by USCF Master Garry Reynolds
White: Mark Wattenbert
Black: Garry Reynolds
Position after 18....f5
19.g6! Rf6!?
White is desperately trying to pry open the door to the King's bedroom! A mistake in calculation can be fatal, but there are only five minutes left for six moves. Mark's move seems logical and poses Black some defensive problems. I spent a couple of my remaining minutes choosing my response, but was still unsure that it was correct. I toyed with 19...hxg6 20.Rxg6+ Kf7 21.Nh4 Bd4 22.Bh5 Qe5+, believing I could skate away with my King, but was afraid that there was something I was missing in such a complex position. The fleeting route I chose seems to offer the best chances.
20.gxh7+ Kxh7
21.Nxg5+ Kh8
Mark has left my King nude and vulnerable. Again, I feel he should relinquish the attack for a move or two and take care of his own monarch with O-O-O. But it is not like Mark to pass up a check. It may lead to mate or the gain of material! There is no sensible alternative to ...Kh8.
22.Bc3 e5!?
Mark continues his search for the 'Holy Grail'. Pinning my f6 Rook forces me to react with limited time left. Rather than exchange my centrally posted Knight for the Bishop and allow the White Queen mobility along the 3rd rank, with potential access to my King from c3 or h3, I decided to close the diagonal.
23.Rg3 Nf4!
Whew! We both have less than a minute left. This is not enough time for such a tense, potentially tactical and nerve-wrecking position. Mark brings his Rook to an ideal post where it has lateral mobility. Rooks on the third rank like this can venture to either side of the board as desired. It would also set the stage to double Rooks after White castled--if Mark had any such intention! I move my Knight to open a line for my b7 Bishop and stop White from occupying the h-file from h3.
24.Nf3!? Bxf3
Mark switches the pressure from my lowly King on h8 to the lonely black pawn on e5, but also opening the g-file for his Rook. With 30 seconds left for two moves, why should I rush? My first reaction was to play 27...Be4 but under such time pressure the natural tendency is to exchange pieces.
25.Bxf3 Rd8
Mark reaches the time control with an attacking move and watches my flag to see if it will fall as I spend the precious seconds thinking! I intuitively feel that taking control of the d-file, preventing White from castling and connecting his Rooks, is best. After the tension, I feel comfortable with the extra pawn and a position with no glaring weaknesses despite my naked monarch.
26.Kf1 Nd3
Marks's King aims to reach h1 so that the a1 Rook can at last develop to help control the g-file, but the plan is too slow. I have my sights on the undernourished pawn of f2. Following the law of nature, I am inclined to prey on the weakest of the herd. Black's pieces are better coordinated now and the threats to his King diminished. Indeed, it is the White monarch which will have to take greater care.
27.Qe2 Rh6
Of course Mark tries to bring his dormant Queen into the action, aiming for h5 after the f3 Bishop moves. I decide it is best to thwart this plan, at the same time giving me targets on the open h-file. White still has a lot of potential and I cannot afford to ignore the mating threats looming on the horizon.
28.Bh5! Bd4
Mark, blocking the h-file and still threatening to get things moving on the Kingside continues to play with typical spirit. He as the timely threat of 29.Rxd3 followed by 30.Bxe5+ winning my Queen. He can also attack e5 by f4! With a pawn advantage, I decide to settle down to reducing Mark's possibilities, centered around his c3 Bishop, rather than complicate matters. my defensive move neutralizes most of White's possibilities without in any way compromising my own position.
29.Bd2! f4
Mark knows that is is unwise to exchange when behind in material or trying to attack--or both! Bishops need open diagonals to be effective, so, with the road to e5 closed, Mark seeks another line. I again close the new diagonal and nudge the g3 Rook.
30.Rg6 Qh7
Mark has high hopes of an exchange so that his Queen will penetrate my camp via h5. Another time, perhaps. Better seems 30.Rg5 followed by 31.Qg4. My Queen forces another piece to leave the scene of the crime, making my life easier.
31.Rxh6?! Qxh6
Mark ought to have continued to avoid exchanges with 31.Rg6 as suggested in the previous note. Although it would have allowed me to grab a second pawn on b2 or f2, it would have kept White's attacking chances alive. I am delighted to remove one of the acitve attackers from my King's neighborhood. This neighborhood watch thing really works!
32.Qg4?! Rg8
This is surely the wrong time to bring the Queen into the thick of battle, for it allows me to grab the important g-file and generate mating threats on g1. White's h5 Bihsop is precarious and, with Black's pieces springing to life, Mark's King will start to feel the heat.
33.Qf5 Qg5!?
I now refuse to practice what I have been preaching and, with attacking prospects, allow exchanges which ease the pressure on White. The simple 33...Bxf2 obtains two strong passed pawns, a strong attack and probably a quick victory. Trust me to do things the hard way!
34.Qxg5! Rxg5
35.Be8! Bxb2
White takes his chances in an endgame that offers drawing possibilities if Black plays inaccurately. With chances to go astray, there is still interest and excitement in the position. I gain a tempo and win a pawn, making my c4 pawn a scout to be carefully and fearfully watched.
36.Rb1
a6
37.a4
Rg8
Mark attempts to break down the advancing pawns, hoping to make them weak and targets for his two clerics. I have decided that the game will be won on the Queenside. I plan to transfer my Rook over behind my advancing pawns, confident of a quick victory. I did not realize how difficult it is destined to be...
38.Bf7
Rb8
39.axb5 axb5
Mark's objective is to set up an effective blockade with his remaining troops to stall the advance of my two passed pawns, but this is not easy. I am already poised to thrust forward with my c4 scout, threatening 40...c3 and points further North!
40.Ke2 Kg7
We both realize the important role the Kings play in the endgame. When the threats of the middlegame do not concern them, they can become powerful fighters. Mark also clears the way for the Rook to slip over to the Kingside if needed. I might even take my King to the Queenside to assist the advance of my pawns.
41.Bd5
Rb6
42.Rg1+ Kh6!?
position here.
Mark wanted to encourage my King to go to the f-file so that he could launch his h pawn on the path to promotion. The value of this plan was hard to judge but it was a little scary for me. I tried to tell myself that the threat was just an illusion, but my inner ego told me to stick around in case the outside White soldier created havoc!
43.Be4
Nc5
44.Bf5
c3
Mark's troops are in positions which make advance of my pawn majority somewhat difficult. It may be possible for him to sacrifice one of the Bishops for both my pawns. I push back the d2 Bishop and would dearly like to trade off one of his clergymen to make my task so much easier.
45.Be1
e4
46.f3?! c2?!
While I am trying to close all the doors or push the clergymen out of their pews, Mark is trying to stick his foot in the door so as to keep it ajar.
47.Bd2
e3
48.Bxc2! exd2
49.Kxd2 Rd6+
50.Kc2 Bc3!
Mark has partly achieved his objective, having swapped one of his clerics for a menacing black pawn. However, he has another to content with, and one less piece in defense. Black first drives the King away form the advancing Black b pawn, which will have to promote on a square presently defended by both the White Rook and Bishop. Although my extra piece should win eventually, Mark is suddenly attacked by the legendary monster of 'chess blindness' and blunders into a rapid defeat.
51.h4??
Rd2+
52.Kf1
Rxc2
53.Resigns
I hope my readers enjoyed this brawl as much as I did while it was being played. Mark played an excellent game and had me on edge all through this dramatic struggle. I am sure we missed a lot under time pressure but, although I have not had a chance to fully analyze it, I am confident that readers will find much tactical entertainment in the game. Mark will make a great NOST and I am sure that many members will get the hell scared out of them by his relentless attacker! Mark is a fine gentleman and a player with a lot of potential--once he learns to temper his attacks with a small dose of positional judgment!
98EQ1593
White: Michael Sheehan 2228
Black: Garry Reynolds 2340
1.e4 d5
Black makes a direct assault on the center with the fascinating Scandinavian Defense, rather neglected by opening theory but leading to sharp and complex positions which deserve more attention. Although Black can develop his pieces easily, the drawback is the time needed to recapture on d5.
2.exd5 Nf6
This popular version, instead of the traditional 2...Qxd5, bears resemblance to the modern treatment of Alekhine's Defense (1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.Nf3), especially if White inserts c4...Nb6 early.
3.d4 Bg4
This is an interesting idea. After the natural 4.f3 Bf5, White has an important choice: (a). 5.c4 e6! with a delayed Icelandic gambit where, in Burbovic-Monange, Rorcy 1991, Black was winning after 6.dxe6 Nc6 7.Ne2? Nb4 8.Ng3 Nxc2+ 9.Ke2 Bg6 10.Be3? Bc5 11.Na3 Nxe3 12.Kxe3 Ng4+ 13.fxg4 Qg5+ 14.Kf3 fxe6. As you can see, White can go astray quickly if the position is not handled properly.
4.Nf3!? Qxd5
The only reference I can find to this 4.Nf3 line is Okhotnik/Jadoul, 1989 which continued 4...Qxd5 5.Be3 Nc6 6.c4 Qd7 7.d5 Bxf3 8.Bxf3 Ne5 9.Be2 e6 10.Qb3 Bc5 11.Be3 Bxe3 12.Qxe3 Ng6 13.Nc3 O-O 14.dxe6 Qxe6 and Black won in the endgame.
5.Be2
Nc6!?
6.h3!
White has dragged me out of my text and forced me to make a difficult decision. I am sure this is not the first time the question has been put to the Bishop, bor it seems so logical to force Black to delcare his intentions. Should Black retreat and to which square: h5 or f5? Is it worth losing the tempo to retreat? I was not happy with the possibility of White's g4 thrust at some point and decided to exchange, using my tempo to foster development.
6...
Bxf3!?
7.Bxf3 Qe6+
White increases the scope of his Bishop and gains time by attacking my Queen. White's loss of control over the e5 square should feature heavily in Black's long-term strategy.
8.Be3 O-O-O!?
White brings another piece into play. Deciding it would take too much time to shelter my King on the Kingside, I take the risk of castling on the other wing despite both the White Bishops aiming there. My play may be better than leaving the monarch exposed in the center, but I will have to be very wary of White building up quick and decisive Queenside pressure.
9.O-O Qd7
White sensibly takes care to shelter his King before attacking. The safety of the King is of prime importance and should be taken care of in the opening. Black gains a tempo by attacking the d4 pawn, hoping to follow with 10...e5. Black cannot afford to play passively--he must fight because of White's prospects on the Queenside!
10.c3 e5
White protects d4 and at the same time opens a line for his Queen to reach a4 to bring more pressure to bear on that side. With d1 vacated, the f1 Rook can be usefully posted there to add to the defense.
11.Qa4 e4
12.Be2 Nd5
The Queen and f3 Bishop bear down on c6, so I decided to leave the d4 pawn alone to block the White prelate. However, I am expecting this pesky prelate to find b5 a useful spot close to my King.
13.Bb5 Nb6
14.Qb3 f5
This is my first attempt at a 'Delayed Icelandic Gambit' and I do not feel it has been successful. It looks like White will be able to generate strong Queenside play before I can get my pawn storm moving on the other wing.
15.f3 a6
White hopes to exchange pawns, leaving Black's isolated in the center and also open the f-file for his Rook. Getting this Rook, or perhaps even the Queen, to f7 would severely disrupt the development of the Black Kingside troops. I force the Bishop to make a decision, and open a loft for my King just in case things get really hot on this wing.
16.Bxc6 Qxc6
Rather than relocate the tired and wondering missionary, White exchanges it for a useful defender. Of course, I recapture with the Queen to preserve my pawn structure.
17.fxe4 Qxe4
White continues as planned, but I recapture with the Queen to thwart the territorial ambitions of the White Rook.
18.Bg5 Re8
White gains a tempo by attacking the Rook, which I bring to an open file to enhance its potential.
19.Nd2 Qe2
White develops another piece with the gain of a tempo. My position, with Kingside development lagging is already precarious.
20.Bf4 g6!?
White retreats the Bishop to a spot where it will be enormously useful if an attack is generated against the Black King. I suspect White hopes to get his Queen to f7, when the attack on c7 would be very menacing indeed! I take the opportunity to try to close the f-file.
21.Nf3! Qc4
White continues to improve the positions of his troops. The tempting tactical shot 21.Be5 would be strongly answered by 21...Rxe5, giving Black much counterplay. Black must offer the exchange of Queens. The player under pressure should endeavor to ease his problems with exchanges.
22.Rfe1 Be7
White occupies the open e-file. He dominates e5 and will probably occupy that valuable square with one of his pieces before long. Black avoids exchanging because it would give White uncontested control of the file and develops the Bishop in hope of connecting his Rooks--not least guard against a future mate on the back rank!
23.Re5 Qxb3
24.axb3 Bd6
White may have chosen the wrong scout to occupy e5, as this allows me to steer towards an endgame where I may be only slightly worse and have excellent drawing chances. I instigate a series of exchanges to make my life easier.
25.Rxe8+ Rxe8
26.Bxd6 cxd6
The exchanges have greatly increase my drawing chances and left me in control of the e-file, threatening to invade the 2nd rank if allowed. I expect White to counter with 27.Kf2, followed by 28.Re1. White has a Pawn Majority on the Queenside and Black's is on the King's wing. This should lead to a dynamic endgame, difficult for both of us.
27.Re1 Rxe1+
28.Nxe1 Kd7
White challenges me immediately on the e-file, expecting to simplify into a won ending. I perceived my chances as much better in the resulting endgame and gladly exchange, followed by bringing out my King as an important warrior in the simplified position.
29.Kf2 Nd5
30.c4 Nf6
White too realizes the importance of the King in the endgame! I decide to relocate my Knight to assist my Pawn Majority on the Kingside.
31.Ke3 Ke7
Onward march the Kings in a safer battlefield with diminished troops. I would say that White's Queenside pawns look more threatening than mine on the other side.
32.d5 Nd7
White's d pawn advances and controls c6 and e6, also clearing d4 for occupation by King or Knight. With White's pawns about to start their marching, Black decides to retreat the Knight to help defend. The struggle will become very tense in the next 10 moves or so, with White attempting to thrust forward his pawns and Black digging in to hold the fort.
33.b4
Kf6
34.Kd4 Ne5
It was now that I came to terms with the truth. White has too many trumps to play! There is nothing to stop him from producing a strong passed pawn on the Queenside, his King can wander unhindered in the search for good squares and he can generate threats on either wing. I am tied to passive defense, trying to hold a fort which has too many doors open. The game concluded quickly.
35.c5
Ke7
36.Nc2 f4
37.Ne1! g5
38.Nf3 Nf7
39.Ke4! Resigns
It is significant that White wins even with the theoretical handicap of doubled pawns. Chess is such a flexible game that such a single weakness is not always decisive. The vital thing here is who had the better Pawn Majority. Mike is a tough soldier and played very well throughout the encounter. Congradulations!
This page was last updated on 12/14/02
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