MEMBERS' GAMES

White: J. Groot-Lipman
Black: Mike Bateman
D9502 Nimzowitsch Defense B00

1.e4 Nc6 2.Nc3!? g6 3.d4!

Now...e5 has to be prepared because of the advancing d-pawn.

3...Bg7 4.Be3 d6 5.Qd2 Nf6 6.h3 0-0 7.0-0-0 a6 8.d5 Na7 9.g4! b5 10.Bg2 Bb7 11.Nge2 c5 12.Ng3 Qa5 13.Kb1 b4 14.Nce2 Nb5 15.Bh6! Nxc3+ ! 16.bxc3 bxc3 17.Qxc3 Qb5 + 18.Qb3 Bxh6 19.c4! Qd7 20.Kc2 Rab8 21.Qa3 a5 22.f4 Bg7 23.g5 Ne8

It seems strange that White is chasing Black back to the squares needed to regroup.

24.h4 Ba6 25.Rb1 Rxb1 26.Rxb1 Bxc4 27.Rh1 Nc7 28.Bh3 Nb5! 0-1

(Since Black will lose a second pawn, either after 29.Bxd7 or 29.Qc1. Of course 29.Qa4? loses the Queen to 29...Nd4+.)

I would like to take the time, to thank all of my opponents in D9502. If I played well, it was because they made me, not to mention the two that got carried away.

Ron Nelson of Paris, Ontario submitted the following interesting game from an ICCF Master class tournament. Ratings are ICCF.

White: Torsten Bialas (2240) (Germany)
Black: Ron A. Nelson (2140)
ICCF WTM-647
Nimzo-Larsen Attack A01

1.b3

(The Nimzo-Larsen Attack, first played by Nimzowitsch in the 1920s, and then employed by GM Bent larsen starting in the 1960s. As typical of all Flank openings, the idea is control of the center indirectly, avoiding moving the center pawns too early.)

1...e5

(The most often seen, but other moves have been tried eg: 1...d5; 1...Nf6; 1...b6; 1...b5; 1...d6; 1...c5; and 1...f5.)

2.Bb2 Nc6 3.e3 Nf6

(3...d5!? 4.Bb5 Bd6 5.f4?! {5.c4!? or 5.Nf3!? are better} 5...f6! 6.Qh5+?! {6.fxe5?!}

6...g6 7.Qh4 Bd7{7...exf4 8.Nf3 Kf7 9.0-0 Nce7 10.g4 h5!, Haessler-D. Pineault, NAICCC VI, CCYB 5/2} 8.Nf3 e4 9.Bxc6 bxc6 10.Nd4 c5 11.Ne2 Be7 12.g4 h5! 13.Rg1 Rh6 14.g5 fxg5 15.fxg5 Bg4 -/+, 0-1, in 29 - Haessler-Barnes NATT II, bd 7 CCYB 10/7)

4.Bb5 d6 5.Ne2 Bd7 6.0-0 a6 7.Bxc6 Bxc6

Although White's seventh move is 'book' one has to wonder if it is in his best interests to have exchanged. Black's Bishop is, if anything, stronger at c6 than his Knight; and White has yet to activate his Queen Knight.

8.d4 Qe7

Black blocks in his King Bishop, but prevents White from gaining control of the center.

9.c4 g6 10.d5

The books say 10.a4. White's choice forces Black's Bishop off the h1-a8 diagonal, but allows the e-pawn to block his Queen Bishop. (After 10.a4 ECO gives: 10...Bg7 11.Nd2 h5 = Bellon-S. Garcia, Palma de Mallorca 1971.)

10...Bd7 11.Ng3 Bg7 12.Nc3 0-0 13.Qc2 Ng4 14.h3 Nh6

Seemingly Black has wasted a tempo to move his Knight to a weaker position.

15.e4 f5

The reason for Black's errant Knight; an attempt to make the f-file the game's battleground.

16.exf5 Nxf5 17.Nxf5 Rxf5 18.Ne4 Raf8

Note how Black's position, which appeared rather cramped four moves earlier, is now open and developed. Note also how White's advance of his Queenside pawns gave him only temporary flexibility. Moreover that diagonal line of pawns is actually providing protection for Black's King, making the early advance of the f-pawn a far safer action to take.

19.Qd2 Qh4

Attacking White's casteled position, but there is no immediate threat if White marshals his pieces.

20.Rae1 Bh6 21.Qa5!?

Seeking to diffuse Black's attack by forcing him to pull back his Rook to c8.

(Best was 21.Qc3 with the idea of Qg3; if 21..Bf4!? 22.g3!?/?!, but I haven't worked out all the lines. It may not work. 22.Bc1!? unclear.)

21...b6!?

A move White later admitted he never expected.

22.Qxa6?

White gains material and threatens further depredations of Black's Queenside pawns, but it is a blunder. White's Queen will be no more ative in the remainder of the game than if it had been removed from the board. (Again necessary was 22.Qc3!?)

22...Rf4!? 23.Bc1

Not the tempting 23.g3 because of 23...Qxh3 24.gxf4 Bxf4 25.Ng3 Bf5 threatening Be4.

23...Bxh3!?   (see diagram)

Offering White a choice of sacrificial lambs.

24.Bxf4 Bxf4 25.Ng3

If 25.gxh3 then ....Qxh3 26.Ng3 Rf5 with the threat of Rh5, and White could only respond with a futile check or two.

25...Bf5 26.Ra1

A desperate move to save the King Rook, hemmed in by its own allies. 26.Rd1 is answered by 26...Bc2. Even Letting Black take his Rook for Bishop does not help, for White's Queen requires at least two moves to get back into useful play.

26...Bd3 27.Rfd1 Bxg3 28.fxg3 Qxg3 0-1

White has no defense. An object lesson (abject lesson?) in the dangers of letting one's Queen become isolated from the primary theater of battle.

Tim Knechtel returns to our pages with a game from our match with CCLA.

White: Tim Strauch
Black: Tim Knechtel
CCCA vs CCLA Bd 7
St-George Defense C00 (?)

1.e4 e6 2.d4 a6!?

Black announces that he will play the St George Defense.

(Michael Basman has been given credit with much of the current theory regarding this rather unusual opening sequence of moves. I believe he even published a book on this opening. The opening has gone by various other names: "Birmingham Defense"; "The Basman Opening"; "Baker's Defense" and Karpov's infamous "Incorrect Opening" "The St-George Defense" is Michael Basman's name for it. Black intends to expand on the queenside with an early b5, with the Queen Bishop often being deployed to b7, putting pressure on White's center. To me it seems a hybrid of the French and Sicilian Defenses. It certainly has surprise value in otb, but my impression, though, is that, at least, at the top level in CC , it's not employed too often.)

3.Bd3

(3.Nf3 first is perhaps a bit more common. 3.c4!? )

3...b5 4.Nf3 c5

(The characteristic move of the Sicilian.)

5.c4?!

(5.dxc5?! would simply help Black catch up in development. However, GM Julian Hodgson has used 5.c3!? to defeat Basman on at least two occassions.

5... bxc4 6.Bxc4 cxd4 7.Nxd4 Bb7

White has lost control over the centre and now Black can catch up in development by threatening White's exposed pieces.

8.Nc3 Qc7 9.Qe2!?

Perhaps 9.Bb3 or 9.Bd3 were better.

9...Bb4! 10.Bd2 Nf6 11.Nc2

If 11.e5 then 11...Bxc3 12.Bxc3 (12.exf6? Bxd4!) 12....Ne4 and Black is fine.

(11.f3!?)

11...Bxc3 12.Bxc3 Nxe4

Black wins a pawn.

13.Bxg7 Rg8 14.f3!

White can't allow 14...Rxg2

14...Nd6! 15.Be5!

Forced or else White loses a piece.

15...Qxc4 16.Bxd6 Qxe2+ 17.Kxe2 Rxg2+ 18.Ke3 Nc6!

I didn't like the looks of 18...Rxc2? 19.Rag1 f5 20.Rg8+ Kf7 21.Rf8+ Kg6 22.Rg1+ Kh5 23.Rh8! and Black is trapped in a mating net.

19.Rhg1 Rg6 20.h4 Ne7!

Hoping White might trade of his killer Bishop at d6.

21.Nd4!

This frees up White's King from defending the pawn at f3 and enables White to make use of the open c-file.

21...Nd5+ 22.Kf2 Nf6

Prevents 23.h5 and covers the g8 square.

23.Rac1 Rh6 24.Rc5!

Threatens 25.Rcg5!

24...Rg6 25.Rcg5 Bd5 26.a3 Rc8 27.Ke3 Kd8 28.Kd3 Ne8 29.Bh2?!

29.Bb4 might have been better.

29...Ke7 30.b4 Nd6 31.a4!?

This pawn turns out to be critical 50 moves later.

31...Nc4 32.Rb1

This move prevents 32...Nb2+ and 33...Nxa4.

32....Rxg5 33.hxg5 Nb6 34.Ra1 Rc4 35.a5!

35.b5? Rxa4 36.Rxa4 Nxa4 37.bxa6 Nc5+ 38.Ke3 Nxa6 looks good for Black.

35...Nc8 36.Rb1 Na7

Trying to prevent 37.b5

37.Be5

37.b5? axb5 38.Nxb5 Nxb5 39.Rxb5 Rh4 {39.Bg3? Rh3!} 40.Rb2 Bxf3 and Black is winning.

37...d6 38.Bf6+ Kd7 39.Rh1 e5!

Setting up 'un petite combination'.

40.Nc2 Bxf3 41.Rxh7 Be4+ 42.Kxc4 Bxh7 43.Ne3 Kc6

This keeps White's Knight out of d5 because 44.Nd5 is answered by 44...Bd3+ 45.Kxd3 and Kxd5 and Black's passed central pawns should win.

44.Nd1 d5+

Taking advantage of White's King position.

45.Kb3 Kd6 46.Nb2 Nb5 47.Bg7? Nd4+ 48.Kc3 Nf3 49.Bf6 e4 50.Nd1 Bf5 51.Ne3 Bh3 52.Nc2 Bf1 53.Nd4! Nh4 54.Nc2

Eyeing the important e3 and e1 squares.

54...Ng6 55.Kd4 Nf8 56.Be5+ Kc6 57.Bf6 Bh3 58.Be7 Ng6 59.Bd8 Be6!

This moves allows Black's King to become active.

60.Bb6 Kb5 61.Bc7 Nh4 62.Ke5 Kc4 63.Bb6 Nf3+ 64.Kf6 d4 65.g6! fxg6!   (see diagram)

Paradoxically, Black's only winning chances involve giving up his Bishop.

66.Kxe6 d3 67.Ne3+ Kxb4 68.Kf6?

White misses his chance to play 68.Kd5! Ne1 69.Nxe4 Kc3 70.Bc5 which looks like a draw.

68....d2! 69.Kxg6 Nh4+

This move keeps the white King off of the f5 square.

70.Kf6 Ng2! 71.Nd1 Kb3

Of course not 71...e3? 72.Bxe3 Nxe3 73.Nxe3.

72.Be3 Kc2 73.Bxd2

White's only chance to survive!

73...Kxd2 74.Ke5 Kxd1 75.Kxe4 Kc2 76.Kd4 Ne1!   (see diagram)

Black's must be able to maneuver his Knight to b4 to win.

77.Kc5 Nd3+ 78.Kc4 Nc1 79.Kc5 Na2 80.Kc4 Kb2 81.Kc5 Kb3 82.Kc6 Kc4 0-1

(A splendid endgame!)

As reported in the FALL issue, the CCCA lost long time member and good chess friend to many members, former Canadian Closed Champion, Martin Emig of Victoria, BC. in July of 1997. By way of a small tribute to Martin we conclude with a few games submitted by Peter Peto of Summerland, BC and Andrew Pressburger of Toronto, Ontario.

Peter Peto writes: I am a retired geologist who has largely played casual chess for the last 36 years and correspondence chess since 1994. I selected this game not only as a memorial tribute, but also for its personal drama (reversal of fortunes).

White: Martin Emig
Balck: Peter Peto
R9401
Italian Game C55

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6

(3...Bc5 is also quite popular.)

4.d3!?

(More aggressive are 4.d4 and 4.Ng5, but the text has been seen quite often in recent years as well. Other moves are: 4.0-0; and 4.Nc3. On 4.Ng5!? d5! 5.exd5 b5!? 6.Bf1 Nd4 7.c3 Nxd5 8.cxd4 Qxg5 9.Bxb5+ Kd8 10.0-0 Bb7 11.Qf3 Rb8 12.Qg3 Qxg3 13.hxg3 exd4 = {Byrne} A. Shabalov-A.Ivanov US Championship 1996.)

4... Be7

A rather timid placement of the Bishop in contrast to the natural ..Bc5.

(ECO gives only: 4...d5 and 4...h6 at this point, but a recent CC game went 4...Bc5 5.c3 d6 6.b4 Bb6 7.a4 a5 8.b5 Ne7 9.Nbd2 Ng6 10.0-0 0-0 11.Bb3 c6 12.Ba3 Re8 13.Qc2 Nh5 14.Nc4 Bc7 15.Ne3 Nhf4 16.Rfe1 Nh4 17.Nxh4 Qxh4 18.g3 Nh3+ 19. Kg2 Qf6 20.Qe2 Qg6 21.Kh1 Kh8 22.Ng2 Bd8 23.f4 f5 24.fxe5 Rxe5 25.Nf4 Nxf4 26.gxf4 Re7 27.e5 Bc7 28.Qg2 Qe8 29.Rg1 g6 30.exd6 Re2 31.Bc5! 1-0, Krabec-Miksatko, CS CC Championship 1989/90, CCYB 2/238.)

5.0-0 0-0 6.Nc3!?

(This resembles a Four Knight's Game without d4 being played by White. White normally playes 6.c3 with the idea of Re1 and d4 to follow. A game from the 14th World CC Championship Semi-finals/sec.3: Steinsapir-Sorri continued: 6.Bb3 d6 7.c3 Nd7 8.Be3 Bf6 9.d4 Ne7 10.Ne1 Ng6 11.Nd3 Re8 12.Nd2 Ndf8 13.f4 exf4 14.Nxf4 Nxf4 15.Bxf4 Be6 16.Bg3 Ng6 17.Bxe6 Rxe6 18.Qf3 Qf8?! {18...Qd7, Cimmino), 19.Qg4 c5 20.d5 Ree8 21.Nc4 Rad8 22.Rf5 b5 23.Na5 b4 24.cxb4 cxb4 25.Rxf6! gxf6 26.Nc6 Ra8 27.Re1 Kh8 28.Qf5 1-0, CCYB 15/239.)

6...d6 7.Bg5

(7.h3 Na5 8.Bb3 Nxb3 9.axb3 c6 10.Ne2 Ne8 11.g4 g6 12.Ng3 d5 with the idea of ...f5 = ECO)

7...Be6 8.Bb3 Qd7 9.Bxf6 Bxf6 10.Nd5 Bd8

A move prompted by inordinate fondness for Bishops.

11.c3 f5?!

A risky and antipositional move made to open lines of attack.

12.exf5 Rxf5 13.g4?!

The challenge is reciprocated in kind.

13...Rf7?!

I will regret this. 13...Rf8 was safer.

14.Ne3 d5 15.Re1 a6

To prevent the devestating pin 16.Ba4.

16.h3 Bf6 17.c4!

A crippling blow to the integrity of my center

17...d4

If 17...bxc4 18.Nxc4 +/-.

18.Nd5 Bxg4?!

A speculative and perhaps unsound sacrifice which becomes evident as the game unfolds.

19.hxg4 Qxg4+ 20.Kh1 Raf8 21.Nh2 Qh3 22.Qf3 Qh6 23.c5! Bg5?!   (see diagram)

If 23...Kh8 24.Ne3 dxe3 25.Bxf7 exf2 26.Qxf2 Rxf7 27.d4 might still have been a better try, but it leaves me the exchange down.

24.Nxc7 Bf4 25.Qg2 Nb4 26.Ne6!

Better than 26.Bxf7+ Rxf7 27.Ne8 Nxd3 -/+.

26...Kh8 27.Nxf8 Rxf8 28.Rad1?!

A natural rresponse which overlooks my next move.

28...Rf5! 29.Be6 Rg5

On 29...Qxe6 30.Qxb7 Rh5 31.Qb8+ Qg8 32.Rxh2+ Kg1 leaves Black the exchange down.

30.Qh3 Rh5 31.Qf3 Rxh2+ 32.Kg1 Qg6+ 33.Qg4 Rh6! 34.Re4 Qxe6 35.Qxe6 Rxe6 36.a3 Nc6 37.Kg2 Kg8 38.b4 Ne7 39.Ree1 Nd5 40.Rb1 Nc3 41.Ra1 Kf7 42.Kh1 h6 43.a4 Rc6 44.b5 axb5 45.axb5 Nxb5?

Now I spoil my game with an ill considered "if" move: 45...Rxc5 was correct.

46.Reb1

Now if 46...Rxc5 47.Ra5 draws.

46...Ra6!?

Demoralized and exhausted I lost the taste for battle and I sue for peace after s struggle which Martin characterized as a "comedy of errors". Draw Agreed. A possible continuation might have been 47.c6 [or 47.Rxa6 bxa6 48.Ra1 Nc7 with winning chances; obviously 47.Rxb5 Rxa1 48.Rxb7+ Kf6 with 49...Rc1 also has winning chances] 47...Rxa1 48.cxb7 Rxb1 49.b8=Q Nc3 50.Qc7+ , hoping for a perpetual check on the white squares.

Arthur writes: I frist had the pleasure of playing Martin Emig in a class tournament which commenced at the beginning of 1990. From the start he proved to be a friendly, prompt, and a sporting opponent. I managed to win one of our games whilst drawing the other. I considered these scores flattering as Martin had the highest rating in the section. While this event was still in progress he asked me if I would be interested in a private match. We agreed to play two games, Martin winning both of them, repaying me for the previous loss with interest. In the course of these encounters, I learned to respect and like him more and more, even though we never met in person. He wrote to me that he was born in the German industrial city of Dusseldorf in the early 1930s, settling in Canada in 1959. When I suggested that perhaps I could practice my feeble German with him during our correspondence he readily and good-naturedly agreed even if the noble experiment had to be terminated unilateraly (by me) in short order.

In the following game, he finds a resource in an utterly lost position delivering a psychologically, paralysing knockout punch.

White: Arthur Pressburger
Black: Martin Emig
P9140 1991-92
Spanish/ Archangel Variation C78

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 b5

(The early ...b5 move characterizes a variation in the Spanish called the Archangel. Nowadays it's almost as popular as 5...Be7.)

6.Bb3 Bb7

(6...Be7 may transpose to the main line after: 7.Re1 d6 8.c3; 6...d6)

7.d4 exd4

(This moves is considered by theory to be inferior to 7.Nxd4)

8.e5 Ng8

From here, his game is going from bad to worse. (On 8...Ng4 9.h3 Nh6 10.Bxh6 gxh6 11.Bd5 Bg7 12.Re1 0-0 13.Nd4 +/-, Euwe.)

9.c3(!?)

(On 9.Nxd4 , probably best is 9...Bc5 or 9...Nxd4. Bad would be 9....Nxe5? when White has two strong replies 10.Re1 or 10.Qh5.)

9...dxc3 10.Nxc3 Nge7 11.Ng5! Nxe5 12.Re1 Nc4 13.a4 c6 14.Qh5! g6 15.Qf3 f5 16.Bxc4 bxc4 17.Nce4 ! Bg7 18.Nd6+ Kf8 19.Nxb7 Qc7 20.Nc5 Qd6 21.Nge4 Qc7

Hereabouts I expected Martin to resign. Since, however the other game was still in progress, he thought he might as well continue and try his luck in this one.

22.Bf4 Qa7 23.Bd6 Re8 24.Ng3 Kf7 25.Bxe7 Rxe7 26.Rxe7+ Kxe7 27.Qe2+ Kd8 28.Qxc4 d5 29.Rd1 Re8! 30.Nxa6??? Re1+! 0-1   (see diagram)

I suppose White could have still continued the game by playing 31.Nf1. I was so blinded by the sudden blow that I failed to consider this move. We have lost a friend, and a true gentleman. May his quiet serenity be an example to all.