Also by Ludck Pachman Complete Chess Strategy 1: First Principles of the Middle Game Complete Chess Strategy 3: Play on the Wings 2: Pawn-Play and the Centre Ludek Pachman Translated by Join Littlewood B. T. Batsford Limited LondonFirst published 1978 ©Ludek Pachman 1978 ISBN 0 7134 1532 0 cased ISBN 0 7134 1533 9 limp Filmset by Willmer Brothers Limited, Birkenhead Printed in Great Britain by offset lithography by Billing & Sons Led., London, Guildford and Worcester for the Publishers B, T. Batsford Limited 4 Fitzhardinge Street, London W1H OAH BATSFORD CHESS BOOKS Adviser: RG. Wade Contents Preface 1 Superiority on Ge Wings ‘The Minority Atack Strategic Points Dynamic Elements Methods of Conducting the Fight aoe Individual Style and the Psychological Approach 7 Chess and the Computer Index of Games Index of Positions Index of Openings 198 166 im 173 175Preface Isit posible to learn how to play the middle game correctly, or must we rely on our ‘own imagination, combinative powers and experience when tackling this complex phase of the game? "Thereisnio doubt that the theory ofthe middle game is vastly different from that ‘of the opening. The latter has been studied in detail, with theoreticians attempting to supply us with the ‘best’ moves, We must of course try to grasp the strategic and tactical ideas behind each opening, but there is no escaping the necd for a wide knowledige of many concrete variations. ‘When studying the middle game we cannot learn specific variations offby heart, but are concerned with basic principles and typical positions or manoeuvres. It becomes vitally important to recognize the characteristic features ofa position and, plan our play accordingly, but how can this be done? My purpose in the present Volume is to give the ordinary club player an answer to this question. T am not secking 2 new approach co chess strategy, but offering practical guidelines forthe study of the middle game. It is well-known that the evaluation of many positions and many strategic problems depends on individual style. For this reason ne author ofa work on chess strategy can escape the critieism that he is bringing in his personal opinion and approach to the game. The objectivity ofsuch « book ean only be guaranteed ificis bbased upon material from master and grandmaster games, and ifthe advice given represents the views of various outstanding players. "This book is based on games from practical play. Only in a few cases have T restricted mysel to quoting a position. Usually the whole game is presented, for the reader must learn above all to view a game as an entity and to recognize the ‘ansition stages between one part of the game and another. This has naturally ‘compelled me to limit the number of examples used to illustrate the various strategic ideas. ‘The present volume is the final one of three which aim to give the reader an. insight into the whole field of chess strategy. ‘The structure of the book remains the same as in previous (German-language) editions, but the contents have in part been revised and brought up to date. Ludek Pachman West Balin, 1978 1 Superiority on the Wings In the second part of Volume 2 we thoroughly: discussed the important question of the struggle for central domination, However, the centre is not the only place where effective action can be undertaken. fn most games we ‘wimes suecessfal action on the wings, as shown by various examples giveu in the first wo volumes. By grouping together the points learnt from these games, we can state that a successful ‘wing action requires either (a) a serious weakness in the enemy pawn position on that wing (see games 27 and 40 in Volume I, and game 52in Volume 2); (b) a pawn majority or piece superiority on that wing (see games 7, 29, 41 and 51 in Volume 1, and games 25, 43 and 44 in Volume 2 ‘We have already pointed out that a successful attack can only be launched when the equilibriuua of the position hhas been disturbed, giving one player an advantage in a certain part of the board. Such an advantage can consist of a weakness in t2¢ enemy pawn position, a definite material plus, or more effective piece play As we shall consider pawn ‘weaknesses in Chapter 3, we now deal exclusively with the following aspects: 1 Pawn majority on the wing 2 Piece superiority on the wing, 3 Space advantage on.the wing 4 The fixed pawn cain 5 The sing attack and the centre 1. PAWN MAJORITY ON THE WING Unsymmetrial pawn, pesitions often arise in the early opening as a result of central pawn exchanges. For example, after | P-K4 P-QB42 N-K2 N-KB3 5 QN-B3 P-Q4 4 PXP NXP 5. NxN QKN 6 P-OF PxP 7 OxP QxO 8 NxQ, White has a 3-2 pawn majority on the Qside, and Black 4-3 majority on the other wing, In volume 2 we saw how sch majorities led to the ereation of a passed pawn (chapter I of that volume), the mot important strategic fim when exploiting 2 pawn majority fon the wing ‘Assuming that both sides have casted on the K-side, we have to ask ‘ourselves whether its beuer to have a pawn majority on this wing aron the Q- Side, other things being equal. ‘The reader will ofien come across an annotation which says: ‘White (Black) stands better in view of his Ocside pan majority’, and most players fre aware of this without fly knowing, why First of all we must consider those cases where an ending has been reached alice the exchange of most picees, and Black, for example, has a Qeside pawn majority as opposed to White's K side majority, with both kings on KNI. If cach side then advances the pawn majority and creates pased pawn, itis clear that Blacks king is well placed for defence against White's passed pawn,2 Superiority om the Wings whereas Black's outside passed prem is much more dangerous, for the white king is far away from it For this reason, one of the most important strategic principles in the ending is the centralgaton ofthe king. clear that a centrally-posted king is ready 10 move to cither wing and so nullifes the advantage of a Quside pawn majority However, in the middle game the king ean only rarely beeome active and act as a delender against an enemy pawn majority. Nevertheless, a Qside pawn majority is still an advantage, as iis offen extremely difficult if not impossible to create a passed pawn by advancing the pawn majority in front of ‘one’s own king. This would normally allow a succesful attack agaivst the ‘exposed king. For example, with white pawns on KB2, KN2 and KR? facing black pawns on KN2 and KR3, White would be forced t0 advance all three pawns if he wished to create a passed pawn. His king on KN1 or KRI would then be without any pawn protection and could survive only in exceptional circumstances. ‘This means that a Q-side pas majority can be successfully exploited fie converted into a passed pawn) for the following reasons! {a) In the middle-game, because the pawns are easier to advance with= out weakening one’s own king posi- (b) Inthe ending, because the defending king is then far away from the resulting outside passed pawn, assuming that the latter can be created before the king is centralized, Itisimportant to reiterate that this is ‘only so whem both sides have casted onthe K= side, for obvious reasons. If the players castle on opposite wings, the abov mentioned poinis have no validity, and i€ they both castle on the Qside, it is the Kside pawn majority Which becomes the vital strategic factor. ‘Now a word of warning! It must by tno means be assumed that a Q-side pawn majority is in all circumstances fan advantage, without reference to the placing ofthe pieces. At the moment we are considering sueh a pawn majority in the abstract, with the forces on each side equally balanced. ‘Any disturbance of this balance can clearly influence the character of the whole position. Moreover, the player with the K-side pawn majority can often obtain an advantage without advancing his pawns, by exploiting the power of his pieces against a position Which has a pawn less on the K-side. For example, with white pawns on KB2, KN and KR3, and black pawns fon KN2 and KR2, Black's position is not so easy to defend asit would be with the KBP (if White's bishop ison Q3 and his queen on KR3, then... P-KN3 often fails to BxKNP). On the other hhand, with black pawns on K3, KB2, KN? and KR2, and white pawns on Kos, KN2 and KR2, Black can put sure on the KBP down his OR2 EN@ diagonal He can alo advance his KBP to KB6, or use both his KP and KBP together in an attack against the ‘enemy: king's postion ‘A Qsside pawn majority shows 10 best and lasting advantage in positions where the enemy king has not been centralized! and the reduced material has cut out the danger of an attack on cone’s own king. This is usually the case in the transition stage between middle- ‘game and ending (e.g. with queen and ‘minor pieces on the board, or after the exchange of queens with rooks and minor pieces remaining etc.). And now let us illustrate these general principles by examining specific ‘examples, 1 Furman-Holmoy Sverdlovsk 1963, Nimzo-Indian Defence 1 P-Q4 N-KBS 2 P-QB4 P-K3 3. N-QB3 B-NS 4 P-K3 0-0 5 B-Q3 P-Q4 6 N-B3 N-B3 7 0-0 P-QR3 8 P-KRS P-R3 9 P-R3 PxP 10 BxBP B-Q3 1] P-K4 P-K4 12 B-K3 R-KL 13 R-KI PxP 14 N«P? 14 BOP! 14 NXN 15 BxN ‘On the surface White's position looks ood, as his minor pieces are ‘centralized and 16 P-KS is a strong threat. However, Black has a Qcside majority which he can immediately utilize, 1B... PBA! 16 BK3? "The tactical justification ofthis move Ties in the variation 16 -... NxP? 17 BxBP+! KxB 18 NxN RxN? 19 Q-BB, but White’s KP is now stopped (Black's K4 square is ‘overprotected!) whereas Black's Q-side pawns are free to advance. White should play 16 P-KS! (not 16 BxN? QXB threatening 17. . .Q-K4) 16 PXB 17 QxP BxKP 18 OxQ RxQ 19 RxB after which Black equalizes ‘comfortably with 19. . .P-QN# and 20 RR, P-QNS 16 Even after the semewhat better 17 17 B-Q5 Superiority on the Wings 9 BANS Black gains the advantage with 17, BON? 18 P-BS P-B5 19 B-QH2 Q-B2 followed by... B-K¢ and QR-OL, when Whites central pawns are blockaded, in stark contrast to Black's Quside pawns 7 BQN ‘The altemative 18 PXN is hardly worth considering, as White's passed pawn is then completely immobilized and Black can build up his game at leisure. 18... BKS 19Q-R5 BONS! Indirectly protecting his QBP (20 BBP? R-K4) whilst a the same time preventing the occupation of the Qufle by a-white rook. In fet, after 19... Q-B2 20 QR-QI B-K4 21-N-Q5! or here 20... BONO 21 R-Q3! Black's advantage dis appears 20QNt QB Again a dual-purpose _move, preventing 21 BxRP and offering the exchange of queens. Note that such Simplifeation is almost always favourable tothe side with the Quside majority, as it reduces the opponent's attacking chances on the K-side in Conjunction with, his pawn majority there. 21 QBS In this way White at least succeedsin climinating one of Black's bishops, but the remaining bishop is sill superior to NB the knight. es Ks 2 BBA BB 23 QxB QI Iv is often very difficult to decide which rook to play to an open file. Black ‘would like to keep his QR on the Quside tosupport his pawn majority, burat the same time he has to think of defence against a possible advance of White's ‘own majority (after Q-K3 and P-B4,10 Superiority on the Wings P-KS ete.) when the KR will be required’on Ki} 24 PBB! Freeing hisknight, so that ican goto K2 to drive away the black rook from his OF square, m4. ROS 25 N-K2 RQ? 26 Q-K3! Salling. into question Black’s 24th move, asthe threatsof QxBP and N-Bt force the exchange of the bishop. 26. P-BS 27 N-BS (?) now does Black obtain a el advantage. White should play 27 N-Of O-K# 28 NxB when 28 PxN- 28 R-K2! (not of course 29 QXNP? R-Q7 threatening both RXQNP and... Q-N6) 29... KS 30 PLB4 gives equality. Black plays instead 28... R-Q6! 29 QBS RxN (29... QxNPP 30 QR-N1} 30 QxQ, RxQ 31 R-K2 with the better ending to Black, although a draw is the likely 7. R-O6 28 Q-B2 OK Black prepares to advance his Qeside pawns and is willing toaccept exchange ‘of queens after 29 P-B4 Q-O8 300xQ, RxQ31 R-K2 R-NI when he stands much better. However, White should play thisline,asitwouldgiveBlackmore problems than the game continuation, 29 R-K2 RKI-Qh And now White should still ey 30 PLB Q-O5 31 QQ RIX. 32 R-KBI! (preventing... PBS). OF course, Black is not compelled to exchange queens, but inthis way White at least activates his K-side pawns, whereas the passive defence he adopts olfers him little or no chances 30RI-KI —RI-Q5 31Q-R? = P-ORS 32 Q-B2 Iv is already too late for 32 P-BA Q-OBE 33 Q-R? PNG etc ‘32. P-NS, 33 PMP PxP 34 N-O5 P-Bo! 35 PP PxP 36 N-K3 RQ Black has obtained the ideal set-up, with an extremely powerful passed pawn and a complete blockade of White's K-side pavens. The game ended a follows: 37 R-QBIR(5)-Q638N-B1 R-Q839 R-KI RxR{KI) 40 QxR Q-O54 41 Q-B2 P-B7 0-1 (12 0x0 RxO 43 N-K3 R-OBF ete This game contains some interesting moments in which the exchange of queens at times benefits the stronger sideand at other times offers the weaker side saving chances. It is well nigh impossible to give a general rule about when it is best co transpose into an ending. On move 20 the exchange of {queens was good for Black in view of his queen side pawn majority and two bishops, whereason moves 27-30 White would have greatly improved his draw= g prospects by exchanging queens. At theend of the game Black forced the win by the exchange of quecns. In our next position White could have won by combining the advance of his Qeside pawns with threats againse the ‘enemy king. He could frst play his king to K2 in onder to prevent the penetration of Black’ queen to the 7th rank, then manoeuvre his quien to QB4 to threaten the black king whilst preparing P-QRS and P-QN6. Black ‘would have been helpless against this plan because any advance of his K-side pawns would only increase the danger to his king, So itis here best to keep queens on the board, thanks to the strongly posted bishop on QNS. However, in the game played in the 16th Soviet Championship, 1949, play continued 30 N-K4? Q-N3! 31. QxQ, (after 31 K-B2 B-K3! the black king again reaches the Quidein time) 31. PxQ 32 N-Q6 B-Q2 33 B-B4 N-Ri (not however 33... K-BI? 34 P-RS. K-K235 PxP KxN 36 P-N7! etc.) 34 B-Q5 N-B2 35 B-BG (only now does White realize that the win ofa piece by 35 B-N7 B-K3! 36 P-R5 PxP 37 P-N6, N-Q4!38 BxN BxB39 P-N7 BxNP40 NxB only leads to a draw after 40 P-R541K-B2P-RE42N-B5P-R745, N-N3 ete, Atall events Black now bas a clear draw, as his king reaches the Q- side in time) 35 .., BoK3 36 N-N7 K-B237P-R5 PxP 38 NxP K-K239 K-B2 B-Q2 40 P-N6 N-R3 41 B-N7 (or 41 BxB KxB 42 K-K3 N-Bt 43 P-B4 PxPs 44 KxP K-Q3) }-4. 2 Botvinnik-Euwe Leningrad 1934, Ruy Lopez 1 PLK4 P-K4 2 N-KB3 N-QB3 3 Superovty on she Wings 1 B-NS P-OR3 4 B-R4 N-BS 5 0-0 NxP 6 P-Q4 P-QN4 7 B-N3 P-O4 8 PxP B-K3 9 P-B3 B-K2 10 QN-Q2 0-0 11 Q-K2 N-B4 12 N-Q4NxB 13 N2XN Q-Q2 11 NxN QuN 15 B-K3 In the given situation both sides must strive to activate their own pawn majority whilst hindering the advance of the enemy pawns. With the text- ‘move White intends to make it difficult for Black to play ... P-QB4 ee BKB Black is not concerned about ‘maintaining the pair of bishops, since 4 O-KN3 17 NxBQXN makes it easier for him to play .. .P-QB4 and ‘more difficult for White to advance his Keside pawns 16 KR-QI After the more exact 16 P-B3 Black ‘would have to guard his bishop by 16 KR-KI when he would again ‘obtain counter-play on the Qeside after 17 Q-KB2 P-OR¢ 18 B-B5 P-R5! 16... KR-QI 17 PBS Although 17 P-KB# may seem more logical, White has no intention of giving Black the use ofhis K5 square for bishop (or queen after N-QtxB). Nor could he play 17 N-R5 Q-KN3 18 N-N7 P-Q5 19 NxR PxB 20 N-N7 B-KS and Black wins. White now threatens 18 Q-KB2 followed by B-OBS ‘exchanging the black-squared bishope and giving him complete control of the vital QBS square, thereby fixing Black's Qeside pawns, ae BKB 18 Q-KB2_—_P-QRA! (4) Now 19 B-B5 P-R5 20 BxB PxN 21 B-R3B-B7 and 22... .RxBgivesBlack ‘4 good game. White should play 19 QR-BI with a difficult position and equal chances, 19 R-Q2? With the intention of doubling rooks fon the Qefile after 19... P-R5 2012. Supericrity ow the Wing N-Qt Q-02, but in reality only helping Black, 19... 20 R-QBI 21 N-Q4 The only way to guard his QRP, but he givesupcontrolothis QB5 and allows Black's Qside pawns toadvancerapidly ice BANS 2POQN3 QI 23 PxP BYP 24R2-Q1 —-P-QBA 25 N-B2 BAN 26 RB P-95 27 BANS ROP Now it is Black’s turn t make a tactical error which allows White +0 gain a vital tempo in his attack. 27, R-Q2! was correct e.g. 28 P-BA Q-K3 29 Q-B3 Q-Q4, or 28... P-R5 29 Q.B3 PxP 30 PXP R2-QR? with good chiances to Black in both cases, 28 P-B4 P-RS 29 Q-B3 PXP 30 PxP RQ 31 PBS! (3) Black's loss ofa tempo has completely changed the position, giving White a strong K-side attack, He threatens both 32 P-K6 and 32 P-B6, and Black's defence isall the more difficult because his bishop is cut off from the K-side. Black's passed QP has little significance, as there is no time to prepare its advance 32 Q'NS RRB 33 R2-BI RxR 34 RXR K-RI Preventing 35 B-R6, 35 R-BI RRS But not 35... R-R7? 36 P-B6 P-NS 37 P-K6! winning. 36 P-R3 Much stronger is 36 P-RA threatening to advance this pawn to KRO. 36... gri 37 K-R2 OKI 38 RI This move allows Black to set up a suecessil defence. White could still play 38 PRS, as 38... BRS? then fails to 39 R-QRL, but the strongest continuation is 38 P-K6! P-B3 (38 PxP 39 P-B6 wins) 39 B-B4 with powerful protected passed KP. 3B. BRI 39 BBS BB2 This move completes Black's defence, as P-K6 would now allow the exchange of bishops 40 R-BL RRI 41 R-KL QBs 42 PKG BXB 43 QB PxP 4 PP RKI 45 P-K7 P-R3 46 Or 46 R-KBI Q-B3 47 QxQ PxQ. 48 RxP RxP drawing. 46. 293 KR RN BRK = OQ? 49 Q-KS i In spite of mistakes on both sides, this game is highly instructive because hoth players pursue their logical strategic plan of advancing their pawn majority and we see what a vital difference one tempo can make in such situations When we are trying to exploit a pawn majority, the mobility of the pawns is a very important and often decisive factor, as we mentioned in Volume 2 (chapter 1: “The passed. pawn’). A mobile pawn majority on the K-side is asa nile much more advantageous than aless mobile one on the Quside, We illustrate this point with, two forther games, each containing a positional pawn sacrifice. In the fist game, the aim of the sacrifice is to blockade the enemy pawns, and in the second game Black's sacrifice increases the mobility of his own pawns. 3 Spielmann-Colle Dortmund 1928, Alckhine’s Defence 1 P-K4 N-KB3 2 P-K5 N-Q4 3 P-QB4 N-N3 4 P-Qf P-Q3 5 PBA B-B4 6 N-ORS PxP 7 BPxP P-K38 1B-K3 N-QB3 9 B-K2 B-K2 10N-B3 0-0 11 0-0 P-R3 12 N-KRAP? (12 PxP!) 12... PxP 13 NxB PxN 14 P-95 The aim of Whites pawn sacrifice on move 12 was to create a mobile Q-side pawn majority. Ifnow 4... N-N1 15, P-B5N-BI (15... N-Q2 16 P-QB) 15 QUNS. Or 1... N=N5_ 15 ONS. N-R3 [IF 15... P'BE 16 PxPep PxP. 17 P-QR3 and 18 P-B5+) 16 P-Q6, Or 1d... N-R4 15 P-BS! (if 15 BxN RPxB 16 P-QR3 P-ON4) 15 N3-B5 16 B-B2 NxP 17 Q-B2 N7-BS, 18 QRS. In all cases White stands Superiority om the Wings 13 better. However, Black can equalize by returning the pawn immediately MW... N-Q5 15 BxN PB 16 QP N-Q? IT N-RY White prevents... BBY and prepares P-BS, but the textmove represents a serious positional ervor, as Black's next move reveals. White should have played 17 K-RI B-BE 16 Q2.O-RS with an even game P-QNaL This excelent pawn sari gives White a 4-2majorty on the O-sde, but the resulting pawn formation is weakened with an isolated QP and a doubled QNP, making it extremely difficult for White to create a pasted pawn. Black on the other hand obtains An excellent quate fr bis bishop on 3 land can speedily launch a sharp K-side attack 18 PxP B-Q3 19 QR-KI Q-K2 20 B-Q3 NKit A good illustration of centralization, Now 21 BxP fails to 21... RxB! 22 RXR N-B54 23 RN OxR+ 24 RBI BxP+ ete 21 K-RI P-B5t 22 R-K2?) This hastens the end, White's only chance for counter-play lay in 22 N-B5!IE Supeririy on the Wings followed by N-K6 or N-K4 OF course 22 RxP? RXR 23 QxR NXB loses a pice. eed QR-KI 23 N-B3 ORS 24 N-KA NNS 25 P-KRS Or 95 P-KN3 Q-RE! or 25 Q-NI NxP 26 QxN OxQH 27 KxQ.P-BGY Bs P-Be! 26 RxP RR 27N-B6+ KB o1 4 Pilnik-Geller Interzonal 1952, Sicilian Defence 1 P-K4 P-QB4 2 N-KB3 N-QBS 3 P-Q4 PxP 4 NxP N-B3 5 N-QB3 P-Q3 6 B-K2 P-K4 7 N-N3 B-K2 8 0-0 0-0 9 BK3 BK3 10 B-B3 P-QR4 (10... N-QR4)) 11 N-Q5 BXN 12 PxBN-NI This pawn formation is typical of some modem systems of the Sicilian Defence. White's Qcside majority is difficult to set into motion because Black controls the important squares at his QNS and QB4. In contrast, Black’s K-side majority is mobile. However, White is ahead in development and his bishop on K3 is much more active than Black's bishop on K2, White's correct plan is to eliminate Black's knights so that he can exploit his Qide advantage, Ina later_ game against Smyslov (Candidates. 1956), Pilnik continued 13 Q-Q3! KN-Q2 14 B-N4! Q-B2 (Black loses a pawn after 14... BENS? 15 BxB QxB 16 BxN, NxB 17 Q-NS) 15 P-QR4 N-N3 16 N-Q2N1-Q2 17 KBXNNxB 18N-BS KR-BI 19 P-QN3 N-B420 BxN QxB and White had a clear advantage with fan active knight against a bad bishop, 13 PBA? A consequential but inaccurate continuation after which Black obtains an advantage si N-RS MEQ This bishop will hardly stand better ‘on QBS bust White is tying to avoid its exchange by ... N-Q2 and , .. B-N4 ry P-QN3 It is vital for Black to prevent the advance of White's Q-side pawns. For instance, after 14... PRS? 15 N-R5 N-B4 16 P-QN4 PxPep 17 PxPand 18 P-QN4 White has an immediate advantage. 15 BBS N-Bt 16 NxN? This ie the decisive mistake, as it cripples White's Q-side pawn majority for ever. Even if he managed to play P-QNS, P-QRS and P-QN4 he would be left with a backward QBP after the exchange of pawas! It was essential to play 16 N-Q2 still leaving open the Option of a Q-side pawn advance by P-QN3, P-QR3 and P-QN# (but not ‘of course P-QR3? at once which allows P-RS blockading the whole wing) 16... NPXN 17 QK1 This enables the KB to be placed actively on QB2 dea N-Q2 BQ PRS! A good move, preventing B-R4-B6. 19 P-QN3 is not dangerous to Black whose K-side pawn advance proceeds ‘mich more rapidly than the advance of White's QRP, 19 BB2 PBA 20 R-QI P-N3 Even more exact was the immediate 20... P-K5 21 P-B3 B-B3! gaining a tempo on the game continuation. 21 Q-K2 BBS 22 PBS Tis clear that White has been driven fully on the defensive, with no chance of counter-play. However itis dificul to see how Black ean advance his K-side pawns so long as White controls his Kt square. Geller quickly solves this problem by a positioral pawn sacrifice, 2 PKS! 3 BB QB 24 PP PB 25 R-B2 NK Not 25... .QxP26Q-N4.and White has counter-chances Now, however, the beautifully posted knight not only blockades White's extra pawn but also supports the advance of the black K side pawns, The game is strategically decided and the vin a matter of technique 26 RI-KBI = Q-RS 27 B-QL RBZ 28 Q-OB2 PNA 29 QBS RI-KBL Superiority om the Wings 15 30 P-KR3P-RE 31 BK? OF 31 BXQRP P-N5 32 BO} K-R2! and the threat of... P-BS quickly smashes open White's position, With his next move Pilnik tries a desperate but unsound combination, The game ended: 31... P-NS 32 RxP? RXR 33 RxR RXR 34 P-KN3 N-B6+ 35 K-B2 QxRP 36 PxR P-N6+ 37 KxN P-N7+ 38 K-B2 QRT01 "As we saw in Chapter 7 of Volume 2 (The doubled pawn"), a great disadvantage of the doubled pawn is the fact that it severely restricts the mobility of a pawn formation. The Exchange Variation of the Ruy Lopez is based on this factor. In his time, Lasker achieved many important Vietories with this set-up and here follows an example showing how Lasker utilized his Kside pawn majority in a precisely played ending, 5 Lasker-Janowski Match 1903, Ruy Lopez 1 P-K4 P-K4 2 N-KBS N-QBS 3 B-N5 P-QR3 4 BxN QPxB 5 P-O4 PXP 6 QxP The character of the position is already determined, with a mobile pawn majority for White on the Kside land a much less mobile majority for Black on the Qide. However, Black hhas compensation in the two bishops which can prove effective in an open position, White's plan isto bring about furcher simplification and tocreatea K- side passed pawn in the ending by exploiting his mobile pawn majority Black on the other hand must create ‘opportunities for piece play, as Steinitz showed in his match with Lasker in 1894: 6... QxQ 7 NxQ P-OBE 8 N-K2 B-Q2 9 NI-BS 0-0-0 10 B-BE B-BS 11 P-B3 N-BS 120-0 B-K2 with16. Superiority om the Wings good play far Black. Alekhine alo Aemonstrated the correct method in some of his games: 6... QxQ.7 NxO. B-Q2 8 B-K3.0-0-09 N-Q3 N-K2 10. 0-0-0 R-K1! 11 KR-K1N-N3 12 N-K2 B-QB 13 P-KRS P-KBE and Black stands better cee BLKNG(?) IC the point of this move is to give White a doubled pawn too and thereby cripple his K-side pawn majority, i is illogical, since the resulting doubled pawn isrmuch more mobile han Black's Goubled QBP. The reason for this is that once White’s front KBP reaches KRS, a passed pawn can be casily crvated by P-KB4 and P-K5, whereas Black cannot imitate this procedure on the Q:side, In other words White’s K- side pawn formation is more mobile because the KP does at have am enemy pan in fiont of it. OF course, White must be careful not to allow Black to blockade this pawn complex by... . P-KN¢ and N-K2-N3, as in the game Podgorny-Pachman (Volume 2, Game 46) 7 N-B3 ao Black gives up his original plan, which means that he will eventually Jose a tempo when his QB has to retreat. BNxQ. 0-0-0 9 BKS BANS 10 NE-K2 After 10 P-B3 BxN+ 11 PxB B-Q2 12 K-B2 White also stands better, but alter a possible exchange of knights the ‘opposite-coloured bishops could give Back drawing chances. 10... QBxn? This exchange reveals a complete misunderstanding of the strategic nature of the position. By doubling White's QBP Black in no way increases side chances, but he thereby gives, is compensating factor of the (wo > bishops! He had to play 10. . .N-K211 P-BS B-Q? followed by... P-KB4 in fan attempt at piece play. 1 KB BxN 2 PB Let us assess this postion, Both sides have doubled pawns. White's doubled pavn ie even isolated but itis on the Wing facing Black’s pawn majority, and although it lacks mobility itis just as effective in preventing the creation of a passed pawn asa row of pawns on QR2, ‘QN2 and QR2 would be. In time White will ereate a passed pawn on the K-side and in addition he has a very active bishop. Summing up, White hasa clear positional advantage which Lasker could have exploited even without the following small errors of his opponent, 2. NBS ‘This Knight will finally reach QD3 where it will help to prevent the advance of Whites pawns. However, Black could have achieved this aim much more rapidly by 12... P-ON3 (12... N-K2 15 B-B9) 13 QR-QL N-K2 followed by... .P-QB¢ and N-B3. 13 PBS N-QR 4 QR-QI N-KA This coats two more tempi. L4 P-QN3 followed by... P-QB4and N-NI-B3 was better. 15 R-Qt P-QN3 16 P-KBA = N-Q? 17 RI-Q]—-P-QBE 18 ROS NANI 19 K-B3 RQUKI Black believes hecanbest combat the advanee of White's payns by avoiding the exchange of rooks, but the slsadvantage of this ica is that Black's King is cut aff for a long time from the Kside where he is required for defence. Black would have done better o play 19... RxR 20 RXR R-Ql; or here 20 Px K-Q2. 20 P-BSt ‘This move contradicts the basic rule wwe gave in Volume 2, Chapter 1 ("The passed pawn’), but every rule has its exceptions. ‘The ‘normal’ 20. P-K5 ‘would be a mistake here as after R-K2and. ..N-B3 White would have great difficulty in playing P-B5 because ‘ofthe resulting weak KP. Thisadvance of the KBP is also strong because it allows White's ishop to come into the game via KB. 20... P-KB3 No betier is 20... N-B3 21 B-BE R-K? 22 RKI RIKI 23 R-Q5 N-KG4 24 BXN RXB 25 RAR RXR 26 K-B4 P-KB3 27 R-QI followed by P-N4, PKR, P-NS etc 21 BNE R-K2 22 BBS RI-KI 23 R-KS NBS 24 P-NS NRA Superiority on the Wings 17 ‘This knight will hardly stand any better on QBD than on QBS, but Black has no way of improving his position, Alekhine’s recommendation of 24 . PxP fails 1025 BxNPN-K4+ 26 K-B4 R-Q2 27 R-Q5! and White can play PAKS because 27... RXR? 28 PxR loses a piece for Black. 25 P-KR4—N-BS 26 R-K2 RB? 27R-KNI K-Q2 After the somewhat better 27 P-N3 White would play 28 PxNP RPXP 29 PxP RxBP 30 R-NS! and 31 PRS. 28 P-RS N-Q3? This only helps the decisive breakthrough, 29 P-R6 PxNP Not of course 29... P-N3 30 PxNP RPXP 51 PxP RxBP 32 P-KS R3-K3 33 R-Q2 et 30 RxP PN ‘This loses a pawn but afier 30 PxP 31 R-RS Black's prospects against the two connected passed pawns would bbe equally hopeless, 31 PxP PxP 32 RxP RI-KBI 33 RANT RR (33 K-K3 34 R2-KN2) 34 PxR R-KNI 35 R-KNZ N-KI 36 B-K5 K-K3 37 K-B4 K-B2 38 K-BS 1-0. 2 PIECE SUPERIORITY ON THE WING ‘A concentration of pieces directed ‘gains one side ofthe board represents another type of wing superiority. By wwe do not necessarily mean that all these piees are grouped together on a smal section of the board. Some pieces are highly elective at long range, sch 4 a bishop at QN2 or QNI attacking KN7 or KR7. Open lines for the rooks ae also very important in wing attack ‘As we saw in Volume 1, Chapter 5 {The Rooks’), a single open file can Iring about a decisive inerease inthe18 Superiority om the Wings effective fire-power of the major pieces Equally in Chapter 4 of the same volume (“The Minor Pieces’ the reader ‘was given examples of bishops exerting their power along open diagonals, Thus piece superiority on the wing ccan take on various forms, but our aim is basically the same, to apply so much pressure that it is impossible for the enemy to defend all the threatened points succesfully. ‘The following typical examples will serve t illustrate this, 6 Averbach-Fuchs Dresden 1956, Kings Indian Defence 1 P-QBA P-KN3 2 N-QB3 B-N2 3 P-QEN-KBS 4 P-K4 P-Q3 5 B-K2 0-0 6 BUNS P-B4 7 P-Q5 P-QR3 8 P-QR4 P-K3 9 QO? QRA 10 RR! This move defends against 10 P-QN¢ which would now allow Il RPXP, whilst at the same time White intends to transfer the rook later to the Kaside, forhecannotinitiateany aetion ‘on the Qeside or in the centre 10 PxP IL KPXP ——_QN-Q2(?) This move binders Black's develop- ‘ment. He should play 11 ...R-K1 and 12... BANS, 12 N-B3 NNS 130-0 BANS After 13. ..Q-NS (which Black had probably intended when he played his knight to QN3} White can protect his QBP by 14 Q-BI (14... NxBP? 15 N-R2} threatening to trap. Black's queen by 15 P-R5 followed by R-R4 and B-Ql 14 QB BXN 5b OB KN-Q2? Black pursues his fantasy of a Q2side counter-attack but only weakens his K- side further. He should have played the other knight to this square. 16 N-Kat Suddenly Black is faced with two strong threats, 17 NxQP and 18 B-O2, s0 his reply is forced, 16. N-QBI 17 QRS QE 18 QRE REL 19 RRB All White's pieces except his KR are ready for the decisive attack against Black's insufficiently protected K-side 19 P-KRS OF course 19... N-BI fails to 20 N-BG+ BxN 21 BXB followed by 22 QR. 20 N-N3t The final preparation forthe decisive sacrifice, as the immediate 20 BxP fails 10.20. RxN!21 QxR PxB 22 RxP N-BL 20 NBL 2 BP BxP OF 21... PxB 22 NxP N-KN N-BG+! BRN 24 BxB NxQ.25 RxN 22 N-BSL PB Or 22... PxN 23 B-Bé! BxB 24 QxB Q_K2 25 BxP+! and 26 R-RB 23 BBG N-KN3 24 QNS NI-K2 25N-R6+ K-BI 26 BB 10 7 Tal-Langeweg Wijk aan Zee 1973, Sicilian Defence 1 P-K4 P-QB4 2 N-KB3 P-Q3 3 P-Q4 PxP 4 NxP N-QB3 5 N-OB3 (Q-B2 6 B-K2 P-QR3 7 0-0 N-B3 8 B-K3 P-K3 9 P-B4 B-K2 10 Q-KI 0-011 Q-N3NXN 12 BxNP-QN4 13 P-QR3 B-N2 A gpical situation in he Sicilian Defence. White has more space in the centre and can easily direct his pieces ‘against the enemy king, whilst Black will operace on the Qxide by preparing P-OR4 and... PONS, 4 QR-KIL One might have expected 14 QR-QI here, as it is more usual to place a rook on an ofen file. However, ‘every rule has its exceptions, and it ‘would be less exact to play this rook to QI for both strategic and tactical (1) If White’s bishop goes to Q3, then a ook on K1 is well placed for transfer to the K-side via K3 to KN3 or KR3. (2) After the continuation 14 QR-QU B-BG 15 B-Q3 Black has the interesting possibility 15... P-K4! 16 PxPN-R4 17 Q-R3 PxP with equality for White after 18 QxN PXB 19 N-Q5 BXN, but the worse ofit after 1€ B-K3 N-B5l etc, If White's rook were on KI here, he Superiority on the Wings 19 «ould continue 19 BN! PxB 20 P-KS! P-NS 21 RxP with an extra pawnt 4... BBS This is more exact chan 14 KR-OL, as Black must begin Qside ‘operations as quickly as possible 15 BOS QR-Q”? But this ia positional error, 28 the QR should be reserved forthe QB-fle However, the main point is that Black has no time for such moves. He should play 15... Q-N2 followed by P-QR§, or even the immediate 15 P-QRE (16 NxP BxN 17 BxB xP) 16 K-RL Qnz 17Q-R3 PNG? White was threatening to win at once with P-K3, and 17. P-R3 would be ven worse than the lextmoxe eg. 18 R-K3! (White's OR comes into play?!) P-QR#19R-NSK-RI 20 P-K3! PxP 21 PxPN-QS (or 21... RxB22 PN BXBP 28 RxBi) 22 Q-NE P-N3 23 RxP! RXR 24 QANP wins. However, Black has no need to sin against the well-inown principle that only in the Aires necessity should a defender move his pawns in front of the castled king He should fst play 17. N-K1! and only play... P-KNS when. White ‘commits himelf to P-KS, after which, in comparison tothe game, the sting is removed from White's P-BS 18 P-BS PKA 19 BKS KR-KI Black cannot fece himself by 19 Qt which fails to20 PxOP BxQP 21 B RGand 22RxP;or here 20... NxP 21 NxNBxN 29 P-B6 winning at once 20 B-NS NRE 21 P-B6 BBI 22 QRa! ‘The threats of B-K2 or P-KN4 now tic Black up on the K-side and he has no time for a counter-attack eg. 22 P-R4 23 P-KN¢ N-B5 24 RxN! PxR 25 B-R6 R-K3 26 P-N5 P-N5 27 BxB KxB 28 QxP etc.20 Superiority om the Wings ze P-RS 23 B-QB PRS 24 N-Q5! RQ? Because of Black's weakening move PEKRS,24... .BxN fails t0 25 PxB (QxP 26 BXKNP! PxB 27 P-B7+ ct 25 R-B3 BN ‘Thisacceptance of the pawn sacrifice Jeads to a rapid loss, but Black has no defence to the piling up of White's forces by R-R3, RI-K3, Q-N¢ and RxN, 26 PXB Qe 27 Q-KNS KS Afier 27... PKS White has amongst other things 28 RxP RxR 29 QxR'QxQ 30 BxQ P-O4 31 B-O3 ‘threatening 32 P-KN4) R-Q3 32 BxQNP NxP 33 B-Q2 with an easily won ending. 28 BXKNP! — PxB 29 QxNP+ —-N-N2 30 BxP 10 The worst threat is 31 P-B74+, and 30... R-KB2 allows 31 QxR+ 8, Nimzowitsch-Capablanca St. Petersburg 1914, Ruy Lopez 1 P-K4 P-K4 2 N-KB3 N-QBS 3 N-B3 N-B3 4 B-NS P-Q3 5 P-Ot B-Q2 6 BXN BxB 7 Q-Q3 PxP 8 NxP P-KN3(?) 9 NxBQ) Black's last move was bad, not because White now has the forced win of a pawn, but because White can quickly obtain a dangerous K-side attack by 9 B-NS! B-N2 10 0-0-0, as Alekhine demonstrated later in ‘his {game against Brinckmann (Keeskemet 1927) 9... PxN 10 QR em 1 QN7 RBI 12 QeRP BN2 B00 oo 14 QRS White has won a pawn bat lost several tempi ~ an excellent illustration (of the dynamic balance of position, Me. KRKI 15 The first inexactitude. 19 P-B3 is better, tying Black's queen to the defence of his QBP. Prins gives the following possible continuation: 15, P-Q4 16 Q-Q3 PxP 17 QxQ.NxQ 18 NxP B-Q5+ 19 K-RIB-K# with an ‘equal game. After 15 Q-B4 Black ‘would obtain a central advantage by 15 P-O4 16 PxP PxP 170-03 P-Bi, or bere 17 Q-B5 B-BI 18 Q-Q#R-K3 followed by 19... P-BE 18... OKs Not only attacking the KP but making way for the knight manoeuvre N-Q2-K4-B5 to apply pressure 10 Black's Oxide, 16 P-B3 N-Q? Capablanca could have equalized by 16... P-O bur strives for more and is, proved right by his opponent's next inexactitude. 17 B-Qy The correct move was 17 P-QN3! threatening to consolidate by B-N2 and forcing Black to settle for the following interesting drawing manoeuvre: 17 N-Kal (17... N-BR 18Q-Q2 N-R5? 19 NxN BxR 20 P-BS wins) 18 Q-K3, 1N-BS! 19 Q-Q3 (19 PxN? QxBP ete.) N-K¢ 20 Q-Q2 N-B5! 21 Q-Q3 etc asafter 21 PxN? QxBP 22 B-N2R-NI Black has the advantage. 7... NKA 18 QK2 NBS 19 QR-NI Butnot 19P-QNS?B-Q5+ 20K-R1 NxB 21 QxN Q-BS winning. (13) 19.2. RRI! Beginning the concentration of all Black's forces on the Q2side. ‘This is White's last chance to play 20 P-ON3 when Black would continue 20 NxB 21 QxN R-RE! followed by RI-QRI with a small advantage, as he can capture the QRP any time he wishes, 20 P-QR4?)NxB! 21 QxN QBs 2KR-Ql KR-NI! This continuous pressure is much better dan releasing the tension by BXN and ... RP. Black intends to ‘win back his pawn shen eixeumstances favour him the most 23 QK3 Or 23 QO3 QB 24 K-R! RNS transposing to the game spe RNS Threatening... B-Q5, 24 Q-NS B-Q5+ 25 K-RI RINE ‘The result of Black’s fine play is now clear. Allis pieces are directed against White's Qside anc there is no. good defence to the threa:ened -. . BxN eg 26 QR-BL RxNP 27 N-NIRxP exe Superiority on the Wings 21 ‘The following desperate exchange sacrifice can of course in no way alter the outcome of the game which ended as Fallows 26RxBQxR 27R-Ql Q-B528P-RE RxNP 29 Q-O2 Q-B4 30 R-KI QKR4 31 FRI (if 31 Q-B2 RxP)) 31... QxRP+ 32 K-NI Q-R4 33 PAR R-RI 34 P-R6 QB 35 K-RI Q-B5 36 P-R7 Q-B4 37 PKS QxKP 38 R-R4 Q-R4+ 39 K-NI Q-B4+ 40 K-R2 P-Of 41 RRE RERP 0-1. 3 SPACE ADVANTAGE ON THE WING As we have already shown in our section devoted to ‘The Gentre™ in Volume 2, a certain pawn structure can ensure a player a space advantage in fone part of the beard. Thus, for example, the so-called ‘Tittle centre” gave the white pieces a definite space advantage by the sole presence of a white pawn on Kor QM facing a black pawn on QB or K3 respectively. In the fame way a given pawn structure can confer a space advantage toa player on cither wing and form the prerequisite for an attack on this wing even if material is equally balanced, ‘The characteristic feature of a space advantage on the wing is the mobility of the paxens, For example, in diagram 15, the black pawns on the K-side are restrained by the white pawn on K5, “Wem mig at @ e18 es fe i A22. Superiority on the Wings After... P-BS or ... P-BA White captures en passant, seriously weaken ing Black's KP, whereas the advance of the black KNP gives him a dangerous weakness on his KB3 square (see the later chapter on ‘Strategic Points’). In the same way, White's Quside pawns are restricted by Black's advanced QBP. In such positions there are two ways of exploiting our advantage in space: (1) We ean advance our pawns, either ‘opening up attacking lines or restricting the enemy position. For example, in diagram 15, this plan entails ‘the advance of White's Keside pawns by P-KBS, P-KN4, P-KBS intending cither PxKP or P-B6, Black for his part can play ... P-QN4, ... P-OR# and P-QN3 ete, It goes without saying that such pawn advances must be carefully prepared by posting our pieces effectively. The delence will of course try to prevent the advance of the pawns by active piece play, or even encourage @ premature advance. For instance, in the above postion it woul normally be dangerous for White to play P-KN4 with his king on KN1 and a black bishop conuolling the long white diagonal, as it opens up White's king position to.an attack by queen and bishop. (2) We can use our spatial advantage to carry out an attack by pieces on this wing. For example, in diagram 15 White's pawn on KS ensures him manoeuvring space on the K-side whilst Black’s QBP gives him a corresponding advantage on the Q- side Let us now examine a few games showing how these ideas are put into practice, 9 Perlis-Salwe Ostend 1906, Vienna Game 1 P-K¢ P-K4 2 N-QB9 N-KB3 3 P-B4 P-O4 4 PXKP NXP 5 N-BS B-QNS 6 B-K2 N-QBS 7 0-00-08 QKIB-KS (6... P-BS) 9 PQS B-B4+ 10 K-RI NXN 11 PXNP-O5 Preventing 12 P-Q¥ which woukl consolidate White'simportant pawn on Ks. 2QN3 RKP Black intends to play... B-KBI in answer to 13 B-KR6 but nisss his last chance of challenging White's KP by 12... P-B3! when he can answer 13 BKR6 by 13... Q RP. tis surprising to sce how quickly Black's position now collapses. White's pawa on KS, which Black could have ‘exchanged on moves 8 and 12, plays a decisive part in allthis, 13 N-NB! B-KBI Black has nothing better in view of the threatened 14 N-K4 eg. 13 BK? 14 NxB PxN 15 B-R6 (or 15 B-R5R-KBI168-R6) 15... B-BLI6 BARS ete. Or 13... PxP 14 N-K¢ B-K2 15 N-B6+ BXN 16 PxB P-KN3 17 BERS! (preventing... Q-Q3) followed by 18 Q-R4 and a winning attack down the KR-file by Q-R6, R-BEKRS etc 14 PBS The power of White's attack can be clearly seen in two tactical linesafter 14 P-KRS 15 N-Kt K-RI 16 B-NS! and now (1) 16... Q-Q2 17 N-Bol PXN 18BxP+ KR? 19 R-B4!B-KBE 20 RxB QxR 21 B-N4! Q_N3 22, QcBE KON] 23 B-Biete., or (3) 16, QLBL 17 B-R5! PxBI@NxP B-K2 (to stop 19 Q-RA) 19 BeP BxN 20 QxB etc 15 BBS N-QL Now 15... PKRS fails to 16 NxB PXN 17 BXP NxP 18 BRS R-K2 19) B-NS, or here 16... QxN 17 B-Q5. 16 BKA P-KR3 17 N-RI KR 18 BYRPL —PLKBA Black loses his queen after 18 PxB 19 N-BG, but atall events there is nothing to be done, PxB BxKBP RN SOs PR K-N2 Lo We stress once again the vital role played by White's pawn on KS, Festrcting Black's position and allowing White's pieces the necessary space for launching adecisive attack on the king, Sometimes 2 pawn on Q5 can, Fal the same fonction, as in our next position, (Tal-Jakobien, Skopje 1972) a White's QP prevents the advance of Black's KP, thus strengghening the Superiority on the Wings 23 pressure down the K-file and giving White an opportunity ofa direct attack ‘on the black king. Play continued: 24 P-KBS! (in view of Black's counterplay with... P-QN4, White must play enengetically and has no time to frst double rooks on the K-fle!) 24. P-QN4 (After 24... . PxP?25Q-NS+ K-Bl 26 QxBP K-NI 27 Q-N5+ K-B1 28 R2-K2 R-K1 29 Q.R6+ K-NI 30 R-K¢ wins) 25 PXKNP RPxP 26 Q-N5 PxP! (if26...R-K1 27 R2-K2 R-N2 28 R-K6! K-N2 29 ReNP+!PXR 30 R-K6 wins) 27 RXP QeBA (27 ... P-Bo? 28 R-KB2!) 28 Q-B61 QxQP 29 PxP! QxP (iF29 Q-KBI 40 RXR RXR 3T RxP! wins) 30 R-KB2 R-B1 (not of course 30 R-BY 31 R-B2!) 31 R-BA Q-OBBY 32K-R2.Q-N7 (interesting play arises after 32... R-N8 33 R-KN#!Q-N8+ 34K_N3R-N6y 35 K-R4, or here 33 Q-R3 34 RXBP! etc.) 38 RxPt QQ H RQ RR Black must accept a rook ending with a pawn down, as after 34... K-N2 35 RXR. R&R 36 RXR KXR 37 K-N3K-BD3B K-B4 K-B3 59 P-KREP-R440 P-RE te pawn ending is lost for him.) 35 R&R K-N2.36 RxQP P-R4 37 R-Q5 R-QRI 38 P-QR4 R-R3 39 K-N3 K-B3 40 K-B4 K-K3 41 R-QNS K-B3 42 R-QBS RNS 43 RxP RONS+ 44K-N3 1-0, However, i is more usual for a pawn on Q5 to be the prelude for a Qsside attack, as in the following game. 10 Botvinnik-Reshevsky ARO. 1938, English Opening 1 P-QB4 PK4 2 N-QB3 N-QB3 3 P-KNS P-KNS 4 B-N2B-N25P-K3 P-Q3 6 KN-K2 KN-K2 (6 B-Q2!) 7 P-QEKPxP 8 PxP 0-09 0-0 N-B4 10 P-Q5 N-K4 (10 N-Q5!) IL P-N3 P-QR4 12 BUN2 N-Q?24 Superiority on the Wings Black’s Q-side pavns are completely blockaded, as White's KB increases the cffectiveness of his pawn on Q5. White's plan isto advance his Q-side pawnsand preparea break-through by P-QB5 ata suitable moment 13 P-QR3! —N-BA?) ‘There seems little point in provoking P-QN4 whichis part of White's plan, so 137. R-K1 is more logical 14 P-QN4——N-Q2 After I... PXP 15 PxP RxR 16 BxR _N-QR3'17 QN3, Black's QN would be badly placed, but this only serves to emphasize the pointlessness of Black's last move. 15 QN3 N-O5 16 NxN BXN I7QR-QI BN? 18 KR-KI | PxP. 19 PP N-B3 Black must develop his QB somehow, bout this move gives no control of OBS, making it easier for White to carry out his plan of P-O} 20 P-R3! PRA As the immediate 20... B-B4 allows 21 P-N4, Black prepares this move, However, as we shall soon see, the bishop will be badly placed on both KB4 and Q2. 21 P-BS! a 22 N-NS BOR Or 22... R-K1 23 N-O8 B-Q2 24 P-BG PxP 25 PxP B-QBI 26 P-D with a clear advantage 10 White who is threatening to create a powerful passed pawn by P-N6. This is an instructive ‘example of how a passed pawn ean be obtained as a result of a spatial advantage, even without a pawn majority. 23 PBS! 24 PXP White has upset the symmetrical nature of the Qeside pawns and could now proceed with the logical plan of creating a dangerous passed pawn on this wing. However, in such situations, with Black's pieces badly placed, there js usually a tactical solution at hand, a. BBI Other moves of this bishop are no better eg. if 24... BABE 25 N-Q$ QB] 26 R-K7, of 24... BK3 25 R&B! PxR 26 N-Q4 Q-K2 27 NxP QUB2 28 BN BxB 29 B-Q5 K-RI 30 N-Bi Q.N2 31 Q-Q3 wins. PxP 25 NxQPt An elegant winning combination. Clearly 25... PxN fails to 26 P-B7, but Black is relying on his next _wischenag 2... BKS 26 RXBE PxR 27 N-BSL QKI OF 27.. QXR+ 28OXQKPXN 29 P-NS QR-NI 30 Q-N3+ K-R2 31 B-R3 followed by 32. Q-B7 wins. 28 NxB KN 2 RQ RBZ 30 B-KS Winning the QBP (30... R-QBI fails to 31 Q-KBS) when the wo connected passed! pawns supported by the bishop pair lead to a rapid decision, The game ended as follows: 30... K-NI 31 RxP RXR 32 BxR RRS} 33 K-R2 R-RI 34 B-KS R-KB235 P-B7N-Q2:36 Q-B2R-BI 37 P-BB=Q! 1-0. One next game illustrates an important strategic idea. White achieves a clear superiority on the K- side and drives the black pieces into pasive defensive positions, He then unexpectedly switches his attack to the ‘opposite wing in a sacrificial break- through against the enemy king which has meanwhile taken ‘refuge’ there Such a switching ofrontsisa relatively froquent occurrence in chess strategy. The pieces of the defending side are forced into unfavourable positions as, they attempt to ward off the tactical threats of the attacker. They can then no longer regroup to defen against a sadden attack on the other side of the board. 11 Keres-Euwe Match 1989, Nimzo-Indian Defence 1 P-QS N-KBS 2 P-OBA P-K3 3 N-QB3 B-N5 4 Q-B? N-B3 5 N-B3 0-06 B-NS P-KR3 7 B-R4 P-O3 8 P-K3 (3 P-OR3!) QK2 9 BK? P-K4 10 P-Q5 N-NI 11 N-Q2 After 11 0-0 BxN 12 OxB P-KN4 13 B-N3N-K5 14 Q-B2 P-KBA Black ‘would obtain a strong Keside attack, so White tactically prevents this whilst preparing the strategic plan of 0-0 followed by P-B4 with a K-side advantage. Mee QN-Q2 Superiority on the Wings 25 Not of course 11... R-KI? 12 BxN QxB 13 Q-R4 winning a piece 120-0 P-QR4 A. typical method of restricting White's spatial advantage on the Q- side (White's QP), as now 13 P-QR3? BxN 14 QxB P-R5! would lead to the blockade of White’s pawns. 13 QR-KI! White Togically pursues his plan of preparing P-B4 which Black can prevent only by 13... BKN M1 QxB P-K5. However, White would then play his knight co Ql with two possible plans» 1) to advance his Qside pawns by P-ONS, P-QR3, P-ON4 and P-OBS (2) to attack on the Keside by playing P-KBS at a favourable moment. RKI BAN It would be bad to play 14... PP? 15 PxPas Black would soon lose control fof the K-fle in view of his lack of development. Nor would 14... BxN 15 OxB P-KS he effective, because White continues with N-N3-Q4 as we have indicated above, So Black tightly attempts to reduce White's Kside attacking chances by exchanging Ps OB N-KSI 16 NxN Qe 17P-KN3S— QK2 18 BNA! A sound positional move, preparing to exchange this bishop, as it will become ‘bad’ when White increases his advantage in space on the K-side by P-KBS, 1B... NBS 19 None Qn 20 BXB ORB 21 R-B2 Note that neither here nor on hisnext move can Black exchange pawns without allowing his Keside pawn ponition to be shattered e.g. 21... PxP26 Superiority om the Wings 22. QxQ.PxQ.23 RXP K-N2 24 PKA R-R225 RI-KBL. So White can delay P-KBS until he can play itwith a gain of tempo. However, Black would stand ‘well after 21 QxRP PxP and 22 P-QN3 ‘Thanks ta his pawe on KB5, White has a space advantage on the K-sid His logical plan is to prepare P-KNS by, say, P-KN#, Q-KN3, PKR, Black has problems with his queen which i temporarily ued to his KB3 square, not daring to move in view of P-B6 ' increasing White's Kcside attacking chances. Black therefore plans to transfer his king to the Quside ‘imanticipation of White's coming pawn storm, a strategic idea which we examined in Volume 1, Chapter 7 ("The King’). However, before he can do this, he must take measures against the possible advance of White's Qside pawns by P-QN3, P-QR3, P-QN¢ and P-QB5 which would prove very dangerousto the new haven ofthe black king! This explains Euwe’s next move, P-B3t 25 PxP RP 26 P-QR4 Black was threatening 26 P-QNI. 26. K-BI 27 R-QN RI-BL 28 P-N3 K-K2 29 QBS K-O? 30 P-R4! K-B2 31 K-BL The white king heads for the centre s0 as not to obstruct the action of his ‘major pieces on the K-side. 31. K-N2 32 K-K2 RI-B2 33 R-KR2 [As Black's king has left the K-side, 34 BG now fails to 34... P-N3! (not 34 QxP 35 OxQ PxQ 36 R-B2, or 34 PP 35 RB2) when White can no longer open a fle on the K-side (if 35 P-RS, P-KN4, or 35 P-KN4 and 36 P-NS P-R4) This means that the black {queen can now become active again and a black pawn can occupy ‘KBS, thus making P-KNS more difficult to achieve, A P-KNS = P-BS 35 RNZ RBI 36 R-N3 White is carefal not to rush with P-NS, for he wishes to be sure that he can control the open KR fie that ‘wll result from this For example, after 36 P-NSRPxP37PxPQ-KRI Black has 36 And now Black plans to occupy the Kite with a took after 37 P-NS RPXP 38 Px. 379-03 Q KB 30 R-KRI = R-KRI 39 RI-R3| | RS-BL 40 P-NSI But not 40 QxP? R.QBI-QI 41 QRS R-Q5 followed by doubling rooks on the Qufile with strong RPXP qm 2Q3 KR 43 ROS RXR) Black hastens his defeat by giving up the KR-file in thie way He would have hhad drawing chances in the rook ending after 43... PxP 44 RXR RXR 45 QxQPQXO.46 RxQR-RS (47 K-BS RGR6+ 48 K-N4 RuP 49 R-QI+ K-R3! eve. 4 RR PxP 45 RRT 46 K-B3 RBI 47 K-NA R-B2 White was threatening 48 Q-K6! QxQ.49 PQ which vould now allow 49... R-K2 48 PN. ‘The decisive change of front we have already mentioned. Note the power exerted by White’s centralized queen, 48... PxP 49 PRS QNz This loses two pawns but Black would be mated after 49... PxP 50 QeRPH K-N2 51 QxNPS K-B2 52 OERS+ eg. 52... K-Q2 53 Q-R7+ K-K1 54 Q-NS+ K-Q? 55 QN7+ K-K1 56 Q-B8+ Q.O1 57 R-RB+ etc. or here 52... K-B3 53 Q-R6+ K-B2 54 R-R8 R-BI55 Q-R7+ ete 50 PXP+ KP 51 QxQP+ — K-R2 52QxKP PNG 53 RRS! RBS. Superiority on the Wings 27 Not 53... PANT? 54 R-R34 winning QOH RNS Whitealso winsafter 54. ..Q-N3 Q-O7+ K-RS (55 2. K=RI' 56 RERB+) 56 Q-R4+, or 54... K-NI 55 R-R8+ K-B2 56 R-O8 ete, 55 RxP 1 In similar positions, when a pawn on KB5 restricts the enemy position, itis usually best to open up lines for the ‘major pieces by advancing the KNP and KRP as we have seen. An attempt (o exploit the spatial advantage by {queen and minor pieces only is rarely as effective, Our next game isan interesting example of these points 12 Chigorin-Tarrasch Match 1993, French Defence 1 P-K4 P-K3 2 Q-K? P_QBS 3 P-KN3 N-QB3 4 N-KB3 B-K2 5 B-N2P_Q46P-Q3N-B3 70-00-08 N-B3 P-QR3 9 B-NS P-R3?) 10 B-B4 P_QN4 11 KR-KI P-Q5 (1 P-NS!) 12 N-QI N-Q2 13 K-RI RKI 14 R-KNI ‘This vacates K1 for the knight, thus preparing a pawn advance on the K- side by P-KB4-5 and P-KN4-5. Black's careless P-KRS and premature release of tension in the centre by P-Q5 have given his ‘opponent a clear-cut plan on the K- side. Nevertheless, White has problems in carrying out this pawn storm, as Black can begin a Qeside counter- attack by advancing his own pawns which are far more mobile than White's. P-KA NBL NKS BN? NONE28 Superiority om the Wings Black's K-side position is just as unfavourable as in the previous game, land White's threats may prove even more dangerous because no pieces have been exchanged as yet. However, the possibility of .... P-QBS gives Black ‘chances of active play on the Qeside. Tarrasch himself later expressed the opinion that White could obtain a decisive advantage by P-KR4, N-KB3, Q-B2 and P-KN4, but (unusual for him!) he thereby underestimated his own chances, After 19 P-KR4N-KR220 N-KB3 R-OB1 21 BR3 R-B2 22 Q>B2 Black can initiate a good counter-attack with 22 31 (eg, 28 BN PxB, or 23 B-OBI P-B5 24 P-R3? PxP)) and if White interpolates the move 22 P-R3 Black has 22... P-B5 23 Q-B2 PxP 24 PxP P-N5 etc 19 N-B2 R-QBI 20 QRS White could sill carry out a pawn, advance by 20P-KR4 N-KR? 21 N-RS followed by Q-B2, N-B3 and P-KN4, but Black has definite counterplay on the Qside. At best White will have to exchange his QB for Black's knight when it reaches ONS, but this will greatly reduce his K-side attacking chances, For this reason, ‘White plans to carry outa piece attack against Black's KRP, banking on the tactical possibilities based on a later P-KBG with his knight on KN4. 2... N-KR2 Threatening to exchange White's important QB by 21... B-N4! 21 N-B3 P-BS 22 E-KBI Afier22N-N4Blackhas22...B-BI but according to Tarrasch the more active 22 ... BeN¢ was also playable. aren PxP 23 PxP N-NS 24 BxN After 24 NxN? BN 25 BxB QxB Black has freed himself completely M4... BB 25 N-NA Threatening the powerful 26 P-KR4 BBS 27 NxB+ QxN 28 P-KN4 followed by P-NS: Black’s only defence is to move his king towards t Bo. KB 26 BK2 Now 26 P-KR4 B-B3 27 NxBQxN 28 P-N4 K-K2! 29 P-N5 PxP 30 PxP Q-Q3 is no longer dangerous. for Black 6... BES 27P-KRt = 03 28 N3-RZ Threatening 29 NxB QxN 30 N-Nt and 31 P-B6, 2B... N-K2 A neat reply, a8 now 20 NxB QXN 30 N-N4 fails to 30... QXBP. The piece sacrifice 29 NxRP is very tempting but Black can reply 29 PxN 30 QxRP} K-NI 31 P-KNG QR-Ql ete. orhere 31. N-N4 R-B3 42 OR-OBI B-N2 33 RxR QxR 34 QRS (threatening 35 P-B6!) P-BS 35 N-RG+ BAN 36 QxB Q-B? ete 29 QR-KBIN-NI! 30 B-QI RB2 31 B-N3 RI-BL 32 N-B2 White's piece attack has been contained 30 he now — prepares P-KN#-5, BR. BQ 33 Q-K2 Not of course 33 P-KNA?? N-Bs 33... P-QRt 34 NBs PRS 35 BQ B-Qp3 36 P-KNS © P-B3 BINRS | BKI 38QR2 = BBR Black must counter White's Kside pawn advance by play down the QB file so i is vital to eliminate White's bishop, 39 P-R3 40 N-B2 ANB 2 ONS 43 PP 44. N-B2 ENG ‘The passive N-K1 would mean siving up all chances ofa K-side attack and allow Black to increase his pressure by 44 “4 23 w Black not only the R-Q7 25 QBS RBS, RP satens to advance his passed pawn but can also double rooks on the seventh rank, so White ‘must proceed at onze with his K-side break-through, 46 P-KNS!— RPXP. 46 PP RIB? 47 N-NA Not 47 PxP BxP! when 48 NxKP? fails to 48 7... 48 PoP? BRN 29 QxB Q-R3+ 93 Superiority on the Wings 29 Stronger was 48 Q-R3! (threatening 49 Q-RB and 50 N-RO!) when Black has the subtle defensive resource 48, Q-B2!49 PxP(49Q-REQ-BD) 49 BxP 50 NxB PxN 51 RxN+ (51 Q-RS Q-B2 52 R-N6 R-B2 53 N-R2 RD-B754N_N4P-R6) 51... KxR52 RNI+ Q-N2!53 RxQ+ KxR and White must take the draw by perpetual check, 8... BxP 49 QRS P-R6 50 NxB OxN 51 R-NG PR? The only good defence, as White wins after 51... Q-K2? 52 P-B6 PxP 53RI-KNI. Ate the text move White could sil hold the game with 52N-N5 K-K2! 53 RxQ PeR 54 QR7+ K-Q3 85 N-B7e K-BS 58 N-QBY K-Nb 57 O-O7+ KxP 58 Q-O6+ K-B559Q-RIF ete-e.g 59... RNG 60 Q-R5+ K-N7 61 QK 1, oF 59 K-Q7 60 R-B2+ K-Ba! (60... K-K5 61 RXR RxR 62 N-BG!) 61 RXR KxR 62 Q Ris S2RKQ+? PAR 53 R-QI Or 53 RKNI RNB 54 N-KI 35 QoNS RAN; and Black's king escapes to the Quide The game now ended: 58... RNB 54 Q-BI R7-QN7! 55 N-Q2 RXR 56 QxR RXN157 Q-OBI R«P 58 K-N2 -QB6 59 Q-ORI R-B7+ 60 K-B3 P-Q6 61 QO} R-ON7 62 QRA P-Q7 0-1. The above games have shown ws the effectiveness of a pawn advance to exploit a space advantage by opening lines, creating points of attack in the enemy camp (Black's KNP in game I, for example), exposing the enemy king P-QN4! in the same game) of obtaining a passed pawn (P-QB5-6 in game 10). We ean distinguish between: 1) a positional break-through prepared by favourable placing of