Gordon, Stephen - Sygnowski, Tomasz
?
[2016.01.10]
[E91]
1-0
?
[2016.01.10]
[E91]
I was paired with Tomasz Sygnowski in the last round. He had already played two Grandmaster's in the tournament. He missed some winning chances against Keith Arkell in round two, after which the game ended in a draw and then defended a tough rook ending a pawn down against against Mark Hebden in the fourth round to hold. 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.c4 Bg7 4.Nc3 d6 5.e4 O-O 6.Be2 Diagram [#] So we get a classical Kings Indian. In the next couple of moves Black has to decide which system to commit to. 6. ... Bg4 This is an interesting sideline. Black will part with the light squared Bishop, normally hoping to get some dark squared control in the centre or some counterplay on the queenside going
7.Be3 It's normal that White adds a bit of extra control to the d4 square[
7.h3
This kind of thing gives Black some nice play in the centre, for example
7. ... Bxf3
8.Bxf3
Nfd7
9.O-O
Nc6
10.Be3
e5
11.d5
Nd4
Should be absolutely fine for Black
]
7. ... c6
This however is quite passive and not really in the spirit of the variation. White already has a clear edge out of the opening, with two bishops, extra space and no pressure against the White centre
8.O-O
Nbd7
9.h3
Bxf3
10.Bxf3
a6
Preparing to possible play ...b5 at some moment. It's not really possible just yet as the f3 Bishop will do some damage, but after some preparation it will become viable...
11.Rb1
Preparing an advance on the queenside but probably this was unnecessary
11. ... Qc7
12.Qc2
Played to prevent ...b5
12. ... Rfc8
Diagram [#]
13.c5
This seemed like the correct way to go against Black's cagey play. White takes more space and hopes to make the c8 rook misplaced
13. ... b6
looks passive but at least I'm not being asked some questions
14.cxd6
[
14.cxb6
Would have been possible also. I was burning quite a lot of time at this stage as I struggled to assess which capture was better.
14. ... Nxb6
15.b3
a5
16.Rfc1
Is keeping an advantage for White
]
14. ... exd6
15.Rfc1
Re8
Diagram [#]
16.b4
[
16.Nd5
looks tempting but I felt that Black would be getting a fair share of the play after something like
16. ... Nxd5
17.exd5
c5
18.b4
Qa7
19.dxc5
bxc5
. It's true that it's still uncomfortble for Black but I did feel as though more was deserved from the position at move 16.
]
16. ... Rac8
17.Qd3
Qa7
By this point I started to become a little frustrated. It's clear that White should be better, but I found it very difficult to see clear paths to prove it.
18.Bf4
[
18.Be2
Was another move that I really wanted to make work but I couldn't judge how well I was doing after
18. ... b5
19.e5
Nd5
20.Nxd5
cxd5
The computer suggests this is still clearly better for White, it's top move being
21.Rxc8
21. ... Rxc8
22.exd6
Nb6
23.Bf4
When you look at this kind of thing with the machine it's easy to be convinced, but over the board it was too difficult for me.
]
[
In hindsight I think
18.a4
Would have been best. Now Black will find it difficult to make a pawn break
18. ... c5
19.bxc5
19. ... bxc5
20.dxc5
Ne5
Is an interesting attempt to make things difficult for White
21.Qxd6
21. ... Nc4
22.Qd3
Nxe3
23.Qxe3
Qxc5
I think Black has decent chances to hold in a scenario like this
]
18. ... Bf8
19.Bg4
I think this was a poor decision, mainly caused through my indecisiveness over the last few moves. I allow a piece exchange and gift Black some extra time
19. ... Nxg4
20.hxg4
b5
Diagram [#] My opponent found the best continuation after my 18th move and gives himself some decent chances of counterplay. The knight on d7 can potentially look towards jumping into the c4 square
21.Be3
Qb7
22.a4
Nb6
Diagram [#] I was actually at a loss as to how well I was doing here. I thought it was now around equal but as it turns out White is still in the driving seat. Fortunately I found a strong idea
23.d5!
The idea is to get an outpost on d5 for the white knight. There's quite a lot going on with 3 captures available to Black but actually it's pretty much impossible to prevent the White knight landing in the middle
23. ... Nxa4
My opponent grabs a pawn but White gets very nice compensation in return.
24.dxc6
Rxc6
25.Nd5
Diagram [#] It will take some time now for the Black knight to be able to get back into play. Meanwhile White's attacking chances have become quite serious
25. ... Rec8
[
25. ... Bg7
26.Rxc6
Qxc6
27.Rc1
Qd7
28.Bd4
is huge for White
28. ... Qxg4?
29.Bxg7
Kxg7
30.Qd4+
Kh6
The only square. I had seen up to this point in my mind's eye and felt it had to be good somehow. The engine finds
31.Nf6
after which
31. ... Qf4
32.Rc7
Black will not survive much longer
]
26.Rxc6
Rxc6
[
26. ... Qxc6
I had expected this recapture. In all honesty I could not see how best to proceed. Obviously White has great compensation in a few different ways but an attractive way to force things through would be
27.Bh6!
Qc4
28.Rc1!
Diagram [#]
28. ... Qxd3
29.Rxc8
and mate is inevitable
]
27.Bd4
This is natural and probably strong. However the engine finds something I think is rather unnatural but turns out to be crushing
[
27.Bg5!
It's probably not necessary for White to find this to be winning but I do find it very suprising how much of a killer this move is. The point is that White is able to bring the queen to h3 and the bishop's supporting role on g5 prevents Black from keeping the the White queen from penetrating. Some very nice finishes arise after
27. ... h6
28.Nf6+
Kg7
29.Bxh6+!
Diagram [#] Black has to take a piece but both are poisonous
29. ... Kxf6
30.Bxf8
After which Black has to give too much material in order to avoid mate
30. ... Ke6
31.Qd5+
Kd7
32.Qxf7+
Kc8
33.Qe8+
Kc7
34.Rd1
with an ongoing attack
]
27. ... Be7
[
27. ... Rc4
I felt that this was putting up more resistance but in any case the Black position is very unplesant to handle
]
28.Qe3
Rc4
29.Ba1
f5
looks crazy but it's difficult to offer a better defensive try at this stage
30.Qh6
30. ... Bd8
31.gxf5?!
Again not the most precise
31. ... Qf7
32.Rb3
Qf8
[
We were both getting very short on time here. I expected
32. ... Rxe4
but after
33.Rg3
Rh4
34.Qe3
The situation is untenable. All of the Black pieces are paralysed. It's actually impossible to suggest a constructive move
34. ... Rh5
35.Qd4+-
]
33.Qd2
Nb6
34.fxg6
hxg6
35.Rh3
Diagram [#] and Black can no longer prevent losing a large amount of material
1-0