MEMBERS' GAMES

Once again this column will be a little shorter than usual. It will return to its normal length for the FALL issue.

It is gratifying to know that at least a few of you are looking at my notes and analysis to the games that I feature, even when it is pointed out that I was in error. In the game Bogle-Turcot (see issue #522, pages 13-15), Bill Bogle of Rothesay, New Brunswick graciously pointed out that after 23.h4 my suggestion of 23...Rd7 instead of 23...Kh5 does not quite work.

If you recall I had suggested the continuation: 24.Rxd7 Nxd7 25.Bd3+ f5 26.g4 Nf6 27.h5+ Kg5 28.Be3+ f4; or 24...Bxd7 25.Bd3+ Kh5 26.Rxd7 Bxd7 26.Bf6 with White winning a piece, but Black having four pawns as compensation. Bill says simply: 24.Bd3+! refutes my idea, instead of having to play 24.Rxd7?! and it seems he is correct, eg: 24...Kh5 25.g4+ Kxh4 26.Bf2+ Kg5 27.Be3+ Kh4 28.Kg2 with the idea of Rh1#.

I saw this, though, but I thought that perhaps Black can still get away with sacrificing his Knight after: 25...Kh3 instead, 26.Rxd7 and Bill says: with the idea Re1 and Bf1#. Yes, so Black is now forced to play 26...Nxg4 since 26...Bxd7 loses to 27.Re1 and Bf1# to follow. I think 26...Nxg4 forestalls the mate for awhile, but White will be up a full rook for maybe four pawns. I must confess I still have not looked at this position too closely, nevertheless upon reflection I do not think Black will have enough material and positional compensation for the rook minus. Besides there appears a good chance that White may pick up another piece as well. At least Black is not mated quickly after the Knight sac (I think), but probably just forestalls the inevitable for a little while. Thanks Bill for your input. Please note that the diagram after 16.Qe3! should have had the Knights on c5 and e4, and of course it should have been 15.Nfxe4. My error.

Along with his challenge to my analysis Bill also submitted a brief bio and an annotated game. Bill writes: "I was born July 10, 1962 and learned to play chess around the age of 6. My first CFC tournament was at the age of 12. I signed up for my first CC event, the 1989 Nationwide Open, in an effort to improve my OTB chess, but quickly discovered that correspondence chess is an addiction all its own! Besides the chess, it is nice to meet people from all over the world. Playing CC has made me a better chess player - one of my best victories was over Mario Adriano in K-48 (a lengthy Schliemann) which I submitted to the "Game of the Year" contest a couple of years back. One of Phil Northover's games derservedly won the contest, but I wanted to mention it because I don't think the players of the other 3 submitted games were mentioned and so were unknown. I am married, with 2 children and work as a computer programmer."

"The following game is inaccurate, but was a fun one to play, against an interesting opponent."

White: Bill Bogle
Black: Pierre Gladu
1989 Nationwide Open (O-89) 1993-95
Sicilian Defense/Dragon Variation B78

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.Bc4 Bd7 10.0-0-0 Rc8 11.Bb3 Ne5 12.h4 Nc4 13.Bxc4 Rxc4 14.h5 Qc7

The main alternative is 14...Nxh5 15.g4 Nf6 with a complicated game in store and lots of theory to read over.

15.g4 Rc8 16.hxg6 fxg6 17.Kb1 b5 18.Qh2

The usual move here is 18.Nd5 leading to roughly equal play. The text is from BCO2 and is evaluated as +/=.

18...Rxc3!

To prevent Nd5.

19.bxc3 Qxc3 20.Rd3

(If 20.Bg5 h6 21.Bxf6 Bxf6 22.Qd2 (22.Qxh6?? Bxd4 - +.) Bxd4 23.Qxd4 Qxc2+ 24.Ka1 Kh7 25.Rd2 Qc3+ 26.Qxc3 Rxc3 27.Rdh2 Rxf3 28.Rxh7+ Kg7 and Black has the edge. However, White can obtain the draw by repetition with 21.Bxh6 Nxg4 22.fxg4 Bxd4 23.Rxd4 Qxd4 24.Bg5 Qb4+ 25.Kc1 Qa3+.)

20...Qc4

Berserk is 20...Qb4+ 21.Nb3 a5 22.Bd2 Qa3 [on 22...Qc4 23.Rc3 looks good for White.] 23.e5!?, heavily relying on Bc1 to save the day in most variations, eg: if 23..dxe5 24.g5 looks strong, and if 23...Nh5 24.gxh5 Bxe5 25.Bc1 + -.

21.Bg5 Qf7 22.Qd2 Qc4

On 22...Rc4 I was considering 23.Qa5 eyeing the pawn at a7 and check on d8. However, White has to be wary of a timely, Ra4 by Black.

23.Qh2 Qf7 24.Bc1

Avoiding repetition by 24.Qd2.

24...a5 25.Bb2 b4 26.Nf5

Interesting, but probably dubious. I had this in mind when I played Bc1, but overlooked Black's defense.

26...gxf5 27.g5 Ne8

Obvious, but I had over looked it.

28.Qxh7+ Kf8 29.g6 Qg8 30.e5!(see diagram)

Muddying the waters.

30...Be6

If 30...Bb5 31.exd6! Nxd6 [on 31...Bxd3 dxe7+] 32.Bxg7+ Qxg7 33.Rxd6! exd6 34.Qh8+ Qg8 35.Qf6+ wins.

31.exd6 exd6

Maybe 31...Bxa2+ is better.

32.Re1 Rc7

If 32...Bxa2+ 33.Ka1 Bc4 34.Rde3 Nf6 35.Qh4 Nd5 36.Re7! +/-.

33.Rde3! Bxa2+

33...Re7 is met by 34.Qxg8+.

34.Ka1 Bxb2+

If 34...Nf6 35.Qh4 looks winning. Also 34...Be5 35.Qh6+ Ng7 36.Bxe5 dxe5 37.Rxe5 + -.

35.Kxb2 Qg7+

If 35...Rxh7 36.Rxe8+ wins. 35...Ng7 is met by 36.Qh4.

36.Qxg7+ Nxg7 37.Kxa2 Rxc2+ 38.Kb3 Rg2 39.Ka4 Rxg6 40.Kxa5

White's advantage is decisive, but with only one pawn left I have to be very careful.

40...Rg3 41.Kxb4 Kf7

My notes on 41...f4 are as follows: 42.Ra3 Kf7 [42...Nf5 43.Re4 + -] 43.Re4 Ne6 [43...Nh5 may be better.] 44.Ra7+ Kf6 45.Rd7 Ng5 [45...Rxf3? 46.Rxd6 + -] 46.Rxd6+ Kg7 [46...Kf5 47.Rd5+ : a) 47...Kf6 48.Rxf4+ Ke6 49.Rdf5 + -; b)47...Kg6 48.Rxf4 Rxf3 {48...Nxf3 49.Rd3 + -} 49.Rg4 + -]; 47.Re7! Kf8 48.Ra7 Ke8 49.Rb6 Nf7 50.Rb8+ Nd8 51.Raa8 + -.

42.Kc4 f4 43.Ra3 Nf5 44.Kd5 Ne3+ 45.Ke4 Rg6

If 45...Nc2 46.Ra7+ will win.

46.Rh1 Rf6 47.Ra8 d5+ 48.Kd4 1-0

Things are bleak, for example: 48...Rf5 49.Rh7+ Kg6 50.Rc7 Rf6 51.Rg8+ Kh6

[51...Kf5 52.Re7] 52.Ke5 Rf5+ 53.Ke6 with the idea of Rgg7 looks to have the (Black) King in a net.

As promised, here are three more annotated games from our New Canadian CC Champion, Mario Adriano.

White: Mario Adriano
Black: Joseph Deidun Sr.
K-50 1994
Alekhine's Defense/Modern Variation B05

1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.Nf3 Bg4

(The Modern Variation. Formerly, 4...g6 was popular, but now, 4...Bg4 has gained a following in the Alekhine's Defense.)

5.Be2

I've chosen this line, just because of its popularity.

(Alternatives are: 5.h3; 5.Bc4 {unusal this early, though}; 5.c4)

5...e6 6.0-0 Nc6

(More common is 6...Be7 and perhaps better.)

7.c4 Nb6 8.exd6 cxd6 9.d5

My book indicates that 9.Nc3 is interesting. If 9...Bxf3 10.Bxf3 Nxc4 11.d5! gives White a strong attack. But if 9...Be7 10.d5 Na5 11.dxe6 Bxe6 12.b3 Bf6 and Black has the better position. Therefore I chose to stay in the main line. It's too early to deviate.

9...exd5 10.cxd5 Bxf3 11.gxf3

I have weakenned my kingside by choice, but this has been proven a sound move. My book suggested 11.Bxf3 , but then 11...Ne5 is good, eg. 12.Be4 Be7 13.Nc3 0-0 14.Qc2 and White stands just slightly better. Besides, the line I followed has been analyzed over and over and it dosen't suggest that playing 11...gxf3 is inferior.

11...Ne5 12.Bb5+ Ned7 13.Qd4 Qf6 14.Re1+

Weaker is 14. Qxf6 gxf6 15.Nc3 0-0-0 16.f4 f5! 17.Bd3 Bg7 18.Nb5 Kb8 and Black stands better, Boleslavsky-Bagirov, Moscow 1956.

14...Kd8

Here Bagirov said this move is better than 14...Be7. After 14...Be7 15.Qxf6 gxf6 16.Nc3 a6 17.Be2 Ne5 18.f4 Rg8+ 19.Kf1 Ng4 20.Bd3; or if 16...Kd8 17.f4 f5 18.Bd3 Bf6 19.Bxf5 Bxc3 20.bxc3 Nxd5 21.Ba3. In both cases, White has the advantage, I must say Joseph is well informed in this line.

15.Qd1

The last move in my book. It's not very often I follow the book to the very last move.

15...Be7 16.Nc3 Rc8 17.a4 Ne5 18.f4 Qg6+

Both sides are playing well as if this was a key game in the tournament [later on, I learned that this was one indeed one of the key games.] At this stage of the tournament, I began to realize I had a good shot at the tournament. Out of 14 games, 11 were in my favor at this point. I decided, therefore, to put an extra effort in analyzing all my games.

19.Kh1 Ng4 20.Qe2

I considered playing 20.Qf3, but after 20...Qh5 21.h3 Nf6 22.Qxh5 Nxh5 23.a5 Nd7 Black has the better position. White's forces are uncoordinated. The text will temporarily postpone the movement of Black's King rook, which has yet to enter the game. (However, after 24.a6! b6 25.Be3 {planning Bc6 and Nb5} White appears to have the edge.)

20...Bh4 21.Be3

The position is so critical; a passive move is unacceptable. all moves have to be precise as the following exchanges dictate.

21...Nxe3 22.Qxe3 Qf5 23.Rad1 Nc4 24.Qxa7 Qxf4 25.Ne4!(see diagram)

This is the key move towards winning. If I played 25.Re4 I really do not know what will be the outcome of the game. It could have been different. For example: 25.Re4 Qf3+ 26.Kg1 Nxb2 27.Rb1 Qxc3.

25...Qf3+ 26.Kg1 Qg4+ 27.Ng3

A solid blockade. Black suddenly loses the momentum in the attack of White's King. He has to try another venue. In the process, White now has so much pressure on the queenside.

27...Bf6?!

A dubious move. Better is 27...Bxg3, but Black is running out of good moves.

28.h3!

Good move, with the idea of 29.Bxc4.

28...Qxh3 29.Rc1

Now, this is better than 29.Bxc4.

29...Be5

A desperate move. Black is hoping to play Bxg3 next.

30.Bxc4

Now is the time for this move.

30...Qg4

(Of course not 30...Bxg3? 31.Qb6+ Rc7 {if 31...Kd7 32.Bb5+} 32.Qxc7+! Kxc7 33.Bf1+ + -)

31.Qb6+ Ke7 32.Rxe5+ 1-0

If Black plays 32...dxe5 33.d6+. (If 33...Ke8 or 33..Kd7 34.Qxb7+ wins, and on 33...Kf6 34.d7+ wins.)

White: Martial Larochelle
Black: Mario Adriano
K-50 1994
Sicilian defense/Sveshnikov Variation B33

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5 6.Ndb5 d6 7.Bg5 a6 8.Na3 b5

I believe the idea behind this move is to put the Knight out of play for awhile.

9.Bxf6 gxf6 10.Nd5 f5

We have reached the same position with my game against Lawson (see next game), in the same tournament, however, I played 10...Be7 vs. Lawson. Both of these moves are in my book and no negative comments are made. Being very willing to learn more about this opening, was the reason why I chose this line.

11.Bd3 Be6 12.Qh5 Rg8!?

My Sicilian Pelikan books says this move is worth exploring. So I did. It looks very interesting.

13.g3!

Best reply.

13...h6!?

13...Nd4 is played in the main in the Pelikan Sicilian by Sveshnikov. For some reason, I decided to play 13...h6, which is the second choice in the bookk. ( Sveshnikov gives 13...Nd4 14.0-0-0 Rc8 15.Kb1 fxe4 16.Bxe4 b4! 17.Nxb4 Rg5 18.Qxh7 d5 as unclear, Loang Jinrong-Kindermann, Chicagoo 1983.)

14.c3 Rg4!?(see diagram)

End of book line. (It would appear so. Mario decides to go for an all out attack, starting with an exchange sacrifice. Sizief-Zade-Dolmatov, USSR 1979 continued: 14...Bxd5?! 15.exd5 Ne7 16.Qd1! e4 17.Be2 Bg7 18.Nc2 Qb6 19.a4! Rc8 20.axb5 axb5 21.0-0 +/- {Sveshnikov}.)

15.h3 fxe4

This move was risksy, but very well calculated. I spent several hours analyzing he lines. Black will have full control of the centre, where usually the battle in chess takes place. Black looks good after 5 or 6 moves.

16.hxg4 exd3 17.Ne3 d5

This is the important part of the sacrifice, including Black's next move.

18.Rd1 b4 19.Nb1 Qa5

Black is starting to control the game.

20.0-0

Good defensive move.

20...bxc3 21.bxc3 e4 22.c4

Good counter-move, preventing ....Qxa2

22...dxc4 23.Qxa5 Nxa5 24.Nc3

Finally, the Knight comes into good play.

24...Rb8 25.Nxe4 Rb2 26.Rdb1 Bg7 27.Nf5 Be5 28.Nc5?

A mistake. Better is 28. Rxb2 Bxb2 29.Rd1 Nc6 with just a slight advantage. Or if 29...Bd5 30.f3 Nb7 is my other choice.

28...Rxb1 0-1

After 29,Rxb1 Bxf5 30.gxf5 d2 Black wins easily.

White: Andrew Lawson
Black: Mario Adriano
K-50
Sicilian Defense/Four Knight Variation B33

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Ndb5 d6 7.Bf4 e5

This move is one of the exceptions to the fundamental rules of chess, not to play the same piece twice in the opening.

8.Bg5 a6

Sveshnikov variation.

9.Na3 b5

Another move is 9...Be6; being an aggresive player, I chose the text. Also this move will put the knight on a3 out of service for awhile.

10.Nd5 Be7 11.Nxe7

Normal is 11.Bxf6. I believe White chose the wrong time and move to get out of the book line.

11...Nxe7 12.Bd3 Bb7 13.Qe2

It is probably best to 13.Bxf6 doubling my f-pawn and weakening the kingside.

13...Nd7 14.b4

Preventing Nc5. 14.c4 is also payable.

14...f6

Up to this point, Black has a slight advantage.

15.Bd2 f5 16.c4 0-0

Good counter-play and better than 16...Nf6, eg: 17.exf5 Bxg2 18.Rg1 with advantage.

17.f3

This is not the real Andy I played against in the three previous Tournaments. Better is 17.exf5 Nxf5 18.Bxf5. The end result is much better than what happens after the text.

17...fxe4 18..Bxe4 d5!(see diagram)

The idea behind the exchange. It was an oversight by White.

19.cxd5 Nxd5 20.0-0

White continously playing inferior moves. Good is 20.Rad1 Rc8 21.Qd3.

20...N7f6 21.Bc2?

21.Rad1 is still playable. White did not anticipate my next move.

21...Nxb4! 22.Bb3+

(Of course if 22.Bxb4, Black regains the piece with 22...Qd4+.)

22... Kh8 23.Rad1

Too late.White has already lost a pawn with no compensation.

23...Qe7 24.Nb1

Finally, the Knight is activated, but probably it is already too late.

24...e4 0-1

After 25.a3 Nc6 26.Rfe1 Nd4 27.Qe3 Nxb3 28.Qxb3 Rad8 with an excellent position. Or if 25.Nc3 Rae8 26.fxe4 Nxe4 27.Rxf8 Qxf8 28.Nxe4 Bxe4 with an obvious advantage for Black. Andy, however, resigned unexpectly. The two lines given above are the two best for White. It is not crystal clear whether Black can pull a win, but certainly Black has a better chance of winning than for White forcing a draw.