Game of the Month #2

[iamachessstudent]

THE GAME OF THE MONTH:

[Event "m1334597361"]
[Site "net-chess.com"]
[Date "2012.05.04"]
[Round "1"]
[White "krambambuli"]
[Black "jvanmechelen"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2708"]
[BlackElo "2501"]
[Game "g1105107329"]

Of course, this is a game from BOARD 2 of the ZAPPER 2012 Tournament! I have included all the biographical data so it is totally complete. I have annotated this game fairly deep, but tried to make it as easy as possible to understand and as always ALL comments, feedback good and not so good, PLEASE write it here!

Modern Benoni; Classical Variation


I'd like to describe the history and evolution of this opening before I annotate the game :

The Modern Benoni has been called the "Son of Sorrow" back in the "Golden Days" of Chess (the 1920's and 1930s). Then along came the hypermnodern players with their style and suddenly the Benoni was the talk of the town. It was still rarely played, with only a handful of "radical" players like Bronstein, Najdorf, and Kotov using it with any sort of regularity. Then in the late 1950's, the "Riga Magician" Mikail Tal made the Benoni a mainstay in his reperiore, culminating in seeing the Benoni in a World Championship Match game against Mikial Botvinik, which Tal won! Even into the 1980's the opening was regarded as "iffy", and John Nunn, the British GM in his book on the Benoni said "A mortal playing White could probably beat God if he was playing Black in the Benoni". How things change! Now the opening is used with much more regularity; Topalov, Gashimov, Carlsen, Ivanchuk use it without a second thought ! I hope this little bit of history was enlightening and interesting for you to read! Now on to our GAME OF THE MONTH:


Krambambuli (Dimitri) - Jvanmechelen (Jan)


1. d4, Nf6
2. c4, c5 Introducing the Benoni
3. d5 If White played 3.Nf3, then cxd4 would lead us into an English Opening type of position 3...e6 Attacking the White pawn Center immediately.
4. Nf3 Many times, 4.Nc3 is played, but this leads to a transposition of moves. 4...d6 Staying within the Benoni, and not allowing the Pawn to go to D6.
5. Nc3, exd5 Now we are in the main line of the Benoni!
6. cxd5 At times 6. Nxd5 has been played only a handful of times, but the results have been a miserable 33% for White here..the Knight recapture is passive and allows Black full and free development. 6...g6 Preparingthe fianchetto of the F8 Bishop, a typical Benoni device; the long diagonal practically begs for the Bishop to go to G7.
7. e4 The main move into the heart of the Benoni, White supports his D pawn and stakes his claim in the Center and in some instances, may even threaten to push the pawn to e5. 7...Bg7
8. Be2 The Classical Variation and the over-whelming choice for White in this position. White leaves his options open, develops and prepares for K-side castling. 8...0-0 Black takes the time to get his King to safety.
9. 0-0, Na6 This is a very controversial move...the old main line used to run 9..Re8; 10. Nd2 and only then 10...Na6. The object of the Na6 move is to tranfer the Knight at A6 to c7 and then push b5 in a timely manner. This can be slow and give White time to counter with moves like Nd2, a4, and Nc4 to block that Q-side advance. Nevertheless, 9...Re8 remains the most played and probably flexible move for black, BUT the text move is very playable and in fact no-one less than Vladimir Kramnik played it as black(!) in the 13th game in his Match against Peter Leko in 2004 ( the game was drawn in 65 moves after Kramnik missed a few winning chances).

10. Nfd2 This is a typical Benoni maneuver for White, tranferring the Knight to C4. 10...Ne8 played to enable f7-f5 as soon as possible, since e4-e5 is NOT a threat right now and also; 11.f4 is not a threat because of 11...f5! and play is complicated, but Black has as many chances as White does here. Incidentally, Kramink also played the same 10th move in reference to his game with Leko in the previous note.
11. Rfe1 A sound, common move, occupying the E file and allowing the Bishop to retreat to F1 or allowing it to go to F3 as White will control the E-file in that case, if necessary. 11...Nac7!? a very double-edged move...with 11...Rab8 or 11....f5 being more common. Black is deciding to postpone the ..f5 advance and to push b7-b5 soon to get his Q-side counterplay moving.
12. a4 Immediately shutting off that planned b5 push by black. 12...f5 In this position: Novel: Black goes for his other active attempt, starting a fight on the K-side and Center. The only other plausible move in this position would be 12...Bd7!?, putting more force behind the b5 push, but again more time wasted in preparation! Let's look at this sample variation after 12...Bd7: 13.Nc4, b5; 14. axb5, Nxb5; 15. Nxb5, Bxb5; 16. Na5!, Nc7; 17.Nc6, Bxc6; 18.dxc6, Ne6; and after 19. Ba6 it seems White has a definite pull and advantage! But, back to the game:
13. Bf3 A good plan, reinforcing e4 and d5 and taking the long diagonal. He could also have played 13.exf5, Bxf5; 14.Bf3, Bd4+= with a slight edge as well. 13...f4 There was an alternative in 13..Qh4!?; 14.Nc4+= keeping a slight pull.
14.Nc4+= White has the edge here. Black is very cramped and White can start thinking about pushing E5 soon, really suffocating black! 14...Be5 Attempting to not allow the mentioned E5 push by White. He cuold also try 14...Na6. but again 15.e5! really give White a big edge.

15.Qb3 Pressure on the B pawn and eyeing the black King on the G8 square. 15...Kh8 Taking the King off that G8 square so as not to worry about the Queen on B3.
16.Nxe5, dxe5
17.Ne2! A nice move, preparing to give the Queen the C3 square, pressuring the E5 pawn and the C5 pawn. 17...Qf6 At least protecting the E pawn, it's not easy to suggest another move.
18.Qc3 now the C5 pawn is under attack as well. 18...g5!? A very sly move, getting ready for significant counterplay if White follows through with his plan of taking the C5 pawn.
19.h3! A great move! White must have seen that if he takes the C pawn with 19. Qc5?!, then 19...g4!; 20.Bxf4, Na6! (not 19...gxf3??; 21.Bxe5!, Kg8; 22.Bxf6, Rxf6; 23.e5+- is winning for White.) is very equal! The move made by White avoids all this and keeps the pressure on Black's side! 19...Rg8 If Black tries protecting the C pawn with 19...b6,then 20.b3, Nd6; 21.b4!is also winning.
20.b3 Whites advantage is solid and lasting 20...Nd6 I think Black could have tried to complicate things with 20...g4!? But if White finds 21.Bxg4!, Bxg4; 22.hxg4 and 22...Rxg4 White is still winning , but I think it could have been worth a shot to try it.

21.Bb2, Nf7;
22.Bh5, BLACK RESIGNS Black can't stop more loss of material, and he has no beneficial move. Let's look at a move or 2: 22...h6; 23.b4! White wins major material (Knight at C7 or B pawn at least); 22...b6; 23.Bxf7, Qxf7; 24.Qxe5+ and wins more material.

This was a really GOOD game, with lots of subtle differences in move order within this Modern Benoni...Black may have chosen 9...a6 instead of the 9...Na6 as chosen or perhaps 9...Re8 which is also popular. But each of those moves can transpose, as I tried to explain in the annotations. White played very clearly, not allowing any counterplay for Black and dictating the pace of the game. Black tried to make it as difficult as possible, but White was always a step ahead,
congrats to both players in this game: WELL DONE!

[krambambuli]

Excellent Josh, no objections only a few additional remarks

- my first name is Hans not Dimitri:-)
- it honors my opponent to resign right after 22.Bh5. A lot of players would have continued and would have suffered from a totally lost position. he didn't, so thanks again.
- for all those looking after another continuation in the opening phase:
after 4.Nf3 Black could have tried 4...b5 as well see the diagram below
[fen]rnbqkb1r/p2ppppp/5n2/1ppP4/2P5/8/PP2PPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 1[/fen]
leading us to the famous Volga-Gambit, much more active, risky as well and double-edged however avoiding to play constantly with ones' back to the wall as usual in the Ben-Oni.
here's the final diagram right after Blacks' resignation showing more clearly what Josh stated in his final annotation.

[fen]r1b3rk/ppn2n1p/5q2/2pPp1pB/P3Pp2/1PQ4P/1B2NPP1/R3R1K1 b - - 0 22[/fen]
Blacks' pawn e5 gets lost and Blacks' position will collapse like a house of cards.

Thanks again Josh for the time you invested.

[krambambuli]

Sorry the opening diagram should be as follows

[fen]rnbqkb1r/p2p1ppp/4pn2/1ppP4/2P5/5N2/PP2PPPP/RNBQKB1R w KQkq - 0 1[/fen] leading us to the Blumenfeld counter-gambit: Dus-Chotimursky variation. Even more aggressive than the Volga Gambit mentioned above by mistake. To show an eventual line and continuation:
5. dxe fxe 6.cxb (winning a pawn) d5 (but giving Black a powerful center like this
[fen]rnbqkb1r/p5pp/4pn2/1Ppp4/8/5N2/PP2PPPP/RNBQKB1R w KQkq - 0 1[/fen]

[iamachessstudent]

I'm sorry HANS wow im getting old lol

Good to see you pointing out the choice of opening that Black could have played...
Very good stuff!!
TY for your comments for sure !!:)

Joshua

[gmiller]

Two easy recommendations that will make your annotation valid PGN that people can use and store in any chess program
1. Surround your comments with { } like {Introducing the Benoni}
2. Castling is O-O with the letter O, not 0-0 with the number 0

[pgn][Event "m1334597361"]
[Site "net-chess.com"]
[Date "2012.05.04"]
[Round "1"]
[White "krambambuli"]
[Black "jvanmechelen"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2708"]
[BlackElo "2501"]
[Game "g1105107329"]
1. d4 Nf6
2. c4 c5 {Introducing the Benoni}
3. d5 {If White played 3.Nf3, then cxd4 would lead us into an English Opening type of position} 3...e6 {Attacking the White pawn Center immediately.}
4. Nf3 {Many times, 4.Nc3 is played, but this leads to a transposition of moves.} 4...d6 {Staying within the Benoni, and not allowing the Pawn to go to D6.}
5. Nc3 exd5 {Now we are in the main line of the Benoni!}
6. cxd5 {At times 6. Nxd5 has been played only a handful of times, but the results have been a miserable 33% for White here..the Knight recapture is passive and allows Black full and free development.} 6...g6 {Preparingthe fianchetto of the F8 Bishop, a typical Benoni device; the long diagonal practically begs for the Bishop to go to G7.}
7. e4 {The main move into the heart of the Benoni, White supports his D pawn and stakes his claim in the Center and in some instances, may even threaten to push the pawn to e5.} 7...Bg7
8. Be2 {The Classical Variation and the over-whelming choice for White in this position. White leaves his options open, develops and prepares for K-side castling.} 8...O-O {Black takes the time to get his King to safety.}
9. O-O Na6 {This is a very controversial move...the old main line used to run 9..Re8; 10. Nd2 and only then 10...Na6. The object of the Na6 move is to tranfer the Knight at A6 to c7 and then push b5 in a timely manner. This can be slow and give White time to counter with moves like Nd2, a4, and Nc4 to block that Q-side advance. Nevertheless, 9...Re8 remains the most played and probably flexible move for black, BUT the text move is very playable and in fact no-one less than Vladimir Kramnik played it as black(!) in the 13th game in his Match against Peter Leko in 2004 ( the game was drawn in 65 moves after Kramnik missed a few winning chances).}

10. Nfd2 {This is a typical Benoni maneuver for White, tranferring the Knight to C4.} 10...Ne8 {played to enable f7-f5 as soon as possible, since e4-e5 is NOT a threat right now and also; 11.f4 is not a threat because of 11...f5! and play is complicated, but Black has as many chances as White does here. Incidentally, Kramink also played the same 10th move in reference to his game with Leko in the previous note.}
11. Rfe1 {A sound, common move, occupying the E file and allowing the Bishop to retreat to F1 or allowing it to go to F3 as White will control the E-file in that case, if necessary.} 11...Nac7!? {a very double-edged move...with 11...Rab8 or 11....f5 being more common. Black is deciding to postpone the ..f5 advance and to push b7-b5 soon to get his Q-side counterplay moving.}
12. a4 {Immediately shutting off that planned b5 push by black.} 12...f5 {In this position: Novel: Black goes for his other active attempt, starting a fight on the K-side and Center. The only other plausible move in this position would be 12...Bd7!?, putting more force behind the b5 push, but again more time wasted in preparation! Let's look at this sample variation after 12...Bd7: 13.Nc4, b5; 14. axb5, Nxb5; 15. Nxb5, Bxb5; 16. Na5!, Nc7; 17.Nc6, Bxc6; 18.dxc6, Ne6; and after 19. Ba6 it seems White has a definite pull and advantage! But, back to the game:}
13. Bf3 {A good plan, reinforcing e4 and d5 and taking the long diagonal. He could also have played 13.exf5, Bxf5; 14.Bf3, Bd4+= with a slight edge as well.} 13...f4 {There was an alternative in 13..Qh4!?; 14.Nc4+= keeping a slight pull.}
14.Nc4+= {White has the edge here. Black is very cramped and White can start thinking about pushing E5 soon, really suffocating black!} 14...Be5 {Attempting to not allow the mentioned E5 push by White. He cuold also try 14...Na6. but again 15.e5! really give White a big edge.}

15.Qb3 {Pressure on the B pawn and eyeing the black King on the G8 square.} 15...Kh8 {Taking the King off that G8 square so as not to worry about the Queen on B3.}
16.Nxe5 dxe5
17.Ne2! {A nice move, preparing to give the Queen the C3 square, pressuring the E5 pawn and the C5 pawn.} 17...Qf6 {At least protecting the E pawn, it's not easy to suggest another move.}
18.Qc3 {now the C5 pawn is under attack as well.} 18...g5!? {A very sly move, getting ready for significant counterplay if White follows through with his plan of taking the C5 pawn.}
19.h3! {A great move! White must have seen that if he takes the C pawn with 19. Qc5?!, then 19...g4!; 20.Bxf4, Na6! (not 19...gxf3??; 21.Bxe5!, Kg8; 22.Bxf6, Rxf6; 23.e5+- is winning for White.) is very equal! The move made by White avoids all this and keeps the pressure on Black's side!} 19...Rg8 {If Black tries protecting the C pawn with 19...b6,then 20.b3, Nd6; 21.b4!is also winning.}
20.b3 {Whites advantage is solid and lasting} 20...Nd6 {I think Black could have tried to complicate things with 20...g4!? But if White finds 21.Bxg4!, Bxg4; 22.hxg4 and 22...Rxg4 White is still winning , but I think it could have been worth a shot to try it.}

21.Bb2 Nf7
22.Bh5 {BLACK RESIGNS Black can't stop more loss of material, and he has no beneficial move. Let's look at a move or 2: 22...h6; 23.b4! White wins major material (Knight at C7 or B pawn at least); 22...b6; 23.Bxf7, Qxf7; 24.Qxe5+ and wins more material.}[/pgn]
[Event "m1334597361"]
[Site "net-chess.com"]
[Date "2012.05.04"]
[Round "1"]
[White "krambambuli"]
[Black "jvanmechelen"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2708"]
[BlackElo "2501"]
[Game "g1105107329"]
1. d4 Nf6
2. c4 c5 {Introducing the Benoni}
3. d5 {If White played 3.Nf3, then cxd4 would lead us into an English Opening type of position} 3...e6 {Attacking the White pawn Center immediately.}
4. Nf3 {Many times, 4.Nc3 is played, but this leads to a transposition of moves.} 4...d6 {Staying within the Benoni, and not allowing the Pawn to go to D6.}
5. Nc3 exd5 {Now we are in the main line of the Benoni!}
6. cxd5 {At times 6. Nxd5 has been played only a handful of times, but the results have been a miserable 33% for White here..the Knight recapture is passive and allows Black full and free development.} 6...g6 {Preparingthe fianchetto of the F8 Bishop, a typical Benoni device; the long diagonal practically begs for the Bishop to go to G7.}
7. e4 {The main move into the heart of the Benoni, White supports his D pawn and stakes his claim in the Center and in some instances, may even threaten to push the pawn to e5.} 7...Bg7
8. Be2 {The Classical Variation and the over-whelming choice for White in this position. White leaves his options open, develops and prepares for K-side castling.} 8...O-O {Black takes the time to get his King to safety.}
9. O-O Na6 {This is a very controversial move...the old main line used to run 9..Re8; 10. Nd2 and only then 10...Na6. The object of the Na6 move is to tranfer the Knight at A6 to c7 and then push b5 in a timely manner. This can be slow and give White time to counter with moves like Nd2, a4, and Nc4 to block that Q-side advance. Nevertheless, 9...Re8 remains the most played and probably flexible move for black, BUT the text move is very playable and in fact no-one less than Vladimir Kramnik played it as black(!) in the 13th game in his Match against Peter Leko in 2004 ( the game was drawn in 65 moves after Kramnik missed a few winning chances).}

10. Nfd2 {This is a typical Benoni maneuver for White, tranferring the Knight to C4.} 10...Ne8 {played to enable f7-f5 as soon as possible, since e4-e5 is NOT a threat right now and also; 11.f4 is not a threat because of 11...f5! and play is complicated, but Black has as many chances as White does here. Incidentally, Kramink also played the same 10th move in reference to his game with Leko in the previous note.}
11. Rfe1 {A sound, common move, occupying the E file and allowing the Bishop to retreat to F1 or allowing it to go to F3 as White will control the E-file in that case, if necessary.} 11...Nac7!? {a very double-edged move...with 11...Rab8 or 11....f5 being more common. Black is deciding to postpone the ..f5 advance and to push b7-b5 soon to get his Q-side counterplay moving.}
12. a4 {Immediately shutting off that planned b5 push by black.} 12...f5 {In this position: Novel: Black goes for his other active attempt, starting a fight on the K-side and Center. The only other plausible move in this position would be 12...Bd7!?, putting more force behind the b5 push, but again more time wasted in preparation! Let's look at this sample variation after 12...Bd7: 13.Nc4, b5; 14. axb5, Nxb5; 15. Nxb5, Bxb5; 16. Na5!, Nc7; 17.Nc6, Bxc6; 18.dxc6, Ne6; and after 19. Ba6 it seems White has a definite pull and advantage! But, back to the game:}
13. Bf3 {A good plan, reinforcing e4 and d5 and taking the long diagonal. He could also have played 13.exf5, Bxf5; 14.Bf3, Bd4+= with a slight edge as well.} 13...f4 {There was an alternative in 13..Qh4!?; 14.Nc4+= keeping a slight pull.}
14.Nc4+= {White has the edge here. Black is very cramped and White can start thinking about pushing E5 soon, really suffocating black!} 14...Be5 {Attempting to not allow the mentioned E5 push by White. He cuold also try 14...Na6. but again 15.e5! really give White a big edge.}

15.Qb3 {Pressure on the B pawn and eyeing the black King on the G8 square.} 15...Kh8 {Taking the King off that G8 square so as not to worry about the Queen on B3.}
16.Nxe5 dxe5
17.Ne2! {A nice move, preparing to give the Queen the C3 square, pressuring the E5 pawn and the C5 pawn.} 17...Qf6 {At least protecting the E pawn, it's not easy to suggest another move.}
18.Qc3 {now the C5 pawn is under attack as well.} 18...g5!? {A very sly move, getting ready for significant counterplay if White follows through with his plan of taking the C5 pawn.}
19.h3! {A great move! White must have seen that if he takes the C pawn with 19. Qc5?!, then 19...g4!; 20.Bxf4, Na6! (not 19...gxf3??; 21.Bxe5!, Kg8; 22.Bxf6, Rxf6; 23.e5+- is winning for White.) is very equal! The move made by White avoids all this and keeps the pressure on Black's side!} 19...Rg8 {If Black tries protecting the C pawn with 19...b6,then 20.b3, Nd6; 21.b4!is also winning.}
20.b3 {Whites advantage is solid and lasting} 20...Nd6 {I think Black could have tried to complicate things with 20...g4!? But if White finds 21.Bxg4!, Bxg4; 22.hxg4 and 22...Rxg4 White is still winning , but I think it could have been worth a shot to try it.}

21.Bb2 Nf7
22.Bh5 {BLACK RESIGNS Black can't stop more loss of material, and he has no beneficial move. Let's look at a move or 2: 22...h6; 23.b4! White wins major material (Knight at C7 or B pawn at least); 22...b6; 23.Bxf7, Qxf7; 24.Qxe5+ and wins more material.}

[iamachessstudent]

Thank you Greg!
Next game Ill try and see if I cant make those diagrams work:)

Joshua

[islanderfan]

Hey Josh, to let you know I had Hans in my grasp and I LET him win. I think he actually begged me for mercy!!!! Joke Hans so take it that way!