Fishbein vs. Spahn: Another Perspective
05.27.07 Current Maine State Co-Champion and Bates College English Professor Steven Dillon took a look at the recently published Fishbein - Spahn game from the scholastic team state championship earlier this year and was moved to write his own set of annotations. We are delighted and honored to receive this bit of instruction and insight from Professor Dillon.
Fishbein, Matthew (1421) - Spahn, George (817) [C44]
Scholastic Teams, 03.15.2008
Notes by Steven Dillon
1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3 c3
The relatively rare Ponziani opening, named after an 18th-century Italian. White wants to play d4 and if Black plays ed, then White can recapture with the c-pawn. White would have a beautiful pawn center after that.
3...d5!
Well-played! Black refuses to let White get a big center for free.
4. ed
White usually tries for an advantage with tricky moves like Qa4 or Bb5.
4...Qd5
This is why c3 is rarely played so early; the pawn takes away the square from the Nb1.
Black now has a good version of a center counter (1 e4 d5 2. ed Qd5).
5. d4 e4
5. . . Bg4 is also possible, since White probably doesn't want to take de5.
Sometimes it is good to keep the tension rather than release it.
6. Nfd2 Nf6
6. . . f5 trying for a big center is an idea, although White can later try to break it apart with f3.
7. Qc2 Bf5
Black is playing fluidly and naturally. Since the Queen is vulnerable now on c2, a better plan for White might have been Be2 or Bc4 with the idea of Nf1 to e3, to block the pawn. But Black is already way ahead in development.
8. Bc4 Qd7
Qd6 is a reasonable square, but on Qd7 the Bf5 is still protected, which prevents f3.
9. Nb3
White wants to develop his queenside, but Nf1-e3 might be a more balanced way of doing it. The Nb3 can get in the way of a queenside pawn expansion.
9...Be7
Probably the best square right now for the bishop. Black retains the option of castling either way.
10. Be3 O-O
Safer than O-O-O, especially with all of White's pieces over there.
11. O-O Rfe8
Good move, protecting the strong point on e4.
12. N1d2 Bd6
Black threatens to cause trouble with Ng4.
13. Bb5
Not really a threat; maybe h3.
13...a6
14. Bc6
Exchanges the Bishop for a Knight, which isn't great, but exchanging pieces in a cramped position is often a good idea.
14...Qc6
15. c4
With the bishop out of the way, White can claim his share of the center. But there is a tactical drawback.
15...Bb4?
This bishop isn't going anywhere. No need to trade this nice bishop for a knight on d2. If the bishop wants to hide from the coming pawn storm, it could go to f8. But there is better. In the computer annotation, Fritz notices Bh2+! A line might go Bh2+ 16 Kh2 Ng4+ 17 Kg1 Qd6 18 g3 Ne3 and if 19 fe Qg3 20 Kh1 Re6 with Rh6 coming. Can readers improve White's defense?
16. d5
With the idea of getting the Nb3 back into the game with Nd4.
16...Qd6
17. a3
May as well clear up the situation and win the strong dark-squared bishop for the knight.
17...Bd2
18. Qd2
18...b5
Good instinct! Go after the base of the pawn chain to break up the center.
19. Bf4 Qd7
20. Bg5
It is tempting to threaten to break up Black's kingside with Bf6. Fritz suggests 20 Nc5 Qe7 21 Qd4 to try and hold the center together.
20...Ng4!
21. h3
Chasing the knight where it wants to go. Maybe Rac1.
21...Ne5
Black threatens not only the c4 pawn, but a combination on h3.
22. c5
This takes care of c4, but not the kingside.
22...Nf3+
A very interesting try which doesn't quite work here. Bh3 was simpler, with all kinds of threats coming.
23. gf Bh3
24. Kh2 ef
25. Rg1 Bg2
26. Rg2 fg2
27. Rg1!
A good way to take this pawn.
27...Qg4
28. Rg2 Qh5+
29. Kg1 Re5?
Fritz gives Re2 followed by doubling the rooks with Rae8.
30. d6
A good idea to push the advanced pawn, but Bf6 wins material.
30...Rae8
31. Be3
Be7 was a simpler way to block the e-file.
31...Rd5!
Alertly attacking the queen and also the weak back rank.
32. Bd4
Stepping into an awkward pin, but also attacking g7.
32...cd
Going after White's dangerous advanced pawn instead of protecting his own g7 pawn.
33. Rg7+ Kf8
34. cd?
Fritz's Rg3 is fine, since Black can't really take on c5 (dc 35 Bc5+ Rc5 36 Qd6+)
34...Rd6
Fritz wants Black to go in for the following long combination 34. . . Rd4 35
Qd4 Re1+ 36 Kg2 Qh1+ 37 Kg3 Rg1+ 38 Kf4 Qh6 39 Ke4 Qg7 where White is basically forced to trade queens, leaving Black with a winning endgame.
35. Qb4!
35...Qd1+
36. Kg2 Ree6
37. Qc3?
White needs to keep the pin on. Letting the rook go free allows the following winning attack.
37...Rg6+
38. Rg6 Rg6+
0-1
An exciting, topsy-turvy battle between two very promising young players.
Comments
A good teaching analysis of
an exciting game between 2
well-matched young players,
definitely on their way up!
Posted by: Jon Malev | June 19, 2008 3:38 PM
At firt I thought it seemed somewhat long as it took 8 pages to print it out (I check everything throughly.) but by pqge 2 I got into it and I do say it was informative and well done. The comments make chess look easy and that is one the marks of a good annotater. I throughly enjoyed the comments. Thank you Professor Dillon and I hope to see further games annotated by you. Maybe a game a month would be nice.
Posted by: roger morin | May 30, 2008 7:32 AM