From: jhc@ivan.uucp (James H. Coombs)
Subject: Slav Exchange; An Attack; A Blunder
Reply-To: jhc@ivan.brown.edu.uucp (James H. Coombs)
Organization: IRIS - Brown University
Date: Tue, 18 Aug 1992 06:05:21 GMT

Over the weekend, I played in the U1600 section of the Summer Madness
III, Boston, MA. My rating is only 1136, but people in this newsgroup
have inspired me to play with my betters.  (And my June performances were
1420, 1099, and 1774.)

So, here is an interesting game.  In short, we played the Slav Exchange
variation to a very balanced position.  As I tried to develop a plan, I
started to understand why the Slav has a reputation for being "drawish."

But, the c-file was open, so I decided to build up on that file and
generally work on the Queen side.  In response, my opponent brought over
his knights, apparently as defenders.  At the same time, I contested the
h2-b8 diagonal so that I could build up on the c-file, but my opponent
made the mistake of moving his Bishop off the file instead of exchanging.
Suddenly, I had an attack underway.

I think I built up nicely, and he defended nicely.  I am not sure what I
might have done better, although I have a couple of ideas.  Late in the
attack, I sacrificed a bishop for two pawns and brought the Queen into
the attack.  My opponent thought the sacrifice unsound.  Zarkov agrees,
but only for a few ply.  As far as I can tell, I should have ended up
with 3 connected Pawns for the Bishop, 2 of them passed.  Instead, after
3 1/2 hours, with 12 moves to play in 5 minutes, I blundered, and
blundered again.

Here is the game.  I am most interested in hearing how I might have
better pursued the attack.


Slav Exchange; S. [1441] v. Coombs [1136], Summer Madness III,
Boston, 8/16/92

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.cxd5 cxd5 4.Nc3 Nf6 5.Nf3 Bf5

Book is symmetrical Nc6, which answers 6. Qb3 with Nh5.

6.Bf4 e6 7.a3

Weakens b3, to what end?  Could a Bb4 pin be all that harmful?

7.... Be7

Bd6 played later; Flear suggests Be7 if playing for win; in this game,
why postpone the move?

8.e3 O-O

Black is relieved to eliminate possibility of attack on a4-e8.

9.Be2

Bd3 would be drawish.

Nc6 10.O-O

8 r - - q - r k -
7 p p - - b p p p
6 - - n - p n - -
5 - - - p - b - -
4 - - - P - B - -
3 P - N - P N - -
2 - P - - B P P P
1 R - - Q - R K -
  a b c d e f g h

10.... Rc8

Black starts work on open c-file; consider Q-side pawn expansion.  This
was a very balanced position, and coming up with ideas was not easy.

11.Nd2

White seems headed for Q-side defensively; Ne5 is better choice.

11.... Qb6 12.Na4 Qd8

Q move refuted; Na4 not seen; drawing N away from King fortuitous.

13.Nb3 Bd6

B on h2-b8 restrains Q-side buildup; must eliminate; considered Nh5
harrassment instead; recapturing with Qxd6 has advantage of developing Q.

14.Bg5 Qc7

8 - - r - - r k -
7 p p q - - p p p
6 - - n b p n - -
5 - - - p - b B -
4 N - - P - - - -
3 P N - - P - - -
2 - P - - B P P P
1 R - - Q - R K -
  a b c d e f g h

Refutes Bg5; Bxd6 was necessary.

15.f4

Consider 15.Bxf6! Bxh2+? 16.Kh1 gxf6 17.g3! Bxg3 18.fxg3 Qxg3 19.Rg1!.
Aha! after 9 ply, Zarkov recommends this line to White.

15.... Ne4 16.Bh4 g5 17.Bg3

Bxg5 Nxg5 18.fxg5 Bxh2+ leads to disaster.

17.... Kh8

8 - - r - - r - k
7 p p q - - p - p
6 - - n b p - - -
5 - - - p - b p -
4 N - - P n P - -
3 P N - - P - B -
2 - P - - B - P P
1 R - - Q - R K -
  a b c d e f g h

No rush to exchange excellent N for weak B.

18.Nbc5

Forces exchange; was 17...b6 better?

18.... Nxg3 19.hxg3 gxf4

Opens g for Rook; perhaps better delayed? but for what reason?

20.gxf4 Rg8 21.Nd3

White intelligently calls back the defenders.

21.... Rg3

Attacks e3, a critical support of f4, and blockades g2.

22.Bf3

Rf3 would force Rg3 back or exchange off an attacker.

22.... Rcg8 23.Nac5 b6

Black is less concerned about immediate Be4 than preventing Nxe6 with
attack on Q at a critical moment.

24.Na4 Be4

8 - - - - - - r k
7 p - q - - p - p
6 - p n b p - - -
5 - - - p - - - -
4 N - - P b P - -
3 P - - N P B r -
2 - P - - - - P -
1 R - - Q - R K -
  a b c d e f g h

Be4 played largely because White sought to prevent it.

25.Ne1

Critical defensive move.

25.... Bxf4

Better f7, Qg7?  Sac immediately yields 2 pawns and brings Q into the
attack.

26.exf4 Qxf4 27.Bxe4

Wisely exchanges off an attacker.

27.... Qxe4

8 - - - - - - r k
7 p - - - - p - p
6 - p n - p - - -
5 - - - p - - - -
4 N - - P q - - -
3 P - - - - - r -
2 - P - - - - P -
1 R - - Q N R K -
  a b c d e f g h

28.Rf2 Nxd4

Fine move, but after 3 1/2 hours, Black is running out of time and
energy---chose Nxd4 almost out of desperation.

29.Nc3 Qg4

Not a bad move, but not as good as Qe3.

30.Qxg4 R8xg4

R3xg4?  Does it matter?  Clock is ticking!  Just the sort of decision to
eat up time trying to decide between equal moves.

31.Rd1 Nf3+

Black too tired to notice that Rg4 protects Nd4, which need not be
moved.  Blunders away advantage of 3 pawns for piece, including connected
passed pawns.

32.Nxf3 Rxf3 33.Rxf3

Finally, Black notices his material losses and resigns, unwilling
to attempt a difficult fight with 12 moves to play in 5 minutes.
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