READERS' GAMES

I hope that those members with internet access have been taking advantage of the CCCA's website service at: http://correspondencechess.com/marconi/ccca.index.htm

As usual before getting to this issues games there are a few news items to pass along. As of this writing there are only 12 games left outstanding in the NATT 4 tournament. Hopefully this tournament will be completed by the end of the year. Our team's current total is 55.5 points with 2 games remaining. (note: the Canadian team in the NATT 4 has completed play with 56 points.) We are in good position to secure another 3rd place finish in this prestigous international team tournament, but the French team is giving us a run for our money, and at 52.5 points with 4 games left, can still mathematically finish ahead of us. However, I'm still confident that we will prevail and place 3rd. I will present games from the NATT 4 over the next few columns. The 8th NAICCC is nearing completion with 9 games remaining. (note: 4 games remain in the 8th NAICCC). Jon Edwards and Paul Thompson of the US, both with 10.5 points, have secured a spot in the top 3 and thus have qualified for the next WCCC 3/4-Finals. Jon Edwards at this moment is already participating in the XIX 3/4-Finals which started on 1 June 1999. The start of the Pacific area Team Tournament 4 (PATT) had been delayed until July 5th. Our team in board order is: (1) Artur Mrugala, (2) Eugen Demian (3) IM Zoltan Sarosy (4) Ross Siemms, (5) Alan Fichaud and (6) William Roach. Manny Migicovsky and Michael Barkwell are the reserves. I am Team Captain.

The Paul Spinath Memorial tournament finally came to an end a short while ago. ICCF IM Michael Edelstein finished 1st with an undefeated score of 6/8, while Andre DeVriendt took 2nd also undefeated with 5.5/8. Andre also earned an ICCF IM norm for this performance. Below are a sampling of their games from this event.

White: ICCF SIM Michael Edelstein
Black: John Armstrong
Paul Spinath Memorial, 1994
Pirc Defense B07
Annotations by Ralph P. Marconi

1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Be3 c6 5.f3!?

(I believe this is a fairly recent move, but I don't know when it was introduced into practice and by whom. Alternatives are 5.Qd2; 5.h3; and 5.a4.)

5...b5

(5... Qb6 6.Qd2 Qxb2 7.Rb1 Qa3 8.Bc4 b5 9.Bxb5 cxb5 10.Nxb5 Qxa2 11.Rb3 Nc6 12.Ne2 Bg7 13.Kf2 Be6 14.Nec3 Qa5 15.Ra3 Qb6 16.Ra6 Qb7 17.Rha1 Bc4 18.Rxa7 Rxa7 19.Rxa7 Qb8 20.Ra8 1-0, Bibas - Russowsky corr. Brasilien-ch, 1975. 5....Nbd7!?)

6.Qe2

(Normal here is 6.Qd2. This move just seems to lose time, but since Black is behind in development it probably dosen't matter much. In a phone conversation I had with Michael, he confided in me that 6.Qe2 was actually a clerical error. He meant to play 6.Qd2)

6...b4 7.Nd1 Ba6 8.Qd2 Bxf1 9.Kxf1 a5 10.a3 Na6 11.Ne2 Bg7 12.axb4 axb4 13.Nf2 0-0 14.Nd3 c5 15.Kf2!

( If 15.dxc5?! dxc5 and Black's c-pawn is immune to capture by either the Knight or Bishop; eg: 16.Nxc5? Qxd2 17. Bxd2 Nxc5 - +; or 16.Bxc5? Nxc5 17.Rxa8 Ncxe4! 18.Qxb4 Qxa8 -/+ 19.fxe4 Qa1+ 20.Qe1 {20.Ndc1 or 20.Nec1 Bh6; or 20.Ne1 Ng4! or 20...Re1 and Black has positional compensation for the pawn minus.)

15...Qc8!?

(Black wants to reserve c7 for a Knight.)

16.Rhd1 Rd8 17.Kg1 Qb7 18.Bh6 Bh8 19.c3 Ne8 20.Nf2 Nec7 21.d5 bxc3 22.bxc3 Rdb8 23.Ng4 Ne8 24.Bg5 Bg7 25.Ra2 Qd7 26.Nh6+ Bxh6?! 27.Bxh6 Nac7 28.c4 Rb4 29.Rda1 Rab8 30.Qc2 e5 31.Nc1 f5?! 32.f4! fxe4 33.fxe5 dxe5

(Now White has a protected passed pawn, and Black's c-pawn is weak.)

34.Bd2 R4b7 35.Be3 Nf6

(Black cannot prevent the loss of the c-pawn, so he decides to protect his pawn on e4 instead.)

36.Bxc5 +/- Nce8 37.Qc3 Qc7 38.Ra5 Rc8 39.R1a4 Nd7 40.Bf2 Nef6 41.Qh3 Kg7 42.Be3 h5 43.Qe6 Nf8 44.Qa6 Ng4 45.Qxb7! Qxb7 46.Ra7 Qxa7 47.Bxa7 Ra8 48.c5 Nd7 49.Ra2 Ngf6 50.c6 1-0

(Since the advanced connected pawns win easily.)

White: ICCF SIM Michael Edelstein
Black: Donald A. Keast (AUS)
Paul Spinath Memorial, 1994
Caro-Kann/Classical 4...Bf5 B19
Annotations by Ralph P. Marconi

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3

(This is the main line. Alternatives are: 5.Bd3; 5.Qf3; and 5.Nc5!?, a move that was once recommended by Fischer and Bronstein among others. The lines arising from these moves haven't given Black much trouble.)

5...Bg6 6.Nf3

(6.h4 is often seen played first, but this often transposes back to the 6.Nf3 lines. Other tries are 6.Bc4, 6.N1e2 and the old 6.f4!?.)

6...Nd7 7.h4 h6 8.h5 Bh7 9.Bd3 Bxd3 10.Qxd3

(The main purpose of this line is for White to complete his development a bit faster than Black. Also White has created weaknesses in the pawn structure on Black's kingside making castling for Black on that side problematical, but not totally impossible.)

10...Qc7

(10...e6!? appears to be more fashionable these days. The idea of the text is to prevent the Bishop from coming to f4 and to prepare for castling long, which at one time was considered the only way to play. Now, however new theory has suggested that it may be alright, afterall for Black to castle short, which leads to more lively games, however, are not without risk for Black.)

11.Bd2

(11.Rh4!?, avocated by GM S. Gligoric. 11.0-0.)

11...e6 12.0-0-0 Ngf6 (This is an important starting position for this line in the Classical Caro-Kann.)

(This move was introduced by Seirawan in his game with Karpov in Tilburg 1983.) 13...0-0-0 and 13...Nxe4 are the older moves. 13... 0-0-0 14.g3 Nxe4 15.Qxe4 Bd6 16.c4 c5 17.Kb1 Nf6 18.Qc2 Qc6 19.Qd3!?N (?) 19...cxd4 20.Nxd4 Qe4?! [20...Qa6!? with the idea of...Bc5 was better.] 21.Qxe4 Nxe4 22.Be3 a6 23.g4 Rd7 24.f3 Nf6 25.c5! Bc7 26.c6 Rd5 27.cxb7+ Kxb7 28.Nb3 Rhd8 29.Nc5+ Kc8 30.Rc1 R8d6 31.Rc4 Rc6 32.Rhc1 Ne8 33.Ra4 a5 34.b4 axb4 35.Ra8+ Bb8 36.Na6 Rxc1+ 37.Kxc1 Rb5 38.Bf4 e5 39.Bxe5! Rxe5 40.Rxb8+ Kd7 41.Kd2 Nd6 42.Nxb4 f5 43.Nc2 fxg4 44.fxg4 Rg5 45.Rb4 g6 46.hxg6 Rxg6 47.a4 Rg5 48.Ne3 h5 49.gxh5 Rxh5 50.Kd3 Kc6 51.Rf4 Kc5 52.Rd4 1/2-1/2, Marconi-Fernand, NATT 4, Bd.8.)

14.Nxd6+ Qxd6 15.Rh4!?

( 15.Qe2 Qd5 16.Kb1!? Nh5 17.Ne5 Nhf6 18.f3 b5 19.g4 Rg8 20.Rhe1 Nb6 21.b3!!, Karpov-Seirwan, Tiburg, 1983, 1-0 in 43, Inf 36/186.)

15...b5 16.Kb1 Qd5

(16...a5 17.c3 Qd5 18.Re1 a4 19.a3 0-0 20.Qc2 Rfd8 21.Bc1 Kf8 22.Re3 c5 23.Ne5 cxd4 24.Rxd4 Nxe5 25.Rxd5 Rxd5 -/+ Hulak-Seirawan, Indonesia 1983.)

17.Re1 a5 18.Qa3 Nb6 19.Ne5 b4 20.Qg3 Kf8 21.a3 Qb5 22.Qh3 Nbd5 23.a4 Qa6 24.c4 Ne7 25.Rf4 Rc8 26.Qf3 Qb7 27.Rxf6!

(White decides to sac the exchange to open up Black's kingside.)

27...gxf6 28.Qxf6 Rh7 29.Bxh6+ Ke8 30.Bg5 1-0.

(If 30...Ng8 31.Qf3 and because Black's King is caught in the center of the board White has a clear advantage, if not a winning one.)

White: ICCF SIM Michael Edelstein
Black: Robert Cragg
Center-Counter Defense B01
Paul Spinath Memorial, 1994

1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Nf6 3.d4 Nxd5 4.Nf3 g6 5.Bc4 Bg7 6.0-0 0-0 7.c3 Nc6 8.Re1 Nb6 9.Bb3 Bg4 10.Bf4 e5

11.dxe5 Qxd1 12.Bxd1 Nc4 13.Nbd2 Nxb2 14.Bc2 Rfd8 15.Rab1 Nd3 16.Bxd3 Rxd3 17.Rxb7 Nd8 18.Rxc7 Ne6 19.Rc4 Nxf4 20.Rxf4 Be6 21.Ra4 Rxc3 22.Nd4 Bd5 23.f4 Rd8 24.Ne4 Bxe4 25.Rxe4 Bf8 26.h3 Rc1+ 27.Kh2 Bc5 28.Nf3 Rc8 29.Re2 Kf8 30.Kg3 Bb6 31.Rd2 Ke7 32.Ra3 R8c2 33.Rad3 Rxd2 34.Rxd2 Rc4 35.Re2 h6 36.Ne1 Ke6 37.Kf3 Rc3+ 38.Kg4 f5+ 39.exf6+ Kxf6 1/2 - 1/2.

White: Stephen Boyd
Black: ICCF SIM Michael Edelstein
Spanish/Chigorin Variation C99
Paul Spinath Memorial, 1994

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0-0 9.h3 Na5 10.Bc2 c5 11.d4 Qc7 12.Nbd2 cxd4 13.cxd4 Bb7 14.Nf1 Rac8 15.Re2 Nh5 16.a4 b4 17.b3 f5 18.d5 f4 19.Bd3 Nf6 20.Rc2 Qb6 21.Bb2 Nd7 22.Rxc8 Rxc8 23.N1d2 Nc5 24.Nc4 Nxc4 25.Bxc4 Bf6 26.a5 Qa7 27.Qe2 Rf8 28.Bc1 Rb8 29.Bd2 Bc8 30.Ne1 Bh4 31.Nd3 Nxd3 32.Bxd3 Qd4

33.Rf1 Bd8 34.Rc1 Bd7 35.Bxa6 Bxa5 36.Be1 Qb6 37.Ra1 Ra8 38.Bc4 Qc5 39.Kh2 Rb8 40.Qd2 Rc8 41.Be2 Qc7 42.Bg4 Bxg4 43.hxg4 Rb8 44.Ra4 Qd8 45.Qd1 Bb6 46.Rxb4 Bxf2 47.Rxb8 Bg3+ 48.Bxg3 fxg3+ 49.Kh3 Qxb8 50.Qc1 g6 51.Qc3 Qf8 52.Qe3 Qf1 53.b4 Qh1+ 54.Kxg3 Qb1 55.Qb6 1/2 - 1/2

White: M. Freeman
Black: ICCF SIM Michael Edelstein
Nimzo-Indian/Rubinstein Variation E48
Paul Spinath Memorial, 1994

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 0-0 5.Bd3 d5 6.Nge2 c5 7.cxd5 cxd4 8.exd4 Nxd5 9.0-0 Nc6 10.Bc2 Bd6 11.Ne4 Ncb4 12.Bb1 Bc7 13.a3 Nc6 14.Bg5 f6 15.Bh4 Nf4 16.N4c3 Nxe2+ 17.Nxe2 Qd5 18.Qd3 Qh5 19.Bg3 Bxg3 20.Nxg3 Qh4 21.d5 Ne5 22.Qb3 Qc4 23.Ba2 exd5 24.Qd1 Qa6 25.Qxd5+ Kh8 26.Rac1 Bd7 27.Rc7 1/2-1/2

White: Sylvain Chouinard
Black: ICCF SIM Michael Edelstein
Italian Game C50
Paul Spinath Memorial, 1994

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.0-0 d6 5.c3 Bg4 6.b4 Bb6 7.a4 a6 8.a5 Ba7 9.d3 Nf6 10.Na3 d5 11.exd5 Nxd5 12.Bd2 0-0 13.h3 Bh5 14.g4 Bg6 15.b5 axb5 16.Nxb5 Bb8 17.Re1 f6 18.Nh4 Bf7 19.Nf5 Nde7 20.Nxe7+ Nxe7 21.Be3 c6 22.Bb6 Qd7 23.Na3 Nd5 24.Bxd5 cxd5 25.c4 Rc8 26.cxd5 Qxd5 27.Rc1 Bd6 28.Nc4 Bb4 29.Re4 Bf8 30.Rc3 Qc6 31.Qb1 Bd5 32.Re3 Be6 33.Rc2 Qd7 34.Qf1 Bb4 35.Qb1 Be7 36.Qf1 g5 37.Re1 h5 38.d4 hxg4 39.dxe5 gxh3 40.exf6 Bxf6 41.Qe2 Bd5 42.f3 Qf5 0-1

White: Robert D. Cragg
Black: Andre DeVriendt
Nimzo-Indian/Samisch Variation E25
Paul Spinath Memorial 1994-1998
Annotations by Andre DeVriendt

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.f3 d5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 c5 7.cxd5 Nxd5

So far as Milov- Razuvaev, 1994

8.e4

I expected 8. Qd3 or 8. Qd2 or 8. dxc5 Qa5 9. e4 Ne7 10. Be3 0-0 11. Qb3 Qc7.

8...Nxc3 9.Qb3 cxd4 10.Bd2 Nc6 11.Rc1

11.Bxc3 dxc3 12. Qxc3 0-0 was probably better.

11...0-0 12.Bxc3 dxc3 13.Rxc3

13.Qxc3 maybe is better; after the first phase of the game White is a pawn down.

13...e5 14.Qb2

Necessary

14...Be6 15.Bd3 Qg5

I hesitated between 15 ... Qg5 and 15 ... Nd4 16. Ne2 Nxe2 17. Kxe2 Qd4.

16.Kf2 Rab8

Or 16...Rfd8 and then if 17. Qxb7 Black plays 17... Rab8 18. Qxc6 Rac8 {if 18.Qc7 or 18.Qa6 18...Qd2+ is strong, RPM}

17.Ne2 Rfd8 18.Rb1 Rd6

18...Rd7 19.Rxc6 Rxd3 20.Rc3 Rxc3 21.Qxc3 Rc8 is also good.

19.Qc1 Qxc1 20.Nxc1

I expected 20. Rxc1 instead.

20...f6 21.Ke3 b6 22.Bc4 Bxc4 23.Rxc4 Rbd8 24.Rb2 Kf7 25.Nb3 R8d7

In order to prepare ... Nd4 without fearing Rc7+

26.Rc3 Nd4 27.Nd2 b5 28.g3 a6 29.Nf1 g6 30.h4 h5 31.Rb1 f5 32.exf5 gxf5 33.Kf2 Kf6 34.Rc8 Rd8 35.Rc3 Rc6

In order to simplify and enter a pawns endgame.

36.Rxc6+ Nxc6 37.Rc1 Ne7

Again, in order to play ...Rc8 and exchange the last rooks.

38.Ke2 Rc8 39.Rxc8 Nxc8 40.Ne3 Nb6 41.Kd3 Ke6 42.Nc2

42. g4 could have been tried, eg. 42 ...e4+ 43. fxe4 fxg4 44. Kd4.

42...Nd5. diagram

The end is in view.

43.Kd2 a5 44.Kd1 Kd6 45.Kd2 Kc5 46.Ne1 e4 47.fxe4 fxe4 48.Ng2 Kc4

The rest is easy, but all the variations had to be calculated carefully.

Kc2 Kd4 50.Kd2 e3+ 51.Ke2 Nc3+ 52.Kf3 b4 53.axb4 axb4 54.Nxe3 b3 55.Nf5+ Kc5 0-1

White: SIM Michael Edelstein
Black: Andre De Vriendt
Sicilian Defense/Najdorf Variation B99
Paul Spinath Memorial, 1994-1996
Annotations by Andre DeVriendt & Ralph P. Marconi

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Be7 8.Qf3 Qc7 9.0-0-0 Nbd7 10.g4 b5 11.Bxf6 Nxf6 12.a3 Nd7 13.g5 Rb8 14.Rg1 b4 15.axb4 Rxb4 16.f5 Ne5 17.Qe3 Qb6 18.b3 Nc6 19.Bc4 Qc5 20.Rg3 Na5 21.fxe6 Bxe6 22.Bxe6 fxe6 23.Nxe6 Qxe3+ 24.Rxe3 Kf7 25.Nf4 Bxg5 26.Ncd5 Bxf4 27.Nxf4 Rc8

28.Rdd3 Nc6 29.Rxd6 Nd4 30.c3 Nxb3+ 31.Kd1 Ra4 32.Rd7+ Kf6 33.e5+ Kg5 34.Nd5 Nc5 35.Rxg7+ Kh6 36.Rc7 Rxc7 37.Nxc7 Re4 38.Ke2

38.Rxe4 Nxe4 39.e6 Nxc3+ 40.Kc2 Ne4 41.e7 Nd6=.

38...Kg6 39.Rxe4 Nxe4 40.c4 Kf5 41.e6 Kf6 42.Nxa6 Kxe6 43.Kd3 Ke5 44.c5 Kd5 45.Nc7+ Ke5 46.c6 Nc5+ 47.Kc4 Kd6 1/2 - 1/2

If 48.Kb5 Kxc7 49.Kxc5 h5 =. (Work it out if you are not convinced!, RPM.)

White: Andre De Vriendt
Black: Alex Dunne
Paul Spinath Memorial, 1994-1995
B-00
Annotations by Andre DeVriendt

1.e4 Nc6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.d5 Ne5 5.Qd4 Ng6 6.Qxe4 Nf6 7.Qa4+ Bd7 8.Bb5 a6 9.Bxd7+ Qxd7 10.Qxd7+ Nxd7 11.Nf3 Nc5 12.0-0 e5 13.Re1 Bd6 14.Be3 f6 15.Nd2 Kd7??

An oversight. 15...0-0-0 16. Nc4 Be7; or 16.b4 Nd7 was equal.

16.b4 Nd3 17.cxd3 Bxb4 18.Nde4 f5 19.Reb1 Be7 20.d6 cxd6 21.Rxb7+ Kc8 22.Rab1 fxe4 23.Nd5 Bd8 24.Rxg7 exd3 25.Nb6+ 1-0

White: Andre De Vriendt
Black: Stephen Boyd
Sicilin Defense B33
Paul Spinath Memorial, 1994-1996

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5 6.Ndb5 d6 7.Bg5 a6 8.Na3 b5 9.Bxf6 gxf6 10.Nd5 Bg7 11.Bd3 Ne7 12.Nxe7 Qxe7 13.c3 f5 14.0-0 0-0 15.Nc2 d5 16.exf5 Bb7 17.a4 e4 18.Be2 b4 19.Ne3 bxc3 20.bxc3 Bxc3 21.Rb1 d4 22.f6 Qxf6 23.Rxb7 dxe3 24.fxe3 Qh6 25.Kh1 Rad8 26.Qb3 Be5 27.h3 Qg6 28.Kg1 Rd2 29.Qc4 h5 30.a5 Bd6 31.Rf2 Bg3 32.Rf1 Bd6 1/2 - 1/2.

Draw but a hard fought game.

White: Sylvain Chouinard
Black: Andre De Vriendt
Sicilian Defense/Grand Prix Variation B21
Paul Spinath Memorial 1994-1995
Annotations by Andre DeVriendt

1.e4 c5 2.f4 g6 3.Nf3 Bg7 4.Bc4 e6 5.0-0 Nc6 6.Nc3 Nge7 7.e5 d6 8.d3

Maybe 8. exd6 Nf5 9. Bb5 Qxd6 is better.

8...0-0 9.exd6 Nf5 10.a3 Nxd6 11.Ba2 b5 12.Be3 Nd4 13.Ne5 Qc7 14.Qd2 Bb7 15.Rae1 N6f5 16.Nd1 Nh4 17.c3 Ndf5 18.Re2

Best. If 18. Rf2 Bxg2 19. Rxg2 Bxe5 - +; 18. Qf2 Rfc8 - +; 18. Nf3 Nxf3 19. gxf3 Nh4.

18...Rad8 19.Qc2

Without any really bad move White meets suddenly troubles in developing his pieces.

19...c4 20.dxc4 Nxg2 21.Bxa7 Nxf4 22.Rxf4 Bxe5 23.Rf1

Due to a zugzwang situation a defence is impossible.

23...bxc4 0-1

As mentioned elsewhere Andre DeVriendt has won M-96, the Drew Lamb Memorial Candidate Master event. Below are a selection of his games from this tournament.

White: Andre De Vriendt
Black: Michael McArthur
Spanish/Open Variation C80
M-96 1996-98
Annotations by Ralph P. Marconi

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Nxe4

(The Open variation of the Spanish. It can lead to interesting strategic conflicts.)

6.d4 b5 7.Bb3 d5 8.dxe5 Be6 9.Nbd2

(A popular move these days.)

9...Nc5 10.c3 d4 11.Bxe6

(For 11.Ng5 see Fichaud-McArthur, M-96 1996 below.)

11...Nxe6 12.cxd4 Ncxd4 13.a4

(13.Ne4)

13...Rb8 14.axb5 axb5 15.Ne4 Be7 16.Be3

(16.Nd6+ cxd6 17.Nxd4 Nxd4 18.Qxd4 dxe5 19.Qxe5 0-0 20.Bf4 Rb7 =, according to Suetin, Nunn-Timman, Amsterdam 1985. Andre decides to develop his Queen Bishop instead.)

16...Nf5 17.Ba7 Qxd1 18.Rfxd1 Rd8 19.Rxd8 Bxd8 20.Ra5 c6 21.Ra6 Kd7 22g4 Nh6

(Better was probably 22...Ne7)

23.h3 Bc7

(At this point Black offered a draw and White declined.)

24.Be3 Bb8 25.Ra1 Rd8 26.Bb6!? Rf8?!

(26...Bc7 was better in my opinion.)

27.Rd1+ Kc8 28.Nd6+! Bxd6 29.exd6 1-0.

(The threat of course is 30.d7+, winning material. If 29...Kb7 30.Ba5 Ra8 31.b4 f6 32.d7 Nd8 33.Re1! with the idea of Re8, winning. If 30...Nd8 31.d7 with the idea of 32.Re1, Re8; if 31...Ne6 32.Rxe6! fxe6 33.d8=Q Rxd8 34.Bxd8 wins.)

White: Martial Larochelle
Black: Andre De Vriendt
Sicilian Defense/Najdorf Variation B93
M-96 1996-97
Annotations by Ralph P. Marconi

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.f4 e5 7.Nf3 Nbd7 8.a4 Be7 9.Bd3 0-0 10.0-0 Nc5 11.Kh1 exf4 12.Bxf4 Bg4 13.Be3 Rc8 14.Qd2 Nxd3 15.Qxd3 Be6 16.Nd5 Re8 17.a5 Nxd5 18.exd5 Bg4 19.c4 Bf6 20.Bb6 Qd7 21.Nd4 Qe7 22.Qg3 Bd7 23.Rae1 Be5 24.Qd3 Qh4 25.h3 Qg3 26.Qxg3 Bxg3 27.Rxe8+ Rxe8 28.b4 Re4 29.Kg1 Be5 30.Rd1 f5 31.Kf2 g5 32.Nf3 Rxc4 33.Nxg5 h6 34.Nf3 Bc3 35.Nd4 Bxd4 36.Ke3 Kf7 0-1.

(Black has an extra pawn and a clear advantage. The immediate threat is ...Rc3+ with the idea of ...Ra3, winning a second pawn. If 37.Kf4 Bc5; or if 37.Nb3 Rc3+; or if 37.Rd3 Bc5.)

I played Andre once before and that game ended in a quick draw, so I was determined to try to win one. After mounting, what I thought was a strong kingside attack, Andre calmly and methodically defends and then proceeds to demonstrate that he was in control all along! I'll let the game speak for itself.... well almost.

White: Ralph P. Marconi
Black: Andre De Vriendt
Sicilian/Closed B24/26
M-96 1996-98

1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Nge2 g6 4.g3 Bg7 5.Bg2 e6 6.d3 Nge7 7.Bg5 0-0?! 8.Qd2 d6 9.Bh6 Bxh6 10.Qxh6 b5 11.0-0?!

(Perhaps 11.a2 was better.)

11...b4 12.Nd1 e5 13.Ne3 Nd4 14.Nxd4?

(Impatient. 14.Rae1 looks better, with the idea of 15.f4 or 15.c3 next.)

14...cxd4 15.Nc4 Be6 16.f4 Kh8!

(A fine defensive move, with the idea of ...Ng8.)

17.f5

(I have no choice but to continue with my kingside plans. If 17.exf5 Bxc4 18.dxc4 dxe5. The rest needs no explanation.)

17...Ng8 18.Qd2 Bxc4 19.dxc4 Qb6 20.g4 Nf6 21.Qg5 Kg7! 22. Qh4 h6 23.g5 hxg5 24.Qxg5 d3+ 25.Kh1 dxc2 26.Rf3 Qd8 27.Raf1 Nxe4 28.f6+ Qxf6 29.Qe3 Qg5! 30.Qxg5 Nxg5 31.Rg3 Ne6 32.Rd3 Rac8 33.b3 Nd4 34.Rd2 f5 0-1.

(I could have safely resigned at move 29...Qg5)

White: Valer Eugen Demian
Black: Andre De Vriendt
Catalan E00
M-96 1996-98

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Bb4+ 4.Bd2 Qe7 5.g3 Nc6 6.Bg2 Bxd2+ 7.Nbxd2 d6 8.e4 e5 9.d5 Nb8 10.b4 a5 11.a3 0-0 12.0-0 Na6 13.Ne1 axb4 14.axb4 Bg4 15.f3 Bd7 16.Nd3 c6 17.Qb3 cxd5 18.exd5 b5 19.Ra5 Nc7 20.Rfa1 bxc4 21.Qxc4 Bb5 22.Qb3 Rxa5 23.Rxa5 Rb8 24.Ra7 Nfxd5 25.f4 exf4 26.Nxf4 Qe1+ 27.Nf1 Bxf1 28.Ne3 0-1.

White: Philippe St-Amour
Black: Andre De Vriendt
Spanish/Exchange Variation deferred C78
M-96 1996-97

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 d6 5.Bxc6+ bxc6 6.d4 exd4 7.Qxd4 Nf6 8.0-0 Be7 9.e5 c5 10.Qd3 Ng4 11.exd6 cx6 12.h3 Nf6 13.c4 0-0 14.Nc3 Bb7 15.Re1 Re8 16.b3 d5 17.cxd5 Nxd5 18.Bg5 Nxc3 19.Qxc3 Bxg5 20.Rxe8+ Qxe8 21.Nxg5 Qe7 22.Nf3 Qe2 23.Ne5 1/2 - 1/2.

Below are more games from M-96.

White: Al Fichaud
Black: Michael McArthur
Spanish/Open Variation C80
M-96 1996
Annotations by Al Fichaud

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Nxe4 6.d4 b5 7.Bb3 d5

7...exd4 would allow too much e-file pressure.

8.dxe5 Be6 9.Nbd2

9.c3 with the idea of Bb3, c2 xe4 was another plan.

9...Nc5 10.c3 d4 11.Ng5!

First seen in Karpov-Kortchnoi, Philippines (m10) 1978, Inf . 26/287. Kortchnoi declined the piece and drew. 11...Qxg5 strongly favor White. Even Anand in his 1995 match with Kasparov avoided snatching the Knight. The idea is simple. White wants to erase the e6-Bishop! So if 11...Qxg5 12.Qf3 Kd7!? 13.Bd5! White gets back his piece. {Filip in his notes to this game gives: 13...Bxd5 14.Qxd5 Bd6 15.Nc4 Qg6 16.exd6 bxc4 17.Qc5 as slightly better for White, RPM.} 11...Bxb3 12.Nxb3 paves the way for a mulititude of threats. Anand played 11...dxc3. My opponent essayed 11...Bd5 and surprised me, until I discovered the game Dominguez-Rios, Cuba 1996, Inf 67, but only after I decided to play 12.Nxf7 which I intuitively felt was sound and provided plenty of attacking possibilities. Our game followed this game until my opponent varied with 16...Kg8; probably in the interest of avoiding the main line that Rios played beginning with 16...Ke8 17.e6 Bxe6 18.Qxe6 Ne7 19.Qb3, etc. White could have won this game but blundered on move 38, and allowed Black to escape with a draw! For a detailed and exhaustive analysis (of this game) see Inf, 67.

11...Bd5 12.Nxf7 Kxf7 13.Qf3+ Ke6 14.Ne4!

This move maintains central tension, with the idea of Ng5+ and freeing the Bishop on c1.

14...Nxb3

If 14...Nxe5 15.Qh3+ Kf7 16.Qf5 + -.

15.Qg4+ Kf7 16.Qf5+ Kg8?!

16...Ke8!? as in Domiguez-Rios, Cuba 1996. White's attack comes first on the White squares.

17.e6

Threatenning mate.

17...Ne5?!

On 17...Qe7 18.Qxd5 Nxa1 (18...Nxc1 19.Raxc1 Re8 20.Qc6 + -) 19.Bg5 Rd8 20.Qxc6 Qe8 21.Qc7 Rd5 22.c4 bxc4 23.e7 Bxe7 24.Bxe7 c3 25.Rxa1 + -.

18.axb3 Bxe4?!

This move epitomizes the serious White square problems and lack of development of the Black position. Look at those Rooks on their oiriginal squares! But what else is Black to do?

19.Qxe4

Now the centralized march operates on both fronts and the Black Queen is tied down to defending Ra8, which is a recurring theme in this position.

19...Ng6

If 19...Bd6 20.f4! with attack. Maybe even 20.Bg5!.

20.f4

White's attack is a natural one and obviously worth the piece and the undeveloped Black pieces. Now 21.f5 Ne7 22.Bg5 is threatenned.

20...Bc5

Desparately trying to free his cramped position.

21.f5 Ne7 22.b4!

Winning move of the game - shutting out the Black Bishop that provides black square protection.

22...Bb6

If 22...Bd6 23.f6 and Black can resign anytime.

23.f6! dxc3+

Desperado; Black is helpless and hopeless against the White infiltration.

24.Kh1 gxf6 25.Bh6!! 1-0.

If 25...Qd5 26.Qg4+ Ng6 27.Rxf6 (with the idea of xg6) and it's over. Or if 25...c2!? 26.Rxf6 Qd1+ 27.Rf1 Rd8 28.Qf4!! wins.

A remarkable example of how superior development can lead to a decisive result.

Next is another example of Al's tactical prowess. In this game he sacrifices two pieces to end up with a won game.

White: Al Fichaud
Black: Philippe St-Amour
English Opening A21
M96 1996

1.g3 e5 2.Bg2 d6 3.c4 g6 4.Nc3 Bg7 5.d3 Nf6 6.e4 0-0 7.Nge2 c6 8.0-0 Be6 9.h3 Qd7 10.Kh2 Na6 11.Be3 b6 12.Qd2 Rac8 13.f4 Rfd8 14.Rad1 Nc7 15.b3 b5 16.cxb5 cxb5 17.d4 b4 18.Na4 exf4 19.Nxf4 Qb5 20.d5 Bd7 21.Nb2 Re8 22.Nc4 Qa6 23.Bd4! Nxe4 24.Bxe4 Rxe4 25.Bxg7 Kxg7 26.Nh5+ gxh5 27.Qg5+ Kf8 28.Rxf7+ Kxf7 29.Rf1+ Bf5 30.Qxf5+ Kg7 31.Qxe4 Qxa2+ 32.Kh1 1-0.

White: Ian Drummond
Black: Michel Lauzon
Center-Counter Defense B01
M96 1996-97

1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qa5 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3 c6 6.Bc4 Bf5 7.Bd2 e6 8.Qe2 Bb4 9.0-0-0 Nbd7 10.d5 cxd5 11.Nxd5 Nxd5 12.Bxd5 Bxd2+ 13.Rxd2 0-0 14.Bb3 Nc5 15.Qe3 Rad8 16.Rhd1 Rxd2 17.Rxd2 Nxb3+ 18.Qxb3 Be4 19.a3 Bd5 20.Qd3 h6 21.c4 Qc7 22.Rc2 Bxf3 23.Qxf3 Qxh2 24.b4 Qe5 25.Kb1 Rd8 26.c5 Rd5 27.c6 bxc6 28.Rxc6 a5 29.Rc8+ Kh7 30.Qb3 Qe1+ 0-1

White: Serge Maurer
Black: Michel Lauzon
Center-Counter Defense B01
M96 1997

1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qa5 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3 c6 6.Bc4 Bf5 7.Bd2 e6 8.Qe2 Bb4 9.Ne5 Nbd7 10.0-0-0 Nxe5 11.dxe5 Nd5 12.Bxd5 exd5 13.g4 d4 14.Nb1 Be6 15.a3 Bxd2+ 16.Rxd2 0-0-0 17.b4 Qb6 18.f4 a5 19.bxa5 Qxa5 20.Rhd1 Qb6 21.c4 dxc3 22.Rxd8+ Rxd8 23.Rxd8+ Kxd8 24.f5 Bc4 25.Qd1+ Kc8 26.Nxc3 Qa5 27.Qd4 Qxa3+ 28.Kd2 Qb2+ 0-1

White: Michel Lauzon
Black: Eugen Demian
Sicilian Defense B32
M96, 1996-98

1.Nc3 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e5 5.Ndb5 a6 6.Nd6+ Bxd6 7.Qxd6 Qf6 8.Qc7 Qg6 9.Nd5 Nge7 10.Nxe7 Kxe7 11.c3 Re8 12.g3 Qe4 13.Rg1 Kf8 14.Bg2 Qg6 15.Be3 Qc2 16.Qd6+ Kg8 17.Qd2 Qxd2+ 18.Kxd2 e4 19.c4 d6 20.Rgd1 b5 21.Kc3 Bb7 22.Rxd6 bxc4 23.Rd7 Rab8 24.Bf4 Ne5 25.Bxe5 Rxe5 26.Rad1 Kf8 27.e3 Bc6 28.R7d4 Ra5 29.Bxe4 Bxe4 30.Rxe4 Rxa2 31.Rd2 Ra5 32.Rxc4 Rab5 33.b4 a5 34.bxa5 Rxa5 35.Rc7 Ra3+ 36.Kc4 Ra4+ 37.Kd3 Rd8+ 38.Ke2 Rxd2+ 39.Kxd2 Ra2+ 40.Rc2 Ra4 41.Kd3 h5 42.e4 g6 43.f4 Ke7 44.Rc7+ Ke6 45.Rc6+ Ke7 46.h3 Ra3+ 47.Rc3 Ra4 48.Ke3 f6 49.g4 hxg4 50.hxg4 Ra6 51.g5 fxg5 52.fxg5 Kd6 53.Kf4 Ra1 54.Rb3 Rf1+ 55.Ke3 Re1+ 56.Kf4 1/2-1/2

White: Michel Lauzon
Black: Ralph P. Marconi
Bird's Opening A03
M96 1996-98

1.Nc3 e6 2.f4 d5 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 c5 5.Bb5+ Bd7 6.Qe2 a6 7.Bxd7+ Nbxd7 8.0-0 b5 9.d3 Be7 10.Bd2 0-0 11.e4 dxe4 12.Nxe4 Qb6 13.Ng3 Rfe8 14.Rae1 c4+ 15.d4 Nd5 16.c3 Bd6 17.Ne5 Nf8 18.Ne4 f6 19.Nxd6 Qxd6 20.Ng4 Ng6 21.g3 f5 22.Ne5 Nxe5 23.fxe5 Qd7 24.Rf2 Rac8 25.Ref1 a5 26.a3 a4 27.g4 g6 28.gxf5 gxf5 29.Rg2+ Kh8 30.Qh5 Rg8 31.Rg3 Rxg3+ 32.hxg3 Qg7 33.Qh4 Rg8 34.Kg2 Qg4 35.Qxg4 1/2-1/2

White: Michel Lauzon
Black: Alan Fichaud
Bird's Opening A03
M96 1996-98

1.Nc3 Nf6 2.f4 d5 3.e3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Be2 0-0 6.0-0 c5 7.d4 Nc6 8.Ne5 e6 9.b3 cxd4 10.exd4 Qb6 11.Be3 Bd7 12.Bf3 Rac8 13.Ne2 Na5 14.a4 Rfd8 15.Rb1 Qc7 16.Rc1 Be8 17.Qd3 Qb6 18.Bd2 Nd7 19.Kh1 a6 20.Rb1 Qc7 21.c3 b5 22.axb5 axb5 23.Rfe1 Nb6 24.Ng3 Nb7 25.Ra1 Ra8 26.Qe3 Nd6 27.Nd3 Ra7 28.Rxa7 Qxa7 29.Qe2 Qa2 30.Qd1 Ra8 31.Nb4 Qa7 32.Kg1 Nbc8 33.f5 gxf5 34.Nxd5 Bc6 35.Nf6+ Bxf6 36.Bxc6 Rb8 37.Nh5 Bh8 38.Qf3 Kf8 39.Qg3 Qc7 40.Bh6+ Ke7 41.Rxe6+ fxe6 42.Qg8 Qxc6 43.Bg5+ 1-0

White: Michel Lauzon
Black: Martial Larochelle
French Defense/Advance Variation C02
M96 1996-98

1.Nc3 d5 2.e4 e6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.d4 c5 6.dxc5 Nc6 7.Bf4 Bxc5 8.Bd3 f6 9.exf6 Nxf6 10.0-0 0-0 11.Qe2 Nh5 12.Bg3 Nxg3 13.hxg3 a6 14.a3 Qd6 15.Kh2 g6 16.Rae1 Nd4 17.Nxd4 Bxd4 18.Nd1 b5 19.c3 Bg7 20.f4 Bd7 21.Nf2 Rfb8 22.Ng4 a5 23.Ne5 Be8 24.Ra1 b4 25.axb4 axb4 26.c4 b3 27.Rxa8 Rxa8 28.Re1 Rb8 29.Ra1 Bc6 30.Nxc6 Qxc6 31.Ra7 Rc8 32.cxd5 Qxd5 33.Ra5!

Qxa5 34.Qxe6+ Kf8 35.Qxc8+ Ke7 36.Qb7+ Kf8 37.g4 Qd8 38.Qb4+ Kg8 39.Qxb3+ Kh8 40.g3 Bd4 41.Qb7 Bg1+ 42.Kxg1 Qxd3 43.Qc8+ Kg7 44.Qc3+ Qxc3 1-0.

Over the next few columns I will feature more games from M-96.

As previously announced in CHECK! our current Canadian CC Closed Champion is Robert Bowerman of Whitehorse, Yukon Territories. Below are two of his games from K-52. Hopefully I will be able to feature more of his games in future columns.

White: Robert Bowerman
Black: ICCF IM Zoltan Leskowsky
Gruenfeld Defense D85
K-52 1996

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.Nf3 Bg7 6.Qb3 Nb6 7.e4 0-0 8.Be2 c6 9.Be3 N8d7 10.a4 Nf6 11.a5 Nbd7 12.d5 cxd5 13.exd5 Ne8 14.0-0 15.Nb5 Nf6 16.Nxa7 Bf5 17.Bb6 Qb8 18.Nxb5 Nxb5 19.Qxb5 Be4 20.Rfd1 Rc8 21.Bd4 Rd8 22.Be5 Qa7 23.Bd4 Qa6 24.Qxa6 Rxa6 25.Ne5 Bxd5 26.Nc4 Bxc4 27.Bxc4 Rd6 28.Be5 Rc6 29.b3 Rc5 30.Bd4 Rf5 31.b4 Ne8 32.Bxg7 Kxg7 33.Rd7 Nd6 34.Bf1 Rf4 35.Re1 Rxb4 36.Rexe7 Kf6 37.Ra7 Rc8 38.Re1 Rc6 39.Bxa6 Ra4 40.Bf1 Nc8 41.Ra8 Ra2 42.a6 Nd6 43.Rb8 Rcc2 44.f3 Ra3 45.R8b1 Rc7 46.Ra1 Rxa1 47.Rxa1 Nc8 48.Kf2 Ke6 49.Ke3 Kd5 50.Bd3 Re7+ 51.Be4 Kd6 52.Kd4 f5 53.Bd3 Na7 54.Rb1 Nc6+ 55.Kc3 Re5 56.Rb5 Re7 57.f4 Ra7 58.Bc4 1/2 - 1/2.

White: Eugene Gibney
Black: Robert Bowerman
Sicilian Defense/Alapin Variation B22
K-52 1996-97

1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 Nf6 4.e5 Nd5 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.Bc4 Nb6 7.Bb3 d6 8.exd6 exd6 9.0-0 Be7 10.Nxd4 0-0 11.Bf4 d5 12.Re1 Bg5 13.Bg3 Bh4 14.Qh5 Bxg3 15.hxg3 Qf6 16.Bxd5 Nxd4 17.cxd4 g6 18.Qf3 Nxd5 19.Qxd5 Rd8 20.Qe5 Qxe5 21.Rxe5 Bf5 22.d5 f6 23.Re7 Rxd5 24.Nc3 1/2 - 1/2.

We end with Eugene Gibney's game with long time member Olgert Dravnieks from K-52.

White: Olgert Davnieks
Black: Eugene Gibney
Sicilian Defense/O'Kelly Variation B28
K-52 1996-97
Annotations by Eugene Gibney

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 a6

The so called O'Kelly variation is not commonly seen either in correspondence chess or otb play. Many lines transpose to the Kan system, and Black should be comfortable playing these lines if he plays 2...a6. The move does have some surprise value, and the advantage for Black of guiding the game into systems of his choice already at move two.

3.c3

This move, and the move 3.c4, are probably the critical challenges to the O'Kelly.

3...d5 4.exd5 Nf6

Here Balck chooses an unusual line, which involves giving up a pawn for unclear compensation. More usual is 4...Qxd5.

5.c4 e6 6.dxe6 Bxe6 7.Nc3

The alternative 7.d4 which leads to an unclear position after 7...cxd4 8.Nxd4 Bc5 9.Be3 Ng4.

7...Nc6 8.Be2 Qc7

ECO give: 8...Nd4 9.d3 Nxe2 10.Qxe2 Be7 11.0-0 0-0 12.h3 +/- Olaffson-Bazan, Mar del Plata 1960.

9.0-0 0-0-0

This position is evaluated as unclear in BCO 2. Black's compensation for the pawn consists of free development, good central control, and a certain difficulty for White in completing his queensidde development.

10.b3 Ng4 11.Ne4 Nd4

Already Black has generated some kingside threats (ie checkmate!)

12.g3 Nxe2+

Not 12...Nxf3+ 13.Bxf3 Qe5 14.Bxg5 Qxa1 15.Nc3! Qxc3 16.Bxe6+ fxe6 17.dxc3 Rxd1 Rxd1 with a clear pawn plus for White.

13.Qxe2 h5 14.d3 h4 15.Nxh4 Rxh4

Better is 15.Bf4 when Black simply plays 15...Qd7 with a good game. Not 15.gxh4 Rxh4!

16.Bf4

16...Qxf4!

It is not often one gets to sacrifice a Queen in correspondence play.

17.gxf4 Nxh2 18.Rfc1 Bg4

Avoiding 18...Be7 (intending to double Rooks on the h-file) when 19.f3 gives White chances to hold his position together.

19.Qe3 Be7 20.Ng3

If 20.Ng5 Bf3! wins (21.Nxf3 Rg4+ 22.Kxh2 Rh8+)

20...Bf6 21.Qxc5+ Kb8 22.d4 Bxd4 23.Qe7 Bf6 24.Qxd8+

White gives back the Queen to try to stave off the mating attack (by ...Nf3+ followed by ...Re8 or ...Rd2 and ...Bh3 mate.)

24...Bxd8 25.f3 Nxf3+ 26.Kf2 Bf6 27.Rab1 Nd2 28.Ke3

If 28.Rh1 comes 28...Bd4+

28...Nxb1 29.Rxb1 Rh3 30.Rg1 Bh4 31.Kf2 Kc7 0-1.

I hope you have a pleasent Summer. I thank those who have sent me annotated games. Please keep them coming!