Category Archives: Class A

Steve Homer at work

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Wood, DA (2200) – Homer, SJ (Surrey Open )
(2040) (7) [C04] praxis: positional sacrifice in club play,
1988

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Nc6 4. Ngf3 Nf6 5. e5 Nd7 6. Nb3
f6 7. Bf4 fxe5 8. dxe5 Be7 9. Bd3 O-O 10. Bg3 Nb4 11. Be2 c5 12.
O-O a5 13. a3 Nc6 14. c4!? d4 15. Bd3

 

t+lD-Tj+
+x+sL-Xx
-+s+x+-+
X-X-P-+-
-+pX-+-+
Pn+b+nB-
-P-+-PpP
R-+q+rK-

15… Rxf3!? 16. Qxf3 Ndxe5 17. Qe2 Nxd3 18. Qxd3 e5 19.
Rfe1 Bd6 20. Nd2 Qf8 21. Qf3 Qe7 22. Ne4 Be6 23. Qe2 Bc7 24. Nd2
Qf7 25. Rac1 Re8 26. Ne4 Qe7 27. Qd3 b6 28. h4 h6 29. Nd2 Qf7 30.
Qe4 Qd7 Q

 

Smith, AP (2100) – Homer, SJ (Surrey Open )
(2040) (5) [B60] praxis: positional sacrifice in club play,
1996

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bg5
Bd7 7. Bxf6 gxf6 8. Nf5 Qa5 9. Bb5 a6?! 10. Bxc6 bxc6 11. Qd3 Rb8
12. O-O h5

 

-T-+jL-T
+-+lXx+-
x+xX-X-+
D-+-+n+x
-+-+p+-+
+-Nq+-+-
pPp+-PpP
R-+-+rK-

13. b4! Qb6

[13… Qxb4 14. Rab1]

14. a4 Bxf5 15. exf5 Bh6 16. b5! axb5 17. axb5
cxb5 18. Nd5 Qb7 19. Rfe1 Bf8 20. Qd4! Kd8 21. Ra7 Qc6

 

-T-J-L-T
R-+-Xx+-
-+dX-X-+
+x+n+p+x
-+-Q-+-+
+-+-+-+-
-+p+-PpP
+-+-R-K-

22. Qb4! Qxd5 23. Qa5+ Ke8 24. Qc7 1-0

 

Homer, SJ (2040) – Parr, F (Surrey Open )
(2145) (2) [B07] praxis: positional sacrifice in club play,
1988

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. g3 Bg7

[4… Bg4]

5. Bg2 O-O 6. Nge2 Nc6 7. O-O

[7. h3 e5 8. Be3]

7… e5 8. d5

[8. Be3 Ng4]

8… Ne7 9. a4 Ne8 10. Be3 f5 11. f3 Nf6 12. Kh1
c6 13. a5 c5

 

t+lD-Tj+
Xx+-S-Lx
-+-X-Sx+
P-XpXx+-
-+-+p+-+
+-N-BpP-
-Pp+n+bP
R-+q+r+k

White is being outplayed.

14. b4!? cxb4 15. Na4?!

[15. Nb5!? a6 16. Bb6 Qd7 17. Nc7 Rb8 /\ …Ne8 may
recover]

15… Bd7 16. Nb2 fxe4 17. fxe4 Ng4 18. Bg1 Bh6
19. Rf3 Qc7 20. Nd3 Nf6

 

t+-+-Tj+
XxDlS-+x
-+-X-SxL
P-+pX-+-
-X-+p+-+
+-+n+rP-
-+p+n+bP
R-+q+-Bk

21. Nxe5 a good try 21… dxe5 22. d6 Qd8
23. dxe7 Qxe7 24. Rd3 Bc6 25. Rd5 Bxd5 26. exd5 Rfd8 27. c4 bxc3
28. Nxc3 Qb4 29. Qf3 Bg7 30. Rb1 Qe7 31. Bh3 Kh8 32. Be6 Rf8 33.
Qe2 Ne8 34. Qg4 Nd6

 

t+-+-T-J
Xx+-D-Lx
-+-Sb+x+
P-+pX-+-
-+-+-+q+
+-N-+-P-
-+-+-+-P
+r+-+-Bk

Black is trying to get sorted.

35. Qb4 Qf6 36. Bh3 a6 37. Bc5 Rad8 38. Rf1 Qg5
39. Bxd6 Rxf1+ 40. Bxf1 Qf6 (time) 0-1

 

Homer, SJ (2040) – Stokes, PC (Surrey Open )
(1905) (6) [E30] praxis: positional sacrifice in club play,
1988

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Bg5 c5 5. d5 d6

[5… Bxc3+]

6. Rc1 e5 7. e3 Nbd7 8. Bd3 Qa5 9. Bxf6 Nxf6 10.
Nge2 b5

 

t+l+j+-T
X-+-+xXx
-+-X-S-+
DxXpX-+-
-Lp+-+-+
+-NbP-+-
pP-+nPpP
+-RqK-+r

11. O-O Bxc3 12. Nxc3 b4 13. Ne4 Nxe4 14. Bxe4 Qxa2 15. Qc2
Qa5 16. f4 exf4 17. Rxf4 Qd8 18. Rcf1 f6 19. Bxh7 Bd7 20. Qg6+ Kf8
21. Rxf6+ gxf6 22. Rxf6+ 1-0

 

Rudd, J (2200) – Williams, SJ (British
Championship) (2200) [C05] praxis: positional sacrifice in French
Defence, 1996

1. d4 e6 2. e4 d5 3. Nd2 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. c3 Nc6
7. Ndf3 Qb6 8. Ne2 cxd4 9. cxd4 f6 10. Nc3 Be7 11. Bd3 O-O 12.
a3

 

t+l+-Tj+
Xx+sL-Xx
-Ds+xX-+
+-+xP-+-
-+-P-P-+
P-Nb+n+-
-P-+-+pP
R-BqK-+r

12… fxe5 13. dxe5 Ndxe5!? 14. fxe5 Nxe5 15. Be2 Bd7!? 16.
Nxe5!? Qf2+ 17. Kd2 Qf4+ 18. Kc2 Qxe5 19. Bd3 d4 20. Ne2 Rf2 21.
Kb1 Rc8 22. Re1 Bb5 23. Bxb5 Qxb5

 

-+t+-+j+
Xx+-L-Xx
-+-+x+-+
+d+-+-+-
-+-X-+-+
P-+-+-+-
-P-+nTpP
RkBqR-+-

24. Nxd4?! Rxc1+ 25. Qxc1 Qd3+ 26. Nc2 Bg5 27. Qd1 Rd2 28.
Qxd2 Bxd2 29. Rd1 b5 30. Ra2 e5

 

-+-+-+j+
X-+-+-Xx
-+-+-+-+
+x+-X-+-
-+-+-+-+
P-+d+-+-
rPnL-+pP
+k+r+-+-

0-1

The Closed Sicilian for Black

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UPDATE: 28 years later, I have converted this to a more readable format…
UPDATE 2: This is quite the exercise in digital archaeology… so, 31 years later:

CJVB_SICCLOSE.pdf

The Closed Sicilian 
===================
Chris Bellers, 1995
-------------------
An Exeter Chess Club booklet

CONTENTS

Introduction    1
The Closed Sicilian with 6...e5 7. Nh3  2
Holland-Whiteley, 1995  2
Crickmore-Bellers 1983  3
Variation with 6...e5 7. Nh3 exf4       4
Variation with 6...e5 7. Nf3    4
Further examples for study:     5
White cannot castle Queen's-side into Black's counterplay       5
Jackson - Regis, Plymouth-Exeter, 1993  5
White's f4 may block squares for the Knight and dark-squared bishop     5
Smyslov - Botvinnik, Moscow, 1954       5
The Closed Sicilian as a system against the English Opening     6
Psakhis - Kasparov, 1990        6
The Grand Prix attack with Bc4  7
Hodgson - Ady, Streatham Vs Ymca, London, 1981[B23]     7
The Grand Prix attack with Bb5  7
Hebden - Large, British Ch'p, 1982[B21] 7

Introduction
------------
R*BQK*NR
PP*-PPBP
-*NP-*P*
*-P-*-*-
-*-*pp-*
*-np*-p-
ppp*-*bp

(1) as a model of how to approach attacking positions with a closed
centre; compare many lines of the King's Indian Attack and Ruy Lopez;

(2) as a common system (e4 with Bg2) in many openings - for example,
we see the same approach at work in many lines of the English Opening. 

 Basically, White aims to concentrate enough firepower in the K-side
to force a quick checkmate.  In doing so, Black has a natural
counterattack in ...Rb8, ...b7-b5-b4 and possibly also ...c5-c4. 
 There are many ways for White to play the position - for example, the
dark-squared Bc1 could go to g5, e3 or even d2.  The Ng1 could go to
e2, f3 or h3.  It is also possible to put the light-squared bishop
somewhere on the other diagonal - c4 or b5 - as well as on g2.  I will
concentrate on one important line where the central bloackade is most
obvious (Black plays ...e5), but I also include an example of games
with the bishop on each of these two alternative squares c4
(Hodgson-Ady) and b5 (Hebden-Large), in variations of the Grand Prix
Attack. 
 Black also has a wide variety of choices.  Fianchettoing the Bf8 is
not necessarily the best way to play - even if it is played, Black
could play e6 or e5, with the Ng8 going to e7 or f6. 

The Closed Sicilian with 6...e5 7. Nh3
--------------------------------------
1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. d3 d6 6. f4
 
[6. Be3 is the most commonly-seen alternative, although Nge2 has often
been played too]

ì*èñô*äí
PP*-*PBP
-*NP-*P*
*-P-P-*-
-*-*pp-*
*-np*-p-
ppp*-*bp
r-bqk-nr

6... e5

[6... e6 is the main line 7. Nf3 Nge7 8. O-O O-O 9. Be3 Nd4 else d4
may follow; this complex position has been the Grandmasters' starting
point for many years]

Diagram A
R*BQK*NR
PP*-*PBP
-*NP-*P*
*-P-P-*-
-*-*pp-*
*-np*-pn
ppp*-*bp
r-bqk-*r

7. Nh3 (Diagram A)

This is relatively recent and has the advantage of bolstering f4, and
leaving the f-file open for the rook(s).  It also avoids the pin
...Bg4, and allows a retreat of the Nc3 to e2 if White wants to attack
d4 or play c2-c3.  A rather drastic example of how White wants to play
is as follows:

Holland-Whiteley, 1995

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. d3 d6 6. f4 e5 7. Nh3
(diagram A) 7... Nge7 8. O-O O-O (?)

[latest theory suggest that this is premature: 8... Nd4 9. f5!? [9.
Rf2 is safer for both sides!] 9... gxf5 10. Qh5 h6 [10... Nxc2 11. Rb1
with compensation (Lane) NOT (Plaskett)] 11. Rf2 += Spassky-Hort 1978
...1-0 in the ending(!)]

9. f5 gxf5 10. Qh5 f6 

looks ugly, but it seems to be fairly standard in this line - how else
to prevent Ng5? 

11. exf5 Nd4

R*BQ-RK*
PP*-N-BP
-*-P-P-*
*-P-Pp*q
-*-N-*-*
*-np*-pn
ppp*-*bp
r-b-*rk-

Thematic, and seemingly powerful, threatening ...Nxc2 and ...Nxf5 

12. Nd5 Nxc2 13. Ng5 Bxf5 

[13... fxg5 e.g. 14. f6 Nxd5 15. Bxd5+ Kh8 16. fxg7+ Kxg7 17. Rxf8
Qxf8 18. Bxg5 Kh8 19. Rf1]

14. Rxf5 fxg5 15. Rxf8+ Qxf8 16. Bxg5 Ng6 17. Rf1 

somehow the rook, which looked doomed on a1, escapes 

17... Qc8 18. Be4 Qd7 19. Ne7+ 1-0

Black never had a chance to take the rook on a1, let alone create
Q-side counterplay by advancing the a- and b-pawns.  What went wrong?
The whole position after f5 and Qh5 looks very good for White, and
whether or not it is a forced win, we would all prefer to be White. 

Crickmore-Bellers 1983

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. d3 d6 6. f4 e5 7. Nh3
(diagram A) 7... Nge7 8. O-O O-O 9. f5 (all as before) 9... f6

Black allows f5 but not Qh5 

10. g4 Nd4 11. Be3 

White's idea - common in the Closed Sicilian - is to follow with Qd2
and doubling rooks on the f-file

11... Rb8 (the standard counter-attack ) 12. Qd2 b5 13. Nd1

An interesting choice: 13. Ne2 keeps the rooks connected but allows
exchanges; the text covers b2 and allows c3 with tempo. Note that a4
or a3 do not stem the tide of Black's counterplay

13... b4 14. c3 bxc3 15. bxc3 Ndc6 16. Rf2 Qc7 17. Nb2 Nd8 18. Raf1

-RBN-RK*
P-Q-N-BP
-*-P-PP*
*-P-Pp*-
-*-*p*p*
*-ppb-*n
pn-q-rbp
*-*-*rk-

Mission accomplished - now Black's position looks critical 

18... Nf7 19. g5 gxf5 20. exf5 d5 

The classic central response to a wing attack - possible because of
the position of the Knight on b2 not c3

21. gxf6 Bxf6 22. Qe2 d4 23. cxd4 cxd4 24. Qg4+ Kh8 25. Bg5 Nxg5 26.
Nxg5 Nxf5 27. Rxf5 Bxf5

[27... Rxb2 appears to win the exchange without allowing a perpetual
check 28. Qh5 Bxf5]

28. Qxf5 Bxg5 29. Qxg5 Rxf1+ 30. Kxf1 Rxb2 drawn


Variation with 6...e5 7. Nh3 exf4
---------------------------------
Actually, Black can also prevent f5, and apparently equalise
immediately, with

Diagram B
R*BQ-RK*
PP*-NPBP
-*NP-*P*
*-P-*-*-
-*-*pn-*
*-np*-p-
ppp*-*bp
r-bq*rk-

7...exf4!

Now

[8. gxf4 Bxh3 9. Bxh3 Qh4+] 

So 

8. Nxf4 

[8. Bxf4 Nge7 9. Qd2 h6 !? Lane] 

8... Nge7 9. O-O O-O DIAGRAM B

Two examples: 

10. Be3 b5 ! 11. a3 Ne5 ! 12. h3 Rb8 13. Qd2 a5 14. Rf2 b4 15. axb4
axb4 16. Ncd5 Bb7 ! 17. g4 Nxd5 18. Nxd5 Bxd5 19. exd5 c4 ! 20. Ra6 b3
! 21. d4 Qc8 22. Ra1 c3 23. Qxc3 Qxc3 24. bxc3 b2 (an amazing march)
25. Rb1 Nc4 26. Bf4 Na3 27. Rff1 Nxb1 28. Rxb1 Rb6 29. Bxd6 Ra8 30.
Rxb2 Rxb2 Savage-Gheorghiu 1979]

10. Nfd5 Nxd5 11. Nxd5 b5 ! 12. c3 b4 13. Bf4 [13. Be3 bxc3 14. bxc3
Ne5] 13... bxc3 14. bxc3 Be6 15. Qd2 Bxd5 ! 16. exd5 Ne5 17. Rad1 Qa5
18. c4 Qa3 ! 19. Bxe5 Bxe5 20. Rb1 Rab8 21. Kh1 a5 22. Bh3 f5 23. g4
f4 24. g5 Rb4 25. Be6+ Kg7 26. Rxb4 axb4 27. Rf3 Qc3 ! 28. Qf2 Qa1+
29. Kg2 Ra8 30. Qh4 Qxa2+ 31. Rf2 b3 again, the triumph of the b-pawn:
Erlebacher - Gheorghiu 1979]

Note the power of ...Ne5, as opposed to ...Nd4

Variation with 6...e5 7. Nf3
----------------------------
Diagram C
R*BQ-RK*
PP*-*PBP
-*NP-*P*
*-P-P-*-
-*-Npp-*
*-npbnp-
pppq-*bp

7. Nf3 Nge7 8. O-O O-O 9. Be3 Nd4 10. Qd2 Nec6 (DIAGRAM C)
still seems to equalise for Black, e.g.

11. Nh4 exf4 12. Bxf4 Be6 13. Nd5 Bxd5 14. exd5 Ne5 (that move again)
15. c3 Nb5 16. Rae1 Qd7 17. Nf3 Rae8 18. h4 Nc7 = Ignatiev-Vasiukov
1962

or 

11. Nd1 Bg4 12. Ne1 exf4 13. Bxf4 Ne2+ 14. Kh1 Nxf4 15. gxf4 f5 16.
Ne3 Bh5 17. exf5 gxf5 18. c3 Qd7 19. Nf3 Kh8 20. Rae1 Rae8 21. Nd5
draw, Minev-Vasiukov 1962


Further examples for study:
==========================
White cannot castle Queen's-side into Black's counterplay
---------------------------------------------------------
Jackson - Regis, Plymouth-Exeter, 1993

1. e4 g6 ( this was the actual move order) 2. Nc3 Bg7 3. g3 c5 4. Bg2
Nc6 5. d3 d6 6. f4 e5 7. Nf3 Nge7 8. Be3

[8. O-O O-O 9. Rb1 Rb8 10. a3 b5 11. h3 += bco] 

8... exf4 

[8... Nd4 9. Ne2 Bg4 10. Bxd4 cxd4] 

9. gxf4 

[9. Bxf4] 

9... Nd4 10. Qd2 

[10. O-O O-O 11. Qd2 Nec6 12. Rab1 Bg4 13. Nd5 Nxf3+ 14. Bxf3 Bxf3 15.
Rxf3 f5 = Bastian-Ribli 1981]

10... Bg4 11. Rf1? 

[11. O-O] 

11... Rb8 12. O-O-O (?) b5 13. Ne2 Nxe2+ 14. Qxe2 Qa5 15. Kb1 Be6 16.
b3 Rb6

-Ý-ÝôÝ-í
P-*-NPBP
-R-PB*P*
QPP-*-*-
-*-*pp-*
*p*pbn*-
p*p*q*bp
*k*r*r*-

17. Bd2 ?? ( black to play and win ) 

[17. d4 Ra6 18. c4 ( looks better than 18 c3!? Qxc3 19 Qb2 but fails
to ...) 18... bxc4 19. bxc4 Rb6+ 20. Kc1 Qa3+ 21. Kd2 Rb2+ 22. Ke1
Rxe2+ 23. Kxe2 Bxc4+]

17... b4 ?? 

[17... Qxa2+ 18. Kxa2 Ra6+ 19. Ba5 Rxa5+ 20. Kb1 Ra1#] 

18. a4 Bd7 19. e5 Bxa4 20. Bc1 O-O 

[20... Nd5 21. Bb2 Nc3+ 22. Bxc3 bxc3 23. exd6+ Kf8 24. Qe7+ Kg8 25.
Ng5 Bxb3 ( I hadn't noticed that this stopped the mate on f7 when
playing move 20 ) 26. Qe8+ Bf8 27. Qxf8+ Kxf8 28. Nxh7+ Rxh7 29. cxb3
Rxb3+ 30. Kc1 Qa3+ 31. Kc2 Qb2#]

21. Nd2 Bb5 22. Bb2 Nf5 23. Nc4 Bxc4 24. dxc4 Draw agreed

White's f4 may block squares for the Knight and dark-squared bishop
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Smyslov - Botvinnik, Moscow, 1954

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. d3 d6 6. Nge2 e5

R*BQK*NR
PP*-*PBP
-*NP-*P*
*-P-P-*-
-*-*p*-*
*-np*-p-
ppp*npbp
r-bqk-*r

denying squares to the Ne2 

7. Nd5 Nge7 8. c3 Nxd5 9. exd5 Ne7 10. O-O O-O 11. f4 

does nothing for the Bc1 or Ne2 

11... Bd7 12. h3 Qc7 13. Be3 Rae8 14. Qd2 Nf5 15. Bf2 h5 16. Rae1 Qd8
17. Kh2 Bh6 18. h4 Qf6 19. Be4

-*-*RRK*
PP*B*P*-
-*-P-QPB
*-PpPN*P
-*-*bp-p
*-pp*-p-
pp-qnb-k
*-*-rr*-

19... exf4 20. Nxf4 Nxh4 21. Be3 Nf5 22. Bxf5 Qxf5 23. Qg2 Qg4 24. Qe2
Qxe2+ 25. Rxe2 Re5 26. Ree1 Rfe8 27. Bf2 h4 28. Rxe5 Rxe5 29. d4 hxg3+
30. Kxg3 Rg5+ 31. Kh2 Rf5 32. Be3 cxd4 33. cxd4 Kh7 34. Rf2 g5 35. Ne2
Rxf2+ 36. Bxf2 f5 0-1

The Closed Sicilian as a system against the English Opening
-----------------------------------------------------------
Psakhis - Kasparov, 1990 

One of the best example games I have on file for the Closed Sicilian
is this one

1. c4 g6 2. Nc3 Bg7 3. g3 Nc6 4. Bg2 d6 5. Nf3 e5 6. d3 f5 7. O-O Nf6

R*BQK*-R
PPP-*-BP
-*NP-NP*
*-*-PP*-
-*p*-*-*
*-np*np-
pp-*ppbp
r-bq*rk-

8. Rb1 h6 9. b4 O-O 10. b5 Ne7 11. a4 Be6 12. Ba3 Rc8

-*RQ-RK*
PPP-N-B-
-*-PBNPP
*p*-PP*-
p*p*-*-*
b-np*np-
-*-*ppbp
*r*q*rk-

Black does not rush but secures the Q-side.

13. Nd2 b6 14. e3 g5 15. d4 exd4 16. exd4 f4

-*RQ-RK*
P-P-N-B-
-P-PBN-P
*p*-*-P-
p*pp-P-*
b-n-*-p-
-*-n-pbp
*r*q*rk-

17. Re1 Bg4 18. Nf3 Qd7 19. c5 Rce8 20. Rc1 Nf5 21. Qd3 Kh8 22. cxd6
cxd6 23. Rxe8 Qxe8 24. Rf1 Qh5

-*-*-R-K
P-*-*-B-
-P-P-N-P
*p*-*NPQ
p*-p-PB*
b-nq*np-
-*-*-pbp
*-*-*rk-

The Black pieces hover like vultures

25. Ne4 Nxe4 26. Qxe4 Bh3 27. Ne5 Bxg2 28. Kxg2 g4 29. Bxd6 Rf6 30.
Bb8 Qh3+

-b-*-*-K
P-*-*-B-
-P-*-R-P
*p*-nN*-
p*-pqPP*
*-*-*-pQ
-*-*-pkp
*-*-*r*-

 0-1


The Grand Prix attack with Bc4 
------------------------------
Hodgson - Ady, Streatham Vs Ymca, London, 1981[B23]

1. e4 c5 2. f4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. Nc3 Nc6 5. Bc4 e6 6. f5 exf5 7. d3
Nge7 8. O-O O-O? 

R*BQ-RK*
PP*PNPBP
-*N*-*P*
*-P-*P*-
-*b*p*-*
*-np*n*-
ppp*-*pp
r-bq*rk-

This natural-looking move is probably a decisive mistake.  Black has
no effective counter to White's simple mating attack. 

9. Qe1 Nd4 10. Qh4 Nxf3+ 11. Rxf3 fxe4 12. Rh3 h6 13. Bg5 Re8 14. Rf1
d5 15. Nxd5 hxg5 16. Nf6+ Black resigns

[16. Nf6+ Kf8 

[or 16... Bxf6 17. Qh7+ Kf8 18. Qxf7#]

 17. Nh7+ Kg8 18. Bxf7+ Kh8 19. Nxg5+ Bh6 20. Qxh6#]

 1-0


The Grand Prix attack with Bb5 
------------------------------
Hebden - Large, British Ch'p, 1982[B21]

1. e4 c5 2. f4 Nc6 3. Nf3 g6 4. Bb5 Bg7 5. Bxc6 dxc6 6. d3 Nf6 7. Nc3
O-O 8. O-O b6

R*BQ-RK*
P-*-PPBP
-PP*-NP*
*-P-*-*-
-*-*pp-*
*-np*n*-
ppp*-*pp
r-bq*rk-

White has an obvious plan.  And the player with a plan will always
beat the player without one. 

9. Qe1 Ne8 10. Qh4 Nd6 11. f5 gxf5 12. e5 Ne8 13. Bh6 f6 14. Kh1 Bxh6
15. Qxh6 Ng7 16. Rae1 Be6 17. Ne2 c4 18. Nf4 cxd3 19. cxd3 Bxa2

R*-Q-RK*
P-*-P-NP
-PP*-P-q
*-*-pP*-
-*-*-n-*
*-*p*n*-
Bp-*-*pp
*-*-rr*k

Black might as well snatch a pawn, he has achieved nothing to counter
White's simple attack. 

20. e6 Qc8 21. Re3 Nxe6 22. Nxe6 Bxe6 23. Rxe6 Rf7 

[23... Qxe6 24. Ng5 Qf7 25. Nxf7 Rxf7]

 24. Rfe1 1-0



        - page 8 -

Andrew Pickering at work

Posted on by

Taylor, M (1605) – Pickering, A (2000)
(1503) [A21] Exeter vs. Rainham

1. c4 e5 2. g3

[2. Nc3]

2… f5 3. Bg2 Nf6 4. e3

  (This is a good formation, going for a central roller,
but obviously you need to look out for weak squares)

4… Nc6 5. Nc3 g6 6. d4 e4 7. f3

  (could have been saved up; Black isn’t playing …d5
yet)

7… exf3 8. Nxf3

  (White has a central pawn but must aim at e2-e4)

8… d6 9. O-O Bg7 10. b3 O-O 11. Bb2
Re8

  (highlighting the down side of Bb2)

12. Re1 Bh6

 

t+lDt+j+
XxX-+-+x
-+sX-SxL
+-+-+x+-
-+pP-+-+
+pN-PnP-
pB-+-+bP
R-+qR-K-

(Black now formed the plan of putting a Knight on d3 supported by
the Pawn on e4. What Pawn on e4? Watch!)

13. d5 Ne5 14. Nxe5 dxe5 15. Qd3 e4 16. Qd4 Bg7
17. Ne2 Qe7 18. Qd2 Ng4 19. Bxg7 Qxg7 20. Nd4 Ne5

  (getting there)

21. Bf1 c5

  (I think this move is a nice example of why Andrew is
better than most of us. Black has a great Knight and no weaknesses,
but has no other assets and no obvious way of making use of the
Knight. This move, seeking open lines, suddenly opens up all sorts
of possibilities for the Rooks and Bishop.)

22. dxc6

[22. Nb5]

22… bxc6 23. Be2 Rd8 24. Qc2 c5 25. Nb5 Nd3 26.
Bxd3 exd3

 

t+lT-+j+
X-+-+-Dx
-+-+-+x+
+nX-+x+-
-+p+-+-+
+p+xP-P-
p+q+-+-P
R-+-R-K-

Black is winning.

27. Qc3 Qe7 28. Qd2 Bb7 29. Nc3 Rd6 30. Kf2 Re8
31. Rad1 Qf6 32. Nb5 Rdd8 33. Qc3

[33. Nxa7 Ra8 34. Nb5 Qc6 35. e4 Rxe4]

33… Qc6 34. e4 fxe4

[34… Rxe4]

35. Re3 Rf8+ 36. Kg1 a6 37. Na3 Qd7 38. Nb1 Qg4
39. Rde1 Rf3 40. Qd2 Rdf8 41. Nc3 Qf5 42. Nd1 Rf1+ 43. Kg2 Bc8 44.
g4 Qxg4+ 45. Rg3 Qf5 46. Qe3 Bb7 47. Rg5 Qf6 48. Rxc5 Rxe1 49. Qxe1
e3+ 50. Rd5 Qf3+ 51. Kg1 Bxd5 52. cxd5 d2 0-1

 

Pickering, A (2000) – Belt, M (1775) [B03]
Exeter Rooks vs. Exmouth, 1995

1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. c4 Nb6 4. d4 d6 5. exd6 exd6 6. Nf3
Be7

[6… g6]

7. h3 Bf5 8. Bd3 Qd7 9. O-O O-O 10. Re1 Bxd3 11.
Qxd3 Bf6 12. Bg5

 

tS-+-Tj+
XxXd+xXx
-S-X-L-+
+-+-+-B-
-+pP-+-+
+-+q+n+p
pP-+-Pp+
Rn+-R-K-

12… Nc6 13. Bxf6 gxf6 14. Nbd2 d5 15. c5 Nc8 16. Nf1 N8e7
17. Ng3 Rae8 18. Nh5 Qf5 19. Qxf5 Nxf5 20. Nxf6+ 1-0

 

Keely, L (2000) – Pickering, A (2000) [B93]
Exeter vs. Huddersfield, National Major Plate, 1996

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. f4
e6 7. Bd3 b5 8. O-O Bb7 9. a3

[9. Qe1]

9… Nbd7 10. Kh1 Nc5 11. Qe1

 

t+-DjL-T
+l+-+xXx
x+-XxS-+
+xS-+-+-
-+-NpP-+
P-Nb+-+-
-Pp+-+pP
R-B-Qr+k

11… h5!? 12. Nf3 h4 13. e5 Nxd3 14. cxd3 Nd5 15. h3 Ne7
16. Be3 Nf5 17. Bf2

 

t+-DjL-T
+l+-+xX-
x+-Xx+-+
+x+-Ps+-
-+-+-P-X
P-Np+n+p
-P-+-Bp+
R-+-Qr+k

17… Rc8

[17… Bxf3!? 18. gxf3]

18. Nd4 Ng3+ 19. Bxg3 hxg3 20. Nf3 dxe5 21. fxe5
Qxd3 22. Qxg3 Rc4 23. Rad1 Qe3 24. Kh2 Rh5 25. Rfe1 Qh6!? 26. Re2
Bxa3 27. Nxb5 axb5 28. bxa3 Rc3 29. Red2 Bd5 30. Qg4 Rc4 31. Rd4
Rxd4 32. Qxd4 Rf5 33. Qb6

 

-+-+j+-+
+-+-+xX-
-Q-+x+-D
+x+lPt+-
-+-+-+-+
P-+-+n+p
-+-+-+pK
+-+r+-+-

33… Rxf3 34. Qxb5+ Ke7 35. Qb4+ Ke8 36. gxf3 Qe3 37. Qb8+
Ke7 38. Qd6+ Ke8 39. Qb8+ Ke7 40. Qb4+ Ke8

  (Time control)

41. Qd2 Qxf3 42. Rb1 Qe4 43. Re1 Qf3 44. a4 Qa3
45. a5 Qf3 46. a6 Qa3 47. Qe2 Qa4 48. Rf1 Bc4?? 49. Rf4 Qa2 50.
Qxa2 Bxa2 51. Rd4 1-0

 

Opochensky Karel – Nimzowitsch Aaron (3)
[A50] It, Marienbad (Czech Republic), 1925

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 b6 5. e4 Bb7 6. Bd3
Nc6 7. Nf3

 

t+-Dj+-T
XlXx+xXx
-Xs+xS-+
+-+-+-+-
-LpPp+-+
+-Nb+n+-
pPq+-PpP
R-B-K-+r

7… Be7

  Hoping to keep the dark-squared Bishop while still
“muzzling” the Pawns. 8. a3 d6 9. O-O e5 10. d5
“The muzzling.” 10… Nb8 11. b4 Nbd7 12. Bb2 O-O 13. Ne2?
Nh5

 

t+-D-Tj+
XlXsLxXx
-X-X-+-+
+-+pX-+s
-Pp+p+-+
P-+b+n+-
-Bq+nPpP
R-+-+rK-

Nimzo says that White should attack on the Q-side – and this move
loosens the centre, since …c6 is now strong. Nimzo now tempts
White to further excesses on the King’s-side, expecting that
Black’s counterplay must be sufficient.

14. Qd2 g6 15. g4 Ng7 16. Ng3 c6 17. Qh6 Rc8 18.
Rac1 a6

  Black wants to play …c6xd5 when it cannot be met by
e4xd5.

[18… cxd5 19. exd5 f5 20. gxf5 gxf5 21.
Kh1]

19. Rfd1 Rc7 20. h4 cxd5 21. cxd5 Rxc1 22. Rxc1
Nf6 23. Nh2 Kh8 24. Qe3 Nd7 25. Nf3 Nf6 26. Nh2 Ng8 27. g5 f6 28.
Nf3 fxg5 29. hxg5 Bc8

 

-+lD-TsJ
+-+-L-Sx
xX-X-+x+
+-+pX-P-
-P-+p+-+
P-+bQnN-
-B-+-P-+
+-R-+-K-

White is running short of steam…

30. Rc6!?

  …but not ideas!

30… Bd7 31. Bxa6 Bxc6 32. dxc6 Qc7 33. b5
h6!

  Black sheds a Pawn to get organised.

34. gxh6 Ne6 35. a4 Bd8 36. Ba3

 

-+-L-TsJ
+-D-+-+-
bXpXs+xP
+p+-X-+-
p+-+p+-+
B-+-QnN-
-+-+-P-+
+-+-+-K-

36… Qf7 37. Nxe5 dxe5 38. Bxf8 Nxf8 39. a5 Nxh6 40. axb6
Ng4 41. c7 Nxe3

 

-+-L-S-J
+-P-+d+-
bP-+-+x+
+p+-X-+-
-+-+p+-+
+-+-S-N-
-+-+-P-+
+-+-+-K-

42. c8=Q

[42. cxd8=Q]

42… Qf3 43. fxe3 Qxg3+ 0-1

Chunking in patterns of GM thought

Posted on by

This game features two nice examples of the role of experience in
GM thought: one, where he drew on a remembered example (Vukovic),
and another where extraneous information from an analogous type of
position (Winawer) led to mistakes in thinking. Perhaps we only get such clear examples when the top GMs play blindfold, but I’m grateful for both,.

Nunn,J (2605) – Korchnoi (2615) (11)

Amber-blind, 1994

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nf3 e6 5. Be2 c5
6. O-O Nc6 7. c3 Rc8 8. a3 h6 9. b4 c4 10. a4 Nge7 11. Na3 Ng6 12.
Nc2 Nh4 13. Ne3 Nxf3+ 14. Bxf3 Bd3 15. Be2 Bxe2 16. Qxe2 h5 17. f4
g6 18. g3 Ne7 19. Ng2 Nf5 20. Ne1 Kd7 21. Nf3 Be7 22. Ba3 Qf8 23.
Ra2 Kc7 24. Rfa1 Qh6 25. Bc1 Kb8 26. b5 Rce8 27. Ng5 Qg7 28. Ba3
Bd8 29. a5 f6 30. Nf3 Qd7 31. exf6 Bxf6 32. Rb1 Ka8 33. Bc5 Qh7 34.
Rba1 Rhg8

 

j+-+t+t+
Xx+-+-+d
-+-+xLx+
PpBx+s+x
-+xP-P-+
+-P-+nP-
r+-+q+-P
R-+-+-K-

Black has the threat …g5. How can White open a file against the
King?

  a5-a6 is met by …b6; b5-b6 by …a6. Nunn, playing
blindfold here, recalled reading Vukovic [see Canon attack: opening lines], and came up
with:

35. Bb6 a6

[35… g5 36. a6 axb6 37. axb7+ Kb8 38. Ra8+ Kc7 39.
Rc8+ Rxc8 40. bxc8=Q+ Kxc8 41. Qxe6+]

[35… Rg7 36. a6 axb6 37. axb7+ Kxb7 38. Ra7+ Kc8
39. Ra8+ Kd7 40. R1a7+ Kd6 41. Qe5+ Bxe5 42. fxe5#]

[35… Nd6 36. a6 axb6 37. axb7+ Kb8 38. Ra8+ Kc7 39.
b8=Q+ Rxb8 40. R8a7+ Rb7 41. Qxe6 Rf8 42. Qxd5 Qd7 43. Ne5 Bxe5 44.
fxe5]

[35… Kb8 36. a6 axb6 37. axb7 Qxb7 38. Ne5 Ne7 39.
Nd7+ Qxd7 40. Ra8+ Kc7 41. R1a7+ Kd6 42. Qe5+ Bxe5 43.
fxe5#]

36. bxa6 bxa6

 

j+-+t+t+
+-+-+-+d
xB-+xLx+
P-+x+s+x
-+xP-P-+
+-P-+nP-
r+-+q+-P
R-+-+-K-

37. Rb2

[37. Rb1 Nunn says he nearly played this move,
because the position reminded him of a Winawer French when there is
a Pawn on c2. Fortunately he analysed a line with Qe2-b2 when the
pawn on c2 vanished and the danger from h7 re-appeared!]

37… g5 38. fxg5 Bxg5 39. Nxg5

Rxg5 40. Bc5 h4 41. Rb6 1-0

  “I had to resign one move before you had to resign!” —
KORCHNOI

[41… Qa7 42. Rxe6 Rxe6 43. Qxe6 Qb7 44. Rf1 hxg3
45. h4 42. Rxa6+ Kb8 43. Qb2+ Kc8 44. Ra8+ Kc7 45. Qb6+ Kd7 46.
Qb7#]

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