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ANNOTATED GAME
WtW Modern Benoni mini-tournament VIII: Swarm
caveman1960 (1777) vs. ionadowman (2098)
Annotated by: archduke_piccolo
(2334)
Chess opening: Nimzo-Indian defence (E20)
caveman1960 (1777) vs. ionadowman (2098)
Annotated by: archduke_piccolo
(2334)
Chess opening: Nimzo-Indian defence (E20)
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18... b5 |
And now the pawn thunders forward, as the white knights scramble out of his way. I know I'm making this sound as though Black has the advantage. Certainly the initiative lies with Black, at least for the moment. But bear in mind Black has given up a knight, even if he has two pawns for it. So Black has to play actively even just to retain the initiative and stay on level terms. | ||||
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19. Ne2 |
The Knight is lucky to have the protection of his Queen on this square, as the Black rook at e8 'owns' the e-file - for the moment at least. | ||||
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19... c4 |
Establishing a sort of bind on the Q-side. This is much better than chasing the Knight by 19...b4? as it would then simply move happily into c4, a snug spot from which to menace d6. After the text, the Knight can escape via b1, but White prefers to develop. | ||||
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20. Bf4 |
Striking at d6. If White can come up with enough threats he might be able to wrest from Black the initiative. If that happens, then Black is in trouble. | ||||
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20... Bf5 |
A dual-purpose counterblow. Black protects the d6-pawn, and takes a shot at the White Queen. From this point on White finds himself subject to pin-pricking threats from all directions, each easily enough dealt with, but with the cumulative effect of driving White further and further onto the defensive. | ||||
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21. Qd1 |
The only alternative: 21.Qd2 looks none too attractive after 21...Ne4 21.Bxe4 Bxe4 22.Re1 Qc8 -(threatening to take on h3, but, possibly more dangerously to white, to shove the c-pawn)- 23.Nc3 Bxc3! 24.bxc3 ... -(not with the Queen, on account of 24.Qxc3 b4) 24...Qxh3. | ||||
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21... Qd7 |
Suddenly striking towards the K-side: ...Bxh3 is threatened. | ||||
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22. Kh2 |
[?!] It is here that possibly White could have made a serious bid for the initiative. The most obvious, and the move I expected, was 22.g4 with the possibility 22...Bd3 23.Re1 Ne4 and a complicated and unclear position. Possibly even better was to get in 22.Nc2 first, with a counter-strike against a6. If Black then tried 22...Ra8, then back to the 23.g4 gig. | ||||
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22... Bd3 23. Re1 |
Unpinning and protecting at the same time. It is economical defensive moves like this that makes an attacker's job hard. | ||||
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23... Nh5 |
[!] This reminds me of squad infantry tactics, storming a bunker. Whilst the fire support team (the Black bishops) lays down a machine-gun fire, the assault team (the Black Q-side pawns) moves in. All sorts of threats are present here - ...Bxb2; ...Nxf4; ...b4... How can White defend? | ||||
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24. Bc1 |
This retreat seems to cover the bases, but perhaps something more active was called for. Worth a look, I think, would have been 24.Nc2! Bxb2!? 25.Rxa6 Nxf4 26.Nxf4 Rxe1ch 27.Nxe1 Bf5 28.Nc2. Although Black has a well-supported pair of passed pawns, White still has the extra Knight. I'd probably be reasonably happy with such a position as Black, but the issue would still be very much in doubt. | ||||
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24... Qf5 |
[?!] Showing a real interest in the f2-square. It was too much to hope for 25.g4, but 25.f4 was the move I expected, and, as it turns out, probably White's best chance, as Black would really have had to do something about the threat g3-g4. I have a feeling I got the move order wrong, here, as 24...b4! 25.Nc2 Qf5! 26.Ne3 Qxf2 27.Ng4 Qb6 and with material now about level, and still well placed, Black must have had the edge. | ||||
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25. Kg1 |
[?] As already observed, 25.f4 was best. Possibly White didb't want to weaken his pawn structure around his King, and felt that f2 would be sufficiently protected by the King. He was right about that, but now Black was free to carry out what he should have done a move earlier. | ||||
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25... b4 |
Bang. There is no good immediate Knight move to escape entrapment on a3. But what about 26.g4, hoping to trade Knights? Comes 25.g4 Qe5 and both White knights are attacked for Black's one. About to lose a piece after being subjected to a flurry of blows for the last half-dozen moves or so, White resigned. I think he could have played on a little: Black's edge was not yet decisive. But the decision to call a halt here was at least understandable. | ||||
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