darkhorschessers

Thank you AO!

I am anticipating any comments you may have about the game!

__________________
Everyone knows cricket is the best sport/game/pastime in the world! Why the heck are we playing chess??!!

Lekko

The fact that you saved an end game that you were supposedly losing deserves congratulations in itself. Well done mate.

Just2Good

11...Kxe7 wasn't as good a 11...Nxe7 I thought. And him allowing you to play Bf5 and leave him with an isolated pawn, I agree that Black looked better after that, despite Fritz not agreeing.

__________________
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"The fox knows many things, but the hedgehog knows one big thing."

~ Isaiah Berlin ~

The Analyst

In my opinion, white had a definite edge at the end of the game; in fact, that edge was close to decisive.

However, I can certainly understand Olgert accepting the draw as pawn endings are very tricky - one mistake can turn a game by 180 degrees.

In the given position, white's advantage derives from the fact that he can, at the right moment, create an outside pass pawn on the a-file, by means of a pawn breakthrough with b3-b4. This in turn means that:

(a) black's king can not get too far away from the queenside; and
(b) he must counter white's plan to create a pass pawn on the a-file with his own pass pawn on the kingside.

In my analysis, it appears that with best play, the position will simplify into a Queen ending where white has an extra pawn and the advantage. There are many pitfalls for both sides to avoid, with black facing the majority of them.

Now to the variations:

(a) 33.g4 h4! Black must have a pawn on his 5th rank in anticipation of creating a pass pawn.

33...hxg4 is inaccurate as Black does not a pawn that is advanced enough. 34.hxg4 Ke6
(34...Kf4 35.b4! cxb4 36.cxb4 axb4 37.a5 Kxg4 38.a6 Kf3 39.a7 g4 40.a8Q g3 41.Qxc6 g2 42.Qxf6+ Kg3 43.Qg5+ Kh2 44.Qh4+ Kg1+-)
35.Kc4 Kd6 36.b4! cxb4 37.cxb4 axb4 38.Kxb4 Kc7
(38...c5+ 39.Kb5 Ke5 40.a5 Kxe4 41.a6+-; 38...Ke5 39.a5+-)
39.Kc5 Kb7 40.a5 Ka6 41.Kxc6 Kxa5 42.Kd5 Kb5 43.Ke6 Kc4 44.Kxf6 Kd4 45.Kxg5+-

34.Kc4

34.b4? cxb4 35.cxb4 axb4 36.a5 Kd6 37.Kc4 c5–+

34...Kxe4

34...Kf4 35.b4!+-

35.b4 f5! Black now seeks to create his own pass pawn.

35...cxb4 36.cxb4 f5
(36...axb4? 37.a5+-)

36.gxf5! g4 37.f6

37.hxg4 cxb4 38.cxb4 h3 39.f6 h2 40.f7 h1Q 41.f8Q Qc1+ 42.Kb3 Qb1+=

37...gxh3 38.f7 h2 39.f8Q h1Q 40.bxa5 with an unclear Queen ending;

(b) 33.Kc4 Kxe4 34.b4! This breakthrough is the thematic strategy for White in many of the lines of analysis.

34.Kxc5? f5 35.b4 f4 36.gxf4 g4! 37.bxa5 g3 38.a6 g2–+

34...f5! Black must seek counterplay immediately.

34...cxb4? is an error for a very subtle reason - see White's 38th move. 35.cxb4 f5
(35...Kf3 36.bxa5 Kxg3 37.a6 Kxh3 38.a7 g4 39.a8Q f5 40.Qxc6 g3 41.Qh1+ Kg4 42.a5)
36.bxa5 f4 37.gxf4
(37.a6 f3 38.a7 f2 39.a8Q f1Q+ 40.Kc5)
37...gxf4
(37...g4 38.a6 g3 39.a7 g2 40.a8Q g1Q 41.Qxc6+ Kxf4 42.Qd6+ Ke4 43.Qd5+ Kf4 44.Qd4+ Qxd4+ 45.Kxd4 Kg3 46.a5 Kxh3 47.a6 h4 48.a7 Kh2 49.a8Q h3 50.Qf3 Kg1 51.Qg3+ Kh1 52.Qf2 h2 53.Qf1 mate)
38.Kc3!! This refute's black's play - he moves his king out of the check when black promotes his f-pawn. Note, that by removing White's pawn on c3, Black inadvertently gave White this resource.
(38.a6 f3 39.a7 f2 40.a8Q f1Q+ 41.Kc5 Qc1+ 42.Kb6)
38...Ke3 39.a6 f3 40.a7 f2 41.a8Q f1Q 42.Qe8+ Kf2 43.Qf8+ Ke1 44.Qxf1+ Kxf1 45.a5+-

35.bxa5 f4 36.gxf4

36.a6 f3 37.a7 f2 38.a8Q f1Q+ 39.Kxc5 Qf2+ 40.Kxc6 Qxg3 41.Kb6+

36...gxf4 37.a6 f3 38.a7 f2 39.a8Q f1Q+ 40.Kxc5 Qxh3 41.Qxc6+ Kd3 42.c4 h4 43.Qd5+ Kc3 - white has a slight edge in this queen ending.

(c) 33.h4 The most testing move. 33...c4+!! Definitely the best move - all other non-transpositional moves lead to lost pawn endings.

(i) 33...g4 34.Ke3 and now:

(I) 34...Ke6 35.Kf4 c4!? 36.b4 axb4 37.cxb4 c3 38.Ke3 c2 39.Kd2 Ke5 40.a5+-

(II) 34...Kd6
(34...Ke6 35.Kf4 Kf7 36.Kf5 c4 37.bxc4+-)
35.Kf4 c4
(35...Ke6 36.c4+-)
36.bxc4 Kc5 37.Kf5 Kxc4 38.Kxf6 Kxc3 39.e5+-;

(III) 34...f5 35.exf5 Kxf5 36.b4!
(36.Kd3? Ke5 37.Kc4 [37.Kd2 Kd6= {37...Ke4 38.b4 cxb4 39.cxb4 axb4 40.a5] 38.Ke3 Ke5 39.Kd3 Kd5 40.Kc2 Kd6= }]37...Kd6 38.b4 cxb4 39.cxb4 axb4 40.Kxb4 Kc7 41.Kc5 Kb7 42.a5 [42.Kd6? Kb6 43.a5+ Kxa5 44.Kxc6 Kb4 45.Kd5 Kc3 46.Ke5 Kd3 47.Kf5 Ke3 48.Kg5 Kf3 49.Kxh5 Kxg3 50.Kg5 Kf3 51.h5 g3 52.h6 g2 53.h7 g1Q+–+] 42...Ka6 43.Kxc6 Kxa5 44.Kd5 Kb4 45.Ke5 Kc3 46.Kf5 Kd3 47.Kg5 Ke3 48.Kxh5 Kf3 49.Kg5 Kxg3 50.h5 Kf3 51.h6 g3 52.h7 g2 53.h8Q g1Q+= )
36...cxb4 37.cxb4 Ke5
(37...axb4 38.a5!+-)
38.bxa5 Kd6 39.Kd4 Kc7 40.Kc5 Kb7 41.Kd6 Ka6 42.Kxc6 Kxa5 43.Kd5 Kxa4 44.Ke5 Kb3 45.Kf5 Kc3 46.Kg5 Kd3 47.Kxh5 Ke3 48.Kxg4 +-;

(ii) 33...Ke6 34.Kc4 Kd6 35.b4 cxb4 36.cxb4 axb4 37.Kxb4 Kc7 38.Kc5 Kb7 39.Kd6 Kb6 40.Ke6 gxh4 41.gxh4 Ka5 42.Kxf6 Kxa4 43.e5+-

(iii) 33...Kd6 34.Kc4 Ke5 35.Kxc5 Kxe4 36.b4 gxh4 37.gxh4 f5 38.bxa5 f4 39.a6 f3 40.a7 f2 41.a8Q f1Q 42.Qxc6+ Ke3 43.Qh6+ Ke4 44.Qe6+ Kf3 45.Qf6++-

(iv) 33...gxh4 34.gxh4 c4+!! 35.Kxc4 Kxe4 36.b4 f5 transposes to the main variation.

34.Kxc4!

34.bxc4 leads immediately to a draw 33...gxh4 35.gxh4 c5! 36.Ke3 f5 37.exf5 Kxf5 and neither king can penetrate into the other's position.

34...Kxe4 35.b4 gxh4 36.gxh4 f5 37.bxa5 f4 38.a6 f3 39.a7 f2 40.a8Q f1Q+ 41.Kc5 Qf2+ 42.Kxc6 Qxh4 43.Kb5+ Ke3 44.Qd5 with an edge for White in this Queens ending.

The Analyst

White definitely has an edge at the end of the game. However I can certainly understand Olgert's acceptance of a draw as pawn endings are very tricky.

White's edge lies in the fact that he can, at the right moment, create a pass pawn on the a-file with b3-b4. This means two things for Black:

(1) Black's king cannot afford to stray too far away from the Queenside; and
(2) He must counter by creating his own pass pawn on the kingside.

According to my analysis, with best play, the position should progress to a Queens ending where White has a substantial edge.

MOZ

After 5 rounds of the Tuesday Autumn Swiss we have a surprise packet leader.


The June ratings will certainly be interesting reading based on these results.

__________________
FReedom though Fischer-Random chess to enjoy the whole game.

darkhorschessers

It was Olgerts who offered me the draw

__________________
Everyone knows cricket is the best sport/game/pastime in the world! Why the heck are we playing chess??!!

Just2Good

Maybe he was desperate. Usually people offer draws when they don't think they are winning!

__________________
.
"The fox knows many things, but the hedgehog knows one big thing."

~ Isaiah Berlin ~

The Analyst

That wasn't clear from the score of the game posted. Wouldn't the proper procedure be for White to make a move and then offer a draw for Black to accept?

In any case, let me rephrase: "I can certainly understand Olgert 'resigning' himself to a draw...". He probably wasn't desperate and he probably didn't think he was losing, but a wily and experience player like him could foresee the complications of playing on and he didn't want to risk half point for the sake of another.

As my analysis indicated this fear had some justification, though he had the better of the complications.

MOZ

__________________
FReedom though Fischer-Random chess to enjoy the whole game.

MOZ

__________________
FReedom though Fischer-Random chess to enjoy the whole game.

MOZ

Rookies and Queens Cup...Sunday 14th of June

Seven rounds of ALLEGRO
12.30 to 5pm
Adult cash prizes.
Junior trophies.

View the strength of the February field here >
2009 February Queens & Rookies Cups



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Rookies Cup [for Boys and girls]
Queens Cup (for girls only)
When Sunday 14th June from 12:30pm to 5:30pm
Where Venue: Box Hill Chess Club, Emulation Hall 3 Rochester Road, Canterbury
Entries Via the Entry Form (below), or at the Box Hill Chess Club on Tuesdays or Fridays or at the venue on the day before 12:00
Entry fee (See the summary below for tournament entry fees. Membership fees are detailed on the fees page )
$10 Canterbury Junior Chess and Box Hill members
$15 non-members
Payment to Cash or Cheque to Canterbury Junior Chess Club Inc
Format 7 round Swiss tournament. 15 minutes / player / game
Field limit 100 players
Rating Games rated on the ACF rapid play rating list
Rating groups Rating based trophy groups will continue to be used in 2009. Provisional ratings for new players will also be used again this year. There will be an adult section and approximately equal sized junior groups
Queens and Rookies Cups Awarded to the highest placed juniors
Titles will be shared by players finishing with the same score.
The Queens Cup will be awarded to the highest placed girl.
The Rookies Cup will then be awarded to the highest placed junior excluding the winners of the Queens Cup.

Prizes Presented at around 5:00pm.
For Juniors: 1st $30 plus Rookies Cup trophy. 2nd $20
Highest place girl $20 plus Queen's Cup trophy.
Trophies for first and second in a minimum 3 ratings groups.
The Rookies and Queens cup trophies will be held by their respective winners until the next tournament
For Seniors: $5 of every entry received will go to the Senior Prize Fund.
Refreshments Available at reasonable prices

Club Mobile: 0409 259 490

__________________
FReedom though Fischer-Random chess to enjoy the whole game.

Virgil

60 players in the field today.

Canterbury Juniors Chess Club
June Rookies 2009

Code:

J5 section	1st Jack Puccini; 2nd Thomas Venville on cb from Trent Jones and Andreas Balbasis

J4 section	1st Isaac Zhao; 2nd May-Yi Foo on cb from Alex van zyl Smit, and Andrew E Lau

J3 section	1st Clement Poh; 2nd Karl Zelesco on cb from Stephen Liu, and Matthew Cheah

QUEENS	1st Savithri Narenthran; 2nd Stephanie Gu.

J2 section 	Eq. Sasha Parsons; Max Chew-Lee

J1 section	1st Nicholas Liu; 2nd Justin Tan on cb from James Morris

Adults	1st Ascaro Pecori, 2nd Tom Narenthran on cb from David Flude, Svetlana Litvinova, and Yuri Litvinov. Best U1000 David Stimson.

My fav. incident of the day came from the entry of a strong husband and wife team from Russia. The round 1 pairings were posted on the notice-board and all the micro-juniors and rug-rats eventually found their appointed spots. As usual with this type of event there were a few no-shows who had entered via the Net-link. Unfortunately one empty chair appeared opposite our f. Russian freshman. This is an embarrassment that an organiser can solve by recruiting an attending parent for one round of the 7-round event. Let us call our Russian lady player, Svetlana.
I asked Svetlana, " Would you mind if I substituted a bystander for your scheduled opponent".
"But of course that is OK", was the response.

So, I sauntered over to ask a few parents if there was a volunteer stand-in. "I would be happy to do that", said GM Darryl Johansen. OK, that solved my problem as an organiser.
Darryl started 1.c4, and our Russian responded off-handedly for a few moves until the boa constrictor's grip took hold. The opportunity to watch for the next 20 minutes....PRICELESS.

Z&MLoh

Looks like the club was missing junior players in the range between 1500 and 600 i.e. between J1 and J2. Too bad Zach couldn't make it. Love your story...

M

Just2Good

I didn't know Darryl Johansen was a Box Hill Chess Clubber! That's great!

__________________
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"The fox knows many things, but the hedgehog knows one big thing."

~ Isaiah Berlin ~