Chess in Edinburgh Zoo

Best Game prize - Lothian v Lanarkshire

Saturday May 24, 2003

It was hard to judge the Best Game prize writes IM Craig Pritchett as this event featured many hard-fought and interesting encounters. In the end I chose a game where White took advantage of some defensive mistakes by Black which are quite typical in primary school chess. I hope my comments on the play are helpful to all the budding Gary Kasparovs and Judit Polgars out there!

Jonathan Edwards - Benjamin Filmer
Annual Primary Schools match (Board 6), Edinburgh Zoo
Giuoco Piano

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nc6 4.Bc4 Bc5

Having started as a Petrov Defence (2 ... Nf6), the game has transposed into a very popular form of the Giuoco Piano Opening. Black initially copies White's development moves, but at some stage, he is likely to want to break the pattern or else White's extra move is likely to count.

5.d3 d6 6.Bg5 0-0

Black correctly chooses to stop copying White's play, but not really with the best move. White's last move pinned Black's knight on f6 and threatened 7 Nd5. Then Black cannot avoid an exchange on f6 resulting in doubled f-pawns and a serious weakening in his kingside pawn defences. Black should have taken steps to "break" the pin or blunt the Nd5 threat. One way to do this is 6 ... h6, and if 7 Bh4 Bg4 8 Nd5 g5. Another idea is 6 ... Be6, and if 7 Nd5 Bxd5 9 exd5 Na5. After 6 ... h6 White can play 7 Bxf6 Qxf6 8 Nd5 Qd8 with a slight lead in development, but a solid position for Black.

7.Nd5 h6

Black panics and loses a pawn, in a worsened position to boot. When your opponent has the better game, make it hard for him to win. Keep cool. Don't drop material for no reason. Don't further weaken your king. Seek a defensive plan that might eventually promise counterplay. Better was 7 ... Be6, intending 8 ... Bxd5, and if 8 Nxf6+ gxf6 9 Bh6 Re8 and though White remains better, he still has to work hard for a win.

8.Nxf6+ gxf6 9.Bxh6 Re8 10.c3 f5

Black's game is not enviable, but this weakens g5 and allows White's knight and queen to enter the attack with considerable force. Black should still have tried 10 ... Be6 or 10 ... Bg4.

11.b4 Bb6 12.Ng5 fxe4

Black has no good move now. If 12 ... Qf6 13 Qh5 Re7 14 Nh7 Kxh7 (14 ... Qg6 15 Qxg6+ wins Black's queen because of the pin on Black's f-pawn) 15 Bg5+ Kg8 16 Bxf6, followed by Qh8 mate.

13.Bxf7+ Kh8 14.Qh5 Qf6 15.Bf8+ Black resigns

Or if 15 ... Qh6 16 Qxh6 mate.

Craig Pritchett