Surveys 2011 - Efstratios Grivas

1

Efstratios Grivas:

Blocking the f6-square

Concept
The blocking of the f6 (f3)-square in
front of the castled king with a piece
(knight, bishop or rook) which can
be captured by the opponent, is a
usual tactical theme which can often
meet in practice.
The idea is rather simple: to
immobilize the opponent‟s f-pawn
(mainly), creating at the same the
best possibilities for an eventually
successfully attack. The cost of a
piece is usually compensating by the
activity of the rest of his army,
creating

good

chances

of

combinations or lethal attacks.
The most famous example is
probably the following one:

Fischer R. : Benko P.
New York 1963
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+qtr-mk0
9zpp+-+pvlp0
9-+psn-+-+0
9+-+-zp-+Q0
9-+-snP+-+0
9+-sNLvL-+P0
9PzPP+-+P+0
9tR-+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
A famous position which can be
found in nearly every tactical theme
chess book but from the ...next
move! Well, Fischer's combination
actually started here.
18.Ld4!

This 'un-natural' exchange opens the
d3-bishop's way to h7.
18...ed4 19.Tf6!
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+qtr-mk0
9zpp+-+pvlp0
9-+psn-tR-+0
9+-+-+-+Q0
9-+-zpP+-+0
9+-sNL+-+P0
9PzPP+-+P+0
9tR-+-+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
Blocking the f-pawn's advance is the
right way to finish-off the job. Bad
would be the immediate 19.e5? due
to 19...f5! and Black has no problem!
19...Kg8
There is now way out: 19...dc3
20.e5+- or; 19...Lf6 20.e5+- .
20.e5
And only now!
20...h6 21.Se2!
And Black resigned, as after 21...Lf6
22.Dh6 (21...Sb5 22.Df5) mate
follows. White rightly avoided the
immediate 21.Td6?!, due to 21...De5
22.De5 Le5 23.Se4 Ld6 24.Sd6 Tab8
25.g4± . 1:0.

Of course this is supposed to be an
“easy” example, so let‟s try to
investigate this attacking theme with
the help of various other examples,
which are presented in chronological
order (but for no particular reason!):

Surveys 2011 - Efstratios Grivas

2

Alekhine A. : Euwe M.
Utrecht 1935
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+qtr-mk0
9zplzp-vlpzpp0
9-zpn+p+-+0
9+-+-+-zPQ0
9-+-zPN+-+0
9zP-zP-+-+-0
9-zP-+-zPLzP0
9tR-vL-mK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
14.Sf6!
»A correct offer of a pawn, securing
for White a strong and most likely
irresistible offensive« - A. Alekhine.
14...Lf6
If Black accepts the sac with
14...gf6?!, then after 15.gf6 Sa5
(15...Lf6 16.Le4+-) 16.Lb7 (16.fe7
De7 17.Lb7 Sb7 18.Lg5 f6 19.Lh6
Tg8 20.0–0–0 Sd6 21.The1±)
16...Sb7 17.fe7 De7 18.Lf4 (18.Lg5
f6 19.Lh6 Tg8 20.0–0–0 Sd6
21.The1±) 18...Tg8 19.0–0–0± White
gets a better position in every
variation.
15.gf6 gf6 16.Dh4 Dd8
Forced. If 16...De7? then 17.Le4
wins.
17.Lf4! e5
Maybe Black should think of
17...f5!? 18.Dd8 Tad8 19.Lc7 Td7,
although after 20.Lg3! (20.Lf4?! f6
(20...Sa5 21.Lb7 Sb7 22.Tg1±)
21.Td1 (21.0–0–0? Sd4!) 21...Tg8
22.Lf3 Se7=) 20...f6 21.0–0–0 White
stands better. It must be noted that
bad is 17...Tb8? 18.Lc7! Dc7 19.Df6
Kg8 20.Lc6 Tfd8 21.Dh6+-. The
weak black king allows all kind of
tactical continuations, which help
White to get an advantage.

18.Lg3 f5
It seems that 18...ed4! is playable:
19.0–0–0 f5 20.Dh6 f6 21.Thg1 Tf7
22.cd4 Sa5 23.d5 Sc4 24.Kb1©.
19.de5
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wq-tr-mk0
9zplzp-+p+p0
9-zpn+-+-+0
9+-+-zPp+-0
9-+-+-+-wQ0
9zP-zP-+-vL-0
9-zP-+-zPLzP0
9tR-+-mK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
19...Tg8?!
Black should have gone 19...f6!
20.Dh3! (20.e6 Te8) 20...Se5!!
21.Lb7 Dd3! 22.Df1 (22.La8? Sf3
23.Lf3 Te8–+) 22...Sf3 23.Lf3 Df3
24.Kd2 Tad8 25.Kc2 f4 26.Te1 fg3
27.fg3.
20.Lf3?
White should have played 20.Df4!
Tg6 21.Tg1 Dd3 22.Dd2±.
20...Dd3!
»An ingenious resource; but, as the
following shows, Black, in adopting
it, did not actually realise how many
interesting possibilities it opened to
him« - A.Alekhine.
21.Le2
White should be careful now:
21.Lc6? La6! (21...Lc6? 22.Df6 Tg7
23.Dc6) 22.Dh5 Tg4–+.
21...De4?
»Leading to a lost endgame. From
an objective point of view it is
certainly a pity that Black avoids the
fantastical complications deriving
from 21...Dc2!, a move which with
the right continuation would have
secured him a draw« - A.Alekhine:

Surveys 2011 - Efstratios Grivas

3

22.Df6 Tg7 23.Tg1! (23.e6? Te8!
24.Tg1! La6!! (24...Te6 25.Le5!+-)
25.La6 Db2!! (25...Te6 26.Le5!!
De4! 27.Kf1 De5! 28.Dg7 Dg7
29.Tg7 Kg7) 26.Td1 Te6 27.Le5
Dc3–+) 23...Db2 24.e6!! Da1 25.Ld1
Sd4! (25...Td8? 26.Ld6!+-;
25...Db1? 26.f3!!±) 26.Dg7!
(26.Dd4? f6! (26...Kg8 27.Dg7 Kg7
28.Lh4 Kh6 29.Lg5=) 27.Df6 Kg8!!
(27...Lf3? 28.Kd2 Da2 29.Ke3! Ld1
30.Td1 Tag8 31.Le5 f4 32.Kf3 Da3
33.Dg7 Tg7 34.Td8 Df8 35.Tf8#)
28.Ke2 Db2 29.Ke3 Dc1) 26...Kg7
27.Lh4 Kh6! (27...Kf8? 28.e7 Ke8
29.Tg8 Kd7 30.Td8+-) 28.Lg5! Kg7
29.Lh4=.
22.De4 fe4
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+-+rmk0
9zplzp-+p+p0
9-zpn+-+-+0
9+-+-zP-+-0
9-+-+p+-+0
9zP-zP-+-vL-0
9-zP-+LzP-zP0
9tR-+-mK-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
23.Lh4!
»The winning move, probably
overlooked by Black when he played
21...Qe4« - A.Alekhine. And so
White went on to win later, although
we must admit that Black did not
put-up his best defensive skills,
making things easier for his
opponent. Yes, even at the highest
level weak moves are lurking
everywhere ...
23...h6 24.0–0–0 Tae8 25.Lf6 Kh7
26.f4 ef3 27.Lf3 Sa5 28.Lb7 Sb7
29.Td7 Sc5 30.Tf7 Kg6 31.Tc7 Sd3
32.Kb1 Kf5 33.Td1 Se5 34.Tf1 Ke4

35.Ta7 Sc4 36.Td7 Ke3 37.Te1 Kf3
38.Te8 Te8 39.Td4 Se3 40.Th4 1:0.

Dus Chotimirsky F. : Bannik A.
Vilnius 1949
XIIIIIIIIY
9q+rtr-+k+0
9zp-+-+pzpp0
9-zp-+-vln+0
9+-zpN+N+Q0
9-+-+-zP-+0
9+P+-+-zP-0
9P+-+-+-zP0
9+-+R+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
25...Ld4?
Black thought that he was winning
with the text move. He should have
gone for 25...Tc6 26.Df3 Te6 27.Td2
Tde8 28.Tfd1©.
26.Td4!
Of course! Black had only calculate
26.Sd4? Td5 27.Sf5 Tcd8.
26...cd4
XIIIIIIIIY
9q+rtr-+k+0
9zp-+-+pzpp0
9-zp-+-+n+0
9+-+N+N+Q0
9-+-zp-zP-+0
9+P+-+-zP-0
9P+-+-+-zP0
9+-+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
Forced: 26...Td5 27.Td5 Dd5 28.Sh6.
27.Sf6!
Here it comes again!
27...Kf8
27...gf6 28.Dh6 mates.
28.Dh7 gf6 29.Te1!
The last and very important detail,
which is usually forgotten or
ignored! White cuts the escape road

Surveys 2011 - Efstratios Grivas

4

of the black king and mate is
following. 1:0.

Botvinnik M. : Uhlmann W.
Moscow 1956
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-snk+0
9zp-+rvlpzpp0
9-tr-+q+-+0
9+-+pzP-zPR0
9-zppzP-+N+0
9+-+-vLQzP-0
9PzPP+-+K+0
9+-+-+-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
29.Sf6!
And not the naive 29.Sh6? gh6
30.Th6 Sg6 31.Th7 Lf8 32.Df6! Df6
33.gf6 Ta6.
29...gf6 30.gf6 Lf6
Again forced: 30...Ld8?! 31.Lh6! Lf6
32.ef6 Df6 33.Dg4+-.
31.ef6 De4?!
A better defensive try was to be
found on 31...Df6 32.Tg5! (32.Dg4
Dg7! (32...Sg6? 33.Dd7+-; 32...Kh8?
33.Tg5 Sg6 34.Dd7+-) 33.Dg7 Kg7
34.Lh6 Kg8 35.Lf8 Kf8 36.Th7=)
32...Sg6 (32...Kh8? 33.Dg4+-)
33.Dh5 Te6 34.Dh7 Kf8 35.Tf1 Dg7
36.Dh5 Kg8 37.Df3± . Black thought
that by exchanging queens he would
be safe ...
32.De4 de4 33.Tg5! Sg6
Or 33...Kh8 34.d5 Tb5 35.Th4 Tbd5
36.Td5 Td5 37.Te4+-.
34.Tc5 Tf6
34...c3? 35.Tc8+-.
35.Tc8 Sf8
Nice is 35...Kg7? 36.Lh6#.
36.Th4!

The greedy 36.Lh6? would only help
Black: 36...Th6! 37.Th6 Td4. Now
White's position is near to winning.
36...Kg7 37.Te4 Ta6 38.Tc4 Tb7
38...Ta2 39.Tb4+-.
39.d5 Ta2 40.Tb4 Tb2? 41.Ld4 1:0.

Tal M. : Najdorf M.
Leipzig 1960
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+-trk+0
9vl-wq-+pzpp0
9p+-+-+-+0
9+p+p+N+-0
9-+-zPnzP-vL0
9zP-+-+-+Q0
9-zP-+-+PzP0
9+-+-tRRmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
When the great Tal was on the attack
something nice was on the cards ...
21.Te4!
The first sacrifice which aims in
further weakening the f6-square!
21...de4 22.Lf6!
In accordance with the previous
move ...
22...Db6
A forced move: 22...gf6? 23.Dg4
Kh8 24.Dg7#; 22...g6? 23.Sh6#.
23.Lg7 Tfe8 24.Le5 Dg6 25.Sh6
Kf8 26.f5
26.f5 Black resigns: 26...Dg5
(26...Dc6 27.Dh5 Dc4 28.Ld6 Te7
29.Td1! f6 30.Sg4+-) 27.Sf7! Kf7
28.Dh7 Kf8 29.Ld6 Te7 30.f6 Ld4
31.Kh1 Lf6 32.Le7+-. 1:0.

Surveys 2011 - Efstratios Grivas

5

Spassky B. : Korensky V.
Sochi 1973
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+-trk+0
9zpp+-+pzpp0
9-+-+p+-+0
9wq-vllzP-vL-0
9-+-+-wQ-zP0
9+-sN-+-+-0
9PzPP+-+P+0
9+-mKR+-+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
17.Lf6! Tfc8
On 17...gf6 18.Th3! Tfc8 19.Dh6.
18.Lg7!
Stripping the black king!
18...Kg7 19.Df6 Kf8 20.Thf1 Tc7
Or 20...Dc7 21.Td5! Le3 22.Kb1 ed5
23.Dh8 Ke7 24.Sd5+-.
21.Sd5 ed5 22.e6! Da2
The main alternative was 22...Le3
23.Kb1 Dc5 24.c4!! d4 25.e7 Kg8
(25...Ke8 26.Df7 Kd7 27.e8D Kd6
28.Tf6#) 26.Df7 Kh8 27.Df6 Kg8
28.De6 Kh8 29.Tf7+-.
23.e7! Kg8
23...Te7 24.Dh8#.
24.Df7 Kh8 25.e8D Te8 26.De8
Kg7 27.De5 Kg8 28.Dg5 1:0.

Grivas E. : Zamit S.
Athens 1981
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+r+k+0
9zpl+-wqpzpp0
9-+n+p+-+0
9+pzpnzP-zP-0
9-+-zpN+-+0
9+-+P+NzP-0
9PzPP+-zPL+0
9tR-wQ-tR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy

White stands better but far from
winning - or not so?
17.Sf6! Sf6
After 17...gf6?! 18.gf6 Df8 19.Dg5
Kh8 20.Dh5 White can calmly
continue with Te4-h4 and Sg5, with
a winning attack.
18.gf6 gf6 19.Dh6! fe5
The other option was 19...Df8, when
White has a choice in-between
20.Df8 (and 20.Df6 Sb4 21.Sg5 Ld5
22.Le4± ) 20...Tf8 21.ef6 Tab8 22.a3
h6 23.Sd2±.
20.Se5 Tac8?
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+r+r+k+0
9zpl+-wqp+p0
9-+n+p+-wQ0
9+pzp-sN-+-0
9-+-zp-+-+0
9+-+P+-zP-0
9PzPP+-zPL+0
9tR-+-tR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
A blunder in a difficult position.
Black should continue the fight with
20...Se5! 21.Te5 f6! 22.Lb7 Tab8!
23.Lc6 fe5 24.Le8 Te8 25.Te1±.
21.Sg4!
Now White will have big material
gains.
21...f5 22.Sf6 Kh8 23.Te6! Df7
24.Se8 Te8 25.Tae1
25.Te8! De8 26.Df6 Kg8 27.Ld5 was
simpler.
25...Tg8 26.Lc6 1:0.

The next two games were both lost
by the same player; the strong Greek
GM Ioannis Papaioannou. Well, this
is rather strange, as this player is
well-known for his extra „sensitivity‟
of danger. But still he missed our

Surveys 2011 - Efstratios Grivas

6

theme and got punished in really no
time! As we say in my country: it can
happen even to the best families …

Grivas E. : Papaioannou I.
Volos 1996
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+-trk+0
9+l+-wqpzp-0
9n+-+p+-zp0
9+-+pzP-+-0
9p+-zP-tR-+0
9zPp+-zPQzP-0
9-zP-sN-+LzP0
9+-+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
24.Tf6!
White has transferred his forces to
the kingside, where Black lacks
adequate defence. The black pieces
were tied up with the protection of
the queenside, where they managed
to defend successfully, but are now
far from the main theatre of action!
With his last move White
immobilizes the black f-pawn that,
with its freeing advance, would allow
Black drawing chances and
simultaneously cuts the black queen
off its defensive duties.
24...Sc7
24...gf6? 25.ef6 Dd6 26.Dg4 Kh8
27.Dg7#.
25.Dg4 La6 26.T1f4
Also good seems 26.Th6 Lf1 27.Lf1
Tac8 28.Ld3 f5 29.Dg6±, but White
did not wanted to »break« the
immobilization!
26...Kh7 27.Dh4! Dd8 28.Sf3

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wq-tr-+0
9+-sn-+pzpk0
9l+-+ptR-zp0
9+-+pzP-+-0
9p+-zP-tR-wQ0
9zPp+-zPNzP-0
9-zP-+-+LzP0
9+-+-+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
Now that almost all white pieces are
participating in the attack, the black
king's fortress will soon collapse. But
it seems that 28.Se4! Kg8 29.Dh5
wins faster.
28...gf6 29.Tf6 Ld3
There is no longer any defence for
Black, as neither 29...Df6 30.ef6 Tg8
31.Se5 Taf8 32.Lf3 Lb5 33.Lh5 Le8
34.Sg4! nor 29...Th8 30.Sg5 Kg8
31.Sf7 is sufficient. The finish was
brief:
30.Sg5 Kg8 31.Th6 1:0.

Adams M. : Papaioannou I.
Istanbul 2000
XIIIIIIIIY
9-vlr+r+k+0
9zpl+-+pzpn0
9-zp-wqp+-+0
9+-+-sN-vL-0
9-+-zP-+-+0
9zP-+-+P+-0
9-zP-+-wQP+0
9+L+R+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
White decided to trade off his
»pride« in order to further weaken
the f6-square:
30.Lh7!? Kh7 31.Dh4 Kg8 32.Dh5
Tf8?

Surveys 2011 - Efstratios Grivas

7

XIIIIIIIIY
9-vlr+-trk+0
9zpl+-+pzp-0
9-zp-wqp+-+0
9+-+-sN-vLQ0
9-+-zP-+-+0
9zP-+-+P+-0
9-zP-+-+P+0
9+-+R+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
Black missed White's next. He
should have gone for 32...Df8 33.Sd7
Dd6 34.Sf6 gf6 35.Lf6 Dh2 36.Dh2
Lh2 37.Kh2 Tc2©.
33.Lf6!
And as there is no defence to 34.Dg5
(33...gf6 34.Dg4 Kh8 35.Kf2 Tc2
36.Ke3 and Th1). Black resigned.
1:0.

Zvjaginsev V. : Pelletier Y.
Panormo 2001
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+l+-trk+0
9+n+-+-zpp0
9-wq-+p+-+0
9zp-zp-zPp+L0
9PtrP+-wQ-vL0
9+P+R+-+-0
9-+-+-+PzP0
9+-+R+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
Here the black f-pawn is already on
f5, but our theme is also strong:
29.Lf6! Dc7
Black cannot accept the sac: 29...gf6
30.Tg3 Kh8 31.Dh6+-.
30.Dg3
And Black resigned as there is no
defence on White's main threat
31.Td7!. 1:0.

Topalov V. : Lutz C.
Dortmund 2002
XIIIIIIIIY
9-tr-+-+k+0
9+q+-+pzp-0
9r+-+lsN-zp0
9zp-+-+-+-0
9-+-tR-+-+0
9wQP+-+P+-0
9-+P+-+PzP0
9+K+R+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
27.Sf6!
A bold from the blue! But certain
tactics were well calculated!
27...gf6 28.Td8 Td8 29.Td8 Kh7
30.Df8
And now White has mating threats ...
30...Kg6
30...h5 was a »better« try, but still
not enough to save the game: 31.g4
(31.Dh8 Kg6 32.Tg8 Kf5 33.Dh5
Kf4 34.Td8+-) 31...hg4 32.fg4 Kg6
33.Dg8 Kh6 34.Dh8 Kg5 35.Dg7
Kf4 36.Df6+-.
31.Dg8 Kh5
Or 31...Kf5 32.Dg4 Ke5 33.f4 Ke4
34.Df3+-.
32.Dg7!
Also good was 32.Td4 Db5 33.g3
Dg5 34.Th4 Dh4 35.gh4+-.
32...f5 33.Td4!
With the threat 34.Th4 Kh4 35.Dh6#.
33...Lc8 34.g3
Black resigned, due to 34...De7
(34...Tg6 35.Th4 Kg5 36.f4#) 35.Th4
Dh4 36.Df7+- , as White's material
gains would be too high ... 1:0.

Surveys 2011 - Efstratios Grivas

8

Sjugirov S. : Brodsky M.
St.Petersburg 2008
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+-trk+0
9+p+n+pzp-0
9p+ntR-+-zp0
9+-+-+-+q0
9-zPL+N+-vL0
9+-+-wQ-+-0
9-+-+-+PzP0
9+-+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
22.Lf6!
The usual beautiful idea; the bishop
uses a forbidden square in order to
get closer to the black king.
Beforehand 22.Df4 Sde5? 23.Th6
1:0, Shirov A : Wang Hao, Dagomys
2009, had been played.
22...Sf6
Black is in trouble in all variations:
22...Te8 23.Lg7 Kg7 24.Tf7+-; or
22...Sde5 23.Dg3 Lg4 24.Ld5±.
23.Sf6 gf6 24.Tff6
White will have no problems proving
that the white pieces will roll over
the black king because of the number
of the black pieces which are hardly
in the game.
24...Se5?!
This loses in no time but it was very
difficult (and probably impossible)
for Black to survive. His main
'saving' alternative should be tried on
24...Lf5 but White wins anyway after
25.Dg3 (25.Th6 Dg4 26.Th3 Dg7
27.Tg3 Lg4 28.Df4 Se5 29.Td5 Tfc8
30.Lb3± is good as well) 25...Dg5
(25...Kh7?! 26.Tf5 Df5 27.Ld3+-)
26.Tg6 (26.Dg5 hg5 27.Tf5 Tfd8
28.Tg6 Kh8 29.Tgg5 Td1 30.Kf2
Td4 31.Ld5 Sb4 32.Tf6 Th4 33.Lb7)

26...Lg6 27.Tg6 Kh7 28.Tg5 hg5
29.Ld3 Kh6 30.h4+-.
25.Th6 Sc4
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+-trk+0
9+p+-+p+-0
9p+-tR-+-tR0
9+-+-+-+q0
9-zPn+-+-+0
9+-+-wQ-+-0
9-+-+-+PzP0
9+-+-+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
26.De7!
A nice move, forcing Black's
resignation, due to 26...Lg4
(26...Dg4 27.Th8 Kh8 28.Df8 Kh7
29.Th6#) 27.Th5 Lh5 28.Th6 Lg6
29.Df6 Lh7 30.Dh4 Lg6 31.Th8 Kg7
32.Dh6+-. 1:0.

Nunn J. : Smeets J.
Amsterdam 2006
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+r+k+0
9+-wql+pzp-0
9pzp-+n+nzp0
9+-zp-zP-+-0
9-+R+N+-+0
9+L+-+N+P0
9PzP-wQ-zPP+0
9+-+-tR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
All White's pieces are ideally placed
for a decisive attack ...
26.Sf6! gf6 27.Dh6
Now the black king will lethally
suffer.
27...f5
After 27...fe5 White wins with
28.Tg4!.
28.Sh4! Lb5

Surveys 2011 - Efstratios Grivas

9

There is no defence anymore:
28...Lc6 29.Sf5 (29.Te3 Ld5 30.Sf5
Lc4 31.Lc4+-) 29...Ld5 30.Te3 Lc4
31.Lc4+- or 28...Se7 29.Te3 Sg7
30.Tg3 De5 31.Sf3+-.
29.Sf5 Tad8
After 29...Lc4 30.Lc4 Se5 White
wins with 31.Te4!.
30.Tg4 c4 31.Lc2 Td5 32.Th4
32.Tg6 fg6 33.Dg6 Kf8 34.Dh6 Kg8
35.Te4 Td7 36.Tg4 Sg7 37.Sg7 Tg7
38.Lh7 Kf8 39.Tf4 was winning as
well. 1:0.

Bologan V. : Heberla B.
Plovdiv 2008
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+-trk+0
9wqpzp-+pzpp0
9p+n+-+-+0
9+-+N+-vL-0
9-+n+-+-+0
9wQ-+-+-+P0
9PzP-+-zPP+0
9+-+RtR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
White's initiative is great and the
black king has remained without
defensive pieces around him ...
20.Sf6! gf6
20...Kh8 21.Dd3 is rather easy.
21.Dg3! fg5
21...S4e5 22.Le3 Sg6 23.La7 will
lose later!
22.Dg5 Kh8 23.Df6 Kg8 24.Td5!
S4e5 25.Tde5 Se5 26.Te5 Tfe8
26...h6 27.Dh6 Db6 (27...f5 28.Dg6
Kh8 29.Te7) 28.Tg5 Dg6 29.Tg6 fg6
30.Dg6 Kh8 31.Dh5 Kg7 32.Dg4
Kh6 33.Dh4 Kg7 34.Dg3 Kh8
35.Dc7 was a bit »better«, but still
winning for White.
27.Tg5 Kf8 28.Tf5!

28.Dh6 Ke7 29.Te5 Kd7 30.Dd2 was
a safe alternative as well, just
proving how winning is White's
position after all!
Here Black decided to resign as there
is no defence anymore to White's
mating threats: 28...Te1 (28...Te7
29.Dh8#) 29.Kh2 Ke8 30.Df7 Kd8
31.Td5 Kc8 32.Df8 Te8 33.De8#.
1:0.

Kasparov G. : Karpov A.
Valencia 2009
XIIIIIIIIY
9-wq-+-trk+0
9tr-+-+pzp-0
9-zp-+-+-zp0
9zp-snR+-+-0
9-+-+N+-+0
9zP-+-+-+-0
9-zP-wQ-zPPzP0
9+-+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
22.Sf6!
Brilliant! Kasparov has not lost any
of his tactical vision! Black would be
happy to see 22.Sc5? bc5 23.Tc5 Td8
as then he would have good practical
chances for a draw.
22...gf6
22...Kh8?! 23.Th5+- mates soon.
23.Dh6 f5 24.Dg5!
24.Tf5? allows Black to consolidate
with 24...f6!.
24...Kh8 25.Df6 Kg8 26.Tf5
Black's king is too exposed, so the
end is, and should be near, in such
hopelessly cases ...
26...Se4 27.Dh4!
Precise! Black is lost.
27...Te8

Surveys 2011 - Efstratios Grivas

10

27...f6 averts mate but of course,
after 28.De4, White is simply two
pawns to the good.
28.Th5 f5
And Black lost on time in making
this move, but the result is in no
doubt after 29.Th8 Kf7 30.Dh7 Kf6
31.Dh6 Ke5 32.Td1. 1:0.

Caruana F. : Ljubojevic L.
Amsterdam 2010
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+-trk+0
9zpp+l+pzp-0
9-+-wqp+-zp0
9+-+-+-+Q0
9-+-zP-+-+0
9+-zPL+-+-0
9PzP-+-+PzP0
9+-+-tRRmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
18.Tf6! De7
On 18...gf6 19.Dh6 f5 20.Dg5 Kh8
21.Te3 mate follows.
19.Tef1 e5!?
Again 19...gf6 is not recommended:
20.Dh6 f5 21.Tf3.
20.de5?!
White missed his best chance here:
20.Lc4! Le6 (20...ed4? 21.Lf7! Tf7
22.Tf7 De3 23.Kh1+-) 21.Le6 fe6
22.Tf8 Tf8 23.Tf8 Kf8 24.De5± , as
he would have material and
positional advantage in the queen's
endgame. After the text move he is
still on the top but with more
complicated play (more pieces on the
board) which allowed Black in the
end to escape with a draw.
20...Tae8 21.Td6 Le6 22.Tf4 Tc8
23.Df3 Tfd8 24.Tfd4 Te8 25.De4 g6
26.Lb5 Lf5 27.Df4 Tf8 28.Ld7 Ld7
29.Td7 De6 30.T4d6 Da2 31.e6 Db1

32.Td1 Db2 33.Kh1 De2 34.ef7
Kh7 35.Dd6 Dc4 36.Tb7 Tf7 37.Tf7
Df7 38.De5 Dg7 39.Dg7 Kg7
40.Td7 Kf6 41.Ta7 Tc3 42.h3 ½.

Kovanova B. : Pogonina N.
Antakya 2010
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-tr-snk+0
9zplwq-vlpzpp0
9-zpn+p+-+0
9+-zp-zP-+-0
9-+-+N+-+0
9+LzP-+NvL-0
9PzP-+QzPPzP0
9+-+R+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
17.Sf6! Kh8?!
The less evil was 17...gf6 18.ef6 Td1
19.Dd1 Dd7 20.fe7 Se7 when White
would just have a clear advantage in
the ending due to his bishop-pair and
his better pawn structure. 17...Lf6
18.ef6 Td1 19.Ld1 Dd8 20.fg7 Kg7
21.Lc2 Sg6 22.h4± was also better
than the text move.
18.Sg5! Td1 19.Dd1 Sd8
The alternative was 19...gf6 20.Sf7
Kg8 21.ef6 Dd7 22.Sh6 Kh8 23.Dg4
Sg6 24.Sf7 Kg8 25.Sd6 Sd8 26.fe7
De7 27.h4 and White will soon win.
20.Dh5!
Another piece joins the attack. Also
good was 20.Lc2 g6 21.h4.
20...gf6
What else? 20...h6 21.La4! La6
22.Se8 Db7 23.Sf7+- or 20...Dc6
21.Ld5! Da4 22.h3 gf6 23.ef6 Lf6
24.Sf7+- is a lost case.
21.ef6 Dc6 22.Ld5!
Winning an important tempo.
22...De8

Surveys 2011 - Efstratios Grivas

11

22...ed5 23.fe7 and White promotes
next!
23.Dh6! Lf6 24.Df6 Kg8 25.Le5
1:0.

Lahno K. : Khotenashvili B.
Tbilisi 2011
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+-trk+0
9zpp+n+pzp-0
9q+-+p+-+0
9+-+pzP-vLp0
9-+-zP-+-zP0
9+P+-+-zP-0
9P+-wQ-+P+0
9tR-+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
Black's king is rather week and the
attack must be decisive but accurate.
17.Lf6! gf6
There is not much that Black can do
anymore: 17...Db6 18.Lg7! Kg7
19.Dg5 Kh7 20.Dh5 Kg7 21.Dg5
Kh8 22.Tf6! Dd4 23.Kh2 Dd3
24.Th6 Dh7 25.Th7 Kh7 26.Tf1+- or
17...Sf6 18.ef6 Kh7 19.fg7+-.
18.ef6 Tfc8
18...Sf6 19.Dg5! Kh8 20.Tf6+-.
19.Dh6! Sf6 20.Dg5! Kf8 21.Df6
1:0.

Caruana F. : Gelfand B.
Moscow 2010
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+-trk+0
9zpp+-+pvlp0
9-+-wqp+-+0
9+-zpnzp-vL-0
9-+L+-+-wQ0
9+-+-+-+-0
9PzPP+-+PzP0
9+-+R+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy

Open files, weak black king, active
white pieces - something decisive
must exist according to the logic of
chess ...
17.Tf6!
17.Lf6! wins as well.
17...Dc7
Maybe Black had to try 17...h6
where White would have to find
18.Th6 f6 19.Dg4 Tae8 20.Tg6+-.
18.Ld5 ed5 19.Td3! Tfd8 20.Lh6
And the black king's days are over ...
20...Lh6 21.Dh6 e4 22.Tg3
22.Th3 Td7 23.Dg5 Kf8 24.Th7
mates as well. 1:0.

Conclusion
This tactical theme is often met and
it is easy to understand and practice
it. Can be either proved a short
combination or a long-term
compensationally sacrifice. Both
cases seem pleasant for the attacking
part!