Annotated chess game: The power of a passed pawn.

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ANNOTATED GAME

The power of a passed pawn.
lecce-wulf (2283) vs. gm_dursley (2198)
Annotated by: lecce-wulf (1200)
Chess opening: Old Benoni defence (A43)

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1. d4 c5

The Old Benoni Defence, as once played by Tartakower and Alekhine a few times. Although it is common at club level (always trying to catch your opponent unawares in an unfamiliar opening) it is very rare at GM level.

2. d5 Nf6 3. c4

The other possibility, Nf3, has had great success for White on Gameknot 1900 games.

3... d6

The classical e6 is better here, or even switching to the Benko Gambit with b5! However, d6, know as the Hromodka System of the Benoni Defence, has proved the best move for Black on Gameknot.

4. Nc3 g6 5. e4 Bg7 6. f4

Move 6 is decision time for White and he has a lot of valid and interesting choices. The most common are Nf3, Bd3, Be2 or h3, all offering standard development. Other interesting possibilities are f3 and Bg5. I think this would a perfect set position for a Mini-Tournament, leaving White to choose his 6th move. I went for f4, an aggressive line against the King's Indian Defence.

6... O-O 7. Be2

Nf3 is more common and continues the main line against the Hromodka System. Be2 moves us into the 4 pawns attack against the King's Indian Defence.

7... e6 8. Nf3 exd5

This is the Florentine Gambit, says the DB on Gameknot. Personally, I've never heard of it! Let me know if you have and why it's considered a 'gambit'.

9. cxd5 Re8

Now we can finally give the game it's definitive opening classification: A69 Modern Benoni: Four Pawns Attack. If Black had played Bg4 here it would be classified the Four Pawns Attack of the King's Indian. Other interesting choices for Black here were b5 and Nbd7.

10. e5 dxe5 11. fxe5 Ng4

It is considered too risky for Black to play Nfd7 here. 12.e6 fxe6, 13.dxe6 Nb6 (or Nf6), 14.Qxd8 Rxd8, 15.Nb5 Na6 (to avoid Nc7 and getting the rook on a8), 16.e7 Re8, 17.Bg5 and the passed pawn should prove a painful splinter.

12. Bg5

White prepares to advance his d-pawn. The Bishop can then come into e7.

12... Qb6 13. O-O Nxe5

White is a pawn down. For what benefit? His pieces are all developed and thus more active.

14. d6

This is the move I was preparing, and as I expected, it came as a surprise to gm_dursley, who expected the usual Nxe5.

14... Qxb2

And White is now 2 pawns down. Ah, the b2 pawn, infamous for being the 'poisoned pawn'. What other options did Black have here? There is c4 , which gm_dursley long considered before opting for Qxb2. A possible continuation is: 14. ... c4 , 15.Kh1 Qxb2, 16.Rc1 Nbc6. But the best was probably 14. ... Bf5, 15.Nd5 Qxb2, 16.Nc7 Nbc6, 17.Nxa8 Rxa8. Black is a point ahead and, most importantly, he has activated his second knight and bishop.

15. Nd5 Nxf3+

When ahead, exchange pieces and head for the endgame. Another strategy, however, is to use your extra material to gain a winning advantage. Again I would have played Bf5 here. The exchange removes Black's best placed minor piece and allows White's bishop the h1-a8 diagonal.

16. Bxf3 Bd4+ 17. Kh1 Qxa1 18. Qxa1 Bxa1 19. Rxa1

White is 4 points down. Am I losing?

19... Nd7 20. Be7 Rb8 21. Nc7 Rf8 22. Re1 Kg7 23. Bxf8+ Nxf8 24. Re8

Believe it or not, we are still in the Chessbase DB. Kluss (2195) 1-0 Schwiezer (2190) Germany, 1995.

24... c4

The DB game continued 24. ... Nd7.

25. Nb5

The game actually looks pretty much equal at this point, and so I offered gm_dursley the draw. He declined the offer.

25... a6

Having declined the draw he plays a poor move. Nd7 was needed here.

26. Na7

Maybe gm_durlsey missed this move? Or did he over-value his c-pawn?

26... c3 27. Bd1

A serious blunder would be 27.Rxc8?? Rxc8 28.Nxc8 c2 and the pawn queens. Black should also win after 27.Nxc8? c2 28.Re1 Rxc8.

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