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Graham K Sandiford vs Raymond Keene
Dulwich College (1961), Dulwich, London ENG
Nimzowitsch Defense: Scandinavian. Advance Variation (B00)  ·  0-1

8
7
6
5
4
3
2
a
1
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
White to move.
ANALYSIS [x]
Notes by Raymond Keene. One of Nimzowitsch’s more extreme ideas, which is far more challenging than 3...Bf5.As so often in this defence, the trade of light-squared bishops furthers Black’s aims rather than White’s.Almost imperceptibly, Black has gained tangible influence over the centre, and White’s remaining dark-squared bishop is seriously restricted by its own pawns.This strategically valuable advance of Black’s h-pawn plays a vital role.A common factor in this opening is that White simply cannot tolerate the continued presence of the black knight on f5 and therefore accepts doubled pawns in order to eliminate it. However, White’s doubled pawns on the g-file represent an attractive target for Black’s further attack, by means of ...h5-h4.Black no longer requires the f5-square for his knight. It is more important to fix White’s g3-pawn as a weakness in preparation for the line-opening attack ...h5-h4.A vital step in connecting Black’s rooks. The king is safer on f7 than it would be after ...O-O-O.The final attack commences. There is no need to risk the opening of the position after 18...dxc4.White’s demonstration on the other wing comes too late. There is really no defence to Black’s numerous options on the h-file. 23 Qf3! is the sole try.The immediate 24...b6 wins more quickly. This elegant move, somewhat overdue, now gains control of the vital d5 square for Black’s queen.28 Rxc6 Qd5+ leads to checkmate, while after 28 Rb5 Ne7 (or 28...Nxd4) White also loses control of the long light-squared diagonal.0-1

rnbqkbnr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBQKBNR w KQkq - 0 1
FEN COPIED

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Given 12 times; par: 45 [what's this?]

Annotations by Raymond Keene.      [405 more games annotated by Keene]

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Kibitzer's Corner
Oct-08-04  Leviathan: The game is very ingenious and Ray's notes are pleasant and instructive.

I like this line of the Nimzowitsch, I'll try to learn something more about it :)

Dec-11-04  buscher07: Yes, thanks for the notes.
Mar-22-05  KibitzerX: <Ray Keene> Another well played game! I really like how you explicitly annotate your games. Is this how you are thinking when you play?

("i.e. 28 ♖xc6 ♕d5+ leads to checkmate, while after 28 ♖b5 ♘e7 [28...♘xd4] White also loses control of the long light-squared diagonal. ")

Or is it less formal sounding? Also at what move are most grandmaster games out of the "book" (or prescribed theory)? Respectfully - kibitzerX -

Mar-22-05  Shams: interesting. there are 11 games in the cg db after 3...f6 and black scores pretty well. apparently 4.f4 is not best: Opening Explorer
Jul-20-05  britny rules: i watched this game bing played
Jul-21-05
Premium Chessgames Member
  ray keene: <britney rules> were you at dulwich college when i played this game?

thanks for other comments-theres not so much theory on this line -when i played the game i only knew a few games by nimzowitsch-and yes i clearly saw the variations at the end as stated.

Jul-21-05  Montreal1666: <ray keene:> Brilliant game Mr. Keene. Thanks for the annotations. This game can be used as an example for anti-computer style. I wish Adams had looked at these kind of games before taking on Hydra.
Oct-11-05  schnarre: <ray keene> Very instructive! Have you perchance written a work on this defense?
Oct-13-05
Premium Chessgames Member
  ray keene: yes i co wrote a book on 1..nc6 v everything with byron jacobs-a complete defence for black i think it was called-not sure its still in print
Oct-14-05  schnarre: <ray keene> When was that approximately, if I may ask? (Would it have been printed on this side of the Atlantic?)
Oct-14-05
Premium Chessgames Member
  ray keene: published by batsford in the uk-- i am sure there was a usa edition too-a complete defence for black was definitely the title by keene and jacobs
Oct-14-05  schnarre: <ray keene> My thanks! I shall search for a copy when I am able.

Apr-18-06  TenFeetTall: Well, once again, this is certainly
remarkable play for a CHILD to be
conducting. Some people go on to
become Grandmasters, while others
are left in the starting blocks, I suppose.
Dec-29-08  YoungEd: I had never seen 3. ...f6 before, and it's unexpectedly hard to meet! As GM Keene notes, White's Q-bishop is doomed to a pretty bad state after f4. I wonder if trying to protect the e-pawn on move 4 with Bb5 might be better. I agree with <Montreal1666> that the notes are helpful; I find prose explanations more useful and interesting than just variations.

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