[Event "Spielvogel Memorial"] [Date "2017.02.02"] [Round "2"] [White "James Watson"] [Black "Robert Bailey"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "1858"] [BlackElo "1524"] [ECO "A65"] [Opening "Benoni: 6.e4"] 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.e4 g6 7.f4 Nfd7? {(JW) The correct move order is 7...Bg7 8.Bb5+ then Nfd7. Which is considered blacks best try. (RB) Yes, I got my move order wrong in the standard Mikenas Attack. JB and I have played quite a few of these over the years.} 8.a4 {(JW) This may not be the best way to exploit the inaccurate move order however I figured worst case it transposes back in to the mainline. (7.Bg7 8.Bb5+ Nfd7 9.a4) Also I had in mind the idea that an early Nb5 might cause black problems and so this ties in with that allowing me to meet Qb6 with a5} Bg7 9.Nb5?! {(JW) 9.Bb5 would transpose back into book, however instead simply Nf3 and white has an improved version. The engine points out this move is bad, but only for some specific variations that few humans would calculate from here. (RB) This surprised me and looked quite speculative, the early knight foray seemingly ignoring standard development. I thought at first simply returning the knight to f6 was adequate until I found the more interesting O-O with Qe7 plan.} O-O!! {(JW) This is actually blacks best move which I hadn't given due consideration. which I should have since its exactly the sort of this that needs to be checked before playing something like Nb5. I had originally thought Black would need to play ...Bg7 leaving white up tempi, though black would get some back with a6 next move kicking my knight. Rob came up with the better move however.} 10.Nxd6? {(JW) I had thought for a few minutes before playing this because I had to calculate the consequences of Qe7 and a piece sac on e5. Whilst it turns out my calculations were accurate, my evaluations of the resulting position was a little off. (BvR) I wanted to have better look, since I am unfamiliar with this variation, and I don't understand why both black (Ng8-f6-fd7) and white (Nb1-c3-b5) played their horses twice before move 9. Seemingly (to me) without reasons. The position was so interesting that I analysed a bit further, and came to the conclusion that some of James' comments are inaccurate. As 10.Nxd6.. turns out to be a mistake, I assume that 9.Nb5 was part of an incorrect plan. Rob's 9th move (O-O) was the best move of the whole game. Prepared? (RB) Unfortunately not Bas - my logic was only that in previous games where James had taken on d6 that I'd managed to win the game! I do enjoy the Benoni however. ;)} Qe7 11.e5? {(JW) The point here is to meet a sac on e5 with taking on c8 and even though black gets doublecheck discoveries, the fact that the knight is attacking the queen means it works out for white. (BvR, it doesn't work out for white. See further) For example 11...Bxe5?? 12.Nxc8 Bc3+ 13.Kf2 Bd4?? 14.Qxd4. or 11...Nxe5 12.Nxc8 Nf3+ 13.Kf2 Bd4+ 14.Kxf3 is fine for white (14.Qxd4?? Qe1+). Both players calculated these lines and figured it works out for white however the engine points out that one of the sacrifices works for black. (BvR) I disagree with James' general impression that white is doing OK. Whilst, in fact after the mistake Nxd6, white should have been in serious trouble. I have added the question-mark to 11.e5?, because now 11...Nxe5! would have worked well for black if he had spotted the fantastic combination: 12.Nxc8, Nd3+!! (not Nf3+); 13.Kd2, Rxc8; 14.Bxd3, c4; 15.Be2, c3!! and black is winning. (RB ) That's a nice line Bas, thanks for illustrating it. I spent far too long on the clock trying to make one of the double checks work and sadly didn't find c4 after Nd3. To flourish, have courage as they say!} Na6?? {(JW) It turns out that 11...Nxe5 is a near winning attack for the specific reason that black can play c4 and bring the queen to b4, otherwise white is holding fine. 11...Nxe5 12.Nxc8 Nd3+! 13.Kd2 when I thought white is fine since black doesn't have all their pieces developed and white should have adequate defense. However 13...Rxc8 14.Bxd3 black has ...c4 and Qb4 which is very strong. (BvR) ..c3 instead of Qb4, see my comments before, ie black is winning..} 12.Bxa6 bxa6 13.Be3?? {(JW) During and after play I felt this was bad and the engine confirms it does give black lots of resources. Instead white should just play Nf3 with clear advantage. (BvR) Correct, white reduces his advantage from +1.80 to +0.40, had black played 13...f6 instead of 13..Rb8 (?);} Rb8 14.Rb1? {(BvR) A weak move, as it allows 14.. Bxe5! 15.fxe5,Qxe5; 16.Nc4, Qe4 (-0.50).} Rb4? {(JW) Missing another chance to sac on e5, this time the point is that black will get a battery on the e file in a few lines.} 15.Nf3 {(JW) From here there isn't much more to be done. Provided white doesn't make any blunders its too much of an advantage to be overcome.} Bb7? {(BvR) A bad choice in a difficult position for black. Had he played 15..f6 instead, white would have a manageable (for black) +1.30 advantage, compared with +2.60 after Bb7. From here on it is a 'walk in the park' for James, with an extra pawn, a strong pawn-centre and a double pawn for black.} 16.Nxb7 Rxb7 17.O-O Rfb8 18.Rf2 Rb3 19.Re2 R8b7 20.Qc2 Bf8 21.d6 Qd8 22.Qc4 Qb8 23.Ng5 {(JW) Black only had a few seconds on the clock which isnt enough time to create defensive resources. An interesting game that could have gone any which way early on.} {#r} 1-0