Skype coaching session, 26 October 2014. 

The following games were examined, the games 18 and 39 moves) are given with annotations and then again without annotations. 

Paul Benson. 

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Annotated game 1. 

White: A. Greet, 2266. 
Black: K. Arkell, 2481. 
Event: British Championship Millfield 2000. 
Result: 0-1 in 18 moves. 
Opening: Caro-Kann Advanced, Botvinnik-Carls Defence, B12. 

1. e4 c6 
2. d4 d5 
3. e5 c5 

| Immediately challenging the white dark square pawn centre. White is not going to be permitted the usual relaxing manner of development normally associated with a central space advantage. || 

4. dxc5 Nc6 

| The pressure on white continues, black is not particularly worried about regaining the pawn yet, instead preferring to force a decision from white as to how the e5 pawn is going to be protected. || 

5. Bb5 

| A pin protects the e5 pawn. Instead, 5. Nf3, is the main alternative here. Less common are, 5. Bf4, and, 5. f4, though both are acceptable for white. Now black produces a curious twist. || 

5. ... e6 

| The juggling of variation choice has led the game into a French Defence, but with black a clear tempo down on a potentially tricky sideline. However in the true French Defence systems when white captures with, dxc5, white does not need to pin the black c6 knight as, Nf3, can satisfactorily defend the e5 pawn without fearing a black, Bg4, pin to the f3 knight. Now this white bishop has effectively become a defender rather than a potential attacker as when it sits on the usual d3 square of the true French Defence. || 

6. Be3 

| White will make it difficult for black to regain the pawn, but not attempt to hold on at any price. || 

6. ... Nge7 

| black adopts a formation of tandem knights, so if the c6 knight is captured it can be replaced with another knight, effectively re-creating the threat to the white e5 pawn before the white bishop landed on the b5 square. Instead, 7. ... Nh6, or, 7. ... Bd7, can also be played. || 

7. c3 Bd7 

| Black is now threatening, 8. ... Nxe5, winning a pawn, due to the unprotected white b5 bishop, as if, 9. Bxd7+ Nxd7, a backward knight capture saves the piece. || 

8. Bxc6 

| In a true French Defence white rarely makes this capture, as this bishop only appears on the b5 square should black challenge to soon in the centre with, pawn f6. || 

8. ... Nxc6 
9. f4 

| Instead, 9. Nf3, gives black the chance to make the variation into a gambit with, 9. ... Qc7 10. Bd4 Nxd4 11. cxd4 b6, with reasonable chances. Now white has tried to maintain the pawn centre the game takes on a totally different character as black yet again demands there is going to be a fight for dark square control. || 

9. ... g5 

| Very challenging and it seems the only serious way for black to get play here. || 

10. fxg5 h6 

| As the phrase goes, "In for a penny, in for a pound". Instead, black can get satisfactory play with, 10. ... Nxe5, or prepare this capture with, 10. ... Bg7. || 

11. gxh6 

| This gives black some open lines. Instead white can improve with, 11. Nf3 Qc7 12. gxh6 O-O-O 13. O-O Bxh6 14. Bd4 Bf4 15. g3 Rdg8 16. Na3 a6 17. b4 f6 18. b5 Nxe5 19. bxa6 bxa6 20. Nxe5 fxe5 21. Rxf4 exd4, which was played between A. Vydeslaver - K. Petzol in the Euro Club Cup 2008, drawn in 31 moves. || 

11. ... Bxh6 

| Black is temporarily 2 pawn down, but has a clear lead in development and the white kingside is open to exploitation. Instead, 11. ... Nxe5, would regain a pawn but would miss out on the fun about to occur. || 

12. Qe2 

| Protecting the e3 bishop and indirectly protecting the e5 pawn, since if, 12. ... Nxe5 13. Bxh6 Rxh6 14. Qxe5, white has won a piece. || 

12. ... Qh4+ 
13. Kf1 

| The white king has wandered into a state of severely restricted mobility, almost certainly due to missing a tricky black tactic. There were 5 other options here of varying value: 
(a) 13. g3, loses material to, 13. ... Qe4, a double attack on the e3 bishop and the a1 rook. 
(b) 13. Qf2, enters a pin which leaves the e3 bishop unprotected so, 13. ... Bxe3, wins a piece, as the black h8 rook now protects the black queen. 
(c) 13. Bf2, gives the black queen play with, 13. ... Qg5, attacks the unprotected g2 pawn, doubly attacks the e5 pawn, and has threats of invading with, 14. ... Qc1+, winning at least the b2 pawn. 
(d) 13. Kd1, when black has no obvious threats, and must choose between either regaining a pawn with, 13. ... Bxe3 14. Qxe3 Qg4+ 15. Qe2 Qxe2+ 16. Kxe2 Nxe5, or, keeping material on the board with, 13. ... O-O-O, and be 2 pawns down. 
(e) 13. Kd2, similar to 13. Kd1, but with the advantage white can connect rooks easier. 
White must have been fearing placing the king on the d-file would simply give black options to break open the centre, and chooses to avoid such complications. Unfortunately there is something worse with the game choice. || 

13. ... Bxe3 
14. Qxe3 

| Black to play has a big surprise for white now. || 

14. ... Nxe5 

| This shock move permits black to have another piece join in the attack on the kingside. || 

15. Na3 

| The black knight is poisonous. If, 15. Qxe5, the apparently "bad" French bishop leaps into life with, 15. ... Bb5+, when due to the restricted white king position white can only block this check with the queen, the c-pawn, or the g1 knight. After, 16. Ne2, black brings up more reinforcements with, 16. ... Rh5, gaining an attack tempo on the white queen and next threatening a check down the f-file. If, 17. Qe3 ^ If instead 17. Qg3 Qxg3 18. hxg3 Rxh1+, black wins an exchange. ^^ So after, 17. Qe3 Rf5+ 18. Kg1 Qe1+ is mate. White could try, 18. Qf3, giving up queen for a rook, but black will still be better. 

Alternately on move 15 white can leave the black knight alone and try to block out the black queen with, 15. Qf2, but this is equally disastrous as, 15. ... Bb5+ 16. Ke1 Nd3+, forks the white king and queen. || 

15. ... Ng4 

| A triple purpose move. Firstly, gaining an attack tempo against the white queen. Secondly, the white queen is tied down to defending a potential mate on the f2 square. Thirdly, the knight can now capture the white h2 pawn with check if desired. Black now has 4 active units and can castle queenside whenever needed, the initiative is firmly with black as white struggles to meet all threats. || 

16. Qd2 

| The white king must be given flight options, as demonstrated by, 16. Qe2 Nxh2, which forces, 17. Rxh2 Qxh2, black wins an exchange. Instead, 16. Qg3 Qxg3 17. hxg3 Rxh1, black wins a rook. || 

16. ... Nxh2+ 

| Entering into a self-pin,but it is all calculated. For those of a materialistic nature, the pawn count is now 5 pawns each, but black has made fantastic progress over on the white kingside. || 

17. Ke2 Qg4+ 

| The black queen escapes the self-pin, now all it needs is to protect the h8 rook and the black h2 knight is mobile again, though there might be other ways of safeguarding the black h8 rook and knight. || 

18. Ke1 

| Perhaps white has had enough of this game and finds a quick way out of the problems. There were 3 other options of varying desirability to be considered. 
(a) 18. Kd3 Qe4+ mate, is slightly annoying. 
(b) 18. Nf3, attempting to exploit that black h-file self-pin, but it fails to, 18. ... Qxg2+, when clearly if the white king retreats with, 19. Kd1 Qxh1+, is simplest. Instead the white king can advance to doom with, 19. Ke3 Qxf3+ 20. Kd4 Qe4+ mate, the potential flight square of c5 is ironically occupied by a white pawn which landed there on the 4th move. Perhaps the least painful king move is, 19. Kd3, but black continues with, 19. ... Qxf3+ 20. Kc2 Qe4+, when it seems white is forced to offer an undesirable queen trade with, 21. Qd3 ^ If, 21. Kb3 Ba4+ is mate. ^^, and so after, 21. ... Qxd3+ 22. Kxd3 Ke7 23. Rag1 e5, the "bad" French bishop now guards the g4 square and the h2 knight can safely retreat, black is a piece and pawn up. 
(c) 18. Kf2, black evades the h-file pin with, 18. ... Rg8, which then threatens, Qxg2+. If, 19. Rxh2 Qg3+, black wins an exchange and the attack will continue. If white allows, Qg3+, the black knight has the g4 square for retreat. || 

18. ... Nf3+ 
White resigns, 0-1 

| If, 19. Nxf3 Rxh1+, black wins at least 2 rooks for a knight. Instead if, 19. gxf3 Rxh1+ 20. Ke2 Qg2+ 21. Ke3 Qxd2+ 23. Kxd2 Rxa1, black is 2 rooks up. || 

* * * 

## Annotated game 2. 

White: Kamsky, 2686. 
Black: Doettling, 2542. 
Event: Dos Hermanas 2006. 
Result: 0-1 in 39 moves. 
Opening: Caro-Kann Advanced, Botvinnik-Carls Defence, B12. 
1. e4 c6 
2. d4 d5 
3. e5 c5 
4. dxc5 e6 
5. Qg4 

| Designed to inhibit the natural black recapture of, Bxc5, which would leave the g7 pawn as white queen-fodder, not to mention the h8 rook. Instead here, 5. Be3, or, 5. Nf3, or, 5. a3, are more popular. || 

5. ... h5 

| A very direct way to handle the position. Black is seeking to take some space advantage on the kingside before placing the g8 knight on the h6 square. Instead, 5. ... Nd7, seems to be the main alternative here, immediately placing pressure on the white e5 pawn. Black seems to prefer to have the knight on d7 so if white pins with, Bb5, then any capture of the knight will be met with the c8 bishop recapturing. Black can continue with, 6. ... Qc7, and, 7. ... Ne7, intending to place the e7 knight on the g6 square. || 

6. Qg3 

| Instead, 6. Qf4, immediately is also known. Play could continue, 6. ... Bxc5 7. Bd3 Qb6 8. c3 g5 9. Qd2 Nc6 10. Qe2 Nh6 11. Nf3 g4 12. Nd4 Bxd4 13. cxd4 Qxd4 14. O-O Qxe5 15. Qd1 Bd7 16. Re1 Qf6 17. Nc3 O-O-O 18. Be3 h4 19. Rc1 Kb8 20. Qd2 Qg7, which was played between Nunn - Breder Bundasliga 2000-1, when white whipped up a queenside attack involving an exchange sacrifice on the black c6 knight, a draw in 43 moves. || 

6. ... h4 

| Black takes a little more space on the kingside. Instead, 6. ... Nh6, is also playable. || 

7. Qg4 Nh6 
8. Qa4+ 

| Very strange. The immediate, 8. Qf4, seems more logical, since black is almost certainly going to develop the c8 bishop on d7, why does white wish to offer a free tempo to black? || 

8. ... Bd7 
9. Qf4 Bxc5 

| Black regains the pawn but at some cost of a potential weakness in the shape of the advanced h-pawn. || 

10. Bd3 

| White might consider early complications with, 10. Nf3 Qb6 11. Nxh4, when it is not clear just what black has for the pawn. Black can try to increase the pressure on f2 with, 11. ... Ng4, but white has, 12. Qxg4 Bxf2+ 13. Kd1 Bxh4 14. Qxg7, when black must play, 14. ... Rf8, and now, 15. Bh6, gives black problems. Instead after, 10. Nf3 Nf5, seems more sensible play for black. || 

10. ... Qb6 

| White established a dark square pawn chain of 2 links on move 3. Black immediately took up the fight and now the challenge escalates. This plan will continue for much of the game. It should be noted that the advanced black h-pawn is now unprotected. || 

11. Nh3 

| This knight usually finds itself guarding the e5 pawn from the f3 square, where it can also fight for control of the d4 square. || 

11. ... Nc6 

| Now black is beginning of getting ideas of surrounding and winning the white e5 pawn. || 

12. O-O Bd4 
13. Qxh4 Nxe5 

| The white centre has been destroyed, with some assistance from white on move 4. Black has traded a central pawn for a wing pawn, usually considered a good trade. The centralised black e5 knight is not interested in capturing the white d3 bishop, it is more interested in keeping pressure in the centre / kingside. It is not obvious how the semi-open h-file can be of value to black yet, especially with a blockading h3 knight to minimise any activity against the h2 pawn. || 

14. Nc3 f6 

| Not really designed to support the e5 knight, instead this pawn advance blocks out the white queen and so enables black to castle queenside. || 

15. Ne2 

| White diagnoses the kingside needs defenders and transfers the c3 knight to the region of mounting pressure. || 

15. ... Bc5 
16. Qg3 

| Targetting the undefended black g7 pawn, black must make a decision about this threat from white. || 

16. ... O-O-O 

| Calling white's bluff. Is it safe for white to capture with, 17. Qxg7, or is it a trap? || 

17. Bxh6 

| We are in the season of, "Trick or Treat", and the g7 pawn is a dangerous trick on white. If, 17. Qxg7 Rdg8 18. Qxf6 Nhg4, a double purpose move which both defends the e5 knight and pushes the white queen to the only safe square she has available. After, 19. Qf4, black has a treat for himself in mind with some appropriate line-opening with, 19. ... Rxh3. If white declines the offered rook he will be a piece down, however accepting is worse. After, 20. gxh3 Nxf2+, the white king can not move and so white must block the check by interposing something on the g-file, there are 2 unpalatable choices. If 21. Ng3, black wins much material with another discovered check in, 21. ... Nxd3+, the white queen is lost. Instead white can block the check on the g-file with, 21. Qg3, but again a discovered check ruins white, 21. ... Ne4+, again the white queen is lost. By capturing with, 17. Bxh6, white has lost further control of the dark squares, not decisive yet, but it is getting difficult for white to find a decent plan. || 

17. ... gxh6 

| If, 17. ... Rxh6 18. Qxg7, might be playable as black does not seem to have any immediate means of punishing white. || 

18. Nhf4 

| The white queen is very short of flight squares for when black plays the intended, Rdg8, and so this knight offers the h3 square as a safe haven for the queen. However, this knight was defending the f2 pawn which is about to become a serious problem for white. || 

18. ... Rdg8 
19. Qh3 h5 

| The pawn is not actually going anywhere, it is instead offering support to a potential rook invasion on the g4 square. || 

20. Rab1 

White was probably not interested in the unprotected white b-pawn for the immediate future. However, should matters not produce anything decisive on the kingside, then a free queenside pawn might become an option for consideration. White also now has the option of advancing, pawn b4, to push the black c5 bishop off the g1-a7 diagonal. Clearly black would not capture, Bxb4, as the bishop would be pinned and lost to a simple, pawn a3, push. || 

20. ... Ng4 

| Now the white f2 pawn, which previously had 4 defenders and only 2 attackers, has suddenly become the focus of attention, only 2 defenders against 3 attackers. || 

21. Qf3 Ne5 
22. Qh3 Ng4 

| The position is being repeated. Black being somewhat out-rated might be content to draw with such a dangerous opponent. White on the other hand might be feeling tremendous internal pressure to win this game, and for better or worse, decides a 3-fold repetition will not occur. || 

23. Qh4 

| The bridges have just been burned, there is no going back now. So far the white queen has played 11 moves, and finds herself severely confined despite her extensive travels. Obbjectively white should have permitted black to play for 3-fold repetition, as the position itself offers white no realistic winning chances. || 

23. ... Nxf2 

| Surely white has the f2 pawn protected 3 times? Yes, so surely white can play, 24. Rxf2, and initiate a trading sequence of having 2 black minor pieces for a rook and pawn? Again yes, providing white can keep all those defenders in place. Beware of the deflection! || 

24. Rxf2 Rg4 

| Ouch! Yet again the white queen is short of manoeuvring space, she can not keep up her defence of the f2 rook, white is not winning a piece but ultimately losing an exchange in this combination. Furthermore, the resulting position is not easy to randomise from the white side of the board, attempting a swindle will be very difficult. || 

25. Qxf6 Bxf2+ 
26. Kh1 Qd8 

| Black now has sufficient material advantage for a win. There is no hurry to take the point, so black is more than happy to be observed retreating in order to minimise the white activity. The white queen is about to move for the 13th time, the black queen has only moved twice and is now back where she started. Despite all this, it is the black queen of the two queens who has been performing better and will continue to do so. || 

27. Qe5 Rh6 

| Calmly guarding both the h5 and e6 pawns. There is no need to search for attacking ideas yet, simply regroup and consolidate, keep the position under control, and once any white attempts for activity have been repulsed, then, and only then, is it time to think of advancing again. || 

28. Rf1 Bb6 

| There is no shame in retreating, this bishop will assist as a defender for a while before becoming an attacker again. || 

29. c4 Bc7 

| The tandem white knights now become the long-term target for black. || 

30. Qe3 Rf6 

| More pressure mounts on the tandem knights, the unprotected white f1 rook is also now feeling a little uncomfortable. || 
31. cxd5 

| White is trying hard to create confusion but is hindered by the lack of coordination of his pieces, who are further restricted in their options by not having any pawn support, they are effectively hanging in mid-air. || 

31. ... exd5 
32. Rc1 Kb8 
33. Nxd5 

| So white now has a pawn for the exchange, but black has a pair of rooks and a pair of bishops, all pieces with long-range powers. Such pieces can sit in defensive positions while influencing matters on the far side of the board. In effect, white has cleared the centre and won a pawn but given black opportunities to coordinate against the fragile white piece formation while also probing at the white king. || 

33. ... Re6 
34. Qf2 

| The white queen has moved for the 15th time and ends up in an awkward pin. || 

34. ... Bc6 

| Black is now ready to dismantle the white position, the g2 pawn is also about to become a target. || 

35. Ndf4 Bxf4 
36. Nxf4 Rf6 

| The only defence to the white d3 bishop is the pinned f4 knight, which is doubly attacked and can not be defended with the g-pawn because of the pin down the h1-a8 diagonal. White is lost but tries one last trick. || 

37. Rxc6 

| Instead, 37. Rc4, to protect the f4 knight, black takes advantage of the pin on the white queen with, 37. ... Bxg2+ 38. Kg1 Bd5+, winning the c4 rook which then means the f4 knight will be lost as well. Another dismal try for white is, 37. Rc4 Bxg2+ 38. Qxg2 Rxg2 39. Kxg2 Rxf4 40. Rxf4 Qxd3, black will easily win this. || 

37. ... bxc6 
38. g3 

| Black is 2 exchanges ahead and can afford to give one back for the final destruction on the dark squares. || 

38. ... Rgxf4 
39. gxf4 Qxd3 

| The black queen moves for only the 3rd time to achieve the decisive material gain. || 

White resigns, 0-1 

* * * 

## Unannotated game 1. 

White: A. Greet, 2266. 
Black: K. Arkell, 2481. 
Event: British Championship Millfield 2000. 
Result: 0-1 in 18 moves. 
Opening: Caro-Kann Advanced, Botvinnik-Carls Defence, B12. 

1. e4 c6 
2. d4 d5 
3. e5 c5 
4. dxc5 Nc6 
5. Bb5 e6 
6. Be3 Nge7 
7. c3 Bd7 
8. Bxc6 Nxc6 
9. f4 g5 
10. fxg5 h6 
11. gxh6 Bxh6 
12. Qe2 Qh4+ 
13. Kf1 Bxe3 
14. Qxe3 Nxe5 
15. Na3 Ng4 
16. Qd2 Nxh2+ 
17. Ke2 Qg4+ 
18. Ke1 Nf3+ 
White resigns, 0-1 

* * * 

## Unannotated game 2. 

White: Kamsky, 2686. 
Black: Doettling, 2542. 
Event: Dos Hermanas 2006. 
Result: 0-1 in 39 moves. 
Opening: Caro-Kann Advanced, Botvinnik-Carls Defence, B12. 

1. e4 c6 
2. d4 d5 
3. e5 c5 
4. dxc5 e6 
5. Qg4 h5 
6. Qg3 h4 
7. Qg4 Nh6 
8. Qa4+ Bd7 
9. Qf4 Bxc5 
10. Bd3 Qb6 
11. Nh3 Nc6 
12. O-O Bd4 
13. Qxh4 Nxe5 
14. Nc3 f6 
15. Ne2 Bc5 
16. Qg3 O-O-O 
17. Bxh6 gxh6 
18. Nhf4 Rdg8 
19. Qh3 h5 
20. Rab1 Ng4 
21. Qf3 Ne5 
22. Qh3 Ng4 
23. Qh4 Nxf2 
24. Rxf2 Rg4 
25. Qxf6 Bxf2+ 
26. Kh1 Qd8 
27. Qe5 Rh6 
28. Rf1 Bb6 
29. c4 Bc7 
30. Qe3 Rf6 
31. cxd5 exd5 
32. Rc1 Kb8 
33. Nxd5 Re6 
34. Qf2 Bc6 
35. Ndf4 Bxf4 
36. Nxf4 Rf6 
37. Rxc6 bxc6 
38. g3 Rgxf4 
39. gxf4 Qxd3 
White resigns, 0-1 

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