MEMBERS' GAMES

I have had an encouraging response to my call for games the past few months or so and I want thank all those who took the time to annotate their gems and sent them in to me. It is efforts such as these that helps keep this column going. Please keep them coming with your analysis and and comments. And as always I welcome a brief biographical sketch as well.

There have been a number of Champions crowned in the past few months and I want to unofficially announce them here. The 3rd Québec Open Correspondence Chess Championshp(QOCCC) came to end in the Fall of 1996 with yet another tie for first; this time a three way tie with Martial Larochelle, Philippe St-Amour and Alain Vanasse each scoring 5.5 - 2.5 (see crosstable below). Each took home an equal share of the $142.50 prize fund. The 5th QOCCC preliminaries got under way on 23 October 1996 and the 4th QOCCC Final started on 15 November 1996 with the following finalists: Michel Lauzon, Martial Larochelle, Robert Giroux, Philippe St-Amour, Al Fichaud, Penka Apostolov, Marc Bergeron, Sylvain Laplante, William Roach, Andre Lorrain, Steve Fillion, Pierre Boulerice (withdrew early), and Valori Ethier. Mario Adriano won K-50 with an impressive score of 11.5-1.5 and becomes our newest Canadian closed Champion. Finally Gordon Greig and Bradley Julien shared toped honors in the 1989 Nation wide Open Final (4th Canadian Wide Open Correspondence Chess Championship) scoring 10.5-2.5 each.

Gordon Greig has also won the 1990 Nation wide( 0-90) open as well. Below are a sampling games from these events.

Unfortunately the following game is the only one I have by one of the winners, and it was Alain's only loss, and not a particularily impressive one either by White. However, it is game from the final, and Black does display some interesting maneuvering to score the point.

White: Alain Vanasse
Black: Paul Rouleau
3rd QOCCC Final 1994-95
Sicilian Defense/Kopec System B50

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.Bd3

(The Kopec system.)

3…Nc6 4.c3 d6

(4…g6 is an alternative.)

5.Bc2 Qc7 6.d4 a6 7.0-0 Nf6 8.Nbd2 Be7 9.Nb3 e5 10.d5 Nb8 11.Bg5 h6 12.Bh4 Nd7 13.Rc1 Nf8 14.Bg3 g5 15.Nfd2 Ng6 16.Nc4 h5 17.f3 h4 18.Bf2 Nf4 19.Ne3 b5 20.Qe1 N6h5 21.Kh1 Bd7 22.Qd1 Ng3+! (see diagram)

23.hxg3

(Forced since 23.Kg1? Nfe2+! nets the queen.)

23…hxg3+ 24.Kg1 gxf2+ 25.Kxf2 c4 26.Nbd2 Qc5 27.Rh1 0-0-0 28.b4 Qb6 29.Rxh8 Rxh8 30.Nf1? Rh1!

(Now both of White's Knights are pinned.)

31.a4 g4 32.fxg4 Bh4+ 33.g3 Qd8 34.Ke1 Bxg3 35.Kd2 Bf2 0-1

(If 36.Qf3 Qh4! With the idea of Bxe3 - +.)

Gordon Greig believes the following game to be his best effort in 0-89.

White's pieces are remarkably active and in perfect cooperation with each other, allowing White to initiate a stunning series of sacrifices.

White: Gordon M. Greig
Black: Pierre Gladu
0-89
Sicilian defense/Dragon Variation /Yugoslav Attack B76

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be3 Bg7 7.f3 0-0 8.Qd2 Nc6 9.0-0-0

This now enjoys Nunn's blessing (Beating the Sicilian 3 by Nunn & Gallagher.) In editions #1 & #2 he had recommended 9.Bc4 and 9.g4 thinking the text overly aggressive since, with best play, Black may win the race to mate.

9…Nxd4

9…d5 has become the new favourite.

10.Bxd4 Be6 11.Kb1 Qc7

Black cannot play 11…Qa5 immediately since 12.Nd5 wins the e-pawn. Black plans to immediately vacate d8 and f8 to enable a later Kf8, securing a critical tempo should the White Knight land at e7.

12.h4 Rfc8

(An Attractive alternative is 12...Rb8 13.h4 b5 14.h5 b4)

13.h5 Qa5 14.hxg6 hxg6

14…fxg6 is seldom played - the resulting triple pawn islands are too much of an endgame liability merely to secure the h-file's closure.

15.a3 Rab8 16.Bd3 Bc4 17.Be3

This move is usually credited to Golubov, although I seem to remember its being played earlier by Geller. It's odd that 17.Be3 is so rarely played or analyzed. The attempt to exchange the Dragon Bishop on the h or g-flies fits well with White's standard offensive and defensive strategies. It's odd too that Nunn and Gallagher don't even mention it, given their dim view of White's attacking prospects. 17.Bc4 Bf6 offers no "critical test" of Black's defensive set-up. The "unexplored" (!)17.f4 and 17.g4 will be well answered by the counter-attacking 17…b5.

17…b5

Perhaps inspired by Nunn. Golubov in annotating Mishovski-Niemand, 1987 corr.NIC vol. 11 SI 17.10, considers 17…Bxd3?! 18.cxd3 +/- , probably the safest since the h-file press is too leisurely given White's c2 weakness; 17…Nh5?! 18.Bxc4 Rxc4 {18…Bxc3 Qd5!} 19.Nd5+/-; 17…Ne8 and 17…Nd7 give rise to more complex strategies. Sapi and Schneider in their book Sicilian Dragon: Classical and Levenfish, p.200, claim that 17…Nd7 is Golubov's recommended reply while Ward, usually an ardent Black optimist, endorses 17…Nd7 - "if all else fails" Winning with the Dragon, p. 140. I'm not at all convinced that 17…Ne8 nor 17…Nd7 are all that satisfactory, but must await another day and a willing Dragoneer.

18.Bh6 Bh8

Black cannot permit or initiate the Bishop exchange giving up h6.Blaocking the h-file with 18…Nh5 is not viable e.g. 19.Bxg7 Kxg7 {19…Nxg7 20.g4 + -}20.g4 b4 21.Nd5 +- (Golubev)

19.Nd5

Now that Kf8 is no longer possible.

19…Qd8

Forced. If 19…Qxd2 20.Nxe7+ Kh7 21.Bxd2+ + -.

20.Bg5 Nxd5 21.exd5 Qf8?

The Queen's contribution is wholly illusory. Better are 21…Bg7 or 21…Be5. Both vacate and control h8. Be5 shields the precarious e-pawn and might provoke White to play 22.f4 shutting off the diagonal d2-h6; the counter-attack 21….Bxd3 is met by 22.Rxh8+ Kxh8 23.Bf6+ dxf6 24.Qh6+ Kg8 25.Rh1. The text gives White a vital tempo and access to g7.

22.Rxh8+ Kxh8 23.Rh1+ Kg8

23…Kg7 24.Qc3+

24.Bh6 Qe8 25.Bg7!(see diagram) Kxg7

25…f6 26.Qh6+ + -; 25…f5 26.Bxf5 gxf5 27.Qh6 Bxd5 28.Qh7+ Kf7 29.Rh6 + -; 25…Bxd5 26.Qh6 f5 27.Qh7+ Kf7 28.Bxf5 + -; 25…Bxd3 26.Qh6 f6 27.Qh7+ Kf7 28.Bh6+ .

26.Qh6+ Kf6 27.Qf4+ Kg7 28.Bxg6 Qf8

28…Kxg6 29.Qh6+ Kf6 30.Rh5; 28…fxg6 29.Qd4+! Kf8 {29…e5 30.dxe5+ep. Kf8 31.Qf6+}; 28…Qg8 29.Qh6+ Kf6 30.Bh7+ Ke5 {30…Qxg6 31.Bxg6 fxg6 32.Qf4+ Kg7 33.Qd4+ Kf7 34.Rh7+ Ke8 35.Qe4 Rb7 36.Qe6 Kd8 37.Rh8+ Kc7 38.Qc8+ Kb6 39.Qc6+ Ka5 40.b4+ Ka4 41.Qa6.} 31.Rh5 + -.

29.Qh6+ Kf6 30.Qh4+ 0-1

30…Kg7 31.Bf5; 30…Ke5 31.Qe4+ Kf6 32.Qf5+ Kg7 33.Rh7+ Kg8 34.Bf7+;

and 30…Kxg6 31.Qg4+ Kf6 32.Rh5.

Mario Adriano, our new Canadian Correspondence Chess Champion, submitted the following game from K-50. He promises to submit additional annotated games for our enjoyment.

White: Mario Adriano
Black: Stephen Cavender
K-50 1994-1996
French Defense/Advance Variation C02

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5

The advance variation, one of my faourites lines in the French Defense.

3…c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Qb6

(The text is the old main line which puts immediate pressure to bare on d4. An interesting alternative, though is 5…Bd7!? Harding credits this move as Euwe's recommendation.)

6.a3

(6.Be2; 6.Bd3!? leads to the highly interesting Milner-Barry Gambit which we examine next, Bateman vs. Lorrain.)

6…c4

(6…f6!? 7.exf6 Nxf6 8.Be2 Bd6 9.0-0 0-0 10.b4 cxd4 11.cxd4 e5! , Dempster-Kubach, corr. Finjub/IM CCYB 14/160.)

7.g3

(Or 7.Nbd2)

7…f6!?

(A move enjoying considerably attention these days. 7.Na5 is considered the main move trying take advantage of the weakenned b3 square, but there may not be so much urgency in playing this right away according to the latest theory.)

8.Bh3!?

The Normal line here is 8exf6 Nxf6 9.Bg2. Nowadays, the text is becoming more popular.

8…fxe5 9.Nxe5 Nxe5 10.dxe5

These exchanges favor Black, I found out later. Stephen seems to have a good knowledge of this opening.

10…Bc5 11.Qh5+

The purpose of this move is to weaken Black's kingside.

11…g6 12.Qe2 Bd7 13.a4 a5 14.0-0

Examining the position, both sides appear to have a solid defense. Black is more offensively positioned, even though his King is exposed.

14…Ne7 15.Bh6 0-0-0

Black still maintains the advantage. The Queen has pressure on the b2 and f2 pawns, but both sides have their own obvious weaknesses.

16.Kh1 Nf5 17.Bg5

I don't want to part with my Bishop yet. Besides, it is the only piece other than Queen, which has more activity.

17…Rdf8 18.g4 Ne7 19.Bf6 Rhg8 20.g5 Nf5

I could say here, this is the reason why I don't want to part with my Bishop. It pretty much renders Black's two rooks useless, at least temporarily.

21.Qc2 Bc6 22.Kg1

Better than 22.f3 because after 22…Ne3 23.Qc1 {not 23.Bxe6+? Kb8 24.Qc1 Nxf1 25.Bxg8 Rxg8 and wins.} 23…Re8 24.Rf2 Ng4 with a much better game for Black. Black is still enjoying the upper hand carried out from White's selected inferior line.

22…Qc7

Not a good move. Black should keep the pressure on f2. Better is 22…d4 23.Nd2 24.Qb1 Bd5 with a winning position; the threat being 25…Ne3. If 25.Bxf5 gxf5, White is in even more danger.

23.Nd2 Qd7 24.Rfd1

Strengthening the defense of the d-file.

24…d4 25.cxd4

Not 25.Nxc4? Qd5!

25…Qxd4!

This move surprised me. It took me 8 days to reply to this move. From here on, I decided to spend extra days on this game. Suddenly, I realized that this game became crucial due to my bid for first place.

26.Nxc4 Qh4 27.Nd6+ Kb8 28.Rd3!

The best move available to White. I couldn't find any other better or equal strength.

28…Ne3+

28…Bxd6 is not good because of 29.exd6 Rxf6 30.gxf6 Nd4 31.Qd1 Qe4 32.f3 with advantage to White. With the text, it is very difficult to assess who has the advantage. My guess it is about even.

29.fxe3 Qxh3 30.Qe2 Bd5 31.Rc1

This move made a slight difference in White's favor. Analyzing the position, all of White's forces are well placed, as well as Blacks', except the Rook on g8. This piece is really out of play. Maybe this made all the difference.

31…Bb6 32.b3 h6 33.gxh6 g5

Strephen has been consistently producing new ideas. I thought I had slowed down Black's attack, but somehow, he comes up with new offensive moves!

34.Nc4 Ba7 35.Qf2

35.Nxa5 is very tempting, but strategically, my Knight would be out of play as the cost of gaining the pawn.. I also considered 35.h7 and 35.Nd2, but I didn't like my position after 4or 5 moves.

35…g4 36.Qg3

Trying to eliminate the potential checkmate. Also this move will help ease the pressure exerted by the two Bishops.

36…Qxh6 37.Nd6 Bc6 38.Rc2 Qh7 39.Rdc3 Rg6 40.Nc4 Rh6 41.Nxa5

I took the bait this time, but I couldn't find any other move.

41…Bd5 42.Kf1 Qe4!(see diagram)

An excellent move. I was expecting 42…Rh3 which I would have replied with 43.Qxg4 Rxe3 with advantage.

43.Qg2

Here I was prepared for a draw if Black so chose. 43…Qf5+ 44.Qf2 Qe4 45.Qg2, etc. I believe this is the best line for Black. Black's position does appear to be better and Stephen, therefore chose to play for the win.

43…Qf5+ 44.Qf2 Qg6?

With this move the advantage swings completely to White. Black missed maintianing the advantage with 44…Rxh2 45.Qxf5 Rh1+ 46.Ke2 exf5 47.Be7 Rh2+ 48.Kf1 Rxc2 49.Rxc2 Rg8,

45.Qf4!

An excellent positional move, defending the e3 and h2 pawns, preventing Qe4 again and the threat of playing Qb4. White attains solid defense for his King.

45…Be4

Good move. Black is still on the offensive, but the intensity has fizzled out somewhat.

46.Ke1!

Threatenning 47.Be7!! followed by Bd6+

46…Bb6

Black cannot play 46…Bxc2 because of 47.Qb4!, with the threat of mate and the rook on f8, 47…Qf7 48.Nxb7 Ka8 49.Nd6! and White has an enormous advantage with excellent winning chances.

47.Nc4 Bc5 48.Rc1 Bf3?!

Better was 48…Bb4 From here Black will be in a difficult position.

49.Nd6!

After seven days and nights of analyzing the position I couldn't miss this good move. 49.Nd2 is also good. For example: 49…Be7 50.Qd4 Qh7 51.Nf1 with a winning position. The text is decisive.

49…b6 50.b4 Rxh2

Another bad move. It seems Stephen is playing too hard, resulting in desperation. Better was 50…Qh7 51.R3c2 g3 52.h4 g2 53.Rxg2 Bxg2 54.bxc5 with advantage, but still no clear cut win.

51.Qxh2 Bxb4 52.e4 Rc8

A desperate move. Black is hoping White will play 53.Nxc8 Qxe4+ 54.Kf1 Bxc3 55.Rxc3 Qb1+ 56.Kf2 Qb2+ 57.Kg3 Qxc3 and Black is still alive.

But White has a better plan, nail the Black Queen on g6.

53.Qd2! Rc5 54.Qb2 Ba5

54…Bxc3 simply loses to 55.Rxc3.

55.Kf2 Rxc3 56.Rxc3 Bxe4 57.Rc8+ Ka7 58.Qc1 b5??

A blunder.

59.Qc5+ Ba6 60.Rc7+ 1-0

What a seesaw battle. I was lucky.