[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Crafty"]
[Black "AlexAlex"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D83"]
[Annotator "AlexAlex, msh"]

1. d4

{ MH: Black usually wants to prevent White from getting the broad pawn
  center with e2-e4, so 1...f5, 1...d5 and 1...Nf6 are favorites. If Black
  plays a Modern/Pirc against 1. e4 then 1...g6 could be used to lead
  White into that opening. }

1...Nf6

{ MH: White can play 2. Nf3, but 2. c4 is far and away the favorite. White
  threatens to use all his pawns to smother Black; his punishment for not
  using pawns more forcefully in the center. Of course, after the
  development of hypermodernism we've learned Black doesn't have to occupy
  the center with pawns to survive. }

2. c4

{ MH: Popular responses are: 2...c5 (intending 3. d5 b5 Benko Gambit),
  2...e6 (to continue with 3...Bb4 (Bogo-Indian or Nimzo-Indian or 3...c5,
  a Benoni) or 3...b6 (Queen's Indian Defense), 2...g6 (leading to a
  Gruenfeld or King's Indian Defense) or possibly 2...e5 (a Budapest
  Gambit). Recently I've preferred 2...c5, but have also played several
  others. }

2...g6

{ MH: Since Black doesn't have ...Bf8-b4 White will usually follow-up with
  3. Nc3, but 3. g3 or 3. Nf3 are also quite playable. }

3. Nc3

{ MH: Decision time: do you want to play a King's Indian Defense with
  3...Bg7 or a Gruenfeld with 3...d5? }

3...d5

{ MH: White can continue developing with 4. Nf3 (usually followed with
  5. Qb3 the Russian System), a move which has proven quite successful
  recently, or 4. cxd5 (Exchange Variation), continuing to get rid of
  Black's central control. The less common 4. Bg5 (Taimanov Variation) is
  also interesting, but not often seen. }

4. Bf4

{ MH: This is a less known line (to me as well as most players). The idea
  is partly to trade at d5, deflecting Qd8 from the defense of Pc7. I've
  seen Black play into the gambit and get good piece activity as
  compensation. 4...c6 is probably playable, but usually you'd want to
  play ...c5 to fight on the queen-side dark squares, especially now that
  they're weaker with Bf4. So, 4...Bg7, 4...c6 or 4...c5 is probably the
  choice. }

4...Bg7

{ MH: 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Nxd5 Qxd5 7. Bxc7 is the gambit line. White could,
  of course, continue to develop in other familiar ways: Nf3, Qb3, e3. }

5. e3

{ MH: White has a hold on e5, so c4-c5 might be considered a threat. Black
  would do well to play 5...c5 and continue developing actively. It might
  look a little insane to do this as after 5...c5 6. dxc5 Qa5 White has
  Pd5 in his grasp. But, Nc3 is pinned and that makes a big difference.
  In typical Gruenfeld tradition Black might also get in ...Rf8-d8 to play
  on the d-file. }

5...O-O

{ MH: I wonder what happens after 6. c5. Can Black fight through on square
  e5 to gain activity or does he get squeezed too severely to ever get out
  of the bind. The gambit is still on too. 6. cxd5 or 6. Nf3 can be
  played. }

6. Qb3

{ AA: My opening preparation ends here.

  MH: I'm not familiar with this branch. It appears White is mixing
  systems. If Pd4 & Pe3 are solid enough, so that ...c5 can't put a dent
  in them then it does make sense to play actively, threaten Pd5 and Pb7.
  With Qb3 he also clears the way for Ra1-d1 to strengthen the center. It
  might be correct to say ...c5 is now incorrect because White has
  defended Nc3 and will have Ra1-d1 to support a d-file pawn. Black
  probably needs to play 6...dxc4 to get rid of the weak pawn. Then he can
  play around White's central pawns with ...Nc6, ...Nf6-d7-b6 (blocking
  the threat to Pb7) and then ...Bc8-??. This is a risky situation because
  White controls the pawn structure changes and Black is a bit cramped. It
  might be nice to have something like 6...dxc4 then ...a6, ...b5, ...Bb7,
  but there might be too much opportunity for White to pressure Pc7 for
  that to work. Start with 6...cxc4 and see what happens. }

6...dxc4 7. Bxc4

{ MH: 7...Nc6 threatens ...Na5 to get rid of Bc4. That would ease the
  cramp considerably. 7...a6 threatens ...b5, ...Bb7 and that's good too.
  Which is better? I'm not sure. 7...Nc6 8. Nb5 Na5 9. Qc3 and it looks
  like Nb5-c7 will happen whether it wins the pawn or not. Maybe 7...a6
  and then depending upon White's response ...b5 or ...Nc6 or even
  ...b6. }

7...Nh5

{ AA: I want to change Bf4. I don't like its pressure on c7 (I am afraid
  of Nb5)

  MH: Rightfully so. There's nothing wrong with Nh5 to get rid of Bf4
  except that it weakens e4 & d5 for later. White will probably play
  8. Bg5 to make it as difficult as possible for Black to get the
  bishop. }

8. Be5

{ AA: I think this is an error.

  MH: Well, that's surprising. Bg7 isn't the hero of this game the way it
  might be in some games. Pd4 hasn't been weakened, so there's no pressing
  need to trade it off. Black can even gain some time with ...Nc6 (before
  or after ...Bxe5), so it doesn't seem very good for White. I'm a little
  concerned about the opening of the d-file. 8...Nc6 9. Bxg7 Nxg7 and
  Black isn't doing so bad. White has to deal with the threat of ...Na5
  and Black is close to playing ...Be6 to trade more pieces. Anyway, it
  seems to put an end to the threat to Pc7. I think you have to be very
  courageous to play ...Bxe5 because that leaves the dark squares weak
  and Nh5 a little stuck. }

8...Bxe5

{ MH: Opening the d-file is risky and you could've gotten this trade (most
  probably) without spending the tempo yourself. White will, of course,
  play dxe5 and then probably Ra1-d1. }

9. dxe5

{ AA: Now the pawn structure is good for black:
  -white can't create a passed pawn on the kingside
  -black can create on the queenside
  So if all pieces will be changed black would win. Now simplifications
  helps black's victory

  MH: White will avoid too many simplifying exchanges and try to have
  better piece activity as compensation for the worse pawns. What is
  Black going to do about Ra1-d1? Can Black  avoid trading pawns if White
  plays e5-e6? If not  then how can Black develop Bc8? Look at ...e6 (to
  keep the pawn structure as you said and to give Qd8 a square, e7) and
  then maybe ...b6, ...Bb7. Hmmm. Nc3-e4-f6 could be very strong. Maybe
  ...e6 isn't so good. How about 9...c6 10. e6 f6 11. Rd1 Qc7. At least
  this way you keep your pawns in position to hold back White's pieces a
  while. }

9...e6

{ AA: I play e6 to defend f7-square but, during the match, I didn't see
  that Qg5 was threatened.

  MH: Weakening squares around Kg8 certainly gives White ideas. It's
  amazing how even the most appealing move in a chess game can have a
  downside, problems. That's how Steinitzian/Classical positional play was
  developed. The masters of that day recognized that some weaknesses are
  relatively permanent and you just don't know what might come up 10 moves
  down the road, so don't weaken things unless you know for a fact it
  can't be exploited. Of course, that's rather limiting, so today's
  players play actively and within a plan to keep the opponent's pieces
  occupied as much as possible. In this position Black needs piece
  activity very quickly. Threats to Ke1 or piece trades would help
  immensely. 10. Nf3 secures Pe5 and prepares Ra1-d1 and then one of
  several plans, including possibly Ke2, g4 with a direct line-opening
  king-side assault. Safer, of course, is Nf3, O-O. }

10. Qc2

{ AA: ... so I didn't understand this move! Now if Qg5 then f4!

  MH: I'd guess Qc2 is to defend Pg2, as you say, and to line up with Pc7
  and to maneuver Qe4 to defend Pe5 and to have good effect all over the
  board. Most people move all their pieces into play so there will be a
  bigger effect when the clash of forces happens. For now Bc8-d7-c6 is
  good, with ...Nb8-d7 to follow. }

10...c5

{ AA: My idea is to put my pieces in this way: Qc7, Nc6, a6, b5, Bb7, Rd8,
  Ng7 (in any order). I prefer a6-b5 instead of b6 for these reasons: I
  gain more space, I activate my queenside's pawns, I don't lose a tempo
  with a6-b5 (instead of b6) because I attack Bc4 (with b5)

  MH: d6 is weakened and your pieces remain undeveloped (for at least this
  one move). Pc5 is also undefended, so Nc3-e4 (for example) would gain
  time by threatening it while maneuvering toward the king-side.

  It appears to me your plan is one which is most relevant in the more
  common Gruenfeld defense variations (Exchange Variation mostly). In this
  position things are a little different. I'm not saying Black is lost,
  just that you need to base your plans on the situation at hand and what
  it might become. For example, ...a6, ...b5 is likely to be prevented by
  a2-a4. After Ne4 White has play all around Black's pawns (except over at
  h6). It's unlikely Black will get rid of the weaknesses at f6 and b5. }

11. Nf3

{ MH: Let's see how White combats it. I suggest ...Nc6 intending ...Qc7,
  ...Nxe5 and/or ...b6, ...Bb7. }

11...a6 12. Rd1 Qc7

{ MH: Black might be intending ...b6, ...Bc8-b7xf3, ...Qxe5. So, Nc3-e4
  could hop in to d6 to prevent ...Bc8-b7xf3 or to hop in at f6 to force
  a trade, leaving Pf6 less vulnerable. 13. a4 might also get the job done
  after 13...b6 14. Ne4 Bb7 15. Nf6+ Nxf6 16. exf6 Qe5 17. Qc3. But,
  avoiding a queen trade would be better for White. I'm beginning to think
  White should've played f2-f4. Pe5 looks weak now. Even after Nc3-e4-d6
  Black might have ...f6 to undermine the knight. Maybe it's just
  13. a4 b6 14. Bd3 Bb7 15. Be4. }

13. O-O

{ MH: Lack of concern for Pe5 surprises me. Or is it o.k.? 13...Nc6
  14. Rd6 f6 15. Bxe6+ is interesting. What about 13...b5 and 14...Bb7?
  That looks pretty good too. Of course, if Black can't win Pe5 he should
  keep Bb7 to grab Nc3-e4 before it can hop in to f6. }

13...b5

{ MH: If Bc4-d3-e4 then Nc3 might get kicked by ...b4 (not especially
  good before the endgame is in sight) to a4 or e2. Either way Pc5 is
  weakened considerably. If Bc4-e2 then White retains Nc3-e4, but Be2
  isn't especially useful until Nf3 can move. White has to be careful to
  keep Nf3 to keep Pe5. }

14. Bd3

{ AA: I think d6-square is the best outpost for white's attack. So this
  move is an error in my opinion, a good move is Be2 (with the idea
  Rd6-Rfd1) }

( { MH: } 14. Be2 Bb7 15. Rd6 Nd7 16. Rfd1 Nb6 { and White has the d-file,
  but Black has gotten pieces developed and still has a safe king. } )

14...Nc6 15. Be4 Bb7

{ MH: I think Black is in pretty good shape now. with ...b5 and the other
  minor pieces developed and a chance of winning Pe5 things are looking
  up. White has decent pieces, but doesn't seem to have any aim toward
  exploiting the weak dark squares around Kg8. Next, when Bb7 is
  defended, it seems 16. Bxc6 Bxc6 17. Ne4 may be required to keep Pe5
  safe. 16. Rd2 and Rf1-d1 to invade at d7 might be useful. }

16. b3

{ MH: Preventing ...c4 could be useful, but in some endings it might
  assist Black when advancing pawns quickly. Black should continue to
  develop forcefully with 16...Rfd8. Trading heavy pieces and neutralizing
  the d-file limits White's chances and maximizes the chance that just
  one more small advantage, such as winning Pe5, will win the game for
  Black. }

16...Rfd8

{ MH: I'm not finding anything good for White. I guess he's in trouble.
  Qc2-b2 to be able to defend Pe5 is about all I see. That's not very
  hopeful. }

17. a3

{ MH: 17...Rxd1 18. Rxd1 Rd8 }

17...Ng7 18. Ne2

{ AA: This is a good move.

  MH: 18...Ne7 19. Bxb7 Qxb7 20. Qxc5, so Pc5 needs a better defense.
  Perhaps 18...Na5 or maybe 18...Qb6 19. Rc1 Na5 }

18...Rxd1

{ AA: I think simplifications help black's plans

  MH: I have thought that too, but at this particular moment it might be
  unwise to give up the d-file when your next chore is to defend Pc5. }

19. Rxd1

{ MH: Black might try 19...Rd8 and Pc5 is immune because Rd1 isn't
  defended. Then 20. Rxd8+ could be answered by either ...Nxd8 so that
  Qc7 defends Pc5 or ...Qxd8 so that Qc2xc5 is met by ...Qd1# Maybe
  18...Rxd1 was just fine! }

19...Rd8 20. h3

{ MH: To trade or not to trade, that is the question.

  Trading gains a valuable tempo by taking the threat off Pc5, so that
  20...Rxd1+ 21. Qxd1 Nf5 inches Black closer to a winning ending.

  Not trading means Pc5 needs a defender and Qc8 is already being used to
  defend Rd8. }

20...Rxd1+ 21. Qxd1 Na5

{ AA: More simplifictions... }

22. Bxb7 Nxb7

{ MH: ...Ng7-f5-e7-d5 would be very strong. White still has no way to get
  at Kg8, so arranging a defensive posture is essential. Pe5 can be
  defended with Qa1, but that gives up the d-file. Ne2-f4 covers d-file
  squares, but might be kicked later by ...h6, ...g5. So, it's hard to
  prevent an invasion on the d-file by Black. Kf1 or Ne2-f4-d3 are
  possibilities. }

23. e4

{ AA: During the match I didn't understand this move (white wants to
  avoid Nf5). I think this is an uncolorful move.

  MH: I hadn't considered this. Maybe he wants Qd1-d2-h6, Nf3-g5. To
  prevent that 23...h6 or 23...Qd8 24. Qc1 Ne8 25. Qh6 f6 26. exf6 Nxf6
  and Black's king is a little more exposed, but Black's pieces are
  untangled. }

23...Ne8

{ AA: After the match I found Qd8! (good move). During the match I didn't
  see the importance of controlling the d-columun. }

24. a4

{ MH: 24...Qd8 intending ...Ne8-c7-a8-b6 would put the knight in good
  position to support ...c4. Also 24...h6 is still sensible. }

24...Na5

{ MH: 25. axb5 and there's one less Black pawn to worry about. }

25. axb5 axb5

{ MH: 26. Qd2 can't be played now, so Na5 has had some good effect.
  26. Qd3, to threaten Pb5 or going to e3 to keep Pb3 defended and
  continue the threat at h6... }

26. Nc3

( { MH: } 26. Qd2 Nxb3 27. Qh6 f6 28. exf6 Nxf6 29. 
  { and Black's king-side seems to hold together alright; so Black's
  queen-side pawns should win -- maybe. } )


{ MH: I actually like that move. At just the moment when Black's Ne8 is
  awkward and Qd1 has the d-file how does Black deal with Pb5? 26...Qb8
  27. Qd7 and Nf3-g5, Qd7xf7 wins. 26...Qb7 27. Qd8 and one knight or the
  other will fall. 26...Qc6 might be the best response. }

26...b4

{ AA: Now my pawns are weaker but I think that Na5 can help me to play
  c5-c4 (after that my pawns are strong)

  MH: Perhaps. At least you're planning for the future and not just
  considering one move ahead.

  Nc3-a2 is certainly unappealing and probably doesn't prevent ...c4
  anyway. White can't make inroads on Black's position, so Kg8 stays safe
  and the pawns slowly advance. I think this is clearly an advantage which
  is hard to stop. -/+

  27. Na4 to get a hold of square b2 might be good. Then if
  27...c4 28. bxc4 Nxc4 (28...Qxc4 29. Qd7) 29. Qc2 or 29. Qb3 }

27. Nb5

{ MH: I don't know that this changes the fundamental elements, but Nb5xc7
  requires Qc7 to move and Nb5-d6 with Nf3-g5xf7 is a real threat.
  27...Qc7 to prevent an incursion by Qd1 might be needed. If then
  28. Nd6 Qd8 (avoiding a d-file pin problem since ...Ne8xd6-b7 defends
  Qd8). Oddly, in some cases it might be useful to Black to keep knights
  on the board to support queen-side pawn moves. Mostly it's important to
  get rid of the White queen. }

27...Qc6 28. Nd6 Qd7

{ MH: White has a moment to threaten Nf3-g5xf7 and Black just about has to
  trade at d6 to avoid problems. That helps White straighten-out his
  pawns. Is it enough to hold a draw? I don't know. After ...f6 White
  doesn't get e4-e5 to support Pd6. Maybe White should just continue with
  the construction of his fortress with 29. Qd3 and Nf3-d2. In either case
  Qd1 isn't defended, so ...f6 could be played! Qd1 has to move to a
  defended square and he can't defend Pb3 from the d-file, so Qd1 has to
  move off the file. That means Nd6 will be captured, so White has to
  threaten something of Black's. 29. Qc2 Nxd6 30. exd6 (30. Qxc5 Ndb7
  31. Qxb4) Qxd6 is awfully good for Black. }

29. Qd3

{ MH: 29...f6 }

29...Nb7

{ AA: I played this move quickly because I see there is the queens'
  change; but I didn't see that after that black's advantage is very
  small: black pawns on the queenside are not so strong... and it is
  difficult to create a passed pawn. After the match I noticed that Nc6
  is better.

  MH: It looks very good to me. Sometimes there is more than one good
  move in a position. }

30. Qb5 Qxb5 31. Nxb5

{ MH: If 31...Na5 32. Nd2 f6 33. f4, so 31...f6 and then ...Na5 should
  enable your knights to activate quite well. White always has to be on
  his toes to avoid ...c4 (a pawn sac) from freeing Pb4 to promote. }

31...Kf8 32. Kh2

{ AA: I think this is the decisive error: white wants to attack on the
  kingside where he can't create a passed pawn.

  MH: Yes, very bad, but maybe not decisive. }

32...Ke7 33. Kg3 Kd7 34. Kf4 h6

{ MH: And that's that. White has spent three tempi and Black one on
  defense. Instead Nb5 is a sitting duck and Kd7 is running to support his
  queen-side pawns. }

35. h4

{ MH: 35...Nc7 to chase Nb5 away from square d6 (a route to Pf7). The
  knight trade would just be one step closer to victory for Black. }

35...Nc7

{ AA: I see that Nb5 has few mobility but after Kc6 it can't be captured:
  35...Kc6 36 Na7+ Kb6 37 Nc8+ ...

  MH: The knight can't retreat and at a7 it doesn't help defend against
  the pawns, so 36. Na7? Na5 37. Nd2 c4 is probably winning. After the
  knight trade it's very close to -+ because Black can make a passer
  easier than White. }

36. Nxc7 Kxc7 37. g4

{ MH: Here precision is essential. What is White's plan? Clearly g4-g5 is
  met by ...h5, so it has to be h4-h5 when Black doesn't have ...g5
  because Nf3xg5 Ne8 Nh7-f6-g8xh6 crashes through. Instead 37...Kc6
  38. h5 c4 39. bxc4 Kc5 40. Nd2 Kd4 and Black's king & knight over-power
  White's knight and keep Kf4 out of play. The only thing to watch out
  for is White playing g5 to blast through the king-side. Black has to
  get rid of pawns fast with ...h6xg5+ and ...g6xh5. }

37...Kc6 38. Nd2

{ MH: Possibly best, but not stopping Black yet. 38...Na5 and ...c4 soon
  follows. }

38...Na5

{ MH: I'd generally expect 39. Ke3. Interestingly the pawn ending after
  the queen-side is liquidated could still be a winner for Black. His king
  would be much better. }

39. f3 $4

( 39. Ke3 c4 40. bxc4 Kc5 41. Kd3 b3 42. Kc3 b2 43. Kxb2 Nxc4+
  44. Kc3 Nxd2 45. Kxd2 Kd4 46. f3 Kxe5 47. Ke3 g5 { and Black has the
  opposition with a chance to get in to f4 or further. Black also has
  several extra pawn moves to regain opposition. } 48. h5 { This is
  required. Black has no corresponding pawn move to make (as he would
  after hxg5 with ...hxg5), so that gives Black one less pawn move! }
  48...f6 49. Ke2 Kf4
  ( 49...Kd4 50. Kd2 e5 51. Ke2 Kc4 52. Ke3 Kc3 53. Ke2 Kd4 54. Kd2 $11 )
  50. Kf2 e5
  ( 50...f5 51. exf5 exf5 52. gxf5 Kxf5 53. Kg3 Ke5 54. Kg4 $11 )
  51. Ke2
  ( 51. Kg2 Ke3 52. Kg3 Ke2 53. Kg2 $11 )
  51...Kg3 52. Ke3 Kg2 53. Ke2 $11 { White holds the draw! } )

39...c4 40. bxc4 Kc5 41. g5 h5 42. Kg3

{ AA: If Ke3? then Nxc4! }

42...b3

{ AA: Now I think black is winning forcibly

  MH: Yep! -+

  42...Kd4, chasing Nd2 away from the pawn, so it can promote
  to a queen is also easy. }

43. Kf2 b2 44. Nb1

{ MH: 44. Ke3 Nxc4+ }

44...Kxc4 45. Ke3 Kb3 46. Kd3

{ MH: White's king might not have gotten back this close if Black had
  focused on ...Kc5-d4-e3 to kick Nd2 and keep Kg3 out of play. }

46...Nc4 47. f4 Na3 48. Nc3 b1=Q+ 49. Nxb1 Nxb1

{ AA: Now the match is totaly win for black 

  MH: Yes, I agree. }

50. Ke3

0-1

