Skype coaching session, 06 September 2015. 

The following game was examined, the game 67 moves) is given with annotations and then again without annotations. 

Paul Benson. 

*  *  * 

Annotated game. 

White: N. Pogonina, 2456. 
Black: M. Muzychuk, 2526. 
Event: FIDE Womens World Championship 2015. 
Result: 1/2-1/2 in 67 moves. 
Opening: Semi-Slav Defence, Stoltz Variation, D45 

1. d4 d5 
2. c4 c6 
3. Nc3 

| The main alternative here is, 3. Nf3. The white game move offers black the option to play a sharp gambit. || 

3. ... Nf6 

| Black declines. Instead, 3. ... e5, the Winawer Gambit, leads to complications after, 4. dxe5 d4 5. Ne4. My personal choice for white is to adopt a reverse French Defence, with a tempo advantage by playing, 4. e3. || 

4. e3 e6 
5. Nf3 Nbd7 
6. Qc2 

| The move which names the variation. White is taking control of the e4 square and protecting the c3 knight against a possible black assault involving, Bb4, Qa5, and Ne4. A case of prevention before the threat emerges. || 

6. ... Bd6 

| Announcing an aggressive intent. Instead, 6. ... b6, is the other main choice, while 6. ... Be7, is a solid alternative but seems to score poorly. || 

7. Bd3 O-O 
8. O-O dxc4 

| Creating a pawn structure imbalance. Black will expand on the queenside while white is allowed to advance in the centre. Ideal when both players are fighting for the full point right from the start. Instead, 8. ... e5, simplifies the central tension far too soon, which leads to drawish positions where only white seems to find winning possibilities. || 

9. Bxc4 b5 
10. Be2 

| There is method in this apparent madness. The more obvious, 10. Bd3, might leave the bishop exposed should the centre open up after black organises, pawn c5. || 

10. ... a6 

| Securing the b5 pawn to allow the c6 pawn to advance and create central tension. || 

11. Ng5 

| A new idea with only two other examples in the database used as a reference for these sessions. Instead, 11. Rd1, is more popular. || 

11. ... Qc7 

| The other database references are: 
(A). 11. ... h6 12. Nge4 Be7 13. Rd1 Qc7 14. Bd2 c5 15. dxc5 Nxe4 16. Nxe4 f5 17. Ng3 Qxc5 18. Qb3 Qb6 19. Ba5, a surprising 1-0 miniature in, I. Khairullin (2652) - G. Kjartansson (2474), European Individual Championship 2015. 
(B). 11. ... Qc7 12. e4 h6 13. e5 hxg5 14. exd6 Qxd6 15. Bxg5 Qxd4 16. h4 Bb7 17. Rad1 Qc5 18. Qd2 b4 19. Na4 Qa5 20. b3 c5 21. h5 c4 22. Qe3 Qe5 23. Qxe5 Nxe5 24. Nb6 c3 25. Nxa8 Rxa8 26. Bxf6 gxf6 27. f4 Nc6 28. Rd7 Na5 29. Rfd1 Kg7 30. Rc7, 1-0 in 46 moves, I. Nepomniachtchi (2705) - A. Korobov (2700), European Individual Championship 2015. || 

12. e4 Bxh2+ 

| The start of complications, almost certainly given a thorough examination by analytical engine before appearing in this high profile situation. These bishop captures on an unmoved h-pawn may or may not result in that piece being snared behind a white pawn advance. || 

13. Kh1 c5 

| Black does not fear having the bishop trapped. Instead, 13. ... Bf4 14. e5 Bxc1 15. Raxc1 h6 16. Nge4, leaves the long term possibility of a favourable flexible white knight against immobile black bishop ending. 
|| 

14. e5 cxd4 

| The white c3 knight is pinned which guarantees black will regain a piece somewhere along the line. || 

15. exf6 Nxf6 

| That black bishop on h2 is still in danger of being trapped, it seems black is losing a piece for a few pawns. || 

16. f4 

| Instead, 16. ... g3 Bxg3 17. fxg3 Qxg3+, leaves the white king exposed and black has 3 connected kingside passed pawns. || 

16. ... Bg3 

| White to play and avoid being several pawns down for no compensation. || 

17. Qd3 dxc3 
18. Qxg3 h6 
19. Nh3 

| White is saving the f3 square for a different piece. The knight is temporarily out of play and will surely get back into action very quickly, won't it? || 

19. ... Ne4 

| Analytical engines give, 19. ... Bb7, as considerably better. The black knight on e4 now becomes a piece to be removed by white. || 

20. Qe1 Bb7 
21. Bf3 cxb2 

| The tension cannot be kept forever. Black was hoping white would capture, bxc3, at some point. || 

22. Bxb2 

| This bishop creates some interesting tactical ideas up the a1 - h8 diagonal. || 

22. ... Qc2 

| Attacking and defending with one move. Retreating with, 22. ... Nc5, allows white to trade light square bishops and black will lose any thoughts of placing pressure on the white kingside. || 

23. Bxe4 

| Removing a potentially dangerous attacking knight, but simply allowing the black light square bishop to generate threats into the white kingside. Win some, lose some. || 

23. ... Bxe4 
24. Rf2 Qd3 

| Creating a cheeky threat of, Qxh3+, winning a piece. || 

25. Kh2 Rfd8 
26. Rc1 Rac8 
27. Rxc8 Rxc8 
28. a3 

| White chooses to place the a-pawn out of danger before setting about slowly pushing black back. Black must make something with the queenside pawn majority before this white plan happens. || 

28. ... Bd5 

| White to play and take an opportunity to de-stabilise the position. || 

29. Rd2 

| Opportunity missed. Instead, 29. f5, sets black some kingside problems. If, 29. ... exf5 30. Nf4, and white is finding activity for all the pieces. || 

29. ... Qg6 

| Preventing the just-missed, pawn f5, break. || 
30. Qe5 f6 

| A slight weakening of the black kingside pawn formation, but now there are no more ideas for white to find play on the dark squares. || 

31. Qe3 Rc4 

| Black is planning queenside pawn activity with the rook in front of the advancing pawns. || 

32. Rf2 Qf5 

| Black simply prevents the white threatened, pawn f5, break by occupying the square. Now it is white who must begin taking preventative strategy on the queenside. || 

33. Bc3 Ra4 

| White to play accurately here or black will gain a strong queenside initiative. || 

34. Bd2 

| An inaccuracy. Instead, 34. Qc5, was needed to restrain the black pawns. || 

34. ... a5 
35. Qc5 Qd3 

| The black queen escapes the 5th rank pin, gains an attack tempo on the white d2 bishop and protects the b5 pawn. Black is about to create a distant passed pawn while the extra white piece is relaxing on the h3 square. || 

36. Bc1 Qc4 

| Black now forces either the exchange of queens or a dismal white queen retreat. || 

37. Qxc4 

| White assesses the presence of the black queen supporting a passed pawn will be too much to contain, so queens are traded. || 

37. ... Rxc4 
38. Bb2 b4 
39. axb4 

| Important move about to be played. How should black capture on the b4 square, and why? || 

39. ... Rxb4 

| Extremely counter-intuitive. Surely the passed pawn belongs on the b-file when the promotion square will not be under the control of the white bishop? No, just the opposite is required here. The black plan is to advance the pawn to a2 where it will be supported by the d5 bishop. White is likely to be without the defensive support of king or knight, meaning the white queenside defence must be carried out by combined efforts of rook and bishop. White might try to hold matters with a bishop on a1 and a rook on g1, so that black playing, Rb1, will not force out the bishop. However, this white formation leaves the black pieces full freedom of movement, the kingside pawns can begin to advance leaving white defending across the entire board. Not easy and definitely not pleasant. || 

40. Bc3 

| White tries for active defence rather than retreating into the previously shown attempted fortress which is not guaranteed to work. || 

40. ... Rb5 
41. Rd2 a4 
42. Bb2 Rb3 

| Now the black pawn is guaranteed to reach the a2 square. White must do something quickly. || 

43. f5 

| This is not trying to exploit the black e6 pawn needing to protect the d5 bishop. It instead offers the h3 knight a final chance to influence the game. Instead, 43. Bc1 a3 44. Ra2 Rxh3+ 45. Kxh3 Bxa2 46. Bxa3, and black can force white to defend the opposite bishop ending for a long time. || 

43. ... a3 
44. Bd4 

| Black can force the opposite colour bishop ending with, 44. ... a2, but perhaps there is something trickier to be found? || 

44. ... Rb4 

| Black is planning advancing the pawn to the a2 square and then capture, Rxd4, removing the defender of the promotion square. || 

45. Nf4 a2 

| White must find something dynamic here. It is now too late to set up the attempted previous back-rank fortress of Ba1 and Rg1. || 

46. Nxd5 Rxd4 

| The defender of the promotion square is removed, what is white planning? || 

47. Nxf6+ 

| Forced. Instead, 47. Rxd4 a1=Q, attacking the white d4 rook leaves white losing material as, 48. Ne7+ Kf7 49. Rd7 Ke8, and the white rook and king locations are awkward. If, 50. Rc7 Qe5+, skewers the rook. Instead, 50. Rb7 Qa8 51. Rc7 Qb8, another skewer. This means the white rook cannot stay on the 7th rank and so the e7 knight would be lost. || 

47. ... gxf6 
48. Rxa2 

| It has reduced to black rook and 3 pawns against white rook and 2 pawns. Is this enough for a black win? || 

48. ... e5 

| Black avoids the greedy, 48. exf5, which will be drawn. At some point the advanced f-pawn will trade for the white g-pawn, leaving split black pawns on the kingside rook and bishop files. This is a theoretical draw, though it is not easy to defend if previous study has been overlooked. || 

49. Ra8+ Kf7 

| The white rook is planning to attack the black king until either the black rook is de-activated or the black h-pawn can be rounded up without white losing the f5 pawn. || 

50. Ra7+ Ke8 
51. Ra6 

| White attacks either the black king or the backward f6 pawn. Black will have to block the attacks with the rook, which means it will never find the time to capture the vulnerable white f5 pawn. It seems that white has sufficient rook activity to keep black on the defensive. Is this correct? || 

51. ... Ke7 
52. Ra7+ Rd7 
53. Ra6 Kf7 
54. Kg3 
| It appears that the white rook activity is holding the position. Black to play and find some necessary inspiration. Take as much time as you like here, there is much to learn. || 

54. ... Kg7 

| A wonderful but difficult to find opportunity has just passed. The black king must find a means to enter the position and as the queenside is covered by the white rook, it must be via the kingside. Instead, 54. h5, permits the black king entry. There is now the all-important vacant h6 square for the black king to find shelter from any sideways assaults along the open ranks. Play might continue with, 55. Kh4 Rd2, a very important move leaving white with 5 choices. 
(A). White will not blunder into, 56. g3 Rh2+ mate. 
(B). White tries activity with, 56. g4 hxg4 57. Kxg4, but now, 57. ... Rf2, threatens, Rf4+, and then, Rxf5, a simple black win. All white can do is give a series of sideways rook checks until the black king hides on h6, when the planned, Rf4+, wins the f5 pawn and also guards the black f6 pawn. 
(C). If white retreats with, 56. Kh3, black can win the f5 pawn with, 56. Rf2 57. g4 hxg4+ 58. Kxg4 Rf4+ 59. Kg3 Rxf5, a simple black win. 
(D). The more subtle retreat of, 56. Kg3, is met by, 56. ... Rd4, threatening an unstoppable, Rf4, and, Rxf5. Again, sideways white rook checks only drive the black king to the shelter of h6 and then onto g5, where it protects the backward f6 pawn and has the option of, Kxf5. 
(E). White uses the king to prevent the black king from entering with, 56. Kxh5, but allowing, 56. ... Rxg2. White is now confronted with, Rg5+, winning the f5 pawn and so resorts to, 57. Ra7+ Kg8 58. Ra8+ Kh7 59. Ra7+ Rg7. Black blocks the checks and as the king and pawn ending is lost, white can only try, 60. Ra6 Rg5+ 61. Kh4 Rxf5 62. Kg4 Rg5+ 63. Kf3 Kg6, black has a simple win. || 

55. Kg4 

| White now has control of the kingside. Black still tries to make something with the extra pawn, but the lack of the black king assistance means white should be safe. || 

55. ... Re7 

| The last try, push the passed e-pawn. How is white going to stop that one? || 

56. Ra3 Kh7 

| Black is accepting the passed e-pawn will be surrounded and captured by white. The plan is to activate the black king up the h-file and zugzwang white out of the f5 pawn. || 

57. Ra6 e4 
58. Ra2 e3 
59. Re2 Rg7+ 
60. Kh4 Rg8 

| The black tricks are running out. Here is another opportunity for white to make life simple or difficult. || 

61. g4 

| The simple way to handle it. White can afford, 61. Rxe3 Rxg2, and to allow the f5 pawn to be captured leading to a draw. However, this could take 40 or more unnecessary moves of having to defend correctly. Why offer the opponent the chance to grind away at you? || 

61. ... Re8 
62. Kg3 h5 

| Black is about to gain king activity and perhaps test white on knowledge of the principles of the opposition. || 

63. gxh5 Kh6 
64. Kf4 Re5 
65. Rxe3 Rxe3 
66. Kxe3 Kxh5 
67. Kf4 
Draw, 1/2-1/2 

| Black can win the white f5 pawn by force with, 67. ... Kh4 68. Kf3 Kg5 69. Ke4 Kg4, zugzwang, the white king must abandon the f5 pawn. However, after, 70. Ke3 Kxf5 71. Kf3, white has the opposition and holds the draw. The rule white must adopt here is simple: "When retreat is forced, Stay On The File Of The Passed Pawn." 

A sample line is: 71. ... Ke5 72. Ke3 f5 73. Kf3 f4, stay on the file with, 74. Kf2 Ke4 75. Ke2 f3+ 76. Kf2 Kf4, stay on the file with, 77. Kf1 Ke3 78. Ke1 f2+ 79. Kf1 Kf3 stalemate. If the retreating white king repeatedly strays to either file to the side of the passed pawn a loss will occur. The passed pawn will advance to the 7th rank without giving check, which leaves the white king a flight square to be followed by the black king advancing to the 7th rank. || 

*  *  * 

## Unannotated game. 

White: N. Pogonina, 2456. 
Black: M. Muzychuk, 2526. 
Event: FIDE Womens World Championship 2015. 
Result: 1/2-1/2 in 67 moves. 
Opening: Semi-Slav Defence, Stoltz Variation, D45 

1. d4 d5 
2. c4 c6 
3. Nc3 Nf6 
4. e3 e6 
5. Nf3 Nbd7 
6. Qc2 Bd6 
7. Bd3 O-O 
8. O-O dxc4 
9. Bxc4 b5 
10. Be2 a6 
11. Ng5 Qc7 
12. e4 Bxh2+ 
13. Kh1 c5 
14. e5 cxd4 
15. exf6 Nxf6 
16. f4 Bg3 
17. Qd3 dxc3 
18. Qxg3 h6 
19. Nh3 Ne4 
20. Qe1 Bb7 
21. Bf3 cxb2 
22. Bxb2 Qc2 
23. Bxe4 Bxe4 
24. Rf2 Qd3 
25. Kh2 Rfd8 
26. Rc1 Rac8 
27. Rxc8 Rxc8 
28. a3 Bd5 
29. Rd2 Qg6 
30. Qe5 f6 
31. Qe3 Rc4 
32. Rf2 Qf5 
33. Bc3 Ra4 
34. Bd2 a5 
35. Qc5 Qd3 
36. Bc1 Qc4 
37. Qxc4 Rxc4 
38. Bb2 b4 
39. axb4 Rxb4 
40. Bc3 Rb5 
41. Rd2 a4 
42. Bb2 Rb3 
43. f5 a3 
44. Bd4 Rb4 
45. Nf4 a2 
46. Nxd5 Rxd4 
47. Nxf6+ gxf6 
48. Rxa2 e5 
49. Ra8+ Kf7 
50. Ra7+ Ke8 
51. Ra6 Ke7 
52. Ra7+ Rd7 
53. Ra6 Kf7 
54. Kg3 Kg7 
55. Kg4 Re7 
56. Ra3 Kh7 
57. Ra6 e4 
58. Ra2 e3 
59. Re2 Rg7+ 
60. Kh4 Rg8 
61. g4 Re8 
62. Kg3 h5 
63. gxh5 Kh6 
64. Kf4 Re5 
65. Rxe3 Rxe3 
66. Kxe3 Kxh5 
67. Kf4 
Draw, 1/2-1/2 

*  *  *