Raymond Keene vs Coenraad Zuidema (1972)

Notes by Raymond Keene. Probably this move introduces an overly simple plan of campaign. It would be more appropriate in this situation to develop obliquely with 6 b3 followed by Bb2, e2-e3, Qe2 and eventually e3-e4.Inaugurating a typical anti-French King’s Indian Attack formation; but with Black’s queen’s bishop already outside the pawn-chain (potentially bearing down on the queen’s wing) this strategy for White is not particularly effective, and once again b2-b3 deserved preference.I expected either 14...b5 or 14...Nd4, both of which are fully playable. The text also is not at all bad. Black quietly strengthens his position so that he will be adequately armed against White’s offensive based on Nh2-g4 and ultimately a sacrifice on h6. Only after proper prophylactic measures have been taken will Black turn to his queenside counter-attack. But this is a panic step induced by an unnecessary fear of the knight incursion via g4, and the move ...f7-f5 certainly does not harmonise with Black’s previous strategic dispositions. Black should have played the confident 15...Bf8, after which I could see no clear continuation of the white attack. The correct reply to Black’s error was 16 h5!, supported by a gradual opening of the g-file. Instead White produces a move that creates obscure and superfluous complications. Best - otherwise Black is slowly strangled.At this point the lights in the playing hall were removed, for a reason best known to the tournament authorities. I protested, but the illumination never returned, and the remainder of the game before the first time-control at move 40 was conducted in twilight conditions. In view of the sudden gloom that had descended I proposed a draw, but my opponent chose not to reply. Instead of 17 Be3 I also examined 17 cxd5 but I felt that after 17...exd5 the exposure of White’s e-pawn would weigh more heavily than the chances made available by the weakening of d5.The sacrifice of a piece for two pawns by means of 19 Bxh6 fails to inspire confidence.On 19...Ncxe5 White gains the advantage with 20 Nb3! threatening Bxh6 and Bxb7. After the move played a long forced variation ensues.On 22...Bg6 White calmly replies 23 Bf4 threatening h4-h5, and parrying 23...Bf6 with 24 Nxc5. Of course not 23 Qxe8? Qxe8 24 Rxe8 Rxe8 25 Nxc5 b6 26 Nb3 Nb4 and Black wins.If 23...Bg6 then 24 Qxe8 really is possible. If Black had been expecting easy play in a vastly favourable ending after 23 Qxe8? then he must have received a serious shock from this sudden whirlpool of complications.24...Rxc5 is no good: 25 Qxe8 Rxe5 26 Qxd8 Bxd8 27 Bf4 or 26...Re1+ 27 Nf1 Bxd8 28 Bxh6+ winning at once. A tempting move to make, especially when short of time, but it is nevertheless an error. Correct was 26 b4! intending to retreat the queen to d2 and follow up with Nb3, Bb2 and a siege of the d4-pawn. With two pawns for the exchange, pressure against d4, and Black’s kingside curiously paralysed, White would have a fine position.27 Ne6 was originally planned, but I observed in time that it loses to 27...Qf7 28 Nf4 Rc6 29 Qh5 Bg6! 30 Nxg6 Rxg6 and the white queen has no means of escape. Now Black should play 27...Qf7 (or maybe 27...b6 and then ...Qf7) to which White’s best reply is full-scale retreat with Bc1 and Qd2 (necessary to salvage the queen), reverting to the plan outlined in the note to 26 Bg5? But in this case White would be lacking several tempi, which could only be to Black’s advantage. Instead of this Black is lured into a false path by the possibility of a quick victory following the apparently annihilating blow ...Bxg3. For if 28 fxg3 Qxg3+ and ...Re2 and White is ignominiously mated. Paradoxically, though, this stroke is a severe mistake, since it permits White a vital tempo to resuscitate his stray knight on h2 and it also frees the significant square g3 for this piece. After this White is probably winning. The prudent course was 32...Be5=. In the resultant ending the advantage of the exchange is useless in view of the helpless nature of the black bishop and the superlative power of the white knight when it reaches f4. By refusing to admit that he has no right to claim victory from this bitter struggle, Black must soon acknowledge that he has nothing left but losing chances.White’s task would be more arduous after 37...f4! 38 a3 a5 39 bxa5 Rxd6 40 cxd6 Rd8 and despite an advantage of three pawns it would be no simple problem to convert the material plus into a full point. Black still fails to realise that he should be defending.This loses by force, but it is hard to suggest any worthwhile alternative. For example 38...Rdb8 loses to 39 c6 Rb1+ 40 Rxb1 Rxb1+ 41 Kg2 Rc1 42 c7 and the pawn is untouchable and next move it queens. Meanwhile, White threatens Re1 and Nh5-f4 with an unshakeable bind. The text does at least possess the virtue of freeing Black’s king to halt the advance of the c-pawn.a) 39...Ke7 40 Re1+ Kf8 41 Nf4 Rdb8 42 Ne6+ Kg8 43 c6+-; b) 39...Kg6 40 Nf4+ and wherever the king goes a knight check wins a rook.The sealed move at the close of the first session. Black’s best now is 41...Rb2 42 Nf6+ Kc6 43 Nxh7 Kxc5 44 Nxf5 Kb4 45 Rc1 Rxa2 but with 46 Rc4+ and Ng5 White must win. The plan of resistance chosen by Black allows White to consolidate and preserve his c-pawn, when only minor technical difficulties remain.The third session. Black finds the most active course but he quite simply lacks the material resources for effective resistance. All the problems in the position had been solved in adjournment analysis prior to resumption.Of course if Black could give his rook for the two pawns it would be a draw, but it’s not possible; the capture 71...Rxd5 fails to 72 Nb8+.1-0