a co

AAGAARD

QUALITY CH
 €29.99
ISBN 978-9-197600-41-5
Attacking Manual 2

By

Jacob Aagaard

Quality Chess
www.qualitychess.co.uk
 Firsr English edition 20 l 0 by Quality Chess UK LLP,

Copyrigh r © 20 10 Jacob Aagaard

Attacking Manual2
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ISBN 978-9197600-41-5

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 Acknowledgements
1l1e aurhor would like ro thank rhc following p~ople for their comribution
ro rhi~ book in big and small w.tys: Jonny Hecror, Krishnan Sasikiran,
Anne Madsen, Herman Herbolr, Mihail Marin, Arrur Yusupov, Allan
Beardsworrh, Colin McNab, and most of all Andrew Greer and John Shaw.
 Contents
Key to Symbols used 4
Preface to rhe second edition 7
Bring it on ~an incroduccion 9

Chapter 1 - Undersranding Mating Arracks 9

Typical Mates & Focal Poinrs 11
Ihree Piece Attacks 25
insurance Policies 30
Transfonnations 31
Exercises 40
Solutions 43

Chapter 2 -Typical Piece Play 53

1he Assault Rario 57
Deflection 67
Overloading 76
Ternpo-gainers 81
Piece Sacrifices for cime 84
Transition squares 89
Lines of Communication 101
Vacating Squares 118
Outposts 127
Launching 135
TI1e pin 148
Improving the Circumstances 165
Prophylaxis 170
~Ihe f5/f4-squares 178

Chapter 3 -Typical Pawn Play 181

P-awn breaks 183
Pawns as valuable as pieces 193
Pawn stonns 208
Pawn sacrifices 237
Provoking weaknesses 243
Chapter 4- King Safety 251
Destroying the defensive structure 253
Line clearance 264
Cutting off the defences 275
\Xfeak kings 281
Drawing the king into the open 293
Kings on the run 300
Cuning off the escape route 311
~I11e king stuck in the centre 315
Breakthrough in the centre 321
T\vo rhematic sacrifices 346

Chapter 5- Intuitive Sacrifices and Enduring Initiative 353

Creative play 355
A sud den chance 358
Aggressive opening play 377
Intuitive sacrifices 391
Enduring initiative 399

Chapter 6 - Exercises 413

Solutions 423

Index of games and game fragments 457

 Key to symbols used
? ;\ weak mo\'e
~? a blunder
a good move
!! an excellem move
!? :l move \'\'onh considering
?! ~\ move of doubtful vahLt
# mare
111
(n) 11 march game

Bibliography
Jacob Aagaard: 1he PallofJ~Borvinuik Attack
Christian Bauer: Pia)' l ... b6!
Sabino Brunella: Attadting the .~j>tmi~·h
Ltrry Chrisriamen: Rorldng the Rampttrts & Stormiug the Barrimdes
Colin Crouch: Atttrcking Technique
lakov Damsky & Nlikhail Tal: Attack with JV!ikhaillitl
Fracn ik, Kopec & Browne: (:'bmupion.i ofthe New lvfillmnium
Tibor Karolyi \virh Nick Aplin: (;enius in tbe Background
Han/) Kmoch: PtlW11 Powt'r in Cbe~·J
Vladimir Vukovic: Art ofArtacl~ ilz Chess
Simon Webb: Chess }or Tigers

Periodicals

Chc~,') lnformanr, Che~s 'loday, New In Chess, Chess Monthly, Schad, 64, ChessVibcs.com,
Che~~Basc.com, Mega Database 2009
 Foreword by the author
\\'hen I decided co write rhis double-volume book on arrack back in 2002, I had very clear ideas
for Volume One, such as specific phra!Jc3, posirions, srrucrures, while all T had for Volume T"vo
was a clear no £ion of what it should cove:r, in absrracr. \Xfhere Volume One was about the laws of
d~·namics, the font of all attacks, and to some !imircd extenr an original work, Volume Two was
,tlway-s me<UH ro be il pcrfcclion of existing work on rhc attack
Over che years I have rc:.Ki dozens of books on attacking chess, and they were all abour knocking
rhe king's posicion open, once t"he attack had been established. Some authors even disguised
their puzzle books as books on arrack- or was it their publishers? Although some book<> on the
middleg~unc would mention parts of the positional basis for the attad:, I was unable to refer my
-.rudents ro any book ns r!Je . .vork on anacking chess. Simply put, none of them explained well
how rbe arrack came ro be, bur concerned rhcmsclves mainly with the sacrif1ce. This is whar I
rried ro do in Volume One, and with son1e success, 1 thinl-::.

-il1is volume is intended ro cover aH of arracking technique, by which I mean what to do once the
.mack is up and running. Obviom.ly this cannot be done in 464 pages, bur: a decem attempt can
be made, and 1 think I have managed ro do so. In this book I will discuss such concrete items a~
Dl'Stroyiug the dejhuit)e stmcture (page 253), The pin (page 148), Overloading (page 78), as well
.1~ more abstract concepts such as Creatioe play (page 355) and Intuitive srtcrificej (page 391 ).
Hopefully whar I h~1ve found \vorrhwhilc co say about these concepts will be useful for the reader.

_\.lrhough 1 ;Hn a writer by nature, and place a high value on aesthetics, I am deeply aware that
most reader~ will hnvc picked up chis book wirh the hope ofimproving their chess. My experiences
.tnd conversariom wirh some of the besr players in the World have strengthened my belief that it
i-> very useful to solve exercises regularly if you want to improve your play. Although a well-written
hook can at1~cr your play positively, it .will do so much more if you are involved, rather than just
re'ading ir. For chis t·e.\son f have included a diagram preview in chis book. I invire you to use up
ro 10 minurcs on c~teh position before reading the subsequent chapter. For Chapre1·s 1, 3, 4 & 5
1 have selected H posirions Tfind inreresting, while Chapter 2 has 26 positions, as it is a rather big
(hapter. 1 kno\v rhar not everyone will wane to spend chis amounc of cime on rhese exercises, but
for those who have rhe discipline, rhe o~nion ls there. It is for che same reason that I have included
10 exercises rowards rhe end of this book and 24 exercises ar rhe end of Chapter 1.

This double~volumc work has been seven years in rhe making; with rhe publication of the revised
and expanded Volume One and chi~ volume, I have fulfilled a major person<.tl ambition. Quality
Chess was founded to supporT the publication of The Berlin 1\la!l, Questions of lv!odern Chess
Theory and rhis work. Seven year:. afrer rhc first thoughts and conversations about these works, l
am proud ro s:l)' that it was all worth it, and rhar all four books \vcrc wonh fighring for.

Jacob Aagaard
Glasgow, 22nd December 2009
 Chapter 1
Understanding Mating Attacks

T!t!J~t~ tk thFU ;ieee- ~u.fe- tit ;~aetlee-. Tk bt~M! ha~ ~ae~ifieult~e-~~

tk ilf(fht ~~ a~~~~tiHJ' tk 1u.ee-"' tit t!U~ ea~e- 1f c!efolflrlrj k~ aJtd b(f
llftJmma e~e-ate.f telfe~al de-v-a~tatiolf.
 Diagram preview

On this page you find 8

diagrams with criticalmomenrs
from rhe coming chapter. I
reconunend that you tilke up
to 10 minutes to chink <tbour
each of rhcm. 1l1e solurions are
found on rhe following pages in
rhc annotations to the games.
Positions with a circled P can
be played against a computet

White wins, bur how? White to play and win

(see page 22) (see page 29)

a b c d e f g h

\XIi n in the face of disaster White co win Calculate all rhc way
(see page 15) (see page 25) (see page 33)

a b c d e f g b
Black co \Vin in one move \XIhice to calculate very well Accurate arrack
(see page 17) (see page 26-27) (see page 36)
 Covered in this chapter
• Typicallvlates & Focal Poinrs
• 1hrce Piece Arracks
• Insurance Policies
• Transformations
ln this chapter we will discuss the basic
mechanics of mating attacks. We will do so
b)· looking ar some basic theme'> and rhen
clabor::tting on them, ro sec how they work
in practice. A good place to srart is wirh the
ordinary.
Typical Mates & Focal Points
I am nor sure if the notion of Jocal points has
been used before in chess !ire.-ature, bur the
place where I first encoumered it and where it
continues to meet new readers, was in Vladimir
\'ukovic's famous book Art ofAttack in Chess,
which is considered by many ro be the best
book ever written abour arracking chess. 'fl1c
hook is an impre.<.sive looking brick, wri[[cn in
1965, which alternate.<. between giving bloated
theoretical de.<.criptions in the tradition of
Kmoch's PriWJI Power i11 C!Jt'SS (a book which
by itself has decreased rhc numbers of chess
players in the world!) and some sophisticated
description of actual positions.
\'ukovic's dd1nirion of a l·ocal point goes as
f"illlows:
"If rhe anacker threatens mare or ac1 ually
mares on these squares, rhey arc matingjocal-
poims, bur if he only harries the king from
rhem or uses them as points from which
ro break inro rhe casdcd position, rhcy are
called strategic or twxilittl)' focrd-points. It
may be that there is more rhan one mating
focal-point, and in that case we speak of
compmmd foCill-points. If there are many
focal-point:. {both mating and .<.traregic) on
squares of rhe same colour, we speak of a
uetwork of weal< squares."
I personally find this paragraph of definitions
rather amusing, as ir is complex and nor
particularly helpful for the practical player, if
anyone ar all. 1l1e reason why I am srarring
\Vith this quote is that I had wrirren a few
pages rhar were going down the road of trying
to define what attacking chess is, rather chan
showing it, before I realised rhar I was smck
and nor able to deliver my ideas in a format
thar satisfied me.
Despite the fact rhat rhe theoretical basis for
the idea of focal points srands on this rather
shaky foundation, which despite being
technically con-ecr is of very lirrle use, it has
had a great impact on how people talk about
chess even today, more rhan forty years after
the book was written. I think this is mainly
because Vukovic manages to elucidate various
aspects of attacking chess with great vitality
and care, and leaves the reader with real
insights. Bur we do nor need to know a lor
of definitions w understand that, though it
is usually easier to attack the opponent at h7
than g7 (mainly because of the easy access from
rhe starring position for rhe king's bishop and
knight), an attack on .....
g7 is in ueneral stronaer
~ b )
because the king will have a greater chance of
escaping if it is anacked on h7 than on g7. We
do nor need to know a complex terminology
to understand such insights, and luckily you
do not need to do so to follow Vukovic's
book.
Another chapter in Vukovic's book g1ves
some generic rnating positions rhac may
seem more suitable for a beginner's book
than a sophisticated book on middleoame ~
strategy, bur they do have the purpose to build
a foundation for the resr of the book. An
example is the following configuration:
12 Attacking Manual 2

difficulr chess is. We need all the help we can

8 ~S*R
--,Y., ger ro play rhi~ game ju.sr on a decent level.
7 ~
'{ _.,/;
~ Developing a strong intuition for rhe arrack by
6 • R learning and mastering those seven principles
will definitely do this.
5 ~if
/JI -::

...
~

f g h lr is with rhis foundation rhar we progress

w this, the ~econd volume. Here we will
Only two chapters after presenring this
look at some of rhe typical scenarios that we
simple position, Vukovic goe~ deep inro the
encounter again and again when conducting a
Greek gift sacrifice with ~xh7t, ttJg5"1" and
direct arrack on rhe opponent's Icing. 'lhe firsr
iWh5, in scenados char are !";,11· from dear. He discussion will be of a typical mating parrern,
ha.s his own points to make abour rhis and I
one also found in Vukovic's book. However,
~rrongly recommend rhar you read his book to
just like Vukovic, I am nor simply wishing to
f-ind our what they are, as it i~ always useful give a mare in one exercise, bur ro rake chis
ro sec a ropic discussed from various points of
typical parrern and study it thoroughly, from
view.
the perspective of borh the anacker and rhe
defender.
Nor surprisingly it 1s my intention in rhis
1he first panern is defined by a pawn on fG
book to present my understanding of rhe
reaming up wirh a queen on h6 to attack rhe
various rechniques and aspects of arracking
enemy king:
chess. I am a strong believer rhat chinking in
concepts can improve your chess and rhar to
consider certain patrem.s or srandard reactions
can greatly improve your playing strength. If
you are f:lmiliar with a lot of rhemaric ideas,
you will definitely find rhem more easily at rhe
8
7
6
••
~

i~i
®~~~
0i~i- ;
~
Z., , /
,_____ ;.-;

~"' .-?
~

board. For instance, if you know that 1711 attack f ()"

.:> h
on th£' flmdl is best mel by a strike ill the cmtre,
1his is the archetypal position. Ler us
vou will invesrigare this option with a good
now f~1miliarise ourselves with some typical
~~cal more confidence chan if you had never
variarions on the posi rion, which we will be
cncoumered rhe concepr.
discussing in more detail over the nexr few
pages (for case of reading I will always rake
In rhe first volume of rhis book I presented
White as rhe attacking side, bur the principles
my seven global ideas, of which I am cerrain
will of course be jusr as relevant on rhe opposite
rhat we should have an inrimare knowledge,
side of rhe pitch).
if we want co be good arrackers. ·n1ey were
deliberately made so simple as ro make rhem
seem almost comical, and for rhis reason I gave
examples of very Hrong players viola ring them
again and again. Obviously rhosc stfOng players
had other ideas ~tnd somehow rhey did nor
"mrk our, bur we should also nor ovcresrimare
rhe human ability or undcresdmatc jusr how
f g h
 Chapter 1 ~ Undersmnding ivlaring Anacks 13

\Vhitc has just played rhe knight ro g5 and

Black wi11 h~tvc w give up hi~ rook in order co
,l\·oid mare.

d e f g h
The final position shows a combination that
d e f g h arises rather infrequently. Here \'<!.hire can
decide the game wirh 1.\Wxh7i"! ~xh7 2.hxg6
\X'hire has che- chance ro decide rhe game
mare.
\\irh LWlg7t, winning a rook due to the
In what follows I will give rhirteen relevant
hanging queen on d8.
pracrical examples from games played by
good players. During my research, I round ir
~.~~-
~m•"
8 striking rhat serious mistakes were commitced
rnore often than not. If I had to guess, I
7 ~-- }~-~-/~-" -~ would attribute the mistakes to the players;
6 i~.t.ii insufficicnr familiarity with rhe relevant
5 ~~----%~~{ .. /. patterns, nor forgetting rhe simple fact that
-~~ ::#d chess is just difficult!
e f g h
David Berczes - Simon Widmer
Black cannoc defend f7 in this posicion, bm
~.:ven if he was able to do so, Whire would ltave
Bid 2005
che deciding tacric l ..§:c8!, diverting/pinning
rhe rook on g8 and dms taking control over
rhe g7 -square.

8 ~
~.~-
~ ~
:z ~~ / ~----'
7 .t.~i
;j:j'Y.->i$&:-"'' "
6 i~i-
%... J~~
__ j
5
,~fl~
4 ~"" ~y
~ :::;;;,;:

f 0
e> h
Black h<lS m;.maged to comml the viral a b c d e f g h
g7-squarc, bur if White is co move, he \vould 11le llrst example sraiTS at a point where the
have 1.iWxh7i"! ~xh7 2J~h4 mare. However, play~r leading the black pieces is on rhe way
Black ro play would be able ro defend wich m inflicting a big upset againsr an opponenr
1... g5! followed by 2 ... B:g6!, repulsing the rated more than 300 points higher, when the
queen. following accident happens:
14
25 .. JMxf5?
If Black had taken with the pawn on f5 he
would not only have prevented anyrhing bad
from happening, but would also have been able
to use the open g-file for aggressive measures.
26.~h3! Wfhs
Black must have believed that he had
everything under control ar rhis point. Great
must his disappoinrmcnr have been, upon
se~ing White's nexr move.
27.~g5!
'!here is no good way for Black ro defend f7.
Taking the queen allows a smothered mare:
f g h
1-0
"lhis pattern is more olren seen in posmons
\vhcre Black gets his queen ro f8 ro expel rhe
white queen from h6, as we saw above, and as
is rhe case in the following example.
Hansjuerg Kaenel- Meinrad Schauwecker
Swiss Championship 2001
a b c d e f g h
Attacking Ivlanual 2
Objectively, White is probably doing rather
well in this position. Black has no easy rargers
lO attack around the white king, even if ir
does look rather vulnerable. The best way
ro conrinue would probably be to get the
bishop to c6 and start undermining rhe black
queens ide with the idea of eventually attacldng
his kingside from the flank.
In rhe game White chose another srraregy,
which can at best be called suicidal. He decided
ro exchange probably his best piece, rhe knighr
on d4, for what is surely an ineffective piece
of wood on f3, albeit theoretically of higher
value, and in the process promote the pawn
on g4 from being in the way of the knighr ro
being a cold-hearted killer on f3.
You can argLtc rhar this was the basis of a
miscalculation, bur Kaenel is nor a weak player
and would nor have made this type of error if
he had possessed a deep understanding of rhc
relevant rhemes.
28.~xf3? gxf3 29.@hi
White seems m be under the illusion rhar
his king can be defended. But even if he had
nor been losing ro rhe trick played in the
game, it would srill be an error of judgement
ro enrer such a volatile position willingly,
considering rhar his position was so promising
beforehand.
29 ••. Wfe6?
Black commits an inaccuracy. Instead
29 ... ~h5! 30J~gl Wh3 would transpose to
the game, wirhour allowing the possibility
mentioned in rhe following nore.
30J~gl?
1his loses in the way we have already seen
in the previous example, this rime wirh rhe
queen on the more typical fl-square. lnsread
ir was possible for White ro defend his king
 Chaprer l - Understanding Maring Attacks
b~- advancing rhe g-pawn, something thac we
will sec is a quire common defensive possibiliry
from rhis generic position.
The line l have analysed includes a few nice
racrics and eventually l~ads ro a draw: 30.g4!
::Jxg4 31.8:gl ~g6 32.~d2 ~xh2 33.~d7
~~xgl 34.~xg4 1.f?-lh6t 35.~xgl 1Wg6 36.~h2
'gd6t 37.~h3 ®h6"1 .18.~g3 ~d6·;- with an
odd reperirion of moves.
30 ... Wfh3 3I.1Wfl ~g4!
a b c d e f 0
0
h wirh rhe threar of ~xf5 it seems rhat Black
\Xlhite must have been horrified ro see this
move. 1l1ough he had p1·obably seen a similar
theme before, somehow ic had slipped his
mind. He tried to give up a rook, bur the
marerial ddicit was much too great for him w
obtain any hope of survival.
32.gg2 fxg2t 33.1Wxg2 1Wxg2t 34. ~xg2
hal 35.gxal gxf2t 36.~h3 .tc8 37.~h4
gxh2t 38.~g5 ~g7
0-1
:\t rimes a knight: jump ro g4 Gm ~eem so
convincing that ir disarms us of our confidence,
which I imagine is Olle of the ingredients in
rhe foHowing disascer, rhe orher being possibly
tirne rmuble.
15
Ketevan Araldtamia-Grant- Stephen Peters
Port Erin 2000
a b c d e f g h
\XIhite is faced with the strong rhreat of
... t!Jg4 and did not find an adequate reply. It
was necessary ro disturb the black coordination
for long enough to rurn rhe d-pawn from
a mere player inro a match wi nncr. A bit of
positive thinking was required, as White
is surptisingly winning after 36.CLJf5!!. 'The
relevant line goes: 36 ... CLJxfS 37.d7! and
has nothing better chan 37 ... 'LJh6. Bur here
White has time for 38.~e8 or 38.~d6, both of
which decide rhe game in White's £wour as the
d-pawn is unsroppable.
In \.vhar I suspect was rime trouble White
followed a less convincing strategy.
36.Wfe6?? ~g4 37.1Wxg4 Wfxg4
0-1
One thing rhar surprised me when I was
researchh1g our archerypal posirion was char
rhe number of positions featuring the above
parrern, involving a knight moving ro g5 (or
g4), is very low. In the vasr majority of games,
rooks were the main helpers in the arrack,
eirher against h7 or by plnning the g8-rook.
16 Acracking Manual2
Juan Trejo -Mariano Fraschini
Argemina (ch) 2000
I.e4 cS 2.CDf3 CDc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.CDxd4 eS
s.lDbS d6 6.lDlc3 a6 7.lDa3 b5 8.lDd5
CDge7 9.c4 CDd4 lO.cxbS ~xdS ll.exdS
~e7 12.~d3 0-0 13.0-0 f5 14.ie3 CDxbS
I;.lDxbS axbS I6.hb5 f4 17.~d2 f3 18.g3
E:b8 19.a4
19... E:xb5!?
"TI1is is a very interesting decision, which
i<> rewarded larer on in the game when Black
obtaim serious attacking chances on che liglu
squal'es.
Neverrhdcss, rhe alternative 19 ... id7! \>vas
objectively preferable. I think the simpleH
reply tor White would be ro aim at rhe f3-pawn
immcdiarely with 20.!;a3!. ·n1en Black can
mke on bS and be fully in the game, or gamble
wirh rhe more ambitious, bm ultin1ardy
weaker 20 ... e4?!, which brings a serious risk of
overstretching his position. In rhe J,·mer case,
afrer 2U~e I Black will nor have rhc time ro
exchange the bishops and ger rhe queen ro h3,
no matter how much he may desire it.
20.axb51l:Vd7 2L<i>hl
lr is probable rhar White should have played
2l.~a3! ar this point. Our basic principle of
including all rhe pieces in the attack or in the
defence is just as valid in chis book as it was in
the flrsr volume. A possible continuation could
be 2l...e4 22.~hl when22 .. J~f5!? is likely to
be rhe best move, although I have my doubts
as co whether rhe final evaluation will be to
Black's sarisfacrion afcer 23.~gl, preparing g3-
g4.
Also 22 ... ~xb'5 23.ic3 feels like a slighr but
secure edge for \Vhite. Black can still create an
attack though, with the following rather nutty
continuation: 23 ...e3!? 24.fxe3 .f2 25.~g2
~d7 26.g4 ih4 27 .h3 h5 and although I do
nor believe in Black's position, rhe game still
appears ro be lively.
21. •.1l:Vh3?
1l1is is too oprimisck. After this Whice could
ccrrainly have made more om of his b~pawns,
as we shall see in rhe analysis.
21...\Wxb5 would have been a good move.
Black is likely co follow up with ... ic8-f5-d3
to dominate che lighc squares. lr is possible
rhar Whire would be able to demonstrate an
adv;mrage with accurate play, but this would
by no means be easy.
22.E:gl ~g4
a b c d e f (J
~
h
 Chapcer 1 -Understanding Macing Acracks
w 4~•
23.t::~a
'lhis oversighr (\vhich Black, in turn,
rcdprocaces) is an indkmion rhar the players
had nor seen the following racrical motif
before.
Instead White could have <lChicved a
dt:'dsive advantage wirh both 2:>.~fl and
rhc follo·wing beauriful line, in which Whirc
combines the domina don of the black rook by
pinnil'lg it down, and preventing rhe ... ~xh2·t
combination by being rc~tdy ro give up the
queen on h5:
2J.Wc2! :Bf5 24.~c8"f .if8 (24 .. J~f8 25.VNc7
:Bf5 26.~xe7! and \Vhite wins) 25.~e6i' <;:t;h8
26.We8! <iig8 27.b6 ~h5 28.~xh5 Wfxh5 29.b7
-n1e whire pawn reaches the elghch rank and
decides rhc game, as Black no longer h~1s che
firepower co create meaningful dueacs against
rhe white king.
'lhis variation is of course nor forced, for
example it was possible co play 2'5 ... :Bf7, bur
\\/'hire rerains a winning advantage all chc same
with 26.~e8, conrinuing w harass the black
pieces.
23 ... !3f5~
Bbck is seeking a smndard combination and
on rhe way misses om on 2J ... '&g2t!:
1h h would have won a piece and the game
imrnediarely.
17
24.®'fl??
"lhis mismke rclls a scory of a bad day, where
even the most basic tactic is missed. There was
no reason for things going this wrong.
24.gxg4!
Ihis would have kept \Vhire in the game.
24 ... Wlxg4
24 ... .:Sh5? 25.:Bh4! would give White the
necessary time to eliminate the f3-pawn. and
thus protect the king from g2.
25.b6
Boch players have rheir assets ar this point.
Black is hoping co deliver mate and White
has a good extra pawn on b6.
~d8
25 .. J:!:h5 26.\Mffl
In the view of a compmer rhis position is
about equal at firsr glance, bu£ eirher you
can assi.sc it, or allow ic ro think long enough
to come up with rhis beautiful ·win:
27.b7 ic?
28.ig5!!
·nli.s is a sensational move ro pur ir mildly.
-?8 •.• 'Wxa)-
'8 :::1
28 .. J~xg5 29.~b5 is nor much different.
29.~c4
From here rhe queen is performing rhree
fl.1nctions.
1) rc is ready to go ro h4 to defend the king.
2) Ir b arracking the bishop on c?.
3) lr is nor on fl, which means iris no longer
blocking in rhe rook on gl, which will shorrly
enter rhe game with decisive effect.
18 Arracking Manual 2

A possibl~ line could be: Robert Bator - Johan Andersson

29 ... 1JYh6 30.h4 ibs 31.1JYcS·I @17 32.1JYd7'f
~fs 33.1Wds·;· ~f7 Sweden (ream ch) 2005

8---~
;:~'{if~~fi'~~*-- 32Y~ ~
t~ -Ill~ ~~'
6 ... r.d'#~~-;A"~
7

~/~~.·~~r---v~~~
5 ~~ ~W'"'~JP.WJ?
4 ~~~~-
3~WA~i f.~·~
2 ~~%~~ ~~ ,;.~
a b c d e f g h ~-~~- ~.. _..,}; .. -~~ -~~· .. ?
34.;ga 1! 1 ~ • ~m:s=-
And White wins. a b c d e f g h
29.<i>hl?
Ler us rcmrn to the game. 29J!e3! with the idea of eliminating the
annoying f~pawn would have won the game
more or less instantly. It is interesting that rhe
defenders often seem more happy ro endure a
strong arrack, than to srop it in its infancy by
returning a bit of materiaL

29...iWh3 30J~gl E:fS?

24 ••. \M/xh2t!
0-1
"lhe following game looks more like a comedy
of errors rhan a serious game. \Y./e have all been
there and you ~hould not be mistaken, Robert
B;uor i~ a solid and knowledgeable int:ernarional
master, rllDugh on rhis day he was E1r from his
best. But, even though the game i~ not ct great
oncj i r does hold some interesting variations ro
our rherne.
Rarher !'nechanically played, jusr as in rhe
previous game Trejo - Fraschini. 1his move
should have cosr Black rhe game, bur instead
claimed an aimosc insrant victory.
Afrer rhc correct 30 ... g5! the threat of mate
would have been quire serious, and \Y./hire
would have ro come up wirh 3l.'lMle6! to keep
the position unclear. The black attack would in
other words be strong enough to claim a free
queen, bm this is only enough to equalise the
material count.
3l.E:e4?
·1 his is at least as bad as the previous rwo
mistdkes in the game.
\X'irh 3l.'IWe6! White could have achieved an
ea . . ily winning position. 'fi1e rook cannot come
 Chap[er 1 ~ UnJerstanding Mating Attacks 19

to h5 withouc exchanging rhe queens and rhc Bogdan Burlacu - Mihai Grunberg
normal combinarion wirh ... ~xh2t does nor
work as \Xfhire has V:Yh3 to shield rhe king. After Brasov2004
3! .. )21f6 \'V'hirc would have plenty of freedom
w play 32.g4! \vhen the gan1e is efl:cctivcly over 8
because of 32 ... lbxg4 .33J3xg4 \Wxg4 34J~gl.
b·en if Black was able w prevent rhc a~pawn 7
from promoring, he would nor be able ro save 6
rhe rook on f).
5
3I .. J~h5 32.~h4 ~xh4 33.gxh4 4
3
2
1
a b c d e f g h
24...\ixe2 25.ixg7 \ie3t!
An imporram incennediace move. \'V'hite is
denied rhe h6-squat·e, for now.

a b c d e f g h placed.
33...id6
Ouch, whar .a cold ~hower rhis musr have
bet>n. Whice complccely missed rhar when rhe
g-pawn moves, rhis arrack becomes possible.
:vlare h ncar, so he resigned.
0-1
·lhe following game differs slighdy from rhe
one jusr covered as Black has no other way
ro play for an advantage than w accepc the
cha1lengc. Again we shall see ow basic rhemes
in a dyna.rnic serring.
\\7hite has given up a few pawns, bur in
rerum he hll.S a rook on chc seventh rank and
a real atmck on the black king. Black com~crly
evalu.lfes char the only way ro fight for an
advantage is ro accept the offered piece and cry
to ride our rhe srorrn.
26.'i!?h2
It is important to ger off' che firH rank, as we
shall see, bm even on h2 the king is not ideally
26... 'i!?xg7 27.ffit 'i!?h8 28.~e7!
Whire is harassing rhe black queen, fighring
for the h6-sq uare.
28 ...\id2!
The white queen cannor be allO\ved to get
to tht:! h6-square, as the attack would become
very dangerous. 1he following Hne illustrates
rhe point: 2S ... W'd3? 29.V:Yh6 ggg 30.E(x0
g5 31.gg7! should give White very realisric
chances of winning r:he game. 'The rhreac is
32.17 wirh a rna[ing sequence, and the only
move that blocks this idea, 31 ... ~g6, does not
seem coo comfor·ting.
29.~dl! ~c3
Preventing 30.~h6 by nnacking rhe all-
imponam f-pawn.
20 Anacking Manual 2

30.E:fl! \'\/hire is winning and Black finally ceased

Renewing the rluear of®'h6. his resisrance on move 61.
1-0

"lo understand all rhc tricks in these situations

i~ jusr as important for rhe defender as it is for
rhc attacker, sometimes even more so. Here is
,l good example:

Vladimir Talla - Jiri Kociscak

Banska Sriavnica 2006

8 ~;
~ ~~
~---J ~*-~
~///,'//. ~
7~ ~ ~-
6 ~~-~-~~~j~
~ ~ ~ L--~ o

~ ~ ~
~~-ti~-~~-~~
5
4

3~~i~i~if
"'" ·"~ ~-- ""-®if· ""W~
30 ... h5? would bring rhc weakness forward and
allow Whire to break rhrough with 31..§:f5!
2 -~f~~~
forcing rhe following line: 3l ... W/d3 32 ..§:e4! 1•~~ B ~~~
when Black has to give up his queen, but cannot a b c d e f g h
mkc borh rooks. True, after 32 ...1Wxc4 33.1Wxe4 Even though White would .srill have a
8c7 he does have some ngluing chances, but perpetual check after 33 .g4 ~d 1!, there is no
it would be an uphill sn·ugglc. He should, reason to allow such tactics. White defended
however, certainly <l\'Oid 33 ... gxf5? when \Xlhirc ag<tinsr the armck and quicldy won due to his
mates wirh 34.~f4 ~h7 3S.1Wg5 .§:g8 36.1Wxh5. rh ree exrra pawns.

The winning line starred wirh .10 .. J!g8!, not 33J~bel! E:dl 34.Wlb4!
fearing rhe fresh air afr:er .? l ..§:xf7, because of White has prevented Black from challenging
3l. .. WieSt 32.~f4 WlbS when rhe arrack h<L~ rhc control over g2. Now all rhar remains is to
been repulsed, however unlikely it might seem. <Hlv.mce rhe a-p<lWn towards rhe eighth rank
and claim rhe victory.
31.1Mfh6 E:g8 32.E:e8!
Black ftlr some reason W<lS nor aware of this 34 ...i.f8 35.c5 @hg 36.a4 h5 37.a5 ~8d7
simple move. 38.a6 h4 39.g4 ~xel 40.®xel E:g7 4l.Wlfl
1-0
32 ...1Mfe51'
Sadly rhe only oprion. 1l1e following example combines the idea of
vectincr-
b b
rhe kni2:hr co g5 with an arrack on both
u .....

33.E:xe5 rhe seventh and the eighrh ranks.

 Chapter 1 -Understanding Maring Attacks
Thomas Oparaugo - Vitaly Malykin
Bundesliga 2005
a b c d e f g h
20... e6~
Ir is maybe a bit hard to Imagine, but afrer
rh is move Black is already in a lot of trouble.
\\'hire's exploitation of his opponenr's mistake
!) worthy of great praise.
The reason why rhis is a bad move and why T
think very few grandmasters would have nude
rhfs mistake, is char th~ dark square~ are now
~o weak char rhey resemble Swis.<. cheese.
I can undet-scand why many players would
rhink that rhc move secures the bishop's
posicion in rhe cenrre, and if there is no faulr
ro be found wirh ir, go ahead and play it.
But chess has rwo dimensions, ont:: shore ~u1d
nne long term. So even if, in rhe short term,
rhcre is no fault ro be found with rhe move,
rhe grandmaster would be a bit reluctanr
weakening rhe dark squares around his king
unnecessarily.
.20 ... dxe5 2l.fxe5 Wb6 wich chances both ways
- rhoLtgh adminedly with a bir more acdon
on rhe kingside than Bh1ck would ideally want
- was che bcsr wav forward. J rhink Whire
-
should play 22.E:f2 with ideas such as '&h6,
~dfl and h4-h5 in some combination, while
21
Black will eirher ny ro play ...a5 and ... b4
to obrain coumerplay, or .. .f6 ro improve his
defensive capabilities.
21.£5!
'lhe most: tenacious move was 2l...gxf5 even
rhough White will keep a wlid edge wirh
22.exd6, when the d-pa:wn is likely to be a
strong asser in what is ro come.
22.f6
Establishing our rheme, the exploitation of
the dark squares around che king.
22 ... ~h8 23.~h6 ~g8
l11e first crisis has been averred.
24.llJf3!
'fl1e rhrear of lUg5 creares rhe second cl'isis
for Bbck .
24 ...~b6t 25. ~h2! hf3
The second crisis has been averted, buc a
third one emerges from rhe horizon.
22
26 ... g5
1he most beautiful line ;uiscs afr~r 26 .. J!c7~
when we return to basics:
27 ,gxf7 .ie4 28JU8!
The path for the f-pawn is cleared.
28... gc7 29.f7 gxf7 30.g8xf7
And finally Black h~td to resign.
1-0
Armcking Manual 2
·n1e next example popped up serendipitously
while I was edirirg Carlsen - Aronian for
ChampiouJ of the New Millennium, which
you will find on page 108 of rhar book. The
opening is the same and the finale involves a
nice linle trick based on our standard parrcrn.
Svetozar Gligoric - Evgeny Sveshnikov
Sochi 1986
a b c d e f g h
27.ia6!l
Thb wonderful move not only diverrs rhe
black pieces, it also clear-s the third rank for the
b3-rook, which is ready ro deliver mate only
three moves from now.
27 ... ia8
Black cannot cake the bishop, as his entire
defence is based on tying down the white
queen to the defence of g2. One typical line is
27 ... i.xa6 2SJWh6 ggs 29.1'Nxh7t! and Black
is mared.
28..ixc8
28J!g3 was even suonger, the computer
informs us, but rhe text move was sufficient
and Gligoric did not need any assistance to
fini~h rhe job.
28 .. ,:gxc8 29.gfbl d3 30.:gxd3 ~c231.gdb3
ie4 32.gh8 Wfxhl t 33.gxbl bbl 34.~b5
 Chapter l - Understanding iv1aring Attacks

~e4 3SJ~Yd7 gfg 36.Wfxa7 h6 37.g4 @g8 25 ... hxg6 26.~b5

38.Wfe3 ~dS 39.f5 @h7 40.fxg6t @xg6 'l11c posicion is probably prerry balanced
41.Wfe5 gas 42.Wfh5t @xf6 43.Wfxh6t @e7 here, but wirh a subtle trick Danielsen still
44.1.Wf4 gc8 45.g5 g,4 46.\Wf6t @e8 47.h3 managed to omplay his opponenr in the rime
:Sc2 48.h4 gg2t 49.@fl gg3 so.Wfh8t @d7 scramble.
51.a4 ga3 52.\WfS galt 53.@f2 eS 54.WfcS
~hl 55.\WxeS gxa4 56.h5 !c6 57.h6 26... @g7 27.ge2 ghs 28.h4 gh5 29.Wff3
1-0 WffS 30.Wfxf5 gx5 3l.~c6 ~f8 32.f4 gh5
33.gbl e6?
In my early rwcmks I rcmernber watching
rhe following gam~ live and being quire
~xcired wich rhc nice liulc combination I had 8
~~
~1< .,. .. ~
~~L -~-~ ~
:~~,~~'~
found. Togerhcr with others I was debating

5-
Danielsen\ chances of passing che magical
2500 and claiming rhe grandma~ter title after ~?! ~ ~%•.. % ... %
~lS~ ~£
4!---~~~~
he had won chis garne. "lhc proragonisr was
rhinking and chinking, bur afrer a long rime
he played something else. 3 ~~~~'f. jr~--- ~
Henrik Danielsen - Carsten Hoi ~ ~" ~~ f ... J

Randers 1996 2 .. ,~~~r

a b c d e f g h
34.a5! bxa5 35.dxe6!
Wirh three unired pawns against the three
separated pawns White has an advantage
alr~ady, even rhough the black position does
nor appeat· to be lost.

3S ...fxe6
35 .. J~e7!?

36.~f3 ghh 7!!

36 ... :!%f5 37.gxc6 rJ;f7 should be okay.

37J~!xe6 gan
25.fxg6
Afrcr the game 1 immediardy ran co Henrik 37 ... ~f7!? 38.~d5 :!%h5 was rhe bcsc defence,
and asked: "Did you nor sec ir?" and burst our bur \Vhite is winning a pawn and has very real
chc following moves: 25.gxc7 .!he7 26.f(l
winning chances.

''Of course I did,'' Hcnrik ~aid, "hut I also saw 38.gxg6 a4 39.~d5 a3 40.gel gh8 4I.ge2
that after 26 ... ~e6! I would struggle even to be ~d442.gxd6
okay." J was stunned by chis move, which 1 still 1-0
find greatly impt·e.ssivc to this d:ly.
24 Attacking Iv1anual 2

There is only ont> fin<\1 parrern char remains for Manfred Hein - Heinz Thiele
us to look ar. I was a hit surprised that ir has
occurred so rarely in pracrLcal play, hut as I love Bavaria 1996
it, I bent the pattern a bit to include two really
b~auciflil examples, rhar unfortunarely did nor Whire broke through with the follmving
have a pawn on f6. beautiful sacrifice.

Bur first, ler u.s see rhe standard panern in

~lC(IOJ).

Flavio De Mayolas -Alejandro Bernier

u~huai:l 2004

27.f!h6t WxgS 28.f!lh5t ~f4 29.~fl!

\'V'hite can win chi& position in several ·ways,
bur chose rhe mare in rhree.

3I.~h6 f!g8 32.Wfxh7t! ~xh7 33.hxg6

mate,
1-0

A~ said, I cheated wirh the nr:xr rwo examples,

as rhere are no pawns on f6, but (he pos[rions
arc so inspiring rhar 1 hope rhe l'C<tdr:r will
lotgive m.e.

Despite the absence of rhis important pawn,

rhc next nvo position:. are closely <lSSociared
wirh our rheme. ln rhe end I tound them to be Black resigned. He is rnated by one of
simply incsistible, and l hope the reader v'lill \XIhite's knights on rhe nex[ move.
fr:d the same way, 1-0
 Chapter 1 - Understanding Maring Anacks 25

I found the final example of rhis section in

8
rhc dambase while doing a random ~earch on
~he queen sacrifice. T was and concinue w be 7
urrerlv amazed rhar ic is not a complete classic 6
,md thar~ having pawed my way through
2.lmosr every classic book on combinations, I 5
rud never seen ir before. 4

Bakalec- Viktor Shishkov 3

2
Dniprop~rrov.sk 1966

a b c d e f g h
29 .fxe8::::~ t!!
Black resigned, as he is abour ro lose
everything.
1-0

Three Piece Attacks

1 am not: sure where rhis idea was firsr put

forward, but !like Colin Crouch's description
of ir in Attacking Technique. As he gives no
source it is nor impossible that he came up wirh
a b c d e f g h
ir hirn1.df, bur on rhe other hand ir was nor as
26.\Wxh7t!! common co give your sources ac the time the
ll1b is of cour~e nor surprising to us, bur I book was written. Anyway, what he says is:
h.n·e a feeling rhar it was a great shock for poor
~hishkov. "To conduce a successful kingside arrack,
Given the chance, Black would play 26 ....~c6 you musr be prepared to sacrifice, while
.1nd be absolutely fine, so rhe queen sacrifice being careful to ensure that you have enough
really is the only way co play for a win. material in 1·eserve m force checkmate. In
general, a successful king.side arrack will need
26 ... <i>xh7 27.hxg6t <i>g7 at least three pieces panicip~lring; one to be
17 ... ~g8 28.gxf7 ITtare is a beautiful image sacrificed and nvo ro give checkmate."
.1) well.
Ar first when you look at successful attacking
28.gxf7t !1Jgs games you will get the feeling that rhis is not
In rhis posicion there are no fe\ver than tour as common a phenomenon as Crouch suggests
winning tnovcs, but che choice is an illusion. in his book, bur once you dig deeper, you
·nlcy are ,tJ] ba.<.~d on chc ability w promore to will see that it is accually quire common that
.1 lcnighr. \XIirh a dear sen~e of aesthetics, rhere are three pieces that have tbis shal'ing of
Bakalec choose the mosr direct rourc ro workload; one to sacrifice himself co open up
\-icrory. ro chc king, one co assist and one co deliver
26 Arracking Manual 2
checkmate, The simplest example i.s the Creek
gift !>acrifice, which we have already briefly
looked at in irs generic form. Here it is with a
bic more background, still very sim:ple ...
Sergei Ovsejevitsch- Christian Koeffner
Erhendorr 2006
15.\WhS
1l1is is rhe three piece rule in pracrice. 1llc
bishop has sacrificed ir~elf~ the k n ighr is assisting
rhe queen., in this case by dcf~nding her, and
big rn.omma creates general deva.smdon.
15 .. J~e8 I6.Wxf7t ~h8 17.®h5t ®g8
18.'Wh7t ~f8 19.Wh8t ~e7 20.Wxg7 mate.
1-0
Ler's ;IdvQnce quickly from rhis clean version ro
a more complex example, <l brillianr miniarure
by tvfurray Chandler. First we cncounrer the
basic version of the Greek gift: S<lcrifice, bm
as Black is not allowing himself co be mared
wirhouc a fight, the arrack goes through srages.
Eventually a third piece comes ro support rhe
arracl< wirh decisive cftecr, which seems co
vindicnre the three piece rule.
Murray Chandler- Dimitrios Anagnostopoulos
London 1989
l.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.~c3 liJf6 4.i.g5 i.e7 5.e5
tlJftl7 6 ..ixe7Wxe7 7.f4 0-0 8.~f3 c5 9.Wd2
~c6 10.0-0-0 a6 ll.dxc5 ®xc5 12.i.d3 b5?
Ic is surpl'ising that this position has arisen
quite a number of rimes. "I11e Greek gift
!>acri flee is che overwhelmingly most popular
move, bm with many orher moves played, it
only makes up about half of the games. Of che
rh rt'e grandmasters rhar ha.ve had rhis position,
only one played the sacdficc, which proves jusr
how hat·d it is w find rhe point as expressed
on move 17 and 18. Mecking played 13.g4 in
1975, when his rating was ac ics peak ar 2610
(and rhac was a lot of money h~Kk then ... L
\vhile Ivanchuk, che occasional World Number
One, played l3.h4 against Tukmakov in 2006,
albdt in a rapid game.
A~ chess databases were still in their infancy
in 1989 ir is unlikely char Chandler had
pr<:pared dte sacrifice at home, which only
goes ro resdfy ro rhe exrensive srrengrh he had
in the lare 1980s. 11Iesc days he is of course
mainly known as the money-man in Gambit
chess publica.cions, although he condnues co
panicipate in and win tournaments.
 Chapter I - Understanding Maring Anacks
13..ixh7t! ~xh7 14.lDg5t ~g815.iWd3
The opening moves are nor roo hard to
:lnd. I gave chis exercise to a group of juniors
levelling from 2100 to grandmasrer, bur none
of them managed ro find a way forward afrer
Bl.lck's be.sr reply.
~ 8'
b- ... t::!>e.
The only junior rhar decided rhar rhe
~acrifice was indeed correct had overlooked
rhis tenacious defence, which leave~> the
dS-square vacanr for rhe Heemg Icing.
In most games Black has prderrcd the lesser
option of:
1=i ••• ~d8?! 16.®h7i" ~f8 L7.~h8t @c?
1S.1Wxg7
:'-J"ow Black has to delend rhe 17-pawn wirh:
18 .. J~f8
1he following cacric has not been missed by
.my of the white players fortunate enough to
obw.in this posirion, and has in most cases
led ro immediate resignation.
a h c d e f g h
JlJ.CL\xe6! ~xe6 20.~xd) ~dt
20 ... %Vxd5 2 I .f5t
2l.~b 1 ct:Jb4 22.fhd7!
1l1is is the main line and also what happened
in Scellwagen- Ma Yu. Groningen 1999. Now
Black gave up his rook on fS due ro 22 ... ~xd7
23.\Wf6 mate, but tound no peace.
I6.iWh7t ~f8
27
a b c d e f g h
1his is rh.e posmon that could have been
rhe challenge for Mecklng and Ivanchuk. 1he
standard method with checking on h8 does
nor do rhe job, so it can be easy to give up on
rhis entire tactical idea without inspecting the
orher options more closely. 1here are no clear
reasons why there should be a special solution
in tb is position at first glance.
However, upon closer in.<.pecrion this
opinion changes. lhe cemre is pretty solid and
the black pieces are not that well placed. lhe
queen can only enter rhe garne via e3 and rhe
queenside is simply om of play. Maybe this is
what made Chandler think a bit deeper. Or
perhaps he rook a gamble, reasoning rhar when
you h<tve the chance to deliver such a strong
blow ro the opponent's position, it is worrh the
risk considering that the rewards for finding a
.<.trong follow-up v·muld be high.
After I7.~h8t \t>e7 18.Wfh4 both 18 ... ~f8
and L8 ... f6 lead to a very murky position,
where it is had ro say if rhe posicion is just
balanced, or if it is better for one of the
players. I honestly do nor know. 1l1e problem
ror Whire is rhar the manoeuvre ... ct:Jc6-e7-g6
defends rhe k:lng brilliantly.
Afrer the check White can also rake the pawn
with 18.1Mlxg7, but in rhb case Black will nor
rranspose tO rhe previous 11ore vvirh lS .. J~ffi,
28 Attacking Manual 2
but reply 18 ... ct?d8!, when either l9.l2Jxf7·!
~c7 20.CDd6 ge7 or 19.\Wxt7 VJ/e7 would
result in unclear consequences. Wbire surely
has compensation for rhe piece, bur Black has
managed ro stabilise his defences and should be
enrering rhe middlcgame with equal chances.
All in all, rhese lines only extend rhe admiration
I have- for Chandler's following moves.
17.Wlh5!!
1l1 is quiet move is rarher .surprising, but at
the same rime nor rbar LlllCOmrnon in rhe gantes
with the Greek gift sacrifice. 1he poinr here is
to attack the f7-poim:, obviout.ly, and thereby
force Black to place his pieces awkwardly.
17 ... ttJd8
"There <lre no fully saristaccory moves, bur
rhc rexr has rhe advamage of nor being easy
to refute.
17 ... g6 is another candidate, bur rhc sdtf
cold wind Harming through the cracks in th~
black srrucwre is worrying. lr is nor a great
surprise rhar) after the ba~ic moves 18.~h8i'
~e7 19.VJ/h4 ct?fs, \Vhitc has a few cliA-erem
ways to win the game. One of rhern is by
ex rending rhe rhree-piece rule to <l four-piece
coordination whereby che c3-knighr and rhe
dl-rook sacrifice rhemsdvcs ro pave rhe way
for rhe knight on g5 and the queen and their
bloody arnbirion.
u b c d e f g h
20.CDce4! d.xe4 2l.~xd7! !xd7 22.VJ/h8t @e?
2J.VJ/f6t ~f8 24.VJ/xf7 mace.
18.~h7t!
Even this move can be very hard to ~ee. "l11e
point is revealed on rhe very next move.
18.VJ/h8t? ~e7 19.VJ/xg7 was played in K.
Runirez- Nur Shazwani, Turin Olympiad (w)
2006. Here the accurare reply would have been
19 ... b4! 20.CDce4 Wfe3t 2l.ct?b1 '1Wxf4 22.ltJd6
VJ/xc5 23.ltJxeH V9xg7 24.ltJxg7 ~f6 with a
complex endgame that I have a feeling mighr
be a tad better for Black.
18 ... '.i?g8
18 ... ~e7 does nor work on account of
19.V9gSt.
a b c d e f g h
Ir seems as if \Vhire has somehow executed
the whole Greek gift idea the wrong way- the
knight is supposed ro assist the queen, not the
other way around! But just as we thought that
the knight was a suppon:ing actor, we find out
th,n he is a simple exrra that can be disposed
of. Oh) rhe queen's favour is hard earned, but
e;lsily lose.
19J~d3!
Onto rhe scene comes a powerful new
as~istanr. From h3 the rook will support the
 Chaprcr 1 - Understanding Mating Attacks
queen fl.dly ~md cogether the C\Vo will dance off
into the sunset (burning down che villages).
19 .. J~tt'e7
Black has no defence. 19 ...1Wc4 can be mer
with the simple 20.ItJd) and 19 .. l~f2 loses
to rhc prercy 20.~8 1Wxg2 2I.~b3 1!t-fxhlt
2V1.Jcl 1, when it will be White's turn to deliver
checks in just a momem; and his checks will
hurt.
20J!h3 f6 21.lt1xf6t lLlxf6 22.exf6
1-0
TI1e three piece phenomenon can also happen
in whar might seem co be a more w~1rped buc
esscnrially identical scenario. In rhe follov~·ing
position Morozt:vich was deariy in time
trouble and missed a ractic he would have
found in a few seconds if he had nor been in
rhc timdi·ame of urgency.
Alexander Morozevich - Levon Aronian
Mordia/Un.u·es 2.007
29
it sounds. 1 have given chis position co a lot
of p{ayers; it takes a player rated about 2000
on average about six minutes ro find it. After
40 ...1Wxd4t 4I.g4 %Vb4 we ger to the following
position, where we have our three piece
phenomenon. 1his rime ir is rhe queen that
will sacrifice itself, ro divert rhe black queen.
111en rhe \Vhite king will assist the g-pawn ro
deliver mare. It might look as jf this position
is very different from the standard Greek gift
sacrifice, bur rhe building blocks are rhc same.
It should be said that White can also win with
38.@h4!? .\;xe3 39.1Wd8t ges 40.1Wxe8t ~g7
41.f6t @xf6 42.1Wh8t ~c7 43.ti.Jc6t as found
by Keti Arakhamia-Gram.
In the game \Xfhite played worse.
38JU3? ~fl
1 have no idea if Aronian saw the
aroremenrioned combination and gambled
that Morozcvich would miss it once again.
Objectively better, bur as we can sec, practically
much worse, would have been: 38 ... ~e8
39.fxg6 ~e1 t, where Black might hope to
survive the ending. Bm hel'e Whirc has a
great win in 40.~f2 fxg6 4I.tLle2!!, which
30 Attacking !V[anual 2

)Vforozevich undoulHcdly would have found, Magnus Carlsen - Sergei Movsesian

considering that the key move occur.'. on
!llove 41, after the rime conrrol. 'lhe forced lvfo~cow (Blitz) 2008
line conrinues: 41 .. ,ge3t (41...ga8 42.~h2
kave.'. Black wanting. e.g. 42 ... iWd2 43.iWc6!
8i:~.t~ ~~-~
and rhe rook is losr.) 42.i">h2 iWb4 43.ttJf4
Wie7 44.'1¥!xb6 and Black's lasr drawing trump, 7~ ~ ~i-i
rhe connected passed pawns, are no longer so 6 i.
.....
,/
~i~
~ ~ /.~
~
connected.
5~. ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~
39.fxg6?
3~~mf~t;j~~
4

~~t;y~~~-~4J.l
Whire could srill win as in the nore above,
bur he was clearly our of time. 2
;;;?~i ~\1Ur%,F=ri ~
39 ... :Bxf3t 40.Wfxf3 Wfeli" 4l.~f4 hxg6 1 ~~ d'§~ ~
42.Wfxd5 Wff2t 43.ctJf3 a b c d e f g h
ivlorozevich had had enough and offered a
16.hh7t!
draw.
1
1 am sure rhar when Carlsen played this, he
/z-lJ2
was certain that he could always bail out with
a draw in rhe event rhar his opponenr managed
Understanding rhc rhrec piece principle on
to parry the threats.
an intuitive level will no doubt be beneficial
tor any arracker. 'lhere is clearly a difference
16.ttJg5 g6 17.tlJxh7 might look attractive,
between seeing the pieces simply as pieces, and
with the idea to play ~hSt and iWxc5. But
being able ro see rhem as a team, where rhere
Black can respond with a desperado sacrifice
are clear roles to be played: in rhis narrative, as
and claim back rhe pawn with 17... ~xf2t!,
a piece ro be sacrificed, a piece ro suppon and afrer which rhe position is close ro even.
a piece ro deliver mare.
16 ... ~xh7 17.ctJg5t ~g6
Insurance Policies 17 ... Wg8 18.l.Wh5 simply does not work.

Anorher important idea, of grc~H pracrical 18.Wfg4 f5

value for the attacker, is rhar of rhe insurance
policy. 1he idea is simple: once we start an
arrack, iris useful nor ro burn all of the bridges
and insread retain an oppomtnity to bail om,
typically by forcing a draw by perperual check
or some other form or repetition. It is much
et.'.ier to 'risk' a sacrifice when you know you
will have at least a dn1\v.
-lhis is rhe only move that offers any defence.
Black has to rake conrrol of rhe e4-square.
18 ... @f6 is not an alrernative. It is nor clear
which way is rhe srrongesr for White ro
continue, bur either knight check on e4 would
pick ttp the bishop on c5 and leave White
obviously winning.

ll1e first example of this is raken tl·om a recent 19.Wfg3 ~f6

blitz game. 19 ... Wh6 is not much different from the
game. After 20.iWh3t <J?g6 21.gadl ~e7
 Chapter l ~Understanding 1\1ating Attacks
rhc sim.plesr move i~ 22.E:t;:5!. when Whirc is
winning. ll1c rhrears are 2.).g4, which will lead
srraight to marc, and 23.2:xc5 W/xc5 24.Wih?·;·
~f6 25.ltke4t, winning the queen. 1hcre is
no way rhar Black can defend rhis position.
20.ltlh7t ~f7 21.ltlg5t ~f6
a b c d e f g h
Carlsen has used rhc opcion of repeating the
position once aucomarically. bur rhcn staned co
rhink. Now rhat we arc here, it is obvious rhat
White has a very promising arrack and iris not
necessary ro agree ro a draw jusr yt:t. However,
ir was useful ro have rhb option ar rhc lime
where the investment had robe made.
In rhe game the prodigy won rhe game with
awesome precision, remembering rhar this was
a blirz game.
22J~ad U ll:Ve8
22 .. .11~c7 2_=>.®h4 @g6 24.E!d3 and 25.~g3
wim rarher ea~ily. '1 he black king simply
cannot find any shdret·.
23J~e5! ~b4 24.:Sdel E:a7 25.ll:Ve3
With the double threat of\Wxb6 and ~xe6t,
which Black cannot meer in any dignified
way.
25 ... ~g6 26JMfxh6 ~b7 27.~e3 ~d6
28.ltlxe6 L:e5 29.lLlxf8t ll:Vxf8 30.fxe5 ~e6
31
3l.ltle2 ®h4 32.ltlf4t ~f7 33.h4 ll:Vxb2
34.E:dl ll:Vb3 35.E:d3 \Mtc4 36J~d6 E:e7
37.~h2 aS 38.ll:Vg3 ~g8 39.:Sd8t
1-0
T do not want co go roo deeply in to this
phenomenon, as I think rhe principle is easy
to understand; obviously we are more likely
ro risk the sacrince, when we know rhat we
can always bail out wirh a perpetUal check
or a repetition. At rhe same rime we should
nor focus too much on rhis option, as this can
distract us from nnding the best moves ar the
board. One example is rhc game Smovsky-
Predojcvic, featured on page 323 in Chapter
4. Everything was proceeding as planned until
rhe mornenr where rhe posslbiliry of forcing
a repetition apparently blurred rhe Israeli
grandmaster's evaluation of the position, and
made him miss no fewer rhan three wins[
Transformation
An advanrage in a chess position can be either
dynamic or static in character. An attack on the
opponent's king \villusually fall under rhe first
category, whilst an advamage in material or
pawn srrucntre would be the opposite. Chess
is a game of transactions, and somerimes ir is
necessary to rradc one rype of advantage for
another. When rhc defending side goes w great
lengths to stave off the checkmating threats,
the attacker may have the opportunity to 'cash
in' his initiative ro obtain a different rype of
advantage, most commonly one of material.
1 have chosen two games to showcase this
idea. In the first White sacrifices a pawn for an
initiative and continuous pressure on the light
squares, bur at one poillt chooses to go for an
endgame instead of continuing rhe attack.
In the second game White has an
overwhelming attack, bur great defence means
that all he can get our of it is a positional
advantage in rhe endgame.
32 Anacking Ivfanual 2
Oswaldo Zambrana- Guillermo Soppe
Havana 2005
l.e4 tt.Jf6 2.e5 ttld5 3.tt.Jf3 d6 4.d4 ~g4
5 ..ie2 e6 6.0-0 ~e7 7.b3 0-0 8.c4 ttlb6
9 ..ib2 tt.JSd7 IO.tt:lbd2 ~f5 ll.exd6 cxd6
12.B:el aS 13.ttlfl a4 14.ttlg3 ~g6 15.~a3
Wfc7 16.b4 tt.Jf6 l7.ttlg5 axb3 18.a.xb3 tt.Jfd7
19.tt.JO tt.Jf6 20.lDgs ttlfd7 21.-ifl B:fes
22.~b4 ~xal 23.Wfxal h6 24.h5
24 ... ~xg5?
Black mkcs an unnecessary risk, probably
ovcrescim<uing rhe value of thl:! pawn. After
24 ....tc2! 25.®b2 hg5 rhe po~irion is more
or less equal.
2S.hxg6 fxg6 26 ..id3 tt:lf8 27.1Wbl
27.lile4 fle7 28.CLJd was porcnrially more
accurate, bm besides this small derail, rhe game
i~ performed perfccrly by Whire.
27 ... ~h7?!
Holding on ro rhe ransom, but it was berrcr
to accept rhar rakm.g the pawn had been a
mistake and lee it go. 27 ... d5!? 28.c5 €lbd7
29.1lxg6lilxg6 30.~xg6lilf6 was only a lirde
bit better for \X!hite.
28.tt:le4 ~e7 29.ttlc3 Wfc8
29 ... ~a.S!? \vas perhaps berrer, but White has
a firm grip on the position in any case.
\XIirh the moves 30.tilb5 ~d7 31.1la5 CLJc8
\XIhire could drive his opponcnr backwards,
bur his pieces would not be aiming at the
biggest weaknesses in the black position: the
pawn on g6.
30 ... d5 31.!xe7 B:xe7 32.c5ll:!bd7
1his loses by force, bur also afrer 32 ... lLI<t8!?
3:>.lilb5tilc7 34.~d6 Whice's advantage would
be crushing.
33.ttlxd5!
'lhough it may look as ifBlack has blundered
away his extra pawn, rhe likelihood is that he
returned ic deliberately, thinking ic would
provide rhe best chance to save rhe game.
33 ... ~f7
 Chapter 1 - Understanding Mating Artacks 33

39...~e8
8
More resistance was offered by 39 .. J:Vd7
7 40.dxe6t 1:Vxe6, when Black would be a few
moves up on rhe pawn ending. However,
6
Whire can instead win the queen ending after
5 41.1:Vh7t ~e8 42.\Wxb7 ~el t 43.<!>h2 ~xf2
4 44.1We4t ~d8 45.b4, when rhe connected
pawns should decide.
3
2 40.V9h5t!
40.dxe6t was possible, but Whire has
1 accurately evaluated rhc pawn ending, which
a b c d e f g h is quite impressive.

Black has a sham:red position, bur also a few 40... i>e7 41.V9xe8t i>xe8 42.dxe6 i>e7
ideas on how ro fighL For insrance, rhe pawns 43.b4 i>xe6 44.bS!
on d4 and c5 miglu become vulnerable. White Only rhis wins.
obviously has a promising arrack against g6 and
the black king, bur instead of betting on marc, 44 .•. i>dS 45.c6 bxc6 46.bxc6 i>xc6
he cashes in and rransirions ro a f.wourable
ending.
8
34J3xe6!! 7
34.l!.k3 e5 wa~ Black's idea. Also here Whire
6
is better, but Black cannot think abour rhar
- he has to remaining busy making tenacious 5
moves. 4

34 ... ttlxe6 35.hg6t i>g8 36.~xf7t i>xf7 3

37.~f5t ttlf6 38.ttJxf6 gxf6 39.d5 2
'l11is is the poinr; Whire ends with an extra
1
pawn.
a b c d e f g h
8 47.i>h2
·n1e king will seal rhe deal.
7
6 47 ... i>d5 48.i>g3 i>e6
48 ... f5 loses only to 49.~h4 f4 50.f3!! (after
5
SO.<!>h5? f3! 5l.g4 ~d4 52.~xh6 ~d3 53.g5
4 <j;le2 54.g6 ~xf2 55.g7 ~e2 56.g8=~ f2
Black makes a draw) 50 ... ~d4 51.~h5 <!>e3
3
52.~xh6 ~f2 53.~g5.
2
l 49.i>g4!
Threatening ro go co h5.
a b c d e f g h
34 Attacking Manual 2

49 ..• ~f7 50.~f5!

Bur going m f5 when rhe chanc~ is given.
After 50.@h5? @g?! Black draws.

50 ... h5
-nlc difFerence is found afrer so ... @g?
51.~e6, \vhcn White is in line ro win rhe
f~pawn.

5l.g3! ~g7 52.~e6 ~g6 53.f4

Black resigned. After 53 ... ~g7 "54. f) he loses
the f-pawn.
1-0
One of rhc heroes of thl~ book is rhe Isa·aeli
tornado Emil Surovsky, whose crearivicy <tnd
determinacion is ::;econd to none in che chess
world. "Ihese attributes have helped him ro
create sorne fabulous masterpieces, as well as
'I his was Joe Gallagher's contribution ro rhc
opening theory of this particular· line. He is
a die-haa·d King's Indian and Najdorf player,
and a dash between he and Sutovsky was never
going ro be decided by subtleties in the pawn
Stl'UCtll re.

possibly bdng a restraining force in his career.

He can pull a rabbit our of a har and annihilate
world-class grandmasters wirh illuminating
sacrifices, bur ar rhe same time he can lose
dost: to dead endings and orher posirions
where dyn:tmics arc not very rdevanr.
In the foUowing game he ~r;urs off cre,uing
a brilliant <Htack, probably based on very
good opening preparation, where he was able
m react wirh great intensity in the ft.ce of a
novelty. After f.:1nrasric play he ended in a
situation whe.-c rhere was no clear-cur W<W ro
end the g:1me, bur where rhe rhl'eat agains; rhc
king could be exploited to win material.
Emil Sutovsky-Joe Gallagher
13.~xf6
True ro his style, Sucovsky auns ar an
immediate confronracion.
13 ... gx.f6
13 ....ixf6? is mer with a typical refutation:
14.~d)! \Wc8 15.e5! and Black is simply busted.
\'{!hen you play positions like this, whet·e you
spend a lot of rime on gerring your structure
righr wirh pa\.vn moves, you need to be very
careful against a fully developed opponent;
it only rakes one f1lse step ro rhc side for rhe
steam roller co hit you head-on.
The only way to conrinue the game with
Black here is ro give up a pawn with 15 ...!xd5
16.ctJxd5 !d8 and hope for a bit of luck to
come his way later in the game.

Bled (ol) 2002

l.e4 cS 2.llJB d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.llJxd4 llJf6
s.llJc3 a6 6.~c4 e6 7.~b3 b5 8.0-0 ~e7
9.Wff3 Wfc7 lO.gel CDc6 ll.CDxc6 Wfxc6
12.Ag5 ~b7
14J~e3
Sucovsky is basing his entire srrategy around
rhe ~.dS punch. 1hough I like this active
move quire a lor, I am nor entirely convinced
chat \'V'h ice is actually better here. His atrack
has potential, bur rhis alone is not enouPh o::>
w
 Chaprer 1 - Understanding Mating Attacks
\'·!In; we musr also respect Black's dcfalsivt"
resources.
14.. .'1Wc5 ISJ!ael ®f8?!
TI1is move is slighrl>' artif-icial and ends up
nor reducing the pre~sure down rhe c-f-ile
sufficiendy.
15 ... 0-0? would also be b,\d. 1lte !>trucrme on
rhe kingsidc b weakened and by cutting off
rhe black queen wirh 16.~d5!, Whire achieves
a winning arrack: 16 ...cxd5 17.exd5 ~d8
18.\Wg4t @h8 19J!g} and Black is maced.
However, afrcr 1 '5 ... ~e5! Black would have
been reasonably safe. Afrer 16 ..td5 ~b8
17.ixh7 ~xh7 it w;l!l very difficult for \XIhite
to break through in Golubev - Averjanov,
Kharlov 2006. Bur Golubev is a great expert
on rhese posirions and was able to exploir the
chances he was given later 011.
16..•exd5
16.. Jgf.b8 doe~ noc offer any J'esistanct!. ~n1e
problem is that ;tfter 17 .~xb7 ~xb7 \XIhirc can
play 18.e5 winning.
35
16 ... ~c7 also is nor good enough. lr is nor at
all bad for White co continue with preparatory
moves such as 17.'.Wh5, but acmally \Xlhice
is ready to break through and does not have
ro wasrc time on manoeuvring: 17.e5!! exd5
18.exf6 d4! TI1is is of course rhe crirical test.
19.fxe7t 'Wxe7 20. 1~ff4! dxe3 21.'Wh6t and
22.~xe3, winning rhc queen with a decisive
advanrage. As is ofren rhe ca&e in these positions
with queen against t\VO rooks, the advalltage is
primarily based on Black's inabiliry to ger his
pieces organised.
17.exd5
Because of rhc lack of coo!'dination berween
rhe black pieces, the price he paid for setting
up his pleasant pawn structure, he is now
sufFering huge problems down thee-file.
17••. .E:e8 18.We2
The pressure is intensified.
18 ... Wc7
18 ... ~c4 was possible, bm afrer 19.!%xe7
~xe2 20.~7xe2 ~xe2 2l.~xe2 b4 22.ctJe4
ixd5 23.Cth:d6 the endgame should be a win
wichour any gre<U difficuldes.
19.~e4!
36 Attacking Manual 2
1l1e knighr is the leasr active piece, ~o he
joins rhe arrack rapidly.
19....id8!
Th~ only defence.
After 19 ...ixd5 Whire wins wirh a simple
double rhrear: 20JWh5! and rhe check on h6
will be deadly, unless Black just lers go of the
bishop.
19...'Wd7 looked like a decent defence, bm
Surov~ky gives 20.~f3! as a f.·mrastic refuradon.
111e rhrcar is 21.CZJxf6, when the recaprure
would be met by 22.~xe8'! and 23.~g.it,
winning. In the event of 20 .. .£5 he has the
appealing 21.'.Wf4!, which wins after 21 ... h6
22.tlJf6! .ixf6 23.~xe8t ®g7 24.~xh8 ig5
25.~d4t ifo, and now for example 26.~h71".
20.~xd6 :E!e7!
Again the roughest defence. Blttck cannot
afford m ler go of rhe e-file. Af[Cr 20 ... ~xe3
21.~xe3 che rhreat of a check on h6 is
deva.staring, so Black is forced imo 21 ... h5
22.CZJf)! when Whire is threarening checks on
borh a3 and e8. Black may be able w resisr for
a while, but uldmacely his posicion is fost.
a b c d e f g h
1l1is is che position that is mosc important
for our cheme. After an inirial mistake on
move 15 Gallagher has defended with the
urmosr tenacity. White has not managed to
break through along the e-file and deliver a
fatal blow, as could have been hoped, bur his
position is S[ill very promising. It ls clear that
this i.s the moment: where Whire should prove
his advantage and Sucovsky manages to do this
with absolute accuracy. Without being stuck
in the idea chat the arrack has to culminate in
mate he finds a way to transform his advantage
from a dynamic one - a dangerous attack,
to a static advantage - an extra pawn in che
endgame.
However, this is not the end of rhe story. Even
attacking players have to play the ending ar
times and they should be able to do so experdy
if rhey wish m be successfuL The reason for
rhis is £Wo-fold. First of all, some attacks do
fail, and you will have co suffer some poor
endings from time to time. Secondly, if you
do nor have rhe opporruniry of transformation
as a pan of your thinking, you will find many
advantages hard ro converc.
2l.~xe7!
21.ll:\f5?! would have been £-wiry> as after
21 ... ~e5! Black manages to dose rhe e-fi.le
again. Following 22J:he5 fxe5 23.1We3 i'e8!
White scill has sufficient compensation for the
piece to make a draw, and also create some
problems for Black, but ir seems rhar with
accurare pla.y a draw is all there is. (23 .. .f6?
is rhc computer's move~ but 24.'.Wh6t @e8
25.ftlg7t @d7 26.~h3t @e? 27 .d6t! leads ro
a winning actack.)
2I. .. ixe7
21 ... Vlfx.e7? 22.~d2 is just over.
22.tlJfS
1he knight occupies rhe ideal square, but
without allowing Black ro close the e-file. But
rhese .are of course very general considerations.
 Chapter 1 - Understanding lviating Attacks 37

1here is also another aspect: rhe practical angle 26.E!.d7! forcing Black into a lost ending after
involving the calcularion of variations. 26 ...ic6 27.E!.d8t !e8 28.:!3a8! E!.e4 29.lild6,
exchanging all rhe pieces.
Black's next reply is rhe only one rhat makes
sense. 25.~xc7 ~e6
25 ... :5!xg2t? is a very poor intermediate
22 ....bd5 move. After 26:;!?fl ~e8 27Jk5! the bishop
l11is prepares ro play ...!e6 and consolidate is unexpectedly trapped in rhe middle of
rhc k.ing's position. the board. 'TI1e knight's domination of rhe
imporranr squares b7, e4 and 8 is remarkable.
8
26.lt3e3
7
6 8
5 7
4 6
3 5
2 4
1 3
a b c d e f g h 2
23J~Ng4!! 1
Hats offi Sutovsky sponed that 23.\¥/xe?t?
would be faulty. Black can play 23 ... Wlxe7
a b c d e f g h
24.lthe7 ~.xa2! with che point 25.b3 ibl! and So here we are. The transformation has
:ul of a sudden Black is in rhe clear. ended and we have an ending where White has
an extra pawn and should be able to convert
The move he played in rhe game .sets up a more it wirh normal play. Ho·wever, Black sdll has
favourable scenario where he is able to rake a few acrive moves remaining before he must
wirh rhe rook on e? insread of the knighr. yield co the inevitable doom.

23 ... ~g8 24J!xe7 ~xg4
24 .. .'19d8 loses borh ro rhe prosaic 25.Wlb4
and the amusing 25.:5!e8t, leading roan easily
winning ending.
24 ... Wlxe?? is nor a useful desperado. After
25.Wlxg8t! White wins.
24 ... \¥/xh2t might look like a berrer desperado,
bur after 25.@xh2 ~xg4 White has time for
In chis phase of che game we see why Surovsky
is not a new Tal o1· Kasparov. An endgame a
pawn up like this should be won on almost
all accounts, and if rhis somehow does not
happen, it should be because of gre;u resistance
and only one mistake.
Unforrunately Sutovsky missed several points
in this game, bur also, what I consider far
more imporranr, missed a number of points in
38 Auacking Manual 2
his annorarions in Chess b~/(mlJtiJ/1, especiall)'
regarding the evaluation of the endg<\Ole. But
we will gc:r ro that.
26... ~a4!
Black needs to sray active, brcausc if nothing
happen~ the game will resemble being down
1-0 m Iraly in foorball.
27.a3 f5!
"!his basically force11 White ro allow his pawns
to be split. 27 ... b4 28.axb4 ~a It 29.ltJf1 ~a2
30.c3 :§.xb2 was probably weaker, as Whire
keeps his pawns on the k.ingsidc together.
28.g3
I rhink chis is the srrongesr move, although
28. @fll? was possible. "TI1e concern is thar after
28 ... :§.h4! 29.~<17 :§.xh2 30. Wgl :§.h4 3l.~xa6
:gd4 l cannot see a sound \vay to avoid 32.g3
f4 33.gxf4 ~xf4 where Black has succeeded in
creating a passed pa·wn and hangs in rhere wirh
some drawing chances.
28 ... £4 29.gxf4
Afrct· 29.ltJg2, Black plays 29 ... f3 30.ltJh4
b4! , leading to an exchange of pawns and 11ome
weak light squares around the white king.
29 ... ~xf4 30.~a7
So fa1· Surovsky has played the game perfccrly,
and he is shortly rewarded wid1 a chance to
finish rhe game \Vith a k.nockouc blow.
30... ~£6?!
30... ~a4 was objectively hccrer, bur afrer
~g2-gJ and t2-f4, maybe wirh 31.c3 first,
\'\/hire should win the game wirhout coo many
difficulties. "lhe rook is simply roo passive
on a4 and ir is impossible for Black ro create
coun tcrplay.
Ironically, rhc technically interior game
conrinuation ma)' have been rbe besr practical
try.
a b c d e f g h
3I.@g2?
1l1is misses a great chance. Gallagher cleverly
protecced his pawn with the trick 31.:§.xa6??
:§.g6t 32.ltJg2 gg7!!, when White has to give
up the exchange in order not ro lose a piece.
Surovsky clearly spotted rhis, but wirh the
short rime control used in the Bled Olympiad
he is forgiven for nor finding 3l.:§.a8t!, when
after either king move, the pawn can be taken.
If the kincr00o-oes to e7 Whirc can put his king on
h 1, as ...!d5"t?? will allow ltJxd5 wirh check.
And after 31... Wg7 32.:§.xa6 :§.g6t 33.ltJg2!
there is 1·eally no way for Black to get out of
che pin on rhe sixth rank and exploit the fragile
position of rhe knight.
31 ... ~g6t 32.~f3
1l1c game continues. White is a pawn up
with cxcellenr winning chances, however, Black
i~ grart:ful for being able to activate the rook.
32 .•. ~h633.~g3 ~g6t 34.~£4 ~f6t 35.~g3
~g6t 36.~f3 ~h6 37.b4
Sutovsky is pleased with this move and I
must admit that it looks narural.
37... ~e8 38.h4 'it>d8
Another way to provide resistance was
.)8 ... ~xh4 39J;xa6 ~d7 40.:§.b6 :§.h5. 1l1ere
are fewer pawns on the board than before, and
the h-pawn might prove to be an asset.
 Chapter 1 - Understanding Mating Attacks 39

White could play 4l.~g3 gg6t 42.~h2!,

when possibly the position is still winning.

41 ... gxf2 42,gxa6

After this natural move Whire manages to
regroup the knight ro f4 and desrabilise rhe
black position, which has recenrly been doing
bcner based on rhe powerful bishop on c6.

s~jl~~
7 ~~~"·'~:~:
~~~~'~,~~~
6 g~ ~-1~ ~
s~i~ ~ ~
a b c d e f g h 4 ~~~~---f.~~~
3d-J~~~--J
..
40.@f4?!

2 f .. ~d~'ff ~~
Surovsky i~ very pleased wid1 this active

~~---Y~~
solmion to his problen.1s, bur 1 fear thar this
comes from a mind~et char is torally focussed
on dynamics.
1 -,.vas discussing his playing style with a a b c d e f g h
well-known chess author who characterised
42 ... gf3?!
him as an anist, nor a 'player', which is maybe
1l1e correct idea was to activate the king.
a slighdy unf~lir porcrayal of the former
Afrer 42 ... <i>c7! it is very likely that we will end
European Champion, bur ar the same time
in a rook or pawn endgame wirh three pawns
one that conrains a gt.aln of rrurh.
against two, bur in borh cases the position
turns our to be drawn with best play. As this
40.<i>h2 wa~ the best move, but \X!hirc will
is nor a book on the endgame, I will not delve
still have to play wdl to -...vin after 40 .. J~h6
into rhe analysis here, bur only say rhar I feel
41J~:xa6 ~xh4t 42.Wg3 gh3t 43.<i>g2, when
pretty confident that this posirion is no longer
the position is getting simplified quite a bit.
winning for White.

40 ... gf6t 41.~e5? 43.lDg2!

Smovsky is marching for..,vard, rdying on the
king's acriviry co provide him wich victory, and
it: was successful in the game. Ir would be a bit
harsh co crirlcise such a decision based purely
on rhe evaluation of the play in the game.
\Y./e all make misrakes, especially when we are
playing with an incremental rime control. Bur
the problem is char Sm:ovsky did nor indicate
in his annor;uions rhar things were going
wrong around he,·e. 1 fear that he mayhe did
not sense ir.
Surovsky considers the postt1on winning
after this move, bur I am nor entirely convinced
thar this is so.
43 ... gf5t 44.@e4 gf.2?!
1 have a strong feeling that 44 .. J~h5 would
have offered a better defence.
45.llJf4 icB
45 ... :axc2 is probably no longer sufficient to
hold after 46.CtJxe6t fxe6 47.~e5!. White will
40 Anacki ng Manual 2
aim to keep his tV'm connecred pa·wns on rhe
queenside while also keeping rhe black king
passive. However, this was still the bcsr chance.
In rhe ga.me Whire won easily.
46.E:a7 E:xc2?!
4G . .J~h2 47 .~xf7 ~xh4 48.~e5 also looks
lost, buc not lost by force.
47Jhf7 h5 48J3h7 .ig4 49.ltJxh5 ~c3
50.ltJf6 .if3t 51.sf7d4 :gxa3 52.h5 ~a6
53.i>e5
1-0
So, despire all, Sm:ovsky managed co secure
rhe poinr in rhe endgame, even rhough he did
nor exploir aU of his chances to the full.
Anorl1er scenario we have to consider is
the one where we have ~m option to either
conrinue rhe actack O!' to go into a tavomable
ending. 1here is a tendency fur us to ft)llow
the ev;.lluarions of Fritz and think rhat going
fot· rhc ending when rhere was a lovely m;..Idng
line is somehow faulry. It might be so finm an
aesthecic viewpoint, but from a compedrive
one, rhc quesrion is one of risk. \'V'hen you
ha,•e a winning positionj you need tO find the
safest way to securing your win. Even though
one particular continuation may be objectively
strongest, it does nm mean tbar this is the best
\Vinning line for JOU.
My first chess trainer Henrik N.Iorrensc11 was
of rhc opinion chat you only had a winning
position if you knew how ro win it. If it
required Kat·pov~like rechniquc, the position
was winning for Karpov, bur only advantageous
for me.
Technically this is probably a hit dubious,
but pmctically ir does make a lor of sense. 1
can get quite" depressed by rhinking abom the
amount: of tirnes l have set'n friends complain
.:1.bour having had a winning posicion, bm
then missed somerhing Fricz found, bur they
would ncvet ever find. Why shred your own
.self-confidence jusr because rherc ~ue machines
char can play cenai n posmons faultlessly?
I would instead recommend reserving your
self-criricism to rhe moments when you
actually know berrer, and leave the 'shoulds' ar
che door ...
I will nor show any in-depth examples here)
as l think the principle should be quire easy
to understand. I will briefly mencion that one
excellent example of this rheme can be found
in rhe game Conquest-~ Arkell on page 155 in
Chapter 2. In rhat game Conquest built: up a
devastating attack and could have forced mare
in a few moves, bLLr rather rhan risk anything
he found a way to obtain an easily winning
endgame, which he duly converted ro become
Brirish Champion. It may not have been rhc
Aashiest finish~ hut it was a sure-fire way of
getting the job done.
Greek gift exercises
As an end ro this chapter I wanr ro offer you 24
exercises, which all have one thing in common,
a l'elarionship wirh the following posirion:
~*•
8
~?}.~ii
~~
7
6
~~---,..,_.-.:~
5 ~.:
,,
~
f g h
Tn 22 of rhem White is winning, while in
two Black is able ro defend {so 'White to win,
Black to draw). 'These arc marked with Black
ro pby. ll1e positions arc sequenced in order
of escalating difficulty, from the simple to rhe
reasonable into the complicated calculation
exercises. I would recommend thar you do not
bear yourself up if you give up on any of the
exercises after trying to vvork them out:: for ten
minutes, hut co he.~dbmr a shovel if you get
one wrong after using less than ten minutes .
 a b c d e f g h

0s .i ~~~~~~--~~--~~

~e/: 9 ~:~~;;, ~Y./W

7
6
5
4
3
~ VS -~}L :~ ~ ~f!J
f'IJ ,J,/(~+JX~t :j:%i_{~ 6
2 1

a b c d c f g h

08
r-~~~~~--~~--~~

7
6
5
4
3 }"::,iE

~,·:_-.:~-~- ~; t _:-:__.-__:·~.-:,-::_.-.-.-~~_/.;. ·,.:·_w~.u0!~f:

__ _%'ffsr ~)~
2
1 _~:r:,:
,_-_·-,_. ,·_.
-_:_=_:
__
--:....
__

0;;_~ tJ.
a c d f g h

8
7
6
5
4
3
2

a b c d e f g h
a b c d e f g h a b c d c f M h

b c d e f g h b c d e f g h a b c d e f h
 Solutions
1 3
Mchedlishvili - Amna Mohammad Tseitlin- Dizdarevic

Belgradl: 1999

12.~xh7tf ~xh7 13.tbg5t ~g8 Again ·we enter a few moves after the queen
1hc only real dificrence from Ovsejevitsch- has made it co h7, just to see another potencial
Koefi'ner on page 26 Is the option of playing follow-up.
13 ... @g6, but here \Xfhite wins immediately
wirh 14.W'e4t! (14JM/d3t and 14.h4 also win, 36.~:x:g7t!
bur in more subde ways and with more efforr. 36.ctJxe6t fXe6 37.Wfxg7t We8 gives no
We don't like effort!) 14 .. J5 15.exf6t ~xf6 advantage. The problem is rhat rhe rook cannot
16.W!xe6 mate. join in. 1hc game should probably end with
perpetual check.
14.~h5 ge8
14 ...W!xg5 is rhe only move avoid to 36.. .<Jlxg7 37. tb:x:e6t
immediate mate, bur not a real defence of White wins on material.
course. 1-0

15.~xf7t ~h8 16.~h5t ~g8 17.~h7t ~f8

4
18.~h8t ~e7 19.~xg7 mate.
Ivanovic - Radulski
1-0
Panccvo 2003
2
Ovidiu -A. Hoffman 1l1e knight on hS is a bir loose. White exploits
this with a temporary sacrifice.
Dos Hcrmanas (I nt<:mcr Blitz) 2003
16.~f7! gxf717.~xh5 <i>g8
\Xle enrer a few moves after the Greek gift Black cannor avoid mare without losing
~acrihce co look at an imporrant little idea. material.

2l.~b4! 18.~xh7t ~f8 19.tbxf7

1nis nice lirrle move keeps rhc king trapped \'V'hite wins on points.
on rhe kingside. 2J.W!h7t? @f8 22.~b4t? @e8
\vould allow t:he black king to escape, when he 19 ... ~xf7 20.~h6 ~g8 21.~xg7t ~:x:g7
would be winning. 22.ixg7 ~:x:g7 23.f4 ~f6 24.tbe3
1-0
21. .. ~xg3!?
\\las rhis Hofi"man's way of demonstrating 5
his sense of humour? fc was only an internet Oleksienko - Chatalbashev
blitz game after all. .. 21 .. J~h6 22.Wie8t is no
bercer. Calvi 2005

22. ~h7 mate. 25.f6t

1-0 Whire opens up for rhe queen.
44 Anacking Manual 2
25 ...exf6 26.Wxg6 E!!d6
26 ... fxg5 27JH7 is an impormnr poi1u.
26 .. J~.e7 is also quire bad. After 27.Eht'D
Black is mated.
27.Wff7t ~h8 28.W/x.h;t ~g8 29.Wfh7t ~f8
30 •.th4
1l1ere are many ways the bishop can enter
the arrack~ all of which end \virh Black's
resignacion.
30... Wfd8 3I.h5
1-0
6 2l ... gxf8 22.'mg5t c;t>es 23.gfel gives \V'hite
Campos Moreno - Garbisu de Goni
14.J.xb7t!
lh; first rnove is nor roo hard, bur rherc is an
imponanr point later, which you have ro find
in order ro justify the sacrifice.
14... ~xh7 15.Wfh4t ~g8 16.ltlg5 E!!e8
17.Wfh7t ~f8 18.Wfh8t ~e7 19.Wfxg7 E!!f8
'l11is is the move that seems ro resemble a
defence, bur actually ir is losing rarhcr quickly
ro rhc main point of this version of the Greek
gifc.
19 ... ~d8 is a bir more tenacious, bur White ha~
several rernpdng cominuations. I like the look
of 20.4Jxf7'! @c7 2I.l2Jd()t ctJd7 22.ctJxe8t
.9:xe8 23.gfd1 @cS 24.gac1 as ir brings all
rhe pieces into play, as well as leaving White
wirh extra material. Now a move like 24.. J~d8
would lose immediately to 2S.h4!, when the
h-pawn is roo srrong.
l9 ... idS allows \V'hire ro continue his an:ack
wirh rhe most logical moves: 20.@'xf7t WdS
2l.gfd 1 l11e threat is ll:Jxe6i'. 2l...ctJd7
22.gacl White is fully mobilised and Black is
unable to finish his development. 1he win is
nor r:lraway.
For example, 22 .. .'®'bG can be mer with
23J~b:.d5! exd5 24.eG ge7 25.~g8t ~e8
26.e7t! c;t>xe7 27.@'g7t c;t>ds 28.4Jf7t @e?
29.~el t ~me6 30.ctJg5t and so on.
20.Cbxe6!
l11is was che important momenr we were
heading for. T guess ir is nor so famasric once
we arc up close and personal, bur from afar ir
is nor so easy to sec.
20 ... 'Lld7 2l.lilxf8 ltJx.£8
a winning position as well.
22.EUdl ~d8 23.Wif6t ~e8 24.~xd8t
·n1e endgame should win trivially.
24 ...Wfxd8 2S.Wfxd8t ~xd8 26.f4 Cbg6
27.g3 J.d7 28.~f2 ~e7 29.~cl J.c6 30.h4
~e6 31.h5 f£lf8 32.g4 ctJh? 33.~el .id5
34.a3 ~e7 35. ~g3
1-0
7
Smyslov- Timman
lvlo.scow {blirz} 1993
White did nor ~mack beautifully, but a big
blunder by his opponent broughc him back in
business .
24.~xf6!
Eliminaring rhc defender.
24... exf6 25. Wfx.h7t ~f8 26.~el!
'TI1e poinr - nor too hard I guess.
26...J.e6 27. E!!xe6!
Black resigned. 27 .. .fxe6 2S.@'f7 mate.
1-0
 Chapter 1 - Under~canding Macing Attacks 45

8 17.e6!
Komarov- Kallai Now rhe double attack is real.

h.mce 2005 17... ~g6! 18.V9h41

ll1e dreadful 18.exf7t?? would even lose
In rhis position \Ve shall ~ce the attack on h7 <lfrcr 18 ... ~xf7!,
used as a W;ly ro win mar~rial.
18... id6 19.ixd6 Y*fxd6 20.exf7t .ixf7
12.~xd5! 21. Y*fxh7t <i>f8 22.~c2
12.CDg5? would not lead ro anything afrer \Xlhice has won a pawn and wrapped up rhe
12 ... ll:Jb4!. game easily.
12 .•. ltJxdS l3.ltJg5
White wins became ot' the double arrack on 22... ig8 23.Y*fh3 Y*ff4 24.Y*fa3t ~e7 25.ltJf3
h7 and c5 (wirh '12k4). Y*ff6 26.~ael ie6 27 .~e4 idS 28.~e5 h£3
29.~f5 Y*fxf5 30.i:xf5 idS 31.~el ~ae8
13 .. J~d8 14.Y*fxh7t c;!;>f8 1S.ltJe4 Y*feS 32.h4 if7 33J:h:e7 ~xe7 34.Y*fxa7 ~d5
l6.ltJxcS ifS l7.Y*fh8t c;!;>e7 18.Y*fh4t f6 35.YNb8t ~e8 36.Y*fxb7 ~el t 37,c;!;>h2 ge2
19.id2 Y*fxb2 20.Y*fg3 c;!;>f8 2I.e4 ltJdb4 38.ig4
22.exf5 1-0
1-0
11
9 Soloviov- Lugovoi
Kramnik- Short
St Perersburg 2005
Dornnund l 995
19.~xf6
22..ixe6! fxe6 23.Y*fxg6
1his initial sacrifice is not too difficulc to
Black is lose. 1 here is no adequate defence
find, but it is rhe follow-up thar mighr be a
against ®h71" and tL'lr4-g6.
lirde puzzling.
23 ... ltJxe5 24.YNh7t c;!;>fs 25.ltJf4 t9 ... ~xf6 20.~h7t c;!;>fs 2Lihs
1-0 The approach of the bishop justifies the
10 attack.
Kengis - Efimov
21. .. Y*Td8
Jyvaskyla I 991 21...~d7!? was maybe a better defence,
ald10ugh White is still on rap after 22.if7
16.ltJg5! )!xf7 23.4Jxf7 CDe8!? 24.)!fl !Df6 25.4Jh6
16.e6? is rhe rrap. Black escapes with ixh6 26.Wxh6t c!?e8 27.~h8t ~f7 28.e5
16 ... g6!! ;md nlrhough his position LS dxe5 29.4Jc4 with a winning anack. Next
unpleasant, ir is nor: dearly worse. comes 4Jxf6.

16 ... if5 22.if7!

-nle only move char ofl~rs resistance. 16 ... h6 rihe point behind rhc combination. Black
also allows Whirc ro demonsuate his idea \Vi[h has to give up his rook and White will be able
17.e6!. to dominate the f-file.
46 A[[acking Manual 2
22 ...e5
22 .. J~xf7 23.~xf7 chxf7 24J3fl 't @e8
25. ®'xg7 <i>d7 is dearly nor a det~nce. The
mosr elegant winning line goes: 26.®g4t
~eS 27.'!Ng8t <;t>d? 28.§f8 lUeS 29.ftJbS!
WaS .?OJfNg6! and Black is soon to be
m;ued.
23.dxe6 gxf7 24.lDxf'7 .td4t 25.@hl 'W'f6
26.tDd5
'lhis is good enough co seal c:he deal, bur
26.e5! w«s even stronger: 26 ... dxe5 27.ftJe4
'Wg7 28.e7t!
26 ... lDxd5 27.exd5 @e7 28.tDh6t @d8
29.tDfs ie5 30.EU1 ~xe6 3l.dxe6 'W'xe6
32.lDd4 'W'e7 33.lDe6t @d7 34.E!f7 E!e8
3S.CLJf8t
1-0
12
Sherbakov -A. Sokolov
Novgorocl 1997
1l1cre ar~ times \Vhen landing on h7 is only
the beginning of rhe armck. lr is in1porram
co remember co include some of che other
pieces in the acrion, as can bt! seen from this
example.
23.1Wh4! &g5 24.lDxg5 ~f7 25.~e31
lr is coo early m give rhe check on h7. Firsr
the rook is heading for f3. \Vhite did nor
play 25J~c4 because of 25 ... lbd5 1 am sure.
lr is quire surprising rhac Whire ret;.tins an
adva11rage with 2G.~e3!.
25 ... E!xd4 26.'\Wh7t @f8 27.'\Wh8t .ig8
28J3f3t @e8 29.'\WxgSt @d7 30.\Wf7
White wit1s as Black C<lnnoc defend rhe g6-
pawn.
30 .. J~e8 3 I .®'xg6 gfg was maybe a bic 1nore
renacious, bm rhe extra pawn should decide.
31.1Wxg6 .;gf4 32.~xf4?!
32J~b3! b5 33.ftJe4 was stronger. 1l1e black
king remains exposed.
32 •.• tDxf4 33.E!dl t @c7 34.\Wfi '\Wx£7
35.€)xf7 ~f8 36.lDgS ~f5 37.lDf3 g5?!
38~@fl?!
38.g4! CtJh3t 39.<;t>g2 ~f8 40.@g;3 wou[d
have increased White's advantage.
38... g4 39.lbh4 ~xeS 40.~d4 ~h5?
TI1is just loses. 40 ... ftJh5 4I.§xg4 ab5 42.b4
a5 would still have offered counter chances.
41J~xf4 ~xh4 42Jt3! ~h5 43.~xg4 ~bS
44.gh4 ~c5 45.g4 h5 46.gd4 ~clt 47.@g2
c5 48.~d2 b4 49.g5 bxa3 50.bxa3 @c6
Sl.g6 ~hl 52.h4
1-0
13
Stefansson- Bj. Thorfinnsson
Icdandic Championship, Reykjavik 2008
1l1c position looks dire for Black and in the
game he found nothing, but this does not
me;m rhat norhing can be found.
18.. J~e8?
Afr.er chis \'<'hire sails straight through.
'lhe only move was l8 ...i.xf2t!!, where after
19.i>hl?! g6 Black is a pawn up for little. If
Whice rakes rhc bishop, be it wich the rook
or the king, Black will quickly be able to
play ... Wd4t ro exchange the queens and
ensure himself a pleasant endgame, where rhe
e5-p<t'rvn is a bit lonely.
19.'W'h7t @f8 20Ji'h8t We7 21.'\Wxg7 CLJxe5
2L..:5f8 22.li:Jh7 is no picnic either.
 Chapter 1 -Understanding Maring Attacks
22.ltlxf7 ~xf7 23.ig5t ~d6 24.ixd8
ltlxd8 25.VMg3t ~d7 26.E;fdl t idS 27.VMg4
q;,7 28.a5 ia7 29J~acl t ltlc6 30.E;xd5
exd5 31.VMg7t
1-0
14
Ivanov- Korneev
Vilagarda 2000
16.~xb5!!
16.'Lld5? would be bad, a$afrcr 16 ... cxd5
17.ixf6 %Vxf6 18.\Wxh7"f Wf8 rhe d-file is
inconveniently blocked.
l6 •.. axb5
Black has many moves at his disposal, bur
none of them are appealing.
16 ... 'Llxb4 17.axb4 ~xbS was also possible,
bur Whire wins easilv afcer 18.ixf6 Wfxro
'
19.~xh7t i>f8 20.ixb5 axb5 {20 .. .'!9xg5
21.:gd7 %Vh6 22.'l:Vxh6 gxh6 23.:gxa6 wins
[rivially) 21.'Wh8·1 i>e7 22.gxa7i"!.
17.hf6 VMxf6 IS.VMxh7t @f8 19.E;xd7!
This secondary sacrifice was of course rhe
rnain idea.
19...VMxal t 20.ifl q;e8
20 .. .CtJe7 21.%Vh8t lLJgS 22.gxt7t ~e8
23.%Vxg8 mare.
2l.E;xf7
Good enough co win, bur ir was more
accurare to play 21.:gb7! when the game would
have been over immedia[ely.
2l. .. ~e7 22.:Bxg7 Wff6 23.hb5t q;d8
24.Wfd3t q;,7 25.VMd7t @b6 26.:Bxe7 E;d t
27.ifl ~xfl t 28.~xfl VMal t 29.~e2 VMa2t
30.@f3 E;f8t 3l.~f7 VMd5t 32.VMxd5 exd5
33.h4 ibs 34.q;e2
1-0
47
15
P.H. Nielsen - Collas
France 2005
14.ltlc7!! ~a6
Pure resignation.
14... %Vxc7 15.ixf6 hxg5 16.hxg5! is the initial
poim of che combination.
l4 ... hxg5 offered the most resistance, bur
White has a decisive attack: 1'5.hxg5 (15.ixf6
gxf6 is not dear) 15 ... ltJe4 16.liJxe8 Wfxe8
17.'l:Ve2! 1he queen is transfened ro h5 where
it will decide the game. The bishop will come
ro d3 later, for example after 17 ... d5 18.%Vh5
~tB 19.id3 when White is winning. Black
cannot prevent ixe4 and if6 in any sensible
way: 19 ... e5 20.~f3 i>e7 2Lixe4 dxe4 22.%Vf5
liJd7 23.:gh8! and Black is losr.
15.ltlxe8 ~xeS 16.VMh7t ~f8 17.VMh8t @e7
18.lilh7!
A nice little finesse to finish rhe game.
18..• ~d6 19.VMxg7
1-0
16
Calderon Fernandez- Ronco
Berazaregui 2008
20.~g5!
The bishop is nm: sacrificed on h 7 in chis
version~ bm on e2. White is exploiting the facr
rhar rhe bishop on g4 is exposed.
20... i.xe2
20 ... ltJc4 could be cried ro confuse matters,
bur after 2l.~xg4 ltJxg5 22.~xc8 White has a
winning position.
21.ixf6 VMxf6
48 Anacking lvlanual 2

Or 21 ... ~d3 22.\¥/xd3! and \XIhitc end~ with 1l1e only move. 27 ... h6 loses a piece m
an cxn·a piece. 28.b3! fo1lowed by V£le6t.

22. Wfxh7t ~£8 23J~d7! 28.b3 Wffl 29.lLlg5

1he point. ·n1e black king is em ofF on rhc 1l1e point behind the sacrifice. \Vhite gers
eighrh rank and \Xfhire i~ rhre<Hening \¥/h8 to h7.
mare.
29 ••• \W£6 30.Wfxh7t 'it>£8 3I.tLle4 Wfe6
23 ...~e8 24J~xa7 Wfe7 Black is al~o lost after 31. .. \¥/f7 32.8:d3! llJf4
·n1ere is norhing berrer, although thi~ is not 33.'Wh4 :ad? (or 33 .. J~a8 34.llJxd6 winning)
suH1ciem by any srandards either. 34.~f3 1l1ere is no good defence against
u?-o3
o- ::> •
25J~xe7t ~xe7 26J~el ~d3 27.Wfxg7 ~g6
28.e4 c3 29.e5 c2 30.Wff6t 'it>m 3l.CDxf7 32.~d3 d5
hfl 32.e6 ~c7 33. Wfh6t ~e7 34.exf7t 32 ... ltJf4 3.3.:af3 does not solve any
'it>d7 35.Wfe6t problems.
1-0
33.~f3t ~e8 34.ctJg5 Wfe7 35.~f5
17
35 ..::::!£7 was also sufficient to win, bur
Mamedyarov - Heberla
Mamedyarov decides ro rely on the iniriative.
Istanbul 2005
35 ... ~£6 36.\WgSt 'it>d7 37.Wfxd5t 'it>c7
38.\Wf3 ~df8 39.~xf6 gx£6 40.lLle4 f5
"lhcre .uc rwo big weaknesses in rhe position:
4I.Wfc3t ~b8 42.Wfc6
rhe e6-square and the h7-squarc. 1l1c reason
1-0
why ir is exactly rhese squares that are weak i11
rhac rhc knight on e4 can go co d6, g5 and f6,
18
rwo of which allow it to <Htack h7, and nne of
Short- Velikov
rhem also e6, and at rhc same time the queen
on h3 is shooting in both directions. You
Solingcn 1987
could also say char the lighr squares in general
are weak, bur g6 seems co be firmly under
23.Wfxh6!!
Black's control, and f7 is under reasonable care
White of course has a winning anad: afcer
as well.
23 ..~.b3, bm as this is an exercise I relied on
1l1e way to srrike ar the weaknesses, e6 <llld
your sense of adventure.
h7, is ro use a technique I included already in
Volume One, ro attack rhe strong~sr point in
23 ...Wfxc4 24.~xg7t!
the black posicion: g6.
1l1 is is a very beauriful way ro fin ish rhe game,
but White was also winning afrer 24.'®'h5!? g6
27.g6!!
wid\ eirher the cautious 25. \¥/hG or the more
1l1is is of course ,1lso a simple clearance
brural25Jhg6t lLlxg6 26.~xg6t CDg7 27.:ag1
sacrifice. 1l1ere are many ways ro describe good
:af7 28.lLlg5, winning.
move~ ...

24.•. lLlxg7 25.lLlg5!

27.•. lLlxg6
 Chapter l - Understanding lvlaring Attacks
25.~gl? would be a grave mistake. Black has
several good move~, such a1. 25 ... @£7 (probably
best) and 2 5 ... 1!9g4!?, which keep the game
very much alive.
25 .. J~e8 26J~:gu
With decisive threats.
26...1Mfd4
26 ...1Wg4 is no longer valuable, as there is
no back rank mate. \Xfhite wins after 27Jhg4
fxg4 28.tlJce4.
27.1Mfh7t ~fB 28.ctJxe6t! ctJxe6
28 ... ®t7 lasts rhe longest. Amusingly White
only mares direcdy wirh 29.tlJd8·i·! '1Wxd8
30.'1Wxg7t cJie6 31.'1Wf6t @d7 32.'1Wd6 mate.
29.1Mfh6t
Black is mated on the very next move.
1-0
19
Sturua- Housein
Komorini 1993
Once again White wim by gerring his queen
to h7 in a sequence rhar is probably not roo
difficult. However, evaluating the position as
overwhelming ar rhe very end of rhe line will
cause some readers a bit of trouble, \vhich is
why I have graded the exercise in rhc way I
have.
20J~xd6! 1Mfxd6 21.ctJg5 g6
21..J~fcS is not a berrer defence. After
22.\Wxh7"1" ~f8 \Xlhite ha11 rime to stop and
reassec;s rhc situation. After 23.1c3 Black
cannot keep his bits together. 1he following
is nor necessarily rhe most overv-.'helming
winning line, bm it i'i very simple: 23 ... tl:Jd4
24.tl:Jxc6!" tlJxeG 25.~xg7i" tlJxg7 26.~h8t
and Whirc is rwo pawns up.
49
22.1Mfh4 ~fd8?!
This is basically re11ignarion. Black had to find
22 ... h5 without fearing rhe sacrifice 23.1xh5,
as he would have 23 ... \Wd4! 24.1g4 '@h8!
as a legitimate defence (bur nor 24 ... ~g7?
25.ic3). After 25.'!Nxh8t ~xh8 \Xfhite can
either play 26.ic3t and rake rhc pawn on e6
with check, having two bishops and two pawns
against rook and knight, or play 26.1xe6
fxe6 27.ltJxe6, when Black is forced ro play
27 .. JU7 (27 .. J!fc8?! 28.:gdl ~g8 29.:gd7
looks way roo dangerous) 28.~dl ~g8.
After the further 29 .ic3 \Xlhite's advantage
is overwhelming, bur rhe knot has not yet
been tied. White will play 30.:gd6 and rhe win
should be within reach.
23.1Mfxh7t ~fB 24.~c3 ctJd4 25.ctJxe6t
1Mfxe6
1-0
20
Teske - Galdunts
Baden-Baden 2002
23 .• J~~xdl t?
23 ... tlJc3t! is the only move. After 24.bxc3
~ dl..!-1
t=.X 2-).'Q'C
,+, 2 1'-t'-f5-'-I·1 (?5
1'::::{ ax fJ·"
_ ... '1!1. -f 26J.'z±tx
..!-. dl
:!:%d8i" ;1lso draws, as do a few other moves.)
26.~xd 1 'IWb 1t wirh perpcmal check.
24.~xa2~d5
24 ... \Wf5 looks like a better defence, bur
after 25.exf7t @f8 White has 26.ttJh7t! ~e7
27.f8=~t! "TI1is is a powerful clearance sacrifice.
After 27 .. J!xf8 28.~xg7t ~e8 29.'Wc3t ic4
30.~e2! White has a winning arrack with ideas
such as !xdl, ttJg5 and ih5t.
25.exf7t ixf7 26.1Mfh7t ~f8 27.1Mfh8t ~e7
27 ... Jig8 fails to 28.tlJh7t.
28.1Mfxa8?!
'50 Attacking lvfanua[ 2
1l1e beginning of rhe dn1c trouble chaos
w~ have in from of us. 28.f!.e4t was more
accurarc.
28... c3t 29.'Llxf7 Wfe6t 30.b3?
1l1is b. a horrible miHake. Tnsread afrer
30.i.c4 White has a winning arrack. ·n1e
main line (nor that we should require precise
v;u·iations to assure us abour rhe potency of the
arrack) goes as follows: 30 ... \Wxg4 31.Wla.7t
~f6 32.W/b6t @e? 33.i~:hc5t @f6 J4JWe5t
~g6 35J~Mxc3 and White is winning on all
<lCCOUnts.
30•.. Wfxg4 31..ic4 Wfd7
3 L.Wi£5! was stronger. Afrer 32.Wfb?·r f!.d7
.)J.~h l (33.~c6 ~d2·1· 34.c;!;>a3 c2) 33 ... a4
Black ha~ a winning ;mack, while rhe whiw
queen has been forced inro an embarrassing
position.
32.Wfe4t ~f8 33.'Lle5?
[r is hard to believe in these moves, unless
you know Henrik rhar i~ ...
33 ... W/d4?
TI1e only move was nor bad: 33 ... Wid2t
34. c;;t>a3 f!.a 1 mate.
34.'Llg6 mate.
1-0
21
Sermek - Dive
Auckl.md 2000
23.'Llxg6!! dS
Black accepts che Iuss of a pawn and
indirectly the game, hut accepting rhe offer
held little hope.
After
23 .. .fxg6 24.~xg6
ir is hard to find a move for Black.
24 ... dS
24 ... @h8 looks like a possible defence, bur
\XIhire can decide rhe game to his advantage
in many difFerent ways. My favourite is
25.f!.c6 tLlbd7 26.~e4!, when it is suddenly
impossible to defend the f7-square.
Here White has a slow, but unstoppable
·winning plan: he will simply walk the
h-pawn ail rhc way to h7.
25.h4!
25.c5 can be played first, but why bother?
25 ... tLlxc4 26.h5 tLlxd2
After 26... tLld6 White has ro take a moment
co prevem ... \W£5 with 27J~e6, when it is
rime co resign.
27.h6
Black has to parr with his queen to continue
the game.
24.c5 'Llc4 25.'Lle5 'Llxe5 26.dxe5 'Lle4
27J~xe4 dxe4 28.Wfxe4 g6 29.Wfh4 .ig7
30.e6 f6 31.Wlh7t
1-0
22
Gulko - Popovic
Clichy 1986
\'<lith the bi!-hop on f8 and wirh the knighr on
t3 and bishop on h3, ic b reasonable co look
~or an attack on rhe light .squares. But with che
pawn in the way on g5 chis is not so easy to
arrange ... or is it?
25.g6!! f6
Sidestepping rhe main line, but immediate
mare is only avoided at grear cost to the black
king's safety. The point behind Gulko's brillianr
sacrifice is 25 ... hxg6 26.tLlg5 tLld7 27.\Wh4
tDfo 28.~g-4!!. Only in rhis way! Black has no
.mswcr ro 29.~c5, after which rhe control of
rhe h7 -square goes.
26.gxh7t ~xh7
 Chapter 1 -Understanding Mating Attacks
26 ... ~h8 brings no rdieC Wh ire gers a strong
attack after 27 ,li)h4!, with possible lines such
a~ 27 ... ~xh7 28.~g6t ~g8 29.lt.Jf5! when the
white anack is Cl'ashing through.
27.lL!e4
1his is strong enough ro win rhe game, bur
I am a suckec for 27.!he6! !he6 28.~f5"1' ®g8
29.\Wh3 wirh devast<ltion on rhe lighr squares.
27 ... l?Iid7 28.~eg5t fxgS 29.~xg5t <!>g8
30.l?Iih4 g6 3Li.e5 i.g7 32..L:e6t gxe6
33.'1Mlh7t
1-0
23
Farkas - Gaujens
e-n1.ail 200 l
Black \Vas probabl)' rhinking rhat cveryrhing
was olmy and rhar White would nor do
anything bad w his king. He was partly right,
bm. the trouble hb queen is in is quite another
marccr!
21.'1Mlh6t <!>e7
21.. .~g8 would allow \Vhitc to organise
mace with 22.tL1h7!.
22.Wfh4!
Black resigned. Suddenly it is dear rhar after
rhc forced removal of the king, for example
wirh 22 ... \!/fB, \\!hire will play 23.!!cl and
the queen is n·apped: 23 ... lZk4 24.ctJxc4 dxe4
25.tLJd4
1-0
24
IGriakov - Tiviakov
Port Erin 1~99
1his posirion is nuybe not so difficulc in irse!(.
but it: take~ a lot of brainpower ro calculare it
51
all the way to rhe end. I am not sure if this is
whar Kiriakov djd, or if he just saw enough to
decide that it was worth the ri~lc
I4.ctJd5!! exdS lS ..ix£6 hf6I6.l?Iixh7t @f8
17.cxd5
\Xfith the idea of playing 18.d6. Black has
only one reasonable reply.
17••. d6
17 ... ie5?! 18.f4 id6 is no better. 111e bishop
is sadly missed on the kingside and White wins
after 19JWh5 gG 20.~h7 wirh mate on f7.
18.i.h5!
After a normal move such as 18.£4!? Whire
would certainly have a very strong atcack as
justification for rhe investment, bur the move
played in the game is simply stronger.
18.•. .L:g5 19.'1Mlh8t <!>e7 20.l?Iixg7 E:f8
Black has no choice but to return the
bishop.
2l.l?Iixg5t @es 22.B:cl?
This does not throw all of the advantage
away, bur it is by no means as deat'-cur as
the position after 22.gd4!. ~Hte only defence
imaginable for Black leads to a rather solemn
position after che following forced sequence:
22 ... Wie7 23.®f5 tLJd7 24.ge4 ctJc5 25.f4 ixd5
26.fXe5 (26.gd4?! ltJf3t! with complications)
26 ...~xe4 27.l.Wxe4 fi:c8 28.e6
In the final position Black srilJ has an
exchange For the rhree pawns> but rhis is mol'e
or less the only positive thing rhat can be said
abom the black position. White is dominating
him completely and the difference berween the
safety of thl;! respective Icings is exceprional.
22 ... V9d8 23.'1Mlf5
23.~h6 was probably stronger.
23..•l?Iie7?
~J
)_ Acracking Manual 2

Afcer rhis Black is wmpped up and pur in

rhe oven like a mrkey ar Christmas. 'lhc only
chance was to bring tbe kmghr inro rhe game
irnmedi:.l[ely wirh 23 ... t2Jd7. Here rhe only
rhing r have managed ro find for \X!hire is
24.®e61' V!ie7 25J3;c7, bur Bbck is not in
deep trouble anymore: 25 ...Wxe6 26.dxe6
ltlc5 lf White chooses to play 27.b4 rhere is
27 ... ~d8!, which f suspccc is rhc move Tiviakov
missed. Afcer 28.e7t Wxc7 29.exfB=W :gxf8
30.bxc5 dxc5 Whire is <1 pa.wn up, bur i£ is
much easier co advance the black p<l\vns, ~o
in rhe final posirion 1 doubr that White is
winning.

24J~c4!
Kiriakov does nor miss such a chance twice.

24... tlld7 25J~c7!

Nmv even this extra option exists.

25 ....1c8 26J~fcl sf?d8 27..1g4

1he rhrcar is 28.W/c2.

27 .. .VNe8 28J~Ic6 ~g8 29.h3 b5 30.1Hf4

VHfB 31.hd7 hd7 32J~ff6t sf?e8 33.~xd6
~d8 34.~dxd7
1-0
 Chapter 2
Typical Piece Play

It'~ at /1(0/f("-lft.r lr:le- t!w~ that tk attaeftlrj ;1~,. /f(ut.r lw~ rle.rttirj.
ttlk tk~f; t'.f If(} ttlf'l(tirj bae~ tk ;ath- lf;(J.cltlrj fllf'tk~ tirt(J tk llfi?4Jf
t'.f (Jfte-lf tk Pl(f; th-at llfalft b2; rfo!lotVu{
 Diagram preview

On rhi:, page you find 26

diagrams with critical momems
~ram rhe coming chapter. I
recommend that you rak~ up
to 10 minures to rhink about
each or them. Tile salurions are
found an rhc fallowing pages in
rhe annonu:ians to the games.
Positions with a circled P can
be played against a compurer.

®a c d e f g h a b c d e f g h

Tnldare rhe arrack A sudden chance Get rhe parry starred!

(see page 63) (see page 72) (see page 83)
 a b c d e f g h

How ro conri nue Black tO win

(see page 1 19) {see page 128)

®abcde fgh a b c d e f g h
\Vhere ro strike? Mare is near A nice winning move
{see page 113) (sec page 122) (see page 138)

6
5
4
3

a f) c d e f g h

] mprove on Kasparov
(see page 126)
 a b c d e f g b

\XIhirc is ready, arc you?

(sec page 149)

a b c d e f g h a h c d e f g h ®ahcdefgb
Accurare arrack! Find rhe deep \Vinning move Typical arracking chaos
(sec page 153) (see page 167) (see page 176)

s ~:tr?.~..t.~•B ;~..,
%'1 i ':.1/ B i ;'It
: ~--·>~1~-f~;~-F \~;
! !,:,r:lK'"xwlfJl~~~~
~ lftA ~,~Y!~~~Jtt!i!;rts:
~~ ~~t~~~i~~}.:
a h c d e f g b a b c d e f g b a b c d e f g h

Only nine moves in ... Deci1.ion ci me Win extremely eleganrly

(sec page 157) (see page 168) (see page 177)
 Covered in this chapter more rhan one sguarc in order to make it char
far, and in mosr cases, of a larger parr of rhe
• "lhc Assault Ratio board. ~fhis could be rhc centre, the kingside or
• Deflccrion rhe guccnsidc, but also a sm•1ller territory. 1hc
• Overloading imporranr parr is rhat rhe enemy king is there!
• Tempo~gainers So, in order ro arrack, ir is a rop priority for
• Piece Sacrifices for rime us to seek exactly such a supcrioriry.
• Tra nsi cion sg uares
• Lines of Communicarion When 1 ralk about rhe ~lssault ratio, I am talking
• Vacaring Squares about the difference between the number of
• Ourposts pieces involved in the arrack and rhe number
• Launching of pieces involved in rhe defence. "H1is simple
•l1le pin idea is closely relared to rhe basic rule of the
• Improving rhe Circumstances attack as given in Volume One, always bring a.J
• Prophylaxis many pieces into the attack a.J possible.
• lhc f'5/f4~sguares Our first game in rhis chapter provides an
excellent illustration of chis theme.
In this chaprer we will talk abour various
techniques and siruarions that are ofrcn seen.
Surya Shekhar Ganguly- A. Samhouri
While in the lasr chapter we talked a lor abom
Cebu City (Asi.m Ch.) 2007
the acr of rnaring irsel~~ we will in this chapter
discus~ rhe last piece of accion that precedes
I.e4 e5 2.~8 ~f6 3.d4 ~xe4 4 ..id3 ~c6
the macing combination. As in rhe previous
5.dxe5 d5 6.~c3 ~b4
chapter, ic shall be my objecdve co keep tt
simple, bur nor be afraid of complcxiry.

1he tirsr irem on our list is, not surprisingly,

the most basic.

The Assault Ratio

Probably che mosr ba~ic preregu1S1CC for a

successful arrack is a superioriry ac rhe scene
of rhe crime. lf rhe police do nor show up
in greater numbers rhan the villnins, rherc
will be lirrle chance of making an arresr. "lhc
Dutch like ro r~1lk about rwenry poinrs co
rhe king, leading ro mate. 111is is of course a
simplification of whar is going on) bur nor a 7.0-0!
stupid one. l11is pawn sacrifice looks very dangerous.
\X!hen we are actacking, we are looking for l11e problem for Black is rhar he cannor
superiority on, taken co an extreme, only one accept it without £1l1ing dangerously behind in
square; rhe one on which we shall deliver rhe development, and without accepting ir, he wiU
mate. !v[osr ofrt:n we need to be in charge of find his centre under mounting pressure.
 Attacking !vi an ual 2
7 ... hc3 8.bxc3 CLlxc3
"!his is probably a q ucstionable decision, but
orhcrwisc White will play 9.c4 and enjoy the
rwo bishops and a sliglu lead in development,
as well as real pressure on rhe black centre.
9.'\Wel d4
9 ... lLle4 is probably best mer by regammg
rhe pawn, even if ir is very <tppealing co play
1O.~a3 or 1o.gb 1!? , making i r harder for Black
ro develop his queenside bishop.
10.i.d2li:lb4 ll.i.e4!?
ll ..ixc3 wirh a slight edge was maybe rhe
objectively besr way ro continue, bur ir is h<1rd
ro offer anything bur praise cowards an inspired
exchange sacrifice thar goes on to win the game
only cighr mo\·es larcr.
ll. .. CLlbxa2?
A. Iready rhis is rhe decisive mistake!
Correct was ll ... lLlxe4 12.\!Mxc4 lLlc6, when
Black should be ready ro give back the pawn
afrer 13.c3
However, be should not fall for rhe rrap and
rake on c3 with 13 ... dxc3?, when \'(/hire does
nor recapmre. His previous play ha.!> 1.hown
rhar he obviously doe~ not care for material.
Surely Ganguly would have played: 14 ..ig5!
\!Md7 15.:Sadl ~e6 16.Wxc6t! winning.
12J3xa2!
1his was of course the idea. \XIhire now
has developed all his pieces, and the only
remaining developed black piece is the knight
on a2, which in a strange way is occupying a
::.quare jusr as far from rhe cenrrc as when ir
starred out.
Having said rhar, rhcrc arc rhings ro
rejoice for wirh Black as well. He has won
the exchange and two pawns, and he has no
obvious weaknesses in his position, aside fi·om
the king being stuck in rhe ccnrrc. However,
wirh vigilanr play Ganguly proved that he had
sufficient compensation.
12•.. CLlxa2 13.i.g5 '\Wd7
If nothing happened over the next move
or ~o. White would nor be able ro justify his
material investment. Bur he can make things
happen, and thar makes for all rhe diftcrence.
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
I
a b c d e f g h
14.e6!
1l1is attacking idea (opening up the lines
rowards the black king) would have been far
less elfecrive if Black still had a strong knight
on c3, hitting on rhe powerful bishop on e4.
14... fxe6!
 Chaprer 2- Typical Piece Play 59

Not such a strange move ro play, but none investment, ic is not so surprising chat \Vhite
the less rhere w~re rwo moves duu might seem has no more than a perpetual check.
playable/natural <H first sighr, but would lose
n\pidly: 16.f4!, with the idea to bring rhe queen to h4,
is the critical move.
14 ... \Wxe6? would be awkward after the prmaic,
hut very effective. capture, 1'5.ltJxd4.

More complicarcd is I4 ... ~d6, when Whire

needs to play accurately in order to p1·ove his
advanrage.
The win com~s afcer IS.exf7i· @xf7 16..id5t!
~e6. Taking th~ bishop loses rhc queen, but
1nighr also offer a bir of resistance.

a) 16 ... d3!? is a great defensive possibility. With

a b c d e f g h
17.VNxe6t! followed by l8.ctJc5t and White
has regained some marcrial. And the attack
rages on, despite the exchange of queens.
15.ttle5 'l&b5
15 ... ~dG! would have ofrercd a bir more
rcsisrance, as the C.]tteen\, more ccncral locarion
would enable her co excn a greater influence
on the game. However, ir docs not appear that
Black can hold the po!.irion.
this pawn move he manages to get the knight
back lnro rhe game, eliminating the poisonous
bishop.
1l1e rwo most: obvious line~, l7 ..ixd.~ lt:ib4
and 17.cxd3 ~eSt 18.ci>hl ctJc3, both a.ppear
to be to Black's advantage.
However, White has a beauriful winning line
in 17.~h4!! when after the principled moves:
l7 ... W/d4t 18.~h 1 ~xe4 19.\Wh5! g6 20.\Wh6
~e2 21.:ggl

1G.ix.h7 loob promising, bm Black ha~ a

defence: 16 .. .:!~xh7 17.\We4 .!1h6! The r·ook
is not wonh more chan the bishop, as it can
find no way to inf-luence rhe imporrant squares
around the black king. For rhis reason it is
happy to bleed for king and country. 18.i.xh6
gxh6 19.~g6t Wr::7 and with his heavy material
60 Attacking Manual 2
black king. This is an cxccllcm example of
rhe attack ratio being in White's favour. Black
i.;; dominating mosr of rhc board, bur rhe
e7 -square, rhe focal square, is beyond his
abilities to conuol.
b) 16 ... ltk3loscs to a slower arrack: l7.~d3 0-0
1s.1Wh4 (18.~xh7"\? is significandy poorer
here. 1he main idea 18 ... ~xh7 l9.~h4t ~g8
20 ..'~.e7 at this momcnr fails co 20 ... \Wxe5!, and
our mosr imponant arcacker has gone ro the
grave without rhe possibility of being avenged.)
18 ... !W:i 19.~c7 \Wd5 20.g4 We could srop
here, bur l want to prove rhat White is indeed
winning. 20 ... b5 2l.gxf5 exf5 (2l...~b7
22.:gf3) 22.:gf.3 ctJc4 23.\Wh5 ~d7 24.:gh3
h6 2'5.~.xe4 fxe4 26.~f6 \We6 27.ctJxd7 \Wxd7
28.~xg7 White is clearly winning.
c) 16 ... 0-0 looks dangerous, and tt ts nor
surprising that \XIhitc can break through the
king's flimsy defences using brure force. 'll1e
winning line is: l7.~xh7t! ~xh7 18.\Wh4t
<±>g8 19.ctJg6! Clhcre is no reason to go
materialistic now. 19.~e7 ctJc3!? gives Black
a few saving chances.) 19 ... cS The only move.
(Black can find no salvation after 19 ... ~d7
20.\Wh8"t Wf7 2l.ctJe5"i" or I9 ... :gf5 20.g4 ~f7
21.\WhS! ~f6 22.ctJh8t! Wg8 23.~xf6 gxf6
24.\Wt7t Wxh8 25.:gf3 and mate is ne.u·.)
a b c d e f g h
2(LWfh8·r Wf7 2l.ctJxe5t We6 now leads co
great complications, all winning for White
in long lines after 22.\Wxg7, bur it is probably
much simpler this rime to cash in with
20.CtJe7t!, winning the queen under more
favourable circumstances.
16.f4!
Opening up for che white queen to emer the
arrack on h4. 1he assault ratio is now immense,
and ic is not a surprise that Black is busted.
ln rhe game he went down rapidly, with a big
bang, but by this rime there are probably no
significanr improvements for him.
16 ...g6
Black is also lost after 16 ... 0-0 l7.'!Mh4 ~f5
18.g4, ·winning rhe rook, or simply 16 ... ctJc3
17.~d3, when rhere is no defence against
18.Wh4, with a winning arrack.
17.Wlh4
White is anacking wirh fuur pieces, while
none of Black's pieces are defending effectively.
rThe result is obvious.
17 ... 0-0 18.hg6!
After this final sacrifice rhere will be nothing
between the killer queen and her prey.
18.•. hxg6 19.tLlxg6
a b c d e f g h
1-0
 Chaprcr 2 -Typical Piece Play 61

The final posmon of this game is a clear One of rhe true masterstrokes of the 20th
presentation of rhe idea I wanr ro bring across. cenrury. Whhe has alreJ.dy given up the
The three white pieces arracking rhe black exchange, and now he sacrifices his queen for
king are t~tr more importanc rhan rhe cncire a mere knighc.
black queen.side, which incidc:nrally is wonh
23 p<twns more rhan White's, in ca'ie you are 24 ... fxe5 25.:Sfl ~c8
counting. A simple waiting move. Black also had
another defensive strategy, trying ro block rhe
I know rhis concepr is neither deep nor hard co c-pawn wirh rhe rook. 1his also fails: 25 .. Jk7
understand. Chess is actually not char difficult 26.~d 1! (but not 26.c7 \Wf7~, and it looks as
ro under~rand - ir i~ jusc very hard to play. rhough Black might escape) 26 .. J~e7 27.~b3
1hink of rhe diltcrem:e between looking ar a
cornbinarion for which you already l<11ow rhe
8 ~~. -~-.-~
solution, <111d one for which you do nor. 1r is a 7 ~ B.& ~ J.~
com plcrely di ffercn r ex pcriencc.
~.~ ~8~&~?.
5 ~~-"~w·a··'t
6

When we are talking about the a&sault ratio

overpowering the defence, it docs not necessarily
4 -~~ ~~-,-~~ ~~i
mean char the arracking pieces arc worth
more than che ddending ones. In this classic
3
2 ~il~
A"~--· . . . ~~
- c..J~o~ ~
m- ~
~?f~
~a
~
example we see a scenario where rh~ attacking ¥ffJf
;p~
.%~("' v.~:~ ri¥/~"'·
~ ~ ~ ~)S(~
J

pieces are worrh le~s rhan rhe defenders, a b c d e f g h

according ro our tradirional understanding
of the piec.:s' value, bm arc srill abk ro carry If the black queen were able to get ro g4, the
rhe d~l)' rhanks to rheir superior positioning. counterattack would save rhe day. Alas, chis is
not possible, so White can win comfortably,
Gusev - Yuri Averbakh either by exch.mging rooks, or wirhout.
27 ... b5 28.~d5 a5 29.b3 b4 30.c4 ~d8
lvloscow 1911
8 ~ ~ ~*~
7 ~m~-'"·
~ ~ .x~,i{/Y-1~~--·v
r-... ~ ~
~ ~cj~-~~
~~~r¥~-B,..~e
6

'¥i8:~'[l,"~~- ;
5

w··f.~u~~-a~
4

:!i~~~~3 .. ,
~ 0·/~~ ~/.w~·~r~>:
~ ~ if~~ ~)a"f
a b c d e f g h
And here \\7hite wins with both 3l.c5, with
similar ideas as in the ganle, and with 3l.:gf7
~e8 32.:gxe7 'Wxe7, where the queen is the
only black piece char can move, and as soon as
ir does, thee-pawn will race to rhc finish line.
62 Attacking Iv1anual 2
26.~dl gc4 27.~b3 b5 28.~xc4 bxc4 29.b3
\'{/hire creates a passed pawn and wins slowly,
bm steadily.
29 ...a5 30.bxc4 a4 3l.~g2 a3 32.!Ul Wfe7
33.gfl g5 34,gf5 g4 35.c5 WI dB 36.c6 Wle7
37.c7
1-0
Averbakh resigned, one assumes, \Vith rhe
knowledge that this was far from the last rime
he would have to look ar this position ...
In om final example of this rheme, we will
carefully observe how White, with hi~ every
move, stfives to improve the assault ratio on the
kingside, even if ir rneans making concessions
in the centre or on the queenside. Like
Ganguly, Sedlak does not allow his thinking w
be constrained by material considerations.
Nikola Sedlak- Milos Perunovic
Vrs:tc 2008
l.d4 tiJf6 2.c4 e6 3.tiJc3 ~b4 4.tiJf3 0-0
4... b6 and 4... c5 <lre generally considered
more pron1ising according co theory, bur
one must assume thar Perunovic had hi~ own
opinion about this evaluation.
S.igS cS 6.gcl
6.e3 i!l more popular, bur I am very
sympathetic to the ambition of avoiding rhe
doubled pawn.
6 ... cxd4 7.l2Jxd4 h6 8.~h4 tiJc6 9.e3
1l1is pmition does nor look roo dangerous
for Black, and should nor be. However, his
play from here on works out poorly for him.
He hopes that he can win a lor of material and
at the same time weather the storm on rhe
kingside. At rimes, this is of course a ~uccessful
scrateg}', even in cases such as these where a
bishop and rook are our of play.
9... hc3t?!
Black is relying on racrics, bur as described,
these do not work our well for him. However,
rhis is only based on absolurely excellem play
by White.
Ir seems more narural to develop the c8-
bishop firsr. Mter 9 ... b6 10 ..!e2 .!b7 11.0-0
a draw was agreed in Marin - Andersson,
Szirak 1987. I am nor entirely sure that Black
just equalises, but it would not be completely
un f.1ir if he did.
10.gxc3 g5 ll.~g3l2Je4
Black's prill1ary idea is of course ro fo\10\v
up wirh ... WaSt, if allowed, bur he may also
 Chaprer 2- Typical Piece Play 63

be glad ro elitninate the bishop on g3. ll1e
downside is rhar, in order to break rhe pin, he
has been forced ro weaken his kingside.
l2J~~a3! Wfe7
This is •m improvemem on a previous game,
probab1y analysed ar home by both players. rille
difference is that Black follow~ rhe ~uggesrions
of the chess engines, while \Vhire is going
deeper and looks ac che assaulc ratio, and rhus
manages to look beyond che horizon of rhe
silicon beasc (by chc way, if you are 6 feet rail,
che horizon at a beach is only 3 miles away).
12. ..1Wf6 13.~d.3 tLlxg.3 14.hxg3 b6 15.tLlb5
ib7 16.tLld6 led ro an advantage for \'(/hire i1l
Moiseenko - Riazanrsev, Geneva 2004.
In for a penny, in for a pound ...
Tn the event of 14 .. .lt:Jxd4 15.ixe4, Black
musr eirher go backwards ·with his knight or
play I 5 ... Wfxb2, transposing to rhe next note.
15..he4
1he same of course goes for White.
15.•.Wfxa3
1l1ere is no r:irne to Aick in important
exchat1ge:. in this position.
For example: 15 ... tLlxd4 is met with the
powerful 16.id6!, when Black most likely will
lose hi~ self-respect, as well as some material.

7
.!..
.~. • ~~~/ !%,,_ "("'""~~
¥~'~----~--- '
~''l; ~~-~

6 ~-~. ~i~}; ~
~ ~~(~~~~1?fi''"/
5 ~~~;<'"'-~~~;i.··.'f~~~
4 ~fj~~~
"~0~/
/."
~
,/'/-, "' ";(( ~rffi;z;/, /. ~7~
3 ~~ f;@~ if!~ ~~~
2 'iiy.~fj J///,~~Ni . . /.W!J"ti if(j
9.i ~ ~
0 ;2Lj~ ~7

--- }~;&~~-. /~~ .,f.

1 ~ ~%'§Y~- -~~~11 a b c d e f ecr h
a b c d e f g h 16.h4
13 ..id3!! Wib4t Activating rhe rook on h 1 and putting
Black is going down the principled road. pressure on the weaknesses around the black
Ir i1. hard to condemn chis, as ir gave him rhe king.
chance of winning an irnporranr game in rhe
penultimate round. Such an approach carries 16.. )l:~xd4
obvious risks, alrhough this is a normal parr A natural m.ove. Black decides to exchange
of the game. a piece from rhe queenside wirh a piece that
is likely ro head for rhe kingside. Ar first I was
13 ... tLlxg3 14.hxg:> <!ig7 was objectively thinking that this might be a loss of time, as
stronger, but ~/hire is obviously better thanks che knight is the least important of rhe white
ro hi~ bener developmenc and open h-file. pieces, and the tempo might have been more
imporram, but analysis of che position suggest!>
14. @fl Wfxb2 rhat chis is nor rhe case.
64 Attacking Manual 2

1l1e two main lines go .1~ follow~: deliver the final check of the game ro force
Bhtck's resignation!
16 .. .f5 17 .i.xc6 bxc6 18. hxgS hxgS l 9 .i.e5
g4 20J;:hst ~f7 21.~h7't ~e8 22.tDxe6! dxe6 17 ... Cbf5
23 ..~.d6 winning. lhe knight moves to the kingside, bur ir
cannot help there and \Vhite's arrack crashes
16 ... d5 rhrough, meeting lirrle resistance.
1l1is is a rougher nut to crack, but if you hir
hard enough and long enough, it does: 17 ... tDc6 18,:gxh6
17.~c2
I atn less than sure if the bishop is best placed 8 .i~~_t~
@<~ W"~ ~~*~
,..... v. ~

~~·r~•~•~
here or on b1.
7 .:-,~;Wia~
17 ... tDxd4 18.exd4 f5 19.hxg5 f4 20.i.h4 h'S
21. <;t>g 1! 6
5
~~~~~~~
~;@;~~W'~~ W/ffi,Wfj~~~
.... ~
5
i
1l1is move is important in many lines. "lhe '~ ~ L .. ~ "'
kl
king needs to be able ro go to h2 in the case 4 l~8~j.t~ ~!-
\\11} {~:~ ~!¥'" ~~ ::1
of a subsequent check. 3 ~BI ;;}~ '£(:} ~ :::
21...~g7 22.~h3 iWxa2 23.g6! 2 ! 8.~. lrfj~{!,- "
1~ ~if~~~
a b c d e f g h

"l11is was rhe recommendation of Golubev in

a b c d c f g h
Black is busted. \XIhite i'i ready to play
24.~x.h'S, and the arrempt co prevent the
imrusion of the whiu~ pieces falls shun in a
number of ways, for example:
2.) ...!;h8 24JH3 :gfs 25.~c7
And \'V'hite wins swifrly.
17.hxg5!!
lr is more imporram ro play with the greatest
po~siblc vigour on the kingside, than to count
material in the centre. \X'hire opens up for the
rook on hI as well as introducing the pawn
it.sel f as an additional arr.tcking uniL In fact,
it turns our thar this very pawn is destined w
Chess Today, naming ir as wild complications
J Ia Tal. Acrually ir was rarhcr obvious to me
the firsr time I saw rhe posirion rhar White
h winning, although I \Vas not roo sure
abour how w prove it. 1l1e reason for my
cerrainry is rhar rhe ratio of the attackers ro
rhe defenders is simply ridiculous. 1l1e black
queen will have to do all the defending on her
own, wirh no help from the remaining four
pieces. 111e fact rhat White is a mok down is
of lirtle significance.
18 ... \Wc3
18 ... d5 19.cxd5 cxd5 20.\Wal! also leads co a
decisive arrack.
19. <;t>gl!
Again rhis move ts tmporranr. One of the
diflerences rhar is ro "White's advantage in the
position, is rhar of king safety. White only
needs to step once ro the right, and he is safe,
Black will nc:ed a different dimension to feel
any safc:ry.
19 ... d5
 Chapter 2 -Typical Piece Play 65

suggested the correct way of dea.ling with ir;

alrhough he stopped a bir early in his main
line.
18.ih7t!
1he point of rhis move is of course to win
time, but ir is also to \Yin the rime without
having a black pawn on e4, as would happen
after ocher sacrifices of the bishop.
18 ... ~xh7 19.~xh6t ~g7
The king has ro go here, in order ro answer
20.ie5t with 20 ... f6, based on rhe point
2l.gxf6t ~x.h6!. So Whire does nor have
time ro involve rhe bishop at this moment,
but muse include rhe queen in rhe arrack,
with check, and taking a piece, bur it is still
a wasre, as she was set to be excellent at h5.
20.\Wxd4t f6
Ar chis point White can force a draw with
the mok sacrifice 2l.gxf6t, bur rhis is not
what he is looking for.
2l.@gl!!

s x~·~ ~~ ~
h c d h
7 ~'l• -~- .Y~ ~%
7.%·~~
~ ~·~ ~~?.
. %

~~-r.
a e f g
6
23.ixe5t 'IWxeS"I 24.f4 ~xe3 25J~f6 5
~~
'rtt "i
~·:: ~
jfxti; · §-:
'"'"'~~~~~o;~-~~-~~c§
Black is mated. Soon comes a check on h6
with the queen. 4
3~ ~. ~(] ~ §
17 ... d5 2~-
~;-; ~~-~~~ ~~~
-"'?'.-:.·~ ~
0
1~ ~ ~ l~
7..

a b c d e f g h
Thi~ is the truly great move, once again. The
king is seeking safety on h2, after which White
can rake more time in order ro finish the attack
off perfectly. The imponanr point for our
theme is probably that as long as B!.1ck cannot
bring in a lot of defenders quickly, White will
have a positive assault ratio.
At this point I have chosen to look ar no
fewer than four alternatives. T would like you
ro pay attention to rhe fact that, in all of rhese
lines, the main reason for Black's demise is thar
66 Arracking Manual2
the number of attackers always exceeds the
number of defender.).
a) 2l .. .'l!ifb4 is one of the computer's many
suggestions. There arc ;\ number of ways to
be.lt it, bur the main line i.) quite appealing,
~o I have chosen co mention it all rhe ::.amc.
22.'lNd3! White arracks the w~akesr spot in the
black position, rhe g6-square. Black is swiftly
run over. 22 .. .f5 23.'Wd4t ~f7 24.g6i' ~c8
25.g7 'fl1e g-pawn is dearly worrh more rhan
the knight White ignored on d4 on move 17.
25 ... ~g8 26.~h8 ctff7 27.ih4! Only chis move
wins, bm it leads srraighr ro the shaking of
hands. Black has no answer to the crushing
rhrear of'Wf6t.
b) 2l...i.d7 22.~g4!
a b c d e f g h
'"n)b aggressive move is both threatening a
combination with 23.gx.f6t @xh6 24.if4t,
with mare on rhe nexc move, and simply ro
increa.)e rhe srrengrh of rhc arrack wirb 'Wh5.
Black has nothing that looks even remotely
like a sarisfacrort' deFence.
For example:. 22 ... WI7 23.gxf6 ctfcB does
nor work on account of 24.ic7! and rhe black
king will nor be able ro run away.
c) 2l...\Wxa2 22.Ad6!
22.@h2 'lNxc4 23.W/d 1 looks like :tn even
becrer version of the t(Jilowing line d). 'lhe
difference is, of course, the disappearance of
rhe white a-pawn. Although rhis does nor
mauer much in a materialistic sense, it is
rat·e char the disappearance of even a single
pawn will not have some extra significance
some\vhcre. Compared with the end of the
long line, after 35.id8, you wHI see that
\'{/hire is very happy to answer 35 ... @a6 wirh
36.'lNa4t, something that is more credible
rhcrc, as it does not blunder the queen.
Although lhis line is still very tempting,
White has :1 simpler solurion in 22,!d6!,
introducing rhe bishop inro rhe attack.
22 .. JU7
22 ... .td7 23.~g4! ~f7 24.ct/h2 '®c2 25.il.f4
and Black does not have any good defence
against 26.gxf6t.
2.3.~h4 "iWblt 24.~h2 ~5 25.f!h8! 'Wg6
26.gxf6t ~xf6 27.ie5
White wins.
d) 21. ..Wclt 22.@h2 'lNxc4 23.'Wdl ~e4
24.mrhs 'Wf5 25.il.h4 fxg5 26.g4 This \vas
Golubev's (and Frirz's) line. He srops here
with the sign for a clear advantage, which
~cems somewhat premature ro me, even if rhis
i::. indeed whar my engine also tells me. If we
push it a litde bir fmther the moves we end up
with are: 26 ...'Wc5t 27.c.t>gl ~B 28J:~h8 ct/f6
29.gh7 '!Wa 1t 30. ct/g2 @e5 3I.'Wxg5t ctfd6
32.'Wd8'f @c6 33.!k7t c.t>b5 34.'We8t ~b6
35.id8
 Chapter 2 -Typical Piece Play 67

18.ixf5
18.ie5 was also strong, bur it is good to begin
by removing Black's sole defensive piece.
18... exf5 19.ie5!
The bishop joins in che accack from an ideal
square. Black is just lost.
19 ... f6
19 ... ge8 is no betrer. After 20 ..'2l.f6 geG
21.gxh6 gxf6 22.gxf6 mace is inevitable.
Deflection
One ofrhe ways to build up a superiority in the
armck is ro eliminate some of the defenders,
for example with deflection. Essemially rhe
idea of deflecrion is tbar you in some \vay force
one or more of the opponent's pieces ro leave
rhe scene of the action, either by offering some
kind of a sacrifice, or by threatening ro deliver
some kind of damage. Ic is basically the carrot
and rhe stick, or, ar rimes, the carrot as a stick.

20.id6 1he classical type of deflection is where a

Or 20.gxiD. defender is eliminated from a key square by
a piece sacrifice. The following example is
20 ... Wfc3 2l.~xh6 ~f7 probably abour as standard as you can get.
More resistance was ofFered by 2l ... fxg5, bm
Whire win.'> wirh check.., all rhe way: 22.'1!Nd5t David Navara- Robert Rabiega
~g7 23.ixf8t Wxf8 24.Wxf5t ~e8 25.Wxg5
1! . \!11- ,..,;.... \!11- • Bundcsliga 2006
Wei t 26.~e2 8xc4t 27.'6'0 8f7i' 28.~g3
d6 29.gf6 \Wc4 J(UWg7
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
a b c d e f g h
a b c d e f o-
!:>
h Black eliminated his srar opponent through
22.~g6t a series of f<mrasric deflections.
22.g6 wa::. also winning easily.
28 ... ltlb4!!
22 ... ~g7 23.Wfd5t ®h8 24.~h6t ~h7 28 ... ih6t 29.~bl lLlb4 is also excellent,
25.~xh7t ®xh7 26.W/f7t ®h8 2?.Wfe8t although it may give White a few
®h7 28.g6t additional options compared wirh rhe game
1-0 continuation.
1he g-pawn was en prise for ten moves before
striking rhe final dearh blow. 29.lDxb4
68 Actacking Manual 2

White is roasr afrer both 29.'if:Yd2 il.h6! and
29.'Wd.l ~e2!, so he has to accept rhc bait.
29 ....ih6t 30.<hbl E:el t 31.:8:xel
3 Licl ifS looks quire strong as \veiL
31 ... ~xel t 32.<hc2
5 ...c5 6.d5 b5 7 .dxe6?!
Along wirh rhc following move, this is
probably the main cause ofWhire's subsequem
problems in chis game.
7.e4!?, wich a complex game, was f.tr more
energetic.

7 ...fxe6 8.e4?!
8.cxb5 a6 9.e3looks more prudcnr. Whice is
not ready for heavy acrion in rhe centre.

sE~.l.~ ~*~
7 --~if.--~~,
6 "--"~ ~~---"ldl
~ ~r~~rJ$~ ~------z~ ~
5~ .. ~-~ ~ ~
4 ~-~"~
3 ....
~---··"B
>~~~ ~~-~
Black's combination would have been flawed, 2
,mf,\ilii~~~~
0 ~;;; ~ ~z 0 ~LS~ 'i§1
/ . " " ' / .... 7.~ ~~7. .... /:1~-- .. :?~
had he not had a second deflector.
1 ~~ ~ ~~Wll
32 ... .if5! a b c d e f g h
Removing the queen from rhe defence, after 8 ... h6?!
which mare is near. 1here was no good reason to flick this in,
objectively, but it was nor played without
33.~xf5 ~d2t an idea. I wanced che bishop to not be able
0-1 ro rerum to the assistance of rhe queenside.
8 .. .'!Dc6! was the best move. See rhe note ro
One common type of deflecrion is ~een when Black's next move.
rhe opponent posseloses one especi;tl!y well-
placed piece. Before we can be successful in 9.~h4?!
our mischief, we will have ro remove such Taking on f6 was more prudent, but Whire
influential players from the centre of acrion. is srill playing for an advantage.

Niels Christian Schiodt -Jacob Aagaard 9 ...~a5?!

Here I missed a very strong option. EYen
Copcnhag~n 1990 if 9 ... tt.:Jc6! I O.cxbS tt.:Jd4 ll.VJ!d3 Wa5 might
look very strong to the eyes of a seasoned
l.d4 ~f6 2.c4 e6 3.~c3 .ih4 4.~c2 0-0 Grandmaster, for him to pass judgement on
s.igs rhe play of an immature adolescent would be
5.a3 is of course rhe main line. grossly unfair.
 Cha~ner 2 -Typical Piece Play
10.e5
1O.~xf6 .):!xf6 1 1.cxb) a6 gave Black good
attacking chances in Zak- Averbakh, Moscow
1947, and is probably no berrer.
a b c d e f g h
lO .•. lDe4!
A very energetic response. \XIhire actually
anticipated rhis and had a brill ianr idea of
his own ready. Seldom does one see so much
creativity in rhc lower ranks at a tournament.
In a Iacer game Black played diflerendy:
1O... lL!g4 1 1.cxb5 lDxeS 1L~g3 ~f5 13.0-0-0
was vvildly unclear in Zylla - Schwcrrel, corr.
200 1. Imerestingly a lor of these moves are
also rhe choice of my computer engine, which
prefers Whice to some extent.
II.lJWxe4?
This incredible idea is unfortunate!>' also the
decisive mistake.
ll.ltJge2 was rhe only move. Here rhere are
many inceresting continuations ro investigate.
Ic could be 11.. .~b7 12.cxb5 a6, it could be
1 l...ltJxc3 12.bxc3 ~a3 or even I l. .. tLlxc3
12.bxc3 ltJc6!?. I have nor found any obvious
advantage ro either player in these lines. My
instinct cells me rhar the second of rhese lines
is probably rhe besr, but it i& hard ro know
withour investing a day or two of your life.
69
ll. ...ixc3t 12.®d1
White's creative play has created a scenario of
utter chaos. Black is hanging everywhere and is
faced with the threat of ~fl-d3, indicating a
~light problem with his reckless fight for the
in i dative.
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
a b c d e f g h
This is the critical momenr, where it becomes
clear that the white queen is immensely
influential for both attacking and defensive
ducies.
It is at moments like rbis that the attacking
player meets his destiny. When there is no
turning back, the path leading further into the
mess is often the one that must be followed.
12... ~b7!!
I was very pleased with this move at the rime,
and would still be proud ro find such an idea
wday. The bishop is developed in an energetic
way, simply to deflect rhe powerful queen fmm
her centralised spot.
12 ... ~xb2? would lose the barrie for the
initiative. \XIhire would first gain a tern po
by threatening mare with 13.~d3!, when
after 13 ... ~f5 he would start harvesting the
black pieces on che back rank. After 14.1&xa8
1&a4t 15.~c2 \Wxc4 16.tLlf3! (an important
prophylactic measure) 16 ... ~xa1 17.~xb8
Black does noc have enough for rhe piece.
70 Anacking Jvlanual 2

13.Wfxb7
\XIhite ha:. played his hand and is our of
good cards. For example: 13.\We2 f"U4! with a
devastating arrack.
8
7

6
.VJj.''t. w;~,
.l.~tlf ~~
--···";-~~~: ~~f~~;-~" .%~~-~:
0~ ~-~ f.';~~
\rnt·a··w~-· %~AA- "'~ ,~
;~*~:?

0
::.>

5 ~e~•r~ rd ~ v.·
13 ....iel! 4 /,. /.W~/~'~r~· .%~ '/.~ ;.

3 .:::-~!t~1
2 0 1'0:; ~~'e(;{Q~ 0 ;(Q,
~f ,.•. %-~~%~'
a b c d e f g h

Black can only reply in one way not ro lose

a b c d e f g h
Thi~ move might be a bit surprising lO some.
-n1e idea is simple - d2 is rhc weake~r !.qu•trc
in rhe white position and it proves incredibly
difficult to defend. 'TI1e queen is badly placed
on b7, whereas it had previously been the most
inAuential piece on the board on e4.
rhe initiative.
15 .. Jhf2t !6.~xf2 ~d2t 17.~f3 \Wxf2t
!8.~e4
Here there are several winsl bur I have
some affection for the one \\'e found in our
analysis back in 1990. Not only because ir is
amazingly elegant, but aho because it makes
use of the knight.
18 ... t2:Jc6 19.\Wxa8t ~h7 20.:gdl t2:Jd4!
·n1e tueatI ··~ ... '"'rf~ · ....;..&~ f2..1.1 an d ... \1_,,
'i:::!J )1", 9c 2
marc. White has no response but to give up
the rook for the bishop> which looks like a
fair rrade.
2l.:gxe1 tL:!c2!!

In the game \Vhite tailed ro defend in the mosr 8 if~~J ~ ~~ ~

re~olute wayl although his position wa~ ;l.lready 7 • . •/\~//'~%/ ~~~·
.. ·"' ,WJ;i ~ /.. /.
be\'ond salvation. 6 ~~ ~~ a ~w~ ~A% 5

14.~c2?!
~-0::.- %~ • %~
s •/'/r~<(< /:rL?: Z~%-- 1.
0

./
i{·~ ;J

'TI1e mosr energetic defence ind uded a 4 .w)1~(~/.-~J~z-, ~~ l'

temporary knighr sacrifice wirh:
14/2Jf3! E!xB
Obviously Black removes rhe ddendcr of
d2. A move can hardly be called a sacrifice
when ir threatens matd However> \XIhite has
l.
3 ~;."//"/-~"///",~/' - · · ,., 3
") A ~N~ I&~
- o

a
%o?.~w~

b
~\UJ{ A ~<'%
J~Z' z~nf~l$/~
c d e
~e~

f
o

g
%u~

a very cle,•cr riposte.
1'). cJ?e2!
\'V'hite has a strong double threat in ~xf3
and :gxe I. One might even say rhar rhe black
rook has been deflected from its powerful
position on rhc eighth rank.
Again, nor rhe only winning move, bur by
Eu the mosr amazing one. The only move
nor to be immediately mated is a defensive
deflection with 22.~f8 ...
14... Wfd2t 15.~b3 'Dc6
 Chapter 2- Typical Piece Play
l11c dual thr~acs of ... ctJa5t and ... i2Jd4t, are
absolurcly decisive.
16.'@xc6 dxc6 17.a3 bxc4t
0-1
To rhis day, I remain very proud of this
garne. Ir was only ro be a few mon.rhs before
Niels Christian would find bloody vengeance
ar rhe same vemt~, and if I remember correctly,
even ar rhc same cable ...
Of course lc is not only pieces, but also p~twns
rhac c:1n be dcAecced. 1he following example
provides <\ good illustration.
Alexander van Beek- Jon Speelman
Gibral rar 2007
I.e4 c6 2.d4 <IS 3.ttJd2 dxe4 4.ttJxe4 ifS
s.ttJg3 ig6 6.h4 h6 7.ttJa ltJd7 s.hs ih7
9.i.d3 .1xd3 IO.'@xd3 c6 11.i.f4 '@aSt
12.i.d2 i.h4 13.c3 i.e? 14.c4 '@a6 15.0-0
ttJgf6 16J~fel 0-0 17 .ttJf5 gfe8
Black has mi~playcd rhe opening, but was far
from rhc only player ro make this misrak~.
l11c combinat:ion played in tbis game arose
in a tc':v games before black defenders of rhe
Caro-I<ann bec.unc aware of the danger.
71
l8,gxe6!!
With this move White captures an important
pawn, buc ofcourse also loses a rook. 1l1e reason
for rhe sacl'ifice is to deAecr the pawn on f7, so
rhar ir no longer defends the g6-square.
lr should be said rhac two grandmasters have
missed rhe golden opportunity to play this
sacrifice> bur as they both won afrcr taking rhc
bishop on e7, it is difficult to be too hard on
rhem. Ironically, this is the only game in my
database in which Black survived!
18... fxe6 19.~xg7!
This is an old fashioned destruction of the
king's shelter.
19...if8!
Speelman is an experienced cat and rightly
decides to do whatever he can ro fight for the
key 1.quares. Thus we see rhc defenders rallying
around their monarch.
19 ... c;!;lxg7 lost ro a beautiful bishop sacrifice in
Decoster- Tiggelman, Belgium 2005:
20.ttJxe8 gxe8 2l.'@g6t ig7
Objectively this is~ slighr miscake.
72 Arcacking Manual 2
White is winning in all cases, bur the most
resilient lme seems to have been: 2J. .. cj{h8!
22.~xh6 ~xh6 23.'1Wxh6t CDh7 24.ltJg5
(24.'Mffq!? might be stronger) 24 ... ~c7 25.ctJxh7
~xh7 26.'Wxc6 ltJf8 27J¥fe5"1 cj{ga 28.b3 and
White is winning, bur some figluing remains.
22 ..ixh6 ~e7 23 •.if4 'bm 24.~g5 'b8h7
Instead he could have won with the nor
so 11rraighrforward 25. '\¥/h4! '\¥/xc4 26.h6.
For example: 26 ... .if8 27 ..ie5 and Black is
dead. Bur although this is rnrher ~imple for a
machine, it is acmally a very complicated win
for a humJn being to find. 1hcL·e are simply
wo many options for both players.
25 ... 'bf8 26.Wig5 'b8h7 27.~g6 'bf-8
¥2- 1/2
Tn the next game we ~h,lll .~ee how a
grandmaster with a raring of 2650 can be
toppled by a deflection. After wh<u looks w
be an inconspicuous opening, \'(/hire is jusr
one move away from full development 1 bur
Black finds a stunning sacrifice rhar forces his
opponent ro forger all about c;.tsrling.
Peter Heine Nielsen - Nicolai Vesterba:k Pedersen
Danish League 2006
l.d4 'bf6 2.'bf3 c5 3.d5 h5 4.c4 g6 5.cxb5
a6 6.b6 'lMfxh6 7.'bc3 d6 8.e4 .ig7 9.'bd2
0-0 lO..ie2 'bbd7 Il.'bc4 ~c7 12 ..if4 :Sb8
13.~d2 ctJb6 I4.'be3
a b c d e f g h
14... 'ba4!!
After 30 seconds chis is rhe 22nd best
move according to Fritz. Aftel' 60 it is on
rap, guaranteeing only equality, apparently.
'lbe reality, however, is chat it is completely
winning.
15.'bxa4
ll1ere is nothing else.
15 .ltJedl does nor hold the position together.
After IS ... :gb4 16 ..if3 (16.f3 is met with
16... 4Jh5! 17.~e3 :gxb2! and Black wins)
16 ... '\¥/b? and b2 falls, as after 17.~bl Black
can play l? ... ctJxe4!! 18.ctJxe4 ~5 with a
dccic;ive attack.
15... 'bxe4 16.Wic2
16.'\¥/dl ~a5t l?.@fl ~b4 is likely to
transpose with best play.
16... ~a5t 17.®fl ~b4!
 Chapter 2 -Typical Piece Play 73

8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
a b c d e f g h
23 .. J~xe2! 24.~xe2 ~c4t 25.~el ~c3t
26.~e2 !g4t 27.f3 ~xe3t 28.~flif5
0-1

18.~c4! A tremendous achievement by Pedersen. Black

1his is the only move chac gives a fighting
chance.
Of course Whirc cannor recreat his knighr w
c3, as the bishop on f4 would hang.
Also hopeless would be 18J'Llb6 iM'xb6 19.llJc4
E:}{c4 20.Axc4 Af5 21.®b3 ®c7 followed
by .. J;b8 and ... id4, when Black's initiative
should decide rhe gam~.
lefr the World Champion's second without a
chance, after no obviously bad moves had been
played.
Nielsen is of course a famasric player in his
own right, who has a perfect understar~ding of
deflection. In rhe following game White plays
good atracking chess from the beginning.
\Vhen Black takes a fevif liberties, as well as
a pawn on b2, Nic1sen uses deAection as rhe
basis of a fantastic winning attack.

l8 .. J~fxa4 19.~xe4 Peter Heine Nielsen - George Michelakis

19.'Wxa4 ~xa4 20.aJ was possible, but even
rhough rhe rook is potentially rrapped, Black is
doing very '~·dl.
19 ..•1£5
Black continues m mobil be hi~ pieces.
20.~xe7 ~e8 21.~xd6 ~b2 22.~xb2
22.:Se1 ~xc4 23.ie3 id4 also wins for
Black.
22 .• J~xb2 23 ..ie3
Now Peder~on purs rhc icing on the cake
wirh a final cacrical flurry.
Copenhagen 2003
l.d4 ~£6 2.c4 g6 3.~c3 i.g7 4.e4 d6 s.~f3
0-0 6.h3!?
A modern line which has been made popular
by Krasenkow.
6 ... ~a6 7.1g5 ~e8 8.g4!?
White gains space on rhe klngside, -as well as
increasing his control over rhc light squares.
8 ... c5
·111is is slightly unu~ual, bur nor bad.
74 Attacking Manual 2

8 ... e5 9.d5 tLJc5 lO.lL!d2 aS 11.\Wf3, a main
line, is also possible here. Whire might be able
to claim a slight edge here.
9.~g2 h5!?
A very principled move rhar erie~ ro exploi(
che fact rhat White has weakened hi~ kingside
with g4.
Black is trying to make the position as messy
as possible.
Simpler and probably also berter was 12 ... fxg6
\vhen after 13.0-0 fxe4 l4.~el ifS 15.lDxe4
ixe4 16.lDg5 \We? 17.lDxe4 ixd4 18.\Wg4
\Wg7 Black does not appear to be at a serious
disadvantage.

Less ambitious is 9 ... cxd4 lO.lDxd4lDc5 when 13.~g5 fxg6

\XIhi(e is probably a bir becrer. During the game Michelakis seriously
considered playing: 13 ... 5!? with the idea of
lO.obfG · 14.\Wh5 :Sf6 15.lDd5 cxd4! (bur not 15 ... :5xg6?
An amazing game was played from rhis I6.\Wxg6!)
position. 10.gxh5 lDxhS 11.\Wd2lDc7 12.~h6
cxd413.lDxd4e5 14.Axg7@xg715.ltJf5t ~fS
16.exf5 lDf4 17.ixb7 ;gb8 18.ie4 d5 19.cxd5
lL!b5 20.~gl llJd6 2l.b3 ~b4 22 ..~c2 :8.d4
23.~e.3 ~h8 24.fxg6 f5 25.~dl ~xh3 26.0
g],2 27.~fl :5xc2 28.~xd4 exd4 29.\Wxd4i'
<i>g8 30.®xf4 Bxc3 3l.®h6 '!9e7 32.g7 :Sxf3t
33. ~g2 \We2t 34. cjrh I lDf7 35.\Wh7t 1-0
Krasenkow- Bobras, Glogow 200 L

1o... exfG ll.gxh5 f5!

'l11is is the only move; Black needs to create
coun terplay.

12.hxgG

14.~cxe4
Forced as 14.0-0 e3! gives Black good play.

14... ~xd415.0-0 ~e5?

Black loses his way completely. Here i(
was necessary to create coordination and to
complete the development of the fmce~.

Better \vas 1S ...®e7 16.\Wd2 ifS though

White ha1. rhc advamage after l?.~ael Wd?
l8.lDg3!, when h appears thar the weakness of
 Chapter 2- Typical Piece Play 75

rhe light squares around rhe black king is more 19.tLlh7!

significant rhan that of the dark squares around
rhc white king. For that reason Black should
prefer 18 ... ctJc7 with a slight disadvantage.
16.WI d2 ~xb2?!
Black's po~ition already appears to be very
dangerous, and it is hard to believe that pawn-
grabbing i1. rhe way to improve it. Still it is
hard to find ,1 good continuation.
The key ro the combination initiated on
the last move. It is inreresring ro note rhe
interconnectedness between rhesc rwo moves,
played in opposite corners of the board!
19 ... Wlf4
19 ... \Wd4!? 20.~h6 ~f5 2l.GLJxf8 gxf8
22.GLJg3 ~c2 23j~c7 ~h8 24.~e3 and White
wins, although some play remains.

lhe players looked at 16 ... ~f4 17.gael

8
~f5 after the game, but here \Xlhite has the
computer moves 18.ctJf7!?, 18.GLJxd6!? and 7
18.GLJe6!? ~.xe6 19".tiJxd6 with a clear edge. 6
17J~ael tLlb4 5
4
3
2
1
a b c d e f g h
20.tLlef6t!!
The number of developed pieces decide the
game.

20 .. J1xf6 21.tLlxf6t Wfx£6 22.~e8t mf7

Black also loses after 22 ... mg7 23.gfel gS
24JUe7t @h6 25.h4 and the king cannot be
18.a3! protected.
A deflection that J"emovcs rhe bishop from
the defence. 23.~fel ~b2
\XIhire has a menacing arrack after 23 ... g5
Nor completely dear is 18.CtJh7?! ~xh7 24.~e2 @g6 25.ggst ~h6 26.~e8 ~b2
19.GLJg5i" <t?g8 20Jhe5 ~xeS when Black 27.~e4 where the computer gives 27 ... ~f5
conrinues to resist. 28.~xa8 GLJd3 29.~x5 ~xf5 30.ghst ~xh8
31.~xh8"1 ~g6 32.'We8t ~f7 33.ge6t and
18... Axa3 WillS.

Objectively bcner wa~ 18 ... tt:lc6 19.ctJxc5

~xeS 20.~d'5t @g? 2I.~xb2t \Wd4 22.tLle6t 24.Wlh6!
~xe6 23.1;Wxb7t ~f7 24.\Wxc6 and White is a 1-0
pawn up for nothing. Black is mated.
76 Attacking Manual 2

Overloading

One of rhe most common ~ituarions where

dcflecrion is useful is when a piece is overloaded.
Acrually, deflection \viii always be exploiting
some kind of overloading. In rhe rwo Nielsen
games above, the defending pieces could be
said ro be overloaded: rhe knight in charge of
borh rhe pawn on e4 and rhe square on a4,
and rhe bishop in charge of rhe kingside and
rhc a3-square. However, we rend ro calk abour
ovcrloadincr., onlv' in che scenarios where both
squares rend robe imporranr. lr is a rhcoretical a b c d e f g h
diflerence of linle importance r~ rhc practical I would personally be overjoyed if so111eone
pl,1yer, besides not wonh gening confused over were to play like chis against me. White's last
ir when reading chess books ... 111ove not only looks objectively unjustified, it
abo lead~ ro a position rhat is subjectively far
In the following game we will see n1any more difficult ro play wirh White.
~itu;uions where rhe white queen is
overloaded, and will have ro relinquish one of 8 ... g6 9.'We2 .tg7!
her responsibilities. 1he same also happens ro Black should in rcrurn not be afraid of
other pieces, but rhe queen is frequenrly in this investing material in his arrack. With this move
situation in rhis game. 1l1e game is nor in itself he ofFers both a pawn and a piece ro \Vhite, in
so complex, but deep analysis of ir brought return for the opening of files for his pieces.
abour a lot of interesting moments, relevant ro
our mpic, so I decided ro go a bir deeper than IO.e5
usual in the annotations. Whirc follows up on his plan and wins a
piece by chis quick launch in rhe cenrre.
Valeriane Gaprindashvili- Rasul Ibrahimov
I 0.1&xb5 0-0 11.ctJc3 E:e8 12.ctJge2
Urumia 2008
gb8 13.\Wd.) was successful for White in
Milovanovic - Movre, corr. 1980, bur Black
l.d4 ~f6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 c5 4.d5 exd5 5.cxd5
could have played much better ar rhis poinr.
b5!? 6.~g2
Various gambits involving a quick e2-e4
h,tve been cried successfully over the la~r few
years. After rhis quiet developing move Black
is in rime ro finish his Benoni structure.

6 ... d6 7.e4 b2Jbd7 8.f4?

-n,e beginning of a very ,lJnbitiou . . , but
also very risky strategy. \'Vhire abandons
dcvdopn1enr in favour of a quick cemral
advance.
a b c d c f g h
 Chapter 2 - Typical Piece Play
13 ...c4!! A beautiful rnagnet ~acrifice.
\XIhite is losr ;.tfccr 14.'@'xc4 lbc5, when che
queen is trapped; it will be forced ro go ro d4
and then ... tt.JfXe4 cornes, winning material.
Also 14.~ c2 does nor save rhc posicion. Afrer
14 ... C2lc5 15.0-0 \Wb6 \'V'hite is C<mght in rhe
crossfire of rhe black pi~ces, and <tH of chis only
for a pa'\'Vl'l, 16 ..~,e3 is mer wirh 16 ... tt.Jg4, while
16.'~~/h 1 can be punished wi rh 16 ... ClJfxe4!!
17. CD:xe4 j,fS and Black will regain his marc rial
\.virh a huge positional advantage to boot.
10 ... dxe5!
1l1is is the bener option, for reasons explained
in rhe next nocc.
10 ... 0-0? was played in rhe srem gam.e. After
11.exf6 ~e8 l2.fxg7 i!xe2·1· l3.tt.Jxe2 \Wc7
l4.@f2 C2Jf6 15J~e1 i.b7 16.lila3! \Xfhite had
slightly berter chances, even rhough ro call the
po~irion a mess would be more appropriate,
Plaskett- Groszpeter, 1l1essaloniki 1981.
ll.fxe5 0-0 l2.exf6
Jim Pla$kerr csrimared d1ar \'Vhire would
be a little bcrrcr in hi!>. annor:.nions in (/.1eJ~·
Informant 33, because now rhe bishop on c1
is in the game. Actually, nothing coukl he
further Front rhc truth. I believe rhar Whirc is
losr at this moment, si n1ply because rhe d~file
1~ open ...
12.•. ~xf6 13.\WxbS ~b8!
77
'lhe rook is immune, as the queen woutd
soon be lost co a. discovered check with the
bishop. \Xlhite is probably already lost> btn: the
proof of the pudding is always in the eating.
14.Wfd3?!
1l1e queen is unprotected at rhis spot and
rhis ~imple face quickly leads w the demise
of the white :trmy through a not roo difficult
combination.
14.1!{Jc4
1l1is move was maybe the better defence,
alrhough rhis does not mean rhat it can hold.
Moves like 14 .. J~b6 and 14... tt.Jg4 are ve1-y
atrracrive 1 but I decided to bring the queen
into acrion quickly in my analysis and found
a nice way ro decide the game.
l4 ... ~c8t 15.ctJe2 VNa5t!
b2 is n weak spot in rhe whire position and
rhc bishop wants ro emerge on a6. This
manoeuvre enable~ borh.
t6.Ad2 ~b6
It was already possible to pm th~ bishop
on a6, bur it seems even berrer ro keep the
queens on rhe board.
I7.~bc3.ia6 18.'@'a4
\XIhire has no chance of saving rhe game
after 18.\Wb3 1xe2 19.C2lxe2 'Wa6 20.1&f3
:gxb2 either.
18 ... 'Wxb2
78 Attacking Manual 2

difterent points. Nor surpri~ingly \Xfhire will b) 19.!!cl

find himself overloaded on rhe undefended \Xfhite is defending the c3-kniglu, but this
square in each line. leaves d2 vulnerable, and Black is able ro
exploir this overloading wirh a nice bit of
a) 19.!!dl deA.eccion:
1his is refured with a brilliant jump. 19 ... ~xc2 20.tLlxe2 ~h6!!
l9 ... l2Jg4!!
White is suffe1·ing from the problem of nor
8
7
J~.v.~~2:-r~~
;t··f- ~~-·~
~1%~ffii~~----~.i
being able ro rake more than ant: piece at
a rime. Maybe his best chance is castling ~~.~~~5
6 ~,$~ /• . • ~ :;
and being material down, but safe, as rhe ·' ·g~ p;'-~:1......~---- z ·;[
~-~
5 r~ r•~o~ ~
alrernarivc leads to even grearcr prohlerns: r;;·

20.\WxaG 4 11¥~ ~ -~J ~~·

20.l.Wxg4? ~c3 is rrivi<ll, of course. The 3~ ~ 11
p., \mt w.M - ~
/'~~ ~ %f@ ~.-. ~Pr~
~
bishop on d2 is as overloaded as can be. 2 o ~EM· 00t.z.J~~&fdi
20 ... .'~.xc3 2l.~d3 ~xd2i· 22JWxd2 tLle3!! 1 . . . . hr~r·---¥.~.0.•:

a b c d e f g h

'l11e bi1.hop joins the attack from a surprising

angle. This is of course less surprising if you
combine nvo ideas from the first volume, rhe
idea of arracking rhe opponent where he is
weakest (d2 and e2) and using all of your
pieces. A bir general in tone indeed, but srill
useful in a practical setting.
21Jk2
"lbe roughest defence.
a b c d e f g h 2l.~c2 ~d2t 22.~xd2 ~xd2t! and Black
Black has sacrificed a piece, bm his knight i~ wins back his material with interesr.
sL1pcrior ro anything in the vvhite camp. "lbe 21 ... ~xd2t 22J~xd2
critical line unsurprisingly includes massive 22. cj;Jxd2?! loses in one go to 22 ... We5! and
material haemorrhaging from \\!hite. \'\!hire is noc able to defend borh e2 and d.
23.~f3 ~F6 24. ~f2 22 ... ~a1 i" 23.~f2 ~e5 24.~f4
ll1ese two last moves could have been played
in reversed order as well. Black's response
\Vould have been che same.
24 ... CZJg4t 25.~g2 B:b2 26 ..~xg4
Giving up rhe queen is <lbso[utcly necessary.
26.~d3 is not a good defence, and after
26 ... c4!, resigning seems accracrive.
26 ... !!xd2 27.!!xd2 ~g5
Black wins a piece. White srill has some
counrerplay wirh the d-pawn, bur ir is hardly
enough.
 Chapter 2 -Typical Piece Play 79

Whire seems to have defended everything,
lntr in such desperate defensive situations, ic
is common for the pieces to be overloaded.
Here ir is rhe queen that has m defend borh
e3 and g4, as well as the rook on d2, which
has to defend borh the first and second
ranks. Nor surprisingly, both line'! of defence
are susceptible m deflections.
24 ... ttJg4t!!
'll1e knight is surrendered in order to pave
che road for rhe remaining pieces.
a b c d c f g h
At chis point White has two defences, both
of which lose to absolutely fanrasric tactics.
White has successfully defended everything,
but all his pieces are as passive as can be.
1l1is is an example of the oscillation between
evolution and revolution described in rhe
first volume. At first there was the initial
developmem of rhe pieces, then a. pawn
sacrifice, then a furrher build-up, then a
piece sacrifice, then a furrher build-up, and
then a second piece sacrifice.
Even at chis point, because of the coral
domination of the white pieces, Black is nor
in a complete hurry, bur can make a slight
improvement before he strikes.
28 ... ~c2!!
This little move takes away the c4-square
from the white queen, which will nor be able
to defend the king for long. \'{/hire has only
one chance.
29.d6!
It turns out that che rook on e8 is both doing
active and passive dudes and can be nudged.
In turn Black will find his queen deflected.
However, Black still wins in the end.
29 ... b5! 30.d7 hxg4 3l.dxe8=~i" Wfxe8 32.~d2
~xd2 33.®xd2 ~e4 34.~g1 c4

b1) 25.~xg4 Wfdi' 26.~el ~bl t 8

7
~ ~
~!,rd-.~ ~0.~~*~
r~x~ %.
Basic deflection. r•~ ~ ~-~~
27.~dl ~b2 6 ~ ~ ~Aij~
1he point. Black is rhe king of the second 5~~
W@ ~
~.
~
~-
~~
%'~
~"-.
rank now.
28.ifl
4 ~.~.-~~.~.~~·
3~
~z~ ~
~ ~~
~ ~
.-.... ~: ~
8~:: ~lZJ~ ~~
~(.~~~- .?.~~f ··.!
2
j
~~~ ~ ~~~g
a b c d e f g h

Black has kept his big advantage. If \'(/hire

wa.s able co coordinate his pieces, he vmuld be
doing well, bur rhey are thoroughly dominated
and the c-pawn is a big asset.

b2) If you (hink the previous line was nice,

then you will be amazed by whar happens if
\'(!hire declines rhe sacrifice:
80 Attacking Nfanual 2

25.<t>t3 14... ~e8t 15.~e2 ~g4 16.~bc3

Here, again, Black only win~ after a mcc-

~~ ~~~*-
quiet move:
25 ... gb2!!
A point is rhar after 26Jhb2 '\Wxd5·1! there
,~r~
78 . . . . .v. . . .
6 -~eim.~~~--,i~
~ ~0 -~~ ~..... fit@~
is a mare on rhe next move; for example: L
27. r;t>xg4 'mh5 mate!
As \Xlhite also cannor exchange rhc queen~ 5~ -~~
-~--- ~-~t~
7 •
wirhout shedding material, rhe critical line

3~m~~~~
4
goes:
26J~bdl
2 !~~----~~-t~
t~-- 3~m~~~"
r~ ~ ~~ ~.!§.
a b c d e f g h
1l1e knight on c3 is responsible both for the
well-being of rhe pawn on d5 and the safety of
the white king, through its proct!ction of the
knight on c2. Not 1.urprisingly Black was able
ro make the most of his lead in development
with a sacrifice aimed at exploiting this
overloading of the knight.
a b c d c f g h
26 ... \Wxe2t!! 16 .•. CLlxd5!!
Thls brilliant combin<uion only works 111 1he main point with this strike is co open
this move order! rh~ diagonal for ... ~xc3 without wasting any
After 26 .. .lbxh2t? 27.<t>t2 \Wxe2't 28.<t>gt! rime.
\Xfhire is al mosr bcrrer!
27.~xe2 ltJxh2t 2~U!if2 ~exe2t 29.<j;lgl 17.CLle4
e~
bXg2 .!..
I :}2Q • ~I
'l;:i 11 <'i!:l
::::'. t''
g -· The toughest defence was 17.ixd5, when
play continues 17 ... ~xc3t 18.bxc3 ~xc2"1
(18 ... ~x~2~ is poorer, as after 19 .~xf7t ~xf7
20.~xd8 gbxd8 2l.~f2 White has genuine
saving chances) 19.~fl f!:e5!. Only rhis double
attack wins the game, bur it is enough. White
can still rake on f7 and exchange queens,
and probably he should, bur the arrack is
f:tr srronger, as rhe black pieces are far better
coordina red.

17.•• ~b4?!
a b c d c f g h
I would personally have been very relucram
And in view of rhe coming ... ltJO, Black to ex:ch~mge the queens in this posirion.
wins. White is in wo much rrouble, and a queen
 Chapter 2 ~Typical Piece Play 81

exchange must have come as ~H1 emotional 26..ig2 .id4 27. <i>dl gfg
relief, irrcspecrive of the facr that: his position
remains objectively difficulL

17 ... f5 was stronger. For example: 18.0-0 txe4

19.ixe4 tLlfo and Black wins.

Also 17 ... ixe2! is very attractive. If the king

takes, Black will rake on b2 with the bishop,
and after 1H.\Wxe2

a b c d e f g h
0-1
lr looks a lirde early to resign, so perhaps
White lost on rime? ln any case, it is not so
easy for him to find a useful move. lf he puts
his bishop on f4, Black can deflect it with a
pawn sacrifice.

18 ... id4! che white king is trapped in the Tempo-gainers

cenrre and \Xlhi[c is utterly defenceless agalnsr
19... f5, so he even loses his cxtr<t piece. The arrack is all about the posmon of the
pieces. Ofren '''e will see positions where
18.~xd8 gbxd8 19.<hfl
material is exchanged for quick devdopmem
19.~.g5 f-D does not improve matters.
or just a rearranging of rhe pieces. 1l1is can be
through ignoring the actions of the opponent
19.. J3dl t 20.®f'2 :f;xhl 21.~hl fS 22.h3 or a variety of other methods. One of these is co
.:tJd3t! chase the opponent's pieces, at times ar the cost
A good litrle in-benveen move.
of material, with the purpose of temporarily
gaining bene1· coordination of rhe pieces, so a
23. <he3 ~xe2 24. <hxe2 fxe4 2S.gb 1?!
vo-o\den moment can arise.
A bit of exrra defence 'vas possible <tfrer
25 ..ic3, although Whice should be losr afcer
1l1e following game illustTates tempo-gaining
25 .. ,c4!, preparing ro £,lke on b2 with the
perfectly. After Black plays a risky move at
bishop. However, rhere are not many pawns
move nventy, White chases the queen, offering
left on rhe board, so \\!hire has some genuine
a pawn on rhe way. Black decides the bounty
chances of holding, even if rhey are few and
is worrh the dsk, but misjudges the situation
far berwe~n.
and is quickly sent on the run. White rhen
wins several tempos against the black queen to
25 •.. c4! acriva.te rhe rooks, leading to a tasty concluding
Preventing b2-b3.
combination.
82 Acracking l\.1anual 2
Dimitri Reinderman - Paul van der Sterren
Durch Champiomhip, Rorrcrdam 1999
J.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.c4 'bf6 s.'bc3
e6 6)2H-'3 .ib4 7•.id3 dxc4 8.hc4 0-0 9.0-0
b6 lO ..igS .ih711.~e5 ctJbd7 l2J!Me2.ixc3
13.bxc3 Vl!c7 I4.tiJxd7 ctJxd7 lS.Mad h6
~01e merits of this pawn move can be
dispuccd. I do not see <1 great reason ro hurry
wirh it, but it is probably fine.
'1 he main move seems co be 15 ... ~fc8, when
borh 16.~d3 and rhc slightly odd, bur
smmgely appealing 16.~b3 borh give Whire a
plus score.
16.J.h4 8!ac8 17..ib3!?
l7.•. 8!fe8 18.a4
'lhis is a standard plan in positions with rhis
pawn srructure> although ir h.as been played
more frequemly with rhc bishop on d3 instead
of b3. Here probably 18.!!fe1 \vas more
prudent, bur what next? Mosr likely there is
no advantage.
18 .. .'1Wd6 19.8!fel Wfa3
Thh is Karpov's ~rand.ard plan. TI1e advance
of the a-pawn h.as caused the white queenside
pieces ro lose some stability.
20.Vlfdl e5!?
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
a b c d e f g h
'lltis move is quire doub~e edged, bur it
would be unfitir w anribme Black's later
troubles exclusively ro this move. However, it
does put him under some extra obligations,
which he did not take sct·iously enough during
rhe game.
2I.Mal!
An optimistic move, which was mainly
successful because Black rook the bait. Wh ire
would also have done well by playing a
simple waiting move, such as 2 I .h3, simply
improving his position.
21. .. Vlfb2?
·n1is is the srarc of all the wOITies Black has
later on. The queen is thrown around the board
like a fox running from rhe dogs, before Whirc
is able ro tum his artemion to the blf'lck king
and smrt a devastating arrack.
 Chapter 2 -Typical Piece Play
1hcre was no shame in returning the tluccn
ro rhc centre with 21...\¥/d6!, when \X'hire
could send an invimtion to repeat moves by
rerurnlng the rook ro c 1. However, after rhe
more aggres~ive 22.®h5 Black should react
carefully with 22 ...~d5!, blocking the diagonal
leading rm.vard~ rhc sensitive t7-point. (lnsrcad
rhe reckless 22... g6~ 2.>.®xh6 gxc3 24 ..m.xf7·1·
leads to a deva~taring attack and is thus co
be avoided.) Ir seems rhar rhe posirion after
23.dxe5 'Wc6 24.~xd5 ®xd5 25.f4 \MfcSt
26.~f2 ®xc3 mighr '>till offer White a slight
edge, with the bishop being sn·onger rhan rhe
knight and the pawn on e5 looking massive,
bur my initial analysis suggesrs rhar Black can
l10ld his own.
a b c d e f g h
22.gbl!
This was rhc poinr. \X'hitc wins a tempo to
protect the bishop.
22... \Wxc3
After 22 ... W/a.) 23.®h5 Black i~ not able ro
defend borh f7 and e5 ~arisfacrorily.
23.~h5
~lhe queen approache~ rhe king. rhrearcning
dcarh and desrrucrion and rhus demanding
attention.
23...gf8?
83
It rurns om rhat this passive move i:, rhe final
11traw. Ir was already necessary for Black to find
a more creative solution in order to stand a
chance of saving the game.
After 23 .. J3c4! White can try something
invenrive. but perhaps the simple caprure of
rhe exchange is best. However, after 24.~xc4
®xc4 2S.dxe5 tiJc5 Black has reasonable
counrerplay on the light squares and a lor of
play rernains in rhe position.
24.i.e7 ~xd4
It would be unfair to label this move as a
misrake. It b possible rhac there is already lirde
rha.r can be done to save the black posicion.
Here are some options rhat show the stare of
affairs.
24 ... lLlf6 25.~xf6 ®c6 Probably rhis trick
was rhe best option, but White's arrack is still
menacing: 26.f3 '®'xf6 27.dxe5 and now either
27 ... ~e7 28.e6 wirh a very strong attack, or
27 ... V£/g5?! 28.~xg5 hxg5 29.e6, winning.
24 ... exd4 25.~xf8 gxf8 26J~!e7 looks horrible
and should never last, while 24 .. J~c6 25.d5 is
awful as well.
25.gbdl
The nrsr ofrhree new tempo-gainers with rhe
rooks. 'TI1e first two are threatening rhe queen.
25 ... ~c3 26.ge3
This also defends the bishop. of course.
26 ... ~c7 27.gg3
1hb one is also threatening \Mfxh6 as well as
rhc more devious Wg6!.
27... \t>hs
White has finally opcimised all his pieces,
and for this reason it is nor surprising chat
there is a winning combinarion.
84 Anacking Manual 2

Our first example of a piece sacrifice for rhc

8 sake of rime features a classic combination in
a complex serting. I found this pos.itiot~ whe~1
analy.<.ing an opening line and takmg It a btr
too far. \XIhite wins with a beautiful long
tactical sequence involving two rook sacrifices.

a b c d e f g h
28J~xd7!! "i'xd7 29."i'xh6"t! gxlt6 30.i.f6t
~h7 31.~g7t ~h8 32.~xf7t ~g8 33.E;xd7t
1-0

Piece Sacrifices for Time

l.~h8t!!
A known theme, bw: here in a slightly
Deflection i.e. often an cxploilarion O f
advanced version. 1he rook has to be taken by
overloading. If this involves a piece sacri~ce,
rhe bishop, ~\S there is a knight fork looming
rhis is simply a piece sacrifice for rime. lf the
on f7 as well.
opponent had one mme lllove, he would be
able to return rhc deflected queen, mok,
l. ..Lh8 2."i'h3
bi.!.hop or knighr.
1he point of the sacrifice. 1lie bishop is
\XIhen we are atmcldng ir is quite common
inconveniently placed on hS and rhe check on
ro find that one or more of our pieces are
h7 b very threatening.
comriburing nothing to our goab, bur can be
used to disrracr our opponem, force him ro lose
2...!g7
coordination of the pieces, or in anorher way
2... Ek7 is technically speaking a berrer
inconvenience him. To be a succe~sfu\ attacking
defence, but srtll awful. After 3.ia3 White
player, ir is imporranr to develop a good feeling
wins rhe queen, 'vhich closes rhe discussion.
for rhc appticarion of rhi.c. technique.

3.ia3!
While we will ralk <lbour pawn sacrifices in
It i.<. important to win a rempo by raking
crene1·al in che next chapter dedicated ro pawn
~lay, it should be said rhar there i~, in principle, concrol over the a3-f8 diagonal now. The queen
check in itself is nor dangerous.
n.o bia difference bt:rwcen piece and pawn
sacrifi~es for rime. Only rhac a piece is 1nosr (;!:;1 5'.
3 ... ~c
ofren a bigger invesnnent, and also can most
Seeing this potentially rJ.ther obvious defen-
often come with a mor~ convincing argument
sive move (after all, White just parted ·with a
for rhe necessi rv of accepting the sacrifice;
rook for a simple cempo) is for some reason
tor example by .raking a procecced pawn, or
what is hardesr for most players. Only once
sin1iLu·.
 Chapter 2 -Typical Piece Play 85

we start to look at the posmon one move 7 .•. lbc4

ahead seriously, do we realise rhar the racrical lhere is nothing else.
sequence has nm yet reached ir.s conclusion.
8.c6!
3 ...iWxa3 is of course possible, bur once again, 8.t"Llxe6t!? ~g8 9.c6 t"Llxa3 1o.t"Llxg7! also
\'\!hire will win with rhe queen for only rwo wins, but in a very quirky way it mmt be said.
pteces.
s.. .Cbxa3 9.cxb7
4.dxc5 'W!e7 9.tDh7t!?

9...'W!xb7

a b c d e f g h

5.~xe6!! a b c d e f g h
lhis is an absolutely famasric sacrifice.
IO.lbh7t!
\X'hire wanrs ro get rhc queen close ro the
Even this move can be hard to spor.
black king, but the check 011 h7 would not
achieve rhis without this blow to rhe black
1o.tDxe6t?? ~g8 is probably only a draw.
pawn structure.
10 ... ~g8
5.c6? '1Wxg5 6.cxb7 tDxb7 is nor really clear. I O... ~e7 IJ.'.Wxg7t <i>d6 12.\Wxb? wins.

Only 5.Ji.c1 !~ bxc5 6.\Wh?·l @fH 7.t"Lle4 ixe4 ll.CLJffit ~f8 12.'Wfe8 mate!
8.Ji.h6 ~e8 9.~xg7 gives White an advanrage
as well, bm it sri ll htils to decide rhe g;tme lhis was all fiction, of course, but delightful
directly. fiction!

s... fxe6 rn1e next example shows a normal fighting

Or 5 ... 1M"xg5 ()_ges·;· ~f8 7.c6 and \'\/hire
\VlllS.
6.'W!h7t ~f8 7.'W!xg6
Black is completely losr. "!here is no defence
against the advance of rhe c-pawn, exposing
the crater on f7.
game, norhing (OO fancy. Bmh players -...vant
ro \Vin, White is putting his faith in earthly
posse~sions, while Black builds his treasures
on heavenly inspiration. I might be biased
towards aggressive chess, bur anyone would
acknowledge that this is a grear achievement
by the Greek grandmaster.
86 Arracking Ivfanual 2
'llte game smrcs with a ~!iglu provocation
from \'V'hire; he ca<>tles queenside, into rhc
half-open b-file. "lhe open file is enough for
Black co become active, but alone it wonld nor
have been enough m win the game. However,
Black in.vires his opponcnr ro indulgt> his
p;.lssion for maredal things and a rough fighr
~:n,.,ues. White might stan off bener, hut is
unable to cope with rhc practical problems
over (he board.
Andrei Orlov- Stellios Halkias
European Championship, Dresden 2007
l.e4 e5 2.CDf3 liJc6 3.liJc3 liJf6 4.d4 exd4
S.liJxd4 ~b4 6)tJxc6 bxc6 7.~d3 dS 8.exd5
cx:dS
a b c d e f g h
9.~e2t
I am quire suspicious ahour the validity of
rhis move. 'H1e main plan involves castling
queenside, whlle rhc: b-flle is open. J do nor
rhink rhis is appropriartt.
"lhe usual 9.0-0 looks more sensible.
9 ...~e7 lO.~gS 0-0 I 1.0-0-0 ~e6 12J~hel
h6 13.ih4 ~d6
13 ... c5 immediately would be met \-Virh
eirh.er 14.~f5 or 14.~.c4!?.
14.ig3
14.~f5? no longer works, tn view of
I4 .. .\Wf4t.
I4... ~b6 IS.CDb5
White is already wanting for sensible
moves. Afre1· 15.~f5 Black can reply 15 ... ~xf5
16.\Wxe? d4!, when for example 17.~xc7 ®c6
wins material, based on 18.gxd4 gae8 and the
rook on e 1 is hanging.
IS .•. cS!?N
1S.. JHc8 16.lt.Jd4 gabS l7.c3 was seen in
Deb Villa Garcia -Su. Polgar, Salamanca 1989.
Here Black could have obtained rhe advantage
with 17 ... ~d7!, as the knighr is exposed on d4.
16.c4!
11)b JnO\'e is absolmely essential. After
I6Al:k:7? c4! \XIhite needs to arrempt the
desperare looking 17.~g6!, as after 17.t2lxa8?
gx~18 l8.~f5 c3! Black wins.
16... ~ab8!?
16 ... gfc8! would h;we given chances for both
sides, al[hough only one player has a king
 Chapter 2 -Typical Piece Play
rhar is in danger. ~lhi~ would be rhe standard
approach ro chis position, bm Halkias docs nor
rhink rhat he has any use for rwo rooks, when
he has only one open file under his comrol.
17..ic7!
The most principled move. After 17 ..ixb8
~xb8 18.b3 Black V•muld have rhe move ... a6
at some rnorncnt and would generally enjoy
good compc:nsarion for the exchange.
There are cwo downsides ro rhc: queen being
pushed co a6. One: is the absence of this pawn
push, the orhcr is the: fork on c7.
17.. -Vffa6 18 ..ixh8 :gxh8 19. ctlc7?!
I am a bir sceptical abom the value of this
nwve. White is a rook up, bur Black gaim
enough time ro wrcttk havoc near the white
king. And as rhcre are no real targets in the:
black posicion, it is difficulr ro use rhe rook
positively.
19.b3! was rhe berrcr oprion, I believe:. I am
nor entirely sure that Black can prove ndequarc
compensarion for the exchange. At rhe momenr
the knight on b5 is difll.culr to dislodge. 1hc
threats of Ci:Jc7 and .ifS would make the
simadon a bit: inconvenicnr for Black.
87
20.. J~Ya1 2l.ctlxe6
White has won a rook, however nor wirhour
some concessions. The rook is active on b8, the
opposite-colomed bishops favour rhe attacker
(nor just traditionally, bm specifically in the
present posicion), and rhe white king is exposed
both from the side and on the diagonals from
f() and gS. But then again, a rook is not <l. small
piece!
Alrhough the position appears extremely
unbalanced, analysis acrually shows rhar
accurarc play should lead to roughly equal
chances tor boch sides.
2I. ..ltJe4!
1l1e knight cakes an oA.ensive pose, and on
rhe way indi1·ecrly attacks rhe knight on e6.
22.Vffc2~!
lr rurns our rhar W11ire's only way ofsraying
fully in rhe game was 22..~xd5 fxe6 23.:gh5!,
where the rook is ready to give irself up for the
bishop, rhe knight on e4 is hanging and the
whire king has rhe d 1-squarc at his disposal.
Both the check on g5 and 23 ...g6 lead to
exchanges and a drawish position.
After rhc slow 22.1Wc2, Black's arrack gains
momenrum.
8H Attacking Manual 2

24J~xe4?
\Xlhite could have offered greater resistance
with 24 ..l;e2, bur Black's advantage is srill
mouncing after 24 ... ~xb2 25.~xb2 (25.'Wx:e4?
leads ro mate afrcr 25 ... .l;xe2 26.Wfxe2 'Wa3t)
25 ... ~xb2t 26 ..l;xb2 lt:lc3 27.dxe6 lt:lx:bl
28 ..!;d8t ~h7 29 ..l;xbl '1¥1'a3t 30.~dl 'Wa4t
3l.~cl ~c4i', although h will not be so easy
ro win this ending.

24.. J~xb2 25J~'d3 ~xf.l

22 ...fxe6I
Alrhough we arc happy to sacrifice material,
we do so only out of need, not om of some
aesthetic principles. '1 he attacking player sri II
ha~ to live in a material world, or h~ will go to
bed hungry.

22 ....~J6?! is weaker. \XIhite is able to save rhe

g.une wirh a long ractical sequence, balancing
on the edge. 23 ..l;xc:4! <he4 24.l2Jf4 ~xb2t
.25.~d2 ~e5 26.lfNxe4 ~xf4t 27.'Wxf4 .l;xb 1

Black is winning. Occupying the second rank

b far more important than a litde rook ...

26.~d2 .tg5 27.~f4

1 am nor really sure wh~tt
rhc idea behind
chis move was supposed to be. Maybe co give
.1 final check?

\XIhirc's last hope was 27 ..Ehc6 with the dueat

of ~eSt. Here it is imporrr.tnr for Black ro
a b c d e f g h
hold his horses and simply protect against this
28.\WbSt!! ~xb8 29 ..l;xal .!;b2t 30.@e3 ~c2 check with 27 ... ~f8!!, when he is absolutely
3l ..l;xa7 .l;xc4 32J3c71his endgame should be winning. He needs ro take with the rook on
a draw. Black can test the: defence, bur against d2, as after 27 ... ~xd2t? 28.~d 1 rhe white
dc:cc-nr pby, he will not be successful. king is strangely .safe.

23.cxd5 if6! 27... ixf4 28.~h7't @f7 29.~g6t @£8

23 ...iLg5t 24J~e3 would be t;tr less 30.dxe6 'W'c3t
efFective. 0-1
 Chapter 2 - Typical Piece Play 89

1here will hardly be a game in rhis book where 2S •• J~k4?

we will not encounter a piece sacrifice for rime, 1l1is is the key mistake. 1l1e reason why rhis
at least in a line; so I \vill nor delve more deeply move is bad, is because White gets a transition
into rhe subjecr. Iris obvious rhar although the square on c4 for his knight. Suddenly there is
rheme is a common one, che pmsiblc variarions easy access ro rhe brilliant square on f6! 1his
.ue more than we can ever learn. New tactical does not come through cleanly in rhe game,
ideas are found continuously and the ambitious as both players were still a bit away from
player has more and more to learn. Especially their prime, but still shines duough in rhc
with the rise of computers, our understanding ann otario ns.
of tactics has expanded rapidly.
~il1e correct move was 25 ... h5, after which
Transition squares Black is still somewhat worse, but still in the
game.
\\!hen I was a very young boy and played my
first international tournament, 1 was deeply
26J!xc4!
impressed by one of d1c rising Danish ~cars,
White immediately claims the square, even
1-Ienrik Danielsen, who in this rournamcm
ar the cost of giving his opponent a pa~sed
made an IM norn1 and six years later made
pawn.
ir all the way to rhe coveted Gl'vl tide. His
only loss in rhis rournamcnr made a deep
26... dxc4
impact on me, or ar least rhe explanation he
offered of why be lost the game. We join his
suffering at the mornenr where be made what
he considered rhe decisive mistake back rhen.
Although the increase in playing strengths of
the computers and rhc author reveals thar rhis
i~ maybe inaccurate, rhe general exphmarion of
why the next move is a mistake is just as valid
roday as ir was twenty years ago.

Jusefs Petkevich- Henrik Danielsen

Lyna\w
~ 0 .
1990

a b c d e f g h
Whire's plan is clear. He should focus all
his eftorrs imo a kingside arrack, utilising the
key e4~square in order to facilitate a knight
invasion on f6.

27J~dl?!
White could either have starred the transition
of the knighr with rhe powerful 27.t:t::lg5 or
prepared it with 27.\¥1h6! :9:c8 28.~c1, when
after 28 ... \¥1b6:
a b c d e f cr
0
h
90 Attacking Manual 2

to go to the kingsidc via c 1, while Black is roo

focused on ddence to appreciate the potemial
disruption the c~pawn can cause in the white
camp.

28.. J!e8
28 ...c3 29 ..tcl Cclc7!? would have given
Black reasonable fighting chances. Compare
this with the later lines where the bishop is still
active on b2.
a b c d e f g h
White should not be decoyed and think 29.~h6
that one piece can son ir all our, by playing 29.tZJd4!? to change tack was probably a
29.~,g5?, when 29 ... Ccld4! would bring Black sound option, bur the game is nor anywhere
b<tck in the game on an t:ven fooring. Instead near decided. Again 29 ... c3! is rhe way for
ht: ~hould utilise rhe nc:mendous power of the Black ro fight on. 30.Cclxb5 cxb2 31.~d2
knight. b 1;;;;;\W 32.~xb 1 Cclxe5 and Whi(e is somewhat
After 29.l'l3g51 llJfS 30.Cclc4 rhe threar of better, bur nothing more .
.~.gS is far srronge1'. Black can srill defend
hin1self wirh 30 ... Ccld4, when White has a 29•.. ltk7?
very srmng com purer move in 31.11Nf4!!. Black ll'l.is was rhe last chance ro play 29 ... c3!
is threatened wirh the subtle Ccld6 followed 30.~c l c2!} where Black remains active.
by ~.e3, winning a pie<.:e. And ~1frcr .3 l ... t/.JfS
White has 32.g4 Cclg7 33.tDd6 ~c7 34JWf6!
a11d the knighl· is f~1.bulom on d6. Black has
no defence against 35.~h6, winning the
house.
Notice how all of thi~ was made possible
because the knight was able to access rhe
e4~square. Wirhom it Black would scill have
encountered some problems on the dark
squares, bur \XIhire would nor have enough
firepower ar his disposal ro make ir count. . .

27... ~c8
27 ...1J:lic6! was probably even rougher.

28.~g5?!
Once again \XIhite could have played more 30.'t~g5 tlJf8 3I.tLle4
ilCCUI'ately. Bectcr was 2~L);cJ! and Black finds
mack is busted. The knighr is supreme here.
ir hard to de~-\l wirh l/.Jf3~g5~e4·d6/R}. Bur in
what follows both players seem ro be oblivious 31..J!d8
ro rhe importance of che bishop on b2. White Black could also have fought: for rhe f6-
does little ro preserve its .srrengrh, happy for ir square, valiantly perh~ps, but nor succes~fully.
 Chapter 2 -1)'pical Piece Play 91

After .3l...tt'ld5: Patrick Driessens - Friso Nijboer

Leidcn 2008

a h c d e f g h
White can of course give the check on f6,
bur J prefer ro prove rhc: srrengrh of the long
diagonal wirh 32J~xd5! exd5 33.~f6"!" ~h8
34.e6! c3 35.e7! ~xe7 36.ixc3 and Black i~
mated wirh tLle8"! in many lines.

32J3d6 ~bS 33.Wlg5

Whirc wins all rhc same, hut here he misses a
nice litrle racric in 33.~f6·i· ~h8 34.ctJh5!.

33 .. J;d7 34.~f6t ~g7 35.~xd7 26 ... ~e6!

35.lDg4! would have decided rhe game
insranrly, but one feels the rising of rhe Aag
and the shaking of rhe hand in evefy move:
\'ifhire makes in rhis phase.
Putting annoying pres~ure on d4, simply
ionorino rhe threat ro che kni 0ohr. White was
b 0
duly provoked and decided ro accept the
after.

35 ... ~xd7 36J3dl c3 37.~cl c2 38J3d2 27.exd5?

W/c6 39.Wfe7 ~xeS 40J3d8 W/e4 4I.W/f8t 27.ic5 was bercer. The position is messy, bur
~f6 42.~g5t ~fS 43.W/c5 W/el t 44.~h2 probably in balance.
~c3 45.f3 Wfxh4t 46.~xh4 cl=VN 47.g4t
~f4 48.~g3t ~xf3 49.Wfflt 27... Wfxd5t 28.~gl gxc4!
1-0 DeA.ccrion!

Ever since seeing chis game T have been 29.~xc4?!

aware of the power of tfansition squares. 1l1is 29.'\Wxc? was more resisrant, bur afrer
awarenes~ is important ifyou want to devdop a 29 ... ct.Jg5 White will have ro parr wirh his
ouod intuition for the attack. In the following
b queen, and you would expect Black to be
u-a1ne a verv- srront0• attacking player rempred
b successful after 30.Wfxg5 '\Wxg5 31.ixf8 ~c2
his opponcm with a piece. Unccrcain of rhc alrhough rhea-pawn creates some uncertainty.
consequence~, Black decided to accept the
off-er, somcrhing he would live to regrc:t. 29 ... ~g5!
92 Attacking Manual 2

8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
a b c d e f g h a b c d e f g h
A brilliam uansirion square. The knight will I am very sceptical about this line. 1he
come ro h3 or f3 with devastating effect. problem is that Black quickly £-llls behind in
development. White's next six moves have only
30J~fdl fx:g3 one decem answer, and then White is already
0-1 ru\ly mobilised.

ln rhe next game we shall witness a brillianr ll.~xc4!

arrack on rhe kingside, which relied upon a
rramirion square on rhe opposite side of the
board. Former World Champion Alexander
Khalifman leaves his opponent wirh no chance.
lr is nor easy ro guess how much of his play
was opening preparation and how much was
genuine over-the-board in~piration, bur the
moves are illustrative of how a vicious acrack
can be initiated wirh a grear ~wing across the
fourrh, using an unlikely square as a transition
poinr tor rhe queen.
Alexander Khalifman- Konstantin Maslak
White's advantage should mainly consisr
of a lead in development. Therefore this is
be££er rhan 11.~c2 bS! with borh sides having
chances.
ll. .. ~xe4 12.~xe4 ~xe4 13.~g5!
1l1is move ensures Whire the ini£ia£ive.1here
is no pleasanr way for Black ro meet it.
13 ... ~f6 14.~d3 ~e8
8
7

Acrof-lor Op<.:n, Moscow 2007 6

5
l.d4 ~f6 2.c4 g6 3.~c3 ~g7 4.e4 0-0 s.~f3
4
d6 6.h3 cS 7.d5 e6 8.~d3 exdS 9.cxd5 ~e8
A typical move, although ideas wirh 9... l2Jh5 3
are not as smpid as rhcy mighr appear at first 2
glance.
1
10.0-0 c4 a b c d e f g h
 Chapcer 2- Typical Piece Play 93

~n,is is the great 1110111enr of the game/

games. White has accunHllated a 11light lead
in development, bur cannot .H chi~ moment
ea!.ily find cargers. His most active pieces are
pointing at the kingside, bur at rhe moment
rbey are not suH1ciently supported ro creare
real damage. All chis is changed with the next
power move.

15.1!Na4!!
Quick development is the only way for a b c d e f g h
\'{fhite to prove an advantage. 1l1e queen uses 22.~xg6!! @xg6 23.~xf6 ctJxf6 24.~f5 @g?
the a4-square to bounce off, like a hilliard ball, 25.%Vg5t @.ffi 26.~xf6 Wie7 27.ctJf5 Wie1 t
ro reach the highly desirable h4-square, from 28.@b2 WieSt 29J4 ~xd5 30.~h6 1-0
where she can acc;tck the weake:.c .square in che ]. Horvarh- C. Horvath, Bischwiller 1993.
black position: h7.
In vie\v of the threat ro the rook on e8, Black
only has one reasonable move.

1S ... ~d7
The problem is rhac after chis move it is
next ro impossible to gee che rest of the pieces
inro the game; ;u leasr within a reasonable
cimeframe. This, and the prominenr placement
of the white queen, prove ro be the decisive
factors.

16.1!Nh4 .ixgS
1l1e alternative i~:
16 ... a6 17 .~ae 1 ~xe 1 18.~xe 1 bS
1l1is is best mer with:
19.~e4!
The rook plays an important role on the
fourth rank.
19 ... ~b7
Previously
19... ~xg5 20.l2Jxg5 ctJf8!? wrvived for Black
17 ... ctJf6
in Santoro - Kujala, Finland 1991, but 1 do
had been played, but White gets a grea(
nor crust the black pm.ition.
arrack after:
20.~f4 ~g7 2t.l2Jd4!
18.£4! @g7
An improvement over 21.'\¥1h6t @gS
'lhis is in principle che best defence.
22J:l!h4 @g7 2,J.Wh6i· @gS 24.~h4 Y2-Y2
18 ... E:c3 was torn apart with 19.ctJxb7! @g7
P. Cramling- \'V'edberg, Stockholm 1990.
20.f5 in Luch- Bednarek, \Xl;u·saw 2005.
21 ... h5
18 ... Wib6t!? is the computer's favourite, but
White was chrearening ~f5t winning.
a human can see rhar it is not the tlueen
94 Attacking Manual 2

thar lacks options, bur rhc queenside. Srill
ic i~ not so easy ro advance rhe f:..pawn after
19. ~h 1 ~b4! rho ugh \X/ hire should remain
better. 20.1¥lh6! looks besr, freeing rhe
f.. pawn. 20 ... ~xb2 21.f5 <lnd one should nor
be roo optimistic abour Black'~ prospects.
19.f5 h6
1his position has arisen a few rime!>. 1hc
winning line for \X'hirc is nor surprisingly
associated with a c.l irecr sacrifice:
~l11ere is no good defence ro 27.ie8!,
wi 1111ing.
18Jf!ael!
Bringing in the rook must be good. 1H.f4
has been suggested, bur does nor convince.
18.. J~xel
ll1e main aJrernanvc was:
18 ... ~e5
This is maybe better, but if White first
develops fully, rhcn strikes, Black will find
his position very difficult:
19.~xe5 dxe5 20.gel id7 2I.ic4
t7 is the weakness.
21 ... ~c8 22..ib3 ~g7 23.f4!

8
7
6
a b c d e f g h 5
20.~xf7! @xf7 21.1Wxh6 g5 4
21 ... gxf5 22.,\hfS !xfS 23.gxf5 ~h8 24JMf4 3
~g8 25.:i~f1 gg6 26.h4! and rhcre is no 2
defence against 27.h5, winning.
22.~g6t @fS 23.:gael!
Bringing in rhc lasr piece for rhc kill. a b c d e f g h
23 ... ~xe1 Black is in trouble, for example:
23 ... :ge5 24.1¥lxg5 ~e7 25.~h4! rollowed by 23 ... h6 24.~xh6t! @xh6 25.ltJxf7t ~g7
rhc exchange of rooks on c5 and gc 1 with an 26.l2Jxd8 gxd8 27.fxe5
i rrcsisrible arrack. Sometimes the attacker must setrle for a
24.B;xc 1 WbGt 25.c±>h 1 1¥lxb2 26.ibS!! transition to a favourable endgame. 1l1e pawns
are likely ro claim a victim and White will end
material up rarher than material down.

19.gxel !d7
White b. fully de\·eloped and should srrike at
the weaknesses.

20.~f4
1l1e game is acmally already decided. Black
never made it our of the opening and now has
ro weaken his position badly.
a b c d e f g h
 Chapter 2 -Typical Piece Play 95

20.~g3!? h6 2l.ll:Je4 was another damaging
(lor Black) approach ro the posirion.
20 ... f5 2I.&L:le6
Khalifman is a great technician and nacurally
moves roward1. a lasting rather rhan a dynamic
advantage. Others might have played rhe
posicion differendy.
25.1Mic3 Wgs 26.1Mig3t wrs 27.1Mic3 Wgs
28.exd7 1Mixd7 29.ge3
1he endgame after 29.~g3t ~h8 30.~h4!
( rhrea ren ing ;ge7) 30 .. J~e8 31. mrfG t ®g8
32.~g5t! ®h8 33.;gxe8t 'l.Wxe8 34.~xf5
should win as well, bur any grandmaster will
prefer the winning rook endgame over rhe
winning queen ending.

2L •• tLlxe6 29 ... £4
21 .. ."?!Je7 is slightly more accur~He, bur ab-o 1he only move.
afrer 22.;ge3 'Lixe6 23.dxe6 ic6 24.Wd4 Black
would be facing an uphill struggle for a draw. 30.\M/c4t 1Mff7 31.\M/xf?t
31.ge6!? was also strong.
22.dxe6 \M/e7
-n,e different move order gives White 31. .. ®xf7 32.ge4
additional opporrunirics.

a b c d e f g h
23 ..ixf5!
1he dearest. 35 ... ~cl t 36.~h2 @d4 was a different
approach, bur after 37.;ge7 White \vill win.
23.\Wg3!? ;gf8 24JWe3 ic8 25.W/xa7 winning a
pawn also existed. 36J~d2t
Pushing rhe king back.
23... gxf5
23 .. J~f8 24.Wc4! and \XIhire keeps his newly 36 ..• ®e5 37.®fl!
acq uil'ed extra pawn. The king belongs in rhe cenu~.

24.1Mfg3t ®f8 37... d5 38.®e2 d4 39.®d3 ®ds 40.f4 grs

24 ... '\&g? loses dcgantl)' to 25.exd7 i&xg3 4l.~tL hS 42.f5 ®e5 43.f6 ®ds
26.;gc8·! Wf7 27J~xa8!. 1-0
96 Atracking JVlanual 2

Black correctly decided rhar rurcher re~i~rance

would be futile.

l his was an impre:.sive game on many levels,

bur none of this would ever have happened
h~l<l it nor been for the powerful queen transfer
ro h4 on move 15. l11e ability to assess which
pieces should be contributing more, and
From which squares they could do so, i~ an
impormnr p;ut of being a good attacker, if nor
the most imponam pare. l11is is why I pur the
anemion on rhe pieces as rhe firsr suhjecr in
Volume One.
In rhe final game of this segmcnr we shall
sec J.nother player making u:,e of the a4- and
h4-:,quares as transition squares to assault rhe
black king.
9.f5!
Zoltan Almasi- Joerg Hickl This is the critical resr.

German Bundesl iga 200.3 9... ltk7 10.a4 a6?!

l.e4 g6 2.d4 ~g7 3.lilc3 d6 4.f4lilf6
A friend of mine was ralking ro a top
grandmaster abom the difficulty he was
experiencing in getting an opening advanrage.
TI1e supcr-GM replied: "\XIcll, you cannot
play against the Pirc every day:" 1, roo, tend co
gc::r oprimistic when T am left wirh peace and
quiet to use my extra tempo in rhe opening
to establish a srrong presence in rhe cenn·e.
However, objectively I am nor sure the Pirc is
worse than any orh~r opening.
s.lil£3 o-o
I suspect rhar tbi.s prob.1bly oives
t> bc:rrer
equalising chances dtan 5 ... c5.
6.~d3 llJ a6!?
6 ... tl:Jc6 intending ... c5 is the main line, bur
mosr of rhe real aficionados play rhe opening
rhis way.
1o... gxf5!? here or on the next move 1~ the
only way for Black to fight for equaliry in rhis
line. It is berrer here than on the next move, as
the pawn structure is impure afrer rhe dance
with the a-pawtls.
ll.a5 llJbS?
rfhis is designed to put pressure on c4, but
it does nor work. 1l1e whirc centre is roo solid
to be undermined in this way; it needs ro be
attacked head-on.
l2.fxg6 hxg6
12 ... fxg6 leaves the c6-square vulnemble.
\XIhire exploited this ideally in the following
example: 13.ttJxb5 axb5 l4.ixb5 lbxe4
15.~cl l!Jt() 16.l!Jg5 when Black was busted,
Smerdon - ReiHy, Queenscown 2006.
l3.Wel!
The queen .supports rhc e-pawn and is on the
way co h4. Black is in rrouble on the kingside

7.0-0 c5 8.ds B!b8?! 13... lilxc3 14.bxc3

 Chapter 2 - Typical Piece
a b c d e f a
1:>
h
14... t[}h7
Black tries ro counter rhe queen eaterging
on h4. 1his move look11 odd, but it is very
difficult to ~ee how Black can easily improve
his position.
One other game wenr:
14 ... iWc7 15.c4!
White has complete conrrol over the centre
and great arracking prospects. It ic; not a
surprise that Black found ir hard ro pick a
move here.
15 ... lL1g4
The long diagonal is nor a problem. If Black
rakes a pawn, he will pay for it in valuable
rime, used ~1gainsr his king:
15 ... lL1xc4 16.!h3! lL1f6 17.lL1gS gives White
a great arrack.
And 15 .. .l2Jxd5?! is simply bad. Whire
surprises with 16.e5!! dxc5 17.cxd5 e4
18.lL1g5 and Black is losr. -lhc combination
of 'Wh4 and ~f4 (in rhe event rhar Black
captures on al) is roo much to meet.
16."\Wh4!
-TI1c arrack supersedes everything.
16 ... ~f6
16 ... ~xa 1? 17.tLlg5
17.lL1g5 ixg5 \8."\Wxg5!
This is slightly more prectse, keeping rhc
bishop on c 1 flexible.
18 ... lL1e5 l 9.~f4 b6 20.~e2 bxa5 2l.ga3 ~b4
Play 97
22.~h6 iWb6 23.g4 :gbl
2.3 ... lL1xg4 24.~xg4 ~.xg4 25J:~g3 ~d7
26.~cl leads to mare.
24.:gh3 :gxfl t 25.!xf1
1-0 Aagaard- Galassi, Porro Mannu 2008.
a b c d e f g h
"lhis is rhe great moment in the game (which,
by the way, will nor last roo long anyway... ).
'Xlhire has ser up a strong attacking position,
all his pieces bur one are involved in rhe arrack,
or ar least poised ro do so. k I never get tired
of repeating, your chances of a successful
arrack increase dramatically when you use all
of your pieces.
In this position Zoltan Almasi finds a way
ro do exactly this; in only three moves from
now, the least becomes the first, with the rook
going from being out of play on al, to being
the predominant attacking piece.
In what follows I will ger a bit bogged down
in rhe various lines, as I really want to prove
rhe strength of rhe white arrack. In most of the
examples in this book, 1 have conducted a far
more extensive analysis rhan that which appears
in the finished version. Despite knowi11g rhar 1
would never have enough space ro include rhe
full analysis, I wanted to be sure rhat what I
am saying is not founded upon a mere hunch
or intuition, bur on undisputed fact. It is
absolutely possible to advocate techniques thar
appear convincing, but do nor work, simply
98 Attacking ~1.anual 2

becaus~ they are builr on !~u1lry infornution. 16."'dxe5

For rhis reason I h<IVe rakcn unprejudiced
analysis more and more seriously rhe ia.H few
years. Ar rhe same rime, my playing snengrh
has Increased grearly...
15.e5!!
Tn principle rhis is a pawn sacrifice, alchough
in praccice this is not so imporcam, as caking
rhe c-pavvn is ummracdve tor Black. What
is remarkable abour rhis move, i~ rhar rhis
cradirional break in rhe cenrre 1s norhing of
rhe sorr, bur a cle~tl'<\nce sacrifice of the pawn,
making it possible for rhc rook on a 1 ro
support the armed forces and lead che white
men into barrie.
Before we ger into rhe 'proof pan of rhe
game, ler us talk abour the strategy one last
rime. White is transferring rhe rook to the
kingside in order ro have a majority of forces
rh<~te. If we look at this in terms of the assault
racio, the rook shifts the balance heavily into
\XIhire's favour. Just compare this piece \'i'ith its
counterpart on b8, which is doing nothing w
aid the defence.
Only deep analysis can prove rhat this
rheoretical poinr is accurate, so here we go!
'Ihe other opcion here is:
I G... cxd5 17 .;gh4 j_xe5!

I5 ... e6
8 §~.2_~
: ..... >< . ,, ____ /- ~-~~~
'-----~ $~

Black is trying ro counter the white ccmre a~ 7

6
~~il~ . -~~-'--~
i~~ W.l ~i~~ ~
well as caking contml over rhe h4-square.
S ~'--~M-~x~~~-# 1
1here ~1.rc not really <ttl)' mher playable moves. '··-·\P«t/'····'·W$~0-"'"~---~~~~~i~~
Wf% ~ ~ ;7~d~
&
Afcer l5 ... dxe5 16.lLixe5 'Mlxd5 I 7.~f4 Black is
4
3 ~~,/-~~I~~~--- . Y ;

under a set of rhfencs, such as j_c4 and ll.Jxg6. 2 %~~~~~?.~ ~~~ ft*[j
m , ~<>::0//.m·~-, @.:':\~~i:f~§ft:1-z-;.}. ::
1 ~A ~ ~:$iM~
a b c d e f g h
I think this is the toughest defence, although
even this i~ nor sufficient.
17 ... dxe5 transposes ro the nexr note.
18.fEh6!!
We wrll see rhls move in many positions.
On<:: of the main reasons is that the g6-pawn
is the only .srrong point" in the black posirion,
once it go~s) rhe rest of the position goes.
11v: theory behind this idea was covered in
Chapter 6 ofVolume One.
a b c d e f g h 18J~xh7? is less successful h~?.te. "l1le
16.E!a4!! problem is thar rhe bishop is no longer on
1l1e rook continues the journey. I apologise g7. 18 ... cj;>xh7 19.lLJg5·r ~g7 20.~h4 gh8
for my possibly cxcc~sive enthusiasm; I have 21.~xf7t @gS 22J2:h7 ·n1e arrack does
inherircd. it from Avrukh (who annor;.ned the noc work. After 22 .. .'IM!e7!! Black is ~1.ble co
game for ChessBase:), bur fully share his feeling repulse rhc arrack.
of awe about Almasi's play. t8 ... ~J6
 Chapter 2 -Typical Piece Play
White was rhreacening ~imply ro capture the
bishop nmv.
If 18 ... ~g7? then 19Jhh7 works.
19 •~(1l:J''2
More pre~~ure is pur on g6. Black is nor able
ro finish his development as he has to pay
arrenrion co idea~ ~uch as ~xg6t.
19 ... \We7 20.'Llh4
Another piece is attacking g6. White does
not have ro hide his intentions or be Aexible
abour rhem, as he has won enough rime in
exchange tor his rwo pawns.
IO t... -
- ... ~C)
Irritating rhe queen is rbe best Black can do.
Giving up the bishop wirh 20 ... ~xh4
,.,ill allow \XIhire ro cur through on the
dark ~quares. ·n1e following line is .1 good
illustration of chis: 21.~xh4 c4 22.~xg6
fxg6 23.1Mfxg6t IWg7 24.~xf8! lLlxf8
25.\Wxd6 ~a8 26.~h6 \Wf7 27.~xfH Black
cannot rec:tprurc as ~hHi" win~, while after
a developing move such as 27 ... ~f) White
can destroy rhc defences wirh rhe following
fantastic move: 28.~g7!! 1hc main line is:
28 ...1Wxg7 29.\Wxd5t \Wf7 30.~h81' ~g7
3l.Wfxf71" cj;Jxf7 .'32.~xa8 and White wins.
2l.GtJxg6!
1l1e pieces are all in place now, so ir i~ rime
for chis sacrifice. lhe move order is nor
hugely imporram, bur sacrificing rhe knight
here eliminate~ ~ome ideas with ... \W'g).
21 ... fxg6 22.~f4!
a b c d e f g h
99
'I he g6-pawn is lose, buc there is no reason
co rake ir immediately. First White uses rhe
inactive bishop to eliminate one of the most
important defenders. Black's two best options
both lead to joyless endings.
a) 22 ... ~g7 23.~xd6 Simplest. 23 .. J!xfl t
24.~xfl \Wf7 25.~xg6 ~f5 26.~xg7t ~xg7
27.~xb8 Wfxg3 28.~xg3 ~xc2 29.~d6 c4
30. @f2 White should win this ending. He bas
blocked che opponent's pawns successfully and
has rwo mobile passed pav. •ns of his own. On
top of this he has rhe two bishops ...
b) 22 ... ~xf4 23.~xf4 ltJffi White is fully builr up
and ready to strike. 24.~xg6t! ~g7 25.~xg7i'
\Wxg7 26.!hf8t! Winning back the piece.
26 ... ~xf8 27.\Wxd6t Wffe7 28.\¥!xb8 ®el t
29.~J1 Wc3t 30.@h 1 \Wc6 31.c4 dxc4 32.\Wc7
and 33.Wixc5 wirh a \vinning endgame.
17.~h4
'lhc rook has joined che arrack ro lead from
rhc front line.
17... ~f6
Black is trying ro control rhe g5-square while
ar the same rime disturbing rhe rook.
1l1e ot1ly alternative is to allow Whire to
sacrifice on h7, bur ignore ir and play in rhe
centre. However, chis is also nor sufficient:
17 ... exd5 18.~xh7! e4
100 Attack'mg lv1anual 2

19J!xg7t ~xg7 20.1W 3

~a8
l8 ...c4
20 ... exd3 211Wx g.
23.'1&e3 le aves. b8
Blackdxc2 . 22 ·~e-) ...1 and 1bis does
bish op. n or succeed in d'lStracring the
After
compensation tor th . wtrh insufficient
work rem . e piece, even . f . b' 19.i.xg6!
?1 "' aws. l ·• tt of [he attack is ver .
19 ... F.<g6 20 ~ 6~ ~ong. For instance·
- ."Z..le5 .~xg 1 ):{I1 8 2 ~ ·
After 21...e ? r:-,. 1 1.£h6 ggs
1l"lrearenino Ei:xf7·~ 1
4 --·"Z..lo-5
~~, : t.
I ·
? cmgbt in any way." .
Bl ack cannot tak< the
2I...Wfe8 2?_,so-')

1hc white:t~ck" xgb6t ~g8 24.W/u3

g olnc tbrear ofW/f61. . and !lfl-f4- _2.'Lixe5 ~xo-6 ?3 'Li
'2h4~:
Esrablishin
1 8.
' ~e7
24. .. \!lfl 25.l2Je5t 1S a solute! . ~
2 ~ y d ecistve. After
~'hite
- ... se6 23.c4
· 1 wins l · 6.:9:xf6
1his -•cbe mosrr• sn·a1o
move,is<uthough . o ufo J·ward winniJ •
acK pieces ·· , rle que en, and rhe re st: of rhe
I job done neie 're
oae t ne ' d"lli
I erent ways o
'" bl

23 ... exd3 24 ·- ~g8

26.~b2 .cxcb ~dG 25.®h6t to 18 ... ~c7 Wl
working.
to cover 1
. 1 t le seventh rani· .
ch< k" . me '"' sudl a . ' IS not
mgslde that he can ·tglear majorit)l on
Black is <::>oo ne. stn (e d'lrectly with·

18J~h6!

18 ... exd5
Other moves \vere:

19 w
Mr..
bust~d·. .~xg6t @h8 22·=~
~n g666..
18... Wlxd5 .IS turilc
- e7 exposes rhc
_O.j,b?
'
. . •viii. Aflrer
- \Y/lure . ! 19 ·c4•· fo ll owed bv er: 20 ..txo-61 fx queen m a fork
I agonal co 'oniinate qwc Black is g6 21 ~
!
{ . che dy exploi t t 11c long·
d enem)' (Jos'. mon.
.
 Chapter 2 ~Typical Piece Play 101

19 ...1We8 This time rhe exchange sacrifice is pure

1his is cur straight ro pieces with: deAecrion, raking the king away from f7.
20J!xf6! l2lxf6 2I.1Wh4
Threaten.ing mare in 2. 20... ~xh7
21...~g7 20 ...ixe5 also does nor work. After 21.1Wxe5
~xh7 White can choose between mating rhe
king and simply taking the rook on b8.

21.ttlxf7
l-0
In this miserable posmon Black resigned.
If he does nor capmre the knight, \Xfhire will
play iWg3 and rake on g6 with rhe queen. And
if he does remove the troublesome sreed, the
material is equal, bur White is coming with
:gxg7t, Wle5 and ~g3 anyway...

22.~g5!!
Lines of Communication
Puning the bi.<.hop on l4 is also possible, but
this is a killer.
Thinking back to our description of the assault
22 ... \WxeS 23 ..txf6t W'xf6 24J3h7t ~g8
ratio, it is clear rhat it is imporranr to keep
25.~xf6 ~xh7
our pieces in contact with the scene of action,
Black has rwo rooks for rhe queen, bur not
and at the same time to cut off the opponent's
for long.
pieces.
26.~xg6t @g8 27 ..id3
Here we shall first look ar three examples
White is chrearening mare in three moves.
where the attacker should fight to keep his
27 .. J~!e8
pieces at rheir peak performance. Af~:er this,
This is the only move, but White has many
ways tO cur the cake, including 28.h4 and we shall look at four great examples of keeping
28.~h7i'!. the opponent's pieces our of play by disrupting
their lines of communication.
20J!xh7!
In our first example, we shall see a critical
moment from an important game in the
Russian Championship, in which the
subsequent champion, Alexander Morozevich,
misplays a promising position. In his notes he
indicated rhat he had missed the route for rhe
a8-rook ro enter the game. It seems ~:har he
somehow had nor added enough importance
ro this.
We •..vill stan at the critical moment, bm
follow rhe rest of the game to the end, even if
ir has little to do wirh our subject:.

a b c d e f g h
102 Attacking Manual2

EvgenyTomashevsky-Alexander Morozevich 25 .. J~a7!! With .. J~h7 and ... ib7 on the way,
Black has a strong arrack.
Ru.~sian Championship Supl:r Final, Moscow 2007
Morozevich said in his annotations that it \vas

.IDi.~ ~~*-
this last move he had missed, the ability ro

71. ~~r'e<''~-/· ~~~ ~

s

6
~ ~- ~ ?..... ~

m<z
~
@f~

~
---"-
/,._.,Y./.

~.l~
activate his worst placed piece effordessly to a
brilliant square.

23.~g5r!

:r-'~~~-
Afrer chis slip rhe posicion is just unclear.
Tomashevsky also did nor sense that f4 was rhe
~ -J~~~- •'~/.- -~ ~ /,.,.%/-
important square in the posicion.
3~ ~b~~¥~~
;.-; .... /.,y_.;,•J~-,..y,.-:7//;}J;fJ:,/Jj,'/. z ... ,%
2
..... J~~ ~ .. "r1~
... ~~-;.:;-Jff@% ~
... J7'~ ~~ 1 think char 23.if4! was stronger. lf \Xlhire
were able ro use rhe g5- and e5-squares as he
1 ~ ~if~~ ~ pleases, he would be doing very well. Therefore
a b c d e f g h it is likely rhat he can follow up with 'Wd2 and
22... ~g7? i.e5t, ~xeS and ~ae1 or t!:Jg5, wirh a strong
This looks like a normal move, bur position.
Momzcvich misevaluates the position. Tr is
clear thar he believed he would have strong 23 ...~c7 24.ttJh4!
long-term compensarion. As it turns our chis is Making Black aware thac gG is a weakness
far from clear. Instead he should have exploited too.
his slight lead in development to scan a direct
arrack. 24.. J~f7 25.~e2 ~d7
25 ... ib7??2G.~cG would of course be a
Best was therefore 22 ... f4!, wirh rhe idea of catastrophe, so Black needs to rake conrml over
creating further weaknesses in the white camp. eG before entering the promised diagonal.
'1he following line, inspired by my computer,
illustrates thac .. .rJJg7 and .. J~!h8 is noc rhc 26.f4 ghs 27.~f2
optimal way ro take over rhe h-file: 23.l!Je5 Not obvious by any means.
!xg3 24.fxgj ~fG 25.if4
27 ...~b7 28J~abl gh5 29.ttJf3?
·n,is retreat seems strange and rerribly time
consuming. Suddenly Black has time w get
all the pieces ro rhe right squares. lr seems
likely rhar rime uouble was becoming a facror
around here.

Whi[e misses his chance to fight for the

initiative with 29.b4!, based on 29 ... a.xb4
30.a.xb4 cxb4 3l.c5!, when Black has to
move backwards and give up rhe d-pawn. 1he
a b c d e f g h position is simply wildly unclear.
 Chapter 2 -Typical Piece Play
29 ....ic6 30.:Sgl?
Was Whire dreaming of playing g4? Well,
he was soon ro realise who is attacking here ...
30.~h4! was rougher.
30... :Sf8!
1l1e rook is headed for e3.
3J.lt)h4
A pitiful rerurn.
32.fxg5 f4 33.g4
33.!;ge 1 fxg3·r 34.<Jigl might look like a
defence unril 34 .. J!f4! winning rhe knight is
sponed. For exa!Hple: 35.ttJxg6! ~f2! 36.Wfe6
gh2 37.~e4 'Wf7 with a winni11g rook ending
on the horizon.
33 ... :Se8 34J&d2
34.1Mfdl ge3 and Whirc is dominared.
34 ... :Se3 35.b4 V!fe7 36.bxc5 Wfxg5!?
The racrical solurion. Also after the simple
36 ... ~xc5 White is completely domin.ued.
37.:Shl
37.ttJf5t gxf5 _18.gxf5 ~g3 leads nowhere.
103
37...hhl
Even berrer would have been 3 7 ... ~e7!, when
afi:er 38.gh2 1Wxg4 Black wins everything.
38.:Sxhl hc5 39.Wfdl Wfe7 40.a4
\XI'hite could have resisted a bit longer with
40.ttJg2, though afrer 40 .. J:~g3 41.1Mfel g5! his
ourlook is grim.
4o ... :Sg3 41.lL!g2 .ih4 42.:Sh2 Wfe5 43.c5 f3
44.lL!h4 V!if4
0-1
1l1e next game revolves all around the clearance
of rhe diagonal bl-h7. In the game Ivanchuk
clearly wanted ro open up for the bishop, bur
he did nor find the most energetic way ro do
so, and for this reason he missed the win twice,
on moves 27 and 28. The win on move 27
is simply fantastic, bur I am surprised that a
player of Ivanchuk's calibre makes a meal of
rbe option on move 28.
Vassily Ivanchuk- Lazaro Bruzon Bautista
Skandcrhorg 2005
l.e4 e5 2.lLif3 lL!c6 3 ..ib5 a6 4 ..ia4 lLif6
5.0-0 .ie7 6.:Sel b5 7 ..ih3 d6 8.c3 0-0
9.h3 tLla5 lO..ic2 c5 ll.d4 Wfc7 12.tLlbd2
cxd4 13.cxd4 lL!c6 14.lL!b3 aS 15..ie3 a4
16.lt)bd2 .id7 17.:Scl Wfb7 18.tL!fl :Sfc8
I9.tLlg3 .ids
104 Acracking Manual. 2

Only three games have been played from 32.@g3!! .if5 33 ..id3 1-0
this position, all between grandmasters. Black resigned in Surovsky- Werle, Dresden
2007, He is losing the exchange, since any
20.Jkbl rook move would lose the queen to a knight
1his nacural move is of course the one ro check on f6.
play. I personally played 20.@hl?! in a very
imporranr game het·e, and duly lost (Aagaard 21.Wfe21h6 22.dxe5 he3?
- Haslinger, Grear Yarmourh 2007). This exchange is completely unnecessary. I
When I say rhe game was between see nothing wrong vvith 22 ... 'Llxe5 when Black
grandmasters, ir might nor technically h,we is dose to equality.
been rhe case. ·n1e game was played in round
8 our of I 1; 1 had passed the 2500 mark in
8
round rhree, and rhus secured the tide, while
my opponent had made his raring only the 7
day before. Bur like me, he took no chances 6
and secured a few more racing poims before
dropping pieces ... 5
4
20 ... h6
Many moves are pby~tble here.
3
2
1he other game continued wirh:
1
20 ... ib6 2l.dxc5 'Llxe5!? 22.'1tWxd6 'Dxf3"!
23.gxf3 .ixe3 24.fxe3 !xh3 a b c d e f g h
1he opening is very imeresring and White 23.~xc6!!
111ight have a chance for a slight edge wirh lvanchuk does not miss a chance like rhis.
~omerhing like 'Dg3-e2-d4, due ro his cenrral 1he exchange is sacrificed as a simple efficiency
control. 1he next few moves were maybe nor scheme. '!he rook is not hanging on cl anymore
rhe best, bur rhe end was exquisite. and White can stan an arrack on the kingside.
25.~~kdl 'Lle8 26.Wf4 ~e7 27.e5 ~c4 28.'Lle4
~a6 29.@f2 ~g6 30J~gl 'ltWb4 3LE!:xg6 hxg6? 23•.•W/xc6
31...\¥/xb2t 32.E!:d2 Wxd2i·J \vou!d have 23 ... E!:xc6 would lead to similar lines as in rhe
more or less equalised. game, bur wirh the black queen out of play.

24.exf6
1l1is pawn is highly annoying for Black,
bur at the moment he has even more pressing
problems.

24...1f4?!
· fhis gives White rhe chance to earn another
tempo for getting his pieces dose ro che king.
Looking hard I have found rhar rhe black
a b c d e f g h position is on rhe verge of being indefensible,
 Chapter 2 - Typical Piece Play
bm that he would have had. a real practical
chance of saving rhe game after:
24 ... i.cl
\X!hite ha~ no good alternative w raking the
pawn.
25.fxg7
Here l am unsure about which is the best
option for Black. Maybe iris 25 ... ~xg7 and
maybe iris:
25 ... \Wc4
a h c d e f g h
As 1 find the brter ro be much the more
imeresting, l have chosen m analy~e rhat
one.
26.id3!
This is the move I tru~r. The queen i~
banished to the outskirts of the board.
\X'hite can also try a more strange approach
wirh 26.\Wdl!?, bur after 26 ...ixb2 27.e5
d5 28.l2JhS ~b6! I have a feeling Black is
alright.
26 ... \Wxa::! 27.e5!
\'<lith rhc idea \We4, ~o rhe black re~pon~e is
pretty obvious.
27 ... dS 28.lLlh'5 ~a6!
111c only chance.
28 ... icG? 29.l2Jd4 is strangely completely
over already. \X'hire will play lLlxc6 followed
by ~g4, and there i~ nothing Black can do
abom it.
29.ixb5
l11is attack on rhe quccnsidc turns our robe
the strongest continuation.
105
29.lLIH5t? would spoil most of the advantage.
29 ... @xg7 (29 ... :gxf6? 30.exf6 i.e6 3l.:gxcl!
:gxc 1t 32. ~h2 and there is no defence against
33.~e3 with rhe idea of \Wxh6-h8 mare)
30.lLlxd7 \Wxb2 31.\Wxb2 i.xb2 32.ixb5
~aS 33.i.xa4 :gxa4 34.lLlh6 :gcc4 35.lLlxa4
~xa4 36.:gd 1 :ga5 Black is a pawn down,
bur rhe e-pawn is a bit render. Probably the
endgame is defensible.
29 ...ixb5 30.Wfxb5 1MI'c4
30 ... :gac6 3I.lLlf6t ~xg7 32.\Wd3 leads ro a
deadly arrack.
31.\Wd7!
This looks all gone to me, but some work
remains.
31...\Wc7
Afrer 31...!xb2 32.c6 Black is quickly
mated: 32 ... :gxe6 33.:gxe6 fxe6 34.\Wxe6t
~h7 35.\Wf7! :ggs 36.'~f5 mare!
32.\WxdS
Black is facing 33.e6, which is anything bur
reassurmg.
32 ... ~xb2
32 .. J;g6 33.lLld4 ixb2 34.lLlf5 ~h7
35.lLlf6t :gxf6 36.exf6 ixf6 37.lZle7! i.xe7
38.1M/xf7 :ggs 39.:gxe7 and Black cannot find
any endgames leading to the end he wishes
tor.
33JWb51Wb6
33 ... :gb6 34.\Wxa4 is no better.
34.lLlf6t ~xg7 35.\Wd3
Finally rhe weaknesses around the king come
ro light.
106 Attacking Manual 2

35 .. J!d8
'1he only move, the rook ·wa~ hanging and 8 ~.~- ~·~
·/~~~~~-j_~ '~
0'/J

there was a lcniglu check coming up on d7.

36.\hl.fh7t ~f8 37.tLlh4
One out of several winning lines- the king
7
6
5
.~~~*'~
~ ~-. 'm"'~"' J~'·~5
~-· ~
a
J~ ~LZJ t;·
is roo open.
37 ... \hl.fa5 4 ,
3 ~
•••
~
/~~~~~f
~LZJ~~ fJ --
Forced in view of various rhrt:ats. White now
2 ~w~~~t ··"~8~ ~
wins with a lor of checks. ~}};,~WPJ~~¥ilt· .zYM~
38.\hl.fxh6t ~e7 39.ttJf'5t ~e6 40.lbc4t <i>d7 ~~~ ~ ~
4LttJc5t a b c d e f g b
And next come~ 42.\hl!xa6. White has more After this Black has a choice, between hell
material and a powerful ~mack going. and fire.
27 ... !xg7
25AJh5 .ie5 26.fxg7 It is tempting ro eliminate rhe pawn, but rhe
26.tLlxc5 dxe5 27.fxg7 \Vas also very srrong, bishop was on e5 for a reason. Now White
bur the game concinuarion is not bad. can open up for the bishop on b 1 wirh
deadly effect.
26.. J~a6!? 27 ... <;i{h7 loses to a brilliant combination,
26 ...!xg7 27.e5! designed to draw the rook m a bad square.

7.r~;~:@~l--~~
8

6
~ -.~~ --~
~~~/, -~'///,'/'~

~
-~--&~~
x,,,z ~ /.,,_,>~
5 ~i~ ~ ~~'2J
4
3
~ -

.% .•
·~/0-·~~
-~~- ·'ZJ~b
.,,,_% ~

fj~ ~iff~fj·
I~,~.~~"-'=~
2
a b c d e f g h
28.g8=\Wt!! ~xg8 29.ttJf6t ixf6 30.c5t ~g6
a b c d e f g h 31.exf6 wirh a winning arrack.
27.liJh4?! 28.e5!! ~d5
1l1is move appear~
rarher unn<Hural ro me. 1l1is move, a.ttempcing to get closer with rhe
Insrt!ad White could have won by :t brilliant queen, seems like a good rry, but \XI hire has
combination, based on disrupting the black a devious \Vin. Hov;,rcver, also after rhe two
pieces and opening lines towards the Icing in other moves Black will have to give in.
rhe most ingenious way. 28 ... dxd 29.tLlxeS and 30.Wi'g3 is quite
simple.
1he first move is nothing ~pecial, ir is just a And after 28 ... ~f8 Whire has a beautiful win
rhreJ.t to the h6-pawn: with: 29.t2Jxg7 ®xg7 30.\hl.fd3 ~h8 3l.e6!
27.\hl.fe3! A beamiful magnetic sacrifice. 3l...~xe6
 Chapter 2- Typical Piece Play 107

32.c'bd4 \XIhitc will pby 3,,.l!.'lxe6t and '?7 ~.tt ~,

- .•. EIC).

34.V9g6t, if <lllowed, so Black is forced to
rry 32 ...'19e8, bur here! Whire is completely
dominating and can decide rhe game
without fanfare with simple moves such as
33.'1Mfc3 ~g8 34J!e3.
29.l!Jf6t ~.xf6 30.cxf6 iMfh5 31.'19e4
1here are other moves, bm this is very
attractive.
3L..Wg6
This is probably best answered wirh a little
sneaky move.
28.~d2!
Now Black has no choice bur giving up his
1otrong bishop with:
28 ...ih2t!
28 ... V9d4 This loses in fabulous fashion
to the following long and attractive
combination: 29.Wlxh6 ixg7 30.V9g5!
11uearening e4-e5. 30 ... WleS 31.l!:lf5!! ixf5
.)2.exf5!

8 ~.~~ --~
~~~~~~~%~
:r~~-~,·~~
~ ~z -~- a".."M - .. ••
5~·~ ~8~Cl)].
~~ ~ m%~ - -h~--J~ 2:

a b c d e f g h
32.~b7!
1l1e black piece~ are duly punished ~or rheir
lack of coordination, Whi rc wins.
27...~cH!
1l1is move is surprisingly a mistake:. Tn my
first draft noces ro rhis game 1 considered it
a '!!' move, because of the sensational finish.
However, ir rums out that Black is still in deep
trouble and, from a ~rdccly objecriv.: point
of view, could have retained better defensive
chances by playing something else. Tn rhc
game rhc move worked wonders, against one
of rhe besr pl.tyer~ in the world; so ic is hard to
criticise it coo severdy.
Both of the orher queen moves lead badto
positions, but they are nm completdy lost as
far as I can see:
I think rhe best way forward for Black is ro
seek simp!ifications:
:,~~~~~d~
2r'D~~~d~-
~~ ~~- .)~ --~"?'~:·i~
w;. L .. ·-
~i.- f~ ~
a b c d e f g h
A great sacrifice. 32 ...'\Mfxe 1t 33.~h2 ~f8
111e only move (33 ...Wfe5t 34.f4 '1Mfxb2 35.f6
and mace emerges). 34.~xg7! ~e7 35J6t
~d8 36.®xf7 f!.c7 Black is tVv'O exchanges
up, bur rhc white pieces are simply vasdy
superior to rhe black ones. "Ihe f~pawn is a
star and rhc black king is in deep trouble.
White should win. 37.Y¥g8t We8 38.'19g4
This is probably an appropriate place to
stop. 1l1e analysis may already have deviated
from rhe path of perfection, as all long lines
inevitable do.
29.~xh2 'Wxh5 30.l!:lf5 ixf5 3l.exf5 l/9h4!
Black cannot allow the whire queen to make
it ro d4, from where she would rule the
waves.
32.ie4 d5 33.ixd5 1Ml'f6 34.\Wf4
White's advantage is lal'ge, but by no means
decisive.
108 Anacking Manual 2

27 ...Wc4!? 28.ltJ5??
1his is rhe other oprion. I rhink rhc riglH '1his awful move turns a winning position
way to play for an edge is: inro a lost one in a single fell swoop! It was
28.\We3 ~b4 imporranr to keep rhe initiative and to dislodge
28 ...§'d4 29.§'xh6 !xg7 30.\Wg5 rranspo~es rhc bishop from e5 at all costs.
co rhe previous noce. This could have been achieved wirh:
19.lbf3 ~xg7 30.e5! 28.t4!
Opening up for rhc bishop, once again.
30 ... !eG 3L!e4!

a b c d e f g h
Here Black can eirher give a check on J4,
a b c d e r g h or give up the bishop in some way. Bur even
Here it is probably best tO play 3l...d5 rhis ends horribly. Lee us have a look ar both
32.!d3; wirh a very strong arrack, bur the options, which are both truly spectacular.
direcr lines do have some arrraction:
_,2 1... .a 3?..1 ,')') 2.s
,;,l!f'.l.l
"±. a) 28 ... ®\:b2 29.fxc5 ®xe2 30.l:!xe2 dxe5
Using the indirect ;utack on rhc black queen 31.gd2!
ro get closer. Eyeing rhc eighth rank, with gain of tempo.
32 ... ~f8 33.tLlxg7 ~xg7 34.'Mff6t ~g8 3I...!e6 32.ttJf5!
35.~xh6! axb2 36.!h7'1' ~h8 37.cxd6 ~xd6 l11is is the flashy move, bur the simple 32.a3
38.8:xe6! is sufficient as well.
\\!hire wins. 32 ...!xf5 33.exf5 b4 34J~d7!?
Again a bit showy, but the fin ish is truly
exceptional.
34 ... b3

8 fli~ -~~
7 ~~ ~~~l~
6 ;x~- %~ ~~"-- -'"~~ 5
;{M~~~-~~~~w;r~;· ~~
5 ~ ~ ?.-~~lij ~-
4 4."~:,~~
~~& ~ W~
• '·~·
~-A a
3 ~%.-~ ~~ ~0 3
2b~ ~ ~8~1
«' ~~21 ~2!:%' ~?'~·m" %
0.
112.~~ ~ ~
a b c d e f g h a b c d e f g h
 Chap(er 2 -Typical Piece Play 109

35.~e4[! bxa2 go to d3, when the mating threat cannot be

35 ... b2 36.~b7 a3 37.tcl5 and White \Vins. arrested in rhe same way.
,36.j,d5! Black now has a lot of options, all of chem
TI1e queen i1. unimponanr. "llte anacking insufficient:
ratio is overwhelming.
1il.r·•· 37 rihl ?
.'..,6
) ... a l-- B I . .'CI' L bl) 30 ... ~xg7 31.e5 <i>f8 32.~f5! ~xf5
Black i!> n"tared no maHer wh;.u, bm let us see 33.ft:Jxf5 ~h8 34.exd6 and the anack will soon
the main threat in action: make it through.
37 ... e4 38.~xf7t <!>h7
b2) 30 .. JWc3
This 1110\'e seems logical. TI1e idea is to
prevent ®'d3. But Whire has orher ideas.
31.ft:Jf5 ~xf5 32.exf5
Surprisingly Black does not seem to be able
ro save chis position. 'lhe white pieces are
too close to (he king. One line could be:
32 ... b4 33.®'e2 ~aa8 34.f6! ~xf6 35.19e4
~xg7 36.:ge3 ®'d4 37.®'h7t ~f8

39 .g8='.Wi"! ;gxg8 40.~gG1· <!>h8 4l.:gh7 mare.

b) 28 ... ~d4·[· 29.~h2 ®'xb2 llten: are no

better squares, but chi.<. one looks pretty solid
anyway. .30.®'d ll!

38.!%d3!
38.!%g3 would allow counterplay with
38 ...!%cl, when Black survives with a
perpetual: 39.~xg7 Wgl t 40.~g3 Welt
Bm after rhis move, White's arrack is
winning. 1his is Black walking the plank:
38 ... ~al 39.~g3 Ad4 4oJ~g8t ~e7 4Lmre4t
~d7 42.Wb7t ~e6 43.f5i· ~e5 44.Wc4
mate!

b3) 30 ... ~d8

This is one of many rook moves, all refuted
in the same way:
31.e5! dxe5 32.®'d3 e4!? 33.~xc4! Axg7
110 Arracking .N1anual 2

Black wins, as the queen is trapped on rhe

11 r~ r rank.

3I.Wffl .E:cl 32..id3 b4 33 ..ib5 b3 34.axb3

a.xb3 3S ..ia4 .E:xfl t 36. ®xfl .E:b8
0-1

Our final example shows a rising scar from

Italy paving the way to success in the B-group
of the Dutch chess classic. In this game White
a b c d e f g h is fighting hard to get to the h7 -square and
al one point the bishop on d3 finds three (!)
34J!e3!
pieces between itself and this magic square.
'lhc rook is going to g3 with deadly effect.
111e alternative 34J:!e7 'Wc3 35J:!xd7 '.Wxd3 Nevertheless, it still exerts a deadly effect.
36J3xd3 E:xd3 37.~xd3 ~b6 38.GtJf5 ~h8 is Our focus in this game is the fight for this
berrer for White, bur not decisive. diagonal. The black novelty (nor through
34 ... ®f8 35.GtJxg7 Wxg7 preparation, I expect) on rnove 19 was designed
35 ... \Wxg7 36.~a3t wins. to rake control of the fS-square, by removing

36.'Wh7t ®f8 37.E:e5! rhe e-pawn, but White saw further and
Black is defenceless against the rhreat of followed up on his arrack down the diagonal,
'.Wh8t. For example: wid1 the brilliant justification hidden in the
.17 ... ~e6 38.~h8t ®c7 39.~xe6i'! notes to the 21st move.

28 ... hf5 29.exf5 Fabiano Caruana- Krishnan Sasikiran

Wi j k aan Zee 2009

I.e4 c5 2.'Df.3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.'Dxd4 'Df6

s.'Dc3 a6 6..ie2 e6 7.0-0 Wfc? 8.f4 .ie7
9 ..ie3 'Dc6 lO.<i>hi 0-0 11.1Mfel 'Dxd4
12.hd4 bS 13.a3 .ib? I4.Wlg3 .E:ad8
lS ..E:ael .E:d7 16..id3 .E:e8

a b c d e f g h
29 ... Wfxel t!
How quickly the cables have turned! 'lhis
temporary queen sacrifice i~ a beauriful way
to srop the anack. 29 ... E:ac6!? would also have
been good enough.

30.Wfxel .E:ac6
 Chapter 2 - Typical Piece Play
17JU3!?
1l1is is a rdadvely new idea. More common
have been 17 .c5 and 17 .ctJd 1, hut after rhis
game, rhe rexr is bound to arrract followers.
17... W/d8 18.W/h3
Threatening ~xf6 followed by c4-e5.
18 ... g6 19J~efl d5?
The first new move of rhe game, and .1 bad
one.
Only six weeks before rhe game Black had
played betrcr with 19 ... ~f8. Afrer 20.f5 he
reacted with 20 ... exf5 21 .exf5 g5! (21 ... ~xf3
22.fxg6 hxg6 23.~>.:f6 Wxf6 24.\Wxd7 would
win for White) 22J~e3 ~g7. "Ibis eventually
led to a draw in Fedorchuk - Jaracz, Dresden
2008, but 111.1ybe \X'hire is a bir better after
23.!!xe8i" V:'fxe8 24.~e2 .§:e7 25.'Wd3, when
the better pawn srrucrure m ighr rell eventually.
20.f5!
A very thematic break. Black was rrying to
cake control over rhc f5-square with his last
move, so this i~ perhaps the lasr chance \XIhite
is given to play this move.
20 ... dxe4
20 ... exf5 21 .ext) g) doe~ llOt work here.
Mrer 22.\Wh6! iris rime to resign.
111
2l.fxg6!
It is nor hard to guess whar Sasikiran missed;
see the next note. However, Caruana does nor
miss such chances.
2l. .. fxg6
This is forced. 1l1e h-file has to be kept
closed, due ro some ~h8 mate issues, while
after 2l...exf3? \Xfhire is able to show rhc first
point of his combination: 22.\Wxh7t!! with
mate in two moves.
22J3xf6 23xd4 23.23!7
The inrrusion on rhe seventh rank must
have been very uncomfortable for the Indian
Gr,1ndmasrer.
23 ... Ah4 24.~e2 ~c6
24 ... b4 25.axb4 !!xb4 would only act as a
distraction. 1l1e direct win here is: 26.tlJb5!
axb5 Black has ro rake the knighr, as it cannot
be allowed to land on d6. 27 .!!xb7 and there is
no good way to react to 28.g3.
25.g3!
~1 he bishop is simply lost.
25 ...e3t 26.~gl aS
Black is trying to create counrerplay, bur
rhcre is none ro be found. 26 ... \WgS loses to
27 ..§:a7 followed by 28.~ff7.
112 Arracking Manual 2

27 .gxh4 b4 28.axb4 Josef Emil Krejcik -Konrad Korbot

28.~xe3 with rhe point 28 ... bxc3 29.'Wc5
was also winning. Cafe Game, Vienna 1908

28 ... axb4 29.tLldl 8

Black has a bit of play tor rhe piece, but it is 7
temporary and the young maestro converts his
advanrage without difficulcy. 6
5
29.. J&d5 30.tLlxe3 ~c5
4
30 ... ~h 1t 3l.~f2 'Wc4 32 ..~.d3 'WeS 33.®gl
and wins. 3
2
3l.iid3 b3 32.~g3 bxc2 33..ixc2 gd2
34.g7f2 ged8 35.gxd2 .Eixd2 36 ..Eif2 gd4
Now a final sacrifice sc<\ls Black's Euc. a b c d e f g h
Whire would of course love ro play l8.gxh5,
bur Black would be able ro play 1 8... d5! 'virh
some defensive possibilities. To avoid chis
Whire played a fantastic combination:

18.f!d6!!
Other moves also 'vin, but none a:;,
convincingly. Black cannot improve his
position and might as well take the rook.

l8... cxd6 19.gxh5 gxhS 20.Jhg7t ~xg7

2l.ctJf7t tLlg6 22 . .Eixg6t! ~xg6 23.f5t ~f6
24.~h4t ®xf5 25.~g5t @e4 26.ctJxd6t
~d4 27.c3 mate!

Having looked at some ex;unples of how rhe

lines of communication work for the aggre~sor
(and only twice on the b 1-h7 diagonal),
we shall now move on to obstrucdon of rhe
deCender's lines of communication.

In rh~ first example vve 'lhall see a blocking of

the diagonal fmm c8 ro h3 with a stunning
rook sacrifice.
 Chapter 2 - Typical Piece Play 113

In the next example White is ready to arrack
rhe king, as ;lll of Black's pieces are sin1ared
far away on rbc queenside. However, ir is first
necessary ro cur off rhc influential enemy queen
by disrupting rhe lines of communication.
Karen Asrian- Tigran Kotanjian
23J3a3! when the superior firepower will tell.
19 ... CLJc2 is a bit more complicated: 20.~xg7
~xg7 2l.CLJxg5 f5 22.'l9g3 CLJxcl (22 ... ~xb5
23.CLJf7t ~h7 24.1Wh4 with mare) 23J3xe1
~xb5 24.t2Jf7t ~h7 25J1:Vh4 :9:xf7 26.exf7
hc4 27.'W.xe7 and White wins.

Arml.'n ian Ch,1 mpionship 2007
The most difficulr line is probably:
19 ... ~xc3 20.bxc3 CLJc2 2l.CLJxg5 f5
The only move. Together rhe knight on c2
and rhe pawn on f5 prevent rhe rook from
swinging easily to rhe kingside.
22.~h5 hxg5 23.Wxg5t ~h8 24.W/h6t ~g8
25.Wg6t ~h8

s X~~~~ ~~ -
7 ~~ rw & -~~ Y-~~~i'
~-i'~ ~
6
09?..\Uri%m~}-A.\~~~
-~~ft..
s ~~w~~~
4
~ %%, Z .. ,Z

~-/~ . .-- -~~vv~i

~

a-
~.o~~-i§~ §..
~ ·l
a b c d e f g h 3~ ~~ ~ § ..
19.e6!! 2 -~~
~!fi0'~,----/w.~
/""% "":m[j~/--¥!j
... /
A bcaurifuland classic move, which unleashes
the bishop on c.) while al.so eliminating rhe
t~~~~~
a b c d e f g h
queen's influence on the kingside.
1l1e problem here is rhat ~a3 does nor make
19 ... f6 sense, but \Vhire can end the show with rhe
Giving up the d-pawn equals pure beautiful:
resignation, but no cldencc existed: 26.~e2!!
This move is w[ nning. Mrcr:
19 ... dxe6 loses ro 20.~xg7 ~xg7 2I.l2Jxg5 26 ... CLJx<tl 27J3e3
~h8 22.®h5 ~g7: Black is getting mated.

20.exd7 e5 2l.:Sedl .ib7 22.lt:ld6 lt:lc2

23.'We6t ~h8 24.a5 'Wc7 25.lt:lxe5 fxe5
26.Le5 Le5 27.'Wxe5t ~g8 28.'We6t
~h7 29.lt:le8
1-0

1he following g~une feature~ a brilliant piece of

disruption of rhe lines of communication. With
his powerful 28th move White circumvents
rhe enemy defences completely.
a b c d e f g h
114 Arracking Manual2
Gudmundur Sigurjonsson - Leif Ogaard
E~hjerg 1978
l.e4 cS 2.ctJf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.ctJxd4 ctJc6
S.ctJc3 a6 6.ie2 VNc7 7.0-0 tlJf6 s.<i>hi ie7
9.f4 d6 IO.ie3 0-0 Il.VNel id7 12.VNg3
<i>hS?!
1his move is rather odd. 'lhe king is not
necessarily safer on hS than gS.
·n,e main line ~rarrs with
11 ... lLJxd4 13.ixd4
ic6 wirh chance~ for both o;ides.
13.a3 bS 14.id3 B:ab8 IS.ctJxc6 hc6
16.id4 eS?!
1l1 is standard idea has never really appealed
ro me, and here ir also looks poof. 'lhc blacl~
knight i& in trouble on h5 quite soon.
17.fxe5 ctJhS 18.VNh3 dxeS
19 ... exd4
Sadly forced in view of 19 ... t2Jf4 20.ixe5!
and Whire ends up with an excra pawn.
20.B:xh5 h6 2l.ctJd5!
\XThire should not get confused and lose his
patience.
21.e5?! allows 2l...f5!, wirh a decent position.
Black only needs to avoid 21. .. ig5?, ·which
Vi.ras l'ecommendcd by one commentator bur
loses to 22.~f5 g6 23.W/xg5!.
21. •• hd5
1l1e only move.
21...1Wb7 loses to a great piece of disruption.
22.gxh6l! gxh6 23.~xh6t ~gS 24.tLJf6t!
ixf6 2S.e5 and Black cannot open the seventh
rank and successfully defend both g7 and h7.
22.exd5 1Mff4
Defending against a quick gxh6. 22 ... ~d6
\Va~ probably a bit safer, bur after 23J~fl White
still enjoys an edge.
23.B:fl VNe3 24.VNg4!
24.\Wd7?! g6 2S.gh3 would win a pawn,
but after 25 ... ~e5 26Jhh6t ~g7 27J~h3
~hS Black enjoys fine compensation on the
h-file. 1l1is, combined with the opposite-
coloured bishops, leads me ro evalu:ue the
posirion as about equal.
24... B:b6
24... ~g8? was recommended somewhere,
bur White can use the shaky pmtecrion of
the h6-pawn with 25.~h3! ~g5 26.~c4!,
when the h7-square is really tender. After
26 .. .f5 27.~e6t ~hS 2S.d6 White's advamage
is overw·helming, despite the material equality.
25.B:hf5 <i>g8
25 ... ~g6? was recommended as the way
forward, but White can both take on f7 and
play the srunning 26.1M!'d1 !!, with an indirect
threar to the rook on g6, and 27 .~lf3 rrapping
the queen, is coming as well.
 Chapter 2 -Typical Piece Play 115

The besr move \Vas 25 ... .if6!, \'V'hire is srill
berrer afrcr 26.~5f2 or 26.g3, bur his advantage
may nm be enough ro decide rhe game.
26.~Sf4?!
26J!5f2l wirh the additional idea of 27J!.c2
would have been very srrong here. ln rhis
case I feel that \XIhirc would be able to pose
insurmoumablc problems ro his opponent.
After the game cominuarion Black was given
a moment to find some son of coordination of
his forces, an opporruniry which, unforrunarcly,
he squandered.
White immediately exploits his opponent's
lack of coordination ro threaten 28.W/f5!.
27... ~c5?!
1l1is moves fails immediately to a fantastic
disruption of rhe lines of communication.
27 ... ~g5 was objectively better, bur also nm
pleasant for Black. Mrer 28.\We4 g6 29.b4!
White is in complete control. All rhe black
pieces arc badly placed, pinned or pinned
down. "lhc cxrent of his lack of communication
becomes apparent in derails such as 29 ....ic7?
3fl.:gxf7! and White wins everything.

8
~
~~~~~,y.~
~~*~
~z--·-- ~;.; ~z----
7
/" .. /.:0. '0

:Vt.!·m~•
~~---,~r~~~
w~ ~-:j;~ ~~ ~
4
3
t.D~~!~- -~.f~
a
26 ... ~d6?
b c d e f g !1 1.
2

Black mi11ses his best chance in the g.une.
Ifhe had played 26 ... .;;d6! he would have been
dose to wdl coordinated. lr i~ true that Whire
could rake a pawn then, but after 27J~!.xd4
Black has a nice counrerpu nch in 2 7 ... f5!.
White can either play 28.,~1"f4, exchange
queens and probably only m.1ke a draw our of
the ending, or he can play 28 ..ixf5, ro which
Black can reply 28 .. J~:xf5! 29.~xf) Wfxd4
30.W/f7t Wh7 31.Wfxe7 ~xd5. 1l1is ending is
of course better for White, bur only slighdy.
1he extra pawn is compensated for by the very
active black piece~.
27.:gf6!
a b
~ ~g~~
c d e f g h
28.d6!!
I was only twelve the first time 1 saw this
game, and it still resounds in my memory. 1he
term for this kind of double disruption of the
lines of communication is a 'Novotny'.
28, .. :gxd6
No matter which piece Black cakes wirh on
d6, he loses some level of control. Here, raking
wirh the rook, rernoves the protection of rhe
rook on f8 provided by the black bishop.
Taking with the bishop would mean losing
control over rhe sixth rank. White can exploit
rhis i111mediarely: 28 ... .ixd6 29.'ll:Vf5 g6
30.~xg6t! wirh mare to come.
ll6 Attacking Manual 2
28 ... 1W'g5 also does nor save rhe position. White
can use rhe eighth rank issues wirh 29Jhf7!.
29.\&fs
"lhe rexr move is of course sufficient to
decide rhe game, but there was anorher win,
based on rhe back rank being weakened by rhe
absent influence of rhe black bishop: 29 ..l:!xt7!
.l:!xJ7 30.\WcSt and Black will lose a piece after
30 .. J!d8 31.1Wxd8t .l:!f8 32.\WdSt.
29 ... \&xd3
Black decides to end the game in di.sgt'ace. A
true gentleman would have raken the ridicule
of being mated and played 29 ... g6, when
White wins best with:
a b c d e f g h
30.Wxg6i"!! fxgG 3l.E!:xf8i" ~g7 32.Ei: I f7 mate!
30.Wxd3 ~xf6 31.~xf6 gxf6 32.\&g3t ~h8
33.\&c7
1-0
\XIhire pbm to ransack the quecnside, so
Black defends his pawns by purring rhcm back
in rhe box.
ln the final game where we shall look ar this
theme, it is especially rhe 16th move we should
pay ;ltrenrion ro. 1l1e point of this move is to
lock rhc white queen our of the g~\me. Ati:er
rhis, Whirc wastes rime raking Black's bishop
on g7, giving Black enough rime to unleash a
surprising break rhar activates his mvn pieces
and eliminates the fabulous defender on e2.
Ashot Nadanian - Melikset Khachian
Armenian Championship 1997
l.d4 ttJf6 2.c4 g6 3. CDc3 d5 4.cxd5 tDxdS
5.CDa4!?
"111is imaginative idea, transferred from
orher openings, was a brainchild of the highly
imaginative white player. This chess artist has
rightfully earned the praise bestowed on him
from top aurbor Tibor Karolyi in the recently
published book, Genius in the Background.
s ... Ag7
'S ... ctJfG G.ctJc3 ctJd5 could be a logical
solurion to rhe misery chess can be at times.
6.e4 lDb6 7.Ae3 o-o s.lDB lDc6 9.Ae2 f5!?
Ar the rime rhis was a new move.
IO.exf5 gxf5 11.\&b3t
ll.ctJxbG axbG 12.~c4t may have given
better chances ro play for an advantage,
according to Nadanian.
11. .• ~h8 12.~dl f4! I3.Acl Ag4 I4.lDc5?!
Larer on Nadanian decided that 14.ctJxb6
axbG 15.d5! ctJe5 1G.a3 was rhe correct way
ro continue. Maybe White is slightly berrcr,
although I am not complerely convinced.
14 ... ix£3 15.\&xf3 CDxd4 16.\&xb7
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
a b c d e f g h
 Chapter 2 -Typical Piece Play
16 ... c6!!
1l1is is a brilliant move, ignoring rhe threat
of 'De6 and shutring ofF rhe white queen from
the cenn·c and the kingsidc.
17.&lJe6
Whirc rake1. up rhe challenge.
17...®d51
This square is now conveniently available.
18.&lJxg7?
This look~ ab1.olurely logical; Black's snong
bishop is eliminated. However, the problem is
that rime is much more important here.
18.'Dxf8? \Wxg2 19.~f1 ~e4! 20Jhd4 A.xd4
wirh rhe dHears of 21. .. 0 and 21...\Wbl was
also poor.
Later thar year Nadanian tried to improve
upon this ga111e, bur found nothing more rhan
a defensible posirion afrer 18.ttJxd4! ~xd4
19.~f3 \WeSt 20. @fl, with even chances.
Nadanian- Yegiazarian, Kyiv 1997, eventually
ended in a draw.
a b c d e f 0
0
h
18 ... f3!!
This is really rhe st,H move of the game.
Black opem up tor the rook on ffi and creates
real damage ro rhe white defensive structure.
117
]he key poim is of course that White cannot
stand losing the bishop in the defence.
Instead 18 ... 'Wxg2? would be an error. White
keeps his bishop and the rook is still om of
play on f8, so it is no surprise rhat White can
escape with a draw: 19J~xd4! Wfxhlt 20.~fl!
"!here is a perpetual check after 20 ... @xg7
2I.W/xe7t ~f7 22.W/g5i" ~h8 23.~d8t.
19.gxf3?
White had to give up the exchange to stay
in the game, although even rben his position
would remain difficult: 19.~xd4 fxg2! 20.~gl
\Wxd4 21.~xg2 1We4! Black defends cG with
gain of cempo and chus keeps the white queen
our of the game. After 22.~g3 ~ad8 White's
position would be highly vulnerable.
19 ... &lJxf3t 20.i.xf3
Forced. 20.@fltUd2"!! is jusr over.
20 ...®xf3
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
a b c d e f g h
21.0-0
lr seems very uncomrorrable ro castle into
an open file, bur 21 .~fl also had a serious
drawback. Here rhe problem i~ the open
d-file, \Vhich is exploited as follows: 21 ... ~ad8!
22.~d2 W/e4i" 23.~e3 ~xdl t 24.@xd1 ~d3t
25.~cl gd8 and Whice is mated.
118 Attacking Manual 2

2I. .. ~g4t 22.~hl ~f3·t ~h6 32.Wf8t :Sg7 33.\Wf6t E:g6 34.~f8t
Black repeated rhe position once a~ he was ~h5
running short of time. 0-1

23.~gl After rhese varied examples of how the lines

ofcommunicarion are imporranr in the attack,
we move to a closely related, but still quite
disrincr ropic.

Vacating Squares

One of the techniques we can use in the attack

is w vacate squares for our pieces. ll1is can be
done in several ways, bur the most common
is rhe pawn sacrifice. A very generic, although
maybe not roo cxciring example, is rhe
following:

a b c d e f g h Dimitar Donchev - Damir Kljako

23 ... :Sf6!
Trnava 1982
~lhc rook will come ro g6 unhindered.

24.igS
24.4Jh5 is no bencr. \XIhirc wins with
24 .. JWxh5 25J::~d3 ~f3!, blocking the king
in. 1l1erc is nmv no defence, so we '"ill
enjoy
Nadanian's non-cornpurer val'iarion: 26.ie3
~g8t 27.~h 1 !he3! 28Jhe3 ~d5t 29.£3 ~d2
and Black wins.

24 .. JWg4t 2S.~hl \Wf3t

Jusr anocher repetition. 1l1e rook should take
rhe bishop, nor the queen.

26.~gl :Sg6 27.~xe7

27.h4 ~xg7 and 28 ... hG is an e,1sy win. \XIhire's nexr move was l7 .exfS, capruring an
enemy pawn. 1his was good enough to win rhe
1lu:- S,lme is the cr.tsc for 27.ctJh5 Wxh5 28.f4 game, but he could have serried marrers even
h6. taster by sacrificing three pieces, simply co gcr
ro the h7-square.
27..• \Wg4t 28.~hl E:xg5
Black ends with an extra piece. 17.e5!! is the most beamiful winning move.
Onlv 17...dxe5 makes sense, but White maces
'
29J!d8t :Sxd8 30.~xd8t ~xg7 31.~e7t after 18.ltke4!! fxe419.E:xf6.
 Chaprcr 2 -Typical Piece Play 119

1his example mighr se~m a bir simplisric and
you could easily gcr the sensation rhar such
tricks are only u11eful among lesser mortals, if
you have nor seen rhem in use among rhe besr
players of the wodd. So, in the next example
we shall sec Tvancbuk me rhis technique
rcpearcdly in his srunning victory against the
player vvho is number one on the rating lisr as
l am wriring rhese lines.
·n,is is rhe losing mistake, buc iris easy ro sec
how Topalov, already rated 2750 and rhird in
rhe world, could ger lost in the tangled lines:
24 ... fxg6 is a logical reaction, bur after 25.~g5
Black is lost. The bishop cannot go ro e7. \X!hite
will take with the knight and play ~f4-h4,
winning a piece becau&e of the pin. And after
25 ... ~c8 White has: 26J~k7 ~a6 27.~c3!!

Vassily Ivanchuk- Veselin Topalov 8 ~~ -J:~~~

7 ~ ~~ -~ -~~,
~ ~-- -~ !@~ L .. 7.
Novgorod 1996
6 ~~~JI)-
'. ~2;1_ ~.... /, ~ ~ =-
~- i . -~ ?.
l.e4 c5 2.lLlf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.lLlxd4 lLl£6 5 ~i~lLJ~ 1· ~
~~~ ;;%.~~-~A~~·
s.lt:k3 a6 6.ie2 e6 7.0-0 ie7 8.£4 0-0
9.<tf?hl Wfc7 10.a4 lLlc6 11.i.e3 ~e8 12.if3
~bs 13.g4 i£S 14.g5 tDd7 15.ig2 lDxd4
16..bd4 b5 17.axh5 axh5 18.~a7 ~d8
4

3~
2
~
>.. ~

~A~~~~~
::%%cr...
• ?.

~ B..
~% 0 ~- . . . .~~~LJ;>
~
1 ~
~
~
~
*ff~F'!'~~
{f~.§-9
19.h4 eS 20.!e3 exf4 2LM4 tDes 22.CDdS
~g4 23.~d2lLlc6 a b c d e f g h
\Vhitt: ha11 some initiative fi·om a Sicilian 111e rhreat of Ehf8t forces Black to play
Najdorf: bur his rook on rhe sevcnrh rank 27 ... t2Je5, and White is winning in one move
looks as if ir is going ro be repulsed, unless he wirh 28.~aJ, trapping the queen. A very pretty
can find '' way to act immediarely. line indeed, even if the fireworks were aU in
White'1. hands ...

24 ... hxg6 is not surprisingly met wirh

25J3xf7!, when Black should consider giving
up the queen. 1he reason for this is that he
cannot accept such a rook on rhe seventh rank.
And after 25 ... ~e6 White plays 26.~g5 ike?
27.t2Jxe7t t2Jxe7

24 ... lbxa7?
120 Arrack..ing Manual 2
28.~xg7t!! @xg7 29.'®c3"i" ~g8 (or 29 ... ®h7
30.gf4) 30.~h6 and Black will have ro shed
material as if it is going out of style.
'lhc only move rhat offered a chance of
ddcnding the posirion was rhe slightly
humiliating 24 .. .f6!, which block:- the f-line
and prevents ~g5, but also allows \Xlhirc to
crcarc real weaknesses amuncl the black king.
Afrer 25.gxh7t ~xh7 26.2:a3 \Xfhire will
rransfer the queen ro h4 and the rook to g3
(maybe .th3 as ·well, ro win ~omc squares), and
rhe arrack will be very dangerous, but we are
not talking about a forc~d win yer.
25.gxf7t @hs 26.~g5!
A good intermediate move. 1he bishop is
sirnply more active on g5.
26... \Wd7 27.fxe8=ltJ
27 ... !he8
17 ... '®xe8 is no berrer. Whire can ->rill
advance the e-pawn, bur also 28.tt:lf6! is good
enough to win, as poinred om by fvanchuk.
28.\W£2 @g8
28 ... h6 29.c5! is no better. Excuse me for
not going deeply into the lines. I just wanr to
menrion 29 ... hxg5 30.'®xf8t E:xf8 31.E:xf8t
@h7 32.~e4t and 33.lDf6t, winning.
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
a b c d e f g h
We have reached the next great moment in
the game. 1he only piece nor actively attacking
is the bishop on g2, so fvanchuk uses another
clearance sacl'ifice m bring it into play.
29.e5!!
A great move, vacating the e4-square and
prepanng to vacate the d5-square for the
bishop.
29... h6
Black has no defence, bur rries to find one
by creating a breathing space for the king.
However, rhis move also weakens the g6-
square. 1he ocher lines are all based on rhe
bishop coming ro d5 as well. For instance,
19 ... ctJc8 30.tilc7!! wins at once, and 29... dxe5
30.ctJc7! is the same story.
29 ... ie6 is slighrly more resilient, but still
insufficienr ro save the game. 30.ctJb6 '®c7
3L~d5! 1xd5i· 32.tt:lxd5 mrd? 33.ie7! is
winning. After 33 ... Le7 34.'®f7t @h8
35.ctJxe7 then~ are many ways co go. One of
rhem i.'>: 35 ...1Wb7t 36J~f3 ~b8 37.@g1 and
;38.tt:lg6t is a winning rhreat.
 Chapter 2 - Typical Piece Play 121

30.~b6 34.~e7t!
Ivanchuk proceeds with his plan and ir works Disruption of the lines of communication.
quite well. However, \X!hirc can win in many Black resigned in view of 34 ... ~xe7 35.~f7t
ways at thi~ point. The computer of course <tbh8 36.'iWg6, mating.
prefers the lllOSt surreal, which is: _?O.~e7!? 1-0

In the next example we shall see another

knight vacating squares, this time opening up
a diagonal for the queen and at the same time
keeping the opponent's king in the danger
zone, and then vacating the next square for rhc
heavy pieces, once the king cannot escape.
Coincidently, this was one of the games that
brought Caruana his last GM-norm.

Zlatko Hinde - Fabiano Caruana

Budapest 2007

30 .. :~c7 3L.id5t
3I.~xh6 gxh6 32.li:Jd5 was another win, but
it is good ro hold on ro your plans, e~pecially
when they arc rhcmarically consistent!

31. .. <i>h7
3I...<tbh8 32.\WxHH ~xf8 J3.~xf8"!" ~h7
34.~e4t g6 3'5.~f6 and \X!hire wins.

32..ie4t <i>g8 33.~d5 ~d7

Black has a strong advantage on the kingsidc
because of his high arrack ratio. However, he
also needs to break through. A very young
Caruana did this in splendid style.

38 ... ~h2t!
Keeping the king ar rhe scene of the crime.
We will remrn ro this theme later on.

39. <i>g2 ~g4!?

This move is absolutely fine, as we shall see,
but 39 .. Jhgl t \vas perhaps a bit more direct,
based on the same poinrs as in rhe game.
L22 Arracking Manual 2
40J!e3?!
\'V'hire misses his chance to offer the best
po1lsible resistance. 40.~xh 1 would lase to
a slighdy longer and less interesting line:
4o ... itJf3t 4L~g2 };h2t 42.\!/fl E:hl 43.Wg2
4J ... ltJxgl! 44.~xh 1?! lljxe2 \XIhire ends with
<l pi ecc mo Ii rrlc.
Objectively it would have been berccr to
play 44.gxgl Wildt 45. ~f3 ~xgL but Black's
arrack should be cnoL1gh ro decide rhe game
in any case.
Afcer rhis, let w. return ro rh~ game for rhe
absolute highlight and rhe momenr rhar shows
our theme in ics clearesr lighr.
a b c d e f g h
40...ct:lfl !!
·n1h m;l.y nor be chc only route to victory,
bur ir is surely rhc prettie~r!
4L.J~xgl t! 42.~xgl Wfh3
Whire resigned, as mare in t\VO follnws.
0-1
1he technique of vacating a square is a part of
every strong chess player's arsenal. as Vi'ell as
some weaker ones roo. The following example
is one of the few of my own games that 1 have
included in chis hook. lt was played ..vhen I
was very young and rared about 2250. 1l1e
opponent was one of my besr fdends and the
g~nerallcvel of our play was nowhere near the
rc:::sr of rhc games in this book. Nevertheless, I
srill find the example encouraging, because it
~haws rhar you can still use :)UCh id.:as when
yom overall game is far beneath the level of a
Grandmaster.
Jacob Aagaard - Peter Roder
l.yngby 1991
I. Ci:lf3 cS 2.c4 g6 3.g3 i.g7 4.i.g2 't:lc6 S.lbc3
d6 6.0-0 e6 7.e3 't:lge7 8.d4 0-0 9.d5 exdS
1O.cxd5 't:la5 ll.e4 b6 12..Etel f6 13.h3 J.d7
14 ..ifl a6 15.a4 Wfc7 16.!f4 gS 17.!e3 g4
 Chapter 2 ~Typical
Black has not phtyed the:: opening brilliantly,
but rhen again, we were only kids. 'vle have
arrived at the moment of interest to us.
a b c d e f g h
18.e5!!
I am still bitter rhat this game was not
awarded the prize for rhe best game of rhe day.
Basically rhe judges did not think that rhi~
move deserved any merit. 'lo me it i~ ~rill one
of the best ideas l had in rhe 1990s.
l 8.hxg4 .®.xg4 19.~e2 v,rould lead ro an edge
for 'W'hite, bur rhis double pawn sacrifice seems
as brilliam ro me now a.<. ic did when l was 18.
18 ...fxe5
lS ... gxB? loses straight off ro 19.cxd6 i¥fxd6
20.~f4.
19.&Zlg5 ~c8
19 ... gxh3 would have allowed Whire to take
over rhe light squares completely. After 20.lt:Jc6
ixe6 2l.dxe6 \\/hire dominate~, e.g. 21 ... ~adS
22.lt:Jd5 lLJxdS 23.illfxd5 W/c6 24.~c4 illfxdS
25.~xd5 with a scriou~ ~tdvanrage.
20.~cl!?
20.hxg4 .~xg4 21.~c2 was <mother opdon,
but I like what 1 did in rhe game.
20 ... h6 2l.~ge4 ~h7
Piece Play 123
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
a b c d e f g h
Looking ar the knight on e4 and how h ha~
forced Black to retreat his knight ro b7, it can
e<.1sily be esrablished that the white strategy has
been a success.
22.b4 gxh3?!
·n1is gives Whire free hands on rhe queen side,
but 22 ... cxb4 23.~b5 illfd8 24.lt:Jc7 was also
very dangerous for Black. One plausible line
could be: 24 .. J~b8 2S.lt:Jxa6 ~a8 26.lt:Jc7 ~xa4
27.lt:Je6 ixe6 28.dxe6! wirh an advantage for
Wl1ite.
23.bxc5 bxc5 24.~bl .ig4?! 25.~b3 h2t
Peter \Vas not liking the look of a pin
emerging on the queenside.
One line was: 25 .. J&b8 26.ixa6 ~e8 (26 ... illff5
27.~h2 \Wf3 28J&g1 and rhe knight on b7
is really poor) 27. ct?h2 ~fS 28.ixb7 lt:Jd4
29.lt:Jxd6 ~xb3 30.lt:Jxc8 :Sxb7 3l.~d6 gb4
32.lt:Jce4 and Whire dominates.
26.~xh2 ~b8 27..L:a6 ~f5 28..ifl!?
No·wadays I would probably prefer to cover
rhe square with the knight: 28. ~g 1! illfhS
29.lt:Jd2lt:Jf5 30.lt:Jce4 wirh a big advantage for
White.
28 ...~h5t 29.~gl .i6 30..ig2 .hg2
3l.~xg2
124 Anacking Manual 2

\:vinning line. apparently tempted by purring

~ ~~ 1~-~
f§f'~Ait~~~?~pj_?~r-·--?.~~
8 the knight on the highly atrmcdve e6-square.
7 -~7,-~ ~!All: ~ Bur what he did not realise was the number of
6 w~ti{ ~;~~-~~~·-- .twdf'"--~~tf.~ chances he missed further on. Most notably,
- ~~ ~ ~.8:0 lA':::
5 ~W/ //.~1%"~'-~~f'''//-~ii on the 34th move, he probably more or less
~-* ~- -~ /';,.. ~ ~ amomatlcally tOok the pawn on c7, missing a

~-~~;'"~-~.·~~
brilliam winning idea.

43 ~'@~;~· ~ ~~ %/
Garry Kasparov- Veselin Topalov
2 ~~t -~---~'?f[J~~
I ~~-f//4~[
~~-~ ~ ~
"~~ Linares 2004

a b c d e f g h l.e4 e5 2.~f3 ~c6 3.!h5 a6 4.ia4 ~f6

5.0-0 ie7 6.~el b5 7.!b3 0-0 8.a4 ~b7
3L .. Vat
9.d3 d6 lO.~bd2 ~d7 1Lc3 ~c5 12.axh5
After .3 J ... llJf5 32.\Wb5! Bbck is also in big
axh5 13.~xa8 ~xa8 14.!c2 b4 15.d4 bxc3
trouble. Then~ seems ro be no way to prevent
16.bxc3 ~d7 17.~£1 ~f6 18.d5 ~cb8
both ofWhire's rnain ideas, n:nndy a4-a5-a6 or
19.h4 tbc5 20.~g3 .ic8 21.~g5 h6 22.~h5
®'a6. Since rhe game l analysed rhe following
il,.e7 23.~h3 Wa2 24.Eie3 g6 25.~g3 ~hd7
line which is very funky, as well ~ts winntng
26.Jhh6 1xh4 27 .~g4 i.e7 28.lg5 hg5
for \Vhire: :32.)l9g4 33.a5 llJh4t 34.\!Ifl
29.~xg5 f5?
~h3t 35.~e2 \Wg4-l" 36.<j;>d3 llJf3 .?7.a6 t2Jd4
38.~<14 c4t 39.@xc4 lhc king i.!.< safe enough,
and Whirc should win material soon.

32.stgl ~aS 33.1®'xb8 ~b8 34.B!xb8t sth7

35.~xd6 ~xdS 36.~xd5 WfxdS 37.~f5 c4?!
37 .. .C~3b3 was benet; bm afcer 38.gb5 \'(/hite
Is s[ill on the winning rrack

38.~b5 1i'a8 39.B!cl stg6 40.~xg7 stxg7

4 L~xe5 1®'a6 42.B!b5 lt5 43. ~d 1 c3 44.~d7t
@g6 45.B!b6t 1®'xb6 46 •.Axb6
1-0
a b c d e f g h
1 v•.rant ro linish the discussion of this theme
by showing a game where the opposire is rhe 'This move vio!ares rhc most basic of
cas(~J whc1·e we don't want a square vacated. positionil.l principles: don'r move the pawns
Kasparov was explaining in :1n interview ho\v on the side of rhe board where you are \Veaker.
he had pbyed badly in rh.is game. Our of ~heer Moreover, in d1c present po$ition it can be
curiosity 1 analysed rhe game} and came ro rhe 1-efiaed by metical means.
surprising conclusion that the great man had
missed far more chances rhan he had thotwhr. After 29 ...!a6 it would have raken a bit more
:::.
From his perspective the great error \Vas on for White to find a way through to the black
move 32J where he missed a not very difficult king.
 Chapter 2- Typical Piece Play
30.ex.f5 gxh5 3I..E!g3!
3l.ltJe6t only lead~ ro a perpetual check.
White needs ro be cart:ful when he is giving
up the rook
31. •• &2Jf6
31 ... h4 32J~g4 ibf6 33.l2Je4"f! wins in rhc
same way as rhe next nore.
gone.
Kasparov's disappoinnnem is easy ro
undersrand. Although rhe line js relativdy
long, iris not especially complicated or difficult
co calculate, and should be wirhin reach for a
playea· rated 2831 ...
32 ••. ~fl 33.E!g7t
ll1ere is nothing wrong with this move,
but it i~ played without <I clear follow-up in
mind. For chis reason it was worth considering
simply raking rhe rook on fS, and only then
continuing the arrack:
125
33.ibxf8!? ~xf8~!
Objectively Black should bail our with
33 ... ~xd5, when \X'hice can either salvage
the knight and be an exchange up in an
ending, or play 34.~cl when he will be an
exchange up in rhe middlegame. In eirher
case 1 feel confident in Kasparov's conversion
technique.
34.Wc1!
a b c d e f g h
White does not need to be in a hurry. His
pieces are active and Black has no sudden
counterplay on rhe way.
34... @e8
1l1is is the most tenacious. \XThire is
entering on the kingside and Black's best
shot is to run for cover. However, it is not
enough.
35.®h6 ibcd7 36.id3!
Threatening ib5 in some scenarios, bur
mainly defending the bishop and preparing
ifl in anticipation of a check on the first
rank.
.36 ... ~xd5 37.\Whst
If this check had been delivered on rhe
previous move rhen ... ibfS would have
defended conveniendy. Bur in the presem
position \"<'hire simply wins.
33... ~e8
\Xfe have arrived at the critical moment in
rhc garne, seen with our eyes, rha[ is!
126 Attacking Manual 2

36 ... ~d8 the pawn on c7 is a great liability,

which can be exploited by 37.dxc7 mare!

34.. ,c;i{ds 35.CDe6t c;t>es 36.'Dc7t?

Despite his many mistakes, White still had
a very promising position, even at this point.
'TI1e method is the same as on move 34, bur
not anywhere near as transparent:
36.tt::lxc5! dxc5 37.d6

a b c d e f g h
34.'Dxc7t?
Kasparov misses a very strong possibility,
which could still have wo11 rhe game. 1 am
cc:rrain rhar he decided ro rake rhe pawn on
c7 before going deep in the position, bur rhis
proved ro be a mistake. Usually you will rake
the pawn in such a scenario Vi'ithom really a b c d e f g h
thinking, bm there arc momenrs when having This is noc a~ dangerous as before, bm it
rhe pcl\'llll is nor an advanrage for our opponent, rums out that Black is still in trouble. White
but a liability. 1 his is one of them. has several pmmising avenues, for example:
27 ... lJ,!f
;J 8(i-!).
'TI1e correct move was 34.tt::lxc5! dxc5 35.d.6! 'Titis is now the besr defensive move. Ar rhis
cxd6 36.~a4t ~d7 37.ixd7"!' CDxd7 38.~xd6 poinr rhe check on a4 is nothing, as rhe king
E"U7 39J~g8t ctJfR 40.'1Wxe5'!' ~d8 4Lf6 and is quire safe on d8, but Whire has orher
\Vhire has a winning initiative. tricks up his sleeve.
The reason ir is ·wrong ro rake on c7 is 'TI1e alternatives are severely weaker:
explained after 3"5 ... ~<.15. .17 ... ~d7 38.~b3 ~a6 39.~e6 ~d8 40.~xd7
ClJxd7 41.~d5 ~c8 42.f6! ~xf6 43.~g8t ~f8
44.8:xf8t tt::lxf8 45.~xc5t ~d7 46.~c7t
~e6 47.~e7t winning.
37 ... ~d8 38.d7! ~xd7 39.~b3 ~a6 40.~a4!!
~xa4 41.'1Wd6 and White will play borh
~xf8t and ~xf6, winning, as afrer 41 ... ~e8?!
he mares wirh 42.W'b8t i.c8 43.~c7 mare.
38.iJ,1!
This is a key move, but by no means easy co
understand - actually, ir might be humanly
impossible to do so from rwo moves away.
a b c d e f g h
38 ... ~£7
White has a winning check on a4: 36.~<l4"t!! Other defensive tries exisr, but it seems they
\'V'irh no pawn on c7, this is harmless, bur ati:er all have similar value.
 Chapter 2- Typical Piece Play 127

"(\ ~
_);~.t:!.g 8'1
T. Outposts
"l11e key poim is char rhc X-ray w rhe queen
on d5 is very effective. One of rhese instances is a piece that are
39 ... !:5f8 40.~b5t ~f7 4l.l.Wa4! placed solidly on a square, from where it can
Planning the obvious ~c4. Black cannot do exen grear conrrol over viral squares in the
anything to prevent ir. opponent's camp. In the .first example we shall
41 ... gxg8 see rhe po. ..ver of the knight on e4, which is ~l
41...1Wxd6 42.i,c4i·ll:Jd5 43.~g6 and \'(/hire part of all manoeuvres, as a shadow, affecting
wins. ail decisions.
42.ic4 ixf5 4.1.\¥fa7't!
Chasing rhe king away before raking rhc Boris Gelfand -Miguel Illescas Cordoba
queen.
4.~ ... ~g6 44.i,xd5 ll:JxdS 4).'M:xc5 i,e6 Madrid 1996
Black has reasonable drawing chance!>, bm
the advancagc is dd1nirely wirh White. Ld4 ~f6 2.~f3 e6 3.c4 Ab4t 4.~bd2 b6
s.a3 i.xd2t 6.'\Mfxd2 Ab7 7.e3 o-o s..ie2 d6
36... ~d8 37.ltJe6t ~e8 38.ltJc7t? 9.0-0 liJbd7 lO.b4 6lJe4
1/z-lf2
Kasparov was, in his own words, never
a maximalisr. He did ac many rimes prefer
draws over risky dccisjons. \XIhen you have
rhe best opening repertoire in the world and
such l1 sensational understanding of chess as
Kasparov did, taking risks means something
complerely dHTerenr rhan ir n1c~ms for a normal
Grandmaster. In rhis po-'>ition Ka~parov
must have been aware that there were many
options rhar still deserved ~mention, including
38.ll:Jxc5!, bur decided chat: he had messed
up hb posicion and rhat the momennun was
against him.
I have myself taken draws in much bcner
positions, when 1 felr that things were going
\'ery wrong, and find rhar rhis sensihilicy can
~u rimes be rhe di.Hercnce bc:'£ween success and
railure in a rounwmcnr.

Having deale wirh rhe clearance of line'>~ it is ll.~d3

logical tO con cinue with squares. If we look ar
rhe genera! rules of rhe anack, as discu'\sed in
Volurne Ont:, ·we know that we wanr to rake
our worst pl.tced pieces .lnd. put them on rhe
besr possible square~. Bur how do we decide
which square~ :lfc rhe besr?
ll.~c2 was Gelfand's choice in latet games.
Maybe because of rhc indirect pt·orecrion the
queen ofters g2 and h2?
ll ...f5 12..ib2 ~f6 13.d5 S:g6!
l3 ... e5? had bee11 played in an old game.
128 Anacking Manual 2
After l4.ltJh4! g6 15.f3 ttJg5 l6.f4 ltJe4
17.Cl'Jf3± Black was under a lot of pre$surc
down the long diagon,1l, lvliles - Mascarinas,
Lugano 1986.
14.dxe6?!
14.g3! is pmbably an improvement. Opening
the long diagonal turns our ro be risky.
lS.ctJel ~xc6 16.f.) 'Wg'1! gave Bktek a
rrcmendous arrack in Twardon - Nikolenko,
Katowice 199.1.
15 .• )tJxe6?!
Black misscc; rhe chance ro gain an opening
advantage. Ati:er 15 ... bxc)! 16.bxc5 ClJxc5
17.~xf5ttJfxe6 rhe black pieces are excellenrly
placed and \XIhire is in t(n· a very rocky ride.
16.cxd6 cxd6!
his importanr tor Black ro main rain conrrol
over the e)-square.
17J.3adl
An ocher possible con ri nuarion was 17 .2!fd l,
e.g. 17 ... ~6g5 18.\Wb3t? ~h8 19.ttJe5 dxe5!
20J3xd8t .r;xd8 21.2!dl Cl'Jd2! 22.e4 ~xe4
23.~xc5 ~xg2 24.~g3 ~c6 with a dangerous
accack.
However, White can improve on the above
variarion wirh 18.~xg5 ~xg5 19.g3 and, with a
piece exchanged, the attack is less dangerous.
For this reason, Black should probably meet
17J3fdl with 17 ... \We7 co maintain the tension,
when rhe chances should be about equal.
17... ~h8
17 ... a5!? also made perfect sense. ~The posirion
is roughly even here, maybe even potentially a
bit better for White, bur the knight on e4 is
treacherous and in an instant it is all over.
IS.tlJel??
18.h4!? was one of many playable moves,
but for some reason I like ir best. 11Ie dream is
of course h4-h5-h6, winning.
After the move played, the game is suddenly all
over. 111c power of the outpost is tremendous
right to the end.
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
a b c d e f g h
18... tb6g5! 19.~hl lbh3!
0-1
Ic is not often rhac Boris Gelfand is defeated
.in less than 20 moves with rhe white pieces.
 Chapter 2- Typical Piece Play
Ivan Sokolov - Levon Aronian
Turin (ol) 2006
Ar the Wijk aan Zee rournamem in January
2006, Aronian won the final round game
against Sokolov srn1igln 6:-om rhe opening
using an idea of hi~ compatrior Sa1·g.issinn. In
the presenr game he did something similar,
using only 10 minutes on the dock! ln a way
the result can probably be auriburcd co his
soda! and networking skills, as once again
the analysis was shown co him by <mother
player. (Aronian cold me rhar it was a dilferent
Armenian player, although l have since
forgorten the n<tme:.)
A funny .!>tory is conn.ecred to rhe game. In rhe
evening rhc Scomsh team had a meeting in
rhe ground floor Aat I shared with Jonathan
Rowson, right on rh~ corner wirh large
windows from the ground to rhe ceiling. At
some poinr someone asked if anyone hnd seen
Aronian's game~ and ir was replicated on the
analysis board. ·n1e posi don lingered during
the discmsions of nex.t day's te~m composirion
when suddenly a big smiling f<1Ce was noriced
to be staring through the window. We all
looked up, saw Aronian, who then recognised
the board position and ran away with his hands
over his head in rnumph.
l.d4 tlJf6 2.c4 e6 3.~c3 ~b4 4.\Wc2 d5
5.cxd5 exdS 6.ig5 c5 7 .axeS h6 8.~h4 g5
9.~g3 tDe4
Black has made a lor of concessions in order
to establish rhe knighr on this square; he has
given up ,1 pawn (bur i.!. hoping to ger it back),
and has taken on an i.!.olarcd pawn, as well as
weakcnl:!d his kingside.
Because it is very hard ro ch.tllenge the
k.nighr on e4, rhis line is in general consideJ·ed
to he fully playable and 5.a3~?. leading to very
sharp play, is back in town.
129
lO ..b.bS!~
White has struggled for some time EO
find an advarmtge in rhis line. As said, most
players now try 5.a3, which can be even more
comphcated.
Those who have stuck to 5.cxd5 have not had
much success obtaining an opening advantage
in recent times. For example: 1O.e3 ~aS
ll.~ge2 ~f5 12.ie5 0-0 13.~d4 lLlxc3
14.~xf5 ~e4t 15.@d1 ~c6 16.~d6 ~xc5
17.ixc5 ~xc5 J8.~xh6t ~h8 19.h4 g4
20.f3 d4 2l.~f5 dxe3 22.~f6t ~-h Bareev
- Carlsen, Khanty Mansyisk 2005. This game
is very likely to be 100% the work of GM
Nielsen from Denmark, who is the second
to che nvo most talenred chess players of our
rime, Anand and Carlsen.
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
a b c d e f g h
lO •••W!£6!
At rhe time rhis was a novelty) one Aronian
had prepared all the way to the end.
In the only previous grandmaster game in rhis
line, Black played 10.. J~.xc3t 11.bx.c3 fgxb8
12.e3 '~WaS 13.id3 'Mfxc3t 14.iWxc3 ~xc3.
1hough this might nor be much for White,
it is very likely that Sokolov was hoping for
chis kind of posidon. He really loves playing
endgames with a very tiny advantage and no
risk, and has often beaten good opposition in
130 Attacking lvlanual 2

rhem. Anyway, rhi~ was all played in rhe game the white king cannot survive all alone on rhe
Kobalia- Balogh, War.'.aw 2005. queenside.

ll.~g3 ll. .. CZ)xc3 12.a3 ~fS 13.~d2!

TI1e only mov~; th~ alrcrnarive~ fall like dusr l11e only square. l3.~b3? !i.a5 and Black
. .
ro rhe ground: JUSr wms.

ll.~a4t?! is bad because f2 stay.., undefended. 13... ~a5

Srill it takes a bit of analysis. ll..Jid7!
l2.~xb4 Wfxf2"!" 13.\t>dl \Wxflt 14.@c2 ~xal
8
lS.ttJxdS (1S.l2Jxc4 dxe4 16JWxc4t !i.e6! and
Black ha:. a very strong arrack along with his 7
material superiority.) 1S....~.f5 16.ttJc7t ~f8 6
l7.~d4 ~g8!
5
4
3
2
1
a b c d e f 0
0 h
I4.b4?
1l1e losing blunder. White was still not
a b l.: u e r h objectively lost, bur in practice he faced an
almost impossible task to navigate the jungle
1he black king has made ir ro safery and now
of variations over the board.
it is Black's curn to shoor at rhe whire king.

11.0-0-0? is <t foolhardy sugge...rion from 14.e4? !i.xe4 15.f3 0-0-0! g1ves Black a
Fritz 9. crushing initiative.

l4.c3?
'lhis move looks namntl, bur here, because
\'<!hire is nor threatening .~e5, Black gets
enough time ro develop his initiative.
14... 0-0-0
At rhis pomr, a recent game conrinued
with:
15.id6
15.ttJO i~ no better. 15 ... d4! 16.id6
(16.!i.c5 dxe3 17.fxe3 ~xd2 18.ixf6 ~xb2
a h l.: d e f g h and Black has a winning attack, e.g. l9.!i.xh8
11. .. !i.xc3 l2.ig.) if) 13.Wlb3 ~c8! wirh <l ttJd5t 20.~dl ttJxc3t and so on.) 16 ... dxe3
probably winning <mack. h is obvious that l7.&e3 ~he8 18.b4 gxd6 19.cxd6 !i.b6 and
 Chapter 2 -Typical Piece Play 131

there is no defence against rhe deva~taring

20 .. Jhe31".
l5 ... ig416.0 d4! l7.e4 ~hc8 JS.lt.Je2

ts.mrd u!
Or maybe rhis?
a h c d e r g h 18.Wb4? looks dangerous. After 18 ... \M!xal t
19. Wd2 d4!! Whire looks to be in deep
18 ... Jixf3! 19.gxf3 trouble. 20.ixd4l2le4t 2l.~d3 Wcl! ~n,ere
19.e5 is refmcd by 19 .. J%xe)! 20.Jixe5 Wfxc5

-.
is no longer a defence:
2l.gxB d3 22.bxc3 dxe2 and \\!hire !>Oon
loses cirhcr his cxrra rook or the queen.
19 ... Wxf3 20.c'5?! 8 X~ -*~
TI1is only m;:tkes rhings worse, alrhough rhere 7-i-i.~i~
L f~~t&~~~~~~w~ 5
was no ca~y solmion. For example, 20.bxc3 6 ~~wg~~·~r.:
ixc3! 2l.~xc3 dxd 22.Wff2 ~xc4i· 23.Jie2 ,~ ,.,~ -~ ~~ '[
.J~rd~~ -·
lJ{{xh I! 24.\Wfl Wxfl i· 25.Wxf1 ~de8 26.~a2 4 @M-----~~-~- -~~ ~
and now cirhcr 26 .. .f5 or 26 ... :gHe6!? with a 3 r!i'' ~~~-~-~ib~ ~~
2 /. · ·"•~~~r~~~
clear superioriry.
20 ... d3 21.bxc3 dxc2 2Z.Wxe2 ~xcJt 23.@dJ ~ .~ ~--3 ~ L ..
~xhl 24.~c] !he5 0-1 ~- ~ -~~:
This was rhc equally one-sided encounter a b c d e f g h
V.'1vrak- V. Popov, Budva 2009. 22.@xe4?! Bur sri!! this is a bit masochistic!
22 ... Jif5t!! 23.~e5 Wf4t 24.~f6 Jic4t
"ll1e besr mow b: 2S.<;;t>g7 ~h7t 26.~g8 0-0-0 mare.
14.t!Jf3! 18 ... ~xd 1 19 ..ixb2
It seem~ that rhis is rhe only way in which 19.~xdl ?! d4! 20.~xd4 Wc2 gives Black rhe
White can save the game. lhe main point initiative because of 2l..~xh8 ~a4 22.~a 1
is rhar he b dwearcning Jie5 and rhcrdore 0-0-0 Vi.rirh mate in rhree moves.
forcing Black to rake immediate counrcr- 19... ~xb2
measures. The endgame looks rather equal. It would be
14 ... l2lbl! inrercs6ng to see rhis line reseed in pracrice.
I see no orhcr sati~facrory way of preventing
Jie5. 14... ~e4 IS.Wcl
15.~xa5 '®xh2 16.~a4t! \¥/e have come ro the moment where rhe
Maybe Sokolov mi~scd chi~ defence? srrengrb of rhc kn.ighr on e4 can be exploired
16 ... ~d7 17.~,c5! l2ld fully by an energetic piece sacrifice.
l32 Attacking Manual 2

White resigned, as mate is imminent.

0-1

Establishing outposts on great ~quares is a part

of what makes a strong player. 1"he following
game provides a prime example of how ro do
it.

Maria Fragaki - Nana Dzagnidze

European Cup, Crete 2007

a b c d e f cr
b
h Black has many an:racrive options, bur the
strongest of these is to establish a sensational
15 ... E:'c8!!
outpost:.
White cannot defend the c5-pawn and Black
now penetrates on the queenside, whe!'e rhere
are no pieces ld[ to defend rhe poor white 8
king. 7

16.E:'a2 6
Trying ro rerain control over some dark 5
squares, but it is all roo lace.
4
16 .•. E:'xc5 17.\Wal Wfc6! 3
Ibis is objectively the srrongesr. Another
2
way co vvin was 17 ... ®c3t 18.\!Jtxc3 ~xc3 and
now eirher 19J!a1 E:xa3 or 19.~d1 E:xg3! 1
forces a decisive gain of material.
a b c d e f g h

18.\West @dB I9JWxh8t ci>d7 26 .•. E:'xc3! 27.bxc3 ic4!!

This is rhe point. his virtually impossible for
White ro prevent a knight fmm invading on c4
with devastating effect.

1har being said, the alrernative 27 ... ®c6!? was

also very dangerous for White.

28.E:'d4?
TI1is nwve signals resignation.

Best was 28.lbxe5! when Black plays: 28 .. JWb5t

295~/a I ctJxe5 30 ..B:b 1 ®a4. White can try
3l.~xc4 ctJxc4 32.E:b3, but after 32 ... GtJd2 33.c4
a b c d e f g h CDxb3t 34.®xb3 ~c6 35.E:el E:c8 36.~b2 if8!
 Chaprcr 2- Typical Piece Play 133

she will have ro tight an. ending a pawn down
with very fev,' chance~ of .smvivaL
28 ...~b5t 29.~cl he2 30.l2Jxe5 dxe5
0-1
Out:posts can be occupied by other pieces
rhan knighrs, of course. In the following game
White gives up his knighr in order w create a
brillianr ourpost for his bishop on g6. I also
considered including a fun:her game where the
outpost square was occupied by a roo]<, but I
think char rhe prescnc game will be enough_ to
prove the poult.
Emil Sutovsky- Lorin D'Costa
Reykjavik 1006
l.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.~c3 dxe4 4.~xe4 ~d7
The Fore Knox variation has proven ro be f.tr
easier ro pencrrare rhan the f.1mous American
forr ...
5.ltlf3 ~c6 6.~d3 ~d7 7.~e21e7
7 ... lbgfo is che m<lln line, but Black is not
scoring grc&lrly there either.
10 ... c6?!
This standard move is the beginning of
the end for Black. After this I cannot find a
pleasant way to play.
After 1o... h6! \'Vhire has a standard edge, tWO
bishops and all, bur ir is nothing spectacular.
ll,gel ~a5!?
The queen is ready to swing to rhe kingside
in rhe case of an emergency, buc the probiem
is rhar it is not participating in the defence of
the centre.
11 ... 0-0 was possible here> bur after 12.'t!Jh3
Black's position is already a bit uncomfortable.
However> iris not crirical by any means yer.
12.c3 h6?
12 ... 0-0! wo.s absolutely necessary. Afcer this
Whire should pi'Obably play 13.~f4, when his
position is fdntasdc, while he should not be
led asrray by 13.'t!Jh3 h6 14.lbxe6?! (14.lbf3 is
Siill a bit better for White) 14... fxe6 15.Wfxe6!
~h8!. Here the bishop is immune, and after
16.~xh6 gxl16 17.'t!Jxe7 Black is probably not
really any worse.

8.0--0 lLlgf6 9.~egS hf3

1he rhre•u of ltJe5 is too much ro handle. 8
7
IO.~xf3
6
5
4
3
2
1
a b c d e f g h
13. t.l)xe6!
Not a very difficult sacdfice ro predict,
talking about Sutovsky. I am absolutely certain
134 Atmcking Manual 2

rhar he was hoping ;HH.! praying for a chance to 16.Wfe2!

play this move <l!> far b,tck as move 9.11-,e main Preveming ... @g8 and rhus ... ttJf8, making it
point of ir is rhar \\!hire is ;\ble ro establish rhe impossible to gee rid of rhe bishop on g6.
bishop on g6 as .111 avanr-garde ourposc.
Also 16.1WfS!? wirh the same idea v•las playable,
13••• fxe6 I4Jhe6 WfdS but rhe text is simple and strong.
Black is forced ro r~rrear rhe queen. The
alternatives show how bad things al'e: 16... l!)d5
'lhis loses wirhour resistance, bur rhc position
14 ... @f7 IS.if4! White continues developing is hopeless.
unhurriedly, as Black cannot rake rhe rook in
rhe face of.~.g6 when his king is trapped in rhc I6... lt)b6 is coolly met with \ 7.c4! 1Wc7, when
centre. 15 .. J~hcH 16.:5,lel !2Jb6 (16 ... lt)f8 bils a lirrle moment al'ises.
afrcr 17.g6e5 and 18.~c4·1") 17.~g3! ltjbd5
(17 ... g5 might look like an active defence,
sA~ ~ tlj~p,/t~-~
0:f~ ~~r ,~%'J'~~'··
but after l8.h4! the black position collapses) r

18.~g6t ~g8 19.~xh6! and Black is dead. 7 fi%&~ ~ ¥~

6 / .z~~tj·-·r-.~~*'4%. s
0. ~ ~ .~... '. L.J:::..
14 ... @d8 is the only line ro make ir to an 5~~-~ ~-
ending, bur it is :l hopeless one: 15.'1We2 4 ~ V%A W,'~
~ o ?LS}.
~J§
~~
~ ~-
~ crQ
(15.~d2!?) 15.. Jk8 (15 ... if8 16.i.g6 and
it is hard ro find a dd·cnct: againsr ~e8·!·. For
3~
7~11: ~~~- ~ %%., ~
'0 ~~;r-w ~ ·-0

example: l6 ... @c7 l7.if4·1· @b6 18.a4 and 2 ~~~ill?;. ·~•lrJlfA~rJl

19.b4, \Vi11ning.) l6.~g6 lL'lfB 17.:8:e5 Wa6!
18.~xa6 bxa6 19.~xcH @xc8 20.~a5 Whire
should ,...,in, bur l guess a linle confusion
persists.
15 ..ig6t ~f8
l11is is a critical momcnr. \X!hitc is a good
deal bercer no marrer what Bh1ck docs.
?.~~~~
a b c d e f g h
Whar we generally wanr ro do in such a
position as chis is to include (he rook on a 1 in
rhe arrack. Tt is tempting co do so with 18.g3
or 18.~f4!?, both of them good moves, bm
stronger is 18.~d2!, realising rhar e7 is rhc
target. After 18 .. J~d8 19Ji:el gd7 20.ib4!
CDc8 Black has managed ro protect the e7-
.square, but it is not only in the end~tme that
it is deadly to have two weaknesses. White
can serrle for a slow win, bur he can also kill
his opponent quickly with 2l.~xf6t! gxf6
22.~e6.

l7.c4 t1Jc7 18 ..if4! t1Jf6

18 ... lt)xe6 19.1Wxe6 is of course om of the
question.

19.E:el .ib4 20.Lc7 \Wd7

JQ E:I'XC7 21 .~e
_ ... \UJ' ~ 8T
..1s ma.ce.
a b c d e f g h
 Chapter 2 -Typical Piece Play 135

Mircea Parligras - Yuri Kruppa

Romania 2008

l.e4 e6 2.d4 dS 3.ctJd2 cS 4.exd5 Wxd5

5.ctJgf3 cxd4 6.~c4 1&Vd6 7.0-0 tt.Jf6 8.ctJb3
ctJc6 9.ctJbxd4 fiJxd4 lO.ltJxd4 ~d7 ll.b3
~ds l2.~b2 1&Vf4 13.g3 1&Vh6
ll1is slightly off-bear line is a speciality of the
Ukrainian grandmaster. Although he loses this
game as a miniaru1·e, rhc line seems to still be
in business.
a b c d e f g h
14.~el Acs
2l.c5! hel 22.~d6t ~g8 23.\':llxel
\X!e have reached the momenr of"launchi ng".
23.ge7~? was also good enough.
Wirh his nexr move \'X'hite launches the knight
inro rhe black camp. ending up ar g7, where
23 ... ctJd5 24.\':lle4 h5 25.J.e8!
it is partially unsupported, and meeting ic~
1-0
fare in many lines. However, it also disrupts
Understandably, Black had had en()ugh.
rhc coordinarion berween the black pieces and
pL1ts the black king under a lot of pressure.
Launching

Closely connected co ourposrs, we have the

idea of launching, which was probably first
used in chess by Mikhail Tal in his book with
Damsky, Attack wirb ivlikhail Tczl.
lhe idea comes from ice hockey, where it
is u~ed w describe ,1 siruarion -..vhcre rhe puck
is shor into rhc enemy territory, without full
support or
rhc team or a clear recipient, with
rhe hope rhar a random chance will occur
larer.

In che.ss ir b med for simil<lr siruarion,

<l
where a piece is thrown forward as an avanr-
garde, rrying ro occupy a small piece of enemy
rcrr[rory, umil rhe rest of rhe fon:-e.s can join
in.
Obviously, rhe idea is t:u more complicated
in ice hockey, art or warfare, where the idea is
used as well, as chess is bound by other rules
rhan rhosc of rhe physical spon.o., bur ir is still
a u~cful roo!.
a b c d e f g h
15.ctJf5!?
Although highly successful in this game, l
am not sure this is the best move.
I rhink future games will investigate 15J~c5!,
where White has a good chance of getting an
edge. 15 ... !xd4 16.'~xd4 !c6 17.'~/e3 leads
ro an endgame wirh a pawn majority on rhe
queenside and the bishop pair. l11e advantage
is nor over-whelming, but it is definitely real.
136 Anacking Manual 2

15 ... ~h3??
8
A terrible howkr! ·fi1e correct sequence was:
15 ... ixf2t! l6,<j;lxf2. ~xh2t 17.'~e3! e5! 7
1he great point. Black is [aking squares from
6
rhe whice king and limiting the power of the
bishop on b2, whilst threatening ...~xf5. 5
17 ... exf5?? is mer with 18.ixf6!; and now 4
both 18 ... 0-0 l9.~xd8 and 18 ... gxf6
l9.Wd6!! are wirhout real hope. 3
At chis poinr l have spenr some time on the 2
two most forceful moves:
1
a b c d e f g h
17.~d4!!
A surprising and delicious double rhrear.
Both c5 and f6 are under attack

1har Kruppa was having a lousy day is

described by 17.hf6t!? ®xf6 18.~h5t,
which aL-.o wins.

17 ... ~e4
Desperation, but Black did apparenrly nor
want to resign) or get rna red after 17 ...ixd4
18.ia3t.

18.1fxe4 ~c6 19.ifh4t

Whire easily prevem~ his opponent's vain
attempt at coun terplay.

b) l8.~h 1 'l11e following line is not necessarily
accurate, iris what l found to be rhe safcsr line
for Black. oficring a decem g.une- bm 1 could
be ·wrong, of course. 18 .. .\¥.fg2 19.~xg7t cj;;>fg
20.1Mld6t ~xg7 2l.~.xe5 '.We4t 22. ~f2 \Wf5t!
23.~g1 ic6 24.~xe6 \Wf3! 25.'!:¥c5 gdl't
26.8:xd1 \W}.:dH 27.~h2 \We2i' 28.fit>h3 ®'h5)-
29.~g2 ~e2t 30.1Mff2 ~xe5 3l.~el 'Wg5 and
Black's problems appear to be minOI'.
l6.~xg7t! @e7
And, all of a sudden, rhe game is ~imply
over.
19...1fxh4 20.~f5t
1-0
1l1e following hm1ous mtmamre shows the
idea of launching brilliantly, but I feel rhat
I need ro pur in a disclaimer immediately, I
do not necessarily mean rhat Acs consciously
thought of what he was doing as launching,
when he played his ninth move; chances are
rhat he jusc saw chat it was less obvious to deal
with the knight charge rhan could be thought
at first. Hmvever, given the rather passive
whire choice, I think we can rule our a case of
opening prepat-arion.
 ChapH::r 2 -Typical Piece Play
Loek van Wely - Peter Acs
Hoogevecn 2002
I.d4 &2Jf6 2.c4 e6 3.ctJc3 !b4 4.e3 0-0 s..id3
d5 6.cxd5 exd5 7 .&2Jge2 ge8 8.0-0 .id6
1his line cannot be dangerous for Black.
·nle bishop on c l rakes roo long to gcr imo
the game and r:hc black pieces all have good
squares ~u their disposal.
9.a3
9.f3 is the mosr popular move, played by
Gelfand a few times, but it seems to me rhat
White's pmirion is roo passive ro cause Black
real concern.
9... &2Jg4!?
A famous game Went: 9...c6 I o.~c2 ~xh2"t!?
1l.\t>xh2 t2Jg4i· !2.±>g3 ®'g5 U.t4 iWhS
14.~d2 l!!ih2t 155~0 '!Nh4 16.i.xh 7·1' ~h8
17.ltJg3 ltJh2i• 18.~f2 lUg4i· 19.~f1 ltJh2t
Yz-~ Kasparov - Deep Junior, New York
2003.
137
10.h3?
1 think it rakes a cerrain kind of player ro
play rhis kind of move. At some level it takes
a kind of either arrogance or naivety, on the
other hand it takes a cerrain amounr of daring
as well.
When Van \Xfely played it> I am sure he
understood the dangers he was facing, bur
thought that rhc black attack would not be as
strong a~ it is, and rhus wanted to punish Acs
for his "beginner move".
l think most grandmasters would have
played I O.ltJf4!, as in Obukhov - lkonnikov,
Chclyabinsk 1989. Nor just because it is a
berrer move (Obukhov ·was a bit better in that
game, which was eventually drawn) but also
because they would intuitively stray from the
dangers of accepting the challenge.
Van Wd)T is rruiy ~'tout-hearted and was
clearly trying to call his opponent's bluff; che
only problem -...vas that his opponent wasn't
bluffing.
a b c d e f
lO •.. ctJh2!!
We could call this launching, bur that would
perhaps be a srrctch. l11e ide<l is simple, Black
wants to .sacrifice rhe knight in order to stan
an attack on rhe kingside.
ll.gel &lJBt
138 Atracking Manual 2

1l1e poinr behind the prev1ous move, of 18 ... b5!!

course.
12.gxf3 \Wg5t 13.ctlhi
A later game wenr 13.ctJg3 ~xg3 14.@fl
ixh3t 15.~e2 ixf2!. \'V'hire could already
have resigned here, bur insread opted for
16J~h 1 .'~.xe3 17 .ixh7i' ~f8 1S.ct.Jc4 dxe4
19.f4 ixf4 before throwing in the rowel. 0-1,
Tkeshelashvili- Xu Yuhua, Elista 2004.
13.. ."1~h4
Black is keeping his options open.
I4.lbf4
This lose!! ro a fantastic variation, bur the
position was nor defensible.
Wh!re cannoc take rhis wirh the bishop,
because of 19 ... ~f3, mating. The alternative
is not much berrer rhough ...
19.1Wxb5 c6
White is losing his maring rhreac. Black wins
in a few moves.
20.1Wb71Wh2t 21.~fl ~h3t! 22.~gl if3
\V'irh mace to follow
14... hh3 15.liJcxd5
1l1e fact rhar this wins anorher pawn is
incidemal. Whar marrers is rhat White is trying
ro bring another piece ro within touching
distance of the kingside. Now Black musr look
for a way to introduce more pieces into rhe
anack.

A bit more complicated, bm ending wich the

same result is rhe follmving Ii ne:
14.@g1 ~.xh3 15.f4 ig4 1G.iWa4
White could abo rry IG.Wlb3 .~f3 17.l2Jg3
~xf4 18.ctJce2 id6, bur there is no hope
here. On~! line goes: 19.id2 ;g_e6! 20.Wlxb7
gh6 21.Wlc8i' if8 22. ~fl .~g4 and Black
wins.
16 ... ;g_e6 17.lbg3 ;g_h6 l8.ltJxd5
Wh ire also loses afi:cr: 18.'W e8t if8 19. ctJxd 5
4Jc6 20.Wle4 1Wh2t 2l.@f1 ~e8! and Black
wins the queen, as afrer 22.Wfxc8 if3 he is
mated.
Here Black wins wirh a great piece of
deflection:

I6.lbxe6 ifSt!
Ihc bishop musr choose the right square.
Acs finds the winning idea and gives himself
rhe option of taking the bishop on d3 ar the
right momcm:.

17.ctlgl ~h2t lS.@fl ~g3!!

 Chapter 2 -Typical Piece Play
Afrer rhb small mas£erpiece, we now rerurn
to rhe rea! world of an ordi1ury crush. White
begins wirh a seemingly innocuous opening,
bur afccr ;l small sUp ti·om his opponem on
move 10, he .~prings into action. A pawn
sacdficc is offered, through the launching of a
knight into the- enemy camp.
Hector Delgado- Maikel Gongora Reyes
Cuban Championship 200tl
l.e4 e5 2.tbf3 li.)c6 3.~c4 li.)f6 4.d4 exd4
5.e5 d5! 6 ..ib5 llJd7
'llic more common 6 ... tl:Je4! is generally
reg.mfed as strongest, bur chis alrernarive is nor
\virhout followers.
7.0-0 ~e7 8.~c6 bxc6 9.ttJxd4! li.)b8
9... l2:1xe5 looks tempdng, based on 10.!f4!?
c5, buc White can ger a serious initiative, as
can be: seen ti·om the following few moves:
11.ixe5 cxd4 12.~xg7 :9:g8 13.16! l11e
bishop needs to keep an eye on (he kingside.
13 ...cS J4J~cl ~b6 15.b4! and Black did nor
manage ro wirh.srand rhe arrack in Pap- Krstic,
Pula 2003.
139
lO.ttJc3 c5'
1his is r:oo soon, however, afrer l 0 ... 0-0
1 I.ll:¥£3 Whhe has a pleasant position, ~D1e
black knight makes an odd impression, having
spent four tempos moving from g8 to b8.
White will probably play b3, ib2, :Sae 1 and
start an offensive against the black king.
"TI1e point of White's lasr move was to
discourage the advance of rhe enerny c~pawn.
Afrer the rexr move, we have reached rhe point
ar which the game becomes relevant for rhis
section. lf Whire withdraws [he knight, Black
will develop his pieces and easily get a decent
position. However, White can use the knight as
an avant~garde soldier and would force Black to
deal with it, and thus not have time ro develop.
a b C d e f g h
Il.li.)dh5! c6
Ihe only move, due to various tactics.
12.li.)d6t .txd6 13.exd6 ~xd6?!
1his looks very risky, bur also afcer 13 ... 0-0
I4.if4 Black's position is quite depressing.
llms it is understandable that he prefers a
dangerous continuation offering some chances
for [he opponent to go wrong, rather rhan
crawling into his own grave for safery:
14J~el t .te6 IS.li.)e4!
l11e first tempo-gainer provided by rhe pawn
sacdficc.
140 An:acking lvlanual 2

1S.• .'\!?fe7
] 5 ... 'Wf8 looks Strange, bur makes SOJ11e 8
7
:i~---~:-~~--,~
~-/,, - - ~~
sense. 'Ihe idea is ro protect c5 and not allow
~gS ro come with tempo. However, ;\tter
16.lL!g5 'We7 17.1¥fhS ~d7 18.c4 White's ~ ~tiL&v,~ ~
6s · · " · ' · ' · ·
W»~,-- --~~ ~-w~
4~~~~-~-~
attack is overwhelming and 1 think Black
cannot save the game.
3 ~ ~-- -~ Y.-t~-~
2~~~- ~~~
~- ~- ~
,,~~~/,
a b c d e f g h
20.b4!! ~b6
20 ... ~b5 2l.a4 ~a6 does leave a hole on b6
for the king, but after 22J!ae 1 ~c7 23J!e7t
4?b6 24.1Wd4t it is no longer as arrractive ...
21.8:ael rj;{dS 22.~d6"1! ~c7 23Jse7t! lt>xd6
24.'@e6 mate!
1-0 This lovely finish was seen in the game
Maciejewski - Sydor, Polish Championship
1973.

16.-tg;!
a b c d e f g h

A beau r1 Fully sty !ish piece sacri nee. \X'h ire

commits himself co a sacrificial path, in order
8
7~
z• ~- ... ,;

~
~
~~ ~
~~-0/,._~
~*f~i
.. v.

ro develop aU of his pieces with tempo. 6 L.r..r~r•--J~

~~~t~···X~
I6... f6
s ••. 3 JB •B~" B
:-~~-.·~~
lt is of course possible m play 16 ... Wc7
and after 17.4Jxc5 then 17 ... 0-0, but \X'hire
will have a clear extra pawn and should win ~~ ~~ ~~A' ~W.''0
'0
unevem fully. 2~~[s- ~( ~~~~
17.ctJxc5 ~xc5 l8.:Bxe6t 4>f7
~~---,-~~- "~f ,
I

18 ... ~d7 a b c d e f g h
This is the ocher option. Here White has ro 19.:Bxf6t!!
look deeply ro find the only parh w victory: There were orher ways ro keep a strong
19.\Wg4! £xg5 initiacivc) such as 19.i.e3, bur no orher move
Ir could look as if \X'hire has no strong keep~ rhe momentum going in the same way
follow-up. 1l1e bla.ck king escapes w h6 in as this.
rhe most namrallines, such as 20 ..!;ael ~c7
21 ..!;e7t cj{b6, and rhe position is highly 19.•.gxf6 20.~h5t 4>e7
unclear. Hmvcver, Whire had seen funhcr 1l1e king has no better squares: 20 ... ~g8
and won rhe game quickly afrer imerring an 21.i.xf6 and 20 ... lt>ffi 21.~h6t ~e8 22.'Wxf6
imporranr inrcnnediatc move. are both hopeless.
 Chapter 2 -Typical Piece Play 141

21J,;el t <bd7 22.'1Wg4t Raffaele Di Paolo -Tim Jaksland

1l1e simple 22.~xfo was winning a~ well.
22.•• <bc7 23.if4t ~b7 24.Wfg7t ttld7
24 ... @a6 25.1Mfxh8 was played in a mpid
game according ro Golubev> bur as I have nor
been able ro find any record of ir, I prefer not
ro give rhe reference.
25.Wfxd7t <ba6 26,ge3
"H1ere is norhing wrong with this simple
move, but ir is rrue rhar 26.B:e6 :gac8 27 ..~c7!
is a very fine winning option, as given by
Golubev.
Genova 2003
l.e4 d5 2.exd5 ttlf6 3.c4 c6 4.ttlc3 cxd5
5.cxd5 ttlxd5 6.ltlf3 e6 7.ic4 ie7 8.0-0
0-0 9.d4
'fl1is position has always seemed a bit passive
for Black for my tasres. 1hough his position is
quite solid, I think he may srill be struggling ro
demonstrate equaliry.
9... ttlxc3 IO.bxc3ttlc6 1 LWfe2
ll.~d3 b6 12J~el ~b7 13.h4! is a very
dangerous gambit, which has led ro many
quick wins.

ll. .. b6 12..if4 id6 13.'1We4 .ix£4 14..id3

g6
14 ... f5!? does not weaken the pawn structure
around rhc king, although ir does leave che
e6-pawn cxpo~ed.

15.Wfxf4 .ih7 16.gfel <bg7

Black is noc happy with chc prospect of the
queen going to h6, long rerm.

a b c d e f g h
26... d4
26.. J~~hb8 27.h3 followed by 28.id6 wins
rather trivially.

27.ga3t
1-0

fn rhe next example \XIhitt! uses rhe concept

of launching co prepare a bruml undermining
of the pawn scruccurc around d1e black king.
The idea is absolutely fan tasric, even if rhe
t()llow-up was not entirely accurare. I have
chosen ro look closely ac only rhe middle pan
of the game, wht!re rhere are a lor of insrrucrive
nwmems, whilt: rhe opening and rhe end are
more or less brushed over.
142 Attacking Manual 2

17.•. e5! b) 19 ... ~d5? looks natural, bur Black should

Black shoLJld of cours~ not forgo rhis
opportunity ro Hrikc against rhc white cenrrc.
18.~g3 exd4 19.ge61!
nor give White the chance ro keep the rook
positioned on e6 for even a move.
1l1e natural 20.§;ael! leaves Black under
heaYy pressure. For example, after a move such
as 20 ... dxc3 White wins wi(h rhis thematic
combination:

8
7
6
5
4
3
2

a b c d e f g h
'l11is is a !.~nsarion.al move, which was 21.l2\xh7! lDb4 22.§;xg6t! fxg6 23.;ge7t @h8
doubtlessly rbe intenrion behind \Vhice's 17rh 24.l21f6!! Black is either mated or loses his
move. All rhe white pieces (aparr from the rook queen.
on a]) are targeting Black's "srrong" g6-square
in some way, \virh the intention of getting ro c) 19 ... ~c8? 20.~h4! ;gh8
his weakest square, h7, with deadly effecr. Moving the h-pawn exposed the g6-square:
20 ... h5 2l.W'e4! f5 22.§;c7"! <i;hG 23.h4! and
Black has nor done anything greacly wrong, Black is lost.
apart from arguably a slighrly passive choice of 2I.§;ael! ~d7
opening, so there is no reason why rhis move Bbck is also lost afrer 2 I...fxeG 22.l21xe6t
!>hould be decisive in any way. However) it does \:t,;g8 23.ic4 when there is no defence to be
pose him some immense practical problems ro found against 24. W'f6.
11olve. He did ~o brilliancly in rhe game, bur
nor wirhour a huge cosr on rhe dock.

19•• J3e8!
To challenge rhe rook on e6 is forced, or
White will be allowed to carry out his arsenal
of rhrears; 1Wh4, '2Jxh7 and §;xg61" followed by
lDe6t, all of rhem leaving devastation in rhcir
wake.
Black's flawed options were:

a) 19 ... W'b8? lose~ ac once ro 20.W'h4! and a b c d e f g h

21.ltlxf7 with a winning .arrack. 22.;gf6!!
 Chaprer 2 -Typical Piece Play
A £·mrasric move. 1h.:' rook is nor hanging
bec~use of CLJe6t, bur t7 is under a lor of
pre~sure 110\-V.
22 .. J3af8
22 ... ctJd8 is easily dealr wirh. Afrer 23.ctJxt7!
Black's pos1t1on falls apart: 23 ... itJxf7
24Jht7t \Wxt7 25.Wlxd41' ~h6 26J3e3 and
so on ...
Afrer rhe rexr White can play either 23.~f4,
which should win, or rhe beamifully
consequent:
23.:if5!? '@'d5
23 ... gxf5 is met with 24.lbe6t! and 25.\Wg5
mate!
24 ..ie6 \Wd8 25.~xf7 \We? 26.g4!!
a b c d e f g h
With rhc srrong rhrear of 27.\Wh6t and
28.g5 mare.
26 ... h6 27.2:xg6t! @xg6 28 ..if5t @xf7
29.W/h5i· ~g8 30.lM!g6·tl Wig? 3Lie6t
Black is mared.
20J~!:ael?!
1his move seem~ very rhcmaric, bur we
cannot play by .auropilor, jusr because we
know and undersrand the basic ideas of
armcking play. Including rhe last piece in the
arrack immediardy is fine in terms of gene1·al
pl"inciples, bur rhe downside might be a loss of
n1on1enrum. If we continue to avoid talking
acmal moves, w~ can sny rlut it is possible for
Black ro improve his posirion more with the
next move~ than it is for \"X/hite. On the last
143
move rhe rook was immune, this is no longet
rhe case, so we should nor give Black the
chance ro take it.
Instead, it is the knight we need to sacrifice:
20.itJxf7! ~xf7
2l.:Sd6!
An important move in rhe combination.
Wichour this move \'V'hite would not have
enough rime ro create problems for Black.
2l ..ixg6t only leads ro equality, which feels
rather inadequate.
21...W/e7 22.ixg6t
l11i~ was rhe idea all along, bur we also want
ro hold on to rhe rook.
22 ... ~f8
The endgame ansmg afrer 22 ... hxg6?!
23.11f.Ixg6t ~f8 24J~~f6t Wfxf6 25.Wlxf6t
~g8 26.cxd4 is rather dangerous for Black.
·n1e three connected pawns, combined wirh
the vulne1·ability of the king, give him a lot
of things to be concerned about.
23.i.xe8 gxe8 24.h3
White has an edge due ro Black's exposed
king. In absolure terms, it is hard to determine
how great White's advantage really i~, bm from
a practical perspective che posicion is very
dangerous for Black. Nm only does he have
ro worry abour his king, but he must also be
careful not to allow White ro emer a favourable
endgame. lr might look as if Whire has
sacrificed somerhing ar rhis point, but: material
is actually close to equal. lfWhite can pick up
144 Arcacking Manual 2
just one more pawn, he will probably enjoy the
advantage in an endgame with rook and rwo
pawns versus bishop and knight. Clhe foremost
guide to rhese rypes ofposidons remains Esben
Lund's Roo!? vs. 'flvo )\;fhwr Pieces.)
20 •.• fxe6!
Black does nOt wasre a moment. 20 ....Ehe6
2l..B:xe6 dxc3 was anorher possibility. It seems
rhac this line abo leads ro equality. After
22.\Wh4 ~g8 Whirc is one tempo coo slow
ro create a strong arrack on rhe <tu·k squares.
Both 23.lLle4 and 23.~f4 lead to ~1 perpetual
check. 1he last piece is simply missed. And
2.3.~d6?! i!e8 loses momenrum, afrcr which
macerial starts to become an issue again.
21.ctJxh7lDe7!
An imporranr move, Black is defending rhe
g6-sguare, which is his only strong square on
rhe kingside, or his figleaf if you like.
21 ... ~h8? would lose by force. After 22.mtxg6
mth4 23.~g5 ~ffi it might look as if Black has
everything covered, bur the tiny move 24.g3!
makes the ·whole rhing come down. After
24 ... tDe7 trying ro smy :1Aoar, \XIhire wins
brilliantly wirh 25.~xc6! mtxg5 26.mthJi' ~g7
27.\Wh?t @f6 28.\Wx.c7 mare!
22.!€he6
22 ..• ~d5!
1l1is time this active move is to be
commended.
Black cannoc play:
22 ... ~d7?
Whire will continue with:
2J.'Llg5!
1l1e ternpting 23Jhg6t?! only leads ro
a draw after 23 ... lZJxg6 24.~xg6t ~h8
25.lLlf6 .B:elt 26.i.fl ~xflt 27.~xfl i.xg2t!
28.~gl! ~h3 29.lLlh5! vtld7! 30.lLlf6! ~h3.
Quire an arrracrive line, except for rhe final
repetition of moves which is nor so desirable
for White.
23 ... ~d5
'lbe only move, but rhe queen is nor allowed
ro linger on this central square.
24.ic4!
White of course needs to look out for
...mtxg2"!" with simplification, beyond
conrinuing wirh his own attack.
24 .. J9xa2
1l1e attempt 24 ... mtc5 25.mth4 ~hB is met
with anorher one of those small prerry
moves:
 Chapter 2 -Typical Piece Play 145

25.h3!
Wirh rhe queen banished from rhe scene of
rhe bc.u:de, \XIhitc has time enough for rhis
im porram prophylaC(ic move (against back
rank mace, in case you are dozing ofF.).
25 ... 1iWd2
l11is is bur one of the attempts ro fight.
25 ....~xc4 b the be~r move, but 26.1iWh4!
forces Black ro give up the queen and enrer a
dreadful endgame.
26.1iWe5·l· ~h6 27.lt1t7i' ~h7
24.~h3?!
\Xlhi te cakes up the challenge and is eventually
rewarded for it.
However, 24.Wifh4! with rhe above mentioned
perpetual was objectively better.
24 ... ctJxg6 25.ctJf6t ®g7 26.ttlxd5 :ael t
27.-ifl ixd5
'flu~re is nothing wrong wirh rhis moYe.
Hmvever, also tempting was 27 ... ~a6!?
28.1iWd7i' ~h8! 29.h.3 ~xfl 30.~h2 ~g8 with
a srrong arrack against rhe white king.

28.~d7t JJ.fl 29.~xd4t ®g8 30.h4

30.f4!? might have been better, butT am sure
th<u the game was descending into mayhem
due ro time trouble at chis poim.

8
7
6
5
4
3
2
However, 22 ... dxc3!? is playable. After 23.\WeSt
1
Bbck just has to avoid 23 ... ~xh7? 24.ixg6t!
and phty 23 ... <j;lh6! when rhere seems to be a b c d e f g h
nothing more than a draw. 30 ... :acs?
Black would have been dose ro winning
23J'!xg6t ~1frer 30 ... ~ae8!. For example: 3l.h5 ltJe5
T always like it when rook sacrifices require followed by ... ~c4 or ... ~xh5. So 31.f3 with a
no furrhcr explanarion. poor position would be necessary.

23 ... ®h8!? 31.h5 ttle5 32.~d2!

Black is signalling thac he wants to flght,
even if \Xlh ire can force a draw.
2.L.l.!Jxg6 24.1M'xg6·j· ~h8 25.Wffbt ~g8
26.1iWg6!' leads ro a draw immediately.
Suddenly it is nor easy to defend the knight
on e5. Black, running out of time, musr have
been badly surprised by this move.
32... :ae4?
146 Arracki ng Manual 2

Wich no rime on rhe clock it i~ pm.sible Krishnan Sasikiran - Veselin Topalov

to miss 32 ... .E!c8!, which however still allows
\X'hite to draw by perpetual check wirh Sofia 2007
J3.~g5t.
l.d4 ~f6 2.~f3 g6 3.c4 ~g7 4.~c3 0-0 5.e4
33.f3 d6 6.~e2 eS 7.~e3 ~g4 8.~g5 f6 9.~h4 gS
Black overstepped rhe rime limit, bur his 10.~g3 ~h6 ll.dS ~d7 12.h3
position is also lost, for the first rime in rhe Somehow I do not think that it is roo
game ... controversial to state rhar this is nor the
1-0 refutation of rhe King's Indian.

The final game 1 want ro look ar in this &ection
includes a rhemc I have seen so often thar 1
had originally intended to make it into an
indcpendenr section. Ar rhe last momenr 1
decided rhar ir was nothing else bur rhe mosr
~pectacular form of launching, a form rhar is
also very powerfLd in the defence.
l am calking abour rhe scenario in which rhe
queen is senr deep inro rhe opponent's camp.
Because of rhe exrreme power of rhis piece, it
is almost unbearable ~or the victim ro allow
rhe queen such access co rhe inner circle& of
his position.
12 ... f5 13.exf5 ~c5 14.~d2
Ar rhe rime this was a novelty, albeit nor a
very impressive one.
14.'19d2 ttJxfS 15.ttJxg5 (15.1Wxg5 e4!? gives
lots of compensation) 15 ... ~h6 16.h4 ttJxg3
17.fxg3 a5 18.g4 '.Wc7 19.0-0-0 was definitely
playable for White in Aakesson - Naraf,
Stockholm 2001, bur one senses that Black has
many chances to improve his play.
14... his 15.0-0 e4
Black has already achieved everything he can
hope ro do in rhc King's lndian.

This topic reminds me of an experience with a 16.~b3 b6 17.~d4 'l&f6 18.~c6

~cudent of mine, -..vho wa& sn·uggling for a long
IVfaybe rhis is a loss of rime? Iris nor evidenr
rime; he had huge problems wirh \XIhire, lming ro me rhar the knighr is any stronger on c6.
many games to rhe manoeuvre ... '.Wd8-b6xb2.
Even rually \VC figured om that he should nor 18 ... aS
learn to conrrol this menace, bur imread play
rhe English and keep hi~ bishop on cl unril the
beginning of rhc middlegamc!

A good example of rhe queen launched into

the opponent's position in a defensive role is
Hector- Mortensen from the inrroduction of
Volume One. A good example of rhe queen
parachuted behind rhe opponent's line,') in
aggression is rhc following game, where rhc
queen arrives on b2, serring up a lor of threats,
"vhich are then carried our when the knights
join in in rhe arrack.
a b c d e f g h
 Chaprer 2 -Typical Piece Play
19.f4?
Evidently not happy with his po.smon,
Sasikiran lashes out. Unfortunately for him, hi11
position is simply nor strong enough ro justify
rhe loosening of his kjngside along wirh the
increased dynamic potential of the e4-pawn,
which is nmv passed.
1he correct conrinuarion for White should
be 19.®'d2 1d7 20.E;ae I when he is fully
mobilised .utd ready to rake action in the ccmre.
Probably Sasikiran l'efused such optiom on the
basis thar afrcr 20 ... tDf5 Black has pleasant
cqualiry. However, ir soon becomes apparenr
that this w.1s by f..1.r the lesser evil.
19...id7!
1l1e main aim of rhis move is ro exploit rhc
newly created weaknesses on e3 and g3 with
... '2Jf5.
20.tLlb5?
Whire is nor ready m rake it ro rhe screen,.
After rhis further neglecr of his developmenr
he becomes rhe vicrim of some crud police
brura.liry.
20.1.Wd2 was herret·, bur Whire is already
struggling ro cover his weaknesses on chc dark
squares.
20...ixc6 2l.dxc6 VNxb2!
147
Taking a pawn is neither here nor there. l11e
real strength of the texc is the tremendous power
of rhe queen, which exerts a great influence
along the second rank as well as targering
rhe rook on a 1, which explains White's next
move.
22,gbl
22.tDxc7tDf5 moH likely transposes.
22.tvd5t ~h8 23.fxg5 '2Jf5 leaves White wich
hanging pieces everywhere.
22 ..•VNxa2 23.'~Jxc7lbf5! 24.~fl e3 25.~el
25.\Wd5t ~h8 26.1d3 exf2t 27Jhf2 id4
28.~xd4t tDxd4 29.a:xa2 a:a? also is no
good.
25 ... tbd4
After rhis \Vhire could already almost have
res1gned, as he cannot protect rhe e2-square. It
is rare that one can survive after losing control
over a square so deep imo the heart of one's
camp.
26.lbxa8
Or 26.1h5 e2 27.1xe2 l2Jxe2t 28.@h2 a:xf4
29.a:xf4 '2Jxf4 and the threar of mate secures
Black's extra piece.
a b c d e f g h
26 ... tbxe2t 27.@h2lbxf4 28.gxf4 gxf4
148 Attacking Manual 2

Though the material is more or less equal, ·lhe most reliable continuation looks ro be
rhe game is over. 7 ... cxd4, leading to a standard Hedgehog.

29J!xb6 f3 30.~d5t ctJe6!? s.lbxe4 he4 9.~f4

Fancy..~0 ... Wh8 was also good enough. 9.d5!? appears more critical rome.

31.~xe6t ~h8 32.~g4 ~eSt 33.~hl f2
Torture? Black could have finished the game
immediately wirh 5.1 .. .fxg2"!" J4.~xg2 Z!f1·1
35.~xf1 ~h2 mare, bur perhaps Topalov
wanted ro make a kind of psychological
::.tare men c.
0-1
Tite Pin
9 ... 0-0 lO.dxcS bxc5 ll.~d2 ~b6 12J:Hdl
White has not played rhc opening wirh
great conviction. Had Black played 12 .. .ltJc6
he would have equalised easily, but instead
he made an overcautious move and allowed
\Xfhire to gain a slight initiative. Then, instead
of slowly freeing his position with defensive
moves, Black adopted an ambitious approach,
which only aggravated his problems.

One ropic that is ofren !leen in many tactical 12 .. J~d8? 13.~e3!

skirmishes, bur with lower levd intemity than in The bishop is ideally placed and rhus duly
rhe most clas.)ical examples, i!l rhe pin. Because challenged.
we are talking abour racricalmiddlegames, ir is
ro be expected that there will be a wide range
13 ... ~b7?!
of sirua·rions where pieces of higher value are
This move is also a bit artificial, bm it was
shielded by piece!l of lower level.
already nor easy to find a fully satisfactory
conti nuario n.
Even rhough rhe pin is one oC rbe first things a
chess player will learn about the game, it is still
13 ... ~b7 was rhe better move, bm Olafsson
imporranr at rhe rop level. To drive this point
had prepared the energetic retotT 14J~d3!,
home 1 have focussed on some complicated
causing Black real problems.
and quire aesthetically srriking examples.
In the first of these we sec a pin on a bishop,
which is shielding a pinned pawn behind
him.

Helgi Olafsson- Jonathan Levitt

l.c4 ctJf6 2.ctJc3 e6 3.ctJf3 c5 4.g3 b6 s.~g2

~b7 6.0-0 ~e7 7 .d4 ctJe4
lhi.s opening is a kind of hybrid between
the Queen's Indian and rhe Hedgehog. ·n1is
approach seems slightly risky, although White
fails to demonsrr;ue an opening advantage in
a) 14 .. .1¥ixb2?! 15.ie5 1Wb6 16.~f4 with a
rhe present game.
very strong initiative for White, based on the
 Chapter 2 -Typical Piece Play
line 16 ... d6 17.tDg5!! wich a winning arrack,
a~ Black has co look our for f!b3 as well as rhe
threats on che kingside.
b) For rhis reason Black is better otf plaring
14 ... d5, but after 15.f!b3 V:l!a6 White has a
convenicmchoice berween 16J;cl and 16.ltJe5,
in both cases with a prefel'<lble position. lhe
rook mighr appear oddly placed on b3, bur
BJack is suflering from a lor of coordin<trion
problem!>.
14..•.ixd6 1SJ!xd6 Wfxb2 16J~adl
White is fully developed, bm Black still
cannot get his piece-'> om. A bad omen. How
badly the fol!mving moves went was probably
no surprise to Levitt, a.lrhough he might have
been !>urprised by rhe moves themselves.
16•• JWb7?!
lt is no disgrace w lose the way Black did
in the game; however this does not change
149
that it was better to play 16 ... i.c6. Having
said th;u, \XThite has a clear ad van rage afrer
17.'Lle5! i.xg2 18.<;!ixg2 \Wb7t 19.~g1, the
exchange of the bishops has brought Black
~t bit of relief and a chance ro survive long
term.
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
a b c d e f g h
Black is caught in a number of pins, it rums
out. Borh the rook on d8 and the queen on b7
are exposed, and so is the pawn on e6, making
even the bishop on e4 a pinned piece, and nor
only the pawn on d7 and (in rime) rhe knight
appearing on c6. Whire is able to use rhis with
a fantastic and deep combination.
17.~xe6!! fxe6 18.&bg5
The bishop is pinned. After 18...i.xg2,
Whire will win wirh 19.~xe6'!!!, followed by
marc in a fe,v
moves.
18...h6!
The only move. Ic mighr look narural to play
18 ... 'Llc6, bur \"X'hice is rhen allmved ro rake
on e4 with the <.}L1een, keeping rhe knighr on
g5, forcing immediate and decisive weakening
around rhe black king. The winning line goes:
19.~xe4 g6 20.'l!9h4 h5 21 ..ie4! The bjshop
needs to attack rhe king. 2l ... @g7 22.~f4! f!f8
23.'l!9d6 Black is done. 'l11e double threat of
iWxd7t and .ixc6 will lead co decisive material
gains.
150 Attacking .Nianual 2

19.ttJxe4 ttJc6 20.ttJxc51!f!c7 24...1!f!xc4 25.1!f!xe7

Objectively ir was better ro play 20 ... Wfb6,
although White is much bercer after 2l.CLlxd7!
iWxe3 22.fXe3 ~ac8 (22 ... ~deS? 23.~d6)
23 ..~xc6 :gxc6 24 .ctJf6i' ~t7 25.~xd8 ~xf6.
'l11is endgame wirh rwo extra pawns should of
course be winning, bur a slim practical chance
remains. The e2-pawn's only value ~eems ro be
rhar it will rake an exrra move ro capture it in
a L:.uer pav·/11 f<Ke.

2I.ttJxd7! ~ac8
Black is lost and no moves can change this.
However, rhb does nor mean rhar it docs not
make sense ro look at one of them. 2l ... e5 Here
rhe focal point!. are h7, f7 and e6, the squares
dominated by rhe lighr-~quared bishop.

26.@g2 ~e8 27.1!fif7 ~xe4 28.~g6

Black resigned. After 28 ... 'Wc3 White wins
elegantly with: 29.ctJf6! Vflc7 30.~xg7!
1-0

In rhe next example we shall see how a pin can,

paradoxically, be even more valuable than the
a h c d e f g h pinned piece irsel f!
Nor surprisingly \XIhire wins by purcing
With a fantastic knight sacrifice Black rakes
rhe queen in rhc direction or
the~e squares.
the initiative early on and establishes a pin on
22.Wd3! ~ac8 23.WffS!! CLld4 24.~xd4 exd4
an enemy knight. Even though the most Black
25.~d5t ~h8 26.~e4 @g8 27.Wh7t ~f7
can look forward to, in principle, is to restore
28.~d5t ~e7 29.~xg7·i· ~d6 30.\1Ne5t ~xd7
material equality, the pin is so powerful rhar
31.\We6 mare!
it could practimlly have decided the game by
itself.
22.1!f!xe6t @hs 23 ..ie4! ttJe7
23 ... ltJe5 also does nor offer much resistance:
The problems with supporting the pinned
piece are overwhelming White, and ir is only
24.CLlxe5! ~xdli" 25.~g2, and wins.
because Blade release~ his opponem roo early
from the pin char the game docs not become
24.~d6
.1 n1iniature and is decided by mistakes in the
Orher moves were al~o \Vinning, bur this
middlegame, rather than in rhe opening.
move has a nice tactical point.
 Chapter 2 ~ Typical Piece Play
Zonen Franco Ocampos- Alfonso Romero Holmes
Leon 1990
l.c4 eS 2.tbc3 d6 3.d4
For a rime this move was rhoughr to give
White a slight edge, bur comparing ir with
similar vari;uions, I cannot see why this would
be a logical conclusion.
3 •.. exd4 4J&xd4 tbc6 s.Wfd2 qJf6 6.g3
White has a potentially slight advanmge
because of rhe control over the d5~square, bur
he is lacking in develop.ment and Black is able
ro reach our for the initiacive.
6 ... ~e6
a b c d e f g h
7.e4
-lhill prorecrs rhe pawn on c4, bur also gives
Black an additional rargc( in the c~mrc.
A famous game wem: 7.lbd5 tt'1e5! 8.b3 c'L\e4
9JWe3 tt'1c5 I O.ib2 c6 ll.l'ilf4 lt'1g4! 12.\Wd4
lt'1e4!l and \'{!hire ·was already in dire straits,
Huebner- Kasparov, Hamburg (1) 1985.
7 ... ~e7 8.b3?
Played with rhe ambidon of following up
wirh .~g2, lLlge2, 0-0 and so on. 8.tt'1f3 was
nor necessarily comfortable, bur it would avoid
151
rhe coming very unpleasant combination. lf
Black was to do nothing he would quickly
have ro fight fOI' equality. White would install
a knight on d5 and if this was captured, he
would recapture with the c-pawn, creating
permanent weaknesses down the c~fi.le.
However, it is Black ro play and he can
upset this long-rerm plan with a brilliant
combination.
a b c d e f ea h
8 ... tbxe4!!
TI1is sacrifice is based on the pin from b4 ro
e 1. 1he knighr can return to c3, but is S(ill in
trouble. 1his move has been played a number
of rimes since this original game, making it
"theory". This should not detract from the
g•·ear performance of Romero Holmes, who
discovered this idea at the board, in this game.
9.tbxe4 dS IO.~g2
White has ro do something ro carch up in
development.
Another attempt is:
I O.tt'1c3 d4 ll.tt'1gc2!
TI1e besr chance, although even here White is
in trouble. Black can play 11 ... 0-0!? ro keep
the tension, or look for a bener endgame:
1 1.. .dxc3 l2.tt'1xc3 lLlb4
Or 12. .. \Wxd2t 13.~xd2 tt'1d4 with a clear
edge, Jskusnyh- Belikov, Moscow 1996.
 Artacking Manual2

13.~g2 '1Wxd2t 14.!xd2 1 L..!xd5 12.f3 '@'f6!

Using the pin to gain rime.

s x r1
-;~~}.
.-$/.,
£ ;:;;~;{-
~:·~~
-~- ~~
?&~ .& :q~ £
?.·-.,?.:-.,, ......-
13.ib2
13.W'e3t ~f8! led a quick win in Par;:lld-
to
1 )a':~
-•,,
a ?:a/ :.~~ a t~ a
';-;*'~/'"·' -~ 'A,"?.'//~--- ·"w-r:-o- Chatalbashev, Balatonlelle 2003.
6 {~~ ~~ .1~9&% ~;)1 13 ... 0-0-0
5 i$\:)]'fu:~'~(:•:: White is lost; the bishops are too srrong.
4
--.; '
3 ·i';::y
;l.)t
~m
~-ill?//,. ~~--;ffi-~h?
(c.s
14.!e2 ..lxf3 15.ttJxf3 gxd2 16. ~xd2 gd8t
l7.~c2 ~g6i" 18.'i:t>cl !c5 19.e.d 1 '\&e4
:~/(;~;;;w. :/' · ;.w --;;__/>f:/J);,_,,. -'f_}.. · ~::8z ·"::-: zoJ;el o-1
2 ~ ;.~/ ~:
(~:t~I~Ji,;,_,::~~t %~~:: ..
~[!ft. JL~~i)
-fl1is was Benko - Psakhis, Aruba 1992.
White resigned wirhour waicing for one ofhis
a b c d e f g h opponent's many good moves.
So far w~ have been following Zupe
- Szabo, Budapest 1994. Black played rhe
rempri11g 14 .. .ltklt, bm did not get a dear
advanmge.
Simpler is rhus:
14 ... 0-0-0! l5J~~dl tlJc2i· 16.®fl c6
Black has several convincing plans, such all
.. J3d7 and .. ..\3hcl8, or .. .f5 and ... g5, with a
big space advantage.

A.nother possibilicy is:

lO.cxdS
'fl1is opens the diagonal fr01n d5 to h 1 and
causes funher problems for White. Black a b c d e f g h
won afrcr brilliant play in chc f-(JJiowing IO •.•.ib4?
game: Black is playing to makt! rhe rnost use of the
10 ... !b4 ll.ttJc3 pin; and who can blame him, after finding
ll.dxe6 loses in one go: such a wonderful idea two moves ago.

Unforrunarely ir was probably berrer to play

l O... clxe4! ll.ixe4 0-0 with a very convincing
aJvantage. Whether or nor rhe queens are
exchanged, \Xfhire is sn·uggling ro finish his
development and will find ir difficult to relieve
the pressure once rhc kniglu arrives on d4 and
the f-pawn advances. Againsr a comperenr
acrackcr Whire:,s position is virrually hopeless.

ll.lbc3 d4 12.£h2?
a b c d e f g h
White had n chance ro keep his position
11...~d4!! and Bl.Kk \Vtns marerial. togerhcr at this point.
 Chc.tpter 2 -Typical Piece Play 1 53

One game continued 12.ltJge2! l!Nt6 J3.~f4 16 ... !tJxc1 17.ltJxf6 tt3xe2t, capturing rhe
0-0-0! 14.'1Wxf6 gxf6: knight \Vith an all-important check.

For this reason White's best try look~ to be

15.@fl!?, after which 15 ... !tJd3? 16.ltJe4!
re~tlly is a good move. Bur Black does not have
ro allow chis murky option. Instead, after the
simple 15 ... dxc3 16.~xc3 ~xc3 17.lDxc3 !tJd3
l8.'1Wc2lDxf2 he wins effortlessly.

15 .hc3 'W'e5
15 .. J~he8!? was a valid alremarive.
a b c d e f g h
16.hc6 bxc6
Here \XIhite could h.we played 15 .•¥Ld2! dxc3 Black's advanrage is slipping. After
16.Axc3 !tJd4! l?.@fl!, and I have not been 16 ... ~xc3t 17.~xc3 l&xc3t 18.ltJxc3 bxc6
able to find an advantage won:h talking about. 19.0-0 ir would be gone entirely.

Instead the game was brillianrly played by 17.hh41h3!

Black. l5.~xc6? bxc6 16.~<.12 dxc3 l?.i,xc3 Black has to keep rhe white king in rhe
~xc3t 18.ltJxc3 ~h3! 19.!tJdl i.g2 20J~gl centre.
1f3 21.ltJe3 h5 22.h3 ~he8 23.g4 h4 24.~c1
c5 25.~fl :gd2 26.~al c6 27.~el ~e6 28.g5 17 ...~g4? 18.0-0! would hand over the
f5 29.:gal f4 30.l0g4 ged6 0-1 Dive- Hampl, iniriarive ro White.
New Zeabnd 1998.
18.'W'c3 'W'f5!
12.. J~ff6 13.l!Jge2 0-0-0 14.'\~fcl Obviously Black must keep the queens on.

a b c d e f g h
14 ... dxc3?
14 ... l0e5! wa~ the winner. Now 15.0-0
runs inro 15 .. .l2Jd3!, \vhen 16.l2Jc:4 fails to
154 Auack.ing Manual 2

19.gdl! was berter, !cading co equal chances also afcer 23. ~f2 h5! White is !eft without an
after l9 .. J1xdlt 20.~xdl i!Nblt 2J.i1Ncl obvious answer.
iWd3t 22.i.d2 gcH 23.~e l ~xe2 24.~xt:2 i.g4
25.iWc3. 23 ...'1Wh3 24.lbg3?
24.~d2!? with rhe plan of shuttling rhe Icing
19•.• hg4 20.f.3 to the queenside seems to have been rhe last
20)2:Jg3 would be even worse. After rhe bid for equality.
forcing.._ option 20 ... E!he8i· 2l.~fl ~h3t
22.~gl '1Wg4 Whiu.· is threatened by mate 24...'1Wxg4 25.0-0 hS!
and has to play 2J.B Wig'S 24.@f2 to avoid
imrnediare collapse.

However, Black has the brilliam deflection

White is still suffering from pins, almost
24 ... a5!!, reminding rhe bishop char ir is
rwemy movc:s after che first one was in the air.
overloaded, having to look after both c5 and
d2. White has sonle ways ro keep the water
26.Whl? .
from boiling over; bur a lor of swearing and
Ihis loses by force. 26.~f2 h4 27.4Je2 wa:.
possibly some burn rnarks will be inevitable ...
berter, bur White is in rrouble.

20... ~d3!
26... h4 27.lbf5 '!We4t 28.Wgl ~hS 29.~d2
Black wins rhc: queen, a!rhough for rhrce ~gSt 30.Wfl ~g2 mate.
pieces, this is srill worth it.
0-1
2l.fxg4 '!We4! 22.'1Wxd3
The following example shows how a player
After 22.0-0 !!xc3 23.l2Jxc3V:Yxg4t 24.rnhl
tied down in pins from a.ll angles (d t to d8,
f5 1 would prefer Black, simply because the b5 to e8 and g5 to e7/d8) can easily see his
white king is so open, but rhrce pieces is
position fall aparr, despite desperately trying
a lor for the queen, even when they ~tre as
to keep everything covered and having no
uncoordinated as rhey are here.
ambitions of his own. 1he game unforrunarely
drifrcd into an endgame, rather than finishing
22...'1Wxd3 23JM1
wirh mare around rnove 25, bur for the white
1his loses the g-pawn for no obvious reason.
player this was all right, as it secured him rhe
Bur dig a little deeper and yoLt will sec rhar
Brirrsh Championship trophy. Incidentally,
 Chapter 2 -Typical Piece Play 15'5

ht: was the firsr English phtyer ro do !:.O for 9 ... 1/.e7 appears far safer to me. It is hard to
ahour a decade - firsr the lnclians rook it, see how the whire advantage could persist, but
Jnd when rhe esmblishmenr of a credible then: is all ro play for, of course.
Comtnonweahh Championship made the
?~lrriciparion of phl}'er~ from former colonies lO.iVh40-0
;)bsolere, rhe Scors rook it lour years in a mw; 10... b6!? looks very sensible here. 1 can see
three dmes hy Jonathan Rowson and once by no reason for the king ro reveal its intentions
m:·self. 1he 2008 championship had no strong at a rime \vhen Whire is massing his army for
:-~on-English p<trticiparion, but wirh rhe skill an arrack.
Conquest shows here, he could have won any
IL.id3
1his is a loss of tempo, of course.
Stuart Conquest- Keith Arkell
ll. ...ie7
Briti~h Ch. play-olf (2nd rapid game) 2008 Bur so is this. It seems thac Black is already
under real pressure.
l.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Ct)d2 dxe4 4.lthe4 tLld7
:-\rkell has played like rhis a million times, 12..ig5
,;I mosr. lr is nor by chance rhar Conquest
decides ro play somerhing apparently "wirhour
8
r.:ct I1" .
7
5.tLlf3 tLlgf6 6.tLlg3 c5 7 ..ie2 6
Played so as nor w block rhe queen.
5
7 ... cxd4 8.'Wxd4 e6 9.0-0 4
3
2
1
a b c d e f g h
12 ... g6?
Already rhis appears to be rhe decisive
mistake. 1here was no need ro commit the
kingslde pawns ar rbisstage. Arkellwasavoiding
di~a.srers like 12 ... h6? 13.ixh6 with this move,
but in turn weakening other squares.

12... E:e8! ro prepare eirhcr pawn move was

9 ... .ic5?! rhe correct answer, where Blad; mfght still
"Ibis is a new move, bur ic seems ro me thar e<.1ualise.
rhc whire queen is becce1· off on h4 than d4,
e~pecially afrcr Black C<1sde.s. 13J!adl ~e8?!
1'56 Atracking Manual 2

After this rhc win is rorct:d, although rht: 'The knight returns m rhe scene of action
alternatives were <llso less than attractive for with the intention of landing on f6 or d6 in
Black. some combination. Arkell decides to put it all
ro rhe ccsr:
ll1e only move was 1.3 ... !2Jd5, when \Vhite ha~
many tempting oprions. My choice would be 16... f6
14J::!fe 1, bringing in the last piect:. I cannot see
how Black can get his birs out, ~o Whirc .should
8
be winning. For example: 14 ... b6 15.!xe7
'Wxe7 16.lZJg5 h5 (16 ... tLJ)f6 l?.lDxh7) 7
17.tDxhS! gxh5 I8.~xh5 tLJ7f6 J9.ll:Vh6 and 6
Black is mated after !h?·i·, ie4i" and ~d3- or
sornething else ... 5
4
3
2

a b c d e f g h
17J~!:xd7!!
'This temp ring sacrifice removes rhe possibility
for Black ro resist on rhe dark squares. After rhis
iris not important if the arrack is immediately
successful, as the compensation is major and
pervasive.
a b c d e f 0
0
h
I4..ib5! l? ... hd7
Black may have prevenred any mating ide.1s 17 ... ll:Vxd7 18.!xf6 also leaves Black morntll y
on h7, but his last move robbed the f6-knight weak on the dark squares. I11 rhis way he at
of irs stability. Aft~:r Conquest's powel'ful reply, least gets the bishop out.
the new weaknesses on f6 and d7 are pinned
from multiple directions. 18.'bxf6t!
18.!xf6? would allow Black to fighr back
I4 ... a6 wirh 18 ...!c6!, when there is no clear path to
Black has no choice but co force matters. follow.
He cannot improve hb position hinuelf, e.g.
14 ... lZJdS 15.c4. 18...h.f619.U6 ~c7 20..ie5 ~d8 2I..if6
~c7 22.'Lle5!
15.hd7 'Llxd7 Aiming straight at rhe king.
l5 ... !xd7 16.tLJc5 and a piece is gone- or
lZJxt7 comes- or something else. 22... .ic6
22 ... §f8 was the objectively best defence, but
16.'be4! after 2:>.llJg4! (23.lZJxg6? §xf6 is only a draw)
 Chapter 2 - 1)rpical Piece Play 157

23 ... h5 24.Wfg5 ~e8 25.~e5 and 26.ttJf6t, coloured bishops only exists if White is silly
\\'hire i~ winning. enough ro pur his pawns on rhc kingside
exclusively on the dark squares.
23.ClJxg6!
"OK, ifir is not prevemed, I guess I will have 3l.b3 bS 32.~el ~c8 33.~e2 @f7 34.f3 aS
~o ... " 3S.@fl a4 36.h4 @g6 37.g4 ~f8 38.~e3
~c8 39J:"!e2 ~f8 40.f4 @h6 4L@g3 axb3
23 ...!d5 24.'IJ!f gS @f7 42.axb3 ~a8 43.h5 ~a2 44.~h2 ~e4 4S.g5t
@h7 46.~d2 :Ba7
1-0

Of course not all pins can be trusted. In rbe

following small piece of:.l!T Black ignores a pin,
sacrifices his queen, and mates the opponent
in the middle of the board.

Martin Alm- Tamas Ruck

Belgian League 2006

l.e4 eS 2.ctJf3 ctJc6 3.d4 exd4 4.ctJxd4 ~cS

S.ctJb3 ~b6 6.ctJc3 ctJf6 7-~gS h6 8.~h4 d6
9.a4!
9.'We2 and 9.id3 are superior alternatives,
although the text had been played in several
earlier games.

\\'arching rhe game live 1 was wondering what

,,·auld happen after 25.ttJh8i"!, when my idea
,,·as 25 ... @f8 26.~c5 iWd? 27.'.Wf6t @g8
28.ctJf7! with marc ro come. lr seems that this
is exactly what would happen!

25 ... '1J!fd8 26.'1J!fh6

Forcing a winning endgame.

26.~h5 ~e7 27.ctJxe?·i· @xe7 28.c4! was more

direcr.

26.. J~e7 27.'1J!fxh7t @e8 28.ctJxe7 'IJ!!xe7

29. 'IJ!fh8t 'IJ!ff8 30.'IJ!fxf8t @xf8
1he rest is mrher trivial. "l11e well-known
drawing Etctor in endgames with opposite-
158 Attacking Ivfanual 2

10.hd8?! 17•.. fxg4

\XIhite can of course decline rbe ~acrifice wich Forced by drcums(ances~ Black has to rake
l O.~h5, bur Black is a pawn up and should rbe queen back.
he doing well afrer: I O•.• g6!? lt.ixd8 gxhS
I 2.ltJxe4 ~xdS 13.a'5lL'lxa5 l4.lL'lxa5 E:c8 with 18.~d3
a clear advanrage.

10...~xf2t ll.'tbe2 ~g4t 12.'tbd3ctJe5t!

1his was of comsc rhc: polnr. 'l11is game has a
19th ceiHury romanrici~m abour it.

13. 'tbxe4 f5t 14. 'tbdS gxd8

a b c d e f g h 19.ghfl 'tbg7 20.ltld4 ~fest 2l.ctJe7 ~h4

1he '"'hire king is rrapped in a maring ne(.
Black will play IS ... c6t and 16... 0-0 on almm(
everything, rhrcacening mare in many ways.
15.Wfxg4
Afrer 15.lL\d4 c6·f· 16. @c6 castling sri II
works, bur a!so possible is 16... ixd4!? winning,
<Ui 17.\Wxd4 f4 is mare.
15 ...c6t
Black will of course nor get disrracccd by
crivial rhi ngs such as hanging queens ...
22.~xg6 ~xe7t 23. @f5 ~fBt 24. 'tbe4
ltlxg6t
Black has gone all materialisric as the game
is gening old.
24 ... d5t 25.@e.3 ctJc4t 26.®d3 :ge3 is mate.
25. 'tbd3 ctJeSt 26. 'tbc3 ~f2
0-1
Finally~ ler us look at two complicated
examples:

16.'tbe6 0-0! In rhe firsr of the rwo, Black has sacrificed a

I6 ... fXg4 also wins, but in <lll ending... piece for a very powerful attack, bur ran our
of rime before he could '.vork out how to use it
17.ltld5 decisively and thus had to Se[[lc for a perpetual
17.~xf5 a:teS marc! check.
 Chapter 2 -Typical Piece Play
Ildar Khairullin- Maxlme Vachier~Lagrave
Moscow 200H
a b c d e f g h
]he game concluded: 33 ... iWa3t? 34.~d2
~a7? (34 ... iWb4·j· was ~rill winning as we shall
~ec below.) 3S.lt:Jxd5 \Wa)i· 36.~c1 iWalt
_,-_®d2 \WaSt .?S.@ci Wa3i· 39.~d2 Y2-'l1
·lhe win was quite elaborarc:, simple in its
mechanics, bm not ea<;y to lind by any me.ms.
The winning merhod is ba~c:d on A.leld1ine's
ruk of pucting rhc rook before the queen when
doubling pieces down a file. However, ir is nor
rhar easy to ger rhe rook in fronr of rhe queen.
The initial moves are:
33 ... \Wb2t! 34.~d2 ~h3!!
a b c d e f g h
159
Besides being ready for frontline dury, the
rook is also threatening ro rake the bishop on
d3 and rhus collapse the white defence.
35.tiJxd5
35J~cl frees up d I for the king, bur Black
can use more direct methods against rhis
move: 35 .. Jhd3t! 36.'Wxd3lLlf4 1he queen is
now our of good squares, and 37 .. .VNc3t wins.
35J~b 1!? is another attempt ro muddy the
waters, bur Black wins afrer 35 ... iMlxbl 36.cxb3
'1Wb2t without too much drama. rnle white
king is too exposed. So, rhe only move offering
a real test is ro eliminate the dangerous bishop
on dS.
35 .. J!xd5 36.\Wfl
1here are other moves, bur none suffice.
36... ttJf4!
Taking control over e2 wirh tempo.
37.~e4
\'Xi'e have arrived ar a beautiful moment,
where a winning sequence, relevant to many
lines if we mapped out everything from move
33, is the fastest and most elegant way ro win,
although far from the only one.
37... \Wc3t 38.~cl \Walt 39.~d2
160 Attacking Manual 2

39 ... Wfa5t! 40.~cl Wia3t!! 4I.~d2 Wfb4t
"!he pieces are now ideally placed, with
tempo, and mare awair~ on rhc next move:
42.~cl ~bl mate!
ln our lasr example dealing wirh pins, I wanr
to look at a recent encounrcr between the
rwo grandmaster~ Sokolov and Golod. -nle
game is based on pim every srep of rhe way,
in rhc acrual rnove!:> played, as well as in rhe
strong oprions missed. 1l1at rhc players found
ir difficult to deal wid1 this rhcme is apparent
from the moves played, bur do not be fooled,
rhcse are sensational players playing a very
difficult game and raking grcar risks. Chess can
be very difficult if you stray fi·om safety, as wirh
this game.
Ivan Sokolov -Vitali Golod
Gihra!rar 2009
rhe centre. However, his follow-up was nor the
best.
IO ... CLJxe4 ll.~el!
Black is now pinned on rhe e-file, with the
rook shooting at both the queen on e7 and
rhe king on e8. It is only rhrough a great
achievement by Golod and mistakes from
Sokolov rhar Black is able to survive this
treacherous position.
l l ... CLJc6!
Black has to defend himself actively.
ll...~xc3?! 12.bxc3'Lld713.~d3'Lld614.~g5
gives Whire a dangerous initiative for rhe
pawn.
12.~xe4 CLJaS 13.Wic2!
White finds no advantage in rhe sharp line
L3.1zWa2 i.xc3 14.~g5 ~d6 15.~xe6! 0-0!
16.~f41zWd8 17.~f5~b418.d5!~xd5 19.~xc7
~xa2 20.i.xd8 'Llb.3 21.~fl ~fxd8 22.~xb4.

l.d4 CLJ£6 2.c4 e6 3.CLJf3 dS 4.CLJc3 dxc4 5.e3

13 ... CLJxc4
a6 6.a4 ib4 7.hc4 b6 8.0-0 ib7 9.Wib3
Wfe7
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
a b c d e f g h
14.d5!
White is seeking rome rhe pin down rhe e-
IO.e4! file as aggressively as possible.
This pawn sacrifice look!:> very tempting
.111d it was indeed a correct judgemenr by lr would be roo soon to play 14.~g5?!, as
Sokolov w rhink rhar \Vhite needed w reacr in Black can block the bishop and complete
 Chapter 2- rvpical Piece Play 161

his developmem quickly wirh: 14 ... f6! l S.d5

8
0-0-0 16.:!~hc4 fxgS 17.dxe6 wirh a crazy and
unclear position. 7
6
14.. .1Mfc5~
1l1is should have lost by force as can be seen 5
in rhe nares to White's next move. 4
3
14 ... ~a5!
Black had to play chis to ger rhe knight our 2
of harm's way. 1he position rcmaim very
1
sharp, bm it ~eems that White has the bener
chances afi:er energetic play: a b c d e f g h
1 '5.~g5 Wic5 1G.~e3 WidG 15.dxe6:
Here White has a lor of options, rhe position With this one unenergetic move White loses
is really very rich and it is hard for the aurhor all his initiative. It is possible rhar Sokolov was
to give any clear conclusion. 1l1e white
roo focussed on the obvious pin from e4 to
position feels berrer developed and more c8 and the dangers the white pieces are able
coordinated. But then, he has also given up w pose the black king, and thus completely
a pawn. missed the idea of pinning the knight on c4
My suggestion for an active continuation is: and using the exposed nature of the bishop on
l7.if4 Wle7 18J~dl! b4. This theme is actually just as important for
what is right and true in this position as the
pressure down thee-file, as we shall see.

]he winning continuation was rhus: 15.Wib3!

b5 IG.axb5 axb5 17.~xa8t ~xa8

8 .i.~ ~*~ ~~
7
6
~-~·~······.\--··
~i~ ~~
a b c d e f g h 5 ~ i~8~
~~~~··· ·"~ ~~~~--~ lcl.
4 ~lj)~g~ ~~
3 ~'if¥D~~~~~ ~l
Black needs to casrle kingside, as active
play "virh 18 ... 0-0-0?! \vould lead ro
~~-~- __ ;_ ~~r~ ~ ·~
r~
u ~~f~(j~
trouble: 19.~a2! ~c5 20.b4 il.xd5 21.~xd5
E.xd) 22.~c3 and bxaS with a very strong
arrack.
2
1 ~
.;fffi
./.= . /
~ ... .' ~ ~.. "
a b c d e f g h
18 ... 0-0 19.~a2 c5
So this is rhus nece~sary. White appears to 18.1e3! Wle7 ( 18 ... ~xe3 19.~xb4 and White
have a lot of pressure still, but there is also the wins in many ways) 19.~xc4! bxc4 20.Wla4t
issue of a sacrificed pawn, so we should nor and 2l.\Wxa8t, with a continuing arrack as
completely write Black off just yer. well as material superiority.
162 Arracking Manual2

15 ... 0-0?? 17.lLla2?

Black misse!:> the chance tO rake over the Sokolov misses a golden opportuniry ro
. ·. · Wit
.1111tl<tt1Ve . I1 1·) ... 0- 0- 0 ...
11 punish his opponent's error.
17.e7!! ~f7
8 \02•:!;~::! >!ijt~ ;;~1 Black's only attempt, I rhink, is to close rhe
~::::(/~ '§' <~-~ :~/:~?-~ /~/
7 ~~1:i.~
:;()&,. .·:. /, ~)iftlfi
~~ ;,_ .<
diagonal from b3 co g8.
6 i{f' ~!j<Y~ -~~ 17 ... ~fe8 loses to the double pin on rhe
~~/ /:. -::~~1~J~x(~~;~~r·~ ~ knight on c4, from b3 to g8 and from h4 to
5 ~~-/- ~- --~): ___ ;~~.:_ ':;;· b4. 18.\Wb3! b5 19.axb5 axb5 20.~xa8 J.xa8
A ;Jt;;{ !A.~)/:. 119' /.?~ ~ e.:
4 Q ~:·::{}/ e ':{:~~ ~ r}c 21.J.e3 '&xe7 22.ctJxb5 J.d5 23.~xc4 '&f7
-'l~ : :~ ~-: f:":\. "_>If_> ..,
3 ~W-'
;,;-,~;-; :~z.J--
~/-- ~/; ~~~~~
~- ,--;%/ 5_, 24.'&xb4 ~xc4 25.ctJc3 and although some

2 I }tsi,PJ~A~~,~-~ fighting remains, the outlook for Black is

very bleak indeed.
D: ~ ~i ~~, Here rhc most convincing move is:
a he de fgh
18.\We2!
It b nor easy ro find a decem continuation Bur it has to be said that 18:&d3!? is also
for Whire. 1 am struggling tO understand why good enough.
a sensational grandmaster like Golod did 18 ... ctJd6
not play rhis move - all my students choose Otherwise the knight is just lose.
ir. After the tcxr, Black's king has gone to a 19.J.e3 '&a5 20.tLlg5
place where rhere are no pieces to defend it A convenient double threat.
and where he will have co wcakc11 his position 20 ....ixc3 2l.~xh7!
immediately. Threatening to play ~h8t with mare in a few
moves.
16.~h4! fS 21 ... g6 22.~xf7 tLlxf7 23 ..id4!!
16 ... h6 would nor work our. \'{!hire wins with
both 17 ..ixh6! and 17.ctJe4! .ixe4 (17 ... 1&c6
18.ctJcg5 when the h6-pawn i11 pinned. Next
19.~xc4 will win everything.) l8.'Wxe4 \'{!hire
wins a piece because of tht' pin along the 4rh
rank, and became l8 ... b5 i1\ met wirh 19.axb5,
when rhe pin on the a6-pawn plays in as wdl.

A truly wonderful move, winning so many

tempos it is ridiculous.
23 ....ixd4 24.e8=\Wt ~xeS 25.mrxe8t Wg7
26.\M/xf7t ~h6
Here again White needs to be careful. The
best move seems co be:
27.\WfSt!

a b c d e f g h
 Chapter 2 -Typical Piece Play 163

An impon:;wr move.
27.ctJc6? .!hf2t! 28.Wfl !xg2t! would allow
a boardwide perpetual check.
27 ... ~h5 28.ctJe6!
"ll1is rime there is no pcrperual check. 1l1e
kinu~ \-\'ill bQ(.) all rhe wa}' to a2, and when Black
rakes on a4 wirh check, the queen can come
back m a3 and srop the haras~ment.

17•.. ie4 18J~xe4!?

True to his namrc, Sokolov choose~ what
:-eems ro be rhc sharpest conrinuacion.
a b c d e f g h
l11e objectively besr move is probably 18.\We2 20.ig5?
.tfrer which \XIhite mighc still have a slight ·n,is is a rather poor mistake rhac suggests
edge. rhat Sokolov had completely missed the reply.

:\no ncrI .uneresnng . connn

. uanon
. ts . 18 .1si.!'b3!';1
...
when Black can only survive with one move:
18 ... ttJa5!! 19.\Wxb4 ~xb4 20.t2Jxb4 ctJh3!,
when rhe posicion is very unclear. \XIhire ~hould
prob<tbly play 21.~a3, when BI..tck can restore
materi:1l equality, hut in no way order. lhe
bishop is very sm.mg on e4, bur the posicion
is extremely doubh:-cdged, so I don't wMlt ro
<rh·e
t' ~Ul"/ evaluarion~.
18...fre4 ] 9.'W'xe4 ~adS?
·n1is move opens up for chc advance
c:G-e7, but~~ depending on a back ra11k nuring
rhrear. Howevever, this is protected by X-ray
from <ll.
19 ... ~.le8! was rhe correct move. 20.b3 is the
most resdnutl .-cs•Jonsc,
t
bur even rhis does nm
lead roan advantage (20.i2Jxb4 le,tds ro srraighr
cqualiry inHead}, as 20 ... tt.kl2!! uses rhe pin
on the lmight on 0 to create mayhem. After
2l.~xb4 lL)xf)t 22.gxf3 \Wd5! Black is mosr
likely. becrer, if anvrhing.
. 20 .. J~~fe8 loses quickly ro 2l.ctJg5 gG 22.Wff4
e have come ro rhe lasr momenc in rhc g~tmc
\ \1
\\'here \Xlhire could have won, ho\vcver, he did
nor spor rht' sensational winning blow.
Had he wanted to develop safely, he could have
played 20.ie3, when Black almost equalises
·wirh 20 ... l2Jxe3 21.fxc3 gxf3! 22.~xf3 gfg
23.'We2 a5, and \Xlhitc's advantage has been
kept co a minimum.
However, the winning move involved using
rhe bishop more aggressively:
2o.AhG!!
'lhis is a f~mrastic solution to rhe problem of
whar m do wirh the bishop. The reason for
che bishop needing to go here is not so much
<tbour attacking g7, which is hardly relevant
in rhe further play, bur simply a matter of
finding a good square for the bishop. On e3
it can be exchanged, and on g5, as we shall
see later, it is hanging in the air.
20 ... gxhG
l'his allows White to reveal his poinr. No\v
that the first rank is protected, he can give
up his pawn in order to win the n:vo black
minor pieces.
gfg 23.e7!! and White ·wins a piece at least.
20 ... ctJd2 Once again this is objectively best,
although here ic is nor as convincing as in
other lines. 2LiWxb41his looks hopeless, but
164 Attacking Manual 2

20 .•. tiJd2!!
Black uses the pin on the knight on f3
sensationally to solve the problems with his
minor pieces. You could also call this move
deflection, as it \Vorks in just this way on both
the knight and the bishop.

21.hd2
White cannot take on b4 in this line, as the
bishop would be hanging with check on g5.

21 .. J3xd2 22J3fl??
A horrendous blunder. It seems that after the
rollercoaster ride the game has been so far, and
rhc apparent blunder on move 20, that White
was unable to adjust to a more unambitious
pose, and was hoping that Black would be
unable to solve his problems connected wirh
the coordination of his pieces.
a b c d e f g h
Black has escaped so f:u· widwur material The correct continuation was 22.CLJxd2, when
losses, bur his pieces are so badly placed that after 22 ... 1Wxf2t 23. ~h 1 ixd2 24. h3 the
he cannot keep the position together. position appears to be pretty balanced.
24.~dl ~f() 25.iWd7t ~f7 26.\Wg4t ®h8
27.~e6! 22 •• J~xh2 23.tiJcl
White should avoid tricks like 27.b3 lLleS, It was upon this move char Sokolov had
when the game continue~. pinned his hopes, bur ir was all wishful
27 ... lLld6 28.b4! thinking. Black has no fewer rhan three \vays
1here is no way for Black to hang on to the ro win the game here. At the board he chose
bishop any longer. For example: the most convincing.
28 ... ~xb4 29.~d5!

8
7
6
5
4
3
2

a b c d e f g h
 Chapter 2 - Typical Piece Play 165

23 .. J:!:xf2!
A rypical combination which Sokolov has
,1lso executed.

24.ltJd3
The poinr was of course that after 24.!hf2
Black wins wirh 24 ... ~xcl t 25J~fl ~c5t.
Even this final finesse is of course based on the
pin of the kniglu, which cannot go ro e 1, and a
pin on rhe rook on rhe first rank, which cannot
go ro f2. Pins arc all around us.

24 ... :a2xf3t
And in view of the imminent mare, White
resigned.
0-l
Improving the Circumstances
In the nexr rwo sections we shall deal with rhe
opponent wirh a bir more respect. fir~t we
shall look at scenarios where we can make a
subrle change in rhe position before carrying
our our idea. rl11is can at rimes be difficult and
it should rhus nor be a surprise that two of
rhe players missed rhe best move at the critical
momenrs, and rhar che most impressive game
chosen here was a correspondence encounter.
This moment is very important, although
not for the outcome of the game. Black rook
on e3 in the game, overlooking his opponent's
counterplay. As White only has one way ro
continue the game (~d2) Black could have
improved his position first.
28 ... ltJxe3!
One student of mine suggested 28 ... !!c3,
having evaluated the line 29.~d2 !!c2 30.\Wd3
!!fc8 31.e4l2Jxg3 32.hxg3 !!8c3 33.~xc3 ~xc3
as winning for Black. White can probably avoid
destruction in other ways, bur in fact he has no
reason ro avoid rhis position, as 34.!!acl! wins
in one go.

Evgeny Alekseev - Peter Svidler 1he con·ecr move was 28 .. JH7!!

Russi<Hl Championship, 1vloscow 2008

l.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 ~f5 4.ltJf3 e6 5.~e2

ltJd7 6.0-0 ~g6 7.b3 ltJh6 8.c4 ltJf5 9.ltJc3
~b4 lO.~b2 0-0 ll.~d3 f6 12.ltJe2 fxeS
13.dxe5 ltJc5 14.ltJf4 ltJxd3 15.ltJxd3 ~h5
16.ltJf4 hf3 17.1Wxf3 '.We7 18.cxd5 cxd5
19.'.Wg4 ~d2 20.ltJd3 :aac8 21.1Wdl \&g5
22.g3 ~e3 23.~hl'.Wh6 24.~cl d4 25.~g2
:ac3 26.'.We2'.Wg6
26 ... ~fc8! was even srronger. a b c d e f g h
Whire cannor rake rhe rook on d3, as
27.fxe3 :axd3 28. ~gl 29.i¥lxd3 l2Jxe3 would win the game.
166 Anack.ing Manual2

Insread he would ha\'~ ro play 29.~d2, when
after 29 .. J2)xd 30J~xf7 ~xf7 3l.ixe3 dxe3
Black has a mrher de;:1r advanrage. \X'hire can
rry stuff like 32.~f3i', and fight on, but che
position is unpleasanr. An imporranr point: is
rhat in this line \XIhirc cannor play 32.'®c2?!,
as Black can eirher movt" his h-pawn or
play 32 ... iMle4!, in all cases using che slightly
different position of rhe king ro create a path
for ir rowards safety.
TI1e next position is also quite difficulc. 'The
poinr is rhar the inirial idea, no matter how
spectacular, does not work, and Black for rhis
reason has r.o find a way co improve it.
Viesturs Meijers -Jonathan Grant
EU Champion!>hip, Liverpool 2006

1have ro say rhac 28 ... E:t7! i~ one of those unique

decisions rhar 1·cw can find or under~ rand. 1r is
simply roo dc::cp.

29J~!:xf8t ~xf8 30.he3 dxe3

28 ... 1M!'h4?
Having realised thar28 ... f!g3 29.iMlxd5! rescues
\Vhire, Jonathan loses hi.s focus a.nd collapses.

After 28 ... W'h5! Black is still in the game. For

example: 29J;gl f!h3 30Ji!g2 ~ha2! with a
messy position.

3I. .. h6 32J~!:c8t ~f7 33.g4?
This seems a hir aimless. 1l1e last chance was
33.~fl t '®'f5 34.g4 \¥lxfl t J5.~xf1, ah:hough
rhe endgame afcer 35 .. J~d2 looks a good deal
better for Black.
33 .. .1We4! 34,gc4 1Mfd5
0-1
29.1Mfxd5
White is better and managed ro make rhc
most of his advantage in whtu followed.
29 ...1M!'xf4 30.1Mfxb7 gxc3 31.gael B!xa2
32J!e8t ~h7 33.1Wbs; 1Wd4 34.:Sh8t ~g6
35.B!gl t ~f5 36.1M!'b7 1Mfe4t 37.1Mfxe4t
~xe4 38.B!e8t ~f4 39.gg4t ~f5 40.B!xg7
Wf6 4I.B!gl gxb3 42.~g4t ~g7 43.~xh6t
 Chapter 2 ~ Typical Piece Play 167

<it>f6 44.bt~g4t @fS 45.ttle3t <it>f6 46J~g3 28.Wcl g5! forces White ro play 29.~dl,
~hlt 47.<bg2 gb7 48,g£3t <it>g6 49.gg8t which is mer with the same medicine as
<it>h7 50.gfg3 f6 51.g8g4 <it>h8 52.ttld5 ga6 if played a move earlier: 29 ... d4!! 30.cxd4
53.gg6 gu s4.~h6t g4e3! and the threat of ... gg3 is absolutely
1-0 desrructive. White has ro give up the queen.
Also, the gg 1 ideas no longer work. Because
Jonathan larcr ~ugge~tcd char the correcr move
the rook is no longer at e8, Black can rake
was 27 ... d4!?.
on f2 and play ... 'it>f8-e 7 in reply ro rhe rook
8 -~?( ?)};;,i ~ _f;~~·~ sacrifices, nor allowing the queen to come ro
{;.(,:~ ~ ·-;x~=j% ~ ~
1 {.1; i ';-:;<;·:;
~'~. ~~< i -1' g 1 with check. Thcrcafrer .. _gee2 will put more

:~<flJJ,::~t~~w~()~ ~-·
pre!lsure on h2 than can be handled.
6
5 :-~~~
?).@..,~
~) >~> r:f}
:?;Z/~- ~/_~. ::~<;.%~:~. r.r 1h: Collowing example could just as easily have
. . . ;/ ;o:; /&'~ <)f/c !~ C..
4
,,;;/P/A.;::;.···~~-;~~~··..}:d';/./~
3 ,,~: A.:jA~
~-
.·~~,\\Ur _ 0 been placed in the next section on prophylaxis,
as White's main achievement in chis game is ro
~[(~f?~c::Q;, <//~:' !Ai/0':&~~ =::
anticipate rhe opponent's attack and conduct
2 0 iJ{-.;:f; 162/i ~ )(j :~
~~tili'i?~;~
/.5i;. '® ~,//
'''''1&·~--0~~~
~,. ~ ,,~K'§'
his aggression in a way thar limits it.
1he most imporram moment for our theme
a h c d e f g h
is at move 19, alrhough rhe decision on move
The idea i~ that after 28.cxd4? Black can play 26 is also deeply impressive, and \vould be
28 .. J~8e3! wirh no deccnr defence existing excremely hard ro find in an over~the~board
ag<tinst 29 ... ~gJ!. game.
HmYever, \XIhite has the rricky 28.gg I! wirh
t ea o f 7°
r l1e "d )O ~ ·g?i·l• sr,
(:";) ,L) -7-=X
-o ... <=>Xt- ~c;8 30 .o
~g8-'-l
r. Luiz Roberto Da Costa Junior - Dirk Jungmichel
when he even !>rands bettet'. Black can improve
wirh 28 ... dxc3 with a strong iniriarivc for Com.:spondence 2002
the knight, bur rhe outcome is srill l~tr from
cerrain. l.e4 d5 2.exd5 Wfxd5 3.ttlc3 Wfa5 4.d4 ttlf6
5.ttl£3 c6 6 ..ic4 .if5 7 ..id2 e6 8.Wfe2 .ih4
For this reason Black should prefer 27 ... gse4!! 9.0-0-0 ttlbd7 10.ttlh4 .ig4 11.£3 .ixc3
'vith the .!.imple threat of 28 ... gxf4 and 12.bxc3 .ih5 13.g4 .ig6 14..ih3 0-0?
29 ... gh4, maring. Tt is impossible for Whirc co This looks rather foolhardy. 1he king had no
find a ddence. reason co commie ro the kingside so early on
in rhe game.

15.ttlxg6 hxg6 16.h4!

Whire wastes no time in commencing his
assault.

16 ... Wfa3t 17.<it>bl a5 18.h5! a4

Black has to look for counrerplay. Afrcr both
18 ... gxh5 19.g5! and 18 ... g5 19.h6!, Whire's
arrack is very dangerous.
168 Attacking lvlanual 2

After 25.gxf6? b3! White has to play 26.~f4,

which leads co unclear play.

25 ... ~e6?
Black is lost after rhis inaccuracy.

Better wa!l:
25 ... ltJd5!
This leads ro a poor ending, but it was still
worth a try:
26.1Wxc6 ltJ5b6 27.g6t!
27.cxb4 ~ac8 28.1Wb5 @g6 does not look
clear at all.
We have reached the first critical moment. 27 ... ®g8 28.icl! m'xc3 29.~b5 ~xf3!
White wanr.~ ro sacrifice the bishop, bur after 29 ... b3 30.~h8t!
19.ixe6?! Black Glll gee real counterplay with 30J!dfl ~g4 3l.~fgl ~f3 32.~h2 ltJf8
19 .. J~a6! 20.@al ~b6 when the game is very 32 ... ~e6 loses rhc queen to 33.~gh I ~xg6
unclear. 34.~h8t @f7 35.gfl.
33.'Wxb6 b3 34.axb3 axb3 35.\Wxb3t V9xb3t
19 ..tc4!! b5 20.he6!! 36.cxb3
Now when Black can no longer attack \XIhite is of course much better, bur the g6-
wirh the rook manoeuvre to b6, this sacrifice pawn is a lost cause, so rhe technical task of
becomes very strong. Black has obwined an winning this position \vould still require a lot
extra tempo to advance rhc b-pawn, bur it of efforr.
is still a few moves away fi·om creating real
problems. 8

20 ... ~fe8! 7
The only move. Whirc is lost after 20 ... gae8? 6
2I.'®'h2! with the idea 2l...gxe6 22.h6! and
5
the attack down the h-tile is simply roo ~rrong.
Also, after 21 ... gxh5 White wins with 22.ixd7 4
lt:lxd7 23.1Wxh5 f6 24.~g6! followed by 25.:1~h7 3
and 26.'W'h5.
2
21.hf71'! 1
White had his eye~ on this sacrifice from way
back, but also 2I.m'h2!? ~xe6 22.hxg6 @f8
a b c d e f g h
23.g5 looks very dangerow. for Black. The next momenr is another prophylactic
momenr. White wants to win the rook on e6,
2I. .. @xf7 22.hxg6t @xg6 23JWd3t @f7 bur ar the same time has to pay arrenrion to the
24.g5 b4 25.~c4t! black counrerplay on the b-file.
\XIhire should nor be blind ro Black's
counrerplay. 26.~del!!
 Chapter 2 -Typical Piece Play 169

l always love thes~ kinds of deep decisions. 27.1Mfxe6t ~g6 28 ..ic11Mib4t 29.~al :e:bs
1he poinr is chat when the rook on el goes to 29 ... ges does not work at this poinc. 1l1e
b 1 in che line played in the game, everything is rook on e 1 is protected and White can play
fine, bur if the rook goes from d 1 m b 1, with 30.a3! winning conveniendy.
another rook left on e 1, Black has the .. J~c8
move from the coming note.
8
After 26J~!hc 1?! bxc3 White ~hould avoid 7
27.~xc6t?? cnrirely in chis line. After 27 ... ~g6!
6
28.i.c1 ®b4t 29.W~ll ~b8! 30.~a3 Wlxa3
3J.f!h 1 as said, Black has the powerful blow: 5
4
3
2
1
a b c d e f g h
30 ..ia3! 1Mfxa3 3I.:e:br :e:xbl t
3l...~e8 does nor help in view of 32.~h3!
Wxg5 33.~hgl t with a mating attack.

32.:e:xbl ltJf8
32 ... <i?xg5 33.f4t! leads to mate r;nhcr
quickly.

It should maybe be added that 26.g6t ~e7
27J~hel ~xd 28J~xel t Wd8 29.1Wxc6 ~b8
,10.c4 ~c8 i~ b~tter for \Vhite, although 110t
emirely clear a~ well.
26 ... bxc3
Black is done no matter what.
26 .. J~ae8 27.g6t makes no sense.
26.J2Jf8 27.cxb4 with the thre;u 28.~e3 is
also nor gr~at. Whi(e is able to paralyse Black
compl~tel}' af(er 27 ... ctJd5 28.gxc6 ctJxc6
29JWxc6 ctJcc7 30.c3!. 'lhc queen and knights
are not playing. \XI hi rc can plan ideas such as
gh 1-e 1-e5 afrcr which ~xd5 is in the air, or
f4-f5-{6, opening up rhe kingsidc.
33.1Mfe3!
Black resigned, which would have been a bit
early, had ir not been a correspondence game.
White wins after 33 ... ctJ6d7 34.f4! ~f7 35.f5!
in an attack.
1-0
After three such difficult examples, T want to
emphasise that this rheme does have genuine
relevance for real life chess. In rhe next example
Judir Polgar had spotted a promising looking
combination, bur one which only worked
after first implementing a small change to the
position. I suppose you can call it a trap, as
Black could have defended better, bur ar rimes
we have to take the chances that are presented
to us, and not the chances we would have
wished to get.
170 Attacking IV1anual 2

Judit Polgar - E~geny Baree~ 25J~xg7! *xg7 26. Wfh6t

26 ... *g8
26 ... <;i?f7 is mer wirll ?7 ~
was wl lat Bareev missed - .~bl'.. Lv
1\,faybe this
on move 23?

27.g6
Furrher demo 11:.hina
. o rlle pawn strucn1re

23.h5! 27..•hxg6 28.l'!lxg6t lhh .

Aiming ar cIesrroying l
The wol 8 29. *hl
around the lang· rhe . t lC pa. .vn structure •
effect. <.. enrers rIle game with d CCISIVC
..
las no poiru to IL
.' Immediate rook sac n·fi ce
!

23 ...gxh5?
29.. J~f4 30 WI
32.Wlhst
1-0
*v 3
X:~t *gs
.sg7t
31.~gl t *rs
Black
. . do es nor spot the d
posmon that occurs , . . eeper change in the
.ls ,l result of rI11,)
. move
?3 e;f7 . Prophylaxis
- ?4...Wt
d
- . 9xe6 ~af8
!· \V'l
·I , }, nete:.sary. 24 ~ ·f7
' s a.bsolute]
(J>. b
- ... ~xt7 25 'Alb
IS ,l SO fine} ? 4 _ · X Cl-. o.sely a.ssoc1ated
. .I
1o ably rhis i l in rl
,'~
Cll'C umstances WH 1 unprovina
' the
26 .., 5 w m B·1 · ·"' I
- .,;xb?t llif8' Black is. reev feared. 25 ... \'!ld2 prophylaxis. Usuall ,"'_rack is the idea of
g) W1th a chccl<.. an d t I. threatenrne:
1. " ~ on
. . . ro r..,k, tdea fi ) t liS Is used -
l : o ren to describe de ·t· . as a positional
)lit It IS just as imporra r~t s m manoeuvring
emer the , . le \\' lrte kniah
\Vfl g.lmc lll 'l ::. r cannot
PO . .

-~
VIi 1i te does nor lnve' w.ly.
. Basicall ,
t' SltlVt' 1l1e baslC· idea is thar·wnr .m d}'ll amtc
· chess. '

1
ere. than one of m.my
ways ro reach •'l d t.l\v }more , ), your own aoal
rl
htle you are advat .
::. c s, you need c lcmg
1e op r)on ents , threat. d ro p:t}' at renoon
. to
1
·d
, n 1 ea, really b I
·1 < san 'd
1 cas. Not roo d
24.Wlxe6t *hS 1 • ut nen all eep
The diffe renee
, -
from bcf . . )y those excel !ina::. ar rl e bas·
sports are dominate d
1
can advance ro g6. Fo. I me IS that the g-pawn e rst exa I 1CS .••
wmninoo com b.'..
1 115
reason WIltte
· has a • 1h fi • c mp e s .k c , so will
marion. t JUSt roll It.
witll . pea s ror itself I .
 Chapter 2 - Typical Piece Play 171

Constantin Lupulescu- Nijat Azad Abasov TI1e sacrifice on h6 is indeed the correct idea,
bur first \\/hire has to prevent Black from
BucharcM 2009 delivering the mating combination.
Lupulcscu, who was not sloppy, and not
distracted by computer interference, worked
this our all by himself and played:

29.:Sf6!!
A fantastic move, preventing the sacrifice on
f2, bur without wasting time on things like h2-
h3. Black has no decent ·way to react.
1-0
Here Black resigned, having satisfied himself
that none of the possible replies contained any
hope whatsoever.

a b c d e f g 11 Lee's see what caused him to arrive at this

decision.
Wlhite to play- (hlut: spot the blacl? tbreat)

29 ...gxf6
\X'he11 1 quickly tried to solve rhis position
This is the only remotely critical move. Black
,lfter seeing ir in Chess Todtl)' I failed ro sec any
cannot rake wirh the rook due to the back rank
counterplay for Black. 1his kind of sloppiness
mare, and he cannot reinforce the eighth rank
can be the downfall of any attacker, as ic was
in any way rbar does not spoil his own plans.
with the real me, trying to play a very f1crional
game.
For example: 29 ... ~a3 allows White to play
30Jhh6! gxh6 3l.Wl'e5t ~g8 32.Ad5t,
~1y move, 29.:5xhG?, looks absolurely winning
winning everything.
ar first glance. It is only when you include che
opponent's ideas char you lo1.e the inrerest in
30.'®xh6 ~f7
it, became Black has a very convincing mating
This is forced. Here White has a smorgasbord
idea in 29 ...1Wxf2t!!.
of ideas. I personally like:
Goluhev, rhe Chess Today annotator, was
obviously impressed with rhe white move in
3Lhl7! :Sxh7 32.'®f8 mate!
chc game, bur he muse h:wc been so computer-
lt was also possible to play 3l.Ad5
driven, that he did not stop to mcnrion rhe
immediately, of course, bur it is less fancy.
rook sacrifice on h6, because the computer was
unintereHed in ic.
1he next example also speaks for itself; before
continuing wirh his attack, Black prevents
He narcs char \X!hire can play 29.%'t7, and after \XIhire's intended counrerplay. Prophylaxis is a
29 ... g6 30J~~d8 %'a3 31.%'f6t Ag7 32.gxf8t bir like char, self explanatory, once you do it,
~xf8t 33.%'xa6 he should have reasonable but it is a bit like most mundane acts of life,
chances of winning the endgame, although unsexy, and rhus something we rend to forger
this might prove very diH1cult in practice. to do.
172 Anacking 1Vfanual2

Rafal Tomczak- Markus Ragger Friso Nijboer- Shakhriyar Mamedyarov

\X'orld Junior Ch<tmpion!>hip, Gazianu:p 2008 Wijk aan Zce 2005

8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
a b c d e f g h
Whire missed a fimrasric winning line in this
position, playing 29.Wf4?? and losing quickly
1his is nor really about calculation or tactics, m: 29 .. J~xb2t! 30.ci?al B:g2 31.We3 B:e8
buc abouc feeling t()r cacrics. lf Whice has no 32.Wd3 B:ee2 33.hf'7 B:xa2t 34.~bl
coumcrplay, Black will be able to create havoc 0-1
quire quickly. And Whire's only colmterplay
starrs with a check on c6. Befo1·e proceeding wirh his own arrack, \'X/hire
1hus the bcsr move is: should have taken the rime for 29.B:d2!, caking
conrrol over c2. After 29 ••• B:xd2 30.tl\xd2
62 ... ~a7!! hb2 Whire's winning moves continue tO be
Once rhc king is safe ir i~ rime w arrack. based on prophylaxis. The ducat of .. .'~cl t is
a problem, as is rhc fact rhar 31 J!xf7t Wfxf7
63.!g6?! 32.i.xf7 !kl is mare; so Whire plays:
The only chance ro rc:~isr wa!> ro give up the
bishop wid1 63.\Wc2 '.WeS 64.\Wcl, but this
does nor give a real chance of saving rhe game.
Black of course jusr rakes rhe piece.

63 .•. Wd4 64.b4 axb4 65.~b3 Wc3t 66.~a2

b3t 67. ~a3 Wb4 mate!
0-l

Having scarred this section with dear and easy

to undersmnd example~, 1 will immediately
move on ro something absolutely ridiculous
in ics difficulty. However, rhe basic idea is rhe
san"le. a b c d e f g h
 Chapter 2 - Typical Piece Play 173

31.~c4!! wirh rhc simple idea of gxf71". After
rhe rerrcar 31 ... ~g7 Whire needs to avoid
32.!hf7t 1l¥xf7 3.lixf7, when Black can
equalise wirh 33 ... tlJc3t 34.~c2 .!!xc4 35.~h7
tlJxdSt 36.~d2 ~xt7 and White can draw by
repetition, bur nor cause any damage.
instead Whire can play 32.'1Mfh3!!,
explanation for this exception. The reason
why there was rime in char example is that the
pmition was a bit low on dynamics. The pawns
were blocked and White had no targets of his
own.
In the next rwo examples ir is the defence
\Vhich we will frustrate with our prophylactic

7. /•.
8 ~:!~ •
~#'~./"'/'-~/~"'
''/~
~~1~ z .... %
6 ~·~~~. •
i.~.
I';~
,%~/.·0~
-~~
W'~ ~
brilliance. 1he principle is the same, although
doing this often slows down the pace a little
bit in the attack, so it is important to evaluate
correctly whether or not we can spare rhe time
for it.
5~,~~~~
~. , )~, / ' . ~
L .. ~ /

4~·;tJ,~~
3~ ~ ~ ~ii
-~·~ ~ Levente Vajda- Kiril Georgiev

2 [j~ffi
~~ ~
~ ~
~ •~ffi
1B<fi?~ ~11~
a b c d e f g h
prepare~ !!xf7 by including rhc follow-
'l11is
up ~xeS in rhe equation. Black has no valid
response, as ~e6 has also become a realiry. The
seemingly prophylactic 32.. J~e8 would pur
the rook on a bad square, leaving 33.~xf7t as
a simple winning move.
lf we look back at the~e three example~, we can
see that in rhe firsr and rhe rhird, Whire's best
move wa~ an active piece of prophylaxis. The
best moves not only prevented rhe opponenr's
countcrplay, bur also advanced the arrack.
Such multipurpose moves arc quite ofren the
order of the day when ir comes ro the rheme
of prophylaxis in rhe attack. In most attacking
sicuarions, we simply do nor have the rime to
deal cauriomly with our opponenr's ambitions.
lnste<ld we have to combin~ arrack and defence
in rhe mmr energetic way possible, otherwise
we risk losing rhe momentum.
Herceg 2008
l.e4 e5 2.~f3 ~c6 3.~b5 a6 4.hc6 dxc6
5.0-0 ~e7 6.d3
"fl1is i~ hardly rhe opening choice you would
usually connect with a quick furious defeat of
a European Champion, bur this is exactly what
we have coming our way.
6 ... ~£6 7.~bd2 ~e7 8.d4 ~g6 9.dxe5 ~xe5
IO.~xe5 he5 11.'1Mfh5 ~d6
ll ... if6 was once played in a game by rhe
l ... e5-specialisr Ivan Sokolov against Csaba
Balogh. In general rhe move should transpose
after 12.e5, although White in char game chose
a different and less challenging approach.
12.e5 ~e7 13.~e4 '1Mfd5 14.~el g6?
14 ... h6! was the improvement played
about a. month later in in Kob<llia - Lasrin,
Novokuznersk 2008. Black seems to equalise
in chat line.
15.'1Mfh6 ~6
This move appears to be more or less forced.

1\Jfarkus Ragger's su bde king retreat was nor After 15 ... ie6 16.ig5 White's initiative on
in itself a parr of the arrack, bur there is an rhe dark squares is too menacing.
174 Anacking Manual 2

17..•.hf6 18.exf6t ~e6 19J~adl Wff5

20.Wfg7 gfB
Black has managed ro keep his extra piece,
but White can soon force the black queen
aW<l)' from f), after which there is no defence
against gxe6t, mating.

2l.h3 hS 22J1d4
Renewing the threat of g2-g4.

22 ... h4 23.f4!

a b c d e f g h
7
i:~ ~-~~.v~
s ~~~if~~~-·· ~
16..tg5!!
This move is nor spectacular in itself, but 6 ,,,~~f~·,~g
rhe point of ic is. 16.'iJf6·1 is urrerly harmless.
~ '~~~Wi~~
Afrer 16 ... ixf6 17 .exf6t ie6 18.if4 0-0~0
5 ~~ ~~····~{lil'fi ~~·~
Black is as s;\fe as can be. However, if Whire
•~mr~-
~ ~~ ····'~· .."-~'
does not have m spend a Jnove on developing 4

~~·" ~~ ~~~-
3
rhc bishop, rhings look different.

I6.~ ..ixg5?!
Objectively rhis is the losing move, although
rhc posicion is m01·e or less unplayable by
now.
16 ... ~xe4 17 .ixe 7 Wxe 7 is berrer. Afrer
18.~h4t ir is cempcing ro play 18 ... g5!? m
force White to sacrifice a piece, or ro go into
an equal ending. Howevet·, che piece sacrifice
is very strong! 19.~xg5t! @f8 20.gadl ~c4
2l.b3! A nice example of deAeccion in action.
21.. .~xc2 22.e6! 'fl1e pawn i.s used as a lever
ro open up rhe black position. 111ere is no
defence, e.g. 22 ...i.g6 23.\Mff6 gg8 24J%d8t
gxd8 25.e71' wirh mme.
For this reason Black needs to play 18 ... @f8!,
although even here his posicion after I9J%xe4
@g8 20.e6 fxe6 21.gael really stinks.
I7)ijf6t!!
TI1is rh.:: wonderful idea behind the
\Vas
previous mov~. 'lhis check is far stronger now
Black cannor flnd rhe time for long casding.
~~i~~.~~
~ ~&~~....~
a b c d e f g h
1here is no way to avoid ~e5~ winning
the queen. TI1e previous few moves had rhe
effect of raking the g4~square from the black
queen. Also, if the mok was not on d4, Black
would have .. J¥!c5t and .. J%d8, refuting rhc
attack by protecring both e7 and d7, and thus
eliminating rhe threat ofgxc6i" _
23 ••• c5 24J~ddl c4 25~ge5 'MixeS 26.fxe5 c3
27.bxc3 ha2 28JWh6
1l1e queen has done her job and comes to
che centre to decide the game.
2s •••.te6 29.~d2 ghs 30.~d4 b6 3I.'!Wb4
c5 32.'1Wxb6
1-0
Afrcr this brilliant, but maybe not very
complicated game, it is cime for something
painstakingly hard to swallow, but just like
the best vitamin pill, it will do you a world
 Chapter 2 -Typical Piece Play
of good. Ihe ~pecial moment ro pay attention
to is at move 23 for Black, bur the game is very
interesting in itself. so we will go imo derail
with rhc moves leading up co rhis poim as well.
Michael Brooks - Gregory Kaidanov
New York 1990
l.e4 eS 2.lLlf3 lLlc6 3.~b5 a6 4.~a4 lLlf6
5.0-0 ~e7 6J3el bS 7.~b3 0-0 8.d4 lLlxd4
9.lLlxd4 exd4 10.e5ltle8 ll.Wfxd4 c5 12.Wfe4
lLlc7 13.c4 bxc4 14.~c2 g6 15.~h6 E!e8
16.ltlc3 ~b8 17.Wfxc4 E!b4 18.Wfd3 ~h4!?
I think ir i~ f.1ir m say rhat d1i1> is ,1 case of
launching wirh a rook. On irs own the rook is
not able to creare ,lily serious threats, beyond
rhe one co rhe bi~>hop on hG, bur it j.., able to
force \XIhite imo ~orne concessions on the
kingsidc, which will open the way (al111ost
literally) for rhe queen's deadly entrance.
Probably ir is berrer ro finish rhe development
rather chan this optimistic launch. After
J8 ... ~b7 it is hard ro say who is better.
19.~e3!
White should not fall for 19.'W'd2? g5!, when
he loses a piece.
19 ... d5 20.exd6 ~xd6
175
2l.h3?!
'Ihis invites Black ro vcnmre a dangerous
piece sacrifice.
Ir was far better to play
2l.g3
·when the critical line suggests that White is
better.
2l...~b7!
Kaidanov is right ro rhink that this is the
best move.
22.~g5!
After the alternatives Black has good
play. Both 22.gxh4 ~xh2t! 23.~fl 1Mfxh4
24.~xc5! ~e5 and 22.M"4 1M/c8!! 23.gxh4
~xf4 24..!!xe8t ltJxe8 offer Black good
compensation for the exchange.
22 ... \Wxg5 23.1Mfxd6 ~xh2!
a b c d e f g h
24.~e4!
Often we sec this phenomenon; it is
important for the defender to block the
diagonal/line, bur ro do so in a way that
forces rhe opponent to exchange a piece
immediately (or ar least have this as an
important factor in many of the variations),
si 111 ply to easy rhe pressure.
24.ttJe4? was Kaidanov's main line, bur
this move falls short to 24 .. JWh6! 25.m'xc7
(25.itJfGt?? would lose the game very very
quicldy. The knight has an essential job in
blocking the long diagonal.) 25 ... ~hit
2G.~g2 Axc4t 27.~xe4 ~h3t 28.~f3
176 Attacking 1\!.lanual 2

~hSt 29.~d (29.~g2 f!h2t 30.@gl f!xe4 25 ... gxe4!! 26.ctJxe4 (26.f!xc4 i&h3 27.~f3
31.~xe4 :ghl i· shollld also win) ctJeG! and rhcre is no good defence against
... ctJgS and .. .f5.) 26 ... ~h5 27 ..Ebdl (27.ctJf6T
tz:: )_::;;::z ~ x/%~~~ ~h8 is no betrer. White's best artempt iS
8
7
c::/:;; ?:=%4'- a.··~~~~
~@;t'··'···;:if///?.~.~--·~··
:i~.< /•/ .:.... .%/./ .1~~:\, •'!;:'··~-%0~;.%.
i 27.\Wxc7 ixe4 28.:gxe4 ~h 1t 29.@g2 Eih:al·
wirh a very poor ending.) 27 ... ~h 1t 28.S:!?g2
6 & V!A x%;: ·;;q-2~ & ·~ 5
A :}/1 <W0. ;':.;::{:9i A •-~ =..: ctJcG! After rhc queen is nudged a\'i'ay, White
%'@' • YJ.;j'W w:··· • \1/#; .:;::-
5 ~~ f~ ~ ;J~i~ §..
0;: "'-··~-~,;-;;.'· .xo:c~::=:-:,.-. ~~'v,x;(' 0--,.~;m:m:; c...
is lost. 29.\Wb8t (29.f!d8t ctJxd8 30J3xhl
4 g;;q ;n&fi • n;:~ ~ ,E ~e2! and the knight is lost) 29 ... ~g7
:·:~/:j-; /·~··/ ...:"': ~-~
.·/ ;..;.y.;; .......
Jfffi;.. ~l ~; ~;(!W ;:J 3o.mrxb7 ctJf4t! 31.gxf4 mrh3 mare!
3 ~~
~/h':/ &&~
,.@..• /. ~w:
/, __ , ra
z . "/ 3
1l1e following moves appear to be rather
2 A :11\~; );~;::: 'ffiJ ~
';Q,/d,..~ }?J;\· . }0~:.;-.... J~ forced:
a
, / ~\~
J'/7:'» ~~
• .. ~~ z.Wij~
25 ... lMfxf2t 26.~h 1
a b c d e f g h 26. ~h3? ic8t
26 ... :3xe4 27.ctJxe4 ixe4t 28J~xe4 ~£3t
29 ... ~d5!! 30.~f3 :gxe4 .31.:gxe4 ~xa 1 and
29.~gl ~xe4 30.1&xc5 ctJeG 31.mrcst ~g7
Black is winning in every sense of rhe word.
32.~c3t S:!?g8 33.~el %Yd5
White's best opcion is a rook ending wirh
two pawns less.
24 ... W1fS!? 8 ~ ~
~~~~ ~~ -·~
'm.~ ~
I am almost sure chat chis sharp move is 7 ~ ~~. ~.~.~,
'~ ~Ji)~~.~.~?.
rhe berrer Oj.)[ion here, btH ir is a difficult 6
~ ~--~~?$~~ ~i
question, as rhe final positions in rhe two
lines are very alike. In rhis line White is
5
4
~-~---;Y'~~
.. ~
~/.~~~0f'/~
~,;~~iL, .,)~~ w~~~f~ ~
~ §: ., "'

deprived of a viral pawn ~upporring che

3~ ~ ~ ~~ 3
l~J{ .%_ Y.~~--· %~
=
kingsidc, while in rhe a!(crnarive line, Black 2
has the d4-square for rhc knighr. / ~- .%~ J»g._ ~m >::~
24 ... :gxe4 is, as ~aid, rhe possibly slightly 1~ ~ ~~
worse possibiliry. After 25.CDxe4 ixe4 a b c d e f g h
26Jhe4 \Wh6 27.f!ael f!h 1·r 28.@g2 '®h3t I {hink char the strong knight and the
29.~f3 ~xe1 30.!;xc1 ctJeG iris possible that exposed white king should give Black roughly
Whire has sOJ"ne ways to play for a win. even chances in a practical game, bur this is of
25.~xh2! course ahvays up to discussion. It is annoying
25.~f4? fi1ils to a nice shoe: for White than he cannot exchange queens
-although the black king might also become a
targcr for arrack at some point.

2I. ...ixh3!
Kaidanov hardly hesitated for long before
taking rhis invitation. What exactly \Vhire had
mis:.ed in what follows is not easy to sec.

22.gxh3 ~xh3
\'X'hire is under a lor of arrack; there arc no
defenders on the kingside, and both the rook
and bishop are very threatening.
 Chaprcr 2 - 'lypical Piece Play 177

Black has <l more or less lethal arrack, or a

winning endgame after:
3Q.cj:;ldl

8 • ~ ~.*~
~- -~ ~-~-
,.~.r."r• ~
7
6
~~ w~ ~ ~~ ~-
s~r.·%~~-
~~z. -7~ -~ ~!-
4
~ ~

a b c d e f h
3
2
~ ~if~
~~-~r~
fjJ£1
:ij, ...

..
'::?'

:ij......Y. , .. ,/
%. . . . . •
\Ulj· 'S' ....
~9~.9. ~
~
-~
~ -~~~ ~
e(J
1
Kaidanov suggested thar White 1>hould play a b c d e f g h
23 _cj:;lfl, but Black has a powerful blow in
30 .. .1l9xel t!! 3l.~xe1 ~exc3t 32.~xe3 ~xc3t
23 ... :Sexe3!. 1his is based on 24.£Xe3 ~h2!!,
with a winningadvanrage. White can ofcoursc 33 .@dl ~el t!! 34.@xel ttJxc2t 35.@dl
ttJxal
rake back with rhe rook, but rhc check on h 1
\XThite catl win the knight on a 1 eventually,
will restore rhe material balance, after which
but he cannot handle the three passed pawns
Black will have excdlenr prospects of winning
011 the kingside as well.
the garne.

23.WffH
1his loses by force, bur who can blame
Brooks for rnissing rhe brilli<tnr next move by
Kaidanov?

111 e only move was:

23.tLle4!
Now afrec
23 ... \Wh4 24.@fl ~e6!
. Black's artack continues w be very dangerous. 2
All chree heavy pieces are creating mayhem.
For example, \Vhite would lm.e afrer
a b c d e f
l5.tLlxd6? \Wh5!!, when the king is trapped.
Tints ic b necessary co play: 23 ... ~h2!!
25.@c2 A fantastic p1ece of prophylaxis m the
Bur Black's arrack i1> very powerful. arrack.
25 ... tLlb5! 26.@d I t2Jd4
Black's position here is probably simply Whire was looking forward co 23 ... '1lNh4
berrer. 1he peril!> ~'hire is faced with is well l4.1Wg2! ~h2 25.1Wf3!, when all Black ~1as is a.
explained by the following by no means draw by repetition. Now it is not posstble for
forced line: the white queen to defend the kingside and rhe
27.tLld2 ~g3! 28.fxg3?! Wg41'! 29.~cl 1Wxg3 end comes fast.
178 Atracking lvlanual 2

24.W/c4 his knight on f5, fi·om where it has the chance

24.~e4 gxc4 2).ctJxe4 \Wh4 also wins. to sacrifice itself on g7 and stan a crushing
arcack. Although the players in this game are
24 ••• E:xe3! 25.E:xe3 WlgSt 26.E:g3 Axg3 amateurs, rhe standard of play is quite high.
27.CDe4 Wfh4 28.fxg3
Andrew Burnett- Chris McDonald

Edinburgh 2005

l.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3. CDc3 dxe4 4. 'Dxe4 Ad7

Chris really liked this passive system and
ir served him well. At one point he had won
six games in a ro\v. However, after this game
he felt that it was time to move on and play
something a bit more versatile.

s.'Df3 Ac6 6.Ad3 fild7 7.0-o 'Dgf6 s.filg3

Usually Chris\ opponen.rs would play 8.~g5
here and soon all the minor pieces would come
a b c d e f g h off. Even though Chris is a junior) it is in the
28 ... E:hl t ending he excd.s.
Bur nor 28 ... ®'h3?? 29.'.Wxf7i'!, and White is
back in business. 8 •••Ae7 9.c4 b6?!
TI1is feels awkward, as the bishop will have
29.<i>f'2 Wfh2t 30.<i>f3 E:xal 31.CDf'2 'De6 spent three moves to go to b7 instead of one.
32.Ah3 ti:ld4t 33.<i>e3 exg3t
0-1 1t is almost certainly bener to play 9...!x8
1o.1Wxf3 c6 and be passive, but solid. lllese
llte fS/£4-squares kind of positions are always better for White,
but ir also rakes some effort ro break through
1l1e final small ropic I wanr w include in rhis the black defences.
chapter is the f5- and f4-squares, which quire
10.b3 ih7 ll.~b2
often turn our to be pivoml for rhe am.Kk. 1
could ha.ve chosen many ocher~, a.s ir is only
an example of the versariliry of possible ropic!.;
e.g. one 1 considered was ~x.h6/ ...ixh3- bur 1
decided rhat this \vould be overkill and possibly
propel the bool.,. into the> 1 kg category!
1l1c idea of the f4/f5-/)quares is that a knighr
at rimes can be placed on these squares, and
from here exerts exceptional pressure on rhe
opponem's poshion. ]he game 1 have chosen
ro show this was played in a local tournamem
in Scotland and rht" vicdm was a pupil of mine.
ln it \X'hite sacrifice~ a pawn fof a chance co pur
 Chapter 2 - Typical Piece Play 179

ll. .. c5? Finally Black has managed to challenge the

'll1is is a definite mbrake. Black has spent knight on f5. Chris was hoping char he would
too much dme on his bishop co be prepared be able ro repulse the arrack and defend his
for rhis kind of direct confronracion in rhe exrra point (the younger genera.tion can be so
ccnrre. materialistic!).

Correct was 11 ... 0-0 when Black is nor doing 17.'Dxg7!! 'ttxg7 18.~xe6
too badly, afrer all. Eliminating a cenrral defender.

12.d5! 18... fxe6 19.'Dg5

A pawn sacrifict> designed ro open up for Also very strong was 19.~xd7 ~f8 20.'Wfd2
the bishop on b2 and ro give \'V'hitc, ac leasr wirh an arrack, but White is playing all the right
temporary, acce~s ro the fS-square. moves, so rhe1·e is no reason for tinkering.

12... exd5 13.'Df5 0-0 14.~el ;ges 15.cxd5 19 ... 'Df8

.bd5?! Black has ro protect the e6-squa1·e.
1his is the clcci~ive mistake, alrhough ir i.s
nor really a rnove one can criricise roo severely 19 ... ~g8 20.ctJxe6 ~c8 21.~d2 would be vet-y
ri·om a practical perspective. hard fm· Black to meer. 21 ... Wf7 22.ctJg5t
Wg8 23.~c4t Wg7 24.ctJ£7! is but one \vay
It was necessary ro play somerhing a!ong rhe for White co win in an attack. Black has no
lines of 15 ... ~f8, when Whirc is dominadng response co all the threat~.
afrer 16.B!xe8 \Wxe8 17.~b5.
20.~h5 e5
16..ib5 .ie6
1he intenncdiare move 16... a6 does nor
solve all of Black's problems. \Xlhite wins wirh:
17.~:'(f6! ~xf6 18J%xe8f V9xe8 I 9.~xd5 axb5
20.Ei.e l Wd8 2J.lL)d6 and there is no adequate
defence to 22.ltJxt7.

2l.~xe5! was even more deadly, bur the text

a b c d e f g
._ h move is certainly good enough .
180 Auacking Manual 2

21 ••• <i>h8?!
21..5~h6 'Nould h,we oA-ered a good deal
berter resistance, bur White is srill winning
wirh rhe simple 22.'Llf3, with rhreat~ such
as .actf and simply 'Llxe5 with a continuing
anack.

22.i.xe5 h6 23.i.c4
Black t·esigned. Mare is imminenL
1-0

\Virh these themes covered 1 hope ro have dealt

with rhe most important categories of piece
play. Obviously, it is noc possible ro cover every
rheme, or you would be covering about half
the themes in chess; buc none the less, l hope
the ground we have covered in rhis chapter will
help rhe readers improve their own piece play.
 Chapter 3
Typical Pawn Play

,., tlet1~e- wM tle1iti tleat tk ~Prall attcl;Qw~rl~~ etll(l((lt ele~ t11tftlet1f

Iva~ lf~~jCr 9urt a lftjlet 1/t a ~1ft UJ/t/r, a /ltQ~fai'ttl, (!Jaloi L(1Jf(a}
 Diagram preview

On this page you find 8

diagrams with crirical moments
from rhe corning chapter. 1
recommend char you rake up
ro 10 minures ro think about
each of rhem. 1he solutions arc
found on the following p~ges in
rhe annotations co the games.
Po.sirions wirh a circled P can
be played against ,1 compurer.

A clever move Can White attack?

(see page 192) (see page 212)

a b c d e f g h

Which move wins for Black?

(see page 21 G)

How ro usc rhe momcnru m? \'V'h ire ro C<tlcuLue very well A positional decision
(see page 191) (see page 207) (sec page 224)
 Covered in this Chapter Ernesto lnarkiev- Ivan Nepomniachtchi

Russian Championship Super Final, tv1o~<.:ow 2006

• Pawn breaks
• Pavms as valuable as pieces
• Pawn storms l.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.~c3 ~f6 4.~5 ~fd7 5.f4
• Pawn sacrifice~ c5 6.~f3 ~c6 7.il.e3 cxd4 8.fiJ:1'A:d4 il.c5
• Provoking weaknesses 9.Wfd2 0-0 10.0-0-0 a6 ll.ci>bl!?
The most popular move these days is
Afrc:r looking at v.Hious a.speccs ()f piece play, prob<r.bly 1LlNff2.
let us now turn our arre-ndon to rhe pawns.
1 will pteswne rhat rhe reader has a certain 11 •.• CiJxd4 12•.txd4 b5 13.Wfe3
prct-e<.luisire knowledge about p<l.l.\'1\ play; for
example, I will nm go too deeply inro pawn
J:-j_~ ~--~
~
~~~~~i)~-,Y-w•t
sronns, bm will simply show sorne example~ I 8
find interesting for various reasons.
7
~~ . / . L .. %,#,
6 i~ ~~.- ~
B~~.~~~.~~~ ~
5~'·'~
~~-- --,~~7~-- ..·~w~~
Pawn Breaks
~~
~ ~~ ~
A pa\vn bre.tk is usually used co dellne rhc
siruacion where rwo or more opposing pawns
4
3 • W#,rn ···'s 2[;j%
-Y~w,a.
collide and the position opens up as a rcsuiL
~~{8-~LJ~,~
JYr?j~~~~-J
2
'I his can happen in a lac of ditl'ercnt scenarios,
of which I luve chosen just a fc"v iliLtStr<ltive 1 ~~~:~.j_,~:
and entertaining examples.
a b c d e f g h
In rhe first example we shall look at a blocked 13...ixd4
c:enrre, ""here p.nvn breaks (~1hvo.ys supporting Though not main line territory, this
and supported by rhc: pieces) can be an position has still been played a number of
important pan of an arrack against rhe king. rimes, induding by Nepomniadnchi. But
ln rhe following game we shall see how rhc: rhe following game shows that Black docs not
kingside is opened by successive pawn break~, equalise without trouble. 13 ... ~b6 14.~xc5
c:vcntuaUy opening up fol' rhe white pieces and 'Dxc5 l5.~d3 b4 16.'Dc2 a5 17.~d4 ~aG
rhcir assault on the black king. 18.5 ~xd3 l9.f6! gxf6 20.cxd3 ~c7?f 2l.exf6
lt should be said rb;u a.lrhough the pa·wn ®h8 22.~f3 and White was doing well in
bl'caks <trc the dominanr posirional rbeme of Timoshenko- Korchnoi, Panormo 2001.
this gJ.mcJ and nm a very complex one, even
these high!}' distinguished gr:.uHJm~~srers seem 14J~xd4!?
to be struggling a bir with it; both posrtionally A novelty. 14.Wlxd4 ~b7 15,~d.~ W:fe?
and racr:ically 16. ~he 1 b4 17. ~e2 a 5 was played in Dolrnatov
- Korchnoi~ Las Vegas 1999.

14•..Wfe7?!
TI1.e queen looks misplaced here in whar
follows. Ic was probably bertet ro try:
184 Attacking Ivfanual 2

] 4 ... Wfb6 15 ..~d3 b4 l7 ... ~a6

Nor 15 ... tLlc5? l6.~xh7t! ~xh7 17.~h3t This looks rempring. If Black is able to
~g8 18.f5 f6 l9.~h4 with :1 strong arrack, exch~mge rhis powerful bishop Whire's
or 18 ... exf5 19.'Dxd'5 winning. arr.1cking chances on the kingside would
Ar this poim \XIhire might play positionally decrease greatly, leaving Black with enough
with 16.'De2 or rake a big risk with: time to create sufficient coumerplay on rhe
1G.'@h3!? f5 17.'De2'Db8 queenside. Bur White can make use of rhe
The rook is napped on d4, bm White has his bishop before this happen::. wirh a classic
resotuc~:s as well and does nor have ro .sound sacrifice.
the retreat just yet.
l8.g4 CDc6 l9.gxf5 'Dxd4 20.fxe6 g6 2l.Wfe3
~xc6 22.'2lxd4 !b7!
Wirh rhe idea ... :5af7. Black seems robe fully
8,1--- -*~
7~
~~{~~- ~:"""{ .. -"~-~
~~~i.~i
~~ -~ffl":&'~··---7.~ =
6 .Jt.~ ~~; A~ ~ ~
in the game, though rhc posicion is first and
foremost hard ro evaluate.
5 w
1,. ·"~{~
~i~.%~)"~{~~~c...
~ ~·
\·---{

4 ?.lli1 i~ ff:!j ~ ~-
• . . . z~:~iif -~~~~~~
15.~d3 b4?!
15 ... ~b7 was recommende-d by Maxim
Norkin in Cbt'SJ Todrt)l, rnainly because
3
.~~-/YA-W&•:
'PA~A'\~-- ·"~~ ';q'M
2 ozdo~
l
~off~

J6.~xh7t doe!-. nor work 110w rhat d5 is a b c d e f g h

protected. Bur Inarkicv would prob<tbly
18.~xh7t!! ®xh7 19.~h3i" Wg8 20.f5
have been satisfied playing 1G.Wfb3 when
This attack is successful for rwo reasons:
J6 ... g6 is unpleasant, bur besc, as 16 ... h6?!
17.g4 is simply roo dangerous. Having said The first is rhat rhe knight on d6 does a
rhar, it is stillunforrunarc for Black chat \Vhire wonderful job of preventing rhe black king
is allowed co rransfer rhe knight ro d6. from escaping via fl.
Secondly, rhe facr that the black queen
is undefended on e7 will force Black ro
weaken his king's position in a few moves
time.
20 ... ttJxe5 2l.gh4 g6 22.:5h8t Wg7 23.Wfh6t
wr6 24J:trh4t g5
Jusr as pl'omised.
25.:5h6t 'Dg6
25 ... Wg7 loses immediately: 26.~h7t Wf6
27.1Mfh6t 'Dg6 28.Wfg7 mare.
26.Wfd4t c5 27.~b6!
This transfer to rhe ocl1er wing is t>imply
sensational.
27 ... ~g7 28.fxg6 Wff6
a b c d e f g h
Seemingly rhe only defence against 'DfSt.
I6.4Je4! aS 17.~d6 fS For example, after 28 ... &g6 \'X/hire wins
Evaluating the mosr import<lnt alrernarive quickly with 29.fiJf5t! and mate is near.
will illustrate why rhb move is probably Bur here White can "vin \Vith a beamiful
absolurdy forct'd. combination.
 Chapter 3- Typical Pawn Play 185

For some reason Inarkiev was apparently

unhappy about rhis move after the game,
chinking rhar 18.h3 might have been better.
Dvoretsky indicated rhar 18.g',cl !? with a
complete change of srraregy was also worth a
though c.
I chink char both approaches are roo
elaborarc/arrificial. 1here is no reason why
White should nor play rhe natural moves.

18 ... fxg4 19 ..te2?

I am nor wildly impressed with this move,
rhe rhough it certainly does make ~ome sense from
game. a logical standpoint. Bur rhen Mark Dvorersky,
lnarklcv's trainer, says rhar grandmasters might
play bad moves, bur rhey never play moves
withom ideas.
Inarkicv wants ro transfer rhe bishop ro g4
ti·om where it nor only puts pressure on e6,
bur also supports rhe break f4-f5. 1his strategy
was more succe~sful in rhe game than it .should
have been due to sub-optimal defence.

'lhc bishop is already well placed at d3 so it

makes sense ro bring rhe final piece into play
with:
19J~~gl
a b c d e f g h Now Black is forced to spend time eliminating
the d3-bishop before he is mated.
~n1e logical 'vay to continue rhis position For
19 ... ia6!
\'{!hire is to seck a pawn break. All his hopes
19 .. .ltk5? Black usually does nor want
must be based on an acrack on rhe kingside
to exchange knight for bishop anyv,ray in
and it is rhus natural char rhe break should
this line, bur here he is not even given the
come there, meaning wirh g2-g4. ~1e plan is
chance: 20.ixh7t! ~xh7 21 J~xg4 ~h8
rhen to open more file~ with rhe bre<tk f4-f5,
Orhcrwise '\Wh3j and ~h4 will decide rhe
so char rhe e-pawn become~ a powerful force
game. 22.f'5! exf5 23.~h4t @gS 24.:gxh8t
and Black loses further control over his light
@xh8 25.tWh3t ~g8 26.~h4 and Black is
~quare~., mainly f5 and d5. One ~hould nor
once again busred.
underestimate rhc domino effect this will have
20.~xg4
on rhe lighr squares in rhe black pmicion, which
20.ixh7i"?! does nor work chis rime around
ar rhe moment are only indirecrly prnrecred hy
because of 20 ... rnxh7 2l.~xg4 lLlxe5!
rhe bishop on c8, bur otherwise left: m rheir
(2l...~g8 22.:gdl! Protecting the first rank,
own devices.
afrer which Black is faced wi(h deadly ideas
such as ~dg 1 and VJ!g3, or tWh3 and ~h4,
18.g4!
186 Arcacking i\1anual2
against: which rhere is no adeq uatc defence.)
22.~xe5 1Wf6 and rhc white pieces are no
longer managing w prcscm a cohcrenr threat
against the black king.
20 ....ixd3 21 J~xd3 a4
'White has a .significanr advantage. Whc:rhcr
it ls enough to win is nor clear, bur it docs
pm Black under a lot of pressure.
22.1¥fh3
22.~gl!? is also srrong 1 bur I prefer the
text.
White is threatening ~dg3, followed by ~h4,
in order m n1ect chc pos~iblc response ... g6
wirh ~xg6t, winning. It m.ighr be thar Black
has norhing bctrer rhan:
22 .. .:1~xf4!?
Bur after:
23Jl:xf4 tlJxe5 24.~g31Wxd6 25.~h4
Black cannot sufficiently defend hie; king~ ide.
Hi~ only play is:
25 ... E:f8 26.gxh7 gfl·j·
Escaping ro ~lll endgame, where \XIhite has
all rhe chances. Black would probably only
draw about 15911 of rhc rimes rhis endgame
was played between thc~e nvo players.
1 am sure rhar 19 .~g 1 is the besr move, hut
I think it is wonh mentioning why 19.h3
is incorrect. Black will have ro answer wirh
19 ...g3 and has seemingly losr some rime. Bur
1
probably more imporram is rhat \Vhite has lmr
the acces!! ro rhc h3-square. Sol even though
\Vhite remains bcrrer, as inde~d he docs in the
game, ir is nor rhe best way ro conrimte the
game.
I9 .. .tiJcS 20.hg4 ~b7
Bl;tck is desperaTe to get rid of the white
knight, bur the loss of rime still counts.
2l.~xb7
It \\'a!! also possible ro play 21.tlJxc8!? ~axeS
22.f5 exf5 23.~f3 but Whire only keeps a
slight edge all the same.
a b c d e f g h
2I. .. hhn
From here on Black fails to understand a
specific derail a.bout the posicion: the bishop
needed to be on c8 in order ro cancel our its
opposite number on g4. By failing to recognise
this, his posirion goes from slighdy worse to
lost in just a few moves. For rhis 1-eason the
better move was 21 ... \Wxb?! wirh just a slight
disadvantage.
22J!gl a!f7
'Uw; looks roo arrificial. 22 ... a4!? with rhe
idea 23.1Wh3 ~c8! was possibly better.
23.ifh3 ge8?
By this poinr 23 ... ~c8 was absolutely
necessary, bur Black has not properly evaluated
the dangers he is f.1.cing.
 Chapter 3- Typical Pawn Play
a b c d e f g h
24.f5!
Enally it i~ rime for this long amicipared
break. Black has nor prepared well for it and i~
quickly overrun.
24... VHc5 25.~ddl?!
\'(!hire misses an immedhue win, alrhough
his chosen move does nor change rhe general
evaluation of rhc position.
lt is hard to gue~.) whar parr or 25.fxe6 ~xd4
(25 .. Jk7 26.if5 g6 27 ..~xg6 is also plain
sailing) 26.exf7"!" ~xf7 27.f!fl "t ~g8 28.~0
\V'hite missed.
25 ... ~c7 26.f6
As Black has nor .)topped the pawn, \Xfhire
decides thar it can open an even more important
file rhan at first expected.
187
26... VHxc2t 27.~al .ic8
27 .. .'Wc6 28.f!df1! and rhcre is no good
defence against the furrher advance of rhe
pawn, e.g. 28 ... ia6 29.f7t! f!xf7 30.f!xf7
~xf7 31.'W'xh7 when rhe black king will be
helpless.
28 ..ih5 ~d8
After 28 ... g6 29.ixg6 hxgG 30.\~~lh6 f!h7
3 1.f7t! \'(!hire wins.
29.VHh4 ~f8 30.f7t ~fxf7
30... ~h8 3I.ig6 wins.
3Lixf7t ~xf7 32.VHg5 h6 33.VHd8 .ia6
34J~xg7t ~xg7 35.~gl t
1-0
In the next game rhe pawn breaks on move.) 15
and 16 have two functions. The main one is ro
creare an avenue for the knight on c3, while the
second is ro open lines for the heavy pieces.
Curiously White seems to lose sight of the
second of these, wirh the result rhar Black,
with his position on rhe verge of collapse, is
gifted an unexpected lifeline. Forrunarely for
rhc attacker, Black misses the opporrunity and
a devastating king hum ensues.
Mikulas Manik- Ilija Balinov
Olomouc 1997
I.e4 c5 2.lbf3 d6 3.d4 lbf6 4.lbc3 cxd4
s.lbxd4 lbc6 6 ..ig5 .id7 7.VHd2 lbxd4
8.VHxd4 VHaS 9.f4 h6 IO..ixf6 gxf6 IL.ic4
~c8 12 ..ib3 VHc5 13.VHd3 e6 14.0-0-0 b5
Black hJ.s played the opening in a somewhat
blase fashion, spending time on everything
bur development and king safety, seemingly
relying on the solidity of his cenrre. Perhaps
he was anticipating a standard light-squared
arrack based on f4-f5. If that was rhe case,
White's next move musr have come as a rude
awakening.
1H8 Arracking Manual 2

and Black is in possession of rhe two bishops,

which would give him some practical chances
to make a draw.

18.gxf5
Whire could protect rhe knight by raking on
d6, but his eyes are set on rhc black king.

18 ....ixa4

~.~~*~ ~
~~
~¥r~-1·····'
8
a b c d e f g h 7 LJ!i ~~ ~~-"
I5.e5! f5
6 ;--·~~ •i~W)·
~~-~~ fl~~~
Black is avoiding the tt.Je4 jump. This [tres
badly in the game, bur ir is the position, rarher 5
rhan this isolated move, which is ro blame. 4j_. ~ ~~~
I6.g4!?
3 ~:i~~--Y~ m.
~?'~ ~ ~W/t/
1-
- //
Whire is insisting on breaking up the black 2 ~~~~ • ~~-!
w--~'W4~~ ~
~.:~ ~:
pawn fonnarion. He could havc played 16.exd6
and been nH!ch bem:r as well, of course, bur
rhc dircC[ <tpproach seems ro be more ro his a b c d e f g h
raste. 19.exd6?
A misrake that is quire difficult ro understand
I6 ...h4 as well as expla.in. Clearly \Xfhire was attracted
16 ....ic6 doe~ nor improve m.aners. \Vhire ro rhe rhrear of20.d7t and mighr have thought
can move rhe rook or hack away with 17.gxf5 that this rlucat alone would force Black m play
.ixhl 18.fXe6 with a winning attack. ~il1e black as he did in rhe game.
king is simply roo weak on rhc lighr sqtwres. Hmvever, the pawn on d6 is giving White
the opposite effect of what he was looking
17.~a4!
for when he tried to blow up rhe centre with
If the knight i~ ro be s;.tcril1cedt it needs m 15.c5.
be on a square where it does nor seriously
compromise the king's ~afery.
'lhe winning line included attacking the Icing
while ir is still stuck on a lighr square, and by
17... ~a5?
ensuring rhat the position stays open. 19.fxe6!
~H~is turns our co be rhc decisive mistake.
'vas the move. Possibly Whire simply missed
17 ... ~b5 \vas berrer, bur the prosaic 18.\Wxb5
rhe defence in rhe game, bur otherwise he
.ixb5 19.gxf5 would leave Black withouc any
could also have underestimated rhe power of
counrcrplay against rhe misplaced knighr
rhe pawn on the sevenrh rank i11 lines such as
on o.4, so B<tlinov musr have found ir rarber
l9 ... ~xb3 20.®xb3 ~c7 (20 ... ~c5 2l.exf7t
dispiriting to rhink of moves like rhese. On
<i?d7 22.E:hgl and 23.~g8 leaves Black
the orher hand, rhe knighc is srill poorly placed
absolutely paralysed) 2 Lexd6 ~xd6 22.exf7t
 Chaprer 3- Typical Pawn
~f8 23.ahgl ixf4-!- 24.<4?bl ig5 25.h4 Now
rhe besr Black can ger is a lose rook ending
-r .. ,Mt
a f-rer_), Bc. 4
19 ... ~d7?
A rather scriom mistake. ~OH:: king should
under no circumstances seek safety on a light
square. You could actually say that nothing
is cabier for White ro play rhan the coming
combination. Black wa..o; given chc chance ro
.sray in the game, bur only if he handled his
king better.
The correct move was 19 ... ~d8!) when after
20.d7 .B:c6! or 20.fxe6 fxe6 2l..B:hel .\&xb3
22.~xb3 ~f5 23Jhc6 ~c6 would leave Black
with decent chances of a !.uccessful defence.
\Xlhhe is probably a lirrle bcrter in rhe latter
of these two lines, bur tl1e black king is sort of
~afe for rhe moment, leaving him wirh enough
rime co get the rook into the game (and maybe
even drearn of making use of the bishop after
chat).
19 ... ~c6? might look as if ir has similar
qualities, bur White has a tactical option
in 20J¥fd4!, with a winning attack. TI1c
main point is that 20 ... ~h7 loses brutally to
21.~xa4 Wi'xa4 22.d7t ~d8 23.\&t6i' ic7
24.Wi'xe7t \t?xe7 25.d8:::1& mare.
20.fxe6t fxe6
Play 189
21.~xe6t!
21.ahe 1 would have given a dangerous
arrack, bur this is absolutely decisive.
2l ... ~xe6 22.d7!
ll1e pawn is advanced, both as a passed
pawn, and as a potentially superfluous paw11,
which is in rhe way.
22 •.. ~xc2t
TI1is and the next move are necessary, as after
22 ... ~d8 23.~g6t Black is quickly mated.
23. ~bl E;xb2t
EYerything ehe aiiO\.v.s check, check and
mart:.
24. ~xb2 .tg7t 25. ~b 1 J.xdl
ll1e best chance was 25 .. .'\WfS though after
26J!hel t \f?f6 27.W'xf5t <;!{xf5 28.d8=Wf
White should win the endgame comfortably.
It might look tempting to play 26.~g6t if6
27J!e1 t, in order ro mke the bishop with
check after 27 ... 1\t>xd7 28.~xdl·f'. But the
problem with this line of acdon, is that the
endgame after 28 ... ~c8 29.1¥lxf6 .B:d8 looks
very hard to win indeed. One of [he points is
190 Attacking Manual 2

chat rhc potencial pawn ending her~ is a draw

by a single tempo.

26••• <±>£6
26 ... ~f7 loses as well. A very nice Iine
including a sensational triangulation by rhe
queen was pointed our ro me by TM Silas
Lund, to whom I showed rhis game as a
calculation exercise some years ago. 27 .'\Wc4 t
@g6 28.'\Wc6i" @h? (28 ... @h5 29J!xdl
followed by !!d5t decides.) 29.'\We4t ~g8
30.'\Wc4t ~h7 31.1Wd3t and White wins
decisive material.

27JWd6i" <±>f5 28.Wfe61" <±>xf4 29.Wfe4t

Although this is mare by force, I favour rhe
more econornical 29.!!e47 ~f.) JO.'\Wg4i" @f2
3l.®g3t ~f1 32.!!cl mate.

29•.• c±>gs 30J~gi t c±>hs 3t.Wfg6t c±>h4

32.Wfg3t
1-0
A';, the final example of rhis ';,ecrion I have
chosen a game where \XIhirc challenges Black
on what is supposedly his strongest poinc (d5)
and follows rhc pawn break up wirh a piece
sacrifice or rwo in almost every line. Again the
main pmposc of rhe pa\vn break is ro open files
ro the opponent's king. This is nor alway~ the
case, but ir is so very often.
Adrian Flitney - Robert Mitchell
Canberra 2008
I.e4 d5 2.exd5 Wfxd5 3.CLJc3 Wfd6
1his li11e has becom~ increasingly popular in
rhe lase few ycMs, bm it is probably no better
than 3 ... '\Wa5 or c::ven .3 .. JWc57 ...
4.d4CLJf6
Tiviakov plays 4 ... c6, which shows that he
just wants ro avoid positions where computers
can kill him.
8.~e3! is the bener move. White holds on
to the nvo bishops and prepares to advance
his kingside pawns. This offers him <l good
advanrage and in general makes the variation
highly dubious for Black. One example of
this went: 8 ... ttJbd7 9.0-0-0 c6 IO.~bl Wfc7
ll.g4 ttJd5 12.~c1 tlJxc3! 13.'Wxc3 ~d6
14.11Jl(3ttJf6 15.g5ttJg8 16.c4 ~d7 17.d5! and
Black did nor even last another ten moves in
Fressiner- feygin, Emsderren 2008.
8...Wfd8?
1his move is a disaster. Wirh rhe queen out
early, ir is narural for Black ro look for solidity,
bur this is overdoing it. The only way he can
play such a position is to be ready ro accept
pawn sacrifices such a';, rhese.
8 ... '\Wxd4! was in every way rhe principled
move. Nor only because ir is raking a cemral
pawn directly, but also because it seriously
disrupts \X!hite's further dcvelopmeiH. The
strongest continuation is probably 9.~d3, in
order ro castle queenside. Bur alrhough it is
 Chapter 3 -Typical Pawn Play
clear rhar after 9 ... l2Jbd7 10.0-0-0 White has
compensation for rhe pawn, we should not
forget that Black h very solid. 1 would rake
on his position before I would rake on the
great responsihilicy of proving compcmation
here.
9.0-0-0 e6
\Vhire has ,lchkved cwryrhing he could
pos~ibly dream of from the opening. lr
would be narural ro continue with 1O.g4 or
something similar, wirh a dear advantage, bur
the astronomical lead in development inspires
Flirney ro seck an immediate confmnration
with his opponent.
10... cxd5?!
Black has ro rake rhe pawn, hut the manner
in which ht rahs it is very imponam. Ofren it
makes seMc robe rc.solure <tt moments such as
these (and inde~d move 8) and play the critical
n10ve, even rhough you might think rhar many
ftctors o( the g<lme arc playing against you.
Here Black is down on development and king
safety, but he also has an cxrra pawn. Alrhough
191
che position looks tough, it feels right w play
according ro the plan devised, which here is
abouc solidity and scaying out of trouble.
lO ... ltJxd5 would be met wirh II..ib5!!,
when che following line gives White excellem
winning d1ances. ll ... ~d7 12.~xd5 cx:d5
l3.c4~c814.~bl E&c515.E&xd5!!cxd516.E&elt
~e7 17.~d6 0-0 18.~xe7 ~a5 19.E&e2 i;x:b5
20.cxb5 ~c8 2l.Wfxd5 ~c7 22.a3 and the
extra pawn should coum.
1he only move was:
1o... cxd5!
Bes[, yes, but still leading ro a sad posicion:
11.~b5!!
Only chis acrive rnove keep~ up rhe pressure.
Black now struggles in vain ro get the pieces
ouc.
ll ... ie?!
ll ... cxb5? should be checked, of course, bur
afrer 12.~xd5 ~xdS 13.E&xd5 'Wc8 14J~~e1 t
1i.e7 15.E&xe7t! it is obvious that the ana.ck is
decisive with 16.~d6t coming next.
12.~xd5 ~xd5 13.~xd5 ~b6 14.~g3!?
Maybe rhere is something else here, bur 1 do
not sec it.
14 ... 0-0 J5.ie5
15.ih6 is also very .strong.
15 ... g6 16.id4 c5 17..ic3
\'{/hire has a tremendous advantage, although
Black is not entirely lo.st yet.
192 Anacking Manual 2

11.hb8 :Sxb8 for myself, so I apologise if what I came up

It was also possible cake with the queen,
to with is nor up ro much.
however, \Xfhire can crack open the cenrre As t;u as I could see, the best move in this
with active play after rhis as well: 11 ... ~xb8 po~irion is the paradoxical:
12.i.b5t ~d8 13.i.c4!!

'Ia' ~uu
8 .fa ~ w~~ ~~;
~ES~· ~~ W f~-~
~~ '•& \:::p{· ,, ;;::£"&'>~; ..&.
7
r~ • J:~55 :~%~ • ~•~ •
6 ~:;:. ~% & ~·( @0 ::
~7 ~%· • ~!iii] '%'/ ;-:
~)'ti. /;. ·~~;;~; •&/':?;;~i//. . )~; ~/.•;
s !#4 :;;;>; ;x~ a ?i?r
!7.·
~~·~·:_. ..... ..-. •._..··~:~:{~"···X·//Yw··;./.~)%.,.m? c...
4 ~JL~~J
-~~) ///, •/. ~{?
m-: //' ,~p~·
· %·";/.
3 ~~ ;~ J;if:~iffl ~ ~
2 ;fA\i A ~iW
A ~A! A {~>
QJQ; o w;;~; %Q~. o ~~
~~ ·~ ~ :iY8! . ~%% ~
~)J§ /)S"; ~ ;;.;;}3§ ·}~%; ~
a b c d e f g h
15.i.d7!!
\'Vhite nor only intends to sacrifice a piece, TI1e idea is ro play 'Da4t, without losing
he is nor shy about it at all and takes no sreps the bishop on b5. Apparently the bishop is
to hide his intentions. immune on d7, ar least sort o£ 15 ... 'Dxd7?
Black has no better defence than: 13 ... ~.d6 is poor. \Xfhire is able to dismantle rhe pawn
14.i.xd5 exd5 15.tlJxd5 tlJxdS 16.~xd5 ~e8!, chain in the centre, which is protecting the
when he has a chance ro offer resistance in the black king despite his advanced position by
ensuing rook endgame, even though White of simply taking rhe pawns. 16.~xf7 One of the
course should win with his extra pawn. points is rhat 16 ... ~e7? is mer with:

12.~b5t ®e7 13.:Shel a6?

Surprisingly Black <;till had a chance to put
up a lot oF resistance with 13 ... \t>d6!, which
seemed a strange, bur somehow logical move
to me. I gave my computer a few hour~ to
rhink about the position, calling it work, and
mulritasked by reading a trash novel OLLtside in
the sunshine. When I came back, the com purer
had to my deep regret not found anything
substantial for \'Vhirc.
"There wa!l a line with 14.g4 that looked
messy, and White should be doing very well in
the endgame, bur Hill...
Also, rhe bea~t claimed rhar White wa~ So Black has ro try something else, which could
absolutely winning after 14.~f4"f \t>c5, hut be 16 ... tlJf6, but \'Xfhite still wins with the
all it could suggest were various versions of brural 17.~xe6. Suddenly the king's posicion
checks, never actually getting beyond the on rhe fifth rank is a graver issue than it looked
perpetual. Evenrually I realised T had ro think only three moves ago. Black loses in all lines,
 Chaprer 3 -Typical Pawn Play 193

including rhis one: 17 ...id6 18.gxf6 gxf6 quite far advanced, rhus increasing the
19.~xdS"I ~b6 20.W/e6! and 21.tLle4, winning likelihood of promotion.
rhe bishop with a decisive arrack. The first example is rather an unusual case,
which shows very nicely how threats on one
14.~xdSt side of the board can allow a pawn to run
A nor very difficult breaJ.ahrough. By this rampant.
stage Black was sick of life and found a way co
end ir quickly. Wolfram Schoen - Petr Makovsky
Correspondence 2005
I4 .•. ~xd5 15J3xd5 '!&aS 16J~d7t ®e8
17.'\&xf7 mate!
1-0 8
7
\X'ith this I wam to end this section on pawn
6
breaks. 'lhese four scenarios in no way cover all
rhat could be said about the subjccr of pawn 5
breaks, but I hope they ha,,e inspired the reader
4
,md offered him a few new insights.
3
Pawns as valuable as pieces 2

A pawn is usually con'iidered rhe smalle~c unit 1

of value in chess. Yes, ymL can split him into
hundredths if you are a computer, bur we are
sdll ralking abour wood!
During rhe course of a successfl.!l arrack it is
quire feasible ro encounter situations where a
pawn is so well placed it is worrh as much as
<H1Y orhcr piece, simply because of the threats
ro the opponem'~ kfng. If we have a queen on
h6 ready ro deliver mace on g7, rhcn all we
need is a single supporting unit. In such a
scenario, a pawn on f6 can fulfil rhat purpose
just as efFectively as a kniglu, bishop, rook, or
even a second qu~en!
·n1ough it would have been possible ro give
some games ro illustrate this rhemc alone, it
turned our that the examples I found most
inrercsring were for some reason all connected
with rhe possibility of promotion as well.
Perhaps it i~ not roo surprising rhat rhe two
themes go hand in hand, since pawns that are
involved in an arrack are almost by definition
a b c d e f g h
1he threat to g7 is of course severe, bur it is
hardly lethal. The main reason for this is that
the black queen is a well-positioned defender ar
d8. This is Black's only good piece, the orhers
are dose ro worthless. White cannot break
through directly, bm rhe a-pa,vn can cause a
major distraction.
35.a5!!
The main point behind this move is that
35 ... \Wxa5 36.Wff5! is immediately winning.
So, the a-pawn i.s nor only a distraction, it is
also a winner.
3S ••. gxf6 36.gg8! ®e7 37.a6!
Black resigned a bit prematurely. The end of
the game could have been 37 ... 'Wa8 38.a7 ~f7
(38 ... Wfxa7 39.~xe8t) 39.~a4! ixa4 40.~xa8
<ll1d Whire will queen the pawn and win
eventually.
1-0
194 Acracking J\1anual 2
1he next game is taken from rhe highest level,
rhe World Championship. In this there is no
direct rhrear co che black king. What we are
looking for is how passed pawns can be used
a~ a counterpoint ro acrive piece play, or even
pieces themselves. 'TI1e game i~ verycotnplicucd
and, I think, speaks tor itself in this way. ~n1c
critical moment arrive~ at around move 21,
where rhe full cost of Whire'~ risky strategy
comes ro ligln; the respon~ibility ro play
wich absolute accuracy, pur on bmh players.
Vladimir Kramnik- Alexander Morozevich
\Xforld C:h;ullpionship, Mexico 2007
Vladimir Kramnik's fit·sr victory in .Mexico
came in a very complicated game against
Alexander l'vforozevich, where Kramnik
showed char he wanred ro win, bur also chat
he was nor enjoying rhe rop form that was
required ro win such a strong evenr. Tn the end
he finished second ro Anand and a year later
lost rhe "return-march" which his manager had
secured.
I.~f3 ~f6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.d4 dxc4 s.~g2
a6 6.~e5 ~b4"t 7.~c3 ~d5 8.0-0!?
a b c d e f g h
A very complicated rheorecical novdry.
Whire offer~ three pawns in rerum for rhe
initiative. As Kramnik clearly had analysed rhis
in great derail at home, Morozevich did not
accept the invitation.
8... 0-0
One critical line conrinues 8 ... ctJxc3 9.bxc3
~xc3 10J3b1 (10.ia3?! is srrongly mer by
10 ... ~xd4!) 1O.. JWxd4 ll.Wa4t bS 12.Wfc2
~xc5 13.~f4 1.Wf6 14.~xa8. lr is not easy to
determine which is more important: Black's
three extra pawns, or Whire's exrra exchange
and lead in development.
9.1Wc2
9.id2 is probably weaker, as Black can play
9 ... tL'lb6! wirh pressure against d4.
9... b5
9 ... tL'lb6!? lOJ~~d 1 is another option.
10.~xd5!?
White does nor wanr rhe bishop to rake up
an active posr on b7 and later recapture on d5.
Instead he fixes rhe black central pawns- with
a view ro demolishing them!
10 ... exd5 ll.b3 c6
11 ... f6? would have been premarure because
of 12.bxc4!.
12.e4 f6
This is raking rhc bull by the horns. Black
wins a piece, bur rhe position is by no means
certain to be favourable for him.
Tspent some rime analysing 12 ... dxe4!?, which
~eems perfectly reasonable for Black. I rhink
rhat in general chis opening variation should
not be bad for Black, bur it is complicared and
suirs Kramnik well.
13.exd5 fxe5 14.bxc4!
White's strategy of disintegrating the black
cenrre seems ro have been successful.
 Chaprer 3- Typical Pawn Play 195

8
EaY.t~ }~*•
7~ • -~ . ,
6 i~i~~ if;% ~~
?%40 ~
~
5 ~i~L3lf~ •
4
~;-;z·/· ..·::-::~%"'-·~.. %- - ~y,;.-;. -,. -.: -w~...:;
f:lf} A fN~ :~~~ ~~
~010~/ %~ ~
3 ..
.-----Y-~-·-- ~~r~~~ Iff#
2 l~iVI~ ~rtff~
--~%//;"';~~:{·?(~~~----
1
/'
~~
a b
m ~:~
c d e f
/f,j•;/··· /

g h
a b c d e f
17.b6!! is rhe main reason why White's
g h

previous move was the most accurate. After

14... exd4
A typical line, showcasing rhc: potcmial of rhe
white position, goes like this: 14 ... e4 15 ..~xc4
~h3 16J~dl ~g4 17.~e3! and White is ruling
the \.vaves of rhe stormy cen rre. One possible
continuation could be 17 ... t2Jd7! 18.~.xh7t
cJ?h8 19.dxc6 tLlf6 20.id3 if3 2Ld5 and
\X'hitc has very strong compensadon for rhe
piece. He would love Black ro rake on d I, so
rhar he could fully control rhe light squares in
rhe centre, bur Black will seek councerplay on
rhe kingside in!lread.
17... Wxb6 18J~b1 White regains his piece
wirh the advamage. Black will have a hard
rime dealing with rhe cG-pawn.
Insread Black should prefer I 6 ... ~e6!,
uansposing co the note co his 16th move
below.
17.a4!
White has excellent compensation for rhe
piece. l11e two exrra pawns on the queenside
are easily wonh a piece, as the knighc on b8
is glued to the back rank for what could be a
very long rime.

14 ... @h8!? is another interesting possibility. l6.cxb5

'lhc idea is rhar afrcr 15.dxc5 bxc4 16.~xc4
a5 Black's posicion looks entirely playable,
although Twould nor wish ro venture a defi nire
assessmet1t without rhe benefit of extensive
analysis.

15.dxc6 i.e6!
Played to avoid a potential check on b3.
Trying ro do wirhour this move is worse, for
instance:
15 .. J%a7 16.cxb5!
Stronger rhan 16.Wlb3, '..vhich lose!! some
Aexibi li ty.
16... ~aP?! a b c d e f g h
l11is is a natural move, bur probably a 16 ... d3!?
mistake. I arn nor sure about rhis. The obvious idea
16 ... ~c3? J~tils ro: is ro free rhe d4-square for the queen. but it
196 Arracking Manual 2

s X~ ~ ~~~~
also allows \XIhire w ger a pawn ro rhe sevench
rank.
B"···~~-"~t
6 r.~'d•'~~
1

5 ~r•f~ ~~~i
16 ...1Wc7? would fail ro 17.1We4 Jlc4 18 ..~f4!,
when White is berter in wbar are admirrcdly
hair-raising complications. 1l1e main problem
-lwf:F~~~~~~ ~
4 '§W ~d~ ~~
~ '"""~~~ ~~-~~~
is rhat Black cannor maimain rhe blockade of 3
~~/////. i ~ i~~ ~
the c-pawn without paying a price.
2 8-~~
/'""/ 0
~~fj
~// ~w-1···-~ ~J.~ .. j
Strongest would have been: ~r~ ~ ~:=
a b c d e f g h
16 .. J:~a7!
White cannot play a4, as the rook is still After rhis a brilliant line could occur afrer:
pinned on al. 1l1e criricalline seems robe: 18 ... d2?! 19.b6 ~d7
l?J~b 1 d3 19 ... '1Wxb6 20.ixa8 leads to another highly
17 ... ~a5!? 18.ie4 \!{h8 19.a4 gives unclear complicated position rhat appears better for
play. Whire.
18JWb2 d2 19.Jlxd2 Jlxd2 20.b6 ~af7 21.c7! 20.b7
1l1e compensation does nor seem ro be It is nor often thar one encounrers connecred
cerrain after 2l.~bd 1 ~xc6 22Jhd2 ~d7. passed pawns, on rhe seventh rank, on an
21 ... \Wg5 22.Wc2 ia5 23J~fd 1 almost full board of pieces.
The position remains rather unclear. \XIhite 20 ... ~b6 21.'.Wc2 ~ae8 22.hd2 ixd2
will for cerrain win back a piece, bur ar rhe 23.~abl ~c4 24.ih3!! ixh3 25.Wxc4"t ~h8
moment there seems to be no reason ro give 26.b8=1W ~xb8 27.cxb8=1W ~xb8 28.~d4!!
We? 29.'1Wxd2 ixfl 30.~xfl
up a grear pawn on rhe seventh rank for rhe
Whire has won a pawn and has good
knight.
winning chances.
My feeling is rhar Black is likely ro be
However, 18 ... ~d7! look.) berrer, afrer which
objectively fine here, bur rhe position is simply
the position is a real mess!
roo complicated ro determine a final evaluation
with any hint of certainty.
18.\¥J'a4!
Afrer 17.. JWd6 chis was nor necessarily rhe
17.c7! \¥J'd4? besr move, bur now it is just winning.
After rhis horrible blunder Black is plain
losr. I have personally noc been able co find a 18•.. ctJd7
refmation of: 18 ... Wxal 19.Wxb4 is hopeless.
17 ... ~d6!
1l1e posicion is tremendously complicated. I 19.Ae3!
think I at least have found an inreresring ..,.vay 1l1is move is the big difference from the
for Whice to play for an edge, bur I doubt analogous position after 17 ... ~d6. \X'hite
that ic is objectively berrer for Whire. gains control over rhe viral b6-square with an
18.'.Wa4!? exrra tempo.
Instead 18.1Wb2 ~d7! does nor seem as dar
as ir appeat·ed co be rhe llrsr ren minures I 1 9 .ixa8 is weaker.
was analysing ic!
19 .•. \¥J'd6 20.ha8 :Bxa8
 Chapter 3 ~Typical Pawn Play 197

conrrol of the white pawns. Clearly Kramnik

was nor convinced about this, bur aided by the
computer, afterwards, it is quite dear that this
would have won rhe game without roo many
complications.

21..J&f8??
Returning rhe compliment. Black was
given a once~in-a-game opportunity to play:
21.. .WdS! The point is that 22.1&xb4? loses to
22 ... WB!! (followed by ... ~dS). Therefore the
critical line seems robe 22.:!!ac1! ~c5 23.Wxa6
(23.bxa6!?) 23 ... ltJb6 24.~xc5 ~xc5 25.~e3
W:fxc7 (25 ... Wd5 26.Wxb6 ~h3 27.®'c6! is
betrer for White) 26.~xb6 ~xa6 27 .~xc7 ~xa2
wirh a draw on the way.

An interesting move was: 22.b6

2l.~acl Now White is just winning.
Black is fi)rced i nro:
2I ... ltJe5 22.b6 Wd5 23.\Wxb4! 22 ... ~e5
23.\Wb3? is insufficient ro win. Black needs 22 ... ltJxb6 23.'.Wc6 and White wins a piece.
to reply 23 ... ~f3t 24.~h I ~c8! "vhen the
position appears ro be <lbouc level in some 23..Le5 \&f3 24. \&dl \&e4
odd fashion. The queens will come off and
Black wins back the exchange. After chis the 8
rremendous pawns should only give White
7
a draw.
23 ... ~f3t 24.~h 1 ~h4t 25.f3! ~xf3 26.!H2 6
d2
5
Here there is possibly more rhan one roure
ro victor}', but w me rhe most convincing 4
way is: 3
27.!xd2! ~xd2t 28.~g2!
28.@gl? ~f3t 29Jhf3 Wxf3 30.c8::::~"!" ~xc8 2
3I.:!!xc8t ~xc8 J2.~c4"f @f8 33.Wxc8t
~e7 is nm clemenrary w win.
28 ... ~c4 29.h3! ~xh3 30.\¥rc4
a b c d e f 0'
0
h
And ir is aH over. 25.b7 ~f8
After 25 ... ~xb7 26.\Wxd3 ~h3 27.f3 White
However, rhe mosr pragmatic continuation is t\VO pawns up, and nor bad ones either...
might have been 21.1&xa6!?, when Black
cannot avoid the exchange of queens. After 26.c8=~ .idS 27.f3
rhis it seems unlikely that Black can keep 1-0
198 Artacking Ivlanual 2
The next game is a perfect ~xample of rhc
power of pawns. Afrt:r a E1irly cvcntless first 1)
rnove~, Serper cakes <ln aggressive stance against
a slightly provocative move. Black has delayed
castling \Nith rhe intention ro rake comrol over
some central squares, d4 and f4, bm Serpcr
sacrifices a piece ro rake away the transit square
eG from Black. and ro creare thre.us against rhe
opponenr's king while it is still stuck in rhe
cencre.
This game has deservedly been presented in
quire a number or books by now, bur usually
the accompanying annorarions seem w be
more or less a reproduction of Ser-per's original
notes from 1993. l don'r rhink rhe game is as
Aawless as presented in his annotarions, bur
it is still arguably one of rhe besr games of all
time.
From our perspecrive ir is rhe pt'tfect example
of pawns being as strong as prcccs; in rh~
course of even rs \XIhirc sacrifices ,lf/ ofh is seven
pieces, only co promore a pawn and win rhe
game. 1l1ere arc plenty of threar~ w rhc black
king, so after having srrayed slightly from the
realm of pure atraddng chess wirh rhe previous
game, we are well v,rirhin the rheme of chis
book again.
Grigory Serper - Ioannis Nikolaidis
Sr Perersburg 1993
l.c4 g6 2.e4 .ig7 3.d4 d6 4 . .tiJc3 .tiJ£6
s.tt:Jge2
1l1 is line is nor very dangerous for Black.
5... tt:Jbd7 6.tt:Jg3 c6 7.ie2 a6 8.ie3 h5
9.f3 b5 lO.cS dxc5 Il.dxcS ifc7 12.0-0 h4
13 ..tiJhi .tiJh5 14.Wid2
14.f4!? might be herrer, bur I don'r chink
Whire ha~ an advantage in any case.
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
a b c d e f g h
14 ..•e5
1 do nor really like this move. Black has been
pt.\ying \..virh the pieces so far, bm now decides
to pur a pawn on rhe square rhat could have
been used as a rram.ir sq uarc for the pieces.
Afrcr 14 ... '2Je5!? 15.'2Jf2 ~e6 ir is 11or easy
for White ro make any f.1.vourablc advances.
Advancing rhe f-pawn is the only active
idea I can sec for hirn, bur rhis might create
weaknesses and is not clear how Whirc will uy
to crack rhe opponenr's defences.
lS.~f'l .tiJf8!?
'l11c knight is heading for d4. 15 ... tDf4
is better according ro Serpcr, but I don'r see
anyrhing inherently wrong wirh what was
played in the game. I have seen a good number
of lectures where this moment has been given
as an exercise to the audience, as if White's
decision here is absolutely obvious and correct,
when the most it can be called is highly
crcarive. Serper clearly did not want to allow
rhc knight to arrive on d4 and rhus decided
rhat the sacrifice was justified. However, as we
shall sec, rhe position that arises is far from
clear.
I6.a4!?
Although !like Server's decision jusr as much
as rbe next guy, I think rhar rhe objectively besr
 Chapter 3 -Typical Pawn Play
move here \vould have been 16.b4! with 17 .a4
coming afrer. Even here, I am nor ~ure ifWbirc
is better, but thi~ is hi~ best chance ro prove
something.
16 ... b4 17.ftJd5!?
a b c d e f g h
17 ... cxd5 18.exd5 5?
ll1is move, aimed ag.1insr the ad.mirredly
dangerous idea ofc.'Lle4-d6, is simply disastrous,
bur I have nor ~een it criticised an)".Vhere. 'lhe
king is sub~equenrly badly weakened and the
rnovc achit!ves very liuk.
Bhck would have been better off playing either
18 ... l2Jf6!? or rhrmving in rhc move 18 ... hJ!,
when \'\!hire will have ro compromise his
kingside in some way before rhc barde begins.
Had he done ~o. the ourcome might have been
.111y of the three possible results.
19.d6! Wfc6?!
'lhis move looks good, bur cannm be excu..;cd.;
Black should have considered himself warned
by \Xfhire's 17th move, that he is a~ happy wirh
pawns as he i~ with pieces.
19 ... @'d7? would merely provoke 20.c6!, when
.1frcr 20 ... \Wxc6 2l.~fcl and :8c7 White ha..; an
.1bsolurcly crmhing arrack.
199
~lbe best move seems ro have been: 19 ... \Wa5!,
alrhough \XIhite is much better after 20.~c4
wirh rhe following possible line: 20 .. .f4
21.\WdS ga7 22.~d2 ~e6 23.1Wc6i' ~d7
24.'&b6 ~xb6 25.cxb6 gas 26.~xb4 wirh
sensational compensation for rhe piece, bur
with an undecided game srill ahead. Probably
Black should play 26 ... e4!? with a great mess.
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
a b c d e f g h
20.ib5!! axb5 2I.axb5 Wfxb5
After 21...\Wb7 22.c6 Black has ro give up
his queen for insufficient compensation (three
uncoordinated pieces is nor enough). 22 ... \WbS
can be strongly ITH:t by 23.\Wd5, when rhe
rhreat is c6-c7. And after 23 ... :8xal 24.gxa 1
l2Jf6 25.~xc5t mf7 26.ga7t ~g8 27.c7 rhe
queen is trapped.
22J3xa8 'Wc6
l11ere arc no better squares. After 22 ...iWb7
23.:8f.1.l rhe rook comes to a7 wirh even
stronger effccc.
23J3fal f4
23 ... 4Jf6 can be met wirh 24.ltJJ3!, when
rbe threats ro b4 andeS arc decisive.
24J!:la7! ftJd7
After 24 ... fxe3 White can almost play
whatever he chooses, bur Serpt!r had prepared
rhe highly attractive 25.Wifd5!!:
200
a b c d e f g h
Black can resign.
25.:gxc8t! 1Mfxc8 26.'W'd5 fxe3
Black has to walk the plank. Afi:er 26 ... t2Jhf6
27.~e6t ~f8 28.4Je4! White has an absolmely
decisive arrack. For example: 28 ... fxe3 29.ttJg5
1We8 30J~:a8!, leading ro marc, or 28 ... iWe8
29.~xe8t! followed by 30.c6. Because rbe
black king is trapped on du~ eighth rank, rhere
is no way he can deal with rhese rwo pawns.
27.1Mfe6t!?
27.ttJd3! and 28.:8:a8 wa~ very simple, bur
\XIhire had seen a further appetising sacrifice.
27... ~ffi 28J!xd7 exf2t 29.~fl 'W'e8
Another attempt was 29 ... iWa6i" 30.~xf2
iWc2t! 31.~xe2 4Jf4f', bur alter 32.~fl 4:1xe6
33.c6 the pawns cannor be sropped. After
.13 .. ~g8 34.:8:e7! and 33 ... @e8 34J~e7"! @d8
35J!a7! the pawns are simply roo strong.
a b c d e r
Attacking Manual 2
30JU7t!!
Obviously Serper had seen this move on
move 27.
A funny though nor very important line is
the following, which I suspect Serper looked
at during rhe game: 30.1Wxe8t ~xe8 31.~e7t
~f8! 32.c6 ttJg3t!! 33.~xf2 (33.hxg3? hxg3)
33 ... 4Jf5 Serper incorrectly stared rhar Black
is winning here, but White can still hold the
posicion with 34J:hg7! ttJxd6! (1hc point is of
course chat after 34 ... ~xg7 35.d7 ~d8 36.c7
the pawns are good enough to queen, although
after 36 ... ~xd7 37.c8""~ ~d2i" Black has
enough counterplay co make a draw.) 35.~d7
4Jf7 36.~e3 ~g7 37.~e4 ~f6 38.~d5 with
enough counterplay ro hold the balance.
30.••1Mfxf7 3I.'W'c8t 'W'e8 32.d7 ~f7
33.dxe8""'W't E:xe8 34.'W'b7t E:e7?!
A time trouble mistake. Both players had
apparendy found it necessary to pour their time
into che problems on the previous moves.
34 ... ~f6! was the only move. Whire should
be winning all the same, bur Black can sdll
offer some resiscance. The main point is rhac
35.c6 can be met with 35 ... 4:1g3t! 36.~xf2
(after 36.hxg3 hxgJ 37.c7 ~h8 38.\Wc6t ~e7
39.c8=ttJt ~d8 White has to give perpccual
check) 36 ... 4Jf5 37.iWd7 ~h8 38.c7 ttJe7
Black has managed to scop che c-pawn for the
moment, although he is still suflering from the
presence of this powerful passer.
g h a b c d e f g h
 Chaprcr 3 -Typical Pawn Play 201

35.c6! 10.~xc6 bxc6 11.llJbd2 Vlle7 12J~el as in

Finally rhe posicion is clarHying, bm after Sokolov - Winanrs, Brussels 1988, with a
having sacrificed six pieces, ir is time ro let go slight edge for White, seems quire prudent as
of the quc::cn a.!. well, making ir a full sec. well.

35 ... e4 36.c7 e3 37.Wfd5t <bf6 38.Wfd6t 10 ... ~e7!

®f7 39.Wid5t ®f6 40.Wid6t ®f7 4l.1Mfxe7t
®xe7 42.c8=Wi.ih6 43.Wic5t ®e8 44.Wih5t
8
®d8 45.Wih6t ®d7 46.Wlxg6 e2t 47.®xf2
.ie3t 48. ®e I 7
1-0 6

One kind oflogic would dicrare cb;.u chis game 5

had to be rhe lasr one in rhe book, simply 4
because it i~ impossible w top it in terms of
3
glamour. However, 1 hav~ always been rhe
crash and burn rype of guy, so as I inrend to 2
proceed for another few hundred pages, I have
1
decided rhar rhc next game should illusrrare a
more sed.ue pace of pby. a b c d e f g h
ll.~bd2?
l n the following example, !Vlacieja shows rhat After rhe greedy/ optimistic ll.dxe5 dxe5
in closed positions hi~ rcach is far beyond d1at 12.llJxe5 Black has 12. .. Wxd3 13.llJxd3
of his opponenr and wins a beautiful straregic gS 14.~g3 llJxe4 where he is already a lirrle
game. \X!har is mosr impressive is that no pkce berrer.
has left rhe board ar [he rime when the white
posirion b beyond repair. It was absolutely necessary r:o rake up the
What T wanr you m look out for is che way challenge wirh ll.ixf6 gxf6 12.lDbd2, when
char Black nurtures the srrong pawm, and then \XIhite has ideas such as lDh4 and f2-f4 to
lets his pieet::s serve rhc pawm, rather than the arrack the black weaknesses as a counterweigln
usual ''l:ay around. ro rhe black bishops.

Bogdan Grabarczyk- Bartlomiej Madej a ll. .. ~g6 12..ig3

1l1e bishop on g3 is cerrainly not better than
Poli<;h Championship, Opole 2007
either of rhe black knights!

l.e4 e5 2.~8 ~c6 3 ..ib5 a6 4..ia4 tbf6

12 ... ~h5
5.0-0 .ic5
To the best of my understanding Black is
1l1is Is rarely played without ... b5, but
already doing quite well.
Macieja probably w<mrcd w avoid any heavy
theory.
13.~c4
Tr is already wo late to seck peace rhmugh
6.c3 0-0 7.d4 .ib6 8.~5 h6 9 ..ih4 d6
exchanges wirh 13.dxe5, as afrer the direct
10.Wfd3!?
lme: l.l ... llJxg3 14.bxg3 4Jxc5 15.lDxc5 dxeS
202 Attacking Manual 2

16.\¥lxd8 :gxd8 17.ctJc4 $l.e6 l8.l21xb6 cxb6
White will either lose rhe a-pawn or have to
accept a rook coming in on rhe second rank.
"ll1c attempt ro give up a pawn wirh 19.~fd 1
E1ils ro 19 ... ~xd 1t 20.~xd 1 ~xa2 2l.~d7 bS
22.~d 1 ~e6! 23.~xb7 gdS and Black comes ro
d2 anyway, when he is very probably winning.
13 ... ~a7 14.~b3 b5 15.~e3 ~hf4 16.'1!Nd2
~b7
\Xfhire had to go for counrerplay with
something like 19.a4, when he should be
ready for 19 ... h5 20.axb5 axb5 21.h4!? with a
somewhat dubious, but nor yet clearly worse
position.
It should be noced that, after 19.a4, the more
concrete 19 ... 4Jxg2? would be a mistake. Better
one bird in rhc hand than ren on the roof, as
they say in Denmark. Bur [his particular bird
only leads to ~t draw afrer: 20.<j{xg2! ih3t
21.mxh3 ~xB 22.4Jg2 ~h5t 23.l2Jh4 4Jxh4

78 .~-~~. ~--*~
fi rl 7
/.• ., ..

6 i~
~ -...
/. /. ~
~ ~?.
"··--"~
5 ~~i~tjWI ~~~1·
A~ ~~0
4 0~ ~'A~~{~~~~
~ ~crQ
3~~~ ~ ~~~
2 ~C§
~A~
~§i
..!rtji
~·
t[!}
1 ~F!, %~. ~-%~f:~~'f -~
~~ ~ ~~%ri
~pt;; ~-~

a b c d c f g h
24.'11Nd l!! and Black has nothing bc[[Cr rhan
pcrpemal check. I would not be surprised to
I7.d5r
learn that White saw this line but missed the
A grave positional mistake, \Vhich was
final saving resource.
probably meant to relieve rension of a primarily
psychological nature. 17.\¥lc2! was stronger,
maintaining the cenrral tension. Now rhe
19 ... h5 20.f3 'I!Ng5 21.:9:adl h4 22.ifl
previously bloc.:k~d bishop on a? comes alive,
while the bishop on bJ is our of play.

17..• '1!Nf6
All the bh1ck pieces are in play, except the
rooks, which so f~u· have no significam role. lc
is interesting to see rhat iris exacdy rhese heavy
pieces that decide rbe game when they finally
get inro action.

18.q;,hl ~c8 19.~gl?

A very passive move, rbat nukes it very easy
for Black to build up hi~ po~ition. Probably
a b c d e f g h
\X!hite was afraid that he was about ro be
sacrificed upon. 22 ... f6!!
 Chapter 3- Typical Pawn Play
ll1is is, in my opinion, rhe deepest move of
rhe game. Black is preparing ... ~f7 and ... ghs
in anticipadon of action on rhe h-file.
23.h3?
1l1is is rhe decisive mistake; iris remarkable
that it has occurred without a single piece
having left the board! White cannot allow such
weakening moves and should probably have
played 23.a4 or similar, simply to sec if Black
can break through on his own.
23 ..• ~h5
Black immediately reshuffles ro exploit the
weaknesses.
24.ClJe2 ClJgf4 25.ClJxf4 exf4 26.ClJc2 ClJg3t
27 ..ixg3 hxg3
Normally double pavvns arc not robe desired,
bur here the circumstance~ are anything bm
normal.
28.ClJd4
White cannot prevent the sacrifice on h3, so
instead he simply prepares for the impact as
best he can.
28 •. J~Vh4 29J3fel
Creating 'lllfr' for rhe king.
a b c d e f g h
29 .•. hh3!
203
This is rhe logical follow-up. Note that
a grandmaster will not find it necessary to
calculate all the way ro the end in order ro
sacrifice a piece like this. He simply sees that he
has threats and options, and that the opponenr
will nor be able to refute the attack. He will
also rely on a general understanding of the
position and what should be the consequences
of such an evaluation.
30.gxh3 Wfxh3t 31. @gl @f7
Here come the rooks.
32.Wi'g2 ~h8 33.WI'xh3
White is lost no matter vvhar he does:
33J~d2
Now Black will force his opponent ro rake
on h3:
33 ... E:h6! 34.\Wxh3 E:x.h3
\Y.Je can now imagine lines like rhe
following:
35.~fl
35.E:g2 ~ah8 36.Wfl ~hl'! 37.@e2 ~8h2!
38.~xh 1 :8xg2t 39. @d3 ixd4 40.cxd4 ~f2!
1l1e pawns are roo suong and the bishop on
b3 is nor a factor. For example: 4l.id 1 g2
42.i;gl ~fl 43.~xg2 ~xd It 44.Wc3 gn and
Black wins anorher pawn.
35 ... ~ah8 36.~c2 .!;h2t 37.Wd3 gxd2t
38.Wxd2 ~h2'!' 39.IDd3 ~xb2 40.E:f1 g2
41.~gl ~f2 42.ic2
42 ... g5!
204 Attacking Manual 2

Black wins. His next moves are ... ~xd4, ... g4 7.b3 0-0 8 ..id3 b6 9.0-0 .ib7 10..ib2flc7
and .. .f3, supporting the g-pawn, followed by ll.l0e5
... E:fl winning.
8
33.. J3xh3 34.~£1 gh2 35.ge2 gah8 36.~el
36.~xh2 E:xh2 37 .E:d3 E:xb2 is equally 7
hopeless. 6
5
36.. J~hlt
36 ... g5! was even srronger. White cannot 4
improve his position.
3
37.~d2 gxdl t 38.~xdl 2
A blunder. Necessary was 38.~xd 1 rhough 1
Black would srill win after 38 ... ~h2 39. We 1
~h 1t 40.~d2 g5! 41.a3 ~xd4 42.cxd4 g4!. a b c d e f g h
\XIhire is about to play f4 and E:ad 1 with a
38 •. J3hlt 39.~d2 .ixd4 40.cxd4 E!h2 ~mall space advantage for \Xfhire. Surprisingly
0-1 already at this point Black commits a decisive
mistake.
Om last P..\'0 games in rhis section are good
ac illusrraring rhc staremem of rhe Dalai l l ... l0xe5?
Lama, rha.t those who rhink that rhe small Black is enrering a skirmish for which he is
and powedes~ cannor change anyrhing badly prepared.
have never spent a nighr in a tent wirh a
mosquito. 12.dxe5 dxc4
In che first of rhese games we <uc ralk in g abour Yegiazarian rids himself of a ractical weakness
rhc g-pawn, which on rhc 18rh move plays such before \'Vhirc can exploit it, bur suffers other
a fantastic role, bur also about the e5~pawn, problems as well.
which however shorr lived, has great impact
on rhe course of the game. First ir harasses rhe l2 ... ll.Jg4 ar once is also a bad idea. After
enemy knight, rhen forces the black queen to 13.~xh7t ~h8 14.h3 White wins a pawn
move co an unwelcoming square, righr in rh~ because of: 14 ...lLixc5 15.cxd5 cxd5
firing line of the bishop on b2.

Gabriel Sargissian - Arsen Yegiazarian

Yerevan 2004

l.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.l0f3 ttJf6 4.e3 e6 s.ttJc3

l0bd7 6.1&c2 Ae7
This slightly passive move gives \XIhire slighrly
freer play and good chance1. of achieving a
slight edge.
 Chapter 3 -Typical Pawn Play 205

16.lt:Jxd5! ll1e c:xrra pawn should be enough 19.ttJd5 Wfd6 20..ie5!

for victory in rhe long term. Winning an im portanr tempo.

13.bxc4 ttJg4 I4.hh7t ~h8 15.Wfe2! f5 20...Wfd7

Forced, a~ Black loses the exchange in the
following long forced line: 15 ... Wfxe5 16.Wfxg4
~xh7 17.Wh3t ~g8 18.lt:Jd5 Wd6 19.i.c5!
\Wd8 20.lt:Jxe7i' Wx.e7 2l.~g3! and 22.i.d6.
I6.h3 ~xh7 17.hxg4 Wfxe5
Black has no choice bur to accept rhe pawn.
After 17 ... E!ad8 18.gxf5 ext) 19.Wh5t ~g8
20.lt:Je2 White will consolidate with an extra
pawn, as well as bring rhe knight ro f4 and g6
with a decisive advancage.
20 ... Wxe5? \Vould lose immediately to
21.\WhSt and 22.l£lxe7t.
2l.tlJc7!
Winning rhe exchange in rhe simplest way.
2l.l£lf6t is weaker. After 21 ... i.xf6 22.gxf6
gxf6 23.ixf6 Black can play 23 ... <i>g6!
24.i.xh8 ~xh8, when there is a bit of
counrerplay remaining before the full point
can be converted.
21. .. ~g6
Black had no choice. After something like
2l...~ad8 White wins with a direct arrack:
22.:gad 1 Wfc8 23.~h5t \!ig8 24.1Wg6 and ~o
on.

22.gadl Wfc8 23.tlJxa8 haS

a b c d e f e0 h
18.g5!!
After this rhe pavvn i~ a f.1.ncasric asset. lr is
immune because of the f2-f4 advance and is
on irs way to g6 w help rhe queen w deliver a
deadly arrack ro h7 and g7.

18.. J~h8 a b c d e f o-
0
h
Black defends against rhe aforementioned 24.Wfd3
threat, bur rhi~ move has orher drawbacks. From here on Sargissian's play is a bit shaky,
·n1e s<.une can be said of 18 ... g6, when White bur sri!! good enough ro win rhe game. lr
can exploit rhe weakness of rhe f6-sq uare would have been berrer ro finish off rhc arrack
immediately. 19.lt:Jd5 ~d6 20.l£lfbt ~xf6 quickly wirh 24.e4!.
21 Jhdl V9c7 22.gxf6 Nexr comes 23.e4 and
\'V'hire has a .hmrastic arrack. 24... gd8 25.Wfc3 gg8 26.Wfd3 gds 27.Wfc2
gh8 28.e4 gh5 29.exf5t exf5 30.8 Wfh8
206 Attacking Manual 2
31.gd7 ~hit 32.i>fl ~eSt 33.~d4 ~h4t
34.i>e2 hd4 35J3d6t
36.f4t i>h5 37.1Wxf5t
1-0
In t:he nexr game, the last of the present section,
we return ro one of rhe basic principles of
<macking chess: chat only rhe piece~ present at
rhe scene of rhc actack can exert any inAucnce
over ic. This is of course a basic rrurh, so simple
rhat absolurely anyone can undersrand it;
and yec not everyone plays as if rhcy had rhis
knowledge.
Actually, I rhink rhar knowing and abiding
by rhe most important rwenry positional
principles, being able ro calculare well and
having decenr openings, can bring you ro
2600. Beyond rhar, pcrhap~ something extra
is needed.
In the last game of rhi~ section \Ve shall sec how
two pawns on the fifrh are able ro conrrol the
ccnrre, before helping to block rhe sixrh rank
at the cridcal moment, thus making \XIhire's
arrack decisive.
Gyorgy Negyesy- Erno Gereben
Budapest 1951
Ld4 ~f6 2.c4 g6 3.~c3 dS 4.o::d5 ~xdS
S.e4 ~xc3 6.bxc3 ~g7 7.~c4 c5 8.~e2 ~c6
9.~e3 0-0 10.0-0 ~g4 11.£3 ~aS 12.~3
o::d4 13.cx:d4 ~e6 14.d5!
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
a b c d e f g h
111is sacrifice has rerurned wirh a vengeance
in rhe 21st century. The computers can help
Black to defend such a position, of course, but
it is difficult ro remernber everything, and if
White comes up with a ne\v idea, Black can
be forced ro find a huge number of difficult
moves, with a draw being the greatest reward
be is likely to achieve.
14....ba1 lS.~xal f6 16.~h6 :8:e8 17.®hl
a6
Quire a 1·are move. Black wanrs to put his
bishop to f7 (to protect his kingsidc more
solidly) and therefore eliminates the !d3-b5
rhrear.
17 ...id7 is the big main line move. 1he
current theory suggest.!. thar rhe line should
end in a draw, bur it is nor so easy in practice.
18.~f4 ~d7?
ll1is retreat aims to eliminate the bishop on
d3 wirh ...!b5. Having said chis, the move
 Chapter 3 - Typical Pawn Play
is passive and slow, which - calculation a~ide
- makes ir roo risky, even wirhout looking ar
the fact that Black's ki ngsidc is not protected
enough.
Having said char, ir should be pointed ouc
rhac 18 ... ~f7 I 9.e5 is also very dangerous for
Black.
19.e5 ~b5
Black is only one move away from
eliminating rhe main rhrears ro his kingside,
making ir pos~ible char he will win with his
207
22 ...Wfb6
22 ... ~xfl 23JWg3 will transpose to rhe
game.
Also insufficient is 22 ... ltk4 23.\Wg3 tDxe5
24.tDxg6tDg4 25.fxg4 \Wd6 (or 25 ... f4 26.\Wc3
e5 27.dxe6 and White wins). In this position
White brings home the victory with a nice
combination: 26.tDxe7t! Wfxe7 27.gxf5i" ~h8
28.f6 \Wf7 29.\Wh4 ~g8 30.Ei:f3 with a winning
arrack.