Chess Club Katerini Σ.Ο. Κατερίνης

Expert

Gender: Male
Age: 56 to 60
Occupation: Chess Club
www.sokaterinis.gr
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twitter.com/#!/sokaterinis

About Me

Founded in 1954 by a group of avid amateur chess players Katerini Chess Club is one of the oldest and most historic chess clubs of Greece.
Zonal champion for many years and now competing again in the prime Greek division after 29 years of waiting.

This is the official profile of Katerini chess club.

Αυτό είναι το επίσημο προφίλ του Σκακιστικού Ομίλου Κατερίνης.

Completed Challenges

I am a:

Chess Club

Playing For:

SO Katerinis

From:

Pieria

Greece

I Enjoy Playing:

Caro-Kann
1...e5
Scandinavian
Sicilian

King's Indian
Benko Gambit
Nimzo Indian
Budapest Gambit
Queen's Gambit
Queen's Indian
Grunfeld

And My Favorite Game Is:

[Event "Kypello ESSKEDYM 2012"]
[Site "Katerini"]
[Date "2011.12.04"]
[Round "semifinal"]
[White "Gkekas, Sokratis"]
[Black "Lolos, Ioannis"]
[Result "0-1"]
[PlyCount "102"]
[TimeControl "130304030"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. Nf3
g6 7. g3 Bg7 8. Bg2 O-O 9. O-O Na6 10. h3 Nc7 11. a4 a6 12. Nd2 Rb8 13. a5 b5
14. axb6 Rxb6 15. e4 Re8 16. Re1 Rb4 17. Bf1 Nb5 18. Nxb5 axb5 19. Ra3 Nxe4 20.
Nxe4 Rbxe4 21. Rxe4 Rxe4 22. Bxb5 Bxh3 23. Kh2 Bc8 $2 24. Ra8 Be5 25. f4 Bd4 
26. Ba6 Qa5 27. Rxc8+ Kg7 28. Be2 Qb4 29. Bf3 Re7 30. Qd2 Qb3 31. Bd1 Qxd5
32. b4 Qe6 33. bxc5 dxc5 34. Rxc5 Bxc5 35. Qc3+ f6 36. Qxc5 Qa2+ 37. Kh3 Re1
38. Qc7+ Qf7 39. Qxf7+ Kxf7 40. Bb3+ Kg7 41. Bd2 Rh1+ 42. Kg4 h5+ 43. Kf3 h4
44. Be3 h3 45. Bd5 h2 46. Kg2 Rd1 47. Kxh2 Rxd5 48. Kg2 f5 49. Kf3 Kf6 50. Bc1
Ke6 51. Bb2 Rd3+ 0-1

[Event "WCh Candidates"]
[Site "Kazan RUS"]
[Date "2011.05.15"]
[Round "2.4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A34"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2747"]
[Annotator "Caruana"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2011.??.??"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nc3 e5 4. e3 Nf6 5. Be2 d5 6. d4 exd4 7. exd4 Be6 8. Be3
{By transposition from a rare move order we have reached a main line of the 1.
e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.c4 variation, which is not very topical these days. A
refreshing change from all the hyper-theoretical Petroffs, Grunfelds and Slavs
we normally see at the top level.} dxc4 9. O-O cxd4 10. Nxd4 Nxd4 11. Bxd4 Qa5
$5 {A weird looking move, but it is surprisingly not so bad. Black prevents an
annoying check on a4, allowing his pawn structure to be wrecked but preparing
counterplay with ...Rd8 in the meantime.} ({The main line, if there is such a
thing in this position, is} 11... Be7 12. Qa4+ Qd7 13. Qxd7+ Nxd7 14. Bxg7 Rg8
{, when Black rarely encountered problems in the few games which were played
here. I suppose Kramnik had prepared an idea here, but it is difficult to
imagine exactly what it could be.}) 12. Bxf6 gxf6 13. Re1 Rd8 14. Qc2 Be7 {
Black is one step away from getting his king in safety and consolidating his
material advantage. The doubled f-pawns are not so disastrous because Black's
bishops cover a lot of important squares around the kingside.} 15. Qe4 Qc5 {A
good move. The most important thing is not the b7-pawn, but rather not to
allow a trade of bishops.} (15... Qc7 $2 16. Bg4 {is therefore not good for
Black.}) 16. Qxb7 O-O {One more move - f5 - and Black will have a perfect
position due to his unopposed dark-squared bishop.} 17. Ne4 (17. Rad1 f5 {can
only be better for Black.}) 17... Qb4 18. Qxa7 (18. Nxf6+ {is a critical move,
which leads to an endgame where Black obtains good compensation based on a
number of tactical details.} Kh8 19. Qxb4 Bxb4 20. Rec1 (20. Red1 c3 $1 {is an
important point.}) 20... Bd2 $1 21. Rc2 c3 $1 {A really great idea giving an
advantage. After} 22. bxc3 Bf5 {White's rook is trapped!}) 18... Rd7 19. Qe3
Qxb2 {Black has won a crucial pawn, gaining a dangerous passed c-pawn in the
process. However, the position remains roughly balanced because of Black's
vulnerable king.} 20. Rac1 ({White could have tried} 20. Nc5 Bxc5 21. Qxc5 Rd2
22. Qe3 {, which the computer estimates as roughly equal, which is most likely
correct. This would be a logical continuation of the game, but some more
exciting surprises were in store before the inevitable result.}) 20... Qd4 {
Obviously a trade of queens is bad for White.} 21. Qf3 {However, this was not
the best way.} ({It's hard to blame Kramnik for not finding} 21. Qf4 f5 22.
Rcd1 Qxe4 23. Qg3+ Kh8 24. Rxd7 Bxd7 25. Qc3+ {, with a draw by perpetual as}
f6 $2 26. Bxc4 {is bad for Black.}) 21... Rc8 {The players continue to make
small mistakes, but the position is very sharp and often the most natural
moves are wrong because of concrete tactics.} ({Strongest was} 21... f5 $1 22.
Ng3 ({White should play modestly with} 22. Nc3 {, but clearly Black is better
after} Bg5) 22... Bg5 $1 {A great idea, brining the bishop to d2, where it
closes the d-file and supports the c-pawn. By the way, I've noticed that
White's rooks are a real problem for White in this game - they have no space
to manouver, are stuck on the first rank and usually get attacked by Black's
bishops.} 23. Rcd1 (23. Rc2 {is met by the accurate} Qe5 {, and next...Rc8,
consolidating.}) 23... Bd2 $1 {, and next Black will enforce the bishop with ..
.c3!} 24. Nxf5 Qf6 {, with a decisive advantage.}) 22. Ng3 ({The natural and
obvious} 22. Red1 {would have been better. The position just boils down to
rough equality in all variations after this. I suppose Kramnik was still
playing for an advantage, and felt he would have good play after 22.Ng3, with
the knight aiming for f5 or h5.}) 22... Rdc7 $2 {A strange, highly cooperative
move. Grischuk decided to ignore all of Kramnik's ideas and focus on his own
one-sided play.} ({Black had the strong, if not very obvious} 22... Qe5 $1 {at
his disposal. White's ideas of Nh5 or Nf5 have been nullified, so Black can
concentrate on advancing his c-pawn. It seems White's position is highly
unpleasant after this.} 23. Bxc4 $4 Rxc4 {is of course losing for White.}) 23.
Nh5 $6 {The knight is going for f4, but I would prefer the natural 23.Nf5.} ({
After} 23. Nf5 Bxf5 24. Qxf5 {White is at least fully equal and perhaps more
do to Black's vulnerable king. The c-pawn is easily blockaded by Qc2 can even
start advancing his a-pawn at the right moment.}) 23... Kh8 24. Rcd1 (24. Nf4
c3 {doesn't seem especially promising for White.}) 24... Qb2 {Another odd move
(but perhaps not such a bad one), putting the queen on a faraway square where
it can't help defend Black's king. I don't understand why Grischuk keeps
putting his pieces on these strange squares, when he has simpler and stronger
moves at his disposal. Instead of this, 24...Qc5 prepares to defend the king
with ...Qg5.} (24... Qc5 $1 {gives a good position. I imagine Grischuk was
worried about} 25. Nxf6 {, but the pawn is not very important and after} c3 {
Black has good compensation with the threat of ...c2. In the complex play that
will follow anything can happen, but Black seems to have the initiative.}) 25.
Qg3 Bf8 26. Bg4 $6 {Is this how White should play for a win, or for a loss?
Both players are really going all in for this game, but it seems they both
lost their sense of danger and are taking needless risks.} ({White had many
possible options, but I think best was} 26. Qh4 Be7 27. Qg3 {, with a draw by
perpetual. I don't think White has better than this, and if he continues
playing he runs the serious risk of  losing due to Black's passed c-pawn.})
26... c3 27. Bxe6 (27. Rxe6 $2 {loses:} fxe6 28. Bxe6 Rg7 $1 29. Nxg7 {Now
mate is no longer a threat.} c2 30. Rf1 c1=Q $19) 27... fxe6 28. Nxf6 Bg7 $2 {
Again a totally illogical move. Why not attack the queen and keep the h7-pawn
protected? With this Black turns an objectively much better position into a
very dangerous one.} (28... Rg7 29. Qe5 {White threatens Nh5, but Black has a
strong  response:} Qb7 30. g3 c2 31. Rc1 Ba3 32. Nh5 Bxc1 (32... Bb2 {also
works.}) 33. Rxc1 Rd8 {, threatening ...Rd1 and winning the game.} 34. Qa1 e5
$1 35. Nxg7 Qf3 {, and the threat of ...Rd1 is unstoppable.}) 29. Nh5 {
Threatening Qxc7. More testing was the brilliant shot 29.Nxh7, after which
Black is hard pressed to defend. I would be interested to see how the game
would unfold after that.} ({Interesting was} 29. Nxh7 $5 c2 (29... Kxh7 30.
Qh3+ Kg8 31. Qxe6+ {gives White a killing attack, with a rook lift coming up
next.}) 30. Qh4 {, and here Black probably has only one way to make a draw:} (
30. Ng5 cxd1=Q 31. Qh3+ {leads to perpetual.}) 30... Be5 $3 {A surprising and
very difficult move. Black needs to make room for the king on g7, and he also
protects the rook on c7 in preparation for Rd8. White's attack looks very
strong but somehow Black defends. Other moves are possible besides 30...Be5,
but this is the only clear way to make a draw.} ({A crucial point of White's
play is} 30... Rc4 31. g4 $3) 31. Ng5+ (31. Nf6+ Kg7 32. Nh5+ Kf7 {, and
White's checks have run out.} 33. Rc1 Qd4 {, and Black's queen finally returns
from the abyss!}) 31... Kg8 32. Rc1 Bc3 $1 {Again, a common theme appears:
White's rooks lack space and are vulnerable to attack.} 33. Rf1 Bd2 {, and
here the game will most likely end in perpetual after 34.Nxe6.}) 29... Qb7 $6 {
Another mistake, allowing White to develop his attack.} (29... c2 $4 30. Qxc7 {
ends the game immediately.}) ({Probably simplest was} 29... Rf7 30. Nxg7 c2 $1
({avoiding} 30... Rxg7 31. Qe5) 31. Rc1 Rxg7 {, and the position is balanced
by Black's passed c-pawn and weak king.}) 30. Qh4 {Now besides the obvious
threat of Rd8, White has ideas of Nf4 and Ng6 or Nxe6. Black is again under
strong pressure.} Rg8 $2 {Again, an incomprehensible move. Why does Grischuk
entomb his king allowing Nf4 with the threat of mate? Both players seem to be
in a complete panic now at the thought of calculating a sharp position.} ({
Black's best defence is} 30... Qa8 $1 {, defending against Rd8 and preparing ..
.c2.}) 31. Rd8 $2 {I guess only Kramnik can understand why he played this move.
} ({Why not} 31. Nf4 {? I guess time trouble and nerves are to blame for the
weak play in this stage of the game, but is 31.Nf4 really such a difficult
move? I can imagine Kramnik normally playing this move in his sleep - it
threatens mate in one, after all, which is not easy to comfortably defend
against.}) 31... Rc8 $2 {Such a meek move. Did the players both forget how
strong the c-pawn is? This is Black's main trump, so he should use it!} ({
Passed pawns must be pushed! So:} 31... c2 32. Nf4 (32. Rxg8+ Kxg8 33. Qd8+ Kf7
{ends the checks.}) 32... h6 {, and White will have trouble dealing with the
c2-pawn.}) 32. Rxg8+ Rxg8 33. Nxg7 $2 {Letting Black off easy, when White
could have reached a promising endgame.} (33. Nf6 Bxf6 34. Qxf6+ Qg7 (34... Rg7
$2 35. g3 {can't be good for Black, with such a strong pin on the rook.}) 35.
Qxg7+ Kxg7 36. Rc1 Ra8 37. Rxc3 ({After} 37. Rc2 {Black has the accurate} Kf6
38. Kf1 Kf5 $1 {, and after White plays Rc7 (after Rxc3 and Rxa2) he can come
back to defend the h-pawn with ...Kg6.}) 37... Rxa2 {, and White has decent
winning chances in this endgame due to Black's split pawns. I initially
thought this should be a draw, but after moving the pieces around a bit I
realized that White can slowly advance his pawns and continue to gain space
while Black has to remain totally passive. Perhaps it is objectively possible
to hold, but it requires a great deal of work from Black's side.}) 33... Qxg7 (
{The computer says} 33... c2 {is even easier.}) 34. Qe4 c2 35. Rc1 Rc8 {
Black's c-pawn is too strong. White can't hope for anything, of course.} 36.
Qxe6 Rd8 37. Qb3 Rd2 38. Qb8+ Qg8 39. Qb2+ Qg7 40. Qb8+ Qg8 41. Qe5+ Qg7 42.
Qe8+ Qg8 43. Qe5+ Qg7 44. Qe8+ {An extremely exciting game! Of course the
level of play was not high, but this can be explained by the incredible
tension and tiredness the players must be experiencing. The play was very
sharp and the complications difficult to navigate. In the end a draw was the
logical result.} 1/2-1/2

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