Ollivier,Alain (1600) - Priser,Jacques (1780) [D05] Fouesnant op 10th (7), 28.10.2004 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d5 3.e3 e6 4.Bd3 Generally speaking, the main idea of this opening (it doesn t fight for initiative) is to enter in lines from 1.d4-d5 with reversed colors. White hopes to take advantage of his extra tempo later on. Therefore another alternative is 4.Be2 (generally, the bishop is better placed here since is less exposed) 4 c5 5.0 0 Nc6 6.b3 Be7 7.Bb2 0 0 8.Nbd2 leading to a complex game. 4...Nc6 Black is interested in advancing e5 as soon as possible. The normal development was 4...c5 (creating tension in the center) 5.c3 Nc6 5.0 0 After 5.c3, black plays 5 Bd6 6.Nbd2 e5 7.dxe5 Nxe5 8.Nxe5 Bxe5 9.Nf3 Bd6. The position is equal. 5...Nb4 6.Be2 The alternative 6.Nc3 Nxd3 7.cxd3 Be7 8.e4 0 0 hardly gives white any advantage (the game is complicated but only black can fight for an advantage since he has both his bishops). 6...c5 7.c3 The alternative 7.c4 leads after 7 cxd4 8.exd4 dxc4 9.Na3 Be7 10.Nxc4 0 0 11.a3 Nbd5 to a typical isolated pawn type of structure (the game is complicated). 7...Nc6 8.Bd3 Nd7 Black ignores the general rules and concentrates on the e5 or f5 advance (taking control over the e4 square). The main drawback is that he loses time and allows white to start active operations in the center (getting the advantage). Better was 8...Qc7 9.Nbd2 Be7 with a roughly equal position. 9.Nbd2 Also good was 9.e4 dxe4 10.Bxe4 Nf6 11.Bg5 and white has an edge due to his better development. 9...f5 1
10.a3 This move is pointless. White loses valuable time and allows black to maintain the balance (although the move proved to be inspired). He should play in the center at once (not allowing black to bring more pieces into play). When we have a development advantage we should try to open the game. After 10.c4 dxc4 Even worse is 10...Nb4 11.Bb1 Nf6 12.a3 Nc6 13.cxd5 exd5 Trying to hold the structure intact with 13...Nxd5 allows white to get a strong initiative after 14.e4 (opening the game further) 14 fxe4 15.Nxe4 Besides the development advantage, white has good attacking chances on the kingside and black has a major weakness on e6. 14.dxc5 Bxc5 15.b4 Bd6 16.Bb2 0 0 17.Ba2 white has a large advantage due to the better structure and the strong pressure on d5. 11.Bxc4 Nb6 12.Bb5 cxd4 13.Nxd4 Bd7 14.Nxc6 bxc6 15.Be2 the better structure ensures white a long term advantage. 10...a6 Black loses more time and makes white s previous move useful (as I already pointed out an opponent s bad move can prove to be good if we don t react properly). Better was 10...cxd4 (relieving the pressure in the center) that leads after 11.exd4 Nf6 12.Re1 Be7 to a position where white keeps an edge (due to the drawback e6 pawn), but at least black can finish his development. 11.c4 Now, white reacts correctly and gets the advantage by simple means. 11 Nf6 12.dxc5 This looks like the normal call since white intends to take advantage of his 10 th move. Also good is 12.cxd5 Nxd5 After 12...exd5 13.dxc5 Bxc5 14.b4 Bd6 15.Bb2 white keeps the advantage due to his better structure. 2
13.Nc4 cxd4 14.Nxd4 Nxd4 15.exd4 Be7 16.Qh5+ g6 17.Qe2 and white has an edge due to the weakness of the e6 pawn. 12...Bxc5 13.b4 Bd6 14.cxd5 This is a little bit hasty. Slightly better was to keep the tension. After 14.Bb2 0 0 15.Qb3 Kh8 16.Rac1 white has an annoying pressure in the center. 14...Ne5 Black ignores the general rules (in the opening, it isn t desirable to move one piece too many times) allowing white to gain a large advantage. Better was 14...exd5 15.Bb2 0 0 16.Nb3 and white has a lasting advantage (yet small) due to the better structure, but nothing more. 15.Bc2 This is the simple solution, but white could also gain a large advantage after 15.Nc4 Nxd3 16.Qxd3 0 0 17.Bb2 Nxd5 18.Nxd6 Qxd6 19.Rfe1 (preparing the e4 advance). White has control over the dark squares (this gives good attacking chances on the kingside) and a better development. 15...Nxd5 16.Bb2 Nxf3+ 17.Nxf3 Nf6 This is another inaccuracy that allows white to get a decisive advantage. The only way to defend better was by securing the king s position. After 17...0 0 18.Qd4 Qe7 19.e4 fxe4 20.Qxe4 Nf6 21.Qh4 h6 22.Rfd1 white still has a large advantage (better structure and placed pieces), but there isn t a direct way to make it a decisive one. 18.Bxf6 gxf6 19.Nd4 Qe7 20.Bb3 White increases the pressure on e6 improving the bishop s position. Also possible was 20.Qh5+ Qf7 21.Qf3 holding on to the advantage. 20...h5 Black defends against the Qh5 threat. 21.Qf3 Be5 Black intends to relieve the pressure on the e6 pawn by trading one of his attackers. This doesn t solve his problems, but the position is almost lost already, so there are no better alternatives. Trying to gets some counter play at once with 21...a5 leads after 22.Rac1 axb4 23.axb4 Bxb4 24.Nc6 Qf8 25.Nxb4 Qxb4 26.Qg3 to a position where white has a devastating attack ( Rc7, Qg6 or even the simple Rfd1 are threatened). 22.Rfd1 Bxd4 23.Rxd4 This is stronger than 23.exd4 Qd6 24.Rac1 Although white would also have an advantage, black s defensive resources are bigger since white has only the c file opened. 3
23...e5 Black is trying hard to stabilize his position: he opens the bishop and also closes the h1- a8 diagonal rrelieving the pressure on b7. Still, white s development advantage and his better placed pieces give him an almost winning position. 24.Rd2 e4 25.Qe2 This move is too soft (and passive) and allows black to improve his defense. We should always try to put the pieces on active squares. After 25.Qg3 Be6 Also bad is 25...Bd7 26.Qg6+ and white easily wins. 26.Bxe6 Qxe6 27.Qg7 Rf8 28.Qg6+ Qf7 29.Qxf5, besides the material advantage, white has a strong attack (the advantage is decisive). 25...Bd7 Black tries to bring his king to safety on the queenside, but since white can prevent it quite easily, it was better to trade the bishops (relieving some of the pressure). After 25...Be6 26.Bxe6 Qxe6 27.Rad1 white has the advantage, but black has better chances in defense (than in the game). 26.Rad1 White returns the favor and allows black to bring his king to safety. Better was 26.Rc1 (keeping the king in the center) that leads after 26 Bb5 27.Qd1 Bd3 28.Rc5 Qd7 29.Qc1 to a position where white keeps a decisive advantage (he threatens both Rc7 and Qc3 ). 26...0 0 0 Black takes his chance and secures the king. Other alternative was 26...Bb5 (the idea is to disturb white s coordination) 27.Bc4 Ba4 Bad is 27...Bxc4 28.Qxc4 and white s pieces will soon penetrate black s camp. 28.Rc1 and white still has a large advantage. 4
27.Qc4+ It is obvious that an attack has small chances to succeed, since black manages to secure his king. Therefore, white should turn his attention on the positional aspects. At this point, he has a better pawns structure and a bishop (black s pawns are blocked on light squares). Also, black s only chance in getting some counter play lies on the kingside; he will advance h4 and then will try to press on the g file. So, what should white do? The best move (thinking in the future) is 27.h4. By doing this, white blocks the h5 pawn (we should always block the opponent s weaknesses) that would be a major reason of concern in any endgame. Also, black s counter play on the kingside can be easily stopped with the g3 advance (in this case black can t open the lines on the kingside). White has a lasting advantage (it is quite hard for black to resist). 27...Kb8 28.g3 This is a poor decision that allows black to unexpectedly get enough counter play. Better was the simple 28.Qf7 that leads after 28 Qxf7 29.Bxf7 Kc7 30.h4 to a position where white has a large advantage due to black s numerous weaknesses. 28...Bc8 Black s idea of trading rooks looks good, but he has a stronger idea at his disposal, that allows him to gain counter play (taking advantage of white s previous inaccuracy). After 28...f4 29.exf4 e3 30.Qe2 exf2+ 31.Qxf2 Bc6 white s weak king gives black more than enough counter play. 29.Rd4 Better was 29.Rxd8 Rxd8 30.Rxd8 Qxd8 31.Qd5 Qe7 32.h4 and white retains a large advantage, mainly because of black s weak h5 pawn. 29...Rxd4 30.Qxd4 Ka8 Instead of heading for counter play, black waits (this move doesn t improve his defense). Better was to get rid of his main weakness with 30...h4 since after 31.Bc4 hxg3 32.fxg3 f4 33.exf4 Bg4 34.Re1 Bf3 black has good compensation for the pawn (his e pawn may become dangerous and he has attacking chances on the kingside). 31.Kg2 White also loses time and places his king on a worse position (than g1 ). He should head for simplification with 31.Qd6 since after 31 Qxd6 32.Rxd6 Rf8 33.h4 he retains a large advantage in the endgame (again, because of black s weak h pawn). 31...h4 Finally, black gets rid of his weak pawn, getting good counter play. 32.Qd6 h3+ This is a mistake that gets black back into a bad position. By blocking the queenside (not being forced), black remains with no counter play. When attacking with heavy pieces we should open files. 5
After 32...Qh7 33.Kg1 hxg3 34.Qxg3 Ka7 black has no reasons of concern, due to white s weak king. 33.Kf1 Qg7 34.Rc1 White anticipates black s idea of penetrating with his queen (using the g4 square) and takes defensive measures. Still, black s move has a major drawback; it leaves the queenside, leaving the king defenseless. Therefore, the idea of an attack strongly suggests itself. After 34.b5 black doesn t have an appropriate answer since after 34 Qf8 Neither 34...axb5 35.a4 bxa4 35...b4 is met with 36.Rd5 and black doesn t have any defense against Ra5 threat. 36.Ra1 saves black since white has a devastating attack. 35.Qxf8 Rxf8 36.b6 the endgame is hopeless since all black s forces are tied down. 34...Qg4 35.Bd1 White goes ahead with his idea and takes the safest route (from a practical point of view, this is correct, since he gains a decisive advantage without heading for unnecessary complications). If you have to choose from an easy way, or a complicated one, to reach the same goal, always choose the simple one. This considerably reduces the possibility of making mistakes (in a complicated situation). White also wins after 35.Qxf6 Qf3 36.Ke1 Re8 37.Qf7 Qh1+ 38.Kd2 Qxh2 38...Rd8+ is met with 39.Bd5 and black is hopeless ( Rc8 is the main threat). 39.Qxe8 Qxf2+ 40.Kd1 and black has no compensation for the rook. 35...Qg7 36.Rc7 Qg6 37.Be2 Qe8 38.Qc5 This is quite a typical error: white concentrates on the attack, ignoring the material. When we have the initiative (or attack) we should always win material if this doesn t spoil our position. Black has sufficient defensive resources, therefore it was better for white to take 6
the pawn instead of playing actively. The point is that, by doing so, he secures the endgame (the endgame should be won). After 38.Qxf6 Rf8 39.Qd6 white retains the attacking chances, but with a pawn up (his advantage is decisive). 38...Qf8 This is bad since the endgame is lost. Better was 38...Kb8 39.Ke1 Qd8 40.Rg7 and although white keeps the advantage, the game is far from over. 39.Qb6 White continues with his attacking idea and avoids trading queens. Still, after 39.Qxf8 Rxf8 40.Rh7 white has a decisive advantage (the h pawn falls). 39...Qe8 Black fails to spot white s main threat and loses at once (although white didn t see this either). He could enter in a slightly worse endgame by force. After 39...Qd8 (defending against Ba6 due to Qd1 ) white has nothing better than 40.Ke1 Kb8 41.Rc6 Qxb6 42.Rxb6 Rh6 43.Rd6 and although white retains some winning chances (due to his better bishop), black has good defensive ones too. 40.Qc5 After the simple 40.Bxa6 white wins at once since the bishop is immune 40 bxa6 41.Ra7 mate. 40...Qf8 41.Qc2 Of course, white could enter in the already mentioned endgame: 41.Qxf8 Rxf8 42.Rh7 41...Kb8 42.Qc3 Qd6 Better was 42...Be6 first and then Qd6. 43.Rc5 After this move, black can organize his defense, getting good drawing chances. Better was 43.Rf7 (this is why 42 Be6 was better) 43 Rf8 44.Rxf8 Qxf8 45.Qd4 and black has a tough defense ahead. 43...Rd8 44.Ke1 Bd7 45.Qc1 Be6 46.Rc3 Qe5 47.Rc5 Qd6 48.Rc3 Bd5 49.Rc2 Bc6 With theese moves, neither side didn t do anything to change the character of the game. Black s last move is a mistake that allows white to increase his advantage. The endgame is surely lost for him because of the bishop (due to the bad placement of black s pawns). Therefore black should avoid trading heavy pieces (he should trade the bishops at first opportunity). His last move allows white to trade heavy pieces, therefore it is a big positional mistake. Better was 49...Qe7 and white has a hard time in converting his advantage. 7
50.Rd2 Qe7 Even worse is 50...Qxd2+ 51.Qxd2 Rxd2 52.Kxd2 Bb5 53.Bd1 Kc7 54.Kc3 Kd6 55.Kd4 since white should easily win (black has too many weaknesses). 51.Rxd8+ Qxd8 52.Bxa6 Although this move is quite tempting (it wins a pawn after all), it allows black to get good counter play. Better is 52.Qc5 Bb5 (trading such a bad bishop worth giving up a pawn) 53.Bxb5 axb5 54.Qxb5 Qc7 55.Kd2 and black still has a thought defense ahead. 52...Qd7 This is a mistake that gives white a decisive advantage (besides the pawn, white retains his superior bishop). After 52...bxa6 53.Qxc6 Qd3 it is hard for white to make further progress due to his king s poor position and the weak queenside pawns. 53.Be2 This is another poor decision that allows black to improve his defense. White should attack black s weaknesses. We should attack the opponent s weaknesses at first opportunity. After 53.Bf1 f4 (defending the h pawn) The passive 53...Bb5 leads after 54.Bxh3 Qd3 55.Qd2 Qxa3 56.Qd8+ Ka7 57.Qa5+ Qxa5 58.bxa5 Bd7 59.Bf1 to a hopeless endgame. 54.exf4 the two pawns up are sufficient for a win. 53...Qg7 Black returns the favor and makes a pointless move. He should get rid of his worse piece and trade the bishops. Although after 53...Bb5 54.Bxb5 Qxb5 55.Qc2 white still has the advantage, black s drawing chances are good enough (due to the weakness of white s king). 54.Qd2 Qc7 55.Qc3 Qd6 56.Qd2 White shows that he doesn t know how to win the game and just moves his queen with no particular reason. After the simple 56.Bf1 Qe6 57.Bxh3 white wins easily. 56...Qe7 57.Qc3 Ba4 58.Qc5 Qd7 The endgame that arise after 58...Qxc5 59.bxc5 is hopeless. 59.b5 Finally, white decides to head for active play, increasing his advantage. 59 Bb3 60.b6 Another way to get a decisive advantage was with 60.Qf8+ Qc8 Bad is 60...Ka7 since white can take advantage of black s badly placed bishop and win it with 61.b6+ Kxb6 62.Qb4+ 8
61.Qxc8+ Kxc8 62.Kd2 Kd7 63.Kc3 and black is hopeless. 60...Be6 61.Qf8+ Qc8 62.Qxc8+ Kxc8 63.Bf1 f4 Black knows which is his best practical chance and holds on to the h pawn. 64.gxf4 Although this move also wins, better was 64.exf4 (the point is that white keeps the distant pawn) 64 Kd7 65.a4 Kc6 66.a5 Bg4 67.Kd2 and with Ke3 to come, black is lost. 64...Kd7 65.Kd2 This move loses time (white is lucky that black can t take advantage of it). It was better to concentrate on the kingside at once. After 65.f3 exf3 66.Kf2 Bg4 67.Kg3 Bh5 68.a4 Kc6 69.a5 white easily wins. The queenside pawns are secured (black can t activate the king due to the a6 threat) and white soon wins the kingside pawns. 65...Kc6 66.Ke2 White understands that he should concentrate on the kingside and goes back with the king. 66 Bf5 67.f3 exf3+ 68.Kxf3 Kxb6 69.a4 This is another inaccuracy. There is no point in advancing the pawn to an exposed square. White should concentrate on the kingside (letting the pawn on a3, well defended). After 69.e4 Bd7 70.f5 white wins the h pawn with a decisive advantage. 69...Ka5 70.Bb5 Bc2 For some strange reason, white agrees with a draw in a winning position. After 71.e4, defending the a pawn, black is lost. The point is that after 71 Bxa4 72.Bxa4 Kxa4 73.e5 fxe5 74.f5 (the point) the pawn is unstoppable. ½ ½ CONCLUSIONS: 1. When we have a development advantage we should try to open the game. 2. In the opening it isn t desirable to move one piece too many times. 3. We should always try to put the pieces on active squares. 4. We should always block the opponent s weaknesses. 5. When attacking with heavy pieces we should open files. 6. If you have to choose from an easy way, or a complicated one, to reach the same goal, always choose the simple one. 7. When we have the initiative (or attack) we should always win material if this doesn t spoil our position. 8. We should attack the opponent s weaknesses at first opportunity. 9