07/03/2012 - C.Sreeves vs A.Burnett

[andyburnett]

Just a thought, but perhaps Alan Tate could annotate this game for the Chess Scotland magazine utilising all the best/most relevant comments from everyone and his own chess knowledge? =)

[Alan Tate]

I'll think about it if anything ever actually happens ;-)

[andyburnett]

I'll think about it if anything ever actually happens ;-)

This is the new me in action!

[Clement Sreeves]

1.c4 e5
2.g3 Nc6
3.Nc3 g6
4.Bg2 Bg7
5.d3 d6
6.e4 h5
7.h4 Nd4
8.Nce2 Ne6
9.Nf3 Nf6
10.0-0 a5
11.b3 0-0
12.a3



Spoiler here>> Continuing with my plan. I'm not totally sure where the bishop wants to go yet, which is why I'm delaying its development for the moment. b2,d2,e3,g5 are all possible depending on how Black reacts. <<Spoiler here

[andyburnett]

[pgn]1.c4 e5
2.g3 Nc6
3.Nc3 g6
4.Bg2 Bg7
5.d3 d6
6.e4 h5
7.h4 Nd4
8.Nce2 Ne6
9.Nf3 Nf6
10.0-0 a5
11.b3 0-0
12.a3 c6[/pgn]

Spoiler here>> As expected, white will aim for a gradual queenside advance (Rb1, b4, Qc2, b5 or even c5 perhaps?). I would quite like to play for ...d5 I think, so ...c6, then ...Qc7 (to defend e5 first, though not strictly necessary in some lines - although if i want to win I need to avoid mass exchanges leaving a symmetrical pawn structure).

There will be changes in the pawn structure fairly soon I expect, and both sides will need to work out which pieces they want on the board for which specific structures. First line which caught my eye is 12...c6 13.Rb1Qc7 14.b4 axb4 15.axb4 d5 16.Bb2 dxe4 17.Bxe5 exf3 18.Bxc7 fxg2 19.Kxg2 Nxc7 - I spend (waste?) a lot of time looking at such things : )

12...c6 13. Rb1 Qc7 14.Bb2 c5 15.Nc3 Nd4 16.Nxd4 cxd4 17.Nd5 Nxd5 18.cxd5 f5 19.Rc1 Qe7 looks decent enough for me; the B on b2 is mis-placed.

So white might be better off playing (after 12...c6 13.Rb1 Qc7) 14.Qc2 (this inhibits ...d5 to some extent) c5!? 15.Nc3 Nd4 16.Nxd4 cxd417.Nd5 Nxd518.exd5 when 18...f5 19. b4 is balanced in an unbalanced kind of way!

Anyway, I don't think I have a better move than 12...c6, so let's play that and see what happens <<Spoiler here

[Clement Sreeves]

1.c4 e5
2.g3 Nc6
3.Nc3 g6
4.Bg2 Bg7
5.d3 d6
6.e4 h5
7.h4 Nd4
8.Nce2 Ne6
9.Nf3 Nf6
10.0-0 a5
11.b3 0-0
12.a3 c6
13.Bb2



Spoiler here>> Now Bb2 seems like a no-brainer, discouraging d5 ideas by putting more pressure on e5. On 13...Nc5 I am ready to play b4 straight away. It's also worth noting that now playing d4 at some point could be more attractive, since d6 is weakened by his last move. Having said that, I don't see any reason why I shouldn't continue with b4 next <<Spoiler here

[andyburnett]

[pgn]1.c4 e5
2.g3 Nc6
3.Nc3 g6
4.Bg2 Bg7
5.d3 d6
6.e4 h5
7.h4 Nd4
8.Nce2 Ne6
9.Nf3 Nf6
10.0-0 a5
11.b3 0-0
12.a3 c6
13.Bb2 c5[/pgn]

Spoiler here>> I really don't think that b2 is the best square for the bishop. It does hinder black's idea of playing ...d5 (because of the e5 pawn) but the downside is that Black has alternative plans available where the bishop looks to be mis-placed.
I think 13...Qb6 is a sensible move now. The threat of ...Nc5 will probably provoke 14. Rb1, when 14...c5 leads us back to a variation I mentioned earlier - 15.Nc3 Nd4 16.Nxd4 cxd4 17.Nd5 Nxd5 18.cxd5 f5 when the white bishop would prefer to be on c1 (allowing for 19.f4) and it's possibly too late just to re-route it as 19. Bc1 f4!? looks interesting (for black!)
Do I have alternatives? Well, 13...Qc7 is playable, but is only useful if white plays 14.d4 - it doesn't contain an active idea of its own.
Hmmm, maybe the immediate 13...c5 is worth some consideration?! In the little variation given above, a queen on d8 would be very useful. Aaah, looking at this line I have just spotted that the 17.Nd5 move should be replaced by 17.Ne2 ( a strange retreat at first sight, but if jumping in to d5 isn't great, then it makes sense to retreat the knight...it's not a wasted move if it suits the new pawn structure)
Ok, I think I am getting to grips with the pawn structure. 13...c5 should be played first. Now if white wants to go to d5, I simply trade and go Nd4 which he will have to chop...then we have the same position as before. If he doesn't want to go Nc3-d5, then let's see what else he can come up with!? Maybe 14.Bc1!?
So, 13...c5 and put the ball back in white's court <<Spoiler here

[Clement Sreeves]

1.c4 e5
2.g3 Nc6
3.Nc3 g6
4.Bg2 Bg7
5.d3 d6
6.e4 h5
7.h4 Nd4
8.Nce2 Ne6
9.Nf3 Nf6
10.0-0 a5
11.b3 0-0
12.a3 c6
13.Bb2 c5
14.Bc3



Spoiler here>> Main idea is to prepare b4 again. More comments later, but thought I'd better move at some point! <<Spoiler here

[andyburnett]

[pgn]1.c4 e5
2.g3 Nc6
3.Nc3 g6
4.Bg2 Bg7
5.d3 d6
6.e4 h5
7.h4 Nd4
8.Nce2 Ne6
9.Nf3 Nf6
10.0-0 a5
11.b3 0-0
12.a3 c6
13.Bb2 c5
14.Bc3 Nd4[/pgn]

Spoiler here>> Hmmmm, I guess this prepares for b4, but I don't think that is anything for black to worry about. I'm just going to plonk my knight into d4. He can't leave it there forever, so he'll probably have to exchange it, but for which piece?

There are problems for white based on ...Bg4 (with or without him exchanging on d4) For example, 14...Nd4 15.b4 axb4 (the open a-file will benefit black if my analysis is correct) 16.axb4 Bg4 17.Bxd4 exd4! and now re-routing the knight via d7 to e5 looks strong; there are threats to take on f3, then take on a1, then play ...Ne5 when both f3 and d3 hang e.g. 18.b5 Nd7 19.Nf4 Ne5 19.Rxa8 Qxa8 and now black has the a-file and an excellent position e.g.20.Nd5 Qa3.

Perhaps white will have to try 15. Nfxd4 exd4 16. Bd2 but then 16...Ng4 looks strong. e3 is a potential weakness, while d3 is a definite weakness. Defending d3 could lead to him losing control of the a-file again (as in the line above)

Finally, if 15. Nexd4 exd4 18.Bd2 Ng4 again (not ...Bg4 when Bg5! intending to chop the knight should be equal.

So, playing b4 and/or ?xd4for white doesn't seem great as black can fight for the a-file using both ...Ng4! and ...Bg4! ideas -

I'm happy, 14...Nd4 and now it's up to Clement to solve these problems

<<Spoiler here

[Clement Sreeves]

1.c4 e5
2.g3 Nc6
3.Nc3 g6
4.Bg2 Bg7
5.d3 d6
6.e4 h5
7.h4 Nd4
8.Nce2 Ne6
9.Nf3 Nf6
10.0-0 a5
11.b3 0-0
12.a3 c6
13.Bb2 c5
14.Bc3 Nd4
15.Nexd4



Spoiler here>> Ok, so last move I wasn't expecting c5 at all, but then I realised that it definitely makes sense, since my bishop now looks a bit stupid on b2. The most obvious move was 14.Nc3, but after something like 14...Nd4 15.Nxd4 cxd4 16.Nd5 Nxd5 17.cxd5 (or exd5) Qb6, I wasn't a fan of my position. Both my bishops are terrible, and I have a weak pawn on b3.

Then I turned my attention to trying to play b4. 14.Qd2 was my first thought, but then 14...Ng4 followed by Bh6 and f5 looked a bit worrying. Which was how I decided on 14.Bc3- not only does it prepare b4, but also after 14...Nd4 (as played in the game) I can get rid of my terrible knight on e2, and regroup the bishop to d2, a much better square. To be honest I was a bit surprised he played Nd4 so quickly, but at the same time I didn't think too hard about what he could have done instead, that's his job after all!

Now whichever way he recaptures, I will play Bd2, with b4 coming soon. I think I like my position now. <<Spoiler here