Classical Game Recap: Sacramento Chess Club Weekend Swiss, Round 2

A successful debut of a new opening.

This is game 2 of 4 of a weekend tournament. For the past couple weeks I had been preparing a new opening line, and decided that I had enough confidence to try it over the board in a classical game. I had refreshed myself on the important lines that morning, so it was no time like the present to give it a shot.

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Time Control: 90 minutes with a 30-second increment per move

White: Me (1666 USCF)

Black: Matthew Curtis (1610 USCF)

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1.c4

Learning the English Opening has been a long time coming for me, mostly due to getting a proper introduction to the hyper-modern style of both players Aron Nimzowitsch and Richard Reti, and even seeing how the more classical Ding Liren handles it. I find the positions in the English Opening to be fascinating and complex and interesting. Compared to 1.e4 which has been my opening of choice for the past three years, I enjoy the control of the d5 square from the flank, and the increased possibility of keeping a strong pawn center later in the game. Truth be told, I had picked up all of Sam Shankland’s courses on the English Opening in the past year but never actually cracked them open until about a month ago.

1…e5

This is known as the “Reversed Sicilian” by some, and referred to as the “King’s English” by others. In any case, Black is playing the White side of a Sicilian Defense (1.e4 c5) but a tempo down — White can play the Sicilian Defense but with an extra move. Based on my primitive understanding of the English, nowadays there are three major options for Black after 1.c4:

• Play the Reversed Sicilian with 1…e5. Take the center and occupy it, and try to play for a space advantage in the center. This is also my defense of choice against the English. White has many choices from here, and many of them are very decent indeed.

• Play the Symmetrical English with 1…c5. This is sometimes known as the “copycat” method, but I think it’s rather clever for Black not to commit to a move and instead pass the buck back to White. The positions here are often very different and uniquely flavored and typically only show up in the English, but White has the opportunity to create a Maroczy bind in the future with a push to e4. I find all of these positions to be interesting and fun to play. I also think this defense by Black is particularly underrated.

• Play like it’s a Queen’s Pawn Opening. This choice by Black may highlight the transpositional potential of the English, since Black often cannot prevent White from playing d2-d4, which means that 1.c4 can be used to get a favorable Queen’s Pawn Opening at an opportune moment, if Black isn’t careful. But this also represents the least theoretical load for Black. Do you play the Queen’s Gambit Declined? Then 1…e6 and 2…d5 aren’t bad choices. Do you play the King’s Indian Defense? Then 1…Nf6 and 2…g6 are completely viable. Slavs setups are also good: 1…c6 and 2…d5 can blunt the typical English fianchetto bishop.

There are all sorts of interesting ideas to try against the English, but the above are the three major strands.

2.g3

Preparing the development of the King’s bishop to the long diagonal. I must admit that I find this bishop’s range on the long diagonal to be rather addictive.

2…Nc6 3.Bg2 f5

This move is sensible, and could basically be a “Reversed Grand Prix Attack” (so called, as 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 followed by 3.f4 is known as the “Grand Prix Attack”). Black is down a tempo over a typical Grand Prix, and White hasn’t made too many commitments. Nevertheless, I don’t think this is the most effective setup against the English.

At this point I am out of book and improvising.

4.Nc3 Nf6 5.e3

This is a very popular move, but taking a later look at this game, I see that Shankland recommended 5.b3 instead, which is thematically consistent with his Reti-esque recommendations elsewhere: White goes for a double-fianchetto and the bishops rule the center from a distance in very hyper-modern style.

5…d6

The move that Sam wants to avoid by 5.b3 is 5…e4 6.d3 Bb4 7.Ne2 d5.

6.d4

This is direct, but I figure that an impending Qe7+ is actually a positive for me and a negative for my opponent. Other options were 6.Ng2 or 6.d3.

6…exd4?!

6…e4 would have been stronger. After 7.Nge2 things are still basically equal, but White is maybe a bit better due to the solid control over the f4 square and impending f3 push which will crack open Black’s over-extended center.

7.exd4 Qe7+?

It sounds premature, but this position is almost lost for Black. This move was only superficially tempting because it impedes rather than helps Black’s development, while allowing White to develop further with no issues. Instead, either 7…g6 or 7…Be7 would be preferable, continuing development on the kingside and getting the king to safety, or possibly 7…Bd7.

8.Nge2 g6 9.O-O

9.Nd5 would have been strong too, but it’s coming a bit later anyway. I prefer to prepare it and create more pressure on the kingside.

9…Bg7 10.Bg5!?

This move has multiple merits. The rooks are close to being connected, freeing my queen up for other tasks and threatening Re1. It also represents an annoyance to Black. Probably even better was 10.Nd5! Nxd5 11.cxd5 Nd8 12.Nf4 O-O, but I prefer my continuation over Stockfish’s, as I felt my idea was much easier to understand.

10…O-O?

Now White’s advantage becomes overwhelming. Instead, Black needed to play 10…Qf7 or 10…Qd7 to step out of the pin. Now Nd5 comes with too much pressure and Black’s position is already showing signs of cracking down.

11.Nd5!

Of course!

11…Qd7 12.Nxf6+ Bxf6 13.Bxf6 Rxf6

Despite the piece trades which often alleviate space issues, Black is much worse here because of the poorly defended king and all the dark square holes in his position. To make matters worse, the g2-Bishop’s range and influence is felt for the entirety of the game and shoots like a laser through the center of the board. White’s advantage is comfortable and easy to play.

14.Nf4!

Nd5 was such a great move, I want to be able to play it again. I was also looking at potential ideas involving the move d5 followed by sinking the Knight into the e6 square where its octopus tentacles would control a critical volume of squares.

14…b6

My opponent’s position is really difficult and it’s hard to suggest a move. He wants to counter my bishop, but this leads to further issues with his knight on c6. A better choice would be 14…g5, kicking the knight and forcing it to commit to d5 at a less convenient time. Rb8, stepping out of the sight of the long-range bishop, was another idea.

15.Qa4!

Now I threaten to win the Knight. If it moves, I can trade queens and then pick up at least an exchange on the a8 square.

15…Bb7

This move is almost forced.

16.Rfe1?!

This move isn’t really bad, but it results from me misunderstanding the situation on the queenside. Instead, 16.c5!, with the idea of opening the d-file and playing Ra(f)d1 to kick the queen, was much stronger. If Black counters with 16…g5, then 17.d5 wins a piece.

16…g5? 17.Nd5! Rf7

Now the position is reaching critical mass, and while White would be better after almost any move, I was focusing on one particular idea that I ended up spending 20 minutes to calculate. The move came to me instantly, but I needed to make sure it was the right one.

18.Re7!

Not 18.Nb4?? due to 18…Nxb4! and White’s best is to enter an endgame that would likely end in a draw: 19.Qxd7 Rxd7 20.Bxb7 Rb8! (20…Nc2?? 21.Bxa8!) 21.Bd5+ Nxd5 22.cxd5

18…Qd8

18…Qc8 was an alternative among other unpleasant choices:

• 18…Rxe7 19.Nf6+! wins the queen.

• 18…Nxe7 19.Qxd7 Nxd5 20.Qe6 was the line I calculated as best for Black. 20.Bxd5?! I also looked at but it isn’t very good.

19.Rxf7 Kxf7 20.Re1 a5?!

My opponent tries to free his position.

21.Nxb6?!

21.Qd1 was more incisive.

21…Ra6

If 21…Ra7 I calculated 22.Bxc6 Bxc6 23.Qxc6 cxb6 24.Qd5+ and Black won’t survive this attack with so many weak pawns and an open king. If 21…cxb6, then Nxb6’s point is revealed: 22.Bxc6 Bxc6 23.Qxc6 and White’s attack is insurmountable for Black’s defenses.

22.Nd5 Nxd4 23.Qd1!

The queen returns to its starting square, because the h5 square calls. White gains a tempo on the d4-knight, which means Black cannot save the knight without also allowing the check on the kingside where the light square weaknesses are terminal.

23…Nc6 24.Qh5+ Kg7 25.Re8! 1-0

Black resigned, because the queen has been “checkmated”; and if Black wants to keep her, then the king does hang: 25…Qd7 26.Qxg5 Kf7 27.Qg8#

Game in a GIF:

Takeaways:

• The English Opening is fun, and the light-squared bishop is addictive.

At the end of round 2, I am 2 for 2, having experienced a much smoother win after the rough first round. I packed my bags and went home, ready for the next day, but my feelings about the tournament were really good at this moment.