FIDE Surveys – Andrew Martin

1

Andrew Martin:

Meaningless moves

Meaningless moves are the enemy of all
chessplayers. They have no bearing on the
position and can in many cases make
things worse. We see meaningless moves
frequently in the games of weaker players
and often, even at master level.

Mrdja M. : Gleizerov E.
Zagreb 2011

What does a meaningless move look like?
Consider the following game.
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Sc3 Sf6 4.Lg5

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9tR-+QmKLsNR0
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4.Lg5 is a positional move, aiming to
exchange dark-squared Bishops, which,
thanks to the central pawns, should favour
White. However, in practice, and this has
been true right back to Alekhine's day,
Black has been able to obtain good
counterplay.
4...Le7 5.e5 Sfd7 6.Le7
Alekhine's 6.h4 has been used a lot by
Jonny Hector, with the help of a new move
6...Lg5 7.hg5 Dg5 8.Dd3!? White eyes h7.
However in this very recent game, Black
seems quite unconcerned. 8...g6 9.Sf3 De7
10.0–0–0 Sc6 11.De3 Sf8 12.Th6 Ld7
13.Df4 0–0–0 14.Le2 Le8 15.Sg5 Sb8.
This is a comical game. Black takes the
pawn, goes into reverse gear and White
puts all his pieces on approved squares,
building up what looks like enormous

pressure. Then Black wins ... 16.Tdh1. It
doesn't get any better than this. 16...a6
17.T1h3 Sbd7 18.Tf3 Tg8 19.Sd1?!
(19.Sh7 c5 20.Sf6 Sf6 21.ef6 Dc7 22.Dc7
Kc7 23.dc5 Lc6 gives Black good
counterplay, but White maybe should have
gone for this line) 19...c5! The very first
sign of Black counterplay. 20.dc5 Sc5
21.Sc3 (21.Sh7 Sh7 22.Th7 d4) 21...Dc7
22.Sh7 Sh7 23.Th7 d4. Suddenly ...d3 is a
big threat, after the Knight moves. 24.b4
Sd7 25.Dd4 Se5µ 26.Da7 Sf3 27.Lf3 Df4
28.Kb2 Db4 29.Kc1 Td6 30.Se4 Tb6
31.Sf6 Df4 32.Kd1 Tb1, 0:1, Muzychuk
M. : Matveeva S., Tbilisi 2011. An
incredible game in many ways and it
teaches us, that in the French appearances
can be deceptive. Due to the rock-solid
nature of the French pawn-structure,
positions which look favourable for White
can often be assessed very wrongly.
6...De7 7.f4 0–0 8.Sf3 c5 9.Dd2 Sc6
10.dc5 Sc5 11.0–0–0 a6 12.Ld3 b5
13.The1?!

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Here it is, one natural move too many.
White plays what looks like a normal
developing idea, but 13.The1 has no
bearing on the position whatsoever. I
suppose Mrdja would argue that he is
dissuading Black from playing ...f7-f6, but
...a6 and ...b5 show intentions on the
queenside and the sluggish 13.The1 only
encourages Black even more. 13.h4 might
also be a way for White, to get something
going, but even there 13...Lb7 14.h5 h6
15.Kb1 Tfc8 is absolutely OK for Black. It
seems to me, that this position has

FIDE Surveys – Andrew Martin

2

similarities to a Classical Sicilain, but with
the White attack slowed down.
13...b4 14.Se2 b3!

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I doubt Mrdja was expecting this brilliant
pawn sacrifice, accelerating Black's attack.
15.ab3 Sb4 16.Sfd4 a5 17.Kb1 Scd3
18.cd3 a4

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This is a very easy game to understand.
Black's attack wastes White within a few
moves.
19.ba4 Ta4 20.Sc3 Ta6 21.Scb5 Ld7
22.Sd6 Tb8 23.Tc1 Dd8 24.Sb3 Db6
It is just too easy to shunt the Black major
pieces into strong attacking positions.
25.De3 d4 26.Dd4 Ta1
A rout. That is what can happen to you
when you have no plan. 0:1.

Czerwonski A. : Vysochin S.
Warsaw 2010

Playing without a plan can be fatal, which
brings me to an interesting example where
Black seems to inherits one of the worst
pawn structures ever seen in the history of
chess, yet wins quite comfortably!
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Sf3 Sf6 4.Sc3 a6!
Not a bad line at all. This flexible variation
of the Slav commits Black to nothing, yet
at the same time ...a7-a6 can prove very
useful.
5.c5 Sbd7 6.Lf4 Sh5 7.Ld2 g6 8.e4 de4
9.Se4 Sdf6 10.Sc3 Le6 11.Le2 Lg7 12.0–0
0–0 13.Dc1 Sd5 14.Sg5 Dd7!?
It takes some courage and a lot of self-
confidence to play such a move. Black
allows White to completely mess up his
pawns.
15.Lh5 gh5 16.Se6 fe6 17.Lh6 Tf5
18.Lg7 Kg7 19.Sd5 Dd5 20.De3 Td8

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9tR-+-+RmK-0
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Using any conventional yardstick you
would expect White to find a way to pick
Black off at his leisure. Vysochin has two
sets of doubled pawns and four isolated
pawns to deal with. Why then, does White
not win? The answer is very simple.
Black's activity stops him. Remaining on
the board, we see three very aggressively
posted Black major pieces, fighting three
passive pieces by White. Keep active, stay
active,avoid exchanges. Vysochin
understands the principles of these
positions very well.
21.Tae1 Tf6 22.b3?

FIDE Surveys – Andrew Martin

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Strong players build up a 'feel' for the
position based on accumulated experience.
Does Czerwonski really expect this
position to draw itself? Evidently.
Needless to say 22.b3 is another of those
meaningless moves. White has to
understand here, that he cannot just play
quietly and draw the position. Black is far
too active for that. 22.Td1 Tg6 23.f3 Da2
24.De5 Kh6 25.Df4 Kg7 26.Dc7

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is more like it for White. Cserwonski fails
to understand he must fight for the
initiative. Going passive with White here is
losing chess.
22...Kf7 23.Td1 Tg8 24.f3 h4 25.Tf2 h3
26.g3 h5!
The doubled pawns show some teeth,
acting as a battering ram against the White
King.
27.Te1 Td8 28.Dd3 Kg7 29.Df1?
29.Dd2 Tf5 30.Te4 e5.
29...Dd4 30.Dh3 Tf3! 31.Tef1 Tf2 32.Tf2
Tf8 33.Df1 Dc5 34.b4 Df2 35.Df2 Tf2
36.Kf2 Kf6

It is ironic that Black swaps off into a
winning King and Pawn endgame!
37.Ke3 Kf5 38.h3 b6 39.Kd4 e5 40.Ke3
c5 41.bc5 bc5 42.Kd3 e4 0:1.
It is important to be able to differentiate
between static and dynamic weaknesses in
chess. A poor pawn structure which offers
no prospect of dynamic compensation, in
terms of open lines or which cannot be
dissolved, is obviously something to be
avoided. That was not what we saw here.

ADVICE

When you can't see what to do, improve
the position of your worst-posted piece.
How many times have I heard that phrase
and how many players stick blindly to that
rule? There is more than a grain of good
advice contained here, but I would like to
modify the idea slightly: only improve the
position of your worst posted piece, when
you have determined a good reason for
doing so. You should have a plan of
campaign. No moves should be wasted.

Ravikumar V. : Martin A.
Ramsgate 1984

The following opening variation is one-
dimensional from White's perspective.
1.d4 Sf6 2.c4 e6 3.Sc3 Lb4 4.e3 0–0
5.Ld3 d5 6.a3 Lc3 7.bc3 c5 8.cd5 ed5
9.Se2 b6 10.0–0 Sc6 11.Sg3 Sa5 12.f3

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This position would normally be
considered very promising for White, who
has the natural plan of preparing e3-e4 and
then a quick central pawn advance. To this

FIDE Surveys – Andrew Martin

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day, I think Black's chances in these
positions have been underestimated, but he
has to be accurate. The top priority is to
restrain e3-e4.
12...Te8 13.Ta2 cd4 14.cd4 Sb7!
Heading for the key square on d6.
15.Te1 Le6 16.Tf2 Tc8 17.Lb1 Sd6
18.Dd3 Ld7 19.h3?!
Ravikumar has his mind fixed on e3-e4
and one presumes he saw this move as
necessary. Yet it is rather meaningless. I
presume, after White plays e3-e4, he
doesn't want to allow a Black Knight to
come to g4, however, I couldn't see a
reason for h3, then and still can't now! It's
a move which just makes White's position
worse. White might consider improving
the position of his worst-posted piece here
with 19.Tc2, although to play such a move
is an admission of defeat, because e3-e4 is
even further away now.
19...g6 20.Ld2 Lb5 21.Db3 Lc4 22.Db2
I sensed Ravi was becoming a bit
frustrated around here, as he is still no
further down the line towards playing e3-
e4. Without that move, no way is White
better.
22...La6 23.e4

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The critical moment. Against his better
judgement, White moves forward. Perhaps
he should have been more patient.
23...Sc4! 24.Da1
24.Db4.
24...Sd2 25.Td2 de4 26.fe4 Sd5!
There are a sea of dark squares in the
White camp, just waiting to be exploited.
27.Kh2 Dg5 28.Tc2 Se3 29.Tc3 Sg2

It's not good for Ravi now. There is a
killing check on d2, if he takes the Knight.
30.Tg1
30.Kg2 Dd2.
30...Sh4 31.Db2 Tc3 32.Dc3 Tc8 33.Db3
Dd2 34.Kh1 Tc1 0:1.
White lost this game, because he had no
plan B, once plan A had been frustrated.
Frustration during a game is the primary
cause of pointless moves.

A CLEAR HEAD

The main message I would like to get
across is this small article is to keep a tight
rein on your thinking during a game. It is
so easy to get distracted and let outside
factors lead to a deterioration in your
thinking processes. Chess trainers speak of
the need to cultivate ' a clear head' before a
game and to rid the mind of any worries. If
you can just be aware of the need to do
that, you will avoid pointless moves and
your decision-making will be sharp and
decisive. Line


Chuchelov V. : Arlandi E.
Mondariz 2000

I believe it was Steinitz, who determined
that a independant plan should be devised
according to the needs of the position.
Failure to grasp the thread of the game and
in particular, underestimating the
opponent's resources, can lead to poor or
pointless moves.
1.Sf3 Sf6 2.g3 d5 3.Lg2 e6 4.0–0 Le7 5.d3
c5 6.Sbd2 Sc6 7.e4
By a slightly odd move order, the game has
transposed into a King's Indian Attack.
7...b6 8.Te1 Lb7 9.c3
Whilst the Black King can still go long,
White does well to avoid moves like h2-
h4.
9...0–0?!
Black will pay for this imprecision.
Arlandi fails to respect White's attacking
chances on the kingside and makes a very

FIDE Surveys – Andrew Martin

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poor decision. 9...Dc7! was more flexible.
10.e5 Sd7 11.Sf1
The standard manoeuvre here, winding the
spring on the kingside.
11...b5
It has cost Black a tempo to play ...b5.
12.h4 a5 13.Lf4 Sb6 14.Sg5!

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Making room for the White Queen to come
to h5. White's attack runs on oiled wheels.
14...De8
14...h6 15.Dh5! hg5 16.hg5 is the point in
these positions. White plans Sh2-g4 and
then Kh2, Th1 etc., with a crushing attack.
15.Se3
If now 15.Dh5, then 15...Lg5 16.hg5
(16.Lg5 and there is no obvious way to
continue the attack) 16...f5!

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is a typical motif here. Whether or not the
queens are swapped, Black's king is safe,
White's queenside isn't. However, Black
has lost too many tempi. White has time to
attack in other ways. (Mc Shane)
15...b4 16.Sg4 La6

16...Kh8 was a more tenacious move,
when White still has to prove it. There is a
forced draw in the position: 17.Sh7
a) 17.Sf6 gf6 18.Sh7 fe5 19.Sf6 Lf6
20.Dh5 Kg8 21.Dg4 Kh7 (21...Lg7
22.Lh6) 22.Dh5;
b) But surely 17.h5 is very promising:
17...h6 18.Sf3 Dd7 19.Dd2 bc3 20.bc3 d4
21.c4 Kg8 22.Lh6; 17...Kh7 18.Sf6 gf6
19.Dh5 Kg8 20.Dg4.
17.Sf6!! gf6 18.ef6 Lf6 19.Dh5 h6
19...Lg5 20.Dg5 Kh8 21.Df6 Kg8 22.Lh6
and mates.
20.Dh6 Lg5 21.Dg5 Kh7 22.Dh5 Kg8
23.Lh6 1:0.
23.Lh6 f6 (23...f5 24.Dg5) 24.Dg4 and
mates. Everything stemmed from the
careless 9...0–0.

Topalov V. : Carlsen M.
Morelia/Linares 2008

Topalov is very sluggish in the coming
game. His thinking seems to be clouded.
1.e4 Sf6 2.e5 Sd5 3.d4 d6 4.Sf3 de5 5.Se5
c6!
Carlsen seems willing to play all sorts of
openings. He is a player firmly in the
Modern style of all-round excellence.
Opening specialists are all too easy to pick
off with the advent of databases.
6.Ld3
The natural looking 6.c4 is inaccurate.
After 6...Sb4 Black suddenly develops an
initiative, threatening to take on d4
followed by the check on c2. Therefore
White must place the knight on a3, after
which Black easily achieves comfortable
play: 7.Le3 Lf5 8.Sa3 (8.Sd3 e5!) 8...Sd7=;
Besides 6.Ld3, other attempts to fight for
the advantage are 6.Le2 and 6.Lc4.
6...Sd7
An economical idea, where Black tries to
exchange White's strong knight.
7.Sd7
Topalov is surprised and plays an insipid
move. But 5...c6 is a logical idea,
developed by Tony Miles. Black waits to
see what White is doing and then reacts
with ...Lf5, ...Sd7 or ...g6, as appropriate.

FIDE Surveys – Andrew Martin

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Meanwhile ...c7-c6 is always useful.
7...Ld7 8.0–0 g6 9.Sd2
Somewhat better is 9.Te1 Lg7 10.c3 0–0
11.Lg5, although Black hardly has any
opening problems.
9...Lg7 10.Sf3 0–0 11.Te1
More cautious is 11.h3=.
11...Lg4! 12.c3 c5!

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Black strikes at the centre, with a
combination in mind.
13.Le4
The real point is shown after 13.dc5 Sc3!
14.bc3 Lc3

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White's pieces hang, although he can keep
fighting with best play: 15.Lh6 Le1
(15...Te8? 16.Te3+-; 15...La1? 16.Da1+-)
16.De1 Dd3 17.Se5 (17.De5? f6 18.De7
Tf7) 17...Dd4 18.c6 (18.Lf8 Kf8 19.Sg4
Dg4) 18...bc6 19.Sc6 Df6 20.Se7 Kh8
21.Sd5 Dd4 22.Lf8 Tf8 23.Se3 Le6 24.Td1
De5 25.Db4 Kg7 26.De7 a5 27.h3 Tb8.
Black is only slightly better in the final
position. I get the impression, Topalov was
quite shocked by the ease, with which

Black equalized using the ' inferior'
Alekhine's Defence.
13...cd4 14.cd4 e6
Everything is under control and White's
weak pawn on d4 is nothing to write home
about.
15.Db3?!
After 15.h3 Lf3 16.Lf3 Db6 17.Ld5 ed5
18.Le3. The position is utterly miserable
for White. I think best now is 18...Tfe8!,
with an ongoing big plus. White may
grovel a draw, but that is the height of his
ambition. 18...Db2 19.Dd3! Db6 20.Tab1
Dc6 21.Tec1 Dd7 22.Db5!
15...Lf3!
Very concrete. Black wins the central
pawn.
16.Lf3 Ld4 17.Ld5 Dd5 18.Dd5 ed5
19.Td1
Maybe Topalov thought he was regaining
the pawn. He is wrong!
19...Lg7 20.Kf1
20.Td5 Tfd8!

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is the key idea. Black's active pieces win
the day: 21.Td8 Td8 22.Le3 (22.Kf1 Td1
23.Ke2 Th1 is just bad for White) 22...b6
23.Tb1 Lb2 with a healthy pawn up.
20...Tfd8 21.Lg5 Td7 22.Td2 h6 23.Le3
d4 24.Td3 Tc8 25.Ld2 Tc2
This should be easy for a GM of Carlsen's
strength. Black is a solid pawn up and
more active too!
26.Tb1 Te7 27.a4 f5 28.b3 Tec7
28...Kf7 29.Tc1 Tc1 30.Lc1 Ke6 –+.
29.Le1 Kf7 30.Td2 Tc1
30...Td2 31.Ld2 d3 32.Td1 g5 was another
way, but Black plays without any risk, as

FIDE Surveys – Andrew Martin

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befits good technique in a winning
position.
31.Tc1 Tc1 32.Ke2 Tb1! 33.Td3 Ke6
34.h4 Kd5–+ 35.Ld2 Ke4 36.Tg3 f4
37.Td3 Le5 38.f3 Kd5 39.Le1 Ld6
40.Ld2
40.Lf2 Lc5 leaves White without good
moves.
40...g5 41.hg5 hg5 42.Le1 g4 43.fg4 Ke4
44.g5 Ke5 0:1.

FUTURE IMPROVEMENT

What is the right frame of mind to get into
before a chess game? I would say you need
to be cheerful, positive and optimistic and
your brain should be free of distraction.
The second item on the agenda might not
always be possible to achieve, but you
should strive hard for positivity. During the
game it is essential not to beat yourself up,
as this is a primary cause of meaningless
and very poor moves. Even if you make a
mistake, you have to keep believing in
your position and try to make the best of it.
After the game, learn all the lessons you
can from what has just happened and then
move forward. This is a simple enough
philosophy, easy to apply and will
certainly lead to an improvement in your
chess-playing strength.