1

One Hundred Years

of
Chess
from 1863 to 1963
2
Morphy - De Riviere
Paris, 1863
Giuoco Piano
MORPHY (18371884) Many people consider
Morphy to be the greatest combinative player of
all time. But Morphy owed his remarkable
achievements not only to his admittedly
tremendous combinative talents, but also to the
fact that he was the first perfect positional player -
in so far as one can speak of perfection in a
human being. Moreover, he had excellent
technique. In the maturity of his positional insight,
Morphy was half a century ahead of his time.
While other racked their brains for the right
procedure, Morphy simply knew what to do.
Unlike his contemporaries who played for
complications on the off chance of finding
something, he struck only when the position was
ripe. When he did strike, the blow was hard and
often settled the game outright 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6
3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Qe7 At the time when this game
was played Morphy had already withdrawn from
public chess. Anrous de Rivier was his personal
friend and they played occasionally to investigate
particular variations 5.d4 Bb6 6.00 d6 7.h3 Even
today this move, which prevents Black from
pinning the Knight, is still considered necessary to
maintain the central tension as long as possible.
[7.a4 a6 8.h3 now considered the most precise]
7...Nf6 8.Re1 h6 To prevent White from playing
Bg5, a move which isn't a threat [8...00 9.b4 Nd8
Spielmann] 9.a4 a5 weakens b5 [9...a6 10.b4 00
11.Ba3 Nd7 12.b5 Nd8 13.Nbd2 Qf6 Spielmann-
Eliskases, match, 1936] 10.Na3 Morphy always
brought every piece into play as quickly as
possible. To play the same piece twice in the
opening was a breach of principle. Only under the
influence of such players as Reti and Breyer,
about 1920, was it realized that in some cases it
can be good. The present position is such a case:
White could obtain a definitie advantage with 10.
Bb5! [10.Bb5! Bd7 11.Na3 -- 12.Nc4] 10...Nd8
11.Nc2 Be6 12.Ne3 Bxc4 13.Nxc4 Nd7 14.Ne3
The Knight comes powerfully into play now
14...g6 [14...c6 15.Nf5 Qf6 16.dxe5 dxe5
17.Nd6+] 15.Nd5 Qe6 [15...Qf8 White gets a big
positional advantage 16.Nxb6 cxb6 (16...Nxb6
17.dxe5 dxe5 18.Nxe5) ]
XABCDEFGHY
8r+ snk+ tr(
7+pzpn+p+ '
6 vl zpq+pzp&
5zp +Nzp + %
4P+ zPP+ +$
3+ zP +N+P#
2 zP + zPP+"
1tR vLQtR mK !
xabcdefghy
16.Bxh6! f6 Black must prevent Ng5 whic would
trap the Queen [16...Rxh6 17.Ng5 trapped piece]
17.Bg7 [17.Be3 Maroczy] 17...Rh5! [17...Rg8
18.Bxf6 Nxf6 19.Ng5] 18.g4 White must press on
like this, since Black threatens ... Qf7 18...Rxh3
19.Nxf6+ Nxf6 20.Ng5 Qd7 [20...Qxg4+ 21.Qxg4
Nxg4 22.Nxh3 Kf7 23.f3 Kxg7 24.fxg4 exd4
25.Kg2 Ne6 Maroczy - drawing chances] 21.Bxf6
Rh4 22.f3 exd4 23.cxd4 Rh6 24.Kg2 Nf7 25.Rh1
Nxg5 [25...Rxh1 26.Qxh1 White also wins easily]
26.Rxh6 Nh7 27.Qh1! Nxf6 28.Rh8+ Ke7
29.Rxa8 Bxd4 30.Qh6 Qc6 31.Rc1 Qb6
32.Rxc7+! It was unthinkable for a Morphy game
to finish without fireworks 32...Ke6 33.Re8+ Nxe8
34.Qxg6+ Ke5 35.Qf5# 10
Rosanes - Anderssen
Breslau, 1863
Kings Gambit
ANDERSSEN (18181879) The style of Adolf
Anderssen is distinguished by sheer fantasy and
by a tireless striving after beauty, but not so much
by cold reason. His immortal game (184) is
universally known 1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Nf3 g5 4.h4
g4 5.Ne5 Nf6 6.Bc4 d5 7.exd5 Bd6 8.d4 Nh5
9.Bb5+ [9.00 Anderssen considered this as the
best move. Interesting is the fact that 20th century
opening theory agrees with him] 9...c6! 10.dxc6
bxc6 11.Nxc6 Nxc6 12.Bxc6+ Kf8 13.Bxa8 Ng3
14.Rh2? A serious error [14.Kf2 Nxh1+
Anderssen 15.Qxh1 Bf5 (15...g3+ Keres
suggestion a century later 16.Ke1 Qe7+ 17.Kd1
Bg4+ 18.Bf3 Bxf3+ 19.gxf3 Rg8 20.Qg2 Qxh4
21.Ke2 Qh2 22.Kf1 h5) ] 14...Bf5 [14...Ba6
Pachman; 14...Qe7+ 15.Kf2 Ne4+ Keres]
3
XABCDEFGHY
8L+lwq mk tr(
7zp + +p+p'
6 + vl + +&
5+ + + + %
4 + zP zppzP$
3+ + + sn #
2PzPP+ +PtR"
1tRNvLQmK + !
xabcdefghy
15.Bd5 Kg7 Making room for the Rook 16.Nc3
Re8+ 17.Kf2 Qb6 18.Na4 [18.-- Bc5!] 18...Qa6
19.Nc3 [19.-- Qe2+ 20.Qxe2 Rxe2+ 21.Kg1
Re1+ 22.Kf2 Rf1#; 19.c4 Qxa4! 20.Qxa4 Re2+
21.Kg1 Re1+ 22.Kf2 Rf1#] 19...Be5 20.a4 Qf1+!!
21.Qxf1 Bxd4+ 22.Be3 Rxe3 23.Kg1 [23.--
Re2#] 23...Re1# 01
Steinitz - Zukertort
match (2), 1886
Scotch Game
ZUKERTORT (18421888) Zukertort played
thousands of games with the great Anderssen.
This must have been an excellent education in the
realms of combinative play in so far as he needed
any educating in the art. Zukertort was indeed a
tremendously talented combination plyaer;
morever, he avoided the common error of his day,
which was to play too wildly. From the positional
point of view, however, Zukertort never reached
teh same heights. In both his matches with
Steinitz he was consistently outplayed in this
sphere. His failure was in finding of a plan
appropriate to this requirements of the positions.
But once on the right plan, he was dangerous
even to Steinitz 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4
4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Bb4 6.Nxc6 bxc6 7.Bd3 d5
8.exd5 cxd5 9.00 00 10.Bg5 c6 11.Ne2 Bd6
12.Ng3 [12.-- Bxh2+ 13.Kxh2 Ng4+; 12.Nd4]
12...h6 13.Bd2? Ng4 14.Be2 [14.f3 Nxh2 15.Kxh2
Qh4++] 14...Qh4 15.Bxg4 Bxg4 16.Qc1 Be2
17.Re1 Ba6 18.Bc3 f5 [18...-- 19.Bxg7 Kxg7
20.Nf5+; 18...d4 19.Re4 Steinitz held that White
had a good game at this point] 19.Re6 Rad8
20.Qd2 d4! [20...f4 21.Qd4] 21.Ba5 Rd7 22.Rxd6
Rxd6 23.Bb4 Qf6 24.Rd1? [24.Nxf5 Re6 25.Bxf8
Qxf5; 24.Re1] 24...Rd5 25.Bxf8 Qxf8 26.Nh5
Qe8 27.Nf4 Re5 28.h4 c5
XABCDEFGHY
8 + +q+k+(
7zp + + zp '
6l+ + + zp&
5+ zp trp+ %
4 + zp sN zP$
3+ + + + #
2PzPPwQ zPP+"
1+ +R+ mK !
xabcdefghy
29.h5? [29.b4 Steinitz claimed White still had a
good position] 29...Re4 30.c3 Qb8 This was the
last move before time control [30...Qe5 31.Nd3
Qd6 32.f3 Re3 33.Nf2 Rxf3 34.gxf3 Qg3+ 35.Kh1
Bb7] 31.g3 [31.Nd3 Rh4 32.g3 Rxh5 33.Nxc5
Qa8!] 31...Qe5 32.Ng6 Qd6 33.Nf4 d3! Zukertort
continues to work with tactical finesse 34.b3
[34.Nxd3 Bxd3 35.Qxd3 Re1+!] 34...c4 35.Rb1
Kh7 36.Kh2 [36.Kg2] 36...Qb6 37.Kg1 [37.--
Re2 38.Nxe2 Qxf2+ 39.Kh3 Bb7] 37...Bb7 38.Rb2
Qc6 39.f3 Qc5+ 40.Qf2 [40.Kh2 Re2+ 41.Nxe2
Qf2+ 42.Kh3 Qxf3!+] 40...Re1+ 41.Kh2? [41.Kg2
Re3 42.Ne6! Bxf3+ 43.Qxf3 Rxe6 Steinitz]
41...Qxf2+ 42.Rxf2 Bxf3 43.g4 [43.Rxf3 d2+;
43.Ng2 Bxg2 44.Kxg2 cxb3 45.axb3 Rc1 46.c4
Rc2 47.Kf1 d2 48.Ke2 d1Q+] 43...Be2 44.Ng2 d2
45.Ne3 cxb3 46.axb3 Bxg4 01
Gottschall - Tarrasch
Nuremberg (2), 1888
French Defense
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 Ne7 5.f4 c5 6.a3
Bxc3+ 7.bxc3 c4 8.Nf3 Qa5 9.Qd2 Nd7 10.Nh4
Nb6 11.Qe3 Na4 12.Bd2 Qb5 This last move
provoked criticism at the time. Gottschall
considered the move weak, and another critic
stated Black could have won the front c-pawn
with ... Pa6, ... Nc6-a7-b5 Tarrasch disagreed,
defending his move with the argument which
really boiled down to the fact that it spoiled
nothing. Black can take the liberty of losing
moves, leaving his opponent to guess what he is
really up to. In any case White can defend the
4
front c-pawn with Nf3-g1e2 [12...a6 13.-- Nc6
14.-- Na7 15.-- Nb5]
XABCDEFGHY
8r+l+k+ tr(
7zpp+ snpzpp'
6 + +p+ +&
5+q+pzP + %
4n+pzP zP sN$
3zP zP wQ + #
2 +PvL +PzP"
1tR + mKL+R!
xabcdefghy
13.Be2 Ng6 [13...Qb2 14.00 Qxc2 15.Bd1+-]
14.Nf3 Ne7 15.Nh4 White wants to stop Black
from playing ... Nf5 15...Ng6 16.Nf3 Ne7 17.Nh4
Ng6 18.Nf3 Qa5 19.00 Qd8 20.Qf2 Ne7 21.Nh4
Ng6 22.Nf3 Ne7 23.Nh4 Ng6 24.Nf3 Bd7 25.Kh1
Nb6 26.Rae1 [26.-- Nc8 working the Knight to f5]
26...Qe7 27.Bc1 Na4 28.Qe3 h6 Black doesn't
permit 29. Ng5 [28...-- 29.Ng5 h6 30.Nxe6 fxe6
(30...Bxe6 31.f5) 31.Bh5] 29.g3 Rc8 "Weak"
declared White, at the time. "Not at all" replied
Black in his notes. "The Rook can now proceed
via c6 and b6 to b1"
XABCDEFGHY
8 +r+k+ tr(
7zpp+lwqpzp '
6 + +p+nzp&
5+ +pzP + %
4n+pzP zP +$
3zP zP wQNzP #
2 +P+L+ zP"
1+ vL tRR+K!
xabcdefghy
30.Ng1 [30.-- Rc6 31.-- Rb6 32.-- Rb1]
30...h5! [30...-- 31.Bh5 -- 32.f5 exf5 33.e6 Bxe6
34.Bxg6 fxg6 35.Qxe6] 31.Nh3 Qf8 32.Bf3 Ne7
33.Bg2 Nf5 Here, and for the next few moves,
Tarrasch is "tacking". [33...Rc6!] 34.Qd2 Qe7
35.Ng5 Qd8 36.Bh3 g6 37.Bxf5 gxf5 38.Re3
Qe7 39.Qg2 Kd8 This move was sharply criticized
by Tarrasch himself after the game. The right plan
was feasible in the following stages: 1) Play the
Rooks from c8-c6-b6-b1 2) Play the Knight
around to b5, first advancing the a-pawn 3)
Winning the a-pawn [39...Rc6]
XABCDEFGHY
8 +rmk + tr(
7zpp+lwqp+ '
6 + +p+ +&
5+ +pzPpsNp%
4n+pzP zP +$
3zP zP tR zP #
2 +P+ +QzP"
1+ vL +R+K!
xabcdefghy
40.Bd2! Kc7 41.Ra1 Kb8 42.h4? An error, whi ch
White deprives himself of the chance for
counterplay with a later Pg4 42...Rc6 At last, but
less effective now that the White a-pawn is
adequately protected 43.Ree1 Rb6 44.Kg1 Be8
45.Kh1 Rb5 46.Kg1 Nb6 47.Qe2 Ra5 48.Bc1
Ra4 49.Bb2 Na8 50.Reb1 Nc7 51.Ra2 Nb5
52.Rba1 Bd7 53.Kg2 Kc8 54.Qe3 Kd8 55.Kf2
There is nothing White can do. Meanwhile the
Black King is going over to take protection of the
h-pawn, thereby allowing the Rh8 to engage in
the action against the a-pawn
XABCDEFGHY
8 + mk + tr(
7zpp+lwqp+ '
6 + +p+ +&
5+n+pzPpsNp%
4r+pzP zP zP$
3zP zP wQ zP #
2RvLP+ mK +"
1tR + + + !
xabcdefghy
5
55...Ke8 56.Kg2 Kf8 57.Kf2 Kg7 58.Kg2 Kg6
59.Nf3 Rc8 60.Nd2 Rc6 61.Nb1 Protecting the
pawn a fourth time. Since Black can get no farther
in this way he must again resort to maneuvering
61...Rc8 62.Nd2 Kh6 63.Nf3 Nc7 64.Kf2 Nb5
65.Kg2 Rc6 66.Nd2 Rca6 67.Nb1 R4a5 68.Kf2
Nc7 69.Nd2 Ba4 70.Bc1 Nb5 The struggle seems
to have reached a dead end, with all the
threatened points defended as many times as
they are attacked. With Black's next move
suddenly the game enters an entirely new phase
71.Kg2
XABCDEFGHY
8 + + + +(
7zpp+ wqp+ '
6r+ +p+ mk&
5trn+pzPp+p%
4l+pzP zP zP$
3zP zP wQ zP #
2R+PsN +K+"
1tR vL + + !
xabcdefghy
Bxc2!! Most suprising. Black gets only two pawns
for the piece, but the sacrifice must nevertheless
be considered correct as White will still be devoid
of any real counterplay. His Knight has no way of
becoming active, and meanwhile the advnace of
Black's Queenside pawns will eventually produce
a pair of united passed pawns 72.Rxc2 Nxa3
73.Bxa3 [73.Rca2?? Nc2!] 73...Rxa3 74.Rxa3
[74.Rb1 Qc7 75.Rcb2 Qa5 76.Rb4 b5 77.Rxb5
Qxc3 78.Qxc3 Rxc3 79.R1b2 Raa3 80.Nf1 Rd3
Black dominates the board] 74...Qxa3 75.Qe1 b5
76.Nb1 [76.Qb1 Qa4 77.Qb4 (77.Rb2!) 77...Qxb4
78.cxb4 Ra4 Black must win] 76...Qb3 77.Qc1
Ra2 78.Rxa2 Qxa2+ 79.Kf3 Kg7! A very fine
maneuver. The threat now is simply ... Pa5 and ...
Pb4 [79...a5 80.Qa3 Qxa3 (80...Qxb1 81.Qf8+
perpetual check) 81.Nxa3 b4 82.Nc2 b3 83.Na3=]
80.Qa3 Seeing no hope in marking time, White
makes one last attempt at perpetual check
80...Qxb1 81.Qe7 Qf1+! 82.Ke3 Qe1+ 83.Kf3
Qxc3+ 84.Kg2 Qd2+ 85.Kh3 Qa5 By guarding d8
Black allows his own King to escape the coming
checks 86.Qf6+ Kf8 87.Qh8+ Ke7 88.Qf6+ Ke8
89.Qh8+ Kd7 90.Qf8 Qd8!
XABCDEFGHY
8 + wq wQ +(
7zp +k+p+ '
6 + +p+ +&
5+p+pzPp+p%
4 +pzP zP zP$
3+ + + zPK#
2 + + + +"
1+ + + + !
xabcdefghy
91.Qc5 [91.Qd6+ Ke8 92.Qc6+ Qd7 93.Qa8+ Ke7
94.Qh8 Qe8 95.Qf6+ Kd7 the Black king escapes;
91.Qxf7+ Qe7 92.Qxh5 b4+] 91...Qb8 92.Qb4
Ke8 93.Qc5 Qb7 94.Qa3 b4 95.Qf3 b3 96.Qxh5
b2 97.Qh8+ Kd7 98.Qf8 b1Q 99.Qxf7+ Kc6
100.Qxe6+ Kb5 01
Steinitz - Vasques
Havana, 1888
French Defense
The defender must be ready to make concessions
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 dxe4 5.Nxe4
Be7 6.Nxf6+ Bxf6 7.Bxf6 Qxf6 8.Nf3 00 9.c3 b6
10.Ne5 Nd7 11.Ng4 Qf4 12.Be2 Bb7 13.00 f5
14.Ne3 Rf6 Whether Steintiz overlooked
something in the opening stages, or whether he
purposefully invited his opponent to attack, we
shall never know. Black's attack has assumed
very dangerous proportions. Against this must be
set that the fact that White has not weakened his
position in any way. White must proceed with
care; for instrance, the attempt to change the
state of affairs by the seemingly energetic 15. Pd5
would be to his disadvantage 15.Re1! In full
accord with the Steinitz theory of defence. It
avoids the weakening moves Pg3 or Ph3, and
prepares to answer 15. ... Rh6 with Nf1.
Meanwhile White begins to focus on the
weakpawn on e6 [15.d5 Rg6 16.dxe6 Qxe3!!
Windmill attack 17.fxe3 Rxg2+ 18.Kh1 Rxe2+
19.Kg1 Rg2+ 20.Kh1 Rxb2+ 21.Kg1 Rg2+ 22.Kh1
Rxa2+ 23.Kg1 Rg2+ 24.Kh1 Rg3+ 25.Rf3 Bxf3+
26.Qxf3 Rxf3+] 15...Rh6 16.Nf1 Nf6 17.Bf3! An
important decision. Steinitz makes a concession,
allowing his opponent to weaken his pawn
structure.
6
XABCDEFGHY
8r+ + +k+(
7zplzp + zpp'
6 zp +psn tr&
5+ + +p+ %
4 + zP wq +$
3+ zP +L+ #
2PzP + zPPzP"
1tR +QtRNmK !
xabcdefghy
17...Ne4 Black chooses to keep more pieces on
the board to maintain attacking chances [17...Bxf3
18.Qxf3 Qxf3 19.gxf3 Black would no longer
havae a Kingside attack, and as compensation for
the doubled and isolated f-pawn - which is not
easy to get at anyway - he would be able to
operate against Black's backward e-pawn;
17...Ng4 18.h3 (18.Bxb7 Qxf2+ 19.Kh1 Nxh2
(19...Rxh2+ 20.Nxh2 Qh4 21.Kg1 (21.Qxg4 fxg4
22.Bxa8 g3 23.Kg1+-) ) 20.Nxh2 Qh4 21.Kg1)
18...Bxf3 19.Qxf3 Qxf3 20.gxf3 Nf6 21.Rxe6]
18.Re3 Rf8 19.Qa4 a5 [19...Nd2 20.Bxb7 Nxf1
21.Kxf1+-] 20.Rae1 building up latent pressure
against the e-pawn 20...Rd8 The Black attack
has already passed its peak [20...Ba6 21.g3 Qg5
22.Bxe4 Bxf1 23.Bf3! White wins the e-pawn]
21.Ng3 Now has come the time for White to being
the counterattack, and the first step is to remove
Black's outpost on e4. This however, means that
White will have to weaken his King's position after
all, and this will automatically give Black renewed
attacking prospects
XABCDEFGHY
8 + tr +k+(
7+Lzp + zpp'
6 zp +p+ tr&
5zp + +p+ %
4Q+ zP + wq$
3+ zP tR sNP#
2PzP + + +"
1+ + tR mK !
xabcdefghy
21...Qh4 22.h3 There defender comes under fire
again, but his counterattack saves the day
22...Nxf2 This is the logical continuation of the
attack [22...f4 23.Rxe4 Bxe4 24.Rxe4] 23.Bxb7
Nxh3+ 24.gxh3 Rg6? [24...f4 25.Rxe6 Rxe6
26.Rxe6 Qxg3+ 27.Bg2 f3 28.Re8+ Kf7!+; 24...f4
25.Bg2 Bachmann] 25.Bg2 Rf8 26.Qc4! The
tables are turned. Steinitz himself is now making
threats, and the look like they are more powerful
than those of his opponents 26...Kh8 27.Qxc7 f4
28.Rf1 Rxg3 The only reasonable move as the f8
Rook is unprotected 29.Qd6! Preparing for the
execution 29...Rd8 30.Rxf4!! Black's position
burst like a bubble 10
Steinitz - Golmayo
Havana, 1889
Vienna Game
1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Bc5 3.f4 d6 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.fxe5 dxe5
6.Nxe5 Qd4 7.Nd3 Bb6 8.Qf3 Nc6 9.Be2 Bg4
10.Qf4 Bxe2 11.Kxe2 000 Characteristically,
Steinitz has indulged in a risky looking pawn grab.
His King is unsafe, and how to complete
development is a real problem 12.Ne1
Unquestionably the best move, protecting the c-
pawn and preparing Pd3 12...Nb4 Attempting to
cross White's Plans 13.a3! [13.d3 Nxc2 removing
the guard of d3] 13...Rhe8!? Black feels sure he
can smash the White position with a few powerful
blows. However, things do no turn out that way;
Steinitz plays a level headed defence, not
weakening his position any further
7
XABCDEFGHY
8 +ktrr+ +(
7zppzp +pzpp'
6 vl + sn +&
5+ + + + %
4 sn wqPwQ +$
3zP sN + + #
2 zPPzPK+PzP"
1tR vL sN +R!
xabcdefghy
14.axb4 Nxe4 15.Qf5+ An important intermediate
check, bringing his Queen to a safer spot 15...Kb8
16.Nxe4 Rxe4+ 17.Kd1 Rf4 18.Qh3 Re8
[18...Qxb4 19.d3 Rf2 20.Be3 Qxb2 21.Bxf2 Qxa1+
22.Ke2 Re8+ 23.Kf1 Qf6 24.Qf3 White's position
is not weakened and Black lacks points of contact]
19.c3 Qc4 20.Kc2 Rf2 21.Nd3 Rfe2 The defence
is running smoothly [21...Qe4 22.Re1 White
forces simplifications] 22.b3 Qc6 [22...Qe4
23.Qf3] 23.Qf3 Qg6 24.Rf1 R8e3 25.Qf5 Qc6
26.b5 Qd6 27.Nf4! retribution is near 27...Re5
28.Qxf7 R2e4 29.d3 Re2+ 30.Nxe2 Rxe2+
31.Bd2+- 10
Tarrasch - Berger
Breslau, 1889
Ruy Lopez
A classic exampe of the weakness of a doubled
pawn 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6
5.Nc3 Bb4 6.Nd5 Be7 7.d3 d6 8.Nb4 Bd7
9.Nxc6 Bxc6 10.Bxc6+ bxc6 11.00 00 12.Qe2
c5 13.c3 Intending Pd4. This will admittedly afford
his opponent a chance to rid himself a chance to
rid himself of the doubled pawn, but against this
White will retain a formidable advantage in
freedom of movement. In addition to this method -
preferred by Tarrasch - White has the option of a
different system which is really more appropriate
to the pawn formation, and which originated with
Stenitiz. His scheme Nd2-c4-e3 : suprisingly
modern looking play 13...Nd7 14.d4 exd4
15.cxd4 Bf6 A good move, reanimating the
Bishop 16.Be3 [16.d5 Rb8 Suddenly his pieces
are working together like parts of a well-oiled
machine] 16...cxd4 17.Bxd4 Re8 18.Qc2 The
Black doubled pawn has vanished, it is true, but
its after-effects will be felt for a very long time. As
a result of the method employed by White, the c-
pawn will be a constant target 18...Bxd4? [18...c5
19.Bxf6 Qxf6 20.Nd2 Rab8 the mobility of the
Black pieces would compensate to some extent
for White's positional advantage] 19.Nxd4 Nc5
20.f3 Qf6 21.Rfd1 Reb8 22.Rab1 a5 preventing
Pb4 for the time being 23.Kh1 A tactical
intermezzo 23...Rb6 The rook is vulnerable here
[23...-- 24.e5 Qxe5 25.Nc6 Black doesn't have
Qe3+; 23...Rb7] 24.Ne2 Ne6 25.Nc3 Rc6?
[25...Qd8 26.Nd5 Rb7 (Tarrasch and Steinitz)]
26.Qa4 Rc5 27.Nd5 Qd8 Any other Queen move
allows Pb4 28.Rbc1 Rxc1 29.Rxc1 c5 From
doubled pawn, via weak pawn, to backward pawn
A radical cure for the weakness of the c-pawn,
which however, only transfers the weakness to
the d-pawn. This is a back ward pawn of the
worst kind. It is the logical result of White's plan of
playing all the time against the weakness which
began with the doubled pawn. The weakness of a
backard pawn consists in the fact that it is fixed
and cannot possibly be protected by another
pawn. The result in the present case is that White
has full control of the central support point d5
XABCDEFGHY
8r+ wq +k+(
7+ + +pzpp'
6 + zpn+ +&
5zp zpN+ + %
4Q+ +P+ +$
3+ + +P+ #
2PzP + +PzP"
1+ tR + +K!
xabcdefghy
30.Rd1 Nd4 This screening of the d-pawn is only
temporary, since the Knight can be driven back by
Nc3-e2 31.Qc4 Rb8 32.b3 Rc8? [32...Qd7
counterplay with ... Pa4] 33.Rxd4! cxd4 34.Ne7+
[34.Qxc8? Qxc8 35.Ne7+ Kf8 36.Nxc8 d3+]
34...Qxe7 35.Qxc8+ Qf8 36.Qxf8+ Kxf8
Suddenly a second pawn has made its
appearance in the Black game - this time an
isolated doubled pawn, of whose weakness there
can be no doubt 37.Kg1 Ke7 38.Kf2 d5 39.e5
[39.exd5 Kd6 40.Ke2 Kxd5 41.Kd3 Create an out
side passed pawn to divert the King ... principle of
8
two weaknesses] 39...Ke6 40.Ke2! Essential
[40.f4 g5 41.g3 gxf4 42.gxf4 Kf5 White weakness
43.Kf3 d3+] 40...Kxe5 41.Kd3 h5 42.a3 h4 43.b4
axb4 44.axb4 Kd6 45.Kxd4 Kc6 46.b5+? [46.f4!
Kd6 (46...g6 47.b5+ Kxb5 48.Kxd5+-) 47.b5 two
weaknesses] 46...Kxb5 47.Kxd5 Kb4! 48.Kd4
Kb5 49.Ke5 Kc4 50.Kf4 Kd4 51.Kg4 Ke5?
[51...Ke3 52.Kxh4 Kf2 53.Kh3 g5!] 52.Kxh4 Kf4
53.Kh5 Kf5 54.g3 Kf6 55.Kg4 Kg6 56.Kf4 Kf6
57.Ke4 Ke6 58.Kd4 Kd6 59.Kc4 Kc6 60.f4 Kd6
61.Kd4 Ke6 62.Kc5 Ke7 63.Kd5 Kd7 64.Ke5
Ke7 65.f5 f6+ 66.Kd5 Kd7 67.h4 Ke7 68.Kc6
Ke8 69.Kd6 Kd8 70.Ke6 Ke8 71.h5 Kf8 72.h6 1
0
Chigorin - Tarrasch
6th match, 1893
French Defense
Various features pass in review 1.e4 e6 2.Qe2 c5
3.g3 Nc6 4.Bg2 Nd4 5.Qd3 Be7 6.Nc3 Bf6 7.Nb5
Nxb5 8.Qxb5 Qb6 9.Qe2 d6 10.Nf3 Bd7 11.c3
We have chosen for our last game in this section,
one which provides us with illustrations of several
of the features we have been studying. We keep
our notes concise, and base them in the main on
the excellent analysis byTarrach 11...Bb5 Many
years after this game was played, Tarrasch used
to be accused of playing too dogmatically; for
instance he strongly condemned the playing of
any piece twice in the opening. It is certainly not
so in this game, for rather than complete his
development by ... Ne7, he prefers to solely
devote several tempi solely to inducing a
weakening of the White pawn structure. It is
curious to think that some twenty-five years later
this strategy in the hands of Reti was to be called
new and hypermodern 12.d3 Qa6! 13.c4 Bc6 The
pawn position has been completely transformed ...
now classified as a pseudo-Stonewall 14.00 h6
Black doesn't want to have his active Bishop
exchanged with Bg5 15.Be3 Qb6 16.Rab1 a5
17.a3? [17.b3] 17...a4! classic clamp 18.Rfd1 e5
Naturally White is not allowed to play Pd4. After
this last move we have a double PseudoStonewall
19.Nd2 Ne7 20.Nf1 Bd7 21.Bd2 Nc6 22.Bc3
[22.Ne3 The idea to use d5 himself 22...Nd4
23.Qf1 -- 24.Bc3 -- 25.Nd5 Tarrasch] 22...Nd4
23.Bxd4 cxd4 The pawn formation has
undergone another change, and is now the
"Blocked Oblique Centre" with the d-pawn
forward, with the difference, however, that Black
has a pawn on d6 instead of c5
XABCDEFGHY
8r+ +k+ tr(
7+p+l+pzp '
6 wq zp vl zp&
5+ + zp + %
4p+PzpP+ +$
3zP +P+ zP #
2 zP +QzPLzP"
1+R+R+NmK !
xabcdefghy
24.Bf3 Qc7 25.Bg4 This move shows that
Chigorin, consciously or unconsciouly, knows all
about the "bad Bishop". He offers to exchange his
bad Bishop for Black's good Bishop 25...Bc6
26.Rdc1 Bg5 27.Rc2 Qe7 28.Qe1 h5 Not only to
repel the Bishop, but also in due course to open
the h-file 29.Bd1 [29.Bh3] 29...Qe6 30.f3 Bd8
31.Qf2 White blocks himself in [31.f4] 31...h4
32.Qg2 Rh6 33.g4 To keep the game closed, but
White is condemned to complete passivity
33...Bg5 34.h3 Kf8 35.Qe2 Kg8 36.Qe1 g6
Black's plan of entry into the White position is
threeforl: First ... Pf5, then ... Pb5 to open the b-
file; finally ... Pd5 breaking into the centre 37.Rg2
Rh7 38.Bc2 Rg7 39.Qd1 White can only await his
fate, without being able to do anything at all to
fend off the impendingdanger [39.b4 axb3
40.Rxb3 In spite of the risks involved, White
should have opened the b-file] 39...Qd7 40.Qe1
f5 41.Bd1 Rf8 42.Be2 fxe4 43.fxe4 Rgf7 The first
file is open, and Black has already has his Rooks
doubled on it. As yet, however, he cannot
penetrate; he must proceed with the second part
of his plan
9
XABCDEFGHY
8 + + trk+(
7+p+q+r+ '
6 +lzp +p+&
5+ + zp vl %
4p+PzpP+Pzp$
3zP +P+ +P#
2 zP +L+R+"
1+R+ wQNmK !
xabcdefghy
44.Qd1 b5 45.cxb5 Bxb5 46.Nh2 Be3+ 47.Kh1
g5! Eliminating any counterchacne White might
have manufactured by Pg5 and Bg4 48.Nf1 d5
49.Nd2 The last attempt to hold on to the
blockade square e4 [49.Nxe3 dxe3 50.Qc1 dxe4
51.dxe4 Bd3 52.Bxd3 Qxd3] 49...Bc6 50.exd5
Bxd5 51.Ne4 Qc6 52.Ra1 Rf4! [52...Bxe4
53.dxe4 Qxe4 54.Bc4] 53.Kh2 Rxe4 the strongest
continuation 54.dxe4 Bxe4 55.Bf1 Bxg2 56.Bxg2
Rf2 Right to the end, this game demonstrates the
importance of the convergent lines. Here the
Queen on the long diagonal and the Rooks on the
seventh rank converge on g2 57.Qh1 e4 58.Qb1
Qd6+ 59.Kh1 Rxg2 01
Charousek - Lasker
Nuremberg, 1896
Kings Gambit
CHAROUSEK (18731900) Charosek died young,
and his immense talent never was given a chance
to fully ripen. It is said that as a schoolboy he
found Bilguer's great Handbuch in a public library
and copied out the whole thousand or so pages,
memorizing much of it in the process. It is a
strange story, but this Hungarian was a strange
figure. His handling of the openins, his feeling for
position and his flair for combination place him in
the company of Morphy, Pillsbury and Alekhine
Although he lived at a time when the gambits
offered fewer chances than had been the case in
Morphy's day, he showed a marked liking for
gambit play. Charousek's prime lasted only about
two years (1896-97) . The last three years of his
life were a losing battle with tuberculosis 1.e4 e5
2.f4 exf4 3.Bc4 d5 4.Bxd5 Qh4+ 5.Kf1 g5 6.Nf3
Qh5 7.h4 Bg7 Black's treatment of White's
opening shows clearly why the gambits went out
of fashion at the end of the last centure: Black has
promptly returned the pawn in order to be able to
develop his pieces 8.Nc3 c6 9.Bc4 Bg4 10.d4
Nd7 [10...h6 Maroczy] 11.Kf2! Bxf3 12.gxf3 000
13.hxg5 Qxg5 14.Ne2 Winning the f-pawn.
Black's only chance now is to make something out
of the insecurity of White's King position
XABCDEFGHY
8 +ktr +ntr(
7zpp+n+pvlp'
6 +p+ + +&
5+ + + wq %
4 +LzPPzp +$
3+ + +P+ #
2PzPP+NmK +"
1tR vLQ+ +R!
xabcdefghy
14...Qe7 15.c3 Ne5 16.Qa4 Nxc4 17.Qxc4 Nf6
18.Bxf4 Nd7 19.Qa4 a6 20.Qa5 Nf8 21.Ng3
Charousek keeps a firm grip on the game
21...Ne6 22.Nf5 Qf8 23.Bg3 Rd7 [23...Bf6 24.d5
cxd5 25.exd5 Qc5+ 26.Qxc5+ Nxc5 27.Nd6++-]
24.Nxg7 Qxg7 25.Qe5 Qxe5 26.Bxe5 f6 27.Bxf6
Rf8 28.Rh6 Nf4 29.Ke3 Ng2+ 30.Kd2 Rdf7 31.e5
Nf4 32.Rah1 White wins without difficulty. This
game - against the reigning world champion and
the winner of the tournament - must have given
Charousek great satisfaction 32...Rg8 33.c4 Ne6
34.Ke3 Nf8 35.d5 Rd7 36.e6 10
Pillsbury - Lasker
Nuremberg, 1896
French Defense
PILLSBURY (18721906) Pillsbury's healty, robust
style of play, and his preference for attack and
combination are highly reminiscent of the methods
of Alekhine and Marshall. However, Pillsbury was
far superior to Marshall in accuracy and
judgement of position: unfortunately, his life was
too short to allow him the experience to reach
Alekhine's level. He showed little inclination to
maneuver, but this was natural in view of youth. If
his play seemed to lack refinement, this is due to
the vigour of his approach 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3
Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.f4 c5 6.dxc5 Nc6 7.a3 Nxc5
8.b4 Nd7 [8...d4 Lasker] 9.Bd3 a5 [9...Nb6 10.--
Bd7 11.-- Rc8 Lasker] 10.b5 Ncb8 11.Nf3 Nc5
10
12.Be3 Nbd7 13.00 g6 14.Ne2 Be7 [14...Bg7
Lasker] 15.Qe1 Nb6 16.Nfd4 Bd7 17.Qf2 Nba4
By preventing Pa4 Black has artificially isolated
the White b-pawn 18.Rab1 h5 19.b6 Nxd3
20.cxd3 Bxa3 21.f5!! gxf5 22.Nf4 Threatening
Qg3-g7 22...h4 [22...-- 23.Qg3 -- 24.Qg7]
23.Ra1 Be7 24.Rxa4! Bxa4
XABCDEFGHY
8r+ wqk+ tr(
7+p+ vlp+ '
6 zP +p+ +&
5zp +pzPp+ %
4l+ sN sN zp$
3+ +PvL + #
2 + + wQPzP"
1+ + +RmK !
xabcdefghy
25.Ndxe6! Only this third sacrifice shows the
deep tactical conception behind 21. Pf5!! 25...fxe6
26.Nxe6 Bd7 [26...Qc8 27.Qxf5 Qc6 28.Bg5!
Qxb6+ 29.d4 Qb4 30.Qf7+ Kd7 31.Bxe7 Qxe7
32.Nc5+ Kd8 33.Qxd5+ Kc7 34.Qxb7+ Kd8
35.Qxa8++-] 27.Nxd8 Rxd8 28.Bc5 Rc8 29.Bxe7
Kxe7 30.Qe3 Rc6 31.Qg5+ Kf7 32.Rc1 Rxc1+
33.Qxc1 The endgame is hopeless for Black
since his Rook and Bishop can't match the
Queen's superior mobility applied to Black's
exposed King and scattered pawns 33...Rc8
34.Qe1 h3 35.gxh3 [35.Qxa5 Rc1+ 36.Kf2
Rc2+] 35...Rg8+ 36.Kf2 a4 37.Qb4 Rg6 38.Kf3
a3 39.Qxa3 Rxb6 40.Qc5 Re6 41.Qc7 Ke7
42.Kf4 b6 43.h4 Rc6 44.Qb8 Be8 45.Kxf5 Rh6
46.Qc7+ Kf8 47.Qd8 b5 48.e6 b4 49.Qd6+ 10
Janowsky - Steinitz
Cologne Cologne, 1898
Kings Gambit
STEINITZ (18361900) Steinitz was the first
player who really understood Philidor, and
especially Morphy. His games, and even more,
his writings establish him as the father of modern
positional play. Things which today are accepted
without question - the occupation of the centre,
the strength of the two Bishops, the theory of
weak squares - were revolutionary ideas in the
days of Steinitz. With all his gifts Steinitz has
some definite weaknesses. Limited powers of
combination hampered him in deciding between
what was correct in theory and what was
expedient in practise Steinitz was definitiely of the
materialistic attitude in chess. With intense will
power and scientifice argument he fought against
the idea that a material deficit could be offset by
positional advantages which were not in
themselves decisive. He was a great defender,
but he carried his ideas too far, sometimes
imposing the rolde of defender upon himself quite
deliberately. Much of his life's work was devoted
to the demolition of gambits. "The only was to
refute a gambit", said Steinitz, "is to accept it".
The dangers he was willing to face in support of
this dogma are shown in the following game 1.e4
e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Bc4 Ne7 4.Qh5 Ng6 5.Nc3 Qe7?!
This may conflict with what Steinitz himself taught
about the development of pieces; no matter!
Steinitz is determined to refute this gambit and if
he cannont do it with normal moves, he means to
do it with abnormal ones 6.d4 Nc6 7.Nf3 Qb4
8.Qd5 Nd8 Forced, but quite typical of Steinitz,
who often withdrew pieces to the back rank 9.a3
Qe7 10.00 d6 In order to force simplification, thus
reducing White's pressure by playing ... Be6
11.Qh5 c6 12.Bd2 Ne6 13.Rae1 [13.d5 Nc5
14.Rae1 Nd7 Black can use the excellent central
outpost on e5] 13...Qc7 14.d5! Nd8 15.e5! Black's
opening experiment has been refuted; his
situation is truly critical, such that many would
think of resigning. But in such positions Steinitz's
defensive powers bordered on the miraculous
15...dxe5 16.Nxe5 Bc5+ 17.Kh1 00 18.dxc6
XABCDEFGHY
8r+lsn trk+(
7zppwq +pzpp'
6 +P+ +n+&
5+ vl sN +Q%
4 +L+ zp +$
3zP sN + + #
2 zPPvL +PzP"
1+ + tRR+K!
xabcdefghy
Be3! [18...bxc6 19.Nxg6 hxg6 20.Qxc5; 18...Nxc6
19.Nxg6 hxg6 20.Qxc5; 18...Nxe5 19.Rxe5 Bd6
20.Nd5 Qxc6 21.Nf6+! gxf6 22.Rg5+! Thus Black
is on the verge of destruction] 19.Nf3? [19.Bxe3
11
Qxe5 20.Qxe5 Nxe5 21.cxb7 Bxb7 22.Rxf4 Nxc4
23.Rxc4 despite opposite coloured Bishops, White
has a winning endgame. However, the ever over-
optimistic Janowsky intends to force a "brilliant"
middlegame victory] 19...Bxd2 20.Ng5 h6
21.Qxg6 hxg5 22.Nd5 Qxc6 [22...fxg6= 23.Nxc7+
Kh7 24.Nxa8 Bxe1 25.Rxe1 Nxc6] 23.Ne7+ Kh8
24.Qxg5 [24.Bxf7! Nxf7 25.Nxc6 Bxe1 26.Ne7
Bd2 27.Qh5+ Nh6 28.Ng6+ Kg8 29.Nxf8 Kxf8
30.h4 Equal chances 30...gxh4? 31.Qc5+ Ke8
32.Qe5+ Kf8 33.Qd6+] 24...Qh6 25.Qc5 Ne6
26.Bxe6 Bxe6 27.Re5 Be3! 28.Qb5 g6 Now it's
becoming clear that Black is taking over the attack
29.Qxb7 Kg7! 30.Qf3 [30.-- Qxh2+ 31.Kxh2
Rh8+] 30...Rad8 31.h3 Qh4 32.Nc6 Bg4 If the
Queen moves away then 33. ... Bxh3! wins
33.Qxg4 Qxg4 34.hxg4 Rh8+ 35.Rh5 gxh5 01
Pillsbury - Marco
Paris, 1900
Queens Gambit Declined
The problem of the aKnight exchange in the so-
called Pillsbury position 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3
Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e3 00 6.Nf3 b6 7.Bd3 Bb7
8.cxd5 exd5 9.Ne5 Nbd7 10.f4 About this time
Pillsbury was getting some striking results with
this system, characterized by the Knight on e5
with the strong reinforcing pawn formation d4-e3-
f4. The cause of these successes lay int eh fact
that nobody had yet found the right answer to the
problem of whether or not to exchange the
Knights 10...c5? [10...Ne8 11.Bxe7 Qxe7 12.00
Nxe5 13.fxe5 f6 Black can achieve some strong
counterplay (Teichmann)] 11.00 c4 Trading
Knight is still indicated. Black starts a Queenside
attack, but before this has time to become
dangerous the White Kingisde initiative becomes
a hurricane 12.Bc2 a6 13.Qf3 b5 14.Qh3 g6
[14...-- 15.Nxd7 Qxd7 16.Bxh7+ removing the
guard]
XABCDEFGHY
8r+ wq trk+(
7+l+nvlp+p'
6p+ + snp+&
5+p+psN vL %
4 +pzP zP +$
3+ sN zP +Q#
2PzPL+ +PzP"
1tR + +RmK !
xabcdefghy
15.f5! White opens the f-file, and at once the
energetic final attack is under way 15...b4 16.fxg6
hxg6 [16...bxc3 17.Bxf6 Nxf6 18.Rxf6 hxg6
19.Bxg6 fxg6 20.Rxg6#] 17.Qh4! bxc3 18.Nxd7
Qxd7 19.Rxf6 a5 20.Raf1 Ra6 21.Bxg6! A
superb finish 21...fxg6 22.Rxf8+ Bxf8 23.Rxf8+
Kxf8 24.Qh8+ Kf7 25.Qh7+ Ke8 26.Qg8# 10
Mieses - Maroczy
Monte Carlo, 1903
Center Game
Defence against a gambit 1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.c3
dxc3 4.Bc4 cxb2 5.Bxb2 d6 6.Ne2 Nc6 7.00
Be6 8.Bd5 Nf6 9.Qb3 Qc8 10.Nf4 At the time this
game was played gambits were still very popular,
since most players felt uncomfortable when
having to defend. As a rule the player who had
won one or more pawns tried stubbornly to hold
on to them, arguing that if he could parry the
enemy attack without conceding any material his
advantage woud give him a certain win in the
ending. Before the endgame the gods have
placed the middlegame as Dr Tarrasch used to
preach in those days. What he meant by that is
drastically shown in the game: 10...Bxd5!
[10...Nd8 11.Bxf6 gxf6 12.Nh5 c6 13.Re1 Be7
14.Qf3 Rg8 15.Nxf6+ Bxf6 16.Qxf6 cxd5 17.exd5
Rg6 18.Qh8+ Kd7 19.Nc3 Bxd5? (19...Qc4!
20.dxe6+ Nxe6 21.Qxa8 Rxg2+ 22.Kxg2 Qg4+
23.Kh1 (23.Kf1 Qh3+ 24.Ke2 Nf4+ 25.Kd2
Qd3+) 23...Qf3+) 20.Qe8+ Kc7 21.Nxd5+ Kb8
22.Rac1 Nc6 23.Rxc6! bxc6 24.Rb1# Mieses-
Marshall, Monte Carlo 1903] 11.exd5 Ne5 12.Re1
Be7!
12
XABCDEFGHY
8r+q+k+ tr(
7zppzp vlpzpp'
6 + zp sn +&
5+ +Psn + %
4 + + sN +$
3+Q+ + + #
2PvL + zPPzP"
1tRN+ tR mK !
xabcdefghy
Black voluntarily returns one of the pawns, and in
doing so is determinded to catch up in
development. Simple and obvious though this
may seem to us today, it must be remembered
that this game was played in another era. The
principle - brand new at the time - which Black
applies here is in general a good remedy for all
gambits. It is just this willingness to return the
material won whenever seems proper which has
damped the enthusiasm of today's players. This
princple of Maroczy's is of greatest import to the
defender 13.Bxe5 dxe5 14.Rxe5 Qd7! Consistent
play. Black offers a second gambit pawn as well.
15.Qg3 [15.Qxb7 00 Black will have completed
his development and is ready at once to start a
powerful counterattack 16.-- Bd6] 15...000!
Once more Black offers the gambit pawn, and this
time Whte may well take it 16.Qxg7 Qd6! 17.Qg5
[17.Nd3 Nd7 18.-- Bf6; 17.Rf5 Qb4! Leaves
Black with a decisive attack] 17...Rhe8 The
counterattack is now in full swing. The end of this
game shows once again that the counterattack
that follows a successfully conducted defense is
very often overwhelming
XABCDEFGHY
8 +ktrr+ +(
7zppzp vlp+p'
6 + wq sn +&
5+ +PtR wQ %
4 + + sN +$
3+ + + + #
2P+ + zPPzP"
1tRN+ + mK !
xabcdefghy
18.Nd2 Nd7 19.Rxe7 Qxe7 20.Qg3 Qb4! 21.Nf3
Rg8 22.Qh4 Qc3 23.Rb1 Qxf3 24.Qh6 Nb6 01
Chigorin - Forgacs
Nuremberg, 1906
Four Knoghts Game
The significance of a lead in development
(analysis by Dr. Tarrasch) 1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6
3.Nf3 Nc6 4.Bc4 Nxe4 5.Nxe4 d5 6.Bd3 dxe4
7.Bxe4 Bd6 8.d4 exd4 9.Nxd4 Nxd4 10.Qxd4 0
0 This example shows in striking fashion how a
small advantage can, with exact play, assume
decisive significance 11.Be3 Qe7 12.000! Now
white needs only one more move (Rhe1) to
complete his development. Black needs at least
three. 12...Be5 13.Qd3 f5 14.Bd5+ Be6 15.Rhe1
Kh8 Black is in serious trouble, since he is well
behind in development [15...Rfd8 16.Bxe6+ Qxe6
17.Qxd8+ Rxd8 18.Rxd8+] 16.Bxe6 Qxe6
17.Kb1 By evading the intermediate check from
f4, White now threatens Bd4. [17.Bc5 Rfe8
18.Kb1 Qc6 19.Ba3 Qxg2 20.Qxf5 Bxh2 game
continuation] 17...Qf6 18.Bd4 Bxd4 [18...Rae8
19.Qe2 Bxd4 20.Qxe8] 19.Qxd4 Qxd4 20.Rxd4
Rfe8! [20...Rad8 21.Rxd8 Rxd8 22.Kc1] 21.Re3!
Rxe3 22.fxe3 Kg8 23.Rd7 Re8 In this sort of
position, counterattack is always the best form of
attack 24.Rxc7 [24.Kc1 Rxe3 25.Kd2 also strong]
24...Rxe3 25.Kc1 Re2 26.g3 b6 27.Rxa7 Rxh2
28.Ra6 Rh3 29.Rxb6 Rxg3 The position is still
remarkably symmetrical, but White has nursed his
lead in development to decisive proportions
13
XABCDEFGHY
8 + + +k+(
7+ + + zpp'
6 tR + + +&
5+ + +p+ %
4 + + + +$
3+ + + tr #
2PzPP+ + +"
1+ mK + + !
xabcdefghy
30.a4 Re3 31.a5 Re8 32.a6 Ra8 33.b4 h5 34.b5
h4 35.Rc6 White is winning due to the threat to
35...-- [35...h3 36.Rc3] 36.b6 Rxa6 37.b7 10
Salwe - Schlechter
Carlsbad, 1907
Giuoco Piano
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.Nc3 d6
6.Be3 Bxe3 7.fxe3 Na5 8.Bb3 Nxb3 9.axb3
White has two doubled pawns, and therefore two
open files. Steinitz was of the opinion that this
position was in Black's favor, maintaining that the
doubles pawns must be considered a serious
handicap 9...Ng4 10.Qd2 f5 [10...f6 Steinitiz 11.-
- Nh6 12.-- Nf7 In such a position, however,
Black must be prepared for a long defensive
game, and in due course Tarrasch pronounced
the text to be a better move] 11.exf5 Bxf5 12.00
00 13.h3
XABCDEFGHY
8r+ wq trk+(
7zppzp + zpp'
6 + zp + +&
5+ + zpl+ %
4 + + +n+$
3+PsNPzPN+P#
2 zPPwQ +P+"
1tR + +RmK !
xabcdefghy
Nh6 Here the Knight is badly placed [13...Nf6
14.Nxe5! Bxh3! 15.Ng6! hxg6 16.gxh3 Black is the
one left with weak isolated doubled pawns] 14.e4
Bd7 15.d4 Thanks to the open a-file, this
advance is particularly powerful 15...Nf7
[15...exd4 16.Qxd4 b6 17.e5 dxe5 18.Qd5+ Kh8
19.Nxe5 Bf5 20.Qxd8 Raxd8 21.Rf2 threat Rxa7
and Raf1] 16.dxe5 dxe5 17.Rfd1 Nd6 [17...Bc6
18.Qxd8 either a-pawn or e-pawn falls] 18.Nxe5
Be6 19.Nf3 Rxf3 An attempt to salvage a
strategically lost game by tactical means 20.gxf3
Qh4 21.Ra5! The a-file is still very much in
evidence. The entry of the Rook is decisive
XABCDEFGHY
8r+ + +k+(
7zppzp + zpp'
6 + snl+ +&
5tR + + + %
4 + +P+ wq$
3+PsN +P+P#
2 zPPwQ + +"
1+ +R+ mK !
xabcdefghy
21...Rf8 22.Qf2 Qxh3 23.Rd3 b5 [23...-- 24.Rg5
-- 25.Qg2] 24.Qh2! [24.Nxb5 Rf6] 24...Qxh2+
25.Kxh2 g5 26.e5 Nf7 27.Rxb5 g4 28.fxg4 Ng5
29.Rc5 Rf2+ 30.Kg3 Rf7 31.Re3 Rf1 32.Ne4
Rg1+ 33.Kf2 Rxg4 34.Nxg5 Rxg5 35.Rg3 10
14
Lasker - Janowsky
Match game, 1910
Queens Gambit Declined
Lasker wins a lost game 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3
c5 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Nf3 Be6 6.e4 dxe4 7.Nxe4 Nc6
8.Be3 cxd4 9.Nxd4 Qa5+ 10.Nc3 000 One of
the most famous "won" positions in the history of
chess. Dr Tarrasch wrote "the White Knight on d4
stands badly, and this must White's undoing". It is
rather sad to think that a world champion and
such a world champion - should get into such a
hopeless position by move 10 with the White
pieces 11.a3 Apparently preventing ... Bc5
11...Nh6? Black has several good moves here,
each of which should be enough to win [11...Bc5
12.b4 Bxd4! 13.bxa5 (13.Bxd4 Qg5 14.Nb5 a6)
13...Bxc3+ 14.Bd2 Rxd2 15.Qxd2 Bxd2+ 16.Kxd2
Nxa5+] 12.b4 Qe5 13.Ncb5 Nf5! Black correctly
intensifies the pressure against d4. Incidentally he
already had an opportunity here to becoem a
victim of a Lasker trap [13...a6 14.Qc1! axb5
15.Nxc6 bxc6 16.Qxc6+ Qc7 17.Qa6+ Qb7
18.Rc1+ Kb8 19.Bf4++-]
XABCDEFGHY
8 +ktr vl tr(
7zpp+ +pzpp'
6 +n+l+ +&
5+N+ wqn+ %
4 zP sN + +$
3zP + vL + #
2 + + zPPzP"
1tR +QmKL+R!
xabcdefghy
14.Rc1 White must throw everything into the
counterattack. The fact that he loses a pawn in
the process is of secondary importance 14...Nxe3
15.fxe3 Qxe3+ 16.Be2 Be7 The reserves arrive
[16...a6 17.Na7+ Kc7 18.Naxc6 bxc6 19.Nxe6+
White's attack would be as dangerous as Black's]
17.Rc3! Lasker finds the best move [17.Nxa7+
Kb8 18.Naxc6+ bxc6 19.Nxc6+ Kb7 20.Nxd8+
Rxd8 21.Qc2 Rc8+] 17...Bh4+!? This
interpolated check has been much praised
[17...Qxc3+ 18.Nxc3 Nxd4 Black would have all
the chances] 18.g3
XABCDEFGHY
8 +ktr + tr(
7zpp+ +pzpp'
6 +n+l+ +&
5+N+ + + %
4 zP sN + vl$
3zP tR wq zP #
2 + +L+ zP"
1+ +QmK +R!
xabcdefghy
Qe4 [18...Qxc3+ 19.Nxc3 Bf6 20.00 (20.Ncb5!
Nxd4 (20...Bxd4 21.Nxd4 Nxd4 22.Kf2! White is
by no means lost) 21.Qc1+ Kb8 22.Qf4+ Ka8
23.Nc7+ Kb8 24.Na6+ Ka8 25.Qb8+ Rxb8
26.Nc7# Lasker) 20...Bxd4+ 21.Kh1 Bxc3+
Lasker's contemporaries] 19.00 Bf6 20.Rxf6!
This sacrifice is forced but leads to a win for White
20...gxf6 21.Bf3 Qe5 22.Nxa7+ Kc7 [22...Kb8
23.Naxc6+ bxc6 24.Nxc6+ White takes Black's
Queen with a check] 23.Naxc6 bxc6 24.Rxc6+
Kb8 25.Rb6+ Kc8 [25...Ka7 26.Rb7+ Ka6
27.Qa4+] 26.Qc1+ Kd7 27.Nxe6 fxe6 28.Rb7+
Ke8 29.Bc6+ Kf8 30.Qh6+ Kg8 31.Qg7# 10
Rubinstein - Schlechter
San Sebastian San Sebastian, 1912
Queens Gambit Declined
1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.c4 e6 4.Nc3 c5 5.cxd5 Nxd5
6.e4 Nxc3 7.bxc3 cxd4 8.cxd4 Bb4+ 9.Bd2 As
the opening comes to an end and the middlegame
phase begins one often has to decide whether or
not to initiate exchanges. The familiar rule that the
side with less freedom of movement does well to
seek to seek exchanges is not infallible. In the
present case White has a great superiority in
terrain and by the above mentioned rule Black
should have welcomed the exchange of Queens;
but as we shall see, this is the very exchange
which favours White 9...Qa5? Experience has
shown best is Bxd2+ [9...Bxd2+ 10.Qxd2 00
11.Bc4 Nc6 even chances] 10.Rb1! Bxd2+
[10...Nc6 11.Rxb4 Nxb4 12.Qb1 Qxa2 13.Qxa2
Nxa2 14.Bc4+-] 11.Qxd2 Qxd2+ 12.Kxd2!
Black's object has been obtained, but it is White
who is left with the advantage in development
15
sufficient to give him a powerful initiative 12...00
[12...Ke7 Giving Black better chances of survival
by keeping his King in the center]
XABCDEFGHY
8rsnl+ trk+(
7zpp+ +pzpp'
6 + +p+ +&
5+ + + + %
4 + zPP+ +$
3+ + +N+ #
2P+ mK zPPzP"
1+R+ +L+R!
xabcdefghy
13.Bb5!! An uncommonly fine move, the object of
which is to force the weakening which follows
13...a6 This is unavoidable if Black is to get his
Queenside pieces out 14.Bd3 Rd8 15.Rhc1 b5
Permitting the invasion [15...Nc6 16.Ke3 Kf8
17.Rb6] 16.Rc7 Nd7 17.Ke3 Nf6 18.Ne5 Bd7
19.g4! White begins the attack
XABCDEFGHY
8r+ tr +k+(
7+ tRl+pzpp'
6p+ +psn +&
5+p+ sN + %
4 + zPP+P+$
3+ +LmK + #
2P+ + zP zP"
1+R+ + + !
xabcdefghy
19...h6 [19...-- 20.g5; 19...g5 20.h4 h6 21.hxg5
hxg5 22.f4 gxf4+ 23.Kxf4 Kmoch; 19...Be8 20.g5
Nh5 (20...Nd7? 21.Nc6) 21.Be2 f6 22.gxf6 gxf6?
(22...Nxf6 23.Rg1 g6 24.h4 White has both a
positional advantage and Kingside attack as well)
23.Bxh5 fxe5 24.Bxe8 exd4+ 25.Kd3 Rxe8
26.Rg1+ Kh8 27.Kxd4!] 20.f4 Be8 21.g5 hxg5
22.fxg5 Nh7 [22...Nd7 23.Nc6; 22...Nh5 23.Be2]
23.h4 Rdc8 24.Rbc1 Rxc7 25.Rxc7 Rd8 26.Ra7
f6 [26...Rd6 27.Ra8 Kf8 28.Nxf7! Kxf7 29.g6+!+-]
27.gxf6 gxf6 28.Ng4 Bh5 29.Nh6+ Kh8 30.Be2!
Taking advantage of the fact that Black's bishop is
tied to the defence of f7 30...Be8 31.Rxa6 This
settles is. The rest is not difficult 31...Kg7 32.Ng4
f5 33.Ra7+ Kh8 [33...Kg6 34.h5+ Kg5 35.Rg7+
Kh4 36.exf5 exf5 37.Nh6 Nf8 38.Nxf5+ Kh3
39.Bf1+ Kh2 40.Rg2+ Kh1 41.Ng3#] 34.Ne5 fxe4
35.Bxb5 Nf6 36.Bxe8 Rxe8 37.Kf4 Kg8 38.Kg5
Rf8 39.Kg6 -- 40.Rg7+ Kh8 41.Nf7+ 10
Carls - Euwe
Goteborg, 1920
English
The weakness of the Pseudo Stonewall 1.c4 e6
2.Nc3 c5 3.e4 Nc6 4.f4 Nge7 5.Nf3 d5 6.d3 g6
7.Be2 Bg7 8.00 00 White's great trouble in the
Pseudo-Stonewall is the weak square at d4.
Black can take advantage of this by opening the
d-file and basing his whole strategy on this one
weakness. In this position, the Black bishop on g7
is particularly powerful 9.Bd2 [9.Be3 d4] 9...Nd4
10.Be1 b6 11.Bh4 Intending a Kingside attack,
but it soon becomes clear that Black has nothing
to fear .. thanks largely to hs centralized Knight on
d4 [11.Bf2]
XABCDEFGHY
8r+lwq trk+(
7zp + snpvlp'
6 zp +p+p+&
5+ zpp+ + %
4 +PsnPzP vL$
3+ sNP+N+ #
2PzP +L+PzP"
1tR +Q+RmK !
xabcdefghy
11...Bb7 12.cxd5 exd5 13.Nxd4 [13.Nxd5 Bxd5
14.exd5 Ndf5 quickly recovering the pawn with an
excellent position] 13...Bxd4+ 14.Kh1 Qd7 15.f5?
The long prepared attack; but it really has no
chance of achieving anything, since Black's
pieces are posted much better than White's
[15.Bxe7 Qxe7 16.Nxd5 Bxd5 17.exd5] 15...dxe4
16.dxe4 gxf5 17.exf5 [17.Bxe7 Qxe7 18.exf5
Rad8 19.Qe1 Rfe8] 17...Nxf5 18.Bf2 [18.Bg4
16
Nxh4 19.Bxd7 Bxg2#] 18...Kh8 19.Bg4 Rg8
20.Bxd4+ cxd4 21.Rxf5 [21.Bxf5 Bxg2+ 22.Kg1
Bc6+ 23.Kf2 Qxf5+] 21...Rxg4 22.Qxg4 Rg8
23.Qxg8+ [23.Rg5 Qxg4] 23...Kxg8 24.Rg5+ Kf8
25.Nd1 Qe7 26.h4 Qe1+ 27.Kh2 Qxh4+ 01
Euwe - Rubinstein
Mahrisch-Ostrau, 1923
Colle
The Rooks on the attack 1.Nf3 d5 2.d4 Nf6 3.e3
e6 4.Bd3 c5 5.b3 Nc6 6.00 Bd6 7.Bb2 00 8.a3
b6 9.Ne5 Bb7 10.Nd2 Qe7 11.f4 Rfd8 12.Rf3
Ne4 13.Rh3 f5 14.Bxe4 dxe4 15.Qh5 Bxe5
16.Qxh7+ Kf7 17.fxe5 Rh8 18.Qxh8 Rxh8
19.Rxh8 To show their full strength, Rooks must
cooperate and this cooperation is not apparent.
However, White is threatening to bring it about by
bringing his Queen rook to f4 19...Ba6 The best
countermove. This not only stops Rf1, but also
prevents the Knight from travelling via c4 to the
dominating d6 post 20.Nf1 Qd7? After this inferior
move, White's advantage is decisively
strengthened [20...Bxf1 21.Rxf1 Qg5 22.Rf4
cxd4]
XABCDEFGHY
8 + + + tR(
7zp +q+kzp '
6lzpn+p+ +&
5+ zp zPp+ %
4 + zPp+ +$
3zPP+ zP + #
2 vLP+ +PzP"
1tR + +NmK !
xabcdefghy
21.Rd1 A pawn sacrifice in the interests of better
cooperation among White's pieces 21...Nxe5
22.d5! Attacking the Knight so that Black cannot
prevent the opening of the d-file! 22...Ng4
23.dxe6+ Qxe6 24.Rhd8 The aim is
accomplished, and White now threatens to end
the game with R1d7+ 24...Bb5 25.c4 Be8
26.R1d5 f4! Black's best counterchance [26...Nf6
27.Re5] 27.h3 [27.exf4? e3] 27...fxe3 28.Ng3 e2
[28...Nf6] 29.Nxe2 Ne3 30.Rg5 g6 31.Nf4 Qe7
32.Rxg6! Nf5 [32...Qxd8 33.Rg7+ Kf8 34.Ne6#]
33.Rf6+ Kg8 34.Rxe8+ Qxe8 35.Rxf5 e3
36.Rg5+ Kh7 [36...Kf8 37.Ng6+ Kf7 38.Nh8+ Kf8
39.Re5] 37.Rh5+ Kg8 38.Rh8+ 10
Znosko-Borovsky - Euwe
Weston-supre-Mare, 1924
Sicilian
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3
d6 6.Be2 e6 7.00 Be7 8.Be3 00 9.Nb3 a6 10.f4
b5 11.Bf3 Bb7 This position is entirely different
from those we have been looking at previously,
but there is one essential similarity - the half open
c-file, with the possibilty of a minority attack for
Black. We shall soon see that there is
considerable degree of correspondence between
the positions 12.Ne2 preparing c3 12...Na5
Heading for the furthest available square on the
half open file 13.Nxa5 Qxa5 14.Ng3 Rac8 15.c3
Rfd8 16.Qb3 d5 17.e5 Ne4 Comparing the
Queenside pawn formations arising from the
Queen's Gambit Exchange variation, we come to
the suprising conclusion that apart from
unimportant discrepancies, the are the same with
the colours reversed. There are other openings as
well which give rise to the same type of position -
notably the French and Caro-Kann defences. The
strategic plan is now applicable, but the tactical
differences may be considerable. For instance, it
is important to notice that in the present case,
White can't start an immediate Kingside attack
18.Ne2 [18.Bxe4 dxe4 19.f5 Black would then
have himself the open d-file at once by ... Rd3
19...Rd3]
XABCDEFGHY
8 +rtr +k+(
7+l+ vlpzpp'
6p+ +p+ +&
5wqp+pzP + %
4 + +nzP +$
3+QzP vLLsN #
2PzP + +PzP"
1tR + +RmK !
xabcdefghy
18...Bc5 19.Bxc5 Rxc5 20.Rad1 Rc4 21.Nd4
Occupying the support point 21...g6 Preventing
Nf5 .. White should hit out with Pg4 22.Kh1 Ba8
So as to push on with ... Pb4 23.Be2 Rc5
17
24.Qc2? [24.Qb4 Qxb4 25.cxb4 Rc7 26.Rc1=]
24...Qb6 25.a3 a5 26.Bd3 b4 27.axb4 axb4 The
climax of the minority attack 28.Nb3 [28.Qb3
Rb8!; 28.c4 dxc4 29.Bxe4 Bxe4 30.Qxe4 Rcd5
Black regains his piece with decisive advantage;
28.Bxe4 dxe4 29.c4 Rcc8 30.Nb3 (30.Ne2 b3
31.Qc3 Rxd1 32.Rxd1 Qf2! 33.Nc1 e3 34.Rg1
Rd8) 30...Bd5 31.Nd2 e3] 28...Rcc8 29.Bxe4
dxe4 30.c4 [30.Rxd8+ Rxd8 31.Nd4 better
chances] 30...Bd5 31.Rd4 Bxc4 32.Rxc4 Qa6
33.Nd2? [33.Rc1 Back rank tactics 33...Rxc4
34.Qxc4 Qxc4 35.Rxc4 Rd1#; 33.Na5 Rc5
34.Rc1] 33...e3! 34.b3 exd2 35.Rd1 Rxc4
36.bxc4 Qa3 37.g3 Qc3 38.Qe4 b3 39.Kg2 Qc2
40.Qe2 Qxd1 41.Qxd1 b2 01
Illyin-Zhenevsky - Lasker
Moscow, 1925
Sicilian
1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 e6 3.Nf3 d6 4.g3 Nf6 5.Bg2 Be7
6.00 00 7.b3 Nc6 8.Bb2 Bd7 9.d4 cxd4
10.Nxd4 Qa5 11.Qd2 Rac8 12.Rad1 Kh8
13.Nce2 Qxa2?! After what we have been saying
in the last few examples about greed for material,
comment on this move seem superflous,
especially as it leads to the loss of the Black
Queen in a few move. Appearance can be
deceptive. Lasker is not just grabbing a pawn.
Anyone who really knows his play will realize that
Lasker is choosing this line of of play purposely.
Better than any other player Lasker understood
human nature. After this move Black's position is
very sound. White's material advantage certainly
gives him the better chances, but against this
must be weighed the fact that the Queen sacrifice
will upset White's equilibrium. He is sure to think
that Lasker has made a bad blunder, and so will
feel bound to play for a win [13...Qc7 14.c4;
13...Qxd2 White has the better ending]
XABCDEFGHY
8 +r+ tr mk(
7zpp+lvlpzpp'
6 +nzppsn +&
5+ + + + %
4 + sNP+ +$
3+P+ + zP #
2qvLPwQNzPLzP"
1+ +R+RmK !
xabcdefghy
14.Ra1 Qxb2 15.Rfb1 Qxb1+ 16.Rxb1 Rfd8
17.c4 Ne8 18.f4 In the tournament book
Bogolyubov condemns this move as a weakening
of the Kingside, and recommends 18. Nxc6
[18.Nxc6 Bogolyubov] 18...a6 19.Kh1 Nc7 20.Qe3
Rb8 21.Rd1 Nb4 Black's last few moves
appeared to be preparing for the advance ... Pb5,
but Lasker suddently changes his plan and
decides to exploit the strategic point at b4 22.Qc3
a5 23.Ra1 The Rook has no business here, as
Bogolyubov correctly comments 23...b6 24.Qe3?
A blunder which loses the exchange 24...e5!
25.Nf5 Bxf5 26.exf5 Nc2 27.Qc3 Nxa1 28.Qxa1
Bf6 29.Qg1 d5! Thus Black assumes the initiative
in the centre 30.cxd5 Nxd5 31.fxe5 Bxe5 32.g4
f6 33.h4 b5
XABCDEFGHY
8 tr tr + mk(
7+ + + zpp'
6 + + zp +&
5zpp+nvlP+ %
4 + + +PzP$
3+P+ + + #
2 + +N+L+"
1+ + + wQK!
xabcdefghy
Now Black's extra pawn on the Queenside bring a
quick decision 34.Nd4 Ne3! Forcing a winning
18
liquidation: the White Knight can't move because
of ... Rd1 35.Qxe3 Rxd4 36.Bf3 a4 37.h5 a3
38.Qe2 Rbd8 01
Alekhine - Capablanca
Buenos Aires WCh (12) Buenos Aires WCh (12),
1927
Queens Gambit Declined
Open file with support points 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6
3.Nc3 d5 4.Bg5 Nbd7 5.e3 Be7 6.Nf3 00 7.Rc1
c6 8.Qc2 a6 9.a3 h6 10.Bh4 Re8 11.Rd1 b5
12.cxb5 cxb5 13.Bd3 Bb7 14.00
XABCDEFGHY
8r+ wqr+k+(
7+l+nvlpzp '
6p+ +psn zp&
5+p+p+ + %
4 + zP + vL$
3zP sNLzPN+ #
2 zPQ+ zPPzP"
1+ +R+RmK !
xabcdefghy
Here it is obvious that the open c-file is of
dominating importance. The routine idea of
occupying the furthest available square on the
open file is already on the cards; Black can play ...
Nb6-c4. White can hardly occupy c5 just yet, not
having played Pb4. From this point of view, Black
is a little ahead. On the other hand, White retains
the option of evicting a Black piece from c4 by
playing Pb3. While Black holds the initiative,
however, this may not be an easy matter 14...Rc8
15.Qb1 Qa5 [15...Bxa3 16.bxa3 Rxc3 17.a4 White
simply regains the pawn; 15...Nb6 simpler]
16.Ne2 Nb6 The boxed in White Queen offers
White the opportunity to make tactical
complications [16...b4 more prudent] 17.Ne5
[17.Bxf6! The Black cramped Queen offers tactics:
White removes the guard of h7 17...Bxf6
(17...gxf6! 18.Nf4 Nc4 19.Nxe6 fxe6 20.Bxc4
Rxc4 21.Qg6+ perpetual check) 18.b4 Qxa3
(18...Qa4 19.Rd2 Nc4 20.Ra2 -- 21.Qa1 --
22.Rb1 -- 23.Nc3) 19.Bh7+ the idea behind Bxf6,
to remove the guard of h7 to vacate the d3 square
for White's Rooks 19...Kh8 20.Rd3 Qa4 21.Nc3
trapped piece] 17...Nc4 18.Bxf6 Bxf6! [18...gxf6
19.Nxf7 Kxf7 20.Bxc4 Rxc4 21.Qh7+ Kf8 22.Nf4]
19.Bh7+ Kf8 20.Nd7+ Ke7 21.Nc5 Qb6
[21...Rxc5! 22.dxc5 (22.b4 Nxa3! 23.bxa5 (23.Qb3
Qa4 24.Qxa4 bxa4 25.dxc5 g6 Trapped Bishop)
23...Nxb1 24.dxc5 Na3 Black wins at least a
second pawn) 22...Nxb2 23.Rc1 Qxa3 decisive
advantage to Black] 22.Nxb7 Qxb7 23.Bd3 Rc7
To double Rooks and thus extract full value out of
his occupaton of c4. However, White can
undermine the Knight with Pb3 [23...Kf8 24.--
Be7 preventing Pb3] 24.Qa2! Rec8 25.b3 Nd6
26.Qd2 Qb6 27.Rc1 Kd7 28.Rxc7+ Rxc7 29.Bb1
XABCDEFGHY
8 + + + +(
7+ trk+pzp '
6pwq snpvl zp&
5+p+p+ + %
4 + zP + +$
3zPP+ zP + #
2 + wQNzPPzP"
1+L+ +RmK !
xabcdefghy
Exchanging one pair of Rooks, White has just
about freed himself. He could, of cource, play for
further exchanges by Rc1, but with this Bishop
move he undertakes an interesting attempt to
revive his own winning chances. He vacates d3 as
a round for his own Knight outpost on c5 29...Be7
30.Nf4 Kc8 31.Qe2 [31.Nd3 Ne4] 31...g6 32.Nd3
Ne4 33.b4 Thr struggle for possession of the
outpost reaches it's climax 33...Rc3? This move in
combination with the next move forms an
instructive mistake [33...Nd6 34.Nc5 Nc4 35.e4!
Whtie still keeps the initiative] 34.Qb2 Qc7
[34...Rc7 have to lose a tempo] 35.Nc5
interference 35...Bxc5 36.dxc5 Qe5 37.f4! Qg7
[37...Qf6 38.Bxe4 dxe4 39.Rf2] 38.Bxe4 dxe4
39.Kf2 Qf6 40.g3 g5 41.Rc1 10
Brinckmann - Nimzowitsch
Berlin Niendorf, 1927
Nimzovich Defense
Nimzowitsch as a defender 1.e4 Nc6 2.d4 d5
3.exd5 Qxd5 4.Be3 e6 5.Be2 Qxg2 6.Bf3 Qg6
7.Ne2 As compensation for his sacrificed pawn
White has a considerable lead in development,
and this can lead to a direct attack if he can open
up the position. This can be achieved only one
19
way - by the central thrust Pd5 7...Nb4 Typical
Nimzowitsch! He is going to maneuver his Knight
to d5, in order to assert control over the vital d5
square, thus making d5 problematic. This is the
strategy which Nimzowitsch called centralization.
A player of the old stame - such as Dr. Tarrasch
- would have reacted to this move with
undisguised horror. It is flagrant violation of the
well known rule: Do not play any piece twice in the
opening 8.Na3 Nd5 9.Nc4 [9.Nb5 c6 10.Nf4 Nxf4
11.Nc7+ Kd7 12.Nxa8 Ng2+] 9...Qf6 10.Ng3
XABCDEFGHY
8r+l+kvlntr(
7zppzp +pzpp'
6 + +pwq +&
5+ +n+ + %
4 +NzP + +$
3+ + vLLsN #
2PzPP+ zP zP"
1tR +QmK +R!
xabcdefghy
Qd8! Black explains his last two moves by the
need to "overprotect" the central d5. This is
another of the ideas he introduced into practise.
Strategically important points must be
overprotected. The pieces which will thereby be
well-placed, and as soon as the strategic point
concerned finds itself in the front line, the
overprotecting pieces will automatically attain
maximum activity. Anyone who takes the trouble
to glance back at the Steinitz chapter may come
to the conclusion that Steinitiz and Nimzowitsch
perhaps stand closer together than a superficial
examination might suggest 11.Qd2 Ngf6 12.Ne5
c6! With iron consistency Nimzowitsch persevers
with his overprotection 13.00 [13.000 Bb4 14.c3
Be7 15.-- Qc7 16.-- Bd7] 13...Bd6 14.Kh1 Qc7
Castling is deferred. If Black castled Kingside at
the present moment he would run into a
dangerous attack on the half-open g-file 15.c4
Nxe3 16.Qxe3 c5!? With the intention of a
counterattack in the centre - dangerous tactics
while the opponent is better developed.
Nimzowitsch correctly concluded that 16. ... Nd7!
would have been stronger than the move actually
played [16...Nd7!] 17.Qg5 [17.Rae1 cxd4
18.Qxd4; 17.Nd3 cxd4 18.Qxd4; 17.Rfe1 cxd4
18.Qxd4 -- 19.Rad1 harmonious development]
17...cxd4 18.Rae1
XABCDEFGHY
8r+l+k+ tr(
7zppwq +pzpp'
6 + vlpsn +&
5+ + sN wQ %
4 +Pzp + +$
3+ + +LsN #
2PzP + zP zP"
1+ + tRR+K!
xabcdefghy
[18.Qxg7 Rg8 19.Qxf6 Bxe5] 18...Kf8! [18...00
19.Rg1 h6 20.Qf4 Bxe5 21.Rxe5 Nd7 22.Nh5
Qxe5 23.Qxh6 g6 24.Rg5 Qh8 25.Rxg6+ fxg6
26.Qxg6+ Qg7 27.Qxg7#] 19.Rg1 h6 20.Qf4
Bxe5 21.Qxe5 [21.Rxe5 Nd7] 21...Qxe5 22.Rxe5
Nd7 [22...g6 23.Rd1 Ke7 24.Rxd4 Rd8 Black wins
easily] 23.Rb5? [23.Ra5] 23...a6 24.Rb3 [24.Rb4
Ne5 25.Bg2 Nd3+] 24...Nc5 25.Ra3 Rb8 The rest
is easy 26.b4 Nd7 27.c5 Ne5 28.Re1 Nxf3
29.Rxf3 Bd7 30.Rd3 Rd8 31.Kg1 Bb5 32.Rd2
Rd5 33.Ne4 Ke7 34.Nd6? Rg5+ 35.Kh1 Bc6+ 0
1
Vidmar - Nimzowitsch
New Orleans-Wch New Orleans-Wch, 1927
Bogo-Indian
Black leaves the open d-file to his opponent in
order to avoid exchanges 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.c4
Bb4+ 4.Bd2 Qe7 5.Nc3 00 6.e3 d6 7.Be2 b6
8.00 Bb7 9.Qc2 Nbd7 10.Rad1 Bxc3 11.Bxc3
Ne4 12.Be1 f5 13.Qb3 c5 14.Nd2 Nxd2 15.Rxd2
e5 16.dxe5 dxe5 17.f3 With the intention of
meeting ... Nf6 with Bh4 followed by doubling of
Rooks on the d-file 17...g5! A brave and
unprejudiced attack pattern 18.Bf2 Nf6 19.Rfd1 It
is certainl y no exaggeration to say that nine out of
ten players in Black's shoes would now have
played to exchange the Rooks on the open d-file
20
XABCDEFGHY
8r+ + trk+(
7zpl+ wq +p'
6 zp + sn +&
5+ zp zppzp %
4 +P+ + +$
3+Q+ zPP+ #
2PzP tRLvLPzP"
1+ +R+ mK !
xabcdefghy
19...Rae8! Nimzowitsch, who so often "went his
own way", avoids exchanges in theinterests of
forming of Kingside attack; the basis for this is his
Kingside space control and the excellent scope of
the QueenBishop on the longdiagonal 20.Qa4
[20.Bg3 Alekhine] 20...Ba8! Protecting the a-
pawn and parrying the threat 21. Rd7 21.Rd6
Qg7! Black must operate with some
circumspection. [21...e4 22.f4 gxf4 23.Bh4 f3
24.Bxf6 Rxf6 25.Rxf6 fxe2] 22.Bf1? [22.Be1 e4
(22...g4 23.fxg4 Nxg4 24.Bxg4 Qxg4) 23.Bc3]
22...e4! 23.Be1 [23.fxe4 Nxe4 24.Rd7 Qxb2;
23.Be2 exf3 24.gxf3 g4 25.f4 Qb7 Black gets a
destructive attack along the diagonal] 23...exf3
24.Bc3 Qe7! Prettily refuting White's last few
moves 25.R6d3 [25.Bxf6 Qxe3+ 26.Kh1 fxg2+
27.Bxg2 Qe1+ 28.Rxe1 Rxe1# pinning/back rank
tactics] 25...fxg2 26.Bxg2 Bxg2 27.Bxf6 Qe4!
28.R1d2 Bh3 29.Bc3 Qg4+ 01
Capablanca - Rubinstein
Berlin Berlin (5), 1928
QP Opening
Isolated d-pawn on the 5th rank 1.d4 [1.e4 e6
2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 c5 4.exd5 exd5 5.Ngf3 Nc6 6.dxc5
Bxc5 7.Bb5 Nge7 8.00 00 9.Nb3] 1...d5 2.Nf3 c5
3.dxc5 e6 4.e4 Bxc5 5.exd5 exd5 6.Bb5+ Nc6
7.00 Nge7 8.Nbd2 00 9.Nb3 Bb6 10.Re1 Bg4
11.Bd3 Ng6 12.h3 Bxf3 13.Qxf3 Nce5 14.Qf5
Nxd3 15.Qxd3 Such positions arise mostly from
the French Tarrasch. A comparison with the
positions dealt with so far shows that the
difference consists in the fact that White has an
unmoved c-pawn on e3. The advantage from
White's point of view s that the e-file is open; the
disadvantage is that the f2 square is vulnerbale. A
vital decision confronts Black: whether or not to
push his d-pawn to the fourth rank. Generally this
is good policy; leading to greater freedom of
movement. 15...d4? Here the advance only
makes things more difficult for Black. At d4 the
pressure, which has the effect of reducing Black's
Bihops to a second rate piece. Another great
handicap for Black is that her cannot - or at any
rate can only with great difficulty - get control of
the blockade square d3 [15...Qf6 16.Rf1 Rad8
Black's pieces are actively placed] 16.Bd2 Qf6
17.Re4! Rad8 [17...Ne5 18.Qg3 Rfe8 19.Rae1]
18.Rae1 Qc6 19.g3 Rfe8
XABCDEFGHY
8 + trr+k+(
7zpp+ +pzpp'
6 vlq+ +n+&
5+ + + + %
4 + zpR+ +$
3+N+Q+ zPP#
2PzPPvL zP +"
1+ + tR mK !
xabcdefghy
20.Ba5! Begins the direct attack on the isolated
pawn 20...Rxe4 [20...-- 21.Bxb6 axb6 22.Rxe8+
Rxe8 23.Rxe8+ Qxe8 24.Qxd4] 21.Qxe4 Nf8
[21...Qxe4 22.Rxe4 Bxa5 23.Nxa5 Capablanca]
22.Qxc6 bxc6 23.Re7
XABCDEFGHY
8 + tr snk+(
7zp + tRpzpp'
6 vlp+ + +&
5vL + + + %
4 + zp + +$
3+N+ + zPP#
2PzPP+ zP +"
1+ + + mK !
xabcdefghy
21
Rd5? Leaves Black in a throroughly passive state
[23...-- 24.Rxa7 Bxa7 25.Bxd8; 23...d3 24.cxd3
(24.Rxa7 to keep any winning chances 24...Bxa7
25.Bxd8 dxc2 26.Bg5! Ne6 27.Bc1) 24...Rxd3
25.Bxb6 axb6 26.Rb7 b5 27.Rc7 Rd1+ 28.Kg2
Rb1=] 24.Bxb6 axb6 25.Rb7 Nd7 Now White has
a clear endgame advantage which he converted
in the following instructive way 26.Rc7 Picking on
the pawn weaknesses 26...Rd6 27.Rc8+ Nf8
28.Nd2 c5 29.Nc4 Re6 30.Rb8 Re1+ 31.Kg2 g5
32.a4 Ra1 33.Nxb6 Kg7 34.Rc8 Ne6 35.Nd7
Rxa4 36.Nxc5 Rb4 37.Nd3 Rb5 38.Kf3 h6 39.b4
h5 40.g4 hxg4+ 41.hxg4 f6 42.Rc4 Kf7 43.Nc5
Nd8 44.Nb3 10
Nilsson - Euwe
The Hague, 1928
Sicilian
Black storms with his Queenside pawns in order
to control the long dark-squared diagonal with his
Bishop 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7
5.Nge2 d6 6.00 [6.d3 -- 7.Be3 the threat of Pd4]
6...Rb8 7.d3 White's treatment of the opening has
not been particularly exact. There was no hurry to
get castled; it would have been wiser to play Pd3
and Be3 with the threat of Pd4 to keep Black
busy. By neglecting this he allows Black's
operations to developsmoothly 7...b5 8.Nd5 e6
9.Ne3 Nge7 10.c3 Just about compulsorty
[10.Rb1 b4 11.Bd2 a5 Black continues strongly]
10...b4 11.Bd2 00 12.Qc1
XABCDEFGHY
8 trlwq trk+(
7zp + snpvlp'
6 +nzpp+p+&
5+ zp + + %
4 zp +P+ +$
3+ zPPsN zP #
2PzP vLNzPLzP"
1tR wQ +RmK !
xabcdefghy
bxc3 13.bxc3 [13.Bxc3 Nd4 14.Bxd4 cxd4 15.Nc2
Qb6 Black has a promising game, but at least
White would have had the advantage of keeping
the dangerous diagonal closed] 13...Ba6 14.Qc2
Qa5 15.Rab1 Ne5! 16.c4 Now Black's aim is
achieved; the diagonal is definitely open 16...Qa3
17.Bc3 N7c6 18.f4 Nd4! Forcing the following
liquidation which is in Black's favour 19.Bxd4
cxd4 20.fxe5 dxe3 21.exd6 Qxd6 22.Rxb8 Rxb8
23.Rb1 Rb4! 24.Rb3 [24.Rxb4 Qxb4 Black's
Queen has a chance to get to d2 or e1] 24...Qb6
25.Bf3 Qa5 26.Nc1 [26.-- Rxb3 27.Qxb3 Qe1+
28.Kg2 Qf2+] 26...Bd4 27.Kf1 e5 28.Rxb4 Qxb4
29.Nb3 Bc8 30.Ke2 a5! The decisive advance,
compelling White to abandon his positions so that
the storm troops can infiltrate 31.Nxd4 exd4
32.c5 a4 33.c6 a3 34.c7 Qb2 35.Kd1 Qa1+
36.Ke2 Qg1 37.-- Qf2+ 38.Kd1 Qf1# 01
Reti - Stotlz
Stockholm, 1928
Ruy lopez
via Tension form to the Spanish centre 1.e4 e5
2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.00 Be7 6.Qe2
b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 00 9.d4 Bg4 10.Rd1 exd4 This
move was strongly criticised by Dr. Tarrasch.
Black not only surrenders his hold on the centre,
but also presents White with the c3 square for his
Knight 11.cxd4 d5 Nor did this move please
Tarrassch 12.e5 Ne4 This is what we called, in
our introduction, the Spanish centre 13.Nc3 Nxc3
14.bxc3 Na5 In the game, we see Stolz following
this plan to exchange light squared bishops, with
transposition of move, and it appears the Black
position is not all that bad at all [14...f6? 15.h3!
Bh5 16.g4 Bf7 17.e6 Lasker-Teichmann,
Petersburg 1909; 14...Qd7 15.-- Na5 16.Bc2 Bf5
Exchanging the dangerous Bishop - Tarrasch]
XABCDEFGHY
8r+ wq trk+(
7+ zp vlpzpp'
6p+ + + +&
5snp+pzP + %
4 + zP +l+$
3+LzP +N+ #
2P+ +QzPPzP"
1tR vLR+ mK !
xabcdefghy
15.Bc2 Qd7 16.Qd3 forcing a weakening of
Black's Kingsie 16...g6 17.Qe3 Rfb8! An excellent
move, vacating f8 for the bishop and
simultaneously preparing for queenside
22
operations 18.Qh6 Bf8 19.Qh4 Bf5 20.Bxf5 Qxf5
21.Re1 Rb6 Black makes his Rook available for
offence or defence. However, this move is an
inexactitued, since it permits White to bring his
Rooks into the attack via e3 [21...Nc4] 22.Bh6
Ba3 23.Bc1 [23.Ng5 -- (23...Be7 24.g4 Qd7
25.Re3 f5 26.e6 Bxg5 27.exd7) 24.Nxh7 (24.g4
Qd7 25.Bg7 Kxg7 26.Qxh7+ Kf8) 24...Kxh7
25.Bg5+ Kg8 26.g4 Qc8 27.Bf6 Rxf6 28.exf6 Qf8
29.Re3] 23...Bf8 24.Bh6 Ba3 25.Bc1 Bxc1 Black
decides to play for a win 26.Raxc1 Kg7 27.Nd2
Nc4 28.Nb3 It is clear that White doesn't want to
exchange Knight, opening the b-file for Black's
Rooks. He aims to occupy his own support points
at c5 28...g5! With White no doubt expecting
Queenside operations, suddenly Black attacks on
the Kingside
XABCDEFGHY
8r+ + + +(
7+ zp +pmkp'
6ptr + +p+&
5+p+pzPq+ %
4 +nzP + wQ$
3+NzP + + #
2P+ + zPPzP"
1+ tR tR mK !
xabcdefghy
29.Qg3 h5 30.h4 [30.h3 more prudent] 30...Rg6
31.Nc5 gxh4 32.Qxh4 Nd2 With this and his next
moves, Black throws all his pieces at the White
King 33.Kh2 Kh7 34.Re3 Rag8 35.Rg1 White has
no choice. Now comes a forced liquidation, the
point of which emerges with Black's unexpected
38th move 35...Rg4 36.Qf6 Qxf6 37.exf6 Rh4+
38.Rh3 Nf3+ 39.gxf3 Rxh3+ 40.Kxh3 Rxg1
41.Nxa6 Rc1 42.Nxc7 b4 01
Capablanca - Treybal
Karlsbad Karlsbad (10), 1929
QGD
Closing of the Kingside and breakthrough on the
Queenside 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 e6 4.Bg5 Be7
5.Bxe7 Qxe7 6.Nbd2 f5 7.e3 Nd7 8.Bd3 Nh6 9.0
0 00 10.Qc2 g6 11.Rab1 Nf6 12.Ne5 Nf7 13.f4
Bd7 The exchange of Bishops at move 5 has
enabled White to set up a favourable Anti
Stonewall, since Black has the Bad Bishop.
Black's .. Bd7 is a new sin of omission, allowing
White to retain the Knight on e5 [13...Nxe5]
14.Ndf3 Rfd8 15.b4 Be8 16.Rfc1 a6 17.Qf2 Nxe5
18.Nxe5 Nd7 19.Nf3! In accordance with the
principle that the sie having the greater freedom
should seek to keep the pieces on the board
19...Rdc8 20.c5 Nf6 21.a4 Ng4 22.Qe1 Nh6
23.h3 Nf7 24.g4! Not primaril y to start operations
on this wing, but rather to deprive Black of his last
counterchance ... Pg5. Besides all this, it must be
considered a point in White's favour that Black will
now be hampered in allhis movements by having
to reckon all the time with the possibility that
White may yet open an offensive on the Kingside
XABCDEFGHY
8r+r+l+k+(
7+p+ wqn+p'
6p+p+p+p+&
5+ zPp+p+ %
4PzP zP zPP+$
3+ +LzPN+P#
2 + + + +"
1+RtR wQ mK !
xabcdefghy
24...Bd7 25.Rc2 Kh8 26.Rg2 Rg8 27.g5 Qd8
28.h4 Kg7 29.h5 Rh8 30.Rh2 Qc7 31.Qc3 Qd8
32.Kf2 Qc7 33.Rbh1 Rag8 34.Qa1 Rb8 35.Qa3
Rbg8 36.b5 White has retained twofold
possibilities, and has kept Black's forces so tied
down on the Kingside that he is now in a position
to open a file on the far side without Black being
able to contest it 36...axb5 37.h6+! At last he
closes the Kingside, and transfers the whole
course of the battle definitely to the other flank
37...Kf8 38.axb5 Ke7 39.b6 Qb8 40.Ra1 Rc8
[40...Qa8 41.Qc3 Qd8 42.Ra7] 41.Qb4 Rhd8
42.Ra7 Kf8 43.Rh1 Be8 44.Rha1 Kg8 45.R1a4
Kf8 46.Qa3 Black is completely encircled, and it
remains for White to conquer b7. He is anxious to
rule out any possibility of Black breaking the
cordon on the Kingside by a Knight sacrifice. The
way he chooses is not the shortest, but he has
ample time
23
XABCDEFGHY
8 wqrtrlmk +(
7tRp+ +n+p'
6 zPp+p+pzP&
5+ zPp+pzP %
4R+ zP zP +$
3wQ +LzPN+ #
2 + + mK +"
1+ + + + !
xabcdefghy
46...Kg8 47.Kg3 Bd7 48.Kh4 Kh8 49.Qa1 Kg8
50.Kg3 Kf8 51.Kg2 Be8 52.Nd2 Bd7 53.Nb3 Re8
[53...Be8 54.Na5 Rd7 55.Nxb7 Rxb7 56.Ra8]
54.Na5 Nd8 55.Ba6! bxa6 56.Rxd7 Re7
57.Rxd8+ Rxd8 58.Nxc6 10
Alekhine - Nimzowitsch
San Remo, 1930
French
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.Bd2 Ne7
6.Nb5 Bxd2+ 7.Qxd2 00 8.c3 b6 9.f4 Ba6
10.Nf3 Qd7 11.a4 Nbc6 12.b4 Not only spoiling
Black's scheme, but also forcing him to show his
hand. [12.-- cxd4 opening the file and taking the
initiative by .... Na5-c4 (occupying the furtherest
available point on the open file)] 12...cxb4 [12...c4
the whole Queen side is blocked, giving White a
free hand on the opposite wing] 13.cxb4 Bb7
14.Nd6 f5 According to Alekhine, this is the
decisive strategic misjudgement. By means of a
few strong positional moves, Alekhine guarantees
himself control of the only open file (Kotov)
[14...a5 necessary 15.Bb5 axb4 16.00] 15.a5!
Nc8 [15...bxa5 16.b5 Nd8 17.Rxa5] 16.Nxb7
Qxb7 17.a6 Qf7 [17...Qe7 18.Bb5! Nxb4
19.Rb1+-] 18.Bb5 Now Black is forced to defend
the c6 square with all the men he can, so as to
black the action of the white rooks downs the c-
file. If this bastion falls, then the rooks will break in
and wreak destruction along the seventh and
eight ranks
XABCDEFGHY
8r+n+ trk+(
7zp + +qzpp'
6Pzpn+p+ +&
5+L+pzPp+ %
4 zP zP zP +$
3+ + +N+ #
2 + wQ +PzP"
1tR + mK +R!
xabcdefghy
18...N8e7 19.00 h6 20.Rfc1 This initiates the
siege of the Black position via the c-file 20...Rfc8
21.Rc2 Qe8 Black buttresses the knight on c6
with all the means at his disposal, so as to prevent
the invasion down the c0file. The natural
countermeausure in the fight for an open file -
name, the exchange of some pieces - is
unfortunately not available to him. [21...Nd8
22.Rac1 Rxc2 23.Rxc2 Rc8 24.Rxc8 Nxc8 25.Qc3
Ne7 26.Qc7+-] 22.Rac1 [22.Ra3! -- 23.Rac3 --
24.Qc1] 22...Rab8 23.Qe3 Rc7 24.Rc3 Qd7
25.R1c2 The decisive regrouping! It is very
important that the Queen should act from behind
the rooks. In that way it is easiest to penetrate into
the enemy position, as the rooks can invade on
squares which are covered by enemy rooks,
whereas a queen would be too valuable to
sacrifice (Kotov)
XABCDEFGHY
8 tr + +k+(
7zp trqsn zp '
6Pzpn+p+ zp&
5+L+pzPp+ %
4 zP zP zP +$
3+ tR wQN+ #
2 +R+ +PzP"
1+ + + mK !
xabcdefghy
24
25...Kf8 26.Qc1 The tripling process is complete,
and Black is bound hand and foot. Only the King
can move, and he will arrive on the scene too late
26...Rbc8 27.Ba4! This threatens to break into the
Black defensive lines 27...b5 28.Bxb5 Ke8
29.Ba4 Kd8 guarding Rc7 so that the N can move
if Pb5 30.h4 The last straw. Black has only his
h-pawn and g-pawn left to move. As soon as
these have exhausted their moves, he will have to
move ... Qe8 and then Pb6 demolishes his
position[30.b5 Nb8] 10
Colle - O'Hanlon
Colle
Explosion on h7. 1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.e3 c5 4.c3
e6 5.Bd3 Bd6 6.Nbd2 Nbd7 7.00 00 8.Re1 Re8
9.e4 dxe4 10.Nxe4 Nxe4 11.Bxe4 cxd4
XABCDEFGHY
8r+lwqr+k+(
7zpp+n+pzpp'
6 + vlp+ +&
5+ + + + %
4 + zpL+ +$
3+ zP +N+ #
2PzP + zPPzP"
1tR vLQtR mK !
xabcdefghy
12.Bxh7+ The full consequences of this sacrifice
are difficult to assess in this position 12...Kxh7
13.Ng5+ Kg6 [13...Kg8 14.Qh5 White should
obtain no more than a draw 14...Nf6? a) 14...Ne5
15.Rxe5 (15.Qh7+ Kf8 16.Ne4 Ng6 17.Nxd6 Qxd6
18.h4 Ke7 19.h5 Rh8 20.Bg5+ Ke8 (20...Kf8
21.hxg6 Rxh7 22.gxh7+-) 21.Qxg7 Rxh5 22.Qf6
Qe7+) 15...Bxe5 16.Qxf7+ Kh8 17.Qh5+ White
must take a perpetual check; b) 14...Qf6 15.Qh7+
Kf8 16.Ne4 Qe5 17.cxd4 Qd5? (17...Qxd4
18.Qh8+ Ke7 19.Bg5+ Nf6 20.Qxg7; 17...Qxh2+
18.Qxh2 Bxh2+ 19.Kxh2=) 18.Qh8+ Ke7 19.Qxg7
White's attack continues violently; 15.Qxf7+ Kh8
16.Re4 Nxe4 (16...Bxh2+ 17.Kxh2 Nxe4 18.Qh5+
Kg8 19.Qh7+ Kf8 20.Qh8+ Ke7 21.Qxg7+ Kd6
22.Nf7+ winning the Queen. The Black K takes
the place of the Bishop) 17.Qh5+ Kg8 18.Qh7+
Kf8 19.Qh8+ Ke7 20.Qxg7#] 14.h4! Rh8 [14...--
15.h5+ Kf6 16.Qf3+; 14...f5 15.h5+ Kf6 16.Qxd4+
Be5 17.Qh4 g6 18.f4 White's attack slices through
Black's position like a knife through butter]
15.Rxe6+!! This is based on removing the guard
"... Pf5" and threats of Knight forks on f7. If ef then
... Pf5 can't block Qd3+ 15...Nf6 [15...fxe6
16.Qd3+ Kf6 17.Qf3+ Kg6 18.Qf7+ Kh6
19.Nxe6++-] 16.h5+! Kh6 [16...Rxh5 17.Qd3+
Kh6 18.Qh7# based on pins on the Knight]
17.Rxd6 Qa5 18.Nxf7+ Kh7 19.Ng5+ Kg8
20.Qb3+ 10
Sultan Khan - Capablanca
Hastings Hastings (3), 1930
Queens Indian
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.d4 b6 3.c4 Bb7 4.Nc3 e6 5.a3 d5
6.cxd5 exd5 7.Bg5 Be7 8.e3 00 9.Bd3 Ne4
10.Bf4 Nd7 11.Qc2 f5 [11...Ndf6] 12.Nb5 Bd6?
[12...a6 13.Qxc7 (13.Nxc7 Rc8 14.Ne6 Rxc2
15.Nxd8 Rxb2! 16.Nxb7 Nxf2) 13...axb5 14.Qxb7
Ndc5 15.dxc5 Nxc5 16.Qc7 Nxd3+] 13.Nxd6
cxd6 14.h4 Rc8 15.Qb3 Qe7 16.Nd2 Ndf6
17.Nxe4 fxe4 18.Be2 Rc6 With the obvious idea
of doubling on the c-file 19.g4 [19.-- Rfc8]
19...Rfc8 The d-pawn cannot be saved [19...Qe6
20.g5 Nd7 21.Bb5 Rc7 22.Qb4] 20.g5 Ne8
21.Bg4 Rc1+ 22.Kd2 R8c2+ [22...Rxa1 23.Rxa1
Rc4] 23.Qxc2 Rxc2+ 24.Kxc2 Qc7+ 25.Kd2 Qc4
26.Be2 Qb3 27.Rab1 Kf7 After this Black is totally
devoid of counterplay [27...b5 28.-- b4; 27...Bc6
28.Rhc1 Bb5 29.Rc3 Qa4] 28.Rhc1 Ke7 29.Rc3
Qa4 30.b4! Qd7 [30...-- 31.b5 Putting the Queen
out of play] 31.Rbc1 Although it is clear that White
has the advantage, both materially and
positionally, the fact remains that no direct win is
possible. Hence White commences maneuvering
XABCDEFGHY
8 + +n+ +(
7zpl+qmk zpp'
6 zp zp + +&
5+ +p+ zP %
4 zP zPpvL zP$
3zP tR zP + #
2 + mKLzP +"
1+ tR + + !
xabcdefghy
31...a6 32.Rg1 Qh3 33.Rgc1 Qd7 [33...--
34.Rc7+ Nxc7 35.Rxc7+ Ke6 36.Rxb7] 34.h5 Kd8
35.R1c2 Qh3 The Queen is still active, but can
25
achieve nothing 36.Kc1 Qh4 37.Kb2 Before
proceeding with serious maneuvering Whtie
places his King in a safe corner, just as we have
seen in the games of Nimzowitsch 37...Qh3
38.Rc1 Qh4 39.R3c2 Qh3 40.a4 Qh4 41.Ka3
Qh3 42.Bg3 Qf5 43.Bh4 Suddenly White
introduces a small finesse
XABCDEFGHY
8 + mkn+ +(
7+l+ + zpp'
6pzp zp + +&
5+ +p+qzPP%
4PzP zPp+ vL$
3mK + zP + #
2 +R+LzP +"
1+ tR + + !
xabcdefghy
43...g6 [43...Qh3 44.g6+ Qxh4 45.gxh7; 43...Kd7
44.Rg1! Exploitation of the exposed Black King]
44.h6 What has White achieved by this little
intermezzo? In the first place his h-pawn is no
longer vulnerable, and secondly the Black Knight
is now completely immobilized 44...Qd7 [44...Qh3
45.Bg3 Qf5 46.Bf4] 45.b5 a5 [45...axb5 46.Bxb5
The White Rooks penetrate down the c-file]
46.Bg3 Qf5 47.Bf4 Qh3 48.Kb2 Qg2 49.Kb1 Qh3
[49...Qxf2 50.Bh5 Qh4 51.Rh2 The Queen is
trapped!] 50.Ka1 Qg2 51.Kb2 Qh3 52.Rg1! The
decisive phase is rapidly approaching, with direct
threats beginning to appear. Black now must
defend against the threat of 52...Bc8 [52...--
53.Bg4 Qh5 (53...Qh4 54.f3! exf3 55.Bxf3 Qh3
56.Bg4 Qh4 57.Rh2 trapping the Queen) 54.Be6
-- 55.Bg8; 52...Qe6 53.Bg4 Qf7 54.Rgc1 Qg8
55.Rc8+ Bxc8 56.Rxc8+ Ke7 57.Rb8 Qh8
58.Rb7+ Kf8 59.Be6+-; 52...Qd7 53.Bg4 Qe7
54.Rgc1 Qf7 55.Rc3 Qg8 56.Rc8+!] 53.Rc6! Qh4
[53...Bb7 54.Bg4 Qh4 55.Rc2 Hunt for the Queen
is on] 54.Rgc1 Bg4 [54...Bb7 Leads to the
exchange of White's worthless f-pawn for Black's
valuable b-pawn 55.Rxb6 Qxf2 56.Rc2 Bc8
57.Rb8 Nc7 58.Bg4+-] 55.Bf1! Even with check
Black can't take the f-pawn 55...Qh5 [55...Qxf2+
56.R6c2 Qg1 57.Rg2 Qh1 58.Rh2 Qg1 (58...Qf3
59.Be2 Qxe2+ 60.Rxe2 Bxe2 61.Rc6+-) 59.Be2]
56.Re1 [56.-- Be2] 56...Qh1 57.Rec1 [57.Rxb6
Too hasty 57...Bh3 58.Rc6 Bxf1 59.Rcc1 Qf3!
60.Rxf1 Qe2+] 57...Qh5 58.Kc3! Qh4 [58...Be2
59.Kd2 Bxf1 60.Rxf1 Qf3 61.Bg3 Qg4 62.Rfc1
Qxg5 63.Rxb6 Qxh6 64.Rb8+ Ke7 65.Rxe8+
Kxe8 66.b6+-] 59.Bg3! Qxg5 60.Kd2 Qh5
61.Rxb6 The fall of this pawn robs the Black
position of all cohesion. Against the furious activity
of the White pieces there is nothing to be done
XABCDEFGHY
8 + mkn+ +(
7+ + + +p'
6 tR zp +pzP&
5zpP+p+ +q%
4P+ zPp+l+$
3+ + zP vL #
2 + mK zP +"
1+ tR +L+ !
xabcdefghy
61...Ke7 62.Rb7+ Ke6 63.b6 Nf6 64.Bb5 Qh3
65.Rb8 Nd7 [65...Nh5 66.Re8+ Kf7 67.Rc7+ Kf6
68.Rf8+] 66.Re8+ Kf7 67.b7! Bh5 68.Re1 Bg4
69.Bxd7 10
Tartakower - Sultan Khan
match, 1931
QP Opening
36. TARTAKOWER (18881956) Despite the fact
that Tartakower played so much chess and
became so thoroughly experienced, his play was
perpetually original. As a lawyer, he knew the art
of defending a weak case; as a chessmaster
nothing pleased him more than winning a game
by means of a little known or inferior variation. his
play showed a clear preference for the methods of
Reti, Breyer and Capablanca without rejecting
those of Steinitz or Rubinstein. This is clear also
in several books he wrote 1.d4 Nf6 2.g3 A very
rare choice at this juncture, but Tartakower loved
to play unsual, even bizzare-looking moves
(though he was also an outstanding theorist)
2...d5 3.Nf3 c6 4.Bg2 Bf5 5.Nh4 Bg6 6.00 e6
7.Nd2 Be7 8.Nxg6 hxg6 9.c4 Nbd7 10.Qb3 Qb6
11.Qxb6 axb6 The two Bishops are not an
advantage in closed positions of this sort. In any
case, Sultan Khan often preferred Knights to
Bishops, and as we shall see, soon trades off his
remaining Bishops for the other Knight 12.Rd1
Bb4 [12...dxc4 13.Nxc4 b5 14.Ne5 Nxe5 15.dxe5
26
Ng4] 13.cxd5 exd5 14.a3 00 15.Rb1 Bxd2
Showing his preference for Knights over Bishops
16.Bxd2 Rfe8 17.Kf1 b5 Steinitz had shown that
the way to fight against Knights is to deprive them
of their best squares. 18.Bb4 White threatens Pf3
[18.f3 Nb6 19.-- Nc4] 18...g5 19.h3 [19.f3 Nf8
20.Kf2 Ne6 21.e3 g4 annoying] 19...Ne4
XABCDEFGHY
8r+ +r+k+(
7+p+n+pzp '
6 +p+ + +&
5+p+p+ zp %
4 vL zPn+ +$
3zP + + zPP#
2 zP +PzPL+"
1+R+R+K+ !
xabcdefghy
20.Bf3! Tartakower adopts a new tack 20...g6
21.Kg2 Kg7 22.e3 f5 23.Rh1 Re6 24.Rbg1!
Finally White's plan clarifies: he is going to open a
file on the Kingside 24...Kf7 25.g4 Rh8 [25...fxg4
26.Bxg4 Rf6 27.f3 (27.Bxd7?? Rxf2#) ] 26.Kf1
Ndf6 [26...f4 27.exf4 gxf4 28.h4 b6] 27.gxf5 gxf5
28.Bxe4! Nxe4 29.f3 Nf6 30.Rxg5 Rxe3 31.Rxf5!
Kg6 [31...Ke6 this depends on this finesse 32.Kf2!
(32.Rf4 Nh5) 32...Rd3 33.Re5+] 32.Rf4! [32.Kf2
Rhe8] 32...Kg5? 33.Bd6 Re6 [33...Rhe8 34.Rg1+
Kh5 35.Rf5++-] 34.Rg1+ White now takes
advantage of the Black King's exposed position
34...Kh5 35.Rf5+ Kh6 [35...Kh4 36.Bg3+ Kxh3
37.Rg5! -- 38.Rh1#] 36.Bf4+ Kh7 37.Be5 Rf8
38.Rf4! Some idea of the strength of the
opposition here is that Sultan Khan won this
match 6.5-5.5 10
Flohr - Botvinnik
Russia Match, Leningrad/Moscow (10), 1933
Dutch Defense
Exchange at d5 usually achieves nothing against
the Stonewall Defense 1.d4 e6 2.c4 f5 3.g3 Nf6
4.Bg2 Be7 5.Nc3 d5 6.Nf3 c6 7.00 00 8.b3 Qe8
9.Bb2 Nbd7 10.Qd3 Qh5 11.cxd5 This exchange
on d5 often gives some initiative in such position,
for it enables White to start a minority attack on
the Queenside. The present position, however, is
an exception which provides us with a welcome
chance of giving a warning against superficial
thinking. How is it that the minority attack give
White such a promising initative in many
variations of the QGD? The reason must be that
the Pb4-b5 of the minority attack is a means of
breaking the half-open c-file fully open. But this is
not the whole explanation. The essential point is
that Black, who has the half-open e-file, cannot
be so prompt with his counterattack. His thematic
advance is ... Pf5-f4, and this need preparation.
Preparation however needs time, and White can
use this time to push forward his b-pawn without
delay. In light of these considerations the
difference between the present diagram and the
normal QG positions, in which the minority attack
has legitimate expectations of success, is clear
enough. Black has already played ... Pf5 and so
will probably be able to play ... Pf4 before White
can play Pb5 on the other flank. In short, Black's
minority attack gets in first
XABCDEFGHY
8r+l+ trk+(
7zpp+nvl zpp'
6 +p+psn +&
5+ +P+p+q%
4 + zP + +$
3+PsNQ+NzP #
2PvL +PzPLzP"
1tR + +RmK !
xabcdefghy
11...exd5 12.Nd2 [12.Ne1 Ne4 13.f4 Preventing
Black's thematic ... Pf5-f4] 12...Ne4 13.f3 [13.f4
Nxd2 14.Qxd2 Nf6 Black works with gain of tempo
- a typical proof he holds the initiative] 13...Nxc3!
14.Bxc3 f4! It is evident that Black has taken
charge. Little or nothing will come of White's
minority attack 15.Rfe1 [15.Rfd1 followed by Nf1
and Be1 15...-- 16.Nf1 -- 17.Be1] 15...Bd6
16.Nf1 Rf7! Freeing f8 for the Knight, so that he
can develop his Queenside pieces without
relaxing the pressure on White's position 17.e3
Forcing Black to exchange on e3 or g3. [17.Bd2
Nf8 18.gxf4 Bxf4 19.Bxf4 Rxf4 20.e3] 17...fxg3
18.Nxg3 [18.hxg3 Qg5 19.Kf2 Nf6] 18...Qh4
19.Nf1 Nf6 In the alter circumstance the Knight
naturally does better to go to f6 rather than f8
20.Re2 Bd7 21.Be1 Qg5 22.Bg3 Bxg3 23.Nxg3
[23.hxg3 Nh5 24.Kh2 Nxg3 25.Nxg3 Qh4+]
27
23...h5! The storm toops advance - a sure sign
that the pahse of initiative is giving way to phase
of real attack 24.f4 Qg4 25.Rf2 [25.Rf1 h4 26.Bf3]
25...h4 26.Bf3 [26.h3 Qe6 (26...Qxg3 27.Rf3+)
27.Nf1 Ne4] 26...hxg3!! 27.Bxg4 gxf2+ 28.Kg2
Nxg4 29.h3 Nf6 30.Kxf2 Ne4+ 31.Kg2 Bxh3+
32.Kxh3 Nf2+ 01
Keres - Laurentius
Corr, 1934
Frenc
KERES (19161975) The Estonian Grandmaster
keres was a richly imaginative player in his youth
- but not only in his youth: in his maturity the
same description held good. The difference is that
in his early days his temperament ran head of his
technique, so that sometimes his methods were
too risky and his combinations not sound. in his
later years kereds matured into a complete
positional player, while acquiring a perfect
knowledgeo f the openings. Add to this fact that
he had reached great heights in the endgame and
we see Keres as the possesor of the ideal style.
Keres himself considered that combinative play
best suited his personality. His great skill in
dealing with complications was developed largely
through correspondence play. In his postal games
his one aim was to build up the tension, and he
used to steer for complications right from the start.
However, experience taught him that in the end
the accumulation of small advantages pays better
than always going for the attack at all costs. Our
illustration is one of his earliest games 1.e4 e6
2.d4 d5 3.e5 This used to be a favourite weapon
of Keres agains the French Defence 3...c5 4.Nf3
Qb6 5.Bd3!? cxd4 6.00 Nc6 This obvious move
is not best [6...Nd7 Reserving c6 for the other
Knight] 7.Nbd2 Nge7 [7...f6!] 8.Nb3 Ng6 9.Qe2
Qc7 10.Nbxd4! Ngxe5 11.Nb5! Nxf3+ 12.Qxf3
Qd7 This strange looking move aims to keep the
possibility of playing ... Qf7 later and reserving ...
Kd8 [12...Qd8 13.Bf4 e5 14.Rfe1 f6 15.Qh5+ Ke7]
13.Bf4 e5 14.Rfe1 f6 15.Rad1! A very fine move,
powerfully completing White's development
15...Be7 [15...a6 16.Qh5+ Kd8 17.Be4 axb5
18.Rxd5 exf4 19.Red1! After which Black can at
least defend himself better than in the game]
16.Bc4! d4 17.Be6! Qd8 18.Bxe5! 18...Bxe6
[18...fxe5 19.Qf7#; 18...Nxe5 19.Rxe5 Bxe6
20.Rxe6 Black's defence is cracked] 19.Nc7+ Kf7
20.Nxe6 Since the Knight can't be taken because
of 21. Bc7+ White has recovered all of his
material, and in view of Black's insecure King, the
game is as good as over. But Keres still has some
pretty points to show us
XABCDEFGHY
8r+ wq + tr(
7zpp+ vlkzpp'
6 +n+Nzp +&
5+ + vL + %
4 + zp + +$
3+ + +Q+ #
2PzPP+ zPPzP"
1+ +RtR mK !
xabcdefghy
20...Qa5 21.Bxd4 Qxa2 22.Bxf6!! Bxf6 [22...gxf6
23.Qh5+ Kg8 24.Qg4+ Kf7 25.Qg7+ Ke8
26.Nc7#] 23.Rd7+ Ne7 [23...Kg8 24.Qxf6! gxf6
25.Rg7#; 23...Ke8 24.Rxb7!; 23...Kg6 24.Rxg7+
Bxg7 25.Qg4+ Kf7 26.Qxg7+ Ke8 27.Nc5+ Kd8
28.Qd7#] 24.Rxe7+ Kxe7 25.Qxb7+ Kd6
[25...Ke8 26.Ng5+ Kd8 27.Rd1+ Ke8 28.Qxa8+
Ke7 29.Qb7+ Ke8 30.Qc8+ Ke7 31.Rd7#]
26.Qc7+ Kd5 27.Qc5# 10
Michel - Flohr
Hastings, 1934
Kings Indian
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 00
6.Be2 Nbd7 7.00 e5 8.d5 a5 9.Qc2 Nh5! 10.g3
Nc5 11.Ne1 Bh3 12.Ng2 Nf6 In order to keep the
Black Knight from f4, White has weakened his K-
side by Pg3. He could still have held his game
together by playing 13.Pf3 followed by Nd1f2.
XABCDEFGHY
8r+ wq trk+(
7+pzp +pvlp'
6 + zp snp+&
5zp snPzp + %
4 +P+P+ +$
3+ sN + zPl#
2PzPQ+LzPNzP"
1tR vL +RmK !
xabcdefghy
28
13.Re1? [13.f3 -14. Nd1 -15. Nf2] 13...Nfd7
14.Be3 f5 15.f3 f4! [15...fxe4 Doesn't lead to
much] 16.Bxc5 An unsuccessful attempt to keep
the game closed [16.Bf2; 16.gxf4 exf4 17.Bxf4
(17.Nxf4 Qg5+ 18.Kh1 Rxf4) 17...Bxg2] 16...Nxc5
17.g4 h5! 18.gxh5 Hoping to occupy the open g-
file 18...Qg5 This intermediate move foils White's
plans. It is only Black who gets an open file for his
Rooks [18...gxh5 19.Kh1] 19.Bf1 Qxh5 20.Qf2
Bf6 21.Be2 Kg7 22.Kh1 Rh8 The big guns are
already in position 23.Rg1 Rh6 24.Bf1 Rah8 The
Black bishop moves off the h-file next move,
leaving the h2 square indefensible 01
Capablanca - Ragozin
Moskva Moskva (6), 1935
Nimzo-Indian
How Black should not treat the Wyvill formation
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.a3 Bxc3+ 5.bxc3
d6 6.Qc2 00 7.e4 e5 8.Bd3 c5 9.Ne2 Nc6 10.d5
Ne7? Here we see the Wyvill formation in its
worst light for Black who 1) has blocked c5 so that
his Knight can't use it 2) Has castled Kingside 3)
can't now put pressure on the c-pawn, as he
could have done by 10... Na5, followed by ... Pb5
and ... Ba6 11.f3 Nd7 12.h4 Nb6 13.g4 f6 Permits
White to open the g-file, but also enables his own
King to escape to the Queenside 14.Ng3 Kf7
15.g5 Ng8 16.f4 Ke8 17.f5 Qe7 18.Qg2 Now that
B lack is deprived of all chance of counterplay,
White can prepare the decisive action at leisure. It
is clear that the g-file will be the scene of the final
showdown
XABCDEFGHY
8r+l+ktrn+(
7zpp+ wq zpp'
6 sn zp zp +&
5+ zpPzpPzP %
4 +P+P+ zP$
3zP zPL+ sN #
2 + + +Q+"
1tR vL mK +R!
xabcdefghy
18...Kd8 19.Nh5 Kc7 20.gxf6 gxf6 21.Ng7 Bd7
22.h5 Rac8 23.h6 This support point at g7 is of
the utmost importance. White will be able to
switch the Knight at will to e6 and replace it with a
Rook 23...Kb8 24.Rg1 Rf7 25.Rb1 Qf8 26.Be2
Ka8 27.Bh5 Re7 28.Qa2 Qd8 29.Bd2 Na4 Again
we witness combined operations by White on both
flanks 30.Qb3 Nb6 [30...b6 31.Ne6] 31.a4! Rb8
[31...Bxa4 32.Qa2 Bd7 33.Ne6 Bxe6 34.dxe6
Rec7 35.Rxb6] 32.a5 Nc8 33.Qa2 Qf8 34.Be3 b6
35.a6 Qd8 36.Kd2 Qf8 37.Rb2 Qd8 38.Qb1 b5
An attempt to get some counterplay even now. If
he continues to do nothing, White will penetrate
via the g-file 39.cxb5 Nb6 40.Qa2 c4 41.Qa3
Qc7 42.Kc1 Rf8 43.Rbg2 Qb8 44.Qb4 Rd8
45.Rg3 Rf8 46.Ne6 Bxe6 [46...Rc8 47.Bxb6 axb6
48.a7] 47.dxe6 Rc7 48.Qxd6 Ne7 49.Rd1 10
Fine - Koltanowsky
Hastings, 1935
Kings Indian
The d-pawn forward and open f-file 1.d4 Nf6
2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.g3 00 6.Bg2 Nc6
7.Nge2 e5 8.d5 Ne7 9.00 Nd7 10.Be3 f5 11.Qd2
Nf6 12.f3 Kh8 13.Bh6 Bxh6 14.Qxh6 fxe4
15.fxe4 Bd7 16.h3 Neg8 17.Qe3 h5 The open f-
file favours White here, for in the long run the
exchange of Rooks is inevitable, and this will
reduce Black's chances of a Kingisde attack.
White's chances, on the other ohand, consist of a
pawn storm against Black's base (the d-pawn)
and this operation will not be hindered by an
exchange of Rooks
XABCDEFGHY
8r+ wq trnmk(
7zppzpl+ + '
6 + zp snp+&
5+ +Pzp +p%
4 +P+P+ +$
3+ sN wQ zPP#
2PzP +N+L+"
1tR + +RmK !
xabcdefghy
18.Nc1 Qc8 19.Kh2 Kg7 20.Nd3 Nh6 21.Qd2
Allows White to go ahead undisturbed on the
Queenside. Fine now goes straight for his target
[21.-- Nhg4+ the threat] 21...Qe8 22.c5 Qe7
23.b4 Nh7 24.Qe3 Qg5? After what we have
been saying, it is obvious that the exchange of
Queens plays into White's hands. Black had to try
to creat chances on the Kingside [24...h4 25.g4?
29
Bxg4!] 25.Qxg5 Nxg5 26.b5 Rxf1 27.Rxf1 Rf8 All
according to schedule 28.Rxf8 Kxf8 29.c6 Bc8
30.Nb4 Ke8 [30...b6 31.Na6 Bxa6 32.bxa6+-]
31.cxb7 Bxb7 32.Nc6 a6 This gives White a
passed a-pawn [32...Bxc6 33.bxc6 Hopeless for
Black with the Black Knights cut off by the double
pawn chain on the e, d and c-files, the White
pieces would have things all their own way on the
far side of the board]
XABCDEFGHY
8 + +k+ +(
7+lzp + + '
6p+Nzp +psn&
5+P+Pzp snp%
4 + +P+ +$
3+ sN + zPP#
2P+ + +LmK"
1+ + + + !
xabcdefghy
33.Bf1 axb5 34.Bxb5 Bxc6 35.Bxc6+ Kd8
36.Kg2 Ng8 37.h4 Nf7 38.a4 Ne7 39.Bb7 Kd7
40.a5 Nd8 41.a6 Nc8 42.Nb5 Nb6 43.Na7 10
Glucksberg - Najdorf
Warsaw Warsaw, 1935
Dutch
23. NAJDORF (19101997) The strength of the
Argentine grandmaster Najdorf lies mainly in the
middle game and the endgame. He admits he
plays the openings less well than his Grandmaster
colleagues. His style is highly combinative calling
to mind the games of Alekhine. He makes snap
decisions in keeping with his mercurial
temperament. Positionally he has not reached the
same heights as he has done in the field of
tactics. In his early years in particulary he lacked
the compusure and patience which are necessary
for converting small positional advantages into a
win. Najdorf is a fine simultaneous player and one
of the greatest blindfold experts the world has
ever seen - perfhaps the very greatest. The world
record he holds - 45 simultaneous blindfold
games - will be very difficult to surpass. Here is
Najdorf's immortal game 1.d4 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3
e6 4.Nf3 d5 5.e3 Too passive [5.g3] 5...c6 6.Bd3
Bd6 7.00 00 8.Ne2 Nbd7 9.Ng5? An elementary
mistake, typical of mediocre opponents of the era
of Anderssen and Morphy
XABCDEFGHY
8r+lwq trk+(
7zpp+n+ zpp'
6 +pvlpsn +&
5+ +p+psN %
4 +PzP + +$
3+ +LzP + #
2PzP +NzPPzP"
1tR vLQ+RmK !
xabcdefghy
9...Bxh2+ 10.Kh1 [10.Kxh2 Ng4+ 11.Kg1 Qxg5]
10...Ng4! But this is the real refutation 11.f4
[11.Nxe6 Qh4] 11...Qe8 12.g3 Qh5 13.Kg2 Bg1!
In view of the threat to the e-pawn White has little
choice 14.Nxg1 [14.Rxg1 Qh2+ 15.Kf3 Qf2#]
14...Qh2+ 15.Kf3 e5!! The climax of the
combination 16.dxe5 Ndxe5+ 17.fxe5 Nxe5+
18.Kf4 Ng6+ 19.Kf3 f4!! 20.exf4 Bg4+! 21.Kxg4
Ne5+! 22.fxe5 h5# 01
Flohr - Lilienthal
Moscow, 1936
Kings Indian
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 d6 3.Nf3 Nbd7 4.g3 g6 5.Bg2 Bg7
6.00 00 7.Nc3 e5 8.e4 Re8 9.d5 Nc5 10.Ne1 a5
11.b3 Bd7 12.h3 Rf8 13.Be3 Ne8 Black's play
has been more to the point ... all set for ... Pf5
14.Rc1 b6 15.Qd2 f5 16.exf5 Bxf5? This leaves
White in control of a fine support point at e4.
Recapture with the pawn is indicated in this sort of
position [16...gxf5] 17.g4! Bd7 18.Nf3 Rb8
19.Ng5! Bf6 20.Nge4 Bg7 21.Rce1 Nf6
30
XABCDEFGHY
8 tr wq trk+(
7+ zpl+ vlp'
6 zp zp snp+&
5zp snPzp + %
4 +P+N+P+$
3+PsN vL +P#
2P+ wQ zPL+"
1+ + tRRmK !
xabcdefghy
22.Ng3! Every exchange would ease Black's task,
and White must in any case be careful to keep a
Knight to make use of the strong square e4. If any
Black piece contest control of this square, White's
first priority is to drive them away. He now
threatens Pg5 22...Kh8 [22...Be8 23.f4 exf4
24.Bxf4 Nfd7 25.Bh6 Bf7 (Alatortzev)] 23.f4 Ng8
24.Nce4 Nxe4 25.Nxe4 Qe7 26.Ng5 Rbe8
27.fxe5 Bxe5 28.Nf3 Bg7? [28...Qg7 29.Nxe5
dxe5 White would have a decisive positional
advantage, with his strong point at e4, his Bishop
pair and his active Queenside majority which can
start rolling at once with Pc5] 29.Bxb6 Qxe1
30.Rxe1 Rxe1+ 31.Qxe1 cxb6 32.Qg3 a4
33.Qxd6 axb3 34.axb3 10
Van Scheltinga - de Groot
match game, 1936
Kings Indian
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 00
6.Be2 e5 7.00 Nfd7 8.Be3 Nc6 9.Qd2 exd4
10.Nxd4 Nxd4 11.Bxd4 Bxd4 12.Qxd4 Qf6
Black's intention was apparently to obtain a quick
draw, or else by simplifying the position, to
minimize the inconvenience which his space
disadvantage might cause. White's next move,
however, makes it clear that the foregoing moves
have led only to a weakening of the Black
position.
XABCDEFGHY
8r+l+ trk+(
7zppzpn+p+p'
6 + zp wqp+&
5+ + + + %
4 +PwQP+ +$
3+ sN + + #
2PzP +LzPPzP"
1tR + +RmK !
xabcdefghy
13.Qd2! [13.Qxf6 Nxf6] 13...Qe5!? [13...c6
14.Rad1; 13...Nb6] 14.f4! [14.Nd5 c6!] 14...Qc5+
15.Kh1 Nf6 Now it looks as though Black has
solved all his problems 16.b4!! [16.Nd5 Nxe4]
16...Qxb4? Losing outright [16...Qc6 17.Qd4
Black's in dire straits] 17.Qd4! Kg7 [17...Nd7
18.Nd5+-] 18.Nd5 Qc5 19.Qxf6+ mates 10
Alekhine - Reshevsky
Kemeri, 1937
Alekhine Defense
ALEKHINE (18921946) Alekhine strove first and
foremost to avoid passive positions. Above all he
was an attacker, and for the sake of attack he
would gladly take risks. Originality was a
prominent feature of his play; although he usually
avoided the well-known gambits he had a
penchant for improvising his own. His style may
be described as an amalgam of fantasy, science,
and ambition 1.e4 Nf6 [1...e5 Examples of the
way Alekhine liked to treat the openings 2.Nf3
Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.00 Be7 6.Re1 b5
7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 Na5 9.Bc2 c5 10.d4 Qc7 11.Nbd2
00 12.Nf1 Bg4 13.Ne3! Bxf3 14.Qxf3 (14.gxf3
also playable) 14...cxd4 15.Nf5 (15.cxd4 exd4
16.Nf5) 15...dxc3 16.Qxc3 White has attacking
chances Alekhine - Fine, Hastings, 1936-37;
1...e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nge2 (4.Bd2 dxe4
5.Nxe4? (5.Qg4 Qxd4 (5...Nf6 6.Qxg7 Rg8 7.Qh6
Nc6) 6.Nf3 (6.000!) 6...Nh6! 7.Qf4 e5) 5...Qxd4
6.Bd3 Bxd2+ 7.Qxd2 Qd8? This cautious retreat is
poor. (7...Qxb2 8.Rd1 Nd7 Black can consolidate
eventually. This line conforms to Steinitz's dogma
that a gambit can be refuted only by accepting it)
8.000 Qe7 9.Nf3 Nf6 10.Rhe1 Nxe4 11.Rxe4
Nd7 12.Rg4 f5 13.Rf4 Nf6 14.Re1 g6 15.h3)
4...dxe4 5.a3 Be7 6.Nxe4 Nc6 7.g4 This much
31
criticised move is typical of Alekhine's style 7...b6
(7...e5! 8.d5 Nd4 9.N2c3; 7...Nf6 Alekhine) 8.Bg2
Bb7 9.c3 Nf6 10.N2g3 00 Too risky; Black could
still get a reasonable game with ... Qd7 followed
by Queenside castling (10...Qd7 11.-- 000)
11.g5 Nxe4 12.Nxe4 Kh8 13.Qh5 With excellent
attacking chances for White Alekhine - Euwe, 7th
match game, 1935] 2.e5 Nd5 3.Nf3 d6 4.d4 Bg4
5.c4 Nb6 6.Be2 dxe5 7.Nxe5 [7.c5 Alekhine-
Euwe (29), 1935 7...e4 8.cxb6 exf3 9.Bxf3 Bxf3
10.Qxf3 Nc6! (10...axb6) ] 7...Bxe2 8.Qxe2 Qxd4
9.00 [9.Na3 N8d7 (9...e6 10.Nc2) 10.Nf3
Alekhine] 9...N8d7 10.Nxd7 Nxd7 11.Nc3 c6
12.Be3 Qe5 13.Rad1 e6 14.Qf3 000 15.Bxa7
Qa5 16.Bd4 Qf5 17.Qg3 Alekhine is clearly bent
on settling the issue in the middlegame [17.Qxf5
Another promising course]
XABCDEFGHY
8 +ktr vl tr(
7+p+n+pzpp'
6 +p+p+ +&
5+ + +q+ %
4 +PvL + +$
3+ sN + wQ #
2PzP + zPPzP"
1+ +R+RmK !
xabcdefghy
17...e5 18.Be3 Bb4 19.Na4 Ba5 20.f4! Directed
at 20. ... Bc7 and 21. ... Pe4 20...Bc7 21.b3 f6
22.fxe5 Qe6 23.h3 Rhg8 [23...Nxe5 24.Nc5 not
allowing ... Qg4] 24.Bd4 Nxe5 [24...fxe5 25.Qe3
e4 26.c5 Rde8] 25.Qc3 Nd7 26.c5! Rge8 27.b4!
Nb8 [27...Qxa2 28.Ra1 Qe6 29.b5 -- 30.Nb6+]
28.Nb6+ Bxb6 29.cxb6 Qxa2 30.Qg3! Rd7
[30...Qf7 31.Ra1 Rxd4 32.Ra8 Re5 33.Qxe5
Alekhine] 31.Bc5 [31.Bxf6 gxf6 32.Rxd7 Kxd7
33.Qc7+ Ke6 34.Re1+ simpler (Alekhine)]
31...Qf7 32.Ra1 Qg6 33.Qh2 Re5 34.Ra8 Rd2
[34...Qe8 35.Qg3] 35.Rxb8+ Kxb8 36.Qxe5+
fxe5 37.Rf8+ 10
Euwe - Winter
Amsterdam, 1937
Sicilian
The great significance of Pc4 for White 1.e4 c5
2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.f3 Nc6 6.c4! e6
7.Nc3 Be7 8.Nc2 00 9.Be2 Qc7 10.00 Rd8 In
the Sicilian the question whether White can play
Pc4 or not is vital. From the preceding examples
we have seen that Black's chief trump card is his
action down the half-open c-file, with the
eventual central advance ... Pd5, also playing an
important part If, however, White succeeds in
playing Pc4, both these plans for Black are
forestalled. He will not make much headway on
the c-file against White's bulward at c4, while the
advance ... Pd5 will be, to say the least, a difficult
matter 11.Bf4
XABCDEFGHY
8r+ltr +k+(
7zppwq vlpzpp'
6 +nzppsn +&
5+ + + + %
4 +P+PvL +$
3+ sN +P+ #
2PzPN+L+PzP"
1tR +Q+RmK !
xabcdefghy
Ne5 [11...Qb6+ 12.Kh1 d5 13.cxd5 exd5 14.exd5
Be6 15.Bc4 Qc5 16.Ne3 Nh5 17.Bc7 Rd7
(17...Qxe3 18.Bxd8 Rxd8 19.Qe1 Qxe1 20.Raxe1
Na5 21.Bb5 a6 22.Ba4 b5 23.dxe6 bxa4 24.exf7+
Kxf7 25.Re5) 18.Qe1 Rxc7 19.dxe6 White has
won a pawn] 12.Nb5 [12.b3 d5 13.exd5 exd5
14.Nxd5 Nxd5 15.cxd5 Qc5+ 16.Kh1 Rxd5 In
general is true that whenever Black achieves ...
Pd5 successfully he gets the advantage] 12...Qb8
[12...Qc5+ 13.Be3 Qc6 14.Ncd4 Qd7 15.f4 Nc6
16.Nf3 d5 17.cxd5 exd5 18.e5 Ne4 19.Rc1 Black
has achieved ... Pd5 but it will do him no good.
White's kingside pawn majority ensures him a
strong attack] 13.Qd2 a6 [13...d5 14.Qc3 Nfd7
15.cxd5] 14.Nc3 Qc7 15.b3 b6 16.Rac1 Bb7
17.Nd4 Rac8 18.Rfd1 Nc6 19.Nxc6 Bxc6? This
allows White to transform his space advantage
into something more concrete [19...Qxc6 White
would have trained his guns on the b-pawn
20.Be3 -- 21.Bf1 -- 22.Qf2 -- 23.Na4] 20.Nd5!
Qb7 [20...exd5 21.cxd5 Qb7 22.dxc6 Rxc6
23.Bxa6!; 20...Bxd5 21.cxd5 Qb7 22.Rxc8 Rxc8
23.dxe6 fxe6 24.Qb4 Decisive positional
advantage] 21.Nxe7+ Qxe7 22.Bxd6 Qb7 23.Qe3
Rd7 24.e5 Ne8 25.Rd4 Rcd8 26.Rcd1 Qa7
32
27.Rg4 f5 [27...Nxd6 28.exd6 Rxd6 29.Rxd6
Rxd6 30.Qe5] 28.Rgd4 b5 This is often Black's
best chance when Whte plays Pc4, but here it is
far too late
XABCDEFGHY
8 + trn+k+(
7wq +r+ zpp'
6p+lvLp+ +&
5+p+ zPp+ %
4 +PtR + +$
3+P+ wQP+ #
2P+ +L+PzP"
1+ +R+ mK !
xabcdefghy
29.c5 Qb7 30.a4 Ra8 31.Bd3 Bd5 32.Bxf5 10
Botvinnik - Chekhover
Leningrad Ch URS , Leningrad (Russia), 1938
Nimzo-Indian
5. BOTVINNIK (19101992) In some ways
Botvinnik was a disciple of Lasker. He was, like
his great forerunner - first of all a great fighter. He
revels in difficult positions; but when necessary he
also plays simple positions with accuracy which is
scarecely surpassable. his master stems from the
harmony which exists between his chess
technique and his human attributes. His style is
distinguished by great originality. Ne never minds
having his pawn position shattered, providing that
he thereby obtains free play for his pieces. In this
respect he goes much farther than Tarrasch, who
spoke out in favour of having an isolated d-pawn.
Botvinnik was not only unafrad of an isolated d-
pawn; he quite frequently was prepared to accept
doubled or even trebled pawns Botvinnik not only
thirst for battle; as a rule he is thoroughly
prepared for it. Several times he lost matches in
defence of the World Championshpi - first against
Smyslov, then against Tal, and then against
Petrosian. In two of these cases - against
Smyslov and tal - he had the opportunity for a
return match, and both times he made such
thorough preparations, and directed those
preparations so accurately at the weaknesses of
his opponents, that they were no match for him.
His skill in the deep and exhaustive analysis of
adjounment positions is scarecely rivaled. He has
adopted his own particular repertoire of openings,
especially with the Black pieces. Against 1. Pe4
his first choice of defence used to be the French
and then the Sicilian, in keeping with his
preference for difficult positions. Later he often
used the Caro-Kann, especially when he needed
a solid defence against the ferocious attacking
style of Tal 1.d4 Nf6 [1...d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nf3 Nf6
4.e3 e6 5.Bxc4 c5 6.00 a6 7.a4 cxd4 8.exd4 This
variation occured repeatedly in his match with
Petrosian, the man who dethroned Botvinnik as
World Champion in 1963] 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4
4.Nf3 [4.Qb3 Botvinnik's variations with the White
pieces exemplify his disregard of weakened pawn
structures 4...c5 5.dxc5 Nc6 6.Bg5 h6 7.Bh4 Nd4
8.Qa4! Bxc3+ 9.bxc3 Nf5 10.Bxf6 Qxf6 11.Rc1]
4...00 5.Bg5 d6 6.e3 Botvinnik wished to leave
e4 open for occupation by his pieces [6.e4 h6
7.Bxf6 Bxc3+ 8.bxc3 Qxf6] 6...Qe7 7.Be2 e5
8.Qc2 Re8 9.00 Bxc3 This practically forces the
doubling of the c-pawns. Botvinnik was not afraid
of doubled pawns when there is positonal
compensation (in this case the possibility of
occupying d5 later 10.bxc3 [10.Qxc3 Ne4
11.Bxe7 Nxc3] 10...h6 11.Bh4 c5 Black hopes to
induce White to play Pd5, but it doesn't work out
well here. [11...g5 12.Bg3 Nh5 Botvinnik] 12.Rfe1
To be able to play Nd2 12...Bg4 13.Bxf6 Qxf6
14.Qe4 Bxf3 [14...Bc8 15.Qd5 annoying to Black]
15.Bxf3 Nc6 16.dxc5 "A double pawn is a
weakness which may perhaps be endured, but an
isolated doubled pawn is a disadvantage which
must lead to the loss of the game". Not long ago
this was the accepted opinoun, but Botvinnik's
games have repeatedly demonstrated that this
must be taken with a grain of salt
XABCDEFGHY
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7zpp+ +pzp '
6 +nzp wq zp&
5+ zP zp + %
4 +P+Q+ +$
3+ zP zPL+ #
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1tR + tR mK !
xabcdefghy
33
16...dxc5 17.Rad1 Rad8 18.Rd5 Here we see the
doubled pawn as a support pawn in the
exploitation of a strong square 18...b6 [18...Qe7
19.Red1 g6 20.-- f5] 19.Red1 Na5 20.h3 Rxd5
21.Rxd5! Botvinnik declines to dissolve his
doubled pawns. He would then have a protected
passed pawn, but Black would have been able to
favourably blockade it at once by ... Nb7-d6
[21.cxd5 Nb7 22.-- Nd6] 21...Qe7 [21...Rd8
22.Qd3 Rxd5 23.Qxd5 White has excellent
chances] 22.Bg4 Qb7 23.Bf5 Qb8 [23...--
24.Rd7 Qxe4 25.Bxe4 -- 26.Bd5; 23...g6 24.Bxg6
fxg6 25.Qxg6+ Kf8 26.Rd6+-] 24.Rd7 Rd8 Black
must surrender the e-pawn [24...-- 25.Bh7+ Kf8
26.Qd5 Re7 27.Rd8+] 25.Qxe5! Black can't take
the Queen because of mate on the back rank
25...Nxc4 26.Qxb8 Rxb8 27.Be4!! Now White
threatens Bd5 winning the f-pawn [27.Rxa7 Nd6
28.-- c4 29.-- Nb5] 27...Na3 [27...-- 28.Bd5]
28.Bd5 Rf8 29.e4! Still White resists the
temptation to win material 29...a5 30.c4! b5
31.cxb5 Nxb5 32.e5 a4 [32...g5 33.Rb7 Nc3
34.Bc4 Black is lost] 33.f4 White's pawn majority
in the centre and Kingside will now yield a
decisive passed pawn
XABCDEFGHY
8 + + trk+(
7+ +R+pzp '
6 + + + zp&
5+nzpLzP + %
4p+ + zP +$
3+ + + +P#
2P+ + +P+"
1+ + + mK !
xabcdefghy
33...Nd4 34.Kf2 g5 35.g3 gxf4 36.gxf4 Ne6
[36...Kg7 37.Ke3 Nf5+ 38.Ke4 Kg6 39.Bxf7+ Rxf7
40.Rxf7 Ng3+ 41.Kf3 Kxf7 42.Kxg3 c4 43.Kf2 c3
44.Ke2 White wins easily as he can stop the c-
pawn] 37.Ke3 c4 38.f5 White still eschews
material gain in order to proceed with his pain
strategy 38...Nc5 39.Rc7 Nd3 40.e6 fxe6 41.fxe6
Re8 42.e7+ Kg7 43.Bc6 10
Tolush - Botvinnik
Russia Ch URS, Leningrad (2), 1939
Gruenfeld Defense
By means of an Exchange sacrifice Black
punishes White's premature initiative 1.d4 Nf6
2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.e3 00 6.Rc1 c5
7.dxc5 Qa5 8.cxd5 Rd8 9.Qd2 Nxd5 10.Bc7
[10.Nxd5 Qxd2+ 11.Kxd2 Rxd5+ 12.Kc2 Bf5+
13.Kb3 Rd2+ winning attack] 10...Qxc7 11.Nxd5
Rxd5! This Excahnge sacrifice, forced
incidentally, allows Black to seize the initiative
12.Qxd5 Be6 13.Qd2 Nc6 14.Rd1? [14.Bd3 Rd8
15.Qe2 Ne5 16.Rd1 Qa5+ 17.Kf1 Rxd3! pinning
tactics 18.Rxd3 Bc4+; 14.Rc3 returning the
exchange] 14...Rd8 15.Qc1 Qa5+ Now the
wretched position of the White King brings its
retribution 16.Rd2 Critical position 16...Rd5
[16...Bxa2] 17.Ne2 [17.-- Threatening to turn the
board into a slaughter house 17...Rxc5 18.Qb1
Bxa2 19.Qa1 Nb4] 17...Rxc5 18.Nc3 Bxc3
19.bxc3 Rxc3 20.Qb2 Ra3 A sorry situation, and
a drastic demonstration of the consequences of
having one's King caught in the middle. Hard
pressed by threats from all directions, he is still
unable to complete his development, and far from
enjoying hte advantage of the Exchange, he finds
himself in effect two pieces short on the Kingside
XABCDEFGHY
8 + + +k+(
7zpp+ zpp+p'
6 +n+l+p+&
5wq + + + %
4 + + + +$
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2PwQ tR zPPzP"
1+ + mKL+R!
xabcdefghy
21.Qb5 Qc3 [21...Rxa2? Keep pieces on the
board!] 22.Qb2 Qc5 23.Qb1 [23.Be2 Rxa2
24.Qb1 Qc3 25.Qd1 Nb4+] 23...Bxa2! 24.Rxa2
Qa5+ [24...Rxa2?? lazy calculation] 25.Rd2 Ra1
26.Bd3 Rxb1+ 27.Bxb1 Ne5 Even now White
could put up a respectable fight if only he could
castle and get his King into safety. But Black
holds on this his advantage with an iron hand
28.Ke2 Qb5+ 29.Bd3 Nxd3 30.Rxd3 a5 [30...f5]
31.Rhd1 Qc4 [31...a4] 32.Kf3 At last the Rooks
34
are free to cooperate, and the King is not in
immediate danger; but now, with Black's united
passed pawns advancing irresistibly, it is all too
late 32...b5 [32...h5 cheapos] 33.Rd7 b4 34.Ra7
a4 [34...Qc6+ no time to waste] 35.Rd8+ Kg7
36.Rda8 a3 37.g3 Qb5 [37...Qc5 get the Queen
behind the passed pawns] 01
Szabo - Euwe
Budapest, 1940
Ruy Lopez
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.00 d6
6.Re1 Bd7 7.c3 Be7 8.d4 00 9.Nbd2 exd4
10.cxd4 Nb4 11.Bxd7 [11.Bb3 sharper 11...c5
12.Nf1 Bb5 13.Ng3 d5 14.e5 Ne4 15.Nxe4 dxe4
16.Rxe4 Bd3 17.Re3 c4 18.a3 lively development
(Euwe-Keres, 1939)] 11...Qxd7 12.Nf1 d5
13.Ne5! Before committimg himself to the
advance of Pe5, White goes in for a maneuver to
exchange a pair of Knights and thereby be ready
to push the f-pawn aswell 13...Qe8 14.a3 Nc6
15.Nxc6 Qxc6 16.e5 Ne4 17.Ne3 Qd7 18.f3 The
point of White's previous moves is now apparent;
his pawn majority on the Kingside is four against
three ... it rolls into action with gain oftempo
18...Ng5 19.f4 Ne4 20.f5 Rfe8 21.Qf3 A critical
moment. White threatens to win a pawn with
Nxd5, and so compels Black's reply. The result is
that Black's can't obtain counterplay by means of
... Pc5 21...c6 22.f6! Bf8 23.fxg7 Bxg7 24.Nf5
Qe6 25.Be3 Qg6 26.Rad1? The strongly placed
Black Knight makes it difficult for White to attack,
but this last move permits Black to get rid of the
spearhand of the White position - the e pawn -
and suddenly it is Black who stands better. It is
essential for White to prevent ... Pf6 [26.Rf1
necessary]
XABCDEFGHY
8r+ +r+k+(
7+p+ +pvlp'
6p+p+ +q+&
5+ +pzPN+ %
4 + zPn+ +$
3zP + vLQ+ #
2 zP + +PzP"
1+ +RtR mK !
xabcdefghy
26...f6! 27.Nh4 Qf7 28.Rf1 Qe6 29.exf6 Bxf6
30.Nf5 Kh8 In a few moves the whole picture has
changed. Through the disappearance of the e-
pawn, White is now plagued by the weakness of
his isolated d-pawn; moreover, the open g-file
will be favourable to Black. This is a familiar
circumstance in the struggle for the centre. A
central pawn majority lays upon its owner the
responsibility of maintaining it. A pawn centre
always has associated weaknesses, which remain
latent so long as the centre is intact. As soon as it
becomes impossible to hold the centre, the
drawbacks loom larger 31.Qh5 Rg8 32.Rf3 Bg5
33.Rdf1 Raf8 34.Nh6 [34.Nh4 Rxf3 35.Nxf3 Nf6
+] 34...Bxe3+ 35.Rxe3 Rxf1+ 36.Kxf1 Qf6+
37.Nf5 Rf8 38.g4 Qxd4 39.Qxh7+? [39.Qh6
Qd1+ 40.Kg2 Qxg4+ 41.Rg3 Qe2+; 39.Rf3 Qd1+
40.Kg2 Qe2+] 39...Kxh7 40.Rh3+ Kg8 01
Lundin - Mross
Munich, 1941
Stonewall
Opening a file in the Double Pseudo-Stonewall
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.g3 b6 3.Bg2 Bb7 4.00 g6 5.d3 Bg7
6.e4 d6 7.c4 00 8.Nc3 Nbd7 9.Nh4 e5 10.f4 h6
11.Nf3 Kh7 12.f5 g5 13.g4! Ne8 14.Kf2 Rh8
15.Rh1 Kg8 16.h4 f6 17.Be3 Qe7 18.Qd2 c5 To
open the h-file at this moment would obviously
lead only to the exchange of a pair of Rooks.
Some preparation is necessary, and White's first
step must evidently be to double the Rooks
XABCDEFGHY
8r+ +n+ktr(
7zplzpnwq vl '
6 zp zp zp zp&
5+ + zpPzp %
4 +P+P+PzP$
3+ sNPvLN+ #
2PzP + mKL+"
1tR +Q+ +R!
xabcdefghy
19.Rh3 Nc7 20.Rah1 Kf7 21.Ne2 The knight is
bound for h5, there to reinforce the action of the
Rooks 21...a5 Black deprives himself of his only
chance for counterplay (... Pb5) 22.Ng3 Rag8
23.Nh5 Bc6 24.Ke1 [24.R1h2 -- 25.Qc1 --
26.Qh1] 24...Qd8 [24...Bf8 25.Nxf6 Nxf6 26.hxg5
35
Nxg4] 25.Nxg7 Kxg7 26.hxg5 hxg5 27.Nxg5! A
decisive sacrificce which enables White's Kingside
pawns to advance 27...fxg5 28.Bxg5 Nf6
29.Bh6+! Kf7 30.g5 Nce8 [30...Ng4 31.g6+ Ke7
(31...Ke8 32.Bg5) 32.Bg5+ Nf6 33.Rh7+] 31.gxf6
Qxf6 32.Bf3 Ba4 33.Rh5! Qe7 34.Bg5 Qf8
35.Rh7+ 10
Van den Bosch - Kramer
Leeuwarden, 1941
Veresov Attack
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 c6 5.Qd2 Bg7
6.Bh6 00 7.h4 Bf5 Black's opening play has
been risky, and his task now would not be easy if
White proceeded with 8. Ne5! followed by Pf3 and
Pg4 8.000?! This is much too venturesome
[8.Ne5 -- 9.f3 -- 10.g4] 8...Bxh6 9.Qxh6 Ng4
10.Qd2 Nxf2 11.e4 Nxh1 [11...Nxe4 12.Nxe4
dxe4 (12...Bxe4 13.Qh6) 13.Ne5 strong White
attack] 12.Qh6 [12.exf5 Ng3 Black would have no
difficulty] 12...f6 13.exf5 Qe8 14.h5 The idea of
this pawn sacrifice is to keep the Black Queen
away from g6
XABCDEFGHY
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6 +p+ zppwQ&
5+ +p+P+P%
4 + zP + +$
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1+ mKR+L+n!
xabcdefghy
14...gxh5 [14...gxf5 15.Qf4 e6 16.Nh4 -- 17.Be2
winning the Black Knight] 15.Ne4!? A new
sacrifice At the same time White deprives the
outlying Black knight of its escape squares, and
also threatens 16. Nc5. Decidedly a many-sided
move 15...Nd7 [15...dxe4 16.Bc4+ Kh8 17.Nh4
Rg8 18.Bxg8 Kxg8 19.Rxh1] 16.Bc4!? It is rare
indeed for a player to "fork himself" in this way
16...dxc4 17.Rxh1 Qf7 18.Rh3 with the aim of
preventing ... Qg7 18...Kh8 19.Nh4 Rg8 20.Ng6+
Rxg6 21.fxg6 Qxg6 22.Qe3 Qxg2 The attack is
broken and Black's advantage in material must
win th e game. "Sacrificing is easy enough", a
chess master once remarked, "the problem is how
to win your material back!" 23.Rxh5 Rg8 24.Nf2
Qf1+ 01
Alekhine - Junge
Crakow Crakow, 1942
Ruy Lopez
The active Bishop puts White in a position to start
a Kingside attack 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6
4.Ba4 Nf6 5.00 Be7 6.Qe2 b5 7.Bb3 00 8.c3 d5
9.d3! An excellent reply, avoiding the
complications arising from 9. exd5 and ensuring
White a positional advantage since the opening of
the d-file is in his favour (as he can immediately
occupy it) - Alekhine [9.exd5 Nxd5 (9...Bg4
10.dxc6 e4 11.h3) 10.Nxe5] 9...dxe4 [9...d4
10.cxd4 Nxd4 11.Nxd4 Qxd4 12.Be3 Qd6 13.f4;
9...Bg4 10.h3 (10.exd5 Nxd5 11.Qe4 Be6
12.Nxe5 Nxe5 13.Qxe5 Bd6) 10...Bh5 11.Bg5
dxe4 12.dxe4; 9...Qd6 10.Bg5] 10.dxe4 Bg4
11.h3 Bh5 12.Bg5 Ne8 [12...Na5 13.g4 Bg6
14.Nxe5 Bxe4 15.Bxf6 gxf6 16.Nxf7] 13.Bxe7
Bxf3 [13...Qxe7 14.g4 Bg6 15.Bd5 Qd7 16.Nbd2;
13...Nxe7 14.g4] 14.Qxf3 Nxe7 15.Rd1 Nd6
16.Nd2 c6 [16...Kh8 17.Nf1 (17.Bc2 c6) 17...f5]
17.Nf1 Qc7 18.a4 Rad8 19.Ng3 Nec8 [19...--
20.Qe3 -- (20...c5 21.Bd5) 21.axb5 axb5 22.Ra7]
20.axb5 axb5 21.Nf5 Nb6 [21...Nxf5 22.exf5]
22.Qe3
XABCDEFGHY
8 + tr trk+(
7+ wq +pzpp'
6 snpsn + +&
5+p+ zpN+ %
4 + +P+ +$
3+LzP wQ +P#
2 zP + zPP+"
1tR +R+ mK !
xabcdefghy
Nxf5 [22...-- 23.Qg5 Nxf5 24.exf5 Nd7 25.Rxd7
Rxd7 26.f6 g6 27.Qh6; 22...-- 23.Nxd6 Rxd6
24.Rxd6 Qxd6 25.Qxb6; 22...Nbc4; 22...Ndc4
23.Bxc4 Nxc4 24.Qc5 Nxb2 25.Rxd8 Rxd8
26.Ne7+ Kh8 27.Nxc6 Rc8 28.Ra7] 23.exf5 c5
[23...Nd5 24.Qf3 Nf6 25.g4; 23...Nd5 24.Bxd5
Rxd5 (24...cxd5 25.Ra7 d4 26.Rxc7 dxe3 27.Rxd8
exf2+ (27...e2 28.Rcc8 e1Q+ 29.Kh2 g5 30.f6 h5
31.Rxf8+ Kh7 32.Rg8) 28.Kxf2 Rxd8 29.Rb7)
36
25.Rxd5 cxd5 26.Ra7 Qd6 (26...Qb8 27.Qg5 Kh8
28.Qe7) 27.Rb7 Rb8 28.Qa7 Rxb7 29.Qxb7] 24.f6
gxf6 25.Qh6 f5 26.Bxf7+ Qxf7 [26...Kxf7
27.Qxh7+; 26...Rxf7 27.Qg5+; 26...Kh8 27.Qf6#]
27.Rxd8 Na4 [27...Rxd8 28.Qg5+] 28.b3 Nxc3
[28...Rxd8 29.Qg5+; 28...Qxb3 29.Rxf8#; 28...Nb2
29.Raa8] 29.Raa8 10
Bueno - Subiza
Larache, 1943
French
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.Nf3 b6
6.Bd3 Be7 7.Be3 00 8.h4 White now threatens
the Bishop sacrifice in its most effective form
8...f6? This is primarily to keep White's pieces off
g5 while pressuring the White e-pawn; also Black
hopes to eventually open the f-file. [8...--
9.Bxh7+ Kxh7 10.Ng5+ Kg8 (10...Bxg5 11.hxg5+
Kg8 12.Qh5 f5 13.g6+-; 10...Kh6 11.Nxe6+)
11.Qh5+-; 8...g6 9.h5; 8...f5 closing the diagonal
9.exf6 Nxf6]
XABCDEFGHY
8rsnlwq trk+(
7zp zpnvl zpp'
6 zp +pzp +&
5+ +pzP + %
4 + zP + zP$
3+ sNLvLN+ #
2PzPP+ zPP+"
1tR +QmK +R!
xabcdefghy
9.Bxh7+ Kxh7 [9...Kh8 10.Ng5 Qe8 11.h5! fxg5
12.Bg6 Qd8 13.h6 c5 14.Qh5 Nf6 15.hxg7+ Kxg7
16.Qh6+ Kg8 17.Qh8# Tactics based on the
power of the h-file] 10.Ng5+! fxg5 [10...Kg6
11.h5+; 10...Kg8 11.Qh5 fxg5 12.hxg5 Rf5
13.Qh7+ Kf8 14.g6 Ke8 15.Qxg7+-] 11.hxg5+
Kg8 [11...Kg6 12.Qh5+ Kf5 13.g4#] 12.Rh8+
Thematic pattern. The Pg6 wedge with tempo
12...Kxh8 13.Qh5+ Kg8 14.g6 Mate can not be
averted 10
Najdorf - Sanguinetti
Mar del Plata Mar del Plata (10), 1945
Queens Gambit Declined
Invasion on the c-file 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6
4.Bg5 Be7 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Nf3 00 7.Rc1 c6 8.Bd3
dxc4 9.Bxc4 Nd5 10.Bxe7 Qxe7 11.00 Nxc3
12.Rxc3 e5 13.Qb1 e4 14.Nd2 Nf6 15.b4 The
promptness with which White can start his
minority attack results from his 13. Qb1. The
question is really whether Black, in these
circumstances, should have played 13. ... Pe4.
We do not propose to argue this point here, as it
belongs properly in to the domain of the openings
15...a6 16.Rfc1 Bg4 [16...Bd7 17.-- Rac8] 17.a4
Rad8 intending ... Rd6 for a Kingside attack
[17...Rac8] 18.h3 Bh5? the Bishop can not be
spared from the Queenside [18...Bc8] 19.b5 axb5
20.axb5 c5 With this move, which is based on the
unprotected position of the White Knight, Black
avoids being left with a weak c-pawn, but he
jumps out of the frying pan into the fire
XABCDEFGHY
8 + tr trk+(
7+p+ wqpzpp'
6 + + sn +&
5+Pzp + +l%
4 +LzPp+ +$
3+ tR zP +P#
2 + sN zPP+"
1+QtR + mK !
xabcdefghy
21.Nb3! Black has to open the c-file himself
21...cxd4 [21...b6 22.dxc5 bxc5 23.Nxc5 Qxc5
24.Bxf7+] 22.Nxd4 Bg6 [22...Rc8 23.Bxf7+;
22...Nd5 23.Bxd5 Rxd5 24.Rc7 Rd7 25.Rxd7
Qxd7 26.Qxe4] 23.Bb3 Ne8 [23...Nd5 24.Rc5]
24.Qa2 Rd7 25.Qa5 Qd8 26.b6! Rd6 27.Rc8 Qe7
[27...Qxb6 28.Qa8] 28.Qc5 full mastery of the
open file than this there can not be! 28...Rd7
29.Ba4 Qxc5 [29...Rd6 30.Bxe8 Rxe8 31.Qxd6
overloaded Queen] 30.R1xc5 Re7 31.Rd8 h6
[31...Nf6 32.Rcc8] 32.Rcc8 f6 33.Rb8 10
37
Aitken - Bondaresvky
Radio Match England-USSR, 1946
French
The e-pawn forward, and open c-file 1.e4 e6
2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Qb6 6.Be2 cxd4
7.cxd4 Nge7 8.b3 Nf5 9.Bb2 Bb4+ 10.Kf1 h5
11.h4 Bd7 Here also the open file is of prime
importance 12.Nc3? [12.a3 Be7 13.Nc3 Ncxd4
14.Nxd5!] 12...Bxc3! 13.Bxc3 Rc8 14.Rh3 This
provides against the threat of ... Nxe5 [14.Qd2
White's Rook is not well placed on h3] 14...Nce7
15.Qd2 Bb5 Black gets rid of his bad Bishop in
exchange for White's good one 16.Ng1 Ng6
17.Qg5 00 18.Re1
XABCDEFGHY
8 +r+ trk+(
7zpp+ +pzp '
6 wq +p+n+&
5+l+pzPnwQp%
4 + zP + zP$
3+PvL + +R#
2P+ +LzPP+"
1+ + tRKsN !
xabcdefghy
f6! Opening a second file in readiness for a direct
attack on the White King 19.exf6 [19.Qxg6?? Be8
trapped Queen] 19...Rxf6 20.Bxb5 Qxb5+ 21.Ne2
Ngxh4! The White Rook was overloaded, with the
Bishop and the h-pawn to guard 22.a4 Qa6
23.Bb4 Rg6 24.Qxh5 Rh6 25.Qg5 Rc2 26.g3
Ne3+! 27.fxe3 Rf6+ 28.Qf4 [28.Kg1 Nf3+ 29.Kh1
Nxe1 30.Qh5 Rf1+ 31.Ng1 Rxg1+ 32.Kxg1 Rg2+
33.Kh1 Qf1#] 28...Rxf4+ 29.gxf4 Nf5 30.Kf2 Qd3
31.Rf3 Ra2! 32.a5 b6 33.axb6 axb6 White is in
zugzwang 34.Rh3 Nxd4 01
Konstantinopolsky - Panov
Moscow, 1946
Alekhine Defense
1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 Nb6 5.exd6 exd6
6.Nc3 Be7 7.Be3 Nc6 8.Be2 00 9.Nf3 In this well
known variation of Alekhine's Defence Black
suffers from lack of elbow room, his pieces
tending to obtruct each other. The Knight on b6 in
particular has to play a very modest role 9...Bg4
[9...Bf5 10.d5 -- 11.Nd4] 10.b3 Re8 11.00 Bf6
[11...Bxf3 12.Bxf3 Bg5 13.d5!] 12.Rc1 d5
Completing the d-pawn center, but under the
circumstances unfavourable to Black. However,
Black was understandably uneasy abot the
possibility of Pd5 as well as Ne4 or Nd5 [12...Ne7
13.Ne4; 12...Nd7 13.Nd5] 13.c5 Nc8 14.h3 Bh5
[14...Be6] 15.Qd2 h6 [15...N8e7 16.g4 Bg6 17.g5]
16.Rfe1 a6 17.Rcd1 g5? This move produces a
serious weakening of Black's Kingside which
White exploits immediately [17...N8e7 18.g4 Bg6
19.h4 Nc8 20.g5; 17...Bg6]
XABCDEFGHY
8r+nwqr+k+(
7+pzp +p+ '
6p+n+ vl zp&
5+ zPp+ zpl%
4 + zP + +$
3+PsN vLN+P#
2P+ wQLzPP+"
1+ +RtR mK !
xabcdefghy
18.Nxg5! Bxe2 19.Nxf7 Demolishing Black's
shaky fortress 19...Kxf7 20.Qxe2 N8e7 else the
d-pawn falls 21.Qh5+ Kg8 22.Bxh6 Qd7
[22...Bxd4 23.Rxd4; 22...Nxd4 23.Bg5 Bg7
24.Rxd4 Bxd4 25.Qg4 Bg7 26.Bf6] 23.Re3 Nf5
24.Nxd5 Qxd5 25.Rg3+ Nxg3 26.Qg6+! Kh8
27.Qxf6+ Kh7 28.Qg7# 10
Szabo - Kotov
Groningen Netherland Groningen Netherland,
1946
Queens Gambit Declined
The b1h7 Diagonal 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5
4.Nc3 c5 5.e3 Nc6 6.a3 Be7 7.dxc5 Bxc5 8.b4
Bb6 9.Bb2 00 10.Be2 dxc4 11.Bxc4 Qe7 12.00
a6 13.Qc2 Bc7
38
XABCDEFGHY
8r+l+ trk+(
7+pvl wqpzpp'
6p+n+psn +&
5+ + + + %
4 zPL+ + +$
3zP sN zPN+ #
2 vLQ+ zPPzP"
1tR + +RmK !
xabcdefghy
14.Ng5! This motif is typical of a tactical operation
utilizing the b1h7 diagonal 14...Bxh2+ [14...h6
15.Nd5 removing the guard of h7; 14...Ne5]
15.Kh1! [15.Kxh2? Ng4+ 16.Kg3 Qxg5+]
15...h6? [15...Be5 16.f4 Bxc3 17.Bxc3 g6 This
would repulse the attack along b1h7 diagonal at
the cost of increasing the dnagers on the other
long diagonal] 16.Nd5 exd5 17.Bxf6 Bf5 18.Qxf5
g6 19.Qxg6+ [19.Bxe7 gxf5 20.Bxf8+-] 19...fxg6
20.Bxd5+ Rf7 21.Bxe7 hxg5 22.Kxh2 Nxe7
23.Bxf7+ Kxf7 24.Rac1 Nc6 25.Rfd1 Ke6 26.Rc5
Rh8+ 27.Kg3 Rh5 28.Rcd5 Ne7 29.Rxg5 Rh1
30.Re5+ 10
Van Scheltinga - Van der Tol
Leeuwarden, 1946
French
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.dxc5 Nc6 5.Nf3 Bxc5
6.Bd3 f5 7.exf6 Nxf6 8.00 00 Black has a slight
lead in development but it is still not enough to
alter the picture. He is already threatening to push
... Pe5 and in addition is exerting troublesome
pressue against f2 9.c4 [9.Bf4 Ne4 10.Bxe4 dxe4
11.Qxd8 Nxd8+; 9.Qe2 e5 10.Nxe5 Nxe5
11.Qxe5 Re8 winning attack] 9...e5 sharp and
very effective 10.cxd5 e4 [10...Qxd5 11.Nc3;
10...Nxd5 11.Bc4] 11.dxc6 Qxd3! [11...exd3
12.Qb3+ Rf7 (12...Kh8 13.cxb7+-) 13.Ne5]
12.Qxd3 [12.Ne5 Qxd1 13.Rxd1 Bxf2+ 14.Kxf2
Ng4+] 12...exd3
XABCDEFGHY
8r+l+ trk+(
7zpp+ + zpp'
6 +P+ sn +&
5+ vl + + %
4 + + + +$
3+ +p+N+ #
2PzP + zPPzP"
1tRNvL +RmK !
xabcdefghy
13.Ne5? [13.Nc3 bxc6 14.Na4 Bd6 15.Be3]
13...bxc6 14.Nxd3 Bd4! White has won a pawn
but Black has an overwhelming position 15.Be3
[15.-- Ba6 16.Rd1 Rad8; 15.Nc3 Ba6 16.Rd1
Rad8 17.Ne2 Bxd3 18.Rxd3 Bxf2+] 15...Bxe3
16.fxe3 Ba6 17.Rd1 Rad8 18.Nf2 Rxd1+
19.Nxd1 Ne4 20.Nf2 Nxf2 01
Yanofsky - Botvinnik
GRONINGEN GRONINGEN, 1946
Ruy Lopez
The d-pawn forward, and an open c-file 1.e4 e5
2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.00 Be7 6.Re1
b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 00 9.h3 Na5 10.Bc2 c5 11.d4
Qc7 12.Nbd2 cxd4 13.cxd4 Nc6 14.d5 Nb4
15.Bb1 a5 16.Nf1 [16.a3 Na6 17.b4] 16...Bd7
17.Bd2 Rfc8 Black is quite prepared to accept the
doubling of his b-pawns, in return for which he
retains the two Bishops and gets the open a-file
18.Bxb4 axb4 19.Bd3 Bd8 20.Qd2 Qa5 21.Ne3
b3 Dissolving the doubled pawns 22.a3 Qa4
23.Nd1 b4 24.Ne3 bxa3 25.Rxa3
39
XABCDEFGHY
8r+rvl +k+(
7+ +l+pzpp'
6 + zp sn +&
5+ +Pzp + %
4q+ +P+ +$
3tRp+LsNN+P#
2 zP wQ zPP+"
1+ + tR mK !
xabcdefghy
Nxe4! This is the point of Black's Queenside
operation. In return for the b-pawn, which is
bound to fall, he wins a valuable centre pawn
26.Qd1 Qb4 27.Rxb3 Qa4 28.Bc2 Nc5 29.Rc3
Qb4 30.Qb1 So far Black has the better of it, with
two Bishops and the majority of the pawns in the
centre; but with this move White begins
counteraction 30...g6 31.Rc4 Qb7 32.b4 Na6
33.Rxc8 Rxc8 34.Bd3! Nxb4? [34...Rb8]
35.Re2! Ba5? [35...Rc1+ 36.Qxc1 Nxd3 drawing
chances] 36.Rb2 Rb8 37.Nd2! Qa7 38.Ndc4 Qc5
39.Nxa5 Qxa5 40.Nc2 Nxd3 Otherwise a whole
piece goes. Thus Black has been compelled to
cede the exchange after all, and under conditions
much less favourable than he could have obtained
by sacrificing it at the 35th move, for then he
would have kept his two Bishops
XABCDEFGHY
8 tr + +k+(
7+ +l+p+p'
6 + zp +p+&
5wq +Pzp + %
4 + + + +$
3+ +n+ +P#
2 tRN+ zPP+"
1+Q+ + mK !
xabcdefghy
41.Rxb8+ Kg7 42.Ne3 Qd2 43.Qf1 Nc5 44.Qd1
Qc3 45.Rb6 Ba4 46.Qf3 Qe1+ 47.Kh2 f5
48.Rxd6 f4 49.Nf5+ Kf7 [49...gxf5 50.Qh5! wins
quickly] 50.Qg4 Ne4 [50...Qe4 51.Qh4 Qxf5
52.Qxh7+ Kf8 53.Rxg6] 51.Qh4 gxf5 52.Qxh7+
Ke8 53.Qg8+ This example has shown how the
open c-file can bring tactical elements to the
forefront 10
Kramer - Soultanbeieff
Terwinselen, 1947
English Opening
1.c4 c5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.g3
Nc6 6.Bg2 Nb6 7.00 e5 8.d3 Be7 9.Be3 f6
10.Rc1 Nd4 11.Ne4 Nd7 12.b4! This pawn
sacrifice is aimed at liquidating the Black outpost
on d4 and make it difficult for Black to castle
12...Nxf3+ 13.Bxf3 cxb4 14.Qb3 a5 This not only
protects the b-pawn, but also prepares to develop
the Rook via a6 [14...f5 15.Nc5]
XABCDEFGHY
8r+lwqk+ tr(
7+p+nvl zpp'
6 + + zp +&
5zp + zp + %
4 zp +N+ +$
3+Q+PvLLzP #
2P+ +PzP zP"
1+ tR +RmK !
xabcdefghy
15.Qe6! Nf8 [15...-- 16.Nd6+ Kf8 17.Qf7#;
15...Nc5 16.Bh5+! g6 17.Nxf6+ Kf8 18.Bh6#;
15...Ra6 16.Nxf6+! Nxf6 (16...gxf6 17.Bh5+ Kf8
18.Qf7#) 17.Qxc8] 16.Nd6+ Qxd6 17.Rxc8+
Rxc8 18.Qxc8+ Bd8 19.Bxb7 White has regained
his pawn and still has excellent attacking chances
in view of Black's uncastled King 19...Nd7 There
is noth ing better. Before Black can get his pieces
cooperating White's attack is bound to crash
through [19...Kf7 20.Rc1 Ng6 21.Qc4+; 19...Ne6
20.Rc1 Kf7 21.Rc6 Qe7 22.Ra6] 20.Rc1 00 Too
late! 21.Bc6 Nb6 [21...Nb8 22.Bc5 Qxc6 23.Bxf8!]
22.Qa6! [22.Qb7 Rf7] 22...Nd7 23.Qb7 Nb8
[23...Rf7 24.Bd5] 24.Bd5+ Kh8 25.Bc5+- 10
40
Najdorf - Gligoric
Saltsjobaden, 1948
Dutch Defense
White exchanges pawns at d5 and black
recaptures with the e-pawn 1.d4 e6 2.c4 f5 3.g3
Nf6 4.Bg2 Be7 5.Nc3 00 6.Nf3 d5 7.00 c6
8.Bg5 Nbd7 9.cxd5 exd5 In recapturing with the
e-pawn, Black generally gets attacking chances
on the Kingside. Against this White usually works
with a Queenside offensive against the c-pawn
10.e3 h6 11.Bxf6 Nxf6 12.Rb1 Ne4? Black sets
to work too hastily. he should have guarded his e5
by ... Bd6 [12...Bd6] 13.Ne5 Bd6 14.f4 The big
difference between the two Knights at their
respective strong points on the e-file is that White
can take the Black Knight whenever he chooses
without suffering any unpleasant consequences,
Black can never take the White Knight without
conceding White a protected passed pawn
XABCDEFGHY
8r+lwq trk+(
7zpp+ + zp '
6 +pvl + zp&
5+ +psNp+ %
4 + zPnzP +$
3+ sN zP zP #
2PzP + +LzP"
1+R+Q+RmK !
xabcdefghy
14...Be6 15.Qe2 Bxe5 Nevertheless Black does it
16.fxe5 Qe7 17.Rbc1 Rac8 18.a3 c5 19.Bxe4 In
this closed position White rightly thinks more of
his Knight tan of the Bishop 19...fxe4 20.Rxf8+
Rxf8 21.Rf1 Rxf1+ 22.Qxf1 cxd4 23.exd4 Now
each player has a protected passed pawn, but
Black's Bishop is inferior to the White Knight, the
Black centre pawns being on the wrong colour
23...a6 24.Na4 Qg5 25.Qf4 Qh5 26.Nc3 Kh7
27.h4 Kg8 28.Kf2 Qe8 29.Ne2 Qc8 30.Ke1 Qe8
31.Qc1 Qg6 32.Qc3 Qg4 33.Qb3 b5 34.Nf4 Bf7
35.Qe3 g5 This advance weakens the Kingside
too much. Black should have perservered with his
waiting policy 36.hxg5 hxg5 37.Ne2 Kg7 38.Nc3
Be6 39.Qf2 Kg8 40.Kd2 Bf7 41.Nd1 Qe6 42.Ne3
Qb6 43.Nf5 b4 44.a4 b3 [44...Kf8 45.Qe3
(45.Qh2 Qg6 46.Qh6+ Qxh6 47.Nxh6 Be6 48.g4
to save the Knight .. Black could still save the
game (Pirc)) 45...Qg6] 45.Qe3! Qb4+ 46.Ke2
Qc4+ 47.Ke1 Qb4+ 48.Kf1 Kf8 49.Qxg5 Ke8
50.Nd6+ Kd7 51.Qg7 10
Trifunovic - Bondaresvky
Saltsjobaden, 1948
[27: Attack against the King 00]
One f6 explosion and another in the analysis 1.d4
e6 2.e4 d5 3.Nd2 Nc6 4.Ngf3 Nf6 5.e5 Nd7 6.b3
f6 7.Bb2 fxe5 8.dxe5 Bc5 9.Bd3 Qe7 10.a3 a5
11.c4 dxc4 12.bxc4 b6 13.Be4 Bb7 14.Qa4 Nd8
15.00 Bxe4 16.Nxe4 00 17.Rad1 Nb8
XABCDEFGHY
8rsn sn trk+(
7+ zp wq zpp'
6 zp +p+ +&
5zp vl zP + %
4Q+P+N+ +$
3zP + +N+ #
2 vL + zPPzP"
1+ +R+RmK !
xabcdefghy
18.Nfg5! Two Knight coordinating to launch the
grenades 18...h6 [18...Nf7 19.Nxh7! enticement of
the King to h7 19...Kxh7 20.Nf6+!! Tactics based
on the power of an f6 pawn wedge and the b1h7
diagonal 20...gxf6 (20...Kh8 21.Qc2 Tactics based
on the h7 square 21...gxf6 22.exf6 Qe8 23.Qg6
Rg8 24.Qh5+ Nh6 25.Qxh6#) 21.exf6 Qe8
22.Qc2+ Kh6 23.Bc1+ Power of the diagonals
23...Kh5 24.Qh7+ Kg4 25.Qh3#] 19.Nf6+!! gxf6
[19...Kh8 20.Qc2 gxf6 21.exf6 Rxf6 22.Bxf6+
Overworked Queen] 20.exf6 Rxf6 [20...Qe8
21.Rxd8 Qxa4 (21...Qxd8 22.Qc2 Qd7 23.Qg6+
Kh8 24.f7+ Bd4 25.Qxh6#) 22.f7#!] 21.Bxf6 Qxf6
22.Qe8+ Bf8 23.Ne4 Decisive, the rest of the
game is routine 23...Qe7 24.Qxd8 Qxd8 25.Rxd8
Kf7 26.a4 Bg7 27.f4 Ke7 28.Rfd1 c5 29.R1d6
Bd4+ 30.Kf1 Be3 31.g3 Bd4 32.Rc8 10
Pirc - Christoffel
Yugoslavia-Switzerland, 1949
Queens Gambit Declined
Whether or not ot exchange the Knight 1.c4 Nf6
2.Nf3 c6 3.d4 d5 4.e3 Bf5 5.Nc3 e6 6.Bd3 Bg6
7.Ne5 Nbd7 8.f4 Be7 9.00 Qc7 10.Qc2 Bxd3
11.Qxd3 Rd8 12.Bd2 00 13.Rac1 White is
41
retaining all options - the best method of keeping
a persistent initiative. He can 1) Being a
Queensdie advance by Pb4 followed by eith Pc5
or Pcxd5 2) He can thrust Pe4 3) Bayonet attack
by Pg4. All these opportunities arise mainly from
the influence of the Knight on e5, and Black's
main headache is to decide whether or not to take
it off
XABCDEFGHY
8 + tr trk+(
7zppwqnvlpzpp'
6 +p+psn +&
5+ +psN + %
4 +PzP zP +$
3+ sNQzP + #
2PzP vL +PzP"
1+ tR +RmK !
xabcdefghy
13...Nxe5 He decides to cut the knot 14.fxe5
dxc4 15.Qxc4 Nd7? [15...Nd5 16.e4 (16.Ne4 f6
17.exf6 gxf6) 16...Nb6 17.Qd3 Qxe5] 16.Ne4 c5
Black wants to prevent Bb4, with exchange of
Bishops and subsequent occupation of d6 with the
Knight, but he is jumping out of the frying pan into
the fire 17.Bb4! This forces ... Pb6, after which
the Black knight cannot get into play via b6
17...b6 18.Bc3 Qc6 19.dxc5! Bxc5 [19...Nxc5
20.Nf6+ gxf6 21.exf6 Bd6 22.Qg4+] 20.Nxc5
Qxc5 [20...bxc5 21.b4 Rc8 22.Bd4 Qc7 23.bxc5
Nxe5 24.Qc3 f6 25.Bxe5; 20...Nxc5 21.Bd4
(21.b4 Qe4!) ] 21.Bd4! Thus White obtains control
of the c-file by force, securing a great positional
advantage 21...Qc8 22.Qc7 Qa8 23.b4 With the
same idea as Bb4, depriving the Knight of
available squares 23...Qe4 24.Qc6! Qd3 25.Qf3
Qb5 [25...Rc8 26.Rxc8 Rxc8 27.Qxf7+] 26.Rc7 a6
[26...Nxe5 27.Bxe5 Qxe5 28.Rxf7] 27.Qc6 Qxc6
At last Whit e has his favourable ending. The rest,
as they say, is a matter of technique 28.Rxc6 Rc8
29.Rfc1 Rxc6 30.Rxc6 Rb8 31.Rc7 Rd8 32.Ra7
g6 33.Rxa6 Rc8 34.Ra7 Nf8 35.Bxb6 Rc4
36.Bc5 Kg7 37.a4 g5 38.Rc7 Re4 39.a5 Ng6
40.a6 10
Smyslov - Liublinsky
13 Moscow URS ch, 1949
Ruy Lopez
The tension protracted as long as possible 1.e4
e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 d6 5.c3 Bd7 6.d4
Nf6 7.Nbd2 Be7 8.00 00 9.Re1 This is a fine
example of a position which needs to be played in
the "tension" style 9...Be8 This strange looking
move has a double purpose. Firstly, the Bishop no
longer blocks the action of the Queen down the
file, so that the possibility of ... Pd5 is open to
Black The second point is that it vacates d7 for a
Knight. An eventual ... Nfd7 will allow Black to
play ... Nb6, forcing the hostile Bishop to declare
its intentions. It also allows the move ... Pf6,
protecting the e-pawn, and simultaeneously
freeing the Bishop for action on the diagonal e8-
h5
XABCDEFGHY
8r+ wqltrk+(
7+pzp vlpzpp'
6p+nzp sn +&
5+ + zp + %
4L+ zPP+ +$
3+ zP +N+ #
2PzP sN zPPzP"
1tR vLQtR mK !
xabcdefghy
10.Bb3 This hinders Black's plans. [10.Nf1 exd4
11.cxd4 d5 12.e5 Ne4 illustrates how careful one
must be with tension in the centre; 10.-- Nd7
11.-- Nb6 12.Bc2 f6; 10.d5 transition to a blocked
oblique centre gives Black good counterplay
10...Nb8 11.Bc2 c6 12.c4 cxd5 13.cxd5 a5]
10...Nd7 11.Nf1 Bf6 [11...Kh8 12.-- f6] 12.Ne3
Ne7 13.Ng4 (GM plan) 13...Ng6 14.g3 stopping
the Knight from occupying f4 .. the important
square in these positions 14...Be7 15.h4! GM
plan 15...Nf6 16.Ng5 h6 17.Nxf6+ Bxf6 18.Qh5
Apparently according to plan. This powerul move
emphasizes White's advantage 18...Nh8
[18...hxg5 19.hxg5 Be7 20.Qxg6 Kh8 21.Qh5+
Kg8 22.g6+-; 18...Ne7 The Knight would be in the
way 19.dxe5 dxe5 20.Be3 Nc6 21.Rad1 Qc8
22.Qg6!] 19.dxe5! Putting an end to the tension at
exactly the right moment 19...dxe5
42
XABCDEFGHY
8r+ wqltrksn(
7+pzp +pzp '
6p+ + vl zp&
5+ + zp sNQ%
4 + +P+ zP$
3+LzP + zP #
2PzP + zP +"
1tR vL tR mK !
xabcdefghy
So we reach a form of the e-pawn centre. Black
could also have played ... Bxe5, running into the
Ruy Lopez Centre 20.Be3 Qe7 [20...hxg5 GM
combination 21.hxg5 g6 22.Qh4 Bg7 23.Kg2 Bc6
24.Rh1 Re8 25.Qh7+ Kf8 26.Bc5+ Re7 27.Qxh8+
Bxh8 28.Rxh8+ Kg7 29.Rxd8 Rxd8 30.Bxe7+-]
21.Bd5! Forcing a weakening of Black's pawn
formation 21...c6 [21...hxg5 22.hxg5 g6 23.gxf6!]
22.Bb3 Bd7 23.Rad1 Rad8 24.Rd2 Bc8 25.Red1
Rxd2 26.Rxd2 Qc7 Now White has to again
reckon with the possibility of ... hxg5 and ... Rd8
simplifying 27.Bc5! very well played 27...Rd8
[27...hxg5 28.Bxf8 Kxf8 29.Qxh8+; 27...Be7
28.Bxe7 Qxe7 29.Nf3 Re8 30.Qxe5 Qxe5
31.Nxe5 Rxe5 32.Rd8+ Kh7 33.Rxc8 Rxe4
34.Bc2] 28.Rxd8+ Bxd8 [28...Qxd8 29.Bxf7+]
29.Nxf7! Nxf7 30.Bb6!! Qd7 [30...Qxb6 31.Qxf7+
Kh7 32.h5] 31.Bxd8 Kh7 32.Bxf7 Qxd8 33.Bg6+
loses another pawn 10
Bronstein - Boleslavsky
1950
Gruenfeld]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4
Nxc3 6.bxc3 c5 7.Bc4 Bg7 8.Ne2 00 9.00 cxd4
10.cxd4 Nc6 11.Be3 Bg4 12.f3 Na5 13.Bd3 Be6
In this well known position the offer of the
exchange by 14. Pd5 is very strong. The reason
to be found in the following considerations: I)
White gets the Bishop pair II) With the
disappearance of the Bishop from g7, Black's ...
Pg6 is only a weakening III) White pawn majority
in the centre, and this always favours the attacker.
Black's Queenside majority will have more
significance in theendgame 14.d5! Bxa1 15.Qxa1
f6 A further w eakening, which, however, is
unavoidable, as White is threatening to regain the
exchange with Bh6, leaving Black with no
compensation for his weakened Kingside 16.Bh6
Qb6+ [16...Re8 17.Nf4 (17.Bb5?? Qb6+) 17...Bf7]
XABCDEFGHY
8r+ + trk+(
7zpp+ zp +p'
6 wq +lzppvL&
5sn +P+ + %
4 + +P+ +$
3+ +L+P+ #
2P+ +N+PzP"
1wQ + +RmK !
xabcdefghy
17.Kh1! White values his positional advantages
higher than the Exchange [17.Nd4 Bd7 (17...--
18.Rb1 Qc5 19.Rc1 Qa3 20.dxe6) 18.Rb1 Qc5
19.Rc1 Qb6 20.Bxf8 Rxf8 21.h4 Qd6] 17...Rfd8
The only way to save the Exchange, but it doesn't
improve Black's chances. [17...Bf7] 18.Rb1 Qc5!
[18...Qf2 19.Qc3 Qh4 20.Bf4; 18...Qd6 19.Qc3
b6 20.Bf4 Qd7 (20...Qc5 21.Qxc5 bxc5 22.Bc7)
21.Bb5+-; 18...Qc7 19.Bf4 Qc8 20.Rc1] 19.Bd2
[19.Rb5 Qa3 20.Bc2 Bd7 (20...Rac8!! Flohr
21.Bc1 a) 21.Qb1 Bd7 22.Bc1 Qd6 23.Rxa5 Qc7;
b) 21.Nd4 Rxc2 22.Nxc2 Qa4 23.Rxa5 (23.Qb2;
23.Nd4) 23...Qxa5 24.dxe6 Qxa2; 21...Qd6
22.Rxa5 Rxc2 23.dxe6 Qd1+ 24.Ng1 Qxg1+
25.Kxg1 Rd1#) 21.Bc1 Qxc1+ 22.Qxc1 Bxb5
23.Nd4 Bd7 24.Qa3] 19...b6 20.Bb4 Qc7 21.Rc1
Qb7 [21...Qd7 22.Nd4 Bf7 23.Bb5 Qb7 24.Bxa5
bxa5 25.Bc6] 22.Qb1 Rab8 [22...Bc8 23.Nf4
rapidly winning attack] 23.dxe6 A rook is no
match for two Bishops, especially when the
position leaves something to be desired in other
respects 23...Nc6 24.Bc3 Ne5 25.Bb5 Rbc8
26.Bxe5 Rxc1+ 27.Qxc1 fxe5 28.Bd7 Qa6
29.Ng3 Qxa2 30.h4 Rf8 31.Qg5 Rf6 32.Qxf6! 10
Kramer - Van Scheltinga
Beverwijk, 1950
Queens Gambit Declined
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 Nbd7 5.Bg5 c6
6.cxd5 exd5 7.e3 Be7 8.Qc2 00 9.Bd3 Re8
10.00 h6 11.Bh4 Ne4 12.Bxe7 Qxe7 13.Bxe4
[13.Rab1 Nd6! 14.b4 b5 Blunting White's minority
attack with the magnificent support point of c4 for
the Black pieces. It is fair to conclude that in such
43
positions it is always a good idea for Black to play
a Knight to d6. White must now modify his
Queenside plans in some way; 13.Rac1 Nd6
14.Na4 But it is clear that long preparations will be
needed before the b-pawn can be advanced with
any hope of profit.] 13...dxe4 14.Nd2 Nf6 This
type of position arises frequently from the QGD.
The essential difference between it and the
foregoing examples is the advanced position of
the Black e-pawn. This generally betokens a
slight imporvement in Black's prospects, for the e-
pawn can be an important element in a Kingside
attack, while the strong square d5 can also be
very useful
XABCDEFGHY
8r+l+r+k+(
7zpp+ wqpzp '
6 +p+ sn zp&
5+ + + + %
4 + zPp+ +$
3+ sN zP + #
2PzPQsN zPPzP"
1tR + +RmK !
xabcdefghy
15.b4! This advance is possible without
preparation 15...Bd7 [15...Qxb4 16.Ncxe4 White
gets good compensation] 16.Rfc1 h5? Black is
right to seek counterchances on the Kingside, but
this does not mean that he can leave his
Queenside completely in the lurch [16...Rac8!]
17.Rab1 h4 This practically forces the following
weakening move 18.h3 g5 19.b5 White must
hurry, or his Kingside will be overrun 19...g4 Black
must also push on. It is too late for defence
[19...c5 20.dxc5 Qxc5 21.Ncxe4 Nxe4 22.Nxe4
Qxc2 23.Nf6+! Kh8 24.Rxc2; 19...cxb5 20.Nxb5
Rac8 21.Qb2 a6 22.Nc7] 20.hxg4 Bxg4 21.bxc6
bxc6 22.Na4 Nd5 [22...Rac8 23.Qc5 Black would
have to enter a bad endgame where he has weak
pawns (can't allow Qg5+)] 23.Qxc6 Rad8
[23...Qg5 24.Nxe4 overloaded Re8] 24.Nc5 Bf5
25.Nb7 Qg5 [25...Rd7 26.Rc5] 26.Nxd8 Rxd8
27.Kh2 Nf6 28.Qc7 Ng4+ 29.Kg1 h3
XABCDEFGHY
8 + tr +k+(
7zp wQ +p+ '
6 + + + +&
5+ + +lwq %
4 + zPp+n+$
3+ + zP +p#
2P+ sN zPP+"
1+RtR + mK !
xabcdefghy
30.gxh3! The discovered Check is not as
dangerous as White has Qh3 30...Ne5+ 31.Kh2
Rxd4 32.Rg1? [32.Qxe5 simpler 32...Rxd2
33.Rb8+ Kh7 34.Rh8+ Kg6 35.Rg8+] 32...Ng4+
33.hxg4 [33.Rxg4 direct win 33...Bxg4 34.exd4
Qxd2 35.Rb8+] 33...Qh4+ 34.Kg2 Rxd2 35.Qg3
Qxg4 36.Qxg4+ Bxg4 37.Kg3 Bh5 38.Rb8+ Kg7
39.a4 Ra2 40.Rb4 Bg6 41.Rgb1 10
O'Kelly - Donner
Amsterdam, 1950
Dutch Defense
Another example of the modern treatment agains
the Stonewall 1.d4 e6 2.Nf3 f5 3.g3 Nf6 4.Bg2
Be7 5.00 00 6.b3 d5 7.Bb2 Qe8 8.Ne5 Nbd7
9.Nd3 Bd6 10.c4 c6 11.Nd2 The difference
between this and the previous example is that
White's c-pawn is protected by the b-pawn, and
the Queen Bishop stands on b2 rather than the
diagonal to h6. At b2 the Bishop has some useful
functions; in particular, it makes e5 more difficult
for Black 11...b6 The advance ... Pe5 would only
weaken the d-pawn, so Black develops his
Queen Bishop in fianchetto 12.Rc1! The right
tactics. White's attack must come ultimately on the
Queenside and he will therefore need to keep the
option of c5. [12.f3 e5 Black's d-pawn weakness
is offset by that of White's e-pawn] 12...Ne4
13.Nf3 Bb7 14.Nfe5 Rc8 15.f3 Nef6 16.c5! bxc5
17.Nxc5 Nxc5 18.dxc5 Bc7
44
19.Qd4 White's aim is accomplished. He has
established a Queenside pawn majority and has
blocked - at least for the time being - Black's
preponderance in the centre
XABCDEFGHY
8 +r+qtrk+(
7zplvl + zpp'
6 +p+psn +&
5+ zPpsNp+ %
4 + wQ + +$
3+P+ +PzP #
2PvL +P+LzP"
1+ tR +RmK !
xabcdefghy
19...Ba6 20.Rfe1 Bb5 21.a4 Ba6 22.Bc3 Rb8
23.Rb1 Rb7 24.b4 Bxe5 25.Qxe5 Qe7 26.Qe3
Nd7? Preparing to push the e-pawn [26...Bc4]
27.f4? Deep in his positional plan, White
overlooks the win of a piece [27.b5 cxb5 28.c6]
27...Bc4 28.Bd4 a6 29.Rec1 Rfb8 30.Rxc4 An
exchange sacrifice which puts new life into the
Queenside attack 30...dxc4 31.Qc3 e5 [31...Nf6
32.Bxc6 (32.Qxc4 Nd5 33.Qxa6 Rxb4 34.Rxb4
Rxb4 35.e3 Qb7; 32.Be5 Nd5!; 32.Bxf6! Qxf6
33.Qxc4 Rc7 34.e3 Ra8 35.Rd1 giving White the
best winning chances) 32...Nd5 33.Qxc4 (33.Bxd5
exd5) 33...Rxb4 34.Rxb4 Rxb4] 32.fxe5 Qe6
33.e4! a5 [33...fxe4 34.Bf1 Kh8 35.Bxc4 Qg4
36.Rf1 Rxb4 37.e6 Nf8 38.Qxb4] 34.b5 cxb5
35.exf5 Qxf5 36.Rf1 Qe6 37.Bxb7 Rxb7 38.Qf3
Rb8 39.c6 b4 40.cxd7 Qxd7 41.Bc5 h6 42.Bd6
10
Reshevsky - Van der Berg
Amsterdam, 1950
Nimzo-Indian
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 00 5.Nge2 d5
6.a3 Bxc3+ 7.Nxc3 b6 8.b4 c5 It often happens
in the Nimzo Indian that Black has to concede the
Bishop pair to his opponent. In return he usually
has the (temporary) control of the crucial square
e4, and so can give a half-closed character to the
position. In the present game, Black lacks this
compensation, and this is why White can rapidly
go over to the attack 9.dxc5 bxc5 10.cxd5
[10.bxc5 Ba6 11.Nb5 Ne4] 10...cxb4? [10...Nxd5?
11.Nxd5 exd5 12.bxc5 Qa5+ 13.Bd2 Qxc5
14.Bb4; 10...exd5 11.bxc5 Ba6 making the bishop
pair harmless] 11.axb4 exd5 12.Be2 Nc6 13.b5
Na5 14.Ba3 For the time being White is content to
get his pieces into play. [14.Qa4 Nc4 15.Bxc4
dxc4 16.Qxc4 Bb7 even though this line wins a
pawn, quite rightly White prefers the Bishop pair in
full cry]
XABCDEFGHY
8r+lwq trk+(
7zp + +pzpp'
6 + + sn +&
5snP+p+ + %
4 + + + +$
3vL sN zP + #
2 + +LzPPzP"
1tR +QmK +R!
xabcdefghy
14...Re8 15.00 Bf5 [15...Be6 too quite] 16.Bc5
Ne4 17.Bb4 Nxc3 18.Bxc3 Nc4 19.Qd4 Qg5
20.Qxd5! [20.Rxa7 Rxa7 21.Qxa7 Be4]
20...Nxe3 21.fxe3 Qxe3+ 22.Kh1 Bg6 [22...Qxc3
23.Qxf5 Rxe2 24.Qxf7+ Kh8 25.Qf8+] 23.Bh5
Rad8 [23...Bxh5 24.Qxh5 Qxc3 25.b6 axb6
26.Rxa8 Rxa8 27.Qxf7+ Kh8 28.Qf8+; 23...Qxc3
24.Bxg6 hxg6 25.Qxf7+ Kh7 26.Ra4! Re5
(26...g5!) 27.Rh4+ Rh5 28.Rxh5+ gxh5 29.Qxh5+
Kg8 30.Qd5+] 24.Bxg6 [24.Qf3] 24...Rxd5
25.Bxf7+ Kh8 26.Bxe8 Qxe8 27.Rxa7 Qc8
[27...Rg5 28.Rfa1 (28.b6) ] 28.Rc7! [28.Bxg7+
Kg8 29.Rf8+? Qxf8 30.Bxf8 Rd1#] 28...Qf5
[28...Qa8 29.Rxg7+-] 29.Kg1 10
Trifunovic - Van Scheltinga
Amsterdam, 1950
Four Knoghts Game
The Bishop pair employed to weaken the enemy
pawn position 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6
4.Bb5 Bb4 5.00 00 6.d3 d6 7.Bg5 Bxc3 8.bxc3
Qe7 9.Re1 Since the position is half close, and
since, moreover, the White pawns are somewhat
weakned by the doubling on the c-file, Black has
some compensation for White's Bishop pair.
9...Nd8 First of all, Black must get rid of the
troublesome pin on his Nf6 by dislodging the Bg5
10.d4 Ne6 11.Bc1 This strange looking move is
the best. on c1 the Bishop is well placed, not
exposed to exchange, and free to operage not
45
only from c1h6 but also on the a3-f8 diagonal
11...c5 Black means to force White to clear up the
central situation 12.Bf1 [12.dxe5 dxe5 13.Nxe5?
Nc7+; 12.d5 Nc7 13.Bf1 b5 counterplay on the
Queenside] 12...Rd8 [12...cxd4 13.cxd4 Qc7
14.Bb2 giving good chances, even if it meant
losing a pawn] 13.d5 Nf8 Hoping to bring the
Knight into active play at g6. [13...Nc7 more
flexible] 14.c4 Ne8 15.g3 White's plan is clear: he
intends after necessary preparation, to force the
advance of Pf4 and so to open lines for his Bishop
15...f5? Playing White's game [15...Ng6 16.h4
Bg4 17.Qd3 Bxf3 18.Qxf3]
XABCDEFGHY
8r+ltrnsnk+(
7zpp+ wq zpp'
6 + zp + +&
5+ zpPzpp+ %
4 +P+P+ +$
3+ + +NzP #
2P+P+ zP zP"
1tR vLQtRLmK !
xabcdefghy
16.exf5 Bxf5 17.Nh4! Thus in any case White
gets an open diaganol for his Bishop 17...Qd7
18.f4 Always the same aim: open the position
18...exf4 19.Bxf4 Ng6 Giving White the chance of
a favourable liquidation [19...Bg4 20.Qd2] 20.Nxf5
Qxf5 21.Bd3 Qf6 22.Bxg6! A characteristic turn;
White relinquishes the Bishop pair but obtains in
return either a weakening of the hostile pawn
structure or else an inroad into the seventh rank
22...hxg6 [22...Qxg6 23.Re7 one advantage
transformed into another] 23.Rb1 g5 [23...b6
24.Re6 Qd4+ 25.Qxd4 cxd4 26.Rd1 Rac8
27.Rxd4+-] 24.Be3 Rd7 25.Qg4 Rf7 26.Rf1 Qg6
27.Rxf7 Qxf7 28.Bxg5+- With a sound extra
pawn, a good Bishop and some advantage in
development White now stands to win
XABCDEFGHY
8r+ +n+k+(
7zpp+ +qzp '
6 + zp + +&
5+ zpP+ vL %
4 +P+ +Q+$
3+ + + zP #
2P+P+ + zP"
1+R+ + mK !
xabcdefghy
28...Nc7 29.Bf4 Qf6 30.Qd1 b6 31.Qd3 Re8
32.Rf1 b5 33.cxb5 Qd4+ 34.Qxd4 cxd4 35.Bxd6
Nxb5 36.Bb4 a5 37.Bxa5 Ra8 38.Bb4 Rxa2
39.d6 Ra8 40.d7 Nc7 41.Rf8++- 10
Bogolyubov - Kramer
Travemunde, 1951
Torre Attack]
Successful attack on d4 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 d5 3.Nc3
c6 4.e3 Bf5 5.Bd3 Bxd3 6.cxd3 e6 7.Nf3 Be7
8.00 00 9.Rc1 Nbd7 10.e4 h6 11.Bf4 dxe4
12.dxe4 Qa5 13.Qe2 Rfd8 14.a3 Nf8 Although he
has exchanged off only one piece, Black can
maneuver comfortably here, mainly becaue White
has allowed his important King bishop to be
traded off. This great reduces White's possibilities
for Kingside attack; consequently, Black will
eventually gain the intitiative by pressuring White's
centre
XABCDEFGHY
8r+ tr snk+(
7zpp+ vlpzp '
6 +p+psn zp&
5wq + + + %
4 + zPPvL +$
3zP sN +N+ #
2 zP +QzPPzP"
1+ tR +RmK !
xabcdefghy
46
15.h3 Ng6 16.Bh2 [16.Bg3 Nh5 17.Bh2 Ngf4
18.Qe3 Bg5! 19.Nxg5 Qxg5] 16...Rd7 17.Rc2
Nh7! with the idea of ... Ng5 undermining Nf3 -
the main defender of White's d-pawn 18.Qe3
Rad8 19.Bg3 intending Ph4 to prevent ... Ng5
19...Ng5! 20.Nd2 protecting the d-pawn indirectly
20...Qb6 [20...Rxd4? 21.Nb3]
XABCDEFGHY
8 + tr +k+(
7zpp+rvlpzp '
6 wqp+p+nzp&
5+ + + sn %
4 + zPP+ +$
3zP sN wQ vLP#
2 zPRsN zPP+"
1+ + +RmK !
xabcdefghy
21.Ne2 A critical moment. White guards the d-
pawn and threatens to repulse Black's pieces by
22. Nc4 or 22.Pf4 21...c5! A powerful stroke. Now
White's proud centre is under full attack 22.Nc4
[22.dxc5 Bxc5! 23.Qxc5 (23.Rxc5 Rd3!
(23...Rxd2? 24.Bc7!) 24.Bc7 (24.Nc4 Rxe3
25.Nxb6 Rxe2 26.Na4 Nxe4) 24...Rxe3 25.Bxb6
axb6! 26.fxe3 bxc5 winning ending) 23...Qxc5
24.Rxc5 Rxd2 wins a pawn] 22...Qc6 23.f3 cxd4
24.Qd3 Nh7 25.f4? A further weakening only
weakens his e-pawn, which Black immediately
exploits 25...Nf6 26.Nd2 [26.Ne5 Nxe5 27.fxe5
Qxe4; 26.e5 Ne4] 26...Qxc2! 27.Qxc2 d3 28.Qc4
dxe2 29.Re1 Rxd2 After a very long endgame
Black's material advantage finally won 01
Broadbent - Golombek
Cheltenham, 1951
Caro-Kann Half Open Formation 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5
3.exd5 cxd5 4.Bd3 Nc6 5.c3 Nf6 6.Bf4 g6 7.h3
Bg7 8.Nf3 00 9.00 Bd7 10.Re1 Qc8
XABCDEFGHY
8r+q+ trk+(
7zpp+lzppvlp'
6 +n+ snp+&
5+ +p+ + %
4 + zP vL +$
3+ zPL+N+P#
2PzP + zPP+"
1tRN+QtR mK !
xabcdefghy
White has the half-open e-file with its support
point at e5, and will direct his attack towards the
Kingside. Black, on the other hand, must attack on
the Queenside by means of the half-open c-file.
One priority is to exchange off his bad Bishop by
... Bf5 11.Ne5 Nxe5 12.Bxe5 Bf5 13.Bf1! Quite
rightly White declines the offer 13...Be6 14.Nd2
Nh5 15.Nf3 Bxe5 16.Nxe5 Nf6 17.Re3 Nd7
18.Nd3! If White means to have his Kingside
attack, he must keep the pieces on the board
18...Re8 19.Nf4 Nf8 20.Qf3 Qd7 21.Rae1 a6 At
last Black's counteraction makes a start, but this is
about as far as it ever gets 22.Bd3 Rad8 With this
extra protection of d5, Black threatens ... Bf5
23.Re5 Qa4 24.Bb1 Qb5 25.R1e2 Rd6 26.Qg3
Qa4 27.Re1 Qb5 28.R1e2 Qa4 29.Kh2! Red8
[29...Qd1 30.Re1 Qd2 31.R5e2] 30.h4
XABCDEFGHY
8 + tr snk+(
7+p+ zpp+p'
6p+ trl+p+&
5+ +ptR + %
4q+ zP sN zP$
3+ zP + wQ #
2PzP +RzPPmK"
1+L+ + + !
xabcdefghy
47
Now Black's g6 is seen to be a serious
weakening for White can break open the h-file
30...Qe8 31.h5 Kg7 32.hxg6 hxg6 33.R2e3 Qd7
34.Kg1 Rb6 35.b3 Rc6 36.Nh5+ Kh7 [36...Kg8
37.Qg5 f6 38.Qh6 gxh5 39.Rxh5+-] 37.Qh4 Kg8
38.Qg3 Rdc8 39.Nf4 Qc7 40.c4 b5 41.c5 An
important promotion in the White ranks - from
weak pawn to protected passed pawn 41...Qd7
42.Nxe6 Nxe6 43.Bf5! Kg7 44.Rxe6 Rxe6
45.Bxe6 fxe6 46.Qe5+ Kf7 47.Rf3+ Kg8 48.Rh3
10
Smyslov - Botvinnik
Moscow, 1951
Ruy Lopez
SMYSLOV (Born 1921) A study of Smylov's
games forces one to admit that it is not easy to
say just where his special strenght lies. This
Russian Grandmsater attaches little importance to
complex opening variations. He builds up his
games by simple means, and in the middlegame
his play is just as simple and sound. This is not to
say that he is averse to combinative play - there
are many excellent examples of beautiful
combinative games by Smyslov on record. But his
greatest strength seems to be in the art of making
"something out of nothing". He will maneuver
patiently for hours at a time without ever relaxing
for one moment; he seems to be steathily stalking
his opponent. There is indeed something of the
assassin about him, for all at once, when least
expected, he will strike. Since moreover his
endgame technique is just about perfect, the
smallest advantage in his hands is likely to win
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.00 Be7
6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 00 9.h3 Be6 Black
essays an idea which originated from the great
Russian Master Chigorin 10.d4 Bxb3 11.Qxb3
Qd7 12.Bg5 h6 13.Bxf6 Bxf6 14.d5 White sets
up a light square central pawn-chain in order to
emphasize the limite scope of Black's Bishop
14...Na5 15.Qc2 c6 Otherwise White will play
Nbd2 followed by Pc4 16.dxc6 Qxc6 17.Nbd2
Rac8 18.Rac1
XABCDEFGHY
8 +r+ trk+(
7+ + +pzp '
6p+qzp vl zp&
5snp+ zp + %
4 + +P+ +$
3+ zP +N+P#
2PzPQsN zPP+"
1+ tR tR mK !
xabcdefghy
Smyslov commented that this prevent ... Pb4
(which would be met by Pc4), overprotects c3,
and prepares, if the opportunity presents itself, to
play Pc4. These strategems are in the style of
Nimzowitsch 18...Rfd8 19.Nf1 Nc4 20.b3 Nb6
21.Ne3 d5 Superficially it would seem this central
advance activates Black's game. But as we shall
soon see, Smyslov has taken critical factors into
account 22.Ng4 d4 [22...dxe4 23.Nfxe5 Bxe5
24.Nxe5 Qb7 25.Rxe4! Rxc3 (25...Nd5 26.Rd4
Rxc3 27.Qxc3 Nxc3 28.Rxd8++-) 26.Qxc3 Qxe4
27.Qc7] 23.Nxf6+ Qxf6 24.Qb2 dxc3 25.Rxc3
Nd7 26.Rec1 Rxc3 27.Qxc3 Qd6! 28.Qc6 Nf6
XABCDEFGHY
8 + tr +k+(
7+ + +pzp '
6p+Qwq sn zp&
5+p+ zp + %
4 + +P+ +$
3+P+ +N+P#
2P+ + zPP+"
1+ tR + mK !
xabcdefghy
Black has defended well, but White still has the
initiative 29.Qxd6 Rxd6 30.Nxe5 Nxe4 31.f3 Ng5
32.f4 Ne6 33.f5 Nd8 34.Rc8 Kf8 35.Kf2 Ke7
36.Ke3 [36.Rxd8 Rxd8 37.Nc6+ gives Black a
chance to draw] 36...Rd1? [36...Rd5! 37.Ke4 Rd2]
48
37.Ra8! Kf6 [37...Rd6 38.Rxd8 Kxd8 39.Nxf7+ A
won king and pawn ending; 37...Re1+ 38.Kd4
Re2 39.Rxa6 Rxg2 some drawing chances]
38.Nd3! Nwo Black's position collapses 38...Nc6
39.Rxa6 10
Geller - Szabo
Budapest, 1952
Dutch Defense
The modern way of fighting against the Stonewall
- by installing the Knights at d3 and f3 1.d4 e6
2.Nf3 f5 3.g3 Nf6 4.Bg2 Be7 5.00 00 6.c4 d5
7.Nbd2 c6 8.Ne5 Nbd7 9.Nd3 Qe8 here we see
White adopting the latest, and - as it seems - the
most effective, means of meeting the Stonewall.
By placing his Knights on d3 and f3, he keeps all
the central points under observation, and makes
Black's task - the engineering of a Kingside attack
- very difficult 10.Qc2 To relieve the Knight from
guarding the c-pawn 10...g5 [10...Bd6 Playing
into his opponent's hands 11.Nf3 Ne4 12.Bf4 Bxf4
13.gxf4 White holds all the trumps. He can
operate at will on the Queenside or on the open
g-file] 11.Nf3
XABCDEFGHY
8r+l+qtrk+(
7zpp+nvl +p'
6 +p+psn +&
5+ +p+pzp %
4 +PzP + +$
3+ +N+NzP #
2PzPQ+PzPLzP"
1tR vL +RmK !
xabcdefghy
Ne4 [11...h6 According to Botvinnik, the greatest
expert in the domain of the Stonewall, 11. ... Ph6
is stronger] 12.Rb1! Bf6 13.b4 b5 Otherwise
White plays Pb5 14.c5 a5 15.a3 Wisely White
avoids the complications of bxa5 [15.bxa5 Rxa5
16.Nfe5 Bxe5 17.dxe5 Qe7 18.f3 Nexc5 19.Bd2
Nxd3 20.Bxa5 N3xe5 Tolush .. favourable game
to Black] 15...axb4 16.axb4 g4 17.Nfe5 Nxe5
[17...Bb7 18.Bh6 Bg7 19.Bxg7 Kxg7 20.f3]
18.dxe5 Bd8 19.Bh6 Rf7 20.f3! It is apparent that
the Black's Knight on e4 is not well placed
20...Bg5 [20...gxf3 21.exf3 Ng5 22.h4] 21.Bxg5
Nxg5 22.fxg4 Rfa7 Black tries to stem the tide by
means of a counterattack [22...fxg4 23.Nf2 h5
24.Qg6+]
XABCDEFGHY
8r+l+q+k+(
7tr + + +p'
6 +p+p+ +&
5+pzPpzPpsn %
4 zP + +P+$
3+ +N+ zP #
2 +Q+P+LzP"
1+R+ +RmK !
xabcdefghy
23.gxf5 exf5 24.Qd2 Nf7 [24...Ne4 25.Qh6]
25.Qf4 Ra2 [25...Re7 26.Ra1 Rxa1 27.Rxa1 Nxe5
28.Nxe5 Rxe5 29.Bf3 invasion on a-file] 26.Qe3
Qe7 27.Bh3 Ng5 28.Bxf5 d4 29.Qxd4 Rxe2
30.Bxc8 Raa2 31.Nb2 Rxe5 32.Rbd1 Re2
33.Rd2 Rxd2 34.Qxd2 Ne4 35.Qf4 Rxb2
36.Be6+! 10
Steiner - Eliskases
03 Saltsjobaden izt ,IZT, 1952
Kings Indian
Various open files 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7
4.e4 00 5.f3 d6 6.Bg5 h6 7.Be3 e5 8.Nge2 c6
9.Qd2 Kh7 10.000 Nbd7
XABCDEFGHY
8r+lwq tr +(
7zpp+n+pvlk'
6 +pzp snpzp&
5+ + zp + %
4 +PzPP+ +$
3+ sN vLP+ #
2PzP wQN+PzP"
1+ mKR+L+R!
xabcdefghy
49
Positions with one King castled Queenside and
the other castled Kingside, set the players special
problems. both sides feel constrained to attack
vigorously, since passive play by either side will
allow the opponent's attack to gather momentum
It is quite obvioius that in playing for an attack, the
first requirement is to get a file open for the
Rooks; but this creates it's own problems. Any
attempt to follow the advance given earlier in this
chapter - not to embark on a flank attack until the
centre is closed - would in the present case run
into trouble, for if White play Pd5, Black can open
the c-file without more ado. White therefore
maintains the tension in the centre 11.g4 Qa5
12.h4 [12.g5 hxg5 13.Bxg5 White might not find it
easy to complete the opening of the file] 12...b5
13.g5 Nh5! White achives his aim in full, but will
have to be content with a half-open file
[13...hxg5? 14.hxg5+; 13...Ng8 14.h5] 14.gxh6
Bh8 15.cxb5 cxb5 Now we can draw up a
provisional balance sheet. White has won a pawn
- not as yet a very important pawn - and has
succeeded in half opening the g-file. Black's g-
pawn and the Knight at h5, however, block any
further progress in this sector. White has support
point at d5, which may prove very important.
Black for his part rejoices in the fully open c-file
16.Kb1 Nb6 17.Nc1 Nc4 18.Bxc4 bxc4 19.dxe5
Bxe5
XABCDEFGHY
8r+l+ tr +(
7zp + +p+k'
6 + zp +pzP&
5wq + vl +n%
4 +p+P+ zP$
3+ sN vLP+ #
2PzP wQ + +"
1+KsNR+ +R!
xabcdefghy
With these last few moves Black has made
distinct progress. The b-file is an even better file
for attacking the White King, and his dark squared
Bishop is now a powerful reinforcement. However,
the sequel will show that there is more to it than
20.N1e2 Rb8 21.Bd4 Shutting out the dangerous
Bishop 21...Bb7 To prevent White from Nd5
22.Ka1 Ba8 23.Rhg1 Rb4 24.f4! Playing his
important trump card 24...Bxd4 25.Qxd4 Rfb8
26.f5! White forces open the g-file and suddenly
the Ph6 becomes a major element in the game
26...Qb6 [26...Rxb2 27.fxg6+ fxg6 28.Qxd6 R2b6
29.Qe7+ Kh8 30.Rd7; 26...gxf5 27.Rg7+ Kxh6
28.Rxf7 Qb6 29.Qd2+ Kg6 30.Rd7+-] 27.fxg6+
fxg6 28.Qxd6 Qxd6 29.Rxd6 Rxb2 30.Nd4 Rf2
31.Rdxg6 White Rooks have found each other,
and this fact coupled with the gain of a second
pawn, means that the rest is no more than a
question of technique
XABCDEFGHY
8ltr + + +(
7zp + + +k'
6 + + +RzP&
5+ + + +n%
4 +psNP+ zP$
3+ sN + + #
2P+ + tr +"
1mK + + tR !
xabcdefghy
31...Rd8 32.Ndb5 Rd3 33.Ra6 Rf7 34.Rg5 Ng3
35.Rg7+ Rxg7 36.hxg7 Nxe4 37.Kb2 Nxc3
38.Nxc3 Rd7 39.Nb5 Bd5 40.Kc3 Bf7 41.Nd6
Bg6 42.h5 Bb1 43.Ne8 Rd3+ 44.Kb2 10
Unzicker - Taimanov
Saltsjobaden, 1952
Sicilian
The pieces take over the duty of guarding the
square in front of the backward pawn 1.e4 c5
2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 d6 6.Be2
e5 7.Nf3 h6 8.00 Be7 9.Re1 00 10.h3 a6 11.Bf1
b5 12.a3 Bb7 13.b3 Rc8 14.Bb2 Rc7
50
XABCDEFGHY
8 + wq trk+(
7+ltr vlpzp '
6p+nzp sn zp&
5+p+ zp + %
4 + +P+ +$
3zPPsN +N+P#
2 vLP+ zPP+"
1tR +QtRLmK !
xabcdefghy
Preparing on the one hand to double Rooks on
the c-file; on the other hand to redouble his
pressure against e4 and d5 by means of ... Qa8
15.Nb1 [15.Nd5 Nxd5 16.exd5 Nb8 The backward
pawn is screened] 15...Qa8! A very effective
layout of Black pieces 16.Nbd2 Nd8 17.Bd3 Ne6
18.Rc1 Rfc8 19.Nh2 Black's pressure down the
half-open c-file, combined with his attack on the
e-P, holds White on the defensive. The idea of
this N move is to prop up the e-P by Pf3 if the
need arises 19...Nd7 20.Nhf1 Ndc5 21.Ng3 g6
22.Ne2? [22.Ndf1 Nxe4] 22...Bg5! [22...Nxe4
23.Nxe4 Bxe4 24.Bxe4 Qxe4 25.Nc3 Qd4
26.Qxd4 exd4 27.Nd5 White has the better
game with firm control of the d5 square] 23.Nc3
Nd4 24.Ncb1 24...d5! This advance of the
backward pawn has automatically been made
possible by the systematic pressure of the Black
pieces against the square in front of it
XABCDEFGHY
8q+r+ +k+(
7+ltr +p+ '
6p+ + +pzp&
5+psnpzp vl %
4 + snP+ +$
3zPP+L+ +P#
2 vLPsN zPP+"
1+NtRQtR mK !
xabcdefghy
25.exd5 Nxd3 26.cxd3 Rxc1 27.Bxc1 Bxd5 The
extraordinary thing about this game is that Black,
who up to now has been demonstrating that his
own backward pawn was no disadvantage, now
proceeds to show that White's backward pawn is
a very great disadvantage. The isolated White d-
pawn in fact shows all the characteristics of a
backward pawn, but only in the negative sense.
28.f3 Rc2! 29.a4 [29.Rxe5 Bxf3 30.gxf3 Rxc1
31.Qxc1 Nxf3+] 29...b4 30.Kh1 Qc6 Hardly a
move for White 01
Cortlever - Trott
Beverwijk, 1953
Colle
White also gets the initiative if Black waits too long
with the capture ... dxe4 1.Nf3 Nf6 2.g3 d5 3.Bg2
Nbd7 4.d4 e6 5.00 Be7 6.b3 00 7.Bb2 b6 8.c4
c6 9.Nbd2 Bb7 10.Qc2 Rc8 11.e4 Qc7 12.Rac1
Qb8 13.Rfe1 Rfd8 14.Qb1 Black has delayed too
long the capture on e4 and this allows White to
gain the initiative 14...Nxe4 15.Nxe4 dxe4
16.Rxe4 c5 17.d5! Due to the unprotected Be7,
White is now able to maintain the central tension
XABCDEFGHY
8 wqrtr +k+(
7zpl+nvlpzpp'
6 zp +p+ +&
5+ zpP+ + %
4 +P+R+ +$
3+P+ +NzP #
2PvL + zPLzP"
1+QtR + mK !
xabcdefghy
17...Bf6! Killing two birds with one stone. The
Bishop removes itself from the line of fire, and at
the same time nullifies White's dangerous Queen
Bishop 18.Rg4 exd5 19.cxd5 h5? [19...Bxd5
20.Ng5 Bxg5 21.Rxg5; 19...Bxb2 20.Qxb2 f6
21.Rd1 Kh8] 20.Ng5! The real point of White's
previous moves 20...hxg4? [20...Nf8 21.Bxf6
hxg4 22.Bxd8 Rxd8 23.Qf5 Qc7] 21.Qh7+ Kf8
22.Re1 Ne5 23.Bxe5 Bxe5 24.Qh8+ Ke7
25.Qxg7 Rf8 [25...-- 26.Qxf7+ Kd6 27.Qe6+ Kc7
28.Qe7+ Rd7 29.Ne6#] 26.Rxe5+ Kd7 27.Nxf7
Rg8 28.Qf6 Rce8 29.Qf5+ Kc7 30.d6# 10
51
Euwe - Reshevsky
Neuhausen, 1953
Nimzo-Indian
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 c5 5.Bd3 00
6.a3 Bxc3+ 7.bxc3 b6 8.Ne2 Bb7 9.00 d6
10.Qc2 d5 11.cxd5 Qxd5 12.Nf4 Qc6 13.c4 cxd4
14.exd4 Nbd7 15.Bb2 Rfe8 16.Rfe1 Rac8
17.Rac1 Nf8 18.Bf1 In view of Blacks threat ...
Ng6, White must do something about the
impending mate at g2 [18.f3 Ng6 19.Nxg6 hxg6
20.Qf2]
XABCDEFGHY
8 +r+rsnk+(
7zpl+ +pzpp'
6 zpq+psn +&
5+ + + + %
4 +PzP sN +$
3zP + + + #
2 vLQ+ zPPzP"
1+ tR tRLmK !
xabcdefghy
18...Ng6 19.Nxg6? Now White will be on the
defensive [19.Nd3! b5 20.Nc5 better propsects]
19...hxg6 20.Re3 Red8 21.Qe2 White must leave
the c-file in view of Black's threatened ... Pb5
21...Qd6 22.Rh3 Qf4! Showing how vital are the
vacant central squares 23.Rd1 Ba6 24.Rf3 Qe4
25.Re3 Qg4 26.f3 Qf4 27.g3 White succeeds in
controlling the vacant central squares at the cost
of weakening his King position 27...Qh6 28.Rc3
Qg5 29.Qf2 Rd7 30.Rdc1 Rdc7 31.R1c2 Qa5
32.Bc1? A serious mistake [32.Rc1 A passive
procedure, but a policy by which he might have
been able to survive]
XABCDEFGHY
8 +r+ +k+(
7zp tr +pzp '
6lzp +psnp+&
5wq + + + %
4 +PzP + +$
3zP tR +PzP #
2 +R+ wQ zP"
1+ vL +LmK !
xabcdefghy
32...Nd5 33.cxd5 Rxc3 34.Rxc3 Qxc3 [34...Rxc3
35.Bd2] 35.Bb2 Qb3 36.Bxa6 Rc2 37.d6 Rxf2
38.d7 Qd5 39.Kxf2 Qxd7 01
Filip - Szabo
Bucharest, 1953
Queens Gambit Declined
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bg5
Be7 6.e3 00 7.Qc2 Re8 8.Nf3 Nbd7 9.Bd3 Nf8
10.00 c6 11.Rab1 Straight for the goal 11...g6
12.b4 Ne6 13.Bh4 Nh5 [13...a6 14.a4 Ng7 15.b5
Bf5 16.bxc6 bxc6 17.Ne5 White has a distinct pull,
thanks to the completion of his minority attack]
14.Bxe7 Rxe7 15.Na4 Black playing ... Pc5 is a
possibilty White must always be prepared with,
and it is often a good idea to occupy the c5
square with a Knight [15.b5 c5 16.dxc5 Nxc5
White must permit the exchange of Bishops
17.Be2? Bf5]
XABCDEFGHY
8r+lwq +k+(
7zpp+ trp+p'
6 +p+n+p+&
5+ +p+ +n%
4NzP zP + +$
3+ +LzPN+ #
2P+Q+ zPPzP"
1+R+ +RmK !
xabcdefghy
52
15...Rc7 16.Rfc1 Nhg7 17.Qb3 Bd7 18.Nc5
[18.b5 cxb5 19.Bxb5 Bxb5 20.Qxb5 Rac8 The
open c-file would be of little use to White]
18...Be8 19.Rc3 Rac8 20.Rbc1 Ng5 Black has
done everything possible for the defence of his
Queenside, and now deems the moment
propitioius for his own counterattack 21.Nxg5
Qxg5 22.b5 uncommonly strong 22...cxb5
23.Nxb7! Rxc3 24.Rxc3 Rxc3 25.Qxc3 Qg4 In
spite of the exchange of all of the Rooks, White's
control of the c-file is now a serious matter. Black
has now prevented Qc8 but now the White Queen
threatens to enter at c7
XABCDEFGHY
8 + +l+k+(
7zpN+ +psnp'
6 + + +p+&
5+p+p+ + %
4 + zP +q+$
3+ wQLzP + #
2P+ + zPPzP"
1+ + + mK !
xabcdefghy
26.Nd6! Bd7 27.Qc7! Nh5 [27...Qe6 28.Qb8+
Ne8 29.Nxe8 Qxe8 30.Qxa7] 28.Bxb5 Qd1+
[28...Bxb5 29.Qxf7+ Kh8 30.Qf8#] 29.Bf1 With a
sound extra pawn and the attack, White must
easily win 29...Qa4 30.Qd8+ Kg7 31.Qe7 Be6
32.Ne8+ Kg8 33.Qd8 Kf8 34.Nc7+ Kg7
35.Nxe6+ fxe6 36.Qe7+ Kh6 37.g4 Ng7 38.Qh4+
Nh5 39.gxh5 g5 40.Qg4 Qxa2 41.Qxe6+ Kxh5
42.Qh3+ Kg6 43.Bd3+ 10
Ojanen - Trifunovic
Mar del Plata, 1953
Nimzo-Indian
The less familiar but nevertheless dangerous flank
attack on the hanging pawns by ... Pb5 1.d4 Nf6
2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 00 5.Nf3 d5 6.a3 Bxc3+
7.bxc3 c5 8.cxd5 Nxd5 9.c4 Nf6 10.Qc2 cxd4
11.exd4 Bd7! 12.Be2 b5 This strong flank attack
is possible, thanks to the fact that White is
uncastled 13.c5 If White had allowed this pawn to
be captured at c4, he would have been left with an
isolated d-pawn. The consequences of the move
actually played are even more serious, for he now
gets all disadvantages which we know are
associated with "blockaded security", but not its
advantages. The usual advantage lies in the
possiblity of an attack on the b-pawn, but in the
present case, with a pawn at b7, but already on
b5, this simply doesn't arise [13.cxb5 Bxb5
14.Bxb5 Qa5+]
XABCDEFGHY
8rsn wq trk+(
7zp +l+pzpp'
6 + +psn +&
5+p+ + + %
4 +PzP + +$
3zP + +N+ #
2 +Q+LzPPzP"
1tR vL mK +R!
xabcdefghy
13...Bc6 14.00 Be4 Occupying a vital "vacant
central square" 15.Qc3 [15.Qb3 Nc6 (15...a6)
16.Qxb5 Bxf3 17.Bxf3 Nxd4 18.Qd3 Nxf3+
19.Qxf3 Qd5] 15...Nc6 16.Be3 [16.-- Bxf3
17.Bxf3 Nxd4 18.Bxa8 Ne2+; 16.Bxb5 Bxf3
17.Qxf3 Nxd4 18.Qd3 Nxb5 19.Qxb5 Qc7 the
weakness of the white c-pawn will be a serious
liability] 16...Nd5 17.Qc1 Rb8 18.Ne5 Qc7
19.Nxc6 Qxc6 20.Bd2? [20.f3 Bg6 (20...Nxe3
21.Qxe3 Bd5 Black's twofold advantage consists
of the weakness of the White d-pawn and his
ability to create a passed pawn on the extreme
Queen's wing) ] 20...Bxg2! 21.Re1 [21.Kxg2
Ne3+ 22.Kg3 Qg2+ 23.Kh4 Nf5+ 24.Kh5 g6#]
21...Ne7 22.Bf4 Rb7 23.Bd6 Bd5 24.Qc3 Rc8
25.Bxe7 Rxe7 26.Reb1 e5! 27.Bxb5 Qg6+
28.Qg3 Qe4 29.f3 Qxd4+ 30.Qf2 Qxf2+ 31.Kxf2
Rxc5 32.Bd3 g6 01
Prins - Kotov
ol ol, 1954
Old Indian Defense
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 d6 3.Nc3 e5 4.dxe5 dxe5 5.Qxd8+
Kxd8 6.Bg5 Be7 7.Nf3 Nbd7 8.Bh4 A multi-
purpose move. White clears g5 for occupation by
a Knight, and at the same time prepares to plant
the Bishop on g3, attacking the e-pawn. In itself
this attack is nothing unusual, but the presence of
the Bishop on g3 has an ulterior significance. The
structure of the position will sooner or later require
Black to play ... Pc6, and the ideal post for his
53
King would typically be on c7, after which he could
complete his development. However, it is clear
that the existence of a White Bishop on g3 would
defeat Black's idea. As a result the Black King will
be relegated to staying in the centre, with all the
dangers that implies 8...c6 9.000 [9.Bg3 Bd6]
9...Ng4 [9...Kc7 10.Bg3 Bd6 (10...Ng4 11.h3)
11.c5! Nxc5 12.Nxe5] 10.Bg3 f6 In this way Black
tries to build a barrier against the enemy Bishop
while solidly protecting the e-pawn 11.Nh4 Nh6
12.e4 Bb4 13.Be2! This is logical. Since White
means to take advantage of the insecurity of
Black's King in the centre, he doesn't shrink from
doubling of his c-pawn, the exchange would open
more lines against Black's King
XABCDEFGHY
8r+lmk + tr(
7zpp+n+ zpp'
6 +p+ zp sn&
5+ + zp + %
4 vlP+P+ sN$
3+ sN + vL #
2PzP +LzPPzP"
1+ mKR+ +R!
xabcdefghy
13...Ke7 14.f4! The indicated means of freeing
the Bishop 14...exf4 15.Bxf4 g5 [15...Nf7
16.Nf5+; 15...Ne5 An exchange on h6 would ease
White's game] 16.Be3 Ne5 17.Nf3 Nhg4 18.Bg1
Be6 19.Nd4!! Bxc3 [19...Nxc4 20.Nxe6 Kxe6
21.Bxc4+; 19...Bxc4 20.Nf5+ Ke6 (20...Kf7 21.h3
Bxc3 22.Nd6+ Ke7 23.Nxc4+- winning a piece;
20...Kf8 21.h3 Bxc3 22.Bc5+ Kg8 23.Bxc4+ Nxc4
24.Rd7 These variations make it clear that the
Black King is exposed to all sorts of dangers in
the middle, in spite of the exchange of Queen)
21.h3 Bxc3 22.Rd6+ Kf7 23.Bxc4+ Nxc4 24.Rd7+
Ke8 25.Re7+ Kd8 26.bxc3 White dominates]
20.bxc3 Nh6 [20...Bxc4 21.Nf5+ Ke6 22.Rd6+ Kf7
23.Bxc4+ Nxc4 24.Rd7+] 21.Nxe6 Kxe6 22.c5
Rhd8 23.Bd4 Obviously White avoids further
liquidation. His one aim now is to keep the pieces
on the board; otherwise his attack would fizzle out
23...Nhf7 24.Rhf1 Ke7 25.Rf2 Rf8 26.Bh5! Nh8
[26...-- 27.Bxf7 Rxf7 28.Bxe5 fxe5 29.Rxf7+ Kxf7
30.Rd7+] 27.Bxe5 fxe5 28.Rf5! Forcing a further
exchange 28...Rxf5 29.exf5 Rf8 30.g4 b6
[30...Nf7 31.Bxf7 Rxf7 32.Rd6] 31.Rd6 Rf6
32.Rxf6 Kxf6 33.Kd2? [33.cxb6] 33...Ng6?
[33...bxc5 34.Kd3 Ng6 35.fxg6 hxg6 36.Bxg6=]
34.fxg6 hxg6 35.cxb6! axb6 36.c4 gxh5 [36...c5
37.Bxg6 Kxg6 38.Kd3+-] 37.c5! b5 38.gxh5 g4
39.Ke3 Kg5 40.Ke4 Kxh5 41.Kxe5 Kh4 42.Kf6!
The winning idea. Before going after the c-pawn
White must get rid of the Black g-pawn or else
win a tempo
XABCDEFGHY
8 + + + +(
7+ + + + '
6 +p+ mK +&
5+pzP + + %
4 + + +pmk$
3+ + + + #
2P+ + + zP"
1+ + + + !
xabcdefghy
42...Kh5 [42...Kh3 43.Kg5+-] 43.a3 Kh6 44.Ke6
Kh5 45.Kd6 Kh4 46.Kxc6 Kh3 47.Kxb5 Kxh2
48.c6 g3 49.c7 g2 50.c8Q g1Q 51.Qh8+ Kg2
52.Qg8++- 10
Bronstein - Medina
Goteborg Geteborg, 1955
Queens Gambit Declined
BRONSTEIN (Born 1924) Like Botvinnik,
Bronstein is at home in difficult positions; the
difference is that Bronstein will take far greater
risks. From the first move to the last his games
are usually struggles in which he devotes much of
his time seeking original, creative lines of play.
These are tactics motivated not only by the idea of
forcing his opponent into prolonged thought, but
also by his desire to win as brilliantly as possible.
This style has something of Alekhine (his pawn
sacrifices and his instinct fo breakthrough) but
also something of Tartakower (the best move is
not necessarily the strongest; preference may
sometimes be given to a second best move in
order to confuse the opponent) 1.d4 [Porreca-
Bronstein, Belgrade 1954 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3
dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.h4 h6 7.Nh3 Bh7
8.Bc4 Nf6 9.Nf4 Nbd7 10.00 Qc7 11.Re1 Bg8!!
To eliminate the possibility of a sacrifice on
54
e6(11...e6 The sacrifice on e6 would hang over
Black's hand like the sword of Damocles) ] 1...d5
2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Nbd7 5.cxd5 exd5 6.e3
c6 7.Bd3 Be7 8.Qc2 Nf8 [8...00 9.Nf3 Re8 10.0
0 Nf8 11.Rab1 White usually aims for the minority
attack] 9.Nge2 [9.Nf3 playing for the minority
attack 9...Ne6 10.Bh4 g6 11.00 Ng7 12.b4
Bronstein often avoids the routine path] 9...Ne6
10.Bh4 g6 Now Black's plan has clarified: he
intends ... Ng7, followed by ... Bf5, with a
strategically desirable exchange of the light
squaredBishops 11.000 Now the cards are on
the table. Queenside castling usually foreshadows
a pawn storm on the other flank; here, however, it
will become clear that this is an exceptional
position
XABCDEFGHY
8r+lwqk+ tr(
7zpp+ vlp+p'
6 +p+nsnp+&
5+ +p+ + %
4 + zP + vL$
3+ sNLzP + #
2PzPQ+NzPPzP"
1+ mKR+ +R!
xabcdefghy
11...Ng7 12.f3! White prepares to activate his
central pawn majority 12...Nf5 [12...Bf5 13.e4!]
13.Bf2 Qa5 14.Kb1 Be6 15.h3 White is in no
hurry to advance in the centre. If, for instance,
Black now castles Kingside, White could obtain
excellent chances by 16. Pg4 15...000 [15...00
16.g4] 16.e4! Ng7 [16...dxe4 17.fxe4 Ng7 18.d5
White opens a violent assault] 17.Bg3 It is clear
White has the initiative, and his procedure is
characteristic. First the bishop is placed where it is
most active 17...Nge8 18.Be5 Rf8 19.Nc1
Suddenly the crisis arrives. White threatens to win
the Black Queen with Nb3 19...dxe4 [19...--
20.Nb3] 20.fxe4 Nd7 21.Bh2 Nb8 22.d5! Starting
an overwhelming attack 22...Bd7 [22...cxd5
23.Nb3 -- 24.Nxd5+] 23.Nb3 Qb6 [23...Qb4
24.a3 Qb6] 24.d6! Bxd6 25.Nd5 The Black
Queen has no move 10
Kramer - Busek
Vienna, 1955
Queens Gambit Declined
The proverbial "making somethig out of nothing"
consists, in fact of activity 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3
Nf6 4.e3 g6 5.Nc3 Bg7 6.Qb3 00 7.Bd2 e6
8.Bd3 Nbd7 9.00 b6 10.cxd5 This exchange
after Black commits Nb8 ... else Nc6 is playable
10...exd5 11.e4! White is ahead in development,
but if the position retains its closed character he
will not be able to make anything out of it. Black
will automatically make up his leeway (threatening
... Be6 and ... Bd5 blockading the IQP) 11...dxe4
12.Nxe4 Nxe4 13.Bxe4 Nb8 14.d5! Playing to
dissolve the isolated pawn and reach an open
game 14...Bb7 15.Bg5 Qd7 16.dxc6 Played in
accordance with the rule that an advantage in
development is best exploited in an open game.
[16.Rad1 c5 Black keeps the play closed]
XABCDEFGHY
8rsn + trk+(
7zpl+q+pvlp'
6 zpP+ +p+&
5+ + + vL %
4 + +L+ +$
3+Q+ +N+ #
2PzP + zPPzP"
1tR + +RmK !
xabcdefghy
16...Bxc6 17.Rfd1 Qb7 18.Bd5! The only move to
keep the initiative. [18.Bxc6 Nxc6 Black gains an
important tempo] 18...Bxd5 19.Rxd5 h6
[19...Bxb2 20.Qxb2 Qxd5 21.Bh6 f6 22.Bxf8 Kxf8
23.Qxf6+ White's initiative has become a real
attack; 19...Nc6 20.Rad1 threatening the 7th rank]
20.Be3 Nc6 Black is threatening to reach full
equality by ... Rad8; how can White retain the
initiative? 21.Rd6! Showing the ... Ph6 was a
weakening move. White threatens Rxg6 21...Kh7
[21...Rad8 22.Rxg6 Na5 23.Rxg7+ Kxg7 24.Qc3+
White has an attack full of promise] 22.Qb5! Now
the Knight can not very well move away, as then
the White Rook would invade the seventh rank
22...Rac8 [22...Na5 23.Rd7] 23.Rad1 Rfd8 Black
has achieved his immediate aim - the neutralizing
and subsequent exchange of Rooks. But White's
initiative continues unabated 24.h4! Rxd6
55
25.Rxd6 Bf8 A necessary preparation for the
exchange of the remaining pair of Rooks 26.Rd1
Bg7 [26...Rd8 27.Rxd8 Nxd8 28.h5] 27.h5 Qe7
28.b3 Rd8 29.Rxd8 Nxd8 30.Qd5! Powerful
centralization of the Queen 30...Ne6 31.hxg6+
fxg6 32.a4 White's initiative has now gather
decisive momentum
XABCDEFGHY
8 + + + +(
7zp + wq vlk'
6 zp +n+pzp&
5+ +Q+ + %
4P+ + + +$
3+P+ vLN+ #
2 + + zPP+"
1+ + + mK !
xabcdefghy
32...Bf6 [32...Nc5 33.a5 Qd7 34.Qxd7 Nxd7
35.axb6 Nxb6 (35...axb6 36.Kf1 Kg8 37.Ke2 Kf7
38.Kd3 Ke6 39.Kc4 Kd6 40.Kb5) 36.Bxb6 axb6
37.Kf1 Kg8 38.Ke2 Kf7 39.Kd3 Ke6 40.Kc4 Kd6
41.Kb5 Kc7 42.Nh4 g5 43.Nf5] 33.a5 Ng5
[33...bxa5 34.Qxa5; 33...Nc5 34.b4 Na4 35.Qc6]
34.axb6 Nxf3+ 35.Qxf3 axb6 36.Qc6 Bg5
37.Bxb6 Qe1+ 38.Kh2 Qe5+ 39.g3 Bf6 40.Qc7+
Kg8 41.Qxe5 Bxe5 42.Kg2 Kf7 43.Kf3 Ke6
44.Ke4 h5 45.b4 Bb8 46.Be3 Bd6 47.b5 Be7
48.f4 h4 49.g4 10
Smyslov - Geller
6th game, 1955
Kings Indian
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f3 00
6.Be3 e5 7.Nge2 c6 8.d5 cxd5 9.cxd5 Ne8
10.Qd2 f5 11.h3 Nd7 12.g3 Nb6 13.b3 White has
deffer ed castling too long, and no wonder; for
Kingside castling was hardly to be considered in
view of the advancing f-pawn, while Queenside
castling appears distinctly unhealthy in view of the
c-file. Nonetheless White should have castled on
the Queenside at move 11 13...f4! thematic move
14.gxf4 exf4 15.Bd4 [15.Bxf4 Bxc3 16.Qxc3
Qh4+ Fork and removing the guard] 15...Nd7!
16.h4 Ne5 Black's pieces have access to e5
17.Bg2 Bd7 you have to have nerves to calmly
complete development!
XABCDEFGHY
8r+ wqntrk+(
7zpp+l+ vlp'
6 + zp +p+&
5+ +Psn + %
4 + vLPzp zP$
3+PsN +P+ #
2P+ wQN+L+"
1tR + mK +R!
xabcdefghy
18.Bf2 [18.Nxf4 Rxf4 19.Qxf4 Nd3+ fork] 18...Rc8
commonsense pressure 19.Nd4 Qa5 20.Rc1 Nc7
Logically improving the placement of all pieces
21.Rc2 Na6 22.00 At last! But meanwhile Black's
advantage has become overwhelming. We give
the rest merely for the sake of completeness
22...Nc5 23.Nce2 Qxd2 there is no big attack ...
just better placed pieces 24.Rxd2 Nxe4 little
tactics 25.fxe4 f3 26.Nxf3 Nxf3+ 27.Bxf3 Rxf3
28.Bxa7 Rh3 logical ... attacking weaknesses
29.Bf2 Be5 logical, better placed piece 30.Nd4
Bg4 everyone in on the party 31.Be1 Re3
weakness 32.Bf2 Rxe4 33.Re1 Rxe1+ 34.Bxe1
Rc1 01
Bronstein - Sliwa
Alekhin memorial Moscow, 1956
Ruy Lopez
An example of tension 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5
a6 4.Ba4 d6 5.c3 Bd7 6.d4 Be7 7.00 Bf6 8.Be3
Nge7 9.Nbd2 00 As far as the central pawn
configuration is concerned, two points are
abundantly clear 1) White would achieve nothing
by exchanging on e5 2) Black can hardly
exchange on d4, since the recapture with the c-
pawn would give White too strong a centre. The
advance Pd5 by White would be convenient for
Black 10.a3 [10.d5 Nb8 11.Bc2 a5] 10...Ng6
11.b4 From now on Black must reckon seriously
with the possibility of Pd5, since White is ready to
follow up with Pc4 and Pc5 11...Re8 12.Bc2 h6
13.Nb3 White is in no hurry to play Pd5 since he
has other ways of strengthening his position
13...Bg5? With such a constricted position Black's
policy must be to exchange pieces. [13...Bg4
14.h3 Bxf3 15.Qxf3 Bg5] 14.Nxg5 hxg5 15.g3
This nullifies Black's control of f4
56
XABCDEFGHY
8r+ wqr+k+(
7+pzpl+pzp '
6p+nzp +n+&
5+ + zp zp %
4 zP zPP+ +$
3zPNzP vL zP #
2 +L+ zP zP"
1tR +Q+RmK !
xabcdefghy
15...f6 [15...Bh3 16.Qh5 Bxf1 17.Rxf1 with a
powerful attack In return for the sacrificed
Exchange White would have 1) a pawn (for
Black's front g-pawn would be untenabl 2)
Greater maneuvering space 3) The Bishop pair
This adds up to more than sufficient
compensation for the slight material deficit]
16.Qh5 Nce7 17.Nc5!! A superb way of profiting
from the weakness of Black's castled position
17...Bc6 [17...dxc5 18.Bb3+ Kf8 (18...c4 19.Bxc4+
Kf8 20.dxe5 Bb5 21.Ba2!) 19.dxe5! fxe5
20.Bxc5+- Bishop pair power at it's best] 18.Bb3+
d5 19.Rad1! Once again the strongest move is to
refrain from exchanging 19...b6 20.Nd3 exd4
[20...-- 21.dxe5] 21.Bxd4 Kf7 22.f4 Rh8 23.Qe2
gxf4 24.Nxf4 Nxf4 25.Rxf4 Qc8 Other moves are
no better 26.exd5 Bxd5 27.Bxf6 A fitting finish to
this pretty game 27...gxf6 28.Rxd5 Nxd5
29.Bxd5+ 10
Muhring - Johannessen
Moscow, 1956
Kings Indian
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f3 e5
6.Nge2 00 7.Bg5 c6 8.Qd2 Nbd7 9.000 a6
White will attack on teh Kingside; Black on the
Queenside. black's move is very much to the point
10.Kb1 [10.d5 c5 11.g4! Qa5 12.Ng3] 10...b5
11.d5 b4 12.Na4 cxd5 13.cxd5 Qa5 14.b3 Nb6
15.Nb2
XABCDEFGHY
8r+r+ +k+(
7+ + +pvlp'
6psn zp +p+&
5wq +PzplvL %
4 zp + + +$
3+P+ +PsN #
2PsN wQ +PzP"
1mK +R+L+R!
xabcdefghy
BLACK TO MOVE: How to build the attack?
[15.Nxb6 Qxb6 Black gets his attack in first with ...
Pa5-a4] 15...Nfxd5!! A very supr ising Knight
sacrifice which in any event gives Black excellent
attacking chances 16.exd5 Bf5+ 17.Ka1 Rfc8
White must also reckong with ... Pe4 opening the
KID diagonal 18.Ng3 prevents ... Rc2 BLACK TO
MOVE: [18.Rc1 Black would have the choice of
capturing on d5 - with or without ... Rxc1 - or by
playing ... Pe4 with unfathomable complications]
18...Bc2! [18...Rc2 19.Nxf5 Rxd2 20.Ne7+ Kf8
21.Rxd2 f6 22.Nc6 Retaining a Rook and Two
Minor pieces for the Queen] 19.Bc4 BLACK TO
MOVE: How to continue the attack? [19.Rc1
Bxb3] 19...Rxc4! Based on the latent strength of
the Bishop lurking on g7 20.bxc4 [20.Nxc4? e4+
21.Nb2 Bxb3] 20...Bb3 Black's attack is
overwhelming 21.Na4 e4+ 22.Kb1 Nxa4 23.axb3
Nc3+ 24.Qxc3 [24.Kb2 Qa2+ 25.Kc1 Qb1#]
24...bxc3 25.Nxe4 Rb8 26.Kc2 Qa2+ 27.Kd3
Rxb3 01
Penrose - Larsen
Hastings, 1956
Caro-Kann
Active defence 1.e4 c6 2.Nc3 d5 3.Nf3 dxe4
4.Nxe4 Nf6 5.Nxf6+ gxf6 6.b3 Rg8 7.Bb2 Bh6
8.Qe2 Bg4 9.000 Nd7 10.h3 Bh5 11.g4 Bg6
12.h4 Now it seems Black is in real trouble; White
threatens to win the Bg6 by Ph5. A whisper went
round the tournament room that Larsen's game
was lost 12...Nc5!! 13.Kb1 Unpinning the d-pawn
in the belieft Black's has nothing better thatn
[13.h5 Be4 temporary and rather shaky; 13.b4
Na6 14.h5 Bxc2 15.Kxc2 Nxb4+ 16.Kc1 Rxg4
Black has three pawns for the piece and good
57
attacking chances, the net result being Black is
better] 13...Qd5! [13...Be4 14.d4 Bxf3 15.Qxf3
Ne6 16.d5 White has a tremendous attack]
XABCDEFGHY
8r+ +k+r+(
7zpp+ zpp+p'
6 +p+ zplvl&
5+ snq+ + %
4 + + +PzP$
3+P+ +N+ #
2PvLPzPQzP +"
1+K+R+L+R!
xabcdefghy
14.d3 Controlling the e4 square [14.b4 Ne6 15.h5
Be4 Black is fine] 14...000! 15.Bh3? [15.h5 Be4
pinning tactics on the d-pawn; 15.Bg2 Bf5!
16.gxf5 Rxg2; 15.Bg2 Bf5 16.Bh3 Bxg4 17.Bxg4+
Rxg4 18.Qxe7] 15...Ne6 16.g5? [16.h5 Nf4
17.Qxe7 Qxf3 18.hxg6 fxg6 19.Qxf6 Rgf8 20.g5+
Nxh3 21.Qe6+ White holds] 16...Bh5 The Bishop
which was virtually written off suddenly becomes
a trump card 17.Bxe6+ fxe6 18.Rh3 fxg5
19.hxg5 Rxg5 20.Bc1 Rf5 21.Bxh6 Bxf3 01
Skold - Fred
Stockholm, 1956
Ruy lopez
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.00 Be7
6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 00 9.h3 Na5 10.Bc2 c5
11.d3 Qc7 12.Nbd2 Rd8 13.Qe2 Bb7 14.Nf1 Re8
Evidently the intention is to have e5 well guarded,
with the idea of an eventual ... Pd5 15.Ng3
[15.Ne3 d5 16.exd5 Nxd5 17.Nxd5 Bxd5 18.Nxe5
Bd6 pinning tactics] 15...g6 [15...d5 16.exd5
Nxd5? (16...Bxd5 17.Nxe5 Bd6 18.Bf4 Nd7
pinning tactics) 17.Qxe5 Bd6 18.Qxe8+ Back
rank tactics] 16.Bg5 vacating the c1 square for a
possible Rc1 16...Nc6 [16...d5 17.b4 cxb4
18.cxb4 Nc6 19.a3 Intending Bb3 and Rc1
(results of Bc1g5)] 17.Nh2!? Intending Pf4 [17.h4
protecting Bg5 against Black's ... Nh5 tactics]
17...Nh5! A tactical finesse, based on the
unprotected state of White's Bg5 18.Bxe7
[18.Nxh5 Bxg5] 18...Nf4! The point of Nh5, the
thematic occupation of f4 19.Qf1 Qxe7 20.Ne2
Nh5?
XABCDEFGHY
8r+ +r+k+(
7+l+ wqp+p'
6p+nzp +p+&
5+pzp zp +n%
4 + +P+ +$
3+ zPP+ +P#
2PzPL+NzPPsN"
1tR + tRQmK !
xabcdefghy
Now White does achieve his objective, and the
initiative falls into his hands again. [20...Nxe2+
21.Rxe2 g5 22.Ng4 Qe6 23.Ne3 Ne7 after which
the weak d5 and f5 are covered; 20...Bc8 Pg3 is
now not playable due to pressure on h3] 21.f4
exf4 22.Nxf4 Nxf4 23.Qxf4 Qe5 24.Qh4 h5 A
serious weakening of Black's Kingside to prevent
Ng4. [24...Bc8 less commital] 25.Rf1 Bc8 So as to
meet Bb3 with ... Be6 26.Nf3 Qg7 27.Qf4 Ne5 An
attempt to prevent the advance of Pd4 by
vigorous counteraction 28.Rad1 [28.d4 cxd4
29.cxd4 Nxf3+ 30.Rxf3 Qxd4+ discovered attack]
28...Be6 29.Ng5 Rac8 Again to prevent Pd4
30.Rf2! On one hand protecting the Bishop, and
so threatening Pd4 again; on the other hand
preparing to triple on the f-file 30...Rc7 31.d4
cxd4 32.cxd4 Nc4 33.Bb3 Rd8 34.Kh1! White's
initiative has now brought him a decisive
positional advantage. He controls the centre and
the half-open f-file, as well as enjoying the
greater freedom of movement. What follows now
is not so much a matter of initiative as direct
attack, for which Kh1 was a fine preparation
(preventing Qd4+)
34...Re7 35.Rdf1!! Qxd4 [35...-- 36.d5 Bd7
37.Nxf7] 36.Nxe6 fxe6 37.Qg5 Qg7 38.Bxc4
bxc4 39.Rf6 Decisive 39...Kh8 [39...Kh7 40.Rxg6
Qxg6 41.Qxe7+] 40.Rxg6 Rf8 41.Qxh5+ 10
58
Boleslavsky - Mikenas
USSR Championship, 1957
Caro-Kann
Diamond cut diamond 1.e4 c6 2.Nf3 d5 3.Nc3
Bg4 4.h3 Bxf3 5.Qxf3 e6 6.d3 Nf6 7.g3 Bb4
8.Bd2 d4 9.Nb1 Bxd2+ 10.Nxd2 Qa5 11.a3 Nbd7
12.Qe2 h5 13.h4 Ng4 14.Bh3 Ndf6 15.00 000
16.Nc4 Qc7 17.e5 Ne8
XABCDEFGHY
8 +ktr + tr(
7zppwq + zp '
6 +p+psn +&
5+ + + +p%
4P+Nzp +nzP$
3+ +P+ zPL#
2 zPP+QzP +"
1tR + +RmK !
xabcdefghy
WHITE TO MOVE: 18.a4! [18.Bxg4 hxg4 19.Qxg4
b5 removing the guard] 18...f5 19.exf6 Nexf6
WHITE TO MOVE: 20.b4! In accordance with the
requirements of the position that both sides must
pursue the attack with maximum vigor. In such
positions a pawn more or less means nothing, and
White doesn't capture on e6 as the opened e-file
would only help Black [20.Qxe6+ Opened e-file
helps Black attack] 20...Rhf8 21.b5 Kb8 [21...c5
22.a5 Qf7 23.a6 b6 24.f3 White wins at least a
pawn while holding a powerful initiative] 22.bxc6
Qxc6 23.Bg2 Qc7 [23...Nd5 24.Rab1 Nc3
25.Qe1!] 24.Rab1 Illustrative of "converging lines"
24...Nd5 25.Qxe6 At precisely the right moment.
White is not interested so much in winning the
pawn as in the resulting attack against Pd5
25...Rxf2 26.Rxf2 Qxg3
XABCDEFGHY
8 mk tr + +(
7zpp+ + zp '
6 + +Q+ +&
5+ +n+ +p%
4P+Nzp +nzP$
3+ +P+ wq #
2 +P+ tRL+"
1+R+ + mK !
xabcdefghy
WHITE TO MOVE: The best defence? 27.Rf3!
Qh2+ 28.Kf1 b6 WHITE TO MOVE: Attack or
defend? [28...Qxh4 29.Rxb7+ Kxb7 30.Rf7+ Kb8
31.Qc6 Nde3+ 32.Ke2+-] 29.a5! Nf4 The drama
reaches its climax. Unless there is a forcing line
now, White will have to take a perpetual check
30.Rxb6+ axb6 31.Qxb6+ Kc8 32.Qc6+ Kb8
33.Qb5+ Kc7 WHITE TO MOVE: How to attack
and defend? [33...Ka7 34.Qb6+ Ka8 35.Rxf4++-;
33...Kc8 34.Qf5++-] 34.Rf2! Combining attack
and defence
XABCDEFGHY
8 + tr + +(
7+ mk + zp '
6 + + + +&
5zPQ+ + +p%
4 +Nzp snnzP$
3+ +P+ + #
2 +P+ tRLwq"
1+ + +K+ !
xabcdefghy
34...Rd5 [34...Nxg2 35.Rf7+; 34...-- 35.Qb7#]
35.Qb6+ Kc8 [35...Kd7 36.Qb7+ Ke8 37.Qb8+
Kd7 38.Qxf4+-] 36.Qc6+ Kd8 [36...Kb8 37.Qe8+
Kc7 38.Qf7++-] 37.Qa8+ Ke7 38.Qb7+ Rd7
[38...Kd8 39.Qb8+; 38...Kf6 39.Qxd5 Nxf2
40.Qc6+ Kf7 41.Ne5++-] 39.Qe4+ Ne6 40.Re2
Kf8 41.Qxe6 Qf4+ 42.Bf3 Qxf3+ 43.Ke1 Nf6
59
[43...Qf7 44.Qxf7+ Kxf7 45.Ne5+ Nxe5 46.Rxe5
Easy Rook ending] 44.Ne5 Qg3+ 45.Kd1 Re7
46.Ng6+! 10
Olfasson - Duckstein
Wageningen, 1957
English
1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.g3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.Bg2
Ne7 6.Nf3 Nbc6 7.00 Nf5 8.b4 a6 9.Bb2 Be6
10.Ne4 f6 11.a3 Qd7 12.Qc2 000 Black's
decision to castle Queenside was very risky, in
view of White's control of the half-open c-file, the
weakness created by .. Pa6, and teh White Bg2's
range extending all teh way down the long
diagonal toward the Black King's new residence.
Presumably he reckoned on neutralizing the
attack on his King by exerting pressure in the
central sector.
XABCDEFGHY
8 +ktr vl tr(
7+pzpq+ zpp'
6p+n+lzp +&
5+ + zpn+ %
4 zP +N+ +$
3zP + +NzP #
2 vLQzPPzPLzP"
1tR + +RmK !
xabcdefghy
13.Rfc1 Nfd4 14.Bxd4! Quite correct. The Queen
Bishop is not needed in the coming attack on
Black's King 14...exd4 [14...Nxd4 15.Nxd4 exd4
16.Nc5 Bxc5 17.Qxc5 Kb8 WHITE TO MOVE:
How to continue the attack? 18.b5! axb5 19.Rab1
c6 20.a4!] 15.Qb2 [15.Nc5 Bxc5 16.Qxc5 Bd5!
White's King Bishop is shut out] 15...d3 16.e3 Kb8
17.Rab1! White coul d also have played Pb5 but
the threat is stronger than the execution. In any
ccase, White now threatens Pb5 with even greater
force 17...Na7 18.Nc5 Bxc5 19.bxc5! once more
b7 has to suffer 19...c6 20.Nd4 Bf7 [20...Bd5
21.Bxd5 cxd5 22.c6!; 20...Bg4 21.Rc4 The
pressure on the Black King is overwhelming]
21.Qb6 Threatening Qxa6 and Nxc6+ 21...Ka8
WHITE TO MOVE: Find the tactic 22.Bh3! Nc8
[22...Qe7 23.Nf5 Qd7 24.Nd6+-] 23.Bxd7 Nxb6
24.Bxc6! Winding up with a powerful blow
24...bxc6 25.Rxb6+- 10
Penrose - Smyslov
07 Munich, 1958
Goring Gambit
The principle of returning the gambit pawn applied
more recently by Smyslov 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4
exd4 4.c3 dxc3 5.Nxc3 Bb4 6.Bc4 d6 7.00
Bxc3 8.bxc3 Nf6 9.Ba3 Bg4 10.Bb5 00 11.Bxc6
bxc6 12.e5 Nd5 13.Qd3 An attempt to maintain
the initiative. As in the previous example Black is
prepared to give back his extra pawn, in the
conviction that he will at least have some
endgame advantage [13.exd6 cxd6 14.c4]
XABCDEFGHY
8r+ wq trk+(
7zp zp +pzpp'
6 +pzp + +&
5+ +nzP + %
4 + + +l+$
3vL zPQ+N+ #
2P+ + zPPzP"
1tR + +RmK !
xabcdefghy
13...Re8 14.exd6 Nf4 Quite in the spirit of the
Maroczy. Without hesitation the defender leaps
upon the attacker at the right moment 15.Qc4
Ne2+ 16.Kh1 Bxf3 17.gxf3 cxd6 18.Qxc6 Rc8!
19.Qxd6 Qh4! With the White pawn position
ruined, Smyslove plays for mate 20.Rfd1 [20.--
Qh3] 20...Qxf2 21.Rf1 Qh4 22.Rad1 Re6 The
heavy artillery goes into action, as Tartakower
used to say 23.Qd7 Ng3+ 24.Kg1 [24.Kg2 Re2+
25.Rf2 Rxf2+ 26.Kxf2 Ne4+ 27.Ke3 Rxc3+!]
24...Rce8 25.Rf2 [25.hxg3 Qxg3+ 26.Kh1 Rh6+]
25...Ne2+ 26.Kf1 Qh3+ 27.Ke1 Nd4+ 28.Kd2
Re2+ White's Queen is lost 01
Tal - Geller
Riga, 1958
Ruy Lopez
34. TAL (19361993) The hazardous style of the
Russian grandmaster Tal made a great
impression on all chess lovers, both expert and
amateur alike. He pounced on his opponents like
a tiger; no risk would deter him. His great tactical
gifts and his skill even in severe time pressure
enabled him to scale the heights of Olympus in
record time. Tal, like every other chess master,
60
had his vulnerbale points. The return match with
Botvinnik showed that in positional play and
endgame technique he was no match for the man
who both preceded and followed him as World
Champion. On the other hand it was true that in
neither match was Botvinnik proof against Tal's
lighting flash combinative genius 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3
Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.00 Be7 6.Re1 b5
7.Bb3 00 8.c3 d6 9.h3 Na5 10.Bc2 c5 11.d4
Bb7 This main lin e of the Ruy Lopez has been
many times been the beginning of complex,
intense battles, often spanning the board from
Queenside to centre to Kingside. Geller, who has
a reputation for deep and original opening
preparations, eschews the most traditional move
11. Qc7 (Chigorin's move) in favour of less
explored vistas 12.b4 Tal, one of the most
aggressive players in the history of chess, returns
with a sharp reply 12...cxb4 13.cxb4 Nc4
14.Nbd2 d5 Blowing open the centre and leading
to great complications 15.exd5 exd4 16.Nxc4
bxc4 17.Qxd4 Bxb4 18.Rb1!! Bxe1 Black
accepts the challenge [18...Nxd5 19.Bxh7+ Kxh7
20.Ng5+ Kg8 21.Qh4 Nf6 22.Rxb4 Qd5 23.Nf3]
19.Rxb7 Re8 [19...Qxd5 20.Qxd5 Nxd5 21.Nxe1
Rab8 drawing chances in the ending] 20.d6 Qc8
XABCDEFGHY
8r+q+r+k+(
7+R+ +pzpp'
6p+ zP sn +&
5+ + + + %
4 +pwQ + +$
3+ + +N+P#
2P+L+ zPP+"
1+ vL vl mK !
xabcdefghy
21.Bg5!! A startling sacrifice, typical of Tal's
ferocious style [21.Rc7 Qe6 22.Bg5 Nd5 Black
gaining the better of it] 21...Re2! A fine counter
[21...Qxb7 22.Bxf6 gxf6 23.Qh4 f5 24.Qg5+ Kf8
25.Qh6+ Kg8 26.Bxf5! White would have a
winning attack] 22.Rc7 Qe6 23.Nxe1 [23.Re7
Bxf2+ 24.Qxf2 Rxf2 25.Rxe6 Rxc2] 23...Rxe1+
24.Kh2 Rd8 25.Bxf6 gxf6? The losing move
[25...Qxf6 26.Qxf6 gxf6 27.d7 Kg7 28.Bf5 Re5
29.Rc8 Rxf5 30.Rxd8 Rd5] 26.Re7! This wins
26...Qxd6+ [26...Qxe7 27.Qg4+] 27.Qxd6 Rxd6
28.Rxe1 Now it's all over. It is remarkable how a
player can thread his way through a maze of
complex tactics for many moves then fail to notice
a relatively simple tactical point. The reason is
that time pressure caused by the preceding
moves lead to a quick, but ill fate move
XABCDEFGHY
8 + + +k+(
7+ + +p+p'
6p+ tr zp +&
5+ + + + %
4 +p+ + +$
3+ + + +P#
2P+L+ zPPmK"
1+ + tR + !
xabcdefghy
28...Rd2 29.Rc1 Rxf2 30.Be4 Rxa2 31.Rxc4 a5
32.Rc8+ Kg7 33.Rc7 -- 34.Bd5 [34.Rxf7+ Kxf7
35.Bd5+ Kg6 36.Bxa2] 10
Blau - Keres
01 Zurich (19.05.59), 1959
Ruy Lopez
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.00 Be7
6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.Qe1 Be6 8.d3 Nd7 9.b3 c5
10.Bb2 f6 11.Nbd2 00 12.Qe3 Nb8 The Knight is
heading for d4 via c6. At d4 it may be exchanged,
which would Black dissolves his doubled pawns;
or if it is driven back by c3 the White d-pawn is
left weakened
XABCDEFGHY
8rsn wq trk+(
7+pzp vl zpp'
6p+ +lzp +&
5+ zp zp + %
4 + +P+ +$
3+P+PwQN+ #
2PvLPsN zPPzP"
1tR + +RmK !
xabcdefghy
61
13.Rfd1 Nc6 14.c3 Qe8 15.Rac1 Rd8 16.Nf1
White could have advanced his backward d-
pawn, but this advance of course, has the
drawbakc of allowing Black to get rid of his
doubled c-pawns. Also the position would be
opened up for the two Bishops [16.d4 cxd4
17.cxd4 exd4 18.Nxd4 Nxd4 19.Bxd4 Qh5!
20.Rxc7 Bd6 So, one way or another it seems
best for White to continue maneuvering] 16...Rf7
17.Ng3 Bf8 18.Rd2 White gives up his last good
chance to play d4 18...Rfd7 19.Rcd1 a5! Now
that the d-pawn has been definitely relegated to
the status of backward pawn it is a weakness.
Black therefore loses no time in seeking to create
a second weakness in White's position 20.Ne2
[20.d4 cxd4 21.cxd4 exd4 22.Nxd4 Bc5] 20...a4
21.bxa4 [21.c4] 21...Ra8! 22.Nc1 [22.d4 cxd4
23.cxd4 Bb4] 22...Rxa4 23.c4 Not an easy
decision, but White had only unpleasant choices
here [23.Ba1 Qa8] 23...Nd4 24.h3 g6 25.Bxd4
cxd4 26.Qe2 Qa8 27.Rc2 Rd6 Now the game
acquires a new aspect and Black begins to
maneuver in earnest against the enemy weak
points 28.Nd2 Rb6 29.Ndb3 Ra3 30.Kh2 c5
31.g3 In order to play Pf4 later, but he is never
able to get it in 31...Qc8 32.Qf1 Bh6 33.Qg2 Bd7
34.Re2 Qc7 35.Rde1 White indirectly prevents ...
Pf5 but putting indirect pressure against Black's
e-pawn 35...Re6 36.Qf3 Again restraining ... Pf5
36...Kg7 37.Rc2 Ba4 38.Rb2 Rb6
XABCDEFGHY
8 + + + +(
7+pwq + mkp'
6 tr + zppvl&
5+ zp zp + %
4l+PzpP+ +$
3trN+P+QzPP#
2PtR + zP mK"
1+ sN tR + !
xabcdefghy
39.Ree2? Rb4 [39...Bxc1 40.Nxc1 Bd1+ both
players overlook the win of the exchange] 40.Qg2
Up until now White's defensive lines have held
under heavy pressure. All the same he has had to
concede terrain, and his pieces have been forced
back all along the line. In the closing phase of the
game Black decides to give up the two Bishops,
as in this way he is able to facilitate the attack on
the d-pawn 40...b5! 41.cxb5 Bxc1 42.Nxc1 Rc3
43.Qf1 Bxb5 44.Rec2 Ba4 45.Nb3 [45.Rxc3
Rxb2 46.Ra3 Qa5; 45.Rxb4 cxb4 46.Rxc3 Qxc3]
45...Qb6! [45...Rxc2 46.Rxc2 Bxb3 47.axb3 Rxb3
48.Qc1!] 46.Qc1 Bxb3 47.axb3 Rbxb3 48.Ra2
[48.Rxb3 Qxb3 49.Rxc3 dxc3 50.Qa1 c2 51.Qa7+
Kh6 52.Qxc5 Qxd3 53.Qf8+ Kg5 54.h4+ Kg4!+]
48...Rxd3 49.Rxc5 Rdc3 50.Rxc3 dxc3 51.Rc2
Rb2 52.Kg2 g5 53.h4 Qb7 The e-pawn can't be
saved 54.Rxc3 [54.f3 Qb3+; 54.Kf3 g4+ 55.Ke3
Qb6+ 56.Kd3 Qd4+] 54...Qxe4+ 55.Rf3 Rb3
56.Qd1 Qxf3+ 57.Qxf3 Rxf3 58.Kxf3 gxh4
59.gxh4 f5 01
Tahl - Keres
Bled, 1959
Caro-Kann
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3
Bg6 6.h4 h6 7.Nf3 Nd7 8.Bd3 Bxd3 9.Qxd3
Ngf6 10.Bf4 Qa5+ 11.c3 e6 12.00 Be7 13.Rfe1
00 14.Nf5 Rfe8 In this position White has a
simple was to secure a slight space advantage
XABCDEFGHY
8r+ +r+k+(
7zpp+nvlpzp '
6 +p+psn zp&
5wq + +N+ %
4 + zP vL zP$
3+ zPQ+N+ #
2PzP + zPP+"
1tR + tR mK !
xabcdefghy
15.Nxg7!? This sacrifice must be considered
unsound, but the refutation is not easy to find
[15.Nxe7+ Rxe7 16.Bd6 Ree8 17.Ne5 in view of
Black's solid position it would not lead to much]
15...Kxg7 16.Ne5 Rh8 [16...-- 17.Qg3+ Kh7
18.Nxf7 with at least three pawns for the
sacrificed piece] 17.Qh3 Now threatening to
decisively strengthen the attack by sacrificing the
second Knight at f7 17...Rh7! [17...Raf8 18.Qg3+
Kh7 19.Qd3+= perpetual check(19.Bxh6 Kxh6
20.Qg5+ Kh7 21.Nxd7 Qxg5 22.Nxf8+) ] 18.c4
[18.Nxf7 Kxf7 19.Qxe6+ Kf8 20.Bxh6+ Rxh6
21.Qxe7+ Kg8 The attack is spent] 18...Nf8
62
19.Rad1 Rd8 20.Bd2 Qb6 21.Bc3 Kg8 22.Re3
Ne8 23.Rg3+ [23.-- f6] 23...Ng7 24.Rdd3 f6
25.Ng6 Nxg6 26.Rxg6 Kf7 27.h5 Qa6 The
counterattack begins 28.b3 Qxa2 29.d5 The last
fling 29...cxd5 30.cxd5 Rxd5 31.Rxd5 exd5
32.Qd3 [32.-- Nxh5 33.Qxh5 Qb1+ 34.Kh2 Qxg6]
32...Qa6 33.Qxd5+ Qe6 34.Qf3 Rh8 01
Flohr - Donner
Beverwijk, 1960
English
FLOHR (19081983) Flohr was a player of
splendid positional style. He would hold on to the
tiniest of advantages and exploit them with infinite
patience and accuracy; but he was also a
formidable tactician - in particular in his early
years. About 1936 his style began to take on a
defenisve cast, and this was the main reason why
this Grandmaster never became a serious threat
to Alekhine. Here is a fine example of Flohr's
positional and tactical powers. 1.Nf3 c5 2.c4 Nc6
3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.00 a6 6.Nc3 Rb8 Preparing
the advance ... Pb5, the object of which is to
enhance the action of the Bg7 on the long
diagonal 7.d3 b5 8.cxb5 axb5 9.Be3 Black's
Queenside action has been rather premature, and
its disadvantages begin to appear 9...Nd4 [9...d6
10.d4] 10.Rc1 d6 [10...e6 To deprive White of his
control of d5] 11.Bxd4 cxd4 12.Nd5 e6 13.Nb4!
Blocking the b-pawn. Black's Queenside attack
has only weakened his position there 13...Ne7
14.Qc2 Bh6? The idea is to expel White's Rook
from the c-file; but Black's best hope of keeping
his disadvantage to a minimum would have been
00 [14...00 15.Qc7 Bb7]
XABCDEFGHY
8 trlwqk+ tr(
7+ + snp+p'
6 + zpp+pvl&
5+p+ + + %
4 sN zp + +$
3+ +P+NzP #
2PzPQ+PzPLzP"
1+ tR +RmK !
xabcdefghy
15.Nxd4! Bxc1 16.Ndc6 Nxc6 17.Nxc6 Qc7
18.Qc3! This it the point of White's 15th move
18...00 [18...Bxb2 19.Qxb2 00 20.Nxb8 Qxb8
21.Bc6 b4 22.Ba4 -- 23.Rb1 winning the b-
pawn] 19.Nxb8 Qxc3 20.bxc3 Bd2 21.Rb1 Bb7!
The best counterchance
XABCDEFGHY
8 sN + trk+(
7+l+ +p+p'
6 + zpp+p+&
5+p+ + + %
4 + + + +$
3+ zPP+ zP #
2P+ vlPzPLzP"
1+R+ + mK !
xabcdefghy
22.Nd7! [22.Bxb7 Rxb8 23.Rxb5 Bxc3 opposite
coloured Bishops give Black drawing chances]
22...Bxg2 23.Kxg2 [23.Nxf8 Bc6 The Knight has
no escape] 23...Ra8 24.Rxb5 Ra7 [24...Rxa2
25.Nf6+ Kg7 (25...Kf8 26.c4 White's technical
problem is not difficult) 26.Ne8+ Kf8 27.Nxd6
Bxc3 28.Rb7 Rxe2 29.Rxf7+ Kg8] 25.Nf6+ Kg7
26.Ne8+ Kf8 27.Nxd6 Bxc3 [27...Rxa2 28.Rb7]
28.Rb8+ Kg7 29.Nb5 10
Lombardy - Fischer
New York New York ch-US Rd: 2, 1960
Sicilian
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.f3 Nc6
6.c4 e6 7.Nc3 Be7 8.Be3 00 9.Nc2 d5 10.cxd5
exd5 11.Nxd5 Nxd5 12.Qxd5 Qc7 13.Qb5 Bd7
14.Rc1 Nb4!
63
15.Nxb4 White takes up the gauntlet unwisely
XABCDEFGHY
8r+ + trk+(
7zppwqlvlpzpp'
6 + + + +&
5+Q+ + + %
4 sN +P+ +$
3+ + vLP+ #
2PzP + +PzP"
1+ tR mKL+R!
xabcdefghy
15...Qxc1+ 16.Bxc1 Bxb5 17.Nd5 This was the
tactical finesse that White was relying on when he
went in for the liquidation. Black, however, has
seen further 17...Bh4+! The real point of Black's
14th move 18.g3 Bxf1 19.Kxf1 Bd8 The
combination has ended and Black has won the
exchange. True, White has some compensation -
a pawn and advantage in space - but in the long
run it will not be enough.
XABCDEFGHY
8r+ vl trk+(
7zpp+ +pzpp'
6 + + + +&
5+ +N+ + %
4 + +P+ +$
3+ + +PzP #
2PzP + + zP"
1+ vL +K+R!
xabcdefghy
20.Bd2 Rc8 21.Bc3 f5! 22.e5 Rc5 23.Nb4 Ba5
24.a3 Bxb4 25.axb4 Rd5 26.Ke2 Kf7 27.h4 Ke6
28.Ke3 Rc8 29.Rg1 Rc4 30.Re1 Rxc3+! 31.bxc3
Rxe5+ 32.Kd2 Rxe1 33.Kxe1 This liquidation has
produced a pawn ending which is won for Black
XABCDEFGHY
8 + + + +(
7zpp+ + zpp'
6 + +k+ +&
5+ + +p+ %
4 zP + + zP$
3+ zP +PzP #
2 + + + +"
1+ + mK + !
xabcdefghy
33...Kd5 34.Kd2 Kc4 35.h5 b6 36.Kc2 g5 37.h6
f4 38.g4 a5 39.bxa5 bxa5 40.Kb2 a4 41.Ka3
Kxc3 42.Kxa4 Kd4 43.Kb4 Ke3 01
Reshevsky - Pachman
Buenos Aires, 1960
Nimzo-Indian
Accurate liquidation 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4
4.e3 00 5.Nge2 d5 6.a3 Be7 7.cxd5 Nxd5 8.Qc2
Nxc3 9.Nxc3 c5 10.dxc5 Bxc5 11.Be2 Nc6 12.0
0 Qe7 13.b4 Bd6 14.Rd1 Bd7 15.Bb2 Rfd8?
16.Ne4!
XABCDEFGHY
8r+ tr +k+(
7zpp+lwqpzpp'
6 +nvlp+ +&
5+ + + + %
4 zP +N+ +$
3zP + zP + #
2 vLQ+LzPPzP"
1tR +R+ mK !
xabcdefghy
Bb8 [16...Be5 17.Bxe5 Nxe5 18.Qc7!; 16...Be8
17.b5 Nb8 18.Nxd6 Rxd6 19.Rxd6 Qxd6 20.Qc8]
17.b5 Ne5 18.Qc5! Kf8 [18...Qxc5 19.Nxc5 b6
20.Nxd7 Rxd7 21.Rxd7 Nxd7 22.Bf3+-] 19.Rac1!
White is in no hurry. He quietly builds up pressure
64
[19.Bxe5 Qxc5 20.Nxc5 Bxe5 21.Nxd7+ Rxd7
22.Rxd7 Bxa1 23.Rxb7 Drawing chances due to
opposite coloured bishops] 19...f6 20.a4 Nf7
21.Ba3 Qxc5 Black is now forced to liquidate to a
losing position 22.Nxc5 Ke8 23.Nxb7 It's over
now 23...Rc8 24.Rxc8+ Bxc8 25.Bf3 10
Bhend - Petrosian
Zurich, 1961
Sicilian
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6
6.Be2 a6 7.00 Qc7 8.a4 Nc6 9.Kh1 Be7 10.f4 0
0 11.Nb3 b6 12.Bf3 Bb7 13.Qd2 Rab8 14.g4
This position is similar to the previous, but the
advance of Pg4 is much better prepared. Only the
White Queen is rather misplaced, blocking Bc1;
but this is a temporary matter and White can now
bring the Queen to f2 or g2
XABCDEFGHY
8 tr + trk+(
7+lwq vlpzpp'
6pzpnzppsn +&
5+ + + + %
4P+ +PzPP+$
3+NsN +L+ #
2 zPPwQ + zP"
1tR vL +R+K!
xabcdefghy
14...d5!? Black could hardly have reckoned out all
the detailed consequences of this move. The fact
that White's Queen is at present hampering his
development, and the fact that the weakening of
his Kingside by Pg4 may prove to be serious were
probably the considerations which most
influenced him in choosing this dynamic pawn
sacrifice 15.exd5 Nb4 16.dxe6 Bxf3+ 17.Rxf3
Qb7 Just as in the previous game the long
diagonal plays an important part 18.Kg2 [18.Qg2
Nxc2! 19.Rb1 Ne1+] 18...Nxg4 19.Qe2 f5 20.Nd1
White's first task is to drive back the enemy
cavalry by c3 and Nf2 20...Rf6! [20...-- 21.c3 Nc6
22.Nf2] 21.c3 Rg6! Extraordinarily well conceived.
If the White King now gives up his protection of
the Rook by 22. Kh1 the Black Knight will
penetrate into the White's game with decisive
power via c2
XABCDEFGHY
8 tr + +k+(
7+q+ vl zpp'
6pzp +P+r+&
5+ + +p+ %
4Psn + zPn+$
3+NzP +R+ #
2 zP +Q+KzP"
1tR vLN+ + !
xabcdefghy
22.cxb4 [22.--; 22.Kh1 Nc2!] 22...Ne5+ 23.Kf2
Bh4+ 24.Rg3 Ng4+ 25.Kg1 [25.Kf1 Bxg3 26.hxg3
Qh1#] 25...Bxg3 26.hxg3 Qd5! 27.Ra3 [27.e7
Re8] 27...Rh6 Black makes it clear why he
interpolated with ... Qd5!, for White can't play Qg2
for ... Qxe1+ 28.Nf2 [28.Qg2 Qxd1+] 28...Nxf2
29.Qxf2 [29.Kxf2 Rh2+] 29...Qh1# 01
Pogats - Portisch
Budapest, 1961
Caro-Kann
Black forces a favourable liquidation 1.e4 c6 2.d4
d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.Nf3 Nd7
7.h4 h6 8.Bd3 Bxd3 9.Qxd3 Qc7 10.Bd2 Ngf6
11.000 e6 12.c4 000 13.Bc3 c5 14.Kb1 cxd4
15.Bxd4 Bc5 16.Qe2 Bxd4 17.Rxd4 Nb8!
Clearing the way for liquidations on the d-file. The
exchanges prepared by this move are of an
especially forceful character by the entry of the
Knight on c6
XABCDEFGHY
8 snktr + tr(
7zppwq +pzp '
6 + +psn zp&
5+ + + + %
4 +PtR + zP$
3+ + +NsN #
2PzP +QzPP+"
1+K+ + +R!
xabcdefghy
65
18.Rhd1 Nc6 19.Rxd8+ Rxd8 20.Rxd8+ Qxd8
21.Qd2? An error leading to a poor Knight ending
[21.b3 Nd4 22.Nxd4 Qxd4 23.h5] 21...Ng4 22.Ne4
Defence by counterattack 22...Qxd2 23.Nfxd2
Kc7! [23...f5 24.Nc5 e5 25.Ne6] 24.Nf1 [24.f3
The e3 square is weakened 24...Ne3] 24...Nd4
Protecting e6 and thereby threatening ... Pf5 25.f3
Ne5 26.b3 Ng6! Now White must lose material
XABCDEFGHY
8 + + + +(
7zppmk +pzp '
6 + +p+nzp&
5+ + + + %
4 +PsnN+ zP$
3+P+ +P+ #
2P+ + +P+"
1+K+ +N+ !
xabcdefghy
27.h5 Nf4 28.Ne3 Nf5 Black plya s to win the g-
pawn rather than the h-pawn, thus leaving White
with isolated and vulnerable pawns. White resists
this plan, but will must lose 29.Nxf5 exf5 30.Ng3
g6! Black nears the goal. The g-pawn is lost
31.Kc2 Nxg2 32.Kd2 Kd6 33.hxg6 fxg6 34.Ke2
Ke5 35.Kf2 Nf4 36.Ke3 Nd5+! 37.Kd2 [37.cxd5
f4+] 37...Nb4 38.a3 Nc6 39.Ke1 Nd4 [39...Kf4
40.Kf2] 01
Petrosian - Tal
Moscow, 1963
English]
PETROSIAN (19291984) In Petrosian, who
dethroned Botvinnik in the 1963 World
Championship, several styles converge. In the
choice of opening he preferred hypermodern,
stemming from Reti; he like to play openings with
fianchettoed Bishops (Reti's Opening, etc). His
positional play reminds one of Nimzowitsch and
Capablanca; and finally his defence is of the
mould of Steinitz Petrosian build up his games
along positional lines. He operated in a
straightforward manner, neither courting
complications nor going out of his way to avoid
them. He also brought to his play a phenomenal
endgame technique, great tactical alertness, and
patience which is nearly inexhaustiable. For years
although he certainly never avoided a contest, he
hardly ever lost a game 1.c4 Nf6 2.g3 e6 3.Bg2
c5 4.Nf3 d5 5.00 Nc6 6.cxd5 Nxd5 7.d4 Be7
8.Nc3 00 9.Nxd5 Creating a weakness in Black's
pawn position 9...exd5 [9...Qxd5 10.Ne5 Qxd4
11.Nxc6] 10.dxc5 Bxc5 11.a3 a5 12.Bg5 f6
13.Rc1! Petrosian has now provoked small
weaknesses on both sides of the board. Here he
operates with gain of tempo
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7+p+ + zpp'
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1+ tRQ+RmK !
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13...Ba7 [13...Bxf2+ 14.Rxf2 fxg5 15.Nxg5! Qxg5
16.Qxd5+ Qxd5 17.Bxd5+ Be6 18.Bxe6+ Black
has not won a pawn but lost one] 14.Bf4 Be6
15.Ne1 Re8 16.Nd3 Qe7 17.b4 axb4 18.Nxb4!
Nxb4 19.Rc7 An interpolations as unexpected as
White's 13th move 19...Qd8 20.axb4 g5 True to
his style, Tal reacts sharply as possible 21.Qd3
The third interpolation 21...Re7 [21...Bf7 22.Rxf7
Kxf7 23.Qxh7+ With a powerful attack 23...Kf8
24.Bc7 Qe7 25.Qh6+ Kg8 26.Bxd5+] 22.Rxe7
Qxe7 23.Be3 All Petrosian's positional planning
does not prevent him from keeping a weather eye
on every little tactical pleasantry 23...d4
[23...Qxb4 24.Bxa7 Rxa7 25.Qe3!; 23...Bxe3
24.Qxe3 Qxb4??] 24.Bxd4 Rd8 25.e3 Bxd4
26.exd4 Qxb4 27.d5 Qd6 28.Be4 Bf7? Althrough
White's positional advantage is clear it is open to
question whether he could have won the game
after 28. ... Bxd5 [28...Bxd5 29.Rd1 (29.Bxh7+
Kh8 30.Rd1) 29...Bxe4 30.Qxd6 Rxd6 31.Rxd6
Kg7 unclear if White can win] 29.Bxh7+ Kg7
30.Be4 Qc5 31.Rb1 Rd7 [31...Bxd5? 32.Rd1]
32.Qf3 Bg6 33.Bxg6 Kxg6 34.Qd3+ Kg7 35.Rb5
Qe7
66
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8 + + + +(
7+p+rwq mk '
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36.Qf5 It is well known that in major piece endings
it is no easy matter to convert an extra pawn into
a win. In the present case, however, Black will
soon be compelled to offer an exchange of
Queens to preven White from getting a direct
mating attack. White's task will then be
considerably lightened 36...Rd6 37.Kg2 Qd7
38.Qxd7+ Rxd7 39.Kf3 Re7 40.Rb6 f5 41.d6 Rd7
42.h4 Kf6 43.hxg5+ Kxg5 44.Ke3 Kf6 Otherwise
the White King goes to d5 or e5 45.Kf4 Ke6 46.f3
All very simple 46...Kf6 [46...Rxd6 47.Rxd6+ Kxd6
48.Kxf5 White can either stop the b-pawn or, if
Black prevents this, promote his own g-pawn with
check 48...b5 (48...Kd5 49.g4 b5 50.g5 Kd6
51.Ke4 Ke6 52.Kd4 Kf5 53.f4+-) 49.Ke4] 47.Rb5
Ke6 48.Rxf5 Kxd6 49.g4 Ke6 50.Rf8 b5 51.Rb8
Rd5 52.Rb6+ Kf7 53.Ke4 Rc5 54.f4 10
Morphy - De Riviere - Giuoco Piano
Rosanes - Anderssen - Kings Gambit
Steinitz - Zukertort - Scotch Game
Gottschall - Tarrasch = French Defense
Steinitz - Vasques - French Defense
Steinitz - Golmayo - Vienna Game
Tarrasch - Berger - Ruy Lopez
Chigorin - Tarrasch - French Defense
Charousek - Lasker - Kings Gambit
Pillsbury - Lasker - French Defense
Janowsky - Steinitz
Kings Gambit
Pillsbury - Marco - Queens Gambit Declined
Mieses - Maroczy - Center Game
Chigorin - Forgacs - Four Knights Game
Salwe - Schlechter - Giuoco Piano
Lasker Janowsky- Queens Gambit Declined
Rubinstein - Schlechter -Queens Gambit Declined
Carls - Euwe - English
Euwe - Rubinstein - Colle
Znosko-Borovsky - Euwe - Sicilian
Illyin-Zhenevsky - Lasker - Sicilian
Alekhine - Capablanca - Queens Gambit Declined
Brinckmann - Nimzowitsch - Nimzovich Defense
Vidmar - Nimzowitsch - Bogo-Indian
Capablanca - Rubinstein - QP Opening
Nilsson - Euwe - Sicilian
Reti - Stotlz - Ruy lopez
Capablanca - Treybal - QGD
Alekhine - Nimzowitsch - French
Colle - O'Hanlon - Colle
Sultan Khan - Capablanca - Queens Indian
Tartakower - Sultan Khan - QP Opening
Flohr - Botvinnik - Dutch Defense
Keres - Laurentius - French
Michel - Flohr - Kings Indian
Capablanca - Ragozin - Nimzo-Indian
Fine - Koltanowsky - Kings Indian
Glucksberg - Najdorf - Dutch
Flohr - Lilienthal - Kings Indian
Van Scheltinga - de Groot - Kings Indian
Alekhine - Reshevsky - Alekhine Defense
Euwe - Winter -Sicilian
Botvinnik - Chekhover - Nimzo-Indian
Tolush - Botvinnik - Gruenfeld Defense
Szabo - Euwe - Ruy Lopez
Lundin - Mross - Stonewall
Van den Bosch - Kramer - Veresov Attack
Alekhine - Junge - Ruy Lopez
Bueno Subiza - French
Najdorf - Sanguinetti - Queens Gambit Declined
Aitken - Bondaresvky - French
Konstantinopolsky - Panov - Alekhine Defense
Szabo - Kotov - Queens Gambit Declined
Van Scheltinga - Van der Tol - French
Yanofsky - Botvinnik - Ruy Lopez
Kramer - Soultanbeieff - English Opening
Najdorf - Gligoric - Dutch Defense
Trifunovic - Bondaresvky - French
Pirc - Christoffel - Queens Gambit Declined
Smyslov - Liublinsky - Ruy Lopez
Bronstein Boleslavsky - Gruenfeld
Kramer - Van Scheltinga - Queens Gambit Declined
O'Kelly - Donner - Dutch Defense
Reshevsky - Van der Berg - Nimzo-Indian
Trifunovic - Van Scheltinga - Four Knights Game
Bogolyubov - Kramer - Torre Attack
Broadbent - Golombek - Caro-Kann
Smyslov - Botvinnik - Ruy Lopez
Geller - Szabo - Dutch Defense
Steiner - Eliskases - Kings Indian
Unzicker - Taimanov - Sicilian
Cortlever - Trott - Colle
Filip - Szabo - Queens Gambit Declined
Ojanen - Trifunovic - Nimzo-Indian
Prins - Kotov - Old Indian Defense
Bronstein - Medina - Queens Gambit Declined
Smyslov - Geller - Kings Indian
Bronstein - Sliwa - Ruy Lopez
Penrose - Larsen - Caro-Kann
Skold - Fred - Ruy lopez
Boleslavsky - Mikenas - Caro-Kann
Olfasson - Duckstein - English
Tal - Geller - Ruy Lopez
Blau - Keres - Ruy Lopez
Tal - Keres - Caro-Kann
Flohr - Donner - English
Lombardy - Fischer - Sicilian
Reshevsky Pachman- Nimzo-Indian
Bhend Petrosian- Sicilian
Pogats - Portisch - Caro-Kann
Petrosian - Tal - English
These games were taken from Steve Lopez database
containing nearly 500 annotated games and positions
categorized by theme. Altogether his site contains over
4000 annotated games in pgn format and can be
downloaded at:
http://www.angelfire.com/games3/smartbridge/
Like Mr. Lopez states on his website, I want to share
the result of my work, because most of the games are
really precious. I hope the original annotators will
forgive me for using their comments, in the interest of
all chess fans, that will be able to enjoy the games. It
is my hope he feels the same about me copying his
work into this booklet
Tartajubow