300 Most Important Chess Exercises E-Book

Thomas Engqvist

• Herausgeber: Batsford
• Kategorie: Lebensstil
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 638

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2022

Beschreibung

An informative and accessible new book by Thomas Engqvist, the practical follow up to his previous two authoritative chess books: 300 Most Important Chess Positions and 300 Most Important Tactical Chess Positions. Filled with 300 engaging chess exercises and complete solutions in the end of the book, this book will allow you to apply and consolidate your newfound knowledge. The book is divided into four key sections: - 75 exercises practising positional ideas in the opening/middlegame - 75 exercises covering the endgame - 75 tactical exercises in the opening/middlegame - 75 tactical endgames.The exercises featured in the book are taken from real game positions from various renowned chess players, including Capablanca and Magnus Carlsen.  Word count: 116,000

Leseprobe

300 Most Important Chess Exercises

Study five a week to be a better chessplayer

Thomas Engqvist

First published in the United Kingdom in 2022 by

B.T. Batsford, an imprint of B.T. Batsford Holdings Limited

43 Great Ormond Street

London

WC1N 3HZ

Copyright © B.T. Batsford 2022

Text copyright © Thomas Engqvist 2022

The moral right of the author has been asserted.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the copyright owner.

ISBN: 9781849947510

A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

This book can be ordered direct from the publisher at www.batsford.com, or try your local bookshop.

Contents

Introduction

Part 1: 75 most important exercises in the Opening and the Middlegame

Solutions

Part 2: 75 most important tactical exercises in the Opening and the Middlegame

Solutions

Part 3: 75 most important exercises in the Endgame

Solutions

Part 4: 75 most important tactical exercises in the Endgame

Solutions

Introduction

My first two books for Batsford – 300 Most Important Chess Positions (2018) and 300 Most Important Tactical Chess Positions (2021) – are manuals for positional and tactical ideas, rather than handbooks, because the overall aim has been to support the solutions with instructive comments. However I felt it my duty to round off with a third book and create a trilogy. One strong argument was the following statement made by the most respected chess instructor Mark Dvoretsky (1947-2016) in his preface to Dvoretsky’s Endgame Manual (Russell Enterprises 2003):

“A confident retention of theory cannot be accomplished solely by looking at one example: one must also get some practical training with it. For this purpose additional examples […] will be helpful.”

Dvoretsky is highlighting the fact that practical training is the same thing as solving appropriate exercises. Therefore here you will find 300 additional positions of a wide variety. Many of the positions will contain similar positional and tactical ideas which have been published in my two earlier books, so the third volume is an exercise book.

300 Most Important Chess Exercises starts off with 150 opening and middlegame positions to solve and the quota is 75 exercises where you practice positional ideas, and 75 exercises where the focus is on tactics. The other half of the book deals with 75 positional endings and 75 tactical endings. This is the only hint the solver will get. The best training is the one Botvinnik advocates – that the training environment should be as similar as possible to a tournament situation. The methods of analysing from positions with hints or several alternatives to choose from are to my mind questionable because this is too far removed from the harsh reality where you are sitting alone with a ticking clock, while trying to solve a difficult position under pressure. The best practice is to find out on your own the possible candidate moves, just as you would in real life competitive play, and without any outside help. The key method is to learn how to think and how to come up with suggestions, and in that way develop your own creativity and only then compare your thoughts with the suggested solution.

The reader will be offered complete solutions to the positions at the end of each section of the book in the style of a manual. The main reason for placing the solutions there is to help the reader resist the temptation to quickly look at the solutions before trying to solve the positions from the diagram, or preferably from a real chessboard. Indeed, the ideal situation is to sit in front of a chessboard equipped with a pencil and paper and write down all the relevant ideas and variations. A clear benefit of such an arrangement is that you can check your analysis again and compare it with the new insights that have been consolidated in your mind after having repeated the positions on a regular basis. The specific time to spend on each position is of minor importance, because that depends on your playing strength and the fact that the main objective is to learn and above all assimilate all moves and ideas you can come up with, especially the first time you are engaged on a position. Every time the position is revised your thought processes should be more effective as well as accelerated due to your increasing familiarity with the secrets of the positions.

When you analyse a position for the first time you should make notes of your evaluation, plan, method or variations to enable you to compare these with the solution. Next time, when revising the position, it will be easier to come up with more, since you should have gained an increased overall understanding of the position.

I should mention that it’s not necessary to have access to my two earlier books because it is possible to start with the exercise book at once to see if the tactical or positional ideas pop up in your mind, regardless of whether you have seen the principal idea before or not. However if you have read my two earlier books thoroughly there is a pretty good chance that you will come up with the right idea. If not, you will learn the ideas in the positions anyway by solving them one by one as well as consulting the solution. If any new piece of knowledge should turn up while solving the exercises, you ought to revise the positions at a later time to derive the most benefit from them.

A typical exercise published in the endgame section, covering positional ideas, is the following:

Capablanca – StearnsSimultaneous Exhibition,Cleveland 1922

White to move

56 ♔b4!

The idea of sacrificing a pawn in exchange for a penetration into enemy territory clearly parallels Capablanca’s famous endgame against Tartakower.

56...♖d3?

56...♖xd4+? 57 ♔a5 followed by ♔b6 and ♔xc6 wins in the same fashion as when Capablanca beat Tartakower. Correct was 56...♖a1! and White’s king is unable to penetrate Black’s position. Then a draw is the most likely outcome despite the fact that White has an extra pawn.

57 ♔a5 ♖xd4

Cutting off the king with 57…♖b3 fails to 58 ♔a6 followed by 59 ♖b7. If 58…♔c8 then 59 ♖e7 decides.

58 ♔b6 ♖d7 59 ♖xd7+ ♔xd7 60 ♔b7 Black resigns.

Compare this exercise with the following one which was published as position 258 in 300 Most Important Chess Positions.

Capablanca – TartakowerNew York 1924

White to move

This classic position is a world famous example demonstrating in the most instructive manner that activity is more important than material in rook endings. White’s rook and king are much stronger than their counterparts since the black king is cut off on the last rank. If White activates his king on g6 or f6 White will win since the cooperation between the king, rook and g5-pawn will be too much for Black to handle in the position.

Capablanca played the delicious move 35 ♔g3!!

The point of the manoeuvre is to walk into the enemy camp on the kingside.

35…♖xc3+ 36 ♔h4 ♖f3?

36...♖c1? loses quickly after 37 ♔h5! (Not 37 g6? ♖h1+ 38 ♔g5 ♖xh7 39 gxh7 ♔g7 40 ♔xf5 c5! and Black obtains a passed pawn which will secure the draw.) 37...♖h1+ 38 ♔g6 and Black’s f-pawn is lost leaving White with two connected passed pawns and an easy win.

The best defence was 36...a6! after which Capablanca would have been forced to find 37 ♔h5 b5 38 ♔g6! ♖c6+ 39 ♔xf5 bxa4 (39...b4 40 a5!) 40 ♖h3 with good winning chances.

37 g6! ♖xf4+ 38 ♔g5 ♖e4 39 ♔f6!

It’s more important to get the king to the sixth rank than to capture the f-pawn. Note the perfect harmony between the white pieces. The two pawns deficit doesn’t matter when compared to the full activity and cooperation White enjoys on the kingside.

39...♔g8 40 ♖g7+ ♔h8 41 ♖xc7 ♖e8 42 ♔xf5

This is a good moment to capture the f-pawn, as all the black pieces are passive.

42...♖e4 43 ♔f6 ♖f4+ 44 ♔e5 ♖g4 45 g7+ ♔g8

45...♖xg7 46 ♖xg7 ♔xg7 13 ♔xd5 is a simple win.

46 ♖xa7 ♖g1 47 ♔xd5 ♖c1 48 ♔d6 ♖c2 49 d5 ♖c1 50 ♖c7 ♖a1 51 ♔c6 ♖xa4 52 d6 Black resigned.

This flawlessly played ending is one of the reasons Capablanca has the reputation of being one of the strongest rook endgame players. However, he had studied more than a thousand rook endings to achieve this mastery.

Even if you are unfamiliar with the above rook ending between Capablanca and Tartakower it’s possible to come up with the idea 56 ♔b4 followed by ♔a5-b6xc6. In the exercise it was possible for Black to draw by cutting off the white king with 56…♖a1!. The most important points of discussion here were the two sides’ ways of handling the penetration into Black’s camp.

Another example showing how to deal with exercises with or without prior knowledge is the following:

Maczuski – KolischMatch, Paris 1864

1 e4 e5 2 ♘f3 ♘c6 3 d4 exd4 4 ♘xd4 ♕h4 5 ♘c3 ♗b4 6 ♕d3 ♘f6 7 ♘xc6 dxc6 8 ♗d2 ♗xc3 9 ♗xc3 ♘xe4 10 ♕d4 ♕e7 11 0-0-0 ♕g5+?

Correct was 11…♘xc3 12 ♕xg7 ♘xa2+ 13 ♔b1 ♖f8 14 ♔xa2 ♗d7 with a slight advantage to Black.

12 f4 ♕xf4+ 13 ♗d2 ♕g4?

13…♕h4 was necessary to avoid mate but Black was clearly lost anyway after 14 ♗d3, when e4 as well as g7 is hanging.

White to move

14 ♕d8+!

Due to the fact that Black’s queen was threatened the decisive discoverer was somewhat concealed.

14…♔xd8 15 ♗g5+ ♔e8 16 ♖d8 mate.

Maczuski beat Kolisch with the same discoverer 46 years before the famous miniature game Réti – Tartakower, Vienna 1910.

Compare that game with the following, published as position number 4 in 300 Most Important Tactical Chess Positions.

Réti – TartakowerVienna 1910

1 e4 c6 2 d4 d5 3 ♘c3 dxe4 4 ♘xe4 ♘f6 5 ♕d3 e5?

Black makes a mistake, which was very common before Morphy entered the arena, i.e. opening up the game when White has more pieces in play. Surprisingly, Tartakower commits the same kind of “ancient” error.

6 dxe5 ♕a5+ 7 ♗d2 ♕xe5 8 0-0-0 ♘xe4??

8...♗e7 was necessary.

White to move

As a young amateur, Réti managed to beat Tartakower with the most famous discoverer in history.

9 ♕d8+! ♔xd8 10 ♗g5+

Of course the double check 10 ♗a5+?? would be a huge mistake leading nowhere after 10...♔e8 or 10...♔e7.

10...♔c7

10...♔e8 11 ♖d8 mate is the so called Opera mate after the Morphy – Duke of Brunswick and Count Isouard game played at a Paris theatre in 1858:

1 e4 e5 2 ♘f3 d6 3 d4 ♗g4 4 dxe5 ♗xf3 5 ♕xf3 dxe5 6. ♗c4 ♘f6 7 ♕b3 ♕e7 8 ♘c3 c6 9 ♗g5 b5 10 ♘xb5 cxb5 11 ♗xb5+ ♘bd7 12 0-0-0 ♖d8 13 ♖xd7 ♖xd7 14 ♖d1 ♕e6 15 ♗xd7+ ♘xd7 16 ♕b8+! ♘xb8 17 ♖d8 Opera mate.

This game is the most famous of all games and should be learned by heart since it’s a very illuminating example of how to play when ahead in development.

11 ♗d8 mate.

Because of the beautiful finish to this game, the mate is called Réti’s mate.

One speculation is that Tartakower saw the obvious Opera finale but overlooked the more unusual Réti mate.

What’s interesting about the two exercises is that the games took place before the more famous ones. Capablanca carried out his king manoeuvre two years before his famous king walk against Tartakower and Maczuski beat Kolisch 46 years earlier than the same discoverer as the famous Réti – Tartakower game in 1910. An amusing coincidence is that Tartakower was on the losing side on both occasions.

By learning an individual key position, you will be learning an important idea or technique which can be applied in other positions. It is not really the positions or the players that are most important rather it is understanding the ideas that will be beneficial, although sometimes specific positions or famous players can make such ideas easier to remember. The whole concept of whether a specific position is important doesn’t necessarily mean that you will encounter it in practical play. What is of more and even vital importance, especially in endgames, is to gain a deeper appreciation of the inner qualities of the pieces, their movements, how they cooperate, and their actual value in different positions. One might say, as the ancient Greek historian Herodotus (c.484 – c.425 BC) wrote about king Leonidas of Sparta (c. 530-480 B.C.) and his 300 hoplite warriors, after losing a battle against an invading Persian army at the Battle of Thermopylae in 480 B.C., that the names of all 300 deserve to be remembered. Each of the positions deserves continual attention because of their utility value at different levels of play. We shouldn’t forget them.

As in my two earlier 300-books, the present volume is intended to stimulate all players regardless of their level. Apart from the fact that even the greatest players sometimes make mistakes or lack important pieces of knowledge, the main thing for every chess player is to keep the important positions fresh in their mind, even though they have already been learned by heart. This pearl of wisdom came from no less a player than Mikhail Tal when he was reading a book of chess combinations by Kurt Richter, despite the fact that he already knew all of them! Knowledge is like a muscle, if we don’t exercise it then it withers. The length of time it takes to lose a skill is actually proportional to the time it takes to learn that same skill.

Advanced players may sometimes experience superfluities in the comments but this is mainly due to the fact that all levels of player have to be satisfied. There are auxiliary (small) diagrams attached to the solutions to stimulate spontaneous reading from the book without any need of a computer or a chessboard. I strongly urge the ambitious reader to try to calculate the variations after each diagram to improve their ability to calculate variations, which is one of the cornerstones of chess strength. Additional reasons for auxiliary diagrams are to show turning-points or to highlight other ideas. One way of addressing different levels at the same time is to start with an advanced position and then, as things become clearer, wait for something more basic to turn up. For example, exercise 218 focuses on the endgame of queen against rook. I believe the most important position to concentrate on is where the third-rank defence is involved, because later on a more basic position turns up, known as Philidor’s position (1777) and this can be seen in the auxiliary diagram.

Another most important idea to understand is how you can get one of the 300 positions in your own games. For example how did the Swedish chess genius Ulf Andersson achieve such a crushing endgame position against another chess genius, the “ice-cool” Russian Andrei Sokolov, who was rated number three in the world after Kasparov and Karpov in the period 1987/88?

U. Andersson – A. SokolovBilbao 1987

Black to move

The h5-pawn has the same value as Black’s two kingside pawns and White’s knight is clearly superior to the bishop. White is technically winning and the game concluded…

42...♗h4 43 b4 cxb4 44 ♘xb4 a5 45 ♘d3 ♗d8 46 e4 ♗b6 47 a4

Another ideal position has been reached where all White’s pawns are placed on light squares whereas Black’s are all placed on dark squares.

47…♔e7 48 ♘f4 ♗d4 49 ♘e6 ♗c3 50 c5

White creates a passed pawn on the e-file.

50…dxc5 51 ♘xc5 ♔d6 52 ♘d3 ♗a1 53 e5+ ♔d5 54 ♘f4+ ♔c4 55 e6 ♗f6 56 ♘g6 ♔c5 Black resigns.

When we know the evaluation of a specific position as well as the technique of how to play it, the next step forward, a deeper understanding of the position, is to figure out why and how this position arose. By going backwards in the game we have to locate various important clues. For the moment we are mainly curious how White managed to get his king, as well as his h-pawn, so far advanced and how he managed to gain such a clearly superior minor piece with most of the black pawns stuck on dark squares.

White to move

On move 27 Andersson exploited his space advantage on the kingside by the strong move…

27 ♔g4!

White plays actively with the king in order to prepare the pawn-push f4-f5 and f5-f6.

27...♔e8

If 27...g6 then 28 h5 opens the hfile and this is in White’s interest, according to the principle of the two weaknesses, since Black’s rooks are tied down to the defence of the d6-pawn. By opening up a new avenue the black rooks will have problems catching up, due to the white rooks’ ability to swing over to the kingside on the first and second rank. Black cannot do likewise due to his lack of space.

28 f5 exf5+ 29 ♔xf5 ♔f8

29...g6+ 30 ♔g4 h5+ 31 ♔g3 ♔f8 was a better defensive set-up.

30 ♔g4 ♔e8

White has more space whereas Black has no counterplay.

31 ♖f1 ♖d7 32 h5

Now White can play g5-g6 or h5-h6 at an appropriate moment.

32...♗d8 33 ♖fd1 ♗e7 34 ♘c3 ♖cc7 35 ♘d5 ♖b7 36 ♖f1 ♗d8 37 ♖df2 ♔f8 38 g6 h6

Or 38...hxg6 39 hxg6 ♔g8 40 ♔f5.

39 ♖xf7+ ♖xf7 40 gxf7 ♖xf7 41 ♖xf7+ ♔xf7 42 ♔f5

The endgame we saw earlier in the diagram has arisen.

On the 27th move the ambitious and serious player can analyse more deeply and continually ask key questions such as “why did it happen” and “how did it happen” and go further and further backwards in the game. It’s possible to find out how this specific pawn structure arose, how White got a space advantage on the kingside, how White was left with two rooks and a knight versus two rooks and a bishop, why Black didn’t go for the minority attack and so on and so forth. The underlying key to all important positions is to ask such questions, especially if one’s goal is to improve and obtain similar positions in one’s own games.

From time to time the complete game is given. There are several reasons for this. If the whole game is available and relevant (as for example in the minority attack) the reader will be able to do the above mentioned research whenever motivated. The idea of giving the whole game is in accordance with the principle that all phases of the game are connected. I was inspired by GM John Emms’ eminent book The Most Amazing Chess Moves of All Time (Gambit 2000) where the full games were attached to the solutions of the positions. Actually only a part of the work has been done if one is faced with a position, even though it’s important or astonishing. Everything is connected to the position just like the present is connected to the past and the future. This is to my mind the fundamental key to success in chess and especially important when analysing a typical pawn structure such as the minority attack, because a successful minority attack results in a weak pawn on c6, which in many cases will be permanent in all stages of the game.

Before I leave the reader to start solving the 300 exercises, plus a few additional ones buried in the solutions, I want to mention that the sources of all these positions are mainly from my own library where I have a big selection of chess literature, for example the Informant, magazines and a lot of chess books. Sometimes I mention the source in my comments to the positions. Many of the positions I have regarded as important ever since I was a junior and have been an important source of knowledge to me over the years, and if one is thinking from this perspective many years have gone into this book. Some positions are from articles I have written in magazines and newspapers and some of the newer positions are from live tournaments on the Internet. All have been checked by either Komodo, Stockfish or Tablebase depending on the specific position. For evaluations Komodo is number one, for speed and depth in the variations Stockfish has been chosen and Tablebase for endgames with less than seven pieces.

When you have finished reading the book, feel free to contact me at [e-mail] I would really appreciate your comments and feedback for possible future editions. I’m very grateful for all the responses I received after my first book 300 Most Important Chess Positions was published in 2018 and some of your feedback was used to improve the book for the second edition published in spring 2021.

Thomas EngqvistInternational masterStockholm, December 2021

Part 1:

75 most important exercises in the Opening and the Middlegame

1

White to move

2

White to move

3

White to move

4

White to move

5

Black to move

6

Black to move

7

Black to move

8

White to move

9

Black to move

10

White to move

11

White to move

12

Black to move

13

White to move

14

White to move

15

White to move

16

White to move

17

White to move

18

White to move

19

Black to move

20

White to move

21

White to move

22

Black to move

23

White to move

24

White to move

25

White to move

26

White to move

27

White to move

28

White to move

29

Black to move

30

White to move

31

White to move

32

Black to move

33

White to move

34

Black to move

35

Black to move

36

White to move

37

Black to move

38

White to move

39

White to move

40

Black to move

41

White to move

42

White to move

43

White to move

44

White to move

45

White to move

46

White to move

47

White to move

48

White to move

49

White to move

50

Black to move

51

White to move

52

White to move

53

White to move

54

White to move

56

White to move

56

Black to move

57

White to move

58

White to move

59

Black to move

60

White to move

61

White to move

62

Black to move

63

White to move

64

White to move

65

White to move

66

Black to move

67

Black to move

68

White to move

69

White to move

70

Black to move

71

White to move

72

White to move

73

Black to move

74

White to move

75

Black to move

Solutions to Exercises 1-75

1

Morphy – SchultenNew York 1857

(1 e4 e5 2 ♘f3 ♘c6 3 ♗b5 ♗c5 4 c3 ♘ge7 5 0-0 0-0 6 d4 exd4 7 cxd4 ♗b6 8 d5 ♘b8 9 d6! cxd6)

White to move

The American chess genius Paul Morphy (1837-1884) was the first player who really understood the importance of developing the pieces before going all out for an attack.

10 ♗f4

Morphy claimed his 10th move was as an improvement on 10 ♕xd6 which was given in the leading treatises of the day (Hanstein – von der Lasa, in Staunton’s “Handbook”). However, this is not true if one consults the computer programs Komodo and Stockfish. It’s good to capture the d6-pawn as long as White can maintain pressure on the d-file. What’s more is that there is an even better move, suggested by both computers, namely 10 ♘c3!. This is very interesting since Komodo makes good evaluations and Stockfish is good at deep calculations, but they still come up with the same move!

This simple knight move also follows Lasker’s principle that a knight should be developed before the bishop. The idea is to prepare ♗f4 next move without allowing the d-file to be closed after ...d5. Morphy played according to the principle of development so his move is understandable, but the computers’ choice is the most precise. Even if we do know that development is on the agenda, we must also think carefully which minor piece to move first.

10...♗c7?

Correct was 10...d5! exploiting the fact that White cannot capture on d5 with a piece. After 11 exd5 d6 followed by ...♘g6 and/or ...♗g4 Black would have a fully playable position.

11 ♘c3

The logical follow-up 11 ♗xd6 would most probably lead to the same position by transposition after 11...a6 12 ♗c4 b5 13 ♗b3 ♗b7 14 ♘c3 etc.

11...a6 12 ♗c4 b5 13 ♗b3 ♗b7 14 ♗xd6 ♗xd6?

This exchange only helps White’s development. It was better to play 14...♘bc6.

15 ♕xd6 h6?

15...♘bc6! is correct.

16 ♖ad1 ♘c8?

Black plans the neutralisation of the classical bishop but it’s more important to neutralise the knight on f3 with 16...♘bc6.

Another problem with the text move is that f5 becomes a really weak square.

17 ♕f4

It’s a matter of taste whether one prefers to focus on f7 as in the game or g7 with 17 ♕g3 followed by 18 ♘h4 and 19 ♘f5, because these squares are equally weak when White has so much activity as here.

17...♘b6?

17...♘c6 still ought to have been played. It’s pretty clear that Morphy’s opponent(s) didn’t understand the importance of bringing all their pieces into play.

18 ♘e5

A good move, exploiting the freedom of the knight White has been given, while the f7-pawn is a problem in Black’s position which forces him to weaken his position further. But moves such as 18 ♘h4 or 18 ♘d4 followed by 19 ♘f5 were even more devastating.

18...♕f6

Because of the weak pawn push on the 15th move Black doesn’t have the natural defensive resource 18...♕e7 due to 19 ♘g6. The other alternatives 18...d5 and 18...♘c4 would lose a pawn.

19 ♕xf6

To exchange or not exchange? It was Morphy’s trademark to be pragmatic and terminate an attack if he saw an advantageous simplification leading to a winning endgame. Before Morphy, most players would prefer to continue the attack so here 19 ♕g3 suggests itself, which incidentally is the computer’s choice.

19...gxf6 20 ♘g4 ♔g7

21 ♘xf6

This is the point of Morphy’s exchange of queens, exploiting the unprotected knight on b6. More precise however was 21 ♘e3! followed by 22 ♘f5+ and Black will slowly be suffocated. This kind of “strangulation play” was not Morphy’s cup of tea. We had to wait for players like Schlechter and Tarrasch at the beginning of the 19th century for that kind of “torturous” play.

21...♗c6?

Better was 21...♔xf6 22 ♖d6+ ♔e7 23 ♖xb6 ♗c6 and White’s rook is temporarily trapped. Black can catch it by the manoeuvre ...♔d8-c7 but this is just an illusion after 24 ♖c1 due to the manoeuvring point d5.

22 e5

22 ♘h5+! would simultaneously hit all three weaknesses, the king on g7 and the pawns on f7 and h6. 22...♔h7 (22...♔g6 23 ♖d6+! ♔xh5 24 ♗d1+ ♔h4 [Or 24...♔g5 25 f4+♔h4 26♖xh6 mate] 25 g3+ ♔g5 [If 25...♔h3 then 26♖xh6 mate] 26 f4 mate) 23 ♖d6 followed by 24 e5 is a tough nut for Black to crack. 23...♘c8 is answered by 24 ♖f6 and the f7-pawn is lost.

22...a5 23 ♖d3

Morphy’s plan is to play on the g-file rather than the sixth rank.

23...♖h8 24 ♘cd5 ♘c4 25 ♗xc4 bxc4 26 ♖g3+ ♔f8 27 ♘b6 ♖a7 28 ♖d1 ♗b5 29 ♖d4 ♖c7 30 ♖dg4 Black resigns.

“Winning by force,” says Morphy. “This game has certainly no claims to brilliancy, but illustrates the difficulty of a correct defence to the Ruy Lopez game” (A.C.M. 1858).

Maróczy, however, claims the game as one of Morphy’s best performances, owing to the iron precision of his moves. Note that one important reason for Black’s loss in this game was a reluctance to develop his b8-knight. In essence Black played a piece down right from the start. It seems that Schulten just forgot about this knight after it returned to the stable with the move 8...♘b8.

Don’t forget to assimilate games played by Morphy even though he didn’t meet the toughest opponents, because his games are nevertheless very instructive. He’s one of the most important players in chess history to study in depth and really understand. It’s no coincidence that geniuses like Bobby Fischer and Anatoly Karpov regarded him very highly.

One of the best English language books about his play and contributions is Paul Morphy – A Modern Perspective by the Austrian GM Valeri Beim.

2

Bernstein – SpielmannOstend 1906

(1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 ♘c3 c5 4 cxd5 exd5 5 dxc5 d4 6 ♘a4 ♗xc5? 7 ♘xc5 ♕a5+ 8 ♕d2 ♕xc5 9 b4 ♕b6 10 ♗b2 ♘c6 11 a3 ♗e6 12 ♘f3 ♖d8 13 ♕g5 ♘f6? 14 ♕xg7 ♔e7 15 ♕h6 ♖hg8 16 ♖d1 a5)

White to move

This hair-raising position has been discussed by several authorities such as Spielmann himself in The Art of Sacrifice in Chess, Suetin in Plan Like A Grandmaster, Tarrasch in the Berliner Lokal-Anzeiger (1883-1945) and Marco in the Wiener Schachzeitung (1855-1949) Interestingly, they made the same mistake of overestimating Black’s position, probably because of his three-tempi lead in development. However, it’s not possible to open the central files, according to Morphy’s principles, so White can calmly proceed with...

17 g3!

...followed by ♗g2 and 0-0 and catching up the three tempi he is down on the kingside. Black has no antidote to this simple plan of development. Black’s best variation appears to be...

17...axb4 18 ♗g2 ♕a5 19 axb4 ♕xb4+ 20 ♕d2 ♕xd2+ 21 ♖xd2 ♘e4 22 ♖d1

...with a clear advantage to White due to his bishop pair and better pawn structure. Black’s initiative evaporates in all relevant variations after...

22...♘c3 23 ♖c1 ♘a4

23...♘a2 is answered by 24 ♖c2 d3 25 ♖d2 ♗c4 26 e3 while 23...b5?, with the idea of ...b5-b4, fails to 24 ♘xd4!.

24 ♗a1 etc.

In the game the incomprehensible 17 ♕d2??

...was followed by 17...♘e4? (17...axb4 should have been played since the reply 18 axb4? would have lost to the devastating 18...♘e4 and then 19...♕xb4+.) 18 ♕c2? (White should have returned the queen to h6, because 18 ♕h6! axb4? [Better is 18...♘c3] is met by 19 ♕h4+ ♔e8 [19...♘f6? 20♘xd4] 20 ♕xe4.

Despite the loss of a piece Black has sufficient compensation after 20...bxa3 21 ♗a1 ♖g4 22 ♕xh7 etc.) 18...f5 Now Black is completely lost. 19 bxa5 ♕xa5+ 20 ♘d2 ♘e5 21 ♗c1 In a hopeless position White plans the exchange of queens on b4 to reduce the pressure somewhat. 21...♖d6 After this move, one of the best teachers in chess history, Dr Siegbert Tarrasch (1862-1934), makes the following remark: “One of many good moves which Black has in this customary strong position.”

The direct way to mate (and one must play for no less in such strong positions) in my opinion was 21...♘g4 with the continuation 22 f3 ♘e3 23 ♕b2 ♕a4 (According to the silicon monster Black could play more precisely with the incredible “family fork” 23...♘f2!!.

First the knight forks two rooks and if the knight is taken both king and queen are forked by the other knight. I’ve never seen anything like this before. White’s best according to the computer is 24 ♕xb7+ [24♔xf2♘xd1+] 24...♖d7 25 ♕b4+ ♕xb4 26 axb4. The main variation goes 26...♘xh1 27 ♘b1 ♘xd1 etc. A funny variation in which all of White’s pieces, as well as two of the enemies’, end up on the first rank! Sometimes one can discover the most amazing variations with “brute force”.) 24 fxe4 (24 ♕b4+ ♕xb4 25 axb4 ♘c2 mate) mate) 24...♕xd1+ 25 ♔f2 ♘g4+ 26 ♔g1 ♕e1 and ...♕f2 mate”.) 22 f3 ♘c3 (Morphy would probably have played 22...d3 23 exd3 ♘c5 24 d4 ♖xd4 25 ♗e2 ♖xg2 and all of Black’s six pieces are ready for an attack on the king!) 23 g3 ♖b6 24 ♔f2 ♖c8 25 ♔g1 “Escaping from 25...♘e4+ but overlooking 25...♘xe2+” – Hoffer. White resigns.

To summarise, one must say that it’s surprising that so many highly competent chess players, including the player of the white pieces, Bernstein, missed the simple and logical continuation 17 g3, 18 ♗g2 and 19 0-0. However it should also be mentioned that Tarrasch recommended the idea of continuing g3, ♗g2 and 0-0, but only as a follow-up to his rather passive suggestion 14 ♕c1 which he regarded as the best move but which is far inferior to the consequent and correct move 14 ♕xg7. I think this position is very illuminating for the fact that it’s not enough to be three tempi ahead in development, unless there is an effective way of opening the central lines against the opponent’s king. This was Morphy’s most important discovery but surprisingly not fully comprehended by the above mentioned respected players and commentators, who underestimated Black’s position and therefore failed to discover the correct continuation.

3

Spielmann – FlambergMannheim 1914

(1 e4 e5 2 ♘c3 ♘f6 3 f4 d5 4 fxe5 ♘xe4 5 ♘f3 ♗g4 6 ♕e2 ♘c5 7 d4 ♗xf3 8 ♕xf3 ♕h4+)

White to move

Paul Morphy’s great contribution to chess was that a lead in development is the most important element in an open position. The Austrian GM Rudolf Spielmann (1883-1942) therefore played...

9 g3!

9 ♕f2 ♕xf2+ 10 ♔xf2 ♘e6 11 ♘xd5 c6 12 ♘f4 ♘xd4 13 c3 ♘e6 was perhaps the continuation Flamberg expected.

9...♕xd4 10 ♗e3 ♕xe5

Spielmann recommends in his classic The Art of Sacrifice in Chess (Richtig Opfern!, 1935) 10...♕b4 but it’s actually worse because of 11 ♗b5+ ♘bd7 (11...♘c6 12 0-0-0 0-0-0 13 ♖xd5 ♖xd5 14 ♕xd5 or 11...c6 12 ♖f1 and the f-pawn falls.) 12 ♗xc5 ♗xc5 13 ♗xd7+ ♔xd7 14 ♕xd5+ ♔c8 15 0-0-0 etc.

11 0-0-0 c6 ...

4

Spielmann – FlambergMannheim 1914

White to move

Spielmann maintained that in the majority of cases a lead of three tempi should almost automatically ensure a won position. Here Black needs three moves to connect his rooks but only two to place his king in safety so White must act fast, in the tradition of Morphy, and open the central files.

12 ♘xd5!

This is the most principled move but it was also possible to accelerate his development by playing 12 ♗h3.

12...cxd5 13 ♖xd5

Stronger was 13 ♗xc5! ♗xc5 14 ♗b5+ ♔f8 15 ♖he1 ♕g5+ 16 ♔b1 ♘c6 17 ♖xd5 ♘d4 18 ♕g2 and White regains his piece with a decisive advantage.

13...♕e6?

13...♕e4? was also bad on account of 14 ♗b5+ ♘c6 15 ♗xc5 with the idea 15...♕xf3 16 ♗xc6+ bxc6 17 ♖e1+ ♗e7 18 ♖xe7+ ♔f8 19 ♖xa7+ ♔g8 20 ♖xa8 mate.

The best defence was 13...♕c7 when Spielmann planned 14 ♗f4 (Rather than 14 ♗b5+ ♘c6 15 ♗xc5 ♗xc5 16 ♖xc5 0-0 17 ♗xc6 ♖ac8 [17...bxc6 18♖xc6] 18 ♗xb7 ♕xc5 19 ♗xc8 ♖xc8 which only wins a pawn.) 14...♕b6 15 ♗xb8! ♗e7! (15...♖xb8 is answered by the devastating continuation 16 ♕f4! ♖c8 17 ♗b5+! ♕xb5 18 ♖e1+ ♗e7 19 ♖xe7+ ♔xe7 20 ♕d6+ ♔e8 21 ♖e5+ ♘e6 22 ♖xb5).

According to Spielmann White’s attack is then so strong that there would be no question about the result. Presumably he would have continued 16 ♗e5 0-0 17 ♗c4 so he was indeed right when he preferred to continue the attack instead of being satisfied with winning a pawn.

14 ♗c4 ♕e4? 15 ♗xc5 Black resigns.

After 15...♕xf3 16 ♖e1+ it is mate in three.

5

Osnos – SteinLeningrad 1963

(1 d4 ♘f6 2 c4 c5 3 d5 d6 4 ♘c3 g6 5 e4 ♗g7 6 ♗e2 0-0 7 ♘f3 a6 8 0-0 e5 9 dxe6 ♗xe6 10 ♗f4)

Black to move

A common decision during calculation or when choosing openings or strategies is whether one should be active or passive.

10...♕b6!?

Faithful to his style Stein chooses the most active as well as the more risky move. Compare the move played with the continuation 10...♘e8 11 ♕d2 ♘c6 12 ♖fd1 ♕a5 followed by ...♖ad8 which defends the d6-pawn instead of sacrificing it. This more passive continuation was not inferior to the active continuation in the game.

11 ♗xd6?!

Critical was 11 ♕xd6 ♕xb2 12 ♗d2 ♘c6 13 ♖ab1 ♕xc3! 14 ♗xc3 (14 ♕xf8+ ♗xf8 15 ♗xc3 ♘xe4 16 ♗a1 is enough for a slight advantage.) 14...♘xe4 15 ♗xg7 ♘xd6 16 ♗xf8 ♔xf8 17 ♖fd1 ♔e7 and Black must fight for the draw. This was the concrete risk Stein took. 11 ♘a4 ♕c6 12 e5 is not as dangerous as it looks. After 12...♘h5 13 ♗e3 dxe5 Black isn’t worse.

11...♖d8 12 ♗xc5

An important continuation is 12 e5 ♘e8 13 ♗xc5 ♕c7 14 ♗d4 (or 14 ♗d6 ♘xd6 15 exd6 ♖xd6 when Black has enough compensation for the pawn deficit due to his bishop pair.) 14...♘c6 15 ♘d5 ♗xd5 16 cxd5 ♖xd5 17 ♗c4 ♖dd8 18 e6 ♘xd4 19 exf7+ ♔h8 20 fxe8♕+ ♖xe8 21 ♖c1 ♖ad8. Black’s active pieces secure full compensation for the f-pawn.

12...♕c7 13 ♗d4 ♘xe4

13...♘c6! was the strongest continuation with enough compensation for the two central pawns.

14 ♕c2

White is slightly on top but nevertheless lost the game after 42 moves.

6

C. Bergstroem – L. KarlssonStockholm 1984

(1 c4 c5 2 ♘f3 ♘c6 3 ♘c3 e5 4 e3 ♘f6 5 d4 cxd4 6 exd4 e4 7 ♘g5 ♗b4 8 ♗e2 h6 9 ♘h3 d5 10 ♘f4 0-0 11 a3 ♗xc3+ 12 bxc3 ♘a5 13 ♘xd5 ♘xd5 14 cxd5 ♕xd5 15 0-0)

Black to move

In my youth I was impressed by Karlsson’s play in this game. Which is the best square for Black to develop his bishop? There are three interesting options.

15...♗d7

Black hopes to be able to exchange the bishop on b5 for the bishop on e2. If this mini-plan succeeds Black has not only split White’s bishop pair but has also secured control of the light squares in White’s position. 15...♗e6 was also a good move followed perhaps by a future ...♗e6-c4.

16 f3 ♗f5

Now this is the correct square for the bishop, because Black would obviously be happy to centralise his bishop on e4 if an exchange should occur.

17 ♖b1 exf3

Stronger would be to maintain the tension in the centre by playing

17...a6 followed by 18...♖ac8.

18 ♗xf3 ♕d7 19 ♖b2 ♖ac8 20 ♖bf2

20...♖xc3

Safer was 20...b6 but, being fond of dynamic and risky play, Karlsson prefers to sacrifice the exchange.

21 ♕e1 ♖xc1 22 ♕xc1 ♕xd4

Quite a brave decision considering the fact that White’s pieces are very active whereas Black’s are hanging and don’t coordinate well.

23 ♖d1 ♕b6 24 ♕f4

24...♗e6

Definitely the best square for the bishop, where it not only defends f7 but is also defended by the f7-pawn. It’s important to have the pieces anchored when the sea is stormy.

25 ♖d6

It was better to play 25 ♕b4 at once.

25...♕c5 26 ♕b4 ♕xb4 27 axb4

From here on it’s interesting to note all the important tempi Black gets for free in return for his knight.

27...♘c4 28 ♖d4 a5!

28...b5 can be met by 29 ♖a2.

29 ♗g4 ♗xg4 30 ♖xg4

30 ♖xc4 ♗e6 31 ♖c7 axb4 32 ♖xb7 b3 33 ♖b2 would end in a draw.

30...♘e5 31 ♖e4 ♘d3 32 ♖f5 a4 33 ♖a5 ♖c8 34 ♔f1 ♘b2

It looks like the knight’s only purpose is to defend the pawn on a4 but a hideous trap is contained within this move.

35 b5?? ♘c4

Such a trap makes a stronger impact if one is aware of the fact that b2, b7, g2 or g7 are normally regarded as very bad squares to place a knight. Remember that on an empty board a rook on d4 traps a knight on b2 – but here it proves to be a tricky grasshopper.

36 ♖xa4

Unfortunately for White 36 ♖xc4 ♖xc4 37 ♖a7 will not help. Black plays 37...a3! 38 ♖xa3 (38 ♖xb7 a2 39 ♖a7 ♖c1+) 38...♖b4 39 ♖a5 b6 and remains two pawns up.

36...♘d2+ 37 ♔e2 ♘xe4 38 ♖xe4 ♖c2+ 39 ♔f3 ♔f8 40 h4 ♖c5 41 ♖b4 ♔e7 42 g4 ♔d6 43 ♔e4 ♖e5+ 44 ♔d4 f5 45 gxf5 ♖xf5 46 ♔e3 ♔c5 47 ♖g4 g5 48 hxg5 ♖xg5 White resigns.

7

Carlsen – Van WelyTata Steel 2013

(1 c4 g6 2 d4 ♘f6 3 ♘c3 ♗g7 4 e4 d6 5 ♗e2 0-0 6 ♗g5 c5 7 d5 e6 8 ♕d2 exd5 9 exd5 ♕b6 10 ♘f3 ♗f5 11 ♘h4 ♘e4 12 ♘xe4 ♗xe4)

White to move

How does White meet the threat against b2 in the best way?

13 f3!

It’s important to understand that the developing move 13 0-0-0?? is a serious mistake and alarm bells should ring when one sees that three pieces are pointing in the king’s direction and a fourth can be introduced by the knight manoeuvre ...♘b8-a6-b4. Black’s attack will be too strong for White to resist since there aren’t enough defending pieces on that sector of the board. The game Zukaev – Tal, USSR Championship 1956, continued 13...♘a6! 14 f3 (14 a3 ♕b3! 15 f3 ♕a2 16 fxe4 ♕a1+ 17 ♔c2 ♕xb2+ 18 ♔d3 ♕b3+) 14...♘b4! 15 fxe4 (15 b3 ♗c3!) 15...♘xa2+ 16 ♔b1 (16 ♔c2? ♕xb2+ 17 ♔d3 ♕b3+) 16...♘c3+ 17 ♔c1 ♘xe4 White’s queen is overloaded since it has to defend both b2 and g5 at the same time. Black won with the help of the two extra pawns after the moves 18 ♕c2 ♘xg5.

Note the fast super knight which manoeuvred from b8 to g5 via a6-b4-a2-c3-e4-g5. Such knight manoeuvres can be difficult to predict and that is why one must never underestimate a knight’s capability even when it’s at home sitting on its original starting square! The lesson to be learned is that one should never forget the concrete nuances of a position, because chess is full of exceptions when there are better moves than pure developing ones.

13...♕xb2?!

The strongest continuation was 13...h6 14 ♗xh6 ♗xh6 15 ♕xh6 ♕xb2 16 ♖c1 ♗c2 with an equal game. 13...♗xb2 was not good due to 14 ♖d1 ♗f5 15 ♘xf5 gxf5 16 0-0 and White has good winning chances thanks to Black’s weakened kingside.

14 ♖c1 ♗f5 15 ♘xf5 gxf5 16 ♕xb2 ♗xb2 17 ♖b1!

This natural move was actually a novelty when the game was played. Earlier 17 ♖c2 was seen in a high-level game but Black had no problems after 17...♗e5.

17...♗c3+ 18 ♔d1

White threatens to take on b7 but also ♗e7 is a threat.

18...♖e8 19 ♖xb7 ♘a6 20 a3

Black’s knight has to be neutralised!

20...♖ab8

21 ♖xb8

An even stronger continuation was 21 ♖xa7! ♖b1+ 22 ♗c1 ♗b2 23 ♔c2 ♖xc1+ 24 ♖xc1 ♗xc1 (24...♖xe2+ 25 ♔d3) 25 ♔xc1 ♖xe2 26 ♖xa6 ♖xg2 27 ♖xd6 ♖xh2 28 ♖c6 ♔f8 29 d6 ♔e8 30 ♖xc5 ♔d7 31 ♖d5 and White wins the rook ending. The main threat is 32 c5 followed by 33 c6+.

21...♘xb8

If 21...♖xb8 then 22 ♔c2.

22 ♗d3 ♘d7 23 ♔c2

23 ♗xf5? is met by 23...♘e5 24 ♔c2 ♗d4 25 ♗d3 ♖b8.

23...♗d4 24 ♖b1 ♘b6 25 ♗f4 ♗e5 26 ♖e1

A further tactical motif arises, namely the pin on the e-file.

26...♔g7 27 ♗g3! ♖e7 28 f4 ♗f6 29 ♖xe7 ♗xe7 30 ♗e1 h5 31 g3 ♗f6 32 ♔b3 ♔g6 33 h3 Black resigns.

The f5-pawn is pinned by the bishop on d3 so there is nothing to do against g3-g4. A very fine game by Carlsen with many tactical points.

8

Dus-Chotimirsky – LaskerSt. Petersburg 1909

(1 d4 d5 2 ♘f3 ♘f6 3 c4 e6 4 ♘c3 ♗e7 5 ♗f4 0-0 6 e3 ♘bd7 7 ♗d3 c6 8 ♕e2 dxc4 9 ♗xc4 ♕a5 10 0-0 ♘d5 11 ♗g3 ♘xc3 12 bxc3 ♘f6 13 ♗d3 h6 14 ♘e5 ♕d8 15 f4 ♘d5 16 ♖f3 c5 17 e4 ♘f6 18 ♗f2 cxd4 19 cxd4 ♗d7)

White to move

Sometimes the Pillsbury-knight can be exchanged for a bad bishop. Then the advantage of a strong knight is transformed into other advantages such as the bishop pair and the pawns’ desire to attack the kingside. An early example of this idea is the following where Dus-Chotimirsky played the surprising capture (especially in those days before the famous 22 ♘xd7!! in Fischer – Petrosian, Buenos Aires 1971).

20 ♘xd7!

Lasker, who lost this game, confirms the strength of this creative exchange in the tournament book: “White shows splendid judgment of position by playing for the two bishops; this gives him a lasting superiority.” Stockfish chooses this as the best move after thinking 15 moves deep which to a high degree confirms the objective value of the exchange. After all, although the knight is stronger than the bishop, the pieces that remain on the board are even stronger. According to the computer White’s advantage is actually around 1.5 pawn(s) at this point.

20...♕xd7 21 h3

This is both a defensive move against ...♘g4 as well as preparation for ♔g1-h2 followed by g2-g4. More circumspect was 21 ♔h1 with the idea 21...♘g4 22 ♗g1.

21...♖ac8 22 ♕e2 ♖c7 23 f5 ♘h7?

Black must stop the threat of e4-e5 followed by f5-f6. 23...exf5 24 ♖xf5 with an absolute centre was apparently not Lasker’s cup of tea.

24 e5 exf5

Lasker gives 24...♘g5 25 f6.

25 ♗xf5 ♕d8 26 ♖d1 g6 27 ♗c2 ♕c8 28 ♗b3 ♖c1 29 ♔h2

There was no need for this circumspect move. More aggressive moves were either 29 h4! to take away the knight’s only square or an immediate expansion in the centre with 29 d5.

29...♘g5

29...♖xd1 30 ♕xd1 ♘g5 was more precise.

30 ♖fd3 ♖xd1 31 ♖xd1

White’s pieces act in perfect harmony. Everything is prepared for the pawn push d4-d5.

31...♗d8 32 h4

32 d5! before h3-h4 would effectively shut the knight out of the game.

32...♘e6 33 d5 ♘f4 34 ♕e4 ♕g4

Lasker comments: “A swindle. Owing to White’s two bishops and the strong passed pawn, Black can defend himself only by counterattack.”

35 g3

Simpler and best was 35 ♗g3 g5 36 ♗c2 f5 37 exf6 ♖xf6 38 ♕h7+ ♔f8 39 ♖d4! with the idea that 39...gxh4 is answered by 40 ♗xf4 ♖xf4 41 ♕xh6+ and White wins the rook.

35...♗xh4 36 gxh4 ♖c8

37 ♖d3!

Lasker: “The only, but sufficient, defence against 37...♖c3.” Indeed so, 37 ♗e1?? is met by 37...♖c3!! 38 ♗xc3 ♕xh4+ 39 ♔g1 ♘h3+ 40 ♔h2 ♕xe4 41 ♔xh3 ♕f3+ 42 ♔h2 ♕xc3 43 e6 fxe6 44 d6 (44 dxe6 ♔f8) 44...♔f7 45 d7 ♕c7+ 46 ♔h3 ♕d8 and Black should win with precise play. Dus-Chotimirsky must be very careful not to fall into a Lasker swindle!

37...♖c1 38 ♕f3

The pawns cry out to be pushed. 38 e6! was the most crushing move.

38...♕f5 39 ♖d4 g5 40 e6! ♕e5 41 ♖e4 ♕d6 42 e7

The pawn runs home so Lasker resigned. Don’t forget the Pillsbury-knight which paradoxically sacrificed its inherent strength for the exchange of a mere bad bishop to make room for the e4-pawn to advance all the way to the dream square e8!

9

Szabó – EuweGroningen 1946

Black to move

29...♗xe1!

A typical advantage when using the full power of the bishop pair, as Steinitz showed in several games (31...♗g5! and 38...♗xe2 in Englisch – Steinitz, London 1883), is that the opponent, paradoxically, must be ready for an exchange to take place at any time. Here Euwe yields his bishop pair to exchange the passive, but important, defensive knight so as then to penetrate White’s entire position on the light squares with his queen and unopposed bishop. Furthermore what we are going to witness is the way Euwe hounds Szabó’s king over all eight ranks and all eight files, and that in itself is an unbelievable and unforgettable achievement!

30 ♖xe1

If 30 ♔xe1 then 30...♗xf3.

30...♕g2+ 31 ♔d3 ♗xf3

Of course the opposite-coloured bishop only helps Black’s attack.

32 a4 ♗e4+ 33 ♔c4 ♕c2

33...♗c2! threatens mate in three by 34...♕d5+ 35 ♔b4 a5+ 36 ♔a3 ♕b3 mate. The only way to avoid short-term mates, under nine moves, is by playing 34 ♖eb1 to cover the important b3-square, but this loses a whole rook by force in three moves.

34 d5

White needs some vacant squares around his king, especially dark squares, but it’s not enough.

34...♗xd5+ 35 ♔b4

35...♔d7

Interestingly, just as Spielmann had with the black pieces in his king-hunt against Rubinstein in San Sebastian 1912 (35...h6 with the idea ...♔h7-g6), Euwe has the same human predilection for bringing his king closer to the enemy king (king-to-king), instead of just tightening the net with readily available active pieces: 35...♕b3+ 36 ♔a5 (36 ♔c5 ♕xc3+ 37 ♔b6 ♕b4+ 38 ♔xa6 ♗c4+ 39 ♔a7 ♕a5+ 40 ♔b8 ♗d5 and it’s mate in two by 41...♕a8+ 42 ♔c7 ♕d8 mate.) 36...♕xc3+ 37 ♔xa6 ♗c4+ 38 ♔b7 ♕a5 39 ♖ed1 White prevents mate in three beginning with 39...♗d5+ but after 39...♗a6+ 40 ♔c6 ♗e2 41 ♗b6 ♗f3+ 42 ♔c7 ♕c3+ 43 ♔b8 ♗xd1 44 ♖xd1 ♕b3 Black wins due to his material preponderance.

36 c4

This pawn sacrifice creates more empty space for the king but it doesn’t increase the constrained area where White’s king is most vulnerable, since it is already caught in a mating-net by Black’s extremely powerful pieces, including the bold king himself.

36...♕xc4+ 37 ♔a5 ♕c3+ 38 ♔xa6

38 ♔b6 ♕c7+ 39 ♔xa6 ♗c4 mate.

38...♗c4+ 39 ♔b7

39...♕b3+

The fastest and prettiest way to mate was by a queen manoeuvre along the second rank and g-file to c8: 39...♕b2+! 40 ♗b6 ♕g2+ 41 ♔b8 ♕g8+ 42 ♔a7 ♕c8! and White is powerless against the double threat of 43...♔c6 followed by 44...♕b7 mate or 43...♕a6+ 44 ♔b8 ♕xb6+ 45 ♔a8 ♗d5 mate. In this demonstration of the might of her royal majesty, who shows her diagonal, vertical and lateral power in just one variation, lies the key to gaining a deep understanding of how best to exploit the queen’s movements to the maximum!

40 ♗b6 ♕f3+ 41 ♔b8

41 ♔a7 is met by 41...♔c8!.

41...♗a6

The human and pragmatic move. Black could once more use the squares on the g-file to decisive effect by playing 41...♕g3+ 42 ♔b7 ♕g2+ 43 ♔b8 ♕g8+ 44 ♔a7 ♕c8! 45 ♖ed1+ ♔c6.

42 ♖ed1+

A symbolic consolation check which justifies White’s 34th move.

42...♔e8 White resigns.

In his The Art of Sacrifice in Chess (Dover 1995) Spielmann makes the following interesting comment about king-hunt sacrifices: “Nowadays, thanks to highly developed technique, king-hunt sacrifices are rather infrequent.

It must be added, however, that this is not to be explained only by the fact that the modern player is much more careful in attending to the safety of his king; rather have the principles of the modern chess strategy – often no doubt misunderstood! – bred a certain pusillaminity in the conduct of an attack.”

10

Spassky – GheorghiuMoscow 1971

1 d4 ♘f6 2 c4 g6 3 ♘c3 ♗g7 4 e4 d6 5 f3 c5 6 dxc5 dxc5 7 ♕xd8+ ♔xd8 8 ♗e3 ♘fd7 9 0-0-0 b6 10 f4 ♗xc3 11 bxc3 ♗b7 12 ♘f3 ♔e8 13 e5 ♗xf3 14 gxf3 f5 15 exf6 ♘xf6

White to move

White has the better development as well as the pair of bishops, so it’s logical to look for a continuation which provides more scope for these bishops.

16 f5! ♘c6

Black could have accepted the pawn sacrifice with only a slightly worse position after 16...gxf5 17 ♗h3 e6 18 ♖d6 ♔e7 19 ♖hd1 ♖g8! followed by ...♘bd7.

However not at once 19...♘bd7? because after 20 ♗g5 Black cannot avoid loss of material. 19...♘d5 is strongly met by the exchange sacrifice 20 ♖1xd5 exd5 21 ♖h6 and White smashes through with all his pieces.

17 fxg6

This important exchange of the f-pawn for the h-pawn makes the g6-pawn a positional weakness. White can now prepare a new break with f4-f5 and create a passed pawn on the h-file.

17...hxg6 18 ♗g5

An active and safe square for the dark-squared bishop which now has something to bite on.

18...♔f7 19 h4 ♖ad8 ...

11

Spassky – GheorghiuMoscow 1971

White to move

20 ♖e1!

In principle it’s wrong to allow Black to exchange a pair of rooks, since the bishop pair is even more dangerous with two rooks on the board. At least Black should have to work for the exchange as in the game.

20...♖d6! 21 ♖h2

21 ♗h3, to prevent ...♖e6, doesn’t really work due to 21...♘a5, since the c4-pawn has lost its natural protection.

21...♘h7 22 ♗d2 ♘f6 23 ♔c2

White shouldn’t exaggerate the importance of avoiding an exchange of a pair of rooks because if White prevents this with 23 ♗h3 Black can sacrifice the exchange by 23...♖xh4 24 ♗e6+ ♖xe6 25 ♖xh4 ♖xe1+ 26 ♗xe1 ♘e5 and win another pawn without standing worse.

23...♖e6 24 ♖xe6

If White avoids the exchange of the black rook it will control the semi-open e-file and support a knight on e5.

24...♔xe6

Black has succeeded in carrying out his fundamental plan of exchange.

25 ♗d3 ♔f7 26 ♗f4

White prevents ...♘e5.

26...♘h5

Bernard Cafferty, in his book on Spassky, recommends 26...e6 with the idea ...♘e7-f5.

27 ♗g5 ♘g3

27...♘e5? is answered by 28 ♖e2 winning a pawn after 28...♘c6 29 ♗xg6+! ♔xg6 30 ♖e6+ ♔f5 31 ♖xc6 with a winning position.

28 ♖h3

28 ♖g2! was more active than the text move.

28...♘h5

28...♘f5 followed by ...♘d6 was also good. If 29 h5 then 29...♔e6 and if White continues 30 h6 then Black has 30...♘e5 with mutual chances.

29 f4 ♘f6

30 ♖g3

30 ♖e3! followed by f4-f5 would have put Black under far greater pressure than the text move, since White not only gets a passed pawn on the h-file but also significant activity for all his pieces in an open position.

30...♖g8

30...♘h7!, with the idea of placing the knight on f8, would have made it hard for White to penetrate Black’s position. White can win a pawn after 31 ♗h6 ♘f8 32 ♗xf8 ♔xf8 33 ♖xg6 but if Black replies 33...♘b8 34 ♖g4 ♘d7 35 f5 ♘f6 36 ♖f4 ♖g8 he has sufficient compensation due to White’s passive bishop and rook.

31 f5! ♘e5

31...gxf5 32 ♗xf5 ♘d8 followed by ...♘e6 is promptly anticipated by 33 ♖e3 but it was nevertheless a serious option.

32 fxg6+

This is the second time an exchange takes place on the magnet g6 square. White establishes a distant passed pawn on the h-file and in combination with his two bishops this represents a very strong asset for White.

32...♘xg6 33 ♖e3 ♘f8 34 ♗f5

White’s rook, bishop pair and rook pawn totally dominate Black’s kingside.

34...e6 35 ♗h3

35...♖g6

Black could try 35...♘6h7 36 ♗f4 ♖h8 37 ♔b3 ♘g6 38 ♗xe6+ ♔f6 when White’s best move is 39 ♗h6!. The rook has to be protected otherwise ...♖e8 pins the bishop. After the further 39...♘xh4 40 ♗d5 ♘g5 41 ♗xg5+ ♔xg5 42 ♖e7 ♘f5 43 ♖xa7 ♖h3 followed by ...♘d4+ Black has reasonable drawing chances.

36 a4 ♘6h7 37 ♗f4 ♖f6 Black resigns.

12

Karpov – SpasskyUSSR 1975

(1 d4 ♘f6 2 c4 e6 3 ♘f3 b6 4 g3 ♗b7 5 ♗g2 ♗e7 6 ♘c3 0-0 7 ♕c2 d5 8 cxd5)

Black to move

In Botvinnik’s opinion “the essence of a game of chess is generally exchange. The aim of an exchange is a relative gain of material and positional values.” Here Black has to make the very important decision whether to recapture on d5 with the knight or the pawn. According to Karpov it’s a matter of taste: “On the one hand, such an exchange is favourable for Black, since with fewer pieces on the board it is easier for him to defend his cramped position. On the other hand, Black has to be prepared for a position with hanging pawns, where a greater number of pieces allows him better chances of fighting for the initiative.”

8...♘xd5

Black follows in Tarrasch’s footsteps and exchanges a pair of knights to relieve his slightly more cramped position. I believe Capablanca would also have chosen this move but for him it would have been a matter of creating more harmony in the position. Later on it might be possible to exploit the vacant square on f6 by placing the other knight or the bishop there. A player like Alekhine might have chosen the slightly more risky and complicated recapture 8...exd5 which eventually, after a timely ...c7-c5, would probably have led to a position with hanging pawns but with all minor pieces on the board.

9 0-0

9...♘d7

Other good alternatives were 9...♘a6 10 ♘xd5 exd5 11 ♖d1 and 9...c5 10 ♖d1 (10 ♘xd5 would be less precise due to 10...♕xd5) 10...♘xc3 Slightly worse would have been 9...♘xc3 10 bxc3 (Of course not 10 ♘g5?? because of the intermediate 10...♘xe2+! followed by 11...♗xg2 and Black wins.). Now Black has to play the slightly uncomfortable 10...♕c8 to protect the fianchettoed bishop or the anti-positional move 10...f5, since 10...c5?? would run into the famous trap 11 ♘g5! with the decisive double threat on h7 and b7 which wins material by force.

10 ♘xd5

If White constructs a classical centre with 10 e4 Black’s position would be fine after 10...♘xc3 11 bxc3 c5 12 d5 exd5 13 exd5 ♗xd5 14 ♖d1 ♗e6 15 ♘e5 ♘xe5! 16 ♖xd8 ♖axd8.

10...exd5

10...♗xd5? 11 e4 ♗b7 12 ♖d1 gives White a clear advantage according to Karpov. It’s hard not to agree since Black has no effective way of attacking the classical centre and has to reckon with the central pawn push d4-d5 in various situations.

11 ♖d1

The rook will be usefully placed here after Black has played ...c7-c5. If Black chooses a passive set-up with ...c7-c6 the e4-square will be weakened and he will essentially be playing for only one result.

11...♘f6 12 ♘e5 c5 13 dxc5

13...♗xc5