Contents

Symbols 4
Introduction 5

1 The Geometry of the Chessboard 8

2 The Major Pieces 20
3 The Isolated Centre Pawn 32
4 The Central Passed Pawn 44
5 The Space Advantage 55
6 Zugzwang 68
7 The Bishop-Pair 80
8 Symmetrical Pawn-Structures 93
9 Static and Dynamic Features 104

Solutions to Exercises 130

Index of Games 173
Index of Composers and Analysts 176
Index of Openings 176
 THE CENTRAL PASSED PAWN

4 The Central Passed Pawn

We have already seen how an isolated centre

pawn can surge forward through inadequately r+-wk+-t
defended squares directly in its path. If, in such
a situation, the opponent does not consider it W
+l+n+pzp
advantageous to exchange this pawn, then it p+-+pv-+
may continue further forward, thus becoming a
passed pawn (see the game Smyslov-Karpov in
+-z-+-+-
the previous chapter). Naturally, there are other -+-Z-+-+
means of creating a passed pawn in the centre, +Lz-+N+-
but we shall not focus on the creation of a
passed pawn here. It will be more interesting
PZ-+QZPZ
for us to study the very essence of the central T-VR+-M-
passed pawn, to understand what is advanta-
geous and what is unfavourable when in pos- here White has the better chances following 19
session of a passed pawn in the centre of the Ìg5.
board and how to manage it effectively. It must 15 bxc3 0-0 16 Ìd2!
also be mentioned that in this section we will The white d5-pawn is the most important
mainly be looking at examples occurring in the factor in this position, considerably restraining
middlegame, in so far as it is during this stage of Black’s pieces. Smyslov transfers the knight to
the game that the most interesting events occur. c4 from where it can support the further ad-
vance of the pawn while blockading the black
Smyslov – Keres c5-pawn, which obstructs the movement of its
Zurich Ct 1953 own pieces – a highly typical stratagem.
16...Íe7 17 Ìc4 a5!?
1 d4 d5 2 c4 dxc4 3 Ìf3 Ìf6 4 e3 e6 5 Íxc4 c5 Keres evidently appreciates the danger to his
6 0-0 a6 7 Ëe2 b5 8 Íb3 Íb7 9 Îd1 Ìbd7 10 position and seeks counterplay. After 17...Îe8,
Ìc3 Íe7 11 e4 b4?! 18 Ía4 is an unpleasant reply.
This move does not have a good reputation. 18 Ìxe5 Ìxe5 19 Ëxe5 Íf6?!
Theory prefers 11...cxd4. An unfortunate decision. There is no coun-
12 e5 bxc3 13 exf6 Íxf6 (D) terplay and the white passed pawn cannot be
Black also has problems after 13...Ìxf6, as contained. 19...Íd6 and perhaps even 19...c4
shown by 14 dxc5 Ëc8 15 Ìd4 0-0 16 c6! are better moves, although the latter is some-
Íxc6 17 Ìxe6! c2 18 Îe1, as in Vescovi- what dubious.
Adianto, Bastia 1998. 20 Ëg3 c4 (D)
White now breaks through. 21 Ía4!
14 d5 e5?! Black’s last move represented an integral
Black reacts very passively, granting his op- part of his plan but White is not forced to cap-
ponent a clear positional advantage and not ture, as after 21 Íxc4 Îc8 22 Ëd3 Ëc7 23 Îb1
having any real counterplay in return. More Ëxc4 24 Ëxc4 Îxc4 25 Îxb7 Îxc3 26 Íb2
combative is 14...cxb2 15 Íxb2 Íxb2 (15...e5 Îc2 Black has chances to save the game. Smys-
16 Ìxe5 0-0 17 Ìxd7 Íxb2 18 Ìxf8 Íxa1 19 lov’s move is stronger – his light-squared bishop
Ìe6! is bad for Black) 16 dxe6 fxe6 (not moves to support the advance of the passed
16...Íxa1 17 exd7+ Êf8 18 Ëc4 Ëf6 19 d8Ë+) pawn.
17 Ëxb2 Ëf6 18 Ëd2 0-0-0 although even 21...Ëe7 22 Íf4!
 THE CENTRAL PASSED PAWN 45

r+-w-tk+ fully mastering this aspect of chess is excep-

tionally difficult; it would be much nicer to be
W
+l+-+pzp born with such ability.
-+-+-v-+ 27...Îa6 28 Íg5!
z-+P+-+- As mentioned earlier, this is stronger than 28
Íc7 Îxd7. Now time-trouble is the only diffi-
-+p+-+-+ culty left for White to overcome.
+LZ-+-W- 28...Îxd7 29 Íxd7 Ëxd7 30 Îae1 Îd6 31
Íxf6 Îxf6 32 Ëb8 Îf5 33 Îh8+ Êg6 34 Îd8
P+-+-ZPZ Ëb5 35 Îd6+ Êh7 36 Îd8
T-VR+-M- By repeating moves White gains time, which
is important in order to reach the time-control.
As things turn out, White is prepared to re- The rest is simple.
turn the pawn provided that he can push his 36...Ëc5 37 Îe3 Íd5 38 Îh8+ Êg6 39
passed pawn. Ëd8! Íf3 40 Îxf3 Îxf3 41 gxf3 1-0
22...Îfd8
22...Ëa3 23 Íc6 Íxc6 24 dxc6 Ëxc3 25 In the next game a passed pawn in the centre
Ëxc3 Íxc3 26 Îac1 is also poor for Black, but proves to be a serious force.
by now everything is bad.
23 d6 Ëe4 24 Îe1 Ëf5 25 d7 h5 26 Îe8+ Spassky – Petrosian
Êh7 (D) Moscow Wch (5) 1969

r+-tR+-+ 1 c4 Ìf6 2 Ìc3 e6 3 Ìf3 d5 4 d4 c5 5 cxd5

Ìxd5 6 e4 Ìxc3 7 bxc3 cxd4 8 cxd4 Íb4+ 9
W
+l+P+pzk Íd2 Íxd2+ 10 Ëxd2 0-0 11 Íc4 Ìc6 12 0-0
-+-+-v-+ b6 13 Îad1 Íb7 14 Îfe1 Îc8 (D)
z-+-+q+p
L+p+-V-+ -+rw-tk+
+-Z-+-W- W
zl+-+pzp
P+-+-ZPZ -zn+p+-+
T-+-+-M- +-+-+-+-
-+LZP+-+
27 h4! +-+-+N+-
The assessment of the position is simple –
Black will have to give up the exchange for the
P+-W-ZPZ
passed pawn. Even so, achieving a large advan- +-+RT-M-
tage is one thing, but converting it into the full
point is something quite different. Of course 27 15 d5 exd5
Íc7 Îxd7 28 Íxd7 Ëxd7 29 Îxa8 Íxa8 is The is a well-known variation of the Queen’s
also possible but here White still has to over- Gambit. Along with Black’s last move, 15...Ìa5
come prolonged resistance from his opponent is also possible, after which White usually sac-
based on the bishop-pair (for example, 30 Íe5?? rifices a pawn with 16 Íd3 exd5 17 e5! and
h4 31 Ëf4 Ëd5). The text-move is directed at turns his attention toward the opponent’s king.
exchanging one of the bishops, after which 16 Íxd5
Black’s resistance would be greatly weakened. Less popular is 16 exd5 Ìa5.
Smyslov’s games provide superb assistance for 16...Ìa5?
those wishing to improve their technique, as he Theory disapproves of this move and instead
was always very careful and extremely accurate recommends 16...Ëc7 or 16...Ëe7. Things are
when realizing an advantage. To tell the truth, now difficult for Black.
46 LESSONS IN CHESS STRATEGY

17 Ëf4 Ëc7 18 Ëf5 Íxd5 19 exd5 Ëc2 (D) -+-t-tk+

It is difficult to find good moves – White also
has a clear advantage after both 19...Ìc4 20 W
z-TP+pz-
Ìg5 g6 21 Ëh3 h5 22 Ìe4 and 19...Ëd6 20 q+-+-+-z
Ìg5 Ëg6 21 Ëxg6 hxg6 22 d6! Ìb7 23 d7
Îcd8 24 Îe7 Ìc5 25 Îd6!.
sp+-+Q+-
-+-+-+-+
-+r+-tk+ +-+-+N+-
W
z-+-+pzp -+-+-ZPZ
-z-+-+-+ +-+-T-M-
s-+P+Q+- quite different outcomes! Black fails to find the
-+-+-+-+ best defence, 26...Ëd6! 27 Ìxb5 Ëd2, after
+-+-+N+- which the position is far from clear, but now
White wins quickly.
P+q+-ZPZ 27 Îc8! Ìb7
+-+RT-M- The knight cannot be taken by 27...Ëxd4
due to 28 Îxd8 Îxd8 29 Îe8+, while 27...g6
20 Ëf4!? 28 Îxd8 Ëxd8 29 Ëxb5 also fails to save the
Spassky had a choice between 20 Ëxc2 game. The critical line 27...b4 28 Îe8 Ëxd4 29
Îxc2 21 Îe7 Îd8! 22 Îxa7 h6!? with an un- Îxf8+ Îxf8 30 Îxf8+ Êxf8 loses to the shat-
doubted advantage but unclear consequences, tering blow 31 Ëc5+!!, which Black had evi-
and the move played in the game, which plans dently missed when making his 26th move.
to combine the advance of the passed pawn 28 Ìc6 Ìd6 (D)
with threats against the black king. It is not easy
to say for certain which of these paths is the -+Rt-tk+
more accurate as a decision such as this de-
pends largely on the personal preference and W
z-+P+pz-
temperament of the player. -wNs-+-z
h6
20...Ëxa2 21 d6 Îcd8 22 d7 Ëc4 23 Ëf5 +p+-+Q+-
In the event of 23...Ëc6 24 Ìe5, 24...Ëe6 -+-+-+-+
seems to be best met by 25 Ëxe6 fxe6 26 Îc1, +-+-+-+-
when the powerful knight and passed pawn
give White a decisive advantage. 24...Ëf6!? is
-+-+-ZPZ
also interesting although even here Black is in a +-+-T-M-
bad way.
24 Îc1 Ëa6 25 Îc7 b5?! (D) Black may have overlooked White’s next
I consider 25...Ìb3 to be a stronger move in move, but the game is over in any case.
this position, although after 26 Ëd5 Ìc5 27 29 Ìxd8! Ìxf5 30 Ìc6 1-0
Ìe5 White still has an indisputable advantage.
After the move played, White’s advantage is To summarize – in the middlegame the cen-
decisive. tral passed pawn can be exceptionally danger-
26 Ìd4 ous if its advance is supported by pieces. In
26 Îe8! appears to be more forceful. After such positions the passed pawn can force the
26...Ìb7 27 Îc8 Ëa1+ there is 28 Ìe1, after enemy pieces aside and the space left behind
which I cannot see how Black can continue. can be used for its own pieces to exploit. At the
26...Ëb6? same time this pawn strives to promote itself to
The tension begins to tell on both players, a queen – and sometimes manages to do exactly
but the consequences of their mistakes have this! This is why a pawn such as this diverts the