An annotated game

The following annotated game was played between David Johnson-Davies and Charles Matthews of the Clare College Lasca Association.

Notation

The notation used in the game to be described should be self-explanatory; the coordinates of the square involved are given, and the symbol * indicates promotion of the man or commander. In the diagrams the pieces are shown edge-on, with spots to identify officers.

	White David Johnson-Davies	Black Charles Matthews
1	C3-D4	E5-C3
	Centre opening so:
2	B2-D4
	recapturing to the centre – the usual idea.
2	....	F6-E5
3	D4-F6	G7-E5
4	C3-D4

This move of White’s is an unusual approach. If instead he plays: 4 C5-D4, E3-C5; 5 B6-D4 and Black is now cramped; if he plays the standard combination: 5 . . . F2-E3 we have: 6 D4-F2, G1-F3; and Black has no waiting moves; White has just to play: 7 A7-B6 and Black must lose substantially on his next move:

4	....	E5-C3
5	B4-D2	E3-D4

trying to set up a long combination:

After White has captured twice to G7, a column of three black men is contained under the white officer and Black’s hope is to liberate these eventually. gaining a strong piece. However in this game it does not work out so well.

6	C3-E5-G7*
	since if White chooses the other capture, Black’s double capture is unpleasant.
6	....	E1-C3
7	G7-E5
	The other capture brings no advantage and so can be postponed.
7	....	F4-D6-B4
8	A3-C5
	and White seems well ahead.
8	....	F2-E3
	since White’s capture here would not be advantageous.
9	C5-D4

a tricky move:

White’s object (as in Black’s 5 above) is to set up a column of men to liberate eventually. Of course if there were no black prisoner under the white soldier on D4, this would be a direct manoeuvre.

9	....	E3-C5-A3*
10	C1-E3	A3-C5
	Black cannot now afford to lose his column on C5; moreover he lacks good moves elsewhere.
11	C7-D6
	This occupies an important point enabling White to play E5-F6 in safety; otherwise Black plays E7-D6 etc.
11	....	G3-F2
	The only reasonable move. Black’s C5-B4 is refuted by White A1-B2.
12	E5-F6	C3-B2

Black F2-E1 is calmer, and would give Black a chance to repair his position slowly:

13	A1-C3-E5	F2-D4
	Black accepts a small loss and has the more mobile position. However White now initiates a large-scale exchange:
14	B2-C3	D4-B2
15	B6-D4-F2	G1-E3
16	A5-B6	C3-B2
	White F6-G7 would have made the game safe.
16	....	E3-D4
	Black's last try.
17	C5-E3-G1*	E7-C5
18	G1-E3	G5-E7
19	E5-G7*	C5-B4

Black F7-E5 would save a piece, but the position is hopeless:

In the endgame both sides have three mobile pieces but White’s strong column is dominant; Black cannot afford any sacrifices and so is tactically helpless.

20	G7-E5	B4-A5*
21	E5-G7	A5-C7
22	D4-E5	B2-A3*
23	E3-D4	E7-D6
24	D4-C3	D6-C5
25	C3-B4	C5-B6
26	A7-C5	C7-A5-C3
27	B4-D2	Black resigns.

(This annotated game originally appeared in Games & Puzzles.)