Skype coaching session, 27 September 2015. 

The following games were examined, the games 19 moves and 34 moves are given with annotations and then again without annotations. 

Paul Benson. 

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Annotated game 1. 

White: Laznicka, 2684. 
Black: S. Thavandiran, 2338. 
Event: 41st Annual World Open 2013. 
Result: 1-0 in 19 moves. 
Opening: Queen's Pawn Opening, Keres Defence, A40. 

1. d4 e6 
2. c4 Bb4+ 

| Designed to force white to commit a minor piece before black plays, Nf6. This move order might also be known as the Franco-Indian (Keres) Defence. || 

3. Nd2 

| White had only 3 legal sensible moves here. It is a question of choice and not strategic value. Playing, 3. Nc3, is likely to transpose into the Nimzo-Indian Defence, while, 3. Bd2, might end up in a standard Bogo-Indian Defence. By holding back on, Nf6, black has options of, Ne7, though this is probably more of surprise value than anything else. || 

3. ... Nf6 
4. a3 

| The most popular move here is, 4. Nf3, while, 4. g3, is also played. Again, both valid systems from which to choose. || 

4. ... Be7 

| Clearly, 4. ... Ba5 b4 6. Bb6 c5, costs black a piece. Instead, 4. Bxd2+, trading a pair of minor pieces avoids piece congestion at the cost of the bishop pair. The retreat to e7 allows white to take a large centre if desired. || 

5. e4 d5 
6. e5 

| The position now takes on some similarities to a French Defence, but with some important differences. Black can release the central tension with, dxc4, and white has no means to strengthen the dark-square pawn chain with, pawn c3. || 

6. ... Nfd7 

| Instead, 6. ... Ne4 7. Nxe4 dxe4, and black might have problems defending the e4 pawn. || 

7. Qg4

| A move commonly seen in the French Defence Winawer Variation. The usual move for white here is, 7. b4, taking some queenside space. Play could continue with, 7. ... a5 8. b4 c5, and white can then choose between, 9. Ngf3, 9. cxd5, or, 9. f4 || 

7. ... O-O 

| Some people might regard this as castling into it. However neither 7. ... Kf8, or, 7. g6, seem desirable. Important move for white to find here. || 

8. Ndf3 

| A triple purpose move. The white c1 bishop has been released, the knight is supporting the central pawns, and is now ready for possible kingside action. || 

8. ... Kh8 

| This escapes the pin on the black g-pawn, white was threatening, 9. Bh6, which forces, 9. g6, when white can win an exchange with, 10. Bxf8. Perhaps black could have tried, 8. ... f5, and await white's response. If, 9. exf6 Nxf6, black will have fighting chances on the kingside, though white has all the attacking ideas. Perhaps after, 8. ... f5, white should retreat with, 9. Qh3, intending to force open lines with, pawn g4, once development has been completed. After, 8. ... Kh8, white now gains a strong initiative. || 

9. Nh3 

| White now has 4 pieces offering kingside activity, don't forget the c1 bishop. Black will have problems once a white knight becomes established on the g5 square. || 

9. ... h6 

| This creates a target. The white plan is to have a knight on g5, no matter the cost. || 

10. Qh5 

| Setting up a line-opening tactic. The feeling that, 8. ... f5, should have been tried might keep coming round. || 

10. ... Kg8 

| So that when what is about to happen does not happen with any checks. White to play, the next move should come to mind fairly easily for a tactical player. || 

11. Bxh6 

| With 4 active kingside pieces, this sort of move must be given serious consideration. The black king is going to be short of safe squares. || 

11. ... gxh6 

| Black accepts the material and hopes to find a means to either contain the white threats or possibly give some material back to stop the attack. All the fun from now on is for white only. || 

12. Qxh6 

| The white threat is simple, 13. Nhg5, threatening mate on h7, and, 13. ... Bxg5 14. Nxg5, does not prevent it. Black needs breathing room for the king. || 

12. ... f5 

| White needs to be accurate here. Take time to find the precise set up. || 

13. Qg6+ 
| Important. While this forces the king into the corner, the real reason is to prevent, Rf7, providing a defence along the black 2nd rank. With the black king on h8, the move, Rf7, will cost black a rook. In this sort of position white has the option to take a draw by 3-fold repetition. If you were white here, would you take the draw now? Since a draw is available, one can spend time analysing deeply to make sure the attack will succeed. On positional grounds alone, the weakened black kingside should encourage one to continue, white will have strong threats for a good while. So, we are playing on, are we? || 

13. ... Kh8 
14. Nhg5 Bxg5 
15. Nxg5 Qe7 

| Black prevents the mate on h7. If there is nothing better, white can have a 3rd pawn for the sacrificed piece, or possibly a pawn and an exchange. The idea is, 15. Qh6+ Kg8 16. Qxe6+ Qxe6 17. Nxe6, threatens the black f8 rook and also, Nxc7, snaring the a8 rook. This liquidation will regain sufficient material to give white a long-term win. With this variation available, white can now search for something better. If something is there, play it. If not, then take the pawn and exchange. || 

16. O-O-O 

| Usually castling is regarded as giving the king safety, however here it is calling up a powerful reinforcement. The black king is immobile, a consequence of the white queen on g6 being, "a knight's jump", away. When a king is trapped like this, a check which cannot be satisfactorily answered will be mate. The d1 rook plans, Rd3 - Rh3+, leading to mate. || 

16. ... f4 

| The white grip on the kingside is too strong. If, 16. ... Qg7 17. Qxg7+ Kxg7 18. Nxe6+, white again has a decisive material advantage. || 

17. Rd3 f3 

| Black has found a way to prevent, Rh3+, but sadly this only offers a different opportunity for white. || 

18. Rxf3 Rxf3 
19. gxf3 
Black resigns, 1-0 

| Why? If, 19. ... Qg7, white pushes the black royalty around with, 20. Qh5+ Kg8 21. Rg1, and it is for black to sort out the threats up the g-file. While, 22. Nh3, winning the black queen for a rook is strong, there might be better. White is threatening, 22. Qe8+ Qf8 23. Nxe6+, a discovered check which wins the black queen for nothing. 
Finally, 19. Qg7 20. Qh5+ Kg8 21. Rg1 Kf8 22. Nxe6+, a royal fork costs black a whole queen. || 

*  *  * 

## Annotated game 2. 

White: Nakamura, 2764. 
Black: Jobava, 2717. 
Event: FIDE Grand Prix, Tashkent 2014. 
Result: 1-0 in 34 moves. 
Opening: Queen's Pawn Opening, Keres Defence, A40. 

1. d4 e6 
2. c4 Bb4+ 
3. Nd2 Nf6 
4. a3 Be7 
5. Ngf3 

| Varying from the above game of Laznicka - Thavandiran 2013. Why? It seemed quite good as it went for white, but perhaps the suggested black, 8. ... f5, offers play according to Fritz and friends. || 

5. ... O-O 
6. e4 d6 

| Black is not interested in closing the centre with, 6. ... d5, which would leave the c8 bishop a problem piece. Instead black prefers a different means to contain the white centre which gives easier options for development. || 

7. Bd3 e5 

| The game takes on an Old Indian appearance, but with white having a knight on d2 instead of the more preferable c3 square. || 

8. O-O 

| White chooses not to close the centre with, 8. d5, and is definitely not interested in grabbing a pawn with, 8. dxe5 dxe5 9. Nxe5, when black has several active plans. The white e5 knight is the only guard to the d3 bishop, so 9. ... Bd6, 9. ... Qd6, or, 9. ... Ng4, will all need to be analysed. Black will have activity for the pawn, white prefers not to give a dangerous attacker such as Jobava an initiative. || 

8. ... exd4 
9. Nxd4 Nc6 

| Offering the opportunity to create pawn structure imbalances. Of course, doubled pawns are considered as weaknesses, but they are only weak if they can be attacked. || 

10. Nxc6 bxc6 

| Black might be planning, Bb7, to be followed by, c5, making the white e4 pawn into a target. White has a neutralising plan in mind, take some time here, there is an interesting concept to find. || 


11. Nb3 

| Not just to release the c1 bishop, there is another reason for this move. || 

11. ... Re8 

| Part of a combined attacking and defensive re-grouping. The e4 pawn is again about to come under pressure when the e7 bishop takes a defensive role on f8. Instead, 11. ... Bb7, planning for action up the long diagonal, simply falls into, 12. Na5 Rb8 13. Nxb7 Rxb7. The black rook has some play up the semi-open b-file, but black will not have the anticipated light-square pressure should the queen's bishop be removed. || 

12. Na5 Bd7 

| The white knight on a5 is somewhat mystifying. The general rule for development of knights tells us they are better when controlling central squares. Yet, here we have a knight on the edge of the board, and furthermore, it is well placed. Knowing the rules is one thing, knowing when the rules can be ignored is another, and takes years of experience to realise when the rules can be broken. The a5 knight is also unprotected. While black cannot easily attack it now, this will not be the case as the game opens up. || 

13. Bf4 

| This bishop is better placed on the h2 - b8 diagonal than attempting to put pressure on black with, Bg5. || 

13. ... Bf8 
14. Re1 h6 

| A double purpose move. It prevents, Bg5, just in case white had a change of plan, and a deeper concept which does not immediately spring to mind unless you are Jobava. || 

15. h3 Nh7 

| A re-positioning of the black f6 knight is the point of playing, pawn h6. The black queen also now has ideas of moving into the kingside. This is not an easy game to understand. Try thinking what it must have been like to have had to play it. White to play and find an active continuation, take some time here. || 

16. e5 

| At last white has time for a move to make progress. Not only has the white d3 bishop been given activity into the black kingside, but the black pawn centre is also under pressure. || 

16. ... Ng5 

| A strange square for an attacking knight. Tacticians might be considering the combined forces of this knight and the lurking d7 bishop against the white h3 pawn. The idea for black is, Bxh3, when the capture of this bishop is answered with, Nxh3+, forking the white king and unprotected f4 bishop. The fun is about to begin for both players as the complications emerge. || 

17. b4 dxe5 

| Black must release the central tension in order to gain piece activity. || 

18. Bxe5 c5 

| Now the apparently inactive black f8 bishop is supporting a potential win of a pawn on the b4 square. White to play and try to avoid tactics while aiming for a positional bind. || 

19. h4 

| The target for black's only threat moves out of range and at the same time will kick the black g5 knight into a more passive location. White wishes to have a bishop on the e4 square which will assist in taking a strong grip on the black queenside. Black is in no mind to be pushed around. There is a very interesting idea to be found for black here. Think carefully, and remember there can be a large difference between an, "interesting move", and, a "sound move". || 

19. ... cxb4 

| Black is willing to let the g5 knight go in return for some white pawns and a lot of activity. Is this sound? It is almost impossible to judge correctly at the board. Both players tactical abilities are now going to be tested with each move. Instead, 19. ... Ne6 20. Be4 Rb8 21. b5 Be7 22. Bc6, and white is dominating the queenside. Black is not willing to accept positional suffering. || 

20. hxg5 Qxg5 

| Placing a double attack on the white e5 bishop and an x-ray attack on the unprotected white a5 knight. From having almost no threats, black now has play for the sacrificed knight. What is white to do? Should white defend or enter into counter-complications? Time for some careful calculation to be done by white now. || 

21. Be4 

| White goes for complications. White has an unprotected e5 bishop pinned to the unprotected a5 knight. Black has an unprotected d7 bishop and an attacked a8 rook. Black is a piece down but can capture, bxa3, when the pieces have stopped taking one another. Black continues to further increase the tension. || 

21. ... Bg4 

| Removing the threatened d7 bishop with a counter-attack against the white queen. Instead, 21. ... Rad8, safeguarding an attacked piece and defending another will not work. Simply, 22. f4, forcing the black queen off the white 5th rank to save the a5 knight. After, 21. ... Qh4 22. Bxc7 Bg4 23. Qc2, white is a piece for a pawn up. Unsurprisingly in such a tactically rich position, one side might find an idea which makes a serious material gain. White to play has many choices here. If the previous moves have been difficult to find, this one is going to be virtually impossible. || 

22. Qb1 

| The white queen and e4 bishop are now lined up to give a safe check on h7 if needed. || 

22. ... Rxe5 

| If, 22. ... Rac8 23. Bxc7 Rxc7 24. Bh7+ Kh8 25. Rxe8, white is a rook up. Black can improve on this with, 22. ... Rac8 23. Bxc7 Rxe4 24. Qxe4 Rxc7, when black is an exchange down with the bishop pair against the two white rooks and knight, very tricky to judge. Perhaps white should simply ignore the complications, after, 22. ... Rac8 23. axb4, showing why the white queen is on the b1 square. White is a piece up for a pawn and black has no compensation. || 

23. Bxa8 

| Black is still trying for complications and decides that going a whole rook down is the only way to create confusion. The white minor pieces are several moves away from re-grouping to push black back. || 

23. ... bxa3 

| This advanced passed pawn is all black has for the rook. The black f8 bishop is going to be difficult for white to challenge. At some point white might have to consider giving up an exchange to remove the black a3 pawn, but such a decision can be postponed for a while. || 

24. Rxe5 Qxe5 

| Let the re-grouping begin, starting with the worst placed white piece getting into the action again. || 

25. Nb3 Bf5 

| Black wishes to control the b1 square, but why? || 

26. Qc1 Qb2 

| The black queen is pushing the white b3 knight away from defending the a1 rook. Black is just one move away from winning back material. If the black g-pawn were already on the g6 square, then, 27. ... Bg7, would win the white rook. || 

27. Nd2 

| White needs to regain control of the b1 square, the white d2 knight and a8 bishop must block out the black f5 bishop. || 

27. ... Bb4 

| Had this bishop been able to play immediately onto the long h8 - a1 diagonal, then black would be winning. || 

28. Ne4 

| The cavalry rides to the rescue just in time. Not only has the b1 square been reclaimed by white, the c3 square is now doubly protected, preventing black, 28. ... Bc3, which would win material. Black is probably short of time here and there is an important move to find. || 

28. ... Qxc1+ 

| Sadly, this is not it. Surely keeping queens on would have at least given white better chances to make a mistake? While black can not force matters here, it would have been very difficult for white to improve the position had, 28. ... Qd4, been played. All of the black pieces would be active and white has no coordination. Had black tried, 28. ... Bxe4 29. Bxe4 Bc3 30. Qxb2 axb2 31. Rxa7, and the black b2 pawn is not going to promote due to the e4 bishop. Or instead, 28. ... Bxe4 29. Bxe4 Bc3 30. Qxb2 Bxb2 31. Ra2, and while the white rook is trapped, the black a-pawn and bishop are immobilised. White can march the king across to c2 and give up the exchange with, Rxb2, trading down into an ending a bishop up for 2 pawns. || 

29. Rxc1 a5 

| Black continues to play moves, probably very quickly, there is just one idea left to try. White must get the king over to the queenside to assist the defence. || 

30. Kf1 Bd7 
31. Ke2 Ba4 
32. Kd3 Bb3 

| This bishop has travelled to b3 to support the advance, 33. ... a2. However, yet again it is just one move too slow to save black. || 

33. Nc3 

| And this time the cavalry is going to take an important prisoner. || 

33. ... a2 
34. Ra1 
Black resigns, 1-0 

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## Unannotated game 1. 

White: Laznicka, 2684. 
Black: S. Thavandiran, 2338. 
Event: 41st Annual World Open 2013. 
Result: 1-0 in 19 moves. 
Opening: Queen's Pawn Opening, Keres Defence, A40. 

1. d4 e6 
2. c4 Bb4+ 
3. Nd2 Nf6 
4. a3 Be7 
5. e4 d5 
6. e5 Nfd7 
7. Qg4 O-O 
8. Ndf3 Kh8 
9. Nh3 h6 
10. Qh5 Kg8 
11. Bxh6 gxh6 
12. Qxh6 f5 
13. Qg6+ Kh8 
14. Nhg5 Bxg5 
15. Nxg5 Qe7 
16. O-O-O f4 
17. Rd3 f3 
18. Rxf3 Rxf3 
19. gxf3 
Black resigns, 1-0 

*  *  * 

## Unannotated game 2. 

White: Nakamura, 2764. 
Black: Jobava, 2717. 
Event: FIDE Grand Prix, Tashkent 2014. 
Result: 1-0 in 34 moves. 
Opening: Queen's Pawn Opening, Keres Defence, A40. 

1. d4 e6 
2. c4 Bb4+ 
3. Nd2 Nf6 
4. a3 Be7 
5. Ngf3 O-O 
6. e4 d6 
7. Bd3 e5 
8. O-O exd4 
9. Nxd4 Nc6 
10. Nxc6 bxc6 
11. Nb3 Re8 
12. Na5 Bd7 
13. Bf4 Bf8 
14. Re1 h6 
15. h3 Nh7 
16. e5 Ng5 
17. b4 dxe5 
18. Bxe5 c5 
19. h4 cxb4 
20. hxg5 Qxg5 
21. Be4 Bg4 
22. Qb1 Rxe5 
23. Bxa8 bxa3 
24. Rxe5 Qxe5 
25. Nb3 Bf5 
26. Qc1 Qb2 
27. Nd2 Bb4 
28. Ne4 Qxc1+ 
29. Rxc1 a5 
30. Kf1 Bd7 
31. Ke2 Ba4 
32. Kd3 Bb3 
33. Nc3 a2 
34. Ra1 
Black resigns, 1-0 

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