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January 2004 Lessons Learned Today's Lesson is from GM Alexei Bezgodov of St. Petersburg, Russia.
This column is sponsored by Chess eXpress Ratings; learn more about CXR in this Review by someone who actually uses their service. Special thanks go to Phil Innes and to Boris Yeshan (Russian Chess) both for arranging the writing of this column with GM Bezgodov, and also for their work translating the original text into English. GM Alexei Bezgodov: My loss to an excellent grandmaster from Moscow, Evgeny Najer, one can say consists of two parts. First I prepared badly for the game using an incomplete database and already from the opening got a very difficult (maybe even lost) endgame. However, later I managed to entangle the game by a surprise king activation. But when the rescue seemed just round the corner I committed an error which made my opponent's task so much easier.
(1) Najer,E - Bezgodov,A [D24] [Click Here to follow the game on a JavaScript board.] 1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 I should say before this Championship of Russia I almost never played the Accepted Queen's Gambit. It was a 'surprise' for my opponents who prepared for other openings. Due to my unexpected opening repertoire I managed to win in the first round against Vladimir Epishin (ELO 2643), who - playing White - used a very dubious novelty. This game with Najer was played in the third round and the player could now expect this opening from me. Maybe I should have been more sly and 'changed the record'? In hindsight I think so, but at the time I believed (as it turned out without good reason) in the quality of my home preparation. 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3!
The simplest and perhaps the best move! White develops the pieces in the quickest way in the best classical traditions, without haste to get back the pawn. 4...c5 Black had a large choice on the fourth move. However, preparing the opening I rested my main hopes upon just this move which I made in the game. 5.d5 Najer is a chess player of principle who doesn't avoid complications. 5...e6 6.e4 exd5 7.e5!
All these moves have occurred hundreds of times. An important part of the up-to-date chess professional's skill consists in an ability to familiarize himself with the main achievements of theory and practice a chosen opening system, plus adding something of his own. Then he gets a chance to surprise an opponent and obtain winning chances. 7...Ne4 I rested my hopes on this interesting Knight jump in the center. The most popular of all possible moves is the modest retreat 7...Nfd7 8.Bg5 Be7 9.Bxe7 Qxe7 10.Nxd5 Qd8, however I don't like Black's Queen running 'here and there'. It's no secret that chess-players, even high level ones, chose their lines not only on statistics or popularity but also on a simple principle: 'they like or dislike it'! I prefer the Knight's position on e4 better than d7. For those who like to counter-attack I caution that Black is in bad shape after 7...d4? 8.Bxc4 dxc3 9.Bxf7+! Ke7 10.exf6+ gxf6 11.Bd5 Qc7 12.0-0 Bd7 13.Ng5 Bg7 14.Re1+ Kd8 15.Nf7+ Kc8 16.Nd6+ Qxd6 17.Bxb7+ Kc7 18.Qxd6+ Kxd6 19.Bf4# 1-0 Prianishenko-Zaitsev. 8.Qxd5 It was possible to take on e4 but Najer's move is stronger. 8...Nxc3 And this is the only move. An attempt to exchange the Queens without trading the Knights gives Black insoluble problems: 8...Qxd5 9.Nxd5 Na6 10.Bxc4 Be6 11.Bg5 Rc8 12.0-0-0 and Black's prospects are bad. 9.Qxd8+ Kxd8 10.bxc3
A very important moment in the game. Black currently has an extra-pawn but no possibilities to keep this little advantage. And he has another task - to equalize the position! 10...h6?! It's sad to assert that I have made a decisive mistake already on the 10th move, and that was prepared as far back as home analysis! But certainly it required Najer's correct play to prove the strength of White's position. Most likely the best move here is a developing one, 10...Nc6, which is preferred by an expert in this system for Black, the Champion of Europe-2003 Grandmaster Azmaiparashvili. 11.Bxc4 11.Ng5 Ke8 12.e6!?÷ Bareev E.- Azmaiparashvili Z., Plovdiv 2003, and the game was drawn on the 55th move; 11...Be6 12.Bxe6 fxe6 13.Ng5 Kd7 ½-½ Dreev A. - Azmaiparashvili Z., Dos Hermanas 2001 (38). 11....Be6 12.Bxe6 fxe6 13.Nh4!
I underestimated this plan in my preparation. White's knight arrives at the very strong g6-square and its almost impossible to drive it away from this station. The knight distinctly complicates Black's defense. I must admit one more serious mistake - I played this endgame against one of the strongest chess programs. My 'inanimate' opponent didn't find White's 13th move and, against any other play Black stands well and I would defend Black's position easily. I did not suspect the existence of the knight's maneuver since my database didn't have an old game - Najer-Belikov! A surprising 'unlucky coincidence of circumstances' where actually only my own laxity was at fault - nobody prevented me updating the data base and furthermore, nobody prevented me analyzing this endgame more carefully! Well, what to do? I engrossed myself in thought and realized that my position is actually already very hard. I had only one possibility; to look for any casual chances of rescue. The main thing which one has to do in such cases is 'not to bury oneself alive' but to direct all forces to extremely complicate the opponent's game, and to gain victory! 13...Be7! 14.Ng6 Re8 Without this maneuver I would be forced to put my Rook on the nasty g8-square! On e8 it could at least support the e6-pawn. 15.Be3 b6 16.h4 Nd7 17.h5
Most likely Evgeny decided that I prepared a strengthened line compared with his old game against Belikov and deviated 'just in case' from repeating that game. He thought well of me! I didn't know at all about the game Najer-Belikov otherwise I certainly would play some other line. 17.Ke2 Kc8 18.h5 Bd8 19.Kf3 (In my opinion more simple is the pawn offensive 19.f4 Nf8 20.Nxf8 Rxf8 21.Kf3 Bc7 22.Ke4 Kb7 23.g4 Kc6 24.Rag1± and after a further g4-g5 White is able to reach the weaknesses of Black's kingside.) 19...Bc7 20.Ke4 Kb7 21.Rh3 (And here is a possibility to turn to the plan I suggested 21.f4 Nf8 22.Nxf8 Rxf8 23.g4 Kc6 24.Rag1±) 21...Nf8 22.Rf1 Nxg6 23.hxg6 Kc6 24.g4 b5 25.f4 a5 1-0 Najer E.-Belikov V., Moscow 1998. I discovered this information preparing the annotations to this game. Frankly, it's strange that Black lost in the final position - maybe on time? Actually there still should be a lot of play and I am not quite sure that White certainly wins here. 17...Nf8 18.Ke2 Kc7 19.a4 An old rule says: 'Don't move the pawns where you are weaker!' But I do not presume to judge the move made by Najer - it doesn't give up the advantage and doesn't even decrease it. White as before has a big positional advantage. Other moves are possible, for example: 19.g4 Kc6 20.f4±
19...Nxg6 Maybe I ought to have waited with this exchange. Why it is bad for Black? After trading it will not be difficult for White to create a dangerous passed pawn on the kingside or to reach many weaknesses in Black's position. But the knight on g6 is also very unpleasant for Black! For example, one should constantly consider the possibility of the White rook transferring to f7 via h3. Nevertheless, preferring to use the King's activity, 19...Kc6 proceeding on the assumption that there is a possibility to exchange on g6 later in case of need: A) In case of 20.Rh3 Kd5 the Black king strongly complicates White's task, appearing on c4 and threatening White pawns on the queenside. The attempt at a mating attack gives White only a draw by perpetual check: 21.c4+ Kxc4 22.Nf4 (Unfavorable for White is 22.Rc1+ Kd5 - Black remains with an extra-pawn and the King 'hides' on c6) 22...Bg5 23.Rc1+ Kb4 24.Bd2+ Kxa4 25.Rb1 Bxf4 26.Bxf4 b5 27.Ra1+ Kb4 28.Rd3 c4 29.Rb1+ Ka4= B) 20.c4! The most correct decision in my opinion. 20...a6 (20...Nxg6 21.hxg6 a6 22.f4 b5 23.axb5+ axb5 24.cxb5+ Kxb5 25.g4±) 21.Nxe7+ Rxe7 22.Rhc1 (Premature is 22.a5? b5 23.cxb5+ axb5 24.Rhc1 c4÷) 22...Nd7 23.f4 g6 24.hxg6 Rg8 25.g3 Rxg6 26.Bf2 a5 27.Rd1± 20.hxg6 Kc6 21.f4 One ought not to call this move weak because White keeps a great advantage. However it did cheer me up since now the possibility for my King to appear on c4 gives me hope that my opponent will become entangled! Simpler was 21.c4!± 21...Kd5 22.Kf3 No advantage to White is the line 22.Kd3 c4+ 23.Ke2 Ke4" - the Black King on e4 is completely safe and even becomes a strong fighting unit! 22...Kc4 23.g4
This is correct - it's time to advance where White is stronger! One shouldn't defend the c3-pawn since it's impossible to take it. 23...Rad8 Let us make sure that the pawn is inviolable: 23...Kxc3 24.Rab1! It's astonishing, but in this position with few pieces Black couldn't withstand the mate threats! 24...c4 25.Ke4 Ba3 26.Bd4+ Kc2 27.Rb5 Bc1 28.Rh2+ Kd1 29.Rb1+- 24.Rhd1 Rd5 The goal of the move is to entangle the game as far as possible. I couldn't resort to a bishop's endgame or allow the opponent's rook access to d7. The only my hope was connected with an attempt to create my own pawn 'army' in contrast to my opponent's! And this idea almost turned out well.... Again it was impossible to take the 'bewitched' c3-pawn: 24...Kxc3 25.f5 White's offensive is very dangerous! 25...Kb4 (25...Bf8 26.f6+-) 26.Bxh6! The simplest and, in this position maybe the only, way to a White victory. The pawn-chain becomes irrepressible. 26...gxh6 27.g7 Rxd1 28.Rxd1 Rg8 29.f6 Bf8 30.Rd8 Rxg7 31.fxg7 Bxg7 32.Ke4 c4 33.Rg8 Bxe5 34.Kxe5 Kxa4 35.Rg6+- 25.Rxd5 exd5 26.f5 Bf8!
This move is good since it puts before White the biggest practical difficulties in attaining a win. Other moves offer White less difficulty. For example one loses quickly in case of a simple pawn capture: 26...Kxc3 27.Bxh6 gxh6 28.g7 Rg8 (28...Bg5 29.f6+-) 29.f6 Bf8 30.gxf8Q Rxf8 31.Kf4+- 27.Bf4 A delay. White was able to strike a winning blow in spite of the danger of miscalculation. I had seen this move during the game and intuitionally recognized that after it Black must lose. Nevertheless I proceeded to this position. Why? First, because I had nothing better; second, since the proof of a White win requires a sizable boldness from my opponent. White hardly could win without a sacrifice! But not every player could dare to sacrifice without having the possibility to analyze everything exactly, in view of the time limit. Thus I used a practical opportunity for a rescue which could bring me the desired draw in a (objectively) losing position. Here is how White was able to obtain a forced win: 27.Bxh6! Rxe5 (Beautiful was also the line 27...gxh6 where a huge role in obtaining a win is played by the powerful White king. 28.Kf4! Kxc3 29.f6 c4 30.Kf5 d4 31.e6 d3 32.e7 Bxe7 33.f7 Rf8 34.Ke6+-) 28.Bf4 Re4 29.g5 Kxc3 30.f6 Re6 31.Kg4 d4 (After 31...gxf6 32.gxf6 Black alas couldn't take on f6 because of a check on e5 losing the Rook.) 32.Kf5 Re8 33.Rh1 d3 34.Rh8 d2 35.Bxd2+ Kxd2 36.Rg8 Even the piece's loss turned out not to be feared by White! His overwhelming superiority on the kingside quickly decides the game. 36...Rd8 37.fxg7 Rd5+ 38.Ke6 Rd6+ 39.Ke5 Be7 40.Kf5+- 27...Kxc3 28.Rd1 d4
29.Ke4?! Najer shows absolute - and unusual for him - indecision in spending precious time for the King's activation in a position where a combination was required of him. Strong was 29.f6 Kc4 The king hurries to d5 in order to limit White's offensive on the kingside. But a spectacular bishop sacrifice could face Black with insoluble problems: 30.Bxh6! gxh6 31.Ke4! (Not impossible is 31.Kf4?? Kd5!-+) 31...Kb3 32.Kf5 Kc2 33.Rh1 d3 34.e6 d2 35.e7 Bxe7 36.f7 Rf8 37.Ke6 Bf6 38.Kxf6+- 29...Bd6! A strong move. Now I saw White has no win. Weaker is 29...Be7 30.e6! (An amazingly beautiful idea for Black's rescue could be realized after 30.Kd5 d3 31.Ke6 Bg5+ 32.Kf7 Bxf4 33.e6 Rc8 34.f6 gxf6 35.e7 Kc2 36.Rh1 d2 37.g7 d1Q 38.Rxd1 Kxd1 39.e8Q Rxe8 40.Kxe8 c4 41.g8=Q White has an extra Queen! But Black can escape: 41...c3 42.Qd5+ Kc1 43.Kf7 c2 44.Kxf6 Bg5+ 45.Kf5 Kb2 46.Qd4+ Kb3=)
30...Bf6 (30...Bg5 31.Bxg5 hxg5 32.Ke5 d3 33.f6 gxf6+ 34.Kxf6 c4 35.g7+-) 31.Be5! After the exchange of the main defender of the kingside White wins easily. Black's pawns turn out to be too 'sluggish'. 31...Bxe5 32.Kxe5 d3 33.f6 gxf6+ 34.Kxf6 c4 35.Kf7 Rc8 36.e7+- 30.Rh1
In this position my usually imperturbable opponent was noticeable anxious, realizing that the win could slip from his hands. He had only about two minutes against my five. But one shouldn't forget that after each move the opponents automatically got an additional 30 seconds, so there wasn't a very big danger of losing on time. Nevertheless I have achieved this position! The variants after a logical 30.e6 in any case don't promise a win to White, for example: 30...Bxf4 31.Kxf4 Kc2 32.Rh1 d3 33.Ke5 d2 34.f6 gxf6+ 35.Kxf6 d1Q 36.Rxd1 Kxd1 37.g7 c4 38.Kf7 Rc8 39.e7 c3 40.e8Q Rxe8 41.Kxe8 c2 42.g8Q c1Q-+ 30...d3! A rare case where I was able to make a good move! White is forced to think not only about his own passed pawns but also about the opponent's ones. Here are the variants which prove that White could win in case of other moves: 30...Kb3 31.Kd5! (Weak is 31.e6? Bxf4 32.Kxf4 c4 33.Ke4 d3 34.Ke3 Kc2 35.Rh2+ Kc3 36.Rh1 a6-+; 31.Rxh6 gxh6 32.f6 Bf8-+) 31...Bb8 32.f6 gxf6 33.exf6 Bxf4 34.f7 Re5+ 35.Kc6 Re6+ 36.Kb5+-; or 30...Kc4 31.Rc1+ Kb3 32.Kd5 Bb8 33.f6 gxf6 34.exf6 Bxf4 35.f7 Rd8+ 36.Ke6 Bxc1 (36...Rd6+ 37.Kf5 Bxc1 38.f8Q+-) 37.g7 Kxa4 38.g8Q Rxg8 39.fxg8Q d3 40.Qh7 c4 41.Qxa7+ Kb3 42.Qxb6+ Kc2 43.Qd4 c3 44.Qa4+ Kd2 45.Kd5 Ke2 46.Qc4+- 31.Rc1+ Kb2?
This move leads to a loss! In a situation of mutual time trouble (more pointed for White) it was difficult to give preference to the saving 31...Kb3! and one can't see a win for White after: A) 32.Kxd3 Bxe5 33.Bxe5 Rxe5=; B) 32.Rd1 c4 33.Kd5 Bb8 34.Rb1+ Kc2=; C) 32.e6 Bxf4 33.Kxf4 d2 34.Rh1 c4-+; D) 32.Rh1 d2 33.Kd5 Bxe5 34.Bxe5 c4 (34...Rd8+ 35.Kc6 d1Q 36.Rxd1 Rxd1 37.Bxg7 Rg1 38.f6 Rxg4 39.f7 Rxg6+ 40.Kb5 Rxg7 41.f8Q+-) 35.Rb1+ (35.Bxg7 Re1 36.Rh3+ Kxa4 37.Kc6 d1Q 38.Bf8 c3 39.Rxc3 Re3 40.Rxe3 Qc1+-+) 35...Kc2 36.Rb2+ Kc1 37.Rxd2 Rxe5+ 38.Kxe5 Kxd2 39.f6 gxf6+ 40.Kxf6 c3 41.g7 c2 42.g8Q c1Q-+; E) 32.Kd5 Bb8 33.f6 gxf6-+; F) 32.Rb1+ Let's make sure that other possibilities don't promise White more than a draw: 32...Kc3 33.Rc1+ One doesn't see anything better than this repetition of moves... A couple of days after the game I asked Najer his opinion about this position. He was going to play just this way and accept a humbling draw. 33...Kb3 34.Rb1+= 32.Rd1 There is no rescue for Black. An advantage in time has dwindled. 32...c4 32...Kc2 33.Rd2+ Kb1 34.Rxd3+- 33.Kd5 Bxe5 I saw this idea as insufficient but the game is lost. It's too easy for White to find the decisive moves. 33...Kc2?? 34.Rd2+ Kc3 35.exd6+- 34.Bxe5+ Kc2 34...Rxe5+ 35.Kxe5 c3 36.Rxd3+- 35.Rh1 d2 36.Bxg7 c3 37.Bxc3 Kxc3 38.g7
38...Kb4?! A nervous move which one obviously ought to make. Certainly in my calculations I hoped on the move 38...Re1 but after an obligatory 39.Rh3+ Kb4 (39...Kc2 40.Rh2+-) 40.Rd3 I did not see the refined maneuver 40...Re7! (40...d1Q 41.Rxd1 Rxd1+ 42.Ke6 Rd8 43.f6+-) 41.Rxd2! (An untimely pawn's transformation to a Queen deprives White of his advantage. 41.g8Q Rd7+) 41...Rxg7 42.Rd4+ Kc3 43.Rf4+- However here also White's victory is quite simple in spite of a material equality. 39.Rd1 1-0 Here I was not able to make a move for the remaining 30 seconds and lost on time although I could have resigned. A desperate game which is really no shame to lose. Finally I tried hard and did my best. But as a professional I am obliged to reproach myself for: first, bad preparation for the variation generally; second, for bad preparation after solidifying this game to contain it; and third, that after several not bad moves I nevertheless 'dropped' an already obtained draw!
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