? 1995
The importance of being active
"The most important single feature of any chess position - is the
activity of the pieces... opening, middle-game and ESPECIALLY endgame."-- MICHAEL STEAN in Simple Chess
Exeter juniors played a match last season where we lost one game by our player not being quite active enough - and won another, where the situation was reversed.
Szymanski,W - Mackeith-Prince,E
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 d6 [blocks in the Bf8 - you must play as actively as you can: 3...Nf6 and 3...Bc5 are better ]
4. h3 [waste of time]
4...Nf6 5. d3 a6 [also a waste of time]
6. Ng5! Be6 7. Nxe6 fxe6 8. Bxe6 Qe7 9. Bc4 O-O-O 10. Nc3 Nd4 11. Be3 Ne6 12. Nd5 Nxd5 13. Bxd5 c6 14. Bc4 Kb8 15. Bxe6 [This is the SIXTH move with this piece!]
15...Qxe6 16. d4 [White must complete development - this adventure just returns the pawn in the end.]
16...d5 17. f3 dxe4 18. c3 c5 [excellent]
19. fxe4 cxd4 20. cxd4 exd4 21. Bf4+ Bd6 22. Bxd6+ Rxd6
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All of White's pieces are on their original squares! 23. Qg4 Rg8
Black has played very well so far and has a lead in development and control of the centre - but this move is too passive. Better is 23...Re8! when 24. Qxg7 Qxe4+ wins - White cannot avoid mate]
24. O-O Qxg4 25. hxg4 Re8 26. Rfe1 d3 27. Re3 d2 28. Rd1 Kc7 29. Kf2 Rd4 30. Kf3 Kc6
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This ending looks promising for Black, who has a temporary advantage in the advanced d-pawn, but the d-pawn will come under attack. While White is trying to get that attack organised Black must strike elsewhere. The key idea for either side is to attack the enemy pawns on the seventh rank 31. Kg3 Kd6 32. Re2 Kc5 [32...Rexe4 33. Rxe4 Rxe4 34. Rxd2+ Kc6 is clearly level]
33. Rexd2 Rxd2 34. Rxd2 Rxe4 35. Rc2+ [much better is 35. Rd7: White must play in as attacking a fashion as possible]
35...Rc4 36. Rf2 Kd4 37. Rd2+ [again I prefer 37. Rf7]
37...Ke3 38. Rd7 b5 [38...Rb4 39. b3]
39. Ra7 Rc6 40. Rxg7 a5 41. Rxh7 Kd4 42. Kh4 Rc2
The right idea, but a bit late! 43. Rd7+ Kc5 44. Rc7+ [whoops]
44...Kb4 45. Rxc2 a4 46. a3+ Kb3 47. Re2 b4 48. axb4 Kxb4 49. g5 Kc4 50. g6 Kd3 51. Rf2 Ke3 52. Rf3+ Ke2 53. g7 Kd2 54. g8=Q Kc2 55. Rf2+ Kd3 56. Qd5+ Ke3 57. Rf3+ Ke2 58. Qd3+ Ke1 59. Rf1# 1-0 Richards,S - Butler,D Torbay Juniors Vs. Exeter Juniors
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Bc4 d6 [again, blocks the Bf8. Alternatives are (a) 3...Nxe4 the Boden-Kieseritsky Gambit, or (b) 3...Nc6 the safe Two Knights' Defence]
4. d3 Be6 5. Bb3 Nbd7 6. Be3 c6 7. Nbd2 d5 8. Bg5 Qc7 9. h3 a5 10. a3 Bc5 [10...Bd6 is more solid]
11. Qe2
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Black has a small advantage based on the more active centre. Over the next few moves Black allows this centre to be fixed and weakened, and eventually destroyed. 11...d4 12. Bxf6 Nxf6 13. Bxe6 fxe6 14. Nc4 Nd7 [much too passive; better is 14...Bd6 threatening ...b5]
15. Ng5 Nf8 16. Qg4 Ke7 17. Nf3 Ng6 18. Qg5+ Kd7 19. Ncxe5+ Nxe5 20. Nxe5+ Kc8 21. Nf3 Qb6 22. Qxg7 Qd8 23. Qe5 Bb6 24. Qxe6+ Kb8
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Black is busted, I'm sure you realise. Now White should castle Queen's-side, and then play to advance the e- and f-pawns. Instead he makes some common mistakes:
(a) he fails to complete development as fast as he can,
(b) he wastes time playing pointless checks with his Queen, and, most importantly,
(c) he allows Black's awklard pieces to come to life.
25. Qe5+ Ka7 26. O-O Rc8 27. Nd2 Bc7 28. Qc5+ Bb6 [28...b6 is a cheeky one, keeping the bishop on an active diagonal]
29. Qf5 Rc7 30. Nc4 Rf8 31. Qh5 a4 32. Nxb6 Kxb6 33. b4 axb3 34. cxb3 Ka7 35. Qa5+ [Just checks the king into safety!]
35...Kb8 36. Qb4 Rg8 37. Ra2 c5 38. Qa5 Rxg2+ [superb!]
39. Kh1 Rgg7 40. b4 Qc8 [40...Qh4 immediately is more accurate]
41. Kh2 Qf4+ 42. Kh1 Qf3+ 43. Kh2 Qg2#]
41. Kh2 Rg6 42. Raa1 Rg5 [better 42...Rh6]
43. bxc5 [Pointless, allowing Black to bring his other rook into play with gain of time]
43...Rcxc5 44. Qb4 Rg6!
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Threat ...Qxh3+! [The natural 44...Rh5 also wins]
Black's rooks dominate the game, while White's rooks are sitting about on the touchline. 45. Qxc5 Qxc5 46. Rg1 Rxg1 47. Rxg1 Qxa3 48. f4 Qxd3 49. e5 0-1
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Dr. Dave
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