by exchanging material, so that the
Alonso Zapata:
imbalance between his active pieces and the
opponent's useless ones becomes clearer and
Useless pieces the weakness of the useless piece is
emphasized. Basic strategy: simplify the
Concept position, but let the opponent keep his
This happens when one or more pieces are useless pieces. By applying this principle,
trapped inside a pawn structure or remain we will regularly prevail easily. Control of
enslaved defending weaknesses. It occurs mobility: How often do we see a bishop that,
frequently in endgame and middle game because of its limited mobility it resembles a
situations. It is rare to see it in the early pawn and we say that its side has one extra
stage of the opening. Aim at neutralizing the pawn but one piece less! Or a knight totally
strength or activity of the opponent's pieces, neutralized by the opponent's control of the
to the point of making them useless. That is squares to which it can move. It is really like
a strategic search and an ideal aim for the being a piece down. We are reminded of
competitive chess player. At first, before we endings in which one side has a decisive
start a game, the nominal value of each of advantage, consisting of a knight in a
our pieces is exactly the same as that of our dominating central position against a bishop
opponent's pieces. Of course, there is no blocked and trapped by its own pawns; or of
advantage for either side, except for White's endings in which a powerful bishop in an
having the first move. Once the game starts, open position controls all the possible
it is up to each of us to optimize our escape squares of a trapped knight.
respective positions, with better technical Something similar happens to any other
execution (both strategic and tactical). It is a piece that because of its lack of mobility or
constant purpose to keep our pieces more functionality becomes useless. We also see
useful and valuable, in order to attain the it in king and pawns endings in the case of
initiative. A next step is when, in addition to the opposition or with respect to the concept
securing an advantage, we neutralize our of related squares
opponent and make his pieces useless, avoid
any counterplay and execute a strategy of Example
tiresome defense. This frequently brings to
XIIIIIIIIY
the scene a motif that reminds us of our
9-+-+-+-+0
yearned Zugzwang and of the Domination
9+-mk-+-+-0
theme; in which one side is dynamic and the
9p+-+-+-+0
other becomes a mere spectator. Generally,
when there is a useless piece on the board
9zPpmK-+N+-0
(having a useless piece is frequently like
9-zP-+-+-+0
being a piece down!) the total harmony of
9+-+-+-+p0
that side's position is harmed, and often the
9-+-+-+-zP0
result of the game turns on that element.
Having a useless piece, with no activity,
9+-+-+-sn-0
which is not contributing to the overall aims
xiiiiiiiiy
of the position, is a headache. Frequently,
1.Nd4+
the opponent's attacks become deadly; or the
winning side artfully simplifies the position
FIDE Surveys  Alonso Zapata Page 1
This is a clear example of Domination; note
XIIIIIIIIY
that the black knight becomes a useless
9rvl-+-+-+0
piece. Pawns in a6 and b5 soon will fall.
9+kzp-sn-+-0
1...Kd7 2.Kb6 Kd6 3.Kxa6 Kd5
9-+-+-+Q+0
The counterplay is harmless, by the speed of
"a" pawn.
9zPK+-+p+-0
4.Kxb5 Kxd4 5.a6 1:0.
9-+-zp-+-+0
9+-+-+-vL-0
Bishop against useless knight
9-+-+-+p+0
XIIIIIIIIY
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
xiiiiiiiiy
9+-+-+k+-0
1.a6+! Ka7
9L+-+-+-zp0
1...Kc8?? 2.Qe8#.
9+-+-+KzpP0
2.Qc6!!
9-+-+-+P+0
XIIIIIIIIY
9sn-+-+-+-0
9rvl-+-+-+0
9-+-+-+-+0
9mk-zp-sn-+-0
9+-+-+-+-0
9P+Q+-+-+0
xiiiiiiiiy
9+K+-+p+-0
1.Bd3+
9-+-zp-+-+0
Similar to the previous example, the black
9+-+-+-vL-0
knight becomes useless and white wins by
9-+-+-+p+0
using the opposition.
1...Kg7 2.Ke6
9+-+-+-+-0
The victory is elemental.
xiiiiiiiiy
2...Kg8 3.Kf6 Kh8 4.Kg6
2...Nxc6 3.Bf2!!
And the black pawns fall. 1:0.
XIIIIIIIIY
9rvl-+-+-+0
Schweser's composition
9mk-zp-+-+-0
Incredible example of useless pieces. This is
9P+n+-+-+0
a great funny and antique example,
9+K+-+p+-0
composed by Schwers. Apparently black
9-+-zp-+-+0
have a winning position, but white used a
fantastic idea, inspired by the theme of
9+-+-+-+-0
Zugzwang, where black have to play and
9-+-+-vLp+0
sadly must make himself the "harakiri".
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
Marvelous example compound useless
pieces (Zugzwang). White has sacrificed
most of his material, but have just what it
FIDE Surveys  Alonso Zapata Page 2
takes to win! The black figures spectators to play! Other options lost after: 1.Be5 g4
and have became authentic decorative +; 1.Bb8 g4 +.
pieces. Black has to play and waste their 1...Qf4+
moves becoming "useless", which will lead Nothing to do in view of: 1...Qe1 2.g3+;
to checkmate. 3.Bf2 f4 4.Bg1 f3 5.Bf2. 1...g4 2.Be7+
3...f4 4.Bg1 2.g3+ Qxg3+ 3.Bxg3# 1:0.
Once the black movements are consumed,
Zapata A. : Velez B.
the game is over.
Santo Domingo 2012
4...f3 5.Bf2 g1Q 6.Bxg1 f2 7.Bxf2 Nb4
XIIIIIIIIY
8.Bxd4+ c5 9.Bxc5# 1:0.
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+-trk+0
9rvl-+-+-+0
9+p+l+-+p0
9mk-+-+-+-0
9-+n+p+-+0
9P+-+-+-+0
9+L+p+pzp-0
9+KvL-+-+-0
9-+-zPnsN-+0
9-sn-+-+-+0
9+-zP-+N+-0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-zP-+-zPPzP0
9-+-+-+-+0
9tR-+-tR-mK-0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
xiiiiiiiiy In this example we will see, the typical
problem of ineffective bishop locked in their
own pawns, which is almost like having a
Queen useless
piece down. If White could simplify to only
XIIIIIIIIY
the strong knight against the useless bishop
9-+-+-+-+0
that would be enough to win.
9+-vL-+-+-0
19...g5
9-+-+-+-+0 19...Rfe8!? To defend e6 and capture on c6
e6 with bishop.
9+-+-+-zpp0
20.Bxc6 bxc6 21.Nd3
9-+-+-+-mk0
XIIIIIIIIY
9+-+-+-+P0
9r+-+-trk+0
9-+-+-wqPmK0
9+-+l+-+p0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+p+p+-+0
xiiiiiiiiy
9+-+p+pzp-0
This is a fantastic Kaminer's composition
9-+-zPn+-+0
(1925), with just a four pieces per side and
9+-zPN+N+-0
although White has a disproportionate
disadvantage (a bishop against a queen)
9-zP-+-zPPzP0
curiously, the queen is a useless piece!
9tR-+-tR-mK-0
1.Bd6!!+
xiiiiiiiiy
Simple and sufficient. This is an incredible
It is clear that White wants to improve their
position Zugzwang, the calamity of having
FIDE Surveys  Alonso Zapata Page 3
knights on the black weaknesses squares e5 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.g3 d5 4.exd5 exd5 5.Bg2
and c5, to attack e6, c6. Qe7+ 6.Qe2 Nc6 7.Nc3 Qxe2+ 8.Kxe2?
21...Rfb8 22.Nfe5 Be8 23.f3 Nd6 24.Rxa8
XIIIIIIIIY
Rxa8 25.Nc5+
9r+l+kvlntr0
Note that the black bishop has an unhelpful
9zpp+-+pzpp0
role.
9-+n+-+-+0
25...Ra2 26.Ned3 Nc4 27.b3 Nd2 28.Rxe6
Bf7 29.Rxc6 Ra1+ 30.Kf2 Ra2 31.Ke1
9+-zpp+-+-0
Nb1 32.Ne5
9-+-+-+-+0
XIIIIIIIIY
9+-sN-+NzP-0
9-+-+-+k+0
9PzPPzPKzPLzP0
9+-+-+l+p0
9tR-vL-+-+R0
9-+R+-+-+0
xiiiiiiiiy
9+-sNpsNpzp-0
This error is the cause of all the subsequent
9-+-zP-+-+0
difficulties. 8.Nxe2.
8...Bg4! 9.Re1
9+PzP-+P+-0
9.Kf1 Nf6 +.
9r+-+-+PzP0
9...0 0 0 10.Kd1
9+n+-mK-+-0
10.Kf1 Nb4 11.Ne5 Be6 12.Rb1 Nxc2
xiiiiiiiiy
13.Re2 +.
White has enhanced the value of its pieces 10...Nd4 11.Re3 Nf6
and "the bishop was quoted limited less and Stronger is 11...h5!! I missed this important
less". tactical resource; the idea was to value
It threatened Rc8 and Rc7. immediately Rh8.
32...Ra7 33.Ncd3
XIIIIIIIIY
The away Nb1 becomes another headache.
9-+ktr-vl-tr0
33...Rb7 34.Kd1 g4 35.Nc5 Ra7 36.Kc2
9zpp+-+pzpp0
Na3+ 37.Kb2
9-+-+-sn-+0
37.Kd3+ .
37...gxf3 38.gxf3 Nb5
9+-zpp+-+-0
38...Kg7 39.Rb6+ trapping the knight.
9-+-sn-+l+0
39.Rb6 Nc7 40.Nc6 1:0.
9+-sN-tRNzP-0
40.Nc6 Ra8 41.Rb7+ (41.Ne7++ )
9PzPPzP-zPLzP0
41...Ne8.
9tR-vLK+-+-0
Abreu C. : Zapata A.
xiiiiiiiiy
Santo Domingo 2012
A) 12.Ne2 Nxf3 13.Bxf3 d4 14.Ra3 (14.Rb3
c4 +) 14...c4! 15.Bxg4+ hxg4 16.Rxa7
Useless pieces in the opening phase: this
(16.Ra4 b5 17.Rxa7 Rxh2 18.d3 Rh1+
item is an example. This topic occurred in
19.Kd2 Bb4+ 20.c3 dxc3+ 21.bxc3 Rxd3+
the early stage of the opening and it affected
22.Kc2 Re1 +) 16...Kb8 17.Ra4 Rxh2 18.d3
the remaining of the game.
b5 +;
FIDE Surveys  Alonso Zapata Page 4
B) 12.h3 Nxf3 13.hxg4 hxg4 14.Bxf3 gxf3 Carlsen M. : Anand V.
15.Rxf3 d4 16.Ne4 Rh1+ 17.Ke2 Nh6 + Sao Paulo/Bilbao 2012
18.d3 f5 +
XIIIIIIIIY
12.h3 Bh5 13.g4 Bg6 14.Ne1
9r+-+n+k+0
14.d3 Nxc2 15.Kxc2 d4 16.Re1 dxc3
9zp-+-zp-+p0
17.Ne5 cxb2 18.Bxb2 Nd5 19.a3 f6.
9-wqr+p+p+0
14...Ne6 15.Ne2 h5 16.f3
Note, the marginalized position of
9+-zp-+-+-0
practically all the white pieces.
9-+Pzp-+P+0
16...d4 17.Ra3 a6
9+P+-+P+N0
Better was 17...Kb8 18.d3 Bd6 +.
9P+-wQ-+-zP0
18.d3 Bd6 19.Bd2 Nd5 + 20.c4 dxc3
21.bxc3
9+-+-tRR+K0
21.Nxc3 Ndf4 22.Ne4 hxg4 23.Nxd6+ Rxd6
xiiiiiiiiy
24.Bxf4 Nxf4 25.fxg4 Nxg2 +.
26.Qh6 Nf6 27.Ng5 d3 28.Re5!
21...c4 22.Ra4 Nb6 23.Ra5 cxd3 24.Nd4
With the creative idea of isolating the king's
Nf4
side and force Kh8.
24...Nc4! 25.Nxe6 (25.gxh5 Bxh5) 25...fxe6
28...Kh8
26.Rg5 Be8 +.
Only move. Threat is Nh7. If 28...Qc7
25.Bxf4 Bxf4 26.Bf1 hxg4 27.fxg4 Nd5
29.Nxe6 Rxe6 30.Rxe6 Qd7 31.Qe3+ ;
28.Rc5+ Kb8 29.Nxd3 Nxc3+
28...Rd8 29.Nxh7! Nxh7 30.Qxg6++ .
29...Bxd3 30.Bxd3 Rxh3 +.
29.Rd1
30.Rxc3 Rxd4 31.Kc2 Be5 32.Rb1 Rhd8
Black is paralyzed, the black pieces abruptly
32...Rf4! + 33.Rc5 Rd8 34.Rxe5 Rxf1 +.
became useless.
33.Rcb3 b5
29...Qa6
XIIIIIIIIY
29...Qa5 30.Rxe6 Rxe6 31.Nxe6 Rg8
9-mk-tr-+-+0
32.Qe3.
30.a4 1:0.
9+p+-+pzp-0
9p+-+-+l+0
Safarli E : Grachev B.
9+-+-vl-+-0
Moscow 2011
9-+-tr-+P+0
XIIIIIIIIY
9+R+N+-+P0
9-tr-+-trk+0
9P+K+-+-+0
9+-+p+-zpp0
9+R+-+L+-0
9p+l+p+-+0
xiiiiiiiiy
9+-+-+-+-0
34.Rd1 Bf6 35.Ra3 Ka7 36.Rb3 Kb6
9-+PzpP+-+0
37.Be2 Rc8+ 38.Kb1 a5 39.a3 a4 40.Rb4
9+-+P+-zP-0
Rc3 41.Rxd4 Bxd4 42.Bf1 Rxa3 43.Kc2
9P+-+R+-zP0
Ra2+ 44.Kc1
44.Kb1 Rf2.
9+-+N+RmK-0
44...Be3+ 0:1.
xiiiiiiiiy
44...Be3+ 45.Kb1 Rf2 +.
25...Rxf1+ 26.Kxf1 Rb1
FIDE Surveys  Alonso Zapata Page 5
It's notable the difficulties in coordinating 12...c5 13.e5.
white's knight and the rook which are about 13.Bf4 Rb7 14.Bg5 Qf8
to become useless figures. It is also true that 14...h6 15.e5 hxg5 16.exf6 Qxe1+ 17.Qxe1
the structure and the central pawns, c4, d3 Rxe1+ 18.Rxe1 Bf8 19.Re8 Rb8 20.h4+ .
and e4 on white squares are not helpful to 15.Qf3ą Qd6
white. The bishop is strong and the pawn on
XIIIIIIIIY
d4 doesn't allow any counterplay to the
9-+l+r+k+0
knight.
9+rzpp+pvlp0
27.Rd2 a5 28.Ke2 e5 29.Nf2
9p+pwq-snp+0
29.Rb2, with the idea of a4 and a3 for a2
29...Ra1.
9+-+-+-vL-0
29...Kf7 30.Rd1 Rb2+ 31.Rd2 Rb1 32.Rd1
9L+-+P+-+0
Rb8 33.Rd2 Ke6 34.Nh3
9+NzP-+Q+-0
If 34.Nd1 back 34...Rb1.
9PzP-+-zPPzP0
34...h6
With rook paralyzed, defending the weak a6,
9tR-+-tR-mK-0
also wants to limit the white Knight jumps
xiiiiiiiiy
and prevent any counterplay. Then goes to
Here, it is very difficult to coordinate a good
the next level, save space.
plan.
35.Kd1 Rb1+ 36.Ke2
16.Na5 Qe5
Nothing gets 36.Kc2 Rh1 37.Rg2 Ba4+
Fails 16...Rb8 17.e5 Rxe5 18.Nc4 Rxe1+
38.Kb2 Rd1 39.Ka3 Bc6 40.Nf2 Rd2+ the
19.Rxe1 Qd5 20.Bxf6.
black is paralyzed!
17.Bxf6!
36...Ra1 37.Kf2 a4 38.Ng1 a3 39.Nf3 Ba4
Better than: 17.Nxb7 Qxg5 18.e5 Rxe5
Several decisive threats looming on a2, as
19.Nd8!ą (19.h4?! Rxe1+ 20.Rxe1 Qd2
Rb1 b2 followed Bb3.
21.Re7 Kf8).
40.Ne1 Rc1!
17...Qxa5 18.Bb3 Bxf6 19.Qxf6 Rf8
Playing against Nc2!
XIIIIIIIIY
41.Ke2 Kd6
9-+l+-trk+0
Threatening Kc5 via b4 - c3.
42.Nf3 Rb1 43.h4 Rb2
9+rzpp+p+p0
With the idea Bb3.
9p+p+-wQp+0
44.c5+ Ke6 45.Ne1 h5! 0:1.
9wq-+-+-+-0
White has a sort of zugzwang. There is
9-+-+P+-+0
nothing to do, before the imminent Bb3
45...h5 46.Nf3 Bb3.
9+LzP-+-+-0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0
Zapata A. : Vasquez R.
9tR-+-tR-mK-0
Mar del Plata 1996
xiiiiiiiiy
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 g6 5.d4
20.Rad1
exd4 6.Nxd4 Bg7 7.Nxc6 bxc6 8.0 0 Rb8 More accurate is 20.e5! c5 21.Qf4ą stopping
8...Bb7.
c4 and threatening h4 h5.
9.c3 Nf6 10.Re1 0 0 11.Nd2 Qe7 12.Nb3!?
20...c5 21.e5 c4 22.Bxc4 Rxb2 23.Rd3 Qb6
Re8
24.Bb3
FIDE Surveys  Alonso Zapata Page 6
24.Qf4. 39.Be2 Kg8 40.Bd1 Ra2 41.c4 Ba6 42.c5
24...Qxf6 25.exf6 c6? Bb5 43.Rxd7 Ra1 44.Bc2 Rc1 45.Bxg6+
25...d6 26.Re7 Be6 27.h4. Rxc5+
26.Rd6 45...fxg6 46.Rg7+ Kh8 47.Ree7.
46.Kh6
XIIIIIIIIY
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+l+-trk+0
9-+-+-trk+0
9+-+p+p+p0
9+-+R+p+-0
9p+ptR-zPp+0
9-+p+-zPLmK0
9+-+-+-+-0
9+ltr-+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0
9p+-+-+PzP0
9+LzP-+-+-0
9zP-+-tR-+-0
9Ptr-+-zPPzP0
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-tR-mK-0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
xiiiiiiiiy
Paralyzing the counterplay in the center.
26...a5 27.h4 a4 28.Bc4 h5 29.f3 Rc2 Finally, concluding the idea of bringing the
30.Re3 Kh7 31.Kh2 king to h6!
46...Bc4 47.Ree7 Ba2 48.g5 Rc3 49.Bh7+
XIIIIIIIIY
Kh8 50.g6 fxg6 51.Bxg6 1:0.
9-+l+-tr-+0
9+-+p+p+k0
9-+ptR-zPp+0
9+-+-+-+p0
9p+L+-+-zP0
9+-zP-tRP+-0
9P+r+-+PmK0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
The plan is to bring the king to the square g5
and eventually to h6!
31...Kg8 32.Kh3 Kh7 33.g4 hxg4+ 34.fxg4
Rc1 35.Kg3 Kh6 36.Kf4 Kh7
36...Rh1 37.Re7 Rxh4 38.Bxf7+ .
37.Kg5
Because of the lack of coordination and the
limited game, the black's pieces are useless.
37...Rg1 38.a3 Rg2
If: 38...Ra1 39.Re7 Kg8 40.Kh6 Rxa3
41.Bxf7+ Rxf7 42.Kxg6.
FIDE Surveys  Alonso Zapata Page 7