Notes by ECF-Accredited Chess Coach Ron Franklin.
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This game was played in Round 3 (Board 2) of the South Woodham Ferrers GP3 Under-14 Tournament, organised by the Essex Junior Chess Association (EJCA). Nikhil Sanghani (grade 84) is White and Edward Ballard (grade 35) Black. It was played on 22nd February 2009.
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1.e4
e5
2.Nf3
Nc6
3.Bb5
Bc5
White plays the Ruy Lopez, and Black counters with the Classical Variation (3...Bc5). This variation is not seen much these days, as more popular Black third moves, eg 3...a6, 3...Nf6, etc, are played. But it shouldn't be underestimated (it can produce quite a lively game, where both sides have chances!).
4.0-0
White castles before starting an attack on the Black position. Very wise!
4...Nf6
5.Re1
White protects his e5 pawn, and at the same time centralises his Rook on the dangerous e file (hoping to smash open the centre whilst the Black King is still on e8). So the move can't be bad, but it does leave the f2 pawn rather weak and liable to be attacked. Better would have been 5.c3, aiming to play 6.d4. [5.c3
is playable and good. If now Black plays 5...Nxe4!?
6.Qe2
Bxf2+
(if 6...Nxf2?
7.d4!
and White wins a piece.) 7.Rxf2
(7.Kh1
is also good.) 7...Nxf2
8.Bxc6
0-0
9.Ba4
Ng4
10.h3
and White has the initiative.]
5...d6
OK, but the critical line in this variation is 5...Ng4?! and Black, threatening both 6...Bxf2+ and also 6...Nxf2, gets in his attack first! [The critical move is 5...Ng4?!
6.Rf1
and the White Rook returns to its original square (I can't find anything better!). Advantage Black.]
6.c3
Good if a bit slow. With the Black King still in the centre, an attacking move like 6.d4 is called for. [Another good line for White is 6.d4
Bxd4
7.Nxd4
exd4
8.Qxd4
0-0
9.Bxc6
bxc6
10.Bg5
and the initiative is definitely with White.]
6...0-0
Black castles, putting his King away from the action.
7.d4
With this move White sets up a strong centre.
7...exd4
8.cxd4
Bb4
9.Nc3
One can see that White is winning the battle for central control.
9...Bxc3
This exchange only enhances White's position (and central control). Better was 9...Bg4.
10.bxc3
Bd7
11.Bd3!?
A rather odd-looking move (and a loss of time). White decides that this Bishop will be better placed at d3. So he regroups. Instead 11.Rb1 is good.
11...Re8
12.Bg5!
This is an awkward pin to have to deal with. It suggests a future e5 by White (which threatens to win the f6 Knight), and this is hard to meet.
12...h6
So Black hits the Bishop, hoping to remove the pin.
13.Bh4
Naturally White moves the Bishop but continues to retain the pin!
13...Bg4
[If 13...g5
then White can consider the interesting, but risky, sacrifice 14.Nxg5!?
(Of course, White could always play 14.Bg3
the safe line.) 14...hxg5
15.Bxg5
Kg7
16.Qf3
Qe7
White's sacrifice of a Knight for two pawns has resulted in his attack on the Black King (but has he got enough of an attack to justify the material loss?).]
14.h3
Like Black before him, White wastes no time in trying to get rid of the g4 Bishop's pin on his Knight.
14...Bh5
and again like White earlier, Black is in no hurry to break the pin!
15.Re3
A good move. From this square the Rook can (1) give the f3 Knight extra protection, and (2) when the pin on the Knight is lifted, the Knight can move and allow the Rook to swing round to, say, g3 to support an attack on the Black King.
15...Bxf3?
Black decides to swap off the f3 Knight, which he reckons will soon become very active (once the pin has been removed). However, the swapping of Bishop for Knight improves White's position! Instead, a better move here was 15...Rb8.
16.Qxf3
d5?
This is an error which should cost Black the game!
17.Bxf6
Although this move is fine, White misses the best line 17.e5!, which forces a win. [17.e5!
This wins for White. Black must now lose a piece, at the very least. If 17...g5
(What else can Black play?) 18.exf6
Rxe3
Virtually forced. 19.fxe3
gxh4
Otherwise Black is a piece down, with no compensation. 20.Qg4+
Kf8
(If 20...Kh8??
21.Qg7#
) 21.Qg7+
Ke8
22.Qg8+
Kd7
23.Qxf7+
Kc8
(If 23...Kd6
24.c4
dxc4
25.e4
With a won position for White.) 24.Qe6+
Kb8
25.Qxc6!
A lovely Queen sacrifice to round it off! If 25...bxc6
26.Ba6
, etc.]
17...dxe4!?
Realising that White now has a winning position, Black decides to try and "mix it" (ie put White off his stroke). It is a good try, but unfortunately for Black his ingenuity doesn't pay off this time. He obviously doesn't care much for either 17...Qxf6 or 17...gxf6. [If 17...Qxf6
18.Qxf6
gxf6
19.exd5
Rxe3
20.fxe3
Ne7
21.c4
and White, a pawn up and in control of the centre, has more than enough for an easy win.; Or if 17...gxf6
18.Qh5
Rxe4
This is Black's best try at defending the position. (If 18...Ne7
19.Rg3+
Ng6
20.exd5
Kf8
21.Bxg6
fxg6
22.Qxg6
Qd7
23.Qxh6+
Ke7
24.Rg7+
Kd8
25.Rxd7+
With a clear win for White.) 19.Bxe4
dxe4
20.Qxh6
Ne7
21.Qxf6
Ng6
22.Qxd8+
Rxd8
23.Rxe4
and White, the exchange and two pawns up, wins easily).]
18.Bxd8!
With a number of choices available to him, White finds the quickest way to win!
18...exf3??
Black allows a mate in one, but if he plays anything else he will be a whole Queen down!
19.Rxe8#
White administers the final blow!
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All over in under 20 moves (which suggests an easy win for White)! It is true that White played well and thoroughly deserved the full point. But he had to play accurately and with skill. 1-0