INTERACTIVE CHESS

Dear Readers,

The Active NOST participants number between14-15 individuals, including Ralph Marconi, a new NOST member, who is displaying the Interactive Chess Game Challenge in real time at: Interactive Game. The commentary and analysis of the game so far, of moves 1 -11 follows:

1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Bb4

The Nimzo-Indian Defense. Black is willing to part with his Bishop pair to restrain White from playing e4. His compensation for giving White the Bishop pair is rapid development and often the doubling of White's c pawns.

4 Qc2

White has many moves at his disposal, most popular being Rubinstein's 4 e3. However, I've had success with the older text move since White renews the threat to play 5 e4 while avoiding doubled pawns.

4 ... d5 5 a3 Bxc3 6 Qxc3 Ne4 7 Qc2 c5

Tony Gardner: "Is this really a book move? It seems to do nothing other than kill time". Ralph Marconi: "Theory suggests it's best for Black to follow up the aggressive 6...Ne4 with another aggressive move. To this end, Black has 7...Nc6, 7...e5, and 7...c5, since 7...O-O is not considered aggressive enough. It was a toss up between 7...Nc6 and 7...c5. I like the idea of 7...Nc6, developing a piece and attacking the d pawn, but don't like blocking my c pawn. Therefore I'll play 7...c5, even though there is a possibility Black may have to sacrifice a piece to have any chances. Black thus pins all hopes on his lead in development. White meanwhile must catch up in development and then open up the position where his Bishop pair is his asset".

8 dxc5 Nc6

8...Nxc5? received some votes, but White gets a clear advantage after 9 cxd5. Then if 9...Qxd5?? White wins with 10 b4 due to the pin of the Bishop on c8. Also some votes were seen for 8...Na6? but , 9 Nf3, Naxc5 10 b4, Nd7 11 Bb2, O-O 12 e3 gives White a clear advantage.

9 cxd5 exd5

In exchange for Black's isolated pawn, the previously trapped Bishop is now freed. So why did White allow this? In general, the side with the Bishop pair desires open positions where his Bishop's mobility prove their superiority to Knights. Surprisingly 9...Qxd5? received some votes. White then gets a clear advantage after 10 Be3 and 11 Rd1.

10 Nf3 Bf5

Interestingly, NOST chose not to recover their pawn with 10...Qa5+. White would respond with 11 Bd2 and demonstrate an edge.

11 b4(see diagram)

Assessment so far: most NOST members are dubious about their position. I was too, since most opening literature (i.e. ECO) prefers White. However, I now think the books are wrong and that Black has a perfectly playable position due to his active pieces. NOST played the opening very well indeed! Stay tuned for current developments at the above mentioned web sites.

Rodolfo Riccio (Italy) - Stephen Ham (USA), Correspondence 1996-7

1 e4 c5 2 d4 cxd 3 c3

The Smith-Morra Gambit. Like most gambits, White offers a pawn in exchange for tempi, thus ensuring his rapid development and an open C-file. White is thus forced to attack to justify the minus pawn.

3 ... dxc3

I agree with GM Larry Evans when he says the best chance of refuting a gambit is by accepting it. White is now compelled to rapidly develop and inflict a permanent positional weakness upon Black before Black can defend. But, if White's attack stalls and/or his developed pieces get exchanged, then Black capitalizes upon his extra pawn to maneuver toward a superior endgame or use the extra material in a counter-attack.

4 Nxc3 Nc6 5 Nf3 d6 6 Bc4 a6

Tony Gardner questioned why Black played this apparently slow move since Black never played ...b5 and White wasn't kept from occupying b5 in the game. Black however does prevent occupation of b5 in most lines. For example, see the note to White's 8th move.

7 O-O Nf6 8 Qe2?!

Thematic and natural (preparing Rd1) yet wrong here. If White wants to play this move, he first needs to prepare it via 8 Bg5, e6 and now 9 Qe2, when Black has equality with either 9...Be7 or 9...h6. White also has the wild 8 b4!?, Bg4 9 b5 leading to equal positions. Gary Wallace correctly questions the text move but suggests the yet weaker 8 Ng5? White's sole compensation for the minus pawn is gain in time and development. This tempi loser enables Black to stop White's simplistic threat after 8...e6 9 Bf4, Be7 10 Rac1, O-O and Black is ready to drive the Knight away after ...h6 with a clear advantage due to the extra pawn and White's lost initiative. Tony Gardner questioned whether Riccio considered 8 e5. Actually 8 e5?, dxe 9 Qxd8, Nxd8 10 Nxe5, e6 (Black's 6th move denied White access to b5) 11 Rd1, Be7 12 Be3, Nd7 13 Nf3, Nc6 14 Rac1, O-O with a clear Black advantage, Gooris-Schmidt, Alborg 1988.

8 ... Bg4 9 Rd1 e6 10 Bf4?!

Gary Wallace and Tony Gardner prefer 10 Bg5 but provide no supporting analysis. I say 10 Bg5?!, h6 11 Bh4, g5 12 Bg3, Nh5 with a clear advantage to Black. Tony also prefers 10 h3, which is indeed best, however 10...Bxf3 11 Qxf3 (11 gxf, Be7 12 f4, Qc7 13 Be3, O-O 14 Rac1, Rac8 15 f3, Qa5 16 Kh2, Qh5 was clearly advantageous for Black in Martinovsky-de Fotis, Philadelphia 1990), Ne5 12 Qe2, Nxc4 13 Qxc4, Be7 14 Bf4, Qb6 15 Qa4, Nd7 with a Black edge. Ralph Marconi suggested 10 Be3 since in the game, the attacked Bishop goes here anyway. However, I think there is a reason 10 Be3? is not considered by opening theory...the Bishop isn't meaningful there. Black can advantageously counter-attack with 10...Ne5, forcing the exchange of material while hurting White's pawn position.

10 ... Nh5!(see diagram)

I'm proud of this novelty, which I prefer to both 10...Qa5 11 Nd5, Bxf3? (11...exd 12 exd+, Ne5 gives Black an edge) 12 Nf6, (12 gf??, Nh5 13 Bd2, Qd8 14 f4, g6 15 Nc3, Qh4 with a clear Black advantage as in Dorsch-Silman, USA 1977), gxf 13 Qxf3 with a clear White advantage and 10...Qb8 11 h3, Bxf3 12 Qxf3, Be7 13 Rac1, O-O 14 Bb3, Rc8 with a Black edge as in Ackerman-King, Bern Open 1992. Riccio too acknowledged the superiority of the text move as it forcefully confers a clear advantage to Black.

11 Be3

Both Larry Green and Gary Wallace question this move. Larry said 11 Be3 wastes time while 11 Qe3 "covers all bases". However, 11 Qe3?! is inadequate after 11...Be7 12 Be2 (12 Rac1? loses to 12...Bxf3 13 Qxf3, Nxf4 14 Qxf4, Bg5), Nxf4 13 Qxf4, Bxf3 14 Qxf3, O-O and Black consolidates his extra pawn. In general, White needs to avoid exchanging his pieces, since he is already materially behind.

11 ... Ne5

After the game, Riccio pointed out the equally attractive 11 ..., Qf6. I then analyzed 12 h3 (12 Rac1, Nxf4 13 Bxf4, Qxf4 with a clear advantage), Bxf3 13 Qxf3, Qxf3 14 gf, Ne5 15 Be2, g5, clear Black advantage.

12Bb3 Bxf3

Tony Garner says this is "a bit hasty" and recommends 12...Qf6 "keeping the pressure on". However, 12...Qf6? is met by the equalizing 13 Ba4+ when Black must respond with 13...Ke7 (13...Kd8? 14 Bb6+ or 13...Nc6? 14 Bxc6, bxc 15 Qc4, in both cases with a clear White advantage) if he wants to keep the pressure on or backpedal with 13...Nd7. An alternative to the text is 12...Rb8!? (12...b5?? 13 Rac1, Bxf3 14 gxf, Qxf6 15 Nxb5, axb 16 Qb5+ gives White a large advantage) 13 Ba4+, b5 14 Nxb5, axb 15 Bxb5+, Nd7 16 a4, Nf6 17 Bf4, e5 and Black retains his clear advantage. I chose the text move because it fit the counterattacking plan I developed in response to White's 8th move.

13 gxf3 Qf6 13...b5? gives White the advantage after 14 f4.

14 Ba4 Ke7

Riccio analyzed 14...Nc6? (14...b5?? loses to 15 Nxb5) 15 Bxc6, bxc 16 Qc4, c5 17 Qa4+, Ke7 (17...Kd8? 18 Qa5 claiming an unclear position after Nb5. However he missed 18 Qc6, Rc8 19 Rxd6+!, Bxd6 20 Qxd6, Ke8 21 Rd1, Qe7 22 Qxa6 followed by Nb5, winning for White) 18 Qc6, Kd8 19 Qxa6. White has a clear advantage since Black's King Rook and Bishop are trapped. Meanwhile White has a passed a pawn with a Rook behind it. Riccio also analyzed 14...Kd8?! 15 Bb6+ (15 Rac1?!, Nf4 16 Bb6+, Ke7 17 Nd5+, exd 18 Rc7+, Ke6 19 ed+, Kf5 20 Qe4, Kg5 21 Kh1 when he preferred White due to the threat of 22 Rg1+ and 23 Be3. However he missed 21...Kh5! 22 Be3, g5 when Black has a clear advantage due to the freeing of his King side pieces.), Ke7 16 Bc7 when I recommend 16 ...Qg5+ 17 Kh1, Kf6 18 Bxd6, Bxd6 19 Rxd6, Nf4 20 Nd5+, Nxd5 21 exd, Rhd8 when Black has the edge since he will trade off some heavy pieces and use the extra pawn to prepare for a favorable endgame.

15 Rxd6!

This stunning Rook sacrifice draws my King into the open where it is nearly mated or meets perpetual check. Black must demonstrate the utmost precision to win. I confess I never considered this move earlier. Interestingly Ralph Marconi and Larry Green question this move but offer no improvements. However, the alternatives lose. An example: 15 Rac1?, Nf4 16 Bxf4, Qxf4 17 Kg2, Ng6 18 Qc4, Nh4+ 19 Kf1 (19Kh1??, Qf3+ 20 Kg1, Qg2 checkmate), b5 Black frees his position, cashing in on the surplus material.

15 ... Kxd6

The alternatives were unacceptable. For example, 15...Nxf3+?? 16 Kh1, Kxd6 17 e5, Nxe5 18 Ne4 wins for White. Also 15...Qxf3? 16 Rd7+!, Kf6 17 Rxb7 gives White the advantage. Riccio however analyzed an original line: 15...Nf4?! 16 Bxf4, Qxf4 17 Rb6, Nxf3+ 18 Kf1, Nxh2+ 19 Kg2, Ng4 20 Rxb7+, Kf6 21 Rh1 when Riccio prefers White due to the threat of 22 e5+ and 23 Ne4. However I'd continue 21...Ne5 22 Rb6, Rd8 and assess the line as totally unclear.

16 Nb5+

Forced, because 16 Qc2??, Qxf3! 17 Nxb5, Ke7! (No need to allow White his attack after 17...axb?? 18 Qc5 or 18 Rd1+) 18 Bg5+, f6 19 Qd6+, Kf7 21 Qxd7+, Kg6 22 Bd1, Qxe4 and Black wins easily. Also 16 Rd1+??, Kc7 17 Qc2, Kb9 18 Bb6, Bd6! 18 Rxd6, Qg5+ 20 Kf1, Nf4 and Black wins.

16 ... Ke7!

Riccio said 16...axb (he gave ?? ) loses to 17 Qxb5+ (Ralph Marconi said "Black's King is too exposed"), but I say 17...Nxf3+ 18 Kh1, Rxa4 19 Qc5+, Kd7 20 Qb5+ is a draw by perpetual check. Instead Ralph Marconi examined 19 Bc5+? giving two lines leading to checkmates for White, but missed 19...Ke5! 20 Be7+, Kf4 21 Bxf6, Nxf6 22 Qxa4, Bc5 and Black has a clear advantage. Of the other alternative 16...Kd7, I only saw it losing to 17 Na7, Nc6?? 18 Bxc6+, Kc7 (18...bxc 19 Qxa6 wins) 19 Qd2, Bd6 20 Qa5+, Kb8 21 Bxb7, Rxa7 (21...Qxb2 22Bxa6 wins) 22 Bxa7+, Bxb7 23 Qb6+ wins. However Riccio pointed out the obvious 17...Ke7! 18 Bc5+, Kd8 19 Bb6+, Ke7 draws by perpetual check.

17 Bc5+ Kd7

I confess I considered no other alternatives. However, Riccio considered 17...Ke8!? 18 Nc7+, Kd8 19 Bb6, Qg6+ 20 Kh1, Ke7 and assessed the position as equal. I think he missed 19...Kc8! 20 Nxa8, Kb8 21 Nc7, (21 Qc2?, Bd6 wins for Black), Nxf3+ 22 Kf1 (22Kh1??, Qf4 wins), Nh2+ 23 Ke1, Nf4 24 Nxa6+, bxa 25 Qxa6, Bb4+ 26 Kd1, Rd8+ 27 Bxd8, Qxd8+ 28 Kc2, Nd3 and Black has a clear advantage. He threatens ...Qc8+ forcing the exchange of Queens and then follows with ...h5, advancing the remote passed pawn.

18 Rd1+

Gary Wallace wrote, "18 Qd2+ and Qa5 looks interesting". However this plan loses as follows: 18 Qd2+??, Kc8 19 Qa5, Nxf3+ 20 Kh1, Qe5 21 Bd6, Bxd6 22 Nxd6+, Qxd6 23 Qc3+, Kb8 24 Qxf3, Nf6 and White finds himself short a Rook, a pawn, and position.

18 ... Kc8 19 Qc2 Nc4!

Throughout the game I had difficult choices to make and complex calculations to sort through. It's not enough to calculate accurately; one then needs to correctly assess the resulting positions. I think I made the correct choice here, maintaining a clear advantage. Instead, Black has other moves available but they only obtain an edge, for example 19...Nc6 20 Nd6+ (threatening Nxb7), Bxd6 21 Bxd6, Nf4 22 Kh1, (22 Bxf4??, Qxf4 23 Bxc6, Qc7 24 Bd7+, Kb8 25 Ba4, Qxc2 26 Bxc2, Kc7 wins), and now both 22...Qg5 and 22...Nh3 give Black an edge. Also 19...Qg5+ (19...Qg6+ transposes) 20 Kh1, Nc6 21 Nd6+, Bxd6 22 Bxd6, Nf4 23 Rg1, Qh5 24 Rg3, Kd7 25 Bxf4, b5 and Black again only has an edge.

Tony Gardner asked, "Can Black survive after 19...axb? 20 Be7, Nc6 21 Bxf6, Nxf6?". Indeed he can Tony, although 22 Bxb5 is unclear. I recommend the more precise 21...Rxa4 since it gives White opportunities to fail. For example, 22 Rd8+, Kc7 23 Be7, Rxa2 24 Rxf8, Ra1+ 25Kg2, Nf4+ 26 Kg3, Rxf8 27 Kxf4 (27 Bxf8??, Ng6 wins more material for Black due to the threat of ...Rg1+), Re8 and Black has an edge. White must therefore prepare this plan first by 22 b3, Ra6 23 Rd8+ (23 Ba1?, Bb4 and Black has a clear advantage since his pieces are free to develop), Kc7 24 Be7 with an unclear position.

20 Be3? White correctly moves his Bishop to: 1) avoid allowing Black the freeing exchange on c5, and 2) threaten taking Blacks Knight. Gary Wallace criticizes the text, writing. " 20 Na7+ and 20 Bb6 looks best to me". The first move is inferior as follows: 20 Na7+?? (20 Qxc4??, Qg5+ wins for Black, as does 20 Nd6+??, Bxd6 21 Bxd6, b5 22 Bb3, Qxb2 and 20 Bf8??,axb ), Kb8 21 Nc6+, Kc7 (not 21...bxc?? 22 Qb3+, Kc8 23 Bxc6, Rb8 24 Qxc4, Qg5+ 25 Kf1, Qxc5 26 Qa6+, Kc7 27 Rd7 checkmate) and Black wins by freeing his Bishop. However, Gary was correct about 20 Bb6!, axb 21 Bb5, Bd6! 22 Qc4+, Kb8 23 Rxd6, Rc8 24 Rd8 (24 Qf1?, Qg5+ 25 Kh1, Ra2+ wins), Qxd8 25 Bxd8, Rxc4 26 Bxc4, b5, although Black has a clear advantage. The move in the game leads to a won position for Black.

20 ...axb 21 Bxb5 Be7??

Who would have known that this natural freeing move lets White off the hook? White can now reach an equal position. Instead, the winning plan was only found by me after Riccio showed me his improvement upon his game line. The correct sequence is 21...Kb8! 22 Bxc4 (22Qxc4, Be7 23 Rd7, Rc8 24 Qb3, b6! transposes back to the game), Bc5!! (22...Be7 23 Rd7 allows equality, transposing to the note to White's 22nd move) 23 Rd7, Rc8 wins. Chess always looks simple once the "obvious moves" are shown.

22 Qxc4+??

Both sides blunder in sequence. Our consolation being that the correct path is seen only in hind sight. White surprisingly equalizes after 22 Rd7!!, Kb8 (22...Bc5 23 Qxc4, b6 24 b4, Qa1+ 25 Kg2,, Qxa2 26 Qc3, Qa1 27 Qc4, Qa2=) 23 Bc4, Bd8 (23...Rc8?? 24 Rxb7+ wins) 24 Qb3, b6 25 e5!!, Qg6+ (25...Qxe5 26 Rxd8+, Rxd8 27 Qxb6+ draws by perpetual check) 26 Kh1, Kc8 (26...Qb1+ 27 Rd1, Qf5 28 Rxd8+, Rxd8 29 Qb6+ draws by perpetual check) 27 Qb5!, Qb1+ 28 Kg2, Qg6+ with perpetual check.

22 ... Kb8 23 Rd7 Rhc8 24 Qb3 b6!

Black must be ever vigilant because White still threatens to win. For example: 1) 24...e5?? (Riccio thought this won immediately for Black) 25 Qd5, Rc7 26 Rxc7, Kxc7 27 Qc4+, Kb8 28 Bd7, b6 29 Qc8, Ka7 30 Qc7+, Ka6 31 a4 wins. 2) 24...Rc7?? 25 Rxc7, Kxc7 26 Qc4+, Kb8 27 Bd7 wins. 3) 24...Rd8?? 25 Rxb7+, Kxb7 26 Ba6+ and White delivers checkmate shortly.

25 Bc4

This is the only move to pose Black problems. Otherwise 25 Bf1 (25 Bxb6?, Rc1+ wins, as noted by Ralph Marconi), Bc5 26 Bxc5, Qg5+ 27 Bg2, Qxc5 28 Rxf7, Rd8 29 Bh3, Ra7 wins.

25 ... Bc5 26 Rd6

26 Bxc5 Qg5+ 27 Kh1 Qxc5 28 Rxf7 Ra7 wins easily

26 ... Kc7 27 Rxb7 Rab8! 0-1.

Black is accurate to the last move and indeed had to visualize this position many moves earlier. Alternatives were: 1) 27...Bxb6?? 28 Qxb6+, Kd7 29 Bb5+, Ke7 30 Bc5+, Rxc5 31 Qc5+, Kd8 32 Qd6+, Kc8 33 Bd7 wins. 2) 27...Rcb8? 28 Rb5, Rxb5 29 Qxb5, Bxe3 30 fxe, Qg6+ 31 Kh1, Rc8 32 Qc5 draws by perpetual check. White resigned; the reason being the hopeless positions reached after 28 Rb5 (28 Bxc5, Qg5+ 29 Kf1, Qxc5 30 Rxb8, Rxb8), Rxb5 29 Qxb5+, Bxe3 30 fxe, Qg6+ 31 Kh1, Kd8 32 Qb6+, Ke8 33 Qb5+, Kf8 34 Qd7, Ra8.

Riccio said this was the most beautiful game he ever played. He thought he was winning until just prior to the end. It was the most complex game for me too. I had to walk a very narrow path through a deep minefield of threatening checkmates/draws in order to reach a won position. Any mistake on my part could have been fatal. Sorry if this looks like too many notes (actually these notes are considerably abridged from the notes I made during the game), but part of the beauty of this game was it's complexity.