Skype coaching session, 19 February 2017. 

Please note: Re-structuring of the sessions now offers the option for guests to bring their own games for group discussion. 

Recordings of some previous coaching sessions can be found at: 

http://www.open-aurec.com/Skype/PaulBenson/PaulBenson.htm
 
The following game was examined, the games 53 moves is given with annotations and then again without annotations. 

Paul Benson. 

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Annotated Game. 

White: V. Korchnoi, 2650. 
Black: S. Agdestein, 2545. 
Event: Jerusalem 1986. 
Result: 1/2-1/2 in 53 moves. 
Opening: Queen's Gambit Declined, Semi-Slav Defence, D46. 

1. d4 d5 
2. c4 c6 
3. Nc3 Nf6 
4. e3 

| White is being careful with the move order. Perhaps, 4. Nf3, has been delayed because black might pin with, 4. ... Bg4. || 

4. ... e6 
5. Nf3 Nbd7 
6. Bd3 Bb4 

| Black is playing a curious hybrid of the Semi-Slav and the Nimzo-Indian Defence. The idea is to develop the queen on the e7 square in order to give black some dynamic central pawn-play if the break, pawn e5 can be satisfactorily arranged. || 

7. O-O O-O 
8. Bd2 

| White sets up a little tactic involving the black b4 bishop remaining undefended, the threat being, 9. Nxd5, winning a paw. If black captures with either pawn on d5, then, 10. Bxb4, regains the piece. If instead black captures with, 9. ... Bxd2, then, 10. Nxf6+, capturing with check forces black to recapture with either queen or knight, and then white plays, 11. Qxd2. This works for white because the black b4 bishop is unguarded. Loose pieces are potential targets for tactics. For the general idea of how the game might flow after the proposed, 9. Nxd5, and black tries, 9. ... Nxd5, consult the analysis on the Alekhine game given in the previous coaching game of 12 February. || 

8. ... Qe7 

| Protecting the b4 bishop and so rules out the white tactic on the d5 pawn. || 

9. a3 

| Putting the question to the black bishop with a gain of tempo for queenside expansion. || 

9. ... Bd6 

| Instead, 9. ... Bxc3 10. Bxc3, and the white dark square bishop will have long-term pressure on the a1 - h8 long-diagonal as the middlegame proceeds. || 

10. c5 

| An important decision. White is trying to claim queenside space, this is fine providing the pawn chain can be maintained. If black can undermine the forthcoming pawn chain then the advanced white pawns will be over-extended weaknesses. Black to play must retreat the d6 bishop, but to which square? || 

10. ... Bb8 

| Better than, 10. ... Bc7, when the bishop would be vulnerable to the tactics which are about to unfold as the middlegame takes a dramatic transformation when black tries to put the central dynamic challenge into action. || 

11. e4 

| Very committal. While this pawn break is a thematic aim for white to get the middlegame rolling, there is always the question of whether to continue preparing the advance, or hitting out immediately. There is no easy means of deciding whether to continue with preparation or to strike quickly. The only solution is to study Grand Master games of this type of position and observe who seemed to create the better chances with which strategy. Hindsight is a wonderful thing, take full advantage of what strong players place in the databases for us. In the game it is black to play and respond with a similarly committal thematic break of his own. || 

11. ... e5 

| White was threatening to advance with, pawn e5, black prevents this by occupying the square with a pawn. The black c8 bishop now has chances of developing in the centre / kingside if desired. Instead, 11. ... dxe4 12. Nxe4 Nxe4 13. Bxe4 Nf6 14. Bc2, and the white minor pieces are all now ready for some probing on the kingside. || 

12. exd5 exd4 

| With this capture black has undermined the defence of the advanced white c5 pawn. White must play accurately here or material will be lost. || 

13. d6 

| White takes more space with an tempo-gaining attack on the black queen. Now we understand why black retreated to the b8 square with the bishop in order to avoid an unnecessary fork when white makes this advance. White must now maintain the c5 pawn or the cramping d6 pawn will fall. || 

13. ... Qd8 
14. Na4 

| White saves the c3 knight and protects the c5 pawn. Given time, white will continue with, pawn b4, ensuring the pawn chain remains intact and the black b8 bishop is kept trapped. Black must respond immediately or this white plan will succeed. || 

14. ... b5 

| Ouch! The white knight on a4 has no flight squares, so this forces white to capture on b6 en passant, right? Instead had black tried, 14. ... b6 15. b4, white maintains the c5 pawn, necessary to support the cramping d6 pawn which entombs the black b8 bishop. White to play and find some inspiration. Clue: That black b8 bishop has no satisfactory means of escape, other than giving itself up, has it? If this is correct, then technically white has an extra piece with which to play. || 

15. b4 

| White is willing to let the a4 knight go on the grounds the black b8 bishop can never escape for free if the pawn chain remains intact. The fight is about to be reduced to the respective central / queenside pawn formations rather than arguing over who has more pieces. A case of who has weaknesses to be exploited and who has strengths to be challenged. || 

15. ... bxa4 
16. Qxa4 

| Black must do something quickly about the congestion of pieces from a8 - d8. Clue: Sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. Black is a piece up, so make the best use possible of it under the circumstances. || 

16. ... Nb6 

| Clever. Black is tempting white to regain the piece but if the b6 knight is gobbled up then the white d6 cramper would be stripped of support, which in turn would lead to the release of the trapped black b8 bishop. || 

17. Qc2 

| Instead, 17. cxb6 Qxb6, would only assist black to get developed. The vulnerable d4 pawn would receive immediate protection and the white d6 pawn would be difficult to protect against a combined attack of the b8 bishop and the f8 rook transferred to the d8 square. Why white declined banking another pawn with, 17. Qxc6, received much attention during the live coaching session. The conclusion was that white should leave the c6 pawn just where it is for positional reasons. If nothing else, it will inhibit activity of the black light square bishop if it tries to sit on the a8 - h1 diagonal. As the game proceeds white can always return later to the weak pawn to round it up. Another instance of, "Initiative Over Material". Should white be lured into the un-necessities with, 17. Qxc6, here are a few samples of what could happen: 
(A). If, 17. Qxc6 Bd7 18. Qb7 Bc8 18. Qc6 Bd7 19. Qb7, there could be a draw by three-fold repetition. 
(B). Or if, 17. Qxc6 Bd7 18. Qb7 Bc8 19. Qe7 Nbd5 20. Qe5 Re8 21. Qg3 Ne4 22. Bxe4 Rxe4, and black has gained some activity at the expense of the white queen while keeping the option of the game plan to solve the problem of that trapped b8 bishop. 
(C). Or if, 17. Qxc6 Bd7 18. Qb7 Bc8 19. Qe7 Nbd5 20. Qxd8 Rxd8, and black will follow the forthcoming game plan to activate those dormant back-rankers. 
(D). Or if, 17. Qxc6 Bd7 18. Qb7 Qc8 19. Qxc8 Nxc8 20. Bf4 Nh5, and yet again the congestion-releasing game plan for black is almost ready. 
Korchnoi might have glanced at a few of the above lines and rejected snatching on c6 as giving black too much play. On the other hand, he might have instinctively simply dismissed the whole, Qxc6, idea without analysis, instead judging it as a pawn not worth having at this stage of the game. Black to play and bite the bullet. || 

17. ... Bxd6 

| On the grounds the b8 bishop could never emerge should white keep the constricting pawn chain where it is, black quickly gives it up for the gain of a couple of those cramping white pawns. Diagnose a bad position early and react immediately if circumstances permit. Sitting and wishing for your game to get better by itself will only allow matters to worsen. || 

18. cxd6 Qxd6 
19. Rac1 Bb7 
20. Rfd1 

| Placing an ex-ray attack from d1 onto the black d6 queen. But surely there are 3 units between the white rook and black queen?. Correct, but such units can very quickly be reduced to just one unit and then the danger of the x-ray attack has become a reality. || 

20. ... a5 

| Grand Master disconcerts Grand Rabbit. All these years of telling students to be very wary of x-ray attacks on kings and queens and to escape them at the earliest opportunity seems to be under question. Oh well, perhaps One could assume that Grand Master can calculate that this x-ray attack is not yet to be feared. Anyone wishing to ignore similar x-ray attacks in their own games does so at their own peril. The advance of the a-pawn is aiming to eliminate the white queenside pawns. If white captures with, bxa5, then black will take control of the c5 square, allowing the advance of, pawn c5, and the black central pawns will be very strong. White to play must respond with both activity and creativity before black can consolidate his position. 

Perhaps some Grand Rabbit thinking processes might assist here? 
White is dreaming of playing, Rxd6, winning the black queen. 
But there are two white bishops and a black pawn obstructing this capture. 
O.K., let's imagine the black d4 pawn and white d2 bishop could simply be immediately teleported to the pieces box. 
White would then be able to play, 21. Bxh7+, the x-ray attack from the d1 rook is exposed with check, meaning that after, 21. ... Nxh7 22. Rxd6, the dream-move has been achieved. 
Sadly, FIDE has yet to appreciate the joys of voluntary teleportation of your own pieces to the box, and teleporting a piece of your opponent will never be allowed. 
So, we must find a FIDE-approved means of removing the clutter on the d-file if our dream of, Rxd6, is to become a possibility. || 

21. Be3 

| Hey, that's quite neat. 
One of the d-file clutterers vacates the file while placing itself temptingly in the firing line of the other clutterer. 
This means if black gets greedy with, 21. ... dxe3, then, 22. Bxh7+ Nxh7 23. Rxd6, is our dream coming true. 
Ah, but what if black notices the trick and leaves the e3 bishop alone? 
No problem. White has a combined attack of e3 bishop and f3 knight on the black d4 pawn and can safely capture it when appropriate. 
So, what was the point of the white rook on d1 x-ray attack and associated, Rxd6, dream if it cannot happen by force? 
Simple. The threat allows white to gang up on and then win the black d4 pawn while activating the white dark square bishop into the bargain. || 

21. ... Nbd5 

| Equally neat, black fights tactrick with tactrick. Another clutterer drops onto the d-file which means the dream of, Rxd6, appears to be cancelled. Furthermore, black is threatening to win the white e3 bishop for free with, dxe3, next move. It doesn't stop there either. That black d5 knight is combining with the d6 queen to pressure the white b4 pawn. The tactics are beginning to escalate, and if we are lucky, might continue for another fourteen moves or so. || 

22. Bxd4 

| White regains the pawn while threatening a material winning skewer with, 23. Bc5. || 

22. ... Rfe8 
23. Bxf6 

| White assesses the central pieces cannot further increase their control and instead decides to gain a pawn while maintaining some options for complications. || 

23. ... Qxf6 

| Instead, 23. ... Nxf6 24. Bxh7+ Nxh7 25. Rxd6, would reinforce the message that x-ray attacks are to be both respected and feared. || 

24. Bxh7+ Kh8 
25. Be4 

| The white h7 bishop retreats otherwise black will trap it with, 25. ... g6, though this threat needs careful consideration. A suggestion during the coaching session prompted some lively ideas along the following lines. Can white let the bishop be trapped as part of a kingside attack? How about, 25. Rd4, intending to swing this rook onto the h-file. If black tries, 25. ... g6, then 26. Rh4 Kg7 27. Qd2, threatens, 28. Qh6+ Kh8 29. Bxg6+ Kg8 30. Bh7+ Kh8 31. Bb1+ Kg8 32. Rg4+ Qg6 33. Bxg6, with a variety of mates available to white. Great but for one small problem. After, 27. Qd2, black has, 27. ... Kf8, avoiding the immediate white threat, and the attack seems to be faltering with the white bishop entombed on h7 stranded with no obvious means of escape. || 

25. ... axb4 
26. axb4 

| Instead, 26. Bxd5 cxd5 27. axb4and white will struggle to use the extra kingside pawn. || 

26. ... Nxb4 

| Is the black c6 pawn passed or isolated? If black can safely get it moving up the board with good support then it is a passed pawn. If white either gangs up on it, or the black pieces are scattered around it unable to give support, then it is isolated. Black now sets off a curious sequence of tactics where both players seem to accept that material losses have become obligatory. || 

27. Qb1 Na2 

| Black attacks the white c1 rook but at the same time exposes the b7 bishop to the white queen. However, the white queen is needed to defend the e4 bishop, so it seems white must focus on the safety of the c1 rook. || 

28. Rc4 Nc3 

| Black forks an exchange, but beware, the tactics have far from finished. || 

29. Rxc3 

| White must give up this rook for the black knight. Snatching on b7 loses at least an exchange and possibly more as the following sample lines indicate: 
(A). If, 29. Qxb7 Nxd1 30. Bxc6 Ra1 31. Bxe8 Ne3+, and white can only postpone mate by giving up a queen, a rook, and then a knight. 
(B). Or if, 29. Qxb7 Nxd1 30. Qxc6 Qxc6 31. Bxc6 Ra1 32. h3 Ne3+ 33. Kh2 Nxc4 34. Bxe8 Kg8, and black has an exchange for a pawn, which with good technique should bring in the full point. 
(C). Or if, 29. Qxb7 Nxd1 30. Rxc6 Ra1 31. Rxf6 Nb2+ 32. Bb1 Rxb1+ 33. Ne1 Rexe1+, is a really cute mate. 
(D). Or if, 29. Qxb7 Nxd1 30. Rc1 Nc3 31. Bxc6 Ne2+ 32. Kf1 Nxc1 33. Bxe8 Rxe8, and black is a rook up. 
(E). Or if, 29. Qxb7 Nxd1 30. Rc1 Nc3 31. Bd3 Rad8 32. Bc4 Re7, and black is an exchange up and should win with good technique. || 

29. ... Qxc3 
30. Qxb7 Rad8 

| The black heavy pieces coordinate excellently to expose a weakness of the white back rank. || 

31. Rf1 

| Avoiding, 31. Rxd8 Qc1+, when white can only give up two pieces to postpone the back rank mate. Instead, 31. Re1 Rxe4 32. Rxe4 Rd1+ 33. Re1 Rxe1+ 34. Nxe1 Qxe1+, is another mate. || 

31. ... Rxe4 

| So it appears that it is black who has emerged from the tactical flurry a safe exchange ahead. Appearances can be deceptive. White to play and demonstrate that the tactics are not quite finished yet. Ah, now while, 32. Qxf7, is indeed a tactic, there is something better to be found here for white. || 

32. Ng5 

| Ouch! Black suddenly has problems. This knight completely overpowers the black rooks. There are the immediate threats of, Nxe4, and, Nxf7+, each winning a rook to be guarded against. || 

32. ... Re1 

| Black judges that the best chances of achieving a draw lie in a queen and pawn ending and so plays to remove the white rook. The only problem with this idea is that white seems destined to have a knight sitting on the d8 square. Instead, 32. ... Rf4, 33. Nxf7+ Rxf7 34. Qxf7 c5, hoping the passed c-pawn would prevent white from making use of the kingside pawn majority was another way for black to fight for a draw. || 

33. Nxf7+ Kh7 
34. Nxd8 Rxf1+ 
35. Kxf1 Qc1+ 

| Black has deliberately chosen to enter an ending without rooks. The white knight on d8 will almost certainly be picked off by the black queen at some point. The present discussion will be over how white tries to avoid either a perpetual check or three-fold repetition of position. If white succeeds in this aim then the subsequent discussion will be the pawn formation when black eventually regains the piece. || 

36. Ke2 Qc4+ 
37. Kd2 

| The white king decides to run to the queenside where a retreating queen from b7 might be able to block the sequence of check. || 

37. ... Qd4+ 
38. Kc1 

| the white king steps off the 2nd rank as, 38. Kc2 Qxf2+, wins an important pawn and the chase by the black queen would still pick off the vulnerable d8 knight in a few moves. This theme of the black queen trying to pick off the white f2 pawn without a subsequent trade of queens will be present for most of the rest of the game. || 

38. ... Qc3+ 

| A curious inversion. Aren't the moves considered the easiest to overlook supposed to be backward captures by a knight rather than backward captures of a knight? We can safely assume one of the strongest players never to become World Champion noticed that, 38. ... Qxd8, was legal. So why not take the stray white knight? Simple, black wishes to keep forcing the white king further across the board before regaining the piece. || 

39. Kb1 Qd3+ 
40. Ka2 Qxd8 

| Black must regain the piece and fight for a draw in a queen ending a couple of pawns down. This task looks difficult but is assisted by the completely exposed condition of the white king. || 

41. Qxc6 Qd2+ 
42. Kb3 Qd3+ 

| Black must avoid the blunder, 42. ... Qxf2 43. Qc2+, forcing a trade of queens leading to a winning pawn ending for white. This theme of white apparently permitting the loss of the f2 pawn remains in the position for several moves. White must now find methods of evading perpetual check, a claim of three-fold repetition, and losing a pawn. || 

43. Kb2 Qd4+ 
44. Qc3 Qb6+ 
45. Qb3 Qd4+ 
46. Qc3 Qb6+ 
47. Qb3 

| Instead, 47. Kc1, offers black the opportunity to snatch a pawn with, 47. ... Qh6+ 48. Kd1 Qxh2, but surely this pawn is poisoned as white can now force the desired trade of queens? 
It goes, 49. Qh3+ Qxh3 50. gxh3, and white has an extra pawn, should be winning right? 
Further investigation reveals that after, 50. ... Kh6 51. Ke2 Kh5 52. Kf3 Kh4 53. Kg2 g5, black is threatening, to advance with, pawn g4, which forces the trade of pawns, after which the advanced nature of the black king ensures the white f-pawn will be successfully restricted, resulting in a draw. 
So after black plays, 53. ... g5, white must prevent the liquidating g-pawn advance with, 54. f3. 
Now the black king starts going backwards fast so that after, 54. ... Kh5 55. Kg3 Kh6 56. Kg4, it seems that the white king is gaining superiority. 
Note if instead, 56. h4 Kh5 57. hxg5 Kxg5, black will achieve the desired draw. 
So after, 56. Kg4, the white king is far from superior, the black king simply grabs the opposition with, 56. ... Kg6, and white cannot make progress. 
The kings could try a little dancing with, 57. Kg3 Kf5 58. Kg2 Kf4 59. Kf2 Ke5 60. Kg3 Kf5, and the simplest defence is for the black king to ensure it can always answer white playing, Kg3, with, Kf5, and black easily holds the draw, though other drawing methods are available here. 
So after the black king takes the opposition with,56. ... Kg6, white only has pawn moves left: 
(A). If, 57. f4 gxf4, and white cannot promote the remaining h-pawn, it is a draw. 
(B). Or if, 57. h4 gxh4 58. Kxh4 Kf5, and the black king will always have control of the square immediately in front of the passed f-pawn, this is a draw. || 

47. ... Qd4+ 

| White to play must now find something else or it will be a successful claim of a draw by three-fold repetition. || 

48. Kb1 Qe5 

| Targetting the white h2 pawn. The white queen finds a means to defend the pawns, but it seems the white king is not going to be as lucky. || 

49. Qd3+ Kg8 
50. Qc4+ Kf8 
51. Qb4+ Kg8 
52. f4 

| White blocks the threat to the h2 pawn while removing the weak f2 pawn to a safe square. || 

52. ... Qd5 

| So the black queen simply finds a fresh target. || 

53. Qb8+ 

| Instead, 53. g4 Qh1+ 54. Ka2 Qxh2+, should be a relatively simple draw. || 

53. ... Kh7 
Draw, 1/2-1/2 

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## Unannotated Game. 

White: V. Korchnoi, 2650. 
Black: S. Agdestein, 2545. 
Event: Jerusalem 1986. 
Result: 1/2-1/2 in 53 moves. 
Opening: Queen's Gambit Declined, Semi-Slav Defence, D46. 

1. d4 d5 
2. c4 c6 
3. Nc3 Nf6 
4. e3 e6 
5. Nf3 Nbd7 
6. Bd3 Bb4 
7. O-O O-O 
8. Bd2 Qe7 
9. a3 Bd6 
10. c5 Bb8 
11. e4 e5 
12. exd5 exd4 
13. d6 Qd8 
14. Na4 b5 
15. b4 bxa4 
16. Qxa4 Nb6 
17. Qc2 Bxd6 
18. cxd6 Qxd6 
19. Rac1 Bb7 
20. Rfd1 a5 
21. Be3 Nbd5 
22. Bxd4 Rfe8 
23. Bxf6 Qxf6 
24. Bxh7+ Kh8 
25. Be4 axb4 
26. axb4 Nxb4 
27. Qb1 Na2 
28. Rc4 Nc3 
29. Rxc3 Qxc3 
30. Qxb7 Rad8 
31. Rf1 Rxe4 
32. Ng5 Re1 
33. Nxf7+ Kh7 
34. Nxd8 Rxf1+ 
35. Kxf1 Qc1+ 
36. Ke2 Qc4+ 
37. Kd2 Qd4+ 
38. Kc1 Qc3+ 
39. Kb1 Qd3+ 
40. Ka2 Qxd8 
41. Qxc6 Qd2+ 
42. Kb3 Qd3+ 
43. Kb2 Qd4+ 
44. Qc3 Qb6+ 
45. Qb3 Qd4+ 
46. Qc3 Qb6+ 
47. Qb3 Qd4+ 
48. Kb1 Qe5 
49. Qd3+ Kg8 
50. Qc4+ Kf8 
51. Qb4+ Kg8 
52. f4 Qd5 
53. Qb8+ Kh7 
Draw, 1/2-1/2 

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