Rg2 +0.33] 35.Rxf8 Kxf8 36.Kc3 Ke7 37.Kd4 Kf6 38.b4 Nf5+?! [38...c5+!? 39.dxc6 Bxc6 40.Bc2 Bb7 41.a4 Ke6 42.Bd1 Ba8 43.Bb3 Kf6 44.Bc2 +0.85] 39.Nxf5 Bxf5 40.c5 Ke7?! [40...e3!? 41.Be2 Bb1 42.a3 bxc5+ 43.bxc5 Ba2 44.Bf3 Bb1 45.Bd1 Bc2 46.Be2 +1.27] 41.Be2 Kf6 42.a3 Ke7 43.Ke5 Kd7 44.Bf1 a5 45.Bb5+ Ke7 46.bxa5 bxa5 47.Bf1 Kd7 48.Kd4 Kc8 49.Bg2 Kd7 50.Bxe4 Bxe4 51.Kxe4?! [51.c6+!? Kd6 52.Kxe4 Kc5 53.a4 Kd6 54.Kd4 Ke7 55.Ke5 Ke8 56.d6 Kd8 +156.50] 1-0

As you can see I avoided humiliation by playing ugly/hard moves in a defence which tends towards complexity and counterattack. I also worked very hard at the board, making sure not to miss any obvious threats and losing a piece or conceding an early checkmate. Also I was lucky and I will take that every time.

Until next time pilgrims may you have good fortune.

Why be ordinary?

Why do ordinary players remain ordinary? Is it because they lack the exceptional talent of good players? Sure. But that is not the only reason. Ordinary players can become far better than they are. In fact some like Lasker believed that following the right course of study anyone could reach Master strength. More recent teachers of chess (Purdy, Dvoretsky, Polgar, Ziyatdinov etc...) also believed that the right study will significantly improve anyone. If you have the talent as well as the right course of study, you will become a chess master.

But there is a problem. Human nature. Too much choice. Wanting things quickly without doing the work required.

Recently I was having another look at the great (perhaps greatest) teacher of chess, Siegbert Tarrasch. His book ‘The Game of Chess’ (1931) is still in print (Dover Books have a current copy). He wrote in that book that he had developed an innovative way of teaching chess compared to the manuals of his day.  He adhered to essentials, taking a total beginner to a stage where he/she would be a good player, and then able to go on improving according to their innate talents. He began with the elements (how the pieces move) then endgames, the middle-game and only finally the openings. It makes sense to master simpler forms, dealing with basic patterns, before tackling the complexities of the opening.

I picked up my copy and had a look at the openings Tarrasch discussed. I thought they were still of use to an ordinary player as a starting point to looking at modern ideas. Then it hit me. What I was doing wrong. Why I had not given myself the chance to reach my potential best. I was reversing Tarrasch’s methodology. Skipping ahead to the instant gratification of what opening ideas I could use. Not willing to follow his lesson plan. Cheating myself and disrespecting Tarrasch. How dumb is that?

I think that is what happens with many ordinary players who never become good players. Today’s players are spoilt by the myriad of openings books, databases, DVDs on openings and the idea that if you know an opening or a variation you can crunch your opponent. Having deep knowledge is seen as slow and ponderous compared to the panache of reeling off 20 moves and seeing your opponent squirm at your opening surprise.

What I should have done when young, and what young players can do today (even older players) is taken the time to go through the lesson plan of a great chess teacher (Tarrasch, Lasker, Purdy, Dvoretsky, Mednis, whoever is reputable and understandable), as they outlined it. Patiently absorbing the knowledge, learning the basics, step by step. In the case of Tarrasch, learn the basic endings, then the middle-game key combinations and patterns, before looking at the openings, studying great games and putting into practice his teachings. It may have taken 6 months, maybe a year to do? That is very little over a lifetime of playing chess. What a great investment in yourself.

It is of course what talented players lucky to be part of a sophisticated chess culture have done in the old USSR and in chess-advanced countries today. The chess teachers instruct and the students learn. By the time they start to play competitively they instinctively know the right thing to do. But we ordinary players can also improve and at any age. Just follow the program. What has been shown to work. Put aside your arrogance and impatience. Pick up the book of instruction and go through it as you are supposed to do. Invest the time. It really works.

I have recently gone back to Tarrasch’s book. There is a lot of wisdom in it and a genuine love of the game. This time I am starting to read it from the beginning.

Here is one of my favourite instructive games of Tarrasch, worth playing over a number of times for the Rook ending:

Manchester Tournament (1890) 

French Defense, Tarrasch Variation

Tarrasch Versus Thorold

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 c5 4. ed5 Qd5 5. Ngf3 cd4 6. Bc4 Qh5 7. O-O Nc6 8. Nb3 e5 9. Ne5 Qd1 10. Rd1 Ne5 11. Re1 f6 12. f4 Bb4 13. Bd2 Bd2 14. Nd2 Bf5 15. fe5 O-O-O 16. Bd3 Bd3 17. cd3 fe5 18. Rac1 Kb8 19. Re5 Nf6 20. Rce1 Rhe8 21. Re8 Ne8 22. Re7 a6 23. Nb3 b6 24. Nd4 Rd4 25. Re8 Kc7 26. Re3 Kd7 27. Kf2 g6 28. Rh3 h5 29. Ke3 Rd6 30. d4 Re6 31. Kd3 Re1 32. Rg3 Re6 33. Re3 Rd6 34. Re5 Rf6 35. a4 Rf2 36. Re2 Rf6 37. b4 Rf1 38. Re5 Rf2 39. Rg5 Rf6 40. h3 Kd6 41. Ke4 Re6 42. Re5 Rf6 43. d5 Kd7 44. Rg5 Kd6 45. Rg3 Ke7 46. Rf3 Rd6 47. Ke5 Rd8 48. d6 Kd7 49. Rf7 Kc8 50. Rc7 Kb8 51. Rc2 Re8 52. Kf6 b5 53. d7 Rh8 54. Ke7 Rh7 55. Kd6 Rh8 56. Re2 1-0

Here is an instructive drawn game played between two ordinary players on a chess server in a correspondence chess tournament where no computer assistance is allowed. It makes a nice change and is more sporting. Dare I say, more authentic?

CCLA Bicycle Event B39, 2015-2016

Lam Choong Wai, Edwin (White, rated 1908) versus Eraclides, George (Black, rated 1889)

Ruy Lopez, Open Variation

1.e4 Nc6 2.Nf3 e5 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Nxe4 (Tarrasch believed that 1...e5 was the best reply to e4 and that the Open Variation the most principled variation in the Lopez) 6.d4 b5 7.Bb3 d5 8.dxe5 Be6 (this is best practice and known for decades. Black has mobility in return for a little looseness in his position; White is compact, castled and ready to uncoil) 9.c3 Bc5 (this move can lead to risky sacrifices on f2 but they did not seem sound to me. Instead, I played this variation because I liked the way this Bishop pinned the f2 Pawn and could not easily be driven off; but it has some disadvantages)10.Nbd2 O-O 11.Qe2 (he now threatens to win a Pawn and illustrates one of the disadvantages of Bc5 – the c5 square is not available for the night on e4) Nxd2 12.Bxd2 Qd7 (I believe the great Lasker played this move in an exhibition game he won, planning to open the centre after centralising his Rooks. It seemed to me a sound idea as well but I was not wholly pleased with my position just the same) 13.Rad1 Rae8 (maybe a little better was 13...Na5 first 14.Bc2 Nc4 15.a4 (15.Bc1!?) Nxd2 16.Rxd2 c6 17.axb5 axb5 18.Nd4 with a slight plus but perhaps Black can do something on the a-file) 14.a4 (this is why I was concerned. In the Lopez, White always uncoils and goes on the attack somewhere. If Black is not ready he /she will go under. At least Black has a little more space than in other Lopez variations) Na5 (best; 14...f6 just fails to 15.axb4 axb4, 16.QxP Bxf2+ 17.RxB Rb8 and White is better) 15.Bc2 Nc4 16.axb5 Nxd2 17.Rxd2 axb5 (hoping the two Bishops will balance Black’s prospects; 17...Qxb4 18.Bd3!) 18.b4 Bb6 (Black wants to keep the pin onto f2, the only plus in his favour) 19.Qd3 g6 20.Nd4 (very annoying) c6 21.Kh1 (getting out of the pin but as the game will show, the Bb6 retains an essential dynamism and arguable, saves the game for Black as will be seen) f6?! (is this a brave move? Black’s Pawns on the Queen side are obviously weak but 21...Bxd4 22.cxd4 Bf5!? 23.Qc3 Rc8!? 24. Bxf5 Qxf5 leaves c6 vulnerable but it is hard to see how White can ever break through) 22.f4 fxe5 23.fxe5 Rxf1+24.Qxf1 Rf8 (I began to see a glimmer of hope thanks to Lasker’s idea back on move 12.) 25.Rf2 Rxf2 (I offered a Draw here but it was declined. White should have taken it but he misjudged the position forgetting an essential point made by Tarrasch in his book ‘The Game of Chess’ as well as Purdy in his time) 26.Qxf2 Qa7! (the power of the Pin. Yes, he moved the King but placed his Queen in the line of fire anyway) 27.h3 Qa1+ 28.Kh2 Qxc3 29.Qf6 (the only move to avoid defeat) Bxd4 (best because it pins the e4 Pawn and the Qc3 defends c6. He now has to play for the perpetual check. If he tries anything cute he loses e.g. 30.Qxe6 Kg7 31.Qd7+ Kg8 32.e6? Be5+ 33.g3 (if K moves Qe1 mate) Qxg3+ 34.Kh1 Qh2+ mate) 30.Qxe6+ Kg7 31.Qf6+ Kg8 32.Qd8+ Kg7 33.Qf6+ Kg8 34.Qd8+ (White offered a Draw which was accepted) 1/2-1/2

Until next time may the spirit of Tarrasch look over you. And you better do as he tells you to do or else!

The best of the best

Hi Pilgrim,

In my opinion there are nine chess champions who are the greatest of all time, superior even to other world champions or players who could have been champions.

The criteria I use are that the player must be recognised as the champion or be accepted as the best player whether or not the title of ‘champion’ was in use at the time; and the player must be clearly superior to his contemporaries for a substantial period of time, not just a flash in the dark and later just a first among equals.

The nine players are, in alphabetical, not strength, order:

Alekhine, Botvinnik, Capablanca, Fischer, Lasker, Karpov, Kasparov, Morphy, and Steinitz.

I think any fair assessment would agree that these players meet the criteria I have set. You may argue others like a Philidor or Tal should be in the list. However, I think the players above have the edge in reputation over all other champions to date. In the future there will be others to add to the list. Carlsen is likely to be the tenth player but only time will tell whether he will meet the criteria.

Nine players over a time span of about 165 years works out as one every 18 years or approximately two per generation (a generation is 30 years). Very interesting – we get two new superb players every generation.

Below is a little known game of Capablanca, which won a brilliancy prize against one of the Corzo brothers, famous in Cuba at the time it was played, and keen rivals of the young genius. It was played 102 years ago, at a tournament in Havana, Cuba, February 15, 1913.

What I find fascinating about this game is the brilliant tactical ideas of Capablanca (see moves 7, 10, 15, and 23) in a game that has the look and feel of a ‘boots and all’ club game between bitter rivals. It looks to me as though the Corzo brothers must have thought they could knock over Capablanca with aggressive tactics but they misunderstood the essence of his strength: Superb positional judgment allied to tactical awareness second to none. Alekhine knew this from bitter experience and only managed to defeat the great Cuban with positional play and substantial preparation (something Capablanca never did – seriously prepare).

Because a player chooses a positional or initially conservative approach, does not mean he or she cannot handle sophisticated tactical play as well. Beware the apparent mouse that roars!

Juan Corzo Versus Jose Raul Capablanca (1913)

Old Indian Defence

1. d4 Nf6 (Capablanca occasionally tried ‘Indian style’ defences, as known in his day) 2. c4 d6 3. Nc3 Nbd7 4. e4 e5 5. f4 (Needlessly aggressive; better is g3 or Nf3) exd4 6. Qxd4 Nc5 7. Be3 Qe7! 8. Nd5 (If 8. Bd3? Ne3 or if 8. e5 Ng4)  Nxd5 9. exd5 Bf5 10. Nf3 (Perhaps he should have Castled long) g6! (If now 11. Qxh8 Qxe3+ 12. Kd1 Ne4) 11. Kf2 (Castling long was still worth a try) Rg8 12. Re1 Bg7 13. Qd1 Ne4+ 14. Kg1 (The King’s Rook remains blocked and missing in action the whole game) Kf8 (Safer than Castling long) 15. Bd4 g5!! (Capablanca gave the following variations: 16. Nxg5 Bxd4+ 17. Qxd4 Nxg5  18. Rxe7 Nh3++; 16. fxg5 Nxg5 17. Rxe7 Nh3+ 18. gxh3  Bxd4++; 16. fxg5 Nxg5 17. Nxg5 Bxd4+ 18. Qxd4 Qxe1; and best is 16. fxg5 Nxg5 17. Bxg7+ Rxg7 18. Nxg5 Qxg5 with the better position) 16. Bxg7+ Rxg717. Nd4 Bd7 18. f5 (More careful is 18. Bd3 f5 19. Bxe4 fxe4 20. f5)  Qe5 19. Qd3 Re8 20. Ne6+?! fxe6 21. fxe6 Rxe6!! (Prepared much earlier by Capablanca) 22. dxe6 Bc6 23. Qf3+ Qf4! (A Queen exchange strongly favours Black: 24. Qxf4 gxf4 25 h4 (if 25. Bd3 Nc5 26. Bf1 f3 and if 27. g3 f2) 25...f3 26. Rd1 f7+ 27. Kh2 Ng3 28. Rd2 Nxh1 29. Rxg2!) 24. Qe3 Ke7 25. b4 b6 26. b5 Bb7 27. g3 Nd2! (Bad is 28. gxf5 gxf5+ 29. 30. Qg3 fxg3 wins; His only chance was: 28. Bg2 Qxe3+ 29. Rxe3 Bxg2 30. Kxg2 Nxc4 31. Rc3 d5 with still good chances for Black – a player of his class and two safe Pawns up) 28. Qc3? Nf3+ 29. Kf2 Qf8! (Decisive; now comes a last desperate flurry from White) 30. c5 Ne5+ 31. Kg1 Nf3+32. Kf2 bxc5 33. Qa5 Ne5+ 34. Kg1 Qf3 35. Qxc7+ Kf6 36. Qxd6 Qxh1+ 37. Kf2 Qxh2+ 0-1

Notes by the great chess writer, Fred Reinfeld.

Until next time.

Miles to go to find St George

One of my favourite players from the 1970s through to the 1990s was the English GM Tony Miles. He was the first English player to gain the GM title, a very difficult task in an era when there were not so many tournaments and Elo ratings were not as inflated as today. He had victories over World Champions Karpov, Spassky, Smyslov as well as Candidates like Larsen, Geller, Korchnoi and other giants of the game. At his best, he was in the top ten strongest players in the world. He did not prepare much off the board, not with the intensity of the average grandmaster, and this eventually counted against him in the era of computers and hordes of advisors employed by leading players. He never made it to a Candidates tournament and it is not clear that his low prep approach would have been sufficient in match play if he had made it.

Nonetheless, he was a superb player, positionally aggressive, tactically highly resourceful in the middle-game and an excellent player in the endgame. He liked to try off-beat but sound openings in order to get players out of their comfort zone (book theory). The annotations to his own games are very much worth reading for the average player because they show how to think about your position rather than what theory says should happen, and rarely does, in the real topsy-turvy battles on the board.

His most famous victory was against Karpov when he was World Champion and at his best. Miles as Black played the St George Defence (1.e4 a6!?). Apparently Karpov was not amused, perhaps insulted, that such a dreadful move would be played against a player of his stature. Miles obtained a reasonable position as Black and in fact when on to defeat Karpov when overreached (maybe wanting to teach Miles a lesson?) and blundered. Miles won a straightforward ending even you and I, dear reader, could have won.

Here is the game. Maybe the St George should be played more often.

Kapov V Miles Skara 1980 Euro Team Ch St George Defence. Annotations by Miles.

1. e4 (Karpov is always at home in well-known theoretical lines so it is best to avoid them. A couple of years ago I had a ridiculous!? idea of an all-purpose defence to anything but as yet had not found a suitable opponent to test it on. Now, I decided, was as good a time as any) 1 .... a6!? 2. d4 b5 (By this time the spectators' laughing was becoming embarrassing) 3. Nf3 Bb7 (It's only 1 ... b6 with a bit more space really!?) 4. Bd3 Nf6 5. Qe2 e6 6. a4 c5!? 7. dc (If 7 e5 c4 is unclear) 7 ... Bxc5 8. Nbd2 b4 9. e5 Nd5 10. Ne4 Be7 11. 0-0 (I expected Bg5) 11 ... Nc6 12. Bd2 (Now if Bg5 f6 and a quick 0-0-0) 12 ... Qc7 13. c4 bc 14. Nxc3 Nxc3 15. Bxc3 Nb4 16. Bxb4 Bxb417. Rac1 Qb6 18. Be4 0-0 (Black has a perfectly reasonable position. Now White tries to force matters prematurely) 19. Ng5 h620. Bh7+!? Kh8 21. Bb1 Be7 22. Ne4 Rac8 23. Qd3? (Presumably an oversight. The battery looks threatening but never gets time to operate) 23 ... Rxc1 24. Rxc1 Qxb2 25. Re1 (25. Rc7 was the alternative but even then Black has a wide choice of strong continuations) 25 ... Qxe5 26. Qxd7 Bb4 27. Re3 Qd5 (Forcing a winning ending. The rest is technique) 28. Qxd5 Bxd5 29. Nc3 Rc8 30. Ne2 g5 31. h4 Kg7 32. hg hg 33. Bd3 a5 34. Rg3 Kf6 35. Rg4 Bd6 36. Kf1 Be5 37. Ke1 Rh8 38. f4 gf 39. Nxf4 Bc6 40. Ne2 Rh1 + 41. Kd2 Rh2 42. g3 Bf3 43. Rg8 Rg2 44. Ke1 Bxe2 45. Bxe2 Rxg3 46. Ra8 (I now sealed ... Bc7 but Karpov resigned without resuming)

Source: 'Play the St George' by Michael Basman, Pergamon Press, 1982.

He also liked to play the English Defence against 1.d4 (1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6!?), not just as a patriotic gesture but because he believed it was quite reasonable and could catch out the average GM or IM who prepare for the more common defences. Be aware that if you want to play the English Defence after 1.d4 you need to be prepared to also play the French, should your opponent reply 2.e4 to your 1...e6.

Here is a little gem of Miles with 2...b6.

Ogaard V Miles, Reykjavik, 1978 English Defence

1. d4 e6 2. c4 b6 3. d5 Qh4 4. e3 Nf6 5. a3 Bb7 

6. Nf3 Qh5 7. de6fe6 8. Be2 Qg6 9. Nh4 Qh6 10. Bf3 

Nc6 11. g3 g5 12. e4 Ne513. Bg2 Qg7 14. f4 gh4 

15. fe5 Ng4 16. Bf4 O-O-O 17. Nc3 Bc518. Qd2 Ne5 

19. b4 h3 o-1

What can we average players learn from the games of Miles? How to form and execute a strategic plan; simply marvel at his tactical endings; that there is life after computers just as there was before computers (BC); innovation and surprise can unsettle any player; and many opening the ‘authorities’ deem questionable are no such thing in the real world of weekend tournament chess with quick time controls; lastly, his resourcefulness in difficult positions.

Geoff Lawton has edited a superb book on the life and games of Tony Miles, titled ‘Tony Miles: It’s only me’ published by Batsford in London, 2003. If you can find a copy, get it.

Miles suffered from diabetes and was taken away from us in 2001 at a relatively young age (1955-2001). He was a player eschewing much preparation and computer analysis, preferring to mix it on the board, and producing some marvellous games that are his legacy for all time.

Inspired by Miles I tried his English Defence as Black in a server game. Alas I am no Tony Miles and I only obtained a draw. I had a safe position and all the winning chances. Not bad for Black.

The game was played in a Team Event, Argentina versus Australia in 2013 played on the ICCF Webserver.

German Fernadez (1971) Versus George Eraclides (1971) Board 18

English Defence

1. d4 e6 (Miles played this only when he was confident his opponent would not go into a French Defence, which he did no like) 2. c4 b6!? (The !? marks are a tribute to Tony Miles; they describe both his style and the status of the English Defence) 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 Bb7 5. g3 Be7 6. Bg2 Ne4 (Both players have played sensible, solid, moves. Correct now is either Qc2 or even Nxe4) 7. O-O (Apparently he does not mind the doubled Pawns but in fact they are a great weakness in almost all cases. In the rest of the game I simply followed Nimzovich’s advice on how to deal with such a ‘Pawn Complex’, reminiscent of the Samisch Variation in the Nimzo-Indian) Nxc3 8. bxc3 O-O 9. Qd3 (Intending a quick, central development and advance but it does not work out that way) Nc6 10. d5 Na5 11. Bf4 Ba6 (I could feel the presence of the shade of Nimzovich as I made this move or perhaps it was just a trick of the light) 12. Nd2 Rc8 13. e4 Bg5 (A clever plan to neutralise the White centre, leaving behind the doubled Pawn weakness) 14. Bxg5 (Necessary. Already the problem of defending the doubled Pawn  restricts White’s strategic options) Qxg5 15. f4 Qe7 16. Rf2 (He wants to be able to play a Bf1 to defend the weak Pawn complex and still be able to get Rooks into the centre to generate some play) exd5 (We are taught to capture towards the centre but here the Ba6 pin makes it impossible) 17. exd5 Rfe8 18. Bf1 Qe3 19. Rc1 d6 (Black now cannot lose and he may even win. 19...Qxd3 first is not better: 20. Bxd3 Re3 21. Bf1 Rae8 22. c5 seems unclear) 20. Qxe3 Rxe3 21. Re2 Rxe2 22. Bxe2 Re8 23. Kf2 f5 (Taking e4 away from the White Knight) 24. Bd3 g6 25. Re1 Rxe1 26. Kxe1 (draw offered by White and accepted) 1/2-1/2

I accepted a draw because I thought the pieces were locked into entrenched positions in a demilitarised zone where any move by one frees the other to move or capture material. Therefore no piece moves, and the Kings and Pawns also counter each other, with no chance to penetrate. Perhaps Black could have done better earlier; maybe he should have played on.

Still, a half point from a position of strength with Black, having played a supposedly dubious defence, is achievement indeed.

Thanks Tony Miles (RIP).