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Dr Nithiananthan "Jones" and busters of the Modern Benoni
by Junior Tay
When I was asked by IM Wang Mong Lin to look for promising CC players to represent Singapore, the first person that I thought of was Dr J Nithiananthan. He is a well known opening theoretician in Singapore and it would be interesting to find out how his theory fares in CC. I managed to persuade him to try CC for a change and he was placed in ICCF EM/M/A087. Despite getting promising positions, his tendency to play his move blindfold without checking the coordinates properly cost him two games. Talk about making clerical errors!
Dr Nithiananthan, the 1998 National Closed Champion, is a two time winner of the Johore (Malaysian) Open. Many a time, I have seen his opponents (even IMs!) switching from their main lines to play some "stodge" stuff like the Colle or Torre Attack in order to avoid his Modern Benoni Opening. I even saw a GM getting a worse position against him in a rapid game only to beat him in the blitz shootout. In last year's Cairnhill Open Championships, NM Koh Kum Hong was booked to the teeth for his Benoni only to get smashed in 38 moves (See game insert - Koh - Nithiananthan).
However, I had doubts on his pet opening surviving the rigours of CC. Indeed he was given three chances to prove its soundness when 3 of his opponents nudged their d pawn forward on move 3. Upon seeing the tournament lineup, I warned him about the ELO 2420-rated Sergey Sabaev who would undoubtably test his theory....
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.e4 g6 7.Be2 Bg7 8.Nf3 0-0 9.0-0 Re8 10.Nd2 Na6 11.f3 Nc7 12.a4 b6 13.Nc4 Ba6 14.Bg5 h6 15.Be3 Bxc4 16.Bxc4 a6 17.Qd2 Kh7 18.Rfb1N
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Can this be some deep Russian preparation? Black's plan is based on Qd7 and b6-b5 and this move will cause a trade of Rooks on the a-file. Who stands to benefit from the trade? Let's see! [Deviating from the standard 18.Rab1 Qd7 19.b4 (19.Qd3 Reb8) 19...b5 20.Be2 c4 21.a5 Ng8 22.Bd4 (22.Bd1 f5=) 22...Bxd4+ 23.Qxd4 f5 24.Rbe1 Qg7 25.Qd2 fxe4 26.Nxe4 Re5 27.Nc3]
18...Qd7 19.Bf1
One advantage of Rfb1- The bishop can sit cozily at f1 without getting harassed.
19...b5 20.axb5 axb5 21.Rxa8 Rxa8 22.e5!
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The point of Rfb1. Without the Re8, White is able to play the thematic e5 break. However, Black is up to the task.
22...b4!
Two can play the game! Actually, all other move loses. [22...dxe5 23.d6 b4 24.dxc7 Qxd2 25.Bxd2 bxc3 26.bxc3 Nd5 27.Rb7 Rc8 28.Bc4 Nxc7 29.Bxf7±]
23.exf6 bxc3 24.bxc3 Bxf6 25.Bxh6 Bxc3 26.Qxc3 Kxh6 27.Rb7
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According to Dr Nithia, this position is tenable for Black with a bit of care.
27...Kh7 28.h4!?
[28.Qf6 Re8 (28...Kg8) 29.h4 Re5 30.Bb5 Qe7 31.Qxe7 Rxe7 32.Bc4 Kg7 33.Kf2 Kf6 34.g4 Ke5 35.Ke3 Kf6+ 36.Kd2 Ke5²]
28...Qe7
[28...Nxd5? 29.Rxd7 Nxc3 30.Rxf7+ Kh6 31.g4²]
29.f4!?
setting a trap...Can the d pawn be taken? [29.Bd3 Ra4! (29...Kg8 30.Bc4 Re8 31.g3²) 30.h5 Rb4! 31.Ra7 Kg8! 32.hxg6 Qe3+ 33.Kh2 Qh6+ 34.Kg1 Qe3+ 35.Kh2 Qh6+ 36.Kg1 Qe3+=; 29.Bc4 Qd8 30.Qb2 Kg8 31.g3²]
29...Ra4!?
[The queen trade with 29...Nxd5?! leads to a sad end after 30.Rxe7 Nxc3 31.Rxf7+ Kh6 32.g4! Ra1 (32...Ra2 33.Bh3!±) 33.Kg2 d5? 34.g5+ Kh5 35.Kh3!+-; Also possible is 29...Kg8!? 30.Bc4 Rc8 31.Qh3 Ra8 32.Qg3 Ra1+ 33.Kh2 Rc1„ 34.Bd3 Rc3 35.h5!? c4 36.Rb8+ Ne8 37.Qg5! Qxg5 38.Rxe8+ Kh7! 39.Bxg6+ Qxg6 40.hxg6+ Kxg6=]
30.g3
[30.Qf3 Rb4]
30...Rb4!
and the game peters into a draw. [30...Nxd5?! 31.Rxe7 Nxc3 32.Rxf7+ Kh6 33.g4! Ra1 (33...Ra2 34.Bh3!±) 34.Kg2 d5? 35.g5+ Kh5 36.Kh3!+-]
31.Ra7
[31.Rxb4? Nxd5³]
31...Kg8! 32.Qf3= draw agreed [32.Bg2 Qd8=]
32...Rb2³ [32...Rd4 33.f5!‚ gxf5 34.Qxf5 Qe3+ 35.Kh2 Rd2+ 36.Kh3+-] 33.Qc3 [33.h5? gxh5! 34.Qc3 Rb1 35.Qd3 Rc1 36.Qd2 Re1 37.Rxc7!? (37.f5 f6 38.Qh6 Qf7 39.Rb7 c4 40.Rb8+ Ne8 41.Rc8 c3 42.Rxc3 Qxd5 43.Qg6+ Kf8µ) 37...Rxf1+ 38.Kxf1 Qxc7 39.Qe2! c4 40.Qxh5= c3 41.Qg5+ Kf8 42.Qh6+ Ke8 43.Qh8+ Ke7 44.Qh4+ Kd7 45.Qh3+ Kd8 46.Qh8+ Ke7 47.Qh4+= perpetual check] 33...Rb4 34.Qf3 Rb2 35.Qc3 Rb4= And the Benoni survives the Classical Test (Russian Version). 1/2-1/2
What! How can the Benoni be refuted by the Classical variation? One might say. I suppose the readers are hollering for White to whip out the dreaded Taimanov Variation to crush the impudent Benoni die-hard. Indeed Steiger puts him to the test next!
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.e4 g6 7.f4
Screaming to be played...
7...Bg7 8.Bb5+ Nfd7 9.a4 0-0 10.Nf3 Na6 11.0-0 Nc7 12.Bd3 a6 13.Be3
[A memorable OTB win over his nemesis NM Koh Kum Hong went 13.Re1 Re8 14.Be3 Rb8 15.Bf2 b5 16.axb5 axb5 17.Bh4 Bf6 18.Bg3 b4 19.Na4 Bg7 20.Qb3 Nf6 21.Bh4 Qd7 22.e5 Nfxd5 23.Bc4 Nxf4 24.exd6 Nce6 25.Be7 Qc6 26.Qc2 Bb7 27.Bf1 Nd4 28.Nxd4 Bxd4+ 29.Kh1 Nh3 30.Bh4 Qxd6 31.Bg3 Nf4 32.Rxe8+ Rxe8 33.Rd1 g5 34.b3 Re6 35.Nb2 Rh6 36.Nc4 Qe6 37.Qd2 Qg4 38.Bxf4 gxf4 0-1 NM Koh Kum Hong - Nithiananthan,J/Singapore Cairnhill International Open 1999]
13...Rb8 14.Bf2 b5 15.axb5 axb5 16.Re1 b4 17.Na4 Re8 18.Qb3 Nf6 19.e5!
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We spoke about this move after his game against Kum Hong and concluded that White has a strong initiative. Ironically, Stieger thought likewise!
19...Nfxd5 20.Bc4 Bb7!?
inspired by his win over NM Koh, Dr Nithia went for the same idea despite analysing an adequate defence with 20...Be6 [20...Be6 21.Rad1 Nxf4 (21...Ra8!? 22.exd6 Qxd6 23.f5!?) 22.Rxd6 (22.exd6 Bxc4 23.Qxc4 Rxe1+ 24.Nxe1 Nce6=) 22...Qc8 23.Re4 Bxc4 24.Qxc4 Nfe6=]
21.exd6 [The consolidating 21.Rad1 allows Black to wriggle out with 21...Bc6 22.exd6 Rxe1+ 23.Nxe1 Qxd6 24.Nxc5 Qxf4 25.Bxd5 Nxd5 26.Rxd5 Bxd5 27.Qxd5 Bxb2µ]
21...Qxd6 22.Nxc5 Bc6=
The Doc thought he was out of the woods already but Stieger is just getting fired up!
23.Ne4 [23.Nd3 Rxe1+ 24.Rxe1 Ne6 25.Bg3² Nc5 26.Nxc5 Qxc5+=]
23...Qxf4 24.Bg3 Qf5 25.Nfg5!
[25.Nd6 Rxe1+ 26.Rxe1 Qd7]
25...Rf8 26.Rf1
[26.Bd6 h6 27.Bxf8 Rxf8 28.Nf3 Nf4]
26...Qd7
[26...Qg4 27.Bd6 (27.h3 Qd7 28.Bd6 h6 29.Bxf8 Rxf8 30.Nf3) 27...h6 28.h3 Qd7 29.Bxf8 Rxf8 30.Nf3 Nb6]
27.Rfd1
[27.Bd6 h6 28.Bxf8 Rxf8 29.Nf3 Nb6 30.Ned2 Qd6 31.Rac1]
27...h6 28.Ra7 Rbc8!?
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Dr Nithia gave himself a ? but with hindsight. I think !? is more appropriate. [28...Qf5!=]
29.Nxf7!
[29.Nh3 Qe6 30.Nhf2 Nb5 31.Bxb5 Bxb5 32.Qxd5 Qxd5 33.Rxd5 Rc1+ 34.Rd1 Rxd1+ 35.Nxd1 Bd4+ 36.Bf2 Bxa7 37.Bxa7 Ra8µ]
29...Rxf7 30.Nd6
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is it over for Black?
30...Kh7!
Bet the computer engines will tell you Black is done for...However, Dr Nithia has worked out a 13 move deep combination which leads to a drawn endgame. [30...Bf8 31.Nxf7 Bc5+ 32.Kh1 Bxa7 33.Ne5± Qe6 34.Nxc6 Qxc6 35.Bxc7 Qxc7 36.Bxd5+ Kh7 37.Qxb4 Rd8 38.Qe4±]
31.Nxf7 Qxf7 32.Bxc7 Rxc7 33.Rxc7 Qxc7 34.Bxd5 Qa7+
[34...Bxd5 35.Qxd5 Bxb2 36.Qb5 Qf4 37.Qb7+ Bg7 38.Rb1 Qe3+ 39.Kh1 b3 40.Qxb3 Qxb3 41.Rxb3 h5]
35.Kh1 Bxd5 36.Qxd5 Bxb2 37.Qb5 Qa3 38.Qb7+ Bg7 39.Rb1 b3 40.Qxb3 Qxb3 41.Rxb3 h5=
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And this is the theoretically drawn position as proven by Averbakh in 1978! Had White been able to play g2-g4 before Black nudges in h5, the fortress would have been in vain.
42.Rb7 Kg8 43.g3 Bc3 44.Kg2 Bg7 45.Kf3 Bc3 46.Ke4
[46.Kf4 Bd2+ 47.Ke5 Bc3+ 48.Ke6 Ba1]
46...Bg7 47.Rc7
[47.Kd5 Bc3 48.Ke6 Ba1]
47...Bf6
[47...Kh7 48.Kd5 (48.Kf4 Kh6 49.Rd7) 48...Kg8 49.Ke6 Ba1]
48.Kd5 [48.Kf4 Kf8 49.Rd7 Kg8]
48...Bg7 49.Ke6 Ba1 50.h4 Bb2
[50...Bg7? 51.Rc8+ Kh7 52.Kf7 Ba1 53.Rg8+-; 50...Bd4?! 51.g4!? hxg4 52.Rc4! Ba1 53.Rxg4 Kh7 54.Kf7‚ Kh6 55.Rxg6+ Kh5 56.Rg1+-]
51.Rb7 Bc3 52.Rb3 Ba1 53.g4 hxg4 54.Rb4 Kg7 55.Rxg4 Kh6 56.Kf7 Kh5 57.Rxg6 Kxh4 1/2-1/2
Dr Nithia's Modern Benoni has survived Stieger's Taimanov Variation. I would like to show you the other Benoni game but it is still in progress. Last heard, he was a healthy pawn up in a complex middlegame.
So, if you ever happen to come to Singapore for a December holiday and decide to try your luck at the Cairnhill International Open, look out for the bespectacled, wise-cracking dark chap in Hawaiian shirts . Dare you chance his Modern Benoni?
