Canfell Annotates

My thanks to Greg for annotating this game. It is from today's encounter against Atzman-Simon. Everything you see here were quickly written down on a scoresheet over a schooner of beer. While he did his thing, I sat there listening to Max Fuller telling me stories of years gone by. It was a wonderful experience. And I do hope that one day, Max will write his memoirs. Before I get all upset about our lack of attention to the personal histories of our heroes, let me present this game.

Annotations by Greg Canfell
2005 NSW Championships
Atzman-Simon, Barak
Canfell, Greg
E67

1. g3 Nf6 2. Bg2 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. O-O O-O 5. c4 d6 6. Nc3 e5 7. d4 Nbd7 Before the game, I was determined to play conservatively against an unknown player like Barak. But I, nevertheless, found myself in a King's Indian. 8. e3 c6 9. Qc2 Re8 10. Rd1 I sometimes have trouble getting typical KI play against solid but unambitious lines like these. But I was happy to see this and his next move. I think he should prefer 10. b3 [with ideas like] Bb2/a3, Rad1 and maybe Rfe1. 10...Qe7 11. b4 This is just a bit too loosening as Black can take advantage of the weak points b4 and c4 before White has finished developing. 11...exd4! 12. exd4 12. Nxd4 has its own problems. Black can play 12...a5 or maybe just 12... Ne5 and c4 is very hard to defend. 12... Nb6 13. c5 Nbd5 14. Re1? (see diagram) This fails tactically but in any case Black already has a very comfortable game with White's hopelessly over extended Q-side!

After 14. Re1

14...Nxb4! I spent a while trying to make 14...Qxe1+ 15. Nxe1 Rxe1+ 16. Bf1 Bh3 17. Bb2 Rae8 work. But 18. Qd2 seems to hold. Since that line and the game move are very commital, I also had 14...Qd8 prepared as a safety net, when I played 11. ..exd4. 15. Qd2 If, instead, White tries to win material with 15. Qb2, the tactics now work: 15...Qxe1+ 16. Nxe1 Rxe1+ 17. Bf1 Nd3! 18. Qd2 Bh3 19. Bb2 Rae8 20. Qxd3 Rxa1 21. Bxa1 Re1 22. Bb2 dxc5 (see diagram) and Black will reach an endgame at least 2 pawns up.

Analysis Diagram

15... Qd8 16. Rxe8+ Nxe8 17. Ne4 Nd5 So Black's a solid pawn up and has a nice position as well. The remaining moves can be explained by White's severe time trouble. 18. Ba3 dxc5 19. Bxc5 Bf5 20. Re1 Qc7 21. Qe2 h6 22. h4 Rd8 23. Qc4 Be6 24. Qc1 Qa5 25. Re2 Bg4 26. Rc2 Qa4 27. Ned2 Bf5 28. Rb2 b6 0-1