The Magic of Chess Tactics : Chess Discourses : Practice and Analysis : A Training Book for Advanced Players. 9781888690149, 1888690143

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The Magic of Chess Tactics © Copyright 2002 Claus Dieter Meyer & Karsten MUller All Rights Reserved ISBN: 1-888690-14-3

Published by: Russell Enterprises, Inc. P.O. Box 30

Milford, CT 06460 USA http://www.chesscafe.com hwr @chesscafe.com Cover design by OutExcel! Corp., Al Lawrence, President; Jami Anson, Art Director.

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Foreword by Alexei Shirov

3

Introduction

4

Acknowledgements

6

Code System

7

Photo Credits

7

About the Authors

8

A) Middlegame Tactics AI) Ta c tical Motifs AlA) Pin an d Cros s P i n

10

Exercises/Solutions E 1.1-1.4

14

A 1 B) Knig h t Moves

18

Exercises/Solutions E2.1-2.2

18

-

Al C) Trapped Piecesl

Off

19

Exercises/Solutions E3.1-3.2

21

A2) Sacrificial Attacks

22

Exercises/Solutions E4.1-4. 7

60

A3)

63

Loose Pieces D rop

Magic by

the M agician

Exercises/Solutions E5 .1-5.6

A4)

'ft1 + .£\

Duo

66 69

Exercises/Solutions E6.1-6.2

74

A5) Attack and Defense

76

A6) Conj unction of Tactical Methods

133

Exercises/Sol utions E7.1-7.5

1 44

A 7) The B i shop Pair

147

A8) Pawn Levers and B reakthroughs

150

Exerc ises/Sol utions E 8 . 1 - 8 . 2

153

A9) Combinations

155

Exercises/Solutions E9.1-9.8

159

B) Tactical Endgames B I ) Opposite-Colored B i sh ops B I A ) With Rooks and/or Queens

164

B I B ) Pure Opposite-Colored B i shop Endings

174

B 2 ) Same-Colored B i shops

179

B 3) Fortress or N ot?

1 92

Exercises/Solutions

El 0.1-10.2

207

B4) The B i shop Pair

228

Exercises/Sol utions E 11.1-11.3

231

B 5 ) Rook + M inor P iece End ings B5A) Rook Endings

233

B 5 B ) Rook + Minor Piece Endings

243

Exerc ises/Solutions E 1 2 . 1 - 1 2 . 2

247

B6) Three Cunning Queen End ings

249

B ibliography

252

Index of Players

254

Foreword Still the World of Magic When 1 was asked by my good friend GM Karsten M Ulier to write a foreword for his and CO. Meyer's new book about tactics, I thought that noth ing would be easier. Combinations and tactics, the books of Alexander Koblentz, the games of Mikhai l Tal - all these were synonymous with my first steps i n chess. So, I start reading through the present book, which has almost same name as the Magic World of" Combinations by Koblentz ( issued more than two decades ago in the Soviet U nion). And . . . what a surpris e ! I t is n o longer a matter of s i m p l e tactical motifs a n d combinations b u t in fact deep analysis and refutations of concepts that seemed to be axiomatic by definition of tact ical play. S uddenly the reader is forced to look at everyth ing with a critical eye, eval uating which tactics are erroneous and wh ich are good . But times have changed . The authors take us from the world of magical dreams to cruel real ity with impeccable analysi s by humans and computers. When I started playing chess, I believed in combinati ons and highly complicated tactical play. Time went by, 1 became a strong grandmaster and some of my v iews on chess were changed by down-to-earth p l ayers. Computers got involved and refuted other ideas. However, in the heat of battle I was abl e to sometimes find things that neither computers nor humans could refute. I am proud of having kept faith in my childhood ideals of complications and tactics. And now having the manuscript of this new book in front of me I ask myself - do genu ine tactics really exist? The answer is Ye.'I"! You need to seek perfection. Perfection is brilliancy. My move Ah3! against Topalov (sorry for being immodest) is bri lliant because it's the best move

in the position and in fact it is the only move to win. And when in this book I see the analysis of the game Alekhine-van Mindeno (which completely shocked me at first) 1 realise that fih2! is more brilliant than fihS because fih2! lets White continue his attack while fihS even loses against Black's best defense. I have come to realise that there are basically two types of chess tactics. First, simple kinds of combinations you need to know when you start to play chess. 1 sti l l believe they are the basis of everything. Things that computers see in a half-second. B ut the book is not about them. For those simple tactics, old Koblentz books are more than enough. This book is about complicated chess tactics, the kind you sometimes need hours of analysis just to discover the truth of the position. It's hard to see and calculate perfectly on the board; one needs intuition, imagination and precision.

It's not easy to develop these q ualities but I believe that the present book, ful l of examples and high quality analyses, w i l l help you achieve that obj ective. Welcome to the magical world of tactics ! Alexei Shirov, Riga October 2002 3

Introduction "Chess is 99 percent tactics." This opinion of the German chess master Richard Teichmann ( 1 868- 1 92 5 ) is certai nly contestable, but every chess friend knows that permanent tactical vigilance at any stage of the game is of decisive importance. But what does the term ' tactics' actually mean'! In a modem dictionary of chess you may read a definition l i ke thi s : "Tactics is the theory of the reali sation of specific aims by short term operations based on concrete and c lear variations." (quoted from Meyers Schach Lexikon by Otto Borik and others) The English Grandmaster Dr. John Nunn defines it more comprehens i vely thereby emphasizing the calculation of variations in endgames: "Tactics is something far more general than such methods l ike forks, pins, discovered attacks, skewers etc . , w h i c h are more properly described as combinations, would indicate. We can say, that an idea is tactical if it is necessary to calculate specific variations to ensure its correctness. With this definition, it is clear that tactics can occur at any stage of the game. Indeed, simplified endgames are especially prone to be tactical, since i n such positions it i s possible t o calculate every worthwhile variation a n d hence to be absolutely certain which is the best mov e . " ( from Nunn ' s Tactical Chess Endings). B ut, in chess, matters are rarely simple and c1earcut. In practice tactics often exist in close conjunction with technique and then these elements cannot do without each other. To determine which element i s prevalent at one particular moment is rarely possible. On the other hand it is difficult to define the term 'technique' in chess as it tends to contain both strategical and tactical elements. Let's start with two defmitions: "Technique is the knowledge and experience that enables a player to achieve a win mechanically and without undue exertion. The possession of technique is one of the fundamental differences between the expert and the amateur." (from An illustrated Dictionary of Chess by Edward R. Brace). "Technique is the awareness ofthe functions ofthe pieces and of their peculiar resources . . . and methods of exploiting these things in recurring situations." (from Technique in Chess by Gerald Abrahams) General ly the subj ect of technique consi sts of methodical treatments and l ines of direction in order to exploit material/positional advantages or to prevent them. The German master Kurt Richter ( 1 900- 1 969) once wrote : "Techni que in chess i s the art o f what c a n be learned," which seems t o be a good attempt t o define the term . Furthermore, if there is an area in chess where concrete knowledge and experience are most significant, then it is certainly the endgame. Many examples in this book are of both a tactical and techn ical nature and what dominates at any particu l ar moment may be a matter of opinion, but plenty of 4

tactic al ideas and combinations - "the heart of chess" ( A . Alekh ine) - always make th ings l ively. "Jt is simply not sufficient only to play - you have to train yoursel f always to develop qual ities and abil ities which help you to come to decisions during the course of a game. " ( from Moderne Schachtaktik by M ark Dvoretsky). By means of thorough analysis we learn to estimate positions integrally and more often we will find the moves that the postion demands. In additi on we develop an "instinct or feeling for positi on and danger" (which the Germans call Positiansgefuhl). The more compli cated the position, the greater the importance of comb i n i n g this "instinct" and analytical skills. The great Emanuel Lasker wrote: "For some romanti c enthus i asts the game of chess has been promoted to a science or an art. In fact chess does not stand that high. Its substantial characteri stic is that which the human nature takes most delight in it: the fight. " ( from Gesunder Menschenverstand im Schach) There is still an awfu l lot to di scover and the borders between knowledge, experience, calculation and i ntuition are fluid. But i n over-the-board-pl ay, the horizon is not so wide; here nervous energy is required and the e lements of fight with all i ts peculiarities dominate. Often a player has to trust his intuition, no matter the price. And in a sharp, complex position, when the variations grow h azy or the arithmetic fails, the adventure starts . In th i s book, the authors present a man i fold col lection of tactical discourses on the m iddle- and endgame. It shows such a dramatic sharpening, but also h idden resources and astonishing new turns. Last but not l east thi s work is about chess errors, their detection and refutation , s i nce people learn best from m istakes. At the critical points the readers may sharpen their tactical vision, test their abi lity to calc ulate concrete variati ons and to evaluate positions. Besi des all this it's also a wonderful thing to take time and j ust play over and enj oy the examples. Primari ly this book i s aimed at aspiring players from club to master level who want to improve their chess understanding. H ere the readers will not tind a logical progression from the beginning to the end; the examples have been selected for entertainment and, above all, for instructional and training value. Although we have grouped the games and fragments in chapters, sometimes the arrangement seems arbitrary because there is a considerable variety within the examples. Short exerc i ses - easy and difficult - are added to help the readers to i mprove analytical abi lities. s e r i ou s ly

The Magic afChess Tactics i s based on analysis, articles and training sessions of the German chess trainer and j ournal ist FM Claus Dieter M eyer ( B remen). Several p ositions were analysed during the period 1989 to 1998, when he worked at the Hamburg train i ng base where (then future grandmaster) Karsten MUller, FM Stefan 5

S i evers and other young Candidate Masters regularly participated . G M Mul ler also acts now as co-author of this book w ith som e original contributions.

Combinations ( 1 980- 1 993 ) and Tactical Discourses ( 1 993 - 1 998) were two rubrics of C .D . Meyer publi shed in t he G erman Schach Magazin 64. At that time he was constantly on the l ookout for fresh material appropriate for both j ournalistic and train i ng purposes. H owever when deta i l ed analytical work had to be done, this was j ust the very thing for the ambitious Hamburg training group. And so some of the extraordinarily dense and difficult material in this book like Kunnemann vs N.N. and t he Never-Ending SfOlY has its origin in the very productive H amburg period. M any articles were pub l i shed in Schach Magazin 64 and ChessBase Magazine, but a great deal of the material, mostly taken from G erman Bundes l i ga praxis i s new. T h e old remarks have been thoroughly revised, i mproved and trans l ated i nto English. Due to the large amount of original analysis eagle-eyed readers may find m istakes, for which we apologise i n advance. ,

,

As the contrast between practice and analysis sometimes i s striking, we would l ike to rem ind the readers of the words of M i khai l Tal, the un forgotten chess magician from Riga ( 1 936- 1 992): "Years of analysis and a few minutes i n a practical game - they are absol utely not one and the sam e . " T h e authors hope, that fans of tactics w i l l d i v e into and enj oy The Magic, and, last but not least, learn a lot. C laus Dieter Meyer and Karsten Muller Bremen/Hamburg October 2002

Acknowledgements We wish to thank many people for the analytical support and some original contributions, especially the H amburg training group and several chess col leagues of the SV Werder Bundes l i ga team. Chess Base deserves spec i a l thanks for developing the programs that made th is book possible and allowing us to use photos from their archives. Thanks also to A lexei S hirov for his Foreword and Edward Winter for his kind permission to use photos from h i s excellent gal l ery at ChessCafe.com. I ngol f Stein scanned several photos and cari catures. F inal ly we thank the pub l i sher Hanon Russe l l for his friendly attitude towards the whole proj ect.

6

Code System +

check

#

checkmate

x

! !!

'I

'1'1

!?

'/1

+-

± ;!;

-+ +'

:j:

1 -0 Y:!-Y:!

0- 1 Ch 01

zt simul mcm

CBM CDM

KM

capture good m ove e x ce l lent or beauti ful move bad move bl under interesting move dubious move Wh ite has a decisive advantage W h ite has the upper hand White stands slightly better the po s ition is equal or drawn Black has a decis i ve advantage Black has the upper hand Black stands slightly better the game ends in a win for White the game ends in a draw the game ends in a win for B lack championship chess olympiad zonal tournament simultaneous display memorial tournament ChessBase Magazine Cl aus Dieter Meyer Karsten MUl ler

Photo Credits Chess Base: Vlasti mil Babula ( 1 2) and A lexei Shirov ( 1 65 ) Edward Winter Collection:

Wilhelm Stein itz ( 3 5 ) , M ikhail Tal (63 ) , Rudolf Spiel m ann ( 76), A.ALilienthal (86), Bobby Fi scher (92), Anthony M i les ( 1 3 1 ) and Tigran Petrosian ( 1 5 3 )

CD. Meyer: Zbynek Hracek (99), Rainer Knaak ( 1 42), A lexander Khalifman ( 1 60), Loek van Wely ( 1 8 3 ) , Jan Timman (204), Sven Joachim (237), GerlefMeins (24 1 ), the caricatures (page 8 ) by an unknown artist on the Moscow Arbat and by Alfred Hennsdorfer (2 1 0, 227 ) .

Claus Dieter Meyer Es irrt der Mensch, solang er strebt.

(Man will err while yet he strives.) Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Faust /

(1808)

About the Authors Claus Dieter Meyer was born August I, 1 946 in B remen, Germany. Formerly an insurance broker by trade, then a chess-journalist and F I DE-Master ( 1 983 ), he is now well known in Germany as analyst and chess trainer. C.D. M ey er is the author of lm Spiegel der Ana(yse ( 1 987 ) and Die lahrhundert-MeisterschaJt im Schach (200 I, w ith Robert H tibner and others) and has also translated several chess books into German from English. He is the official chess trainer of SV Werder B remen and l ong-time captain of Werder ' s B undesliga chess team. Karsten Muller was born November 2 3 , 1 970 in Hamburg, Germany. He earned the grandmaster title in 1 998 and is the co-a ut ho r with Frank Lamprecht of the highly acclaimed Secrets ofPawn Endings (2000) and Fundamental Chess Endings (200 1 ). His popular col umn Endgame Corner has appeared at WW}le ChessCqfe. com si nce J an u ary 200 I.

M iddlegame Tactics Relative Pin

Middlegame Tactics

Horwitz - Bledow Berl in 1 83 7

B e fore we d e l v e i nto the j u n g l e of s peculative sacrifices, dee p defensive resources and att acks , we would l ike to remind the reader of some more basic tactical notions first:

AI) Tactical Motifs We start with the most important tactical weapon, which occurs in almost eve ry game: Black t o move (-+)

AlA)

Pin and Cross Pin

The knight f6 is p inned but ,

In Secrets o/Spectacular Chess, Levitt and Friedgood i ntroduced a theory of chess aesthetics with Paradox, Depth Geometry and F l ow as the four main i n gre d i e n t s We w a n t to explore a special moti f of geometry : the cross pin. A piece i s pinned if i t i s between the king (or, say, the queen) and a l ess valuable piece of the opponent (such as a bi shop ) . In the first case it is pinned "absolutely", because it i s not allowed to move away from the line or d iagonal . I n the second case it i s pinned "relatively", because i f it moves away, a more val uable p i ece will be attacked. N evertheless, it i s sometimes possible to move o u t o f a re l a t i v e pin w i t h advantage, a s the n ext example shows :

1 4) xe4! ! 2.j';lxe7 j';lxf2+ 3.�f1 4)g3 # mates . •••

,

On t h e other hand a pin c a n be a deadl y weapon, as the following two examples i l l ustrate :

.

Threat and Parade

Shagalovich - Levin Minsk 1 997

White to move increases his pressure.

The bas i s of a tactical o peration is a threat. In this case the pin of the bishop at e7 and the m i ssing link between the 10

Tactical Motifs 2.A,c5!+ -

b l a c k roo k s may be exp l o i ted by increasing the pressure on the weakness at e7.

1-0

2.E!.de3? w o u l d b e w e a k d u e to 2 . . . E!.xd 4 3 . E!x e 7 E!.d l +! 4 . E!.xd l \t'xe7 .

1 . Eld3!

With the deadly threats Ac5 and E!de3. The defender has to real ize the crisis immediately and should try to solve his problems in the best possible way.

2.Ac5! combines a double attack with a deadly pin. It threatens 3 .E!. x d8# as well as the simple capture of the bi shop by 3 . A x e 7 + or 3 .E!.xe 7 . B l a c k i s o v e r l o aded . F o r e x a m p l e , 2 .. . E!.e8 (2 . .. E!. x d 3 is r e fu t e d by t h e z w i schenzug 3 . A x e7 + \t' e 8 4.c x d 3 , winning a piece) 3 .E!.xe7+- . A simple yet instruct ive example.

1 ... \t'f8? I The fol lowing alternatives also lose: A) 1 . . . E!.d5? 2 . E!.de3 E!.xd4 3 . E!.xe7 + \t' d 8 4 .E!. x b 7 + - 'i£7 c 8 5 .E!. e e 7 B ) 1...E!.d7? Ba) 2.E!.de3+Bal) 2 . . . 'i£7f8 3 . A c 5 ( 3 .E!. x e 7) Ba2) 2 . . . 'i£7d8 3 .Ab6 + 'i£7e8 4 . Ac5 Ba3) 2 . . . E!.xd4 3 .E!.xe7+ transposes to 1 . .. E!. d 5 ? B b ) 2 . A c 5 E!. c 7 3 . E!. d e 3 +C) 1 . .. b6? 2 . E!. de 3 ( 2 . A x b6? E!. x d 3 3 . c x d 3 \t'd7 ;!; ) 2 . . . E!. x d 4 3.E!. x e 7 + \t'd8 4 . E!. a 7 +-.

Overloading

J. Asendorf (2297) - P. Wiebe Hamburg (German Amateurs-Ch ) 2002

11

The only correct move i s 1 . . .E!. d6! w ith the idea of bolstering the defense w i th . . . E!. e6: A) 2 .Ac5? E!.e6 3 . E!.ed l f6 B) 2 . E!. b 3 ? E!. x d4 ( 2 . . . b 5 ?! 3 . E!. be3 E!.e6) 3 . E!. xb 7 E!.d7 4 .E!.b8 + E!.d8 5 .E!.b7 E!.d7 6 . E!. b8+= C ) 2 . E!. d e3 E!.e6 3 . E!.xe6 fx e 6 4 . E!. xe6 'i£7 f7 ;!; .

White to move (+-) (Position after 24 . . . A d 6 -e7? )

25 . .�d7! With pressure on e7 and e8, thi s move ex p l o i t s t h e p i n on t h e e - fi l e convincingly. 2 5:lf1c7 is not so strong: I 25 . . . 'li!1f6 2 6 . a 3 ! ( t h re a t a x b 4 + - ) 2 6 . . . Ad6 ( 2 6 . . .b x a 3 ? 2 7 . A c 3 �d6 2 8 . E!.xe7 'li!1xc 7 2 9.E!. xc7 E!. x e l + 3 0.Axe l 3 1 . E!. b7 + - ; axb 2 2 6 . . . �d6? 27 . E!.xe7 +-) 27 . E!. x e 8 + 11

Middlegame Tactics

:8xe8 28.:8 x e8+ �xeS 29 . 'lf1xa 5 'lf1xb2 (29 ... bxa3? 3 0 . Ag 5 +- a x h2 31. '®'b5+) 30. 'lf1b5+ p l u s A x h4± 11 25 . . . Ad6 26 .'lf1xa5! :8eb8 27.'lf1d5± 2 5 . . . �f6

25 . . . :8adS 2 6.:8xe7! (26 . . . :8 x e 7 27 . 'lf1xdS+ 2S.:8xe8#) 2 7.:8xeS # II 25 .. . 'lf1d6 26.:8xe7+-

:8 x d 7 :8eS

26.Af4!+-

A further pin along the diagonal a3 -f8, here threatening :8xe7, is also a central idea of White 's final attack.

V lastim i l Babula A Composition of Pins

26 g5 .•.

M. Solleveld (242 7) ­ V. Babula (2566) German Bundesl iga 2002

26 . .. :8adS 27.:8xe7! 'lf1xe7 28.:8xe7 :8xd7 29.:8x d 7 + 27.E! x e7!

Again this capture demonstrates that B lack's pieces are overloaded. 27 ... E!ed8

27 ... :8 xe7 28.Ad6 £\aeS 29 . Ax e7 + 29 . . . :8 x e 7 3 0.'lf1d8+ �g7 3 1 . 'lf1xe7 (29.:8xe7)

Black to move (-+) ( Position after 23.:8fl-f2)

2 8 . Axg 5 (28.Ae5) 2 8 � x g 5 29. E! x f7+ \t>g8 30.�e6 1 -0

23.. . e5!

Sometimes there are several p i n s at work and it is easy to m i x things up :

seems to exploit the pin on the d-file in a dec isive way, but W h ite has a pin h imself:

•• .

24. �e3 I

II

12

24 . :8 d 2 exd4 25.:8xd4 Ad5-+ 2 4 .'lf1e 4 �d5!-+ ( 24 .. . 'lf1e6?

Tactical M otifs 2 5 . § a5!) III 24 .A g 5 f6-+

pinned in two directions. T h e fol lowing examples w i l l i llustrate this:

24 ... t:'Ye6

Three-Cross Pins

powerfully unpinning the e-pawn

(/) Szabo - Langeweg Kecskemet 1964

25.b7 exd4 26:� xe6+ fxe6 27 . .Q.f4 d x c3+ 28.\tIe1

The bishop on e5 shields the queen on c7 and protects the rook on h 8 . T hat prov � s to be too much responsibility for the biShop, as the rook on b8 i s trapped.

28 ... Ac5 29.�bl 29.b8� §xb8 3 0 . A xb8 Axf2+ 3 1 .'it'xf2 allows the beautiful 31. . .0-0 + ! 3 2 .Af4 e5 - + with a deadly pin.

1 . .Q. x g7 2 . .Q. x c7 .Q.d4 3 . .Q. x b8+­ . •

and Wh ite converted his advantage to a ful l point.

29 ... Ab5!

(Il)

S tronger than 29 . . . A x f2 + ? ! 3 0 . 'it> x f2 O-O ! ? C 3 0 . . . Ab5 3 1 . §dl + ) 3 1 . h8� §d 2 + , e . g . 32.'it>f3 A e 2 + 3 3 . 'it> e 3 §xb8 34.§xb8+ 'it'f7 3 5 ...Q. e S § x c 2 36.§b7++.

Bogatyriev -Sagoryanski M oscow 1947

30.�f3

I f 3 0 . § dl then 3 0 . . . § x d l + 1. 3 1 . 'it' xdl 'it'd7 3 2 . § f3 Ad6 . 30 ... 0- � 3 1 . � xc3 Ad4 32.�c7 e5 and White threw in the towel - 0-1.

Black to move (-+)

A cross-pin ari ses when one piece is 13

M iddlegame Tactics 1

•••

El.2

t(Yd4!!-+

Borngii......er - Weiner correspondence 1976

wins immediately. ( In the game, B l ack played 1 ...§a7? and the result was a draw. ) N ote that with the white q ueen on e2 t h i s second pin wo uld not be poss ible and White would be able to hold the pos ition.

(Ill) Bannik - Cherepkov U S S R 1 96 1

White to move (+-) El.3

Donner - Hubner Biisum 1 968

Black to move (-+)

1

fie21!-+

•••

p i n s and w i n s the queen as 2 :'I¥f x c5 §g xg2+

3 .'tt'hl

§h2 +

4 .'tt'gl

§eg 2 ,", mates .

Black to move (-+)

Exercises :

E1.4

E1.I

D. Roo.� (2420) - K. Muller (2505) German Bundesliga 1 997

Pidorich - Chernu...ov Tj umen 1 98 1

Black to move ( +) -

Wh ite to move (+-)

14

S e v e r a l e x a m p l e s are t a k e n fro m Nei stadt's book, which presents a lot of combinations in a nice way.

Comedy of Errors (Pin!.' and Cros...-Pins)

G. Fahnem.chmidt - L. Gutman German B undesliga 1 987

Solutions: El.I: 1 . �e7!! A x e7 (1 . . . �xc7 2.JlxdS+ �h8 3 . .ll x a 8 + - ) 2 . �e4!! 1-0 E 1 . 2 : 1.�h3!! ( 1 . �e3 wins as well, but is not as convincing as 1 . �h3 ) 1 �fg7 2.�c8+ litih7 3.fxg7 � xg7 4.�h3+, and Black resigned in view of 4 . . . � xh3 S . � x g7 + �h8 6 . � g8 + �h 7 7 . � 197+ �h6 8 . �h8+ +- . E1.3 : 1 . . . � xe5 2 . � x e 5 �e81!, and Donner resigned, e.g. 3 . �xb6 � xc1 + -+ or 3 . b4 � xc5 4 .bxc5 'liYb2 - + . E I .4: 27 A xd3+?! (The c r o s s p i n 2 7 .. .'liYbS!! wins o n the spot. ) 28.�xd3 �a3 29.-'l,e5 A x e 5 [29 . . .'�a4 3 0 . .a x f6 ( 3 0 . § bl Axe5 3 1 . d x e 5 4J f4 32. 'liY c 2 'liY b 5 + 3 3 . �gl 4Jc2+ 3 4 . �hl 4J c 3 - + ) 30 . .. § x b 3 31. � f5 � a 6 + 3 2 . �gl g x f6 - + ] 30. � x e 5 4) xd4 3 1 . � xd4 � x b3 3 2 .g3 [ J 3 2 . § xdS § b l + 3 3 . � e 2 �e6+ 34.§eS 'liY a 6 + 3 5 . �d 2 �a2+ 3 6 . �e 3 §el + 3 7 . �f3 § xe5 38.�xeS �b3 + - + ; 1 I 3 2 . �x d 5 § b l + 3 3 . �e 2 'liYg4 + - + ; III A fter 3 2 . g4 ! ? (Roos) it is not so easy to prove a win. For example: 3 2 ... �bS+ 33 .�g2 §d3 3 4 . 'liY f4 § d l 3 S . § e 7 'liYf1 + 3 6 . �g3 'liYd3 + 37 .�g2 .] 32 ...�h3+ 33.litie2 �g 2 3 4 . � xd5? ( 3 4 . § e8 + ! �h 7 3S.'liYf4 § b2 + 36.�e3 d4+ 3 7 . � xd4 § x f2 3 8 . 'liYe 4 + 'liY x e 4 + 3 9 . § x e 4 § d 2 + 4 0 . �c4 § d 7 + ) 34 . . . �f3+ 3 5 . liti e l ? ( 3 S .'�d2 § b 2 + 3 6 .�cl C 3 6 . 'liY x b 2 �xd5 + 37.�e2 � x cS- + ) 3 6 . . . § x f2 3 7 . § d8 + � h 7 3 8 . � d3 + 'liYxd3 3 9 . § xd3 § f5-+ ) 35 ... �b1 + 0I due to 36.�d 2 §dl + -+. ••.

Black to move (-+) (Position after § d2 - f2 )

•..

The turbulent finale of t h e B undesliga game between Grandmaster Lev Gutman (Koblenz) a n d D r. G erhard Fahnenschmidt ( S indelfingen) was a real "comedy of errors" played amid time trouble. With piece sacrifi ces to open the enemy king position, B lack hoped to get support from Caissa, the goddess of c h e s s . M eanwhi l e he i s down a rook and a b ishop w ith only one pawn (on h3) as material compensation. But that pawn is quite a nui sance: 1

.••

� x f3?

1 .. . h 2 +

2 . �f1

(2.�hl

� x f2 - + )

2 . . . �h3!-+ with the first pin, but the simp l e 2 . . . �h4 ! - + is possible as well.

2.�e2? I

2 . § e 2 ?/§ d 2 ? tran s p o s e s afte r

2 . . . h x g 2 ! ( 2 . . . Ac5+?) 3 . � xg2 to the

game. 11 2 . � fl ? h 2 +

We end th i s s e c t i o n w i th a very complicated example:

HI

15

3 . �h l �x f2 -+ A n o r i g i n a l way to d r a w w a s

M i ddlegame Tactics 2 . \i1b 2!/ \';1e l ! Elx f2 3 . \';1x f2 .llc 5 ( 3 . . . �x f 2+ 4. '� x f2 .ll c 5 + 5 . �g 3 Ax a 7 6 . Ac6 �x h 8 7 Jlx b 5 = ) 4. Ela 8 + �h 7 5 ..il d 4 .ll x d 4

Dr. F a h n e n s c h m i d t makes t h e l a s t m i stake. But what about t h e absolutely necessary 4 . .lld4 ? After the devilish c r o s s p i n 4 . . . � e 5 ! ! ( 4 . . . El fl + ? 5 . �xfl ) i t i s extremely compl icated. The attentive reader w i l l explore the s ituation together with us. Black plays for a win despite being a rook down !

Analysis White is only apparently overloaded: 6 .El h8+ (The only way out, luring the king onto the al-h8 diagonal in order to get rid of the b i shop o n d4 w ith check) 6 . . . �xh8 7.�xd4+ and now both players have to be careful not to end up in a lost pawn ending: A) 7 . . . �h7 8 . \';1f2 (For 8 . �d 5 s e e l i ne B ) 8 . . . h 2 + ( W i t h 8 . . . \';1x f2 + ?? 9. �x f2 h x g 2 I O . a4 + - B lack wou l d have blundered bad ly) 9 . �fl \';1d3 + I O . \';1e 2 i;1{b l + 1 1 .�e l i;1{x a2 I 2.�h4+ should be drawn. B ) 7 . . . �g8 8 . �d 8 + �h 7 9 . �d 5 ( 9 . � a8??/�d 2 ?? b4 - + ) i s m o r e o r l e s s equal : Ba) 9. . � e 3 + I O . �h 2 hxg2 I2 . �x g 2= 1 1 . � x f7 + �h 6 C l 2 . � f8 + = ) Bb) 9 . . hxg2 1 0 .�xf7+ �h6 1 1 .�f8+=

Analysi s 5 . El a8+ (For 5 . El d7 El f4 6. Eld8+ see I IA)

.

I

5 . �g7 seems less preci se . Some variations may lead to 11, but here i s an i n d e p e n d e n t e x a m p l e : 6 . El g4 ! ? f6 (6 . . . El d3? 7 . El d8 El d 2 8 . El d5 .ilxd4 + 9 . � x d4 El x d4 I O . El x g 6 + fo l l o w e d by I l . El x e 5 =) 7 . El d 8 ! ? and extreme complications have arisen. White is still o ffe r i n g s t r o n g re s i s ta n c e . Tw o p l a u s i b l e continuations are 7 . . \�h 5

.

2 ... h xg2! 2 . . . .Q.c 5 + ? 3 . .ild4 .\lx d 4 + 4 . � x d 4 �e l + 5 . �h 2 �g3 + 6 . �g l �e l +=, perpetual check. 3.Et xg2 Ac5+

. .

.

16

Tactical Moti fs ( i dea . . . Eih3) and 7 . . . Ei d3 . 11 5 . . 'it>h7 ! A) 6 . Ei d8 Ei f4 7 . Eid2 O. Ei h 2 + 'it>g7 8 . Ei d 2 tran s p o s e s to C c ) 7 . . . Eih 4 8 . �f1 �g3 + 9. Ei g 2 ( 9 . �g 2 � e 1 + 1 O. �f1 Ei h 1 + 1 1 . 'it> x h 1 � x f1 + 1 2 . 'it> h 2 � d6 + ! 1 3 . Ei x d 6 � f4 + - +) 9 . . . � x d 4 + 1 O . Ei x d 4 � e 3 + 1 1 . �f2 ?.ixd4 1 2 .�x d4 Ei xd4 =+=. We w i l l see th i s rook ending, which favors Black. repeatedly. .

Analysi s

B) After 6 . Ei g4 Ei h 3 !, 7 . Ei h8 + i s the o n l y p l ayable move, equ ivalent to a d e s p e rate appeasement p o l icy, b u t B lack reaches a very favorabl e rook ending in any case : B a) 7 . . . � x h8 (threate n i n g ' x h 8 =+= C b2 2 ) 8 . Ei g4 Eid6 9 .Eie 4 ( 9 . Eie 8 Axd4+) 9. . .�xd4+ 1 0 . � x d4 � x d4 + 1 1 . El x d 4 Ei x d 4 + C c ) 7 . Ei d8 Elf4 ! 8 . Ei d 2 Elh4 ! ( 8 . . . El g4 + ? 9 . ' h 6 1 1 . l:1.e 3 + Eix e 3 1 2 . Ei x e 3 � x e 3 + =+= Cb) 7 . Ei h4 CbI) 7 . . . f6? 8 . Ei ah8! ,ilxd4+ (8 . . . gS 9 . El4 h 7 + =) 9 .'f8 18.4) x c6 [ 1 8 . § h8+ '#le7 1 9 . c� x c 6 + �d7 0 9 . . . b x c6?? 20. '&xg7+ + - (The l ine " 1 4 . . .f5! I 5 .g6 YfJ e 6 I 6 . -tl e 5 § fe S I 7 . § d h l � f8 1 8 . § h8 + '!le7 1 9 . .£J x c 6 + �d7 a n d B l ack has all the c h a n c e s " was advocated b y Larsen in his booklet Why .vo t t h e P h i l i do r D efe ns e ? C h e s s D i ge s t , D a l las, Texas 1 9 7 1 ) . There could fo llow 2 0 . § xe8 § x e8 2 1 .��a 5 ( 2 1 . 4J x a 7 ? wxa2 2 2 . b3 (5) 2 1 . . .'8'xg6 + 1 1 8. . . � xg6 [ 1 8 . . . bxc6?? I 9 . § h8 + ; I 8 . . . 4J f6? I 9 . § hS + ( l 9 . W x f6 + ?? g x f6 2 0 . § h 8 + �f g S ) I 9 . . . 4J g 8 2 0 . 4Ja 5 b6 2 1 . "�c4 'i£t x g 6 2 2 . "�e3 � 1 1 9 . 4) a 5 0 9 . § h8 + �f7 2 0 . wd 5 + 'itY e 6 2 1 . 'itY x e 6 + � x e6 + ) 1 9 b6 2 0 . 4) c4 ( 2 0 A:J c 6 'itY e 6 ) 2 0 4)f6 + , and White's compensation fo r t h e s a c r i fi c e d p a w n a g a i n i s insufficient.

2 1 .iiie 7 .;2l f7-+ ) 1 8 . . . �f7 1 9.4Je5 + �f6 2 0 . -2l x g6 � xh8-+ .1 1 6 . . . .§ fe8 17 .§dh l lit'f8- + 0 8 . -tlf3 'iih g 6 or \�xd4 ), and White's attack has petered out.

.

•

III

The Offense Is Stopped

by 13 . . . 4)d7!?, and B lack reta i n s a healthy extra pawn at the end. Let us spring all the mines !

Analysis

• . •

••.

A) 14 . .§h4? f5 ! , and n o w e i t h e r 1 5 . � c 4 + � f7 1 6 .g6 � x c4 1 7 . .§ d h l � f l + 1 8 . .§ x fl .§ fe8 1 9 . e x f5 0 9 . § fh 1 � f8 2 0 . e x f5 �e7-+) 19 . . . A x f3 20.gx f3 4)f6- + o r 1 5 . .§ d h l Iit>f7 1 6 . � x g7 + ( 1 6 . l"l h 7 § g8 1 7 . wc4+ �e6 1 8 . \;\' x e 6 + � x e 6 1 9 . 4Jd4 + � e 5 - + ) 16 ... lit' xg7 17 . .§h7+ lit'g8 18 . .§ x e7 .§ae8 1 9 . .§ x e8 0 9 . § e h 7 § x e 4 ) 1 9 . . . .§ x e8 20.e x f5 A x f3 2 1 .g x f3 .§e5-+

Bd2) 1 5 . . . �f6! [ M ost prec i s e : White's q ueen i s attacked and g 7 rema i n s p rotected. I 5 . . . § f6? (after 1 5 . . . 'itYe8?? fo l l o w s a g a i n t h e b r i l l i a n t 1 6 . 4Je 5 ! ! + - ) 1 6 . § d h l § x g6 1 7 . § h 8 + �f7 l S.§ xaS § xg2 1 9 . \;\' c 4 + d5 2 0 . \;\'d 4 t r a n s p o s e s t o t h e l i n e I 4 . § h 2 ! f5?! ; see the remarks to the game conti nuation 1 4 . § h5?1 16.4)e5 1 1 6. § dh 1 \;\'xg6 aga i n transposes to 1 5 . . . . \;\'e6 1 6 . § dh 1 ? \;\' x g6 ( s e e under B d I ) . 1 6 . w c 4 + i s refuted b y ideas w e have already d iscussed (see u n d e r 1 5 . . . \;\'e6 ) : 1 6 . . . d5 1 7 . § d h 1 ( l 7 . § x d 5 ? ? \;\' e 6 1 8 . § d l \;\' x c 4 1 9 . § d h l �fl + 2 0 . § x fl 4Jf6 - + ) 1 7 . . . \;\' xg6 1 8 , § hS + ( 1 S :iff d4 § ae8 1 9 . 4J e 5 § xe5 2 0 . \;\' x e 5 -tlc16

B) 1 4 . .§ h 2 ? � x e4 15 . .§ d h l f6 16.g x f6 � x d4 1 7. 4) x d4 4) x f6-+ ( 1 8 . 4Je 6 § a e 8 )

C ) 14.e5! With the necessary verve and the aim to transfer the queen to the h­ fi l e . C a ) 14 ... A x f3? 1 5.�h4 f5 16.e x f6! g x f6 0 6 . . . 4J x f6? 1 7 . g x f3 ! and now 31

Middlegame Tactics e . g . 17 . . . .'g7 1 7 . � x f5 ; 9 . § x h 5 ? 1 0 . � b 5 ! � g 3 1 1 . �e 8 + 'g7 1 2 . � e7 + = ; 9 . . . h 6 ? 1 0 . �f3 � x e 3 1 1 . § e 2 ; 9 . . . .ild2 + ) 1 0 .�f3 +

drawn q u een ending e . g . 9 . . . � x g l + 1 0 . � x g 1 § x g 1 + 1 1 . x g 1 ' g 7 1 2 . f2 g 6 1 3 . f3 g 5 ,

. .

I I I 4 . .\lg5 A) 5 . Af7? § g7 ! 6 . § x b 7 � h 4 ! . .

.

Analysis 1 4 . h4 + ! (a bri l l i ant shot to stop B lack 's p l a n n e d f4 fo l l o w e d b y 'f5 ; 1 4 . ' g 3?? f4 + - + ) 1 4 . . . ' x h 4 1 5 . c4 d x c4 1 6 . d5 e x d 5 1 7 . e6 c3 1 8 .'e2 f4 1 9 . e 7 f3 + 2 0 . x f3 c 2 2 1 . e 8� c l � 2 2 .�e7+ = 5.E!hl jlg5 6.E!gl!?

Analysis White has already walked into the trap ! Aa) 7 .�e2? .ild8! 8 . e4 �h6! 9 . § b 1 (9.�f1 �e3) 9 . . . § xf7-+ Ab) 7.§b8+? .ild8-+ with the double threat �e l +/§ xf7 A c ) 7 . �g 3 � e 4 + 8 . �g 2 � x g 2 + 9.xg2 �e7+ ! ( The final point: This discovered check with the i nterception of the seventh rank captures the bi shop o n f7) 1 0 . f3 § x f7 1 1 . § x a 7 '!Jg7 ( 1 1 . . . § g7 ? 1 2 . a 4 ) 1 2 . a 4 ( 1 2 . § a 6 .ilg5 1 3 . § x e 6 § c7 ) 1 2 . . . Ag5 a n d Black sti ll has good chances t o win . B ) 5 . § x b 7 A x e 3 6 . § b 1 �g5 7 . �g 3 ! O . h 3 ? Ac l ! 8 . �f1 � x h 5 9 . § x c l � h 4 - + ) 7 . . . � x h 5 8 . � x e3 �g4 9 . § g l , a n d t h i s i s t h e o n l y playable move, which fortunately leads to a tricky pawn ending and finally to a

To exchange the rooks at least, whereas protecting the pawn by 6.§ e 1 ? after 6 . . § c8 7 . A f7 § c7 O . § x c 3 ? 8 . § g l w i th c o u n t e rp l ay ) 8 . � h 5 � x h 5 9 . � x h 5 g 7 1 0 . ' g 2 § x c 3 1 1 .'f3 'f8 + /- + wou l d lead to an almost winning position for B lack. .

.

Analysis 6 . .11, x e3 .

1 06

.

.

Attack and Defense I 6 . . . .§. c8 7 . 11.f7 Axe3 8 . .§. g3 Axd4 A ) 9 . c x d4? .§. c l + l O . .§. g l ( l O . 'it>g 2 .§. c 2 + ) l O . . . .§. x g l + 1 1 . 'it> x g l 'ii'Y g 7 + 1 2 . 'it>f2 'ii'Y x f7 - + B) 9 . .§. h3?? 'ii'Y c 1 + C ) 9 . lt x e6 ltg l I O . .§. x g l 'ii'Y x e 6 1 1 . 'ii'Y e 3 =+=

Play with Fire (Balance of Power) T.

Polak (24 1 0) P. Frohlich (2390) Altensteig (SKA-Juniors) 1 993 -

11

6 . . . .§. f8 7 . .§. g3 A ) 7 . . . A x e 3 8 .§. h 3 ( 8 . � e 2 ? f4 9 . .§. g 2 lt d 2 I O . 'ii'Y x d 2 'ii'Y x h 5 - + ) R . . f4 ( 8 . . . 'ii'Y f4 9 . 'ii'Y x f4 A x f4 I O . A e 2 .§. c 8 1 1 . .il b 5 .§. c7 1 2 . c 4 d x c4 1 3 . .§. c3 =+= ) 9 . 'ii'Y g 2 'ii'Y g 7 ( 9 . . . .§. c8 ? ! I O . A f7 ) I O.�xg7+ 'it> x g 7 I I . A g 4 =+= B) 7 . . . f4 8 . e x f4 (8 . .§. g l fxe 3 9 . 'ii'Y g 4 .§. f5 ) 8 . . . A x f4 9 . .§. h 3 Axe5 I O .�d3 Ad6 1 1 . A d l 'ii'Y g 7 1 2 . Ac2 .§. f7 =+= .

.

7.E! xg8+ \t> xg8 8.�g3+ \t>f8 8 . . �g5 9 . � x g 5 + Axg5 Ad2 1 1 .c4 .

I O . Ae 2

9 .Q,e2 .Q,f4 10.l'i'Yf2 + •

and again a clear decision is not in sight. Although we made every effort to force White to h i s knees we d i d not real ly s u c c e e d . On the other s i d e , i t ' s a n e x tr a o rd i n a r i l y to u gh j o b to h o l d White's position, which admittedly i n practice is almost impossible. The next example shows an exciting duel of heavy pieces with an i ngenious conflict between attack and defense.

White to move

In this major pieces ending garnished w i th attract i v e fin e s s e s the y o u n g International Master ( a n d future G M ) Tomas P o l a k fro m C z e c h o s l o v a k i a made the following winning attempt . . . 1 . � x f7+!

Any alternative i s advantageous for B l a c k , e . g . : 1 . �b6? O . 'ii'Y b8? 'ii'Y d 4 2 . .§. f1 c x b4 ) 1 . . .h4! (The troub l emaker comes for w a r d t h reaten i n g , w h e r e a s 1 . 'ii'Y d 2/'ii'Y d 4 2 . .§. f1 c x b4 does n ' t promi s e much ) , and now : I 2 . �b 5 'ii'Y f 3 ! 3 . �fl c x b 4 11 2 . �d8 h x g 3 3 . � h 4 + 'it'g7 4 . 'ii'Y x g 3 cxb4 ( 4 . . . 'ii'Y d 2 ) III 2 . g x h 4 'ii'Y f3 3 . .§. fl .§. f4 ! ? 4 . �b7 + ( 4 . h 3?? � x h 3 ) 4 . . . � x b 7 5 . a x b7 .§. g 4 + 6 . 'it>h l '§' x b4 7 . .§. d l '§' x b 7 8 . '§' x d 6 .§. c 7 . .

2 . b 5 ?? 'ii'Y a 2

1 07

M idd legame Tactics The only p l ayable move. If 2 . . . �f3? t h e n 3 . a 7 + - '§'a8 4 . b 5 h4 5 . b6 h 3 6 . b7 -&' x b 7 7 . a 8 '24 . 3.b5

I ndeed a frighten i n g pawn duo, but B lack 's powerful queen knows her job too. Besides the text, 5 . .§dl may also work, e.g. 5 . . �b2 ( 5 . . e3!?) and now n ot 6 . b7 ? e 3 ! (6 . . c 4 ? ! 7 .§ d 2 ! ? ) .

.

.

.

Agai n the only move, i n ten d i n g to advance the e-pawn and sav i n g the situation in an amazing manner. 4.b6

As in the main variation play is forced, and it seems that I 4 . .§ a 3? l o s e s to 4 . . . e3 (4 . . . c 4 ? ? 5 . b6) 5 .§ x e 3 C 5 . fx e 3 c4 ; 5 . b 6 'i1'1 x b6) 5 . . c4 6 . .§ a 3 'i1'1 c 5 - + a n d .

.

,

1 1 4 . .§ b l i s t h e only alternative t o the text: 4 . . . e 3 ! A ) 5 . b6? � x a 6 - + ( 5 . . . e x f2 + - + ) 6 . b7 e x f2 + ( 6 . . . � e 2 - + ) 7 . g 2 O . 'ift x f2 � a 2 +/ x b l ) 7 . fl � + 8 . .§ x fl 'i1'1 x b 7 + B ) 5 . fx e 3 '§' b 6 ( 5 . . . � e 7 6 . .§ e l � a 7 ; 5 . . . � f7 6 . .§ a l � b 3 ) 6 . .§ a l ( 6 'ift f2 c 4 ) 6 . . . c 4 ( 6 . . . � a 7 7 . b 6 � g 7 ) 7 . a 7 \;J;' x e 3 + = .

.

4 . �g7! 5 .§bl ..

.

7 . fx e 3 c4 - + , e . g . 8 . '§ x d 6 c 3 9 .§ c6

3 ... e4!

.

.

c 2 l O . .§ x c 2 � b l + ! 1 1 . g 2 \;J;' x c 2 b u t 6 . a 7 \;J;' e 2 = 5 ... e3

T h e i n te n d e d a d v a n c e , a l t h o u g h 5 . . . �f7 fi rst i s also okay, e . g . 6 . b7 ( 6 . a 7 \;J;' a 2 7 . .§ b5 �a4 8 . b7 � d l + 9 . 'iftg 2 \;J;'f3 + l O . 'iftg l � d l + = ) 6. .e3 I 7 . f4 � a 2 8 . b8� (8 . .§ fl ? \;J;' b 2 + ) 8 . . . � f2 + 9 . 'ift h l � f3 + = 1 1 7 . fx e 3 7 . . :if/e6! ( 7 . . . �e7? 8 . .§ b 3 c4 9 . b8\;J;' c x b 3 l O . \;J;' x b 3 ) 8 . b 8 � ( 8 . 'iftf2?/'iftfl ? �f5 + ) 8 . . \;J;' x e 3 + 9 . 'iftg 2 \;J;'e 2 + = .

.

6.b7 I 6.a7 may also l ead to a drawn ending, e . g . 6 . . . e x f2 + 7 . 'iftf l ( 7 . 'ift x f2 ? �d4 + 8 . 'ift e 2 � e 4 + 9 . 'ift d 2 \;J;' x b l ­ + ) 7 . . \;J;'b7! 8 . 'ift x f2 ( 8 . .§ b2 ? �h l + 9 . x f2 �xh2 + l O . 'iftf3 � x b 2 1 1 . a8� � x b6 - + ) 8 . . . � f7 + 9 . g l ( 9 . 'ift e 3 '§' e 6 + l O . d 2 �a 2 + 1 1 . c 1 c 4 1 2 .§ b 2 Yii a l + 1 3 . 'ift c 2 Yii a 4 + 1 4 . d 2 Yii a 3 1 5 . c 2 � d 3 + 1 6 . 'ift c 1 c 3 ) 9 . . . � a 2 l O .§ e l Yii a 4 .

.

.

1 08

Attack and Defense ( 1 0 . . . g5 1 1 . 8 e 8 �b 1 + 1 V1d 1 + 1 4 . � f2 i>1 d 2 + =

1 1 B ut 6 . f>1c3 with the lines: A ) 7 . a 7 ? � x e 3 + 8 . �g 2 ( 8 . � f1 'iii d 3 + ) 8 . . �e4 + , x b 1 - x b6 B) 7 . 8 f1 � x e 3 + 8 . 8 f2 ( 8 . 'i!;> g 2 ? we 2 + 9 . 8 f2 � x a 6 ; 8 . �h 1 ? � e 2 9 . 8 a 1 'ti't e 4 + 1 0 . 'i!;>g l i>1d4 + ) 8 . . . g 2 'ti'te4 + 1 1 . 'i!;> g l /'i!;>f1 1 1 . . .c3) 1 0 . . . i£t a 5 1 1 . 'i!;>g2/�h 1 c 3 .

6 ... exf2+

Or 6 . . . �f7 as before under 5 6 . e3

. . .

i£tf7/

. .

Finally the perpetual check is inevitable. 8 . b8 � � d 3 + 9 . � g 2 � d 5 + 1 0 . � x f 2 � d 2 + 1 1 . � f3 � d 3 + 1 2 . � f4 � d 4 + 1 3 . �f3 a n d t h e pl ayers agreed t o a draw YZ-YZ. A very pretty and perfect tin ish. -

I n t u i t i o n a n d c a l c u l at i o n are v e ry important in j udging whether an attack w i l l crash through or not, and in how to take measures against an attack. Chessboard Magic !

T h i s " r o m a n t i c " g a m e , fu l l o f unexpected ideas and tactical blows, shows two young masters acting with wonderful spirit and creativity. The Czech Grandmaster Vlastim i l Babula ( * 1 973), since 1 999 Werder B remen 's successfu l fighter at board 2 i n the German B undes l i g a (behind h i s compatriot H racek), kindly placed this fascinating battle at our di sposal . Now fan s of tactics can enj oy some unusual Sicilian fireworks .

L . Keitlinghaus (2495) ­ V. Babula (2530) Lazne Bohdanec 1 995 S i c i l ian Defense ( B23 ) 1 .e4 c5 2 . l�) c3 4)c6 3.Ab5 4) d4 4 . 4) f3 g6 5 . 4) x d4 c x d4 6 . 4) e 2 �a5!? 7.c41? 4)f6!? 8.e5

7 .�g2 i£tf7 8 . b 8 i£t �d5+(=) 9 . � x f2 ( 9 . �f1 �d3 +) 9 . . � d 2 + e n d s w i th perpetual check as in the text, whereas 7 .'3)xf2? loses the rook to �d4+-+ etc .

8.f2 b6 ( o r 5 . . . � x c 3 ) 6 . fx e 5 1"l x e 5 7 . 'i£r d 2

1"l x e 2 +

8 . 'i£r x e 2

�xe2+

9 . � x e 2 , u n c l ear C a 2 ) 3 . . . �f7 4 . fx e 5 1"l x e 5 5 . � d 2 1"l x e l 6 . 'i£r x e l 'i£r x a 2 + , u n c l ear

Cb) I n case of 1 . . . 'i£rxa2?

( 4 . 1"l e 2 .\ld4 ; 4 . .ifrd3 .\ld4 + ! 5 . \t> h l 1"l a l 6 . �e 4 1"l x e l + 7 . � x e l 'i£ra l ) 4 . . . 1"l a 2 6 . .ll x d 2

5 . 'i£rf3 ( 5 . 'i£rd2 1"l x d 2 ) 5 . . . � x h 2 +

'i£r x d 2 6 . \t>f1

'i£r h 3 + 7 . \t> g l 'i£r x h 6 8 . 1"l d l 'i£rh 2 + 9 . \t>f1 1"l d 2

C b 2 l b ) b u t 3 . �d4 + - , 3 . �d 3 + - or 3 . 1"l d l +-

C b 2 2 ) 2 . . . 'i£r x c 4 3 . � x a 7 ! + - 1"l d8 ( 3 . . . 'i£rd4 4 . 1"l x e 5 ; 3 . . . �a6 4 . 'i£rb8 + ; 3 . . . f 5 4 . � a 8 + \t>f7 5 . 'i£r f8 + \t> e 6 6 . .il g 5 ) 4 . 'i£ra 5 (or 4 . 1"l x e 5 ) 4 . . �d5 .

5 . 1"l x e 5

C c ) 1 . . . f6 ! ?

1 17

Middlegame Tactics After the i ntroductory sections I and ( [ , the evil i ntentions ofthis move are clear: W h i te makes the reaction . . fS m ore d i ffi c u l t , a n d as h i s k i n g h a s a n add i t i o n a l fl i g h t s q u are on g 3 , h e re n e w s t h e t h re a t 2 . § x e S ( § x e 5

This may be most preci se as B lack 's king gets more breathing space and the bishop e5 gets a prop.

.

3 .'€¥ f6 �b l + 4 . 'it>g 2 � e 4 + - 5 . 'tt> g 3 � d 3 + 6 . f3 + - ) .

Ce l ) The main point of thi s defense is t h a t t h e d i re c t 2 . f4 ? ? b a c k fi r e s : 2 . . . § d 2 ! 3 . fx e S ( 3 .'€¥ x a7 i s refuted by 3 . . . Ad4 + - + ; the l am e 3 . h4 runs into 3 . . . § h 2 4 .'€¥ f3 Ad6- + . N ote the penetrating gl ance of the bi shop at the p o i n t s f8 and c 5 ) 3 . . . § x h 2 4 . � f3 § xh6- + , and i n case o f 5 . �d3 ( S . e x f6

�h2+

6 . 'it> f 1

B lack 's reaction 1 . . . f5 "takes the bull by the horns," but is it really the best or even only defense? The authors ofTer two alternatives, 1 . . .'tff bS and 1 . . .�c2 , before analysing 1 . . .f5 . A) The line 1 .g4! �b5?

t¥ h l + - +

fo l l o w e d b y m a n y e x c h a n g e s ) S . . . '€¥h 2 + 6 . '.t' f 1 �h l + 7 .'!J e 2 � d S wins easily C c 2 ) 2 . c4? i s bad as w e l l due to 2 . § d8 ( 2 . . . § d 4 ! ?) 3 . A f4 ( 3 . �xa7?? and 3 . f4?? fai l for the same reason as before) 3 . . . �xa2 + C c 3 ) 2 . � x a 7 § d8 3 . � a S § e 8 . .

4 . .l1f4 ( 4 . § x e S � b l + S . 'tt> g 2 fx e S 6 . 'if1 c 7 � e 4 + = p e r p e t u a l c h e c k ) 4 . . . � f8 5 . A x e S fx e S 6 . �c 5 'l1¥d 2 =

I I I Dvoretsky 's Patent Move 1 .g4!

A l though thi s move stab i l i zes the fifth rank and involves vicious counter-ideas, the attacker succeeds in tearing a l arge hole in the barricade. B ut on the way there are all kinds of h indrances : A a ) 2 . �f6?? § d l ! 3 . � x e 5 � x e 5 4 . § x d l �e7-+ A b ) 2 . § x e 5 ? § x e 5 3 . � f6 § e l +

A fter several attacks have failed or come to nothing, the reader hopefully will take great i n terest in D v o retsky ' s reinforcement l .g4! , which h e annotates in his aforementioned book as follows: "Such a move like g4 !! does not happen in a practical game, it emerges i f at all as a result of a l e ngthy anal y s i s ( what actually was the case in poi nt)."

4 . 'it> g 2 � e 5 5 . � d 8 + � e 8 6 . � f6 0 . f3 7 . 'it> h 3 '€¥ e 5 = ) 7. . .�e5=

t¥ e 4 +

A c ) 2 . 'it>g 2 ? § d8 3 . t¥e4 f6 A d ) 2 . '€¥e 3 ? ! f6! 3 . f4 C 3 . '€¥ x a7? § d8 4 . �a3 �c4)

A d ] ) 3 . . . § d 3? 1 18

Attack and Defense A d l l ) 4 . 'ti¥ x a 7 ? � c 7 -+ e 5 . 'ti¥ a S + .(;t d 8 6 . c 4 ( 6 . l"l e S + �f7 7 . l"l f8 + �e7

8 . 'ti¥ a 3 +

l"l d 6)

6 . . . 'ti¥ c 5 +

7 . .11 g 5 + � d 7 8 . c 4 'ti¥ x c 4 9 . 'ti¥ x h 7 + �c8 1 0 . 'ti¥ x f5 + fo l l owed by l"l x e 5 )

7 . � h l ( 7 . � g 2 'ti¥ x c 4 ! ) 7 . . . 'ti¥ b 4 ! 8 . l"l e2 'ti¥xc4! and White has problems.

Ae2) 2 . . 'ti¥ b 6 3 . c 4 l"l a 5 ( 3 . . . l"l c 5 4 .'E..'t d 4 ! 'I¥1 a 5 5 . l"l e 4 + - ) 4 . 'ti¥ d 3 ! ( 4 .'i)1 f4 ! ? 'I¥1 c 7 5 . 'I¥1 d 2 f6 6 . f4 � d 6

Ad 1 2) 4 . 'ti¥e4 'ti¥c5 + 5 .�h l l"l d 5 6 . l"l fl

7 . .!'1 e 8 +

'Ii1xc3 7 . fx e 5 'ti¥xe5 (7 . . . l"l x e 5 8. 'ti¥f4 )

( 4 . . . l"l x a 2 5 . c 5 ! 'ti¥ c 7 6 . l"l x e 5 + - ) 5 . f4 f6 6 . fx e 5 l"l x e 5 7 . l"l x e 5 fx e 5 ( 7 . . . -& x e 5 8 . 'ti¥ d 8 + � f7 9 . 'ti¥ f8 + � e 6 1 0 . � e 8 + � d 6 1 1 . � f4 -& x f4

H . �xe5 l"l xe 5 9 . l"l xf6+-, e . g . 9 . . . l"l eS 1 0 . 'it' g 2 c 5 1 1 . � f3 c4 1 2 . l"l d 6 b 5 0 2 . . . l"l cS 1 3 . l"l d 7 c3 1 4 . l"l g7 + �h8

.

� f7

S . l"l h S )

4 . . . 'ti¥c 7

1 5 . l"l x b7 c 2 1 6 . Ac 1 ) 1 3 . l"l d7

1 2 . �b 8 + , x f4 + - ) S . 'I¥1a 3 ! + -

A d 2 ) 3 . . . 'ti¥c4 ! A d 2 1 ) 4 . fx e 5 l"l x e 5 ( 4 . . . � x g 4 + ?

Ae3)

5 . �g3 'ti¥ x g 3 + 6. hxg3 l"l x e 5 7 . l"l x e 5 fx e 5 8 . �f2 �f7 9 . � e 3 + - ) 5 . 'ti¥g 3 l"l x e l + 6 . � x e l 'ti¥ x g4 + , unclear/= A d 2 2 ) 4 . 'ti¥ x a 7 l"l dS ( u n c l ear/=) 5 . 'ti¥ b 6 ( 5 . 'ti¥ a 5 l"l c S or 5 . . . l"l e S ! ? )

5 . . . l"l d 2 6 . 'ti¥ a 5 �f7 7 . 'ti¥ a 7 'ti¥ e 6 !

2 . . . -& b 2

3 . c4

f5

(3...§a5

4 . itfd 3 + - ) 4 . g x f5 ..Il x h 2 + 5 . � g 2 ( 5 . � x h 2 ) 5 . . . l"l e 5 6 . itf d 3 + Ae4) 2 . . . 'ti¥ a 5 3 . c4

A e4 1 ) 3 . . . l"l c 5 4 . § d l ( 4 . f4 ! ?) 4 . . . itfc7 (4 . . . f6 5 . f4 + - or 5 . § d7 + - ) 5 . f4 f 6 6 . fx e 5 + - or 6 . '� d 3 + ­ A e 4 2 ) 3 . . f 5 4 . 'ti¥ e 2 ! l"l c 5 ( 4 . . . § d4 5 . 'I¥1 x e 5 + - ) 5 . .11 f4 ! .11 x f4 6 . 'ti¥ e S +

(7 . . .�c7?? 8 . 'ti¥ e 3 + - ) 8 . 'ti¥ x b 7 + �eS 9 . 'ti¥b8+ � d 7 1 0 . 'ti¥b7 + � e 8 =

� g 7 7 . l"l e 7 + � f6/� h 6 8 . h 4 a n d

Ae) The only m o v e to hit B l ac k ' s Achi l les heel i s 2 . 'ti¥e4!

B) The line 1 .g4! �c2?

Black's king is caught in a mating net.

induces fantastic comp l ications . The queen stalks to the critical zone, shifts her influence mainly to the l i ght squares (d3 , e4, f5 ) and in particular toys with the freeing move f7-f5 . White has to act quickly.

The threat c4 reveals the unfortunate position of the enemy's major pieces. As there is nothing better than to remove the queen from b5, the move 1 . . . 'ti¥b5? . . turns out to be an irreparable loss of time. .

Ae t ) The d i rect 2 . . . f5 fai l s to 3 . gxf5 gxf5 4 . 'ti¥g 2 + �f7 (4 . . . �h8 5 . �g 7 + .ki x g 7 6 . l"l e S + A fS 7 . l"l x fS # ) 5 . 'I¥1 g 5 ! + - ( 5 . . . � d 3 6 . 'I¥1 h 5 + � e 7

B a ) 2 . l"l x e 5 ?? l"l x e 5 3 . -& f6 'ti¥ d l + C 3 . . . l"l e l + ? ? 4 . � g 2 'ti¥ e 4 + 5 . � h 3 'ti¥ e 5 6 . 'ti¥ d 8 + 'ti¥ e 8 7 . 'ti¥ f6 'ti¥ e 5

1 19

Middlegame Tactics 8 . '{ii' d 8 + = ) 4 . � g 2 \ij x g 4 + ii h 3 + 6 . � g l l"! e l "

5 . �f l

B b ) 2 . �g 2 ? f5 ! =+ B c ) 2 . w f6? � c 1 3 . '& x e 5 � x h 6 4 . \�ff6!? 'iii f8 5 . .§ e7 b 5 6 . .§ x a7 w i th approx i mately equal chances Bd) 2 :iio\'e 3! is doubtlessly strongest. At th i s sal i ent p o i n t Dv orets k y ' s annotations end with the commentary "very unpleasant for B l ack" . But the dance has j ust started: B d I ) 2 . . . .§ a 5 ? 3 . �d 4 ! + B d 2 ) 2 . . . b 6 3 . f4 ! ? .§ d2 4 :f'ih 3 ! '§ e 2 ( 4 . . . .§ d l 5 . � fl ) 5 . .§ x e 2 � x e 2 6 . fx e 5 � d l + 7 . �f2 � c 2 + 8 . � e l e3 .£Ixh3 3 2 . .§g3

In this position Kanstler gives White a clear edge i n CBM 55

1 -0 , L . Hazai 1 994

17 . . . A x f3 18.gx f3 1 8 . � x d8 f':k x d 8 1 9 . 9 x f3 2 0 . .§ e 7 w i t h a m i n i m a l

1 I 1 9 . . . �d3!?

.§ x d 4

white

.•.

H. Danielsen, Val by

( Kramn i k)

20. E!, x c8

advantage in the endgame. 18

-

( 2 0 . .§ c 7 ? 2 0 . .£I d 6? tLl g 8 = ) 2 0 . . . � x c 1 ( 2 0 . . . .§ x c l ? ? 2 1 . � x f8 + 2 1 . .§ x c I 2 2 . tLl f7 "" ) .£Ig8

'/t x d4

( 2 1 . � x f8 + ? !

.§ x f8

2 2 . .§ x c I

.£l d 5 � ) 2 1 . . . .§ x c l + 2 2 . 'it> g 2 .§ a 8 = 20 . . . E!, x c8

The knight now penetrates into the black position with tempo v i a d6. But not 1 9 . � x a 7 ? due to 19 . . . tLlg4 ! 2 0 . tLle 4 ( 2 0 . fx g 4 ??

� x f2 +

2 2.'itl g l

�xg4 +

2 1 . 'it> h 1

� f3 +

2 3 .'.t' h l

.§ f2

2 1 .�d6! E!,b8?

24.�b7 .§cf8 with the irresistible threat of 2 5 . . . .§ x h 2 + 2 6 . 'it> x h 2 .§ f2 + 2 7 . h l � h 3 + 2 0 . . . tLl e 5

2 8 . g l

2 1 . . . .§ a 8 !

2 2 . {) f7 +

g8

2 3 . �e 6

h6! (23 . . .h5? 2 4 . tLl g 5 + h 8 2 5 . � f5 + -) 2 4 . tLl x h 6 + 'it> h 7 ±

� h 2 "" )

19 . '/t xb2? ..

Kasparov has used up almost three­ quarters of his time. N igel Short, who c h a l l e n ge d K a s p ar o v in 1 9 9 3 i n London, said B lack's position i s already completely lost. Alternatives are: I 1 9 . . . �f4 2 0 . .§ x c 8 .§ x c8 2 1 . tLl d 6 A) 2 1 . . .§ a 8 2 2 . tLl e 8 tLl x e 8 ( 2 2 . . .{)h5!?, H . Langrock) 23 .�xe8+ �f8 2 4 . � x f8 + .§ x f8 25 . .§ e 7 ± 8 ) 2 1 . . . � x f3 ? 2 2 . {) x c 8 � g 4 + 2 3 . 'it> f l �h3+ 2 4 . 'it> e 2 � x c8 .

A devilish knight/queen battery ! 1 39

M i ddlegame Tactics 23

.••

The fo l l o w i n g game shows s i m i l ar motifs.

§f8(?!)

There is no patent recipe: I 2 3 . . . h 5 2 4 . � g 5 + � h S 2 5 . 'iff f 5 + ­

W. Browne (2550)

( Fritz6). The attack i s based o n ideas l i ke El e6xf6, El e7 , 'iff g6 and it cannot be stopped (the white king has a safe spot on g 2 ) , e . g . 2 5 . . . 'iff x a 2 2 6 . El e7 'iff a 3

2 7 . i'H 7

�gS

2S.h4

-

L. Ljubojevic (2605)

Tilburg 1 978

El fS

2 9 . El x f6

El x f6

3 0 . 'iff h 7 +

� f8

3 1 . 'iff h S +

�e7

3 2 . 'iff x g 7 +

�e8

2 4 . �h 6 +

�h8

3 3 . 't:·h f6 + 11

2 3 . . . El e S ?

( 2 4 . . . � f8

2 5 . 'iff f7 # )

2 5 . 'iff g 8 +

.§ x g S 2 6 . 4J f7 # I I I 23 . . . h6 2 4 . �� x h 6 + �h7 2 5 . 'iff h 3

White to move (Position after 1 3 . . . 'iff e 7?!)

El e S 2 6 . 4J f5 + � g S 2 7 . 4J e 7 + � fS 2 S . '�e6 g5 2 9 . El e 5 + - ( S c h u l z/CBM)

14.Ad5!!

24./ildS+ 'it'hS 25. t:/e7

N ot : I 1 4 . A x f6 ? 4J x f6 1 5 . � x e 6 fx e 6 1 6 . El x e 6 'iff f7 ( 1 6 . . . � d 5 1 7 . Ei x e 7 Axb3

l S . Ei x a 7 � d 5 + ) 1 7 . 4J g 5 A d 5 1 8 . � x b4 'iff h 5 1 9 . Ei e 5 4J g 4 2 0 . 4J h 3 4J x e 5 2 1 .dxe5 �xg2 2 2 . � x g 2 'iff f3 + 2 3 . � g l 'iff x h 3 - + 1 1 1 4 . d 5 ? ! 'iff c 5 1 5 . d x e 6 � x c 4 =

B l a c k re s i g n e d - 1 - 0 1 2 5 . . J ! x dS ( 2 5 . . El e 8 ? 2 6 . 'iff x e S + 4J x e S .

2 7 . El x e S # )

2 6 . 'iff x d S +

4Jg8

2 7 . 'iff d 5 + - ) At h a l f t i m e many h a d

predicted that the next deci sive game would settle the match. It would seem that it was now al l over in favor of Kramnik, but could Kasparov turn it around one more time, as he has done so often in the past? We now know that he didn't manage to alter the course of e v e n t s and l o s t t h e m a t c h . O u r congratulations t o V l adimir Kramnik for this great achievement.

14 . . Aa6 .

I 1 4 . . . A x d 5 ? 1 5 . 4J x d 5 + II

1 4 . . . Ei bS

1 5 . � x h7

�xc3

1 6 . 'iff x c 3 Ei x b 7 1 7 . d 5 ±

III

1 4 . . . Ei x c 3 ?

1 5.hxc3

.l1. x d 5

1 6 . 'iff x h 4 + -

I V 1 4 . . . A x c 3 ! ? i s re l a t i v e l y b e s t : 1 5 . .(t x b 7 A x e l 1 7 . ..\l x c 8 A a 5 ;l;

1 6 . Ei x c S

E"i x c S

Instead 1 5 . . . �a5!? was i nteresting, e.g. 1 6 . a 3 h 6 1 7 . A x f6 4J x f6 and now : 1 40

Conj unction of Tactical M ethods I 1 8 . b4

10.cxd5 exd5 11 .4)e5 Ele8 I2.4) xd7 4) xd7 13.4)c4 Ae7 I4.dxc5 4) xc5 I5.4)e3 4)e4 I6.4)f5 Af6 I7.4)d4 Elc8 I 8 . El e l El c 5 I 9 . �d3 �c8 20.E!fdI Aa6 2I .�bI h5 22.h4

E!. xc3 1 9 . E!. xc3 o�xd5 2 0 . E!. c 2

( 2 0 . E!. b3 E!. cS) 20 . . . 4J x b 4 , unclear 11 Even after I S.Al.a2!? �b7 matters are sti l l not clear, e.g. 1 9 .b4 ,Q,xf3 20 .gx f3

;Dh5 2 1 .hxa5 ( 2 1 . .£le2 itfg5 + 22.�hl � x c 1 2 3 . E!. x c 1 h 5 2 4 . � x a 5 �d2

2 5 . i;¥xh5 �Df4) 2 1 . . .4:)f4 2 2 . '§'h5 E!.c5 2 3 . �fl E!. h 5 2 4 . E!. e 5 E!. x h 2 2 5 . � x h 2 * h 4 + 2 6 . � g l cDh3+

I6.bxc3 4) b8 I7.Ab3 b5?! I8 ..l�/a5 �b7?! I9.Axf6 gxf6

Black to move

22 ... �g4!?

As White's heavy pieces are all on the q ueenside, B lack starts a king attack. I f 22 . . �c3?! then W hite could conso l idate his position with 23.�xc3 .

20.d5!

E!. x c 3 2 4 . e 3

the decisive advance

23.f3!

20 ... exd5

But not: I 2 3 . e 3 ? "D x f2 ! 2 4 . 'it' x f2

2 0 e 5 2 1 . � h 4 �d7 2 2 . � h4 'it'g 7 2 3 . E!. e 3 + . . .

2 I . � b 4 � d7 23.4)d4 1 -0

2 2 . �h4

'it>g7

The next encounter could also be grouped in the section on specu lative sacrifices. A.

Brenke (235 7) K. Muller (25 1 3) Lippstadt 2000 C l osed Catalan ( EOO) -

Analysis 2 4 . . . E!. x e3 ! ! 2 5 . 'it'xe3 � x g 3 + 2 6 . �f3 ( 26. �f3 ..Q.xh4-+ ) 26 . . ,,\lxh4-+ 1 1 2 3 .. ·IU3 ? �g6 2 4 . ..Q . g 2 ( 2 4 . �g 2 ? ,\l x h 4 2 5 . E!. h l E!. x c 1 2 6 . E!. x c 1

l .d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.4)f3 4) f6 4.g3 4) bd7 5 . Ag2 Ad6 6 . 4) bd2 0-0 7 . 0 - 0 b 6 8.b3 A b 7 9 . A b 2 c5

141

Middlegame Tactics � f6- + ) 2 4 . . Jh c 1 2 5 . § x c 1 A x d 4 2 6 . A x d 4 j}, x e 2 n . § c 7 i1 g 4 a n d Black's attack i s very dangerous . 23 . . . � xg3 24.fxe4 J3 x e4 2S . .£lfS!

2 5 . § x c 5 ? 'li! e 3 + 2 6 . 'it' fl A x h 4 2 7 . 3 c 8 + A x e8 2 8 . A x e 4 \;!f2 "" 2S . . . �g4! 2 5 . . . \;! x g 2 + ? w o u l d go t o o fa r : 2 6 . � x g 2 § x e 2 + 2 7 . 'it' h l § x b 2 28.�e7 + + -

Rainer Knaak Knaak On Missed/Seized Opportunities

We would like to thank Grandmaster R a i n e r K n a a k for p r o v i d i n g t h e fol lowing examples.

26 . .§ xcS bxcS

Z.

2 6 . . . § x e 2 2 7 . "� e 3 \;!f4 2 8 . § e x d 5 \;!f2 + 2 9 . 'it' h l \;! x h 4 + 3 0 . 'it' g l \;! f 2 + =

Lanka (2440) - R . Knaak (2520) Jurmala 1 97 8

27.Jl. x f6?

In t i m e trou b l e D r. B re n k e m i ss e d 2 7 . d ! According to Fritz 6 this leads

to e q u a l i ty after 27 . . . 'li! x f5 2 8 . it x f6 \;! x f6 2 9 . Ax e 4 dxe4 3 0 . 'li! x e 4 .Q, e 2 31 .§el

Ag4 =

27 . . . .§ xe2

White t o move (+-) ( Position after 3 1 . . . h7)

It's all over now. 2S . .£l e 3 Ei x e 3 2 9 . Ei x d S g x f6 30.Eid2 � x h4 - 0- 1 (The forego ing analysis i s based on Karsten MUl ler's article for the German magazine Schach. No. 8/2000, p . 5 6 . )

32 . .£le4? 3 2 . cI1 x d 5 ! ! 4J d 2 + (32 . . .exd5 4J x fl 3 3 . a l 3 3 . 4J x d 5 + - ) 3 4 . 4J e 4 + - ( G ip s l i s )

1 42

Conj unction of Tactical Methods 30.Ae7!?

j ust a trap . . . 3o ... A x d4??

A lso not 30 . . . .ll x d3? 3 1 . .ll x fS 'i£r x d4 3 2 . '& x f7 + �h7 3 3 . f4 �h6 34 . .ll e 7 �h5

35 .. .il g 5 + - ,

3 1 . "t'1 x b 7

l1 x d 4

but

30 . . . l"! c 8 !

3 2 . .11 d 6

.ll e 5 +

3 3 . f4 ..I1. x d 6 - +

Analysis

3 1 . A x f7+! § x f7

3 4 . . . �d8 3 5 . 4:J f6 + � x f6 3 6 . e x f6

3 1 . . . '1t> g7?

e x d 5 3 7 . 4:J e 7 ! l"! x e 7 3 8 . � x e 7 + -

3 2 . .ll x f8 +

� x f8

3 3 . � d 6 + � x f7 3 4 . l"! x d 4 + -

32 .. . d x e4 33 .!£)f8+ c 2 E! c l + 23.'5t>d3 hl� 24.b8�

Bishop Endings

Positional considerations can be m ore i mportant than materi a l . The interested reader is advised to study Dvoretsky's tre a t m e n t i n Tec h n i q u e for th e Tournament Player ( for another well­ known example o f this theme see our analysis of Vidmar vs. Spielmann, St. Petersburg 1 909 in chapter AS ) . The fi rst example shows that it's someti mes necessary to sacrifice pawns to create another passed pawn.

1 74

Opposite-Colored Bi shops

K. Bischofl (253 3) A. Khalifman (2690) German Bundesliga 200 I

The next two examples show simi lar themes. Grope in the Dark (Triangulation and Zugzwang) F.

Geisler (2330) - J. Heissler (2440) German Bundesliga 1 995

Black to move

A l exander Khal i fman demonstrated superb technique: 52 ...�f5 53.�e3 �g4 54.�f2 f5 55.Ab2 Ae8 56.Ac3

White to move (+-)

N umerous games prove that in the final phase of a game, when the ranks are thinned, p l ayers m i s s their chances again and again. The so-cal led "simple endgames" are a different kettle of fish and a c tu a l ly m i s t a k e s are q u i te common . The case in question shows a dispute about opposite-colored bi shops where delicacy and precision are cal led for. a n d n ow c o m e s the dec i s i v e b l o w 56 ... g511 0- 1

I

B i schoff resigned because the creation a t h i rd b l ac k p a s s e d pawn w i l l d e s t r o y h i s fo rtre s s , e . g . 5 7 . fx g 5

In the game happened

1 . A xg6?

of

wasting a v ital tempo, which allows B lack to save himselfby a clever change of d iagonals .

( 57 .hxg5 h4 58. gxh4 'it' x f4 5 9 . 1 U6 'it' e 4 6 0 . A a l d 5 6 1 . A b 2 Il h 5 6 2 . A a l d4 6 3 . Ab 2 f4 - + ) 5 7 . . . f4 5 8 . g x f4 'itt x h 4 5 9 . 'itt f3

1 ... Af2 2.�d7 Ag3! =

( 5 9 . Af6 'itt g 4- + ) 59 . . . Ag6 ( B l ac k ' s

bishop h a s all h i s duties on one and the same diagonal . This principle of one diagonal i s very important ! ) 60. Af6

( See diagram top of next page)

�h 3- +

1 75

Tactical Endgames

3 . �c6 Af4 4 . cif1c7 Ag3 5 . Ad3 Af4 6 . A b 5 Ag3 7 . A d 7 Af4 S.Ab5 Ag3 9.cif1c6 cif1eS lO.cif1c7+ cif1fS VI-VI

Analysis It s e e m s t h a t a l l w a y s end at th i s zugzwang position. 8 ) 1. .. A e 3 2 .'� c8 A b 6 3 . ll x g6

11

Later the Czech Grand master Pavel B l atny d i s covered that Wh ite ' s superi ority would have led to a study­ l i ke victory after

.

( 3 . 'lft h 7 .l1 d 8 4 .Q. x g 6 � g 7 5 . 0. h 5 .

.

i s s i m i lar to the text) 3 . . . � g7 4 . .Q.. h 'i

1 .cif1d7! 2 . Axg6 ..Q.. e 3 1 .�d5? .Q.. f4 ! = ) 2 A f4 ! 3 . � c 6

Ne ither ( 2 . ' g 7 4 . -'1. h 5 fH ( 4 . 'b 7 ! .QJ2

67 . . . tt e 8 w a s c a l l e d fo r : 6S . ;t> c 7 ;t> f7 6 9 . tt cl 7 A f4 7 0 . A h 5 + tt fS ( 7 0 . . . tt f6? 7 1 . tt c 6 � g 3 7 2 . .Q.g4 + ­

) 7 1 . tte6 �g3 n . d 7 .il c 7 7 3 . A e 2

Acl 8 7 4 . tt d 6 A b 6 7 5 . ;t> c 6 .\lcl S =

( Steffen Pedersen i n Test your Chess ) 68.d7 C:;e7 69.C:;b6 C:;d8

l O . cl 7 ;t>e7 1 1 . ;t> c 7 + -

B d ) 6 . . . ttfS 7.11,h5 .Q.e3 8 . ;t>cS Ab6

69 . . . A d 2 7 0 . tt c 7 Af4 + 7 1 . ;t> c 8 + -

70. C:; x a5 C:;c7 71 .C:;b5 Ae3 72.a5 Af2 7 3 . C:; c 4 A e l 7 4 . a 6 A h 4 7 5 . C:;d 4 A f 2 + 7 6 . C:; d 5 A h 4 77.Af3 C:;b6 78.Ae2 C:;c7 79.Afl C:;b8 80.C:;e6 - 1-0. "Most Amazing Move Ever" V.

Topa/ov (2 740) - A. Shirov (2 71 0)

Analysis

Li nares 1 99 8

White must lose a tempo here. This is a c c o m p l i s h e d b y a tr i a n gu l at i o n : 9 . ttb7! C 9 . ;t>bS! i s possible as w e l l ) 9 . . . A d S 1 0 . ;t> b S ! A b 6 1 1 . ;t> c 8 ! + ­ a s above.

Thi s wonderful example i s taken from Fundamental Chess Endings ( N o . 4 . 60). The fasci nating fi n i sh i nspired British Chess Magazine to start a search for the Most Amazing Move of all Time a n d the p a n e l of j u d g e s voted fo r S h i rov 's 4 7 . . . Ah3 ! !

Missed D rawing Set-Up V.

Kovacevic (2545) - L. Day (2380) Toronto 1 989

Black t o move (-+)

B l ack has only one move to win, namely 1 . . . Ah3 ! ! . " S c h i rows Geniestreich"

Black to move ( ) =

1 77

Tactical Endgames 11

but 5 . �d3 a3 6.Af6 a2 7 . Ae5 f4

( Sh i rov 's stroke of genius) they cal l it in Schach 4/98. "It's a very sharp way of h i gh l i ghting the bi shop's relative value in endgames w i th opposite­ col ored bishops . " (J an Timman in New in Chess Magazine 4/9 8 ) . B l ack frees the route for h i s king via f5 -e4 without loss of tempo.

4 . . . d4!

I 1 . . . �e4? al lows White to insta l l an u n b reakab l e defen s i v e set- u p : 2 . g3 � f5 ( 2 . . f5 3 . �f2 f4 4 . g x f4 'it'f5 5 . �e 3

'it'g4

Now the pawns can 't be stopped on one diagonal anymore (since the principle of one diagonal is violated here).

�g2

8 . �d6

5.Ae7

8 . la.a l 'it'h4 9 . 'it'e 2 'it'c4 1 0 . 'it'f3 d 4

1 1 . � x f4

3.lit'f2 Iit'e4! 4.Axf6 4 . �e2 f5 - + ( S h i rov )

.

.

6 . A f6

'it' g 3

7 . A. e 7

�f1 9 . £1 b 4 = ) 3 . � f2 = ( F o r m o re d e t a i l s s e e Fundamental Chess Endings N o . 4.60) 11 1 . . . � d 6 ? 2 . �f2 �c5 3 . 'it' e 3 = .

5 . .£1 g 5 'it' d 3 6 . 'it' e l � c 2 - +

5 . . . lit'd3! 6.Ac5 Iit'c4!

2.gx h3

Refu s i n g the G reek g i ft w i t h 2 .'it'f2 doesn ' t h e l p e i th e r s i nce the m o t i f r e p e a t s i t s e l f a ft e r 2 . . . � f5 3 . 'it' f3 .Q. x g 2 + 4 . � x g 2 �e4 - + [ S h i ro v I n Ch ess Informant 72/(4 1 5)] 2 ... lit'f5!

6.

d3-+)

�c3?

7 .�e2=

Until this point all of B l ack's moves were unique, which increases the value of the combination considerably. Only now he has a choice : 7 . . . lit'b3 ( or 7 . .'�(3) .

and Topalov resigned 0-1 because of

.

( 7 . � f4

. .

7.Ae7

After 2 . . . f5? Whi te is able to stop the horde of pawns by 3 . �f2 'it'd6 4 . 'it'e3 �c5 and now I not 5 . Q.d4 + ? 'it'c4 6 . lt b 2 d 4 + 7 . . \h d 4

�d 5 =

8 . Ac 5 d 3 9 . � e 3 'it'c2 l O . la. b 4 a 3 -

7 . . . f4 +

+ (L. Ftacnik).

8 . �e 4 f3 9 lle 3 a3 l O . 'it' x f3 a 2 - + ..

1 78

Same-Colored Bi shops break repeat e d l y ) 4 . . e 4 5 . fx e 4 f3

B2) Same-Colored Bishops

.

6.Ac8 f2 7 . Ah3 f1 '?h 8.11xfl Axfl -+

Ab) 3 . Axh5+ �xh5 4 . g6 �a6 5 . 'i!tc4

'i!tb6 6.�d3 'i!tb5 7 . �Jc3=

Good vs. Bad Bishop (Mec:hanb.ms of Zugzwang, Maneuvering)

B ) 1 . . . A e 2 2 . Ah 5 ,� d l ? (2 . � b 6 ! i s correct: 3 . �d2 Ac4 4 ,\,1,f7 sec l i ne C f2 a fter 3 �-.f7 ) 3 . itg4 'i!ta6 ( N o t 3 . e 4 ? ? 4 . .a d 7 + 'i!t h 6 5 . fx e 4 f3 6 . �d2 f2 7 . Ah3 + - . B l ac k can play the advance e5 -e4 only when White's bi shop is on h5 and/or Black 's king i s on b6/a6 . I t i s n o t pos s i b l e t o bring a b o u t t h e c r i t i c a l p o s i t i o n b Ad l / wAg4 with White to move and to force h i m to play Ag4 -h 5 , s i nce W h i t e ' s king can u s e corresponding squares to B l ack's king). But after the text move one s a m p l e l i n e run s : 4 . � d 3 ! 'i!tb6 5 . 'i!td2 .Q. b 3 6 . Ae 6 .Q.c4 7 . A f7 � b 5 8 . 'i!t c 3 A e 2 9 . Ah 5 a n d w e have reached the posi tion after 2 .Ah5 again. . .

..

" M onochromy i s a sin against the two­ c o l ored nature of the chess board", Hans Kmoch ( 1 894- 1 973) wrote in his famous book Pawn Power in Chess . Flowery words, but "insutlicient control of squares of the same color" w i l l be an " evergreen" theme as long as we p l ay our beloved game.

. .

. .

The fol l owing example shows White suffering from this d ilemma. Black has the much better bishop and m anaged to win by in structive maneuvering and zugzwang mechanisms. We start from the adj ourned position.

A. Martorelli (23 1 5) ­ CD. Meyer (2335) Reggi o Emilia (II) 1 985/86

C ) 1 . . . �b6 Ca) 2 . Ae4 �a6 C a l l 3 . 'i!t h 2 �b5

4 . 'i!t h 3

.Q. e 2

5 . �c3 Ac4

White to move (-+) I 1 . Ag6! This tenacious continuation isn't easy to refute : A ) 1 . . . 'i!t a 4 ? s p o i l s i t b e c a u s e o f 2 . Q.e8+ Ab5 and now: Aa) 3 . Ac6? ( returns the compliment)

Analysis This position on the other hand is won for Black, whoever moves first!

.

:L . g 6 !

4 . Ah7

(4 .. I h h 5 +

6 . g 6 ,Q. e 2 7 . � d 2 ( 7 . �b 3 .Q. f 1 8 . � c 3 Ac 4 - + , z u g z w a n g ) 7 . . . .£tfl 8 . �c3 ,Q.,c4 - + , zugzwang

'i!t x b 5

5 . 'i!tb3 e4- + , we w i l l s e e t h i s pawn

1 79

Tactical Endgames Ca2) 3 . ,llg6 ile2 (3 . . . �b5 leads to the same : 4 . .\le8+ �b6 5 . ilg6 ild 6 . ile4 �b5 , see the posi t i o n after 7 . . . ile2 ) 4 . .,>le4 �b6 5 .�c2 � b 5 6.�b3 Ac4 + 7 . �d .Ile2 8 . �b3/�d 2 ,(HI 9 . �c3 .\ic4 - + , zugzwang C b ) 2 . . 11. h 5 C b I ) 2 . . "Q.,g2 3 . � c 4 < 3 . � d 3 � b 5 4 . �c 3 e 4 - + ) 3 . . . e 4 - + C b 2 ) 2 . . . il e 2 3 . � d 2 .\l c 4 4 . ..Q.J7 leads to the key position, variation C f2 ( a fter 3 . .1lf7 ) C c ) 2 . �b 2 ,Q,e2 3 . ile4 �b5 4 . �b3

3 . . . Ab3? 4 . il e 6 �b5 5 . � c 3 .\l d l 6 . . l1g4 , and we have reached the same

pos ition as in l i ne B above after 3 . . \lg4 - B lack can ' t make progress ) 4 . . \le6 ( 4 . � c 3 il e 2 5 . il h 5 e 4 - + ) 4 . . . � b 5 5 . �c 3 .il e 2 6 . Ag 4 Ad l (zugzwang) 7 . .\l h 5 O . g 6 A e 2 - + , z u g z w a n g ; 7 . � d 2 ,l1b 3 - + ) 7 . . . e 4 - + 1 1 A fter I . Af5 ile 2 2 . Ag4 ( 2 . .\le4

ilc4 - + ) 2 . . . Ad l ( zugzwang) we are

in line C f2 , position after 6 . . . ild l I I I 1.�b3 (game; the sealed move i s not the strongest) 1 . . . Ae2 2.�c3 Ac4 (zugzwang) 3.g6 Aft ( 3 . . , ,\le2 i s faster: 4 . �b3 Afl and s o on) 4.Af5 Ae2 5 . Ag4 A d l 6 . Ad7+ �b6 7 . Ag4 e4 8 . � d 2 A x f3 9 . A x f3 e x f3 IO.�el �b5 1 1 .�f2 � x b4 1 2 .� x f3 �c5 13.� x f4

il c 4 + 5 . � c 3 ( 5 . � a 3 il e 2 6 . � b 3 il f l 7 . � a 3 .ll c 4 8 . g 6 il e 2 9 . � b 3

ilJl

l O . � c 3 il c 4 - + , s e e a b o v e )

5 . . . il e 2

6. �b3/�d2

6 . . . .1l f l

7 . �c3 ..Q.,c4 - + , s e e above

C d ) 2 . �b3 ile2 3 . .1le4 �b5 4 . �c 3 il c 4 - +

C e ) 2 . � c 2 il e 2 3 . .1le4 � b 5 - + C f) 2 . � d 2 C f t ) 2 . . . � a 6 3 . ..Il f5 � b 6 ( 3 . . . .llc4

4 . il e 6 �b5

5 . � c 3 .l1 e 2 6 "Q. g 4 )

4 .ilg6 only repeats the position w ith 2 .�d2

C f2 ) 2 . . . il c 4 ! 3 . A f7 < 3 . A e 4 � b 5 + , see above)

1 3 . . . � d 4 ( 1 3 . . . � x d 5 ? ? l 4 . � f5 = ) 14.�g4 �e4 15.�g5 �e5 16.�g4 �f6 0-1

The fol lowing two examples highl ight again that king marches often play a key ro le. Analysis ( Now we have reached the key position. B l ack w i n s b y a c l ev e r m a n e u v e r ) 3 . . . �-7 a 6 ! ! ( Th e t r i a n g u l a t i o n � b 5 b 6 - a 6 - b 5 c o m b i n e d w i t h . . . il e 2 forces White's b i shop to h 5 . B u t not l 80

Same-Colored B i shops To prevent White from playing �f3 and

Tu rning the E nemy's Fla n k ( I )

g4 (=), and to create a weakness on g3 .

L. van We/y (2400) V. Kramnik (2450) Arnhem ( European Junior 's Ch)

1 990/9 1 )

40.Ac3

g4

4 1 . h4

,Q" c 7 - +

The h ighly tal ented boy from Tuapse ( B lack Sea, * 1 97 5 ) though already one o f t h e fa v o r i t e s , d i d n o t w i n t h e c h a m p i o n s h i p ( t h i rd p l ac e ) , w h i c h s u rpr i s ingly the N orwegian I M Rune Dj urhuus did. For the tournament book Kramnik said the game with (the "Dutch h ope") IM Loek van Wely was "maybe h i s best" in Arnhem . As a matter of fact Kramnik got a special price for the most i n teresting endgame. The writer of these notes, in Arnhem second of the West East G e rm a n G e rm an and representat i v e s (Karsten M u l ler and M ichael Schwarz), publi shed the very cx citing and instructive e n dgame w ith o r i g i n a l an a l y s i s by t h e w i n n e r i n Sellaeh Magazin 6 4 ( 1 6/9 1 ) .

..a d S 4 2 . .ll e l

40 . . . g4+ 41.h xg4+ h xg4+ 42.'it'e3 Ae7 4 3 . Ac3 Ad6 44.Ael 'it'e6 45.'it'd3

The idea of bri n gi n g the bishop to 14 a l s o l o s e s : 4 5 s1lf2 tt'd7 [ 4 '; . . . .Q.c7 ( w i n n i n g a t e m p o ) 4 6 . � e 2 d8 (The king m arches b a c k and u s e s t h e w e l l - k n o w n m e c h a n i s m to force the antagon i st step b y s t e p away) 5 0 . h5 5 1 . �c7 �e 7 ( S 1 . . . h4 S 2 . g x h 4 g x h 4 5 3 . 'i!1d 6 + - ) S 2 . ;!? c 6 + - ( 5 2 .Q.c8 + - )

Analysis A highly instructive and tricky ending. C o n c l u s io n : Essent i a l l y B l ac k manages to survive by a clever and well­ timed sacri tice o f h i s f-(d- )pawn.

. .

.

I n the fol l ow i ng example the attac ker also wants to break through.

49.\t1f8 �e6 50.�g7

,l b .) .OJ3 = ( p l a n f4 ) ; 5 0 0. x e 3 5 0 . \t>g 7 � f4 -; I :iY)xh6 ..Q.e4 and White resigned 0- 1 I S l . . .. Q.e4 5 2 . �h 5 .ilf3 w i th the idea . . . Q. x g4( +») ., 7 .

46.e4+!

.

Clearing the square e3. Alternatives are: 4 6 . \t>f2 �c4 A ) 4 7 . \t>f3 �c1 3 4 8 . � f2 ? ( 4 8 . e 4 ! ) 4 8 . . . \t> c 3 4 9 . � f3 ( 4 9 . e 4 � b 2 50.§xa2+ ,Q. x a 2 - + ) 49 . . . �b2 50.§xa2+ �xa2-+ B ) 4 7 . e4 � c1 4 4 8 . � f3 Jl x e 4 + 4 9 . \t>f2 il b l 5 0 . �f3 � c1 3 5 1 . �g3 � e 3 and B l a c k h a s a d e c i s i v e advantage (?) according to Seirawan in the Endgame Encyclopaedia (position no. 8 3 5 ) . However, the analysis of the m a i n v a r i a t i o n s h o w s t h at t h i s eval uation i s wrong. I

46.e4 �b3/�c3 47 . �e 3 147 . e 5 !i h 2 4 8 . § x a 2 + il x a 2 - + ( 4 9 . �e 4 �Le 6 S O . � c1 4 \t> c 2 5 1 . � c 5 � d 3 S 2 . \t>c1 6 Jl b 3 plus � e 4 - f4 » ) 4 7 . . \t>b2 4 8 . § x a 2 + J.t x a 2 4 9 . �c1 4 ;�i c 2 - + 11

.

I I I 4 6 . h 4 ( t o o l at e ) 4 6 . . . � b 3 4 7 . h xg5 hxg5 48.e4 (48. § xa 2 t/ x a 2 - + ) 48. . .� b 2 49. § xa2+ D. x a 2 - +

't .L . g x h 4 4 4 . \t> g 2 j; g '> 4 6 . e 4 =

�f6 4 5 . � h 3

1I 4 6 . �e 2 �c4 4 7 . � c1 2 �b4 ( 4 7 , .. � b 3 48 . § x a 2 = ) 4 8 . e4 ! ( 4 8 . § x a 2 ? .il x a 2 4 9 . � c1 3 Jl e 6 - + ) 4 8 . . . � c 4 4 9 . e 5 ! ( 4 9 . �e 3 ? � c 3 S O . e 5 � b 2 5 1 . § x a 2 + Jl x a 2 - + ) 4 9 . . . � c1 5 5 0 . �e 2 � x e 5 5 1 . � e 3 � d 5 leads t o the main l ine. B lack's king can take the pawn g4 at h i s leis u re

44.h x g 5 h x g 5 45.�f3 �d5

.

46

..•

.1}. x e4+

46 . . . �c14 i s no better: I 4 7 . �g3? �c3 48. �f2 ( 48 . e 5 �b2 49.§ xa2+ .Q. x a 2 - + ) 48. . .�b2 1 93

Tactical Endgames 5 2 . . . � h 4 5 3 . � h 2 g4 5 4 . �g 2 g 3 5 5 .�gl �h3 5 6 . �h l Jl e 4 + 5 7 . �g l Jl d 5 5 8 . § d l =

4 9 . 8 x a 2 + Jl x a 2 5 0 . �e 3 � c 3 - +

1 1 4 7 . �f2 � c 3 ( 4 7 . . . � d 3 4 8 . e 5 � c 3 4 9 . e6 \t> b 2 5 0 . e 7 = ) 4 8 . \t>e 3 � b 2 4 9 . 8 x a 2 + A x a 2 5 0 . \t>d 4 =

53.f2 g4 54.g2 g3 55.gl f3 56.f1

I I I 4 7 . e 5 Jle 4 + ( fo r 4 7 . . . � x e 5 48.�e3, see the m a i n l i ne) 4 8 . �e2 Jl d 5 4 9 . � d 2 A e 6 ( 4 9 . . . \t> x e 5 5 0 . \t>c 3 = ) 5 0 . \t> c 2 =

56.�hl � f2 57.§xa2+ 5 8 . § c 2 =I§ g 2 = 56 . . . Ad3+

47.e3 Abl 48.f2 48.�f3 \t>d4 makes no d i fference.

56 . . . g 2 + 5 7 . � g l A x a 2 sta l e m ate

48

57.gl Ac4 58.§c1 =

•••

�f1

e4

4 8 . . . �d4 4 9 . � f3 Jle4 + ( 4 9 . . . �d3 5 0 . \t>f2 �b2 \t> c 3 5 1 .�e3 5 2 . § x a 2 + = ) 5 0 . \t>f2 �>d 5 5 1 . \t> e 2 \t> e 4 5 2 . � d 2 = , e.g. 5 2 . . . �f4 53 .�c3 �xg4 5 4 . �b 2 �g3 5 5 . 8 c l g4 5 6 . 8 C 5 Ae6 5 7 . § g5 p l anning § xg4

�g3

58. 8 xa2

or 5 8 . �h l � d 5 5 9 . �g l = . I n a n y case Black can 't make progress. The next position is favorable for the b ishop due to the far advanced passed pawns. Space Clearance and Maneuvering

49.g3 e3 50.g2 f4 51.f2 x g4 5 2.g2

N. Mitkov (2335) R. Camejo (23 60) Amhem (European J unior 's Ch) 1 990/9 1 -

The only possible defense.

Analysis

Black to move (-+)

Black can 't achieve anything better than this position, w i th White having the vital opposition.

49

52

B l ac k t h o u g h t t o w i n e as i l y by f4+Ae4+�e3 w ith zugzwang. But the

•••

f4

1 94

.••

.1ld5?

Fortress or Not? 54 ... Ac6

passed a-pawn marches to a 7 , after which White can hold his own tactically. I 49

54 . . . f3? ? 5 5 . l::! e 7 + d 2 l"! x h 5 7 4 . �e l

70.g5!!

7 6 . CdgS l"! e 5 7 7 . t;t>d 3 ( 7 7 . d4

Th i s bri lliant resource saves Kasparov.

;!tf4 . and B l ack catches the steed. B) n . t;t> h 3 �g5 7 3 . t;t>g 3 l"! a 4 74 . 4Je3 l"! f4 - + , zugzwang

I 70 . . . l"! b3 + 7 1 . t;t>g4 �xe4 n . gxh6

1 1 7 0 . t;t> g 3 l"! f4 7 1 . � g 2 ( 7 1 . � h 2

�e5 7 3 . h7 ! ( 7 3 . �g 5 ? ? l"! g 3 + 7 6 . �h 3 7 4 . t;t> h 4 l"! g l 7 5 . h 7 � f4 l"! h l + 7 7 . � g 2 l"! x h 5 - + ) 7 3 . . . l"! b 8 7 4 . t;t> g 5 =

3 e 4 - + ) 7 1 . . . � h 4 n . x h 5 7 4 . t;t> g 3 l"! fS 7 5 . �g4 l"! gS-+ ( Kram n i k )

1 99

Tactical Endgames 1 1 70 . . . hxg'5 7 1 ..£Jxg'5 �f5 72 . .£Jh3=

1 . . .Ac3

71.4)f2 Elf4+

The only playable move as the bi shop belongs on the v ital long d iagonal. All the altern a t i v e s lose. For exa m p l e , 1 . . . . llh4? protects f6 for the moment, but the diagonal h4-d8 is too short : 2 . .§ f7 + 'iftg8 ( 2 . . . 'ift h 6/ h 8 3 . .§ f4 p l a n 'it' f7 p l u s .§ g 4 ) 3 . .§ f4 Ad8 < 3 . . . A e l 4 . 'ift f6 + - ) 4 . .§ a 4 'iftg7 5 J'!o a 7 + . S ince 'iftg8 is refuted by .§ a8 B lack has to leave h i s hostel under bad c i rc u m stan c e s : 5 . . . 'it'h6 6 . 'ift f7 h 5 7 . .§ a 4 + - . T h e p r o c e d u re w i l l b e examined more closely i n the following.

7 1 . . . h x g 5 7 2 . c?l d 3 + � f 5 73 . .£J x b 4 g 4 + 7 4 . 'it' g 3 'it' g 5 =

T h e draw w a s a g r e e d i n l i g h t o f 7 2 . . . h x g 5 7 3 . c?l d 3 + � f5 7 4 . .tl x f4 g x f4 + 7 5 . 'ift f3 g 5 ( b a s e d o n a n a rt i c l e b y K a r s t e n M U l i e r fo r t h e German Schach Magazin 64) . The next fortress is worth expl oring as it happens quite often in practical play. Also, we w i l l refer to it l ater on !

2.Elf7+

The Never-Ending Story (On Fortresses and Pseudo-Fortresse..., A Study in Three Parts) Part I : I ntroduction (Parameters)

2 ... �g8

Black to move ( ) =

The d i agrammed position deals with questions of fundamental importance for the fol lowing and for part 1 1 as wel l . Experts know that Black can construct a fo rtre s s here . A s m a l l test w i l l demonstrate.

200

Parameters

With 2 . . . g8! B l ack adopts a "wait and see" pol icy: I ) Black's king does not leave the squares g8 and g7 ( i f poss i b l e ) and h i nders White's king from advancing to fl .

Fortress or Not? 2) The bishop rules on the long diagonal l -h8 and oscillates on it (preferably on the squares c3 and d4) so that White's king is restrained from f6. When he threatens to enter via g5, then Black has to be able to defend with Af6 (e.g. w�g4/.§ c6/ ft h 3 b�g7 / A b Z /ft g6 and w�g4/ a

-

� b7 / ft h 3 - b�g8/.Q.c 3/ftg6 ) .

3 ) The black pawn stays firmly on g6 (on the opposite color of the bishop). 4) To achieve somethi ng against this waiting strategy White has to change the pawn structure. When he reaches for example the constellation w�e6/§. g4/ �h4 b�g8/Ac3/ftg6 and creates the threat h5, B lack's king has to leave the dangerous corner and escape via h7 h6 h 5 . White can then enter the enemy 's hostel, but with correct play both pawns tilll and the resulting endgame is drawn.

penetrate and capture the g-pawn or d e c i d e t h e d u e l between rook a n d b i s h o p i n h i s favor. The fo l l o w i n g c i rc u m s t a n c e s are a l s o w o r t h mentioning: a ) B lack can 't reach a solid defensive formation in the main l ine due to his lack of control over the critical entry squares t7 and f6, and b) B lack's king threatens now to attack the h-pawn and exchange it with g5-g4 . But as it stands Wh ite can prevent that by the maneuver §. f7 - c 7 - c 4 - g 4 . The importance o ft h i s rook l i ft t o the fourth rank w i l l be seen several times.

-

-

-

N ow we want to i l lustrate point 4 with line containing the typical ideas . First we deal with the false ways : a

Now we enter into deta i l s : 1 1 2 �h6? 3 . §. c7 ( p l an � f7 , §. c4g 4 ) 3 . . .Q.d 2 C 3 . . .Q. a 5 4 . §. c 5 .Q. b6 5 . §. b 5 ) 4 . �f6 A) 4 . . . .Q.f4 5 . §. c8 �h7 6 . §. c4 + B) 4 . . . .Q. e 3 5 . §. c4 �h 5 6 . §. g4 and now : B a ) 6 . . Ad2 . . .

.

.

.

I 2 Cit'hS? is too passive: 3 . §. c7 �a5 4 . §. d 7 Ac3 (4 . . . �g8 5 . � f6 + - ) S . §. d 3 A b 2 ( 5 . . . .Q. e l 6 . � f6 � h 7 7 . 'h5 8.1::! g2 Ac3 9.1::! h2 Ae 1 1 O.�f6 Ag3 ( l 0 . . Axh4+ 1 1 .�f5) 1 1 .1::! h 1 Af2 1 2 .\t>f5 Ae3 1 3 .1::! e 1 Af2 1 4 .1::! e4 Ab6 1 5 . 1::! a4 Ag l 1 6 .1::! c4 Ae3 1 7 . 1::! g4 Ad2 1 8. 1::! e4 Ac 1 1 9 .\t>e6 Ah6 20.\t>e5 Af8 2 1 . �f5 Ad6 2 2 .1::! e 6 Ah2 2 3 . 1::! e2 Ad6 24.1::! d2 Ac5 2 5 .\t>f4 Ae7 26.1::! d7 AfS 27.�g3 Ad6+ 28.\t>h3 Af8 29.1::! d5+ and so on. .

11 4 . . . Ae3 is also sufficient for a draw: 5 . 1::! g4 ( 5 . 1::! f7 Ad4 = as above) 5 . . . �h7 6 . \t>f6 A) 6 . . . Af2? 7 . 1::! x g6 A x h 4 + 8 . \t>f7 ( + - , C D-ROM) 8 . . . Ad8 9 . 1::! c6 Ah4 1 0 . 1::! c4 Ad8 ( 1 0 . . . Af2 1 1 . 1::! f4 Ag3 1 2 . 1::! f3 + - ) 1 1 . 1::! d4 Ag5 1 2 . 1::! d 3 + ­ B) 6 . . . \t> h 6 7 . 1::! x g6 + \t> h 5 8 . 1::! g3 Ab6 9. 1::! b3 ( 9 . 1::! h 3 \t>g4 = ) 9 . . . Ad8+ 1 0 .�f5 \t> x h 4 = ( C D­ ROM)

5. !ag4 'it'h7 6.'it'f7 'it'h6 7. !a xg6+ 'it'h5

4.!af4 4 . 1::! d7 Af2 5 . � f6 A x h 4 + 6 . \t> x g 6 'It' f 8 =

Conclusion : With Black's bishop on b2 or a I , White (to move) would win, but with the bishop on c3 or d4 B lack draws (CD-ROM) .

4 ... Ac3

8.!ac6 Ael

Two alternatives: I 4 . . Ab2? 5 . 1::! g4 \t>h7 6 . \t>f7 �h6 7. 1::! xg6+ +- and White wins as fol lows according to the endgame CD-ROM:

8 . . . Ad2? 9. 1::! c4 +-

.

9.!ac4 -'l x h4 10.'it'e6 'it'g5 =

203

Tactical Endgames In par t 1 1 w e deal w i t h much m o re

o m pl ex probl em s but at the end we ' l l see a tough fi ght about the para m eter s we have j u s t discussed.

c

,

5 1 . � f3 Q c 3 5 2 . § a 7 k b 2 5 3 . � e 4

.� c 3

54.�d5

Qb2

5 5 . �e6

Qc3

5 6 . § d 7 Ji. b 2 5 7 . § cl 2 A d 5 S . § g 2 �g 7 1 5 9 . § g 4 5 9 . h 4 1t' h 6 6 0 . � f7 'i!i h 5 6 1 . § x g 6

'i!i x h 4

6 2 .'� e 6 Q cl 2 =

59 . . . .\lh2 v,-v, The next s e t-u p is simi lar: S.

Arkhipov (2550) (2460) Moscow 1 9 8 5

- W. Wat.HJIl

Jan Timman

Practical Examples J. Timman (2605) A. Morozevich (2 742) Wij k aan Zee (Corus) 2002

Black t o move (=)

B l ack 's position is defensible despi te the loss of the f7 pawn:

67 . . . .\le5! 68. E! xf7+ g6 l"!a5 S 3 . l"! b8+ �e7 54 . l"! g8 l"!b5 5 5 . l"! xg7+ ·it>f8 56.�h7+I I I 50 . . . l"! a7? 5 1 .�h5! �f7 5 2 . l"! b8 l"! c7 5 3 . g 6 + «t> f6 5 4 . l"! f8 + � e 5 5 5 . f6 ! C 5 5 . l"! t7 ? l"! c 1 = ; 5 5 . � g 5 ? l"! c 1 = ) 5 5 . . . gxf6 5 6 . �h6 l"! c 1 5 7 . g7 l"! h l + 58.«t>g6 l"! g l + 59.�f7 f5 60.g8� l"! xg8 6 1 .�xg8+IV 5 0 . . . g6!? 5 1 . l"! b8 + 'it'f7 5 2 . l"! b7+ 'it' fB 5 3 . f6 C 5 3 . fx g 6 ? = ) 53 . . . l"! a 4 + (53 . . . l"! g2+? 54.'it'f4 l"! f2 + 55 .'it'g3 l"! f5 5 6 . «t>g4 p l an . . . l"! g7+-) 5 4 . 'it'f3 l"! a5 5 5 . «t>f4 l"! a 4 + 5 6 . 'it' e 5 l"! g4 = ( 56 . . . l"!a5+ !?) 57.«t>e6 l"! e4 + V 5 0 . . . l"! h2!? 5 1 . l"! b8+ (51 . l"! h 3 l"! g2 + 5 2 . «t> h 5 'it't7 5 3 . l"! a 3 g6+ 5 4 . fx g 6 + 'it' g 7 = ) 5 1 . . . «t>e 7 ( 5 1 . . . 'it't7? 5 2 . g6 + '$l e 7 5 3 . l"! gB 'it'f6 5 4 . l"! f8 + '$l e 5 5 5 . l"! e8+ «t>d6 56.l"!g8 p l an . . . l"! xg7+-) 5 2 .g6 l"! h l = ( 5 2 . . . l"! g 2 + 53.'$lf3 l"! g l = )

50

•••

Eia6

I 50 . . . b2 5 1 . '$lg6 l"! a6 + 5 2 . f6 g x f6 53 .gxf6 l"! a8 54.l"! xb2 plan l"! h2+1 1 50 ... l"! f2 5 1 .l"! xb3 l"! xf5 5 2 . «t>g6+- as above

50.l"! xb3? is premature and gives Black a chance to defend himselt: i fhe restrains White's king from entering his camp via h5 (otherwise he loses by force):

5 1 . Ei x b3 5 1 . l"! b8+ 'it'e7 5 2 . l"! xb3 i s strong as wel l .

233

Tactical Endgames Analysis This position i s very tricky : A) The natural 57 . l"! t7? i s wrong due to 57 . . . l"! a l 5 8 . �g 4 ( 5 8 . l"! x g7?? �f4 - + : 5 8 . f6 l"! h l + 5 9 . �g4 l"! g l + 6 0 . �f3 l"! x g6 6 1 . fx g 7 � e 6 = ) 58. . .§gl += B ) Only the amazing continuation 5 7 . f6 ! ! l"! x f6 5 8 . l"! f7 ! ! wins: 5 8 . . . l"! f5 + ( 5 8 . . . �e 6 5 9 . l"! x g 7 + - ) 5 9 . �g 4 Z H6 6 () . �g 5 l"! a 6 6 1 . l"! x g 7 + -

fasci nating and study - l i k e ideas underlying this position were developed in t h e 1 94 0 s a n d 1 9 5 0 s ( s o u rc e s : A verbakh. Le venfishlSmyslo v and the En(ldopaedia) . The

5l . . .g6+

After 5 1 . . .�f7 White conti nues with 5 2 . l"! b7 + ! C 5 2 . f6? g x f6 5 3 .g6+ �g7 5 4 . l"! b7 + �g8 5 5 . � h6 l"! a 8 5 6 . l"! g7 + �h8 5 7 . l"! h7+ �g8 5 8 . g7 �f7 5 9 . l"! h 8 l"! g8 d r a w ) 5 2 . . . � f8 5 3 . l"! b8 + C 5 3 . g6? l"! a l ! 5 4 . l"! b8 + � e 7 5 5 . l"! b7 + �f8/�f6 = ) I 5 3 . . . � e 7 5 4 . f6 + ! g x f6 5 5 .g6 l"! a l 5 6 . g7 + - l"! h l + 5 7 . �g 6 l"! g l + 5 8 . �h7 l"! h l + 5 9 . �g8 f5 60 . l"! b7 + ( 60 . l"! b6 ) 60 . . . � e 6 (60 . . .�e8 6 1 . l"! b 5 p l a n l"! x f5 , l"! e 5 + ) 6 1 . �f8 l"! g l 6 2 . g8 � + l"! x g 8 + 6 3 . � x g8 f4 64 . l"! f7 �e5 65 . �g7 and so on . 1 1 5 3 . . . �f7 5 4 . g6 + � e 7 5 5 . l"! g8 � f6 5 6 . l"! f8 + � e 5

I f 5 2 . fxg6? then 5 2 . . . l"! a l != keeps the balance, whereas 52 . . . �g7? loses to 5 3 . l"! b7 + �g8 5 4 . �h 6 l"! a 8 5 5 . l"! b6! plan g7 plus l"! f6-f8++- (not 5 5 . l"! g7 + �h8 5 6 . l"! f7 �g8 5 7 . l"! f6? l"! a l 5 8 . g7 l"! h l + 5 9 . �g6 l"! h 6 + ! = ) 5 2 . . . g x f 5 + 5 3 .g6 E! a l 5 4 . E! b S + r:tJe7 5 5.g7+- E!hl+ 56.r:tJg6 E!gl+ 57.r:tJh7 E!hl+ 5S.r:tJgS E!gl 5 8 . . . f4 5 9 . l"! b7 + ! �e6 ( 5 9 . . . �e8 60 . l"! b4 f3 6 1 . l"! e4 + �d7 6 2 . l"! f4 + ­ ) 6 0 . �f8 l"! g l 6 1 . l"! b 5 + -

o r 5 9 . � b7+ a s above 59

•••

r:tJf6

5 9 . . . f4 60 . l"! f5 l"! g4 6 1 . �h7 l"! h 4 + 6 2 . �g6 l"! g4 + 6 3 . �h6 (threate n i n g 6 3 . . . l"! h 4 + 6 4 . l"! x f4 / l"! f8 + - ) 6 4 . �g 5 l"! h l 6 5 . l"! x f4 + - . S h o r t l y before t h e second t i m e control both p l ayers now miss the correct path .

234

Rook

+

M inor Pi ece Endings

60.g3? t a k e s the w r o n g way to the w i ng, which w i l l be blocked : 6 . . . f5 ! 7 . h 6 C 7 . � h 4 ? h 6 ; 7 . f2 �c 5 = ) 7 . . . 'It> c 5 S . h 4 'It> d 6 =

6 '\tI c 6 7.'\tIe4 '\tI d 6 8.'\tIf5 '\tIe7 9.'\tIg5 . • .

Also good i s 9 .�e5 (not 9 . h6? f6=) 9 . . . f6 + (9 . . . h6 1 0 . �f5 �eS 1 1 .�f6 'It>f8 1 2 . f5 +-) 1 0. 'It>d5 h6 1 1 . f5 �d7 1 2 .f4 'It>e7 1 3.�c6+-, and by entering the winning zone White will capture al l of Black's pawns.

Black to move (=) (Position after 62 . �e4 x ftd3)

62 ... h5!

Avoids the last and most beautiful trap 62 . . . Ei x g 4 ? ? 6 3 . e 6 ! ! + - ( 6 3 . . . fx e 6 64 . Ae 5 + 'It>gS 6 5 . 4:\f6 + 'It> f7 6 6 . 4:\ x g 4 ) 6 3 .g x h 5 g x h 5 6 4 . Ae7 '\tI h 7 65.4)d6 '\tIg6 66.Af6, and the game lasted on until move 93 Yz-Yz. -

The next game fragment shows a nice promotion theme. Study-like A.

9 . . . '\tIf8

Szypub"ki F. Silbermann Cologne 1 992 -

9 . . . f6 + 1 0 . 'It> h 6 'It> f7 1 1 . 'It> x h 7 f5 1 2 . h 6 � f8 1 3 . g 6 + 10.'\tIf6 '\tIg8 1 l .'\tIe7

or 1 1 . h 6 'It> h S 1 2 . f5 �gS 1 3 . 'It>e 7 'It> h 8 1 4 . f8 f6 1 5 . 'It> e 7 etc . +1 l . . . '\tIg7 12.f5 f6 1 2 . . . 'It> h 6 1 3 . � x f7 'It> x h 5 1 4 . g 7 'It> g 5 1 5 . f6 + -

244

White to move

Rook + M inor Piece Endings It's well known that in knight vs. pawn endgames the rook pawn i s the main enemy of the knight. This game shows W h i te uncorking a bri l l i ant sacri ficial combination in order to create a m i ghty passed pawn . But this i s only the overture to a greater composition ! 1 . E! xg5!! h xg5 2.h6

B u t h o w s h o u l d B l a c k c a p t u re t h e doomed k n i ght a t d5? N ow t h e deep calculation of variations and correct eval uation are of v ital i mportance ! 3

2

...

...

E! xd5?

The wrong choice, which was hard to see. Let's look at the alternatives: I 3 . . . c x d 5 4 . h 7 d x e 4 ( fo r 4 . . . 1t'f7 5 . hRi:f d x e 4 s e e v a r i a t i o n I l , n e x t d i ag ra m ) 5 . h8� e x f3 + ( 5 . . . � f7 ) 6.�xf3 � f7 leads t o variation 1 1 . 1 1 3 . . . 1t' f7 4 . h7 c x d 5 5 . h8� d x e 4

c3Je7

The only playable move: I 2 . 4JeR??/4J h 5 ?? 3 . 4J e 6 + 1 1 2 . fl d7?? 3 . h x g7 I I I 2 . . . �cR? 3 . h x g7 fl dR 4 A:Jg6 ! + threatening the interception 5 . 4JrR and the forks 5 . 4Je7+ and 5 . g8�/6. 4Je7+ respectively - a powerful kn ight ! IV 2 . . . �eR? 3 . h7 gxf4 4 . hRi:f+ �f7 ,) . i:f hR + - ( x f4 + / x h7 + ) . .

. .

Th i s second sacrifice i s necessary to bloc k the d-fiIe. C learly mistaken are : I 3 .!�:J g6 + ? ? It' f6 4 . h 7 § d R 5 . h R 'G.i § xhR 6.4JxhR-+ and the black knight would be cut ofl' (6 . . . 4Je6 etc . ) 1 1 3 . h x g7?? 1t' f7 4 . -b h 5 f!. d R p l a n 1J g 6 - x g 7 - +

Analysis A ) 6 .'/£f b 8 ? ! e x f3 + 7 . 'lt> x f3 fl f4 + O . . f!. x b 4 ? ? 8 . c 6 + - ) 8 . lt' e 2 ! .§ e4 + 9 . lt'd 3 f!. e7 8) 6 . � c 8 ? e x f3 + 7 . lt' x f3 fl x b4 C) 6 . b 5 ! C a ) 6 . . . a x b 5 7 . � c8 c x f3 + 8 . lt' x f3 see Cc Cb) 6 . . . fl b4?! 7 . c6 fl xb 2 + ( 7 . . . bxc6 B . b x a 6 ! ) B . 'lt> e 3 -bf5 + ( B . . . f!. x b 5 .

245

Tactical Endgames 9 . c7 .£If5 + 1 0 . � x e 4 ) 9 . � x e4 '§ x b 5 I O . c 7 .§ c 5 1 1 . 'i;;f h 5 + �f6 1 2 . 'i;;f h 2 ! ! ( t h re a t e n i n g c 8'i;;f ) 1 2 . . . �g6 ( l 2 . . . � f7 1 3 . c 8'i;;f .§ x c 8 1 4 . � x f5 ) 1 3 . �a 2 ! ! .£I g 3 + 1 4 . �e 3 .§ x c 7 1 5 . 'i;;f e 6 + � h 5 1 6 . � g4 + �g6 1 7 . �xg3 C c ) 6 . . . e x f3 + 7 . � x f3 a x b 5 8 . �c8 'it' f6 9 . � x b 7 4Je6

Szyp u l s k i can be rea l i zed ! There are three ways for the king to move, so where to go?

The king march d 2 -c3-b3-a4- a 5 b6-xb7 i s the final point o f W h ite's play, whereas the routes to the center or to the king's wing come to noth ing. N evertheless both s ides have to be very carefu l , e.g. : I 6 . �e 3 ? .£Ig6 7 . d6 + �f6 ( 7 . . . 'it'e6 8 . �e 4 4J h 8 = ) 8 . d7 ? ! ( 8 . �e 4 = ) 8 . . � e 7 9 . �e4 � x d 7 1 0 . �f5 4J h 8 1 1 . �f6 �e8 1 2 . �g7 �e7 1 3 . �g8! ( I 3 . � x h8?? �f7) 1 3 . . . � f6 1 4 . 'it' f8 = 1 1 6 . 'it'f2 ? 4Jg6 7 . d6 + � f6 8 . � g 3 4J h 8 9 . �g 4 .£If7 1 0 . f4 ( 1 0 . �g 3 ? ? � g 6 ) 1 0 . . . g x f4 1 1 . � x f4 � g 6 1 2 .�e4 �f6 ( I 2 . . . �x h7?? 1 3 . � f5 - e 6 - d7 - c 8 + - ) 1 3 . �f4 = .

Analysi s This is most l ikely the crucial test of the whole venture. White still has the upper hand, but a win is open to question: C e l ) 1 0 . c 6 .§ c4 1 1 . b 3 .§ c l ± [ I 2 . � e 3 .§ c3 + ( l 2 . . . .£Id8?? 1 3 . 'i;;f b 6 4J x c6 1 4 . �d 2 + - ) 1 3 . � d 2 b4 1 4 . 'i;;f x b4 .§ x c 6 ± J C e 2 ) 1 0 . 'i;;f x b 5 .§ d 5 1 1 . �a6 .§ x c 5 1 2 . b4 .§ b 5 1 3 . �d6 .§ f5 + 1 4 . �g 3 ( 1 4 . �e 3 g4) 1 4 . . . .§ b 5± 4.e x d5 �h5 5.h7 � f4+

6 . . . �g6 7 .d6+ �f6

To keep the black king at the queen's wing i s no better, e.g. : 7 ... �d7 8.�c3 I � L . �c8 9 . �b3 4Jh8 1 0 . � a 4 4Jf7 1 1 .�a5 �b8 1 2 . �b6 �c8 1 3 . d7 + + I I 8 . . . 4Jh8 9 . 'it'b 3 4J f7 1 0 . 'it'a4 b 5 + 1 1 . c x b6 + - ( 1 l . �a 5 ?? = ) I I I 8 . . . b 5 9 . c x b6 � x d 6 1 0 . �d 4 .£Ih8 1 1 .�e4 +- a n d here o f course the monarch changes to the other wing. 8.�c3 �h8 9.�b3 �g7 10.�a4 � x h7 1 1 .�a5

Now the splendid w i nning idea of the Pol i s h International M aster Andrzej 246

Rook + M i nor Piece Endings Exercises E I 2. I

E. Bareev (2 70 7) - A . Dreev (2683) Wijk aan Zee (Corus) 2002

A fi n a l d i a g r am e l u c i d a t e s t h e fundamental i dea of the combination : Wh i l e the b l ac k p i e c e s h a v e been deflected. the w h i te k i n g grabs the pawns on the other side. White to move Bareev found an astonishing way to get an advantage.

To c a p t u re the f- p a w n a s s o o n a s possible, whereas 1 1 . . . � t7 wou l d be t o o s l o w : 1 2 . �b6 '#1g7 1 3 . '#1 x b7 '#1f6 1 4 . '#1 x e 6 etc . + 1 2 . lit' b 6 Iit'f5 14.lit' x a6!

1 3 . lit' x b7

E 1 2.2

S. Pedersen (2420) J. Aagaard (2440) London 1 99 7 -

Iit' f 4

M ore precise than 1 4.'#1xc6 and 1 4 . d7 14

•..

lit' x f3

1 4 . . . 4J f7 1 5 . b 5 e x b 5 1 6 . d7 � e 5 '#1 d 6 1 7 .�xh5 1 8 . c6 '#1 e 6 1 9 . '#1 b 6 + -

Black to move (-+) There is a h i dden way to win. Can you trace it out?

1 5 . b 5 g 4 1 6 . b x c6 g 3 1 7 . c 7 g 2 18.c8� gl � 19.� x h8+- �al+

Solutions: E l 2 . I : 5 3 . a4 ! ( 5 3 . � d8 + ? � f7 5 5 . � d7+=) 5 4 . ,£l g 5 � xa3 5 3 .£l b6 ( 5 3 . . . � f7 5 4 . 11e 5 � a 3 5 5 . a x h 5 ± ) 5 4 . a x b 5 Iit'f7 ( i f 5 4 . . "Zld 5 ? ! t h e n 5 5 . � x d 5 e x d 5 56.11c5 and the pawn at b 5 tri umphs: Analysis

1 9 . � x c 5 2 0 . �c 3 + .

.

20.lit'b6 � x b2+?! 2 1 . � x b2 1-0

• • .

.

247

Tactical Endgames H3 . . QJ2 + -) 8 3 . h8\4+-] SO. A b6 �e4

Sl .h6 f3 S2.�g3 f2 S3.�g2 �d3 S4.�fl �d2 S 5 . A x e3+ � x e3 S6.h7 �f3 S7.hS� �e3 ss. �h3+ �e4 S9. � x f2 �d4 90.�e3+ 1 -0

Analys i s � 6 . . . l':l f4 � 7 . b 6 E! x h 4 5 H . b 7 1"1 e 4 + �