The Great Consultation Game

On the 27th of September 2005 two intrepid armies gathered for a clashing of minds. The White Army was represented by such notables as Imraan Banderker, John van Ryneveld and Terence Daniels while the Black army had players of the ilk of Otto-Carl Marte, James Gaylard and Travers Waker in their ranks. A fierce consultation match followed. There was blood on the chess board....

Our silicon friend Fritz provided analysis of the battle.

(26) Banderker,van Ryneveld,Daniels - Marte, Gaylard, Waker [A10], Consultation analysis, [Deep Fritz (300s)]

A10: English Opening: Unusual Replies for Black
1.c4 d5 last book move 2.Nc3 d4 3.Ne4 Nf6 [3...f5 4.Ng3-/+] 4.Nxf6+ exf6 5.g3 [5.Nf3 Nc6=] 5...Bd7 [5...d3 6.Bg2=/+] 6.Bg2= Bc6 7.Nf3 d3 [7...Qd6 8.0-0=] 8.0-0 Be4?

Although Fritz didn't like this move, the Black Team felt that this was a
wonderful move.The bishop dominates the board! The development of blacks other
forces was a bit of a worry for the Black Team. Would white be able to take
advantage....

[>=8...Bc5= would keep Black in the game] 9.Re1 Be7 10.exd3 Bxd3 [10...Bf5 11.Nd4 Bc8 12.Qe2+-] 11.Nh4 [11.Qb3!? a5 12.Re3+-] 11...Nc6+/- 12.Bxc6+ [12.Qb3!? Ne5 13.Qxb7+/-] 12...bxc6+/= 13.Qf3 [13.Qg4 0-0 14.Nf5 Bxf5 15.Qxf5 Rb8+/=] 13...Qd7 14.b3 Controls c4 14...0-0

[>=14...0-0-0!?= must be considered] 15.Rxe7!+/- White is still ahead 15...Qd4

A tactical trick by black that white openly admitted to missing.
White expected black to castle queen side.

[15...Qxe7 Theme: Deflection from d3 16.Qxd3 Eliminates the defender d3] 16.Re1 [16.Bb2 Qxb2 17.Rae1 Rad8 18.Qxc6 Qxd2 19.Qxc7 g5+-] 16...Qxa1+/= 17.Qxd3 Rfe8 18.Rf1 Qxa2 19.Qc3 [19.Nf5 Rad8 20.Qf3 c5+/=] 19...a5

[19...Rab8 20.b4 Qa4 21.d3 Qxb4 22.Qxb4 Rxb4 23.Be3+/=] 20.Bb2 [20.Nf5!? Rab8 21.Qf3 Qxb3 22.Qxc6=] 20...Reb8=/+ The backward pawn on b3 becomes a target 21.Ba1 Rxb3 22.Qd4 Rab8 [22...Rb1 23.Bc3=] 23.Bc3 [23.Nf5 Rb1 24.Ne7+ Kh8+/=] 23...Rb1= 24.Qg4

The White Team launches an all-out assault on the Black King!!

Kf8 [24...h5 25.Qf4= (25.Qxh5?? Qxc4 26.d3 Qxc3-+) ] 25.Qd4 [>=25.Nf5!? Rxf1+ 26.Kxf1+/-] 25...a4= 26.Qc5+ [26.Rxb1 Qxb1+ 27.Kg2 Kg8=] 26...Kg8=/+ 27.Nf5 Qc2

Many tactical chances/tricks were available to White.

[27...Rxf1+ 28.Kxf1 Qb1+ 29.Kg2 Qe4+ 30.Kh3=/+] 28.Ne7+ Kh8 29.Qd4 [29.Qxc6 Qd3 30.Rxb1 Qxb1+ 31.Kg2 Qb7=] 29...h6

[>=29...a3 30.Rxb1 Qxb1+ (‹30...Rxb1+ 31.Kg2 Rb8 32.Qf4+/-) 31.Kg2 c5 32.Qxf6 Qe4+ (32...gxf6?? 33.Bxf6#) 33.f3 Qe2+ (33...gxf6 is refuted with the following mate in 1 34.Bxf6#) 34.Kh3 Qe6+ (34...gxf6 fails to mate in 1 35.Bxf6#) 35.Qxe6 fxe6-/+] 30.Qh4?? with this move White loses his initiative [>=30.Nxc6 and White can hope to live 30...Re8 31.Bb4=] 30...Kh7 [>=30...Qd3 and Black has triumphed 31.Rxb1 Rxb1+ (31...Qxb1+?! 32.Kg2=) 32.Kg2 Qf1+ 33.Kf3 Qh1+ 34.Kg4 Qe4+ 35.Kh3 Qxe7-+] 31.Qg4

Qd3(for black) was as a common theme suggested by Fritz.
The Black Team never seriously even considered this alternative.

[31.Qd4 a3 32.Rxb1 Qxb1+ 33.Kg2 a2-+] 31...a3 [31...Qd3!? 32.Qf5+
Qxf5 33.Nxf5-+] 32.Nf5 g6 33.Nxh6?? solves nothing [>=33.Ne3 Qd3 34.Rxb1 Rxb1+ 35.Kg2-/+] 33...Qxc3!

and the rest is history [33...Kxh6?? is impossible because of the following mate in 3 34.Qh4+ Kg7 35.Bxf6+ Kg8 36.Qh8#] 34.dxc3 a2

[34...a2 35.Qh4 a1Q 36.Ng4+ Kg8-+] 0-1

Twice the time on the clocks was increased by mutual consent. Nobody wanted to rush the conclusion of the game. The end of a wonderful game that was thoroughly enjoyed by all :-)