Annotated chess game: Sokolsky Scuttle

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ANNOTATED GAME

Sokolsky Scuttle
mr5reasons1 (1639) vs. -nosferatu- (1732)
Annotated by: -nosferatu- (1200)
Chess opening: Polish (Sokolsky) opening (A00)

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Nosferatu, under the tutelage of Murnau, expresses his game #2.

1. b4

The Sokolsky opening. A wing eccentricity that looks a little ridiculous, though it has more than a bit of poison for the unsuspecting (it's much more sound than say, the Grob). If black plays passively white can eventually transpose into the family of more conventional d4/c4 openings with more queenside space.

3 comments

1... d5

1. b4 e5 2. Bb2 Bxb4 3. Bxe5 is the "main line," such as it is, in this opening, and one any Sokolsky specialist can expect to be very comfortable in.

2. Bb2 Qd6

My favored recipe against the Sokolsky. The queen is well posted here, as it both hits b4 and supports a e5 push.

1 comment

3. a3

3. b5?! runs into Qb4. One sample line: 4. Be5 Qxb5 5. Bxc7 Qc5 6. Bg3 (or 6. Bxb8, ceding the bishop pair for...not a lot) Nc6, preparing ...e5 and black is already a little better.

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3... e5

Full classical center achieved.

4. e3 Be7

4. ...Nf6 is slightly more accurate, if only because white can now transpose to a more "proper" opening scheme with the Bird via 5. f4, if that's to white's taste.

5. c4 c6

I prefer maintaining my center vs. advancing with ...d4 and then spending the middlegame defending this advanced target. 5. ...c6 also provides my queen luft on c7 in the event of a white push with c5.

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6. cxd5 cxd5 7. Nf3 f6

I intended to develop my KN on h6, so this pawn move to fortify e5 is fine here.

1 comment

8. Be2 Be6 9. O-O Nh6 10. Nc3 a6

Covering b5 from enemy knight harassment.

11. h3

?! I didn't like this move on white's part. It covers g5 from invasion, however my knight would have been more likely to jump to f5, if anything. Additionally I think this pawn bunt sets up h3 as a rather obvious target in the future.

11... Nd7 12. d3

White's position vaguely resembles a reversed sicilian, a sort of Scheveningen/Kan hybrid, with the "small center" at d3 and e3, and the queenside advances of a3 and b4.

12... O-O

My development is complete; pieces out, rooks connected, castled, and ready for middlegame operations. I felt very content with my position, and I think black, with a strong center and more space, is easier to play and find harmonious plans.

13. b5

I don't need to respond to white's bid for queenside play, especially since the majority of my army points more towards the king-side naturally.

13... f5

! Gaining more space, clearing the f6 square for a piece, and preparing a break in the center. Depending on black's plan, a ...f4, ...d4, or even ...g5 push could all be justified with some prep, though I am more partial to ...f4.

14. d4 e4

The obvious and strongest response to white's bid towards the center. Black closes the center and continues to gain space.

15. Ne5

White decides to sac a pawn to open the position somewhat. He doesn't get full compensation, but then it's pretty thankless to face 15. Ne1 f5.

15... Nxe5 16. dxe5 Qxe5

I wasn't worried about the strong enemy dark-squared cardinal on the a1-h8 diagonal. For one, the only "discovered" attack move is Na4, because otherwise the bishop hangs.

17. Na4 Qd6 18. bxa6 bxa6 19. Bd4

White plants his bishop on the hole in the center, and shifts attention to the c5 square.

19... Rac8

My queen on the third rank also protects a6, so I can spare this otherwise unengaged rook on the open file.

20. Nb6

? White's first outright positional blunder. This knight sortie accomplishes nothing and wastes time. 20. Rb1 is called for, which is the logical follow-through from 19. Bd4.

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