Passed pawn a tactical asset
FOLLOWING the theme of miniatures and tactics from last time, today’s game comes from round 1 of the Oceania Zonal Championship (2017), played in Auckland just over a year ago. The game was between IM Anthony F. Ker (2300) and CM Don Eade (1831). Ker is one of the strongest players to come out of New Zealand, having represented the country in eight Chess Olympiads, and has outrightly or jointly won the NZ Chess Champs 13 times.
1 e4e6
2 d4d5
3 e5
Ker chooses the Advance Variation of the French Defence. White decides to grab an early space advantage in the centre. Black’s opening play will either focus on undermining White’s centre or attaining a solid position. 3—c5
4 c3 Nc6
5 Nf3 Bd7
The Euwe Variation (C02).
6 Bd3 Qb6
Striking at the White centre.
7 OO?!
White proposes that the d4 pawn is immune from capture due to Black’s lack of development. It doesn’t seem that this is the case though. For example, 7 — cxd4, 8 cxd4 Nxd4, 9 Nxd4 Qxd4, 10 Qe2 (10 Qb3 Qxe5, 11 Qxb7 and either 11 — Qb8/Rd8 is good here), 10 — Ne7 and Black is holding the pawn with no clear compensation for White.
7 — cxd4
8 cxd4 Nh6?!
Better was 8 — Nxd4 as explained above. This move also is strongly countered by 9 Nc3, which prevents the knight from moving to f5, or else after the trade (as we shall see) Black loses the d5 pawn.
9 Nc3 Nf5??
Maybe Black thought he would be exerting pressure on the dfile quicker in the position attained after the game move 12 — OOO. However, White has the initiative and will have no problem holding the d4 pawn. Surprisingly, better was 9 — Nxd4, 10 Nxd4 Qxd4, 11 Nb5 Qb6, 12 Be3 Qa5 and Black is just barely holding on to a playable position. The game move puts the power in White’s hands. 10 Bxf5 exf5
11 Nxd5 Qa5
12 Nf4
Rightly preventing the bishop from blockading on d6. Since if 12 — Be6, 13 d5 then 13 — OOO, 14 Nxe6 fxe6 (If 14 — Rxd5 then 15 Ned4 Nxd4, 16 Nxd4 and White wins a piece), 15 d6 puts a huge decisive clamp on Black. 12 — OOO
13 Qb3 Qb4?!
Black is rightly getting uncomfortable in light of White’s strong initiative. However, this move, hoping for a trade, doesn’t work. Better is 13 — f6.
14 Qxf7 Nxd4
15 Nxd4 Qxd4
Black has done well undermining White’s centre and isolating his epawn. The question is whether this pawn will be an asset or a liability.
16 e6 Bb5
Stronger was 16 — Be8, blockading the pawn with a tempo. For example, then if 17 Qxf5 Black can either play 17 — Qf6 or 17 — Bd6, 18 e7+ Rd7 and Black is holding for the moment.
17 Qxf5 Bxf1??
The position is completely lost now. 17 — Qc5 was needed to remove the strong White queen or giving time for the bishop to blockade on e7.
18 e7+
Passed pawns must be pushed! We see the isolated pawn allowed to be used as a decisive tactical asset.
18 — Kb8
19 Qe5+!
Black resigned in view of 19 — Qxe5, 20 exd8=Q# (tasty!) and 19 — Ka8, 20 Qxd4 (20 — Bxe7, 21 Nd5 and White is ahead buckets of material), 20 — Rxd4, 21 e8=Q+ Rd8, 22 Qxd8#. Also, 20 Ne6 is a mate in 11 starting with 20 — a6, 21 exd8 Qxd8, 22 Nxd8.
10
Today’s puzzle comes from the game Efim Geller vs Roberto Debarnot, Las Palmas, 1976. Geller is thought to be one of the greatest players to never have become world champion.
Solution: 23 Qxc7+! Rxc7, 24
Rxd8+ Rc8, 25 Rxc8#. If 23 — Ka8, 24 Qc8+ Rxc8, 25 Rxc8#. In the game, Debarnot resigned after White’s 23rd move. Look out for these backrank mating ideas in your own games!