Newsgroup: it.hobby.scacchi
Titolo: [Nickel Vs Hydra] Pgn delle partite finite

[Event "Corr. Chess Match"]
[Site "Abu Dhabi/Berlin"]
[Date "2004.09.16"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Nickel, Arno"]
[Black "Hydra Chimera (C)"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B48"]
[WhiteElo "2586"]
[Annotator "Nickel, Arno"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2004.??.??"]
{(Semi-"live" comments and analysis.)} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 {
See also previous games Hydra vs. GM E. Vladimirov and vs. Shredder.} 3. d4
cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Be3 a6 7. Qd2 {# The so-called "English
Attack"
which plans to castle queen-side and to push forward the pawns at the
king-side. Hydra's book author GM Christopher Lutz regards this system to be
one of the most challenging against the Taimanov Sizilian, as he said after
the game.} Nf6 8. O-O-O Bb4 9. f3 Ne5 10. Nb3 b5 11. Qe1 {# Other moves like
11.Kb1 or 11.Bd4 would lead to more typical sicilian positions. The text
move
does not only intend to put the queen on the king-side, but also includes
the
threat Nc3xb5. This is why the bishop usually draws back to e7. The engame
after 11...Bxc3 12.Qxc3 Qxc3 13.bxc3 cannot be recommended for Black. White
enjoys the more active play and will be able to get rid of his double pawn.}
Be7 12. f4 Nc4 13. e5 Ng4 14. Bd4 {#} O-O $5 $146 (14... f5 15. h3 Nh6 16.
Qf2
$14 Rb8 (16... Bb7 17. Bxc4 bxc4 {
see: Grischuk-J. Geller, Sotschi 2004, Russ. (tch), 1-0 after 27 moves.}
(17...
Qxc4 18. Bc5 $16 {Ribli})) 17. Ba7 Rb7 18. Bc5 Bxc5 19. Nxc5 Rb6 20. Bxc4
bxc4
21. N3a4 {
see: Perez Candelario-B.Damljanovic, Spain, (tch), 1-0 after 76 moves..}) (
14... Bb7 15. Bd3 d6 (15... f5 16. h3 Nh6 17. Rg1 Rc8 18. g4 $6 (18. Qf2 $14
{
Ftacnik}) 18... b4 19. Na4 Bf3 20. gxf5 Nxf5 21. Bxf5 exf5 22. Nac5 Bxd1 23.
Qxd1 $44 {see: Karjakin-Grabliauskas, Dos Hermanos 2004, 1-0 after 55
moves.})
16. Qg3 dxe5 17. fxe5 h5 18. h3 Nh6 19. Kb1 g6 {
Vokarev-J.Geller, Alutscha (3.Herbst-Open) 2004, 1-0 nach 35 Zugen.}) 15.
Bd3 (
15. h3 Nh6 16. g4 Bb7 17. Rg1 d6 $13) (15. Qg3 Nh6 16. Bd3 Bb7 17. Ne4 Nf5
18.
Qh3 $13 (18. Nf6+ Bxf6 19. Bxf5 Be7 20. Bd3 $13)) (15. Bxc4 bxc4 16. Nd2
$13)
15... Bb7 16. Qe2 (16. Qg3 {see 15.Dg3}) 16... Nh6 {#} 17. Nd2 {In case of
r moves, e.g. with the h1-rook or with the queen, I always expected the
freeing moves d7-d6 or f7-f6. The text move provokes 17...d5, in order to
start an attack at the king-side while the centre is kept close. However
Black
has a strong knight at c4. The white knight at d2 makes his way from the
queen- to the king-side, where he will be more useful.} d5 18. g4 Rac8
(18...
Rfc8 {would mean to give up the idea of a counter play in the f-file, but
instead Black could intensify his pressure at the queen-side.}) 19. Rhg1 b4
20.
Ncb1 (20. Na4 $2 Bc6 21. Nc5 Bb5 22. Ncb3 a5 $36) 20... a5 (20... Qa5 $5 21.
Nxc4 dxc4 22. Bxc4 Bf3 23. Qxf3 Rxc4 24. b3 Rc7 25. Kb2 Rfc8 $44) 21. Nf3 {
The intended manoeuvre, though other moves came into consideration.} (21. b3
{
Stopping Black's attack at the queen-side.}) (21. Rg3 {
Protecting the third rank and opting for Rh3.}) (21. f5 $6 Bg5 $15 {
This wouldn't be possible with a white knight on f3.}) 21... a4 22. f5 {
# The main idea, intending f5-f6.} Bc5 $5 (22... Kh8 $6 {This is what some
other chess engines would play instead. However this prophylaxis seems to be
unnedessary, as in fact Black hasn't to be afraid of 23.fxe6?!.}) 23. Qf2 {
White wishes to keep control of the square d4 and the diagonale g1/a7. The
disadvantage is, that he has to invest an extra tempo in comparison to
23.Bxc5.
} (23. fxe6 $6 fxe6 24. Bxh7+ Kxh7 25. Ng5+ Kg8 26. Qd3 Rf5 $1 {#} 27. gxf5
{
What else?} (27. Nxe6 $2 Bxd4 28. Qxd4 Qc6 29. gxf5 Nxf5 $17) 27... Bxd4 {
Threatens a mate at b2.} 28. Qxd4 Nxf5 29. Qf2 Qxe5 30. c3 a3 $17 (30...
Nce3))
(23. Bxc5 $5 Qxc5 24. f6 {
would be playable for White, but at the same time take all pressure from
Black.
}) 23... a3 $6 ({Here the consequences of Bxd4 had to be analysed, though
there wasn't mcuh time for it (we played with Fischer time: 20 days for the
game and in addition 2 days per move). The following variations illustrate
what could have happen instead of 23...a3?!. In my opinion Hydra should have
followed the idea f7-f6.} 23... Bxd4 24. Qxd4 a3 {
would only lead do a different move order.} (24... f6 $5 25. exf6 (25. Rde1
$6
{would be too passive.}) 25... e5 (25... Rxf6 26. Rde1 Re8 27. Ne5 Nxe5 28.
Qxe5 Qxe5 29. Rxe5 Nf7 30. Rxe6 Rexe6 31. fxe6 Rxe6 {
with slightly better play for White.}) 26. Qf2 e4 27. Bxc4 Qxc4 (27... exf3
28.
Bd3 b3 29. axb3 axb3 30. fxg7 Rf7 31. c3 Qf4+ $13) 28. Nd4 Qxa2 29. Rg3 (29.
fxg7 Rf6 30. g5 a3 31. bxa3 bxa3 32. gxf6 Qb2+ 33. Kd2 a2 34. Na3 Qb4+ 35.
Ke2
Ba6+ {would be a drawback for White.})) (24... b3 25. axb3 axb3 26. c3 f6 (
26... Qa5 {would be mor ambitious} 27. Rg2 (27. Qf4 $6 Nxb2 28. Kxb2 Ba6
$40)
27... Rc6 $13) 27. exf6 Rxf6 28. Rde1 Re8 29. Ne5 $13 Nxe5 (29... Nf7 $5)
30.
Qxe5 Qxe5 31. Rxe5 Nf7 32. Rxe6 Rexe6 33. fxe6 Rxe6 {
with a similiar endgame as after 24...f6, once again in favour of White..})
(
24... Kh8 {also this prophylactical move came into consideration in order to
clear the square g8 for the knight. White should probably overprotect the
pawn
e5 by 25.Tde1. After that all ideas would have to be discussed once
again.}))
24. bxa3 (24. b3 $2 Nb2 $17 {cannot be risked by White.}) 24... Bxd4 $6
(24...
Qb6 $5 {with the idea to sacrify the b-pawn for counter play. This would
have
been more active, athough White could also reply with f5-f6:} 25. axb4 Qxb4
26.
f6 Qb2+ (26... Bxd4 $6 27. Qxd4 Ra8 28. Qc3 Qc5 29. Nd4 $16 {and Black's
counter play at the queen-side is too slow in face of the strong threat
g4-g5.}
) 27. Bxb2 Bxf2 28. Bd4 $1 {and Black would not enjoy winning the exchange.
In
case of trading the bishops on d4 White would also get the better ending.})
25.
Qxd4 bxa3 26. f6 Ba6 {Re-activating the passive bishop and clearing the
b-file.
} 27. Bxc4 {Necessary in order to get rid of Black's pressure.} Qxc4 (27...
Bxc4 28. Qe3 $16) 28. Qxc4 Bxc4 29. Nd4 $16 {# This knight guarantees White
a
superb game. Black cannot expel it from it's central position, where the
knight is useful for both, attack and defence. In comparison Black's minor
pieces make a poor impression.} Ra8 30. Rg3 Bxa2 31. Nxa3 Rfb8 {Hydra's
moves
appear logical, but without real pressure. On the other hand 31...Ra4 looks
more aggressive, but neglects the development of the f8-rook.} 32. h3 {
After that the g3-rook is no longer bound the g-pawn and is free for more
active play e.g. in the c-file. #} Rb7 $6 {Another powerless move, which
costs
Black a tempo, as will be shown soon. White's way to win gets even more easy
and impressive after that. Black should have better tried ...Rb4, perhaps
playing first 32...gxf6 33.exf6.} 33. Rdd3 $18 gxf6 34. exf6 Rb6 35. Rc3 Kh8
36. Rc6 Rb4 37. Nab5 e5 38. Nd6 {# A contribution to the subject "back rank
weakness". White sacrifies the knight d4, but Black has to pay back with
compound interest, as otherwise he would be mated.} exd4 39. Ra3 Rb1+ 40.
Kd2
Rab8 41. Rxa2 Rf1 42. Rb6 Rg8 ({
More tenacious but also hopelessly would have been} 42... Rf8 43. Ra5 Rxf6
44.
g5 Rf2+ 45. Ke1 Rxc2 46. gxh6 $18) 43. g5 {
# and Hydra Chimera resigned after a half year's struggle on 29th March
2005.}
1-0
[Event "Corr. Chess Match"]
[Site "Abu Dhabi/Berlin"]
[Date "2004.09.16"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Hydra Chimera (C)"]
[Black "Nickel, Arno"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C07"]
[BlackElo "2586"]
[Annotator "Nickel,Arno"]
[PlyCount "108"]
[EventDate "2004.??.??"]
{(Semi-"live" comments and analysis.)} 1. e4 e6 {I have the impression, that
the French Defence has been played rather seldom in man/machine events,
although the high strategical impact of such games could be an incentive for
human players. This is why in contrast to my further habits and preferences
this time I chose 1...e6, especially as we had an unofficial test game befor
e,
where Hydra could see what I was going to play in the Caro-Kann Advance
Variation. Before getting surprised in the opening I preferred to surprise
Hydra by myself.} 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 {The Tarrasch System is a good choice in
order to avoid the strategical more comlicated positions after 3.Nc3 Bb4
4.e5
c5 5.a3. I suppose this choice goes back to the book author GM Christopher
Lutz.} c5 {Player who prefer a closed centre - especially against
computers -
would rather play 3...Nf6 ziehen, in order to provoke 4.e5 and afterwards
attack White's central pawns by c7-c5 or f7-f6. On the other hand many
players
of the French Defence prefer 3...c5 against the Tarrasch System as for
instance Wolfgang Uhlmann. I thought this move to be more suitable in order
to
secure a draw with Black, and the respect to Hydra and her team was big
enough,
so that I avoided to strive automatically for a closed position. That Hydra
in
case of doubt would be able to play a closed opening position could be seen
most impressive in the first of her two games with Ex-FIDE-Champ Ruslan
Ponomariov in Bilbao 2004, where the Ukrainian GM played to carelessly with
the white pieces.} 4. exd5 {
Also possible is to keep the tention for a while with 4.Ngf3.} Qxd5 {The
classi
cal choice is 4...exd5, taking the risk of an isolated pawn at d5 (after
d4xc5
or c5xd4), but enjoying active play with his pieces. By recapturing with his
queen Black avoids the isolani at the cost of a slower development, as his
queen loses one or two tempi. Now the pawn-structure is more likely the
Sicilian than the French, whereas this time Black has already managed to
advance with the d-pawn.} 5. Ngf3 cxd4 6. Bc4 Qd6 {#} 7. O-O ({
White could also do without recapturing the d-pawn and play more actively:}
7.
Qe2 $5 Nf6 8. Nb3 Nc6 9. Bg5 a6 10. O-O-O b5 11. Bd3 {see Adams-Buhmann
2002/
03 and Glek-Rustemow 2003/04, German Bundesliga, both games won by White.})
7... Nf6 8. Nb3 Nc6 9. Nbxd4 Nxd4 10. Nxd4 {Sometimes 10.Qxd4 and trading
queens is to be seen. However, I did not suppose Hydra to play like this, in
particular as her endgame skills (like most other computers too) are not
that
outstanding.} a6 11. Re1 Qc7 {One of many possible variations for both
sides.
Black prepares the development of his bishop to d6 or c5 (on e7 it would be
too passive). The neuralgic point e6 isn't in danger so far, but Black has
to
keep an eye to Bc1-g5 (and Bxf6 after 0-0) or Nd4-f5.} 12. Qe2 Bc5 (12...
Bd6 {
The main move.} 13. Bg5 $5 O-O 14. Bxf6 gxf6 15. Bd3 (15. Qg4+ $143) 15...
Qc5
$5 $13 ({Suspicious seems to be} 15... Bxh2+ {see the duel of two Ex-World
champions of correspondence chess Oim-Sloth (jubilee tournament 50 years
ICCF
2001, 1-0 after 55 moves).} 16. Kf1 Bf4 17. Qh5 f5 18. g4)) 13. c3 h6 {
GM Glek put a "!" to this move in Informator 88/250 (Kotronias-Glek, Silivri
2003, drawn after 34 moves) This assessment could have been questioned
pracically, if Hydra would have played 14.Nf5 threatening a piece sacrifice
on
h6 (after ...0-0), as proposed in the CSS(Computer)-Forum. Without to
comment
and analyse those variations in detail, I can say I would most probably have
played 14...Kf8. Giving up the right to castle does not seem such important,
if Black is able to activate the h8-rook by pushing forward the h-pawn,
while
on the other side he gets an active bishop on the diagonal a8/h1. Finally,
White's knight on f5 loses time and has to retreat.} (13... O-O {
the normal move which is considered as reliable.} 14. Bg5 Bxd4 15. cxd4 Nd5
16.
Rac1 $5 (16. Bxd5 exd5 {Tal-Kortchnoi, Brussel 1988, darwn after 21 moves})
16... Qb6 $6 {in Speelman-Nogueiras, Barcelona 1989, 1-0 after 39 moves.} (
16... Qd6 $5 $11)) 14. Bd3 (14. Nf5 {#} Kf8 (14... O-O 15. Nxh6+ gxh6 16.
Bxh6
Be7 (16... Rd8 $2 17. Qf3 $40) 17. Bb3 (17. Rad1 Rd8 18. Rxd8+ Bxd8 19. Bd3
Bd7
20. Qf3 $13) (17. Bxf8 Bxf8 $13) 17... Qc5 18. Qd3 Qh5 19. Bxf8 Kxf8 20. Bd1
Qh4 21. Bf3 Kg8 (21... Ng4 {
Shredder 8 in a search depth of 21 moves after 16.Bxh6:} 22. Bxg4 Qxg4 23.
Rad1
b5 24. h3 {evaluated 0.63 for White (A. Strangmuller).}) 22. Rad1 Ng4 {
Shredder 8 in depth 24/63, +0.34 (J. Rang).}) 15. Ng3 b5 16. Bd3 h5 17. Be3
Bd6
(17... Bb7 18. Bxc5+ Qxc5 19. Rad1 h4 20. Ne4 Qc6) 18. Rac1 h4 19. Nf1 h3
20.
g3 Bb7 {Black's countre-play on the diagonal h1/a8 becomes evident, though
the
position remains unclear and very complicated (A.N.).} 21. Nd2 Rd8 22. Bg5
Bc5
23. Ne4 Bxe4 {+/= (0.67) depth: 23/48 (A. Strangmuller).}) 14... Bd7 {
The bishop's fianchetto by b7-b6 or b7-b5 is not good her, firstly because
White is able to attack the queen-side pawns, and secondlx because e6 still
needs to be protected.} 15. Be3 {If now 15.Sf5 king-side castling would not
be
safe, but Black could castle to the queen-side.} Bd6 16. g3 O-O {#} 17. Qd2
$6
{If White has nothing better as preparing Bd3-f1-g2, then Black has already
euqalized the game. Also Hydra's book author GM Christopher Lutz was not
impressed by the outcome of the opening and considered 7.Qe2!? as a more
active choice for the future. - What can be said more to this position?
Black
frees his play by Nf6-g4 and changes knight versus bishop e3. 17.Rad1 looks
more flexible as 17.Qd2. Also advancing with the pawns on the queen-side
came
into consideration. Even the sophisticated manoeuvre Qe2-f1-h3 would appear
more lively than the powerless move Qd2.} Ng4 $11 18. Rad1 Rfe8 19. Nb3 Nxe3
20. Qxe3 Rad8 21. Qe4 g6 {Black is without any problems. The bishop's
fianchetto Bd6-f8-g7 is now a further option.} 22. Bf1 Bc6 23. Qe3 Kh7 {
Oder 23...Lf8.} 24. Bg2 e5 {Not an easy decision. Black has to be careful,
as
White could use the square d5 as turntable for his pieces. On the other
side,
as an endgame bishop versus knight becomes more and more probable, the pawn
chain g6/f5/e4 should secure Black good counter play at the king-side, so
that
he has not to restrict himself to passive defence at the queen-side.} 25.
Bxc6
Qxc6 26. Qe4 {# A quiet draw offer? Black is right trading the queens now,
otherwise he might get some problems when struggling for the initiative.}
Qxe4
(26... Qc7 27. Rd5 f5 28. Qe2 e4 29. Red1 {
would be too committing, though the game is still equal.}) 27. Rxe4 Bc7 {
As his king is still far away Black decides for a.reliable though somewhat
passive defence at the queen-side.} 28. Ree1 b6 29. Na1 {# Well, Hydra
hasn't
completely lost her humour. Indeed this is the only and best way to bring
the
knight to d5 (via a1-c2-e3 or -b4), without to disturb the d1-rook.} Kg7 30.
Nc2 Rxd1 31. Rxd1 Rd8 {A so-called easy andgame position, which does not put
real problems, but is to be played with proper endgame technics by both
sides.}
32. Rxd8 Bxd8 {A human player with the white pieces would now try to
centralize his king and put his pawns at the king-side on white squares
(opposite to the black coloured bishop) . Hydra however as probably other
chess programs too at first centralizes her knight at d5 and mobilizes her
queen-side pawns. This is still playable but becomes dangereous at some
point
later on...} 33. Nb4 a5 34. Nd5 f5 35. c4 Kf7 36. a4 Ke6 37. b3 g5 38. h3 h5
39. Kf1 {Here Hydra offered a draw, which was completely okay, but I refused
it, because in an exhibition game people would prefer to see how both sides
solve the remaining problems.} g4 40. h4 $6 {
White gives himself a hard time. 40.hxg4 was still a clear way to draw.} f4
41.
Ke2 (41. gxf4 {came into consideration, in order to reach a study-like draw.
It may be a matter of taste, if one prefers 41.Ke2, whereafter White also
has
to fight hard for the draw.} Bxh4 42. Nxb6 Be7 43. Nd5 Bd6 44. fxe5 Kxe5 45.
f3
g3 (45... gxf3 46. Kf2) 46. Kg2 Kd4 47. Nf6 h4 48. Ne4 Bf4 49. Nf6 Kd3 50.
Nh5
Bb8 (50... Be5 $11 51. c5 Kd4 52. f4 Bb8 53. f5 Kxc5 54. f6 Kd6 55. Nf4 Kd7
56.
Ng6 Ke6 57. Nxh4 Kxf6 58. Nf3 Ke6 59. Nd2 Bc7 60. Nc4 Kd5 61. Nxa5 Bxa5 62.
Kxg3 $11) 51. Nf6 Be5 52. Ne4 Ke3 53. Ng5 $8 (53. c5 $2 Kd4 $17) 53... Bd6
54.
Ne4 Bf4 55. Nc5 h3+ 56. Kxh3 Kxf3 57. Nd3 Bb8 58. Ne1+ Ke3 59. Kg2 Kd2 60.
Nf3+
Kc3 61. Kh3 Kxb3 62. Nd4+ Kxa4 63. Nc6 $11) 41... Kf5 {#} 42. Kf1 $2 (42.
Kd3
$8 {was without alternative, but astonishingly sufficient to reach a
study-like draw.} e4+ (42... Bf6 {leads to a different move order}) 43. Ke2
fxg3 44. fxg3 Bf6 45. b4 $5 (45. Ke3 Be5 46. Ne7+ Ke6 47. Kxe4 Bc7 $17)
45...
Be5 $5 (45... axb4 46. Nxb4 Be5 47. c5 $1 (47. Nd5 $2 Bxg3 48. Nxb6 Be5
(48...
Bd6 $2 49. Nd5 g3 50. Kf1 Kg4 51. Kg2 Kxh4 52. a5 Bc5 53. Nc3 e3 54. Ne2 Kg4
55. Nxg3 h4 56. Ne2 h3+ 57. Kh2 Bd6+ 58. Kh1 Bc7 59. a6 Bb6 60. Ng1 Ba7 61.
Kh2
Bb8+ 62. Kh1 Kf5 63. c5 Ke6 64. Nxh3 $11) 49. Nd5 Bd4 $19 {
and White is without counter play against the Black's passed pawns.}) 47...
bxc5 48. Nc6 Bxg3 49. a5 Bxh4 50. a6 g3 51. Ne7+ Ke6 52. Ng6 Kd7 53. Nxh4
Kc7
$11) 46. c5 $1 Ke6 (46... axb4 $6 47. Nxb4 bxc5 48. Nc6 Bxg3 $11 {
see variation A2; different move order.}) 47. Nf4+ Bxf4 48. gxf4 axb4 49.
f5+
Kd7 50. cxb6 b3 51. b7 Kc7 52. f6 b2 53. b8=Q+ Kxb8 54. f7 b1=Q 55. f8=Q+
$11)
(42. Kd2 Ke4 43. Ke2 {different move order}) 42... Ke4 $19 43. Ke2 fxg3 44.
fxg3 Kd4 45. Kd2 e4 46. Ke2 e3 47. Ke1 Kd3 48. Kd1 e2+ 49. Ke1 Kc2 50. Kxe2
Kxb3 51. Kd3 Kxa4 52. Kc2 Bxh4 53. gxh4 g3 54. Nf4 Kb4 {
White lost by time on 
4.th
 of May 2005.} 0-1
Saluti
CiccioSPICE

Ma sono partite per corrispondenza.... non hanno nessun valore quindi.
Hydra di certo non viene massacrato da un 2560 dopo aver fatto a pezzi 
Adams....
ciauzzz! 

 Adams....
Diciamo che Hydra è meno forte di un GM per corrispondenza di fascia alta
supportato da libri e computer.
Luigi Caselli