[Event "Game 01"] [Site "?"] [Date "????.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "You"] [Black "Master"] [Result "1-0"] [Annotator "Zenón Franco"] [ECO "B67"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [BlackFideId "-1"] [PlyCount "71"] [GameId "436475648620"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 a6 8. O-O-O Bd7 9. f4 Rc8 ({This move is less popular than} 9... b5) (9... Be7) ({and even} 9... Qc7 {, preparing queenside castling.}) 10. Nf3 Qa5 {Black activates his forces on the queenside, but the d7-bishop is left rather loose. Is it possible to take advantage of this? *** Your Move *** Choose between 11 e5, 11 Kb1, and 11 Bxf6.} 11. Kb1 $1 {(3 points). A typical defensive move, reinforcing the position; the king defends the a2-pawn and escapes the influence of the c8-rook. Of course there are tactical reasons to discard more active options.} (11. Bxf6 {(0 points) is playable but not very flexible. In general, if there's no clear path to an advantage, it's preferable to keep as many options open as possible. Besides, the move Bxf6 will be still be available later.}) ({If you chose} 11. e5 $2 {you will have to deduct 2 points at the end of the exercise. Why did White reject 11 e5 - ? *** Your Move *** (as Black). Answer: Black would respond with} Nb4 $1 {(4 points)} ({not} 11... dxe5 $2 {because of} 12. Bxf6) 12. exf6 (12. a3 $2 {loses to} Rxc3 $1) 12... Rxc3 $1 13. Nd4 {(defending c2)} ({whereas} 13. bxc3 $2 {allows} Qa3+ 14. Kb1 Qxa2+ 15. Kc1 Qa1#) 13... Ra3 14. Bc4 ({the threat was} 14. Z0 Nxa2+ 15. Kb1 Nc3+ {and mates}) ({worse is} 14. Nb3 Rxb3 $1 15. cxb3 Nxa2+ 16. Kb1 Nb4 {with a strong attack which more than compensates for the sacrificed exchange}) 14... Nxa2+ 15. Bxa2 Qxd2+ 16. Rxd2 Rxa2 17. Kb1 Ra4 {and Black is a pawn up.}) 11... b5 {Black continues to play actively, ignoring both the central break 12 e5 and the damage that would result to his kingside pawn structure after 12 Bxf6 gxf6. *** Your Move ***} 12. Bxf6 {(1 point). But only if you have already planned your next move.} ({Surprisingly the young attacking player playing White rejected the complications resulting from} 12. e5 {(2 points).} Nd5 {is forced, and following} ({Black can't counter-attack with} 12... b4 {, because after} 13. exf6 bxc3 14. fxg7 Bxg7 15. Qxd6 {, White's advantage is clear.} (15. Z0)) 13. Nxd5 Qxd2 14. Rxd2 exd5 {, White can either capture the d5-pawn, which allows Black to gain some activity in return after} 15. Rxd5 ({or, probably the best option, create further weaknesses in Black's position with} 15. a4 $1) 15... Be6 16. Rd2 dxe5 17. fxe5 Bc5 {.}) 12... gxf6 {*** Your Move ***} 13. f5 {(2 points). A thematic continuation, White fixes the doubled f-pawns and puts pressure on the e6-pawn; one idea now is to open the f-file and another is to try to force Black to play ...e6-e5; of course Black should do this only when a white knight can't easily reach the weakened d5-square. *** Your Move *** (as Black).} Nb4 $1 {(3 points). An unusual manoeuvre; Black threatens ...Rxc3, but after the obvious white response, Black will have lost two tempi. In return he gains the possibility of the pawn break ...b5-b4, which seems adequate compensation.} ({In similar positions a standard idea is to dislodge the c3-knight with} 13... b4 {(2 points) and after} 14. Ne2 {(intending 15 Nf4), now that this knight can no longer go to d5, Black can safely play} e5 {, controlling both f4 and d4.}) ({It is also worth considering} 13... h5 {(2 points), a move which allows the eventual activation of the dark-squared bishop via h6, while preventing the advance g2-g4.}) 14. a3 Nc6 15. Nd4 {*** Your Move *** (as Black). Choose between 15...Nxd4, 15...Ne5, and 15...b4.} Nxd4 $2 {This is inconsistent with Black's previous play and loses 2 points.} ({It was better to play} 15... Ne5 {(1 point),} 16. Be2 {is preferable, and White's has slightly the better chances after} ({when the ambitious} 16. Qf2 {(threatening 17 fxe6 followed by Qxf6, as well as the 17 Nce2-f4 idea) is questionable on account of} Rxc3 $1 {; for example,} 17. fxe6 fxe6 18. Qxf6 Rg8 $1 19. bxc3 Qxc3 {etc.} (19... Z0)) 16... Nc4 ({or} 16... h5 17. Rhf1) 17. Bxc4 bxc4 18. Qe2 $1 {(targeting the c4-pawn, in order to discourage the immediate 18...Rb8), followed by 19 Rhf1, since in both cases the insecurity of the black king is of mounting importance.}) ({To return to the original question, Black's best option is} 15... b4 $1 {(4 points),} 16. Nxc6 {(this is no better for White)} ({and after} 16. axb4 Nxb4 {, Black has retained his strong knight and opened the b-file against the white king, justifying the idea initiated with 13...Nb4.} (16... Z0)) 16... Bxc6 17. axb4 Qxb4 18. Qd4 {, and after} Rb8 19. Qxb4 Rxb4 20. Bxa6 {, instead of} Bxe4 {, which is fully playable,} ({Black can delay the capture of the pawn and trust in his two bishops and pressure along the open lines by playing, for example,} 20... h5 {, with the plan of ...Ke7, ...Bh6, ...Rhb8 etc.})) 16. Qxd4 Be7 {*** Your Move ***} 17. Be2 {(2 points). With the typical idea of 18 Bh5, putting pressure on the f7-pawn and threatening f5xe6.} Kd8 {Seeking a safer location. *** Your Move ***} ({If} 17... h5 {then} 18. Rhf1 {.}) ({Black's original intention was to play} 17... O-O {; why do you think he had second thoughts? *** Your Move *** Answer: The strongest option is direct attack, starting with the manoeuvre} 18. Rd3 $1 {(3 points); e.g.} ({also attractive are} 18. g4 {(1 point)}) ({and} 18. Rhf1 {(1 point)}) 18... Kh8 19. Rh3 {(threatening Qe3-h6), and after} Rg8 20. fxe6 {, the positionally desirable} fxe6 {loses to} ({but if Black gives up control of d5 with} 20... Bxe6 {, the move} 21. Nd5 {is strong, and White is clearly better}) 21. e5 $1 fxe5 $2 22. Qe4 Rg7 23. Bd3 {etc.}) 18. Rhf1 {(2 points). This idea should already be familiar; the weakness on f6 is highlighted and now, after f5xe6, the sacrifice Rxf6 is in the air. *** Your Move *** (as Black). Choose between 18...Rf8, 18...Rg8, and 18...Rb8.} ({As there's no immediate black threat, there are other good moves such as} 18. g4 {(1 point), but this is less straightforward than the move played.}) 18... Rb8 $6 {The counter-attack will not be successful, so this move loses 1 point.} ({After} 18... Rg8 $6 {(which also loses 1 point),} 19. fxe6 ({if White wants to avoid complications he has two strong options in} 19. g4) ({and} 19. Bh5 $1 {, when} Rxg2 $2 ({Black would have to play the sad} 19... Rf8 {, leaving White with the advantage after, for instance,} 20. Rf3) 20. Rg1 {would be almost suicidal.}) 19... fxe6 20. Rxf6 $1 {, plunging in, is also possible for White,} Rxg2 $6 {is bad, as is only to be expected; one effective response is} ({when the least of the evils for Black seems to be} 20... Rxc3 21. bxc3 Bxf6 22. Qxf6+ Kc7 23. Qe7 Qb6 {, but then White can gain a clear advantage in several ways, such as the active} 24. Rf1 ({or simply} 24. Bf3) 24... Rxg2 25. Rf7 {.}) ({Worse is} 20... Bxf6 $6 21. Qxf6+ Kc7 22. Qe7 Qb6 23. e5 $1 (23. Bxb5 $1 {is also good}) 23... d5 24. Rxd5 {etc.}) 21. Rf7 Rxc3 22. Rxe7 $1 Rc6 23. Rf1 ({also strong is} 23. Rxh7 $1 {; e.g.} Rxe2 24. Rh8+ $1 Be8 25. Qf6+ $1 Kd7 26. Qg7+ Kd8 27. Qf7 {etc}) 23... e5 {, and now how should White continue? *** Your Move *** Answer: The strongest continuation, and the only one that gains any points, is the winning combination} 24. Rxd7+ $1 Kxd7 25. Rf7+ Ke8 26. Qa7 {etc (2 points).}) ({Going back to the initial question, since the counter-attack doesn't work, in view of the threat of 19 fxe6 and 20 Rxf6, the most tenacious move is the natural} 18... Rf8 {(2 points). White can continue advantageously with} 19. g4 {, planning h2-h4 and g4-g5.} ({Also possible is} 19. Rf3 {, continuing to activate his forces.})) 19. fxe6 fxe6 {*** Your Move ***} 20. Rxf6 $1 {(2 points). Of course - why not?} b4 {*** Your Move *** Choose between 21 Rf3, 21 Rf7, 21 Rf5, and 21 Rxe6.} ({What happens after} 20... Bxf6 21. Qxf6+ Kc7 {- ? *** Your Move ***} 22. e5 $1 {immediately is the most accurate continuation (3 points), and if} ({One good way forward is} 22. Qe7 {(2 points) and if} Qb6 {then} 23. e5 {;} (23. Z0)) 22... d5 {then} 23. Rxd5 $1 (23. Nxd5+ $1 {is also good}) 23... exd5 {and what happens now? *** Your Move *** Answer:} (23... Rbd8 24. Qe7 Qb6 ({or} 24... exd5 25. b4) 25. Rd6 Qg1+ 26. Ka2 Qa7 ({or} 26... Kc8 27. Rxa6) 27. Bxb5 $1 {with a winning position.}) 24. b4 $1 {(2 points) wins, since the black queen must move, but after} Qxa3 25. Nxd5+ Kc8 {, White can take the rook on h8; and} 26. Bg4 $1 {also wins.}) 21. Rf5 $1 {(3 points). Plunging into the complications.} ({Also advantageous, but with an endgame in mind, is} 21. Rxe6 $1 {(2 points) and after} bxc3 22. Qxh8+ Kc7 23. Qxb8+ Kxb8 24. Rxe7 cxb2 25. Kxb2 {, White is much better, decisively so according to the chess engines. White has a material advantage, which in many variations allows him to exchange the two rooks for the queen, reaching a winning pawn ending.}) ({Less clear is} 21. Rf7 {(0 points), which leads to the same ending as after 21 Rxe6, but without having captured the e6-pawn.}) (21. Rf3 $6 {(deduct 1 point), isn't dangerous, because there are no substantial threats and Black can fight on with} Rg8 {.}) 21... e5 {Now there are no less than three white pieces en prise. *** Your Move ***} 22. Qa7 $1 {(2 points). The only move, but crushing.} Qb6 {The ending offers no relief, but there's nothing anything better.} ({On} 22... Rc8 {, White can play} 23. Nd5 {; e.g.} bxa3 24. b4 Qa4 25. Qb6+ {, mating.}) 23. Qxb6+ Rxb6 {*** Your Move ***} 24. Nd5 {(1 point). Forced - any other move loses 1 point.} Bxf5 {*** Your Move ***} 25. exf5 $1 {(3 points). This exchange sacrifice is the most forceful continuation; in return White gets two pawns, a dangerous passed f-pawn and a 3-to-1 majority on the kingside, without allowing any counterplay.} (25. Nxb6 $6 {(deduct 1 point) is less clear, as it gives Black some hopes of salvation, based on his bishop pair and active play; for example,} Bxe4 26. axb4 Rf8 27. Bxa6 Rf2 28. Bd3 Bxg2 29. Bxh7 Kc7 30. Nc4 Bc6 31. Rd2 Rf4 {etc.}) 25... Rb8 26. f6 Bf8 27. axb4 Kd7 28. g4 Rg8 29. h4 h6 30. Rg1 $1 {There are many winning moves, but this is the clearest way; White gets two connected passed pawns and the rest is straightforward.} e4 31. g5 hxg5 32. hxg5 Ke6 33. Bc4 Ke5 34. g6 Bh6 35. Ne7 Rgd8 36. g7 {. Mikhail Tal vs. Semen Furman, Riga 1955. --- Some lessons from this game: -- 1. You should always give serious consideration to any possible pawn breaks; equally you should not rush in without precise calculation. (11 e5?) -- 2. It helps to be familiar with the typical manoeuvres in the positions you are playing. (11 Kb1!, 13 f5!) -- 3. You should do training to be able to sense the critical moments of the game, when precise calculation is needed. (15...b4!, 18...Rf8!, 20 Rxf6!) -- 4. Of course it's always good to capture material 'for nothing', but you should always check to see whether it really is 'for nothing' and decide whether it's better to decline the offer. (25 exf5!) --- How did you do? (Maximum score: 45 points) -- More than 39 points: Super-Grandmaster. -- Between 35 and 39 points: Grandmaster. -- Between 28 and 34 points: International Master. -- Between 20 and 27 points: Tal is one of your favourite players! -- Between 10 and 19 points: You found several key moves. -- Less than 10 points: You need to be more careful next time!} 1-0