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ANNOTATED GAME

Helsinki v England 65+ 3rd team
Aulikki Ristoja (1726) vs. Charles L Higgie (1945)
Annotated by: charleshiggie (2224)
Chess opening: Old Benoni defence (A43)
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1. d4
This was played in the 3rd round of the World Senior Team Championship 65+ section in Prague, board 4 of the England 3rd team v Helsinki match. https://beauchess.blogspot.com/2025/02/world-senior-team-championship-65-round_19.html I am annotating this game now, as it has just won the Colin Richards Memorial Prize for the best over the board game of a Shropshire player for the 2024-2025 season.

 
1... c5
I normally meet 1. d4 with The Grünfeld Defence https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gr%C3%BCnfeld_Defence but I sometimes change to try and ensure my opening play is not too predictable.
1 comment
 
2. d5 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. e4 g6
So we reach a standard position in the Modern Benoni.
1 comment
 
7. f3
Slightly unusual, 7. f4, Nf3, Bd3 and h3 are all more popular.

 
7... Bg7 8. Be3 O-O 9. Qd2
White delays her king side development and looks like she is aiming at queen's side castling, but in fact she never castles.

 
9... Re8 10. Bb5
10. Bb5 seems to be the move that takes us out of the opening databases.
1 comment
 
10... Re7
I am aiming to take a tempo or two by playing a later a6 without allowing her to exchange her Bb5. I felt that he white squared bishop was her bad bishop with her central pawns on the same coloured square - so why should I help her exchange it?
1 comment
 
11. Bg5
Pinning my Nf6 and I can't play h6 without losing my h pawn.
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11... a6
So I attack her other bishop.

 
12. Bd3
Her bishop retreats.

 
12... Nbd7
I protect the Nf6
1 comment
 
13. h4
A very aggressive thrust
1 comment
 
13... Ne5
Knight takes up fine central square and if white plays f3-f4 then it can further advance to g4,
1 comment
 
14. Be2
Her bishop drops back again.

 
14... Qf8
Planning on h7-h6
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15. h5
She advances again.
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15... gxh5 16. Bxf6
She removes the defender of h5
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16... Bxf6
I take back

 
17. Rxh5
She takes the pawn.
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17... Qg7
But my queen takes control of the semi-open g file
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Pages: 12345