Buggy-Samb game 2, 14-8-2001

Buggy - N.Samb 1-1
1.32-28 19-23 2.28x19 14x23 3.37-32 17-21 4.34-29 23x34 5.39x30 11-17 6.44-39 7-11 7.41-37 21-26 8.40-34 20-25 9.45-40 10-14 10.50-45 5-10

diagram 1

For a while it looked like the second game would become a very quiet one. But with the very agressive 11.33-29! Buggy brings the game to life. Samb accepts the challenge, and so it becomes a very interesting and complicated game.

11.33-29 18-22

diagram 2

Blacks last move 18-22 was of course played to prevent the attack with 29-23. With his next move, Buggy demonstrates a good understanding of the position. The more logical 12.38-33 would have given black plenty of opportunities to surround the white attack with an active defense. After 12.31-27 it is much harder for him to do so.

12.31-27 22x31 13.36x27 17-21 14.46-41 12-17 15.41-36 8-12 16.49-44 3-8

diagram 3

The last three moves from Samb (12-17, 8-12, 3-8) were very passive. Perhaps Samb was hoping to repeat the story of the first game, where Buggy had to make all the decisions and couldn't find the right plan. This time however Buggy responds very determined and launches a powerful attack through the center. During the rest of the game, Samb will probably have regretted the early removal of the crown piece 3.

17.39-33 1-7 18.44-39 17-22 19.27x18 13x22 20.29-23 14-20 21.34-29 25x34 22.39x30 20-25 23.29-24 25x34 24.40x29 10-14

diagram 4

At this point in the game, many people (including me) were thinking that Samb would not be able to survive. Blacks distribution of pieces is terrible: 10 on the left half and only 4 on the right half of the board. Besides that, the beautiful positioned white piece on 23 hinders black in the development of his pieces. During the next couple of moves (25.32-28, 27.37-31) white allows some exchanges on the left side of the board. This doesn't throw away the white advantage, but it does help black to get a more even distribution of his pieces. A serious alternative would have been 25.35-30 [benefits from the fact that 9-13? is not possible because of the combination 26.32-27 21x41 27.42-37 41x32 28.38x20 W+] and now for example 21-27 26.32x21 26x17 27.45-40 9-13 or? 28.43-39! and white can keep the attack going.

25.32-28 14-20 26.28x17 11x22 27.37-31 26x37 28.42x31 20-25 29.45-40 21-26 30.31-27 22x31 31.36x27 12-17 32.40-34 8-13

diagram 5

White controls all the strategic fields on the board. After Buggy's next move 33.48-42 black reclaims the control on the left side of the board with 17-22. White could have attempted to keep 27 under control with 33.38-32 17-22 34.27x18 13x22 35.33-28 22x33 36.29x38, which leaves black only 26-31 to prevent 37.32-27. It's hard to tell if this would have given better chances to win. After the exchange 33... 17-22 white starts an attack on blacks left wing. This almost results in a victory, until a less accurate move destroys all remaining hope.

33.48-42 17-22 34.27x18 13x22 35.34-30 25x34 36.29x40 26-31 37.24-20 15x24 38.33-28 22x33 39.38x20 2-8 40.35-30 8-13 41.30-25 7-12 42.20-14 9x20 43.25x14 16-21

diagram 6

44.14-9? This is certainly not the best opportunity for white. Perhaps Buggy assumed that after 31-37 45.9x7 37x39 46.7-2 39-43 the piece on 23 would be able to promote, but black can easily prevent this, with an easy draw for Samb as a result. Also from a tactical point of view 44.14-9 is not well chosen, because it leaves Samb absolutely no alternatives. A much better plan was 44.40-34 6-11 [13-19? 45.14-10! W+] 45.34-30 and black is faced with the very difficult choice between 11-17 46.30-24 17-22 47.42-38! and 12-17 46.23-18 13x22 47.30-24 with in both cases an extremely dangerous position. It would have been interesting to see whether Samb had been able to find a suitable defense after 44.40-34.

44.14-9 31-37 45.9x7 37x39 46.7-2 39-43 47.23-18 4-9 48.2-24 43-49 49.40-35 6-11 50.24-13 9-14 51.18-12 21-27 52.13x36