First published 1984/5

@ Sporr zn rhe USSR Magazlne 1984/5

First Batsford Edltion 1986

ISBN 0 7134 55268 (limp)

Set by TUI Ltd

and pr~ntedIn Great Bntam by
Brllings Ltd, Worcester,
for the publishers
St-,
B.T.Batsford Ltd, 4 F~tzhard~nge
London W 1 H OAH

A BATSFORD CHESS BOOK

Advtser: R.D.Keene OBE
Technical Edtroc P.A. Lamford
Contents

Foreword
Lesson 1 : Why Study Chess?
Lesson 2: Ideas and Techniques
Lesson 3: Material Balance
Lesson 4: The Importance of the
Lesson 5: How to Gain Space
Lesson 6: Pawn Structures
Lesson 7: Dynamism and Initiative
Lesson 8: A v o ~ d ~ nDisaster
g in the Openiw
Lesson 9: Neglecting Opening Princ~ples
Lesson 10: The Atm of the Opening
Lesson 1 1: Choice of Open~ng
Lesson 12: The Art of Planning
Lesson 13: Forclng Continuat~ons
Lesson 14: Queen Sacrifices
Lesson 15: Tact~calDevices
Lesson 16: The Endgame
Lesson 17: Methods of Attack
Lesson 18: Attack or Defence?
Lesson 19: Counterattack
Lesson 20: The Opposition
Lesson 2 1 : Attack In the Endgame
Lesson 22: Fortresses on the Chessboard
Lesson 23: The Beauty of Chess
Lesson 24: Don't Begrudge the Time
Index
Foreword
Over the last two years Sport in the USSR magazine published a
series of 24 lessons introducing chess fans, in simple language, to
openings, the most common middle and end games, and other
typical situations at all stages of the game.
This series of articles forms a 'chess school', taught by Gary
Kasparov. B.T.Batsford Ltd. are proud to reproduce these
lessons in book form.
Gary Kasparov is World Champion. He was born on April 13,
1963 in Baku. He won the world junior championship in 1980. As
a member of the USSR team he shared the gold medals at the
1980 and 1982 World Olympiads and the 1980 and 1983
European championships. Gary Kasparov, as the officially
qualified challenger, has played two matches for the world
championship with the 1975-85 title holder, Anatoly Karpov; the
first was aborted after a record 48 games when Gary though
trailing 5-3 had the initiative; the second in 1985 - one of the
great encounters in world championship history - he won 5-3
with 16 draws. He was awarded an Oscar as the world's best chess
player for 1982, 1983 and 1985.
Gary Kasparov delves into the tactics and strategy in the
openings, middle and end game. He gives examples from games
of the world's outstanding grandmasters illustrating endings,
planning, combinations, and many other aspects of the game. We
hope that the recommendations of the famous grandmaster will
expand the outlook of chess enthusiasts and improve their
understanding.
R. G. Wade
London, 1986
Lesson 1: Why Study

The proposal by Sporr in the victory, there are n o math-

USSR magazine to conduct a ematically justified criteria for
series of correspondence study evaluating even a single move,
sessions for their readers came let alone a position. Chess
as a surprise to me because I experts do not doubt that in
am still studying the subtleties most situations there is more
of chess myself. than one strong continuation
After some consideration I and everyone chooses his own
decided that to write about my 'strongest' move guided by his
understanding and interpret- own experience, evaluation
ation of chess basics would abilities, even his own
also be useful for me. character. The possibility of
I love chess. I have been in using computers as consult-
love with the game for many ants does not seem very
years and this love is for life. I serious at present since no
study chess all the time and algorithm of the game of chess
very thoroughly; nevertheless, has been found and there is n o
while analysing what I have program which can deal
done and in planning for the reliably with complications.
future I cannot help but be W h y talk about details,
amazed at the inexhaustibility situations and stages of the
of chess and I am becoming game at a time when there is
even more convinced about its no answer to the question
unpredictability. Judge for 'What is the game of chess? Is
yourself; millions of games it a sport? Or is it a science?Or
have been played, thousands an art?'
of books have been written on Some say: 'Chess players
various aspects of the game, participate in tournaments
yet there is no chess formula or and matches, they fight to win,
method which can guarantee the result is important for
2 Why Study Chess?
them - this means that chess game - these were the stages
is sport. It develops will power of my growth as a captive of
and helps strengthen oneself.' the art of chess. But the time 1

How can one convince came when I began to compete

others of the correctness of the with others, to take part in
opinion of those who are tournament after tournament,
amazed at the beauty of and this meant that I had set
combinations and the logic of out on the path of sporting
chess tactics; for whom a smart chess. I still enjoy playing
sacrifice of the queen in a lost beautiful games but I am not
game is a source of pleasure indifferent to whether I beat
while a dull, forced game my opponents or end up way
leaves them indifferent. For down in the standings.
them chess is an art that brings I want to win, I want to beat
happiness and makes leisure everyone, but I want to do it in
meaningful. style, in an honest sporting
At the same time there are battle. The former world
many chess enthusiasts who champion Mikhail Botvinnik,
can spend night after night whom I consider my chess
trying to solve one problem: teacher, is a chess academic,
'Why did Black move the rook whose work helped to make
to d8 instead of the knight to chess a scientific subject. He
c6? Why is Black's position developed my love for chess
better?' For them chess is research and for solving
mainly a science of logical innumerable problems. In my
thinking. preparations for competitions,
I love chess even more for its during my game analysis and
versatility and manysidedness. ' analysis of openings, I \
I t was the beauty and suddenly discovered that I was
brilliance of tactical blows
that captivated me in early
childhood. First, it was the
trying to study thoroughly and
methodically with a persist- i
ence which is typical of a
admiration of this brilliance, researcher. I am convinced
then the search for it in my today that my affection for all
own games, later it was an aspects of chess will help
attempt to play a beautiful preserve my love for it for the
1
 Why Study Chess 3
rest of my life. ever since.
My parents taught me the I have loved to attack since
moves of the pieces when I was childhood. I still like to be on
only five, and 1was fascinated the offensive. But it took a lot
by them. One year later I was of time to study the basics,
taken to a chess group at the which do not seem to have any
Young Pioneer Club in Baku direct bearing on the game
where I thought I found itself. I am convinced that it is
myself in a hngdom of chess necessary for both a grand-
players. Our instructor in his master and an amateur who
desire to convince the novices wants to improve his game.
of the paradoxical character of and get some pleasure from his
chess set t h e following play in tournaments. To
position on the board at one of achieve this high standard of
the first sessions. play the grandmaster has
spent thousands of hours
studying hundreds of games.
His talent would not have
developed without this
amount of work. If you like to
play chess but do not have
enough time for an independ-
ent study of it, but want to
beat your friends, you will
have to spend dozens of hours
over the chessboard.
This position, where the small In this series of articles I
pawns were victorious over intend to explain m y
the enemy, was so surprising understanding of the basics of
that it seemed like a fairy tale chess in a language clear to
and I was unable to live everybody, and to talk about
without chess after seeing it. I subtleties which are necessary
have admired this position for true chess enthusiasts.
Lesson 2: Ideas and Techniques

Before discussing the basics of bring one's pieces into action

the game of chess I would like as soon as possible and to gain
to show you an episode from a control over the centre of the
recent game and give my board.
comments which are prepared 1 ... af6
specifically for average chess This is one of the best moves
players. I hope that after by Black. Black brings a piece
reading my analysis you will into action and prevents the
see for yourself that anyone opponent from bringing his
who wants to make his moves e-pawn to the centre to con-
meaningful and beautiful solidate his d o m i n a t i o n
needs a lot of chess know- there.
ledge. 2 c4
Now White impedes the free
G.Kasparov-F,Cheorghiu progress of the d-pawn to d5,
Moscow 1982 as in this case after 3 cd Black
will have to choose between 3
1 d4 ... Wxd5 4 Qc3, when White
Experienced chess players brings the knight into play
know that this move, just like while Black has to make a
the move by the king's pawn to second move with the queen,
e4, is the most logical and thus slowing down the process
straightforward, or to put it of bringing his pieces into
simply, the best in the action, or lagging behind in
opening. Every one of you development, as it is cust-
may come to the same omarily catled. lf Black takes
conclusion after studying for the pawn with the knight by 3
two or three hours the basic ... Bxd5, this would allow
principles guiding the first White to play 4 e4 with a
stages of the game which are to strong pair of pawns in the
 Ideas and Techniques 5
centre which controls all 3 +. b6
important positions in Black's Black is concerned about
camp, the squares c5, d5, e5 the bishop on c8, and prepares
i
I
and f5.
Let us go back to the first
to bring it to the main combat
position b7 o r to t h e
lines of our analysis of the alternative one on a6.
move 2 c4, where we say that 4 a3
'White impedes ...'. This is the In order to make this seem-
beginning of a conscious ingly passive move one needs a
conflict in a chess game. Ideas d e e p u n d e r s t a n d i n g of
have clashed, the battle has preventive measures in the
begun. The greater the g a m e of c h e s s . T h i s
player's abilities and know- unobtrusive move by the white
ledge the better he is equipped pawn bars the black bishop
to spot the appearance of such from an active position on b4
micro-conflicts of which there and at the same time prepares
are multitudes in each game, to move the white knight to c3
and the better are his judge- where it may have a vital role
ment of consequences and to play in the struggle for the
future decisions. centre.
2 ... e6 4 . Ab7
Black opens up a path for 5 Qc3
the bishop, and, as if trying to Both sides are trying to
make up for lost time, gets introduce their pieces into the
ready to move his d-pawn to game so as to consolidate their
d5. grip on the further struggle in
3 af3 the centre of the board.
White has a good choice of 5 ... d5
strong continuations, includ- Black radically strengthens
ing 3 Qc3 and even 3 Ag5 or 3 his position in the centre. The
Af4. It is of primary import- move ... d5, however, has its
ance to adhere to the principle disadvantages, as it blocks the
of rapid development of one's diagonal for the b7-bishop.
pieces and to implement it in 6 cd Qxd5
practice during the opening After 6 ... ed the b7-bishop
stage. would have been obstructed
6 Ideas and Techniques
by its own pawn and risked pawn.
remaining immobilised for 8 e4 Qxd
some time. Although this 9 bc
feature of Black's position This is a new gain by White.
alone cannot pre-determine He has achieved a strong pawn
White's success, a consistent centre and is engaged in
accumulation of such minor combat for domination over
a d v a n t a g e s allows an the fifth rank, i.e., over
experienced grandmaster to 'enemy' territory. Chess
turn the tide in his favour. players call this a 'space
advantage'.
9 ... Be7
10 l b 5 - t Ac6
11 Ad3
In chess a straight line is not
always the shortest distance
between two points. By
moving the Bishop to d3 in
two moves White has gained
more advantages than he
would have by doing it in one
7 Wc2 move. Black was prevented
Another micro-conflict on from replying with the most
the chess stage develops natural move against the
around the move e4, which check, because after, 10 &bS+
would allow White to occupy Qc6 11 Qe5 Pc8 12 %a4 Wc7
the centre. In choosing his 13 Wxa7 Ea8? 14 Axc6+
move White takes into White wins. Black's bishop is
account the fact that after 7 unfortunately placed on c6,
e4? Qxc3 8 bc Axe4 Black has getting in the way of its own
an extra Pawn. pieces. In such cases chess
7 ... c5 players refer to bad piece
Black could have destroyed location and poor c o -
White's plan by 7 ... f5 but at ordination of forces.
great cost. He would be left 11 ... Qbd7
with a weak backward e6- The bishop occupying c6 has
 ldeas und Techniques 7
forced the knight to take a Grandmaster Fforian Gheor-
passive position instead of the ghiu chooses an unfortunate
active one on c6 where it moment for preventive meas-
would have attacked the ures.
White centre. It could be that 13 ad1
Black did not want to give the White centralises his rook,
opponent the advantage of foreseeing the opening of the
two bishops after 11 ... 0-0 12 d-file.
Qe5, but this would have been 13 ... Wc7
the Iesser of two evils in the it is already too late for
present situation, as in the Black to castle. After 13 ... 0-0
actual game the black king 14 d5 (a pawn sacrifice) 14 ...
remained in the centre. I t ed (14 ... Ab7? is poor, 15 de fe
would be more reasonable for 16 Ab5! and Black suffers
Black to see to the safety of his because of the knight stranded
king by trying to remove it on d7) 15 ed Ab7 16 c4 Af6 17
from the centre as soon as Ab2 and White gets a strong
possible. passed pawn in the centre.
12 0-0 14 d5!
i
1 As Black has delayed
1 placing his king safely in
shelter White aims to open up
the centre at any cost (to clear
the central files of pawns.) For
this reason White removes his
king from the scene of action
vacating the area for his rooks.
12 ... h6
- Like 4 a3 which stopped
Black's ... Ab4 this is a
preventive move. But 12 ..-0-0 'He who has the advantage
would have been more has to act fast.' This was one of
appropriate. the maxims of the great chess
A n i m p o r t a n t game thinker and the first world
component is the accurate champion Wilhelm Steinitz
timing of a n operation. (1836-1900) who formulated
8 ideas and Techniques
the basic laws of chess - it opened up the central
strategy. An analysis of the files, tied up the Black pieces
classic heritage left by the on the d-file and held the
coryphaei of the past is useful . opponent's king in the centre.
for all chess enthusiasts and a He clearly won the first stage
must for those who study of the chess game - the
chess seriously and want to opening - and he did so
improve their game. thanks to a consistent plan of
In the above game White action. However, to capitalize
sacrificed only a pawn but on this, one has to act resolut-
gained everything he wanted ely and accurately.
 Lesson 3: Material Balance

In order to assess correctly the resulting from the specific

balance of power on the situation on the chessboard,
chessboard, one first of all has and to the plan of the game.
to be aware of the comparative The correct assessment of each
value of each piece. The king piece's true strength on each
occupies an exceptional place. move determines to a great
It is priceless. It cannot be extent the player's chess
exchanged and any threat to potential.
its life must be removed, The notion of material
otherwise the game immediat- advantage in chess is this
ely comes to an end. The most disparity of power. When one
powerful chess piece is the side has gained a material
queen which on average is one advantage it tries to increase it
bishop plus one and a half in order to break the
pawns stronger than a rook.A opponent's resistance or,
rook is also stronger than a preserving this advantage, to
bishop or a knight by a pawn exchange as many pieces as
and a half. And lastly, a possible and to enter the
bishop or a knight is about endgame. But it often happens
equivalent to three pawns. that one of the opponents
But apart from the face incurs material losses delib-
value of each chessman there erately. I, for example, like
exists a real value which attacking the king's position
*
changes in the course of the and don't begrudge sacrificing
game. This more subtle and pieces for pawns that shield
important notion reflects the the king in order to break
importance of each chessman down its fortress. Thus, a
with respect to its workload at while ago I played Lajos
a given moment (at the time of Portisch, a grandmaster from
a g v e n move), to its prospects, Hungary. After 16 moves the
10 Material Balance
position was'as follows: Now when the king again
seeks protection behind its
pawn the remaining white
bishop at the price of its own
life annihilates the black
king's last stronghold.
20 ...*g8
21 Axg7 &xg7

If one were to imagine that

the d4-pawn is removed from
the board, it would be clear
that the white bishops are
aiming at the two black pawns
guarding the king. I t has no
other protection so far. A11
this calls for a lightning attack,
the aim of which -to strip the A cornbinafive whirlwind
king of its last defenders - has left the Black king facing
justifies the means, in this case isolation, the White queen
the loss of a white pawn and posing the greatest danger.
two formidable bishops. 22 QeS! Ed8
First, one has to pave the 23 Wg4+ &f3
way for the b2-bishop, 24WS f6
17 d5! ed 25 Qd7+ Hxd7
18 cd Axd5 25 .., +fl allows an immed-
The next step is to reduce iate win by 26 Wh7! 4x6 27
the number of the black king's Pel+! &xdS 28 We4+ &d6
defenders. 29 We6 mate.
19 Axh7+&xh7 ,26 Uxd7 We5
20 Exd5 ': 27 9 h 7 Xc7
 Marerial Balance I I
P c l f 30 Efl l c 5 + 31 &hl
Exfl mate.
28 ... &n
29 Pd3 a c 4
30 Pfdl
It never hurts to bring into
the game one's reserves.
30 .,. Qe5
31 Wh7+ &e6
It is impossible to retreat by
31 ... &f8 because of the new
There is an approximate sacrifice 32 Pd8+! AxdB 33
material balance in the above Xxd8 mate. The king has to
position. A white rook and a move to the centre of the
pawn confront a bishop and a board, and in 99 cases out of
knight. The black pieces are 100 that is tantamount to ruin.
poorly positioned however, 32 1 g 8 + &f5
especially the king, while two 33 g4+ *f4
most formidable white pieces 34 Ed4+ &i3
i have broken through to the
seventh rank and the end of
35 Wb3+
Black resigns.
/ the battle is near. Everything It goes without saying that
i depends on how quickly all chess players should know
White will get one of its rooks and respect basic chess
; to g3. The last Black move, principles, including the table
- : however, contains a hidden
trap for hasty players.
of comparative values of
pieces. But it is exactly the
1
i
C
28 Wb8+
If White had played 28 a d 3
multitude of exceptions to the
rules that make chess such a
I right away, he would have fascinating game. They often
faced disaster after a n lead to so called non-standard
overwhelming sacrifice of the situations and balance, where
queen - 28 ... 29 the correct path is often
&xf2 Ac5+ and then Exh7. discovered by intuition and
' He would have fared still experience. As part of such
worse in case of 29 PxfZ? experience I recall an episode
I2 Material Balunce
from a game that I had studied
between Mikhail Tal and ,
Oscar Panno which they
played in 1958.

moves. Two knights and a

rook are of no less value than a
queen while the white bishop
cannot properly fit into the
Without having completed '. game. Obviously, the outcome
the development of the pieces of the struggle depends on the
the opponents rushed into a , white queen's agility.
fierce clash in which the 24 Wg4! Ag6
material balance of forces 25 We6+ Af7
lost its immediate import- 26 Wf5 Qc2
ance. The vital thing is how to ' 27 b3 ag6
correctly assess the scope and ' Tal was more fearful of a
the effectiveness of the pieces. counter attack by Black after
18 ... xb3 27 ... Hdl+ 28 &h2 Qd2.
19 Qc6!
White aims to win the queen
by this move but the material
Black makes a solid move
which forces White t o
complicate the game still
II
given away is too great. further.
19 ... Qxal . 28 Pxg7S &xg7 1
20 a x d 8 Af5! 29 Bh6+ &xh6
21 Wf3 Paxd8 30 Ixrn+F$gS
22 Bxe7 Axbl 31 bc bc
23 Axf4 Hxd4 The position has drastically
The position has changed changed again. White has only
beyond recognition after five the queen and several pawns
on the offensive. , .

32 g3 Ae4
33 h4+ &g4
34 &h2 l f 5 ! 41 ,.. He6 42 e4 c3 could
Panno gives up a piece (35 have been another path to a
f3+ &xf3 36 Wxf5+ &e3) to draw as Black's pieces would
bring his king to the queen's end up protecting each other
flank. That's why White with the white king locked in a
bought an opportunity to keep cage.
the king on the right flank 42 Wfl + &e4
within reach of the white 43 WxcQ+&f3
pawns. 44 #tl+ &e4
35 Wf6 h6 45 Wxa6
36 H e 5 Be4 Now the White queen has
37 wg7+ &f3 received a helper - a passed
38 W J + Qe3 pawn on a2. It was this pawn
A simpler draw would have that finally decided the
been 38 ... &xf2 39 Wxc2+ outcome of the battle, but that
&f3. is a subject for another lesson.
Lesson 4 The Importance of the Centre

The e4, d4, e5 and d5 squares occupied the centre) usually

in the centre of the board are receives an opportunity to
very important. They are like a shift its pieces easily from one
hill giving a full view of the part of the board to another,
chess battlefield and allowing creating an advantage in
a knock-out blow to be forces where the fighting
delivered on any target of the begins.
board. A hundred years ago the
battle for the centre was a lot
more carefree and chivalrous.
White usuaI[y rushed to
occupy the centre with his
pawns and would be quite
prepared to sacrifice material.
Gambits, or openings in which
material is sacrificed, were
very much in vogue at the time.
1 e4 e5
2 f4! ef
Such expressions as 'battle At present, the most
for the centre', 'domination in popular reply is the counter
the centre' artd 'undermining gambit 2 ...d5 3 ed e4! and the
the centre' also reflect the battle for the centre becomes
crucial moments of combat more subtle.
and are we11 known to any 3 Qr3
experienced chess player. Wilhelm Steinitz, the first
The struggle for the centre official world champion
begins with the very first (1836-1900) liked to play 3 d4,
moves. The side which has ..
allowing 3 . Wh4-k 4 *e2. He
advantage in the centre (or believed that having an
 The Importance of the Cenrre 15
advantage in the centre was by the emininent American
more important than having chess player, Paul Morphy
good protection for the king. (1837-1884).
3 . g5
4 Ac4 g4 P.Morphy-J.Amous de RivYre
5 0-O! gf Paris 1863
6 Wxf3 Wf6
7 d3 Ah6 ,

8 Qc3 Qe7 . .
9 hxf4 d6
10 Axh6 I x b 6 :
11 I x f l f &d8 ,', ,
12 HT6 lg5 "

13 Pafl

This was the continuation

'one of the games played by
the great Russian chess player, At that time this most
Mikhail Chigorin, in 1878. interesting position was no
White sacrificed a piece and less popular than the Spanish
launched a strong attack, with game is at present. By
superiority in the centre sacrificingapawn Whitegetsa
playing a decisive role. clear advantage in the centre
Another more vivid illust- where he has a powerful pair
ration of White's strategy in of pawns which, use as a solid
the centre was demonstrated shield, a l l o w s White to
I6 The Importance of rhe Centre
regroup his f o r c e s as ing in the centre, they form a
necessary. H e has also situation to which Black can
established strong control easily adapt. But each of these
over the Black centre, i.e., over pawns can move forward, thus
e5 (two threats against two creating new situations in
defences) and particularly which Black wiIl have to find a
over d5 (three threats and no defence, which is considerably
defence). more difficult. For this reason
Black cannot play 9 ... Qf6 'a mobile centre' made up of
because of an immediate pawns is a significant factor in
attack 10 e5! de 1 1 &a3! l x d 4 evaluating the chances of both
12 Wb3! Ae6 13 Axe6 fe 14 sides in the forthcoming
H x e 6 - t Qe7 15 Qxd4 ed 16 battle.
Efel! 9 ... lf6
10 a d 5 Wg6
11 ar4! wf6 I
12 e5!
m Bw%f B The central pawn has

mBB@,m,BB# moved forward and immed-

iately created a situation in
which Black, instead of
@ B m @ developing his pieces in an
orderly fashion, has to protect
h e king from real threats. This
is a formidable task, since
The best response for Black most of Black's pleces are
is considered to be 9 ... l g 4 stuck in their initlal positions. 1
and 10 AbS may be followed At this stage, using his
by either 10 ... Ad7 or 10 ... advantage in the number of
men actively engaged in
I
&f8. J.Arnous de Rivikre
made a natural but unfortun- combat, White carries out a
ate move which allowed White typical operation - he opens
to use another advantage of up the centre (clearing away
the central pawn pair - its his own and theenemy pawns)
mobility. Indeed, while the e4 to give his men freedom.
and d4 pawns are only stand- When the centre is open the
 The Importance of the Centre 17
role of the pieces increases prevent Black's king from
greatly, and their location escaping to a flank.
assumes critical importance. 15 a h 4 Wc5
This stage requirescalculation 16 Pe3! Wg5
of timing which needs If I6 ... Wxc4 then 17
exceptional precisLon and lh5+.
exact calculation. 17Qf3 Wa5
13 de Wf5 18 l x b 6 Wxb6
Black cannot, of course, 19 Qd5 Wa5
take the pawn 13 ... Qxe5? 14 20 Qd2!
Qxe5? 14 a x e 5 Wxe5? 15 Now Black can do nothing
against the threat to the a8
\ Eel, winning the queen. But
the e-pawn keeps on moving rook after 21 Qb3 and 22
forward, Qxc7+ and against a no less
significant
- threat Qh5+. The
end is imminent.
20 .., ad4
21 Qb3 Qxb3
22 ab Wc5
23 Wh5+ &d8
..
After 23 . g6 24 Q x f 6 f the
queen is taken.
24 Pad1

14 .,. fb
Black is no better after 14 ...
fe 15 a x e 6 Axe6 16 bxe6!
Wf6 17 Wd7+ &f8 18 Ab2!
(this is why the pawn has
vacated the e5 square) 18 ...
Wxb2 19 Wf7 mate. Now the
e6 pawn splits Black's position
into two parts and its value
assumes increased signif- There is no esacaping the
icance. White only has to grave consequences of the
18 The Importance of the Cenrre
discovered check (25 Qb6+;
the knight leaves the d-file and
Black's king finds itself check-
ed by the White rook) so Black
resigned.
It is essential for each side to
pay attention to the central
pawn formation and to try to
maintain a pawn prepond-
erance.
It sometimes happens that
only one pawn remains in the
centre. This creates new
problems, for instance, how to
occupy an outpost in the
centre which often permits the
pieces to be used to advantage White has a strong hold on I
and superiority to be gained the d5 square, since Black is
over the opponent. unable to oust the queen from
its strong position in the next
T.Petrosian-Kozma few moves. At the same time,
Munich 1958 Black's weaknesses on the d-
!:
file are permanent and may be
1 Qf3 Qf6 very significant.
2 64 e6 Experienced chess players
3 AgS c5 never begin aggressive oper-
4 e3 b6?! ations on the flanks before
White's unpretentious they shore up their positions in
method of playing the opening the centre.
lowers Black's viglance and In the following diagram
the latter, by this seemingly White, without having made
natural move, allows his the necessary move Qc3, has
opponent to occupy an begun a pawn offensive on the
1i
outpost in the centre with a king's flank. In itself it does
piece. not pose much of a threat but
5 #! ed ... in a game played between
 The Imporrance of the Centre 19

Neergard and Simagin (by have collapsed after a timely

correspondence, in 1964) counter-blow in the centre.
Black proved its extreme The game continued
danger for White (!) very 10 Ag5 Wf5
convincingly. I 11 Qf4 Axf3
1 .** b5!! 12 Ah3
2 cb d5!! If 12 AxD Qxf3 13 #?xi3
3 ed e4! then 13 ... Xc3+ 14 &f2 Pc5+
4 Wxd 15 &fl Ef3+ 16 &g2 1 g 4 +
4 fe would be followed by 4 would follow.
...
Qe5! but even now White is 11 ... Ag4
uncomfortable. 12 &g2 fPc2
4 . Axg4 and White resigns.
5 Wf4 Ah5 For if 13 Bhdl Axh3+ 14
6 f l Qe5 Qxh3 Wf3+ or 13 Pf2 ExQ+
7 Ag2 Ad6 14 &xf2 Qd3+ is decisive.
8 Wa4 P c ~ !
9 Id2 Wf6 Therefore, try to get control
In only a few moves White's of the centre squares, protect
seemingly solid fortifications the centre and value it dearly!
Lesson 5: How to Gain Space

Since chess is played on a by the c- and f-files, since the

limited area of the 64 squares best positions for the pieces
of the chessboard, the are situated there.
dimension of space, that is, the To make our discussion
number of squares obtained more specific, let us analyse
by each side on which they can two games.
freely position their forces, The first one was played at
usuaIly influences greatly the the end of the last century.
game's progress. At the stan
of the game White and Black
control the same space. But as
a rule any move in the open-
ing pursues the idea of gain-
ing control over a large
number of squares, especially
in the opponent's territory.
Pawns, pressing the oppon-
ent's pieces and giving their
own pieces freedom to
manoeuvre, play the main role
in the seizure of space. But the
movement of pawns must
necessarily be accompanied by
the support of pieces,
otherwise the army of pawns
w i l l soon p e r i s h . A n
experienced chess player tries,
first of all, t o ensure
superiority in the central
sector of the board, bounded
 How to Gain Space 21
Only five moves have been freedom of movement of his
made, but White's gains in the o w n pieces a n d , most
seizure of chess space are importantly, makes the
great: three pawns are assault on White's pawn
controlling very important centre impossible.
squares on the fifth rank, Black's position becomes
which is the opponent's extremely difficult after three
territory. With the support of further moves.
their pieces they will be able to 6 ... d5
advance further, gaining 7 e5 Qe8
control of the opponent's 8 Ae3 e6
territorv.
In modern chess a reliable
strategic method to combat
such pawn chains is an
immediate pawn counter-
attack (most often with the
pieces' support) with the aim
of preventing the chain's
further movement or at least
to make use of it by pawn
exchanges to open lines for
one's own pieces. It is followed Under the protection of the
by a pawn assault on the pawn trident d4-e5-f4 the
opposing pawns with the aim White pieces have many
of breaking the chain into squares for manoeuvring and
separate sections, or, as chess can be easily relocated to any
players say, 'islands'. The area of the board. The great
variation 6 ... c5! 7 d5 e6 8 0-0 German player Tarrasch
ed 9 ed is a good illustration of solves the problem of realising
this method. this superiority in a very
Charousek, one of the simple way. Fie begins a pawn
strongest players of the time, attack on the king's flank. His
also tries to restrain White's pawns are to open the lines for
p a w n c h a i n , but not the major pieces, and the
successfully. He hampers the Black pieces, confined to the
22 Haw to Gain Space
back two ranks, will just get in The second game is an ill-
each other's way and wiIl fail ustration of modern methods
to organise a defence. of gaining space. For me this
9 h4! game is especially memorable
One of the basic rules of as my first victory in a purely
chess: 'An offensive on a flank positional style over a strong
is best parried by a counter- opponent i n high-level
attack in t h e c e n t r e . ' competitions.
Unfortunately by the move 6
...d5 Black has lost this chance
and is doomed.
9 ... Qc6 G .Kasparov-T.Georgadze -
10 h5 Qe7 Minsk 1979
11 g4 f5
12 hg &xg6 1 e4 e5
13 Ad3 h6 2 Qf3 66
14 g5 ah7 3 Pc4 Ae7
15 @e2 Hh8 4 d3
rs wgz c~ This is not fear, but a desire
17 gh to avoid opening variations
after 4 d4 ed 5 Qxd4, well
studied by my opponent.
4 ... bf6
5 c3 0-0
6 0-0 c6
7 Ab3 Ae6
a kc2 h6
9 Be1 bbd7
lo Qbd2 wc7
Both players are unhurried-
ly manoeuvring apparently
with equal success, but this is
not so. White is the first to
Black resigned in view of start acquiring space.
unavoidabie heavy losses, e.g. I1 d4! Pfe3
If 17 ... Axh6 18 @g5! 12 h3!
 How ro Gain Space 23
Black. But not his white
squared bishop. I t is defending
important squares and has the
greatest potential scope of his
minor pieces.
17... a6
18 Axd7 Qxd7
19 g3 he7
20 Id!
White decided to pursue the
strategy of limiting the mobil-
Limiting the opponent's ity of Black's pieces on the
opportunities (neither the king's flank, and to prepare a
black bishop nor knight will b r e a k t h r o u g h on t h e
reach g4 now) is also a way of queenside.
winning space. 20 ... Q f6
12 ... Qf8 21 Qh2 Wd7
13 c4! Qg6 22 a4 Wh3
14 d5 23 Wf3 Wd7
Black did not wish to open 24 as!
the centre to activate the White has crossed t he centre
White pieces after 13 ... ed 14 line on the queen's flank, too,
ax64 Wb6 15 Q2f3! h x c 4 16 continuing to elbow out
Qf5. Instead Black abandons Black. His further expansion
territory marked out by the is evident to both players, but
pawn trident c4-d5-e4. Black, virtually unable to
14 ... Ad7 manoeuvre any reserves, can
Black shouId have played 14 do nothing about it.
... cd to gain space for man- 24 ... Qfs
oeuvring on the queen's flank 25 Ad2 Hec8
by 15 .., b5! 26 QfY Qg4
15 Qbl! i f 8 , 27 Qa4 Ad8
16 Qc3 d? 28 Hecl Hab8
17 Aa4 29 b4! cb *

In such a cramped position 30 Axb4 h5

most exchanges would suit 31 Qb6!
24 How to Gain Space
33 ... Bc5! 34 Axc5 dc.
However White would retain
all chances for victory.
Now, however, the White
offensive is deveioping quickly
and exactly according to plan.
34 f3 Qh6
35 cS dc
36 AxcS Wf6
37 &g2 He8
At first glance, this is an 38 he3 a d 7
illogical continuation; after 39 Pabl We7
all, greater pressure could Black lost on time through
have been exerted along the b- not completing 40 moves
file. But White planned to within the allotted 2% hours.
open up the c-file and in this But after 40 Wxe7 Hxe7 41
case it is very important to Rc7 Black's position would be
have at his disposal a square of hopeless.
entry. The c7-square is the best In conclusion, value space,
bridgehead for a White attack. try to grab as much of it as
31 ... AxM possible. But do not be too
32 ab We7 greedy. Your far advanced
33 #a3 Bd8 pawn chain could be halted
The last opportunity for and destroyed, and your
resistance was to impede the opponent's pieces could burst
advance of the c-pawn by through the breaches formed,
sacrificing rook for bishop - and then any result is possible.
Lesson 6: Pawn Structures

Though the pawns are the

weakest pieces they often
determine the progress of a
game and its outcome. If one
side has an advantage of two
or three pawns, more often
than not this advantage is
sufficient to win. The situation
is more complex when the
number of pawns is the same.
Then the position evaluation 1 ads!! ed
is largely determined by the 2 cd
location of the pawns. Now the d5- and e5-pawns
Before the game starts the become the decisive factor.
opponent's pawns are lined up 2 . Wc8
on their original squares.
While advancing forward they
support each other and restrict
the mobility of the opponent's
pieces. Experienced chess
players often make material
sacrifices in order to get a
mobile, flexible line of pawns
protecting each other, as in the
following diagram.
3 e6! 0-0
4 Wc3 f6
5 d6 Qa4
T.Petrosian-H.Pfleger 5 ... Wxe6 is no good,as t
USSR v West Germany 1960 queen is lost after 6 Pc4.
26 Pawn Structures
6 Wxc8 Hfxc8 If often happens, however,
7 l a 1 Rc2 that the most effective method
8 de HxeZ of fighting a mobile pawn line
9 Ed8+ &g7 is to contain its mobility or to
10 Ecl set up a blockade. This can be
It would be an error to queen done, for instance, by
by 10 e8W since after 10 ... 'covering' the squares in front
Hxg2+!! I 1 &hl Pg3+ and of the pawns, For example , a
White is unexpectedly mated. line of black pawns on c4, d5
and e6 may be contained by a
white bishop located on the
diagonal a l -h8.

10 ... Exe6
11 Pc7
Now there is a threat of 12
eat+.
I1 ... ah6 But when the advance of the
12 kxf6 above pawns is supported by a
Black resigns, Black knight from c6, the
White bishop alone is unable
Wow can one cope with such to stop the advance of the
a mighty pawn phalanx? A pawn chain.
radical remedy is called for: it The best way to set up a
is necessary to destroy the blockade is to restrain pawns
whole line or at least its middle with pawns. If Black pawns on
link, in other words, to break c4, d5 and e6 were held not by
the chain into seperate entities a bishop but by three pawns
unable to protect each other. located on c3, d4 and e5,
this would form an insunn-
ountabfe barrier. mobility with such thorough-
In modern chess the ness. The dynamic properties
opposing parties try to restrict of the pawn line offer great
the mobility of pawn lines in opportunities for a combinat-
the early stages of the game ive game which can lead to
Take this opening for interesting complications,
example: particularly when the
1 d4 Qf6 opponents have a preference
2 c4 e6 for an open game. On the
3 Qc3 Ab4 other hand, a stationary
4 e3 c5 , , blocked pawn chain often
5 Ad3 Qc6 makes for a slow and
6 Qf3 kxc3-k unspectacular development of
7 bc d6 , the game.
8 e4 e5 You may have come across
9 d5 be7 in chess literature or in
As you can see, three pawns commentaries on games such
c4, d5, e4 are opposed by a terms as 'weak pawn',
Black formation c5, eS, 'isolated pawn', etc, Each of
protected by a pawn on d6. them denotes a flaw in the
This turns out to be sufficient pawn structure which restricts
to make the position in the its mobitity and increases its
centre stable, Not all players, vulnerability.
however, try to restrict pawn Here is a simple example.
 28 Pawn Structures
Here is an effective ending
from a game between two
Polish players, Tulkowski and
Wojciewski, played in Poznan
some 55 years ago.

Despite the obstacle of the

Black king, Wbite, playing
correctly, can not only protect
the pawn but can shepherd it
through to promotion. But as
soon as we move the White - After the obvious moves
king, say, to the h-file, the 1 ... Bd2
pawn becomes weak because it 2 Qa4
falls under an easy attack from miracles begin to happen on
the Black king. the board.
0ther common weaknesses 2 ... Uxb2
of the pawn formation include It turns out that the flaws of
pawns doubted or trebled on the pawn structure (lookat the
the same file. Therefore it is B l a c k p a w n s ) may be
very seldom that one puts compensated for by resource-
them in an Indian file ful play. Black gives away his
voluntarily. They are very rook for no obvious reason
difficult to protect, particul- whatsoever.
arly in the end game, where 3 ab2 c3

I
I
they may become a source of
many problems. But there is
an exception to every rule, and
this also holds true in the game
It transpires that after 4
Qd3 c4+ the 'sleeping' bishop
comes into play, and this
settIesit. 5 Bxb6cd 6 &f;!c27
of chess. He6 d2 and a pawn queens.
i
I

I
 Pawn Structures 29
by 6 ... cb when the rook
cannot return to b4, and the b-
pawn queens. 6 Qxc4 is
followed by 6 ...c2 and the
pawn still queens. A surpr-
isingly beautiful ending!
Even such classical endings
can be critically explored.
What happens if White plays 2
a4 tomeet2 ... Exb2with3a5?
A similar ending, Sanz-
1 1 4 %xM Ortueta, Madrid, with slight
1' The obvious 4 ... ab is differences in the position of
: i followed by 5 Qd3 and White the kingside pawns happened
wins with his extra piece. two years later.
Black, however, strikes with We will conclude our brief
4 ... c4! introduction to the peculiar-
; Now the d3-square is taken ities of pawn structures with
" away from the knight and this example. You will find a
after 5 Qxc4 the c-pawn more detailed description of
becomes a queen. Can it be the terms, rules and exceptions
true that two piecesare unable mentioned in this lesson in
to contain two 'crippled' chess manuals.
pawns crawling along the c- I would like to recommend
file? to beginners to stick to the
I
5 864 common principles of setting
It looks as if White is likely up and fortifying a pawn chain
I to win as there seems to be no and to avoid weaknesses in it
defence against 6 Elxc4. as far as possible. Experienced
5 ... a5! chess players may use the

I This is a true ode to pawns.

The deserted pawn which had
not taken therook settles the
exception to the rule. It is the
ability to appreciate when
exceptions are justified that to
battle by a seemingly unreal a great degree makes chess so
leap. Now 6 Pxc4 is followed beautiful and full of surprises.
Lesson 7: Dynamism and Initiative

The rules of chess are similar 1 e4 c5

to those of any other sport, - 2 Qi3 d6
and not only sport: success r 3 d4 cd
comes to those who are more 4 Qxd4 Qf6
active, skilful and resourceful. 5 Qc3 e6
Then what is dynamism in 6 g4 Ae7
the game of chess? In my 7 g5 Qfd7
opinion, dynamism is the 8 h4
strengthening of the positions Some results of the opening
of one's pieces with each move are evident. White has limited
and the threatening of the the opponent's pieces on the
opponent's pieces. To make king's flank to the back two
the moves successful they have ranks with the knight on d7
to fall within the rules of the blocking the bishop on c8 and
game and to be based on a even the queen, to some
solid tactical foundation. extent.
A chess player with a 8 ... Qc6
reputation as an energetic 9 3 a6
individual normally tries from 10 l e 2 ! ?
the very outset to impose his
own style on the opponent,
forcing him to tackle
numerous problems.
To illustrate the principles
of active play let us analyse a
game by the then world
champion Ana toly Karpov.
 Dynamism and Initiative 31
This is a very interesting and
active idea which leads to a
balanced deployment of the
pieces. Karpov places his
queen on the e-file where it will
not be in the way of the rook
on d l and at the same time
creates combinational threats.
The queen does not obstruct
the bishop on fl which is
about to go to h3 with a latter
Axe6. As you can see, each
White move is effective and Black tries to force the
builds up pressure. knight away from its control
10 ... wc7 of d5. He is logical in his
11 0-0-0 b5 advance but his strategy lacks
The opponent's response is a solid base, and his pieces are
of a forced nature. Black is poorly placed. How can White
forced back and tries to find take advantage of these weak
some remedy to prevent White points?
from making a decisive 14 Qd5!
advance. It is, however, late in This is a most effective
the game, and for this reason move as the bishop on d4
Black's latest move carries becomes powerful and the
more despair than justfied White queen joins the fray,
action. much to Black's surprise.
12 Qxc6 Wxc6 14 ,,, ed
13 Ad4! . 15 lxg7! Bg8
This move is very 16 ed Wc7
unpleasant for Black, as a 17 I f 6
.
natural 13 ..0-0 will soon lead White has gained two
to defeat because of the attack pawns for the knight and good
by the White pawns, while 13 prospects for an attack on the
..+e5 will create a weak point king which is stuck in the
the Black's position on d5. middle of the board.
13 ,.. b4 17 ... Qe5!
32 Dynamism and lrtiricrtive
This is the only possibility exchange the light-squared
to hold on. As there is a threat bishops thus eliminating the
of 18 ... Ag4 White has no danger to c2.
time for 18 f4. Black must try 20 .*. Pxh3
to -reduce White's attacking 21 Exh3 Hc8
potential. 22 fe
18 Axe5 de In my opinion, 22 b3 e4 23
19 f4 Wxe4 PfB 24 f5 would have
Now the pawn attack been better as it would have
replaces the attack by the prevented the Black queen
pieces. Black is unable to stop from getting into play.
White obtaining connected 22 ,,, *c4!
pawns since 17 ... e4 is Black puts his queen in an
foIIowed by the winning 18 d6 active position and the
bxd6 19 Wxe4, etc. balance seems to change.
19 ... PB 23 add3
Rook manoeuvresalong the
third rank are among the
champion's favourite tactics.
In this case his move not only
precedes the queen exchange
but also serves the purpose of
improving the co-ordination
of the White pieces. The co-
ordination of the pieces is a
very important factor which in
effect determines the strength
20 Ah3 of a chess player. The ability to
The desire to restrict the co-ordinate the moves of each
opponent's counterplay is piece and of each pawn in such
very typical of the world a way that they act together in
champion's style. White could a single plan and at the same
have played 20 fe without any time protect each other is a
risk of 20 ... Zc8 because of 2 1 great art.
Hh2 @a5 22 Wxa6 Wxa6 23 Here again both rooks on
bxa6. Karpov decides to the third rank are ready to
 Dynamism and Initiative 33
support the progress of the the g8 rook and the limitation
two central pawns while the in its mobility.
queen protects c2 and is ready 26 ... axe3
to help the rooks. The pawn 27 Pxe3 @xh4
duo (d5, e5), protected by its The counter-sacrifice 27 ...
own pieces, is a powerful PxgS 28 hg i x g 5 is ineffective
force. Such pawns can push because of the poor location of
the opponent's pieces to the the king - 29 d7+ a d 8 30 '
back rank and disorganise Wxa6 l x e 3 3 1 Wc8+ Pe7 32
their actions. We8 mate. I

23 ... Wf4+ 23 In!

T h i s s e e m s t h e best White's pawn wedge divides
response. If 23 ... l x a 2 24 d6. Black's position into two parts
24 &bl Pc4! and there is no adequate
25 d6 IfPe4! defence against the threats of
Wc6+ or W a 8 f . A protected
pawn which has penetrated
deep into an opponent's
position or a similarly
established outpost will
disorganise the opponent's
forces and split them into two
separated and weakened
parts.
28 ... lxg5
29 Be1 WgZ?!
26 %he3 30 Wf5 Rg6
White has to exchange 31 Efl Wd5
another pair of pieces, 32 de &xe7
abandoning all hopes of 33 Wf4!
exploiting the unfavourable White has regained the
location of the Black king and piece and retained the attack.
rook. T h e s m a l l n u m b e r of
The lack of co-ordination of remaining pieces only slightly
the opponent's pieces is a improves Black's chances of
result of the poor location of survival. When only a few
34 Dynumtsm and Initiative
attacking pieces remain on the 37 Wh4+ &e8
battlefield everything depends 38 Wc4! Wb7
on the strength of the king's 39 b3 Ee6
defences. In this case the Black 40 Rgl! Exes
king has practically no 41 Eg8+ 47e7
protection and all White needs 42 Wh4+ &d7
is precision in the assault and 43 Wf6! Pe7
this is perfectly conducted by 44 Wf5-t &d6
the then world champion. 45 Wxa5 Pe5
46 I d % + &e6
47 &b2! f6
4 am wg7
49 Wc8+ r$dS
50 Wc4+
Black resigns.

Therefore, try t o be
energetic and then you will
truly enjoy the benefits. Let
your pieces ~nteractwell, and
help each other - and then
you will experience the joy of
victory more often than the
bitterness of defeat.
Lesson 8: Avoiding Disaster in the Opening

Having barely learned the battle and deploy troops

basics of the game, every chess accordingly in order to
player will notice that moves commit them in due time and
in the opening, when almost in the most favourable
all pieces are still on the board, sequence. It is for this reason
most often predetermine the that every player who directs
course of the game and in the actions of his wooden
some cases its outcome. More troops ought to know the
often than not a chess player basics of the game in the
who has mastered the basics opening.
and seen brilliant attacks by It is a known fact that any
masters and grandmasters has chess game may be preserved
to spend the whole game in a for posterity, as it is recorded
boring defence trying to mend by means of chess notation.
gaps in his position which An enormous number of
appeared in the opening, but games have been recorded in
with little success. This is a the history of chess and their
result of a poor knowledge of analysis has helped develop all
the theory of openings and a the nuances of opening
lack of basic skills in playing strategy.
the first stage of the game. I do not intend to delve into
A chess game is to a certain all the existing openings and
extent similar to military their character~stics, which
combat where, as is known,a would be an impossible task to
lot depends not only on the handle, In view of the abund-
technical a b i l i t i e s a n d ance of information. I will
equipment of the troops but confine myself to describing
also on the ability of the some general principles of the
commanders to foresee the opening and how to avoid
contours of the forthcoming disaster.
36 Avoiding Disaster in the Opening
The First Principle favourably. It is for this reason
The opening is won by the that e4 is stronger and more
player who brings major pieces logical than e3. I want to stress
into play faster. once again that it is important
This is a basic rule and it is to try to capture squares with
very important to use it pawns, especially the central
correctly . squares.
Let us take a simple The second White move (2
example. l c 4 ) is not so easy to reject,
1 e3 e5 though its merits are not very
2 Ac4 Qc6 high for two reasons. The
3 wf3 kc5 experience of previous gener-
4 W x f l mate ations gives us the best proced-
ure for advancing one's pieces
- first the pawns advance to
the centre, then the knights
move in, followed by the
bishops and only later the
heavy pieces - the rooks and
the queens. In our case the
bishop jumped out to a
powerful position without
regard to a possible response
from Black -2 ...d5, in which
It looks as if White has done case the latter gets a powerful
everything correctly - two pawn centre and the White
pieces were developed and bishop is forced to poorer
White mated. Nevertheless, the locations on d3, e2, b5 or b3.
play deserves some criticism. Chess is a game of logic and
The first move is poor. We a combination of a timid 1 e3
have stated in one of our and an aggressive 2 Pc4 is
previous lessons how important illogical and for this reason
it is to occupy the centre of the should be punished. Black
board with one's pawns. This replied with 2 ... Qc6, which is
has to be done in the opening so to be viewed as a regular but
as to locate one's pieces most not the strongest continuation
 loiding Disaster in the Opening 37
in this situation. It is true that real threat from the opponent.
2 ,+.Q c 6 accords with the You can see how much can be
of rapid develop- discovered during a careful
ment of the pieces but it does analysis of a very brief game
create problems for White full of mutual errors.
which could have been the We will illustrate the first
case had he moved 2 ... d5! principle of the opening -
White's third move 3 l f 3 the rapid development of the
looks effective, but a n pieces - by a game played
experienced player would not over a century ago.
have made it; moreover, he
would not have even consid- J.Schulten-P.Morphy
ered it. Had Black reacted New York 1857
correctly with 3 ... Qf6!, the
move of the queen would have 1 e4 e5
been wasted. Furthermore, by 2 f4
occupying 0, the queen This old and romantic
robbed his king's knight of a opening, which has acquired a
good square for its actions and beautiful name 'The King's
the latter has no choice but to Gambit', often resolves the
occupy a passive position on outcome of the battle by a
e2 or move to h3, thus staying rapid advance of pieces.
away from all the action in the Modern theory believes that
centre. The most powerful the best defence here is a
chess piece, the queen, should counterattack. And this was
not move into the fray hastily, clearly demonstrated by the
otherwise the opponent's talented American chess
minor pieces might pursue it player Paul Morphy.
with a gain of time. As for 2 .** d5!
Black's 3 ... lc5??, it is logical 3 ed e4!
o n l y f r o m t h e formal Taking either of t h e pawns
viewpoint (Black develops a would have been weak, Black
second piece in the approp- t r i e s t o win t i m e for
riate sequence) as it loses the development, as all his pieces
game. The fact is that Black h a v e good prospective
has not taken into account a squares.
38 Avoidirrg Disaster iti the Opening
4 Qc3 Qf6 11 ... c6!
5 d3 bb4 12 dc?!
6 Ad2 It was not too late to play 12
After 6 de 49 xe4 7 Wd4 We7 & f ' or 12 h3. Still having a
8 Ae2 0-0 9 Ad2 Qxd2 10 material advantage, White
Oxd2 Ag4, it is not easy for allows the opponent to
White to activate his pieces. develop his knight from b8
6 ... e3! most effectively, and then
Black's advantage on the
relevant part o f the board
becomes overwhelming.
12 ... 4
hxc6

This is a bold far-sighted

sacrifice of a pawn, as after
castling Black's rook occupies
the e-fite.
7 l x e 3 0-0 13 &fl
8 Ad2 Pxc3 It is difficult to give good
9 bc Pe8+ advice to White. 13 Pc3 a d 4
10 Ae2 Ag4 14 Axd4 Wxd4 I5 g3 is
11 c4? followed by 15 ... Pxe2+ 16
One may say with a fair a x e 2 Re8 with a decisive
degree of confidence that this attack. It seems that after 12
particular move is destructive dc?! there was no defence for
for White. It was preferable to White.
get rid of the pin on the e-tile, 13 ... PxeZ!
preferably by 11 &f2. But
+ 14 Qxe2 ad4
White wishes to retain an extra The main events will take
pawn in the centre. place on the e-file where the
 Avoiding Disaster in the Opening 39
vertical pin will play a decisive The king begins to rush
role. And this is indeed what back and forth in his camp,
happens. The threats on the e- feeling the approach of
file have forced White to disaster.
postpone the removal of his I would recommend to
king from the pin. Now those who want to develop
another minor combination their attacking skills to put
follows which transforms the aside this book and to try to
vertical pin into a more find independently Black's
hazardous, diagonal one. rapid victory and only then
15 Wbl Axe2+ (some 20 to 30 minutes later)
16 &f2 Qg4+ to compare their decision with
17 kg1 the one chosen by Paul
Morphy.
17 ... an+
18 gf Wd4+
* . 18 &g2 wf2+
19 &h3 Wxf3+
20 &h4 Be3
21 Hhgl Q f 5 +
- 23 &g5 Wh5 mate
We will continue to study
the principles used in the
openings in our next chapter.
Lesson 9: Neglecting Opening Principles

In our last lesson we learned which occurs up in the old and

that domination in the centre very romantic Italian game:
and rapid development of the 1 e4 e5 " :

pieces to a great degree 2 QO Qc6

determines the outcome of the 3 Ac4 kc5
battle in the o p e n i n g , 4 13 Qf6
particularly when played by 5 d4 ed
experienced players. Before 6 cd AM+
proceeding further with 7 Qc3!
opening theory, let us analyse Instead of the cautious 7
errors most often committed Ad2, White decides to sacrif-
in the initial stage of the game ice two pawns and a rook for
by inexperienced players. the sake of rapid development
First of all, it is important to - a typical device used by
remember that the must players with an aggressive
vulnerable points in kingside style. Modern methods of
defence are those protected by struggle in the opening, based
the king alone. In the initial on the experience of past
position these points are the f2 generations, do not favour
and fl-pawns; after kingside Black's next moves, but one
castling they are the h2, g2, h7 has to bear in mind that this
and g7-pawns. Protection of was how the game was played
these squares is of foremost one hundred years ago when
concern. Experience shows nobody cast doubt on the
that, as a rule, it is on these principle 'any sacrifice must
squares that disasters occur in be taken'.
even the most sophisticated 7 ... Qxe4
opening systems. 8 0-0 Qxc3
Let us analyse a position 9 bc Axc~?
 Neglecting Opening Principles 41
l x d 5 0-0.

Black has taken two enemy

pawns but lags behind in
development. The punishment
for such violations of opening
rules usually follows very This is the hour of reckon-
swiftly and savagely. The old ing for ignoring development
analysis is a good illustration and devouring pawns in the
of the disastrous consequen- opening. By the way,it was on
ces of 'greed' in the opening. f7 that the disaster occurred.
You should not think, Black is lost no matter how he
however, that this experience defends. For instance, 13 ...
is of historical value only. This Axd4 14 Ag6 d5 15 Wf3+ l f 5
situation is very frequent in 16 AxfS Axe5 17 Ae6+ Af6
simultaneous exhibitions. Do 18 Axf6 gf 19 Oxf6+ &e8 20
not get carried away capturing W!i7 mate (the fl-square
your opponent's pawns in the again).
opening to the detriment of Besides chasing pawns,
your own forces' mobilisation. another typical error of many
10 Wb3 Axal chess players is delaying the
Black is consistent in his removal of the king from the
desire to capture as much centre. In master practice,
material as possible and loses there are games when both
his last chance to get his king kings remain in the very centre
out of the centre. And the of action and survive, but this
chance was there: 10 ... d5 11 is an exception to the rule and
42 Neglecting Opening Principles
is based on a profound knight on g5. However, to
understanding of the situation prove the unsoundness of
and on defensive skills. Black's strategy in the opening
Beginners and those with White had to play very
insufflcitnt experience should resourcefully and vigorously.
castle at the earliest opport- 5 de de
unity. By remaining in the After 5 ... axe5 6 a x e 5 de 7
centre, the king may be lured l x f 7 + ! BIack's position
to the very centre of the board would have been hopeless.
by sacrifices and then disaster 6 &xn+!
becomes imminent. The first strike is delivered
on the most vulnerable point.
1
'

Y .Vasyukov-B.Lebedev 6 ... &xn

Moscow 1960 7 Bxe5+&f6
Any thing else would bring
1 e4 e5 the end even faster.
2 Qf3 d6 8 Qc3!
3 d4 Qd7
Black's unsophisticated de-
ployment of his pieces is very
frequent in the games of
amateurs. The entirely sound
idea of strengthening the
advance post in the centre (e5)
is brought about in a
somewhat fanciful manner
whereby the bishop on c8 gets
blocked.
4 Ac4 h6 In order to bring the Black
This is an altogether king into the open White
dubious decision - instead of sacrifices his knight. The
developing his pieces (for threats of 9 Qd5+ and 9 Wd4
instance, 4 ... Ae7) Black, may be countered in only one ,
'
planning to move his knight to way, as all other variations faif
f6, loses time trying to prevent to save him, for example, 8 ...
the intervention of the White c6 9 Wf3C &xe5 fO l f 5 +
I
 Neglecting Opening Principles 43
&d6 I 1 &f4+ e5 12 W x e 5 f A brilliant stroke. 10 ...
ad7 13 Edl+ or 8 ... Ac5 9 Wxg5 can be followed by 11
~ f 3 - &xe5
t 10 wf5-f- &d6 1 1 f4+! &xf4 12 0-0$ &e5 ( 1 2 ...
&f4+ Q e 7 12 Qd5+ &e8 13 &e3 13 Padl! Wxh5 14 Bd3
~ x c 7 +or 8 ... We8 9 QdS+ mate) 13 fIf5-t l x f 5 14
a x e 5 10 Af4f &e6 11 Qc7+. Wxf5-f &d6 15 Edl+ h e 7 16
8 ... & xe5 Qd5+ a d 8 17 Qb6! cb 18
The road from e8 to e5 %xf8+ &c7 19 Wg7 winning.
turned out to be short but the Black now tries to buy
reverse could also be true. For himself out with a rook.
this reason White has to attack 10 .*. hg
without delay. 11 f4+! &e6
9 W E + g5 12 f5-k &e7
Black is right in trying to use 13 Qd5-k &d6
the pawn to cut off the queen. 14 Wxh8 Qgf6
The weakening of these 15 0-0-0 &c6
squares is not very important 16 Bhel b6
here because the continuation 17 Qb4+ Axb4!
of the king's 'walk' is fraught B l a c k finds a w i t t y
with danger: 9 ... &e6 10 possibility to complicate the
W 5 - k &e7 1 1 Qd5+ &d6 12 struggle by sacrificing the
l f 4 + &c6 13 We6+ Ad6 14 queen. 17 ... &b7 would be
QM+ etc. answered by 18 e5.
lo AxgS! 18 Wxd8 b b 7
44 Neglecting Opening Principles
A devilish idea! The White over. There is no way to
queen ends up in a trap and is contain White's kingside
doomed to perish. But chess is , pawns supported by the
a game of logic and it is very queen.
unlikely that White would 25 Wf4 Ac8
wind up losing after having a 26 g4 Qc5
advantage. H o w e v e r i t - 27 b4 Qb7
transpires that White has a 28 We4+ 47d7
resource. 29 l d 4 + Ed6
19 Pxd7 Qxd7 - 30 Wg7+ 4x6
It would have been to 31 f6 Qd8
White's advantage to play 19 32 f7 Qxf7
... R x d 8 2 0 H x d 8 l x e l 2 1 e 5 ! , 33 Wxf7 h e 6
a g 4 22 e6 Pb4 23 Pd4. 34 WeS+ &d5
20 l x g 5 Axel 35 Wall+ &e5 ..
21 We3! a ,. 36 Wxa7 Hc6 .
37 @a4 Ec4
38 Wb5+ &f4
39 g5 c6
40 #xb6
Black resigned.
As a confirmation of the
above thesis I would like to
offer for independent analysis
by the readers an elegant and
very instructive game played
some 100 years ago.
Now the situation is quite
clear. Black's bishop is M.Chigorin-S,Alapin
doomed, as 21 ... Ab4 or 21 ... St. Petersburg 1883
Aa5 is followed by 22 Wd4!
21 ... PLh4
22 Wh6+ Pf6
23 e5 Pf8
24 ef Exf6
The struggle is practically
 Neglecting Opening Principles 45
6 0-0 Qf6 not yet one hundred per cent
7 d4 0-0 . safe. w

8 de Qxe4 11 ... ah8

9 A&! Axc3 After 11... axh7 White
10 Axe4 Axal *
would win by 12 Qg5+ &g6
13 Wg4 f5 14 ef Qe5 15 Wg3!
&xf6 16 f4 h e 7 17 Eel d6 18
Q c3!
12QgS g6
I I - 13 Wg4 Axe5
14 l h 4 &g7
15 ad+! fe
16 W h 6 f &f7
17 Axg6+&e7
I 11 Axh7+
I8 Wh4+! %f6
19 Aa3+! d6
A bishop sacrifice striking 20 @h7+ &f8
at the most vulnerable point. 21 l h 8 + &e7
As you can see, the king feels 22 Wg7+ Pfl
better on g8 than on e8 but is . + 23@xf7 mate +
Lesson 10: The Aim of the Opening

Our two previous lessons were without crowding your pieces.

devoted to the most common At the same time, you must try
mistakes made by inexper- to make it more difficult for
ienced players in the early your opponent to do the same.
stages of the game. Having N o matter what the
seen how not to play the opening, the best moves for
opening, let us now try to b o t h sides a r e a l w a y s
figure out what it is we should subordinate to one goal - the
do to get a good position from fight for the centre. White,
the very outset. having the advantage of the
Practically all instructions first move,can attain this goal
concerning this are contained faster than Black, who does all
in Lesson Eight, where the he can to hinder White. Take
First Principle was given for the first few moves from two
the opening battle. The of the most complex systems
principle defines the most in modern theory, the Ruy
important development fact- Lopez (1 e4 e5 2 Qf3 Qc6 3
ors which hold true, no matter Ab5)
how the opening develops.
One must remember that the
pieces are brought out so as to
achieve a definite advantage in
the middle game, which is
when the main events will take
place. When developing your
pieces, i t is i m p o r t a n t ,
especially for players without
much practice, to maintain
harmony, that is, to leave
yourself room to manoeuvre
 TAe Aim of the Opening 47
and the Nimzo-Indian Defence
(1 d4 Bf6 2 c4 e6 3 B c 3 91b4)

It is obvious that, from the This, by the way, is how

very outset, the fight resolves games bet ween beginners or at
around respectively t h e simultaneous exhibitions
central e5 and e4 squares. This frequently start off. Both sides
is only natural, since have seemingly tried to keep
domination in the centre pace in development, but
(meaning not just that pawns White has clearly managed to
occupy the centre squares, but develop to a greater extent. He
that these are controlled by has a powerful pawn centre
pieces) allows for creation of a and his pieces have room io
strong-point from which to manoeuvre. Of course, Black's
operate in the middle game. position is far from lost, but
Let us try to illustrate this why resign yourself t o
with a rather elementary passivity from the very outset?
I example. We are not concerned here
1 e4 e5 with recommending a n y
2 f4 ac6 specific kind of opening, but
3 Qf3 ef considering the tremendous
4 d4 d6 popularity of the King's
5 Ax14 Qf6 Gambit amongst inexper-
6 Qc3 Ae7 ienced players, we might start
7 Ae2 0-0 ,. by examining the methods
8 0-0 behind it.
48 The Aim of the Opening
From the following example,
taken from grandmaster
practice, we can see how
neglecting the principles of
opening development led to
rapid disaster for White.

E.Bogo1jubow-M. Botvinnik
Nottingham 1936

1 d4 Qf6
2 Qf3 b6
3 e3
Black has gained a pawn In essence, W h i t e is
here which he can safely hold, declining to fight actively for
and, at the same time has not the centre. Attempts t o
neglected development. achiek e an opening advantage
usually involve the moves c4
o r Qc3 (compare the
Kasparov-Gheorghiu game
from Lesson 2).
3 +.. Ab7
4 c4 d
5 Qc3 cd
6 ed e6
7 Ad3 l e 7
8 0-0 O-O?
9 b3?
An instructive moment.
White, carried away with
developing his own pieces,
This attempt at counter- does not consider Black's
attack conceals many dangers problems and misses the move
for both sides and demands a 9 d5! which would make the
good knowledge of numerous smooth development of his
variations. opponent's pieces impossible.
 The Aim of the Opening 49
transpired, Bacl and Dfdl ,or
Pad1 and Pfel. White would
then have had a free game and
could have looked confidently
to the future.
10 ., Qed
11 Pacl a d 7
12 We2
By continuing his same
carefree play and allowing
Black to strengthen his
The point is that 9 ... ed 10 cd position without hindrance,
i Qxd5 11 QxdS I x d 5 12 White has now passed up his
1 pxh7+ 4xh7 13 Wxd5 is last chance to contest Black's
o b v i o u s l y to W h i t e ' s control of the centre with 12 cd
advantage, and therefore ed.
Black would be forced to 12 ... Xc8
reconcile himself to the Now the exchange cd is no
existence of the White pawn longer possible.
on d5, which cramps his 13 Hfdl f5
~osition.
9 ... d5
10 Ae3?
We must bluntly say that
this is a move of the 'wait and
see' variety. The bishop on e3
is placed most awkwardly, as
it hampers White's pieces and .,

prevents White from

controlling the important e4
1
I
square, where the Black
knight will very soon secure Black has consolidated his
1 itself. From his previous play, central knight. It has now
! White should logically have become obvious that White is
i continued with Ab2 and We2, in serious trouble. First of all,
and then, depending o n what Black prevails in the centre.
!
50 The Aim of the Opening
Secondly, White's queenside
weakness on the black squares
is beginning to be felt. We may
recall that all this'could have
been avoided had White
merely placed his bishop on b2
- the most natural spot for it
in the present position! This
example is a vivid illustration
of how the inappropriate
placing of a single piece can
affect the solidity of the entire
position.
14 Af4? The game is over. The e5
White tries to control the e5 pawn will go, and Black's
square too late (and at the powerful central pawns,
wrong moment!). It would supported by two long-range
have been wiser to switch to bishops, will soon force White
defence and try to simplify the to resign.
position by a series of 19 Qb5 WxeS
exchanges: 14 bl , followed 20 Ed7 AgS!
by cd and Pxc8. A final finesse - the bishop
14 ... g5! simultaneously eludes danger
Using the cover of his and gains a tempo.
powerful central post, Qe4, 21 Ecdl Pc6
Black undertakes the decisive 22 Pxa7 RcdS
attack without worrying In addition to everything
about the supposed weaken- else, Black grabs the d-file.
ing of his king's position. The game finished:
15 Pe5 23 h4 Hxdl
The maximum resistance 24 Wxdl Hd8
was to be offered by 15 Ae3, 25 Wc2 Ad2
but how could he bring him- White resigned
self to play such a move? He cannot defend against
15 ... gd both ... War and ... e3.
16 Qel axe5 This might be a good time to
 The Aim of the Opening 51
cite Mikhail Botvinnik's cramped position than to
comment on a different game strive merely for develop-
of his with Master Alexander ment."
Sokolsky in the semi-finals of Botvinnik, of course, is
the 1938 USSR Champion- speaking here of expert
ship: " ... and control over the players, and for that reason, it
central squares goes over to would be frivolous a t the least
Black. It gradually becomes to demand a great degree of
clear that White has no game insight into the position from
plan at all and is merely our readers. But I think this
concerned with 'development' critical comment by an ex-
One could perhaps have got world champion may be taken
away with such play at the as a chess axiom valid for
turn of the century, but anyone who plays chess.
nowadays, when every master Remember it and try while still
starts putting together a in the opening to use every
middlegame plan beginning at chance to plot out approxim-
the 6th or 8th move, there is no ately what course the game
better way to get into a will subsequently take.
Lesson 11: Choice of Opening

Having studied the previous ment on 64. As you can see,

lessons, you have set up your White's aims are straight
pieces and are thinking over forward and clear-cut, and it is
the first move. Don't be in a natural that all openings
hurry to read an opening starting with 1 e4 are referred
manual - it will only lead you to as 'open' or 'semi-open'.
astray. Let's try to make a So, White has played 1 e4 ...
choice together. First of all, Which is the best reply for
remember that there is no such Black? Strange as it might
thing as the 'best* or the seem, Black has a wide choice.
'strongest' move in the initial The most fundamental
position. There are several reaction is undoubtedly the
moves corresponding to the symmetrical reply with the
principles of development in Black king's pawn.
chess openings, and you have All openings beginning with
to make a choice in accord- 1 e4 e5 fall under the category
ance with your taste, know- 'open' games, rich in history
ledge and experience. and tournament practice.
I would suggest starting the
game with the advance of one The King's Gambit: 1 e4 e5 2
of the centre pawns. Before f4 ef 3 Qf3 d5 4 d4. This
becoming a grandmaster I splendid opening has dropped
liked starting the game with 1 out of major tournament
e4! This move reminded me of practice mostly due to the
chivalrous gallantry and a counter-gambit ideas enabling
readiness to engage in open Black to fight successfully for
combat. The White pawn on initiative by playing 2 ... d5! 3
e4 controls the important d5 ed e4! or 2 ... ef 3 Qf3 d5 4 ed
square waiting for reinforce- Qf6.
 Choice of Opening 53
possibilities. The attempts by
means of sacrifices playing 4
b4 Axb4 5 c3 l c 5 6 d4 or 4 c3
Qf6 5 d4 ed 6 0-0

Another attempt to remove

the pawn from the centre - 2
d4 ed 3 l x d 4 - has found
very few supporters. As a
result of the White queen's
walk 3 ... Qc6 4 We3 Qf6 go side by side with the
modern methods of slow
deployment of the pieces after
4 d3 d6 5 ~3 Qf6 6 0-00-0 7
lg5

Black brings the two knights

into play, securing equal
chances.
The Giuoco Piano. 2 Qf3
a c 6 3 P c 4 bc5. The idea is to The Ruy Lopez, 2 a13 Q c6 3
seize the centre and attack the Ab5, is the epitome of open
fcl-square. This is one of the games. The opening is rich in
oldest chess openings rich in deep strategic and tactical
54 Choice of Opening
ideas.Thebestgrandmasters t h e f a m o u s Marshall's
regard the ability to play Ruy Counter-attack (3 ... a6 4 Aa4
Lopez with both colours as a Qf6 5 0-0 Ae7 6 Eel b5 7 Pb3
test of chess strength. The 0-0 8 c3 d5!? 9 ed Qxd5 or even
opening is to everyone's taste. 9 ... e4),
For instance, the relatively
simple Exchange Variation (3
... a6 4 Axc6 dc)

and finally the Classical

Variation which is within the
capacity only of experienced
and well-prepared players ( 3
the clear cut fight for the ... a6 4 Aa4 Qf6 5 0-0 Ae7 6
centre in the Open Variation Pe 1 b5 7 l b 3 0-08 c3 d6 9 h3
(3 ... a6 4 Aa4 Qf6 5 0-0 a x e 4 Qa5 10 bc2 or 9 ... Qb8 10
6d4b57Ab3d58dele6), d4).
56 Choice of Open~ng
where White has a slight
advantage, but there are no
weaknesses in Black's position
and Black's development is
unhindered. The basic
p o s ~ t i o n i n the French
Defence - 1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3
Qc3 Ab4 4 e5 c5

Two openings - the Caro-

Kunn defence ( I e4 c6 2 d4 d5)
and the French Defence ( 1 e4 e6
2 d4 d5) - have a similar _
stragetic concept. Black fights
against the formation of the
'ideal' pawn centre by limit~ng
its mobility and placing a well
protected outpost on d5. The leads to the posit~onwlth the
most cruc~alpostions In the blocked pawns on d4 and e5
Caro-Kann are as follows: under constant threat.
first - 1 e4 c6 2 d4 d5 3 e5 Af5 These two openlngs are
4 Qc3 e6; second - 1 e4 c6 2 regarded as qu~tereltable and
d4 d5 3 Qc3 de 4 a x e 4 Af5 5 lead to complex manoeuvring
Qg3 Ag6 in the mlddlegarne.Those who
like scrupulous work at the
chessboard and who can
patiently bide their time would
do well to study one of these
openings. But I personally
prefer the Caro-Kann Defence
w ~ t ha free development of
Black's pleas, whereas in the
French Defence the black
bishop on c8 is hemmed In by
its own pawns.
 Choice of Opening 57
The course of events is or Tarrasck Defences, Black
r n ~ ~slower
h if White starts will try to strengthen the
the game with the advance of outpost on d5, whereas Whlte
the queen's pawn - 1 d4. will be methodically creating
Here, after the first opening favourable conditions for the
moves the plans for both sides king pawn's advance to e4, In
are unclear and concealed this century other methods of
from the opponent. All chess development, aimed at
openings starting with 1 d4 are providing Black with less
called 'closed' or 'semi- stra~ghtforwardcounterplay
closed'. To play them well and in the centre, have evolved. In
efficiently, one must have a the Nmzo-lndran Defence ( 1
certain understanding of d4 Qf6 2 c4 e6 3 Qc3 l b 4 )
positlon and some experience.
Therefore I adv~seyou to play,
at least for a year, 'open'
games, and only after thls can
you start playing 'closed'
games.
Analogous to 1 e4, the most
fundamental reply to 1 d4 is 1
... d5. And 2 c4 leads to
different variat~ons of the
Queen's Gambit. By reply~ng2 and the Queen's Ind~an
... c6, the Slav Defence or Defence (1 d4 Qf6 2 c4 e6 3
58 Choice of Opening
Black tries to fight for control
over e4. In the King's Indian
Defence (1 d4 Qf6 2 c4 g6 3
8 c 3 Ag7 4 e4 d6)

short outline of the basicchess

openings. When you read one
of the numerous chess
manuals available, don't be
confused by the multitude of
and the Griinfeld Defence ( 1 -~ariations you may come
d4 Bf6 2 c4 g6 3 Qc3 d5 4 cd across. They reflect all that
Qxd5 5 e4) might be of importance in
Black permits White to build tournament practice, in other
up a powerful pawn centre and words, the basic laws of
then embarks o n an opening strategy. We have
undermining strategy. already dwelt upon it, and it is
And that is the end of our a must for the beginner.
7 -

Lesson 12: The Art of Planning

Before embarking on an real conditions for mating the

activity, almost every person, opponent's king. The mate is
in order to achieve his object, the ultimate and most desired
contemplates what operations object of the game, and 'play
he will have to perform and for mate from the first move' is
figures out the best sequence a wish to satisfy this desire.
for these operations. Firstly, you develop your
I firmlybelieve that chess is, pieces according to a certain
to a certain extent, a model of pattern to achieve some
life, and therefore planning is superiority in a certain area of
an essential feature of this the chessboard.
game. Then you increase your
What is planning in a chess pressure in order to obtain
game? It is a well-considered concrete positional o r
order of operations aimed at material advantages in the
achieving a definite and middlegame.
concrete objective, the order And finally, you carefully
taking into account the exploit all your advantages in
situation on the chessboard the endgame, obtaining a
and constantly modified by material superiority that
the opponent's actions. renders any resistance
I The plan should not be impossible.
confused with the object of the The defending side does not
game. Some amateur may say play in a free-wheeling fashion
'1 w a n t t o checkmate, either; he also plays according
therefore I play for a mate to a plan, taking into account
from the very start. So I play alI dangers, threats and
according to a plan.' This is an weaknesses in his camp and
utterly wrong approach. In the trying above all to get rid of
initial position there are no the weaknesses.
 -
60 The Arf of Planning
The plan is built up on the -
basis of a concrete evaluation
of the position and its .
peculiarities. Therefore, it is
important to be able to analyse
the fighting formations of both
sides and to understand all the
subtleties of the position. The
ability to build up a plan
and to carry it out consistently
on the board is one of the most
attractive aspects of chess;
sometimes it is more gratifying
than, say, a direct attack on
the enemy's king. And if you
remember that quite often
chess players camouflage their This is one of the oldest
intentions by employing variations of the Ruy Lopez.
distracting manoeuvres, you Having completed the first
wiH understand that playing half of the plan in the opening
according to plan is a great art. (evacuation of the king from
Of course, it takes a long the centre), White is planning
time to learn your operations to create a pawn centre by
at the chessboard. Serious and continuing c2-c3 and d2-d4
small mistakes are inevitable. and exerting pressure on the e5
But to my mind it is better to pawn. Black ordinarily tries to
learn from your mistakes than hold the outpost on e5 by
to do without any plan playing Qg8-e7-g6 followed
whatsoever. by Ae7. It is also possible to
To illustrate this, let us build up another defensive
consider t h e following formation: ... Qg8-e7, ... g6, ...
examples. Ag7. Both sides seem to be
ready for slow positional man-
A.Suetik1 .Bondarevsky oeuvring. Suddenly Black
Moscow 1963 makes an impulsive anti-
positional move.
 - * , The Art of Planning 61
the decisive sector.
6 d4! 11 a*. Ad7
Energetic actions in the 12 Was!
centre should be regarded as White modifies his plan and
the best reaction to Black's uses the weakness of the c7-
premature kingside escapade pawn to deter Black from
The best way to exploit castling, thereby frustrating
effectively Black's slow his opponent's intention to
development is to open up the mobilise his pieces. The loss of
centre. White's 6th move is a a tempo is more than
good example of timely compensated by the disham-
correction of the previously ony of Black's pieces.
envisaged plan prompted by 12 *** *as
the hazardous actions of the 13 a d 3 Ag7
adversary. 14 e5!
6 ... 24
7 Ax&+ bc
8 Qel ed?
Another positional concess-
i ion. Labouring under the
illusion that the advantage of
two bishops permits him to
open up the centre, Black, still
conspicuously underdevelop-
ed, makes serious concessions
in the centre.
9 Wxd4 Vf6 This is part of White's plan
1 10 Wa4 Qe7 aimed at organising an attack
11 Qc3 against the uncastled Black
1 One more correction to the
opening plan. This position
king. The quickest way is to
clear the field in the centre.
does not require the advance 14 ... WfS
of the pawn to c3, and this After 14 ... de 15 Qc5 there
square is now occupied by the is no defence against Pdl.
knight which gets involved in 15 Be1 d5
the struggle for the centre - The only way to save the
62 The Art of P!unnittg
game is to avoid opening up
the d-file. However, the
weakness of the squares in
Black's camp turns out to be a
decisive factor.
16 Qe2 Qg6
17 Qg3 We6
18 Ag5+ &c8 .
19 QcS! We8 I -

In addition to the extra

pawn which can be exploited
only in the ending, Black's
chief advantage lies in the
control of a number of squares
in the centre: d4, d5, c5, f4 and
f5. White has his counter-
chances: the pawn majority on
the queenside and the d-file.
20 QhS! How many similar positions,
White's knights have as a result of superficial play,
immediate exchange of one have ended in the draw! But
smithereens. The final stage of Smyslov is a great expert on
White's plan is to obtain a such endgames. His winning
decisive material advantage. plan comprises three basic
20 ... stages.
21 Qxg7 Rxg7 The first stage is the
22 h a 6 Pa7 immediate exchange of one
23 Ae3 Hxa6 pair of rooks so as to prevent
24 I x a 6 + penetration on the d-file. The
and soon Black resigned. o t h e r rook should be
Here is another example preserved t o combat the
from the game between eventual advance of White's
Svetozar Gligoric and Vasily queenside pawns.
Smyslov. 20 ... fjf fd8
 The Art of Planning 63
incorporates an attack on the
e4-pawn.
27 .,. ~4
28 fg chxg4f
29 d?e2 Qf6
30 r$e3 Ed4

The second stage of the plan

1I is to threaten the creation of a
passed h-pawn. To prevent
this, White's rook must Now that White's pieces
concede the d-file to Black's have to defend the e4-pawn,
i rook. Black's king comes into play,
24M2 h5 heading for g4.
25 &e3 g5! 31 Efl Qg4+
26 Hh2 Ed8 32 &e2 ail3
27 Ehl 33 Zf3 &g7
34 Ed3 &f6

I The third stage of the plan

64 The Arr of Planning
A necessary correction of 41 Qd6 QeS
plan. Originally, the route of White resigned
Black's king was g7-g6-g5-g4
provided the rooks were What is the best method of
preserved. However, White planning a chess game?
seeks salvation in the knight Presumably, by analysing
endgame, and therefore grandmasters' annotations
Black's king must be kept where particular emphasis is
close to the centre. placed on the logical sequence
35 Hxd4 ed of operations to achieve the
36 Qb5 &e5! ultimate objective.
37 Qxa7 +xe4 The annotations to their
38 Qc8 d3+ games by top ranking chess
Certainly not 38 ... e5? 39 players will be highly
Qd6 mate! beneficial for all lovers of
39 a d 2 a d 4 chess keen on improving their
40 c5 bc game.
Lesson 13: Forcing Continuations

For most enthusiasts chess is Therefore those who want to

a game sparkling succeed in chess should realise
with impetuous attacks and that combinative and posit-
combinational fireworks. ional play do not oppose but
Everyone is keen on attacking rather complement each
and creating beautiful other.
combinations, but very few I like attacking and
are enchanted by the genuine sacrificing, but nevertheless I
beauty of subtle positional am firmly convinced that
manoeuvres and profound positional play is the basis of
strategic plans. chess, reflecting the inner logic
The art of positional play is of the chess struggle and more
not duly appreciated by the in keeping with the
rank-and-file who often fail to requirements of the modern
understand why grandmasters game.
are so good at carrying out The basis of positional play
beautiful and effective attacks. is the plan we dwelt upon in
Many amateurs can solve, no some detail in our previous
worse t h a n well-known lesson. Forming a deep and
masters, problems and efficient ('correct') plan
studies. And o n l y upon requires as much imagination
plunging seriously into the and versatility as calculating
intricacies of the game do they an intricate chess combinat-
realize that the opportunities ion. If the idea of a
for effective attacks and combination has been found,
combinations are not, as a then the calculation of the
rule, spontaneous, but they moves is a matter of time and
result from positional play t e c h n i q u e . T h e moves
based on the observance of the frequently assume a forced
laws of chess strategy. character; t h e y become
66 Forcing Continuations
realistic and concrete. scored a great number of
In formulating a plan one brilliant victories.
has to consider the positions The great chess thinker of
which may be encountered a the end of the 19th century, the
few moves later. The concrete first official world champion
calculation of variations often Wilhelm Steinitz was the first
gives away to semi-abstract to formulate the basic laws of
speculations and assumptions positional play (strategy). He
about the likely resultant showed that a plan cannot be
positions. The ability to play inspired by t h e player'
'according to the position', or imagination. It should rely on
'positionally', is important in something concrete hidden in
complex a n d a b s t r a c t the position on the chessboard
situations when the target of at a particular moment. He
the attack is not yet clear and demonstrated t h a t each
one has to manoeuvre in order position on the chessboard is
to consolidate one's pieces and characterised by various
discover a weak point in the factors, favourable or
enemy camp. unfavourable for each side,
The mere mention of the which should be analysed both
name of Paul Morphy, the separately and together so
brilliant American chess as to evaluate the position.
player of the 19th century, This evaluation will be helpful
makes many lovers of chess in formulating a plan taking
remember his outstanding i n t o a c c o u n t t h e real
attacks and combinations. possibilities of both sides.
However, very few know that The ability to evaluate
these combinations were properly the situation at any
based on profound strategic moment of t h e game
principles such as maximum determines, to a great extent,
centralisation of the pieces, the strength of the chess
superiority in development, player.
and opening of files in the Let us consider a simple
centre. Morphy intuitively example.
understood the laws of chess I .Boleslrrvsky-A,Kotov
strategy and, owing to this, he Zurich 1953 .
 Forcing Conrinuarions 6 7

A t first glance, the chances If Black could exchange

are unclear here - White has knights, the draw would be
an extra pawn, but his obvious, even if he let the
queenside pawns are weak and White king into the centre and
Black's t w o long-range gave up the a6-pawn. But this
bishops are likely to give Black is impossible. It is easy to see
sufficient counterplay to that White's bishop is ready to
achieve equality. The trouble capture Black's knight if it
is that the bishop on d6 is moves. So, the ending with the
pinned. To free himself, Black opposite-coloured bishops
has to play for simplifications, does not save Black and the
hoping to secure a draw in the White king will take the
ending with opposite coloured shortest way to the queenside,
bishops. Alas, there is a small after which Black's pawns are
drawback in this evaluation of sure to fall. This elementary
the position leading, 7 moves example shows that White
later, to Black's loss. managed t o exploit his
20 Pf4 Axf3 advantage s o easily because
21 Hxd6 Pxd6 among numerous middle-
22 Wxd6 Pxd6 game positions he saw the best
23 Axd6 Pe8 one arising after 25 Ae5! and
24 Bxe8+ Qxe8 - - 26 b4! after which t h e
25 Ae5! Ac6 calculation of variations was
26 b4! b5 quite easy.
27 f3 , To evaluate the position
68 Forcing Conrinuations
correctly, one should be able in the final analysis, the so-
to analyse the disposition of called positional advantage
the pieces, their centralisation, for one of the sides. The player
the quality of pawn structure, h a v i n g the p o s i t i o n a l
mobility, the availability of advantage is in charge of the
open lines, and the material s i t u a t i o n . S u d d e n l y he
relationships of the pieces. discovers a great wealth of
The depth and subtlety of the different possibilities for his
general evaluation of the pieces and a good choice of
position depends on the combinational and positional
concrete estimation of each of continuations.
the above-mentioned factors If you take ten beautiful
in any given position. attacking combinations ofany
For example, it is common grandmaster and try t o
knowledge that a rook is evaluate the initial positions,
stronger than a knight, but if you will see that these
the knight occupies a well- combinations were based on
protected outpost in the centre positional superiority, for
of the board while the rook is example superiority in
completely out of the action, development or superior
then the knight is obviously mobility of the pieces.
superior to the rook. In the past 100 years
In t h e e n d g a m e t h e profound chess analysts have
evaluation of the position is unravelled many mysteries in
usually determined by the the theory of positional play.
possession of passed pawns The basic laws of chess
and centralisation of the king. strategy formulated by the
In the middlegame, on the great Steinitz have remained
other hand, the king should be unchanged, but more
kept away from the centre. emphasis is being placed now
An experienced chess player on such factors as dynamics of
respects the art of positional the position, compensation
play because he appreciates for some positional drawbacks
the benefit of the systematic ('minuses') by some advant-
a c c u m u l a t i o n of s m a l l ages ('pluses'). More import-
positional 'pluses' providing, ance is being attached now to
 Forcing Conrinuutions 69
the co-ordination of the pieces positiond gains. 'Positional
since two or three well co- sacrifice' of chess material has
ordinated pieces can truimph become one of the most
over enemy pieces superior in effective techniques when
force but less mobile. pawns and pieces are sacrifced
And finally, whereas 150 to achieve substantial (but not
years ago combinations were decisive) positional gains.
aimed ultimately at seizing the In conclusion, I would like
king's fortress, nowadays, to advise all lovers of chess to
with the progress of defensive study more persistently the art
technique, complex combinat- of positional play. I assure you
ions are carried out to increase you won't regret it!
Lesson 1 4 Queen Sacrifices

So long as a chess game ishing paradoxes of chess,

develops steadily in accord- When a struggle is in progress,
ance with the laws of strategy, each side can choose from
the traditional hierarchical several possible moves. But
value of chess pieces is combinative complications
preserved. One can, of course, violating normal material
argue about which is stronger values strictly limit the ways in
- the rook or the bishop and which the game can develop,
two pawns - depending on and what is ore, the opponent
the position occupied by these has no choice of moves.
pieces. But sometimes chess Let us analyse a game
pieces acquire supernatural between Edward Lasker and
strength and begin performing George Thomas played in
miracles. AII our traditional I9 1 I . It deveIoped quietly at
values are exploded: for first.
instance, a pawn becomes
stronger than a rook or even a
queen. This happens most fre- Edward Lasker-G.Tbomu
quently when a well thought- London 1911
out combination is imple-
mented on the chess board.
It is a well known fact that
combinational play appeals to
chess enthusiasts. Why? First
of all, by its beauty,
unexpectedness and inexor-
able logic, for in the course of
the combination the opponent
usually makes forced moves.
This is one of the most astan-
 Queen Sacrifices 71
an inglorious
- death.
11 ... &xb7
12 b f 6 + ah6
If the king had retreated to
I
hS the end would have been
immediate: 13 Qg6 mate.
I 13 Qeg4+&g5

I
i
-
14 h4+ +f4
15 g3+ &f3
I 16 Pe2+ kg2
17 Bh2+ &gl
Now comes the signal for T h i s square u s u a l l y
attack: provides shelter for the White
10 WhS! We7 king. But the Black king is sure
Black avoids 10 ... Axe5 to perish here.
thinking that after 1 1 Qxf6-k 18 &d2 mate.
he will be saved by 11 ... gf. If Beautiful? Yes! Unexpect-
only he had known what was ed! Yes! Forced?Yes! But why
going to happen next! is it so sudden? How can the
11 Wxh7+!! combination be foreseen and
found? An experienced chess
player knows that a
combination never starts from
scratch. To make a combinat-
ion feasible, one must have
certain advantages which are
accumulated gradually, move
after move. The accumulative
process may substantially
accelerate the opponent's
mistakes.
An astonishing sacrifice. What made the queen
White gives up his queen for a sacrifice in the game analysed
pawn making the Black king above possible? White did not
run to the opposite end of the have the advantage in
chessboard where he will meet development, but his four
72 Queen Sacrifices
minor pieces were aimed at the because of 23 ... Axe4+ 24
Black king and the weak h7- l x e 4 Wxh2 mate.
square. The absence of the 23... Od2!!
Black pawn on f7 created the The queen has too much to
preconditions for the mating do protecting the important
position: White's knights on f6 squares h2 and e4. Black's last
and g6, Black king on h8 and move makes it impossible for
Black's pawn on g7. This is a her to protect these squares
typical position. any longer.
The knowledge of such 24 Wxd2 Axe4+
positions is essential for any 25 Wg2 PM!!
chessplayer. There are many Brilliant! The pinned queen,
positions of this kind and it is cannot defend the king from
quite easy to remember them. being checkmated on h2, and
Therefore in a labyrinth of the rooks cannot do it either.
combinations one must be
able to see the elements of
elementary mating positions.
Let us analyse a position from
a game between G . Rotlevi
and A. Rubinstein played in
1908.

Combinations like these are

unforgettable.
How do they arise? What is
their essence? We shall devote
a few lessons to these
questions. Now we are going
to specify the conditions
necessary far carrying out
22 ... Uxc3!! combinations.
23 gh A combination, as has been
23 Axc3 is impossible stated, does not occur at a
 Queen Sacrifices 73
predetermined moment
during the game. The idea for
a combination may appear
when the situation on the
chessboard is characterissd by
cettain specific features. They
suggest the motif of the
combinational explosion.
Such specific features incl-
ude, for example, weakness of
the first (White) or eighth
(Black) rank which makes it 2 Wc4!! #d7
I
possible for enemy pieces to
penetrate the king's camp. If
that happens, the defending
side, in order to avoid being
checkmated immediately,
must accept heavy losses and
the subsequent struggle
becomes pointless.
A classic example is
provided by the game between
Edward Adarns and Carlos 3 Wc7!! WbS!
Torre in 1920. These elegant queen offers
are beautiful but apparently
pointless. What has White
achieved? If he continues in
-
the same style 4 Wxb7, then
Black will continue 4 ...Wxe2!
5 Exe2 Bcl+ 6 &el Hxel+! 7
Pxef with Hxel when it is
White who is mated because of
the weakness of the first rank.
Therefore a tricky way of
distracting the Black queen
from e8 must be found - this
74 Queen Sacrifices
i s t h e t h e m e of the
combination.
4 a4! Wxa4

This sacrifice is decisive.

5 Ed!! The Black queen can no longer
A brilliant knockout! Black stay on the a4-e8 diagonal.
has no time to create a flight Black has to admit defeat.
square: 5 ... h6 6 Wxc8 Pxc8 7 In our next lesson we shall
Pxa4 winning a rook. It is continue our consideration of
impossible to play 5 .,. Wxe4 the conditions which are
because of 6 Pxe4 and the n e c e s s a r y if a t t a c k i n g
White queen is taboo. So the combinations are to be carried
queen has to retreat. out during a game.
Lesson 15: Tactical Devices

I n our last lesson we dealt with the game Carlos Torre vs

and how they Emanuel Lasker (Moscow
occur in practical games. We 19251.
also analysed some attacking
based on the
weakness of the first (or
eighth) rank. Now we art:
going t o examine other
specific situations giving rise
to various combinations.
Firstly we look at the
weakness of the second
(seventh) rank.
The weakness of the back
rank leads to mating threats It seems that Black may be
against the White king. The happy with his position but an
weakness of the second or unexpected and brilliant
seventh rank most often leads sacrifice of White's bishop
to the destruction of the king's drastically changes t h e
pawn protection thereby situation, making it possible
facilitating ultimate victory. to carry out a combination
In Lesson 14 we considered which in chess is called a
the game between G. Rotlevi 'windmill'.
and A. Rubinstein in which 1 Af6!! Wxh5
White capitulated because of 2 Pxg7+ &h8
the weakness of the second 3 rtxf7+ &g8
rank when both Black's rooks , 4 Pg7+ *b8
created threats to h2. Let us 5 Dxb7+&g8
c o n s i d e r an analogous 6 Pg7f &h8
situation which was reached in 7 llg5+!
76 Tacticai Devices
1 e4 e5
2 Qf3 Qc6
3 Ac4 af6
4 d4 ed
5 0-0 A&
6 eS d5
7 ef dc
8 Pelt
I n this position Black
should give up a pawn in order
to mobilise his pieces, for
After a series of discovered ..
example: 8 , l e 6 9 fg Pg8 10
checks the rook has mutilated Ag5 Wd5. However, Black
the whole of Black's army on decided to hold on to the pawn
the seventh rank and now and after
Black's queen is sure to fall 8 ... &f8?
too. 9 AgS gf
7 ... &h7 10 l h 6 + &g8
8 Pxh5 &e6
9 Eh3 &if6
10 Exhi+
White, with two extra
pawns, won easily.
Practice has shown that the
incursion of two heavy pieces
onto the second (seventh) rank
is the surest way to success. It
is also known that it is difficult
to attack the enemy king
protected by a solid pawn the pawns on f7, f6 and h7 set
f o r m a t i o n . Things are up a prison rather than a
different, however, when there fortress for his king. White's
a r e weaknesses (called bishop on h6 acts as guard
'islands') in the pawn set-up. preventing the Black king's
Just look at the game Caesias escape. Now White should
vs Vladmir VukoviC, 1940. bring a mating piece into
 Tactical Devices 77
,,tion. But which piece? It 18 Qxf6 mate
be a White knight on f6, Since a good pawn
a rook on e8, or the queen on formation is particularly
g4. It is interesting that important for a successful
various situations could have defence, there are some typical
,ccurred in this game where attacking combinations wip-
any of the pieces was capable ing out the enemy king's
of inflicting the decisive defenders. Let us consider
blow. another characteristic
11 Qc3! Ag4 example of the sacrificial dest-
12 Qe4 b6 ruction of the king's pawn
13 c3 QeS? cover.
14 axe5
The threat is 15 Wxg4 mate.
Why not take the formidable
queen?
14 ... Axdl

After the natural 1 Wh5 f5 it

would be difficult to prove
15 Qd7!! l e 7 White's superiority. However,
It seems that Black is if White disposes of Black's
protected against mate on f6. pawns on g7 and h7 the rook's
However, there is no defence trip from fl to D will be
against the new sacrificial disastrous for Black.
1 fireworks. 1 lxh7+!&xh7
16 Qexf6+!! I x f 6 2 WhS+ &g8
17 Re8+!! O x e 8 3 $Lxg7! &xg7
78 Tactical Devices
4 Wg4+ &h7 spectacular victory against
Not 4 ... &f6? 5 Wg5 mate J.H. Blackburne.
5 Hf3 e5
Black has t o give up his
queen.
6 E h H Wh6
7 HxhLf Qxh6
It seems that Black has
suficient compensation for
the queen but
8 ld7
White had foreseen this
manoeuvre before the bishop
sacrifice. Lasker won back one Black has just refused to
of the Black bishops which take the pawn on f5 and by
ensured his quick victory. placing the rook on c8 he
1n conclusion, let us threatens to invade on c2.
consider a classical example of White, in his turn, has an
brilliant combinational play in attacking chance: 1 d5 Ec2 2
which another tactical device l d 4 practically forcing Black
- 'deflection' - was used. to capture on b2. However,
While carrying out an attack it White chose a more complex
is often necessary to dispose of , and beautiful way of resolving
one of the enemy pieces the conflict.
protecting one or several 1 fg! sc2
important squares. The most Black has no choice because
simple way, i.e., destruction or after 1 ... hg his king becomes
exchange, is not always so weak that White does not
possible, and then the have to resort to any forcing
question arises as to whether it means in order to win.
is possible to deflect the enemy 2 gh+ &ha!
piece by means of a tactical Looks drastic, but very
blow. A hundred years ago effective. The king hides
Johannes Zukertort was behind the enemy pawn.
famousas a master of brilliant White cannot capture his own
combinations. Here is his pawn and must make Black do
 Tactical Devices 79
it, otherwise the attack will Exploiting the weakness of
come to a standstill. the eighth rank, White inflicts
3 d5+ e5 another deflecting blow:
I\ 5 Ern+!!
This present cannot be
...
accepted either - 5 Wxf8
would be met by 6 Axe5+
&xh7 7 Wxe4+ with a forced
mate to follow.
5 ... &xh7
6 l&xe4+$7g7
, 7 A~e5+!&xf3
Black still hopes to evacuate
I the king to the queenside. But
4 WM!! now comes the last combinat-
This is essentially the ional blow:

1I beginning of the combination.

What is Whitc*ridea? With the
pawn on h7 disappearing, the
8 Pg7+!

two rooks and the bishop will

mate the king. The e5-pawn,
and its protector, the queen at
e7, are vital to the defence. So,
the queen must be deflected
both from e5 and the king.
Now if Black accepts the
lavish present, there is mate in
I six - 4 ... Wxb4 5 Axe5+
I
1
&xh7 6 Hh3+ &g6 7 Pg3+
Qh7SHf7+#3h69Af4+
&h510Ph7mate.Having
If now 8 ... Wxg7? Black's
queen blocks the king's retreat
and allows mate on e8. So,
made himself aware of White's Black resigned.
cunning plot Black protects In our next lesson we shatl
the queen trying to hold his complete our introduction to
pawn on e5. the principles of cornbinat-
4 ... R8c5 ional play.
Lesson 16: The Endgame .,

Manv lovers of chess look with

disdain on the endgame, the
final stage of the game, as a
boring area which does not
require any combinational
imagination. Later on we shall
examine playing the endgame,
and you will see that this stage
of the game is extremely
complex and abundant in
original ideas. However,
we are now going to make an White is to move, and the
attempt at convincing the first impulse is to advance the
readers that combinational h-pawn but after 1 h7 e4! there
abilities and skills are quite isn't any likelihood of
essential for success in the promoting the White pawn
endgame. since all the squares on the
During a combination in long diagonal are controlled
the middlegame or in the by the Black bishop.
opening most of the pawns So, before advancing the
and pieces are just passive pawn White should either
observers. An endgame com- drive away the Bishop from
bination, however, requires the long diagonal or block the
the participation of practically advance of the e-pawn. Let's
all pieces, and the king is the try the first variant.
most active piece. Let us see a 1 Aa7!
very simple example: A well-known combinat-
ional motif called 'deflection'.
see fo/lowing diagram The bishop c a n n o t be
captured because of the h6-
 The Endgame 81
pawn queening, and 1 ... &g5 pawn from queening. But it is
is met by 2 h7 when 2 ... e4 possibIe to capture bishop
allows the White bishop to with bishop.
take on 64.There is only one 3 ... lxd4
reply left: 4 &d3!
1 ..* Ac3 Everything is now clear.
2 &c2 The e-pawn, protecting the
Black has no choice: . . ' bishop, cannot now move.
2 ... Pal - After
4 ... Ab2
White plays
5 &e4!
blocking the e5-pawn and
ensuring the promotion for his
h6-pawn.
A charming masterpiece,
isn't it? There were only six
actors, but each has played his
part to the best of his ability.
No less subtle was the
At first glance, White has theatrical performance in the
extracted the maximum from classical miniature published
the position, but still he in a Glasgow newspaper in
cannot prevent the e-pawn 1895.
from advancing. Nevertheless,
/
I
the bishop sacrifice was not a
chance or naive trick, but
the beginning of a beautiful
combination:
3 ld4!!
Utterly stunning and
unexpected, It is easy to see
..
that after 3 , ed comes 4 &d3! .
when White blocks the pawn.
The Black bishop on a1
cannot prevent the White 1 c7
82 The Endgame
This is quite obvious. N o w mate, Black has to give up his
Black has two possibilities: rook.
either to allow the queening of This example amply shows
the White pawn or to give a the important pecularities of
check which seems quite endgame combinations:
pointless. the active role of the king and
1 .*. Pd6+ the ever increasing value of
This is not as simple as it passed pawns.
might seem. 2 42b7 can be met Here is another example:
by 2 ... Rd7, and after 2 &c5
Black draws immediateiy,
playing 2 ... Ed1 3 &b6 Bcl.
2 &b5! Pd5+
3 &b4 Rd4+
4 &b3 Xd3+
5 &c2!
Now there are no more
checks and the rook cannot
get to c 1. But the struggle is far
from being over:
5 ... Xd4! White seems to be having a
A cunning trap! Now 6 c8W hard time since it is difficult to
is met by 6 ... Ec4+! 7 l x c 4 protect the a5-pawn. The
Stalemate! Is it really a draw? pawn sacrifice undertaken by
That's what the newspaper White looks like an act of
columnist in tended! desperation.
F. Saavedra wrote in with 1 c6 bc
the correction: Now the natural 2 Sc5
6 c%E! would be followed by 2 ...
White carries out a unique ad7. After this the Black rook
mating attack with minimal gets to b5 via b4 and White
forces and the a c t i v e would be in a difficult
participation of the king. position. 1s it possible to cut
6 ... Pa4 off the Black rook from the
7 &b3! b6-pawn?
This is the end. To avoid 2 Bb5!!
 The Endgame 83

I This typical idea is called placing the rook on d6 and

eventually dancing back and
2 ... ab forth between f6 and d6. You
3 b7 can set up White's pieces
The situation has drastically anywhere but all your
changed. Now Black is on the attempts to penetrate will be
edge of a precipice since the futile.
appearance of a White queen Knowing this astonishing
is imminent. feature of the endgame, Black
3 ... Uxa5 is able to extricate himself
4 b 8 1 + &d7 from the following quandary:
5 Wh8
Black loses the h6-pawn and
with it his last hopes for
salvation. The White queen
will make short work of
Black's queenside pawns, but
Black is unable to stop White's
h-pawn.
Incidentally, if it were not
for Black's fl-pawn and
White's g2-pawn, Black could
have saved the game by
building up an impenetrable Black seems to be in danger.
fortress after 1 c6 bc 2 EbS! For instance, 1 ... Pcl 2 &d6
cb! 3 b7 Ed4 4 b8W &f7 k c 8 3 c7 Exc7! 4 bg4+! (but
not 4 bc - stalemate!).
Stalemate proves to be the
only drawing idea.
1 ... Rd7!!
2 Ad5 Eb7!!
Now White has a choice. He
can either make a draw after
the dull 3 &d6 Hxb6 4 Ae6
Pa6 or gain a big material
advantage and a half-point
84 The Endgame
after 3 cb with a stalemate, extra pawns, but his king,
However, the stalemate having captured the bishop, is
position of the king does not doomed to immobility, and
always save the defending only one of Black's three
side. It is precisely this pawns can now move.
position that very often turns 3 ..* d5
out to be a trap for the king. 4 ed e4
, 5 d6 e3
6 d7 el+
At last Black has freed the
king.
7 &xe2 &g2
8 d8W hlW
Black has done his best,but
now the passive position of his
queen, unable to help the king,
brings about his downfall.
9 Wg5+ &h3
I n spite of the material 10 ~ h 5 +kg2
advantage, White should be 11 *g4+ &h2
very careful; if the h2-pawn 12 &f2!
queens, Black will win the Black must resign: there is
game. But White manages to no defence against Wh4 or
lure the king into a stalemate 9 h 5 mate.
cage by means of a tricky So you have seen that the
sacrifice. endgame, which many chess
1 An+ *gl . fans consider to be the most
2 Ahl!! &xhl boring stage of the game,
3 &rl! provides broad vistas for
Incredible! Black has hro combinations.
Lesson 17: Methods of Attack

Every chess player, regardless moves to decide the game, or

of his qualification (there are mul ti-stage attacks, some-
of amateur players), times ten or moves long. Most
feel an upsurge of inspiration often the enemy king is the
when a position is reached in target of the attack. The
which he can launch an attack attacking pieces try all
against the enemy king. But to possible means to crush the
organise an attack, one must king even at the expense of
acquire the skills of positional heavy material losses. In such
play and the knowledge of cases the end, as a rule,
combinational blows covered justifies the means.
in our previous lessons. To illustrate such attacks, I
In most games, one side, by should like to analyse two
gradually accumulating minor games. First, let us look at one
positional pluses, obtains a so- of my games.
called positional advantage
which has to be converted into E,Magerramov-G.Kasparov
some real material advantage. Baku 1977
In such situations the best way
is to proceed from slow and The opening was quite
purposeful manoeuvres to tranquil.
energetic actions characterised 1 Qf3 Qf6
by offensive operations and 2 d4 e6
constant concrete tactical 3 124 d5
blows. 4 Qc3 Pe7
This method of chess 5 Ag5 h6
strategy is called the attack. . 6 Ah4 0-0
There are many types of 7 e3 b6
attacks, for instance, lightning - -- 8 Wb3 Ab7 -. .
attacks, requiring two or three 9 Pxf6 Axf6
86 Methods of Attack
10 cd ed drawback to White's plan: he
11 %dl c5 lags behind in development.
12 dc ad7 19.., Axf3!!
13 c6 Axe6 A timely a n d highly
14 Qd4?
lxd4! effective tactical blow. Sin=
15 Exd4 Qc5 20 Wxf3 is met by 20 ...
16 @dl Qe6 Qxd4+, Black has completely
17 Pd2 destroyed the pawn cover of
White's king, preventing his
escape from the centre.
Moreover, White's pieces have
become unco-ordinated. All
this is sufficient compensation
for the sacrificed bishop.
Nevertheless, Black should be
very energetic while conduct-
ing the attack.
20 gf Ih4+
As a result of the incorrect 21 Pi2
manoeuvre of White's knight 21 &e2 Qf4 mate would
to d4, White's king has have lost at once.
become stuck in the centre, 21... xd4-k
and his kingside pieces have 22 Pet Qxf3+
not yet been developed. I 24 &fl Wh3+
Therefore, the first stage of the 24 Bg2 Qb4
attack lies in a pawn sacrifice, . 25 Rbgl Pad8!
opening the long diagonal for
the bishop and the central file
for the rook.
17 ... d4?
18ed Pe8
19 I3
An interesting plan of
defence. Now 19 ... Qxd4+
would be refuted by 20 &f2!
However, there is one essential
 Methods of Anack 87
Another stage of the attack 27 Wi2
is over. Black has deployed all The threat was 27 ... Rf3+!
his pieces and paralysed the 27 ... Qf3!
forces. Now he Now White cannot find any
could have re-established the energetic or useful moves. For
material equilibrum by example, the rook still cannot
capturing the rook. However, be captured because of 28 ...
Black is in no hurry for this, Q xh2 mate! White would
seeing that White's pieces have been mated if the knight
surrounding their own king had retreated. e.g., 28 a b l .
block his escape from the PdI+ 29 Axdl a x h 2 mate!
centre. The attempt to remove the
26 *el? queen would have failed too,
The natural desire to keep e.g., 28 Wg3 Qd2+. So, White
the queen closer to the theatre has to move his rook from gl
of operations brings White to to hl and back.
the precipice and deprives his 28 ah1 Rde3
king of manoeuvrability. The 29 Ehgl &h8
only defensive resource was to 30 Hhl b5!
transfer the queen to g4. By After the obvious 3 1 a3 a5!
playing 26 Wa4! White could there is no defence against the
have avoided immediate decisive advance b5-b4; there-
defeat, though after 26 ... fore White resigned.
Qxg2 27 Bxg2 Re5 28 Wg4 However, an attack does
Wxg4 29 k x g 4 f5 30 Af3 g5 it not necessarily lead to a
was still difficult for White to complete rout of the enemy as
defend. the following game shows.
After 26 Wel? White has to
withstand another wave of A-Alekhine-A.Rubinstein
attack, both the king and Carlsbad 1923
queen becoming targets.
26 ... Pd3!
The rook is untouchable
since after 27 Axd3 Hxelf 28
*xc 1 the rook on g2 would be
unprotected.
88 Methods of Attack
6 e3 0-0 technique.
7 Pcl c6 16 Qe4! B x d
8 Wc2 a6 The continuation 16 ...
9 a4 He8 i x c 5 17 QegS! g6 (17 ... Qfs
10bd3 dc 18 Ad3! threatening both h7
11 Pxc4 Qd5 andc5) 18 %fel Qf8 19g3wf6
12 Af4 Qxf4 looks passive, but it probably
13 ef c5 is the best defence.
14 dc Wc7 . 17 Qxc5 Axc5
15 0-0 Wxf4 18 Ad3 b6
19 Axh7+&h8
. 20 Be4
The first aim has been
achieved. In the pawn
formation defending Black's
king there is a gaping hole -
t h e p a w n o n h 7 has
disappeared and White can
place his heavy pieces on the h-
file. But White must play
energetically, or Black's
White's positional advant- bishop will be brought to b7 in
age is determined by his pawn two moves, and the attack will
superiority on the queenside be neutralised.
and, what is more, by Black's 20 +.. Ra7?
inferior development in that
sector. However, Alekhine
notices another pecularity of
this position -the insufficient
protection of Black's kingside,
which enables him to launch
an attack against the king. But
before attacking, it is
necessary to weaken the
opponent's defensive lines.
Just look at Alekhine's superb
 Methods of A ttack 89
21 b4!
This is the beginning of an
effectivedeflecting manoeuvre
aimed at pinning down
Black's pieces, thereby depriv-
ing him of mobility and creat-
ing appreciable pressure on
the kingside.
21 . IfS
22 Wc6! Hd7
23 g3 Wb8
If now 23 ... Wd6 Alekhine queen gets to h4. For example,
suggested 24 Wc4! We7 (or 24 ...
25 ... Ab7 26 Wc4! or 25 fg
... &g8 25 Ac6 Rc7 26 Rfdl 26 Ws4! Pxb4 27 Wh4+ &g8
We7 27 l d 3 ! ) 25 QeS Ed6 26 28 Wh7+ &fS 29 Wh8f &e7
l g 6 ! winning material. By 30 Wxg7+ &e8 3 1 Wg8+ l f 8
placing his queen on b8 (to 32 Wxg6+ &e7 33 Wxe6 mate.
shield the b6-pawn) Black Black has to give up the
leaves his king virtually exchange, but he still cannot
unprotected, and this is get rid of the defects in his
precisely what Alekhine has position. The rest is routine.
been aiming for. Now he 25 ,.. We5
quickly creates direct threats 26 axn+ B X ~
against the enemy king. ' . 27 Axn WE
White's pieces are instantan- ZS Pfdl! Xxdl+
eously transferred to the other . 29 Bxdl Wxf7
'

half of the chessboard. , 30 Wxc8 &b7

24 Qg5! Xed8 31 Wxa6 Wf3
The threat was 25 Qxf7+ 32 Wd3+
Rxfl 26 @xe8. Biack resigned
see following diagram
We hope that the above
25 A&!! games will help you acquire
A very s t r o n g a n d skill in organising a n d
unexpected blow. Black conducting offensive operat-
cannot defend fl and White's ions. . - - . ."
Lesson 18: Attack or Defence?

Which is more important - his theory of positional play

attack or defence? In present and world champion Emanuel
day chess this question is Lasker achieved outstanding
extremely topical, and every results, that defence came to
chess player tackles it his own be appreciated and new chess
way. Impetuous and inexper- masters extremely skilful in
ienced players are usually keen the art of defence appeared in
on clinching the issue by a the chess arena,
direct attack. Lured by the How is this problem viewed
lustre of combinations, they today? The answer is clear:
persistently look for beautiful both the shield and the sword
and unexpected tactical blows. are equally important. It is
Most experienced chess play- obvious today that one cannot
ers prefer strongly protected become a strong player with-
formations capable of repell- out being a skilful defender.
ing any attack. Some 20 years ago intuitive
Chess fans know that the sacrifices in order to seize the
attacking or the so-called initiative were common
romantic style was predomin- practice in international
ant in the 19th century. At that tournaments. Nowadays
time intricate methods of defensive technique bas
defence were non-existent. If enhanced to such an extent
your opponent sacrificed a that even a minor pawn
pawn or a piece, you were sacrifice should be based on
supposed t o accept the concrete variations, otherwise
sacrifice and fight back the defence will take the upper
afterwards. It was only at the hand.
close of the century, when the Why do we look back into
great chess philosopher history? The answer is quite
Wilhtlm Steinitz formulated simple: any chess player
 Artack or Defence? 91
wishing to improve his skills situation, a bad position,
has to accumulate the exper- whatever the defence, will still
ience of previous generations. remain bad.
Our forerunners, lacking in But you should do your best
knowledge, used the trial and play to the bitter end. Just
and error method and left us look how Lasker did it.
their chess wisdom in their
games and books. What took Em,Lasker-A.Nimzowimh
them decades of laborious St. Petersburg 1914
work is now acquired by a
young chess player within a
year.
So, how does one learn to
set up a good defence? There
are many ways and methods.
We shall get acquainted with
them in our lessons.
Let us begin with bad
positions. Lasker used to say
that any position could be
defended and everyone knows Black has an extra pawn, a
the popular chess proverb: well positioned knight in the
'It's never too late to resign'. centre and a strong pawn
Experience has shown that no structure. Very few could have
matter how hopeless a put up a stubborn defence
position is some chance here. But the great Lasker,
always crops up for puttingup noticing that Black's knight
stubborn resistance. You must could be exchanged and the
find such a chance. When your extra pawn was still doubled,
opponent, anticipating an realised t h a t Black's
easy win, encounters new advantage, although it was
Problems and difficulties, he obvious, was not yet decisive.
may, owing to fatigue, make a Black still has to figure out
mistake and victory will slip how to improve his position,
away from him. Of course, if so White should wait quietly
both sides play well in this and play non-committally.
92 Atrack or Defence?
27a3 a6 . have ousted White's rook by
28 Ae3 Bhd8 . 37 ... Wh8!
29 &a2 Bh8 38 Ag5 QhS?
30 &a1 Phd8 Misfortunes never come
White's first success - singly, and one mistake is
Nirnzowitsch s h o w s b y often followed by another.
moving his rook along the Unable to exploit his advant-
back rank that he does not age, Black resorts to tactical
know how to exploit his manoeuvres. Now he is
advantage. And this is a good banking on an easy win after
incentive for strengthening 39 Bh7 Qf4! 40 Exh3 a x e 2 4 1
White's resistance. or 39 Ae7 Qxg7 40 Ax@Qh5.
31 &a2 Be8 After the game it was found
32 Eg8 kg8 that Black still had winning
33 Hxg8+ Ed8 - - chances after 38 ,.. Qe4 39
34 Eg7 %d7 Ae7 Pe8 40 Pxf7 Wg4! 41
35 HgS+ Ed8 l h 4 ! Wg6 42 He7 Ph8! But
36 Eg7 Pf8 post-mortem and actual play
White has put new obstacles are two different things.
in Black's path to victory, An Nimzowitsch misses the win
.

exchange of rooks has taken and, exhausted by the hard

the pressure off the b2-pawn. struggle, finally loses his
'

Besides, White's rook is advantage.

positioned more actively than
its Black counterpart, but it
should be supported, or
Black's queen may oust the
rook.
37 c4
Lasker prepares d5.
37 .,. f6?
The first mistake. Having
encountered stubborn
resistance, Black is at a loss
and seeks defence against
White's activity. Black should
 Attack or Defence? 93
41 QeS! Axe5 Black's queen is absolutely
42 We8+! &c7 immobile and his loss is
43 WxeS+ inevitable. Capablanca tries to
Despite the extra rook, bring his queen into piay and
Black cannot avoid perpetual to get a passed pawn.
check. So the game was agreed 27 ... b4
I drawn here. Now after 28 cb Wxb4 29
Lasker often extricated Wxa6 c4! the passed c-pawn
himself from difficult situat- saves Black. There is only one
ions due to his fierce and road to success for White: 28
skilful defence. c4! Wc8 29 Wb6! (preventing
The great Cuban chess 29 ... a5) Wf5! 30 l x a 6 &h7!!
player Jose Raoul Capablanca 31 Wa7 We5 32 W x f l Wal+
lost very few games through- 33 &h2 Wxa2. Rubinstein,
out his chess career. He was an however, chooses another
excellent defender. plan.
28 1 x 4 5 bc
A,Bubinstein-J.Capablanca 29 Wxc3 Wbl+
St. Petersburg 1914 30 &h2 WxaZ
31 Wc8+ &h7

It seems that White has a

tremendous advantage in the
endgame, having an extra
pawn and a well positioned The situation has become
queen. 27 ... c4 looks natural, clear. White's formidable
but after 28 f3 l c 8 29 e4 kingside superiority i s
 -

94 Attack or Defence?
counter balanced by Black's The game was drawn here.
apparently modest but Capablanca defended his
extremely powerful a-pawn. inferior p o s i t i o n with
astonishing ease, testifying to
34 g4 a4 his superb virtuosity.
35 hS gh Appreciate defence. Learn
36 Wf5+ to defend - a good shield can
Admitting Capablanca's withstand the blow of any
superiority as an endgame sword.
virtuoso. 36 gh We6! was too
risky for White. Our next lesson will be
36 .., &g7 devoted to the study of the
37 WgS+ &b7 presentday basic methods of
38 WxhS+&g7 defence.
 Lesson 19: Counterstts&

In our previous lesson we took me a long time to

covered methods of defence understand why my seemingly
based o n extreme a n d irresistible attack had been
scrupulous efforts to improve frustrated in our game at the
the co-ordination of the super-tournament in Tilburg
pieces. But chess today has in 1981.
become more intricate and
dynamic than it used to be, G .Kasparov-T.Petrosian
say, 50 years ago. The art of Tilburg 1981
attack
.. . . . has become more
versatile and subtle. And, this,
in its turn, has caused a
reciprocal reaction; in other
words, the sharpening of the
sword has gone hand in hand
with the strengthening of the
shield.
To begin with, the role of
active defence aimed at
creating counter threats has
considerably increased. Having sacrificed a pawn in
I was lucky to meet on many the opening, I managed to
occasions Tigran Petrosian cramp Black's pieces. Besides,
whose death was tragically it's obvious that Black's king
premature. He lavishly shared is actually misplaced. The
his invaluable experience with threat is a4-a5, and it's not
me, and the chess encounters clear how to repel Pcb2 and
with this phenomenal master Wb I . The cramped position of
of defence were extremely Black's pieces makes his
useful for me. For instance. it defence passive and absolutely
I
I
96 Counterattack
unpromising and therefore supercharged move turns out
Petrosian resorts to a desper- to be a serious error. I was
ate move. perfectly aware that d5 was
30 .., b5 Black's foothold, but I didn't
31 ab cb see any way of gaining it.
32 Ha2! Having returned to Moscow, I
The impression is that Black found the winning line - 33
is on the edge of the precipice, Qa3! Ab6 34 Qc2! Pa8 35
the destruction of his queen- Qb4 Wd6 36 e4! fe 37 Wxe4
side down the open files seems Pa7 38 Wxg6 Axd4+ 39 &hl
inevitable. However, from Q7b6 40 f5! As you see, the
now on Tigran Petrosian finds win was far from easy, and it
moves that turn the whole required a lot of time; I had to
game into a display of magic. penetrate deeply into the
32 ... &b7! secrets of the position.
Most masters would have 33 ... We8!
preferred 32 ... Ad6, giving up The only move: the b5-
the pawn with an inferior pawn must be strongly
position - 33 Bxb5 Rxb5 34 protected. After 33 ... Wd8 the
Qxd6 Wxd6 35 Wxb5 - but continuation 34 e4 fe 35 Wxe4
avoiding a catastrophe. We8 36 l x d 5 + ! ed 37 Axd5-t
Escaping from one pin, &a7 38 Pxa6+! &xa6 39
Black falls under another two Ra3+ l a 5 40 Pxa5 mate
pins. I really don't know how would be decisive.
my highly esteemed opponent 34 Ad6 Pa8 .
determined that his king 35 Wbl
would be safe on b7, but his Here, for the first time in
decision had an unexpected this game, I experienced vague
psychological effect on me. I fears over the outcome of the
could still appreciate the attack, and I decided just to
attacking power of my pieces, develop my pieces occupying
but after this unexpected move vantage points and hoping to
I really became muddled. inflict a serious combinational
33 l b 4 ? blow on the enemy. However,
Strange as it may seem, this the former world champion's
apparently natural and next move caught me
 Counreratzuck 97
completely unawares. So, the king not only
35 ,.. &c6!! defended himself, he led his
army to victory.
~ L a l ~ s ithis
n ~ game, you
s h o u l d draw the most
important conclusion: you
should be cold-blooded and
clear-headed when attacked
by your opponent. Then you
will be able to repel the attack
successfully and choose the
appropriate moment for
launching a counterattack
which, in the final analysis, is
Fantastic!! The king, the most efficient method of
leaving the pawn cover, defence.
marches towards White's Now let's analyse the
army. This is not recklessness, classical example of counter-
but an example of precise attack in a brilliant game
calculation. Now White has to between two chess giants.
find a way of saving his
muddled p i e c e s without Y .Geller-M.Euwe
material losses. There was Zurich 1953
salvation here, but, alas, being
astounded by the fantastically
resourceful defence of my
opponent, I failed to find the
best continuation and lost the
game in a few moves.
36 Xba3? bc
37 P x a 6 f Bxa6
38 Rxa6+Ab6
39 Ac5 Wd8
40 Wal QxcS
41 dc &xc5! White's attack looks
White resigned threatening. In a couple of
98 Counterattack
moves he can bring his queen ant g2-square. Nevertheless, it
and rook to the h-file, so that seems that White is obviously
practically all his pieces better: his queen will soon be
(except the rook on af) will in the midst of the enemy
participate in the onslaught camp.
against the Black king's 21 ... Wxe6
fortress. But former world 21 Wxh7+ Qf7
champion Euwe had played 22 Ah6
over 70 games against the
greatest magician of attack,
Alexander Alekhine, so it was
not easy to embarrass him.
16 ... b5
This isn't a waste of time,
but the beginning of a
remarkable plan. The passive
defence of the king's fortress is
unpromising for Black, since
his pieces have Iittle, if any,
scope for manoeuvre and half Black's position looks
of them will not be able to critical. If White brings his
protect the king. In view of rook from a1 to fl, there will
this, Euwe decides to react, as be immediate threats to the
soon as possible, with strong Black king. But it is at this
counterplay in the centre, juncture that Euwe finds a
where his pieces are no worse stunning tactical blow based
posted than White's. on 'deflection' and carries out
17 Ph4 Wb6 a lightning counterattack.
18 eS axe5 22 ... ZitM!!
19 fe and3 23 Wxh8 Pc2!
20 Wxd3 The situation has suddenly
Black has exchanged the and drastically changed. Now
dangerous light-squared bis- the threat is 24 ... Ex@+ 25
hop and opened up the long &fl Wc4+ etc. When the
diagonal for his bishop tournament ended, the
controlling the vitally import- grandmasters, after exhaust-
 Counterattack 99
ive analysis, arrived at the actualty it was only his queen
conclusion that White could that bothered Black's king; the
have been saved, if he had other pieces were merely
found some subtle and wetl- observers. On the other hand
hidden moves. This is one of several of Black's pieces
the variations: 24 d5! +%I&! participated in the counter-
25 a h 1 Wf2 26 Dgl b x d 5 27 attack against g2. Euwe was
Pe4 Axe4 28 Qxe4 Wh4 29 successful because he
Axg7 Wxe4 30 Wf8+ etc. defended with a minimum of
Exhausted by the struggle, forces, It was this type of
Geller did not find the right 'economical' defence which
continuation, and the game the great Lasker found to be
ended very quickly. the surest sign of a top-class
24 Rcl? Sixg2-t chess player.
25 &fl l b 3 ! So, when on the defensive,
26 &el WD! maintain your poise, When
White resigned you spot the enemy's threat,
don't rush all your pieces into
Why was White's apparent- defence, use your pieces
ly threatening a t t a c k economically and choose the
frustrated? White wanted to right moment for wunter-
use all his striking power, but attack,
Lesson 20: The Opposition

- -
For most enthusiasts chess is fcmtball, are, as a rule, terminal.
primarily a game with a mult- Remember: unless you can
itude of possibilities for carry- play the endgame, you wilt
ing out unexpected and beaut- never be a strong chess player.
iful combinations. They It is not by chance that all
believe that the fewer pieces the world champions were
that remain on the chess- always willing to transpose the
board, the less interesting the game into the ending and they
game. And to most of them the could play this stage of the
endgame is reminiscent of a game with great strength and
gloomy, barren wilderness. artistry. Emanuel Lasker, Jose
What an illusion! Raoul C a p a b l a n c a a n d
The endgame, the final part Mikhail Botvinnik were
of the game of chess, is endgame virtuosi.
inexhaustibly rich for chess I cannot overestimate the
p l a y e r s endowed w i t h value of lessons on the
creative, original thinking and endgame technique given to
capable of carrying out me by the former world
profound, 'long-range' ideas. champion Mikhail Botvinnik.
This phase of the game Ten years ago he convinced
requires clockwork precision. me of the necessity to study
If you are not happy about the typical endgame positions and
opening, you can impr0v.e methods.
y o u r position i n t h e The great Capablanca
middlegame; if you have made advised starting with the most
some m i s t a k e s i n t h e elementary pawn endings.
middlegame, you may hope to Why? It seems that there is
correct them in the ending. very little chance of arrivingat
But endgame errors, like a such positions. If I had shown
goalkeeper's mistake i n such naive pragmatism in 197%
 The Opposition 102
at the Daugavpils qualifying
tournament at the national
championship, I would have
come to grief. At the end of the
tournament, in my game
against Alburt (I was Black)
the following position was
reached after White's 45th
move:

At first glance it seems that

Black's king cannot make
headway because of stalemate
...
after 54 &f4 55 &12 47e4 56
At this moment many &fl h e 3 57 &el f2+ 58 &gl
spectators argued whether 47f3. But I knew that this was
Black could win this game. not so. In this position it is
Sitting at the chessboard, I necessary to concede the move
was checking the well-known to White, so as to create a
winning method. First of all, 'zugzwang*, a position with no
Black must get a passed pawn useful moves. This is achieved
by threatening to get around by the distant opposition of
White's king from the flank: the kings. Now it's time to
45... *d5 explain what t h e term
46 &d3 &c5! bopposition' means and how it
47 &c3 can be practically used.
White has no choice. Success in a pawn ending
47 *,, g4! depends on the activity of the
48 &d3 gh king. The king must strive to
49 gh &d5 gain as much space as
102 The Opposition
possible, driving back the The distant opposition,
enemy king. Therefore, the when the kings are separated
king must advance in front of
the pawns. In the fight for
space on the chessboard one
by three ranks, is a subtle
method leading, in the final
analysis, to a close or direct
.-
should be able to exploit the opposition.
opposition of the kings. The Let us return to my 1978
most effective method is the ending after 54 &f 1
so-called close opposition. Let 54 ... &f5
us consider an elementary 55 &gl
example. After 55 &f2 *f4 Black
seizes the close opposition
taking White's last pawn after
56 &gl &g3.
55 .,. 4~eS
56 &fl &e4!
Now White's king cannot
get to e2, and if 57 &f2 &f458
&fl &g3, or 57 &el &e3 58
&fl f2 59 &g2 &e2, so
resistance is useless.
It is interesting that five
B o t h kings a r e i n years later at the international
opposition. The one who has tournament in the Yugoslav
made the last move profits by town of NiksiC I happened to
the opposition, If White i s to win a game using a similar
move now, he cannot stop the met bod.
passed pawn: i &g2 &e3! 2
&fl f4 3 &el f3 4 &fl f2 5
&g2 G7e2 etc. If Black is to
move now,he cannot oust the It is clear that Black's king
White king and has to can advance to the kingside
reconcile himself to a draw pawns: 47 ... b3 48 &c3 b2 49
after 1 ... &e4 2 &e2! f4 3 F$d a x b 2 &d4 50 &b3 &xe4 51
3 4 *ff! &e3 5 &el t2+ 6
t 4 x 4 axf5 52 &b5 &g4 but
&I h f 3 stalemate. the queen ending with Black's
 The Oppusirio~r103
&bl White wins. Now the
game reached its logical end:
55 ef b2
56 &cZ &a2
57 n blW+
One tempo too late, so
White resigned.
For the third time, my
knowledge of typical pawn
endgame positions saved me
the trouble of playing a long
h-pawn is drawish. However, I ending against Milan VukiE
spotted the chance of (Yugoslavia) at the European
exploiting a distant opposit- Team Championship in 1980.
ion, conceding the move to the My opponent was playing
opponent, thus reaching a Black.
zugzwang.
47 ... &c6
48 &c4 *c7
49 &d3 &d7!
Having triangulated,
Black's king is now ready for a
victorious march to c5.
50 &e3 &c6
51 &d3 &c5
White's king has to give
way.
52 &e3 b3! White has a positional
The only move. The 'naturaf' advantage; the powerful
52 .,. kc4 would lead to a bishop and the strong pawn
draw after 53 e5! &d5 54 e6! formation keep Black cramp-
ad6. ed on both flanks. As a rule,
S3 &d3 &b4 the exploitation of positionai
54 e5 &a3! advantages requires a lot of
Again the only good move! time. But in this case, the game
...
After 54 b2 55 &c2 &a3 56 comes to an abrupt end. First,
I
1
1 104 The Opposition
1 White exchanges the strong 40 fg &e7
bishop 41 gh &f8
I 36 Pxf6 gf but then White wilt liven up
and then the rook. the other side of the board:
I\(
37 id1 42 b4 &g0
I Black has to resign because 43 b5
the pawn ending after The second passed pawn is
I
I 37 ... Hxdl irresistible.
38 +xdl &d6 Please forgive me for having
39 g5! cited examples from my own
I
is easily won for White. Well, experience. I have done this to
I Black has a pawn advantage show how one can benefit
on the kingside, but on from a concrete knowledge of
account of the defects of the this particular type of chess
pawn structure {pawns e6, fl, ending.
f6 and h6) he cannot prevent I advise you to study the
White from organising a endgame thoroughly; it will be
passed pawn. Black's king can extremely useful for you. You
catch the passed pawn after should also read some
I 39 ... fg specialist books.
I

I
Lesson 21: Attack h tk En-

In our previous lesson we files and the strengthening of

made a thorough study of the the shelter around his king
basic principles and methods Black risks an inferior ending.
of endgame technique. I
would like to remind the
readers of one of the most
important rules chess players
should be guided by in pawn
endings. The king must strive
to conquer as much space as
possible, driving the
opponent's king back from the
centre.
N o w that we have a great
number of endgame manuals In this lesson we shall
and reference books, all we consider the methods
need 1s the desire and time to employed in endings with
study chess endings. Opening opposite-coloured bishops.
positions have been studied so Games with opposite coloured
profoundly and systematically bishops quite frequently end
that even in the opening one in a draw, even though one of
should foresee all the pecul- the sides may have two extra
iarities of possible endgame pawns. The situation is
positions. different, however, when, in
T h e most elementary addition to the opposite
example can be drawn from coloured bishops, rooks
the Caro-Kann Defence: 1 e4 remain on the board. If that is
c6 2 d4 d5 3 Qc3 ed 4 Qxe4 the case, an important
Qf6 5 Qxf6+ ef when in advantage can be secured by
return for the open central positioning the pieces more
106 Attack in the Endgame
active1y. White places his pawns on a4
G.Kaspamv-F.Gheorghiu and b5 and his king goes to d4.
Moscow 1981 After the rook exchange the
bishop captures the pawn on
b6. The whole operation
would be crowned by the
White king's penetration into
the queenside and the b5-
pawn queening. But I found
this solution easily at home
when, upset by the draw, I sat
down to analyse the game.
39 hg+? 47xg6
40 Xa3 Pc6
Black's position is really Here 1 offered a draw. -Of
quite difficult. His king is, course my opponent was
figuratively speaking, in a surprised and glad, but I did
cage, hemmed in by White's not want to continue the game
bishop and pawn on h5. since I had been brought up to
Black's rook has to remain on believe in the axiom; endings
the seventh rank guarding c7. with opposite coloured bish-
After 39 &e3! gh 40 gh I could ops end in draws.
have avoided unnecessary Now, even in the final
adventures in a time scramble position I could have played to
and I would have probably win by exploiting the passivity
found an easy win in my of Black's pieces. For exam-
analysis at home. ple:
Now I can think how I could 41 Pc3 Ab7 , .

have won this game, how 42 &fie3 1 h5

Black's position could have 43 gh+ &xM,'
been penetrated. Black's rook 44 Ecl *g6
controls c7. Black's bishop , 45 Elglf
*h7
keeps an eye on c8 and the b6- 46 &d4 i a 6
pawn guards c5. This pawn 47 Pg2!
should be done away with by This last move cuts off
all means. To achieve this, Black's bishop from the
 Attack in the Endgame 107
the outcome of the encounter,
Having analysed the game
against Florin Gheorghiu I
got rid of my naivete in
assessing endgame positions.
One year later, playing
against the Danish Grand-
master Bent Larsen (I was
playing Black) I got a better
ending with few pieces left on
the chessboard.
kingside; after 47 e3 Black
would have played 47 ... Ae2!
Now White would have played
e3, b3 and a4, and the outcome
of the game would have
depended on whether White's
rook could penetrate the
Black position.
It is common knowledge
that chess players learn from
their mistakes. I would like to
add a few words to this At first glance it would seem
undoubtedly correct state- that Black has no problems in
ment. Apart from studying the winning. His rook is on the
reasons you lost, you should seventh rank. White's pawns
study the situations in which e5 and g3 are very weak. But
you could have improved your there are very few pieces left
position, but missed the best on the chessboard. Larsen
continuation. These missed made a strong move
opportunities in drawish or 41 h5!
winning positions should be causing further exchanges.
regarded as your losses. But, as is well known, only
Therefore, it is necessary to mating moves are devoid of
analyse your mistakes over drawbacks. White achieves
and over again regardless of simplification but permits
108 Attack in the Endgnme
Black to bring his king into
play. The king is now ready to
attack his opponent! Of
course! One can easily come
under attack even in the
endgame.
41 ,.. &b6!
The game could easily have
been a draw after 41 ... gh 42
a d 4 Ef2 43 e6 or41 ... Qe3 42
hg hg 43 e6! fe 44 Qd4 Pg2+
45 & hl e5 46 Qe6+! &h6 47 More exact was 46 &fl! f5 47
Pa4! g5 48 Re4 %e2! 49 &gl! e7 Pe3 48 Qc6! Qf6 49 Pa8
42 hg hg %e6 50 fiR! f4 51 &f2 and
43 Za4 r$g5 since Black cannot improve
44 Qd4! Bc3! his position, the draw is
Black wants nothing but inevitable.
attack. The pawn-snatching ...
46 fS
44 ...Pcl+ 45 &g2 a x e 5 46 47 e7 Pe3
QfW would result in a 48 Qc6 f4!
drawish rook ending. Now White has to defend
45 e6 himself against a serious
After 45 &g2 Qxe5 Black threat. For example: 49 Pa8
wins a pawn, avoiding the Eel+ 50 &g2 %e2+ 51 &fl
knight exchange, and though f ' ! 52 e8W Qh2+ 53 &gl2+.
White's drawing chances are The idea could almost have
quite appreciable, there is no been taken from a chess
clear-cut draw. problem. 49 e5 Exes 50 Pa5!
45 . Bxg3+ does not rid White of his
difficulties because of 50 ...
see following diagram Hxa5 51 e8W Pf5. White was
walking on thin ice and the
46 ahl? o n l y salvation was the
Quite a thorny way to draw; paradoxical 49 Qd4!! Control
now White is in danger of over f3 is the key to the
coming under a mating attack. position, for instance: 49 ...
 Attack in the Endgame 109
Bxe7 50 Qf3+ &f5 5 1 Q h4+, ' 53 Qd4 Qg4!
or 49 ... &h4 50 &g2! Both Now 54 e8W is met by 54 ...
. armies would have been Qh2+ 55 &gl f2+. White has
exhausted after 49 ... Qf6! 50 to give up his knight.
Pa6! Pxe7 51 Qe6+ &g4 52 54 Qxf3 Pxf3+
Q x f 4 . B u t it's almost 55 &gl Qb2!
impossible to find such moves 56 Pf8 fic3
as 49 Qd4!! over the board. Wbite resigned because after
49 Xa5+ &h4 57 Pfl Ee3 there was no hope
50 %a8 of surviving.
50 Qe5 would have lead to a In our previous lesson we
spectacular loss after 50 ... dwelt upon the necessity of
a x e 5 51 e 8 P Pel+ 52 47g2 studying the principles of
f3+ 53 &f2 @d3+ winning endgame technique a n d
White's new queen. perfecting these skills in
50 ,.. f6! practical endings. By giving
Black is temporarily playing you examples from games I've
with fire. After 51 Bf8 &g3! played I tried to convince you
the king takes a decisive role in to look for chances in any
the attack. ending. After analysing
concrete examples with me. a
chess enthusiast will agree that
even in case of material
equality and with very few
pieces left on the board, it is
quite possible to create an
irresistible attack.

Study the endgame, and you

won't be afraid of it. Make
friends with the endgame, and
it will become your reliable
ally.
 I

! 1 - Lesson 22: Fortresses on the Chessboard

One method of defence in the 2 Axb6 &e7!!

endgame consists of building That's it! It is impossible to
up unassailable fortresses, drive away Black's king from
pawn chains being the basic e7. As to the bishop, it can
building blocks for them. Let safely manoeuvre along the
us analyse the ending of the a5-el diagonal. Since all the
game played in Georgia's events are centred around the
Women's Championship black squares, one of White's
between masters Tsiuri bishops is absolutely useless
Kobaidze and Mzia Tseretei. whereas the other bishop is in
permanent captivity.
Another brilliant fortress
could have been built up in the
game between the ex-world
champion Max Euwe (White)
and the Canadian Daniel

I1 Yanofsky at the big internat-

ional tournament at Groning-
en in 1946.

Black's knight is doomed.

The 'natural' 1 ... Qa8 is
refuted by 2 AM+, and ''

White's king travels to the

queenside, capturing all of
Black's pieces. It took Black
only two moves to draw the
game. Two brilliant moves!
1 ... &e8!!
 Fortresses on the Chessboard I I 1
iI After 1 ... c5 2 a6 &a4 3 e5
&e6 Black could have drawn
without difficulty, but,
thinking that all roads lead to
Rome, Black played the
straightforward and careless
1 ... &c2?
2 Ad!
Black now had to lose a
pawn to prevent the a5-pawn
from queening.
2 . Ad3 White king's assistance.
3 Axd6 Axe4 Occupying b6, White's king
4 a6 c5 will not be able to move
5 Ax45 forward if Black's king is on
So White has two extra d7. If, however, White's king
pawns, but endings with occupies c5, then Black's king
opposite-coloured bishops are must be posted on e6. And if
quite peculiar (we encounter- White's king stays in place,
ed one in our previous lesson) what is the best square for
and sometimes a material Black's king? Those who have
advantage does not ensure f o l l o w e d o u r analysis
victory. Black embarks on attentively will undoubtedly
building up a fortress and he is answer: 'On f5!'. No doubt the
quite successful at first. Canadian master saw 9 ...
5 .+. h5 &f5! ensuring a draw after 10
6 &f2 Ad3! Af8 g6 11 &d4 Aa8 12 &c5
7 a7 91e4 &e6 13 b4 Ah1 14 b5 Aa8 15
8 g3 &e6 &b6 &d7 16 &a6 Ah1 17 b6
1 9 &e3 4 x 8 etc. However, Yanofsky
Actually, the fortress has decided that the king should
1 been built, but it is necessary not necessarily move to the
1 to know its exact dimensions. kingside because White was
1 Black's idea is quite simple: unable to organise a pawn
White's queenside pawns breakthrough there. This was
cannot advance without the his fatal mistake!
I I2 Fortresses on the Chessboard
a8 is inevitable: 20 ... Ad5 2 1
&e5 Ah1 22 Ah4 &e8 23 &d6
etc. But could Black have
prevented White's king from
getting to f5 by playing 18 ...
Ae4? Alas, after 19 h5 gh 20
&f4! Ah1 21 &e5 &e8 22
&d6 etc the king gets to c7.
Let us analyse another
ending with opposite-
coloured bishops. In such
positions the superior side
should try to create passed
pawns on both flanks, If it is
possible, the king will assist
one of the pawns, and victory
will be ensured. Let us
consider an elementary
example illustrating another
At first glance, White has method of destroying chess
not improved his position, and fortresses.
after 18 b6 Aa8 his king
cannot make headway to the
queenside.
18 Af6
Now it has become clear
that the apparently beautiful
fortress is going to pieces as a
result of the careless 9 ... Ag2.
T h e e n d i n g is r e a l l y
spectacular!
IS ... Ag2
19 h5! gh Black has two extra pawns,
20 M S ! ! but he cannot make headway
Black resigned, since the on the queenside: if Black's
march of the White's king to , king moves to the kingside,
 Fortresses on the Chessboard 1 13
I
White's king, his guard, will
also move there. Nevertheless,
there is no trace of a fortress
here, you need only make
three moves:
1 ... f5!
2 ef e4!
3 fe &e5
Now that both sides are
equal in material, White is
definitely lost since his king is
absolutely helpless. The rest is Another, no less spectacular
clear bastion can be built if the
4 &d3 47f4 opponents, in addition to the
5 Ad5 &g3 kings, have queen and pawn vs
6 47e2 g4 rook and pawn. It is common
7&fl &h2 knowledge that the queen is
Btwk wins. much stronger than the rook,
but there are some positions
So w e h a v e become where this axiom does not
a c q u a i n t e d w i t h some hold true. Here is one classical
methods of defence in the fortress with the king in the
endgame. There is one more corner of the chessboard.
method of defence consisting
of building up micro-fort-
resses of between two and five
pieces. Put Black's king on a8,
White's king on b6, and
White's pawn on the 'a-file'.
You will easily see that Black's
king is comfortably posted on
a8 and there is no chance of

I queening. The most amazing

fact is that even with White's

i black-squared bishop, it is still

a draw.
Black has a big material
advantage but the most he can
 Fortresses on the Chessboard 1 I5
White's position seems transpires that the knight's
hopeless because it is imposs- presence makes the draw a bit
ible to prevent 1 ... h2, 2 ... more dificult. After 5 &fl
&gl, 3 ... Qg2 and 4 ... hlW. Qe3+ 6 &f2 Qg4+ 7 &fl the
All the more paradoxical are knight can reach any square
White's two moves assisting on the board, but cannot gain
the opponent to carry out his the necessary tempo to help
plan. free the imprisoned king.
1 Ad7 h2 So, when defending in the
2 A&+ &gl end-game, don't forget about
3 am!! Qg2+ the possibilities and methods
4 &e2! &xbl of building up tiny fortresses.
If you take the knight off the But it is much better not to
board, White can draw either make serious errors and not to
by 5 &ff or 5 &f2. It get bad endings! .
Lesson 23: The Beauty of Chess

This lesson will be devoted to composer invariably assigns a

chess composition, the most certain job to every piece on
beautiful and mysterious the chessboard.
aspect of the art of chess. The I am fond of solving chess
definition of chess composit- problems and, particularly,
ion as an art is by no means an chess studies. The time I take
exaggeration since problems
and studies inspired by
imagination give hours of
enjoyment to millions of chess
to solve compositions tests my
sporting form and sometimes I
use many similar ideas in
practical play.
I
fans. Chess problems are full of
Chess composition is paradoxes and original ideas.
guided by its own laws. Chess Let us consider, for example,
players remember and value one of the problems composed
highly brilliant games and by Samuel Loyd, the famous
combinations, no matter how 19th century American chess
many slight and hardly composer.
noticable mistakes they
contain, Chess composers,
however, mercilessly throw
away the compositions,
whatever awards they have
won, if these compositions
contain a small error or a dual
solution.
Chess frequently h a s
situations in which one or
several pieces are out of play.
In chess composition this is While to play and male in three
utterly impossible. The chess moves
 The Beauty of Chess 117
There is incredible pand- Undoubtedly problem-solving
emonium on the chessboard. stimulates the development of
Black's f-pawn is also poised non-standard thinking. But
to queen. studies are also helpful fot the
1 &e2!! flW++ chess player, enabling him to
2 &e3!! improve his game in another
Amazing! Black can now way. In a composition the
give ten checks, but each check author's idea is usually
is repulsed by mate. If you are expressed most economically.
capable of solving such a Solving miniatures helps the
problem, you can find original chess player t o use the
I
non-standard continuations. maximum capacity of each
I Let us see another miniature piece in practical games.
I
by Samuel Loyd. Let us see a study composed
by Abram Guwich, a well-
known Sovier chess composer.

White lo play and mare in three

moves
The main variation is based White to play and win
on the queen manoeuvres
across the chessboard: How can White win? His
1 Wfl! h6 pawn on c7 is doomed, His
2 Wbl! bishop's future is unclear, but
followed by 2 ... g6 3 Wxal his king is active.
mate or 2 .,,g3 3 Wh7 mate, 1 1 Ah51 Axc7
..
. g3 2 hg and 3 Wh3 2 Exf7-t &d8
mate is another variation. Black has no choice. For
J
118 The Beauty of Chess
instance, 2 ... &d6 would bt
met by 3 Pf6f.
3 Pxc7 PgS!!
If you, having calculated a
lung variation, can foresee and
properly evaluate such a
defence on the 3rd move, then
you have certainly achieved a
high level of proficiency,
4 Plc4!!
A splendid idea which is the White to play and draw
leitmotif of this study.
4 ... PgS+ impossible. Black's pawn is far
5 ad! EXh5 - advanced, and White's king
6 h4! can see the c6-pawn only
In spite of material equality, through powerful binoculars.
Black is in zugzwang, and loss Therefore, the first moves
is immediate. After solving appear to prove that White's
such studies, one can fully resistance is to no avail.
understand all the subtletiesof 1 &g7 h4
doniination on the chess- 2 &f6
board. White's king is still far from
In chess books we often both pawns, so Black can
come across the words 'the capture White's pawn.
geomentry of the chessboard'.
What is the essence of this
2 .. &b6
3 +e5!
'geometry'? In my opinion, The situation has suddenly
to answer this question one changed. If now 3 ... &xc6
should examine the brilliant White stops Black's pawn by 4
study composed by the &f4.So, Black has to advance
famous Czech Grandmaster his pawn, and, in the
Richard Reti. meantime, White's king gives
a helping hand to his pawn.
see following diagram 3 a.. h3
4 &d6 h2
The task seems absolutely 5 c7 &b7
 The Beauiy of Chess I19
6 &d7 possible, but ...
The best example of 3 &d6 Af5
geometry of the chessboard: Preventing White from
the diagonal movement of the queening. Now remember
king was the shortest way to Reti's study.
the goal. 4 &e5! ic8
This study excites the 5 &d4!
imagination of chess fans even It's a well-known idea, isn't
today, giving inspiration to it?
budding composers. In 1929 5 ... b3
Alexander and Kirill Sarychev 6 &c3 Pe6 -

from Baku published an 7 c8W Axc8 ,,

unforgettable miniature which 8 &xb3

added a bishop to the material with a draw.
in Reti's original study. . There are some studies
which I like to play through
again and again. For example,
Alexander Seletsky's study
composed in 1933.

White's position seems to be

quite hopeless. Queening is
useless, and 1 &e6 is repulsed
by 1 ... &e4. White's first two
moves look absurd. White to play and win
I a&! M
2 &d7! b4 A typical middlegame
White is a bishop down, and study. White has no material
apparently he invites Black's advantage since his pawn is
pawn to queen as soon as doomed. But Black needs
I20 The Beaury of Chess
some time to capture this 7 ..a Id8
pawn. Meanwhile, White The only response, but,
increases the activity of his alas, there is no defence
pieces. against the mating combinat-
1 Wg5! &e6+ ion.
If 1 ... l x d 7 2 Qf4 threaten-
ing 3 Ah5 mate.
2 &gl &xd7
So, Black has reached
absolute material equality, but
now White starts a mating
attack.
3 Qc5+ &c8
The reader can find White's
best continuations in reply to 3
.&.&c7 or 3 ... +d6. Retreating
to c8, the king saves the queen 8 WM+!!wxb8
but perishes himself. 9 Q b 6 mate!
4 Aa6+ &b8 Fantastic! As if some
5 Vg3+ &a8 mysterious force had piled up
6 Ab7+! Axb7 Black's pieces in the corner of
7 hd7!! the chessboard, so that
White's knight triumphs over
Black's armada.
There may come a time
when you have a chance to
play such combinations. Let
the gems of chess poetry
remain in your memory.
Having looked a t chess
problems and studies, you will
once again encounter genuine
beauty created by man's
A crushing blow! fantasy.
Lesson 24: Don't b g r d g e the Time

We now come to the last games or solve problems or

lesson. This course of lessons, studies. However there are a
first published in Sport in the few people for whom chess is
USSR is the first which I have their life. For them the 64-
ever produced but I hope that square board is a battlefield
I have succeeded to some and the game of chess itself a
extent in coping with the task. mysterious and alluring art
True enough, on re-reading form. Through their rivalry
the published material I've masterpieces are created
come to the conclusion that in which will long excite interest
some lessons certain ideas and characters are hardened
should have been expanded in or broken.
greater detail whereas in So then why do we, Caissa's
others more examples should disciples, love chess; what
have been added. does it do for us? I, like many
Chess is a remarkable game. others, see in chess a
After being around for fifteen remarkably accurate model of
centuries the wooden pieces human life with its daily
have not only kept their charm struggles and ups and downs.
but have become even more At the chessboard we get the
engrossing. The continuous chance to control events. We
march of human culture and can devise plans and then try
thought has influenced our consistently to bring them to
game. their logical conclusions -
For millions of amateurs but surely isn't that analogous
chess is really only a pleasantly with what we do every day?
acceptable pastime. They have You can't be successful
no great sporting ambitions anywhere and in anything
but simply play in tourn- unless you foster in yourself
aments and sometimesanalyse persistence, industriousness
122 Don't Begrudge the Time
and the ability to evaluate own games, looking for
objectively your opportunit- mistakes by either party and
ies. You must be able to set seeking to find the correct
yourself realistic goals and continuations. As a rule
strive for them logically, middlegame positions don't
energetically and resolutely. recur exactly but similar
How do the real lovers of positions arise very often and
chess, Caissa's willing slaves, after such analysis one should
get noticed? Probably the know the correct course of
same way as in other sports. I action. You should also
remember my grandfather become accustomed to
taking me to the Chess Club at analysing other people's
the 'Baku Palace of Pioneers'. games, constantly asking the
There were lots of children questions 'Why did he play
there who wanted to learn to that? and 'Why wouldn't it
play well. But after only a have been better to play ...?'
short while half of them had As a result, the number of
stopped going to the lessons or familiar positions will grow
playing in tournaments. The and this will help you to
first defeats and naturally, to orientate yourself better and
start with, there are more of more confidently during the
these than victories, had course of a game. One's
weeded out the irresolute. mastery of chess is greatly
There remained only those helped by studying !eading
who had from childhood been players' annotations of their
good in competitions. Thanks own games; this should be
to chess, this ability to deal d o n e m o r e a n d more
with any situation was rein- attentively and thoughtfully.
forced, the will strengthened, This work will help you to
and the character hardened. understand how the real
Before parting with the m a s t e r s s o l v e specific
reader I should like to give problems and which factors
some advice to those who wish they consider paramount in
to further improve their chess: particular positions. At first,
First and foremost you many of the annotations will
must learn to analyse your be incomprehensible to you.
 Don't Begrudge the Time 123
Then there will be a period information but you ought to
when it all seems incontrovert- know it all the same. However,
ible. But finally there will there is a single saving clause
come a time when you will - the positional method of
start to have questions for the play. You couldn't, for
annotator: 'But why d o you example, memorise all the
consider this necessary and variations of the Scheveningen
not ... ' That will mean that system in the Sicilian Defence,
your playing strength has and learn up all the games. But
increased. I worked on the in the course of 30-40 hours'
annotations of such colossi work with the best opening
as Alekhine, Capablanca, monographs on that system,
Botvinnik and Keres. Even you can learn the main lines.
now I feel deep gratitude to These variations and dozens
them for their priceless of illustrative games should
lessons. have been written down in
Of course by carefully your exercise book. And as a
working through, say, about a result you would understand
hundred of Capablanca's how to play typical positions
games you won't start to play in this system. A master's
exactly like him; indeed you opening repertoire consists
will 'only' learn to apply the not of one but of dozens of
great Cuban chessplayer's systems. Their study and
methods in certain positions. understanding of the right way
But that is already a great deal, of playing them requires a
well worth more than a dozen great deal of time. But for a
hours' work. master, and also for anybody
There is a huge volume of who wants to become one that
information already collected is indispensible.
in thousands of text books,
game collections, books on In conclusion if you want to
top players and encyclopedias unravel the multitude of
of both openings and secrets of chess then don't
endgames. It simply isn't begrudge the time. I wish you
possible to memorise all the success!
Index of Gounes and Paidurn

Adams-C.Torre 73 Em. Lasker-Bauer 77

Alburt-Kasparov 101 Em. Lasker-Nimzowitsch 91
Alekhine-Rubinstein 87 Magerramov-Kasparov 8.5
Bogoljubow-Botvinnik 48 Morphy-Arnous de Rivikre I5
Boleslavsky-Kotov 66 Neergard-Simagin 19
Caesias-V. Vukovik 76 Petrosian-Kozma 18
Chigorin-Alapin 44 Petrosian-Pfleger 25
Euwe-Yanofsky 110 Rotlevi-Rubinstein 72
Geller-Euwe 97 Rubinstein-Capablanca 93
GligoriC-Smyslov 62 Seirawan-Kasparov 102
Karpov-Dorfman 30 Schulten-Morphy 37
Kasparov-Georgadze 22 Suetin-Bondarevsky 60
Kasparov-G heorghiu 4, 106 Tal-Panno 12
Kasparov-Petrosian 95 Tarrasch-Charousek 20
Kasparov-Portisch 10 C. Torre-Em. Lasker 75
Kasparov-VukiC I03 Tulkowski-Wojciewski 28
Kobaidze-Tsereteli I I0 Vasyukov-Lebedev 42
Larsen-Kasparov 107 Zukertort-Blackburne 78
Ed. Lasker-Thomas 70