A Tudor Triumph

Posted on: April 23rd, 2009 by Phil Ramsey

Just to cheer up the B team after being denied their match last night here is Tudor showing us all how to swindle again Denton last month. Notes by Tudor.

T Rickards 1 J Lysons 0

1. e4 …e5
2. Nf3 …d6
3. Bc4 …Be7
4. O-O …Nf6
5. Re1 …0-0
6. c3 …a6
7. d4 …e x d
8. c x d …Nc6?! (don’t like this now, must find a better move)

9. h3 …b5
10. Bb3 …Bb7
11. Nc3 …h6 (shows B is running out of decent moves)
12. e5! ..dxe
13. dxeQxQd1
14. RxQd1 (black in some trouble).
Nh7
15. R1d7 (wish I was White)
Bd8

Instructive. White completely in charge but needs to find best plan. I suspect gradual strangulation. Black has to, well, just hang in there

16. Bf4 …Bc8
17. Rd2 …Be6!? (I like it. What else? )
18. Nd5?! ( Looks strong. Ducks the obvious 18 B x B with severe B p weaknesses to avoid (doubtful) F file counterplay? )
18. …Na5
19. Rc1? Loses. In pursuit of a win down the c file stuffs himself. Ra1d1retains probable win


19 …c6! (thank you, white)
Nothing to do. Black forces material gain.
20. Nb4 …B x Bb3 and wins comfortably. White quickly finds a few more moves to lose more quickly before the endgame.

Lesson: …Nf6 is rarely played in Philidor’s defense. Game shows one reason why. If offered a simplification to a v good endgame, take it.

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