Seirawan on the Maroczy Bind

I lost against the Maroczy Bind setup as Black earlier on this season, so I was after some advice! I found this 'youtube' lecture.

Double Rook Sac: Tactical Motif

I have recently been playing some pre-season warm-up games. I came across a nice little tactical situation in one of my games yesterday whereby I can sacrifice both my rooks and achieve a checkmate with my Queen ... This is a common tactical motif when studying the concept of 'breaking down the enemy walls and stripping the King if its defenses'. I seem to remember attempting a similar exercise on C.T.Art3, which incidentally is an excellent bit of software if you want to practice tactics.

For those not yet acquainted, tactical breakthroughs are all about giving up material in the short-term (only temporarily) and making a profit after the final exchange (or even better, winning the game with checkmate)!

As usual, any comments welcome ...

1. g3 d5 2. b3 e5 3. Bb2 Nc6 4. Bg2 Nf6 5. a3 Be6 6. b4 a6 7. d3 Bd6 8. Nd2 Qd7 9. Qc1 O-O-O 10. c4 d4 11. c5 Be7 12. Nc4 e4 13. dxe4 h5 14. e5 Nd5 15. Qd2 Nc3 16. Bxc3 Bxc4 17. Bb2 Nxe5 18. Nf3 Nc6 19. O-O Kb8 20. Rad1 Bf6 21. Rfe1 g5 22. e4 g4 23. Ng5 h4 24. Qc2 hxg3 25. fxg3 Be6 26. Nxe6 fxe6 27. Qd3 Ne5 28. Qb3 d3 29. Bxe5 Bxe5 30. Qc4 Bd4+ 31. Kh1 Rxh2+ 32. Kxh2 Rh8+ 33. Bh3 Rxh3+ 34. Kg2 Rh2+ 35. Kxh2 ( 35. Kf1 Rf2 36. Kg1 Rc2+ ) 35...  Qh7+ 36. Kg2 Qh3# 0-1

PGN Viewer courtesy of http://chesstempo.com/

He didn't allow that - did he??

My opponent played the Colle System (I think?) but got next to no advantage out of the opening.

I capitalised by going on a sortee behind enemy lines with 'Her Royal Highness!' and got the gas cooking. My opponent did not find the right defense and I won a piece!! This sealed the win ...

As usual, any comments welcome ...

Colle System ...

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. e3 e6 4. Bd3 c5 5. c3 Nc6 6. Nbd2 Bd6 7. O-O O-O 8. e4 dxe4 9. Nxe4 Nxe4 10. Bxe4 cxd4 11. Nxd4 Nxd4 12. Qxd4 Qc7 13. g3 f5 14. Bc2 e5 15. Qd5+ Kh8 16. Rd1 Be7 17. Qg2 Bd7 18. Bd2 Bc6 19. Qh3 e4 20. Bf4 Qb6 21. b4 Qb5 22. Bb3 Bf6 23. a4 Qe2 24. Rd2 Qf3 25. Rac1 e3 26. Bd5 Bxd5 27. Rxd5 Qxd5 28. Bxe3 a6 29. c4 Qf3 30. Qf1 g5 31. c5 f4 32. Bd2 fxg3 33. hxg3 Bd4 34. Be1 Qxg3+ 35. Qg2 Qxg2 36. Kxg2 Rac8 37. f3 Kg7 38. Bg3 h5 39. Re1 Rf7 40. Re4 Bb2 41. Bd6 Kg6 42. Re6 Kf5 43. Re4 Bc1 44. Re5 Kf6 45. Re4 Rg8 46. c6 bxc6 47. Rc4 Bf4 48. Rxc6 Bxd6 49. Rxd6+ Kf5 50. Rxa6 Kf4 51. Re6 g4 52. Re4 Kf5 53. Re3 gxf3+ 54. Kxf3 h4 55. Ke2 Rg4 56. Rf3 Rf4 57. Rd3 Rxb4 58. a5 Ra7 59. Rd5+ Kg4 0-1

PGN Viewer courtesy of http://chesstempo.com/

"I missed a pin and lost the win!"

Here I got into a Closed Sicilian and managed to squeeze my opponent. I got an early e5 in and deprived my opponent's Knight of d5, which should have proved decisive.

Unfortunately I missed a crucial pin during the same coloured Bishop ending, which allowed my opponent to hold onto to the draw ... ANNOYING

As usual, any comments welcome ...

Closed Sicilian ...

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. f4 e6 4. Nf3 Be7 5. d4 cxd4 6. Nxd4 Nxd4 7. Qxd4 Bf6 8. e5 Be7 9. Nb5 a6 10. Nd6+ Bxd6 11. Qxd6 Qe7 12. Qc7 Qxb4+ 13. c3 Qe4+ 14. Kf2 Ne7 15. Qc4 Qc6 16. Be3 O-O 17. Qxc6 bxc6 18. c4 Rb8 19. b3 Nf5 20. Bc5 Re8 21. g4 Ne7 22. h4 f5 23. g5 Ng6 24. h5 Nf8 25. Be2 Rb7 26. g6 h6 27. Rad1 a5 28. Bf3 Rb8 29. Rd2 Bb7 30. Bxf8 Kxf8 31. Rxd7 Re7 32. Rhd1 Ba8 33. R7d6 Rc8 34. Rd8+ Re8 35. Rxe8 Kxe8 36. Rd6 Ke7 37. Ke3 Rc7 38. Kd3 Bb7 39. Kc3 Ba8 40. a3 Bb7 41. c5 Ba8 42. Rd4 Rd7 43. Rxd7 Kxd7 44. b4 axb4 45. Kxb4 Kc7 46. Ka5 Bb7 47. Be2 Bc8 48. a4 Bd7 49. Ka6 Bc8 50. Ka7 Bd7 51. Ba6 Be8 52. a5 Bd7 53. Bc4 Bc8 54. a6 Bd7 55. Ka8 Bc8 56. Ka7 0.5-0.5

PGN Viewer courtesy of http://chesstempo.com/

He misplaces pieces and I win!

My second English of the season and I managed a decisive win as Black ... I think that I managed to encourage my opponent to misplace his pieces which led to the victory.
As usual, any comments welcome ...

English ...

1. c4 e5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 c6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. d4 exd4 6. Nxd4 Qb6 7. Nb3 Nf6 8. Be3 Qb4+ 9. N1d2 Qe7 10. c5 Na6 11. Nc4 O-O 12. Qd6 Qxd6 13. Nxd6 Nb4 14. O-O Nc2 15. Rab1 Nxe3 16. fxe3 Ne8 17. Rf3 Nxd6 18. cxd6 Be5 19. Nd2 Bxd6 20. Nc4 Be7 21. Rbf1 d5 22. Ne5 Be6 23. a3 Bd6 24. Nd3 Rae8 25. h3 Bf5 26. g4 Be4 27. Rf6 Be7 28. R6f2 Bh4 29. Nc5 Bxf2+ 30. Rxf2 Re7 31. Bxe4 dxe4 32. Rf4 f5 33. Kg2 b6 34. Nb3 c5 35. Nd2 Rd7 36. Nc4 b5 37. Ne5 Rd2 38. Kf2 fxg4 39. hxg4 Rxf4 40. exf4 Rxb2 41. Nd7 c4 42. Nf6+ Kg7 43. Nxe4 Ra2 44. f5 gxf5 45. gxf5 Rxa3 46. f6 Kf8 47. Nd6 c3 48. Nxb5 0-1

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Trap in the Scandinavian ...

Here is a Knight Fork Queen Trap.

Center Counter: 3.Nc3

Here is a Nc3 line for the Scandinavian ...

Center Counter: Line (1) - from a GM

Here is a solid way to treat the center counter ...

As usual, any comments welcome ...

3.d4 avoiding 3.Nc3 ...

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. d4 e5 4. Be3 Nc6 5. c4 Qa5+ 6. Bd2 Bb4 7. d5 Bxd2+ 8. Qxd2! Qxd2! 9. Kxd2 Nd4 10. Nc3 f6 11. Re1 Ne7 12. f4!? exf4 13. Re4 Ndf5 14. Rxf4 Bd7 15. Bd3 (Varga vs Savic 2002) 15...  O-O-O 16. Nf3!? g5 17. Re4 Ng6 18. c5 (White is better) 0-1

PGN Viewer courtesy of http://chesstempo.com/

Weak Pawn Structures Proves Fatal!!

Yes - another Center Counter ... and a win for Black, but this time I was punished for my 4.b4 pawn sac. My opponent declined the pawn :( and left me with an inferior pawn structure including a boxed-in Bishop imitating a big, fat clumsy pawn !!! My opponent got great Bishop activity and I got absolutely none ... My next post will outline a different approach to the Center Counter. Some recommendations from a Grand Master that I ought to follow if I want to avoid this latest catastrophe ...

As usual, any comments welcome ...

Center Counter with Bishop Pairs ...

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qa5 4. b4 Qe5+ 5. Qe2 Qxe2 6. Bxe2 c6 7. Bb2 Nf6 8. Nf3 Bg4 9. O-O e6 10. a3 Be7 11. Rfe1 O-O 12. Ne5 Bf5 13. d3 h6 14. Bf3 a6 15. Ne2 Nbd7 16. Nxd7 Nxd7 17. Ng3 Bg6 18. Bh5 Bh7 19. Bf3 Nf6 20. Rad1 Rad8 21. Nh5 Nxh5 22. Bxh5 c5 23. bxc5 Bxc5 24. d4 Ba7 25. c4 Bc2 26. Rc1 Ba4 27. c5 Bc6 28. h3 Bb8 29. Bg4 Bf4 30. Rc2 Bg5 31. Rc4 Bb5 32. Rb4? Bd2! 33. Rd1 Bxb4 34. axb4 Bc6 35. f4 Ra8 36. Ra1 Rfd8 37. Kf2 Rdb8 38. f5 exf5 39. Bxf5 Re8 40. g4 Re7 41. Bd3 Rae8 42. Kf1 Re3 43. Bc4 Rd8 44. Rd1 Rxh3 45. Rd2 Rh1+ 46. Ke2 Rh2 47. Kd3 Rxd2 48. Kxd2 Bd3 49. Re8 Be2 0-1

PGN Viewer courtesy of http://chesstempo.com/

Amateur Chess Goes Up-Market ...

If you want a taste of the high life and would like to take your chess to a new level, then you may be interested in entering the ACO World Amateur Chess Championship this year in Rhodes.  From what I can gather from looking at the website, the championship will be held in a very plush 4-star Hotel with a pool overlooking the beach!


http://www.amateurchess.com/world-amateur-chess-championship-rhodes-2014/

Center Counter - I tried to be innovative!?

It seems that everyone is trying to play the Center Counter against me this year :) In this particular game I tried to gain some space in the center by making an early pawn thrust on move 5 ... I'm not sure that this was particularly sound though? I need to put this through Fritz I think ...

As usual, any comments welcome ...

Center Counter with Boxed-In Bishops ...

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. d4 Qxd5 4. c4 Qd6 5. c5? Qd8 6. Nf3 e6 7. g3 Be7 8. Bg2 c6 9. O-O O-O 10. b4 Nd5 11. a3 Nd7 12. Bb2 Re8 13. Nbd2 b6 14. Nc4 Ba6 15. Qc2 Rb8 16. Rfe1 Qc7 17. Nce5 Bf6 18. Nd2 Nf8 19. Ne4 Be7 20. Rac1 b5 21. Nd6 Bxd6 22. cxd6 Qxd6 23. Qxc6 Red8 24. Bxd5 exd5 25. Qxd6 Rxd6 26. Nc6 Rb7 27. Re8 Re6 28. Rxf8+ Kxf8 29. Nd8 Re2 30. Nxb7 Bxb7 0.5-0.5

PGN Viewer courtesy of http://chesstempo.com/

The 'psychology' of moving rook to b5 on move 6!

I had one of my first games in the Berkshire League back in October 2013. This was a Center Counter - my opponent had probably never faced 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qa5 4.b4 Qxb4 5.Rb1 Qa5 6.Rb5!? (Note: if Black holds on to the pawn in the endgame then he's probably won). Unfortunately for my opponent, he spent something like 15-20 minutes trying to decipher moves 5 and 6 which was simple scare tactics - a psychological ploy, nothing hidden and no more complicated than that! This is pretty much how the game continued ... I would play a move and my opponent would grace me by taking excessive chunks of valuable clock time (no doubt in this game his indecisiveness cost him).

Poor time-management is not uncommon, but it is one of those foibles that has to be stamped out to be in for a shout at club-level. Blitz is a useful exercise in training the brain to think quickly, especially in an endgame melee. This game boiled down to a simple tactic that allowed me to win a pinned Knight and take advantage of my opponent's poor time-keeping!

As usual, any comments welcome ...

Center Counter

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qa5 4. b4 Qxb4 5. Rb1 Qa5 6. Rb5 Qa6 7. d4 Qd6 8. g3 Nf6 9. Bg2 c6 10. Rb1 e6 11. Bf4 Qd8 12. Bxb8 Rxb8 13. Bxc6+ Bd7 14. Bg2 Qc7 15. Nge2 Be7 16. O-O O-O 17. Qd3 a6 18. a4 Rfd8 19. R1b3 Rdc8 20. Rfb1 Bc6 21. Bxc6 Qxc6 22. Rb6 Qd7 23. a5 Bd8 24. R6b3 Bxa5 25. Nd1 Bd8 26. c4 Qc6 27. Ne3 b6 28. Ra1 a5 29. Nc3 Be7 30. Qb1 Bb4 31. d5 exd5 32. cxd5 Qd7 33. Qd3 Bxc3 34. Rxc3 Rxc3 35. Qxc3 Nxd5 36. Qd4 Qe7 37. Qxd5 Qf6 38. Rd1 1-0

PGN Viewer courtesy of http://chesstempo.com/

Hanging piece leads to a simple win ...

My first game of the 2013-2014 season saw me up against someone with very little match experience, so not too much to write about here. I am recording the game because it was my first gift of the season in the Berkshire league and will be instructive for juniors!

As usual, any comments welcome ...

Sicilian

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Bc4 Nxe4 6. f3 Nf6 7. c3 e6 8. O-O Bd7 9. b3 d5 10. Qe2 dxc4 11. bxc4 Be7 12. g4 h6 13. Be3 Nc6 14. Qb2 Nxd4 15. Bxd4 Qc7 16. Nd2 b6 17. Rf2 Rc8 18. Qb3 Bc5 19. Re2 Bxd4+ 20. cxd4 O-O 21. Rc1 Qf4 22. c5 Qxd4+ 23. Rf2 bxc5 24. Qb7 a5 25. Nb3 Qe3 26. Qa6 a4 27. Nd2 Rb8 28. Qc4 Rfc8 29. Rc2 Nd5 30. a3 Nf4 31. Qf1 Bb5 32. Nc4 Bxc4 33. Rxc4 Rb2 34. Rxf4 Rxf2 35. Re4 Rxf1+ 36. Kxf1 Qxf3+ 37. Ke1 Qxe4+ 38. Kd2 Rd8+ 39. Kc3 Qd3+ 40. Kb2 Rb8+ 41. Ka2 Qc2 42. Ka1 Qb2 0-1

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