The FICS Academy
The FICS Chess Academy provides a medium for interaction
between stronger players and those wishing to become
stronger. Over the last few months, the Academy has
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The FICS Chess Ladder.
Volunteer members of the Ladder review games played
by FICS users, providing useful advice on how weaker
players can improve their chess skills.
Any FICS registered player can
submit a game.
A Ladder reviewer will receive the game and annotate it
usually within 2 weeks. All annotated games are available
on web.
The following game, played by a 1908 national ELO player
and annotated by a 2100 national ELO player, shows the
kind of insight provided by the Ladder reviewers. Player
comments are shown in blue, annotator comments in black.
vcStalker - NN
3 november 2002
Sicilian, B81
notes by vcStalker and msh.
1. e4
The game was drawn, but I had lots of problems in it. That's why I
submit it for review. Ususally I pay more attention to lost games.
The problems were how to play against Sicilian:
- How to meet Black's plan b7-b5 and Nb6-c4;
- How to meet a7-a6 with b7-b5-b4;
- Where Nc3 should go in case b7-b5-b4;
- Where Bf1 belongs;
- Where was the place for f-pawn and queen in this
particular game.
- Prepare to block on the queen-side with Nc3-a4 and b2-b3.
Guard c4 with either Bf1 or Qe2.
- Don't freak out, just play sensible defensive moves.
- Nc3-a4 is usually best, but occasionally other moves are
needed. Nc3-b1 guards the a1-c1 rank and Nc3-d5 can be used
to advance an offense. It depends upon the needs of
the position and what you think you can get away with.
- Usually it's seen at e2 in Sicilians, but in the
Keres Attack it goes to g2 or h3 to advance the
offense. It really is an Attack variation.
- f2 until needed elsewhere, as you played it
1... c5 2. Nf3 e6
-
2... Nc6
leaves the placement of the central pawns for later
-
2... d6
as with Nc6 this prepares e7-e5 or at least controls e5
to prepare Ng8-f6 and/or e7-e5
3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6
Black's setup is solid, but passive. The central pawns limit
White, but block Black's bishops. And, Black isn't
directly challenging Pe4 either. Yet, this is a quite
popular system because it slows White a bit and gives
Black time to develop his pieces; usually safely.
6. g4
Keres Attack: may have been the move which discouraged Kasparov
from playing the old-fashioned Scheveningen Variation
move-order and caused him to switch to the Najdorf Variation
move-order. This immediately threatens g4-g5 to challenge
Nf6 and for the moment it secures f5, so e6-e5 can be met by
Nd4-f5. 6. Qf3 might also serve that purpose, though I
don't recall ever seeing it used against the Scheveningen
Variation. Other developments are also good, but less
forceful than 6. g4.
6. Be2 is perhaps the most common move.
6... Nc6 7. g5 Nd7 8. Be3
White prepares queen-side castling, so he can continue the
king-side pawn assault, in particular against Pe6 & Pf7 by g5-g6
(at the appropriate time).
8... a6
Black would like to prevent Nd4-b5xd6 and he might rather have
b7-b5 before playing either Nd7-b6 or Nd7-c5. That way Bc8 can
also be developed to b7. However, it should be noted that
in light of White's assault on the light-square pawns it might
be wise to plan on Bc8-d7 instead, and queen-side castling
to get away from White's king-side offense.
9. h4
White could play Qd2 here, and h4 only after Be7.
h4 is good, but White should also play Qe2 and O-O-O to
create pressure on the d-file. Bf1-g2 or Bf1-h3 could be useful.
9...Be7
He isn't planning to O-O, is he? So, Qc7 or b5 to advance
the plan of O-O-O is preferred.
10. Bg2
This is must be a mistake. Bishop does nothing here. If
Black plays e5, than Bishop is absolutely useless. It
should protect c4 and should be placed on e2.
Bg2 isn't a horrible mistake. Black isn't so likely to play
e6-e5, which weakens d5 dramatically. Actually g2 or h3 is
preferable to e2 (where it gets in the way of Qd1). Coordinating
the queen and bishop in this instance (and quite often)
means applying them to different tasks where they don't
fight over the same squares. If White was
restricted to Qd1-d2 then Bf1-e2 or just leaving Bf1 would make
sense. Also, above developing Bf1 should be O-O-O, so
deciding where Qd1 belongs was White's priority.
-
10. Qe2 Qc7 11. O-O-O b5 12. Nxc6
-
12. Bh3 intending to sac at e6 and clearing the way for Nc3-d5
might also be interesting.
-
12...Qxc6 13. Bd4 $14 b4 14. Nd5 exd5 15. exd5 Qc7
-
15... Qxd5 16. Bf6+=
-
16. Bxg7 Rg8 17. Bf6+=
10...Rb8?
Now Black's king is going to reside on e8 or g8; and neither is
very good. 10... Qc7 was probably better.
11. Qd2
Again, this isn't horrible, but it leaves c4 weak. 10. Qe2.
11... Nxd4
Black seeks a simplified queen-side, but one where he still might
be able to gain the advantage. The only trouble with that
is it also makes White's play easier.
-
11...Na5 12. Qe2 Qc7
and it's not so safe for O-O-O, so the balance of the
game goes back to near equal.
13. g6 hxg6 14. h5 g5
-
14... gxh5 15. Rxh5 Rxh5 16. Qxh5+=
-
15. Qg4~
Castling into the attack!
13. a3?
Defending against what? You should spend that tempo attacking Kg8.
-
13. O-O-O b5 14. Bh3+= Qa5
-
14 ...b4
might be dubious because White's Nc3-a4 could slow up
Black's offensive
15. Na4 Qa5 16. b3
-
15. Kb1 b4 16. Ne2 Nc5 17. f3 Bd7=
13 ...b5 14. O-O-O
castling into it, but because of necessity.
14... Nb6
The best places for White pieces: Bd3 (protecting Bd3 and targeting
Kingside), Rg1, Rh1, f4. Key squares: c4, h7, g6, h6. White should
attack fast here, and it is bad for him to exchange black-squared
bishop. Probably I had to play Bg2-f1, (although it is
very slow), and if Bb7, than Rg1 with h4-h5 following.
attack fast, so don't waste time on f2-f4 and
don't spend time on Bg2-f1-d3 until it's absolutely clear
it belongs there. I like your game approach better than your notes.
14... b4? 15. axb4 Rxb4 16. Nd5 Rb8 17. Nxe7+ Qxe7
18. Bc3 Rb6 19. f4+=
15. Bxb6 Qxb6=+
Now b5-b4 with a6-a5-a4-a3 following is unpleasant for White.
Indeed! White's offense has failed to materialize, so Black's is
suddenly quite prominent. White has to find a plan to
regain equality. A queen trade leaves Black with the two
bishops advantage, but it still might be a good thing to do.
16. Na2
The knight looks ugly on a2, but I did not want to exchange queens
after Qd4, as I would have few chances to attack. I'd like
to have my pieces as: Bd3, Rg1, Rh1, Nc2, pawn c3.
That's a lot to hope for. Better is to deal with the specific
threat(s) of Black, regain equality and then begin to look
for ways to gain an advantage or two.16. Qd4?!
too slow is 16. Rh3? b4 17. axb4 Qxb4 18. b3 Qa3+ 19. Kb1 a5-/+
16... Bd7
This is a good moment to remember that Black's bishops are
somewhat blocked by his own pawns and that gives White a
bit of time to get his defense organized (or an offense going).
17. c3?
Weakening the area around Kc1 doesn't help. It also blocks
Rh1-h3-b3 and Qd2. 17. Rh3!?coming to the aid of
Kc1 on the queen-side.
17... Rfc8 18. Kb1 a5 19. h5
19. f4 clears the second rank, so a Rh1-h2 might be
of some use, and it might be part of an offensive for
later, but it's not as directly offensive as 19. h5.
19... Bf8
White's attack does not look so dangerous. Black could just to
attack on queenside.
He can certainly try.
-
19... b4
makes sense, but it's probably premature
20. cxb4 axb4 21. Nxb4 d5 22. exd5 Bxb4 23. Qxb4
Qxb4 24. axb4 Rxb4 25. dxe6 Bxe6 26. Rd2 Rcb8
27. Rhd1 Kf8
-
19...e5 clearing the way for Bd7-e6
20. g6!
Yes! You've got to open lines to Kg8 to restore the
balance completely or to take over the advantage.
20...fxg6 21. hxg6 hxg6
a curious move to see, but with as much logic as some others
21... h6 22. Qf4 Be8
23. Bh3
22. e5?
The idea of this move was to cut off Black forces from kingside.
By allowing Pd6 to move you free Bf8 to participate in the
queen-side offensive. Black was already cut off from the king-side
becuase Pd6 and Pe6 and the two bishops block most of the
lateral lines of movement.
22. Qf4
is good because it prepares Rd1-d3-h3-h8# or Rh1-h2,
Rd1-h1, Rh8#
22... b4 23. Rh8+ Kxh8 24. Qf7 Rc5 25. Qxg6
22... Rc5?
He must have been very afraid and didn't realize he could play
d5. Now White can just take Pd6, restoring the blocked a3-f8
diagonal to keep Bf8 inactive.
I prepared some trick after 22... d5 23. Qf4
(23. Be4?? dxe4 24. Qxd7 Rd8-/+ Eek!)
with the idea 23...Rc4 24. Rh8+ Kxh8 25. Qf7
with Rh1#, but it would not work as Black's rook may
come to defend thru c4.
25...Rh4 26. Qxd7 is still worth fighting out. Though
Black has the material advantage his king is still vulnerable.
23. exd6+/-
Now White has advantage.
23... Qd8
Apparently he doesn't know how to continue the queen-side
offensive, so White has at least re-established equality,
perhaps more.
24. Qd3
White could try f4 and Bf3 restricting Black rook.
24. f4 Rb6 25. Bf3
24. Be4! Qf6 25. Rdg1 Be8(25... g5 26. Rh5) 26. Rh3
24... Qf6 25. Be4
Again f4 was playable.
The position is open, so pure tactics and piece play should
predominate. Your instincts during the game appear to have
been better than your post-mortem worrying.
25... Kf7
Wow! If this is Black's best then he's possibly in serious
trouble.
26. Rh3! Rf5?
26... Rb6 27. Rf3 Rf5 28. Bxf5 gxf5
(28... Rxd6?? 29. Bxg6+ Kg8 30. Rxf6 Rxd3 31. Rxf8+ Kxf8
32. Rxd3+/-)
29. Qc2!?
seeks a positional solution where Pd6 is strong and Black's
queen-side pawns and Kf7 are weak.
(29. Qd4?! Qxd4 30. Rxd4 Rxd6 31. Rxd6 Bxd6 32. Rd3 Ke7
will still take some work because of Black's better
king-side pawns)
27. Bxf5 gxf5 28. Qf3
28 Qe3! looks good intending Qa7.
Qf3 restrains, but doesn't crush the opponent. }
28...e5 29. Qd5+ Qe6 30. Nc1
White should keep queens as Black bishops + 2 pawns may be
stronger than White rook and knight. Besides, it was
important to keep d6 pawn as it controls fields
in Black's camp. 30. Qc5and it's still complicated.
30...Qxd5 31. Rxd5 Ke6 32. Rd1 Bxd6 33. Rhd3 Rb6
34. Nb3
34. Rg3
Perhaps White's rooks need more open space and distance from
Rb6 to be effective.
34...Kf7 35. Rdg1
(35. Nb3 a4 36. Nc5 Bc8 37. Rd5)
35... Bf8 36. Nd3 e4 37. Ne5+ Ke8 38. Nxd7 Kxd7
39. Rg5 Rf6 40. Rg6 Rxg6 41. Rxg6 Bc5
and it's still a very tough game!
34...a4 35. Nc5+ Bxc5 36. Rxd7 Bxf2 37. Rxg7
White has active rooks, but Black's pawns are well
protected and if he will activate the rook, White probably
won't be able to do anything against the pawns.
Yes, this is very good for Black. The pawns are probably
worth a piece.
37... Bh4
37...e4?? 38. Rg6+
38. Kc2 e4 39. Rh1
I notice you found the distant open files for your
rooks. That's good. Sometimes all you have to do is look
for the biggest open space(s) on the board and then look
to see if your pieces would be better there.
At the beginning of the game the space between the two
armies is that big open space, but later in the
game it can be elsewhere.
39...Bf6 40. Rc7
Rb6 is looking a little awkward.
40...Bg5 41. Rc5 Bf6?
41...Be3 chases Rc5 from it's great post
42. Rh5
Now Black should lose the pawns or to take a draw after
42...Be5 43. Rh6+ Bf6 44. Rh5
42... f4 43. Rcf5
Now White is probably winning, but the game was drawn after lots
of mistakes in time trouble.
1/2-1/2
