Notes by ECF-Accredited Chess Coach Ron Franklin.
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The following game was played at the Chingford Grand Prix Tournament organised by the Essex Junior Chess Association (EJCA). Chingford was held on 27 June 2009 and was the last (5th) Grand Prix of the 2008/2009 season. The players in this game were Adam Taylor (who had the White pieces) and Angelo Cassar (who had Black). The game was a crucial 6th (and last) round affair. The tournament leader after 5 rounds was Angelo Cassar with 5/5. Then there was a three-way tie for =2nd place between Ben Goodyear, Adam Taylor and William Swain (all on 4/5). The 6th (final) round pairings were:-
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Adam Taylor (w) 4 v Angelo Cassar (b) 5.
Ben Goodyear (w) 4 v William Swain (b) 4.
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Now, if Angelo Cassar won this game he would get to 6/6 and become the Under-11 Champion of Essex. However, if Adam Taylor won the game he would foil Angelo's plans. Adam Taylor would thus get to 5/6 and he would become the Under-11 Champion of Esssex. So there was a lot at stake. We shall see how the game went and which player would achieve their goal. Hope you enjoy it.
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Note that the details in the square brackets following each move are the relevant clock times (it was Rapidplay, each player having 30 minutes for all his moves). For example White played 1.g3 as his first move and his clock then registered 29 minutes and 56 seconds (ie he took 4 seconds on this first move).
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1.g3
[%emt 0:29.56] White opens with a rather non-commital move. He aims to fianchetto his f1 Bishop, thereby allowing Black the opportunity of controlling the centre. Fianchetto means flank in Italian. White will play 2.Bg2, giving the Bishop the good a8h1 diagonal to attack Black's centre (from the flank).
1...d5
[%emt 0:29.57] Black accepts the challenge and plays for central control.
2.Bg2
[%emt 0:29.53] Not unexpectedly White fianchettos his Bishop.
2...e5
[%emt 0:29.55] Black now places his e7 pawn in the centre. This looks impressive but can he hold on to these central pawns?
3.d4
[%emt 0:29.42] White now contests Black's centre.
3...e4
[%emt 0:29.53] Black chooses to advance his e5 pawn. This certainly has the merit of blocking the White g2 Bishop's long diagonal. It also prevents White developing his g1 Knight at f3.
4.Nc3?!
[%emt 0:29.34] This is not the best. It hampers the c2 pawn getting to c4 (attacking the d5 pawn) which is the standard freeing move for White in this type of position. [Much better would have been 4.c4!
Which puts pressure on Black's centre. After 4...c6
5.Nc3
And the b1 Knight is now developed harmoniously at c3 (the position is roughly equal).]
4...Nf6
[%emt 0:29.47]
5.f3?
[%emt 0:29.13] A very risky move and none too good! In White's haste to attack the centre he opens up his King position to possible attack. White anticipates that he will castle short (ie 0-0) and with the opening of the f file his Rook on f1 will be well placed. [A much better line for White is 5.Bg5
And after 5...Bb4
6.a3
Bxc3+
7.bxc3
0-0
Black has only a small plus.]
5...exf3?!
[%emt 0:00:00] But this only helps White's game. It takes the pressure off the centre, and allows the g1 Knight to get to the f3 square (which is a bonus for White). Black should have kept up the tension in the centre. [Better is 5...Bb4
6.Bg5
c5
And Black has the initiative.]
6.Nxf3
[%emt 0:29.09] The best way to recapture. The Knight is developed onto its best square.
6...Bb4
[%emt 0:29.16] Threatening ...Ne4, and the pressure on the c3 Knight could be uncomfortable for White.
7.Bd2
[%emt 0:29.00]
7...Bxc3
[%emt 0:00:00] Black decides to exchange a pair of minor pieces, which simplifies the position. Perhaps he would have done better to play 7...0-0, and await developments.
8.Bxc3
[%emt 0:28.56]
8...Bg4
[%emt 0:28.57] OK, but again 8...0-0 might have been the better option.
9.0-0
[%emt 0:28.44]
9...Nc6
[%emt 0:28.48]
10.e3?
[%emt 0:28.25] White is concerned about his backward e2 pawn on the semi-open e file, and pushing it seems a good idea. However, this is very risky and could get White into trouble. White's f3 Knight is now pinned, and the e3 pawn is still vulnerable (and undefended by the Queen). [10.Qd3
Is better, and if 10...0-0
11.Ng5
g6
12.Rf2
And White has the potential of a Kingside attack.]
10...Bxf3
[%emt 0:00:00] Not the best. It gives White the opportunity to develop his pieces. The pin on the f3 Knight should have been maintained. [Much better is 10...Qd7
And if 11.Qd3
Bf5
With advantage to Black.]
11.Qxf3
[%emt 0:28.07]
11...Qd7
[%emt 0:28.12] Preparing for Queenside castling.
12.Qe2
[%emt 0:27.17] OK, but a bit slow. White repositions his Queen to remove it from the f file, and also from the e2 square it keeps an eye on both the Kingside and Queenside. Instead he could have tried 12.Qf5 offering the exchange of Queens.
12...0-0-0
[%emt 0:28.09] Black decide to castle Queeenside. A good choice. [If instead Black had played 12...0-0
Then White could try the speculative line 13.Rf4
Rae8
14.Raf1
a6
15.Rxf6?!
Although Black should be able to defend his position and gain an advantage.]
13.e4?
[%emt 0:26.44] But this must be a mistake. Black should now get a reasonable advantage. [13.Rf4
Is better, but after 13...Rhe8
14.Raf1
Kb8
Black has the initiative.]
13...Rde8
[%emt 0:27.47] Black fails to find the best move (a missed opportunity). [13...Nxe4
Is much better here, and should give Black a very strong position (13...dxe4 is also strong). One line goes (if 13...Nxe4) 14.Bxe4
dxe4
15.Qxe4
Rhe8
And Black has a good game.]
14.e5
[%emt 0:26.06] Best!
14...Ng4
[%emt 0:27.46] Another loose move. Black didn't need to move this Knight as the e5 pawn is pinned. Better would have been 14...Re7.
15.Bh3
[%emt 0:25.47] This move looks good, but looks are deceiving! Black can now justify his last move by playing for a Kingside attack. Instead 15.Qf3, although looking somewhat slow, is hard for Black to deal with. [15.Qf3
Is better for White. If now 15...f6
16.h3
Nh6
17.Qxd5
Qxd5
18.Bxd5
fxe5
19.dxe5
Nxe5
And White, with the two Bishops on an open board, has a virtually winning position.]
15...h5!
[%emt 0:27.39] Black finds the only move that could give White problems (or was it all planned?)! With this move Black goes for the Kingside attack.
16.Rf4
[%emt 0:25.02] White prepares to double his Rooks on the f file. The move also gives extra protection to the d4 pawn, whilst at the same time putting the g4 Knight under further attack.
16...f5
[%emt 0:27.34] A good response by Black. 17.exf6 en passant is out of the question as the e pawn is pinned.
17.Qf3
[%emt 0:24.00] This removes the Queen from the dangerous pin on the e file, and it also provides an extra attack on the f5 pawn. However, it compromises the f4 Rook which now has no safe squares to go to. 17.Qd3 would have been better.
17...g6
[%emt 0:27.16]
18.Bxg4?
[%emt 0:00:00] Not the wisest of moves. I appreciate that the g4 Knight was beginning to be a bit of a pain for White, a thorn in his flesh so to speak, but voluntarily opening up the h file is just what Black was hoping for. A better move here was 18.Bg2, with an attack on Black's d5 pawn.
18...hxg4
[%emt 0:27.11] Naturally Black recaptures with the h pawn, giving him good prospects of dominating the h file with his Rooks, and putting the weak h2 pawn under some pressure. Advantage Black!
19.Qe2
[%emt 0:22.38] White protects his h2 pawn and (possibly) hopes for a future attack on Black's King position by Qb5 (if circumstances allow).
19...Rh6
[%emt 0:26.52]
20.Qd2
[%emt 0:21.56]
20...Reh8
[%emt 0:26.50]
21.Rf2
[%emt 0:21.28]
21...Qh7
[%emt 0:26.47] Black has now concentrated all his major pieces down the h file. He is ready for action!
22.b4?!
[%emt 0:20.22] White now tries for his own attack, and threatens 23.b5. But it is all too slow.
22...f4!
[%emt 0:26.44] Bravo! Black ignores White's last move and starts a pawn storm of his own.
23.gxf4?
This just helps Black's attack. However, virtually all of White's possible moves here lead to very good or winning positions for Black, eg he could try 23.Qxf4 or 23.Raf1. Perhaps White's best is 23.Rxf4, which does give White some hope. [If 23.Rxf4
Then 23...Rxh2
24.Rf8+
(This is White's best try here.) 24...Rxf8
25.Qxh2
Qxh2+
26.Kxh2
Rf2+
27.Kg1
Rxc2
And White, a pawn down, is struggling to hold the position.; If however 23.Qxf4
Rxh2
24.Qxg4+
Kb8
25.Kf1
Rxf2+
26.Kxf2
Qh2+
And Black has a winning attack.; Or if 23.Raf1
g5
24.gxf4
(Probably White's best here.) 24...g3
25.Rg2
Rxh2
26.Rxh2
gxh2+
27.Kh1
Qh3
28.Qd3
gxf4
29.Qxh3+
Rxh3
And Black has a very strong position.]
23...g3
The obvious follow-up to Black's previous move, and therefore not a great surprise.
24.hxg3??
[%emt 0:19.08] This is a bad blunder by White, who should now lose very quickly. Better was 24.Rg2. [24.Rg2
And after 24...Rxh2
25.Rxh2
gxh2+
26.Kh1
Qh3
27.Qd3
Qg4
And Black has a winning position (White can only hope that White's defence can keep his game together).]
24...Rh1+
[%emt 0:26.42]
25.Kg2
[%emt 0:18.52]
25...Rh2+??
[%emt 0:26.13] Unfortunately Black now misses the winning move 25...Rxa1! which wins a whole Rook or checkmates White in two moves. What is surprising about this is that Black has played well and found the correct line over the past few moves, but just when victory is staring him in the face he falters. What a pity for all that hard work! [25...Rxa1!
And Black wins a Rook (and White could resign) as if White takes the a1 Rook by 26.Bxa1??
Then Black checkmates by 26...Qh1#
]
26.Kf3
[%emt 0:18.31]
26...Rxf2+?!
[%emt 0:26.10] Good, but even better here was 26...g5! [26...g5!
Is very strong for Black. If White now tries what is probably his best defence, ie 27.Rxh2
Then 27...g4+!
28.Ke2
Again, probably his best defence (If instead 28.Kxg4?
Then Black has a forced checkmate in 6 moves [or shorter] by 28...Qg6+
29.Kf3
Qe4+
30.Kg4
Rg8+
31.Kh3
Qf3
32.Qd3
Rxg3+
33.Kh4
Qg4#
) 28...Qxh2+
29.Kd1
Qh1+
30.Qe1
Qf3+
31.Kc1
Rh1
And Black wins.]
27.Qxf2
[%emt 0:18.21]
27...Qh5+
[%emt 0:26.09]
28.g4
[%emt 0:18.11]
28...Qh6
[%emt 0:25.55] Over the past few moves White has capitalised on his good fortune (Black missing an outright win on move 25, and another probable win on move 26). White has consolidated his advantage. He is now two clear pawns up and with a good position. He should win.
29.b5
[%emt 0:17.38] Another good move by White. He hits the c6 Knight, forcing it to retreat.
29...Nb8?!
[%emt 0:25.43] An odd place for the Knight! Presumably the intention is to retrieve the Knight via the d7 square, but it is now out of play. Better was 29...Nd8 (and then Ne6), [29...Nd8
Then if 30.Bd2
Ne6
31.Be3
(And not 31.f5?
Qh3+
32.Qg3
Nxd4+
33.Kf2
Qh2+
34.Qxh2
Rxh2+
And Black has a good advantage and should win.) 31...Nxf4!
32.Bxf4
g5
33.Bxg5
Qxg5
And Black is fighting back well.]
30.Bd2
[%emt 0:17.26]
30...g5?
[%emt 0:25.33] This is an error which gives White the opportunity to play 31.f5! (and his pawns on e5 and f5 are then very strong). Better was 30...Nd7 bringing his Knight back into play.
31.fxg5
[%emt 0:16.57] Not a bad move, but White misses (or misjudges the strength of) the very strong 31.f5! [31.f5!
Is winning for White. It looks a bit risky (due to Black's pressure down the h file), but the e5 and f5 pawns are difficult for Black to hold or counter. One line goes 31...Nd7
32.Re1
Nb6
33.e6
Nc4
34.Bb4
Qh3+
35.Qg3
And White wins due to his e6 and f5 pawns.]
31...Rf8+
[%emt 0:25.15] This looks good, but White can wriggle out of this check. Therefore better was to play 31...Qh3+! now, and hold back Rf8+ for later. [31...Qh3+!
Gives Black good chances (and plenty of opportunities for White to go wrong) 32.Qg3
And now Black can play the Rook check 32...Rf8+
33.Bf4
Qh7
And with White's pieces somewhat tied up in defence, and Black threatening 34...Qe4+ and also 34...Qxc2, White has to play very accurately to maintain his advantage (he will probably need to return a pawn to ease the pressure).]
32.Bf4?!
[%emt 0:16.49] This should still hold an advantage for White, but much better was 32.Kg3! [32.Kg3!
Is strong here. Now if 32...Qg7
(Not 32...Rxf2?
As after 33.gxh6
The White e5, g4 and h6 pawns are far too strrong.) 33.Bf4
Nd7
34.Re1
Nb6
35.e6
And the e6 pawn will be hard to stop.]
32...Qxg5
[%emt 0:25.07] Black recovers a pawn. He is only one pawn down now.
33.Kg3
[%emt 0:16.37] White must quickly disentangle his King and Queen from the dangerous f file.
33...Qg6
[%emt 0:24.34]
34.Qe2
[%emt 0:15.57] White has now removed both his King and his Queen from the f file. Personally I think I would play instead 34.Rh1, grabbing the empty h file and activating his "sleeping" Rook. [One line goes 34.Rh1
Nd7
35.Rh6
Qe4
36.e6
Nf6
37.Qe3
Qxe3+
38.Bxe3
Ne4+
39.Kh4
And White's two extra pawns ensure the win for White.]
34...Rg8
[%emt 0:24.29]
35.a4
[%emt 0:15.31]
35...Rf8
[%emt 0:24.01]
36.c4
[%emt 0:15.16]
36...Qf7
[%emt 0:23.52]
37.Rf1
[%emt 0:14.55]
37...dxc4?
[%emt 0:23.50] In view of White's next, Black should not have gone for the c4 pawn, but played instead 37...Re8.
38.e6!
[%emt 0:14.35] This timely move by the e5 pawn is now very strong.
38...Qf6
[%emt 0:23.16]
39.Qxc4
[%emt 0:14.25] White recovers the pawn and remains two pawns up.
39...Re8??
[%emt 0:23.13] Black overlooks the mate threat! Instead, Black could have kept in the game by playing 39...Qe7.
40.Qxc7#
[%emt 0:14.18] But White is quick to play the mate in one, thus ending the game abruptly.
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Both players can take credit for producing such an exciting game. With lots at stake the players must have been very nervous, and it sometimes reflected in their play. Black had his chances but couldn't find the winning move on more than one occasion, eg on his 25th and 26th moves. Eventually Black's concentration lapsed on his 39th move, and White mated on his 40th.
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So the winner is Adam Taylor, who therefore becomes the Under-11 Champion of Essex. Well done Adam!
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