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I said in the introductory passages that this book
would not go into openings theory in depth.
However, because of the huge importance of the opening phase, some
morsels of advice will be sprinkled before the reader.
Play through the following games and see what you think.
The big headache for weaker players especially, and for anyone who
hasn't the ability to absorb countless opening variations and
their underlying strategies is
. a)
for White, consolidating the advantage of having the first move (to leave
good attacking chances and a solid defence for the crucial middle-game), and
b) for Black, catching up that first move to leave no inherent weaknesses.
Choosing
something to suit your style.
What has persuaded the reader to take up the openings
he or she has? One likely reason
is that, if you have followed grandmaster play at all, these openings seem to
be the current 'in thing'
. and,
"if they're good enough for Kasparov and Co they are OK for me"!
This may not be so. The
top players, with their deeper grasp of both strategy and tactics, usually
look to complicate a game. If it
is too simple it may be easier for one or the other to turn it into a draw.
A simpler opening may be better for you, however.
The opening is a part of the game where you should be
reacting to your opponent's moves but also trying to impose your own strategy
on the game. You should be aware
in a general sense of what he is up to and most players are.
Some openings make it clear from the first three or four moves just
what you can expect from your opponent. For
example, he may be a very tactical player and come at you from move one: no
hidden agenda here! If you play
an opening defence that you are not too sure of against one of these tigers
you may quickly be torn to shreds. This
happens predominantly in the e4
category of openings and more so if you, as black, have responded with
1
e5. There is no time to go
your own way against these players: you are usually reacting to each and
every move right from the start.
It is amazing, though, how often 'old-fashioned'
openings may be re-introduced. Years
ago I regularly set out to play Petroff's Defence against
1.e4. Virtually no-one in
league or tournament play (at my level) knew much about it and I had good
results with it because of this. When
Korchnoi reached the World Championship Candidates final in 1974 he tried it
twice against Karpov with disastrous results.
But, suddenly, the spotlight had been turned on this 'unknown' defence
with consequently harder games for the author!
The most successful defence against e4 if you wish
to avoid giving White too many choices by responding with
1. ..e5 is, arguably, the Sicilian Defence.
This has certainly stood the test of time at all levels.
The only reason I didn't play it when 'in my prime' was the number of
variations one had to learn. I believed I had a poor memory.
(Strangely, now that my memory must have deteriorated with age, I have
adopted this defence and with some success!).
But, this is a valid reason for discarding some openings
if your memory is poor or if you are just too lazy to memorise umpteen
variations, avoid if you can that type of opening.
Another factor which greatly increased my success rate
was simply in knowing what that success
rate was!!! I always played
1.e4 (or, pawn to king four, as it was then), fondly imagining that I had a
good positive score with it. One
day I sat down and analysed my
success rate with the openings I was then using.
Yes, if my opponent had replied with 1. ..e5 I had a two-to-one plus
score. But if the frequently-used
Sicilian was the reply, I had a loss rate; against the French it was about
even; miscellaneous other defences attracted good results for white.
I immediately became a convert
to 1. d4. If the reader,
playing white, is troubled by defences against e4, I would recommend giving
d4 or c4 a try (or any of the 'concealed' variations of these).
The one well-known advantage of moving the queen's pawn as against e4
is that you are not immediately setting up an undefended target for Black.
Let us consider a few types of openings and their
themes. Have a go at those which
you think may suit your style of
play.
Gambits and
sacrificial openings.
One defence/attack where both sides seem to throw away
several recommended opening principles (and yet it is still brought out of
the closet on occasion by even strong players) is that employed in the
following game. Usually a gambit
involves giving up one pawn - for
quicker or better development but here Black is invited to make a meal
out of a whole chain of pawns. It
is the classic case of greed versus
development; grab material and to hell with any come-uppance.
The opening is the Danish Gambit.
top
Game 18.
Leicestershire League game, 1976.
Author
v M Cowley
|
1
|
e4
|
e5
|
|
|
2
|
Nf3
|
Nc6
|
|
|
3
|
Bc4
|
Bc5
|
|
|
4
|
c3
|
Nf6
|
|
|
5
|
d4
|
exd4
|
|
|
6
|
0-0
|
|
The
'safe' line for Black here is to give back his extra pawn by castling.
However, accepting the gambit is perfectly in order provided one
remembers the maxim 'be prepared to give back material at any time to gain
position'. The greed
factor in all of us sometimes just won't let us do that
|
|
|
..
|
dxc3
|
|
|
7
|
e5
|
cxb2
|
The
Danish! Three pawns up already
can't be bad
can it?
|
|
8
|
Bxb2
|
|
Apart
from the undeveloped Q-side knight, White is already strongly placed for
an attack
|
|
|
..
|
Ng4
|
|
|
9
|
Bxf7+
|
|
White's
first move in the attack is to stop Black from castling
|
|
|
..
|
Kf8
|
(If
..Kxf7, Qd5+ soon gets the
bishop back and puts a dangerous-looking queen in the centre of the
board.)
|
|
10
|
Bh5
|
d6
|
|
|
11
|
exd6
|
|
With
his better development and the Black king still stranded, White seeks to
open up attacking files and diagonals.
Note that Black is only one meagre pawn up now at the cost of a
terribly open position
|
|
|
..
|
Bxd6
|
|
|
12
|
Re1
|
|
Every
White move should be a direct threat; Black must not be given a freeing
tempo. The critical square for
Black is e8. If ..Nf6 to
defend, then BxN, of course. If
..Bd7, then 13. Qd5 poses threats. Be7
emphasises the tactical position
|
|
|
..
|
Be6
|
Black
sets a cunning trap (often a good ploy to trip up an overconfident
attacker)
if Rxe6 then ..Bxh2+ wins
White's queen!
|
|
13
|
Qa4!
|
|
Avoiding
the trap and setting up to win material by hitting at the knight on g4
|
|
|
..
|
Nf6
|
If
the knight stays where it is, it cannot be successfully defended.
Black chooses to let the white-squared bishop go instead but, with
an immediate piece re-capture
|
|
14
|
Rxe6
|
Nxh5
|
|
|
15
|
Nbd2
|
|
Safety
first! (Before such inviting a
move as
Qg4.)
|
|
|
..
|
Qd7
|
|
|
16
|
Rae1
|
|
Black
is still clinging on to a single pawn advantage but, with White's
development now complete, the final phase of the battle can begin.
The white pieces are so strongly placed it is very hard for Black
not to make a mistake. He
tries for a counter-strike
|
|
|
..
|
Bb4
|
|
|
17
|
Rxc6
|
|
Now
Q or b xc6 loses material, of course (18.QxB+).
Black apparently really has no choice but to take the knight
.
However, knowing this will put him back in the mire and
realising that White's rook is pinned, he tries a clever reply
|
|
|
..
|
a5
|
White
has a resource, though, which nullifies this
|
|
18
|
Ba3!
|
Bd6
|
|
|
19
|
Bxd6+
|
|
19.
Ne5 looks tempting but White decides not to complicate a 'won' game
|
|
|
..
|
cxd6
|
|
|
20
|
Rc4
|
b5
|
|
|
21
|
Rf4+
|
Nxf4
|
|
|
22
|
Qxf4+
|
Kg8
|
|
|
23
|
Nd4
|
Rf8
|
|
|
24
|
Qe4
|
h5
|
|
|
25
|
Qe6+
|
|
White
now has the material superiority to force a win so looks to reduce Black's
defensive strength
|
|
|
..
|
Qf7
|
Really
achieving nothing but handing White a tempo
|
|
26
|
Qxf7+
|
Kxf7
|
|
|
27
|
Nxb5
|
d5
|
|
|
28
|
Nd6+
|
Kf6
|
|
|
29
|
Nf3
|
Rb8
|
|
|
30
|
Nd4
|
Rhd8
|
and resigns. It
seems impossible for Black to squirm out of the mating net.
A possible continuation is 31. Re6+, Kg5
32. g3 and once the white king comes to g2, mating threats exist
immediately.
|
Where a player can really score is where he books up
thoroughly, especially in a little-used variation.
The next game saw the author in deep trouble against an unexpected
gambit .
top
Game 19.
Leicestershire League game, 1977.
A Aherne v
Author.
Opening: Petroff's
Defence, Cochrane's Gambit.
|
1
|
e4
|
e5
|
|
|
2
|
Nf3
|
Nf6
|
|
|
3
|
Nxe5
|
d6
|
|
|
4
|
Nxf7!?
|
|
This
certainly achieved 'shock value'. White
said after the game that this sacrifice was recommended in Bronstein's 100 best games. As
far as our game was concerned
he knew it, I didn't!
|
|
|
..
|
Kxf7
|
|
|
5
|
d4
|
Be7
|
|
|
6
|
Nc3
|
c6
|
|
|
7
|
Bd3
|
Rf8?
|
When
one meets an unexpected and unknown opening variation the general
guideline is to stay cool, follow general development principles and, be
prepared to return any material gained in a sacrificial attack.
The difficulty is in not making an inaccurate move but here,
Black's move allows White to commence his attack
.
|
|
8
|
e5
|
dxe5
|
|
|
9
|
dxe5
|
Ng4
|
An
attacking response. Retreating
the knight did not look too good
|
|
10
|
Qe2
|
Be6
|
|
|
11
|
h3
|
|
Here
Black had feared Bxh7
|
|
|
..
|
Nxf2
|
Retreating
to h6 looked disastrous so Black chooses this moment to return material
|
|
12
|
0-0
|
|
White
finds a clever reply which keeps his attack rolling
|
|
|
..
|
Kg8
|
|
|
13
|
Rxf2
|
Rxf2
|
|
|
14
|
Qxf2
|
Nd7
|
Black
is a pawn down but has drawn the teeth of the main attack.
Can he now get the pawn back also?
|
|
15
|
Qe2
|
Bc5+
|
|
|
16
|
Kh1
|
Qh4
|
|
|
17
|
Qe4?
|
|
A
miscalculation this move makes it very difficult for White to hang on
to his extra pawn
|
|
|
..
|
Qxe4
|
|
|
18
|
Nxe4
|
Bd4
|
|
|
19
|
Ng5
|
Nf8
|
|
|
20
|
Nxe6
|
|
A
critical mistake
. 20. Bf4 (which also releases the rook on a1) is
correct
|
|
|
..
|
Nxe6
|
|
|
21
|
Bc4
|
Re8
|
|
|
22
|
Bd2
|
Kf8
|
Black
must unpin the knight. Also,
he must not be tempted by ..Bxb2. The
priority is to eliminate the passed pawn on e5
|
|
23
|
Rf1+
|
Ke7
|
|
|
24
|
Bxe6
|
Kxe6
|
Here a draw was
agreed. (If
White tries 25. Bf4, Black does not, of course play ..Bxe5???
when 26. Bxe5, Kxe5 27.
Re1+ would pick up the black rook. 25
..Kd5 wins back the pawn safely)
|
So much for gambits or early sacrifices here as they
will be met with again in other illustrative games.
They can achieve much but, like shares, they carry an inherent risk.
As does another type of opening, the over-optimistic early attacking
play which creates dangerous weaknesses in the attacker's position
this
might well be called loose play.
Unless you are a tactical wizard it is best to keep it
'tight and safe' in the opening. Several
games follow later in this chapter under the sub-heading Loose
play by White which clearly illustrate the dangers of that type of play,
but now we switch to the advantages of the slow build-up.
Opening play
featuring a slow build-up.
As the reader will observe, most of the author's games
have a tendency towards striking out, where the opportunity permits, in an
aggressive manner. Playing with
the white pieces then, it is rarely that the author can demonstrate the true,
patient build up of forces that will sweep all before it and which will
exemplify the principles of this section.
Some such games have been used, however, in different contexts but the
following game will perhaps give some idea of this type of opening.
Here, it is as though White is waiting for Black to overreach himself,
which is what happens. The
hardest games in this category are where White carries out his slow,
methodical build up, perhaps with much manoeuvring of pieces onto better
squares, only to find he is pitted against an equally patient and careful
defender! Draw?
top
Game 20.
Leicestershire
County
2nds v Hunts and
Peterborough
, 1974.
Author v
E Dalby
(board 3).
Opening:
Queens
Gambit Declined.
|
1
|
c4
|
e6
|
|
|
2
|
d4
|
d5
|
|
|
3
|
Nc3
|
Nf6
|
|
|
4
|
Nf3
|
Be7
|
|
|
5
|
g3
|
0-0
|
|
|
6
|
cxd5
|
|
Move 5 for White is obviously preparatory to playing
Bg2 so, the pawn on c4 cannot be left en prise.
Pushing the pawn on would invite an early skirmish before White is
fully prepared; 6. b3 was a
possibility but invites ..Bb4
|
|
|
..
|
exd5
|
|
|
7
|
Bg2
|
b6
|
|
|
8
|
0-0
|
Bb7
|
|
|
9
|
a3
|
c5
|
|
|
10
|
dxc5
|
bxc5
|
So far Black has played an exemplary game.
White must seek to improve the position of his pieces.
The swap-off just instigated by White leaves him with no pawns
contesting the central squares. It
would seem that this violation of the principle of controlling the centre
was a result of the tactical decision to attack the black bishop on b7
with Qb3 followed up with Rd1
..
|
|
11
|
Qb3
|
Qb6
|
Black wants to keep his strong bishop on b7.
If he defends it with the queen other than by the text move he
will, maybe, have his queen on an inferior square.
Also, should White capture the black queen, Black's re-take will
get rid of an isolated pawn and strengthen the c-d-pawn pair.
That must have been the logic behind Black's reply
|
|
12
|
Qxb6
|
axb6
|
Up until this point
which starts the middle-game phase White had developed
quietly. Indeed, apart from
the queen's sally, his pieces sit stolidly awaiting the unfolding of the
great battle plan. Now,
with the black queen gone, White is free to probe with his minor pieces:
their time has come!
|
|
13
|
Ne5
|
Rd8
|
|
|
14
|
Rd1
|
Ne4!?
|
Black seeks to exchange knights as White's on c3 is a
minor irritant but, with his text move, Black allows a serious weakening
of his pawn structure. This
move, which Black had failed to fully calculate the consequences of, is
the turning point in the game
|
|
15
|
Nxe4
|
dxe4
|
|
|
16
|
Be3
|
f6
|
The advanced knight is to be driven off
|
|
17
|
Rxd8+
|
Bxd8
|
|
|
18
|
Rd1
|
Be7
|
|
|
19
|
Nd7
|
|
Far from being driven back by the move ..f6, the
knight steps forward with a dangerous initiative.
The weakness of a backward pawn is now illustrated
|
|
|
..
|
Na6
|
Black's Q-side now rapidly crumbles
|
|
20
|
Nxb6
|
|
Black is now faced with a difficult decision
.
Normally he would not wish to allow a simplification by swapping off
pieces but he cannot allow White unchallenged control of the d-file
|
|
|
..
|
Rd8
|
|
|
21
|
Rxd8+
|
Bxd8
|
|
|
22
|
Nc4
|
Be7
|
|
|
23
|
Bf4
|
|
Black's knight, in its weakest position on the edge
of the board, is cut off
|
|
|
..
|
f5
|
|
|
24
|
e3
|
Bf6
|
White's black-squared bishop and his knight are so
well placed that he can almost ignore Black's moves!
|
|
25
|
Bf1
|
Be7
|
|
|
26
|
Nd6
|
|
If Black's last move was to discourage this, he must
be disappointed
|
|
|
..
|
Bxd6
|
|
|
27
|
Bxd6
|
Kf7
|
|
|
28
|
Bxa6
|
Bxa6
|
|
|
29
|
Bxc5
|
|
With two connected passed pawns, White looks to have
an easy win but, Black has other ideas and the annoying bishop on a6 is a
problem which White must first solve
|
|
|
..
|
Ke6
|
|
|
30
|
f3
|
|
White frees a path for his king but, at a price
|
|
|
..
|
exf3
|
|
|
31
|
Kf2
|
Bb7
|
|
|
32
|
a4
|
g6
|
|
|
33
|
b4
|
h5
|
|
|
34
|
a5
|
g5
|
White should have prevented this with h4 but was
perhaps overeager to get his passed pawns up the board
|
|
35
|
b5
|
g4
|
|
|
36
|
Bb4
|
|
This is not a good move the g1/a7 diagonal is the
one to be on
|
|
|
..
|
Kd7
|
|
|
37
|
Be1
|
|
White's plan to exchange the positions of his king
and bishop is clumsy and hard to implement
|
|
|
..
|
Kd6
|
|
|
38
|
a6
|
Bd5
|
|
|
39
|
Bb4+
|
|
White abandons his former plan.
He cannot allow ..Kc5
|
|
|
..
|
Kc7
|
|
|
40
|
Bc5
|
Kb8
|
|
|
41
|
b6
|
Kc8
|
|
|
42
|
b7+
|
Bxb7
|
(Forced!)
|
|
43
|
axb7+
|
Kxb7
|
|
|
44
|
e4
|
|
The only way
|
|
|
..
|
fxe4
|
|
|
45
|
Ke3
|
Kc6
|
|
|
46
|
Bd4
|
Kd5
|
|
|
47
|
Bb2?
|
Kc4
|
And resigns.
Although White's last move was a time-wasting inaccuracy, Black
realises that it is only a matter of time before he is forced off the key
squares. Play could continue
48. Bd4, Kd5
49. Ba7, Ke5 50. Bb6
(this move forces the black king to lose the opposition which it now
enjoys), Kd5 51. Bd4, Kc4
52. Kxe4, Kb3 53. Kf4,
Kc4 54. Ba7, Kd3
55. Kg5, Ke2 56. Kxh5,
f2 57. Bxf2, Kxf2
58. Kxg4 and wins. If,
at move 50 the black king had gone the other way
.Kf5, then 51. Bd4,
Kg5 52. Kxe4, h4
53. Be3+ and 54. Kf4 wins
|
This game does show, however, the power of the king when
in action. If Black had been
faced with only one passed pawn, the end might well have been
different. His king worked his
socks off (do kings wear socks?) in this game but the odds were just too
great. The ending of this game
should be played in the context of the use of a king in the appropriate
section of chapter 4.
Loose play by
White. A game which illustrates the dangers for White of
playing loosely and with premature ideas of attack is this one, admittedly
against an opponent with a special talent grandmaster-to-be Mark Hebden.
top
Game 21.
Leicestershire County
Championship, 1975/76.
Author
v M Hebden.
Opening: French Def, Exch Var - Dutch
|
1
|
e4
|
e6
|
|
|
2
|
d4
|
d5
|
|
|
3
|
exd5
|
exd5
|
|
|
4
|
Nf3
|
Bd6
|
|
|
5
|
Nc3
|
Ne7
|
|
|
6
|
Bg5
|
c6
|
White's
knight on the Q-side has blocked his c-pawn and, after Black's last move,
has got some manoeuvring to do to get into the game. It is the subtlety of
misplacements such as this that can help to swing a game
|
|
7
|
Bd3
|
0-0
|
|
|
8
|
h3
|
h6
|
White
has a clear choice
carry through with the attacking threat of his sixth
move by playing BxN or retreat!
Retreat to h4 looks risky, inviting a pawn advance.
White decides to avoid complications
|
|
9
|
Be3
|
Nd7
|
|
|
10
|
0-0
|
f5
|
The
loss of tempo by moving the bishop out and back has handed Black the
initiative
|
|
11
|
g3??
|
|
A
terrible, weakening move. Why
not bring over the knight from c3 to discourage the pawn advance and
bolster the king's defence?
|
|
|
..
|
f4
|
|
|
12
|
gxf4
|
Bxf4
|
|
|
13
|
Qd2
|
Qc7
|
|
|
14
|
Ne2
|
Bd6
|
It
is possible that this position could be held now but White misplaces
another piece. 15. Ne1 then to
g2 looks better than the text reply below although it is doubtful that the
weak h-pawn could be saved (note the earlier comments on weak pawns)
|
|
15
|
Nh4
|
Nf6
|
|
|
16
|
Kg2
|
|
The
poor old king is having to do the work that his army should be doing!
But, White may have thought that at last he was mustering some sort
of viable defence. The future
grandmaster playing Black had other ideas
|
|
|
..
|
Bxh3+!
|
|
|
17
|
Kxh3
|
Qd7+
|
|
|
18
|
Kg2
|
Qg4+
|
The
weaknesses of an advanced or disrupted king's pawn shield plus that of a
knight on the edge of the board are convincingly exposed
|
|
19
|
Ng3
|
Qxh4
|
|
|
20
|
Rh1
|
Qg4
|
|
|
21
|
Rh3
|
Ne4
|
|
|
22
|
Bxe4
|
|
22.
Qe2 is better
|
|
|
..
|
dxe4
|
|
|
23
|
Rg1
|
Nf5
|
|
|
24
|
Qe1
|
|
White
struggles to find the correct defensive moves while still keeping half an
eye on counter-chances along the g-file.
But, would Qe2 have been better?
|
|
|
..
|
Bxg3
|
|
|
25
|
Rxg3
|
|
(If
25. fxg3,
Qf3+ picks up the bishop on e3)
|
|
|
..
|
Nxg3
|
Simple
technique now wins easily for Black
|
|
26
|
fxg3
|
Rf5
|
|
|
27
|
Rh1
|
Raf8
|
|
|
28
|
Rh4
|
Qf3+
|
|
|
29
|
Kh2
|
Rh5
|
|
|
30
|
Bf4??
|
|
But,
there is no defence
|
|
|
..
|
Rxh4+
|
and White
resigned
|
The theme of White's vulnerability if, after playing
1.e4, he plays a 'loose' game, as shown in the above game, is repeated in the
next illustration too. The type
of player who may do this is often someone confident in their ingenuity with
tactics. The following game looked set to be a very tactical affair
(but,
this is the type of game I enjoy. I
like to 'mix it'). However, here
White became quite indecisive and his final tactical throw was unsound.
The biggest risk for the author in this particular game was that I was
trying something new, deserting my tried and trusted Petroffs for the Pirc
Defence.
top
Game 22.
Leicestershire League game, 1975.
C
Johnson v
Author.
|
1
|
e4
|
d6
|
|
|
2
|
d4
|
Nf6
|
|
|
3
|
f3
|
|
Quite
playable but, in blocking the advance of Black's K-side knight, also
deprives White's own knight of its most logical developing square
|
|
|
..
|
g6
|
|
|
4
|
Be3
|
Bg7
|
|
|
5
|
Qd2
|
|
This
queen move, behind the Q-side bishop often signals the intention to swap
off Black's powerful fianchettoed bishop
|
|
|
..
|
c6
|
So
far development on both sides has followed a normal pattern.
Black is set to castle K-side; White on the Q-side after Nc3.
Now everything goes haywire
|
|
6
|
g4
|
h6
|
|
|
7
|
h4
|
Qc7
|
Black
must stay cool against such early aggression but this move is played with
an eye on the g3 square and a
possible counter-attack
|
|
8
|
Nc3
|
a5
|
Making
White think twice about castling Q-side
|
|
9
|
a4
|
b6
|
|
|
10
|
Bd3
|
Na6
|
|
|
11
|
Na2
|
Bb7
|
Has
the reader noted something odd about White's play?
He seems to have put the K-side attack on hold
moves 9 to 11
have not helped his game-plan
|
|
12
|
Qe2
|
Nd7
|
As
well as abandoning his usual defence, Black seems also to have dumped his
usually firm commitment to early castling.
The 'be flexible' principle has overridden this convention in this
particular game, and why?
.. To castle K-side in view of White's build
up in front of that position looks to invite trouble.
But, there is no rush to do so on the Q-side either because Black's
central pawns are backward (not yet targets) and still provide a strong
shield
|
|
13
|
c3
|
|
White
now has more territory at the price of having his king still quite
vulnerable on its central throne
|
|
|
..
|
c5!
|
Black
hits at White's strong centre and seeks to open up the long diagonal for
his black-squared bishop
|
|
14
|
Rc1
|
Qc8
|
(To
free up c7 for a knight manoeuvre)
|
|
15
|
Qd2
|
Nc7
|
|
|
16
|
Ne2
|
Ba6
|
|
|
17
|
c4
|
Ne6
|
|
|
18
|
Bb1
|
|
White's
play suggests a lot of inconsistency in his 'planning department'.
All right, he must respond to Black's moves but, does he have a
clear plan or is he merely waiting for an opportunistic chance?
He is strangely reluctant to advance his d-pawn and the K-side
attack is still stuck in cement
|
|
|
..
|
cxd4
|
(Unusually,
the first 'take' in 18 moves)
|
|
19
|
Nxd4
|
Ne5
|
Threatening
both Q and K-sides!
|
|
20
|
0-0
|
|
Belated
and risky now that the king's normal shield has been advanced so far up
the board
|
|
|
..
|
Qb7
|
Black
has half an eye on h1 as he moves his queen to a safer square
|
|
21
|
Nxe6
|
fxe6
|
This
normally weakening of Black's pawn structure actually creates a nice
shield for the king
|
|
22
|
b3
|
Nf7
|
|
|
23
|
Nc3
|
g5
|
|
|
24
|
hxg5?
|
|
Although
this wins a pawn, White should play h5.
Why open up the file for Black's rooks?
|
|
|
..
|
hxg5
|
|
|
25
|
Bxg5
|
Kd7
|
|
|
26
|
Be3
|
Rh3
|
|
|
27
|
Rf2
|
Rah8
|
|
|
28
|
Kf1
|
Ne5
|
|
|
29
|
Qd4
|
Bf6
|
If
we consider now just how much Black has achieved for the pawn sacrifice
his attack has gathered an unstoppable momentum.
The text move now allows a concealed attack on the White queen to
be launched. If White plays
the logical- looking Qxb6, Black has lined up some nasty threats.
At the time control, however, it is the tactical White who suddenly
gambles on a sacrificial attack! His
idea is to open up the attacking diagonal of the bishop on b1.
|
|
30
|
Nd5!?
|
exd5
|
|
|
31
|
exd5
|
Rh1+
|
|
|
32
|
Ke2
|
Rxc1
|
|
|
33
|
Bxc1
|
|
White
threw away his chance of Qxb6 but now worse is to come
|
|
|
..
|
Nxc4
|
|
|
34
|
Bf5+
|
Kc7
|
|
|
35
|
Qf4
|
|
The
forced queen move leaves the
concealed check on the king by the a6-bishop
|
|
|
..
|
Nb2+
|
|
|
36
|
Ke1
|
Rh1+
|
and White
resigned
|
top
Another game that illustrates White's overconfidence
and consequent loose play is the following.
Here the author is too eager to attack and makes a bad assessment of
Black's position, thinking it is weaker than it really is, thus taking
alarming risks. It doesn't help
again that Black is another Leicestershire future grandmaster and, although
the author was not to know that, he really should have attacked from a more
solid base.
Game 23.
Leicestershire County Championship, 1975/76.
Author
v G Flear.
Opening: Giuoco Piano.
|
1
|
e4
|
e5
|
|
|
2
|
Nf3
|
Nc6
|
The
favourite continuation then as now would be the Ruy Lopez, 3. Bb5.
But I used to prefer the simpler but natural though considered
by many outdated Giuoco Piano
|
|
3
|
Bc4
|
Nf6
|
|
|
4
|
d4
|
exd4
|
|
|
5
|
Bg5
|
h6
|
|
|
6
|
Bh4
|
|
e5
is probably stronger and more combative
|
|
|
..
|
g5
|
|
|
7
|
Bg3
|
Bc5
|
The
opening is almost played through early in this game!
|
|
8
|
h4
|
|
White
decides to 'mix it' before his opponent can castle Q-side
|
|
|
..
|
Nxe4
|
|
|
9
|
hxg5
|
d5!
|
A
strong move, cutting out one of White's threats and developing the
white-squared bishop
|
|
10
|
Bb5
|
Qe7
|
Black
clouds are gathering; White needs to play very accurately
|
|
11
|
Qe2
|
|
White
has no easy answers but, possibly, Be5 was stronger as it poses immediate
threats and the B remaining on g3 looks a sitting duck
|
|
|
..
|
Bg4
|
Black
tightens the screw
|
|
12
|
Bxc6+
|
bxc6
|
|
|
13
|
Rxh6
|
|
Having
created a hole on Black's Q-side, White 'goes for it'
|
|
|
..
|
0-0-0
|
|
|
14
|
Qa6+
|
|
In
a precarious position, White should have played Nbd2 but gambles on the
faint possibility of a perpetual check
|
|
|
..
|
Kb8
|
|
|
15
|
Bxc7+
|
Kxc7
|
|
|
16
|
Rxc6+
|
Kb8
|
< | |