Notes from the Class E Underground
That was the title Pat Barron gave to the collection of his games from the
Pittsburgh Open that he sent to me. I have selected two of the five, which
were relatively more challenge and complexity than the others.
White: Patrick Barron
Black: Darrin Bond
Pittsburgh Open, June 1998
Sicilian Defense
1 e4 c5
2 Nf3 d6
3 Nc3 e6
4 Bb5+ Bd7
5 O-O a6
6 Bxd7+ Qxd7
7 d3 Nc6
8 Be3 Be7
9 d4 cxd4
10 Bxd4 Nf6
11 Bxf6
White's last two moves make a strange impression, as if he were
convinced that knights are better than bishops and determined to
exchange a bishop for a knight. But objectively, he isn't getting
an advantage, and might have done better with a more conventional
plan, such as playing 7 d4, or even 4 d4.
11 ... Bxf6
12 Re1
Black might now play 12 ... Bxc3, so that after 13 bxc3 he could
attack the isolated doubled pawns on the c-file. His own queen pawn
would be vulnerable, but after suitable preparation he could
advance it to d5 and exchange it, and I do not see an effective
answer to this plan.
12 ... O-O
This allows a tactic. Instead, 12 ... Qc7 first give White more
to think about.
13 e5! Be7
14 exd6
Otherwise Black plays 14 ... d5.
14 ... Bxd6
14 ... Qxd6 might be simpler.
15 Ne4 Rad8
16 Qd2 Ne5
17 Rad1 Nc4
17 ... Nxf3+ 18 gxf3 would leave Black with no way to defend or
retreat his bishop! It appears that Black's position is precarious,
but he has a way out.
18 Qd4 Qc6
19 Nxd6
The critical test is 19 b3. If Black retreats the knight he loses a
piece, so instead 19 ... Bxh2+ 20 Kxh2 Rxd4 wins the queen. And
after 21 Nxd4 Qc7 is check, so Black will have time to save his
knight.
19 ... Rxd6
20 Qc3 Rfd8
21 Rxd6 Rxd6
White must now play alertly, because after queens are traded, Black's
rook and knight are well placed to take the initiative, while White's
rook and knight will be doing relatively little.
22 b3! Nd2
22 ... Nb6 23 Qxc6 Rxc6 24 c4 leaves Black with nothing.
23 Qxc6 bxc6
White should now take the bull by the horns with 24 Nxd2 Rxd2 25 Rc1.
He is then ready to break out of the bind by 26 Kf1 and 27 Ke1; the
only tricky line is 25 ... e5 26 Kf1 e4 27 Ke1 e3, but White then has
28 Rd1! forcing 28 ... Rxd1+ 29 Kxd1 exf2 30 Ke2, with an endgame that
looks hard to evaluate. Another plausible defense is 24 Ne5. Black may
then get a slight initiative with 24 ... c5 and 25 ... c4, but maybe it's
only a mirage. Even 24 Rc1 may be all right. After 24 ... Nxf3+ 25 gxf3,
White has ugly doubled pawns, but he will be able to force the trade of
rooks, after which his queenside majority will hold the game. Other moves
are less convincing. For instance, 24 Ng5 h6 25 Nh3 Ne4! followed by
... Nc3 and ... Rd2 looks hard for White to defend.
24 Rd1?? Nxf3+
25 gxf3 Rxd1+ and Black won easily.
White: Jeffrey Surma
Black: Patrick Barron
Pittsburgh Open, June 1998
Ruy Lopez
1 e4 e5
2 Nf3 Nc6
3 Bb5 Nf6
4 Bxc6
A dogmatic move, hinting that the player of White prefers knights
over bishops.
4 ... bxc6
5 d3 Bd6
This is an awkward way to defend the pawn. Black has nothing to
fear from 5 ... d6, which is much more natural and flexible.
6 O-O O-O
7 Re1 Qe7
8 h3 Bc5
9 c3 d5
10 Bg5
Both players are apparently unaware that Black would lose his king pawn
after 10 exd5.
10 ... h6
11 Bxf6 Qxf6
12 d4 exd4
13 cxd4 dxe4
14 Rxe4 Bf5
15 Re5 Rad8?
16 Rxc5
A devastating blow. But Black does not lose hope!
16 ... Be4
17 Ne6 Qg5
18 f3 f6
19 Ng4? Qxc5
Of course, 19 fxe4 was correct. White now ends up with two pieces
for the rook, but his disorganized and undeveloped position is
soon overrun.
20 fxe4 Rxd4
21 Qf3 Rxe4+
22 Kh2 Re1
23 Nf2 Rfe8
24 g3 R8e3
25 Qg2 R3e2
26 Nd3 Rxg2+
Pat writes, "I can't believe I missed 26 ... Qg1++!"
27 Kxg2 Qg1+
28 Kf3 Rf1+
29 Ke2 Qg2+
30 Ke3 f5
31 Nf4 Qxg3+
32 Ke2 Qxf4
Resigns