[Event "Match Candidats"]
[Site "Match Candidats"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Kevin Spraggett"]
[Black "Andrei Sokolov"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[Opening "Sicilian: Najdorf"]

1.e4 c5 {The Sicilian Defense, a very popular black answer to white's first
move, known to club players, and not so much to the general amateur, who finds
himself mystified by it.

Why this pawn? And what does this move do? It doesn't develop a piece? Why
just move a random pawn?

So - this move challenges white's other central pawn advance (the one in front
of the Queen), and generally aims at queen-side development and play. Often it
leads to sharp attacking play with different-side castling, and is generally
very rich in ideas.} 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 {As pawns are exchanged in the
center, black gets an open file, the c-file (third one from the left), with no
pawns of his on it.

In many cases, black's play includes pressure along this file with his rooks,
later - and sometimes even penetration of the white position through it.
Dangerous!

White, on the other hand, enjoys a wider range of action for now, and a better
control of the center of the field.} Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Qb6 {This is a
well-known variation in the Sicilian opening, called "the Poisoned Pawn".

Black is asking white, whether he'll let him take the b2 pawn (second from the
left).

If white allows, and black takes, as we will soon see, the black queen will
become isolated from her camp.

White, in pushing her around, will get more active placements for his pieces,
which will be adequate compensation for the proffered pawn. This is exactly
what is happening in the next few moves} 8.Qd2 Qxb2 9.Rb1 Qa3 10.f5 {This move
signals the commencement of a game of subtle maneouvering by white
(Spraggett).

The idea is to create a backward mass of pawns for black, which will not be
easy to advance, and which will trap black's pieces behind it.

With the black Queen where it is, the setup is rather awkward - but of course,
black still has an extra pawn as compensation.} Nc6 11.fxe6 fxe6 12.Nxc6 bxc6
13.Be2 Be7 14.O-O {White is well developed. Black's position, while by no
means easy to penetrate, still looks somewhat drafty. } O-O 15.Rb3 Qc5+ {White
will now make a two-move maneouver to improve the placement of his bishop
(attacking a sensitive pawn) without losing time, as he'll attack the exposed
black queen twice. } 16.Be3 Qe5 17.Bf4 Qc5+ 18.Kh1 Ng4 {It looks like black
plays like a beginner here - as the knight flies into the white field with
absolutely no protection - however, taking it would cost the white bishop, as
you'll see if you look at the alternative white 19th move I included here, and
will free black's position considerably - although he will return his extra
pawn.} 19.h3 {Asking the knight a question, and preparing room for his king on
h2 (the threat was knight to f2 check)} (19.Bxg4 e5 {white may exchange white
squared bishops with black - but may not move the one which moves on dark
squares - as the result will be mate, owing to the now undefended rook on the
back rank.

Otherwise black is doing remarkably fine here. He wins back a bishop and gets
more activity for his pieces. Spraggett avoids this variation and doesn't take
the knight.} 20.Bxc8 Raxc8 21.Be3 Rxf1+ 22.Bg1 Qxg1# {Power mate! So no
retreating that bishop}) (19.Na4 {White could ignore the threat, but it would
be at a grave cost: } Nf2+ 20.Rxf2 {Either white gives up a rook for a knight,
resulting in a pretty much lost game...} (20.Kg1 Nh3+ 21.Kh1 Qg1+ 22.Rxg1 Nf2#
{...or he gets himself mated. That's why 19. h3 is an important move. }))
19...e5 {Black again offers back the pawn by attacking the bishop (the
difference is, that if white takes the knight with a pawn, his capturing pawn
will be safe - not so for black). } 20.Na4 {In the earlier variation you saw,
exchanging knight for bishop and capturing back the pawn led to a satisfactory
game for black. However, here Spraggett introduces some subtle changes into
the position, which will keep the advantage (though slight for now) firmly in
his hands. } Qa7 21.Bc4+ Kh8 22.hxg4 exf4 23.Nb6 {So now all is done - the
pieces were exchanged, and the f4 black pawn is there, ready to be taken.

In what does the white advantage consist? Just a few small details... By his
knight manoeuver, first hitting the queen (again!) and then planting itself in
the heart of the black queenside position, white achieved a couple of things:

1) The knight is dominating, threatening a rook which will have to move, and -
2) the awkwardness of black's position is accentuated, as both the bishop at
home on c8 and the lonely side-pawn at a6 (in front of the queen) are
sensitive children, as will soon become apparent.} Rb8 24.Rxf4 {It was
possible to take this pawn due to a subtle tactical circumstance, which
Spraggett uses to his advantage. It looks like black can now win the knight on
b6 - but appearances can be deceiving...} Bd7 {Remember to look at the
variation to this move, to see why it was counter-productive to take the
knight!

The move actually played, however, is really awkward for black. 

Due to white's convincing play, black feels himself forced to make an
important concession, as if he doesn't, he will be paralyzed, too inactive
eventually. If you notice, one move ago the bishop defended the pawn on a6,
and now it doesn't. It allows itself to be taken by a knight, after which also
the queen will no longer defend the pawn.

Why does he do that? First of all, moving the bishop to the other side would
allow the knight to exchange itself for one of the rooks (you'll see that in
the other variation - take a look).

Then, if you notice, that bishop doesn't have much of a future along its
longer diagonal, either - there's simply nowhere to go - so he just wants to
get rid of it, so that the remaining pieces can stay active.

It does, eventually, cost another pawn, but he relies on a certain weird
circumstance of chess, which I'll explain to you a bit later.} (24...Rxb6 {If
black takes, then white exchanges rooks on f8 with check, and then moves his
queen with a double attack:} 25.Rxf8+ Bxf8 26.Qf2 {The queen now threatens
mate on f8 (taking the bishop). Black will defend against it, but the cost
would be the rook on b6, which is now attacked twice.

In the final count, white will have gained a rook for a bishop, resulting in a
winning game - so black resisted the temptation to take the knight.})
(24...Bb7 {Here the bishop goes "to the other side" - and disaster soon
results.} 25.Nd7 {Black now gives one or the other of his rooks for the
invading knight, as capturing the exposed white rook on f4 would be horrible
for black - due to a decisive entry of the white queen into his game} Rxf4
26.Qxf4 Rc8 {For example, but black doesn't really have better} 27.Qf7
{Black's in a horrible mess here. A cute example variation follows} Bf6
28.Nxf6 gxf6 29.Qxf6# {checkmate along the diagonals!}) (24...Rxf4) 25.Nxd7
Qxd7 26.Rf5 {This was one of my favorite moves of the whole game! Look how
many things this amazing rook on f5 does:

first, it shields the sensitive g4 pawn from capture (the one behind it on the
right);

Second, it stands on such an amazing square, that if it is ever captured,
white gets a formidable line of advanced pawns, and the e6 square (the one
next to the black queen, diagonally behind it and to the right) for his bishop
- strong and commanding. It is always good to set up your pieces on squares
where they both disturb the enemy, and present advantages in case they are
captured - the enemy doesn't know if he should take them or leave them alone,
as damage would result in any case!

Third, the a6 pawn isn't running away... it will always be possible to take
it, even if it advances.

Fourth, there is an artistic element present, as later Spraggett's queen will
occupy that same sweet spot. and last - it's impossible to chase the rook from
its post by pushing a pawn - as the result will be mate (look at the variation
to black's next move)} Rxb3 (26...g6 27.Qc3+ {This move is embarrassing to
meet! Black just can't block on f6...} Bf6 28.Rxf6 Rxf6 29.Qxf6+ {mate again -
similar to the one we've already seen before. }) 27.cxb3 {This is part of
black's idea in giving up his pawn - he wants to simplify, trade as many
pieces as possible, as he thinks that the result will be drawn. Why?

If the a-pawn (on the left side) will fall, white will have now an extra pawn.
Now, shouldn't this present winning chances?

However, if black manages to remove all queens and rooks from the board, the
bishops will move on different tracks - white has one which moves on white
squares, black - one which moves on black squares. Their roads will never
meet! So under these circumstances, it will be very difficult, thinks
Grandmaster Sokolov (black in this game), to push the extra pawn through -
black's bishop will be able to hold its advance, and white's bishop will be
able to do nothing to help!

You will see in the rest of the game, what a scheme of careful manoeuvers
Spraggett will concoct, that would totally upset this conception.} Qd8
{Preparing to chase the rook away, as now, thanks to the black queen's
support, it WILL be possible to block on f6. } 28.Bxa6 {The pawn falls now,
and the stage is set for the true drama of this game - the opposite-coloured
bishop ending. } g6 29.Rf3 {White doesn't rush it. After all, it's him who has
the extra pawn. What will black do?} (29.Qc3+ {doesn't work now, as the
response, bishop to f6, is now effective. Black would win material in this
variation, as both the white Queen AND rook will be attacked. A tiny queen
move can create quite a big difference!}) 29...Bf6 30.Qf2 {Pressure on the
black camp, and paralysis results as his pieces begin to be tied to one
another. } Kg7 31.Bc4 {every piece goes to an active square. } Qe7 32.Qe3 c5
{Under pressure, black gives another important white square (d5) to his enemy}
33.Qf4 g5 34.Qf5 {And the magic square is white's again!} Be5 {And this is the
moment where the difference in the players' judgment finally becomes apparent:
black thinks that he draws out 'the winning card' - forcing white to exchange
everything. He thinks that the free a-pawn (on the left) won't decide the
game. Spraggett will show that things are not so simple...} 35.Qxf8+ Qxf8
36.Rxf8 Kxf8 {The opposite-coloured bishop ending. } 37.a4 Bc3 {So now the
pawn is blocked, and can advance no further. Is this the end of the story? It
turns out, that apart from being down a pawn, black has further problems.

First of all, as hinted earlier, he has too many weak white squares, where the
white pieces (king and bishop) can tread without opposition. This means that
the white king can have free and easy access anywhere on the board.

Second, the black h-pawn (on the right) and the central d-pawn are both
backwards (hard to advance) and rather weak. It will be impossible to defend
them both in the long run, while ALSO halting the white a-pawn.

Spraggett's handling of this phase is very instructive.} 38.Kg1 {The king
begins his journey} Ke7 {And what can the black king do? He will try to hold,
and mark time. Black's ambition is simply to hold the draw here. He has no
active plans. In many cases this is sufficient, when playing opposite-coloured
bishops ending. But one should still exercise care, as the draw, even when it
is there, isn't elementary to obtain.} 39.Kf2 Kd8 {Despite the best efforts to
win it, very often a difficult game can indeed be drawn. Sometimes advantages
really aren't sufficient.
 
On the other hand, very often, under pressure, even a very strong opponent can
crumble, and turn a drawable position into a losing one - even if the winning
process isn't easy to see, and the player thinks, at the moment, that his
choice didn't make a difference.
 
In my opinion, this last move from black is exactly the point where a drawable
game becomes a losing one.
 
Instead of stepping backwards, black's king should have probably taking a step
diagonally forward, to f6, and then land on e5 (the square in front of the
central white pawn) - and stay there for the rest of the game.
 
White, having only a light-coloured bishop, would never be able to dislodge
him from his central post, and he would just move his own bishop back and
forth, keeping an eye on the free a-pawn. Draw would be the inevitable result.

(edit: I checked this later, and it turns out that things aren't so simple
either... white would still have chances to penetrate the queen side with his
king and try to wreak some havoc there...

Nevertheless, it was my impression that black would still have resources to
handle this. Entering into details here would make a tome out of this game...)
 
It is true that nobody can win in chess without his opponent making an
important mistake. The art is, to put enough pressure on him so that he does
make this mistake - and then to realize what it was, and to pounce mercilessly
- never giving him a chance to get back to the game. Now watch as Spraggett
will do exactly that!} 40.Ke3 {Steadily advancing} Kc7 41.Kd3 {Kicking the
black bishop on the way in...} Be1 {Black is always keeping an eye on the
a-pawn} 42.Bb5 {The bishop moves aside, robbing the black king of some squares
- and making way for his own king, which will occupy the square just vacated
by the bishop, on the way into the black camp. } Kb6 43.Kc4 Bb4 44.Kd5 {This
powerful move was only made possible by black's aforementioned concession on
the 32nd move. Without it, it would be much harder to go through, if at all
possible. White will go all the way to the right, and refresh himself with the
h-pawn.

Black can do absolutely nothing about it - his pieces can defend one side or
the other, but not both.} Kc7 45.Ke6 Bd2 46.Bc4 Bc3 47.Bd5 Bd2 48.Kf6 Kd7
49.Kg7 Ke7 50.Kxh7 {Now black may feel a bit uneasy, as he is TWO pawns
down... However, endgames with opposite coloured bishops are full of quirks,
and often one can draw even from such a deficit.

After all, black has one pawn on the g-file (the rightmost now) and white has
two on that same file, blocked. So one extra pawn already seems useless - the
g-pawn is protected by the black-squared bishop.

"It seems that black has everything under control" - to use one of Grandmaster
Spraggett's own favorite expressions, so often seen on his blog... :-)} Kf6
{The king provides extra protection to the g-pawn} 51.Kg8 {...and white begins
to outflank him, threatening to march all the way to the left, and munch the
d-pawn (the central one), which black has exactly one chance to prevent, right
now. } Ke7 {The black king retreats...} 52.Kg7 {...and won't be protecting the
g-pawn now from white's king. An instructive maneouver!

(defending the pawn with the bishop on black's last move, would have meant
that the a-pawn would feel happy to resume its march up the board...)} Bc3+
53.Kg6 Bd2 54.Kf5 {Improving his position further, and forcing the king to
move to a less effective square - as the bishop has no moves (the bishop can't
move now without allowing his pawn to be captured - or the white pawn to
advance!)} Kd7 55.Kf6 {Pushing the black king further back} Kd8 56.Bc6
{Robbing him of even more squares. } Kc7 57.Bb5 Kd8 58.Ke6 {This starts as
series of to-and-fro moves, as Spraggett tests his opponent's defensive skills
and nerves... He does so, before landing the decisive blow, which he's
certainly seen already.

It's either that - or there's something about the following series of moves,
which I don't understand.

It could be that Spraggett is pushing his opponent's pieces into unfavorable
squares, before playing his trump card on move 67. I would love to have that
explained to me, if this is indeed the case :-)

Although I love the game a lot, my own understanding of chess is light years
away (to quote Jamiroquai) from the Grandmaster level...} Kc7 59.Be8 Bc3
60.Ke7 Bd2 61.Bf7 Bc3 62.Bc4 Kc6 63.Bb5+ Kc7 64.Ke6 Bd2 65.g3 Bc3 66.Kf5 Bd2
67.a5 {And there it is! The decisive breakthrough. Now the whole idea becomes
clear - black will have to capture this pawn, otherwise it will become too
dangerous - the king would have to keep an eye on it, and then white will
capture black's central pawn, and march his home without the slightest
opposition from black.

In exchange for the a-pawn, black will now give white his g-pawn, and suddenly
the two white g-pawns will become the winning card. Black's king is too far
away for him to be able to block these pawns with his king and bishop and
avoid further losses.

White's pieces dominate events all over the board.} d5 {desperation. The
result is already decided even without this gift of an additional pawn, in an
attempt to confuse white. } 68.exd5 {Of course.} Bxa5 69.Kxg5 {That's too many
pawns already. Black is hopeless and continues a bit more out of inertia. }
Kd6 70.Bc4 Be1 71.Kg6 Bxg3 72.g5 Bf4 73.Kf6 {The pawn will cost black his
bishop. White will have no difficulty to queen one of his remaining pawns - or
both, and checkmate his opponent. Black resigns the game. } {#r} 1-0