2017 The Chess Attacker's Handbook

The Chess Attacker’s Handbook
Michael Song and Razvan Preotu
With a Foreword by Evgeny Bareev
Navigate the hidden paths of the chessboard to strike attacking gold!

Contents
Symbols 3
Bibliography 4
Acknowledgements 5
Foreword (Evgeny Bareev) 6
Introduction (Michael Song) 7
1: Attacking the Uncastled King (Michael Song) 8

2: Opposite-Side Castling (Razvan Preotu) 24
3: Attacks in Endgames (Razvan Preotu) 49
4: The King as an Attacking Force (Razvan Preotu) 63
5: Sacrificial Attacks and Calculation (Michael Song) 77
6: Include All the Pieces in the Attack (Michael Song) 94
7: Attacks on Colour Complexes (Michael Song) 107
8: Pawn Play (Razvan Preotu) 125
9: Charging the h-Pawn Forward (Razvan Preotu) 140
10: Opposite-Coloured Bishops (Razvan Preotu) 160
11: Same Ideas, Different Games (Michael Song) 177
12: Prophylaxis (Michael Song) 188
13: Manoeuvring (Michael Song) 204
14: Isolated d-Pawn Positions (Razvan Preotu) 220
Index of Games 240

Index of Openings 244
Copyright Information
About the Authors
Symbols
+ check
++ double check
x captures
# checkmate
!! brilliant move
! good move
!? interesting move
?! dubious move
? bad move
?? blunder
+– White is winning
+/– White is much better
+= White is slightly better
= equal (or drawn)
unclear position
=+ Black is slightly better
–/+ Black is much better
–+ Black is winning
0-0 castles kingside
0-0-0 castles queenside
1-0 The game ends in a win for White
½-½ The game ends in a draw
0-1 The game ends in a win for Black
Ch Championship
(n) nth match game
(D) see next diagram
Bibliography
American Grandmaster – Joel Benjamin, Everyman, 2008
Art of Attack in Chess – Vladimir Vukovi , Everyman, 1998 (algebraic edition)
Grandmaster Preparation: Attack and Defence – Jacob Aagaard, Quality Chess, 2013
Positional Decision Making in Chess – Boris Gelfand, Quality Chess, 2015
Nunn’s Chess Endings Volume 1 – John Nunn, Gambit, 2010
Positional Play – Mark Dvoretsky and Artur Yusupov, Batsford, 1996
Sicilian Attacks – Yuri Yakovich, New in Chess, 2011
The Art of Attacking Chess – Zenon Franco, Gambit, 2008
Note: Komodo 8.0 was the main analysis engine we used during our work on this book, with additional
input from Stockfish 8 and Houdini 5.
Acknowledgements
Writing a book is no easy task, and is only possible with the generous help of numerous people. First and
foremost, I would like to thank Graham, Murray, John and the whole team at Gambit, who gave us this
opportunity and offered us invaluable assistance in improving this work. I should also acknowledge my
coach, Grandmaster Evgeny Bareev, who kindly agreed to let me use a number of his examples from our
training sessions in this book. Last, but certainly not least, I would like to thank my childhood rival,
friend and now co-author, Grandmaster Razvan Preotu, for embarking on this ambitious project alongside
me.
IM Michael Song
I would never have imagined myself being part of such a difficult and highly ambitious project as writing
a chess book. This is only possible because of the generous help of many individuals. I would like to
thank the team at Gambit for supporting this project. Their assistance has not only improved the quality of
this work but is also why it is able to make it to the bookshelves. Lastly, I would like to thank my long-
time friend and now co-author, International Master Michael Song, for starting this entire project. With-
out his determination and hard work, none of this would have been possible in the first place.
GM Razvan Preotu
Foreword
EVGENY BAREEV
Modern chess demands versatility. A player might know openings like Anand, play endings with the en-
ergy of the young Shirov, and even defend as ingeniously as Kariakin and Giri combined, but without
Jobava’s attacking skill, his play would not be complete. Even if one claims to possess that gift, it must be
sharpened, and the book provides the sharpener.
You should not recoil due to the authors – Razvan and Michael – being relatively unknown players; they
are more than competent enough, and more importantly, they are an ignited and enthusiastic duo. I will
not be surprised if their work on the book itself helps them to become stronger, and I expect the rookies
will soon join the national team of Canada.
I would emphasize that the authors opt for a very modern way of providing material. Each well-
systematized chapter includes several short educational tutorials followed by a generous amount of exer-
cises to consolidate the ideas demonstrated. This way of displaying material is very convenient for play-
ers who are motivated and willing to study chess by themselves – not to mention that it is also a windfall
for trainers, who just need to open a certain page to close a blind spot in the chess educations of their stu-
dents.
The training material is presented in a light, easy-to-understand form and is suitable for players of a broad
range of levels. The sample games are a pleasing mix of well-known classical games and relatively fresh
material from chess-players of all possible standards, which reminds us that it is not only the chess im-
mortals who create works of art.
So read the book and you will soon be playing your own masterpieces!
GM Evgeny Bareev
April 2017
Introduction
MICHAEL SONG
I would like to welcome the reader to this book by asking, “has anyone ever said to you that chess is ‘bor-
ing’?” While most chess-players will scoff at this ignorant outsider’s perspective of our beloved game,
there may be some who in fact agree! When the attacking species of chess-players see the way the game
is played today, they may loathe the slow, meticulous grinds in openings such as the Berlin, Slav and Cat-
alan and so on and lament, “what happened to Romantic attacking chess?” Rarer by the day are the styles
of Tal, Fischer, Kasparov and other attacking aficionados represented on the board nowadays.
Of course, there is absolutely nothing wrong with calm positional play, and it is indeed a necessity in a
chess-player’s understanding and repertoire. That being said, there is also no reason to frown upon the
other side of the coin: attacking play! Perhaps the latter has the reputation of being unprofessional and is
often brushed aside as ‘coffee-house chess’, but if it suits your style, then I wholeheartedly encourage you
to keep playing this way. In the words of Polonius in Shakespeare’s Hamlet, “to thine own self be true.”
Apart from the fun involved in adopting an attacking style, there are also many other merits. If you are a
strong amateur looking to collect norms, I can affirm to you that playing aggressively has paid tremen-
dous dividends for both myself and Razvan; it has helped us obtain the IM and GM titles respectively,
even as juniors. Our reasoning is as follows: while titled players will almost always outplay weaker play-
ers in calm positions due to their greater experience and better overall understanding of the game, the
playing field becomes more level in a sharp, attacking battle. In such situations, what determine the even-
tual winner are factors such as which player is able to calculate more accurately and find creative plans, in
which ‘weaker’ and especially younger players’ greater motivation allows them to compete better against
their ‘superiors’. Moreover, playing aggressively can impose uncomfortable psychological pressure on
masters, who are desperate to avoid losing rating points and their chances of prize money. But pressure is
often the root cause of mistakes – in both life and in chess – so your chances of taking the scalp of a mas-
ter may increase dramatically!
For players who are not yet gunning for norms, I promise that there is also much to be learned from read-
ing this book. While it is undoubtedly impossible to cover everything, you can expect to find a plethora of
annotated examples highlighting important attacking plans, along with several exercises to apply what
you will have read in the lessons. It is my dearest hope that after finishing this book, the reader will have
broadened his attacking horizon as well as fostered a genuine appreciation for the art of attacking play. If
this book influences even a single player to begin smashing out attacking brilliancies in their own games,
then I can happily consider my mission as complete.
Yet most importantly, no matter win or lose, never in my life have I played a ‘boring’ attacking game.
IM Michael Song
July, 2017
Canada
Attacking the Uncastled King
1: Attacking the Uncastled King

MICHAEL SONG
One of the first principles any beginner is taught is to keep his king safe and castle as soon as possible.
However, as a player progresses in strength, this rule becomes more flexible. Nevertheless, it is never
wise to disregard the king for too long, and a king in the centre can easily find itself in trouble. It feels
appropriate to begin the book with one of our beloved chess pioneers and the third World Champion,
Capablanca. While most famous for his positional and endgame skills, when needed – as in this game –
Capablanca did not back down when challenged to attack.
16...Ba7
16...Bxb4 is maybe better, but after 17 Nd5 Qd6 18
Nxb4 Qxb4 19 Rxc6 +– Black is still totally lost.
17 Bxb5!
Sacrificing the bishop in exchange for opening
more files and inroads towards Black’s king.
17...axb5 18 Nxb5 Qd8 19 Nd6+
Now Black loses the right to castle. This is the
most basic means of attacking the uncastled king.
When the king is permanently prohibited from cas-
tling, we can often take our time to include all our
pieces in the attack, as the king is not threatening
White to play to run anywhere. Later in the chapter, we shall also
look at more complicated situations where the op-
Capablanca – O. Bernstein ponent is intending to castle immediately.
St Petersburg 1914 19...Kf8 20 Rxc6 (D)
Due to his opponent’s poor opening play, the Cu-
ban was able to secure many great positional ad-
vantages, such as the weak black pawn on e5 and
many weak squares as well, such as e6. But the
first thing a true attacking player will notice is the
black king on e8, which has not castled yet and is
extremely vulnerable at the moment. I shall explain
in more detail later, but the number one rule of at-
tacking the king in the centre is to have no mercy.
Open the position at all costs and simply go after
the king! As we shall see later, it is often more
complicated than that, but in many situations this
rule holds water. With the king in the centre,
there is almost always a way to punish your oppo-
nent, and Capablanca does just that.
16 b4! Black to play
Forcing the bishop to move, which opens the c-file Black’s forces have absolutely no coordination and
and inroads towards the black king. his position quickly crumbles.
8
The Chess Attacker´s Handbook
20...Nb6 21 Bh4 8 h3 Bd7

21 Nxe5 Nxe5 22 Bxe5 +– followed by Qf3+ is The position so far looks more or less normal;
stronger according to the engine, but it really Black is just two moves away from castling with
makes no difference. ...Nf6 and ...0-0. Yet over the course of this game,
he just does not get enough time to complete this.
21...Qd7
9 c5! (D)
After 21...Nf6 22 Nxe5 +– the knight penetration
into f7 will be decisive.
22 Nxc8! Qxc6 23 Qd8+
23 Be7+! is a more precise way to finish the game:
23...Ke8 24 Qd8+ Kf7 25 Ng5+ Kg6 26 Qxh8 +–
or 23...Kf7 24 Ng5+ Kg6 25 Qxg4 +–.
23...Qe8 24 Be7+ Kf7 25 Nd6+ Kg6 26 Nh4+
Kh5 27 Nxe8 Rxd8 28 Nxg7+ Kh6 29 Ngf5+ Kh5
30 h3 Nc8 31 hxg4+ Kxg4 32 Bxd8 Rxd8 33 g3
and White easily converted his advantage into vic-
tory.
The rule of thumb when attacking the uncastled

king: open the position! I am sure you must know Black to play
this by now, but I will stress it anyway. In the next Seizing the initiative. Already White gets a hyper-
game, we shall see how Wesley So played this King’s Indian, with this typical break to attack the
strategy to perfection against the greatest player target on d6. Perhaps Kasparov should have de-
that ever lived. fended with a move like 9...Nc8, but of course one
does not receive all his accolades playing moves as
ugly as that.
So – Kasparov
9...dxc5 10 Nc4 f6 11 d6?!
St Louis blitz 2016
11 Be3!, in order to force ...b6 immediately, was in
Even the greatest of all time can find himself in fact even stronger. It has the same idea as the
trouble when leaving his king in the centre. I re- game, but in a more precise move-order for reasons
member watching this game live online, and was we shall explore later.
astonished as Wesley So ruthlessly went after Kas-
parov’s king, as if he had not even a single morsel 11...Nc8 12 Be3 b6?!
of respect for the legend himself! Blitz chess is a 12...b5! would have pushed White’s forces back
factory of great attacking games, and perhaps Wes- and made it harder to justify the pawn sacrifice.
ley was feeling extra inspired by the occasion to After 13 dxc7 Qxc7 14 Na3 Nd6 15 Rc1 c4 16 0-0
produce this masterpiece... Rc8 17 b3 c3, for instance, Black is doing well, but
1 Nf3 g6 2 e4 Bg7 3 d4 d6 4 c4 Bg4 5 Be2 Nc6 6 White’s lead in development keeps him in the
Nbd2!? e5 fight.
Of course 6...Nxd4?? loses a piece to 7 Nxd4 +–. 13 0-0 Bc6?
7 d5 Nce7 After 13...Nxd6 14 Nxd6+ cxd6 15 Qxd6 Qe7 16
Qd2! Rd8 17 Qc1, White will merely have good
Perhaps 7...Nb8!? to bring the knight to d7 was compensation, though I certainly prefer White due
called for. Nevertheless, White stands better after 8 to Black’s awkward configuration on the kingside.
0-0 Nd7 9 Ne1! (forcing a favourable trade of the
bishops) 9...Bxe2 10 Qxe2 += followed by Nd3, 14 dxc7 Qxc7 (D)
when he holds a stable positional advantage.
9
24 Nxg7+ Qxg7 25 Qe6+ Ne7 26 Bg5 +–) 20

Qe6+ Kf8 21 Qxf6+! Nxf6 22 Ne6+ +–.
15...b5! was probably a better attempt to keep the
position closed, although White still has tremen-
dous pressure after 16 Na5 c4 17 a4.
16 Rc1 Nge7 17 Qb3!
Activating the queen, but more importantly, pre-
venting castling due to the discovered checks.
17...h6
A sad necessity to cover the g5-square. 17...b5? 18
Ncxe5! fxe5 19 Ng5 +– followed by Ne6 is the
end.
White to play 18 Rfd1 b5 (D)
Can you find the continuation?
Obviously, if Black is given two moves to unravel,
he will be more than OK. When talking about at-
tacking the king in the centre, there are two situa-
tions to consider. The first is when the king is
stranded in the centre. This may be because the
king is legally prevented from castling, or because
the flank is too dangerous to castle into. The se-
cond case is when the king is momentarily in the
centre, but intends to castle given time. In this type
of situation, the attacker must play vigorously and
forcefully by making threats and blasting the posi-
tion open. This game is the latter situation; given
time, Black will develop his king’s knight and cas-
tle. White must not allow this, but the way So con- White to play
cludes this game demonstrates attacking principles
better than any words can do. Now that all of White’s pieces are activated, it is
time to go for the kill.
15 b4!!
19 Ncxe5! fxe5 20 Bxb5 Rb8 21 Ba4!
A very similar idea to the first game of this chap-
ter: White opens additional files for the attack at Although White has no immediate blow, the pres-
the small price of another pawn. sure against Black’s king is too much to handle.
15...cxb4?! 21...Qb7 22 Rxc6! Nxc6 23 Qe6+ Ne7 24 Bc5

Rc8 25 Bxe7 1-0
15...Bxe4? would not help after the simple 16 bxc5
bxc5, when White has the crushing blow 17 This game is a perfect illustration of a straightfor-
Ncxe5! fxe5 18 Ng5, and then: ward, brute-force style attack against an uncastled
king. Despite being rather unsophisticated, this is
a) 18...Bf5 19 Bb5+ Ke7 (19...Bd7 20 Ne6 +–; the basic principle in these positions: open the
19...Kf8 20 Bxc5+ Nce7 21 Qd5! +–) 20 Qd5 +–. game at virtually any cost, and aim all your pieces
Black cannot avoid heavy material losses. towards the target in the centre.
b) 18...Bc6 19 Qb3 leaves Black helpless against
the threats. For instance: 19...Bf6 (19...Qe7 20
Rad1 Nb6 21 Ne6 c4 22 Bxc4 Nxc4 23 Qxc4 Rc8
10
One of the common misconceptions many players

have is the answer to the question: ‘Why is it dan-
gerous to keep your king in the centre?’ Almost
always, the reply is something along the lines of
‘Once the centre gets opened, the king will be vul-
nerable and easy to attack.’ While this is true in
many cases such as in the previous game, in my
opinion, the main danger of keeping the king in the
centre is the disruption in development. Due to the
king being in the centre, the rooks cannot be con-
nected, and central activity must be kept to a min-
imum in order to shelter the king; this is no way to
play chess. In the next example, we see that Larsen
finds himself the victim of keeping his king in the
centre against the then World Champion.
Black to play
Do you see the win?

11...Rxd2! 12 Nxd2 Nxe3 13 Qc1 Nxf1+ 14 Kh1
(14 Kxf1 Qh4 –+ is quickly mate) 14...Nxh2! –+,
when there is clearly no hope of survival.
Returning to the game, how should Black continue
the attack? The centre is closed, and although sac-
rifices on e3 may even be objectively sound, they
are not clear-cut by any means. With his next series
of moves, Spassky demonstrates that although the
centre may be closed, White’s king is by no means
safe.
11...h5!
Black to play Opening files for penetration on the kingside. No-
tice that none of White’s pieces are able to shift to
Larsen – Spassky that part of the board, as his king is hindering the
USSR-World, Belgrade 1970 lateral movement of its forces.
This game illustrates how Spassky generates an 12 h3 (D)
attack on the king, not by opening the centre, but
by invading through the flank, and White finds
himself helpless without any communication be-
tween his pieces as his position is essentially cut in
half down the centre of the board.
10...Ng4!
Thrusting pieces forward is almost always good,
and in this case, it also prevents castling. Black al-
so has sacrifices on e3 in the air now.
11 g3
11 Bxg7 suicidally opens the g-file and allows
Black to invade: 11...Rhg8 12 Bb2 Nxe3! 13 dxe3
Qh4+ 14 g3 Rxg3 –+.
Black to play
But what about 11 0-0 (D) instead?
11
If Black now retreats the knight, a later ...h4 can

always be met with g4.
12...h4!
No mercy! White’s king has no defence to the
coming invasion along the h-file.
13 hxg4 hxg3 14 Rg1 Rh1!
Of course, there were other wins, but this earns
style points.
15 Rxh1 g2 16 Rf1
16 Rg1 Qh4+ 17 Kd1 Qh1 –+ and sadly, none of
White’s pieces are able to hold the g1-square. Be-
cause the king is stuck on the back rank, White’s
rooks are not able to support each other as re- White to play
quired. If you saw that the black queen on f5 was short of
16...Qh4+ 17 Kd1 gxf1Q+ 0-1 squares, bravo! Notice that if the white bishop
were to attack the queen on the b1-h7 diagonal, it
White resigned in view of 18 Bxf1 Bxg4+ 19 Kc1 would be trapped. Without realizing this first, it
(19 Be2 Qh1#) 19...Qe1+ 20 Qd1 Qxd1#. would be impossible to find Tal’s next move...
When attacking the king in the centre against 16 Nb5!!
stronger players, it is very unlikely that their king
will be tremendously exposed. True, most chess Clearing the way for the c-pawn to advance, with
books provide countless examples of a slaughter Bc2 coming.
against a king that has been checked, or is not al- 16...cxb5
lowed to castle and so forth. In fact, we have just
examined a few games in this category. However, 16...0-0? is generally desirable, but Black does not
since strong opposition will not let this happen so have time to tuck his king in. 17 Nd4 Qg6 18 c4
easily, those cases turn out to be rare in practice. Nb6 19 Bc2 f5 20 exf6 Qxf6 21 Qd3 +/– is a posi-
Next we have an excellent practical example from tional abomination for Black, with a weak isolated
none other than the magician himself, Mikhail Tal. e-pawn and porous light squares on the kingside.
Therefore, Black has no time to castle.
17 Qxb5+ Kd8 18 c4 (D)
Tal – Larsen
Candidates (6), Bled 1965
When we look at the position, we see that Black is
only a move away from castling, he has no posi-
tional weaknesses and is adequately developed –
how is it possible to attack the king? It is important
to note that at higher levels, successful attacks on
the king in the centre are rarely a sacrifice-fest and
checkmate. In cases like these, in order to attack
the king, the attacker must create a series of ‘side-
threats’ in order to discourage castling. Because we
cannot physically prevent castling in such cases,
we must initiate action elsewhere so the opponent
does not have time to castle. In fact, in this posi-
tion, Black does have a small problem; do you see Black to play
it?
18...Qxe5?
12
If anything, the e5-pawn serves as a shield for the d6 and g7) 26...Qxb4 (26...Qc6 27 Rd1+ Ke8 28
black king, and by greedily taking it, Black volun- Qxg7 +– is quickly mate) 27 axb4 Ke7 28 Rd1 +–
tarily opens up more lines in the centre. , when Black is in no position to survive the on-
slaught and heavy material losses.
18...Nb6!, as the computer points out, is a stronger
defence. 19 Qa5! wins back the piece. Then: b) 23...Qxa4 24 Bf4 Bd7 25 Qe5 +– gives White
complete domination. Objectively Black’s best
a) 19...Bd7? is refuted by 20 Be3! Bxa4 (20...Ke8
try is 25...Bc6 (D).
21 Bxb6 Bxa4 22 Qxa4+ Kf8 23 Bc7 +–;
20...Rc8 21 Rad1 +–) 21 Bxb6+ Kc8 22 Qxa4
Qxe5 23 Rad1 +– with a decisive attack.
b) 19...Kc7 (an attempt to find some shelter for
the king) 20 c5 Kb8 21 cxb6 axb6 22 Qb5. Alt-
hough the computer assesses this position as
roughly equal, I am sure any human would prefer
White thanks to the awkward position of Black’s
king along with his crippled pawn-structure. Plus,
White is not even any material down.
19 cxd5 Bd6
19...exd5 20 Bd2 Bd6 21 g3 +– is totally decisive,
with moves like Rfe1 and Ba5+ to follow.
20 g3 Qxd5 21 Qe2!
White to play
Of course we should not exchange our strongest
attacker. Can you finish off the attack? Calculate all the
possibilities!
21...Ke7 22 Rd1 Qa5 (D)
26 Rxe6+! (blasting open the king) 26...Kf8
(26...fxe6 27 Qxg7+ +–) 27 Bxh6! and then:
b1) 27...Rxh6 28 Rxh6 gxh6 29 Qh8+ Ke7 30
Re1+ (first stopping ...Qe4 of course) 30...Kd6
31 Qxa8 +–.
b2) 27...Rh7 28 Bxg7+!! Rxg7 29 Rh6 (creating
the threat of Rh8+ followed by Qd6+) 29...Rd8
(29...Kg8 30 Qh5 +–) 30 Rh8+ Rg8 31 Qc5+
Kg7 32 Qg5+ Kxh8 33 Qh6# and the king gets
mated in the corner.
b3) 27...Qg4 28 h3!! (perhaps this is the hardest
move to spot when playing 26 Rxe6+; it goes to
prove that no attack can suffice without solid
calculation to back it up) 28...Qxe6 29 Bxg7+
White to play Kg8 30 Bxh8 +–. With proper play, Black
Can you find the win that Tal now missed? should lose this endgame two pawns down,
even with opposite-coloured bishops. White still
23 Qg4 has strong attacking potential in the endgame
23 Rxd6! looks decisive, and is even stronger than with three kingside pawns.
the game continuation. Then: 23...Qf5 24 Qc4! Qc5 25 Qd3! Qd5??
a) 23...Kxd6 is of course the critical line, but 25...Rd8 was a more tenacious defence, after which
seems to lose after 24 Bd2 Qxa4 25 Bb4+ Kd7 26 White would have to work harder to prove a sub-
Qe5! (complete domination: the queen eyes both stantial advantage.
13
26 Qc3!
No exchange.
26...Be5
26...Qe5 is finished off nicely by 27 Bf4! Qxc3 28
Bxd6+ +–, when White nets a piece.
27 Qe1 Qc5 (D)
Black to play
A typical idea in 1 e4 e5 openings, to bring the

knight to the juicy attacking square on f5.
12...a5?!
While this move in itself is not so bad and actually
very logical, it marks the start of Black’s downfall.
After this, he never gets the chance to castle.
White to play
Carlsen himself recommended 12...Nf8 13 Nf5
Now Tal starts the final stage of his attack by acti- Qd7 intending ...Ne6 as “very solid” for Black.
vating all his forces. 12...0-0 is also better, securing the king, though
28 Bd2 Kf6 29 Rac1 Qb6 30 Be3 Qa6 after 13 Nf5 Qe6 14 Bd2! +=, stopping ...a5, Black
will have to suffer the Spanish torture against none
30...Qxb2 31 f4 +–. other than Magnus himself. We see that this is the
31 Qb4 reason why Wesley did not castle: not because he
forgot how to play chess, but that he was scared of
Threatening Bb5, trapping the queen. positional factors such as not being able to play
31...b5 ...a5. But in hindsight, this variation was clearly the
lesser evil. Like the previous example, this game is
31...Qe2 32 Qe4 +– followed by f4 is also the end.
an excellent practical demonstration of the nascent
32 Bxb5 Qb7 33 f4 Bb8 34 Bc6 1-0 stages of the attack – the attack will usually not be
successful without more subtle positional ‘side-
threats’ to support it.
Carlsen – So
13 Nf5 Qf8
Bilbao 2016
13...Qf7 is possible, but it takes away the f7-square
Again we see Wesley So, but this time on the re- from the bishop, which would like to retreat to the
ceiving end of the attack from the greatest player open diagonal in the ideal scenario. In addition,
of our generation. Although the game has few real Black is not even threatening to castle due to a tac-
fireworks, we see how titbits of positional pressure tical problem which we shall discover later in this
here and there discourage Black from castling. It is game; do you see it in advance?
truly remarkable to watch Magnus at work as he
hones a small advantage into a decisive attack. 14 bxa5 Rxa5 15 0-0 Qf7
1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bb5 Nf6 4 d3 Bc5 5 Bxc6 A clear indication of opening failure. So begins to
dxc6 6 Qe2 Qe7 7 Nbd2 Bg4 8 h3 Bh5 9 a3 Nd7 lose the thread: he has wasted a tempo with his
10 b4 Bd6 11 Nc4 f6 12 Ne3 (D) queen shuffling, and this proves to be too valuable
14
– a perfect example of even super-grandmasters

going awry with their king in the centre.
After 15...Bf7 16 c4 +/– Black’s king is still locked
in the centre by his own pieces.
16 a4! (D)
Black to play
21...Nxe4?
A desperate attempt to generate some complica-
tions, but Magnus easily takes care of business.
22 Nxb6+ cxb6 23 dxe4 Qc4 24 Qd2+ Kc7 25 g4!
Black to play
Winning the d1-square with tempo.
Magnus simply removes his pawn from future at-
25...Bg6 26 Rfd1 1-0
tacks, and Black is still unable to castle for con-
crete reasons. So resigned in view of Qd7/Qd8+.
16...Nc5 When briefly glancing at this game, it is very easy
to criticize Wesley for playing like a beginner and
16...0-0 is desirable, but unfortunately runs into 17 not castling. It almost looked as if Magnus didn’t
Bh6! +/– and due to the knight fork, Black has no do anything to stop castling, but when we look at a
way to hold his kingside together. deeper level, we are able to recognize all the sub-
17 Qe1! tleties that led to Black’s downfall. On move 12,
Black opted for ...a5 instead of ...0-0 as a last-ditch
Unpinning his knight with tempo. Carlsen begins
attempt to gain some counterplay, thinking that he
to manoeuvre his pieces, which will soon circle
could always castle later. Unfortunately for the
like vultures over the black king.
American grandmaster, after the knight hopped in
17...b6 18 Nd2 Rxa4 on f5 and exerted great pressure on Black’s king-
Obviously there is no time for 18...0-0? due to 19 side, he was never able to put his king in safety due
Nc4 Rxa4 20 Rxa4 Nxa4 21 Bh6! – still falling in- to the tactical resource Bh6!. Also, the knight could
to the same problem as before. never be expelled with ...g6, as the weakening of
the dark squares on the kingside would be fatal,
19 Nc4 Bf8 20 Be3 Kd7 21 Qc3 (D) and it would also leave the h5-bishop stranded
White has activated all his pieces and is simply without a retreat.
dominating Black everywhere on the board. As you keep gaining experience, I hope you will be
Meanwhile, Black’s pieces are stuck out of play on able to use this tool effectively; physically prevent-
the kingside, as he was never able to complete de- ing the opponent from castling is not always neces-
velopment by castling... sary, but rather discouraging him from castling
with subtle, positional threats here and there, or
even tactical resources – Carlsen’s ability to do
both simultaneously in this game proves why he is
truly the best of our time.
15
Opening analysis is in my opinion a great way to a) 13 Qd6 Qg5 14 e3 Rd8 15 Qf4 Qd5 16 e4 Qb3
enhance our attacking knowledge. The reason is 17 Qc1 Be6 18 Be2 Rac8 19 0-0 Nd4 20 Nxd4
simple: the computer immediately points out many Rxd4 =+ gives Black a tremendous initiative.
fascinating ideas that even strong players may not b) 13 e3 Rd8 14 Qc2? a6 15 Nc3 Nd4 –+ was too
see. It is important, especially for the younger gen- easy in Davidov-Pushkarev, Tomsk 2006, as
eration of players, that while conducting opening ...Bf5 is coming with decisive effect.
analysis, that they do not focus only on memoriz-
ing moves and following the computer without c) 13 Nd4 Nxd4 14 Qxd4 Rd8 15 Qb4 (after 15
recognition of its ideas. The computer should be Qf4 Be6 16 Rc1 Qd7 17 f3 Qb5 18 b4 Qa4 –/+
used as a tool to guide you; successful preparation Black managed to win in B.Schneider-Drollinger,
relies on the skilful mastery and implementation of 2nd Bundesliga 1998/9) 15...Qf6! (of course,
ideas and motifs into one’s games. Here is one ex- Black is not interested in exchanging queens) 16
ample of some recent opening preparation I did e3? a5! 17 Qc3 Qg6! (stopping White’s develop-
which features a line in which White grabs a pawn, ment) 18 f3 Be6 19 Kf2 Rac8 20 Qxa5 Rc2+ 21
but leaves his king in the centre... Ke1 (21 Be2?? Rxe2+ 22 Kxe2 Qxg2+ 23 Ke1
Qxh1+ –+ leads to mate) 21...Rdc8 22 Rd1 Qf6 –
1 Nf3 c5 2 c4 Nc6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 e6 + with a decisive attack. Notice that although
6 Ndb5 d5! Black does not have anything immediate, White
An excellent sacrifice. is completely lost as he has no development and
still a weak king in the centre.
7 cxd5?!
7 Bf4! e5 is the main theoretical line, but this is far 11...0-0 12 a3
outside the scope of the book. However, I strongly After 12 Bg5 Qc7 13 e3 Be6 14 Qd2 Qa5 15 Bh4
encourage readers to investigate further if they are Rac8 White is completely lost. For example, let’s
interested. consider 16 a3 (D).
7...Nxd5 8 Nxd5 exd5 9 Qxd5 Bb4+
White has scored horrendously in this line, with
many losses and almost no wins. 9...Qxd5? 10
Nc7+ +/– is of course White’s idea.
10 Bd2 Qe7 (D)
Black to play
How should Black continue? White is not threaten-

ing to take on b4 due to the pin, so Black has time
to strengthen his attack. All the black forces are
playing except the rook on f8. When attacking the
king stuck in the centre it is imperative that we
White to play play quickly so that the king cannot escape. So,
11 Nc3 where does the f8-rook intend to go? The solution
should be obvious now...
11 a3 is another important option. 11...Bxd2+ 12
Qxd2 0-0 and then: 16...g5!! (winning the d8-square with tempo) 17
Bg3 Rfd8 18 Qc1 Nd4! gives the enemy king no
16
mercy. A common mistake many weaker players the way we should play against a king in the cen-
make is assuming that their initiative will last for- tre: just try to mate!
ever; however, if the enemy king is able to find
15 e3
shelter, it may not be so easy. Players should treat
attacking the king in the centre with as much inten- 15 axb4 Bb3 16 Nd5 (16 f4 tries to make an escape
sity as they would when attacking with opposite- for the king, but is refuted by 16...Nf3+!, when 17
side castling: violent and forceful. 19 exd4 (19 gxf3 Qh4# is a cute mate, and 17 Kf2 is met by
axb4 Qxa1 20 Qxa1 Nc2+ 21 Ke2 Nxa1 –+) 17...Nxd2 –+) 16...Qd7 –+ leaves White with no
19...Rxc3! 20 bxc3 Bxc3+ 21 Ke2 Qb5+ 22 Kf3 defence to ...Nc2+.
Qd5+ 23 Ke2 Qe4+ 24 Qe3 Qc2+ 25 Kf3 g4+ 26 15...Bxc3 16 Bxc3 Nb3 17 Bb4
Kf4 Qf5# is one way the game could finish.
17 Ra2? f4 18 e4 Rad8 19 Bb4 Qd7 20 Be2 f3! 21
12...Be6! gxf3 Nd2 –+ gives Black a decisive attack.
An obvious move, but it still demonstrates the im- 17...Qc7 18 Be2 Nxa1 19 Qxa1 Rfd8 –/+
portance of playing forcefully.
Although the attack did not end in mate, Black has
13 Qe4 safely won an exchange without making any posi-
This is White’s best choice, fighting for control of tional concessions.
the d4-square, where the black knight is ready to
hop in.
I hope I have made it apparent with these examples
13...f5! 14 Qb1 (D) that a king in the centre should be the equivalent of
14 Qf4 Bd6 15 Qa4 Rad8 also gives Black a blis- the apple on the enemy’s head in the eyes of the
tering attack. attacker! There is certainly merit to the principle of
castling one’s king, and it can be extremely dan-
gerous and foolish to neglect this.
Black to play
Now what should Black play? A true attacker will

naturally feel that White’s king is short of breath-
ing space, and that this must be exploitable. Hon-
estly speaking, even after a simple bishop retreat,
Black still has a large advantage due to White’s
lack of development. But Black has something
stronger; can you find it?
14...Nd4!
A fantastic novelty. Notice that Black’s bishop has
been hanging for the last three moves, but all three
times, Black did not care about the threat. Such is
17
Exercises
Below are some exercises to help you get a sense for attacking a king in the centre. Be ruthless!
In our exercises in this and later chapters, you are just told who is to move – the rest is up to you. Think
as carefully about your decision as you would in a real game, and then compare your answer with ours.
Exercise 1: White to play Exercise 3: White to play
18
19
Solutions to Exercises
Don’t feel you need to have seen all the variations we present in these solutions – the main thing is to
have made the right decision. Please study the whole solutions as they often contain several instructive
points.
White to play White to play
1) Kotov – Kalmanok 2) This is opening analysis

Moscow Ch 1936 by Michael Song from 2015.
16 d5! 15 b4!
Blowing up Black’s defences. By virtue of attacking the d4-pawn, Black’s c5-
pawn is actually quite an important defender, and
16...cxd5
this move strips it of its influence in the defence.
Or: 16...exd5 17 Nf6#; 16...fxe4 17 dxe6 +– with 15 Ne5? Qxd4 16 Bh5+ Ke7 =+ leaves White with
heavy material losses for Black. no continuation.
17 Bb5+ Nd7 18 Ne5 Qc7 15...cxb4 16 Ne5 Bxb7
After 18...fxe4 19 Qg7! +– Black is doomed. 16...Bg7 17 Bh5+ Ke7 18 Nf7 Qxd4 19 Qc1! +/–
19 Bxd7+ Kd8 20 Qg7 Rf8 21 Ng5 Qc5 22 Bxe6 would also be excellent for White.
1-0 17 Bf3 +/–
with great attacking chances.
20
3) Samsonkin – Nakamura 4) Benjamin – Kamsky

Toronto 2009 USA Ch, Los Angeles 1991
17 Ne6! This was a position from Joel Benjamin’s book,

American Grandmaster.
Black is one move too late to castle, and this costs
him the game. 17 Rae1+
17...fxe6 18 Qh5+ g6 19 fxg6 Nf6 20 g7+ 17 Rxf7?? was played in the game, when White
went down after 17...Qg4 18 Re1+ Kd8 19 Qxg4
20 Rxf6 also wins: 20...Bxf6 21 g7+ Ke7 (21...Kd7
Bxg4 20 Rxg7 h6 21 Nh7 Bd7 22 Nf6 Bc6 23 Kg1
22 Nd5 Bxd5 23 gxh8Q Qxh8 24 Qf7+ Be7 25
Kc8 24 Ree7 Kb8 25 Rxc7 Ne8 26 Nxe8 Rxe8 27
exd5 +–) 22 gxh8Q Qxh8 23 Nd5+ Bxd5 24 Rc7+
Kf2 Re6 28 Rce7 Rf6+ 29 Kg3 Ka7 30 Ref7 Rxf7
Kd8 25 Rxh7 Qg8 26 exd5 +–.
0-1.
20...Kd7 21 Qf7
17...Kd7
21 Rxf6! Bxf6 22 Nd5!! is the computer’s choice
17...Kd8 is met by 18 Nxf7+ Nxf7 19 Qxf7 Qd6
and is even more deadly. After 22...Bxd5
(19...Qd7 20 Qf8+ +–) 20 Qxg7 Re8 21 Rxe8+
(22...exd5 23 Qg4+ Ke8 24 gxh8Q+ Bxh8 25
Kxe8 22 Rf7 +–, when mate is inevitable.
Qg8+ Kd7 26 Qxh7+ Qe7 27 Rc7+ +–) 23 gxh8Q
Qxh8 (23...Bxh8 24 Qf7+ Qe7 25 Rc7+ +–) 24 18 Nf3!
Qf7+ Be7 25 exd5 exd5 26 Bg5 Qe8 27 Qxh7 +– This retreat is what Benjamin claims to have
there is no defence to Bxe7 and Rc7+; for instance, missed.
27...Ra7 28 Qh3+ with mate on c8.
18...Qxb2 19 Ne5+ Kd8 20 Qg5+ f6 21 Rxf6 +–
21...Qe8 22 gxh8N!
and White crashes through.
Not 22 gxh8Q?? Qxf7 –+, when White’s queen is
trapped.
22...Qxh8 23 Ne2 +–
and White won easily. Note that 23...Rf8? 24
Rc7+! is an instant win for White.
21
5) Hou Yifan – Zimina 6) Bareev – Piskov

Women’s Olympiad, Baku 2016 Bundesliga 1991/2
10 dxe5! 24 Qa4+ Kf8 25 Qa8+ Be8 26 Nd2!

Opening the position. A crushing retreat. The threat of Rf1 is deadly and
26...Qxh2 27 Bg6 +– forces mate.
10...dxe5 11 Nd5!! cxd5 12 exd5
Black is helpless against the threats on the e-file. 26...Qb6 27 Rf1+ Nf6 28 Bg6 Qd8 29 Qxd8 Bxd8
30 exf6 +–
12...Bxb5
White has emerged with an extra piece and won
12...e4 is refuted by the simple 13 Nd2 Qe5 14 without any trouble.
Bxf6 Qxf6 15 Nxe4 Qg7 (15...Qb6 16 Nd6+ Kd8
17 Nxf7+ Kc7 18 Bxd7) 16 d6! (many other moves
are winning as well, but this is the most lethal)
16...Kd8 (16...Bxb5 17 Qd5! and Black cannot
hold b7 as 17...Bc6? 18 Qxc6+ bxc6 19 Nf6++
Kd8 20 Re8# is mate) 17 Bxd7 Nxd7 18 Qd5 and
with threats such as Qxb7 and Ng5, Black cannot
continue.
13 Nxe5 h6 14 Bxf6 Qxf6 15 Ng4+ +–
White went on to win easily.
22
7) Z. Almasi – Movsesian 8) Fedorchuk – I. Sokolov

Budapest 2003 Khanty-Mansiisk 2009
18 Rxe6! 15 Nxe5! Nxe5?

This is the correct sacrifice, which demolishes 15...Qxd4! was the only defence, after which Black
Black. 18 Bg3?! was played in the game, when is still in the game. 16 Nxc6 Qxe4 17 Na5 Qxe2+
Black could have stayed in the game with 18...e5 18 Kxe2 0-0-0 19 Bb2 only leaves White micro-
19 Nf5 Rd8 +/–. 18 Nxe6 looks extremely tempt- scopically better.
ing, but after 18...fxe6 19 Rxe6 0-0-0! the situation
15...Nxd4? loses immediately to 16 Nf6+ gxf6 17
is not entirely clear.
Qh5+.
18...fxe6 19 Nxe6 Qe5
16 Ng3 Qxd4 17 0-0!
After 19...Qd6 20 Nac5, although Black has a
A nasty surprise for Sokolov. 17 Bb2?? would be a
number of options, he is helpless in all lines. For
gross blunder due to 17...Qxb2! –+ followed by the
instance, 20...Nc3+ 21 bxc3 Qxd2 22 Rxd2 Bxc5
knight fork on d3.
23 Bxc5 +– or 20...Bc6 21 Nxg7+ Kf8 22 Nf5
Nc3+ 23 bxc3 Qxd2 24 Rxd2 bxc3 25 Rd3 +–. 17...Qxa1 18 Bf4 Qxa3 19 Qxe5+ Be7 20 Nxf5 +–
20 Re1 Qd6 21 Nxg7+ Kf8 Black is helpless in the face of the onslaught.
After 21...Kd7 22 Nc5+ Kc8 23 Nxb7 Nc3+ 24 20...Qxb4 21 Re1 Nd5 22 Nxg7+ Kf7 23 Qxd5+
Qxc3+ bxc3 25 Nxd6+ Bxd6 26 h4 +– White still Kxg7 24 Bd2 Qc5 25 Bc3+ Kf8 26 Qf3+ Kg8 27
maintains a strong attack and is even slightly ahead Qg4+ Qg5 28 Qe6+ Kf8 29 h4 Qxh4 30 Qf5+
in material now. Ke8 31 Bxh8 Qb4 32 Re4 1-0
22 Bd4 Bg5 23 Qd3 Ngf4 24 Qf5+ Kg8 25 Nc5
Bc6 26 Nge6 +–
The attack is irresistible.
23
Opposite-Side Castling
2: Opposite-Side Castling
RAZVAN PREOTU
In life, we say that ‘the early bird gets the worm’. In opposite-side castling positions in chess, the early
bird gets the king!
When the players castle on opposite sides, the pace of the game is completely different compared to the
kings both being on the same wing. Rather than playing for positional advantages, it is by far more im-
portant for both sides to fight for the initiative and start an attack on the enemy king as quickly as possi-
ble. This is because it is much easier to open up the enemy king’s position, as one can advance pawns and
blast open lines without fear of a possible counter-attack on one’s own weakened king. Also, it is much
easier to coordinate the attacking pieces such as lining the rooks up against the enemy king, since our own
king sits on the other side of the board and does not interfere with these procedures.
Due to all these factors, opposite-side castling almost always leads to a race on who can checkmate the
enemy king first. This type of play is prominent in a number of Open Sicilian lines, such as the Dragon,
which Fischer audaciously claimed could be tamed by the memorable three-step formula: “sac, sac, ma-
te!” While this quote should not be taken at face value, Fischer manages to justify his words in this next
game, against the Danish grandmaster Bent Larsen.
Fischer – Larsen against ...d5 and an attacking thrust, and today the
theoretical main line is 9 0-0-0.
Portorož Interzonal 1958
9...Nxd4
Black trades knights in order to offer an exchange
1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4
of light-squared bishops. 9...Bd7 is also possible,
The Open Sicilian is the opening in which oppo- trying to gain tempi on the light-squared bishop
site-side castling most commonly occurs, and leads with moves such as ...Rc8, ...Ne5 or ...b5.
to many different dynamic positions. For this rea-
10 Bxd4 Be6 (D)
son, it makes sense for us to focus largely on the
Sicilian Defence in this chapter.
4...Nf6 5 Nc3 g6 6 Be3 Bg7 7 f3
7 Qd2?! Ng4! =+ is of course undesirable for
White.
Castling kingside with 7 Be2?! 0-0 8 0-0 doesn’t
promise anything for White, as Black has no posi-
tional weaknesses and it is a lot harder to start an
attack with kings on the same side. For instance,
White no longer has the attacking plan of h4-h5 to
pry open the h-file, whereas Black’s future
counterplay with an eventual ...b5 is equally as ef-
fective with White’s king on the kingside.
7...0-0 8 Qd2 Nc6 9 Bc4
White to play
At the time of the game, this logical bishop devel-
opment was without a doubt the main line. 9 g4!? 11 Bb3!
is an interesting alternative, both prophylaxis Fischer’s retreat makes it much harder for his op-
ponent to find a good source of counterplay.
24
11 Bxe6 fxe6 12 0-0-0 is possible, but the doubled

pawns provide the important benefit for Black that
Nd5 is no longer possible. Notice that the white
knight does not have a good square to move to af-
ter an eventual ...b5-b4. Black also can use the c4-
square for a rook, which is hard to challenge as
playing b3 would seriously weaken the dark
squares around White’s king. This highlights the
point that with opposite-side castling, dynamic fac-
tors are much more important than positional ones.
Despite Black’s sub-par pawn-structure, the dy-
namic benefits reaped with this exchange far out-
weigh the positional considerations, and White is
left with no straightforward way to continue his
attack. If White’s king were castled on the king-
White to play
side, he would be in excellent shape, but it is a
completely different story with opposite-side cas- Now White can play 18 a4!. This looks like a very
tling. 12...Qa5 13 Kb1 Rac8 14 h4 Nh5! (this is risky move, pushing pawns in front of our king, but
simplest, just to stop White’s attack in its tracks; with opposite-side castling we must be concrete.
14...b5 15 h5! b4 16 Ne2 Nxh5 17 Bxg7 Nxg7 The reader should understand that opposite-side
{17...Kxg7?? 18 g4 +–} 18 Qh6 Qe5 19 Qxh7+ castling demands skilful calculation and objective
Kf7 with a wildly unclear game) 15 Bxg7 Kxg7 16 play rather than judgement based on principles
e5! (if not for this move, White may even find alone. In fact, the move a4 is surprisingly defensive
himself worse) 16...Qxe5 17 Rhe1 Qf4 18 Rxe6 in nature; the idea is that after a future ...a5, White
Qxd2 19 Rxd2 Kf7 20 Rde2 Rfe8 = with an equal can reply with b5, keeping the queenside locked.
ending. 18...Qd7 (18...Qb7 19 Qc3+ Kg8 20 Bxe6 fxe6 21
Qb3 +/–) 19 h4! h5 20 Qd4+ f6 (20...Kg8 21 g4!
11...Qa5 12 0-0-0 b5 13 Kb1 blasts open lines to attack Black’s king: 21...hxg4
This move is almost always played at some point 22 h5 Bxb3 23 cxb3 Qe6 24 Rd3! +/–) 21 Rhe1 (21
to avoid any future issues on the c-file and also to g4? hxg4 22 h5 is not convincing due to 22...Bxb3
protect the a2-pawn. 23 cxb3 Qe6 24 Qd3 gxh5 25 Rxh5 Rh8, when
Black defends) 21...Bxb3 22 cxb3 Rfb8 (22...Rab8
13...b4
is desirable, but runs into problems after 23 e5!
13...Bxb3 is best met by 14 cxb3!. Although this Qf5+ 24 Kb2 fxe5 25 Qxa7 +/– {the point: the a7-
violates the positional principle of capturing to- pawn needs protection} 25...Rxb4 26 Qxe7+ Rf7
wards the centre, we realize that Black will never 27 Qxd6 +/–) 23 Kb2! (renewing the threat of e5;
be able to open lines against the white king. With- not 23 e5? Qf5+) 23...Qb7 24 Ka3! +/– and Black
out any real counterplay of his own, Black will in- has absolutely nothing.
evitably get mated on the kingside after White
We now return to 14...Bxd5 (D):
storms his h- and g-pawns forward.
14 Nd5 Bxd5
14...Nxd5 15 Bxg7 Nc3+ is the best chance to get
at least some play against White’s king. 16 bxc3
Kxg7 17 cxb4 Qb5 (D).
25
factors with opposite-side castling. In fact, I would

like to provide the reader with one interesting point
that I have not read elsewhere: with opposite-side
castling, very often the best defensive tactic is to
grab the opponent’s pawns on the side of your own
king. If a pawn-storm is more threatening than a
half-open file, as in this case, not only does this
win material, but more importantly, it stalls the op-
ponent’s attack as he has no ‘battering-ram’ to
break open our king’s defences without any pawns.
Because of this obligatory preparation move ...Rc7,
Black is now behind in the race, which proves to
be fatal.
17 h4! (D)
White to play
15 Bxd5
Even stronger was 15 exd5! Qb5 16 Qd3 Qxd3 17
Rxd3 +=, leading to a slightly better endgame as
the light-squared bishop will be extremely strong
on c6, and Black will also have to deal with a weak
pawn on e7.
15...Rac8?
A critical mistake. The bishop is much too strong
to allow it to live. 15...Nxd5! was the path to equal-
ity: 16 Bxg7 (16 exd5 Qxd5 =) 16...Nc3+!
(16...Kxg7 17 exd5 += was probably Fischer’s
idea, in which case Black would suffer due to his
weak e-pawn; plus, White still has attacking Black to play
chances with h4-h5, while Black has no play) 17
bxc3 Rfb8! (opposite-side castling always demands Commencing the attack.
concrete play like this) 18 cxb4 Qxb4+ 17...Qb5
(18...Rxb4+?? loses to 19 Bb2 Rab8 20 Ka1! +–)
Black paves the way for the a-pawn to roll. Note
19 Qxb4 Rxb4+ 20 Bb2 Rab8 and if anyone is bet-
that the move 17...h5? would not help due to the
ter, it is Black.
typical blast 18 g4! hxg4 19 h5! gxh5 20 fxg4 +–,
16 Bb3 += when unhealable wounds have been inflicted upon
Now White is able to keep the light-squared bish- Black’s kingside.
op, which aids the upcoming attack, while also 18 h5!
serving as a great defender of its own king.
White is not afraid to give up a pawn in order to
16...Rc7 open the h-file. 18 g4? would be a mistake as it
Black would love to play 16...Qb5 followed by gives Black time to create his own counterplay
...a5-a4, but White has the surprising 17 Bxa7! +/– with 18...a5.
and with the bishop on b3 unable to be removed, 18...Rfc8!
White’s king is perfectly safe, leaving Black with
Providing f8 as a flight-square for the king.
no compensation for the pawn and no attack.
18...a5? is smashed by 19 Bxf6! exf6 (19...Bxf6 20
Of course, most of the time it is not a good idea to hxg6 +– followed by Qh6) 20 h6 Bh8 21 Qxd6 +–.
take pawns which open lines against your own
19 hxg6
king, but there are always exceptions for positional
26
19 Bxf6? would be a serious mistake due to

19...Bxf6 20 hxg6 hxg6 21 Qh6 e6 =. The dark-
squared bishop protects the critical h8-square and
White’s attack is over. White even has to look for a
queen exchange as ...Qe5 is a threat. It’s always
important to trade the fianchettoed bishop as it is
the best defender of Black’s kingside, while being
a very powerful attacking piece as well.
19...hxg6 20 g4
White’s idea is to force the knight to move with g5,
and exchange off the all-important g7-bishop.
20...a5
Black is just one move away from getting his at-
tack going, but White strikes first. Black to play
21 g5 Nh5 22 Rxh5! (D) The attack is decisive.

23...e5
After 23...Bxd4 24 gxf7+ Kh7 25 Qxd4 Qe5 26
Qd3!, the threat of f4 followed by e5+ is incredibly
strong.
24 gxf7+
24 Qg5! +– was an even more precise way to fin-
ish, with the idea that Black cannot take on d4 due
to the pin.
24...Kf8
24...Rxf7 25 Be3 +– is also lost for Black, but is at
least a better try.
25 Be3 d5 26 exd5 Rxf7
Black to play 26...a4 27 d6 +–.
Obliterating the kingside defences. Needless to say, 27 d6 Rf6 28 Bg5 Qb7 29 Bxf6 Bxf6 30 d7 Rd8
material cannot be the main concern when attack- 31 Qd6+ 1-0
ing with opposite-side castling.
In the entirety of this game, Black never managed
22...gxh5? to get any significant counterplay against White’s
22...Bxd4! was the only try. 23 Rh6! (after 23 king, which still sits snug in its camp. It should
Qxd4 gxh5 24 g6 Rc4 Black should be able to come as no surprise that Fischer would not let his
defend with best play) 23...Bg7 24 Qf4 e5 25 Qh4 opponent go unpunished for this.
a4 26 Rxg6! axb3 27 Rxg7+ Kf8! (27...Kxg7??
allows mate: 28 Qh6+ Kg8 29 Rh1 +–) 28 Rh1
Qc4! 29 Rg8+ Ke7 30 g6+ Kd7 and Black seems Movsesian – Kasparov
to be surviving. Sarajevo 2000
23 g6 (D)
In opposite-side castling positions, weaknesses in
the pawn-structure sheltering the king are even
more alarming than usual. Because these weak-
nesses allow inroads to be made towards the ex-
27
posed king, it is usually a good investment to sacri- 10...h6!?, with the idea of slowing down White’s
fice material to shatter the opponent’s pawn- kingside advance, leads to more complicated play
structure, as Kasparov does in this game with a after 11 h4 b4 12 Na4:
very typical Sicilian-style sacrifice.
a) 12...Qa5 13 b3 Nc5 14 a3! Nxa4 (14...Rc8 15
1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 a6 Qxb4 Qc7 16 Kb1 Nfd7 is also extremely com-
6 Be3 e6 7 f3 b5 8 Qd2 Nbd7 plicated) 15 axb4 Qc7 16 bxa4 d5 17 e5 Nd7 18
8...b4 is a frequent guest at top level today: f4 Nb6, when there have been over a hundred
games from this interesting position.
a) 9 Na4 Nbd7 leads to a standard position where
b) 12...d5 13 Bh3 threatens g5. Now:
White can choose from 10 c4, 10 0-0-0, 10 Bc4
or 10 g4. b1) 13...Qa5?! 14 b3 Nc5?! 15 g5! Nxa4 16
b) Recently the move 9 Nd1!? has been tried bxa4 hxg5 17 hxg5 Rxh3 (17...Nd7 18 g6! and
more: White is crashing through) 18 Rxh3 Nd7 19 g6
(19 Rh8!? +/–) 19...Qxa4 20 gxf7+ Kxf7 21
b1) 9...Be7 10 Bd3 e5 11 Nb3 Nc6 12 0-0 0-0 Kb1 and White won in Tiviakov-Rashkovsky,
13 Bf2 a5 14 Bb5 Bb7 was seen in Akopian- Linares 1999.
Grandelius, Golden Sands 2014, and instead of
that game’s 15 a4, even stronger would be 15 b2) 13...g5?! is the modern approach to stopping
c4!, with a lock on the d5-square. White’s kingside ambitions in the Najdorf, but it
turns out that it does not accomplish its goal
b2) 9...e5 10 Nb3 Nc6 11 Bf2 Be7 12 Ne3 0-0 here. 14 hxg5 hxg5 and then:
13 Rd1 Rb8 14 Bc4!? (after 14 c4 bxc3 15 bxc3
a5 16 Qc2 Qc7 = Black had no problems and b21) 15 Bxg5 dxe4 16 Bxf6 and here:
went on to win in Givon-Artemiev, Baku 2014) b211) 16...Nxf6? 17 g5 exf3 18 Qe3 Nd5 19
14...a5 15 Nc1! (anticipating ...a4 so Black has Qe5 Rg8 (19...Rxh3 20 Rxh3 Qd6 21 Nxf3
no time to get in ...Na5) 15...Be6 (15...a4 16 +– Cioara-Berresheim, Germany {team
Nd3 +=) 16 0-0 Qc7 17 Ne2 with interesting event} 2001/2) 20 Nxe6 Qe7 and now after
play. 21 Nac5! fxe6 22 Nxe6 +–, with ideas such
9 0-0-0 Bb7 10 g4 (D) as Qf5 or Qg3 followed by Rhe1 to come,
Black is doomed.
b212) 16...Qxf6! (although this looks scary
as d7 is loose, this new move is absolutely
necessary) 17 g5 Qe7 18 g6 Ne5 19 gxf7+
Nxf7 20 Bxe6 (20 Nxe6? Rxh3 –+)
20...Rxh1 21 Rxh1 Rd8 .
b22) 15 e5 Nxe5 16 Bxg5 Nc4 17 Qf4! (17
Qe2 was seen in Topalov-Van Wely, Monte
Carlo blindfold 2000, but this is stronger)
17...Be7 18 Rde1 +/– and White will smash
through on e6 next move. For instance:
18...Rc8?! (18...Qd6 19 Qxd6 Nxd6 20 Nc5
+/– is objectively better) 19 Nxe6! fxe6 20
Rxe6 0-0 21 Qf5 Rf7 22 Bh6! Ne8 23 Qg6+
Ng7 24 Bf1! and the threat of Bd3 wins the
Black to play
game.
White immediately begins his play on the kingside,
in anticipation that Black will one day castle there. b3) Opening the centre with 13...dxe4!? is risky
and can lead to a very wild game after 14 g5
10...Nb6 hxg5 15 hxg5 exf3, since White has the incredi-
ble shot 16 Nxe6! (the straightforward 16 gxf6?
Nxf6 doesn’t pose any problems, as Black’s
28
king is now safe and material is even) 16...fxe6

17 Bf5! (D), winning the rook as Bg6+ must be
parried.
White to play
12 Kb1?!
A typical move in the Sicilian to tuck the king
Black to play
away from the half-open c-file, but there were
It seems like White has a decisive advantage but more pressing issues at hand. 12 Bd3 Rc8 13 Nce2
Black has some incredible resources starting is better, as it avoids the strong exchange sacrifice
with 17...exf5! 18 Rxh8 Ng4 19 Nb6 (19 Nc5 is that occurs in the game but without blocking in the
less challenging as the endgame arising after bishop on f1 (as in the next note).
19...Nxc5 20 Qxd8+ Rxd8 21 Rxd8+ Kxd8 22
12...Rc8 13 Bd3
Rxf8+ Kd7 23 Bxc5 Ke6 gives Black great
drawing chances because of the opposite- 13 Nce2 Qc7 =+ followed by ...d5 is good for
coloured bishops and the strong f3-pawn) Black. It might seem strange that opening the cen-
19...Nde5!, giving up the queen to stop White’s tre can be good with the king in the middle, but
attack. After the most challenging line, 20 Black’s pieces are much more centralized, whereas
Rxf8+ Kxf8 21 Qxb4+ Kg8 22 Qb3+ (it’s better White’s are clustered with no real purpose.
not to accept the queen sacrifice and continue 13...Rxc3!
the attack, as after 22 Rxd8+ Rxd8 23 Qe7
Nxe3! 24 Qxd8+ Kh7 Black has two minor A typical exchange sacrifice for Black in the Sicili-
pieces for the queen but the strong f3-pawn an. Although there is no concrete follow-up, the
seems to provide full compensation!) 22...Kh7 long-term weaknesses followed by an eventual
23 Rh1+ Kg6 24 Qe6+ Nf6 25 Qxe5 f2! 26 gxf6 opening of the centre with ...d5 will prove hard to
Bxh1 27 Qg3+ Kxf6 28 Qh4+ Kf7 29 Qxh1 handle. Black indubitably obtains full compensa-
Qe7 30 Bxf2, White has two pieces for the rook tion for the exchange, and then some.
but Black’s two connected passed pawns will 14 bxc3 Qc7 15 Ne2 Be7 16 g5 0-0 17 h4 Na4 (D)
make it complicated to convert into a win.
11 Qf2 Nfd7 (D)
29
to put up some queenside resistance. 21...b4 22

Ka1 Nxd3 23 Rxd3 Be5 –/+.
21...Nxd3! 22 cxd3
22 Rxd3 dxe4 23 fxe4 Bxe4 –+.
22...b4 (D)
White to play
Already White is on the defensive. The engines

suggest that the position is equal with best play, but
practically White is lost. Black’s initiative is very
strong and it only takes one mistake for the attack
to become decisive.
18 Bc1 Ne5 White to play
White would be happy to give back a pawn after Black’s attack is decisive, as all his pieces will par-
18...Nxc3+? 19 Nxc3 Qxc3 20 Bb2 . The attacker ticipate in the assault.
should realize that the doubled pawns actually help 23 cxb4 Rc8 24 Ka1
in developing the attack and should not be greedy
in trying to regain material. When looking at this 24 Rd2 is suggested by the engines, but White is
pawn-structure of pawns on c2 and c3 (f7 and f6 in busted after 24...Bxb4 25 Qh2 Qb6 26 Rb2 Nxb2
Black’s case usually), the pawn in front actually 27 Bxb2 Bd6 28 e5 Ba3 –+ with ...a5 and ...Ba6 to
hinders the defender’s resources, by making it im- come.
possible to open communications towards the king 24...dxe4 25 fxe4 Bxe4! 26 g6
along the second (or seventh) rank.
26 dxe4 Be5+ –+ leads to mate.
19 h5
26...Bxh1 27 Qxh1 Bxb4 28 gxf7+ Kf8 29 Qg2
White tries to start his own attack, but it’s clear Rb8 30 Bb2 Nxb2 31 Nd4 Nxd1 32 Nxe6+ Kxf7
that he’s far behind. 0-1
19...d5! Unfortunately for White, he cannot pick off the
19...f6!? is also strong, activating the black rook on queen due to the mating threat of ...Bc3+.
the f-file.
20 Qh2?! Tal – Mohrlok
This only helps Black as White’s queen gets Varna Olympiad 1962
chased away from the defence, but it was hard to
suggest good moves for White regardless. For in-
stance, 20 h6 g6 –/+ accomplishes nothing. 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3
20...Bd6 21 Qh3? d6 6 Bg5 e6 7 Qd2 Be7 8 0-0-0 0-0 9 Nb3! (D)
The first big mistake, and White is already lost. 21

Qg2 is better, as e4 is defended so White can re-
capture the bishop on d3 with the rook and attempt
30
Black to play White to play
An instructive retreat. White’s knight comes to 15 g6!

hold the queenside, and it is not clear what attack- A very strong pawn sacrifice, which is now a well-
ing role the c6-knight serves as it blocks the c-file. known idea in these pawn-structures. White force-
It is worth remembering that in many Sicilian posi- fully opens lines on the kingside without giving
tions, Black’s knight is much better positioned on Black time to interfere. In opposite-side castling, it
d7 than c6, as it aids in the defence of the kingside is important to note that the most effective attacks
while maintaining the option to join the attack via are those that are fastest, without concerns about
b6 or c5. material.
9...Qb6 15 h5 allows Black to open the d-file by 15...b4 16
9...a6?! is a natural way to prepare the typical Na4 Nc5 17 Naxc5 dxc5 =, which essentially stops
counterplay with ...b5, but after 10 Bxf6! Bxf6 White’s attack.
(10...gxf6 11 Qh6 gives White the initiative) 11
15...fxg6
Qxd6 Qb6 12 Qc5 Black does not have full com-
pensation; for example, 12...Qc7 13 Kb1 b5 14 f4! Again, we see the idea of capturing away from the
+=. centre in an attempt to enlarge the pawn-shield in
front of the king.
9...a5!? 10 a4 d5 is interesting, but after 11 Bb5!
White’s chances are preferable. 15...hxg6 16 h5 gxh5 17 Rxh5 is way too danger-
ous for Black even to consider. White should even-
10 f3 tually crash through on the h-file with ideas such as
As we’ve already seen, playing f3 is very typical, Qh2. Interestingly enough, some computer engines
as it guards the e4-pawn and prepares a pawn- say that Black is OK, but in practice this is far from
storm attack with g4, h4, g5, etc. true, and after seeing a few more moves, even the-
se engines begin to understand that White’s attack
10...a6 11 g4 Rd8
is very powerful. 17...Bf6 18 Bg5! exchanges the
Black threatens ...d5 and obliges the bishop to re- strongest defender with a potent attack after 18...b4
treat to make way for the g5 advance. 19 Ne2 Bb7 20 Nf4 or 18...Bxg5 19 Qxg5 Nf6 20
12 Be3 Qc7 13 g5 Nd7 14 h4 b5 (D) Rh1 b4 21 Ne2 Ne5 22 Rg1 Ne8 23 Ned4.
16 h5 gxh5
16...b4? allows 17 Nd5! exd5 18 Qxd5+ Kh8
(18...Kf8 19 Bc4 +–) 19 hxg6 Nf6 20 Rxh7+!
Nxh7 21 Qh5 +–.
17 Rxh5 (D)
31
17...Nf6 24 Rh6!
17...b4? still doesn’t work because of 18 Nd5! Realizing his previous mistake, Tal no longer al-
exd5 19 Qxd5+ Kh8 20 Rxh7+ Kxh7 21 Qh5+ Kg8 lows the fianchetto defence to be constructed.
22 Bc4+ Kf8 23 Qf7#.
24...Kf7
18 Rg5 24...g6? now fails due to 25 Rgxg6+ hxg6 26
18 Rh1 is also possible, focusing the attack on h7 Rxg6+ Bg7 27 Rxf6, and then:
instead of g7.
a) 27...Qe7 28 Bg5! Qe8 29 Bh6 Kh8 30 Bxg7+
18...Ne5 19 Qg2 Bf8 20 Be2 Rxg7 31 Rh6+ Rh7 (31...Kg8 32 Qh2 +–) 32 Qg5
+/– leaves Black on the brink of disaster; e.g.,
It is instructive to see how Tal builds his attack.
32...Qf8?! 33 Rxe6! Re8 34 Rg6 +–.
Only after White brings all his pieces to the king-
side will he prepare a decisive pawn advance with b) 27...Re8 28 Rg6 Qf7 (after 28...Re7 29 f4 Qb6
f4 and e5, kicking away Black’s defensive pieces. 30 Nd1 c3 31 b3 Qa5 32 Kb1 +/– Black has no at-
tack whatsoever, and White will just slowly build
20...Nc4
up his in the meantime) 29 e5! (making way for the
20...b4 21 Na4 does not solve Black’s problems. knight to hop in) 29...d5 (29...dxe5 30 Nc6 Ree7
21 Bxc4 bxc4 22 Nd4 Rb8 23 Rh1?! 31 Ne4 +– is devastation) 30 Bh6 Qf8 31 Nf5!
exf5 32 Nxd5 (a picturesque position in which all
Tal uses both half-open files for the attack, but it White’s pieces converge against the black king)
was better to focus all the pressure on the g-file by 32...Rxe5 33 Nf6+ Kf7 34 Rxg7+ Ke6 35 Ne4!
23 Rg1!. This creates an unpleasant threat of Nc6, (threatening Rg6+ winning the queen) 35...Rxg7
as Black cannot take due to the pressure on g7. 36 Bxg7 Qb4 37 c3 Qb8 38 Bxe5 Qxe5 39 Nd2 +–
23...Rb7 is the best defence, but White has a strong and with so many weak pawns, White must be
attack after 24 f4. Notice how advanced White’s winning the endgame.
attack is, while Black has made no meaningful
progress against White’s own king. Such positions 25 Rh4 (D)
are usually lost in practice, in spite of the objective
evaluations.
23...Rb7? (D)
23...g6! was a better defence in order to fianchetto
the bishop on g7.
32
Tal’s idea was to bring Black’s king closer to the 30 Nc3!

centre before executing the pawn advance. Threatening Rxf6+ with a demolition of Black’s
25...Qb6 kingside.
Bringing back the king with 25...Kg8? is a mistake, 30...Qd8
because White has the strong idea of 26 Rf4 Ne8 After 30...exd4 31 Rxf6+ Kg8 (31...Kxf6 32 Nd5+
27 Qh1!, threatening Rxf8+ followed by Qxh7, and +–) 32 Rfxh6 +– Black has absolutely no hope of
27...g6? doesn’t help due to 28 Rxf8+! Kxf8 29 survival.
Rxg6! +– when Black is mated: 29...Qf7 30 Bh6+
Ke7 31 Qh4+ Kd7 32 Rxe6. 31 Nc6 1-0
25...e5! 26 Nf5 Kg8 looks terrifying, but Black Black resigned as he either loses the queen or gets
should defend with proper play. checkmated. For example, 31...Qc7 32 Rxf6+ Kg8
33 Rfxh6 Qxc6 34 Qg6 +– with mate next move on
26 Nd1 Qc7 27 f4 h6? h8.
A decisive weakening of the g6-square. 27...e5! 28
Nf5 Kg8 is similar to the previous line, where
Black should defend. Movsesian – Cvitan
28 Rg6 Re8 Bundesliga 1997/8
28...e5 does not help here as Black is now forced to
take the knight after 29 Nf5 Bxf5 30 exf5 +/–. This 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 e6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 d6
is no longer the same due to the outpost on g6. 6 g4 Nc6?!
29 f5 e5 (D) At the time the game was played, this was consid-
ered a principled response, completing develop-
ment and challenging White’s knight on d4. How-
ever, further practice has shown that the positions
are just too dangerous for Black. Black’s two main
alternatives are 6...h6 and 6...e5 7 Bb5+ Bd7 8
Bxd7+ Qxd7 9 Nf5 h5, with counterplay.
7 g5 Nd7 8 Be3 Be7 9 h4 (D)
33
lactic move 13 a3! was perhaps even stronger, with

the idea of first restricting Black’s counterplay
with ...b4, and denying him the option of ...Ne5.
13...Bb7 14 f4 Rc8 15 Kb1 and now:
a) 15...Qc7 16 Qe2 (seeing that the queen was in
the way on h5, White pulls it back) 16...e5 17
fxe5 dxe5 18 Bf2 Nb6 19 Bh3 Rcd8 20 Bxb6!
Qxb6 21 Nd5 Bxd5 22 exd5 +/– and in this oppo-
site-coloured bishop position, White possesses
much better attacking chances.
b) 15...Nc5 16 Rh3! (a multi-purpose move: the
rook aids in the defence along the third rank, but
also has aggressive ambitions, as it steps out of
the a8-h1 diagonal to support the f5 advance)
Black to play
16...Qc7 (16...Nxe4 17 Bd3 Rxc3 18 Bxe4 Bxe4
In anticipation of Black castling, White initiates his 19 Rxc3 d5 20 Qe2 += does not quite give Black
kingside play immediately. full compensation) 17 f5 f6 (sadly, the only de-
9...0-0 10 Qh5 fence against the f6 advance; 17...e5? 18 Bxc5
Qxc5 19 f6 Bd8 20 fxg7 Kxg7 21 Rhd3 Be7 22
Black is already in some trouble. White has suc- Bh3 +– results in a crushing attack) 18 g6 h6 19
ceeded in advancing his kingside pawns with tem- fxe6 Nxe6 20 Be3 +/– and Black’s position is
po and is just about to complete development, shattered.
while Black has not even started the typical
queenside counterplay. 13...Ne5
10...a6 11 0-0-0 Nxd4?! 13...b4? gets smashed by 14 Bxg7! Kxg7

(14...bxc3? 15 e5 cxb2+ 16 Kb1 f5 17 gxf6 +– is
Black trades knights in order to play ...b5, but this quickly mate) 15 Qh6+ Kh8 16 e5 f5 17 g6 Rf7 18
brings White’s bishop to a very strong attacking gxf7 +–.
diagonal. 11...Qc7, protecting the knight followed
by ...b5, might have been better. 13...g6 14 Qf3 followed by an eventual h5 gives
White an extremely dangerous attack, and Black
12 Bxd4 b5 (D) will have no way to stop the h-file from being
opened.
14 f4
The greedy attempt with 14 Bxe5? is a serious mis-
take due to 14...dxe5 15 Bxb5 Qb6 =+. On top of
the bishop-pair advantage, White’s attack is over
while Black’s is just beginning.
14...Nxd3+ 15 Rxd3! (D)
White to play
13 Bd3
Already White is lined up for a nasty bishop sacri-
fice. That being said, the typical Sicilian prophy-
34
Black to play Black to play
White has the very deep idea of doubling rooks on 17...exd5?

the g-file. 17...Bxd5 18 exd5 +/– is a better defence, although
15...Bb7 White still has a very large advantage.
A natural move threatening ...b4, but White has a 18 Rdg3! +–
devilish trap in response. The immediate 15...b4 White threatens both Qh6 and g6. 18 Qh6??
was an interesting alternative: 16 Ne2 Bb7 17 Ng3 doesn’t work right away because of 18...gxh6 19
Qc7! (Black wants to play ...Rfc8 in order to free gxh6+ Bg5 –+.
the f8-square for the bishop) 18 f5 e5 (18...Rfc8 19
Rh2 is basically the same) 19 Be3 (19 f6 Rfc8 20 18...Qc7
Qd1 exd4 21 fxe7 Qxe7 22 Rxd4 g6 gives Black 18...Re8 would not help after 19 g6! fxg6 20 Rxg6
good compensation after White takes either the b4- hxg6 21 Qxg6 +–.
or d6-pawn) 19...Rfc8 20 Qd1 a5 21 f6 Bf8 . It’s
a race where both sides have equally strong at- 19 Qh6! Qxc2+
tacks. Sadly for Black, this is the only move that doesn’t
16 Rg1! get mated immediately.
Preparing a fantastic sacrifice. 20 Kxc2 Rfc8+ 21 Kd2 gxh6 22 gxh6+ Bg5 23
Rxg5+ Kf8 24 exd5 (D)
16...b4?
Black completely misses White’s idea. 16...Qc7!,
threatening ...e5, is not that bad for Black. After 17
Qh6! e5 18 fxe5 dxe5 19 Qb6 Qxb6 20 Bxb6
White will play Nd5 with a slightly more pleasant
endgame, but that should not be a big deal.
17 Nd5! (D)
The idea is to force the e-pawn out of the way,
denying Black his resource ...e5. As a result,
White’s d4-bishop simply cannot be challenged.
Black to play
35
Black has survived the attack, but his position is

hopeless. White’s pieces are too active and materi-
al loss is inevitable.
24...Ke7 25 Rf5 Rc4 26 Kd3 Rac8 27 Rg7 1-0
A relentless attack! Such is the way we must play
to be successful in positions with opposite-side
castling.
Kariakin – Anand
Wijk aan Zee 2006
1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 a6 White to play

6 Be3 e5 7 Nb3 Be6 8 f3 Be7
13 Ne2
8...h5!?, with the idea of stopping White’s kingside
play with g4, is a more popular choice today and After 13 gxf6 bxc3 14 Qxc3 Nxf6 15 Na5 Rc8 16
generally leads to a more positional game after 9 Nc6 Qe8 17 Nxe7+ Qxe7 18 Qa5 Rc6 = White’s
Qd2 Nbd7 10 Nd5. bishop-pair and slightly better pawn-structure are
compensated by Black’s activity along the c-file
9 Qd2 0-0 10 0-0-0 Nbd7 and ideas of ...Nh5-f4 to stop White’s attack.
Anand opts for the traditional main line. The fun- Topalov – Vachier-Lagrave, St Louis 2016 went
ny-looking 10...a5!?, with the idea of immediately down this path, and White had absolutely no ad-
beginning play with ...a4, is a significant alterna- vantage.
tive in today’s era. 13...Ne8
11 g4 b5 13...Nh5? would be a serious mistake as it allows
This is one of the main lines of the English Attack. White to accelerate his attack with 14 Ng3 Nf4 15
h4, when White has plenty of ideas such as Nf5 or
12 g5 b4! (D)
even Nd4, exploiting the f4-knight.
A strong counter-attacking move. As the kings are
14 f4 a5 15 f5 a4! (D)
stowed on opposite sides, time is of the essence.
12...Nh5?! 13 Nd5 Bxd5 14 exd5 += gives White
the better chances, as Black’s knight is misplaced
on h5 and Black’s light squares are severely weak-
ened due to the pawn on d5. White’s main idea is
Na5-c6, exploiting the outpost.
White to play
Both sides are throwing full swings at each other!

16 Nbd4!?
36
The idea behind this funny-looking move is to keep for more violent measures in the game continua-
White’s queenside pawn-structure intact. tion. After 18 Nc6 Qc7 19 Nxe7+ Kh8 20 Qxb4 a3
21 bxa3 (21 b3? Bxb3 22 Qxb3 a2 23 Kb2 Rb8 24
16 fxe6 is a less crazy option. After 16...axb3 we
Bb5 Nc5 allows Black counterplay) 21...Rb8 22
have:
Bb5 +/– we see that Black is left with no real at-
a) 17 exf7+ (it does not help to activate Black’s tacking chances.
rook) 17...Rxf7 18 cxb3 Rxa2 19 Ng3 (19 Kb1
Qa8 20 Ng3 Ra1+ 21 Kc2 Rxf1! 22 Rhxf1 Qc8+ 18 Kb1!
23 Kd3 Qa6+ = gives White no way to avoid the White protects a2 and keeps the a-file closed, while
perpetual) 19...Rxf1! 20 Rhxf1 Ra1+ 21 Kc2 still keeping all of the previous threats.
Qc8+ = with the same perpetual as before.
18...bxc2+
b) 17 cxb3 fxe6 18 Bh3 Rxa2 19 Bxe6+ Kh8 20 18...bxa2+? would be a serious mistake, as after 19
Ng3 Nc7 21 Bc4 Qa8 22 Rhf1 Rxf1 23 Rxf1 Ka1 +/– Black is unable to open further lines,
Ra1+ 24 Kc2 Rxf1 25 Bxf1 d5! and Black should whereas White’s pieces and pawns are clearly su-
equalize with further precise play. Although perior, in addition to the e6-bishop being trapped.
White has the bishop-pair, it will be extremely In opposite-side castling, both sides – attacker and
difficult for him to win due to the doubled b- defender alike – should be aware of the resource of
pawns. using the enemy pawns as a shield for the king.
16...exd4 17 Nxd4 (D) Unfortunately, the rules of chess prevent us from
committing treason and killing our own men, and
so the pawn on a2 will serve as permanent shelter
for White’s king.
19 Nxc2 (D)
Black to play
Black’s bishop is hanging and Nc6 is also a threat.

There is no way to hold on to the extra piece.
17...b3!
Black to play
An important move, opening lines against the
white king. 19...Bb3!
A slower move such as 17...Bxa2? would be a seri- More concrete play. Black finally gives back the
ous mistake. This move does not contribute to an piece but is able to open the a-file.
attack against the king and thus should automati- This is better than 19...Nc7 20 fxe6 Nxe6 21 h4
cally be discarded. It is worth remembering that it Ne5 22 Nd4 +=. In such an open position, the
is not necessarily the pawns themselves that are bishop-pair is a huge asset and Black’s pieces are
important, but the defensive roles they play. In this not well-positioned for a queenside attack.
position, the b2- and c2-pawns are quite important,
20 axb3
but the a2-pawn is expendable. Thus, Black should
not waste his time by grabbing it when he can opt
37
Forced, as the c2-knight is too valuable a defender.

After 20 h4? Bxc2+ 21 Qxc2 a3 22 b3 Ne5 –/+, the
dark-square weaknesses around White’s king will
eventually prove fatal.
20...axb3 21 Na3 Ne5 (D)
White to play
24 Bg2?
White’s position is very dangerous, and he should
be happy to bail out after 24 f6 Qxe4+ 25 Bd3
Nxd3 26 Qxd3 Qxd3+ 27 Rxd3 gxf6 28 Nc4 =.
White to play
The natural move actually chosen by White is the
A very sharp position. White has clear positional decisive mistake! It looks like Black’s pieces can’t
advantages (bishop-pair, menacing kingside move at all, but Black has a very concrete idea to
pawns) but has the weaker king. At the moment, bring them into the attack. Can you find it?
however, Black’s pieces are unable to join the at-
24...Nc7!!
tack because they are rather passive (e8-knight, e7-
bishop, f8-rook). If Black is able to bring those An incredible move! Black sacrifices two pieces
pieces into the attack, he will stand very well. just to bring the f8-rook into play and crash
However, if White consolidates and manages to through on the a-file. Again, material is not im-
protect his king, Black can come under a danger- portant; only the king matters!
ous attack himself. 25 Qxc7
22 h4 Ra5 Forced; otherwise ...Nb5 is decisive.
Freeing the a8-square for the queen, where it at- 25...Rc8 26 Qxe7
tacks e4 and puts pressure on the a-file.
26 Qxa5 Qxa5 27 Rc1 Rxc1+ 28 Rxc1 Qa6 –+ is
22...Ra4 has been generally preferred in later hopeless for White as the queen is too strong.
games, as this prevents Qb4 and puts more pres-
sure on the e4-pawn while keeping all the same 26...Nc4 –+
ideas as the text-move. White is defenceless against the forthcoming pene-
23 Qc3? tration on the a-file.
23 Qb4! was necessary, as White threatens Bb6 27 g6
and essentially forces a queen exchange after White tries to create some counterplay, but it is too
23...Qa8 24 Bb6 Ra4 25 Qxb3 Qxe4+ 26 Nc2 Ra8 late.
(26...Qxh1 27 Qxa4 +=) 27 Qd5 Qxd5 28 Rxd5
+=. Then White’s chances seem preferable due to 27...hxg6 28 fxg6 Nxa3+ 29 bxa3 Rxa3 30 gxf7+
the bishop-pair. Kh7 31 f8N+ Rxf8 32 Qxf8 Ra1+ 33 Kb2 Ra2+
34 Kc3 Qa5+ 35 Kd3 Qb5+ 36 Kd4 Ra4+ 37 Kc3
23...Qa8 (D) Qc4+ 0-1
38
With forced mate to follow. An incredible game

that highlights just how important it is to open lines
and go all-in for the attack!
Xiong – Aravindh
World Junior Ch, Bhubaneswar 2016
Our final example in this chapter is a barnburner

between two strong grandmasters from the 2016
world junior championship. This was definitely a
key victory for Jeffery Xiong, who was able to win
the tournament a full point ahead of the second-
placed player. White to play
1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bb5 As soon as White castles queenside, Black imme-
The Rossolimo Variation, which tends to be more diately starts an attack against the king. The idea is
positional than the typical open positions. simple: open lines against the king.
3...g6 4 Bxc6 dxc6 12 Na4
The most popular recapture. 4...bxc6 is of course This delays Black’s pawn advance for a while, as
also possible. Black tends to manoeuvre the knight c5 needs to be protected.
to f7 in these positions. One way the opening could 12...Be6
progress is 5 0-0 Bg7 6 Re1 Nh6 7 c3 0-0 8 d4
cxd4 9 cxd4 f6 10 Nc3 Nf7, with interesting Black plans to play ...Nd7 without having to block
counterplay. the bishop.
5 d3 Bg7 6 h3 b6!? 13 Kb1 Nd7 14 Ng4
A strange move-order. Black normally only plays 14 h4 Qe7 15 h5 is also possible, but then the
...b6 after White attacks the c5-pawn. knight has no good square but to return to f3.
7 Nc3 Nf6 8 Be3 0-0 9 Qd2 Re8 14...Qe7 15 Nh6+ Kh8 16 h4
Black prepares ...e5, gaining space in the centre. Both sides are going for mate! Who will win the
The direct 9...e5 is possible, as taking the pawn race?
doesn’t provide any advantage: 10 Nxe5 Nxe4 11 16...b5 17 Nc3 f6
Nxf7 Nxd2 12 Nxd8 Nf3+ 13 gxf3 Rxd8 =. How-
A logical defensive move: Black prepares to close
ever, Black would have to play ...Re8 eventually if
the position in response to h5. That being said,
White doesn’t take the pawn right away.
17...a4 18 h5 Nf6 19 hxg6 fxg6 is also possible,
10 Nh2!? with counterplay as White can’t break through with
A common idea, though not in this position. White just the h-file.
moves the knight away in order to advance the f- 18 h5!?
pawn. 10 Bh6 is the most common move, trading
Xiong allows his opponent to trap the bishop on
dark-squared bishops or forcing Black to play
h6, but prepares to break open the kingside with a
...Bh8. White can then choose which side to castle.
future f4 advance.
10...e5 11 0-0-0 a5! (D)
18...Bxh6!
Forced, as 18...g5? 19 Nf5 Bxf5 20 exf5 is a com-
plete positional disaster, with White’s knight about
to plant itself on e4.
39
19 Bxh6 g5 (D)
White to play Black to play
20 Rdf1? Once again, as mentioned in the Anand-Kariakin

This seems too slow; Black is coming first on the game, the fall of the a2-pawn does not actually
queenside. make a significant difference in the attack against
White’s king. Black has won a pawn, but it has
20 g3! was much better, immediately preparing the cost a lot of time and now White threatens the un-
f4 break: 20...Bg4 21 Rde1 Bf3 (stopping White’s stoppable f4 break. Time is of the essence! Black
plans for the moment) 22 Rh2. At first, this seems needs to continue his attack.
like an awkward way to play, but White will even-
tually get rid of the bishop. For instance: 22...c4 23 23...c4!
Qe3 g4 24 Ne2 cxd3 25 Ng1! (after 25 cxd3? Nc5 Opening more lines on the queenside and also
–/+ White has no good response to ...Rad8) providing the c5-square for the knight.
25...dxc2+ 26 Kxc2 Nc5 27 Nxf3 gxf3 28 Qxf3 a4
24 f4!
and both sides have a weak king, but Black’s
pieces seem better placed. White finally breaks through on the kingside. Both
sides’ attacks are in full gear now.
20...Qf7?!
24...exf4 25 gxf4 cxd3
This seems tempting as Black wins the a2-pawn,
but White can use the bishop as a shield and this Aravindh plays in the most direct fashion. There
gives Xiong time to start his own attack. were also a few options that he could have chosen
to clarify the situation on the kingside first:
20...a4! was how Black should have proceeded,
continuing the pawn-storm with ...b4 and ...c4 to a) 25...g4!? closes the kingside, but only temporari-
blast open lines in front of White’s king. After 21 ly as White will win the g-pawn. However, this
g3 b4 22 Nd1 c4 23 dxc4 Nc5 –/+ it’s clear that gives Black ample time to prepare a defensive set-
Black’s attack is developing much faster than up. After 26 Rfg1 Rg8 27 Rg3 Rae8 both kings
White’s. remain exposed, with an interesting struggle to
come.
21 g3 b4 22 Na4 Bxa2+ 23 Ka1 (D)
b) 25...gxf4 26 Rxf4 opens the f-file, but f6 is well
defended for the moment. Black can also gain con-
trol of the g-file: 26...Rg8 27 dxc4 Bxc4 28 Qf2 .
26 fxg5
26 b3 wins the bishop and forces an endgame, but
Black has a lot of pawns for the piece. After
26...Bxb3 27 cxb3 Qxb3 28 Qa2 Qxa2+ 29 Kxa2
40
gxf4 30 Rxf4 c5 31 Nb2 White is able to blockade b1) 32...Re8 33 Bg7+ Kg8 34 Nb6! (deflecting
the pawns, with a roughly level position. Black’s knight from the defence) and here:
26...dxc2 27 gxf6 b11) After 34...Nxb6? 35 Bh6+ Kh8 36 Rg7
Black must lose the queen, as 36...Qxb3 37
Both sides are nearly getting mated; the only ques-
Rxh7+ (37 Rg8+ Qxg8 38 Bg7+ Qxg7 39
tion is who will be able to get the job done first.
fxg7+ Kxg7 40 Qf6+ also mates) 37...Kxh7 38
27...Bb1? Qc7+ is forced mate on g7.
Aravindh plays a natural move, threatening mate in b12) 34...Nc5 35 Bh6+ Kh8 36 Rg7! (White
one with ...Qa2#; however, after this move White’s forces a winning endgame) 36...Nxb3+ 37 Kb2
attack becomes irresistible. c1Q+ 38 Rxc1 Nxc1 39 Rxf7 Nd3+ 40 Kxb1
27...Rxe4! is the right defence, bravely taking the Nxf4 41 Bxf4 +–. White’s active pieces and
pawn, and more importantly keeping the bishop on strong passed pawns should be enough to win.
the a2-g8 diagonal. After 28 Bg7+ Kg8 29 Rhg1 b2) 32...c5 stops White’s idea, as 33 Nb6? Nxb6
Bc4! (an important tempo-gain by attacking 34 Rg7? (White should give perpetual with 34
White’s rook; there is no way to take advantage of Bg7+ Kg8 35 Bh6+ =) 34...a4! leads to a mating
the discovered check – Black’s king is safe!) 30 attack for Black: 35 Rxf7 axb3+ 36 Kb2 Nc4+
Bh6+ Kh8 31 Qxc2 Rae8 32 Bg7+ Kg8 = White 37 Kxb3 Ra3+ 38 Kxc4 c1Q+! 39 Kb5 (39
has no real way to continue the attack, and will Rxc1 Bd3#) and now the beautiful shot
have to force a repetition eventually. 39...Qc4+! –+, as otherwise White’s king es-
28 Bg7+ Kg8 29 b3 (D) capes to b6! However, 33 Bg7+ Kg8 34 Rg3 is
very good for White.
c) 29...c1Q! is the most resilient, forcing an end-
game. After 30 Qxc1 Qxb3 31 f7+ Kxg7 32
fxe8N+ Rxe8 33 Rhg1+ Kh8 34 Qxb1 Qxa4+ 35
Qa2 Qxa2+ 36 Kxa2 +/– Black has two pawns for
the exchange, but his king is in a terrible position,
completely cut off. This would not be easy to de-
fend.
30 Nxc5 a4 31 Kb2 axb3 (D)
Black to play
29...Nc5?
Black sacrifices the knight in order to play ...a4.
This looks incredibly dangerous for White, but
there is a way to defend. Other moves:
a) 29...Qxb3?? allows White to checkmate after
30 f7+ Kxg7 31 fxe8N+ Rxe8 32 Qxd7+.
b) 29...Re5 30 Rhg1 Rxh5 eliminates the h5-
pawn, which is important for Black’s defence, as White to play
the bishop will be under attack on h6. However, 32 Nxb3?
after 31 Bh6+ Kh8 32 Qf4! White threatens ideas
of Nb6 and Rg7. Then:
41
This allows a simple and surprisingly strong move. portant thing is to have the initiative. As both sides
After 32 Nd3! Ra2+ 33 Kc1 Ra1 34 Qxb4 +– race each other to checkmate the enemy king, the
White’s king will be quite safe on d2. player who plays the more energetically will most
likely prevail. This includes sacrificing material
32...c1Q+?
just to open lines against the enemy king.
The right idea, but too early! 32...Red8! is correct.
White’s queen is under attack, and somehow has
no good squares to flee to:
a) 33 Qe2 c1Q+ 34 Nxc1 Ra2+ 35 Kxb1 Rxe2 and
after 36 Bh6! Black can’t stop perpetual check. In-
stead, 36 Rhg1? allows Black to make luft with
36...h6! –+.
b) 33 Qxb4 Rdb8 34 Bh6 Ra2+ 35 Kc1 Rxb4 36
Rhg1+ Kh8 37 Bg7+ =.
c) 33 Qe3 Rd3! 34 Qxd3 c1Q+ 35 Nxc1 Bxd3 36
Bh6! = and White forces perpetual check.
33 Nxc1 +–
Black’s attack has faded and White is left a piece
ahead.
33...Bxe4
After 33...Ra2+ 34 Nxa2 Qxa2+ 35 Kc1 Black has
nothing.
34 Rhg1 Ra5 35 Rg5
35 Bf8+! Kh8 36 Qh6 would have forced a queen
exchange and ended the game on the spot.
35...c5 36 Rfg1 c4 37 Qxb4 c3+ 38 Qxc3 Rb8+ 39
Nb3 Rxg5 40 Rxg5 Bd5 41 Bh6+ Kh8 42 Rxd5
Rxb3+ 43 Qxb3 1-0
Unwilling to try the cheap stalemate trick with
...Qxd5, Aravindh admitted defeat.
A crazy game to conclude the chapter. What is im-
portant to understand after seeing this is that just
because you are able to take pawns and bring your
pieces near the enemy king does not necessarily
make your attack strong! Although Black had his
bishop sitting literally a square away from White’s
king and an armada of pawns to accompany it, he
could never consistently generate threats. Argua-
bly, Black started slipping in this game after choos-
ing the plan of 20...Qf7?! and snagging the pawn
on a2, when there were better ways to get at
White’s king, such as 20...a4!.
After looking at all these games, it is clear that in

positions with opposite-side castling, the most im-
42
Exercises
Opposite-side castling is every attacking player’s dream, but if played incorrectly, it can turn into a
nightmare! Here are some examples for you to practice and ensure that will not happen.
Exercise 1: Black to play Exercise 3: White to play
Exercise 2: Black to play Exercise 4: Black to play
43
44
1) Qi Jingxuan – Vyzhmanavin 2) Jakubowski – Bartel

Beijing 1991 Polish Ch, Warsaw 2011
24...b3! 27...Rf4!
In the spirit of opposite-side castling, Black imme- Blocking the white queen’s defence of g3.
diately opens lines against White’s king. After 27...Rf5? was tried in the game, when instead of 28
24...a5?, 25 Ba4 =+ would put up some resistance. Rxb7? White could have instead made things inter-
25 axb3 esting with 28 Qc7! Rxh5 29 Qxc8+ Rxc8 30 gxh4
Rg8+, when Bartel comments that they both as-
Or 25 Bxb3 a5 –+, when ...a4 will be decisive.
sumed the game was over (e.g., 31 Kh2?? Rxh4+
25...a5 32 Bh3 Rg2+ 33 Kh1 Rxh3#), but overlooked the
Because White’s bishop cannot blockade on a4, response 31 Bg2! Rxg2+ 32 Kf1, with a complex
Black will blast open White’s king. endgame.
26 g4 a4 27 gxf5 axb3 28 Bb1 Rac8 29 Rdg1? 28 Bg2 Rxg3! 29 fxg3 Qxg3 30 Rxf3 Rxf3 31
Qxg3 Rxg3 –+
This is a fatal mistake as it removes the last de-
fender of the d5-pawn, but White was going down Black has a trivial win in the endgame.
in any case.
29...Rxc4+ 30 Kd2 Qxd5+ 31 Ke2 Qe5 32 Rxg7+
Qxg7 33 Rh3 Kh7 34 Rg3 Qf6 35 Rg6 Qxb2+ 36
Kf1 Qc1+ 37 Kg2 Qf4 38 Rg3 Qxf5 39 Qe2 d5 40
Rxb3 Rg8+ 0-1
45
3) Le Quang – Nepomniashchy 4) Huschenbeth – E. Berg (variation)

Moscow 2010 Sarajevo 2010
18 a5! 24...Rxg3+!
Ignoring the threat to the knight and immediately 24...d5? 25 Nxc6 Rxg3+ 26 Kh1 += even puts
opening inroads to Black’s king. White on top.
18 Nf5! is also very strong, with the key point be- 25 Kh1
ing 18...g6 (18...Ne8 is the best defence, but after
25 hxg3?? loses instantly to 25...d5 –+.
19 Reb1 White prepares to open lines against the
enemy king with a very strong attack) 19 Ne7+! 25...Kd7!
Qxe7 20 Bh4, winning an exchange as there is no A difficult move to see, simply protecting the bish-
way to defend the knight. op while the attack rages on.
18...Rhe8 26 Nxc6 bxc6 27 Qxa6 Rh3 28 Qa7+ Qxa7 29
The knight cannot be taken because of 18...exd4? Bxa7 Ng3+ 30 Kg2 Ne2+! 31 Kh1
19 cxd4 Qxd4 20 axb6 axb6 21 Rec1+ Bc6 22 Ra7 31 Kxh3? Nf4# is a lovely mate, while after 31 Kf2
+– with a mating attack. Rxh2+ 32 Ke1 Rgg2 –+ White’s king will not sur-
Le Quang claims 18...b5 19 a6 Bc6 20 Nb3 Qd6 21 vive for long.
Na5 is clearly better for White, and I have to agree 31...Bh4 –+
with him. He also comments that 18...d6 was argu-
ably the best try, although White gets a fantastic With ideas such as ...Bg3 coming, White will in-
initiative after 19 axb6 axb6 20 Nf5. evitably have to give away exorbitant amounts of
material to avert mate.
19 axb6 axb6 20 Nf5 g6 21 Ng7 Nxe4 22 Nxe8
Rxe8 23 Qxf7 +/–
Le Quang realized his material advantage and
eventually scored the full point.
46
5) Motylev – S. Feller (variation) 6) Wolff – Korchnoi

European Clubs Cup, Ohrid 2009 Biel Interzonal 1993
26 e5! Black is knocking at the gates of the white king’s
castle, and all he needs to do is regroup his pieces.
Cutting off Black’s defensive resources along the
fifth rank. 30...Rf6!
26...Rxc2!? Threatening ...Bxg3.
An interesting attempt to rush the black queen into 31 Rf1
the defence. Alternatives: 31 gxf4 Rxf4 –+ is unacceptable for White.
a) 26...f5? 27 Rh7 Rxe5 28 Qh4 Qd5 (28...Rb8 al-
31...Rf5! 32 Ba3
lows an easy mate: 29 Rh8+ Bxh8 30 Qh7+ Kf8 31
Qf7#) 29 Rg1! (renewing the threat of Rh8+) 32 Rfe1? is of course impossible due to 32...Bxg3
29...Kf8 30 Rxg7 Kxg7 31 Qh7+ Kf6 32 g7 +–. –+, while 32 Bc1 Bxc1 33 Ne5 Rxe5 34 dxe5 Bf4!
wins for Black as the bishop is taboo due to 35
b) 26...Rxe5? 27 gxf7+ Kxf7 28 f4! (showing the gxf4 gxf4 36 Kf3 Qh7! with a crushing attack.
point of 26 e5!: White gains a tempo by attacking
the rook, while the f4-pawn controls the crucial g5- 32...Ne8!
square so that Black will not have the reply ...Rg5 The knight finally shows up to the party – better
after White plays Rdg1) 28...Rf5 (28...Rh5 29 late than never!
Rdg1 Rg8 30 Qg6+ +–; 28...Rd5 29 Rdg1 Rg8 30
Qg6+ Kf8 31 Rh8! +–) 29 Rh7 Rg8 30 Rg1 Rf6 31 33 Rfe1
Rxg7+ Rxg7 32 Qxg7+ Ke8 33 Rh1 Rf8 34 a3 +–. 33 Ne5 Qg7 –+ does not change much.
White’s extra pawn combined with Black’s weak
king should allow him to win with good play. 33...Bc7
27 gxf7+ Kxf7 28 Qf4+ Kg8 29 Nxc2 Qxe5 30 33...Nf6 34 Qxf5.

Qxe5 Bxe5 +/– 34 Nxg5
Although Black has survived the first wave, White 34 Re3 Nf6 –+.
has gained a serious material advantage.
34...Rxg5 0-1
White resigned in view of 35 Qxg5 Qf3+ 36 Kg1
Rh8.
47
7) Socko – Dinger 8) Ni Hua – Le Quang

European Ch, Dresden 2007 Ho Chi Minh 2012
22 e7! Le Quang missed perhaps one of the greatest com-
binations never played:
Opening up lines for the white pieces to flood in.
29...Ba3+!
22...Rf7
Sadly, 29...h5?? 30 Qxh5 Ba3+ 31 Kxb3 1-0 was
22...Bxe7 falls to 23 Re6, when Black cannot de-
how the game concluded.
fend against Qh6 due to 23...Bg5 24 Rxg6+! hxg6
25 Qh8+ Kf7 26 Qg7+ +–. 30 Kxb3 a1N+!!
23 Bxf5! The point is to remove the white rook from holding
the d4-square.
The bombarding raid continues. White simultane-
ously opens the d- and g-files. 31 Rxa1
23...gxf5 After 31 Kc3 Rxc4+ the only way for White to
avoid mate is to give up his queen: 32 Kd2 Rc2+
23...Bxb2 24 Be6! +–.
33 Ke1 Rxh2 –+.
24 Bxf6 Rxf6 25 Rd8+! Be8
31...Qxb6+!
Or:
An underpromotion followed by a queen sacrifice:
a) 25...Rxd8 is met by a crushing intermezzo: 26 there’s a combination you don’t see every day!
Qg3+! Qxg3 27 exd8Q+ +–.
32 Bxb6 Nd4+ 33 Kc3
b) 25...Kg7 26 Rg1+ Rg6 27 Rxg6+ Kxg6
33 Bxd4 gets mated after 33...Rcb8+ 34 Kc3 Bb4+
(27...hxg6 28 Qh8+ +–) 28 Qg2+! (another cute
35 Kb2 Bd2+ 36 Bb6 Rxb6#.
deflection tactic!) 28...Bxg2 29 e8Q+ Kg5 30
Rxb8 +–. 33...Rxc4+! 34 Kd2
26 Qh5! 1-0 34 Kxc4 Rc8+ 35 Bc7 Rxc7# is a strange mate.
Black had no choice but to resign as he is doomed 34...Nxf3+ –+
after 26...Rg6 27 Qxf5. White must lose his queen.
48
3: Attacks in Endgames
RAZVAN PREOTU
Attacks and Endgames? Aren’t those two completely different topics in chess? At least in my mind, the
image that immediately springs up when thinking about endgames is a dull room with Russian school-
boys going at one another in gruelling and tedious rook endgames; the last thing I would think about is
attack! On one hand, it is true that with less material on the board the king feels a lot safer, and almost
always plays an important role in the endgame battle. In no way can a player hope to be successful with-
out a fundamental knowledge of standard endgame positions and techniques. However, what is often for-
gotten is that even with few pieces on the board, a small but well-coordinated division can launch a blis-
tering attack on the enemy king. This is especially true if the king is cut off and near the edge of the
board, as it suffers from a lack of mobility.
In the following famous example, Capablanca is able to attack Tartakower’s king with just a rook, a
pawn, and his own king!
games to understand that grabbing pawns is usually

not the best defence. If passive defence fails
(which it very often does), then striving for
counterplay is always the first priority. Then:
a) 37 g6? b5 38 axb5 axb5 39 Kg5 b4 (Black’s
rook is in the ideal position, as it is able to cover
the sixth rank via c6 at any moment) 40 Kf6
Rc6+ 41 Kxf5 b3 =. The b-pawn gives Black
enough counterplay to liquidate everything and
make a draw.
b) 37 Rd7? Rf3! (only now is the time for pawn-
grabbing; the key difference is that the rook is
worse placed on d7 than h7 since Black’s rook
can block the back-rank check on e8) 38 g6
White to play
Rxf4+ 39 Kg5 Re4 and then:
Capablanca – Tartakower
b1) 40 Rxc7 Rxd4 41 Rb7 (after 41 Kf6 Rc4 =
New York 1924 Black is just in time to stop the mate) 41...Rc4
35 Kg3! 42 Rxb6 a5 43 Kf6 Rc8 =. Because White has a
knight’s pawn, passive defence along the back
White’s king is heading to the sixth rank, where it rank is sufficient for a draw.
will be able to support the rook and pawn in the
attack. b2) After 40 Kf6 Re8 White’s pieces are much
more active than Black’s, but there is not
35...Rxc3+ 36 Kh4 Rf3?! enough material left to work with. For instance,
Tartakower underestimates the danger and chooses 41 Kxf5 Re7 42 Rxd5 Kg7 43 Rd8 b5 44 a5!
the wrong time to go pawn-grabbing. (the best try to keep some winning potential on
the board) 44...b4 45 Rb8 Rd7 46 Ke5 Kxg6 47
36...a6!? was the most tenacious defence, planning Rxb4 Kf7 48 Rc4 Ke8 49 Rc6 Re7+ 50 Kd5
on creating a passed pawn and counterplay with the Kd7 51 Rxa6 Rh7 = with an easy draw.
break ...b5. It is important for the defender in end-
49
Attacks in Endgames
c) 37 Kh5! b5 38 Kg6! (38 axb5? throws away 42 Kxf5 Re4 43 Kf6 Rf4+ 44 Ke5 Rg4 (D)
the win, as White needs to be able to play a5 in a
later line, as we shall see) is a precise path to vic-
tory for White; e.g., 38...bxa4 39 Kxf5 a3 40 Rh6
a2 41 Rxa6 Rc2 42 Ke5 Kf7 43 f5, 38...Kg8 39
Rd7 Rc6+ 40 Kxf5 b4 41 a5! (preventing ...Rb6,
and showing why White didn’t exchange on b5)
or 38...b4 39 Rh8+ Ke7 40 Kxf5. In all cases
White’s two connected passed pawns bring the
point home.
37 g6! (D)
White to play
45 g7+!
The last necessary precision. The pawn is untouch-
able as the pawn endgame is lost. White wins the
remaining black pawns and with them the game.
45...Kg8
45...Rxg7 46 Rxg7 Kxg7 47 Kxd5 Kf7 48 Kc6 Ke7
49 Kb7 +– is self-explanatory.
Black to play 46 Rxa7 Rg1 47 Kxd5 Rc1 48 Kd6 Rc2 49 d5

Rc1 50 Rc7 Ra1 51 Kc6 Rxa4 52 d6 1-0
White opens the path for the king to f6.
As there is no way to stop the d-pawn from queen-
37...Rxf4+ 38 Kg5 Re4 ing, Tartakower conceded the game. Notice how
38...Rxd4 39 Kf6 +– allows White to promote the even with just a few pieces, Capablanca was able
g-pawn, since it is mate after 39...Kg8 40 Rd7. to form a strong attack against Tartakower’s king.
It is crucial always to maintain a sense of danger
39 Kf6! even in endgames, to avoid the same pitfalls that
White is not tempted by the pawns and threatens cost Tartakower this game.
mate. 39 Kxf5?? would of course be played by no
one. The f-pawn acts as an umbrella for the white
king, and without it, White’s king cannot approach One of the more feared attacking duos in chess,
the black king without being checked from the f- and especially in the endgame, is the tandem of the
file. After 39...Rxd4 40 Kf6 Rf4+ = White cannot queen and knight. Their abilities complement each
make progress. other as there is no overlap (unlike queen/rook or
queen/bishop), which makes the pair tremendously
39...Kg8 40 Rg7+! effective at punishing an exposed king.
A precise intermezzo; the king is not as stable on
f8 or h8, since there is always the possibility of g7
coming with check.
40...Kh8 41 Rxc7 Re8
Tartakower has stopped the mating threats, but as
his pieces have been pushed all the way to the back
rank, his pawns begin to drop like flies.
50
Naroditsky – Al. Donchenko 37 g4?

Doha 2014 A serious mistake. White wanted to play Nxf5+
without allowing Black to have the option of recap-
White has a nice positional advantage thanks to
turing, but this gives Black enough time to bring
Black’s weak pawns and dark squares, but is there
a way to avoid the difficult task of converting it his rook into the defence.
into victory? 37 Nxf5+! wins on the spot, as White gets rid of all
the pawns shielding Black’s king: 37...gxf5
31 Rxa4!
(forced; otherwise it’s checkmate) 38 Qf6+ Kh5 39
Of course! With the airy pawn-structure, Black’s Qxf5+ Kh6 40 Qf6+ Kh5 and now 41 h3! is the
king position is very weak, and it will be even key move, and probably the one that the young and
more vulnerable once the queen is deflected away talented grandmaster Naroditsky overlooked.
from the kingside. White simultaneously makes luft for his king and
31...Qxa4 32 Qxe6+ Kf8 33 Qf6+ threatens the devastating g4#. The only way Black
can defend is to give the rook up after 41...Rg8 42
Repeating in order to get closer to the move 40 g4+ Rxg4+ 43 hxg4+ Kxg4 +– but White is clearly
threshold. winning.
33...Kg8 37...Rf8?
After 33...Ke8 34 Qh8+ +– White immediately Bringing the rook into the defence is the right idea,
picks off the rook. but it slides over one square too far. The more ac-
34 Qe6+ Kf8 35 Qd6+! tive 37...Re8! would have put up a lot more re-
sistance:
The key idea. White forces Black’s king to h6, as
otherwise the rook on a8 is lost. It is important for a) The point is that 38 Qf6? fails to 38...Rxe3! 39
White to have the option of Qd5+. fxe3 (39 Qh4+ Kg7 40 fxe3 Qd1+ 41 Kf2 fxg4 =
also offers Black sufficient counterplay)
35...Kg7 39...Qd1+ 40 Kf2 Qd2+ 41 Kf3 Qd1+ 42 Kf4
After 35...Ke8 36 Qe5+ Kd7 37 Qd5+ Kc7 38 Qxg4+ 43 Ke5 Qe4+ 44 Kd6 a5! (not being
Qxa8 Qa1+ 39 Nf1 +– the knight stops the back- tempted by pawns, but instead pushing the a-
rank mate. pawn to gain counterplay) 45 c5 a4 46 c6 a3 47
c7 a2 =. Now 48 c8Q? a1Q is extremely danger-
36 Qe5+ Kh6 (D)
ous for White, as his king is far the more ex-
36...Kg8 37 Qd5+ +– would be the end. posed. The fact that Black has not one but two
queens does not make this possibility appealing!
51
Attacks in Endgames
b) 38 Nxf5+ Kg5 39 Ne7+ Kh4 40 Qg3+ Kg5 41 45 Qf6!

h4+ Kf6 42 Nd5+ Kg7 43 Qc7+ Kf8 44 Kg2 +–. A surprising winning move! All of a sudden
White is positionally winning, but it will still take Black’s pieces are tied down: the rook must defend
some work to convert it into victory. the g5-square, and the queen must defend the rook.
38 g5+! It’s impossible to bring the queen back into the de-
fence, as ...Qe7 never works due to the deflection
The move Donchenko must have missed. 38 h4
tactic g5+, forcing Black’s rook to capture and thus
wins easily as well.
winning the queen. Black is almost in zugzwang,
38...Kxg5 so White has time to bring the rook back into the
38...Kh5 39 Qg7 surprisingly leads to a forced game with devastating effect. White’s unstoppable
checkmate. After 39...Kxg5 40 h4+! Kf4 41 Qe5+ plan is Kh4 followed by Ra1-e1.
Kf3 42 Nf1! White threatens Nh2#, so Black must 45 Ra1? was chosen in the game, but Black could
pin the knight although it only delays the inevitable then have played 45...Re6 –+, when with the forth-
by a few moves: 42...Qa1 43 Qe3+ Kg4 44 Qg3+ coming ...Qd6 Black can consolidate his position,
Kh5 45 Qg5#. leaving him with an extra pawn and a winning
39 Qe7+ Rf6 40 h4+ 1-0 game.
White wins the rook and the game. 45...Qc7

So although we are often more liberal in the end- This creates the threat of ...Re3+, but it is easily
game when it comes to opening up our kings, we dealt with. Other moves:
should always be aware of the danger even with a) Cutting off White’s rook from the first rank by
limited material on the board. 45...Re1 is not possible due to 46 Qh4+ +–, pick-
ing off the rook.
b) 45...a3 46 Kh4 b4 47 Ra1 +– leaves Black with
no defence to Re1.
c) 45...Re3+ 46 Kh4 Re5 47 Ra1 Rg5 and now 48
Rh1?? blows the win thanks to 48...Rh5+! 49
gxh5 Qxh5+ 50 Kg3 Qxh1 =, when White must
force a perpetual. So he should play 48 Re1!,
when Re7 will be decisive.
46 Kh4! Rh5+
A final desperado, but the threat of Ra1-e1 could
not be stopped in any case.
47 gxh5 Qh2+ 48 Kg4 Qxg2+ 49 Kf4 Qf2+ 50
Ke5 +–
White’s king easily escapes the checks. Needless to
White to play
say, this example illustrates that if it is possible to
Cherniaev – Oganian strand the opponent’s king somewhere, there could
Kolomna 2016 be attacking opportunities. This is especially im-
portant in endgames, considering that the opponent
White is currently a pawn down and has a very may not have enough pieces left to chase away the
misplaced rook. Both kings seem equally exposed attacking pieces such as the queen on f6.
at the edge of the board. So how is White supposed
to make up for his material deficit? The answer is
the difference in queen positions. Black’s queen is
poorly placed, far away from the kingside. White
on the other hand can put his queen in a dominant
location.
52
cxd6 Rxe7 41 dxe7 Kd7 42 hxg6 Kxe7 43 Ke5 f4

44 Kxf4 Kf6, when Black regains the pawn, but in
the end loses the race: 45 Ke4 Kxg6 46 Kd5 Kg5
47 Kc5 Kg4 48 Kxb5 Kg3 49 Kxa4 Kxg2 50 b4 h5
51 b5 h4 52 b6 h3 53 b7 h2 54 b8Q h1Q 55 Qb7+
+–. White forces the queen exchange and still has
the a-pawn to get a new one.
39 Ra7!
White threatens Ra6+, winning the rook. Black’s
next move is forced.
39...Rcf8
Protecting the f6-rook from being skewered.
White to play 40 Rdd7
Harmon-Vellotti – Erenburg White brings the other rook to the seventh rank and
threatens Rc7#. Black has only one reply.
Chicago 2014
40...Rc8 (D)
White is clearly in the driving seat, with many
trumps in the position: two active rooks, a strong
passed c-pawn, and a centralized king. However,
the material count is currently equal, and if Black
is able to generate counterplay with the advance
...f4-f3, things will become unclear. Thus, the
young American master Harmon-Vellotti decides
to strike when the iron is hot and swoop in for the
kill.
37 Re7+!
A strong move, forcing Black’s king into an un-
comfortable position.
37...Kc6
37...Kb8 38 Kb4 +– allows White to pick off all of
White to play
the queenside pawns.
White would love to checkmate Black by playing
38 Kd4 Ra6, but the rook on d7 is hanging. Unfortunately
All of a sudden, Black’s king is caught in a mating- for White, the rook must remain on the d-file in
net. If White is given time to coordinate his rooks order to prevent ...Rd8+, which would shoo
better, it will surely be the end for Black. Erenburg White’s king away from its dominant position. The
realized this, and hence sought active counterplay problem for White is that the b5-pawn covers the
against White’s own king. vital c4-square. Is there any way to deflect the b-
pawn so that White can open a square for his king?
38...f4!
If given time to play ...f3, Black will be able to 41 hxg6?
open up the fourth rank for side checks against Harmon played the right idea next move, but
White’s king. White is forced to take action. thought it would be good to throw this move in. In
Challenging White’s strong rook would be a good actuality, it is a huge mistake!
defensive idea, but unfortunately for Black 41 b4!! wins, as Black can’t capture the b-pawn
38...Rc7? leads to a losing king and pawn end- (the reason why will be shown later in the game).
game. White liquidates with 39 Rd6+! Rxd6+ 40 This means that the c5-pawn is now anchored, giv-
53
Attacks in Endgames
ing White’s king the freedom to escape checks 43...bxa4 44 Rdb7 1-0
without having to defend the pawn. After 41...Re6 After 44...Rd8+ 45 Kc4, there is no way to avoid
(preventing Re7, which would threaten Ra6# and Rb6#. A very creative display of attacking in the
defend White’s king from checks on the e-file; endgame!
41...f3 is the best defence, but after 42 gxf3 Rf4+
43 Ke3 Rxb4 44 hxg6 +– White’s g-pawn will de-
cide the game in his favour) 42 hxg6! (this is the
difference: Black’s rook is now deflected from e6,
as it must recapture the pawn) 42...Rxg6 43 Re7 +–
White threatens Ra6#, which cannot be stopped,
since after 43...Rd8+ 44 Ke4 Black has no more
sensible checks.
41...Rxg6 42 b4! axb3??
Erenburg misses Harmon’s brilliant idea.
42...Re6! defends, as White can no longer threaten
checkmate while protecting his own king from
checks and controlling the d5-square: 43 a3 h5!
(the only move that does not get mated, but one
such move is sufficient) 44 Kd3 Re3+ 45 Kd2 Re6
and although the engine claims White is much bet-
White to play
ter, Black can defend. The d7-rook cannot leave
the d-file due to ...Rd8+, so the only way for White Troff – Preotu
to make progress is by shuffling his king, and forc- Calgary 2016
ing Black by zugzwang to push his kingside
pawns. However, even though White wins the h- This final example is from one of my own games.
pawn, it is not enough as after 46 Kd1 h4 47 Kd2 After experiencing an opening disaster, I found
h3 48 gxh3 f3 49 Rd3 f2 50 Rf7 Rg8 51 Rxf2 Rh6 myself in a grim ending a pawn down against a
Black may well have achieved a fortress. very strong junior, Grandmaster Kayden Troff. For
the moment Black is barely holding on by the skin
43 a4!! (D) of his teeth, as White’s pawns are blockaded and
the a4-pawn is a big weakness.
26 Kc3!
Troff decides it’s worth giving up the a-pawn in
order to double up the rooks and keep the king in
the centre. 26 Ka3 Rb8 27 Rb6+ Kc5 28 Reb1 Be8
is possible, but White’s king is now poorly posi-
tioned and Black’s king has the d4-square availa-
ble, which might be annoying.
26...Bxa4
Practically forced. I can’t let my opponent get
away with his plans for nothing, and as the saying
goes, the only way to refute a sacrifice is to accept
it!
Black to play
27 Rb6+ Kc5 28 Reb1 (D)
This was the main idea all along! White threatens
mate after 44 axb5+ Kxb5 45 Rdb7+ Kc6 46 Rb6#.
Therefore Black must move the b-pawn, giving
away the c4-square for the white king.
54
a) 29...Bxc2?? 30 R1b5# is an obvious reason

why the bishop is taboo.
b) 29...Be8 30 Bf5! (the threat of d6 is decisive as
it cannot be stopped) 30...g6 31 d6! (31 Bh3? f5
+= prevents the bishop from covering the im-
portant d7-square) 31...Rc6 32 d7! shows the rea-
son why the rook is misplaced on a7! Because
nothing guards against promotion, ...Rxb6 is not
possible and the bishop is lost for nothing:
32...Bxd7 33 R6b5+ Kd6 34 Rd5+ +–.
c) After 29...Bd7 30 Bf5! Ra6 (the only way to
prevent d6) 31 Rxa6 bxa6 32 Bxd7 Rxd7 33 Ra1
+– Black will lose the a5-pawn and the game, as
White’s pawns will soon become warriors that
Black to play
Black can only dream of containing.
I have managed to regain the pawn while keeping
We now return to 29 Be4? (D):
White’s pawns blockaded, but at a steep price. My
king is now in a mating-net, and only my bishop is
saving me from the end. However, I was not that
worried as I figured my opponent would not be
able to drive away the bishop from the diagonal.
This careless thinking was the reason for my down-
fall. In situations like these, precision and careful-
ness are absolutely essential to avoid all the
landmines. One can never rely solely on intuition
in cases where the king is in imminent danger; with
such high stakes, everything must be calculated
like a machine!
28...Ra7?
A careless move. I wanted to defend my b7-pawn
while keeping my rook behind my new passed a5-
Black to play
pawn. However, the rook is now extremely mis-
placed, as it had the important role of guarding the 29...Bd7?
back rank. Another careless move, completely missing a basic
Giving back the pawn by 28...Rd8 29 Rxb7 Rxb7 deflection tactic that should be familiar by now.
30 Rxb7 Be8 +/– would have presented my oppo- 29...Re7! 30 Bf3 Be8 would have kept me in the
nent with some tough resistance. With a pair of game. With the guardian on e7, Black’s bishop is
rooks gone, my king is no longer in any danger on now safe on e8. White has nothing better than 31
c5 and is excellently placed to stop White’s pawns. d6 Re6 32 Bxb7 Bd7 (32...Rxd6?? falls into a cute
28...Rb8 +/– keeps the pawn for the moment, but I mate after 33 R1b5+ Bxb5 34 Rxb5#) 33 Bd5 Rf6
don’t think Black can defend passively forever. 34 f3 a4 +=, when Black will eventually be able to
take back the d6-pawn, even if it costs him the a4-
29 Be4? pawn. The resulting endgame should be drawn
A logical move, threatening d6, but this allows with perfect defence, although White would main-
Black time to react to the threat. tain significant winning chances in practice.
29 Bc2! is a strong deflection missed by both of us, 30 d6 Rc8 31 Bf5! 1-0
which allows White to play d6 by force:
55
Attacks in Endgames
The key move, as otherwise Black would be able to

play ...Bc6 and win the d6-pawn. Now my bishop
is overloaded, and huge material loss is inevitable.
I hope these examples have shown that it is still

possible to attack in the endgame, despite the re-
duced amount of material. Even in the endgame,
you must keep your sense of danger high at all
times, both positionally and tactically.
56
Exercises
Try to make the most of your limited material!
57
Attacks in Endgames
58
1) Timofeev – Guseinov 2) Motylev – Wang Hao

European Ch, Dresden 2007 Chinese Team Ch, Taizhou 2012
44...g5+! Wang Hao had just blundered with 18...Kb6-a7??
and was immediately punished by:
After this, it is clear White’s king is caught in a
mating-net. 19 Bxa6! 1-0
45 Kxg5 The bishop is taboo as both captures result in mate
(e.g., 19...Kxa6 20 0-0 Ka7 21 Nc6+), and Black
45 hxg5 Kg6 46 g4 h4! –+ traps the white king.
resigned in view of 19...Rb8 20 Kd2 +–.
45...Re5+ 46 Kf4 Rf5+ 47 Ke3 d4+ 48 Kxd4 0-1
59
Attacks in Endgames
51...Bc2+ 52 Kd4 Kf7 53 Rd8 Rg4+ 54 Kc5 Re4

55 e8Q+! Rxe8 56 Nd6+ +–.
49 Rh7!
The threat of Nd6+ forces Black to give up the
bishop by 49...Bf7 50 Nd6+ Kxe7 51 Rxf7+ Ke6
52 Ra7 +–, with a trivial win for White.
White to play
3) Svidler – Hou Yifan

Gibraltar 2015
47 Rh6!
Svidler instead played 47 e7?! Bf7 48 c4? (White
can still obtain a technically winning rook end-
game by the precise 48 Rf2! a3 49 Nd6+ Kxe7 50
Nxf7 a2 51 Rxa2 Kxf7 52 Re2 as the enemy king
is cut off by two files) 48...a3 49 Nd6+ Kd7! 50
Rxf7 Rxd6 51 e8Q++ Kxe8, and the game was
drawn. White to play
47...Rf1 4) Bu Xiangzhi – Harikrishna

Or: Lausanne 2001
a) 47...Rd5+ 48 Kc6 +– leaves Black with no good 33 Kh2!
defence to the upcoming Rh8+. Bu immediately recognizes the weakness of the
b) 47...Bxe6 48 Rxe6+ Kd7 may have been the black king and embarks on a campaign against it.
reason Svidler rejected 47 Rh6, but it turns out 33...Rb2+ 34 Kg3 Rxa2 35 Kh4 Ra3 36 Rxd4
White is winning after 49 Rc6 (49 Rd6+?? Rxd6 Rc3 37 Rxh6+ Kg7 38 Bd2
50 Nxd6 a3 –+ would be an unfortunate ending to
the game for White) 49...a3 50 Nb6+ Kd8 Putting Black’s rook in a dilemma.
(50...Ke7 51 Rc7+ Ke6 52 Ra7 +–; 50...Ke8 51 38...Rc2
Rc8+ Kf7 52 Ra8 +–) 51 Rc8+ Ke7 52 Ra8 +–.
White will eventually win the a-pawn and the c- Or: 38...Rf3 39 c5 Rc8 40 Rh5 Kg6 41 Ra4 +–;
pawn will decide the game in his favour. 38...Rxc4 may be the best try, although White is
most likely winning after 39 Rxc4 Bxc4 40 Rc6
The text-move prepares to block with ...Rf8, but Be6 41 Ra6 +/–.
this is insufficient on account of...
39 Bg5 Bxc4 40 Rh5 Be6
48 e7 Rg1
40...Rxe5 41 Bh6+ Kf6 42 Bg7+! +–.
48...Bf7 49 Rd6! +– is crushing.
41 Bf6+ Kg6 42 Rg5+ Kh7 43 Rg7+ Kh8 44 Kh5
48...Rf5+ 49 Kd4 Rd5+ 50 Ke4 Rg5 (Black must 1-0
come back in order to block Rh8+) 51 Rd6! (the
key idea: the rook comes from the other side of the
black king, and Black’s defence collapses)
60
35...a4+!
Switching diagonals first with 35...Be3! and then
following with ...a4+ is arguably more precise, as
Black is not committed to giving up his queenside
pawns. White’s best defence is 36 Ka4, hoping just
to give up the exchange, but Black plays for the
attack and is winning after 36...b3! 37 a3 (37 axb3
Bc5 and the threat of ...Rb4+ is devastating)
37...Bb5+ 38 Kxa5 (after 38 Kxb3 Bf1+ followed
by ...Bxh3 Black wins a piece and the game)
38...Bc5!. The king is caught in a mating-net as
White has no defence against the threat of ...Bc4
followed by ...Ra8#.
36 Kxa4 b3!
Black to play
White’s king is now cut off on the a-file and finds
5) Kuderinov – Ding Liren
itself in serious jeopardy.
Ho Chi Minh 2012
37 axb3
26...h4!
37 a3 Bc1 doesn’t offer White any chances to hold
The Chinese grandmaster begins to dissolve the the game, as the b2-pawn is too weak and will be
white king’s defences. lost after ...Bc2. After 38 Rg2 Bb5+! (the immedi-
27 gxh4 gxh4 28 a4 Kg6 29 b4 Kg5! 30 c4 Bd3 ate 38...Bc2? allows White’s knight back into the
31 Ng4 Kf4 game after 39 Ng5, with enough counterplay to
draw) 39 Ka5 Bf1 40 Rf2 Bd3 White’s king is
With the support of the king, the threat of ...e3 is misplaced, allowing Black to meet 41 Rg2 with
fatal for White. 41...h6! as 42 Rg3 is now met by 42...Bd2+ 43 Ka4
32 c5 Rg3+ 33 Kh2 e3 34 Red1 Be4 0-1 Bc4, mating.
37...Be3 38 Rf3?
This loses on the spot. White’s best defence was 38
Bd7 Bxf2 (38...Bc5, threatening checkmate, is met
with 39 Bc6) 39 Nxf2 Bc2 40 Bb5 Kg7, when
Black should be able to win because of White’s
bad pawn-structure and uncoordinated pieces.
38...Ra8+ 0-1
Black checkmates next move: 39 Kb4 Bd2#.
Black to play
6) De Souza Mendes – Fischer

Mar del Plata 1959
61
Attacks in Endgames
With precise play, White can not only stay afloat,

but even give Black some practical problems.
51 Kh3?
51 Rb1! c4 52 Kh3 was a far more accurate move-
order.
51...c4?
51...Rc1! would have immediately won for Black,
as now White’s rook is stranded on b3 and Black
can simply roll his c-pawn down the board.
52 Rb1 c3 53 Kg4!
Bringing the king into the attack.
Black to play
53...Rb2
7) Mochalov – Miroshnichenko After 53...Rd2 54 Kf5 Rd3 55 Rh7+ Kf8 56 Rbh1

Rxf3+ 57 Kg6 Nd5 58 Rb7 Ne7+ 59 Kxg5 c2 60
European Clubs Cup, Plovdiv 2010 Kg4 Rc3 61 Bh4 Bc5 (61...c1Q 62 Bxe7+ Kg8 63
39...Qe2+ 40 Rf2 f4! Rxc1 Rxc1 64 f3 +/– is still very dangerous for
Black) 62 Bg5 += White may have some winning
This shot forces White’s king into the open. chances, but the position is far from simple.
41 gxf4 Qg4+ 42 Kf1 Qh3+ 54 Rbh1 c2?
42...Rd7! was a much simpler solution: 43 Qe4 (43 Not the decisive mistake, but close to it. 54...Nd5!
Qa5 Qh3+ 44 Kg1 Qg3+ 45 Kf1 Qxf2+ 46 Kxf2 was necessary to bring the cavalry into the defence:
d2 –+ is the same) 43...Qh3+ 44 Kg1 Qg3+ 45 Kf1 55 Kf5 Ne7+ 56 Kxg5 Rd2! (the best defence; after
Qxf2+ 46 Kxf2 d2 –+ and Black will emerge with 56...c2? 57 Rc1 Bc3 58 Rf6+ Ke8 59 Rd6 +/–
an extra rook. White has good winning chances) 57 f4 (after 57
43 Qg2 Qxh4 44 f5 g5 45 Qc6 Qh3+ 46 Qg2 Qe3 Rf6+ Ke8 58 Rd6, cutting off the king’s flight, the
47 Qc6 point of 56...Rd2! is revealed: 58...Be3+! 59 fxe3
Rxd6 60 Bxe5 Rc6 =) 57...c2 58 fxe5 Rd1 59 e6+
Now 47...d2! wins, as the checks run out after 48
Kg7 60 Bf4 Bb2 61 Kg4 Rd4! gives White nothing
Qg6+ Kh8 49 Qh6+ Kg8 50 Qg6+ Rg7.
better than perpetual after 62 Rh7+ Kg8 63 Rh8+
Kg7 64 R8h7+ =.
55 Kf5 Rb1??
This allows immediate mate. 55...Nd5 would still
have kept Black’s heart beating since 56 Rh7+
Ke8! hangs on just by a thread (not 56...Kf8? 57
Rh8+ Ke7 58 Bxe5 Bxe5 59 Kxe5 Kf7 60 Kxd5
Rb1 61 R8h7+ Kg8 62 Ke6 c1Q 63 Rxc1 Rxc1 64
Ra7 +–): 57 Ke6 Kf8 58 Kxd5 Rb1 59 Bxe5 Bxe5
60 Kxe5 c1Q 61 Rxc1 Rxc1 62 Ra7 Rc3 63 Rxa5
Rxf3 64 Ke6 Rxf2 65 Rxg5 Re2+ and Black
achieves a tablebase draw.
56 Rf6+ Ke7 57 Rh7+ Ke8 58 Ke6 1-0
White to play
8) Karpov – Vachier-Lagrave
Cap d’Agde rapid 2006
62
4: The King as an Attacking Force

RAZVAN PREOTU
As the 33rd U.S. President Harry Truman famously said: “To be able to lead others, a man must be will-
ing to go forward alone.” While this may be true in life, the opposite usually applies in chess. During the
opening and middlegame, the king is supposed to be well protected along the back rank and therefore di-
rects the battle from afar while not actively participating himself. However, don’t be fooled! Rules are
meant to be broken (OK, not always) and when the time is right, his majesty can become an incredible
attacking force! This usually happens in endgames where the attacking side has established complete con-
trol over the position and is prepared to facilitate the king’s advance, but it can also happen once in a blue
moon in the middlegame as well.
31 Kh2!! +–
The start of a brilliant king march all the way to h6,
where White would threaten the unstoppable Qg7#.
Satirically, Black can only sit and watch this plan
unfold.
31...Rc8
31...Bc8 allows White’s knight to join the attack
and open the kingside. After 32 Ng5 Bxd7 33 g4!
(White breaks through with a crushing attack; 33
Rf4 Qc5 34 Nxf7 Rxf7 35 Qxf7+ Kh8 36 Qxg6
Qxe5 37 g3 also wins, but is less convincing)
33...Bc8 (33...hxg4 34 h5 leads to mate, since the
pawn is untouchable due to 34...gxh5 35 Qh6 +–)
White to play 34 gxh5 Bb7 35 f3 +– Black’s king begins to hear
the white army battering the front door of his cas-
Short – Timman
tle.
Tilburg 1991
31...Rb8 32 Kg3 Bc8 also does not work because
You may recall this now-legendary position. White of the back-rank tactic 33 Rxf7 Rxf7 34 Rd8+ +–.
is completely dominating with two active rooks on
32 Kg3
the only open file and a well-placed queen pressur-
ing the kingside. Nevertheless, it is not entirely The king continues its journey to h6.
clear how White breaks through, as the f7-pawn is 32...Rce8 33 Kf4 Bc8 34 Kg5! (D)
adequately defended and there is no way to put
more pressure on it. The d4-rook must protect the
rook on d7, while the f3-knight is pinned to g2,
making Ng5 impossible. The g4 break is also not
possible because the knight would be hanging.
However, Short realized that because of White’s
complete control over the centre and kingside, he
could begin the plan of bringing his own king into
the attack!
63
The King as an Attacking Force
I have two minor pieces for the rook but they are
completely out of play at the edge of the board.
Because of this temporary piece passivity, White
threatens play against my king, with ideas of Re7+,
followed by Rf7 or Qd7. Under time-pressure and
still needing to make five more moves to reach the
time-control, I saw no other way to stop White’s
threats than by evacuating my king before it was
too late.
36...Qxf4?!
Clearing the f4-pawn from the black king’s escape-
route, but there were actually two stronger moves:
a) 36...Nc5! brings the piece back into play. I
Black to play missed that I could force the trade of queens after
37 Re7+ Kh6 38 Rf7 Qd4+, when in the case of
1-0
both 39 Kg2 Qe4+ 40 Qxe4 Nxe4 41 Ra7 Bb4 –/+
Black has no defence to Kh6 and Qg7#. A spectac- and 39 Kh2 Qf2+ 40 Kh1 Qe1+ 41 Qxe1 Bxe1 –/+
ular game, where Black was so paralysed that Black should win, since White’s pawns are too
White could just walk his king up the board to h6 weak to survive for long, despite his active rook.
to help the queen checkmate!
b) The prophylactic move 36...Kh6!, getting the
king off its second rank, also gets the job done.
Of course, there are very few instances in chess White can no longer bring the rook into the attack
like the previous example where one side has total as after 37 Re7 (37 Qe3 Nc5 38 Kg2 Bc3 –/+
domination and can just walk his king up the should be a technical win as Black’s pieces are
board. But even in more open positions, this idea back in the game) Black has the surprising shot
of bringing up the king is worth remembering. The 37...b5! (37...Nc5 transposes to line ‘a’) with the
following position is from one of my games at the idea of 38 cxb5 Bb6+ 39 Kg2 Nc7 –+, when White
2015 US Masters. has no good square for his queen as it needs to
cover e2 in order to meet ...Qb2+ with Re2.
37 Re7+ Kh6 (D)
Black to play
White to play
Vilikanov – Preotu
38 Qd7
Greensboro 2015
64
38 Rf7?! threatens Qf8+, but allows Black to take After surviving the mad scramble and reaching the
the h-pawn and force a queen exchange: 38...Qg3+ time-control at move 40, it became clear to me that
39 Kf1 Qxh3+ 40 Kf2 Qh4+ 41 Kg2 Qg5+ 42 Kh3 there was no need to deliver perpetual check as
Qh5+ 43 Kg2 Qe5 44 Qxe5! (after 44 Qf8+? Kh5 White’s king is actually in much more danger than
45 Rxh7+ Kg4 46 Qf3+ Kg5 –+ Black escapes the my own! The perfectly placed queen supported by
checks and should win easily once the minor pieces my bishop and king will start a powerful attack.
are brought back into the game or the queens are
42 h4+
traded) 44...dxe5 45 d6 Kg5! (bringing the king
into play; after 45...Nc5 46 d7 b5 47 Re7! Nxd7 48 42 Qd8+ is another option, but ultimately leads to
cxb5 White miraculously holds) 46 Ra7 (after 46 the same result. After 42...Bf6 43 h4+ Kf5 44
d7? b5 47 cxb5 Nc5 Black is able to win White’s Qd7+ Kf4 45 Rf7 (45 Qxd6+ Be5 transposes to the
pawns while maintaining the e-pawn to promote) game) 45...Kg3! (Black’s king has gone as close as
46...Nc5 47 d7 Nxd7 48 Rxd7 h5 and with a bishop it can get to his counterpart and threatens mate in
and three passed pawns against the rook, Black one!) 46 Qxd6+ Be5 47 Qa3+ Kg4 48 Qc1 (after
seems to have excellent chances to win. However, 48 Qxa6 Bd4+ 49 Kf1 Qb1+ 50 Ke2 Qc2+ 51 Ke1
the accurate 49 Rb7! may still hold. Bc3+ 52 Kf1 Kg3! –+ Black’s king completes the
mating-net, threatening ...Qd1# and ...Qd3#)
38...Kg5 39 Rxh7? 48...Nc5 49 Qf1 g5! –+ White loses the h4-pawn
This natural-looking move allows me time to bring and the game, as 50 hxg5 Bd4+ 51 Kh2 Qe5+ forc-
my bishop into the game. 39 Rf7! essentially forces es White to lose material by blocking on f4, since it
a draw, as it is very difficult for Black to stop per- is checkmate after both king moves: 52 Kh1 Qh8+
petual check: 39...Qe3+ 40 Kg2 Qe4+ 41 Kg1 b5 53 Kg2 Qh3# or 52 Kg2 Qg3+ 53 Kh1 Qh4+ 54
(41...Bc3 42 Qd8+ Kh6 43 Qf8+ Kg5 44 Qd8+ =) Kg2 Qh3#.
42 h4+! (42 Qxd6 bxc4 43 Qxa6 should also draw,
42...Kf4 43 Qxd6+ Be5 44 Rf7+?
but White still has to be precise) 42...Kxh4 43
Qxd6 (now Rf4+ is a threat) 43...Qe3+ 44 Kf1 Bc7 This loses immediately. 44 Qf8+ is more tenacious.
45 Rxh7+ Kg5 46 Rxc7 Nxc7 47 Qxc7 =. 44...Ke3! (Black is hungry to continue the attack;
44...Kg4?! 45 Qf1 –/+ allows White to force a
39...Qe3+ 40 Kg2 Qe4+ 41 Kg1 queen exchange, with good chances to draw as
41 Kf2 Be1+ 42 Kf1 Bc3 is a bit more resilient, as Black only has two pawns remaining) 45 Qa3+ (45
the king is better placed on f1. However, Black Qf1 would now be met by 45...Nc5 46 Qe1+ Kd4
should still win after 43 Qe7+ Qxe7 44 Rxe7 Nc5 47 Qxe4+ Nxe4 –+, with a greatly improved posi-
–+. tion over the 44...Kg4?! line as Black’s king has
41...Bc3! (D) already approached White’s pawns) 45...Kd4!
leaves Black’s knight untouchable due to the ex-
posed white king. Then:
a) After 46 Qxa6 Qb1+ 47 Kf2 Qb2+ 48 Kf3
Qb3+ 49 Ke2 Ke4! it’s amazing how Black’s
king is not only perfectly safe in the middle of the
board, but it also participates in the attack! White
cannot escape defeat; for instance, 50 c5 Qb2+ 51
Kf1 Ke3 52 Rf7 Qc1+ 53 Kg2 Qc2+ 54 Kf1
Qd1+ 55 Kg2 Qxd5+ 56 Kg1 Qxf7 –+.
b) 46 Re7 Qe1+ and Black wins the h4-pawn by
force all with checks: 47 Kg2 Qe2+ 48 Kg1 Qh2+
49 Kf1 Qh1+ 50 Kf2 Qxh4+ 51 Kg1 Qh2+ 52
Kf1 Qh1+ 53 Kf2 Nc5! 54 Qe3+ Kxc4 55 Rxe5
Nd3+ 56 Kg3 Nxe5 57 Qxe5 Qxd5 –+. Two
pawns up, Black has a winning queen endgame.
White to play
We now return to 44 Rf7+? (D):
65
tually turn into a powerful attacking force! Such

was the case in our next game:
Black to play
44...Kg4 –+
Black to play
Black’s king is now perfectly safe and a strong
piece in the attack, whereas, ironically, it is White Beerdsen – S. Ernst
who has no defence to all the mating threats.
Dieren 2014
45 Qe7 Nc5! Black is a pawn up, but it is very difficult to win.
Black’s last piece that was out of the game joins Instead of having patience and trying to convert
the unstoppable mating attack. positionally, he goes for what looks to be a devas-
tating attack.
46 Qg5+ Kh3
The king hides behind White’s h-pawn, the safest 27...Ne3+?
position it has resided in for quite some while! This forces White’s king into the open, but it
doesn’t work. It turns out Black doesn’t have
47 Qd2 Nd3 48 Kf1 Bf4 0-1
enough pieces to finish the game, even with the
White resigned due to inevitable material losses king on the run. Virtually any other move, such as
caused by the mating threats. 27...b6 –/+, would have held a large advantage.
All in all, a very unusual game. Black’s king, 28 fxe3 Qf1+ 29 Kg3 Qg1+
which was once a liability, soon became a very
29...Qe1+ 30 Kh3 Qxe3+ 31 Kg2 transposes to the
strong asset participating in the mating attack
next variation.
against White’s king! This just shows that the king
can be a very strong attacking piece as long as it is 30 Kh4!
relatively safe.
30 Kh3 also works. The point is that 30...Qxe3+ 31
Kg2 Rf4 does not reclaim any material since 32
One of the misconceptions that weaker players Rd8+ Kh7 33 Ng5+! Kg6 34 Qxe6+ Qxe6 35 Nxe6
tend to follow is the idea that if the opponent’s +– is easily winning for White.
king can be drawn out of its shelter, then the game 30...Qxe3 31 Kh5! (D)
must be winning. Of course, we know that this is
faulty logic, as attacks must be executed with noth-
ing short of precise calculation. Blindly sacrificing
material in order to embark on a wild goose chase
against the enemy king is foolish, as this results in
unjustified material losses. However, there is a ra-
ther ironic drawback as well: if you chase the ene-
my king up the board but fail to mate it, it may ac-
66
problem exists: it is usually difficult to find an ac-

cessible route for the king to enter the attack. With
many pieces and pawns on the board, the king is
restricted from trespassing on most territory, so it
is usually content to stay at home. Therefore, it is
equally important to know how to bring the king
into the attack in addition to knowing when it is
appropriate to do so.
Black to play
The king is heading to the hole on g6, where it will

be completely safe!
31...g6+
A desperate attempt to open lines against White’s
king, but to be fair, Black did not have any attrac-
tive options.
32 Kxg6 Qe1
Now ...Rg8+ is a threat due to the queen check on White to play
f1. The immediate 32...Rg8+ runs into 33 Kf7. The Wei Yi – Gonzalez Vidal
point is that Black has no checks and cannot take
the queen because of the cute mate that arises after World Team Ch, Tsaghkadzor 2015
33...Rxg4 34 Rd8+ Kh7 35 Nf6#. Let us examine this game as an example of clear-
32...Qxd2 is answered with 33 Nxd2 Rg8+ 34 Kh5 ing the path for the king. At first glance, Black’s
Rxg4 35 Kxg4 +–. position seems very solid. The b4-knight is an-
chored on a great square, defending the c6-pawn
33 Kxh6! and controlling the important d3-square. Black’s
Bravery at its highest! The king fearlessly gobbles rooks also control the only open file. However,
up another pawn, but more importantly destroys Chinese wunderkind Wei Yi realized that he could
the black king’s defences and threatens mate. create some threats against the black king, espe-
cially if he can get a rook on the open seventh rank.
33 Qxe6! also wins as Black will soon run out of But first, Wei Yi creates a path for his king to join
checks: 33...Qg1+ 34 Ng3 Qb1+ 35 Kh5 +–. the attack.
33...Qe3+ 34 Kg6! Rg8+ 35 Kf7 1-0 26 h5!
Black resigned because after 35...Rxg4 36 Rd8+ Given the opportunity, Black would have prevent-
Kh7 37 Nf6+ Kh6 38 Nxg4+, his queen is the vic- ed this move by playing ...h5 himself. Now Black
tim of a deadly knight fork. is forced to create light-square weaknesses on the
kingside.
For a few obvious reasons, we rarely see the king 26...g5
in the attack. First and foremost, advancing the 26...gxh5 is possible, but allows White to bring his
king is extremely risky as it is our most important knight to the strong f5-square: 27 Nh4 Rd2 28
and vulnerable piece. Although we have seen in- Nf5+ Kg6 29 Be2 gives White great compensation
stances where the attacker defies this rule, another for the pawn because of his initiative on the king-
67
side. Rh1 is a huge threat, so Black does not have 30 b3 Rd1 31 Rxd1 Rxd1 32 Re2 = leads to an
time to take on b2. However, after 29...Nc2 30 Rc3 equal position. Black’s pieces are active but there
Nd4 31 Ne7+ Kg5 32 Bf3 f5!, with the idea of is no real way to improve.
...Nf6 and a future ...e4, it may be possible for
30...Nxa4!
Black to liquidate the position.
Gonzalez senses that Wei’s sacrifice is not sound
27 Be2 and boldly enters the complications.
Wei Yi prevents ...Nc5, but after... 30...Rd1 31 Rxd1 Rxd1 32 Re2 Rc1 33 b3 seems
27...Nf8 equal, as taking White’s queenside pawns will al-
low White’s rook access to the open d-file and time
...Black threatens ...Ne6-d4, where the exchange of
to activate his king: 33...Nxa4 34 bxa4 Rxc4 35
knights would favour him.
Rd2 =.
28 Bc4
31 Ra3 (D)
White prevents ...Ne6, but Black can go back to his
old plan of ...Nd7-c5.
28...Nd7
28...Ne6? 29 Bxe6 Rxe6 30 Rc5 +/– costs Black
the a-pawn, as ...Ra8 is met by Nd2-c4.
29 Kh3!? (D)
Black to play
31...Nc5
31...Nxb2 was another important option. 32 Rxa5
f5+! (this allows Black to win a significant amount
of material, but due to White’s king activity, it is
not clear if this is enough to win) 33 Kxf5 (after 33
Black to play
exf5? Rd4+ 34 Nxd4 Rxd4+ 35 Kf3 Nxc4 –+
White loses without a fight) 33...Rf6+ 34 Kg4
A significant shift in plans, and a fighting option! Nxc4 35 Rxc4 Nd3 36 Ra7+ Kh8 37 Rc2! (White
Wei Yi allows his opponent to play ...Nc5 and po- defends the f2-pawn with his less active rook; after
tentially win some pawns. In the meantime, White 37 Ra2 Rdf8 38 Ng1 Nxf2+ 39 Rxf2 Rxf2 40 Rxc6
is able to activate his king and bring it to the weak Kg7 –+ Black should be able to convert as White’s
f5-square. knight is very misplaced in the corner) 37...Rdf8
29...Nc5 30 Kg4!? 38 Nh2! Nxf2+ 39 Rxf2 Rxf2 40 Kh3 –/+. Despite
being an exchange and a pawn up, White’s piece
White gives up the a-pawn with the idea of activat- activity should allow him to make a draw. Black’s
ing his rooks. This is not entirely sound as White c6-, e5- and h6-pawns are all weaknesses. White’s
will also lose the e4-pawn, but it is an interesting knight has the excellent g4-square, as well as the
way to complicate the position! Considering that f5-square if Black allows Ng4-e3-f5. After
this was a team competition, and that Wei Yi had 40...R2f7 41 Ra5 Re8 42 Ng4 Re6 43 Ne3 Rc7 44
the white pieces against a lower-rated opponent, it Kg4 Kh7 45 Kf5 Re8 46 Rc5 it is not clear how
made sense for him to continue the battle. Black proceeds.
68
32 Rxa5 does not look easy for Black) 42 Nxd2 Nxd2 43

Kg6 should lead to a draw, since White is about to
32 Kf5 Nb7 –/+ allows Black to save the a-pawn
obtain a connected passed pawn duo.
and keep White’s rook shut out.
b) The prophylactic move 34...Kh8! was by far the
32...Nxe4!
strongest option, stepping out of a rook check from
From an objective point of view, Black must enter a7. After 35 Ra7 Nbd3 36 Rca1 Nc5 37 Bc4 Nce4
the complications by taking the e4-pawn. 38 Be6 Nd3! 39 Kxe4 Nc5+ 40 Kf5 Nxe6 41 g4 –
32...Ncd3? 33 Bxd3 Nxd3 34 Rc2 += gives White /+ Black should be objectively winning, but the
a pleasant position with no risk because of his ac- annoying presence of White’s active rooks and
tive king. king still make the conversion process quite tedi-
ous for Black.
33 Kf5 Nxf2 34 Be6 (D)
35 Ra7+ (D)
Black to play
Black to play
This must have been Wei Yi’s idea all along. Ra7+
can no longer be blocked by ...Rd7, which allows 35...Kh8?!
White’s rook full control over the seventh rank. Objectively, this is not a mistake, but it is a step in
The f6-pawn would then be hanging and the g6- the wrong direction, as now Black’s king is con-
square would become available for White’s king. fined in a mating-net. 35...Kf8! makes a draw quite
In both situations, Black’s king will be in great comfortably. 36 Rf7+ and now:
danger, stuck on the back rank. But by no means is
Wei Yi’s plan foolproof; in fact, it was quite the a) 36...Ke8 is the far riskier option. 37 Ra1 c5!
opposite! (with the idea of playing ...Nc6, which covers the
crucial e7-square) 38 Raa7 Nc6 39 Rg7 (39 Rac7
34...e4? exf3 40 Rg7 Rd5+ 41 Bxd5 Rxd5+ 42 Ke6 Re5+
In a complicated position with what must have 43 Kd6 Kf8 = and White will have to give perpetu-
been little time on the clock, Gonzalez misses a al check because of the passed f-pawn) 39...Nxa7
way to refute White’s idea and gain a big ad- 40 Rg8+ Ke7 41 Rg7+ Ke8 42 Rg8+ = with per-
vantage. Other moves: petual check.
a) 34...Nd5?! defends the f6-pawn, but allows 35 b) 36...Kg8 (it seems counterintuitive to subject the
Rxd5! cxd5 36 Rc7+ Kh8 (36...Kf8? 37 Rf7+ Ke8 king to a discovered check, but it is the easiest
38 Rxf6 = gives White enough counterplay against route to safety) 37 Ra1 (37 Nd4 Rxd4 38 Rxf6+
the black king to draw) 37 Re7 Ne4 38 Kg6 Rxe6 Kg7 39 Rf7+ Kh8 40 Ra1 = will also lead to a per-
39 Rxe6 =+, when despite being two pawns down, petual, as Black cannot stop White’s two rooks on
White’s activity should be enough for a draw. The the seventh) 37...exf3 38 Raa7 Rxe6 39 Rg7+ Kh8
straightforward attempt with 39...d4 40 Kxh6 d3 41 40 Rh7+ Kg8 41 Rhg7+ =.
g4! d2 (41...Nf2 42 Kg6 Nxg4 43 Nd2 =+ also
69
36 Nd4! king to become a power piece in the attack against

his own king.
White’s knight is untouchable because of Kg6 with
the threat of Rh7#.
36...Nbd3?? Our last game in this chapter highlights a case
where the king can be an attacking force without
Gonzalez moves the wrong knight to d3, which
having to participate in a mating attack. Although
unfortunately costs him the game.
we have seen cases where the king directly partici-
36...Nfd3! was correct, as Black’s knight on b4 pates in the mating attack, even a king attacking a
must defend the c6-pawn, which actually plays a group of pawns can be completely devastating to
large role in the defence. White’s king can enter on deal with, as the defender’s forces will be drawn
g6, but Black’s knight will cause the king to leave: away from his king in order to save the pawns.
after 37 Kg6 Ne5+ 38 Kxh6 Ng4+! 39 Bxg4 f5+
40 Kxg5 Rg8+ 41 Kxf5 Rxd4 42 Be2 e3 = White
has won a pawn, but Black’s pieces are now well
placed and there is very little material left to con-
vert.
36...Ng4! 37 Kg6 Ne5+ transposes to the 36...Nfd3
line and also works.
37 Rxc6 (D)
Black to play
Spielmann – Tartakower
Copenhagen 1923
20...Rhd8!
Tartakower challenges the open d-file, but allows
White’s queen to chase his own king up the board.
Black to play
21 Qb4+ Kf6 22 Qxb7 Qf4+ 23 Kb1 Qxf2
White’s second rook joins the attack with devastat-
ing effect. Black’s rook has no squares to move to. Black threatens not only the g2-pawn, but also
...Rab8.
37...Rxc6 38 Nxc6
24 Qc6+
Now Black’s rook is hanging and the e5-square is
covered, meaning there is no way to prevent Kg6 24 Qxh7 Rab8 25 b3 looks dangerous for White,
followed by checkmate. but in fact Black cannot accomplish much because
of his own exposed king. One possibility is
38...Rf8 39 Kg6 1-0 25...Rd2 26 Rxd2 Qxd2 27 g4 Rc8 28 Rc1 a5 29
Bold endgame play by Wei Yi! In a level ending, gxf5 gxf5 30 Qh4+ Qg5 31 Qh7 =.
White sacrificed some pawns in order to activate
24...Kg5 25 h4+?
his king and rook, creating a complicated position.
Black had multiple ways to defend and gain an ad- Spielmann gets tempted to lure Black’s king up the
vantage, but in the end faltered, allowing White’s board, but in fact it is well placed and ties down
White’s rooks.
70
25 Qc7! attacks the h7-pawn and forces Black to 29 Rh3

exchange on the d-file. After 25...Rxd1+ 26 Rxd1 Black’s queen has no good squares and must re-
e3 27 Qe7+ Kh6 28 h4 Black cannot avoid perpet- treat.
ual check: 28...Rb8 29 Qg5+ Kg7 30 Qe7+ Kh6 31
Qg5+ =. 29...Qb6 30 Rhf3 Rxg2
25...Kg4! (D) Black has many threats, including ...Qd6-d2.
31 Rf4+ Kg3 32 Qd5
The desperado with 32 Rxe4 also falls short after
32...fxe4 33 Qxe4 Rf8! 34 Qe5+ Kg4 35 Qe4+ (35
Qg5+ Kh3 36 Rh1+ Rh2 –+ is the same) 35...Kh3
36 Rh1+ Kg3 37 Qe5+ Rf4 38 Qg5+ Rg4 39 Qe5+
Kf2 40 Qe1+ Kf3 41 Qd1+ Kf4 42 Rf1+ Rf2 43
Qc1+ Kg3 44 Rg1+ Rg2 –+ and White runs out of
checks.
32...Re8 33 Qd7 Qa6 0-1
White has no good defence to ...Qxa2. An unusual
case of the king being an attacking force by going
after White’s pawns that were so close to their
starting positions!
White to play Although it is true that king safety is paramount in
Black’s pawn-chain provides great protection to his 99% of games, do keep your eyes peeled to spot
own king. White must now keep queens no matter the opportunity to thrust the king forward when it
what, as all rook endgames are lost due to Black’s arises. I hope that after reading this chapter you
king position. White will be unable to defend the appreciate how strong the king can be as an attack-
kingside pawns. ing force.
26 Rdf1?
Baited by the optical illusion of Black’s ‘weak’
king, White shifts his pieces to the kingside, but at
the fatal cost of abandoning his own king. It is not
a good idea to surrender the d-file.
Instead White should gain control of the d-file by
attacking Black’s rook: 26 Qf6 Rxd1+ 27 Rxd1
Qxg2 (27...Qxh4 –/+ also offers Black good win-
ning chances) 28 Qd4 (threatening Rg1) 28...Kf3!
(a fearless march forward!) 29 Qd5 Re8 30 c4 –/+
leaves Black a pawn up, but it is not easy to ad-
vance the e-pawn due to the exposed king. Mean-
while, White also has play with his passed c-pawn.
26...Qb6! –+
Tartakower chases White’s queen and is able to
bring his rook down to the second rank.
27 Qc4 Rd2 28 b4 Qe3?
A waste of time. Simply taking the pawn with
28...Rxg2 is stronger. White will never be able to
use the g-file as the queen on b6 will always con-
trol the g1-square.
71
Exercises
Just remember: when running your king up the board, make sure it does not get mated!
72
Exercise 5: White to play Exercise 6: Black to play
73
1) Kariakin – Bu Xiangzhi 2) Browne – Karpov

Tiayuan 2005 Las Palmas 1977
44...h6! 36...Kg6!
Breaking the wall that prevents Black’s king from The black king sprints to ensnare his white coun-
entering. terpart.
45 gxh6+ Kxh6 46 Qg8 Kh5 47 Bf2 Kg4 48 Qh7 37 Qc6+ Kg5 38 Qh1 Qg4+! 0-1
Qc2+ 49 Kf1 Kf3
The inclusion of the black king in the attack leads
White’s defences to collapse.
50 Qf7+ Qf5 51 Qa7 Qd3+ 52 Kg1 Bh6 53 Qa1
Qe2 54 Qa7 Qd1+ 0-1
74
3) Letelier – Fischer 4) Kramnik – Topalov

Mar del Plata 1960 Monte Carlo blindfold 2003
28...b4! 32 Bxe5 Bxb5+ 33 Kxb5 Rc5+ 34 Kb6 Rxe5 35
All of a sudden, the white king comes under fire. Rc1 Rxa5 36 Rc7+!
36 Kxa5 d5 +/– would not be so easy for White.
29 Rxh6 Ka5 30 Ka2 b3+ 31 Kxb3 Ba4+ 32 Ka2
Kb4 36...Kd8 37 Rfc1 Rc5 38 R1xc5 dxc5 39 Kc6! 1-0
Black’s king steps in to seal his counterpart’s fate. An incredible position. Black has no satisfactory
defence to Ra7-a8#.
33 b3 Bxb3+ 34 Kb2 Rd1 35 Bb1 Rd2+ 36 Ka1
Kc3 0-1
75
5) Korchnoi – Tal 6) Gashimov – Grishchuk

USSR Ch, Erevan 1962 World Team Ch, Bursa 2010
43 g4! 27...Kb6!
Making way for White’s king to join the fight. The beginning of an incredible trek forward.
43...a5 44 Kg3 27...Qxd3? is suggested by the engines at first, but
in fact White can survive: 28 Qe5 a5 29 Rxc3+
In fact there was an immediate win, but it is incred-
Bxc3 30 Rc7+ Kb6 31 Rxc3 Qb1+ 32 Rc1 Qb5 33
ibly difficult to spot: 44 gxf5 Bxf5 45 Rc4 Qa7 46
Qe3+! Ka6 34 Rc5 Qb1+ 35 Rc1 Qb2 (35...Qb5 36
Rc5!! +– and there is no defence to e6 followed by
Rc5 repeats, while 35...Qb6 is also met by 36
Rc7.
Rc5!) 36 Rc5 b6 37 Qe2+ Ka7 38 Rxa5+ bxa5 39
44...Rb8 45 Kh4 Qf7 46 Kg5 fxg4 47 hxg4 Bd7 Be3+ Qb6 40 Bxb6+ Kxb6 41 Qe3+ and with
48 Rc4 a4 49 Rc7 a3 50 Rxd7 Qxd7 51 e6 Qa7 52 Black’s king so exposed, there is no way to avoid
Qe5! perpetual check.
Depriving Black of even a single check. 28 Be3+ Ka5! 29 a3 Ka4!!
52...axb2 53 e7 Kf7 54 d7 1-0 Grishchuk fearlessly marches in king-first.
30 axb4?
30 Rf4 would have put up more resistance.
30...Qxd3 31 Qa5+ Kb3 32 Rxc3+ Qxc3+ 33 Bd2
b6 34 Qxb6 Qe5+ 35 Kd1 Bb7!
Clearing the runways for the rooks to enter.
36 Qxb7 Rhd8 37 Rf3+ Ka2 38 Rf2 Kb1 39 Qf3
Rac8
It transpires that the black king actually plays a key
role in the attack by supporting ...Rc1#!
40 Qb3+ Qb2 41 Qxb2+ Kxb2 0-1
76
5: Sacrificial Attacks and Calculation

MICHAEL SONG
Just as a mathematician cannot develop revolutionary theories without understanding basic arithmetic, so
an attacking aficionado in chess will not achieve great results without a firm grasp on calculation. Need-
less to say, calculation and sacrifice go hand in hand.
The topic of calculation is not exclusive to attacking chess; the fact that several great chess books have
been written on the subject is a testament to its importance in chess. Every good attacking player under-
stands that no successful attack can function without calculation. The question then remains, ‘what is the
best method for calculating?’ Different strategies such as candidate moves, elimination, etc., have been
offered, but arguably there is no clear-cut best method. However, sometimes a player is intuitively able to
determine where he should look deeply for attacking possibilities, which guides his calculation to make
his intuition into reality. The following game is a good example.
easier as all signs point to an imminent knockout

punch.
18 Nh7!
Forcefully opening up the g-file and attacking the
key defender of Black’s kingside – the knight on
f6.
18...Qc7
Other defences also prove to be insufficient; for
instance:
a) 18...Nxh7 19 Bxh7+ Kh8 (19...Kxh7 20 Qh5+
Kg8 and now 21 Rxg7+! is a typical sacrifice that
completely blows up the shelter in front of the
White to play black king: 21...Kxg7 22 Bh6+ Kg8 23 Qg4+ +–
and mate on g7 is inevitable) 20 Qh5 Nf6 21 Qg5
Andreikin – Siugirov g6 22 Bxg6 +– with mate soon to follow.
Moscow 2012 b) 18...Bxe5 and then:
The position seems primed for a sacrifice. Along b1) 19 Qxe5 wins easily without any calculation,
with a rook lined up against Black’s king and the so is a sensible choice in a practical game. White
bishop-pair breathing fire on the kingside, White is going to take the exchange on f8, while still
also has a strong pair of knights and the queen maintaining a crushing attack, and 19...Re8? loses
could potentially join the attack. However, in this to 20 Qg5 g6 21 Bxg6 +–.
position, White should be aware that positionally,
Black is winning. If given time for a few moves b2) 19 Rxg7+! is in fact even stronger: after
such as ...Nb4 or ...Qc7, White will soon find him- 19...Kxg7 20 Qxe5 Rg8 (20...Re8 21 Bg5 is simi-
self in deep trouble. Thus, the game must be fin- lar) 21 Bg5 Black simply has no defence. The
ished immediately, and once White understands immediate threat is to win the house with c4, so
this, the task of calculation becomes significantly Black is forced to play 21...b5 but this loses
77
Sacrificial Attacks and Calculation
swiftly after the clever 22 Ke2! +–. The a1-rook 21...Kh8 22 Qh5 +– is the same thing.
will enter the game and force resignation.
22 Qg4+ Kh8 23 Nf6! 1-0
19 Bh6 Ne8 (D) Black has no way to prevent the mate coming after
19...g6 20 Nxf6+ Nxf6 21 Nxg6! fxg6 22 Rxg6+ 23...Nxf6 24 Qh4+ Kg7 25 Qg5+ Kh8 26 Qxf6+
+– is also an easy win. Kg8 27 Qg5+ Kh8 28 Qh6+ Kg8 29 Qh7#.
In a sense, the task of calculation can be made eas-

ier to a certain extent. Arguably, the one advantage
that humans have over computers in calculation is
that based on our general attacking knowledge, we
can intuitively recognize what possibilities should
be seriously calculated, whereas our silicon friends
must investigate every legal move! In the next ex-
ample, before embarking on any calculation, it is
important to sense what the position demands and
see the tactical possibilities first; calculating with-
out first taking certain elements of the position into
account will make the process unnecessarily tedi-
ous.
White to play
20 Bxg7!
The final blow. The attacker must sense this mo-
ment, and this is the first move that should be con-
sidered. If a violent forcing move such as this is
possible, the attacker must use all his efforts to cal-
culate it to the very end; failure to do so would un-
necessarily prolong the game and jeopardize the
win. A fundamental attacking tip is that the most
violent move should almost always be calculated
first, because if it works there is no need to consid-
er other moves.
For instance: 20 c4? Bxe5 21 cxd5 exd5 22 Qh5
Qd7! (the only move that does not lose instantly
according to the engine) 23 Ng5 (after 23 Qxe5
Qh3+ 24 Ke2 Qxh6 +/– the win is not at all obvi- Black to play
ous, especially in a practical game) 23...Nf6 24
Sunye Neto – Kasparov
Qh4 Ng4 and now in order for White not to be-
come worse, he must find 25 Bxg7 Kxg7 26 Ne6+! Graz (team event) 1981
Qxe6 27 Qg5+ Qg6! (27...Kh8?? 28 Rxg4 +–) 28 Any competent attacking player must sense that the
Bxg6 Bf6! 29 Qh5 fxg6 30 Rxg4 Bxg4 31 Qxg4 knight will come to f3, either now or in the near
Rf7 +/–. Although objectively White is clearly bet- future. Of course, one can briefly look at ...Nxg2
ter, in practice, the attacker will often feel pres- ideas, but they lack punch; e.g., 41...Bd6 42 Bc3
sured knowing that the prior position around ten Nxg2?? 43 Bxd2 and there are no good discover-
moves earlier must have been completely winning, ies. No, the knight must go to f3 instead and allow
and often this leads to frustration and further mis- the rooks to operate on White’s second rank, and
takes. Such is the importance of taking the time to so from this, we can infer that White’s king will
calculate forcing moves such as 20 Bxg7. either land on f1, to which a ...Nd2+ will win the
20...Nxg7 21 Rxg7+ Kxg7 queen, or h1. But with a knight on f3, there are
78
many ways for a rook and knight to mate a king in 44 Qc3

a corner as we know. Once all this is considered, it 44 Qxb6 Rh2 45 Ne2 Rgg2 –+ is self-explanatory.
becomes much easier to put the pieces of the puz-
zle together and Kasparov does so flawlessly. 44...Rh2 45 Ne2 Kh7!
41...Nf3+! Since the rook controls the f5-square (which the
white queen can access via c8), it is imperative that
41...Bxe3! is equally valid as well, as 42 fxe3 (42 Black sidesteps the checks before going in for the
Qxe3? is quickly refuted by 42...Nf3+ with mate kill. 45...Rgg2?? would be terrible due to 46 Qc8+
after 43 Kh1 Rd1+ 44 Qe1 Rxe1# or 43 Kf1 Rd1+ =. After 46...Kh7 47 Qf5+ Rg6 48 Bc3 Black has
44 Ke2 Re1#) 42...Nf3+ transposes to the game nothing better than to accept a draw with 48...Rh1+
continuation. 49 Kf2 Rh2+.
42 Kf1 46 Qc8
42 Kh1 Bxe3! (blasting open the second rank, so 46 Qb4 is given as a better defence by Kasparov,
the rooks can deliver the final wave of attack) 43 but as he points out, it still loses to 46...f5! 47 Qb5
fxe3 (43 Ne6 Rxf2 44 gxf3 Rf1+ 45 Kh2 exf3! and (47 Qf8 Rh1+ 48 Kf2 Nd2! 49 Ng3 Rh2+ 50 Kg1
now 46 Qxe3 Rg2# or 46 Nxg5 Bf4#) 43...Rdxg2!! Nf3+ –+) 47...Rh1+ (47...f4 was given an exclama-
44 Nxg2 Rg3 –+ and curiously enough, White has tion mark by Kasparov and indeed still wins, but
no way to stop the mate threat from only two black 47...Rh1+ looks simpler) 48 Kf2 Nd2!. Again,
attackers. there is no good defence to ...Rf1# as 49 Ng3 Rh2+
42...Bxe3!! 50 Ke1 f4! –+ wins for Black.
Smashing through the defences. 46...Rh1+ 47 Kf2 Nd2! 0-1
43 fxe3 White resigned in view of 48 Ng3 Rh2+ 49 Ke1
Nf3+ 50 Kf1 Rxb2.
43 Ne2 Nh2+ 44 Ke1 Rxg2 45 Qxe3 Nf3+ 46 Kf1
Rg1+!! 47 Nxg1 Rd1+ is another brilliant rook and
knight mate. In the previous two examples, certain elements in
43...Rdxg2! (D) the position made the calculation process signifi-
cantly easier, as the attackers knew what targets
were to be attacked and the motifs that were going
to be used; the only challenge in the calculation
was combining everything into the right series of
moves. However, there are instances where there is
really nothing to guide a player in his calculation.
Besides a machine-like approach, there is simply
nothing to be done. This type of pure calculation
skill must be honed through continuous practice,
and the following examples are designed to pro-
vide the reader with two extremely rich and chal-
lenging positions. My advice for the reader would
be to set the position up on a board and spend
roughly 20-30 minutes calculating the possibilities
before playing through the moves.
White to play
Utilizing one of the points mentioned before. The

rook clears the way for the knight fork on d2. See-
ing this point in advance makes it much easier to
spot the ...Bxe3 idea as we can anticipate the de-
struction that would happen if the d2-rook were to
capture on g2.
79
Cheparinov – Navara 29...Rxd2!

European Team Ch, Khersonissos 2007 The very natural 29...Rxg2+? was played in the
game, but in fact it is an error. By every imaginable
Black has two ways to defend the knight: 26...g5
chess principle it is the right move. Black picks off
and 26...Bd6. At first glance, 26...Bd6 can be re-
jected immediately due to 27 Bxf7, threatening an important defender, and even with check! How-
ever, pure calculation always trumps intuition. 30
both Qg6# and Bxe8; however, if one looks deeper,
the astonishing possibility of 27...Qxf2+! would be Kf1 Rxd2 and now:
found, after which the fun begins... a) In the game, Cheparinov opted for 31 Bg8??
and went down quickly after 31...Bg2+ 32 Ke1
26...Bd6!?
Re2+ 33 Kd1 Bf3 34 Qh7+ Kg5 35 Ra2 (35
Fortunately for us, Navara elects the entertaining Qxg7+ Kh4 36 Kc1 Re1+ 37 Kd2 Rxa1 –+ and
route! Black’s king cannot be exploited) 35...Rh2+ 36
26...g5 offers Black a comfortable advantage with- Ke1 Nxd3+ –+.
out too many troubles. Perhaps in a practical game, b) However, White could have survived with the
this is the way to go considering the mess that oc- incredible 31 h4!!. White escapes by restricting
curs after the text-move. After 27 h4 (27 Bxf7? no the black king inside a box, where it will be
longer threatens mate on g6 because there is no pin primed for a perpetual check once Black’s forces
against the knight on f4, so Black plays 27...Re2 – move towards White’s king. Then:
+) 27...f6 28 Bg8 Re7 29 hxg5+ fxg5 30 Qxf8+
b1) 31...Rh2 32 Bg8 offers Black nothing better
Qg7 31 Qxg7+ Rxg7 32 Bb3 Nxg2 33 c3 Rd7 34
than a perpetual with 32...Rh1+ (32...Rxh4? 33
d4 Nh4 35 Be3 Nf3+ 36 Kf1 bxc3 37 bxc3 h4 –/+
Qh7+ Kg5 34 Qxg7+ Ng6 35 Re1 +– leaves
Black’s kingside pawns are extremely powerful
Black with insufficient compensation) 33 Kf2
and offer him great winning chances in this end-
Rh2+ =.
game.
b2) 31...Bg2+ 32 Ke1 Re2+ 33 Kd1 Bf3 34
27 Bxf7 Qxf2+!
Qg5+ Kh7 35 Qf5+ Kh8 36 Kc1! Bg4
The only move. (36...Re1+ 37 Kd2 Rxa1?? 38 Qc8+ +– would
28 Kxf2 Re2+ 29 Kg1 (D) be embarrassing) 37 Qg5 Ne6 38 Bxe6 Re1+ 39
Kd2 and Black must settle for perpetual.
30 Re1
30 h4? Ne2+ is the point. Instead of having the
king on f1 as in the previous line with 29...Rxg2+,
80
the king on g1 makes a huge difference as now be justified with concrete variations. Yet the ability
White cannot save his queen. to be objective is a trait that successful chess-
players must master.
30...g6!
30...Rxg2+? is again extremely tempting, but in-
correct! 31 Kf1 g6 (or 31...Rg3 32 Re2! g6 33 Qf6
Nxh3 34 Re3! Bg2+ 35 Ke2 Bf3+ 36 Rxf3 Ng1+
37 Kd1 Nxf3 38 d4 h4 39 c4 bxc3 40 bxc3 h3 41
Bd5 Ng1 =) 32 Qf6 Nxh3 33 Re8 Rf2+ 34 Qxf2
Nxf2 35 Kxf2 h4 36 Rb8 Bc6 37 Be8 Bg3+ 38 Ke3
Bg2 39 Bd7 Kg7 40 Rb5 with a roughly equal end-
ing.
31 Re6
31 Qf6 runs into the cute 31...Nxh3+ 32 gxh3
Bh2+ 33 Kf1 Bg2#. Surprisingly, the rook is much
better positioned on d2 than g2, and White’s king
is much safer on f1 than g1! But for a human to
reject 30...Rxg2+ is almost unthinkable...
31...Rxg2+ 32 Kf1 Rg3! 33 Qb5 Rf3+ (D) Black to play
Stupak – Bok
Baku Olympiad 2016
This is another wild example. White is the ex-
change and a pawn up, but his king is tremendous-
ly weak. Black clearly has great compensation, but
it is not so easy to find the best continuation. Thus,
Black must rely on intense calculation to guide him
to victory.
20...Bc5!
This is extremely powerful, but many other moves
were possible. For instance, 20...g5!, threatening
...g4, is also a viable option:
White to play a) 21 Ne5 Bc5! 22 Qa4 Nb4 –+ leads to a total
collapse.
34 Ke1
b) 21 Qc4 g4 22 Ne5 Bc5! 23 Rd1 Nb4 (threaten-
34 Kg1? leads to doom after 34...Nxh3+ 35 Kg2 ing ...Ba6) 24 Ke1 Rxd4 25 Rxd4 Qxe5+ 26 Kd2
Rf2++ 36 Kxh3 Rh2#. Qxd4+ 27 Qxd4 Bxd4 –+ and Black should real-
34...Ng2+ 35 Ke2 Rxf7 36 Rxd6 Bf3+ 37 Kd2 ize his material advantage.
Re7! 38 c3 c) 21 a3 Bc5! 22 Qa4 Bxd4! (demolishing
Necessary to open air for White’s king. White’s shelter) 23 Nxd4 (23 Qxd4 Nf4+ –+)
23...Nb4! (objectively strongest, although
38...Re2+ 39 Kc1 cxd6 –/+
23...Qe5+, followed by 24...Nb4, is also suffi-
After all the dust settles, Black emerges with a ma- cient) 24 axb4 (24 Qxb4 Rxd4 25 Qb5 Ba6! –+)
terial advantage and a still-exposed white king, 24...Qe5+ 25 Kd2 Qxd4+ 26 Kc2 Bb7 –+.
which should be sufficient for the full point with
accurate play. From an intuitive standpoint howev- 21 Qa4
er, there were many moves along the line that were Other moves do not provide salvation either:
fundamentally unexplainable and which could only
81
a) 21 Bg2 Ba6+ 22 Ke1 Nb4 –+. These examples demonstrate that successful at-
tacks require much more than an understanding of
b) 21 dxc5 Qxb2+ 22 Nd2 Nb4 –+.
basic attacking principles. Creativity and diligence
c) 21 Rd1 Ba6+ 22 Ke1 Bb4+ 23 Nd2 Qxd4 24 are essential in order to find difficult moves in
Bxa6 (24 Qxe6+ Kf8 –+ leaves White with no de- one’s calculation, and these skills can only be de-
fence to the threat of ...Re8) 24...Qe4+ 25 Be2 veloped over time by studying more games and
Qxh1+ 26 Bf1 Qxh2 –+. working through calculation exercises in order to
d) 21 Rc1 Bd7 22 Rxc5 (22 Qb7 Bxd4 –+) broaden one’s range of attacking ideas.
22...Bxc6 23 Rxc6 Qe7 24 Rc4 b5 25 Rc5 Qa7 26
a3 b4 27 axb4 Qa1 –+ leaves White’s king still fa-
tally exposed.
21...Bxd4!!
This would have been the decisive blow. Instead
21...Nb4?, as played in the game, lets White off the
hook substantially, although Black was able to win
after a whirlwind of a game.
22 Qxd4
22 Nxd4 Nb4! 23 Qxb4 Rxd4 24 Qc3 Qe5+ 25
Qe3 Re4 –+.
22...Nf4+! 23 Qxf4 Qxb2+ (D)
White to play
24 Nd2
24 Ke3 Qc3+ 25 Ke2 Ba6+ leads to mate.
24...Qxa1 25 Qxh6
25 f3 Qb2 26 Qe3 Ba6+ 27 Ke1 Qc1+ –+.
25...Ba6+ 26 Kf3 Bb7+ 27 Ke2 Bxh1 28 Qxg6+
Kf8 29 Qh6+ Ke7
White cannot generate any real threats against
Black’s king, and with good play Black should win
easily.
82
Exercises
Because the importance of calculation cannot be understated and also because of the fact that practice can
hone this skill better than any words can explain, I have increased the number of exercises for this chap-
ter. But after solving exercises from other chapters, I am sure you have realized by now that calculation is
of the utmost importance!
83
84
85
1) Westerberg – Monney 2) Troff – Nakamura

Baku Olympiad 2016 USA Ch, St Louis 2015
20 Bh7+! Kh8 21 Rxe5! 26...Nxf2!
Without this resource, White would be lost. But of Nakamura shows his opponent no mercy.
course one winning continuation is plenty.
27 Kxf2 Bh3! 28 Qf1
21...Rxe5 22 Bxe5 Qe7 28 Qf3 loses to 28...Ng4+ 29 Kf1 Qh1+ –+.
Or: 22...Qxe5 23 Nf7#; 22...Qd7 also fails to 23
28...Rxe4!
Bxf6 gxf6 24 Qg6 +–.
Cracking open the white king’s position.
23 Bd6! Qd7 24 Bxf8 hxg5 25 Bg6 +–
29 Nxe4 Nxe4+ 30 Ke3 Bxg2 31 Qf4 Nxc3 32
White went on to win easily.
Qg5+ Kf8 33 bxc3 Re8+ 34 Kf2 Bh1+ 0-1
86
3) Naiditsch – Gustafsson 4) Song – Shi

European Ch, Dresden 2007 Windsor 2016
23...Re2! 15 Nxf7! Kxf7
Cutting off the white queen from the f1-square and 15...Nc5 was played in the game, but of course my
threatening ...Qh3. opponent could not put up much resistance in that
position.
24 Rxe2 Qh3 25 Ne3
White appears to be holding on for the moment but 16 Qb3+ e6 17 Nxe6
Black now brings in the wrecking ball: 17 Rxe6?? would be a blunder due to the great re-
source 17...Nc5! 18 Rc6+ Nxb3 19 Rxc7+ Kg8 –+,
25...Rf4! 0-1
when White cannot take the knight due to back-
White is helpless against the threat of ...Rh4, since rank mate.
26 gxf4 Bxf4 will lead to mate as well.
17...Rxe6 18 Qxe6+ Kf8 19 Bf4! Qxf4 20 Bd5!
The bishops wreak havoc on Black’s king!
20...Ne5
20...Nxd5 21 Qe8#.
21 Qd6+
with mate soon to come.
87
5) Krasenkow – Nakamura 6) Yusupov – Ivanchuk

Barcelona 2007 Candidates (8), Brussels 1991
20...Rxc6! 21 Bxf6 23 Nxe6+! fxe6
Obviously this is the move that should concern 23...Qxe6 24 Qh6+ Kh8 25 Bf5+ +–.
Black, but in fact he has a devastating reply:
24 Qh6+ Kh8 25 Bf5+!
21...Qxf2+! 22 Kxf2 Bc5+ 23 Kf3 Rxf6+ 24 Kg4 Gearing up against the e6-pawn.
Ne5+ 25 Kg5
25...Kg8
25 Rxe5 Bc8+! (25...Rxe5?? 26 Rb8+ +– would be
an unfortunate turn of events) 26 Rf5 Bxf5+ 27 It looks like Yusupov has no way to continue, but
Kh4 Rh6+ 28 Kg5 Bc8 –+ followed by a quick ma- he discovers a counter-intuitive idea:
te. 26 Qg5+ Kh8 27 Qh4+ Kg8 28 Qg5+ Kh8 29
25...Rg6+ 26 Kh5 f6 Qh4+ Kg8 30 Qg3+ Kh8 31 Qh3+!
26...Bc8 –+ also gets the job done. The process of transferring the queen against the
e6-pawn is complete.
27 Rxe5 Rxe5+ 28 Kh4 Bc8 0-1
31...Kg7 32 Qg3+ Kh8 33 Qh3+ Kg7 34 Bxe6
Qxe6 35 Qxe6 Bd8 36 g4 Re8 37 Qf5 Bc4 38 g5
1-0
88
7) Topalov – Giri 8)This is opening analysis in the Grünfeld Defence,

London 2015 conducted by Michael Song.
33...Nxf2 34 Bxe2 Nxh3+ 35 Kf1 Qd5! 16 exf6
This stunning retreat proves disastrous for White. A move like 16 g4 still offers good attacking
35...Rd6? 36 Rc8+ Kg7 37 Qe7 Rf6+ 38 Kg2 +– chances, but White can win directly with the text-
would only lead to Black’s demise. move.
36 Bh5 16...exf6
36 Ke1 also loses to 36...Qh1+ 37 Bf1 Qf3 38 Rb2 After 16...Bxf6? 17 Qe4 +– followed by Qh4
(38 Be2 Qxg3+ 39 Kf1 Rd6 –+) 38...Qxg3+ 39 Rf2 White wins easily.
Re8+ 40 Be2 Nf4 –+.
17 Ne6!
36...Qh1+ 37 Ke2 Qg2+ 38 Ke1 Re8+ 39 Kd1 The key move.
Nf2+ 40 Kc2 Ne4+ 0-1
17...fxe6 18 dxe6 Qe7 19 Qd3!
White resigned in view of 41 Kd3 Qd2+ 42 Kc4
Rc8+ 43 Qc5 Rxc5#. Precision is required. 19 Qe4? would blow the ad-
vantage due to 19...Rd8! 20 Be3 f5! 21 Qxa8 Kf8!
= (the immediate 21...Nc6? runs into 22 Qb7! with
the point 22...Qxb7?? 23 e7+ +–), stepping out of
the diagonal, when Black is fine due to White’s
stranded queen.
19...f5
19...Be8 succumbs to 20 Qe4! +–, when Black no
longer has the possibility of ...Rd8. White’s dual
threats of Qxa8 and Qh4 cannot be met.
20 Bg5! Bf6 21 Bxf6 Rxf6 22 Qd8+! Qxd8 23 e7+
Qd5 24 Bxd5+ Rf7 25 Bxa8 +–
White emerges from the attack with a decisive ma-
terial advantage.
89
9) J. Rapport – A. Muzychuk 10) Antipov – J. van Foreest

Women’s Olympiad, Baku 2016 World Junior Ch, Khanty-Mansiisk 2015
20...fxg4! 21 hxg7 gxh3 22 gxf8Q+ Rxf8 23 f4? 23 f5! Qxd5
23 Qd1! with the idea of Kd2 was the only hope. 23...Re5 is obliterated by 24 Nd6! +–.
23...Nxe4! 24 fxe5 h2! 24 Ng5! Bxg5 25 Qe8+!!
The h-pawn is unstoppable. The ticket to the whole operation.
25 Qd4 h1Q+ 26 Bg1 Rf2! 27 Nxe4 Qxg1+ 28 25...Rxe8 26 Rxe8+ Kf7 27 Rf8# (1-0)
Kd2 Rxe2+ 0-1
90
11) Mamedyarov – Yakovenko 12) Kasparov – Ribli

Moscow blitz 2009 Skellefteå 1989
30 Nh6! +– 26 Rxb5 ½-½??
This just wins on the spot. After this move, Kasparov mistakenly agreed to a
draw, but ironically he was winning by force:
The only hard part about this exercise was avoiding
this move that Mamedyarov played, namely 30 26...Bxe3 27 Rd8!! +–
Ra8??. It looks like an easy win at first but it
A shocking revelation.
proves to be not so simple at all after 30...Nf2+!. In
fact, it transpires that Black has plenty of defensive 27...Qxb5
resources! This shows that when calculating com- 27...Rxd8 28 Rd5 +–.
binations, it is just as important to look for your
opponent’s continuations and resources as your 28 Qd6 Bxf2+ 29 Kxf2
own moves. Play continued 31 Kg1 (31 Rxf2? 29 Kf1! +– is perhaps even a simpler way to win,
Rb1+ 32 Kh2 Qe5+ –+ wins for Black, who pro- not that it matters.
tects g7 and will pick off a8 next move)
31...Nxh3+! 32 gxh3 Qc5+ 33 Kh1 Qd5+ 34 Kg1 29...Re8 30 a4! Qxa4
Qc5+ 35 Kg2 Rb2+ 36 Kf3?? (enraged by blowing 30...Qf5+ 31 Kg2 Qe4+ 32 Kh3 Qf5+ 33 g4 Qf1+
the win, Mamedyarov throws the game away due 34 Kg3 Qg1+ 35 Kf3 Qf1+ 36 Ke3 Qg1+ 37 Kd2
to his ambition) 36...Qd5+ 37 Kf4 Qd2+ 38 Ne3 +–.
Rxa8 39 Rg1 Qd4+ 40 Kf3 Rb3 41 Rd1 Rxe3+0-1.
31 Qe7 +–
91
13) Donev – Bukal 14) Z. Almasi – Khalifman

Graz (team event) 1997 Ubeda 1997
24 f5! 22...Nxf2+!
This pawn-break marks the beginning of Black’s You had two chances to solve this exercise, as
demise. 22...Bc5! is at least as strong, albeit requiring
deeper calculation: 23 f3 Bxe4 24 fxe4 Nf2+ 25
24...exf5
Kg1 f5!; e.g., 26 e5 f4 27 Bxf4 g5 28 e6 Ng4+ 29
24...Ne3 is crushed by 25 Nh5+! gxh5 (25...Kf8 26 Kg2 Qg7 –+.
fxg6 +–; 25...Kg8 26 fxe6 +–; 25...Kh6 26 fxg6
hxg6 27 Rxf7 +–) 26 fxe6 Nxf1 27 Qxf1 +–, when 23 Qxf2 f5
Black cannot parry all the threats. Now White has a wide array of options, none of
which solves his problems.
25 Nxf5+ gxf5 26 Qh5 h6
Or: 26...Nxf6 27 Qh6+ Kg8 28 exf6 +– is mate; 24 Qd4?
26...Kf8 27 Qh6+ Ke7 28 Nxd5+! (out of nowhere, Or:
the unprotected black queen becomes a big factor)
a) 24 axb5? loses without a fight to 24...fxe4 25
28...Rxd5 29 Qf6+ Kd7 30 Qxh8 +–.
Qe3 Bc5! 26 Qxc5 e3+ 27 Kg1 Qh3 –+.
27 Qxf5 Qc7 28 Nxd5 Bxd5 29 Qf6+ Kf8 b) 24 Bf4 fxe4 25 Qe3 Bxf4 26 gxf4 Rxf4! wins
29...Kg8 30 Rg3+ Kf8 31 Qxh8+ +–. for Black, the point being that 27 Qxf4? e3+ 28
Kg1 Qc6 –+ leads to mate.
30 Qxh8+ +–
c) 24 Be3 may have been the best practical chance,
White won material and later the game.
although Black is still winning after 24...Bxe4+ 25
Kg1 f4! 26 Bxf4 Rxf4 27 gxf4 Bc5! 28 Rxe4 (28
Qxc5? Qg4+ 29 Kf2 Qf3+ 30 Kg1 Qg2#)
28...Bxf2+ 29 Kxf2 Qd2+ –+.
24...fxe4 25 Be3 Qh3!
Threatening both ...Bxg3 and ...Rf2.
26 Qxd6?
26 Qd2 Bxg3 27 Qg2 Qxg2+ 28 Kxg2 Bxe1 –/+.
26...Rf2! 27 Bxf2 e3+ –+
White soon had to throw in the towel.
92
34 Rxf7+ Kd6 35 h4 +–
White’s kingside pawns will decide the issue.
White to play
15) Klimov – Solozhenkin

St Petersburg Ch 2003
28 c4!!
This is a rather unexpected solution, and in fact the
only one.
White to play
28 Qh6+ Kg8 29 Rxh4? Kf7 –+ leaves White with
16) Short – Ehlvest (variation)
insufficient compensation for his material deficit.
Rotterdam 1989
28 Ree3? was the game continuation. White natu-
rally adds more fuel to the fire with this move, but After 18 Qg2 the game is very much unclear.
in doing so he overlooked a great opportunity to This exercise was another example of the im-
collapse Black’s defences with the text-move. The portance of looking for your opponent’s defensive
game concluded 28...Qe7 29 Reg3 Nf6 30 Rxh4+ resources while calculating an attacking possibility.
Nh7 31 Rhg4? e5 32 dxe5 Qxe5?? (a gross blun- Thus, it was essential to refrain from playing the
der, throwing away hours of effort; 32...Nd7 extremely tempting 18 Bxe6?? due to 18...Bg5!! (a
would be a serious test to see if White’s attack is highly counter-intuitive move: instead of taking
legitimate or not) 33 Qxh7+! 1-0. Black resigned in White’s queen straight-up, Black decides to pin it
view of 33...Kxh7 34 Rh3+ Qh5 35 Rxh5#. instead; 18...Nxd2?? 19 Rh7! +– leaves Black with
28...Nxc4 no way to avoid mate: White threatens both Rxg7+
and Rdh1) 19 Rh7 Bxd2+ 20 Kb1 (20 Rxd2 fxe6 –
28...Bxc4 29 Re4 +– allows White to bring in the
+) 20...Nxd4 21 Rdh1 Bh6 –+. Without deep calcu-
heavy artillery with decisive effect.
lation, it can be very simple to fall into a pitfall
29 Qh6+ Kg8 30 Rxh4 Kf7 31 Qh5+ Kf6 such as this.
31...Ke7 32 Qxd5! +– is the point. The knight no
longer defends the bishop from b6.
32 Qh7!
The most precise, cutting off the black king’s re-
treat.
32...Rf7 33 Rf4+ Ke7
33...Kg5 34 Qh4+ Kg6 35 Rg4+ Kf5 36 Qh5+ Kf6
37 Qg5#.
93
Include All the Pieces in the Attack
6: Include All the Pieces in the Attack

MICHAEL SONG
Including all the pieces in the attack is often one of the first pieces of wisdom a coach will give a young
player. Logically, it makes absolute sense: the more pieces that can be brought in, the greater the chance
of the attack succeeding! Even at the highest levels, this advice holds true. Of course, most strong chess-
players will not allow the enemy pieces to be brought freely towards their king without resistance. With
that in mind, the most realistic way to bring in additional pieces is by generating a series of threats and
attacks, so that the opponent will not have time to stop the attacker’s pieces from flooding in.
The following classic game by Rubinstein highlights this idea exceptionally well.
17...Bc7 18 e4 Rac8 (D)
Rotlewi – Rubinstein All of Black’s forces are fully mobilized, and

Lodz 1907/8 White now makes a fatal error in opening the long
diagonal:
11...dxc4!
19 e5? Bb6+ 20 Kh1 Ng4!
A typical idea, but instructive nonetheless. Black
paves the way for rapid development. With all of Black’s forces participating in the at-
tack, White’s position crumbles.
12 Bxc4 b5 13 Bd3 Rd8
21 Be4
Black brings one more piece into the attack with
potential threats down the d-file, which forces Or:
White to lose time by sheltering his queen. a) 21 Qxg4 Rxd3 –+ gives White no adequate reply
to the dual threats of ...Rxc3 and ...Rd2.
14 Qe2 Bb7 15 0-0 Ne5!
b) 21 Ne4 Qh4 22 g3 (22 h3 Rxd3 23 Qxd3 Bxe4
Exchanging the awkwardly-placed knight on c6 for
24 Qxe4 Qg3 –+) 22...Qh3 –+ leaves White with
White’s best defensive piece.
absolutely no defence to incoming sacrifices along
16 Nxe5 Bxe5 17 f4?! the d-file.
17 Rfd1 would have been more sane. 21...Qh4
94
21...Nxh2! –+ also gets the job done.

22 g3
22 h3 is demolished by 22...Rxc3! 23 Bxc3 (23
Bxb7 Rxh3+ 24 gxh3 Qxh3+ 25 Qh2 Qxh2#; 23
Qxg4 Rxh3+ 24 Qxh3 Qxh3+ 25 gxh3 Bxe4+ 26
Kh2 Rd2+ 27 Kg3 Rg2+ 28 Kh4 Bd8+ 29 Kh5
Bg6#) 23...Bxe4 24 Qxg4 (24 Qxe4 Qg3 –+ leads
to mate) 24...Qxg4 25 hxg4 Rd3 –+. White has no
escape from the double threat of ...Rh3# and
...Rxc3.
22...Rxc3! (D)
White to play
Song – J. Friedel
Washington 2016
27 a4!
The dark-squared bishop prepares to enter the
game via the opposite side of the board, but with
devastating effect on the black king.
27...d3+ 28 Rf2 d2 29 Bxe5
Not, of course, 29 Ba3?? Qxa3 –+.
29...d1Q+ 30 Rxd1 Rxd1+ 31 Qxd1 Qxe5 32
White to play Qd7 1-0
The final assault is under way. There is no defence to Qf7#.
23 gxh4
23 Bxb7 is objectively best, but White is simply The next example perfectly illustrates the combina-
lost after 23...Rxg3 –+. tion of the two ideas that were just discussed:
23...Rd2! 24 Qxd2 bringing in attacking forces with tempo and scour-
ing the whole board for attacking resources.
Or: 24 Qxg4 Bxe4+ 25 Rf3 Rxf3 –+; 24 Bxc3
Rxe2 25 Rf2 Bxe4+ 26 Kg1 Bxf2+ 27 Kf1 Bf3 28
Rd1 Nxh2#; 24 Bxb7 Rxe2 25 Bg2 Rh3 –+.
24...Bxe4+ 25 Qg2 Rh3!! 0-1
A brilliant conclusion to Rubinstein’s ‘Immortal
Game’. Even in the final position, all of Black’s
pieces combine in the attack against the helpless
white king.
One idea to keep in mind when talking about the

subject of ‘including all the pieces in the attack’ is
that pieces do not necessarily have to be brought
physically near the enemy king to be effective at-
tackers. Here is a simple example:
95
Or:
a) 20...Bxh4? falls easily to 21 fxe6++ Kg7
(21...Kg8 22 e7+ +–) 22 Rf7+ Qxf7 23 exf7 Rxe4
24 f8Q+! Kxf8 25 Rf1+ +–.
b) 20...gxf5? 21 exf5 (21 Rxf5 Nd7 22 Bxf6 Nxf6
23 Rbf1 Qd8 24 e5 +– also wins) 21...Bg7 22
fxe6+ Kg8 23 e7+ Kh8 24 Qf7 Nd7 25 Qxg7+!
Kxg7 26 Ne6+ Kg8 27 Nxc7 +–. White will
achieve a decisive material advantage.
21 fxe6+ Kg6
21...Kg7 is crushed by 22 Bxg5! Rf8 23 e7 +–.
Black is holding on for the moment, but with
White to play White’s next move, the calm tide of threats begins
to accumulate against Black’s king...
Leitão – El Debs
22 Qc2!
Brazilian Ch, Americana 2010
The queen subtly slides back, but with enormous
At the moment, Black is somewhat behind in de- threats.
velopment, yet his position does not appear totally
unmanageable. But White’s incredible play shows 22...Qe5
this to be an illusion: 22...Bxd4+ 23 cxd4 gxh4 24 e5+ Kg7 25 Rf7+ +–
18 Bxf7+! also does not help Black.
The beginning of a fantastic sequence. 22...Be5 is perhaps a better try, but Black is still
lost after 23 Bxg5! Kxg5 (choosing the ‘quick and
18...Kxf7 19 Qb3+ e6 painless’ option, but there was nothing left to do in
Forced, or else Black will lose his queen to a any case; for example, 23...Na6 24 Rf7 Qd6 25
knight fork. Qf2 +–) 24 Qd2+ Kg6 25 Nf5 +–.
20 f5! (D) 23 Rxf6+!
The fireworks begin.
23...Kxf6 24 Qf2+
24 Rf1+?! Kg7 is less clear-cut, even though White
is still comfortably winning after 25 Rf5 Qxe4 (or
25...Bxe4 26 Qe2 +–) 26 Rxg5+ Kh8 27 Qf2.
24...Kg7 (D)
24...Ke7 25 Nxc6+ bxc6 26 Qf7+ Kd6 27 Qxe8 +–.
Black to play
Cracking open the f-file further exposes the black

king.
20...g5
96
After a few mistakes in the early stages of the

game, Potkin finds himself saddled with several
positional weaknesses and a somewhat uncoordi-
nated arrangement of his pieces. On the other hand,
White’s pieces work together beautifully, and there
are several weaknesses in Black’s kingside that
could be ripe for exploitation. Can you find how
White should continue?
22 Ng5!
A brilliant possibility. Already placed in their op-
timal positions, White’s pieces immediately begin
a raid against the black king.
22 Ne5?! was Van Kampen’s choice in the game.
White to play This looks natural and lets White keep a sizeable
positional advantage. However, he missed out on
25 Rxb7+!
the extremely powerful attacking continuation that
Out of nowhere, the rook that was seemingly doing follows the text-move. The game continued
nothing on b1 joins the fray. The point of the sacri- 22...Bc8 23 Rd4 (preparing to double rooks) and
fice is to lure the c6-bishop away from the defence then:
of the e8-rook.
a) 23...Bxe5? does not relieve the pressure in any
25 Rf1?? gxh4 is clearly not sufficient. way. 24 Qxe5 Rdd6 (24...Rd7 25 Rxd7 Qxd7 26
25...Kh8 Rd1 +–) 25 g4! (the strongest move, opening up
the b1-h7 diagonal for potential attacks against
25...Bxb7 26 Qf7+ Kh8 27 Qxe8+ Kg7 28 Nf5+ +– Black’s king; 25 Red1 Rd7 26 f4 Qxe5 27 fxe5
is obviously no help for Black either. Rxd4 28 Rxd4 +/– would offer great winning
26 Bg3 1-0 chances in the endgame, but the attacking route
seems even better) 25...Rdc6 (25...fxg4 26 Red1
A forceful and creative finish! Rd7 27 Qh5! Qd8 28 Rxd7 Bxd7 29 Qf7 +–) 26
Qe2 Rc5 (desperately trying to hold the f5-pawn)
27 Qd1! (now Black cannot prevent the penetra-
tion into the back rank) 27...g6 28 Rd8+ Kg7 29
Qd4+ e5 30 Rg8+ Kh7 31 Qe3! Be6 (31...fxg4 al-
lows mate by 32 Rh8+! Kxh8 33 Qxh6+, while
31...f4 32 Qh3 +– would only delay the inevita-
ble) 32 Rh8+! Kxh8 33 Qxh6+ Kg8 (33...Qh7 34
Qf8+ Bg8 35 Qxc5 +–) 34 Qxg6+ Kf8 35 Bxe6
Rxe6 36 Qxe6 +– and White will simply mop up.
b) 23...Kh7!, covering some light squares and
stepping out of knight forks, was Potkin’s choice.
24 Red1 Be7 25 Rxd8 Bxd8 26 Qh5 Bf6? (a fatal
mistake; 26...Qxe5 would have kept Black in the
game: after 27 Rxd8 Rc6 28 h4 += White has
pressure, but it is not so clear how to make use of
it) 27 Qg6+ Kg8 28 Qe8+ Kh7 29 Ng6 Qc6 30
White to play
Nf8+ Kg8 31 Nd7+ 1-0. Black resigned due to
Van Kampen – Potkin the forced mate after 31...Kh7 32 Nxf6+ gxf6 33
Wijk aan Zee 2015 Qf7+ Kh8 34 Rd8+.
22...hxg5
97
22...Re8 23 Qh5 Bc5 24 Qf7 +– is immediate res-

ignation.
23 Qh5+ Kg8 24 Rxe6! Bxe6 25 Bxe6+ Kf8 (D)
Black to play
Gelfand – Giri
Moscow 2016
White to play
Can you find how Giri finished the game?
It is quite possible that Van Kampen saw this far
32...f5!
but was unable to find the finishing touch.
The f-pawn joins the fray and acts as a battering-
26 Rd5! ram against White’s defensive line.
Bringing the last piece into the attack decides the
33 Bxd8
game.
33 gxf5 Qxf5 –+ leaves the g-file open, which will
26 Qh8+?? Ke7 27 Qxg7+ Kxe6 –+ would leave quickly be unbearable for White.
White with insufficient firepower.
33...Rxd8
26 Rxd6 was also strong, however. After
26...Raxd6 27 Qh8+ Ke7 28 Qxg7+ Kxe6 29 Qxc7 33...fxe4?? would of course be a gross error due to
+– White should win but he will need to put in 34 Bf6+ Kg8 35 Rxe4 +–.
some effort. 34 gxf5?
26...Re8 27 Rxf5+ Ke7 28 Rf7+ Gelfand succumbs under pressure and does not put
Not 28 Qf7+?? Kd8 –+. up any resistance. Other moves:
28...Kd8 29 Rxc7 Bxc7 30 Qxg5+ Re7 31 Bg4 +– a) 34 Ng5?! is a more testing move, but Black has
one good reply: 34...h3+! (the wing pawn steps out
A fantastic variation. Black’s king remains fatally
of the shadows and joins the campaign) 35 Kh2 (35
weak and his pieces are uncoordinated, whereas
Nxh3 fxg4 –+; 35 Kxh3 fxg4+ 36 Kxg4 Nxg5 37
White can begin the systematic procedure of roll-
Qxg5 Rg8 –+) 35...Be5+ 36 Kh1 Qxd2 37 Rxd2
ing his pawns up the board.
Rxd2 38 Nxe6 Bg3 39 Rb1 fxg4 40 fxg4 c4 –/+.
Thanks to White’s weak king and the superiority of
the bishop over the knight, Black still maintains
I must admit that the title of this chapter is some-
excellent winning chances.
what misleading. Every attacking player must also
understand that bringing pawns into the attack can b) 34 Qh6!? fxe4 35 Rxe4 h3+! (the pawn is un-
be just as important! We shall see examples of this touchable due to ...Ng5 forks) 36 Kh1 and now:
in Chapters 8 and 9, in which the pawns actually b1) 36...Ng5?! 37 Rf4 Nf7 38 Qh5! (after 38
lead the attack. But even as an actor in the support- Qxh3? Qxa2 –/+ Black should eventually be able
ing cast, pawns can shine bright on the attacking to consolidate and reorganize his pieces for a fi-
stage, such as in the following game. nal attack) and White appears to hold: 38...Qxh5
98
39 gxh5 followed by b4, while after 38...Ne5 39

Qg5 Ng6 40 Qxd5 Rxd5 41 Re4 the pin on the d-
file remains a problem.
b2) 36...Rd6! 37 Rde1 Bxb2 –/+ is given by the
computer, though to human eyes it does not look
so clear.
34...Qxf5 (D)
Black to play
L. Milov – Radulski
Dieren 2011
Black identifies a simple, but sweet solution:
25...Bxb4!
The pawn duo on c3 and b4 were the only guardi-
White to play ans protecting White’s king from the westward in-
vasion of Black’s minor pieces, so it is only logical
Now Gelfand’s king is fatally exposed. for this structure to be demolished.
35 Kh1 26 Bxc6
35 Nf2 h3+ 36 Nxh3 Rg8+ 37 Kh2 Qxf3 –+ is also After 26 cxb4 Nd4 Black wins easily. For example,
impending mate. 27 Qh1 c6 28 Bc4 Nf3+ 29 Kg2 Qxe4 30 Kf1 (30
35...Rg8! Kf2 g3+ 31 Ke2 Bg4 –+) 30...Qf4 31 Re2 g3 32
Kg2 Nh4+ 33 Kg1 g2 34 Nxg2 Rg8 –+.
The final precise move, stopping Qg2.
35...Qxf3+?? 36 Qg2 would let White off the hook. 26...Bc5 27 Bxd7+ Rxd7
36 Rf1 Be5 0-1 Despite being a rook up, White is helpless in the
face of Black’s pressure.
Gelfand had no choice but to resign due to the
forthcoming ...Qh3+. 28 Qe2
Considering the importance of pawns in attacking 28 Qf2 Rd3 –+ will lead to an easily winning end-
play, maybe the chapter’s title should be more po- game for Black.
litically correct and instead read ‘Include All the
28...f5! 29 Qf2
Pieces and Pawns in the Attack’! But that wouldn’t
be as catchy now, would it? 29 exf5 Rh7 –+ leaves White with no antidote to
the threat of ...Qg3+.
29...Qxf2+
Sometimes, it is quite straightforward to bring
pieces into the attack. Yet in other situations, it 29...Qxe4 was in fact even stronger.
may be necessary to use some pieces as bait in or- 30 Kxf2 f4 31 Rad1 Bxe3+ 32 Ke2 Bc5 0-1
der to open the floodgates for other pieces to enter
the enemy camp:
99
In the next example, White has everything geared Rg3 Kf8 46 Qd4 f4 47 Bxf4! {threatening mate on
against Black’s king: two bishops, a rook, and a h8} 47...Qf6 48 Qxf6 Rexf6 49 Be3 h6 50 Rg4 +/–
queen right at Black’s doorstep. ) 44...Rh6 45 Rh3 Rg6 (the tables have turned;
Black is the one on the offensive now) 46 f3 Qa5
47 Kh2 Qxc5 48 h5 Re6 49 Rg3 h6 50 Bc2 Ba2 51
d7 Rxd7 52 Qxf5 Rxe5 0-1. Timman came to the
disheartening realization that his attack does not
have enough firepower and thus resigned.
40...a4
What else to do?
41 g4! a3 42 gxf5 Bb3 43 f6 g6 44 Bxg6 +–
White crashes through as easily and quickly as
lightning. Therefore, we see the importance of cre-
ativity. While the concept of bringing more pieces
into the attack is relatively primitive, the process of
figuring out how to accomplish this can be quite
sophisticated.
White to play
Timman – Bareev
Linares 1993
However, Black seems to be holding on to the edge
of the cliff at the moment as he has all the targets
covered – namely the g7- and f5-pawns. So when
all the wood has already been thrown into the fire,
what is there left to do? Certainly, the attack must
not freeze to death; it must burn on! Therefore,
quite literally, more wood (assuming you have the
luxury of playing on a fine walnut or rosewood set)
must be gathered for the attack; the only question
is how. It appears that White has no remaining at-
tackers left, but this can be proved to be an illusion
if you discover the continuation that Timman could
not...
40 Rg5!!
All of a sudden, the foot soldier cowering behind
White’s rook threatens to be the feather that will
tip Black’s position over the cliff, or so the car-
toons show. The idea of g4 will prove decisive as
Black can no longer simultaneously hold f5 and g7.
40 Bc2? was played in the game, squandering
White’s advantage: 40...a4! (immediately opting
for counterplay and luring White’s bishop away
from the kingside) 41 Bxa4 Bd5 42 Qf4 Re6 43
Re3 Qd8 44 h4? (it was paramount to bring the
bishop immediately back into play, with the point
that 44 Bc2! g5?! is not at all dangerous due to 45
100
Exercises
Make the most of all your troops!
101
102
1) Tkachev – W. Watson 2) Pashikian – Greenfeld

London 1993 European Clubs Cup, Plovdiv 2010
20 Nd5! exd5 21 exd5 Qd7 22 Bxf6 gxf6 23 Rg3+ 16 a4!
Kh8 Seeing that the c1-bishop is doing nothing, White
23...Kf8 24 Qxh7 +–. prepares to deploy it to the key a3-f8 diagonal.
24 Qxh7+! Kxh7 25 Rd4 1-0 16...c6
An elementary yet cute demonstration of using 16...h6 is smashed by 17 b5! axb5 18 axb5 Kg8 19
every piece to deliver mate! Nxf7! Kxf7 20 Ba3 Qd7 21 d6+ +–.
16...b5!? may have been the best attempt to slow
White down, but he is still winning after 17 axb5
axb5 18 Bxb5 Qxd5 19 Qxd5 Nxd5 20 Bc4 +–.
17 Qb6
17 Ba3! b5 18 Qa7 Rd7 19 Qxa6 +– was even
stronger.
17...cxd5 18 Qxb7 Bd7 19 Qxa6 +–
White went on to win easily:
19...Qb8 20 Bf1 Ng4 21 g3 N6e5 22 Bg2 Bf5 23
Bf4 h6 24 Nf3 Nxf3+ 25 Bxf3 Qxb4 26 Bc7 Nxf2
27 Bxd8 1-0
103
3) Krush – Daulyte 4) Roiz – Miroshnichenko

Women’s Olympiad, Baku 2016 European Clubs Cup, Plovdiv 2010
20...Rxf3! 35 Qc7+!
This must have come as a shock for Irina Krush. The less conclusive 35 Qg7+? was played in the
game: 35...Kd6 36 Qxh8 Rxe2 37 Rf6+ Kc7 38
21 Kxf3 Qh3 22 Ke2
Kxe2 Qe3+? (38...Qg2+! 39 Rf2 Qe4+ +/– would
In the event of 22 Rh1 Black cleans up after have made Roiz’s job much more difficult, as he
22...Rf8+ 23 Ke2 Qg2+ 24 Kd1 Rf2! 25 Ne2 must give up one of his rooks to avoid perpetual
Qxh1+ 26 Kc2 Qh2 –+. check) 39 Kf1 Qd3+ 40 Kg2 Qc2+ 41 Rf2 Qe4+
22...Bh6 23 Qc2 Ne6 24 Kd1 42 Kh2 Qxb1 43 Rf7+ Nd7 44 Qe5+ Kb6 45 Rxd7
1-0.
After 24 Nd5 Qg4+ 25 Kf1 Rf8+ 26 Kg2 cxd5 –+
Black still has an overwhelming attack. 35...Ke4
24...Nd4 25 Qf2 Rf8 26 Qg1 Rf3 0-1 35...Rd6 36 Qg7+ Ke6 37 Qxh8 +– is easy now
that ...Rxe2 is impossible.
36 Kc2!
The silent killer, bringing the remaining forces into
the fray. White’s king helps to create the threat of
Bd3+ and clears the e1-square for the b1-rook.
36...Rh3 37 Rbe1 Rc3+ 38 Kb1 +–
104
5) Carlsen – Ponomariov 6) Bagaturov – Lima

Moscow blitz 2008 Biel Interzonal 1993
27 Re1! 17 Bg5!
Including the rook in the attack is not only princi- The dormant bishop on c1 awakes and wreaks hav-
pled; it is also the strongest! Other moves: oc on the black kingside.
a) 27 Bxc5? fails to 27...Qf7! 28 Bd4 Rh7 17...hxg5
(28...e5!? 29 Qh4 exd4 ) 29 Bd5 e6 30 Qxh7+!
17...Nb4! was the only defensive try, although
Qxh7 (30...Kxh7? 31 Rf4 +/–) 31 Bxe6+ Kf8 32
Black is still struggling after 18 axb4 hxg5 19 Qf5
Bxc8 Qxh3 =, when Black is able to force perpetu-
Bxd5 20 Bxd5 Nxd5 21 Nxg5 Nf6 22 Rxd8 Rexd8
al check.
+/–.
b) 27 Bd5+? e6 28 Rxf5 gxf5 29 Bxg7 Qxg7 30
18 Nxg5
Bxe6+ Nxe6 31 Qxe6+ Kh7 32 Qxf5+ Qg6 33
Qd7+ Qg7 34 Qxc8 Qxg5+ +/–. White may still be Black is helpless against the threats.
winning, but his task is unnecessarily complicated 18...Ne4
now.
Or: 18...g6 19 Nxf7! Kxf7 20 Nf4+ +–; 18...Bc5 19
27...e6 28 Rxe6! Nxf7! Kxf7 20 Nf4+ Kf8 21 Ng6#.
Black has no way to close the a2-g8 diagonal. 19 Nxf7!
28...Nxe6 29 Bd5 Re8 30 c7 Kf7 31 Bxg7 Qg8 32 In the game, White played 19 Nxe4 and won with-
Bd4? out too many problems, but this move seals the
32 Bf6! Rc8 33 Bd8! Ke8 34 Qh4 +– is a much game immediately.
more accurate way to convert the advantage into 19...Qh4
victory.
19...Kxf7 20 Ne7+ Kxe7 21 Qxe4+ Kf6 22 Qf4+
32...Ke7 33 Bb6 Kd7 34 Qh4 Qg7? Kg6 23 Bf7+ +– is soon mate.
34...f4 would have kept Black in the game a while 20 g3
longer.
Unfortunately for Black, the queen has no safe
35 Qc4 Qc3 36 Bxe6+ Rxe6 37 c8Q+ 1-0 squares to retreat to.
20...Qh5
20...Qg4 21 Nh6+ gxh6 22 Nf6++ +–.
21 Nf4 +–
105
7) Botvinnik – Smyslov 8) Nepomniashchy – Kokarev

World Ch (18), Moscow 1958 Ekaterinburg 2013
In the game, Botvinnik played 23 Bh3? and won 38 f5!
after an unusually blunder-plagued game for a
Nepomniashchy senses that the light squares
world championship match, but missed a great
around Black’s king are not as safe as they appear.
chance to seal the deal immediately:
38...gxf5
23 Nd4!!
38...Bxf5 39 Ne3 Bg7 40 Nxf5 gxf5 41 Rxf5 +– is
Closing the d-file, but more importantly opening
easily winning for White, who will just stack eve-
up the white bishop to join the attack.
rything on the f-file.
23...Nxd4
39 Ne3 f4 40 gxf4 exf4 41 Qg2+
23...cxd4 24 Bd5+! results in forced mate:
41 Rg1+? Kh8 42 Nd5 Bxd5 43 Rxd5 Qb6 44
24...Rxd5 25 Re8 +– or 24...Kh8 25 Re7 Nxe7 26
Rxh5+ Nxh5 45 Qxh5+ Bh6 results in a very un-
Rxe7 +–.
clear position.
24 Re7
41...Kh7 42 Qg5 Bh6 43 Qxf6 fxe3 44 Rd7!
Move-order is important! 24 Bd5+? would blow
The final battalion arrives at the field. Perhaps it is
the lead after 24...Rxd5 25 Re7 Ne2+! 26 Kf1 Rf7
difficult to find this idea from the first move of the
27 Rxf7 Kxf7 28 Qxh7+ Kf8 29 Qh8+ =.
combination, but it should come as no surprise giv-
24...Rf7 25 Bd5 Rxd5 26 Re8+ +– en the e6-bishop is the only thing in the way of
Mate is coming on f8. White’s forces crashing through on the light
squares to the opposing king.
44...Bxd7
44...e2 also loses easily after 45 Qxe6 exf1Q+ 46
Bxf1 +–.
45 Qxf7+ Kh8
45...Bg7 46 Qxh5+ Kg8 47 Qf7+ Kh7 48 Bxd7 +–
is totally decisive.
46 Rf6 Bg7 47 Qxh5+ Kg8 48 Qf7+ Kh8 49 Bxd7
Bxf6 50 Qxf6+ Kh7 51 Qh4+ Kg7 52 Qg4+ Kh8
1-0 Black resigned. He loss of the c8-rook.
106
7: Attacks on Colour Complexes

MICHAEL SONG
Attacks on colour complexes are without a doubt one of the most essential concepts in standard same-side
castling attacks. The explanation is rather simple: if the opposing king has a reasonable proportion of its
army shielding it, it is nearly impossible to launch a successful attack simply by smashing straight
through the defences.
In a way, the concept of attacking on colour complexes in chess is most similar to war in our world. In-
stead of charging his whole army towards the enemy, it is the general’s job to pinpoint the weak points in
the enemy camp and amass a concentrated but effective attack by zeroing in on these weaknesses. As Sun
Tzu wrote in The Art of War, we must avoid what is strong and strike at what is weak. If we take a philo-
sophical approach to the game of chess, it seems almost as if the game was created with the purpose of
generating attacks on colour complexes. The bishop and the queen can wreak havoc on a weak complex
for obvious reasons, and even pawns only attack one colour at a time. Although knights can function on
both complexes, as it stands on any given square, it only attacks one colour as well. It goes without saying
that in most instances, an attack on a certain colour complex requires the absence of the defender’s bishop
of that colour to be successful. Note that the term ‘absence’ is used ambiguously here; the bishop does not
have to be physically removed from the board, but it needs to be positioned in an area where it cannot
manoeuvre back to the aid of his king in time.
Such a position arose in the game between myself and the other co-leader of the North American Youth
Chess Championship at the time this game was played.
tremendously weak? In addition to the warrior on

f4, controlling both the g2- and h3-squares around
White’s king, White’s bishop on b3 plays no role
in the defence of the light-squared complex. I
would like to point out to the reader a very im-
portant point when it comes to colour complexes:
just because there are no obvious ‘holes’ in the op-
ponent’s structure does not mean that a colour
complex is safe! Despite the g2-pawn seemingly
holding the light squares together, this quickly
turns out to be an illusion.
15...dxc3 is suggested by the engines, but this
looks like a peculiar practical choice. 16 exf6 cxd2
(16...Qxf6 17 Nf3 c5 18 bxc5 bxc5 19 Re1 d4 20
Black to play Bxf4 Qxf4 21 Bxe6 fxe6 22 Qb3 is evaluated as
A. Grabinsky – Song rough equality, but White seems like the one press-
ing to me) 17 fxg7 Re8 18 Bxd2 Qg5 19 g3 Nh3+
Windsor 2016 20 Kg2 Qxg7 21 Rc1 c6 and although Black is a
It is Black to move; how should he continue? pawn up, White should have easily sufficient com-
pensation thanks to his bishop-pair and Black’s
15...N6h5! shattered structure.
The knight hops over to support his comrade on f4. 16 cxd4 Qg5
When looking at the position, did you intuitively
sense that the light squares around White’s king are
107
Attacks on Colour Complexes
Now White is forced to make ‘holes’ in his light- A desperate attempt to regain some control over
squared complex, after which it becomes blatantly the light squares, but this is too little, too late.
obvious that Black is creeping near White’s king.
19...Nh3+! 20 Kg2
17 g3 Bg4! 18 Nf3 20 Kh1? loses to the same idea as in the game.
18 gxf4?? obviously loses on the spot to 18...Nxf4
20...N5f4+! 21 Kh1?
–+.
Virtually throwing in the towel. 21 gxf4 Bf5+ 22
18 f3? is desirable from a positional point of view Ng5 Bxc2 23 Qg4 Nxg5 24 fxg5 h5 –/+ was the
to cover some light squares, but runs into concrete only way to continue the fight, but in an opposite-
problems after 18...Bh3! –+, when Black’s threat coloured bishop position with an exposed king,
of ...Nxg3 will force White to surrender the ex- White is practically lost.
change:
21...Qxc2! 0-1
a) 19 g4 is annihilated by 19...f5! 20 exf6 Nxf6 –
+ followed by a sacrifice on g4. The queen cannot be taken due to ...Bxf3#, but
White has no defence in any case. A massacre on
b) 19 Kf2 Nd3+ 20 Ke2 Nhf4+ 21 gxf4 Nxf4+ 22 the light squares.
Ke3 Ng2++ 23 Kd3 Qe3+ 24 Kc2 Qxd4 –+ is al-
so decisive.
c) 19 Qe1 is met by 19...Qg6! –+, first stepping
out of the way of the f4 advance before deciding
what to do. There is no rush to exchange the
powerful h3-bishop for the rook.
18...Qg6 (D)
Black to play
Mikaelyan – Jobava
Poti 2015
It is immediately clear that White’s position has the
potential for disaster due to the weak light-squared
White to play complex on the kingside. However, the f1-bishop
It is clear that Black has achieved total domination covers all this for now, depriving Black of any real
of the light squares. White has been forced into a attacking chances. The obvious attempt to elimi-
seemingly eternal pin as the black bishop casts nate the f1-bishop with 26...Bb5 leads nowhere af-
storm clouds over the white kingside. Although ter 27 Bc3!, and an outrageous attacking move like
Black stands better, the game is still playable for 26...g5?! may even land Black in trouble after 27
White after a normal move such as 19 Re1. In the Bc3 Raa8 28 e4!, when it is Black who should
game, however, my opponent decided to go down worry about getting mated. That being said, how
quickly... can Black exploit White’s weak light squares?
19 Bc2?? 26...Rb5!!
108
A brilliant exchange sacrifice, but we have come to Qf5 =+ and Black still has excellent winning
expect nothing less from the ingenious Georgian chances as White’s rook is essentially worthless.
grandmaster. The positional threat of ...Rb3 fol-
28...Rxe4 29 Re1 Rxh4!
lowed by ...Bb5 with domination on the queenside
encourages White to part ways with the guardian of Black has restored material equality while main-
the light squares, which is worth more than a rook taining a deadly attack.
in this closed position. 30 Qg5 Rh3 31 Re3 Kh7?!
27 Bxb5? 31...h4! was a more direct win: 32 Rae1 (after 32
Falling for the cheese in the mouse trap. It was gxh4 Rxe3 33 fxe3 Bd3! –+ the bishop will swing
wiser to stay put with 27 Rdc1! Rb3 28 Rc3, when over to e4 with decisive effect) 32...hxg3 33 fxg3
White holds the balance. One line continues Rh6! (threatening ...Qh3) 34 g4 Rg6 35 Qh5 and
28...Bb5 29 Rxb3 axb3 30 Bxb5 Qxb5 31 Rc1 and even stronger than 35...Qxg4+ is 35...Qd8!, when
White is out of the woods. there is no defence to ...Rh6 followed by an even-
tual ...Qh4.
27...Bxb5 (D)
32 Rf3 Be2 33 Re3 Bc4 34 Rf3 Be2 35 Re3 Ba6
36 Rf3 Bc8 37 Rc1 Qg4 38 Qxg4 Bxg4 (D)
White to play
28 e4?
White to play
A desperate attempt to break free of the bind on the
Black has maintained a small advantage in the
light squares, but this accelerates White’s downfall.
endgame and now successfully ground down his
Other moves:
opponent. I shall give the rest of the moves without
a) 28 Bc3 is obliterated by 28...Qh3! 29 Rab1 annotations:
Re4!! (bringing the final piece into the attack) 30
39 Re3 Bd7 40 Kg2 h4 41 Rh1 Rxh1 42 Kxh1 g5
Rxb5 (30 f3 Rxe3 31 Qg2 Qd7 –+ obviously gives
43 Bc1 Kg6 44 Rc3 hxg3 45 fxg3 Kh5 46 Bd2
Black a decisive advantage) 30...Rg4! 31 Rb2
Kg4 47 Kh2 f5 48 Kg2 Bb5 49 Re3 Bc4 50 Bc1
Bxg3 32 fxg3 Rxg3+ 33 Qg2 Rxg2+ 34 Rxg2
b5 51 Kf2 b4 52 axb4 Bxb4 53 Re6 a3 54 Rg6
Qxe3+ –+ and Black will mop up too much materi-
Be7 55 Re6 a2 56 Bb2 Ba3 57 Bc3 Bb4 58 Bb2
al.
Bd2 59 Re8 f4 60 gxf4 Kxf4 61 Re7 g4 62 Re8
b) 28 Rdc1 Qh3 29 Rc3 Bc4 –/+ also does not look g3+ 63 Kg2 Bb4 64 Bc1+ Kf5 65 Re5+ Kg4 66
appealing for White. Bb2 Bd3 67 Re3 Be4+ 68 Kf1 Bd2 69 Ra3 Kf4
c) 28 Re1 Re4! (not allowing White to break free 70 Re3 Kg4 71 Ra3 Kf4 72 Rxa2 0-1
of the light-square bind with any e4 ideas) 29 Kg2
(29 f3?! Re6 gives Black a tremendous attack with
...Rg6 coming) 29...Rxh4! 30 Rh1 Rxh1 31 Rxh1
109
It is worth nothing that an attack on a colour com- 25 Rxf3 Bxf3 26 Qxf6 e4 (D)
plex is a common reason for exchange sacrifices.
Out of all the pieces, the rook is arguably the
weakest attacker of colour complexes, which
makes it expendable when seeking total colour
domination, as Jobava did in this game.
White to play
We see that White’s king has no physical way to

escape the mating threat of ...Rd1 followed by
...Rxf1+ and ...Rd1#, thanks to Black’s iron grip on
the light squares through his bishop.
White should be content to give perpetual check
Black to play
and force a draw, but being higher-rated, it was
Bregadze – Song only natural for my opponent to want to continue
the fight. A general tip: when playing a higher-
Washington 2016
rated opponent, it is often very unpleasant for him
When I foresaw this position in my calculation a to reach a line in which he is forced to steer the
few moves earlier, I had assessed that it must be game towards a draw by means of perpetual check
fine for Black thanks to White’s weak light squares and repetition. From a psychological perspective,
and my domination of the d-file. However, once an overly ambitious player may sense that being
this position appeared on the board, I became higher-rated, he has the obligation to continue the
somewhat concerned about the plan of Bf3, ex- struggle for a win, even when it is practically im-
changing the bishops, followed by quickly pushing possible to do so. What followed in the game is a
the h-pawn. It is not obvious how Black will gen- typical pattern for a higher-rated player turning a
erate sufficient counterplay to match this, as his draw into a loss.
own king is weak as well. For instance, even if
Black is successful in grabbing one or even both 27 Qxa6
pawns on the queenside, it will not be easy to push 27 Qe5+ Kf8 28 Qh8+ Ke7 29 Qe5+ Kd8 30 Qb8+
his a- and b-pawns quickly, whereas White’s h- = is what I expected, when Black cannot escape
pawn would be nearly unstoppable thanks to the perpetual check.
black king and f-pawns blocking the paths for his
27...R7d5!
forces to reach the kingside. Wary of this, I decid-
ed to take immediate action based on the weakness There is no need to rush with ...Rd1. Black’s bind
of the weak colour complex surrounding White’s on the kingside is permanent.
king. 27...Rd1? is most likely what he expected me to
23...Qd5 24 Bf3 Qxf3!! play, in which case only White can fight for a win
after 28 Qxb5 Ke7 (28...Rxf1+? 29 Kxf1 Ke7 30
Despite sacrificing a queen and a few pawns, the Qe5+ Kd8 31 Qa1 Rd1+ 32 Qxd1+ Bxd1 33 Ke1
weakness of White’s light squares ensures Black at +– is too many pawns for Black to handle) 29 h4
least equality as White’s king is trapped inside a +/–. Although Black is probably still fine with pre-
box by his own pawns.
110
cise play, it is clear that only White is pressing. ed, when Black is one tempo short from winning)
Seeing this, my opponent became deluded by this 35 Rxd1 Rxd1+ White must choose carefully:
improbable chance of winning the game and over- a) 36 Kg2? Bf1+ 37 Kg1 and at the board I
looked my quiet 27th move. couldn’t find any way for Black to proceed, but it
28 Qa8+ Ke7 29 Qa3+? turns out he has the simple 37...Re1! –+, when
White has no way to prevent the dual threats of
A fatal step in the wrong direction. 29 Qb7+ Kf8
...Bh3# and ...Bb5+.
30 Qc8+ Kg7 31 a4 Rd1 32 Qc3+ f6 33 axb5
Rxf1+ 34 Kxf1 Rd1+ 35 Qe1 Bg2+! 36 Ke2 Bf3+ b) After 36 Qxd1+ Bxd1, Black has gained a tem-
37 Kf1 leads to a draw. An attempt to play on with po since the white king is now on g1 instead of f1,
37...Rxe1+? 38 Kxe1 can only provide White with but nevertheless 37 Kf1 appears to draw; e.g.,
winning chances. 37...Kc6 38 Ke1 Bg4 39 Kd2 Kb5 40 Ke3 f5 41 h4
Kxb4 42 Kf4 Kc3 43 h5! Bxh5 44 Kxf5 with a po-
29...Kf6! 30 Qb2 Ke6?
sition that the six-man tablebase confirms to be a
White gets a reprieve, though for reasons that were draw.
hard to foresee. Black’s king seeks safety from
checks, but 30...Kg6! is the right way. Black then 33 a4 bxa4 34 Qxa4 Rxf1+ 35 Kxf1 Rd1+ 36
wins; e.g., 31 Qc3 Rd1 32 a4 bxa4 33 bxa4 Be2 34 Qxd1 Bxd1 37 Ke1??
Re1 Rxe1+ 35 Qxe1 Rd1 36 Qxd1 Bxd1 37 a5 Be2 After this, all hope is lost. 37 b5 = would make a
–+. draw fairly easily.
31 b4?! 37...Ba4 –+
31 a4! is a simpler draw, since White obtains Now Black’s bishop is able to control everything.
counterplay as quickly as possible. 31...Rd1
38 Kd2
(31...bxa4 32 bxa4 Rd1 33 Qb3! =) 32 Qc2 Rxf1+
33 Kxf1 Rd1+ 34 Qxd1 Bxd1 35 axb5 Bxb3 36 38 h3 would not help, as after 38...Bb5 –+ Black
Ke1 gives White enough counterplay with his b- has the idea of ...Bf1! to force the h4 advance.
pawn to hold the balance. 38...Kg4 39 Ke3 f5 40 h4 Bc6 41 Kd4 f4 42 b5
31...Rd1 32 Qb3 (D) Ba8 43 gxf4 Kxf4 44 h5 Kg5 45 Ke5 Kxh5 46
Kf5 Kh4 47 Kf4 Bb7 48 Ke3 Kg4 0-1
What a hero the light-squared bishop was in this
game!
Of course, a big part of attacks against weak colour

complexes is creating these weaknesses in the first
place. This is almost always accomplished by pro-
voking or forcing an enemy pawn to move, which
cedes control of some crucial squares. The follow-
ing game is an excellent illustration of how
Kariakin manages to do just that against the reign-
ing world champion.
Black to play
32...Kf5
After 32...Kd6!? 33 a4 bxa4 34 Qxa4 Be2
(34...Rxf1+ 35 Kxf1 Rd1+ 36 Qxd1+ Bxd1 37 Ke1
Bg4 38 Kd2 Kc6 39 h4 f5 40 Ke3 Kb5 41 Kf4
Kxb4 42 Kg5 Kc3 43 h5 Bxh5 44 Kxh5 Kd3 45
Kg5 Ke2 46 Kxf5 Kxf2 = is the line I had calculat-
111
Carlsen – Kariakin 21 Nh2?!

Berlin blitz 2015 21 Nd2 was probably a better defensive try, when
it is not entirely obvious how Black proceeds with
White’s position seems solid, and even somewhat
his attack. Still, the shadow of the black forces
resembles a ‘Carlsen-like’ positional grind with a
strong knight on c5 versus the ‘passive’ bishop on lurks over White’s king, and from a human per-
spective, it is understandable why Carlsen felt the
c8. However, in just a matter of moves, White’s
position deteriorates. need to exchange the strong attacker on g4.
21...Qg6 22 Rh1 and then:
16...Ng4!
a) One interesting option is 22...Rd8!?, trying to
Due to the threats on h2 caused by ...e4 or ...exd4, swing the rook into play via d6 and f6. 23 Qe2 Rd6
White is forced to create weaknesses. 24 Nxa6 Rf6 25 Rhf1 Nh6 (making way for the
17 g3 bishop to land on g4) 26 Nc5 Re8 27 Ra2 Bg4 (af-
ter 27...Qf5 28 Rh1 Ng4 29 Rf1 the engine claims
17 h3 is of course answered by 17...exd4 18 hxg4 that Black has nothing better than to take the repe-
dxe3! (the strongest continuation) 19 Nde4 Qe5 20 tition after 29...Nh6 30 Rh1 Ng4 =) 28 Qe1 Qf5 29
f4 Qe7 =+, when Black will regain the piece with Rh1 Bf3+ 30 Nxf3 Qxf3+ 31 Kg1 seems to be
interest. holding for White.
17...Qh6! b) 22...f5 23 Nf1 f4! 24 h5 (24 exf4? e3 looks like
Forcing a further weakening of the light squares. a crushing attack) 24...Qh6 25 gxf4 g5! 26 f5!
Realizing that White has no piece to hold his light (keeping the position closed) 26...Bxf5 27 Nh2
squares, Black begins to pave the way for his bish- with a wild position.
op to wreak havoc in the future. 21...Nxh2 22 Kxh2 g5! 23 Rh1
18 h4 23 h5? f5! will also give Black a blistering attack,
In a span of just two moves, Kariakin forces White with moves such as ...Rg7 and ...f4 to come.
to compromise the integrity of his kingside pawn- 23...gxh4 24 Kg1 h3 (D)
structure.
18...Ra7!
An instructive sequence to include the a8-rook in
the attack.
19 Kg2 Rae7 20 Nf3 e4 (D)
112
In fact, there was a funny forced mate that occurs

after the sadistic 31...Ra1! 32 Qxa1 Qxf2+ 33 Kh1
Bf3+ 34 Rg2 Qxg2#.
32 cxd5 cxd5 33 b4 Rb8 34 Na6 Rb6 35 Nc7
Rxb4 36 Qa2 Ra4 37 Qb2 Ra5
Despite Kariakin constantly missing the idea of
bringing his rook to the back rank, White has no
chance of salvation anyway.
38 Ne8+ Kg6 39 Nc7 h5 40 Qc2 Kh7 41 Qb2 Qf6
42 Rc1 Qf3 43 Rg1 Qf5 44 Rc1 Ra7 45 Ne8 Qf3
46 Rg1 Ra6 47 Qc2 Re6 0-1
Carlsen resigned as 48 Nc7 would be met with
48...Rc6!, winning the knight. This game demon-
White to play strated in a nutshell that it is not only important to
Now it is clear that White’s light-square weakness- know how to attack weak colour complexes, but
es are fatal. knowing how to create them is just as important!
25 Nxa6 Ra7 26 Nc5 Rxa1 27 Qxa1 Bg4 28 Kh2
Qf6 29 Qb2? Without a doubt, a chapter on attacking colour
The computer assessment jumps wildly after this complexes would not be complete without a few
move, but in Carlsen’s defence, his position was examples on how to attack the fianchetto. Of
untenable in any case. course, such a vital topic in chess cannot be re-
duced to a few examples, so it is ultimately up to
29 Qe1 Qf3 30 Qf1 is suggested by the computer at
the player to get a feel for these procedures. How-
first, but I doubt this would appeal to any human
ever, in practice, there are arguably two plans that
after 30...Ra8 31 Na4 Kg7, with a picturesque posi-
pop up on a regular basis: the first is straightfor-
tion where White is almost in zugzwang and can
ward – simply trade off the fianchettoed bishop! As
only shuffle his king and rook between three
we all know, this is usually accomplished by some
squares in the corner. After 32 Rg1 h5 33 Rh1 Rh8
Qd2 + Bh6 (or ...Qd7 + ...Bh3 for Black) idea to
34 Nc5 Rh6 35 b4 Rf6 36 Kg1 Bc8! followed by
create weak dark squares around Black’s king,
...h4, White is mated.
which can later be exploited by attacking plans
29...Qf3 30 Rg1 Ra8 31 c4 (D) such as h4-h5. There is a second reoccurring plan
which we shall explore later in this chapter as well.
Moreover, the idea of using the h-pawn to chal-
lenge the fianchetto will be illustrated in Chapter 9.
Anyhow, here is a simple and short game featuring
a simple, yet typical attack on a castled king with
the fianchetto structure.
Song – Du
Toronto 2014
1 d4 d6 2 e4 Nf6 3 f3 c5 4 d5 g6 5 c4 Bg7 6 Nc3
0-0 7 Nge2 Na6?!
This plan seems too slow to me. I would prefer
7...Nbd7 or 7...e6.
Black to play
8 Be3 Nc7 9 Qd2 a6 10 Bh6
31...Kg7
113
The first phase of the attack has concluded. White Now White’s attack is extremely powerful.
is successful in exchanging the fianchettoed bishop 12...Nb5 13 0-0-0 Qa5 14 g4 (D)
in front of Black’s king.
10...b5 11 h4 (D)
Black to play
14...Rb8?
Black to play
Losing by force, but Black’s position was on the
11...bxc4? verge of disaster in any case.
A serious error. The c4-pawn plays no useful part 14...Qc7 is recommended by the computer, but it is
in the game, nor does taking it aid Black’s hard to imagine any human playing this passively.
counterplay in any way. The idea of including the queen in the defence
11...Bxh6! was the best defence. When attacking along the second rank is worth remembering, how-
the fianchetto, this is a very important idea to re- ever. 15 Bxg7 Kxg7 and now:
member. Often times, for attackers and defenders a) 16 a4!? takes advantage of the fact that Black’s
alike, players assume that this move which invites knight is short of squares. 16...Nd4 (after 16...Nxc3
the queen into h6 is suicidal. However, the idea of 17 Nxc3 Rb8 18 hxg6 fxg6 19 e5! dxe5 20 Qh6+
...Bxh6 is often a key defensive resource; if the at- Kg8 21 Bxc4 Qb7 22 d6+ e6 23 Rd2 Qg7 24 g5!
tacker is not immediately smashing through, the Qxh6 25 Rxh6 Nh5 26 Ne4+ Black will lose c5
queen may find itself misplaced on h6 and one day, and the d6-pawn is too strong) 17 Nxd4 cxd4 18
it may have to retreat to deal with central or h6+ Kg8 19 Qxd4 Rb8 20 Bxc4 +/– looks terrible
queenside counterplay, thus gaining time for the for Black, who does not have any real attacking
defender. Never ignore this possibility! After 12 chances. For instance, after 20...Bb7 21 g5 Ne8 22
Qxh6 e5! (immediately opening up the important f4 Black will find himself mated far sooner than
e7-square for the queen, from which it can help to White will.
hold Black’s kingside) 13 dxe6 (13 h5 Qe7 leads
nowhere for White) 13...Bxe6 14 Nf4 (14 h5 Bxc4 b) 16 hxg6 fxg6 17 Qh6+ Kg8 18 g5 Nh5 and now
should not be too scary for Black; for instance, 15 19 Rxh5?! gxh5 20 g6 e5 21 dxe6 Qg7 22 gxh7+
Nf4 Bxf1 16 Kxf1 b4 17 Nce2 Qe7 18 g4 Ne6 19 Qxh7 23 Qxh7+ Kxh7 24 e7 Re8 25 Nd5 Be6 does
g5 Nd7 20 hxg6 fxg6 21 Nxe6 Rxf3+ 22 Ke1 Qxe6 not look entirely convincing. Instead, 19 f4! in-
23 Qxh7+ Kf8 24 Rh6 Qf7 and Black survives) tending f5 looks strong, though after 19...Rf7 20 f5
14...b4 15 Nd1 Nd7 16 Ne3 Ne5 White’s attack Rg7, White still has a lot of work ahead of him.
does not lead to anything meaningful since 17 h5 15 hxg6
can be met with 17...g5! 18 Nd3 Qe7, when Black
has no problems; in fact, the queen on h6 may find Notice that White did not embark on any exchang-
itself in trouble one day. es until he was completely prepared with moves
such as g4. It is important to have patience when
12 h5 preparing the final assault against the fianchetto.
114
The fianchetto structure, by nature, is very immo- White has clearly made big strides in his attack. He
bile; the bishop is usually pinned to the rook on f8, has opened the h-file and forced Black to recapture
and none of Black’s pawns can move without cre- with the h-pawn, denying him the defensive re-
ating fatal weaknesses. Hence, there is no need to source of ...Rf7. Indeed, because the rook can no
rush; an early exchange on g6 would have allowed longer enter the defence, my opponent offers it to
resources such as ...Rf7, for instance. try to take the sting out of White’s attack. How
should White continue?
15...fxg6 16 Bxg7 Kxg7 17 Qh6+ Kg8 18 g5 Nh5
19 Rxh5! (D) 17 Bg5!
Recognizing that the f6-bishop is the only glue
holding Black’s dark-square complex together, I
made this move without even considering taking
the rook on f8. The attacker should know that when
attacking the fianchetto structure, in most instances
the defender’s bishop is far more valuable than the
rook, the reason simply being that the bishop plays
a far greater role in the defence than the rook. For
instance, if Black sits with his king on f8 and bish-
op on g7, how can White ever break through this
impregnable defence? Unless the rook can join the
defence via f7, it only acts as a hindrance, blocking
the escape of Black’s king.
17...Bxg5
Black to play
17...Bg7 simply loses to 18 Bxe7 +–.
The typical exchange sacrifice to break through.
18 Qxg5 f6
19...gxh5 20 g6 hxg6 21 Qxg6+ Kh8 22 Qxh5+
Forced to open some air for the king.
Kg7 23 Bh3
19 Qh6 Kf7 20 f4 Nxc4 21 Bxc4 Qxc4 (D)
Making way for the rook to deliver the final blow.
23...Bxh3 24 Rg1+ Kf6 25 e5+ 1-0
White to play
22 f5
Another good option is 22 Qh7+ Ke8 23 Qg7!,
White to play
with the deadly threat of Rh7. 23...Qd3 24 Rh7 and
Song – Obafunmilayo then:
Guelph 2016
115
a) 24...Qe3+ 25 Ne2 Qxe4 and now 26 Rc4! was How quickly Black’s defences collapse after the
the move that I had missed when calculating this exchange of his fianchettoed bishop!
variation. Black’s queen is comically helpless in
26...Rxh8?
the middle of the board. 26...Qe3 27 Rc3 (27
Qxg6+ Kd8 28 Rc3 +– also traps the queen) 26...Be6 could have been tried, and now the most
27...Qe4 28 Kf2 +– and there is no defence to ei- merciless continuation for White is 27 g4!!. The
ther Re3 or Rc4!. idea is that after an eventual ...Qd3-g3+, Black will
not have the move ...Qxg6 as the g4-pawn is in the
b) 24...Qg3+ 25 Ke2! (it is important first to pro-
way. For instance: 27...b5 28 b3 Qd3 29 dxe6
voke the bishop to g4, where it will be picked off
Qg3+ 30 Kd2 (there’s no ...Qxg6!) 30...Qf2+ 31
after Qxg6+) 25...Bg4+ 26 Kf1 Qxf4+ 27 Kg1
Ne2 +–.
Qxc1+ (27...Qe5 28 Qxg6+ Kd7 29 Qxg4+ +–) 28
Nd1! (this funny sacrifice leaves the black queen 27 g7+ 1-0
with no way to get back and hold e7) 28...Qxd1+
29 Kh2 +–. And let’s not forget that Black cannot
castle as he has already moved his king of course! In the previous two games, we have seen two ex-
amples of attacking the fianchetto with the Bh6
22...Rg8? plan to exchange the bishops. While this is by far
Setting himself up for a cute combination. the most frequent occurrence in practice, there is
22...Ke8! was the last defensive try, although another fairly common plan that we should be
Black is in big trouble after the excellent prophy- aware of, and which we shall examine now. In the
lactic move 23 Rd1!!. With one move, the rook fianchetto structure, the bishop is obviously the
strands the black queen by taking away the d4- and primary defender of the black king. However, if it
d3-squares, making it extremely difficult for the is impossible to go after the bishop (such as in the
queen to enter the defence. 23...Qb4 (after next example), the focus of attack must switch to
23...gxf5 24 Qg7 +– White wins easily as there is the g6-pawn. The g6- (or g3-) pawn can be consid-
no satisfactory answer to Rh7) 24 Rd2! (no rush: ered the secondary defender of the king. If this
just take care of first things first) 24...gxf5 25 Qg7 pawn is removed, not only will the bishop be vul-
Qb6 26 Rh7 Qd8 (26...Qc7 27 Nb5 is the same) 27 nerable to attacks along the g-file, but the other
Qxf8+ (the engines even like 27 e5 more, but this colour complex may become fatally weak.
is simple and sweet) 27...Kxf8 28 Rh8+ Kf7 29
Rxd8 +–.
23 Qh7+ Rg7 24 fxg6+ Kf8 25 Qh8+ Rg8 26
Rh7! (D)
White to play
Alexander – Pachman
Hilversum Zonal 1947
Black to play In other words, if the g6-pawn were to be removed

in this position, Black would have tremendous dif-
ficulty guarding the light squares around his king
116
such as h7, since the fianchettoed bishop does not

help the defence in this regard. Having said all this,
White’s move should come as no surprise.
23 Nf5!
White muscles his way into the black camp. This
idea is essential: when there is no way to get the
bishop, the idea of Nf5 (or sometimes Nh5) to
force the g6-pawn out of the way is extremely
powerful.
23...gxf5?
With this fatal breaching of his defences, Black
puts up no resistance. Instead:
a) 23...Nxf5? also allows White a powerful attack. Black to play
24 gxf5 h6 (24...Nc4 25 Bc1 Qd8 26 b3 Nb6 27
fxg6 fxg6 28 h5 Qf6 29 Be3 and White is close to White has won two pawns and still holds a deadly
smashing through completely) 25 Nxf7+! Rxf7 26 attack. The rest is simple.
Rxg6 provides a perfect example of how the 31...Qe7 32 Rg1 Nc4 33 Bc1 Bd7 34 Qf3 Rf8 35
fianchettoed bishop plays no defensive role when b3 Nb6 36 h5 f5 37 Bg5 fxe4 38 Qe2 Qe8 39
the target of attack switches to the other colour Bxe4 Bf5 40 Bh6 Rf6 41 Qf3 1-0
complex. Due to Black’s loss of control of the light
The lesson from this game is not to be fooled by
squares (his pawns on f7, g6 and h7 have all
the fianchetto! As Alexander demonstrated, attacks
moved or been captured), he is helpless in the face
on the opposite complex to the fianchettoed bishop
of White’s attack. 26...Be8 27 Rag1 Rd7 28 Re6
can also be highly destructive.
Bf7 29 f6 Bf8 30 Qg4 (although White has nothing
immediate, Black is left completely paralysed)
30...Nc4 31 Bc1 Rb8 32 Bd1 a5 33 Qg3 +– fol- With the next game, I would like to alert the reader
lowed by Bh5. to one common misconception about attacking col-
b) The only real attempt to put up a fight is 23...f6, our complexes: namely, just because the opponent
meeting both 24 Nxg7 and 24 Nxe7 with 24...fxg5, has pawns on a certain colour does not for a second
and seeking positional compensation for a pawn mean that the colour complex is safe.
(or an exchange) in several lines.
24 gxf5 +–
Now Black cannot stop the demolition about to un-
fold on his kingside as he cannot bring pieces to
aid the defence of the critically weak h7-point, and
White makes no mistake in realizing his advantage.
24...f6 25 Nxh7!
Ripping open the light squares.
25...Be8
25...Kxh7 26 Qh5+ Kg8 27 Rxg7+ Kxg7 28 Rg1+
+– leads to mate of course.
26 Rxg7!
Black to play
Yet another violent blow.
Aroshidze – Jobava
26...Kxg7 27 Nxf8 Kxf8 28 Bh6+ Kf7 29 Qh5+
Ng6 30 fxg6+ Kg8 31 Qf5 (D) Georgian Under-16 Ch, Tbilisi 1999
117
Intuitively, a player might feel that White’s

queenside dark squares may be vulnerable and he
will look for a way to exploit this. This optical illu-
sion makes it very easy to overlook Black’s next
move:
16...Bh3!!
Despite having all but one of his pawns on light
squares, ironically it is the weakness of the light
squares that leads to White’s demise in this game.
17 0-0
Not: 17 Qxg5?? Nxf3+ –+; 17 gxh3?? Nxf3+ –+.
17...g4!
The light-squared assault continues. White to play
18 fxg4 Black’s forces have gathered on the kingside as

White can only watch the forthcoming invasion
18 f4 is desirable, but runs into 18...Nf3+! 19 gxf3 from afar.
gxf3 20 Nd4 h4. With moves like ...Rg8, ...Qh5 or
even ...Rc8 coming up, White is helpless against 26 h3 Bxe2 27 Nxe2 Be3! 0-1
the attack. Objectively, the best defence is 21 Qd3 White resigned in the face of hefty material losses.
but this falters to 21...Rg8! 22 Kh1 Bg2+ 23 Kg1
Qh5 24 Be3 (24 e5 Bh6 –+) 24...Bxd4 25 Bxd4 (25
Qxd4 runs into the cute 25...f2+! 26 Rxf2 Qg4 –+)
25...Bxf1+ 26 Kxf1 Rg2 –+ with a crushing attack.
18...Bxg4
Black’s tactical operations have left him clearly on
top, with trumps such as a dominant knight in the
centre as well as a still-vulnerable white king.
19 Rad1 Rc8 20 Bd4
White can force an endgame with 20 Nd5, alt-
hough Black is clearly on top after 20...Qxd2 21
Rxd2 h4! –/+ since ...h3 cannot be stopped due to
the tactical point 22 h3? Bxh3! 23 gxh3 Nf3+ –+.
20...Bh6 21 Qe1 Rg8 22 Kh1 Nc6 23 Bg1?
23 Qf2 Nxd4 24 Rxd4 puts up much more re-
sistance.
23...Qg5
The army is zeroed in on White’s king now.
24 Qf2
24 Rf2 Nb4! –+ actually leaves White scrambling
to find an answer to the threat of ...Nxc2.
24...Ne5 25 Rd5 Qg6 (D)
118
Exercises
Once you spot where the weak squares and colour complexes are, you should have no problem solving
these positions.
119
120
1) Andruet – Spassky 2) Naiditsch – Grandelius

Bundesliga 1987/8 Wijk aan Zee 2013
28...Qf3! 0-1 23 Ng5!
Of course an ex-World Champion will not let such The light-square weaknesses around Black’s king
an opportunity go unnoticed! White resigned in are fatal and Naiditsch immediately exploits this.
view of the forced mate after 29 gxf3 Nexf3+ 30 23...e4
Kh1 Bh3. Spectacular! Three minor pieces are
enough to score the victory simply thanks to some 23...hxg5 24 Qg6 +–, followed by Be4 with inevi-
weak light squares. table mate, is the same.
24 Qxe4 hxg5 25 Qg6 1-0
121
3) Adly – Lazni ka 4)This is opening analysis conducted

World Junior Ch, Erevan 2007 by Michael Song in 2016.
Sacrificing to force crucial pawns in the defence to 16...Nh5!
move can create devastating weaknesses on colour
The knight comes to assist in the assault on the
complexes. This is why the g-pawn is without a
light squares.
doubt the most important pawn that defends the
kingside, and naturally makes a great target of at- 17 Kh1
tack, as it is the only defender of the colour com- Black wins after 17 Nxc5 Nf4 18 Nd1 Qh3! 19 Ne3
plex the pawn stands on. If it is removed, its two Nxg2 20 Qd2 f5 –+ followed by ...f4.
neighbouring pawns are helpless to cover the
weaknesses created. 17...Bxg2+! 18 Kxg2 Qf3+ 19 Kg1 Nxg3 20 hxg3
Qxg3+ 21 Kh1 Qf3+ 22 Kg1 Re5 –+
23 Nf6!
Forcing the g-pawn to move and surrender the dark
squares.
23...gxf6
23...Qd8 24 Nd6 +–.
24 Qh6+ Kg8
24...Ke8 25 Qxf6 Rg8 26 Nd6+ Kf8 27 Bh6+ Ng7
28 Nf5 +– was Black’s best try, but of course it
does not matter at this stage.
25 exf6 Re8 26 Bf4!
Such a position must be a paradise for the dark-
squared bishop!
26...Rc8 27 Bd6!
Taking away the f8-square, so Black has no de-
fence to mate.
27...Ncd4 28 Qg7+! 1-0
Black resigned, not wanting to see the humiliation
after 28...Nxg7 29 Nh6#.
122
32 g4!
Prying open the light squares for an attack.
32...f4 33 Re1
33 g5! is even stronger. Then 33...Rf5 is met by the
annihilating 34 Rg1!; e.g., 34...Be8 35 Qh3 Rxg5
36 Rxg5 hxg5 37 Bh7+! Kf8 38 Ne4 +–. With that
in mind, the immediate 33 Rg1!, preparing g5
without relinquishing f5 just yet, is very strong too.
33...Qc8 34 Bxd6?
This positionally well-motivated exchange (seeking
full domination over the light squares) loses control
over the game. 34 Qg6 or 34 Rg1 should have been
Black to play preferred.
5) Piket – Kasparov 34...cxd6
Tilburg 1989 34...Bxg4 is also OK for Black.
25...a6! 35 Bg6 Rf8 36 Ne4 f3?
Kasparov senses that White has lost all grip on the 36...Bxg4 had to be tried, meeting 37 Qh4 with
dark squares in his camp and immediately makes 37...f3, when it’s rather unclear who is attacking
way for his queen to punish his opponent. whom.
26 Qd3 37 g5 Rf4 38 Rg1??
26 hxg3 fxg3 27 Rfc2 Qa7+ 28 Kf1 Rf4 –+ leaves Uncharacteristically, Petrosian allows his opponent
White with no defence to ...Rh4 and ...Rh1+. to escape. 38 gxh6 Bh8 39 Rg1 +– is simply the
end.
26...Qa7 27 b5 axb5 28 Bxb5 Nh1! 0-1
38...Bf5??
And his opponent decides to hand the game back!
After 38...Bg4! 39 Bf7+ Kh8 40 gxh6 Bxh5 41
hxg7+ Kh7 42 g8Q+ Qxg8 43 Bxg8+ Rxg8 44
Rxg8 Kxg8 45 Nxd6 Rd4 =+ Black has repelled
White’s attack and can play for a win.
39 gxh6 Bxe4 40 Bxe4 1-0
White to play
6) Petrosian – Suetin
USSR Team Ch, Riga 1954
123
7) E. Hansen – Gonzalez Vidal 8) Jobava – Ponomariov

Baku Olympiad 2016 Baku Olympiad 2016
18 Rxf5! exf5 19 e6! 17 Bh6!
The real point of the combination. White sacrifices Out of nowhere, the absence of Black’s dark-
an exchange and a pawn but gains absolute domi- squared bishop proves fatal.
nation over the light squares instead.
17...gxh6
19...Qxe6 20 Bf4 Ne5!? 17...Nc6 is smashed by 18 Bxg7! (18 Qg5 Nh5 19
Perhaps the best try. Black’s pieces are horrible and Rxe6 fxe6 would keep Black breathing for now)
he would much rather solve his pawn-structure than 18...Kxg7 19 Qg5+ Kf8 20 Rxe6 fxe6 21 Qxf6+ +–
hold on to a useless knight. with devastation.
21 Nh4! 18 Qxh6 Rxc3
White is not interested in the poisoned knight, and After 18...Ne8 19 Bxf5 +– White wins on the spot.
the Canadian grandmaster Eric Hansen puts his op-
19 Qg5+ Kf8 20 Qxf6 Rxd3
ponent away easily from here.
20...Rc7 21 Bxf5 +– and the e7-rook is taboo due
21...Nc6 22 Qd2 Rae8 23 c3 Qe4 24 h3 Rf7 25 to Qh8#.
Qf2 Rfe7 26 Qg3 Rd7 27 Bg6
21 cxd3 1-0
The light squares have become a cancer in Black’s
position. Black resigned as there is no defence to the threats
of both Rxf7+ and Re1xe6.
27...Nd8 28 Nxf5 Qe6 29 Bxh6 Ree7 30 Bxg7
Rxg7 31 Re1 1-0
124
8: Pawn Play
RAZVAN PREOTU
If there is an equivalent for the phrase ‘all-in’ in chess, it must be the pawn-storm. Although extremely
common in opposite-side castling positions, a pawn-storm is a risky method of attack when both kings
have castled on the same side. It weakens your own king’s position and could invite a strong counter-
attack from your opponent. That is why an important factor that determines the strength of a pawn-storm
attack is the situation in the centre. If the centre is solid and closed, then it will be very difficult for your
opponent to counter-attack and take advantage of the weaknesses created by advancing your pawns.
However, if the situation in the centre is not clarified, then the opponent might be able to launch a devas-
tating counter-attack which will hurt the pawn-storm’s chances of success since the attacker will have to
respond to threats in the centre.
14 f4!?
White advances the f-pawn, supporting the bishop.
This weakens the e3-pawn, but White will get
strong play on the kingside in return.
14...f6
Black forces the exchange of bishops, but at the
high price of weakening his kingside pawn-
structure.
14...Bb4 might be stronger, planning ...f6 as the
bishops can no longer be traded. However, after 15
f5 Nd7 16 Bf4 Nf6 17 g4 White can still continue
his attack.
White to play 15 Bxd6 Qxd6 16 Rf3!
Riumin – Kan White’s rook will be very well placed along the
third rank, as it contributes to the attack while de-
Moscow 1936 fending the e3-pawn.
I am sure that most players, including grandmas- 16...Be6 17 Kh1!
ters, who are familiar with the typical Queen’s
Gambit Declined plans would exchange bishops on Making way for the reserve to enter play via g1.
d6 and prepare a pawn-minority attack on the 17...Re7 18 Rg1 Rae8 19 g4! (D)
queenside revolving around the advance b4. While
this is a sound way to play and arguably the most
conventional plan in today’s chess, it is not very
ambitious, and at best White will obtain a small
plus. Instead, Riumin realized that he could start a
pawn-storm attack on the kingside, as the situation
in the centre is fairly stable. Black’s only play will
be along the e-file, but that will not be significant
enough to distract White from his attack.
125
Pawn Play
22 f5! (D)
Black to play
White has made all the preparatory moves and be- Black to play
gins the pawn-storm attack! Note that this is only
White prevents ...Ne6, which could have put an-
sound considering Black cannot break open the
noying pressure on the d4-pawn after a subsequent
centre. ...c5, while opening a great square on f4 for his
19...Bf7 20 Qf2 Kh8 21 h4 a6 own knight.
Black wants to counter-attack in the centre with the 22...c5
break ...c5. Kan was discouraged from doing so
It is very difficult to recommend any improvement
immediately though, since Nb5 was an annoying
for Black. 22...Nd7 23 Ne2 Nb6 and then:
response, gaining a tempo on the queen and head-
ing for the blockade on the d4-square. a) 24 b3? doesn’t actually prevent Black’s threat.
After 24...Nc4! 25 bxc4 dxc4 26 Bc2 Bd5 27 e4
Nonetheless, 21...c5 was still probably the better
(otherwise the e3-pawn is lost) 27...Bxe4 28 Bxe4
move, as Black’s counterplay in the game came too
Rxe4 29 Nc3 Rxd4 30 Re1 = material is equal and
slowly. 22 Nb5 (22 Ne2 is similar to the game, but
perpetual check from either side is likely to occur.
White is now a tempo behind; this gives Black
more time to generate counterplay) 22...Qc6 23 b) 24 Nf4! (White’s threat of g5 followed by g6 is
dxc5 Qxc5 24 Rfg3 (24 Nd4 Ne6 = allows Black to immensely strong) 24...Nc4 25 g5 Rxe3 26 Rxe3
destroy the blockade anyway) and then: Rxe3 27 g6 Be8 28 b3 Qe7 29 bxc4 dxc4 and with
30 Bc2 +– White maintains his extra piece and still
a) Bringing the knight to c5 and then to e4 is too
has good attacking chances. But not 30 Bxc4?,
slow, as the knight is needed in the defence:
when 30...Qe4+ –/+ followed by ...Rf3 wins the
24...Nd7? 25 Nd4 Qb6 26 g5 Nc5? 27 Bxh7! +–
knight, as Ng2 allows ...Rh3#.
leads to a crushing attack.
23 Ne2 cxd4 24 exd4
b) After 24...Rxe3?! 25 Nd6 Qxd6 26 Rxe3 +=
White wins material, although Black still main- Black has managed to open the e-file, but all the
tains great compensation. invasion squares for Black’s rooks are covered.
The best he can do with it is force the exchange of
c) 24...d4! is a strong pawn sacrifice that opens
a pair of rooks, which does not alleviate the pres-
the centre even more – without a roof of pawns
sure.
over his castle, White’s king is beginning to feel
the cold winds seeping through. After 25 Nxd4 24...Qb4 25 Nf4 Re1 26 Rg3?!
Qd5+ 26 Kh2 Ne6 , in sharp contrast to the White defends the back rank but it was not neces-
game, Black has obtained strong counterplay in sary. 26 g5 Rxg1+ 27 Kxg1 +/– is more to the
the centre for the low price of a pawn, and has point: White continues the pawn-storm attack. The
brought White’s attack to a halt. endgame after 27...Qe1+ 28 Kg2 Qxf2+ 29 Rxf2 is
very bad for Black and similar to the game.
126
26...Rxg1+ 27 Rxg1 Qe7?! 33...Bc6 34 Kf3 Rf7 35 Kg4 Rc7 36 Ne6 Nxe6 37
27...h6 seems like an improvement, trading more fxe6 Kg8 38 Kf5 Kf8 39 Ke5 g6 40 Kd6 Re7 41
pawns if White plays g5. This looks very weaken- Bxa6 Ke8 42 Bd3 1-0
ing, but White cannot take advantage of it, and Not only was the pawn-storm attack objectively
queens are likely to be exchanged because of the quite strong, it also put severe psychological pres-
open e-file: 28 g5 hxg5 29 hxg5 fxg5 30 Rxg5 sure on Black, which prompted him to simplify
Qe1+ 31 Kg2 Nh7 32 Rg3 Nf6. into a lost endgame by exchanging the queens. An
armada of pawns charging towards the king is al-
28 g5
ways intimidating, and thus players often have a
The threat of g6 is too strong. Black must capture. tendency to overreact to the attack.
28...fxg5 29 hxg5 (D)

29...Qe3? Carlsen – E. Hossain
Black is worried about his king safety and thus im- Baku Olympiad 2016
pulsively offers a queen exchange, neglecting the
fact that the endgame is completely hopeless. Initially, it seems like Hossain has a playable posi-
White’s dangerous pawns and active pieces offer tion against the World Champion. After all, the po-
an overwhelming positional advantage. sition in the centre is closed, which tends to favour
the pair of knights over the pair of bishops. He also
With 29...Kg8 +/– Black gets off the h-file, making has no obvious weaknesses for White to attack.
30 g6 not a big deal since 30...hxg6 31 fxg6 Be6 is However, Carlsen realized that he could take ad-
fine. There is no clear way to break through on the vantage of the closed centre himself by launching a
kingside, but White is still much better positionally powerful pawn-storm on the kingside.
due to his more active pieces.
17 f4! exd5
30 Qxe3 Rxe3 31 Kg2 +–
Black senses the danger and tries to open the cen-
White’s activity is too great. The rook will invade tre. Unfortunately, just an open e-file won’t do
on the c-file and the king will invade through the much to distract White from the attack.
middle to the e5-square. There is no way to protect
against all the threats. 18 exd5!
Keeping the doubled c-pawns, which robs Black of
31...Be8 32 Kf2 Re7 33 Rc1
any hopes of counterplay.
33 Nxd5 Rd7 34 Rc1! Rxd5 35 Rc8 +– was more
accurate. 18 Nxd5 Nxd5 19 exd5 would only assist Black,
who wants to trade as many pieces as possible due
to his space disadvantage. There is no reason why
127
Pawn Play
White should help Black solve the problem of his Out of any reasonable ideas, Hossain decides to
‘superfluous’ knight. wait for the inevitable and just moves back and
forth.
18 cxd5? allows Black strong counterplay against
the e4-pawn by 18...c4! (opening up the c5-square 27 Bd2 Rde8 (D)
for the knight) 19 Bc2 Rfe8 20 Qd4 Nc5 =, when
Black’s pieces spring to life.
18...Rfe8 19 g4! (D)
White to play
28 f5 +–
All preparations have been made for the final pawn
Black to play
advance. It is clear now that there is no way for
Carlsen gives Hossain no time to generate Black to defend.
counterplay. The threat of g5 has to be met.
28...Ne5
19...Nf8 Black takes his opportunity to trade a pair of
19...g6 creates too many dark-square weaknesses. knights.
After 20 g5 Nh5 21 Ng4 the knight is heading to
29 Nxe5 Rxe5 30 Bf4 Nd7 31 f6!
h6 with the f5 advance to follow. Black has no ad-
equate way to prevent this; for example, 21...Kh8 Carlsen is not interested in winning material, and
22 Nh6 f5 23 Nxf5 +–. wisely swoops in for the kill.
20 g5 N6d7 21 h4 31...g6 32 hxg6 fxg6 33 Bxg6 1-0
Simple play from Carlsen: keep advancing the Black resigned as White will deliver mate on the h-
pawns! file using the queen and rook.
21...Rad8 A crushing victory for Carlsen, who generated an
unstoppable attack by advancing all his kingside
It is almost impossible to recommend any im- pawns! He recognized that with the centre being so
provement for Black. Because his pieces are all closed, there was no way for his opponent to gen-
shut out of play, there is simply no way to put up erate any kind of counterplay, allowing him slowly
resistance against the attack. At this point, one but surely to conduct the attack that proved impos-
could comfortably claim that White is just outright sible to defend against.
winning!
22 h5 Bc8 23 Ng4 Re7 24 Rg2 Kh8 25 Qf3
Carlsen doesn’t rush and brings all his pieces into
the attack first.
25...Rde8 26 Qg3 Rd8
128
Alekhine – Monticelli 21 Nf3

San Remo 1930 21 e6! would have given White a pleasant posi-
tional advantage. 21...Qd6 22 Nxf7+ Bxf7 23 exf7
When playing with a kingside pawn-majority (usu-
Rxf7 24 Bc2 g6 and after 25 Be3 += White enjoys
ally spearheaded by a pawn on e5), the pawn-storm
becomes an increasingly attractive option. In this the bishop-pair advantage. Black can trade bishops
with ...Bg5, but it would compromise his pawn-
game, Alekhine seems to have a pleasant position
because of the strong central pawns. On the other structure. Note that White must avoid 25 Bxh6? g5,
when his bishop is trapped, so he must make some
hand, it is not clear how to improve since Black’s
only ‘weak’ pawns on b5 and d5 are sufficiently unfavourable exchanges: 26 Bf5 Qxh6 27 Be6 Rf6
defended. Seeing that the centre is closed, the 4th 28 Rxc6 Bd6 =, when Black has enough activity
for equality.
World Champion starts to mobilize his kingside
pawn-majority. 21...Nd8
19 Ng5 Black prepares to transfer the knight to e6 and play
19 g4! Bg6 20 Ne1 is a better way of preparing the ...c6, defending the d5-pawn.
kingside pawn-storm, as Alekhine retreated his 22 Ne1!
knight to e1 in the game anyway. After 20...Nd8 21
White’s idea is to transfer the knight to d3 and ad-
f4 Be4 22 f5 White’s pawns are a force to be reck-
vance the f-pawn. As previously mentioned, it was
oned with.
wiser to do this earlier.
19...h6
22...c6 23 Nd3?!
19...Nd8 20 g4 Bg6 is stronger, stopping White’s
This is too slow. White should advance the f-pawn
idea of playing e6. White is also not ready to ad-
immediately: 23 f4! Be4 (23...f5 24 exf6 Bxf6 25
vance the f-pawn now as the knight would be cap-
f5 Bf7 26 Bf4 +/– is also extremely unpleasant for
tured, ruining the structure after fxg5.
Black) 24 f5 gives White strong play on the king-
20 g4 Bg6 (D) side.
23...Ne6 (D)
129
Pawn Play
After 25...Bxd3 26 fxg7+ Kxg7 27 Rxd3 it looks

like Black just lost a pawn for nothing, but now the
centre has opened and he can start a counter-attack
along the open lines. 27...Rbe8! (Black threatens to
move the knight with a future discovered attack on
White’s queen) 28 Qf2 Ng5 29 f5 Bd6 += offers
Black decent compensation for the pawn because
of his more active pieces and White’s exposed
king.
26 f5 Nxd4 27 cxd4 Bxd4+ 28 Kg2 +–
Black has no fruits to justify the material deficit.
28...Rbe8 29 Qf3 Bf7 30 Nf4 Be5 31 Ba3 Rg8 32
Bc5 Bb8 33 Bf2 Re4??
White to play A blunder, but no other move would have swayed
24 f4? the result of the game in any case.
A mistimed advance from Alekhine. As the attack- 34 Qxe4 1-0
er, it is important always to watch out for central So although Alekhine appeared to win rather easily
counterplay when conducting a pawn-storm. If the in the game, he could have been severely punished
centre can be broken apart, then the pawn-storm for advancing his kingside pawns at an inappropri-
will usually fail since enemy pieces are able to inate time.
vade and stir up threats against the now-exposed
king.
Defending the d4-pawn by 24 Be3 was necessary
to stop Black from playing ...b4.
24...f5?
Monticelli misses his chance to counter-attack the
centre. 24...b4! causes White huge trouble, as the
d4-pawn is undermined and the bishop on b3 will
be hanging. After 25 f5 bxc3 26 fxe6 Qb7! (the key
move that both players must have missed: Black
gains a crucial tempo on the hanging rook on a6,
and will win back the piece) 27 Nf4 Qxb3 28
Nxg6+ fxg6 29 Rxc6 Rfc8 30 Rxc8+ Rxc8 31 Qd3
–/+ Black has a strong passed c-pawn and the safer
king along with great winning chances. Alekhine
chose the wrong time to start a pawn-storm, as the White to play
opponent had a perfect opportunity to undermine
the centre with ...b4! A pawn-storm should under Sutovsky – Van Wely
no circumstances be executed without precise cal- Tilburg 1996
culation!
Although pawn-storms are almost automatic in op-
25 exf6 Bxf6? posite-side castling Sicilian positions, the fact that
Monticelli goes for a piece sacrifice to eliminate they are not at all infrequent in same-side castling
White’s strong pawns, but it is obviously insuffi- Sicilians is a testament to this opening’s dynamic
cient compensation. Once more, we see that the nature. In this position, Sutovsky plays a move that
psychological pressure created by the pawns in- was not very common at the time.
duced an unsound and desperate lashing-out from 10 g4!?
the defender.
130
White advances his g-pawn in order to chase away Black’s knight, where it would be optimally placed
Black’s well-placed knight by playing g5. It looks to defend the kingside, so the move is rather dou-
weakening to advance the kingside pawns in such a ble-edged. Now:
manner, but for the moment the centre is fairly a) After 12...Ne5 13 f6 Bd8 14 fxg7 Kxg7 =
closed and Black’s pieces lag behind in develop- Black’s knight on e5 acts as superglue, holding his
ment. entire position together.
10...b5 b) 12...b4!? is also possible, attacking White’s
10...d5! is in my opinion the best response for knight. 13 fxe6 bxc3 14 exf7+ (after 14 exd7 Nxd7
Black. As we know by now, it is a good defensive 15 Nf5 Re8 16 bxc3 Ne5 = Black’s knight secures
technique against a pawn-storm to open the centre the kingside; White is a pawn up but has a terrible
in order to generate counterplay. Then: structure) 14...Kh8 15 Ne6 Qb7 16 Qd4 Ne5 17
Nxf8 Nbc6! (a precise intermezzo attacking the
a) 11 e5 closes the centre, but makes it difficult to
white queen; 17...Bxf8? allows the unexpected shot
advance the f-pawn as e5 would be hanging. After
18 Qxd6! Nbd7 19 Qd5 cxb2 20 Rab1 +=, when
11...Nfd7 (11...Ne4!? 12 Nxe4 dxe4 is also possi-
White’s rooks are very active and are superior to
ble, with the idea of defending the e4-pawn by
Black’s uncoordinated minor pieces) 18 Qxc3
playing ...b6 and ...Bb7) 12 Qd2 Nc6 =+ White’s
Bxf8. White has a rook and three pawns for two
attack has come to an end, and the pawn on g4
pieces, but Black has consolidated and will win the
looks very silly.
f7-pawn after ...Be6. In the middlegame two pieces
b) 11 exd5 Nxd5 12 Nxd5 exd5 13 Bf3 Nc6 =. tend to be worth more than a rook and some
Black has an isolated d-pawn but has managed to pawns, and so I would even feel more comfortable
open the centre, making White’s king feel a bit as Black here.
vulnerable and leading to dynamic equality.
12...Re8 (D)
11 g5 Nfd7 (D)
Black opens the f8-square for either knight or bish-
op. Completing development by 12...Nc6 was also
possible, as 13 Qh5 is met handily by 13...g6 14
Qh6 Re8 15 Nxc6 Qxc6 16 Bd4?! Bf8, when Black
is at least equal.
White to play
12 Bd3
White places the bishop on a strong attacking diag-
onal where it defends the c2- and e4-pawns as well.
White’s queen also now has access to the danger- White to play
ous h5-square. 13 Qh5 g6 14 Qh4 b4
An interesting alternative was 12 f5!?, which con- This move chases the knight towards the kingside
tinues the pawn-storm attack with the idea of open- attack. 14...Nc6 seems much safer: 15 f5 Nde5 16
ing up the black king by playing f6. At the same f6 Bf8 .
time, it permanently surrenders the e5-square to
131
Pawn Play
15 Nce2 Bb7? The next plan on the agenda is Rh3 followed by f6.
Van Wely allows White time to bring his rook into 20...exf5 21 Nxf5 Nf8 22 Nxg7 Kxg7 23 Bd4+
the attack with disastrous consequences. Re5 24 Raf1 1-0
15...Nc6 was the critical test, giving Black the op- Black is unable to defend f7, as 24...Ng6 fails due
portunity to trade a pair of knights to relieve some to 25 Rxf7+ Qxf7 26 Rxf7+ Kxf7 27 Qh7+.
pressure. After 16 Rf3 (16 f5 accomplishes little An instructive example showing the power of a
after 16...Nde5 =) 16...Nxd4 17 Bxd4 e5! (Black pawn-storm attack that was successful in chasing
needs to free the e5-outpost for the knight without away the enemy’s defensive pieces.
weakening the kingside; 17...h5?! 18 f5! Ne5 19
Rf2 followed by Raf1 and ideas of Ng3/Nf4 fol-
lowed by Nxh5 is very dangerous) 18 Be3 exf4 19 Although we have examined many examples of
Nxf4 Ne5 Black’s knight holds the position togeth- pawn-storms, this is not the only way pawns can
er, while the exchange sacrifice 20 Raf1 Nxf3+ 21 get involved in the attack. Advancing the h-pawn is
Rxf3 looks dangerous but doesn’t seem to provide another common attacking technique, which is so
anything after 21...d5! 22 Nxd5 Qe5 23 c3 h5 =, important that I have decided to dedicate the next
since White’s own open king position makes it dif- chapter to it. Yet it is also possible for other pawns
ficult to continue the attack. to rush into the attack, fight for crucial squares and
16 Rf3! (D) create weaknesses as well. The final example of
this chapter is a very unusual one from Fischer.
Black to play
White threatens Rh3 with a crushing attack. With-

out the knight exchange on d4, Black is just unable White to play
to fight against the attack. Fischer – Andersson
16...h5 Exhibition game, Siegen 1970
The problem is that Black cannot hold by simply Unlike the previous games from this chapter,
defending the h7-pawn by moving the knight to f8: Fischer does not have a space advantage or a
after 16...Nc6 17 Rh3 Nf8 18 Qh6 +– Black is pawn-majority on the kingside. So how could he
helpless against f5 followed by f6, threatening ma- possibly attack on the kingside using his pawns
te on g7. when he does not stand better on that side of the
17 Ng3 board? In all truthfulness, there is no direct answer
to this question, but in this case it is mainly be-
White sacrifices the knight in order to open the h-
cause of Black’s weakness on f6 and the pressure
file for the queen and rook.
on the long a1-h8 diagonal. In addition, the light
17...Bf8 18 Nxh5! gxh5 19 Qxh5 Bg7 20 f5 squares around Black’s king have been slightly
weakened by the move ...f6 as well.
132
13 Kh1! With the support of the g-pawn, Fischer intends to

The start of a brilliant idea. White makes room for play Nf5, opening up the g-file.
his rook to slide over to g1 in order to advance the 20...Nd7?
g-pawn.
Andersson chases White’s knight away from c5,
White could of course play on the queenside with but it will become better placed on e4 as it can par-
13 Ne4 Qd7 14 Rac1 but it is less clear how to ticipate in the kingside attack. Furthermore, the c8-
break through. bishop is now blocked, which introduces some tac-
tical ideas for White.
13...Qd7 14 Rg1 Rad8 15 Ne4 Qf7?!
It seems odd to move the queen away and allow 20...Kh8 was again a stronger defence. White
White to play the move g4 without forcing him to might need to move the knight back in order to ad-
play the preparatory h3. 15...Nb6 16 h3 Qf7 17 vance the h-pawn. After 21 Bf3 Bf8 22 Ne4 Nd5 it
Nfd2 Be7 18 g4 would be similar to the game, but is difficult to see how White breaks through in
probably a better version for Black as h3 is not use- spite of his obvious pressure.
ful and the pawn may even become a target. 21 Ne4
16 g4! Now Andersson has serious challenges to prevent
The time has come to advance the pawn. White the key move Nf5.
prepares to double the rooks. 21...Nf8
16...g6 Other lines:
Black plans to fianchetto his bishop in order to a) After 21...Kh8, 22 d4! is a fantastic break. White
block the g-file and fight against White’s dark- threatens Bc4, after which Black’s queen will have
squared bishop. 16...Nb6 17 Nfd2 Be7 18 Rg3 no good square. 22...exd4 23 Bc4 Re6 (23...Qf8 24
Qf8! would be an interesting way to defend, put- Nxg6+! hxg6 25 exd4 +– and Black’s position will
ting pressure on the a3-pawn so White’s rook can- collapse, as White threatens Rh3+ followed by d5)
not join the attack so easily. 24 Bxe6 Qxe6 25 exd4 +/– leaves White the ex-
change up and he can still continue the attack, with
17 Rg3 Bg7 18 Rag1 Nb6
ideas of advancing the f-pawn.
Black retreats the knight in order to open the way
for the d8-rook and e6-bishop. On the other hand, b) 21...Ne7 22 Qxc7 Qxb3 doesn’t quite work, as
the knight was very well placed on d5. 18...Kh8 the a2-g8 diagonal is too weak: 23 Nd6 Nc6
would have been a more useful move, getting off (23...Qxb2? 24 Qc4+ with the typical smothered
the g-file immediately. mate pattern) 24 d4 Qxb2 25 Bc4+ Kf8 26 Nxc8
Rxc8 27 Qxd7 Ne7 28 Qe6 (Black is forced to give
19 Nc5 Bc8 20 Nh4! (D) up material for insufficient compensation)
28...Rxc4 29 Qxc4 +/–.
22 Nf5
White is able to get rid of Black’s defensive dark-
squared bishop, making the attack even stronger.
22...Be6 23 Nc5 Ne7?
Black’s knight needed to remain on c6 to defend
the e5-pawn: 23...Nd7 24 Nxe6 Rxe6 (24...Qxe6?
runs into trouble on the diagonal: after 25 d4! Nb6
26 Nxg7 Kxg7 27 dxe5 fxe5 28 f4 +/– White’s two
bishops rule the board) 25 h4 +/– and White’s at-
tack rages on with the plan of h5.
24 Nxg7 Kxg7 25 g5! (D)
Black to play
133
Pawn Play
thumb is to make sure your opponent is unable to

start a counter-attack of his own, as then your king
may regret ordering his bodyguards to run forward.
This is why the most favourable situation for
launching a pawn-storm is when the centre is
closed.
Black to play
Black’s structure is undermined and White’s dark-

squared bishop is finally ready to breathe fire.
25...Nf5 26 Rf3 b6
26...Bd5! 27 e4 b6 at least makes the position a
little more murky. After 28 Na6 Bxb3 29 Qc6 Nd4
30 Bxd4 Rxd4 31 Rxf6 Qd7 32 Rc1 +/– Black has
been able to trade queens and stop White’s attack,
but will lose the c7-pawn.
27 gxf6+ Kh8 28 Nxe6 Rxe6 29 d4 +–
The position is being blasted open, which certainly
favours the bishop-pair.
29...exd4 30 Bc4
Black loses the exchange.
30...d3 31 Bxd3 Rxd3 32 Qxd3 Rd6 33 Qc4 Ne6
34 Be5 Rd8 35 h4
Fischer continues his attack, opening up more lines
toward Andersson’s king. The rest is a matter of
technique.
35...Nd6 36 Qg4 Nf8 37 h5 Ne8 38 e4 Rd2 39
Rh3 Kg8 40 hxg6 Nxg6 41 f4 Kf8 42 Qg5 Nd6 43
Bxd6+ 1-0
A very creative attacking idea from Fischer. The
plan of Kh1, Rg1 and g4 was not something you
saw every day, but it has now become a standard
plan for Black in some hedgehog structures.
After seeing these games, you should understand

that even if both players have castled on the same
side, it is still possible to attack the opponent by
advancing your own pawns. However, the rule of
134
Exercises
135
Pawn Play
136
1) Song – Sevillano 2) Vaganian – Shirov

Las Vegas 2015 Istanbul Olympiad 2000
28 Nxf5! gxf5 29 g4! 17 g4!
This thrust is what my opponent had overlooked. Seeing that Black’s pieces are focused on the
29 Qxf5? Qe7 is extremely complicated. queenside, White begins a kingside offensive.
29...Bh6 30 gxf5 +– 17...Bxc3 18 bxc3 Rxc3 19 g5! Rxd3
The e- and f-pawns steamroll the black position. 19...Ne4 20 gxh6! Qd8 (20...Rxd3? 21 Ne5 +–
threatens both the rook and h7+) 21 Ng5 g6
30...Nf8 31 Rg1+ Kh8 32 Rg4 Qe7 33 Bh4 1-0 (21...Nxg5? 22 fxg5 Rxd3 23 hxg7 Kxg7 24 Qh6+
Kg8 25 g6 +–) 22 Bxe4 Rxc1 23 Rxc1 dxe4 24
h7+ Kg7 25 h8Q+ Qxh8 26 Qxh8+ Rxh8 27 Rc7
+/– offers White great winning chances in the end-
game.
20 gxf6 Rxe3 21 Qg4 g6 22 Qh4?
22 f5! was the correct way to proceed: 22...exf5 23
Qf4 Re6 24 Qxh6 Rxf6 25 Ng5 +– or 22...Re4 23
Qh3 h5 24 fxg6 fxg6 25 Ne5 +–.
22...h5 23 Qg5 Qb4 24 Rb1 Qa3 25 Nh4 Kh7??
25...Be8! 26 Rxb7 Re2! would leave White with no
clear path forward.
26 Rxb7 Rd8 27 f5 exf5 28 Rxd7 Rxd7 29 Nxf5
1-0
137
Pawn Play
3) So – Kamsky 4) J. Polgar – Berkes

USA Ch, St Louis 2016 Budapest 2003
22 Nhf5! The key to this exercise is realizing that White
would love to play h4 to open the h-file, but unfor-
A spectacular sacrifice by Wesley So, based on the
tunately Black can meet this with ...g4. Once you
power of his pawns.
grasp this, Polgar’s brilliant idea is not too difficult
22...gxf5 23 Nxf5 Re6 to find.
In the event of 23...Ng8 24 Nxd6 Qb8 25 Nxe8 14 g4!!
Qxe8 26 f4! +– White’s pawns roll through.
After 14 Bxa8? g4 –/+ White cannot save the
24 Bxh6 Ne8 25 Bg5 Bf6 knight due to the pin with ...Bg5.
25...f6 26 Bh6 +–. 14...Rb8 15 h4
26 Bxf6 Qxf6 Now Black must decide what to do with his king.
26...Rxf6 27 Qg5 +– followed by Re3 is crushing. 15...g6
27 d5! Re7 15...gxh4 16 g5 gives White a decisive attack. To
27...cxd5 28 exd5 Bxd5 29 Ne7+ +–. show one possibility, play may continue 16...f5 17
Qf4! Kg8 (17...fxe4 18 Qxh4+ Kg8 19 Qh8+ Kf7
28 g4!! 1-0 20 Qh5+ g6 21 Qh7+ Ke8 22 Qxg6+ Rf7 23 Rh7
The g-pawn sinks Black’s ship as the threat of g5 is +–) 18 Qxh4 Bd6 19 Bc6 Kf7 20 Rde1 +– with a
unstoppable. lethal attack.
16 hxg5+ Kg7 17 Qf4 Bb7
17...Bd6 looks OK at first, but is refuted by 18 Ne5
Be7 (18...Bxe5 19 dxe5 Rh8 20 Rh6! Rxh6 21
gxh6+ Kg8 22 h7+ Kg7 23 h8Q+ Qxh8 24 Rh1 +–)
19 Nxf7! Bxg5 (19...Rxf7 20 Rh7+ Kxh7 21
Qxf7+ +–) 20 Qxg5 +–.
18 Rh7+!
The mating attack is in full swing now.
18...Kxh7 19 Qh2+ Kg8 20 Rh1 Bxg5+ 21 Nxg5
Qxg5+ 22 f4 Qxf4+ 23 Qxf4 Bxe4 24 Qxe4 1-0
138
5) Debashis – Topalov 6) Duda – Leko

Gibraltar 2015 Berlin blitz 2015
23...Rh6! 30...g5!
This would have been extremely strong, clearing Although this exposes Black’s king, it is much
the way for the g-pawn to charge. more important to smash White’s pawn-shield to
bits.
In the game, Topalov missed this excellent chance
to attack by instead playing 23...Qd7?, and might 30...Ne3+? was Leko’s choice in the game. After
have been punished if his opponent had found 24 31 Bxe3 dxe3 32 Bd1 Qh6 =+ Black was still ob-
Bb2!, preparing c4. For instance, the greedy jectively better, but after a few inaccuracies Leko
24...Qxa4?! (24...Nd5 25 Re1 followed by e4 even managed to lose.
seems OK for White) 25 c4 Re8 26 Ra1 Qd7 27
31 Qe2
e4! cxd4 28 e5 += forces Black to make an un-
sound piece sacrifice of some sort. After 31 Bd1 Qh7 –+ Black maintains the attack,
while threatening discovered attacks. 31 fxg5 Qxg5
24 Kg1 g5!! also does not alleviate the pressure.
The g-pawn plays a crucial role in battering down
31...Qh7!
White’s defences.
Refusing the queen trade. Now Black will quickly
25 Be2 break open the kingside with ...gxf4, after which
25 Qf2 clears the f1-square for the white king, but his major pieces will be much better suited to ex-
this does not save him. After 25...g4 26 hxg4 Nxg4 ploiting the open g-file than White’s.
27 Bxg4 Qh2+ 28 Kf1 Bxg4 29 Qf4 the best White
can do is exchange queens, but 29...Qxf4+ 30 exf4
Bf5 –+ is an easy process of conversion for Black.
25...Bxh3!
25...g4?! 26 h4 Qg3 27 Qf2 –/+ gives White some
hopes of survival.
26 gxh3 Qg3+ 27 Qg2 Qxe3+ 28 Qf2 Qxd2 –+
followed by ...Ne4 and Black wins.
139
Charging the h-Pawn Forward
9: Charging the h-Pawn Forward

RAZVAN PREOTU
“A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.” Those were the words of the American literature
pioneer of the nineteenth century, Mark Twain. Applying this quote to chess, we realize if there is one
soldier in attacking play that deserves more recognition for its bravery, sacrifice and countless deaths, it is
definitely the h-pawn.
Advancing the h-pawn is a very typical attacking method. It is mostly used to provoke weak squares
(usually g7/g2) against the castled king’s pawn formation, which pieces can later exploit. Unlike a pawn-
storm, the advance of the h-pawn usually does not come with the benefit of chasing away the opponent’s
defenders. However, there are great upsides that the h-pawn attack holds over a pawn-storm. Most im-
portantly, it does not weaken your own king as much. Even with the absence of the h-pawn, the king can
remain relatively safe, meaning there is less risk of allowing a strong counter-attack. In addition, a pawn-
storm can sometimes be counterproductive, as the attacking pawns may take away important squares from
the pieces themselves! Thus, pushing the h-pawn is a powerful and effective attacking weapon that is seen
more and more in modern chess.
A nice attacking move. The pawn is heading all the

way to h6, where it would cause Black massive
headaches since the long a1-h8 diagonal and the
eighth rank will always demand protection. Black
could take the pawn on h5 when it arrives there,
but that would still ruin his structure and weaken
his king by opening the g-file. Furthermore, it is
also a good prophylactic move as it eradicates
White’s own back-rank problems.
Two other moves are worth mentioning:
a) 25 Nxf7 Rxf7 26 Qxe6 Ra8 27 a4 += gives
White a nice advantage because of his safer king
and passed a-pawn. However, Black is only a
queen trade away from getting an easily drawn
White to play
rook endgame, even if it costs a pawn. So recog-
So – Maghsoodloo nized this would not be an easy endgame to win,
Baku 2015 and decided to play in a more practical way. It
would be a lot easier for his opponent to make a
In this example, So has great positional compensa- mistake when he is under attack.
tion for the pawn. His pieces are well placed and
along with White’s superior minor piece, he has a b) White could also try to promote the a-pawn, but
potentially dangerous outside passed a-pawn. He that would allow Black to activate his bishop: 25
could take on f7 and then e6 in order to win back a4 e5! 26 a5 Bd5 27 a6 e4 28 a7 Ra8 (the pawn is
the pawn, but that would only help Black simplify well blockaded now and Black can force a queen
the position. Instead, So wisely takes advantage of exchange with ...Qg7) 29 Rdb1 Qg7 30 Qxg7+
the weakened dark squares on the kingside. Kxg7 31 Rb7+ Kf6 32 Rxh7 Rfb8 33 h4 Rb4 +=.
White’s a-pawn gives him an edge but it is difficult
25 h4! to win.
140
25...e5? pawn, it plays an enormous attacking role by tying

Black down to the defence of the g7-square.
Maghsoodloo aims to activate the bishop on d5,
but it doesn’t work very well because White’s 27...e3
pawn is heading to h6. It was better to leave the Essentially forced to draw the white queen away,
pawn on e6 for the moment in order to have the as White threatened Rab1, to which Black would
option of a future ...gxh5, as the f5-pawn would have no satisfactory response. For example, if
still be defended. Black passes the move with something like
25...Qg7! is a good defensive move, bringing the 27...Rb4?, then after 28 Rab1 Qxb1 29 Rxb1
queen back to the kingside. Now ...e5 is a threat Rxb1+ 30 Kh2 +– he cannot stop White from de-
because after ...Bd5 Black would offer the queen livering mate on g7.
exchange. Following 26 a4 e5 27 Nxf7 Rxf7 28 28 Qxe3 Bd5 (D)
Qc5 Rc7 29 Rd6 Qe7 += White still has the ad-
vantage because of the passed a-pawn supported by
a rook behind it, but Black’s king is much safer
now that the minor pieces have been traded.
We now return to 25...e5? (D):
White to play
For the price of a pawn, Black has gained an im-

portant tempo to activate the bishop and free the
congestion on the kingside. Now Qe7 is met with
...Qf6.
White to play
29 Rab1! +–
26 h5
A very strong move: White trades a pair of rooks in
So continues his plan of advancing the h-pawn. order to make Black’s back-rank problem even
26 Rdb1 was another strong option. 26...Qd4 (after more glaring. Black is lost because his king is
26...Qxb1+ 27 Rxb1 Rxb1+ 28 Kh2 +/– White’s caught in multiple mating possibilities, all because
queen and knight combination is deadly and h5 is a of White’s pawn on h6.
huge threat) 27 Rxb8 Qxa1+ 28 Kh2 Rxb8 29
29...Qf6 30 Rxb8 Rxb8 31 Ne8 Qf8 32 Re1
Qxf7+ Kh8 30 Qf6+ Kg8 31 Qe6+ Kg7 (31...Kh8
32 Nf7+ Kg7 33 Qe7 +– and there is no way to White threatens Qe5 followed by Nf6+.
stop Ng5+) 32 h5! (White has ideas of Nxf5+ fol- 32...Be4 33 Nc7
lowed by h6+) 32...Qd1 33 f3 Qd2 34 Nxf5+ gxf5
35 Qxe5+ Kf7 36 Qxb8 +/– leaves White a pawn 33 Ng7! also wins and might even be stronger. Un-
up, but in a queen endgame it might not be enough like the game continuation, the knight is protected.
to win. 33...Qf7 is now met with 34 f3! Bd5 35 Ne8 (revis-
iting the plan of Qe5) 35...Be4 36 Nd6 Qe7 37 Nc4
26...e4 27 h6! +–, when White wins a piece as 37...Qb4 38 fxe4
The h-pawn completes its trek northward, and sits Qxc4 doesn’t work due to 39 Qa7! with a double
in front of the black king. Although it is just a mere attack on the rook and mate on g7.
141
33...Qf7 Black returns the favour. Maghsoodloo surrenders

his second rank, which results in huge material
This allows White’s knight to manoeuvre to the
loss.
overwhelmingly strong c5-square.
40...Qa7+! was an incredible resource. After 41
33...Qc8 deprives White’s knight of the a6-square,
Rxa7 (or 41 Kh2 Qa1!, when Black’s queen mirac-
but only for a short time. 34 Qf4! (threatening Qe5
ulously prevents the checkmate on g7, and 42
and Ne6) 34...Rb7 35 Na6 gives Black similar
Re8+ Rxe8 43 Qxa1 Re7 is similar to the main
problems as in the game.
line) 41...Rxa7 +/– White may or may not be win-
34 Na6 ning, but it will certainly be arduous to score the
White attacks the rook and plans Nc5. full point. Black’s rook will cycle between f7 and
f8, not allowing White’s king to invade.
34...Ra8 35 Nc5 Rxa2 36 f3 Bd5 37 Qg5
41 Qxe7 Bf7 42 Qf6 Kf8 43 Qh8+ 1-0
White’s pieces are finally mouse-holing through
Black’s defences. The rook invasion on e7 cannot Black loses the rook as ...Bg8 is met by Qg7+ and
be prevented. Qxg8+.
37...Qc7 38 Qf6 Ra8 (D) This was an instructive example, showing how
Maghsoodloo’s position rapidly deteriorated after
So managed to get his pawn to h6. The weak dark
squares and back-rank issues were just too much to
handle.
Attacking a fianchetto structure is also one of the

frequent causes for advancing the h-pawn. As we
know, the fianchettoed bishop is the primary de-
fender of the king, and if this bishop is exchanged
then the colour complex around the king that the
bishop used to control could be fatally weak. By
pushing the h-pawn, the attacker threatens to in-
clude another force that could capitalize on these
weak squares; for instance, a typical mating pattern
White to play is constructed with Qf6/...Qf3 combined with the
h-pawn on h6/h3. Also, the h-pawn may give itself
39 Nd7? up in an exchange for the g6/g3-pawn in order to
This serious error was probably caused by pre- open up the h-file as an inroad to the enemy king.
move 40 time-pressure. So distracts Black’s queen
from the g3-square, but it wasn’t necessary. It turns
out that after 39 Re7! White’s king can escape
from the checks. 39...Ra1+ 40 Kf2 (40 Qxa1?
Qxe7 = leads to nothing) 40...Ra2+ 41 Ke3 Ra3+
42 Nd3 and then:
a) 42...f4+ 43 Kf2 (White’s king is heading to h2)
43...Qb6+ 44 Kf1 Qb1+ 45 Ne1 Bc4+ 46 Kg1
Qb6+ 47 Kh2 and the checks have finally run out.
b) 42...Qb6+ 43 Kf4 Qb8+ 44 Ne5. White’s king
has escaped and mate is now unavoidable.
39...Qxd7 40 Re7 Qxe7?
142
Caruana seems oblivious to the mounting pressure

on the kingside. Once again, it was important for
White to gain some light-square control on the
kingside, so he should have played 14 h3!. Then
14...hxg3?! 15 fxg3 += is not a concession for
White, since the half-open f-file offers him some
activity, while the idea of playing g4 is always in
the air.
14...b6?
Kasparov allows Caruana to correct his mistake.
14...Nh7! tactically defends the pawn as the c3-
knight would be hanging after all the exchanges.
White also does not have time for h3 any more be-
cause of the threat of ...Ng5. After 15 h3 Ng5! 16
Black to play
g4 Nf3+! 17 Bxf3 exf3 –/+ the bishop is taboo due
Caruana – Kasparov to the mate after ...Qg5+ and ...Qg2#, so White has
St Louis blitz 2016 nothing to compensate for his weaker king and
Black’s bishop-pair.
Of course, you do not become a world champion
without knowing this, so even after quitting chess 15 Rfd1?
for over a decade, Kasparov – when pitted against 15 h3! would still have worked.
one of today’s top players – proves that he still
15...Bg4 16 Rdc1 Qd7 (D)
knows how to attack!
It is worth noting that Kasparov had previous expe-
rience with this opening line (from Webb-
Kasparov, European Team Ch, Skara 1980), so
some of the key ideas were already familiar to him
– a major help in a blitz game.
12...h5!
Black advances the pawn to h4, which will create
unpleasant tension for White. At the right moment
he could either capture on g3 to open the h-file or
play ...h3 to amplify his control over the light
squares. Thus, even if the attacker’s rook is not be-
hind the h-pawn, advancing the h-pawn is still a
typical attacking method against the fianchetto
structure. White to play
13 Qd2?! Now White has no good way to alleviate the king-

13 h3! was important to gain some control over the side pressure, and must suffer with clustered pieces
light squares. Now ...Qd7 can be met with Kh2, and the lack of a real plan.
while ...h4 is not particularly dangerous and may 17 b4 Qf5 18 Bb2 Rad8
even be met with g4 to shut out Black’s light-
Kasparov decides not to rush the attack and first
squared bishop in some cases.
defends the d6-pawn. The direct 18...Bf3 19 Bf1
13...h4?! Qh5, with threats of ...Ng4 and ...hxg3, was also
13...Qd7! is more precise, preventing White from strong.
playing h3 in response to ...h4. 19 Nb5 Bf3 20 d5?
14 Ba3?
143
This allows Black to distract White’s knight on c2, 22...hxg3

which is a surprisingly important defender. 20 a3 is
Black finally releases the tension, as White can no
better, to defend the b4-pawn.
longer take with the h-pawn.
20...Ne5?
23 fxg3
Kasparov misses an immediate win. Here are the
After 23 hxg3? Ng4 –+ White has no defence to
alternatives to consider:
...Bxg2 and ...Qh5.
a) 20...Bxg2 looks promising, but allows White to
23...Bh6
put up annoying resistance after 21 dxc6 (21
Kxg2? Nxb4 will transpose to line ‘b’) 21...Qh3 Kasparov brings all his pieces into the attack.
22 Bxf6 Bxf6. Then: 24 Rab1
a1) After 23 Rab1? Bf3 24 Ne1 White is barely The rather greedy 24 Nxa7, with the idea of Nc6,
holding on for the moment, although Black easi- also fails. 24...Ra8 and then:
ly finishes the game after 24...Re5 25 c7 Rc8 26
Nxd6 Rh5 27 Nxc8 Qxh2+! (the point) 28 Kxh2 a) 25 Nc6 Ra3!. Suddenly, the invasion takes
hxg3++ –+. White can only pick how he prefers place on the other side of the board. White has
to get mated in one. nothing to prevent ...Bxe3+ as 26 Rc3 Rxc3 27
Qxc3 Ng4 28 Nxe5 Bxe3+ –+ is the end.
a2) 23 Ne1! Bf3 24 c7 (24 Nxa7? allows Black
to break through along the h-file in a very direct b) 25 Nb5 Ng4 26 Rc3 (26 Nc2 Bxg2 27 Qxg2
manner with 24...Kg7!; e.g., 25 c7 Rh8! 26 Nxe3 –+) 26...cxb4 27 Rb3 Qf6! –+ and the threat
cxd8Q Qxh2+ 27 Kxh2 hxg3++ 28 Kxg3 Be5# of ...Rh5 is too much for White to deal with.
– a nice checkmate while two queens and a rook 24...Kg7?
down!) 24...Rd7 25 Qd5 Bxa1 26 Rxa1. White
has lost the exchange and is most likely losing This has the idea of bringing the rook to h8, but it
but can still put up tough resistance after is too slow. 24...Ng4! was more to the point. 25
26...hxg3 27 fxg3 Kg7! 28 Nxf3 exf3 29 Qxf3 Rb3 Qh5 and now:
as although the c7-pawn will be lost, the future a) 26 h3 Bxg2 27 Kxg2 Qxh3+! (a nice combina-
knight on d5 will make it difficult for Black to tion winning a pawn) 28 Kxh3 Rh5+ 29 Kg2 (29
break through. Kxg4 f5#) 29...Rh2+ 30 Kg1 Rxd2 –+ gives
b) 20...Nxb4!, however, is immediate annihila- Black total domination.
tion. 21 Nxb4 Bxg2 (because White no longer has b) With 26 h4 Re7! –+, Black opens the e5-
the Ne1 defence, Black breaks through) 22 Kxg2 square for the knight or queen. White’s kingside
h3+ 23 Kf1 Ng4 –+. is too weak to hold the position.
21 Bxe5 Rxe5 22 Ne1 (D) 25 Rb3 (D)
25 Rc3 seems like the better rook to defend the
pawn, as it gets off the c1-h6 diagonal that Black’s
bishop looms over and maintains the b1-rook as a
defender of the b4-pawn.
144
25...Qh5 White can no longer get rid of Black’s queen. The

25...a6 26 Na7 b5! was a strong idea, undermining attack is decisive.
the d5-pawn. This only works now because 30 Qe2 Ng5 31 Kh1 Rh8!
White’s rook is in an unfortunate spot on b3. 27
Black just needs to move the bishop to deliver
Nc6 bxc4 (an important tempo-gain on the b3-
checkmate.
rook) 28 Rxc4 Rxd5 –+.
32 Nxd6 Kg8
26 h3 Nh7
32...Nf3 followed by ...Bxe3+ was a quicker finish.
Kasparov goes all-in for the attack.
33 bxc5 Bf8+ 34 Kg1 Nh3+ 35 Kf1 Bxd6 36 cxd6
27 g4
Rf5+ 37 Nf3 Rxf3+ 0-1
Caruana forces the piece sacrifice, but this plays
Mate is unavoidable.
right into Black’s hands. 27 h4!? weakens the g4-
square but prevents Black’s idea of ...Ng5. Kasparov’s crushing attack was all possible be-
cause of the h-pawn advance, creating fatal weak-
27...Bxg4! 28 hxg4 Qxg4 nesses in White’s kingside structure.
White’s king has no more pawns protecting it and
Black is able to bring the rook and knight into the
attack. Another important piece of advice is that advanc-
ing the h-pawn is not only good against fianchetto
29 Qd1 structures; it can be equally strong against an un-
29 bxc5 bxc5 30 Qb2 seems like the most resilient compromised pawn-structure!
defence, threatening Nxd6 while preventing
Black’s rook from entering the attack. However,
after 30...Nf6 31 Nxd6 Qg3 (...Bxe3+ and ...Ng4
are both huge threats) 32 Qf2 Qxf2+ 33 Kxf2 Rxd6
–+ Black is a pawn up with the better pieces.
White’s pawns are also incredibly weak.
29...Qg3 (D)
145
13...bxa3 14 bxa3 Na5

Black discourages the advance of White’s c-pawn,
which would now concede the b3-square to the
knight.
15 Ne3 Ba6 (D)
15...Rb8 also deserved attention, since stepping off
the long diagonal nullifies any tactics based on the
move c4.
White to play
Fischer – Mjagmasuren
Sousse Interzonal 1967
Black’s pawn-shelter of f7, g7 and h7 is currently
very solid. But the great Bobby Fischer does not let
this last forever.
11 h4!
Fischer gains control of the g5-square, into which
White to play
he could dunk either the knight or bishop to gener-
ate threats against the black king. Also, it is possi- 16 Bh3
ble to advance the h-pawn further to h6 in order to
Fischer plans Ng5 as now ...h6 would be met with
chip away at Black’s pawn-shield and weaken the
a sacrifice on e6.
f6- and g7-squares.
However, the direct method of attack with 16 Ng5!
11...a5 would have been stronger. White is not scared of
Black’s counterplay is naturally on the queenside giving away material after 16...h6 17 Qh5! as
so Mjagmasuren develops his play on the side White would be able to tighten the noose further on
where he is stronger. the kingside if the pawn gets to g5:
12 Bf4 a4 13 a3 a) After 17...Nc6 18 Ng4 hxg5 (18...Nd4 19
Fischer prevents his opponent from playing ...a3 Nxh6+ gxh6 20 Qxh6 Bxg5 21 Bxg5 Nf5 22 Qh5
himself. Other options: Ng7 23 Qe2 += gives White ample compensation
for the piece) 19 hxg5 Black’s position is very
a) 13 N1h2 a3 14 b3 Bb7 (as played in Duda-So, dangerous. For example, 19...c4, aiming to give
Leon rapid 2017) followed by a later ...Nd4 must the dark-squared bishop more squares, gets de-
not have appealed to Fischer. It is true that if the stroyed by 20 Bxd5! exd5 21 e6 +–, when White
kingside attack fails, his position will be much threatens to take on f7 followed by g6, as well as
worse because of Black’s strong a3-pawn. Kg2 and Rh1.
b) 13 c4!? was an alternative way to address b) 17...hxg5 18 hxg5 leaves Black under an un-
Black’s idea of ...a3. If White is able to close the pleasant bind on the kingside:
queenside completely, it will be difficult for Black
to create any play. After 13...bxc3 14 bxc3 a3 b1) 18...g6 19 Qh4! (White has many strong
the game takes the form of a complicated race be- threats such as Nxd5, Ng4 followed by Nf6+,
tween White’s attack on the kingside and Black’s and bringing the rook to the h-file; 19 Qh6 al-
counterplay on the queenside. lows Black an important tempo to bring the
bishop into the defence with ...Bf8 after ...Re8)
146
19...Bb7 (19...Nc6 20 Nxd5! exd5 21 Bxd5 +– giving up the exchange) 24 Be4 Rf5 25 Bxf5 exf5
leaves Black with no defence to the threats of =.
e6, Qh6, and Kg2 followed by Rh1) 20 Bf3 +–. b) 20 Nxf7 Nxf4 and then:
The plan of Kg2 and Rh1 is decisive.
b1) 21 Nxd8 Nxh5 22 Nxe6 = and after the
b2) 18...Bb7 19 Kh2! (White threatens Rh1 fol- many exchanges, White’s strong kingside
lowed by Kg1) 19...g6 (after 19...Nxe5 20 Bxe5 pawns compensate for the piece deficit.
Bxg5 21 f4 +– White still threatens Rh1 fol-
lowed by Kg1; Black will have to sacrifice a b2) 21 gxf4! (keeping queens on the board will
piece for no compensation in order to prevent it) put Black under more pressure) 21...Rxf7 22
20 Qh4 f6 (Black needs to give up a piece in or- Bxe6 Qe8 23 Ng3 Bc8 (the only way to get out
der to gain space on the kingside) 21 exf6 Nxf6 of the pin is to attack the bishop) 24 Bd5 Bb7 25
22 Bh3 Ra6 (22...Bc8 23 Qh6 Qe8 24 Rab1 +– Bxf7+ Qxf7 26 Qg4 . White has a rook and
leaves Black completely paralysed) 23 Qh6 Rf7 two pawns for two pieces; it’s not clear which is
24 gxf6 Bxf6 25 Qxg6+ Rg7 26 Qh5 Rh7 27 stronger.
Bh6 +/–. White has won a pawn and will be able c) 20 Bd2! (White has managed to provoke a big
to escape the pin because of Ng4. weakness by forcing Black to play ...h6) 20...Bc8
16...d4 17 Nf1 (20...hxg5? does not work since after 21 hxg5 +–
White can play Re4 followed by Rh4) 21 Ne4
17 Ng4 was another possibility. Fischer prefers to gives White strong pressure on the kingside, with
keep his bishop open. ideas of Nh2-g4 followed by a sacrifice on h6.
17...Nb6 19...Bxg5
Black’s knight is heading to the d5-square, where it Black needs to remove the knight, as Nxe6 and
will cover f6. Qh5 were both serious problems.
18 Ng5 Nd5 (D)
20 Bxg5
After 20 hxg5 c4 White won’t have time to use the
h-file as Black’s counterplay is just starting.
20...Qd7 21 Qh5 (D)
White to play
19 Bd2
19 Qh5 was a serious alternative. After 19...h6
White faces a major decision between sacrificing
Black to play
the knight or simply retreating the bishop:
Fischer has managed to increase his dark-square
a) 20 Nxe6 fxe6 21 Bxh6 (after 21 Bxe6+ Kh7 22
control, but Black’s counterplay is fast approach-
Bd2 = White threatens Bf5+ as well as Bxa5 fol-
ing.
lowed by Bxd5; Black’s weak king provides
enough compensation for the piece) 21...Bc8 22 21...Rfc8
Qg6 Rf7 23 Bg2 Qf8 (Black is able to defend by
147
Black aims to play ...c4, but allows White access to

the e4-square.
21...Bb7 22 Nd2 Nc3!, preventing Ne4 and Re4,
seems to be sufficient for a draw. White has noth-
ing better than to repeat moves after 23 Bf6 gxf6
24 Qh6 (24 exf6? Kh8 –/+ followed by ...Rg8 de-
fends against the mate on g7) 24...f5 25 Qg5+ Kh8
26 Qf6+ Kg8 27 Qg5+ =.
22 Nd2 Nc3?!
22...c4 was better. Black should keep the knight on
d5 in order to guard the f6-square. Black’s
counterplay seems sufficient to distract White from
his attack.
23 Bf6 Qe8 Black to play
Forced. Black must have the option of ...Qf8, de- White plans to play h5 followed by Rh4 with a
fending the g7-pawn. crushing attack.
23...gxf6? no longer works like before as Black’s 26...c4

bishop does not control the long diagonal and the After 26...Bb7 27 Rg4 Rc7 28 h5 Bd5 29 Rh4 Qf8
rook does not defend the f7-pawn any more. After 30 Bg2 White plans to bring the other rook to the
24 exf6 Kh8 25 Bf5! (25 Nf3 +–, with threats of h-file following the exchange of bishops, which
Ng5 and Ne5, also wins) 25...exf5 26 Re7 +– will prove too much for Black to handle.
White wins the queen for the rook.
27 h5 cxd3 28 Rh4 Ra7
24 Ne4 g6?
28...Rc7 was more challenging, as Fischer’s move
This creates huge dark-square weaknesses and in the game is no longer convincing. White must
seems to be the decisive mistake. find 29 Bg4! (after 29 Bg2 Bb7 Black’s rook is not
24...Bb7 looks like the best defence. Black attacks blocked along its second rank) 29...dxc2 30 Rc1,
the e4-knight and is willing to give up the ex- which threatens an unstoppable checkmate after
change after Nd6. After 25 Bxg7! (the most chal- Qh6. 30...Rb8 31 Qh6 Qf8 32 Qxh7+! Kxh7 33
lenging move; in case of 25 Nd6 Qf8 26 Nxc8 hxg6+ Kxg6 34 Bh5+ Kh7 (34...Kf5 35 Rf4#) 35
Rxc8 27 Bg5 c4 White’s attack is over and Black’s Bf3+ Qh6 36 Be4+ Kg8 37 Rxh6 followed by
active pieces compensate for the exchange) Rh8#.
25...Kxg7 26 Qg5+ Kf8 27 Nf6 Qc6 28 Nxh7+ 29 Bg2
Ke8 29 Kh2 Black’s king escapes but White
29 Bg4! dxc2 30 Rc1 wins in the same fashion as
might be able to win the rest of the kingside pawns.
before.
25 Qg5 Nxe4 26 Rxe4 (D)
29...dxc2
29...Qf8 prevents checkmate but loses huge
amounts of material: 30 Be4 dxc2 31 hxg6 fxg6 32
Bxg6 hxg6 33 Rh8+ Kf7 34 Rxf8+ Rxf8 35 Qh6
and White will clean up everything.
30 Qh6 Qf8 31 Qxh7+ 1-0
Black elected to save face and not allow the nice
finish after 31...Kxh7 32 hxg6++ Kxg6 33 Be4#.
In this example the h-pawn played a huge role in
the attack by allowing White’s knight access to the
strong g5-square. This is what caused Black to give
148
up the dark-squared bishop, a critical defensive Although it may feel natural to prevent Black’s
piece. It also opened up the h-file at the end, which bishop from giving check on e3 and getting on the
is the reason why White broke through. fabulous a7-g1 diagonal, this allows Black’s queen
to access the e7-square, which forces White to sur-
render a lot of dark squares on the kingside. 15
Rb1 is most commonly played, focusing on devel-
oping a pawn advance on the queenside.
15...Qe7 16 Kh1 h4
Black advances the h-pawn, gaining control of the
g3-square.
17 Rg1
White opens up the f1-square for the knight in case
it will become necessary to control the g3-square in
the future. He may also be thinking about playing
g3 himself in some cases.
17 Rb1, preparing to advance the queenside pawns,
was also possible.
Black to play 17...Bg5
P. Kiss – Kotronias Black’s plan is to bring the knight to h5, where it
Kavala 2005 will control important squares such as g3 and f4.
But of course he cannot do it right away by playing
In some King’s Indian positions, Black uses the h-
17...Nf6? as the h4-pawn would be hanging.
pawn as an attacking weapon instead of the usual
pawn-storm attack with ...f5-f4, ...g5 and so forth. 18 Qe1
Here there is a specific reason: 13...f5 runs into tac- Once again preventing ...Nf6.
tical issues after 14 exf5 gxf5 (14...Bxf5 is possible
but risks leaving the e4-square to the white 18...Kg7
knights) 15 Bh5 (Black’s queen has very few The king makes way for the rook to join the attack
squares) 15...Qc8 (15...Qb8 16 Be7 Rc8 avoids los- from h8.
ing the exchange, but leaves Black’s major pieces
awfully placed) 16 Be7, trapping the rook. Alt- 19 Rb1 (D)
hough Black will have compensation because of
his mobile centre and active minor pieces, it’s
questionable if it’s truly enough.
The h-pawn does not have to advance all the way
to h3 in this case; it is often much more useful on
h4, where it helps Black establish his grip on the
dark squares, which White cannot challenge since
g3 is often prevented by a black pawn on h4.
13...h5!
Black threatens to trap White’s bishop with ...g5
and ...h4.
14 f3
White opens the f2-square for the bishop, but at the Black to play
cost of weakening the dark squares on the kingside.
19...Nc5
14...Bh6 15 Bf2?!
149
Black moves the knight before it gets stranded on

a6, but it was better to focus more on the kingside.
19...Nf6! has the idea of swinging the rook to h8,
when there is no longer a need to defend h4. Then:
a) 20 Bxh4 Bxh4 21 Qxh4 Ng4! (the queen is ta-
boo because of the mate on f2) 22 Qg3 Nxh2! 23
Rgc1 Rh8 24 Kg1 Qf6 =+. Black enjoys a nice
advantage because of his safer king and more ac-
tive bishop. He may continue by doubling rooks
on the h-file.
b) After 20 b4 Nh5 21 Nf1 Rh8 =+ Black’s king-
side pressure clearly outweighs White’s on the
queenside, as ideas such as ...Ng3+ are already in
the air.
White to play
20 b4 axb4 21 axb4 Na4 22 Nb3?!
28 Be3?
This is not active enough, and allows Black to fo-
This is the decisive mistake, as it allows Black’s
cus entirely on the kingside. 22 Nxa4 Rxa4 23 c5,
queen and knight to join the attack. White’s bishop
with the idea of Nc4, at least forces Black to re-
needs to defend the g2-pawn: 28 Bf1 Qg5 29 Qe1
spond on the queenside.
Ng3 30 Ra7 =. As long as White sits tight on the
22...Nxc3 kingside, there is no way for Black to break
Exchanging knights doesn’t accomplish anything; through.
in fact it helps White improve his queen position. 28...Qg5!
22...Nf6!, with the original plan of ...Nh5, was The g2-pawn comes under fire.
strong, as it is very difficult for White to meet both
29 Kf2
...Ng3+ and ...Nf4. 23 Nxa4 (after 23 Bd1 Nxc3 24
Qxc3 Nh5 25 Re1 Ra2 26 Rb2 Rxb2 27 Qxb2 Nf4 After 29 Bxf4 Nxf4 30 Bf1 Bh3 –+ Black wins the
=+ Black has all the play and will continue with g2-pawn because of the pin.
the ...f5 break) 23...Rxa4 24 Bxh4 (after 24 Qc3 29...f5?
Nh5 25 Rge1 Bf4 =+ Black threatens ...Ng3+ and
will probably gain the bishop-pair advantage, while Black aims to open up the kingside, but there was a
the ...f5 break is also a plan) 24...Bxh4 25 Qxh4 direct way to finish the game: 29...h3! gives White
Ng4 (the same tactical idea as before: Black wins no good way of dealing with the threat to the g2-
back the pawn with a nice position) 26 Qg3 Nxh2 pawn. After 30 g4 (30 g3 is demolished by
27 Rge1 Rh8 28 Kg1 Rxb4 =+. The h2-knight is 30...Bxg3+ –+) 30...Qh4+ 31 Kf1 Ng3+ (31...Bxh2
awkward but cannot really be attacked, while 32 gxh5 Rxh5 –+ also wins as the h-pawn will de-
Black has won an important queenside pawn in the cide the game) 32 hxg3 h2! 33 gxh4 h1Q+ 34 Bg1
meantime to deprive White of any counterplay. Rxh4 –+ there is no way to prevent the threat of
...Rh3-g3, winning the bishop.
23 Qxc3 Nf6 24 Ra1 Nh5 25 Rxa8 Rxa8 26 Ra1
30 exf5 gxf5
White attempts to exchange rooks in order to elim-
inate Black’s attacking pieces. A natural way to recapture, but Black had stronger
options:
26...Rh8 27 Kg1 Bf4 (D)
a) 30...h3! is a good move to flick in, causing
White to make further concessions on the kingside.
31 g4 Nf6 (Black will capture on f5 next as White
has no way to prevent it) 32 fxg6 Rf8 –+ and Black
will blast open the f-file to win the battle.
150
b) 30...Qxf5! is also strong, getting out of the pin used to activate the h1/h8-rook by creating space
and attacking the h2-pawn. White has no good way for a rook-lift. This could occur when the centre is
to defend it, as 31 Rh1 Ng3 wins it anyway. closed and the king is safe in the middle of the
board, as is the case in many French Defence-style
31 Bf1 Bxe3+ 32 Qxe3 f4 33 Qd2?!
positions.
33 Qa7! was the best defence, gaining a tempo on
the b7-pawn and staying on the g1-a7 diagonal.
33...h3! (D)
White to play
Kasparov – Short
White to play
Novgorod 1997
White’s kingside structure now falls apart.
14 h4!
34 Ke1
Not only does the pawn advance to h6, where it
After 34 Kg1 Kf7 Black’s pressure on the g-file
will force dark-square weaknesses, but it also
will be too much to handle.
paves the way for the h1-rook to enter the attack on
34...Ng3! g3.
Black threatens ...hxg2 followed by ...Bh3. 14...Bxd3 15 Qxd3 Nbc6?!
35 Bd3 Ne4! 15...Rc8, intending to play ...Rc4 followed by
The only direct win. Black’s h-pawn is the hero of ...Nbc6, is better, as it exerts more pressure on the
the day! queenside and centre to distract White from his at-
tacking goals.
36 Bxe4 hxg2 0-1
16 Rh3 Rac8 17 Rg3
Black wins the rook first and then the house.
White’s rook puts strong pressure on the g7-pawn.
Because of the pawn on h4, Black was able to gain The reason why White is able to do this is because
complete control of the dark squares, despite White the centre is closed, so if needed White has enough
having a dark-squared bishop himself. This al- time to castle ‘by hand’.
lowed the g3- and f4-squares to become great out-
posts for the bishop and knight to participate in the 17...Rf7?!
attack. Short plays prophylactically by defending the g7-
pawn, but this proves to be a waste of time since
later on in the game, the rook moves back in order
We have already seen several examples of the h- to provide the f7-square for the knight.
pawn being used to create weaknesses in the oppo-
nent’s kingside. But our final example of charging 17...Nd8, opening the way for rook and over-
the h-pawn up the board shows that it can also be protecting the e6-pawn, was better. Then 18 Nh5
151
looks dangerous but is not an issue: 18...Ng6 19 24 Qd1

Nxg7 Qxg7 20 h5 f4 21 Rg4 Nc6! (threatening All of a sudden, Kasparov switches back to the
...Ncxe5) 22 Bc3 (22 hxg6? Nxe5 23 gxh7+ Kh8 kingside because Black’s knight is no longer on e7.
24 Rxg7 Nxd3+ 25 cxd3 Kxg7 –+ is even winning
for Black) 22...Rf5 23 hxg6 h5 24 Rh4 Qxg6 = and 24 Qb5 does not accomplish much. After 24...Kh8
Black has consolidated the kingside. 25 Nd3 Nb8 += White has a slight advantage be-
cause of his pressure on both sides of the board.
18 h5 Nd8 19 c3 Rf8
24...Ne7?
The g7-pawn no longer needs to be defended by
the rook as Nh5 is not an option for White any Short brings the knight back into the defence, but it
more. was necessary to secure his king one way or anoth-
er:
19...Qc6, attempting to trade queens with ...Qc4,
doesn’t quite succeed: after 20 a4! Qc4 21 Qb1 += a) 24...h6 seems safe, but White can still create
White has pressure on the queenside as well, with some threats after 25 Ng6 Na5 26 Rh3! with the
ideas of Qb5, entering a favourable endgame. idea of opening the kingside with the g4 advance.
One line that shows the potential of White’s attack
20 Kf1 is 26...R4c7 27 g4 fxg4 28 Qxg4 Nb3 29 Rg3!
Seeing nothing immediate to be done, Kasparov Nxd2 30 Ne7+ Kf8 31 Nxc8 Rxc8 32 Qxg7+ Ke8
castles by hand to bring his king to safety. 33 a5! b5 34 Qf6 and White is on top.
20...Rc4 21 Kg1 Nf7 22 a4! (D) b) 24...Kh8 (D) and then:
White gains some space on the queenside and gains b1) 25 h6 g6 26 Nxg6+! (the most challenging
control of the b5-square for the queen. Black can- move; White has no other ways to attack on the
not take twice on a4, since the e6-pawn requires kingside) 26...hxg6 27 Rxg6 Rg8 28 Qh5 Nfxe5!
protection. (Black is able to bring the queen into the defence)
29 dxe5 (29 Rxg8+ Kxg8 30 dxe5 Kh7 31 Re1
22...Rfc8 23 Qb1
Rxa4 = also does not accomplish much for
White’s main idea is Qb5, which would be very White) 29...Qf7 30 Rxg8+ Qxg8 =. For the price
annoying for Black, as taking the queen would be of a pawn, Black has managed to defend his king
met with axb5, fixing the a7-pawn as a weakness. and stands better positionally due to White’s
Also 24 a5 b5 25 Nd3, followed by jumping into many pawn-weaknesses. White should go for
the outpost with Nc5, is another idea. perpetual check by sacrificing the h-pawn with
23...Nc6 h7.
Black stops a5 and makes Qb5 less of a problem as

the diagonal is blocked.
152
In that line, White put the pawn on h6 and then Qg8+ Ke7 34 Qxc8 Qh6+ 35 Kg1 and now
the knight on g6. It seems stronger to play these 35...Qc1+, with perpetual check, is one way the
moves in reverse order: game could end. After 35...Qxh7 36 Qb7+ Kf8 37
Qc8+ Kg7 38 Qxe6 it is not too late for Black to go
b2) 25 Ng6+! Kg8 (25...hxg6 26 hxg6 Nh6 27
for a perpetual, but he should be careful not to be
Qh5 Kg8 28 Re1! followed by Bxh6 looks too
overambitious as White’s e-pawn is able to hold
dangerous for Black to defend) 26 h6! hxg6 27
the balance.
Rxg6 Ncxe5 (forced: Black needs to open the 4th
rank to exchange rooks) 28 dxe5 Rg4 29 Rxg4 b) 28 Kh2!! steps out of any back-rank checks, and
fxg4 leads to a messy position that should favour now White is threatening Nxg6 as well as Nxe6.
White because of Black’s exposed king. Black cannot meet both simultaneously. After
28...Nh8 (28...Qd7 29 Nxg6 Nxg6 30 Rxg6+ hxg6
25 h6! g6 26 Qh5
31 Qxg6+ Kf8 32 h7 +– and with Bg5 coming, the
Kasparov takes the opportunity to get the queen h-pawn decides the game) 29 Nxe6 Qc6 30 Nf4 +–
into the attack while Black’s king is still on the g- Black’s pieces are a complete disaster, and it’s just
file. Now Qh4 followed by Qf6 is a huge threat. a matter of time before White breaks through.
26...Rxa4? White threatens Qh4 as well as Bc1-a3.
Short’s greed acts as the catalyst of his downfall in 28...Qc2?

this game. It was again necessary to move the king This allows White’s queen to invade with devastat-
off the g-file: 26...Kf8! 27 Qh4 g5 28 Rxg5 Nxg5 ing effect. After 28...Rc6! Black’s rook can defend
29 Qxg5 Ng8 (there is no checkmate but White has along its third rank. 29 Nf4 Kf8 30 Qe2 +/– gives
great compensation for the exchange) 30 a5 b5 31 White a large positional advantage but nothing de-
Rb1 a6 32 g4! Qe7 33 Qg7+! Qxg7 34 hxg7+ Kf7 cisive.
35 gxf5 +/– and although White enjoys a favoura-
ble endgame, Black is by no means lost. 29 Qh4! +–
Black has no satisfactory defence against Qxe7 and
27 Rxa4 Qxa4 (D)
Qf6.
29...f4 30 Bxf4 Nf5 31 Rxg6+! 1-0
This leads to forced mate after 31...hxg6 32 h7+
Kh8 33 Qf6+ Kxh7 34 Qxf7+ Kh8 35 Qf6+ Kh7
36 Ng5+ Kh6 37 Ne4+ Kh7 38 Qf7+ Kh8 39 Nf6
Ng7 40 Bh6 Qd1+ 41 Kh2, when Black has no de-
fence.
A nice example showing how advancing the h-
pawn can allow the rook into the attack!
I hope after seeing these games you appreciate that

pushing the h-pawn can be a very strong attacking
idea even in positions with same-side castling. The
White to play main idea is to create weaknesses in your oppo-
nent’s king position. It can also be used just to gain
28 Nxe6?
control of key squares for your pieces, such as
Kasparov gets so tempted by taking a free pawn playing h4 to support Ng5, and as we have just
that he misses a silent killer move. There were two learned, it can also open a road for the rook to enter
significant alternatives: the attack. Not bad for just one pawn!
a) 28 Nxg6? is also premature. After 28...Nxg6 29
Rxg6+ hxg6 30 Qxg6+ Kf8 31 h7 Qd1+! (the rea-
son why 28 Kh2 is so strong!) 32 Kh2 Qxd2,
White can equalize, but no more than that. 33
153
Exercises
These exercises are designed to provide you with
practice on how to make best use of a fantastic at-
tacking force: the h-pawn!
154
155
1) Naiditsch – Zumsande 2) I. Sokolov – J. Polgar

Isle of Man 2016 Hoogeveen 2003
18 Nh2! 33 Ne7!
Although the knight looks like it gleams in shining A fantastic combination made possible by the pres-
armour on g4, in reality it serves little purpose. It is ence of the h-pawn near Black’s king.
far more important to include the c1-bishop in the 33 Qg7+ Qxg7 34 hxg7+ Kg8 35 gxf8Q+ Kxf8 36
game in order to exploit Black’s dark-square Nd6+ Ke7 37 Nc8+ Kd7 38 Nxa7 +/– is better for
weaknesses provoked by the h-pawn. White, but Black is certainly not without drawing
18...Rfc8 19 Nf3 a3 20 Bg5 Bf8 21 Qd2 Rc3 22 chances.
Bh4?! 33...Re1+
22 Re2! Rac8 23 Ne1 += was a better option, 33...Rxg5? gets mated right away: 34 Rxf8+ Rg8
freezing Black’s counterplay. In the meantime,
35 Rxg8#.
White can slowly but surely build up on the king-
side. 34 Kh2 Qb8+
22...Ra7? Protecting the f8-rook and controlling the g8-
square. 34...Qc7+ is met by 35 g3 +–.
22...Rac8! is more natural and frankly also objec-
tively much stronger. After 23 Rac1 Qc7! 24 Qf4 35 Rg3!
Nc5 –/+ or 23 Qf4 Qa7! 24 Ng5 Nb8 –/+ White 35 g3?? would throw the game away in view of
has no real way to continue his attack. 35...Ne6 –+.
23 Re2 Qc5 24 Qf4 Rxc2? 35...Rxe7
After 24...Nb8 25 Ne1 Rc7 26 Rd1 +/–, followed 35...Ne6 is mated by 36 Qg7+! Nxg7 37 hxg7#.
by Rdd2, Black can only watch White’s attack
brewing. 36 Qxe7 +–
25 Ng5 Nb8 26 Rxc2 Qxc2 27 Rc1 Qxd3 28 Black is helpless and went down within a matter of
Nxe6! g5 six moves.
28...fxe6 29 Bh3 +–. 36...Ne6 37 Qxe6 Qf4 38 a4 a6
29 Nxg5 Bxh6 30 e6 1-0 Or:
156
a) 38...Rd8 39 Kh3 Qd4 40 Rg4 +–. 31...Bxd1 32 hxg7 Kxg7 33 Bxf7 Bxc2
b) 38...Rf7 was Black’s best chance, although she 33...Rxf7 34 Be5+ +–.
still swims in boiling water after 39 Qc8+ Rf8 40
34 Be5+ Kh7 35 Qe7 Qd8
Qc3+ Rf6 (40...Qf6 41 Rf3! +–) 41 Kh1! Qxh6+
42 Kg1 Qf8 43 Rf3 Kg7 44 Qc7+ Rf7 45 Rg3+ 35...Bd3+ 36 Kg2 Qd8 37 Bxc4+ Qxe7 38 Bxd3+
Kh8 46 Qe5+ Rg7 (46...Rf6 47 Rf3 Kg7 48 Rd3 Kg8 39 dxe7 Re8 40 Bc4+ +–.
Kg8 49 Rd7 +–) 47 Rc3 Qd8 48 Rc6! +–, when 36 Bg8++!
Re6 is a decisive threat.
A pleasing finishing touch.
39 Qxb6 Rb8 40 Qe3 Qh4+ 41 Rh3 Qf6 42 Qc3
1-0 36...Kg6
36...Kh6 37 Bg7+ +–.
37 Bh7+ Kh5 38 Bxc2 Qxe7 39 dxe7 Re8 40 Bd6
1-0
White to play
3) Shirov – Movsesian
Sarajevo 2005
White to play
29 h6!!
4) Akopian – Ivanchuk
Even at the cost of a rook, the tactical magician
Alexei Shirov wastes no time in going for mate! Astrakhan 2010
29...Bf3+? 17 Ned2!
This loses relatively easily, although Black could White reorganizes his pieces for an attack on the
not save the game even with best play. 29...Qd8 30 black king, which has been exposed by the h-
Bg6 Bf3+ 31 Kd2! (Ribli gives only 31 Kf1, but pawn’s charge to h5. White protects the e5-pawn
this is much stronger) and now: with the queen and frees the f3-knight to move,
which will not only improve the knight but also
a) 31...Qa5+ 32 c3 Qa2+ 33 Ke1 Qb3 34 Rc1 Qxc4 clear the path for the f-pawn to advance.
35 Bxf7+ Rxf7 36 Qe8+ Kh7 37 hxg7 Qe4+
(37...Kxg7 38 d7 Rxd7 39 Qxd7+ +–) 38 Qxe4+ 17...Rh8 18 Nh2! b6 19 f4 gxf4 20 Rxf4 Bg5 21
Bxe4 39 Be5 Bc6 40 f4! gxf3 41 Kf2 +–. Raf1!
b) 31...Qd7 32 h7+ Kh8 33 Bxf7 Qxf7 34 Qxf7 The glue holding Black’s position together is the
Rxf7 35 Re1 bxc4 36 Kc3 +–, when White’s c- and bishop on g5, which is certainly worth at least a
d-pawns cannot be slowed down. rook.
30 Kf1 bxc4 31 Bg6! 21...Bxf4 22 Rxf4 a5
31 hxg7?? Qh5! = is a nice trap.
157
22...Qc7 23 Nc4 was probably a better try for 22...Bh6 23 Qd2 +/–.
Black, though White retains an attack.
23 h6! g6 24 Ne4 +–
23 Ng4 +/– 1-0 Black’s position is horrendous.
Perhaps Ivanchuk’s resignation was premature, but
at the same time, it was difficult to find an ade-
quate defence. Krasenkow gives the following pos-
sibilities:
a) 23...Ra7 24 Nf6 Rc7 25 Qe4 Kf8 26 Nc4 Ke7 27
Nd6 Nxe5 28 Qxe5 Qxd6 29 Nd5+ (29 Ng8+ Rxg8
30 Rxf7+ Kxf7 31 Qxd6) 29...Qxd5 30 Qf6+ Kd6
31 Rxd4 +/–.
b) 23...Qc7!? tries to prevent the g4-knight from
moving. After 24 Nc4! b5! (24...Ba6 25 Nd6 +–)
25 Nd6 f5 26 exf6+ Kf8 27 Nxc8! Rxc8 (27...Qxc8
28 Ne5; 27...Qxf4 28 Qxe6 Qc1+ 29 Kh2 Qf4+ 30
Kh3 +–) 28 Qxe6 Re8 29 Qf5 +– White has ac-
crued much more than enough interest for his small
material disadvantage.
Black to play
6) Winants – Piket
Harlingen 1991
22...h4!
The best way to chip away at White’s defensive
line.
23 Bxh4
After 23 gxh4 f4 –/+, with ...Nf5 coming, White is
in big trouble.
23...f4! 24 gxf4 Ng4+ 25 Kg3?!
25 Kg1 is a better defence: 25...Rxh4 26 f5! (the
key move, opening the path for the queen to the
g5-square and deflecting Black’s bishop off the a2-
White to play
g8 diagonal) 26...Rxf5 (or 26...Bxf5 27 Qg5! with
5) Sashikiran – Rozentalis Bd5 ideas, winning back the lost material) 27 Rxf5
Warsaw 2008 Bxf5 28 Qg5!. Then Black cannot keep the materi-
al advantage; the best try seems to be 28...e4, open-
White opted for 18 Rad1 in the game and ultimate- ing lines for the dark-squared bishop, but after 29
ly won, but missed a great opportunity here: axb4! Be6 30 Qxh4 Bd4+ 31 Kh1 Nf2+ 32 Kh2
18 h5! Nxe5 19 dxe5 Nd7 20 Rad1! Bxg5 Nxd1 33 Bxe4 White has plenty of pawns for the
piece.
20...Nxe5 also leads to a very unpleasant position
after 21 Bf4 f6 22 Rd7! Qc8 (22...Qb6 23 Bxe5 25...Bf6!
fxe5 24 Ne4 Rf7 25 h6! +–) 23 Bxe5 fxe5 24 h6 This is much stronger than the move Piket chose in
Rf5 25 Ne4 +–, when White has the safer king and the game, i.e. 25...Nf6?, when White could have
dominant pieces. consolidated with 26 Qe3!.
21 Rxd7 Qb8 22 f4 Be7 26 Bxf6 Nxf6 27 Rh1
158
27 Ng1 Nh5+ 28 Kh2 Nxf4 –/+.

27...exf4+! 28 Kf2
28 Nxf4 Nh5+ 29 Nxh5 Rxh5 –+ leaves White’s
king fatally exposed.
28...Bxh3
Black has a decisive attack.
159
Opposite-Coloured Bishops
10: Opposite-Coloured Bishops

RAZVAN PREOTU
It is well-known that endgames with opposite-coloured bishops are very drawish, favouring the defender.
However, in the middlegame with major pieces on the board, the opposite is true. Having opposite-
coloured bishops actually favours the attacker. This is because the defender’s bishop poses very little re-
sistance against an attack that occurs on the opposite-coloured squares.
In the following example, Karpov makes an interesting decision to change the character of the game.
At the moment, White cannot take advantage of

Black’s weakened king. So first Karpov improves
his position.
22 Bg4
Black’s queen is now tied down to the defence of
the e6-pawn.
22...Rc4 23 h3
23 Qg6 does not accomplish anything as after
23...Qc6 Black is able to chase away White’s
queen with ...Qe8.
23...Qc6 24 Qd3 Kh8 25 Rfd1 a5
25...Rc1 at any moment was possible, but would
White to play not do much to alleviate Black from his long-term
Karpov – Kasparov light-square weaknesses. After 26 Rxc1 Qxc1+ 27
Kh2 Qc6 28 g3 += play will probably be similar to
World Ch (4), Moscow 1985 the game.
Most people would probably opt for a normal 26 b3 Rc3 27 Qe2 Rf8 (D)
move such as 21 Rfd1, putting more pressure on
the weak d5-pawn. But seeing that the tiny move
...h6 has softened Black’s grip over the light
squares around his king, Karpov radically changes
the position.
21 Nxe6!
White trades his good knight for Black’s bad bish-
op and ‘unisolates’ Black’s d-pawn. However, the
point is that an opposite-coloured bishop configu-
ration has been established in which Black’s dark-
squared bishop contributes very little to the de-
fence of the kingside’s weak light squares.
21...fxe6
White to play
160
Karpov has developed all his pieces and secured b) 32...Bb6! is better, exerting pressure on the f2-
the queenside. It is high time to focus on develop- pawn via the newly-opened a7-g1 diagonal. In op-
ing an attack on the light squares. posite-coloured bishop positions, king safety and
the initiative are the most important positional fac-
28 Bh5!
tors. In the game, Kasparov played too defensively,
The bishop has done its job tying down the queen which is the overall reason why he lost. He should
to the defence of the e6-pawn, and now re-routes to have taken the opportunity to go on the offensive
the deadly b1-h7 diagonal. when it arose. Then:
28...b5 29 Bg6 Bd8 30 Bd3 b1) After 33 Re2 Qf7 34 exd5 Bxf2+ 35 Kh1 exd5
White forces the b-pawn to advance, which helps White doesn’t have any reason to justify being a
clarify the queenside structure. pawn down, as Black’s king is perfectly safe.
White must win the d5-pawn, when the position
30...b4 31 Qg4 Qe8 peters out to a draw: 36 Bg6 Qc7 37 Qf5 Qd8 38
Black must prevent Qg6. White has successfully Qxd5 Qxd5 39 Rxd5 Bg3 40 Rd1 =.
created one weakness (Black’s weak light squares b2) 33 exd5 exd5 34 Bg6 Qc6 35 Bf5 Rc1 leaves
on the kingside), but Kasparov has adequately met Black’s pieces too active for White to consolidate
this threat. It is therefore important to create a se- fully. 36 Qf4 Bc7 37 Qg4 =.
cond weakness to begin overworking the black
pieces that will find themselves ‘double-business b3) After 33 Rf1 Rf6 34 Bb1 Qf7 = Black’s pieces
bound’ in the words of Shakespeare. Now that are optimally placed for attack and defence. Nei-
White’s pieces are optimally placed, Karpov ther side can make any real progress.
breaks open the middle. 33 Rc2 Rxc2 34 Bxc2 Qc6
32 e4! (D) 34...Bd8! is best, planning to return on the g1-a7
diagonal. Black must seek active counterplay! Af-
ter 35 exd5 exd5, White cannot avoid the queen
exchange unless he is willing to go on the defen-
sive, which is definitely not an option. 36 Qg6
Qxg6 37 Bxg6 Bb6 38 Rd2 Rf6 39 Bh5 g5 = gives
White a better pawn-structure but he can’t expect
to do much with it because of the opposite-
coloured bishops and lack of material left on the
board.
35 Qe2 Qc5 36 Rf1 (D)
Black to play
The exchange of the e-pawns will favour White, as

the f5-square would become open to the queen and
the d5-pawn will become a weakness.
32...Bg5?!
Kasparov takes the opportunity to trade a pair of
rooks, which benefits the defender. However, the
bishop now becomes misplaced. Other moves:
a) 32...d4? is clearly not an option due to 33 e5 +/–
threatening the pawn on d4 and also Qe4. Black to play
161
White has defended the f2-pawn and now is able to 51 Re1? allows Black to trade queens as there is no
go on the offensive. The main idea is to line up his square for the queen to protect the bishop: 51...Qg8
queen and bishop on the b1-h7 diagonal. 52 Qg6 Qf7.
36...Qc3 51...Bd2
36...Bf6 37 exd5 Qxd5 is a better way to defend, Kasparov guards the e1-square in order to deny
with the idea of parking the bishop on d4 and pawn White’s rook access to the e-file. However, there
on e5. Black’s pawn-structure is worse than in the are other ways to bring the rook into the attack.
game, but he has greater activity, which is a better After 51...Bf6 52 Re1 Qg8 53 Qg6 Qf7 54 Qg4 +/–
fit to the demands of the position. the attack rages on.
37 exd5 exd5 38 Bb1 Qd2?! 52 Rd1 Bc3 53 Rd3 (D)
Active counterplay against the f2-pawn was still
best: 38...Bd8! 39 Qe6 Qf6 40 Qxd5 Bb6 (Black
has lost a pawn but has gone on the offensive) 41
Kh1 g6 42 f4 Kg7. Both kings are equally weak
now, and it seems very difficult for White to make
any progress.
39 Qe5 Rd8
39...Bd8 is desirable, but impossible due to 40
Qd6! Qf4 41 Qg6 Kg8 42 Qh7+ Kf7 43 Re1!,
when Black’s king is caught in boiling water.
40 Qf5
Karpov’s queen has finally been able to get on this
diagonal, which is bad news for Kasparov’s king.
Black to play
40...Kg8 41 Qe6+ Kh8 42 Qg6 Kg8 43 Qe6+ Kh8
44 Bf5 White’s rook now has access to either the f3- or e3-
square.
The direct check on h7 did not promise anything
yet. White first must be able to bring the rook into 53...Rd6?
the attack. 53...Qg8 54 Qg6 Bf6, with the idea of chasing
44...Qc3 White’s queen away after ...Qf7, was more tena-
cious.
Trying to rush the queen back to f6.
54 Rf3 +–
45 Qg6 Kg8 46 Be6+ Kh8 47 Bf5 Kg8 48 g3!
White’s attack is now decisive, as there is no good
This gives the king a safe square on g2 and allows way to block the f-file.
White to advance the h-pawn.
54...Ke7
White could have won a pawn with 48 Be6+ Kh8
49 Bxd5 but after 49...Qf6 White’s attack is quick- 54...Bf6 grants White’s rook access to the e-file
ly repelled. Karpov knows keeping the attack is with devastating effect: 55 Re3 (the threat of Qh8+
more important than a small amount of material! followed by Re8+ is too much to handle) 55...g6
(55...Rd8 56 Be6 +–) 56 Qxh6+ Bg7 57 Qf4 (an
48...Kf8 important tempo-gain on the rook) 57...Rd8 58
48...Qf6 fails to 49 Qh7+ Kf7 50 Re1! +–, with the Qg5 Rd6 59 Bd3. White has won a pawn and still
very simple but unstoppable threat of h4, followed has a strong attack.
by h5 and Bg6+. 55 Qh8
49 Kg2 Qf6 50 Qh7 Qf7 51 h4 Kasparov’s king is now stuck in the middle with
nowhere to hide.
162
55...d4 56 Qc8 Rf6 57 Qc5+ Ke8 draw. However, that is not the case at all, and
Black’s position is actually quite unpleasant. This
Staying off the e-file with 57...Kd8 was more resil-
is because White has a kingside pawn-majority that
ient. After 58 Qc8+ Ke7 59 Rf4 Kd6 there is no
can become mobile, potentially creating dangerous
good way to bring the rook into the attack, but
threats against the enemy king. White also has a
White is able to win a lot of pawns starting with 60
target to work with, namely the f7-pawn, whereas
Qa6+ Kc5 61 Qxa5+ +–.
Black has no equivalent. But most importantly,
58 Rf4 Black’s pawn-majority on the queenside is firmly
The rook finally manages to reach the e-file. blockaded. Blockaded pawns are a huge disad-
vantage in opposite-coloured bishop positions for
58...Qb7+ 59 Re4+ Kf7 60 Qc4+ Kf8 61 Bh7 Rf7 several reasons: they restrict the mobility of your
62 Qe6 Qd7 63 Qe5 1-0 own bishop, they are unable to chase away or block
Mate cannot be prevented. For instance, 63...Re7 the attacker’s bishop, and some endgames may be
(after 63...Qd8 64 Qc5+ Re7 65 Bg6, there is no lost due to this deficiency. Therefore, although the
way to stop Rxe7 followed by Qc8+) 64 Rf4+ Rf7 position seems innocuous for Black, he would
65 Qb8+ Qe8 66 Qd6+ Qe7 67 Rxf7+ Kxf7 68 probably lose this position more often than not in
Bg6+ Kf8 69 Qb8+ Qe8 70 Qxe8#. practice.
An instructive game showing the importance of 22 Rd1 Kg7 23 Rcd2 Rxd2 24 Rxd2 Rd8 25
having the initiative in opposite-coloured bishop Rxd8 Qxd8 26 Kg2
middlegames! Kasparov decided to defend passive- Black has managed to trade rooks, making it
ly instead of going for a counter-attack against the somewhat easier to defend. But he is not close to
f2-pawn, and this gave Karpov time to consolidate being out of the woods yet; there is the serious is-
and generate a fearsome attack. sue of his lack of counterplay. While it is true that
Black has a passed c-pawn, it is useless as it is
firmly blockaded. White, on the other hand, can
Opposite-coloured bishop positions can be very take his time advancing the kingside pawns.
difficult to evaluate properly. Take a look at the Ivanchuk is in a gruelling position where the only
next example. thing he can do is react to White’s plans.
26...h5
Black gains some space on the kingside and can
attempt to trade a pair of pawns with ...h4, making
the position easier to defend.
27 Qe4 Bc3 28 Qb7 Bf6 29 Bc4
Aronian zeroes in on Black’s weakness: the f7-
pawn.
29...Qe7 30 Qd5 (D)
White to play
Aronian – Ivanchuk
Nalchik 2009
This might seem like a completely equal position
where neither side will have any problem holding a
163
counterplay with the queen. After 35 Qb7+ Kh6 36

Qxb6 Qa4 37 Bb3 Qd7 Black threatens ...Qh3 and
can meet Qb8 with ...f5, when his bishop covers
the h8-square. The endgame after 38 Qe6 Qxe6 39
Bxe6 is an easy draw, as Black’s king is able to
make it to the queenside in time.
35 Qg8 (D)
Black to play
White’s pieces are now optimally placed, targeting

the f7-pawn and tying down Black’s queen.
30...h4
Ivanchuk takes the opportunity to trade the h-
pawns.
30...Qe6? challenges White’s queen and offers to Black to play
go into a pawn-down opposite-coloured bishop
endgame. This would be a reasonable idea in some 35...g5?
situations, but it does not work in this instance. Af- Ivanchuk attempts to bait Aronian into playing
ter 31 Qxe6 fxe6 32 Bxe6 +–, with the a-pawn still Bf7, which would allow a cute tactical trick. How-
remaining and it being the ‘correct’ rook’s pawn ever, this opens up the b1-h7 diagonal, leaving
(since a8 is a light square), Black is unable to give White with a strong reply that Ivanchuk must have
up the bishop in order to eliminate all the kingside been disappointed to see.
pawns. The c-pawn provides little value, so White
35...Qh7 (or 35...Qg7, transposing) is the only de-
is essentially two pawns ahead and can easily roll
fence. However, the resulting position is very grim
his kingside pawns up the board.
for Black: 36 Qf8+ Qg7 37 Qc8 (White threatens
31 e4 hxg3 32 hxg3 Bd4 33 f4 f6? Qh3# and forces Black’s queen or king to h7)
A serious mistake, allowing White’s queen to 37...Qh7 38 g4 g5 39 f5 +/–. White has gained a
penetrate to the g8-square. Ivanchuk attempts to huge amount of space on the kingside and made
defend passively and forgets the importance of Black’s king position even weaker. White’s king,
seeking counterplay. 33...Qf6 34 Kf3 g5! =, weak- on the other hand, is free to move to the queenside
ening White’s king, would have been sufficient for and attack Black’s pawns.
a draw: it is very difficult for White to keep ad- 36 e5! +–
vancing his kingside pawns when his king must
White opens the b1-h7 diagonal for the bishop,
constantly hide from checks.
creating mating threats against the black king.
34 Kf3?! Black has no adequate defence.
34 Qg8+ Kh6 35 Kf3 is a far more precise move- Instead, 36 Bf7?? runs into 36...g4+! 37 Kxg4
order. Qxe4 =, when Black’s queen is so active that
White must accept the queen exchange, leading to
34...Kh6
an easy draw.
34...Qe8! would have punished Aronian’s faulty
move-order. Black covers the check from g8 and 36...fxe5?
gives up the b6-pawn in the hope of obtaining
164
This loses on the spot. Black had to chase away

White’s menacing queen, although even this would
only prolong his suffering: 36...Qg7 37 fxg5+ fxg5
38 Qe6+ Qg6 39 Qxg6+ Kxg6 40 Ke4 (White’s
king threatens a decisive invasion through the d5-
square; Black must advance the g-pawn to delay it)
40...g4 (now White’s king is unable to advance via
d5 because of the weak g3-pawn; however, Black
has also sentenced the g4-pawn to its death) 41 a4
Bc3 42 Kf4 (after 42 Kd5? Be1 43 e6 Bxg3 44 e7
Kf7 = the d6-square is covered by Black’s bishop)
42...Bb2 43 e6 Kf6 44 Kxg4 +–. White has a win-
ning opposite-coloured bishop endgame, as his
king will invade the queenside via the c4-square,
and then Black will not be able to contain all three
White to play
of White’s pawns.
E. Romanov – Kazhgaleev
37 Bd3
Russian Team Ch, Sochi 2007
All of a sudden Black is getting checkmated!
The position is of course close to equal. Both sides’
37...e4+ bishops are placed well and exert pressure towards
The long diagonal must be opened so that the bish- the opponent’s king. It appears as if the game is
op can defend the f6-square. destined to be a draw, but after a display of
overambition from Romanov, it is instructive to see
38 Bxe4 Qg7 39 Qe6+ Qf6 40 Qd7 1-0
how quickly his position deteriorates.
There is no good defence against Qh7#, as ...Qg7 is
18 Nb4 Ra8
met with Qh3#.
The d-pawn is clearly taboo in view of the knight
As Ivanchuk learned the hard way in this game,
fork on a6.
even with just queens on the board, opposite-
coloured bishop attacks are very dangerous! 19 d5?
Perhaps assigning this move a question mark is ob-
jectively too harsh, but strategically it is a major
Another key point to store in mind about opposite-
step in the wrong direction. White seizes more
coloured bishop positions is that fighting for a
space and strives to obtain the c6-square as an out-
space advantage is not as important as usual. We
post for his knight, which in many positions would
have already seen the example Karpov-Kasparov,
be a major thorn in Black’s throat. However, this
where although Black held a slight space ad-
comes at the cost of reducing the activity of the b3-
vantage, his light-square weaknesses proved fatal.
bishop, which, as we know, is a red flag in oppo-
Here is another good example illustrating this idea:
site-coloured bishop positions.
Let’s consider 19 Rxa8 Rxa8 20 dxe5! dxe5 (D).
165
into the c6-outpost, in reality this achieves nothing.

But the more significant change is the difference in
bishop activity. While White’s bishop stares like a
dunce at the e4-pawn, Black’s bishop roams freely
on the a7-g1 diagonal. Recognizing the danger,
Romanov attempts to liquidate pieces to achieve a
draw.
26 Qb1 Kg7 27 Rxa8 Qxa8 28 b4?
Another serious mistake, which allows Black’s
queen to penetrate on White’s back rank. Waiting
with a move such as 28 Qc1 =+ would have been
better, although in a practical game it is incredibly
difficult from a psychological standpoint to resign
oneself to doing nothing for the rest of the game!
White to play
28...cxb3 29 Qxb3 Qa1
Although these exchanges seem innocuous at first
glance, a deeper look into the position shows that Black’s pressure begins to reach boiling point now
Black faces some difficulties. Yes, one may argue that the queen has entered the fray. White cannot
that both bishops are equally effective in exerting chase it away due to the weakness of the c3-pawn.
pressure on the enemy’s kingside; however, the 30 Bb1 h5!
location of the white queen on f3 makes the attack
against f7 significantly more powerful. In addition, Now that all Black’s pieces are optimally placed,
White’s knight on b4 ties Black’s pieces to the de- the infantry joins the attack.
fence of the c6-pawn, which cannot be alleviated 31 Nb4
with ...c5 as this would surrender the key d5-
square. Finally, White can seize the initiative im- After 31 h4 Ng4 32 f3 Ne3+ 33 Kh3 Nc4 –+ the
mediately with moves such as 21 Rd1 and 21 g4. dual threats of ...Nd2 and ...Na3 cannot both be
By no means would Black’s defensive task be easy neutralized.
here. 31...h4! 32 g4 (D)
19...c5 20 Nc6 c4 21 Bc2 Qb7 22 g3 Rxa1 23 32 Kf3 may have been the best try, although Black
Rxa1 Ra8 24 Qd1 g6 25 Kg2 Bc5 (D) would be much better in a similar way to what un-
folded in the game.
White to play
The position has changed dramatically from seven Black to play

moves ago. Although White has occupied some 32...Qa4
space in the centre and lodged his knight firmly
166
Certainly good enough, but Black had an even defended the only two weaknesses in the position,
stronger move: 32...Bxf2! is an unexpected blow namely the d6- and b7-pawns. In order for White to
that would have finished off the attack in spectacu- make progress, attention needs to be turned to the
lar fashion. 33 Kxf2 Qa7+ and then: kingside.
a) 34 Ke2 Qg1 35 Qd1 Qg2+ 36 Ke3 Qg3+! 37 31 Rd3!
Kd2 (37 Qf3 Qe1+ –+) 37...Qxh3 –+ and the h-
White aims to target the f7-pawn, which is the
pawn will soon be crowned a queen.
main protector of Black’s king. The rook will
b) After 34 Kg2 Qe3 –+, followed by ...Qg3+ and move to f3 while the bishop will go to c4.
...Qxh3+, the h-pawn is once again too mighty.
31...Qc7?
33 Qxa4 bxa4 –+ Black misses an opportunity to break out of the
Kazhgaleev eventually succeeded after another 48 bind: 31...g6! 32 Rf3 d5!. It should come as no
moves from this point in converting his advantage. surprise that going for active counterplay is the
Not the most thrilling finish in this book on attack- best defence. Black gives up a pawn but creates a
ing chess, but I highly doubt that was uppermost on kingside pawn-majority and activates the dark-
the players’ minds at the time! squared bishop. After 33 exd5 Rd6 34 Qb3 Rb8 35
Re3 f5 36 Ra4 e4 += Black is able to blockade
Reiterating the lesson from this game, do not prior-
White’s pawns with an active position and good
itize other pieces over the bishop, as White unwise-
chances to save the game.
ly chose to do. In opposite-coloured bishop
middlegames, the bishop is king! 32 Rf3 +/–
Now Black is doomed to passivity; there is no way
to create any counterplay. This is the Najdorf Sicil-
With opposite-coloured bishops, the most effective
ian player’s worst nightmare!
targets fulfil two criteria: they are close to the king
(if not the king itself) and they can be easily at- 32...Bf6 33 Qb3 Rb8 34 Bc4 h6 (D)
tacked by the bishop. In essence these principles
are rather self-explanatory, so let us examine how
they apply in practice.
White to play
White has managed to pile up the pressure against

the f7-pawn, but it seems like Black has success-
fully defended against it. However, Pogonina finds
White to play an ingenious way to add more fuel to the fire.
Pogonina – The World 35 g4!
Chess.com 2009 White threatens to play h4 followed by g5, chasing
away Black’s bishop from the f-file. The f7-pawn
White has a nice advantage because of the more
will then be hanging. This is very difficult to pre-
active bishop. However, Black has successfully
167
vent, as Black’s major pieces are tied down on the

queenside defending the b7-pawn.
35...b5
The only way to stop White’s plan is to advance
the b-pawn and exchange pawns. Unfortunately,
this also creates new problems for Black.
36 axb6 Rcxb6 37 Rxb6 Rxb6 38 Qa2 Qb7 39 b4
The a-pawn is now fixed on a light square and is a
permanent weakness for Black to defend. Also,
notice the difference in bishop activity. With such
a big difference, it is almost guaranteed that Black
will lose this game.
39...Qa7 40 Kg2 Rb7 Black to play
Black must give up the a6-pawn as White was get- The pawns are now able to advance, which will
ting ready to advance the kingside pawns as before. anchor the bishop on c6.
After 40...Qb7 41 Bd5 Qc7 42 h4 +– there is no
way to save the f7-pawn. 46...Bf4 47 c4 Bd2
41 Qa4 Black must bring the bishop to the queenside in

order to blockade the b-pawn. But as one problem
White threatens to invade with the queen to e8 and is solved, another is created as the only real de-
c6. fender of Black’s king abandons his captain.
41...Kf8 48 b5 Ba5 49 Qe6!
41...Re7 42 Qc6 attacks the d6-pawn and leaves Now that Black’s bishop has sprinted over to the
Black completely tied down. Black must chase queenside, the focus shifts back to the kingside.
away the queen but after 42...Rc7 43 Qe8+ Kh7 44 White’s queen transfers to the kingside and gives
Bd5 +– White will play c4 and be able to swing the the light-squared bishop access to the d5-square.
rook to the a-file and attack the a6-pawn. Black The f7-pawn will come under tremendous pressure.
will not be able to defend so many weaknesses.
49...Kg8 50 Qf5 Bb6 51 Bd5 Rf8
42 Qc6 Rd7 43 Bxa6 +–
This and 51...Rd7 are the only ways to defend the
White has won a pawn and still has a dominating pawn, but they both lose in the same fashion.
position.
52 g5!
43...Qc7 44 Qd5
With all the attacking pieces in position, White be-
Of course, White is not interested in trading the gins the final assault.
strongest attacking piece.
52...hxg5 53 Qxg5
44...Bg5 45 Bb5 Rd8 46 Bc6 (D)
Rg3 is unstoppable and Black is unable to defend
the g7-pawn.
53...Qd8 54 Qg6 Qe7 55 Rg3 1-0
A nice example showing the consequences of re-
maining passive and not seeking active
counterplay. Black had the opportunity to give up a
pawn in the variation 31...g6! 32 Rf3 d5! in order
to fix the pawn-structure and activate his bishop.
After failing to seize the opportunity, Black was
168
forced to suffer in a hopeless position with no 26...Kg7 27 h5 Qf7

chances of survival. Black over-protects the g6-pawn and puts some
pressure on the f-file.
The final example of this chapter illustrates the im- 27...g5 +/– closes the kingside but also buries the
portance of king safety and the initiative in oppo- bishop. It is safe to assume that White would have
site-coloured bishop positions. Both of these fac- excellent winning chances here, although maybe
tors directly correlate with the position of the bish- the task would be harder than in the game.
ops. As a rule of thumb, you should always strive
28 hxg6 hxg6 29 Rh1 +/–
to have the bishop pointing at the opponent’s king.
White’s plan is clear: double the rooks on the h-
file.
29...Rfa8 (D)
White to play
Elianov – Paunovi
White to play
Andorra la Vella 2003
30 Qd3
While the e4- and g5-bishops both seem to be ac-
30 Qc2! was an even stronger way to defend the
tive in this position, this appearance is wholly de-
a3-pawn, as the queen exerts pressure along the c-
ceptive. In reality, the g5-bishop serves no purpose,
file. The tactical idea is that 30...Rxa3? 31 Rxa3
while the e4-bishop, pointing at the black king, will
Rxa3 32 Rxh6! +– works because of the queen fork
make its impact felt on the game.
on c1.
25 h4!
30...Bg5
A move that should be typical by now. White
There was not much else that Black could have
wants to advance the pawn to h5 in order to make
tried; e.g., 30...Rf8 31 f3 (31 Qe2 would transpose
the g6-pawn a weakness.
to the position two moves earlier) and then:
25...Bh6 26 Kg2! a) 31...Raa8 32 Rh4! Bg5 33 Rg4 Qf6 34 Ra2!
There is no need to rush because Black has no (planning Rc2) 34...Rh8 35 Rc2 Rac8 36 f4 +–.
counterplay. Before playing h5, it is a good idea to The second point behind Ra2 is to take the rook off
be able to place the rook on h1. the a1-h8 diagonal. Black has no defence.
26 h5?! is premature as 26...gxh5 27 Qxh5 Bd2 28 b) 31...Bg5 32 Rh2 +– (simple and also very
Reb1 Bc3 29 Ra2 Bd4 allows Black to activate the strong) 32...Raa8 33 Rah1 Rh8 34 Rxh8 Rxh8 35
bishop against White’s king. With the king on g2, Rxh8 Kxh8 36 Bxg6 Qf6 37 Be4 +–. With the
White would have the strong reply Rh1 instead of presence of queens, the a-pawn will be almost im-
Rb1. possible to stop.
169
31 Rh3 Rf8 32 Qe2 bishop as there are no more threats of perpetual

check.
32 f3 is also possible, with similar play to the pre-
vious note. Perhaps Elianov did not think this was 42...Kh6??
a good idea as it weakens the white king and closes But Black hands back the half-point immediately.
the white queen’s path to the g4-square. This move takes away the h6-square from the
32...Raa8 33 Rah1 Rh8 34 Rxh8 Rxh8 35 Rxh8 queen, which is important for keeping the hopes of
Kxh8 (D) counterplay alive.
42...Kg8 (or 42...Kh8) would have been sufficient
to draw. 43 Qc3 (43 Qxd6 Qd2+ 44 Kh3 Qh6+ =
shows the difference: White can’t escape the
checks) 43...Qc1! 44 Qxc1 Bxc1 45 Bxg6 Kg7 (D).
White to play
Black has managed to trade rooks but the position

is even worse than ever. There is no good way to
defend the kingside weaknesses while keeping
White’s potential passed a-pawn in check. White to play
36 Qg4 Despite being two pawns down, Black is able to

36 a4!, creating a passed pawn right away, is even create a blockade on the dark squares, and there is
stronger. no way for White to break through.
36...Bc1 37 a4 Kg7 38 Qe2 Qd7 39 Qc2 Ba3 43 Qxd6
The bishop gets into serious risk of being trapped. With ...Qh6+ no longer being a possibility against
39...Bg5 40 Bxg6 +– allows White to win a pawn Kh3, Black has nothing to show for the two-pawn
for nothing, however. deficit.
40 Qc3 Qg4 41 f3 43...Bc1 44 Qf8+ Kh7 45 Qf7+ Kh6 46 Qf8+ Kh7

47 d6 1-0
41 Qxc7+! Kg8 (41...Kh6 42 f3 Qg5 transposes to
the game) 42 Qd8+! (White denies the g5-square to The pawn cannot be stopped.
Black’s queen before playing f3) 42...Kg7 43 f3 +– After seeing these games it should become clear
. that the most important factors of opposite-
coloured bishop positions are king safety and the
41...Qg5 42 Qxc7+??
initiative. Material is not as significant; it is better
This serious mistake throws away the win by al- to be a few pawns down but to have all the play
lowing Black to get counterplay against White’s than the other way around. This is because attacks
king. with opposite-coloured bishops are stronger than
42 f4! keeps everything under control. After normal, as the defending bishop can do very little
42...Qg4 43 Bf3 Qf5 44 fxe5 +– White wins the against an attack focused on the opposite-coloured
squares.
170
Exercises
I am positive you will not find these positions to be
‘drawish’ at all. Go after the king!
171
172
White gives up a rook to interfere with the black

queen’s defence along its second rank.
36...Bxe7
36...Qxe7 loses to 37 Rxe7 Bxe7 38 Qh7+ Kf8 39
Qh8+ Kf7 40 Ba2+ +–, when White wins the full
house.
37 Qh7+
The queen penetrates behind enemy lines and sig-
nals the beginning of the end.
37...Kf8 38 Qh8+ Kf7 39 Ba2+ Kg6 40 Qe8+ Rf7
41 Qg8+ Rg7 42 Bb1+ d3
42...Kh5 43 Qxg7 +– is no better.
White to play
43 Bxd3+ Kh5 44 Qxg7 Rxf2 45 Rxe7
1) Bologan – Adly 45 Bg6+ Kh4 46 Qxh6+ Kg3 47 Re3+ Kf4 48
Khanty-Mansiisk 2009 Re4+ Kg3 49 Rg4# was a bit quicker.
32 Bf5! 45...Qc5
An excellent move, opening up the e-file for Generously allowing a cute finish.
White’s rooks and also trapping Black’s rook on 46 Qxh6+! 1-0
f4. White threatens both Re6 and g3.
White gives mate next move with Rh7#.
32...Rd5
32...Qf7 33 g4! +– cements the bishop in place and
isolates Black’s rook. Black cannot stop the threat
of Re6, as after 33...Rd6 34 Rc2 White now threat-
ens to invade along the c-file. With the f4-rook out
of play, there are just too many pieces in the attack
and not enough defenders.
33 Be6!
A nice re-routing of the bishop. Bologan plans to
set up a deadly alignment of queen and bishop by
moving the bishop to a2 and then to b1. By now,
we should be familiar with this attacking plan in
opposite-coloured bishop positions.
33...Rd6 34 Ba2 Rdf6 35 Bb1 Kg8?
35...R6f5 is a more resilient defence, though after
36 g3 Rf3 37 Qxd4+ Rf6 38 Qe4 Kh8 39 Rd1 +–
the position is hopeless. White has won a pawn and
still has a very strong attack.
36 Re7!
173
2) Topalov – J. Polgar 3) Bortnyk – Kamsky

Dos Hermanas rapid 2008 Dos Hermanas blitz 2010
39 Qb6! +– Kamsky was eventually ground down after 45 Kg1
in the game, but White missed an immediate win
Creating the deadly threat of Qb8.
here:
39 Qa7? was played in the game, but this lets
Black off the ropes significantly. However, the 45 g5!
game proceeded 39...Qxc3?? (going down without Stranding the black bishop on the side of the board.
a fight; 39...Rxg3! would put a tall task ahead of
45...hxg5 46 Qh5 Qb8
White: 40 Kxg3 Qxc3+ 41 Kh2 Qe5+ 42 Kg1 Bd5
+=) 40 Qb8 Qg7 41 Be5 Rd8 42 Qxd8 Qxe5+ 43 Preventing fxg5 due to ...Qg3+. After 46...Be1 47
g3 Bd5 44 Qg8+ Qg7 45 Qe8+ Qf7 46 Qxb5 +– fxg5 Bd2 48 f6 +– Black’s bishop escapes, but the
and Topalov breezed to victory. same cannot be said for his king.
39...Rxg3 40 Qd8! 47 Re7 Rf8 48 Be8! +–
The key move, and a difficult one to spot. White The bishop sneaks in, and issues an ultimatum for
threatens Qg8#. Black: resign or face heavy material losses.
40...Kh7 41 Qe7+ Kg8 42 Kxg3 Qxc3+ 43 Kh2
+–
The differences in the positions of White’s queen
and Black’s king as compared to the game are im-
mense. Black cannot parry all the threats.
174
4) Hector – Krasenkow 5) Svidler – Leko

Malmö 1995 Linares 1999
40...a2 28 Re3!
If you found 40...g5! then congratulations for find- This move prevents ...Bc3 as well as threatening
ing a much easier (and stronger) solution! 41 c7 Ref3. White could also play the equally strong 28
(41 hxg5 h4 –+) 41...gxh4 –+ leaves White help- Rf3!, with the same ideas.
less against Black’s queen-bishop tandem. With opposite-coloured bishop positions, material
41 c7 a1Q 42 c8Q Qxg3+!! 43 Kxg3 Bf4+ 44 Kf2 is not as important as the initiative, so we should
not be tempted into 28 Bxf7? Bc3 29 Qxf8+ (29
44 Kh3 Qa3+ –+.
Qxc3+ Rxc3 30 Bxg6 Rxf1+ 31 Rxf1 Kxg6 =)
44...Qd4+ 45 Kf1 Qd1+ 46 Kf2 Qd2+ 47 Kf1 29...Rxf8 30 Bxg6 Bxe1 31 Rxe1 Kxg6 32 Kg1
Bg3 +=, when the game is much closer to a draw than a
A funny occurrence: White’s two queens are worth white victory.
as much as a wooden shield in a blazing fire. 28...Qg5 29 Qd2 Bf6 30 h4 Qc5 31 Re4!
48 Qxf7+ Kxf7 49 Qc4+ Kg7 50 Kg1 Qe1+ 51 31 Ref3?! allows the defence 31...Qd4! +/–.
Qf1 Bxh4 52 Qxe1 Bxe1 53 Bf3 Kh6 0-1
31...h5 32 Ref4
Now Black cannot hold his position together.
32...Rc6 33 Rf5 Qc3 34 Qf4 Rd8 35 Rxh5 Qd2
36 Qg4+ Kf8 37 Rh8+! Ke7 38 Rh7 Rf8 39 Qe4+
Kd7 40 Bxf7 1-0
175
Black to play
6) Filippov – Khalifman
Linares 1997
After reading the previous chapter, finding the next
move should be automatic.
27...h5!
The plan of ...h4 is a severe threat to White’s king
safety.
28 Qf1 h4 29 f5
29 gxh4? Rg6+ –+.
29...hxg3 30 Rf4
30 hxg3 does not offer much resistance either:
30...Rxc3! 31 Bxc3 Rxc3 32 Qh3 (32 Kh2 Qc7 –+
with the threats of ...Rc1 and ...Qxe5) 32...Rc1+ 33
Rf1 Bxf5 34 Qg2 Rc2 35 Rf2 Rc3 –+.
30...gxh2+ 31 Kxh2 Rh6+ 32 Kg3 Rh5 33 e6
33 f6 Rh1 –+.
33...fxe6 34 f6 Qf7 35 Rg4 Rxc3+!
The attack crashes through from the other side of
the board.
36 Bxc3 Qc7+ 37 Rf4
37 Qf4 Qxc3+ 38 Kf2 Qc2+ –+ will lead to mate.
37...Qxc3+ 38 Kg4 Qe5 0-1
176
11: Same Idea, Different Games

MICHAEL SONG
As a student who has just graduated from high school, one of my pet peeves was hearing the stereotypical
bratty student complain, “Why do I need to learn this? It’s not even useful in the real world!” Of course,
one would think that young chess-players tend to be somewhat more mature than their peers, but nonethe-
less a similar issue is apparent among many up-and-coming players of today’s generation, who are grow-
ing more and more addicted to gimmicks such as online tactical trainers, video lessons and so forth. These
are great learning tools, but the classics cannot be neglected.
While the game of chess itself has evolved greatly over the last half-century or so, it is still worth know-
ing the ideas demonstrated by our predecessors. Perhaps the opening theory and such from games past are
obsolete, but ideas and motifs in chess never expire. Of course, the ideas featured here will not be as pe-
destrian as a Bxh7+ sacrifice, but you will be amazed at how similarly the plans unfolded. Just as a writer
must study the works of Shakespeare, all successful chess-players must study the games of prior champi-
ons as well. In this chapter, I have collected a few pairs of games, which may look spectacular in their
own right, but as we shall see, the ideas featured may have not been as innovative as they looked. These
ideas do not exactly fall under any specific chapter, which is why I decided to dedicate a separate chapter
to this topic. The first ‘classic’ game featured here is a jewel from the Polish-Argentine grandmaster Mi-
guel Najdorf.
Glücksberg – Najdorf
Warsaw 1929
1 d4 f5 2 c4 Nf6 3 Nc3 e6 4 Nf3 d5 5 e3?!
This is an inaccuracy as it needlessly restricts the
c1-bishop. Better options were 5 Bf4, 5 Bg5 and 5
g3.
5...c6 6 Bd3 Bd6 7 0-0 0-0 8 Ne2?!
Seeing that his knight was doing nothing on c3,
White relocates it to the kingside in the hope of
some future on f4. In hindsight, it may have been
better for White to play 8 b3 followed by normal
development with Bb2.
8...Nbd7 9 Ng5?! (D) Black to play
As many sneaky chess masters often do, 9...Bxh2+!

Glücksberg was unsatisfied with his position and Najdorf fearlessly takes up the gauntlet.
tried to bait Najdorf into a tempting sacrifice on h2,
which he assumed did not work... 10 Kh1
9 Nf4 Qe7 =+ is still more pleasant for Black, 10 Kxh2 Ng4+ –/+ is obviously just a free pawn
thanks to possibilities such as ...Ne4 and ...g5. for Black.
Meanwhile, White has no clear plan. 10...Ng4 11 f4?
177
Same Idea, Different Games
White’s idea was that the h2-bishop would fall af-

ter the plan of g3, Kg2 and Rh1, but as Najdorf
proves, this is much too slow to be successful. Ob-
jectively, virtually any other sensible move would
have been better; however, White would look ra-
ther foolish giving up h2 for nothing then.
11...Qe8!
Bringing the most powerful piece into the attack.
12 g3 Qh5 13 Kg2 (D)
Black to play
But now how should Black continue the attack?

Given time, White can easily consolidate with
Qe2. Meanwhile, Black only has two pieces in the
attack: the queen and the knight. The rest of his
pieces (the c8-bishop, both his rooks and the d7-
knight) are playing no role in the attack. Najdorf
simultaneously activates all his pieces with his next
move.
15...e5!!
Black to play
Blasting open the centre, and also the c8-h3 diago-
Glücksberg seems to have achieved his plan: the
nal for Black’s sleeping bishop to join the fray. The
bishop on h2 is stranded, and White’s king appears
mating threat of ...e4+ forces White to expose his
rather safe behind the closed centre and kingside
king.
pawn-structure. However, Najdorf quickly dispels
this illusion. When looking at this position, it is 16 dxe5 Ndxe5+! 17 fxe5 Nxe5+ 18 Kf4 Ng6+ 19
rather obvious that the bishop on h2 has no attack- Kf3 (D)
ing value whatsoever. It must give way for the
black queen to penetrate on h2. After recognizing
this, it is easy to spot the blow:
13...Bg1!
The bishop plays a key role in forcing White’s king
to march forward by cutting off the rook’s access
to the crucial h1-square.
However, the more natural move 13...Bxg3? fails
to 14 Rh1! Bh2 15 Nf3, when we see that White’s
defensive scheme has been successful in repelling
the black attack.
14 Nxg1
14 Rxg1?? allows immediate mate: 14...Qh2+ 15
Kf1 Qf2#. Black to play
14...Qh2+ 15 Kf3 (D) Do you see how Najdorf finished the attack?
178
19...f4! lowed by ...Qh6, but given how weak White’s king

is at the moment, there must be a stronger move.
Simultaneously opening the f-file and the c8-h3
Hence, Black’s continuation is fairly obvious.
diagonal to awaken the sleeping giant on c8 and
initiate the final sequence. 20...Bxe3+! 21 Kf3
20 exf4 Bg4+! 21 Kxg4 But now what to play? White has the same threats
as before, plus the e3-bishop will be hanging in
21 Ke3 Bxd1 –+ is obviously hopeless as well.
many lines. After examining the previous game,
21...Ne5+! 22 fxe5 h5# (0-1) you should have no trouble finding Mark’s next
An attack as unique as this seems almost impossi- move.
ble to duplicate, doesn’t it? However, as we shall 21...Bg1!! (D)
see, our next game contains a striking resemblance
to this one.
In many open tournaments, the first round is a

cakewalk for the top masters; however, with a
thorough knowledge of the ‘classic’ games, per-
haps you will be one of the lucky few who defy
this trend! One memorable instance of a much
lower-rated player beating a higher-rated player is
this next game, played in the first round of the
2016 World Open by two of my dearest friends:
my former coach Israeli grandmaster Victor
Mikhalevski and fellow Canadian junior Mark
Plotkin.
White to play
Essentially the same idea as before. Not only does

this move stop Rh1, which would hold White’s
kingside together, but it also strands the white king
out in the open with no hope of returning.
22 Rxb7 f5!
Borrowing the same idea as Najdorf of charging
the f-pawn forward to open the f-file for the re-
serve on f8. In addition, Black is threatening im-
mediate mate with ...Qh5+. White’s reply is forced.
23 Rxg1 f4
23...Qxg1 24 Qd1 Qxd1 25 Nxd1 Rad8 26 Nf2 Rf7
–+ is given as objectively much stronger by the
computer, but from the human perspective, it is
Black to play extremely difficult to exchange the queens with
such great attacking prospects on the board.
V. Mikhalevski – Plotkin
Philadelphia 2016 24 Ne4
24 Rh1?? Qxg3+ 25 Ke4 Qe3# is mate of course.
Out of what seemed to be a very quiet Catalan-type
opening, suddenly a wild position has arisen. 24...fxg3+ 25 Kg4 Rf5! (D)
White is not only threatening the b7-bishop, but
also to trap the queen with Rh1. Of course, Black
may be able to parry both threats with 20...Bc8 fol-
179
d1) 28 Bxg2? Raf8 –+ gives Black a decisive at-

tack.
d2) 28 Qc3? h5+ 29 Kh4 Qf2+!!. The key move
as the check forces White to retreat his knight.
But without a doubt, it would be incredibly dif-
ficult to find 26...g2! in a practical game. 30
Nxf2 g1Q 31 Ng4! e5 32 e4 (32 Nh6+ gxh6 33
Bxf5 Qg5+ 34 Kh3 Qxf5+ 35 Kg2 Kh8 –+ is al-
so winning for Black) 32...hxg4 33 exf5 gxh3
34 Qg3 Qxg3+ 35 Kxg3 Rf8 36 Rxa7 Rxf5 37
Kxh3 Rf4 38 Ra6 Rxc4 39 Rxb6 Rxa4 40 Rxc6
Kf7 –+ and Black should win this rook endgame
fairly easily.
d3) 28 Kh4! is the critical defence, although cer-
White to play
tainly in practice 28...Qd4 29 Bxg2 Raf8 30 Bh3
Boxing the king in, and threatening an identical would be a difficult position for White to de-
mate as the previous game with ...h5#. fend.
26 Nxg3?? 26...h5+ 27 Nxh5 Rxh5 –+
The decisive mistake. 26 Bh3! was the only de- White is helpless in the face of the onslaught.
fence, to create some sort of hiding square on h4
28 Bh3 Qe5 29 Rxg7+ Kxg7 30 Kf3+ Kh8 31
for the king. Then:
Rg3 Rf8+ 32 Kg2 Qxe2+ 33 Kh1 Qf1+ 0-1
a) 26...Qxg1?? 27 Qc3! h5+ 28 Kh4 +– would
Although not identical to Najdorf’s game, it is easy
even win for White.
to recognize the similarities. Black’s attack was
b) 26...h5+? 27 Kh4 Rf4+ 28 Kg5 Qxh3 29 started by the same idea, ...Bg1!, stopping White’s
Rxg7+! (29 Kxf4? Rf8+ 30 Ke5 Qf5+ 31 Kd6 rook from entering the defence and cutting off the
Qf4+ 32 Kd7 Qf7+ 33 Kxc6 Rc8+ 34 Kb5 Qxb7 king’s retreat. Later Black built up his attack by
–/+ would still give Black something to play for, charging forward the f-pawn and opening the f-file,
but the position is by no means clear) 29...Kxg7 and finished off with a thrust of the h-pawn. Not a
30 Qc3+ Kg8 31 Kxf4 Rf8+ 32 Ke3 h4 (32...g2+ bad imitation, wouldn’t you say?
33 Kd2! is the point behind sacrificing the rook
on g7; since the queen was able to shift from b3
to c2, ...g2+ does not win the queen) 33 Qe5 Qf5 The following game made a very strong impression
and although Black is not worse, White is more when my former coach, American grandmaster
or less out of the woods. Gregory Kaidanov, showed it to me. Being a
King’s Indian player as Black, these English set-
c) 26...Raf8 is very natural, but White is not
ups with 1 Nf3 and 1 c4 always annoyed me
without defences: 27 Rxg7+! (27 Qxg3?? Qxe2+
somewhat, since I couldn’t get the mating chances
leads to mate; 27 Qe3?? h5+ 28 Kh4 Rf4+ 29
that arise in the traditional King’s Indian main
Kg5 Qxh3 30 Qxf4 Rf5+! –+) 27...Kxg7 28 Qxg3
lines. From this game, I learned that even against
Qxg3+ (not, of course, 28...Qxe2+?? 29 Kh4+!
the ‘solid’ English set-ups, there are still chances
Kf7 30 Qc7+ Ke8 31 Nd6#) 29 Kxg3 –/+ and alt-
aplenty to play for mate if that is what we desire!
hough Black is still clearly better, he will have to
work for his point.
d) 26...g2!? threatens mate with ...Qf4#. 27 Qg3 Petrosian – Vasiukov
(27 Qe3? Raf8 –+ leaves White with no good re- Moscow Ch 1956
sponse to the threat of ...Rf4+) 27...Qxg1 and
then: 1 Nf3 Nf6 2 g3 g6 3 Bg2 Bg7 4 0-0 0-0 5 c4 d6 6
Nc3 Nc6 7 d3 Nh5!? (D)
180
7...e5 of course leads to a very standard English

Opening position, and a slower game.
White to play
Activating with tempo. The threat of ...Bxf3 fol-

lowed by ...Nd4 forces White to respond.
White to play 13 e3
Vasiukov devises an extremely creative attacking Notice that White can never kick the bishop with
scheme against the future World Champion. Tigran h3 as Black would respond with ...Bxf3 and ...fxg3.
was famous for his ‘Python’ strategy of slowly re- The tandem duo of the g4-bishop and the f4-pawn
stricting the opponent’s forces, and this move made acts as a clamp on White’s kingside, and Black
it clear that Vasiukov had no intention of playing must maintain this in order to have a successful
into his opponent’s hands. The idea is rather cave- attack. Because White is paralysed on the kingside,
man-like, but interesting: to clear the way for the f- Black has what feels like an eternity to deploy his
pawn to charge to f4 and exert great pressure on forces for an attack on that side of the board.
the white kingside.
There is no time for 13 b5? due to 13...Bxf3 14
8 Rb1?! Bxf3 Nd4 =+.
Already this move is an inaccuracy. Despite being 13...e5!
the natural English plan to play Rb1 and b4, White
It is interesting that the computer equally prefers
should adapt to Black’s early attacking plans. 8 d4!
13...fxg3? but after 14 fxg3 +/– Black is strategi-
is the best option for White, transposing into a
cally lost. He has no real attack after losing the
form of Fianchetto King’s Indian in which it is not
clamp on f4.
clear if the extra tempo of ...Nh5 helps Black at all.
In those lines, the knight often retreats to d7, fol- 14 b5 Ne7 15 Ne4 Qd7 16 Bd2 (D)
lowed by ...e5 and perhaps ...Nc5 one day.
8...f5 9 Qc2
Now that the knight is protected, White is threaten-
ing b4.
9...a5 10 a3 f4! 11 b4 axb4 12 axb4 Bg4! (D)
12...e5? 13 b5 +/– would be terrible for Black, as
he does not get sufficient counterplay.
181
ask yourself the question, “What is my worst

piece?” Let us go step by step. The g7-bishop is the
obvious answer. However, similar to in King’s In-
dian positions, it is needed to guard the king and
essentially hold down the fort. Plus, it has no real-
istic chances of entering the game effectively as we
see that Black’s own pawn-chain prevents this.
Black’s rook, queen and g4-bishop are all doing an
excellent job of exerting pressure. The g6-knight is
also well positioned, keeping both ...Nf4 and ...Nh4
ideas alive. That being said, it is clear that Black’s
h5-knight is not ideally positioned. It exerts no real
pressure, and the queen would much rather be there
to exert additional pressure on the d1-h5 diagonal.
Black to play 24...Bf6!? (D)
Can you find the best way to increase the pressure?
16...h6!
Preparing to expand on the kingside, while also
restricting White’s knights from hopping.
17 Bc3 g5
Black’s pressure on the kingside is on the verge of
becoming overwhelming.
18 exf4?!
This marks the beginning of Petrosian’s downfall
in this game. 18 d4! was necessary, following the
principle that when the opponent is playing on the
flank, you should counter in the centre! After
18...exd4 (18...Bxf3 19 Bxf3 g4 20 Be2 f3 21 Bd3 White to play
exd4 22 exd4 Nf5 23 Qb2 +/– leaves Black with no The beginning of a powerful reorganization of
real follow-up in his attack) 19 Bxd4 fxe3 Black’s forces.
(counterplay by 19...Bxd4 20 Nxd4 Bh3 also de-
serves attention) 20 fxe3 Qe6 the engines prefer 25 Kh1?
White, but the position is closer to ‘unclear’ in my Fatally, White decides to sit and wait. He had a
eyes. chance here to fight back by 25 Nc3 intending Qe4,
18...gxf4 19 Qe2 Ng6 the main point being to meet 25...Ng7 26 Qe4 Qh5
with 27 h3! Bf5 (27...Bxh3? drops the g6-knight)
Now ideas such as ...Nf4 and ...Nh4 are in the air. 28 g4 Bxe4 29 Nxe4.
20 Ra1 Rxa1 21 Bxa1 b6! 25...Ng7! 26 Bb2 Ne6 27 Qc2 Qh5 28 Ned2 Ng5
A good prophylactic move to shut down White’s Black has successfully manoeuvred to put pressure
queenside counterplay. Black is in no rush with his on the f3-knight, and now the defender must leave.
attack, while White must scramble to offer any re-
sistance. 29 Nxg5 Bxg5 30 Be4 Be2!
22 Bc3 Qf5 23 Bd2 Kh8 24 Bc1 Not 30...f3?? 31 d4! +/–, which turns the tables
completely, but 30...Ne7! followed by ...Nf5 is also
Despite having a massive presence on the kingside, very strong; for instance: 31 d4 Nf5 32 dxe5 fxg3
it is not clear how Black breaks through. In order 33 exd6+ Bf6 34 fxg3 Nxg3+ 35 Kg1 Nxf1 36
to find Vasiukov’s next series of moves, you must Nxf1 Qc5+ –+.
182
31 Kg1 10 Qc2?!
If the rook moves, then Black’s rook will penetrate I was pleased to discover that my hypothesis was
into f2 with decisive effect. 31 d4 fails to 31...fxg3 correct.
32 fxg3 Bxf1 –+.
10...f4! 11 e3 e5
31...f3! Of course, we must maintain the clamp on f4.
Of course, the e2-bishop is far more valuable than 12 b4 axb4 13 axb4 Bg4 (D)
the lousy rook on f1. 31...fxg3! 32 hxg3 Nf4! –+ is
just as good, if not even better.
32 Re1 Bxd2 33 Rxe2 Bg5 34 Re1 Qh3 35 Bxf3
Rxf3 36 d4
Petrosian tries his last bid for counterplay, but
Vasiukov quickly puts him away:
36...Nf4!
36...Nh4! is the same thing.
37 gxf4 Bxf4 0-1
Mate is coming soon.
The next example is from the penultimate round of

the 2016 Canadian Youth Chess Championship. A White to play
win here would have essentially clinched the tour- After the first thirteen moves, we have an identical
nament. I had spent all of the previous night doing position to the previous game. Black is already
preparation in the Dutch, but my opponent and comfortable, with severe pressure on White’s king-
good friend IM Richard Wang decided to surprise side. Richard decided to deviate from Petrosian
me... with his next move:
14 Nd5
R. Wang – Song White is now threatening to capture on f4. Clearly,
Canadian Junior Ch, Windsor 2016 Black does not want to exchange his f-pawn and
lose his clamp on the white kingside, so his next
1 c4 f5!? move is virtually forced.
With this move, I figured that the game would 14 b5 was seen in the previous game.
probably transpose to a Dutch at some point.
14...Ne7!
2 g3 Nf6 3 Bg2 g6 4 Nc3 Bg7 5 d3 0-0 6 Nf3 d6 7
0-0 Nc6 8 Rb1 a5 9 a3 Immediately hunting down the strong knight in the
centre of the board.
The funny thing was, I had actually shown the pre-
vious game to one of my students just one week 15 Bb2
earlier! Having the ideas still fresh in my mind, I 15 exf4 Nxd5 16 cxd5 exf4 still gives Black great
decided to follow in Vasiukov’s footsteps. pressure.
9...Nh5!? 15...Nxd5 16 cxd5 Qd7 17 Rbc1?
This move threw Richard off, and he began to A desperate attempt for counterplay, but Black can
think from this moment forth. I felt confident that refute this tactically.
because he normally does not play fianchetto sys-
tems, he wouldn’t find the unnatural but strong 17 exf4 exf4 18 Bxg7 Nxg7 =+ was White’s best
move 10 d4!, and that I could obtain a game simi- attempt, although Black is still better due to his
lar to what we have just seen.
183
space on the kingside along with some shattered

pawns to attack.
17...Ra2!
Threatening ...Rxb2 followed by ...Bxf3 and ...e4,
winning material.
18 e4 (D)
Black to play
22...Nxg3+
I smashed down this move without thinking, as I
had seen it in my earlier calculations, but it turns
out I had an even simpler win: 22...Bxf3! 23 Rxf3
(23 Bxf3 Qh3 and mate is unstoppable; for in-
stance, 24 Rg1 Nxg3+ 25 Rxg3 Qf1+ 26 Rg1
Black to play Qxg1#) 23...Rxf3 24 Bxf3 Qh3 –+ and White has
We are in a similar situation as last game. Black’s no defence to the threats of ...Qf1# and ...Nxg3#.
pressure is on the verge of being unbearable; he 23 hxg3 Bxf3
just needs to include a little more firepower. In the
Of course, White is still lost.
previous game, Vasiukov employed a brilliant
knight manoeuvre to accomplish this. Here it is 24 Kh2 Bg4 25 Rxf8+ Kxf8 26 Bb2 Qg7!
hard to imagine how the h5-knight can be im- The queen slides laterally towards the poor white
proved, but in this case, there is another piece that king.
can be:
27 Bh3 Qh6 28 Qg2 b5 29 Bc3 Ke7 30 Qf1 Qh5
18...Bh6! 31 Qg2 g5 32 Ba1 Kd8 33 Qf1 Bf3 34 g4 Bf4+ 35
The bishop joins the attack. Kg1 Bxg4 36 Bxg4 Qh2# (0-1)
19 Ra1??
When I played 18...Bh6, I saw that this natural In addition to the opening and early middlegame
move loses on the spot. However, White’s position being identical to the last game, notice the similari-
was already extremely difficult. 19 Rce1! was the ties in how Black built up his attack. Never did he
best defence, although after 19...Qb5! 20 Qc3 Qb6! remove the dominant pawn on f4, but rather he
(attacking g3 due to the pin on the f2-pawn and built his attack around that pawn, until the pressure
also protecting c7) 21 Kh1 Ra4 –/+ Black will pick was too much to handle. Once all the pieces were
off a pawn for free while maintaining a big initia- in position (the knight manoeuvre in Vasiukov’s
tive. game and the inclusion of the dark-squared bishop
in the attack in my game) White’s position quickly
19...Rxa1 20 Bxa1 fxg3 21 fxg3 Be3+ 22 Kh1 (D)
crumbled.
184
Fischer – Benko 14 0-0-0 +/– is also a fully acceptable way to play

the position.
USA Ch, New York 1963/4
What would an attacking book be without a com- 14...Nd6 15 Qg3
plete game from Bobby Fischer? In this famous Threatening the obvious Bh6.
game, he demonstrates a very powerful attacking
15...Kh8 16 Qg4!
idea: sacrificing a piece in order to block the oppo-
nent’s defences. Stopping any ideas of counterplay with ...f5.
1 e4 g6 2 d4 Bg7 3 Nc3 d6 4 f4 Nf6 5 Nf3 0-0 6 16...c6 17 Qh5
Bd3 Bg4?! Now Fischer zeroes in on the h7-pawn.
Today, Black’s main choices are 6...Na6 and 17...Qe8?? (D)
6...Nc6, but of course opening theory half a century
ago was not as advanced as in our day and age. Losing at once (17...Ne6 +/– allows Black to fight
Benko’s move surrenders the bishop-pair much too on longer, although he is still suffering).
easily.
7 h3 Bxf3 8 Qxf3 Nc6 9 Be3 e5 (D)
White to play
Frightened by Fischer’s bind on the kingside light

White to play squares, Benko’s idea was to nudge the f-pawn,
which would allow his queen to enter the defence.
10 dxe5! But Fischer was not kind enough to let this happen;
The correct recapture, allowing White to retain at- do you see the win in this iconic position?
tacking prospects on the kingside. 10 fxe5? would 18 Bxd4 exd4 19 Rf6!!
be a serious mistake. After 10...dxe5 11 d5 Nd4 12
Qf2 Nd7 = it is hard to imagine White ever being Blocking the f-pawn, and there is simply no de-
able to build up an attack on the kingside. fence to playing e5 and mating on h7. 19 e5?? at
once would not work due to 19...f5 20 Qxe8 Nxe8
10...dxe5 11 f5! gxf5? =+.
It is understandable that Benko did not want to al- 19...Kg8
low Fischer to expand with g4 and roll his pawns
forward, but this move is much too weakening. After 19...Bxf6 20 e5 +– the bishop is in the way
11...Nd4 12 Qf2 b5! 13 g4 b4 14 Ne2 c5 would be of ...f5.
a better attempt to get some counterplay. Mean- 20 e5 h6 21 Ne2 1-0
while, White’s attack is not so obvious; for in-
stance, 15 g5?! c4! 16 gxf6 Bxf6 17 0-0-0 cxd3 18 If the knight moves, then Qf5 leads to mate, and
Rxd3 Bh4, when play is very unclear. Benko had no choice but to call it a day.
12 Qxf5 Nd4 13 Qf2 Ne8 14 0-0
185
The following example could very well have been e) 19 Bxd8 Raxd8 20 Qg5 (20 Nxe6 fxe6 21 cxd3
used as a calculation exercise, yet I chose to show Qg7 and Black is more than OK) 20...f6 21
it here due to the resemblance to Fischer’s game. Nxe6+ fxg5 22 Nxc7 Nxb2 23 Nxa6 Rd2 24 Nb4
Nc4 = and Black has comfortably equalized.
We now return to 18...Kxg7? (D):
White to play
White to play
Ravinsky – Ilivitsky
Riga 1952 19 Rxf4!
However, the situation is somewhat different; if 19 Qh6+? is not as convincing. 19...Kg8 20 Rxf4
White does not act now, he will find himself much Nxd3 (20...f6 is also another possible defensive try;
worse. From a positional point of view, Black has after 21 Rf3! Nxd3 22 cxd3 Qg7 23 Raf1 +/–
achieved a dream Sicilian: his knights are active, White is of course much better, but the game is not
White has a weak isolated e-pawn and the dark- over) 21 Nd5 Bxd5 22 Bxd8 Nf2+! 23 Rxf2 Raxd8
squared bishops are about to be swapped off. +/– and Black can still fight.
White’s next move should come as no surprise. 19...exf4?
18 Nxg7! Kxg7? This allows White to deliver forced mate, but at
This seemingly forced move is actually the deci- this point Black could not hope for survival in any
sive mistake. case. One line continues 19...f6 20 Bh6+ Kh8
(20...Kf7 21 Qh5+ Ke7 22 Nd5+ Bxd5 23 exd5 +–
18...Ncxd3! was the only defence, and should and White will soon invade on the kingside) 21
maintain equality with proper play. No matter what Bxf8 exf4 22 Nd5 Bxd5 23 Bxc5 Qxc5 24 exd5 f5
White tries, there is nothing special: 25 Qxf4 Qxd5 26 Bxf5 +–, when White emerges
a) 19 g3?? is a serious error due to 19...Nh3! 20 two pawns up with the safer king.
cxd3 (20 Bxd8 Ndf2+! 21 Kg2 Raxd8 –+) 20 Qh6+
20...Nxg5 21 Qh6 f6 –+.
20 e5?? allows Black to defend successfully and
b) 19 Nxe6? fxe6 20 Bxd8 (20 cxd3? Qg7! –+) even win after 20...f5 21 exf6+ Kh8 –+.
20...Qxd8 21 Qxd8 Raxd8 22 cxd3 Nxd3 =+ and
Black maintains an annoying initiative in the 20...Kg8 (D)
endgame.
c) 19 cxd3? Kxg7 20 Qh6+ Kg8 –/+ does not give
White sufficient compensation for the piece.
d) 19 Qg3 Kh8 20 cxd3 Bxg5 21 Qxg5 Rg8 22
Nxe6 fxe6 23 Qf6+ Qg7 24 Qxg7+ Rxg7 =.
186
1-0
The final move of the combination. The e2-bishop
serves as a shield for White’s king and so Black
has no defence to mate. Did you calculate up to
this point when you decided on 18 Nxg7? Remem-
ber, as we discussed in Chapter 5, no attack will
work without precise calculation!
Hopefully from these three pairs of games, I was

able to showcase the importance of studying previ-
ous games and absorbing the ideas. The same ideas
can reoccur at any given moment in chess, so it is
better to be prepared. While studying chess games
White to play is not exactly the same as learning how to ride a
bike, there are some ideas that you will never for-
21 Bf6!
get!
Fischer’s idea! Well, to be honest, this game was
played eleven years before Fischer’s game, so who
knows? Perhaps Fischer borrowed his Rf6 move
from this game! In any case, it is remarkable that
the same attacking idea can be reused time and
time again. The bishop sacrifices its life to block
the required ...f5.
21...Bxf6 22 e5! Nxd3 23 exf6
Black’s position looks resignable, but it is actually
not over yet...
23...Nf2+ 24 Kg1 Nh3+! 25 Kf1!
Not 25 gxh3?? Qc5+ 26 Kh1 (26 Kf1?? would
even lose to 26...Bxh3+! 27 Qxh3 Kh8 –+)
26...Qc6+, when White cannot escape the perpetu-
al.
25...Bc4+ 26 Ne2 Bxe2+ 27 Ke1!! (D)
Black to play
187
Prophylaxis
12: Prophylaxis
MICHAEL SONG
After a tedious and seemingly endless week, I find no greater pleasure in life than coming home on a Fri-
day evening to enjoy a good old-fashioned steak dinner. In fact, I would even dare to say that my craving
for steak is almost as great as my love for chess. However, there is a factor that prevents me from devour-
ing an entire animal: I cannot help but feel guilty reaching out for a second serving without having fin-
ished all the asparagus on my plate.
But what does this have to do with attacking and positional play, you may ask. After all, this is a chess
book, not a culinary one. Picture chess as a steak and asparagus dish. For true attacking aficionados, at-
tacking play is the steak – the main reason why they ordered the plate. Yet positional play is often detest-
ed by the same people in the same way that I detest my asparagus. Although asparagus is indubitably an
essential part of the dish, I have a tendency to neglect its significance. Unfortunately, the same approach
happens too often among attacking players when it comes to positional play – they tend to brush aside the
boring concept as a whole, effectively restricting their game to one dimension. While this makes for good
coffee-house chess, it is no serious way to attain the levels of mastery in chess.
When people hear the term ‘prophylaxis’, the first thing that comes to mind is positional play. This is
usually recognized in two forms in most chess literature: either squeezing the opponent by preventing
counterplay in a long positional struggle, or stopping the opponent’s attacking ideas when one is on the
defensive. True, prophylaxis is arguably one of the greatest components of positional play, but what has
been largely neglected is that prophylaxis is often very important in the attack as well. In most cases, at-
tacks require some degree of control and stability in the position. It is very difficult to include your pieces
in an attack if there are hindering factors, such as a weak king. It is easy to get carried away by tempting
attacking possibilities and neglect one’s own king safety. Thus, the first principle of prophylaxis in the
attack is that the attacker must ensure that his own king is not in danger before moving in for the final as-
sault.
Timman – Karpov
London 1984
Karpov finds a magnificent way to continue his
attack:
19...Ka8!!
Sidestepping all the attacks, while Black will main-
tain a very strong initiative. Karpov handled such
positions almost flawlessly. By stripping White of
any hope of counterplay against the black king,
White is left to perish with his own king fatally ex-
posed.
Instead, 19...d5 20 Qc2 c5 21 Qd1 offers Black rel-
Black to play atively little.
188
19...g5 (D) is a rather cold-blooded approach, but vives to tell the tale) 24...Kxc6 25 Qxc5+ Kd7
equally as valid. (25...Kb7?? would even lose after 26 Qa7+ Kc8
27 Qxa6+ Kd7 28 0-0 with a crushing attack) 26
Qd5+ and since 26...Ke7?? runs into 27 Bc5#,
Black has no choice but to accept the draw after
26...Kc8 27 Qa8+ Kd7 28 Qd5+.
c2) 22...Ka8! enables Black to win, but it feels
very counter-intuitive to place the king into a
discovered check. 23 Na5+ (23 Bd2 Qg6 24
Qd5 Qd3 –+ repels White’s attack) 23...Kb8 24
Nc6+ Kc8 25 Na7+ Kd8 (25...Kd7 26 Qa4+
Ke7 27 Qxa6 gxf4 28 0-0 is objectively better
for Black, but by no means clear at all) 26 Nc6+
(after 26 Qa8+ Ke7 27 Nc6+ Kd7 28 Qxa6 Qg6
–+ Black wins back his piece with an easy win)
26...Kd7 27 e6+ Rxe6 28 Nb8+ Ke7 29 Nc6+
Kf6! 30 Be5+ Rxe5 31 Qxe5+ Kg6 32 Qe6+
White to play
Kg7 33 Qe5+ Kg8 34 Qd5+ Qf7 35 Qxg5+ Qg6
In fact, when I stumbled upon this position, it was 36 Qd5+ Kg7 37 Qd4+ Qf6 38 Qg4+ Kf7 39
the solution I chose. The multitude of possibilities Qd7+ Be7 40 Qxe7+ Qxe7+ 41 Nxe7 Kxe7 (D).
makes chess an interesting game indeed!
a) 20 Bd2 d5 21 Qe3 Bd6 22 Nc5+ Ka8! leaves
White with no defence to ...Rxe5; e.g., 23 e6
Bxg3+! –+ with mate soon to come.
b) 20 Na5+ Ka8 21 Rxc6 d5! (exploiting the fact
that White’s queen must guard against mate on
e2) 22 Qc2 gxf4 –+ and Black wins easily: 23
Rxa6 Rxe5+ 24 Kd2 (24 Kf1 Qf3+ –+) 24...Re2+
–+.
c) 20 Rxc6 is probably White’s best chance.
20...dxc6 21 Na5+ Kxa7 22 Nxc6+ (D) and now:
White to play
After a long and practically forced variation,

Black makes it out alive and should win this
endgame easily. However, when making the de-
cision to play 19...g5, could any human possibly
calculate 22 moves ahead up to an endgame on
move 41? Although objectively speaking,
19...g5 is just as good as Karpov’s 19...Ka8, in a
practical game, Karpov’s choice is much
stronger. After 19...Ka8, Black is in no danger
and his position plays itself, whereas White
struggles to keep the game afloat. In compari-
Black to play son, after 19...g5, Black has to rely on scary-
c1) 22...Kb6?? 23 Be3+ Bc5 24 Qb4+! (after 24 looking moves such as 22...Ka8! that are hard
Bxc5+? Kxc5 –+ Black’s king somehow sur- enough to play over the board, let alone to find
in calculation. In general, the attacker should
189
Prophylaxis
look for the win that restricts enemy counterplay

and complications to a minimum. Since we ob-
viously do not possess the ability to calculate
like computers, there is always the chance for a
miscalculation in variations such as 19...g5 that
could come with severe consequences.
We now return to 19...Ka8!! (D):
Black to play
A brief glance at the position shows that Black has

more than enough compensation for the exchange
due to the vulnerability of the white king. Never-
theless, it is not so obvious how Black should pro-
ceed with his attack.
24...h6!
White to play
We see that Black’s plan is to play ...Rc4, followed
20 h4 by the capture on a4 with the bishop to exert pres-
sure on c2. However, this was not possible right
Necessary to stop the threat of ...g5. 20 Na5? is
away due to back-rank issues. After noticing this, it
coolly refuted by 20...Bb4+! –+, when the bishop
becomes obvious that the best way to continue the
is untouchable due to the mate on e2. 20 Qe3 g5!
attack is first to ensure the safety of our own king.
21 Bxg5 Bd6 –+ leaves White with no defence to
Despite it being White’s move, no matter what he
the threat on e5.
plays, White is in serious trouble.
20...d5 21 Qe3
The obvious 24...Rc4 leads nowhere after 25 Qxa3
21 Qg2 was a better try, but of course White is still since a4 is untouchable due to Black’s weak back
helpless after 21...Bb4+ 22 Kf2 Rxe5! 23 Bxe5 rank: 25...Bxa4?? 26 Rd8+ Ne8 27 Qxa4! +–.
Qxe5 24 Kg1 Rf8 25 Kh2 Qe3 26 Rc2 Bd3 –+ with 24...Nc6?! also does nothing after 25 Qxa3 +=.
absolute domination.
25 Rd3
21...g5! 22 Bxg5 Bb4+ 23 Kf2 Rhf8+ 24 Kg2
White attempts to bring the rook into the defence
Rxe5! 25 Qxe5 Qf3+ 26 Kh2 Qf2+ 0-1
via c3, but ultimately falls short after a precise se-
Mate will come after ...Bc8+. Notice how Karpov’s ries of moves. Other possibilities:
win seemed effortless, while 19...g5 would have
a) 25 e5? is easily refuted by 25...Rc4 26 Qxa3
led to massive complications. Such is the power of
Bxa4 27 Rd2 Ng4 –+, when the threat of ...Ne3 is
prophylaxis!
decisive. 28 Re1 Bxc2 29 Rxc2 Qf2! –+ is one way
the game could finish.
The next position arose as I was doing opening b) 25 Kb1 Rc4 26 Qxa3 Qf2! will soon lead to a
preparation on the Symmetrical English one day. quick demolition. For instance: 27 Ne1 Bxa4 28
Rd8+ Kh7 (see how useful a move 24...h6 has be-
come!) 29 Qb2 Qc5 30 Nd3 Qc7 31 Rd4 Bc2+ 32
Ka1 Bxd3 33 Rxd3 Rc2 –+ and White loses the
bishop on g2.
190
c) 25 Bf1, covering the c4-square, is probably the We have just examined two instances of prophy-
best defence, although Black still enjoys a pleasant laxis through taking care of our king safety before
advantage after 25...Nc6 26 Qxa3 Nb8!!. This is launching the final assault. However, this is not the
somewhat counterintuitive, but if it is the only way only use of prophylaxis in the attack. Strictly
to get the bishop to take on a4, then so be it. After speaking, if we were to classify the last two exam-
27 Bd3 Bxa4 –/+ the knight will re-enter the game ples, an appropriate label would be ‘preventing the
next move, and Black will have a strong attack. defender’s counterplay’. In the next few examples,
I want to show the reader the other side of prophy-
25...Rc4 26 Qxa3 Bxa4 27 Rc3 Qf2! 28 Rxc4
laxis in the attack, namely ‘preventing defensive
Nxc4 29 Qxa4 (D)
resources’. Although many attacks can be success-
ful with ‘brute force’, attacking is often a combina-
tion of generating threats and shutting down enemy
defences.
Black to play
29...Qd2+!
An important zwischenzug. 29...Qxg2? 30 Rd1
Qxe4 31 Qb3! +/– makes it difficult for Black to
meet the threat of Rd8+ followed by Qd3. White to play
30 Kb1 Qxg2 31 Rd1 Aleksandrov – Bareev
31 Rc1 Nxe4 –/+. FIDE Knockout, New Delhi 2000
31...Qe2! Do you see Black’s defensive idea, and if so, how
The point. The rook on d1 is no longer defended. to prevent it?
32 Rd8+ Kh7 33 Qb4 27 d5!

Threatening to bring the queen back with Qe1, but If you spotted that Black’s plan is to bring the a6-
Black has a fantastic resource: bishop into the defence via c4, then this move is
automatic. While the d5-pawn itself does not con-
33...Nd5!! tribute directly to the attack against the black king,
Threatening ...Qd1#. it plays a huge role by shutting the a2-g8 diagonal
so the bishop cannot defend the f7-pawn.
34 Qe1 Na3+! 35 Kb2 Qxc2+ 36 Kxa3 Qc5+ 37
Kb2 Qb6+ 38 Ka3 Qxd8 39 exd5 Qxd5 –/+ 27 Rae1?? was played in the game, but after
27...Bc4! the bishop entered the defence and White
Black should win this endgame without too many eventually lost. 27 Ng5?? also allows Black an
problems. Notice that none of Black’s attacks easy defence after 27...Bc4 –/+.
would be possible without the move ...h6 making
luft for the king. 27...Qxd5
After 27...cxd5? 28 Ng5! +– White crashes through
on f7 now that the d5-pawn is in the way of the
191
Prophylaxis
bishop. After 27...Bc4? 28 d6! +– White also wins N7e6 Qb7 27 Rf1 +–, when Black has nothing left
back the piece as he maintains a crushing attack. to fight for.
28 Rae1! 21 Qh5 Nxf5 22 Qxh7+ Kf8 23 Qxf5+ Kg8
First including another piece in the attack by 23...Ke7 24 Qe6+ Kd8 25 Nf7+ +–.
threatening Re8+ before grabbing the c7-bishop. 24 Qg6!! (D)
28...Rg8 29 Rxc7 +/– This idea is highly attractive and instructive, but 24
White is clearly on top since Black cannot grab the Re3 also wins, albeit in slightly messier fashion.
knight due to 29...Qxf3? 30 Qxg7+! Rxg7 31 Re8+
Rg8 32 Rxg8+ Kxg8 33 gxf3 with an easily win-
ning endgame.
While most sacrificial continuations and combina-

tions are composed of a series of forcing moves
and threats, the hardest ones to calculate usually
contain what we refer to as a ‘silent killer’ move.
As the next game illustrates, this could be a deadly
prophylactic move that obstructs the enemy’s de-
fensive plans.
Black to play
Did you see this in your calculation? This silent

killer move simply blocks Black’s last defensive
opportunity by preventing the g-pawn from ad-
vancing and opening up the seventh rank, so
Black’s queen is denied the chance of entering the
defence.
24...Qd7 25 Re3 1-0
Black resigned as there is no defence to Rf3, fol-
lowed by mate.
White to play
Teichmann – Schlechter
Karlsbad 1911
Can you spot how Teichmann finished the game?
19 Bxf7+! Kxf7 20 Ng5+ Kg8
20...Kg6 21 Qg4 +– is a quick mate.
20...Kf6 is maybe the best practical chance, but
Black is doomed nonetheless after 21 Nxh7+ Kf7
22 Ng5+ Kf6 23 Qg4 g6 24 Ng7!!. Black cannot
avoid disaster; for instance, 24...Rh8 (24...Ng8 25
Nxe8+ Rxe8 26 Re3 Bc8 27 Qh4 +–) 25 f4! (open-
ing the f-file against Black’s king) 25...Bc8 26
192
Dreev – Tiviakov a) 20...Nh2? does not work due to 21 f4! Bxf4 22

Dos Hermanas 2003 g3! Bxg3 23 Rxh2 Bxh2 24 Qxh2 +–, when
Black has no defence.
From a first glance at the position, White stands
better. He has a space advantage, pieces lined up b) 20...Bh2 looks to be holding at first, but it
towards Black’s king, and the duo of the c6-bishop turns out that Black is in serious trouble after 21
and d5-pawn restrict the mobility of the black forc- d6! Qxg5 (21...Bb7 22 Bxb7 Rxb7 23 f3 Ne3 24
es. In addition, White has attacking ideas such as Rxh2! Nxc2 25 Rdh1 f5 26 g6! leaves Black with
Ng5 to threaten mate on h7, and if ...hxg5 is no defence to Rh8#) 22 d7 Ba6 (22...Bb7 23 Rd5!
played, then the opening of the h-file will prove Qe7 24 Bxb7 Rxb7 25 Rh5 f6 26 Qh7+ Kf7 27
decisive. However, Black has the very annoying R5xh2 Nxh2 28 Qh5+ Kg8 29 Qd5+! +– fol-
defensive plan of ...g6 followed by ...Bf5, after lowed by queening with an easy win) 23 Bf3 +–,
which White’s attack comes to a halt. Of course, when White will recoup the piece with interest.
White can easily prevent this with 19 h5, but at the c) 20...f5 is the most natural defence. Then:
cost of giving up the idea of Ng5. Dreev’s next two
c1) After 21 gxf6 Nxf6 22 Rde1 the computer
moves are an outstanding example of combining
says White is clearly better, and although it is
prophylaxis with an attack.
easy to see that White has a lot of compensa-
19 Rde1!? tion, the players did not feel as optimistic about
19 Ng5! was thought to be harmless when the White’s chances here during the game.
game was played, but subsequent analysis shows c2) It is likely that both players did not seriously
that this ‘brute-force’ method is very powerful, and consider the slow but strong plan of 21 Rh5!,
indeed stronger than the game continuation. doubling rooks and holding the important g5-
19..hxg5 (19...g6? is refuted at once by 20 Ne6 +–) pawn. Then:
20 hxg5 (D) and now:
c21) 21...b5? is much too slow. After 22 Rdh1
Kf7 23 f3! Ne3 (23...Ne5 24 f4 Nxc6 25 dxc6
+– leaves Black with no good answer to g6+)
24 Rh7! (obviously the queen is taboo due to
mate in one) 24...Rg8 25 Bxg7! Nxc2
(25...Rxg7 26 Rxg7+ Kxg7 27 Qc3+ Kg6 28
Be8+! +– leads to mate) 26 Bf6+ Kf8 27 Bxd8
+– Black has no defence to the onslaught with
R1h6.
193
Prophylaxis
c22) 21...Be5 22 Rdh1 Bxc3 23 Qxc3 Kf7 24 b) 20 Re6 (more critical) 20...Qc7 21 Rhe1 (21
f3 Nf2 25 Rf1 +/– and White reclaims his ma- Bb5 a6! 22 Bd3 Bxe6 23 dxe6 b5! 24 h5 b4 25 e7
terial. bxc3 is about equal) 21...Ne5 (showing that
Black’s control of e5 – thanks to 19...f6 – is im-
c23) 21...Kf7 22 Rdh1 still gives White excel-
portant) 22 Nxe5 Bxe6 23 dxe6 Bxe5 24 Bxe5
lent compensation for the piece. After 22...Rg8
fxe5 25 Bb5 Rf4 and Black might be holding on.
(22...Be5 23 f3 +–; 22...Ne5 23 f4 Nxc6 24
dxc6 +–), the most clinical finish is 23 g3! in- 20 Re6!!
tending f3; White not only covers f4, but Dreev’s powerful rook-lift simultaneously stops
brings in Qh2 ideas too. For instance, 23...b5 the defensive resource ...Bf5, while also threaten-
24 f3 b4 25 axb4 cxb4 26 g6+!? Kxg6 27 ing to smash through with Rxg6+. Black’s reply is
Bxg7! +–. forced.
So after further investigation, it seems that the ra-
20...Bxe6 21 dxe6 f5 22 h5
ther ‘caveman-like’ 19 Ng5! is a good option for
White. The game continuation is far more instruc- Softening up the black kingside is more than suffi-
tive, however. cient to bring home the point. However, 22 e7!
would have been slightly more convincing:
Thus we return to 19 Rde1!? (D):
a) 22...Bxe7 23 Rd1 Qc7 (whatever Black choos-
es, the end result is the same: 23...Qc8 24 Bd7!
{seizing the e6-square} 24...Qc7 25 Be6+ Kh7 26
Rd7 +/–; 23...Bd6 24 Qb3+ Kh7 25 Qe6 Rf6 26
Bxf6 Qxf6 27 Qxf6 Nxf6 28 Rxd6 +–) 24 Qb3+
Rf7 (after 24...Kh7 25 Rd7 +– White wins easily)
25 Qe6 Bf6 26 Rd7 +– and White crashes
through.
b) 22...Qxe7 23 Bd5+ Kh7 24 Ng5+! hxg5 25
hxg5+ Bh2 26 Qa4!! is another excellent example
of combining prophylaxis and attack. White
threatens Qxg4 followed by Rxh2#, and taking
the pawn with 26...Qxg5 fails to 27 Qxa7+ Kh6
28 Qg7+ Kh5 29 f3 +–.
Black to play 22...gxh5
19...g6? 22...Be7 23 hxg6 Qd6 would put up slightly more
resistance, although White is still easily winning
Unaware of Dreev’s intentions, Tiviakov carries
after the simple retreat 24 Bb5, when there is no
out his plan of ...Bf5. However, this proves to be a
defence to ideas such as g7 and Rd1-d7.
decisive mistake.
23 Rxh5 (D)
19...f6 is definitely ugly, but was perhaps called for
to seize further control of the g5-square to discour-
age Ng5 jumps. However, one must understand
that it is extremely difficult for any human with
ample chess understanding to play such a move
due to the permanent corruption of the light
squares, and so some mercy when rebuking the
players’ decisions is appropriate. Here are some
sample variations:
a) 20 Qg6 is the automatic move but after
20...Qc7!, with ideas such as ...Ne5 or ...Qf7,
Black seems to be holding on.
194
ing that he had plenty of time left on his clock, it is

astonishing that the tournament leader at the time
did not find the whole continuation after...
35 Qf7!
Threatening Qg8+ followed by Rc6+ with a deci-
sive attack.
35...Qa4 (D)
In the post-game interview, Caruana explained that
he did not see a way to refute this move, which
seizes control of the c6-square to prevent rook
checks.
Instead after 35...Qxb2 36 Qg8+ Kg6 37 Rc6+ Kf5
Black to play 38 Qf7+ Ke4 39 Qf3+ Kd4 40 Qd1+ Ke4 41 Kh2!
(avoiding the exchange of queens after ...Qd4+),
Black’s defences fall apart and the conclusion is Black has no satisfactory defence to the threat of
simple. Rc2, as 41...Qd4 runs immediately into 42 Qf3#.
23...Qe7 24 Nh4 Qxe6 25 Nxf5 Be5?
Losing immediately, but there was not much hope
in any case: 25...Kf7 26 Nxd6+ Qxd6 27 Qh7+
Ke6 28 Qe4+ Kf7 29 Rf5+ +– soon leads to mate;
25...Rf7 also succumbs to 26 Bd5 Qxd5 27 Nxh6+
Nxh6 28 Qg6+ Kf8 29 Qxh6+ Ke7 30 Rxd5 +–.
26 Bd5! 1-0
White to play
So what is White to do now?

It is clear that 36 Qg8+? Kg6 leads nowhere for
White, and an attempt to deflect the queen with 36
b3? Qd4+ 37 Kh2 Qb6 allows Black to hold every-
thing, with ...Qf6 coming next. However, if we
take a deeper look at the position, we begin to real-
ize that Black’s main defensive plan is to bring the
queen back to the sixth rank. From here, it will go
White to play
to e6 or f6 and easily repel White’s attack. If
Caruana – Giri Black’s queen fails to retreat to the sixth rank,
Shamkir 2016 White will be able to continue his attack with
moves such as Qg8+ and Rc7. As soon as one em-
Perhaps if Fabiano Caruana had not let this win ploys this type of prophylactic thinking, the solu-
slip away, he would have won clear first in the tion becomes clear:
2016 Gashimov Memorial. Seeing no real way to
make progress, he settled for a repetition following 36 Kh2!!
35 Qd3+ Re4 36 Qf1 Re5 and so forth. Consider-
195
Prophylaxis
This quiet king move strips Black of the possibility

to retreat the queen via d4 and b6, and consequent-
ly Black has no defence. For instance:
36...h5
Trying to open an additional square on h6 for the
king. 36...a5 is easily refuted by 37 b3!, forcing the
queen back to b5, in which case Black has no more
counterplay with ...Qf4+. Black is doomed after
both 37...Qb5 38 Qg8+ Kg6 39 Rc7 +– and
37...Qb4 38 Qg8+ Kg6 39 Rc6+ Kf5 40 Qf7+ Ke4
41 Rc1! +–.
37 b4!! (D)
Another excellent prophylactic move. By stopping
...Qe4, White ensures that the queen will never be White to play
able to defend the g6-pawn as in the variation 37 Khismatullin – Elianov
b3? Qe4 38 Qg8+ Kh6 39 Rc6+ g6 40 Qh8+ Kg5
European Ch, Jerusalem 2015
=, when White has no way to make progress.
In this position, the d6-rook is obviously taboo due
to ...Qxd1#. An attempt to play on with 44 Ra1?
would severely backfire after 44...Rf6, when Black
is close to winning. Virtually everyone spectating
this game expected it to end quickly in a draw. For
instance, 44 Qe7+ Kh6 45 Qf8+, with a repetition,
seems like one logical way for the game to finish.
The game can also conclude 44 f4+ Kh4! 45 Qxd6
Qxd1+ 46 Kf2 Qe2+ 47 Kg1 Qe1+, with perpetual
check. There is even an amusing draw that occurs
after 44 h4+ Kh5 45 g4+ Kxg4 46 Qxf7 Qxd1+ 47
Kg2, and thanks to the nakedness of Black’s king,
he has no way to avoid perpetual check.
However, when looking at the position,
Khismatullin realized that in all lines, his rook on
Black to play
d1 plays no significant role in the attack against the
37...a5 black king, and is thus expendable. Black’s draw-
After 37...Qxb4 38 Qg8+ Kh6 39 Rc6+! +– Black ing idea is not defensive in nature, but rather to
cannot block with ...g6 due to the misplacement of counter-attack the white king. Once Black runs out
his queen. of play against White’s king, he will find himself
in trouble...
38 Qg8+ Kg6 39 Rc7 +–
44 Kg1!! (D)
Black has no defence.
Simply evacuating the king to safety before con-
tinuing with the attack. What a remarkable demon-
The final example of this chapter features one of stration of prophylaxis!
the greatest moves that I have seen.
196
47 Qf8+ Kg5
47...Kh5 48 g4+ Kg5 49 Qxf7 +– with mate soon
to come.
48 Qxf7 (D)
Black to play
44...Qxd1+?
The losing move.
44...Qxc6 45 Qxf7 Rf6 46 Qe7 +/– is very un-
pleasant for Black. Black to play
44...Rd5! is the best defence, but extremely diffi- Despite being a rook up, Black simply has no way
cult to find. 45 Kh2! (45 Qxf7? Qxd1+ 46 Kh2 Rf5 to parry the threats.
= is Black’s defensive idea, after which White has
48...Rf6 49 f4+ Kh6 50 Qxf6 Qe2 51 Qf8+ Kh5
no choice but to deliver a perpetual sooner or later)
52 Qg7 h6 53 Qe5+ Kh4 54 Qf6+ Kh5 55 f5 gxf5
and then:
56 Qxf5+ Kh4 57 Qg6 1-0
a) Not 45...Qxd1? 46 c7 Qc2 47 c8Q Qxc8 48
Qxc8 d2 49 f4+ +–, when Black will not be able
to queen. After 49...Kh5 50 g4+ Kh4 51 Qc3!
(but not 51 Qf8?? d1Q 52 Qh6+ Rh5! –+) there is
no defence to Qf6+.
b) 45...Kf6! 46 e4 Rc5 47 Qd6+ Kg7 48 Rxd3
Rxc6 49 Qe5+ and although White can play on,
Black should hold with good defence.
45 Kh2 +–
Black now has no salvation. The threat of the c-
pawn, in tandem with the mating threats on the
kingside, overstretches the black defences.
45...Rxc6 46 Qe7+
Gaining some time on the clock first.
46...Kh6
46...f6 47 f4+ Kh6 (47...Kf5 48 Qd7+ Re6 49
Qd5+ Re5 50 g4+ +– and White wins the house)
48 Qf8+ Kh5 49 Qg7! (precision; 49 g4+?? would
be a terrible blunder as after 49...Qxg4 50 hxg4+
Kxg4 = White only has a draw according to the
engines) 49...h6 50 g4+ Qxg4 51 hxg4+ Kxg4 52
Qxg6+ +– and White wins easily.
197
Prophylaxis
Exercises
The key to solving these problems is first to find
the opponent’s defensive resources and then to fig-
ure out how to stop or avoid them.
198
199
Prophylaxis
1) Miroshnichenko – Maiorov 2) Aronian – Anand

Cappelle la Grande 2009 Wijk aan Zee 2013
White played 38 Be4 and subsequently converted In one of the ‘modern classics’ of the 21st century,
his advantage after rather poor defence from Black, Anand finished off his attack in excellent style:
but much stronger was:
19...f5!
38 Bd5! Seeing that White’s only defensive resource is
A killer move, stopping all of Black’s counterplay found in Qh7+, Black simply eliminates this option
on the d-file and leaving him helpless against the for White, leaving Aronian helpless against the on-
advance of the f-pawn. slaught. Instead:
38...Rxd5 a) 19...Qh4? would be a serious error as it allows
20 Qh7+ Qxh7 21 Nxh7 Kxh7 22 h3, when Black
38...cxd5 39 f7 Rd2+ 40 Kf1 Qe6 41 Qf6+ Qxf6+
has full compensation for the exchange, but proba-
42 Nxf6 +–.
bly no more than that.
39 cxd5 Nb4 40 Ne5
b) 19...Kxf8?! 20 Qh7! and then:
40 f7 Nd3+ 41 Kg3 Nxf4 42 fxg8Q+ Kxg8 43
b1) 20...Nf2+? 21 Rxf2 Bxf2 22 f5! leaves mat-
Nf6+ +– is also good enough.
ters complicated.
40...Nxd5 41 Nxd7 Nxf4 42 Rxf4 +–
b2) Despite ‘closing the stable door after the
horse has bolted’, 20...f5! is surprisingly strong,
the main point being 21 h3 Rxc3!, when 22 Qh8+
Kf7! 23 Qxd8?? Rxh3# is a pretty mate. Howev-
er, after 22 bxc3 Qd5 23 Qh8+ Ke7 24 Qh4+ Ke8
25 Qg3 Bf2 26 Qxf2 Nxf2+ 27 Rxf2 Qd1+ 28
Kh2 Qe1!, although Black is much better, he has
more work to do than in Anand’s continuation in
the game.
20 Ng6
200
20 Qd3 Qh4 21 Qg3 Qxg3 22 hxg3 Kxf8 –+ also lems with ...Qc7 against White’s king (e.g., 42
leaves White totally defenceless against the threat Rxb6 Qc7 or 42 fxe5 Qc7 followed by ...Qxe5).
of moving the king followed by ...Rh8#. However, 42 Qf3! will give White a similar posi-
tion to that in the game, so the choice is largely a
20...Qf6 21 h3
matter of taste here.
21 Qd3 was objectively a better chance, although
White is still without hope after 21...Qxg6 22 Qg3 41...Rg7
(22 Qxd4 is demolished by 22...Ne3! –+) 22...Nf2+ 41...Qc7 does not slow f4 in view of 42 Rg1 Qg7
23 Qxf2 Bxf2 –+, when Black should win as long 43 f4, when White has overwhelming pressure.
as he demonstrates good technique. Black’s best attempt to stir up some counterplay is
41...b5!?, intending 42 cxb5 Rb6.
21...Qxg6 22 Qe2
Of course the knight is taboo due to mate along the 42 f4 exf4 43 Nxf4 Nxf4 44 Rxf4
h-file. and White went on to win easily.
22...Qh5 23 Qd3
This loses immediately, but there was nothing to be
done in any case. 23 Rf3 Bxf3 24 Qxf3 Nf2+ 25
Kh2 Qxf3 26 gxf3 Nd3 –+.
23...Be3! 0-1
White has no defence to the threat of ...Qxh3#.
White to play
4) Ivanchuk – Volkov (variation)

European Clubs Cup, Saint Vincent 2005
29 f4!!
An excellent prophylactic move. Although it opens
up White’s king, the more important implication is
White to play that it stops Black’s main defensive resource,
...Qe5.
3) Gelfand – Van Wely
29 Nxc5?!, for instance, would be a step in the
European Team Ch, Plovdiv 2003
wrong direction. Black could respond with
It is clear that White should continue his attack 29...Qe5! 30 Ne4 (30 Rxc6?? Qxe3 31 Rc8+ Kf7 –
with the plan of f4 at some point, opening a second + would be embarrassing) 30...Re6 31 f4 Qc7 +/–,
file on the kingside to attack. when White is still clearly on top, but the conver-
41 Kh1!? sion is by no means simple.
Gelfand steps off the b8-h2 diagonal in preparation 29 Rxa6! is also strong: after both 29...Qe5 30
of f4, when Black will not have any resources with Ra8+ Kf7 31 Rxg8 Rxe6 32 Rh8! and 29...Nd8 30
...Qc7. However, the immediate 41 f4 is also good. Nc7+ Kf7 31 Ra4! Rd7 32 Rf4 Rxc7 33 Rxf6+
Black can play 41...Raa8, seeking to cause prob- Bxf6 34 Qh6, White should win.
201
Prophylaxis
29...Kf7 29...Ke7 is easily refuted by 30 Bb4+ Kd8 31

Qd6+ Qd7 32 Qf6+ +–, when White will enjoy
Or:
three extra pawns on the kingside.
a) 29...Rxe6 30 Qxe6 Qxe6 31 Rxe6 Nd8 32 Rh6
With the text-move, Black covers b4 and threatens
+– gives White an easily winning endgame as his
mate with ...Qf1#, so it looks like he has every-
army of pawns will be too much for Black’s unco-
thing under control. However, White has the stun-
ordinated minor pieces to handle.
ning...
b) 29...Nd8 30 Rxd6 Bxd6 31 Qd3! Nxe6 (31...Kd7
32 Nxc5+ Kc6 33 Qxa6+ Kxc5 34 Rb1 +– will 30 h3!!
lead to the black king’s slaughter) 32 Qxd6 Kf7 33 This prophylactic move (pointed out by Nunn)
f5! +– and Black is helpless in face of the attack. simply averts the threat of mate, and Black is help-
less against the threat of a3 and Bb4+. For exam-
30 Nxc5
ple:
Threatening Ne4, to which Black has no real de-
fence (30...Rdd8 is impossible due to 31 Rxc6 +– 30...Bb5
of course) except the peculiar... 30...Rxh3 31 Qf6+ Ke8 32 gxh3 +–.
30...Qh4!? 31 a3 a5 32 Bf4! +–
And now White has a silent killer move: Note that Black now lacks the resource ...Ke7,
since after Qg7+ Black’s queen is no longer on c8
31 Kh1! Rxg3 32 Qxg3 Qxg3 33 hxg3 Rh6+ 34
defending the rook, so White wins.
Kg2 Bxc5 35 Rxa6 +–
Black has managed to survive the attack, but with
good technique, White should win this endgame
easily.
Black to play
6) Alekseev – Svidler
Russian Ch, Moscow 2008
White to play
28...Nxe3?
5) Yusupov – Ivanchuk (variation) This natural move causes Black’s advantage to
Candidates (8), Brussels 1991 evaporate.
29 Bd2! The only move that keeps Black on top is the in-
credible 28...Rf7!!. It is not so obvious at first, but
Threatening mate on the a3-f8 diagonal. 29 Bf4?
this move is necessary to prepare ...Nxe3. 29 Bd2
Ke7 accomplishes nothing.
(the tactical point is that after 29 Qxd3? Nxe3! –+
29...Qc4 everything hangs for White) 29...Nxe3 30 Rxf7
Kxf7 31 Bxe3 dxe3 –/+. Compared with the game
202
continuation, 32 Qc2? h6 –+ does not offer any-

thing promising for White, since the queen check
from c7 can be met with ...Kg8.
29 Rxf8+ Kxf8 30 Bxe3 dxe3 31 Rc1?
Alekseev could have held on to win the tournament
had he found 31 Qc2!. Then 31...h6?? 32 Qc8+
shows the point of 28...Rf7!!. Because the king is
on f8 instead of f7, Black can no longer play the
crucial retreat ...Kg8, so White wins after 32...Ke7
33 Rf1 +–. Therefore Black has nothing better than
31...Rd8 32 Qc5+ Kg8 33 Qxe3 =.
31...h6?
Now Black has time to make a burrow for his king
to hide in. But 31...h5! is a better way to do so –
see below.
32 Rc8+ Kf7 33 g4?
White’s only hope was the drawish nature of rook
endgames: 33 Qf1+ Qf5 34 g4! Qxf1+ 35 Kxf1,
with real chances of holding on. But if Black had
placed his pawn on h5 instead of h6, White would
not have had this option.
33...Qe4 34 Rc4 Qd5 0-1
Alekseev had no choice but to resign in face of
...Rd2.
203
Manoeuvring
13: Manoeuvring
MICHAEL SONG
As the game of chess evolves and becomes more sophisticated over time and players from all levels con-
tinue to make strides forward as a whole, we begin to notice that the amount of attacking chess tends to
decrease. The reason is simple: players become stronger and are better equipped to defend against blunt
and reckless attacks. A greater emphasis today is placed on the concept of manoeuvring, and positional
play in general. As Dr Tarrasch put it, “If one piece is bad, usually the whole game is bad.”
However, despite the shortage of 19th-century-style sacrifice-fests in modern chess, by no means does
this imply that we cannot attack! In many games, it appears that the defender has successfully repelled the
attack and is surviving. Such positions can be imagined as the good old-fashioned cartoons with the Road
Runner hanging on to the edge of the cliff. Although it teeters on the edge without falling for the moment,
a single feather is all it takes to bring its demise. The same idea is applicable in chess; sometimes all it
takes is the improvement of one piece to secure victory.
I felt it might be appropriate to start the chapter on manoeuvring with a game by none other than the au-
thor of My System, Aron Nimzowitsch.
How should White continue? Of course, White’s

idea should be to exploit his dynamic control over
the position by immediately going after the black
king. It goes without saying that the white queen
will land on h5, but what other pieces can join the
attack? Once you spot White’s worst-placed piece,
Nimzowitsch’s revolutionary concept at the time is
really not that difficult at all.
18 Nh1!
Improving White’s worst piece. The knight served
no function on g3, and by retreating, it intends to
hop to g5 via f2 and h3, where it will join forces
with the queen to attack h7.
White to play 18...Bd7 19 Nf2 Rae8 20 Rfe1 Rxe2 21 Rxe2
Nd8?!
Nimzowitsch – Rubinstein
Not wanting to compromise his kingside pawn-
Dresden 1926
structure, Rubinstein commits to passive defence.
It is instantly clear that the black king is in some However, this move is the beginning of his down-
trouble as it is restricted by the powerful bishop on fall. 21...h6! was a better way to meet the plan of
c4. White also has some positional advantages such Nh3-g5. Then 22 Nh3 accomplishes little due to
as control of the e-file and a small lead in devel- 22...g6!. By depriving White’s queen of the h5-
opment. Nevertheless, Black’s position is solid, square, Black secures his kingside and enjoys a
and given a few moves such as ...Bd7 and ...Rae8, decent position.
Black will stand OK with no structural weaknesses
22 Nh3 Bc6?! 23 Qh5 g6 24 Qh4 (D)
whatsoever.
204
ingly ever-so-slight adjustment of White’s knight

from g3 to h3 made a dramatic difference in his
attacking possibilities.
If there is anyone whose games deserve mention

when talking about manoeuvring, it must be the
12th World Champion. Anatoly Karpov had an un-
derstanding of optimal piece placement that very
few others could compare to. In the next two
games, I wish to show the reader how Karpov mas-
terfully generated attacks simply through manoeu-
vring and optimizing his pieces to the fullest of
their abilities. Even when his play was not perfect
(as in this next example), the ideas that he
Black to play
drummed up were instructive in their own right.
With the knight manoeuvre to h3, White has
obliged Black to weaken his kingside, while main-
taining full control over the position.
24...Kg7
24...Bb5 exchanges off White’s powerful bishop,
but White is still much better after 25 Bxb5 axb5
26 Ng5 b6 (defending against the threat of Ba5) 27
a3 Kg8 28 h3 +/–. Black is paralysed and White is
in good shape to convert his advantage into victo-
ry, most likely by attacking the weak pawn on d4.
25 Qf2 Bc5 26 b4?!
A poorly timed thrust. 26 Ng5! is better; e.g.,
26...Re8 27 Rxe8 Bxe8 and now it is time for 28
b4! Be7 29 Qxd4+ Bf6 30 Qd5 and the ending
should be won.
White to play
26...Bb6?
Karpov – Taimanov
26...Be7 is necessary. If White nabs the ‘free’
pawn on d4 by 27 Qxd4+?! Bf6 28 Qc5 (provoking USSR Spartakiad, Moscow 1983
a weakness on b6) 28...b6 29 Qf2 Re8 30 Rxe8 24 Nb1?!
Bxe8 31 Ng5 Qd6!, Black has real compensation.
Seeing that the knight is doing nothing on a3,
White does better to keep positional pressure by 27
Karpov re-routes it to the kingside, where it will
Ng5 Bf6 28 Nf3.
play a greater role. However, although the idea
After the text-move, Nimzowitsch elected to play may be very instructive, Karpov should have opted
27 Qh4 and eventually won the game, but surpris- for more concrete play: 24 g4! (expelling the pow-
ingly he missed a very simple win with... erful knight should be at the top of White’s to-do
list; 24 Bxf5?! exf5 25 Qxf5 Bxa3 26 Bxa3 Qxc2
27 Qe1!
=+ is just better for Black) 24...Nh6 (24...d4+?! 25
This threatens destruction after Re7+. Kg1 Nh6 26 Nc4 +/– is great for White, who can
27...Be4 28 Ng5 Re8 29 Nxe4 fxe4 30 Rxe4 Rxe4 play on both sides of the board) 25 Qg3! (preparing
31 Qxe4 +– the plan of h3, which will free a safe haven for
White’s king on h2, while also restricting the h6-
White has an easily winning endgame in which knight) 25...Kh8!? (attempting to get the knight
Black’s king is still vulnerable. Note that the seem-
205
Manoeuvring
back into play; 25...Qc6 26 h3 += does not accom- 28...Qb4! is a more active and better defence; e.g.,
plish anything for Black) 26 h3 Ng8 and maybe 29 Ng5 h6 30 e6 fxe6 .
now it was the right time to consider Karpov’s idea
29 Qh4 Re8 30 e6!
of 27 Nb1! Ne7 28 Nd2 Nc6 29 Nf3, when play
remains extremely sharp, but White definitely Opening more space for White’s pieces to operate.
maintains attacking prospects. 30...fxe6 31 Ne5 Qc7
24...g6 25 Nd2 (D) 31...Qd6?! would fail to 32 Qf6 Qe7 33 Ng4! +/–,
when Black is forced to concede material due to
the threats against his king.
32 Nxg6! Bg7 33 Ne5 (D)
Black to play
25...Qb6?
Taimanov misses an important opportunity to ob-
tain play. 25...d4! breathes life into the b7-bishop Black to play
and also threatens ...Ne3. Then: Ten moves ago, the knight was sitting idle on a3,
a) 26 Bxf5 exf5! (26...gxf5? 27 Nc4 +/– is horrible yet now it stands tall and proud in the centre of the
for Black, who must allow Nd6 as the f8-bishop is board. White’s small material deficit is a small
needed to guard the kingside) 27 Nc4 Be4 28 Rxd4 price in comparison to his piece domination.
(28 Rd2 Bb4 does not help) 28...Rxd4 29 Bxd4 33...Qe7 34 Qg3 Rec8 35 Rfe1 R8c7 36 Nf3 Kh8
Bxc2 –/+ and Black stands better. 37 Bxg7+ Qxg7 38 Nd4 Qxg3 39 hxg3 R2c3 40
b) 26 Nc4 Bd5! –/+ does not solve any problems Nxe6 +/–
for White. White’s manoeuvring and subsequent initiative and
c) 26 Rc1 Ne3 27 Rf2 a5! (generating play on the attack have resulted in a superior endgame that
queenside) 28 Nf3 Qb6 29 Nxd4 Nxg2 30 Rxg2 Karpov makes no mistake in converting.
Rxd4 31 Bxd4 Qxd4 32 Rf1 a4 –/+ and White will 40...Rc8 41 Kh2 Rxb3 42 Nd4 Rb6 43 Nxf5 Rf8
have to fight hard for a draw. 44 Nd4 Rg8 45 Re7 Rg7 46 Rde1 Rh6+ 47 Kg1
26 Bxf5 Rhg6 48 f5 Rb6 49 R7e6 Rxe6 50 fxe6 Rg8 51 e7
Re8 52 Nf5 Bc6 53 Nd6 Rg8 54 e8Q Bxe8 55
Needed to stop the threat of ...Ne3.
Nxe8 Rxg3 56 Nf6 1-0
26...exf5 27 Nf3 Rxc2 28 Bd4
In return for the pawn, White has greatly superior
minor pieces in comparison to their black counter-
parts.
28...Qc6?
206
After improving all his pieces and pushing Black to

the back ranks, Karpov now sets his sights on the
ultimate prize.
29 Nh2! Bg7 30 f4!
The beginning of the end.
30...f6
30...exf4 31 Nxf4 Bd7 32 Nf3 +/– leaves Black
utterly helpless as well.
31 f5! g5?
A terrible concession that makes White’s attacking
task much too simple. Perhaps a move such as
31...Nf7 would put up more resistance.
White to play
32 Bc2! (D)
Karpov – Unzicker
Nice Olympiad 1974
White clearly stands better. He has more space and
the b7-knight is terribly misplaced. However,
Black is solid, and there is no clear-cut plan for
White at all. With his next move, Karpov buys
himself an infinite amount of time to manoeuvre
and organize a campaign against the black king.
24 Ba7!!
One single bishop on a7 is enough to restrain all of
Black’s forces. By preventing exchanges along the
a-file, White keeps as much firepower as possible
on the board. Of course, in principle, when a side
has more space, he should look to avoid exchanges. Black to play
After Karpov’s move, it is abundantly clear that
Black’s rooks are ‘superfluous’ – that is, compet- With new inroads to exploit on the kingside,
ing with each other for only a handful of squares. Karpov zeroes in on the black king by manoeu-
vring towards the h5-square.
24...Ne8
32...Bf7 33 Ng3 Nb7 34 Bd1 h6 35 Bh5 +–
24...Qc7 is another option, threatening to solve the
problems on the queenside by ...Na5!. However, White’s patient manoeuvring has paid great divi-
Black is still suffering after the precise 25 Qb2! dends; out of seemingly nowhere, Black’s king
with the idea that after 25...Na5 26 Be3 Nb7 now finds itself unable to escape its grave.
(26...Nb3 27 Rxa8 Rxa8 28 Bc2 += pockets a 35...Qe8 36 Qd1 Nd8 37 Ra3 Kf8 38 R1a2 Kg8
pawn for White, but was probably worth a try for
Black at least to rid himself of his horrible knight), 38...Nb7 also goes down after 39 Bxf7 Qxf7 40
with the queen on b2 instead of e2, White can now Bb6 Rxa3 41 Rxa3 Ra8 42 Qa1 Rxa3 43 Qxa3 +–.
play 27 Bc2 +/–, after which he will soon obtain 39 Ng4! Kf8
total domination of the a-file.
After 39...Bxh5 40 Nxh5 +– the knight is taboo
25 Bc2 Nc7 26 Rea1 Qe7 27 Bb1 Be8 28 Ne2 due to the discovered attack with Nxf6+.
Nd8
40 Ne3 Kg8 41 Bxf7+ Nxf7 42 Qh5 Nd8 43 Qg6!
Kf8 44 Nh5 (D)
207
Manoeuvring
but Black’s central formation with the doubled

pawns on e6 and e5 seems to hold everything to-
gether. For example, an immediate attempt with 21
Nd5 would not lead anywhere after 21...exd5 22
exd5 Bb5 23 d6 Bf8, so it is not entirely clear how
White should proceed.
A major component of manoeuvring is identifying
one’s worst piece and improving it. What I would
like to add alongside this principle is that in most
cases, this must be done immediately, especially if
we are to talk about manoeuvring for attacking
purposes! So let us examine this position from an-
other angle. If Black were given one move to place
his rook on c8, he would stand equal, if not better.
Black to play However, as it is White to move, Adams seizes the
1-0 opportunity immediately:
Black resigned as he will either find himself quick- 21 Bf1!

ly mated or doomed to suffer heavy material losses On g2 the bishop served no purpose, so it heads to
in the endgame. For example, after 44...Qf7 45 c4 where it will exert pressure on the a2-g8 diago-
Bb6 Rxa3 46 Rxa3 there is no answer to the in- nal, potentially eyeing the f7-pawn after a Nd5 sac-
coming Ra7. rifice.
With this masterpiece, Karpov perfectly shows us 21...Rd8
chess fans an important principle: when the oppo-
It is important to realize that Black is not in time to
nent has no counterplay, do not rush! Instead,
prevent White’s idea with 21...b5? on account of
spend as much time as you need to manoeuvre
22 Nd5!, taking advantage of the fact that the c6-
your pieces until they are perfectly arranged for an
bishop is unprotected. After 22...exd5 23 Rxc6 d4
attack, as Unzicker learned the hard way.
24 Bd2 Bb4 25 Bxb4 Qxb4 26 Qf5 Qe7 27 c3 +–
the position opens up favourably as White is
primed for invasion.
22 Bc4
The bishop arrives in its magnificent new home.
22...Nf8
Attempting to trade off White’s army, but White
strikes first with...
23 Nd5! (D)
White to play
Adams – I. Sokolov
Sarajevo 1999
This more or less resembles a standard Sicilian-
type position: Black’s king is stuck in the centre,
208
23...exd5 24 exd5 The misplacement of Black’s queen deprives Black

Thanks to the repositioning of White’s bishop to of any chances for survival.
c4, Black has no answer to White’s attack. 29...Nd7
24...Qb4 29...Qc7 30 Qd5 +– leaves Black with no defence
24...Bb5 loses to the somewhat unexpected 25 to the dual threats of Rxa6 and Ba7.
Bxb5+! Qxb5 (25...axb5 loses on the spot to 26 d6 30 Rc6 Bd8 31 Rc8 Ke7 32 Bc5+ 1-0
+–) 26 Rb6 e4! (26...Qc4 would go down without a
Sokolov decided to call it a day.
fight after 27 d6 +–) 27 Qxe4 Qe2 28 Rc1 Rg6 29
Rxb7 Nd7 30 a3! (a simple prophylactic move,
making luft for the king; 30 c4? Rb6! would enter As Michael Adams demonstrated in the previous
unnecessary complications) 30...Rb6 31 Rc7 +– game, improving the worst-placed piece can be a
followed by an eventual rolling of the queenside very powerful attacking tool. Here is another ex-
pawns which Black can only sit and watch. The ample:
final attempt for counterplay with 31...Rdb8 fails to
32 Rh1 Rxb2+ 33 Ka1 Kd8 34 d6! Bxd6 35 Bxg5+
+– and White wins the queen.
25 dxc6 Rxd1+ 26 Qxd1 Qxc4 27 b3 Qb4 28 a3!
Deflecting the queen away from the key squares b7
and c7. 28 c7?? Qc3 29 Bb6 Ne6 would be a
gross error for White.
28...Qa5
28...Qb5 29 c4! +– only delays Black’s demise by
a move.
29 cxb7 (D)
White to play
Spassky – Portisch
Candidates (13), Geneva 1977
209
Manoeuvring
White enjoys a comfortable position with an over- counterplay) 25...Nd6 26 Rd2 Be5 =+ and it is
all bind on the board. White’s pieces look optimal- already White who must fight for equality.
ly placed, but it is very difficult to suggest a good 23 Qg3 (D)
plan. The duo of the h3- and g4-pawns is halted,
and if either of White’s knights ever moves, then
...d5 will be a very unpleasant break. So what
should White do?
21 Bc1!!
After a brief think, it should come as no surprise
that her majesty on e2 is indeed misplaced. Not
only does it stand in the way of a potential knight
hop to e2, but it does not exert any pressure, and
moreover may find itself a target for the rook lurk-
ing on e8. With this clever retreat, the ex-World
Champion makes way for his queen to shift over to
g3, where it coordinates harmoniously with
White’s other forces to exert pressure on the black
kingside.
Black to play
21...Kg8 22 Qe3 b5? 23...b4?
A serious error in a critical moment. Unaware of Most likely this is the crucial error in the game.
the danger, Portisch fails to recognize the intensity Uneased by Spassky’s powerful queen manoeuvre,
of the moment at hand and allows White to fulfil Portisch immediately goes for play elsewhere on
his manoeuvre uninterrupted. the board – not a bad idea in theory as we just saw
22...d5! was necessary to break free and obtain in the previous variation, but wrongly executed, as
some counterplay while Black still can, as White’s now Black is forced to concede control over the
queen is not ideally placed on e3 at the moment. d4-square, meaning the bastion on e5 will quickly
Then: be ousted from its central outpost.
a) 23 exd5 would be strongly answered by 23...a5!, intending to recapture on b4 with the a-
23...f5!, when Black is on the verge of taking pawn, was called for, in which case Black should
over, and White must settle for equality after 24 be more or less alright with similar ideas to the
Ne6 Nxd5 25 Nxd5 Rxe6 26 gxf5 Rxf5 previous note. The game might continue 24 Nd1!?
(26...Ree8 27 Qe4! is not good for Black, as (or 24 Ncd5 Nxd5 25 Nxd5 Bxd5 26 exd5 g5! with
White has the annoying idea of Nf6+!) 27 Rxf5 counterplay; again, the dark-square domination
gxf5 28 Nf4 Bxg2+ 29 Kxg2 Qc6+ 30 Kg1 Re8, should offer Black equal prospects) 24...d5 25 exd5
when Black obviously has no problems. (25 Nc3!? d4 26 Ncd5 Nxd5 27 Nxd5 Bxd5 28
exd5 g5! is again fine for Black) 25...Nxd5 26
b) 23 Qg3 gives Black a choice between two
Nxd5 Bxd5 27 Nc3 Bxg2+ 28 Qxg2. Despite the
equally valid options:
position being objectively equal, perhaps White’s
b1) 23...d4 24 Ncd5 Nxd5 25 Nxd5 Bxd5 26 position is slightly more pleasant to play in practice
exd5 g5! 27 Be4 Ng6 = and Black’s dark-square thanks to his pressure on the f-file and the soon-to-
domination allows him to equalize fully. be untouchable knight on e4.
b2) 23...dxe4 24 dxe4 (24 Nxe4? Bc6 is already 24 axb4 cxb4 25 Nd1 d5 26 d4 N5c6 27 exd5
better for Black, who will prepare a timely ...f5) Nxd4 28 c4! (D)
24...Nc4 (with ...Qc7 coming, Black cannot be
worse) 25 b3?! (25 Rd1! is objectively best, but
the position is only roughly balanced after
25...Qc7 26 Bf1 Na5 27 Qf3 Nac6!, with
210
one; instead of forcing the issue with sacrifices and

so forth, in which the defender’s reply is forced, it
is much more difficult for the defender to play if
the attacker is improving his pieces whereas all the
defender can do is sit and wait for the end. This
advice is extremely useful in practice; if as the at-
tacker, you do not see a forced win, do not enter
complications! By opting for forcing lines, the at-
tacker is required to spend much more time and
energy which could come with serious conse-
quences in the latter stages of the game if there is
nothing immediately decisive.
Black to play
Suddenly, White’s centre starts to roll.

28...bxc3 29 bxc3 Nb3 30 Ba3 Rc8?
Objectively speaking, this is the losing move, alt-
hough Black’s position was already very unpleas-
ant. 30...Ba6 would have continued the struggle,
but White is still on top after 31 Rg1, with tremen-
dous pressure on the kingside and a multitude of
attacking ideas such as Nh5.
31 c4 Na5 32 Re2 Rfe8 33 Rfe1 Bf8
All Black’s pieces are tied up, and it is time to
strike.
Black to play
34 Nh5! Nxd5
Kasparov – Caruana
34...gxh5 35 gxh5+ Bg7 36 Rxe7 +– is obviously
resignable. St Louis blitz 2016
35 cxd5 gxh5 36 gxh5+ Bg7 37 Bb2 f6 38 Bxf6 Here is one such position. Black is obviously the
Rxe2 39 Rxe2 Qf7 40 Re6 1-0 one attacking; he has tremendous pressure on g2,
and White’s pieces are loose and awkwardly posi-
With Bxg7 and Rg6 coming, Black had no choice tioned. Even Kasparov himself is helpless as the
but to resign. Italian-American super-grandmaster effortlessly
rearranges his forces.
In the previous games, we have explored how ef- 23...Nc8!
fective manoeuvring can be in the build-up stages Seeing that the knight on e7 is only hindering the
of an attack. Now we shall see that manoeuvring activity of his rooks and not doing anything itself,
can be just as useful in finishing attacks as well! Caruana begins a powerful manoeuvre that simul-
Although most attacks are fast-paced and swift ac- taneously improves multiple pieces.
tion is required, there are instances where the de-
fender is completely tied up and cannot generate 24 g3 Rde7 25 Ndf1 Nd6
much counterplay even given time. In such posi- The position has changed dramatically from three
tions, it is usually to the attacker’s benefit to opti- moves ago. Black’s rooks now exert enormous
mize his pieces before going in for the decisive pressure along the e-file, and the knight on d6 is
blows. This principle is not only sound from a active and ready to jump into the action via e4.
chess point of view, but also from a psychological
26 Bd3 Be4
211
Manoeuvring
26...b5!? is given as much stronger by the comput- for his manoeuvring skills, when we are to talk
er, seizing further control of the light squares and about attacking play, his name sits near the top of
fixing White’s pawns, but Caruana’s move is good the list.
and doesn’t come with that silicon smell either.
27 Qd1?!
A serious inaccuracy, but it is hard to blame Kas-
parov for this, especially given that this was a blitz
game. 27 Bxe4 Nxe4 28 c4!! (28 Nd5?? loses in-
stantly to 28...Nxg3 29 hxg3 Rxe2 30 Rfxe2 Nf3+
–+) is an amazing defensive resource. After 28...h6
29 b5 Black will sooner or later have to take on f2,
while following 28...Nxf2 29 Qxf2 the knight on
h4 has trouble getting out.
27...Bxd3 28 Qxd3 Ne4! (D)
Black to play
Korchnoi – Fischer
Herceg Novi blitz 1970
Fischer has obtained a dream King’s Indian, in
which he has successfully carried out the thematic
break ...g5-g4, and furthermore, White has no real
counterplay on the queenside to compensate. Nev-
ertheless, it is not clear how to continue the attack.
Given a few moves, White will solidify his king-
side with Rd3 and Bf3, in which case it will be ex-
White to play
tremely difficult for Black to break through. Thus,
29 Nd5? Fischer immediately pinpoints a target in the h3-
pawn, which often acts as a sacrificial altar in the
29 Ree2! is offered by the engines as a more tena-
King’s Indian, and never looks back.
cious defence, again with the idea that after the ex-
change sacrifice, the knight will have some prob- 24...Nh8!!
lems on h4. After 29...Nxf2 30 Kxf2 Qh5 31 gxh4 Seeing that the knight is doing nothing particularly
Qxh4+ 32 Kg1 Qxf4 33 Nd5 Qd6 34 Rxe7 Rxe7 important on g6, Fischer quickly brings it towards
35 Qxf5 Re8 =+ Black still has winning chances the h3-pawn.
due to the vulnerability of White’s king, but this is
much better than the game continuation. 25 Rd3 Nf7 (D)
29...Rd7 –+
Now there is no hope for Kasparov.
30 Qc4 Nxf2 31 Rxe8+ Qxe8 32 Kxf2 Ng6 33
Nfe3 Qe6 34 Qb3 c6 0-1
I would like to conclude this chapter on manoeu-

vring with a game by my favourite player, Bobby
Fischer. Although he was not especially celebrated
212
26 Bf3? Not only is the knight improved from g6 to g5, but

Korchnoi unwisely hedges his bets on the dream of the manoeuvre also made way for the black rook to
the light-squared bishop holding together the entire join the fight along the g-file.
kingside. 28 Kf1?
26 Nd2! was necessary, immediately bringing in 28 Kh2 would put up better resistance, although
the knight to counter Black’s own knight manoeu- White is still suffering after 28...Rb8 29 Rdd1 Rb4,
vre. Then: threatening ...Nxf3+ followed by ...Rxc4 and with
a) 26...Ng5 27 Qa4 (27 h4 is suggested by the en- the point that 30 Nb5?! (30 Nd2 Qxa5 –/+) runs
gines, but looks awfully risky to me after into 30...a6! 31 Bxb4 (31 Nxd6 Qxd6 32 Bxb4
27...Nf7, when h4 will always be a source of con- cxb4 33 c5 Nxf3+ 34 Qxf3 Qd8 –+ and with ideas
cern for White, let alone the g4-square: 28 Nb5 such as ...Rg3, ...Ng4+, ...Bxh3 and so forth, Black
a6) 27...Bd7 (27...Nxh3+!? 28 gxh3 Bxh3 29 has a decisive attack) 31...cxb4 32 Na7 Bxh3! 33
Rxh3 Rxh3 30 Bf3 and White is holding) 28 Qb3 gxh3 Nxf3+ 34 Qxf3 Rg3 35 Qf1 Ng4+ 36 Kh1
Qxa5 29 Qb7 Qd8 30 h4 Nf7 31 Nb5 a5 32 Ra3 Qh4 –+, when Black crashes through.
a4 with an extremely messy position. One logical 28...Nxh3!
conclusion would be 33 Nc7 Rc8 34 Ne6 Qe8 35
The knight completes its journey and brings home
Nc7 Qd8 36 Ne6 Qe8 =, when both sides should
the victory.
probably settle for the repetition.
29 gxh3
b) 26...Rg6 27 Nf3 (intending Nh4) 27...Bf8
gives the rook a square on g7 (where it will also Losing, but White’s position was untenable in any
cast an eye towards the queenside) and keeps case.
Black’s kingside prospects very much alive. 29...Bxh3+ 30 Kf2 Ng4+ 31 Bxg4 Bxg4 0-1
White must also look out for ...Qxa5.
Korchnoi had to resign as there is no defence to
26...Ng5 27 Qe2 Rg6 (D) ...Qh4+ and a quick mate.
213
Manoeuvring
Exercises
If you have a piece that is not actively participating
in the game or could be improved, find a way to
make it shine!
214
215
Manoeuvring
1) Arsovi – Stojanovi 2) Shirov – Leko

Serbian Ch, Leskovac 2002 Cap d’Agde rapid 2003
Black stands better with more space, but how can 30...Qe8!
he arrange his pieces before going for an attack?
Leko finds a way to activate the queen, via a4.
The game featured 18...g6, but in my opening
preparation I found something better: 31 Kf1?
18...Bd8! 19 Nc4 Bc7 =+ 31 Bxg6? hxg6 –+ is also bad for White, but 31
Be2! –/+ was White’s last chance to offer any re-
This strong bishop manoeuvre greatly strengthens
sistance.
Black’s position. The bishop holds the b6-pawn so
that Black can contribute all his major pieces to- 31...Qa4!
wards a future attack. In addition, the bishop also The queen outflanks White’s defensive line, leav-
protects the e5-pawn so ...f5 will be possible in the ing Shirov with no good response.
future. And finally, the bishop keeps its eyes on the
h2-pawn and could play a major role in a future 32 Be2 Qxa2 33 Qd4 Qb1+ 34 Qd1 Qf5 35 Qd4
attack against the white king. A true multi-purpose After 35 Kg2 Nh4+ 36 Kh1 Qh3 37 Qg1+ Kf8 –+
move! White cannot stop the manoeuvre ...Nf5-g3+.
35...Qh3+ 36 Ke1 Qxh2 37 Kd1
37 Nxe3 Qg1+ 38 Nf1 (after 38 Kd2 a5 –+ White
is unable to stop the a-pawn) 38...Qxd4 39 cxd4 a5
40 Bb5 h5 –+.
37...h5 0-1
216
3) Korchnoi – Spassky 4) Zhigalko – Iliushin

St Petersburg rapid (2) 1999 Moscow 2010
Once you notice that the glue holding Black’s posi- 30 Qd2!
tion together is the duo of the e7-pawn and the
Although White has all his major pieces stacked on
bishop, the manoeuvre is easy to spot:
the e-file, he must reorganize them in order to
23 Ne2! launch the final assault.
The knight heads for h5, where it will demolish 30...Rd8
Black’s defensive barrier.
After 30...Qh4 31 R1e4! Bxe4 32 Rxe4 Qf6 33 Rf4
23...c4 24 Ng3 cxb3 25 Qxb3 Qc4 26 Nh5 Qxb3 +– White wins the queen and the game.
27 axb3 Nbc8 28 Nxf6 exf6 29 Re6 +–
31 Qg5!
White is easily winning. The game finished:
The queen arrives on a much more threatening lo-
29...b6 30 Rc1 Rb7 31 Rc6 Rd7 32 Bd4 Kg7 33 cation as opposed to two moves ago.
g3 Kg6 34 Kg2 h5 35 Kh3 h4 36 gxh4 Ne4 37
31...Rd7
Bxe4 fxe4 38 Bxf6 Kh7 1-0
31...Re8 32 R1e5 +– is quickly mate.
32 R1e5 Bd5 33 Qf6+! 1-0
217
Manoeuvring
5) Leko – Adams 6) Z. Almasi – Movsesian (variation)

Dortmund Candidates 2002 Budapest 2003
41 Nc2! 24 Rd6!
Despite the knight being brilliantly positioned on Not only preventing ...Bc6, but also threatening to
b4, Leko sees that Black’s kingside defences are on complete the manoeuvre by Rb6, with deadly ef-
the brink of collapse, so the knight treks towards f5 fect.
to finish the game.
24...bxc3
41...Re8 24...Bxf3 25 Rb6 leaves Black with no good de-
41...Rc4 may be a better defence to try to slow fence to Rb8+.
Ne3, but Black still perishes after 42 g5! Ng8
25 Rb6 Bc8 26 a3! +–
(42...hxg5 43 Bd3 +– is the end) 43 gxh6+ Nxh6
44 Bd3 Rcc8 45 Bxb5 Rxc2 46 Rg5+ Kf6 47 Kf4 Many moves win, but perhaps this one, which pre-
Ng8 48 Rh8 Rcc8 49 Bd3 and Stohl claims that vents back-rank threats and permanently deprives
White is winning in his annotations for ChessBase, the black queen of the b4-square, is the simplest.
and I must say that I agree. Black is almost in zugzwang. White has threats
such as Rb8, or even discoveries against Black’s
42 Ne3 Rce7 43 Kf4 Bc6 44 Bc2! queen with Bc7. Black cannot stop this plan with
Making way for the knight to hop into f5. his king due to Rd6+ followed by Rd5, trapping
the queen.
44...Bd7 45 g5 1-0
Adams had no choice but to throw in the towel on
account of 45...hxg5+ 46 Rxg5+ Kf8 47 Rh8+ Ng8
48 Rhxg8#.
218
7) Gelfand – Van Wely 8) Kariakin – Giri

European Team Ch, Plovdiv 2003 Tashkent 2014
The hardest part of this exercise is first realizing This was a missed opportunity to take down one of
that White’s pressure on the g-file realistically the world’s top players in the opening:
amounts to nothing. Given time, Black may even
13 Ndxb5!
improve his position with ideas such as ...Bd6-c7,
so White’s first move is obvious: In the game, 13 fxe5?! Nxe3 14 Qxe3 Bd7 15 Be2
+= left Kariakin slightly better and he went on to
37 Rb1 Ra6 win.
White needs more than the target on g6 to attack,
13...axb5 14 Bxb5+ Ke7 15 fxe5
and Gelfand realizes that the new target will be set
on f6. White’s attack is near-crushing. For example:
38 Ng1!! 15...Nxe3
Bringing the knight to h3, where it will support the 15...Nxe5 16 Ne4 f6 17 Rhf1 with a monstrous at-
f4 advance to open an additional file for attacking tack for the sacrificed material.
purposes. 16 Qf4!!
38...Bh6 This sly manoeuvre is probably what Kariakin
38...Bd6 attempts to control the f4-square, but missed. The threat of Qb4+ is crushing.
White can continue forward with 39 Nh3 Bc7 40 The immediate 16 Qg5+?? can be handled by
Rg1 (now that the knight is improved, the rook 16...f6 17 Qg6 Bb7 18 Rd7+ Qxd7 19 Bxd7 Kxd7,
swings back to where it is needed) 40...Raa8 41 with unclear play. White has no obvious way to get
Qf3! (with the deadly idea of Rxg6 followed by at the black king.
Qxh5+, as well as the obvious threat of Ng5+)
41...Nf4 (41...Raf8? 42 Rxg6 Rxg6 43 Qxh5+ Kg7 16...Qa5 17 Qg5+ f6 18 Qg6 +–
44 Qh6+ +–) 42 Nxf4 exf4 43 Bxf4 Bxf4+ 44 Rxf4 and Black can resign.
+– and White wins easily with the h5 advance still
to come.
39 Bxh6 Kxh6 40 Nh3
White has improved magnificently, but to see how
the game continued, I encourage you to revisit Ex-
ercise 3 in Chapter 12: Prophylaxis.
219
Isolated d-Pawn Positions
14: Isolated d-Pawn Positions

RAZVAN PREOTU
The isolated d-pawn (or isolated queen’s pawn – IQP) arises in many different openings, which is why it
is important to know how to play with it and against it. In general, positional players are not fond of this
structure, whereas attacking gurus love its possibilities. Clearly, the d-pawn itself is a long-term weak-
ness, as it cannot be defended by other pawns. However, in return it offers a lot of dynamic play. The side
with the isolated d-pawn has control over the centre and more space, allowing his pieces a lot of freedom
in the position. Moreover, the opponent’s pieces are usually occupied with attempting to blockade the iso-
lated d-pawn, which may distract them from defending the kingside. These factors give the side with the
isolated d-pawn great attacking chances.
Truthfully speaking, the isolated d-pawn is often neither an objective asset nor a liability; whether one
likes or distrusts these positions usually boils down to a matter of taste. That being said, there are definite-
ly many typical attacking ideas that are worth knowing whether you choose to play the attacking side or
the side defending against the isolated d-pawn.
Let us turn to a game by the 6th World Champion, Mikhail Botvinnik, for some inspiration.
11...h6 is a move that Black generally wants to

avoid. This creates weaknesses on the kingside that
White can exploit by lining up queen and bishop
on the b1-h7 diagonal, since Black may have diffi-
culties blunting this with ...g6. In this situation it
also does not accomplish anything, as White can
just retreat with 12 Bh4.
12 Qd3
Botvinnik connects the rooks and prepares to bring
one to d1. White’s rooks are often most optimally
placed along the d- and e-files, as they exert pres-
sure and support the advance of the d-pawn.
12...Nbd5
Black to play Black’s main plan is to blockade the d-pawn and
Botvinnik – Vidmar trade as many minor pieces as possible. In the end-
game, Black would be much better as the isolated
Nottingham 1936
pawn would become a weakness without sufficient
10...Nb6 11 Bb3 material to support it. White, on the other hand, has
Just from a visual perspective, White’s pieces are to avoid this and play as energetically as possible.
more active than Black’s. The bishops have nice On another note, 12...Nfd5! was a better way to
open diagonals, while Black’s bishop on c8 is seek exchanges. White should avoid the trade and
blocked in. White’s f3-knight has the beautiful e5- go back with 13 Bd2 but then the bishop is in an
square as an outpost, which is typical in most iso- inferior position, blocking the d-file.
lated d-pawn positions.
13 Ne5
11...Bd7
220
The knight jumps to the dream position, putting Rxf7 19 Bxb4 Nxb4 20 Bxe6 Rf8 += leaves White
pressure on f7. with the slight material advantage of a rook and
two pawns for two pieces.
13...Bc6 14 Rad1 (D)
We now return to 16...Nbxd5? (D):
Black to play
White to play
14...Nb4?!
This is poorly timed, as White’s queen can swing 17 f4!
to the kingside, where it exerts lots of pressure. White threatens to open the f-file with f5, exerting
Developing another piece by 14...Rc8 was an im- pressure on the f7-pawn and Black’s knights.
provement.
17...Rc8?
15 Qh3 Black develops the rook, but to an unfortunate
Now White has ideas of Nxf7 as the e6-pawn square, as it steps into the X-ray attack from
would be hanging. White’s queen. Supporting the knight on d5 by
17...Qb6 18 f5 Rad8 seems better. However, after
15...Bd5
19 fxe6 Qxe6 20 Qf3 +/– Black is completely tied
Black needs to block White’s bishop. 15...h6 does down.
not work because of 16 Bxh6! gxh6 17 Qxh6 +–,
when White threatens to attack Black’s knight with 18 f5 exf5?
a3. The knight is unable to move from b4, as it This allows White’s rook to occupy an excellent
must defend the d3-square to prevent White’s rook position. 18...Qd6 was the best try, although Black
from swinging to the kingside. is still under tremendous pressure after 19 Rde1
Rc7 20 fxe6 Qxe6 21 Qg3 Qd6 22 Rf5 +/–.
16 Nxd5
16 Ba4! is a strong alternative, avoiding the ex- 19 Rxf5 +–
change and threatening to kick away Black’s White’s attack is now decisive.
knight with a3.
19...Qd6
16...Nbxd5? 19...Rc7 20 Rdf1 followed by Nxf7 and Bxd5 is
16...Nfxd5 was necessary now, trying to exchange unstoppable.
White’s attackers. Then 17 Bd2 (17 Bxe7 Qxe7 18
20 Nxf7!
f4 += gives White nice pressure on the kingside,
but not nearly as strong as in the game) 17...Qd6 A nice finish: the rook on c8 becomes undefended.
(Black prepares to play ...Nc6, challenging White’s 20 Bxf6! Nxf6 21 Nxf7 also wins.
strong knight; the immediate 17...Nc6?! allows 20...Rxf7 21 Bxf6 Bxf6 22 Rxd5 Qc6 23 Rd6 Qe8
White to gain a strong attack with 18 Nxf7! Kxf7 24 Rd7 1-0
19 Rfe1 Qd7 20 Qh5+ Kg8 21 Rxe6) 18 Nxf7
221
The dynamic piece-play that the isolated d-pawn Natural, but not the best. 12...Ba6!, preventing
provided was just too much for Black’s positional Qd3, is stronger, as Black no longer has to make
advantages to compensate for. any weaknesses on the kingside. The bishop can
also control the d5-square by going to c4.
In the next example, we see how Smyslov forms 13 Qd3 Rc8?!

the dream arrangement of all his pieces in an iso- Closing the diagonal by 13...g6 seems necessary.
lated d-pawn structure, leaving even the positional Karpov didn’t want his opponent to play Bh6 in
legend Anatoly Karpov in the dust. one move, but now White has a surprising shot.
14 Bg5
14 d5! was an opportunity missed by both sides.
Black cannot capture because of the vulnerability
of the h7-pawn. 14...exd5? loses to 15 Bg5 g6 16
Rxe7! (the rook proves that it was well placed on
e1 after all) 16...Qxe7 17 Nxd5 +–, while after
14...Na5 15 Bg5 Rxc3! (15...g6 16 dxe6 Qxd3 17
Bxd3 +/– leaves White a pawn up for nothing) 16
Qxc3 Qxd5 +=, although Black has some compen-
sation, White has won the exchange for a pawn.
14...g6 15 Rad1 (D)
White to play
Smyslov – Karpov
USSR Ch, Leningrad 1971
10 Re1
White develops the rook on the half-open e-file,
the best position for the rook. It controls many key
squares such as e5, which is often occupied by the
knight.
10...Nf6 11 a3!
Black to play
A very useful move, preventing Black’s knight or
bishop from using the b4-square. One of Black’s White has achieved the optimal positioning of his
main plans revolves around the manoeuvre ...Nb4- pieces. His queen and bishop are powerfully
d5 in such positions. Now White can line up his aligned, his rooks in the centre force Black to think
queen and bishop on the b1-h7 diagonal unimped- about a d5 advance, and he was successful in forc-
ed to provoke weaknesses in Black’s kingside. ing Black to soften up his kingside.
11...b6 15...Nd5 16 Bh6

Karpov fianchettoes the bishop where it will help White does not want to exchange any minor pieces.
control the d5-square. This is typically how 16...Re8 17 Ba4!
Black’s light-squared bishop gets developed, as the
e6-pawn is fixed on its square. The bishop moves off the c-file, where it was quite
vulnerable to tactics involving ...Ncb4. The pin is
12 Bc2 Bb7?! also rather annoying for Black.
17...a6
222
Karpov prepares to block White’s bishop with

...b5, but this allows White to gain control over the
d5-square. Other moves:
a) Black can win a pawn with 17...Nxc3 18 bxc3
(18 Qxc3 Nb4 19 Qd2 Bc6 = does not pose any
problems for Black) 18...Bxa3 but White is now
able to launch a strong attack with 19 Ng5 as the
bishop no longer controls the g5-square: 19...Be7
(otherwise White continues the attack with simple
moves like Qf3 followed by d5) 20 Nxf7! Kxf7 21
Qf3+ Bf6 (21...Kg8? 22 Rxe6 is a disaster: Black
is unable to withstand the pressure and must suffer
huge material losses) 22 Bg5 and then:
a1) 22...Kg7 allows White to win material after
White to play
23 d5 Ne5 24 Rxe5 Bxg5 25 Bxe8 Qxe8 26 Rxg5
Bxd5 27 Qe2 although there are some chances to 18 Nxd5!
draw. Smyslov either forces Black’s queen to a vulnera-
a2) 22...Rc7 23 d5 wins back the piece after ble square or changes the pawn-structure.
23...exd5 24 Rxe8 Qxe8 25 Bb3 (better than tak- In general in IQP positions, it is important for the
ing the knight right away) 25...Rd7 (25...Na5 26 attacker to remember that if Black cannot safely
Bxf6 Kg8 27 Bxd5+ Bxd5 28 Qxd5+ Rf7 29 recapture on d5 with a minor piece, an exchange on
Qa2! {threatening Rd8} 29...Nb7 30 h4! is also d5 could be quite effective, as it either forces Black
good for White, since although material is equal, to capture with the e-pawn and relinquish his posi-
Black’s king is seriously weak) 26 Qxf6+ Kg8 27 tional advantages, or capture with the queen and
h4! Qe5 28 Qf3, leaving White with a big ad- risk losing vast amounts of time.
vantage due to his bishop-pair and safer king de-
spite the one-pawn deficit. 18...Qxd5
a3) 22...Rf8 23 d5 (forced; White must open the 18...exd5 19 b4 += gives White a slight advantage
centre) 23...exd5 24 Rxd5 Nb8 (24...Na5 25 because of his more active pieces. The bishop is
Rd7+) 25 Qh3! Bxd5 26 Qxh7+ Bg7 27 Bxd8 then completely misplaced on b7.
Rfxd8 28 f4! intending f5. White’s ongoing at- 19 Qe3
tack puts him on top despite Black’s material ad-
vantage (rook, bishop and knight vs queen). It’s White prepares Bb3 followed by d5. 19 Bb3 Qh5
important to note that 28...Rh8? fails to 29 Re7+ gives Black a valuable tempo against the dark-
Kxe7 30 Qxg7+ Bf7 31 Qe5+ Be6 32 Bb3, win- squared bishop.
ning the bishop. 19...Bf6 20 Bb3 Qh5?
b) 17...Bf8! would have been quite annoying, chas- Karpov chooses the wrong square to place the
ing away White’s bishop: 18 Bg5 Be7 19 Bc1 (af- queen. 20...Qd7 was called for, to guard the rook
ter 19 h4 Nxc3 20 bxc3 Bxg5 21 Nxg5 Rf8 = on e8, but after 21 d5 exd5 22 Qxb6 Rxe1+ 23
Black seems solid and prepares counterplay against Rxe1 += White’s pieces are much more active than
White’s c-pawn with ...Na5) 19...Nxc3 20 bxc3 Black’s.
Qd6 =. Black will place the bishop on f6 and seems
well prepared for White’s pawn advance. 21 d5!
The critical pawn advance in isolated d-pawn posi-
We now return to 17...a6 (D):
tions. If Black’s pieces fail to contain this advance,
his position usually implodes rather quickly as
White’s pieces spring to life behind the d-pawn.
With the centre open, White’s major pieces be-
come monstrous along the open files.
223
21...Nd8 (D)
22 d6?! Frolianov – Kornev

White advances the d-pawn one move too soon. Ulan Ude 2009
After the superior 22 Bg5!, Black’s position falls
11 Re1
apart: 22...Bxb2 23 Qxb6 +– or 22...Be7 23 Bxe7
Rxe7 24 d6 Rd7 25 Ne5 +–. Just like the previous game, White develops the
rook to its best position, on the e-file. As we have
22...Rc5 23 d7 Re7? seen, 11 a3, preventing ...Ndb4, is another good
The last chance was for Black to give up the ex- option.
change with 23...Rf8 24 Bxf8 Kxf8 +/–.
11...Nf6
24 Qf4 +– Black returns the knight to f6 in order to defend the
The double attack of Qxf6 and Qb8 is overwhelm- kingside. The d4-pawn is now also hanging.
ing.
However, 11...Ndb4 was the critical move. Black
24...Bg7 must have not liked that after 12 Be4 Nxd4 13
24...Bxf3 was a better try, although it does not in- Nxd4 Qxd4 14 Bf4 White has very strong compen-
sation for the pawn, as it will be difficult for Black
fluence the game’s result after 25 Qxf6 Qxh6 26
to complete development. Nevertheless, objective-
Qxe7 Qg5 27 Qxg5 Rxg5 28 Rd3!, when White is
ly Black is most likely doing OK.
a healthy exchange up with a passed d-pawn.
12 Bg5
25 Qb8 Qxh6 26 Qxd8+ Bf8 27 Re3 Bc6 28
Qxf8+ Qxf8 29 d8Q 1-0 White defends the d-pawn tactically and places the
Instead of an attack on f7 like in the previous ex- bishop on a more aggressive square.
ample, White was able to provoke weaknesses on 12...h6
the kingside with the queen and bishop on the b1-
12...Nxd4?? of course fails to the beginner-level
h7 diagonal and achieve the crucial d5 advance to
tactic 13 Nxd4 Qxd4 14 Bxh7+ +–.
open the floodgates into Black’s camp.
13 Be3
White retreats the bishop, having managed to pro-
Building upon the previous example, the following
voke the weakening move ...h6. The idea is if
game further illustrates how powerful the d5 break
White lines up his queen and bishop on the b1-h7
can truly be, especially when Black does not de-
diagonal, the h6-pawn will be hanging in many
fend precisely.
lines if Black elects to play ...g6.
224
There was also nothing wrong with 13 Bh4, keep- White will win back the d5-pawn with a strong at-
ing the bishop on the diagonal against Black’s tack) 18 Bxh6 Bf8 19 Rxe8 Qxe8 20 Bg5 Ne4! 21
knight. White’s plan would still be to align queen Qxd5 Nxc3 22 bxc3 +=. White emerges a pawn up,
and bishop on the b1-h7 diagonal. You probably though he still has a lot of work to do as his
have the sense by now that this is a very important queenside pawns are not ideal.
plan!
14...Nbd5?!
13...Nb4 (D) Too early. Black aims to trade the knight for the
Black attacks the bishop and hops towards the bishop, but he really should have completed devel-
strong d5-square. opment. After 14...b6 15 Ne5 Bb7 = Black has
solved his development problems and controls the
d5-square.
15 Ne5!
White needs to play energetically and prevent
Black from finishing development so easily. Now
Black cannot continue developing with ...b6, as
Nc6 would be a major problem.
15...Nxe3
As just mentioned, 15...b6? is really asking for it.
After 16 Nxd5 exd5 (16...Nxd5 17 Bxh6! gxh6 18
Nc6 Qd6 19 Bxd5 +–) 17 Nc6 Qd6 18 Nxe7+
Qxe7 19 Bd3 +/– White enjoys a lead in develop-
ment along with the bishop-pair advantage.
White to play 15...Qb6 16 Nxd5 exd5 17 Bd3 Qxb2 18 a4 offers
14 Bc4 White strong compensation for the pawn. Black is
still unable to complete his development because
White aims to control the important d5-square;
White will create strong pressure on the b-file.
however, it seems better to keep the bishop on the
more menacing b1-h7 diagonal. Thus 14 Bb1! was 16 Rxe3 Qb6 (D)
stronger, when White is already scheming plots
such as Qd2 and Bxh6. This is one way to take ad-
vantage of the weakening move ...h6. Then:
a) 14...Nbd5 15 Nxd5 Qxd5 16 Qd2 Qh5 17 Bf4
Nd5 18 Be5 += leaves Black’s queen oddly placed
on h5.
b) 14...b6 15 Qd2 Re8 16 a3 and now:
b1) 16...Nbd5 is refuted by 17 Bxh6! Nxc3 (after
17...gxh6 18 Nxd5 Black doesn’t have a great way
to capture, as ...Bf8 would no longer work against
Qxh6: 18...exd5 19 Qxh6 Bf8 20 Rxe8 Qxe8 21
Qxf6 +–) 18 Qg5! (an important intermezzo that
saves the bishop) 18...Bf8 19 bxc3 Nd5 20 Qg3
Nxc3 21 Bg5 Be7 22 Bd3 since without the h7-
White to play
pawn Black’s king is very weak.
Black plans on targeting the d-pawn with ...Rd8
b2) 16...Nc6 17 d5! (White aims to open the e-file;
and finishing development by playing ...Bd7-e8.
this breakthrough move should always be looked
out for!) 17...exd5 (after 17...Na5 18 Qc2 exd5 19 17 d5
Bd4 Be6 20 Bxf6 Bxf6 21 Qh7+ Kf8 22 Ba2
225
White thinks it is the right time to crack open the Black’s queen is badly placed along the third rank.
centre before Black completes his development. 19...Qc2 was the final attempt at salvation, alt-
hough it would prove to be futile after 20 Re2 Qf5
17...Rd8?
21 Qxf5 exf5 22 Nxf7! (White wins a pawn)
Black’s rook unwisely abandons the f7-pawn. Now 22...Kxf7 23 d6+ Kg6 24 dxe7 Rd4 25 Rb4! (the
Black’s kingside comes under serious pressure. only winning move: White creates the discovery
17...exd5 18 Bxd5 += allows White strong pressure threat of Bf7+ which cannot be stopped, as the d-
on f7. pawn threatens to promote) 25...Bd7 26 Bf7+ Kxf7
27 Rxd4, when the extra exchange is winning for
17...Nxd5! was the best capture. After 18 Nxd5 (18 White.
Bxd5 Bg5! = is an important zwischenzug: Black
gets the bishop on a protected square away from 20 dxe6 fxe6
the knight fork on d5 and only then recaptures the 20...Bxe6 21 Nd5 Bxd5 (after 21...Qc5 22 Nxe7+
d5-bishop) 18...exd5 19 Bxd5 Bc5 20 Re2 Bf5 21 Qxe7 23 Nxf7 +– White crashes through) 22 Bxd5
Qa4 (White plans to target the f7-pawn with Qc4) Rxd5 23 Rxa3 Bxa3 24 Ng4! Rad8 25 Nxf6+ gxf6
21...Rad8 22 Qc4 Be6 23 Bxe6 fxe6 =, the activity 26 g3 +–. White wins the b7-pawn and although
of Black’s rooks and bishop compensates for the the material is almost balanced, Black’s king and
weak pawn on e6. kingside pawns are too weak.
18 Qf3 (D) 21 Qf5 Qa6
A desperate move, threatening a cheapo with
...Qxc4.
22 Rg3 1-0
White threatens mate with Rxg7+. This can be pre-
vented, but then Black loses the queen: 22...Rf8 23
Rxg7+ Kxg7 24 Qg6+ Kh8 25 Bxa6.
Although there is a major emphasis on fighting for

the initiative when playing with the isolated d-
pawn – and rightly so – the following example
shows that under special circumstances, it is per-
missible to exchange pieces for concrete positional
reasons.
Black to play
Black is now unable to take the d5-pawn and, at

best, will remain with a weak e6-pawn.
18...Qxb2?
This is just too greedy. Black had to try to consoli-
date the kingside by forcing White to capture on
e6. However, after 18...Re8 19 Rae1 Qc7 20 dxe6
Bxe6 21 Bxe6 fxe6 22 Ng4 +/– White will be able
to win the e6-pawn. Black’s only compensation is
that the bishop will be slightly stronger than the
knight in the ensuing endgame.
19 Rb1 +–
White’s piece activity is just too great now.
19...Qa3
White to play
226
Smyslov – Ribli
Candidates (7), London 1983
11 Be4
White challenges the d5-knight, and reserves the
possibility of changing the pawn-structure at any
time. This also opens up the d3-square for the
queen.
11...Nce7
Black supports the knight so that White cannot
force Black to make an isolated d-pawn of his own.
After 11...b6 12 Qd3 h6 13 Re1 Bb7 14 Bxd5 exd5
15 Bf4 += White has a slight advantage because of
his better-placed minor pieces and Black’s passive Black to play
bishop on b7.
White develops the rook on the c-file. Although
12 Ne5 this is an open file, it is important for players to
Immediately capitalizing on the departure of the understand that normally it is not the ideal location
c6-knight. for the rook, as Black can easily neutralize it by
placing his own rook on c8. Any rook exchanges
12...g6?! would also favour Black. Since White wants to
This was not mandatory and it donates the h6- prepare the d5 advance, the rook typically goes to
square to White’s bishop. It was better for Black to d1. However, in this specific position, Black has a
develop his problematic queen’s bishop. After firm blockade on the d5-square, but is behind in
12...b6 13 Qd3 Ng6 (13...g6 14 Bh6 Bg7 = is also development. Thus, ...Rc8 is not possible in the
possible, when Black’s position stands rock-solid) near future and White makes the most of this tem-
14 f4 = both sides have their strengths in this dy- porary advantage.
namically balanced position: White has the e5- 15...b6 16 Nxd5!
square and Black the d5-square.
Although White solves Black’s ‘superfluous
13 Bh6 knight’ problem, it is more important to open the c-
White takes the opportunity to develop the bishop file for the rook before Black completes develop-
with tempo against the rook. ment. In this case, dynamic play has priority over
positional principles.
13...Bg7
16 Qd2 would be an uninspiring continuation. Af-
13...Re8 14 Re1 += followed by Qf3 is very un-
ter 16...Bb7 it is almost impossible for White to
pleasant for Black.
generate any threats on the kingside. After 17 Ng4
14 Bxg7 Kxg7 15 Rc1! (D) (17 h4 does not accomplish anything after 17...h5)
17...Nf5 18 Rfe1 Rb8 = Black threatens ...Nxc3,
trading White’s attacking pieces. Although the po-
sition is equal, I would side with Black in a practi-
cal game.
16...Nxd5
16...exd5 17 Bf3 += grants White a very slight but
permanent advantage due to the d-pawns and col-
our of the bishops on the board.
17 Bxd5 Qxd5?
227
Allowing White’s rook to the seventh rank is not a 19...Rac8 20 Rd7 Qe4 21 Qxe4 Bxe4 22 f3 Bd5 23
good idea, as it becomes impossible to chase it Rxa7 Rc2 24 b4 is very similar to the previous line.
away. Black should have taken with the e-pawn, Black will win the d4-pawn but still has problems
although it’s not a pleasant position to play. After activating the f8-rook and stopping White’s
17...exd5 18 Qf3 += White’s knight is stronger queenside pawns.
than the bishop and he can play safely for a win
20 Rd1
while keeping the draw ‘in hand’.
White defends the d4-pawn, preventing Black from
18 Rc7 (D) exchanging queens with ...Qe4 since the a7-pawn
would be hanging.
20...a5 (D)
Black to play
Despite trading many pieces and still having the

isolated d-pawn, which would normally be a good
White to play
sign for Black, White has managed to maintain dy-
namic piece-play. The rook and knight’s pressure 21 h4
against the f7-pawn is becoming unbearable and Smyslov advances the h-pawn to start an attack
cannot be alleviated. against the king.
18...Bb7 Instead 21 f3? allows Black to trade rooks with
After 18...Qd6 19 Rxf7+ Rxf7 20 Nxf7 +/– White 21...Rc8 as 22 Rd7 Qb3 23 Re1 Rc1! works be-
wins a pawn because of the queen fork on f3. cause of the check on e3: 24 Rxc1 Qe3+ 25 Kf1
Ba6+ 26 Rc4 Bxc4+ 27 Nxc4 Qc1+ 28 Kf2 Qxc4
19 Qg4 =.
19 f3! is stronger, closing the diagonal and guard-
However, evading the ...Qe4 idea by 21 Qg5! was
ing the e4-square. Now Rd7 is a big threat. After
even stronger. After 21...Rc8 22 Rd7 Qe4 23 f3
19...Rad8 20 Re1 Ba8 (trying to save the pawn by
Qc2 24 Re1 White plans Ng4 followed by Qh6+
20...a5? is too slow since 21 Re4 +– threatens to
with a strong attack.
launch a strong kingside attack with ideas of Rf4 or
Qc1 and Rh4; Black no longer has the reply ...Qd6 21...Rc8 22 Rd7 Qe4 23 Qg5 Bc6!
as the bishop would be hanging) 21 Rxa7 Qxd4+ The bishop attacks White’s rook and also frees the
22 Qxd4 Rxd4 23 b4! +/– (23 Nxf7?! Rxf7 24 black queen from its defensive duties.
Rxa8 wins a pawn but allows Black active
counterplay with 24...Rd2 +=) White still has 24 f3 Qf5?
strong pressure in the endgame and now the possi- Black misses a big chance to simplify the position
bility of creating an outside passed pawn. and rid himself of the pressure. 24...h6! forces a
19...Rad8 favourable exchange as there is no good square for
White’s queen to move. After 25 fxe4 (25 Qc1
keeps the queens on but doesn’t offer anything af-
228
ter 25...Qe2 26 Nxc6 Rxc6 27 Qxc6 Qxd1+) Black tries to close the kingside and create his own
25...hxg5 26 Nxc6 Rxc6 27 hxg5 Rc2 = Black’s counterplay against White’s king, but White is just
active rook and superior pawn-structure are suffi- too fast. The g6 break will be decisive.
cient for him to defend the endgame a pawn down.
33 Rg3 h4 34 Rg4 h3 35 g6
25 Ra7 Ba4 White ignores Black’s h-pawn and continues the
Black’s rook is now able to invade on c2, attacking attack.
White’s pawns.
35...h2+
26 Re1 Rc2 27 b4 35...Rxg2+ 36 Rxg2 hxg2 37 Kxg2 leads to a los-
Despite activating his rook, Black’s game is still ing endgame for Black; White will take on f7 and
very unpleasant. White has full control over the be two pawns up.
position.
36 Kxh2 Rh8+ 37 Kg3 Rxg2+
27...Bb3? A final attempt to create some chaos.
This allows White’s e1-rook to join the attack.
38 Kxg2 Qc2+ 39 Qf2
27...Bc6!, preventing Re4, is best. However, Black
is still much worse: 28 Rc7 Ba4 29 Rxc2 Bxc2 30 39 Kg1 was quicker, as Black will run out of
Rc1 Ba4 31 Rc7 axb4 32 axb4 +/–. checks and has no way to defend his own king:
39...Qh2+ 40 Kf1 Qh1+ 41 Rg1 Qh3+ 42 Ke1
28 bxa5 bxa5 29 Re4! (D) Qh4+ 43 Qf2 +– or 39...Qb1+ 40 Kf2 Qc2+ 41
Qe2 Rh2+ 42 Kg3 +–.
39...Rh2+ 40 Kxh2 Qxf2+ 41 Kh3 Qf1+ 42 Rg2
Qh1+ 1-0
Black resigned because even though White is lack-
ing a queen, there is still no way to defend his king.
After 43 Rh2 Qf1+ 44 Kh4 Qe1+ 45 Kh5 the
checks have run out and White has Rxf7+ followed
by Ng4, creating a mating-net.
With the isolated d-pawn, it is crucial to induce

weaknesses in the opponent’s kingside. However,
even after this is accomplished, many players
struggle with the question of what to do next.
Black to play While there is no one-line answer to this issue, I
White threatens Rf4, winning the f7-pawn. Black hope that the final example does a good job of il-
has no good defence. lustrating dynamic play focused against weak
squares on the kingside:
29...h6
29...Qxg5 30 hxg5 Rc1+ 31 Kf2 Bc2 was objec-
tively the best defence, but after 32 Re3! Black
loses the a5-pawn or allows Rc3 followed by Rc7,
in either case losing material.
30 Qe3
With queens on the board, Black has no chance of
emerging in one piece.
30...Rb2 31 Rg4 g5 32 hxg5 h5
229
14 Qe4
Mate on h7 is threatened, forcing Black to make a
weakness in one way or another.
14...g6
After 14...Nf6? 15 Qh4 White threatens Bg5 and
Ne5, bringing more pieces into the attack.
14...f5!? reduces White’s attacking chances as it
closes the diagonal completely. However, it comes
at the expense of leaving a backward pawn on e6
that White can attack: 15 Qe5 Bd6 16 Qe2 Bd7 17
Bd2 +=.
15 Bh6 Re8 16 Ne5 (D)
Black to play
Grishchuk – Gelfand
Linares 2010
11...Nb6 12 Bd3
The bishop retreats to the more active diagonal,
exerting pressure on the h7-pawn.
12 Bb3 Bd7 13 Ne5 Bc6 shows one way for Black
to neutralize White’s activity. Black prepares to
block White’s b3-bishop by placing a piece on d5.
The pawn-structure after 14 Nxc6?! bxc6 is at least
OK for Black; the c6-pawn is isolated but it cannot
be attacked easily and helps control the d5-square.
In addition, it opens the b-file for Black’s rook.
Black to play
White has also exchanged one of his most fero-
cious attacking pieces, the knight on e5. Grishchuk dunks the knight into the attack.
12...Nbd5 13 Nxd5 16...Bd7 17 Qf3 Qe7 18 Be4
White trades the knights, after which Black must White plans to take on d5 in order to gain more
either change the pawn-structure or allow the white control over the dark squares on the kingside.
queen access to the e4-square. 13 Bd2, defending However, 18 Bc4! was a more precise way to ac-
the knight and planning Ne5, is also possible, while complish the same goal. The bishop is better
13 Bg5!? Nxc3 14 bxc3 Bxc3 15 Rac1 is an inter- placed as it will not come under attack from ...f5.
esting pawn sacrifice, activating the pieces as After 18...Rad8 19 Ng4 f5 20 Ne5 += White has
quickly as possible. provoked a weakening and stands better.
13...Nxd5 18...Bc6?!
13...Qxd5 does not solve Black’s problems, as 14 With 18...Rad8! Black plans on attacking White’s
Bg5 Be7 15 Rfd1 += followed by Bc4 and d5 gives knight with ...f6, as Ng4 is now met with ...f5,
White strong play. The queen is not the best piece forking the two pieces. 19 Rfd1 (19 Bxd5 exd5 is
to blockade the isolated d-pawn! fine for Black, as 20 Qxd5?! Be6 21 Qe4 f6 22 Nf3
Bd5 =+ leaves Black with more than enough com-
13...exd5 14 Ne5 may be objectively level, but
pensation for the pawn) 19...f6 20 Nxd7 Rxd7 =.
White has some pressure. The plan is to support the
e5-knight by playing f4, creating some attacking 19 Bxd5
chances.
230
White did not have to capture on d5 right away. 19

Rfc1 Rac8 20 h4 += would also have put Black
under some positional pressure.
19...Bxd5 20 Qf4 (D)
White to play
23 Rfe1
White develops the rook before continuing the
pawn advance. Other moves:
Black to play
a) 23 h5 is not ideal as after 23...gxh5! White has
White’s light-squared bishop has served its purpose no way to win back the pawn immediately: 24 f3
by causing the weakness ...g6. Although White has Qf6 25 Qg3+ Kh8 26 Bg5 Qg7 27 Qh4 Bxe5 28
given up the bishop-pair, he has gained excellent dxe5 Kg8 29 Bf6 Qg6 .
dark-square control on the kingside. The bishop is b) 23 Qg3 deserved attention, however, preparing
extremely misplaced on b4 as it does not play any h5 as well as tactical ideas featuring Bf4. After
role in the battle for the kingside dark squares. 23...Qf6 (23...Kh8 24 Bf4 leaves Black no good
20...f5 defence to Nxg6+) 24 a5 += White has a firm grip
on the position, while Black lacks counterplay.
White was threatening Bg5 followed by Bf6.
20...f6 allows White to win the pawn after 21 Ng4 23...Qf6 24 Rc3
Kf7 22 Bg5 Bd6 23 Qxf6+ Qxf6 24 Bxf6 h5 25 White threatens to bring the rook to the kingside,
Be5 += though Black does maintain good drawing where it would be a very strong attacking piece.
chances. Black cannot permit this to happen.
20...Bd6 21 Bg5 Qf8 22 Qh4 Bxe5 23 dxe5 += 24...Rxc3 25 bxc3 Rc8 26 Qg3
looks extremely dangerous but might be playable The threat of h5 is now renewed. White would like
for Black. It is not easy for White to bring more to bring the rook into the attack, but after 26 Re3?
pieces into the attack and Black’s queen does a Bxe5 there is no good recapture. The otherwise
good job holding the kingside. ideal Rxe5 leaves the c-pawn hanging.
21 h4! 26...Be4
A typical attacking method by now if you absorbed Gelfand blocks the e-file so White can no longer
the lessons from Chapter 9! White plans to weaken capture the knight with the rook.
the g6-pawn by playing h5.
27 h5 Bxe5 28 dxe5 Qf7
21...Rac8 22 Rac1 Bd6 (D)
Black has forced the capture on e5 with the pawn,
but has allowed White many moves to build up the
attack.
29 Re3 (D)
231
pawns: 34 Bxg7+ Kxg7 35 Qg5+ Kf7 36 Qxf4+

Ke8 37 Qh6 +–.
34 Qe7
White delivers forced checkmate.
34...Qe4 35 Qf6 1-0
As a summary, it is important for the side who has

the isolated d-pawn to play as energetically as pos-
sible. Although the pawn is a long-term weakness,
it offers a lot of dynamic play in the shorter term.
Playing with pace and tempo is key, since if the
defending side is given time to complete develop-
Black to play ment, the d-pawn will come back to haunt us!
White threatens Qh4 followed by hxg6 and Rh3.
29...Kh8?
The decisive mistake in a very difficult position.
The king is now placed in a much more precarious
situation. 29...Qe8 +/–, opening up Black’s second
rank for the rook, was a better defence.
30 Qh4 +–
White threatens to open the h-file with hxg6, to
which Black has no adequate response.
30...gxh5
It is too late to go back with 30...Kg8 31 hxg6 hxg6
32 Rh3 +–.
30...g5 31 Bxg5 h6 32 Bxh6 Kh7 33 Rg3 Rg8 pre-
vents checkmate, but White is then two pawns up
for nothing.
31 Rg3
White threatens Rg7 at the right moment, winning
the queen.
31...Bd5 32 a5!
A nice move, essentially putting Black in
zugzwang! 32 Rg7? is premature, since after
32...Qxg7 33 Bxg7+ Kxg7 +/– Black is able to
generate counterplay along the c-file.
32...f4
Black had no other good moves. The rook, queen
and bishop have to stay put.
33 Rg7 Qf5
33...Qxg7 was best, but the endgame is obviously
hopeless. White’s queen takes all the kingside
232
Exercises
233
234
1) Gelfand – Bocharov 2) Bacrot – A.S. Rasmussen

Berlin blitz 2015 Berlin rapid 2015
16 Ne5! 20 Bg5!
One typical idea is to sacrifice the positionally- Removing the key defender of Black’s position.
weak d-pawn in exchange for the bishop-pair and
20...Bg7 21 Bxf6?!
superior piece activity.
21 Nxf7! Kxf7 22 Bxf6 Bxf6 23 Qxh7+ +– was a
16...Bxd2
more precise move-order, which would transpose
16...Bxe5 17 dxe5 Qxe5 18 Bc3 Qh5 19 Qd6 Nd5 to the game.
20 f4 offers White a promising attack with ideas
21...Bxf6 22 Nxf7 Kxf7?
such as f5 and Rf3.
22...Bxd4? loses in amazing fashion: 23 Ng5
17 Qxd2 Rd8 18 Qf4 Bd7
Bxf2+ 24 Kh1 Rc7 25 Rxe6 Rxe6 26 Bc4!! Nxc4
18...Qd6 was a better try, although White is still 27 Rd8+ Kg7 28 Nxe6+ Kf6 29 Nxc7 Qxc7 30
doing great after 19 Rc3!, the point being Rf8+ Kg7 31 Rxf2 +– is a remarkable line.
19...Qxd4?? 20 Rd3 +–.
22...Rc7! +/– leaves White much better, but at least
19 Rc3! Black can stay in the game.
The rook is thirsty for some blood. 23 Qxh7+ Kf8 24 Ne4?
19...Qd6? This blows the win. 24 Bxg6 Re7 25 Qh6+ Bg7
Losing on the spot, but Black was close to lost in (25...Rg7 26 Ne4 Bxe4 27 Rxe4 +–) 26 Qf4+ Kg8
any case. 27 Bh7+! Kxh7 28 Qh4+ Kg8 29 Qxe7 +–.
20 Bxh7+! Kxh7 24...Rc7 25 Qxg6 Bxd4 26 Nf6 Bxf6??
20...Kf8 21 Ng6+ +–. 26...Rd8! makes the position extremely unclear.
21 Rh3+ Kg8 22 Rh8+ Kxh8 23 Nxf7+ +– 27 Qxf6+ Rf7 28 Qh8+ Ke7 29 Qh4+ Rf6 30 Bg6
Rg8 31 Qb4+ 1-0
and Gelfand won easily.
235
White has lost the exchange and Black still pos-

sesses the initiative.
29 Nxc1 Nf6 30 d6 Qc6 31 Na2 Qxd6 32 Bxb4
Qb6 33 f3 Qf2 0-1
Black to play
3) Khuzman – Aronian
European Clubs Cup, Plovdiv 2010
18...Bxd4!
It turns out White’s blockade on d4 is much more
feeble than it looks.
Black to play
19 Rxd4
After 19 exd4? Ne6 20 Qd3 Nxd4! –/+ Black wins 4) Renet – Conquest
a pawn, since the knight is taboo: 21 Qxd4?? Clichy 2001
Rxe1+! –+.
White had just played 14 Nf3-d4?!, unwisely drift-
19...Ne6 20 Rd2?! ing away from his king’s aid...
20 Rh4 is visually appalling, but was the only at- 14...Qg5!
tempt to deny Black’s knight the key f4-square.
Sensing the weakness of White’s king, Black’s
20...Rc4 21 Rxc4 dxc4 22 Bxb7 Qxb7 seems like a
queen immediately joins the hunt.
slightly better position for Black because of his
queenside pawn-majority. 15 Nxc6?!
20...d4! 15 Kh1, preventing Black’s plan of ...Bh3, is a bet-
ter defence.
Once this thematic advance is played, it is usually
bad news for the defender. 15...bxc6 16 Bd4
21 Bxb7 Qxb7 22 exd4 Ne4 23 Rdd1 Nf4! 16 Rxc6?! is smashed by 16...Nxf2!, a typical sac-
rifice to undermine the e3-pawn. 17 Kxf2 (17 Rxf2
Black’s knights dominate the board.
Qxe3 18 Nb6 Bxb6 19 Rxb6 Qxb6 –/+ is a better
24 d5 a5! try for White) 17...Qxe3+ 18 Ke1 Bg4 19 Rc2 d4
Preparing to kick the key defender away from c3. 20 Bc1 Qe4 21 Rf4 Qxg2 22 Qd3 Qh1+ 23 Rf1
Qxh2 –+.
25 Qb3 b4 26 axb4 axb4 27 Na2
16...Bh3 17 Bf3
Or: 27 Nxe4 Rxc1 28 Rxc1 Ne2+ 29 Kh1 Nxc1 30
Qc4 Qc8! –+; 27 g3 Nxc3 28 Bxc3 Ne2+ 29 Kg2 Now instead of 17...Bxd4?! Black had a much
Nxc1 30 Rxc1 Qb8 31 Bd2 Rxc1 32 Bxc1 Qb7 –+. more menacing attacking continuation in 17...Re6!,
with great mating prospects.
27...Ne2+ 28 Kh1 Nxc1
236
5) Bronzik – M. Gurevich 6) Rodshtein – Kotanjian

Metz 2005 Moscow 2008
26...Be5! 20 Nxf7!
The idea is to destroy White’s blockade on d4, af- 20 Nxd5! is also strong, though not as convincing
ter which his defences will rapidly deteriorate. as the text-move. 20...Bxd5 (20...Nxd5? 21 Nxf7!)
21 Ba4, with Qh4 to follow, leaves Black under
27 Nxe5?!
serious pressure.
27 Nh4! Bxd4 28 Bxg4 Qxg4 29 exd4 (29 Qxd4
Qe6 gives Black the initiative) 29...Qd7 =+ was a 20...Kxf7 21 Ne4 Qb6?!
better try for White, although Black is positionally The other retreat was slightly more tenacious:
much better. 21...Qd7 22 Bxf6 Bxf6 23 Qxh7+ Bg7 24 Ng5+
Kf6 25 Rxc8 Bxc8 26 Qh4 Rh8 27 Qg4 Rh5 28 h4
27...Nxe5 28 Qd1 Nxf2!
Rxg5 29 hxg5+ Ke7 30 Qe4 +/–.
This blows White away.
22 Bxf6 Bxf6?
29 Kxf2 Qxh2+ 30 Ke1 Qxg3+ 31 Kd2 Bxe2 32
22...Nxf6 was Black’s last hope, although after 23
Kxe2
Ng5+ Kg7 24 Nxe6+ Kh8 25 Qh6 Nh5! (25...Bf8
Or: 32 Qxe2 Nc4+ 33 Kd3 Qg6+ –+; 32 Nxe2 26 Nxf8 Rxf8 27 Rxc8 Rxc8 28 Re7 +– forces
Nf3+ 33 Kd3 Qg6+ 34 e4 Qxe4#. Black to give up the rook with 28...Rc1+) 26 Rxc8
32...Qg2+ 33 Ke1 Qe4 34 Ke2 Rc4 Rxc8 27 g4! Qc6 28 d5 Qd6 29 gxh5 Rg8 30 Qf4
gxh5+ 31 Kf1 Qxf4 32 Nxf4 +/– White should be
Black’s pieces dominate and with ...Re8 coming, able to convert his material advantage into victory.
White has nothing left to fight for.
23 Rxc8 Bxc8
35 Rxc4 dxc4 36 Bc3
23...Rxc8 24 Qxh7+ Kf8 25 Bxd5 exd5 26 Nxf6
36 Qc2 Rxd4 –+. +–.
36...Qg2+ 37 Ke1 Nd3+ 0-1 24 Bxd5 exd5 25 Ng5+! Bxg5
25...Kf8 26 Qh6+ Bg7 27 Rxe8+ Kxe8 28 Qxg7 +–
is hopeless for Black.
26 Qxh7+ Kf6 27 Rxe8 1-0
Black resigned as there is no defence to the mating
attack beginning with Qh8+.
237
In return for the weak d-pawn, Black has obtained

complete domination over the light squares and a
long-term attack against White’s king.
Black to play
7) Brestian – Fta nik

European Team Ch, Batumi 1999
18...d4!
White to play
Both sides should always be looking out for this
essential thematic advance in isolated d-pawn posi- 8) Le Roux – Estrada Nieto
tions! Black’s pieces spring to life after this move. Gibraltar 2011
19 exd4 Black is threatening ...b4, winning a piece, so the
Or: question is how White should respond.
a) 19 Bxb7? is refuted by 19...Qxb7 20 Nxd4 16 Rd3!

Nfg4! 21 h3 (21 Ncb5 also runs into disaster after Play in the spirit of isolated d-pawn positions! The
21...Nf3+ 22 Nxf3 Qxf3 23 Rf1 Rxc1 24 Bxc1 initiative is above all else; in this case, even at the
Nxf2 –+) 21...Rxd4! 22 exd4 Nf3+ 23 Kf1 Ngh2+! cost of a piece. With this rook-lift, the strength of
(the knight venture deep into the enemy camp pays White’s attack increases exponentially.
great dividends) 24 Ke2 Nxd4+ 25 Rxd4 Qf3+ –+.
16...b4
b) 19 Nxd4 Bxg2 20 Kxg2 Qb7+ 21 e4! (necessary
Black cannot defend with 16...h6 due to 17 Bxh6!
in order to open the third rank for the queen; 21
gxh6 18 Qxh6 +–, when Rg3+ signals the end for
Kg1? Nfg4! transposes to line ‘a’, while 21 f3?
Black.
Rxd4! 22 exd4 Qxf3+ 23 Kg1 Nfg4 gives Black a
decisive attack) 21...Nxe4 22 Nxe4 Rxc1 23 Bxc1 17 Rh3! g6
Qxe4+ 24 f3 Qd5 and now 25 Bg5! gains a tempo 17...bxc3 is annihilated by 18 Bxh7+! Kf8
on Black’s rook and prepares to break the d-file pin (18...Nxh7 19 Qxf7+ Kh8 20 Ng6#) 19 Bh6!, when
following Rd2. After the long continuation Black can do little to stop the forthcoming Bxg7+.
25...Qxb3 26 axb3 Rd5 27 Rd2 Bf8 28 b5 Bb4 29
Re2 Rxd4 30 Bf6 Rd3 31 Bxe5 Rxb3 32 Bf6 Kf8 17...h5 is the engines’ initial suggestion, but it is
White is a pawn down but has good chances to quickly refuted by 18 Rxh5 bxc3 19 Bh7+ Kf8 20
draw because of his active pieces and the fact that Bh6 +–.
the b5-pawn holds back both of Black’s queenside 18 Nxf7
pawns.
18 Rxh7! was even easier than the game continua-
19...Nf3+ 20 Bxf3 tion. After 18...bxc3 (18...Kxh7 19 Nxf7 Qc7 20
20 Kh1? Ng4 –+. Qh4+ Kg8 21 Bxg6 +–) 19 Bxg6! fxg6 20 Rh6 +–
Black has no way to meet Rxg6+ as 20...Be4 21
20...Bxf3 21 Rd3 Ba8! –/+ Qh4 +– results in mate.
238
18...Qc7
18...Kxf7 19 Rxh7+ Kg8 20 Bxg6 Nxh7 21 Qf7+
Kh8 22 Qxh7#.
19 Ne5! bxc3 20 bxc3!
Black is helpless against the threat of Qh4 with a
sacrifice on g6 to blow up the kingside.
20...Rf8 21 Qh4! Bd8 22 Bxg6! Qg7 23 Bh6 Nh5
24 Qg4 Qxh6 25 Rxh5 Qxh5 26 Bxh5+ Kh8 27
Nf7+ Rxf7 28 Bxf7 Bf6 29 Re1 Bd5 30 h3 Nc4 31
Rxe6 Bxe6 32 Qxe6 Be7 1-0
We hope you have found this book both instructive

and pleasant to read. Attacking chess should cer-
tainly be the daring player’s bread and butter; with
enough practice and experience to get accommo-
dated to this way of playing chess, attaining levels
of chess mastery is definitely not a pipe dream. So
without further ado, we encourage you, dear read-
er, to start producing some brilliancies on the
board.
After all, life is too short to play ‘boring’ chess!
239
Index of Games
Index of Games
When a player’s name appears in bold, that player had White. Otherwise the FIRST-NAMED PLAYER was
White. Italic signifies an exercise.
ADAMS – Leko; Sokolov, I. BOK – Stupak

ADLY – Bologan; Lazni ka BOLOGAN – Adly
AKOPIAN – Ivanchuk BORTNYK – Kamsky
ALEKHINE – Monticelli BOTVINNIK – Smyslov; Vidmar
ALEKSANDROV – Bareev BREGADZE – Song
ALEKSEEV – Svidler BRESTIAN – Fta nik
ALEXANDER – Pachman BRONZIK – Gurevich, M.
ALMASI, Z. – Khalifman; Movsesian; Movsesian BROWNE – Karpov
ANAND – Aronian; Kariakin BU XIANGZHI – Harikrishna; Kariakin
ANDERSSON – Fischer BUKAL – Donev
ANDREIKIN – Siugirov CAPABLANCA – Bernstein, O.; Tartakower
ANDRUET – Spassky CARLSEN – Hossain, E.; Kariakin; Ponomariov; So
ANTIPOV – Van Foreest, J. CARUANA – Giri; Kasparov; Kasparov
ARAVINDH – Xiong CHEPARINOV – Navara
ARONIAN – Anand; Ivanchuk; Khuzman CHERNIAEV – Oganian
AROSHIDZE – Jobava CONQUEST – Renet
ARSOVI – Stojanovi CVITAN – Movsesian
BACROT – Rasmussen, A.S. DAULYTE – Krush
BAGATUROV – Lima DE SOUZA MENDES – Fischer
BAREEV – Aleksandrov; Piskov; Timman DEBASHIS – Topalov
BARTEL – Jakubowski DING LIREN – Kuderinov
BEERDSEN – Ernst, S. DINGER – Socko
BENJAMIN – Kamsky DONCHENKO, AL. – Naroditsky
BENKO – Fischer DONEV – Bukal
BERG, E. – Huschenbeth DREEV – Tiviakov
BERKES – Polgar, J. DU – Song
BERNSTEIN, O. – Capablanca DUDA – Leko
BOCHAROV – Gelfand EHLVEST – Short
240
EL DEBS – Leitão IVANCHUK – Akopian; Aronian; Volkov; Yusupov;

ELIANOV – Khismatullin; Paunovi Yusupov
ERENBURG – Harmon-Vellotti JAKUBOWSKI – Bartel
ERNST, S. – Beerdsen JOBAVA – Aroshidze; Mikaelyan; Ponomariov
ESTRADA NIETO – Le Roux KALMANOK – Kotov

KAMSKY – Benjamin; Bortnyk; So
FEDORCHUK – Sokolov, I.
KAN – Riumin
FELLER, S. – Motylev
FILIPPOV – Khalifman KARIAKIN – Anand; Bu Xiangzhi; Carlsen; Giri
FISCHER – Andersson; Benko; De Souza Mendes; KARPOV – Browne; Kasparov; Smyslov;

Korchnoi; Larsen; Letelier; Taimanov; Timman; Unzicker; Vachier-
Mjagmasuren Lagrave
KASPAROV – Caruana; Caruana; Karpov;
FRIEDEL, J. – Song
Movsesian; Piket; Ribli; Short; So;
FROLIANOV – Kornev Sunye Neto
FTA NIK – Brestian KAZHGALEEV – Romanov, E.
GASHIMOV – Grishchuk KHALIFMAN – Almasi, Z.; Filippov
GELFAND – Bocharov; Giri; Grishchuk; Van Wely; KHISMATULLIN – Elianov
Van Wely
KHUZMAN – Aronian
GIRI – Caruana; Gelfand; Kariakin; Topalov
KISS, P. – Kotronias
GLÜCKSBERG – Najdorf
KLIMOV – Solozhenkin
GONZALEZ VIDAL – Hansen, E.; Wei Yi
KOKAREV – Nepomniashchy
GRABINSKY, A. – Song
KORCHNOI – Fischer; Spassky; Tal; Wolff
GRANDELIUS – Naiditsch
KORNEV – Frolianov
GREENFELD – Pashikian
KOTANJIAN – Rodshtein
GRISHCHUK – Gashimov; Gelfand
KOTOV – Kalmanok
GUREVICH, M. – Bronzik
KOTRONIAS – Kiss, P.
GUSEINOV – Timofeev
KRAMNIK – Topalov
GUSTAFSSON – Naiditsch
KRASENKOW – Hector; Nakamura
HANSEN, E. – Gonzalez Vidal
KRUSH – Daulyte
HARIKRISHNA – Bu Xiangzhi
KUDERINOV – Ding Liren
HARMON-VELLOTTI – Erenburg
LARSEN – Fischer; Spassky; Tal
HECTOR – Krasenkow
LAZNI KA – Adly
HOSSAIN, E. – Carlsen
LE QUANG – Nepomniashchy; Ni Hua
HOU YIFAN – Svidler; Zimina
LE ROUX – Estrada Nieto
HUSCHENBETH – Berg, E.
LEITÃO – El Debs
ILIUSHIN – Zhigalko
LEKO – Adams; Duda; Shirov; Svidler
ILIVITSKY – Ravinsky
LETELIER – Fischer
241
Index of Games
LIMA – Bagaturov PONOMARIOV – Carlsen; Jobava

MAGHSOODLOO – So PORTISCH – Spassky
MAIOROV – Miroshnichenko POTKIN – Van Kampen
MAMEDYAROV – Yakovenko PREOTU – Troff; Vilikanov
MIKAELYAN – Jobava QI JINGXUAN – Vyzhmanavin
MIKHALEVSKI, V. – Plotkin RADULSKI – Milov, L.
MILOV, L. – Radulski RAPPORT, J. – Muzychuk, A.
MIROSHNICHENKO – Maiorov; Mochalov; Roiz RASMUSSEN, A.S. – Bacrot
MJAGMASUREN – Fischer RAVINSKY – Ilivitsky
MOCHALOV – Miroshnichenko RENET – Conquest
MOHRLOK – Tal RIBLI – Kasparov; Smyslov
MONNEY – Westerberg RIUMIN – Kan
MONTICELLI – Alekhine RODSHTEIN – Kotanjian
MOTYLEV – Feller, S.; Wang Hao ROIZ – Miroshnichenko
MOVSESIAN – Almasi, Z.; Almasi, Z.; Cvitan; ROMANOV, E. – Kazhgaleev
Kasparov; Shirov
ROTLEWI – Rubinstein
MUZYCHUK, A. – Rapport, J. ROZENTALIS – Sashikiran
NAIDITSCH – Grandelius; Gustafsson; Zumsande
RUBINSTEIN – Nimzowitsch; Rotlewi
NAJDORF – Glücksberg
SAMSONKIN – Nakamura
NAKAMURA – Krasenkow; Samsonkin; Troff
SASHIKIRAN – Rozentalis
NARODITSKY – Donchenko, Al.
SCHLECHTER – Teichmann
NAVARA – Cheparinov
SEVILLANO – Song
NEPOMNIASHCHY – Kokarev; Le Quang SHI – Song
NI HUA – Le Quang
SHIROV – Leko; Movsesian; Vaganian
NIMZOWITSCH – Rubinstein
SHORT – Ehlvest; Kasparov; Timman
OBAFUNMILAYO – Song
SIUGIROV – Andreikin
OGANIAN – Cherniaev
SMYSLOV – Botvinnik; Karpov; Ribli
PACHMAN – Alexander
SO – Carlsen; Kamsky; Kasparov; Maghsoodloo
PASHIKIAN – Greenfeld
SOCKO – Dinger
PAUNOVI – Elianov
SOKOLOV, I. – Adams; Fedorchuk; Polgar, J.
PETROSIAN – Suetin; Vasiukov
SOLOZHENKIN – Klimov
PIKET – Kasparov; Winants SONG – Bregadze; Du; Friedel, J.; Grabinsky, A.;
PISKOV – Bareev Obafunmilayo; Sevillano; Shi; Wang, R.
PLOTKIN – Mikhalevski, V. SPASSKY – Andruet; Korchnoi; Larsen; Portisch
POGONINA – The World SPIELMANN – Tartakower
POLGAR, J. – Berkes; Sokolov, I.; Topalov STOJANOVI – Arsovi
242
STUPAK – Bok YUSUPOV – Ivanchuk; Ivanchuk

SUETIN – Petrosian ZHIGALKO – Iliushin
SUNYE NETO – Kasparov ZIMINA – Hou Yifan
SUTOVSKY – Van Wely ZUMSANDE – Naiditsch
SVIDLER – Alekseev; Hou Yifan; Leko
TAIMANOV – Karpov
TAL – Korchnoi; Larsen; Mohrlok
TARTAKOWER – Capablanca; Spielmann
TEICHMANN – Schlechter
THE WORLD – Pogonina
TIMMAN – Bareev; Karpov; Short
TIMOFEEV – Guseinov
TIVIAKOV – Dreev
TKACHEV – Watson, W.
TOPALOV – Debashis; Giri; Kramnik; Polgar, J.
TROFF – Nakamura; Preotu
UNZICKER – Karpov
VACHIER-LAGRAVE – Karpov
VAGANIAN – Shirov
VAN FOREEST, J. – Antipov
VAN KAMPEN – Potkin
VAN WELY – Gelfand; Gelfand; Sutovsky
VASIUKOV – Petrosian
VIDMAR – Botvinnik
VILIKANOV – Preotu
VOLKOV – Ivanchuk
VYZHMANAVIN – Qi Jingxuan
WANG, R. – Song
WANG HAO – Motylev
WATSON, W. – Tkachev
WEI YI – Gonzalez Vidal
WESTERBERG – Monney
WINANTS – Piket
WOLFF – Korchnoi
XIONG – Aravindh
YAKOVENKO – Mamedyarov
243
Index of Openings
The numbers refer to the chapter in which the game can be found, though naturally clicking on the link
will take you directly to the game or piece of analysis in question.
Dutch Defence: 11
English Opening: 1, 11, 11
King’s Indian: 7
Modern Defence: 1
Pirc Defence: 11
Ruy Lopez: 1
Sicilian Defence: 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2
Copyright Information
First published in printed form in the UK by Gambit Publications Ltd in 2017
First Kindle edition published by Gambit Publications Ltd in 2017
Copyright © Michael Song and Razvan Preotu 2017
The right of Michael Song and Razvan Preotu to be identified as the authors of this work has been assert-
ed in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval
system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or
otherwise), without prior permission of the publisher. In particular, no part of this publication or images
thereof may be transmitted via the Internet or uploaded to a website without the publisher’s permission.
Any person who does any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prose-
cution and civil claims for damage.
ISBN-13: 978-1-911465-20-1
ISBN-10: 1-911465-20-1
(Printed edition: ISBN-13: 978-1-911465-16-4;

ISBN-10: 1-911465-16-3).
Gambit Publications Ltd, 50 Freshwater Road, Chadwell Heath, London RM8 1RX, England.
E-mail: [email protected]
Website (regularly updated): www.gambitbooks.com
Edited by Graham Burgess

Kindle edition prepared by Graham Burgess
Cover illustration by Wolff Morrow
Gambit Publications Ltd

Directors: Dr John Nunn GM, Murray Chandler GM and Graham Burgess FM
German Editor: Petra Nunn WFM
About the Authors
The authors are the two highest-rated Canadian juniors. Razvan Preotu earned the Grandmaster title in
2016 at the age of 17. The most notable result during his meteoric rise was at the 2016 Calgary Interna-
tional, which he won outright ahead of a strong international field including five GMs. Michael Song be-
came an International Master by winning the North American Under-18 Championship. He has represent-
ed Canada many times, winning a bronze medal at the 2011 World Youth Championship. His trainer is
super-grandmaster Evgeny Bareev.

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The Chess Attacker’s Handbook

Michael Song and Razvan Preotu

With a Foreword by Evgeny Bareev

Navigate the hidden paths of the chessboard to strike attacking gold!

1: Attacking the Uncastled King (Michael Song) 8

Index of Games 240

1: Attacking the Uncastled King

20...Nb6 21 Bh4 8 h3 Bd7

The rule of thumb when attacking the uncastled

24 Nxg7+ Qxg7 25 Qe6+ Ne7 26 Bg5 +–) 20

15...cxb4?! 21...Qb7 22 Rxc6! Nxc6 23 Qe6+ Ne7 24 Bc5

One of the common misconceptions many players

Do you see the win?

If Black now retreats the knight, a later ...h4 can

A typical idea in 1 e4 e5 openings, to bring the

– a perfect example of even super-grandmasters

How should Black continue? White is not threaten-

Now what should Black play? A true attacker will

Exercise 1: White to play Exercise 3: White to play

Exercise 2: White to play Exercise 4: White to play

Exercise 5: White to play Exercise 7: White to play

Exercise 6: White to play Exercise 8: White to play

White to play White to play

1) Kotov – Kalmanok 2) This is opening analysis

White to play White to play

3) Samsonkin – Nakamura 4) Benjamin – Kamsky

17 Ne6! This was a position from Joel Benjamin’s book,

White to play White to play

5) Hou Yifan – Zimina 6) Bareev – Piskov

10 dxe5! 24 Qa4+ Kf8 25 Qa8+ Be8 26 Nd2!

White to play White to play

7) Z. Almasi – Movsesian 8) Fedorchuk – I. Sokolov

18 Rxe6! 15 Nxe5! Nxe5?

11 Bxe6 fxe6 12 0-0-0 is possible, but the doubled

factors with opposite-side castling. In fact, I would

19 Bxf6? would be a serious mistake due to

21 g5 Nh5 22 Rxh5! (D) The attack is decisive.

king is now safe and material is even) 16...fxe6

to put up some queenside resistance. 21...b4 22

Already White is on the defensive. The engines

The first big mistake, and White is already lost. 21

Black to play White to play

An instructive retreat. White’s knight comes to 15 g6!

Black to play White to play

Black to play White to play

Tal’s idea was to bring Black’s king closer to the 30 Nc3!

lactic move 13 a3! was perhaps even stronger, with

10...a6 11 0-0-0 Nxd4?! 13...b4? gets smashed by 14 Bxg7! Kxg7

Black to play Black to play

White has the very deep idea of doubling rooks on 17...exd5?

Black has survived the attack, but his position is

1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 a6 White to play

Both sides are throwing full swings at each other!

Black’s bishop is hanging and Nc6 is also a threat.

Forced, as the c2-knight is too valuable a defender.

With forced mate to follow. An incredible game

Our final example in this chapter is a barnburner

5 d3 Bg7 6 h3 b6!? 13 Kb1 Nd7 14 Ng4