Mystery game #63: Avant garde: 1.c4 Nh6!? -- Black wins!!

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  • Mystery game #63: Avant garde: 1.c4 Nh6!? -- Black wins!!

    Here is the text of an interesting game. You can discuss the game, setting, era, time controls, player strengths, etc. I will provide all data in a few days. Enjoy!!

    1.c4 Nh6 2.g3 g6 3.Bg2 Bg7 4.e4 O-O 5.Ne2 d6 6.O-O c6 7.d3 a6 8.a4 a5 9.Na3 Na6 10.Rb1 f5 11.Nc2 Nc5 12.b3 Qb6 13.h3 fxe4 14.dxe4 Nf7 15.Be3 Qc7 16.f4 e5 17.Kh2 exf4 18.gxf4 Re8 19.e5 dxe5 20.Bxc5 exf4 21.Kh1 Qe5 22.Bd4 Qxe2 23.Qc1 Bf5 24.Rb2 Qh5 25.Qxf4 Bh6 26.Qf3 Qxf3 27.Rxf3 Bg7 28.Bxg7 Kxg7 29.Rf2 Rad8 30.Kh2 Rd1 31.Bf3 Rdd8 32.Rb1 Ng5 33.Bg2 Rd3 34.h4 Ne4 35.Bxe4 Rxe4 36.b4 Rxc4 37.Rc1 Rdc3, 0-1.

  • #2
    Dr. Alex Danilov (1962) -- NM Peter Ferguson (2285), Kingston Open 1997 (4), played 1997-02-09, time controls 30/90', SD/60'; Organizer and TD; Larry Bevand; Assistant: Frank Dixon; English Opening, A10.

    First, a minor edit to the game. We are correct to move 33. The game actually ends with 34.b4 Ne4 35.Bxe4 Rxe4 36.b5 Rxh3+, and White resigned; 0-1. The moves at 37 which I listed did NOT occur; but they are part of the variation as to why White resigned, and were on one of the scoresheets, confusing me somewhat. I had some minor problems with the scoresheets here; White's had a couple of errors, and the last move was missing; Black's was in descriptive notation, also with a couple of minor errors. But I am convinced that we now have it right.

    Now, some brief comments on the game. The position after 1.c4 Nh6!? does NOT appear at 365chess.com, which has over 4 million games.
    In the 1970s, American IM John Watson wrote a series of very thorough books on the English Opening; I owned the entire set at one time, but I lent these books out, and they were not returned to their rightful owner; well, you probably know the story! Watson may have covered this; he did cover 1.c4 g5!? It is also not in my 1979 ECO Volume A. Needless to say, the game takes an original course from an early stage. White's first move does not specifically threaten anything, so responses can be somewhat more freestyle, should Black choose. At move nine, three of four knights have been developed to their respective 'Rook 3' squares!
    But after some slightly oddball moves early on, the game is completely serious, and both players show deep strategic ideas. Black exploits White's slightly passive play, and enlivens a quiet game when he temporarily sacks a piece with the complex combination 19...dxe5!, but regains it a few moves later, with the strong double attack 21...Qe5!, while enhancing his activity, especially on the dark squares. He has won a pawn, gradually moves to control the game once the queens are exchanged at move 26, and finishes nicely with the sharp shot 36...Rxh3+!, exploiting White's exchange of his light-squared bishop. White, down two pawns, is also in trouble with his piece arrangement on the queenside; he will be losing a piece after 37.K-moves Rxc4! 38.Rc1 Rhc3!, overloading the pinned N/c2.

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    • #3
      You know ..... I gotz to get me back out to Kingston tmnts at least once a year once normal life returns.

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      • #4
        We would like to see you back in Kingston, Sam! The Kingston Open tradition on the EOCA circuit has been continued. I stopped directing the event just over ten years ago, having done it for about a dozen years, but others have stepped up. We usually get a pretty good group of creative players in the top group. It is most certainly NOT a major event such as Toronto, Ottawa, or Montreal attract regularly. But smaller events have a friendlier atmosphere. It has been held at a church in the north end the past few years.

        The Zonal and Sectional organized in Kingston by IA /IO Aris Marghetis in 2019 was off the charts awesome! It was held at a downtown hotel with prime conditions; 20 restaurants within five blocks! Aris had the rights to last year's events, which were to include the Ladies' Zonal as well (cancelled), and he has 2021 and 2022 planned in Kingston as well. Not sure how those plans will play out now. It was a demanding schedule, with nine rounds over five days.

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        • #5
          I think it best that I consolidate the corrected game score for this one into one post.

          Dr. Alex Danilov (1962) -- NM Peter Ferguson (2285), Kingston Open 1997 (4), played 1997-02-09; time controls 30/90', SD/60'; English, A10; Organizer Larry Bevand; Assistant Frank Dixon.

          1.c4 Nh6 2.g3 g6 3.Bg2 Bg7 4.e4 O-O 5.Ne2 d6 6.O-O c6 7.d3 a6 8.a4 a5 9.Na3 Na6 10.Rb1 f5 11.Nc2 Nc5 12.b3 Qb6 13.h3 fxe4 14.dxe4 Nf7 15.Be3 Qc7 16.f4 e5 17.Kh2 exf4 18.gxf4 Re8
          19.e5 dxe5 20.Bxc5 exf4 21.Kh1 Qe5 22.Bd4 Qxe2 23.Qc1 Bf5 24.Rb2 Qh5 25.Qxf4 Bh6 26.Qf3 Qxf3 27.Rxf3 Bg7 28.Bxg7 Kxg7 29.Rf2 Rad8 30.Kh2 Rd1 31.Bf3 Rdd8 32.Rb1 Ng5 33.Bg2 Rd3 34.b4 Nxe4 35.Bxe4 Rxe4 36.b5 Rxh3+, 0-1.

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          • #6
            Originally posted by Frank Dixon View Post
            We would like to see you back in Kingston, Sam! The Kingston Open tradition on the EOCA circuit has been continued. I stopped directing the event just over ten years ago, having done it for about a dozen years, but others have stepped up. We usually get a pretty good group of creative players in the top group. It is most certainly NOT a major event such as Toronto, Ottawa, or Montreal attract regularly. But smaller events have a friendlier atmosphere. It has been held at a church in the north end the past few years.

            The Zonal and Sectional organized in Kingston by IA /IO Aris Marghetis in 2019 was off the charts awesome! It was held at a downtown hotel with prime conditions; 20 restaurants within five blocks! Aris had the rights to last year's events, which were to include the Ladies' Zonal as well (cancelled), and he has 2021 and 2022 planned in Kingston as well. Not sure how those plans will play out now. It was a demanding schedule, with nine rounds over five days.
            Thanks for the props Frank. I expect that we'll be doing the same formula for at least 2022 through 2024, as our initial 4-year run was extended last Easter (due to the pandemic) and I humbly expect similarly extended this Easter (due to the pandemic). I was going to make that official request at the April CFC meeting. Then after that, I see Kingston Easter Chess going on and on. My wife's family is from Kingston, and that location and facilities are just awesome. Especially with early warming up this Spring, it would have been just superb to get back on track in 2021 already!!
            Last edited by Aris Marghetis; Monday, 29th March, 2021, 09:10 PM.

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            • #7
              accidental post ...
              Last edited by Aris Marghetis; Monday, 29th March, 2021, 09:13 PM. Reason: is there a way to delete?

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