READERS' GAMES

We are on the eve of a new millenium, and I would like to take this opportunity to wish all of you much success, happiness and good health in the new millenium! These are exciting times for cc, and although, unfortunately, I foresee a steady decline in traditional cc, or snailmail chess as it called these days, I believe cc still has a healthy future embracing the still fairly new technology of email communication and the internet. But, notwithstanding, snailmail chess will be with us for a good number of years to come yet.

First up is a game from Robert Bowerman, K-52 winner. Robert says this is one of his critical games from this event.

White: Robert Bowerman
Black: Gordon Morrell
King's Indian Defense (by transposition)/ Saemisch Variation 1996 Canadian Closed CC Championship (K-52) 1996
Annotations by Robert Bowerman, unless indicated by RPM.

1.d4 g6 2.c4 Bg7 3.e4 d6 4.Nc3 e5 5.Nge2 Nd7 6.Be3 Ngf6 7.f3 0-0 8.Qd2 c6 9.d5

(9.0-0-0 seems to be quite popular these days. RPM)

9...cxd5 10.exd5?

We have reached a variation of the Saemisch King's Indian Defense. White's 10th move is a serious error, which caused me to suffer during much of the game. It taught me a valuable lesson -- dont take 'book' evaluations or suggestions at face value. The move is suggested as an interesting possibility (!?) in #22 page 147 of BCO 2. Apparently the idea is to eventually blockade e4 with a Knight perhaps after g4 and Ng3. Unfortunately Black refutes the whole concept on his very next move!

(Both ECO, Volume E, 3rd edition 1998 and NCO, 1999 make no mention of 10.exd5. The main line by given ECO is: 10.Nxd5 (10.cxd5 would transpose to E89) Nxd5 11.Qxd5 Nb6 12.Qb5 Bh6 13.Bf2 Be6 14.Nc3 Qc7 15.b3 Nd7 16.Rd1 a6 17.Qb4 Nc5 18.Be3 b5 19.Nd5 Bxd5 20.cxd5 f5 21.exf5 Rxf5 22.0-0 Rc8 = {Shirov}, RPM)

10...e4! (diagram)

This clearance sacrifice frees the g7 Bishop, establishes a strong outpost on e5, and opens the e-file -- all for the cost of a mere pawn!

11.fxe4

Better than 11.Nxe4 Nxe4 12.fxe4 Qh4+ 13.Ng3 Nf6 14. Bd3 (e5? Ne4) Ng4 15. Bf2 Nxf2 16. Qxf2 f5! and Black is winning. I knew at this point I was fighting to survive. I decided to castle kingside and develop as rapidly as possible.

11...Re8 12.Ng3 Ng4!

Black's last move prevents queenside castling: 13.0-0-0 Nxe3 14.Qxe3 Qh4 with many threats such as: Bh6 and f5 followed by f4. If 13. Bd4 then Nde5 14. Be2 Bh6 15. Qc2 Be3 16. Bxg4 (Bxe5?? Bf2+ 17. Kd2 Qg5+ wins) Bxd4 17. Bxc8 Rxc8 18. b3 b5! or 18...Qg5! and White's position is collapsing. These lines show how difficult White's position has become.

13.Be2 Nxe3 14.Qxe3 f5 15.0-0 Nc5

Now 16. Bd3 Nxd3 17. Qxd3 Qb6+ is horrible hence White's next:

16.Rae1 Qb6

Of course Black is not satisfied with 16...Bxc3 17. Qxc3 Nxe4 18. Nxe4 Rxe4 (18...fxe4 19.Qf6) when Black has given back a large part of his advantage merely to establish material equality. In such positions it is better to keep up the pressure and only to simplify when there is a clear advantage. Now Black is threatening the simple Qxb2 and if 17.Rb1? f4! wins (18. Rxf4 Bh6 or 18. Qxf4 Nd3+). However, White has prepared a counter.

17.b4!

Now 17...Qxb4? 18. Nb5 Rd8 19. exf5 is good for White; also 18. Nb5 Qa5 19. Nxd6. Finally 17...Nd7 18. Qxb6 axb6 19. Nb5 Rxa2 20. Nxd6 Rf8 21.exf5 is again better for White. This explains Black's next.

17...Bxc3 18.bxc5 Qxc5 9.Qxc5 dxc5

White has relieved some of the pressure by exchanging Queens; as well the passed d- pawn offers some counter chances. Still the position is better for Black.

20.Rb1 h5!?

A sharp move! The simple 20...fxe5 wins a pawn and ensures some advantage. I probably would have continued (after 20...fxe5) with 21. Rf4 Bd4+ 22. Kh1 e3 23. Rb3 hoping to win the e-pawn with move like Rf3 and Nf1 with reasonable drawing chances; Black wants more.

21.Bd1

Not 21.exf5? h4 winning a piece.

21...Bd4+ 22.Kh1 h4 23.Ba4

An important intermezzo, gaining a temp over 23.Ne2 Rxe4.

23...Re5

23...Re7 is also interesting

24.Ne2 fxe4

Best. 24...Rxe4 25. Nxd4 Rxd4 26.Rfe1 Re4 (Kf7? 27. Re8) 27.Rxe4 fe 28. d6 Be6 29. Rxb7 Bxc4 30. Re7 Kf8 (otherwise d7) 31. Rxe4 and White is better because of the threat of 32. d7; or: 24...Rxe4 25. Nxd4 cd 26. d6 Be6 27. c5 with counterplay eg. 27...Be4 28. Bb3; or ...Rb8? c6; or 27...Rc8? 28.d7

25.Nf4 Bf5

Best. Not 25...Kg7 26.d6

26.Rxb7 e3

A fascinating position! White cannot permanently blockade the e-pawn because of Black's strong Bishops. On the other hand White's active Rook and passed d-pawn ensure adequate counter play.

27.Ne2 Bd3!

If 27...Rf8 then 28. d6 with the idea of Bc6 and Bd5; if 28...Be4/d3 29. Rxf8+ Kxf8 30. Rb8+ Kf7 31.d7 and White wins.

28.Rff7 g5

28...Bxe2 leads to a draw by perpetual check but Black wants more. I evaluated this position as sharp, but equal.

29.h3! (diagram)

Perhaps the most difficult move for me to find in the game. White's pieces are already on their optimum squares and attempts at active continuations will rebound in Black's favour. The move played gives White's King an important 'luft' which as we shall see is key in some variations.

29...Rf5?!

Black refuses the forced draw after 29...Bxe2. 29...Rf8 loses to 30. Rxf8+ Kxf8 31.d6 and Black is helpless against the threat of Rb8+ followed by d7

30.Rxf5 Bxf5 31.Re7

Not 31. d6 Rd8 32. d7 Bd3 33. Bd1 Bxc4 34. Rxa7 Bb5 and Black is much better. The text follows the general principle of putting Rooks behind passed pawns. Now 31...Bd3 32. d6 Kf8 33. Nxd4 cxd4 34.Re5 wins for White.

31...Rd8

Renewing the threat of ...Bd3.

32.Nxd4!

Strong. Both sides will have 2 connected passed pawns, but White should win because his Rook is much more active than Black's Rook.

32...cxd4 (diagram)

33.Re5

Not 33.c5 Rxd5 34. Bb3 Kf8. Now White will mobilize his c-pawn

33...Bb1 34.c5 Kf7

If 34...Bxa2 35.d6 wins easily; if 34...d3 35. Rxe3 Bc2 36. Bxc2 dc 37. Rc3 Rxd5 38. Rxc2 Rd1+ 39. Kh2 Rd7 40. c6 Rc7 41. Kg1 should win easily -- Black's kingside pawns are very weak. Note the importance of an escape square for white's King (29. h3!) Note as well that 34. Rxg5+ is a serious error: after Kf7 and later Kf6 White's Rook would be forced out of play.

35.c6 Kf6

Again 35...d3 36. Rxe3 Bc2 37. Bxc2 dc 38. Rc3 Rxd5 39. Rxc2 wins easily.

36.Re6+ Kf5 37.c7 Rc8 38.d6

Now 38.. Kxe6 39. d7 Rxc7 40. d8(Q) Rc8+ 41. Kh2 wins -- Again note that this line would not be playable without 29.h3!

38...Be4

Now 39. d7?? e2 40. Rxe4 Kxe4 and Black queens first and will secure a draw by perpetual check but:

39.Kg1 1-0.

The conclusion might have been 39...Kxe6 40. d7 Rxc7 41. d8(Q) Rc1+ 42. Kh2 e2 43. Bb3+ Kf5 (Ke5 Qxg5+) 44. Qf8+ Kg6 45. Qg8+ Kf5 46. Qe6+ Kf4 47. Qg4+ Ke3 48. Qxg5+ Kf2 49. Qf4+ etc.

I learned some valuable lessons from this game: not to take 'book' comments as gospel; the importance of looking deeply for every possible resource in a precarious position and the importance of assessing accurately (rather than optimistically) the relative merits and defects of both your own and your opponent's position. With regards to the last point, had I not realized very early (about move 11) how bad my position really was I would certainly not have survived the opening. Conversely my opponent was perhaps overly optimistic about his chances, otherwise he might have taken the draw on move 28 or 29. As Gordon said in his last card he had simply underestimated some of the resources that I had at my disposal. I hope that the readers enjoyed this game as much as I did and that they may find some of the lessons that I learned to be of use in their own games. {Bowerman}

Next up are three games from our current Canadian CC Closed Champion, Eugene Gibney of Alberta.

White: Manny Migicovsky
Black: Eugene Gibney
Reti Opening A09
1997 Canadian Closed CC Championship (K-53) 1997
Annotations by Eugene Gibney

1.Nf3 d5 2.c4 d4 3.g3 c5 4.Bg2 Nc6 5.0-0 Nf6 6.d3 e5 7.b4

This pawn sacrifice gives White a lot of queenside pressure, but a pawn is a pawn. The story is told of Karpov being asked his opinion of a promising pawn sacrifice and his reply was "Where's the mate?" In many situations correct play is to accept the sacrifice, with a view to returning the material later when your opponent has spent some effort trying to recover the material!

7...cxb4 8.a3 Bd7 9.Nbd2

Either here or at an appropriate stage over the next few moves. Also to be considered is trying to open the position before Black has completed his development.

9...a5 10.axb4 Bxb4 11.Ba3 Bxa3 12.Rxa3 Qe7 13.Qa1 0-0 14.Rb1 Rfb8 15.Ne1 h5 16.Nc2 h4 17.Rab3 hxg3 18.fxg3 Nd8

Here regaining the pawn by 18...Bxb7 would leave the white squares around the White King too weak.

19.Rb6 Bc6 20.Bxc6 Nxc6 21.Qb2 Nd8 22.Rb5

Here 22.e3 should be considered, when White gets good central counterplay, and Black's pieces are poorly coordinated.

22...Nd7 23.e3 Ra6 24.exd4 exd4 25.Re1 Re6 26.Rxe6 Qxe6 27.Qxd4 Nc6 28.Qc3

White has regained his sacrificed pawn, but allowed Black to get his pieces more harmoniously arranged. The position is about equal, but certainly unbalanced.

28...Nb4 (diagram)

This aggressive move highlights the exposed position of the White King, which White will find difficult to defend if he takes the offered pawn.

29.Ne4 Nxc2 30.Qxc2 f5 31.Nf2 Re8 32.Rb1

A critical line is 32. d4 g6, when the position is balanced between control of the e-file, and White's queenside advantage.

32...Qe3 33.Qc1 Qxc1+ 34.Rxc1 Nc5 35.Ra1 Ra8 36.Ra3 Kf7 37.Kf1 Ne6(diagram)

The Knight is headed for d4, where it will restrict the mobility of the white c and d pawns, and control the key e2 and f3 squares. This key manoeuvre ensures that Black has the initiative in the endgame, making White's task more difficult, even if with best play the position is still drawn.

38.Nd1 Nd4 39.Nc3 Ke6 40.Ra2 Kd6 41.Na4 Rh8 42.Kg2 g5 43.Nb6 Kc6 44.Nd5 b6 45.Ra1 g4 46.Rb1

This is a mistake, possibly the decisive one. Black gets connected passed pawns. 46.Nc3 is better.

46...b5 47.Nc3 b4 48.Nd5 Kc5 49.Ra1 Nc6 0-1.

White:Eugene Gibney
Black: Roger Patterson
Sicilian Defense/Smith-Morra Gambit B21
1997 Canadian Closed CC Championship (K-55), 1997
Annotations by Eugene Gibney

1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 dxc3 4.Nxc3 Nc6 5.Nf3 d6 6.Bc4 e6

6...a6 7. 0-0 Nf6 8. Bg5 e6 9. Qe2 h6 is a popular choice these days, and recommended by Tim Taylor as the most serious attempt to refute the Smith-Morra gambit.

7.0-0 Nf6 8.Qe2 Bd7 9.Rd1 Qb8

Black's choice of defence is one of the less common lines. More usual is 8. ... Be7 9. Rd1 e5.

10.Bf4 Ne5 11.Bxe5

Almost certainly better than 11. Nxe5 dxe5 12. Be3 Be7 13. Rac1 a6 14. a4 0-0 as in Zlatoustov-Obukhovsky, Ryazan 1975 given as unclear by ECO, but Black is already better after 15. a5 Bc6 16. f3 Bb4.

11...dxe5 12.Bb5 a6

12....Be7? 13. Rxd7 Nxd7 14. Rd1.

13.Bxd7+ Nxd7 14.Rac1 b5

Nunn's suggestion. There are several games with 14. ... Be7 15. Nb5! in all of which White obtained the upper hand.

15.Ng5 (diagram)

We are now out of the book. White needs to play aggressively to try to take advantage of Black's lag in development. Black's extra pawn is perhaps not very important numerically, but the doubled e-pawns control important central squares, and if he could complete his development he would be winning. The text prevents 15. ... Be7 which is answered by 16. Nxf7. After 15. Ng5 Black should probably play 15. ... Nf6 or 15. ... Qb7 with a good game.

15...Ra7 16.Rd3 Nc5 17.Rh3 b4 18.Nxh7

A speculative sacrifice, with the Black King the clear target.

18...bxc3 19.Rcxc3 Rxh7

Instead, after 19. .. Rb7 20. b3 Bd6 21. Qg4 g6 22. Nf6+ Ke7 23. Qg5 Rxh3 24. Rxh3 it is unclear whether White's compensation for the piece is enough.

20.Rxh7 Rd7 21.h4 Qb5

Here 21. ... Rd4 22. Rh8 Nxe4 23. Rc6 Qb7 24. Qxa6 Qxa6 25. Rxa6 gives Black a very playable game.

22.Qc2 Rd4

A move too late. 22. ... Rd3 looks better, and after 23. Rxc5 Bxc5 24. a4 Bxf2+ 25. Qxf2 Qxa4 26. Rxg7, and although White has a plus there is no clear win in sight.

23.Rh8 Nd7

If 23. ... Nb7, then 24. a4 Qb4 25. Rc8+ Nd8 26. Qc6+ Rd7 27.Rxd8+ and White is winning.

24.Rc8+ Ke7 25.Qc7 Qxb2 26.Rhxf8 1-0.

White: Jean-Luc Couture
Black: Eugene Gibney
Queen's Gambit Declined/Tchigorin Variation D07
1997 Canadian Closed CC Championship (K-53) , 1997
Annotations by Eugene Gibney

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.c4 Bg4 4.e3 e6

4....e5? 5.Qb3!

5.Nc3 Bb4 6.a3.

The system chosen by White is not one of the critical lines against the Tchigorin, and here 6. Qb3 looks somewhat better (dating back to the game Pillsbury-Tchigorin, St. Petersburg 1895-6), although Black has no problems in this line either.

6...Bxc3+ 7.bxc3 Nf6 8.Be2 0-0 9.cxd5 exd5 10.0-0 Ne4 11.Bb2 Nd6

This move emphasises Black's dark square control and the poor White Queen Bishop.

12.Nd2 Bxe2 13.Qxe2 Na5 14.a4 Ndc4 15.Nxc4 Nxc4 (diagram)

Black's strategic advantage is clear, but converting it into a win proves no easy task, with White putting up a determined and skillful resistance.

16.f3 Re8 17.e4 c6 18.Bc1

18.e5 Qg5 (If 18. ... Qb6 19. Rf2; but not 19. Rfb1 Rxe5.) 19.a5 Qf5, with a plus for Black.

18...Qa5 19.Qc2 Re6 20.Re1 Rae8 21.Bf4 f5 22.e5 Rf8 23.Qb3 Rf7 24.Bg5

If 24.Qb4 Qxb4 25. cxb4 a5 and Black has only slightly the better chances. Black might be better avoiding the Queen exchange.

24...h6 25.Bh4 g5 26.Bg3 f4 27.Bf2 Qd8 28.Re2 b6 29.Rae1 h5 30.Rd1 Qf8 31.Be1 Rg7 32.Qb1 Qf7 33.Bf2 Qg6 34.Qxg6 Rgxg6

Black's plan is to post his King on e6, then slowly increase the pressure by creating a passed queenside pawn, and eyeing a possible later kingside breakthrough.

35.Rb1 Kf7 36.g3 Re8 37.Kg2 Ke6 38.Rbe1 Rf8 39.gxf4 Rxf4 40.Bg3 Rf7 41.h3 Rg8 42.Rd1 Rgf8 43.Rd3 b5 44.axb5 cxb5 45.Be1 a5 46.Bd2 Nb2 47.Rde3 Rc8 48.Be1 Nc4 49.Rd3 a4 50.Ra2 Na5 51.Rb2 Nb3 52.Bd2 Rg7 53.Kf2 Kf5 54.Ke1 Rg6 55.Kf2 Rc4 56.Be1 Ra6 57.Rb1 Ke6 58.Ke3 h4 59.Rdd1 Rac6 60.Rb2 Rc8 61.Rd3 Rf8 62.Rb1 Rc7 63.Ke2 Rcf7 64.Re3 Rf4 65.Rd3 R8f7

Many times during this long ending I despaired of finding a breakthrough, even though this was my last game to finish in the tournament, and I knew I needed the full point to be assured of at least a tie for first place.

66.Re3 b4 67.Rd3 Rc7 68.Kf2 Rc8 69.Ke2 Rc4 70.Ke3 bxc3 71.Bxc3 Rf7 72.Bd2 Rb7 73.Rb2 Rb8 74.Kf2 Rb5 1-0.

And with the threat of 75. ... Nxd4 White resigned. As it happened, the full point was enough to gain sole first place and the Canadian title!

Next up is Philip Cody's win over Mexican ICCF IM, Dr. Clemente Guizar from the 13th CC OLY Prelims.

White: Dr. Philip Cody (2272)
Black: ICCF IM Dr. Clemente Guizar (MEX) (2407)
Budapest Defense A52
13th CC OLY Prelims/ Section: 3 Bd 2 1998-9
Annotations by Dr. Philip Cody, unless indicated by RPM.

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 Ng4

(The most common response, but the Fajarowicz Gambit 3...Ne4 is an interesting line also. RPM.)

4.Bf4

The strongest.

(Of course White also has 4.Nf3 and 4.e4, the Alekhine system, immediately giving back the pawn in order to strive for a superior pawn center. These alternatives have been tried with the most frequency, RPM.)

4...Bb4+

(On 4...Nc6 5.Nf3 Bb4+ 6.Nbd2 Qe7 7.e3 { 7.a3 Ngxe5!? [this move sets up the so-called "Kieninger trap", since if 8.axb4?? Nd3 mate.] 8.Nxe5 Nxe5 9.e3 Bxd2+ 10.Qxd2 d6 11.Qc3 0-0 12.c5 Bf5 13.Be2 Rfe8 14.cxd6 cxd6 15.0-0 Rac8 16.Qd4 +/=, NCO, Maksimovic-Marjanov, Yugoslav Ch, Banja Vrucica 1991} 7...Ngxe5 8.Nxe5 Nxe5 9.Be2 0-0 10.0-0 a5 11.Nb3 a4 12.a3 Bd6 13.Nd4 Bc5 14.Nb5 d6 = NCO, RPM.)

5.Nd2 d6

Now 6.Nf3 is not dangerous for Black, Sadler-Roger 1993. (The game continued: 6...dxe5 7.Bxe5 Bxd2+ 8Qxd2 Qxd2 9.Kxd2 Nxf2 10.Rg1 0-0 11.Bxc7 Na6 12.Be5 Ne4 13.Ke3 {13.Kc1! {Benjamin}} 13...Bf5 14.g4 Bg6 15.Nh4 Rfe8 16.Nxg6 Nac5 17.Nf4 Re5 18.Bg2 Rae8 19.Bf3 Nd6?! {19...a5!?} 20.Kd4! +/-, but the game was drawn in 29 moves. Inf 59/89, RPM.)

6.exd6 Qf6 7.e3

a) 7.Bg3 Qxb2 8.Ngf3 Bxd6 = ; b) 7.Nh3 Nxf2 8.Kxf2 Bxh3 9.g3 Bc5+ {or 9...Bxf1 10.Rxf1 [10.dxc7!? Nc6 11.Rxf1 +/-] 10...Qd4+ 11.Kg2 Bxd6 12.Qb3 0-0 13.Qxb7 Nd7 14.Nf3 +/-, Summerscale-Szabolcsi, French Ch. 1996} 10.e3 g5 11.Ne4 Qxb2+ 12.Qe2 Qxa1 13.Bxh3! Qxh1 14.Qb2 0-0 15.Nf6+ Kh8 16.Bxg5 c6 17.Ng4+ 1-0, Beikert-Chatalbashev, Sofia U-26 1994. I prefer 7.e3.

7...Nxf2

a) 7..g5 8.dxc7 Nc6 9.Bg3 h5 10.h4; b) 7..Qxb2 8.Nf3 cxd6 9.Rb1 +)

8.Kxf2 g5 9.dxc7

9.Ne4 Qxb2+ 10.Be2 gxf4 11.Rb1 =

9...Nc6 10.Ne4 Qxb2+ 11.Be2 gxf4 12.exf4 f5 13.Rb1 Qxa2 14.Nd6+ Ke7

(If 14...Bxd6!?/?! 15.Qxd6 and the Rook is immune from capture because of 15...Qxb1?? 16.Bh5 mate. However Black could try 15...Kf7 with the idea of Re8 or Be6, now 16.Nf3! Re8 {16...h6!?} 17.Ng5+ Kg7 18.Rhe1 h6 19.Nf3 Be6 is unclear. RPM)

15.Rxb4! (diagram)

(White has no choice, but to sac the exchange, but the move allows the White Queen to take up a dominating position in the center of the board. RPM)

15... Nxb4 16.Qd4! Rg8 17.Nxc8 Raxc8 18.Qc5+ Kd7 19.Qxb4 Kxc7 20.Qc5+ Kb8 21.Qe5+ Ka8

(Now White has a slight material superiority, but is still behind in development. It's instructive to see how White manages to pull out the win. From this point I would judge the position to be at least unclear. RPM)

22.Qxf5 Rxc4

(It's difficult to find a more promising continuation in this complex position. Perhaps 22...Qd2 with the idea of ....Rgf8 is a bit better. RPM)

23.Nf3 Rc3

(In my opinion stronger would have been the immediate 23...Re8!?, leaving the Rook on c4, attacking the f4, and threatenning the Bishop on e2. White is now forced to protect with the Rook with 24.Re1 or interpose with 24.Ne5. If 24.Ne5 Qd2! 25.g3 Rd2 26.Re1 a5. The Knight and Bishop are both pinned, so Black can push the a-pawn, and not worry about his h-pawn. But 27.Qd3! seems sufficient to force the exchange of Queens, thereby entering the endgame which seems favorable to White. RPM)

24.g3 Re8 25.Ne5 Rc2 26.Re1 Rc7 27.Qb1 Rc2 28.Qxa2 Rxa2

(The rest is a matter of technique, RPM)

29.Rd1 Kb8 30.Ke3 Ra3 31.Rxd3 Rxd3 32.Bxd3 h6 33.g4 Kc7 34.Bb5 Rf8 35.h4 a6 36.Bd3 Kd6 37.Bg6 Ke6 38.Ke4 b5 39.f5+ Kd6 40.Nf7+ Kc5 41.Nxh6 a5 42.Bf7 a4 43.Kd3 Rd8+ 44.Kc2 Kb4 45.g5 Ka3 46.Ng4 b4 47.Ne3 b3+ 48.Kc3 Rc8+ 49.Bc4 Re8 50.Be6 Ka2 51.Nc4 Ka1 52.f6 Rxe6 53.f7 1-0.

Andrew Pressburger submitted the following interesting game from our match with Finland.

White: Pertti Koskinen (ICCF 2285)
Black: Andrew Pressburger
Sicilian Defense/Dragon Variation B-78
Canada vs Finland Bd 7
Annotations by Arthur Pressburger

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 g6 5.Nc3 Bg7 6.Be3 d6 7.Qd2 Nf6 8.f3 0-0 9.Bc4 Bd7 10.0-0-0

Preparing to train the big guns on the adversary's castle.

10...Qb8 11.Bb3 Rc8 12.Kb1 b5

Speculative pawn sacrifice designed to clear lines of attack.

13.Ncxb5 Ne5 14.Na3 a5 15.c3 a4 16.Bc2 Be6 17.Ka1?

Clearly 17...Nxe6 would have been more provident., though, in that case the chances for a breakthrough on d5 looks promising.

17...Nc4 18.Nxc4 Bxc4 19.a3 Nd7 20.Bd3 Bxd3 21.Qxd3 Nc5 22.Qb1 Nb3+ 23.Ka2

23.Nxb3 Qxb3 helps increase the pressure on thenWhite King by allowing Black to load up on the b-file.

23...Na5 24.Qd3 Nc4 25.Bc1

"A noisless patient spider" {Walt Witman}

25...e5 26.Ne2 Qb3+ 27.Ka1 Rcb8! (diagram)

Threatenning ...Nxb2.

28.Qb1 Nxa3 29.Qa2 Nc4!

29...Nc2+ yields nothing.

30.Rhf1

What else is there? If 30.Qxb3 axb3+ 31.Kb1 Rab8.

30...a3 31.Qxb3

My opponent avoids the more elegant finish: 31.bxa3 Qxa2+ 32.Kxa2 d5! (not the immediate 32...Bf8 33.Rd4!) 33.exd5 Bf8 and mate can be avoided only by giving up a Rook.

31...axb2+ 32.Kb1 Rxb3 0-1.

If 33.Bg5 Na3+ 34.Ka2 Rb6 followed by 35. ...b1=Q+.

The following is a selection of games from M-96, the 1996 Candidate Master tournament in Memory of Drew Lamb Stoll.

White: Grant Brown
Black: Sergio Quesada
Ponziani's Opening C44
M-96 1996
Annotations by Grant Brown

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.c3 d5 4.Qa4 Qd6 5.Bb5 Bd7 6.exd5 Qxd5 7.0-0 Be7 8.Bc4?! Qd6 9.Qb3 0-0-0 10.Bxf7 e4 11.Ne1 Nh6 12.d4

Only move If a) 12.Bc4 Na5-+; b) 12.Bd5 Na5; c)12.Bh5 Bg4-+; d) 12.Qd5 Qf6 13.Bh5 Be8 14.Qb5 Ne5-+; e) 12.Na3 Ng4 13.g3 Qh6 14.h4 Bxh4-+; f)12.f3 Rhf8 13.Bc4 Na5; g) 12.g3 Bh3 13.Ng2 Ne5 14.Bh5 Nf3+ 15.Kh1 Rhf8 -/+; h)12.h3 g5 with attack.

12...Nxf7?

12...exd3 13.Bxh6,unclear.

13.Qxf7 Rdf8 14.Qc4 Rf5 15.Qe2 Rhf8 16.Nd2 g5 17.Nxe4 Qg6 18.Nd3 Bd6 19.Ndc5 Re8 20.Qb5 b6 21.Nxd6+ Qxd6 22.Qa6+ Kd8 23.Nxd7 Kxd7 24.Qd3 Ref8 25.g4 Rf3 26.Qxh7+ 1-0.

White: Martial Larochelle
Black: Ralph P. Marconi
Four Knights Game C47
M-96, 1996

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nc6 4.d4 exd4 5.Nxd4 Bb4 6.Nxc6 bxc6 7.Bd3 d5 8.exd5 cxd5 9.0-0 0-0 10.Bg5 c6 11.Qf3 Be7 12.h3 Rb8 13.b3 h6 14.Bf4 Bd6 15.Na4 Rb4 16.Bxd6 Qxd6 17.Rfe1 Rb7 18.Qe3 Be6 19.Nc5 Re7 20.Qd4 Rfe8 21.c4 Bc8 22.Rxe7 Rxe7 23.Rd1 Qe5 24.Qxe5 Rxe5 25.Na4 dxc4 26.Bxc4 Kf8 27.Rd8+ Re8 28.Rd6 Bb7 29.Nc5 Ba8 30.b4 Ke7 31.Rd3 Rc8 32.Kf1 Nd5 33.Bxd5 cxd5 34.Ra3 Rc7 35.Ke2 Bc6 36.Ra5 Kd6 37.f4 g5 38.g3 Re7+ 39.Kd3 f5 40.Kd4 Re1 41.b5 Rd1+ 42.Nd3 Be8 43.a4 Bh5 44.Ra6+ Kd7 45.Rxa7+ Kd8 46.b6 Kc8 47.Re7 gxf4 48.gxf4 Bf3 49.a5 Be4 50.a6 Rxd3+ 51.Kc5 d4 52.Kd6 Kd8 53.Rh7 Ke8 54.b7 Bxb7 55.axb7 1-0.

White: Martial Larochelle
Black: Tim Knechtel
Modern Defense B06
M-96, 1996

1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 d6 4.f4 c6 5.Nf3 Bg4 6.Be3 Qb6 7.Qd2 Bxf3 8.gxf3 Nd7 9.0-0-0 Qa5 10.Kb1 0-0-0 11.Rg1 Kb8 12.Rg5 Qc7 13.d5 h6 14.Rg1 c5 15.Nb5 Qc8 16.f5 Ne5 17.Be2 Nf6 18.Nc3 g5 19.h4 Rdg8 20.hxg5 hxg5 21.Bxg5 Rh2 22.Qe1 Rh3 23.Qf1 Rgh8 24.f4 Ned7 25.e5 dxe5 26.fxe5 Ne8 27.e6 fxe6 28.dxe6 Ndf6 29.Bb5 Nd6 30.Bf4 Bf8 31.Rg6 Nfe8 32.Bd7 Qd8 33.Qb5 Nf6 34.Rxf6 exf6 35.Rxd6 Bxd6 36.Bxd6+ Ka8 37.a4 Rh1+ 38.Ka2 Qg8 39.Qxc5 1-0.

White: Philippe St-Amour
Black: Martial Larochelle
Nimzo-Indian Defense/Classical Variation E32
M-96 1996

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 0-0 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.Qxc3 b6 7.Nf3 Bb7 8.e3 d6 9.Be2 Nbd7 10.0-0 Ne4 11.Qc2 f5 12.b4 a5 13.Bb2 Ng5 14.Nd2 Qe7 15.f3 e5 16.d5 f4 17.exf4 Rxf4 18.Bd3 g6 19.g3 Rff8 20.Rae1 Qg7 21.f4 Nf7 22.f5 g5 23.Ne4 Nf6 24.b5 Rae8 25.Bc1 Bc8 26.h3 Nxe4 27.Bxe4 Qf6 28.Be3 Kg7 29.Kh1 Rg8 30.Bc1 Kf8 31.g4 Ke7 32.c5 dxc5 33.Bb2 Kd8 34.a4 Nd6 35.Qe2 h5 36.Kg1 hxg4 37.hxg4 Rh8 38.Bg2 Qh6 39.Rf3 Qh2+ 40.Kf1 Nf7 41.Kf2 Bb7 42.Rh1 Qxh1 43.Bxh1 Rxh1 44.Ke3 Nh6 45.Rg3 Kc8 46.Qg2 Rd1 47.Qh2 Nf7 48.Qc2 Rxd5 49.f6 e4 50.Rg2 Rd3+ 51.Ke2 Bd5 52.Rg1 Rh8 53.Ke1 c4 54.Rf1 Rhh3 55.Bc1 Ne5 56.Bxg5 Nf3+ 0-1

White: Al Fichaud
Black: Ian Drummond
English Opening A18
M-96, 1996

1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e6 3.e4 d5 4.e5 d4 5.exf6 dxc3 6.bxc3 Qxf6 7.Nf3 b6 8.d4 Bb7 9.Bd3 Bxf3 10.gxf3 Nd7 11.Be4 Rd8 12.Rg1 h6 13.Qb3 Bd6 14.Rg2 c5 15.Be3 0-0 16.Ke2 Kh8 17.Rag1 Rg8 18.Bb1 Bf4 19.Qc2 Nf8 20.Rg4 e5 21.d5 Rd6 22.Qe4 Bxe3 23.fxe3 Rd7 24.h4 Rd6 25.f4 exf4 26.Rxf4 Qxc3 27.Rxf7 g6 28.Qf4 1-0.

White: Tim Knechtel
Black: Roger Roy
Trompowsky Attack A45
M-96 1996
Annotations by Ralph P. Marconi

1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 e6 3.e4 h6 4.Bxf6 Qxf6 5.Nc3 d6

(ECO gives 5...Bb4 6.e5 {6.Qd2 c5 7.a3 Bxc3 8.bxc3 d6 9.Nf3 0-0 10.Be2 Nc6 11.0-0 e5 = Hodgson-de Firmian, Amsterdam, 1996 - NCO} Qe7 7.Qg4 0-0 8.h4 d5 9.Rh3 c5 =/+, Trompwski-Cruz, 1939. RPM)

6.Qd2 g6?! 7.f4 Bg7 8.Nf3 0-0 9.0-0-0 a6 10.Bd3 b5 11.Rdf1 b4 12.Nd1 a5?! 13.g4 Ba6 14.Bxa6 Nxa6 15.g5 hxg5 16.fxg5 Qe7 17.h4 c5 18.h5 cxd4 19.hxg6 fxg6 20.Qh2 Kf7! 21.e5 dxe5 22.Nxe5+ Ke8 23.Qg2 Rc8 24.Nxg6 Qc5 25.Nxf8 Bxf8 26.Rh8 Kd7 27.Rf7+ Be7 28.Rxc8 Qxc8 29.g6 Qg8 30.Qg5 Qxf7 31.Qb5+ 1-0

White: Serge Maurer
Black: Roger Roy
Caro-Kann Defense/4...Nd7 Variation B17
M-96 1996

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7 5.Bc4 Ngf6 6.Ng5 e6 7.Qe2 Nb6 8.Bb3 h6 9.N5f3 c5 10.Be3 Qc7 11.Ne5 cxd4 12.Bxd4 Bc5 13.Ngf3 0-0 14.0-0-0 a5 15.a3 a4 16.Ba2 Nbd5 17.Bxc5 Qxc5 18.Rd4 b5 19.Nd3 Qb6 20.Rd1 Bb7 21.Nb4 Rfd8 22.Nxd5 Bxd5 23.Bxd5 Rxd5 24.Qe3 Rad8 25.Rxd5 Qxe3+ 26.fxe3 Rxd5 27.Rxd5 Nxd5 28.Kd2 b4 29.axb4 Nxb4 30.Kc3 Nd5+ 31.Kd4 Kf8 32.e4 Nb4 33.Kc3 Nc6 34.Kc4 f5 35.exf5 exf5 36.Kb5 Ne7 37.Kxa4 g5 38.c4 f4 39.h3 Nf5 40.Kb5 Ke8 41.Kc6 Kd8 42.c5 Kc8 43.b4 Ne3 44.b5 Nxg2 45.b6 Ne3 46.b7+ Kb8 47.Ne5 1-0

White: Al Fichaud
Black: Serge Maurer
Semi-Tarrasch Defense D40
M-96 1996

1.Nf3 d5 2.d4 Nf6 3.c4 e6 4.Nc3 c5 5.e3 Nc6 6.a3 cxd4 7.exd4 Be7 8.Bd3 dxc4 9.Bxc4 0-0 10.0-0 b6 11.Qd3 Bb7 12.Rd1 Rc8 13.Ba2 Qc7 14.Bg5 Rfd8 15.Qe2 Nd5 16.Nxd5 exd5 17.Qd3 Qd6 18.Bxe7 Nxe7 19.Re1 f6 20.g3 Rc7 21.Re2 Bc8 22.Rae1 Bg4 23.Kg2 Ng6 24.h3 Bc8 25.Re3 Nf8 26.Nh4 g6 27.Qe2 g5 28.Nf3 Ng6 29.Nh2 Qd7 30.Qh5 Qf7 31.Ng4 Kf8 32.Qh6+ Qg7 33.Qh5 Re7 34.Bb1 Rxe3 35.Rxe3 Rd6 36.Rf3 Ke7 37.Rc3 Kd8 38.Ne3 Qf7 39.Qf3 Ne7 40.Bc2 Bd7 41.Bd3 h5 42.b4 Rc6 43.Rxc6 Bxc6 44.Nf1 Bd7 45.Nh2 Nc6 46.Qe3 Qe6 47.g4 h4 48.Nf3 1/2-1/2

We end with a game from a team match with the USSR back in 1965.

White: Kitschew,W (USSR)
Black: Paul Chadwick
Pirc-Robatsch Defense B09
Canada vs USSR (ICCF), 1965
Annotations by Paul Chadwick

1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.f4 Bg7 5.Nf3 0-0 6.Bd3 Nbd7 7.Qe2 c5 8.d5 Nb6

Chess Archives recommends 9.0-0 for White in this variation.

9.a4 e6 10.dxe6 Bxe6 11.a5 Nbd7 12.0-0 Re8 13.Qf2 c4 14.Be2 Rc8 15.h3 Nc5 16.Ng5

To this point the game follows Polugayevski-Gipslis (USSR Championship 1963), but Gipslis played 16...d5. I followed the Chess Archives recommendation of 16...h6, which looked more promising.

16...h6 (diagram)

17.Nxe6 Rxe6 18.f5

Looks promising, but White does not really get any compensation for the loss of the King's pawn.

18...Nfxe4 19.Nxe4 Nxe4 20.Qf3 gxf5

Consolidates the position of the Knight. If now 21.Qxf5 Bd4+ with the threat of 22...Ng3.

21.c3 Qf6 22.Be3

22.Qxf5 Qxf5 23.Rxf5 Ng3 wins a piece.

22...Qe7

Defends the Queen Knight pawn, so that the Knight may be moved, and threatening to win material by 23...Nxc3 24.bxc3 Rxe3 25.Qxf5 Rc5, followed by 26...Rxe2.

23.Bxa7

Regains the pawn, but Black's next two moves place his Rook in safety and threaten White with loss of material on three squares: a7, e2, and f1.!

23...Nd2 24.Qxf5 Ra8 0-1.

Happy Holidays!