winning with the modern, David Norwood

this came from a recommendation from Paulbuchman and I must admit that i am pleasantly surprised, David Norwoods writing is very lucid and so far, the reasoning on variations is such that even a noob like me can reach to understand the ideas behind the hypermodern way of thinking.

in the foreword he quotes those who were skeptical of the modern approach. for example, Jaenisch wrote, in the chess Preceptor, London 1847, that, 'it is in general, dangerous to advance the Kings Knight pawn before the close of the game, the move 1...P-KN3 (1...g6) weakens the royal flank and yields only the Kings Bishop an attacking range adverse only upon the queenside'.

He also quotes from Rubinstein, I really liked this and laughed for ages, ''the sole advantage of the modern defense to the queens pawn rests alone and exclusively on its novelty. this relatively little explored method of play can be less familiar to the opponent and it is quite easy for him to stumble. But we must distinguish between a purely practical opportunism and a scientific approach to the game. the former has but a temporary value, the latter is of lasting worth. UNFORTUNATELY THE HYPER MODERN STYLE IS NOT FOUNDED ON A FIRM SCIENTIFIC BASIS, AND THEREFORE ITS DAYS ARE NUMBERED;its disappearance is but a question of the very near future''.Lol, taken from Rubinsteins, 'the dilution of the art of chess', 1924.

Rubinsteins comments in essence state that the modern is an unsound way to develop because of time and structure, and perhaps this is true, therefore we must ask ourselves these questions, Do i feel uncomfortable about allowing white to totally occupy the center? are we afraid of kings side pawn storms, crashing through and totally wiping our kings side out or at very least exchanging our g pawn and trying to mate us? if the answer to any of these questions is yes, then the modern is not for us, we had perhaps better take up the Caro Khan or embroidery or something else. Its in the very provocative nature of the thing that its strength belies and if we are to play the royal game, must we not also play with bravery.

there now follows my latest masterpiece with this highly provocatrive approach for your entertainment and wonderment.

I think 1. ... g6 was a critical mistake ... Just Kidding ... If you want, I will take the time and annotate the whole game from beginning to end. 🙂

Originally posted by paulbuchmanfromfics
I think 1. ... g6 was a critical mistake ... Just Kidding ... If you want, I will take the time and annotate the whole game from beginning to end. 🙂

Ok. I'm going to write the game down by hand (out of printer ink), set up a board, and try to annotate it well. 🙂

thanks for this nice open discussion, i feel all the participant here are professional and i like to post acomment here about 8...dxc5 i feel this is odd since you can just take further move of white pawn instead of capturing the black one ...in this way the white can just take the lead and dominate the middle..i don't know about the end but white finally shouldn't lose...thanks

OK robbie ... I am back !!!

First, I wrote down all the moves.
Next, I annotated the game with just a set and board.
Last, I (rather quickly) used fritz to check my analysis for mistakes.

I left the mistakes in with the "refutations" to show some oversights that I made.

Ok Here Goes

chonie vs robbie carrobie

1. e4 White strives for an open tactical game. This was Bobby Fischer's favorite first move. He once stated "best by test" about the move.
1. ... g6 Rather than occupy the center, black allows white to take full control. He intends to use it as a point of attack later. Black will attempt to undermine the center with pawn breaks (like c5, e5, or d5).
The Modern's biggest flaw is the flexibility it allows white. From here, white can make numerous different setups, each with its plusses and minusses.
2. Nc3 !? ( 2. d4 is more common, taking full control of the center)
2. ... Bg7 (Also interesting is 2. ... c5 with a Closed Sicilian. After 2. ... c5, white can try to liven things up with 3. d4 cxd4 [3. ... Bg7 transposes to the game] 4.Qxd4 Nf6 5. e5 Nc6 6. Qf4 !? / 6. Qe3? Ng4 7. Qe2 h5 [Either Nxe5 8.f4 was my original line] 8. h3 Nh6 is a real mess. * Fritz found 7. ... Ngxe5 8. f4 Nd4 ! which clips a pawn)
Back to the Game
3. d4 (Best) c5 !? (Interesting Move ... 3. ... d6 is more common, remaining flexible. 3. ... c6 is advocated by Norwood to avoid the Austrian Attack.)
4. Be3 !? (4. Nf3 cxd4 is a Sicilian Dragon/ 4.d5 is a type of Benoni/ 4. dxc5 is given by John Nunn in The Ultimate Pirc Qa5 5.Bd2 Qxc5 6.Nd5 Na6 [6. ... b6 7.Bb4 Qc6 8. Bb5 Qb7 9.Bc3 f6 10.Qf3 a6 11.Bd3 Nc6 12. 0-0-0 "some advantage"] 7.Nf3 with three variations A. 7. ... Nf6 8. b4 B. 7. ... Bxb2? 8. Rb1 Bg7 9. Bxa6 bxa6 10. 0-0 e6 11. Bb4 "massive attack" C. 7. ... e6 8. Bc3 Bxc3+ 9.Nxc3 Nf6 10.Qd2 0-0 11. 0-0-0 "advantage"😉
4. ... Qb6 (Black pressures the dark squares, attacking d4 and b2. Nunn only consider 4. ... Qa5 5. Qd2 "Endgame Advantage" much later.)
5. Nd5 ! ( Probably Best ... Trying to make use of black's exposed queen. 5. Nge2 is interesting ... 5. Nge2 cxd4 6. Bxd4 or 5. Nge2 Qxb2 6.Rb1 Qa3 7.Rb3 Qa6 [7. ... Qa5 8.Rb5] 8. Nd5 is interesting.
* I forgot to check this line with Fritz.)
5. ... Qa5+ (saving the queen with tempo)
6. c3 ( 6. b4 cxb4 7.Qd2 Nc6 8. Bb5 is interesting but Fritz found e6 9.Bxc6 dxc6 10. Nxb4 c5 !! ... Advantage to black/ 6. Bd2 Qd8 7. Bf4 d6 8. dxc5 ! looks strong 8. ... Bxb2 9.cxd6 !? may be an enterprising exchange sacrifice * Fritz has this as best !!! Score one for me 🙂 )
6. ... e6 ( = Fritz) ( I will leave my original comments, however. Trying to get rid of the troublesome knight. The move, however, looks suspect. Black has created a big hole on d6 and most of the other dark squares. 6. ... Nf6 was my preference 7. Nxf6+ Bxf6 8. dxc5 leaves white a pawn up. Perhaps black's premature aggression simply wasn't sound. * Again 6. ... e6 = Fritz)
7. Nf4 ( 7. b4 would remove all of black's center pressure cxb4 8.cxb4 Qd8 9. Nc3 or 7. b4 Qd8 8. Nf4)
7. ... Nc6 ?! ( 7. ... cxd4 8. Bxd4 e5 9. b4 Qd8 wins a piece * Fritz Agrees ... 7. ... cxd4 8. b4 ! Qc7 9. Bxd4 (9.cxd4 Qc3+) After 9. Bxd4 A. Nf6 * = Fritz B. f6 interesting C. Bxd4 10. Qxd4 Qxf4 ?! [ f6 !?] 11. Qxh8 Qxe4+ 12.Be2 Kf8 13.Nf3 Qc2 is slightly better for white.)
8. dxc5 !! (Winning a pawn and opening a file to expose the weak d6 square) Nf6 (Developing with tempo)
9.f3 0-0 10.b4 ! (Planning a queenside pawn assault) Qa3 !?
( Interesting Move 10. ... Qc7 to guard the loose dark squares may be better, although 11.Nd3 and Bf4 causes problems. Most of black's difficulties come from the weakening e6 push.)
11. Bc1 ? ( 11. Qb3 was my first choice, however 11. ... Qxb3 12. axb3 Nxe4 !! found by me is great for black / 11.Nfe2 [11.Nge2!?] intending Qb3 11. ... Nxb4 ? 12. Bc1 ! * 11. ... Ne8 12. b5 slight advantage Fritz)
11. ... Qxc3 + ( The tide has turned, and black is beginning to take over.) 12.Bd2 Qe5 ( threatening Nxe4 ... Black makes a home on the weakened dark squares.)
13.Nd3 ( 13.Rc1 intending Bc3 may be best * 13. Rc1 Nxb4 ! Fritz Also 13.Nd3 is considered best.) Qd4 (Best)
14.Rc1 (evacuating the dangerous diagonal)
14. ... d5 !! (Black blasts open the center and capitalizes on white's lack of development.)
15. b5 (* 15. cxd6 slight edge Fritz / White is really in bad shape and it is hard to find a good move. 🙂 )
15. ... Ne5 ?! ( * 15. ... dxe4 ! Fritz)
16. Nxe5 Qxe5 (* slight advantage to white - Fritz)
17. Bd3?! ( 17. Bc3 looks better and may in fact equalize ... It does.)
17. ... dxe4 18.fxe4 ? ( * 18.Qe2 ! Fritz) Nxe4
19. Bxe4 (I prefer 19.Nf3 Qd5 [Qf5 20.Qc2 !] 20.Be3 Rd8 looks good for black ... * 21. Bxe4 wins there and 20 . ... Nc3 is better for black Fritz ... After 19. Nf3 Qd5 20. Qe2 Nxd2 21. Nxd2 ... White is a pawn down with a difficult game.)
19. ... Qxe4+ 20. Kf1 (trying to avoid a hopeless endgame)
20. ... Qd3+ (attacking b5 and forcing a winning endgame)
21. Qe2 Rd8 ! (Taking the file)
22. Ba5 Rd5 ?! ( * Fritz surprised me too there. 22. ...Qa3 ! One idea is 23.Bxd8 Qxc1+ and Qxc5)
23. Qxd3 Rxd3 24.c6 ? (Fritz actually liked it. I think white needs to get those pieces out.) 24. ... Ra3 ! (Nice Fork)
25.cxb7? (Giving up his only trump, the passed c pawn. In addition it aids black's development) 25. ... Bxb7 26. Bb4 Rxa2
27. Nf3 Rb2 ! (Fork)
28. Be7 Rxb5 (Now black marches the a pawn down the board for the win)
29.Kf2 Bxf3 ( I can't give it a question mark. Simplification clearly isn't wrong. I would prefer to keep the two bishops. Put that bishop and d5 and look at the two diagonals the bishops control. They cut the queenside like a pair of scissors. Both bishops also aid the a pawn push.)
30.Kxf3 a5 (! Right Idea)
31. Rc5 ? ( Black WANTS to trade.) Rxc5
32. Bxc5 a4
33. h4 and Resigns
There is no saving white.
A well played game with many ups and downs.
Congrats on the win !!!
I hope you enjoy my annotations, they took me over an hour. 🙂
The first one is on the house, but I may have to charge to annotate next time. 🙂

wow, I just woke up, was in a dream, Bobby Fischer apperared to me saying something about one of my games, the first ever, being accurately annotated by a very kind individual. thanks so much Paul, will mull over these musings and variations and try to let them seep through my thick skull, may take a little while, but even water can make a hole in stone if given enough time. People what do you think, is this not amazing! 😀

Originally posted by paulbuchmanfromfics
The first one is on the house, but I may have to charge to annotate next time. 🙂

Originally posted by adramforall
Do me , do me, do me.

Either of these, my finest moments.

Game 971127 or Game 853210

Thanks.

😀

Originally posted by paulbuchmanfromfics
OK robbie ... I am back !!!

First, I wrote down all the moves.
Next, I annotated the game with just a set and board.
Last, I (rather quickly) used fritz to check my analysis for mistakes.

I left the mistakes in with the "refutations" to show some oversights that I made.

Ok Here Goes

chonie vs robbie carrobie

1. e4 White strives ...[text shortened]... one is on the house, but I may have to charge to annotate next time. 🙂

Originally posted by Mephisto2
Wouldn't 6.Qd2 give white a winning advantage (the fork on c7 becomes deadly)?

Originally posted by paulbuchmanfromfics
I guess I overlooked it. I assumed taking the queens off would work. It might not.

OK ... Here's an addendum.
6. Qd2
The following variations are Fritz analysis.

A. Qxd2+ ?! 7.Bxd2 Kd8 (forced) 8.dxc5 Nc6 advantage to white . Also
8. ... Bxb2 9. Rb1 (and Ba5+) is crushing.
B. Qd8 (best) 7.Nf3 Nc6 slight advantage or 7.dxc5 Bxb2 8.Bf4! Bxa1
9.Bc7 e6 10.Bxd8 exd5 11.Bc7 white seems won

Therefore 5. ... Qd8 was correct.
5. ... Qd8 6.Bf4 d6 7.dxc5 Bxb2 8.cxd6 exd6 9.Rb1 with a slight edge is one possibility.

I am sorry about overlooking this. I only used Fritz to check some of my variations. I didn't actually go through it move by move. I wanted to leave a little bit of the human touch in it.

Thanks to Mephisto2 for pointing it out.

Handshake

Originally posted by adramforall
Do me , do me, do me.

Either of these, my finest moments.

Game 971127 or Game 853210

Thanks.

😀