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A Visit With the Modern Benoni Annotated by Jens Madsen Wengholm,A - Hjelm,N [A63] [Click here to follow the game on an interactive JavaScript board] 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 c5 4.d5 exd5 5.cxd5 d6
The game has entered the Modern Benoni, which has a sharp reputation since the typical positions arising are fairly unbalanced. The great M. Tal mastered the Modern Benoni and over and over again demonstrated its richness in tactical resources. 6.Nc3 g6 7.Bg2 Bg7 8.Nf3 0-0 9.0-0
This is a basic position of the fianchetto system (characterized by the g3/Bg2 development) in the Modern Benoni. This line is a relatively quiet, positional approach. White is planning e4 and wants to place the f3-knight on an ideal square after Nd2-c4. From here, the knight targets Black's weak backward d6-pawn and supports the thematic e4-e5 break. 9...a6 10.a4 It is important for White not to simply allow the b7-b5 break. Much of Black's play in the Modern Benoni revolves around a queenside expansion combined with pressure in the long diagonal g7-a1. If Black is able to play b5, he will control the all-important c4-square (remember this was intended for White's knight). 10...Nbd7 11.e4 Although this is according to the general plan, it may not be the very best move-order. Possibly 11.Nd2 right away is more accurate, and a database look-up shows that 11.Bf4 scores well also. The reason is that this allows Black to challenge the c4-square, as it will be shown in the comments for Black's 12th move. 11...Re8 12.Re1 Ng4
In many other lines, White plays h3 to prevent the knight maneuver Ng4-e5. A very interesting idea here is 12...c4!? It turns out White has to be very careful following that , e.g. 13.Qe2 Nc5 14.Qxc5 b5! and Black regains material with a crunching position!! Best response to 12...c4 is probably 13.Bf1 after which a likely continuation is: 13...Qc7 14.Qd4 Nc5 15. Qxc4 Bg4 16.Bg2 Nfd7 17.Bf4 Nb6 18.Qf1 Bxc3 19.bxc3 Nxe4 and Black had the upper hand in Elsness-Emms, Gausdal 1995 13.Nd2 Nde5 14.h3 Nf6 15.Bf1 Providing additional support to the c4-square. The bishop was not very well-placed in the blocked g2-b7 diagonal anyway and the e4-pawn seems sufficiently supported for now. 15...Rb8 To support a b7-b5 expansion. 16.f4 Ned7 17.Kh2 A prophylactic move that protects the kingside pawns and leaves the b6-g1 diagonal that could become an unpleasant place to hang around after for example: 17.Nc4 Nb6 (d6 pawn is hanging otherwise) 18.Nxb6 Qxb6. 17...Nb6 ?! This seems awkward, but Black's position is rather cramped. 18.a5 Na8
The knight has temporarily entered the corner. I am told British GM Jon Speelman derives a perverse pleasure from such piece placements, maybe the same is true for Mr. Hjelm. 19.Nc4 b5 At long last Black plays his trump. 20.axb6 Nxb6 21.Na5
Aiming to exploit another hole in the Black structure (c6). White is clearly better at this stage. 21...Ra8 Of course the pin must be prevented. This could also have been achieved by ...Qd7. The advantage of Ra8 is that is simultaneously protects the a6-pawn that is currently being targeted by two White pieces. 22.Nc6 Qd7 23.Bg2 White now turns his interest to preparing the thematic e4-e5 break. 23...Bb7 Necessary to avoid the bishop causing havoc after a storm of the central pawns. 24.e5 dxe5 25.fxe5 Nh5 Once more, the only acceptable move. 26.Qb3 Applying pressure down the b-file. 26...Bxc6 It is either this or the equally unattractive 26...Nc8 when 27.g4! wins material. Of course 26...Qc7 fares badly after 27.d6! 27.Qxb6 Qf5
An interesting attempt to generate counterplay. After for instance 28.dxc6? Qf2! White has genuine problems regarding king safety. The pawn on g3 is lost, and Black can add pressure with ...Bxe5. Suddenly the White queen seems offside on the queenside. 28.Rf1 Counters the abovementioned threat. 28...Qxe5 29.Bf4 Nxf4 30.gxf4 Qf5 31.dxc6 Time for a material-count: White has a knight for a pawn, but Black still has some tricks up his sleeve, mostly related to the g7-a1 diagonal that becomes soft after the b2-pawn is picked up. 31...Rab8 32.Rae1 Clever, as 32... Rxb6 is met by the forced sequence 33.Rxe8+ Bf8 34.c7 and the pawn queens. At the same time the rook can no longer be "x-rayed" by the g7-bishop. 32...Rec8 33.Qxa6 Rxb2
White's material edge coupled with the far-advanced c-pawn seems to secure him a winning advantage. 34.Ne4 The knight was threatened. I have a suspicion that the players were short on time here, so White must have preferred this move in order to have the option of an annoying Nd6-fork. Under time pressure it is often easier to pose threats rather than play defensively (the alternatives were 34.Nd1 or 34.Ne2). 34...Bf8 35.Re2 White is trying to simplify the position via some exchanges. However, this one gives up the c6-pawn, which was not necessary just yet. 35...Rxe2 36.Qxe2 Rxc6 37.Ng3 Re6 38.Nxf5?
In spite of the general axiom that you must exchange when ahead in material this move seems wrong. Black's prospects are improved by the active position of his rook on the second rank. 38...Rxe2 39.Ng3 Rd2 40.Ne4 Rd4 41.f5 gxf5 Black could have opted for keeping his kingside pawns assembled, but on the other hand the possibility of saving a draw increases as pawns are exchanged. 42.Rxf5 h6
Now the f7-pawn is doomed. The text move seems like an extravagant waste of time. Why not push the passed c-pawn. This does not save the f-pawn, but time is an important asset, especially in the endgame. 43.Nf6+ Kg7 44.Ne8+ Kg6 44...Kg8 is met by 45.Bd5. 45.Rf6+ Kg5 46.Rxf7 Bd6+ 47.Nxd6 Rxd6 48.Rc7
The c-pawn cannot be defended. We have now reached a simple but nonetheless very interesting endgame. Black will attempt to lure White into a R+B vs R endgame, which is a theoretical draw unless the defending side is placed badly. Another thing to notice is that White does not win after a rook exchange, since the promotion square (h8) does not have the color of his bishop. However, as it will appear, White proceeds with great skill to win. 48...Kg6 49.Rxc5 Ra6 50.Rc7 Rb6 Black has entered a defensive posture and intends to move his rook back and forth on the sixth rank unless White does something to prevent this. 51.Be4+ Kg5 52.Rg7+ Kf4 Of course not 52...Kf6 53.Rg6+ 53.Rg4+ Ke5 54.Kg3 Rb3+ 55.Bf3 55.Kh4? looks suspiciously like a draw after 55...h5! 55...Kf5 56.h4 Kf6 Possibly slightly tougher is the defense after: 56...Rb6 57.h5 Ra6 58.Be4+ Ke5 59.Rg6 Rf6 Notice here that after 59...Rxg6 60.hxg6 the g-pawn is set for promotion on a White square, which is the color of the bishop. 57.h5
Now the destiny of Black's h-pawn is sealed. 57...Ra3 58.Kf4 Ra5 59.Rg6+ Kf7 60.Rxh6 Kg7 61.Rb6 Rc5 62.h6+ Kh8 63.Rb8+ Kh7 64.Be4+ A cruel sense of humor if you ask me! 64...Kxh6 65.Rb7 1-0
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