[Event "team match"]
[Site "-"]
[Date "2002.09.15"]
[Round "1"]
[White "wiemer"]
[Black "skapski"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B85"]
[Annotator "wiemer, Killerman"]
[PlyCount "151"]
[EventDate "2002.??.??"]

1. e4 1... c5 {The Sicilian Defence} 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 4... d6 {
I think this move order allows white to play 5.c4 after 5.Nc3 Black has
nothing better than to transpose to the normal lines. Killerman: Yes, I like
c4 here which sets up the Maroczy Bind in the centre stopping Black from a
future d5. I find it a slightly more interesting way of playing this position
when given the opportunity and it avoids a lot of theory. Nc3 is of course
fine and the game continues to follow standard lines.} 5. Nc3 (5. c4 {
Killerman: these are two common lines after c4 you could look at.} 5... Nf6 6.
Nc3 g6 7. Be2 Bg7 (7... Nxd4 8. Qxd4 Bg7 9. Be3 O-O 10. Qd2 10... Be6 $11) 8.
Be3 O-O 9. O-O $11) 5... a6 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Be2 e6 8. O-O 8... Be7 {Is it possibl
e to play an immediate 8...d5 or is this premature? How would White react?
Generally are there rules or typical reasons when a d5 of Black would be
premature? Killerman: A few questions there. In answer to the first an
immediate d5 has to be unsound in principal as with the Black King in the
centre opening the e-file is not going to be the greatest idea. In addition
Black will end up with an isolated pawn on d5 which will be a target. Standard
play around an isolated pawn is to place a piece in front of it and then shoot
at it and I think White can do this comfortably as the following variations
illustrate. Even in the best line for Black he is in for a very long struggle
at best. There are sounder moves here so a possible d5 should wait until
development is complete..} ({Killerman:} 8... d5 9. exd5 exd5 (9... Nxd5 10.
Nxd5 exd5 (10... Qxd5 $6 11. Bf3 $1 11... Qd7 12. Nxc6 bxc6 13. Qe1 $14 {
avoiding queens coming off and intending Rd1}) 11. c4 $1 {
attempting to blast the position open and to catch Black's King in the centre}
11... Ne5 (11... Nxd4 $2 12. Bxd4 dxc4 13. Bxc4 {and the king is wide open}) (
11... dxc4 $2 12. Nxc6 Qxd1 13. Raxd1 bxc6 14. Bf3 {
leaves Black in positional ruin}) 12. cxd5 Qxd5 13. Re1 Be7 14. Bf4 O-O 15. Nf5
$1 15... Nf3+ 16. Bxf3 Qxf5 17. Rxe7 Qxf4 18. Qe1 $14 {
and Black is still under pressure}) 10. Re1 Be7 11. Bf3 O-O 12. Bg5 Nxd4 13.
Qxd4 Be6 14. Rad1 $14 {
rooks can be doubled up the d-file and the pawn may soon drop}) ({
Killerman: another idea that did not work is} 8... Bd7 9. f4 b5 10. a3 Be7 11.
g4 O-O 12. g5 Ne8 13. h4 f6 14. Nxc6 Bxc6 15. Bg4 Nc7 16. Bb6 f5 17. exf5 exf5
18. Bf3 Qd7 19. Re1 {Wang Zili/Portisch Yerevan 1996 1-0}) 9. Nb3 $146 {
The main idea was to play f4 and I was afraid of 9.f4 Qb6 when I was not sure
how the struggle would end. Is it possible or better for White to play f4
without Nb3 and how will White react on Qb6 then? Killerman: You are worried
about pressure on the b pawn and a possible capture. But this attack would not
be a good idea for Black. White has a perfectly good response to Qb6 as the
following shows so an immediate f4 is correct here. Black does best not to put
the queen on b6 as the b pawn cannot be safely attacked and it is also wrong
to be putting the queen opposite White's bishop. Qc7 is the normal response to
f4. Your Nb3 move is just too passive to be good and is not really in keeping
with the position, this loss of time with the knight makes your next few moves
and resulting middlegame more difficult than it ought to be.} (9. f4 9... Qb6
$2 (9... O-O 10. Qe1 Qc7 11. Kh1 Nxd4 12. Bxd4 b5 13. a3 $14) (9... Qc7 10. a4
(10. Kh1 O-O 11. a4) 10... O-O 11. Kh1 Re8 12. Bf3 $14) 10. Qd2 Qxb2 11. Rfb1
Qa3 12. Rb3 Qa5 13. Nxc6 bxc6 14. Bb6 Nxe4 15. Nxe4 Qxd2 16. Nxd2 $16) 9... b5
{Can black play 9...d5 instead? Killerman: probably but I still think this
will be the wrong plan, completing development is the most important still. b5
is good, the bishop will have a natural square on b7 and after castling Black
can think about developing the rooks and moves like d5.} 10. a3 10... Bb7 {
again may d5 be an alternative? Killerman: My comments before are still valid
completing development is best.} 11. f4 {After this move ...d5 can be met by
e5... Killerman: d5 can always be met with e5 but if Black were to play d5 now
I think that exd5 is much better} 11... O-O ({Killerman:} 11... d5 12. exd5
exd5 13. Re1 O-O 14. Bf3 $16) 12. Bf3 {My plan was to build up with Qd1- e1-g3
and f4-f5 with a kingside attack. During the game I was not sure where to move
the light squares bishop. I was afraid of moves like ...b4 when after ab4: Nb4:
the e-pawn lacks protection. Now I believe that Bd3 would have been better:
The bishop eyes on the kingside too and if a knight will capture it the c2
pawn can recapture comfortably. Killerman: Yes, it is time for a plan and you
have thought out some of the key points very well. Where I think your plan
fails is attempting to play f5. I just don't think that this will work without
you putting more pressure into the centre first. Developing your rooks after
Qg3 by Rad1 then Rf2-d2 will do this. You will certainly have to watch out for
b4 as Black will attack on the queenside. I also think he may consider moving
his k-side knight d7-b6-c4 where he can pressure you still further.} 12... Qc7
13. Qe1 13... Rfe8 {The idea maybe or was to oppose the queen, but I can
hardly believe that this move was quite effective. Killerman: If you examine
Garry Kasparov's games in the Sicilian he plays moves like Re8 and they don't
seem effective, until much later. I think it is quite in keeping with the
position that each side decides on a position for the rooks before attacking.
When Black followed up with Rac8 then I think he has a sound position. I also
think that if you play through some of my variations later you may agree that
the move Re8 is quite a good defensive/aggressive move against your f5 threat.}
14. Qg3 14... Rac8 {Killerman: I think Nd7 is also good aiming at b6 then c4
as in my previous comment.} 15. f5 $2 {Starts the planned attack. Killerman:
Did you consider what would happen if Black captured on f5? I did and it may
turn out better for Black, certainly he would not be worse. See below. Black
does not have a bad position, all of his pieces including rooks are developed
you would be better to develop your rooks too.} ({Killerman: This is how I
would play the position, but it is fair to say there are many possibilites.} 
15. Rad1 15... b4 16. axb4 Nxb4 17. Rf2 d5 18. e5 18... Nd7 $11 {I prefer White
's position here. Either rook can double on d or f files as necessary pawn
pushes with f5 or prepared with a g4 first will come later.}) 15... Ne5 $5 {
I think Whites position is quite comfortable here, but I'm not sure what was
the best way to continue. I decided to capture on e6 as long as the f-pawn has
to capture back. Killerman: Yes, after this your position is just about OK and
you do the right thing fxe6 is correct.} ({Killerman: As you play through
these variations consider how much better the positions would be if you had
developed the rooks before f5 you have certainly been better.} 15... exf5 $1
16. Bh6 (16. exf5 Ne5 17. Bh6 Nxf3+ 18. gxf3 18... Bf8 $17) 16... Bf8 17. exf5
17... d5 {after this the queens have to come off or White is worse.} 18. Qxc7 (
18. Bf4 Qb6+ 19. Kh1 19... Ne7 $15) (18. Qh4 Qb6+ (18... gxh6 19. Qxf6 Bg7 20.
Qh4 $15) 19. Kh1 Ne7) 18... Rxc7 19. Bg5 Ne5 20. Bxf6 Nxf3+ 21. Rxf3 gxf6 22.
Rg3+ 22... Bg7 $11 {Killerman: The two bishops may be better in this endgame
but White's pawn structure is better.}) 16. fxe6 fxe6 17. Nd4 17... Bf8 {
Now the bishop on f3 is quite misplaced...} ({Killerman:} 17... Nxf3+ {
is optimistic} 18. Rxf3 Qd7 19. Raf1 {the pawn cannot be taken} 19... Nxe4 20.
Qg4 Nf6 (20... Nxc3 $2 21. Rf7 g6 22. Rxh7 $3 {is winning}) 21. Rxf6 Bxf6 22.
Rxf6 $16) 18. Bg5 18... Nxf3+ {
Probably the only defence since Qe7 or Qf7 run into Bh5...} 19. Qxf3 {
Maybe gf3: would have been better...? Killerman: I think Qxf3 is correct, gxf3
runs into d5 which may be difficult to counter if you want to avoid the
exchange of queens.} (19. gxf3 d5 20. e5 (20. Qxc7 Rxc7 21. Rad1 21... e5 $17)
20... Nd7 21. f4 Bc5 22. Rad1 Nb6 23. f5 exf5 24. Rxf5 24... Nc4 $17) 19... Qf7
{Killerman: Black seems to have a good game now. I think you have to develop
your a rook to either d1 or e1.} 20. Qg3 $2 {Tries to exploit the pinned
knight, but misses the following move. Td1 may be a better idea} 20... Qg6 $1 {
Killerman:You cannot avoid the exchange of queens now} 21. Bxf6 Qxg3 22. hxg3
gxf6 23. Rad1 {I think black is surely better, but it is not so easy to
exploit this, because when the black central pawns advance there easily become
weak. Killerman: You are correct, Black has a number of small advantages which
add up to a good plus. 1. The bishop pair 2. Better pawn structure 3. Better
semi-open files He must not rush to advance the centre pawns as he must keep
you knights out of the game for the time being. I think a plan to advance the
b-pawn by Black is probably the right idea and also to centralise the King}
23... Bg7 24. Nde2 Red8 25. Nf4 Kf7 26. Rd3 26... Bf8 $2 {probably no t so
good, because now Black loses a pawn. Killerman: Black fears Rfd1 I think but
Ke7 would easily deal with this as the following shows in addition I don't
know that he needs to lose a pawn.} ({Killerman:} 26... Ke7 $1 27. Re1 {
probably best} (27. Kf2 {trying to use the h-file} 27... a5 28. Rh1 b4 29. Rxh7
(29. axb4 axb4 30. Rxh7 30... Rg8 {leads to the same thing after} 31. Nh5)
29... Rg8 30. Nh5 bxc3 31. Rxc3 Rxc3 32. bxc3 32... Kf7 $17) (27. Rfd1 Rc4 28.
Re3 Bh6 29. Kf2 29... Bg5 $17) 27... Rc5 28. Kf2 a5 29. Rde3 {
necessary to try to hold the weak e-pawn} 29... Rdc8 30. R3e2 {
trying to cover c2 also} 30... h5 31. Nd3 Rg5 32. Rd1 32... Rc4 $17 {
it is going to be difficult to stop b4}) 27. Nh5 27... Be7 $2 {
Killerman:This does lose a pawn but what about Kg6 or Bg7 do they hold?} (27...
Bg7 {the difference here is the bishop exerts pressure along the diagonal so
there is compensation.} 28. Rdf3 (28. Nxf6 Kg6) 28... f5 29. Nxg7 Kxg7) (27...
Kg6 28. Nf4+ (28. g4 28... Be7 $11) (28. Nxf6 Bg7 29. e5 29... dxe5 $15) 28...
Kf7 $11) 28. Nxf6 28... Kg6 {Bf6: runs into Rdf3!} 29. Ng4 {
Maybe Rdf3 was better anyway? Killerman: probably} 29... h5 30. Nh2 {Probably a
nother field would have been better. Killerman: Ne3 or Nf2 are much better}
30... Bf6 {Killerman: Care is still needed even though you won the pawn. Black
has still a good position} 31. Rdf3 31... Bxc3 {Sure white now has two doubled
pawns, but black gives up the bishop pair and the white rooks become quite
active. Killerman: Yes your rooks do become active and for this reason only I
think Black is wrong to capture on c3. He doesn't need to just yet as the c
pawn is weak I think Bd4+ is the move here.} (31... Bd4+ {
keeps the king out from the centre} 32. Kh1 Rc4 ({not} 32... Rd7 33. g4 $1) 33.
Rf7 33... Bc6 {and it is still difficult for white to penetrate} 34. Re7 34...
Re8 $17) 32. bxc3 Bxe4 33. Rf6+ Kg7 34. Rxe6 34... Bd5 $2 {
Killerman:Bxc2 is better} 35. Re7+ 35... Kg8 {
Killerman:Kg6 would keep your rook out of f5} 36. Rf5 Ba2 37. Ra7 Rxc3 38. Rxa6
Rxc2 39. Rxb5 {Now my feeling says to me that white is better but the endgame
seems not so easy -at least for me- It would be great to learn which basic
ideas to follow in such types of endgames, which constallations to strive for
and which to avoid. Killerman: I prefer the look of White's position too
because the Black king appears more exposed. But is it? He has the move so can
he force the issues? In endings the keys are: 1. Activity of pieces 2. Use you
king (Centralisation) 3. Look to create two weaknesses 4. A little knowledge
goes a long way I will discuss these points as we go along but I will just
comment on the two weaknesses. If you have as here play on both sides of the
board it makes the defence much more difficult. You have strength with the
a-pawn and you are attacking the h-pawn. If you can create a passed pawn on
both sides of the board you will have created two weaknesses for your opponent
to cope with.} 39... Rc1+ 40. Kf2 40... Rf8+ $2 {Killerman: ACTIVITY OF PIECES.
Rf8+ appears to meet this aim but Nf3 helps White too. Let us play something
else instead.} ({Killerman:} 40... Rc2+ $1 {the difference is the g-pawn will
be attacked and the knight is still out of the game. The White king is
actually as bad as the Black one and therefore Black's activity is probably
enough compensation for the pawn in these lines.} 41. Ke3 (41. Kg1 Rc1+ 42. Kf2
42... Rc2+ $11) (41. Kf3 Rf8+ (41... Bc4 $2 {
looks aggressive but only helps White to activate his position} 42. Rg5+ Kf7
43. Ra7+ Ke6 44. Ke3 Rxg2 45. Nf3 $16) 42. Ke3 Rc3+ 43. Ke4 d5+ 44. Kd4 Rc4+
45. Kd3 45... Re4 $15) 41... Re8+ 42. Kd3 (42. Kd4 42... Rd2+ {
just to kick the king a square away from the centre before taking on g2} 43.
Kc3 Rxg2 44. Rxh5 (44. Rg5+ {the check actually activates Black's king} 44...
Kf7 $11) 44... Ree2 $44) 42... Rxg2 43. Rxh5 43... Rxg3+ $11) 41. Nf3 {
Killerman: Correct} 41... Bc4 42. Rg5+ Kf7 43. Rf5+ Kg8 44. Rg5+ 44... Kf7 {
A bit time preasure involved...} 45. Rxd6 Ke7 46. Rc6 Rf1+ 47. Ke3 Bg8 48. Rxh5
{Maybe Ra6 would have been better to protect the a3 pawn. Killerman: What
about Rg7+} (48. Rg7+ Bf7 49. Ng5 Kd7 50. Rh6 Kc8 51. Nxf7 R8xf7 52. Rxf7 Rxf7
53. Rxh5 {Killerman: Clearly winning. Well I say that but a LITTLE BIT OF
KNOWLEDGE GOES A LONG WAY. You see knowing what types of position to look for
in endings is key to this. Rook and Pawn against Rook is not always won in
fact quite often it only draws. Even a Rook and two pawns against rook can
sometimes draw but it does usually win. It is difficult for me to go through
every variation here but an examination of a good book on endings will
certainly improve your knowledge. I used to refer to Practical Chess Endings
by Keres but there are a lot of other good books out there.}) 48... Ra8 49. Rc3
$2 {Killerman: Active move? No I don't think so but maybe necessary. Anything
better? Well.} (49. Re5+ $5 {gives Black a chance to go wrong} 49... Kf8 (49...
Kd8 50. Rd6+ Kc7 (50... Kc8 $2 51. Re8+) 51. Rd3 {now maybe you have to defend}
51... Ra1 52. Rc5+ Kb6 53. Rcc3) 50. Rec5 Ke7 (50... Rxa3+ $4 51. Ke2 $1 51...
Rb1 52. Rc8+ Kf7 53. R5c7+ {and the bishop drops}) 51. Rc3) 49... Ra1 50. Re5+
Kd6 51. Rd3+ Kc7 52. Rc5+ Kb6 53. Rcc3 {
Killerman: Oh look didn't we have this in the variation A above} 53... Re8+ 54.
Kf4 {Killerman: Good CENTRALISATION OF KING} 54... Ra2 55. Rd2 $2 {Killerman:
tive? Are you certain you are better with a rook swop? Anything better?} ({
Killerman:} 55. Rd6+ $1 {although not all variations lead to mate. Your
resulting position in the last two lines give more activity than you get from
swopping a pair of rooks I think. Another point is endings with rooks are that
for the defending side it is better to swop a pair of rooks it makes draws
more common to swop.} 55... Ka7 (55... Ka5 $4 56. Rc5+ Ka4 57. Ra6+ Kb3 58.
Nd4+ Kb2 59. Rb6+ Ka1 60. Rc1#) (55... Kb5 $4 56. Nd4+ Ka5 57. Rc5+ Ka4 58.
Ra6#) (55... Kb7 56. Rd7+ Kb6 (56... Ka6 $2 57. Rc6+ Kb5 58. Nd4+ Ka4 59. Ra7#)
57. Nd4 {More activity}) 56. Rd7+ Kb6 57. Nd4 {More activity}) 55... Rxd2 56.
Nxd2 Re2 57. Ne4 57... Rxg2 {Killerman: I now refer you back to a previous
note. You should know what type of position you are looking for now. Rook and
two pawns against rook should win so swopping the minor pieces will be OK
after making sure your rook and King remain active. However be careful if the
Black king gets active and you lose the a-pawn the bishop may give itself up
for the g pawn and Rook and Knight against Rook is drawn in most positions} 58.
g4 Bd5 59. Nf6 Rf2+ 60. Kg5 {Killerman: Ke5 is a little better but not much}
60... Bf7 61. Ne4 Re2 62. Kf5 Bg8 63. Nf6 Bf7 64. Rg3 {Killerman: Usually this
idea is correct as another rule in rook and pawn endings is get your rook
behind the pawn not in front. However you have just given the Black king more
space and Black starts to get more active again. I think the ending is
probably drawn after this, but.} ({Killerman:} 64. Nd7+ {
is better, using the king as an attacking piece} 64... Kb5 {
the most active square} 65. Kf6 {chasing the bishop away gaining tempo} 65...
Rf2+ 66. Ke7 {now the bishop has to move} 66... Ba2 67. g5 $18) 64... Kc6 (
64... Kc5 {Killerman is better, getting closer to the centre and the a-pawn})
65. g5 Rf2+ 66. Ke5 Re2+ 67. Kf4 67... Bg6 {Killerman: Black is defending well,
his best try is to keep the minor pieces on the board and to blockade the
pawns} 68. Ng4 {Killerman: threat Ne5+} 68... Kd6 $2 ({Killerman: But} 68...
Re4+ $1 {would have been embarrassing} 69. Kf3 Kc5 70. Nf6 Ra4 71. Ke2 {
and your king is nicely deactivated}) 69. Rb3 Re4+ 70. Kf3 70... Bf5 $2 {
Black should leave the bishop on g6} 71. Nh6 {Bh7 is a better try} 71... Re5 $4
{Bh7 keeps the bishop on and makes the win more difficult} 72. Nxf5+ {
72.Nf7+! wins faster. Killerman: Correct} 72... Rxf5+ 73. Kg4 Rf8 74. Kh5 Ke6
75. a4 75... Kf5 {but now things are clear anyway...} 76. Rf3+ {Killerman: A
very interesting game and many learning points. Although your initial attack
was not sound due to the position of your rooks you fought back well in the
game. If you bear in mind the points I raised on endings and get a solid
endings book to help your study I think you will improve your end game very
quickly. Remember active play is your friend and passive play your enemy. Well
Done and Thank You for allowing me to review the game.} 1-0

u for allowing me to review the game.} 1-0

