Mike Splane (2221) – Christopher Wu (1718)

Kolty Chess Club May 8, 2008

I wasn’t seeing the board well, but there weren’t many tactics so it didn’t matter. Fortunately my opponent didn’t spot my blunder on move 11. The lesson I took away from this game is that I should get the queens off early when I’m not seeing variations well.

1. e4 c5 2. c3 d5 3. ed Qd5 4. d4 Nc6 5. Nf3 Bg4 6. Be2 cd

If Black avoids the trade he can get into big trouble after c4 and d5.

7. cd e6

If 7. … Bf3 8. Bf3 Qd4?? 9. Bc6+

8. Nc3 Qd7?

The queen’s awkward position on d7 allows White to simplify into a superior ending. Both 8. … Bb4 and 8. …. Qa5 are ok for Black

9. 0-0 Nf6 10. h3?

After 10. Ne5 Chesslab.com shows five games. White won all of them. I thought 10. h3 was an improvement, gaining a tempo on main lines so I wouldn’t have to worry about back row mates.

10. … Bh5

10. … Bf3, giving White the two bishops, is also bad.

11. Ne5? Be2?

After 11. … Ne5 12. Bh5 Nh5 13. de Qd1 14. Rd1 his knight is trapped so White gains a tempo for 15. Nb5. This is why I played 10. h3.

After 11. … Ne5 12. Bh5 Nc6 13. Bf3 transposes into the lines 10. Bf3 lines

But, after 11 … Qd4 ! 12. Nc6 Qd1 15. Bd1 bc Black is a pawn ahead. This line would not be playable for Black with his bishop on g4. By capturing on e2 he transposed back into a normal line.

12. Nd7 Bd1 13. Nf6+ gf 14. Rd1 0-0-0 15. Be3

It may not look impressive, but White actually has a large edge. He has the safer king, better pawn structure, a lead in development, and a queenside initiative. White won every game in Chesslab’s database that reached this position.

15. … Be7 ?

Perhaps he was worried about 16. Ne4 f5 17. Ng5 but the bishop is just a target here. This is the kind of mistake I see quite frequently, players developing pieces without having a plan in mind. Black has to post his knight on d5 to have any hope of holding the position. I was expecting 15. … Nb4 16 Rac1 Kb8 (Nd5? 17. Nd5+ wins a piece).

16. d5 Nb4

16. … ed 17. Nd5 is obviously hopeless.

17. de fe 18. Ba7 Rdg8 ?

Black can’t afford to surrender both the c and d files this way. He had to trade rooks.

19. Rac1 Nc6 20. Nb5

Not to guard the bishop but to open the c file and to threaten Nd4.

20. … Rg5 !

A good try for counterplay. The idea is to fork the bishop and a pawn if I move my knight.

21. Nd4 Rhg8 22. g3 Ra5 23. Rc6 + !

This wins a second pawn. The rest is just technique.

23. … bc 24. Nc6 Rgg5 !

His best try. I also had to look at 24. … Ra7 25. Na7+ Kc7 (25. … Kb7 26. Rd7+) and 24. …. Bd8 25. Na5 Ba5 26. Bd4 e5 27. Bc3 Bb6 28. Kg2.

25. Be3!

Taking the bishop looked risky; how does the knight get out? The bishop retreat gains a tempo to save the a-pawn.

25. . … Rgb5 26. Na5 Ra5 27. a3 Kc7

With all won endings the primary consideration is to stop counterplay, so White doesn’t play aggressively. My primary concerns are to put my king in a nice safe place and to guard my passed pawns. If necessary I will bring the king to b3 to assist in the advance of the passed pawns, but there is no rush to do that.

28. Kg2 f5 29. Rd3 Bf6 30. b4 Ra4 31. Bf5+ ! e5

King moves allow my rook to penetrate, but after e5 his kingside pawns are weakened and my rook gains access to c3, so he has no good reply.

32 Bc1 Kc6 33. Rc3+

The position is obviously hopeless after 34. Rc5 and 35 Bb2 so Black resigns

1-0