[Event "Richard Morris Memorial"]
[Site "Arcadia Chess Club"]
[Date "2010.11.15"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Jeffrey I. Schwartz (1527)"]
[Black "Tim Thompson (1954)"]
[Result "0-1"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[WhiteElo "1527"]
[BlackElo "1954"]
{Round 1, board 8, time control 40/90 and game/30 (no 5-second time delay in effect)
This game is a lesson in positional play. Compare & contrast White’s aimless play with
Black’s play, which is much more goal oriented and consistent.}
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Bd7 4. Bxd7+ Nxd7 {Better is 4... Qxd7 The Black
Knight should go to c6.} 5. O-O Ngf6 6. d3 $6 {Uncommon and too passive, since
White has no white square Bishop to block or fianchetto. Black has a free
hand. 6. Qe2, 6. Re1, 6. Nc3 and 6. d4 are all more common and make more
sense. White already has a poor position.} 6... g6 {Moving to seize the dark
squares that White has left unguarded.} 7. Bd2 Bg7 8. Nc3 O-O 9. Rb1 $6 {Why?
The Rook is not exposed on the diagonal and the White b-pawn never advances, so
this is a waste of a move. 9. Qe2 makes more sense, connecting and Mobilizing White’s Rooks.} 9... a6 10. Re1 b5 $17 {10... e5 11. a4 prevents Black's thematic Queenside
expansion. As it is, advantage Black, since he has achieved the Sicilian goal
of Queenside expansion without a counterstroke from White on the Kingside or
center. Black already has the initiative and a space advantage.} 11. e5 $6
{11. d4 at once makes more sense, fighting to regain the initiative in
response to Black's free hand on the Queenside.} 11... dxe5 12. Nxe5 Nxe5 13.
Rxe5 Nd7 14. Re4 Nb6 15. Qc1 $2 {Since the exchange of dark squared Bishops is
easy to prevent, this is a bad idea. Now the most powerful piece in White's
arsenal is hiding out on c1 and the Rook is imprisoned on b1. 15. Qe1 is a better idea, gaining time by threatening the e7-pawn and opening d1 for the misplaced Queen's Rook. It may be fair to say that White already suffers from a lost position here.} 15... Re8 16.
Nd1 Rc8 {16... Ra7 17. Be3} 17. Bc3 e5 {Trading pieces favors White, who is
cramped with too many pieces crowded together. This move seizes d4 and sets up
f7-f5, seizing space and leaving the Rook on e4 with nowhere to go except
backwards.} 18. Bd2 Nd5 {18... f5 19. Bg5 Qd6 20. Rh4 and White has something
to do, so Black waits for the right moment to advance the f-pawn.} 19. Bg5 Qd6
20. Bh6 {20. Rh4 Makes more sense, trying to drum up counterplay near Black's
King. As it is this Bishop just shuttles back and forth and does nothing but
get in the way.} 20... Bh8 21. Bd2 f5 22. Re2 {A strange position in which
White's Queen and Queen's Rook essentially no longer exist. 22. Rh4 f4 now
threatens to trap the lonely Rook, so it really did need to retreat.} 22...
Re6 23. Nc3 Nf6 {Avoids cramp relieving exchanges for White and supports the
advance of Black's e-pawn.} 24. a3 b4 25. axb4 cxb4 26. Na2 {26. Nd1 is
probably better, followed by f2-f3 and Nd1-f2. Black must be patient here.
White has a bad position, but premature advances can open up squares and
partially relieve White's situation.} 26... a5 27. b3 Qc6 28. c4 Qd7 29. Qc2
Rd6 30. Nc1 e4 31. dxe4 Nxe4 32. Be1 {32. Bf4 $4 Rd1+ $19} 32... Rd8 {And Black
has the dream position, heavy pieces tripled on the d-file, a strong Knight
outpost, an effective Bishop on the long diagonal with access to d4 and c3,
while the White Rook on b1 has yet to see the light of day, and the other White
pieces have virtually no squares available. This is a resignable position
despite the fact that White is not yet behind in material. The rest of the game
is "a matter of technique" with Black seeking out the correct reply to whatever
White chooses to do.} 33. Na2 Nc5 34. Kf1 Ne6 35. Qc1 Bf6 36. g3 Qc6 37. Kg1
Ng5 38. h4 Nf3+ 39. Kf1 Nd4 40. f4 Qf3+ 41. Bf2 Qxe2+ 42. Kg1 Qxa2 43. Bxd4 {43. Rb2 Qxb2 44. Qxb2 Nf3+ 45. Kg2 Nxh4+ 46. gxh4 Bxb2 $19} 43... Bxd4+ 44.
Kh1 Qe2 45. c5 Qf3+ 46. Kh2 Re6 47. Qc4 Qe2+ 0-1
