Adamczewski,Jedrzej (1645) - Jankowski,Aleksander (1779) [C02] Rubinstein Memorial op-c 40th Polanica Zdroj (2),

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1 Adamczewski,Jedrzej (1645) - Jankowski,Aleksander (1779) [C02] Rubinstein Memorial op-c 40th Polanica Zdroj (2), e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Bd7 6.a3 Qb6 Although this line is entirely playable, the most common replies are 6...c4 (not allowing white to gain space on the queenside) or 6...f6 (attacking the center at once). 7.b4 cxd4 8.cxd4 Be7 This move is too soft and allows white to gain the advantage. Better is 8...Rc8 9.Bb2 Na5 10.Nbd2 Nc4 11.Nxc4 dxc4 12.Rc1 a5 with a complicated game. 9.Be3 This is a quite common mistake (even at higher levels). The pieces should be developed in a particular order. Here, for example, it s not clear (yet) were we should develop the dark squares bishop, therefore it was better to get the knight out first (its best square is obviously c3, heading to a4 ). Also, there is a general opening principle that helps us: in an opening it is generally better to develop the knight first (afterwards the bishops). After 9.Nc3 Rc8 Trying the undermining move played in the game 9...f6 doesn t help much since after 10.Be3 Rc8 11.Rc1 white has the advantage: black has real problems in finishing his development ( fxe5 is met with dxe5 ). 10.Na4 Qc7 11.Bd2 white has the advantage (the bishop is better placed here since it supports a b5 advance and covers the c3 square). 9...f6 Black is heading for the common undermining move (proving that he knows the general idea of the opening), but this doesn t disturb white too much since he is well prepared for it. Better was to simply finish the development with 9...Rc8 10.Bd3 Nh (taking the knight with Bxh6 isn t that great at any time, since white can t take advantage of black s weakened kingside structure and the lack of the dark squares bishop will tell in the future; black s queenside game gains in strength and the d4 pawn is weaker) 11 Nf5 with a roughly equal position. 10.exf6 From a positional point of view, this is a poor decision (relieving the pressure in center) that only helps black to finish the development. Better was 10.Nc3 (se the comment of the previous move) Bxf6 Black intends to press on d4 after Ne7-f5, but white has simple means to defend against this, therefore it was better to simply finish the development with Nf6. When heading for a plan make sure that it can be realized. 1

2 After 10...Nxf6 11.Nc Bd3 Rac8 13.Rc1 Ng Nxe3 15.fxe3 Qd8 the game is roughly equal. 11.Nc3 Nge7 12.Rc1 This move is simply bad; the rook is useless on the c file and it doesn t disturb black s intentions. Better was the simple 12.Bd3 (taking control over the f5 square, therefore not allowing black to increase the pressure on d4 ) (the d4 pawn is defended since in the end white has Bg6+ that wins the queen) and white has the advantage since black doesn t have a dangerous plan (as long as Nf5 doesn t work) and white can increase his influence on the queenside with Na4-c5. So, it s always useful to disturb your opponent plans (if possible) Nf5 13.Na4 Qd8 14.Nc5 b6 From a general point of view, this is a good decision since black is not bothered if he loses the light squares bishop (the bad one) for white s active knight and is acting quickly since he has a development advantage. Still, after accurate calculation, the move is bad since black can t get rid of the pin along the a4-e8 diagonal. When making any positional decision, make sure that it doesn t fail on tactic. Better was 14...Bc8 15.Bd3 Bxd4 16.Nxd4 Ncxd and white has compensation for the missing pawn, but nothing more. 15.Nb3 White returns the favor and fails to achieve a decisive advantage. After the simple 15.Nxd7 Qxd7 16.Bb5 Rc8 17.Qa4 Nfe Rc2 black can t avoid material loses Be2 White is acting too softly and allows black to gain the initiative. Since he is behind with the development, it was better for him to head for trades (relieving the pressure). After 16.Bd3 Nxe3 Also 16...a5 doesn t give much since after 17.Bxf5 exf5 18.b5 Ne7 19.a4 the game is balanced (the closed position considerably reduces the influence of black s bishops). 17.fxe3 Ne7 The tempting 17...e5 (trying to open the game and to increase the influence of the bishops) fails on tactics since after 18.dxe5 Nxe5 19.Nxe5 Bxe5 20.Qh5 white is winning (the double attack is decisive) Nf5 19.Qe2 Ba4 20.Nbd2 Rc8 the game remains balanced. 2

3 16...Nce7 Black is acting to slowly. He clears the path for the bishop, intending Ba4, but this isn t a real threat (it can be easily parried with Qd3, unpinning the knight), therefore another plan is necessary. In the center and the kingside there is no game (for black); therefore he should turn his attention on the queenside by making white s pawns vulnerable (in order to attack them easily). As you will see later, both sides ignored this strong positional idea (white didn t defend against it and black didn t put it in motion). Better is 16...a5 17.b5 Nce7 18.a4 Nxe3 19.fxe3 Nf5 20.Qd2 Qe7 and black has a large advantage. Defending the a4 pawn isn t that easy ( Qa3 is threatened), the e3 pawn needs constant care and black can increase the pressure on the queenside with Rac8. 17.b5 White doesn t spot black s main plan (already mentioned) and defends against Ba4 (that isn t a threat, as I already mentioned). Better is Nxe3 18.fxe3 Nf5 19.Qd3 and although black is slightly better, at least the queenside pawns are protected Nd6 Now 17...Nxe3 18.fxe3 Nf5 19.Qd2 Qe7 is even stronger since white is unable to defend the a pawn ( a4 is met with Rac8 followed by Qa3 ). 18.a4 a6 Black, finally understood that his best shot is to play on the queenside, therefore (correctly) opened the game there. Now he has the initiative (this gives him a large advantage). 19.bxa6 Since white loses a pawn anyway, it was better to give it up on his own terms. After axb5 20.axb5 Bxb5 21.Bxb5 Nxb5 22.Bg5 (getting rid of the passive bishop) black s advantage is obvious, but white is in better shape than in the game (were he loses a pawn keeping a passive position) since he can press on the e file. 3

4 19 Bxa4 20.Bf4 There is no time for since after 20 Nc4 21.Bxc4 dxc4 22.Rxc4 Bb5 23.Rc1 Bxf1 24.Qxf1 Qd5 black wins the exchange getting almost a decisive advantage (the a pawn will soon fall) Nef5 Although this move isn t that bad, a direct approach was better. After 20...Nc Worse is 21.Bxc4 dxc4 22.Rxc4 Bb5 23.Rc1 Rxa6 since, with the king stuck in the center, white has small chances to defend Rxa6 black simply wins the pawn (white has no compensation). 21.Be5 Bxe5 Also after 21...b Bxe5 23.dxe5 Nc4 black has the advantage since he wins the a pawn (keeping the pressure on the queenside). 22.Nxe5 This move loses another pawn, leaving black with a decisive advantage. After 22.dxe5 Nc4 black still has a large advantage, but at least white would have only a pawn less Bxb3 Of course, black doesn t want a second invitation and wins the important d pawn (there is enough time in picking up the a pawn). 23.Qxb3 Nxd4 24.Qe3 24 Nxe2 This is an inaccuracy that only makes black s task more difficult. Black saw that he could win the a pawn by force (leaving him with an advantage of two pawns) and thought that the game was over (this is a common mistake). Even when you have a large advantage it s desirable to find the most precise way in getting the most of it. This will 4

5 save time and energy by finishing the game sooner and also will make the probability of future mistakes smaller. This game is another example that this rule applies (although he had a decisive advantage, at some point black loses his focus and blunders, probably because of fatigue). Better is 24...N6f5 (bringing the pieces into play with a gain of tempo is always useful) 25.Qc3 Worse were: 25.Qd2 Nb3 (losing the exchange) or 25.Qd3 Qg5 (losing the g pawn, since the rook is hanging and it is not possible to castle due to Nxe2 followed by Nd4 ) Nxe2 26.Kxe2 Rxa6 since (compared to the game) besides he is two pawns down, white has the king stuck in the center. 25.Qxe2 b5 26.Ra1 Qc8 After this simple move, the a pawn is lost Rxa6 28.Rac1 Nc4 29.Rfe1 Qa8 Slightly better was 29...Qc7 30.Nf3 b4 31.Nd4 e5 with a decisive advantage. 30.Nf3 b4 31.Nd4 Re8 Black has both material and positional advantages. There is no point in defending the e pawn (moving the rook from an active square to a passive one). Better was 31...e5 (the pawn was better defended here) 32.Nb3 Ra2 with a decisive advantage. 32.Rb1 Qb7 33.Nb3 Qb6 34.Red1 Rf8 Black recognizes his mistake and returns with the rook on the active square. 35.Nd4 Rf6 Black coninues the passive play (happily for him, the advantage is too big to lose it). Playing activly` was better. After 35...Rf4 36.Nb3 Re4 black defends the e pawn taking control over the d4 square too. 36.Qe1 Ra4 37.Rd3 Na5 Black takes the safest route and concentrates on advancing the b pawn. He could increase his advantage by using tactic. After 37...Ra2 38.Nf3 Ne5 39.Nxe5 Rfxf2 he has a decisive attack. Still, the solution chosen offers him a decisive advantage without complications (so it is hard to make a mistake), therefore I agree with his decision. When converting an advantage, chose the simple way (if this is possible) not the spectacular one. 38.Qd1 b3 39.Nxb3 This is forced, otherwise the pawn advances further and can be defended with Nc4. 5

6 39 Qxf2+ 40.Kh1 40 Nxb3 After a good decision (on the 37 th move), here comes a bad one. Black keeps the queens on the board, hoping for a decisive attack (choosing the complicated decision), instead of sending the game into an easily win rooks endgame (the simple solution). One of the first rules that young players learn is: when you have a decisive material advantage trade as many pieces as you can. This is a good rule that black should apply in the game. After 40...Rb4 41.h3 Trying to avoid massive trades with 41.Nd2 doesn t work since after 41 Rxb1 42.Qxb1 Nc4 43.Nf3 Ne3 white can t avoid further material loses. 41 Nxb3 42.Rdxb3 Rxb3 43.Rxb3 Qf1+ 44.Qxf1 Rxf1+ black reaches an easily winning rook endgame (beside the material advantage; white s king is cut of on the f line). 41.Rdxb3 Ra2 42.Rg3 Qd2 Now, black tries to trade the queens, but of course white can avoid it. 43.Qg1 Rf8 44.Re1 Re8 45.Rge3 Rc2 This move indirectly defends the e pawn due to the Rc1 move (after trading on e6 ). 46.Qf1 Qf2 Black manages to trap white s queen, making things simple (although he failed to win the easily win endgame). 47.Qxf2 Rxf2 48.Kg1 Rf6 49.Re5 Trying to activate the rook with 49.Rb3 only allows black to advance his pawns after 49 e5 50.Rb5 Rd6 51.Kf2 Kf7, with a decisive advantage Kf7 50.g4 Ra8 This careless move makes black s task considerably difficult and shows poor technique. White s only chance is to increase his defense by trapping black s rook on g6 (after a g5 advance) and black allows it. We should always pay attention to our opponent 6

7 threats. It was better to defend against the opponent s threat before heading for active play. The simple and better solution was 50...h6 (preventing the g5 advance) and only after 51.Kg2 (advancing on h4 loses on the spot after Rf4 ) black can activate his rook with 51 Rc8 holding on to the decisive advantage. 51.h4 White loses the opportunity and makes black s move a good one (this always happens). If a bad move isn t answered properly, it turns out to be a good one. After 51.g5 Rg6 52.Kg2 h6 53.h4 Ra3 54.Rb1 black has real difficulties in converting his advantage due to the poorly placed rook Ra4 Now, black is able to win another pawn. 52.g5 Rg4+ 53.Kh2 Rxh4+ 54.Kg3 Rff4 55.Rxe6 Slightly better was 55.g6+ Kxg6 56.Rxe6+ Kh5 57.R6e5+ g5 58.Rxd5 Rhg4+, but the endgame is also hopeless Re4 From now on, black starts to make inaccuracies and mistakes that will eventually lead to a draw. The simple 55...Rhg4+ 56.Kh3 Rxg5 leaves him with three pawns up and a completely won endgame. 56.R1xe4 Rxe4 57.Rd6 Rd4 58.Kf3 Ke7 The king can t pass due to the weakness of the kingside pawns, therefore this move is pointless. Better was 58...Rd1 (preparing the advance of the d pawn) 59.Ke2 Ke7 60.Ra6 Rg1 winning the g pawn and the game. 59.Ra6 Rd1 60.Ra7+ Kf8 Sad necessity that proves black s poor play. Now, black is too passive so white can force a draw. 61.Ra8+ White too plays badly; why allow black s king to come back into play? After the simple 61.Rd7 d4 62.g6 (it is important to spoil the kingside structure first) 62 hxg6 63.Ke2 Ra1 64.Rxd4 we reach a theoretically draw endgame (it doesn t matter how many pawns are on the g file) Kf7 Now, black is back in business and has a winning position. 7

8 62.Ra6 Rg1 63.Kf4 d4 64.Rd6 Rd1 65.Kf5 Not even 65.Ke4 d3 66.Ke3 Ke7 67.Rd4 Rh1 68.Kd2 Rh3 saves white ( Rg3 followed by Kf7-g6 comes) since the d pawn is immune (the kings endgame is easily won) d3 66.g6+ By spoiling black s kingside structure, white is taking the best practical chance. After 66.Ke4 d2 67.Ke3 Rg1 68.Kxd2 Rxg5 the endgame is theoretically won hxg6+ 67.Ke4 g5 68.Kf3 g4+ 69.Kf2 g3+ This is another poor decision (there is no point in giving up the pawn without gaining anything in return) that makes black s task considerably more difficult (a good technique is necessary further). Activating the king was the best solution since after 69...Ke7 70.Rg6 Rh1 (by giving up the g pawn, black is able to place his rook on an active square) 71.Ke3 Rh3+ 72.Kd2 72.Kf2 d2 73.Ke2 Rd3 74.Kd1 g3 is also hopeless (black will simply bring his king to support the g pawn) Kf7 73.Rxg4 Rf3 74.Rd4 Kf6 white is lost (the g pawn can easily advance with the king s help). Note that playing 75.Rxd3 is bad since after 75 Rxd3+ 76.Kxd3 Kf5 77.Ke2 Kg4 black will transform the g pawn. 70.Kxg3 d2 This move is the last mistake that seals black s faith (after this the game is a draw by simple means; black can t make further progress without giving up the d pawn). In order to get winning chances, it was necessary to leave the pawn on the 3 rd rank (this allows the king to hide on d2 if white takes the same defensive idea) and play Ke7, trying to support the advance of the g pawn. 71.Kg2 The correct decision; white defends against any Rh1-h2 idea. The game is a draw. 71 Ke7 72.Rd3 Ke6 73.Re3+ Kf5 74.Rd3 g5 75.Rd8 Kg4 76.Rd4+ Kf5 77.Rd8 Re1 Black gives up the d pawn in order to activate the rook, but this doesn t help. Even after 77...Kf4 78.Rd7 Ke3 79.Re7+ he can t make further progress. 78.Rxd2 Kf4 79.Ra2 Re4 80.Ra3 Re2+ 81.Kf1 Re3 82.Rxe3 Kxe3 83.Kg2 Kf4 84.Kf2 Since the endgame is a draw (white has the opposition), the players agree to it. ½ ½ 8

9 CONCLUSIONS: 1. Pay attention in what order you develop the pieces. 2. When heading for a plan, make sure that it can be realized. 3. It s always useful to disturb your opponent plans. 4. When making any positional decision, make sure that it doesn t fail on tactic. 5. Even when you have a large advantage, it s desirable to find the most precise way in getting the most of it. 6. When converting an advantage, choose the simple way, not the spectacular one. 7. When you have a decisive material advantage, trade as many pieces as you can. 8. We should always pay attention to our opponent threats. 9. If a bad move isn t answered properly it turns out to be a good one. 9