1986-02-16 - Marke, Terry 1-0 Saunders, M
Another Terry Marke Stonewall. In a good position Terry sacs a Knight for two Pawns. His opponent doesn't crack but Terry continues to improve his position. He then sacs a Rook for Bishop and Pawn, and the net outcome is three central Pawns for a Rook. As the Pawns advance the pressure increases and Black finally does crack. Terry finishes in style. Loads to investigate here, and you can have fun doing it!
[Event "BRISTOL LEAGUE CONGRESS, SECTION 3"] [Date "1986.02.16"] [Round "4"] [White "Marke, Terry"] [Black "Saunders, M"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D00"] [Annotator "Mordue,Tyson"] [PlyCount "79"] [EventDate "1986.??.??"] {Original notes by Richard Smith (RS) in BCT Issue 56, April 1986. This game is described by Richard as 'the most exciting of the section [three]. White's imaginative sacrifices prevented Black from completing his development and the defence must have been difficult (and time-consuming) to find over the board." } 1. d4 d5 2. e3 Bf5 3. Bd3 Bxd3 {"The opening [the Stonewall Attack - TM] is rather unexciting, but Terry Marke played it with White and Black and won all his games so it must have something going for it." RS. Wait until you reach the later middle-game!} 4. Qxd3 Nf6 5. f4 {The signature move of the Stonewall Attack. Curiously only 7 out of 25 players have chosen 5 Qb5+ here winning a Pawn. Perhaps there is too much a taint of poison about this one as on the database Black has 3/5 after the correct reply 5...Nbd7.} c6 6. Nd2 e6 7. Ngf3 Nbd7 8. O-O Qc7 9. c3 {The game Ainger-Ho, Capps Memorial, San Francisco 2000, featured a different development of the Bishop with 9 b3 Be7 10 Bb2 0-0 11 c4. White did very well on the a1-h8 diagonal winning a Pawn but then underestimated a counter-attack and lost in 37 moves.} h6 $6 {"Unnecessary. Black should complete his development." RS. Possibly Black wants to castle Queenside and is concerned about Ng5 attacking f7, but he may as well allow this to happen, move the d7 Knight to defend f7 with the Queen and then oust the Knight with ...h7-h6. As the game goes White is, quite remarkably, able to get around Black's apparent control of g5, but Black does get h7 for his Rook!} 10. Ne5 Nxe5 11. fxe5 Ng8 $2 {"The Knight would be better on d7 to support a subsequent ...c6-c5 after ...Be7 and ...0-0. Now it remains on g8 until move 30." RS. Deep Rybka says there is no difference between 11...Nd7 and 11...Nh7, +0.28 to White in both cases, but says the text is +0.58 to White. With Black now lagging in development Terry tries to open the centre.} 12. e4 O-O-O {I want to play 12...Ne7 here to recapture on d5 with the Knight but the obvious 13 Qf3 forces an unwanted diversion. Also the move order 12...dxe4 13 Nxe4 Ne7?? is out of the question because of 14 Nd6+ winning f7 so Black is left keeping the central tension. He hopes his King will be safer on the Queenside and he is probably right, but Terry hunts it down anyway.} 13. exd5 Rxd5 {If 13...exd5 14 Qf5+ is strong - 14...Rd7 15 e6! demonstrates the awkwardness of the Knight on g8. The Rook on f8 doesn't protect the Bishop. Instead 13...cxd5 gives White a Queenside majority to mobilise against Black's King. The text gives the Black Rook some air and it may even threaten ...Qxe5 because of the pin on the d-file. Obviously Black needs to be wary of Rxf7 in reply.} 14. b4 $1 {Correctly clamping down on Black's possible ...c6-c5. Because of the d-file pin it can still be played but Black would allowing the opening of the b-file towards his King. Deep Rybka analyses 14...c5 15 bxc5 Bxc6 16 Ne4 Bf8 - to stop 17 Nd6+ - 17 c4 with White at +1.2. The engine agrees that 14... Qxe5 is no good after 15 Rxf7 Ne7 16 Qe4! with a good ending for White, hence Saunders retreats to cover f7.} Rd7 $2 {This is passive but the main alternatives are 14...f6 or 14...f5 to reduce the f-file pressure. These create more weaknesses but Black must ask himself how is he going to develop his Kingside without taking a risk?} 15. Qh3 Kb8 {"It would be better to develop some pieces, but the e7 square is not available because of the threat to the f-Pawn. It is difficult to find a move for Black." RS. The regrouping that Black undertakes is understandable but passive. A plan that both Deep Rybka and I surprisingly agree on is borrowed from the same Kingside Pawn structure in the Sicilian Scheveningen. The idea is that Black plays ... h7-h5, ...g7-g6 and ...Ng8-h6-f5 which attempts to seal the f-file and cover the f7 weakness. Obviously it leaves dark-square weaknesses, but it's better than having no plan at all which is what Black suffers from throughout the game.} 16. a4 Qc8 17. Ne4 Ka8 {"Black can find no developing moves - but this [the text move. TM] doesn't help. 17...Qe8 to defend f7 and allow ...Ng8-e7-d5 may be best." RS. According to Deep Rybka White's plus has now evolved to +1 or so. After 17...Qe8 the reply 18 Ng5 begs the question as how Black can continue as the suggested Knight hop is ruled out. The answer is the ...h6-h5 and ...g7-g6 as given in the previous note. However, the natural 18 b5 is also very strong for White and maybe Black has to reply with 18...Qc8!?} 18. Ng5 { "Attacking f7 again. Black has remarkably few moves - it is very difficult to develop his Kingside." RS.} Qe8 19. Nxe6 $5 {The start of an attractive-looking tactical sequence but I have to question whether it is necessary or even best. First of all Deep Rybka suggests 19 b5, as per a previous note, and says White is better by 1.78. I would certainly regard this as the obvious move and few would contradict me. Secondly the engine says that this series of sacrifices merely leaves the evaluation as level. White gets two Pawns for his piece and his initiative continues, but that was a good Knight he has surrendered and the Pawns whilst inhibiting the Black pieces aren't dangerous in themselves. Thirdly, was Black about to improve his position in any fashion? Unlikely, so why not develop the laggard White Bishop and connect the Rooks. This will only improve the potential of any sacrifice, let alone the one actually played. We could say that Black's position is improved by the removal of the two target pawns on e6 and particularly f7, although the latter is still a sensitive square and needs surviellance. It could well be the case that Black was already in time-trouble so his chances of holding the position are reduced. Something else to be taken into consideration. I suspect the factor that convinced Terry to make these sacs was probably the most important one of all - he was enjoying himself!} fxe6 20. Qxe6 $1 {"Made possible by Black's 17th move, this sacrifice further ties up the defending pieces." RS. Obviously this sacrifice can't be accepted because of 19 Rxf8+ and mate follows. The Black Queen is overloaded guarding e6 and f8. Richard points out that if Black moves his Queen, including to e7, then 21 Qxd7 and the same overload applies, so Black apparently must interpose something on e7.} Re7 $2 {This is probably the best interposition, but not the best move. Either 20...Ne7 or 20...Be7 and be met by 21 b5 with a continuing initiative. White can also consider 21 Rf7 against either move. The best move, however, is 20...Nf6! which solves a lot of Black's problems. After the new sac 21 Rxf6! Black shouldn't panic. If 21...Qxe6 22 Rxe6 White is two Pawns up or 21...gxf6 22 Qxe8+ and mates, but the riposte 21...Re7! is good as White now has a Rook en prise. So White takes a Bishop as well with 22 Rxf8 and after 22...Rxf8 Black has solved all his development problems. Yes, Black does have the option to liquidate the Queens in this line with 22...Rxe6 23 Rxe8 R either xe8. White does have two Pawns for the Exchange in this line and a solid-looking position, but is it actually any better than what he had before he started saccing with 19 Nxe6? I feel not and the engine agrees. Basically if Black thinks about returning some of the material immediately he can reduce the pressure. With the text he once again rules out e7 as an exit square for both Bishop and Knight.} 21. Qb3 g5 {"The only way to develop the Kingside." RS. I did indicate earlier that Black's ...h7-h6 gave him use of the h7 square. Now it doesn't seem like such a fanciful remark but there's still a lot of untangling to do. Note that ...Rh8-h7 isn't yet a viable move because the g8 Knight will be left en prise.} 22. b5 {This looks good but 22 Ba3 threatening 23 b5 could be even stronger.} cxb5 $2 {A bad positional error. Black should wait for White to take on c6 and recapture with the Queen if possible. Alternatively he could go past with 22...c5 because 23 dxc5 drops the important e5 Pawn. The suggestion 22 Ba3 rules out ...c6-c5 as a reply to b4-b5. However, after 22...c5 23 Ba3 Black could consider 23...cxd4 saccing an Exchange back. The interesting point comes if White simply declines it with 24 cxd4 because the e7 Rook is pinned against f8 and f7 is not available. With the text move Black gives White an open a-file so we can regard the a1 Rook as now developed, and also White's d4 Pawn becomes passed. Not currently a threat but a potential one especially if the e5 Pawn is mobile too. Right now the d4 and e5 Pawns do a good job of denying Black's minor pieces natural development squares. It may seem odd to be discussing Black's development, and to some extent White's as well, as late as move 22. The fact remains, as do the pieces, that five units are still on their home squares. White's tactical sacrifice has evolved into a positional one because of Black's development difficulties. To be fair even strong players are going to have problems sorting out Black's pieces. Given that Black has opened the a-file the move ...b7-b6 will be a natural one to allow lateral defence of a7 and prevent b5-b6 by White. One could place the e7 Rook on c7, switch the Knight from g8 to c8 to reinforce the Queenside, and that would finally allow ...Rh8-h7-d7 or e7 or f7 and then finally ...Bf8-g7. As this Bishop would be doing little even on this square I probably consider e7 for the emerging King's Rook and possibly a counter-sacrifice on the Bishop on e5 for the two central Pawns. Obviously White has moves as well and he has a lot of choice of how to respond, but as is often quoted, "a bad plan is better than no plan."} 23. axb5 {"The White Pawns are more than enough compensation for the material deficit." RS. Yes, if you regard them as doing a restricting job rather than advancing. It's the scope of the pieces that really counts here.} Rd7 {After 23...b6 Deep Rybka says that 24 Ba3 is simply too strong. One idea is 25 Bb4 and 26 Qa3. Instead of the text it prefers 23...Rg7 but it's not clear what the Rook is doing here. } 24. Qa2 {Deep Rybka suggests 24 e6 - driving the Rook to a worse square because 24...Rc7 25 b6 wins - 24...Rdh7 25 Ba3 because 25...Bxa3 26 Qxa3 b6 27 Rf8 wins the Queen. Once again the g8 Knight is in the wrong place.} b6 25. Qa6 $6 {Obviously this threatens 26 Qxb6, but there's an obvious reply with 25... Kb8 and all White has done is reduce the scope of his Queen. With the Black Rook now on d7 and ...b7-b6 played the sting has gone out of Ba3 so White should instead play 25 Be3, mixing the mobilisation of the centre Pawns with the threat of Bxb6.} Qd8 26. Rxf8 $2 {Richard gives this move an ! and comments after White's 27th move "White's passed Pawns and Black's exposed King should be enough to win." I completely disagree and think the text is reckless and extravagant. Firstly although the text results in White taking the b6 Pawn the a7 Pawn stands and I wouldn't say that the Black King is exposed. Secondly Black has more pieces included in the defence than White has in the attack. It only takes one move ...Rh8-h7 for that Rook to be involved, while the Knight can get out to e7 and either to d5 or c8 as appropriate. The White Pawns are not dangerous as a group even though the ones on b5 and e5 have certain nuisance value. Deep Rybka suggests several alternatives. It starts with 26 c4 which I assume is to support d5 although that could be played immediately. Having said that 26 d5 Bc5+ may help Black. The engine also suggests 26 Ra2 which looks like doubling on the f-file although once the c1 Bishop is moved there is tripling on the a-file. I'm not convinced because the Queen is at the front though. There are also Bishop moves with 26 Bb2, 26 Bd2 and the obvious one, my choice, 26 Be3. White has built up a very nice position and a good evaluation advantage (+0.5) over the last few moves but after 27 Qxb6 Deep Rybka says the position is roughly equal. Okay, it means White has adequate compensation for a Rook, but two moves ago he had more than adequate compensation for a piece! What's more the yet unmoved Bishop wasn't doing anything, or threatening to, whilst White's Rook was a very good piece. Maybe White has a good argument if this was an Exchange sacrifice, but it's a net Rook sacrifice and it doesn't seem necessary.} Qxf8 27. Qxb6 Rb7 28. Qa6 Rhh7 29. Ba3 Qe8 {"If 29...Qf4 30.Bc5 Qe3+ 31.Kh1 Qxc3 32.b6." RS. There's no conclusion or evaluation on this line but we could continue 32...Qb3 33 bxa7 Qb1+! 34 Qf1 Qxf1+ 35 Rxf1 Rhf7 when Deep Rybka claims Black is better by about 1.25, even after 36 Kg1 Rxf1+ 37 Kxf1. Should Black return an Exchange with 37...Rxa7 38 Bxa7 Kxa7 39 d5 Kb6 40 d6 he still has the same problem - his Knight is stuck. There is also 37...Rb1+ 38.Kf2 Kb7 39.Kf3 Ra1 40.Ke4 Kc6 41.e6 Nf6+ 42.Kf5 Nd5 43.Kg6 Nc7 44.e7 Kd7 45.Kf7 Rf1+ 46 Kg6 Ke8 (If 46...Ra1 47 Kf7 Rf1+ 48 Kg6 Ra1 49 Kf7 with a draw by repetition.) 47 Kxh6 and White looks like he'll get five Pawns for his Rook! Of course there's much to explore here but White simply changing the colour of the Pawn on a7 doesn't mean that much. The Black King is just as effectively shielded by a White Pawn as a Black one. White really wants to advance his central Pawns to disrupt the defence or break through to the back rank, hence Saunders keeps Her Majesty there. Personally I prefer my Queen out and doing things rather than moping around on the back rank. so I'd regard 29...Qf4 as a better move than the text if not critical.} 30. c4 Ne7 {"At last!" RS.} 31. Bc5 Nc8 32. e6 {Remarkably Deep Rybka offers trade of Queens here with 32 Qc6. When you consider that positionally the White major pieces are the wrong way round - Rooks should generally be in front of Queens on open files - the White Queen is on the wrong square. With the b-Pawn going from b5 to c6, should Black swap, and both d4-d5 and e5-e6 arriving soon coupled with the Bishop 'fanning' the Knight - a term invented during the 1978 World Championship match because of the frequency with which Karpov placed a Bishop three squares up or down a file from an enemy Knight to restrict its movements. - White has a compact central mass. Add in that two connected passed Pawns on the sixth rank can supposedly beat a Rook in certain circumstances. one has to say that White is doing well. Mind you, there's nothing wrong with the text either. Deep Rybka's evaluation fluctuates but it's roughly level.} Kb8 $6 {This doesn't do anything constructive and putting it on the same colour square as the White Bishop looks suspicious. Alternatives are going active with 32...Qg6 followed by 33... Qd3, or 32...Rhc7 to give the option of returning an Exchange with ...Rxc5 which will also split the oncoming White Pawns.} 33. Rf1 $2 {Getting the move order wrong. Best is first 33 d5 defending e6, After the text Black has 33... Rb6! and if 34 Bxb6 axb6 Black wins the e6 Pawn because White also has to attend to the threat of 35...Ra7 trapping the Queen.} Qg6 $2 {Missing the opportunity after which Black starts to go downhill again. However, play is very complicated with the advanced Pawns proving a match for a Rook and the Bishop trying to outgun the Knight from distance.} 34. d5 {Deep Rybka gave a lot of time to this position and I had to guide it through as some of the attacking variations are very long. The active move is 34...Qd3 but it doesn't work. After 35.Bf2 White threatens 36 Bg3+ Ka8 37 d6 or if 36...R either c7 37 d6 is very strong. After 35...Qxc4 36.Bg3+! (Better than the immediate 36.Qc6 Qxc6 37.bxc6 Rb3! 38.Bg3+ Rxg3 39.hxg3 with a likely draw but still lots of play.) 36...Ka8 37.Qc6 Qd4+ (37...Qxc6 38 bxc6 followed by 39 Rf8 will be too strong.) 38.Bf2 Qh8 39.d6 Nxd6 40.Qxd6 Rhe7 (if 40...Rxb5 41. Bd4 and 42 Rf8+ wins.) 41.b6 Qe8 42.Re1 axb6 (42...a6 43 Ra1 wins) 43.Ra1+ Ra7 44.Qd5+ Kb8 45.Bg3+ Kc8 46.Rc1+ Rec7 47.Rxc7+ Rxc7 48.Qa8 mate. There are alternatives for both sides here but all the practical chances are with White. Black's pieces are cluttered around their King and the advancing Pawns will disrupt the defence.} Rhc7 $2 {Deep Rybka gave this a lot of thought before preferring 34...Qd3. However, the text doesn't work either.} 35. Bd6 Nxd6 36. Qxd6 Ka8 $4 {"Another mistake, but the threat of Rf8+ is too strong and if 36.. .Rb6 37 Qd8+ wins." RS. This is a difficult position for both sides but White is winning after 36...Rb6. One line is 37.Qd8+ Rc8 (if 37...Kb7 Deep Rybka says that 38 c5, 38 d6 and 38 e7 all win and I prefer the latter) 38. e7 g4 and now a) 39.Re1 Qe8! 40.Qxe8 Rxe8 41.c5 Rxb5 42.d6 Rxc5 43.d7 Rcc8 draws. b) 39 Rf8 Qb1+ should be a repetition after 40 Rf1 Qg6 41 Rf8 Qb1+ because 40 Kf2 Qb2+! 41 Kg3? Qe5+ is winning for Black. c) 39 c5! Rxb5 40 Qd6+! Qxd6 41 cxd6 Rxd5 - otherwise 42 d7 - 42 Rf8 forces a promotion - 42... Re5 43 d7. Remarkably after 36...Rb6 the cool retreat 37.Qg3 just threatening 38 d6 does the job because the Black pieces have lost co-ordination. Even if Black gets two Pawns for a Rook Deep Rybka is a menace with major pieces against an exposed King. Too many variations to give here but worth the study. The same scenario occurs in other games in both Versus Revisited and BCT Revisited. An incredibly rich position in possibilities for both sides. After the text Terry simply wins a Rook for nothing.} 37. Qd8+ Rb8 38. Qxc7 Qe8 39. e7 Rc8 40. Qxc8+ 1-0
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