10. Bf6 gf6 11.Kb1 Qb6 12.Nce2 h5
Sam Palatnik:
13.g3 Be7 14.f5
Loud song about a  Pair of
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Elephants
9r+-+k+-tr0
We would like to present you with a few
9+-+lvlp+-0
interesting games where you can easily
find similarity and even semblance of a 9pwqnzppzp-+0
strategic picture. Of course, it is also a
9+p+-+P+p0
pleasure for the author to confirm
correctness of  his business , even after
9-+-sNP+-+0
so many years have gone by.
9+-+-+-zP-0
After all, one of the most proven ways of
building the foundation of your chess
9PzPPwQN+-zP0
strength and knowledge is to recognize
9+K+R+L+R0
similar strategic ideas in the sea of chess
information. Finding patterns and ability
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to come up with generalizations will also
All of the required moves have been
expand your arsenal on which to draw
made in this variation and White has
conclusions. Your decision-making is
begun to weaken the opponent s pawn
directly related to your ability to draw
structure in the center. If only Black
conclusions. This process is of course
allows the exchange of fe6, then all of
easier once you are able to find global,
White s pieces will find gainful
unifying, even if not all encompassing
employment on the weaknesses of the
characteristics. Times have evolved to
h3-c8 diagonal, and f file. In order not to
the point where a person can no longer
allow that, Black must move e5,
catch up with a computer in our ability
however, this pawn advancement will
to calculate any particular position.
forever take away this critical square
Therefore, we have to be nimble and
from Knight on c6. It is logical to
revert back to the tried and true way of
assume that Knight on c6 is no longer
expanding our arsenal of generalization
useful, and can be exchanged, especially
and standardization. It is an old but still
since White will have one less contender
promising way of improving the chess
to occupy d5.
game of human beings. Of course, it
14...Nd4!? 15. Nd4 e5 16.Ne2 b4!
does not diminish the importance for us
You could not allow the White Knight to
to improve our precision and volume of
d5 via c3.
variation calculations. In this computer
17.Nc1 Bc6 18.Re1
age, with a never ending stream of
This is not a good sign for White. Their
information, we must improve and
last move does not add anything
constantly exercise our memory as well.
valuable to his position.
18...a5 19.Bc4 a4 20.Re2 Qc5 21.b3
Ivanov A. : Palatnik S.
The White Bishop has marked his
USSR  ch, Leningrad 1976
presence on the a2-g8 diagonal.
Actually, he only clawed its way to it, by
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nf6
occupying a studio apartment on c4,
5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bg5 e6 7.Qd2 a6 8.0 0 0
even though it has a nice balcony on d5.
Bd7 9.f4 b5
21...Rb8 22.Rd1 a3
Rouser Variation in Sicilian.
FIDE Surveys  Sam Palatnik 1
That else can be expected from "a" White has decided to exchange the
pawn? Queens, but it only crystallizes Black s
23.h3 advantage.
26.Qe3 Qe3 27.Re3 Bh6 28.Ree1 Ba6
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29.Rf1 Ke7
9-tr-+k+-tr0
We can hear the  song of two Elephants
(Bishops) , louder and louder.
9+-+-vlp+-0
30.Rf3 Rhc8 31.Rg1 Kf8!
9-+lzp-zp-+0 Prophylactic here is not extra if
31...Rc3-then 32.Nb4 Rf3 33.Nc6 Kf8
9+-wq-zpP+p0
34.Nb8.
32.Rg2 Rc3 33.Rgf2 Bg5!
9-zpL+P+-+0
The domination of the pair of Bishops
9zpP+-+-zPP0
has lead to Zugzwang.
34.Ka1 Rbc8
9P+PwQR+-+0
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9+KsNR+-+-0
9-+r+-mk-+0
xiiiiiiiiy
9+-+-+p+-0
The living conditions of the White King
have significantly decreased after the
9l+-zp-zp-+0
appearance of pawn on a3. 23.Nd3 Qd4
9+-+LzpPvlp0
24.Nb4? Qb2#. White has now come to
an aimless maneuvering, while Black
9-zp-+P+-+0
have found a plan to rebuild their ranks,
and can obtain a significant advantage.
9zpPtrN+RzPP0
23...Bf8! 24.Bd5
9P+P+-tR-+0
The Bishop from the square reminds us
of a decent dentist job, by doing a filling
9mK-+-+-+-0
for the d6 pawn. He s nothing more then
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this.
24& Bb5 25.Nd3 Qd4 35.Nb4
Necessitates.
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35& Be3 36.Na6 Rc2!
9-tr-+kvl-tr0
The rest is forced.
37.Rc2 Rc2 38.Rf1 Bd4 39.Kb1 Rb2
9+-+-+p+-0
40.Kc1
9-+-zp-zp-+0 40.Ka1 Rb3#.
40...Ra2 41.Rf3 Ra1 42.Kd2 a2 43.Nb4
9+l+LzpP+p0
Rd1 44.Kd1 a1Q 45.Ke2 Qb2 46.Kf1
Qh2 0:1.
9-zp-wqP+-+0
9zpP+N+-zPP0
Now, we would like to move to the
aforementioned rightness of one s cause.
9P+PwQR+-+0
The next game is separated from the
9+K+R+-+-0
previous one, by an entire computer
century. It was about that time, when I
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started to become acquainted with then
FIDE Surveys  Sam Palatnik 2
talented and now extraordinary player, 12.Ndb5 Qd8 13.Nd6 Bd6 14.Qd6 Ra7
Grandmaster Vasily Ivanchuk. I will not 15.Ne4ą.
go into all aspects of his talent, as there 11.Nc6 Bc6 12.Bd3
are many, but do wish to point one thing Just in case. A Bishop on this square is
out. Ivanchuk has and talent of listening. considered developed, even though it is
Not just listening, but listening and obvious that this is an eyesore for the
remembering for a very long time, heavy pieces on the D file.
whatever he deems important. It does 12...b4
give me personal pleasure that Vasily This particular move as well as the few
heard something useful from me, and following ones are simply copied from
even many years after was able to make the previous game. It is easy to play the
this suggestion useful. instrument if you know the notes,
somehow a fortepiano is suddenly
Kryvoruchko Y. : Ivanchuk V. available and you are also ready to
FIDE World Cup, Tromso 2013 improvise.
13.Ne2 Qb6 14.Kb1 h5!?
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cd4 4.Nd4 Nf6 All on time.
5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bg5 e6 7.Qd2 a6 8.0 0 0 15.f5 Bh6 16.Qe1 e5 17.Ng3 h4 18.Nf1
Bd7 9.f4 b5 10.Bf6
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9r+-+k+-tr0
9r+-wqkvl-tr0
9+-+-+p+-0
9+-+l+pzpp0
9pwqlzp-zp-vl0
9p+nzppvL-+0
9+-+-zpP+-0
9+p+-+-+-0
9-zp-+P+-zp0
9-+-sNPzP-+0
9+-+L+-+-0
9+-sN-+-+-0
9PzPP+-+PzP0
9PzPPwQ-+PzP0
9+K+RwQN+R0
9+-mKR+L+R0
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18...Ke7
If we consult a computer, it would give Here we can also recognize the tune
White a small advantage in this from the song of two Elephants.
variation. Probably, the computer has its 19.Bc4?!
own basis for that, or maybe it needs to Of course, this sports car wants to go on
work a bit more. A human, who, the highway (19.Qh4).
generally, is not able to calculate that far 19...Qc5 20.Bd3
ahead and does not wish to subcontract Could not do it. However, one should
his decision to a computer, has a choice not be tempted by 20.b3, and afterwards
to apply the principal of "I just want it 20.Bd5 will be followed by 20...Ba4
this way! ". 21.b3 Rac8 22.Bc4 (22.ba4 Qc2 23.Ka1
10...gf6 Bc1 24.Rc1 Qc1 25.Qc1 Rc1 26.Kb2
You can see that Black wanted to play Rhc8 +) 22...Bb5 23.Rd5 Qc7.
this exact variation. 10...Qf6 11.e5 de5 20...a5 21.Nd2 a4 22.Nc4 Bf4 23.Qf1
FIDE Surveys  Sam Palatnik 3
b3! 36...Qc2
The arrangement here is a bit different, Also very beautiful. 0:1.
but the tune is still the same
24.cb3 ab3 25.a3 Ra4 Both winners of these games had great
Black is now entering the final notes of faith in their success, and thereby have
his serenade. implemented the strategy of improving
their position with confidence. In this
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given case the strategy was quite similar.
9-+-+-+-tr0
It included gradual improvement in the
position of their two Bishops. A bit of
9+-+-mkp+-0
history here. In the old times, Bishops
9-+lzp-zp-+0 were actually called Elephants, and in
accordance with their ancient names
9+-wq-zpP+-0
these pieces have trampled the enemy's
position. The outcome of the fight was
9r+N+Pvl-zp0
largely decided to the "song of elephant
9zPp+L+-+-0
trumpets".
9-zP-+-+PzP0
9+K+R+Q+R0
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26.g3
If 26.Nd2 then 26... Ra3! leads to
victory.
26& hg3 27.hg3 Rh1 28.Qh1 Rc4
29.gf4 Rc2 + 30.Ka1 Rf2
30...ef4 31.Bc2 bc2 32.Rc1 Qf2 33.Qf1
Qf1 34.Rf1 Be4 35.b4 Bd3 36.Rh1 f3
37.Kb2 f2 +.
31.fe5 Qe5 32.Rb1 Rd2 33.Qf1 Qd4
34.Qc1 Qd3 35.Qc6 Rd1 36.Rc1
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9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-mkp+-0
9-+Qzp-zp-+0
9+-+-+P+-0
9-+-+P+-+0
9zPp+q+-+-0
9-zP-+-+-+0
9mK-tRr+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
FIDE Surveys  Sam Palatnik 4