eNewsletter No. 58 July 2021 games, studies and problems

[Event "Checkmate Covid Rematch"]  [Site "chess.com INT"]  [Date "2021.06.06"]  [Round "?"]  [White "Royal, Shreyas"]  [Black "Arkell, Keith C"]  [Result "0-1"]  [ECO "A44"]  [WhiteElo "2121"]  [BlackElo "2381"]  [Annotator "Michael Adams"]  [PlyCount "82"]  [EventDate "2021.06.05"]   {[%evp 0,82,18,12,125,61,104,72,72,74,75,32,90,3,10,-28,-10,-13,-11,-3,-2,-4,  -3,-18,-18,-32,-24,-55,-48,-112,-51,-48,-53,-82,-88,-96,-88,-117,-89,-93,-88,  -74,-74,-116,-102,-103,-75,-56,-62,-76,35,10,53,-117,-110,-234,-230,-227,-71,  -128,-130,-152,20,-139,-174,-208,-128,-126,-114,-507,-519,-513,-568,-584,-626,  -626,-641,-641,-689,-690,-694,-694,-694,-694,-922]} 1. d4 c5 2. d5 e5 3. Nc3 d6  {[#] If you play all night after awhile every opening looks viable! According  to my trusty edition of Nunn's Chess Openings this is called the Semi-Benoni,  a good choice if you are concerned the Czech Benoni is a bit too promising!} 4.  e4 Be7 5. g3 {White has a number of decent alternatives such as 5.Nf3, 5.Bb5+,  or 5.a4.} f5 {[#] Objectively dubious, but well suited to a blitz game. Keith  must have also considered swapping his bad bishop with 5...Bg5 6.Bxg5 Qxg5 7.  Nf3, although this does leave White's lead in development looking a bit  worrying.} 6. Bg2 {Having prepared a fianchetto, it was unlikely Shreyas would  consider deploying that piece on the other side of the board, but 6.Bb5+!  would have required Black to move his king, or lose the pawn on f5 after  blocking the check.} Nf6 7. Nge2 O-O 8. O-O fxe4 9. Nxe4 Nxe4 10. Bxe4 Nd7 {  [#] Black should be careful, 10...Bg5 11.f4! wouldn't work out well, but now  all his pieces are mobilising smoothly, and the lack of space is not a  significant factor.} 11. Nc3 Nf6 12. Bf3 {12.Bg2 was better although Black has  a pleasant choice between 12...Bg4, or 12...Qe8 with ideas on both sides of  the board, to play b5 or Qg6.} Bh3 13. Re1 Qd7 {[#]} 14. a3 {When things  aren't going well in a blitz game it is hard to reverse the flow, but this is  not urgent enough.} Qf5 {A good move, 14...Ng4 was also strong.} 15. Be3 Ng4  16. Bxg4 {A regrettable necessity - without a light squared bishop the White  king will never be far from a mating net, but against determined defence this  will not be so simple to achieve at the quick time limit.} Bxg4 17. Qd3 Qh5 {  [#]} 18. Qf1 {18.Ne4 with the idea that Bf3 can be met by Nd2 in some lines  also made sense.} Rf3 {Doubling rooks looks impressive, but it will take a  useful square away from the Black bishop or queen, and 18...Bf3 immediately  certainly had its points.} 19. Ne4 Raf8 20. b4 $1 {[#] Shreyas begins fighting  back, White has to try to hold things together on the kingside, and create  some queenside play.} b6 21. bxc5 bxc5 22. Rab1 {[#] The rook can't do that  much damage on its own, but it will be an annoying distraction from Black's  aggressive ideas.} Bf5 {I doubt Keith intended to trap his own rook, although  Black is still better afterwards. The retreat 22...R3f7 with the idea of Bf3  was better.} 23. Nd2 Bxc2 24. Rb2 {[#]} Rxe3 {A mistake - Black should make  White give up the knight, as it is one of the few pieces that can cover the  sensitive light squares. If you think about the quality of the pieces  remaining on the board, 24...Bg6! was wiser.} 25. Rxe3 Bf5 26. Rb7 Bg5 {[#]}  27. f4 {Continuing to look for activity and a decent practical try as 27.Re2  Bd3, or 27.Qe2 Bg4 28.Qe1 don't look inspiring.} exf4 28. gxf4 Bf6 {The  unexpected withdrawal 28...Bc8! attacks the loose rook, and prepares Bxf4.  However Keith's consolidating move looks ideal, defending g7, and preparing to  land the bishop on d4.} 29. Rg3 Bd4+ 30. Kh1 Re8 31. Nf3 {Missing 31.Rg5!  which forces Black to swap queens with 31...Qh3.} Be4 {[#] An impressive  bishop pair!} 32. Qg2 Kh8 {The simplest way to win was 32...g6! closing down  White's threats, then 33.Rh3 Qxd5 34.Rhxh7 Bxf3 leaves White out of ideas. The  alternative 32...Bxf3 33.Rxf3! leaves White on the edge, but pushing him over  is not so simple.} 33. Rgxg7 Qxd5 {[#] This calm decision, navigating some  icebergs decides the game. It's not too difficult to work out that 33...Bxf3?  34.Rxh7+ Qxh7 35.Rxh7+ Kxh7 36.Qxf3 doesn't work, but 33...Qxf3? 34.Rxh7+ Bxh7  with the idea of 35.Qxf3? Be4 is more tempting. However 35.Rxh7+! changes the  picture 35...Kxh7 36.Qxf3 and White is winning.} 34. Rxh7+ {This instigates a  forcing sequence with a sting in the tail. There were a number of better  alternatives, which are objectively good for Black, but might well have  created considerable confusion over the board. 34.Rbe7 Rb8! 35.h4 Black's next  two moves are extremely difficult 35...Bf6! 36.Rc7 Qe6! defending the back  rank, and freeing the Black rook for aggressive action. Moving the other rook  to e7; 34.Rge7 Rg8 35.Qxg8+ Qxg8 36.Rxe4 Bf6 is better for Black, but leaves  plenty to play for. Giving the White king some air with 34.h4 is also  sensible 34...Qxb7 35.Rxb7 Bxb7 36.Kh2 Re3 leaves Black with a lot of material  for the queen. The best try 37.Qa2! Bxf3 38.Qf7 is not too easy to spot.} Bxh7  35. Rxh7+ Kxh7 36. Ng5+ Qxg5 37. Qxg5 {[#] All these moves were fairly forced,  but Shreyas had missed the next two that matter.} Re1+ 38. Kg2 Rg1+ 39. Kf3  Rxg5 40. fxg5 d5 {Black is just a piece up, and Shreyas swiftly throws in the  towel to move onto the next game!} 41. Kf4 c4 {[#]} 0-1 

 [Event "4NCL 2018-19"]  [Site "England ENG"]  [Date "2019.03.17"]  [Round "?"]  [White "Arkell, Keith"]  [Black "Franklin, Sam"]  [Result "1-0"]  [ECO "E62"]  [PlyCount "163"]  [EventDate "2019.??.??"]   1. Nf3 Nf6 2. d4 g6 3. c4 Bg7 4. Nc3 O-O 5. g3 d6 6. Bg2 Nc6 7. O-O Rb8 8. Bf4  a6 9. a4 h6 10. a5 g5 11. Bc1 e5 12. dxe5 dxe5 13. Be3 Be6 14. Qa4 Qe7 15. Rfd1  Rfd8 16. h3 Rxd1+ 17. Rxd1 Rd8 18. Rxd8+ Qxd8 19. Nd2 Bd7 20. Qa1 Qe7 21. Nb3  Qb4 22. Qa4 Bf8 23. Qxb4 Bxb4 24. Na2 Be7 25. g4 Kf8 26. Kf1 Ke8 27. Ke1 Nb4  28. Nxb4 Bxb4+ 29. Bd2 Bxd2+ 30. Kxd2 Bc8 31. Nc5 c6 32. Nd3 Nd7 33. Be4 Nf6  34. Bg2 h5 35. gxh5 Nxh5 36. Nxe5 Nf4 37. Bf1 Bxh3 38. Bxh3 Nxh3 39. Nd3 Kd7  40. Nc5+ Kc7 41. Ke3 Nf4 42. Kf3 f5 43. e3 Ng6 44. Ne6+ Kd6 45. Nxg5 Ne5+ 46.  Kf4 Nxc4 47. Kxf5 Nxb2 48. Ne4+ Kd5 49. Nd2 Kd6 50. e4 Ke7 51. e5 Nd3 52. f4  Nc5 53. Nc4 Kf7 54. Nd6+ Ke7 55. Kg6 Ke6 56. Nf7 Ke7 57. f5 Nd7 {Of the  various ways to classify endgames the most obvious is by material balance, but  another is to draw a distinction between those in which you can slowly improve  your position and carry out long term plans and those in which absolute  precision is required. The following endgame fits the latter category.  Starting from this position, each one of my next eleven moves was absolutely  forced if I were to win the game. Who else can join me on 11/11?} 58. Kg7 {  If you found 58 Kg7 you are on 1/1. Other moves fail to bring home the point,  for example 58 f6+? grinds to a halt after 58...Ke6, and 58 e6 allows the  strong piece sacrifice 58...Nf8+ followed by 59...Nxe6.} c5 59. e6 {Again  there is no other move. White must act fast! 2/2} Nf6 {If 59...Nf8 60 Ng5 c4  61 e7 Nd7 62 Ne4 with Nd6+ to follow.} 60. Ne5 {You shouln't be considering  any other move here. 3/3} Ne8+ 61. Kg6 {Again clearly the only move. 4/4.} Nc7  {61...Nf6 loses to 62 Nd7 Ne4 63 Nb6 Kd6 64 f6 etc.} 62. f6+ {5/5, but you  really only deserve a point if you have seen the follow-up. I don't need my  e-pawn - it's his colleague who is destined for greater things.} Kxe6 63. Nd3  $1 {6/6.} c4 {If 63...Kd7 64 f7 Ne6 65 Nxc5+, or here 64...Ke7 65 Nxc5 Kf8 (65.  ..Ne8 66 Nd7!) 66 Nd7+} 64. Nf4+ {Did you play this because you saw that 64  Nc5+ fails ( 64...Kd6 65 f7 Ke7 66 Kg7 Ne8+!) or did you regard the two moves  as being of equal value? Either way, 7/7.} Kd6 65. f7 {8/8.} Ke7 66. Nd5+ $1 {  If you are on 9/9 you probably saw this move a long way off. It is, of course,  fundamental to the whole sequence.} Nxd5 67. Kg7 {10/10.} Kd6 68. f8=Q+ {  And if you have got this far you won't slip up here. Congratulations if you  made it to 11/11! The game concluded:} Kc6 69. Qc8+ Nc7 70. Qf5 Nd5 71. Kf7 b6  72. axb6 Nxb6 73. Qa5 Nd5 74. Ke6 Nc7+ 75. Ke5 Nb5 76. Qb4 c3 77. Qc4+ Kb6 78.  Kd5 Nc7+ 79. Kd4 Nb5+ 80. Kd3 a5 81. Qa4 Ka6 82. Kc4 1-0 

 [Event "Vezerkepzo GM Mix 2021"]  [Site "Chess.com"]  [Date "2021.06.30"]  [Round "9"]  [White "Mendonca, Leon Luke"]  [Black "Mishra, Abhimanyu"]  [Result "0-1"]  [ECO "D92"]  [WhiteElo "2549"]  [BlackElo "2485"]  [Annotator "nigel"]  [PlyCount "110"]  [EventDate "2021.??.??"]  [TimeControl "5400+30"]  [WhiteClock "0:00:25"]  [BlackClock "0:00:06"]   {[%evp 0,110,19,31,14,-14,43,38,70,28,26,35,21,9,60,37,29,42,47,28,46,-28,72,  12,26,26,18,20,17,17,33,13,6,1,-1,8,-3,3,0,5,9,5,1,-26,-25,-25,-9,-13,-10,-17,  -18,-21,-15,-32,-30,-30,-34,-33,-12,-16,-28,-21,-13,-19,-23,-25,-15,-30,-41,  -27,-17,-20,-23,-57,0,49,20,28,66,58,69,84,93,97,93,93,93,93,93,18,0,0,13,0,38,  42,25,0,0,-516,-571,-606,-607,-708,-508,-973,-992,-1002,-1012,-1379,-1938,  -1938,-2082]} 1. d4 {[%emt 1:30:30]} Nf6 {[%emt 1:30:30]} 2. c4 {[%emt 0:00:08]  } g6 {[%emt 0:00:26]} 3. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:27]} d5 {[%emt 0:00:28]} 4. Bf4 {  A safe continuation avoiding the complexities of the exchange Grunefeld. White  will aim for a queen side initiative rather than the big pawn centre of the  exchange variation with e4.} Bg7 5. e3 O-O 6. Rc1 c5 7. dxc5 Be6 8. Nf3 Nc6 9.  Be2 Qa5 10. Ng5 Nd8 {An opening novelty from Mishra protecting the bishop on  e6.} 11. Bg3 dxc4 12. Nxe6 Nxe6 13. Qa4 Qxc5 {Refusing the queen trade and  picking up the pawn on c5.} 14. Bxc4 Qb6 15. Qb3 Qxb3 16. Bxb3 Nc5 17. Ke2 {  Mendonca decides to allow the B for N exchange and doubled pawns on the Q side.  } Nxb3 18. axb3 Rfd8 19. Rhd1 Ne8 20. Rxd8 Rxd8 21. Rd1 Rxd1 22. Kxd1 {[#] [#]  Black is marginally better here but white has good drawing chances.} Nf6 23.  Kc2 Nd7 24. b4 f5 25. Nb5 a6 26. Nc7 Kf7 27. b5 a5 28. Nd5 Nc5 29. Bc7 a4 30.  f3 Ke6 31. Nc3 {[#]} Bxc3 32. Kxc3 Kd5 33. Bd8 e5 34. Be7 Nb3 35. h3 e4 36.  fxe4+ fxe4 37. Kb4 Nd2 38. Bf6 h5 39. Kxa4 Kc4 40. Ka5 Nb3+ 41. Kb6 Nc5 42. Bd4  Nb3 43. Bf6 Kb4 44. Kxb7 Kxb5 45. Kc7 Kc4 46. Kd6 {[#]} Kd3 47. Bg5 Nd2 48. Ke5  {[#] We reach a critical position in the N v B ending. Mishra now finds the  critical move which allowed his opponent to go wrong and earned him the GM  title. Can you see the move in this position with Black to play?} Nf3+ $1 49.  gxf3 $2 {The losing move which allows the B pawn to promote.} (49. Kf4 {  Kf4 is the best move here which leads to a drawn position after the b and e  pawns promote.} Nxg5 50. Kxg5 Kxe3 51. b4 Kd2 52. b5 e3 53. b6 e2 54. b7 e1=Q  55. b8=Q) 49... exf3 50. Bh4 g5 51. Bf2 Ke2 52. b4 Kxf2 53. b5 Kxe3 54. b6 f2  55. b7 f1=Q {b8+ fails to the Q skewer on f4.} 0-1