igor smirnov-your winning plan (2013)
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Contents Instructions For Study 3
A. Video Lessons 4
Introduction: Important generalities 5
Lesson-1: “The Best Time for Planning 9
Lesson-2: “How ti Copose a Winning Plan 16
Lesson-3: “Specific Rules for an Open Center” 30
Lesson-4: “Specific Rules for the ClosedCenter” 35
Lesson-5: “Specific Rules for the Static Center” 42
Lesson-6: “Specific Rules for the PawnCenter” 47
Lesson-7: “Specific Rules for the Dynamic Center” 54
Lesson-8: Two Universal Keys 59
Lesson-9: How to Realise Your Winning Plan 64
Lesson-10: Grandmasters’ Secrets of Planning 73
B. Practical Part 95
Instruction For The Practical Part 96
Task 1 98
Task 2 101
Task 3 106
Task 4 119
Task 5 128
Task 6 138
Task 7 147
Task 8 158
Task 9 168
Task 10 179
Task 11 196
Task 12 197
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«YOUR WINNING PLAN»
by GM Igor Smirnov
INSTRUCTIONS FOR STUDY
Study the сhess course (folder “Chess course”).
Please, study the “VIDEO LESSONS” first .
After that you should study the “PRACTICAL PART”.
You’ve got all the necessary instructions. Now you may study the course. However if you have any sudden problems, you can find some more instructions below.
I would like to give you a few recommendations, which will make your study of the video lessons more effective. Focus on a study. Turn off your mobile phone, music, TV etc.
Stop (pause) a video lesson sometimes. When you stop the video, you can
THINK about an interesting idea and digest it better. It is very important to do
it.
Print the text versions of the video lessons. When you think about deferent
ideas of the course, you will see them at the same time. It is very helpful.
After a study of one video lesson, please look through its text version. Pay attention to the enhanced font - it will help you to remember all the key ideas.
Write the important ideas. While studying the video lessons you will find a lot
of useful rules, principles and so on. Also you will probably make your own
conclusions. If you write them, you will remember and classify them better.
Make pauses. Your brain needs to have some free time to digest new
information. Don’t try to study everything at once.
Repeat the lessons. Study the lessons several times. Of course it is hard to
remember a lot of information after a quick acquaintance. So you need to
repeat it sometimes.
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«YOUR WINNING PLAN»
by GM Igor Smirnov
VIDEO LESSONS
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«YOUR WINNING PLAN»
by GM Igor Smirnov
Introduction: Important generalities
Hi! I am Igor Smirnov, International Grandmaster and a chess coach.
I am very glad to welcome you to my new course “Your Winning Plan”.
When I made the decision to create this course, the first thing I decided to look
over were the existing books on this topic. I have a lot of them actually. After 1-2
hours, my brain started seething ☺
The authors offered me a 5 to 10 step plan to evaluate a position! And this is
only the beginning! Then, I should realize who is better in the situation; and then
there are dozens of recommendations of what I should do depending on who is
better. Next, I should compose a plan, which consists of several stages. Finally,
there are a lot of rules about which plans are good in different situations and how I
should realize them in different positions.
I am not sure whether these authors follow their recommendations in their own
games. Actually, I doubt it.
In this course, I am going to show you what really happens in the
Grandmasters’ games: how Grandmasters think during a practical game and how
they compose plans.
You will see that everything is very simple. It is much simpler than it seems to
be.
Starting from the next lesson, I will be telling you the simple and effective
principles regarding planning. But before we begin, I’d like to discuss some
important general things.
Here is the first question: “Why is planning so important?” Let me tell you
one story. When I was a 14 year-old-boy, I trained with a coach who is a famous
Grandmaster. By the way, at that time I was an International Master already, so I was
not so bad. During our training sessions, I noticed that my coach was able to predict
a game continuation for many moves ahead, much further than I could. That’s
because his understanding of the position was much deeper.
When I looked at unclear position and tried to find the right move, my teacher
said something like: “Oh, it is bad for white, let’s look at something else.” When I
tried to guess what actually happened in a game, he already knew the result.
Of course, I was wondering how he could do it. Now I know the answer.
It happened because of his planning skills. The bottom line is this: when you
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know your plan and your opponent’s plan, you get full control over the
position. Then, you can also predict a continuation of the game for many
moves ahead. Therefore, it becomes very simple for you to find the right moves.
That’s why this is a very important and powerful skill.
By the way, it is probably the main difference between a strong player and a
not so good one. In fact, it is not very difficult to learn some opening lines or to train
calculation skills. The main characteristic feature of titled players is their strategic
understanding, which mainly implies their planning skills.
Though everyone knows about a planning, the majority of players don’t
understand this aspect well enough. As I’ve already said, it is one of the most
important skills for a chess player. Thus you should concentrate your attention
mainly on this factor.
Let’s take a look at an example.
Nezhmetdinov R. – Polugaevsky L.
White: Kg1, Qe2, Ra1, Rf1, Be3, Ng3, pawns: a2, b2, c2, g2, h2.
Black: Ke8, Qe5, Rd8, Rh8, Bb7, Bg7, pawns: a6, b5, e6, f7, h6.
XABCDEFGHY 8-+-trk+-tr( 7+l+-+pvl-' 6p+-+p+-zp& 5+p+-wq-+-% 4-+-+-+-+$ 3+-+-vL-sN-# 2PzPP+Q+PzP" 1tR-+-+RmK-! xabcdefghy Black’s turn.
What would you do here as black? I recommend you to pause the video now
and think about it. I suppose that most players would simply castle here. Some
optimistic people would perhaps take the b2 pawn.
However both of these ideas lead to an unclear situation. After 20…Qb2 21.a4
the white’s rook becomes active. Black certainly may not take another pawn 21…ba
because of 22.Rab1 winning the bishop.
In case of the black’s try of castling 20…0-0 white can play 21.Nh5 with
mutual chances.
Instead of that, black should compose a plan here. There is one principle for
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such positions like this: you should mainly use the power of a bishop without a
counterpart.
Black has a powerful bishop on b7, which looks at the white’s g2 pawn. The
semi-open “g” file may help black as well. So black should try to put pressure onto
the g2 square. However it is necessary to push away the white’s knight g3, which
closes the line. That’s why black played 20…h5. There followed 21.Rae1-h4 22.Qf2
white is attacking the f7 pawn avoiding Nh1 move. 22…Rd7 23.Ne2-h3
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Black is using his b7 bishop and white has nothing to do about it. 24.gh-Rh3. Black
has a decisive attack and a winning position. 25.Ng3-Qd5 24.Bb6-Be5
XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+k+-+( 7+l+r+p+-' 6pvL-+p+-+& 5+p+qvl-+-% 4-+-+-+-+$ 3+-+-+-sNr# 2PzPP+-wQ-zP" 1+-+-tRRmK-! xabcdefghy black is threatening Bg3 and he won the game soon.
It is important to note that black won the game quickly and easily, when he
composed a correct plan. Thus, you can see how it is important to have planning
skills and what great results they can give you.
Again, I am pretty sure that most players would not play 20…h5 at the starting
position of this example, and would play something trite instead. The majority of
players think about separate tactical operations or some well-known positional rules.
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However, that is not planning.
All in all, it is very good for us because it gives you an even greater
advantage. So let’s see how you should compose a plan. I will show you what and
how exactly you should think during practical game play. I am definitely sure that this
will bring you great progress!
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«YOUR WINNING PLAN» by GM Igor Smirnov
Lesson-1: “The Best Time For a Planning”.
This is lesson #1: “The Best Time For a Planning”.
Let’s go ahead and get started. The first important question is “When do I
compose a plan?”
Below are a few recommendations.
You should know your plan before the game.
Nowadays there are a lot of well-known plans for the various middle-game
positions and openings. Of course if you know these plans this makes your job
easier. We will talk a little more about this later.
You should compose a plan when you don’t know what to do.
Though it seems obvious, it has a profound effect. What do chess players
usually do, when they don’t know what to play? They try to find the right move; I
recommend you to find the right plan.
Karpov A. – Andersson U.
White: Kg1, Qd1, Ra1, Re1, Bc1, Bc2, Nf1, Nf3, pawns: a2, b3, c3, d5, e4, f2, g2,
h3.
Black: Kg8, Qc7, Ra8, Rf8, Bd7, Be7, Nb7, Nf6, pawns: a6, b5, c5, d6, e5, f7, g7,
h7.
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White’s turn.
This position is quite complex, typical for a Spanish game. What would an
intermediate chess player think about here?
A friend of mine (who is a strong Grandmaster) once said to me: “When you
play against an amateur player and he plays 1.e4, the winning response for you is
1…e5”. Though it is a joke, it makes sense. The bottom line is this: Spanish game is
a strategic opening. It is necessary to have a planning skills here. Otherwise you will
have to think about every single move for a long time and will not be able to make
the correct moves anyway.
For example, in such position like this a lot of players have problems. They
start thinking, “Well, I need to finish my development. Also there is a typical idea to
play Ng3 and I need to be careful, because black probably wants to push his pawns
on the queen-side.” After a long think, they play 16.Ng3 for instance. Black responds
16…c4 and the white player starts thinking again about black’s activity on the
queen-side and how he should deal with that.
There is no planning here, this is a good example of thinking about
separate things and lacking a concrete plan. This only makes it harder to detect
what to do and which factors are more important.
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Instead of that, I recommend that you not to look for the right move, but for the
right plan. Here is how you should think about this position:
“Since the center is closed, I should attack on a flank. There is no way to
attack on the queen-side, because black is stronger there. So I will use the king-
side. Therefore I should bring my pieces to the king-side. We have a closed center,
so I should also use the pawns for an attack.
My opponent will probably counter-attack on the queen-side, so I need to
close the position there.”
After that you will simply start bringing your pieces and pawns closer to the
black’s king.
You may play Ne3 (or Ng3) and put it on f5, you may play g4 and Ng3 or use
some other ways. You can see, that there is no “right move” here actually. There
is a right plan and quite a lot of ways of how that plan can be realized.
In the game white played 16.c4 closing the position on the queen-side. There
followed 16…Rfb8 17. Ne3 Bf8 18.Nf5 by the way, once you have composed a plan,
you should make next moves pretty quickly. 18…Nd8.
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Let’s see how white should think here. According to our plan we should use
pawns for an attack. G4-g5 doesn’t do much, because black will simply remove the
knight. White can push the “f” pawn and this will really help us to open the position.
That’s why white played 19.Nh2.
You can see, that when you focus your play solely on a realization of your
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plan, it becomes much easier to find right moves.
19…Ne8. Black has prepared to protect the e5 pawn with a move f6. That’s
why white used another pawn 20.h4. Again, I am not saying that this is the best
move. It is just one of ways for white to realize his plan 20…f6 21.h5 Nf7 22.Re3
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White is still bringing his pieces to the king-side. After that he played Rg3 and
won the game in the end.
So when you don’t know what to do, don’t try to find the right move; find the
right plan and realize it. It is the simplest and the most effective way.
You should compose a plan after the opening.
In an opening you should simply realize the main opening tasks. Of course it
helps to know opening theory. Therefore everything is pretty simple here. That’s why
usually we should start thinking about a plan early in the middlegame.
There is one more extremely important idea I want to tell you: you should
create an attacking plan. Maneuvers, exchanges, center, open lines etc. – these
are only subsidiary things. You should use the attack as a guideline. All other
elements just help you to create an attack, they help you to realize where and how
you will attack.
Also I’d like to repeat that you should spend some time (5-15 minutes) to
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compose a plan, but then you should start playing faster.
When a position changes, you should make adjustments in your
plan.
A position changes in 2 cases:
- An exchange;
- A pawn move.
Let’s look at our example again.
White: Kg1, Qd1, Re3, Ra1, Bc1, Bc2, Nf5, Nh2, pawns: a2, b3, c4, d5, e4, f2, g2,
h5.
Black: Kg8, Qc7, Ra8, Rb8, Bd7, Bf8, Ne8, Nf7, pawns: a6, b5, c5, d6, e5, f6, g7,
h7.
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Black’s turn
We have finished on this position. Black played 22…Ng5 23.Nh4-Qd8
24.Rg3-Nc7
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these moves didn’t change much. 25.N2f3 and here black made a pawn move
25…h6.
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This is a signal for white to start thinking about his plan. You should ask
yourself “Is my plan still the same or I should make some corrections?”
In this position the move 25…h6 is weakening light-squares on the king-side.
It gives white a new idea for his attack. White can try to occupy these weak squares
(f5 and g6) by his knights. Also It will be good for white to trade black’s light-squared
bishop, which is the main protector of the black’s weaknesses. Therefore white
should try to realize a maneuver Bc2-d1-g4.
In this game white realized all these ideas after some preparation.
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Of course not all the pawns moves or exchanges change a position. However,
often they do. That’s why I recommend you to always think about your plan and
make appropriate adjustments, when your opponent makes a pawn move or an
exchange.
Now you know when you should compose a plan. In the next lessons I will tell
you how exactly you should find the right plan.
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«YOUR WINNING PLAN» by GM Igor Smirnov
Lesson-2: “How to Compose a Winning Plan”
This is the 2nd lesson: “How to Compose a Winning Plan”. In this lesson I will
tell you what exactly you should do and exactly how you should think to create the
right plan.
You will see that everything is very simple when you know some important
recommendations.
Let’s start. In general, there are only 2 steps to composing a plan:
1. You should detect the direction of your attack (the object of an
attack).
2. You should find the exact way of how to attack in that direction
(that object).
As you can see, everything is very simple. By the way, it is very good,
because it allows you to apply it practically.
Of course it is only the most general guideline and there are many more
specific rules. However, it is important to keep this scheme in your mind during a
practical game.
Now let’s make more detailed analysis of this scheme.
First you need to realize the direction of your future attack.
There are 3 possible directions:
- the center,
- the king-side,
- the queen-side.
However, practically you should focus your attention mainly on the center.
Many books contain information about the center. They usually say that you
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should struggle for the center and provide a classification of different types of a
central situation. Nevertheless, they don’t clarify what exactly you should do in a
practical game.
Here I am going to tell you how the center influences planning and what
exactly you should do about it. First we will talk about a center concept in general,
and then we will discuss different center types.
As you probably know, the center is the most important part of a board.
Centralized pieces have more activity and dominate the opponent’s pieces. A
position in the center bears powerful influence on the flanks. It determines whether
your flank attack will be successful or not.
That’s why, if you attack in the center, it will usually be more effective than an
opponent’s flank attack. Therefore there is a great practical rule: if you can play
(attack) in the center – do it!
Rauzer V. – Botvinnik M.
White: Kg1, Qd1, Ra1, Re1, Be3, Bf3, Nc3, pawns: a2, b2, c2, e4, f4, g2, h2.
Black: Kg8, Qa5, Ra8, Rf8, Bc4, Bg7, Nf6, pawns: a7, b7, d6, e7, f7, g6, h7.
XABCDEFGHY 8r+-+-trk+( 7zpp+-zppvlp' 6-+-zp-snp+& 5wq-+-+-+-% 4-+l+PzP-+$ 3+-sN-vLL+-# 2PzPP+-+PzP" 1tR-+QtR-mK-! xabcdefghy
Black’s turn.
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It is quite a standard position of the Sicilian defense. Black has finished the
main opening tasks, so it is time to compose a middlegame plan.
There are dozens of ideas which black can try to use here: he can use the “c”
file or push the “b” pawn (b5-b4), or push one of his central pawns, or play Nd7
trying to use his bishop g7 and so on. For most players it will be a hard choice.
I hope for you it will be very simple, because you know the rule: “if you can
play in the center – do it!”
Black player knew this rule and played 13…Rfd8 preparing d5. White
responded 14.Qd2-Qc7
I guess this is a prophylaxis move, because white sometimes threatens a
discovered attack Nd5 in such positions. 15.Rac1
By the way, it is important to note that white player didn’t play 15.Rad1.
Though he is a very strong player, he tried to play on the side instead. Did he not
know about the importance of the center? Of course not, he definitely knew it.
Nevertheless, he underestimated its power. It shows that a lot of players still don’t
understand a central concept well enough.
15…e5 black start attacking the center. 16.b3-d5
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I am sure that black found this move easily, because it is just a logical
continuation of his plan. Now black got an initiative and very promising position. It
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happened because he found the right plan.
Now 17.bc is totally bad for white because of 17…de Black takes a piece back
and destroys the white’s position.
In the game white played 17.ed-e4. All the black’s moves attack the center!
If white makes a natural move 18.Ne4, then after 18…Nd5 19.bc-Ne3 20.Qe3-
Bd4 black’s winning.
If white takes with a bishop 18.Be4, then 18…Ne4 19.Ne4-Bd5 and the
black’s pieces are controlling the whole board. You can see that black is dominating
in all the lines, because centralized pieces are more active.
In the game white took the bishop 18.dc-ef. Here white has another problem –
his numerous weaknesses. It is very difficult to defend such position practically.
That’s why black won the game pretty soon.
As we have already discussed, an attack in the center is more powerful
than a flank attack. This rule is similar with the one: “if you can play in a center – do
it!” Both of them state the highest value of a center.
White: Kh1, Qd1, Ra1, Rf1, Bb2, Bg2, Ne2, Ng3, pawns: b3, c2, e4, f4, g5, h3.
Black: Kg8, Qc7, Ra8, Re8, Bb7, Bf8, Nc6, Nd7, pawns: b4, d6, e6, f7, g7, h7.
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White’s turn.
White was able to make a normal move like 21.Qd2. However he decided to
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start an attack on a flank and played 21.Nh5. There followed 21…Ra1 22.Qa1-Ra8
black got a control over an open file with a tempo.
23.Qc1-Nc5 black starts his counter attack against the white’s center.
24.Rg1-Ne7 the “e4” pawn been attacked.
25.Neg3
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white still tries to concentrate pieces on the king-side. The correct response is a
counterblow in a center.
25…d5 26.e5-Ne4 By the way, this is my game which I played as black. Though it
was a blitz game, it was very easy for me to find good moves, because I know the
rule: “If your opponent tries to attack on a flank, you should counterattack in a
center.”
27.Kh2-Rc8 28.Ne4-de.
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The white’s flank attack failed. On the next move black took the c2 pawn and won
the game soon.
Let’s go forward. There is another aspect I’d like to discuss: “Is it necessary
to put the pawns into the center?”
No, it is not. It is important to keep control over the central squares; it
doesn’t matter whether you do it with pieces or with pawns. Nimzowitsch stated
this rule a long time ago, so I hope you know it.
For instance in Nimzowitsh defense after 1.d4-Nf6 2.c4-e6 3.Nc3-Bb4. Black
has no pawns in the center, but he controls the central squares well enough.
This plan may be continued after 4.Nf3-b6 5.e3-Bb7.
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Black still hasn’t played d5 or c5, but he keeps a control with his minor pieces.
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White can’t make any advancement in a center. The situation is about equal.
OK, I hope that you will try to attack in the center and to get control over
central squares first of all. What you should do next? What is the goal of an
attack in a center? How you should use your advantage there?
Actually, in such situation you have domination; therefore you will be able to
realize any plan you want. In general there are 2 ways you can exploit your
advantage in a center:
You can continue your attack in the center:
create a passed pawn and push it;
or force through the opponent’s position and start a direct
attack of his king or material.
White: Kg1, Qd1, Ra1, Rf1, Bc4, Bg5, Nf3, pawns: a3, c3, d4, e4, f2, g2, h2.
Black: Kg8, Qc7, Ra8, Rf8, Bb7, Bg7, Nb8, pawns: a7, b6, c5, e6, f7, g6, h7.
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White’s turn.
White has an advantage in the center and he used it to create a passed pawn
14.d5. There followed 14…ed 15.ed-Ba6 16.d6-Qd7 17.Ba6-Na6 18.Rfe1
White’s passed pawn has not only its own value but also provides more
space for the other white pieces and restricts black’s activity (because black
has to use his pieces to blockade this pawn).
18…c4 19.Qd5-Nc5 20.Re7
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in a near future white pushed his passed pawn forward and won the game.
This example also illustrates how it is possible to use an advantage in the
center to force through the opponent’s position and to bring the pieces to the
opponent’s territory.
Here is the 2nd way of how you can exploit your advantage in a center:
You can redirect your attack on a flank.
Since you have an advantage in a center, more free space and even
domination, it will be simple for you to transfer an attack on a flank. An opposite
situation happens for your opponent: for lack of free space he won’t be able to bring
his pieces to the flank, where they are necessary.
Almeida O. – Hernandez C.
White: Kg1, Qc2, Re1, Rf1, Bd3, Ne5, pawns: a2, c4, d5, f4, g2, h2.
Black: Kg8, Qf6, Rf8, Ra8, Bc8, Nd6, pawns: a7, b6, c5, f7, g7, h6.
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XABCDEFGHY 8r+l+-trk+( 7zp-+-+pzp-' 6-zp-sn-wq-zp& 5+-zpPsN-+-% 4-+P+-zP-+$ 3+-+L+-+-# 2P+Q+-+PzP" 1+-+-tRRmK-! xabcdefghy
White’s turn.
Though white has occupied the central squares, it is hard to develop an attack
here. That’s why white should redirect his attack on a flank.
He played 20.g4. White may make this move, because black can’t create any
counter play (due to the white’s strong center). There followed 20…a6 21.Qf2 Now
white is going to play h4 and g5. Black has nothing to do about it.
In the game black tried 21…b5, but it doesn’t work 22.Qc5-Nc4 23.Bh7
(distracting the king)-Kh7 24.Qf8 and white won the game afterwards.
We have been talking about the center for some time. However, as you know,
there are 3 possible directions of an attack: the center, the king-side and the queen-
side. Thus we come to the next question: “When you may choose an attack on a
flank?”
There are 3 types of situations, when you may do it:
When the center is closed.
If there are pawn chains in a center and you can’t play there – you should start
playing on a flank. It is a quite obvious thing, so I will not explain it much.
When you have an advantage (domination) in the center
already.
We have been talking about this situation already. When you attack in the
25
center and get an advantage there, you may transfer your attack on a flank. In this
case, it has great chances to be successful.
When you have enough control over the central squares,
which doesn’t allow your opponent to attack there.
It is the hardest type of a situation. Here I mean the position, when you don’t
have an advantage in the center or domination. Nevertheless, you control central
squares well enough to prevent an eventual opponent’s attack here, to not allow him
to open the position.
I’ve said that it is the most difficult situation, because it is hard to assess
whether you have an enough control over the center or not.
Let’s look at an example.
Steinitz W. – Lasker E.
White: Ke1, Qd1, Ra1, Rh1, Bc1, Bb3, Ne3, Nf3, pawns: a2, b2, c3, d3, e4, f2, g2,
h2.
Black: Kg8, Qd8, Ra8, Rf8, Bd7, Bg7, Ne7, Nf6, pawns: a7, b7, c6, d6, e5, f7, g6,
h7.
XABCDEFGHY 8r+-wq-trk+( 7zpp+lsnpvlp' 6-+pzp-snp+& 5+-+-zp-+-% 4-+-+P+-+$ 3+LzPPsNN+-# 2PzP-+-zPPzP" 1tR-vLQmK-+R! xabcdefghy
White’s turn.
Here white started the attack on the king-side playing 11.h4. It is a possible
plan here, because white has pretty good control in the center.
26
In such situations, it is very important to evaluate whether your
opponent can open a position in the center or not.
In the current example, though black can play “d5” and then take “de”, it will
not open the position too much. Even though black will be able to open the “d” line,
he will not have invasion squares there. For example, white can play Bc2 and
protect everything.
We may arrive at a conclusion that black will not be able to open the position
and to start a counterattack in the center. That’s why white’s flank attack is correct.
Please, pay attention to the fact, that it was necessary to evaluate the position
very accurately before making a decision about the flank attack.
In the game there followed: 11…Qc7 12.Ng5-d5 13.f3
XABCDEFGHY 8r+-+-trk+( 7zppwqlsnpvlp' 6-+p+-snp+& 5+-+pzp-sN-% 4-+-+P+-zP$ 3+LzPPsNP+-# 2PzP-+-+P+" 1tR-vLQmK-+R! xabcdefghy
This move has 2 important functions: first, it prepares g4 and h5 developing
the attack; secondly, it protects the center one more time. It is very important to
always keep your central position, even if you are attacking on a side.
13…Rad8 14.g4-de 15.fe
Black is trying to open the position in the center, while white keeps it closed.
15…h6 16.Qf3.
27
XABCDEFGHY 8-+-tr-trk+( 7zppwqlsnpvl-' 6-+p+-snpzp& 5+-+-zp-sN-% 4-+-+P+PzP$ 3+LzPPsNQ+-# 2PzP-+-+-+" 1tR-vL-mK-+R! xabcdefghy
It is a well-known tactical idea: black may not accept the sacrifice, because it
will open the “h” file.
16…Be8 17.Bc2. Again, white never forgets about his center.
17…Nd7 18.Nh3 It frees the white’s king-side pawns and also white is going
to protect his center again with the Nf2 move.
18…Nc5 19.Nf2-b5
XABCDEFGHY 8-+-trltrk+( 7zp-wq-snpvl-' 6-+p+-+pzp& 5+psn-zp-+-% 4-+-+P+PzP$ 3+-zPPsNQ+-# 2PzPL+-sN-+" 1tR-vL-mK-+R! xabcdefghy Black can’t do anything really, because of the white’s strong center.
20.g5-h5 21.Nf5 It is quite natural sacrifice, which gives white a direct attack
on the black’s king
21…gf 22.ef-f6 23.g6-Ng6 24.fg-Bg6.
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XABCDEFGHY 8-+-tr-trk+( 7zp-wq-+-vl-' 6-+p+-zpl+& 5+psn-zp-+p% 4-+-+-+-zP$ 3+-zPP+Q+-# 2PzPL+-sN-+" 1tR-vL-mK-+R! xabcdefghy
Now white has the new open file “g” for his rooks.
25.Rg1-e4 black makes a desperate attempt to open the position, but it still
doesn’t give anything.
26.de-Kh7 And now white has a forcing win 27.Rg6-Kg6 28.Qf5 White wins
the knight c5 and saves a strong attack. He won the game soon.
It was all about the 3rd type of a situation, when you may start an attack on a
side.
Now let’s make up some general conclusions.
There are 2 steps of composing of a plan:
You should detect the direction of your attack (the object of an
attack).
You should find the exact way of how to attack in that direction
(that object).
Now we are discussing the 1st step – the direction of the attack.
There are 3 possible directions:
the center,
the king-side,
the queen-side.
Practically you should focus your attention mainly on the center.
Orient on the rules we have discussed in this lesson. The greatest practical
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rule states: if you can attack in a center – do it.
There are only 3 types of positions, when you may attack on a flank:
When the center is closed.
When you have an advantage (domination) in a center
already.
When you have enough control over the central squares,
which doesn’t allow your opponent to attack there.
This was all the main information about the 1st step of planning. As you can
see, the direction of an attack is closely connected with the topic of a center.
I gave you all the important general principles. However, there are some more
specific rules also. As you are all aware, people have played chess for a long time
already. During that time, chess players classified different types of centers and
detected typical ideas there. So in the next lessons we will study them.
I hope that it will be easy for you to understand and to remember these
specific principles, because you already know the basic information and you can
use it as a guideline.
Thanks for your attention! I am waiting for you in the next lesson.
30
«YOUR WINNING PLAN»
by GM Igor Smirnov
Lesson-3: “Specific Rules For an Open Center”
Hi again! Here is the 3rd lesson: “Specific rules for an open center”.
In the previous lesson, we have studied the general concept of a center. Now
we will analyze how those general ideas work in situations with different types of
centers.
Let’s start. There are a lot of different classifications of the types of centers.
Actually, it doesn’t matter too much which classification to use. For a practical player
it is important to understand strategic ideas and to be able to apply them. So I will
offer you a classification, which is the simplest and the most complete at the same
time. Here it is.
There are 5 types of centers:
1. An open center.
It is when there are no pawns in a center.
2. A closed center.
If both players have pawn chains in the center, then it is closed.
3. A static center.
It is something between an open center and a closed one. It happens if both
players have 1 or 2 pawns in the center and it is not totally closed.
4. A pawn center.
Here I mean that one player has some pawns in a center, while another one
doesn’t.
5. A dynamic center.
It describes an undetermined situation, when the central position has not been
defined yet.
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Now we will analyze these types of centers in turn. Here we go.
The first type is an open center.
What you should do in such positions? What is the correct plan? Let’s apply our
general knowledge.
We know the rule: if you can play (attack) in the center – do it. Of course it is
applicable for positions with an open center.
We also know another rule which states: “It is important to keep control over
the central squares; it doesn’t matter whether you do it with pieces or with pawns.”
Finally we may conclude that you should attack in the center and try to
occupy it with your pieces. This is the right plan in positions with an open center.
I promised you that everything will be simple, and it really is.
What you should do next? Again, we already know the ways to use an advantage
in the center. In general, you can continue attacking in the center or transfer your
attack to a side.
In the positions with an open center you should use your powerful
central position to attack on a side.
Simply because there is really nothing to attack in the center.
Amonatov F. – Rakhmanov A.
White: Kg1, Qd1, Ra1, Re1, Bd3, Bd2, Nc3, Nf3, pawns: a2, b2, d4, f2, g2, h3.
Black: Kg8, Qd8, Ra8, Rf8, Be7, Be6, Nd5, Nf6, pawns: a7, b7, c5 f7, g7, h6.
32
XABCDEFGHY 8r+-wq-trk+( 7zpp+-vlpzp-' 6-+-+lsn-zp& 5+-zpn+-+-% 4-+-zP-+-+$ 3+-sNL+N+P# 2PzP-vL-zPP+" 1tR-+QtR-mK-! xabcdefghy
White’s turn.
The center is not totally opened, but of course it will be after an exchange of
the pawns d4 and c5.
White played 17.Re6 we will discuss the reason of this move little later.
17…fe 18.Qe2 White starts concentrating pieces in the center.
18…Qc8 19.dc. Now the center is fully opened.
19…Nc3 20.Bc3-Nd5 21.Bd4 white is trying to occupy the central squares.
21…Nf4 22.Qe5-Rf7 23.Bc4
XABCDEFGHY 8r+q+-+k+( 7zpp+-vlrzp-' 6-+-+p+-zp& 5+-zP-wQ-+-% 4-+LvL-sn-+$ 3+-+-+N+P# 2PzP-+-zPP+" 1tR-+-+-mK-! xabcdefghy
Now white starts using his pieces to attack the black weaknesses.
23…Qc6 24.Re1 bringing the last piece into the center.
24…Bd8 Now all the white’s pieces are controlling the center and it is time to start a
direct attack of an opponent’s territory.
25.Qd6 white is going inside.
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25…Qd6 26.cd-Kh7 27.Ne5 White got full centralization and a winning position.
27…Rf8 28.g3-Nd5 29.Nd7 Everything is very simple for white now. He starts
winning material because of his domination.
29…Rf7 30.Nc5-Nb6 31.Be6-Rf8 32.Nb7 white got a decisive advantage and won
the game easily.
Do you know why white’s attack was so effective? Yes, first, he realized
the right plan: to occupy the center with the pieces and then to use them for a direct
attack.
There is another important thing though. Now I am going to tell you a very
important rule, which is not presented in chess books. So please, pay attention to it.
In the positions with an open center you should not move pawns. For an
attacker it is useless, for a defender it is simply bad.
An attacking side usually moves pawns to open the position. Here it makes no
sense, because the position is already opened.
A defender should not move pawns, because it creates weaknesses. In
positions with an open center it is very easy to attack weaknesses. An attacker has a
lot of open lines and diagonals, which he can use for his attack.
Thus, you should be very careful with pawn moves in open positions. Often
they are just a mistake.
Let’s take a look at the starting position of our example again.
White sacrificed the exchange (17.Re6) to create weaknesses in the opponent’s
position, because he knew that it would give him great attacking chances.
It is important to take note of the fact that the position of black’s pawn on h6
(instead of h7) created a lot of troubles for black. Now white was able to exploit the
weaknesses around black’s king. It shows again, how it is important to be careful
with pawn moves in open positions.
There is another useful consequence of this rule: if you want to use the
34
opponent’s weaknesses, you should open the center. This idea will help you to
create an attack in many different positions.
Let’s draw the conclusions.
Here is the correct plan for the positions with an open center.
1. You should attack in the center and try to occupy it with your
pieces.
2. Then, you should use your powerful central position to attack on a
flank.
Also, it is important to not move pawns. For an attacker, it is useless,
for a defender it is bad.
That’s why if you want to use the opponent’s weaknesses, you
should open the center.
In the end, I’d like to mention that positions with an open center are often
tactical, and then of course you should orient on concrete variations mainly.
35
«YOUR WINNING PLAN» by GM Igor Smirnov
Lesson-4: “Specific Rules For the Closed Center”
In the 4th lesson, we will talk about typical plans in positions with a closed
center.
Let’s begin. What should you do in these types of positions? Since the center
is closed, of course you will attack on a flank.
Which flank to choose? You should choose a side where you have an
advantage in the activity of your pieces or where you can create such an
advantage. Usually it happens when you have a space advantage on a side, which
allows you to bring the pieces there and doesn’t allow your opponent to do the
same.
There is also one practical rule about it. It says that you should attack on the
part of the board where your central pawn chain “looks” (is pointed).
Let’s see how it looks practically.
Beliavsky A. – Medina-Garsia A.
White: Ke1, Qd1, Ra1, Rh1, Ba4, Be3, Nd2, Nf3, pawns: a2, b2, c3, d5, e4, f2, g2,
h2.
Black: Ke8, Qe7, Ra8, Rh8, Bd7, Bg7, Nb8, Ng8, pawns: a6, b7, c7, d6, e5, f7, g6,
h7.
36
XABCDEFGHY 8rsn-+k+ntr( 7+pzplwqpvlp' 6p+-zp-+p+& 5+-+Pzp-+-% 4L+-+P+-+$ 3+-zP-vLN+-# 2PzP-sN-zPPzP" 1tR-+QmK-+R! xabcdefghy
White’s turn.
In this position, white’s central pawn chain (e4 and d5) “looks” toward the
queen-side. So white should attack there.
The black’s central pawn chain “looks” at the king-side. Thus, black should
play there.
OK, now we know how to detect the right side for your attack. The next logical
question is: “How to create this attack?”
Here is the rule: in closed positions, you should use your pawns.
Since the position is closed, it is hard to attack an opponent’s position directly.
Your pieces don’t have enough open lines and diagonals for an attack. That’s why
you should first use the pawn assault.
You may use the pawns in front of your king if necessary. The bottom line here
is this: in closed positions, it is usually hard to attack weaknesses. That’s why we
shouldn’t be afraid of creating weaknesses too much.
The same thing works for a defensive side. A defender may advance the
pawns to set a blockade in the way of an opponent’s pawn assault.
Well, of course it doesn’t mean that a defender always should move his
pawns. However, he may do so if necessary. You can see that this is a characteristic
of the closed positions, because these rules work only here.
We may conclude that in the closed positions, an attacker should move
37
the pawns; and a defender may do so.
Here we come to the next question: “What exactly will you attack by realizing a
pawn assault?” You should attack the base of an opponent’s central pawn
chain. Let’s look at our example again.
White: Ke1, Qd1, Ra1, Rh1, Ba4, Be3, Nd2, Nf3, pawns: a2, b2, c3, d5, e4, f2, g2,
h2.
Black: Ke8, Qe7, Ra8, Rh8, Bd7, Bg7, Nb8, Ng8, pawns: a6, b7, c7, d6, e5, f7, g6,
h7.
XABCDEFGHY 8rsn-+k+ntr( 7+pzplwqpvlp' 6p+-zp-+p+& 5+-+Pzp-+-% 4L+-+P+-+$ 3+-zP-vLN+-# 2PzP-sN-zPPzP" 1tR-+QmK-+R! xabcdefghy
White’s turn.
As we already know, white is going to attack on the queen-side where he has
a space advantage due to the pawn d5. Thus, white will be able to bring more pieces
there and to get an advantage in activity in this direction.
Also we know that white will use a pawn assault to attack the base of his
opponent’s central pawn chain. What is this base? It is the basis of an opponent’s
pawn chain, which is fixed by your pawn.
Here it is the d6 pawn, which is blocked by the white pawn on d5.
That’s why white played 10.c4 and after 10…Nf6 11.c5. White realized his plan
vigorously.
38
Now black can take the pawn 11…dc, however after 12.Rc1-b6 13.b4 white
has achieved his goal: he opened the queen-side and started a direct attack there.
For example, in the line 13…cb white has a powerful move 14.Bb6! After 14…cb
15.Rc8 white is winning.
In the game, black simply castled 11…0-0. There followed 12.Rc1-Ba4
13.Qa4-Nbd7 14.c6. It was possible for white to play 14.cd as well. Both ways helps
white to open the queen-side position.
14…bc 15.Rc6
XABCDEFGHY 8r+-+-trk+( 7+-zpnwqpvlp' 6p+Rzp-snp+& 5+-+Pzp-+-% 4Q+-+P+-+$ 3+-+-vLN+-# 2PzP-sN-zPPzP" 1+-+-mK-+R! xabcdefghy
a pawn assault has helped white to open the lines, and now white is attacking the
black’s weaknesses directly.
15…Rfb8 16.Rc7-Rb2 17.0-0.
XABCDEFGHY 8r+-+-+k+( 7+-tRnwqpvlp' 6p+-zp-snp+& 5+-+Pzp-+-% 4Q+-+P+-+$ 3+-+-vLN+-# 2Ptr-sN-zPPzP" 1+-+-+RmK-! xabcdefghy Now you can see why it is so good for white to attack on the queen-side. White has
more space here, so it is easy for him to bring more pieces into the attack. White can
39
play Qc6, Nc4, and he can transfer the knight to c6 after Nb3-a5-c6. White can play
Rfc1 and Rc6. Actually white can do whatever he wants. Therefore, his attack will be
easily successful.
Here we come to another idea. In the closed positions, it is impossible to
defend. If white is stronger on the queen-side, sooner or later he will realize this
advantage. Therefore, the only possible plan for black is a counterattack on the
other side of the board.
In the current example, black even didn’t try to do it. That’s why his position is
strategically losing.
17…Qd8 18.Rc6 attacking the pawns. 18…Nb8 19.Rc3-Bf8 20.Rfc1
everything is very simple for white now. 20…Nbd7 21.Nb3 In addition to all other
advantages, white captured black’s b2 rook and won the game soon.
This example illustrates the main classical plan for the positions with the
closed center. There is another possible plan though, which works sometimes.
White: Ke1, Qd1, Ra1, Rh1, Bc1, Bd3, Nd2, Ne2, pawns: a2, b2, d4, e5, f2, g2, h2.
Black: Ke8, Qd8, Ra8, Rh8, Bc8, Bf8, Nc6, Nd7, pawns: a7, b7, d5, e6, f7, g7, h7.
XABCDEFGHY 8r+lwqkvl-tr( 7zpp+n+pzpp' 6-+n+p+-+& 5+-+pzP-+-% 4-+-zP-+-+$ 3+-+L+-+-# 2PzP-sNNzPPzP" 1tR-vLQmK-+R! xabcdefghy
Black’s turn.
It is a theoretical position of the French defense. According to the classical
rules black should attack on the queen-side, where his pawn chain looks. Also black
40
should attack the base of the white’s central pawn chain – the pawn on d4.
Though it is a possible plan, black usually choose another one: an attack of
“the head” of an opponent’s central pawn chain. So black plays 8…f6 attacking
white’s most advanced pawn.
This plan is riskier, because it creates weaknesses in the black’s position.
After 9.ef-Nf6 white will try to use the weak square e5 and the backward pawn on
e6. Nevertheless, it helps black to raise his activity, to get more free space for his
pieces. Now black can develop the bishop on the more active position d6. After
castling, black will be able to use the semi-open file “f”. For example after 10.Nf3-
Bd6 11.00-00.
We may conclude that this plan (an attack of the head of an opponent’s
pawn chain) has some positives and negatives. Therefore, it depends on the
concrete situation whether this plan is good or not. You need to evaluate who
will be able to use the advantages of his position in what follows.
Let’s draw the conclusions.
There are 2 possible plans for the positions with the closed center:
- An attack on the flank where you have a space advantage, where you
have an advantage in activity or where you can create such advantage; where
your central pawn chain “looks”.
In this case, you will attack the base of an opponent’s pawn chain. This is the
classical plan.
- An attack of the head of an opponent’s pawn chain. Here you play rather
in the center and you are hoping for an activity of your pieces. This plan is
riskier and you need to assess the concrete position accurately.
41
Also there are 2 specific rules for the positions with the closed center:
It is important to move your pawns. An attacker should do it, a defender may
do it.
Usually it is impossible to defend, therefore it is necessary to create a
counterattack.
We have finished with 2 main types of centers: the open center and the closed
center. Other types are not so important. That’s why I recommend you to study this
lesson and the previous one very well and to remember these rules.
Of course you should always remember the general concept of the center, which we
studied previously. It helps to understand all these specific rules easily.
42
«YOUR WINNING PLAN» by GM Igor Smirnov
Lesson-5: “Specific Rules For the Static Center”
Here is the 5th lesson “Specific Rules For the Static Center”.
We have already discussed the 2 most important types of centers: the open center
and the closed center. The remaining types are simpler and are easily
understandable if you digested the general concept of a center.
Let’s start. What should you do in the positions with the static center? First,
let’s clarify what the static center is.
White: pawns: a2, b2, d4, f2, g2, h2.
Black: pawns: a7, b7, d5, f7, g7, h7.
Here is one of the possible examples of the static center. Both players have a
pawn in a center, but there is some free space as well. Thus we can’t say that it is
opened, and it is not closed either. Since the central situation is quite stable, it is
called “the static center”.
I may add 2 more pawns on e3 (white’s pawn) and on c6 (black’s pawn), and it
is still a static center. Of course, there are other positions with the static center, but I
hope that you caught the meaning already.
43
As you can see, the static center is something between the open center
and the closed one. That’s why the similar rules work here.
OK, let’s come back to our question: “What should you do in the positions with
the static center?”
The rule “if you can play in the center – do it” of course is still working. That’s
why you should play in the center.
The next question is “Exactly how should you play in the center?”
There are 2 main things you should try to perform in such positions:
- Struggle for control over the central open files.
Certainly it implies, that there is a central open file in a certain position.
- Put your pieces on the squares which are protected by your
central pawns.
Here I am talking about minor pieces mainly. This will help you to get a really
powerful position in the center.
Actually, this is the only specific rule for this center type. Regarding all other
aspects, you should simply use the general concepts of the center.
When you have an advantage in the center already, you may continue an
attack there or transfer your attack on a side.
You may move your flank pawns (so play on a side), only when you have
pretty good control over the center.
We have discussed all these principles in the 2rd lesson already, so I will not
repeat them.
44
Let’s look at an example.
Botvinnik M. – Alekhine A.
White: Kg1, Qd1, Ra1, Re1, Bc1, Bc4, Nf3, pawns: a2, b2, d4, f2, g2, h2.
Black: Kg8, Qd8, Ra8, Rf8, Bc8, Be7, Nc6, pawns: a7, b6, d5, f7, g7, h7.
XABCDEFGHY 8r+lwq-trk+( 7zp-+-vlpzpp' 6-zpn+-+-+& 5+-+p+-+-% 4-+LzP-+-+$ 3+-+-+N+-# 2PzP-+-zPPzP" 1tR-vLQtR-mK-! xabcdefghy
Of course it is white’s turn now. We can see the static center. It means that
white should try to use the central open files: “c” and “e” lines. Also white should try
to put his minor pieces on the squares which are protected by his central pawn. Most
probably white will put the knight on e5.
Here is what white should do here. It is that simple, when you know what to
think about.
There is one question you may like to ask me about. Even if white puts the
knight on e5, black will simply push it away by playing f6. Does that mean that this
plan doesn’t work for white here?
No, it works excellently. It is important to understand one thing though. Your
opponent will have to move his pawns to cover weaknesses. And by making
pawn moves he will create new, more significant weaknesses. So you will
simply start using the new weaknesses then.
If you put the knight on e5 and if black plays f6; you will simply retreat and
then will use the new weakness on e6.
Let’s see what happened in the game.
45
12.Bb5 The black pawn on b6 covers the c5 square, but is creating another
weakness on c6. Of course white should exploit it.
12…Bd7 13.Qa4 You can see that the c6 weakness is even more problematic for
black. Now he has to retreat 13…Nb8 14.Bf4. The bishop is controlling the important
squares e5 and c7, which white will use to enter black’s territory.
14…Bb5 15.Qb5-a6
XABCDEFGHY 8rsn-wq-trk+( 7+-+-vlpzpp' 6pzp-+-+-+& 5+Q+p+-+-% 4-+-zP-vL-+$ 3+-+-+N+-# 2PzP-+-zPPzP" 1tR-+-tR-mK-! xabcdefghy
Once again, black has to weaken his position to push away white’s active pieces.
16.Qa4-Bd6 17.Bd6-Qd6 18.Rac1 White is getting control over the central open
files.
18…Ra7 19.Qc2-Re7 20.Re7-Qe7. Now white can use his powerful central position
to start the direct attack 21.Qc7-Qc7 22.Rc7.
White has a much more active position and a lot of possibilities to attack the black’s
numerous weaknesses. White won the game afterwards.
Let’s draw the conclusions.
In positions with the static center, you should play in the center. More
specifically, you should:
- Struggle for a control over the central open files.
- Put your pieces on the squares which are protected by your central
pawns.
46
There are 2 other important things:
- When your opponent covers weaknesses, he is creating new, more significant
weaknesses at the same time.
- The static center is something between the open center and the closed one.
That’s why similar rules work here.
Thanks for your attention! Talk to you in the next lesson.
47
«YOUR WINNING PLAN» by GM Igor Smirnov
Lesson-6: “Specific Rules For the Pawn Center”
This is the next lesson: “Specific Rules For the Pawn Center”.
“The pawn center” is when one player has the central pawns, while the other one
doesn’t.
What are the typical plans for such positions?
The side with the central pawns should certainly use them. Thus, you
should advance your central pawns to get more space and positional
domination. After that, you will use your advantage in the center to continue the
attack there or to transfer the attack on a side. We have analyzed it previously, so
here I am referring to the 2nd lesson again.
How should you struggle against an opponent’s pawn center?
First, I’d like you to pay attention to the fact that you should really struggle
against an opponent’s center, and it is the only possible plan. Since we know
the high value of the center, we may not ignore an opponent’s advantage there.
Secondly, there are 2 plans to struggle against a pawn center:
1. Attack and destroy it.
2. Blockade it.
If you can attack and destroy an opponent’s center, then it will certainly be the
best decision. In this case, you will attack a pawn center with your pieces and
undermine it with your pawns.
Pepino E. – Zelcic R.
White: Ke1, Qd1, Ra1, Rh1, Be3, Bf1, Nc3, Nf3, pawns: a2, b2, c4, d4, e5, g2, h2.
Black: Ke8, Qd8, Ra8, Rh8, Bf8, Bf5, Nb6, Nc6, pawns: a7, b7, c7, e6, f7, g7, h7.
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XABCDEFGHY 8r+-wqkvl-tr( 7zppzp-+pzpp' 6-snn+p+-+& 5+-+-zPl+-% 4-+PzP-+-+$ 3+-sN-vLN+-# 2PzP-+-+PzP" 1tR-+QmKL+R! xabcdefghy
Black’s turn.
White has the pawn center and it seems like it determines his huge
advantage. Let’s see what happened in the game though.
Black played 9…Bg4 and starts attacking white’s center. Black wants to
exchange the knight on f3 and to eventually capture the d4 pawn.
10.Be2-Qd7. If you don’t have pawns in the center, it means that you have some
open files there. This allows you to use heavy pieces to attack an opponent’s
central pawns.
11.Qd2-000 12.Rd1. Though it seems like white’s center should be an advantage, in
fact it is rather an easy object of attack for black.
12…f6 13.ef-Bf3 White can’t take with the bishop because he needs to protect the
c4 pawn.
14.gf-gf
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XABCDEFGHY 8-+ktr-vl-tr( 7zppzpq+-+p' 6-snn+pzp-+& 5+-+-+-+-% 4-+PzP-+-+$ 3+-sN-vLP+-# 2PzP-wQL+-zP" 1+-+RmK-+R! xabcdefghy
The white position was destroyed and now black can easily attack white’s numerous
weaknesses.
15.00-Bc5 Black is continuing to attack white’s pawn center. White can’t take the
bishop because of Qg7 winning the queen then.
In the game, he played 16.d5 which doesn’t help either. 16…Qe7 17.Kh1-Be3
18.Qe3-ed 19.Qe7-Ne7. Finally, black won white’s central pawn and got a winning
position.
It is generally accepted that it is good to have a pawn center and that it is an
advantage. This idea is even presented in chess books. However, the last example
shows that it is not true. That’s why I’d like to give you another rule: a pawn center
gives you advantages when it is well supported by your pieces. Otherwise, it
is a weakness and an easy object for an attack.
It is very important to understand it.
We may conclude that the best thing you can do is to attack an opponent’s
pawn center and to destroy it. However, it is not always possible. Sometimes, the
pawn center is well protected and you can’t destroy it. In this case, you should use
another plan: the blockade of an opponent’s central pawns.
50
Konstantinopolsky A. – Kotov A.
White: Kg1, Qd1, Ra1, Rf1, Bb2, Bg2, Nc3, pawns: a2, b3, d4, e2, f2, g3, h2.
Black: Kg8, Qe7, Ra8, Re8, Bb7, Nd7, Nf6, pawns: a7, b6, c6, d5, f7, g7, h7.
XABCDEFGHY 8r+-+r+k+( 7zpl+nwqpzpp' 6-zpp+-sn-+& 5+-+p+-+-% 4-+-zP-+-+$ 3+PsN-+-zP-# 2PvL-+PzPLzP" 1tR-+Q+RmK-! xabcdefghy
Black’s move.
Of course, it is not a pawn center at the moment. However let’s think about
this position and try to realize what both players will do in the future.
Both of them will play in the center according to the rule “if you can play in the
center – do it”.
White will probably try to create a strong pawn center by playing f3 and e4
after some preparation.
Black can try to attack white’s center by playing c5, but it is a risky decision. It
will open the position for the white bishops and will allow white to attack black’s
weak pawns c5 and d5. I mean a position after an eventual c5, dc-bc.
So it is not good for black to play c5 and he should use his pieces to put
pressure on the white’s center. Black will use the semi-open “e” file and the strong
square e4 for his knight to blockade the white center.
Do you remember the beginning of this course? I’ve told you that the
planning skills help you to understand a position much deeper and to predict a
game continuation for many moves forward. Now you can see how it works
practically.
51
In the game there followed 13…Ne4 14.e3-Ndf6 Black is expecting the white’s
attempt to play f3 and e4, so he takes control over these squares in advance.
15.Re1-Bc8 the bishop is going to f5 to provide more control over the e4 square.
16.f3-Nc3 17.Bc3-Bf5 18.Qd2-h5 Black is preventing the eventual advancement g4.
19.Re2-Qd7 20.Rae1
XABCDEFGHY 8r+-+r+k+( 7zp-+q+pzp-' 6-zpp+-sn-+& 5+-+p+l+p% 4-+-zP-+-+$ 3+PvL-zPPzP-# 2P+-wQR+LzP" 1+-+-tR-mK-! xabcdefghy
Now black can’t stop white’s following move e4, so he should think about a future
blockade.
20…Bh3 21.Bh1-Re6 22.e4-de 23.fe Now white finally has the pawn center. Black
should attack white’s central pawns and force one of them to go forward. Then black
will be able to impose a blockade.
23…Rae8 That’s why black is attacking the e4 pawn, trying to force white to play e5.
24.Bf3-Bg4 Exchanging a defender of white’s center.
25.Qf4-Bf3 26.Qf3-Qe7 After all, black has performed his plan: now white has to
play e5.
27.e5-Nd5.
52
XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+r+k+( 7zp-+-wqpzp-' 6-zpp+r+-+& 5+-+nzP-+p% 4-+-zP-+-+$ 3+PvL-+QzP-# 2P+-+R+-zP" 1+-+-tR-mK-! xabcdefghy
Black was not able to destroy the white center, so he blockaded it. The main
power of a pawn center is that it can go forward and attack the opponent’s
position. When the pawn center is fixed, it becomes not dangerous any more.
Then you may continue attacking that fixed center or transfer an attack on a side.
In the current example, black starts attacking white’s queen-side after 28.Bd2-
Qa3. Yes, white can take the h5 pawn, but it doesn’t create any threats. The white
pawn center has been blockaded, that’s why white can’t open a position and create
an attack. This is the white’s biggest problem.
In the future, black will take white’s queen-side pawns and win the game in an
endgame.
Let’s draw the conclusions from this game and from the whole lesson.
The conclusions.
The side with a pawn center should push it forward to get a space advantage
and probably domination. Then he can continue attacking in the center or
transfer the attack on a flank.
The other side should attack the opponent’s pawn center to destroy it or to
blockade it.
53
There are some specific rules for the positions with the closed center:
A pawn center gives you advantages when it is well supported by your
pieces. Otherwise, it is a weakness and an easy object for an attack.
To blockade an opponent’s pawn center you should put strong pressure
on it and force an opponent to move one of his central pawns. Then,
you can impose a blockade on the weak squares.
The fixed pawn center can’t help to open a position and to create an
attack, that’s why it is usually not dangerous.
While blocking an opponent’s pawn center, you are putting your pieces
on the excellent central squares. It is another argument for a blockade.
It is important to play vigorously in positions with a pawn center. Both
players are struggling for the center; and the one who makes it faster
and more insistently will win the game.
When you know these principles, you will play such positions without any
problems. Actually, you know all the plans in advance.
54
«YOUR WINNING PLAN» by GM Igor Smirnov
Lesson-7: “Specific Rules For the Dynamic Center”
In this lesson, we will talk about the last possible center type – the dynamic
center.
To be fully honest, it is even not a center type. It just describes an unclear
situation, where the center type has not been defined yet. Most probably such
situation will lead to one of the well-known center types, which we analyzed before.
Would like to get a concrete example of the dynamic center? Well, it is simple.
It is a bit joke, but I
hope that you understand what I mean. Any undetermined situation can be an
example.
Here we come to our usual question: “what should you do in positions with the
dynamic center?”
You should attack in the center and try to get one of the favorable central
constructions. We have analyzed different center types already and you know
when they are advantageous for you. So you just need to struggle in the center
to get one of those good situations.
Of course you should be very careful with pawn moves on a side. The
position may become open and then you will be in a huge trouble because of your
weaknesses. Thus you should rather not to move your flank pawns. Focus your
attention on the center.
If your opponent tries to create an attack on a side, you should make a
counterblow in the center. This general rule works here as well.
55
Adams M. – Topalov V.
White: Kg1, Qd1, Ra1, Rf1, Be2, Be3, Nc3, Nd4, pawns: a4, b2, c2, e4, f4, g2, h2.
Black: Kg8, Qc7, Ra8, Rf8, Bc8, Be7, Nc6, Nf6, pawns: a6, b7, d6, e6, f7, g7, h7.
XABCDEFGHY 8r+l+-trk+( 7+pwq-vlpzpp' 6p+nzppsn-+& 5+-+-+-+-% 4P+-sNPzP-+$ 3+-sN-vL-+-# 2-zPP+L+PzP" 1tR-+Q+RmK-! xabcdefghy
White’s turn.
This is a well-known theoretical position. We can see the dynamic center.
What should white do here? Concentrate the pieces in a center and then attack
there.
In the game white played 11.Kh1.
There is an important practical rule for such positions: since there is no direct
contact between the opponents’ pieces, you may prepare the realization of
your plan thoroughly.
Each player occupies his half of the board. There are no threats here. So you
have enough time to put all your pieces on the best squares before starting the real
attack.
11…Re8 Black is doing the same.
12.Bf3-Bf8 13.Qd2-Na5 Black tries to attack on a side. You should be very careful
with such ideas, because they are often bad.
14.b3-Rb8 15.Rad1 White concentrates all his pieces in the center.
15…Nc6 Now white has all the pieces on the right places and he can start an attack
with 16.Nc6-bc 17.e5 It gives white the initiative position.
56
In the game he chose another way and played 16.Bf2. At first sight, this move
seems strange. However, there is another practical idea for such positions: it is
good to keep the tension.
Maybe you are not too sure what to do, but your opponent is in the same
trouble. That’s why it makes sense to keep the tension. Probably your opponent will
do something dubious. Then it will become simpler for you to find the right way to
start an attack. If your opponent doesn’t make mistakes – no problem, you can start
realizing your plan any time.
You see it is a totally practical rule; it is not about a chess strategy. There is
another relative thing here. When you keep the tension, you make it harder for
your opponent to find good moves.
Let’s imagine that white took 16.Nc6. Black has the only possible response
16…bc. After 17.e5 black has to take 17…de, so again it is very simple for him.
Then 18.fe and black still has an obvious move 18…Nd5.
Let’s come back to the game. White played 16.Bf2 and now it is not that easy
for black to find a good move. At least he will think for some time, and this will
already be good for you.
In the game there followed 16…Nd7 17.Bg3-Nd4. Now black is trying to play
aggressively, but his flank attack seems dubious, because of the white’s strong
central position.
18.Qd4-b5 19.ab-ab 20.b4
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XABCDEFGHY 8-trl+rvlk+( 7+-wqn+pzpp' 6-+-zpp+-+& 5+p+-+-+-% 4-zP-wQPzP-+$ 3+-sN-+LvL-# 2-+P+-+PzP" 1+-+R+R+K! xabcdefghy
To prevent the black’s move b4
20…g6 Black is preparing Bg7, but is creating new weaknesses at the same time.
Do you remember that it is necessary to be very careful with pawn moves in the
positions with the dynamic center? This example is a good illustration of that idea.
White played 21.e5 starting the direct attack of the black’s weaknesses 21…d5 22.f5
White is opening the position.
22…gf 23.Nd5 Black can’t accept the sacrifice 23…ed because after 24.e6 his
position is destroyed.
24…Qc4 25.Qd2 White wants to play Qg5 check
24…h6 25.h3. This sadistic move shows black that he has nothing to do. White won
the game easily.
Let’s draw the conclusions.
In the positions with the dynamic center, you should attack in the center
and try to get one of the favorable central constructions.
There are some specific rules for such positions:
You should be very careful with pawn moves on a side.
Since there is no direct contact between the opponents’ pieces, you may
prepare the realization of your plan thoroughly.
58
It is good to keep the tension, because it makes it harder for your opponent
practically.
Please, accept my congratulations because we have finished with the different
types of centers finally! ☺
Maybe it looks like a huge quantity of information. Please don’t worry about it.
Later, we will make the most general conclusion and you will see that everything is
very simple actually.
59
«YOUR WINNING PLAN» by GM Igor Smirnov
Lesson-8: “Two Universal Keys”
Hi again! This is the 8th lesson “Two Universal Keys”.
First, I would remind you that we are still talking about the 1st stage of
composing the right plan. Let’s recollect our general scheme:
There are 2 steps to composing a plan:
1. You should detect the direction of your attack (the object of an attack).
2. You should find the exact way of how to attack in that direction (that
object).
All the previous lessons were dedicated to the first step – the direction of an
attack. We have been talking about 3 possible directions (the center, the queenside
and the kingside). We focused mostly on the center, because it is a dominating
factor. I’ve told you what you should do in different middlegame positions and which
plan you should realize.
Now I’d like to tell you 2 additional ideas relating to this topic (to the direction
of an attack). These ideas are quite simple and very effective at the same time. They
are applicable to almost all the positions.
Here they are:
1. You should use the opponent’s weaknesses.
2. You should use your advantages.
Maybe it seems obvious, but it is really useful. Let’s talk about it more specifically.
60
You should use the opponent’s weaknesses.
Previously, we’ve been talking about the general direction of your attack. The
opponent’s weaknesses are the concrete objects of an attack in that direction.
Thus you should attack the opponent’s weaknesses, because they are the
easiest objects of an attack.
I explained this topic in the course “The Grandmaster’s Secrets”, so I will not
repeat it again.
You should use your advantages.
It is called “an advantage”, because your opponent has no counterpart. That’s
why he has no way to oppose your advantage. Therefore, if you use the positional
advantages of your position, you will often realize your plan quickly and
easily.
Karpov A. – Bagirov V.
White: Kg1, Qd1, Rc1, Rf1, Be3, Bf3, Nc5, pawns: a2, b3, d4, f2, g2, h2.
Black: Kg8, Qd8, Rb8, Rf8, Bf6, Na5, Nc6, pawns: a7, d5, e6, f7, g7, h7.
XABCDEFGHY 8-tr-wq-trk+( 7zp-+-+pzpp' 6-+n+pvl-+& 5sn-sNp+-+-% 4-+-zP-+-+$ 3+P+-vLL+-# 2P+-+-zPPzP" 1+-tRQ+RmK-! xabcdefghy
White’s turn.
In this position, white has the pawn majority on the queen-side. White has 2
pawns – b3 and a2 against the single pawn a7. That’s why white starts realizing this
advantage insistently.
61
19.a3 (preparing b4)-Ne7. Now white can play 20.b4 immediately, but this will allow
the black’s knight to go on the c4. That’s why white first played 20.Be2 to cover this
square (c4). White doesn’t allow the black knight to go on c4 in the future.
20…Nf5 21.b4 (the white’s pawn majority is going forward)-Nb7 22.Bf4 White saves
the bishop and also transfers it on the most active square e5.
22…Nbd6 23.Be5 (white has to play the bishop to protect the d4 pawn)-Be5 24.de-
Nb7 25.Nb3.
XABCDEFGHY 8-tr-wq-trk+( 7zpn+-+pzpp' 6-+-+p+-+& 5+-+pzPn+-% 4-zP-+-+-+$ 3zPN+-+-+-# 2-+-+LzPPzP" 1+-tRQ+RmK-! xabcdefghy
Black’s knight on b7 has no prospects (it really has no squares where to go), so of
course there is no reason for white to exchange it.
In this position the white’s general plan is still the same: of course white just needs
to realize his pawn majority on the queen-side. However, it is impossible to do it right
now. That’s why white needs to activate his pieces first to support the advancement
of his queenside pawns.
25…Qb6 26.Bd3 (pushing the knight away)-Ne7 27.Qg4. This move provides 2
functions. First, it threatens Bh7 and Qh4 winning the pawn. Secondly, the queen is
going to the d4.
27…f5 28.Qd4 White has neutralized black’s advantage – his passed pawn d5.
28…Nd8 29.b5 (finally white continues realizing his plan)-g5 30.a4. Everything is
very simple for white. He only needs to advance the pawn majority.
30…Ng6 Black wants to win the e5 pawn after the exchange, so white played.
31.Qa1-Qb7 32.Rfe1 (to protect the e5 pawn one more time)-Qg7 33.Nc5 white
keeps his pieces on the most active positions.
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33…Rf7 34.a5-Re7 35.Na6. Again, still everything is very simple: white is just
attacking, going forward and using his pawn majority. 35…Ra8 36.Bf1 White plays
very safely. Probably it was possible for white just to realize his plan directly.
36…Nf7 37.Nc7 (attacking the rook a8)-Rd8 38.Rc6 (attacking the e6 pawn)-Nf8.
Now white can advance his pawns very easily, because all the black’s pieces are
very passive. 39.b6-ab 40.a6.
XABCDEFGHY 8-+-tr-snk+( 7+-sN-trnwqp' 6PzpR+p+-+& 5+-+pzPpzp-% 4-+-+-+-+$ 3+-+-+-+-# 2-+-+-zPPzP" 1wQ-+-tRLmK-! xabcdefghy
On the next moves white played a7-a8, won the material and the game.
In general white won the game very easily. He has only realized one positional
advantage – the pawn majority. You can see how powerful this idea is.
What other advantages can be used?
A space advantage;
An advantage in activity;
Material advantage;
A piece without an opponent’s counterpart;
A pawn majority and so on.
These were 2 additional ideas, which will help you to detect the direction of
your attack and your plan in general. I called them “2 universal keys”, because you
can apply them to any position.
63
Now let’s make up the main conclusions about everything we’ve studied
before.
Conclusions.
There are 2 steps to composing a plan:
1. You should detect the direction of your attack (the object of an attack).
2. You should find the exact way of how to attack in that direction (that object).
Now we are talking about the first step, where you need to decide where to
attack. The rule states: if you can play (attack) in a center – do it.
If you can’t do it or if you have an advantage in a center already; then you may
transfer the attack on a side.
There are 2 additional ideas, which can help you in this stage:
You should use the opponent’s weaknesses.
You should use your advantages.
These are the most important ideas. There is nothing difficult here and I am
sure that you will apply this system easily after a little practice.
64
«YOUR WINNING PLAN» by GM Igor Smirnov
Lesson-9: “How to Realize Your Winning Plan”.
This is lesson #9: “How to Realize Your Winning Plan”.
In the previous lesson we analyzed the 1st step of composing the right plan
(how to detect the direction of your attack). In this lesson I am going to tell you about
the 2nd step: how to prepare your attack and direct the game to reach those
favorable positions.
What follows is the correct way of thinking: you should focus your attention
on your every piece and figure out how that piece can help you to realize your
plan.
Usually there are pieces that are already placed well, if that is the case then
you don’t need to move them. Of course there are usually some pieces that need to
be transferred to better squares.
A word of advice: I strongly recommend that you think in a well-organized
manner. While thinking about your pieces, you should think about EVERY piece in
your position, starting from the highest value piece and then going down.
Let’s see how it works practically.
Geller E. – Reshevsky S.
White: Kh1, Qd1, Ra1, Rf1, Be3, Bf3, Nb3, Nc3, pawns: a4, b2, c2, e4, f4, g2, h2.
Black: Kg8, Qd8, Rc8, Rf8, Bd7, Be7, Nb4, Nf6, pawns: a5, b7, d6, e5, f7, g7, h7.
65
XABCDEFGHY 8-+rwq-trk+( 7+p+lvlpzpp' 6-+-zp-sn-+& 5zp-+-zp-+-% 4Psn-+PzP-+$ 3+NsN-vLL+-# 2-zPP+-+PzP" 1tR-+Q+R+K! xabcdefghy
White’s turn.
The opening stage of the game has finished and now it is time to compose a
plan. Let’s use our system to do it. First, we need to determine the direction of our
attack. We can see a dynamic center, so we should mainly play in the center and
concentrate our pieces there. The rule is “if you can play in a center – do it.”
We can figure out the target of an attack more specifically, finding the
weaknesses in an opponent’s position. Black has a lot of weaknesses: d5, d6, b5,
b6, a5.
Now we come to the second step of planning: we need to think about how to
use our pieces to realize this plan. Let’s do it starting from the piece with the highest
value – the queen. How can we attack black’s weaknesses with the queen? Maybe
the queen can work on the “d” file, but it is not very active here, because the d6
pawn is protected by the bishop already. Are there are any other good position for
the queen? Yes, we can transfer it to f2 and pressure the b6 weakness.
Next we should think about the rooks. The rooks are usually most active on an
open line, thus white should probably double rooks on the “d” file. This will help
increase white’s control over the central squares and attack the weaknesses d5 and
d6.
What about the bishops? The e3 bishop is already on a good square. It looks
at the b6 hole. The light-squared bishop is not very active, but it is hard to activate it
in this position. Maybe some time in the future it may go to g4 or to e2.
66
After the bishops we should go to the knights. The c3 knight is in a good
position already. In the future it can go to d5 or b5 to start an attack. The other knight
is not that great, but it is difficult to improve its position. By the way, it is attacking the
a5 weakness, so it is good right now.
Finally we should think about the pawns. The only pawn which can do
something really is the f4 pawn. Maybe it will take on e5 in the future, but normally
we should keep the tension.
We have performed both steps in our planning method and now we can
summarize the processes. White is going to play in the center and attack the
weaknesses d6, d5, b6, b5. To realize this plan, white mainly needs to double rooks
on the “d” file and to put the queen on this diagonal (g1-a7).
In the game white played 14.Rf2. It is one of the ways to get that ideal set up.
14…Rc4. This move looks too optimistic, and white is trying to utilize black’s
dangerous piece placement.
15.fe-de 16.Rd2.
XABCDEFGHY 8-+-wq-trk+( 7+p+lvlpzpp' 6-+-+-sn-+& 5zp-+-zp-+-% 4Psnr+P+-+$ 3+NsN-vLL+-# 2-zPPtR-+PzP" 1tR-+Q+-+K! xabcdefghy
That’s why white took on the previous move: now white is pressuring the “d” file.
16…Qc7 17.Qg1. The queen is coming to the long diagonal according to white’s
plan.
17…Bd8 (to prevent Bb6) 18.Rad1. White has done everything that he wanted to.
18…Bc6 19.Bc5 white is winning by force 19…Re8 20.Qf1
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XABCDEFGHY 8-+-vlr+k+( 7+pwq-+pzpp' 6-+l+-sn-+& 5zp-vL-zp-+-% 4Psnr+P+-+$ 3+NsN-+L+-# 2-zPPtR-+PzP" 1+-+R+Q+K! xabcdefghy and the rook is trapped. White got a winning position and later won the game.
Let’s take a look at the starting position again.
XABCDEFGHY 8-+rwq-trk+( 7+p+lvlpzpp' 6-+-zp-sn-+& 5zp-+-zp-+-% 4Psn-+PzP-+$ 3+NsN-vLL+-# 2-zPP+-+PzP" 1tR-+Q+R+K! xabcdefghy
Please, take note of the fact that in the starting position of this example some
of white’s pieces were already on good squares; there were a few pieces that were
difficult to place, and only certain pieces really required improvement. This is a
typical situation that shows clearly, which pieces need to make immediate
moves.
There is another important aspect I’d like to mention. While thinking about a
certain piece, you should not forget that you can not only transfer it
somewhere, but you can also exchange it. That’s why I recommend that you ask
yourself an additional question: “which exchanges are good for me in this
situation?” or “which pieces should I exchange here?”
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This will help you to remember the possible exchanges. When you understand
CLEARLY which pieces you should trade; it makes it much easier for you to play.
Smyslov V. – Denker A.
White: Kg1, Qd2, Ra1, Rc1, Be3, Bg2, Ne2, pawns: a2, b2, c4, f2, g3, h2.
Black: Kg8, Qc7, Ra8, Rf8, Be6, Bg7, Ne7, pawns: a7, b7, d6, e5, e4, g6, h7.
XABCDEFGHY 8r+-+-trk+( 7zppwq-sn-vlp' 6-+-zpl+p+& 5+-+-zp-+-% 4-+P+p+-+$ 3+-+-vL-zP-# 2PzP-wQNzPLzP" 1tR-tR-+-mK-! xabcdefghy
White’s turn.
It is white’s turn and white needs to create a plan. We can see that there is a
static center. This means that white should occupy the central weak squares and get
control over the central open lines. In the current position white will probably occupy
the squares e4 and d5 and will use the “d” file.
Black has a weaknesses d6 and d5, so these are more concrete objects of an
attack. This is the first step of planning.
Now we are starting the second step. White’s queen may stay on its own
square. It is hard to find a better square for it.
The rooks should be doubled on the “d” file.
The e3 bishop is in a good position already. The same could be said about the other
bishop which controls the long diagonal.
The knight should go to c3 and then to d5 or e4.
That is white’s plan. Now let’s ask ourselves one additional question: “which
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exchanges are good for white here?”
In such positions it is usually good for white to trade the light-squares bishops,
because it will allow white to occupy the light squares e4 and d5. Thus we found one
more idea, which can be useful. You can see that it is important to think about an
exchange consciously, otherwise you can easily forget about this possibility.
In the game there followed 18.Nc3-Nf5 19.Ne4-Ne3 20.Qe3-h6 21.Rd1 we
can see that white is realizing his plan gradually. I don’t comment every move,
because it is not so important for us now.
21…Rfd8 22.Rac1 white needs to protect the pawn –Rac8 23.b3-b6. Now
white implemented his idea of exchanges and played 24.Nc3-Qe7 25.Bd5.
XABCDEFGHY 8-+rtr-+k+( 7zp-+-wq-vl-' 6-zp-zpl+pzp& 5+-+Lzp-+-% 4-+P+-+-+$ 3+PsN-wQ-zP-# 2P+-+-zP-zP" 1+-tRR+-mK-! xabcdefghy
This gives white a strategically winning position. After the exchange white can
occupy the central squares e4 and d5, and then attack the black’s weaknesses.
White won this game easily.
These were the main ideas about the 2nd step of a planning. Also I’d like to
give you 2 additional recommendations that are related to this topic.
When you are the attacker, you should push the pawns forward;
when you are a defender, you should NOT move the pawns.
We have been talking about the similar things, while discussing different types
of centers.
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Usually there are 3 stages to the realization of your plan:
1. A concentration of pieces.
Here you will concentrate the pieces in the direction of your attack.
2. A creation of weaknesses in an opponent’s position.
At this stage you will start attacking an opponent’s position, trying to create
weaknesses in his pawn structure.
3. Break through the opponent’s defense.
You are opening the position, going inside of an opponent’s territory, and starting the
direct attack on his king and material.
This general scheme may facilitate your planning.
Let’s make some conclusions.
Conclusions.
During the 2nd step of a planning you should focus the attention on your
every piece and figure out how it can help you to realize your plan.
It is important to do it in a well-organized manner (think about EVERY
piece in your position, starting from the highest value piece and then going
down).
In the end you should ask yourself an additional question: “Which
exchanges are good for me in this situation?”
Now let’s make some general conclusions from all the studied material.
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SUMMARY
There are 2 steps to composing a plan:
1. You should detect the direction of your attack (the object of the attack).
2. You should find the exact way of how to attack in that direction (that
object).
The first step helps you to detect what you are attacking; the second one –
how you will do it. It is the general scheme, which you should keep in your mind
while playing.
Now let’s discuss each step more detailed.
Regarding the 1st step, there are 3 possible directions: the center, the
king-side, and the queen-side.
You should focus your attention mainly on a center. If you can play in a
center – do it.
Also we have studied a lot of specific recommendations for a variety of
different types of centers. This gives you some ready-made plans, which you
can use in your games.
You may attack on a side basically when you can’t attack in a center or
when you already have an advantage in a center.
There are 2 additional ideas, which can help you to figure out a direction
of an attack:
You should use an opponent’s weaknesses.
They are the most concrete goals of your attack.
You should use your advantages.
When you decide what you are going to attack, you should start thinking how
you will do it. So here we come to the 2nd step.
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You should focus the attention on your every piece and figure out
how it can help you to realize the plan.
It is important to do it in a well-organized manner (think about EVERY
piece in your position, starting from the highest value piece and then
going down).
When you perform both steps of a planning, you will find your winning plan.
Finally, I recommend you to sum up and to define your plan in 1-2
sentences. Thus you will help yourself to understand your plan clearly.
That’s all. Maybe it seems a bit difficult for you now. However, it is a very
simple actually. You don’t need to try to remember all the rules I’ve told you in the
previous lessons. There are only a few basic ideas, which you need to
UNDERSTAND deeply. All other rules are just logical consequences.
All the ideas I’ve told you are well-organized in one scheme. It makes it simple
to remember and to apply it practically.
Of course you need to practice the right way of thinking for some time. The
practical part of the course will help you to do it. After that you will be able to find the
right plan in any position against any player.
As you already know, planning is one of most important aspects of chess.
That’s why when you master it; you will definitely make significant progress.
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«YOUR WINNING PLAN» by GM Igor Smirnov
Lesson-10: “Grandmasters’ Secrets of Planning”
Hi! This is the 10th lesson “Grandmasters’ Secrets of Planning”. We have
already studied important information about planning. Now let’s move forward.
I want you to think about this: there are quite a lot of players who know about
the importance of planning. However, some players still beat others; they still realize
their plans more effectively than others. Why does this happen?
Here we come to my favourite topic: “the extra skills”. These are the skills
which are not presented in chess books and which most players don’t have. These
are unique weapons which allow you to beat all intermediate players. They bring you
to the top!
In this lesson, I am going to share with you the Grandmasters’ secrets of
planning. They are fully practical recommendations. Sometimes it is even not about
chess strategy, but rather about the necessary skills of a practical player.
Here we go! Here is the first secret:
A Grandmaster realizes his plan (ANY plan) to the maximum insistently.
Maybe it seems obvious for you, but I can tell you that 95% of players don’t do
it. This idea is much more profound than it looks.
Khismatullin D. – Demianjuk A.
White: Kc1, Qd3, Rd1, Rg1, Be2, Bg5, Nc3, pawns: a3, b2, c4, d4, e3, f2, h2.
Black: Kh8, Qd8, Ra8, Rf8, Bb7, Nd7, Nf6, pawns: a6, b6, c5, d6, e6, f7, g7, h7.
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XABCDEFGHY 8r+-wq-tr-mk( 7+l+n+pzpp' 6pzp-zppsn-+& 5+-zp-+-vL-% 4-+PzP-+-+$ 3zP-sNQzP-+-# 2-zP-+LzP-zP" 1+-mKR+-tR-! xabcdefghy
White’s turn.
It is white’s turn and white needs to compose a plan. White has an open “g”
file, but it is hard to use it. Even if white doubles rooks on the “g” file, it will not create
any threats. Black will always be able to simply play Rg8 or even g6 and will stop the
attack. Probably, white should do something else. Maybe white can try to use the “d”
file. For instance white can take dc and put the pressure there. Let’s try to find
something here.
Is my reasoning logical? Do you agree with me? I’ve just showed you the
most typical way of thinking. It is totally incorrect!
Let’s recollect the first secret of Grandmasters: “a Grandmaster realizes any
plan to the maximum insistently”. It means that you should realize a plan whatever
happens. If there are some problems in the realization of a plan, it doesn’t mean that
you should reject the plan. Quite the contrary, you should raise your efforts and
realize the plan even more insistently than usual.
There is one very important consequence from the first secret: An insistent
realization of ANY plan brings you good results. Even if you do not choose the
best plan, even if your plan is objectively bad; you will obtain good results if you
realize that plan to the maximum insistently.
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That’s why in the current position white should not reject his plan with an
attack on the king-side. Yes, it is hard to realize it. Nevertheless you should do it and
believe in the power of the 1st Grandmasters’ secret.
In the game white played 15.Rg3-Qc7 16.Rdg1-Rg8 17.Rh3. This move
doesn’t create any threats as white’s previous moves did. However, white doesn’t try
to do anything else except the realization of his plan.
17…Rac8. Black is trying to play cd and counterattack on the “c” file.
XABCDEFGHY 8-+r+-+rmk( 7+lwqn+pzpp' 6pzp-zppsn-+& 5+-zp-+-vL-% 4-+PzP-+-+$ 3zP-sNQzP-+R# 2-zP-+LzP-zP" 1+-mK-+-tR-! xabcdefghy
What would you play here as white? Please, think about it. You may pause the
video for a few minutes.
Ok, white is trying to attack, but there is no way to create an immediate threat.
At the same time black has created some threats already: he is going to play cd, and
then b5 or d5 and so on. Probably white should play the prophylactic move Kb1,
which is a well-known move in such positions.
Am I right? Of course not! Once again, I’ve showed you the usual way of
thinking. Strong players don’t think like that. They know the 1st Grandmasters’
secret: “a Grandmaster realizes his plan to the maximum insistently”. There is
another important consequence of this rule: you should realize your plan and
ignore your opponent’s plan as long as you can.
You should not be distracted from your plan because of your opponent. Quite
the contrary, you should realize your plan and bend an opponent to your will. When
you realize your plan to the maximum insistently, you will finally subdue the
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opponent and he will have to start defending.
Therefore, in the current position, white should not be distracted from his plan.
When you have no doubts regarding whether you can realize your plan or not;
when you focus your attention solely on the question “HOW to realize the
plan” – you will definitely realize it.
White used this way of thinking and found the way 18.d5-ed 19.Qf5 White is
ignoring his opponent again.
19…Rce8 20.Bd3.
XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+r+rmk( 7+lwqn+pzpp' 6pzp-zp-sn-+& 5+-zpp+QvL-% 4-+P+-+-+$ 3zP-sNLzP-+R# 2-zP-+-zP-zP" 1+-mK-+-tR-! xabcdefghy
Black has no defense against Rh7 and he resigned.
I want you to pay attention to the fact that white has realized his plan by his
EVERY move (without any distractions)! That’s why he won the game very
quickly.
By the way, here I must honestly say that white’s plan was not good
objectively. If black had made correct moves, he would have won the game. You
know the rule “if you can play in the center – do it”. It works in this position as well.
Thus the correct plan here for white was an attack in the center.
However, white’s incorrect plan brought him a simple win. It is a good
illustration of the 1st Grandmasters’ secret: a Grandmaster realizes his plan (ANY
plan) to the maximum insistently.
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Let’s go to the second secret: “Your plan should be maximally concrete”.
Chess is a concrete game. That’s why you should not only detect what you are
going to do in general, but also plan how exactly you will do it. More concrete plans
have more chances to be realized.
You should try to support your plan with calculation to ensure that it really
works in a certain position.
White: Kc1, Qf2, Rd4, Re1, Bb3, Nc3, pawns: a2, b2, c2, g2, h2.
Black: Kg8, Qa5, Rb8, Rf8, Bc8, Nf6, pawns: a7, c6, d5, e6, g6, h7.
XABCDEFGHY 8-trl+-trk+( 7zp-+-+-+p' 6-+p+psnp+& 5wq-+p+-+-% 4-+-tR-+-+$ 3+LsN-+-+-# 2PzPP+-wQPzP" 1+-mK-tR-+-! xabcdefghy
White’s turn.
In this position, white decided to attack on the “h” file. He thought: “I will
transfer the queen to h6, then the rook to h4 and then will increase the pressure
somehow”.
This plan has a lack of specifics. Let’s try to imagine how exactly white will
realize it. I will make any moves for black just to see what white is going to do. White
will play Qh4 (or f4)-h6, then Rh4. White still doesn’t create any threats. How will
white attack? Maybe he will play Rf1. After that black can play Rb7 or Qc7 to protect
the h7 square. Then white has no way to continue the attack. We may conclude that
even after spending so much time white still can’t do something real. It means that
this plan doesn’t work in this position.
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That’s why your plan should be maximally concrete. You should imagine
what exactly you will do and which result you will achieve. It will help you to
understand whether your plan is working or not practically.
Here is the next secret: “You should know your plan and your opponent’s
plan”.
When you know your own plan, you have 50% control over the situation.
When you know your plan and an opponent’s plan – you have 100% control. Of
course it is a very advantageous situation. It gives you a really deep understanding
of the position. Then you will be able to predict a game continuation for many moves
ahead. Thus it will be very easy for you to understand what you should do.
Chess players often focus the attention on their own ideas and forget about an
opponent. Perhaps it is the biggest mistake of a majority of players.
Therefore when you are composing your plan, you should think for some time
about your opponent’s plan also.
Malaniuk V. – Golovlev N.
White: Kg1, Qd1, Ra1, Rf1, Bc1, Nc3, Nf3, pawns: a2, b2, d4, e3, f2, g2, h2.
Black: Ke8, Qd8, Ra8, Rh8, Bd7, Bf8, Nf6 pawns: a6, c6, c5, d5, f7, g7, h7.
XABCDEFGHY 8r+-wqkvl-tr( 7+-+l+pzpp' 6p+p+-sn-+& 5+-zpp+-+-% 4-+-zP-+-+$ 3+-sN-zPN+-# 2PzP-+-zPPzP" 1tR-vLQ+RmK-! xabcdefghy
White’s turn.
What is white’s plan here? By the way, you may use it as an exercise. Pause
the video and think about it by yourself first.
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OK, now let’s do it together. If you can play in the center – do it. So white
should mostly attack in the center. Next, you should find the opponent’s weaknesses
to figure out more concrete objects of your attack in a certain direction. That’s why
you will attack black’s central weaknesses c5 and c6 mainly. After that you need to
find the good squares for your pieces, where they will support the realization of this
plan.
Is that all? For the majority of players it is the end of planning. I recommend
you to do one more thing though. Think about your opponent’s plan also. Black will
probably try to compensate his weaknesses by an active play of his pieces. He will
play Bd6 and will attack on the king-side where his bishops look.
It is very important to understand it, because it gives you one more idea: you
should neutralize the black’s minor pieces. Thus you should exchange them to break
an opponent’s plan. Moreover, it will be easier for you to attack the black’s
weaknesses if you exchange their defenders first.
You can see that if you know the plans of both players, you are totally
controlling the situation; you get a really deep understanding of the position.
This is what Grandmasters do in their games.
In this game, white played 10.Ne5 preparing an exchange. There followed
10…Bd6 11.Nd7-Qd7 12.dc-Bc5 13.Na4
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XABCDEFGHY 8r+-+k+-tr( 7+-+q+pzpp' 6p+p+-sn-+& 5+-vlp+-+-% 4N+-+-+-+$ 3+-+-zP-+-# 2PzP-+-zPPzP" 1tR-vLQ+RmK-! xabcdefghy
white is putting his pieces on the right squares to attack the black’s
weaknesses.
13…Ba7 14.b3-00 15.Ba3 (attacking the rook) 15…Rfe8 16.Bc5 White is
occupying the weak square and is exchanging minor pieces. Thus white realizes his
plan and breaks an opponent’s plan at the same time. It is the best you can do.
White transferred an unclear situation to a position with a stable positional
advantage in just a few moves. This is the power of planning. And this is a power of
the principle: you should know your plan and your opponent’s plan.
This rule brings us to the next Grandmasters’ secret: if you can’t find your
plan, you should prevent an opponent’s plan”.
By the way, this is a general strategic rule, which works not only in chess, but
everywhere. For instance, there is a same rule in billiards: if you can’t drive in a ball,
then you should complicate the situation for your opponent.
Though it is quite a logical thing, most chess players don’t use it. They focus
on themselves and don’t think about the opponent.
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Kharlov A. – Kornev A.
White: Ke1, Qd1, Ra1, Rh1, Bd3, Bh4, Nc3, Nd2, pawns: a2, b2, c4, d5, e3, f2, g2,
h3.
Black: Kg8, Qd7, Ra8, Rf8, Bc8, Bg7, Na6, Nh7, pawns: a7, b7, c5, d6, e5, f7, g6,
h6.
XABCDEFGHY 8r+l+-trk+( 7zpp+q+pvln' 6n+-zp-+pzp& 5+-zpPzp-+-% 4-+P+-+-vL$ 3+-sNLzP-+P# 2PzP-sN-zPP+" 1tR-+QmK-+R! xabcdefghy
White’s turn.
It is white’s turn here. What is white’s plan? Usually white should attack on the
queenside in such positions, but here it doesn’t give much for white. The white
pieces are not on the right places for this plan.
Can white attack on the kingside somehow? I doubt it. The only way to open
the position there is to play f4, but it rather helps black.
All in all, it is quite hard to realize what white should actually do here. What do
chess players usually do in such situations? They put their hands on their heads and
start thinking hard. After a long think, they most often do something inconceivable.
You’ve got a better option instead: if you can’t find your plan, you should
prevent an opponent’s plan.
Black is certainly trying to play f5 and to attack on the kingside. Can white
prevent it? Yes, white can play 12.g4 simply. It transfers white’s problems to
black. Now it is difficult for black to figure out what to do. In general, he should
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attack on the kingside, but in this situation it seems risky.
Nevertheless he played 12…f5 in the game. White answered 13.gf-gf
14.Rg1. White's problems have been solved on their own: now white got a clear plan
of an attack on the kingside.
14…e4 15.Be2-Kh8 16.a3 (to prevent Nb4 and to prepare Qc2)-Nc7 17.Qc2
all of white’s moves are obvious now.
17…Qf7 18.000-Bd7 19.f3 white is opening the position to develop the attack.
19…ef 20.Bf3-b5 21.Ne2 It is also a good example of the insistent realization of a
plan. White ignores black’s attacking attempts and realizes his plan by every move.
21…Bf6 22.Nf4 White is threatening Ng6 and is still ignoring black. 22…Ng5
23.Bh5-Qg7 24.Ng6. White won the exchange and the game pretty soon.
There is one thing I’d like to mention here. I am talking about an attacking plan
all the time. Perhaps you are wondering “What about a defense?” Of course, it is
an important topic also. However, there is nothing special you should do about
it. There are a few reasons:
An attack is the main thing in chess, it is the main way for a win; that’s
why you should think about it most of all.
After every opponent’s move, you should ask yourself the question:
“What is the idea of my opponent’s move?” and “What is he going to do next?” This
tip helps you to always be careful and to prevent any danger.
I explained this aspect in more detail in the lesson “How to Prevent Blunders”:
http://chess-teacher.com/blunders
You can study it using the link on the screen (or in the text version of the
lesson).
You should think about your plan and about your opponent’s plan also.
We have discussed it before. If your plan is more powerful than an opponent’s
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one – then you should ignore the opponent's plan and realize your ideas
insistently. If you detect that your opponent’s plan is more effective, then you
obviously have to defend. Therefore, if you think about the plans of both players, you
will understand whether you need to defend or not automatically.
Here we come to the conclusion that, if you think in the right way, you
solve the problem of a defense automatically. It is a practical approach.
Let’s go to the next portion of Grandmasters’ Secrets of Planning.
In this course, I gave you a clear system of finding the right plan. If you study it
well, you will be able to find your winning plan in most situations. However,
sometimes every player gets in trouble and can’t figure out what to do in a certain
position. That’s why I’d like to give you some practical recommendations about it.
So what should you do if you can’t find the right plan?
First, you can prevent an opponent’s plan. We have talked about it already.
Secondly, you should compose a plan in stable positions and orient
rather on calculation and on the general strategic principles in complicated
positions.
Smith Br. – Shabalov A.
White: Kc1, Qd2, Re1, Rh1, Bb5, Bh4, Nc3, Nf3, pawns: a2, b2, d5, e5, g2, h2.
Black: Kg8, Qd8, Ra8, Re8, Bf5, Bg7, Nb6, Nb4, pawns: a7, b7, c5, f6, g6, h7.
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XABCDEFGHY 8r+-wqr+k+( 7zpp+-+-vlp' 6-sn-+-zpp+& 5+LzpPzPl+-% 4-sn-+-+-vL$ 3+-sN-+N+-# 2PzP-wQ-+PzP" 1+-mK-tR-+R! xabcdefghy
Black’s turn.
It is black’s turn. It is the end of the opening and usually we should compose a
plan at this point. Of course, it makes no sense to think about planning in the current
situation. It is a tactical position and everything may change seriously within a few
moves. That’s why, here, the main thing you should do is calculate the variations.
When the situation becomes more stable, you will start thinking about making
a plan.
In the game, black found the correct move 17…a6. Then after 18.Be8-Nd3
19.Kd1-Nc4 black is winning.
By the way, I want you to pay attention to the following aspect: in
complicated positions (or when you can’t find a plan), you should orient on
the strategic principles. I have talked about the strategic principles in the course
“The Grandmaster’s Secrets”, so I will not repeat them.
The strategic principles are universal and are applicable for any position. For
example, you should perform 3 main opening tasks whatever plan you are going to
realize. It is fair as well for all other principles. You should follow them always.
Next, if you can’t find a good plan, you should compose any plan and
realize it insistently.
I’ve told you about it previously: an insistent realization of any plan brings you
85
good results. The main thing here is not to put too much psychological pressure on
yourself. Chess players often feel obliged to make good moves. If you can’t find a
good plan, you start thinking hard, get nervous and blame yourself. However, you
are not a computer. It is not necessary to always make good moves and, moreover,
it is impossible. Thus if you can’t find a good plan in quite a short time period,
simply choose any plan and realize it insistently. Don’t worry about it. It is an
absolutely normal situation for a practical player.
The last recommendation I want to give you is to offer a draw.
If you have no idea regarding what to do – offer a draw.
It is also the Grandmasters’ secret, which was proven by a huge practice.
Let’s look at an example.
Nguyen Ch. – Malaniuk V.
White: Kg1, Qd2, Ra1, Rf1, Bb2, Bg2, Nb5, pawns: a4, b3, c4, e3, f2, g3, h2.
Black: Kh8, Qe8, Rc8, Rf8, Bd7, Bg7, Ne5, pawns: a5, b6, c7, d6, f5, g6, h7.
XABCDEFGHY 8-+r+qtr-mk( 7+-zpl+-vlp' 6-zp-zp-+p+& 5zpN+-snp+-% 4P+P+-+-+$ 3+P+-zP-zP-# 2-vL-wQ-zPLzP" 1tR-+-+RmK-! xabcdefghy
White’s turn.
It is white’s turn here. Let’s imagine that you are playing this position as white.
Let’s suppose that you are not too sure what you should do here. White can’t play on
the queenside or on the kingside. You may try to attack in the center and play e4, but
it looks risky, because it opens the lines for the black’s bishops and the rook f8.
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What usually happens in such situation? You start thinking, but you can’t
decide what to do anyway. Then you look at the clock and realize that you have
been thinking for 10 minutes already. So you say to yourself: “oh, it is time to make a
move”. And you play something like Rd1. This move doesn’t realize any plan; it is
just a normal move. Your opponent responds with something and you appear in the
same trouble again.
Though nothing bad happens to you, it is a very dangerous situation. You are
spending time and are doing nothing really, while your opponent realizes his
plan gradually. Your position will become worse and worse and you will lose the
game eventually.
Let’s look again at the starting position. What would an experienced player do
in this practical situation? He would offer a draw immediately! Don’t wait until
your position becomes bad. If you can’t find the plan, your position will definitely
be bad. So you need to offer a draw now.
The position is approximately equal now; your opponent certainly doesn’t
know the reason why you are offering a draw. Thus there is a very good chance that
he will accept your offer.
These were a few recommendations regarding the situation when you can’t
find a plan. I hope that you will not appear in a such situation, but if you will, then you
know what to do.
Let’s go forward. I will tell you some Grandmasters’ secrets about how to
realize a plan.
Here is the 1st one: if your opponent has no counterplay, you should play
slowly and prepare your plan as well as you can.
In a normal situation (when your opponent has counterplay), you should
realize your plan vigorously and insistently. When your opponent has no real plan,
87
you don’t have to hurry up. You have enough time to put all your pawns and pieces
on the best squares first and only then start realizing your plan. This style of
playing is the most powerful objectively, and also it is very unpleasant for your
opponent.
Fejzullahu A. – Malaniuk V.
White: Kh1, Qc2, Ra2, Rf1, Bd7, pawns: c3, d5, e4, f2, g2, h3.
Black: Kg8, Qf4, Rb8, Rb3, Bc5, pawns: a5, d6, e5, f7, g6, h7.
XABCDEFGHY 8-tr-+-+k+( 7+-+L+p+p' 6-+-zp-+p+& 5zp-vlPzp-+-% 4-+-+Pwq-+$ 3+rzP-+-+P# 2R+Q+-zPP+" 1+-+-+R+K! xabcdefghy
Black’s turn.
Black certainly has an advantage. His main plan is to push the passed pawn
on the “a” file and to attack the white’s weaknesses. White has no counterplay, so
black should do it slowly.
He played 38…Ba3 trying to play Rb2.
39.Qd3 an idea Rb2 failed, so black tries another thing.
39…Bb4 40.Rc2 Ok, white protected this weakness also, so black goes back.
40…Bc5.
88
XABCDEFGHY 8-tr-+-+k+( 7+-+L+p+p' 6-+-zp-+p+& 5zp-vlPzp-+-% 4-+-+Pwq-+$ 3+rzPQ+-+P# 2-+R+-zPP+" 1+-+-+R+K! xabcdefghy
At first sight, this maneuver of the bishop didn’t give anything for black. However it
is a very powerful thing practically. There are 2 main arguments for this slow
style:
When you try to use different simple threats, it may work at once. If
it really works – that’s great. If your opponent is careful and defends well
– no problem, nothing has been changed. You will always be able to
start realizing your main plan.
It is very unpleasant for your opponent to be under constant
pressure. He has to sit and to wait humbly. In such situations, there is a
very good chance that he will make a mistake or will try a hopeless
attack.
Let’s see what happened in the game. White played 41.g3-Qf6 42.Kg2-Rb2
43.Ba4-h5. This move also doesn’t do much, but the pawn is more active here than
on h7.
44.Qe2
89
XABCDEFGHY 8-tr-+-+k+( 7+-+-+p+-' 6-+-zp-wqp+& 5zp-vlPzp-+p% 4L+-+P+-+$ 3+-zP-+-zPP# 2-trR+QzPK+" 1+-+-+R+-! xabcdefghy
White makes the first mistake. Of course, it was necessary to stop the black pawn by
playing h4.
44…Rc2 45.Qc2-h4. Black suddenly got one more positional advantage.
46.Qe2-Kg7. Black continues playing slowly. Maybe black will play Rh8 sometime in
the future or maybe not. Anyway, it will force white to worry about it.
47.Bb5-Qg5 48.c4-Bd4 – Another little improvement. Bishop is standing on the d4
little bit better than on the c5. Probably somewhen in the future that bishop d4 will
support the move Rb2 (maybe not, we are not too sure). Anyway since white has
nothing to do, black should make all the moves which he likes to do.
49.Rd1-Rh8 This move doesn’t create any threats actually. However, white was
scared and played 50.Qg4. It simplifies the black’s task a lot. After 50…Qg4 51.hg-
h3 black suddenly got a very powerful passed pawn. He won the game easily
afterwards.
You can see that this slow style of playing brings great practical results.
Actually white worsened his position by himself. That’s why black was able to win the
game easily and without any risk.
Let’s go to the next advice. Don’t be distracted from your plan by trying to
create a snare.
It is a typical mistake of beginners. A snare can be good only when it
happens incidentally while realizing your plan. Otherwise it deflects you from the
plan. It can’t be good. We’ve been talking a lot about the importance of planning. So
90
I will not say much about it again.
The next Grandmasters’ secret: Think about planning during your
opponent’s time.
Of course, it is very helpful to use not only your time, but your opponent’s time
also. It makes no sense to calculate concrete variations while your opponent is
thinking. His next move may change the situation and all your calculations will be for
nothing.
Therefore, you should think about your plan during your opponent’s time. In
this course, I gave you the step-by-step instruction regarding the composition of
plans. Use it. Figure out a direction of your attack. Think about a center. Find
opponent’s weaknesses. Detect the best squares for your pieces to attack those
weaknesses. You can do all this stuff during your opponent’s time. Most chess
players don’t know this simple recommendation. Thus it will be your advantage over
other players.
OK, now I’d like to tell you another important thing. I must honestly say that I
didn’t understand it for a long time. That’s why I got some annoying results. So I’d
like to warn you.
Here is the secret: You attack an opponent’s king to get a positional
advantage.
Not even to mate him! It is a common delusion. In a normal position, your
opponent can avoid mate. Yes, he will have to make concessions. Maybe he will
weaken his position or will lose a pawn or something like that. However, most often
he will be able to prevent mate or an immediate loss.
Areschenko A. – Bischoff K.
White: Kh1, Qe2, Re1, Rf1, Bd4, Bd3, Nc3, pawns: a4, b2, c2, e5, g2, h2.
Black: Kg8, Qc7, Re8, Rf8, Bc6, Be7, Nc5, pawns: a6, b7, e6, f7, g7, h7.
91
XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+rtrk+( 7+pwq-vlpzpp' 6p+l+p+-+& 5+-sn-zP-+-% 4P+-vL-+-+$ 3+-sNL+-+-# 2-zPP+Q+PzP" 1+-+-tRR+K! xabcdefghy
White’s turn.
In this position, white started a powerful attack by sacrificing the bishop
18.Bh7. There followed 18…Kh7 19.Qh5-Kg8 20.Re3 white is going to play Rh3
and mate the black king.
20…f5 21.ef-Bf6 22.Rh3. White is going to play Qh7 or Qh8, white can take
on f6 and the c5 knight is hanging. It looks winning for white. However black found
the only defense 22…Nd7.
XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+rtrk+( 7+pwqn+-zp-' 6p+l+pvl-+& 5+-+-+-+Q% 4P+-vL-+-+$ 3+-sN-+-+R# 2-zPP+-+PzP" 1+-+-+R+K! xabcdefghy
What does the white player usually do in such situations? He tries to find a
winning continuation. He starts calculating the variations, trying to mate black’s king
or to get a decisive material advantage. He is calculating the lines for 10 minutes,
but can’t find a win anyway. Then he starts getting nervous; he wants to win and he
feels obliged to find a winning line. Very often white player tries to win by all means
92
and finally loses.
I can tell you this: there is no win for white here. It is impossible to mate the
black king. The best position that white can achieve is this: 23.Qh7-Kf7 24.Bf6-Nf6
25.Rh6-Qe5 it is the forcing line 26.Rhf6-Qf6 27.Rf6-Kf6.
Yes, white’s advantage is not so huge here. But who told you that it was
winning for white? It wasn’t. After all, white got a positional advantage and this is a
normal and even good result!
We arrive at the conclusion that you attack an opponent’s king to get a
positional advantage. Don’t try to continue an attack by all means. It is a
mistake!
In the end of the lesson, I’d like to give you a few recommendations regarding
your further improvement. This course gives you all important information about
planning. Of course, you need to practice these recommendations now. The
practical part of the course will help you to do it.
There is another thing you should do as well. Nowadays, a lot of positions
have already been analyzed. All the typical plans are already known there. Of
course, if you know them, you simplify your task during a game. There will be no
need for you to compose a plan, because you will know it in advance.
Therefore, you should study different typical positions. There are a lot of
them: Hedgehog system, isolated pawn and many others.
There is another relative recommendation: play different positions and use
different plans. Don’t play the same openings and similar positions all the time. You
play not only to win, but also to improve your skills and to grow as a chess
player. If you want to become a strong player one day, you have to be a universal
player. Thus you need to play different types of positions.
93
Those were all the main Grandmasters’ secrets of planning. Let’s draw the
conclusions.
CONCLUSIONS
How to realize a plan:
A Grandmaster realizes his plan (ANY plan) to the maximum insistently.
If your opponent has no counterplay, you should play slowly and
prepare your plan as well as you can.
Don’t be distracted from your plan by trying to create a snare.
If you can’t find the right plan:
Prevent an opponent’s plan.
You should compose a plan in stable positions and orient rather on
calculation and on the general strategic principles in complicated positions.
If you can’t find a good plan in quite a short time period, simply choose
any plan and realize it insistently.
If you have no idea regarding what to do – offer a draw immediately.
Special recommendations:
Your plan should be maximally concrete.
You should know your plan and your opponent’s plan.
If you think in the right way, you will solve the problem of a defense
automatically.
Think about your plan during your opponent’s time.
You attack an opponent’s king to get a positional advantage.
How to improve your planning skills:
Train the ideas of this course.
Study different typical positions.
94
Play different positions and use different plans.
The recommendations from this lesson will bring you to the International
master’s level and beyond! These are the really secret technical skills, which were
accumulated over many years of my player’s and teacher’s experience. Use them
and you will achieve your goals!
Thanks for your attention! Now you should go to the practical part. See you
there!
95
«YOUR WINNING PLAN» by GM Igor Smirnov PRACTICAL PART
96
«YOUR WINNING PLAN» by GM Igor Smirnov
The instruction for the practical part
After a study of the video lessons you have received a certain set of knowledge. Now it is necessary to put the received knowledge into practice. This practical addition to the course will help you to do it.
The main purpose of this practical part is to develop your “strategic thinking”.
Most of amateur players try to find the right move; all the strong players think about a plan.
While analyzing the games of the practical part you should ALWAYS understand plans of both players. Thus when you analyze a game, you need to answer 2 questions:
- WHEN (in what positions) it is necessary to compose a plan?
- WHAT is that plan?
Certainly you should use the recommendations from the video lessons to
answer these questions. Also you will see how different strategic principles (from the video lessons) work in different positions.
The practical part contains 12 tasks (they are presented in separate folders).
The separate instruction is applied for each task. You should carry out all the tasks consistently, following the corresponding instructions. Read the instruction first and then perform the task. The notes:
Often you will need to find the right move in a certain position and then you
will look at the answer. While studying the answers I recommend you to
go over the whole presented game (not only the first move). These games
are very instructive. You should analyze them and understand how general
ideas (from the video lessons) work in different practical positions.
Your main task is to apply the strategic ideas from the video lessons and to
develop your strategic thinking. That’s why there is no “right” or “wrong” moves
here.
It is the most important to think in a right way and to develop your “strategic
thinking” (not just to find the right move).
You should think about the 1 position no more than 15 minutes.
Remember that you should focus on the quality of your training, not on the
quantity of the performed work.
97
Do not use the computer engines during a performing of the tasks. You should
think by yourself to train your skills.
If something is not clear for you - learn once again a corresponding video
lesson.
The chess games are presented in *.pgn format. Any chess program can
open it.
Now you should start performing the tasks, starting from the “Task 1”.
98
«YOUR WINNING PLAN» by GM Igor Smirnov
The practical part: Task-1. During the first 2 tasks we will pay attention to one aspect: “When should you compose a plan?” Your task: study the presented game in “TASK-1 GAMES SECTION” and pay attention to: - the positions where it was necessary to compose a plan (for black); - the positions where it was necessary to make adjustments in a plan (for black). It is important to automatize this skill, so you will really use it in your tournament games. If you have any difficulties – study again the video lessons 1 and 10.
99
TASK-1 GAME SECTION
(1) Kayumov S - Khismatullin D
(2566) [B50]
17th Chess Festival (3), 14.08.2007
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 Nc6
5.c3 g6 6.h3 Bg7
XABCDEFGHY 8r+lwqk+-tr( 7zpp+-zppvlp' 6-+nzp-snp+& 5+-zp-+-+-% 4-+L+P+-+$ 3+-zPP+N+P# 2PzP-+-zPP+" 1tRNvLQmK-+R! xabcdefghy
[(In an early opening stage you should
rather orient on the general strategic
principles and main opening's tasks.
That's why you should not really
compose a plan here.)]
7.Bb3 0–0 8.0–0
XABCDEFGHY 8r+lwq-trk+( 7zpp+-zppvlp' 6-+nzp-snp+& 5+-zp-+-+-% 4-+-+P+-+$ 3+LzPP+N+P# 2PzP-+-zPP+" 1tRNvLQ+RmK-! xabcdefghy
[(Black has made all the obligatory
moves. Now it is time to compose a
middlegame plan. The central position
has not been defined yet, that's why
the classical plan is an attack in the
center. Black can play e5, Be6, d5 and
so on.)]
8...b5 [(In this game black chosen
another plan - the attack on the
queen-side. It is a normal plan also,
because black controls the center
good enough and white can't get any
progress there.)]
9.Re1 a5 10.a3 [(This is a pawn move,
so black should make adjustments in
his plan. Now white creates
weaknesses on the light squares of his
queen-side. Black will try to use it
somehow.)]
10...a4 11.Bc2 Nd7 12.d4
XABCDEFGHY 8r+lwq-trk+( 7+-+nzppvlp' 6-+nzp-+p+& 5+pzp-+-+-% 4p+-zPP+-+$ 3zP-zP-+N+P# 2-zPL+-zPP+" 1tRNvLQtR-mK-! xabcdefghy
[(another pawn move and another
signal for black to make corrections in
his plan. Now white has clear
weaknesses c4 and b3 and black
should try to occupy them.)]
100
12...Nb6 13.Bd3 c4 14.Bc2 Na5
15.Bg5 Nb3 16.Bxb3 axb3 17.Qc1
Na4 [(Black got an advantage on the
queen-side and it is impossible to
continue playing there. Now (when
white player is thinking) black should
create a new plan. "If you can play in a
center - do it". We may not ignore the
center for so much time, that's why
black definitely should play there.)]
18.Bh6 Bxh6 19.Qxh6 f6 20.Qc1 e5
21.Re3 Ra7 22.Nbd2 Re7 23.Nf1 Bb7
24.Qd2 f5 25.exf5 gxf5 26.N1h2 e4
27.Ne1 f4 28.Re2 Bd5 29.Rd1
XABCDEFGHY 8-+-wq-trk+( 7+-+-tr-+p' 6-+-zp-+-+& 5+p+l+-+-% 4n+pzPpzp-+$ 3zPpzP-+-+P# 2-zP-wQRzPPsN" 1+-+RsN-mK-! xabcdefghy
[(Black got a domination in the center
and the situation became stable. Now
black should think about his plan
again.)]
29...Rg7 [(One of the ways of using
your central advantage is to transfer an
attack on a side.)]
30.f3 e3 31.Qc1 h5 32.Nf1 Qd7
33.Kh2 Rf6 34.Qb1 Rfg6 35.Qc1 Nb6
36.Qa1 Nc8 37.a4 [(After the white's
pawn move black should make
adjustments in his plan. Black may
decide to use his extra pawn on the
queen-side or just to resume the
attack on the king-side.)]
37...bxa4 38.Qa3 Ne7 39.Ra1 Bc6
40.Qb4 Kh7 41.d5
XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+-+-+( 7+-+qsn-trk' 6-+lzp-+r+& 5+-+P+-+p% 4pwQp+-zp-+$ 3+pzP-zpP+P# 2-zP-+R+PmK" 1tR-+-sNN+-! xabcdefghy
[(Black should make one more note:
"Now I can also push my pawns in a
center d5–d4")]
41...Nxd5 42.Qa3 Ne7 43.Rd1 d5
44.Qc5 Nf5 45.Qb6 Nh4 46.Qb8
Rxg2+ [You can see that only a few
times during this game it was
necessary for black to compose a plan.
In other positions black should play
quickler.]
0–1
101
«YOUR WINNING PLAN» by GM Igor Smirnov
The practical part: Task-2. During the previous task you have seen when it is necessary to compose a plan. Now it is time to apply this knowledge. Your task: analyze the presented game in “TASK-2 GAME SECTION” and find: - the positions where white should compose a plan; - the positions where white should make adjustments in a plan. After that you should look at the answer in “TASK-2 ANSWER SECTION”. If you have any difficulties – study again video lessons 1 and 10.
102
TASK-2 GAME SECTION
(1) Granda Zuniga J - Smirin I
(2640) [E62]
Burgas 59/610, 1993
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.g3 Bg7 4.Bg2 0–0
5.0–0 d6 6.c4 Nc6 7.Nc3 Bf5 8.b3 Ne4
9.Bb2 Nxc3 10.Bxc3 Be4 11.Qd2 e5
12.d5 Nb8 13.Rfe1 Re8 14.Rac1 Nd7
15.Bf1 Bxf3 16.exf3 f5 17.b4 b6
18.Bd3 Re7 19.Re2 Qf8 20.Rce1 h5
21.Kh1 Kh7 22.Bc2 Rd8 23.Ba4 Rf7
24.Qc2 f4 25.g4 hxg4 26.Rg1 e4
27.Bxd7 Rdxd7 28.Rxg4 Bxc3 29.Qxc3
Qh6 30.Rxe4 Rf5 31.h4 Rdf7 32.Kg2
Rh5 33.Re8 Qg7 34.Qd3 Rhf5 35.Qe4
R7f6 36.a4 a5 37.bxa5 bxa5 38.Qe1
Rf7 39.Re6 Rh5 40.Qxa5 Qh6 41.Kh3
Qg7 42.Qe1 Rf6 43.Rg5 Rxe6
44.Rxh5+ gxh5 45.dxe6
1–0
103
TASK-2 ANSWER SECTION (1) Granda Zuniga J - Smirin I
(2640) [E62]
Burgas 59/610, 1993
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.g3 Bg7 4.Bg2 0–0
5.0–0 d6 6.c4 Nc6 7.Nc3 Bf5 8.b3 Ne4
9.Bb2 Nxc3 10.Bxc3 Be4 11.Qd2
XABCDEFGHY 8r+-wq-trk+( 7zppzp-zppvlp' 6-+nzp-+p+& 5+-+-+-+-% 4-+PzPl+-+$ 3+PvL-+NzP-# 2P+-wQPzPLzP" 1tR-+-+RmK-! xabcdefghy
[(Of course it is good to know an
opening theory. However, even if you
don't know it - all the previous moves
should be done quite quickly. The
position is not stable and it makes no
sense to compose a plan here.)]
11...e5 [(here white should compose a
plan: 1) It is the end of an opening
stage; 2) Black made a pawn move.)]
12.d5 Nb8 13.Rfe1
XABCDEFGHY 8rsn-wq-trk+( 7zppzp-+pvlp' 6-+-zp-+p+& 5+-+Pzp-+-% 4-+P+l+-+$ 3+PvL-+NzP-# 2P+-wQPzPLzP" 1tR-+-tR-mK-! xabcdefghy
[(As usual first of all we should play in
a center. That's why white is trying to
prepare the move e4.)]
13...Re8 [13...Nd7 ? 14.Nxe5 Bxg2
15.Nxd7+–]
14.Rac1 [?! (a deflection from the
white's plan)]
14...Nd7 15.Bf1 [(white is preparing
Ng5 and e4)]
15...Bxf3 16.exf3
XABCDEFGHY 8r+-wqr+k+( 7zppzpn+pvlp' 6-+-zp-+p+& 5+-+Pzp-+-% 4-+P+-+-+$ 3+PvL-+PzP-# 2P+-wQ-zP-zP" 1+-tR-tRLmK-! xabcdefghy
[(Now white should think about a plan
again: 1) an exchanges happened 2) a
pawn move was made.)]
104
16...f5 17.b4 b6 [(black made a pawn
move and white should make
corrections in his plan. Black has
created weaknesses on the queen-
side. White can use it by transferring
the bishop Be2–d1–a4–c6.)]
18.Bd3 Re7 19.Re2 Qf8 20.Rce1 h5
XABCDEFGHY 8r+-+-wqk+( 7zp-zpntr-vl-' 6-zp-zp-+p+& 5+-+Pzpp+p% 4-zPP+-+-+$ 3+-vLL+PzP-# 2P+-wQRzP-zP" 1+-+-tR-mK-! xabcdefghy
[(This is a pawn move, but it doesn't
change something for white. Black is
stronger on the king-side and he is
realizing his attacking plan there.
White should continue playing in the
center and on the queen-side. That's
why the last black's move doesn't
make any changes for white. You see
that not ALL the pawn moves are a
signal for making adjustments in your
plan.)]
21.Kh1 Kh7 22.Bc2 Rd8 23.Ba4 Rf7
24.Qc2 f4
XABCDEFGHY 8-+-tr-wq-+( 7zp-zpn+rvlk' 6-zp-zp-+p+& 5+-+Pzp-+p% 4LzPP+-zp-+$ 3+-vL-+PzP-# 2P+Q+RzP-zP" 1+-+-tR-+K! xabcdefghy
[? (this is a pawn move, which
weakens the black's central and king-
side position. White may try to use it.
We should not think about a planning
too much here, because it is a tactical
position and we should rather calculate
the concrete variations.)]
25.g4 [!]
25...hxg4 26.Rg1 e4 [26...gxf3
27.Qxg6+ Kg8 28.Bc2 Nf6 29.Ree1‚]
27.Bxd7 Rdxd7 [27...gxf3 28.Rxe4
Rdxd7 29.Rxg6 ! 29...Kxg6 (29...Bxc3
30.Re8+–) 30.Re6+ Kg5 31.Qg6+ Kh4
32.h3 Kxh3 33.Qh5#]
28.Rxg4 Bxc3 29.Qxc3+– Qh6
[29...exf3 ?? 30.Rh4+]
30.Rxe4 Rf5
105
XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+-+-+( 7zp-zpr+-+k' 6-zp-zp-+pwq& 5+-+P+r+-% 4-zPP+RzpR+$ 3+-wQ-+P+-# 2P+-+-zP-zP" 1+-+-+-+K! xabcdefghy
[(The tactical complications have
finished, the position became stable -
so white should compose the new
plan. Of course first of all white should
occupy the center.)]
31.h4 Rdf7 32.Kg2 Rh5 33.Re8 Qg7
34.Qd3 Rhf5 35.Qe4 R7f6 [(White has
a domination in the center, but there is
no way to continue the attack here.
That's why white should transfer the
attack on a side.)]
36.a4
36...a5 37.bxa5 bxa5 38.Qe1 Rf7
39.Re6 Rh5 40.Qxa5
XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+-+-+( 7+-zp-+rwqk' 6-+-zpR+p+& 5wQ-+P+-+r% 4P+P+-zpRzP$ 3+-+-+P+-# 2-+-+-zPK+" 1+-+-+-+-! xabcdefghy
[(White took the material and he
should make adjustments in his plan.
Obviously white can now use his
passed pawn on the "a" file.)]
40...Qh6 41.Kh3 Qg7 42.Qe1 Rf6
43.Rg5 Rxe6 44.Rxh5+ gxh5 45.dxe6
1–0
106
YOUR WINNING PLAN» by GM Igor Smirnov
The practical part: Task-3. In the previous tasks we have trained one important aspect: when it is necessary to compose a plan. Strarting from this task we will train your whole system of thinking. In the 3rd task you will test your understanding of the general concept of a center. Your task: find the right move in a given position as presented in “TASK-3 GAMES SECTION”. You should not try to guess the right move. Use the correct system of thinking, which you studied from the video lessons. Find the right plan and then decide how to realize it better. This will bring you to the right move. After that – look at the answer in “TASK-3 ANSWERS SECTION”. While studying the answer I recommend you to go over the whole presented game (not only the first move). You should analyze a game and understand how general ideas (from the video lessons) work in different practical positions. This note is applicable for all the following tasks as well. If you have any difficulties – study again the video lesson 2.
107
TASK-3 GAMES SECTION
(1) Khismatullin D - Fedorov E
(2225)
29th Mem Nezhmetdinov (1),
01.06.2007
[White's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8rsn-+-trk+( 7zpp+-wqpzp-' 6-+p+-sn-+& 5+-+p+l+p% 4-vl-zP-+-+$ 3+-sN-zPPzP-# 2PzP-+N+LzP" 1tR-vLQ+RmK-! xabcdefghy
1–0
(2) Khismatullin D - Shvedchikov A
(2423)
4th Open A (2), 03.02.2008
[White's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8-+ltr-+-+( 7+-+-tr-mkp' 6-+psNpzpp+& 5zppzPq+-+-% 4-+-zP-wQ-+$ 3+P+-+-+P# 2P+-+-zPP+" 1+-+RtR-mK-! xabcdefghy
1–0
(3) Adams Mi - Hamdouchi H (2575)
TCh-FRA Top 16 Gp A (1),
03.02.2006
[White's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8r+l+k+-tr( 7zpp+-vlpzpp' 6-+qzppsn-+& 5+-zp-+-+-% 4-+-+PvL-+$ 3+-sNP+N+-# 2PzPP+-zPPzP" 1tR-+Q+RmK-! xabcdefghy
1–0
(4) Adams Mi - Kasimdzhanov R
(2690)
World Blitz (28), 22.11.2007
[White's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8r+-wq-trk+( 7+-zp-+pzp-' 6pvlnzplsn-zp& 5+p+-zp-+-% 4-+-+P+-vL$ 3+LzPP+N+P# 2PzP-sNQzPP+" 1tR-+-mK-+R! xabcdefghy
1–0
108
(5) Miletic De - Azmaiparashvili Z
(2658)
11th HIT Open A (2), 27.01.2006
[Black's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8r+-wq-trk+( 7+l+-zppvlp' 6p+-zp-snp+& 5+psn-+-+-% 4-+-+PzP-+$ 3zP-sNL+N+P# 2-zPPvLQ+P+" 1+-+-tRRmK-! xabcdefghy
0–1
(6) Bocharov D - Okara A (2314)
Polyarniy Krug (2), 30.11.2006
[White's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8-tr-wq-trk+( 7+psn-+-vlp' 6p+-zppsnp+& 5zP-zp-+-+-% 4-+-+P+-+$ 3+-sN-+N+P# 2-zPP+-zPP+" 1tR-vLQtR-mK-! xabcdefghy
1–0
(7) Browne Walter S (USA) - Keres
Paul (EST) (2565)
It Vancouver (Canada), 1975
[Black's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8r+-wqr+k+( 7zppzp-+pzp-' 6-+-zp-sn-zp& 5+-+-zp-+-% 4-+-+P+-+$ 3+-zPP+N+R# 2PzP-+-zPPzP" 1tR-+Q+-mK-! xabcdefghy
0–1
(8) Korchnoi V - Berg E (2539)
37th Olympiad (11), 02.06.2006
[White's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8-+l+r+k+( 7+-wq-tr-+p' 6-+p+pzpp+& 5+pzP-+-+-% 4pzP-zPR+-+$ 3zP-+-wQ-zPL# 2-+-+-zP-zP" 1+-+-tR-mK-! xabcdefghy
1–0
109
(9) Korchnoi V - Fluvia J (2482)
2nd Lluis Muratet Rapid (4),
16.08.2006
[White's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8r+-wq-trk+( 7+pzp-snpzpp' 6-+n+-+-+& 5zp-+-zPl+-% 4-+Pvl-+-+$ 3zP-sN-+N+-# 2-zP-+LzPPzP" 1tR-vLQ+RmK-! xabcdefghy
1–0
(10) Korchnoi V - Tiviakov S (2668)
9th Open (8), 23.08.2006
[White's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8rsn-wqk+-tr( 7+l+nvlpzpp' 6pzp-+p+-+& 5+-+p+-+-% 4Q+-zP-vL-+$ 3+-sN-+NzP-# 2PzP-+PzPLzP" 1tR-+-+RmK-! xabcdefghy
1–0
(11) Ulrichsen J - Korchnoi V (2605)
10th TCh-Euro sen (6), 16.02.2008
[Black's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8r+-+-trk+( 7zplwqnzppvlp' 6-zp-zp-snp+& 5+-zp-+-+-% 4-+PzP-+-+$ 3+P+-zPN+-# 2PvLQsNLzPPzP" 1tR-+-+RmK-! xabcdefghy
0–1
(12) Perez Rod - Milov V (2657)
XIX Carlos Torre Mem (4), 16.12.2006
[Black's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8-+r+r+k+( 7+l+-wqpzpp' 6p+-zpp+-+& 5+psn-+-+-% 4-+-sNP+PzP$ 3+-+L+P+-# 2PzPP+-wQ-+" 1+K+RtR-+-! xabcdefghy
0–1
110
(13) Abbasov F - Azmaiparashvili Z
(2632)
VIII Dos Hermanas Internet (1.1),
23.03.2007
[Black's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8r+lwq-trk+( 7+p+nzppvlp' 6p+-zp-snp+& 5+-+-+-+-% 4-+-sNPzP-+$ 3+-sNLvL-+-# 2PzPP+-+PzP" 1tR-+Q+R+K! xabcdefghy
0–1
(14) Azmaiparashvili Z - Drazic S
(2488)
11th HIT Open A (3), 28.01.2006
[White's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8r+l+k+-tr( 7zpp+nwqpzpp' 6-+p+-+-+& 5+-+p+-+n% 4-+-zP-+-+$ 3+-sNLzP-+-# 2PzP-+NzPPzP" 1tR-+QmK-+R! xabcdefghy
1–0
(15) Adams Mi - Kramnik V (2785)
World Blitz (34), 22.11.2007
[White's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8r+-wqrvlk+( 7zppzp-+pzp-' 6-+n+-sn-zp& 5+-+pzp-+l% 4L+-+P+-vL$ 3+-zPP+N+P# 2PzP-sNQzPP+" 1tR-+-mK-+R! xabcdefghy
1–0
111
TASK-3 ANSWERS SECTION (1) Khismatullin D - Fedorov E
(2225)
29th Mem Nezhmetdinov (1),
01.06.2007
XABCDEFGHY 8rsn-+-trk+( 7zpp+-wqpzp-' 6-+p+-sn-+& 5+-+p+l+p% 4-vl-zP-+-+$ 3+-sN-zPPzP-# 2PzP-+N+LzP" 1tR-vLQ+RmK-! xabcdefghy
[If you can play in a center - do it. Also
black has a weaknesses on the king-
side, because of the pawn h5. The
best way to use the opponent's
weaknesses is to open the position.]
11.e4 dxe4 12.fxe4 Bxe4 13.Nxe4
[13.Bg5 was also very good]
13...Nxe4 14.Nf4 Nf6 15.Nxh5 Nxh5
16.Qxh5 Nd7 17.a3 Bd6 18.Bg5 f6
19.Rae1 Qf7 20.Qh3 Rfe8 21.Re4
[21.Be4 ! You can see how it is simple
to use the opponent's weaknesses in
positions with an open center. You just
need to centralize your pieces and
attack the opponent's weak pawns and
squares.]
21...Rxe4 22.Bxe4 Nf8 23.Qg4 Re8
24.Bf5 Qe7 25.Bc2 Qe6 26.Qf3 Qe2
27.Qb3+ Kh8 28.Bc1 Ne6 29.Be3 Re7
30.Rf2 Qb5 31.Qxb5 cxb5 32.Rf5 a6
33.Kg2 Kg8 34.Bb3 Kh7 35.h4 Kg6
36.g4 Kf7 37.g5 Rc7 38.h5 Ke7 39.h6
gxh6 40.gxh6 Rc8 41.h7 Rh8 42.Rh5
Ng7 43.Rh3 Ne6 44.Rh4 f5 45.Rh6
Nd8 46.Bg5+
1–0
(2) Khismatullin D - Shvedchikov A
(2423)
4th Open A (2), 03.02.2008
XABCDEFGHY 8-+ltr-+-+( 7+-+-tr-mkp' 6-+psNpzpp+& 5zppzPq+-+-% 4-+-zP-wQ-+$ 3+P+-+-+P# 2P+-+-zPP+" 1+-+RtR-mK-! xabcdefghy
[White has a domination in the center,
but it is hard to continue the attack
here. It means that white should
transfer the attack on a side.]
29.Rd3 Rf8 30.Rf3 [(White is
threatening Nc8 or Re5. Due to the
white's domination is the center his
flank attack is easily successful.)]
30...Rff7 31.Nxf7 Rxf7 32.h4 h6
33.Re5 Qd7 34.Ree3
1–0
112
(3) Adams Mi - Hamdouchi H (2575)
TCh-FRA Top 16 Gp A (1),
03.02.2006
XABCDEFGHY 8r+l+k+-tr( 7zpp+-vlpzpp' 6-+qzppsn-+& 5+-zp-+-+-% 4-+-+PvL-+$ 3+-sNP+N+-# 2PzPP+-zPPzP" 1tR-+Q+RmK-! xabcdefghy
[White has developed all the pieces
and it is time to start realizing an
attacking plan. First of all we should
play in the center. That's why the next
move is very logical.]
9.e5 Nd7 10.d4 dxe5 11.Nxe5 Nxe5
12.dxe5 b6 13.Qh5 0–0 14.f3 f5
15.Bg5 Bxg5 16.Qxg5 Qc7 17.Qf4
Ba6 18.Rfd1 Rad8 19.Rd6 [(White got
a domination in the center and his
position is strategically winning.)]
19...Rxd6 20.exd6 Qf7 21.Rd1 Bc8
22.Nb1 Bd7 23.Nd2 Bb5 24.b4 cxb4
25.Qxb4 Qd7 26.f4 Rc8 27.Nf3 a5
28.Qb3 Bc4 29.Qxb6 Qd8 30.Qxd8+
Rxd8 31.Ne5 Bxa2 32.d7
1–0
(4) Adams Mi - Kasimdzhanov R
(2690)
World Blitz (28), 22.11.2007
XABCDEFGHY 8r+-wq-trk+( 7+-zp-+pzp-' 6pvlnzplsn-zp& 5+p+-zp-+-% 4-+-+P+-vL$ 3+LzPP+N+P# 2PzP-sNQzPP+" 1tR-+-mK-+R! xabcdefghy
13.g4 [(This is an example of the
situation, when you have ENOUGH
control in the center to start an attack
on a side. It is very difficult for black to
open the center somehow, that's why
the white's flank attack is possible.)]
13...Bxb3 14.axb3 Ne7 15.Bxf6 gxf6
16.Nh4 Ng6 17.Nf5 Kh7 18.Qf3 Nf4
19.Nf1 d5 20.exd5 Qxd5 21.Qxd5
Nxd5 22.N1g3 Nf4 23.0–0–0 Rad8
24.Kc2 Bxf2 25.Ne4 Bb6 26.Nxf6+
Kg6 27.Ne4 f6 28.Rhf1 h5 29.d4 hxg4
30.hxg4 Rh8 31.Rd2 Rh3 32.Ne7+
Kg7 33.g5 fxg5 34.Nxg5 Rh5 35.Ne4
Rdh8 36.dxe5 Be3 37.Rd7 Kh6
38.Ng3 Rh2+ 39.Kb1 Kg5 40.Ne4+
Kg4 41.Nf6+ Kg3 42.Nf5+
1–0
113
(5) Miletic De - Azmaiparashvili Z
(2658)
11th HIT Open A (2), 27.01.2006
XABCDEFGHY 8r+-wq-trk+( 7+l+-zppvlp' 6p+-zp-snp+& 5+psn-+-+-% 4-+-+PzP-+$ 3zP-sNL+N+P# 2-zPPvLQ+P+" 1+-+-tRRmK-! xabcdefghy
[It is the end of an opening, so it is
necessary to compose a plan here.
Since black can attack in the center -
he should do it.]
14...e5 15.Qf2 exf4 16.Bxf4 Re8
17.Nd2 Re6 18.Bg5 h6 19.Bh4 Qc7
20.Qf3 Rae8 21.Re2 Nh7 22.Rfe1 f5
23.Nd5 Bxd5 24.exd5 Rxe2 25.Rxe2
Rxe2 26.Qxe2 Bxb2 27.Qe8+ Kg7
28.Qc6 Qa7 29.Bf2 Qe7 30.Bxc5
dxc5 31.Nf3 Ng5 32.Nxg5 hxg5
33.Kf1 Bc3 34.Be2 Qe3 35.Qe6 Qc1+
36.Kf2 Bd4+
0–1
(6) Bocharov D - Okara A (2314)
Polyarniy Krug (2), 30.11.2006
XABCDEFGHY 8-tr-wq-trk+( 7+psn-+-vlp' 6p+-zppsnp+& 5zP-zp-+-+-% 4-+-+P+-+$ 3+-sN-+N+P# 2-zPP+-zPP+" 1tR-vLQtR-mK-! xabcdefghy
[As usual white should attack in the
center. It is possible to do it with the
moves Be5 or e5. You can see that
there is a correct plan and there are a
few good moves to realize it.]
14.Bf4 [14.e5 !?]
14...Nfe8 15.Bg3 Qd7 16.Qd3 Qc6
17.Rad1 c4 18.Qe3 Rd8 19.Re2 Nb5
20.Red2 Nec7 21.Ne2 Bf6 22.e5 dxe5
23.Nxe5 Rxd2 24.Rxd2 Bxe5 25.Bxe5
Nd5 26.Qh6 Rf7 27.c3 Nd6 28.Nd4
Qd7 29.Re2 Nf5 30.Nxf5 Rxf5 31.Bd4
Rf7 32.Re4 Ne7 33.Rg4 [(white starts
attacking on a side only when he got
an advantage in the center.)]
33...Qd5 34.Rg5 Qe4 35.Re5 Qb1+
36.Kh2 Nf5 37.Qf4 Ng7 38.Qd2 Qd3
39.Qg5 Nf5 40.Bc5 Qd7 41.Qf4 Qc7
42.Bb6 Qd6 43.Re4 Qd5 44.Re5 Qd6
45.Qe4 Nh4 46.Kg1 Qd1+ 47.Qe1
Qxe1+ 48.Rxe1 Rd7 49.Rxe6 Nf5
1–0
114
(7) Browne Walter S (USA) - Keres
Paul (EST) (2565)
It Vancouver (Canada), 1975
XABCDEFGHY 8r+-wqr+k+( 7zppzp-+pzp-' 6-+-zp-sn-zp& 5+-+-zp-+-% 4-+-+P+-+$ 3+-zPP+N+R# 2PzP-+-zPPzP" 1tR-+Q+-mK-! xabcdefghy
[The opening is finished and black
needs to compose an attacking plan.
Of course black should attack in the
center as usual. White is trying to
create an attack on the king-side -
this gives black one more argument for
his attack in a center. "If your opponent
attacks on a side - you should
counterblow in a center."]
21...d5 22.Qe2 Qd7 23.Nh4 dxe4
24.dxe4 Rad8 25.Nf5 Qd2 26.Qf3 Re6
27.Rg3 g6 28.Rf1 Qf4 [(the white's
flank attack failed because of the
black's strong central position.)]
29.Rd1 Ree8 30.Ne7+ Kg7 31.Nd5
Qxf3 32.Rxf3 c6 33.Ne3 Rxd1+
34.Nxd1 Rd8 35.Ne3 Nxe4 36.h3 Ng5
37.Rg3 f5 38.Nxf5+ gxf5 39.h4 f4
40.Rg4 Kg6 41.hxg5 hxg5 42.g3 Kf5
43.f3 Rd1+ 44.Kg2
0–1
(8) Korchnoi V - Berg E (2539)
37th Olympiad (11), 02.06.2006
XABCDEFGHY 8-+l+r+k+( 7+-wq-tr-+p' 6-+p+pzpp+& 5+pzP-+-+-% 4pzP-zPR+-+$ 3zP-+-wQ-zPL# 2-+-+-zP-zP" 1+-+-tR-mK-! xabcdefghy
[White got an advantage in the center,
however he can't resume an attack
there. So white should transfer his
attack on a side.]
35.g4 Kg7 36.g5 f5 37.Re5 Rh8 [(It is
hard for black to protect his king-side
and his central position at the same
time. However, Rh8 is moving the rook
away from the center and is certainly a
mistake.)]
38.d5 cxd5 39.Rxd5 Rhe8 40.Re5
Bb7 41.Bg2 Bxg2 42.Kxg2 Kf7
43.Qc3 Qd8 44.Qh3 Kg8 45.Qe3 Qd7
46.h4 Kf7 47.Qc3 Qc6+ 48.Kg1 Kg8
49.R5e3 Rd7 50.Qf6 Rf7 51.Qc3 Rd7
52.Rd3 e5 53.Rxd7 Qxd7 54.Rxe5
Qd1+ 55.Kh2 Rxe5 56.Qxe5 Qg4
57.Qg3 Qe4 58.Kg1 Kf7 59.Kf1 f4
60.Qh3 Ke7 61.Kg1 Kd8 62.Qg4 Kc7
63.Kh2 Qe5 64.Kg2 Qe4+ 65.Qf3 Qf5
66.Qe2 Kc6 67.Kh2 Kc7 68.Qe7+ Kc8
69.c6
1–0
115
(9) Korchnoi V - Fluvia J (2482)
2nd Lluis Muratet Rapid (4),
16.08.2006
XABCDEFGHY 8r+-wq-trk+( 7+pzp-snpzpp' 6-+n+-+-+& 5zp-+-zPl+-% 4-+Pvl-+-+$ 3zP-sN-+N+-# 2-zP-+LzPPzP" 1tR-vLQ+RmK-! xabcdefghy
[In positions with an open center we
should occupy the central squares with
the pieces. Of course we should
neutralize the opponent's centralized
pieces as well.]
11.Be3 Bxe5 12.Nxe5 Nxe5 13.Qb3
Qc8 14.Rad1 Re8 15.Rfe1 Ra6
16.Nd5 [(white plays solely in the
center, which is a correct strategy)]
16...Nxd5 17.cxd5 Rg6 [(Black is
hoping for a side attack, which can't be
good. It was better to concentrate the
pieces in the center.)]
18.Bf4 Nd7 19.Bh5 Rxe1+ 20.Rxe1
Rf6 21.Qe3 h6 22.Qe8+ Qxe8
23.Rxe8+ Kh7 24.Bxc7 a4 25.Bd8 g6
26.Bxf6 Nxf6 27.Re7 gxh5 28.Rxf7+
Kg6 29.Rxb7 Nxd5 30.Rb5 Nf4
31.Rb6+ Kg7 32.Rb4 Nd3 33.Rxa4
Nxb2 34.Ra7+ Kf6 35.a4 Bd3 36.a5
Na4 37.Rd7 Be4 38.Rd6+ Kg5 39.a6
Nc3 40.f3 Ba8 41.Rd8 Bc6 42.a7
1–0
(10) Korchnoi V - Tiviakov S (2668)
9th Open (8), 23.08.2006
XABCDEFGHY 8rsn-wqk+-tr( 7+l+nvlpzpp' 6pzp-+p+-+& 5+-+p+-+-% 4Q+-zP-vL-+$ 3+-sN-+NzP-# 2PzP-+PzPLzP" 1tR-+-+RmK-! xabcdefghy
[We have a static center and it is
difficult to do something there. Thus
white should attack on a side. White
has more pieces looking at the queen-
side, and he should play there.]
11.Rfc1 [(that's why white is
concentrating the pieces on the
queen-side.)]
11...0–0 12.Qd1 b5 13.a4 b4 14.Nb1
Nc6 15.Nbd2 Qb6 16.a5 Qa7 17.Nb3
Rac8 18.Rc2 Ncb8 19.Rac1 Rxc2
20.Rxc2 Bc6 21.Bxb8 Nxb8 22.Qc1
Bb7 23.Ne5 Bd6 24.Bh3 Ba8 25.e3
Qe7 26.Nd3 Qe8 27.Ndc5 Bxc5
28.Nxc5 e5 29.dxe5 Qxe5 30.Bg2 Qf5
31.Nb3 Qd7 32.Nd4 Qd6 33.Bh3 Nd7
34.Rc8 Bb7 35.Rc7
1–0
116
(11) Ulrichsen J - Korchnoi V (2605)
10th TCh-Euro sen (6), 16.02.2008
XABCDEFGHY 8r+-+-trk+( 7zplwqnzppvlp' 6-zp-zp-snp+& 5+-zp-+-+-% 4-+PzP-+-+$ 3+P+-zPN+-# 2PvLQsNLzPPzP" 1tR-+-+RmK-! xabcdefghy
[An opening stage is finished. Now
black should compose a middlegame
plan. If you can play in a center - do
it.]
11...e5 12.d5 Rae8 13.Rab1 Qd8
14.Ne4 Nxe4 15.Qxe4 f5 16.Qc2 e4
17.Nd2 Bxb2 18.Rxb2 Qc7 19.Re1
Ne5 20.Nf1 Bc8 21.f4 exf3 22.Bxf3 f4
23.e4 Qe7 24.Qe2 Qh4 [(Black got a
domination in a center and he may
transfer an attack on a side.)]
25.Rd2 g5 26.Qf2 Qxf2+ 27.Kxf2 g4
28.Bd1 Rf6 29.Kg1 h5 30.g3 h4
31.gxf4 Rxf4 32.Ne3 Rxe4 33.Ng2
Nf3+ 34.Bxf3 gxf3 35.Rf1 fxg2
36.Rxg2+ Kh8
0–1
(12) Perez Rod - Milov V (2657)
XIX Carlos Torre Mem (4), 16.12.2006
XABCDEFGHY 8-+r+r+k+( 7+l+-wqpzpp' 6p+-zpp+-+& 5+psn-+-+-% 4-+-sNP+PzP$ 3+-+L+P+-# 2PzPP+-wQ-+" 1+K+RtR-+-! xabcdefghy
[The best defense against an
opponent's flank attack is a
counterblow in a center.]
20...g6 [(black is preparing the move
e5 to push away the white's
centralized knight and to eventually
continue the attack in a center by
playing d5 in the future.)]
21.Bf1 e5 22.Nb3 Ne6 23.Rd2 Red8
24.Red1 Nf4 25.Na5 Ba8 26.Qb6 d5
27.Qxa6 Qxh4 28.Nb3 Qg3 29.Bxb5
Qxf3 30.exd5 Nxd5 31.a4 Rf8 32.Bd7
Rxc2 33.Bc6 Rxc6
0–1
117
(13) Abbasov F - Azmaiparashvili Z
(2632)
VIII Dos Hermanas Internet (1.1),
23.03.2007
XABCDEFGHY 8r+lwq-trk+( 7+p+nzppvlp' 6p+-zp-snp+& 5+-+-+-+-% 4-+-sNPzP-+$ 3+-sNLvL-+-# 2PzPP+-+PzP" 1tR-+Q+R+K! xabcdefghy
[The correct plan is an attack in the
center. To realize this plan black needs
to play e5, put the bishop on b7 (after
b5), play Re8 and Nc5. That is what
black should do next. Everything is
very simple when you have a "planning
thinking."]
10...e5 11.Nde2 b5 12.Qd2 Bb7 13.a3
Re8 14.f5 d5 15.Nxd5 Bxd5 16.exd5
e4 17.Bxb5 axb5 18.Bh6 e3 19.Bxe3
Qe7 20.Rf3 Ne5 21.d6 Nxf3
0–1
(14) Azmaiparashvili Z - Drazic S
(2488)
11th HIT Open A (3), 28.01.2006
XABCDEFGHY 8r+l+k+-tr( 7zpp+nwqpzpp' 6-+p+-+-+& 5+-+p+-+n% 4-+-zP-+-+$ 3+-sNLzP-+-# 2PzP-+NzPPzP" 1tR-+QmK-+R! xabcdefghy
[We always should try to find the
attacking moves. Here such an
attacking move is g4. Is it good? We
need to look at the central position to
answer this question. We have a static
center and white controls the cetral
situation pretty good. That's why the
flank attack is possible.]
10.g4 Nhf6 11.Ng3 g6 12.g5 Ng8
13.h4 h6 14.h5 Qxg5 15.Qb3 Ne7
16.0–0–0 Qf6 17.Kb1 Nb6 18.a4 Bg4
19.Rd2 Bf3 20.Re1 Rb8 21.hxg6 fxg6
22.a5 Nd7 23.e4 0–0 24.exd5 Nxd5
25.Bc4 Qf7 26.Nge4 N7f6 27.Nxf6+
Qxf6 28.Nxd5 cxd5 29.Bxd5+ Bxd5
30.Qxd5+ Qf7 31.Re6 Kh7 32.Qe4
Rbe8 33.Re5 Kg7 34.Rc2 h5 35.f4
Kh6 36.d5 Rxe5 37.fxe5 Qf1+ 38.Rc1
Qf5 39.Qxf5 Rxf5 40.Re1 Kg7 41.d6
Kf8 42.Rc1 Rxe5 43.Rc8+ Kg7 44.d7
Rd5 45.d8Q Rxd8 46.Rxd8 Kf6
47.Kc2 Kf5 48.Kd3 Kg4 49.Ke4 g5
1–0
118
(15) Adams Mi - Kramnik V (2785)
World Blitz (34), 22.11.2007
XABCDEFGHY 8r+-wqrvlk+( 7zppzp-+pzp-' 6-+n+-sn-zp& 5+-+pzp-+l% 4L+-+P+-vL$ 3+-zPP+N+P# 2PzP-sNQzPP+" 1tR-+-mK-+R! xabcdefghy
12.g4 [(It is another example of the
correct flank attack with an enough
control over the central squares. By
the way, white certainly may simply
make castling instead and then play in
a center.)]
12...Bg6 13.Bxf6 Qxf6 [(black doesn't
want to break his pawn structure, but it
requires a very huge material
sacrifice.)]
14.exd5 Ne7 15.Bxe8 Nxd5 16.Bb5
Qb6 17.Bc4 Nf4 18.Qxe5 Bd6 19.Qb5
Qxb5 20.Bxb5 a6 21.Ne4 Bxe4
22.dxe4 axb5 23.0–0–0 Rxa2 24.Kb1
Ra8 25.e5 Bc5 26.Rd7 Bb6 27.Nd4
b4 28.cxb4 Ra4 29.Nc2 Ne6 30.f3 Kf8
31.Rd3 Ra8 32.Rhd1 Ke8 33.h4 c6
34.h5 Bc7 35.Re1 Nf4 36.Rd2 Bb6
37.Re4 Nd5 38.f4 Rd8 39.Kc1 Ra8
40.f5 Bd8 41.Kb1 Bg5 42.Rd3 b5
43.Nd4 Nxb4 44.Rb3 c5 45.Nxb5 Ke7
46.Re1 Rd8 47.Nd6 f6 48.Ne4 Bh4
49.Rh1 Rd4 50.Nxc5 Bf2 51.exf6+
Kxf6 52.Rf1 Bh4 53.Nd7+ Kg5
54.Ne5 Kf6 55.Nf3 Rxg4 56.Nxh4
Rxh4 57.Re3 Rxh5 58.Re6+ Kf7
59.Rb6 Nd5 60.Rb5 Nf6 61.Rb7+ Kf8
62.Rc1 Rxf5 63.Rc8+ Ne8 64.Rbb8
Re5 65.b4 h5 66.b5 h4 67.b6 h3
68.Rxe8+ Rxe8 69.Rxe8+
1–0
119
YOUR WINNING PLAN» by GM Igor Smirnov
The practical part: Task-4. In the 4th task you will test your skills in positions with an open center. Your task: find the right move in a given position in “TASK-4 GAMES SECTION”. You should not try to guess the right move. Use the correct system of thinking, which you studied from the video lessons. Find the right plan and then decide how to realize it better. This will bring you to the right move. After that – look at the answer in “TASK-4 ANSWERS SECTION”. . If you have any difficulties – study again the video lesson 3.
120
TASK-4 GAMES SECTION
(1) Milov V - Gassanov A (2353)
2nd President's Cup (2), 04.05.2007
[White's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8r+lwqr+-+( 7+p+-vl-mkp' 6p+p+n+p+& 5+-+p+p+n% 4-zP-zP-+-+$ 3zP-sN-zPP+-# 2-+L+NvLPzP" 1tR-+Q+R+K! xabcdefghy
1–0
(2) Allahverdiev A - Azarov S (2579)
16th Open (8), 20.08.2006
[Black's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+-+rtr( 7+-+-vlk+-' 6-wq-zp-zp-+& 5+-+-sn-+-% 4-zp-sNlsN-+$ 3+P+-+-vLP# 2-+PtR-+-zP" 1+-+Q+RmK-! xabcdefghy
0–1
(3) Bologan V - Sandipan C (2550)
3rd Rapid Open (8), 31.10.2006
[White's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8r+l+kvl-tr( 7+pwqn+p+-' 6p+-zppsnpzp& 5+-+-+-+-% 4-+-sNPzPP+$ 3+-sN-+-+P# 2PzPP+-+L+" 1tR-vLQ+RmK-! xabcdefghy
½–½
(4) Christiansen L - Wojtkiewicz A
(2554)
ch-USA GpB (3), 05.03.2006
[White's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8r+l+k+-tr( 7+-wqnvlpzpp' 6p+-zppsn-+& 5+p+-+-vL-% 4-+-sNP+-+$ 3+LsN-+Q+-# 2PzPP+-zPPzP" 1+-mKR+-+R! xabcdefghy
1–0
121
(5) Eljanov P - Jianu V (2506)
8th ch-Euro (7), 09.04.2007
[White's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8r+l+qtrk+( 7zpp+-+pvl-' 6-+pzpnsnpzp& 5+-+-+-+-% 4-zPPsNP+-vL$ 3+-sN-+-+P# 2P+-+-zPP+" 1tR-+QtRLmK-! xabcdefghy
1–0
(6) Frolyanov D - Hracek Z (2613)
8th ch-Euro (2), 04.04.2007
[Black's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8-+rwq-trk+( 7+p+lvlpzpp' 6p+-zppsn-+& 5+-+-+-+-% 4Psn-sNPzP-+$ 3+-sN-vL-wQ-# 2-zPP+L+PzP" 1tR-+-+R+K! xabcdefghy
0–1
(7) Gashimov V - Adebayo A (2251)
37th Olympiad (4), 24.05.2006
[White's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8r+l+k+-tr( 7zpp+psn-+p' 6-+n+pzpp+& 5+-wq-+-+-% 4-+P+-+-+$ 3zP-zP-+NzP-# 2-+-+PzPLzP" 1tR-vLQ+RmK-! xabcdefghy
1–0
(8) Goloshchapov A - Dambacher M
(2429)
10th Essent Open (9), 28.10.2006
[White's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8r+-+kvl-tr( 7+-wql+pzp-' 6p+-zppsn-zp& 5snp+-+-+-% 4-+-sNPzPP+$ 3+-sN-vL-+P# 2PzPPwQ-+-+" 1+K+R+L+R! xabcdefghy
1–0
122
(9) Xu Yuhua - Nguyen Thi Thanh
An (2324)
2nd MAIG Team Standard (5),
30.10.2007
[Black's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8r+-+-trk+( 7+p+-vl-zpp' 6p+nzp-+q+& 5+-zp-+-+-% 4-+P+-zp-+$ 3+P+-+Q+-# 2PvL-+-+PzP" 1tRN+-+RmK-! xabcdefghy
0–1
(10) Karjakin Sergey - Bacrot E
(2695)
World Cup (3.4), 02.12.2007
[White's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8r+l+ntrk+( 7+pwq-+-vlp' 6p+-zpp+-+& 5+-+-snp+-% 4-+P+-vL-+$ 3+NsN-+-+-# 2PzP-wQLzPPzP" 1+-tRR+-mK-! xabcdefghy
1–0
123
TASK-4 ANSWERS SECTION (1) Milov V - Gassanov A (2353)
2nd President's Cup (2), 04.05.2007
XABCDEFGHY 8r+lwqr+-+( 7+p+-vl-mkp' 6p+p+n+p+& 5+-+p+p+n% 4-zP-zP-+-+$ 3zP-sN-zPP+-# 2-+L+NvLPzP" 1tR-+Q+R+K! xabcdefghy
[Black has a lot of weaknesses. The
most effective plan to use the
opponent's weaknesses is to open the
position.]
17.e4 fxe4 18.fxe4 dxe4 19.d5 [(it is a
logical continuation of the white's plan.
It was necessary to find this move
BEFORE playing e4.)]
19...cxd5 20.Nxd5 Bd6 [(Now we
have an open center, so white should
centralize his pieces and use them to
attack the black's weaknesses.)]
21.Bxe4 Be5 22.Rc1 Rf8 23.Nb6 Qe7
24.Qd5 [(white is keeping the strong
centralization)]
24...Nef4 25.Qxe5+ Qxe5 26.Bd4
Qxd4 27.Nxd4 Rb8 28.g3 Bh3
29.gxf4 Rbd8 30.Rfd1 Rxf4 31.Bf5
gxf5 32.Ne6+ Kf6 33.Nxf4 Rxd1+
34.Rxd1 Nxf4 35.Nd5+ Nxd5 36.Rxd5
f4 37.Rc5 Bf5 38.Kg2 Be4+ 39.Kh3 f3
40.Kg3 Bc6 41.Kf2 Kg6 42.Ke3 Kf6
43.Rh5 Kg6 44.Ra5 Kf6 45.a4 h6
46.b5 axb5 47.axb5 Bd5 48.b6 Ke5
49.Rc5 Kd6 50.Rc7 Bc6 51.Rh7 Kc5
52.Rxh6 Kxb6 53.h4 Kc5 54.h5 Be8
55.Rh8
1–0
(2) Allahverdiev A - Azarov S (2579)
16th Open (8), 20.08.2006
XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+-+rtr( 7+-+-vlk+-' 6-wq-zp-zp-+& 5+-+-sn-+-% 4-zp-sNlsN-+$ 3+P+-+-vLP# 2-+PtR-+-zP" 1+-+Q+RmK-! xabcdefghy
[In positions with an open center you
need to put your pieces on the central
squares. Black has done it already with
his bishop e4 and knight e5. Now it is
time to centralize another bishop.]
35...d5 36.Rdf2 Bc5 37.Nfe6 Qxe6
38.Nxe6 Rxh3 [(Black was able even
to sacrifice a queen - it shows the
power of the centralized pieces.)]
0–1
124
(3) Bologan V - Sandipan C (2550)
3rd Rapid Open (8), 31.10.2006
XABCDEFGHY 8r+l+kvl-tr( 7+pwqn+p+-' 6p+-zppsnpzp& 5+-+-+-+-% 4-+-sNPzPP+$ 3+-sN-+-+P# 2PzPP+-+L+" 1tR-vLQ+RmK-! xabcdefghy
[Black made a lot of pawn moves. It is
usually bad in positions with an open
center. So white should create such
position!]
11.f5 gxf5 12.exf5 e5 13.Ne6 Qb6+
14.Kh1 fxe6 15.fxe6 Be7 16.exd7+
Bxd7 17.Rxf6 Bxf6 18.Nd5 Qd8
19.Be3 [19.Qd3 was winning for white]
19...0–0 20.Bb6 Qe8 21.Nc7 Qe7
22.Nxa8 Rxa8 23.Qd3 Bc6 24.Bxc6
bxc6 25.Qc4+ Kh8 26.Qxc6 Rb8
27.Rd1 e4 28.Rxd6 Bg7 29.Rxh6+
Bxh6 30.Qxh6+ Kg8 31.Qg6+ Qg7
32.Qxg7+ Kxg7 33.Bd4+ Kg6 34.Kg2
Rf8 35.a4 Kg5 36.b4 Rc8 37.c3 Kf4
38.Kf2 Rb8 39.Ke2 Rb7 40.a5 Rh7
41.Be3+ Ke5 42.c4 Rxh3 43.b5 Rh2+
44.Kf1 axb5 45.cxb5 Rh3 46.Kf2
Rh2+ 47.Kg3 Re2 48.Bf4+ Kd5 49.b6
Kc6 50.Bc7 Ra2 51.Kf4 Rxa5
52.Kxe4 Rb5 53.Kf4 Kd7 54.Ke4 Kc6
55.Kf4 Kd7 56.Kf3 Ke7 57.Ke4 Kd7
58.Kf4 Ke6 59.Kf3 Rb4 60.Kg3 Kf7
61.Kh4 Rb5 62.g5 Kg6 63.Bd8 Rd5
64.Bf6 Rb5 65.Bd8 Rd5 66.Be7 Rb5
67.Bd8 Rd5
½–½
(4) Christiansen L - Wojtkiewicz A
(2554)
ch-USA GpB (3), 05.03.2006
XABCDEFGHY 8r+l+k+-tr( 7+-wqnvlpzpp' 6p+-zppsn-+& 5+p+-+-vL-% 4-+-sNP+-+$ 3+LsN-+Q+-# 2PzPP+-zPPzP" 1+-mKR+-+R! xabcdefghy
[White has finished an opening stage,
so he should compose a middlegame
plan. If you can attack in a center - do
it.]
11.e5 Bb7 12.Qg3 Nxe5 13.Bxe6 [(In
an open position white will be able to
exploit the black's weaknesses and his
centralized king.)]
13...fxe6 14.f4 Ng6 15.Nxe6 Qd7
16.Rhe1 Kf7 17.f5 Nf8 18.Bxf6 Bxf6
19.Rxd6 Qc8 20.Ng5+ Kg8 21.Rxf6
gxf6 22.Nge4+ Ng6 23.fxg6
1–0
125
(5) Eljanov P - Jianu V (2506)
8th ch-Euro (7), 09.04.2007
XABCDEFGHY 8r+l+qtrk+( 7zpp+-+pvl-' 6-+pzpnsnpzp& 5+-+-+-+-% 4-zPPsNP+-vL$ 3+-sN-+-+P# 2P+-+-zPP+" 1tR-+QtRLmK-! xabcdefghy
[Black has a lot of weaknesses
(because of his pawn moves), but
white can't use them at the moment.
White needs to open the position first.]
16.Nf5 gxf5 17.exf5 Qd7 18.fxe6 fxe6
19.Bg3 [(Now white only needs to
centralize his pieces and to attack the
black's numerous weaknesses. In the
position with an open center black will
not be able to protect them. That's why
the white's position is already
strategically winning. )]
19...Ne8 20.Qc2 a5 21.b5 Bd4
22.Rad1 e5 23.c5 Qg7 24.cxd6 Bf5
25.Qb3+ Kh8 26.Ne2 Bc5 27.Qb2
Kh7 28.bxc6 bxc6 29.d7 Nf6 30.Qxe5
Ne4 31.Qxg7+ Kxg7 32.Be5+ Kh7
33.Bd4 Bb4 34.f3 Ng5 35.Ng3 Bxd7
36.Bd3+ Kg8 37.Bc4+ Kh7 38.h4 Nf7
39.Bd3+ Kg8 40.Nh5 Nd6 41.Re7
1–0
(6) Frolyanov D - Hracek Z (2613)
8th ch-Euro (2), 04.04.2007
XABCDEFGHY 8-+rwq-trk+( 7+p+lvlpzpp' 6p+-zppsn-+& 5+-+-+-+-% 4Psn-sNPzP-+$ 3+-sN-vL-wQ-# 2-zPP+L+PzP" 1tR-+-+R+K! xabcdefghy
13...Rxc3 [(This standard sacrifice
helps black to open the center and to
create weaknesses in the white's
position.)]
14.bxc3 Nxe4 15.Qe1 Nd5 [(It is
interesting that white has a material
advantage, but can't do anything.)]
16.Bf3 Ndxc3 17.Bd2 Nxd2 18.Qxd2
Qc7 19.Bxb7 Bf6 20.Bf3 e5 21.fxe5
dxe5 22.Nb3 e4 23.Bh5 Be5 24.Rae1
Bxa4 25.Qe3 g6 26.Bg4 Bb5 27.Rf2
f5 28.Nc5 Nd5 29.Qa3 Bd6 30.Rd2
Bxc5 31.Qb3 Bb4 32.Rxd5 Qc4
0–1
126
(7) Gashimov V - Adebayo A (2251)
37th Olympiad (4), 24.05.2006
XABCDEFGHY 8r+l+k+-tr( 7zpp+psn-+p' 6-+n+pzpp+& 5+-wq-+-+-% 4-+P+-+-+$ 3zP-zP-+NzP-# 2-+-+PzPLzP" 1tR-vLQ+RmK-! xabcdefghy
[In positions with an open center, we
should mainly attack the opponent's
weaknesses and centralize our
pieces.]
11.Nd2 [(This move prepares Ne4 and
realizez both of those ideas.)]
11...f5 12.a4 Na5 13.e4 [(white opens
the position even more)]
13...Qc7 14.exf5 Nxf5 15.Ba3 h5
16.c5 Rb8 17.Ne4 b6 18.Qd2 bxc5
19.Qg5 d6 20.Qxg6+ Qf7 21.Qxf5
1–0
(8) Goloshchapov A - Dambacher M
(2429)
10th Essent Open (9), 28.10.2006
XABCDEFGHY 8r+-+kvl-tr( 7+-wql+pzp-' 6p+-zppsn-zp& 5snp+-+-+-% 4-+-sNPzPP+$ 3+-sN-vL-+P# 2PzPPwQ-+-+" 1+K+R+L+R! xabcdefghy
[To exploit the black's weaknesses and
to use white's better development - it
is necessary to open the position.]
13.e5 b4 [(perhaps this move looks
dangerous, but if you are confident in
your strategic understanding, you will
continue calculating.)]
14.Ncb5 axb5 15.exf6 Nc4 16.Bxc4
Qxc4 17.b3 Qc3 18.Qe2 gxf6 19.Nf5
[(As usual white should centralize his
pieces and attack the black's
weaknesses.)]
19...Qc6 20.Bd4 Rg8 21.Bxf6 Qa6
22.Rd3 Rg6 23.Bb2 Kd8 24.Nxd6
Bxd6 25.Qd2 e5 26.Rd1 Kc7 27.fxe5
Qxa2+ 28.Kc1 Qxb2+ 29.Kxb2 Bxe5+
30.Rd4 Rga6 31.Qxb4 Ra2+ 32.Kc1
1–0
127
(9) Xu Yuhua - Nguyen Thi Thanh
An (2324)
2nd MAIG Team Standard (5),
30.10.2007
XABCDEFGHY 8r+-+-trk+( 7+p+-vl-zpp' 6p+nzp-+q+& 5+-zp-+-+-% 4-+P+-zp-+$ 3+P+-+Q+-# 2PvL-+-+PzP" 1tRN+-+RmK-! xabcdefghy [In positions with an open center you
should struggle for the control over the
central squares.]
20...Bf6 21.Bxf6 Qxf6 22.Nc3 Rae8
23.Rad1 Nd4 [(Black has a fully
centralized position)]
24.Qxb7 f3 [(When you have a
domination in a center, you may
transfer the attack on a side. It will be
easily successful.)]
25.Kh1 Re5 26.Ne4 Qh4 27.Ng3 f2
28.Qd7 h6 29.Rd2 Re1 30.Rd1 Rxd1
31.Rxd1 Qf6 32.h3 Qe5 33.Nf1 Rf4
34.Qd8+ Kh7 35.Qa5 Re4 36.Qd2
Re1 37.Qd3+ Kh8 38.Rd2 Ne2 0–1
(10) Karjakin Sergey - Bacrot E
(2695)
World Cup (3.4), 02.12.2007
XABCDEFGHY 8r+l+ntrk+( 7+pwq-+-vlp' 6p+-zpp+-+& 5+-+-snp+-% 4-+P+-vL-+$ 3+NsN-+-+-# 2PzP-wQLzPPzP" 1+-tRR+-mK-! xabcdefghy
[Black made too many pawn moves,
what is very dangerous in open
positions.]
16.c5 [(So white opens the position
more)]
16...dxc5 17.Qe3 [(now white can
attack all the black's weaknesses
directly.)]
17...c4 18.Na4 b5 19.Nb6 Bb7
20.Nxa8 Bxa8 21.Qg3 Kh8 22.Nd4
Bd5 23.Re1 Qd6 24.Bh5
1–0
128
YOUR WINNING PLAN» by GM Igor Smirnov
The practical part: Task-5. In the 5th task you will test your skills in positions with the closed center. Your task: find the right move in a given position in “TASK-5 GAMES SECTION”. You should not try to guess the right move. Use the correct system of thinking, which you studied from the video lessons. Find the right plan and then decide how to realize it better. This will bring you to the right move. After that – look at the answer in “TASK-5 ANSWERS SECTION”. If you have any difficulties – study again the video lesson 4.
129
TASK-5 GAMES SECTION (1) Khismatullin D - Iliushkin E
(2292)
29th Mem Nezhmetdinov (9),
09.06.2007
[White's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8rsnl+r+k+( 7+p+-+pzpp' 6p+-wq-+-+& 5+-zpPzp-+-% 4-+-+P+-+$ 3+-+-+-zP-# 2PzP-wQ-zPLzP" 1+-tRRsN-mK-! xabcdefghy
1–0
(2) Khismatullin D -
Gabdrakhmanov R (2392)
29th Mem Nezhmetdinov (3),
03.06.2007
[White's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8rsnl+-trk+( 7zpp+-+pvlp' 6-+-zp-snp+& 5+-zpPzp-sN-% 4-+P+P+-+$ 3+-sN-+-zP-# 2PzP-+-zPLzP" 1tR-vLR+-mK-! xabcdefghy
1–0
(3) Khismatullin D - Yudin S (2511)
TCh-RUS HL (2), 04.05.2007
[White's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8r+-wqntrk+( 7zpl+nvlpzpp' 6-zp-+p+-+& 5+-+pzP-+-% 4-+-zP-+-+$ 3+-+-+NzP-# 2PzPQsN-zPLzP" 1tR-vL-+RmK-! xabcdefghy
1–0
(4) Bocharov D - Mahjoob M (2442)
Masters (2), 15.08.2005
[White's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8rsnl+k+-tr( 7+pzp-wqpzp-' 6-+-zp-sn-zp& 5+-+Pzp-+-% 4p+P+P+-+$ 3zP-vLL+N+-# 2-zPQ+-zPPzP" 1tR-+-mK-+R! xabcdefghy
1–0
130
(5) Korchnoi V - Turikov V (2334)
10th TCh-Euro sen (3), 13.02.2008
[White's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8r+-wqk+-tr( 7zplzp-vlpzpp' 6-zpnzp-sn-+& 5+-+-zp-+-% 4-+PzPP+-+$ 3+-sNL+N+-# 2PzP-+QzPPzP" 1tR-vL-+RmK-! xabcdefghy
1–0
(6) Korchnoi V - Golubev M (2474)
4th Pivdenny Bank Chess Cup (4),
30.05.2008
[White's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8r+lwq-trk+( 7+pzp-+pvlp' 6-+-zp-+p+& 5zp-snPzp-+n% 4-+P+P+-+$ 3+-sN-+-zP-# 2PzP-+NzPLzP" 1tR-vLQ+R+K! xabcdefghy
1–0
(7) Miroshnichenko E - Rapport R
(2440)
25th ECC (4), 07.10.2009
[White's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8-+ktr-+-tr( 7zpp+nvlpzp-' 6-wqp+psn-+& 5+-+p+-zp-% 4-+PzP-+P+$ 3+QsN-zP-+P# 2PzP-vL-zPL+" 1+-mKR+-+R! xabcdefghy
1–0
(8) Miroshnichenko E - Rathnakaran
K (2427)
2nd Mayors Cup (7), 06.05.2009
[White's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8-trlwqntrk+( 7+p+n+pvlp' 6p+-zp-+p+& 5+-zpPzp-+-% 4P+P+P+-+$ 3+-sNL+N+P# 2-zP-+-zPP+" 1tR-vLQtR-mK-! xabcdefghy
1–0
131
(9) Jobava Ba - Milov V (2625)
2nd Open (9), 11.06.2006
[Black's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8r+-wq-trk+( 7+p+nvlpzpp' 6p+p+p+l+& 5+-zPp+-+-% 4-zP-zP-vL-+$ 3+N+-zP-+-# 2P+-+LzPPzP" 1tR-+Q+RmK-! xabcdefghy
0–1
(10) Hadzimanolis A -
Azmaiparashvili Z (2615)
36th TCh-GRE (7), 10.07.2008
[Black's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8r+-wqk+-tr( 7+pzp-sn-+p' 6p+-zp-+psn& 5+-+Pzpp+-% 4P+-+P+-+$ 3+-sN-+P+-# 2-zPPsNQ+PzP" 1tR-+-+RmK-! xabcdefghy
0–1
132
TASK-5 ANSWERS SECTION
(1) Khismatullin D - Iliushkin E
(2292)
29th Mem Nezhmetdinov (9),
09.06.2007
XABCDEFGHY 8rsnl+r+k+( 7+p+-+pzpp' 6p+-wq-+-+& 5+-zpPzp-+-% 4-+-+P+-+$ 3+-+-+-zP-# 2PzP-wQ-zPLzP" 1+-tRRsN-mK-! xabcdefghy
[In positions with the closed center we
should play on a side. White has a
space advantage on the queen-side,
so he should attack there.]
17.Nd3 b6 18.b4 [(For an attacker it is
necessary to use the pawn assault.)]
18...cxb4 19.Nxb4 Bg4 20.Re1 Bd7
21.Nc2 Bb5 22.Ne3 g6 23.Qc2 a5
24.Rb1 Ba6 25.Rec1 Nd7 26.Qc6
[(the white's plan was realized
successfully and white is winning.)]
26...Qxc6 27.dxc6 Nc5 28.Rxb6 Ne6
29.c7 Bc8 30.Nd5 Kg7 31.Rb8
1–0
(2) Khismatullin D -
Gabdrakhmanov R (2392)
29th Mem Nezhmetdinov (3),
03.06.2007
XABCDEFGHY 8rsnl+-trk+( 7zpp+-+pvlp' 6-+-zp-snp+& 5+-zpPzp-sN-% 4-+P+P+-+$ 3+-sN-+-zP-# 2PzP-+-zPLzP" 1tR-vLR+-mK-! xabcdefghy
[White should play on a side where his
central pawn chain is pointed. To start
this attack white needs to use a pawn
assault.]
12.a3 Ne8 13.b4 Nd7 14.Rb1 b6
15.Nb5 Ndf6 16.Re1 h6 17.Nf3 Bd7
18.Bd2 Nh7 19.a4 [(White is realizing
his plan insistently, while black plays
without a plan - black should play f5)]
19...h5 20.Rb3 Bf6 21.Ra1 Kg7
[(passive defense doesn't work in
closed positions.)]
22.a5 Bxb5 23.cxb5 Nc7 24.bxc5
dxc5 25.Bc3 Rfe8 26.Nd2 h4 27.Nc4
hxg3 28.hxg3 Ng5 29.f4 exf4
30.Bxf6+ Kxf6 31.axb6 axb6 32.Rxa8
Rxa8 33.gxf4 Ra1+ 34.Kh2 Nh7
35.Nxb6 Rc1 36.d6 Ne6 37.Nd5+ Kg7
38.b6 c4 39.b7 cxb3 40.b8Q
1–0
133
(3) Khismatullin D - Yudin S (2511)
[E09]
TCh-RUS HL (2), 04.05.2007
XABCDEFGHY 8r+-wqntrk+( 7zpl+nvlpzpp' 6-zp-+p+-+& 5+-+pzP-+-% 4-+-zP-+-+$ 3+-+-+NzP-# 2PzPQsN-zPLzP" 1tR-vL-+RmK-! xabcdefghy
[White should play on the king-side,
where he is stronger. Thus white
needs to find the way how to
concentrate his pieces there and how
to start moving pawns.]
12.Re1 [12.Nb3 this move helps white
to finish the development, but it is a
strategic mistake - in moves the knight
away from the king-side where white
should attack.]
12...Ba6 13.Nf1 Rc8 14.Qd1 Nb8
15.Ne3 Nc6 16.Bd2 Nc7 17.h4 [(it is
necessary to push the pawns in closed
positions)]
17...Nb4 18.Bc3 Qd7 19.h5 h6
20.Ng4 Rfd8 21.Nf6+ gxf6 22.exf6
Bxf6 23.Bxb4 Qb5 24.Bd2 Qxb2
25.Rb1 Qa3 26.Ne5 [(White is
realizing his plan vigorously: white is
stronger on the king-side, that's why
his attack will definitely bring results
sooner or later. )]
26...Bxe5 27.dxe5 Kh7 28.Rb3 Qe7
29.Rf3 Ne8 30.Qb1+ Kg7 31.g4 [(the
pawn assault)]
31...Rc4 32.Rg3 Qh4 33.g5 Rg4
34.Ree3 Qxh5 35.gxh6+ Kh8
36.Rxg4 Qxg4 37.Rg3 [During the
whole game white has realized his
plan by every move, while black made
"separate good moves"]
1–0
(4) Bocharov D - Mahjoob M (2442)
Masters (2), 15.08.2005
XABCDEFGHY 8rsnl+k+-tr( 7+pzp-wqpzp-' 6-+-zp-sn-zp& 5+-+Pzp-+-% 4p+P+P+-+$ 3zP-vLL+N+-# 2-zPQ+-zPPzP" 1tR-+-mK-+R! xabcdefghy
13.c5 [(this is the ONLY move. After
that white has quite huge positional
advantage. Otherwise black would play
b6 and would prevent the white's plan.
You can see how it is important to
have "a planning thinking" and not to
play "just a good move" like castling.)]
13...0–0 14.cxd6 cxd6 15.Nd2 Nfd7
16.Nc4 Na6 17.0–0 Nac5 18.Be2 Nf6
19.Nb6 Ra7 20.f3 Qd8 21.Nxc8 Qxc8
22.Rad1 Qc7 23.Bb4 Rc8 24.Rc1
Qb6 25.Kh1 Raa8 26.Qc4 Rc7 [(a
passive defense usually doesn't work
in closed positions)]
27.Qb5 Qa7 28.Rc3 Rac8 29.Ba5 Re7
30.Bb6 Qa6 31.Qxa6 bxa6 32.Bxc5
[(If white is stonger on the queen-side
- he will realize his advantage)]
134
32...Rxc5 33.Rxc5 dxc5 34.Bxa6 Ne8
35.Rc1 Ra7 36.Bf1 Ra5 37.Kg1 Kf8
38.Kf2 Ke7 39.Ke3 Kd6 40.Bd3 Nc7
41.f4 f5 42.fxe5+ Kxe5 43.exf5 Nxd5+
44.Kf3 Nb6 45.Re1+ Kd4 46.Bf1 c4
47.Re4+ Kd5 48.Kf4 Ra7 49.Be2 Rc7
50.Bf3 Kc5 51.Re6 c3 52.bxc3 Nc4
53.Ra6 Kb5 54.Ra8 Nxa3 55.Be2+
Kb6 56.Ra6+ Kb7 57.Rxa4 Rxc3
58.g4 Nc2 59.Re4 Kb6 60.Bd1
1–0
(5) Korchnoi V - Turikov V (2334)
10th TCh-Euro sen (3), 13.02.2008
XABCDEFGHY 8r+-wqk+-tr( 7zplzp-vlpzpp' 6-zpnzp-sn-+& 5+-+-zp-+-% 4-+PzPP+-+$ 3+-sNL+N+-# 2PzP-+QzPPzP" 1tR-vL-+RmK-! xabcdefghy
[Normally we should keep the tension
and play Be3. However in this position
it is good for white to close the
position: 1) the black's bishop b7 is on
the wrong place; 2) it is difficult for
black oto prepare the move f5, while
white will attack on the queen-side
without any problems. It determines
white's huge positional advantage.
This calls "deep understanding of
chess". You can see that it is very
simple actually.]
9.d5 Nb4 10.Bb1 a5 11.a3 Na6
12.Bc2 0–0 13.Rb1 Nc5 14.b4 Ncd7
15.Rd1 Nh5 16.Nxe5 Nxe5 17.Qxh5
Nxc4 18.Bb3 Ne5 19.f4 Ng6 20.Rd3
Re8 21.Ba4 axb4 22.Bxe8 Qxe8
23.Rxb4 Bf6 24.Rh3 Nf8 25.Nb5 Ra5
26.a4 Ba6 27.Rhb3 Bxb5 28.axb5
Ra1 29.Qd1 Nd7 30.Ra3 Rxa3
31.Bxa3 Nc5 32.Qb1 h6 33.Rc4 Qa8
34.Bxc5 bxc5 35.Rc2 Qa3 36.Ra2
Qe3+ 37.Kh1 g6 38.e5 dxe5 39.d6
cxd6 40.b6 Bd8 41.Ra8 Kh7 42.Rxd8
exf4
1–0
(6) Korchnoi V - Golubev M (2474)
4th Pivdenny Bank Chess Cup (4),
30.05.2008
XABCDEFGHY 8r+lwq-trk+( 7+pzp-+pvlp' 6-+-zp-+p+& 5zp-snPzp-+n% 4-+P+P+-+$ 3+-sN-+-zP-# 2PzP-+NzPLzP" 1tR-vLQ+R+K! xabcdefghy
[It takes a lot of time for white to realize
his plan: b3, a3, Rb1, b4; while black is
ready to start an attack after the move
f5. That's why white should rather
prevent an opponent's plan here.]
11.Ng1 [(You can see again that "a
planning thinking" allows you to find
really profound moves)]
11...Qe8 [11...f5 ? 12.exf5 Bxf5
13.g4±]
12.Be3 [(white is still preventing the
black's plan mainly)]
12...Nf6 [12...f5 13.Bxc5 dxc5 14.exf5
gxf5 15.Nb5 with an initiative position]
135
13.f3 Nh5 14.Re1 Qd8 15.a3 [(white
strengthen his position on the king-
side and now he may realize his main
plan - pawn assault on the queen-
side.)]
15...Bd7 16.b4 axb4 17.axb4 Rxa1
18.Qxa1 Nb3 19.Qd1 Nd4 20.Nce2
Nxe2 21.Nxe2 f5 22.exf5 gxf5 23.f4
Nf6 24.fxe5 Ng4 25.Bg1 Nxe5 26.Nf4
Nxc4 27.Ne6 Bxe6 28.dxe6 Qe7
29.Bxb7 Ne5 30.Bg2 Kh8 31.Qc2 f4
32.gxf4 Rxf4 33.Rc1 c6 34.Qb3 Rg4
35.Ra1 Bf6 36.Ra7 Qf8 37.b5 Qg8
38.Qa2 cxb5 39.Ra8 Bd8 40.e7
1–0
(7) Miroshnichenko E - Rapport R
(2440)
25th ECC (4), 07.10.2009
XABCDEFGHY 8-+ktr-+-tr( 7zpp+nvlpzp-' 6-wqp+psn-+& 5+-+p+-zp-% 4-+PzP-+P+$ 3+QsN-zP-+P# 2PzP-vL-zPL+" 1+-mKR+-+R! xabcdefghy
[White wants to play c5, close the
position and attack on the queen-side
then. However it will be a huge mistake
to play c5 immediately]
14.Qa4 [14.c5 Qxb3 15.axb3 a6 and
white's attack on the queen-side
failed.]
14...Kb8 [(It was necessary for black to
break the white's plan and to play dñ.
However he made "just a normal
move" due to the lack of planning
skills.)]
15.c5 Qc7 16.b4 [(in the closed
positions we should not worry about
the weaknesses too much. It is
important to realize a pawn assault on
the "right" flank.)]
16...Rc8 17.Kb1 Nf8 18.Ka1 b5 [(in
closed positions a defender may move
the pawns to set up a blockade)]
19.Qc2 Ng6 20.a4 a6 21.Kb2 Nh4
22.Bf1 Nf3 23.Bd3 Nxd2 24.Qxd2
Qb7 25.Ra1 Kc7 26.f3 Nd7 27.axb5
axb5 28.Ra2 f6 29.Rha1 Ra8
30.Qh2+ e5 31.e4 Rxa2+ 32.Rxa2
Kc8 33.exd5 exd4 34.dxc6 dxc3+
35.Kxc3 Qxc6 36.Be4 Bd6 37.Qxd6
Qxd6 38.cxd6 Rd8 39.Kd4 Nb6
40.Kc5 Na4+ 41.Kc6 Kb8 42.d7
1–0
(8) Miroshnichenko E - Rathnakaran
K (2427)
2nd Mayors Cup (7), 06.05.2009
XABCDEFGHY 8-trlwqntrk+( 7+p+n+pvlp' 6p+-zp-+p+& 5+-zpPzp-+-% 4P+P+P+-+$ 3+-sNL+N+P# 2-zP-+-zPP+" 1tR-vLQtR-mK-! xabcdefghy
[White needs to attack on the queen-
side. White will play b4 to start an
attack. Now black is ready to play a5
136
and to break the white's plan. That's
why white has the ONLY move]
12.a5 h6 13.Qc2 b6 [(it is a mistake,
which helps white to open the queen-
side position)]
14.axb6 Nxb6 15.Rb1 f5 16.b4 Nd7
17.Ba3 f4 18.bxc5 Rxb1 19.Rxb1
dxc5 20.Na4 Qc7 21.Nd2 Bf6 22.Nb3
Be7 23.f3 Nd6 24.Naxc5 Qa7 25.Kh2
Nf6 26.Na5 Nh5 27.Nc6 Qc7 28.Qb2
1–0
(9) Jobava Ba - Milov V (2625)
2nd Open (9), 11.06.2006
XABCDEFGHY 8r+-wq-trk+( 7+p+nvlpzpp' 6p+p+p+l+& 5+-zPp+-+-% 4-zP-zP-vL-+$ 3+N+-zP-+-# 2P+-+LzPPzP" 1tR-+Q+RmK-! xabcdefghy
[This position is rather closed. White
will certainly attack on the queen-side.
Black may not just defend, because
the passive defense doesn't work in
closed positions. Black should create a
counterattack in the center by playing
e5. Of course it requires preparation,
but black should realize it anyway]
13...Re8 14.Bg3 Bf6 15.f4 [(After this
pawn move black should make
adjustments in his plan. Now it is
necessary to play f6 to prepare the
move e5.)]
15...Qc8 16.a4 Bd8 17.Be1 Nf6 18.b5
Ne4 19.Qc1 f6 20.Ba5 Bxa5 21.Nxa5
Qc7 22.b6 Qd7 23.Bd3 e5 [(Finally
black did it)]
24.fxe5 fxe5 25.Ra2 Re7 26.Bxe4
Bxe4 27.Qc3 h6 28.dxe5 Rae8
29.Raf2 Bg6 30.e4 Bxe4 31.Qg3 Kh7
32.h3 Bg6 33.Rf8 Re6 34.Rxe8 Rxe8
35.e6 Rxe6 36.Qc7 Re7 37.Qxd7
Rxd7 [(Black got a winning position,
because he realized his plan insistently
during all the previous moves)]
38.Kf2 Bc2 39.Ke3 d4+ 40.Kd2 Bxa4
41.Rf8 Bb5 42.Rb8 Rf7 43.Rxb7 Rf2+
44.Kc1 Ba4 45.Rd7 Rc2+ 46.Kb1
Rxc5 47.Rxd4 Bc2+ 48.Kb2 Rxa5
49.Rb4 c5 50.b7 cxb4 51.b8Q b3
52.g4 Ra2+ 53.Kc3 a5 54.g5 h5
55.g6+ Bxg6 56.Qxb3 Rg2 57.Kd4
Rd2+ 58.Ke5 Rd3 59.Qa4 Rxh3
60.Qxa5 Rf3 61.Qe1 Rf5+ 62.Kd6 Rf4
63.Qe3 Rf6+ 64.Ke7 Rf7+ 65.Kd6 Rf8
66.Qg5 Re8 67.Kd5 Re4 68.Qg3 Kh6
69.Qf2 Kh7 70.Qg3 Bf5 71.Qc7 h4
72.Qh2 g6 73.Qc7+ Kh6 74.Qc1+
Kh5 75.Qd1+ Kh6 76.Qc1+ g5
77.Qc3 Kh5 78.Qf3+ Kg6 79.Qc3 Re8
80.Qc6+ Re6 81.Qc3 Rf6 82.Qe3 Re6
83.Qc3 h3 84.Qh8 Re2 85.Kd6 h2
86.Qa8 Be4 87.Qe8+ Kf5 88.Qb5+
Kf4 89.Qe5+ Kg4 90.Qe6+ Kg3
91.Qe5+ Kh4 92.Qh8+ Kg4 93.Qc8+
Kg3 94.Qc3+ Bf3
0–1
137
(10) Hadzimanolis A -
Azmaiparashvili Z (2615)
36th TCh-GRE (7), 10.07.2008
XABCDEFGHY 8r+-wqk+-tr( 7+pzp-sn-+p' 6p+-zp-+psn& 5+-+Pzpp+-% 4P+-+P+-+$ 3+-sN-+P+-# 2-zPPsNQ+PzP" 1tR-+-+RmK-! xabcdefghy
[Black should attack on the king-side,
where his central pawn chain "looks".
To start this attack black needs to
realize a pawn assault.]
13...f4 14.Nd1 g5 15.c4 Rg8 16.Nf2
Qd7 17.h3 Nf7 18.a5 h5 19.b4 Nh6
[(Black realizes his plan maximally
insistently. He is ignoring the white's
attack as loong as he can)]
20.c5 Rd8 21.Rfb1 g4 22.fxg4 hxg4
23.hxg4 Nxg4 24.Nxg4 Rxg4 25.b5
Kf7 26.c6 bxc6 27.bxc6 Qc8 28.Rb7
Rdg8 29.Rab1 Kf6 30.Rb8 Rxg2+
31.Qxg2 Rxg2+ 32.Kxg2 Qg4+
33.Kf2 Qg3+ 34.Ke2 Ng6 35.R8b3
Qg2+ 36.Kd1 Nh4 37.Kc2 Qe2
38.Rb7 Nf3
0–1
138
YOUR WINNING PLAN» by GM Igor Smirnov
The practical part: Task-6. In the 6th task you will test your skills in positions with a static center. Your task: find the right move in a given position in “TASK-6 GAMES SECTION”. You should not try to guess the right move. Use the correct system of thinking, which you studied from the video lessons. Find the right plan and then decide how to realize it better. This will bring you to the right move. After that – look at the answer in “TASK-6 ANSWERS SECTION”. If you have any difficulties – study again the video lesson 5.
139
TASK-6 GAMES SECTION (1) Khismatullin D - Zaragatski I
(2464)
8th ch-Euro (9), 12.04.2007
[White's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8-+ktr-vl-tr( 7zppzp-snpzpp' 6-+nwq-+-+& 5+L+p+-+-% 4-+-zP-+l+$ 3+-sN-zPN+-# 2PzP-vL-zPPzP" 1tR-+QmK-+R! xabcdefghy
1–0
(2) Adly A - Kurajica B (2548)
37th Olympiad (3), 23.05.2006
[White's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8r+-wqr+k+( 7zpp+-+pvlp' 6-snn+l+p+& 5+-+p+-+-% 4-+-zP-+-+$ 3+-sNL+P+-# 2PzP-vLNwQPzP" 1+-tRR+-mK-! xabcdefghy
1–0
(3) Aleksandrov A - Shaposhnikov
E (2533)
inAUTOmarket Open (7), 16.07.2005
[White's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8r+-wq-trk+( 7zpp+-vlpzpp' 6-+n+lsn-+& 5+-+p+-vL-% 4-+-zP-+-+$ 3+QsNL+P+-# 2PzP-+N+PzP" 1tR-+-+RmK-! xabcdefghy
1–0
(4) Aleksandrov Aleksej (BLR) -
Giorgadze Giorgi (GEO) (2601)
Cup European Club (final) Saint
Vincent (Italy) (4), 21.09.2005
[White's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8r+-+-trk+( 7zp-sn-+pzpp' 6-+-wq-sn-+& 5+p+psN-+-% 4P+-zP-+-+$ 3+P+-+-+-# 2-+-+-zPPzP" 1tR-vLQ+RmK-! xabcdefghy
1–0
140
(5) Karpov Ana - Seitz M (2258)
Simul (1), 20.01.2007
[White's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8rtrn+-+k+( 7+q+l+pzp-' 6-+-+pvl-zp& 5+p+p+-+-% 4-zP-zP-+-+$ 3+QsNLzPN+P# 2-+-+-zPP+" 1tR-tR-+-mK-! xabcdefghy
1–0
(6) Graf A - Ramesh R (2453)
IV Open (6), 21.06.2007
[White's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8rsn-wq-trk+( 7+l+-+pzpp' 6pzp-vl-sn-+& 5+-zppsN-+-% 4-+-zP-zP-+$ 3+-sN-zP-+-# 2PzP-vLL+PzP" 1tR-+Q+RmK-! xabcdefghy
1–0
(7) Rustemov A - Luther T (2580)
Bundesliga 2006–7 (12), 17.03.2007
[White's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8r+lwqk+-tr( 7zpp+-vlpzpp' 6-+n+-sn-+& 5+-+p+-+-% 4-+-zP-+-+$ 3+-+-+N+-# 2PzP-+LzPPzP" 1tRNvLQ+RmK-! xabcdefghy
1–0
(8) Savchenko S - Zeberski J (2420)
22nd Voivoda Cup (5), 11.12.2006
[White's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8r+l+rsnk+( 7zpp+-wqpzpp' 6-+p+-sn-+& 5+-+p+-+-% 4-+-zP-+-+$ 3+-sNLzPN+P# 2PzPQ+-zPP+" 1tR-+-+RmK-! xabcdefghy
1–0
141
(9) Baklan V - Naumkin I (2481)
XXI Festival Open A (5), 25.08.2009
[White's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8r+-+-+k+( 7+-zpq+-zpp' 6p+n+-trl+& 5+p+p+-sN-% 4-+-zP-+P+$ 3+LzP-+-+P# 2P+-+-zP-+" 1tR-+QtR-mK-! xabcdefghy
1–0
(10) Motylev A - Burmakin V (2599)
ch-RUS HL (1), 02.09.2009
[White's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8-+-trrsnk+( 7zpp+-+-zpp' 6-+-wqpvl-+& 5+-+p+-+P% 4-+-zP-+-+$ 3+PsNQ+NzP-# 2P+-+RzP-+" 1+-+-tR-mK-! xabcdefghy
0–1
142
TASK-6 ANSWERS SECTION
(1) Khismatullin D - Zaragatski I
(2464)
8th ch-Euro (9), 12.04.2007
XABCDEFGHY 8-+ktr-vl-tr( 7zppzp-snpzpp' 6-+nwq-+-+& 5+L+p+-+-% 4-+-zP-+l+$ 3+-sN-zPN+-# 2PzP-vL-zPPzP" 1tR-+QmK-+R! xabcdefghy
[In positions with a static center it is
necessary: 1) to get control over the
central lines (here white has the "c"
file) 2) to put your pieces on the central
squares, which are protected by your
pawn (here they are c5 and e5]
9.Rc1 Kb8 10.Na4 Rc8 11.h3 Bxf3
12.Qxf3 Nd8 13.Nc5 c6 14.Bd3 Ka8
15.b4 [(when you have a strong
center, you may start the attack on a
flank. The attack of a pawn minority is
a standard plan for such positions.)]
15...g6 16.a4 f5 17.b5 [(pay attention
to the white's STYLE - he is realizing
the plan by his every move without any
deflections.)]
17...Ne6 18.0–0 Nxc5 19.Bb4 Bh6
20.Bxc5 Qe6 21.Rc2 Rhe8 22.Rfc1
Ng8 23.bxc6 bxc6 24.Ba6 Rb8
25.Qe2 [25.Bxa7 ! 25...Kxa7 26.Rxc6
Qd7 27.Rc7++–]
25...Rb3 26.Rb2 Rxb2 27.Qxb2 Rb8
28.Qc2 Nf6 29.Rb1 Nd7 30.Rxb8+
Nxb8 31.Be2 Nd7 32.Bb4 Bf8
33.Bxf8 Nxf8 34.Ba6 Qd7 35.Qc5
Ne6 36.Qb4 Qc7 37.a5 Qd7 38.g3
Qc7 39.h4 Qd7 40.Bd3 Qc7 41.h5
Qd7 42.a6 Qc7 43.h6 Qd7 44.g4 fxg4
45.Bxg6 Nd8 46.Qf8 Kb8 47.Bf5 Qc7
48.Kg2
1–0
(2) Adly A - Kurajica B (2548)
37th Olympiad (3), 23.05.2006
XABCDEFGHY 8r+-wqr+k+( 7zpp+-+pvlp' 6-snn+l+p+& 5+-+p+-+-% 4-+-zP-+-+$ 3+-sNL+P+-# 2PzP-vLNwQPzP" 1+-tRR+-mK-! xabcdefghy
[The main plan thing that you should
do in positions with a static center is to
struggle for the control over the
squares around the central pawns. It is
interesting to see how both players
tried to do it.]
17.b3 Qf6 [17...Rc8]
18.Nb5 Qe7 19.Bf4 Bf5 20.Bd6 Qe3
21.Bf4 Qxf2+ 22.Kxf2 Bxd3 23.Rxd3
Re7 24.Bd6 Rd7 25.Bc5 Nc8 26.Re3
[(White got more centralized position
and it became more difficult for black
to find right moves.)]
26...Rd8 [?]
27.Nc7 Rb8 28.Nxd5 Nd6 [28...Rxd5
29.Re8++–]
143
29.Ne7+ Nxe7 30.Bxd6 Rxd6
31.Rxe7 Bf6 32.Re4 Rbd8 33.Rc7
Ra6 34.a4 Rb6 35.Re3 Rb4 36.Rd3
a6 37.Ke3 Re8+ 38.Kd2 Bd8 39.Rc4
Rb6 40.d5 Bg5+ 41.Kd1 Rd8 42.f4
Be7 43.g4 Bd6 44.Ng3 Bb8 45.Ke2
Kf8 46.Kf3
1–0
(3) Aleksandrov A - Shaposhnikov
E (2533)
inAUTOmarket Open (7), 16.07.2005
XABCDEFGHY 8r+-wq-trk+( 7zpp+-vlpzpp' 6-+n+lsn-+& 5+-+p+-vL-% 4-+-zP-+-+$ 3+QsNL+P+-# 2PzP-+N+PzP" 1tR-+-+RmK-! xabcdefghy
[The most standard plan is to play
Rac1, Rfe1 and then to occupy the
central squares c5 and e5. In this
game white has chosen another plan -
to strengthen the center first and to
transfer the attack on the side then]
13.Rad1 [13.Qxb7 ?! 13...Na5 14.Qa6
Bc8 15.Qb5 Bd7 16.Qa6 Bc8 =]
13...Rb8 14.Bb1 Na5 15.Qc2 g6
16.Nf4 Bf5 17.Qf2 Bxb1 18.Rxb1 Qd6
19.Rfe1 Nc6 20.Nb5 Qd7 21.Qh4 a6
22.Na7 Bd8 23.Bxf6 Nxa7 24.Re5
[(after all white has occupied the
central squares and got a winning
position)]
24...Qd6 25.Nxd5 Nc6 26.Rh5
1–0
(4) Aleksandrov Aleksej (BLR) -
Giorgadze Giorgi (GEO) (2601)
Cup European Club (final) Saint
Vincent (Italy) (4), 21.09.2005
XABCDEFGHY 8r+-+-trk+( 7zp-sn-+pzpp' 6-+-wq-sn-+& 5+p+psN-+-% 4P+-zP-+-+$ 3+P+-+-+-# 2-+-+-zPPzP" 1tR-vLQ+RmK-! xabcdefghy
17.Nd3 [(white is going to play Bf4 to
increase the tension on the central
squares)]
17...Rfc8 18.Bf4 Qd8 19.Be5 [(white
occupies the central sqaures under the
protection of his pawn)]
19...a5 20.Nf4 b4 21.Qd3 Nce8
22.Rac1 Ne4 23.f3 Rc3 24.Rxc3 Nxc3
25.Re1 [(white centralized all his
pieces)]
25...Qd7 26.Nh5 [(after the full
centralization white is transferring the
attack on a side)]
26...Qc6 27.g4 g6 28.Ng3 Ng7 29.g5
Qa6 30.Qxa6 Rxa6 31.Bf6 Ne6 32.Kf2
h5 33.Ke3 Kf8 34.Kd2 Ke8 35.Nh1
Kd7 36.Nf2 Kd6 37.Nd3 Ra7 38.h4
Rb7 39.Rf1 Ra7 40.Ke3 Nf8 41.Be5+
Ke6 42.Nc5+ Ke7 43.Bf6+ Kd6 44.f4
Nd7 45.f5 Nxc5 46.dxc5+ Kc6
47.fxg6 fxg6 48.Kd4 Rf7 49.Ke5
Kxc5 50.Ke6 Rb7 51.Rf2 Kc6 52.Bd4
Rd7 53.Rf6 Ne2 54.Ke5+ Kc7
55.Bb6+ Kb7 56.Bxa5 d4 57.Bxb4 d3
58.Bd2 Nd4 59.Rf4 Nf5 60.Rxf5 gxf5
61.g6 Re7+ 62.Kf6 Re4 63.g7 Rg4
144
64.Bg5 Rxg5 65.hxg5 d2 66.g8Q d1Q
67.Qf7+ Kb6 68.g6 Qd4+ 69.Kxf5
Qg4+ 70.Kf6 h4 71.g7 Qd4+ 72.Kg6
Qe4+ 73.Kh6 h3 74.g8Q
1–0
(5) Karpov Ana - Seitz M (2258)
Simul (1), 20.01.2007
XABCDEFGHY 8rtrn+-+k+( 7+q+l+pzp-' 6-+-+pvl-zp& 5+p+p+-+-% 4-zP-zP-+-+$ 3+QsNLzPN+P# 2-+-+-zPP+" 1tR-tR-+-mK-! xabcdefghy
[Though it is a static center, it is not
totally static. So here white simply
follow the rule "if you can play in a
center - do it."]
20.e4 dxe4 21.Rxa8 Qxa8 22.Nxe4
Be7 23.Ne5 Be8 24.Nc5 [(White
centralized his pieces and won the
game soon. You can see that this
scenario happens very often.)]
24...Qd5 25.Qxd5 exd5 26.Na6 Ra8
27.Nc7
1–0
(6) Graf A - Ramesh R (2453)
IV Open (6), 21.06.2007
XABCDEFGHY 8rsn-wq-trk+( 7+l+-+pzpp' 6pzp-vl-sn-+& 5+-zppsN-+-% 4-+-zP-zP-+$ 3+-sN-zP-+-# 2PzP-vLL+PzP" 1tR-+Q+RmK-! xabcdefghy
[After the eventual exchange cd and
ed we will have a static center. In that
position both players will try to struggle
for the control over the central
squares. White has the knight on e5
already and black will try to put the
knight on e4. Can white prevent it?]
12.Be1 [(preparing Bh4)]
12...cxd4 13.exd4 Nc6 14.Kh1 b5
15.Bh4 [(white solved the problem of
his bad bishop and prevented the
move Ne4)]
15...Be7 16.Bf3 Na5 17.Qd3 Nc4
18.Rae1 [(White has already occupied
the e5 square, so now he only needs
to take the open file "e" to get the full
domination.)]
18...Re8 19.Re2 Ne4 20.Bxe7 Rxe7
21.Nxe4 dxe4 22.Bxe4 Bxe4 23.Rxe4
Qd5 24.Re2 Rae8 25.Rfe1 Nxe5
26.fxe5 Qxa2 27.b3 Qa3 28.h3 Rd7
29.d5 Qc5 30.d6 g6 31.Qd2 Rc8
32.Qh6 Rf8 33.Re4 Qd5 34.Rh4 f6
35.e6 Re8 36.e7 Qf7 37.Rd4 Qxb3
38.Qf4 Qf7 39.Qc1 Qa2 40.Qc6 Qf2
41.Ree4 Qf5 42.Kh2 Kf7 43.Re1 a5
145
44.Rd5 Qf4+ 45.Kh1 Qf2 46.Rdd1
Qf5 47.Kg1 a4 48.Rd5
1–0
(7) Rustemov A - Luther T (2580)
Bundesliga 2006–7 (12), 17.03.2007
XABCDEFGHY 8r+lwqk+-tr( 7zpp+-vlpzpp' 6-+n+-sn-+& 5+-+p+-+-% 4-+-zP-+-+$ 3+-+-+N+-# 2PzP-+LzPPzP" 1tRNvLQ+RmK-! xabcdefghy
9.Ne5 [(White starts realizing his plan
immediately. Of course it is not the
onle possible move - it is just
important to understand the right
PLAN.)]
9...0–0 10.Nc3 Bf5 11.Bf4 Rc8 12.Rc1
a6 13.Na4 [(white is realizing the
standard plan: to put the rooks on the
central open files and to bring the
pieces on the central squares under
the protection of your pawn.)]
13...Nb4 [(black breaks the white's
idea)]
14.Rxc8 Qxc8 15.Nc3 Nc6 16.Bf3
Rd8 17.Nxc6 Qxc6 18.Qb3 Be4
[(black also realizes the right plan)]
19.Be2 b5 20.Rc1 Qe6 21.Nxe4 Nxe4
22.Qc2 Bf6 23.Qc7 Re8 24.Rc6 Qf5
25.g4 Qg6 26.Qd7 Rf8 27.Qxd5 h6
28.Kg2 Ng5 29.Qf5 Ne6 30.Be3 Qxf5
31.gxf5 Nxd4 32.Rxf6 Nxe2 33.Rxa6
Rd8 34.Rb6 Rd5 35.Kf3 Ng1+ 36.Ke4
Rd7 37.Rxb5 f6 38.a4 Re7+ 39.Kf4
Ne2+ 40.Kf3
1–0
(8) Savchenko S - Zeberski J (2420)
22nd Voivoda Cup (5), 11.12.2006
XABCDEFGHY 8r+l+rsnk+( 7zpp+-wqpzpp' 6-+p+-sn-+& 5+-+p+-+-% 4-+-zP-+-+$ 3+-sNLzPN+P# 2PzPQ+-zPP+" 1tR-+-+RmK-! xabcdefghy
14.Rab1 [(Here white is realizing the
standard plan: an attack of the pawn
minority. It is possible to move the
pawns on a side in such positions,
when you have an ENOUGH control
over the central squares.)]
14...Ne4 15.b4 a6 16.a4 Bf5 [(you can
see that white certainly doesn't have
an advantage in the center, however
he controls it good enough to prevent
the black's attack there.)]
17.b5 axb5 18.axb5 Ra3 19.Rb3
Rxb3 20.Qxb3 Ng6 21.bxc6 bxc6
22.Ne2 Qf6 23.Bxe4 dxe4 24.Nd2
Qg5 25.Ng3 Nh4 26.Rc1 h5 27.Rc5
Qg6 28.Qd1 Qf6 29.Qxh5 g6 30.Qh6
Ra8 31.Ndxe4 Bxe4 32.Nxe4 Nf3+
33.gxf3 Qxf3 34.Qh7+
1–0
146
(9) Baklan V - Naumkin I (2481)
XXI Festival Open A (5), 25.08.2009
XABCDEFGHY 8r+-+-+k+( 7+-zpq+-zpp' 6p+n+-trl+& 5+p+p+-sN-% 4-+-zP-+P+$ 3+LzP-+-+P# 2P+-+-zP-+" 1tR-+QtR-mK-! xabcdefghy
20.Re5 [(White is occupying the
central square under the control of his
pawn)]
20...Rd6 [20...Nxe5 21.dxe5 Rff8
22.Bxd5+ Kh8 23.Bxa8+–]
21.f4 h6 22.Nf3 Kh8 23.f5 Bh7
24.Re3 Rf8 25.Qe2 [(and also white is
using the central open file)]
25...g6 26.Ne5 [(the outpost piece on
the e5 and the control over the "e" file
gives white a winning position.)]
26...Qd8 27.Nf7+ Rxf7 28.Re8+ Kg7
29.Rxd8 Rxd8 30.Rf1 gxf5 31.gxf5
Bxf5 32.Bxd5
1–0
(10) Motylev A - Burmakin V (2599)
ch-RUS HL (1), 02.09.2009
XABCDEFGHY 8-+-trrsnk+( 7zpp+-+-zpp' 6-+-wqpvl-+& 5+-+p+-+P% 4-+-zP-+-+$ 3+PsNQ+NzP-# 2P+-+RzP-+" 1+-+-tR-mK-! xabcdefghy
[Almost all the white's pieces are
realizing his plan - to put pressure on
the central line "e" and to occupy the
e5 square. Now white only needs to
bring his knight c3 to the attack]
22.Nd1 Qc7 23.Ne3 Qf7 24.h6 gxh6
25.Ng4 [(Now white really got an ideal
positions for his pieces)]
25...Qg7 26.Nxf6+ Qxf6 27.Re3 Re7
28.Qe2 Rg7 29.Ne5 Rc8 30.Rf3 Qg5
31.Nd3 Rc3 32.Qb2 Rgc7 33.Qa3
Qg7 34.Qxa7 Rf7 35.Rxf7 Qxf7
36.Nf4 Rc6 37.Qb8 Qc7 38.Qxf8+ [??
(this sudden blunder brings white a
loss)]
38...Kxf8 39.Nxe6+ Rxe6
0–1
147
YOUR WINNING PLAN» by GM Igor Smirnov
The practical part: Task-7. In the 7th task you will test your skills in positions with the pawn center. Your task: find the right move in a given position in “TASK-7 GAMES SECTION”. You should not try to guess the right move. Use the correct system of thinking, which you studied from the video lessons. Find the right plan and then decide how to realize it better. This will bring you to the right move. After that – look at the answer in “TASK-7 ANSWERS SECTION”. If you have any difficulties – study again the video lesson 6.
148
TASK-7 GAMES SECTION
(1) Arencibia W - Bitelmajer M
(2243)
American Continental (10), 15.08.2005
[White's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8-+r+-+k+( 7+-+n+psn-' 6-+-+p+pzp& 5zpq+-vL-+-% 4-+-zPP+P+$ 3zP-+N+Q+-# 2-zP-+-zP-zP" 1+-+R+-mK-! xabcdefghy
1–0
(2) Arkell K - Zhang Zhong (2618)
VIII Dos Hermanas Internet (1.1),
23.03.2007
[White's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8-+-wqrsnk+( 7zp-+-vlpzpp' 6-zpr+p+-+& 5+-+-+-+-% 4-+-zPPvL-+$ 3zP-+-+N+-# 2-+-wQ-zPPzP" 1tR-+-tR-mK-! xabcdefghy
1–0
(3) Jaroch K - Sergeev Vl (2507)
7th Amplico AIG Life (2), 15.12.2007
[Black's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8rsn-wq-trk+( 7zppzp-zppvlp' 6-sn-zpl+p+& 5+-+-zP-+-% 4-+PzP-zP-+$ 3+PsN-+N+-# 2P+-+L+PzP" 1tR-vLQmK-+R! xabcdefghy
0–1
(4) Munoz Pantoja M - Vysochin S
(2521)
IX Dos Hermanas Internet (1.5),
04.04.2008
[Black's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8rsn-wq-trk+( 7zpp+-zppvlp' 6-sn-+-+p+& 5+-zpPzP-+-% 4-+P+-vL-+$ 3+-+-+N+P# 2PzP-+-+P+" 1tR-+QmKL+R! xabcdefghy
0–1
149
(5) Martin,Ax - Hoffmann,Ro (2011)
Open A Le Touquet FRA (5),
28.10.2008
[Black's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8r+-wqk+-tr( 7zpp+nzppvlp' 6-sn-+-+p+& 5+-zpPzP-+-% 4-+P+-vLl+$ 3+-+L+N+-# 2PzP-+Q+PzP" 1tRN+-mK-+R! xabcdefghy
0–1
(6) Vazirova K - Farago S (2275)
FSIM May (11), 15.05.2007
[Black's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8r+-wqk+-tr( 7zppzp-vlpzpp' 6-snn+p+-+& 5+-+-zP-+-% 4-+PzP-+l+$ 3+-sN-vLN+-# 2PzP-+L+PzP" 1tR-+QmK-+R! xabcdefghy
0–1
(7) Sundararajan K - Koneru H
(2612)
19th PSPB Inter TCh (4), 09.03.2008
[White's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8r+l+r+k+( 7zpp+-+pzpp' 6-sn-vl-+-+& 5+-+-+q+-% 4-+pzPp+-vL$ 3zP-sN-zP-+-# 2-zP-sN-zPPzP" 1tR-+Q+RmK-! xabcdefghy
0–1
(8) Botvinnik Mikhail M (RUS) -
Kotov Alexander A (RUS) (2500)
It Groningen (Netherlands) (14), 1946
[Black's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8rsnl+r+k+( 7zpp+-wqpzp-' 6-+-+-+-zp& 5+-zpp+-+-% 4-+-zP-+-+$ 3zP-zP-zPP+-# 2-+-wQNmKPzP" 1tR-+-+L+R! xabcdefghy
0–1
150
(9) Korchnoi V - Baumgartner H
(2303)
EU-chT Seniors (5), 21.02.2006
[White's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8-+r+rsnk+( 7zpp+l+pzpp' 6-+p+-+-+& 5+-+p+-+-% 4-wq-zP-vL-+$ 3+-+LzP-+P# 2PzPQ+-zPP+" 1+K+RtR-+-! xabcdefghy
1–0
(10) Milov V - Almasi Z (2640)
Corsica Masters KO (3.1), 04.11.2005
[Black's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8r+lwqrsnk+( 7zpp+-+pzpp' 6-+pvl-sn-+& 5+-+p+-+-% 4-+-zP-+-+$ 3+-sNLzPPsN-# 2PzP-vL-+PzP" 1+-tRQ+RmK-! xabcdefghy
1–0
151
TASK-7 ANSWERS SECTION
(1) Arencibia W - Bitelmajer M
(2243)
American Continental (10), 15.08.2005
XABCDEFGHY 8-+r+-+k+( 7+-+n+psn-' 6-+-+p+pzp& 5zpq+-vL-+-% 4-+-zPP+P+$ 3zP-+N+Q+-# 2-zP-+-zP-zP" 1+-+R+-mK-! xabcdefghy
[White has a strong pawn center and
certainly he should push it as forward
as he can.]
29.d5 exd5 30.exd5 Re8 31.Bc3 a4
32.Nb4 Qc5 33.Nc6 Qb5 34.d6 [(The
white's passed pawn gives white more
free space for the maneuvers and
forces black to keep his pieces on the
last ranks. This is a power of a strong
central position - it gives you a
domination.)]
34...Qb3 35.Ne7+ Kh7 36.Rd5 Rf8
37.h4 [(white can do whatever he
wants)]
37...Ne6 38.h5 Qc2 39.Kh2 Qb1
40.Rd3 Qc2 41.Qxf7+ [(the white's
position was so powerful, that we was
able to mate the black's king by the
pawn.)]
1–0
(2) Arkell K - Zhang Zhong (2618)
VIII Dos Hermanas Internet (1.1),
23.03.2007
XABCDEFGHY 8-+-wqrsnk+( 7zp-+-vlpzpp' 6-zpr+p+-+& 5+-+-+-+-% 4-+-zPPvL-+$ 3zP-+-+N+-# 2-+-wQ-zPPzP" 1tR-+-tR-mK-! xabcdefghy
[When you have a pawn center - first
of all you should use it and push it
forward]
21.d5 exd5 22.exd5 Rc8 23.d6 Bf6
24.Rxe8 Qxe8 25.Re1 Qd8 26.Be5
[(When you have a passed pawn, you
need to think how to move it forward.
In this position it looks hard to do it.
Nevertheless you should realize this
plan insistently. In the current position
white wants to put the knight on e5, it
will support the move d7.)]
26...Rc6 27.Bxf6 [?!]
[27.Rd1 Now it is very difficult to find
any good response for black]
27...Qxf6 28.d7 [? it is a blunder]
[28.Rd1 saves an advantage]
28...Rd6 29.Qb4 Rxd7 30.h4 h6
31.Re8 Qd6 32.Qxd6 Rxd6 33.Ra8
Rd7 34.Ne5 Rc7 35.h5 a5 36.Rb8 a4
37.f4 Re7 38.Rxb6 f6 39.Ng6 Nxg6
40.hxg6 Re8 41.Ra6 Kf8 42.Rxa4
152
Re3 43.Ra8+ Ke7 44.Ra7+ Ke6
45.Kf2 Rb3 46.g4 f5 47.Ra6+ Ke7
48.gxf5 Rc3 49.Ra7+ Kf8 50.f6 gxf6
51.Rf7+ Kg8 52.Rxf6 Rxa3 53.f5 Rb3
54.Rf7 Rb4 55.Kf3 Rb5 56.Kf4 Rb4+
57.Ke5 Rb5+ 58.Ke4 Rb4+ 59.Kf3
Rb3+ 60.Kg4 Rb1 61.Rc7 Rg1+
62.Kf4 Re1 63.f6 Rf1+ 64.Ke5 Re1+
65.Kd4 Rd1+ 66.Ke3 Re1+ 67.Kf2
1–0
(3) Jaroch K - Sergeev Vl (2507)
7th Amplico AIG Life (2), 15.12.2007
XABCDEFGHY 8rsn-wq-trk+( 7zppzp-zppvlp' 6-sn-zpl+p+& 5+-+-zP-+-% 4-+PzP-zP-+$ 3+PsN-+N+-# 2P+-+L+PzP" 1tR-vLQmK-+R! xabcdefghy
[When your opponent has a pawn
center - you should attack it as soon
as it possible.]
9...dxe5 10.fxe5 [(This move is a
mistake. White was able to take by the
"d" pawn getting a good position.
However white decided to save a pawn
center, believing in its power. White
didn't know that the pawn center is an
advantage ONLY when it is well
supported by the pieces; otherwise it is
a weakness.)]
[10.dxe5]
10...c5 11.Bf4 Bg4 [11...cxd4 12.Nxd4
Nc6 13.Nxc6 bxc6 14.0–0 Nd7 black
will take the e5 pawn and will totally
destroy the white's center]
12.dxc5 N6d7 13.Qd5 Nc6 [(The
white's center is only an object of an
attack)]
14.Rd1 Qa5 15.Qd2 Bxf3 16.gxf3
Ndxe5 17.Nd5 Qxc5 18.Be3 Qa3
19.f4 e6 20.fxe5 exd5 21.cxd5 Nxe5
22.0–0 Qd6 23.Bf4 Rfe8 24.Rc1 Rad8
25.Rfd1 a6 26.Kh1 Rd7 27.Rc2 Red8
28.Qc1 Qb6 29.Rc8 Qf2 30.Rxd8+
Rxd8 31.Qe3 Qxe3 32.Bxe3 Bf8
33.Bf4 Bd6 34.Bxe5 Bxe5 35.a4 Bd6
36.Kg2 f5 37.Bc4 Re8 38.Rd2 Kf7
39.Rc2 Kf6 40.Kf3 g5 41.h3 h5
42.Be2 g4+ 43.Kf2 Kg5 44.b4 f4
45.hxg4 hxg4 46.b5 a5 47.Rc4 f3
48.Bd1 Rh8 49.Ke3 b6
0–1
(4) Munoz Pantoja M - Vysochin S
(2521)
IX Dos Hermanas Internet (1.5),
04.04.2008
XABCDEFGHY 8rsn-wq-trk+( 7zpp+-zppvlp' 6-sn-+-+p+& 5+-zpPzP-+-% 4-+P+-vL-+$ 3+-+-+N+P# 2PzP-+-+P+" 1tR-+QmKL+R! xabcdefghy
12...e6 [(As usual you need to attack
the opponent's pawn center maximally
vigorously)]
153
13.d6 [? (It is a mistake, because now
the white's center is blocked and black
will attack it easily. You can see that
quite often players don't understand
the central concept well enough.)]
[13.dxe6 Nc6 here black also have an
initiative position, but the situaton is
unclear]
13...Nc6 14.g3 f6 15.Bg2 Nxc4 16.0–0
N4xe5 [(black captured the white's
center just in a few moves)]
17.Be3 Qb6 18.Rc1 Nxf3+ 19.Qxf3
Nd4 20.Qxb7 Qxd6 21.Rf2 Qxg3
22.Rc3 Qe5 23.b4 Rab8 24.Qa6 Rxb4
25.Qd3 Rd8 26.Bf4 Qf5 27.Qxf5 gxf5
28.Bf1 e5 29.Be3 f4 30.Bc1 Rb1
31.Rxc5 e4 32.Bxf4 Nf3+ 33.Kg2
Nh4+ 34.Kg3 Ng6 35.Bc4+ Kh8
36.Be3 Rbb8 37.Rcf5 Rbc8 38.Bf7
Ne7 39.Rh5 Rf8 40.Be6 Rc6 41.Bg4
Rc3
0–1
(5) Martin,Ax - Hoffmann,Ro (2011)
Open A Le Touquet FRA (5),
28.10.2008
XABCDEFGHY 8r+-wqk+-tr( 7zpp+nzppvlp' 6-sn-+-+p+& 5+-zpPzP-+-% 4-+P+-vLl+$ 3+-+L+N+-# 2PzP-+Q+PzP" 1tRN+-mK-+R! xabcdefghy
[Black should attack the white's center
immediately. In positions with pawn
center both players should play
vigorously.]
11...Bxf3 12.gxf3 0–0 [?!]
[12...Qb8 ! (an immediate attack! We
may not ignore the opponent's pawn
center) 13.0–0 Bxe5 14.Re1 (here
black can simply play f6, but he has
much more interesting idea) 14...Bd4+
! 15.Kg2 e5 16.dxe6 Qxf4 17.exd7+
Kf8–+]
13.Nc3 [? (White demonstrates a
careless attitude to his center)]
[13.Bg3 and white can protect the e5
pawn by playing f4 if necessary]
13...Qb8 14.Bg3 Bxe5 [(Black
destroyed the white's center and got a
winning position.)]
15.f4 Bxf4 16.Bh4 Qe5 17.Bxe7 Rfe8
18.d6 Bg5 19.Nb5 Bxe7 20.Nc7 Bh4+
21.Kd1 Qxe2+ 22.Bxe2 Rad8
23.Nxe8 Rxe8 24.a4 Re6 25.a5 Nc8
26.Bg4 Rxd6+ 27.Kc2 f5 28.Bf3 Rd4
29.Bd5+ Kf8 30.Rad1 Nd6 31.Kc3
Ne4+ 32.Kc2 Ne5 33.Rxd4 cxd4
34.Bxb7 d3+ 35.Kb1 Nf2 36.c5 Nxh1
37.Bxh1 Be1 38.a6 Bb4 39.c6 Ke7
40.Bd5 Kd6 41.Bg8 h6 42.Bd5 Nxc6
0–1
154
(6) Vazirova K - Farago S (2275)
FSIM May (11), 15.05.2007
XABCDEFGHY 8r+-wqk+-tr( 7zppzp-vlpzpp' 6-snn+p+-+& 5+-+-zP-+-% 4-+PzP-+l+$ 3+-sN-vLN+-# 2PzP-+L+PzP" 1tR-+QmK-+R! xabcdefghy
10...Bxf3 [(Again, black should attack
the white's center immediately. If white
protects his center, he will get an
advantage.)]
11.gxf3 Bh4+ 12.Kf1 f6 [(black is
attacking by every move)]
13.d5 exd5 14.cxd5 Nxe5 [(Black
destroed the white's center. Now white
only has numerous weaknesses.)]
15.Qd4 Ng6 16.Rg1 Qe7 17.Rg4 f5
18.Bb5+ Kf8 19.Rg2 Rd8 20.Qd3 Qf7
21.d6 c6 22.Bxb6 axb6 23.Bc4 Ne5
24.Bxf7 Nxd3 25.Bb3 Bf6 26.Rd2
Nxb2 27.Rc1 Bg5 28.Rcc2 Bxd2
29.Rxd2 b5 30.Rxb2 Rxd6 31.Bc2
Rd2 32.Ne2 Ke7 33.a4 b4 34.a5 c5
35.Ke1 Rhd8 36.Ng3 g6 37.Nf1 Rg2
38.Ra2 Rd4 39.Bb3 Rxa2 40.Bxa2 c4
41.Bb1 b3 42.Nd2 Rh4 43.Ke2 Rxh2+
44.Ke3 f4+
0–1
(7) Sundararajan K - Koneru H
(2612)
19th PSPB Inter TCh (4), 09.03.2008
XABCDEFGHY 8r+l+r+k+( 7zpp+-+pzpp' 6-sn-vl-+-+& 5+-+-+q+-% 4-+pzPp+-vL$ 3zP-sN-zP-+-# 2-zP-sN-zPPzP" 1tR-+Q+RmK-! xabcdefghy
[An opening stage has finished and
now white should compose an
attacking plan. If you can play in a
center - do it. Thus first white should
attack the black's pawns e4 and c4.]
17.Bg3 [(This move with the following
forcing variation brings white a strong
pawn center.)]
17...Bxg3 18.fxg3 Qg6 19.Rf4 f5
20.g4 fxg4 21.Ndxe4 Bf5 22.Ng3 Bc2
23.Qd2 [(The forcing line has finished
and white achieved his goal: he got a
strong pawn center. By the way, it was
necessary to see this position while
playing Bg3)]
23...Bd3 24.e4 [(now white should
simply push his central pawns)]
24...Rad8 25.Qf2 Nd7 26.Re1 Nf6
[(Black is trying to force white to move
one of his central pawns. After that
black wants to impose a blockade.
Generally it is a correct plan, but it
doesn't work in this position.)]
155
27.e5 Nd5 28.Nxd5 Rxd5 29.e6 h5
30.e7 [(White is focused solely on a
realization of his plan)]
30...Qd6 31.Re6 [??]
[31.Rf8+ was simply winning]
31...Qxe6 32.Rf8+ Kh7 33.Rxe8 c3
34.bxc3 Bg6 35.Rd8 Rb5 36.Qf8
Qe3+ 37.Kh1 Kh6 38.e8Q Rb1+
39.Nf1 Bxe8 40.Rxe8 Qxe8 41.Qf4+
Kh7 42.Qf5+ Qg6
0–1
(8) Botvinnik Mikhail M (RUS) -
Kotov Alexander A (RUS) (2500)
It Groningen (Netherlands) (14), 1946
XABCDEFGHY 8rsnl+r+k+( 7zpp+-wqpzp-' 6-+-+-+-zp& 5+-zpp+-+-% 4-+-zP-+-+$ 3zP-zP-zPP+-# 2-+-wQNmKPzP" 1tR-+-+L+R! xabcdefghy
[White is going to prepare and to play
e4. It will give white a strong pawn
center. Of course black should try to
prevent it. That's why black needs to
have a very good control over the e4
square.]
13...Nd7 [(The knight is going to the f6,
where it will control the e4 square.)]
14.Nf4 Nf6 15.Bd3 Bd7 16.h3 [? (It is
a deflection from the white's plan)]
[16.Rhe1! b6 17.Ne2 ! (17.Kg1 ?
17...g5 !) ]
16...Qd6 17.Rhb1 b6 18.Bf1 Re7
[(Black realizes his plan sequentially)]
19.a4 [19.Re1 !; 19.Nd3 Bf5 !]
19...Rae8 20.Re1 c4 [! $19 'with the
idea' 21...g5 x e3]
21.g4 g5 22.Ne2 [22.Ng2 Qh2 23.Be2
Rxe3 !]
22...Rxe3 [!]
23.Ng3 [23.Ng1 Ne4+ ! 24.fxe4 Qg3#;
23.Qxe3 Qh2+ ! 24.Bg2 Rxe3 25.Kxe3
Qxg2 26.Rh1 Ne4 !! 27.fxe4 Qxe4+–+]
23...Qxg3+ [!]
24.Kxg3 Ne4+
0–1
(9) Korchnoi V - Baumgartner H
(2303)
EU-chT Seniors (5), 21.02.2006
XABCDEFGHY 8-+r+rsnk+( 7zpp+l+pzpp' 6-+p+-+-+& 5+-+p+-+-% 4-wq-zP-vL-+$ 3+-+LzP-+P# 2PzPQ+-zPP+" 1+K+RtR-+-! xabcdefghy
[White has a good centralization. It
such situation it is good to create a
pawn center.]
156
18.f3 Be6 19.a3 Qe7 20.e4 dxe4
21.fxe4 [(When the pawn center is
well-supported by your pieces, it
brings you an advantage.)]
21...Red8 [(The black's main taks is to
restrict the movement of the white's
center and to blockade it then.)]
22.Qc3 f6 23.Bc2 Bf7 24.Qf3 c5
25.d5 Ng6 26.g3 Ne5 [(Black imposed
a blockade, what is certainly the
black's achievement. However, the
white's center still gives white more
free space and more active position.)]
27.Qc3 Bg6 28.g4 b5 29.g5 b4
30.gxf6 gxf6 31.axb4 cxb4 32.Qb3
Kh8 33.Bxe5 fxe5 34.Qg3 Rd6
[(Though black is blocking the white's
center, he HAS TO use his PIECES to
blockade the white's PAWNS.)]
35.Rc1 Rf6 36.h4 Rf4 37.Qh3 Re8
38.h5 Rh4 39.Qd3 Rxh5 40.d6 Qd7
41.Qa6 Rd8 42.Red1 Rh6 43.Qa5 b3
44.Bxb3 Bxe4+ 45.Ka1 Bf3 46.Ba4
1–0
(10) Milov V - Almasi Z (2640)
Corsica Masters KO (3.1), 04.11.2005
XABCDEFGHY 8r+lwqrsnk+( 7zpp+-+pzpp' 6-+pvl-sn-+& 5+-+p+-+-% 4-+-zP-+-+$ 3+-sNLzPPsN-# 2PzP-vL-+PzP" 1+-tRQ+RmK-! xabcdefghy
[White is preparing a creating of a
pawn center after the move e4. That's
why black should attack the white's
center immediately]
12...c5 13.Nb5 Bxg3 14.hxg3 c4
15.Bb1 Qb6 16.Nc3 Qxb2 17.e4 dxe4
18.fxe4 [(White created the pawn
center, but also created a lot of
weaknesses in his position. Black
should hurry up and attack the white's
position vigorously. Otherwise white
will use his pawn center.)]
18...Bg4 19.Qe1 Rad8 20.Be3 Bh5
[(The bishop is going to the g6 to
attack the white's center again.)]
21.e5 Ng4 22.Be4 b6 23.Bc6 Re7
24.Rb1 Qa3 25.Bc1 Qa5 26.Rb5 Qa6
27.Nd5 [(the positions with the pawn
center are often tactical. It is important
to calculate the variations carefully and
to hurry up in such positions.)]
27...Re6 28.Nc7 Qc8 29.Nxe6 Nxe6
30.d5 Nd4 31.Bg5 Rf8 32.a4 Nxc6
33.dxc6 Qxc6 [(Finally black
destroyed the white's center and got a
winning position right after that.)]
34.Be7 Re8 35.Bd6 a6 36.Rb4 Nxe5
37.Bxe5 Qc5+ 38.Kh2 Rxe5 [??]
[38...f6 39.Qc3 Be2 40.Re1 Rxe5–+]
39.Rxc4 Qxc4 40.Qxe5 h6 41.Rf4
Qe2 42.Qb8+ Kh7 43.Qxb6 Bg6
44.Qf2 Qd3 45.Qd4 Qe2 46.Rf2 Qh5+
47.Qh4 Qd5 48.Rb2 Qd3 49.Qf4 Qd5
50.g4 Qd3 51.Rd2 Qb3 52.Rd8 Qe6
53.Qb8 Be4 54.Rh8+ Kg6 55.Qf4 f6
56.Rd8 Bc2 57.Rd6 Qe2 58.Rd2 Qe4
59.Qxe4+ Bxe4 60.Rd6 Bb7 61.Kg3
Bc8 62.Rc6 Bb7 63.Rb6 Bc8 64.Kf4
157
h5 65.gxh5+ Kxh5 66.Rc6 Bb7
67.Rc7 g5+ 68.Kf5
1–0
158
YOUR WINNING PLAN» by GM Igor Smirnov
The practical part: Task-8. In the 8th task you will test your skills in positions with the dynamic center. Your task: find the right move in a given position in “TASK-8 GAMES SECTION”. You should not try to guess the right move. Use the correct system of thinking, which you studied from the video lessons. Find the right plan and then decide how to realize it better. This will bring you to the right move. After that – look at the answer in “TASK-8 ANSWERS SECTION”. If you have any difficulties – study again the video lesson 7.
159
TASK-8 GAMES SECTION (1) Khismatullin D - Kuderinov K
(2414)
inAUTOmarket Open (4), 13.07.2007
[White's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8r+lwq-trk+( 7zpp+-zppvlp' 6-+nzp-snp+& 5+-+-+-+-% 4-+PsNP+-+$ 3+-sN-+-+-# 2PzP-+LzPPzP" 1tR-vLQ+RmK-! xabcdefghy
1–0
(2) Khismatullin D - Zherebukh Y
(2446)
IX EICC (3), 23.04.2008
[White's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8rsnlwq-trk+( 7+p+-+-vlp' 6p+-zp-+p+& 5+-zpP+-+n% 4P+-+-zp-+$ 3+-sN-zPN+P# 2-zP-+LzPPvL" 1tR-+QmK-+R! xabcdefghy
1–0
(3) Adams Mi - Sandipan C (2561)
Gibtelecom Masters (7), 30.01.2007
[White's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8r+-wq-trk+( 7+p+lzppvlp' 6p+-zp-snp+& 5+-+-+-+-% 4P+-vLP+-+$ 3+-sN-+-+-# 2-zPPwQLzPPzP" 1tR-+-+RmK-! xabcdefghy
1–0
(4) Almasi I - Horvath Ju (2261)
Open A (8), 24.06.2006
[White's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8r+-+-trk+( 7+pwq-vlpzpp' 6p+lzppsn-+& 5+-+-+-+-% 4-+-vLPzP-+$ 3+-sN-+-wQ-# 2PzPP+L+PzP" 1tR-+-+R+K! xabcdefghy
1–0
160
(5) Aveskulov,Valeriy -
Grekh,Andrey (516)
Championship UKR b-20 Lviv (9),
10.02.2006
[White's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+rtrk+( 7+-wq-vlpzpp' 6p+lzppsn-+& 5+p+-+-+-% 4-+-vLPzP-+$ 3zP-sN-+-wQ-# 2-zPP+L+PzP" 1+-+-tRR+K! xabcdefghy
1–0
(6) Azarov S - Brkic A (2506)
7th ch-Euro (4), 07.04.2006
[White's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8r+-+k+-tr( 7+lwqnvlpzpp' 6p+-zppsn-+& 5+p+-+-vL-% 4-+-sNPzP-+$ 3zP-sNL+-+-# 2-zPP+Q+PzP" 1+-mKR+-+R! xabcdefghy
1–0
(7) Azarov S - Lukov V (2430)
22nd Open (4), 20.02.2006
[White's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+r+k+( 7+lwqrvlpzpp' 6p+-zppsn-+& 5+p+-+-+-% 4-+-vLPzP-+$ 3zP-sNL+-wQ-# 2-zPP+-+PzP" 1+-+-tRR+K! xabcdefghy
1–0
(8) Christiansen Larry M (USA) -
Andersson Ulf (SWE) (2590)
It Hastings (England) (5), 1980
[Black's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8r+-wq-trk+( 7zpl+-vlpzpp' 6-zp-zppsn-+& 5+-+-+-+-% 4-+PwQP+-+$ 3+PsN-+-zP-# 2PvL-+-zPLzP" 1tR-+-+RmK-! xabcdefghy
0–1
161
(9) Arencibia W - Milov V (2657)
XIX Carlos Torre Mem (8), 20.12.2006
[Black's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8r+-wq-trk+( 7+l+-+p+p' 6p+nzppvlp+& 5+p+-+-+-% 4-+-+PzP-+$ 3zP-sNL+-+R# 2-zPP+-+PzP" 1tR-vL-wQ-+K! xabcdefghy
0–1
(10) Cyborowski L - Flis J (2295)
TCh-POL Extraliga (2), 03.09.2006
[White's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8r+l+-trk+( 7+pwq-snpzp-' 6p+-zppsn-zp& 5+-+-+-+-% 4-+-+PzP-wQ$ 3+-sNLsN-+P# 2PzPP+-+P+" 1+-+-tRRmK-! xabcdefghy
1–0
162
TASK-8 ANSWERS SECTION
(1) Khismatullin D - Kuderinov K
(2414)
inAUTOmarket Open (4), 13.07.2007
XABCDEFGHY 8r+lwq-trk+( 7zpp+-zppvlp' 6-+nzp-snp+& 5+-+-+-+-% 4-+PsNP+-+$ 3+-sN-+-+-# 2PzP-+LzPPzP" 1tR-vLQ+RmK-! xabcdefghy
[We can see a dynamic senter. In such
positions you should play carefully and
prepare the realization of your plan
thoroughly. So white should not hurry
up. White needs to centralize all the
pieces first of all and then he will start
thinking more specifically.]
9.Nc2 [(White has a space adantage,
that's why it is good for white to save
more pieces. It will make the black's
position more embarrassing.)]
9...b6 10.Be3 Bb7 11.Qd2 Qd7 12.f3
Rfd8 13.Rad1 Qe8 14.Rfe1 Qf8
15.Bf1 [(You can see that white is
keeping the tension and doesn't hurry
with an active moves. It is the right way
of playing practically. Black also has
no clear plan, so you should "let him to
make a mistake".)]
15...Rd7 16.Nd4 Ne5 17.a4 e6 [(the
white't slow style brings the first result
- black weakened his position)]
18.Bf2 Bh6 19.Be3 Bxe3+ [(And here
is the second result - black is trading
the bishops. It is a mistake which will
make it simpler for white to attack the
black's weaknesses)]
20.Qxe3 Nc6 21.Nxc6 Bxc6 [(Black
helped white a lot. Now white has a
clear plan - to attack the d6 pawn)]
22.Rd2 Rad8 23.Red1 Ne8 [(it was not
necessary. Black worsens his position
gradually. White even doesn't need to
do anything special.)]
24.b4 Qg7 [(this allows white to realize
a tactical idea)]
25.b5 Bb7 26.a5 bxa5 27.c5 Rc7
28.c6 [(the white's slow strategy
alowed him to attack without any risk.)]
28...Ba8 29.Na4 a6 30.bxa6 Bxc6
31.Nb6 Ba8 32.Ra2 Rc3 33.Qf2 Rb3
34.Rc1 d5 35.Nxa8 Rxa8 36.exd5
exd5 37.Rxa5 d4 38.Rd5 Rc3 39.Ra1
d3 40.Qb2 Nc7 41.Rxd3 Nb5 42.Rxc3
Nxc3 43.Kh1 Qd4 44.Rc1 Rc8 45.a7
Qxa7 46.Rxc3 Rb8 47.Qc1 Qd7
48.Rc7 Qf5 49.Qc3 Rd8 50.h3 Qb1
51.Kg1 Qb6+ 52.Qc5 Qe6 53.Rxf7
Rc8 54.Rf8+
1–0
163
(2) Khismatullin D - Zherebukh Y
(2446)
IX EICC (3), 23.04.2008
XABCDEFGHY 8rsnlwq-trk+( 7+p+-+-vlp' 6p+-zp-+p+& 5+-zpP+-+n% 4P+-+-zp-+$ 3+-sN-zPN+P# 2-zP-+LzPPvL" 1tR-+QmK-+R! xabcdefghy
[In positions with a dynamic center it is
usually bad to move the pawns on a
side. That's why white should not
prevent the black's attempt to push the
king-side pawns. It will only create
more weaknesses in the black's
position.]
13.0–0 Bh6 14.Nd2 fxe3 15.fxe3
Rxf1+ 16.Nxf1 Nf6 17.e4 [(now white
needs to open the position to exploit
the black's weaknesses)]
17...Qe7 18.e5 dxe5 19.Bc4 Qe8
20.Ng3 Nbd7 21.Nge4 Be3+ 22.Kh1
Bd4 23.Qf3 Kg7 24.Rf1 Qf8 25.Qe2
Qe8 26.d6 [(All the white's moves are
quite simple. Black has no chance to
withstand the white's assault. You can
see how it is bad to move the flank
pawns in such positions.)]
26...Rb8 27.Nd5 Nxe4 28.Nc7 Qh8
29.Ne6+ Kh6 30.Qxe4
1–0
(3) Adams Mi - Sandipan C (2561)
Gibtelecom Masters (7), 30.01.2007
XABCDEFGHY 8r+-wq-trk+( 7+p+lzppvlp' 6p+-zp-snp+& 5+-+-+-+-% 4P+-vLP+-+$ 3+-sN-+-+-# 2-zPPwQLzPPzP" 1tR-+-+RmK-! xabcdefghy
[It is a position with a dynamic center.
White should centralize all the pieces
and try to get one of the favourable
central situations. Also white should
play slowly and prepare his plan
thoroughly.]
12.a5 [(Fixing the black's weakness)]
12...Bc6 13.f3 e6 14.Kh1 Qe7 15.Na4
Rfe8 16.Nb6 Rad8 17.c4 [(White is
improving his position gradually and
black decided to do something)]
17...d5 18.cxd5 exd5 19.e5 Nd7
20.Nxd7 Bxd7 21.f4 [(White got an
advantageous situation: he has a
strong center and black has a weak
pawn d5.)]
21...f6 [(Black is weakening his
position more and more. Now white will
try to create the position with an open
center, which will allow white to attack
the black's weaknesses easily.)]
22.Bb6 Rc8 23.Bf3 Be6 24.exf6 Bxf6
25.f5 gxf5 26.Bxd5 [(white opened the
position and now will attack the black's
weaknesses directly.)]
164
26...Bxd5 27.Qxd5+ Kh8 28.Rxf5
Bxb2 29.Rb1 Rf8 30.Rxf8+ Rxf8
31.h3 Bg7 32.Bd4 Bxd4 33.Qxd4+
Qf6 34.Qa7 Qg7 35.Qc5 Rf7 36.Re1
Qf8 37.Qd4+ Kg8 38.Kg1 Re7
39.Qd5+ Kh8 40.Rf1 Qe8 41.Qd4+
Kg8 42.Qc4+ Kh8 43.Qc3+ Kg8
44.Rf4 h5 45.Rf5 Qg6 46.Qc5 Re1+
47.Kf2
1–0
(4) Almasi I - Horvath Ju (2261)
Open A (8), 24.06.2006
XABCDEFGHY 8r+-+-trk+( 7+pwq-vlpzpp' 6p+lzppsn-+& 5+-+-+-+-% 4-+-vLPzP-+$ 3+-sN-+-wQ-# 2PzPP+L+PzP" 1tR-+-+R+K! xabcdefghy
[It is a typical Sicilian position. It is
important to understand how to play in
such positions. You need to centralize
your pieces and wait for the good
moment to start an attack. Most often
you should start attacking in the
center.]
14.Bd3 Rad8 15.Rae1 Rd7 16.Qh3 e5
17.Bf2 Qc8 18.Nd5 [(Here is a very
good moment to start an attack. Such
moments often come to you
automatically when you play slowly)]
18...Bd8 19.Bh4 Bxd5 20.exd5 e4
21.Bxf6 exd3 22.Bxd8 d2 23.Rd1
Rfxd8 24.Qd3 [(After the forcing line
white won the pawn and got a winning
position.)]
24...Re7 25.Qxd2 Rde8 26.Rde1 g6
27.Rxe7 Rxe7 28.b3 Qe8 29.h3 Re2
30.Qd3 f5 31.Rf3 Kf7 32.Kh2 Re4
33.Qc3 Qd8 34.a4 h5 35.b4 h4 36.a5
Qf6 37.Qc8 Re7 38.Rc3 Qd4 39.Qc4
Qd1 40.Rd3 Qa1 41.Qd4 Qc1 42.Rc3
Qe1 43.Qh8 Qf2 44.Qh7+ Kf6 45.Qh6
Qe1 46.Qf8+
1–0
(5) Aveskulov,Valeriy -
Grekh,Andrey (516)
Championship UKR b-20 Lviv (9),
10.02.2006
XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+rtrk+( 7+-wq-vlpzpp' 6p+lzppsn-+& 5+p+-+-+-% 4-+-vLPzP-+$ 3zP-sN-+-wQ-# 2-zPP+L+PzP" 1+-+-tRR+K! xabcdefghy
[Here is another similar example.]
16.Bf3 [(White doesn't try to attack
immediately by playing e5 or f5. He is
playing slowly.)]
16...Rd8 [(Once again black helps
white to start an attack)]
17.Nd5 [(Now white can start an attack
in a very comfortable situation)]
17...exd5 18.exd5 Ba8 19.Rxe7 Qxe7
20.Re1 Qxe1+ 21.Qxe1 Nxd5 22.Qg3
f6 23.c3 Ne7 24.Bg4 Be4 25.Be6+
Kh8 26.Qg4 Nc6 27.f5 Nxd4 28.cxd4
d5 29.Qf4 Rfe8 30.h3 Re7 31.Qc1 g6
165
32.Qc5 Rde8 33.Qd6 Bxf5 34.Bxf5
gxf5 35.Qxa6 Kg7 36.Qxb5 Re1+
37.Kh2 R8e2 38.b4 f4 39.Qd7+ Kg6
40.Qg4+ Kf7 41.Qxf4 Re4 42.Qc7+
Kg6 43.b5 Rb1 44.a4 Rb2 45.Qc5
Ree2 46.Qxd5 h5 47.a5 Ra2 48.b6
Reb2 49.b7
1–0
(6) Azarov S - Brkic A (2506)
7th ch-Euro (4), 07.04.2006
XABCDEFGHY 8r+-+k+-tr( 7+lwqnvlpzpp' 6p+-zppsn-+& 5+p+-+-vL-% 4-+-sNPzP-+$ 3zP-sNL+-+-# 2-zPP+Q+PzP" 1+-mKR+-+R! xabcdefghy
[In positions with the dynamic center
you should concentrate the pieces in a
center, attach there and get one of the
favourable central constructions.]
12.Rhe1 [(White is preparing the e5
move)]
12...h6 13.Bxf6 Nxf6 14.e5 Nd5
15.Nxd5 Bxd5 16.exd6 Qxd6 17.f5 [(If
you can play in a center - do it)]
17...Qxh2 18.fxe6 0–0 19.Kb1 Bg5
20.Nf3 Qf4 21.Bh7+ Kxh7 22.Rxd5
[(White got a position with an open
center, where his pieces are already
placed in the center. It determines
white's advantage.)]
22...Bf6 23.Qd3+ Kg8 24.Nd4 [(in
positions with an open center we
should occupy the central squares with
the pieces.)]
24...Rfe8 25.Rf1 Qg4 26.exf7+ Kxf7
27.Nf5 Re6 28.Rd7+ Kf8 29.Nxh6
gxh6 30.Qh7 Qg8 31.Rxf6+
1–0
(7) Azarov S - Lukov V (2430)
22nd Open (4), 20.02.2006
XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+r+k+( 7+lwqrvlpzpp' 6p+-zppsn-+& 5+p+-+-+-% 4-+-vLPzP-+$ 3zP-sNL+-wQ-# 2-zPP+-+PzP" 1+-+-tRR+K! xabcdefghy
17.e5 [(you can see that in positions
with a dynamic center most often you
should just push your central pawns)]
17...dxe5 18.Bxe5 Qd8 19.f5 [(the
white's attack looks very powerful.
However, it is not dangerous for black
because he has no real weaknesses.)]
19...Bd6 20.Qh3 Bxe5 21.Rxe5 Rd6
22.Rfe1 exf5 23.Rxe8+ Nxe8 24.Qxf5
Nf6 [(It is difficult for white to create a
real attack, because he has no target.)]
25.Qc5 Qb6 26.Qxb6 Rxb6 [(And the
position became totally equal. This
example shows that you may not worry
about the opponent's attack, if you
have no weaknesses. Of course it also
166
means that you should be very careful
with pawn moves on a side in positions
with an undetermined center.)]
27.a4 b4 28.Nd1 b3 29.cxb3 Rxb3
30.Bc4 Rb4 31.b3 Kf8 32.Nc3 Rb6
33.Kg1 Ne8 34.a5 Rg6 35.Bf1 Rg4
36.Na4 Nc7 37.Nc5 Bc8 38.Rc1 Rb4
39.Nxa6
1–0
(8) Christiansen Larry M (USA) -
Andersson Ulf (SWE) (2590)
It Hastings (England) (5), 1980
XABCDEFGHY 8r+-wq-trk+( 7zpl+-vlpzpp' 6-zp-zppsn-+& 5+-+-+-+-% 4-+PwQP+-+$ 3+PsN-+-zP-# 2PvL-+-zPLzP" 1tR-+-+RmK-! xabcdefghy
[Black has a weak pawn d6. White can
try to attack it: Rd1, Ba3 etc. Thus
black needs to protect that weakness.
The simplest way is the move a6 to
prevent Nb5. However b6 is A PAWN
MOVE, and it creates another
weakness. You should be very careful
with the pawn moves in such positions,
you need to calculate the variations
accurately.]
12...Qb8 [(Black did this strange move
just to avoid of a pawn move a6)]
[12...a6 13.Rfd1 Qc7 14.Na4 b5
15.cxb5 axb5 16.Rac1 Qa5 17.Nb6 e5
and black is fine. So in this example it
was possible for black to play a6.
However it required an accurate
calculation. (17...Ra6 18.Nd7) ]
13.h3 Rd8 14.Rad1 Bf8 15.Kh2 Nd7
16.f4 Bc6 17.b4 a6 [(Black made this
pawn move only after a very good
preparation.)]
18.a4 Qc7 19.Rc1 Bb7 20.Rfe1 Rac8
21.Bf1 Qb8 [(Black is just keeping the
tension. It is a good strategy for a
practical player, because it allows your
opponent to make mistakes.)]
22.Qf2 a5 [(Now black is using the
white's weaknesses, which white
created by himself)]
23.b5 Nc5 24.Rcd1 Be7 25.g4 h6
26.h4 Kh7 27.Bh3 Rc7 28.Re3 Rh8
29.Kg1 Qd8 30.e5 Rd7 31.g5 dxe5
32.Rxd7 Nxd7 33.Qc2+ g6 34.Rd3
Qc7 35.h5 Nc5 36.hxg6+ fxg6
37.Bxe6 Nxe6 38.Rh3 Qc5+ 39.Kh2
Nxf4 40.Rxh6+ Kg8 [(It is interesting
to note that black did NOTHING to win
this game. White weakened his
position, sacrificed a material and
resigned. This is a power of a keeping
of the tension)]
0–1
167
(9) Arencibia W - Milov V (2657)
XIX Carlos Torre Mem (8), 20.12.2006
XABCDEFGHY 8r+-wq-trk+( 7+l+-+p+p' 6p+nzppvlp+& 5+p+-+-+-% 4-+-+PzP-+$ 3zP-sNL+-+R# 2-zPP+-+PzP" 1tR-vL-wQ-+K! xabcdefghy
[In this example white chosen the
wrong plan - he decided to attack on a
side without prior centralization. The
best decision for black is a
counterattack in the center]
15...d5 16.e5 Bg7 17.Bd2 Rc8 18.Ne2
f5 19.Ng1 Qe7 20.Nf3 Rfd8 21.Be3 d4
22.Bf2 Rd7 23.b4 Qe8 24.Qg1 Ne7
25.Bxd4 Nd5 26.Be3 Bf8 27.Bd2 Nc3
28.Bxc3 Rxc3 29.Qe1 Rc8 30.Rg3
Bd5 31.h4 [(white is trying to realize
his side attack by all means, but it is
desperate. Black has a better
centralization, that's why he controls
the whole situation. Also we should not
forget that h4 is A PAWN move, and it
creates weaknesses in position with an
open center.)]
31...Rg7 32.Rh3 h6 33.Qd2 Be7
34.Kh2 Qd8 35.a4 Bxf3 36.Rxf3 g5
[(After all black start attacking on a
king-side. Now white feels regret
about his move h4)]
37.c3 g4 38.Re3 Bxb4 39.Qa2 Qxh4+
40.Kg1 Rxc3 41.Qxe6+ Kh8 42.g3
Qh5 43.Qxa6 Rxd3 44.Rxd3 Bc5+
45.Kf1 Qh1+ 46.Ke2 Qe4+ 47.Kd2
Bb4+ 48.Kc2 Rc7+ 49.Kb2 Qe2+
50.Kb3 Qxd3+ 51.Kxb4 Qc3+
0–1
(10) Cyborowski L - Flis J (2295)
TCh-POL Extraliga (2), 03.09.2006
XABCDEFGHY 8r+l+-trk+( 7+pwq-snpzp-' 6p+-zppsn-zp& 5+-+-+-+-% 4-+-+PzP-wQ$ 3+-sNLsN-+P# 2PzPP+-+P+" 1+-+-tRRmK-! xabcdefghy
16.e5 [(Normally we need to push the
central pawn to start an attack there
and to get more favourable situation in
the center. In the current position white
has one more reason to open the
position - black has weakened his
position on a king-side by playing h6)]
16...Nh7 17.Kh1 f5 18.exf6 Nxf6
19.Ng4 Nxg4 20.hxg4 Kh8 21.f5 e5
22.f6 Ng8 23.Nd5 Qf7 24.Ne7 g5
25.Qh2 Nxe7 26.Qxh6+ Kg8 27.fxe7
1–0
168
YOUR WINNING PLAN» by GM Igor Smirnov
The practical part: Task-9. In the 9th task you will train to use “the 2 universal keys”. Your task: find the right move in a given position in “TASK-9 GAMES SECTION”. You should not try to guess the right move. Use the correct system of thinking, which you studied from the video lessons. Find the right plan and then decide how to realize it better. This will bring you to the right move. After that – look at the answer in “TASK-9 ANSWERS SECTION”. If you have any difficulties – study again the video lesson 8.
169
TASK-9 GAMES SECTION (1) Khismatullin D - Alekseev
Evgeny (2644)
59th ch-RUS 1st League (6),
08.09.2006
[White's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8-+r+-trk+( 7+pwqnvl-zpp' 6p+-zp-+-+& 5zP-+Pzpp+-% 4-+-+-+-+$ 3+-+-+-zP-# 2-zPPvLQzPLzP" 1tR-+-tR-mK-! xabcdefghy
1–0
(2) Khismatullin D - Brendel O
(2370)
8th ch-Euro (3), 05.04.2007
[White's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8rsnlwqk+-tr( 7zpp+-+pvlp' 6-+-zppsnp+& 5+-zpP+-+-% 4-+P+-+-+$ 3+-sN-+-zP-# 2PzP-+PzPLzP" 1tR-vLQmK-sNR! xabcdefghy
1–0
(3) Adams Mi - Smirin I (2649)
23rd ECC Men (2), 04.10.2007
[White's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8r+l+k+-tr( 7vlp+p+pzpp' 6p+n+pwq-+& 5+-+-+-+-% 4-+L+P+-+$ 3+N+-+-wQ-# 2PzPP+-zPPzP" 1tR-vL-+RmK-! xabcdefghy
1–0
(4) Adams Mi - Rublevsky S (2676)
World Blitz (36), 22.11.2007
[White's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8rsnlwqk+ntr( 7+-+-vlp+p' 6pzp-zpp+p+& 5+-+-+-+-% 4P+-+P+-+$ 3+N+L+-+-# 2-zPP+QzPPzP" 1tRNvL-mK-+R! xabcdefghy
1–0
170
(5) Adams Mi - Van Wely L (2681)
Corus A (9), 22.01.2008
[White's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8rsnl+ntr-mk( 7+-wq-vlpzpp' 6p+-zpp+-vL& 5+p+-+-+-% 4-+-sNP+-+$ 3+LsN-+-wQ-# 2PzPP+-zPPzP" 1tR-+-+R+K! xabcdefghy
1–0
(6) Bocharov D - Bezgodov A (2554)
28th Nezhmetdinov mem (5),
05.06.2006
[White's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8-+rwqr+k+( 7zpp+lvlpzp-' 6-+-+-sn-zp& 5sn-+p+-+-% 4-+-sN-+-+$ 3+-sN-vL-zP-# 2PzPQ+PzPLzP" 1tR-+R+-mK-! xabcdefghy
1–0
(7) Sutovsky E - Miroshnichenko E
(2690)
TCh-SRB 1st League (5), 05.09.2009
[Black's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8-+-wq-trk+( 7+-vl-+pzp-' 6ptrp+p+p+& 5+-+n+-+-% 4Q+-zP-zP-+$ 3+R+-+-zP-# 2P+-vLL+-zP" 1+-tR-+-mK-! xabcdefghy
0–1
(8) Miroshnichenko E - Udeshi A
(2281)
2nd Mayors Cup (3), 03.05.2009
[White's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8r+l+-trk+( 7+p+-+pzpp' 6-+n+pwq-+& 5zp-vl-+-+-% 4-+Pzp-+-+$ 3zP-sN-+NzP-# 2-zP-+PzPLzP" 1tR-+Q+RmK-! xabcdefghy
1–0
171
(9) Milov,V - Dimitrov,Pa (2404)
12th Corsica Masters Bastia/Ajaccio
FRA (4), 25.10.2008
[White's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8r+l+qtrk+( 7zpp+nvl-zpp' 6-+p+psn-+& 5+-+psNp+-% 4-+PzP-vL-+$ 3+-sN-+-zP-# 2PzPQ+PzPLzP" 1tR-+-+RmK-! xabcdefghy
1–0
(10) Azmaiparashvili Z - Dao Thien
Hai (2530)
4th SICC Masters (5), 19.12.2007
[White's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+k+ntr( 7zp-zpq+-zpp' 6-trnvlp+-+& 5+-+-+-+-% 4-+-zpP+-+$ 3+-+Q+N+-# 2PzP-+-zPPzP" 1tRNvL-+RmK-! xabcdefghy
1–0
(11) Mateus Mar - Herrera Mil (1949)
ch-COL w (3), 14.06.2007
[White's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8r+lwqk+ntr( 7vl-+-+pzpp' 6p+nzpp+-+& 5+p+-+-+-% 4-+-+P+-+$ 3+N+LvL-+-# 2PzPP+QzPPzP" 1tRN+-+RmK-! xabcdefghy
1–0
172
TASK-9 ANSWERS SECTION
(
1) Khismatullin D - Alekseev
Evgeny (2644)
59th ch-RUS 1st League (6),
08.09.2006
XABCDEFGHY 8-+r+-trk+( 7+pwqnvl-zpp' 6p+-zp-+-+& 5zP-+Pzpp+-% 4-+-+-+-+$ 3+-+-+-zP-# 2-zPPvLQzPLzP" 1tR-+-tR-mK-! xabcdefghy
[White has a pawn majority on the
queen-side. Thus white should use it
and this is the white's plan. That's why
the move c3 would be a mistake - it
doesn't help white to realize his plan]
20.Rac1 [(preparing c4)]
20...Bf6 21.Bh3 [(white uses the
tactical motif to prevent the realization
of the black's plan. You see that it is
important to always think about the
opponent's plan also.)]
21...Be7 [21...g6 22.g4 f4 23.g5 Bxg5
24.Be6+ Kh8 25.Qg4±]
22.Kh1 [(white is preventing the
black's plan again. This move is
preparing the move f3 to stop the
black's central pawns)]
[22.c4 however it gives black some
counterplay after 22...Nc5]
22...Rce8 [22...e4 23.f3]
23.f3 Bd8 24.b4 [(white stopped the
black's plan and now he can realize his
own ideas without any problems.)]
24...e4 25.f4 g5 26.c4 g4 27.Bf1 Bf6
28.Be3 Rc8 29.c5 dxc5 30.bxc5 Qxa5
31.c6 bxc6 32.dxc6 [(white got a
winning position easily, because he
used the advantage of his position)]
32...Nb8 33.Qc4+ Rf7 34.Qe6 Rxc6
35.Qb3 Qc7 36.Bc4 Rxc4 37.Rxc4
Nc6 38.Rc5 Qd7 39.Rd1
1–0
(2) Khismatullin D - Brendel O
(2370)
8th ch-Euro (3), 05.04.2007
XABCDEFGHY 8rsnlwqk+-tr( 7zpp+-+pvlp' 6-+-zppsnp+& 5+-zpP+-+-% 4-+P+-+-+$ 3+-sN-+-zP-# 2PzP-+PzPLzP" 1tR-vLQmK-sNR! xabcdefghy
[White has a good chance to create
weaknesses in the black's position and
to attack them afterwards. It gives
white a clear plan and of course white
should use it.]
7.dxe6 fxe6 8.Bf4 [(Forcing black to
weaken his position again. More
advanced pawns are easier object of
an attack.)]
173
8...e5 9.Bg5 Nc6 10.Nf3 Be6 11.0–0
Bxc4 12.Nd2 Ba6 13.Nde4 [(White is
attacking the black's weaknesses.
Everything is very simple for white
here. Almost any logical moves are
good for white.)]
13...Nd4 14.e3 Bxf1 15.Qxf1 Ne6
16.Bxf6 Bxf6 17.Rd1 [(It is very
difficult for black to play such position
practically. Also it is bad for black
objectively.)]
17...Be7 18.Nb5 d5 19.Rxd5 Qxd5
20.Nf6+ Bxf6 21.Bxd5 Ke7 22.Bxe6
Kxe6 23.Nc7+ Ke7 24.Qc4 Kd6
25.Nxa8 Rxa8 26.Qf7 Be7 27.Qxh7
g5 28.Qg6+ Kd7 29.Qe4 Rb8
30.Qxe5 Rc8 31.Kg2 b5 32.f4 gxf4
33.exf4 Rc6 34.g4 Bf6 35.Qd5+ Kc7
36.Qd2 c4 37.Qa5+ Rb6 38.Qd2 b4
39.g5 c3 40.Qd3 Rd6 41.Qc4+ Rc6
42.Qf7+ Kb6 43.bxc3 bxc3 44.Qb3+
Kc7 45.gxf6 c2 46.Qb2
1–0
(3) Adams Mi - Smirin I (2649)
23rd ECC Men (2), 04.10.2007
XABCDEFGHY 8r+l+k+-tr( 7vlp+p+pzpp' 6p+n+pwq-+& 5+-+-+-+-% 4-+L+P+-+$ 3+N+-+-wQ-# 2PzPP+-zPPzP" 1tR-vL-+RmK-! xabcdefghy
[Black has a lot of weaknesses on the
dark squartes. Certainly white should
attack them. Also we should play in the
center if possible. Thus the most
effective plan is an attack of an
opponent's central weaknesses.]
13.Bf4 [(White is attacking the weak
squares e5 and d6 and is going to put
the bishop on d6)]
13...e5 [(When your opponent makes
pawn moves to protect weaknesses,
he is creating new (more significant)
weaknesses.)]
14.Be3 [(It is good for white to trade
the black's dark squared bishop, which
is the main protector of the black's
weaknesses.)]
14...0–0 15.Rad1 Bxe3 16.Qxe3 d6
17.Rd2 a5 18.a4 Be6 19.Bxe6 Qxe6
20.Qd3 Nb4 21.Qxd6 Qxd6 22.Rxd6
Nxc2 [(black exchanged his d6 pawn,
but he has a lot of other weaknesses
now)]
23.Rb6 f6 24.g3 Rfc8 25.Rd1 Rc7
26.Kf1 h5 27.h4 Kh8 28.Rd2 Rac8
29.Nxa5 Nd4 30.Nb3 Nxb3 31.Rxb3
Rc1+ 32.Kg2 R8c7 33.a5 Re1 34.Kf3
Kh7 35.Rb6 Rc4 36.Rxb7 f5 37.Re2
fxe4+ 38.Ke3 Rd1 39.Rb3 Ra4
40.Rd2 Re1+ 41.Re2 Rd1 42.a6 Rdd4
43.Rd2 Rxd2 44.Kxd2 Rxa6 45.Rb5
Rf6 46.Ke2 Kg6 47.b4 Kf5 48.Rb7 g5
49.hxg5 Kxg5 50.Ke3 Kg4 51.b5
Rf3+ 52.Kxe4 Rxf2 53.Rg7+ Kh3
54.Rg5 h4 55.gxh4 Re2+ 56.Kd5 e4
57.Re5 e3 58.Ke4
1–0
174
(4) Adams Mi - Rublevsky S (2676)
World Blitz (36), 22.11.2007
XABCDEFGHY 8rsnlwqk+ntr( 7+-+-vlp+p' 6pzp-zpp+p+& 5+-+-+-+-% 4P+-+P+-+$ 3+N+L+-+-# 2-zPP+QzPPzP" 1tRNvL-mK-+R! xabcdefghy
[Black has a lot of weaknesses in this
position. However the most weak pawn
is the b6 one. That's why white should
think how to use his pieces to attack
that pawn. White needs to play Be3,
Nb1–d2–c4 and maybe he can push a5]
10.Be3 Nd7 11.N1d2 Ngf6 12.a5 b5
13.c4 b4 14.0–0 [?!]
[14.Bh6 after that white can attack on
both sides.]
14...e5 15.Rfc1 0–0 16.h3 Nc5
17.Nxc5 dxc5 18.Bh6 Re8 19.Nf1
Nh5 20.Rd1 Bg5 21.Bc2 Nf4 22.Qf3
Qe7 23.Bxg5 Qxg5 24.Kh2 Ne6
25.Ba4 Rf8 26.Bc6 Ra7 27.Bd5 Nd4
28.Qg3 Qh5 29.Nd2 Re7 30.Nb3
Nxb3 31.Qxb3 Kh8 32.Qe3 Rc7
33.Rf1 g5 34.Rad1 f6 35.Rd3 g4 36.f4
gxh3 37.g3 Rg7 38.Rf2 exf4 39.Qxf4
Qg5 40.Qd6 Re8 41.Rxf6 h5 42.Rh6+
Rh7 43.Rg6 Qd8 44.Qxc5 Rg7
45.Qd4 Qe7 46.Rh6#
1–0
(5) Adams Mi - Van Wely L (2681)
Corus A (9), 22.01.2008
XABCDEFGHY 8rsnl+ntr-mk( 7+-wq-vlpzpp' 6p+-zpp+-vL& 5+p+-+-+-% 4-+-sNP+-+$ 3+LsN-+-wQ-# 2PzPP+-zPPzP" 1tR-+-+R+K! xabcdefghy
[The opening has finished and white
needs to compose an attacking plan.
First we need to choose the direction
of an attack. If you can play in the
center - do it, so white should attack
there. More specifically we should
attack weaknesses. That's why the
concrete target of an attack is the d6
pawn]
13.Bg5 [(There is one important
strategic rule: THE MAIN DEFENDER
OF WEAKNESSES IS A BISHOP.
That's why if you want to attack the
opponent's weaknesses, you should
exchange his bishop, which protects
those squares.)]
13...Bxg5 14.Qxg5 Nf6 15.f3 Bd7
16.Rfd1 Nc6 17.Nxc6 Bxc6 18.a3
Rab8 19.Rd4 Rfc8 20.Rad1 h6
21.Qd2 Ne8 [(White got a comfortable
position, where black has no real
counterplay. As we already know, you
should play slowly in such situations.)]
22.Ne2 a5 [(this move seems normal,
but we should not forget that it is often
bad to move the flank pawns in
positions with a dynamic center.)]
175
23.c3 Nf6 24.Qe3 Rd8 25.Ng3 Rd7
26.h3 Qa7 27.Qe1 Rbd8 28.R4d2 Qc5
29.Ne2 Qe5 30.Rd4 g5 31.c4 bxc4
32.Bxc4 Nh5 33.Qc3 Bb7 34.Bb5 Rc8
35.Qxa5 [(White won that pawn, which
black pushed forward some time ago.)]
35...Rc2 36.R4d2 Rdc7 37.Qb4 Kg7
38.Qd4 Kf6 39.Kg1 d5 40.exd5 Bxd5
41.Qxe5+ Kxe5 42.Nc3 Rxd2
43.Rxd2 Nf4 44.g3 Nxh3+ 45.Kh2 g4
46.f4+ Kd6 47.Be2
1–0
(6) Bocharov D - Bezgodov A (2554)
28th Nezhmetdinov mem (5),
05.06.2006
XABCDEFGHY 8-+rwqr+k+( 7zpp+lvlpzp-' 6-+-+-sn-zp& 5sn-+p+-+-% 4-+-sN-+-+$ 3+-sN-vL-zP-# 2PzPQ+PzPLzP" 1tR-+R+-mK-! xabcdefghy
[Black has the isolated pawn d5, which
is a weakness. So white should attack
it.]
15.Nf5 Bf8 16.Bxd5 Nxd5 17.Rxd5
Nc4 18.Rad1 Bxf5 19.Qxf5 Nxe3
20.fxe3 Qb6 21.Rd7 Qxb2 22.Qxf7+
Kh8 [(Now black has weaknesses on
the light squares. Those squares (f7,
g6 etc) are the new target of the
white's attack.)]
23.Nd5 Qxa2 24.Qf3 a5 25.Nf4 Qc2
26.R1d3 Qc6 27.Qg4 Qe4 28.Ng6+
Kg8 29.Qxe4 Rxe4 30.Rxb7 a4
31.Rdd7 Rg4 32.Nxf8 Rxf8 33.Ra7
Re8 34.Kf2 Rf8+ 35.Kg2 Re8 36.Kf3
Rge4 37.Rxg7+ Kh8 38.Rh7+ Kg8
39.Rxh6
1–0
(7) Sutovsky E - Miroshnichenko E
(2690)
TCh-SRB 1st League (5), 05.09.2009
XABCDEFGHY 8-+-wq-trk+( 7+-vl-+pzp-' 6ptrp+p+p+& 5+-+n+-+-% 4Q+-zP-zP-+$ 3+R+-+-zP-# 2P+-vLL+-zP" 1+-tR-+-mK-! xabcdefghy
[White has the weak pawn d4 and this
is the object of the black's attack. Now
we come to the second step of a
planning: black should detect how to
use his pieces to attack the d4 pawn.
The night should go to the f5, the
bishop to the b6 or f6, heavy pieces
will put pressure on the "d" file. This is
the black's plan. When you understand
it clearly, you will play all the next
moves easily.]
25...Ne7 26.Be3 a5 27.Bf3 Qd6
28.Rbc3 Rb4 29.Qd1 Bb6 30.a3 Rb2
31.Kh1 Rd8 32.Rb3 Rxb3 33.Qxb3
Rb8 34.Qa4 Nf5 35.Rxc6 Qd8 36.Rc3
Bxd4 37.Bxd4 Qxd4 38.Qxd4 Nxd4
39.Kg2 Rb2+ 40.Kh3 f5 41.Bd1 Rd2
42.Rc1 Kf7 43.g4 g5 44.gxf5 exf5
45.fxg5 Kg6 46.Kg3 Kxg5 47.h4+ Kf6
48.a4 g6 49.Rb1 Ke5 50.h5 f4+
51.Kh3 gxh5 52.Bxh5 Rd3+ 53.Kh2
176
Ra3 54.Be8 Ra2+ 55.Kh3 f3 56.Rb7
Nf5 57.Bg6 Nd6 58.Rb3 Kf4 59.Rd3
Ra1 60.Rd4+ Ke5 61.Rd2 Rh1+
62.Rh2 Rg1 63.Bd3 Kf4 64.Rc2 Rh1+
65.Rh2 Rxh2+ 66.Kxh2 Ke3 67.Ba6
Ne4 68.Kg1 Nc3
0–1
(8) Miroshnichenko E - Udeshi A
(2281)
2nd Mayors Cup (3), 03.05.2009
XABCDEFGHY 8r+l+-trk+( 7+p+-+pzpp' 6-+n+pwq-+& 5zp-vl-+-+-% 4-+Pzp-+-+$ 3zP-sN-+NzP-# 2-zP-+PzPLzP" 1tR-+Q+RmK-! xabcdefghy
12.Na4 [! (White has the pawn majority
on the queen-side, so the white's plan
is to use this advantage. The move
Na4 helps white to do it immediately)]
[12.Ne4 (this move seems natural and
most players would play it
automatically. However, we should not
find the right move, we should find the
right PLAN.) 12...Qe7 and the position
is equal]
12...Ba7 13.b4 e5 [13...axb4 14.axb4
Nxb4 15.Nb6 Bxb6 16.Rxa8±]
14.b5 Nd8 15.Nd2 [15.c5 (the most
direct way of a realization of the
white's plan was also possible)
15...Bd7 16.c6 bxc6 17.b6 Bb8
18.Nc5‚ when you realize your plan
insistently, you can get great results
quickly!]
15...Bg4 16.c5 Qe7 17.Rc1 Rc8
18.Nb3 Ne6 19.b6 Bb8 20.Qc2 Ng5
21.Nxa5 e4 22.c6 bxc6 23.Nxc6 Qxa3
24.Qc5 Qxa4 25.Ne7+ Kh8 26.Nxc8
Ne6 27.Qd5 Bxe2 28.Bxe4 Bxf1
29.Kxf1 Rd8 30.Qf5 Nf8 31.Qxf7
Qa6+ 32.Kg2 Rxc8 33.Bb7 Qa3
34.Bd5
1–0
(9) Milov,V - Dimitrov,Pa (2404)
12th Corsica Masters Bastia/Ajaccio
FRA (4), 25.10.2008
XABCDEFGHY 8r+l+qtrk+( 7zpp+nvl-zpp' 6-+p+psn-+& 5+-+psNp+-% 4-+PzP-vL-+$ 3+-sN-+-zP-# 2PzPQ+PzPLzP" 1tR-+-+RmK-! xabcdefghy
[Of course white should calculate the
move cd, because it can create
weaknesses in the black's position.]
11.cxd5 Nxd5 [? (black should think
twice before making such a move like
this. It creates stable weaknesses in
his position and certainly black should
try to avoid this situation)]
[11...exd5 (black was able to avoid an
"ugly" move Nd5) 12.Qxf5 Nxe5
13.Qxe5 Ng4 14.Qc7 Bd8 15.Qd6 Be7]
177
12.Nxd7 Bxd7 13.Be5 Qh5 14.e4 [(we
should open the position to exploit the
opponent's weaknesses)]
14...fxe4 15.Nxe4 Be8 16.Nc5 [(now
white has a clear plan - to attack the
black's weak pawns)]
16...Bg6 17.Qc1 Bf5 18.Nxb7 Bh3
19.Qd1 Qf5 20.Qe2 Bxg2 21.Kxg2 h5
22.Rae1 Bb4 23.Nd6 Qg5 24.Rc1 h4
25.Rxc6 Bxd6 26.Rxd6 Rac8 27.Rd7
Rf7 28.Rxf7 Kxf7 29.Re1 h3+
30.Kxh3 Qf5+ 31.Kg2 Rc2 32.Qf3
Qxf3+ 33.Kxf3 Rxb2 34.Re2 Rxe2
35.Kxe2 Nc3+ 36.Kd3 Nxa2 37.Kc4
Nc1 38.h4 Ne2 39.g4 Ng1 40.Kd3 Nf3
41.Bg3 a5 42.Ke3 Ne1 43.Ke2 Nc2
44.Kd3 Nb4+ 45.Kc4 Nc2 46.Be5 g6
47.Kb5 Ne1 48.Kxa5 Nf3 49.h5 gxh5
50.gxh5 Ng5 51.Kb5 Ne4 52.f3 Ng5
53.f4 Ne4 54.Kc6 Ng3 55.f5 Ke8
56.d5 exd5
1–0
(10) Azmaiparashvili Z - Dao Thien
Hai (2530)
4th SICC Masters (5), 19.12.2007
XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+k+ntr( 7zp-zpq+-zpp' 6-trnvlp+-+& 5+-+-+-+-% 4-+-zpP+-+$ 3+-+Q+N+-# 2PzP-+-zPPzP" 1tRNvL-+RmK-! xabcdefghy
[Black has a lot of weaknesses. The
easiest targets of an attack are the
pawn d4 and the weaknesses on the
"c" file, because they are on the open
files. Secondly, white should find the
right set up of his pieces to realize this
attacking plan. The b1 knight should
go to the c4, the bishop - to the d2,
the rooks may go to the d1 and c1 or
they can be doubled on the "c" file.]
12.Nbd2 e5 13.Nc4 Rb8 14.Bd2 Nge7
15.Rfc1 0–0 16.Rc2 h6 17.b4 Qe6
18.b5 Nd8 19.Qb3 Ng6 20.Rb1 Kh7
21.Ne1 Qf6 22.Qg3 Ne6 23.Nd3 Nef4
24.Bxf4 Nxf4 25.Nxf4 Qxf4 26.Qxf4
Rxf4 27.f3 Rf6 28.Nxd6 Rxd6
29.Rxc7 a6 30.a4 d3 31.Rc5 Rd4
32.Rd5 Rxd5 33.exd5 axb5 34.Kf2 b4
35.Rb3 Kg6 36.Ke3 Kf6 37.Kxd3 Ke7
38.Kc4 Kd6 39.Rxb4 Rc8+ 40.Kb3
Kxd5 41.a5
1–0
(11) Mateus Mar - Herrera Mil (1949)
ch-COL w (3), 14.06.2007
XABCDEFGHY 8r+lwqk+ntr( 7vl-+-+pzpp' 6p+nzpp+-+& 5+p+-+-+-% 4-+-+P+-+$ 3+N+LvL-+-# 2PzPP+QzPPzP" 1tRN+-+RmK-! xabcdefghy
[The most advanced opponent's
pawn/pawns is often the best object of
an attack.]
10.a4 bxa4 11.Rxa4 Bxe3 12.Qxe3
Nge7 13.Nc3 0–0 14.Rfa1 a5 15.e5
Nxe5 [15...dxe5 16.Qc5 attacking the
a5 pawn again]
16.Qe4 [?]
178
[16.Bxh7+ Kxh7 17.Qe4+ Kg8
18.Qxa8+–]
16...Nxd3 17.Qxa8 Qb6 18.Qf3 Nxb2
19.Rxa5 Bb7 20.Qh3 Qc6 21.Nd4
Qc4 22.Rb5 Ba8 23.Nde2 d5 24.Rxb2
d4 25.Ra4 Qc6 26.Rxd4
1–0
179
YOUR WINNING PLAN» by GM Igor Smirnov
The practical part: Task-10. Previously we have trained different skills in some specific positions. Now it is time to consolidate your knowledge. We will analyze more difficult positions and you will be training your planning skills there. The right way of thinking (presented in the video course) is universal and applicable for any situation. You need to automate this thinking process. While analyzing the games you still need to pay attention to the 2 main aspects:
- WHEN (in what positions) it is necessary to compose a plan?
- WHAT is that plan?
Your task: find the right move in a given position in “TASK-10 GAMES SECTION”. You should not try to guess the right move. Use the correct system of thinking, which you studied from the video lessons. Find the right plan and then decide how to realize it better. This will bring you to the right move. After that – look at the answer in “TASK-10 ANSWERS SECTION”. If you have any difficulties – study again the video lessons 9-10.
180
TASK-10 GAMES SECTION
(1) Grigoriants S RUS -
Khismatullin D (2568)
59th ch-RUS 1st League (3),
05.09.2006
[Black's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8r+r+-+k+( 7zpl+nwq-vlp' 6-zppzpp+-+& 5+-+-+p+-% 4Q+PzP-+-zp$ 3zP-+-zPL+P# 2-zP-sNNzPP+" 1tR-+-+RmK-! xabcdefghy
0–1
(2) Annaberdiev M - Adams Mi
(2720)
37th Olympiad (2), 22.05.2006
[Black's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8-mkl+-+-+( 7+-zp-+-+r' 6pzp-+pvlqzp& 5+-+p+-zp-% 4-+-zP-+-+$ 3+QzP-tRPsN-# 2PzP-+-+PzP" 1mK-+-tR-+-! xabcdefghy
0–1
(3) Adams Mi - Edouard R (2508)
4th ch-EU (3), 11.09.2008
[White's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+-+k+( 7+p+-wq-zpp' 6p+rzpp+-+& 5+-+-zp-+-% 4P+-+Ptr-+$ 3+QzP-+-+-# 2-zP-+-zPPzP" 1+-+RtR-mK-! xabcdefghy
1–0
(4) Timman J - Adams Mi (2724)
5th Staunton Mem (2), 08.08.2007
[Black's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+rtrk+( 7zpl+-wqpzpp' 6-zp-zp-vl-+& 5+-zpP+-+-% 4-+PzpP+-+$ 3+P+-+-zP-# 2P+Q+-zPLzP" 1+R+RsN-mK-! xabcdefghy
0–1
181
(5) Adams Mi - Ponomariov R (2705)
World Blitz (2), 21.11.2007
[White's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8rsnnwq-trk+( 7+p+-vlpzpp' 6p+-+p+-+& 5+-zPp+-+l% 4-zP-zP-+-+$ 3+-sN-+N+P# 2P+-+LzPP+" 1tR-vLQ+RmK-! xabcdefghy
1–0
(6) Bocharov D - Iljin A (2505)
28th Nezhmetdinov mem (3),
03.06.2006
[White's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8rsn-+-trk+( 7zplzp-+pzpp' 6-zp-zp-wq-+& 5+-+-zp-+-% 4-+PzP-+-zP$ 3zP-+-zPP+R# 2-zPQ+LzP-+" 1tR-vL-mK-+-! xabcdefghy
1–0
(7) Spielmann Rudolf (GER) -
Alekhine Alexander A (RUS) (2700)
It New York (USA), 1927
[Black's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8r+-+-trk+( 7zpp+-+pzpp' 6-+nwq-+L+& 5+-+p+-+-% 4-+-+-+l+$ 3+NzP-tRN+-# 2PzP-+-zPPzP" 1tR-+Q+-mK-! xabcdefghy
½–½
(8) Aaberg A - Korchnoi V (2629)
Gibtelecom Masters (7), 30.01.2007
[Black's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8rsnl+kvl-tr( 7zppzp-+pzp-' 6-+-zp-wq-zp& 5+-+-zp-+-% 4-+-zPP+-+$ 3+-zPL+-+-# 2PzP-+NzPPzP" 1tRN+QmK-+R! xabcdefghy
0–1
182
(9) Acs P - Korchnoi V (2610)
V Gyorgy Marx Mem (4), 08.08.2007
[Black's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8rsn-wq-trk+( 7+l+-vlpzp-' 6p+-zp-sn-zp& 5+-zpP+-+-% 4Pzp-+P+-+$ 3+-+-+PvL-# 2-zPQsNN+PzP" 1tR-+-mKL+R! xabcdefghy
0–1
(10) Korchnoi V - Carlsson P (2430)
Gibtelecom Masters (10), 02.02.2006
[White's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8-+ktr-vl-tr( 7zpl+pwqpzpp' 6-zp-+-sn-+& 5sn-zpP+-+-% 4Q+P+-+-+$ 3+-+-+NzP-# 2PzP-sNLzP-zP" 1tR-vL-mK-+R! xabcdefghy
1–0
(11) Aleksandrov A - Gaponenko I
(2458)
13th Ordix Open (5), 19.08.2006
[White's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8r+-wqr+k+( 7+-+-+pzp-' 6pzpn+lsn-zp& 5vl-zpp+-+-% 4-+-zP-+-wQ$ 3zP-sNLzPP+-# 2-zP-+N+PzP" 1+-vLR+R+K! xabcdefghy
1–0
(12) Kempinski R - Maciejewski A
(2358)
5th Amplico AIG Life (13), 18.12.2005
[White's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8rsnlwq-trk+( 7+-+-zppvlp' 6-+p+n+p+& 5+-+pzP-+-% 4p+-zP-+-+$ 3+-sN-vLNzP-# 2PzP-+QzPLzP" 1+-tRR+-mK-! xabcdefghy
1–0
183
(13) Lastin A - Khusnutdinov R
(2411)
14th Chigorin Mem (6), 27.10.2006
[White's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8r+lwq-trk+( 7zp-+-+nvlp' 6-+p+p+p+& 5+-+pzP-+-% 4-+-+-+-+$ 3+-sN-+N+P# 2PzP-+-zPP+" 1tR-vLQtR-mK-! xabcdefghy
1–0
(14) Ponomariov R - Giaccio A
(2469)
XXII Rapid (8), 05.08.2007
[White's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8rsnl+k+ntr( 7zpp+-+pzpp' 6-+-+p+-+& 5+-+pzP-+-% 4q+pzP-+-+$ 3zP-zP-+-+-# 2-+PvL-zPPzP" 1tRQ+-mKLsNR! xabcdefghy
1–0
(15) Riazantsev A - Sanikidze T
(2426)
8th ch-Euro (1), 03.04.2007
[White's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8rsn-wqk+ntr( 7zpp+-vlpzpp' 6-+p+-+-+& 5+-+p+l+-% 4-+-zP-vL-+$ 3+-sN-zP-+-# 2PzP-+-zPPzP" 1tR-+QmKLsNR! xabcdefghy
1–0
(16) Tkachiev V - Iskusnyh S (2510)
XIII TCh-RUS (11), 30.04.2006
[White's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8r+lwq-trk+( 7+p+-+pvlp' 6-zPp+-+p+& 5+-+p+-+-% 4-+-zP-+-+$ 3+QvL-+-+P# 2P+-sN-zPP+" 1tR-+-tR-mK-! xabcdefghy
1–0
184
(17) Tregubov P - Bunzmann D
(2537)
TCh-FRA Top 16 Gp A (7),
02.04.2006
[White's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8rsn-wq-tr-mk( 7zpl+-vl-zpp' 6-zpp+-+-+& 5+-+p+-+-% 4-zP-zPpvL-+$ 3zPQ+-+-zPN# 2-+-+PzPLzP" 1tR-+-+RmK-! xabcdefghy
1–0
(18) Kasparov G - Bredl H (2346)
Champions Simul (1), 23.08.2009
[White's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8r+-+-tr-+( 7+p+nwqpvlk' 6-+p+psnpzp& 5zp-+-+-+-% 4P+-zPP+-+$ 3+-sN-vL-+-# 2-zP-wQLzPPzP" 1tR-+-+RmK-! xabcdefghy
1–0
(19) Porat Ma - Khismatullin D
(2614)
25th ECC (1), 04.10.2009
[Black's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8r+lwq-trk+( 7zpp+nvlpzpp' 6-+-zp-sn-+& 5+-zpPzp-+-% 4-+P+P+-+$ 3+-sN-+N+-# 2PzP-+LzPPzP" 1tR-vLQ+RmK-! xabcdefghy
0–1
(20) Khairullin I - Khismatullin D
(2614)
ch-RUS HL (5), 06.09.2009
[Black's turn]
XABCDEFGHY 8r+-+-trk+( 7+-zp-snpzp-' 6pzp-vllwq-zp& 5+-+p+-+-% 4-+-zP-+-+$ 3+-sN-zPN+-# 2PzP-+LzPPzP" 1tR-tRQ+-mK-! xabcdefghy
0–1
185
TASK-10 ANSWERS SECTION
(1) Grigoriants S RUS -
Khismatullin D (2568)
59th ch-RUS 1st League (3),
05.09.2006
XABCDEFGHY 8r+r+-+k+( 7zpl+nwq-vlp' 6-zppzpp+-+& 5+-+-+p+-% 4Q+PzP-+-zp$ 3zP-+-zPL+P# 2-zP-sNNzPP+" 1tR-+-+RmK-! xabcdefghy
[Though it looks difficult to find any
plan for black, YOU HAVE TO DO IT.
Also you should remember that ANY
plan is good enough, if you realize it
maximally insistently]
18...Kh8 [(Black has decided to attack
on the king-side. Though it seems
desperate, you may look at the result
of the game :)]
19.Rac1 Bh6 20.Qc2 Rg8 21.Kh1 Nf6
22.b4 Rg7 23.Rg1 Rf8 24.b5 c5
25.dxc5 bxc5 26.Qd3 Bc8 27.Bc6 e5
28.Rcd1 e4 29.Qc3 Nh5 30.a4 Bg5
31.a5 Bf6 32.Qb3 Qc7 33.Qa4 Be5
34.Rb1 Be6 35.b6 axb6 36.axb6 Qf7
37.Qa2 f4 38.b7 Rgg8 39.Qb3 fxe3
40.Qxe3 Qxf2 41.Qxf2 Rxf2 42.b8Q
Rxe2 43.Qxg8+ Kxg8 44.Nxe4 Bf5
45.Rb8+ Kg7 46.Be8 Bg6
0–1
(2) Annaberdiev M - Adams Mi
(2720)
37th Olympiad (2), 22.05.2006
XABCDEFGHY 8-mkl+-+-+( 7+-zp-+-+r' 6pzp-+pvlqzp& 5+-+p+-zp-% 4-+-zP-+-+$ 3+QzP-tRPsN-# 2PzP-+-+PzP" 1mK-+-tR-+-! xabcdefghy
[In this position black should attack on
the king-side, because it is the only
thing he can do really. Secondly black
should find the best positions for all his
pieces. The bishop f6 should go to the
d6, bishop c8 - to the diagonal a6–f1
or h7–b1, the heavy pieces are already
placed well. And black needs to push
his king-side pawns to start the real
attack.]
39...Be7 40.Qd1 Bd6 41.Qb1 Qg8
42.Nh5 Rf7 43.a3 Rf8 44.Qc2 Qf7
45.Ng3 a5 46.Qe2 h5 47.Qc2 Rh8
48.Nf1 Rh6 49.g3 Ba6 50.Qf2 h4
51.Nd2 Qf5 52.Nb3 hxg3 53.hxg3
Rh3 54.g4 Qh7 55.Qg2 Rh2 56.Qg1
Qc2 57.Rb1 Qxb3 58.Rxe6 Bc4
[Black won the game, despite of the
fact that his position was loosing in the
middlegame. It happened because
black player has "a planning thinking".]
0–1
186
(3) Adams Mi - Edouard R (2508)
4th ch-EU (3), 11.09.2008
XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+-+k+( 7+p+-wq-zpp' 6p+rzpp+-+& 5+-+-zp-+-% 4P+-+Ptr-+$ 3+QzP-+-+-# 2-zP-+-zPPzP" 1+-+RtR-mK-! xabcdefghy
[Black has the weak pawn d6 and
some weaknesses on the queen-side.
Those are the objects of the white's
attack. Secondly we should think HOW
to realize this plan. White should put
his heavy pieces on the "d" file to
attack the d6 pawn, and white should
push his queen-side pawns to attack
on the queen-side. Since we have a
dynamic center white should play
slowly and realize his plan thoroughly.
When you understand this strategic
content, you will understand all the
white's moves easily.]
20.Rd3 h6 21.Re2 Kh8 22.g3 Rf8
23.Red2 Rd8 24.Kg2 Qf7 25.h4 Qe7
26.a5 Qf7 27.Qa2 Qe7 28.Rd1 Rdc8
29.Qb3 Rd8 30.Qa3 Kh7 31.b4 Rdc8
32.Qb3 Qf7 33.R1d2 Qg6 34.Re3 Qf7
35.Rdd3 Qe7 36.Qd1 Qc7 37.Qg4
Qe7 38.Qd1 Qc7 39.h5 Kh8 40.Qd2
Kh7 41.Qd1 Kh8 42.Re2 Kh7
43.Red2 Rd8 44.Qg4 Qe7 45.Kg1
Kg8 46.Qd1 Kh8 47.Kg2 Qc7 48.Qb3
Qe7 49.c4 Rdc8 50.b5 Rxc4 51.bxa6
bxa6 52.Rxd6 Rxe4 53.Qxe6 Qxe6
54.Rxe6 Rd4 55.Ra2 Ra8 56.Rxe5
Rd7 57.Rc2 Kg8 58.Rc6 Rd2 59.Rf5
Rd7 60.g4 Re7 61.Kg3 Kh7 62.f3 Kg8
63.Rfc5 Raa7 64.Rc8+ Kf7 65.Rf5+
Ke6 66.Rc6+ Kd7 67.Rg6 Ke8 68.Kf4
Rec7 69.Re5+ Kf8 70.Rd6 Rc4+
71.Kf5 Kf7 72.f4 Ra4 73.g5 hxg5
74.fxg5
1–0
(4) Timman J - Adams Mi (2724)
5th Staunton Mem (2), 08.08.2007
XABCDEFGHY 8-+-+rtrk+( 7zpl+-wqpzpp' 6-zp-zp-vl-+& 5+-zpP+-+-% 4-+PzpP+-+$ 3+P+-+-zP-# 2P+Q+-zPLzP" 1+R+RsN-mK-! xabcdefghy
[When you can't find your plan - you
should prevent an opponent's plan.]
18...g5 [(The white's plan was to play
f4 and then e5 after some preparation.
Now this plan is impossible.)]
19.Nd3 Bc8 20.Rf1 Bg7 21.Rbe1 g4
[(Black focuses solely on the
prevention of the white's plan)]
22.Qd2 Qf6 23.Re2 Re7 24.b4 Rfe8
25.Rfe1 Qg6 26.Nf4 Qg5 27.bxc5
bxc5 28.Qc2 Be5 [(When you prevent
an opponent's plan, he usually feels
confused and will start making
mistakes.)]
29.h4 gxh3 30.Nxh3 Qh5 31.Nf4 Bxf4
32.gxf4 f6 33.Rd2 Rg7 34.Rd3 Qg4
35.Rg3 Qxf4 36.Qa4 Rf8 37.Rxg7+
Kxg7 38.Qxa7+ Kh8 39.Qa3 Rg8
40.Kf1 Bg4 41.Qb3 Qd2 42.Qg3 Be2+
187
0–1
(5) Adams Mi - Ponomariov R (2705)
World Blitz (2), 21.11.2007
XABCDEFGHY 8rsnnwq-trk+( 7+p+-vlpzpp' 6p+-+p+-+& 5+-zPp+-+l% 4-zP-zP-+-+$ 3+-sN-+N+P# 2P+-+LzPP+" 1tR-vLQ+RmK-! xabcdefghy
[If you think only about your own plans,
you will try to use your pawn majority
on the queen-side. However, you
should think about the plans of BOTH
players. It gives you a really deep
understanding of the position.]
14.Ne5 [(The black's plan in this
position - is to attack the white's pawn
d4. That's why black was going to take
the f3 knight, to play Nc6, Bf6, Nc8–e7–
f5. The white's move Ne5 breaks this
plan.)]
14...Bxe2 15.Qxe2 Bf6 16.Rd1 [(White
is still playing carefully and prevents
any opponent's activity)]
16...Bxe5 17.Qxe5 Nc6 18.Qe2 N8e7
[(this knight is going to the f5 to attack
the d4 pawn)]
19.Bg5 [(When you know the plans of
BOTH players - you totally control the
situation.)]
19...Re8 20.Rab1 h6 21.a4 a5 22.b5
Nb4 23.f4 Qc7 24.Bxe7 Rxe7 25.Qf2
Rae8 26.Rd2 f6 27.Rbd1 Rf7 28.Qf3
Qd7 29.Re1 g5 30.Rde2 Ree7
31.fxg5 hxg5 32.Qg3 Kh7 33.Nd1
Rg7 34.Nf2 f5 35.Qf3 Rg6 36.Re5 Rf7
37.Qe2 Rff6 38.Nh1 Rh6 39.Ng3 Kg7
40.Nh5+ Rxh5 41.Qxh5 Nd3
42.Qxg5+ Rg6 43.Qe3 Nxe1 44.Qxe1
Kf6 45.Qh4+ Kf7 46.Re3 Qc8
47.Qh7+ Rg7 48.Qh5+ Kf6 49.Qh4+
Kf7 50.Rg3 Qg8 51.Kh2 Ke8 52.Rxg7
Qxg7 53.Qf4 Qf6 54.h4
1–0
(6) Bocharov D - Iljin A (2505)
28th Nezhmetdinov mem (3),
03.06.2006
XABCDEFGHY 8rsn-+-trk+( 7zplzp-+pzpp' 6-zp-zp-wq-+& 5+-+-zp-+-% 4-+PzP-+-zP$ 3zP-+-zPP+R# 2-zPQ+LzP-+" 1tR-vL-mK-+-! xabcdefghy
[The white's plan is to attack on the
king-side. Secondly we need to detect
how to use our pieces to realize this
plan. White will certainly make castling
queen-side, the rooks will work on the
"g" file, the e2 bishop can go to the d3,
the c1 bishop should work on the
diagonal a1–h8.]
14.dxe5 [(White is opening the
diagonal for his bishop)]
14...dxe5 15.Bd2 Nc6 16.0–0–0 Bc8
17.Rg3 Bf5 18.Qa4 a6 19.Bc3 Rfb8
20.Rdg1 g6 21.Qd1 Rd8 22.Qf1 Na5
23.b4 Nb3+ 24.Kb2 Nd4 25.Bd1 Nc6
188
26.h5 a5 27.hxg6 hxg6 28.b5 Nb4
29.Be2 Nd3+ 30.Bxd3 Rxd3 31.e4
Qd6 32.exf5 Rxc3 33.Rxg6+ fxg6
34.Rxg6+ Qxg6 35.fxg6 Rxf3 36.Qh1
1–0
(7) Spielmann Rudolf (GER) -
Alekhine Alexander A (RUS) (2700)
It New York (USA), 1927
XABCDEFGHY 8r+-+-trk+( 7zpp+-+pzpp' 6-+nwq-+L+& 5+-+p+-+-% 4-+-+-+l+$ 3+NzP-tRN+-# 2PzP-+-zPPzP" 1tR-+Q+-mK-! xabcdefghy
[I would not ask you to think if black
played hg :)]
14...fxg6 [! (Ok, let's discuss this move
seriously. White has a clear plan - an
attack of the isolated pawn d5. Black
has no attacking plan, but he needs to
do something. Otherwise white will
realize his plan sooner or later. The
black's move fg is not so good
objectively, but it allows black to
deflect white from the realization of his
plan. You see that fg is rather a
defensive idea.)]
15.h3 Bf5 16.Nbd4 Rad8 [16...Be4 ?!
17.Nxc6 Bxf3 ? 18.Ne7+ Qxe7
19.Rxe7 Bxd1 20.Rxd1±]
17.Nxf5 Rxf5 18.Qe2 [!]
18...Rdf8 19.Re1 Qc5 [!]
20.Re8 h6 21.Qe6+ Kh7 22.Qc8 [!]
22...d4 [(black is still trying to mix the
things)]
[22...b6 23.b4 (23.R1e6 ! 23...Nd4
(23...Ne5 24.Nd4 Qxc8 25.Rxc8 Rxc8
26.Nxf5 gxf5 27.Rxe5 d4 =) 24.Nxd4
Qxc8 25.Rxc8 Rxc8 26.Nxf5 gxf5
27.Rd6 ! 27...Re8 ! 28.Kf1 Re5
29.Rd7±) 23...Qd6 24.R1e6 (24.Qe6
!?) 24...Ne7 ! 25.Rxd6 Nxc8 26.Rxf8
Nxd6 27.Rd8 Ne4 =]
23.cxd4 Qd6 24.Rxf8 [24.Qxb7 ?!
24...Nxd4 25.Nxd4 Qxd4µ]
24...Rxf8 25.Qe6 [25.Qxb7 %03'better
is' 25...Rb8 ?! (25...Nxd4 !? 26.Nxd4
Qxd4 27.Rf1 Re8 !) 26.Qf7 Rxb2
(26...Nxd4 27.Nxd4 Qxd4 28.b3)
27.Re6 Rb1+ 28.Ne1]
25...Qb4 [!]
26.Qb3 [26.Qe4 Qxb2 27.Rb1 Qxa2
28.Rxb7 Qc4 29.Rc7 Rf6 = 30.Ne5
Qxd4]
26...Qxb3 27.axb3 Rd8 28.Re4 Rd5
29.Kf1 Rb5 30.Re3 a5 [!]
31.Rd3 Kg8 32.Ke2 Kf7 33.Kd2 Ke6
34.Kc3 Ne7 35.Re3+ Kd6 36.Kc2 Nd5
37.Re4 Nb4+ 38.Kd2 Nd5 39.Kc2
[39.Ne5 Rxb3 40.Nc4+ Kc7 41.Re5
Nb6 =]
39...Nb4+ 40.Kd2 Nd5 41.Kc2
½–½
189
(8) Aaberg A - Korchnoi V (2629)
Gibtelecom Masters (7), 30.01.2007
XABCDEFGHY 8rsnl+kvl-tr( 7zppzp-+pzp-' 6-+-zp-wq-zp& 5+-+-zp-+-% 4-+-zPP+-+$ 3+-zPL+-+-# 2PzP-+NzPPzP" 1tRN+QmK-+R! xabcdefghy
7...h5 [(What is the white's plan here?
White will play f4 to open the position
and to start an attack. Perhaps white
will need to prepare the move f4 by
playing g3. That's why black decided
to prevent it and he played h5. Of
course I am not saying that this is the
best move, I just want to show you that
"a planning thinking" gives you a really
deep understanding of a chess game.
Once again I'd like to repeat that you
should think about the plans of BOTH
plans.)]
8.Nd2 h4 9.f4 exf4 10.0–0 g5 11.Qb3
Be7 12.Rf2 Nd7 13.Raf1 Nb6 14.a4
a5 15.Bb5+ Kd8 16.e5 Qe6 17.Qc2
Nd5 18.Bc4 Ne3 19.Bxe6 Nxc2
20.Bxc8 Rxc8 21.Nc4 d5 22.Nxa5
Rb8 23.b4 Ne3 24.Re1 Kd7 25.Nb3
b6 26.Nec1 Ng4 27.Rf3 Ra8 28.a5
Kc6 29.Nd3 Kb5 30.Rb1 Ne3 31.Nd2
Rh6 32.Nf1 Nf5 33.Nc1 bxa5
34.bxa5+ Kc6 35.Ra1 Kd7 36.Nd3
Rc6 37.Nc1 Ke6 38.Kf2 f6 39.exf6
Bxf6 40.Nb3 Nd6 41.Rd3 Ne4+
42.Kf3 Kf5 43.h3 Rxc3 44.Rxc3 Nxc3
45.a6 Nb5 46.Ra4 c6 47.Nfd2 Be7
48.Kf2 Nc7 49.a7 Nb5 50.Ra6 Rxa7
51.Rxc6 Ra4 52.Nf3 Rb4 53.Nc5 Rc4
54.Rb6
0–1
(9) Acs P - Korchnoi V (2610)
V Gyorgy Marx Mem (4), 08.08.2007
XABCDEFGHY 8rsn-wq-trk+( 7+l+-vlpzp-' 6p+-zp-sn-zp& 5+-zpP+-+-% 4Pzp-+P+-+$ 3+-+-+PvL-# 2-zPQsNN+PzP" 1tR-+-mKL+R! xabcdefghy
[Black has a pawn majority on the
queen-side and he should use it,
Though it seems hard to do it, it
doesn't mean that you should decline
this plan. Quite the contrary - you
need to realize it more insistently.]
15...a5 [(Black needs to prepare the
move c4. All his next moves are aiming
this goal)]
16.Bf2 Ba6 17.Ng3 Bxf1 18.Ngxf1
Nbd7 19.Ne3 Nb6 20.0–0 Re8 [(The
white's plan is to use his pawn majority
in the center. That's why black should
also put some efforts to prevent this
plan.)]
21.Rad1 Nfd7 22.Kh1 Qc7 23.f4 Bf6
24.Ng4 Rac8 25.e5 dxe5 26.Ne4 exf4
27.d6 Qc6 28.Nexf6+ Nxf6 29.Nxf6+
gxf6
190
30.Qf5 Re5 31.Qxf6 Rg5 32.Bg3 Nd5
33.Qxh6 Rg6 34.Qh3 fxg3 35.Rxd5
Qxd5 36.Qxc8+ Kg7 37.Qf5 Qxf5
38.Rxf5 Rf6 39.Rf3 Rxf3 40.gxf3 Kf6
0–1
(10) Korchnoi V - Carlsson P (2430)
Gibtelecom Masters (10), 02.02.2006
XABCDEFGHY 8-+ktr-vl-tr( 7zpl+pwqpzpp' 6-zp-+-sn-+& 5sn-zpP+-+-% 4Q+P+-+-+$ 3+-+-+NzP-# 2PzP-sNLzP-zP" 1tR-vL-mK-+R! xabcdefghy
[In unbalanced positions it is important
to get an initiative position. THE
ACTIVITY OF YOUR PIECES IS
MORE IMPORTANT FACTOR THAN
A SAFETY OF YOUR KING. Now
white is preparing Re1. Also you
should NOT think too much about a
planning here, because the situation is
not stable. You just need to orient on
the general principles and make your
pieces more active.]
12.Kd1 g5 13.Bd3 Ng4 14.Rf1 Nxf2+
15.Rxf2 Qe3 16.b4 [(Maybe this move
is not good objectively, but white is
attacking. It is the most important thing
in complex positions.)]
16...Bg7 17.bxa5 Bxa1 18.axb6 axb6
19.Ne4 Qxd3+ 20.Nfd2 Be5 21.Rf3
Qd4 22.Qb5 Rhe8 23.Qxb6 Bc7
24.Nd6+ Bxd6 25.Rb3 Re1+ 26.Kxe1
Qg1+ 27.Nf1 Re8+ 28.Re3 Re6
29.dxe6 Bg2 30.Qxd6 [(It is one more
example of the fact, that if you realize
your plan (ANY plan) vigorously and
insistenly - it will bring you good
results in the end.)]
1–0
(11) Aleksandrov A - Gaponenko I
(2458)
13th Ordix Open (5), 19.08.2006
XABCDEFGHY 8r+-wqr+k+( 7+-+-+pzp-' 6pzpn+lsn-zp& 5vl-zpp+-+-% 4-+-zP-+-wQ$ 3zP-sNLzPP+-# 2-zP-+N+PzP" 1+-vLR+R+K! xabcdefghy
[White was trying to play in the center,
but it is hard to develop an attack
there. At the same time white is
controlling the center well enough to
start a flank attack.]
17.g4 Nd7 18.Qf2 Qc7 19.Rg1 Qd8
20.Nf4 Nf8 21.Nce2 [(white doesn't
forget to strengthen his center)]
21...c4 22.Bc2 b5 23.b3 Bb6 24.bxc4
bxc4 25.e4 Ne7 26.g5 hxg5 27.Rxg5
f6 28.Rg2 dxe4 29.fxe4 Bf7 30.Rdg1
g5 31.h4 Nh7 32.hxg5 Nxg5 33.e5
Nd5 34.exf6 Nxf4 35.Qxf4
1–0
191
(12) Kempinski R - Maciejewski A
(2358)
5th Amplico AIG Life (13), 18.12.2005
XABCDEFGHY 8rsnlwq-trk+( 7+-+-zppvlp' 6-+p+n+p+& 5+-+pzP-+-% 4p+-zP-+-+$ 3+-sN-vLNzP-# 2PzP-+QzPLzP" 1+-tRR+-mK-! xabcdefghy
[The center is closed. It means that
white should attack on the king-side. It
is necessary to use the pawns, so
white should play h4–h5.]
16.h4 Nd7 17.Nb1 Ba6 18.Qc2 Bb5
19.Bh3 Nb6 20.h5 Nc7 21.Na3 Nc4
22.Nxc4 Bxc4 23.b3 axb3 24.axb3
Bb5 25.hxg6 hxg6 26.Kg2 Na6
27.Qd2 Qb6 28.Rh1 Nb4 29.Ra1 Bd3
30.Ng5 Qb5 31.Ne6 Rxa1 32.Rxa1
Nc2 33.Ra5 Qxb3 34.Nxf8 Be4+
35.Kh2 Qb1 36.Qc1
1–0
(13) Lastin A - Khusnutdinov R
(2411)
14th Chigorin Mem (6), 27.10.2006
XABCDEFGHY 8r+lwq-trk+( 7zp-+-+nvlp' 6-+p+p+p+& 5+-+pzP-+-% 4-+-+-+-+$ 3+-sN-+N+P# 2PzP-+-zPP+" 1tR-vLQtR-mK-! xabcdefghy
[Black has a pawn center (his pawns
c6 and d5) so white should blockade it
and attack it. The white's knights
should be placed on c5 and d4. The
queen-side rook will go to the c1. It
will be good to play b4 to totally fix the
c6 pawn.]
14.Na4 g5 15.Nc5 h6 16.Bd2 a5
17.Rc1 Qb6 18.Qc2 Rb8 19.b3 Qd8
20.Nd4 Qe8 21.Bxa5 Ra8 22.b4 Rxa5
23.bxa5 Nxe5 24.a6 Qf7 25.a7 Qxa7
26.Ndxe6 Re8 27.Rxe5
1–0
192
(14) Ponomariov R - Giaccio A
(2469)
XXII Rapid (8), 05.08.2007
XABCDEFGHY 8rsnl+k+ntr( 7zpp+-+pzpp' 6-+-+p+-+& 5+-+pzP-+-% 4q+pzP-+-+$ 3zP-zP-+-+-# 2-+PvL-zPPzP" 1tRQ+-mKLsNR! xabcdefghy
[Usually we should compose a plan
after an opening. However you should
do it earlier if you get a stable situation.
The current position is a good
example. It is only the 8th move, but
the position became stable already.]
9.h4 [(White should attack on the
king-side and use a pawn assault.)]
9...Nc6 10.h5 h6 11.g3 Nge7 12.Bg2
Bd7 13.Nh3 0–0–0 14.0–0 Kb8 15.Nf4
Nc8 16.Bh3 Nb6 17.Qc1 Ka8 18.Ng2
Qa5 19.a4 Nxa4 20.Ne3 b5 21.Bg2
Bc8 22.f4 g6 23.Bf3 a6 24.Kg2 Ne7
25.Ng4 Qc7 26.Rh1 Nf5 27.Nf6 Bb7
28.Rh3 Nb6 29.g4 Ne7 30.Qh1 Nd7
31.hxg6 Nxg6 32.Nxd7 Qxd7 33.Kf2
Rdg8 34.Rh5 Qd8 35.f5 Ne7 36.f6
Ng6 37.Bxh6 Rxh6 38.Rxh6 Qb6
39.Kg3 Qc7 40.Qh5 Qd8 41.Rh7 Qf8
42.Qh6 Qxh6 43.Rxh6 Ka7 44.Rh7
Rf8 45.g5 Kb6 46.Bh5 Nh8 47.Rxh8
Rxh8 48.Bxf7
1–0
(15) Riazantsev A - Sanikidze T
(2426) [D31]
8th ch-Euro (1), 03.04.2007
XABCDEFGHY 8rsn-wqk+ntr( 7zpp+-vlpzpp' 6-+p+-+-+& 5+-+p+l+-% 4-+-zP-vL-+$ 3+-sN-zP-+-# 2PzP-+-zPPzP" 1tR-+QmKLsNR! xabcdefghy
[It is a theoretical position and perhaps
you know it. Here white may start
pushing his king-side pawns, because
black has no way to open the center.]
7.g4 Be6 8.h4 Nd7 9.h5 Qb6 10.Rb1
Ngf6 11.f3 h6 12.Bd3 c5 13.Nge2 c4
14.Bc2 Qa5 15.Kf2 b5 16.a3 Qb6
17.b3 cxb3 18.Rxb3 a6 19.Qg1 Rc8
20.Bd3 Qa5 21.Qg3 Ne4+ [(probably
white blundered and missed this move.
Nevertheless he won the game
afterwards, because of his good
planning skills.)]
22.fxe4 dxe4 23.Nxe4 Bxb3 24.g5
[(white is realizing his plan by his every
move)]
24...Qb6 25.gxh6 gxh6 26.Qg7 Rf8
27.Bxh6 Bd5 28.Nf4 Bxe4 29.Bxe4
Bf6 30.Nd5 Qd6 31.Qg4 Rh8 32.Bf4
Qe6 33.Nc7+ Rxc7 34.Qxe6+ fxe6
35.Bxc7 Ke7
193
36.Bb7 e5 37.Bxa6 exd4 38.Bxb5
Ra8 39.a4 Nc5 40.a5 Nb3 41.e4 Rc8
42.e5 Bg5 43.Bd6+ Ke6 44.a6 Be3+
45.Kg2 Rg8+ 46.Kh3 Nd2 47.a7 Bf4
48.Bc6 Rg3+ 49.Kh4 Kf5 50.Bd7+
1–0
(16) Tkachiev V - Iskusnyh S (2510)
XIII TCh-RUS (11), 30.04.2006
XABCDEFGHY 8r+lwq-trk+( 7+p+-+pvlp' 6-zPp+-+p+& 5+-+p+-+-% 4-+-zP-+-+$ 3+QvL-+-+P# 2P+-sN-zPP+" 1tR-+-tR-mK-! xabcdefghy
[White has an advantage on the
queen-side, so he should play there.
The knight should go to the c5, the
bishop - to the diagonal h2–b8 and
also it will be good to exchange the
dark-squares bishops; the "a" pawn
should go forward. Here is the white's
plan.]
23.a4 Bf5 24.a5 h5 25.Qb2 Qf6
26.Nb3 Rab8 27.Nc5 g5 28.Nxb7
Rxb7 29.a6 Rbb8 30.a7 c5 31.b7
[(White used his advantage on the
queen-side and won the game
easily.)]
1–0
(17) Tregubov P - Bunzmann D
(2537)
TCh-FRA Top 16 Gp A (7),
02.04.2006
XABCDEFGHY 8rsn-wq-tr-mk( 7zpl+-vl-zpp' 6-zpp+-+-+& 5+-+p+-+-% 4-zP-zPpvL-+$ 3zPQ+-+-zPN# 2-+-+PzPLzP" 1tR-+-+RmK-! xabcdefghy
15.f3 [(If you can play in a center - do
it.)]
15...Bf6 16.Rad1 exf3 17.Bxf3 Nd7
18.e4 dxe4 19.Bxe4 Re8 20.Qc2 Nf8
21.Be5 [(white is centralizing his
pieces, which is a correct strategy in
any situation.)]
21...Bxe5 22.dxe5 Qe7 23.b5 Qxe5
24.bxc6 Rac8 25.Rf5 Qe7 26.Ng5
Ne6 27.Re5 Qxa3 28.Rxe6 Rxe6
29.cxb7 Qe3+ 30.Kh1
1–0
194
(18) Kasparov G - Bredl H (2346)
Champions Simul (1), 23.08.2009
XABCDEFGHY 8r+-+-tr-+( 7+p+nwqpvlk' 6-+p+psnpzp& 5zp-+-+-+-% 4P+-zPP+-+$ 3+-sN-vL-+-# 2-zP-wQLzPPzP" 1tR-+-+RmK-! xabcdefghy
16.e5 [(When you have finished the
opening - you need to start an attack.
If you can play in a center - do it.)]
16...Nd5 17.Nxd5 exd5 [(The position
has been changed after a pawn move,
and now white needs to compose a
plan again. White should attack on the
king-side using a pawn assault.)]
18.f4 Rfe8 19.Bd3 f5 20.g4 Qe6
21.gxf5 gxf5 22.Rf3 Re7 23.Kh1 Rf7
24.Rg1 Nb6 25.b3 Nc8 26.Rfg3 Ne7
27.Qg2 Rg8 28.Bc1 Kh8 29.Ba3 Kh7
30.Qh3 Rgf8 31.Qh5 Kh8 32.Bc5 Kh7
33.Bxe7 Rxe7 34.Rg6 Qc8 35.e6
1–0
(19) Porat Ma - Khismatullin D
(2614) [A56]
25th ECC (1), 04.10.2009
XABCDEFGHY 8r+lwq-trk+( 7zpp+nvlpzpp' 6-+-zp-sn-+& 5+-zpPzp-+-% 4-+P+P+-+$ 3+-sN-+N+-# 2PzP-+LzPPzP" 1tR-vLQ+RmK-! xabcdefghy
[Black should attack on the king-side
using a pawn assault. Black needs to
play g6 and f5 to start the realization of
this plan.]
8...Ne8 9.a3 g6 10.Ne1 Bg5 11.Nd3
[(now white is going to play b4)]
11...Nb6 [(black is preventing the
white's plan also)]
12.b3 Qe7 13.Qc2 Ng7 14.b4 Bxc1
15.Rfxc1 cxb4 16.axb4 Nxc4 17.Nb5
a6 18.Qxc4 axb5 19.Qxb5 Rxa1
20.Rxa1 f5 21.Bf3 g5 22.exf5 Bxf5
23.Re1 Qc7 24.Be4 Qc3 25.Bxf5 Nxf5
26.Rc1 Qd2 27.Qc4 Nd4 28.Kh1 b5
29.Qc3 Qxc3 30.Rxc3 e4 31.Nc1
Rxf2 32.Kg1 Rb2 33.Re3 Rb1 34.Re1
Rxc1
0–1
195
(20) Khairullin I - Khismatullin D
(2614)
ch-RUS HL (5), 06.09.2009
XABCDEFGHY 8r+-+-trk+( 7+-zp-snpzp-' 6pzp-vllwq-zp& 5+-+p+-+-% 4-+-zP-+-+$ 3+-sN-zPN+-# 2PzP-+LzPPzP" 1tR-tRQ+-mK-! xabcdefghy
[though black can play c5, it is a risky
decision, because white will attack
those pawns (d5, c5, b6) then. At the
same time black has quite good control
over the central squares now, which
make it possible for him to transfer an
attack on a side.]
15...g5 16.g3 Qg7 17.Qf1 f5 18.Bxa6
f4 19.exf4 Rxa6 20.Qxa6 gxf4 21.Qd3
Bf5 22.Qd2 Be4 23.Ne1 fxg3 24.hxg3
Bf4 25.Qe2 Bxg3 26.fxg3 Qxd4+
27.Kh2 Rf2+ 28.Qxf2 Qxf2+ 29.Kh3
Qf1+
0–1
196
YOUR WINNING PLAN» by GM Igor Smirnov
The practical part: Task-11. You know that an analysis of your own games is one of the main ways to get a chess progress. “The one who can’t see mistakes in his past is not progressing.” After a serious study of this course you will definitely improve your strategic skills. I hope that you already automate the right way of thinking regarding to the planning. Now it is time to test yourself. Your task: analyse your loosing games. Choose the games where you didn’t know what to do, where you were unable to find the right plan. Apply your new method of thinking (which you studied from this course) to those games and find your mistakes there. Besides a serious chess reason, this task has a great psychological effect. You will expose your chess progress to yourself and will motivate yourself for the future development!
197
YOUR WINNING PLAN» by GM Igor Smirnov
The practical part: Task-12.
In the previous task you have been searching for the mistakes in your games. In this task you will find mistakes in the games of top Grandmasters!
Do you think that there are no mistakes in those games? Well, if someone lost
a game, it definitely means that he did mistakes. The Grandmaster is still a human and he/she makes mistakes regularly.
Perhaps those players are stronger than you, but you have this course as “an assistant”. That’s why I am sure that you will be able to perform this task. Your task: analyse the presented games in “TASK-12 GAMES SECTION”. Pay attention to the following aspects:
- As usual you need to detect “when it is necessary to compose a plan?”
and “what are those plans?”.
- Find strategic mistakis (the wrong plan, the wrong realization of a plan
etc).
This task will help you to train your planning skills, to digest the course’s ideas better and to strengthen your self-confidence! If you find mistakes in the Grandmasters’ games, it means that you will be a Grandmaster soon!
After a performing of this task you will finish the course “Your Winning Plan”. Please, don’t forget to repeat it sometimes.
When you put the received knowledge into practical games, you will get a strong progress. As I’ve already said the strategic skills are the main advantage of strong players. And now you are a part of that group!
Thanks for your attention! It is my great pleasure to help you and to observe
your practical success! I will be glad to receive your feedback. Please, don’t hesitate to contact me: http://chess-teacher.com/contacts
GM Igor Smirnov.
198
TASK-12 GAMES SECTION
(1) Rustemov A (2573) - Gurevich M
(2643) [D31]
Polanica Zdroj 76/375, 1999
[Gurevich,M]
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e3 e6
5.Qc2 Nbd7 6.Bd2 c5 [N]
[6...Bd6 Ue 73/454]
7.Nf3 a6 8.cxd5 exd5 9.g3 [!]
9...Bd6 10.Bg2 0–0 11.0–0 Re8
12.Rfd1² cxd4 [12...c4 13.e4 %04!?
(13.a4 !?) 13...Nxe4 14.Nxe4 dxe4
15.Ng5ƒ]
13.Nxd4 Nb6 14.Nce2 [14.Rac1 Bg4]
14...Nc4 15.b3 [?!]
[15.Bc3 Ne4 16.b3 Na3 17.Qb2²]
15...Nxd2 16.Qxd2 Bg4 17.Nf3 [17.h3
!? 17...Bh5 (17...Bxe2 18.Nxe2 Be5
19.Rac1²) 18.Nf5 (18.Rac1 Ba3)
18...Be5 19.Rac1²]
17...Ne4 [!?]
18.Qb2 [18.Qxd5 !? 18...Qf6 (18...Qe7
19.Qd3 Rad8 20.Ned4²) 19.Qd4
Qh6÷]
18...Bxf3 19.Bxf3 Be5 20.Nd4 Qf6
21.Bg2 Rac8 22.Rd3 [?!]
[22.Rac1 =]
22...h5 [!]
23.Rf1 h4³ 24.Qb1 Nc3 [!]
25.Qe1 [25.Qb2 Bxd4 26.Rxd4
(26.exd4 a) 26...Re2 27.Rd2 (27.Qc1
*) 27...Rxf2 ! 28.Rxf2 (28.Rxc3 Rxf1+
29.Bxf1 Qxd4+–+) 28...Ne2+–+)
27...Nd1 !!) 26...Ne2+ 27.Qxe2 Ue
21.#CAd1]
25...Bxd4 26.Rxd4 Ne2+ [!]
27.Qxe2 Qxd4µ 28.Rd1 Qf6 29.Bxd5
Rc7 30.e4 g6 31.Kg2 Kg7 32.Rd3
Rh8 33.g4 Qe5 ['time']
[33...h3+ ! 34.Rxh3 Rxh3 35.Kxh3 Rc2
!! 36.Qxc2 Qf3+ 37.Kh4 g5+ 38.Kxg5
(38.Kh5 Qh3+ 39.Kxg5 Qh6+ 40.Kf5
Qf6# ) 38...Qf6+ 39.Kh5 Qh6# ]
34.h3 b5 35.Rf3 Re8 [35...Rd8 'better
is']
36.Qd2 Ree7 [36...f6µ]
37.g5 [!]
37...Re8 [?]
[37...b4 38.Rf6 Rc2µ]
38.Rf6 Rh8 39.Rxa6 [39.f4 Qa1 40.f5
(40.e5 Rd8³) 40...Qe5³]
39...Rh5 [?]
[39...Rd8÷]
40.f4 Qa1 41.a4!]
41...Rc3 [!]
42.Qd4+ Kh7 43.Qf2 Rg3+ 44.Kh2
Qc3 45.Rf6 Rxh3+ 46.Kg2 Rg3+
47.Kh2 Rh3+ 48.Kg2 Rg3+ =]
½–½
199
(2) Alekseev E (2510) - Rustemov A
(2625) [C02]
Russia 82/245, 2001
[Rustemov,A]
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Qb6
5.Nf3 Bd7 6.a3 Bb5 7.b4 cxd4
8.Bxb5+ Qxb5 9.cxd4 Nd7 [! ]
10.Nc3 Qc6 11.Bb2 [11.Bd2 'better is'
!?]
11...Nb6 12.Nd2 [?!]
[12.0–0 Ne7 (12...Nc4 13.Qb3 Ne7
14.Rfc1 Qd7 15.Nb1 Nc8 16.Nbd2
N8b6 17.b5 (17.a4 ? 17...Nxb2
18.Qxb2 Nxa4) 17...Be7 18.a4 Nxd2
19.Nxd2 Bg5 20.Qg3) 13.Rc1 Qd7³]
12...Ne7 13.0–0 [N]
[13.Rc1 Qd7 (13...Nc4) 14.Nb3 Nf5
15.Na5 Be7 16.0–0 0–0]
13...Nf5 14.Rc1 Qd7³ 15.Ne2 Be7
16.g4 [16.Ng3 !? 16...0–0 17.Nxf5
exf5³]
16...Nh4 17.Ng3 [17.f4 h5 18.h3 hxg4
19.hxg4 g5 !]
17...0–0 18.f4 f5 19.exf6 [?]
[19.g5 'better is' 19...Rfc8µ]
19...Rxf6µ []
20.Qe2 [20.Nh5 Rf7]
20...Raf8 21.Rce1 [21.Nh5 R6f7
22.Rce1 g6 23.Ng3 Rxf4 24.Qxe6+
Qxe6 25.Rxe6 Bg5µ]
21...Rxf4 22.Rxf4 Rxf4 23.Nh5
[23.Qxe6+ Qxe6 24.Rxe6 Kf7 25.Re2
Rxg4–+]
23...Rf7 24.Qxe6 Bg5 [!]
25.Qe8+ Rf8 26.Qxd7 Nxd7 27.Bc1
Bxd2 28.Re7 Rf7 29.Re8+ Nf8
30.Bxd2 Nf3+
0–1
(3) Krasenkow M (2573) - Rustemov
A (2607) [D15]
Panormo 82/337, 2001
[Rustemov,A]
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 a6
5.c5 Nbd7 6.Bf4 Nh5 7.e3 g6 8.Bd3
Bg7 9.0–0 0–0 10.h3 Nxf4 11.exf4 Qc7
[!N]
[11...b6 Ue 81/306]
12.Ne2 [?!]
[12.Re1 Qxf4 13.Rxe7 Bxd4 ! 14.Ne2
Qf6 15.Rxd7 Bxc5 !! 16.Rc7 Qd6
17.Rxc8 Raxc8³; 12.Qd2 Bh6 13.g3 e5
!; 12.f5 !?]
12...b6 13.cxb6 [13.b4 a5 14.cxb6
(14.a3 ? 14...axb4 15.axb4 Rxa1
16.Qxa1 bxc5 17.bxc5 Nxc5)
14...Qxb6µ]
13...Qxb6 14.Rc1 c5 15.b3 Bb7
[15...cxd4 ?! 16.Qc2 Bb7 17.Qc7 ]
16.Bb1 [16.Ne5 !? 16...Bxe5
(16...Nxe5 17.dxc5 Nf3+ 18.gxf3 Qf6÷)
17.dxe5÷ (17.dxc5 Nxc5 18.fxe5 f6
19.exf6 e5 %04!) ]
16...Rac8 [16...Rfc8 !? ]
200
17.Qd2 e6 18.Qe3 Qd6 [18...Rfd8
19.Ne5]
19.h4 [!]
[19.dxc5 Nxc5 20.Ned4 Ne4³]
19...Rc7 20.h5 Rfc8 21.hxg6 hxg6
22.dxc5 Rxc5 [22...Nxc5 !? ]
23.Rxc5 Qxc5 24.Nfd4 [24.Rc1 'better
is' 24...Qxe3 25.Rxc8+ Bxc8 26.fxe3
a5³]
24...e5 25.Qh3 [?!]
[25.fxe5 Nxe5 26.Rc1 Qa3 27.Rxc8+
Bxc8³]
25...Qe7 26.fxe5 Nxe5µ 27.Rd1 Re8
28.Rc1 Qd8 [!!]
29.Rd1 Bc8 30.Qg3 Ng4 31.Qf3 Qh4
32.Qg3 Qe7 [32...Qxg3 33.fxg3µ;
32...Qh8 !! 33.f3 (33.Qh3 ? 33...Bxd4
34.Nxd4 Qxd4–+) 33...Be5 34.f4 Bc7–+]
33.Bd3 Be5 [?]
[33...Qa3–+]
34.f4 [?]
[34.Nc6 !=]
34...Bxd4+ 35.Nxd4 Qc5–+ 36.Bb1
[36.Bf1 Ne3 37.Qe1 Bd7]
36...Ne3 [36...Re3 !? 37.Qh4 Rd3 !!
38.Qd8+ (38.Bxd3 Qxd4+ 39.Kh1 Nf2+
40.Kh2 Nxd1 41.Bxg6 fxg6 42.Qd8+
Kf7 43.Qc7+ Kf6 44.Qd8+ Kf5
45.Qxc8+ Kxf4) 38...Kg7 39.Bxd3
Qxd4+ 40.Kh1 Qxf4 41.Qh4 (41.Kg1
Qh2+ 42.Kf1 Qh1+ 43.Ke2 Qxg2+
44.Ke1 Qf2# ) 41...Nf2+]
37.Qe1 Bd7 38.Rd2 [38.b4 Qb6
39.Rd2 (39.Rd3 Bf5) 39...Nc4]
38...Nf5 39.Qd1 Nxd4 40.Rxd4 Bg4
41.b4 [41.Qd2 Re2]
41...Qc3 42.Qd3 Qe1+ 43.Qf1 Qe3+
0–1
(4) Grischuk A (2667) - Bologan V
(2676) [C99]
Enghien-les-Bains 81/291, 2001
[Bologan,V]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4
Nf6 5.0–0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3
0–0 9.h3 Na5 10.Bc2 c5 11.d4 Qc7
12.Nbd2 cxd4 13.cxd4 Rd8 14.Nf1
exd4 15.Nxd4 d5 16.e5 Ne4 17.Bf4
[!?]
[17.f3 Bc5 18.Be3 (18.fxe4 Ue
68/(323)) 18...Nc4 19.fxe4 (19.b4 Nxe3
20.Nxe3 Bb6 21.Qd3 Ng5 22.h4 Qxe5
23.Nc6 Nxf3+ ! 24.Kf2 Qh5µ) 19...dxe4
20.Bxe4 Nxe3 21.Nxe3 Rxd4 22.Qc2
Rc4 23.Qd3 Bb7 !; 17.Ne3 !?]
17...Bc5 18.Ne3 Qb6 19.Nb3 Nxb3
20.Bxb3 Be6 [20...Bb7 !?]
21.Qd3 [N]
[21.Bc2]
21...a5 [!]
[21...Be7 22.Rad1 Nc5 23.Qd4 Na4
24.Nxd5 Qxd4 25.Rxd4 Bc5 26.Rd2
Nxb2 27.Nc7 Rxd2 28.Bxd2 Bxb3
29.Nxa8 Bxa2 30.Ra1 Bc4 31.Nb6 !]
201
22.f3 [22.Rad1 a4 23.Bc2 Rac8³ 24.f3
'with the idea' ? 24...g5 25.Bh2 Bxe3+
26.Rxe3 Rxc2–+; 22.Rac1 Rac8
(22...a4 %04?! 23.Bc2 a3 24.b3 Bb4
25.f3 Bxe1 26.Rxe1 Bf5 27.Kh2 Bg6
28.fxe4 Bxe4 29.Qd2±) 23.Bc2 Bb4
24.Re2 g6 25.a3 Be7 26.f3 Nc5
27.Qd4 Na4³]
22...a4 [22...g5 23.Bh2 a4 24.Bc2 Bf5
Ue 22...a4]
23.Bc2 g5 24.Bh2 Bf5 [!]
25.Qe2 [?]
[25.fxe4 Bxe4 26.Qd2 Bxc2 (26...a3 !?
27.b4 Bxe3+ 28.Rxe3 Bxc2 29.Kh1
Qg6) 27.Kh1 Be4 (27...Bxe3 28.Rxe3
Bg6 29.Rf3 g4 30.hxg4 d4 31.Bg1)
28.Ng4 Be7 29.Rf1 Qg6 30.Nf6+ Kf8 !
(30...Kg7 31.Qd4 Ra6 32.e6 Bxf6
33.Rxf6 Qxf6 34.Be5 Rxe6 35.Bxf6+
Rxf6 36.Rf1 Rdd6 37.Kg1 =) 31.Rac1
Ra6³]
25...d4 [?]
[25...Bxe3+ 26.Qxe3 d4 27.Qd3 Ng3
28.Qd2 (28.Re4 Nxe4 29.fxe4 Bxe4–+)
28...d3+ 29.Qf2 Qxf2+ 30.Kxf2 d2 !]
26.Bxe4 [?]
[26.fxe4 Bg6 (26...dxe3 27.exf5 Rd2
28.Qg4) 27.Rad1 dxe3 28.Rd5³]
26...dxe3 27.Kh1 [27.Bxf5 Rd2–+]
27...Rd2 [27...Bxe4 28.fxe4 Rd2
29.Qg4 h6 30.h4 Qg6µ]
28.Bxa8 [28.Bxf5 !? 28...Rxe2
29.Rxe2 Rd8 30.Rc2 Rd2 31.Rac1
Bb4 32.Bg1µ]
28...Rxe2 29.Rxe2 Bd3 30.Ree1 Bb4
31.Rec1 [31.Red1 e2 (31...Bd2 32.Bg1
Qg6 !? 33.Rxd2 ! 33...exd2 34.Rd1
Bc4 35.Rxd2÷) 32.Rxd3 Qf2 ! 33.Bg1
e1Q 34.Rxe1 Qxe1 35.Rd5 Bd2
36.Rd3 Ba5–+]
31...e2 32.Bg3 Bd2 33.Rg1 b4 ['time']
34.a3 b3 35.Be1 Be3–+ [35...Bxe1
36.Rgxe1 Qd4–+]
36.Bc3 Bxg1 37.Rxg1 Qf2 38.Re1 h5
39.Bd5 Qc5 40.Bb7 Qb5 41.Ba8 Qc5
42.Bb7 Kh7 43.Ba8 Kg6 44.Bb7 Qb5
45.Ba8 Qc4 46.Kh2 Kh7 47.Kh1 Kg8
48.Kh2 Kf8 49.Kh1 Ke7 50.Kh2 Ke6
51.g3 Qa6
0–1
(5) Bauer Ch (2612) - Bologan V
(2676) [D55]
Enghien-les-Bains 81/373, 2001
[Bologan,V]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Be7
5.Bg5 h6 6.Bxf6 Bxf6 7.e3 0–0 8.Rc1
Nc6 9.a3 [9.Be2 Ue 4/639]
9...dxc4 [?!N]
[9...a6 10.Bd3 dxc4 11.Bxc4 e5]
10.Bxc4 e5 11.d5 Ne7 12.Ne4 Ng6
[12...Nf5 ? 13.Ba2]
13.Ba2 [13.d6 ! 13...cxd6 14.Qxd6
Qxd6 15.Nxd6 Bg4 (15...Be7 %04?
16.Bxf7+ ! 16...Rxf7 17.Nxc8+–)
16.Nd2 b6 17.h3 Bd7 18.N2e4 Be7
19.0–0²]
13...Be7 14.0–0 [?!]
202
[14.Qc2 !? 14...Bd6 (14...Bf5 15.Nf6+
Bxf6 16.Qxf5 e4 17.Nd2 Bxb2 18.Rb1
Bc3 19.Qxe4÷) 15.Nxd6 cxd6 16.Qc7
Bg4 !]
14...Kh8 [!]
15.Qb3 f5 16.Nc5 Bd6 17.Bb1
[17.Nxb7 Bxb7 18.Qxb7 Rb8 19.Qxa7
Rxb2 20.Ra1 e4 21.Nd4 Qh4 22.h3
Ne5 23.Ne6 Nf3+ 24.gxf3 (24.Kh1
Rxf2–+) 24...Rf6–+]
17...Qf6 18.Rfe1 [18.e4 Nf4 19.Rfe1
b6 20.Nd3 Nxg2 ! 21.Kxg2 fxe4
22.Ndxe5 exf3+ 23.Nxf3 Bg4–+]
18...b6 19.Ne6 Bxe6 20.dxe6 e4
21.Nd4 Rae8³ 22.Nb5 [22.g3 Ne5;
22.Red1 !? 22...f4 ! 23.Bxe4 fxe3 24.f3
(24.Qxe3 Bf4 25.Qe2 Bxc1 26.Rxc1
Qxd4 27.Bxg6 Rxe6–+) 24...Qh4 25.g3
Bxg3–+]
22...Nh4 [!]
23.Red1 [!]
[23.Kh1 Qg6 24.Rg1 (24.g3 Nf3
25.Red1 Qh5 26.h4 Qg4 27.Kg2 Bxg3–
+) 24...Bxh2 !; 23.Nxc7 Qg5 24.g3
Nf3+–+]
23...Qg5 24.g3 Nf3+ 25.Kg2 [?]
[25.Kf1 ! 25...Nxh2+ 26.Kg2 Nf3
27.Nxd6 cxd6 28.Rxd6 Qg4 29.Rh1
Ng5 30.Qd1 Qf3+ 31.Qxf3 exf3+
32.Kh2 Rxe6 33.Rxe6 Nxe6 34.Rd1
Ng5³]
25...Qh5 26.h4 [26.Rh1 Ng5 27.h3
Qf3+ 28.Kg1 Bxg3 29.Qc2 Be5–+]
26...Bxg3 [!]
27.fxg3 Nxh4+ [!]
28.gxh4 Qf3+ 29.Kh2 [29.Kg1 Qg3+
30.Kh1 Qxh4+ 31.Kg2 Rf6 32.Rg1
Rg6+ 33.Kf1 Qh3+]
29...Qf2+ 30.Kh1 [30.Kh3 g5 ! (30...f4
31.Rg1 fxe3 32.Bxe4 Rf4 33.Rg3
Rxe4) 31.Qc3+ Kg8 32.hxg5 hxg5
33.Rg1 g4+ 34.Rxg4+ fxg4+ 35.Kxg4
Qg2+ 36.Kh4 Rf3]
30...Qxh4+ 31.Kg1 Qg3+ 32.Kf1
[32.Kh1 Qh3+ 33.Kg1 Rf6]
32...f4 [!]
33.Bxe4 fxe3+ 34.Ke2 Rf2+ 35.Kd3
e2+ 36.Kc4 exd1Q 37.Qxd1 Qe5 [!]
38.Nc3 [38.Qd5 Rxe6]
38...Rxb2 39.Qd7 b5+ 40.Kd3 Qg3+
0–1
(6) Tukmakov V (2575) - Lanka Z
(2390) [E73]
USSR 42/775, 1986
[Tukmakov,V]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6
5.Be2 0–0 6.Bg5 h6 7.Be3 e5 8.d5 c6
9.Qd2 h5 10.h3 Na6 [10...b5 !?;
10...a6 Ue 42/(775)]
11.Nf3 cxd5 12.cxd5 Nc5 [N]
[12...Nh7 Ue 40/(744)]
13.Qc2 a5 [13...Qc7 !? 14.Rc1 Bd7
15.b4 %04? 15...Na4]
203
14.0–0 Ne8 [14...Bd7 15.Bxc5 dxc5
16.Nxe5 Nxd5 (16...Nxe4 17.Qxe4
Re8 18.f4±) 17.Nxd7 Nxc3 18.Nxf8+–]
15.Nd2 Bd7 16.Bb5 Rc8 [16...Bxb5
17.Nxb5 Rc8 (17...Qd7 ? 18.Nxd6 !)
18.Nc4±]
17.Bxd7 [17.Nc4 f5 18.f3 Kh7 !?]
17...Nxd7 [17...Qxd7?! 18.Nc4]
18.Qb3 [18.Qa4!?]
18...f5 19.Na4 [!?]
[19.f3 Nc5 20.Qb5 (20.Bxc5?
20...Rxc5 21.Qxb7 Bh6) 20...f4 21.Bf2
g5 22.Nc4 g4 23.Kh1÷]
19...f4 [19...b5? 20.Qxb5 Rb8 (20...f4
21.Bb6±) 21.Qc6 f4 22.Ba7 Rc8
23.Bb6 !]
20.Bb6 Nxb6 21.Nxb6 [21.Qxb6
Qe7!? (21...Qd7!? 22.Qxa5 f3 23.Nb6
Qd8 24.Nxf3 Rxf3 25.gxf3 Bh6!) 22.f3
g5 23.Qxa5 g4]
21...Rc7 22.Nbc4 [?!]
[22.Rac1 g5÷; 22.f3!]
22...g5 [?!]
[22...f3! 23.Nxf3 Rxf3 24.gxf3 Qg5+
25.Kh1 Qh4 26.Kg2 Qg5+ =]
23.f3 Bh6 [23...g4 24.hxg4 hxg4
25.fxg4 Nf6 26.g5 Ng4 27.Qh3 Qxg5
(27...b5 28.Qxg4±) 28.Nxd6±]
24.Qb6 [!]
24...Qf6 25.Nxa5 g4 26.fxg4 hxg4
27.hxg4 Rg7 28.Rae1 Kh8 [!?]
29.Nac4 [29.Nxb7!?]
29...Qh4 [29...Rxg4 30.Ne3]
30.Nf3 Qxg4 31.Rf2
31...Qh5 32.Qd8 [!]
[32.Nxd6 ? 32...Rg6]
32...Rh7
33.Kf1 Bg7 34.Nxd6 Nf6 35.Qe7 Ng4
36.Nf5 [36.Qg5 ? 36...Nh2+ ! 37.Ke2
Nxf3 38.Qxh5 Nd4+–+]
36...Qg6 ['time']
[36...Nxf2±]
37.d6 [!'time']
[37.Nxg7 ? 37...Rh1+ 38.Ng1 (38.Ke2
Qxe4+–+) 38...Qa6+! 39.Rfe2
(39.Ree2 Ne3+ 40.Ke1 Rxg1+–+)
39...Nh2+ 40.Kf2 Qb6+–+]
37...Rg8 38.Rd2 [38.d7 Rh1+;
38.Nxg7 Rh1+ 39.Ng1 Nh2+µ
(39...Nxf2µ) ]
38...Bf6 39.Qe6 Nh2+ 40.Nxh2 Rxh2
41.Red1 [! ]
41...Re8 [?]
[41...Rxg2? 42.Qxg8+! (42.Qxf6+!?) ;
41...f3 42.g3 Rh1+ 43.Kf2 Rh2+
44.Kg1 (44.Kxf3 Qg4+ 45.Ke3 Bg5+
46.Kd3 Qf3+ 47.Kc4 Qxe4+ 48.Kb3
Rxd2 49.Rxd2 Bxd2 50.Qf6+ Kh7
51.Qf7+ =) 44...Rh3 45.d7 ! 45...Rxg3+
46.Nxg3 Qxg3+ 47.Kh1+–; 41...Rh1+
42.Ke2 Qxg2+ 43.Kd3 Rh3+ (43...Qf3+
44.Kc2 Qxe4+ 45.Kc1 Rxd1+ 46.Rxd1
204
Bg5 47.Qxe5+!! 47...Qxe5 48.Rh1++–)
44.Kc2 Qxe4+ 45.Kc1 Bg5 46.Ne7+–]
42.Qb3 []
42...Bd8 43.Rf2 Bh4 44.d7 [!]
44...Rd8 45.Rd6 Bf6 46.Ke2 Qh5+
[46...Qg4+ 47.Qf3]
47.Kd2 Qg5 48.Kc2 Bg7 49.Rfd2 Bf8
50.R6d3 Rh7 51.Qe6 Bg7
1–0
(7) Gelfand B (2737) - Leko P (2753)
[E08]
Wijk aan Zee 102/371, 2008
[Gelfand,B]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.Bg2 Bb4+
5.Bd2 Be7 6.Nf3 0–0 7.0–0 c6 8.Bf4
Nbd7 9.Qc2 b6 10.Nc3 [10.Rd1 ?!
98/372]
10...Nh5 [!?N]
[10...dxc4; 10...Bb7; 10...Ba6]
11.Bc1 Nhf6 12.Bf4 [12.b3 'better is'
12...Ba6 13.Rd1 Rc8 14.Bf4]
12...Nh5 13.Ne5 [?!]
[13.Rfd1 Nxf4 14.gxf4 Bb7 =]
13...Nxe5 14.dxe5 Nxf4 15.gxf4 f5
[15...b5 !? 16.cxb5 cxb5 17.Nxb5 Qb6
18.Nc3 Ba6; 15...Ba6 16.cxd5 cxd5
17.Qa4ƒ]
16.Rfd1 [16.exf6 Bxf6 17.Rfd1 Ba6³]
16...Ba6 17.cxd5 [17.b3 !?]
17...cxd5 [=]
18.Qa4 [18.Nxd5 exd5 19.Bxd5+ Kh8
20.Bb7 ! 20...Bxb7 21.Rxd8 Bxd8
22.Rd1 b5 23.Qb3 Bb6³]
18...Bb7 19.e3 a6 [19...Qe8 20.Qxe8
Rfxe8 21.Nb5 Rec8 22.Rac1 =]
20.Rdc1 [20.Rac1 !? 20...Qe8 21.Qb3
b5 22.Ne2]
20...b5 21.Qd1 Qb6 22.a4 Rfc8
[22...Bc6 23.a5 Qb7 24.Ne2 Bd7
25.Nd4 g6 =; 22...g6 !?]
23.axb5 axb5 24.Rxa8 Rxa8 25.Ne2
Rc8 [25...Bc5 26.Nd4 Bxd4 27.Qxd4
Qxd4 28.exd4 Rc8 =]
26.Nd4 Rxc1 27.Qxc1 Kf7 28.Bf1 b4
29.Qd1 g6 30.Qa4 Bc8 31.Bb5 Qc7
[31...Bc5 = 32.Bd7 (32.Nb3 Bxe3)
32...Bxd4 33.Bxc8 Bc5]
32.Be8+ Kf8 [?]
[32...Kg7 33.Bc6 Bc5 34.Qa8 Bxd4
35.exd4 Bd7 =]
33.Bc6 Bc5 34.Nb3 Be7 35.Qa8 Kg7
36.Nd4 Bd7 [36...Bc5 37.Nb5 Qe7
38.h3 ! (38.Qxc8 Qh4 39.Kf1 Qg4)
38...Bd7 39.Qb7 Bxc6 40.Qxc6±]
37.Bxd7 Qxd7 [(Q 8/f)]
38.Qa6 [38.Qb8 ! 38...Bc5 39.Qc7 !
39...Qxc7 40.Nxe6+ Kf7 41.Nxc7 d4
42.Kf1 (42.Na6 Bb6 43.exd4 Bxd4
44.b3 Bc3±) 42...b3 43.Ke2 Ba3
44.exd4 Bxb2 45.Kd3 Bc1 46.Kc3 b2
47.Kc2+–]
38...Kf7 39.Kf1 [39.Qb6 h6 40.Nb5 g5
41.fxg5 hxg5]
205
39...Bc5 40.Nb3 [40.Nb5 h6; 40.Nc6
'better is']
40...Qc7 41.Nxc5 [41.Ke2 h6]
41...Qxc5 [(Q 4/k)]
42.Qb7+ Qe7 43.Qb8 Qf8 44.Qb6 h6
[!]
45.Ke2 Qe7 46.Kd3 [46.h4 Qxh4
47.Qxb4 Qh5+ 48.Kd2 Qh4]
46...g5 47.fxg5 hxg5 48.h3 [48.Kc2 f4
(48...g4 49.Kb3 Qh4 50.Qc7+ Kg6
51.Qd6 Qxf2 52.Qxe6+ Kg5 53.Qf6+
Kh5 54.e6 Qxe3+ 55.Ka4+–) 49.Kb3
fxe3 50.fxe3 Kg6 51.Qxb4 Qa7²]
48...f4 [48...Kg6 49.Qd6]
49.Qd4
½–½
(8) Ivanchuk V (2787) - Leko P
(2755) [B31]
Mukachevo (m/6–rapid) 101/93, 2007
[Ivanchuk,V]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 g6 4.Bxc6
dxc6 5.d3 Bg7 6.Nbd2 [6.h3]
6...Nf6 7.a4 Nd7 8.h3 0–0 [8...Nf8 !?]
9.a5 e5 [9...Re8 10.0–0 Nf8 11.Nc4
Ne6]
10.Nc4 Qe7 11.0–0 Rd8 12.Bd2 [N]
[12.Qe2]
12...Nf8 13.Rb1 [13.Qb1 f6 14.b4 cxb4
(14...Ne6 15.bxc5 Nxc5 16.Qb4²)
15.Bxb4 c5 (15...Qc7 16.Bd2 Ne6
17.Qb3 Kh8 18.Rab1²) 16.Ba3 Ne6
17.Qb3²]
13...f6 14.b4 Be6 15.Ne3 b6 [?!]
[15...cxb4 ! 16.Bxb4 Qc7 17.Qd2 Bf7
=]
16.axb6 [16.bxc5 !? 16...bxc5 (16...b5
!?) 17.Rb2 Rdb8 18.Qa1 Qc7
19.Rfb1²]
16...axb6 17.bxc5 bxc5 [?!]
[17...b5 !? 18.Bb4 Bf7 19.Qd2 (19.c3
Ne6 20.Qc2 Nf4 21.Rbd1 'with the
idea' 21...Ra2) 19...Ne6 20.Ra1 h5]
18.Rb6 Qd7 19.Qb1 Bf7 20.Rb7 Qc8
21.Ng4 [21.Qb2 Rd7 22.Rb1²]
21...Ne6 22.Bh6 [22.Qb6² 'better is']
22...Rd7 23.Rb6 Rda7 24.Qb2 [?!]
[24.Qc1 !]
24...Ra2 [24...f5 ! 25.exf5 gxf5 26.Bxg7
fxg4 27.Nxe5 (27.hxg4 Kxg7 28.Nxe5
Nd4) 27...Ra2 (27...Kxg7 28.Nxc6+
Nd4 29.Nxa7 Rxa7÷) 28.Qc3 Kxg7 !
(28...Nxg7 29.Nxg4©) 29.Rxc6
(29.Nxc6+ Nd4 30.Qxc5 Ne2+ 31.Kh1
R8a5 32.Qe3 gxh3 33.Ne5 !) 29...Nd4
30.Rxc8 Ne2+ 31.Kh1 Nxc3 32.Rxc5
R8a5 33.Rxa5 Rxa5 34.Nxg4 =]
25.Qc3 R2a3 26.Qd2 Bh8 27.Rfb1
R3a6 [27...Nd4 28.Nxd4 cxd4 29.Qb4
c5 30.Qb5² (30.Qxa3 Rxa3 31.Rb8
Ra8 32.Rxc8+ Rxc8²) ]
28.Be3 Bg7 29.Nh6+ Bxh6 30.Bxh6
Rxb6 31.Rxb6 Qc7 32.Rb1 Qe7
33.Qc3 [33.h4 !?]
206
33...g5 34.Rb6 Nd8 35.h4 g4 36.Nh2
Be6 ['time']
37.Be3 c4 38.dxc4 Kf7 39.Nf1± Ra3
40.Rb3 Ra4 41.Nd2 Nb7 42.Rb6 Qd7
43.c5 Kg6 44.Kh2 Nd8 45.Qd3 [?!]
[45.Qb2 ! 45...h5 46.Rb8 Ra6 47.Nf1
Bc4 48.Ng3±; 45.Rb4 Rxb4 46.Qxb4²]
45...Qxd3 46.cxd3 Ra3 47.d4 g3+ [!]
48.Kg1 exd4 [48...Ra1+ 49.Rb1
Rxb1+ 50.Nxb1 gxf2+ 51.Kxf2 exd4
52.Bxd4 f5 53.Nd2 fxe4 54.Nxe4±]
49.Bxd4 Rd3 50.Be3 Bd7 51.Rb8
gxf2+ ['time']
[51...Ne6 52.Rg8+ Ng7 53.h5+ Kf7
54.Rh8 Nxh5 55.Rxh7+ Ng7 56.Kf1±]
52.Kxf2‡ Ne6 [52...Nf7 53.Rg8+ Kh5
54.Rg7+–; 52...Bg4 53.Nf3 Rd7
54.Nd4+–]
53.Nc4 Rc3 54.Nb6 Rc2+ 55.Kf3
1–0
(9) Leko P (2751) - Morozevich A
(2762) [B67]
Mexico City 101/150, 2007
[Leko,P]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4
Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bg5 e6 7.Qd2 a6
8.0–0–0 Bd7 9.f3 Be7 10.Be3 h5
11.Kb1 Qc7 12.Nxc6 [!N]
[12.h3; 12.Bd3]
12...bxc6 [?!]
[12...Bxc6 13.Bg5²]
13.Bf4 [!]
[13.Bg5 d5 14.e5 Ng8÷]
13...e5 14.Bg5 Be6 15.Bxf6 [!]
[15.f4 exf4 16.Bxf4 0–0÷]
15...gxf6 16.f4ƒ a5 [16...exf4 17.Ne2 !]
17.f5 Bd7 [17...Bc8 !?]
18.a4 [!]
18...Rb8 19.Bc4 Rb4 20.Bb3 Qb6
21.Rhe1 [21.Rhf1 !? 21...Bc8 22.Rf3]
21...Rd4 [21...Bc8 22.Re3 Rd4²;
21...Rxb3 22.cxb3 Qxb3 23.Re3±]
22.Qe2 Rxd1+ [?]
[22...Bc8 !]
23.Rxd1 Qc5 [23...Bc8 24.Qc4 !
24...Rh7 25.Nd5 !]
24.Rd3 [!]
24...h4 [24...d5 25.exd5 Bxf5 26.Rd2]
25.Rh3 Bd8 [25...d5 26.Ka2]
26.Ka2 Kf8 27.Qe1 [27.Qg4 Rg8
28.Qxh4 Rxg2 29.Qh8+ Rg8 30.Qh6+
Ke7 31.Qh7 Rf8 32.Qg7]
27...Be8 28.Rxh4 Rxh4 29.Qxh4 Qg1
30.Qh8+ [!]
30...Ke7 31.h4 [!]
31...d5 32.exd5 [32.h5 d4 33.h6 dxc3
34.bxc3 (34.h7 ? 34...cxb2 35.Kxb2
207
Bb6) 34...c5 35.h7 c4 36.Bxc4 Qxg2
37.Bb3]
32...Qxg2 33.h5
1–0
(10) Anand V - Leko P (2740) [C83]
Amber Blindfold (6), 24.03.2006
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6
5.0–0 Nxe4 6.d4 b5 7.Bb3 d5 8.dxe5
Be6 9.Nbd2 Be7 10.c3 0–0 11.Qe2
Nc5 12.Nd4 Nxb3 13.N2xb3 Qd7
14.Nxc6 Qxc6 15.Be3 Qc4 16.Qd2
Qg4 17.Bc5 Rae8 18.Rfe1 Qg6 19.f3
c6 20.Re2 Bc8 21.Rae1 h6 22.Qd4 Bf5
23.Qb4 Qg5 24.Qd4 h5 25.g3 Bxc5
26.Qxc5 h4 27.g4 Bd7 28.Qe3 Qe7
29.Kg2 Be6 30.Qd4 Bc8 31.Re3 Qc7
32.Nc5 Re7 33.b4 Rfe8 34.Nd3 a5
35.a3 Qa7 36.Nc5 Qc7 37.Kh3 axb4
38.axb4 Qd8 39.f4 Ra7 40.f5 Ra2
41.Qf4 d4 42.cxd4 Qd5 43.Kxh4 Qg2
44.h3 Kh7 45.Qf3 Rh8 46.Qxg2 Rxg2
47.Kg5 Rd8 48.Rd3 Rb2 49.Rb3 Rd2
50.Re4 R8xd4 51.Rxd4 Rxd4 52.e6
fxe6 53.fxe6 Rd5+ 54.Kf4 g5+ 55.Ke4
Kg6 56.Rf3 Rd1 57.e7 Re1+ 58.Re3
Rxe3+ 59.Kxe3 Kf7 60.Kd4 Ke8
61.Ne4 Be6 62.Nxg5 Bd5 63.h4 Kxe7
64.h5 Kf6 65.Ne4+ Kg7 66.g5 Bc4
67.Ng3
1–0
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