Corby Chess Club Magazine

Issue 001

In this issue:

• Sawiak, J - Moffat, A
• MacFarland, S - Moffat, A
• Moffat, A - Thomson, J
• DIxon, S - Moffat, A

Sawiak, J - Moffat, A [C67]
CCC Ladder, 20.10.1999
[Moffat, A]

 
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6

Spanish Opening: Berlin Defence

Black's choice of opening leads to an open game in which piece play predominates. It is entirely equal and will remain so for the next thirty-odd moves.

4.0-0 N×e4 5.d4 Nd6 6.B×c6 d×c6 7.N×e5 Be7 8.Nd2 0-0 9.Ndf3 f6 10.Nd3 Nf5 11.c3 Be6 12.Re1 Bf7 13.Nf4 Qd7 14.Qc2 Rad8 15.a4 c5 16.d×c5 B×c5

In the symmetrical position (pawn structure) which here exists, speed (tempi) becomes the critical element.

17.b4 Bd6 18.h3 Ne7 19.Be3 Ng6 20.Nh5 Ne5 21.N×e5 B×e5 22.Nf4 Qc6 23.Ne2 Qc4 24.a5 Bg6 25.Qa2 Q×a2 26.R×a2 a6 27.f4 Bd6 28.Nd4 Rfe8 29.Kf2 Bf7 30.Rb2 Bc4 31.Nf5 Bf8 32.Bd4 R×e1 33.K×e1 Re8+ 34.Kf2

The position reached is one in which Black enjoys a slight edge due to the increased scope and mobility of his pieces -- the pawn structure plays a critical role in this. The absence of queens has changed the character of the game from an open attacking position into one in which endgame themes predominate, so we call this a Position Of Transition. During such a transitional phase the players should exert a little caution. It is common for errors to occur at such junctures, for the players must change to a different mind set. The previous few moves have seen Black's pieces acquire an almost irresistible momentum where they appear to play themselves. Black carelessly races to evict the knight.

34...g6?? 35.Ne3 Bf7 Better is 35...Be6. The time control has now been reached.

36.B×f6 No doubt in shock at being gifted a pawn White fails to play 36.Ng4.

36...Bd6 37.g3 Be6 38.h4 Kf7 39.Bd4 c6

The position now reached is one in which the battle lines are clearly drawn. Black, the defender, will seek an ending where he has reasonable chances of a draw. Opposite coloured bishops or a rook ending would be ideal. Like coloured bishops might hold some hopes but knight v. bishop could be wicked. In accordance with the old adage he will not be averse to pawn exchanges. White, on the other hand, may seek piece exchanges and Black should be on guard to ensure they are the right ones.

40.Kf3 h5 41.c4 Bf5 42.c5 Bc7 43.Rd2 Rd8 44.Nc4 Be6 45.Ne3 Bf5

The skirmishes have failed to appeal to White - he goes into deep thought. Black must sit and wait.

46.g4 h×g4+ 47.N×g4 Rd7

47...B×g4+ may have given Black some compensation.

48.Nh6+ Ke6 49.Re2+ Kd5 50.Bf2 Kc4 51.N×f5 g×f5 52.Be1 Rd4 53.Bg3 Rd3+

Black is in a daze and rejects 53...K×b4=. he is caught in the headlights of time trouble and cannot afford the luxury of calculating the ramifications of 54.Re7 Rd3+ 55.Ke2 R×g3 56.R×c7. However, he may assume that his protagonist will.

54.Re3 Rd7 55.Be1 Rh7 56.Re6 Rf7 57.h5 Bd8 58.h6 Bf6 59.h7 Bh8 60.Rh6 Kd3 61.Bh4 Kc4 62.Be1 Kd3 63.Rh2 Kc4 64.Rc2+ Kb5 65.Rh2 Kc4 66.Ke2 Re7+ 67.Kd1 Rd7+ 68.Kc2 Rf7 69.Rh3 Kb5

The king's job, of course, was to prevent Bc3. It is said that when in severe time trouble any move that does not immediately lose is a good move. This is true, but will not yield much if the opponent returns the favour.

The remainder of the game, played by reflex, is given for completeness.

70.Bc3 Rf8 71.B×h8 R×h8 72.Kc3

72.Kb3 and Black is in a squeeze.

Ka4 73.Kd4 K×b4 74.Ke5 K×c5 75.K×f5 Kb5 76.Kg6 c5 77.Kg7 Ra8 78.f5 c4 79.f6 K×a5 80.f7 b5 81.f8Q R×f8 82.K×f8 Kb4 83.h8Q a5 84.Qc3+ Ka4 85.Qa3# 1-0

Primary error: 34...g6??
Type: Tactical error
Caused by: Imminent time control, transition of position, careless lapses of concentration.

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MacFarland, S - Moffat, A [C50]
CCC Champ. Prelim., 05.10.1999
[Moffat, A]

 
1.e4 e5 2.Bc4

The Bishop's Opening is an attempt to capitalise on the inherent weakness of f7; But centuries of analysis has shown that this natural move is no stronger when played earlier than later.

2...Nc6 3.Nf3 Be7

Hungarian Defence

4.d4 e×d4 5.c3 d3!? 6.Q×d3 Nf6 [Intending 7.e5 Ng4 8.B×f7+ Kf8 with compensation.] 7.e5 d5

A gross blunder

Black has bitten off more than he can chew and there is no way to spit it out. His game is lost. Black was about to play Ng4 when his attention was suddenly attracted to the d5 pawn thrust. For whenever this move can be played with safety it immediately equalises for Black. Excited by the possibility that it might actually be playable Black allowed his enthusiasm to get the better of him.
Black should have stuck to his original idea, or at least devoted the same consideration to his new plan.

8.e×f6

Black now sees the error of his ways but it is already too late. [8.e×d6=]

8...d×c4 9.f×g7 [9.f×e7 Q×d3 -+; 9.Q×d8+ B×d8 10.f×g7 Rg8 11.Bh6 Bf6 -+; 9.Q×c4 B×f6 and Black has the advantage.]

This little move is the one Black missed. The pawn g7 has become a monster. Now a passed pawn, it is threatening to promote on g8, attacks the black rook on h8 and has isolated Black's pawns at h7 and f7. Quite a mouthful.
Black is now left with many choices, none of which he likes - least of all, that which most readily suggests itself.

9...Q×d3 10.g×h8Q+ Bf8 11.Bh6 Qe4+ 12.Kd1 Qd5+ 13.Nbd2 Qd6 14.B×f8 Q×f8 15.Q×f8+ K×f8 16.N×c4 Bg4 17.Ncd2 Rd8 18.h3 Bh5 19.g4 Bg6 20.Re1 f6 21.Re3 h5 22.Ke2 h×g4 23.h×g4 Kg7 24.Nh4 Bc2 25.Rc1 Bh7 26.f4 Bg8 27.Nf5+ Kf8 28.Rh1 Kf7 29.Ne4 b6 30.Rh6 Ke6 31.N×f6+ Kf7 32.g5 Kf8 33.N×g8

Black now comes up with a new plan and makes his best move of the game - he resigns and takes his sorry ass off to the pub.
He who makes haste can repent at leisure.

1-0

Primary error: 7...d5??
Type: Tactical blunder
Caused by: Time pressure, carelessness, dazed.

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As easy as ABC...123

A. Black to mate in one.
Stefansson, H - Westereinen, H
Reykjavic 1997

B. White to mate in two.
Dudas, J - Jacimovic, D
Heraklio 1997

C. White to mate in three.
Lasker, E - Marshall, F
St. Petersburg 1914

Solutions (opens new window)

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