Scholma,A. - Wesselink,W. 1-1 (27-08-2002)

≡ 1.32-28 17-22 2.28x17 11x22 3.37-32 12-17 4.31-26 6-11 5.36-31 8-12 6.32-27 16-21 7.27x16 22-28 8.33x22 18x36 9.41-37 19-23 10.37-32 14-19 11.32-27 10-14 12.27-21 20-24 13.34-30 14-20 14.30-25 2-8 15.25x14 9x20 16.39-33(!)

Now after 12-18 17.21x12 8x17 white can disturb the development of blacks right wing with 18.33-28 23x32 19.38x27. For example 4-9 20.27-21 18-23 21.21x12 7x18 22.16x7 1x12 and the black right wing has become very weak. Of course the piece on 36 is crucial here, because white can use it to undermine the black right wing even further. But may be this variation would have been preferable to what I played, since in the game I didn't find an acceptable plan.

≡ 4-9 17.44-39 5-10 18.50-44 10-14 19.46-41

Here I decided to prepare 12-18 with the double exchange 24-30. Clearly the black position is inferior after this, because of the weak piece on 35. Several players suggested therefore that black should play 13-18 20.40-34 8-13 in this situation. However, I am still convinced that after 21.34-29 23x34 22.39x30 black has serious problems, since it is not clear how the five pieces 1, 7, 11, 12 and 17 will become active again.

≡ 24-30 20.35x24 20x29 21.33x24 19x30 22.41-37 30-35 23.39-33 12-18 24.21x12 8x17 25.37-32 17-22 26.33-29 23x34 27.40x29 14-19

After the game Scholma showed that he should have played 28.42-37 here. The idea behind this move is that after the logical 1-6? white can play 29.47-41! 36x47 30.29-23 47x50 31.23x1, and although black has one piece more, he is in a very dangerous situation. After 11-17 white can catch the black king using 32.32-28 22x33 33.49-44 50x39 34.43x34. And with ≡ 19-24 32.16x7 22-27 33.32x21 13-18 black can prevent white from getting two kings temporarily, but this will probably not last very long. Instead of 1-6, black should play ≡ 9-14 with a similar position as in the game. Note that after 29.26-21 1-6 the same combination is not winning anymore: 30.47-41 36x47 31.29-23 47x50 32.23x1 because of 50-44(!!) with an equal position.

≡ 28.38-33 1-6 29.42-37 9-14 30.44-40 35x44 31.49x40 7-12 32.16x7 12x1 33.32-28 3-9 34.28x17 18-23 35.29x18 13x11 36.37-32 9-13 37.40-34 1-7 38.43-38 7-12 39.45-40 11-17 40.32-28 12-18 41.33-29 6-11 42.48-43 11-16 43.43-39 17-21 44.26x17 18-22 45.39-33 22x11

Scholma has played very strongly in the previous phase, but it has cost him too much time. After the next move 46.28-22 the white advantage completely disappears. A much better opportunity was 46.40-35 11-17 47.34-30. Now black has to defend very carefully. The best continuation is the sacrifice 15-20!! 48.30-24 19x30 49.35x15 13-19 50.38-32 16-21 with a draw, which is certainly not easy to find. If black plays ≡ 16-21 instead, then white can choose between 48.38-32 15-20 (now this is absolutely forced) with a draw, or ≡ 48.30-24 19x30 49.35x24 13-18 [ ≡ 14-20? 50.38-32 W+] ≡ 50.28-23 18-22 with still a significant advantage for white.

≡ 46.28-22 16-21 47.38-32 15-20 48.40-35 11-16 49.34-30 20-25 50.29-24 25x34 51.22-18

© Wieger Wesselink https://10x10.org