Exploiting Small Advantages E-Book

Eduard Gufeld

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

Seitenzahl: 327

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2014

Beschreibung

Learn how to convert advantages into points. One of the most important stages of a chess game is the exploitation of an advantage, gained in either the opening or middle game. It is at this point of the struggle that many points are lost, especially at the club level.

Leseprobe

Exploiting Small Advantages

Eduard Gufeld

Contents

Introduction

1  Structural Concessions

2  Crucial Decisions

3  Exploiting a Small Positional Advantage

4  Exploiting a Small Material Advantage

5  Strengths and Weaknesses of Opposite-Coloured Bishops

6  Rook versus Two Minor Pieces

7  The Struggle with an Uneven Alignment of Forces

8  Psychological Advantage

9  Seek and Ye Shall Find

With acknowledgement

to my co-author

Oleg Stetsko

Introduction

Very often a modern day chess game demands precise mastery in exploiting a small advantage. In a battle between two players who are roughly equal in strength, the accurate and by no means straightforward realisation of a small advantage is practically the only chance to win. It is a long time since the era of dashing attacks, the result of which was often the creation of unsightly pawn islands. The strength of average players has grown considerably, enabling them to compete fairly competently and surely against opponents who are slightly superior to them in practical strength, experience and knowledge. And therefore a mastery of typical methods of exploiting the smallest advantage is necessary for achieving success.

It is well-known that two types of advantage exist in chess—material and positional (later we will touch on another, highly interesting but little studied type of advantage—psychological). The chess classics asserted, not without reason, that to win it is necessary to have a combination of both forms of advantage. But what about those cases where only one is present? Then the way to victory becomes a narrow path, often hard to find, between a practical game and a study.

A classic example of such a way is the following game between two great experts of positional play, Mikhail Botvinnik and Tigran Petrosian, which was played in their World Championship match.

Petrosian - Botvinnik

World Championship match, Moscow 1963 Grünfeld Defence

1 c4 g6 2 d4 f6 3 c3 d5 4 f3 g7 5 e3 0-0 6 e2 dxc4 7 xc4 c5 8 d5 e6

This move deserves separate commentary. We see here a method, characteristic of modern chess. Despite the obvious deterioriation of his pawn structure, Black consents to an early exchange of queens, taking into account that after this he will not really be able to play for a win. In a match situation such an approach is not infrequently linked to a definite strategy: playing for an advantage for White, and a draw with Black. But precisely this concession also represents a basis for handing the opponent an enduring small advantage. We will dwell on this theme in more detail in Chapter 1.

It goes without saying that, by offering an exchange of queens, M.Botvinnik was confident that he would be able to compensate for the, at first sight, small positional concession. Continuations of the type 8...a6, 8...bd7, 8...e8 would have led to complicated play.

9 dxe6 xd1+ 10 xd1 xe6 11 xe6 fxe6 12 e2

A position has arisen which is characteristic for the theme of our book: White has a small advantage in the endgame, which is determined first and foremost by his better pawn structure—two pawn islands against three for Black. But here is the way T.Petrosian assessed this factor: “White’s pawns make a more favourable impression, in the first instance due to Black’s e6 pawn being cut off from its colleagues. Of course it is hard to imagine that White can somehow manage to create threats and win it. But the organic defect of the isolated pawn lies not only in the fact that it can become an object of attack, but to an equal extent that the square or squares in front of it can serve as outposts for the opponent’s pieces”.

12...C6

The first critical moment. There can be no doubt that such a natural developing move would be made by many players. However, further events show that already here Black should seek a plan to neutralise White’s possibilities. The most active of these is 12...d5 (getting the bishop on g7 into play) 13 e4 d7 14 fg5 c7 15 d1 ad8 16 d6 and, though the assessment of the position has not changed, Black nevertheless has it easier than in the game.

Nevertheless, taking into account the role of the e4 square, G.Kasparov suggested preventing the manoeuvre of the knight to g5 by the radical 12...h6!. Then the way to the e4 square lies through 13 d2 d5 14 de4 xc3+ 15 xc3 c6, but here Black’s pieces cooperate more harmoniously and it is harder for White to strengthen his position. We should mention that 13 e5 is harmless after 13...g5 14 d1 d5! 15 xd5 xe5 when Black stands no worse.

13 d1

Stronger is 13 g5!, since Black could now prevent this by 13...h6!.

13...ad8?! 14 xd8 xd8 15 g5! e8 16 ge4 xe4

More flexible is 16...b6!? 17 xf6+ xf6 18 e4 e7 19 b3 e5 20 b2 d8 21 f3 f7 and, as the dark-squared bishop is included in the defence, it is not easy for White to find the key to Black’s position.

17 xe4 b6 18 b1 b4 19 d2!

Emphasising the illusory nature of the capture 19...xa2?, in view of 20 a1 b4 21 xb4 cxb4 22 xa7 with the clearly better endgame. In the event of 19 a3 d5 Black would have the time to offer an exchange by ...d5-f6.

19...d5 20 a4 c8 21 b3 f8

Black threatens to activate his forces by 22...c4 23 c1 cxb3 24 xc8 b2 25 c1 bxc1= 26 xc1 e7 when his chances of a draw are heightened.

22 c1 e7 23 b4!

White logically carries out his plan to create a second weakness in Black’s position.

23...c4

On the passive 23...f7 24 c4! h6 25 bxc5 bxc5 26 a5! White increases his advantage (G.Kasparov).

24 b5!

24...f7?

The second critical moment. M.Botvinnik remains passive, whereas the only way to obtain counterplay was to ‘give up’ the c-pawn: 24...a3! 25 c2 c3 26 xc3 c4! 27 d3 xa4 and though White, as before, retains a small advantage, both after 28 d2 e7 29 c6 a3+ 30 c2 f7 31 d6+ xd6 32 xd6, and also 28 a2 xe4 29 xa3 xc3 30 xc3 e5 31 xa7 xb5 32 b7 c5+ 33 d3 b5, Black retains chances of a draw (G.Kasparov).

25 c3 a3 26 c2 xc3+ 27 xc3 b4 28 c2 e7?

This move shows how difficult it is to conduct a defence in such positions, even at the level of reigning world champion. How many times Black has been reduced to passive defence, allowing White step by step to increase his advantage. The last line of defence might be the minor piece endgame after 28...e5 29 d2 c3 30 e4 e6 31 d3 d8+ 32 c4 d2 33 b3 xc2 34 xc2 d5 35 xc3+ c4 36 e4 e7 and, though Black is a pawn down, he might find a drawing chance.

29 d2! c3

The pawn cannot be saved: 29...xd2 30 xd2 d6 31 c3 c5 32 d2 etc.

30 e4 a5 31 d3 d8+ 32 c4 d1 33 xc3 h1?!

More stubborn was 33...xc3 34 xc3 h1 35 h3 d7.

34 e4!

White returns the pawn in order to obtain full domination with his forces. The rest is a matter of technique.

34...xh2 35 d4 d7 36 g3 b4 37 e5 h5+ 38 f6 e7+ 39 g7 e5 40 c6 h1 41 f7! a1 42 e6 d8 43 d6+ c8 44 e8 c7 45 c6 d1 46 g5 d8+ 47 f7 d7+ 48 g8 Black resigned.

In this game the 9th world champion demonstrated a high level of endgame technique, a characteristic of most outstanding players of the past and present.

For less experienced practical players we would like to add that without the possession of endgame technique it will be difficult to reckon on any high level chess achievements.

By way of an example we recall an episode in which a quite experienced rated player agreed a draw in the following position.

At first sight there was nothing surprising in this, as the position seems quite drawn. Yet all the same White can achieve victory in an original way:

1 c6+! e7 2 c5 d8 3 b4! c8 4 b5 b8 5 c5! a7 6 d4 a6 7 e5 b6 8 d5 a6 9 e6 with a decisive invasion of the king on d7.

This winning method was looked at in the pre-war period by the well-known specialist in pawn endings, N.Grigoriev. We should mention that the work of this most important endgame theoretician is a great help in understanding endgame secrets.

Achieving a necessary standard in this stage of the game is obligatory for any chessplayer in the process of improvement. And yet high endgame technique not infrequently proves impotent when met by powerful resistance.

In this book are gathered interesting examples of complicated endgames, the majority of which have not found their way into endgame manuals. In these endgames, to realise a small advantage, the stronger side has to travel a difficult, and at times also long road. In certain cases even a high level of technique has let down, along this way, even experienced masters. We will come across, dear reader, deep and original ideas, with paradoxical and surprising resources. And so, let us mobilise our attention and imagination. We are about to set off on a fascinating journey along endgame paths.

1 Structural Concessions

As a rule the gaining of a small advantage is the consequence of a measured battle, where the attacking and defending sides are worthy of each another. But not infrequently the prerequisite for such an advantage lies in the choice of an opening variation, anticipating the structures of changing positions, conditioned by the pawn formation. Related to this are positions defined by mutual pawn chains, advanced pawns, cramping of the opponent’s pawn complex, characterised by the presence of pawn islands etc. Of course, from the point of view of looking at the themes, an overall examination of opening structures is not possible and therefore our aim is only to draw the reader’s attention to critical points in the choice of several opening schemes and their possible consequences.

One example of a structurally changing position appears in the so-called “French endgame”, which is often reached from the classical variation of the French Defence: 1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 c3 f6 4 g5 e7 5 e5 fd7 6 xe7 xe7 7 f4 a6 8 f3 c5 9 dxc5 xc5 10 d4 c6 11 xc5 xc5

A characteristic feature of this type of position, with the cramping pawn on e5, is the presence of a solid base on d4 for the knight, from where it controls the most important squares on the board. With queens still on, this is not felt so much since Black has counterattacking resources (therefore it is usual to play the preliminary 9...c6). In the endgame the influence of the centralised knight is increased and White has a small but enduring advantage. Here is one classical example on this theme.

Konstantinopolsky - Lilienthal

Moscow 1936

12 d3 e7 13 d2 h6?

“When there is a lack of good moves, a bad one will be made”—was Siegbert Tarrasch’s comment on a move like this in one of his own games. Such a prophylactic (but also weakening the position) move should be treated with great respect and made only in case of need. Why is it bad?

The fact is that the only means of freeing himself from the influence of the e5 pawn is to undermine it by...f7-f6.

However, with the pawn on h6, this leads to an irreparable weakening of the kingside and White obtains the possibility, by means of h2-h4-h5, to completely paralyse the pawn chain e6-f7-g7-h6 and attack the king’s flank. Therefore it would be stronger to play 13...f6 at once.

14 e2!

It is important to consolidate the d4 square with the knight.

14...d7 15 ed4 ac8 16 ae1 c7

Black develops his pieces on the best squares, but he does not succeed in exploiting the open c-file whereas White can attack on the king’s flank.

17 g4 b4

He should hold up White’s advance by 17...h5! 18 h3 xd3 19 cxd3 xd4 20 xd4 hxg4 21 hxg4 cc8, though even here White has the advantage.

18 a3 bxd3 19 cxd3 hc8 20 c1

Completely levelling Black’s play on the c-file.

20...d8 21 h4 a4 22 xc7 xc7 23 b3 b6 24 h5!

A typical position for the start of a kingside pawn storm. The e5 and h5 pawns blockade the king’s flank, depriving Black of any sort of activity—all he can do is wait.

24...e7 25 g5

The signal for the attack. White prepares a rook invasion.

25...c8 26 gxh6 gxh6 27 g1 h8

After 27...f8 28 h2 the knight invades on f6.

28 h2 e8

Better was 28....c8, providing additional defence to the f5 square, but psychologically it is difficult to “develop” the bishop to its starting square!

29 g4

An inaccuracy, he should move the king closer to the centre of events—29 e3, since now, as shown by the famous endgame specialist, Moscow master N.Grigoriev, necessary was 29...g8!, counting on compensating for the subsequent attack 30 f5! by a win of the h5 pawn: 30...g5 31 f6+ d8 32 e3 d7 33 df3 (not 33 f4 because of 33...xf6! 34 exf6 e5+) 33...xh5. Yet, all the same, White retains an unpleasant initiative by 34 d4, since he can strengthen his position by a transfer of the knight to f4 along the route g4-f2-d3-f4, though to win is not quite so simple: Black’s pawn mass is quite compact. However Black cannot feel safe and White will increase his advantage.

29...d7? 30 f5 exf5

No help is the counter 30...f6 because of 31 xf6! xf6 32 g7+ f7 (32...d8 33 xe6+ c8 34 exf6) 33 fxe6 xh5 34 xf7+ d8 35 f5.

31 xf5+ e6 32 g7+ e7 33 d4

Black’s pieces are practically move-bound. The attempt to break free only accelerates the end.

33...f6 34 e6 b6 35 e1 g8 36 f5+ d8

After 36...f8 Black is mated in two moves.

37 e7+ c7 38 xf6 g2+ Black resigned.

An analogous pawn structure arises in the so-called Classical system of the Caro-Kann: 1 e4 c6 2 d4 d5 3 c3 dxe4 4 xe4 f5 5 g3 g6 6 h4 h6 7 f3 d7 8 h5 h7 9 d3 xd3 10 xd3 c7 11 d2 e6 12 0-0-0 0-0-0 13 e2 gf6 14 e5 xe5 (the alternative is 14...b6) 15 dxe5

It is worth looking at this position in more detail. The e5 and h5 pawns paralyse the king’s flank which secures White a lasting space advantage. Black is restricted in his activity and here it is appropriate to recall the thoughts of Siegbert Tarrasch, that a cramped position bears the germs of defeat.

The attempt to free himself can lead to the creation of new weaknesses. Upon the move ...g7-g6, weak squares appear on f7 and h6. After a prepared undermining by ...f7-f6 White exchanges the e5 pawn in return for new positional concessions. After the recapture on f6 with a pawn, a whole complex of weak pawns, e6, f6, h6, is created. Therefore one usually takes back on f6 with a piece, but then the pawns on e6 and g7 are weak and White has a clear plan to realise his advantage: after the appearance of the bishop on f6, comes the advance g2-g4-g5, while if it is the knight that lands on f6, then the white bishop sets up a blockade on the e5 square.

Let us look at the main knight moves: 15...d7 and 15...d5.

Spassky - Petrosian

World Championship match Moscow 1966

15...d7

16 f4 e7 17 e4

In the game Suetin-Pachman, Titovo Uzice 1966, followed 17 e3 a5 (after 17...f6 18 exf6 xf6 19 d2 d6 20 de1 hd8 21 c3 6d7 22 e5 d6 23 hf1! the blockade of the e5 square will not be lifted: after an exchange the f-file is opened for the rooks) 18 b1 c5 19 c3 xd1+ 20 xd1 d8 21 d4 xd4 22 xd4 d8 23 c2 a5 24 f1 d5 25 e3 e4 26 xc5 xc2+ 27 xc2 xc5 28 c4 a4 29 d3 d7 30 g4 b5 31 d2 g1 32 e4 c5 33 b3 axb3 34 axb3 e7 35 f3 b4 (White threatened 36 e4) 36 cxb4 cxb4 37 e4 c5 38 f3 d7 39 d4 g6 40 d3 gxh5 41 gxh5 c7 42 c4 b6 43 b5+ d7 44 d4 c7. The b4 pawn is doomed, but Suetin played the inaccurate 45 e2?! c6 46 xb4 d5 and Black obtained counterplay. Stronger was 45 c2! b7 46 xb4! e3 47 f5 exf5 48 d5 c7 49 c2 f4 50 d4 with real winning chances.

17...c5 18 c3 f6 19 exf6 xf6 20 c4 b6 21 b4! a6

The transfer to an endgame is unpromising: 21...a6 22 xa6 xa6 23 e4 e7 24 a3 c7 25 c3 hg8 26 e5 and after further exchanges the breakthrough with the g-pawn decides.

22 e4 c7 23 he1 d4 24 b3 b5 25 c3 xe4!

The best choice when compared to 25...dd8 26 c5.

26 xe4 xh5 27 c4 f5 28 e2 h5 29 e1 e8 30 g3 a5 31 bxa5 xa5 32 c2 f5 33 a4 g5 34 fxg5 xg5+ 35 b1 xc2+ 36 xc2 e5

After the exchange of queens the game passes to the technical stage. As before, White’s advantage is small.

For the exchange, Black has quite good compensation—the more so that Tigran Petrosian is in his element. Not for nothing is he considered one of the great defensive players. Testimony to this is the time that Spassky needed to realise his small material advantage—a whole 55 moves. But let the reader exercise patience, there is much of interest on such a long path. Here we come across one of the most important methods of play in the endgame.

Festina lente—more haste, less speed. This was one of the favourite sayings of the Roman emperor Octavian Augustus. Surprisingly it is applied to the style of playing chess endings. This is what the well-known Soviet master S.Belavenets wrote apropos this: “The rule ‘do not rush’ to many might seem paradoxical, whereas it shines through in nearly all endings of the great masters of the endgame. Look closely at the endgames of Capablanca and Flohr and you will see how slowly, at times tediously, they realised their advantage. Repeating moves in the endgame plays a great role. Omitting the fact that they gained time for thinking, it is possible to mention that, by repeating moves, the active side obtains a well-known psychological advantage. Defending a position which is worse, frequently untenable, leads to new weaknesses and facilitates the task of the opponent”.

For the reader there will be quite a few opportunities in future chapters of the book to convince himself of this approach to playing endings. But here, for a start, let us turn our attention to White’s manoeuvre a4-e4-a4-e4 during the course of the next few moves.

37 e4 d5 38 f2 f6 39 a4 c7 40 c5 d5 41 e4 b6 42 g1

After 42 c4 bxc5 43 cxd5 d6 44 a4 e3! 45 a6 d4 46 dxc6 f8 and Black has quite good counterplay.

42...d8 43 f1 f6 44 e2 c5 45 f5 d6 46 a4!

A deep understanding of the position. White intends to convert all Black’s pawns into potential objects of attack.

46...d5 47 d3 g4 48 b2

White will not allow any chances of counterplay after 48 xh5 f8.

48...h8

49 a5! c4+

On 49...bxa5 follows 50 b5.

50 e2 e4 51 f7 bxa5 52 b8 a4 53 c8 f6 54 xc4+

A slight inaccuracy. To this pawn might also have been added an exchange of rooks: 54 xh8 xh8 55 c7, which would increase his advantage.

54...f5 55 a7

The more direct 55 xa4 c8! 56 c4 b8 57 a2 b3 would have given Black chances of counterplay.

55...a3

White would have had more worries after 55...d8!? 56 cxa4 g5!.

56 xa3 b8 57 b4 c8 58 c4 e7 59 c5 e4 60 a7 f6 61 h7

Stronger is 61 aa4!.

61...g6 62 d7 f5 63 d5+ e5 64 b6 e3!

In this game, T.Petrosian, for the umpteenth time, demonstrates his ability to find counterplay. After 64...a8 65 d4 a2+ 66 b2! a5 67 xe5 xe5 68 h6! would have extinguished the last centre of resistance. Now, however, after 65 xe3 e4 66 d3 xg3 the outcome of the struggle is unclear.

65 f3 f6 66 d3 xc5 67 xe3 c2 68 d8 c3 69 e2 c2+ 70 d1 c3 71 f2 e4?

Even the greats make their mistakes! Simpler was to stand his ground with 71... a3 or give preference to 71...g4.

72 f8+ g5

It is worth going back with 72...f6, since no good is 73 fxf6+ xf6 74 xf6+ xf6 75 d4+ g5! 76 xc3 h4 with a draw. Now, however, White forces the exchange of rooks.

73 b5! d3+

73...xf2+?! 74 xf2 e3 75 e2 would have led to a simple technical endgame.

74 e2 d5 75 xd5 c3+ 76 f3 xd5 77 a8

Useless is 77 e4 f6+ and 78 xe5? is not possible because of 78...d7+.

77...f5 78 a5 e6 79 e1 f6 80 b5 d5 81 d2 g7 82 c1 e5 83 b2 c7 84 c5 d6 85 c1 e7 86 e1+ f5 87 a1 c6 88 a6 e5 89 xc6 xb2 90 c5+ g6 91 f4 g7 Black resigned.

A titanic battle!

Akopian - Magomedov

Minsk 1990

15...d5

16 f4 e7

In the game Spassky-Botvinnik, Moscow 1966, was played 16...c5 17 c4 b4 18 xb4 xd1+ 19 xd1 cxb4 20 e4 e7 21 d6+ b8, when, instead of the impulsive 22 xf7?! f8 23 d6 xf4, White could have held on to his advantage in two ways: 22 g3 f8 23 b1 a6 24 g4 or 22 e4 c6 23 xc6 bxc6 24 c5.

17 e4 b6 18 h3 c5 19 f1 he8 20 hf3 c7 21 g4

While Black is forced to adopt waiting tactics, White methodically prepares the break f4-f5.

21...h8

Possibly stronger is 21...b4, followed by 22...c6.

22 e1! d7 23 g3 b4 24 f5 c6 25 a3 d5 26 fxe6 fxe6 27 f7 hd8 28 c4 b6 29 d6+ b8 30 xe7 xe7 31 h4 ed7 32 xd8 xd8 33 f7 c8 34 xb7+ a8 35 xg7 xd6 36 exd6 xd6 37 f1 d8 38 b1 e4+ 39 a1 e5 40 a2 c6 41 f7 b6 42 g5 a5 43 g8 xg8 44 xg8+ a7 45 g7+ a8 46 xh6 c7 47 f8+ b7 48 g6 Black resigned.

In the Panov Attack against the Caro-Kann Defence 1 e4 c6 2 d4 d5 3 exd5 cxd5 4 c4 f6 5 c3 after 5...c6 6 f3 we frequently meet the following practically forced variation: 6...g4 7 cxd5 xd5 8 b3 xf3 9 gxf3 e6 10 xb7 xd4 11 b5+ xb5 12 c6+ e7 13 xb5 d7 14 xd5+ xd5 15 xd5 exd5

In the arising endgame White’s doubled f-pawns are compensated by the possibility of an attack on the weak black pawns on d5 and a7. The question is whether White is able to exploit the time required by Black to develop his bishop, though the overall structure of the position is such that it is more difficult for Black to defend his weaknesses than for White to attack them.

Beliavsky - Wells

London 1985

16 0-0

The main plan is considered to be queenside castling after 16 e3, though the open position of the white king allows Black to create counterplay.

A.Beliavsky endeavours to deprive Black of these possibilities and prove the worth of his plan.

16...e6 17 e1+ f5 18 d1!

A fine prophylactic manoeuvre. White gains time for an attack on the isolated d5 pawn and at the same time prevents it from advancing. In the event of the routine 18 e3 e7 19 ac1 Black has time to support the d-pawn: 19...f6! 20 c5 hd8 21 b4 g6 22 b5 d4.

18...d8

If he attempts to support the d5 pawn with the other rook, 18...e6 19 d3 c5 20 f4 hd8, White advantageously exploits the c-file: 21 c1 b6 22 c6+ f5 23 c7.

19 e3 d7 20 ac1 e7

21 d4!

A deep penetration into the position. It is obvious that Black plans to place his bishop on f6 and advance the d-pawn. With a fine rook manoeuvre White intends not only to attack the a7 pawn but also to check on f4, since the open position of the king allows maximum exploitation of the activity of the rooks.

21...f6

Black does not sense the danger. It was necessary to prevent the threat of check by 21...g5!, while on 22 c6 possible is 22...hd8 23 f1 f6 22 b4 e5, preparing the advance of the d-pawn.

22 f4+ e5

Upsetting the harmony of the king and bishop. But on the natural 22...e6 follows 23 b3 hd8 (not possible is 23...d4 because of 24 e4+ d5 25 xd4 xd4 26 xd4+ xd4 27 d1+ winning a pawn) 24 e1 d6 25 a4 a8 26 f4+ and the king is in danger.

23 a4 d4

Also here this move is premature. More stubborn was 22...b8 24 b3 bb7.

24 a5+! e6

Not possible was 24...d5 because of 25 xd4+.

25 f4 b7

After 25...d8? winning is 26 e5+ f6 27 c6+.

26 b3 d8 27 f1 d3

It is a natural reaction to prevent the transfer of the king to d3, but nevertheless worth considering was 27...h6 followed by ...g7-g5. Now White gets the chance to carry out a roundabout manoeuvre along the open fourth rank.

28 e1+ d7 29 e4! e7

Watching out for his opponent’s rook threats he reconciles himself to exchanging a pair of rooks which reduces the potential of the d3 pawn. It was necessary to hold on by 29...c6.

30 d5+ e8

Also here, more active was 30...c6, intending, on 31 xd8 xd8 32 d4, the possibility 32...d7.

31 xd8+ xd8 32 e1 b4+ 33 d2 c5 34 e3 b4+ 35 d1 c3 36 c4 e5 37 f4 f6 38 a4 c3 39 xa7 b4?

The bishop ending is won without difficulty and so better was 39...b5, aiming at the kingside pawns.

40 xb4 xb4 41 d4 g6 42 h3 d7 43 b2 c6 44 a3 c5 45 f3 d6 46 f5 f4 47 a4 gxf5 48 d4 d5 49 f2 c6 50 b4 d5 51 a5 Black resigned.

In modern practice a small advantage is not infrequently a consequence of tournament strategy, when the choice of opening variation is made according to the principle: play for a win with White, for a draw with Black. Upon this, the defending side strives for an early exchange of queens, reconciling himself to definite concessions, considering these insufficient for the opponent to play for a win. Most frequently these concessions reveal themselves in the form of a significant lag in development or disruption of the pawn structure with the formation of an isolated pawn, and also to separate pawn islands.

For the first type—an advantage in development—it is possible, by way of an example, to cite the so-called “English endgame” obtained after 1 c4 c5 2 c3 c6 3 f3 f6 4 g3 d5 5 d4 e6 6 cxd5 xd5 7 g2 cxd4 8 xd4 xc3 9 bxc3 xd4 10 xd4 xd4 11 cxd4, which Vladimir Kramnik handles in virtuoso style.

Kramnik - Lautier

Horgen 1995

11...d6

11...b4+ 12 d2 xd2+ 13 xd2 e7 14 hc1 d8 15 c7+ d7 16 ac1 d8 17 xd7+ xd7 is frequently played, although even here the endgame is not quite so simple for Black. For example, Kramnik-Lautier, Belgrade 1995, continued 18 g4 h6 19 f4 b8 20 g5 b6 21 gxh6 gxh6 22 c3 b7 23 xb7 xb7 24 h3 c7 25 xh6 c4 26 h3 when after 26...xd4+? 27 d3 White won the pawn ending, exploiting the distant passed h-pawn. Necessary was 26...a4!, provoking 27 a3, which allows him, after 27...xd4+ 28 d3 xd3+ 29 xd3 e7, to create a rival passed pawn more quickly.

12 0-0 b8

“It is impossible to understand...” said V.Kramnik, in evaluating the present situation, “...at what point Black made a mistake. It is quite possible that there wasn’t one and J.Lautier’s defeat was simply the consequence of an unpleasant position, which is very difficult to defend”. He considered 12...0-0 more flexible, after which 13 e4 can be met by 13...e5 14 d5 f5 or 13...d8.

13 e4 0-0

After 13...b6 14 b2 b7 15 ac1, in connection with the threat of e4-e5 he will not manage to avert the invasion of the rooks, since, on 15...d7, unpleasant is 16 d5! exd5 17 exd5 f6 18 h3+ d8 19 e6.

14 e5!

With this move White not only guarantees himself control over the the c-file but also prepares the breakthrough with a pawn to d6.

14...e7

Weaker is 14...c7?!, after which 15 a3 d8 16 ac1 b6 17 d6 leads to a difficult position.

15 e3 d7 16 fc1 fc8 17 xc8+ xc8 18 c1 f8 19 h3 e8 20 d5 d7 21 d6 d8 22 g2 b6 23 f4 c8 24 f2 xc1 25 xc1

The result of the virtually forced ten-move operation is a four-bishop endgame where White retains a slight but firm advantage. This is how V.Kramnik himself evaluated the position: “At first sight Black seems to have great chances of a draw but upon closer examination it does not appear quite so simple: the picture is spoiled by the very bad bishop on d8; another trump for White is the strong pawn on d6. The only problem is to formulate and carry out a break on the king’s or queen’s flank. For this reason Black, as far as possible, should not touch his pawns. Over the next moves White’s plan is quite clear: he must transfer his king to the region of the b4 square, possibly try to advance a4-a5 or undertake other active operations. In reply to this Black has no real argument: he simply has to wait”.

25...b5 26 e4 h6

After 26...g6?! Black would have to reckon on the weakness of the f7 pawn.

27 e3 d7 28 e1 c6 29 d3 d5 30 a3 f6

The alternatives: should he continue to hold on passively or, as it were, rid himself of the weak f7 pawn? Black decides on the second.

31 d2 fxe5 32 fxe5 c6

32...g5 is a loss of time after 33 f4, followed by h2-h4, since it is unfavourable for Black to exchange on f4.

33 c3 f3 34 c4 d5 35 a6 f3 36 d4 d5 37 a4 b3

Possibly it is worth voluntarily abandoning the c6 square: 37...d7 38 b5+ c8, though even here White has an obvious advantage.

38 b5+ b7 39 d7!

The first part of the operation has been completed: the black king is cut off from the kingside to which White now directs his attention.

39...d5 40 c3 a2 41 b4

Bearing in mind the intended plan, more accurate was an immediate blockade of the king’s flank with the move 41 h4!, since now Black could prevent this by 41...g5!.

41...d5 42 h4!

Beginning the second phase of the operation. Now, with the g7 and h6 pawns fixed, White can prepare the transfer of the dark-squared bishop along the route c1-a3-f8 and, though he has to sacrifice the d6 pawn for this, the prospects of creating an outside passed pawn on the kingside clearly increase White’s chances.

42...a2 43 d2

A struggle for tempo, the point of which is revealed three moves later. As pointed out by V.Kramnik, after the direct 43 c1 d5 44 c3 a2 45 a3 d5 46 e8?!, Black has 47...c6 and White loses a tempo compared to what happens in the game. However, even here, he could lose a move by 46 b4.

43...d5 44 c1 a2 45 c3 d5 46 a3 a2

After 46...a6 White continues the struggle for tempo by 47 b4, since after 47...a5 48 a3 a2 appears the possibility of the manoeuvre 49 b5 d5 50 c4 c6 51 d4.

47 e8 d5 48 d7 c6 49 f8 xa4 50 xg7 c7 51 xh6 xd7 52 f7 c6 53 h5

Now the h-pawn will cost a piece, but all the same an even quicker way to victory was 53 g5 c7 54 d4, when the king is denied any activity.

53...d5 54 g7 g5 55 g4 e4 56 h6 xh6 57 xh6 xe5 58 g5 f5 59 g6 f6 60 g5+ g7 61 d4 a4 62 e5 c2 63 f6+ f8 64 f4 Black resigned.

Many treatises have been written on the theme of the isolated pawn. The overall verdict is that this pawn needs to be blockaded and steps taken to show its defects in the endgame.

We come across this again when examining the game Ivanchuk-Korchnoi, Lvov 2000 (chapter 8). Here we restrict ourselves to an example of another approach to this problem. In one of the variations of the Tarrasch French: 1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 d2 c5 4 exd5 exd5 5 b5+ a passive but quite reliable way of achieving a draw is reckoned to be the continuation 5...d7 6 e2+ e7 7 xd7+ xd7 8 dxc5 xe2+ 9 xe2 xc5 10 b3 b6 11 f4 gf6 12 f3 0-0 13 0-0-0 ac8

A classical way of playing the position with the isolated pawn on d5 is considered to be the blockading 14 d4 followed by a siege. Thus say the majority. But the possibilities of chess are far broader and bring out those players who go beyond traditional thought. Like Bent Larsen who, having failed to win a series of games after blockading the “isolani”, noted: “You don’t need to blockade the isolated pawn—you need to win it”.

Beliavsky - Bareev

Munich 1994

14 c3!

Larsen’s thoughts in action. As Beliavsky revealed, this move occurred to him only during the game. White attacks the pawn and after it advances to the d4 square it becomes clear that Black still does not free himself of his problems. Things are not so simple but of course such a move is linked to concrete calculation.

14...c4 15 g3 fc8 16 b1!

16...d4

Black compensates for the threat to his d5 pawn with an attack on the c2 pawn. With his king move, White provokes the advance of the d-pawn, since upon the passive 16...f8 17 he1 e6 18 e5 still the move has to be made: 18...d4 19 b5! xc2 20 d6 and White begins to hunt it with his rooks: 20...8c6 21 f5!. The mobility and energy of this knight is quite a good illustration of the theme “perpetual motion”: Black is forced to part with the exchange—21...6c4 22 d2 c5 23 d6 xb2+ (23...xd2 24 e7+) 24 xb2 xf5 25 e5 with an obvious advantage in the endgame (A.Beliavsky).

17 b5 xc2 18 d6 8c6 19 f5!

And again White is “on horseback”! Black is in no position to defend himself against the forks on e7 and d4.

19...d5

On 19...6c4 would have followed 20 d2 c5 21 xd4.

20 bxd4 xg2 21 xc6 bxc6 22 he1 7f6 23 h4 Black resigned.

He can only avoid the loss of a second exchange by 23...f2 24 xf2 xf2, but after 25 f5 xe1 26 xe1 f8 27 c1 he loses the c6 pawn.

In the Introduction we have already touched upon the theme of small advantages in respect of the number of the opponent’s pawn islands, on the basis of the illustrative game, Petrosian-Botvinnik (Moscow 1963). Let’s also look at some examples from contemporary practice.

In one of the variations of the Slav Defence 1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 f3 f6 4 c3 dxc4 5 a4 f5 6 e5 e6 7 f3, upon the attempt to create counterplay in the centre by 7...c5 (the main continuation is reckoned to be 7...b4) White can forcibly transpose to a favourable endgame, 8 e4 cxd4 9 exf5 c6 10 xc6 bxc6 11 fxe6 fxe6 12 e2 (after the natural 12 xc4 dxc3 13 xd8+ xd8 or 13...xd8 are more comfortable for Black) 12...dxc3 13 xe6+ e7 14 xc4 xe6+ 15 xe6 cxb2 16 xb2 b4+ 17 e2 and White, besides the better pawn structure (two pawn islands against three for Black), also has the advantage of the two bishops, controlling important diagonals. Not even the most stoic “defenders” will always succeed in holding a position with such enduring negative statics.

Topalov - Gelfand

Dos Hermanas 1996

17...e7 18 c4 hd8

Black can block the a2-g8 diagonal by 18...d5, but after 19 ac1! White’s pressure is quite unpleasant.

19 hd1 ab8 20 g3 h5 21 d4!

Fighting for the d-file.

21...a5

He should not give up the important diagonal, although 21...c5 22 xd8 xd8 23 c1 is likewise in White’s favour.

22 a3+ e8?!

It was necessary to go back, 22...b4, though after 23 xd8 xd8 24 b2 (24 b1 a5) 24...d6 25 c3 White undoubtedly has the preferable position. Now, however, he takes the d-file free of charge and his king becomes hostage to the white pieces.

23 ad1 xd4 24 xd4 b1

This pseudo-activity leads to the loss of the a7 pawn. But also an exchange of rooks is contra-indicated for Black. After 24...d8 25 xd8+ xd8 26 e3 c7 27 b4 White advances his a-pawn with decisive effect in a situation where the exchange of either of his bishops leads to a winning endgame.

25 d3! e1+ 26 f2 f7 27 c5 a1 28 c4+ e8 29 d3

Repeating the position, since after 29 xa7? c3 30 d3 xa4 Black wins back the pawn.

29...f7 30 xa7 a2+ 31 g1 a1+ 32 g2 a2+ 33 h3 a3 34 f4 e1 35 c5 c3 36 c4+ e8 37 b4 c1 38 xe1 xe1 39 a5 a1 40 a6 e7 41 d2 Black resigned.