Buggy-Samb game 1, 13-8-2001

N.Samb - Buggy 2-0

1.31-26 19-23 2.34-30 14-19 3.30-25 19-24 4.25x14 10x19 5.40-34 5-10 6.34-30 10-14 7.30-25 17-21 8.26x17 12x21 9.36-31 7-12 10.31-26

diagram 1

Samb follows an at first sight somewhat surprising, but in fact very clever strategy in this game. He deliberately leaves the initiative to Buggy, and puts himself in a very passive position. A rather abstract position results, where long term strategy prevails above concrete computations. And this is precisely what computer programs nowadays have the most problems with...

1-7 11.26x17 11x22 12.45-40 7-11 13.32-28 23x32 14.37x17 11x22 15.40-34 12-17 16.41-37 6-11 17.46-41 16-21 18.34-30

diagram 2

This diagram perfectly illustrates Samb's strategy. The next move of Buggy (18... 18-23) isn't weak, but perhaps 8-12 followed in the future by 22-28 would have been more annoying for white.

18-23 19.33-28 22x33 20.38x18 13x22 21.39-33 9-13 22.43-38 4-9

diagram 3

It seems like white will have problems developing the pieces on 41 and 37, because 23.37-32 fails due to the combination 14-20 24.25x23 22-28 25.30x19 28x46 B+. But with his next brilliant move 23.49-43! Samb prepares a counter combination, such that black can no longer prevent 37-32. For example, 2-7 24.37-32 14-20? 25.25x23 22-28 26.30x19 28x46 27.33-28! 13x24 28.42-37 46x32 29.38x16 W+

23.49-43 8-12 24.37-32

diagram 4

Although it is hard to give any concrete variants, this is probably the position where the problems for Buggy start. After the exchange 24... 21-27, white has no difficulties anymore and can build towards an ideal position. In the mean time black can only play on white's left wing, but it's clear from the start that he has no serious perspectives on that side of the board. A move like 24... 12-18 -- perhaps even followed in the future by 22-27 -- would have been much more agressive, and would have made the white plan less obvious.

21-27 25.32x21 17x26 26.43-39 11-17 27.44-40 17-21 28.41-37 12-18 29.39-34

diagram 5

2-8?

White had already the better position, but after 2-8 the situation becomes critical for black. Blacks problem is that a normal positional move like 21-27 is not possible (30.34-29! W+), whereas moves like 22-27 and 22-28 only weaken the position. This is mainly due to the ideal white defense formed by the pieces 47/48/42/37/38. In the game Buggy tries to postpone the decision to occupy 27, but the result is that the conditions for it become only worse. In a few moves he will be forced to occupy 27 anyway. With 30.47-41! Samb anticipates the fixation of the immobile piece on 21, and this will bring him the victory. Needless to say that the lack of control over square 16 (initiated by 29... 2-8) plays an important role.

30.47-41 8-12 31.34-29 22-28 32.33x22 24x33 33.38x29 18x27 34.41-36 12-18 35.42-38 19-23 36.50-45 23x34 37.40x29 18-22 38.38-33 13-18 39.45-40 18-23 40.29x18 22x13 41.40-34

diagram 6

3-8?

From a human perspective, this is quite a strange move, because black voluntary gives up the formation 3/9/14. However, an acceptable move is not available anymore. Perhaps the only serious defense would have been: 13-18 42.34-29 14-20 [not 14-19? 43.29-24! and now 1) 9-13 44.37-32 27x20 45.25x12 W+ or 2) 19-23 44.24-20 15x24 45.30x28 27-32 46.28-22 32x41 47.22x4 41-46 48.4-15 W+] 43.25x14 9x20 44.48-43! 3-9 45.43-39 9-13 46.39-34 13-19 47.30-25 26-31 48.25x12 31x42 and white still has some work to do to win the game. After Buggy's next move, Samb gains a convincing victory.

42.34-29 8-12 43.48-43 12-18 44.43-38 18-23 45.29x18 13x22 46.33-29 9-13 47.29-24 14-19 48.25-20 19-23 49.20-14 22-28 50.24-20 15x24 51.30x8 23-29 52.8-2 28-33 53.14-10 33x31 54.10-5 29-33 55.2-24 33-39 56.24-33 39x28