Pál Charles Benkö – Roberto Cosulich
11th International Tournament; Venice, November 1974
English Opening A29
11th International Tournament; Venice, November 1974
English Opening A29
Notes by Grandmaster Pál Charles Benkö, Chess Life & Review, Vol. XXX, No. 2, February 1975, pp. 81-82, and The Chess Player, No. 7/1974, 883, p. 220.
I had to play Cosulich in the last round, and whether or not he would make the IM norm depended on this game. But for me it was the last chance to improve my standing after my bad luck the previous day.
1. c4 e5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 Nc6?! (3. ... c6!?)
4. Nf3! White deliberately delays Nb1-c3, since then Black could play ... Bf8-b4 adopting a very popular line today which my opponent played in this tournament. Also, my game with Malich (Skopje 1972) followed that line, which I analyzed in CL&R.
4. ... Bc5 5. 0-0 (5. Nxe5?!)
5. ... 0-0 6. Nc3 d6 7. d3 Bd7 8. e3⩲ Bb4?!
I had to play Cosulich in the last round, and whether or not he would make the IM norm depended on this game. But for me it was the last chance to improve my standing after my bad luck the previous day.
1. c4 e5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 Nc6?! (3. ... c6!?)
4. Nf3! White deliberately delays Nb1-c3, since then Black could play ... Bf8-b4 adopting a very popular line today which my opponent played in this tournament. Also, my game with Malich (Skopje 1972) followed that line, which I analyzed in CL&R.
4. ... Bc5 5. 0-0 (5. Nxe5?!)
5. ... 0-0 6. Nc3 d6 7. d3 Bd7 8. e3⩲ Bb4?!
Obviously, Black has not achieved what he wanted with his ... Bf8-c5,
so he tries to get back in known lines.
9. Ne2!? Not much advantage was promised by 9. Nd5, e.g. 9. ... Nxd5 10. cxd5 Ne7 and 11. Qb3 to capture the QNP is not recommended.
Also possible was the simple 9. Bd2, but the text move is psychologically better motivated, as Black will have trouble with his KB later.
9. ... e4?! Trying to secure the position of his KB, but now the center is opened advantageously for White.
10. dxe4 Nxe4 11. Qc2 Re8 (11. ... Bf5? 12. Nh4)
12. a3 Bc5 13. b4 Bb6 14. Bb2±
9. Ne2!? Not much advantage was promised by 9. Nd5, e.g. 9. ... Nxd5 10. cxd5 Ne7 and 11. Qb3 to capture the QNP is not recommended.
Also possible was the simple 9. Bd2, but the text move is psychologically better motivated, as Black will have trouble with his KB later.
9. ... e4?! Trying to secure the position of his KB, but now the center is opened advantageously for White.
10. dxe4 Nxe4 11. Qc2 Re8 (11. ... Bf5? 12. Nh4)
12. a3 Bc5 13. b4 Bb6 14. Bb2±
14. ... Qe7?! (14. ... Nxf2!? 15. Kxf2!?)
Black already stands badly since the position of his Knight on e4 is far from secure. On 14. ... Bf5 White could answer 15. Nh4. If the Knight moves away, c4-c5 is menacing. Perhaps Black should have considered 14. ... Nxf2, although White’s two minor piece may prove stronger than Black’s Rook. Even capturing with the King is to be considered after 14. ... Nxf2.
15. Nf4! Black’s Queen does not stand well on e7 because of the weakness of his d5, which explains the following blunder. Black’s entire setup does not meet the demands of the position. Now if 15. ... Nxf2 16. Nd5 wins.
15. ... Nf6? (15. ... f5)
Now Black’s game collapses but his situation was not hopeful anyway.
16. Ng5!+−
Black already stands badly since the position of his Knight on e4 is far from secure. On 14. ... Bf5 White could answer 15. Nh4. If the Knight moves away, c4-c5 is menacing. Perhaps Black should have considered 14. ... Nxf2, although White’s two minor piece may prove stronger than Black’s Rook. Even capturing with the King is to be considered after 14. ... Nxf2.
15. Nf4! Black’s Queen does not stand well on e7 because of the weakness of his d5, which explains the following blunder. Black’s entire setup does not meet the demands of the position. Now if 15. ... Nxf2 16. Nd5 wins.
15. ... Nf6? (15. ... f5)
Now Black’s game collapses but his situation was not hopeful anyway.
16. Ng5!+−
Decisively strong, leaving Black no way out. On 16. ... g6, defending against the threats to his h7, 17. Bd5 would have
been very strong, e.g. 17. ... Nxd5 18. Nxd5 Qxg5 19. Nf6+ and Black’s Queen is lost. Moreover, on 17. ... Nd8 or 17. ... Rf8 protecting the weak f7, 18. Nxg6 would win easily.
16. ... Ne5 17. Nd5 1–0. After 17. Nd5 Qd8 18. Bxe5 Rxe5 19. Nxf6+ Qxf6 20. Qxh7+ Kf8 21. Qh8+ White will be ahead the Exchange and two Pawns.
16. ... Ne5 17. Nd5 1–0. After 17. Nd5 Qd8 18. Bxe5 Rxe5 19. Nxf6+ Qxf6 20. Qxh7+ Kf8 21. Qh8+ White will be ahead the Exchange and two Pawns.
No comments:
Post a Comment