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9... Q a5 is a brilliant save

I remind we are discussing the following variation: 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. ed cd 4. N f3 Nf6 5. B f4 B g4. After 6. h3 Black has to exchange the bishop to the knight or Black is much worst as any the bishop retreat leads to Black’s crash. Thus, we are convinced 6… B h5 and the considered variations of 6… B f5 brings a winning for White. Here we finish a consideration of 6… B f5 and we understand why, in this case, the resting variations bring a winning for White too.

This variation continuous with White’s attack: 7. g4 B e4 8. g5 N fd7 9. N c3

We saw in the previous article if Black leaves the bishop in the e4 square it loses a pawn because of the treat: N x e4 de N d2 and Black can’t defend the e4 pawn at least in the case of 9… e6.

However, Black can, if not reliably fix the bishop in the battle e4 square, then at least slightly prolong its presence on this square. And this way is to pin the c3 knight to its king playing 9… Q a5. You will rightly object - what kind of method is this to tie up a knight, when the White will release it very soon after a castling, and the above-mentioned threat will remain in force. And you will be absolutely right. However, while White prepares and makes a castling you have a few tempos to develop your pieces. And this significantly strengthens your defensive abilities.

So, Black makes its cherished move: 9... Q a5.

Then everyone does their own thing: ‘

10.   B g2          N c6
11.   0-0

In regard of fixing the bishop in the battle e4 square, this innovation does not solve anything. For example: 11...e6 12. N x e4 de 13. N d2 f5 14. gf N x f6 15. N x e4  =>  and White wins a pawn. Even the bishop retreat to avoid exchanging the bishop to the knight does not bring anything good for Black: 11...B g6 12. R e1 e6 13. N x d5. White wins a sacrifice back easily and gets a better position: 13… Q x d5 14. N e5 Q x d4 15. B x c6 Q x d1 16. R axd1 bc 17. R x d7  =>  or 14...Q b5 15. N x d7 K x d7 16. d5 N a5 17. de+ K c8 18. e7 B x e7 19. R x e7  => .

The only option to hold an equality is to exchange the bishop to the knight:

11...                  B x f3
12.    B x f3      e6

It looks like Black equalized a position and cosmetic details lead for an absolute equality. However, the calm appearance of this position is deceptive. The picture above captures the moment before the eruption of Pompeii. Right now, the White is sending Black into a knockdown from which only a machine can escape. Are you ready to find this White's deadly move? If you want to test your strength, you can find this move yourself pausing reading the article. Though it’s not a trivial problem. For the rest, I will tell already now on how White mercilessly destroys Black.

Suddenly, a knight sacrifice destroys Black's chances:

13.  N x d5

The idea of the sacrifice is that the Black's bishop is Black's weakness - it blocks the Black's catling. The check of the White's rook pushes it to the e7 square where it's pinned to the Black's king. Using this pin, White easily wins back the bishop and gets a better position.

So, Black has to accept a sacrifice:

13…           ed
14. c4

Now the game branches into the two ways when Black takes the c4 pawn or Black does not accept this sacrifice. In case of sacrifice accept Black loses. Let us consider this variation firstly.  So, Black plays 14… dc.

In this case, White is unleashing his attack: 15. R e1+ B e7 16. d5. Now the Black’s knight is attacked and has the four options to retreat. They are N ce5, N d8, N b4 and N cb8. Let us consider each of them. If 16… N ce5 then 17. B x e5. In case of a short castling a tactics brings a winning for White: 17… O-O 18.B x g7 K x g7 19. R x e7 N c5 20. B h5 R ad8 21. Q d4+ K g8 22. Q f6 R d7 23. B x f7+ R x f7 24. Q x f7+ K h8 25. Q x h7 #  => . If 20… N d3 then 21. Q f3 Q b6 22. R x f7+ R x f7 23. Q x f7+ K h8 24. g6 hg 25. B x g6 Q x g6+ 26. Q x g6  =>  and Black is destroyed. If 17… N x e5 then 18. R x e5 K f8 19. h4 B d6 20. R e4 R e8 21. R x e8+ K x e8 22. Q d4 R g8 23. R c1 K d8 24. R x c4 Q e1 + 25. K g2 Q e5 26. Q x a7 Q h2 + 27. K f1 Q h3+ 28. K e1 R e8+ 29.B e2 Q h1+ 30. K d2 b5 31. Q a5+ K e7 32. Q x b5 K f8  =>  and The White's supremacy is undeniable. If 28… Q x f3 then 29. Q a8+ K d7 30. Q x b7+ B c7 31. Q x c7+ K e8 32. Q e5+ K d7 33. R c7+ K d8 34. Q e7 #  => . If 17… 0-0-0 then 18. B g3 B c5 19. R e4 Q b4 20. R c1 N b6 21. a3 Q a4 22. Q x a4 N x a4 23. R exc4 b5 24. R x c5+ N x c5 25. R x c5+ K d7 26. R c7+ K e8 27. d6 h6 28. B g4 hg 29. d7+ K e7 30. R c8 b4 31. B c7 ba 32. ba g6 33. B x d8 + R x d8 34. R x d8 K x d8 35. f4 gf 36. h4 f5 37. B x f5 gf  =>  and Black is powerless in resistance of White's pawn promotion.

If 16... N d8 then 17. B d6 0-0 18. R x e7 N c5 19. R e3 b6 20. B x f8 K x f8 21. Q c2  =>  and Black loses a material inevitably. If 17... N e6 then 18. de Q x g5+ 19. K h1 fe 20. R x e6 0-0 21. B x e7  =>  and Black loses a material again. If 19… B x d6 then 20. Q x d6 0-0-0 21. ed+ R x d7 22. B g4 Q x g4 23. Q c5  + R c7 24. Q x c7+ K x c7 25. hg  =>  and White wins.

If 16… N b4 then 17. d6 N d3. Black transfers the knight to a fighting position. However, the Black’s king is too weak, causing Black to lose the knight: 18. R x e7+ K f8 19. B x b7 R e8 20. R x e8+ K x e8 21. Q e2+ N 7e5 22. B x e5 Q x e5 23. Q x e5+ N x e5 24. R e1 f6 25. f4 K d7 26. fe fe 27. R d1  => . If 22… N x e5 then 23. f4 Q b6 + 24. K h2 Q x b7 25. Q x e5+ K d7 26. R e1 Q b6 27. K g3 Q x d6 28. Q x g7 R f8 29. Q x h7  =>  and the passed h pawn brings a way to win for White.

If 19… R b8 then the Black’s weak king brings a winning for White:  20. Q f3 Q f5 21. B d5 g6 22. R x f7+ Q x f7 23. B x f7 K x f7 24. B e5+ K e6 25. B x h8 R x h8 26. Q e3 +  => . If 21… Q g6 then 22. R x d7 h6 23. R x f7+ K g8 24. R f6+ K h7 25. R x g6 N x f4 26. Q x f4 R hf8 27. Q e4  =>  and Black’s king in a mate net. If 23... Ke8 then 24. Q e3+ K d8 25. Q e7+ K c8 26. d7#  => . If 22... N x f4 then 23. R x f7+ K e8 24. Q x f4 K d8 25. B c6  =>  and Black’s king in a mate net again. If 20… N b6 then 21. B g3 f6 22. Q h5 N e5 23. B x e5 g6 24. Q h6 + K g8 25. Q g7 #  => .

If 17… 0-0 then 18. de R fe8 19. Q x d7  =>  and Black loses the knight. If 18...N d3 then 19. B x b7 N x f4 20. ef=Q+ R x f8 21. Q x d7 N d3 22. R e8 Q x g5+ 23. K f1 g6 24. Q e7 Q x e7 25. R x e7  =>  and Black is standing without a rook. If 21… Q x g5 then White can finish off Black in the following way: 22. K f1 g6 23. R ad1 a5 24. B d5 Q h5 25. R d4 N x d5 26. R x d5  => . If 25… Q g5 then 26. R e8 N x d5 27. R x d5 Q c1+ 28. K g2 Q x b2 29. Q d8 R x e8 30. Q x e8+ K g7 31. Q e5+  =>  and Black is destroyed again.

If 16...N cb8 then 17. d6 0-0 18. de R e8 19. B x b7 N b6 20. B x a8 N x a8 21. B x b8 Q b4 22. Q d8  =>  and Black is destroyed. If 21...R x b8 then 22. e8=Q+ R x e8 23. R x e8 #  => .

Now let us consider what happens if Black plays 15… K d8

Now White attacks the knight: 16. d5. Well, the knight is attacked. The most prospect escape variations are 16... N b4 or 16... N e7. Let us consider second one. In this case White lures out the Black’s king to go to a center and wins the queen: 17. Q e2 N c5 18. B d6 K d7 19. B g4 + N e6 20. de+ K x d6 21. Q x c4 Q c5 22. Q f4+ K c6 23. R ac1 N d5 24.R x c5+ B x c5 25. B f3  =>  and Black is destroyed. In case of 18… N d3 White wins the knight while the Black’s king tries to escape a safe place in the queen side: 19. B x e7 + K c8 20. R ac1 K b8 21. b4 Q b6 22. B x f8 R x f8 23. R x c4 a6 (to avoid a mate: qe4+ - qc7#) 24. Q x d3 K a7 25. d6  =>  and Black is destroyed.

Black puts up more stubborn resistance in the case of 16… N b4. In this case the game may continue: 17. Q e2 B c5 18. d6 Q b6 19. Q e7 + K c8 20. B g4 a5 21. B x d7+ K b8 22. R e5 N d3 23. R x c5 Q x c5 24. B e3 Q e5 25. B b5 Q x e7 26. de K c7 27. B d4 R he8 28. B x c4 N b4  => . White has gained the advantage of two bishops in an open position while Black's pawns are vulnerable. White should win here.

In this case, the game may continue: 29. B x g7 R x e7 30. R c1 K d6 31. R d1+ K c7 32. K g2 R c8 33. R d4 R d7 34. B e5 + K d8 35. B f6+ K c7 36. R h4 K d6 37. R d4+ K c7 38. R h4 K d6 39. B b5 R dc7 40. f4 N d5 41. B e5+ K c5 42. a4 R e7 43. R x h7 R f8 44. b3 R e6 45. K f3 f6 46. gf N x f6 47. R c7+ K b4 48. R x b7 K a3 49. B c4 R x e5 50. fe N d7+ 51. K g3 N x e5 52. B d5 R c8 53. R b5 R c3+ 54. K h4 R c1 55. K g5 K b2 56. h4 R g1+ 57. K f5 N d3 58. h5 R f1+ 59. K e4 K c3 60. B c4 N f2+ 61. K f4 N d3+ 62. K g3 R g1+ 63. K h2 R g4 64. B x d3 K x d3 65. R x a5 K e4 66. K h3  =>  and Black is destroyed.

Now let us look what happens if Black does not take the c4 pawn. In case of 14… B e7 If Black plays careless White takes a knight back and wins a bishop also: 14… B e7 15. cd N cb8 16. R e1 Q d8 17. d6 N c6 (To take the e7 pawn with the c6 knight after 18. de. Thus, Black avoid double attack after 18. de where the e7 pawn attacks both a rook and a queen) 18. de N x e7 19. B d6 O-O 20. B x e7 Q a5 21. B x f8 Q x g5+ 22. B g2 R x f8 23. Qf3  => . Now let us see what happens if Black hopes to avoid the double attack just giving the bishop in exchange for a knight and does not play 16… Q d8, but Black does a castling instead. Then game may continue: 16... O-O 17. R x e7 b5 (Black moves the pawn away from the b7 square where it is potentially attacked either by the e7 rook or the e4 bishop) 18. d6 N b6 19. B x a8 N x a8 20. Q e1 Q d8 21. Q e4 N b6 22. R c1 N c4 23. Q d5 N b6 24. Q x b5 a6 25. Q b3 N 8d7 26. R c7  => and Black is destroyed. If 17… N b6 then 18. Q d2 Q a4 19. b3 Q b5 20. d6 N 8d7 21. Qe3 R ad8 22. a4 Q f5 23. B e4 Q a5 24. B x b7 a6 25. R c1 and Black gets serious problems.

Black’s dream to move the weak bishop through the g7 square playing g6 before does not brings anything good: 14...g6 15. cd B g7 16. dc bc 17. Q e2+ K f8 18. B x c6 R d8 19. R ac1 h6 20. R fe1 K g8 21. B x d7 B x d4 22. B e8 Q f5 23. B x f7+ Kg7 24. gh+ K h7 25. Q e4 Q x f7 26. Rc7 R d7 27. Q x d4 R x c7 28. B x c7 R f8  =>  and White wins.

Another idea – to make a long castling does not help too: 14... O-O-O 15. cd N e7 16. R c1+ Q c5 17. R x c5+ N x c5 18. B g4+ Rd7 19. dc f6 20. c6  => and a mate is inevitable. If 15... N b6 then 16. B g4+ R d7 17. R e1 K d8 18. dc bc 19. B x d7 K x d7 20. R e5  =>  and Black is destroyed. In case of 15… N b4 then White's attack is also irresistible: 16. a3 N a6 17. R c1 + B c5 18. dc f6 19. B g4 h5 20. c6 b6 21. B x d7 + R x d7 22. cd+ K b7 23. d6  =>  and White wins again.

Black puts up the most stubborn resistance in the case of 14... nb6. The engine is even capable of leveling the position in this case. Let's consider this variation.

In real, 14… N b6 is the beginning of a long sequence of moves where Black can hold a draw. For most of this sequence Black’s moves are only only moves in this variation that leads to a draw. While, for each move from the sequence, White has a large range of good continuations besides that move from the sequence. Therefore, it is unlikely that a human is able to maintain a draw in this situation. However, let us look this is a miraculous salvation: 15. R e1 + B e7 16. B d2 Q a4 17. Q x a4 N x a4 18. cd N x d4 19. B d1 N x b2 20. d6 N e6 21. de N x d1 22. R axd1 h6 23. gh gh 24. f4 R g8+ 25. K h1 N c5 26. B b4 b6 27. f5 f6 28. R d6 R c8 29. R x f6 R c7 30. B x c5 bc 31. R fe6 c4 32. K h2 R h8 33. f6 R c8 34. R g1 K f7 35. R a6 R hg8 36. R c6 R b8 37. R g4 c3 38. K g3 c2 39. R x c2 K x f6 40. R e2 R x g4+ 41. hg K f7 42. K h4 K e8 43. R e6 R b2 44. K h5 R h2 + 45. K g6 a5 46. a4 R h4 47. K f5 R h3 48. K g6 R h4 49. K f5 R h1 50. R e5 R c1  =>  and Black guarantees itself a draw.

Let's try to make a little bit clearer why Black's moves in this sequence are forced. Of course, we won't be able to analyze every move, but let's try to analyze a few moves from the beginning of this sequence.

The first thing we consider is why Black’s queen can’t retreat to the a6 square after it is attacked by the bishop from the d2 square when White plays 16. B d2. So, let us assume Black plays 16… Q a6:

If so White immediately carries out an attack, the meaning of which becomes clear after a few moves: 17. cd N x d4 18. R x e7 + K x e7 19. B b4 + K d8 20. Q x d4 R g8  =>  and we come to the position in the picture below:

It seems Black wins a material but let us look at the position. Black’s king is very weak without defense. White's pieces are very active with the exception of the rook, which can be easily activated by placing it in the e1 square. All Black's pieces are not active and are located on the periphery of the board. Moreover, these pieces lack interaction. White’s king is not weak. Under these circumstances, White is close to winning.

Firstly, White activates its rook: 21. R e1. The ways for a most stubborn resistance for Black are: R c8, Q c4, N c8, N c4, Q b5. Let us consider all of them. For example, Black activates its rook playing 21… R c8. Then the game may continue: 22. B e7 + K c7 23. Q e5+ (and the king can’t escape to the queen side behind the pawns) K d7 24. Q d6 + K e8 25. B f8 + Q e2 26. R x e2 #  =>  and White wins.

If 21… Q c4 then 22. B e7 + K c8 23. B g4 + K b8 24. B d6 + Q c7 25. B x c7 +  =>  and White wins the queen. If 22... K e8 then 23. Q e5 N d7 24. Q d6 N c5 25. B f6 + N e6 26. Q e7 #  => . If 23... f6 then 24. B x f6 + K d7 25. Q e6 + K c7 26. B e5 + K d8 27. Q x g8+  =>  and Black can’t avoid a mate. If 23... g6 then 24. B d 6+ K d7 25. Q e7 + K c8 26. B g4 + f5 27. gf + Q x g4 + 28. hg N d7 29. R c1 + N c5 30. R x c5 #  => .

If 21... N c8 then 22. Q e4 h5 23. B e7 + K c7 24. Q e5 + K d7 25. Qf5 + K e8 26. Bx h5 g6 27. B d6 + K d8 28. Q f6 + K d7 29. B g4 #  => . More active at first glance 22... Q g6 lets White to win easier: 23. B e7+ N x e7 24. Q x e7+ K c8 25. R c1+ K b8 26. Qc7 #  => . If 23... K d7 then 24. Q a4 + K c7 25. R c1 + K b8 26. Q f4+ N d6 27. B x d6+ Q x d6 28. Q x d6 #  => . If 22... g6 then 23. B e7+ K d7 24. B g4+ K c7 25. Q f4+ N d6 26. R c1+ K b8 27. Q x d6+ Q x d6 28. B x d6 #  => . If 23... K e8 then 24. B g4 f5 25. gf K f7 26. d6 N x d6 27. Q e6 + K e8 28. Q x g8 #  => .

If 21... N c4 then 22. B e7+ K c8 23. Q c5+ K b8 24. B f8 R x f8 (because of the R e8 threat) 25. Q x f8+ K c7 26. Q c5+ K d8 27. Q e7+ K c8 28.B g4+ Q e6 29. R x e6 f5 30. Q e8+ K c7 31. Q f7+ K b8 32. R e8 #  => . If 22... K d7 then 23. B g4+ K c7 24. Q c5+ K b8 25. B f8 R x f8 26. Q x f8+ K c7 27. Q c5+ Q c6 28. R e7+ K b8 29. dc bc 30. Q x c6 a6 31. Q b7 #  => . If 22... K c7 then 23. d6+ K d7 24. Q g4+ K e8 25. d7 #  => . If 23... K c8 then 24. Q c5+ K d7 25. Q c7+ K e8 26. d7 #  => .

If 21... Q b5 then 22. B e7+ K e8 23. B g4 Q x d5 24. B c5+ K d8 25. B x b6+ ab 26. Q x b6 #  => . If 23... R c8 then 24. B d6+ K d8 25. Q e5 Q e8 26. B e7+ Q x e7 27. Q x e7 #  => .

What if Black does not save a pawn at 20-th move but develops its rook playing 20… R e8? In this case White collects the weak pawns and combines using Black’s weak king: 21. Q x g7 N d7 22. B h5 Q b5 23. 23. Q x f7 K c7 24. Q f4+ R e5 25. R c1+ K d8 26. B d6 (and the rook has no square to move. R x d5 is not possible because of Q f8 #) Q x d5 27. B c7+ K e7 28. B x e5 N x e5 29. R e1 K d6 30. Q f6+ K c7 31. R x e5  =>  and White wins the knight while Black has a weak king and an undeveloped rook. White should win soon here. If 23... R f8 then 24. Q e7+ K c7 25. R c1+ K b6 26. Q d6+ Q c6 27. R x c6+ bc 28. Q x c6 #  => . If 23... R e5 then 24. d6 Q x b4 25. Q g8+ N f8 26. Q x f8+ K d7 27. Q f7+ K c6 28. B f3+ K b6 29. Q x b7+ K a5 30. Q c7+ K a4 31. b3+ K b5 32. a4+ K a6 33. d7 R e4 34. B x e4 Q x e4 35. R c1 Q b7 36. R c6+ Q b6 37. b4 R b8 38. R x b6+ ab 39. Q x b8 b5 40. ab #  => . If 28... K x d6 then 29. R d1+ K c5 30. Q c7+ K b5 31. B e2+ R x e2 32. Q x b7+ K a5 33. R d5+ K a4 34. Q d7+ Q b5 35. Q x b5 #  => . If 31... K a4 then 32. b3+ K a3 33. Q c1+ K x a2 34. Q c2+ K a3 35. R a1 #  => .

If 22... R c8 then Black can’t stop the g - d pawn as in the following variation: 23. Q x f7 R e4 24. d6 Q c4 25. Q x h7 N b6 26. B c3 N d5 27. B f6+ N x f6 28. gf R e6 29. B g4 Q e4 30. f7 Q x h7 31. f8=Q+ K d7 32. B x e6+ K x e6 33. Q x c8+ K f6 34. d7 Q g7+ 35. K h1 Q e7 36. d8=Q Q x d8 37. Q x d8+  =>  and Black is destroyed. In case of 22... Q d3 Black is counting on that strengthening the rook along the e line. But this does not help for Black too: 23. Q x f7 Q e4 24. B g4 R e7 25. B x e7+ Q x e7 26. Q g8+ Q e8 27. Q x h7  =>  and White’s advantage is undeniable.

So, we have brought some clarity to why 16... Q a4 is a forced move. The closest alternative in strength -16... Q a6 turned out to be a losing move. In the next articles, we consider some moves following 16-th move in “the sacramental sequence of salvation” and understand why they are forced.

To be continued!

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