Modern Chess Magazine Issue 13 PDF

issue 13
MODERN CHESS
MAGAZINE
Tactics Can Break Steel,

But Not Traditions
Master the Grunfeld
Endgame Series Structure Part 4
Part 13
Methods of Playing in
Positions with Closed Center - Part 3
Typical Tactical Ideas Methods of

Defence against the Bishop Sacrifice on h6
CONTENTS
Methods of Playing in Positions with Closed Center - Part 3 (GM Grigor Grigorov)
3
3 Buckley,David (2237) - Jones,Gawain C (2576) 4NCL-ch rapid (6), 10.10.2010
9 Godart,Francois (2376) - Fressinet,Laurent (2711) FRA-chT Top 12 (3.5), 26.05.2014
11 Al Sayed,Mohammed (2490) - Berg,Emanuel (2627) Gibraltar Masters 9th (2), 26.01.2011
16 Alikulov,Elbek (2265) - Filippov,Anton (2613) Tashkent zt 3.4 (5), 12.06.2011
19 Tests 1 - 8
Typical Tactical Ideas - Methods of Defence against the Bishop Sacrifice on h6

23 (GM Nikolai Ninov)
23 DEFENDING BY ACCEPTING THE SACRIFICE
27 IGNORING THE SACRIFICE
Tactics Can Break Steel, But Not Traditions (GM John van der Wiel)
43
43 Exercice 1 - 6
45 Tal,Mihail (2605) - Van der Wiel,John (2470) Hoogovens Wijk aan Zee (10), 27.01.82
47 Van der Wiel,John (2555) Huebner,Robert Hoogovens (2595) Wijk aan Zee (5) 13.01.1988
50 Van der Sterren,Paul (2470) - Van der Wiel,John (2555) Hoogovens Wijk aan Zee (12), 31.01.86
Endgame Series - Part 13 Domination in the Endgame (GM Davorin Kuljasevic)

52
52 Short,Nigel D (2660) - Timman,Jan H (2630) Tilburg (4), 1991
53 Gledura,B (2515) - Anand,V (2784) Gibraltar Masters 2016 (7.14), 01.02.2016
56 Carlsen,M (2844) - Hou Yifan (2673) 78th Tata Steel GpA (11.1), 29.01.2016
58 Wei Yi (2730) - Bromberger,S (2521) Qatar Masters Open 2015 (6.29)
60 Topalov,V (2784) - Morozevich,A (2731) 30th ECC Open 2014 (2.1), 15.09.2014
62 Sveshnikov,Evgeny (2535) - Browne,Walter S(2555) Hoogovens Wijk aan Zee (5), 21.01.1981
64 Petrosian,Tigran V - Botvinnik,Mikhail World Championship 25th (5), 01.04.63
66 Susnjar,M (2224) - Kuljasevic,Davorin (2537) 20th Croatian Cup (2.14), 19.05.2011
Master the Grunfeld Structure - Part 4 (GM Mihail Marin)

69
69 Smyslov,Vassily - Simagin,Vladimir URS-ch28 Moscow, 1961
70 Koginov,V - Kortschnoj,Viktor Lvovich Leningrad-ch, 1957
72 Ragozin,Viacheslav - Bronstein,David I Moscow-ch, 1947
74 Polugaevsky,Lev (2625) - Timman,Jan H (2625) Breda m (6), 1979
76 Kostic,Boris - Gruenfeld,Ernst Teplitz Schoena, 13.10.1922
77 Bird,Henry Edward - Blackburne,Joseph Henry USA-06 Congress Grand Tournament
77 Polugaevsky,Lev Geller,Efim P URS-ch25 Riga, 1958
78 Keres,Paul Smyslov,Vassily URS Absolute-ch (17), 23.04.1941
79 Fedorowicz,John P (2430) - Shamkovich,Leonid (2515) New York, 1980
www.modern-chess.com
Modern Chess Magazine 3
Methods of Playing in 1) classical plan - f7-f5-f4 followed by g6-

g5, h7-h5 and g5-g4
Positions with Closed 2) creating a piece attack after opening
Centre - Part 3 the f-file by means of fxe4
3) gaining space on the kingside by
means of h7-h5-h4
We should also point out that
occasionally Black could go for some
queenside operations. In rare cases, he
goes for a queenside play by means of
a7-a6 followed by b7-b5. This plan,
however, tends to be quite risky since
White normally has an upper hand on
the queenside.
1) Classical plan - f7-f5-f4 followed by
g6-g5, h7-h5 and g5-g4
Buckley,David 2237
Dear Reader, Jones,GawainC 2576
In the first two parts of the series 4NCL-ch rapid (6) 10.10.2010
concerning the positions with a closed The structure we are dealing with was
centre, we were mainly dealing with reached after the moves: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4
White's plans. Nevertheless, in my g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Be2 0-0
annotations, I managed to describe some 6.Nf3 e5 7.0-0 Nbd7 8.Be3 c6 9.d5
of the most important ideas for Black as c5
a b c d e f g h
well.
In the current article, I will try to 8 8
analyze the structure from a Black's 7 7
perspective. Those of you who have read
6 6
the previous two articles know that Black's
main strategic idea in this structure is to 5 5
develop an attack on the kingside. The 4 4
classical way to do so consists of
launching a pawn storm on the kingside 3 3
by means of f7-f5-f4 followed by g6-g5, 2 2

h7-h5 and g5-g4. The idea is simple -
1 1
Black should execute a favorable pawn
a b c d e f g h
break in order to open the kingside and
create a decisive attack. Of course, this is From this point, the plans for both sides
far from being the only way to attack on are clear. White will be playing on the
the kingside. In this article, I analyze three queenside by means of a2-a3 followed
main attacking strategies for Black: by b2-b4, while Black's idea is remove
the knight from f6 and launch a kingside 11.a3 Ng8 12.b4 White ignores Black's
expansion by playing f7-f5. In this positional idea and prefers to continue
concrete position, Black intends to go for with the execution of his ideas on the
10...Ng4, thus preparing f7-f5 with a queenside.
tempo. This is one of the reasons why [ An alternative is 12.f3 trying to avoid
White went for 10.Nd2 This is really a the exchange of the bishops. In this
multi-purpose move. White not only case, however, we should admit that
prevents the idea 10...Ng4 but at the Black's darked-squared bishop is no
same time he transfers his knight the longer a passive piece. For example,
queenside. For instance, after a2-a3 and after Bh6 13.Bf2 f5 14.b4 b6
b2-b4, the knight could reach the perfect Black has decent attacking chances
b3-square from where he puts pressure on the kingside. A typical idea would
on the entire Black's kingside. Also, it is be the maneuvre Nd7-f6-h5-f4
important to point out that by removing followed by Qg5, thus provoking the
his knight from the f3-square, White weakening move g2-g3. On the other
frees the way of the f2-pawn. This is hand, even after opening the b-file,
very useful since Black's f7-f5 could be White has difficulties to create
met by f2-f3 or exf5 followed by f2-f4. serious threats on the queenside. ]
Kh8 This is a typical King's Indian move. 12...Bh6 13.Bxh6 Nxh6 14.Nb3 b6
Let's try to understand the idea behind it. Black wants to stabilize the queenside.
In my first article on this structure, I He is ready to meet the move bxc5 by
pointed out that Black always tries to means of bxc5.
exchange the dark-squared bishops [ As we are going to see in the next
while White wants to provoke the examples, the move bxc5 could be
exchange of the light-squared bishops. answered by dxc5 when Black could
The reason is quite simple - the bishops easily transfer a knight to the d6-
on e2 and g7 are restricted by their own square. That is why it would be
central pawns. That is why both sides interesting to take a look at the idea
want to get rid of them. By playing 10... 14...f5 15.bxc5 dxc5
Kh8, Black is planning to trade his a b c d e f g h
passive bishop by means of 11...Ng8 8 8
followed by 12...Bh6. The only drawback
7 7
of this plan is that it is rather time
consuming. 6 6
[ Another option would have been 5 5
10...Ne8 directly preparing f7-f5. The
4 4
play may continue 11.a3 f5 12.f3 f4
13.Bf2 g5 14.b4 When the position is 3 3
extremely double-edged. My 2 2
personal impression is that White is
1 1
a little bit better but Black's threats
always remain dangerous. ] a b c d e f g h
dark-squared bishops had been I like this move. Remember that in this
already exchanged, White could structure the a5-square could be very
change the structure by 16.exf5 gxf5 important. That is why White clears the
17.f4! Just in time! Since Black is e1-a5 diagonal for his queen. How to
behind in the development, it would make use of the a5-square? After
be preferable to close the centre by opening the b-file, White could proceed
playing 17...e5-e4. Here, however it with the maneuver Nb3-a5-c6. In some
would be a mistake because after e4? cases, even the queen could go to "a5".
White has the simple tactical Qe7 17.bxc5 Nxc5! It is important to
refutation 18.Nxc5! ( Let's imagine exchange the b3-knight.
that the move 18.Nxc5 is not possible. [ In case of 17...bxc5 , White could
Even in this case, the absense of play 18.Na5 Followed by 19.Nc6. ]
dark-squared bishops favors White. In 18.Nxc5 bxc5 19.Qa5 White's moves
such structure, Black g7-bishop would are very logical. Now Black has to
have been a monster while White's e3- reckon with possible invasions on the c7-
bishop would have been restricted by square. Besides the dangerous threat of
both his and opponent't pawns. Rab1 followed by Nc7, White would be
18.Qd2 In this structure, White has a also happy to exchange the queens by
typical plan that you should remember. means of Qc7. After a possible
After transferring one of his knights to exchange of the queens, Black couldn't
e3, he could follow with Kh1, h2-h3 create a kingside attack while the d6-
and g2-g4. In this scenario, Black's pawn would be a substantial weakness.
position easily collapses. ) 18...Nxc5 a6 20.Nc3
19.Qd4+ Qf6 20.Qxc5 When White's [ After 20.Nc7?? the knight is simply
position is close to winning. ] trapped by Ra7 ]
15.Qd2 Ng8 16.Nb5! 20...f5 It is time to start the attack.
21.Bd3?! I find this move too slow.
a b c d e f g h White should have immediately occupied
8 8
the b-file by playing Rab1. f4
Black doesn't waste time. Now his idea
7 7 is to follow with f4-f3. That's why White
6 6 should lose one more tempo. 22.f3 g5
23.Na4? White continues to waste a
5 5 valuable time. In general, the idea to
4 4 exchange the c8-bishop is good but it
doesn't work in this position since Black
3 3 has a simple refutation.
2 2 [ Maybe it was time to be a little bit
more cautious and play 23.h3 Nf6
1 1
24.Rab1 h5 25.Kf2 When both sides
a b c d e f g h experience difficulties to make a
progress. ]
23...g4 24.Nb6? After this tactical White has managed to parry all the
mistake, White's position is simply lost. direct threats but it is important to
[ Of course, we should admit that it is know that his problems are permanent
already difficult to give White a good and couldn't be solved in a long-term.
advice. For example, after the natural Black has two pawns for the bishop
24.Rab1 g3! and a tremendous space advantage.
a b c d e f g h Furthermore, white king will always
need protection. Black could simply
8 8
transfer more and more pieces
7 7 towards the kingside until the position
6 6
of his opponent ruins. Rad8 29.Qg2
Qh5
5 5
a b c d e f g h
4 4
8 8
3 3
7 7
2 2
6 6
1 1
5 5
a b c d e f g h
4 4
This is a typical way to continue the
attack when Black's c8-bishop is on 3 3
the board. The reason is simple -White 2 2
couldn't simply close the kingside by
means of h2-h3 because of the bishop 1 1
sacrifice. A typical continuation would a b c d e f g h
be 25.h3 Qh4 26.Nb6 Bxh3!
27.gxh3 Qxh3 28.Qd2 We have reached quite a
a b c d e f g h characteristic position for the structure.
It seems that White has a lot of time
8 8
to organize his defence but the total
7 7 lack of coordination between his
forces leaves him helpless. On the
6 6
other hand, Black could gradually
5 5 develop his attack by means of
4 4
obvious moves like Rf6-h6 followed by
Ne7-g6-h4. ]
3 3 [ The idea to radically prevent 24...g3
2 2 also doesn't look enterprising. After
1 1
a b c d e f g h
24.fxg4 Bxg4 followed by Nf6-h5, Rg8 a b c d e f g h

and Qh4, Black's threats could be 8 8
very dangerous. ]
7 7
[ Another try would be the slightly
artificial 24.Rfb1 In this position, 6 6
Black's best attacking strategy
5 5
consists of opening the g-file. gxf3
( White's idea could be seen after 4 4
24...g3 25.h3 Qh4 26.Bf1
3 3
defending against the sacrifice on h3.
On the other hand, White is already 2 2
to invade on the queenside. ) 25.gxf3
1 1
Nf6 As always the idea is to play Rg8
followed by Nh5 and Qh4. ] a b c d e f g h
24...Qd8! This is the problem. It turns We have reached quite an untypical

out that the knight couldn't escape out position. Despite being an exchnage
of the pin. At the same time, Black up, White couldn't bring his rook into
maintains all the threats on the kingside. play. At the same time, Black has a
25.Rab1 Rb8 26.Rb2 Rf7 27.Rfb1 simple winning idea - Nf6 followed by
Rfb7? This natural move actually wastes Bh3, Ng4 and f3-f2. Nevertheless, it
a valuable time since Black couldn't trap seems that after 34.Bc2 Nf6 35.Bd1
his opponent's knight. White is just in time to create a
[ It was time to start attacking on the counterplay. Things are not so simple
kingside. That is why Black should though. After Bg4 36.h3 Black has
have opened the position by means of the absolutely fantastic h5!!
27...gxf3 28.gxf3 Rg7+ 29.Kh1 Bh3 a b c d e f g h
With a devastating attack. ]
8 8
28.Bc2? White misses his chance to
unpin himself. 7 7
[ The right move was 28.Qd2! when
6 6
Rxb6 could be met by 29.Qa5
Even in this case, however, Black 5 5
retains an obvious advantage. For
4 4
instance, after gxf3 30.Rxb6 fxg2
There are is another pin along the d8- 3 3
a5 diagonal but this time the rook is
2 2
pinned. In case of the natural 31.R6b5
1 1
Black has a fantastic win: Qxa5
a b c d e f g h
32.Rxa5 Rxb1+ 33.Bxb1 f3
After this original bishop sacrifice, Of course! This sacrifice always works
despite White's extra rook, black quite well when our opponent's pieces
pawns would be unstoppable. Here is are miscoordinated. 31.gxh3
an example: 37.hxg4 hxg4 38.Rxa6 [ After 31.Rxb7? Bxg2 White is going
Nxe4 39.Rb6 Nc3 ( 39...Ng5 to be mated. ]
is also winning. For example: 40.Bxf3 31...Qxh3 32.Qd2 g2!
gxf3 41.Kh2 e4 42.Rb1 e3-+ )
40.Rb3 Nxd1-+ ] a b c d e f g h
28...g3? This typical attacking idea in 8 8
KID type of positions seems to be too
slow in this concrete position. 7 7
[ Black should have opened the g-file 6 6

after which he brings all his pieces
5 5
into the attack rather quickly. A
possible line would be 28...gxf3 4 4
29.gxf3 Qg5+ 30.Kh1 Rg7 31.Qd2
3 3
Bh3 32.Bd3 Nf6 White couldn't parry
Black's threats. ] 2 2
29.h3 Qh4 30.Na4? This move allows
1 1
Black to realize his only idea under
favorable circumstances. Now White's a b c d e f g h
position is already very difficult.
[ After the more tenacious 30.Bd1 After this energetic move, Black takes
Bxh3 31.gxh3 Qxh3 32.Qd2 White's queen for 2 rooks and a piece.
Black's compensation for the piece is Black's position would be winning
out of question but I doubt if he has because of White's misplaced pieces.
enough resources to build a decisive The following sequence seems to be
attack on the kingside. ] pretty forced. 33.Qxg2 Rg7 34.Qxg7+
30...Bxh3! Kxg7 35.Rxb8 Qg3+ 36.Kf1 Qxf3+
a b c d e f g h 37.Ke1 Qg3+ 38.Kd1 Qg1+ 39.Kd2
8 8 Qe3+ 40.Kd1 f3 Black is already
winning. I leave the rest of the game
7 7
without comments. 41.R1b7+ Kh8
6 6 42.Rf8 f2 43.Rxf2 Qxf2 44.Nb6 h5
5 5
45.Nc8 Qg1+ 46.Kd2 Qg5+ 47.Kd3
Qd8 48.Na7 h4 49.Nc6 Qg5 50.Rb8
4 4 h3 51.Nd8 Qf6
3 3 0-1
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
Godart,Francois 2376 a b c d e f g h
Fressinet,Laurent 2711 8 8
FRA-chT Top 12 (3.5) 26.05.2014
7 7
2) Creating a piece attack after 6 6
opening the f-file by means of fxe4. 5 5

In some cases, Black's pawn storm 4 4
on the kingside seems to be rather
3 3
time consuming. In such situations,
he should find a way to use his 2 2
pieces in order to create threats 1 1

against opponent's king. A typical a b c d e f g h
way to do so is to open the f-file in a
suitable moment. Let's take a look 21...Nf4 In position where we are
at an instructive example. planning to open teh f-file by means of
fxe4, the f4-square is perfect for our
The diagram position was reached knight. From this position the knight puts
pressure on White's entire kingside.
in the game Godart,F - Fressinet
22.Bd1 fxe4 23.fxe4 Bg4!
played in 2014. It is obvious that
both sides have achieved some a b c d e f g h
goals. White managed to make use 8 8
of the b5-outpost and to put 7 7

pressure on the a5-pawn while
6 6
Black started active actions on the
kingside by means of f7-f5 and Nh5. 5 5
What should be Black's next move? 4 4

The idea to further push the pawns 3 3
on the kingside doesn't seem
attractive since Black would waste a 2 2
valuable time. That is why Black 1 1

decides to go in a different direction: a b c d e f g h
A highly instructive move. Generally

speaking, in KID type of positions, the
exchnage of the light-squared bishops
favors White. In this case, however the in a comfortable way. 27.Nxf4

situation is different. Since Black This seems the only acceptable move.
intends to create a piece pressure on Other continuations lead to very difficult
the kingside, he needs to put his knights positions.
on active positions. In this way, he takes [ In case of 27.Rf3? Black continues
under control a lot of squares around to attack by playing Qh4 28.h3 Nxd3
opponent's king. 24.Nc1 White already 29.Qxd3 ( White couldn't defend by
forgot his active play on the kingside. means of 29.hxg4 Ne1 30.Rxf8+
With his last move, he is planning to Rxf8 31.Qe2 since Black has the
provoke exchanges by means of 25.Nd3. decisive Nxg2! after which White's
Qg5 25.Nd3 This move seems king is just helpless. 32.Qxg2 Rf4 )
innacurate as it allows Black to activate 29...Nf2-+ ]
his knight with a tempo. [ The move 27.Qd2? fails to Ne3!
[ More stubborn would have been and Black is winning. ]
25.Bf3 when Black still maintains 27...Rxf4 28.Qe2 Raf8 29.Rxf4 Rxf4?
better prospects after Rf6 26.Nd3 Being focused on his initiative along the
Nh3+ 27.Kh1 Raf8 We have reached f-file Black misses a pefect opportunity
a typical position where Black to change the pawn structure.
managed to create an annoying [ He should have played 29...exf4!
pressure along the f-file. Later on, when the threat of f4-f3 is devastating.
he could spoil White's kingside After the obvious looking 30.Rf1
structure by playing Bxf3. White is , a possible line would be Ne3 31.Nc7
doomed to passivity. ] Nxf1 32.Ne6 Qe5 33.Nxf8 Ne3
25...Bxd1 26.Rxd1 Ng4 Black's advantage is out of question. ]
a b c d e f g h
30.Nxd6!
a b c d e f g h
8 8
8 8
7 7
7 7
6 6
6 6
5 5
5 5
4 4
4 4
3 3
3 3
2 2
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h 1 1
a b c d e f g h
This is the point! Now White has

difficulties to parry the threat of 27...Ne3 White demonstrates a concrete
approach to the position. Now, Black a b c d e f g h

should go for a forced sequence which
8 8
ends in a draw. Rf6
[ A terrible mistake would be 7 7
30...Rf2?? because of 31.Qxf2 Nxf2
6 6
32.Nf7++- ]
31.h3 Nf2 32.Rb1! Another precise 5 5
move. White's counterplay shouldn't be 4 4
underestimated. Nxh3+ 33.Kh2 Nf4
34.Rb8+ Kg7 35.Ne8+ Kh6 36.Qf3 3 3
Qh4+ 37.Kg1 Rf7 38.Nd6 Qe1+ 2 2
39.Kh2 Rd7 40.Rb6 Qh4+ 41.Kg1
Qe1+ 1 1
1/2 a b c d e f g h
Al Sayed,Mohammed 2490 By playing 10.Bg5, White prevents his

Berg,Emanuel 2627 opponent from playing 10...Ne8 followed
Gibraltar Masters 9th (2) 26.01.2011 by f7-f5. In order to get rid of the pin
[GM Grigor Grigorov] along the h4-d8 diagonal, Black should
3) Gaining space on the kingside by waste a valuable time. Meanwhile, White
means of h7-h5-h4 is ready to start active actions on the
As the reader probably remembers from queenside by playing 11.Nd2 followed by
my first article on the closed centre, a2-a3 and b2-b4. h6 This is the right
sometimes, White tries to prevent Black decision in such situations. When
from playing f7-f5. In the first article, we White's bishop is on g5, our first task
have examined positions where White should be to challenge it by playing h7-
manages to stop this thematic advance h6. Now, White should choose the right
by playing g2-g3 followed by Nh4 diagonal for his bishop. 11.Bh4
(Borisenko's idea).
Now, we are going to focus on another a b c d e f g h
important idea - creating a pin along the 8 8
d8-h4 - diagonal. In such positions,
Black should find alternative ideas to 7 7
create a kingside attack. One of the 6 6

possibilities is to grab space by
5 5
advancing the h-pawn.
Let's take a look at the game 4 4
Mohammed Al Sayed - Emanuel Berg
3 3
which I find very instructive.
The position of interest is reached after 2 2
the moves 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3
1 1
Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 0-0 6.Be2 e5
7.Be3 Nbd7 8.0-0 c6 9.d5 c5 10.Bg5 a b c d e f g h
Of course, White maintains the pin. [ It is important to point out that the
Maybe the reader would like to know move 14...f5? would be a typical
when the bishop should remain on the c1- mistake. White has an easy refutation
h6 diagonal in response to h7-h6. There at his disposal: 15.exf5 with the idea
are two main cases in which such to answer gxf5?? by 16.Bh5
strategy could be justified: This short line illstrates the tactical
justification of White's strategy. ]
1) White wants to apply the Borisenko's
idea - g2-g3 followed by Nh4 (g6-pawn a b c d e f g h
is vulnerable) 8 8
2) After playing Be3, White wants to
continue attacking on the queenside. In 7 7
this case, his idea would be justified by 6 6

the fact that Black's kingside structure is
5 5
flexible after the move h7-h6.
In this concrete position, 4 4
abovementioned ideas don't work. Since
3 3
Borisenko's idea is rather time
consuming, Black will be in time to 2 2
execture the f7-f5 advance. On the
1 1
other hand, 11.Be3 will be well met by
11...Ng4 followed bby 12...f5. In general, a b c d e f g h
white bishop never returns to e3 when

Black could attack it by means of ...Ng4. Black is finally ready to go for this
a6! This move is an important part of thematic advance. With the move h6-h5,
Black's strategy. In order to get rid of he not only gains space on the kingside
the pin, the Swedish grandmaster is but also he is planning to activate the
planning to follow with 12...Qe8. If he dark-squared bishop via h6 (this is
does it immediatly, he could run into 13. always a good idea when White's bishop
Nb5. 12.Ne1 Qe8 13.Nd3 Nh7 14.Rb1 is not on the c1-h6 diagonal). Also,
White is playing in a very logical way - White should take into consideration
after slowing down Black's kingside play, Black's immediate threat - trap the
he starts preparing active actions on the bishop by playing g6-g5 followed by h5-
other side. White is ready to follow with h4. 15.f3 Bh6 Black managed to solve
b2-b4 on the next move. h5! one of his main strategical issues - the
passive dark-squared bishop. Now, this
bishop threatens to occupy the e3-
square. 16.Bf2 After completing the
mission to prevent the f7-f5 advance,
White's dark-squared bishop returns to a b c d e f g h
the idea g1-a7 diagonal. From f2, the 8 8

bishop not only supports White's
7 7
queenside play but also prevents the
further activation of Black's dark- 6 6
squared bishop. Qe7
5 5
a b c d e f g h 4 4
8 8 3 3
7 7 2 2
6 6 1 1
5 5 a b c d e f g h
4 4 At first sight, it seems that White has

achieved a lot on the queenside - he
3 3 opened a file and his queen managed to
2 2 penetrate Black's camo. On the other
hand, it is not so clear how White could
1 1
further improve his position. For the
a b c d e f g h moment, White couldn't invade via the b-
file. That is why he is going for the
Black makes use of the fact that his exchange of Black's d7-knight. 21.Na4
opponent is no longer controlling the h4- Rd8 Played with the idea to overprotect
d8 diagonal. Now, he intends to the d6-pawn in a case of necessity.
continue grabbing space by playing h5- After dealing with White's direct threats,
h4. It is important to know that the f7-f5 Black will be ready to develop his
advance is already possible. It works kingside initiative by playing h4-h3.
expecially well when Black had already 22.Nb6 Nxb6 23.Qxb6 Now, Black
caused some weaknesses by means of must deal with the threats of 24.Nxc5
h5-h4-h3. and 24.Nxe5. Luckily enough, he is just
17.b4 b6 18.Qa4! White play very in time to exhange his passive a7-rook.
energetically. His last move is designed Rb7 24.Qa5 Rxb1 25.Rxb1 h3!
to make use of the weakened c6-square. Finally, we could start challenging
Now, the game becomes extremely White's kingside structure. 26.g3 f5
concrete. h4 19.bxc5 bxc5 20.Qc6 Another precise move. As we already
Ra7 pointed out, it is advisable to combine
the advance of the h-pawn with the f7-f5
break. Now, after reaching the g5-square,
black knight will have targets. 27.Nxe5!?
An original attempt to change the course
of the game. White sacrifices a knight
for two pawns in order to overtake the second choice. Again, it seems that
initiative. Despite the fact that this move Black's compensation is more than
deserves serious attention, I am not enough to keep the balance. In order
convinced that such radical measures to get a better feeling of the position,
were required. you could take a look at the following
[ Maybe, White's most consistent characteristic line: Nf8 30.Qxd6
continuation is 27.exf5 By means of Qb1+ 31.Ne1 Bd2 32.Bf1
this exchange, White wants to ( The attempt to protect the knight
eliminate the growing pressure doesn't give an advantage but Black
against his central e4-pawn. Bxf5 shouldn't waste time. The value of
This seems to be the most consistent every move is extremely high. 32.Kf1
move. Black activates his bishop and e4! Played in the spirit of the opening.
keeps the f-file open. ( Another option Black has two main tactical threats -
would be 27...gxf5 creating the threat 33...e4-e3 and 33...exf3 followed by
of e5-e4. The position remains 34...Bd3. Now, White is the one who
balanced and the draw seems to be should keep the balance. He should
the most probable outcome. An go for the following forced sequence
example line would be 28.Rb8 e4 33.fxe4 Bxe4 34.Bg4 Bd3+ 35.Kg1
29.Nf4 Bxf4 30.gxf4 Qg7+ 31.Bg3 Bxe1 36.Be6+ Nxe6 37.Qxe6+ Kg7
Qd4+ 32.Bf2 Qg7+ 38.Qe7+ With a perpetual to follow. )
With a perpetual. ) 28.Rb7 Qxb7 32...Bxe1 33.Bxc5 Nd7 34.Qe7
29.Qxd8+ Nxc5 35.Qe8+ Kg7 36.Qe7+
a b c d e f g h
Again, we have a perpetual. ]
[ Another possible move is 27.Rb8
8 8
In this case, however, White will
7 7 experience problems with the open f-
file and the weak e4-pawn. Black's
6 6
best seems to be fxe4 28.fxe4 Re8
5 5 It turns out the this is the safest
square for the rook in this position.
4 4
Now, Black intends to create pressure
3 3 on e4 by means of 29...Nf6.
( Of course, more natural would be to
2 2
put the rook on the f-file by playing
1 1 28...Rf8 In this case, however, White
a b c d e f g h could prepare a sacrifice on c5.
29.Qb6 Ng5 30.Nxc5! Without this
typical resource, White's position
Now, Black faces an important choice - collapses. The game could continue
to protect the d6-pawn or to keep the Qf7 31.Ne6 Nxe6 32.dxe6 Qxe6
initiative. No doubts that every true With approximately equal chances.
King's Indian fan would prefer the Nevertheless, from a practical point of
view, it is probably easier to play This brave move seems to be a mistake.

with Black because White's king is White's queen is going far away from
much more vulnerable. ) 29.Qa4 Nf6 the kingside where the king will be in
30.Bf3 Rf8 31.Qd1 Qf7 trouble.
a b c d e f g h
[ After 29.exf5 Bxf5 30.Rd1
White could have kept more or less
8 8
normal position, though I don't think
7 7 that his central passed pawns fully
compensate the missing piece. ]
6 6
29...Bf8!
5 5 a b c d e f g h
4 4 8 8
3 3 7 7
2 2 6 6
1 1 5 5
a b c d e f g h
4 4
3 3
We have a typical position for this
2 2
structure. Black has created a
strong pressure along the f-file. He 1 1
could follow with the maneuver Nh7- a b c d e f g h
g5.
What are the important conclusions
we should draw from the Very precise move. Emanuel Berg
abovementioned lines? prevents his opponent from exchanging
1) Black always try to create pressure queens by means of 30.Qe7. Of course,
along the f-file the exchange of the dark-squared
2) The h3-pawns is very important bishops favors Black since the dark
since it restricts the mobility of the squares around White's king become
white king and creates a lot of very weak. 30.Bf2? Mistake in a very
mating possibilities difficult position.
3) Given the possibility, Black always [ More tenacious was 30.Bb6
try to create pressure against the e4- Even in this case, however, Black
pawn could play Re8 Threatening to invade
4) It is very important to take into White's camp by means of 31...Qd2. ]
consideration the invasion of White's 30...fxe4 31.fxe4 Bg4! Black is playing
major pieces and all the possible with a tremendous amount of energy!
piece sacrifices on e5 and c5. ] After the exchange of the light-squared
27...dxe5 28.Bxc5 Qg5 29.Qc7? bishops, White's king will be helpless.
Now, the game is over. 32.Bxg4 Qxg4 game Alikulov,E - Filipov,A played in
33.Qxe5 2011. It is easy to understand that in the
[ 33.Qxd8 Qf3 34.Kf1 Qd3+ 35.Ke1 diagram position Black has the
Qxb1+-+ ] advantage - dark-squared bishops are
33...Ng5 34.Qf4 Qe2 35.Qe3 Qxc4 exchanged and Black has an active play
36.Re1 Be7 on the queenside. On the other hand,
0-1 White has no constructive ideas. He
should pay attention to his opponent's
C97 ideas and react accordingly.
Alikulov,Elbek 2265 Now, Black should take a very important
Filippov,Anton 2613 decision from a structural point of view -
Tashkent zt 3.4 (5) 12.06.2011 whether to play 31...bxc4 or 31...b4.
[GM Grigor Grigorov] In the game, he played 31...bxc4
a b c d e f g h This is the right choice. Of course,
Black's idea is to open a file and invade
8 8
but White will recapture with a piece. In
7 7 such situations, you should look for a
6 6
target in your opponent's pawn structure.
In the concrete position, such a target
5 5 could be the b3-pawn. Black could
4 4
contact it by means of a6-a5-a4 followed
by axb3 creating a weak pawn on the
3 3 queenside.
2 2
[ Another typical approach to the
position would be 31...b4
1 1
a b c d e f g h
a b c d e f g h
8 8
4) Black plays on the queenside by 7 7

means of b7-b5
6 6
As I have pointed out in the beginning of 5 5

the article, in some cases, Black starts
4 4
playing on the queenside by means of
b7-b5. This idea could be seen in 3 3
openings like Ruy Lopez, Classical
2 2
Benoni and the Fianchetto Variation in
KID. 1 1
A typical position was reached in the a b c d e f g h
Black starts playing against White's
pawn chain a2, b3, c4, d5. At this The position is balanced again. The
point, it will be useful to remember the weak b3-pawn is compensated by
way in which Aaron Nimzovich Black's weakness on a5. Later on,
examined the pawn chains in his great White could follow with Rca1 and
book "My System". According to Bd1. ]
Nimzovich, we should always try to
32.Rxc4 a5! This is the right approach
attack the "base" of opponent's pawn
to the position. Black is ready to create
chain. Sometimes, however, it is
a weakness in White's camp by means
impossible to put pressure on the
of a5-a4. 33.Rc2 a4 34.bxa4 Bxa4
base. In such situations, says
Nimzovich, we should find a way to
35.Rd2
make the base come closer and only
later attack it. In the current position, a b c d e f g h
the base of White's pawn chain is the 8 8
a2-pawn. It is obvious that an
immediate attack against it is 7 7
impossible. That is the reason why 6 6

Black intends to play a6-a5-a4-axb3.
5 5
Later on, he could put pressure on the
b3-pawn. There is an important detail 4 4
that you should remember. After
3 3
playing a5-a4, Black shouldn't
immediately play axb3. Having more 2 2
space, he could prepare to win the a-
1 1
file by doubling his rooks.
Despite the fact that the a b c d e f g h
abovementioned plan is very easy and

clear, White could neutralize it in a We could already draw some
typical way. 32.Ne3 a5 33.a4! bxa3 conclusions. As a result of his
34.Rxa3 queenside operation, Black has a strong
a b c d e f g h passed pawn and an open file.
8 8 Furthermore, White's a2-pawn will be a
permanent weakness.Nevertheless, with
7 7
a precise play, White should be able to
6 6 hold the position. His main idea is to
5 5 make use of the weak d6-pawn by
bringing his knight to c4.
4 4
Now, it is time to invade via the b-file.
3 3 Rb4 36.f3 Rab8 37.a3 Rd4
2 2
Black is trying to prevent his opponent
from playing Ne3.
1 1
a b c d e f g h
[ More natural would have been 40...Rb1 41.Rdd2 Rxd2 42.Rxd2 Ra1
37...Rb2 when White should play Now, Black is winning a pawn.
38.Kf2 Ng5 39.Rxb2 Rxb2 40.Ke1! Nevertheless, even here, White has an
preparing 41.Nd2 or 41.Ne3. easy draw if he manages to activate his
( The immediate 40.Ne3? runs into pieces. 43.Kf2 Rxa3 44.Rb2
Bb5 ) 40...Bb5 Black keeps trying to The idea to activate the rook is right but
prevent the possible jumps of white White could have executed it much
knight. 41.Nd2! Nevertheless, this more precisely.
move is possible. White creates an [ The simplest way to the equality was
interesting trap. 44.Nc4 Ra1 ( Another option is
Now, after Bxe2 42.Kxe2 the move 44...Rb3 45.Ra2 Rb4 46.Na5 Nd8
Nxf3? would be a mistake. ( Better is But even here it is not clear how Black
42...c4 43.Rc1 Nxf3 44.Kxf3 Rxd2 will improve his position. ) 45.Rb2
45.Rxc4 Rd3+ 46.Kf2 Rxa3 47.Rc6 When the activity of White's pieces
When the draw is obvious. ) 43.Kxf3 fully compensate the missing pawn.
Rxd2 44.a4 Rb2 45.a5 Rb7 46.a6+- Black has no way to bring his knight
Black is losing due to the passive into play. ]
position of his rook. Here, his extra 44...Bb3 45.Bb5 White wants to transfer
pawn has no value. The activity is his king to the queenside but this idea
everything in the endgame! ] doesn't help him.
38.Raa2 Rc8!? Black is consistent in [ It was preferable to immediately
his strategy. With his last move, GM activate the rook by means of 45.Bc4!
Filippov not only prevents his opponent Bxc4 46.Nxc4 Ra4 47.Rb8+ Kg7
from playing 39.Ne3 but also supports 48.Nd2 The position is equal. As long
the advance of his passed pawn. as white pieces remain active, he is
39.Rd3! This is the only way to hold the out of danger. ]
position. Now, the move 39...c4 could 45...Kf8
by answered with 40.Rc3.
a b c d e f g h
[ A mistake would be 39.Ne3?
when after Bb3 40.Rab2 c4 8 8
Black is winning. ] 7 7
39...Rb8 Since White found the most
precise defence, Black makes a step 6 6
backwards. This time, he will probably 5 5
try to invade via b1-square. 40.Ne3?!
This move is dubious. White should 4 4
have payed more attention to the move 3 3
40...Rb1.
[ The best was to repeat the position 2 2
40.Rdd2 when Rb1 could be 1 1

answered with 41.Rdb2 a b c d e f g h
with a playable position. ]
Black finds the right plan - he wants to squared bishops always favors Black in
bring his king to c7 from where he not such structures. 17.Rxf2 After getting rid
only defends the weak d6-pawn but at of his passive bishop, Black should find
the same time prevents the invasion a way to proceed with the attack. How to
along the b-file. Later on, he could do it? g5 18.Bf1 How to prepare the
activate the knight. Of course, White has typical g5-g4 advance? Ndf6!
a lot of time to prevent this idea by Very precise move! Black brings his
means of Bc4 but he decides to keep knight into the attack and opens the way
playing waiting moves. I leave the rest of his light-squared bishop. 19.bxc5
of the game without comments because What is the best way to recapture on c5?
the reader already knows the right dxc5! This move shows a deep
strategy in this position. 46.Ke2 Ke7 positional understanding. It is always
47.Kd2 Kd8 48.Ke2 Kc7 49.Kd2 Nd8 advisable to keep the b-file closed when
50.Bd3 Nf7 51.Ke2 Ng5 52.f4 Nf7 one of our knights could reach the d6-
53.Kd2 exf4 54.gxf4 g5 55.fxg5 fxg5 square.
56.Bb1 Ne5 57.Ke2 Ba4 58.Rd2
Rxe3+ 59.Kxe3 Nc4+ 60.Ke2 Nxd2
61.Kxd2 Bd7 Test 2
0-1
a b c d e f g h
8 8
Test 1
7 7
a b c d e f g h
6 6
8 8
5 5
7 7
4 4
6 6
3 3
5 5
2 2
4 4
1 1
3 3
a b c d e f g h
2 2
This position is taken from the game
1 1 Anthony Aherne - Jones, Gawain. After
a b c d e f g h successfully dealing with White's
queenside threats, Black could start his
We have a typical King's Indian position. own play. What is the most energetic way
How should Black proceed? 15...f4! to do so?
16.Bf2 Are you going to exchange the
dark-squared bishops? Bxf2+
Of course! The exchange of the dark-
37...g4! Of course, we shouldn't waste Test 4

time. 38.Rh1 Bh4+! Very precise move. It
is important to prevent the evacuation of a b c d e f g h
White's king. 39.Kf1 It is time to go for a 8 8

mating attack. gxh3 40.gxh3 Qg6 Black
7 7
starts bringing his pieces into the attack.
41.Be1 Black managed to build a 6 6
decisive attack. What is the simplest way 5 5
to win? Rg8! 42.Bd3 Now, you should
find the final blow. Bxh3+! Black is 4 4
winning. 3 3
Test 3 2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h a b c d e f g h
8 8
The play is very double-edged. White is
7 7 planning to exchange queens by means
6 6
of Nc6 followed by Qa5. Black should
react quickly. What is going to be your
5 5 move? 23...fxe4! Very good move! Black
4 4 is just in time to create a dangerous
counterplay along the f-file. 24.Nxe4
3 3 Nxe4 25.fxe4 The f-file is finally open.
2 2 How to make use of it? Rf6!
Black intends to triple his major pieces
1 1 on the open file. 26.Nc6 Rdf8 27.Qa5
a b c d e f g h Will you exchange the queens? Qf7
Black concentrated a lot of forces on the Black managed to create a tremendous
kingside. How should he develop his pressure on the kingside. Later on, he is
attack? 21...fxe4! Very precise move. going to provoke even more weaknesses
Now, White is forced to open the f-file. by advancing his kingside pawns. A
22.fxe4 We have a typical position with an possible plan would be g6-g5 followed by
open f-file. Could you find Black's winning h6-h5-h4-h3.
continuation? Nh3+! 23.gxh3 Qg5+
24.Kh1 Rxf2 Black is already winning.
Test 5 Test 6
8 8 8 8
7 7 7 7
6 6 6 6
5 5 5 5
4 4 4 4
3 3 3 3
2 2 2 2
1 1 1 1
White's dark-squared bishop left the Black has a dangerous kingside

c1-h6 diagonal too early. How Black initiative while White didn't achieve
could make use of it? 11...h5! anything on the queenside. What is the
Black gains space on the kingside and right continuation of the attack? 27...h4!
intends to activate his bishop via h6. The advance of the h-pawn is an
12.a3 Bh6 13.Bf2 White prevents his important attacking resource in this
opponent from playing Be3 and supports structure. 28.Nc3 Now we should take
the eventual advance of his queenside an important decision. Which move is
pawns. What should Black do now? Qe7! better - ...hxg3 or ...h3? h3! This is the
This is the right place for the queen. correct decision. As the reader knows
Later on, Black will play h5-h4-h3 from the article, the h3-pawn strongly
followed by f7-f5. restricts the mobility of White's king.
That is the reason why various mating
motifs are possible. 29.Bh1
How to proceed with the attack? Qf6!
Black immediatelu occupies the f-file.
With his last move, he creates the threat
of Be3.
[ Also possible is 29...Qg5 With the
idea of Qe3 on the next move. ]
30.Nd1 Bxd1 31.Rxd1 Rf7 Now, Black
is planning to bring his a8-rook to the f-
file. White is helpless.
Test 7 Test 8
8 8 8 8
7 7 7 7
6 6 6 6
5 5 5 5
4 4 4 4
3 3 3 3
2 2 2 2
1 1 1 1
In a number of endgames, the h3-pawn This time, Black has gone for a
could become a dangerous weapons queenside activity. How should he
since it fixes the h2-pawn which proceed? 21...b4! 22.Qe2 Nb7!
becomes a target. How is Black going to Black not only improves the position of
continue? 46...Bxf2! 47.Kxf2 Bg4! his knight but at the same time he
The idea of this precise move is to prepares the a6-a5-a4 advace, thus
prepare ...Nf3. White has no attacking opponent's pawn chain.
comfortable defence. 48.Bc3 Nf3 23.Kh2 a5 24.Nb2 a4 25.Nd3 Ra7!
49.Ba5 How are you going to continue Since we have a space advantage, we
now? Kf7! Of course! We should always shouldn't be in a hurry to open the a-file.
pay attention to the ideas of our It is advisable to first double the rooks.
opponent. He was intending to play Bc7. [ 25...Ra6! ]
50.Bf1 Nxh2 Black is winning. [ 25...Ra5! ]
26.Rab1 axb3 27.axb3 Ra3
Black starts attacking the base of
White's pawn chain. Na5 is coming on
the next move.
a b c d e f g h
Typical Tactical Ideas -
8 8
Methods of Defence against
the Bishop Sacrifice on h6 7 7
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
14...Bxh3 15.gxh3 Qxh3 16.f3 Qg3+

17.Kh1 Qh3+ 18.Kg1 Qg3+ 19.Kh1
Qh3+ 20.Kg1 Qg3+
1/2
Dear Reader, Radjabov,T 2723
The emphasis of the first part of this Caruana,F 2779
article was upon the most common 7th Kings Tournament (10.1) 16.10.2013
attacking options (connected with
sacrificing a bishop on h6/h3) against a A similar course took the game Radjabov -
castling to the short. Caruana
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4
DEFENDING BY ACCEPTING THE 5.a4 e6 6.e4 Bb4 7.e5 Nd5
SACRIFICE 8.Bd2 b5 9.axb5 Bxc3 10.bxc3 cxb5
11.Ng5 h6 12.Qh5 0-0 13.Ne4 Nc6
Now we are going to examine the 14.Bxh6 gxh6 15.Qxh6 f5 16.Qg6+ Kh8
possible defensive measures against the 17.Qh6+ Kg8 18.Qg6+ Kh8
dangerous bishop sac. Let us at first go 19.Qh6+
back to one of the examples from the 1/2
introductory text. As we have already observed on
several occasiions, the success of the
attack and the assessment of the sac
Jones,G 2665 respectively are depending mostly on
Grandelius,N 2642 the support the mighty queen can
79th Tata Steel GpB (1.1) 14.01.2017 receive from the rest of its army,
especially from the other bishop along
b1-h7/b8-h2 diagonals. In these two
games it could not join the offensive and
a draw by perpetual was the maximum.
Grandelius,N 2642 28...Bg8! 29.Nxh7 Bxh7

Hansen,Eric 2603 [ 29...Qf7!? is a plausible alternative to
79th Tata Steel GpB (8.4) 22.01.2017 the text, e.g. 30.Qxf7 Bxf7 31.N7f6
a b c d e f g h Rxe1+ 32.Rxe1 Bxa5 33.Re7 Rf8
8 8 a b c d e f g h
7 7 8 8
6 6
7 7
5 5
6 6
4 4
5 5
3 3
4 4
2 2
3 3
1 1
a b c d e f g h 2 2
20.Bxh6 gxh6 21.Qxh6 Qe7 22.e5 1 1

dxe5 23.dxe5 Nh7 24.e6 Bxe6 a b c d e f g h
25.Bxg6 fxg6 26.Qxg6+ Kh8 27.Nh5
Qd7!? Black had probably anticipated and once again a double-edged
the game continuation and the perpetual position arises, in which Black has
in the end. The text move required a lot trumps on the queenside. ]
of courage and a very sharp calculation. 30.Qf6+ Kg8 31.Qg5+
[ 27...Nf8 looks much more natural [ The last winning attempt could be
and easy - 28.Qh6+ Qh7 29.Qf6+ 31.Qh6 Rf8 ( 31...Rxe1+ 32.Rxe1
Kg8 30.Qg5+ Qg6 ( 30...Kh8?! Rf8 33.Nf6+ Rxf6 34.Qxf6
31.Nf6 Qg6 32.Qh4+ Kg7 33.Nh5+ )
a b c d e f g h
31.Nf6+ Kg7 32.Nxe8+ Rxe8
with mutual chances. ] 8 8
28.Ng5 7 7
[ A complicated ending is reached after
28.Nf6 Qf7! ( risky is 28...Nxf6?! 6 6
29.Qxf6+ Kg8 30.Qg6+ Kh8 5 5
31.Rad1 Qg7 32.Rxe6 Qxg6
33.Rxg6 Rad8 34.Rxd8 Rxd8 4 4
35.Kf1 ) 29.Qxh7+ ( 29.Qxf7 Bxf7 3 3
30.Nxe8 Bxe8 ) 29...Qxh7 30.Nxh7
Bxh3 - the pawn majority on the 2 2
queenside is not to be 1 1
underestimated ]
a b c d e f g h
[ 28.Rad1? Bf5! is an important
subtlety ]
- the material balance is similar to the Nagy,Ga 2433

one from the sublines from above, but Kantor,G 2448
the presence of the queens spells a 29th Staufer-Open 2017 (5.5) 04.01.2017
danger for Black ) 32.Qg5+ Kh8
33.Re7 Qd4 34.Rxc7 Rxf2 35.Kh1 In the next example White had been
Raf8 (Rf1=) 36.Ng3 R2f7 declining the perpetual for long, but had
( a beautiful tactical point is revealed finally to reconcile himself with it.
after 36...Qxb2?! 37.Ra2! Qf6 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.d4
38.Qh5 Qg6 39.Rxf2 Rxf2 40.Rc8+ exd4 5.Nxd4 Bb4 6.Nxc6 bxc6 7.Bd3
Kg7 41.Qe5+ Kh6 42.Qe3+ d5 8.exd5 cxd5 9.0-0 0-0 10.Bg5 c6
, winning the rook and the game ) 11.Qf3 Be7 12.Rfe1 h6 13.Bxh6 gxh6
37.Rxf7 Rxf7 38.Re1 Rf8 14.Qe3 d4 15.Qxh6 Qd6!
16.Qg5+ Kh8 17.Qh6+ Kg8
a b c d e f g h 18.Rxe7!? Qxe7 19.Qg5+ Kh8
20.Qh6+ Kg8 21.Nd5!? cxd5 22.Qg5+
8 8
Kh8 23.Kf1 Rd8
7 7 [ 23...Re8 would have at once forced
6 6 White to repeat. ]
24.Qh6+ Kg8 25.Qg5+
5 5
a b c d e f g h
4 4
8 8
3 3
7 7
2 2
6 6
1 1
5 5
a b c d e f g h
4 4
- White can still hope to finish with a 3 3

direct attack, but at the same time he 2 2
has to look after his constantly
hanging b2-pawn. ] 1 1
31...Kh8 32.Qf6+ Kg8 33.Qg5+ Kh8 a b c d e f g h
34.Qf6+
1/2 Kf8! One can hardly label this move as
winning attempt. The exclamation mark
is mainly for it is a bit safer than
[ 25...Kh8 26.Re1 Be6?!
( 26...Qd6= ) 27.Re5! ( 27.Qh6+?
Kg8 28.Re5 Ne4 29.Bxe4 dxe4 Back to the chess elite. A top-class
and only Black can play for a win, as player like Aronian has recently suffered
30.Rh5?! Bc4+! (it is important to free two losses to Kramnik and Nakamura
this square for the king) 31.Kg1 f6! (true, in blitz games) after our thematic
is simply winning for him - 32.Qh8+ sacrifice. Here is what happened when
Kf7 33.Rh7+ Kg6 34.Rh6+ Kf5 he got a chance to execute it.
35.Rh5+ Ke6 ) 27...Ng8 28.Qh5+
Kg7 29.Rg5+ Qxg5 30.Qxg5+ Kf8
31.h4 ]
26.Qh6+ Ke8 27.Bb5+ Bd7 28.Qh8+ Aronian,L 2777
Qf8 29.Re1+ Ne4 30.Qe5+ Qe7 Karjakin,Sergey 2760
31.Qh8+ Qf8 32.Rxe4+ dxe4 33.Qe5+ 4th Zurich CC Classical (1.2) 14.02.2015
Qe7 34.Qh8+ Qf8 35.Qe5+
8 8 8 8
7 7 7 7
6 6 6 6
5 5 5 5
4 4 4 4
3 3 3 3
2 2 2 2
1 1 1 1
and the game has finally ended in a Our sacrifice is in the air, only a small
logical perpetual. All the sequence was preparation is needed. So
very likely prepared by the opponents at 20.Qg3 Kh8 21.Qh3 Kg8 22.Bxh6
home. White invested nearly all his army gxh6 23.Qxh6 f5 24.Qg6+ Kh8
in order to eliminate the main defending
piece from f6, but the attacking tandem 25.Qh6+
Qh6+Bd3 has never got enough support [ The engines are insisting that White
to deliver a mate. could continue the fight for the full
1/2 point with the help of the stunning
25.Ng3 Nc7 ( they are claiming a
better ending in case of 25...Bc5
26.Qh6+! Kg8 27.Nh5! Bxf2+
28.Kh1 Qc7 29.Qxe6+ Qf7 30.Qxf7+
Kxf7 31.Bxa6 ) 26.Bxa6 Qxa6
27.Nh5 Ne8 28.Nf4 Ng7 29.Qh6+ manoeuvre, which potentially (but far
Kg8 30.Ng6 Qb7! 31.Nxf8 from evident at all for a human in OTB
a b c d e f g h
game!)improves the piece, but it would
have also provided the supposedly best
8 8
defender in the world with two(!) extra
7 7 moves in addition to his material
advantage. We have had enough cases,
6 6
in which strong and experienced GMs
5 5 took the draw by perpetual in the view of
potential counterplay - in the previous
4 4
part (Postny - Mareco) White most
3 3 probably disliked the vulnerable a8-h1
diagonal, while in the aforementioned
2 2
Grandelius - Hansen he had every
1 1 reason to be afraid of the queenside
a b c d e f g h majority and Black's pair of bishops in
an eventual endgame.
Here is where the heroic career of the 1/2
brave knight is going to end! In the
light of what we have just seen So far the defender has been accepting
Aronian's decision is fully the offered piece and facing a defensive
understandable. ] task. Because of his exposed king he
25...Kg8 26.Qg6+ Kh8 27.Qh6+ has usually to find several only moves.
And, as we have just seen in Aronian -
a b c d e f g h Karjakin, sometimes it proves difficult for
8 8
him to meet a long-term attack (Perez
Ponsa - Ivanchuk from the first part is yet
7 7 another example) even when he has
6 6
succeeded in repelling the first wave.
How to avoid all that trouble? What else
5 5 can he do?
4 4
IGNORING THE SACRIFICE
3 3
2 2 Accepting the sacrifice is not obligatory

in chess and it is essential for the player
1 1 to use his own resources instead. We
a b c d e f g h have already seen such a vigorous
reaction in the entertaining 4th game
One can suppose that the Armenian GM from the recent World Championship
did not even consider that knight match:
Karjakin,Sergey 2772 a b c d e f g h
Carlsen,M 2853
8 8
WCh 2016 New York USA (4) 15.11.2016
7 7
a b c d e f g h
6 6
8 8
5 5
7 7
4 4
6 6
3 3
5 5
2 2
4 4
1 1
3 3
a b c d e f g h
2 2
A similar opportunity was indicated in
1 1
the annotations to Kovacevic - Sribar
a b c d e f g h (18....Qc7! to 18.Bxh6):
Black had apparently misplayed in the
15.Qf3 White created a threat of opening and found himself in trouble as
capturing the h6-pawn. However, the soon as on move 15.
World Champion demonstrated that 16.c5 A typical positional approach, but
taking in chess is not always obligatory. White had a concrete idea like
15... Na5! 16.Ba2 dxe4 17.dxe4 Nc4 [ 16.Qf3! Bd6 and the familiar strike
and the intended 18.Bxh6 was strongly 17.Bxh6! /+- ]
countered by 18.... Qc6! , winning the 16...bxc5 17.dxc5 Nd5
central pawn in return and thus taking
a b c d e f g h
over the initiative.
1/2 8 8
7 7
6 6
Kovacevic,Bl 2449 5 5
Sribar,P 2047
4 4
19th Bosnjaci Open 2014 (3.8) 04.01.14
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
18.Bxh6!? A tempting sacrifice, but 23.Qg6+ Kh8 24.Rdd4 Qd8

White should have reversed the move 25.Qh6+ Kg8 26.Rg4+! fxg4
order and start with 27.Rxg4+ Bg5 28.Rxg5+ Qxg5
[ 18.Qh5! Rf8 19.Bxh6 , when 19.... 29.Qxg5+ ]
Qc7 is refuted by 20.Bxg7! Kxg7 21.Qg6+ Kh8
21.Rd4 Nf6 22.Qg5+ Kh8 23.Nd7 a b c d e f g h
(the most powerful of the many
8 8
attractive options) 23... Rg8 24.Rh4+
Nh7 25.Rxh7+! (even stronger than 7 7
immediately snatching the bishop)
6 6
25... Kxh7 26.Qxe7 Qd8 27.Qxf7+
Kh6 28.Be4+- ] 5 5
18...gxh6?
4 4
[ Black had a clever intermediate move
18...Qc7! 19.Bd2 ( here 19.Qh5 3 3
can be met by 19.... Bxc5 ) 19...Bxc5
2 2
20.Nc4 Rad8 21.Rac1 Bd4 ]
19.Qh5 Rf8 20.Qxh6 1 1
8 8
7 7 How to continue the attack? White came

up with an instructive concept! Many
6 6 players may even not consider parting
5 5 with the bishop, but 22.Bxd5!! exd5
[ 22...cxd5 might be the better of the
4 4
two options, but White is still on the
3 3 top, as shown by:
A) 23.Re1 Qe8 24.Qh6+ Kg8
2 2
25.Qxe6+ Kg7 26.Nd7 Rf7 27.c6
1 1 Bc8 28.Qe5+ Kh7 29.Nf6+
a b c d e f g h
( 29.Qxd5 Bxd7 30.cxd7 Qf8
31.Rad1 Rd8 32.Re6 ) 29...Rxf6
f5 30.Qxf6 Bxf6 31.Rxe8 Bxb2
[ An entertaining illustrative line is 32.Rae1;
20...Bxc5 21.Rac1 Be7?! 22.Rc4 f5 B) 23.c6 Ba6 24.Nf7+ Rxf7
25.Qxf7 Bc5 26.Rac1 Bb6
27.Qf6+ ( 27.Re1 Qg8 28.Qxe6
Qxe6 29.Rxe6 Kg7 30.Rd6 d4
31.a4 Be2 32.c7 Rc8 33.Rcc6
d3 34.Rd7+ Kf8 35.Rxb6 )
27...Kg8 28.Re1 ]
23.Re1!!+- a b c d e f g h
a b c d e f g h 8 8
8 8 7 7
7 7 6 6
6 6 5 5
4 4
5 5
3 3
4 4
2 2
3 3
1 1
2 2 a b c d e f g h
1 1 Black had just played 14...Qb6,

a b c d e f g h increasing the pressure against the
isolated pawn. 15.Qg3
One more brilliant decision, once again
[ 15.Bxh6 looks a bit premature - 15...
confirming that the threat (Nf7) is
gxh6 ( declining the sac with
stronger than its execution!
15...Qxd4 is fully possible - 16.Rad1
23.... Bf6
Qh4 17.Bd2 Nxc3 18.Bxc3 Bd5
[ 23...Qe8 24.Qh6+ Kg8 25.Ng6 ]
when a repetition like 19.Qf5 Be6
[ 23...Bxc5 24.Nf7+ ( 24.Qh6+ Kg8
may be the logical outcome ) 16.Qg3+
25.Qg5+ Kh7 26.Rac1 ) 24...Rxf7
Kf8 17.Ng6+ fxg6 18.Qxg6
25.Qxf7 and the rook will penetrate
and Black can opt for more than
with decisive effect - 25... Bf8
perpetual with 18.... Ng8! ( 18...Qxb2
( 25...Rb8 26.Re6 ) 26.Re6 Bg7
19.Qxh6+ Kg8= ) 19.Qxe6 Bf6
27.Rae1!+- Qg8 28.Re8 Bf8
20.Qd6+ Re7 21.Nxd5 cxd5
29.Qxb7 Rxe8 30.Rxe8 ]
22.Qxd5 Bxd4 23.Rxe7 Nxe7
24.Nf7+ Rxf7 25.Qxf7 Qf8 26.Qxb7
24.Qf3+ Qf6 25.Qxb7 Rd8 ]
1-0
15...Qxd4!
a b c d e f g h
8 8
In exactly the same manner Black took 7 7
over the initiative in the following
6 6
complicated position:
5 5
4 4
Aleskerov,F 2331
3 3
Wheeler,Cameron 2192
Bay Area International 2014 (4.23) 4.1.14 2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
16.Nxd5?! 17...Qd6! 18.Bxh6 Nh5 19.Qf3 Bxc4

[ Here 16.Bxh6! seems to lead to full 20.Qxh5 Qxh6 21.Qxh6 gxh6
equality after 16.... Nh5 17.Qf3 Nhf6 22.Nxc4 Bf6
18.Qg3 Ng4 ( 18...Nh5= ) 19.Nxg4
a b c d e f g h
Qxg4 20.Nxd5 cxd5 ( 20...Qxg3
21.Nxe7+ Rxe7 22.hxg3 gxh6 8 8
23.Bc4 Rae8 ) 21.Bf4 Qxg3 22.Bxg3 7 7

Rac8 ]
16...Qxd5 6 6
5 5
a b c d e f g h
4 4
8 8
3 3
7 7
2 2
6 6
1 1
5 5
a b c d e f g h
4 4
The smoke has cleared and Black
3 3
achieved a comfortable ending in the
2 2 view of his powerful bishop and
queenside majority.
1 1
a b c d e f g h
Roettig,H 2081
Carlstedt,J 2412
17.Bc4 26th Erfurt Master Open (1.5) 26.12.2016
[ Simply wrong is 17.Bxh6? Nh5
18.Qe3 (the queen cannot stay on g- a b c d e f g h
file and is also deprived of the f3- 8 8
square) 18.... Bf6 19.Nf3 ( 19.Rad1?
is surprisingly exposing the rook to 7 7
19.... Qxe5 20.Qxe5 Bxe5 21.Rxe5 6 6

gxh6 22.Rxh5 Bg4-+ ) 19...Bd7!
(postponing the capture till the most 5 5
proper moment and thus avoiding 4 4

19....g:h6 20.Be4) ( 19...Rad8 20.Be4
3 3
Qb5 21.Bg5 Bf5 is also promising )
20.Be4 Qxe4 21.Qxe4 Rxe4 2 2
22.Rxe4 gxh6 /-+ ]
1 1
a b c d e f g h
The direct counterstrike in the center is Ponomariov,R 2709

often leading to wild complications: Anton Guijarro,D 2650
19.Nh5 Nxe4 20.Bxh6 European Rapid 2016 (7.6) 16.12.2016
a b c d e f g h
a b c d e f g h
8 8
8 8
7 7
7 7
6 6
6 6
5 5
5 5
4 4
4 4
3 3
3 3
2 2
2 2
1 1
1 1
a b c d e f g h
a b c d e f g h
exd4!
Black has just played 16...Nd5 ,
[ Much stronger than 20...gxh6?!
which came like a signal for
21.Rxe4 , which would reveal the idea
17.d4 exd4 18.Bxh6 Ne3!?
behind 19.h5. ]
21.Nxg7? Here too White takes on g7 a b c d e f g h
with the wrong piece - after
8 8
[ 21.Bxg7 dxc3 22.Rxe4 Rxe4
23.Bxc3 Be6 24.Nf6+ Kf8 25.Nxe4 7 7
Qxe4 Black has a promising position,
6 6
but nothing decisive in sight. ]
21...d3!? 5 5
[ The materialistic 21...dxc3!
4 4
would have been more convincing. ]
22.Rxe4? 3 3
[ 22.Nxe8 Bxf2+ 23.Kf1 Qxe8
2 2
24.Qh5 Ng3+ 25.Kxf2 Qxe1+
26.Kxe1 Nxh5 27.Bd1 Ng3 ] 1 1
22...Rxe4 23.Bxf7+ Kxf7 24.Qf3+ a b c d e f g h
Nf4-+
[ =24...Kg8 ]
19.fxe3
25.Nf1 Ra4
[ Black's last move must have come as
0-1
a shock to the former World
Champion, otherwise he would have a b c d e f g h

certainly gone for the consequent 8 8
19.Bxg7! Kxg7 20.cxd4 Nxc2 7 7
21.Qg5+ Kf8 22.Qh6+ Ke7 ( risky is
22...Kg8?! 23.Nh5 Bxd4 24.Nxd4 6 6
Qxd4 25.Re4 Qxb2 26.Nf6+ Qxf6 5 5

27.Qxf6 Rd4 28.Qg5+ Kh8 29.Rh4+ 4 4
Rxh4 30.Qxh4+ Kg7 31.Qg5+ Kh7
3 3
32.Rd1 ) 23.Nf5+ Kd7 24.Nxd6 cxd6
25.d5 Bxd5 26.Rxe8 Rxe8 27.Rd1 2 2
N2d4 ] 1 1
19...d3! a b c d e f g h
a b c d e f g h with huge compensation for the pawn.

Later White succumbed to the
8 8
constantly increassing pressure.
7 7 24.Kh2 Bd5 25.Re2 Bxf3 26.gxf3
Ne5 27.Qh1 Qh5 28.Bxe5 Rxe5
6 6
29.Ng4 Re6 30.Rd1 Rde8 31.e4 f5
5 5 32.Nf2 c6 33.Rd7 Rh6 34.Kg2 fxe4
35.Nxe4 The game coud have had a
4 4
picturesque finish after 35...Rg6 36.Kf1
3 3 Q:f3!
0-1
2 2
And in the next example the counterplay
1 1
was initiated on the queenside, but it
a b c d e f g h lead to a full destruction of White's center:
Bezuch,M 2296
20.Ne4 Stocek,J 2543
[ It is remarkable that in case of TCh-SVK Ext 2013-14 (11.6) 30.03.2014
20.Nh5 gxh6 21.Nf6+ Kf8 22.Nxe8 a b c d e f g h
Kxe8 23.Rd1 the most energetic way 8 8
to break through is 23.... d2! 24.Qb1
7 7
and now the familiar 24... Bxh3! ]
20...Qd5 21.Bxd3 Qxd3 22.Nf2 Qg6 6 6
23.Bf4 Bb6 5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
Black has just showed his intentions with 22.Bxh6? A gamble in a strategically
16...Qb6 17.Nh2? Too straightforward. lost position.
It was necessary to take measures by [ After 22.Be3 Rb8 White must give
playing 17.c4 or 17.b3. up the control over the open file, for
17.... c4! 18.d4 Qxb2 19.Re2 23.Rc7 Rb6 (Rfb8) can lead to quick
[ 19.Rb1 Qxc2 20.Rxb7 Rfd8 disaster - 24.Qd2 Qxd2 25.Rxd2
is not rosy for White either. ] Bb4 26.Re2 Bc3 ]
19...Nb8!? 22...gxh6 23.Qc1 Nxd4 24.Rxe7
Qxf3!-+
a b c d e f g h
a b c d e f g h
8 8
8 8
7 7
7 7
6 6
6 6
5 5
5 5
4 4
4 4
3 3
3 3
2 2
2 2
1 1
1 1
a b c d e f g h
a b c d e f g h
Quite an original thought - instead of
sticking to his extra pawn Black is A simple and elegant refutation. 25.Re3
aiming at the central pawn by activating Ne2+ 26.Rxe2 Qxe2 27.Qxh6 Qe1+
his knight. 20.Rb1 Qc3 21.Rxb7 Nc6 28.Kg2 Qe4+ 29.f3 Qg6 30.Qf4
Qxc2+ 31.Kg1 Rb8 32.h5 Rb2
a b c d e f g h 0-1
8 8
7 7
Sometimes the arrival of the bishop at
the h6-square is only optically
6 6 dangerous and the defender must be
5 5
psychologically ready to to ty to refute it:
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
Kassimov,B 2367 44.Qxh5 gxh5 45.g4 Ng7 46.gxh5 Nf5

Obolenskikh,D 2495 47.h6 Nxh6 48.f5 Kf6
Pavlodar Open 2013 (3.7) 11.12.2013 0-1
a b c d e f g h
8 8 Lomako,P 2370
7 7 Kocheev,A 2391
80th ch-BLR 2014 (1.7) 07.01.2014
6 6
a b c d e f g h
5 5
8 8
4 4
7 7
3 3
6 6
2 2
5 5
1 1
a b c d e f g h 4 4
3 3
35.Bxh6? f5 36.Qg3 f4 37.Qg4 Qf6!
2 2
a b c d e f g h 1 1
a b c d e f g h
8 8
7 7 The battle can become very exciting

when not only central pawns, but more
6 6
pieces are hanging.
5 5 16.Qg3 White has just transferred his
4 4
queen to g3, creating a concrete threat.
16.... f6!? Ignoring it!
3 3 [ of course, 16...Qf6 was fully playable
2 2
and about equal. ]
17.Bxh6 Qe7 18.Qh4!
1 1
a b c d e f g h
This is most probably the move, which

had been missed by White before he
took the poisoned pawn.
38.Bxf4 Nxf4-+ 39.Ke3 Ne6 40.h4 Kf7
41.c3 Qh6+ 42.f4 g6 43.Kf3 Qh5
a b c d e f g h 23.Qh5?
8 8 [ 23.Nf7+! Rxf7 24.Re8+ Rf8 25.Re7
Qxe7 26.Qxe7 with a decisive double
7 7
attack, which was most probably
6 6 missed by White. Instead he went for
a repetition with ]
5 5
23...Kg7 24.Qg5+ Kh8 25.Qh5?
4 4 1/2
3 3
2 2 Makhnyov,Denis 2078
Egorov,E 2361
1 1
Pavlodar Open 2013 (8.16) 17.12.2013
a b c d e f g h
Black to grab material and justify his a b c d e f g h

move 16. 8 8
18.... gxh6 19.Ng4 Qd6 20.Qh5
7 7
[ Equivalent is 20.Qxh6 Bxg4
( unnecessarily risky is 20...Bf5?! 6 6
21.Re3 ) 21.Qg6+ Kh8 22.Qh6+ Kg8
5 5
23.Qg6+ Kh8= ]
20...f5? 4 4
[ correct was 20...Bxg4 21.Qg6+
3 3
, transposing to the perpetual from
above. ] 2 2
21.Nxh6+ Kg7 22.Qg5+ Kh8
1 1
8 8
7 7 The thematic 27.Bxh6 was vigorously

countered by
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
27.... Ne5! 28.Rxe5 Rxe5 29.Bxg7 Rf8 ( or 32...Re8 33.Qg6+ Kf8

a b c d e f g h
34.Qh6+ Kg8= ) 33.Qe6+ Qf7
34.Qg4+ Kh8 35.Qxc4 Qxf2+
8 8 36.Kh1 Qf3+ 37.Kg1 Qf2+ 38.Kh1
7 7 Qf3+= ]
31...Qxd8 32.Re1 Bxd5 33.Qh6 Bf7
6 6 34.Re4 Qg5 35.Qxd6 Rd5 36.Qb8+
5 5 Rd8 37.Rg4 Rxb8
[ 37...Qxg4 38.Qxd8+ Kg7
4 4
with every chance to win. ]
3 3 38.Rxg5+ Kf8 39.a5 Rc8 40.axb6
axb6 41.Rb5 and White managed to
2 2
escape with a draw.
1 1 1/2
a b c d e f g h
Zumsande,M 2431
f6!? A clever attempt to play for the full Jaracz,P 2502
point, while Bundesliga 2013-14 (11) 15.03.2014
[ 29...Kxg7 would have forced a draw
a b c d e f g h
by perpetual - 30.Qg5+ Kf8 31.Qh6+
Ke7 32.Qg5+ Ke8 33.Qg8+ Ke7= ] 8 8
30.Bxf6 Rxf5 7 7
a b c d e f g h
6 6
8 8
5 5
7 7
4 4
6 6
3 3
5 5
2 2
4 4
1 1
3 3
a b c d e f g h
2 2
In the next two examples Black is not
1 1
only ignoring the thematic threat, but
a b c d e f g h provokes it! 15.Bd3 f5 16.exf6 N7xf6
31.Bxd8?!
[ Better was 31.Qh6 Rxf6 32.Qxf6
17.Qh4 h6! 21.Ng6+ Kg7

a b c d e f g h
a b c d e f g h
8 8
8 8
7 7
7 7
6 6
6 6
5 5
5 5
4 4
4 4
3 3
3 3
2 2
2 2
1 1
1 1
a b c d e f g h
a b c d e f g h
22.Ne5+
[ A draw by repetition is a necessity
A principled and very concrete way to since 22.Qxc7? Nxc7 23.Nxe7
challenge the aggressive intentions of fails to 23.... Rfd8 24.Rac1 Rxd3!
the opponent. 25.Rxc7 Rd7 26.Rxd7 Nxd7 27.Rc1
18.Bxh6 gxh6 19.Qg3+ Kh8 20.Ne5 Kf6 28.Rc7 Kxe7 29.Rxb7 Kd6-+
a b c d e f g h ?c6-+ ]
8 8
22...Kh8 23.Ng6+
1/2
7 7
Abergel,T 2458
6 6 Saric,Iv 2641
5 5 Serbian Open 2016 (9.3 13.11.2016
4 4 a b c d e f g h
8 8
3 3
7 7
2 2
6 6
1 1
a b c d e f g h 5 5
4 4
Qc7! 3 3
[ More precise than the artificial
2 2
20...Qb8 21.Ndc4 Bc5 and Black
must parry the threat 22.Qg6 1 1
with the same 22.... Qc7 ] a b c d e f g h
19.Rae1 f5 20.Qh3 h6! Due to his inventive 22nd move White

a b c d e f g h got 3 pawns (but no perpetual!), which
does not fully compensate the piece. He
8 8
found himself in a hopeless situation
7 7 pretty quickly after
27.Qh7 Re7 28.Qh3 Rh8 29.Qg3 f4
6 6
30.Rf3 Qb5!
5 5
a b c d e f g h
4 4
8 8
3 3
7 7
2 2
6 6
1 1
5 5
a b c d e f g h
4 4
Just like in Zumsande - Jaracz Black is
setting a barrier to the b1-h7 diagonal 3 3
and then traps the other bishop.
2 2
21.Bxh6
[ 21.d5!? is running into 21... Qxd5! 1 1
22.Bxf5 exf5 23.Rxe8+ Rxe8 a b c d e f g h
24.Rxe8+ Kf7 25.Rd8 ( 25.Re1
hxg5 ) 25...Qe4 26.Rd7+ Ke6-+ ] 31.Rxf4+
21...gxh6 22.Bb5!? Qxb5 23.Qxh6 [ 31.Qg4 Rh4 32.Rxf4+ Kg7
Kf7 24.Qh7+ Kf6 25.Qxb7 Rad8 33.Qxh4 Nxh4 34.Rxh4 Qb2 ]
26.Qxa7 Qc6 31...Nxf4 32.Qxf4+ Qf5 33.Qd6 Rh4
a b c d e f g h 34.Qxb6 Re4 35.Rd1 Re2 36.Rf1 Kg7
8 8 37.Qd6 Rf7 38.h3 Qf4
0-1
7 7
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
Bharat,Chheda Komal a b c d e f g h
Mina,Wajdi Hussein 8 8
WYCC U18 Girls 2013 (7.46) 23.12.2013
7 7
a b c d e f g h
6 6
8 8
5 5
7 7
4 4
6 6
3 3
5 5
2 2
4 4
1 1
3 3
a b c d e f g h
2 2
16.Nh2? Curiously enough White
1 1 declines the sacrifice in the same
a b c d e f g h manner. There was no reason for that as
The theme of attacking the short-castled the other enemy bishop is blocked by his
king is so wide and rich, that these two own d4-pawn, for example
parts are just aimed at opening a chapter [ 16.gxh3 Qxh3 17.Ng3 Na5 18.Qe2
of it. Nxb3 19.axb3 Re6 20.Rfe1 Rae8
New and new examples are expected 21.Bd2 Rg6 22.Qf1 Qg4 23.Kg2 ]
every week. Let us finish with two 1/2
entertaining games, in which both sides
Hou Yifan 2629
made use of our thematic sacrifice within
Stefanova,A 2486
a few moves. 14.Bxh6 Nh7?!
SportAccord Basque Women 2013 (1.2)
[ 14...gxh6 15.Qxh6 Nh7
was playable, e.g. 16.Ng5 Nxg5 a b c d e f g h
17.Qxg5+ Kf8 18.f4 Qd8 19.Qh5 8 8
:
Ke7 ]
7 7
15.Bg5 Bxh3
6 6
And here is yet another case of mutual
5 5
(and rejected!) sacrifices, this time at
the highest level: 4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
19.Bxh6!? exd4?! a b c d e f g h
[ Once again Black had to check the 8 8

correctness of the sacrifice - a brave
7 7
one, but quite obliging at the same
time. 6 6
19...gxh6 20.Qxh6
5 5
a b c d e f g h
4 4
8 8
3 3
7 7
2 2
6 6
1 1
5 5
a b c d e f g h
4 4
Even with 4 pawns for the piece White
3 3
is the one who must try to keep the
2 2 equilibrium, for the two powerful
bishops will make their advance pretty
1 1
hard. ]
a b c d e f g h
[ The sharp counterattacking attempts,
Qe7! Here is the key move in Black's featuring once again our thematic
defence! On the contrary, her Majesty sacrifice, seem to promise less.
will be far away from the kingside after 19...Nxe4 20.Nh5! Bxh3 21.Bxe4
the impatient ( 20...dxe4 21.dxe5! Qg4 22.Ng3 dxe4 23.Rxe4 Qd7
Bxe5 22.Nxe5 Qd2 23.Re3! Nxe5 ( 23...Qe6 24.Ng5 ) 24.Bxg7!+-
24.Qxf6 Qxc2 25.Nh5 ) 21.exd5 Kxg7 25.Nh5+ Kf8 26.Qh6+ Ke7
( 21.dxe5 Nh7 and Nf3-g5 is stopped 27.Qg5+ Kf8 28.gxh3 Qxh3 29.Nh4
for the moment and 22.Nh5 Qf8 Re6 30.Nf5 Qf3 31.Rae1 ]
is also fine for Black, justifying the [ 19...Bxh3 20.Nxe5 ( White has the
strong 20th move ) 21...Bxd5 22.Bxg6 upper hand after 20.dxe5 Bxg2
fxg6 23.Qxg6+ Qg7 24.Qxg7+ Kxg7 21.Kxg2 gxh6 22.exd5 Nxd5
25.Nxe5 c5! 26.Nf5+ Kh7 23.Qxh6 Qg4 24.Ng5 Ndf4+ 25.Kf1
Qh4 26.Qxh4 Nxh4 27.Bb3 Re7
28.Ra4 ) 20...Nxe5 21.dxe5 Rxe5
22.Bf4 Bg4 23.Bxe5 Bxe5 24.exd5
Bxg3 25.fxg3 Qxd5 26.Qe3 ]
20.e5! Ne4 back ) 28.Qxe4 Rdh8 29.g3 f5

[ 20...Nh7 is effectively met by the 30.Qg2 Bh3 31.Qf3 Bg4= ]
typical blow 21.Bxg7! dxc3 22.bxc3 22...Qg4
Kxg7 23.Nh5+ Kh8 24.Qh6 Rg8 [ As often seen in the annotations so
25.Nf6 Rg7 26.Ng5 ] far, yet another bishop sacrifice like
21.Nh5 Bxh3! 22...Bxg2!?
a b c d e f g h
a b c d e f g h
8 8
8 8
7 7
7 7
6 6
6 6
5 5
5 5
4 4
4 4
3 3
3 3
2 2
2 2
1 1
1 1
a b c d e f g h
a b c d e f g h
was offering better chances to
The best practical chance. confuse the opponent, even though
22.Bxe4! And the best reaction! White must objectively win after the
[ White must not be tempted by the strongest 23.Qg5! ( much more
piece, as shown by 22.gxh3? Nxe5 complicated is 23.Kxg2 dxe4
23.Bxe4 dxe4 24.Nxe5 Rxe5 25.Bg5 24.Rxe4 Bxe5 and the best option is
e3 26.f4 Rxg5+ 27.fxg5 Qxh3-+ ] the same 25.Qg5! Qd5 26.Qg4 dxc3
[ 22.Rxe4!? dxe4 23.Bxg7 27.Rae1 Qe6 28.Nxe5 ) 23...Qh3
forces Black to give up the queen after ( 23...dxe4 24.Nf6+! ) 24.Qxg2 Qxg2+
23.... Qg4! 24.Nf6+ Kxg7 25.Nxg4 25.Kxg2 dxe4 26.Rxe4 gxh6
Bxg4 , but the resulting position offers 27.Nf6+ Kg7 28.Nxe8+ Rxe8
reasonable counterchances, as shown 29.cxd4 ]
by 26.Nxd4 ( 26.Bxe4 Bxf3 27.Bxf3 23.Ng3 Nxe5 24.Nxe5 Rxe5 25.gxh3
d3 ) 26...Rxe5 27.Qe3 Rh5 [ 25.Bf4 was even more convincing,
( a spectacular idea is 27...Rh8!? but the text did not spoil anything. ]
28.Bxe4 Rxa5 29.Rxa5 Bh2+ 30.Kf1 25...Qxh3 26.Bf4 dxe4 27.cxd4 Rxd4
Bf4 31.Nf5+ Kg8 , winning the queen 28.Bxe5 Bxe5 29.Ra3+- Bd6 30.Rb3
Qg4 31.Qe3 c5 32.Qe2 Qh4 33.Rd1
f5 34.Rxd4 cxd4 35.Qc4+ Kh7
36.Qxd4
1-0
Tactics Can Break Steel, Exercice 2

But Not Traditions
a b c d e f g h
8 8
7 7
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
Exercice 1 Victory must be near, but how do we

a b c d e f g h
continue the attack here?
8 8
7 7
Exercice 3
6 6
a b c d e f g h
5 5
8 8
4 4
7 7
3 3
6 6
2 2
5 5
1 1
4 4
a b c d e f g h
3 3
Now it is time to step into the shoes of 2 2

the great Mikhail Tal. How would you
1 1
pummel the Dutch youngster? In this
a b c d e f g h
case, not only the first move is important,
but after the normal reply certainly also
White's second! My question is: what if Hübner had
played 18...Qf7?
Exercice 4 Exercice 6
8 8 8 8
7 7 7 7
6 6 6 6
5 5 5 5
4 4 4 4
3 3 3 3
2 2 2 2
1 1 1 1
What is the most convincing How does Black get a winning position?
continuation? Can you find the main line until the very
end? I'll be impressed, if you do!
Exercice 5 If you are Dutch and it is January, you

think about Wijk aan Zee. What else?The
second oldest annual chess tournament in
a b c d e f g h
the world is our national pride. Having
8 8 participated 28 times
(including 1 Juniors and 2 IM groups) in
7 7
Hoogovens/Corus/Tata, I know a little
6 6 something about it. In this article I would
5 5
like to tell you briefly about its history
(which you can skip, if you only want to
4 4 see chess positions) and then the real
3 3
'work' begins: tactical exercises this time.
Most of them certainly doable and the final
2 2 one really tough.
1 1
A brief history
a b c d e f g h
In 1937 a few employees of Hoogoven
Steel Company thought of organising a
Surely White must be able to win this. small chess tournament. It was to take
But how? place in the summertime, but due to some
practical reasons was delayed until
the winter, early 1938. Originally meant some of my friends said:"John, it is time
for employees only, the tournament was to make your first GM-norm, here in Wijk
played in groups of 4, but very soon aan Zee." "Would be nice", I replied, "but
started growing. Players at the national have you seen the list of participants?
level appeared, doing battle in groups of 7,5 out of 13, not going to happen!" "Oh
10. The tournament kept expanding even no? Wanna bet ?" So I bet, against
during wartime and had to be cancelled myself. We had decided that the loser
only once (in 1942, I believe). In 1945, would have to swim in the North Sea,
during the so-called 'hunger winter', right at the end of the tournament. That is
conditions were dire for many people. At cold but a surprisingly good cure against
the closing ceremony, the famous Dutch a common cold! And my friends, who had
split-pea soup was served. It may not be won the bet, sportingly joined me. What
to everyone's fine taste, but it is very we did not know was that the head of the
nutritious and was widely appreciated at tournament's press service had
the time. This is one of the traditions that somehow found out about our private
have remained, just like the groups of 4 bet. He had made a few phone calls, so
(first weekend + midweek) and 10 (later) when we got to the beach, it was full of
for the amateurs. In theory it is still spectators, journalists and
possible to start in the lowest group (10) photographers! In the first half of
and promote all the way to GM-group A, the tournament I had a great score (with
now called the Masters. The tournament two very lucky wins), and then I needed
venue did change, from IJmuiden to only 2,5 out of 6 for the title norm, which I
Beverwijk to Wijk aan Zee, where it has made very professionally with 0, 1, 0, 1,
been for many decades now. Part of the 0, 1/2. From that last week comes the
charm of the event is the social life. Many following game:
of the participants who do not live in the
area need to sleep in or near Wijk aan Tal,Mihail 2605
Zee, a seaside village with a limited Van der Wiel,John 2470
number of places to go out in the Hoogovens Wijk aan Zee (10) 27.01.82
evenings. So, inevitably, chess players 1.c4 e6 2.Nc3 Bb4 3.e4 c5 4.Nb5
keep bumping into each other and have Nc6
to create their own entertainment. New [ 4...d6 looks a little safer. White can
friendships are forged and many players still opt for aggressive play with 5.a3
at all levels keep coming back year after Ba5 6.b4 though. ]
year. 5.a3 Ba5 6.b4 cxb4 7.Bb2 Kf8
[ not 7...Nf6 8.e5 Ne4 9.Qg4 bxa3
1982 10.Rxa3 Bxd2+ 11.Ke2 ]
In 1982 I got my second opportunity to 8.e5 Nge7 9.Nf3 a6 Looking for clarity
play in the GM-group. Since 1979 I had when nothing else appealed
been an IM, and before the tournament [ 9...h6 10.Be2 ( 10.Bd3 ) ]
[ but maybe the odd-looking 9...d5
10.exd6 Nf5 11.c5 b6 could be 17.Ng5 Threatening mainly 18. Ne4

tried. ] and
10.Nd6 Nf5 11.Be2 Nxd6 12.exd6 18.Rf3 e5 Black's only hope is to block
bxa3 13.Rxa3 the long diagonal (get square d4,
[ 13.Bxa3 e5! ] sometimes Ra8-a6). 18.Kh1!
13...Bb4 14.Rd3 Bc5?
[ It was high time for some prophylactic a b c d e f g h
stuff: 14...f6! 15.Qa1 8 8
and now probably e5 16.Nxe5! Qa5
17.Nxc6 Qxa1+ 18.Bxa1 bxc6 7 7
and Black still lives ] 6 6
[ 14...b5 15.Qa1! ]
15.0-0 a5 5 5
[ The intended 15...Nb4 would fail to 4 4

16.Rb3 Bxd6 ( or 16...a5 17.Qa1 f6
18.d4 ) 17.Qa1 f6 18.Ba3! ] 3 3
16.Qa1 f6 2 2
a b c d e f g h
1 1
8 8 a b c d e f g h
7 7
This sublime quiet move is the
6 6
beginning of the end for Black. White's
5 5 only wish is to play f2-f4, getting all his
4 4
pieces involved in the attack. Well
worth a tempo and there is not much
3 3 Black can do about it. Bd4
2 2 [ After 18...fxg5 19.Bxe5 Rg8
20.Rf3+ Ke8 21.Bd3 Bd3 there is
1 1
no survival. ]
a b c d e f g h [ Even after 18...Nd4 White could
lauch 19.f4 ]
* Exercise 1 Now it is time to step into
the shoes of the great Mikhail Tal. How
would you pummel the Dutch youngster?
In this case, not only the first move is
important, but after the normal reply
certainly also White's second!
19.f4 Qb6 22...Nxe5 23.Ne4 h5 24.Nxf6+

a b c d e f g h
and Black resigned. 1 - 0 A charming
finish would have been
8 8 gxf6 25.Qxe5 fxe5 26.Rg3+ Kh7
7 7 27.Bd3+ and Black is mated
As you saw, attacking skills are not only
6 6 brute force, but include very efficient
5 5 'silent moves' as well. There is some of
that in the next game, too.
4 4
1-0
3 3
Van der Wiel,John 2555
2 2 Huebner,Robert 2595
1 1 Hoogovens Wijk aan Zee (5) 13.01.1988
a b c d e f g h
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5
Exercise 2 Victory must be near, but 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 Ne7 7.Qg4 0-0
how do we continue the attack here? 8.Bd3 [In those days theory of this line
20.Bc3! All White needs to do, is to was still largely experimental. c4
keep the threats (mainly f4xe5) intact More universal moves are
and not allow Black to change the [ 8...Nbc6 ]
hopeless character of the position. [ 8...f5 ]
[ 20.fxe5 Qxb2 ] 9.Bh6
[ 20.Rb1 Bxb2 ] [ 9.Bg5
20...Bxc3 A) 9...cxd3 10.Bf6 g6 11.Qg5
[ What else? 20...Kg8 21.c5! ] Qc7 12.g4 forced Qxc3+ 13.Kf1
[ 20...Ke8 when several things (such Qxa1+ 14.Kg2 Qxd4 15.Nf3
as 21. fe5) should do the job. A nice Qxg4+ ( not 15...Qa4 16.h3
line is 21.Bh5+ g6 22.Nxh7 gxh5 and Black resigned one move later
23.Nxf6+ Kd8 24.Nd5! Qc5 25.fxe5 in Roganovic - Mitrovic, 2013 )
and White wins ] 16.Qxg4 Nf5 This could be called
[ 20...exf4 21.Rxd4! lose without a unclear, but deeper analysis might
fight. ] reveal something else.;
21.Qxc3 Kg8 B) 9...Qa5 10.Bxh7+! ]
[ 21...Qb4 22.Qa1 ] 9...Ng6 10.Bxg6 fxg6 11.Be3 Qe8
[ 21...Nd4 22.fxe5 Nxe2 23.Qa1 ] Perhaps too passive? Interesting would
22.fxe5 be
[ 22.c5 Qb4 23.Qa1 should also [ 11...Qb6 and if White parries Qb6-b2,
work. ] then 12...Bd7 and, when necessary,
13...Be8. ]
12.h4 Nc6 Already White has a good
initiative.
[ 12...Qf7 13.h5 Qf5 14.Qe2 How do you conduct the attack?

is no improvement. ] A) 19.Bxh6 Rxh5
13.h5 gxh5 A1) So did you decide to switch
[ 13...Ne7 14.h6! ] to 20.Qxh5 instead of 20.Rxh5
14.Rxh5 Ne7 15.Nf3 Rf5 Fortunately, I gxh6 21.Rh3? It looks strong,
had had this (then new) position already but alas, Black can withstand the
1 month earlier. Then it went: attack: Bd7 22.Rg3 Be8
[ 15...Qg6 16.Rg5 Qf7 17.Qh3! Nf5 23.Nh4 ( Of course, in this line
18.0-0-0 Nxe3 19.fxe3 g6 20.Rh1 White should content himself
Qg7 21.Rg4 Bd7 22.Rh4 h5 23.g4 with 23.Qxh6! , which still gives
Kf7 24.gxh5 Ke7 25.h6 1-0, Van der him good chances Qg7
Wiel - Vanheste, Groningen 1987. ] and 24...Bf7 ) 23...Qg7 24.Nxg6
16.Bg5! Kh7 and it is Black who wins;
[ Another good move would be 16.Rh3 A2) 20.Rxh5 gxh6 21.Rxh6
(Hübner), but not ] Qf4+! 22.Qxf4 Nxf4 23.g3 Kg7;
[ 16.Rh2? Qg6 17.Qh4 Rxf3! B) There is better, though 19.Kb2!
with counterplay. ] B1) Or 19...Bd7 20.Bxh6 Rxh5
16...Ng6 21.Rxh5 gxh6 22.Rxh6 Be8
[ 16...h6 17.Bxh6 and ] ( 22...Kg7 23.Ng5! ) 23.Ng5 Qf5
[ 16...Qg6 17.Nh4 don't work for 24.Qh5 and Black is powerless
Black. ] against the threats g2-g4 and
17.0-0-0 h6 18.Rdh1! Rh6-h7.;
[ 18.Be3 Not Nxe5! ] B2) 19...Rxf3 20.gxf3 hxg5
18...hxg5?! 21.Rxg5 Ne7 and now 22.Rh6!
[ Exercise 3 My question is: what if Nf5 23.Rf6 Qe7 24.Rh5 Qe8
Hübner had played 18...Qf7? 18...Qf7 25.Rfxf5 ( 25.Qh3 Qxh5! )
25...exf5 26.Qh4 Kf7 27.Rh8
a b c d e f g h
and White will win Qc6 28.Qh5+
8 8 Ke7 29.Rg8 So quietly
7 7
eliminating the check on f4 does
the trick, but it is quite
6 6 complicated. ]
5 5 19.Nxg5
[ 19.Rxg5 is more difficult, but
4 4 probably wins as well. ]
3 3 19...Rxf2
[ 19...Qe7 20.Rh8+ only shortens the
2 2 game. ]
1 1 20.Qh3 Kf8 Exercise 4 What is the
a b c d e f g h
most convincing continuation? 21.Qe3!
[ 21.Rh8+ Nxh8 22.Qxh8+ Ke7 Solution: just a little clear-headedness is

23.Qxg7+ Rf7 forced 24.Nxf7 Qxf7 required. h8 is protected, but not h7. So
25.Qg5+ ( 25.Qh8 Qf8! and Black the queen should be in front on the h-file,
survives ) 25...Kd7 26.Rh8 Qe7 not the rook. And then you need some
is 'only' unclear. With the text brief calculation to see that attempts at
Black's rook is dominated and the a knight blockade on f5 or h6 will not
white pieces co-operate efficiently. ] work for Black. Ne7 25.Qh3
21...Rf7 [ 25.g4 Qg6 26.Qh3 Qh6+
[ On 21...Rf5 White simply plays it is not quite over. ]
22.g4! In my analysis in Informant 45 25...Nf5 26.g4
strangely enough I recommended ]
[ 21...Rxg2 for Black, giving a main a b c d e f g h
line that starts with 22.Qf3+ Ke7 8 8
23.Qxg2 ( All this is irrelevant because
of 23.Rh7! (in lieu of Qxg2), which 7 7
just wins for White ) 23...Nf4 24.Qg4 6 6

Nxh5 25.Rxh5 Qg6 26.Qh4 Kd7
27.Nh7 still giving White a fierce 5 5
attack. ] 4 4
22.Nxf7! Kxf7! 23.Rf1+ Kg8
Exercise 5 3 3
Surely White must be able to win this. 2 2

But how?
1 1
[ 23...Ke7 24.Rh7 ]
24.Rhh1! a b c d e f g h
a b c d e f g h
At this point, Huebner resigned. Now a
8 8 neat finish would be Nh6 27.g5 Nf5
7 7 28.Qh8+ Kf7 29.g6+ Ke7 30.Rxf5!
Qxh8
6 6 [ 30...exf5 31.Qxg7+ ]
5 5 31.Rf7+ Kd8 32.Rxh8# But Hübner
believed it already
4 4 1-0
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
Van der Sterren,Paul 2470 a b c d e f g h

Van der Wiel,John 2555 8 8
Hoogovens Wijk aan Zee (12) 31.01.86
7 7
6 6
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.a3 Bb7
5 5
5.Nc3 d5 6.cxd5 Nxd5 7.Qc2 c5
8.e4 Nxc3 9.bxc3 Nd7 10.Bf4 cxd4 4 4
11.cxd4 Rc8 12.Qb3 Qf6!?
3 3
A new idea in this (back then)
fashionable variation, but not an 2 2
especially good one. 13.Bg3 Qg6
1 1
[ 13...Nc5 14.Bb5+ Kd8 15.dxc5!
Qxa1+ 16.Ke2 cannot be objectively a b c d e f g h
recommended for Black. ] A warm-up question: what does Black

14.Bd3 Be7 play here? b5!
[ 14...Bxe4 15.Nh4 Qg4 16.h3 Bd5 [ Answer: let's hope you were not
17.Qxd5 ] tempted too much by
15.0-0 20...Nxe4 21.Rxe4 exd5 since after
[ 15.e5 ] 22.Red4! Black does not regain the
15...0-0 piece. There are good tactics, though,
[ 15...Bxe4 16.Bb5 would be another but for those it's important to first
dubious affair. ] lure the bishop away from c4.
16.Rfe1 Rfd8 17.Rad1 Qh5 18.Bc4! ( 22.Rh4?? dxc4! )]
Bf8 21.Bxb5
[ Black had to be careful about things [ Objectively 21.Be2 should be
like 18...Qa5 19.Bxe6! ] preferred though after Nxe4
[ but a good alternative was 18...Nf6 ] is pretty awful ]
19.d5? This spoils White's good play [ 21.Bd3 exd5 22.e5 Ne4 ]
[ ,that could have continued with a b c d e f g h
19.Bh4 Black should probably prefer 8 8

Nf6 ( over 19...Re8 20.Bb5 Bc6
7 7
21.Ba6 ) 20.Bxf6 gxf6 21.d5 e5
he has a fragile position, unclear or 6 6
worse. ]
5 5
19...Nc5 20.Qa2
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
Exercise 6 How does Black get a a b c d e f g h

winning position? Can you find the main 8 8
line until the very end? I'll be impressed,
if you do! 7 7
21...Nxe4! Threatening to hit too much 6 6

with Ne4-c3, so there is little choice.
22.Rxe4 Rxd5! This is the killer. 5 5
[ 22...Bxd5?! looks like one, too, but 4 4

then Whitе has 23.Rxd5
3 3
see for instance: Qxd5 24.Qxd5
Rxd5 25.a4! Rc1+ 26.Re1 Rdd1 2 2
27.Kf1 Rxe1+ 28.Nxe1 Bb4 29.f3
1 1
and White survives ]
23.Rxd5 Rd1, Bb5 and Re4 were under a b c d e f g h
(X-ray) attack, so again: no choice. Bxd5 So the diagonal f8-a3 cannot be broken
24.Rc4 and Black quietly walks his pawn to a3.
[ After 24.Qe2 Bxe4 the Bb5 may be So thanks, reader, for making the effort
victimised ] of doing the exercises. What can we
[ 24.Rh4 Qxh4 25.Qxd5 Qxg3 take into the arena, apart from the fact
White can resign. ] that exercising is always useful? Maybe
Now Black needs to find (or rather: to two general rules: 1) when attacking a
have already found!) one more idea. king, always keep sight of what you are
24...Bxc4 25.Bxc4 Qd5! After all the trying to achieve. Sometimes a slow
double attacks and X-rays now there is move is the quickest way to the target;
a back rank mate theme.] 26.Nd2 2) in some positions calculation is
[ Not 26.Ne5 Qd1+ 27.Bf1 Rc1 ] everything. Whether we like it or not, we
26...Rxc4! Finally winning material as 27. then have to be like an engine.
Nxc4 Qd1# is forbidden. 27.Qxc4 Qxd2 0-1
End of the combination...but not quite!
For it is also important to notice that
Black wins a second pawn, due to
White's back rank trouble: 28. a4 Qd1+.
29. Qf1 Qxa4. There followed: 28.h3
Bxa3 29.Qc8+ Bf8 30.Qa8 a5 31.f3
Qb4
Endgame Series - Part 13 a b c d e f g h
Domination in the 8 8
Endgame 7 7
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
In this dominant position Short came up

with an ingenious idea to use his king as
the battering ram! 32.Kg3! Rce8
33.Kf4! Bc8 34.Kg5!! Timman resigned
Hello Dear chess friends!
without allowing white to complete king's
A common motive in fairy tales and
manoeuvre.
legends is an unlikely hero that no one
[ The finale would be: 34.Kg5!! Kh7
expects to complete a certain difficult
( 34...Bxd7 35.Kh6!
task, which he manages to do despite
all odds. In chess, sometimes the most a b c d e f g h
vulnerable piece - the king - picks up the 8 8
slack and bravely leads its army to
7 7
victory. In this issue of Endgame Series,
we will see how famous Grandmasters 6 6
have used their king to invade and
5 5
overthrow their opponent's position.
Although this is an article about 4 4
endgames, I would like to start with an
3 3
evergreen middlegame example that
illustrates decisive king's invasion most 2 2
vividly. I am talking, of course, about the
1 1
game Short-Timman, played in Tilburg in
1991.: a b c d e f g h
Short,Nigel D 2660
Timman,Jan H 2630 ) 35.Qxg6+! Kh8 36.Qh6+ Kg8
Tilburg (4) 1991 37.Kf6!
a b c d e f g h
endgames and we will now see a few
8 8 such examples from recent top GM
7 7 practice. Let's start with the game that
made a young Hungarian GM Benjamin
6 6
Gledura famous overnight. In this
5 5 seemingly drawish position, the ex-world
4 4 champion Anand will be facing some
difficulties to hold a draw due to white's
3 3
superior king: 30.Kd3 Ke8
2 2 31.Bxf6! An exchange that facilitates
1 1 king's invasion via e4 and d5. Bxf6
a b c d e f g h
32.Ke4 Bd8 33.Ne5 Ke7 34.Kd5
with checkmate on g7 in either a b c d e f g h
variation! ] 8 8
1-0
7 7
Gledura,B 2515
Anand,V 2784 6 6
Gibraltar Masters 2016 (7.14) 01.02.2016 5 5
a b c d e f g h
4 4
8 8
7 7 3 3
6 6 2 2
5 5 1 1
4 4 a b c d e f g h
3 3 Bb6? This move is nearly a decisive

2 2 mistake. Anand was clearly off-form in
this tournament, which might explain his
1 1
lack of tactical focus in this simple
a b c d e f g h
position.
However, cases of successful king runs [ Much more resilient was 34...Bc7
are not that common in the middlegame 35.Nd3 Kd7 36.Nc5+ Kc8
due to king's vulnerability and we usually when black would keep all
see such escapades ending in some sort breakthrough points (b6,c6,d6,e6)
of mating attack (famous game under control for the time being.
Polugajevsky - Nezhmetdinov, 0-1 comes White would have to push some
to mind). However, in the endgame, it is pawns to create weaknesses, but
not at all uncommon to use the king to whether that would lead to anything
wiggle into opponent's position. This is tangible is already another issue. ]
most clearly demonstrable in pawn 35.Nd3 Kd7 36.Nc5+
a b c d e f g h Kd7
8 8 [ An important line is 38...b6+
7 7
when c6 becomes the critical square.
39.Kd5 Kd7 40.b4! Kc7 41.f3 Kd7
6 6 42.g4 g6 ( white is faster in case of
5 5 42...hxg4 43.fxg4 Kc7 44.h5 Kd7
45.g5 Ke7 46.Kc6+- ) 43.gxh5 gxh5
4 4
a b c d e f g h
3 3
8 8
2 2
7 7
1 1
a b c d e f g h 6 6
Bxc5? This leads to a lost pawn 5 5

endgame by force.
4 4
[ Good or bad, 36...Kc7 had to be
played. After 37.Ne4 Kd7 38.Nd6 3 3
Bxf2 39.Nxb7 white would have
2 2
excellent winning chances thanks to
his dominant king, but black would not 1 1
be without practical drawing chances a b c d e f g h
with bishop vs. knight. ]
37.Kxc5 Kc7 Anand temporarily takes Another penetration point appeared
the important b6 square under control, after g7-g6 and white immediately
but pawn endgames, as we know, are a takes advatage of it: 44.Ke5! Ke7
game of tempi and here white clearly 45.f4 a5 ( 45...Kd7 46.Kf6 Ke8
has more of them in reserve. Gledura 47.Kg7! Ke7 48.f5+- ) 46.b5! a4
uses his pawn tempi flawlessly up until 47.a3 f6+ 48.Kd5 Kd7 49.f5+-
the very end of the game, starting with: a b c d e f g h
38.h4!
8 8
a b c d e f g h
8 8 7 7
7 7 6 6
6 6 5 5
5 5
4 4
4 4
3 3
3 3
2 2
2 2
1 1 1 1
and thanks to white's saved pawn a b c d e f g h
tempi, black is finally in zugzwang! ] 8 8

[ In case of 38...g6 39.f3 f6 40.f4 f5 7 7
41.g3 black finally has to yield: Kd7
and after 42.Kb6 Kc8 43.b4 Kb8 6 6
44.a4 we would get a position similar 5 5

to the game. ]
4 4
39.Kb6 Kc8 40.b4! b6 is just the spring 3 3
board for further invasion. White king
sets his sights on a7 or c7, but this has 2 2
to be carefully prepared. Gledura's move 1 1

is a part of this plan. Kb8 41.f3 Kc8 a b c d e f g h
[ 41...f5 42.f4 g6 43.a4 White accurately calculated the tempi.

changes essentially nothing. ] He is ready for the final king break as
42.g4 black king is in opposition and has to
yield again. Kc8 46.Ka7! Kc7 47.b5!
a b c d e f g h This is why it was neccessary to play b2-
8 8
b4 and a2-a4 earlier. a5
[ The final outcome would be the same
7 7 in the event of 47...axb5 48.axb5 b6
6 6
( 48...Kc8 49.b6+- ) 49.Ka6+- ]
48.Ka8! Diagram Anand resigned after
5 5 this strong move.
4 4 [ We can see why in the following
variations: 48.Ka8! Kb6 ( 48...Kc8
3 3 49.b6+- ) 49.Kb8+- and black finally
2 2
loses the b-pawn. ]
a b c d e f g h
1 1
8 8
a b c d e f g h
7 7
Clarifying the situation on the kingside. 6 6

hxg4 43.fxg4 Kb8 44.h5 f6 45.a4!
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
1-0
Carlsen,M 2844 a b c d e f g h
Hou Yifan 2673 8 8
78th Tata Steel GpA (11.1) 29.01.2016
7 7
a b c d e f g h 6 6
8 8 5 5
7 7 4 4
6 6 3 3
5 5 2 2
4 4 1 1
3 3 a b c d e f g h
2 2 had to be played, denying white the

passage.
1 1
A) White can also try to reach e5
a b c d e f g h with 46.Kd4 but black holds his
own with Ke6 47.h4 h5 48.c3 Kf6
In the next two examples we will see a 49.b4 and here it is important to
similar winning pattern where white king hold the position with Ke6! ( since
penetrates via b(g)6 square. The world 49...axb4 allows white to create a
champion has precedence: passed pawn: 50.cxb4 Ke6 51.b5
Diagram Kf6 52.bxc6 bxc6 53.a5+- )
Hou Yifan defended tenaciously for a 50.bxa5 Kf6 51.c4 dxc4 52.Kxc4
long time and was, understandably, Ke6
looking forward to simplifying the position
a b c d e f g h
by exchanging the queens. 44...Qxc3+
45.Kxc3 h5?? But here she 8 8
played a careless move that allowed 7 7

Carlsen to simply invade her queenside
6 6
via b4-a5 and b6.
[ Therefore, 45...a5!= 5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
with a drawn position. White's last 46.Kb4 Kc8 47.Ka5 Kc7 48.h4
winning attempt is: 53.a6 bxa6
54.Kb4 Kd5 55.Ka5 Kxc5 56.Kxa6 a b c d e f g h
Kd4 57.a5 c5 58.Kb7 c4 59.a6 8 8
c3 60.a7 c2 61.a8Q c1Q
62.Qh8+ Kd3 63.Qxh5 Qxf4= 7 7
with a drawn queen endgame.; 6 6
B) 46.b4 Ke6! 47.Kb3 Kd7
48.bxa5 Kd8! 5 5
4 4
a b c d e f g h
3 3
8 8
2 2
7 7
1 1
6 6
a b c d e f g h
5 5
4 4 Black is out of pawn tempi, so he needs

to give way to white king: Kb8
3 3
[ 48...d4 49.b4+- ]
2 2 49.Kb6 Kc8 50.b4 After the advance of
king to b6, white's play is straightforward
1 1
- he just needs to roll down the b-pawn
a b c d e f g h to attack on c6. Kb8 51.b5 cxb5
52.axb5 axb5 53.Kxb5 Kc7 Diagram
black keeps his king in equal a b c d e f g h
proximity to both critical squares: e5
and a5. 49.Kb4 White got his king 8 8
to b4, but the problem is that his 7 7

own pawn blocks him from getting to
6 6
a5. He needs to sacrifice the pawn
back, but black will be ready for that 5 5
as well: Kc7 50.c3 Kc8
4 4
51.a6 ( 51.c4 dxc4 52.Kxc4 Kd7
53.Kd4 Ke6= ) 51...bxa6 52.Ka5 3 3
Kb7 b6 has been covered. White 2 2
has one more try: 53.c4 dxc4
54.Kb4 Kc8 55.Kxc4 Kd7 56.Kd4 1 1
Ke6= and black draws. ] a b c d e f g h
and here comes the precious saved pawn In this position most mere mortals would
tempo: 54.c3! that forced the current simply continue 22.Qe2 with a much
Women World Champion to resign. better position, indeed (see variation 22.
[ 54.c3! Kd7 55.Kb6 Kc8 56.c6! Qe2). But Wei Yi proves once more his
The winning move. exceptional calculation abilities with the
A) An amusing line is 56...Kb8 stunning queen sacrifice: 22.Rxe6!!
57.cxb7 d4 58.c4 ( 58.cxd4?? [ 22.Qe2 Bf7 23.Bxf7+ Kxf7
is stalemate! ) 58...d3 59.c5 d2 24.Qe7+ Kg6 25.c3 etc. should be
60.c6 d1Q 61.c7# winning for white with proper play. ]
a b c d e f g h 22...Rxd1+ 23.Kxd1 Qd8+ 24.Ke2 Kf8
8 8
a b c d e f g h
7 7
8 8
6 6
7 7
5 5
4 4 6 6
3 3 5 5
2 2 4 4
1 1 3 3
a b c d e f g h
2 2
;
1 1
B) 56...bxc6 57.Kxc6+- ]
1-0 a b c d e f g h
Wei Yi 2730
Bromberger,S 2521 The point of queen sacrifice was that
Qatar Masters Open 2015 (6.29) black queen and king are completely
a b c d e f g h
tied down to the 8th rank. But how does
white improve his position in this
8 8
symmetrical pawn structure? The answer
7 7 is: 25.Kf3! intending to march his king to
6 6 h5, trade into the pawn endgame on e8,
and invade g6 square. A brilliant
5 5
concept! Qd7
4 4 [ The check 25...Qd1+ does not
3 3 change anything. The game could
continue 26.Kg3 Qd7 27.Re1 Qd8
2 2
28.Kh4 with Kh5 regardless. ]
1 1
a b c d e f g h
26.Re1 Qd8 27.Kg4 Qd7+ 28.Kh5 38.b3! b4 39.c4+- and black is in

Qd8 zugzwang. ]
a b c d e f g h 29...a5 Nothing could save black any
more.
8 8
[ Two other possibilities were: 29...b6
7 7 30.g4 Qd7 31.h4 Qd8 32.Re8+
Qxe8 33.Bxe8 Kxe8 34.Kg6 Kf8
6 6
35.Kh7 Kf7 36.g5 hxg5 37.hxg5
5 5 fxg5 38.fxg5 a6 39.b3 a5 40.c3+- ]
[ and 29...Qd7 30.a5 b6 31.a6 Qd8
4 4
32.g4 b5 33.Re8+ Qxe8 34.Bxe8
3 3 Kxe8 35.Kg6 Kf8 36.h3 Kg8 37.h4
Kf8 38.Kh7 Kf7 39.g5 fxg5 40.fxg5
2 2
hxg5 41.hxg5 bxc4 42.c3+-
1 1 In both cases black's fate is decided
a b c d e f g h by the saved pawn tempo c2-c3. ]
30.g4 Qd7 31.h4 White has all the time
White has achieved his ideal setup, but in the world to improve his position. Qd8
before he completes the last step of his
a b c d e f g h
plan, he makes sure to restrict black's
pawn tempi in the upcoming pawn 8 8
endgame with: 29.a4!
7 7
[ However, direct 29.Re8+!? Qxe8
30.Bxe8 Kxe8 31.Kg6 was winning 6 6
as well. For example: Kf8 32.g4 Kg8 5 5
33.h4 b6 34.a4 a6 35.c3 b5
36.cxb5 cxb5 37.axb5 axb5 4 4
a b c d e f g h 3 3
8 8 2 2
7 7 1 1
6 6 a b c d e f g h
5 5
32.Re8+ Qxe8 33.Bxe8 Kxe8 34.Kg6
4 4 Kf8 35.Kh7! King's invasion has been
3 3
succesful. Kf7 36.g5 and black finally
resigned.
2 2 [ The winning variations are a mirror
1 1
image of the game Gledura-Anand:
36.g5
a b c d e f g h
A) 36...hxg5 37.hxg5 f5 38.Kh8! Can we march our king down the board
Kg6 ( 38...Kf8 39.g6+- ) 39.Kg8+-; in queen endgames? It might seem risky,
B) 36...fxg5 37.fxg5 h5 but sure, if the conditions are right, king
( 37...hxg5 38.hxg5+- ) 38.Kh8 b6 can be a very active piece in queen
39.b3 Kg6 40.Kg8+- endgames. The queen checks, while
a b c d e f g h annoying, are often not as strong as they
seem and have no more than a fleeting
8 8
impact. One such example can
7 7 be seen in the following top GM game:
Diagram
6 6
White has a clear advantage in the
5 5 endgame thanks to his defended passed
d-pawn and spatial advantage.
4 4
Converting this advantage does not
3 3 seem that simple, though, because the
2 2
position is blocked. Even if white
manages to penetrate with his queen,
1 1 black does not have obvious
a b c d e f g h weaknesses and also white king would
become exposed. Topalov finds a
] paradoxical solution: 29.Kg2!
1-0 He sends his king to do the dirty work.
The plan is to reach e4 and attack the
e5 pawn twice. Kg8? Morozevich's
Topalov,V 2784 move is difficult to understand. The king
Morozevich,A 2731 belongs in the center.
30th ECC Open 2014 (2.1) 15.09.2014 [ And while 29...Ke7? would lose to
30.Qh6+- ]
a b c d e f g h
[ 29...Kf7 was the way to go. White is
8 8 still clearly better, but at least the king
7 7
march that happened in the game
30.Kf3 would be less successful here
6 6 due to: Qf6+ 31.Ke4 g5 32.Qxc5
5 5
Qf4+ 33.Kd3 e4+ with counterplay. ]
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
30.Kf3 Qa6 31...Qxc4+ 32.Kxe5 Qxa2 Sidelining

[ It is too late for 30...Qf6+ 31.Ke4 the queen when your opponent has such
Kf7 a strong central presence is doomed to
a b c d e f g h failure,
[ However, even after the better
8 8
32...Kf7 white king infiltrates black's
7 7 ranks with a surprising ease and
effect: 33.Kd6! Qa6+ 34.Kd7 Qb5+
6 6
35.Kc8!
5 5
a b c d e f g h
4 4
8 8
3 3
7 7
2 2
6 6
1 1
5 5
a b c d e f g h
4 4
because white can transfer into a
winning pawn endgame with: 32.Qf3! 3 3
Qxf3+ 33.Kxf3 g5 34.Ke4 Kf6 35.d6 2 2
Ke6 36.d7 Kxd7 37.Kxe5+- ]
31.Ke4! Diagram Topalov does not care 1 1
about some pawn on c5 - he goes for the a b c d e f g h
main dish!
and white is winning! Qe8+ 36.Qxe8+
[ 31.Qxc5 Qf6+ 32.Ke2 is technically
Kxe8 37.d6+- ]
winning, too, but I like Topalov's
33.Ke6 Qxb2 34.Qf3!
direct way better. ]
8 8 8 8
7 7 7 7
6 6 6 6
5 5 5 5
4 4 4 4
3 3 3 3
2 2 2 2
1 1 1 1
White even conducts a checkmating would not be a mistake, but Sveshnikov

attack with his king and queen. demonstrates how king can be used as
Topalov's play in this endgame is very an attacking piece in the endgame:
powerful. Kg7 29.Kb4! Having previous examples in
[ In case black defends from Qf7 with mind, we can already sense where the
34...Qg7 white wins with 35.d6 Qf8 king is headed (a5-b6). Black was
36.Qxf8+ Kxf8 37.d7+- ] probably shocked by white's daring idea
35.g5! That's the final nail in black's and continued in less than optimal
coffin. It is time to resign as there is no manner. Ne4
good defense against Qf7. [ Somewhat safer seems 29...b6
1-0 though even then white can pry into
black's queenside with: 30.a4! h6 ( If
30...a5+ then 31.Kb5! ) 31.a5 bxa5+
32.Kxa5 when he would likely pick up
Sveshnikov,Evgeny 2535 the a-pawn with his king in the near
Browne,Walter S 2555 future. ]
Hoogovens Wijk aan Zee (5) 21.01.1981 30.Ka5! Nd6
[ Black would not be succesful in
a b c d e f g h preventing the king invasion with
8 8
30...Rc6 due to 31.Bf3 Rd6 32.Rxd6
Nxd6 33.Kb6! Nc4+ 34.Kxb7 Nxb2
7 7 35.Kxa6 Bxc3 36.Kb5+-
6 6
a b c d e f g h
5 5
8 8
4 4
7 7
3 3
6 6
2 2
5 5
1 1
4 4
a b c d e f g h
3 3
In my formative chess years, two 2 2

examples of king invasion have left a 1 1
particularly strong and instructive impact.
a b c d e f g h
The first one is an example from
Shereshevski's "Endgame Strategy":
Diagram and the a-pawn, supported by the
In the diagrammed position, would you bishop pair, will decide the game in
retreat your king to safety on c2? This white's favor. ]
31.Kb6 Rc6+ 32.Ka7! 34.Ba5 Be5 35.Bf3 Rc5 36.Bb4

8 8 8 8
7 7 7 7
6 6 6 6
5 5 5 5
4 4 4 4
3 3 3 3
2 2 2 2
1 1 1 1
A remarkable position! King's intrusion is Now both white bishops are in perfect
not only spectacular, but also effective, positions, making black's situation
as we will see shortly. Rc7 33.Bb6! unsustainable in the long run. Rc7
White starts a nice manoeuvre to 37.Kb6 Rd7 38.Re1 f6 39.a4
improve the position of his dark-squared
a b c d e f g h
bishop, while also controlling some key
squares in the process (c7, d8). Rc6 8 8
[ The point is that 33...Nc8+ 7 7

doesn't work because of 34.Kb8+- ]
[ While 33...Rd7 with the idea to play 6 6
Nc8+ on the next move, can be 5 5

simplyavoided with]
4 4
a b c d e f g h
3 3
8 8
2 2
7 7
1 1
6 6
a b c d e f g h
5 5
40.Bxd6 It is time to reap the benefits.
4 4
Rxd6+
3 3 [ 40...Bxd6 41.Rxe6+- is even more
hopeless. ]
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
41.Kxb7 Rd2 42.Rd1! Opposite- a b c d e f g h
colored bishop endgames have drawish 8 8

tendencies, but white correctly judges
7 7
this particular one as winning, so he
trades off black's active rook. In 6 6
"Endgame strategy", Shereshevski
5 5
dedicated an important chapter to the
topic of critical piece exchanges in the 4 4
endgame. We will talk about this more
3 3
advanced topic in future issues of
endgame series. 2 2
[ 42.Rb1?! a5 43.Ka6 Rxf2 44.Kxa5
1 1
Kc7 is much less clear-cut because of
black's piece activity. ] a b c d e f g h
White finally executes the winning plan.

Ba7 52.Kb7 Bxf2 53.bxa5 Bxg3
a b c d e f g h
54.a6 Bf2 55.Be6 f4 56.Bd5 h5
8 8 57.Bf3
7 7 1-0
6 6
Petrosian,Tigran V
5 5
Botvinnik,Mikhail
4 4 World Championship 25th (5) 01.04.63
3 3 a b c d e f g h
2 2 8 8
1 1 7 7
a b c d e f g h 6 6
5 5
42...Rxd1 43.Bxd1 a5 44.Kb6 Bc7+
4 4
45.Kc6 Bf4 46.Kb7?!
[ 46.b4 would have lead to a smoother 3 3
victory: Bd2 ( 46...Kc8 47.b5+- ) 2 2
47.bxa5 Bxc3 48.a6 Bd4 49.Kb7+- ]
46...Be5 47.Be2 Bd6 48.g3 f5 49.Kc6 1 1
Bb8 50.Bc4 e5 51.b4! a b c d e f g h
The second example is from the famous a b c d e f g h

game of Botvinnik - Petrosian World 8 8
Championship match in 1963. It was the
7 7
first game that Petrosian won in that
match, which in the end brought him the 6 6
title of World champion.
5 5
Diagram
In chess textbooks, this game has also 4 4
been analyzed from the point of view of
3 3
utilizing a somewhat abstract advantage
in pawn islands (here 2 vs. 3 pawn 2 2
islands). Botvinnik has been saddled
1 1
with the isolated pawn on e6 (3rd pawn
island) since move 10 and Petrosian a b c d e f g h
masterfully exploited this small

Reminiscent of the previous example,
structural advantage. By the move 35
white king feels at home on the seventh
his position has already become so
rank. e5 40.Rc6 Rh1 41.Kf7!
dominant that it was time to deliver the
Botvinnik defends staunchly, so unusual
final blow. However, what Botvinnik
means of attack have to be employed.
probably had not expected is that this
Now the e7 bishop is the target. Ra1
final blow would come from white king!
[ An amusing line would be 41...Rh5
35.Kd4! Kd7
42.g4 Rh4 43.Re6 Bd8 ( 43...Bb4
[ 35...Rxg2 is ill-advised due to
44.Nf6+ Kc8 45.Rxe5+- ) 44.Rd6+
36.Rc7++- when white rook
Kc7 45.Ke8! Bg5 46.Rc6+ Kb8
penetrates to the seventh rank as
Diagram
well. ]
36.g3 In this move, we see another a b c d e f g h
important endgame principle - "do not 8 8
hurry". Petrosian moves his pawn only
7 7
one square forward,
[ while the more hasty 36.g4?! 6 6
would allow black to obtain
5 5
unneccessary counterplay with h5!
37.g5 h4 ] 4 4
36...Bb4 37.Ke5 Of course! No need to
3 3
be shy with such an active king. Rh5+
[ Black can not stop the invasion of f6 2 2
square with 37...Be7 due to
1 1
38.Rd2++- and e6 pawn falls. ]
38.Kf6 Be7+ 39.Kg7! a b c d e f g h
a b c d e f g h
and here white can launch a succesful
mating attack: 47.a5!! bxa5 48.Nd6 8 8
a6 49.b6! Rxg4 50.Rc8# ] 7 7
42.Re6 Bd8
[ 42...Bc5 leads to a winning rook 6 6
endgame after 43.Rxe5 Rxa4 5 5

44.Nxc5+ bxc5 45.Rxc5+- ]
4 4
[ no better is 42...Bb4 43.Nf6+ Kc8
44.Rxe5 Rxa4 45.Re4+- followed by 3 3
Nd5. ]
2 2
43.Rd6+ Kc8
[ If 43...Kc7 44.Ke8+- wins as in 41... 1 1
Rh5 line. ] a b c d e f g h
44.Ke8!
And this symbolic last king move forced
a b c d e f g h
black to finally resign as he is bound to
8 8 lose both his kingside pawns.
1-0
7 7
6 6
Susnjar,M 2224
Kuljasevic,Davorin 2537
5 5 20th Croatian Cup (2.14) 19.05.2011
a b c d e f g h
4 4
8 8
3 3
7 7
2 2
6 6
1 1
5 5
a b c d e f g h
4 4
White king continues its raid. Bc7
3 3
45.Rc6 Rd1 Botvinnik gives up on the
idea of winning the a4 pawn. 2 2
[ Indeed, he would lose his bishop in 1 1
case of 45...Rxa4 46.Nc3 Ra1
a b c d e f g h
47.Nd5+- ]
[ or 45...Kb7 46.Ng5! Rxa4 Such extra-ordinary examples leave a
47.Ne6+- ] powerful impact on one's memory and
46.Ng5 Rd8+ 47.Kf7 Rd7+ 48.Kg8! imagination. As a final example, I would
like to show you a fragment from my own
game in which I successfully applied an
important lesson about king's invasion.
Black is a healthy pawn up. He also has a
defended passed pawn and a better
pawn structure. How long do you think it a b c d e f g h

took would take to win this game? 15 8 8
moves? 20? Maybe more? What is the
7 7
winning plan? Should we open some files
to activate the rook? Or transfer the 6 6
knight to a better outpost? Well, believe it
5 5
or not, black got a winning position in 9
moves, 7 of which were made by his king 4 4
and 2 with his pawns! 32...Kf7 King
3 3
centralization is essential, at the very
least. 33.Kg4 Kf6 34.h4 h5+! 2 2
a b c d e f g h
1 1
8 8
a b c d e f g h
7 7 Black does not need any sophisticated
6 6 means to win the game - he can simply
penetrate to c4 with his king (via d5),
5 5
push the passed pawn and the rest will
4 4 come easy. 38.f4+? This kind of
discourages Kd5 (due to f4-f5), but
3 3
opens an even more attractive passage
2 2 for black king: Ke4! 39.Rb1 Kd3
40.Be1 Kc2!
1 1
a b c d e f g h
Black uses a tactical nuance to push a b c d e f g h
back opponent's king and get a better 8 8

position for his own. 35.Kg3
7 7
[ The pawn is taboo 35.Kxh5 due to
Kf5! with unavoidable Rh8 6 6
checkmate. ]
5 5
35...Kf5 36.Rb3 Not the best defense,
4 4
[ although even after, say, 36.Rd2
black could prepare d5-d4 with Rd8 3 3
37.Bd4 Nxd4 38.Rxd4 Ke5 39.Rd1
2 2
d4-+ with a technically winning
position. ] 1 1
36...d4 37.Bd2 Ke5! a b c d e f g h
push the passed pawn and the rest will

come easy. 38.f4+? This kind of
discourages Kd5 (due to f4-f5), but
opens an even more attractive passage
for black king: Ke4! 39.Rb1 Kd3
40.Be1 Kc2! Diagram
a b c d e f g h
8 8
7 7
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
A pitoresque position! Black king has

single-handedly brought white army to
its knees. The rest is trivial. 41.Ra1 Nc7
42.b5 axb5 43.Ba5 Nd5
White resigned.
0-1
pieces (not only the g7–bishop, which

Master the Grunfeld
could burst into freedom with a well-
Structure - Part 4 timed ...f7–f6.
We will start with a typical case favouring
White.
Smyslov,Vassily
Simagin,Vladimir
URS-ch28 Moscow 1961
[GM Mihail Marin]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 Bg7 4.Bg2 d5
5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.Nf3 0-0 7.0-0 c5 8.e4
Nb6 9.d5 Bg4 10.h3 Bxf3 11.Qxf3
N8d7 12.Qe2 c4 13.Nc3 Nc5 14.Be3
Nd3 15.Rab1 Nd7 16.f4 Rc8 17.e5
a b c d e f g h
8 8
In the previous two articles we have 7 7

examined the positive and negative
6 6
aspects involved by the thematic e4–e5
and d4–d5 respectively. On first 5 5
thoughts, White's biggest dream would 4 4

be carrying them both, obtaining a huge
3 3
space advantage without offering Black
an outpost on d5 or opening the g7– 2 2
bishop's diagonal. (of course, I refer to 1 1

the cases when Black's f7– and e7– a b c d e f g h
pawns are on their initial squares).
As usual, a strong centre is more
But things are not really one-sided. Far
threatening if sustained by the bishop's
advanced pawns imply a lot of weak
pair. Even though the e4- and d4-
squares left behind and could become squares are empty, they are firmly
targets for the enemy pieces as well. In controlled by White. To complete the
order to turn this structure favourable for picture, the situation os all Black's minor
White needs two main circumstances. pieces is precarious. The seemingly
First of all, his pieces should be ready to active d3-knight is in fact vulnerable due
control or fill in the wide space behind to the threat b2-b3 while his colleague
the central pawns. That would ensure cannot find a good square easily. N7c5
him stability but would not necessarily If Black could arrange playing ...b7-b5-
yield him an advantage. The second b4 he would have good counterplay but
required element is that the pawns there simply is no time for that. 18.b4!
restrict at least some of Black's minor Putting an end to Black's queenside
ambitions. cxb3 resulting into the weakening of the light

[ Principled but not satisfactory. squares. But the alternatives were not
18...Na6 allows White consolidating rosy either.
with 19.a3 and after b6 , defending a7, [ 22...a5 23.Bd2 Qb6 24.b4 axb4
20.h4 would start a slow but in the long 25.Rxb4 Qc7 26.Be3 followed by
run decisive kingside attack. After h4- either Rfb1 or Rd1 and d5-d6. ]
h5 or ...h7-h5 Black could forget [ 22...Ne4 23.Rfc1 (Planning 24.Rc4
about ...f7-f6 as this would weaken the Rxc4 25.Qxc4.) Nc3 24.Qe1
g6-square. ] Threatening Rc2 followed by Rbc1.
Na2 25.Qxb4 Nxb4 26.Rc4 a5
19.axb3 Qa5 27.Bb6 with decisive advantage in
a b c d e f g h both cases. ]
23.d6 Not the only good move. exd6
8 8
24.exd6 Ne4 25.d7 Rcd8 26.Qc4+
7 7 Qxc4 27.bxc4 f5 28.Bxe4 fxe4
29.Rxb7 Rf6 30.Rd1 Diagram The rest
6 6
is simple. White has two connected
5 5 pawns and Black has no means of
stopping them. Re6 31.Rxa7 Kf7
4 4
[ Or if 31...Rc6 preventing Rc7,
3 3 32.Rb7 followed by Bb6 wins. ]
2 2
32.Rc7
[ Here, too, 32.Rb7 is good enough. ]
1 1 32...Ra6 33.Rc8 Bf6 34.c5 Ra3 35.c6
a b c d e f g h This game gave us the complete picture
of a crushing white space advantage.
20.Ne4 Dismantling Black's structure We will now examine another classical
and threatening 21.Nxc5 Nxc5 22.b4. game in which the favourable elements
Qb4 are completely missing.
[ 20...Nxe4 is no better: 21.Bxe4 Nb4 1-0
( 21...Nc5 loses a pawn to 22.b4 Qa6
23.Qxa6 Nxa6 24.Bxa7
without improving Black's position in
any way. ) 22.Ra1 Qd8 23.Rfd1 Koginov,V
with complete domination. ] Kortschnoj,Viktor
21.Nxc5 Nxc5 22.Kh2!? In one-sided Lvovich Leningrad-ch 1957
positions it makes sense playing
prophylactic moves. White prepares
Bd2 followed by b3-b4 with a clear 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5
advantage on the whole board, without Nxd5 5.g3 Bg7 6.Bg2 Nxc3 7.bxc3
needing to worry about ...Qd4+. f6 c5 8.e3 0-0 9.Ne2 Nd7 10.0-0 Rb8
A desperate atempt at counterplay, 11.e4 b5 12.f4 b4 13.e5 Ba6 14.cxb4
cxb4 15.Re1 Bc4 16.Be3 Nb6 17.d5 ***For White the main issue is activating
Qd7 18.Qd2 Rfd8 19.Bxb6 Rxb6 his knight, which he failed to do in the
20.Red1 Qa4 game. 21.Qe3?!
[ Now was the only moment when
a b c d e f g h jumping ahead would offer chances
8 8 for saving the game: 21.Nd4!
White threatens both Nc2-e3 and Nb3,
7 7
more or less forcing Black's answer.
6 6 Bxd5 22.Nc2! Pinning the bishop and
attacking b4, thus restricting Black's
5 5
possibilites. Rc8 ( 22...e6 23.Ne3
4 4 should also suffice for a draw. )
23.Bxd5 Rxc2 ( 23...Qxc2 24.Rac1
3 3
offers White strong initiative for the
2 2 pawn since the g7-bishop is not
playing. ) 24.Bb3 Rxd2 25.Bxa4
1 1
and Black has every chance to hold
a b c d e f g h
this ending with opposite coloured
The presence of only two minor pieces bishops. ]
on each side has double consequences. 21...Qa6! With the queen on e3 the b4-
First of all, White finds it more difficult pawn is not hanging anymore so Black
sustaining his central pawn and can play his thematic move at once.
secondly Black has fewer problems of 22.Nc1 Too passive to be good. After
coordination. Black's excellent answer both white
***This time the bishops pair belongs to rooks will be hanging.
Black, once again with two important [ True, White's position was not easy
consequences. The bishop outside the for instance 22.Nd4 Bxd5 23.Nc2 e6
pawn chain is more difficult to restrict keeping the extra pawn or ]
than the d7-knight in the previous game [ 22.Bf3 Rbb8 and White finds it
while the g7-bishop is very much alive in difficult playing a constructive move. ]
the absence of an opponent. Apart from 22...e6! Winning a pawn due to a double
the permanent threat of ...f7-f6 (or ...e7- pin system. White didn't notice one of
e6 and if d5-d6 then ...f7-f6) Black has them, making things only worse. 23.d6?
some tactical ideas as we will see in the Rbxd6! The rest is agony. 24.exd6 Bxa1
final sequence. 25.Nb3 Bc3 26.Qc5 Be2 27.Bf1 Bxf1
***Finally, Black has a space advantage 28.Qc7 Bf6 29.d7 Bh3
on the queenside (as we know he had These were two extreme examples, one
no time for playing ...b7-b5-b4 in the largely favouring White and the other very
pleasant for Black. Things are not always
previous game). This turns the a2-pawn
that clearcut and more typically the
into a weakness and the queenside
evaluation depends on tiny tactical subtleties
majority into a potential danger in the
as in the next example.
ending. 0-1
Ragozin,Viacheslav
[ It was necessary to remove the queen
Bronstein,David I Moscow-ch 1947
from its vulnerable position and keep
Nc3 in reserve with: 32.Qf2!Nxd5!?
1.c4 Nf6 2.d4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.g3 Bg7 ( The crtical continuation since
5.Bg2 dxc4 6.Qa4+ Nfd7 7.Nf3 Nc6 32...Qb6 33.h3 Bd7 34.Nb3 Qxf2+
8.Be3 Nb6 9.Qc2 Bf5 10.Qd2 0-0 35.Kxf2 allows White consolidating. )
11.0-0 Qd7 12.Rfd1 Rfd8 13.Rac1
Rab8 14.Qe1 a5 15.Qf1 h6 16.d5 33.Nc3 Qc5 ( The queen sacrifice
Nb4 17.Bxb6 cxb6 18.Nd4 Qd6 19.a3 33...Qxa1 34.Rxa1 bxc3 runs into
Na6 20.e4 Bg4 21.f3 Bd7 22.Qxc4 35.h3 when due to the hanging d5-
Rbc8 23.Qe2 Qc5 24.e5 b5 25.f4 b4 knight the bishop has no good squares
26.axb4 axb4 27.Na2 Qa5 28.Ra1 for retreating. ) 34.Nxd5 Rxd5 35.Bxd5
Nc5 29.Qd2 Na6 30.Qe3 Bg4 31.Re1 Qxd5 36.Nc2 Qb5
Diagram In the first example, each side Black does not have full compensation
has three minor pieces, but Black's for the exchange since one of the
coordination is almost perfect and he bishop is passive, but White's play is by
has the bishops pair. On the other hand, no means easy since he has to
instead of a queenside majority he has permanently worry about the threats on
double pawns, but Bronstein used to light squares. ]
like them a lot, saying that they implied 32...Qc5 33.Na4
having an extra open file. In this case, a b c d e f g h
the role of the b4-pawn is restrticting the
8 8
a2-knight. And still, if White was given
the time to play h2-h3, forcing ...Bd7, his 7 7
centre would be absolutely safe,
6 6
ensuring him a lasting advantage. This
forces Black attacking the d5-pawn at 5 5
once. Nc7! 32.Nc3?! When playing this
4 4
tempting move White missed a few
tactical finesses. 3 3
[ 32.Nb3 Qb5 does not improve
2 2
White's position and with his d5-pawn
doomed he would have to fight for 1 1
equality after: 33.Bf1 Qd7 a b c d e f g h
( Slightly better than 33...Qxd5
34.Nxb4 Qd7 35.Bg2 ) 34.Nxb4 Nxd5 Qa5? Dooming Black to a hopeless
35.Nxd5 Qxd5 ] position.
[ I suppose that both players had
calculated 33...Nxd5! 34.Qf2
( 34.Nxc5 Nxe3 is simply bad for
White. ) 34...Qc7 35.h3 when as in Na8 Quite a joyless retreat since taking
the line involving a queen sacrifice on b6 is not a threat as revealed soon.
the bishop does not seem to have 39.Rca1 h5 40.h4 f6
good squares. However, after Bd7! [ Or if 40...Nxb6 41.Qxb6 f6 42.e6
36.Bxd5 Black has b5 retrieving the Bc8 43.Qc7 wins material. ]
piece. White has a few ways of 41.e6
keeping approximate equality but not [ 41.Nxd7 Rxd7 42.Nc5 followed by
more. For instance: 37.f5!? ( 37.e6 e6 is also killing. ]
bxa4 38.exd7? Qxd7 retrieves the 41...Bb5 42.Qc5 Diagram
piece with advantage. ) 37...gxf5 [ 42.d6! was much stronger for
38.Nxf5 Bxf5 39.Nb6 Rb8 40.Bxf7+ instance Nxb6 ( 42...exd6 43.e7
Kxf7 41.Nd5! ( This is the right move and; 42...Rxd6 43.Rxa8
order as 41.Qxf5+ Kg8 42.Nd5 win the cornered knight. ) 43.Qxb6
Qc5+ 43.Ne3 Rd2 hands in the The bishop is hanging so Black has
initiative to Black. ) 41...Rxd5 no time to prevent the crushing d6-
42.Qxf5+ Ke8 ( 42...Kg8? 43.Qe6+ d7. ]
wins the rook. ) 43.Qg6+ Kd7
44.Qxg7 Qc5+ Both kings are a b c d e f g h
exposed and play remains unclear. ]
8 8
34.Nb3!
a b c d e f g h 7 7
8 8 6 6
7 7 5 5
6 6 4 4
5 5 3 3
4 4 2 2
3 3 1 1
a b c d e f g h
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h 42...Nxb6 43.Qxb6 Bc4 Black now

gets some feeble hopes. 44.Qxb4 Bxb3
45.Qxb3 f5 46.Kh2 Bf6 47.Rb5 b6
With the knight on a4, this is much more 48.Rb4 Rd6 49.Ra7 Qd8 50.Rc4 b5
effective than in the line indicated in the 51.Rcc7 b4 52.Rc6 Rb6 53.Qc4 Rb8
comments to the 32nd move. Qb5 54.b3 Kg7 55.Rcc7 Kh6 56.Qc5 Qh8
35.Nb6 This is the point! The d5-pawn is 57.Rxe7 Bxe7 58.Rxe7 Ra6 59.d6
safe and Black will soon be paralyzed. Qc3 60.Qc7 Rh8 61.Qxc3 bxc3
Rb8 36.Ra5 Qe8 37.h3 Bd7 38.Rc1 62.d7 In all the games examined so far
White had a perfect structure (always White has a strong bishops' pair and
the same, pawns from h2 to e5 and d5.) huge space advantage but some of his
If any of this pawns is missing, things pawns are vulnerable and his
become double-edged strategically as in coordination imperfect.
the next game.
Rc4 38.Re1
1-0
[ The resolute 38.e6?! only plays in
Black's hands: Qd6! 39.exf7+ Kxf7
Polugaevsky,Lev 2625 as both bishops are hanging now. ]
Timman,Jan H 2625 38...e6 39.f5!?
Breda m (6) 1979 [ A thematic pawn break aiming at
unblocking the e-pawn. If 39.d6
Timman intended to play Nxd6
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 40.exd6 ( Or if 40.Qd3 Bxf4 41.exd6
Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Bc4 Qxd6 ) 40...Qxd6 41.Bf2 Bxf4
0-0 8.Ne2 c5 9.0-0 Nc6 10.Be3 Bg4 with a more or less similar balanced
11.d5 Na5 12.Bd3 c4 13.Bc2 Bxc3 position as in the game. ]
14.Rb1 Bg7 15.f3 Bd7 16.f4 b5 39...exf5
17.e5 a6 18.Nc3 Rb8 19.Ba7 Rb7 a b c d e f g h
20.Bc5 Re8 21.Qf3 Rb8 22.Qf2 Qc8
8 8
23.Ba7 Ra8 24.Bb6 Nb7 25.h3 Bf5
26.Ne4 Qd7 27.g4 Bxe4 28.Bxe4 7 7
Rac8 29.a4 c3 30.axb5 axb5 31.Rfc1
6 6
Bh6 32.g5 Bg7 33.Qe3 h6 34.gxh6
Bxh6 35.Rxc3 Rxc3 36.Qxc3 Rc8 5 5
37.Qg3
4 4
a b c d e f g h 3 3
8 8 2 2
7 7 1 1
a b c d e f g h
6 6
40.Bg2
5 5
[ Polugaevsky might have initially
4 4 planned 40.e6?! but once again Black
can make good use of the concealed
3 3
d6-square. Qd6! 41.Qxd6 Nxd6
2 2 42.Bd3 Rc3 43.Bf1 Kf8
Black's chances are better due to his
1 1
extra pawn and the strong blocking
a b c d e f g h knight. ]
40...Bf4 41.Qf2 The material is equal and Black is out of

[ In his comments for the Chess any danger of losing. One important thing
Informant Timman analyses such a is that if all the pieces with the exception
crazy line: 41.Qa3!? b4 42.e6 bxa3 of the light-squared bishop get off board,
43.exd7 a2 44.d6 The pawn race is White could not win even in the
really breathtaking but it looks like improbable case of grabbing all the
something Timman would gladly go for. black pawns due to the unfavourable
I told him that my feeling was that he colour of the h8-square.
knew no fear and always embarked ***But while still in the middlegame I
principled lines. He seemed pleased believe that Black's play is easier since
to hear that and sort of modestly his king is much better defended.
confirmed my view. Rc1 45.Rxc1 ***Polugaevsky thought differently and
Bxc1 46.Bxb7 Be3+! 47.Bxe3 a1Q+ tried starting an attack which will prove
48.Kg2 Qb2+ 49.Kg3 Qe5+ wrong. 44.Re8+?! Kh7 45.Rd8? Bh2+
Timman ends his line here with the Suddenly it is Black who's attacking.
evaluation "=" (draw by perpetual). In 46.Kh1 Rc1+ 47.Bf1 Rxf1+ 48.Qxf1
fact, Black can play on: 50.Bf4 Qf6 Qxb6 49.Rd5 Bc7!
51.h4 Qd8 52.Bc6 f6 a b c d e f g h
Black threatens to advance his pawns
8 8
with the support of the king and
partially of the queen. It is unclear yet 7 7
if this is enough for a win, but play is
6 6
one-sided as Black has no way of
attacking the queen with his dark- 5 5
squared bishop. ]
4 4
41...Qe7 42.d6 Facing the threat of
losing the e5-pawn Polugaevsky finally 3 3
advances his d-pawn. Nxd6 43.exd6
2 2
Qxd6
a b c d e f g h 1 1
8 8 a b c d e f g h
7 7 Black has a material advantage already.

6 6 His winning plan is combining the
advance of the b-pawn with the kingside
5 5
threats, so White has to try eliminating
4 4 that pawn. 50.Rxb5
3 3
[ 50.Qxb5? Qf2 mating is even worse,
of course. (Timman) ]
2 2 50...Qc6+ 51.Kg1 Bb6+ 52.Kh2 Qc2+
1 1 53.Qg2
a b c d e f g h
[ There is no safe place for the king advantage actually implies a major
anymore. For instance: 53.Kg3 Bc7+ weakening. And still, if he gets playing
54.Kf3 Qe4+ 55.Kf2 Bb6+! 56.Kg3 d5-d6 or e5-e6, the position would be
( 56.Rxb6 Qd4+ with the same type of unclear. How would you strike with
queen ending as in the game. ) Black? 24...Nc4! Suddenly both central
56...f4+ 57.Kh2 Be3 followed by ...f4- pawns are in danger. 25.Nxc4
f3 with a decisive attack. ] [ 25.d6 exd6 26.e6 does not offer
53...Qc7+! 54.Qg3 enough counterplay as White does not
[ 54.Kh1? leads to mate: Qc1+ have enough pieces to bring into the
55.Kh2 Bc7+ ] attack. fxe6 27.Nxc4 Rxc4 28.Qf6
54...Bg1+! 55.Kg2 Qc6+ 56.Kxg1 Qf7-+ ]
Qxb5 The remaining moves were played [ Or if 25.e6 Nxe3 26.exf7+ Kxf7
by inertia. 57.Qh4+ Kg7 58.Qd4+ f6 27.Qxe3 Rxd5 Black simply wins a
59.Qa7+ Kh6 60.Qf7 Qe5 61.Kg2 f4 pawn. ]
62.Qf8+ Kg5 63.Qc8 f3+ 25...Rxc4 26.Qe3
0-1 [ 26.d6 Rxd4 27.dxc7 Rc4
leads to a joyless rook ending with a
Kostic,Boris pawn down. ]
Gruenfeld,Ernst 26...Rc3 Repeting the moves before
Teplitz Schoenau 13.10.1922 hitting on the right ttrack. 27.Qd4
[ White cannot escape the repetition
for if 27.Qe4 Qc5+ 28.Kh1 Rc4
a b c d e f g h
29.Qd3 Rd4 wins the d5-pawn. ]
8 8 27...Rc4 28.Qe3 Rc2! 29.e6
7 7
The best practical chance.
[ If 29.a4 Qc4 White does not have
6 6 time for defending the d5-pawn due to
5 5
the threat ...a2. ]
[ 29.Rf2 Rxf2 30.Kxf2 Qc2+
4 4 once again loses the d5-pawn:
3 3
31.Qe2 ( 31.Kf1 Qd1+ ) 31...Qc5+ ]
29...Qc5 30.Qxc5 Rxc5 31.Rd1
2 2 [ 31.exf7+ Kxf7 32.Rd1 Rc3 33.f4
1 1 b5 34.Rd2 b4 is also promising for
Black. ]
a b c d e f g h
31...fxe6 32.dxe6 Ra5 33.Rd2 Kg7
34.f4 Kf6 35.Re2 g5
With so few pieces White's space [ and now the most active plan was
35...Ra3 36.Kf2 b5 followed by the
massive advance of the queenside
pawns with excellent winning
chances. ]
36.fxg5+ Kxg5 37.Kg2 Kf5 38.Kf3 [ If 41.Nd7 Black re-opens the d-file
Ra3+ 39.Kg2 Ra5 40.Kh3 Ra4 and the h3-c8 diagonal with Rxd7!
41.Rb2 Kxe6 42.Rb5 Rxa2 43.Rxh5 42.exd7 Qxd7 43.Rc1 Ne3+
Rb2 44.Rh8 a5 45.Kg4 a4 46.Ra8 with a decisive attack for instance
Rb4+ 47.Kf3 b5 48.h4 Kf6 49.g4 44.Kxh4 e5!? ( 44...Qxd5 also wins. )
Rb3+ 50.Ke4 a3 51.Ra6+ Kg7 52.Kf5 45.fxe5 ( 45.dxe6 Bf6+ wins the
b4 53.Ra7 Rf3+ 54.Ke4 Rf2 55.Ke3 queen.; Or if 45.Kg3 Nxd5
Rb2 attacking b4 and f4 simultaneously. )
0-1 45...Qd8+ 46.Kh3 Qg5 with decisive
threats. ]
41...Rxd5 42.Qe4 Ne3?!
Bird,Henry Edward [ 42...Rd8!-+ was better as White
Blackburne,Joseph Henry cannot afford opening the dangerous
USA-06 Congress Grand Tournament diagonal with exf7+. ]
43.f5?
a b c d e f g h [ Missing 43.Nd7! Qxc1 44.exf7+
8 8 Kxf7 45.Qxe7+ Kg8 46.Qf8+
with a perpetual. ]
7 7
43...Rxf5-+ 44.Re1 Bxc5 45.Bxc5
6 6 Qxc5 46.Rxe3 f6 47.f4 Kg7 48.Rd3
Qc1 49.Rf3 Qc4 50.Qe3 g5 51.Qb6
5 5
Rxf4 52.Rxf4 Qxf4 53.Qc6 Qf1+
4 4 0-1
3 3
Polugaevsky,Lev
2 2 Geller,Efim P
URS-ch25 Riga 1958
1 1
8 8
Both sides seem having a stable position,
but Black found a way of winning the 7 7
important d5-pawn. Your move. 6 6
***As we see, the Gruenfeld "existed"
long before its official launching in the 5 5
famous game Alekhine-Gruenfeld 4 4
Vienna 1922, won by Black. 39...Qc8!
Black threatens ...e3+ followed by ... 3 3
xd5 and the bad thing is that 40.g2 2 2
runs into 40...xd5! 40.e6 A despaired
attack. For a short sequence both sides 1 1
play perfectly. Bd4! 41.Rc1 a b c d e f g h
The situation in the centre looks messy, The d4-pawn is doomed so Black played
but Black's minor pieces do not control 33...f6 hoping to activate his bishop.
e5. Do you find a way of getting two Your answer? 34.e6?! This offers Black
connected pawns on d5 and e5? reasonable surviving chances.
23.Nd3! The correct move order, [ 34.Nxd4! defends the e5-pawn
implying a pawn sacrifice. indirectly due to the fork on c6. fxe5
[ If 23.fxe5?! Qxe5 24.Qxe5 Rxe5 35.fxe5 Nb6 Black needs acting
25.Nd3 Ree8 26.e5 Nxc4 27.Re2 resolutely as otherwise e6 would be
Bb5 White is also a pawn down, but killing. 36.Rc5 Nd7 37.Rxa5 Nxe5
his positon is unstable, unlike in the This works now based on a tactical
game, for instance 28.Rfe1 ( 28.Rb1 detail but fails to save the game.
Nxe5! ) 28...Nd6 29.Rd2 Bxd3 38.Nxe5 Bxe5 39.Nc6 Bc7!
30.Rxd3 Ne4 31.e6 Nd6 The point. 40.Nxb8 Bxa5 41.Kf2
with a perfect blockade for Black. ] and Whte should win. ]
23...exf4 34...Nb6 35.Rxd4 f5 36.Ne5 Nc8
[ 23...fxe4 24.Nxe5 Bf5 25.Re2 37.Rd2 Rb5 38.Nc3 Rc5
wins the e4-pawn keeping perfect [ and now Keres missed the most
centralization. ] active regrouping with 38...Rb3
24.e5! Such a strong centre is worth 39.Kf2 Nd6 offering him a defensible
sacrificing a pawn. fxg3 25.hxg3 Qg5 position and eventually lost. ]
26.Nf4 Nxc4 desperation. 27.e6 Nxb2 39.Na4 Rc1+ 40.Kh2 Bf6 41.g4 fxg4
28.exd7 Rd8 29.Ne6 Qf6 30.Qxf6 42.hxg4 g5 43.Nd7 Kg7 44.Nac5
Rxf6 31.Nxd8 Rd6 32.Nb7 Rxd7 gxf4 45.Ne4 Bh4 46.Kh3 Be1 47.Rd3
33.d6 Nc4 34.Bd5+ Kg7 35.Bxc4 Rc4 48.Ng5 Bb4 49.b3 Rc1 50.Kg2
Rxb7 36.Re1 Rb8 37.d7 Nd6 51.Nh3 Ne4 52.Nxf4 Rc2+
1-0 53.Kg1 Bd6 54.Re3 Nc3 55.Nh5+
Keres,Paul Kg6 56.Ne5+ Kg5 57.Nf7+ Kxg4
Smyslov,Vassily 58.Nxd6 Nxd5 59.Re5 Nf4 60.Nxf4
URS Absolute-ch (17) 23.04.1941 Kxf4 61.Nf7 Rb2 62.Rb5 Re2 63.Nd8
a b c d e f g h Rb2 64.Nb7 Re2 65.Nc5 Ra2 66.Na6
8 8 a4 67.Rb4+ Kg3 68.Rxa4 Rb2 69.Kf1
Rxb3 70.Nc5 Re3 71.Ra7 Re5
7 7
72.Ra3+ Kg4 73.Rc3 h5 74.Kf2 h4
6 6 75.Rc4+ Kg5 76.Kf3 Rf5+ 77.Kg2
Re5 78.Kf2 Rf5+ 79.Kg1 Re5 80.Kg2
5 5
Re3 81.Rc1 Kg4 82.Rc4+ Kg5 83.Kf2
4 4 Re5 84.Kf3 Rf5+ 85.Ke3 Kf6 86.Rc2
3 3
h3 87.Kd4 Rh5 88.Rf2+ Rf5 89.Rh2
Rh5 90.Ne4+ Kxe6 91.Rxh3
2 2 1/2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
Fedorowicz,John P 2420 20.Qb2?

Shamkovich,Leonid 2515 [ Missing his chance: 20.Qxe3 Qxa2+
New York 1980 21.Kf1 with unclear play. ]
a b c d e f g h
20...Rxd5!! This leads to a devastating
attack. 21.cxd5 Qa6+ 22.Kxe3 Qd3+
8 8 23.Kf4 f6 24.Qb3 Ng6+ 25.Rxg6 e5
7 7 + 26.K g4 h5+ 27.Kh4 Qe4+
0-1
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
White's space advantage looks crushing

but his structure has an Chille's heel.
Find the best chance for Black 15...g5!
Immediately undermining the e5-pawn.
16.Bh3 e6!
[ It is essential to prevent xd7+ since
after 16...gxf4 17.Bxd7+ Kxd7
18.Bxf4 White remains in full control. ]
17.Rg1? White cannot resist the
temptation to use the offered g-file.
[ 17.Qe2 defeends e5 but allows gxf4
18.Bxf4 b3+ 19.Kf1 Qxa2
with two dangerous queenside
passers. ]
[ The strongest was 17.0-0!
paradoxically placing the king on the
open file. gxf4 18.Bxf4 Qa3 19.Bg2
Nxe5 20.Bxe5 Bxe5 21.Qg5
keeping some light initiative. ]
17...gxf4 18.Rxg7 Nxe5 19.Ke2
fxe3?!
[ More precise was 19...Qa3! 20.Bg2
fxe3 21.Qxe3 Qb2+! 22.Kf1 Nd3! ]

Modern Chess Magazine Issue 13 PDF

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issue 13

Tactics Can Break Steel,

Typical Tactical Ideas Methods of

Typical Tactical Ideas - Methods of Defence against the Bishop Sacrifice on h6

Endgame Series - Part 13 Domination in the Endgame (GM Davorin Kuljasevic)

Master the Grunfeld Structure - Part 4 (GM Mihail Marin)

Methods of Playing in 1) classical plan - f7-f5-f4 followed by g6-

by means of f7-f5-f4 followed by g6-g5, 2 2

24.fxg4 Bxg4 followed by Nf6-h5, Rg8 a b c d e f g h

24...Qd8! This is the problem. It turns We have reached quite an untypical

[ Black should have opened the g-file 6 6

2) Creating a piece attack after 6 6

opening the f-file by means of fxe4. 5 5

pieces in order to create threats 1 1

goals. White managed to make use 8 8

of the b5-outpost and to put 7 7

What should be Black's next move? 4 4

valuable time. That is why Black 1 1

A highly instructive move. Generally

favors White. In this case, however the in a comfortable way. 27.Nxf4

This is the point! Now White has

approach to the position. Now, Black a b c d e f g h

Al Sayed,Mohammed 2490 By playing 10.Bg5, White prevents his

create a kingside attack. One of the 6 6

this case, his idea would be justified by 6 6

white bishop never returns to e3 when

White's dark-squared bishop returns to a b c d e f g h

the idea g1-a7 diagonal. From f2, the 8 8

4 4 At first sight, it seems that White has

view, it is probably easier to play This brave move seems to be a mistake.

4) Black plays on the queenside by 7 7

As I have pointed out in the beginning of 5 5

Black starts playing against White's

impossible. That is the reason why 6 6

abovementioned plan is very easy and

40.Rdd2 when Rb1 could be 1 1

37...g4! Of course, we shouldn't waste Test 4

White's king. 39.Kf1 It is time to go for a 8 8

White's dark-squared bishop left the Black has a dangerous kingside

14...Bxh3 15.gxh3 Qxh3 16.f3 Qg3+

Grandelius,N 2642 28...Bg8! 29.Nxh7 Bxh7

20.Bxh6 gxh6 21.Qxh6 Qe7 22.e5 1 1

- the material balance is similar to the Nagy,Ga 2433

- White can still hope to finish with a 3 3

2 2 Accepting the sacrifice is not obligatory

18.Bxh6!? A tempting sacrifice, but 23.Qg6+ Kh8 24.Rdd4 Qd8

7 7 How to continue the attack? White came

1 1 Black had just played 14...Qb6,

16.Nxd5?! 17...Qd6! 18.Bxh6 Nh5 19.Qf3 Bxc4

23.Bc4 Rae8 ) 21.Bf4 Qxg3 22.Bxg3 7 7

19.... Qxe5 20.Qxe5 Bxe5 21.Rxe5 6 6

proper moment and thus avoiding 4 4

The direct counterstrike in the center is Ponomariov,R 2709

Champion, otherwise he would have a b c d e f g h

Qxd4 25.Re4 Qxb2 26.Nf6+ Qxf6 5 5

a b c d e f g h with huge compensation for the pawn.

Kassimov,B 2367 44.Qxh5 gxh5 45.g4 Ng7 46.gxh5 Nf5

7 7 The battle can become very exciting

This is most probably the move, which

Black to grab material and justify his a b c d e f g h

7 7 The thematic 27.Bxh6 was vigorously

27.... Ne5! 28.Rxe5 Rxe5 29.Bxg7 Rf8 ( or 32...Re8 33.Qg6+ Kf8

17.Qh4 h6! 21.Ng6+ Kg7