How Good Is Your Chess II - Daniel King, 2016.pdf

(4976 KB) Pobierz
COMPILED BY SCORPIONCHESS
February 2016
How good is your chess?
If your opponent plays one of those grovelly systems like the Caro-Kann or the Pirc / Modern
where they seem to take a cowardly delight in cowering behind the first three ranks – beware.
There is a tendency to take liberties that are unjustified. In those systems Black’s pieces are often
elastically placed, ready to pounce on any inaccuracy in White’s opening play. Like in this game.
The winner is a Grandmaster from Argentina.
Cover the page with a card with a card or sheet of paper, lowering it gradually to reveal it a line at
a time. Begin after the first diagram. Whenever White has moved, stop and try to guess Black’s
reply which will be on the next line. Try to analyse as much as you would in a game – it could earn
you bonus points. The article will test your standard of play or, if you prefer, just enjoy a fine
game.
J. Fernandez – P. Ricardi
III Memorial Pereyra Puebla Mendoza, Argentina 2004
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Be2 a6 6.a4 0–0 7.h3 b6 8.Bg5 Bb7 9.Nd2
9...Nc6
Four points. A provocative move from Black. The d-pawn is attacked: should White advance it,
but open the diagonal for the bishop on g7? Or should he try to keep the two centre pawns
together?
Black’s attempt to pick a fight is certainly justified. So far White has faffed around. Why play 7
h3? Castling was required. And 8 Bg5 – is this really the best square for the bishop? Again, it was
better to get castled and wait and see. It amazes me how even strong players are casual about basic
opening rules.
Black could also attack the centre with a pawn. For example 9…e5 (three points) is a good move.
If 10 dxe5 dxe5, Black stands well: there is pressure on the e4 pawn; the chance to play the knight
on b8 to the d4 outpost; and Black might also gain pressure on the d-file with …Qe7 followed by
…Rd8. White lags behind in development. He ought to react with 10 d5, keeping the position
closed and so gaining time to complete his development. The position is unclear: Black will
organise the usual counterplay on the kingside as in the King’s Indian.
However, attacking the centre with 9...c5 (one point) does not appeal as much. White plays 10 d5;
then after castling the knight looks good coming to c4.
9...Nbd7 (one point) is a solid alternative, but doesn’t put any pressure on White.
10.Nb3
I don’t like White’s knight on this square. It seems to me that two moves ago it was better placed
on f3. I think White should have taken up the gauntlet and played 10.d5 Nd4. After 11 Bc4 White
isn’t doing badly.
10...e5
Four points. While White’s king is still hanging around in the middle, Black should seize his
chance to attack the centre. No points for other moves.
11.dxe5
Closing the centre with 11.d5 might have been more prudent, but after 11...Ne7! followed by
…Ne8, and …f5, Black has the initiative on the kingside. I repeat, what is White’s knight doing on
b3?
11...Nxe5
Two points. That keeps the pressure on White’s centre.
11...dxe5 would allow White to simplify: 12.Qxd8 Raxd8 13.Bxf6 Bxf6 14.Nd5 Bg7 15.a5 gives
White enough counterplay on the queenside to compensate for his lack of development.
12.f4
White is already in a spot of trouble – and this could make things worse. The king is exposed.
However, the ‘normal’ move - 12.0–0 - runs into 12…h6. If 13 Bh4 g5 and the e-pawn drops. And
if 13.Bxf6 Qxf6, then Black, with the two bishops, can already claim some advantage.
12...Ned7
One point. No real choice there.
13.Bf3
13...Qe8
Four points. This is a key move, breaking the pin and at the same time increasing the pressure on
the e4 pawn. Incidentally this would have been the reply to 13 0-0.
It is best to play the queen move straightaway, rather than prefacing it with 13...h6 14.Bh4. In the
game, if Black is allowed to capture on e4 with the knight, then the bishop on g5 is en prise in some
variations. This is not the case when the bishop is pushed back to h4.
14.Qe2
14...Nh5
Five points. Black has one chance to have a go at White before the king castles and a rook arrives
at e1 to support the e-pawn. This knight move puts a huge spanner in the spokes.
The same score for 14...h6, but only if it was your intention to meet 15.Bh4 with 15…Nh5.
15.Kf2
A big concession: White’s king is on the wander.
Instead of this, how would you meet 15.Bxh5…?
Black should just recapture 15…gxh5, and then he is ready to snaffle the e-pawn with …Bxc3+
and …Qxe4 – it isn’t any more complicated than that. Two points if you appreciated that.
15...h6
Two points. This was Black’s second threat. If the bishop retreats to h4, then the knight captures on
f4.
The game move is very simple. It is also possible to play 15...f6, but it looks ugly by comparison.
Why open a diagonal to your own king?
16.g4
White is attempting to confuse the issue. Instead, if 16.Bxh5, Black responds with 16… hxg5, then
captures on f4.
16...Ng3
Four points. This is a clever move, ensuring that Black gets an attack – but not White.
Instead, 16...hxg5 (one point) is not as good, as White gets a sniff of counterplay on the kingside:
17.gxh5 gxf4 18.Nd5, or 18 h4, preparing to capture on g6 and open up the g- and h-files. I am sure
that Black is still better, but it is not quite as clear as one would wish. Compare with the game.
Why take an unnecessary risk?
17.Kxg3
17…hxg5
One point. Black had to balance material. You can see the difference with the variation above.
Black has managed to keep the files (and diagonals) in front of his king closed, but White’s king is
still in the firing line.
18.f5
If White plays 18.fxg5, then Black recaptures the pawn with 18...Bxc3 19.bxc3 Qe5+ 20.Kg2
Qxg5, or the immediate 18…Qe5+. Afterwards, White’s e-pawn is in trouble.
18...Qe5+
Two points. Black could also play 18...Bxc3 19.bxc3 Qe5+ (two points), though, personally, I

Plik z chomika:

Inne pliki z tego folderu:

Inne foldery tego chomika:

Zgłoś jeśli naruszono regulamin