2012
Russell Enterprises, Inc.
Milford, CT USA
The Chess Puzzle Book 4
Mastering the Positional Principles
by
Karsten Müller
Alexander Markgraf
ISBN: 978-1-936490-52-3 (print)
© Copyright 2012
Karsten Müller, Alexander Markgraf
All Rights Reserved
The Chess Puzzle Book 4 is the fourth volume in the series formerly known as the ChessCafe Puzzle Books.
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Cover design by Janel Lowrance
Foreword by Mark Dvoretsky translated from the Russian
by Inga Gurevich
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Signs and Symbols
Foreword
Introduction
Chapter 1: Prophylaxis
(1.1) The Theoretical Concept
(1.2) How to Train Prophylactic Thinking?
(1.3) Prophylaxis in the Middlegame
Chapter 2: The Principle of Two Weaknesses
Chapter 3: The Right Exchange
(3.1) Exchange your opponent’s active pieces.
(3.2) The attacker does not want to exchange attacking potential.
(3.3) Defenders of weaknesses should be exchanged.
(3.4) It is not important what is exchanged, but what remains on the board.
(3.5) A rook fighting against minor pieces welcomes exchanges.
(3.6) Exchanging the bishop pair can transform an advantage.
(3.7) The side with the space advantage tries to avoid exchanges.
(3.8) When the opponent has static weaknesses, reduce his dynamic potential.
(3.9) The defender exchanges pawns.
Chapter 4: Domination
(4.1) Dominating a Knight
(4.2) Dominating a Bishop
(4.3) Restricting the Whole Army
Chapter 5: Do Not Rush
Chapter 6: Converting an Advantage
(6.1) Material Advantage
(6.2) Positional Advantage
Tests
Solutions: Chapter Exercises
Solutions: Tests
Sources
1-0 White wins
0-1 Black wins
½-½ Draw agreed
+ check
# mate
! a strong move
!! a brilliant or unobvious move
? a weak move, an error
?? a grave error
!? a move worth consideration
= an equal position
+= White is slightly better
± White has a clear advantage
+- White has a winning position
=+ Black is slightly better
∓ Black has a clear advantage
-+ Black has a winning position
∞ an unclear position
∞̿ with compensation
ol Olympiad
m match
ch championship
wch world championship
corr correspondence game
[W] White to move
[B] Black to move
(D) see the next diagram
Regular training plays, or rather, should play, an important role in self-improvement. The participants of any sport know this, as do musicians, dancers, etc. Unfortunately, most coaches and their students ignore this technique for some reason.
For those players who are ready to improve their skills and learn new techniques, rather than just strain their memories with limitless opening analysis, it is important to find a high-quality collection of exercises involving various chess topics. Grandmaster Karsten Müller’s Puzzle Book series can be a great help.
This is the fourth book in the series, and, in my opinion, the most interesting and useful. The thing is, there are many tactics books. Not all are created equal; only some are of very high quality. Books with positional exercises are much less common, although you can still find some in the huge market of chess literature. However, I cannot think of any books with high-quality exercises regarding such topics as domination, the “do not hurry” principle, the principle of two weaknesses, etc., all of which are discussed by Müller and his co-author Alexander Markgraf.
A significant number of the exercises in this new book pertain to the realization of an accumulated advantage. In making decisions, one has to consider not only purely chess implications but also psychological factors. Indeed, it often makes sense to choose a continuation that is not objectively strongest, instead making things easier for the player or creating difficulties for the opponent, helping him make mistakes.
A strong chess player and an experienced coach (and Müller has considerable coaching experience) is able to explain the inner logic of these positions, a logic that is sometimes not quite obvious at first sight. The authors’ comments to the positions, which explain the topic which is being discussed, are interesting and instructive. It is not as simple with the exercises, which the readers have to solve on their own.
Indeed, for the positional exercises (as opposed to purely tactical ones), which involve no small part of psychology, there can be different interpretations. It can be difficult to decide which approach is correct. Moreover, even a computer often does not give clear preference to one or another. However, when you compare your decision to the authors’ comments, you can trust their opinion. Indeed, Müller’s previous books and articles have established his reputation as an extremely diligent author who always carefully checks his material. On the other hand, bearing in mind that the exercises of this kind often do not have a unique solution, you might stay with your own solution. Careful examination and comparison to the author’s solution is very useful in any case, regardless of your final conclusion.
I hope that you enjoy this new book by Müller and Markgraf and I encourage you to seriously study the positions discussed in the book. As a result, you will significantly progress in your understanding of chess and improve your results.
Mark Dvoretsky
Moscow
June 2012
Many coaches agree that solving exercises without moving the pieces is a good way to train and improve your abilities. And, of course, books with tactical puzzles abound. But what about other areas of the royal game? Here much less material is available. The present book mostly deals with the important technical question of how to convert a static advantage. A few chapters like prophylaxis and the right exchange also tackle wider issues. The chapters on prophylaxis and the principle of two weaknesses are based on works by Alexander Markgraf to get his A and B German trainer licenses. They have been translated, checked and rewritten by Karsten Müller to fit into this series.
Finally we want to thank our publisher Hanon W. Russell for his help and cooperation, Mark Dvoretsky for his foreword and our students Fiona Sieber, Spartak Grigorian, Philipp and Marcel Kyas, Rasmus Svane, Jonas Lampert, Julian Kramer, and Daniel and Julian Grötzbach for testing the exercises. We wish you a lot of fun while improving your positional feeling!
Karsten Müller and Alexander Markgraf
Hamburg
March 2012
(1.1) The Theoretical Concept
Nimzowitsch introduced the concept of prophylaxis. He valued it very highly and even made it the most important principle of positional play. In his work My System he defined prophylaxis as “taking precautionary measures to render positional harmful options harmless.” In principle, he distinguished between two forms of prophylaxis: the inner and the outer. Outer prophylaxis means stopping the ideas and plans of the opponent, especially so-called freeing moves. Inner prophylaxis means overprotecting important points, for example, the base of a pawn chain.
Among the modern authors who have dealt with prophylaxis, Dvoretsky stands out. He not only found good examples for prophylactic play, but also formed a model of thought for employing the principle of prophylaxis in a practical game – the so-called “prophylactic thinking.” He recommends that you should ask yourself, after every move, what the opponent is threatening or planning, especially what he would play if it were his move. Furthermore, your ability should be trained to use those answers in your own processes in reaching a decision. Dvoretsky stresses explicitly that this method is not a pure chess phenomenon. The psychological aspects must be taken into consideration as well: “It is in the nature of mankind that he thinks mostly about his own plans, ideas and feeling. The opponent (and in chess the opponent has exactly the same rights!) is often forgotten and from time to time we even shed tears.” It is indeed helpful to ask yourself during the games: “What is my opponent planning?” Only in this way is it possible to make sure, that we give the opponents plans the same priority as ours.”
(1.2) How to Train Prophylactic Thinking?
Why should a chessplayer try to master the concept of prophylaxis? Chess is a game between two players. Both have the same options and rights. So an optimal plan always has to take the options of the opponent into account and put one’s own aims forward. Prophylactic thinking is relevant in almost all positions. If you have already achieved a large advantage, it is important for its realization to give the opponent no more counterplay than absolutely necessary. Otherwise the opponent must be beaten twice or three times in every game. In tactical positions, it is also very important to deal with your opponent’s options. If this concept is applied carefully, then the number of tactical oversights can be reduced considerably.
The defense of difficult positions is often based on preventing an opponent’s plans and ideas. This is of course much easier if you see them before they appear on the board. As the attacker, you should search for defensive setups early and not when they repel your attack for good. So prophylactic thinking can be found and applied in all phases of the royal game, regardless if you are dealing with the opening, middlegame or endgame, or if you are dealing with a strategic, tactical or technical position.
So progress in understanding prophylaxis is progress in all areas of chess. But the very broad field of prophylaxis also introduces problems for both trainer and student. Successful prophylaxis can only be applied if the type of the position at hand and the plans of both sides are fully understood. For example, the side with the pair of bishops should be aware that one main plan of the opponent is to halve the pair. With certain pawn structures, it is important to know which pieces should be exchanged and which should remain on the board to use, e.g., an outpost.
In the endgame you should know which theoretical positions are won and which are drawn. This could be continued of course. So the training of prophylaxis should always be in accordance with the general development of the student. Nevertheless, one issue that arises is whether the method of prophylactic thinking – the constant searching for the opponent’s plans – should be introduced early in training, so that the student can get used to it. Classical games of great master of prophylaxis are very helpful for this purpose. Petrosian and Karpov come particularly to mind. Both players had a very prophylactic style. Petrosian thought in larger dimensions and tried to prevent any counterplay during the whole game. The following game is quite typical of this. At first, Petrosian seems to start an attack with his pawns on the kingside in a typical King’s Indian position. But in reality, his aim is to close that wing, stopping the usual source of counterplay ...f7-f5, and then to attack undisturbed on his home turf, the queenside.
01.01 Petrosian – Schweber
Stockholm Interzonal 1962
King’s Indian Defense [E73]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Be2 0-0 6.Bg5 h6 7.Be3 e5 8.d5 c6 9.h4 c×d5 10.c×d5 Nbd7 11.h5 (D)
At first this looks like an attack, but in reality, Petrosian wants to prevent Black’s play before it begins. 11...g5 12.f3 a6 13.g4 b5 14.a4 b4 15.Nb1 a5 16.Nd2 Nc5 17.B×c5 d×c5 18.Bb5 Bb7 19.Ne2 Ne8 20.B×e8 R×e8 21.Nc4 Ba6 22.Qb3 Qf6 23.Rc1 Bf8 24.Ng3 Bc8 25.0-0 Rd8 26.Kg2 Ra7 27.Rf2 Kh7 28.Rfc2 (D)
A complete triumph of Petrosian’s strategy. Black is positionally lost, as he has many structural weaknesses and no counterplay. 28...Qa6?! 29.N×e5 Rc7 30.Nc4 Bg7 31.Qd3 Kg8 32.Rd2 Re7 33.e5 B×e5 34.N×e5 R×e5 35.Q×a6 B×a6 36.R×c5 Bc8 37.R×a5 f5 38.g×f5 B×f5 39.N×f5 R×f5 40.Rb5 Rdf8 41.d6 R×b5 42.a×b5 Kf7 43.d7 1-0
Karpov’s style is more concrete. He stops threats of his opponent that might arise in a few moves. This is well-illustrated by the following example:
01.02 Karpov – Yusupov
USSR (ch) Moscow 1983 [W] (D)
Karpov fights against the regrouping of the knight to c4 in the following moves as the knight on c4 would block the c-file and so would stop White’s attack against the weak c7-pawn: 20.Bd3! B×d3 21.Q×d3 Rfb8 22.Rfb1 b4 23.h3 h6 24.Rc1 (D)
24...Rb6 Trying to regroup the knight with 24...Na5 is met by 25.Qb1! (Karpov in Informant 35/427) 25...Nc4 26.R×b4 R×b4 27.Q×b4 as 27...R×a2?? runs into 28.Qb8+ Kh7 29.Qb1++-. 25.Qb1 Rab8 26.Rc5! Karpov now stops ...Na5 directly. 26...Nd8 27.Rcc2 Nc6 28.Qc1 R8b7 29.Rc5 The motif repeats itself 29...Ne7 30.Kh2 Now Karpov plans and attack on the kingside to open a second front, which induces a mistake immediately. 30...Nf5? Yusupov had to sit tight and wait with, e.g., 30...Ra6. 31.Rbc2 Rg6?! 32.R×c7 R×c7 33.R×c7 Qb5 34.g4 Nh4 35.Rc8+ Kh7 36.Qd1 Qa6 37.Rc2 f5?! 38.Kg3 f×g4 39.K×h4 g×h3 40.f4 Qe6 41.Qh5 Qe7+ 42.K×h3 Qf7 (D)
Now comes Karpov’s tactical point, the prophylactic 43.Rh2!! Qd7+ 44.f5 1-0
In addition to these two great players, studying the games of Dvoretsky’s students Yusupov and Dolmatov is productive.
(1.3) Prophylaxis in the Middlegame
Because of the universal nature of prophylaxis, we cannot deal with all aspects extensively and will mostly deal with middlegames. In the opening and endgame, the specifics of these phases must be taken into account. In the opening prophylaxis may, e.g., be directed against the occupation of the center or the unhindered development of the opponent. In the endgame, prophylaxis may, e.g., be used when dealing with weaknesses, the principles of the type of endgame at hand and prevention of technically and theoretically poor positions. Before we get to the exercises, however, here is one further example to get you into the right prophylactic mood:
01.03 Beliavsky – Nikolic
Polanica Zdroj 1996 [W] (D)
How to convert White’s advantage smoothly? 31.Ra5! Black must solve three problems in this position. The first two are the weaknesses on a7 and f5 and the third is the d3-knight which is in constant danger of being captured. White’s last move rubs salt into these wounds. The a5-rook attacks both weaknesses and prevents the knight from rejoining the rest of Black’s forces via the fifth rank. 31...Kg6 32.Bh3! The attack of White’s pieces is well-coordinated and forces Black into a passive position. 32...Rf7 33.Bf1! Now White’s play is directed against the knight. The rook and bishop try to imprison it. 33...Ne1 The alternatives are not better: 33...Nb4 34.Ra4 Nd5 (34...Nc6 35.Ra6 Rf6 36.Bg2 Ne5 37.R×a7+-) 35.Bc4 Rd7 36.B×d5 R×d5 37.R×a7+-; 33...Rd7 34.B×d3 R×d3 35.Ra6+ Kg7 36.R×a7++-; 33...Nc1 34.Bc4 Rc7 35.Be6 Kf6 36.B×f5 Nb3 37.Rd5+-. 34.Be2 Preventing the knight from escaping via f3. 34...Rc7 The direct retreat 34...Nc2 runs into 35.g4 with the king on g6: 35...Nb4 (35...f×g4? 36.Bd3++-) 36.g×f5+ R×f5 37.R×a7+-. 35.Ra1! Forcing the knight into a deadly pin. 35...Nc2 36.Rc1 Rc6 37.Bb5! Rc3 (D)
White to move and win! 38.Kh1! 1-0 This prophylactic move finishes Black off as there is no defense against Ba4. The direct 38.Ba4? fails to the tactical trick 38...Nd4! 39.R×c3? (39.Rd1 is necessary) 39...Ne2+ 40.Kf1 N×c3 and Black is still fighting.
E01.01 Epishin – Nikolic
German Bundesliga 2002 [B] (D)
White is obviously creating strong pressure. But what is his threat? Find it and parry it!
E01.02 Baklan – Cherniaev
EU-ch Istanbul 2003 [W] (D)
How to profit from the pin along the long diagonal?
E01.03 Gdanski – Beliavsky
EU-ch 11th Rijeka 2010 [W] (D)
Find White’s most precise move!
(1.3.1) Defensive Prophylaxis
Prophylactic thinking is especially important when defending. To do this hard job successfully it is necessary to understand the plans and threats of the opponent and to render them harmless. First of all, concrete tactical ideas must be stopped. But the defender also must follow strategic guidelines in order to be successful.
(1.3.1.1) Tactically Defensive Prophylaxis
The first job of the defender is to avoid a tactical shot by the attacker, a shot which leads to mate, material gain or a technically won position. To achieve this, the defender has to identify all threats. If only one idea is missed, the game is often decided. But if all ideas and threats are discovered, the resources to stop them are often found easily. So the main aim of prophylactically defensive thinking is to spot the threats. To make this job easier it is helpful to discover all typical tactical blows for the given distribution of pieces and to look at them again each move.
01.06 Hickl – Yusupov
German Championship Bremen 1998 [B] (D)
With his last move (12.Na4) White has attacked the c5-bishop. Can Black avoid the exchange of his good dark-square bishop? But before you consider concrete moves, you should try to discover all white threats. Hickl has managed to land a knight on f5. Together with the bishop on the long diagonal a1-h8, White has a typical attacking formation which is well covered in the literature (so all alarm bells should be ringing!). Both pieces are applying strong pressure on the dark-squares. Typical motifs are, e.g., the sacrifice 1.N×g7 K×g7, to use the arising pin of the f6-knight with Qg4 or Qh5. Another idea is to open the long diagonal completely for the b2-bishop in a sacrificial way by removing the f6-knight and g7-pawn and then to mate by Nh6 or Ne7.
12...Bb4?! Yusupov stops the positional threat N×c5, but misses his opponent’s tactical point. It was better to play 12...Re8 13.N×c5 N×c5 14.0-0 Ne6=. So Hickl strikes immediately: 13.N×g7! A typical motif for this kind of position, as previously noted. The knight cannot be taken because of 14.Qg4+ winning the b4-bishop. So Yusupov decides to win the a4-knight, but White gets an irresistible attack in return. 13...b5 After 13...K×g7 14.Qg4+ Kh8 15.Q×b4 Black can resign. 14.Nf5 b×a4 15.Qh5! A typical motif for the Nf5 and Bb2 setup against a black king on g8. The queen cannot be taken because of Nh6#. 15...Kh8 16.Qg4 In view of the double threat Qg7# and Q×b4 White wins his piece back while maintaining his attack. 16...B×d2+ 17.K×d2 Rg8 18.Q×a4 R×g2 The material is now equal, but the extremely powerful b2-bishop cannot be controlled by Black. So the game is decided: 19.Ke2 Qg8 20.Ng3 Qg6 21.Rac1 Re8 22.Qf4 c5 23.Kf1 R×g3 24.B×f6+ N×f6 25.h×g3 Ne4 26.Rh6 Qg7 27.Rd1 Re5 28.Kg2 Ng5 29.Rc6 h6 30.R×h6+ 1-0
01.07 Nielsen – Baburin
EU-chT Gothenburg 2005 [W] (D)
Black’s pieces make a very active impression at first sight. The Qh6 and the Ng4 eye h2 which is defended only by the Nf3. Typical of such cases are all forms of deflection or destroying of the guard combinations. So the last black move 18...e5 threatens to deflect the f3-knight with 19...Nd4!. But Nielsen has spotted the motif and takes countermeasures.
19.h4!
White simply prevents the threat 19...Nd4. And now it is obvious that Black’s position is not very healthy. His development is not completed and the Bc8 cannot enter the game with good effect. On the other hand, White’s pieces all occupy active posts and control the center very well.
19...Be6
After 19...Nf6 White has the strong exchange sacrifice 20.Ng5! Nd4 (20...Bg4 21.f3 Nd4 22.R×d4 e×d4 23.R×d4 Bh5 24.e5) 21.R×d4 e×d4 22.R×d4 with more than enough compensation in both cases.
20.Rd6 Rad8 21.R×d8 N×d8
21...R×d8 22.R×d8+ N×d8 23.Ng5 B×b3 24.a×b3 Nf6 25.Qd1 Nc6 26.Qd6 Qg6 27.Qc7±
22.Ng5?!
White misses the option to convert the advantage of his more harmonious setup with 22.Nd5! B×d5 23.e×d5 as the d8-knight has problems and the passed d-pawn is not easy to blockade.
22...B×b3 23.a×b3 Nf6?
Too passive. 23...Qh5! with the idea 24...h6 is much stronger as 24.Nd5? is refuted by 24...N×f2+-+. So White should opt for 24.Rd7 Nc6 25.Kg2 (25.R×b7?! Nd4 26.Qf1 h6 27.Nh3 Nf6) 25...Nd4 26.Qd3. But Black still has some counterplay.
24.Rd6 Nc6?
24...Qh5 keeps White’s advantage within reasonable bounds.
25.Nd5± Rd8? 26.R×d8+ N×d8 27.Ne7+ Kf8 28.Nf5+- Qg6 29.Qd2 Nc6 30.Qd6+ Ke8 31.Qc7 1-0
01.08 Motoc – Gutsko
EU-ch U18 Girls Budva 2003 [B] (D)
White has just sacrificed a piece (22.Ba3) and a rook (23.R×h7) to destroy the pawn shield protecting Black’s king. And after the game continuation 1...Bb7?? White succeeded. But Black has alternatives. First the counterattack 1...Qc7? which secures a draw: 2.Qh4!? (2.Nf6+ Kf8 3.Q×e6 Rc1+ 4.Kf2 Qc2+ 5.Kg3 Q×d3+ 6.Kh4 f×e6 7.Rh8+ Ke7 8.Rh7+ Kf8 9.Rh8+=) 2...Rc1+! (But not 2...Q×e5? 3.Re1!±) 3.R×c1 Q×c1+ 4.Kg2 Kf8 5.R×f7+ K×f7 6.Qh7+=.
But what about the natural 1...K×h7!?. As a child I learned that the opponent should not be trusted blindly and everything calculated critically. So let’s consider: 2.Qh4+ Kg8 3.Qh6 (D)
and it seems to be impossible to stop the mate on f6 while after 1...Be7 2.Nf6+ B×f6 3.g×f6, g7 seems to be unable to be protected. But again prophylactic thinking helps. The first step, identifying the threat (Nf6+) has already been taken. Now options must be found to take the sting out of it. In this case Black’s large material advantage gives him the option returning material without ending up in a technically lost position. So can Black parry the mating threat? Yes she can, with the help of tactics: 3...Rg2+!!
4.Kh1 (4.K×g2 Bb7!-+) What is the only remaining white threat and how can it be parried? 4...Rf2!! 5.N×f2 Qc6+ 6.Kg1 Bc1-+.
2.Qh4+- Kf8 3.R×f7+ K×f7 4.Qh7+ Ke8 5.Nf6+ Kf8 6.Qg8+ 1-0
01.09 Yusupov – Caruana
Amsterdam 2008 [W] (D)
From White’s point of view, the opening has gone wrong. His pieces are passive and his king cannot castle easily. But if he manages to drive the b4-knight away with a2-a3 and to take on d5 afterwards, then he will get counterplay. But he has to act extremely carefully as Black has significant tactical potential because of the activity of his pieces (Qb6, Rh8, Nb4) and White’s exposed king. So White must watch out for concrete tactical threats. In the game, Yusupov did not do this. After his move 19.a3? Black has a strong shot. 19.h4? is also too slow in view of 19...d4 20.Ne2 d3 21.Nc3 R×h4!! 22.g×h4 B×h4+-+; 19.e×d5?! allows 19...R×h2 as well: 20.R×h2 Qg1+ 21.Ke2 Q×h2+ 22.Kf3 Qh5+ 23.Kg2 N×d5 24.Re1 0-0-0 25.N×d5 R×d5 26.Bc3 Bb4 with a strong initiative. 19.Ke2! d4 20.Kf3! 0-0-0 (after 20...d×c3 21.b×c3 White wins the knight back.) 21.Ne2 and White can consolidate with Kg2 and Rhe1 and continue to fight. But Black is of course still for choice. 19...R×h2!-+ 20.R×h2 Qg1+ 21.Ke2 Q×h2+ 22.Kf3 d4 23.a×b4 d×c3 24.B×c3 Qh5+ 25.Kf2 a×b4 26.Bd4 Qh2+ 27.Kf3 g5 28.Bf2 g4+ 29.Ke2 Bc5 30.Rf1 Qg2 31.Qd3 Rd8 32.Qc2 Qf3+ 33.Ke1 b3 0-1
(1.3.1.2) Strategic Prophylaxis in Defense
The defender must adhere to several general guidelines. In general, Steinitz has already formulated them. Following his theory, the defender must avoid weakening moves on the threatened wing at any cost. Furthermore, the defense should be conducted economically. This means that no more pieces than are absolutely necessary should defend as otherwise they will be missed in the counterattack.
01.10 Nilsson – Hansen
Laholm 2008 [B] (D)
White has just prepared the rook transfer to the third rank with 17.Rc1 to provoke weaknesses on Black’s queenside. Can Black avoid this?
17...Ne8! A strong prophylactic maneuver which is also in accordance with Steinitz’ defensive principles. Black’s knight will be transferred via d6 to c8, where it will defend a7 securely, so that Black can make do without moving a pawn in front of his king. The disastrous consequences such a move can have is shown in the following game between two Serbian grandmasters: 17...Rc8? 18.Rc3 Rc7 19.Rhc1 Bc8 20.Ra3 now Black is forced to weaken his queenside pawn wall: 20...a6 21.Rb3 b5 (D)
and White took advantage of the gaping holes in Black’s queenside: 22.Qa5 Bb7 23.Rbc3 Rhc8 24.Qb6 f6 25.Nd2 Ne6 26.Nb3 Qd6 27.f4 Re7 28.Na5 Nd8 29.N×c6+ N×c6 30.R×c6 R×c6 31.R×c6 Qb4 32.Qd8+ Ka7 33.Qb6+ Kb8 34.a3 Qe1+ 35.Ka2 Q×e3 36.Rd6 1-0 Pavlovic-Kosic, Bar 2003
18.Rc3 Nd6 19.Ra3?! As Black has transferred his knight to the defense of the queenside, this standard plan makes no sense anymore as White does not manage to provoke a weakness. White’s pieces are better located in the center. 19...Nc8 20.Rc1 Rd7! Again a strong defensive maneuver. Black brings his rook to c7 where it protects the c6-pawn and the seventh rank. 21.Ne5 Rc7 22.Rc5 h5! Black has conducted the defense economically and has not used more pieces than necessary. Now he starts his counterplay on the other wing. 23.Ra5 b6! Now it is clear that White can achieve nothing on the queenside as Black’s pieces have all the important squares covered. 24.Ra6 24.N×c6+ R×c6 25.Q×c6 b×a5 26.Rb3+ Nb6 27.R×b6+ a×b6 28.Q×b6+ Qb7!-+ 24...h×g4 25.h×g4 Qd6 26.Qd1 g5 27.Rc3 f6 28.Ng6 Rh2 29.Qf3 Bf7 0–1
01.11 Spassky – Petrosian
WCh Moscow 1966 [B] (D)
White has just shown his intentions on the queenside with 17.a4. With a4-a5 he wants to open files against Black’s king. Probably Petrosian could have entered the race, which is typical for positions with castling on opposite sides as the half-open g-file gives him good chances. But Petrosian would just not be Petrosian if he did not stop White’s play first and only follow his own plans later.
17...c4! 18.Be2 18.Bf5!? is met by 18...d4! (but not 18...e×f5? 19.e6 Bd6 20.e×d7+ R×d7 21.Qd4 with unclear consequences) 19.c×d4 (19.N×d4? e×f5 20.e6 (20.Nb5 Qb8 21.e6 Ne5-+) 20...Ne5-+) 19...e×f5 20.e6 Bd6 21.e×d7+ R×d7 22.B×d6 Q×d6 and Black dominates on the light-squares. (Kasparov) 18...a6! Petrosian’s point! Today it is a common defensive weapon to avoid the opening of lines. White cannot achieve anything with 19.a5 because of 19...b5, and 19.b5 is met by 19...a5. So from now on only Black is playing: 19.Kh1 Rdg8 20.Rg1 Rg4 21.Qd2 Rhg8 22.a5 b5 23.Rad1 Bf8! 24.Nh2 N×e5! 25.N×g4 h×g4 26.e4 Bd6 27.Qe3 Nd7 28.B×d6 Q×d6 29.Rd4? e5! 30.Rd2 f5! 31.e×d5 f4! 32.Qe4 Nf6 33.Qf5+ Kb8 34.f3 Bc8 35.Qb1 g3 36.Re1 h3 37.Bf1 Rh8 38.g×h3 B×h3 39.Kg1 B×f1 40.K×f1 e4! 41.Qd1 Ng4! 42.f×g4 f3 43.Rg2 f×g2+ 0-1
(1.3.2) Prophylaxis in Attack
When attacking, prophylaxis can also play a very important role. Often a player takes great risks to attack the enemy king. Maybe he has sacrificed a lot of material, ruined his pawn structure or given his opponent a free hand on the other wing. To win the game, it is then absolutely necessary to bring the attack to a successful end. This can often only be achieved if the essential defensive ideas are seen and prevented. Like when defending, the main difficulty here is to spot the resources of the opponent in time. “In time” means most often before starting the attack. Otherwise the basis for the decision whether to attack or not is not present.
01.12 Fischer – Benko
USA ch New York 1963 [W] (D)
This is one of Fischer’s most famous games. Benko has just played 17...Qe8 with the idea of bringing the queen into the defense of the kingside by f7-f6 (f5). How to stop this maneuver? 18.B×d4! e×d4 19.Rf6!! A very famous prophylactic move! Fischer sacrifices a rook to block Black’s f-pawn. The threat of e4-e5 followed by Q×h7# decides. After the hasty 19.e5? f5! Black’s point would be fully revealed. 19...Kg8 19...d×c3 20.e5+-; 19...B×f6 20.e5+- 20.e5 h6 21.Ne2! 1-0 and Benko resigned in view of 21...B×f6 22.Q×h6+-.
E01.04 Vaganian – Beliavsky
URS ch Moscow 1988 [B] (D)
Black has reached a clearly superior position. His minor pieces occupy much more active posts, the a-pawns are weak and White’s king position is weak on the light-squares. But White has the important defensive resource 23.f3! followed by Nd2, which stabilizes his position completely. How did Beliavsky stop this idea?
E01.05 Markgraf – Schuster
Germany 2006 [W] (D)
Black has an extra pawn and threatens to grab another one on d4. In the long run the bishops cannot compensate for this. So White must attack. Can you see how he should start?
(1.3.3) Prophylaxis and Strategy
In the first two chapters on defense and attack, prophylactic thinking played more or less a tactical role. But it is just as valuable in quiet strategic positions. But in sharp contrast to just calculating a line and counting the pieces at the end, here the main stratagems and plans have to be found and evaluated. This ability has to be developed by studying many examples of the theme.
(1.3.3.1) Space Advantage
Tarrasch’s famous quote: “Every cramped position harbors within itself the germs of defeat” must be taken with a large grain of salt of course. Usually it is good to have more space to maneuver freely, but more important for the evaluation is whether the opponent’s pieces are restricted in their mobility. If those pieces cannot be placed harmoniously because of a lack of space, the space advantage really counts. However, if White has a large space advantage, but Black’s pieces are active and his minor pieces have maneuvering room even in the face of White’s spatial advantage. The far advanced pawns and the squares behind them can even be weak, especially if the other side manages to get behind the pawns.