On the way to 60 Memorable Games?
In this article, Justin (1714) annotates his win against Kam Wa Siu (1920) during his unbeaten 1990-rated 3/5 performance at the five-round Sheffield Open.
John (2070), who also finished unbeaten on 3.5/5, also chips in.
Smith, Justin - Wa Siu, Kim
Sheffield Open 2024
(John) White's play in this game is rated as 99% accuracy according to Lichess, pretty remarkable for a 1700 player? What's remarkable was that the moves aren't particularly remarkable... Sometimes, just solid principles and calm play takes you a long way!
1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 c5 3.Bg2 Nc6 4.d4 cxd4
This sequence of trades enters a favourable pawn structure for white. This shows how even 2000 players are sketchy when it comes to these dull Reti-type positions that can often carry a bite. This exchange is the most popular move by far at 'club' level (Lichess main database). It has been played at master's level a fair bit too. The key is not just the move itself but the ability to play that style of position that follows...
5.Nxd4 e5 6.Nxc6 bxc6 7.c4
Blacks pawn centre looks strong but can be quickly undermined due to blacks lack of development. Black is still in the game, of course, and the likes of Anand and Akobian have played this from the black side; however, it's for sure a positional concession requiring active play to compensate.
7...Bb4+
(John): This is not the way to go... Maybe when played, black thought d4 'defeated' Nc3. Better for black is simple development with Nf6, Be6, Qd7, Rb8 etc.
8.Nc3
No need to be afraid of the pin as the d4 threat is good for white - see variation in next note.
8...Ne7?
I assume the idea behind this was to protect c6 so d4 becomes a real threat. Also the knight on e7 cannot be pressured by a Bg5, and also allows black to play f6, so it looks like Black’s centre is more stable.
[8...d4 9.a3 Ba5 10.Bxc6+ Bd7 11.Qa4 dxc3 12.Bxd7+ Qxd7 13.Qxa5+/-]
9.cxd5 Bxc3+
The issue for black is he can't recapture with the c6 pawn as the dark squared bishop would be subsequently lost to a Qa4+, and recapturing with the knight would misplace the knight due to the long diagonal weakness. Therefore black trades on c3 first but this now gives white another c pawn to attack the centre with and also opens the a3-f8 diagonal for white dark-squared bishop (which may trade itself for blacks knight to remove a defender from d5)
[9...cxd5 10.Qa4+ Bd7 11.Qxb4+-; 9...Nxd5 10.0-0 Bxc3 11.bxc3 Nxc3(11...0-0 12.c4+-)12.Qc2+-]
10.bxc3
(John): Within 10 moves, a 1700 has a clear advantage against a 1900 with a relatively quiet opening... It shows that understanding of one or two positional ideas can go a long way.
10...cxd5 11.0-0 Be6
The issue for black is they cannot castle easily as they have to look after their fragile centre. Black protects the centre and plans to vacate the diagonal.
[11...0-0 12.c4 e4 13.cxd5 Nxd5 14.Bxe4+/-]
12.c4 Rc8?!
Inaccuracy. Qa5 was best. Vacating the diagnonal as planned. Also pressuring the c4 pawn. However the a7 pawn is now weak, which forces the next sequence where blacks king gets exposed.
[12...Qa5 13.Bd2 Qa6 14.cxd5 Nxd5 15.e4 Ne7 16.Bb4 Nc6 17.Bc5 Rc8 18.Qh5]
13.cxd5 Bxd5
[13...Nxd5 Leads to a similar variation to the game but with the knight on d5 instead of the bishop. The knight on d5 is even worse.]
14.Qa4+ Qd7
Parrying both the check and protecting
15.Qxd7+ Kxd7 16.Rd1 Ke6
Required to protect the pinned bishop.
17.e4
Opening the file for the rook by forcing the bishop to move. More importantly preparing for the incoming Bh3+.
17...Bc6?!
Inaccuracy. Ba8 was best.
[17...Ba8 18.Ba3 Rcd8 19.Rac1 g5 20.Bh3+ Kf6 21.Bb2 Rhg8 22.f3 Nc6 23.Kf2]
18.Bh3+
(John): What's so bad for black? Level material, centralised king in a near-endgame, slight lead in development...? It's all due to the two bishops; they love space, black's king is vulnerable, and the knight - unless it can get to d4 and root itself - is dominated.
18...f5 19.exf5+
Now the inclusion e4 makes sense.
19...Nxf5
20.Bb2!
The move i found hardest to find in the game. Be3 might seem logical to attack a7 with tempo. But thats just a one move threat. The e5 is the weakness that is most important. It turns out black cannot easily add any more defenders so Re1 is going to be killer. The prophylaxis behind this move (and how I came to it) is that white wants to stop black playing Kf6, getting out of the pin. Kf6 is no longer possible due to the subsequent f4! Often the best move is the simplest when you ignore distractions. Develops a piece, connects the rooks, eyes the best possible diagonal...
20...Rhd8
21.Rxd8
As e5 is understandable I decided to trade rooks to simplify. Maybe better to keep the black rook on c8, in line with whites bishop but I feared any counterplay on the second rank
21...Rxd8 22.Re1 Rd5 23.f4
And the e5 pawn is lost. I did consider Bg2 to try and trade the bishop for the rook, and deflect the rook from the defence of the e5 pawn. I would of preferred this as its less weakening than f4. However black has a counter attack (never too late to lose an advantage).
[23.Bg2 Rb5! Black can counter attack the white bishop.(23...Rc5 24.Bxc6 Rxc6 25.Rxe5++-)24.Bxe5 Rxe5 25.Rxe5+ Kxe5 26.Bxc6]
23...e4 24.Rxe4+ Kf7 25.Re5
White does need to be careful of back rank checks, and then black picking up the bishop on b2.
25...Rd1+ 26.Kf2 Nd6??
Blunder. g6 was best. Going all out for tricks but its just losing.
[26...Rd2+ 27.Re2 Saves the day.; 26...g6 27.Bxf5 Rd2+ 28.Ke3 Rxb2 29.Be6+ Kf6(29...Kf8 30.Rc5 Be8 31.h4 Rb7 32.g4)30.h4+/-]
27.Be6+
27...Kg6??
Checkmate is now unavoidable. Kf6 was best. Black had to play Kf6 but still loses material.
[27...Kf6 28.Re1+ Ke7 29.Rxd1 Kxe6 30.Bxg7 h5 31.Be5 Nc4 32.Ba1 Be4 33.Rd4]
28.Rg5+ Kh6 29.Bxg7 Checkmate
Justin (and John)