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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
|
|
|
17
|
Qb5+
|
Bb6
|
|
|
18
|
Rxb6+
|
axb6
|
|
|
19
|
Qxb6+
|
Qb7
|
At
last the Black queen is removed from the e-file
but at what cost!
White has used up his attackers and is a whole rook down.
His perpetual did not emerge, of course.
Now, it is just a matter of technique for the future GM
|
|
20
|
Qxb7+
|
Kxb7
|
|
|
21
|
Ke2?
|
|
But
the game is lost. If
21.Ng1, Rh1 22.Kf1, Be2+!
|
|
|
..
|
Rh1
|
|
|
22
|
Kd3
|
Rd1+
|
|
|
23
|
Nfd2
|
Nxd2
|
|
|
24
|
Nxd2
|
Rxa1
|
And wins
|
Time, gentlemen,
please!
Another factor to be considered if playing with a clock is
how to squeeze out the biggest time advantage.
By this I mean using your own allocated time to the greatest advantage
but, also, if your opponent is running short of time, give him moves which
will make him think!
On the first of these points and the reason this
section comes under the general heading of Opening
Play use the opening phase to move quickly, for every extra second
you can give yourself to solve the growing complexity of the middle game (and
sometimes the endgame) the better. If
you are playing openings where your opponents are regularly making you think
early on, then either book yourself up on the moves or try simpler openings,
that is, those with fewer variations. Conversely,
especially if you are playing with the white pieces maybe, slip in something
sound but not seen often
to make your opponent think!
To gain time in the openings I do not
recommend the reader to adopt all the most frequently used openings!
Get off the beaten track.
In the following game I made good use of my opponent's
battle with the clock (eventually!)
top
Game 24.
Leicestershire League game, 1976.
H
Hryniszak v
Author.
Opening: Bishops Opening.
|
1
|
e4
|
e5
|
|
|
2
|
Bc4
|
|
This
choice of opening almost reverses the direction of my comments above as,
wanting to play Petroffs and not meeting this opening of White's very
often, Black has to give some thought to his replies
|
|
|
..
|
Nf6
|
|
|
3
|
d3
|
c6
|
|
|
4
|
Bg5
|
Be7
|
|
|
5
|
Nc3
|
d6
|
|
|
6
|
f4
|
|
Another
unexpected move, sacrificing a pawn for the attack but is this rather
premature?
|
|
|
..
|
exf4
|
|
|
7
|
Bxf4?
|
|
White
has lost tempi
|
|
|
..
|
0-0
|
|
|
8
|
Nf3
|
d5
|
With
all White's pieces out and 'ready to go', Black decides he must have more
space. Also, if White can be
drawn into complications with his king still in the middle of the board,
who knows?
|
|
9
|
exd5
|
cxd5
|
|
|
10
|
Bb3
|
d4!?
|
A
two-edged move. Black chooses
to push his tenuous initiative before the white king castles
|
|
11
|
Ne2
|
Nc6
|
|
|
12
|
0-0
|
Bg4
|
|
|
13
|
a3
|
h6
|
|
|
14
|
h3
|
|
At
this point Black's thinking time to the time-control has been reduced to
only 30 minutes
|
|
|
..
|
Bh5
|
|
|
15
|
Qd2
|
|
(At
this stage the reader may be forgiven for wondering, who really did win
this game? White's pieces are nicely developed and it
is Black who is getting short of time)
|
|
|
..
|
Bxf3
|
|
|
16
|
Rxf3
|
Nd5
|
This
move tempts White into swapping off his white-squared bishop.
This will leave Black's K-side pawns free to advance
|
|
17
|
Bxd5
|
Qxd5
|
|
|
18
|
Raf1
|
g5!
|
White
has played the game almost 'to book'.
If Black sits back to defend, he may be on the end of a very
powerful attack. He decides to
make White do some thinking by using his K-side pawn majority
|
|
19
|
Bh2
|
f5
|
|
|
20
|
Ng3
|
f4
|
|
|
21
|
Ne4
|
Ne5
|
|
|
22
|
R(3)f2
|
Ng6
|
|
|
23
|
Qd1
|
Kg7
|
|
|
24
|
Qg4
|
Rad8
|
|
|
25
|
Qe2
|
|
It
is White who now has 'clock trouble'
he must make his next 5 moves
almost instantaneously, a recipe for disaster but
. Black must keep the
pressure on and make White think!
|
|
|
..
|
Rde8
|
Hidden
pressure on the queen
|
|
26
|
g3
|
|
White
does not help his own cause by playing tactically and riskily at this
moment
|
|
|
..
|
Bd6
|
Here White lost
on time. Black
set out to create a very complex situation which needed more than just a
few seconds to resolve
|
That one careless
move!
This can be one of the hardest weaknesses to overcome.
A player can play with great precision through the opening moves and,
perhaps, be sitting with a fine attack in prospect or certainly a comfortably
balanced position. Then, bang; as
suddenly as a flash of lightning, a losing move is made.
Chess is a game requiring one hundred percent
concentration for one hundred percent of the game.
One of the biggest factors in improving one's play would be to train
one's mind to this. Easier said
than done! It can happen at any
time if you are a careless player but I would suggest it mostly happens for
one of two main reasons (and I don't think a distracting noise is one of
them)
. 1. If you are in a position where the game looks fairly simple and
no threat and counter-threat situation has yet developed (or, where such a
period has been played through), it is then that our lazy brains relax.
They only do as much work as they have to!
2. When you have achieved
a 'won' position. Again, your
brain says "Hard work done; time to put my feet up".
This is my particular bug-bear for I have let several strong players,
even a county champion or two, off the hook by blundering away 'won' games.
This despite reading a chess book once wherein a whole chapter was
devoted to " How to lose a won
game. " [See the later section in the middle game chapter entitled Blunders
lose!]
The following game was played against a solid and
formidable opponent and he certainly wasn't going to make many errors in the
opening.
top
Game 25.
Leicestershire County Championship, 1975/76.
Author
v A Freyer.
Opening: Sicilian Defence,
Dragon Variation.
|
1
|
e4
|
c5
|
|
|
2
|
Nf3
|
Nc6
|
|
|
3
|
d4
|
cxd4
|
|
|
4
|
Nxd4
|
Nf6
|
|
|
5
|
Nc3
|
g6
|
|
|
6
|
f4
|
d6
|
|
|
7
|
h3
|
Bg7
|
|
|
8
|
Be3
|
Nd7
|
|
|
9
|
Qd2
|
a6
|
|
|
10
|
0-0-0
|
|
These
moves may have been played thousands of times.
An opening sequence so well known that, I would suggest, Black's
mind has gone into 'cruise' mode. Surely
he could not make a fatal error so soon?
But here it comes
|
|
|
..
|
Nc5???
|
Not
a glaring one is it, even now?
|
|
11
|
Nxc6
|
bxc6
|
|
|
12
|
Bxc5
|
|
And,
horror of horrors for Black he can't re-take the piece
|
|
|
..
|
Qa5
|
|
|
13
|
Bd4
|
e5
|
|
|
14
|
fxe5
|
dxe5
|
After
the initial blunder Black must have thought than nothing worse could
happen. But, of course, it
could
.
|
|
15
|
Bc5!!
|
Be6
|
|
|
16
|
Qd6
|
|
Black resigns
(The
queen threatens mate on e7 but, also, Qxc6+)
|
Being 'in love
with an opening'.
A big danger in opening play is that of becoming too fond of a
particular opening or, a particular line in an opening.
Even so, if you are continually getting good results with a favourite
there may not be sufficient reason to change.
But, one thing to beware of is that the focus on openings does change
and the knowledge of your particular favourite and how to tackle it may
gradually being improved. Opening
theory develops. Sometimes the
moment arrives to move on: to seek pastures new.
The signs can be, where you gradually find yourself
meeting more often those lines which 'your' opening has the hardest struggle
against
. and also, as you (having read and digested this book) begin to
meet opponents with better opening theory!
It is very pleasing for the author to be able to include
a game where he has performed well and ended up with a deserved victory.
Sometimes, strangely, it can also be quite satisfying to play through
a game where the opponent has
played a wonderfully composed game and especially so where that opponent
was at the very tender age of only twelve.
The following game is one such and you will quickly see how it
ties in with the preceding paragraph
..
top
Game 26.
Nottinghamshire Chess league; division one.
2004.
Author v
D Wells.
Opening: Q's pawn
|
1
|
d4
|
Nf6
|
|
|
2
|
e3
|
d5
|
|
|
3
|
Bd3
|
|
Here White plays his adopted concealed lead-up to the
Stonewall Attack. The text
move is not only 'camouflage' but discourages ..Ne4 and stops the black
Q-side bishop from being posted onto a powerful diagonal
|
|
|
..
|
Nc6
|
Here the usual response is the counter-attacking
..c5. My usual line virtually
depends on this. The text move
is also played by Fritz in our occasional encounters but that does nothing
to alleviate the annoying dilemma it poses for White
. This knight move
threatens ..e5 but if White stops that with his intended f4 move, then
Black jumps the knight up to b4 and White, left with no good bishop move,
will lose this vital attacking piece (also, Black solves the problem of a
'poor' Q-side knight). After
some (despondent) thought, White reasons that his young opponent whom
he had drawn with as Black only a few weeks before and who had played very
conservatively in the opening on that occasion -
would not play the aggressive ..e5 so, he bolsters his d-pawn
..
|
|
4
|
c3
|
e5!
|
Wrong! Black
does not hang about in this game
|
|
5
|
dxe5
|
|
White cannot leave 'on' the threatened ..e4
|
|
|
..
|
Nxe5
|
|
|
6
|
Be2
|
|
White had Hobson's choice here either abandon the
b1-h7 diagonal to the white bishop, which he has done, or allow Black
control of the equally threatening d1-h5 diagonal.
After Black's obvious follow-up, White's problems begin to multiply
like a colony of rabbits on Viagra
|
|
|
..
|
Bf5
|
|
|
7
|
Nf3
|
|
Forcing off one of the tormentors
|
|
|
..
|
Nxf3
|
|
|
8
|
Bxf3
|
c6
|
|
|
9
|
Nd2
|
Bd6
|
|
|
10
|
0-0
|
0-0
|
|
|
11
|
Re1
|
Re8
|
|
|
12
|
c4!
|
|
White makes an attempt at counter-play but his big
problem is his black-squared bishop. To
d2 is doubtful: to b2 will need some preparation
. But, with his other
bishop placed where it is, action on the Q-side looks favourite
|
|
|
..
|
Ne4
|
|
|
13
|
Bxe4
|
|
White felt slightly easier at this point
. if
..Bxe4 then 14. f3. If ..dxe4
then the cramping threats by the bishop on d3, c2 and b1 are removed for a
while
|
|
|
..
|
dxe4
|
|
|
14
|
a3
|
|
White needs the knight so cannot allow it to be
pinned. Also, the text move
will allow b4 freeing the bishop
|
|
|
..
|
Qh4
|
White had, of course, seen this strong attack on his
king looming but had looked little further (giving a lot of time to the
problem of his bishop) than the strong defensive move Nf1.
Now he realises that that would allow ..Bg4.
White decides on a freeing move which will either shut out the
threatening bishop on d6 or, open up his clogged-up defence
..
|
|
15
|
f4!?
|
|
White belatedly realises that the plus of shutting
out the bishop may be compromised by the vulnerability of his rook (after
..Bg4). The only saving
response would be 16. g3
|
|
|
..
|
Re6
|
White is now living on a knife edge but this
otherwise strong move by Black gives him the time for an ingenious
defensive manoeuvre
..
|
|
16
|
Qe2!
|
Bg4
|
(Too late now)
|
|
17
|
Qf2
|
|
And white's defence is looking more secure
|
|
|
..
|
Qxf2
|
|
|
18
|
Kxf2
|
|
A sigh of relief.
The most powerful attacker gone!
|
|
|
..
|
f5
|
|
|
19
|
Ra2
|
Rae8
|
|
|
20
|
b4
|
|
White was beginning to feel more comfortable now
.but class opponents don't 'go away' that easily
|
|
|
..
|
Bxf4!
|
White had not seen this coming.
However, studying the consequences, all looked to be defendable
|
|
21
|
exf4
|
e3+
|
|
|
22
|
Kf1
|
exd2
|
|
|
23
|
Bxd2
|
|
Here, the author had anticipated a rook swap-off so,
offered a draw which was declined
|
|
|
..
|
Be2+
|
(Picking up a free pawn, thank you very much)
|
|
24
|
Kf2
|
Bxc4
|
|
|
25
|
Rxe6
|
Rxe6
|
|
|
26
|
Rb2
|
|
White assesses the damage.
Although a pawn down, the opposite colour-squared bishops should
present enough problems for Black in converting the extra pawn into a win
for the game to be drawn
|
The game has jumped on from the illustration regarding
opening play (White never did get to play his beloved Stonewall!).
The following ending should really be played through in the context of
end play technique. Quite
inspiring, despite the author's blunder on move 34, is how his opponent plays
it coolly and correctly with all the aplomb of a GM.
|
|
...
|
Kf7
|
Despite the inviting move ..Re2+, Black correctly brings his king across
to the action as an extra piece (even if it does allow White to get his
bishop onto a useful diagonal, gaining a tempo thereby)
|
|
27
|
Be3
|
a6
|
|
|
28
|
Rd2
|
Bd5
|
|
|
29
|
g3
|
|
(To free up the king and the rook from defensive duties)
|
|
|
..
|
Re4
|
|
|
30
|
Rd4
|
|
White puts his faith on king and bishop of opposing colour holding
|
|
|
..
|
Ke6
|
Notice how Black saves a tempo
. Let White capture first
|
|
31
|
Rxe4+
|
|
I believe this is better than 31. Ke2 when ..Bc4+ puts the bishop on a
good diagonal. White's
problem, of course, is to deny access to the black king on either flank
|
|
|
..
|
Bxe4
|
|
|
32
|
Bd4
|
g6
|
|
|
33
|
Ke3
|
Kd5
|
|
|
34
|
a4??
|
|
The losing move. White,
naturally enough, wants to get his pawn to a5 when his position is
rock-like. He has seen Black's
counter to the text move but, once more not looking further ahead, assumed
that 35. Bc5 is adequate. As
we shall see, it
certainly is not. White should
have played 34. Bb2, Kc4 35. Kd2, Kb3
36. Bc1 (not Kc1 which loses).
If White can hold the pawn on a3, Black's only option is to advance
his pawns, which should whittle down to a single, black passed pawn.
This, White should hold
|
|
|
..
|
Kc4
|
|
|
35
|
Bc5
|
a5!
|
Of course! Black's supremacy
will soon now be two pawns,
enough to win. Black carries
on with faultless technique despite an interesting but ultimately futile
'throw' by White
|
|
36
|
Kd2
|
axb4
|
|
|
37
|
Bd6
|
b3
|
|
|
38
|
Ba3
|
|
The black king is blocked off but, this is only a temporary setback
..
|
|
|
.
|
c5
|
|
|
39
|
h3!?
|
|
With the game already 'lost' White attempts one last but futile
strategy. Knowing that at any
time the black king could strike across the board to get at his backward
pawns he chooses to make the backward pawn the f-pawn.
Then, he can perhaps use his bishop, on e5, to defend that and
to help stop the pawn queening on the Q-side.
A tall order! And,
the cost will be another pawn down
|
|
|
..
|
Bg2
|
(Another bonus, of course, will be that the black bishop will be 'off
his back' for a while)
|
|
40
|
g4
|
Bxh3
|
|
|
41
|
g5
|
Bg2
|
The bishop dutifully scuttles back to the scene of action
|
|
42
|
a5
|
|
As good an attempt as any
|
|
|
..
|
Be4
|
|
|
43
|
Bb2
|
Kb5
|
|
|
44
|
Bc3
|
b2!
|
This settles the issue
|
|
45
|
Bxb2
|
Kxa5
|
White could well have resigned now (if not earlier) but he still
harboured some vague possibility of sacrificing his bishop for the two
advancing pawns and then fast-tracking it across to the pawn on h7.
He was thinking of the black bishop having the futile job of trying
to defend from behind the pawns.
Of course, should the threat arise, the black bishop merely moves
across and finally onto the h5 square!
In the event, Black, still in GM mode, snuffs out any such
possibility
|
|
46
|
Kc3
|
b5
|
|
|
47
|
Kb3
|
Bd5+
|
|
|
48
|
Kc3
|
b4+
|
|
|
49
|
Kc2
|
c4
|
|
|
50
|
Be5
|
Ka4
|
|
|
51
|
Kb2
|
Be4
|
|
|
52
|
Bd4
|
Kb5
|
|
|
53
|
Be5
|
c3+
|
|
|
54
|
Kb3
|
Bd5+
|
|
|
55
|
Kc2
|
Kc4
|
(A lesson here keep your king with the passed pawn or pawns)
|
|
56
|
Kd1
|
b3
|
|
|
57
|
Kc1
|
b2+
|
And White resigned
|
Although I think White missed (or muffed) his chances of
a draw when he lost the second Q-side pawn, the game as a whole is an object
lesson in how to press home slight advantages until something gives.
Lastly, to conclude this section, I would like the
reader to consider the following game. The
reason I have included it in this chapter is because I wished to illustrate a
further point with regard to the opening phase ....
Do not introduce a new and
untested variation into one of your openings in a 'serious' game.
Try it out first before you arrive at a league or tournament game.
Here, the author on a whim
decided to try out a new variation of an opening he regularly used to avoid
an annoying line. The result was
a horrendous opening which, somehow our hero struggled out of.
This game, though, could have appeared in any
section in this book. The other themes it will illustrate are
1. Not
castling early. 2. Simplifying too soon.
3. A winning combination. 4.
The consequences of time pressure. 5. Letting your opponent off the hook.
6. End-game play. Etc,
etc. This game literally has everything!!! (including high drama).
top
Game 27.
Grantham Club Tournament, 2003.
Author v
F Jones.
Opening: Stonewall Attack, Unorthodox.
|
1
|
d4
|
d5
|
|
|
2
|
e3
|
Nf6
|
|
|
3
|
Bd3
|
c5
|
|
|
4
|
c3
|
Nc6
|
|
|
5
|
f4
|
|
White has played his favourite 'concealed' Stonewall
Attack (although his opponent was well aware of his predilection for this
opening).
|
|
|
..
|
Bg4
|
Fritz also seems to like playing this response and
with good results for Black
|
|
6
|
Qc2!?
|
|
White 'plucks this idea out of thin air' to avoid a
line he dislikes (but which is quite sound).
This can be a recipe for disaster
|
|
|
..
|
e6
|
|
|
7
|
b3
|
|
This is also never played by the Author.
Here, it becomes yet another weakening move
|
|
|
..
|
cxd4
|
|
|
8
|
exd4
|
|
White is pleased that Black has helped him to remove
the weak, backward e-pawn. Unfortunately
for White, the purpose was to create another!
|
|
|
..
|
Rc8
|
|
|
9
|
Qb2
|
Qc7
|
|
|
10
|
Be3
|
Bd6
|
|
|
11
|
g3
|
0-0
|
If we step back now and study the position we can see
starkly the consequences of White's ill-judged move 6. Black has obtained virtually a
perfect position. His
development is complete with everything on the right squares and he is
poised for attack. White's
position is, quite frankly, a shambles.
What can Black make of his threats?
|
|
12
|
Nd2
|
Bf5
|
|
|
13
|
Qb1!
|
|
Quite rightly, White does not want to aid black's
plan of opening a central file for an attack on the king with his rooks
or, to concede the diagonal to the bishop
|
|
|
..
|
Ne7
|
Revealing yet another threat
|
|
14
|
Ne2
|
Ng4?
|
An obvious looking move but ..Ne4 is surely more in
keeping with the attack on the c-pawn.
This text move is, perhaps, more speculative
|
|
15
|
Nf1
|
|
The one saving grace for White is the space he has
this allows his knights to manoeuvre - and they
do a sterling job of defending
|
|
|
..
|
Bxd3
|
(One attacking piece less!)
|
|
16
|
Qxd3
|
f6
|
Black's plan is still, correctly, to open up the
e-file
|
|
17
|
h3
|
Nxe3
|
|
|
18
|
Nxe3
|
e5!?
|
Although both players are running short of time after
their deliberations in the opening Black to find the correct attacking
line: White to hang on. Black is committed to opening up the centre
. Although he has seen that it will cost him a pawn!
|
|
19
|
dxe5
|
fxe5
|
|
|
20
|
Nxd5
|
Nxd5
|
|
|
21
|
Qxd5+
|
Kh8
|
The game is poised on a knife-edge.
White may be a pawn up but, with the badly placed rooks and the
opening position, he has plenty to worry about
|
|
22
|
Rd1
|
|
White uses the tempo he gained from the check to
counter-attack
|
|
|
..
|
Rfd8
|
Was this the correct rook to come to d8?
Obviously Black wants to maintain his powerhouse attack along the
c-file
|
|
23
|
Qf3
|
|
Every placement of the white pieces will be critical
for the next series of moves
|
|
|
..
|
exf4
|
|
|
24
|
gxf4
|
Re8
|
|
|
25
|
0-0
|
|
(The author doesn't usually find himself castling
this late in the game!)
|
|
|
..
|
Rf8
|
The attacking rook seems to be constantly thwarted
|
|
26
|
c4
|
|
White finds a moment to make his c-pawn safe
|
|
|
..
|
Rf6
|
|
|
27
|
Kh1
|
Rcf8
|
|
|
28
|
Rd4
|
g5!?
|
With both players in severe time-trouble (the control
at 30 moves), Black 'goes for it'
|
|
29
|
Qc3
|
|
Lining up a crafty attack on Black's king to stop the
..gxf4 take
|
|
|
..
|
Kg8
|
Black gets the king off that threatened diagonal
but puts it onto an equally vulnerably file
|
|
30
|
Rg1
|
Bxf4
|
(A double sigh of relief as the time-control is
reached
but, there is now only fifteen minutes each to finish the
game!)
|
|
31
|
Nxf4
|
Rxf4
|
|
|
32
|
Rxg5+
|
Kf7
|
Although the Black king has been forced onto a not
ideal square, splitting the rooks, everything looks to be adequately
defended
.
|
|
33
|
Rg7+!!!
|
|
Probably the best combinational move of the author's
career!
|
|
|
..
|
Kxg7
|
|
|
34
|
Rd7+
|
Kg6
|
|
|
35
|
Qg7+
|
Kh5
|
|
|
36
|
Qxh7+
|
Kg5
|
|
|
37
|
Qg7+
|
Kh4
|
|
|
38
|
Rxc7
???
|
|
Although a growing shortage of time is, perhaps, a
mitigating factor, this was a terrible mistake.
White should have clinched the win by first eliminating the threat
from the rooks by forcing the black king down the board to his fate.
The black queen could be taken at any time, thus
. 38. Qh6+ ,
Kg3 39. Qg5+, Kxh3
40. Qg2+, Kh4 41. Rxc7
now, if the Rf1+ move is played, White threatens mate after Kh2.
If, after White's move 39. Black plays ..Kf2 (Kf3 could lead to
mate) then, 40. Rxc7 wins. White
failed to analyse this because of the time shortage and only felt that the
black king being driven towards his own would help the black rooks entrap
the white king
|
|
|
..
|
Rf1+
|
|
|
39
|
Kh2
|
R(8)f2+
|
|
|
40
|
Qg2
|
Rxg2
|
|
|
41
|
Kxg2
|
Ra1
|
|
|
42
|
Rxb7
|
Rxa2+
|
|
|
43
|
Kf3
|
a5
|
|
|
44
|
Ke3
|
Ra3
|
|
|
45
|
Kd4
|
a4
|
Here, Black
offered a draw which White hastily accepted.
One can forget the final position as both players are down to
their last remaining seconds so, neither could play out a result.
The offer of a draw, however, was an act of true sporting gallantry
as White was bound to lose the contest of dwindling seconds!
|
|