^B^CSt r at egi c Themes i n Act i on

^B^Cby Nat i onal Mast er Er i c Schi l l er

The ar t of st r at egi c pl anni ng i s not easi l y acqui r ed f r ommost
t eachi ng mat er i al s, yet i t i s one of t he most i mpor t ant aspect s of
pr act i cal pl ay. I t hi nk t hat t he r eason f or t hi s i s pr i mar i l y because
t he pedagogi cal t echni que appl i ed i n most cases mi mi cs t hat used i n
t he t eachi ng of t act i cs. Tact i cal ski l l can be obt ai ned by st udyi ng
i ndi vi dual el ement s of a posi t i on usi ng a smal l set of st ock
maneuver s. Posi t i onal f act or s have al so been appr oached i n t hi s way,
wi t h exampl es showi ng how a cer t ai n posi t i onal weakness can be
expl oi t ed by speci f i c means. Thi s i s a f i ne i nt r oduct i on t o st r at egi c
pl ay, and sui t abl e f or begi nner s. The maj or di f f i cul t y, however , l i es
i n combi ni ng t he appr opr i at e met hods wi t h a sol i d posi t i onal
eval uat i on and, i mpor t ant l y, r ecogni zi ng t hat one' s opponent i s l i kel y
t o count er any pl an t hat ar i ses. I n a r eal game, t her ef or e, a pl ayer
has t o be pr epar ed t o swi t ch pl ans f r equent l y, t o const ant l y r e-
exami ne t he st r at egy t o see i f i t i s st i l l appr opr i at e under new
ci r cumst ances. Of t en a change of pl an i s r equi r ed ever y f ew moves.
Somet i mes a pl an whi ch was count er ed at one poi nt i n t he game i s made
possi bl e agai n l at er i n t he game.

Thi s dat abase f i l e cont ai ns compl et e games wher e t he st r at egi c and
posi t i onal f act or s t hat you have al r eady acqui r ed ar e seen i n t he
compl ex i nt er pl ay of t he mi ddl egame and endgame. Ther e ar e f ew qui ck
knockout s - most of t he games f eat ur e a f asci nat i ng ebb and f l ow of
st r at egi c pl ans. I n some cases a si ngl e mot i f r uns t hr oughout t he
game, i n ot her s many i deas ar e r equi r ed i n or der t o achi eve vi ct or y. A
f ew wor ds of gener al advi ce ar e i n or der r egar di ng bot h st udyi ng t he
games and put t i ng t he knowl edge gai ned i nt o act i on i n t our nament pl ay.

I f t act i cs ar e t he down- t o- ear t h busi ness of chess, t hen st r at egy i s
i t s f i ne ar t . As such cr eat i vi t y i s needed. I t i s wel l - known t hat
comput er s do not do wel l at l ong- t er mpl anni ng i n chess. They can
cr unch number s, but t hey cannot dr eam. And i ndeed i t i s dr eami ng t hat
i s necessar y i n or der t o amal gamat e t he posi t i onal char act er i st i cs one
sees on t he boar d and cr eat e a concr et e pl an. At t he boar d, and
especi al l y when t he opponent i s on t he move, i t i s usef ul t o f ant asi ze
about t he posi t i on. I magi ne t act i cal oper at i ons whi ch coul d be car r i ed
out i f i t wer e not f or t he pr esence of a cer t ai n pi ece. For get about
t he l aws of chess f or a moment and t hi nk about wher e you woul d l i ke t o
put your pi eces i f you coul d si mpl y pi ck t hemup and move t hemt o any
squar e you wi sh wi t hout any i nt er vent i on on t he par t of your opponent .
These ment al exer ci ses hel p t o f ocus your mi nd on t he st r at egi c goal s
of t he posi t i on. Once you know what you want t o do, i t i s si mpl y a
mat t er of f i gur i ng out some way of get t i ng your opponent t o cooper at e.
The desi r ed r esul t can of t en be achi eved by such t act i cal oper at i ons
as def l ect i ons and sacr i f i ces.

As you st udy t he games i n t hi s dat abase, const ant l y ask your sel f what
each pl ayer i s t r yi ng t o accompl i sh and what means ar e avai l abl e t o
count er t hese pl ans. I n some games a pl ayer achi eves hi s goal qui ckl y
because hi s opponent i s caught nappi ng, i n ot her t he i mmedi at e t hr eat s
ar e par r i ed and ot her s t ake t hei r pl ace. I n your own games, do not get
f r ust r at ed when your opponent sees what you ar e up t o and t akes
measur es t o pr event i t - t hat i s t he nor mal cour se of a chess game.
I ndeed, i f you t hi nk about t he const ant r ef er ences t o chess by
spor t scast er s cover i ng f oot bal l , basebal l or basket bal l games i t i s
t hi s aspect of t he Royal Game t hat t hey usual l y have i n mi nd. I nst ead,
si mpl y ask what pr i ce your opponent has pai d f or hi s def ense, and t r y
t o come up wi t h a pl an whi ch wi l l expl oi t any new weakness t hat may
have been cr eat ed. You wi l l see t hi s concept at wor k i n many of t he
games i n t hi s col l ect i on.

The annot at ed games i n t hi s dat abase ar e i ncl uded i n St r at egy f or
Advanced
Pl ayer s publ i shed by Chess Di gest , I nc. Al l mat er i al i s copyr i ght
1991 by Er i c Schi l l er .
1
1
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.
1
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqk+ tr0
9+p+ vlpzpp0
9p+ zp + +0
9+ + sn zP 0
9 + +PvL +0
9+ sN + + 0
9PzPPwQ + zP0
9tR + mKLtR 0[
xiiiiiiiiy
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
2
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+ wqk+ tr0{
9+p+ +p+ 0
9p+ zp +nvL0
9+ +P+ + 0
9 + + + vl0
9+ + + + 0
9PzPPwQL+ zP0
9tR +K+ tR 0
xiiiiiiiiy
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
2
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
3
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+ +k+ tr0
9+p+ snp+ 0
9p+ zp vl vL0
9+ +Pwq +P0
9 + + tR +0
9+ zP + + 0
9PzP wQL+ +0
9tR +K+ + 0[
xiiiiiiiiy
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
4
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+ +k+ +0
9+p+ +p+ 0
9p+ zp vl tr0
9+ +R+ +P0
9 + +q+ +0
9+ zP + + 0
9PzP wQL+ +0
9tR +K+ + 0[
xiiiiiiiiy
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
3
2
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
9.e2 h4+ Black spends a tempo in order to weaken the White kingside. 10.g3
5
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnl+k+ tr0{
9zpp+n+pvlp0
9 + zp +p+0
9+ zpP+ + 0
9 + +PzP wq0
9+ sN + zP 0
9PzP +L+ zP0
9tR vLQmK sNR0
xiiiiiiiiy
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)
4
6
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+r+k+0{
9zpp+ +pvlp0
9 + + +p+0
9+ +nzP + 0
9 +L+ +P+0
9+ + +N+P0
9PzP + + +0
9tR vL tR mK 0
xiiiiiiiiy
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
7
XIIIIIIIIY
9 + + +k+0
9zpp+R+p+p0
9 + + +p+0
9+r+ + + 0
9 + + +P+0
9+ + + +P0
9PzP + + +0
9+ + + mK 0[
xiiiiiiiiy
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)
5
8
XIIIIIIIIY
9 + + + +0{
9+ + + + 0
9 zp +kzp +0
9zp + + zp 0
9 + + trP+0
9+P+ + mK 0
9P+ tR + +0
9+ + + + 0
xiiiiiiiiy
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
3
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
9
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+ wq trk+0{
9+l+nvlpzp 0
9pzp + sn zp0
9+ zpp+ + 0
9 + zP + vL0
9+ sN zPN+ 0
9PzPQ+LzPPzP0
9+ tRR+ mK 0
xiiiiiiiiy
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
6
[ 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
10
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+ + trk+0{
9+ +nvlpzp 0
9pzpq+ sn zp0
9+ +p+ + 0
9P+pzP + vL0
9+ sN zPL+ 0
9 zPQ+ zPPzP0
9+ tRR+ mK 0
xiiiiiiiiy
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!
11
XIIIIIIIIY
9 +r+ trk+0{
9+ +n+pzp 0
9pzp + + zp0
9+ +L+Q+ 0
9qvlpzP + vL0
9+P+ zP + 0
9 + + zPPzP0
9+ tRR+ mK 0
xiiiiiiiiy
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
7
4
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. f5
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 a5
9.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
12
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+kvl tr0
9+pwq + zpp0
9 +p+p+ +0
9zp zpnzPp+ 0
9P+N+ + +0
9+ +P+N+ 0
9 zPP+ zPPzP0
9tR vLQ+RmK 0[
xiiiiiiiiy
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
13
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+kvl tr0
9+p+ + zpp0
9 wqp+p+ +0
9zp zp zPp+ 0
9P+ + + +0
9+ +P+N+ 0
9 zPP+ zPPzP0
9tR vLQtR mK 0[
xiiiiiiiiy
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. ]
8
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. ]
14
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+ +kvl tr0
9+ + +qzpp0
9lzp +p+ +0
9zp zp zPp+ 0
9P+ + + wQ0
9+P+ vLN+ 0
9 +P+ zPPzP0
9+ +RtR mK 0[
xiiiiiiiiy
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
5
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+
9.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)
9
15
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsn +k+ tr0
9zpp+ wqpzpp0
9 + zplsn +0
9+ zp + vL 0
9 +L+ + +0
9zP sN zP + 0
9 zP + zPPzP0
9tR +QmK +R0[
xiiiiiiiiy
11.b5! xc4
[ 11...0-0 would have been wiser, in retrospect. After 12.xe6 fxe6 13.xd6 xd6 14.xd6
b6 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
16
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+ + mk tr0
9zp + +pzpp0
9 zpnsN sn +0
9+ zp + vL 0
9 + + + +0
9zP + zP + 0
9 zP + zPPzP0
9tR + +RmK 0[
xiiiiiiiiy
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)
10
17
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+ + mk tr0{
9+ tRn+ zpp0
9 + sN zp +0
9zp + sn + 0
9 + + vL +0
9+ + zP + 0
9 + + zPPzP0
9+ +R+ mK 0
xiiiiiiiiy
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
6
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.
b4 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)
11
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. ]
19
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)
12
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
21
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
13
7
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
9.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
b6
22
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)
14
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
8
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
24
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. b6
15
25
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! h6
20.h4 h7 21.h5!
26
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)
16
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
9
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
28
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
17
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 J ust 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
29
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
30
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
18
10
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
31
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
32
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
19
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.
33
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
11
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)
20
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.
35
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
12
Spassky
Smyslov
Bucharest 1953
[Schiller]
1.d4 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 b4 4.g5 h6 5.h4 c5 6.d5
21
36
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. d6
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
37
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
13
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)
22
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
39
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 h6
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
23
40
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
14
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
41
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)
24
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
43
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)
25
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
45
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
15
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. ]
26
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.
46
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
47
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)
27
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!
49
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)
28
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
16
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
51
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
29
potential usefulness of this rook on the d-file, despite the fact that the file is almost filled with
pieces! g7
52
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. c4
[ 25...cxb4 26.a5 ac8 27.a2 a8 28.xb4! is a decisive blow. ]
26.a2 c6
53
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)
30
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
17
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
55
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
31
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
56
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
57
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. b6
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
32
18
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
58
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
59
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
to break it. 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
33
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
60
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)
34
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
19
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
developing his queen at b3. 5.b3?! This is not as effective, since Black can respond
symmetrically. b6!
62
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? 6.xb6?! axb6 7.cxd5 xd5
8.xd5 cxd5
(Diagram 63)
35
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
64
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, J anowski 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
36
65
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
20
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
9.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.
66
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!
37
[ 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
67
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
21
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
9.c2 c6 10.a3 h6 11.xf6 xf6 12.d1 e7 13.e3
68
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
38
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
69
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. ]
70
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,
39
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! ]
71
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
72
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 ]
40
73
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
22
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. c5
74
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)
41
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. h6
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
76
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)
42
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
78
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.
43
[ 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
79
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
23
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)
44
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
81
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
45
82
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. b6 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
83
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)
46
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
85
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
47
24
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
86
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!
87
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! ]
48
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
25
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
88
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)
49
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
26
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
90
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
50
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
g6
[ 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
91
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
27
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
9.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. h6 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)
51
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 J ust to free up h7 for the knight, should it prove useful. Black is in no
rush . 25.xf4 gxf4 26.f2 g5
93
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. J ust 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
52
94
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
95
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
53
96
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
28
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
97
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#]
54
12...g4 13.hxg4 xg4 14.g1 f5
98
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
99
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
55
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
29
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)
56
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
57
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
58
30
Keres 2560
Fine 2560
Ostend 1937
[Schiller]
1.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
59
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)
60
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
31
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
9.g5 c4 10.e5 e6 11.f4 xe5
(Diagram 111)
61
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)
62
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
32
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)
63
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 tuati ons . 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 ]
64
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. g6
38.c3
65
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
66
33
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 c5 Robert Huebner's patent - and it is only fitting that the strategy of this
opening is exhibited in one of his finest games. 5.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)
67
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)
68
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
69
34
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 8.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. 9.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
70
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.
a6
[ 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)
71
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
35
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)
72
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 J on
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. ]
73
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)
74
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
36
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,
75
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. h6 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! b6 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!
76
b8 31.e1 g7 32.c5 f8 33.a7
1-0
37
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. 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
77
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 h5 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)
78
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
38
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. 8.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. 9.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
79
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)
80
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
39
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 J on 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
81
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)
82
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. h5
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
40
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,
83
as rash action in the center will not be effective. 5.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. 8.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
84
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)
85
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
41
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
9.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
86
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)
87
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
42
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. 8.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)
88
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
43
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
89
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. 9.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)
90
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
44
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. 6.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. b6
91
[ 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
45
Smyslov
Simagin
USSR 1967
[Schiller]
1.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. 4.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
9.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
92
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)
93
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)
94
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
46
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
5.xd4 f6
[ 5...xd4 6.xd4 e6 is relatively best, though after castling White retains his developmental
and spatial advantage. ]
6.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 9.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
95
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)
96
178
XIIIIIIIIY
9 + + +k+0{
9zppzp +p+p0
9 + + zpn+0
9+ +P+ + 0
9 + + + +0
9+ + sNP+ 0
9PzPP+ +PzP0
9+ + + mK 0
xiiiiiiiiy
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
47
Breyer
Fahrni
Baden 1914
[Schiller]
1.e4 e5 2.f3 c6 3.d4 exd4 4.c4 d6 5.xd4 g6
179
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqkvlntr0
9zppzp +p+p0
9 +nzp +p+0
9+ + + + 0
9 +LsNP+ +0
9+ + + + 0
9PzPP+ zPPzP0
9tRNvLQmK +R0[
xiiiiiiiiy
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
97
180
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+lwqr+k+0{
9zppzp +pvlp0
9 + zp snp+0
9+ + sn + 0
9 + sNP+ +0
9+LsN vL + 0
9PzPPwQ zPPzP0
9+ + tRRmK 0
xiiiiiiiiy
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
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+ +r+k+0{
9zpp+ + +p0
9 wq tRpsnp+0
9+ + + + 0
9 + +PzP +0
9+ sN + +P0
9PzPPwQ +P+0
9+ + +R+K0
xiiiiiiiiy
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
48
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.
98
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
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+kvlntr0
9zppzpp+pzpp0
9 +n+ wq +0
9+ + + + 0
9 +LzpP+ +0
9+ + +N+ 0
9PzPP+ zPPzP0
9tRNvLQmK +R0[
xiiiiiiiiy
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
183
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+ trk+0
9zppzp +pzpp0
9 +nzp wq +0
9zP + + + 0
9 +LvlP+ +0
9+Q+ + + 0
9 zP vL zPPzP0
9tRN+ +R+K0[
xiiiiiiiiy
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
99
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
XIIIIIIIIY
9 + snqmk +0
9zpp+ +r+p0
9 +p+lwQ +0
9zP + + +p0
9 + + + +0
9+ + + tR 0
9 zP + zPPzP0
9+ + tR +K0[
xiiiiiiiiy
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
XIIIIIIIIY
9 + + + +0
9+p+k+r+ 0
9p+p+ + +0
9zP +l+ + 0
9 + + snR+0
9+ + +P+ 0
9 zP + +PzP0
9+ + tR mK 0[
xiiiiiiiiy
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