Schiller Eric Strategic themes in action, 1991 OCR, 102p

^B^CStrategic Themes in Action
^B^Cby National Master Eric Schiller

The art of strategic planning is not easily acquired from most
teaching materials, yet it is one of the most important aspects of
practical play. I think that the reason for this is primarily because
the pedagogical technique applied in most cases mimics that used in
the teaching of tactics. Tactical skill can be obtained by studying
individual elements of a position using a small set of stock
maneuvers. Positional factors have also been approached in this way,
with examples showing how a certain positional weakness can be
exploited by specific means. This is a fine introduction to strategic
play, and suitable for beginners. The major difficulty, however, lies
in combining the appropriate methods with a solid positional
evaluation and, importantly, recognizing that one's opponent is likely
to counter any plan that arises. In a real game, therefore, a player
has to be prepared to switch plans frequently, to constantly re-
examine the strategy to see if it is still appropriate under new
circumstances. Often a change of plan is required every few moves.
Sometimes a plan which was countered at one point in the game is made
possible again later in the game.

This database file contains complete games where the strategic and
positional factors that you have already acquired are seen in the
complex interplay of the middlegame and endgame. There are few quick
knockouts - most of the games feature a fascinating ebb and flow of
strategic plans. In some cases a single motif runs throughout the
game, in others many ideas are required in order to achieve victory.A
few words of general advice are in order regarding both studying the
games and putting the knowledge gained into action in tournament play.

If tactics are the down-to-earth business of chess, then strategy is
its fine art. As such creativity is needed. It is well-known that
computers do not do well at long-term planning in chess. They can
crunch numbers, but they cannot dream. And indeed it is dreaming that
is necessary in order to amalgamate the positional characteristics one
sees on the board and create a concrete plan.At the board, and
especially when the opponent is on the move, it is useful to fantasize
about the position. Imagine tactical operations which could be carried
out if it were not for the presence of a certain piece. Forget about
the laws of chess for a moment and think about where you would like to
put your pieces if you could simply pick them up and move them to any
square you wish without any intervention on the part of your opponent.
These mental exercises help to focus your mind on the strategic goals
of the position. Once you know what you want to do, it is simply a
matter of figuring out some way of getting your opponent to cooperate.
The desired result can often be achieved by such tactical operations
as deflections and sacrifices.

As you study the games in this database, constantly ask yourself what
each player is trying to accomplish and what means are available to
counter these plans. In some games a player achieves his goal quickly
because his opponent is caught napping, in other the immediate threats
are parried and others take their place. In your own games, do not get
frustrated when your opponent sees what you are up to and takes
measures to prevent it - that is the normal course of a chess game.
Indeed, if you think about the constant references to chess by
sportscasters covering football, baseball or basketball games it is

this aspect of the Royal Game that they usually have in mind. Instead,
simply ask what price your opponent has paid for his defense, and try
to come up with a plan which will exploit any new weakness that may
have been created. You will see this concept at work in many of the
games in this collection.

The annotated games in this database are included in Strategy for
Advanced
Players published by Chess Digest, Inc. All material is copyright
1991 by Eric Schiller.

Karpov
Hort

Moskva

1971

[Schiller]

1.e4 c5 2.

¤f3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.¤xd4 ¤f6 5.¤c3 e6 6.g4 ¤c6 7.g5 ¤d7 8.¥e3 a6 9.f4

¥e7 10.¦g1 ¤xd4

Hort played this reluctantly, since it concedes the center to White, who now

has better control of e5. Therefore Black will have to occupy that square while he can.

11.

£xd4

e5! 12.

£d2 exf4 13.¥xf4 ¤e5

Black has executed his plan to take over the e5-square, but

has had to accept a weak Pd6 in return.

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14.

¥e2 ¥e6 15.¤d5!

White correctly establishes a blockade at d5. If he had castled first, then

Black would have been able to thwart this plan with 15...Qa5!

¥xd5 16.exd5

A difficult choice.

Generally, one uses a piece to blockade a pawn, but here the weakness at d6 wiould have a
counterpart at e4. Karpov's choice also gives more scope to his light-squared bishop.

¤g6

Hort, recognizing the passivity of his position, strives to create counterplay by tactical means.
The threat is the capture at f4 followed by Qa5+.

17.

¥e3 h6?!

This is an error of judgement.

Black reasoned that White would not capture, because that wouldresult in a displacement of his
king. But with the d-file sealed, the White king will rest comfortably at d1.

18.gxh6

¥h4+

19.

¢d1 gxh6 20.¥xh6

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Black now had to reconsider the situation. White's extra pawn at c2 is not the most important
factor. The question is, where should the Bh4 be posted?

¥f6 21.c3 ¥e5

This is clearly a good

square for the bishop, and there is a serious threat here of kingside infiltration with 22...Qh4, e.g.,
23.Bg5 Qb6 24.Be3 Qc7. But Karpov, recognizing the danger, puts a stop to Black's plans.

22.

¦g4!

£f6?!

Despite White's advantages (bishop pair, open lines in the center) Hort should

have taken the opportunity to restore the material balacne with 22...Bxh2. Instead, he chose to
play for complications.

23.h4!

A strong positional move, saving and advancing the h-pawn. It is

based on the tactical point that 23...Nxh4? would be countered by 24.Bg7.

£f5

24.

¦b4

This rook performs the double duty of protecting the fourth rank and attacking on the quenside.

¥f6 25.h5 ¤e7

Not 25...Ne5?, which drops a piece to 27.Rf4!

26.

¦f4

[ 26.

¦xb7?? ¦xh6! 27.£xh6 £xd5+

picks up the Rb7.

]

26...

£e5

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Black is almost out of the woods. All he has to do is castle. But the central files can still cause
him problems .

27.

¦f3! ¤xd5 28.¦d3 ¦xh6

No better was 28...Ne7 19.Bf4!

29.

¦xd5!

Whtie had to avoid the tactical trick 29.Qxh6 Bg5 when 30...Ne3+ would have been very
powerful.

£e4

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Material equilibrium has been resored, but Black's pieces are not well placed. White's roaming
rook now redeploys to a most menacing position.

30.

¦d3! £h1+

The threat of Re3, combined

with pressure at h6, force Black to take this desperate measure. He was in time pressure as well.

31.

¢c2 £xa1 32.£xh6 ¥e5 33.£g5

Here Hort's flag fell, but it didn't really matter.

1-0

Borik
Hort

Bundesliga

1982

[Schiller]

1.d4

¤f6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.¤c3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.e4 g6 7.f4 ¥g7 8.¥b5+ ¤fd7

¥e2 £h4+

Black spends a tempo in order to weaken the White kingside.

10.g3

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£d8!?

Hort's original idea. The positional basis is that the usual plan with Qe7 leaves the queen

on the e-file, which will eventually be pried open with e4-e5 so her majesty returns home instead.

11.

¤f3 0-0 12.0-0 ¦e8 13.¦e1 ¤a6 14.¥f1

A logical move, since White will be attempting to

advance his e-pawn and free the e4-square for occupation by a knight. In addition, it protects h3,
which will be important if White wants to launch a pawnstorm on the kingside.

¤b6

15.h3

White might have productively inserted a2-a4 here, as suggested by Borik.

c4!

This advance is

an important component of Black's strategy in the Benoni. It frees the c5-square for occupation
by the knight, and opens the a7-g1 diagonal which can be useful for attacks on the White king.

16.e5?!

The timing of this advance is critical, and here White acted prematurely. The big center

will soon be liquidated, and Black's activity onthe queenside will proceed unchallenged.

[ 16.

¥e3!?

¤b4

17.a3

¤d3!

takes advantage of the overworked Bf1, which has the

responsibility of holding both d3 and h3.

18.

¥xd3 cxd3 19.£xd3 ¥xh3

is fine for Black.

]

16...

¤b4

The ideas are the same as in the previous note, but here the simplification will bring

into focus the lack of support of the advanced White pawns.

17.g4

[ 17.a3

¤d3 18.¥xd3 cxd3 19.£xd3 ¥xh3

is pleasant for Black, who has the bishop pair and

better coordinated pieces.

]

17...dxe5 18.fxe5

¤6xd5 19.¤xd5 £xd5!

The endgames are clearly better for Black, with or

without the extra pawn.

20.

£xd5 ¤xd5 21.¥xc4

(Diagram 6)

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Material balance is restored, but White has a very weak pawn at e5, the result of his premature
advance at move 16.

¤b6 22.¥b3 ¥e6 23.¥e3 ¤d7

[ 23...

¥xb3 24.axb3

only works to White's advantage, since the open a-file ties down the Ra8

and the doubled pawns are not weak. In fact, the Pb3 limits the activity of the enemy knight.

]

24.

¥xe6 ¦xe6 25.¥d4 ¦ae8 26.¦ad1

[ 26.

¥xa7 ¤xe5 27.¤xe5 ¥xe5!

creates the embarassing threat of Bh2+ as well as Bxb2.

]

26...

¤xe5 27.¥xe5 ¥xe5 28.¤xe5 ¦xe5 29.¦xe5 ¦xe5 30.¦d7 ¦b5

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9+-+-+-mK-0[

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One extra pawn is often insufficient for a win in single rook endgames, but despite good play by
White, Hort manages to win with good technique.

31.b3

¢g7 32.¢f2 ¢f6 33.¢f3 a5 34.¦c7

h6 35.

¢g3 ¢e6 36.¢f3 h5!

Black must try to create a passed pawn.

37.

¢g3 hxg4 38.hxg4

g5!

It is too soon to play f7-f5. The pawn at f7 limits the mobility of the White rook, while the pawn

at g5 hinders the movement of the White king.

39.

¢f3 f6 40.¦h7 ¦b4

Because the Black

pawns are located near the edge of the board, White does not have sufficient maneuvering room
for his rook. Now the Black rook will be able to infiltrate.

41.

¢g3

b6!

An essential move, as

otherwise the Rb4 is tied down to the defense of the pawn.

42.

¦h2 ¦f4 43.¦d2

(Diagram 8)

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This is an instructive endgame. Even though there are no obvious targets in the White position,
the occupation of the back rank is critical.

¦f1! 44.¢g2 ¦c1

Only in this way can Black insure

that he will be able to defend both of this pawn chains with his rook, freeing the king. Endgames
like this need the support of the monarch if one hopes to achieve victory.

45.

¦e2+ ¢d5 46.¦f2

¦c6 47.¢g3 ¢d4 48.¢f3 ¢d3

and White resigned, since Rc2 will be fatal.

0-1

Hort
Karpov

Amsterdam

1981

[Schiller]

1.d4

¤f6 2.¤f3 e6 3.c4 d5 4.¤c3 ¥e7 5.¥g5 h6 6.¥h4 0-0 7.e3 b6 8.¦c1 ¥b7 9.cxd5

exd5 10.

¥e2 ¤bd7 11.0-0 c5 12.£c2 a6 13.¦fd1

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The Tartakower Variation requires good positional sense and an understanding of the dynamics
of this particular pawn structure.

c4!?

Although White did not capture at c5 on move 12, he is

now ready to do so, and that is why Karpov advanced the pawn. His strategy will prove correct if
he can also play b6-b5, but Hort puts an end to that idea.

14.a4!

¥c6?

A full question mark for

this positional blunder. The advance b6-b5 has become an idee fixe for Karpov, notwithstanding
Hort's anticipation. While Black has eyes only for the queenside, Hort has not forgotten about the
center!

15.

¤e5!

White can occupy this outpost since the base of Black's pawn chain at d5 is

without sufficient support. If Black captures at e5, he loses a pawn. But as things stand, White
threatens to remove an important defender.

£c7

[ 15...

¥b7

temporarily keeps the defense intact, but after

16.

¥f3

the threat of Ne5xc4 is quite

real, and even after 16...Rac8, an eventual break with e3-e4 is inevitable.

]

16.

¤xc6 £xc6 17.¥f3

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There is an immediate threat of 18.Nxd5 Nxd5 19.Bxe7!, exploiting the pin on the long diagonal.

¥b4

This move not only removes the threat at e7, but also creates the possibilty of eliminating

the Nc3 which is putting pressure on d5. But Hort realizes that the pin can be effective
immediately.

18.

¤xd5!! ¤xd5 19.£f5!

White regains his material, since 19...N7f6 is met by 20.

Bxf6 and the Nd5 falls.

£xa4 20.¥xd5 ¦ac8

Karpov should have defended along his second

rank with 20...Ra7, but he must have overlooked White's next move.

21.b3!

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Hort found this move because he was examining positions with the Rf8 moved off the f-file. This
move opens the c-file, and forces the Rf8 to move.

cxb3

[ 21...

£b5 22.bxc4 £a4 23.¦a1

and the Nd7 is dead horsemeat.

]

22.

¦xc8 ¦xc8 23.£xf7+ ¢h8 24.¥xb3 £b5 25.¥e6

and the pin wins!

¦f8 26.¥xd7!

and Karpov resigned, since after 26...Rxf7 27.Bxb5 axb5 28.Rb1 his endgame is lost, while 26...
Qe2 is met by 27.Qb3.

1-0

Hort
Kurajica

Vinkovci

1976

[Schiller]

1.e4 c5 2.

¤f3 ¤c6 3.¥b5 e6 4.0-0 a6 5.¥xc6 dxc6 6.d3 £c7 7.e5

Already the outline of

White's strategy is clear - the d6 square is mine and I will occupy it with a piece! Of course
nothing can come of this immediately, but this is the central notion out of which plans are built.

Inviting White to capture at f6, after which Black's forecourt will be a bit weak. But this would
mean giving up the valuable d6 point, and Hort has no desire to part with his gem.

8.a4

¤a3

¤e7

This must be played right away, or else White will station his knight at c4 and

thereby make it very difficult for the knight to enter the game.

10.

¤c4 ¤d5

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11.

¦e1

Typical overprotection. This is clearly the appropriate position for the rook, since nothing

is going to happen on the f-file. Now one can dream of positions where, after Nc4-d6+, Bxd6 and
exd6, the opposition Re1/Ke8 can be exploited.

¤b6?!

Kurajica is playing without much of a

plan, and should have left the knight alone, as it was well placed.

[ 11...b5 12.axb5 cxb5 13.

¤d6+ ¥xd6 14.exd6 £xd6 15.c4 ¤b4 16.¤e5!

gives White the

strong threat of Qh5+.

]

12.

¤xb6 £xb6

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Black is clearly worse, with a very bad Bc8. But how can White take advantage of d6? Somehow,
the Bc1 has to get into the act.

13.b3!

Although the path from a3 to d6 is currently blocked, that

can be changed by a timely d3-d4. In addition, the Bc1 is now free to develop at e3, since the b-
pawn will no longer be hanging.

£c7 14.d4!

[ 14.

¥a3 b5! 15.d4 b4!

demonstrates the point behind the retreat of the Black queen.

]

14...cxd4 15.

£xd4 b6

Black has succeeded in taking control of c5, so that Bc1-a3 will no longer

be effective. Still, the queenside pawns are now loose, so serious consideration should have
been given to 15...Be7, as suggested by Unzicker.

16.

£c4!

A clever move, recognizing that

Black was getting ready for Bc8-a6, which now would lose the e-pawn.

£d7

17.

¥e3

¥a6

18.

£h4 c5

Black's queenside position is now solid, but his pieces have limited scope. White has

not forgotten about d6, however.

19.

¦ad1 £f7

[ 19...

£b7 20.£h5+ g6 ( 20...£f7 21.£xf7+ ¢xf7 22.¤g5+ ¢e7 23.¦d6

is a deadly

infiltration.

) 21.

£h4

and the dark squares are very weak, e.g.,

¥e7 22.¥g5 ¦d8 23.¥xe7

£xe7 24.¦xd8+ £xd8 25.£xd8+ ¢xd8 26.¦d1+ ¢e7 27.¦d6 ¦b8 28.¤g5

and White wins

material.

]

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20.

¦d6!

Finally Hort realizes his dream - the occupation of d6. Black has nothing better than

accepting the material.

¥xd6 21.exd6 0-0 22.¤e5!

The combination of the powerful knight

outpost and the advanced pawn provides more than enough compensatino for the exchange.
Here the bishops of opposite color help White too, since the Bg5 has no counterpart on the dark
squares.

£b7

[ 22...

£f6 23.¥g5 ]

23.

¥g5 £d5 24.¥e7 ¥b7 25.f3

Here Black is completely busted, with no way of contesting the

d7-square.

£d2 26.d7 ¦fb8 27.c4 £c3 28.¢f1 £d2 29.£g5

and Black resigned, because

of 29...Qxg5 30.Bxg5 Kf8 31.Rd1 Rd8 32.Rd6 and 29...Qc3 30.Bf6 g6 31.Qh6.

1-0

Hort
Miles

Porz

1982

[Schiller]

1.d4

¤f6 2.c4 e6 3.¤c3 ¥b4 4.¥g5 c5 5.d5 d6 6.e3 £e7 7.¤ge2 exd5 8.a3 ¥xc3+

¤xc3 dxc4 10.¥xc4

[ 10.

¤d5 £d8 11.¥xc4 ¥e6

is unclear.

]

10...

¥e6

The theme of this game will also be the weakness at d6.

(Diagram 15)

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11.

¤b5! ¥xc4

[ 11...0-0

would have been wiser, in retrospect. After

12.

¥xe6 fxe6 13.£xd6 £xd6 14.¤xd6

Black would have had a structural weakness, and knight versus bishop in the endgame, but

there would have been more chances than in the game.

]

12.

¤xd6+ ¢f8 13.¤xc4 ¤c6 14.0-0 £e6

Miles, an excellent endgame player, no doubt saw

that the ensuing endgame has little joy for Black, but the alternatives were even worse.

[ 14...b5?

15.

£d6! bxc4 16.£xc6

and Black has no compensation for his shattered pawn

structure.

]

15.

£d6+ £xd6 16.¤xd6 b6

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White has achieved his primary plan - the occupation of d6. His bishop is more pwerful than the
enemy knight. Now he needs a new plan.

17.

¦ac1!

How did Hort arrive at this move? He may

have come up with a fantasy about a rook at c7, which would be devastating. That may have
seemed far-fetched in the diagrammed position, but now the threat of b4 makes it a real
possibility.

¤d7

[ 17...

¤d8 18.b4 ¤e6

would be a possible alternative, but White emerges on top by smashing

the kingside pawn structure.

19.

¥xf6 gxf6 20.f4!

and the knight will soon be driven from the

coverage of c7:

cxb4 21.f5

¤d8 22.axb4 ¢e7 23.¦fd1

with Rc7+ to follow.

]

18.

¦fd1

(with the obvious threat of Nxf7)

f6 19.

¥f4 ¤ce5

[ 19...g5?! 20.

¤f5! gxf4 21.¦xd7 ¤e5 22.¦b7 fxe3 23.fxe3

and Black is paralyzed.

]

20.b4!

This returns to the theme of Rc7 that has been bouncing around in White's head for the

past few moves.

cxb4 21.axb4 a5 22.bxa5 bxa5 23.

¦c7

(Diagram 17)

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9zp-+-sn-+-0

9-+-+-vL-+0

9+-+-zP-+-0

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9+-+R+-mK-0

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Even though the interlocking knights provide a defensive barrier for the king, Black still suffers
from lack of space.

h5 24.h3 g5

Black had to do this before White played Bh2 and f4.

25.

¥xe5

¤xe5 26.f4 gxf4 27.exf4 ¤g6 28.¤f5

White's contol of the seventh rank is the most

important feature of the position, but his freedom of movement and control of space help to
guarantee the win.

¤xf4 29.¦d6 ¦g8 30.¦xf6+ ¢e8 31.¤d6+ ¢d8 32.¦ff7 ¦xg2+ 33.¢f1

1-0

Alekhine
Book

Margate

1938

[Schiller]

1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.

¤f3 ¤f6 4.e3 e6 5.¥xc4 c5 6.0-0 ¤c6 7.£e2 a6 8.¤c3

8.a4 would lead to more common lines.

b5 9.

¥b3

Alekhine correctly keeps the bishop on the

queenside, as the lack of a rook at d1 means that 9.Bd3 leaved d4 without sufficient protection.

This came as a surprise to Alekhine, who expected Black to play 9...Be7, as in an encounter

with Euwe.

[ 9...

¥e7 10.dxc5 0-0 11.e4

and White stands better.

]

[ 9...

¥b7?! 10.¦d1 £c7 11.d5! exd5 12.¤xd5 ¤xd5 13.¥xd5

followed by e3-e4 and the

eventual placement of the Ra1 at c1 would provide lasting pressure.

]

(Diagram 18)

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+lwqkvl-tr0

9+-+-+pzpp0

9p+n+psn-+0

9+-zp-+-+-0

9-zp-zP-+-+0

9+LsN-zPN+-0

9PzP-+QzPPzP0

9tR-vL-+RmK-0[

xiiiiiiiiy

10.d5!

Alekhine's judgement is probably correct, though Taimanov's preferred 10.Na4 is a

worthy alternative. White's goal is to advance the e-pawn, and to do this he must somehow
release the pressure at d4.

¤a5

[ 10...exd5 11.

¤xd5 ¤xd5 12.¦d1

followed by e3-e4 gives a clear advantage to White.

]

11.

¥a4+ ¥d7

White has achieved quite a lot, but wouldn't it be great if he also had a rook on an

open d-file? With this idea in mind, we can easily see how Alekhine creates one of his impressive
combinations.

12.dxe6 fxe6

[ 12...

¥xa4 13.exf7+ ¢xf7 14.¤xa4 ]

13.

¦d1

And here we are! The advance d4-d5 has borne delicious fruit!

[ 13.

¥xd7+ £xd7 14.¦d1 £c6! 15.¤b1 ¥e7= ]

13...bxc3

[ 13...

¥e7 14.¥xd7+ ¤xd7 15.¤e5 ¦a7 16.£h5+ g6 17.¤xg6

is a line given by

Brinckmann.

]

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+-wqkvl-tr0

9+-+l+-zpp0

9p+-+psn-+0

9sn-zp-+-+-0

9L+-+-+-+0

9+-zp-zPN+-0

9PzP-+QzPPzP0

9tR-vLR+-mK-0[

xiiiiiiiiy

14.

¦xd7!!

Alekhine describes this as the highpoint of the combination. The main reason why the

White attack is consequential is the position of the Na5 which cannot participate in the play.

¤xd7 15.¤e5 ¦a7 16.bxc3

(Diagram 20)

XIIIIIIIIY

9-+-wqkvl-tr0{

9tr-+n+-zpp0

9p+-+p+-+0

9sn-zp-sN-+-0

9L+-+-+-+0

9+-zP-zP-+-0

9P+-+QzPPzP0

9tR-vL-+-mK-0

xiiiiiiiiy

Taking stock of the position, it is clear that if the Bc1 can get into play then Black will be in
serious difficulty.

¢e7

A strange looking move, but the alternatives are not pleasant.

[ 16...

¥e7 17.£h5+ g6 18.¤xg6 hxg6 19.£xh8+ ¥f8 20.¥c2 ( 20.e4 ¤c4 21.¥h6 £e7

22.

¦b1!? ) 20...£f6 21.£xf6 ¤xf6 22.¥xg6+ ¢d8 23.¥d2 ¤c4 24.¥e1

and it is not clear

that the three pawns and bishop pair will be enough to win though White is not likely to lose this
position, which follows analysis by Brinckmann.

]

[ 16...

¥d6 17.£h5+! g6 18.¤xg6 hxg6 19.£xh8+ ¥f8 20.e4 £e7 21.¥h6 ¤c4 22.¦b1

with two pawns and enormous pressure for the piece. Note that 22...Kf7 loses to 23.Qh7+
Ke8 24.Rb8+!

]

17.e4!

This sets up tricks with Bg5+.

¤f6 18.¥g5

And now Qh5+ is in the air.

£c7 19.¥f4 £b6

[ 19...

¢d8 20.¤c6+ £xc6 ( 20...¤xc6 21.¥xc7+ ¢xc7 22.e5 ¤d7 23.f4 ) 21.¥xc6 ¤xc6

22.

¦d1+ ¤d7 23.e5

and the queen will pillage on the light squares.

]

[ 19...

£b7 20.£e3! ¢d8 ( 20...¤xe4 21.¥g5+ ¢d6 22.¦d1+ £d5 23.¦xd5+ exd5

24.

£f4+- ) 21.£d3+ ¢c8 22.¦b1 £xe4 23.¤f7 ¦xf7 24.¦b8# ]

20.

¦d1 g6

[ 20...

¤b7 21.¤c4 ]

[ 20...

¦a8 21.¥g5 ¦d8 22.¤d7 £c7 23.e5+- ]

[ 20...

¦g8 21.¥g5 h6 22.£h5 g6 23.¤xg6+ ¦xg6 24.£xg6 hxg5 25.e5! ¤d5 26.£e8#

was pointed out by Brinckmann.

]

21.

¥g5 ¥g7

XIIIIIIIIY

9-+-+-+-tr0

9tr-+-mk-vlp0

9pwq-+psnp+0

9sn-zp-sN-vL-0

9L+-+P+-+0

9+-zP-+-+-0

9P+-+QzPPzP0

9+-+R+-mK-0[

xiiiiiiiiy

22.

¤d7!

The decisive, thematic thrust that brings the game to a swift conclusion.

¦xd7

23.

¦xd7+ ¢f8 24.¥xf6 ¥xf6 25.e5

and Black resigned, rather than walk into the obvious line:

£b1+ 26.¦d1 £f5 27.exf6 £xf6 28.£xa6 £xc3 29.£xe6

to which there is simply no

defence.

1-0

Botvinnik

2560

Euwe

2560

World Championship (2)

1948

[Schiller]

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.

¤f3 ¤f6 4.¤c3 c6 5.e3 ¤bd7 6.¥d3 ¥b4 7.a3 ¥a5 8.£c2 £e7

¥d2 dxc4 10.¥xc4 e5 11.0-0 0-0 12.¦ae1 ¥c7 13.¤e4 ¤xe4 14.£xe4 a5 15.¥a2 ¤f6

16.

£h4 e4 17.¤e5 ¥xe5 18.dxe5 £xe5 19.¥c3 £e7 20.f3 ¤d5 21.£xe7 ¤xe7 22.fxe4

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+l+-trk+0

9+-+-snpzpp0

9-zpp+-+-+0

9zp-+-+-+-0

9-+-+P+-+0

9zP-vL-zP-+-0

9LzP-+-+PzP0

9+-+-tRRmK-0[

xiiiiiiiiy

Despite the doubled White pawns, Black is in a difficult position because of the activity of White's
pieces. To exploit this, White first grabs the d-file.

23.

¦d1

Now we examine the position, but

mentally remove the Rf8 from the board. That gives us a simple mate in one with Rd8. Given this,
it is easy to understand White's main threat: Rxf7!, using the power of the Ba2.

¤g6

Ok, the first

plan must be abandoned. But now White can infiltrate the enemy position with tempo.

24.

¦d6

¥a6!

A good reply. Black will reposition the bishop at b5, where it more actively defends the Pc6.

25.

¦f2 ¥b5

The pressure on the f-file is more important than doubling rooks on the d-file .

26.e5

White's plan is to advance the e-pawns, using one to eliminate the opposing pawn at f7, and
allowing its brother to become a passed pawn.

¤e7

Now that White has temporarily conceded

control of d5, the Black knight hopes to find a new home there.

[ 26...

¦ae8

permits White to carry out his plan:

27.e6 fxe6 28.

¦d7 ¦e7 29.¥xe6+ ¢h8

30.

¦xf8+ ¤xf8 31.¦xe7 ]

27.e4!

This regains control of d5.

c5 28.e6 f6

[ 28...fxe6? 29.

¦xe6! ]

29.

¦xb6 ¥c6

(Diagram 23)

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+-+-trk+0

9+-+-sn-zpp0

9-tRl+Pzp-+0

9zp-zp-+-+-0

9-+-+P+-+0

9zP-vL-+-+-0

9LzP-+-tRPzP0

9+-+-+-mK-0[

xiiiiiiiiy

Here is another simple example of our technique. We imagine the position with the knight gone
from e7, and see that the discovered check with e6-e7 is good.

30.

¦xc6! ¤xc6 31.e7+ ¦f7

32.

¥d5

The most effective move. The pin on the Nc6 is even stronger than the one at f7, and if

32...Rc8, then on 33.Bxc6 the bishop cannot be recaptured because teh pawn would queen. So
Black resigned.

1-0

Alekhine,A
Capablanca,J

AVRO

1938

[Schiller]

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.

¤d2 ¤f6 4.e5 ¤fd7 5.¥d3 c5 6.c3 ¤c6 7.¤e2 £b6 8.¤f3 cxd4

9.cxd4

¥b4+ 10.¢f1 ¥e7?!

In this sharp line of the French, opening lines with 10...f6 is a wiser

move.

11.a3

¤f8 12.b4 ¥d7 13.¥e3 ¤d8?!

Black does have a plan - to play Bb5 and

exchange the light-squared bishops. But this is easily parried, and turns out to be just a waste of
time.

14.

¤c3! a5

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+-snksn-tr0

9+p+lvlpzpp0

9-wq-+p+-+0

9zp-+pzP-+-0

9-zP-zP-+-+0

9zP-sNLvLN+-0

9-+-+-zPPzP0

9tR-+Q+K+R0[

xiiiiiiiiy

Black challenges White's queenside formation and forces White to determine his short-term plans.
Alekhine decides to plant a pawn at b5.

15.

¤a4

£a7

16.b5

Now the scope of the Bd7 is

severely limited, and Black's plan, beginning with 13...Nd8?!, is exposed as faulty.

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+-snksn-tr0

9wq-+lvlpzpp0

9-zp-+p+-+0

9zpP+pzP-+-0

9N+-zP-+-+0

9zP-+LvLN+-0

9-+-+-zPPzP0

9tR-+Q+K+R0[

xiiiiiiiiy

The picture is quite different from that of the previous diagram. With the queenside secured,
White now turns his attention to the kingside.

17.g3!

In order to achieve results on the kingside,

White may need to use both rooks, so he takes time out to prepare a nice safe hole for his king.
Alekhine always prepared his attacks well. That's why he was able to play so many combinations

f5 18.

¢g2 ¤f7 19.£d2!

Alekhine is not so captivated by his own plan that he forgets to keep

an eye on his opponent! Capablanca was preparing g7-g5 and Nf8-g6. This must be stopped!

20.h4

¤h7 21.h5!

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+-+k+-tr0{

9wq-+lvlnzpn0

9-zp-+p+-zp0

9zpP+pzPp+P0

9N+-zP-+-+0

9zP-+LvLNzP-0

9-+-wQ-zPK+0

9tR-+-+-+R0

xiiiiiiiiy

Excellent judgement! Alekhine sees that the enemy knight will get to e4, but reasons that the hole
at g6 will be more important.

¤fg5 22.¤h4 ¤e4 23.£b2 ¢f7

[ 23...

¥xh4 24.gxh4!

keeps control of critical squares on the kingside, and now 25.f3 will prove

fatal to the Ne4.

]

24.f3

¤eg5

Looking at the position, we can see that if the Pf5 were out of the way White could

launch a powerful attack. Alekhine wastes no time in achieving this goal .

25.g4! fxg4 26.

¥g6+!

A useful interpolation, which cuts off the communication of the enemy rooks.

¢g8 27.f4 ¤f3?!

More resistant was 27...Nf7, but after 28.Bd3 Black would still have been in deep trouble.

(Diagram 27)

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+-+-+ktr0

9wq-+lvl-zpn0

9-zp-+p+Lzp0

9zpP+pzP-+P0

9N+-zP-zPpsN0

9zP-+-vLn+-0

9-wQ-+-+K+0

9tR-+-+-+R0[

xiiiiiiiiy

28.

¥xh7+! ¦xh7 29.¤g6 ¥d8 30.¦ac1!

Such a quiet move is easy to miss. But if White had

left the c-file unguarded, Black might have been able to establish some counterplay by swinging
his heavy artillery there.

¥e8 31.¢g3!

His majesty attends to the invasive knight personally! The

threat is simply Kxg4 and Kxf3.

£f7 32.¢xg4 ¤h4

[ 32...

¤g5 33.fxg5 £f5+ 34.¢g3

and the king is perfectly safe, while the White rooks eye the

f-file lustily.

]

33.

¤xh4 £xh5+ 34.¢g3 £f7 35.¤f3 h5

Capablanca exceeded the time limit here, but his

position was hopeless in any event.

1-0

Fischer
Petrosian

Buenos Aires (m/7)

1971

[Schiller]

1.e4 c5 2.

¤f3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.¤xd4 a6 5.¥d3 ¤c6 6.¤xc6 bxc6 7.0-0 d5 8.c4 ¤f6

9.cxd5 cxd5 10.exd5 exd5

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+lwqkvl-tr0

9+-+-+pzpp0

9p+-+-sn-+0

9+-+p+-+-0

9-+-+-+-+0

9+-+L+-+-0

9PzP-+-zPPzP0

9tRNvLQ+RmK-0[

xiiiiiiiiy

Clearly the isolated queen pawn is going to play a significant role in the game. Part of White's
strategy will be to dominate the adjacent files.

11.

¤c3

¥e7

12.

£a4+

£d7

13.

¦e1!

Fischer doesn't engage in cheap theatrics:

[ 13.

¥b5?! axb5! 14.£xa8 0-0

and the follow up with Bb7 and an eventual advance of the d-

pawn will give Black an excellent game.

]

13...

£xa4

14.

¤xa4

The isolated pawn is even weaker in the endgame, and White is halfway

toward achieving his goal of dominating the c- and e-files. The pawn at a6, defended doubly for
the moment, is also a potential weakness.

¥e6 15.¥e3 0-0 16.¥c5!

This is the key move. With

the dark-squared bishops off the board, the rooks can attack the isolated pawn from the side. In
addition, the c5-square will be more easily secured for occupation by the knight.

¦fe8 17.¥xe7

¦xe7 18.b4!

Now we can observe the weakness of the pawn at a6, which will come under the

watchful eye of the knight from its new outpost at c5. This, combined with the power of the Be2,
will tie down Black's forces.

¢f8 19.¤c5 ¥c8

Mission accomplished. Now White must find a

way to increase the pressure on d5 but how can he do this?

20.f3!

Fischer's plan is almost brutal

in its simplicity - he threatens to exchange rooks, march his king up the diagonal to d4, chase the
knight from f6 and grab the weak pawn at d5.

¦ea7 21.¦e5

Just as planned back at move 13!

¥d7 22.¤xd7+!

There comes a time in every plan when the immediate goal is achieved, and it

is time to capitalize. The knight, though well placed, has done its job and now the domination of
the remaining open file is the primary objective.

¦xd7 23.¦c1

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+-+-mk-+0{

9+-+r+pzpp0

9p+-+-sn-+0

9+-+ptR-+-0

9-zP-+-+-+0

9+-+L+P+-0

9P+-+-+PzP0

9+-tR-+-mK-0

xiiiiiiiiy

The weakness of the pawns continues to plague Black, who must now worry about the threat of
Rc1-c6.

¦d6 24.¦c7

The sixth is protected - but the seventh rank is now available. Black quickly

runs out of moves.

¤d7 25.¦e2 g6 26.¢f2 h5 27.f4!

A precise move which further limits

Black's options.

h4 28.

¢f3 f5 29.¢e3

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+-+-mk-+0{

9+-tRn+-+-0

9p+-tr-+p+0

9+-+p+p+-0

9-zP-+-zP-zp0

9+-+LmK-+-0

9P+-+R+PzP0

9+-+-+-+-0

xiiiiiiiiy

Black is virutally in zugzwang, so he advances his prized pawn, and opens up more lines for
White.

d4+ 30.

¢d2 ¤b6 31.¦ee7 ¤d5 32.¦f7+ ¢e8 33.¦b7

This appears to drop a a pawn,

but in fact it gurantees victory.

¤xb4 34.¥c4!

and Petrosian resigned, because after 34...Nc6

35.Rh7 Rf6 36.Rh8+ Rf8 37.Bf7+.

1-0

Botvinnik

2560

Vidmar

2560

Nottingham

1936

[Schiller]

1.c4 e6 2.

¤f3 d5 3.d4 ¤f6 4.¥g5 ¥e7 5.¤c3 0-0 6.e3 ¤bd7 7.¥d3 c5 8.0-0 cxd4

9.exd4 dxc4 10.

¥xc4 ¤b6 11.¥b3

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+lwq-trk+0{

9zpp+-vlpzpp0

9-sn-+psn-+0

9+-+-+-vL-0

9-+-zP-+-+0

9+LsN-+N+-0

9PzP-+-zPPzP0

9tR-+Q+RmK-0

xiiiiiiiiy

White already enjoys a comfortable position, and Black should have taken some measures to
reduce the pressure. 11...Nd5 is called for.

¥d7 12.£d3 ¤bd5

Black blockades the pawn,

which is the correct positional reaction, but some commentators suggested that the other knight
would have been the correct one. After 12...Nfd5 13.Bc2 g6 White would still have enjoyed a
small advantage.

13.

¤e5 ¥c6 14.¦ad1

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+-wq-trk+0{

9zpp+-vlpzpp0

9-+l+psn-+0

9+-+nsN-vL-0

9-+-zP-+-+0

9+LsNQ+-+-0

9PzP-+-zPPzP0

9+-+R+RmK-0

xiiiiiiiiy

The interdependence of Black's forces is both an asset and a liability. White is going to attack on
the kingside, so Black must strive for activity.

¤b4?!

Continued development was called for, with

either 14...Qa5 or 14...Rc8. The knight will not accomplish anything more than encouraging
White's queen to move to a more effective post on the kingside.

15.

£h3 ¥d5

Black spends

more time jousting with the Bb3, but this problem is easily solved. On the other hand, 15...Nfd5
16.Bc1! would also have been very strong for White.

16.

¤xd5 ¤bxd5

Now it is time for White

to create a concrete plan based on his positional advantages. The target is f7. One would like to
have a semi-open f-file, and also eliminate the pawn at e6. Two concepts equal one plan!

17.f4!

¦c8

[ 17...g6

is not playable because of

18.

¥h6 ¦e8 19.¥a4

and the bishops combine from a

great distance to win the exchange.

]

18.f5 exf5

Forced, since 18.Qd6 19.fxe6 fxe6 leaves the pawn at e6 much too weak.

19.

¦xf5

£d6?!

This allows White to achieve his strategic goal by tactical means, but 19... Rc7 20.Rdf1

and 21.Qh4 would have left Black in despair.

XIIIIIIIIY

9-+r+-trk+0

9zpp+-vlpzpp0

9-+-wq-sn-+0

9+-+nsNRvL-0

9-+-zP-+-+0

9+L+-+-+Q0

9PzP-+-+PzP0

9+-+R+-mK-0[

xiiiiiiiiy

20.

¤xf7!!

The combination of pins on the file and on the diagonals reap rewards.

¦xf7

[ 20...

¢xf7 21.¥xd5+ ]

21.

¥xf6 ¥xf6

[ 21...

¤xf6 22.¦xf6! £xf6 23.£xc8+ ¥f8 24.¥xf7+ £xf7 25.¦f1 £e7 26.¦xf8+ £xf8

27.

£xf8+ ¢xf8 28.¢f2

is an easy win.

]

22.

¦xd5 £c6

[ 22...

¥xd4+ 23.¢h1! ]

23.

¦d6

Avoiding the final trap of 23.Rc5?? Bxd4+!

£e8 24.¦d7

1-0

Spassky
Aftonov

Leningrad

1949

[Schiller]

1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.

¤f3 ¤f6 4.e3 c5 5.¥xc4 e6 6.0-0 a6 7.£e2 b5 8.¥b3 ¤c6 9.¤c3

cxd4?!

This is a positional mistake, because the isolated pawn which it creates will be able to

quickly satisfy its lust to expand. Better was 9...c4.

10.

¦d1 ¥b7 11.exd4 ¤b4

Black is obeying

a classical principle of establishing a blockade in front of the isolated pawn. But thanks to the pin
on the e-file, White has a resource.

(Diagram 34)

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+-wqkvl-tr0

9+l+-+pzpp0

9p+-+psn-+0

9+p+-+-+-0

9-sn-zP-+-+0

9+LsN-+N+-0

9PzP-+QzPPzP0

9tR-vLR+-mK-0[

xiiiiiiiiy

12.d5!

¤bxd5 13.¥g5!

Black's position is a virtual pin-cushion (Bg5 on Nf6, Qe2 on Pe6, and

Rd1 on Nd5). The simple threat is 14.Nxd5 Bxd5 15.Bxd5, since 15...Qxd5 loses to 16. Rxd5.

¥e7 14.¥xf6 gxf6

[ 14...

¥xf6 15.¤xd5 ¥xd5 16.¥xd5 £xd5 17.¦xd5 ]

15.

¤xd5 ¥xd5

[ 15...exd5 16.

¤d4

would have also led to a crushing position for White.

]

16.

¥xd5

exd5

17.

¤d4

This position can already be considered winning, because of the

weakness of Black's pawn structure and the strong position of the Nd4. The simple threat is
Rd1-e1 and Nd4-c6.

¢f8 18.¤f5 h5

Otherwise White would have delivered a nasty check at h6.

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+-wq-mk-tr0

9+-+-vlp+-0

9p+-+-zp-+0

9+p+p+N+p0

9-+-+-+-+0

9+-+-+-+-0

9PzP-+QzPPzP0

9tR-+R+-mK-0[

xiiiiiiiiy

19.

¦xd5!

The overworked Black queen is deftly exploited to bring a rapid conclusion to the

game.

£xd5 20.£xe7+ ¢g8 21.£xf6

1-0

Spassky
Smyslov

Bucharest

1953

[Schiller]

1.d4

¤f6 2.c4 e6 3.¤c3 ¥b4 4.¥g5 h6 5.¥h4 c5 6.d5

XIIIIIIIIY

9rsnlwqk+-tr0{

9zpp+p+pzp-0

9-+-+psn-zp0

9+-zpP+-+-0

9-vlP+-+-vL0

9+-sN-+-+-0

9PzP-+PzPPzP0

9tR-+QmKLsNR0

xiiiiiiiiy

This reduces the flexibility of White's center and should not lead to any advantage for White.

7.e3 exd5 8.cxd5

¤bd7 9.¥b5 0-0

[ 9...

¥xc3+ 10.bxc3 a6 11.¥xd7+ ¥xd7= ]

10.

¤ge2 ¤e5 11.0-0 ¤g6 12.¥g3 ¤h5 13.¥d3 ¤xg3 14.¤xg3 ¤e5 15.¥e2 ¥xc3

16.bxc3

£h4 17.f4 ¤g4! 18.¥xg4 ¥xg4 19.£a4! ¥c8 20.e4 £g4 21.£c2 h5 22.¦f3 b5

23.e5 h4 24.

¤f1 ¥f5 25.£d2 dxe5? 26.fxe5 ¥g6 27.¦e1 h3 28.d6 ¥e4 29.¤e3 £e6?

30.

¦f4 ¥xg2 31.¤f5 ¦fe8

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+-+r+k+0

9zp-+-+pzp-0

9-+-zPq+-+0

9+pzp-zPN+-0

9-+-+-tR-+0

9+-zP-+-+p0

9P+-wQ-+lzP0

9+-+-tR-mK-0[

xiiiiiiiiy

32.

¦e3! ¦ad8 33.¤xg7 ¦xd6 34.¤xe6

1-0

Spassky

2700

Petrosian

2700

Moscow World Ch (m/5)

1969

1.c4

¤f6 2.¤c3 e6 3.¤f3 d5 4.d4 c5 5.cxd5 ¤xd5 6.e4 ¤xc3 7.bxc3 cxd4 8.cxd4

¥b4+ 9.¥d2 ¥xd2+ 10.£xd2 0-0 11.¥c4 ¤c6 12.0-0 b6 13.¦ad1 ¥b7

This is a very

typical Semi-Tarrasch position.

14.

¦fe1 ¦c8

(Diagram 38)

XIIIIIIIIY

9-+rwq-trk+0

9zpl+-+pzpp0

9-zpn+p+-+0

9+-+-+-+-0

9-+LzPP+-+0

9+-+-+N+-0

9P+-wQ-zPPzP0

9+-+RtR-mK-0[

xiiiiiiiiy

A simple glance at the a2-g8 diagonal is sufficient to encourage White to build a plan based on
undermining the pawn chain f7-e6.

15.d5

But this may be premature. If Black plays 15...Na5!,

then the bishop will have to retreat, since the sacrificial attempt 16.dxe6 does not work. But
Petrosian missed this chance.

exd5?! 16.

¥xd5!

This is the correct capture. 16.exd5 would have

created a passed pawn, but it would be easily blockaded. And, more important, the light squared
bishop now has room to maneuver without having to worry about Nc6-a5.

¤a5 17.£f4 £c7

18.

£f5 ¥xd5

The pressure was building at f7, so Black trades a piece which is not involved in

the defense for an attacking piece - almost always a good idea.

19.exd5

XIIIIIIIIY

9-+r+-trk+0{

9zp-wq-+pzpp0

9-zp-+-+-+0

9sn-+P+Q+-0

9-+-+-+-+0

9+-+-+N+-0

9P+-+-zPPzP0

9+-+RtR-mK-0

xiiiiiiiiy

With the bishops gone, the passed pawn is somewhat harder to blockade, and Black's knight is
definitely offside. 19...Nb7 might have been best here.

£c2?!

Black simply has no right to play

so ambitiously when his position is inferior and White can afford to ignore the threat at a2. On the
other hand, White has no desire to see the queens off the board, as the lady plays escort to the
Pd5

20.

£f4! £xa2 21.d6 ¦cd8 22.d7

Spassky has achieved the goal of advancing his pawn

to the seventh rank, where it severely restricts the mobility of the Black forces. He now needs a
new plan to exploit his advantage, and it will involve infiltration via the c-file

£c4

23.

£f5

24.

¦c1! £a6 25.¦c7

The next phase has been accomplished. Now the knight has to get into

the act. Again, it is important to consider a seemingly impossible goal. The knight belongs at c6.
Although that seems difficult to achieve, it is not.

b5 26.

¤d4 £b6

[ 26...b4 27.

£e5!

(with the threat of Nf5)

¤c4 28.£c5 ]

27.

¦c8! ¤b7

Black had to do this, as the alternatives fail:

[ 27...

£xd4 28.¦xd8 ¦xd8 29.¦e8+ ]

[ 27...b4 28.

¦e8! £xd4 29.¦xf8+ ¦xf8 30.¦xf8+ ¢xf8 31.£c5+!! £xc5 32.d8£# ]

28.

¤c6

And the knight reaches the desired square, after which Spassky finishes the game

beautifully.

¤d6

XIIIIIIIIY

9-+Rtr-trk+0

9zp-+P+pzp-0

9-wqNsn-+-zp0

9+p+-+Q+-0

9-+-+-+-+0

9+-+-+-+-0

9-+-+-zPPzP0

9+-+-tR-mK-0[

xiiiiiiiiy

29.

¤xd8!! ¤xf5 30.¤c6

1-0

Reshevsky
Larsen

Lugano ol

1968

[Schiller]

1.d4

¤f6 2.c4 e6 3.¤c3 ¥b4 4.e3 0-0 5.¥d3 c5 6.¤f3 d5 7.0-0 dxc4 8.¥xc4 ¤c6 9.a3

¥a5 10.£d3 a6 11.¦d1 b5 12.¥a2 c4 13.£e2 £e8! 14.h3

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+l+qtrk+0{

9+-+-+pzpp0

9p+n+psn-+0

9vlp+-+-+-0

9-+pzP-+-+0

9zP-sN-zPN+P0

9LzP-+QzPP+0

9tR-vLR+-mK-0

xiiiiiiiiy

Black has succesfully navigated the opening and now must try to open a line in the center so that
his pieces can maneuver to White's queenside.

e5!

Up to this point Larsen had been in familiar

waters, but now he was playing in unknown territory. Reshevsky, with a fine feel for such
positions, keeps the center closed.

15.d5

¤d8

Although this may seem artificial, it is quite

logical, since the knight will find a home at d6, blockading the advanced pawn.

16.e4

¤b7

17.

¥b1 ¤d7 18.¥c2 ¤d6

Black's position is very solid, and Reshevsky comes up with a pretty

feeble plan - the exchange of dark-squared bishops. While he is engaged in this, Larsen
improves the position of his pieces.

19.

¤a2 ¤c5 20.¥d2 ¥xd2 21.¤xd2 ¥d7

(Diagram 42)

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+-+qtrk+0

9+-+l+pzpp0

9p+-sn-+-+0

9+psnPzp-+-0

9-+p+P+-+0

9zP-+-+-+P0

9NzPLsNQzPP+0

9tR-+R+-mK-0[

xiiiiiiiiy

A critical positin. Black is preparing to advance his queenside pawns, and so far White has
shown little counterplay. Thus Reshevsky acts definitively.

22.b4!?

cxb3

23.

¤xb3 ¤xb3

24.

¥xb3 £e7!?

An interesting choice. Most players would opt for 24...f5, but Larsen decides to

invest in the future. The basic motivation for the move is the ability to transfer the queen to g5.
This gives rise to a standard motif involving Bxh3.

25.

¦ac1?!

Proasaic, and probably a result of

time pressure.

[ 25.

¤b4! ¦fc8

is given by Brondum, though his follow-up with 26.Nc6 strikes me as dubious.

]

25...

¦fc8 26.¤b4

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+r+-+k+0{

9+-+lwqpzpp0

9p+-sn-+-+0

9+p+Pzp-+-0

9-sN-+P+-+0

9zPL+-+-+P0

9-+-+QzPP+0

9+-tRR+-mK-0

xiiiiiiiiy

A simple oversight. Perhaps Reshevsky simply never appreciated the point of 24...Qe7. In any
event, the c1 square is underprotected.

¥xh3! 27.£e3

[ 27.gxh3?

¦xc1 28.¦xc1 £g5+ ]

[ 27.

¦xc8+ ¥xc8! ]

27...

¥d7

28.

¤c6

£f6

Black has emerged with an extra pawn, but more importantly, the

kingside has been deprived of an important defender, so Black can go on the attack. Notice that
White's pieces are not well placed for defense.

[ 28...

¥xc6 29.dxc6

would have given White some counterplay.

]

29.f3

h5!

The kingside attack is the only correct plan. White's forces are well posted to handle

any aspirations on the queenside, and the center is locked.

30.

¦c3 h4 31.¦dc1 g5 32.¤a7

¦xc3 33.¦xc3

(Diagram 44)

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+-+-+k+0{

9sN-+l+p+-0

9p+-sn-wq-+0

9+p+Pzp-zp-0

9-+-+P+-zp0

9zPLtR-wQP+-0

9-+-+-+P+0

9+-+-+-mK-0

xiiiiiiiiy

The Na7 is defended by the Qe3, and White threatens to infiltrate on the seventh rank.

¤e8!

34.

¤c6 ¦c8 35.¦c2 ¢g7

Black wants to play his rook to c7, to guard the seventh rank. But he

wants to make sure that there will be no problems along the back rank, and also wishes to avoid
any future tricks with Ne7+.

36.

£c3 ¦c7! 37.¢h1

Avoiding 37.Qxe5?? Rxc6! The h-file seems

safe enough, for the moment, but in fact this move seals White's fate.

¢h7! 38.£e3

With the

pawn removed from f3, Black can simply play Qf1+ followed by Nf6-g4.

g4!

39.fxg4

£f1+

40.

¢h2

[ 40.

£g1 £d3 ]

40...

¤f6

and Black realizes his plan!

41.

¤xe5 ¦xc2 42.¥xc2

XIIIIIIIIY

9-+-+-+-+0{

9+-+l+p+k0

9p+-+-sn-+0

9+p+PsN-+-0

9-+-+P+Pzp0

9zP-+-wQ-+-0

9-+L+-+PmK0

9+-+-+q+-0

xiiiiiiiiy

A final application of the procedure. If there were no Nf5, then Nxg4+ wins. And if the Ne5 were
the White queen, then Nxg4+ still wins. So...

£a1!!

and Black resigned, since Qxe5+ followed by

Nxg4+ was threatened.

0-1

Evans
Larsen

Dallas

1957

[Schiller]

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.

¤c3 c5 4.e3 ¤f6 5.¤f3 ¤c6 6.cxd5 exd5 7.¥b5 a6 8.¥xc6+ bxc6

9.0-0

¥d6 10.dxc5 ¥xc5 11.e4!

Creating the famous isolated d-pawn.

0-0

[ 11...

¤xe4? 12.¤xe4 dxe4 13.£xd8+ ¢xd8 14.¤g5

is a trick only a beginner would fall

for.

]

12.

¥g5 ¥e7 13.¤d4 £d6 14.e5?

This is a much too clever method of isolating the pawn. The

straightforward 14.exd5 cxd5 15.Re1 would have brought White a significant advantage.

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+l+-trk+0{

9+-+-vlpzpp0

9p+pwq-sn-+0

9+-+pzP-vL-0

9-+-sN-+-+0

9+-sN-+-+-0

9PzP-+-zPPzP0

9tR-+Q+RmK-0

xiiiiiiiiy

£xe5 15.¤xc6 £xg5 16.¤xe7+ ¢h8

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+l+-tr-mk0

9+-+-sNpzpp0

9p+-+-sn-+0

9+-+p+-wq-0

9-+-+-+-+0

9+-sN-+-+-0

9PzP-+-zPPzP0

9tR-+Q+RmK-0[

xiiiiiiiiy

Perhaps Evans was counting on capturing at d5, but then 17...Rd8 would cause trouble, so
instead he eliminates Black's bishop.

17.

¤xc8 ¦axc8 18.£d3

This position is not easy to

evaluate objectively. If Black plays passively then White will dominate the e-file and go to work on
the weak isolated pawn. But Larsen realizes that by giving up some material, he can get the e&c
files.

¦fd8!?

So Black's plan is clear - give up the a-pawn and allow White to enjoy two

connected passed pawns, but in return Black is going to take all of the files in the center and
advance his own pawn.

19.

£xa6 d4 20.¤e2 ¦c2!

(Diagram 48)

XIIIIIIIIY

9-+-tr-+-mk0

9+-+-+pzpp0

9Q+-+-sn-+0

9+-+-+-wq-0

9-+-zp-+-+0

9+-+-+-+-0

9PzPr+NzPPzP0

9tR-+-+RmK-0[

xiiiiiiiiy

A powerful centralizing move, which brings Black full compensation for his pawn.

21.

¦ad1

White is of course prepared to give up his b-pawn for the powerful Pd4, but Larsen does not
oblige.

£e5!

XIIIIIIIIY

9-+-tr-+-mk0

9+-+-+pzpp0

9Q+-+-sn-+0

9+-+-wq-+-0

9-+-zp-+-+0

9+-+-+-+-0

9PzPr+NzPPzP0

9+-+R+RmK-0[

xiiiiiiiiy

A powerful centralizing move which brings Black full compensation for his pawn since he now
has kingside attacking chances in addition to the files.

22.

¤g3

[ 22.

¤c1 ¤g4! 23.g3 £h5 24.h4 ¤xf2!! 25.¦xd4 ¤h3+ 26.¢h1 ¦dc8

was demonstrated

by Brondum, in response to a published note that 22.Nc1 would have improved White's
chances!

]

22...h5!

Black has achieved complete control of the center of the board, and the laws of chess

say that when you have the center, and the enemy forces (in this case the queen) are offside, a
flank attack is in orde.

23.

¦fe1 £d5 24.¦e2 d3! 25.¦e3

And now we must look at the potential

fork of f2 and e3 via Ng4. When we see this tactical idea, then Black's next move is obvious!

[ 25.

¦xc2 dxc2 26.¦xd5 c1£+ 27.¤f1 ¦xd5 ]

25...

¦xf2!

26.

¤e4

Of course not 26.Kxf2 because then 26...Ng4+ picks up the stray rook with

multiple threats.

¤xe4 27.¦exd3

[ 27.

¦dxd3

might have maintained equality - for example:

£g5 ( 27...¦xb2 28.¦xd5 ¦b1+

29.

£f1 ¦xf1+ 30.¢xf1 ¦xd5 31.¦xe4 ¦a5= ) 28.¦xd8+ ¢h7 29.¦h8+!! ¢xh8 30.£a8+

¢h7 31.£xe4+ f5 32.h4! ¦xg2+ 33.£xg2 £xe3+= ]

(Diagram 50)

XIIIIIIIIY

9-+-tr-+-mk0{

9+-+-+pzp-0

9Q+-+-+-+0

9+-+q+-+p0

9-+-+n+-+0

9+-+R+-+-0

9PzP-+-trPzP0

9+-+R+-mK-0

xiiiiiiiiy

Now if the rook weren't in the way Qc5 check would be effective. And if the Rf2 were a knight we
would have a fork. Put it all together...

27...

¦f1+!! 28.¦xf1

[ 28.

¢xf1 £f5+ 29.¢g1 ( 29.¦f3 ¦xd1+ 30.¢e2 ¤c3+! ) 29...£c5+

This is what Larsen had

in his mind...

30.

¢h1 ¤f2+ 31.¢g1 ¤h3+ 32.¢h1 £g1+ 33.¦xg1 ¤f2#

and the knowledge

of the familiar motif pays off.

]

28...

£c5+

and Evans resigned, because 29.Kh1 is met by Nf2+ and either the smothered mate

of a backrank mate follows.

0-1

Karpov
Spassky

USSR Teams

1973

[Schiller]

1.e4 e5 2.

¤f3 ¤c6 3.¥b5 a6 4.¥a4 ¤f6 5.0-0 ¥e7 6.¦e1 b5 7.¥b3 d6 8.c3 0-0 9.h3

¤b8

10.d3

For a long time Karpov preferred this quiet move to the standard 10.d4.

¥b7

11.

¤bd2 ¤bd7 12.¤f1 ¦e8 13.¤g3 ¤c5 14.¥c2 ¥f8

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+-wqrvlk+0

9+lzp-+pzpp0

9p+-zp-sn-+0

9+psn-zp-+-0

9-+-+P+-+0

9+-zPP+NsNP0

9PzPL+-zPP+0

9tR-vLQtR-mK-0[

xiiiiiiiiy

This is the main starting position for the 10.d3 variation. White will now spend some time
attending to the queenside before attacking the enemy king.

15.b4

¤cd7 16.d4 h6 17.¥d2

¤b6 18.¥d3 g6?!

Too passive. Black should stake a claim on the queenside before it is too late

and the best way of doing so would be to aim for c7-c7 with a preparatory Rc8. That plan is not
without risk, but it is better than treading water.

19.

£c2

¤fd7

20.

¦ad1

Karpov carefully

completes his mobilization before launching his attack. More importantly, he recognized the

potential usefulness of this rook on the d-file, despite the fact that the file is almost filled with
pieces!

¥g7

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+-wqr+k+0

9+lzpn+pvl-0

9psn-zp-+pzp0

9+p+-zp-+-0

9-zP-zPP+-+0

9+-zPL+NsNP0

9P+QvL-zPP+0

9+-+RtR-mK-0[

xiiiiiiiiy

Now Karpov must create his plan. The center is still filled with tension. The Rd1 has distant "man-
on'man" coverage against the Black queen.

21.dxe5!

A well-timed exchange. Black should now

recapture with the knight, even though after 22.Nxe5 Bxe5 23.f4 White will have a strong central
positon.

dxe5?! 22.c4!

This forces the weakening of Black's queenside pawn structure.

bxc4

23.

¥xc4 £e7?!

Spassky wants to play c7-c5 as soon as possible, eliminating his weak pawn.

But he should have taken the opportunity to exchange his knight for White's powerful light-
squared bishop.

24.

¥b3! c5 25.a4!

Karpov already has the idea of a plan in which he will

sacrifice the exchange by allowing Black to play Bb7-c6-a4 after the Bb3 is chased back to a2.
This plan is based on an evaluation of the Re1 as relatively useless.

[ 25...cxb4 26.a5

¦ac8 27.£a2 ¤a8 28.¥xb4!

is a decisive blow.

]

26.

¥a2 ¥c6

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+-+r+k+0

9+-+nwqpvl-0

9psnl+-+pzp0

9+-+-zp-+-0

9PzPp+P+-+0

9+-+-+NsNP0

9L+QvL-zPP+0

9+-+RtR-mK-0[

xiiiiiiiiy

27.a5!

¥a4 28.£c1 ¤c8 29.¥xh6!

The superior activity of White's forces which results from

the sacrifice of the exchange will enable him to attack on the kingside.

¥xd1 30.¦xd1 ¤d6?!

Understandably, Black wants to get this knight into a position to help with the defense of the king.
Best was 30...Ra7, though that would have parted with the c-pawn after 31.Bxg7 Kxg7 32.Qxc4.

31.

¥xg7 ¢xg7

(Diagram 54)

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+-+r+-+0

9+-+nwqpmk-0

9p+-sn-+p+0

9zP-+-zp-+-0

9-zPp+P+-+0

9+-+-+NsNP0

9L+-+-zPP+0

9+-wQR+-mK-0[

xiiiiiiiiy

White now observes that the horses are guarded only by the queen, which can be deflected.

32.

£g5!

with the amusing point that 32...Qxg5 33.Nxg5 leaves Black with no way to stop the loss

of one of the knights, while 32...Nf6?? drops the queen to 33.Nf5+.

f6 33.

£g4

maintaining the

threat of Nf5+.

¢h7 34.¤h4

and Black resigned rather than invite 34...Rg8 35.Bxc4! or 34...Nf8

35.Nxg6! Nxg6 36.Qh5+ Kg7 37.Rxd6! and the thematic Nf5+ follows. The enitre plan was based
on play along the d-file which Karpov anticipated with 20.Rad1!

1-0

Karpov
Uhlmann

Madrid

1973

[Schiller]

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.

¤d2 c5 4.exd5 exd5 5.¤gf3 ¤c6 6.¥b5 ¥d6 7.dxc5 ¥xc5 8.0-0

¤ge7 9.¤b3 ¥d6

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+lwqk+-tr0

9zpp+-snpzpp0

9-+nvl-+-+0

9+L+p+-+-0

9-+-+-+-+0

9+N+-+N+-0

9PzPP+-zPPzP0

9tR-vLQ+RmK-0[

xiiiiiiiiy

In IQP positions like these White has two main objectives - the blockade of the isolated pawn and
the elimination of Black's dark-squared bishop.

10.

¥g5!

This move directly implements White's

plan by transfering the bishop to a post from which it can reach the h2-g8 diagonal (via h4 to g3).

0-0 11.

¥h4 ¥g4 12.¥e2

The immediate 12.Bg3 is also playable, although Black can equalize

with 12... Bxg3 13.hxg3 Qb6! 12.Re1 is a reasonable alternative to the text.

¥h5?!

The superior

12...Re8! had already been introduced by Uhlmann, but he was probably afraid of a prepared
innovation.

13.

¦e1 £b6 14.¤fd4!

Not only does White achieve half of his goal, but he also

places Black in a position where he faces a difficult decision concerning the fate of the Bh5.

¥g6

If Black had exchanged bishops the isolated pawn would have less protection. Uhlmann decides
that the bishop may be of use at e4, since any eventual f2-f3 will weaken the a7-g1 diagonal.

15.c3

¦fe8 16.¥f1!

Karpov realizes that this is the best square for the bishop, since on f3 it

could be attacked by Nc6-e5. As we will see, the control of the e-file plays an important role in
the remainder of the game.

¥e4 17.¥g3!

Now that all of White's pieces have been properly

positioned, the exchange of bishops is appropriate.

¥xg3 18.hxg3

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+-+r+k+0{

9zpp+-snpzpp0

9-wqn+-+-+0

9+-+p+-+-0

9-+-sNl+-+0

9+NzP-+-zP-0

9PzP-+-zPP+0

9tR-+QtRLmK-0

xiiiiiiiiy

White need not worry about the doubled g-pawns - they are actually strong from both offensive
and defensive perspectives.

a5!?

The weakening of b5 is probably more significant than Black's

mild initiative, but perhaps the move was played without taking into consideration White's
potential sacrifice of the b-pawn.

19.a4

¤xd4

20.

¤xd4!

Karpov correctly maintains the

blockade with the piece, since if 20...Qxb2 then 21.Nb5! threatens both 22.Nc7 and 22.Re2.

¤c6

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+-+r+k+0

9+p+-+pzpp0

9-wqn+-+-+0

9zp-+p+-+-0

9P+-sNl+-+0

9+-zP-+-zP-0

9-zP-+-zPP+0

9tR-+QtRLmK-0[

xiiiiiiiiy

The position remains rather closed, and the e-file is the only line which can be exploited. To do
this, White must drive the Re8 away.

21.

¥b5!

The pin encourages Black's rook to leave the e-

file. Probably 21...Bg6 would have been best here.

¦ed8?! 22.g4!

A very clever move, the point

of which is to create threats of trapping the enemy bishop should it retreat to g6 (with f2-f4-f5).

¤xd4

This is a major positional concession, since it leads to an endgame where black has a bad

bishop and White controls the e-file.

23.

£xd4 £xd4 24.cxd4 ¦ac8

[ 24...

¢f8

Would not have prevented infiltration by the White rooks:

25.

¦e2 ¦ac8 26.f3 ¥g6

27.

¦ae1 ¦c7?? 28.¦e8+ ¦xe8 29.¦xe8# ]

25.f3

¥g6 26.¦e7

The immediate objective has now been achieved, and after the doubling of

rooks on the e-file Karpov illustrates his famous endgame technique to secure the point.

27.

¦ae1 h6 28.¦b7 ¦d6 29.¦ee7 h5 30.gxh5 ¥xh5 31.g4 ¥g6 32.f4 ¦c1+ 33.¢f2 ¦c2+

34.

¢e3 ¥e4 35.¦xf7 ¦g6 36.g5 ¢h7 37.¦fe7 ¦xb2 38.¥e8! ¦b3+ 39.¢e2 ¦b2+ 40.¢e1

¦d6 41.¦xg7+ ¢h8 42.¦ge7
1-0

Timman

1630

Kasparov

2785

Hilversum (m/1)

1985

[Schiller]

1.e4 e5 2.

¤f3 ¤c6 3.¥b5 a6 4.¥a4 ¤f6 5.0-0 ¥e7 6.¦e1 b5 7.¥b3 d6 8.c3 0-0 9.h3

¥b7 10.d4 ¦e8 11.¤bd2 ¥f8 12.a3 h6 13.¥c2 ¤b8 14.b4 ¤bd7 15.¥b2 g6

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+-wqrvlk+0

9+lzpn+p+-0

9p+-zp-snpzp0

9+p+-zp-+-0

9-zP-zPP+-+0

9zP-zP-+N+P0

9-vLLsN-zPP+0

9tR-+QtR-mK-0[

xiiiiiiiiy

A typical position in the Zaitsev/Smyslov hybrid of the Spanish Inquisition. White has two options -
quiet play with 16.Qb1 or aggressive queenside action.

16.c4!?

Timman has played this bold

line against both Karpov and Kasparov.

exd4 17.cxb5 axb5 18.

¤xd4 c6

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+-wqrvlk+0

9+l+n+p+-0

9-+pzp-snpzp0

9+p+-+-+-0

9-zP-sNP+-+0

9zP-+-+-+P0

9-vLLsN-zPP+0

9tR-+QtR-mK-0[

xiiiiiiiiy

In this position, White aims at the targets on the queenside, and therefore the best move is
probably 19.Bd3, but that hadn't been discovered yet.

19.a4 bxa4 20.

¥xa4 £b6

Kasparov's

innovation, prepared for this game. Black's plan is illustrated nicely by the present game. He will
aim for the liberating advance d6-d5 when his pieces will be better placed than their White
counterparts.

21.b5?!

With this move White hopes to highlight the weakness at d6, but the plan

fails and in the third game of the match Timman improved with 21.Nc2 which became the
standard move in 1986.

cxb5 22.

¥xb5 d5!

This move eliminates Black's only weakness and

puts strong pressure on the center. White already suffers from a pin on the b-file and his pieces
do not seem to be doing anything.

23.

¦xa8 ¥xa8 24.£a4 ¤c5!

More pressure on the center.

And in addition, Black has taken the initiative.

25.

£c2 ¦b8

Because of the pin, this move allows

the rook to escape without losing time, because sooner or later White will have to waste a move
t o b r e a k i t .

26.exd5

¤xd5

A strange sight - most of the pieces remain on the board but the

queenside pawns have been swept clear. One would assume that the position is equal, but in
fact Black still holds a slight initiative.

27.

¤c4?!

Timman fails to appreciate the danger and tries

to regain the initiative. The best move here would have been the double retreat 27.Ba1 Nf4 28.
Bf1! with a solid defensive formation. Now Black expands his domination of critical lines.

£c7

28.

¤e5?!

The final chance for equality lie in 28.Re8, exchanging off the dangerous Black rook.

But now Kasparov was able to develop a plan to exploit his spatial advantage, based on control
of the b-file and the h8-a1 diagonal.

¥g7! 29.¤ec6

[ 29.

¥c6?

would have met with an impressive refutation:

¥xe5! 30.£xc5 ¦xb2 31.£xd5 ¥xd4

32.

¦e8+ ¢h7 33.£xd4 ¦b1+ ]

29...

¥xc6 30.¥xc6 ¤f4

XIIIIIIIIY

9-tr-+-+k+0

9+-wq-+pvl-0

9-+L+-+pzp0

9+-sn-+-+-0

9-+-sN-sn-+0

9+-+-+-+P0

9-vLQ+-zPP+0

9+-+-tR-mK-0[

xiiiiiiiiy

Black's control of the b- and c-files, combined with the pin on the diagonal and more active
knights gives him a decisive advantage!

31.

¥b5

Timman tries to cut off the b-file, establish his

own pin on the c-file, and free his game with Rc1. Black would just love to get his queen onto the
a8-h1 diagonal with deadly threats at g2. This is easily done!

[ 31.

¦e8+ ¦xe8 32.¥xe8 ¤ce6

exploits the pin at d4, with a little help from the threatened

fork at e2.

33.

£xc7 ¤xc7 34.¥d7 ¥xd4 35.¥xd4 ¤e2+ ]

[ 31.

£xc5 ¦xb2 32.¤b5 £a5 33.£e3

meets with quiet refutation:

¢h7! ]

31...

¦xb5! 32.¤xb5 £c6 33.f3 £xb5

and Black has a decisive material advantage. But with

the symmetrical pawn structure the win still requires the creation of an effective plan. It is easy to
see that a knight planted at g3 would be nice, but it needs support.

34.

¥xg7 ¢xg7 35.£c3+

¢g8 36.£e5 ¤fe6 37.¦a1 £b7

First Black organizes his defense. The next step is to advance

the h-pawn so that the eventual infiltration of the knight to g3 can be accomplished.

38.

£d6 h5

39.

¢h1 ¢h7 40.¦c1 £a7 41.¦b1 ¤g7 42.¦b8 ¤ce6 43.£e5 ¤d4 44.¦b1 h4

Watching

this game I remember being impressed by the ease with which the World Champion achieved his
objectives. The maneuvering of the knights makes sense only in hindsight.

45.

£b8 £e7 46.£b4

£f6 47.£f8 ¤e2 48.¦d1 ¤f5 49.£b8 ¤e3 50.£d8 £f4

Black has properly declined all

offers to exchange queens - it is mate he is after!

51.

¦e1

(Diagram 61)

XIIIIIIIIY

9-+-wQ-+-+0{

9+-+-+p+k0

9-+-+-+p+0

9+-+-+-+-0

9-+-+-wq-zp0

9+-+-snP+P0

9-+-+n+P+0

9+-+-tR-+K0

xiiiiiiiiy

¤f1!

And Timman, seeing that inevitable Nf1-g3-e2-f2, gave up.

0-1

Janowski
Capablanca

New York (Rice)

1916

[Schiller]

1.d4

¤f6 2.¤f3 d5 3.c4 c6 4.¤c3 ¥f5

Not a particularly effective move in this line. The

control of e4 comes at a high price, if White responds correctly by capturing at d5 before
d e v e l o p i n g h i s q u e e n a t b 3 .

£b3?!

This is not as effective, since Black can respond

symmetrically.

£b6!

XIIIIIIIIY

9rsn-+kvl-tr0

9zpp+-zppzpp0

9-wqp+-sn-+0

9+-+p+l+-0

9-+PzP-+-+0

9+QsN-+N+-0

9PzP-+PzPPzP0

9tR-vL-mKL+R0[

xiiiiiiiiy

A classic question confronts White early in the game - will the doubled pawns resulting from the
exchange of queens be weak, or is the open a-file useful?

£xb6?! axb6 7.cxd5

¤xd5

¤xd5 cxd5

(Diagram 63)

XIIIIIIIIY

9rsn-+kvl-tr0

9+p+-zppzpp0

9-zp-+-+-+0

9+-+p+l+-0

9-+-zP-+-+0

9+-+-+N+-0

9PzP-+PzPPzP0

9tR-vL-mKL+R0[

xiiiiiiiiy

Already we have an interesting endgame. Black has control of e4 and the a-file while White has
targets at d5, b6, and b7. But the pawns are hard to get at.

9.e3

¤c6

10.

¥d2

¥d7!

A tremendously insightful move! Capablanca sees that he must turn his weak pawns into fighting
pieces - and the idea is to play Na5 then b5-b4 which will constrict the White queenside. White
should prevent this with 11.Bb5!

11.

¥e2?! e6 12.0-0

If White had played 11.Bb5, he would

have been able to play 12.Ke2, keeping the king centralized in in the endgame. As it turns out,
the king becomes a target!

¥d6 13.¦fc1 ¢e7 14.¥c3 ¦hc8 15.a3?!

Better was 15.Nd2. Now

there is an additional hole on the queenside, and the b4-square belongs to Black in any event.

¤a5 16.¤d2

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+r+-+-+0{

9+p+lmkpzpp0

9-zp-vlp+-+0

9sn-+p+-+-0

9-+-zP-+-+0

9zP-vL-zP-+-0

9-zP-sNLzPPzP0

9tR-tR-+-mK-0

xiiiiiiiiy

As Black increases his pressure on the Queenside, Janowski correctly decides to react in the
center. But Capablanca is aware of his opponent's plans.

f5!

This slows down the advance e3-

e4 for some time, and makes White waste a few moves in preparation.

17.g3 b5 18.f3

¤c4

19.

¥xc4 bxc4 20.e4 ¢f7!

With e4-e5 coming, Black makes room for his bishop to retreat along

the a3-f8 diagonal.

21.e5

¥e7 22.f4 b5

The plan all along has been to advance this pawn, but

now it takes on a new significance. White must keep an eye on the queenside, and his less
mobile pieces are therefore ill-equipped to defend the king against a direct assault.

23.

¢f2 ¦a4

24.

¢e3 ¦ca8

The threat of b5-b4 is renewed. Keep this position in mind as we continue. It is in

stark contrast to the position we will see in seven more moves. But what is most important is that
the White pieces can't defend the kingside!

25.

¦ab1 h6! 26.¤f3 g5 27.¤e1 ¦g8! 28.¢f3

gxf4

29.gxf4

¦aa8 30.¤g2 ¦g4 31.¦g1 ¦ag8

Black's play requires no comment -

Capablanca saw that White's pieces were out of play and simply switched sides of the board. His
greater mobility enabled him to achieve a winning position with great ease.

32.

¥e1

XIIIIIIIIY

9-+-+-+r+0{

9+-+lvlk+-0

9-+-+p+-zp0

9+p+pzPp+-0

9-+pzP-zPr+0

9zP-+-+K+-0

9-zP-+-+NzP0

9+R+-vL-tR-0

xiiiiiiiiy

White tries to get his bishop involved in the defense. But we recall that this piece was dedicated
to the protection of the queenside, guarding against b5-b4

b4! 33.axb4

Now Black's fantasies

involve Bd7-e4+. Not allowed by the rules, but Black finds away to work around the rules.

[ 33.

¥xb4 ¥xb4 34.axb4 h5 35.h4 ¦g3+ 36.¢f2 ¦d3 37.¦gd1 ¦gg3

was an unacceptable

alternative.

]

33...

¥a4!

34.

¦a1

Completely missing the point. 34.Rc1 was needed, but then after 34...Bb3

Black would have been able to invade on the a-file.

¥c2 35.¥g3 ¥e4+ 36.¢f2 h5 37.¦a7

¥xg2! 38.¦xg2 h4

and the rest is simple:

39.

¥xh4 ¦xg2+ 40.¢f3 ¦xh2 41.¥xe7

[ 41.

¦xe7+ ¢f8 42.¥f6 ¦gh8! 43.¥xh8 ¢xe7 ]

41...

¦h3+ 42.¢f2 ¦b3 43.¥g5+ ¢g6 44.¦e7 ¦xb2+ 45.¢f3 ¦a8 46.¦xe6+ ¢h7

0-1

Michell
Leonhardt

Brighton

1904

[Schiller]

1.e4 e5 2.

¤f3 ¤c6 3.¥b5 a6 4.¥a4 ¤f6 5.0-0 ¥e7 6.d4 exd4 7.e5 ¤e4 8.¤xd4 0-0

¦e1 ¤c5 10.¥xc6 dxc6 11.¤c3 ¤e6

This move not only locks in the Bc8, but also

concedes control of e4. With 11...Re8, Black could have laid claim to equality.

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+lwq-trk+0

9+pzp-vlpzpp0

9p+p+n+-+0

9+-+-zP-+-0

9-+-sN-+-+0

9+-sN-+-+-0

9PzPP+-zPPzP0

9tR-vLQtR-mK-0[

xiiiiiiiiy

12.

¤f5 ¥g5

Black hopes to limit White's attack by exchanging pieces. But this is an error since

that strategy only works when one is eliminating an attacking piece, preferably for a non-defender.
Here the opposite is the case!

[ 12...

£xd1?? 13.¤xe7+ ¢h8 14.¦xd1 ]

13.

£e2!

The defence of the Bg5 falls partly to the Black queen, which lacks room to maneuver.

Appreciating this fact, White switches the files of his own queen and rook.

¦e8 14.¦d1 ¥d7

15.

£g4

A very clever move, indirectly increasing pressure on the d-file, while making

threatening gestures toward the enemy king.

¥xc1 16.¦axc1 g6 17.¤e4

Now there is no

defence.

¤f8 18.¤f6+ ¢h8

White now wants to play his queen to the h-file and give mate at h7.

But he can't do that, because the knight defends h7. Fine, but the knight is also needed to defend
d7. This gives rise to a forced win.

19.

£h4 gxf5

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+-wqrsn-mk0

9+pzpl+p+p0

9p+p+-sN-+0

9+-+-zPp+-0

9-+-+-+-wQ0

9+-+-+-+-0

9PzPP+-zPPzP0

9+-tRR+-mK-0[

xiiiiiiiiy

And now the Nf8 is overworked, so White has a quick kill.

20.

¦xd7!

1-0

Kasparov
Yusupov

USSR Ch

1981

[Schiller]

1.d4

¤f6 2.c4 e6 3.¤f3 ¥b4+ 4.¥d2 a5 5.g3 0-0 6.¥g2 b6 7.0-0 ¥a6 8.¥g5 ¥e7

£c2 ¤c6 10.a3 h6 11.¥xf6 ¥xf6 12.¦d1 £e7 13.e3

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+-+-trk+0{

9+-zppwqpzp-0

9lzpn+pvl-zp0

9zp-+-+-+-0

9-+PzP-+-+0

9zP-+-zPNzP-0

9-zPQ+-zPLzP0

9tRN+R+-mK-0

xiiiiiiiiy

This leads to overcrowding on the queenside. Better was 13...g6.

¦ae8?!

In this slow opening,

Black has actually outstripped White's development. But White controls the center, and d7-d5 will
not be appropriate because of the position of the White queen, putting pressure on the c-file.

14.

¤fd2

A strong move which threatens to post the knight effectively at e4, while opening up

lines for the Bg2 and threatening to disrupt Black's pawn structure . In addition, the Pc4 is

guarded so that the other knight can enter the game.

g5?!

Black overreacts to the positional

strength of White's game. 14...g6 would have been more solid.

15.

¤c3

¥g7

White should

probably bring Black's extended fianchetto into question by playing 16.f4, but he is concentrating
on the queenside, and in particular, on the c-file.

16.

¤b5 £d8 17.f4 ¤e7!

Black has taken

advantage of White's faulty plan by reorganizing his pieces so that the Ne7 can take part in the
defence. Unfortunately, Yusupov soon forgets why he wanted the knight at e7.

18.

¤f3

¤f5

19.

£f2?!

Kasparov notes that this was not the correct square for the queen - it would have been

better placed at e2, where it could protect the pawn at c4.

c6 20.

¤c3 gxf4 21.gxf4 ¥xc4

Although White is a pawn down, he is at the same time almost a piece ahead, because Black's
light-squared bishop is incapable of reaching the kingside to hekp in the defence. In addition,
White now takes charge of the center.

22.e4

XIIIIIIIIY

9-+-wqrtrk+0{

9+-+p+pvl-0

9-zpp+p+-zp0

9zp-+-+n+-0

9-+lzPPzP-+0

9zP-sN-+N+-0

9-zP-+-wQLzP0

9tR-+R+-mK-0

xiiiiiiiiy

Now Yusupov makes a major strategic error. He must return the knight to its defensive post at
e7.

¤d6?

[ 22...

¤e7 23.¢h1! f5 24.e5

brings White sufficient compensation for his pawn, because

Black's kingside is very weak. The difference between this position and the game is that here
the knight participates in the defense. In the game, it watches from c8.

]

23.

¤e5 f5 24.¤xc4 ¤xc4

Black does not mind parting with his bishop, but the problem is that

the Nc4 is far away from the kingside. Kasparov now chases it to an utterly useless position on
the back rank.

25.b3!

¤d6 26.e5 ¤c8

[ 26...

¤e4 27.¥xe4 fxe4 28.¤xe4

is clearly better for White, with a SuperKnight at e4 and

threats along the g-file.

]

XIIIIIIIIY

9-+nwqrtrk+0

9+-+p+-vl-0

9-zpp+p+-zp0

9zp-+-zPp+-0

9-+-zP-zP-+0

9zPPsN-+-+-0

9-+-+-wQLzP0

9tR-+R+-mK-0[

xiiiiiiiiy

At this point White must determine his strategy for the remainder of the game. His goal is to
infiltrate the kingside, and exploit the weak light squares.

27.

¥f3!

Clearly the bishop must get

involved in this task.

¢h7

Black escapes the g-file, and hopes to use it to exchange rooks,

lessening White's attacking force.

28.

¥h5 ¦e7 29.¢h1 ¦g8?!

Although this is consistent with

Black's plan, he chooses the wrong rook. The correct strategy was 29...Bh8! followed by Re7-g7.

[ 29...

¥h8 30.¦g1 ¦g7 31.¦xg7+ ¥xg7 32.¦g1 £e7!

The point. This square is now available

for the queen, which can hold the position together until the other rook reaches g8.

33.

£g3

¦g8 34.¤b1!

is given by Kasparov, with the comment that White stands better, since he will be

able to swing his knight to h4, while the Nc8 is still out of play.

]

30.

¦g1 ¥h8

[ 30...

¥f8? 31.£h4

sets up a very nasty pin!

]

XIIIIIIIIY

9-+nwq-+rvl0

9+-+ptr-+k0

9-zpp+p+-zp0

9zp-+-zPp+L0

9-+-zP-zP-+0

9zPPsN-+-+-0

9-+-+-wQ-zP0

9tR-+-+-tRK0[

xiiiiiiiiy

If White's queen stood on f5, and were not attacked, then mate in two. But how do we realize this
fantasy? The solution is stunning!

31.

¤e4!!

Because of the threat of Nf6+, the knight must be

captured. But this gives White access to the f5-square. The sacrifice of material is not so
important because Black's knight is so out of play.

fxe4 32.f5

¦g5?

An error in time pressure.

According to Kasparov, Black should have brought the queen over to help with the defense: 32...
Qf8 33.Rxg8 Kxg8 34.f6! Rg7!

33.

¦xg5 hxg5 34.f6

XIIIIIIIIY

9-+nwq-+-vl0{

9+-+ptr-+k0

9-zpp+pzP-+0

9zp-+-zP-zpL0

9-+-zPp+-+0

9zPP+-+-+-0

9-+-+-wQ-zP0

9tR-+-+-+K0

xiiiiiiiiy

¢h6

[ 34...

£f8 35.fxe7 £xf2 36.e8£

wins because Black has no checks.

]

35.fxe7

£xe7

[ 35...

¤xe7 36.£f7 ¥g7 37.¦f1 ¥h8 38.¦f6+ ¥xf6 39.exf6 ]

36.

¥f7! d6

[ 36...g4 37.h4! gxh3 38.

¦g1 ¥g7 39.£f4+ ¢h7 40.£xe4+ ¢h8 41.£g6 ]

37.

¦f1 g4

[ 37...dxe5 38.

£e2 ]

XIIIIIIIIY

9-+n+-+-vl0

9+-+-wqL+-0

9-zppzpp+-mk0

9zp-+-zP-+-0

9-+-zPp+p+0

9zPP+-+-+-0

9-+-+-wQ-zP0

9+-+-+R+K0[

xiiiiiiiiy

White needs to get his queen and rook into the game in order to mate. The best route is via h4,
but that is covered by the Black queen.

38.

¥xe6!! £xe6 39.£h4+ ¢g7

and here Black

resigned before Kasparov could play 40.Rf6.

1-0

Capablanca
Bogoljubow

London (m/6)

1922

[Schiller]

1.e4 e5 2.

¤f3 ¤c6 3.¥b5 a6 4.¥a4 ¤f6 5.0-0 ¥e7 6.¦e1 b5 7.¥b3 d6 8.c3 0-0 9.d4

exd4?!

The release of tension in the center is premature. 9...Bg4 is the contemporary reply.

10.cxd4

¥g4 11.¥e3 ¤a5 12.¥c2 ¤c4 13.¥c1

Is this a loss of time? Not really, since the

knight will eventually be forced back with b2-b3 and then the bishop can be profitably employed
at b2.

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+-wq-trk+0

9+-+-vlpzpp0

9p+-zp-sn-+0

9+pzp-+-+-0

9-+nzPP+l+0

9+-+-+N+-0

9PzPL+-zPPzP0

9tRNvLQtR-mK-0[

xiiiiiiiiy

Classical Spanish play - Black will expand on the queenside and White will attempt to keep
control of the center and attack on the kingside.

14.b3

¤a5 15.¥b2

As promised. It would have

been wrong to push the d-pawn, because then Black would simply swing his knight from f6 to d7
and stick the bishop on the long diagonal.

¤c6 16.d5 ¤b4

(Diagram 75)

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+-wq-trk+0

9+-+-vlpzpp0

9p+-zp-sn-+0

9+pzpP+-+-0

9-sn-+P+l+0

9+P+-+N+-0

9PvLL+-zPPzP0

9tRN+QtR-mK-0[

xiiiiiiiiy

Black has lured White into playing d4-d5, but it has const him some time. He now attempts to
eliminate the Spanish bishop, which can be dangerous after e5.

17.

¤bd2

¤xc2

18.

£xc2

Black now has the bishop pair, but White controls the center and has a strong bishop at b2.
Should he play on the kinside, as usual, or perhaps undermine the Black pawn structure with a2-
a4. Or both? And how to time all of this?

¦e8 19.£d3

A very nice move which increases the

pressure on the queenside while making it easier for the queen to get to the kingside via the third
rank. Before making a concrete plan, White strives to improve the positin of his pieces.

If Black was worried about e4-e5, he could have played Nf6-d7, but White isn't ready for such
action yet.

[ 19...

¤d7 20.e5 ¥xf3 21.¤xf3 dxe5 22.¤xe5 ¤xe5 23.¥xe5 ¥d6 24.¥xd6 £xd6

25.

¦ad1

is not likely to be enough to win, given the blockade of the pawn.

]

20.

¤f1 ¤d7 21.h3 ¥h5?!

Black is a little too attached to his bishop pair. He should have

captured and then played Bf6, to take control of the e5 square which has been the center of
attention for some time.

22.

¤3d2! ¥f6 23.¥xf6 £xf6

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+-+r+k+0

9+-+n+pzp-0

9p+-zp-wq-zp0

9+pzpP+-+l0

9-+-+P+-+0

9+P+Q+-+P0

9P+-sN-zPP+0

9tR-+-tRNmK-0[

xiiiiiiiiy

Black seems to have secured the central squares, but now White defelects the Black knight to
the queenside, and then launches his attack.

24.a4! c4 25.bxc4

¤c5 26.£e3 bxa4

(Diagram 77)

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+-+r+k+0

9+-+-+pzp-0

9p+-zp-wq-zp0

9+-snP+-+l0

9p+P+P+-+0

9+-+-wQ-+P0

9-+-sN-zPP+0

9tR-+-tRNmK-0[

xiiiiiiiiy

The position has changed considerably. Black has some valuable assets on the queenside and a
seemingly well-placed knight - but it is actually offside.

27.f4!

White is prepared to bring a

pawnstorm against the enemy king. The Nc5 cannot come to the aid of its monarch. The attack
can be repelled, but only by going into a complicated endgame.

£e7 28.g4 ¥g6 29.f5 ¥h7

30.

¤g3 £e5 31.¢g2 ¦ab8 32.¦ab1 f6?!

This is a passive move which creates further holes

in Black's position. Since all of his chances lay on the queenside, he should have continued with
his infiltration of the White position.

[ 32...

¦b2 33.¦xb2 £xb2 34.¦b1 £c2 35.¢f3 ¤b3 36.¤gf1 f6

would have been

appropriate, since in this position the White pieces cannot occupy any of the holes on the
kingside. Indeed, Black's advanced pawn can be dangerous, and the Bh7 might eventually
enter the game via a4.

]

33.

¤f3! ¦b2+ 34.¦xb2 £xb2+ 35.¦e2

This is a much more comfortable position for White.

The hole at e6 will be a nice landing site for the Nf3, and the passed pawn is not important.

£b3

36.

¤d4! £xe3

[ 36...

£xc4 37.¤e6!

is good for White. Black cannot take the knight, because then the bishop

at h7 is permanently out of the game. The best continuation would be to seize the open file.

¦b8 38.¤xc5! dxc5 39.¦d2 ¦b3 40.£f2!

and White has a powerful passed pawn, which

cannot be stopped by the Black king since 40...Kf8 would be met by 41.Qf4!

]

37.

¦xe3 ¦b8

XIIIIIIIIY

9-tr-+-+k+0

9+-+-+-zpl0

9p+-zp-zp-zp0

9+-snP+P+-0

9p+PsNP+P+0

9+-+-tR-sNP0

9-+-+-+K+0

9+-+-+-+-0[

xiiiiiiiiy

At first sight it seems that Black has all the chances with his open file and passed pawn. But
White sees the potential of a passed d-pawn!

38.

¦c3 ¢f7 39.¢f3 ¦b2 40.¤ge2 ¥g8

Now White, keeping in mind the theme of the previous variations, sees that he can achieve his
goal of a passed d-pawn. He notices that the pawn at e4 is not a material consideration in this
position.

41.

¤e6!

¤b3

Of course Black cannot even think about exchanging at e6 and

entombing the bishop.

[ 41...

¤xe4 42.¢xe4 ¦xe2+ 43.¢d4

is a winning endgame for White, since the bishop is

absolutely useless and the king is close enough to pick off the a-pawns even if the rooks leave
the board .

]

42.c5!! dxc5 43.

¤xc5 ¤d2+ 44.¢f2 ¢e7?!

Again Black finds himself unthinkingly following

conventional wisdom by moving his king to the center. But he needed to invest more thought in
his queenside advantage.

[ 44...

¤b1! 45.¦c4! a3 46.¤e6! ¢e7! ( 46...a2 47.¦c7+ ¢e8 48.d6

with a mating net.

)

47.

¦c7+ ¢d6 48.¦c6+ ¢e7 49.¦xa6 ( 49.¦c7+ ¢d6

draws.

) 49...

¥xe6 50.¦xe6+ ¢d7

51.

¦a6 a2 52.¢e1

and the king gets over in time.

]

45.

¢e1 ¤b1 46.¦d3 a3?!

and here Black should have stuck to his plan, instead of belatedly

switching to the queenside advance.

[ 46...

¢d6! 47.¤xa4 ¦b4 48.¤ac3 ¤xc3 49.¤xc3 ¥f7 50.¢d2 g6 51.¢e3 gxf5 52.gxf5

¥e8

with drawing chances, although the kingside pawns remain very weak.

]

47.d6+

¢d8

XIIIIIIIIY

9-+-mk-+l+0

9+-+-+-zp-0

9p+-zP-zp-zp0

9+-sN-+P+-0

9-+-+P+P+0

9zp-+R+-+P0

9-tr-+N+-+0

9+n+-mK-+-0[

xiiiiiiiiy

At this point White is concentating on mate rather than a longwinded endgame. The idea is that a
knight at c6 would force the king off the queening square.

48.

¤d4! ¦b6 49.¤de6+ ¥xe6

50.fxe6

¦b8 51.e7+ ¢e8 52.¤xa6

1-0

Keres

2560

Euwe

2560

Nederland (m/6)

1939

[Schiller]

1.d4

¤f6 2.c4 e6 3.¤c3 ¥b4 4.£c2 ¤c6 5.¤f3 0-0 6.¥g5! h6 7.¥h4 d6

The pin may be

annoying, but it cannot easily be broken, as Botvinnik pointed out:

[ 7...g5? 8.

¥g3 g4 9.¤h4 ¤xd4 10.£d2! ¤f5 11.¤xf5 exf5 12.£xh6 ]

8.e3

£e7 9.¥e2 e5

(Diagram 80)

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+l+-trk+0

9zppzp-wqpzp-0

9-+nzp-sn-zp0

9+-+-zp-+-0

9-vlPzP-+-vL0

9+-sN-zPN+-0

9PzPQ+LzPPzP0

9tR-+-mK-+R0[

xiiiiiiiiy

Black has treated the center with classical respect, and White must decide whether he should
capture, advance, or maintain the status quo.

10.d5!

¤b8

The correct move. Now that White

has conceded control of c5, that square will be the natural home for the knight. From b8 it only
takes two moves to reach c5.

11.

¤d2!

This move serves many purposes. It breaks the pin on

the Nc3, and overprotects e4. Now if an eventual g7-g4, Black cannot gain more time with g5-g4.
White will also be able to attack with a pawnstorm on the kingside.

¤bd7 12.0-0 a5 13.¦ae1!

The Rf1 should remain in place because it supports the advance of the f-pawn. There is no need
to worry about action on the queenside, because White's pieces enjoy such freedom of
movement that they can switch sides quickly.

¦e8

This is aimed at preventing White from going

after the weak square c7 with Nc3-b5.

[ 13...

¤c5

would have been consistent with Black's plans and might have been better than the

text.

]

14.f4

[ 14.

¤b5 ¥xd2 15.£xd2 ¤e4 16.£c2 £xh4 17.¤xc7 £d8 18.¤xa8 ¤dc5

and the knight

is trapped.

]

14...

¥xc3 15.£xc3 ¤e4 16.¤xe4 £xh4 17.g3 £e7

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+l+r+k+0

9+pzpnwqpzp-0

9-+-zp-+-zp0

9zp-+Pzp-+-0

9-+P+NzP-+0

9+-wQ-zP-zP-0

9PzP-+L+-zP0

9+-+-tRRmK-0[

xiiiiiiiiy

Now White must think of a long term plan. Clearly his bishop is not a long- term asset, and if
Black plays f5-f5, it will be difficult to exchange.

18.

¥g4!

This assures that the bishops will come

off the board, and then the pawn structure will favor White. The threat of 19.Bxd7 Bxd7 20.f5! is
quite strong and therefore Black must exchange both sets of minor pieces.

¤f6

[ 18...

¤f8? 19.¥xc8 ¦axc8 20.f5

secures a significant spatial advantage.

]

19.

¤xf6+ £xf6 20.¥xc8 ¦axc8

XIIIIIIIIY

9-+r+r+k+0

9+pzp-+pzp-0

9-+-zp-wq-zp0

9zp-+Pzp-+-0

9-+P+-zP-+0

9+-wQ-zP-zP-0

9PzP-+-+-zP0

9+-+-tRRmK-0[

xiiiiiiiiy

After avoiding 21.Qxa5? exf4! (

∆ Qxb2), White must reconfigure his position so that his rooks will

be effective on an open line. Which file?

21.

¦f2!

This exploits the pin on e5, since the double-

rook endgames favor White. Now Keres will gain more space on the kingside by playing f4-f5,
after which he can concentrate on the queenside.

22.

¦ef1 £g6 23.f5! £f6 24.e4!

Given the fact that White's pieces enjoy superior mobility, it is possible for him to preserve
chances on both sides of the board by locking the center. The threat of a kingside pawn storm
will trouble Black for some time.

c6?!

This approach to the problem is too radical, or at least

premature, since White has not yet weakened his queenside by advancing the pawns there.

25.dxc6

¦xc6

XIIIIIIIIY

9-+-+r+k+0

9+-+-+pzp-0

9-zprzp-wq-zp0

9zp-+-zpP+-0

9-+P+P+-+0

9+-wQ-+-zP-0

9PzP-+-tR-zP0

9+-+-+RmK-0[

xiiiiiiiiy

Now White has opened some lines and useful light squares, and Black now has to defend the
weaknesses at b6 and d6. But Black threatens 26...b5!

26.a4!

¢f8 27.¦d1 ¦ec8 28.b3 ¢e7

Black has now secured his queenside, but the kingside is defended only by the queen. Before
undertaking action there, White will have to bring his own queen into play and ensure that his
rooks can move freely on the f- and g-files.

29.

£f3 ¢d7 30.h4 ¢c7 31.¢f1!

The king crawls

out of the way, so that the rooks can do their job.

¢b7 32.¢e2 ¦8c7 33.¦h2 £d8 34.g4 f6

35.

¦g2 ¦c8

(Diagram 84)

XIIIIIIIIY

9-+rwq-+-+0

9+k+-+-zp-0

9-zprzp-zp-zp0

9zp-+-zpP+-0

9P+P+P+PzP0

9+P+-+Q+-0

9-+-+K+R+0

9+-+R+-+-0[

xiiiiiiiiy

It is easy to see that the only way White can win is by a properly timed g4-g5 but at the same
time he must make sure that Black is tied to the defense of d6

36.

¦g3 £d7 37.£d3! £f7

38.

¦h1 ¦h8 39.¦hh3 ¦cc8!

Black now offers the d6-pawn as a sacrifice, since he will receive

more than enough compensation if control of the d-file is granted to him. But White correctly
keeps the position closed in the center, and breaks on the kingside.

40.g5! hxg5 41.hxg5

£c7

[ 41...

¦xh3

42.

¦xh3

fxg5

would allow White to capture at d6, since the d-file could not be

contested.

]

42.

£d5+ ¢a7 43.¦d3 ¦xh3

The sealed move. The alternative was to go into a rook endgame.

[ 43...fxg5 44.

¦xh8 ¦xh8 45.£xd6 £xd6 46.¦xd6 ¦h4 47.¢f3 ¦h3+ 48.¢g4 ¦xb3

49.

¦d7+ ¢a6 50.¦xg7

and the f-pawn decides.

]

44.

¦xh3 fxg5 45.¦h7!

The threat of f5-f6 forces Black to adopt a passive defense, and that

allows the White king to take an active part in the game.

£e7 46.¢f3 ¦f8 47.¢g4 ¦f7

XIIIIIIIIY

9-+-+-+-+0

9mk-+-wqrzpR0

9-zp-zp-+-+0

9zp-+QzpPzp-0

9P+P+P+K+0

9+P+-+-+-0

9-+-+-+-+0

9+-+-+-+-0[

xiiiiiiiiy

White has achieved a lot, but he must now find a way to exploit his spatial advantage. He needs
open lines against the Black king!

48.b4! axb4

[ 48...

£c7 49.bxa5 bxa5 50.¦h8 ]

[ 48...

£b7 49.£xb7+ ¢xb7 50.b5 ¦c7 51.¢xg5 ¦xc4 52.¦xg7+ ¢c8 53.f6 ¦xe4 54.f7

¦f4 55.¦g8+ ¢d7 56.f8£ ¦xf8 57.¦xf8

is hopeless for Black.

]

49.a5!

White relentlessly forces open lines, knowing that the rook on h7 only appears to be out of

play. In fact, it can get to the queenside in two moves, via h8 or h1.

£b7

50.axb6+

¢xb6

51.

£xd6+ ¢a7 52.£xe5 b3 53.¦h3!

A fine move, which prevents the advance of the b-pawn

because of Ra3+. Now Black cannot afford to exchange queens, as when the b-pawn falls the
endgame is a trivial win for White.

¦f6 54.£d4+ ¦b6 55.¦xb3!

1-0

Winter
Colle

Scarborough

1930

[Schiller]

1.d4

¤f6 2.c4 e6 3.¤c3 ¥b4 4.£b3 c5 5.dxc5 ¤c6 6.¤f3 ¤e4 7.¥d2 ¤xc5 8.£c2 f5

9.e3 0-0 10.a3

¥xc3 11.¥xc3 b6 12.¥e2 ¥b7 13.0-0

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+-wq-trk+0{

9zpl+p+-zpp0

9-zpn+p+-+0

9+-sn-+p+-0

9-+P+-+-+0

9zP-vL-zPN+-0

9-zPQ+LzPPzP0

9tR-+-+RmK-0

xiiiiiiiiy

Clearly in this position Black is going to want to attack onthe kingside. But first he takes time out
to put some pressure on the c-file.

¦c8!

This rook could not be expected to take part in the

attack. Therefore it lines up on the c-file, in order to keep some of White's potential defenders
tied down. This makes the attack easier to achieve.

14.

¦fd1

£e7

15.b4

¤e4

16.

¥e1

White preserves the bishop because his plan is to advance his b-pawn and then play Bb4,
creating tremendous pressure on the dark squares. His king seems safe enough, since there are
no attacking pieces in sight.

¦f6!

Simultaneously lessening the effect of Bb4 and starting the

offensive.

17.

¤d4?

White is oblivious to the danger - though in reality he has but a few moments

left to live. 17.Bf1 would have defended the g2-square, and the defense of f3 could have been
entrusted to a queen at e2.

¦g6!

XIIIIIIIIY

9-+r+-+k+0

9zpl+pwq-zpp0

9-zpn+p+r+0

9+-+-+p+-0

9-zPPsNn+-+0

9zP-+-zP-+-0

9-+Q+LzPPzP0

9tR-+RvL-mK-0[

xiiiiiiiiy

This position is winning for Black because his minor pieces can strike quickly and White is not
able to defend in time.

18.

¥f1

Given that the Black queen can get to the kingside via h4, the

presence of a Black knight at f3 should be decisive. Although the Pg2 is pinned, White can use
his Nd4 to defend the square. But the Nd4 can be eliminated.

[ 18.f3

£g5! ]

[ 18.

¥f3 ¤e5! ]

[ 18.g3

¤e5 19.£b3 £h4! ]

18...

¤g5!

19.

¢h1

In order to avoid the check at f3. But Black doesn't need a check!

¤xd4

20.exd4

¤f3!!

This is the position envisioned back at move 18. The threat is simply Qh4: 21.d5

Qh4 22 h3 (22.gxf3 Qg5) 22...Qxh3+! 23.hxg3 Rg1#.

0-1

Schiller
Shannon

USAT

1990

[Schiller]

1.e4 e5 2.

¤f3 ¤c6 3.d4 exd4 4.¤xd4 £h4 5.¤b5 £xe4+ 6.¥e2 ¥b4+ 7.¥d2 ¢d8

8.0-0

¥xd2 9.£xd2 a6

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+lmk-+ntr0

9+pzpp+pzpp0

9p+n+-+-+0

9+N+-+-+-0

9-+-+q+-+0

9+-+-+-+-0

9PzPPwQLzPPzP0

9tRN+-+RmK-0[

xiiiiiiiiy

White has emerged from the opening with a clear advantage, since he is better developed and
Black has forfeited his castling privilege.

10.

¥f3!

Not only does this gain time, but it creates the

pressure at c6 which will eventually prove to be decisive.

£e5 11.¤5c3 ¤ge7

White must now

find a way to proceed against the well-defended Black king. Although the e-file beckons, it is
useful to restrain Black's queenside so that he cannot free his game with b7-b5 and Bc8-b7.

12.a4!

Not only does this achieve that goal, but it also provides a convenient way to develop the

Nb1.

d6 13.

¤a3 ¥e6 14.¦ad1 ¢d7

Black hopes to slide his Ra8 to a more userful square and

then manually castle queenside, after which his position will be no worse.

15.

¦fe1

£a5

White now moves to prevent that plan by improving his control of the e-file and making possible
Na3-c4.

16.

£e2! ¦ae8 17.¤c4 ¥xc4 18.£xc4

Now there is a clear target at f7, and if the

pawn advances then the light squares will be very weak. The interdependece of Black's pieces is
not a plus. Rather, the knights are overworked.

¦hf8

(Diagram 89)

XIIIIIIIIY

9-+-+rtr-+0

9+pzpksnpzpp0

9p+nzp-+-+0

9wq-+-+-+-0

9P+Q+-+-+0

9+-sN-+L+-0

9-zPP+-zPPzP0

9+-+RtR-mK-0[

xiiiiiiiiy

White has a simple plan in mind: Pb2-b4-b5. This does not seem implementable, at present, but
it does in fact work.

19.b4!

£xb4

Now the overworked knights can be exploited in a most brutal

manner.

[ 19...

¤xb4 20.¥xb7 ¦b8 21.¤e4

creates nasty threats of Nc5+ in a variety of settings.

]

[ 19...

£g5 20.h4

followd by b4-b5.

]

20.

¦xe7+!!

and Black resigned, since capturing with knight or rook drops the queen, and

¢xe7

21.

¤d5+

is equally effective.

1-0

Forgacs
Tartakower

St.Petersburg

1909

[Schiller]

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.

¤c3 ¤f6 4.¥g5 ¥e7 5.e5 ¤e4 6.¤xe4 ¥xg5 7.¤xg5 £xg5

This line is no longer seen, since Black has no compensation for his bad bishop and spatial
disadvantage.

8.g3 c5 9.c3

¤c6 10.f4 £e7 11.¤f3 ¥d7 12.£d2 0-0 13.¥d3 c4 14.¥c2

b5 15.0-0 a5 16.

¦ae1 b4

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+-+-trk+0

9+-+lwqpzpp0

9-+n+p+-+0

9zp-+pzP-+-0

9-zppzP-zP-+0

9+-zP-+NzP-0

9PzPLwQ-+-zP0

9+-+-tRRmK-0[

xiiiiiiiiy

Black's attack is proceeding quickly, so White must open lines quickly. 17.Ng5 is met by 17...g6,
while 17.g4 runs into 17...f5. Time for a sacrifice!

17.f5! exf5

Black was in no position to allow

18.f6. And there was no other defense. After Black captured, White needed to open the f-file and
the b1-h7 diagonal. Once again, a sacrificial path is available.

[ 17...f6 18.fxe6

¥xe6 19.exf6 ¦xf6 20.¥xh7+!! ¢xh7 21.¤g5+ ¢g8 22.¦xf6 £xf6

23.

¦xe6 ]

18.g4!

fxg4

If Black had not captured, but played 18...f4, White could have ignored the pawn

and played 19.g5!, further constricting the Black position and setting up sacrifices at f6.

19.

¤g5

[ 19...h6 20.

¤h7!

is a pretty way of swinging the knight to f6!

]

20.

¦f6

White envisions a mating attack with Qd2-f4-h4, but first this square must be occupied so

that Black will not be able to obtain any breathing room with f7- f5.

¢g7

Now Black will be able

to defend against that plan by playing Rf8-h8. So White must find a continuation that will remove
that option. He achieves his goal by increasing the pressure at f7.

21.

¦ef1 ¥e8

An important

concession, since now the Ra8 cannot assist in the defense.

22.

£f4 ¤d8

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+-snltr-+0

9+-+-wqpmkp0

9-+-+-tRp+0

9zp-+pzP-sN-0

9-zppzP-wQp+0

9+-zP-+-+-0

9PzPL+-+-zP0

9+-+-+RmK-0[

xiiiiiiiiy

Black has carefully overprotected f7. But the solution here is simple when one realizes that if the
pawn were absent from f7, then Rf6xf8 is playable.

23.e6!

¦a6

A counter pin, which White

meets by setting up a deadly discovered check.

[ 23...

¤xe6 24.¤xe6+ ]

24.

£e5! ¢h6

Here it is important to recognize the power of the pin of the Pg6 by the rook. If the

White knight is removed from g5, and a White rook is placed at h5, then mate follows quickly.

25.

¦1f5! fxe6 26.¤f7+ £xf7 27.¦h5+

And the desired position is reached.

¢g7 28.¦xg6#

1-0

Wolff
Rubinstein

Teplice Schonau

1922

[Schiller]

1.e4 e5 2.

¤f3 ¤c6 3.¤c3 ¤f6 4.¥b5 ¥b4 5.0-0 0-0 6.d3 d6 7.¥g5 ¥xc3 8.bxc3 £e7

¦e1 ¤d8 10.d4 ¥g4 11.h3 ¥h5 12.g4 ¥g6 13.¤h4

At the time, 13.d5 was considered the

best move, but all of this was still within well-known theory at the time.

14.

¤xg6

An innovation, and a poor one. Black's light-squared bishop had no effect on the game and it was
silly to give up a useful knight for it. Rubinstein failed to achieve equality against Drewitt at
Hastings 1922 after 14.Bc4!

fxg6 15.

¥c4+ ¢h7 16.¥h4 g5 17.¥g3

(Diagram 92)

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+-sn-tr-+0{

9zppzp-wq-zpk0

9-+-zp-sn-zp0

9+-+-zp-zp-0

9-+LzPP+P+0

9+-zP-+-vLP0

9P+P+-zP-+0

9tR-+QtR-mK-0

xiiiiiiiiy

Black, his dark-squared bishop gone from the board, can be delighted with his position, since the
knights operate effectively in the garden of pawns.

¤f7 18.£f3 ¦ae8 19.£e3 b6

Does Black's

strategy involve giving up the light square? Hardly. Rubinstein understands that the bishop can
do no harm if it has no targets, and now White can gain to time by moving a rook to the b-file.
The kingside is what counts.

20.

¥b5 ¦d8 21.a4

Time to start planning! The obvious post for a

Black knight is f4, since if White captures the safety of the Black king is guaranteed. And let's
face it, the knights are the only Black pieces which can do anything in the position.

¤h8! 22.a5

¤g6

Is Black ignoring the queenside? No, Rubinstein appreciates that an open line on the

queenside is a double-edged sword, and later he may be able to turn it to his own advantage.

23.f3

¤f4 24.¥f1 ¢h8

Just to free up h7 for the knight, should it prove useful. Black is in no

rush .

25.

¥xf4 gxf4 26.£f2 g5

XIIIIIIIIY

9-+-tr-tr-mk0

9zp-zp-wq-+-0

9-zp-zp-sn-zp0

9zP-+-zp-zp-0

9-+-zPPzpP+0

9+-zP-+P+P0

9-+P+-wQ-+0

9tR-+-tRLmK-0[

xiiiiiiiiy

Black is preparing some tactical shots if White gets ambitious and tries to open up the kingside.

27.d5

[ 27.h4

£e6! 28.£g2 ( 28.¥e2 d5! 29.exd5 £xd5 30.dxe5 £xe5

and Black can starting

munching on his opponent's pawns.

) 28...gxh4 29.

£h3 ¦g8 30.£xh4 ¤xg4! 31.fxg4

¦xg4+ ]

27...h5

Thanks to his tactical diversions, Black has taken over the initiative on the kingside.

White's bishop moves to an even more pathetic post.

28.

¥g2 ¢g7 29.£e2 ¦h8 30.¢f2

Here Rubinstein demonstrates his strategic mastery of the game. Just as all of the attention is
focused on the Kingside, he prepares to act on the queenside as well, posting his "extra piece" at
c5.

¦a8! 31.¦eb1 ¤d7 32.£b5 hxg4!

With White's heavy artillery forced to defend the

queenside, thanks to the impotence of the bishop, Black switches to the kingside again to open
an important line for infiltration.

33.hxg4

¤c5 34.¦h1

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+-+-+-tr0{

9zp-zp-wq-mk-0

9-zp-zp-+-+0

9zPQsnPzp-zp-0

9-+-+PzpP+0

9+-zP-+P+-0

9-+P+-mKL+0

9tR-+-+-+R0

xiiiiiiiiy

White seems to be coping with the threats, but here Rubinstein looks deep into the endgame and
recognizes the value of a passed h-pawn.

¦h4!

35.

¦xh4

White would have liked to resolve

matters on the queenside with axb6 but this was not possible because the opening of the c-file
would expose the weakness of the doubled pawns.

gxh4

36.

¥h3 bxa5! 37.£xa5 £d8

Now Black has established clear superiority with passed pawns on both sides of the board. But
he still must find a way to convert this advantage into victory .

38.

¦b1 ¦b8 39.¦b4

[ 39.

¦xb8 £xb8

followed by Qb6 would have been much easier for Black.

]

39...a6 40.

¢e2 ¦b6 41.£a1 ¢g6!

The king will pull his own weight by defending the pawn at

h4.

42.

¢d2 ¢g5 43.¦b1 £b8

The b-file is secured. White regroups his forces, using the rook

on the h-file which both frees his bishop for action on the queenside and also creates the threat
of Qe1.

44.

¦h1

XIIIIIIIIY

9-wq-+-+-+0{

9+-zp-+-+-0

9ptr-zp-+-+0

9+-snPzp-mk-0

9-+-+PzpPzp0

9+-zP-+P+L0

9-+PmK-+-+0

9wQ-+-+-+R0

xiiiiiiiiy

Black must now find a way to keep White occupied on the queenside. He sees the potential of a
fork at b3, but that won't work until there is a pin at c2.

a5!

The more prosaic Rb2 was playable,

but Rubinstein appreciated the superior possibilities offered by this pseudo-sacrifice.

45.

¥g2

Sticking with the original plan. Taking the pawn would have proved fatal.

[ 45.

£xa5 ¦b2 46.£a3 ¤b3+ 47.¢e2 ( 47.¢d3 £b5+ 48.c4 £b6

and the queen mates on

the dark squares.

) 47...

£b5+ 48.¢f2 ¦xc2+ 49.¢g1 £e2 ]

45...a4 46.

£e1 £h8 47.£c1 ¦a6 48.¥f1 ¦a8 49.¥c4

Finally the bishop is back in the game,

doing something useful. Blockading the pawn with the queen would have been disastrous.

[ 49.

£a3 £b8 50.¥c4 ( 50.¥e2 £b6 51.c4 ¦b8 52.¦a1 ¤b3+! 53.cxb3 £e3+ 54.¢d1

axb3 55.

£b2 h3 ) 50...£b6! 51.£c1 ¤xe4+!! 52.fxe4 £e3+ 53.¢d1 £xe4 ]

49...a3 50.

¥a2 £h7! 51.¦h3 ¤d7

[ 51...

¤xe4+ 52.fxe4 £xe4 53.£g1!

stops the attack.

]

52.

£f1 £h8 53.¦h1 ¤c5 54.£c1

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+-+-+-wq0{

9+-zp-+-+-0

9-+-zp-+-+0

9+-snPzp-mk-0

9-+-+PzpPzp0

9zp-zP-+P+-0

9L+PmK-+-+0

9+-wQ-+-+R0

xiiiiiiiiy

This is the critical position. Black must find a way to get at the White king, since the pawns are
blockaded. The solution is to sacrifice both of them!

¦b8!

55.

£xa3

¦a8

56.

£b2

h3!

With the White queen tied to the defense of the bishop, Black carves a path to the enemy king
via the h4-e1 diagonal.

57.

¥c4 £h4 58.¥e2 £f2! 59.¦xh3 £e3+ 60.¢e1 ¤a4

and White

resigned. A brilliant strategic game from the famous tactician.

0-1

Blechschmidt
Flohr

Zwickau

1930

[Schiller]

1.c4

¤f6 2.g3 c5 3.¥g2 g6 4.¤c3 ¥g7 5.¤f3 ¤c6 6.0-0 d6 7.h3 ¥d7 8.e3

The immediate 8.d4 was called for, opening up the game. The quiet 8.d3 would also have been
reasonable, but the text simply crates weaknesses on the light squares.

£c8 9.¢h2

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+q+k+-tr0{

9zpp+lzppvlp0

9-+nzp-snp+0

9+-zp-+-+-0

9-+P+-+-+0

9+-sN-zPNzPP0

9PzP-zP-zPLmK0

9tR-vLQ+R+-0

xiiiiiiiiy

Many players would automatically castle here, but if so, then how would a kingside attack be
carried out? Instead, Flohr counts on safety in the center.

h5! 10.d4 h4! 11.gxh4

White must

try to keep the h-file blocked in order to protect the king.

[ 11.

¤xh4? g5 12.¤f3 ¥xh3 13.¢g1 ¥xg2 14.¢xg2 £h3+ 15.¢g1 £h1# ]

11...g5!

And Black must strive to open up the h-file! The pawn cannot be captured.

12.

¦h1

[ 12.

¤xg5 ¦xh4

threatens the d-pawn as well as Bh6.

]

[ 12.hxg5

¥xh3 13.gxf6 ( 13.¥xh3 £xh3+ 14.¢g1 £h1# ) 13...¥xg2+ 14.¢xg2 £h3+

15.

¢g1 £h1# ]

12...g4 13.hxg4

¥xg4 14.¢g1 £f5

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+-+k+-tr0

9zpp+-zppvl-0

9-+nzp-sn-+0

9+-zp-+q+-0

9-+PzP-+lzP0

9+-sN-zPN+-0

9PzP-+-zPL+0

9tR-vLQ+-mKR0[

xiiiiiiiiy

Black seems to have an unstoppable attack, but because his own king is stuck in the center his
pieces do not coordinate well. White must stop 15...0-0-0.

15.d5!

¤e5

16.

£a4+

¤fd7

17.

¤xe5 ¥xe5 18.e4 £g6 19.¢f1

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+-+k+-tr0{

9zpp+nzpp+-0

9-+-zp-+q+0

9+-zpPvl-+-0

9Q+P+P+lzP0

9+-sN-+-+-0

9PzP-+-zPL+0

9tR-vL-+K+R0

xiiiiiiiiy

White has lost the initiative, as the threat of Bf3 had to be met. Now Black needs a plan. He can
force the win of the e-pawn, a good first step.

¥xc3! 20.bxc3 ¥e2+ 21.¢xe2

[ 21.

¢g1 ¥f3 ]

21...

£xg2 22.¥e3 £xe4 23.¦ab1

100

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+-+k+-tr0{

9zpp+nzpp+-0

9-+-zp-+-+0

9+-zpP+-+-0

9Q+P+q+-zP0

9+-zP-vL-+-0

9P+-+KzP-+0

9+R+-+-+R0

xiiiiiiiiy

A deceptive position. White seems to be making real progress on the queenside. But if Black can
open a line on the queenside then the king is vulnerable.

b5!

Exploiting the pin at c4 and the

pressure at h1. There is no need to go after the h-pawn when the enemy monarch is a much

more attractive target.

24.

£xb5 ¦b8 25.£c6

[ 25.

£xb8+ ¤xb8 26.¦xb8+ ¢d7 27.¦xh8 £xh1 28.h5 £e4 29.h6 £xc4+ 30.¢e1 £xd5

31.h7

£h1+ 32.¢e2 f5

and the Black king emerges at e6, after which his pawns decide.

]

25...

£xc4+ 26.¢f3

[ 26.

¢d2 0-0! 27.£xd7 £xa2+ 28.¢d3 £xd5+ 29.¢c2 £e4+ ]

101

XIIIIIIIIY

9-tr-+k+-tr0{

9zp-+nzpp+-0

9-+Qzp-+-+0

9+-zpP+-+-0

9-+q+-+-zP0

9+-zP-vLK+-0

9P+-+-zP-+0

9+R+-+-+R0

xiiiiiiiiy

Black needs to find a way to continue attack without the participation of his rooks. He will require
the services of the pinned knight.

26...f5!

The point of this move is not merely the threatened

mate at g4, but more significantly, a flight square for the king, so that the pin can be broken.

27.

¦xb8+

[ 27.

¦bg1 £e4+ 28.¢e2 ¦b2+ ]

27...

¢f7

Now White must attend to the threatened mate at g4.

28.

¥d4 ¤e5+!

The knight finally

joins the attack - with decisive results.

29.

¥xe5 £e4+

and White resigned because of 30.Kg3

Qg4+ 31.Kh2 Rxh4 mate.

0-1

Yermolinsky

2660

Fedorowicz

2630

USA ch

1991

[Schiller]

1.d4

¤f6 2.c4 g6 3.¤c3 ¥g7 4.e4 d6 5.¥e2 0-0 6.¤f3 e5 7.¥e3 ¤g4 8.¥g5 f6 9.¥h4

g5 10.

¥g3 ¤h6 11.h3

White has an alternative strategy with 11.dxe5 dxe5 12.Qd5+ which is

also quite popular.

¤c6 12.dxe5 dxe5

Given that Black's strategy involves an attack along the

f-file, one might prefer 12...fxe5, and that is a popular alternative. But by keeping the f-pawn
Black can use it to cause some damage on the kingside.

13.0-0

(Diagram 102)

102

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+lwq-trk+0{

9zppzp-+-vlp0

9-+n+-zp-sn0

9+-+-zp-zp-0

9-+P+P+-+0

9+-sN-+NvLP0

9PzP-+LzPP+0

9tR-+Q+RmK-0

xiiiiiiiiy

Typical King's Indian - White will attack on the queenside, Black will go king -hunting on the other
flank. The key move for Black is a well-timed g5-g4.

¥e6!

As Seirawan astutely notes, the

immediate advance of the g-pawn is tempting but ill-advised.

[ 13...g4 14.hxg4

¥xg4 15.¤h4 £xd1 16.¦axd1

and the control of the d-file plus safe king

gives White the advantage.

]

14.

£c1 £e8

[ 14...g4

is still slightly premature:

15.hxg4

¥xg4 16.¤d5!

and the strong outpost makes

Seirawan's evaluation of "chances for both sides" a bit optimistic, perhaps, from Black's point of
view.

]

15.

¤d5 ¦c8 16.b4

103

XIIIIIIIIY

9-+r+qtrk+0{

9zppzp-+-vlp0

9-+n+lzp-sn0

9+-+Nzp-zp-0

9-zPP+P+-+0

9+-+-+NvLP0

9P+-+LzPP+0

9tR-wQ-+RmK-0

xiiiiiiiiy

Now that White has thrown the b-pawn forward Black can carry out his plan.

g4! 17.hxg4

¥xg4

18.b5

¥xf3!

The point. With the Nf3 gone the d4-square is available for the knight.

19.

¥xf3

¤d4

20.

£a3

White plays as if there were no danger whatsoever on the kingside. Though the

two clerics bravely stand guard, they are easily diverted, and the f-pawn will play a decisive role
in the attack.

[ 20.

¥d1 c6 21.bxc6 bxc6 22.¤e3 £g6

was suggested by Seirawan. Even here Black

seems to have a much more active game.

]

20...

¢h8

One musn't allow Ne7+!

21.

¦ad1

[ 21.

£xa7

would have been a most foolhardy move:

f5! 22.exf5

¤xf3+ 23.gxf3 ¤xf5 24.¢g2

e4!

with a very short life-expectancy for White.

]

21...f5!

All along we have been waiting for this advance, which is perfectly timed.

22.

¦xd4

[ 22.exf5

¤hxf5 23.¥h2 c6 24.bxc6 bxc6 25.¤e3 ¤xf3+ 26.gxf3 £g6+ 27.¢h1 ¤h4

28.

¦g1 £f7

was hardly desirable.

]

22...exd4 23.exf5

[ 23.

¤xc7 £d7! 24.¤d5 fxe4 25.¥xe4 ¦xc4

would have given Black a very impressive

passed pawn.

]

23...

¤xf5

24.

¥xc7

Though White does not want to use one of his palace guard to go pawn-

hunting, he doesn't have much of a choice.

[ 24.

¤xc7 £d7 25.¤d5 ¤xg3 26.fxg3 ¦xc4

gains the pawn and still removes the bishop.

(Analysis by Seirawan)

]

24...

£f7 25.¥g4

[ 25.

¥h2 ¦xc4 26.£xa7 ¤h4 27.¥e4 d3! 28.¥xd3 £xd5

and the threatened mate at g2 is

decisive.

]

104

XIIIIIIIIY

9-+r+-tr-mk0{

9zppvL-+qvlp0

9-+-+-+-+0

9+P+N+n+-0

9-+Pzp-+L+0

9wQ-+-+-+-0

9P+-+-zPP+0

9+-+-+RmK-0

xiiiiiiiiy

Now we just mentally remove the pawn at f2 and the knight at f5, and voila! Of course, to make
this fantasy a reality we must find the right move.

25...

¤e3! 26.¥xc8

[ 26.

¤xe3 dxe3 27.¥xc8 e2! ]

26...

¤xf1 27.£f3

[ 27.

¥f4 ¦xc8 28.¢xf1 ¦xc4-+ ]

27...

£xf3 28.gxf3 ¤d2!

The knight, which has already infiltrated the White position, is more

valuable than the Bc8, which remains under attack.

29.

¥xb7 ¤xc4 30.¢f1 d3 31.¥f4

[ 31.

¢e1 ¦e8+ 32.¢d1 ¦e2 ]

31...d2 32.

¢e2 ¤a5!

105

XIIIIIIIIY

9-+-+-tr-mk0

9zpL+-+-vlp0

9-+-+-+-+0

9snP+N+-+-0

9-+-+-vL-+0

9+-+-+P+-0

9P+-zpKzP-+0

9+-+-+-+-0[

xiiiiiiiiy

The point of this is to remove the defender of the Nd5, after which Black lures the enemy king to
the d-file by queening, and then pins the knight.

33.

¥c6 ¤xc6 34.bxc6 d1£+ 35.¢xd1 ¦d8

36.

¢c2 ¦xd5 37.c7 ¦c5+ 38.¢d3 ¥c3 39.¥d6 ¦c6 40.¢e4 ¥a5

0-1

Keres

2560

Fine

2560

Ostend

1937

[Schiller]

¤f3 d5 2.d4 ¤f6 3.c4 e6 4.¤c3 c5 5.cxd5 ¤xd5 6.e4 ¤xc3 7.bxc3 cxd4 8.cxd4

¥b4+ 9.¥d2 ¥xd2+ 10.£xd2

106

XIIIIIIIIY

9rsnlwqk+-tr0{

9zpp+-+pzpp0

9-+-+p+-+0

9+-+-+-+-0

9-+-zPP+-+0

9+-+-+N+-0

9P+-wQ-zPPzP0

9tR-+-mKL+R0

xiiiiiiiiy

A common position in the Semi-Tarrasch. Black aims for an endgame, where he can take
advantage of the queenside majority. White controls the center.

0-0

11.

¥c4

Part of White's

strategy lies in advancing his d-pawn at the appropriate time. The other component is a kingside
attack. The two plans can be joined if the a2-g8 diagonal is part of the attack.

¤d7

This is the

more flexible move, which allows the knight to participate in the defense. 11...Nc6 places
pressure on the center, but eventually the knight will be attacked by an advance of the d-pawn.
Both moves are played these days

12.0-0 b6 13.

¦ad1 ¥b7 14.¦fe1 ¦c8 15.¥b3 ¤f6

This is the active continuation, which targets the e4-square and keeps an eye on d5, thus directly
aimed at countering White's strategy. This knight could also have been posted at f8 (after Rf8-e8),
adopting a purely defensive plan.

16.

£f4

£c7

Black would be delighted to see the queens

leave the board, but White is still interested in a kingside attack.

17.

£h4 ¦fd8

107

XIIIIIIIIY

9-+rtr-+k+0

9zplwq-+pzpp0

9-zp-+psn-+0

9+-+-+-+-0

9-+-zPP+-wQ0

9+L+-+N+-0

9P+-+-zPPzP0

9+-+RtR-mK-0[

xiiiiiiiiy

The developmental phase of the game is concluded, and it is time for decisions with regard to
long-term strategy.

18.

¦e3?!

White has a difficult time planning here. The immediate advance of

the pawn fails, but White sees that it can be made to work once the Ra1 is removed from the d-
file. Yet the correct plan is a kingside attack, so he should kick the N

[ 18.d5? exd5 19.e5

would be a reasonable plan, coupled with an exchange sacrifice. But it

doesn't work.

¤e4 20.¦xe4 dxe4

leaves the Rd1 loose.

21.

¤g5 ¦xd1+ 22.¥xd1 h6

and White has no compensation for the exchange.

]

[ 18.

¤e5 £c3! 19.¦e3? £xd4! 20.¦xd4 ¦c1+ ]

[ 18.e5!

is correct, depriving the kingside of its only defender. Keres demonstrated the

effectiveness of this plan with the following concrete variations:

¤d7 ( 18...¤d5 19.¤g5 h6

20.

¤e4 ¤c3 21.¤f6+! ; 18...¥xf3 19.exf6! ¥xd1 20.£g5 ¢f8 21.£xg7+ ¢e8 22.¦xe6+! )

19.

¤g5 ¤f8 20.¤e4 ¥xe4 21.£xe4

and White has a positional advantage thanks to his

bishop and the ready availability of d4-d5.

]

18...b5!

Black correctly anticipates White's strategy and prepares b6 for the queen, so that

immediate pressure can be placed at d4 if White advances e4-e5.

19.

¦de1

a5?!

But this is

overambitious. All Black has to do is eliminate the kingside attack and he can enjoy his
queenside superiority at his leisure.

20.a4! b4?

A critical strategic error. Here or at the last turn

Black should have played h7-h6, so that White would not be able to use the g5-square. Of course
at this point 20...bxa4 would have to be interpolated, but after 20.Bxa4 h6 it is =+.

21.d5!

108

XIIIIIIIIY

9-+rtr-+k+0{

9+lwq-+pzpp0

9-+-+psn-+0

9zp-+P+-+-0

9Pzp-+P+-wQ0

9+L+-tRN+-0

9-+-+-zPPzP0

9+-+-tR-mK-0

xiiiiiiiiy

The same theme returns. After Black captures, White will push the e-pawn and then play Ng5
with a strong attack.

exd5

[ 21...e5 22.

¤g5 ¦d6 23.f4

with a strong attack.

]

22.e5

¤d7

[ 22...

¤e4

is helpful to White in that it allows him, via an exchange sacrifice, to open the

diagonal for the Bb3. This has no immediate effect, but with a preliminary pawn sacrifice White
adds considerable force to the attack.

23.e6! fxe6 24.

¦xe4! dxe4

Now Bxe6+ fails to recover

the material, but the kingside, deprived of its principal defender, is now vulnerable to a powerful
zwischenzug.

25.

¤g5! £c3!

This move almost turns the tables, by attacking both the Bb3 and

Re1 while simultaneously defending g7. But the bishop escapes with check.

26.

¥xe6+

¢f8

27.

¦f1!

and here White will at least recover his exchange, or can aim for f7 via f4.

]

23.

¤g5 ¤f8?

This was Black's last chance to defend with h7-h6, though this is already too late

to achieve equality:

[ 23...h6 24.e6! hxg5 25.exf7+

¢xf7 26.¦e7+ ¢g8 27.£xg5 £c3 28.h3! £f6 29.¥xd5+

¥xd5 30.£xd5+ ¢h8 31.¦xd7 ¦xd7 32.£xd7 ¦f8

with an advantage to White, although it

will not be easy to win the position.

]

(Diagram 109)

109

XIIIIIIIIY

9-+rtr-snk+0

9+lwq-+pzpp0

9-+-+-+-+0

9zp-+pzP-sN-0

9Pzp-+-+-wQ0

9+L+-tR-+-0

9-+-+-zPPzP0

9+-+-tR-mK-0[

xiiiiiiiiy

24.

¤xh7!

White single-mindedly carries out his attack. The material is not important because

neither the Bb7 nor the rc8 can participate in the defense, but the Bb3 can play a role. In any
event, the material is recouped quickly.

¤xh7 25.¦h3 £c1

Obviously the knight cannot move

because of mate at h8.

26.

£xh7+ ¢f8 27.¦he3 d4 28.£h8+ ¢e7 29.£xg7 ¦f8

[ 29...

¥d5 30.£f6+ ¢e8 ( 30...¢d7 31.¥xd5 ) 31.e6! ¥xe6 32.¦xe6+ fxe6 33.£xe6+ ¢f8

34.

£e7# ]

30.

£f6+ ¢e8 31.e6!

110

XIIIIIIIIY

9-+r+ktr-+0{

9+l+-+p+-0

9-+-+PwQ-+0

9zp-+-+-+-0

9Pzp-zp-+-+0

9+L+-tR-+-0

9-+-+-zPPzP0

9+-wq-tR-mK-0

xiiiiiiiiy

and Black resigned because of 31...dxe3 32.exf7+ Rxf7 33.Bxf7+ Kd7 34.Qe6+. The combination
of d4-d5 and a kingside attack was played to perfection.

1-0

Kasparov
Hjorth

World Jr ch

1980

[Schiller]

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.

¤f3 c5 4.cxd5 exd5 5.g3 ¤c6 6.¥g2 ¤f6 7.¤c3 ¥e7 8.0-0 0-0

¥g5 c4 10.¤e5 ¥e6 11.f4 ¤xe5

(Diagram 111)

111

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+-wq-trk+0

9zpp+-vlpzpp0

9-+-+lsn-+0

9+-+psn-vL-0

9-+pzP-zP-+0

9+-sN-+-zP-0

9PzP-+P+LzP0

9tR-+Q+RmK-0[

xiiiiiiiiy

12.fxe5

Kasparov introduced this move in the present game. The idea is that the f-file will be a

useful asset in the attack and that a pawn at d4 may be helpful too.

¤e4

13.

¥xe7

¤xc3

14.bxc3

£xe7

The only strategy available to White is to try to eliminate Black's pawn at d5 so

that the central pawns can advance. Black will try to thrust the queenside pawns forward as
quickly as possible.

15.e4!

£d7 16.a4!

A very important move, restraining Black's queenside

play. That accomplished, White can turn his attention to the kingside.

¦fd8 17.£h5 ¦ac8

112

XIIIIIIIIY

9-+rtr-+k+0

9zpp+q+pzpp0

9-+-+l+-+0

9+-+pzP-+Q0

9P+pzPP+-+0

9+-zP-+-zP-0

9-+-+-+LzP0

9tR-+-+RmK-0[

xiiiiiiiiy

The battle lines are drawn. Now White doubles rooks on the f- file. This will leave the a-pawn
hanging, but if the attack is fast enough it won't matter.

18.

¦f4

¦c7

19.

¦af1

£xa4?

Black should be worrying about the defense of his kingside, so 19...Qe8 was best, although
White would retain a strong initiative.

20.exd5!

¦xd5

Forced, since otherwise f7 loses its most

valuable defender. The f7-square is the cornerstone of Black's position, and obviously White
would like to play Rxf7 as soon as feasible.

21.

¥xd5 ¥xd5

(Diagram 113)

113

XIIIIIIIIY

9-+-+-+k+0

9zpptr-+pzpp0

9-+-+-+-+0

9+-+lzP-+Q0

9q+pzP-tR-+0

9+-zP-+-zP-0

9-+-+-+-zP0

9+-+-+RmK-0[

xiiiiiiiiy

The material is not important. If White does not break through quickly Black will make a new
queen on the other flank. The goal is achieved effectively.

22.e6!

What is surprising about this

move is that it seems to contribute nothing to the task of deflecting the bishop from f7. In fact,
however, it opens up the d5-square so that the White pawn can chase the bishop from the key
square.

¥xe6 23.d5 £b5

[ 23...

¦c5 24.¦xf7! ]

[ 23...g6 24.

£h4

with the threat of Qd8+.

]

24.

¦h4!

The simultaneous threats at e6 and h7 force victory.

£c5+ 25.¦f2 ¥xd5 26.¦d4!

This breaks the pin at f2 while exploiting the pin along the 5th rank.

¦d7 27.¦f5

1-0

Gligoric
Portisch

Pula

1971

[Schiller]

1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.

¤f3 ¤f6 4.e3 e6 5.¥xc4 c5 6.0-0 a6

The Queen's Gambit Accepted

is an opening rich in strategic themes, but the most important one is queenside expansion by
Black against central occupation by White, who can take time out to delay b7-b4 if he chooses.

7.a4

This move slows down Black's plans, but it costs time and weakens b4. Now Black switches

strategy to take aim at the center, since his queenside ambitions have been stopped for the
moment.

¤c6 8.£e2 cxd4 9.¦d1

A typical theme in the opening. White transfers the rook to a

file where it will have "man-on-man" coverage of the enemy queen. But eventually White will
recapture with the pawn, reducing the rook to a supporting role.

¥e7 10.exd4 0-0 11.¤c3

(Diagram 114)

114

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+lwq-trk+0{

9+p+-vlpzpp0

9p+n+psn-+0

9+-+-+-+-0

9P+LzP-+-+0

9+-sN-+N+-0

9-zP-+QzPPzP0

9tR-vLR+-mK-0

xiiiiiiiiy

White will use his control of the center to attack the kingside, and the move d4-d5 may be useful,
so Black acts quickly to blockade the pawn.

¤d5 12.¥d3!

This bishop will find a haven at b1,

where it can pressure the kingside from a safe distance.

¤cb4 13.¥b1 b6!

When one has an

isolated pawn it is useful to station rooks on the files immediately adjacent to the pawn. Then
minor pieces can be stationed on the squares diagonally in front of the pawn. Black's move takes
control of c5.

14.a5!

With the preceding positional considerations in mind, White decides to try to

place his knights at e5 and c5. To do this he must divert the b-pawn from b6. Once the outposts
are established, White will have the basis for an attack.

¥d7

Robbing White of an access point

to c5 (with Na4).

15.

¤e5

White restores the threat by attacking the Bd7, guardian of a4.

bxa5

[ 15...b5 16.

¤e4

takes the other road to c5.

]

115

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+-wq-trk+0

9+-+lvlpzpp0

9p+-+p+-+0

9zp-+nsN-+-0

9-sn-zP-+-+0

9+-sN-+-+-0

9-zP-+QzPPzP0

9tRLvLR+-mK-0[

xiiiiiiiiy

16.

¦a3!

White's short term plan involves the knights, but in the long run it is the enemy king

which is the target. Since there is no good discovered attack from the Be7, Black decides to cut
off the powerful Bb1.

f5 17.

¤xd5 ¤xd5

[ 17...exd5 18.

¤xd7 £xd7 19.¥f4

gets the bishop to a wonderful outpost at d5, and the weak

Black pawns are also juicy targets for White's bishop.

]

18.

¤xd7 £xd7 19.¦xa5

The knight was well placed at e5 but that was a temporary condition

and Black could have eventually attacked it with a minor piece. But after the exchange at d7
White can now attack pawns that have no clerical support.

¤c7 20.¥a2!

One of the themes we

see in this game collection is that of shifting plans. It is to be expected that the opponent will
counter a strategy most of the time, so one must be prepared to develop new plans in new
s i t u a t i o n s .

¥d6

Or else Re5. White has given up on the idea of a kingside attack and now

concentrates his efforts on the weak pawns. Black has jsut defended the Pe6, so now the pawn
at a6 becomes the target.

21.

¥c4! ¢h8

A defensive move with a tactical point.

22.

£f3!

[ 22.

¥xa6? ¥xh2+! 23.¢xh2 £d6+ 24.¢g1 ¤xa6 ]

22...

¥b4 23.¦a1 a5

116

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+-+-tr-mk0

9+-snq+-zpp0

9-+-+p+-+0

9zp-+-+p+-0

9-vlLzP-+-+0

9+-+-+Q+-0

9-zP-+-zPPzP0

9tR-vLR+-mK-0[

xiiiiiiiiy

Black has taken care of the problem on the a-file, but the bishop has given up control of teh b8-
h2 diagonal, allowing White to realize an earler goal.

24.

¥f4! ¤d5 25.¥e5

We saw this idea in

the note to move 17. This bishop will dominate the dark squares for the rest of the game. The
pressure at g7 cannot be exploited immediately, but it will play a role later.

¦fc8 26.£e2 £b7

27.h3!

White has no immediate breakthrough and may need to worry about back-rank mate in

the future, so he takes time out to create a flight-square. Thinking about potential threats from the
opponent is an important part of planning!

¦c6 28.¦ac1 ¦ac8

Decision time. How important is

the Nd5 relative to the Bc4? Clearly the Be5 is stronger than the Bb4. Gligoric plots his strategy
well - aim for positions with each side holding Q,R and B, and attack the kingside.

29.

¥xd5!

exd5 30.

¦xc6 £xc6 31.¦d3!

117

XIIIIIIIIY

9-+r+-+-mk0{

9+-+-+-zpp0

9-+q+-+-+0

9zp-+pvLp+-0

9-vl-zP-+-+0

9+-+R+-+P0

9-zP-+QzPP+0

9+-+-+-mK-0

xiiiiiiiiy

£d7

If this were a book about sacrificial attacks we would allow ourselves to be diverted by the

fireworks which would have been seen had Black offered to exchange queens instead.

[ 31...

£c2 32.¥xg7+!! ¢xg7 33.£e5+ ¢f7 34.£xd5+

with complications which favor White -

an analytical task which the reader can undertake alone. We return to the fulfillment of White's
strategy in the game.

]

32.

¦g3 ¥f8 33.b3!

This not only prevents a5-a4, but it also places the pawn in a position where

it is defended by the rook, which is more likely to remain in place than the queen.

¦a8

Black's plan is obvious - eliminate the queenside pawns and concentrate on defense.

34.

£c2

Threatens Rf3.

¦c8 35.£d2 ¦a8 36.£g5 ¢g8 37.¦f3!

White exploits the same theme. It will

not win a pawn this time, but it does force Black to critically weaken his defensive formation.

38.

¦c3

118

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+-+-vlk+0{

9+-+q+-+p0

9-+-+-+p+0

9zp-+pvLpwQ-0

9-+-zP-+-+0

9+PtR-+-+P0

9-+-+-zPP+0

9+-+-+-mK-0

xiiiiiiiiy

Here Black must try to exchange pieces. White must retain as much attacking force as possible.

£d8

[ 38...

¦c8? 39.¦xc8 £xc8 40.£f6 ]

39.

£c1!

This takes control of the c-file. Black succeeds in removing the bishops from the board

but White retains both a spatial advantage and attacking chances.

¥d6 40.£f4 ¥xe5 41.£xe5

¦a7 42.¦c5 ¦e7

Black could not avoid losing a pawn.

[ 42...

¦d7 43.¦b5 £e7 44.¦b8+ ¢f7 45.£h8 ]

43.

¦xd5! £c7 44.£xc7 ¦xc7 45.¦xa5 ¦b7

119

XIIIIIIIIY

9-+-+-+k+0

9+r+-+-+p0

9-+-+-+p+0

9tR-+-+p+-0

9-+-zP-+-+0

9+P+-+-+P0

9-+-+-zPP+0

9+-+-+-mK-0[

xiiiiiiiiy

Black is going to recover one of the pawns. White retains the b-pawn, a better long-term asset,
even though it means his rook is temporarily passive.

46.

¦a3 ¦b4 47.d5 ¢g7 48.¢f1 ¢f6

49.

¢e2 ¢e5 50.¢d3 ¢xd5 51.¢c3 ¦e4

This is a classical rook endgame. White will

maneuver his rook to d2, in order to defend the pawns along the second rank. Then he will use
his king to gain additional space.

52.

¦a4! ¦e2 53.¦d4+ ¢c5 54.b4+ ¢b5 55.¦d5+ ¢c6

56.

¦d2

¦e1

57.f3

¦g1

58.

¢d4!

White realizes that he cannot make progress on the

queenside without giving up his kingside pawns, but with the Black king tied down keeping an
eye on the b-pawn, White sends his own monarch after the Black pawns.

¦e1 59.¦c2+ ¢b6

[ 59...

¢b5 60.¦c7 ]

60.

¢d5! ¦e3 61.¦c6+ ¢b5 62.¦c7 h5

[ 62...

¦e2 63.g4

would also ahve won for White.

]

63.

¦b7+ ¢a4?!

[ 63...

¢a6 64.¦g7

would have lasted longer.

]

64.

¢c4!

and now the b-pawn will be able to advance.

¢a3 65.¦a7+

and Black resigned, since

his king can no longer keep pace with the pawn.

1-0

Najdorf
Huebner

Wijk aan Zee

1971

[Schiller]

1.d4

¤f6 2.c4 e6 3.¤c3 ¥b4

The Nimzoindian is one of the most deeply strategic of all chess

openings, in keeping with the spirit of Aron Nimzowitsch, who was one of the best planners in
chess history.

4.e3

Robert Huebner's patent - and it is only fitting that the strategy of this

opening is exhibited in one of his finest games.

¥d3 ¤c6 6.¤f3 ¥xc3+ 7.bxc3 d6

120

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+lwqk+-tr0

9zpp+-+pzpp0

9-+nzppsn-+0

9+-zp-+-+-0

9-+PzP-+-+0

9+-zPLzPN+-0

9P+-+-zPPzP0

9tR-vLQmK-+R0[

xiiiiiiiiy

Black gives up the bishop pair without provocation, in order to double the pawns. Then, instead
of d7-d5 which allows lines to open, d7-d6 is played.

8.e4

This is the logical reply, since Black

has refrained from d7-d5. This gives Black the opportunity to create a totally blocked center, and
that will favor the knights. That is why 8.0-0 is a more common move.

e5 9.d5

¤e7!

In the near

term, this knight has work to do on the kingside. Eventually, it may return to the queenside (a5) to
pressure the pawn at c4, but the kingside balance is of greater significance in the early stages of
the middlegame.

10.g3?!

An experiment. 10.Nh4 is the normal move, leading to a complicated

game which favors the better player! Huebner reacts calmly, as if 10.Nh4 had been played, and
the game transposes to more typical play.

h6 11.

¤h4 g5

Black is not going to castle to the

kingside, and this move takes over the initiative.

12.

¤g2

[ 12.

£f3 ¤fg8! 13.¤f5 ¤xf5 14.exf5 ¤f6

would be very comfortable for Black.

]

12...

£a5

Black could also have achieved equality with 12...Bh3 13.Ne3 Qd7, as Huebner played

as White a decade later against Timman.

(Diagram 121)

121

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+l+k+-tr0

9zpp+-snp+-0

9-+-zp-sn-zp0

9wq-zpPzp-zp-0

9-+P+P+-+0

9+-zPL+-zP-0

9P+-+-zPNzP0

9tR-vLQmK-+R0[

xiiiiiiiiy

13.

£b3

This seems like a sensible reply, but the more prosaic 13.Bd2 would have been better,

as the White queen has somewhat more of a future at f3. Now Black can complete his
development quickly and secure his king on the queenside.

¥h3 14.0-0 0-0-0 15.¦b1 £c7

Black has nothing to fear on the b-file, as the best White can do is to play Rf2 and Rf2-b2. But
with Kb8 and Bc8 Black will have an impenetrable fortress.

16.f3

¢b8 17.¦f2

[ 17.g4 h5

is bad for White.

]

17...

¦hg8 18.¤e3 ¥c8

122

XIIIIIIIIY

9-mkltr-+r+0

9zppwq-snp+-0

9-+-zp-sn-zp0

9+-zpPzp-zp-0

9-+P+P+-+0

9+QzPLsNPzP-0

9P+-+-tR-zP0

9+RvL-+-mK-0[

xiiiiiiiiy

White's position is strategically bankrupt and he can do little but return his king to a safer position
in the center.

19.

¢f1

Black needs to carve a path into the White position. The best candidate for

this is the f-file, which can be opened with f7-f5. White can prevent this, but that will only create
opportunities on the e-file and h-file.

¦df8! 20.¢e1 ¤e8 21.¤f5

Forced, unless White is willing

to allow f7-f5.

¤xf5 22.exf5

(Diagram 123)

123

XIIIIIIIIY

9-mkl+ntrr+0{

9zppwq-+p+-0

9-+-zp-+-zp0

9+-zpPzpPzp-0

9-+P+-+-+0

9+QzPL+PzP-0

9P+-+-tR-zP0

9+RvL-mK-+-0

xiiiiiiiiy

Now Black must shift plans. His pawn structure is superior on in all areas, but his best chances
lie on the kingside - for the moment.

f6 23.g4

¦h8! 24.¥e3 h5 25.¥f1 ¦f7!

In order to be

able to double rooks at the appropriate time, and also to be able to use the rooks anywhere on
the 7th rank.

26.h3

£d7 27.¢d2 ¤c7 28.a4?!

White was tired of waiting around doing nothing,

but this move simply creates a weakness which will prove embarassing later.

¦e7 29.¦e1

124

XIIIIIIIIY

9-mkl+-+-tr0{

9zppsnqtr-+-0

9-+-zp-zp-+0

9+-zpPzpPzpp0

9P+P+-+P+0

9+QzP-vLP+P0

9-+-mK-tR-+0

9+-+-tRL+-0

xiiiiiiiiy

Now Black, recognizing the weakness at a4, comes up with a wonderful winning strategy. He will
attack the pawn, lure it forward and exchange it for the Pb7

¤a8!

The threat is Nb6. So the

pawn marches forward.

30.a5

£d8! 31.£a3 ¦hh7

To be able to bring both rooks to the

queenside, if needed. There is no rush, because White has no counterplay.

32.

¦b1 b6! 33.¥d3

¦b7 34.axb6

[ 34.a6

¦bd7

and Na8-c7 will pick up the pawn.

]

34...

¤xb6

Now Black has a passed pawn and the rest is simple.

35.

¦a1 £h8!

and the h-file will

be used to set up a winning endgame by exchanging major pieces.

36.

¢c2 hxg4 37.hxg4 ¥d7

38.

£a2 ¦h2 39.¢d2 ¦xf2+ 40.¥xf2 £h2 41.¢e2

White's monarch has been in agitated

motion throughout the game!

¤a4 42.£d2 ¥e8 43.¦b1 ¦xb1 44.¥xb1 £f4! 45.¥d3

[ 45.

£d3 ¤b2 ]

45...

£xd2+ 46.¢xd2 ¤b6 47.¢c1 ¥a4 48.¥c2 ¥d7!

A small trick - the tempting exchange of

bishops would not turn out well.

[ 48...

¥xc2 49.¢xc2 ¤xc4 50.¢d3 ¤b6 51.c4 a5 52.¥e1 a4 53.¥a5 a3 54.¥c3 ¢a7

55.

¥a1 ¢a6 56.¢c3 ¢a5 57.¢b3 ¢a6 58.¥c3

draws!

]

49.

¥d3 ¢c7 50.¢b2 ¥c8 51.¢b3 ¥a6 52.¥e3

[ 52.

¢b2 ¤xc4+ 53.¢b3 ¤d2+ 54.¢c2 ¥xd3+ 55.¢xd2 ¥c4 56.¢e3 ¥xd5 57.¥e1 ¢b6

and Black wins easily.

]

52...

¤xd5!

0-1

Ribli
Portisch

Hungary

1978

[Schiller]

1.c4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.

¤f3 ¤f6 4.¤c3 dxc4 5.e3

5.a4 and 5.e4 are more common here, since

the text allows Black to expand on the queenside without White obtaining central territory in
return.

b5 6.a4 b4 7.

¤b1

125

XIIIIIIIIY

9rsnlwqkvl-tr0{

9zp-+-zppzpp0

9-+p+-sn-+0

9+-+-+-+-0

9PzppzP-+-+0

9+-+-zPN+-0

9-zP-+-zPPzP0

9tRNvLQmKL+R0

xiiiiiiiiy

White's general strategy is clear - go after the overextended pawns.

¥a6

£c2

b3?!

A surprisingly poor innovation from Portisch. The normal continuation is 8...e6 9.Bxc4 Bxc4 10.
Qxc4 Qd5 where the pawn at b4 hinders the development of White's forces.

£d1 e6 10.¤bd2

¥b4 11.¥e2 ¤e4

Black's pressure is only temporary and once White castles Black is forced to

choose between capturing at d2 and retreating. Perhaps 11...Qd5, keeping the e4 square under
control and defending c4, would have been wiser.

12.0-0

¥xd2

13.

¥xd2

0-0

14.

¥b4!

Now if the rook moves, then 15.Ne5 and 16.Bf3 would have placed tremendous pressure on
Black's underdeveloped position. So Portisch sacrifices a pawn to loosen things up.

c5 15.

¥xc5

¤xc5 16.dxc5 £xd1 17.¦fxd1 c3

126

XIIIIIIIIY

9rsn-+-trk+0

9zp-+-+pzpp0

9l+-+p+-+0

9+-zP-+-+-0

9P+-+-+-+0

9+pzp-zPN+-0

9-zP-+LzPPzP0

9tR-+R+-mK-0[

xiiiiiiiiy

Black probably reasoned that White would capture at a6 here, but the advanced pawns remain
as weak as they were in the opening, and Ribli understands this.

18.

¥b5! ¥b7

[ 18...

¥xb5 19.axb5

would have created a humorous pawn structure, but White would be the

one laughing, as 19...cxb2 20.Rb1 wins both of the advanced pawns, and Black cannot use his
Rf8 to go after the Pc5 because of the back rank mate.

]

[ 18...cxb2 19.

¦ab1 ¥b7 20.¦xb2 ¥d5 21.¤d2

and the Pb3 falls.

]

[ 18...c2 19.

¦d3 ¦c8 20.¦xb3 ¦xc5 21.¦c3! ¦xc3 22.bxc3 ¥b7 23.¤d4 a6 24.¥d3 ¤d7

25.

¥xc2 ¦c8 26.¦b1 ¥d5 27.e4

with a comfortable extra pawn.

]

19.bxc3

¥e4 20.¦d2 ¤c6

There is no point in posting the bishop at c2 since White can always

move his Ra1 away (avoiding b3-b2) and then play Nd4.

127

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+-+-trk+0

9zp-+-+pzpp0

9-+n+p+-+0

9+LzP-+-+-0

9P+-+l+-+0

9+pzP-zPN+-0

9-+-tR-zPPzP0

9tR-+-+-mK-0[

xiiiiiiiiy

21.

¤d4! ¤a5

Black could not afford to exchange knights because White can always return his

bishop to the b1-h7 diagonal.

22.f3

¥d5 23.e4 ¥c4 24.¦b2!

Now White will exchange his

pawn at c5 for the pawn at b2, and Black will have no real compensation. Yet there is still a lot of
work to do before the game can be declared as a win.

¦fc8 25.¥xc4 ¤xc4 26.¦xb3 ¦xc5

27.

¦b5 ¦cc8 28.¢f2 g6

128

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+r+-+k+0

9zp-+-+p+p0

9-+-+p+p+0

9+R+-+-+-0

9P+nsNP+-+0

9+-zP-+P+-0

9-+-+-mKPzP0

9tR-+-+-+-0[

xiiiiiiiiy

In this position it is important to note that White has positional as well as material advantages,
and it is important to exploit them!

29.

¦d1!

Taking the only other open file.

¤b6 30.a5 ¤a4

31.

¤e2!

The pseudo-sacrifice of the c-pawn would be decisive for White if Black were to accept.

[ 31...

¤xc3 32.¤xc3 ¦xc3 33.¦d7 a6 34.¦bb7 ¦f8 35.¦a7 ¦a3 36.¦xa6 ¦c8 37.¦aa7

¦a2+ 38.¢g3

was given by Ugrinovic as a win for White, and this seems to be the case since

his king is perfectly safe.

¦cc2 39.¦xf7 ¦xg2+ 40.¢f4 ¦xh2 41.¦fd7

and mate follows.

]

32.

¦b3 ¦c7 33.¦db1 ¦aa7 34.¢e3!

By using his king to defend the pawn, White frees the

rooks for more important tasks, the first of which is to drive out the enemy knight.

¤c5 35.¦a3

¤d7 36.¦a4 ¤e5 37.¦bb4 ¦c8 38.h3!

White is now ready to gain more space by advancing

the f-pawn, and then the e-pawn, but first he covers the g4-square.

¦ac7 39.f4 ¤c4+ 40.¢d3

¦d7+ 41.¤d4

Now it is clear why it was important to take control of e5!

¤d6 42.¦b6 ¤b7

43.

¦c4

(Diagram 129)

129

XIIIIIIIIY

9-+r+-+k+0{

9+n+r+p+p0

9ptR-+p+p+0

9zP-+-+-+-0

9-+RsNPzP-+0

9+-zPK+-+P0

9-+-+-+P+0

9+-+-+-+-0

xiiiiiiiiy

Now if Black exchanges rooks his position is hopeless, so he tries another plan, but it meets with
refutation.

¤c5+

[ 43...

¦xc4 44.¢xc4 ¤xa5+ 45.¢b4 ]

44.

¢c2 ¦dc7 45.e5! h5 46.¤b3 ¤xb3 47.¦xc7 ¤a1+ 48.¢b2 ¦xc7

130

XIIIIIIIIY

9-+-+-+k+0

9+-tr-+p+-0

9ptR-+p+p+0

9zP-+-zP-+p0

9-+-+-zP-+0

9+-zP-+-+P0

9-mK-+-+P+0

9sn-+-+-+-0[

xiiiiiiiiy

Now White should win any rook ending by simply advancing his pawns. Since the Na1 has no
effect on the game, Ribli ignores it!

49.

¦xa6! h4 50.¦a8+ ¢g7 51.a6 ¦c4 52.a7 ¦a4 53.c4!

1-0

Gligoric
Kavalek

Skopje ol

1972

[Schiller]

1.d4

¤f6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.¤c3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.e4 g6 7.¤f3 ¥g7 8.¥e2 0-0 9.0-0

¦e8 10.¤d2 ¤bd7

(Diagram 131)

131

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+lwqr+k+0

9zpp+n+pvlp0

9-+-zp-snp+0

9+-zpP+-+-0

9-+-+P+-+0

9+-sN-+-+-0

9PzP-sNLzPPzP0

9tR-vLQ+RmK-0[

xiiiiiiiiy

This position had already appeared in the widely discussed 3rd game of the Fischer - Spassky
match and Gligoric was ready to improve on 10.Qc2.

11.a4!

¤e5

Better is 11...a6. Kavalek is

trying to emulate Fischer and will post his knight at h5.

12.

£c2 ¤h5?!

Nunn later demonstrated

that 12...g5!?

∆ g4 was a proper preliminary to this maneuver. Tatai - Povah, London 1978

continued 13.Ra3 g4 14.b3 and here 14...Nfd7 would have been interesting.

13.

¥xh5

gxh5

Although Black has weakened his kingside his king is not easily attacked, and he counts on the
combination of Ne5, a powerful bishop at g7, and a strong Pc4 to provide sufficient counterplay.

14.

¤d1!

This is the key idea behind 11.a4. White will simply challenge the Ne5 with Nd2-c4. If

White didn't place the pawn at a4, this could have been stopped by 14...b5.

£h4

Later attempts

were made to improve here for Black by playing an immediate 14...b6, since this move will have
to be played eventually. But even so White retains the better game.

[ 14...b6 15.

¦a3 f5 16.exf5 ¥a6 17.¤e4!

sacrifices the exchange for a strong attack against

the Black king. The Ba6 is probably stronger than the Rf1 here, since at least it deprives the
White queen of some transfer squares to the kingside.

¥xf1 18.¢xf1 ¤f7 19.¦g3 ¢h8

was played in Gligoric - Taimanov, Leningrad Interzonal 1973. Here, according to Jon
Speelman, White can return the material with interest!

20.

¦xg7!

¢xg7

21.

£c3+

¢g8

( 21...

¢f8 22.¥h6+ ¤xh6 23.£h8+ ¤g8 24.f6 £d7 25.¤g5 ) 22.¤f6+ ¢f8 23.¤xh7+ ¢g8

24.

£g3+! ¢xh7 25.£g6+ ¢h8 26.f6 ¦e1+ 27.¢xe1 £g8 28.£xh5+ £h7 29.£xh7+ ¢xh7

30.g4

and White has too many pawns.

]

15.

¤e3 ¤g4 16.¤xg4 hxg4 17.¤c4

132

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+l+r+k+0{

9zpp+-+pvlp0

9-+-zp-+-+0

9+-zpP+-+-0

9P+N+P+pwq0

9+-+-+-+-0

9-zPQ+-zPPzP0

9tR-vL-+RmK-0

xiiiiiiiiy

Black has no real attack on the kingside and the Bc8 has no scope at all. White's basic plan is
Re1 and Bf4, increasing the pressure at d6.

£f6?!

Relatively best was 17...g3 18.fxg3 Qxe4 19.

Qxe4 Rxe4 20.Nxd6 Re5. Now White can force the dark-squared bishops off the board, after
which his knight is better than the enemy bishop.

18.

¥d2 £g6 19.¥c3 ¥xc3 20.bxc3 b6

[ 20...

£xe4 21.£xe4 ¦xe4 22.¤xd6

gives White a powerful passed pawn.

]

21.

¦fe1

We have entered a new stage of the game. White will aim for the advance e4-e5 and

Black will do everything in his power to stop it.

¥a6 22.¤d2 ¦e5 23.f4! gxf3 24.¤xf3

133

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+-+-+k+0{

9zp-+-+p+p0

9lzp-zp-+q+0

9+-zpPtr-+-0

9P+-+P+-+0

9+-zP-+N+-0

9-+Q+-+PzP0

9tR-+-tR-mK-0

xiiiiiiiiy

Now White will bring his strategy to a successful conclusion, since Black cannot afford to weaken
e6 by playing f7-f6.

¦h5 25.£f2 £f6 26.¦e3 ¦e8 27.¦ae1 £f4 28.e5! dxe5

134

XIIIIIIIIY

9-+-+r+k+0

9zp-+-+p+p0

9lzp-+-+-+0

9+-zpPzp-+r0

9P+-+-wq-+0

9+-zP-tRN+-0

9-+-+-wQPzP0

9+-+-tR-mK-0[

xiiiiiiiiy

Now White wants to capture with the knight, but does not want to allow Black to exchange
queens, so first the enemy queen is driven back.

29.

¦e4! £f6 30.£g3+ ¢h8 31.¤xe5 ¦g8

32.

¦g4 ¦xg4 33.¤xg4 £g6 34.c4!

The tactical trick 34...Bxc4?? 35.Qc3+ gives this move

exceptional results, since now the bishop is completely out of play. This, combined with the
weakness of the back rank, brings the game to a swift conclusion.

¦f5 35.¤h6!

(Diagram 135)

135

XIIIIIIIIY

9-+-+-+-mk0{

9zp-+-+p+p0

9lzp-+-+qsN0

9+-zpP+r+-0

9P+P+-+-+0

9+-+-+-wQ-0

9-+-+-+PzP0

9+-+-tR-mK-0

xiiiiiiiiy

¦f6

[ 35...

£xg3 36.¦e8+ ¢g7 37.¤xf5+ ¢f6 38.¤xg3 ]

36.

¦e8+ ¢g7 37.¦g8+ ¢xh6 38.£h4+

1-0

Nyezhmetdinov
Sakharov

Leningrad

1957

[Schiller]

1.e4 c5 2.

¤f3 ¤c6 3.d4 cxd4 4.¤xd4 e5 5.¤b5 a6 6.¤d6+ ¥xd6 7.£xd6 £f6 8.£c7

The retreat to d1 is the current recipe here, but in the 1950's the entire variation was in vogue
and many replies were being tested.

¤ge7 9.¤c3

The location of the queen at c7 is useful in

that it provides support for an infiltration at b6 and also can sometimes threaten the pawn at e5,
though that remains well-defended for the moment.

¤b4

Generally considered best, since it

attacks c2 and supports the advance d7-d5 which is typical of the Sicilian.

10.

¥d3 d5 11.0-0 d4

12.

¤e2

Theory prefers 13.Na4 with a small initiative for White.

136

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+l+k+-tr0{

9+pwQ-snpzpp0

9p+-+-wq-+0

9+-+-zp-+-0

9-sn-zpP+-+0

9+-+L+-+-0

9PzPP+NzPPzP0

9tR-vL-+RmK-0

xiiiiiiiiy

¤xd3?!

Black fails to appreciate the danger of an open c-file. Two dozen years later the plan of

exchanging queens with 12...Qc6! was established as best, as after 13...Nexc6 14.Nb6 Rb8 15.
Nxc8 Rxc8 there is no way for White to make progress.

13.cxd3 g5!?

Nezhmetdinov awards an

exclamation point for sharpness, but notes that 13... Nc6 was better, because the kingside
weakness is too great. Yet a decade later White found an easy path to the advantage:

[ 13...

¤c6 14.f4! £e7 15.£xe7+ ¢xe7 16.fxe5 ¤xe5 17.b3!

and in Lukin - Ghizdavu,

Bucharest 1968, White delayed the capture of the pawn to great effect,since 17...Nxd3 would
have been met by 18.Ra3+ Ke8 19.Rad1 and White would trap the knight!

]

14.

¥d2 ¤c6 15.¦ac1 0-0 16.¤g3

Now we see the effect of the weakening move g7-g5. White

will sink the knight into f5, and when it is captured, will establish strong pawns at g4 and f5, which
will eliminate any counterplay.

17.b4!

White must delay Ng3-f5 until the Black queen has

been displaced. Meanwhile, he expands on the queenside and kicks the Nc6 back, after which
the Rc1 can become active on the c-file.

¦e8

If Black tries to exchange queens with 17...Qd8,

then 18.Rxc6! is a promising exchange sacrifice. After 18...bxc6 19.Qxe5! White has plenty of
compensation.

18.a4

¤d8?!

This deprives the Pe5 of a defender, and a queen retreat to d8

was called for since the exchange sacrifice would have less effect with the Pe5 guarded by the
Re8.

137

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+lsnr+k+0

9+pwQ-+p+-0

9p+-+-wq-zp0

9+-+-zp-zp-0

9PzP-zpP+-+0

9+-+P+-sN-0

9-+-vL-zPPzP0

9+-tR-+RmK-0[

xiiiiiiiiy

19.

¦c5!

The point of this move is not merely to double rooks. It is also designed to transfer the

rook to d5, a plan based on the interdependence of the Black rook knight and queen.

£g7

20.

¦d5 ¥g4 21.¦c1 ¢h7

This strange looking move was inspired by the failure of the obvious

transfer of the Ra8 to the c-file, which meets with a strong sacrifice.

[ 21...

¦c8 22.£xc8 ¥xc8 23.¦xc8 £f8 ( 23...£f6 24.¤h5 £e7 25.¦d7!! ) 24.¤h5 f6

25.

¦d7

and as Nyezhmetdinov notes, Black is almost in zugzwang.

]

22.

¤f5!

With the queen displaced from f6 White's original strategy can be carried out.

¥xf5

23.exf5

£f6 24.g4 ¦e7 25.¦d7 ¦xd7 26.£xd7 ¢g7

138

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+-sn-+-+0

9+p+Q+pmk-0

9p+-+-wq-zp0

9+-+-zpPzp-0

9PzP-zp-+P+0

9+-+P+-+-0

9-+-vL-zP-zP0

9+-tR-+-mK-0[

xiiiiiiiiy

With Black tied down, White prepares to attack the Pe5 which was left without sufficient
protection when the knight retreated to d8.

27.

¦c5!

Otherwise 28.Qc7 would have been

strong. But now a path has been cleared to the a-file. Again, this is the sort of factor which cannot
be exploited soon but the Black position is so cramped that a zugzwang will clear the a7-square.

28.

¦c7 b5 29.a5!

By keeping lines closed, Black will soon run out of moves.

¢g8 30.£d5!

¦b8 31.¥e1 £g7 32.£c5 £f8 33.£a7
1-0

Pavlenko
Furman

Moskva

1972

[Schiller]

1.d4

¤f6 2.c4 e6 3.¤f3 b6 4.g3 ¥b7 5.¥g2 ¥e7 6.¤c3 ¤e4 7.¥d2 d5

7...f5 is the main

line, but 7...Bf6, putting pressure on d4, is probably the best move here.

8.cxd5 exd5 9.

¥f4 0-0

10.

£c2 ¤xc3 11.£xc3

139

XIIIIIIIIY

9rsn-wq-trk+0{

9zplzp-vlpzpp0

9-zp-+-+-+0

9+-+p+-+-0

9-+-zP-vL-+0

9+-wQ-+NzP-0

9PzP-+PzPLzP0

9tR-+-mK-+R0

xiiiiiiiiy

White hopes to use the open file to put pressure on the queenside, but Black has a simple plan of
advancing the c-pawn to c4.

c5! 12.0-0

[ 12.dxc5 d4!

gains space for Black, thanks to the pin at f3.

]

12...

¤d7 13.¦fd1

Given that the Nd7 supports the c5-square, and that the power of the Bg2 is

limited by the Nf3, White should have plated 13.Ne5!, which would have led to an equal position
after 13...Nxe5 14.Bxe5 c4.

Now the Rd1 looks rather silly.

14.

¤e5 b5! 15.£c2 ¤b6!

140

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+-wq-trk+0

9zpl+-vlpzpp0

9-sn-+-+-+0

9+p+psN-+-0

9-+pzP-vL-+0

9+-+-+-zP-0

9PzPQ+PzPLzP0

9tR-+R+-mK-0[

xiiiiiiiiy

Black has now organized his pieces optimally. His plan now is to chase the Ne5 and then try to
exchange dark-squared bishops.

16.h4?!

White must aim for e2-e4 here. Was he really

concerned about the possibility of 16...g5?!

f6 17.

¤g4 ¥d6 18.¥xd6 £xd6 19.¤e3 ¦ae8!

Between White's misguided play and Black's solid response the option of e2-e4 is now but a
distant memory. The e- and f-files are the locus of future action and the f4 and e2 squares will
play especially important roles.

20.

¢h2

141

XIIIIIIIIY

9-+-+rtrk+0{

9zpl+-+-zpp0

9-sn-wq-zp-+0

9+p+p+-+-0

9-+pzP-+-zP0

9+-+-sN-zP-0

9PzPQ+PzPLmK0

9tR-+R+-+-0

xiiiiiiiiy

White has no more defense at f2. This means that Black has the opportunity to advance his f-
pawn.

f5! 21.

¥f3

Covering up the critical square.

[ 21.

¤xf5? £f6 22.¥h3 ( 22.g4 g6 23.¤h6+ ¢h8 24.g5 £xf2

and h4 falls anyway.

)

22...

¥c8 23.g4 ¥xf5 24.£xf5 £xh4 ]

21...f4! 22.

¤g4 ¤d7!

White has a plan here - to plant the knight at e5 and interrupt the attack.

Black must continue to concentrate on the key squares, which are now f2 and e2 , even though
White can "remove" his d-pawn and attack the weakness at d5.

23.b3

24.

¤e5

¤xe5

25.dxe5

142

XIIIIIIIIY

9-+-+rtrk+0{

9zpl+-+-zp-0

9-+-wq-+-+0

9+p+pzP-+p0

9-+p+-zp-zP0

9+P+-+LzP-0

9P+Q+PzP-mK0

9tR-+R+-+-0

xiiiiiiiiy

Now if Black captures the pawn it will be hard for him to make progress, but Furman has not
forgotten about his principal targets at e2 and f2.

£b6!

26.

¢g2

fxg3

27.fxg3

¦xe5

Although the pawn is gone, the vacant square at f2 remains an inviting target. White now
transfers a rook to guard the weak squares on the f-file and also at e2, while Black opens lines
and increases the pressure.

28.

¦f1 d4 29.bxc4 £e6! 30.¦f2

(Diagram 143)

143

XIIIIIIIIY

9-+-+-trk+0{

9zpl+-+-zp-0

9-+-+q+-+0

9+p+-tr-+p0

9-+Pzp-+-zP0

9+-+-+LzP-0

9P+Q+PtRK+0

9tR-+-+-+-0

xiiiiiiiiy

Does the bishop defend the e-pawn? No, it is pinned. Does the rook? No, since if it slides to the
left then Bxf3+ is strong. Combine ingredients and win!

¦xe2!! 31.£xe2 £xe2 32.¦xe2 ¥xf3+

33.

¢f2 ¥g4+ 34.¢e1 ¥xe2 35.¢xe2 bxc4

0-1

Reshevsky
Vaganian

Skopje

1976

[Schiller]

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.

¤d2 ¤f6 4.e5 ¤fd7 5.f4

In this system White gains a lot of space, but his

formation can be undermined by counterattacks involving c7-c5 and f7-f6.

c5 6.c3

¤c6 7.¤df3

£a5?!

This system is no longer considered playable, as it can be met by the strong reply 8.dxc5!

Qxc5 9.Bd3 and then White will occupy d4 with a knight, and there will be no source of
counteplay for Black.

¢f2?!

This radical method of breaking the pin is not needed.

¥e7

Black can also play expansively with b7-b5, but the text is safe and good.

¥d3

Speelman

suggest that 9.g3 is more logical, making room for the king.

144

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+l+k+-tr0{

9zpp+nvlpzpp0

9-+n+p+-+0

9wq-zppzP-+-0

9-+-zP-zP-+0

9+-zPL+N+-0

9PzP-+-mKPzP0

9tR-vLQ+-sNR0

xiiiiiiiiy

£b6!

Black returns to the main theme of the opening - pressure at d4 combined with f7-f6, which

he will play on the next move.

10.

¤e2 f6! 11.exf6

When Black sees a move like that, he can sit

back and plan his victory speech. Now the pressure at d4 will become unbearable, and Vaganian
gives a textbook lesson on how to completely fulfill the strategic goal.

[ 11.

¦f1 cxd4 12.cxd4 fxe5 13.fxe5 ¤dxe5 14.¤xe5? ¤xe5 ]

[ 11.

¢g3

is a wild alternative, and it may be the best White can do in the position. Vaganian

defeated Adorjan when the latter tried the plan against him in 1974, but the game was very
complicated. Still, it hardly seems safe for White!

]

11...

¥xf6!

When one understands the strategic goal, the choice of recapture is simple.

12.

¢g3

Perhaps Reshevsky had prepared this as an improvement on the aforementioned Adorjan game,
which saw Black pry open the kingside with g7-g5. But with the f-pawn gone, this is no longer a
reasonable plan. So all eyes on d4!

cxd4 13.cxd4 0-0 14.

¦e1?

[ 14.h4

¤xd4? 15.¤exd4 ¥xd4 16.¤xd4 £xd4?? 17.¥xh7+ ]

145

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+l+-trk+0{

9zpp+n+-zpp0

9-wqn+pvl-+0

9+-+p+-+-0

9-+-zP-zP-+0

9+-+L+NmK-0

9PzP-+N+PzP0

9tR-vLQtR-+-0

xiiiiiiiiy

White should have attended to his king safety by advancing the h-pawn. Now Black sees that
with the d-pawn gone, the king cannot retreat.

14...e5!! 15.fxe5

¤dxe5 16.dxe5

146

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+l+-trk+0{

9zpp+-+-zpp0

9-wqn+-vl-+0

9+-+pzP-+-0

9-+-+-+-+0

9+-+L+NmK-0

9PzP-+N+PzP0

9tR-vLQtR-+-0

xiiiiiiiiy

Imagine, if you will, both the Nf3 and Bf6 removed from the board. Then Qf2 is mate. Consider,
as well, that the Nf3 is the only defender the king has.

¥h4+!! 17.¢xh4

[ 17.

¤xh4 £f2# ]

17...

¦xf3!! 18.¦f1

[ 18.gxf3?

£f2+ 19.¢g5 h6+ 20.¢g6 ¤xe5+ 21.¢h5 £xh2#

is a pretty mate. Notice how

the Bc8 plays an important role without ever leaving home!

]

18...

£b4+ 19.¥f4 £e7+ 20.¥g5 £e6!

(Diagram 147)

147

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+l+-+k+0

9zpp+-+-zpp0

9-+n+q+-+0

9+-+pzP-vL-0

9-+-+-+-mK0

9+-+L+r+-0

9PzP-+N+PzP0

9tR-+Q+R+-0[

xiiiiiiiiy

The attack has not led to mate, but since 21.h3? is met by 21...Qxh3+! 22.gxh3 Rxh3 mate,
White must return the piece, and then it is just mopping up time.

21.

¥f5 ¦xf5 22.¤f4

[ 22.

¦xf5 £xf5 23.£xd5+ ¥e6 24.£f3 £xe5 25.¥f4 g5+! 26.¥xg5 £xh2+

- Speelman.

]

22...

£xe5 23.£g4 ¦f7 24.£h5 ¤e7!

The addition of the knight to the attack is more than

White can bear.

25.g4

¤g6+ 26.¢g3 ¥d7 27.¦ae1 £d6 28.¥h6 ¦af8

And with the entry of

the last of Black's forces, White resigned.

0-1

Hort
Alburt

Decin

1977

[Schiller]

1.d4

¤f6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.cxb5 a6 5.bxa6 g6 6.¤c3 ¥xa6 7.¤f3 d6 8.g3 ¥g7 9.¥g2

¤bd7

10.0-0

The Benko Gambit is a deeply strategical opening, with Black simply putting as

much pressure as possible on the queenside, using the two open files and the power of his
fianchettoed bishop. He can also target the pawn at d5.

¤b6 11.¦e1

148

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+-wqk+-tr0{

9+-+-zppvlp0

9lsn-zp-snp+0

9+-zpP+-+-0

9-+-+-+-+0

9+-sN-+NzP-0

9PzP-+PzPLzP0

9tR-vLQtR-mK-0

xiiiiiiiiy

0-0

12.

¤d2

White needs to reorganize his pieces in order to protect the weak Pd5. But it is

likely the straightforward 12 e4, suggested by Jon Speelman, is the most logical move. Schwarz's
12.Bf4 Nh5 leads to untested complications.

£c7 13.¦b1 £b7!

This leads to a profound queen

sacrifice based entirely on positional factors which allow him to carry out his strategy effectively.

14.b3

¤fxd5! 15.¤xd5 ¤xd5 16.¤f1

[ 16.

¤e4 ¦ad8 17.¥b2 ¥xb2 18.¦xb2 £b4!

is relatively best, and leads to unclear

complications, according to Kasparov.

]

149

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+-+-trk+0{

9+q+-zppvlp0

9l+-zp-+p+0

9+-zpn+-+-0

9-+-+-+-+0

9+P+-+-zP-0

9P+-+PzPLzP0

9+RvLQtRNmK-0

xiiiiiiiiy

Black has eliminated the e-pawn and can go after the queenside bits. Naturally Black would like
to play Nc3, and even though the queen hangs, he does!

16...

¤c3!! 17.¥xb7 ¥xb7

150

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+-+-trk+0

9+l+-zppvlp0

9-+-zp-+p+0

9+-zp-+-+-0

9-+-+-+-+0

9+Psn-+-zP-0

9P+-+PzP-zP0

9+RvLQtRNmK-0[

xiiiiiiiiy

Black does not have full material compensation, but he has enough pieces to eliminate the
queenside pawns, while White's forces sit idly on the back rank.

18.

£d3?!

18.Qd2 might have

been better, because it would have forced Black to capture at b1 because otherwise 19.Bb2
would threaten the supremacy of the Bg7. Now Black keeps the knight in its strong position at c3,
using the Bb7 instead.

¥e4! 19.£e3 ¥d4! 20.£h6 ¥xb1

(Diagram 151)

151

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+-+-trk+0

9+-+-zpp+p0

9-+-zp-+pwQ0

9+-zp-+-+-0

9-+-vl-+-+0

9+Psn-+-zP-0

9P+-+PzP-zP0

9+lvL-tRNmK-0[

xiiiiiiiiy

Almost all of Black's pieces are aimed at the White pawns, and the other rook will soon get into
the act. White tries to preserve his pawns, but fails.

21.a3

¥a2 22.¤d2

[ 22.b4 cxb4 23.axb4

¥c4 24.£d2 e5

and the Pe2 is gone:

25.e3

¦a2 26.exd4 ( 26.¥b2

¦xb2 27.£xb2 ¤e2+ 28.£xe2 ¥xe2 29.¦xe2 ¥c3 30.b5 ¦b8 ; 26.£xa2 ¤xa2 27.exd4

exd4 28.

¥b2 ¤xb4 29.¥xd4 ¤c2 30.¦d1 ¤xd4 31.¦xd4 ¥xf1 32.¢xf1 ¦d8 ) 26...¦xd2

27.

¤xd2 ( 27.¥xd2 exd4 28.¥xc3 dxc3 29.¦c1 ¥xf1 30.¢xf1 ¦b8 31.¦xc3 ¦xb4 )

27...

¥d3 28.dxe5 dxe5 29.¥b2 ¤e2+ 30.¢g2 e4 ]

22...

¦fb8 23.b4 cxb4 24.axb4 ¦xb4 25.¤f3 ¥g7 26.£h3 ¥e6 27.£f1 ¥c4!

152

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+-+-+k+0

9+-+-zppvlp0

9-+-zp-+p+0

9+-+-+-+-0

9-trl+-+-+0

9+-sn-+NzP-0

9-+-+PzP-zP0

9+-vL-tRQmK-0[

xiiiiiiiiy

After demolishing the queenside and kicking the White forces back to the home rank, Black pins
the e-pawn, completely paralyzing his opponent.

28.

¢g2 ¦a1!

An additional pin to cause White

trouble.

29.

¤g1 ¦bb1 30.¢h3

White is almost in zugzwang, so Black reduces his options.

31.f4

Now the pin at c1 means that the Black knight can head for e3.

¥e6+! 32.¢g2 ¤d5

33.

¢f3 ¥c3!

If 33...Bb2 immediately, then White could escape with 34.Bd2.

34.

¦d1 ¥b2

0-1

Speelman
Larsen

Lone Pine

1978

[Schiller]

1.e4 c6 2.c4

This variation has grown in popularity in the past decade. Pure Caro-Kann players

usually continue with 2...d5, but Larsen, who likes the Old Indian, prefers to advance the e-pawn.

e5 3.

¤f3 d6 4.d4 ¥g4

Black places indirect pressure at d4. White should now develop calmly,

as rash action in the center will not be effective.

¥e2

[ 5.dxe5?

¥xf3! 6.gxf3 dxe5 7.£xd8+ ¢xd8 8.f4 f6!

is fine for Black, since White's bishop

pair is limited in effectiveness by his bad pawn structure, Seirawan - Nikolic, Tilburg 1990.

]

5...

¤d7 6.¤c3 ¥e7 7.0-0 ¤gf6

The game has now transposed to a true Old Indian position,

but with the twist that Black has already developed his light-squared bishop. Speelman noted that
it was difficult to come up with a good strategy here, so he fakes it.

¦b1

"I decided to wait

whilst kidding Black that b4 is good - I don't think that it is very special." wrote Speelman, who
noted that 8...a5 was by no means necessary.

0-0 9.

¦e1 ¦e8

153

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+-wqr+k+0

9zpp+nvlpzpp0

9-+pzp-sn-+0

9+-+-zp-+-0

9-+PzPP+l+0

9+-sN-+N+-0

9PzP-+LzPPzP0

9+RvLQtR-mK-0[

xiiiiiiiiy

Now Speelman decides that an exchange of light-squared bishops would work to his advantage,
so after developing the Bc1 he extends the standard invitation.

10.

¥e3 ¥h5

Larsen wants to

keep his options open.

11.

¤d2 ¥g6!

The pin on the pawn at e4 gives rise to possible scenarios

for a d6-d5 break, so Speelman wisely closes the center.

12.d5! a6 13.b4 h5

Larsen, who

hates passive play, realizes that his has no chances to achieve anything on the queenside, and
so he makes a threatening gesture on the other wing.

14.a4 h4?!

It turns out that by ceding g4

to White, Black gets into serious difficulties later in the game.

15.h3

£c7

16.

¦b3

a5?!

A quiet waiting move like shifting a rook to b8 would have been preferable.

17.b5

154

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+-+r+k+0{

9+pwqnvlpzp-0

9-+pzp-snl+0

9zpP+Pzp-+-0

9P+P+P+-zp0

9+RsN-vL-+P0

9-+-sNLzPP+0

9+-+QtR-mK-0

xiiiiiiiiy

A critical position. One might think that it makes no difference whether the capture is made at c5
or d5, but it does.

cxd5?! 18.

¤xd5! ¤xd5 19.cxd5

The elimination of a pair of knights would

seem to help Black, who now has a little more room to maneuver. But in addition in giving White
easier access to the c-file, it allows White to use the g4-square.

¦ec8 20.¥g4!

And now the

advance of the h-pawn comes back to haunt Black. The Nd7 can no longer leap to c5 without
wasting more time, but Black has no better plan.

¦f8 21.£c1

155

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+-+-trk+0{

9+pwqnvlpzp-0

9-+-zp-+l+0

9zpP+Pzp-+-0

9P+-+P+Lzp0

9+R+-vL-+P0

9-+-sN-zPP+0

9+-wQ-tR-mK-0

xiiiiiiiiy

Now moving a rook to c8 loses material after the exchange of queens and b5-b6, so Black must
allow White a passed pawn.

¤c5 22.¥xc5 dxc5

The plan now is to nail down the queenside

and then continue to exploit the light squares on the h3-c8 diagonal, the theme that runs
throughout the game. White's next move prevents the consolidating b7-b6.

23.b6!

£d8 24.¤c4

Black's position is hopeless, so he introduces some tactical complications.

¥xe4 25.¦xe4 f5

26.

¥xf5

In keeping with the general strategy.

[ 26.d6

¥g5 27.£d1 fxe4 28.£d5+ ¢h8 29.¤xe5

would have been more effective, as

suggested by Seirawan.

]

26...

¦xf5 27.d6 ¥f6 28.£d1 £d7

156

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+-+-+k+0

9+p+q+-zp-0

9-zP-zP-vl-+0

9zp-zp-zpr+-0

9P+N+R+-zp0

9+R+-+-+P0

9-+-+-zPP+0

9+-+Q+-mK-0[

xiiiiiiiiy

29.

£g4! ¦d8

[ 29...

£xa4 30.¦a3 £d7 31.¤e3 ]

30.

¦b5

The result of White's correct decision at move 23.

£c8 31.¦xa5 ¦f4

The threat was

Ra8!

32.

£xc8 ¦xc8 33.¦xf4 exf4 34.¦a7

The b-pawn falls and the game ends quickly.

¦e8

[ 34...

¦b8 35.a5 ¢f7 36.¦xb7+!! ¦xb7 37.a6

and there is no stopping the pawns.

]

35.

¦xb7

¢h7

And now White exploits the theme of the previous note to bring the game to a

brilliant conclusion.

(Diagram 157)

157

XIIIIIIIIY

9-+-+r+-+0

9+R+-+-zpk0

9-zP-zP-vl-+0

9+-zp-+-+-0

9P+N+-zp-zp0

9+-+-+-+P0

9-+-+-zPP+0

9+-+-+-mK-0[

xiiiiiiiiy

36.

¦e7!

and Black resigned becaus of 36...Bxe7 37.dxe7 Rxe7 38 a5 etc.

1-0

Smyslov
Reshevsky

World Championship

1948

[Schiller]

1.e4 e5 2.

¤f3 ¤c6 3.¥b5 a6 4.¥a4 d6 5.c3 ¤ge7 6.d4 ¥d7 7.¥b3 h6 8.¤bd2 ¤g6

¤c4 ¥e7 10.0-0 0-0 11.¤e3 ¥f6

158

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+-wq-trk+0

9+pzpl+pzp-0

9p+nzp-vlnzp0

9+-+-zp-+-0

9-+-zPP+-+0

9+LzP-sNN+-0

9PzP-+-zPPzP0

9tR-vLQ+RmK-0[

xiiiiiiiiy

Both sides have developed comfortably and Black is putting pressure on the center. White deals
with that matter quickly and decisively.

12.

¤d5! ¦e8 13.dxe5! ¥xe5

[ 13...dxe5 14.

¤xf6+

wins material.

]

[ 13...

¤gxe5 14.¤xe5 ¤xe5 15.f4 ¤c6 16.e5!

gives Black a lot to worry about. For

example:

dxe5 17.

¤xf6+ gxf6 18.fxe5 fxe5 19.¥xh6 ]

14.

¤xe5

dxe5

Not only has White secured the bishop pair, but he has reduced the Black

knights to passive functions while his own steed occupies a magnificent post at d5. The d-file is
where the action is, so White transfers a rook there.

15.

£f3! ¥e6 16.¦d1 ¥xd5

Black's play

has been pretty much forced, but now White has both the central file and kingside pressure.

17.

¦xd5 £e7

159

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+-+r+k+0

9+pzp-wqpzp-0

9p+n+-+nzp0

9+-+Rzp-+-0

9-+-+P+-+0

9+LzP-+Q+-0

9PzP-+-zPPzP0

9tR-vL-+-mK-0[

xiiiiiiiiy

The d7-square would be a nice home for the rook, and White uses the threat of infiltration to
secure a more active position for his queen.

18.

£f5! ¤f8

[ 18...

¦ad8

looks logical, but White can obtain an advantage by exploiting the indirect pin at f7.

19.

¥xh6! gxh6 ( 19...¦xd5 20.¥xd5 gxh6 21.£xg6+ ) 20.¦xd8 ¦xd8 21.£xg6+ ¢f8

22.

£xh6+ ¢e8 23.¥d5 ]

19.

¥e3 ¤e6 20.¦ad1 ¦ed8

160

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+-tr-+k+0

9+pzp-wqpzp-0

9p+n+n+-zp0

9+-+RzpQ+-0

9-+-+P+-+0

9+LzP-vL-+-0

9PzP-+-zPPzP0

9+-+R+-mK-0[

xiiiiiiiiy

White's position is very strong, and now he makes a quiet move which deprives Black of the use
of f4, and puts him in near zugzwang.

21.g3

¦d6

A commital move which leaves Black with a

backward pawn, but there was little else available. If the backward pawn were the only drawback,
it wouldn't be too bad, but the resulting weakness at b6 will turn out to be important.

22.

¦xd6

cxd6

23.

£g4!

The cheap trick at h6 is not the real point of the move, which has the far more

subtle goal of enabling the queen to get to the h4-d8 diagonal. Already Smyslov sees the
potential power of a bishop at b6!

¢h8 24.¥b6! ¤b8

Black also appreciates White's last move

and hastens to drive the offending cleric from its new post. Reshevsky would no doubt have
preferred to play Rc8 first, but that was not possible.

[ 24...

¦c8 25.¦d2 ¤b8 26.£d1! ¦c6 27.¥a7 ¤d7 28.¥d5! ¦c7 29.¥xe6 fxe6 30.¦xd6 ]

25.

¥xe6 fxe6

(Diagram 161)

161

XIIIIIIIIY

9rsn-+-+-mk0

9+p+-wq-zp-0

9pvL-zpp+-zp0

9+-+-zp-+-0

9-+-+P+Q+0

9+-zP-+-zP-0

9PzP-+-zP-zP0

9+-+R+-mK-0[

xiiiiiiiiy

26.

£h4!

Taking advantage of the fact that Black cannot exchange at d4 without dropping the d-

pawn. But as it turns out White forces the exchange at d8, and still gets his prize.

£d7 27.£d8+

£xd8 28.¥xd8 ¤d7

[ 28...

¤c6 29.¥b6

and Black cannot defend d6.

]

29.

¥c7 ¤c5 30.¦xd6 ¦c8

[ 30...

¤xe4 31.¦xe6

and the e-pawn falls.

]

31.

¥b6 ¤a4 32.¦xe6 ¤xb2 33.¦xe5 ¤c4 34.¦e6 ¤xb6 35.¦xb6 ¦xc3 36.¦xb7

and the endgame is realtively straightforwad.

¦c2 37.h4 ¦xa2 38.¢g2 a5 39.h5 a4 40.¦a7

The rook is properly behind the pawn and also controls the 7th rank, so the kingside pawns can
advance easily.

¢g8 41.g4 a3 42.¢g3 ¦e2 43.¢f3 ¦a2 44.¢e3 ¢f8 45.f3 ¦a1 46.¢f4

a2 47.e5!

An important move, becuase it secures the f6-square, so that when Black trades the a-

pawn for the f-pawn, White will be able to place his king at g6.

¢g8 48.¢f5 ¦f1 49.¦xa2 ¦xf3+

50.

¢g6 ¢f8 51.¦a8+ ¢e7 52.¦a7+

1-0

Reshevsky

1770

Schiller

2450

Simul

1972

[Schiller]

1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.

¤f3 ¤f6 4.e3 g6 5.¥xc4 ¥g7 6.0-0 0-0 7.¤c3 ¤fd7

Smyslov's

system.

£e2

[ 8.e4

¤b6 9.¥e2 ¥g4 10.¥e3 ¤c6

was played in Evans - Smyslov, Helsinki Olympiad 1952,

which was a game I had studied in preparation for this contest. Black has a lot of pressure on
the center. Play continued

11.d5

¥xf3 12.¥xf3 ¤e5 13.¥e2 ¤ec4

with pressure on the long

diagonal. After 14.Bc1 c6! Black had a strong game.

]

8...

¤b6 9.¥b3 ¤c6!?

An attempt to improve on Golombek - Smyslov, Budapest 1952, which

saw 9...a5.

10.

¦d1 ¥g4 11.h3 ¥xf3 12.£xf3 £e8

This move has the goal of blasting open

the center. After the king moves to the h-file Black can advance both e- and f-pawns.

13.

¤b5?!

Gligoric improved against me a week or two later with 13.Ne4!, with the threat of Nc5. Serves me
right for getting the game published in the New York Times!

¦c8 14.¥d2 a6 15.¤a3 ¢h8

16.

¦ac1 e5! 17.d5 e4 18.£f4

(Diagram 162)

162

XIIIIIIIIY

9-+r+qtr-mk0{

9+pzp-+pvlp0

9psnn+-+p+0

9+-+P+-+-0

9-+-+pwQ-+0

9sNL+-zP-+P0

9PzP-vL-zPP+0

9+-tRR+-mK-0

xiiiiiiiiy

Now it is clear that the Nc6 is headed for e5, with the possibility of jumping into f3. If only the g-
file were open and a rook stood on g8...

g5! 19.

£xg5 ¤e5 20.¥c3

163

XIIIIIIIIY

9-+r+qtr-mk0{

9+pzp-+pvlp0

9psn-+-+-+0

9+-+Psn-wQ-0

9-+-+p+-+0

9sNLvL-zP-+P0

9PzP-+-zPP+0

9+-tRR+-mK-0

xiiiiiiiiy

The pin looks strong - but checks have been known to break pins!

¤f3+!!

21.gxf3

¥xc3

22.

¢h1

[ 22.bxc3

¦g8 ]

22...

¦g8 23.£f4 £d7 24.£h4 £f5!

Black continues to make threats while improving the

position of his queen, before capturing the pawn at b2.

25.f4

¥xb2 26.¦g1 ¥xc1 27.¦xc1

£g6 28.£g4 £xg4 29.hxg4 ¦xg4

White could have resigned here.

30.

¦g1 ¦xg1+ 31.¢xg1

¦d8 32.d6 ¦xd6 33.¥xf7 ¦d3 34.¤c2 c5 35.¥e6 ¦c3 36.¤e1 ¦c1 37.¢f1 ¤c4 38.¢e2

b5 39.

¥d5 ¦a1 40.¥xe4 ¦xa2+ 41.¢d1 ¦xf2 42.¤d3 ¦d2+

0-1

Smyslov

1685

Botvinnik

1665

Moscow (Wch m/9)

1954

[Schiller]

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.

¤c3 ¥b4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 ¥a5

Normally Black captures at c3, but this

retreat leads to complications with a very unbalanced pawn structure.

6.b4 cxd4 7.

£g4 ¤e7

8.bxa5 dxc3

164

XIIIIIIIIY

9rsnlwqk+-tr0

9zpp+-snpzpp0

9-+-+p+-+0

9zP-+pzP-+-0

9-+-+-+Q+0

9zP-zp-+-+-0

9-+P+-zPPzP0

9tR-vL-mKLsNR0[

xiiiiiiiiy

White's queenside pawns are very weak, and the pawn at c3 is an annoyance, but White will pick
up g7 and h7 and have an outside passed pawn.

£xg7 ¦g8 10.£xh7 ¤d7?!

This knight

belongs on c6. Now White will execute a very simple plan - advance the h-pawn until it becomes
a queen! Of course he will have to be careful in the execution of the strategy.

11.

¤f3

¤f8

Botvinnik proposed 11...Qc7 as an improvement, but Smyslov correctly points out that White has
a strong reply:

[ 11...

£c7 12.¥b5! ¦xg2?! 13.¢f1 ¦g8 14.¦g1 ¦xg1+ 15.¢xg1

and the pin makes it very

hard for Black to develop.

]

12.

£d3 £xa5 13.h4

Here we go! It turns out that Black's pawn at c3 just gets in the way.

¥d7

14.

¥g5!

Black is prevented from castling, and the control of the h4-d8 diagonal keeps Black

pinned down. Smyslov uses this fact and his h-pawn to win the game in fine style.

¦c8 15.¤d4!

Black was going to try and wiggle out with a combination of Rc8-c4-e4+ and the placement of a
knight at f5. This stops both plans.

¤f5

165

XIIIIIIIIY

9-+r+ksnr+0

9zpp+l+p+-0

9-+-+p+-+0

9wq-+pzPnvL-0

9-+-sN-+-zP0

9zP-zpQ+-+-0

9-+P+-zPP+0

9tR-+-mKL+R0[

xiiiiiiiiy

Now White does not want to capture immediately, because the Nf8 would occupy the new hole at
e6. But how to answer the threat of Nf5xd4 and Bb5?

16.

¦b1! ¦c4?!

Smyslov considers 16...b6

best, but it is hard to blame Botvinnik, for what follows is truly inspired.

17.

¤xf5 exf5 18.¦xb7

¦e4+

(Diagram 166)

166

XIIIIIIIIY

9-+-+ksnr+0

9zpR+l+p+-0

9-+-+-+-+0

9wq-+pzPpvL-0

9-+-+r+-zP0

9zP-zpQ+-+-0

9-+P+-zPP+0

9+-+-mKL+R0[

xiiiiiiiiy

If White is to move in this position then Rc8+ is fatal. That's really all one needs to know in order
to finish the game brilliantly.

19.

£xe4!! dxe4 20.¦b8+ ¥c8 21.¥b5+ £xb5

[ 21...

¤d7 22.¦xc8+ ]

22.

¦xb5

Now the game is over, not because of the exchange, but rather because of the flying h-

pawn which was the cornerstone of White's strategy.

¤e6 23.¥f6 ¦xg2 24.h5 ¥a6 25.h6!

It is only fitting that the pawn has the final say. After the bishop captures the rook there is no way
to stop the pawn from queening.

1-0

Smyslov
Spassky

Moscow vs. Leningrad

1959

[Schiller]

1.e4 c5 2.

¤f3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.¤xd4 a6 5.c4 ¤c6

Spassky leaves the well-known paths of

5...Nf6.

¤c3 ¥c5 7.¤b3 ¥b4 8.¥d3 ¤ge7 9.0-0 0-0

Both sides have been developing,

but now Black adopts a typical plan for this type of formation. He captures on c3, and then
advances his d-pawn. But his artificial position (Ne7) helps White.

10.

£c2 ¥xc3 11.£xc3 d5

12.

¥e3 dxc4 13.¥xc4 £c7 14.¦ac1 ¦d8 15.f4 ¥d7

167

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+-tr-+k+0

9+pwqlsnpzpp0

9p+n+p+-+0

9+-+-+-+-0

9-+L+PzP-+0

9+NwQ-vL-+-0

9PzP-+-+PzP0

9+-tR-+RmK-0[

xiiiiiiiiy

Black seems ready to claim equality, after Ra8-c8. But the weakness of the dark squares on the
queenside give White an inviting target for the Be3.

16.

£e1!

White transfers his queen to f2,

where it will not only support the g1-a7 diagonal, but also gives more impetus to an advance of
the f-pawn, since f7 is no longer guarded by the Black rook.

[ 16...b5 17.

¥e2 ¥e8 18.£f2 ¦ab8 19.¤c5

exploits the dark squares in a different way.

]

17.

£f2 ¦ab8 18.f5! £c8

168

XIIIIIIIIY

9-trqtr-+k+0

9+-+lsnpzpp0

9pzpn+p+-+0

9+-+-+P+-0

9-+L+P+-+0

9+N+-vL-+-0

9PzP-+-wQPzP0

9+-tR-+RmK-0[

xiiiiiiiiy

Examining this diagram we see that the pressure point is e6, and the next few moves are aimed
directly at the target. They prove to be the last moves!

19.

¤d4! ¤xd4

[ 19...e5

opens a line, but more importantly allows White to advance the f-pawn further.

20.

¤xc6 ¤xc6 21.¥d5 ]

[ 19...exf5 20.exf5 b5 21.f6! ]

20.

¥xd4 ¤c6 21.fxe6 ¥xe6 22.¥xe6

169

XIIIIIIIIY

9-trqtr-+k+0{

9+-+-+pzpp0

9pzpn+L+-+0

9+-+-+-+-0

9-+-vLP+-+0

9+-+-+-+-0

9PzP-+-wQPzP0

9+-tR-+RmK-0

xiiiiiiiiy

And Black resigned, because mate in inevitable after 22...Qxe6 23.Rxc6 Qxc6 24.Qxf7+.

1-0

Smyslov
Simagin

USSR

1967

[Schiller]

¤f3 g6 2.d4 ¥g7 3.e4 a6

An unusual plan, playing on both wings. The normal move is 3...

d6, while the move 3...c5!? is also popular.

¥d3

4.Nc3 b5!? gives Black an early initiative,

Savage - Schiller, USAT 1990.

d6 5.0-0

Now Black could transpose to a Pirc with 5...Nf6m but

Simagin prefers a more original plan of development.

¥g4 6.c3 ¤d7 7.¤bd2 e6 8.£b3 ¥xf3

¤xf3 ¦b8

Simagin seems inspired by Chigorin, who often moved his rook to b8 in support of

the pawn.

10.

¥g5 ¤e7 11.¦ad1 0-0 12.¦fe1

170

XIIIIIIIIY

9-tr-wq-trk+0{

9+pzpnsnpvlp0

9p+-zpp+p+0

9+-+-+-vL-0

9-+-zPP+-+0

9+QzPL+N+-0

9PzP-+-zPPzP0

9+-+RtR-mK-0

xiiiiiiiiy

Both sides have completed their development, and White's pieces are better placed. But now
Black weakens his kingside, allowing a central counterattack.

h6 13.

¥f4 g5 14.¥g3 ¤g6

15.e5!

I have played these sorts of formations for Black and always find the advance of the e-

pawn an effective method of undermining my position. In the present game Black suffers even
more because he has not gained space on the queenside.

d5 16.

£c2 ¤f4

[ 16...

£e8 17.h4 g4 18.¤h2 h5 19.f3 gxf3 20.¤xf3

would allow White to build a strong

attack on the f-file, using g5 for the knight.

]

17.

¥xf4 gxf4

171

XIIIIIIIIY

9-tr-wq-trk+0

9+pzpn+pvl-0

9p+-+p+-zp0

9+-+pzP-+-0

9-+-zP-zp-+0

9+-zPL+N+-0

9PzPQ+-zPPzP0

9+-+RtR-mK-0[

xiiiiiiiiy

White must now develop a plan. Smyslov anticipates that Black will have to advance his f-pawn
in order defend the pawn at f4. That will weaken the pawn at e6, so doubling rooks on the e-file is
called for.

18.

¦e2! c5 19.£d2 f6

The only way to avoid dropping the pawn at f4.

20.exf6

£xf6

21.

¦de1 ¦be8

Now there is a weak diagonal to be exploited.

22.

¥b1! cxd4 23.cxd4 ¦f7

24.

£c2 ¦fe7 25.£h7+ ¢f8 26.¥g6 ¦c8

(Diagram 172)

172

XIIIIIIIIY

9-+r+-mk-+0

9+p+ntr-vlQ0

9p+-+pwqLzp0

9+-+p+-+-0

9-+-zP-zp-+0

9+-+-+N+-0

9PzP-+RzPPzP0

9+-+-tR-mK-0[

xiiiiiiiiy

White's attack cannot achive much - since it involves only two pieces. But the Black pieces are so
tied down that White has time to extricate the queen.

27.h4!

¦c6 28.h5

The point of the last

two moves becomes clear if one mentally removes the pawn at e6. If White had not done this,
Black could have complicated matters with e6-e5!

¦c4 29.¥d3

White tries to get the rook to

leave the c-file, so that it can be used as an expressway to the 8th rank.

¦c6

30.

¥g6

¦c4

Obviously Smyslov has to come up with a better plan. He does so with a very clever and
unexpected move. Since the bishop is not effective in attacking the rook from d3, Smyslov
creates another possibility - at a2!

31.a3!

¦c6 32.¥b1 ¥h8

[ 32...

¦c4?! 33.¥a2 ¦c6 34.¥xd5! exd5 35.¦xe7 £xe7 36.¦xe7 ¢xe7 37.£xg7+ ]

33.

£d3

Finally! Now Black has to keep an eye on h4, otherwise White will play Nh4-g6.

¦g7

173

XIIIIIIIIY

9-+-+-mk-vl0

9+p+n+-tr-0

9p+r+pwq-zp0

9+-+p+-+P0

9-+-zP-zp-+0

9zP-+Q+N+-0

9-zP-+RzPP+0

9+L+-tR-mK-0[

xiiiiiiiiy

The rooks has finally abandoned the c-file, and White uses it to bring the queen in to deliver the
final blow.

34.

£b3! ¦b6

(Diagram 174)

174

XIIIIIIIIY

9-+-+-mk-vl0

9+p+n+-tr-0

9ptr-+pwq-zp0

9+-+p+-+P0

9-+-zP-zp-+0

9zPQ+-+N+-0

9-zP-+RzPP+0

9+L+-tR-mK-0[

xiiiiiiiiy

White has finally succeeded in driving the rook from the c-file, and now the queen rushes in to
end the game.

35.

£c3 ¦g8

[ 35...

¦c6 36.£b4+ ¢g8 37.£xb7 ]

36.

£c8+

1-0

Charousek
Exner

Budapest,Match

1896

[Schiller]

1.e4 e5 2.

¤f3 ¤c6 3.d4 exd4 4.¥c4 d6?!

This move is so obscure that it isn't even in the

books, although it might be seen in amateur games. Black gets a bad version of the Philidor
Defense.

175

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+lwqkvlntr0

9zppzp-+pzpp0

9-+nzp-+-+0

9+-+-+-+-0

9-+LzpP+-+0

9+-+-+N+-0

9PzPP+-zPPzP0

9tRNvLQmK-+R0[

xiiiiiiiiy

¤xd4 ¤f6

[ 5...

¤xd4 6.£xd4 ¥e6

is relatively best, though after castling White retains his developmental

and spatial advantage.

]

¤c3 ¥e7 7.0-0 0-0 8.f3

Since Black cannot get his bishop to the a7-g1 diagonal, there is no

weakness associated with this move.

¦e8

¥e3

¥f8?!

Black is attempting to play pure

defense, but after White pins the Nf6 the bishop will have to return to e7, so the immediate 9...
Ne5 would have been better, though after 10.Bb3 White would still have a clear advantage.

10.

£d2 ¤e7 11.¦ad1 ¥d7 12.¥g5!

By threatening to criple the Black pawns, White forces his

opponent to waste two moves to break the pin.

¤g6 13.¤d5 ¥e7

176

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+-wqr+k+0

9zppzplvlpzpp0

9-+-zp-snn+0

9+-+N+-vL-0

9-+LsNP+-+0

9+-+-+P+-0

9PzPPwQ-+PzP0

9+-+R+RmK-0[

xiiiiiiiiy

Now White can eliminate the important defender and maintain the pin.

14.

¤xe7+

£xe7

15.

¦fe1!

Both sides are fully developed but Black's pieces are ineffective while White has placed

every piece on an optimal square.

£d8 16.¥b5!

Charousek understands the value of a knight

outpost at f5. To obtain this, he will have to eliminate the enemy bishop. The text cannot be met
by 16...c6, because that would critically weaken the pawn at d6.

¥xb5 17.¤xb5

177

XIIIIIIIIY

9r+-wqr+k+0{

9zppzp-+pzpp0

9-+-zp-snn+0

9+N+-+-vL-0

9-+-+P+-+0

9+-+-+P+-0

9PzPPwQ-+PzP0

9+-+RtR-mK-0

xiiiiiiiiy

Now Black must finally accept doubled pawns on the kingside, because after 18.Bxf6 the queen
must remain at d8 to guard c7.

¦e5 18.¥xf6 gxf6 19.¤d4!

Headed for the key square f5.

£f8

20.

¤f5 ¦ae8 21.£c3!

The point of this move is not only to attack c7, but more importantly, to

create a pin on the Re5. Perhaps Black should have accepted the inevitable here and played 21...
Rc5.

d5 22.

¦xd5 ¦xd5 23.exd5 ¦xe1+ 24.£xe1

The endgame is winning for White, not so

much because of the extra pawn at d5 but rather because the kingside is so weak.

£c5+

25.

£e3 £xe3+

[ 25...

£xd5?? 26.£e8+ ¤f8 27.¤e7+ ]

[ 25...

£xc2 26.£e8+ ¤f8 27.¤h6+ ¢g7 28.£xf7+ ¢xh6 29.£xf8+ ¢g6 30.£e8+ ¢g7

31.

£e7+ ¢g8 ( 31...¢g6 32.£e4+ f5 33.£d4

protects the d-pawn.

£b1+ 34.¢f2 £xa2

35.

£e5

and with the help of the king White will win the f-pawn.

) 32.

£xf6 £d1+ 33.¢f2 £xd5

34.a3

and White can win by advancing the h-pawn.

]

26.

¤xe3

(Diagram 178)

178

XIIIIIIIIY

9-+-+-+k+0{

9zppzp-+p+p0

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This endgame is a technical win - and Charousek demonstrates that he has the necessary skills.

¢f8 27.¢f2 ¢e7 28.¤f5+ ¢d7 29.¢e3

Black's king is rendered harmless by the combination

of knight and Pd5.

¤e5 30.b3 c6 31.¢e4 cxd5+ 32.¢xd5 ¤g6 33.g3

The king has taken

over for the pawn at d5, and the Black knight is limited in scope.

¤e5 34.¢e4 ¤c6 35.¤d4

Now the monarch heads for the kingside. Obviously Black cannot exchange knights.

¤e7 36.c4

b6 37.b4 a6 38.a3

¤c8

A clever move, inviting 39.Kf5? when 39...Nd6+ eats up the queenside

pawns.

39.

¤f5 ¢e6 40.h4 ¤a7 41.¤d4+ ¢d6 42.¢f5

Now it is safe.

¢e7 43.a4 ¤c8

44.c5 bxc5 45.bxc5

¤a7 46.h5 a5 47.h6

1-0

Breyer
Fahrni

Baden

1914

[Schiller]

1.e4 e5 2.

¤f3 ¤c6 3.d4 exd4 4.¥c4 d6 5.¤xd4 g6

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This plan makes a little more sense than Exner's 5...Nf6, but it is not enough for equality.

6.0-0

A logical move, but to reach the modern lines of the Philidor, White might have delayed this move
and played 6.Nc3, keeping open the option of castling queenside.

[ 6.

¤c3 ¥g7 7.¥e3 ¤f6 8.£d2 0-0 9.¤xc6! bxc6 10.¥h6 ¥xh6 11.£xh6 ¤xe4 12.¤xe4

¦e8 ( 12...d5 13.¤g5

and White wins.

) 13.

¥xf7+ ¢xf7 14.£xh7+ ¢f8 15.£xg6 £e7 16.f3

d5 17.0-0 dxe4 18.fxe4+ ]

6...

¥g7 7.¥e3 ¤f6 8.¤c3 0-0 9.£d2 ¦e8 10.¦ae1 ¤e5 11.¥b3

180

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White has organized his pieces well, and Black is behind in development and must be concerned
about the advance of the f-pawn.

c5?!

A sign of desperation early in the game. 11...Neg4!?

might have been wiser.

12.

¤db5 c4 13.f4! ¤eg4 14.¥xc4 ¤xe3 15.¦xe3 ¤g4 16.¦d3

Not only has White won one pawn, but he has another one coming.

£b6+

17.

¢h1

¥xc3

18.

¤xc3 ¥e6 19.¥xe6 fxe6 20.h3 ¤f6 21.¦xd6

181

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This has been pretty much forced, and now the two extra pawns are easily converted into an
endgame victory.

¦ad8

[ 21...

£xb2 22.e5 ¤h5 23.g4 ¤g7 24.¤e4 ¦e7 25.¤f6+ ¢h8 26.¦d8+ ¦xd8 27.£xd8+

¦e8 28.¤xe8 ]

22.

¦xb6 ¦xd2 23.¦xb7 ¤h5 24.¦d1 ¦ed8 25.¦xd2 ¦xd2 26.¦xa7 ¤xf4 27.¦b7

and the a-pawn flies.

¤xg2 28.a4 ¤h4 29.¦b3 ¦xc2 30.¤b5 ¦c1+ 31.¢h2 ¦c2+ 32.¢g1

¦c1+ 33.¢f2 ¦c2+ 34.¢e3 e5 35.¢d3 ¦c8 36.a5 ¦a8 37.¦a3 ¤g2 38.a6 ¤f4+ 39.¢e3

¤e6 40.a7 ¢f7 41.b4 ¢e7 42.¦a6 ¢d7 43.¦d6+ ¢e7 44.¦xe6+! ¢xe6 45.¤c7+ ¢d7

46.

¤xa8

1-0

Maroczy
Porges

Nurnberg

1896

[Schiller]

1.e4 e5 2.

¤f3 ¤c6 3.d4 exd4 4.¥c4 £f6?!

[ 4...

£e7 5.0-0 £c5 6.£d3 g6

is another attempt to hang on to the pawn, but it doesn't work.

7.c3!

¥g7 8.cxd4 ¤xd4 9.¤xd4 £xd4 10.£b3! ¤h6 11.¥xh6 ¥xh6 12.¥xf7+

was effective in Bonch Osmolovsky - Alatortsev, USSR 1962.

]

182

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These early queen deployments never succeed in the Scotch Gambit, because White is too well-
developed.

5.c3!?

Maroczy's notes indicate that simple castling would have been better, so that

the e-pawn could have advanced, using the potential pin on the e-file.

¥c5 6.0-0

Maroczy gives

6.e5!, but that seems a bit speculative.

d6 7.

¤xd4 ¤xd4 8.cxd4 ¥xd4 9.£b3 ¥b6 10.a4

White has compensation for his pawn, but only if he keeps the initiative. An alternative plan
would be to continue development, and make use of d5.

[ 10.

¤c3! ¤e7 11.¥e3 0-0 ( 11...¥xe3? 12.fxe3

drops the pawn at f7.

) 12.

¥xb6 axb6

13.

¤b5!

with win of material.

c6 14.

¤c7 ¦a5 15.£xb6 ¦c5 16.¥d3

and although the knight

is trapped, there is no way to get at it, and the Black attack is nothing to worry about.

¤g6

(to stop f2-f4)

17.

¦fc1 ¦xc1+ 18.¦xc1 ¤f4 19.¥f1 ¤e6 20.¤xe6 fxe6 21.a4

with a slight

edge for White.

]

10...

¤e7 11.¢h1 ¤c6 12.¥d2 0-0

[ 12...a5!?

might have been a useful interpolation.

]

13.a5

¥d4

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14.

¤c3 ¥xc3

Practically forced, because of the weakness at d5.

15.

¥xc3 £e7 16.¥d5 ¤d8

[ 16...

¥d7 17.a6 bxa6 18.¦xa6 ¦ab8 19.£a3! ]

17.e5 c6

[ 17...dxe5?! 18.

¦fe1 ¤c6 19.a6! ]

18.exd6

£xd6 19.¥e4 ¥e6 20.£a4

Although White is still a pawn down his bishop pair and

active pieces give him sufficient compensation.

f5 21.

¥f3 £c7 22.¦fe1 ¦e8 23.¥h5! ¦e7

24.

£h4 ¢f8

Black can't bring his defensive forces closer to the king, so he tries to bring the king

closer to his pieces!

25.

¥e5 £d7 26.£g3 g6

At least there is no pin on the g-pawn, part of the

point of Kf8.

27.

¦ad1! £e8 28.¥e2 ¤f7 29.¥d4?!

The bishop should have retreated to c3.

¢g8 30.¥h5 f4

To avoid the destructive sacrifice at g6.

31.

£h4

[ 31.

£xf4? ¥b3! ]

31...

¦d8 32.£f6 ¦xd4!

That's why the bishop should have been posted at c3 instead of d4.

33.

¦xd4 gxh5 34.¦xf4 ¤d8 35.¦f3 ¦f7 36.¦g3+ ¢f8

184

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37.

£h8+ ¢e7 38.¦g8 ¦f8

[ 38...

£d7 39.¦xd8! £xd8 40.£xd8+ ¢xd8 41.¦xe6 ]

39.

£xh7+ ¢d6 40.¦g7 ¦f7 41.£xh5 £e7 42.¦g6 ¢d7 43.f3

Black's king is surrounded by

pieces and White cannot win by direct attack.

£f8 44.¦g5 £d6 45.¦ge5

Threatening Rxe6!

¥d5 46.¦e8 £f6 47.¦8e5 ¢c7 48.£g4 a6 49.£g3 ¢c8 50.£g4+ ¢c7 51.£g3 ¢c8

52.

£g5

The repetition was probably due to time pressure, as White has every reason to play for

a win.

£xg5 53.¦xg5 ¢d7 54.¦g4 ¤e6 55.¢g1 ¤f4

185

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The endgame favors White because he already has passed pawns.

56.

¦e3 ¢d6 57.b4 c5

58.bxc5+

¢xc5 59.g3 ¤e6 60.¦g6 ¤f8 61.¦g5 ¢d4 62.¦ee5 ¦d7

[ 62...

¥xf3? 63.¦ef5! ]

63.

¦e1 ¤e6 64.¦g4+ ¢c3 65.¦e3+ ¢d2 66.¢f2 ¦c7 67.¦b4 ¦c5 68.h4 ¦xa5 69.f4 ¦c5

70.f5 a5 71.

¦a4 b5 72.¦aa3!

The threat of Re2+ is worth more than the pawn at a5.

¤f4

What else?

73.gxf4

¥c4 74.¦e5 ¦c7 75.¦xa5 b4 76.¦ac5 ¦xc5 77.¦xc5 ¢c3 78.f6 b3

79.f7 b2 80.f8

£ b1£ 81.£f6+ ¢d2 82.£d4+

1-0

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