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Discussion Game - 1
In the summer of 2001 a discussion sprang up on Dan Triplett's
ChessChat [review]
about the value of "discussion games", games where you and your opponent discuss
the games with each other as you play. A variation of this theme is
becoming popular on many ICSs; they call them Banter games, or something
similar. The difference is that in the banter games, each player is
unaware of the other's comments. We wanted to be aware of the opponent's
plans, since the objective was for us to learn from each other as we went along.
IM-CC Keith Hayward and I decided to play a pair of games
exploring an opening that was of interest to us both at that time - the
Stonewall. What follows is essentially a transcript of those postings to ChessChat; the
moves we played and the thoughts we shared about the games.
Click here
for a java script board to play the game on.
David Surratt vs Keith Hayward
August-October, 2001
Game One
Surratt,D - Hayward,K
Casual Game 1 email, 1.08.2001
1 d4 d5
KH: The traditional answer by Black. If your opponent knows you are a
Stonewall player then you will probably see the next move (1..Nf6) more often
has been my experience. I have been having a great battle with an Expert (Tim)
at my chess club with this opening. His latest ploy is to play 1...c5 which
presents an interesting dilemma for White. Theory gives 2 d5 as best, but I have
been playing 2 e3 holding to the classical Stonewall formation. My turn to find
improvements this week, which I did! More on that later.
2 e3 Nf6
KH: Rather standard response, developing.
3 Bd3
DS: Still basic Stonewall pattern.
3 ... Nc6
       
 
 
      
KH: This the most annoying move for White! It is a direct challenge to
White playing the Stonewall Attack formation. White must now allow ...e5 or
...Nb4, both moves disrupt White's Stonewall plans, so that is why I play [it].
4 f4
DS: Committing White's center. An interesting alternative is 4.c4!? e5 5.Ne2
Bb4+ 6.Nbc3 dxc4 7.Bxc4 0-0 8.0-0 exd4 9.exd4 Ne7 10.Bg5 Ng6 11.f4!?
Breyer-Asztalos, 1918.
4 ... Nb4
KH: Going for the bishop which is book here.
>> An interesting alternative is 4.c4!? <<
Interesting, but any faithful Stonewall player will not deviate from the
formation if possible.
5 Nf3
DS: Apparently the main line nowadays, although I find 5.Bd2 to look
interesting. Any experience with that line Keith?
5 ... Nxd3+
KH: >> Apparently the main line nowadays, although I find 5.Bd2 to look
interesting. Any experience with that line Keith? <<
I have no experience in this line since I prevent it with 3 f4. I just do not
like giving up the white-square bishop for White, although theory seems to think it is
good for White.
6 cxd3
DS: To keep the knight off of e4. The obvious alternative was 6.Qxd3. The
reference material I looked at (fairly limited as well as dated) seemed to have
conflicting ideas about which move was best. I opted for control of the center &
the 1/2-open c-file.
6 ... e6
KH: Going for quick development (castle kingside) and play eventually ...c5.
7 0-0
DS: White still can choose between k-side or q-side play, and has a nice spot on
e5 just waiting for a knight.
7 ... Be7
KH: And Black continues with development.
8 Nc3
DS: White also continues development. Other ideas here include Nd2 with an eye
towards q-side play, or Nd2-f3-e5.
8 ... 0-0
KH: With White's king bishop gone I think it is safe to castle kingside. Next
Black will look for possibilities to open up the position for the bishop
pair. A friend of mine, not on Chess Chat, saw the above game and came up
with a wonderful suggestion for White: 8 b4! clamping down on Black's chance for
...c5. The idea seems strange at first, but in pushing the pieces around, I
could find nothing special for Black, Black's game is not that easy!
9 Bd2
DS: I was really tempted to play 9.Ne5 here, with the idea of g4 & a k-side
assault. The "book" line I am following wants me to delay choosing between
the two sides of the board for a few more moves. Now if this was a blitz
game...lol...I have this disease.
9 ... b6
KH: Black wants to play ...c5, but not allow 9...c5 10 dxc5! Bxc5 11 d4! and I
think White has a pleasant position.
10 Ne5
DS: This is the end of my "book" in this line. I really will need to decide
very soon between the k-side & the q-side play. Anyone have any
suggestions? lol I'm going to look long & hard though at that k-side
attack, since that is more in my nature than the q-side play. I put a lot
of stock in playing to my nature, rather than playing what might be
objectively a better line. A sign of weakness on my part, I'm sure.
10 ... Bb7
KH: >> This is the end of my "book" in this line. <<
Good! Mine goes for several more moves!! I am still following Soltis's The
Stonewall Attack - second edition. Soltis likes this line for White. I am not
sure I agree with his appraisals. This is probably the critical point of the
game. White must decide to play on the kingside or queenside. Playing on
the queenside is not threat to Black, re ... this is a playable defense. White
must play on the kingside if he hopes to have chances of a win. I am not sure
how well that play will go with the king bishop missing for White.
11 Rf3
DS: I found three games with the position after 10...Bb7: Showlater-Pillsbury,
where White tried q-side play & lost; Marshall-Teichman where White first tried
to play on the q-side then switch back to the k-side, and lost; and
Rubenstein-Reti (Vienna 1908) where White went straight for the jugular, and won
in 16 moves. Let's see where you improve on Reti's play, since clearly this
position is not a win in 6 moves for White!
11 ... c5
KH: Hmm .. I do not have Rubenstein-Reti (Vienna 1908)! Yikes!! Black lost in 6
moves!! Not happy to hear that.
12 Rh3
DS: Rubenstein-Reti (Vienna 1908): 11...Bd6 12.Rh3 Re8 13.Be1 Bxe5 14.fxe5 Nd7
15.Bh4 Qc8 16.Qg4 resigns.
Hayward improves on Reti! Not surprising. Here I have decided to go absolutely
crazy for my k-side attack. It better work, too, or else I'm dead in the
endgame. My idea is to allow 12...cxd4 13.exd4 in order to keep the center
closed & Black's light-squared bishop over on the q-side. This is a great plan
in blitz. :)
12 ... cxd4
KH: If 13 exd4 Rc8
I guess this is a critical point of the game. Will White try to crash through on
the kingside. Black must counter with queenside play. I originally thought Black
should (must) play 12 ..b5 here, with the idea of ..Qb6 hitting the d-pawn and
the b-pawn. But I think I have found a defensive idea on the kingside, and do
not have to be so rushed (panic) on the queenside.
13 exd4 Rc8
14 g4
DS: Continuing my plan of pursuing the k-side attack. I am terrified now
with Keith's remark that he's found a defensive resource, but I still feel I
must pursue the plan.
14 ... Ne8
KH:
I said I found a defensive idea ... not a winning plan!??
15 g5
DS: Keith, I was attracted to the idea of playing 15.f5 f6 16.Ng6 hxg6 17.fxg6
f5 (17...Nc7 18.g5) 18.g5 Bxg5 19.Qh5 winning, but the simple 15...exf5 burst my
bubble. :)
15 ... g6
KH: Black's defensive scheme is obvious now. Qh5 is prevented and any attempt to
play Qh4 is answered by ...h5. Black will place his knight on f5 to cover some
black square weaknesses, then look to expand on the queenside and work on
White's weak d-pawns. If White can break through on the kingside, I have missed
the concept of how.
16 Rh6
DS: Now you tell me. :) I guess I can't allow all that, if I
can possibly avoid it. I still think I'm dead meat in an endgame.
16 ... Nd6
KH: Nothing else seems good for White. The knight heads for f5 trying to protect
the weak black squares and now kick out the rook.
17 Qg4
DS: I'm afraid I'm committed to this course of action, although perhaps
objectively best is to admit that my last move was a mistake. But then, I'd have
to go all the way back to my 12th move, which really committed me to this line.
17 ... Nf5
KH: I thought you would play this way. Sacrifice the exchange, and probe the
black squares. It seems necessary after going through all the trouble of playing
12 Rh3. Black has to play very carefully.
18 Qh3
DS: Yep, I really burned my bridges. Playing too much like blitz still, I'm
afraid.
18 ... Nxh6
KH: If 19 Qxh6 Qe8
In principle the rook sacrifice makes sense, without it White will simply wait
for Black to expand on the queenside and win there. I think it would be sound if
White had a bishop on d3. White must be frustrated here. If given time White
will play Rf1-f3-h3 with a mating attack. I looked at 19...Qc7 which directly
support the h7 pawn, but the bishop and f-pawn are in the way. This looks like
it would work, but I did not like giving White the option of play Nb5. Too
messy. Next idea was the direct 19...f6 but that allows 20 Nxg6 which at least
draws for White. I finally decided on 19...Qe8 since it covers b5 and again
renews the idea of ...f6, which I think is safe enough to play with the white
king bishop gone.
19 Qxh6 Qe8
20 Qh3
DS: Yes, I'm getting quite depressed over this game. :) I really hadn't
anticipated 19...Qe8, a very nice move Keith. I was hoping for what you
anticipated, ...f6 followed by Nxg6. Now I'm not sure how to continue. Qh3 at
least temporarily prevents ...f6, although it allows ...f5. I can try to open
the h-file but it looks too easy for you to defend against.
20 ... b5
KH: Black strikes back quickly on the queenside. I am not sure if White has
anything left on the kingside. Some tactics involving Ng4-f6+, but I think Black
can handle those.
21 Nd1
DS: Hope springs eternal, or so they say, and hope is indeed about all I have
left in this game. I did think about the interesting line beginning with 21.b4
hoping for 21...Bxb4 22.Nxd5, but I doubted you would so eagerly swallow up the
proffered pawn.
21 ... Rc2
KH: Door is left open, I must walk in!
22 Bc3
DS: "Door is left open, I must walk in!" Yes, sort of an invitation. I am
running out of ideas here, but I was thinking that the rook may get trapped.
Now I see I lose two pieces for it.
22 ... b4
KH: The rook is short of squares, but timing-wise I do not think White can take
advantage of this fact.
23 Ne3
DS: I'll trade two minor pieces for the rook & a pawn, shoring up my center
pawns in the process. Not much, but there's not much left for me in this
position.
23 ... Re2
KH: Not much thought here, the only square safe for the rook.
24 Qf3
DS: There is no safe square for the rook, except that it gives itself for two
minor pieces. I wind up with a knight & a pawn against two bishops, all other
things aside. It looks very grim, but perhaps I can hang on for a while.
24 Qf3 Rxe3
KH: If 25 Qxe3 bxc3 If 26 bxc3 Bc8
O.K. I can hear it now, where on earth did 26...Bc8 come from? It stems from my
desire to play 26...f6. If played directly 26...f6 27 Rb1 is annoying, best then
might be 27...Qc8 which is rather ugly looking. By removing the bishop from
potential attack (back to game position), White is stuck for a useful move.
25 Qxe3 bxc3
26 bxc3 Bc8
27 Ng4
DS: I can't afford to let you play ...f6 while the knight is on e5, since if you
then play ...fxg5 I'll want to recapture with the h-pawn (I know, it isn't there
yet - just fantasizing (it's all I've got left!).
27 ... f6
KH: >> I can't afford to let you play ...f6 while the knight is on e5, since if
you then play ...fxg5 I'll want to recapture with the h-pawn I know, it isn't
there yet - just fantasizing (it's all I've got left!). <<
Hmm. Perplexing move to make. I planned on 27...f6, but it is rather obvious by
Dave's comments he plans 28 h4. Not sure if that is good or not, but Dave's
comment got me thinking. Slightly risky playing on the kingside.
28 h4
DS: Yes, dangerous. But do you think it is as dangerous as waiting for you to
activate your bishops & take advantage of your material advantage? I see no
alternative.
28 ... Qc6
KH: Attacking the only thing that can be attacked!?
29 Rc1
DS: Pathetic. I'm really not sure why I haven't resigned this game. If you could
see my body English... :-( The rook is now on defensive duty, effectively
reducing it's value to that of a pawn. Maybe I can somehow magically swing it
over to the h-file at the right moment...and maybe I can get lessons from Bobby
too.
29 ... Qc7
KH: Indirectly attacking the f-pawn. Black is improving his position by tiny
steps.
30 c4
DS: If Black seizes all of the initiative, White really can call it quits.
Here's a try to get not a passer, but the initiative. I've gotta get something!
lol
30 ... dxc4
KH: Opening up the position some can not be bad with two bishops.
31 Rxc4
DS: I didn't like the looks of 31. dxc4 fxg5 32. fxg5 (forced, now that Keith
had attacked the f-pawn with his queen!) Rf4. Of course, I'm not sure this looks
much better.
31 ... Qd8
KH: Black still has to be careful. 31...Qd6?, a natural move, runs into trouble
with 32 gxf6 Bxf6 33 Nxf6 Rxf6 34 Rxc8+!
32 Qe4
DS: "Black still has to be careful. 31...Qd6?, a natural move, runs into trouble
with 32 gxf6 Bxf6 33 Nxf6 Rxf6 34 Rxc8+!" lol I should be so lucky! Maybe here
you'll play 32...f5?? forking my queen & knight.
32 ... Qd7
KH: I really did not want to play this move. Black is all tied up.
33 Qe3
DS: Looks who's complaining about being tied up! lol That won't last long I
don't think; White has too many weaknesses, and seems to have run out of Black
targets. I can't find any more threats to make, so 33 Qe3 is an offer to repeat
moves, although not in my wildest fantasies do I expect Black to acquiesce.
33 ... Bb7
KH: I was worried about 33 Rc6 keeping Black tied up for a while longer. Black
is slowly starting to untangle. White must now worry about the h1-b7 diagonal.
34 Resigns.
DS: I feel like I've been in zugzwang for the past couple of moves. I can't see
any way to threaten anything, and everything I do further weakens my position.
I'm already down the sacrificed material, and now everything is coming unwound.
Nicely defended, Keith! I really thought I could crash through there. Still
playing too much blitz I guess. :-)
KH: Thank you for the game. It was an interesting battle. I am not sure
what we proved, I think Black gets a playable game with ...Nc6-b4-xd3, but I am
not a big fan of the idea. It goes against my Tarrasch blood to move a piece
twice in the opening. And with this line the knight moves three times! I think
the line you played as Black (in our other game)is just as good if not better. I think the
double Stonewall is a good option too. Again, thank you for the games.
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