READERS' GAMES

The days have been getting cooler and shorter, leaves have turned colors and are falling, a sure sign that we are in the Fall season. After one of the hottest and driest Summers on record I am sure we all welcome these cooler temperatures. Perhaps these cooler days will generate more energy now, and you will think about submitting some well annotated games for this column. If I get just one annotated game from each of you that would be over 300 annotated games, enough to keep this column going for years to come!

First up is a game submitted by Michael Eagan of Vancouver, BC. Michael writes: "Im 24, married, a graduate student at Simon Fraser University. Im studying environmental history. Between wife, school, our young son, Joshua, and a second baby due in June, I havent time to play much (or any!) otb. CC became a salvation! I enjoy playing chess in the relaxed setting of my own home and am rapidly learning the joys of analysis. In the past, I have often been guilty of being too romantic in my play; I guess we all are tempted by swashbuckling sacrifices and all-out assaults on the enemys monarch. While concentrating on my positional play, a few sacrificial whirlwinds have slipped out into my corrrespondence play. I have been fortunate enough for Caissa to smile on me on occasion. Heres an example of my sacrificing material parity for a strong attack. Enjoy!"

White: Philip R.W. Kelly
Black: Michael Egan
Benko Gambit A57
C-9701 1997
Annotations by Michael Egan,
unless otherwise indicated by, (RPM)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5

(The) Benko Gambit! A long time otb favourite of mine. Whats good for the goose...

4.cxb5 a6 5.e3

The Modern (?!) Line.

(5.f3, another popular response, was seen in Dorner-Alvarez, Pelikan Memorial A, 1997 which continued 5...axb5 {5...e6 6.e4 exd5 7.e5 Qe7 8.Qe2 Ng8 9.Nc3 Bb7 10.Nh3 c4 11.Be3 g6 12.Nf4 Qxe5 13.Nfxd5 1-0, DeVault-Hucks, IECC Trio, 1996} 6.e4 Qa5+ 7.b4 cxb4 8.Nd2 b3 9.Qxb3 e6 10.Bxb5 Ba6 11.Rb1 exd5 12.e5 exd5 13.Qxb5 Bxb5 14.Rxb5 Ng8 15.Ne2 Nc6 16.0-0 Bb4 17.a3 Bxa3 18.Rxd5 Nge7 ½ - ½ , RPM.)

5...g6

The major alternative is 5...axb5 6.Bxb5 Qa5+ 7.Nc3 Bb7 8.Ne2. (8...Bxd5!? 9.0-0 Bc6 10.a4 e6 11.Qd3 d5 12.Bd2 Qb6 unclear {Siewert} 0-1 in 30, Roze-Siewert, Keres II Memorial 1995-7, RPM.)

6.Nc3 Bg7 7.Nf3 0-0 8.a4 Bb7

Heading directly into the complications.

9.Ra3

Jacobs offers 9.Rb1!? as an alternative. In fact, at about the same time, my game from R-9721 with Louis Raymond went in this direction. After 9...e6 10.dxe6 fxe6 11.Be2 axb5 12.axb5 d5 13.Ng5 (13.0-0 Nbd7 14.b3!? +/= {NCO} Hansen-Cramling, Reykjavik 1995, RPM) Qd6 14.f4 e5 the position is complicated and far from clear.

9...axb5 10.Bxb5 e6 11.dxe6 fxe6 12.0-0

Im not convinced by this move. The main line continues 12.Qd6 (preventing ...d5) 12...Bxf3 13.gxf3 Qc8 14.0-0 Ne8 15.Qg3 (15.Qd1!) Nc6 {15...d5 unclear, NCO, RPM.} 16.Ne4 Ne5 17.f4 Nf7 and Black looks okay.

12...d5 13.Qb3 Qc8

Protecting the potentially weak e6. 14.Ng5 can be dangerous for Black.

14.Rd1 c4 15.Qc2 Nc6?!

In retrospect, 15...Na6 might have been better. The Black Knight is dreaming of landing on d3, extending spider-like tentacles throughout Whites position. On a6, the Knight can jump to d3 from both b4 and c5; with the text, White can prevent the Black Knight from reaching his destination with:

16.Na2

(?!, 16.Bxc6!? was better in my opinion. The knight is out of play on a2 and is passive, and allows Blacks next move which is strong, RPM.)

16...Ne4

( !, RPM)

17.Bd2 Rxf3!? (diagram)

Even after playing the Knight to e4, it took a great deal of persuasion to play this move! After the exchange-sac, the question becomes: can Black activate his pieces quickly enough to maintain the initiative? While this game suggests that the answer might be "no", I stand by this exchange-sacrifice. I would probably play it again and look for improvements later. In exchange for the Rook, Black gets a Knight and potent attack: is it enough?

18.gxf3 Ng5 19.f4 Nh3+ 20.Kf1!

Threatening the Knight with 20.Kg2? is very dangerous after 20...e5! 21.f5 e4! 22.Kxh3? Qxf5+ 23.Kg2 Bxb2 24.Rc3 (or 24.Qxb2 Qf3+ 25.Kf1 Qxd1+ 26.Kg2 Rf8 27.Bc3 Bc8 and Black wins) 24...Qf3+ 25.Kg1 Qg4+ 26.Kf1 Qh3+ 27.Ke1 Qxh2 is winning; eg. 28.Qxb2? Rf8! 29.f4 Rxf4! 30.exf4 Qg1+ 31.Ke2 Nd4#.

20...e5 21.Bc3 Qg4 22.Ke1!! (diagram)

22...Qg1+ 23.Kd2 Qxf2+ 24.Kc1 Qxe3+ 25.Bd2 Qf2 26.Bxc6!

Against anything else, 26...Nd4 is particularly nasty, for example: 26.Rxh3 Nd4! 27.Qb1 Ne2+ 28.Kc2 Bc8! and Black wins easily.

26...Bxc6 27.Nb4 Bf8 28.fxe5 Bxb4 29.Bxb4 Rxa4 30.Qd2

30.Rxa4? loses to 30...Qxc2+ 31.Kxc2 Bxa4+. 30.Qxf2 is worth considering, but Im not convinced that the ending will be anything but a draw after 30...Nxf2 31.Rxa4 Bxa4 32.Rxd5 Nd3+ 33.Rxd3 cxd3 34.Kd2 Bb5. With the text, White maintains his material advantage.

30...Rxa3 31.Bxa3

White has defended well. Blacks attack has fizzled and a complicated endgame arises if Black wishes to exchange Queens. Blacks connected pawns are potentially dangerous, but White is still an exchange to the good. With the Queens still on the board, the advantage arguably lies with White who can now mount an attack against the fairly exposed Black King. I had a long think about this move debating as to whether I should take the Queens off or, if not, where to put my Queen. I finally settled for:

31...Qf5!

Best - f8 needs to be covered to prevent threats of Qb4-f8, etc. The text also sets a pretty little trap...

32.Qb4 Nf4

Setting the bait.

33.Qb8+ Kg7 34.Qc7+ Kh6 35.Qxc6??

(This move loses immediately. I first thought the move 35.Bf8+?!/!? might hold the game, but Black can sidestep with 35...Kh5! and things get complicated { 35...Kg5? 36.Rg1+; 35...Qxf8?! and now 36.Qxc6 is ok because Blacks Queen is off the important b1-h7 diagonal and he has lost a tempo}. 36.Rd2 {if 36.Qxh7+? Kg4! leads nowhere, and probably loses, eg: 37.Rg1+ Kf3 38.Rg3+ Ke2! and White cannot defend against all the threats - ...Qxf8, ...Nd3+ and ...Ba4 .} 36...Ba4 37.Qe7?! Nd3+! 38.Rxd3 Qf1+ 39.Kd2 Qxd3+ and Black has an extra pawn. So perhaps White is forced to play 35.Rd2 preventing ...Ne2+. If 35...Ba4 36.Qe7!? and White can probably hold, but the position is complicated, and may transpose to the line above, where Black comes out a pawn plus, RPM.)

35...Ne2+!

Does Black have anything here?

36.Kd2 Nd4!!

Yes! After struggling for some time (before playing my 31st move) to find anything after 35...Nd3+ or Ne2+, the text jumped out at me! The Black Bishop was poisoned, and now the Black Knight and Queen swoops in for the kill. The rest is automatic.

37.Qa4 Qd3+ 38. Kc1 Ne2# 0-1.

To follow up in the same vain, the next game also features an exchange sacrifice, and then some. Unfortunately I believe I missed a win in this game, not once, but an unforgivable twice! The game was played in the CCLAs 1989 (91st) North American Correspondence Chess Championship (Expert Class) Prelim round. Dr. Hollis G. Boren is now an APCT Master.

White: Ralph P. Marconi
Black: Dr. Hollis G. Boren
CCLA 91021
Queens Gambit Declined/ 5.Bf4 Variation D37
Annotations by Ralph P. Marconi

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.c4 e6 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bf4 0-0 6.e3 c5 7.dxc5 Bxc5 8.Qc2 Nc6 9.a3!?

9.Be2 Nb4!? 10.Qb3 dxc4 11.Qxc4 b6 12.Rd1 Qe7 13.a3 Ba6 14.Nb5 Rfc8 15.Qb3 Nbd5 16.Bg3 Bb7 17.0-0 a6 18.Nbd4 - , Miles-Vaganian, Baden 1980.

9...Qa5 10.Rd1!?

Attempting to transpose to a line which promises more. ECO gives the main line as 10.Nd2 Bb4 11.cxd5 exd5 12.Nb3 Bxc3+ 13.bxc3 Qa4 14.Bd3 b6 15.f3 Ba6 16.Nd4 Qxc2 17.Bxc2 Na5 18.Kf2 = {Agdestein}

10...Ne4?!

Too ambitious. According to ECO, 10...Rd8 was best. NCO dosent even mention 10...Ne4.

11.cxd5 Nxc3 12.bxc3 exd5 13.Rxd5 Qxa3 14.Ng5 g6

Of course not 14...Qa1+?? 15.Rd1 and Black loses his Queen and the game quickly.

15.Bc4 Bf5

15...Qa1+? just loses time. 15...Nd8 16.Nxh7! Kxh7 17.Rh5+ Kg7 18.Be5+ f6 19.Rg5 1-0, Portish-Berger, Amsterdam, 1964.

16.Rxf5! (diagram)

The exchange sacrifice destroys Blacks pawn formation in front of his King, this, plus Whites superior development is more than enough compensation. If 16.e4? Bxe4! 17.Qxe4 Rae8! can get very messy for White.

16...gxf5

16...Qa1+ ? is not good because of 17.Ke2 Qxh1 18.Bxf7+! {18.Rxc5 is also good, but 18.Bxf7+ is faster} 18...Rxf7 {18...Kg7? 19.Ne6+! Kh8 20.Bh6+ Rg8 21.c3 + -}19.Rxf7 Qxg2 20.Qb3 and White has an overwhelming attack.

17.0-0!

Not 17.Qxf5? Qxc3+! -/+, because Black is able to swing his Queen back overto the kingside for defense.

17...Ne7 18.Be5

Whites Bishops are strongly posted.

18...Bd6!?

A sound strategy. When one is leading in material, simplify. In addition this move attempts to exchange one of Whites powerful Bishops.

19.Bd4!? (diagram)

Up to this point we had been following Cehov-Azmajparasvili, SSSR, 1981. This game continued: 19.Qe2 Bxe5 20.Qh5 Kg7 21.Qxh7+ Kf6 22.f4 Bd4! and the game was drawn in 56 moves; Inf 31/449. The text was suggested by Cehov as a possible improvement, and I agree. It makes sense to try to preserve this powerfully posted Bishop, even at the cost of a tempo.

19...Bc7!

Clearing the way for the Queen to move to d6 and then to g6 to defend Blacks weakenned kingside.

20.Qe2! Qd6 21.f4

If 21.Qh5 Qg6 seems sufficient. The idea behind the text is to followup with Rf3 and then Rg3 or Rh3.

21...Bb6 22.Be5 Qg6 23.Rf3 Rac8 24.Rh3?!

This is a case of chess blindness, I suppose. Faced with the choice of two strong moves, the text and 23.Rg3!, I failed to examine the relative strengths of both these moves. In hindsight 23.Rg3 seems much stronger than the text, and probably wins right away. Nevertheless, White still has a strong attack going.

24...Nc6! 25.Nf3 Nxe5 26.Nxe5 Qf6 27.Qh5

My attack looks overwhelming.

27...h6 28.Rg3+ Kh7!

Forced.

29.Nd7? (diagram)

This was played due to a faulty calculation! A much stronger move would have been 29.Bxf7!, with the idea of Rg6, winning.

29...Qxc3! 30.Qxf5+ Kh8 31.Nf6

OK, folks this was the position I was aiming for, but there are those little things in chess called tempo and position.

31...Be3+ 32.Rxe3

Forced! Since on 32.Kf1? Qc1+ 33.Ke2 Qd2+ 34.Kf3 Qf2+ 35.Kg4 Qxf4+ 36.Qxf4 Bxf4 37.Kxf4 Rxc4+ winning.

32...Qxe3+ 33.Kf1 Qc1+ 34.Kf2 Qd2+ 35.Kf3 Qd1+!

The move I thought was not going to be sufficient. It turns out, it was quite sufficient. At the time I felt that 35...Qc3+ was the only chance Black had to hold.

36.Kg3 Kg7!

The only move, but good!

37.Qe5!

Stopping the check on e1 , and threatenning Nh5+, winning. If 37.Nh5+? Qxh5! 38.Qxh5 Rxc4 -/+, maybe even - +. But...

37...Rg8!! (diagram)

a) 37...Kh8? 38.Nh5+ f6 39.Nxg6 Qd8 40.Nh5+ Rf6 41.Nxf6 Qc7 42.Qxc7 Rxc7 43.Be6 Rc6 44.f5 b6 46.Nd7 + -, since Black cannot stop the pawn from Queening.

b)37...Rfd8? is also insufficient because of 38.Nd5+! + - b1) 38...Kg8 39.Ne7+! Kf8 40.Ng6+; or 39...Kh7 40.Qf5+; b2) 38...f6 39.Qxf6+ Kh7 40.Qe7+! Kg6 41.f5+. Finally,

c)37...Rxc4?, would have been pretty eg. 38.Nh5+ Kg6 39.Qf6+ Kxh5 40.Qf5 mate with two full Rooks down!! But....

38.Nxg8+ ½ - ½

With this move I offered a draw which Hollis accepted. On 38...Kxg8 39.Bxf7+!? Kxf7 40.Qf5+ King moves, 41.Qxc8, with a dynamically even game in my opinion. If 38.Nh5+? Qxh5! 39.Qxh5 Rxc4 and Black has the advantage. Or better yet: 38...Kf8+! - +. This is one of my most disappointing and enjoyable games that Ive played in my 25 years at CC.

More sacrifices to delight the eye and mind in the next game from K-55. The Sicilian is well known for aggressive, tactical play with lots of exciting sacrifices. The following game does not disappoint!

White: William Roach
Black: Al Fichaud
Siclian Defense/ Sveshnikov-Pelikan Variation B33
1999 Canadian Closed CC Championship K-55 1999
Annotations by RPM, with comments
and analysis by Al Fichaud.

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 f5 11.Bd3 Be6 12.Qh5 Rg8

I saw a game, Steffan-Solis de Ovande, ICCF Cup X, prelims, 1994-96 {Chess Mail 12/97, p.21} which featured this move. The GM Krasenkov, in his book, The Sveshnikov Sicilian also recommended this line.

(NCO gives the text an "!" in NCO. A popular alternative these days is 12...Bg7. NCO gives the main line as: 13.0-0 f4 14.c4! bxc4 15.Bxc4 0-0 16.Rac1 Rb8 17.b3 Qd7 18.Rfd1 Kh8 19.Qh4 +/=; 12...Rb8!?, an apparently new move was played in Kristoffel-Bhend, 12th CC OLY prelims, 1992. The game continued: 13.f4 Rg8 14.0-0 Rg6 15.c3 Rh6 16.Qe2 fxe4 17.Bxe4 f5 18.Nf6+ Rxf6 19.Bxc6+ Kf7 20.Bf3 e4 21.Bh5+ Kg8 22.Qd2 Rh6 23.Be2 Qh4 24.h3 Rg6 25.Kh1 Rb7 26.Rg1 Rbg7 27.Raf1 Rg3 28.Kh2 R7g6 29.Qe1 e3 0-1 {Chess Mail 4/98 pgs.19-20.}, 12...f4. RPM.)

13.g3

(The most common response. Other tries, however, have been: 13.c3; 13.0-0; 13.0-0-0, and 13.f4, RPM)

13...Rg4

(The main line is 13...Rg5, RPM.)

14.Ne3 (Diagram)

This move is inferior to 14.f4!, according to theory. I had seen the text in some obscure publication on the Sveshnikov which suggested that 14...fxe4 15.Nxg4 exd3 16.cxd3 Nd4! giving Black a big advantage. After considerable reflection I decided to essay this line and my opponent soon goes astray. As mentioned 14.f4! {Encyclopedia of Modern Chess Openings} is the correct response, eg: 14...exf4 15.Nxf4 [15.0-0-0!? fxg3?! 16.exf5 Rh4 17.Nc7+ Kd7 18.fxe6+ Kxc7 19.Qxf7+ Kb6 20.hxg3 and White is slightly better Zontakh-Manil, Bratislava 1994.; 15...fxe4!? 16.Bxe4 fxg3, unclear, {Zontakh}] 15...Rxf4 { 15...Qa5+ 16.Kd1 Rxf4! 17.gxf4 fxe4 18.Bxe4 Qb6 with compensation, NCO. RPM) 16.gxf4 Qa5! {16...Qf6?! 17.c3 b4 18.Nc2 bxc3 19.b3 Nd4 20.exf5 Bd5 21.Rf1 Bg2 22.Rf2 Qe7+ 23.Kd1 Be4 24.f6 and White has the upper hand, Timoshehenko-Krasenkov, Voskresensk 1992} 17.c3 b4 18.Nc4 Qc5 with counterplay.

14...fxe4 15.Bxb5?

Desperado. After 15.Nxg4, however 15...exd3 16.cxd3 Nd4!, with a big advantage to Black. I think White is positionally busted at this point.

15...axb5!

The beginning of the double-Rook sac theme.

16.Nxg4 Rxa3!! (diagram)

Those familiar with GM Y. Seirawans, Take My Rooks , where he examines this double-Rook sac theme will recognize it here. In fact I emailed this game to Yaz soon after it was completed and he commended me on a fine performance and said he would include the game in the next reprinting of his book. I played this sac intuitively, not having analyzed it extensively. It was one of those talion sacs that just seemed right positionally and is aesthetically pleasing!

17.bxa3 Qa5+ 18.Kf1 Qc3 19.Nf6+ Ke7

We have reached a critical point in the game in an incredibly complex position. How should White continue? His queenside is decimated, his King is uncastled and in the center of the board, his Rooks are disconnected and out of play, his kingside White squares are weak, and Black controls the center!

20.Nxh7 ?!

After 20.Ng8+!? I considered the following fantasy line which may not be that crazy. 20...Nd8 21.Kg2 e3!? 22.Qf3?! Nd4 23.Qa8+ Bc8 24.Rhc1 e2 25.Rab1 Nf3 26.Qe4 Nd2 27.Qxe2 Bb7+ 28.Kg1 Nf3+ 29.Kf1 Nxh2+ 30.Kg1 Qc6! 31.f3 Nxf3+ 32.Kf2 Nd4 33.Qg4 Qg2+ 34.Ke3 Be4! 35.Qh4+ Kc8 36.Qg4+ f5 37.Qh5 f4+ 38.gxf4 Bg6! {boomerang effect} 39.fxe5 {what else?} Bxh5 and Black mops up! However, upon closer inspection 22.Qg5+ is stronger eg. 22...Ne7 23.Nxe7 Bxe7 24.Qxe3 Bd5+ 25.Kh3 Qxe3 26.fxe3 with advantage to White. So back to the drawing board for Black. It appears that after 20.Ng8+ the best Black has is 20...Kd8 21.Kg2 Qf3+!? instead of 21...e3 {or perhaps 21...Nd4!?; 21...d5? is bad because 21...d5 22.Rab1 Nd4 {But maybe 22...Bc5!? is better. ChessMaster 5500 came up with this move, set at the "difficult" level. Play continued with me conducting the White pieces, 23.Rxb5 Qxc2 24.Rf1 e3 25.Rxc5 Qc5 26.fxe3 Qxe3 27.Rxf7 Qe4+ 28.Kg1! {if 28.Rf3 Nd4, and if 28.Qf3? Bxf7!} Bxf7 29.Qxf7 Nd4 30.Qe7+ Kc8 31.Qc5+ Kb7 32.Qb4+ Kc6 33.Qa4+ Kd6 34.Qb4+ Kc7 35.Qc5+ Nc6?! 36.Ne7 Qe1+, and Black has nothing better than to repeat the position for a draw. No better is 36...d4?! 37.Nxc6!, etc., RPM) 22.Qxf3 exf3 23.Kg1 Nd4 [another possible line is: 23...Bg7! 24.Rb1 Nd4 25.h3 f5 26.Kh2 {26.c3 Ne2+ 27.Kh2 Nxc3 28.Rb3 e4 29.Nh6 d5 30.Rxc3} 26...Bxg8 27.c3 Ne2 28.Rxb5 Bxa2 29.Rb7 Bf6 30.Rxh7 Nxc3 31.h4 d5 32.Rf7 Be7 33.Rxf5 e4 34.h5 Bc5 leads to positions favorable to Black.] 24.Nf6 Be7 25.Ne4 d5 26.Nd2 and White is to be preferred, but the position is still unclear. Because of the complexity of the position, and number of variations possible, in hindsight then, White should have played 28.Ng8+, although it is far from clear!

(With the text White attempts to gain material and succeeds, but fails to consider the power of Blacks passed e-pawn. RPM.)

20...Qxa1+ 21.Kg2 Qd4 22.Qg5+ Ke8 23.Qg8 e3! 24.Qxf8+ Kd7 25.Nf6+ Kc7 26.Qh6

(Of course 26.fxe3? loses immediately to 26...Qd2+! 27.Kf3 e4+! 38.Nxe4 {38.Kf4? Qf2+ leads to mate.} 38...Nxe4!-/+ (or 38...Qd5 -/+}, RPM)

26...Bd5+! 27.Nxd5+ Qxd5+ 28.f3 Qd2+ 29.Kh3 Qf2 30.Qf6 e2 31.Qxf7+ Kb6 32.Qd5 Qf1+ 33.Rxf1 exf1Q+ 34.Kg4 Qc4+

(Here Al mentions that he had judged the coming endgame as won after the text. RPM)

35.Qxc4 bxc4 36.h4 d5 37.h5 d4 38.h6 Nd8 39.f4 d3 40.cxd3 c3!! (diagram)

(Nicely played, and the simplist! Im not sure if the win is there anymore after 40...cxd3?! 41.h7 Nf7 42.Kf3 e4+! 43.Ke3 Kc5 (the King must get to c2.) 44.g4 Kc4 45.g5 Kc3 46.g6 d2 47.Ke2 Kc2 48.gxf7 d1=Q+ 49.Ke3 Qf3+ 50.Kd4 Qxf4 51.h8=Q. If the h-pawn was on h5 at move 40, instead of h6, maybe Black can win with 40...cxd3. Readers care to work it out? RPM.)

41.h7 Nf7 42.Kf5 c2 43.Kg6 Nh8+ 44.Kg7 c1Q 45.Kxh8 exf4 46.gxf4 Qxf4 47.Kg8 Qg5+ 48.Kf7 Qh6 49.Kg8 Qg6+ 0-1.

William gets even in the next game, played in M-98, but a little more quietly.

White: William Roach
Black: Al Fichaud
Sicilian Defense/Kalashnikov Variation B32
1998 Candidate Master Tournament M-98 1998-1999
Comments and Analysis by RPM and Al Fichaud.

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e5 5.Nb5 d6

(The so-called Kalashnikov Variation, RPM) >p> 6.Bc4 a6

(Alternatives are: 6...Be6 7.Bb3 Nf6 8.N5c3 Be7=, NCO; 6...Nf6 7.Bg5 Qa5+ 8.b4 Qxb4+ 9.Nd2 Qa5 10.Bxf6 gxf6 11.0-0 with compensation, NCO. RPM)

7.N5c3 Nf6

(7...f5 8.exf5 Bxf5 9.Bd3 Bxd3 10.Qxd3 Nb4 11.Qe2 Nf6 12.0-0 Be7 13.f4 +/-, ECO, Averbah-Kuzminth, SSSR 1947. RPM.)

8.Be3 Be7 9.Nd5 Nxd5 10.Bxd5 0-0 11.Qd2 Be6 12.Na3 Bxd5 13.exd5 Nb8

(Al felt that 13...Nd4!? was better, with the idea that if 14.Bxd4 exd4 and if 15.Qxd4?! Bf6! with the double threat of ...Re8+ and against b2 {Fichaud}, RPM)

14.Qb4 Qc8 15.0-0 Nd7 16.f4 Nf6 17.Rad1 Ng4 18.Bb6 Qd7 19.h3 Nf6 20.fxe5 dxe5 (diagram)

(Notice that the pawn formations are symetrical. White has four pawns to two on the queenside, while Black has four pawns to two on the kingside. And White has an advanced passed d-pawn, while Black has a passed e-pawn. Usually the side with the better placed pieces has the better chances. RPM)

21.d6 Bd8 22.Bf2 Re8 23.Rfe1 Rc8 24.c4 Qc6 25.c5 Nd7 26.Nc4 Re6

(Of course not 26...Nxc5? 27.Nxe5+! RPM.)

27.Qd2 Qb5 28.Rc1 h6

(Black is reluctant to shut in the Bishop with 28...f6?! Blacks e-pawn is weak and Blacks pieces are tied down to its defense, not a pleasant situation for the second player. RPM.)

29.b4 Bf6 30.Qd5! Qc6

(The b-pawn is quite poison because of 30...Qxb4? 31.Rb1. RPM)

31.Qxc6 bxc6

(With the Queens off the board you would think that this would ease Blacks game. Not so. Take a look at Blacks c-pawn now. White can directly attack it by moving his Knight to a5, making it necessary for either the Rook or the Knight to protect it. When you have to protect a pawn with major or minor piece without suffiicent compensation, this limits your mobility and gives your opponent the advantage. RPM.)

32.Kf1 Bg5 33.Rc3 Rb8 34.h4 Bd8 35.a3 f5 36.Rf3 g6 37.h5 Kg7 38.Bd4!? (diagram)

(An esthetically pleasing way to attack the e-pawn!, RPM)

38...Bf6 39.hxg6 Kxg6 40.Rfe3! e4

(Now this advance is forced to prevent the loss of the e-pawn. RPM)

41.Bxf6 Kxf6 42.g4!? fxg4?

(Al now gives the following long, but instructive line:

42...Rg8!? 43.gxf5 Kxf5 44.Na5 Nb8 45.Nb3 Ree8 46.Nd4+ Kf4 47.Kf2 Rg4 48.Rh3 Reg8 49.Ne2+ Ke5 50.Reh1 Nd7 51.Rxh6 Nf6 52.Ke1 R4g7 53.Rh8 Ke6 54.Rxg8 Rxg8 55.Rf1 Ke5 56.Kd2 a5 57.Nd4 Kxd4 58.Rxf6 axb4 59.axb4 e3+ 60.Kc2 Rg2+ 61.Kb3 Rg7 62.Re6 Rh7 63.Re8 Rg7 64.Re7 Rg8 65.Kc2 Rg2+ 66.Kb1 Rg1+ 67.Kb2 Rg2+ 68.Ka3 Rg8 69.d7 Rd8 70.Kb2 Kd5 71.Kc3 e2 72.Rxe2 Rxd7 73.Kb3 Ra7 74.Rd2+ Ke5 75.Rd8 Rc7 76.b5 cxb5 77.Kb4 Ke6 78.Kxb5 Ke7 79.Rd1 Ra7 80.c6 Ra2 81.c7 Rb2+ 82.Kc6 Rc2+ 83.Kb7 "and White wins by getting the King to c8, but this line would have held out longer. I misjudged the position after 42...fxg4 and got over optimistic. Exchanging down only benefits White" {Fichaud}, RPM)

43.Rxe4 Rbe8 44.Rxe6+! (diagram)

(Now Al, expected: 44.Rf4+ Kg5 45.Rxe6 Rxe6 46.Rd4 Re8 47.Na5 Ne5 48.Kg2 Kf5 49.a4 Rd8 50.b5! axb5 51.axb5 cxb5 52.c6 Ke6 53.d7 Nxc6, followed by 54.Nxc6 and Back draws. {Fichaud}, RPM.)

44...Rxe6 45.Rxe6+ Kxe6 46.Kg2 Kf6 47.Kg3 Kg5 48.a4 h5 49.b5 axb5 50.axb5 h4+ 51.Kg2 h3+ 52.Kg1 Nb8 53.d7 Nxd7 54.bxc6 1-0.

Next up is game submitted by Ron Qually of Gibsons, BC from the Canada vs Denmark team friendly match.

Ron writes: "I started playing correspondence chess in 1991 when a friend told me about the CCCA. I entered A9103 and won with a perfect record which qualified me for D9321. It was about this time I discovered how much time it takes to play a good correspondence game and found, like a lot of others, it became a bit of a chore. Although I have been a member since 91 I have only played those 2 rounds of games prefering to play the occasional friendly.

I am 53 years old and work as a Project Coordinator in a Pulp and Paper mill. I live in Gibsons B.C., the home of the old beachcombers TV show. I have a wife of 31 years and two daughters, both married, the youngest of which will make me a grandfather in November. I love to Golf and flyfish when time permits. My retirement plans will include many correspondence games in which I hope to have as much fun as I did in this one.

White: Ron Qually (Canada)
French/Advance/Millner-Barry Gambit C02
Annotations by Ron Qually.

1.e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Qb6 6. Bd3 cxd4 7.cxd4 Bd7 8.O-O Nxd4 9.Nxd4 Qxd4 10.Qe2 Ne7 11.Nc3 a6

With this move I am out of book. I have been following Bateman/Lorrain in the Spring 1997 issue of CHECK! (#523, pages 14-15).

12.Be3 Qxe5 13.f4 Qd6 14.Rad1!? Nc6 15.Bb1 Be7 16.Kh1!?

(A waiting move, when you are two pawns down. Now thats what I call cool headedness!, RPM)

16...g6 ?!

This move makes attack more urgent than ever. (The text invites Whites attack. This move does not appear to be urgent. I think 16...0-0 was playable. When you are up material you try to consolidate and complete your development, not weaken your position. I believe Black was afraid of 17.Bxh7+!?/?! Kxh7 18.Qh5+ Kg8 19.Rf3 with the idea of Rh3 and mate on h7 or h8, but Black has 19...g6 20.Qh6 {20.Rg3!?} Bf6 21.Rh3 Rfe8 22.Qh7+ Kf8 and Black appears to escape. If 23.f5 gxf5 24.Bh6+ Ke7 and Whites attack has fizzled. Perhaps, however, this line deserves a closer look. Even 16...Bf6 looks interesting. 16...0-0-0?! would be too risky. RPM.)

17.f5 gxf5 18. Bxf5!? (diagram)

Now or never.

18...exf5?

(Better was 18...Qe5!?. I know the maxim that the best way to refute a sacrifice is to accept, but this depends greatly on the position. RPM.)

19.Nxd5 Qe5 20.Qd2 Be6 21.Nxe7 Kxe7

Of course not 21...Nxe7 22.Bd4.

22.Rfe1 Qc7 23.Bf4 Qc8 24.Bd6+! Ke8 25.Qg5 Rf8

Forced.

26.Ba3!

No disadvantage and it complicates things.

26...b5 27.Bc5 h6?

This losses quickly but a draw is very hard to come by. (Whites position is too overwhelming. I couldnt find any counter-play for Black. RPM.)

28.Qf6!! (diagram)

With a forced win.

28...Rg8

As good as any.

29.Rd6 1-0.

After 29...Ra7 30.Rdxe6+ fxe6 31.Rxe6+ Qxe6 32.Qxe6+ Ne7 33.Bxe7 Rxe7 34.Qxg8+ and wins.

Next few issues I will feature games from Eugene Gibney from K-53, more games from M-96, M-97, M-98 & ME-98, the NATT 4 tournament, and hopefully some annotated games from our new Open Champion, Mario Adriano. Of course I will continue to include annotated games from any class event that is sent in to me. Thank you to those who sent me annotated games. Please keep them coming. Dont be shy.