[Event "?"] [Site "?"] [Date "????.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "central structure"] [Black "?"] [Result "*"] [Annotator "Zenon Franco"] [ECO "D41"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [BlackFideId "-1"] [PlyCount "22"] [GameId "2321224548134984"] [SourceTitle "MBM Planning"] [Source "Everyman Chess"] [SourceDate "2019.09.01"] 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 c5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 {This position can be reached via a variety of move orders.} 6. e4 {With this advance the centre is occupied and, after the exchange on c3, it is strengthened, although this also allows Black to simplify and define the structure after which both players are able to be clearer regarding their plans.} ({The main alternative is} 6. e3 {, which can lead to isolated queen's pawn (IQP) positions.}) ({Recently} 6. Rb1 {has become popular, with the idea of continuing with 7 e4 and arriving at the same structure but with the b4-square already controlled by the rook.}) 6... Nxc3 7. bxc3 {Black must make his first important decision. Continue development with 7...Be7 or play something different?} cxd4 {It's better to exchange, since White's centre gives him a space advantage and exchanging not only grants Black greater mobility but, for the time being, reduces White's prospects of attack against the black king. Another plus is that the white centre, although strong in the middlegame, can become a weakness in the endgame, when Black's queenside pawn majority can also become important. --- Of course we're still a long way from the endgame and also the strength or weakness of White's centre (and perhaps of the eventual passed d-pawn) will depend on which pieces remain on the board.} 8. cxd4 Bb4+ {This is what the aforementioned 6 Rb1 is designed to avoid.} ({Another idea is} 8... Nc6 9. Bc4 b5 {and only then 10...Bb4+, which leads to similar positions but with their own characteristics.}) 9. Bd2 Bxd2+ ({QUESTION: If the ending suits Black, why not force more exchanges with} 9... Qa5 {- ? --- ANSWER: The classics provide the answer. In that case the exchanges would be at the cost of giving White a development advantage, which is important in this position, even though it's an ending. A.Rubinstein-C.Schlechter, San Sebastián 1912, continued} 10. Rb1 $1 Bxd2+ 11. Qxd2 Qxd2+ 12. Kxd2 O-O {and now White can gain a slight advantage with} 13. Bd3 {,} ({but} 13. Bb5 $1 {is even stronger. "An uncommonly fine move, the object of which is to force the weakening which follows", commented Euwe. After provoking the weakening} a6 {, White retreated and after} 14. Bd3 Rd8 15. Rhc1 {he had an advantage in both space and development, as well as strong pressure on the queenside, which prevented Black from exploiting his pawn majority on that flank. This game can be found in many sources, including the book 'Rubinstein: Move by Move'.})) 10. Qxd2 O-O {It was Keres who first described the characteristics of this position when he annotated his game against Fine, played in Ostend 1937. Almost all of his annotations remain valid more than 80 years later. --- White has in his favour his strong pawn centre and the good development of his pieces. The black position, in contrast, has no weaknesses, and it will not be difficult for him to complete his development. Keres commented that, "with mechanical play in the next phase of the game Black will, for example, attain exchange of the major pieces along the c-file and then reach an advantageous ending." --- Regarding White's plans, Keres pointed out two ideas, "The first consists of an attempt to realise his preponderance in the centre and force through d5 with the resulting passed pawn and the second is a concentration of all his pieces on a kingside attack."} 11. Bc4 ({As it's difficult to specify which of these two plans has the greater chances of success, Keres considered that this bishop development supports both plans and it seemed more logical to him than} 11. Be2) ({or} 11. Bd3 {.}) ({That evaluation is still valid nowadays, in spite of the fact that different ideas have arisen for concrete reasons, such as first playing} 11. Rc1 {, in order to hinder the plan of} Nc6 {, followed by ...b6 and ...Bb7; we'll return to this further on.}) 11... Nd7 {Black must also decide how to develop his pieces. First he needs to choose the destination of his knight; with this move he seeks to transfer it to the kingside in order to reinforce the defence.} ({The main alternative is} 11... Nc6 {, from where the knight can be more useful in support of an action on the queenside.}) * [Event "1: World Championship, Moscow"] [Site "?"] [Date "1969.??.??"] [Round "5"] [White "Spassky, B."] [Black "Petrosian, TV."] [Result "1-0"] [Annotator "Zenon Franco"] [ECO "D41"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [BlackFideId "-1"] [PlyCount "59"] [GameId "2321224548134986"] [EventDate "1969.??.??"] [SourceTitle "MBM Planning"] [Source "Everyman Chess"] [SourceDate "2019.09.01"] {Let's now look at some examples of the plans for both sides with this structure. Game 1 is a classic game in which White manages to carry out one of the plans mentioned by Keres, the exploitation of the central passed pawn.} 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. d4 c5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nxc3 7. bxc3 cxd4 8. cxd4 Bb4+ 9. Bd2 Bxd2+ 10. Qxd2 O-O 11. Bc4 Nc6 12. O-O b6 {QUESTION: How should White deploy the rooks?} 13. Rad1 {ANSWER: The deployment of the rooks most in accord with the plans mentioned by Keres is to develop them on d1 and e1. In this way the timely advances d5 and/or e5 are supported. --- In certain circumstances White puts a rook on the c-file. As indicated, this should have a concrete idea behind it, for if one continues in a routine fashion it can lead to rook exchanges which, as Keres indicated, are in principle more favourable for Black.} ({A world champion played} 13. Rfd1 {here, which to a certain extent puts off the idea of the attack on the kingside in favour of seeking to exploit the d5-advance. Black has another idea at his disposal to confront the d5-advance. In T.Petrosian-L.Portisch, Skopje Olympiad 1972,} Ne7 {was seen, with a number of ideas.} ({A.Alekhine-M.Euwe, The Hague (Game 18) 1937, continued} 13... Bb7 14. Qf4 Rc8 {and White fulfilled his plan by playing} 15. d5 {. After} exd5 16. Bxd5 Qe7 {there followed} 17. Ng5 {, threatening to capture on f7 and after exchanges play Rd7+ and Rxb7. Black defended himself with the elegant} ({another idea was} 17. Nh4 {and on} g6 {, now that the castled position has been weakened, to return to f3, with ideas such as Qh6 or h4}) 17... Ne5 $1 {and after} 18. Bxb7 Ng6 19. Qf5 Qxb7 {he achieved good play.} (19... Z0)) (13... Na5 {and, after} 14. Bd3 Bb7 15. Qe3 Rc8 16. Rac1 Qe7 {, having put a stop to the main idea of 13 Rfd1, Black had a good position.}) {EXERCISE: How can White try to demonstrate that Black's plan is defective? --- ANSWER: White fully justifies the placing of his rooks with} 14. a4 $1 {, seeking to create a weak, isolated black pawn on b6 or a7. After} ({One is to neutralise the idea of placing of the bishop on d5 after} 14. d5 $6 exd5 15. Bxd5 ({while after} 15. exd5 Qd6 {White finds it equally hard to eliminate the blockading queen and Black has time to put pressure on the passed pawn with ...Bb7 and ...Rd8}) 15... Nxd5 16. exd5 {with} Qd6 $1 {. Now, unusually, the queen is a good blockader and after ...Bb7 and ...Rad8 White can't be satisfied with the results of his d5-advance.}) 14... Bb7 15. Bd3 Ng6 16. a5 {White achieves his objective. --- Returning to the game, regarding the decision to place the a1 rook on d1, Kasparov commented, "It's surprising that such a natural move as 13 Rad1, which became standard, should have been an unexpected novelty, based on one of the longest opening preparations in Spassky's career. (Those were the times, when such moves were novelties!) --- Free piece play in a position with a mobile d4- and e4-pawn pair was undoubtedly to his taste, conforming with all the laws of harmony: quiet development, then a blow in the centre and a powerful combinative explosion." --- Let's also remember that chess is very dynamic. New ideas keep appearing all the time and for specific reasons there are apparently "strange" moves, based on some tactical detail, such as beginning with 13 Rfe1, followed by d5, as Ponomariov played on one occasion, avoiding the continuation which we will see in Game 2. We'll come back to this decision later.}) 13... Bb7 ({Here Black can use the move order} 13... Na5 14. Bd3 Bb7 {, which prevents the game continuation by displacing the bishop from the a2-g8 diagonal. White can then proceed as planned with} 15. Rfe1 {,} ({or take advantage of the fact that d4 is not attacked and deploy the queen to the kingside with} 15. Qf4) ({not forgetting the tactical theme present in this structure,} 15. d5 exd5 16. e5 {.})) 14. Rfe1 {Completing the plan of centralising the rooks.} ({It's also possible to make the advance} 14. d5 {, in order after} Na5 {to sacrifice a piece with} 15. dxe6 Nxc4 16. exf7+ Kh8 {. Of course such a decision is difficult to make over the board. It would certainly be justified with computer preparation, but the engines would also indicate that Black can defend after} 17. Qxd8 Raxd8 18. Rxd8 Rxd8 19. e5 {with the accurate move} Rc8 $1 {, so that e6-e7 won't attack the rook, and after} 20. e6 Bd5 {Black can defend himself and White's winning chances are slim.}) 14... Rc8 {EXERCISE: How to proceed now?} ({With the rook on d1, instead of a1, it makes sense to think about} 14... Ne7 {, but then} 15. d5 $1 {is definitely good and after} exd5 16. exd5 {, After} Nf5 {instead, White's two centralised rooks have an influence of the tactics of the position with} ({in this case} 16... Qd6 {can be met strongly with} 17. Ng5 $1 {, intending Ne4, and the strength of the rook on e1 is clear.} (17. Z0)) 17. Ne5 $1 Nd6 18. Nc6 $1 {when White has the advantage. T.Petrosian-V.Korchnoi, Ciocco (Game 6) 1977, continued} Bxc6 $6 19. dxc6 Nxc4 20. Qf4 {, regaining the piece with a very strong pawn on c6, which proved decisive.}) 15. d5 $1 {ANSWER: White doesn't need to make any further improvements in piece placement, or to strengthen his position in any way. This advance was based on deep home preparation, as Spassky showed by playing it immediately. Petrosian now had to make a difficult decision, whether to take the simplest course or else enter complications in terrain that was familiar to his opponent but not to him.} exd5 $6 {After thinking for 13 minutes Petrosian decided to 'trust' his opponent and acquiesce to a slightly inferior position. --- EXERCISE: How should White recapture on d5?} ({The more complicated alternative was} 15... Na5 {. --- EXERCISE: What snag did Petrosian see in that? However, Petrosian was more concerned about the pawn sacrifice} 16. Bd3 $1 ({ANSWER: Naturally Petrosian saw that} 16. dxe6 $6 {wasn't dangerous. However,} Qxd2 $1 {was good, since after} ({It is true that after} 16... Nxc4 $2 17. exf7+ Kh8 ({or} 17... Kxf7 18. Qd7+ {, regaining the piece with advantage}) 18. Qxd8 Rcxd8 19. Rxd8 Rxd8 20. e5 {, now, unlike the line we saw on move 14, White has his rook on e1 (and not f1) and so wins after e.g.} Rc8 21. e6 Bd5 22. Ng5 Nd6 23. e7 {.}) 17. exf7+ Kh8 18. Nxd2 Nxc4 19. Nxc4 Rxc4 20. e5 {there are several defences, the clearest of which is} Bc8 $1 21. e6 Bxe6 22. Rxe6 Rc7 {, reaching a drawn rook ending after} 23. Re8 Rcxf7 24. Rxf8+ Rxf8 25. Rd7 a5 26. Rb7 Rc8 27. g3 Kg8 28. Rxb6 Rc2 {, winning back the pawn.}) 16... exd5 17. e5 $1 Nc4 18. Qf4 {, with complications which were almost impossible to calculate accurately over the board We'll return to this in the next game.}) 16. Bxd5 $1 {With 16 Bxd5! the tension is maintained, and Kasparov notes, "this bishop is so strong, that sooner or later Black will almost certainly have to take on d5, and then White will acquire a passed pawn on this square. For Spassky, playing such a position was sheer pleasure!" This reminds us that the practical element can be as important as the objective situation.} ({ANSWER: Stronger than} 16. exd5 {, which creates a passed pawn, but after} Na5 17. Bf1 {Black can once again blockade the pawn effectively with} Qd6 {(at the same time preventing the transfer of the white queen to f4). Then after} 18. Ng5 Rcd8 {it's not possible to speak of a clear advantage for White. If} 19. Qd3 $1 {, Black has the good defence} ({or} 19. Qc2) 19... Qh6 $1 {, when} 20. Qf5 {can be answered with} g6 ({or} 20... Bc8 21. Qf4 f6 22. Ne6 Qxf4 23. Nxf4 Rfe8 {and Black has little to fear}) 21. Qg4 Rxd5 {and Black is okay in the ensuing complications.}) 16... Na5 $6 {Kasparov condemned this move for positional reasons, "Now the knight is stuck on the edge of the board for a long time, and Black's position really becomes difficult." --- EXERCISE: Naturally, exploiting the positional defects of Black's last move requires accuracy. What did White play?} ({Korchnoi recommended} 16... Qe7 {, with the idea of ...Rcd8,}) ({and} 16... Qc7 {, with the same idea, is very interesting. If White answers 16...Qc7 with} 17. Rc1 {then Black can play} ({Then after} 17. Qg5 {Black might play} h6 18. Qg4 Rcd8 {, intending 19...Nb4 or 19...Ne7.} (18... Z0)) 17... Qe7 {and after} 18. Qf4 Nb4 {the white rook is no better on c1 than on d1.}) 17. Qf4 $1 {ANSWER: The white forces move to the kingside, increasing the pressure on f7 and threatening 18 Bxb7 as well as 18 Bxf7+.} Qc7 (17... Qe7 $2 {is answered strongly with} 18. Nd4 {. "By this point Petrosian had already spent more than an hour, and Spassky - just 21 minutes." (Kasparov) .}) 18. Qf5 Bxd5 $6 {Black seeks to counterattack on the queenside, but now White gets a passed pawn under ideal conditions.} ({Here} 18... h6 {was more tenacious.}) 19. exd5 Qc2 ({If} 19... Qd6 {then} 20. Ng5 {is strong,} Qg6 ({when} 20... Qh6 {is met with} 21. Nxf7 $1) 21. Qxg6 hxg6 22. d6 $1 {, followed by d7 would leave Black paralysed.}) ({EXERCISE: How would you reply to the manoeuvre} 19... Nc4 {, intending to blockade on d6? --- ANSWER: With the main idea:} 20. Ng5 g6 21. Qh3 h5 22. Ne4 Nd6 23. Nf6+ Kg7 {and now the beautiful blow} 24. Qg3 $1 {, with a winning attack.}) 20. Qf4 $1 {Another difficult decision.} ({The alternative was a better endgame with} 20. Qxc2 $1 Rxc2 21. Re7 {, but after for example} Rd8 22. Rxa7 h6 {, the technical difficulties would be considerable. It's not clear that the text move is objectively better, but from a practical point of view keeping the queens on is much more promising.}) 20... Qxa2 ({In Informator Geller suggested} 20... Rce8 21. d6 Rxe1+ 22. Rxe1 Qd3 {, preventing d7. However, with} 23. Nd4 {White is clearly better as after} Nb7 24. h3 $1 ({or} 24. h4 {White's activity enhances the power of the passed pawn and the advantage is clear.})) 21. d6 $1 Rcd8 22. d7 {So the plan laid out by Keres has worked out in ideal fashion; the passed pawn paralyses the black pieces and prevents him from exploiting his two passed pawns on the queenside. --- QUESTION: OK, but the game doesn't win itself. Black seems to have everything defended and he has two passed pawns. How does White plan to continue? --- ANSWER: Yes, pressing home the advantage will take some effort. While keeping an eye open for tactics, White's plan is now to manoeuvre to ensure the safety of the d7-pawn and then to attack the blockader at d8 with a timely Rc8 and/or Re8, and also with the knight, if possible.} Qc4 ({If} 22... Qc2 {, preventing White's next move, White can proceed ideally with} 23. Rc1 {, e.g.} Qd3 24. Red1 Qb5 25. Rc7 $1 ({even better than} 25. Qc7) 25... a6 {and now} 26. Qd6 {is strong, with ideas of 27 Nd4 or 27 Rdc1 followed by Rc8, etc.} ({Also good would be} 26. Qe4 {, controlling c6, with ideas of 27 Rb1 or 27 Rd5, and if} Nb3 27. Ne5 Nc5 28. Qd5 {, Black is defenceless.})) 23. Qf5 $1 {From f5 the queen defends d7 and also controls c8.} h6 ({After} 23... Qc6 {White defends his pawn with} 24. Ne5 {, planning to play Rc1, and then if} Qe6 {White has} 25. Qc2 {(with the idea of 26 Qc7)} b5 {(to defend with ...Qb6)} 26. Qc5 $1 Qb6 27. Qd5 {, threatening 28 Nxf7 Rxf7 29 Re8+ and Black is helpless as the white pieces dominate the board.}) 24. Rc1 {Heading for c7.} (24. Ne5 {was also strong, as in the previous note.}) 24... Qa6 (24... Qa4 {would also have been answered with} 25. Rc7 {.}) 25. Rc7 b5 {EXERCISE: White has made progress move by move; his advantage is decisive but it's necessary to realise it tactically. Bearing in mind that Black is planning 26...Qd6 (27 Rxa7 Qb6), what's White's best continuation now?} 26. Nd4 $2 {ANSWER: Very natural. 26...Qd6 is now answered with 27 Nxb5, but in fact this is not the strongest move.} ({There is no time for} 26. h3 {, due to the aforementioned} Qd6 {,}) ({but it's not necessary to create an escape square for king because} 26. Re8 $1 {was already decisive. Black can't take twice on e8 because of Qxf7+ mating. Meanwhile the main threat is 27 Rc8! and} Nb7 {fails to prevent this, e.g.} 27. Rc8 $1 {Instead} Qa4 {allows White time to give the king luft with} (27... Qa1+ 28. Ne1 {(planning 29 Qe4)} Qd4 29. Qxb5 Qb6 30. Qe5 {, threatening among other things, 31 Rxf8+ Kxf8 32 Qe8+, and Black is once again paralysed.} (30. Z0)) 28. h3 {(setting up various threats including 29 Ne5 or 29 Rcxd8 Nxd8 30 Qc5, etc.) and if} Qd1+ 29. Kh2 Qd6+ 30. Ne5 f6 {there is a simple win with} 31. Qe4 {, attacking the knight,} ({but more elegant would be} 31. Qg6 $1 fxe5 32. Rcxd8 $1 Qxg6 33. Rxf8+ {, followed by mate on h8. --- QUESTION: These lines are conclusive and the themes are repeated; it doesn't seem too complicated for a player of Spassky's strength. Why didn't he play 26 Re8 then? --- ANSWER: Any answer would be no more than speculation. Kasparov's explanation is very interesting, "Here the difference between human thinking and computer calculation is clearly seen: the human doesn't want to allow the check at a1, and have to make the 'unaesthetic' move Ne1, whereas the machine simply has no such qualms."})) 26... Qb6 $2 {This loses in a similar fashion to what we've already seen. --- EXERCISE (easy): How did White continue now?} ({Over the board it was difficult to discover that the most tenacious defence was to enter the major piece ending a pawn down by playing the move that 26 Nd4 seemed to prevent,} 26... Qd6 $1 {. After} 27. Nxb5 Qd2 28. Rf1 Nb3 $1 {That is just a sample variation; there are other possibilities. Modern engines prefer} 29. Qf3 {, and consider that White's advantage is decisive, although after} (29. Rxa7 Nd4 $1 30. Nxd4 Qxd4 {it is not easy to press home the advantage, as Boleslavsky and Bondarevsky indicated in their book of the match. Kasparov shares that judgement.} (30... Z0)) 29... Nd4 30. Nxd4 Qxd4 31. Rd1 Qb6 32. Rb7 Qc5 {their initial optimism is reduced.}) 27. Rc8 $1 {ANSWER: Of course; the idea is 28 Re8, as we have already seen.} ({Now} 27. Rc8 Qxd4 {is answered with} 28. Rxd8 Rxd8 29. Re8+ {.}) 27... Nb7 ({The prettiest finish, noted by Boleslavsky and Bondarevsky, arises after} 27... b4 28. Re8 $1 Qxd4 $2 29. Rxf8+ Rxf8 30. Rxf8+ Kxf8 31. Qc5+ $3 Qxc5 32. d8=Q# {.}) ({They also pointed out that} 27... g6 {loses simply to} 28. Rxd8 Qxd8 29. Qxb5 {.}) 28. Nc6 Nd6 {EXERCISE: What's the fastest conclusion now?} 29. Nxd8 $1 {ANSWER: "An elegant concluding stroke" (Kasparov).} Nxf5 30. Nc6 {. There is no defence against 31 Rxf8+, followed by the promotion of the pawn.} 1-0 [Event "2: USSR Championship, Moscow"] [Site "?"] [Date "1969.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Polugaevsky, L."] [Black "Tal, M."] [Result "1-0"] [Annotator "Zenon Franco"] [ECO "D41"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [BlackFideId "-1"] [PlyCount "73"] [GameId "2321224548143180"] [EventDate "1969.??.??"] [SourceTitle "MBM Planning"] [Source "Everyman Chess"] [SourceDate "2019.09.01"] {Game 2 is brilliant and very instructive. It shows some of the typical motifs of the position, such as a thematic pawn sacrifice followed by a spectacular attack on the black king. It's also very well known for being one of the most astonishing and effective feats of preparation in the pre-computer age.} 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. d4 c5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nxc3 7. bxc3 cxd4 8. cxd4 Bb4+ 9. Bd2 Bxd2+ 10. Qxd2 O-O 11. Bc4 Nc6 12. O-O b6 13. Rad1 $1 Bb7 14. Rfe1 ({Polugaevsky wrote something that we already know, "This very position was reached in the 5th game of the 1969 Spassky-Petrosian World Championship Match. With his unique sense of danger, Petrosian continued here} 14. Rfe1 Rc8 {, thereby avoiding the main threat; although he also got into difficulties after} 15. d5 exd5 16. Bxd5 {, and was unable to save the game. Many of the commentators on this game, including Mikhail Tal, recommended that the bishop should be driven from c4 by the immediate 14...Na5, or after 14...Rc8 15 d5 Na5."}) 14... Na5 {And so Tal continues with what he and the commentators believed was the correct move order. The knight plans to get back into play via c4. --- Polugaevsky commented, "Of course, they were not to know that we had analyzed this continuation in Dubna, where simultaneously with Spassky I had been preparing for my match against Aleksandr Zaitsev for the title of USSR Champion. Incidentally, on completing our joint analysis, Boris and I agreed that either of us had the right to employ it at the first convenient opportunity."} 15. Bd3 Rc8 {White has various possibilities.} ({One that seems logical is to transfer his queen to the kingside with} 15... Rc8 16. Qf4 {, although after} Nc4 {it's necessary to meet the threat of 17...Nb2. White also has to think about how to respond to 17...b5, 17...Qf6, etc. The Dubna analyses took a more concrete path.}) 16. d5 $1 exd5 ({Later} 16... Qd6) ({and} 16... Qe7 {were tried but, of course, seen for the first time, the first line to consider is the capture on d5, especially since it's not obvious how White can justify his advance.}) 17. e5 $1 {"It was with this unexpected-pawn sacrifice that we associated the whole of our subsequent analysis. White plays for a direct attack, which it is hardly possible to parry." (Polugaevsky) --- This idea became standard. It's reminiscent of the thematic pawn sacrifice in the Benoni, where White, with his pawns of e4 and f4, plays e5! and answers ...dxe5 with f5. --- In both cases the black piece nullified by the pawn sacrifice is the fianchettoed bishop, the g7-bishop in the Benoni and here the b7-bishop. White also gains the use of a strong central square, d4 in this case, enabling the manoeuvre Nd4-f5. Here the sacrifice also has the virtue of bringing the d3-bishop to life. --- Another factor to consider is that the a5-knight and b7-bishop can't easily come to the defence of Black's castled position} Nc4 {Naturally Black wants to give the lie to the idea that his queenside pieces can take no part in the struggle. White had several ideas, 18 Qf4, 18 Nd4 and primarily 18 Ng5. The move played reduces White's options.} 18. Qf4 $1 {The queen goes to the kingside, with the idea of 19 Ng5, which is logical, but it's a move which can only be made after careful analysis, as it apparently allows the exchange of the strong bishop, which is a key piece in the attack.} Nb2 $6 {This is the first move to consider. The position was later analysed in depth. There are many alternatives.} ({Looking at the continuation of the game, a move to consider is} 18... h6 {, but after} 19. Qf5 g6 20. Qg4 {, White has multiple threats, e.g. 21 Bxg6, and 21 e6, 21 Nd4, not to mention 21 h4 and h5, and the attack persists.}) ({One defence suggested was} 18... Rc6 {, when both Polugaevsky and Kasparov mainly analysed} 19. Nd4 {.} ({Modern engines (mid-2018) find a stronger continuation with} 19. Bxh7+ $1 Kxh7 20. Ng5+ Kg8 21. e6 $1 Rxe6 22. Rxe6 fxe6 23. Qh4 {and White's attack gives him a clear advantage, e.g.} Rf6 24. Qh7+ Kf8 25. Qh8+ Ke7 26. Qxg7+ {.})) ({There are other moves to consider, such as} 18... g6 {, which looks dubious, but after} 19. Qh6 f5 {there is compensation for the weakness and Black has defensive chances.}) ({Other moves are available; the engines suggest} 18... f6) ({and} 18... Qe7 {in order, after} 19. Nd4 {, to play} g6 {in better circumstances than 18...g6. --- These are the complications that Ponomariov sought to avoid with 13 Rfe1, followed by d5. With the white rook no longer being on d1, the move ...Nb2 makes no sense.}) 19. Bxh7+ $1 {The engines now quickly see that this version of the "Greek gift" sacrifice is decisive, which doesn't take any merit away from Polugaevsky, who found it many years before analysis engines came on the scene.} Kxh7 20. Ng5+ Kg6 {Polugaevsky wrote, "The first impression is that nothing comes of White's attack, but he has at his disposal a prepared move of terrible strength.". --- EXERCISE: Without preparation, but knowing that there is a strong continuation, are you able to find it?} ({In the event of} 20... Kg8 21. Qh4 {Black has to give up his queen to avoid mate, without sufficient compensation.}) 21. h4 $3 {ANSWER: "This is the point of the combination. Of course, to find the whole of the subsequent lengthy variation was possible only with prepared analysis. I think it was only here that Tal realized he was battling under unequal conditions but there was already no way out. Hanging over the black king is the threat of 22 h5+! Kxh5 23 g4+ Kg6 24 Qf5 + Kh6 25 Qh7+ Kxg5 26 Qh5+ Kf4 27 Qf5+.} (21. h4 f5 {fails to save Black due to} 22. Rd4 $1 {, with the same idea of 23 h5 + or 23 Qg3. His reply is therefore forced..." (Polugaevsky).}) 21... Rc4 $1 ({If} 21... f5 {then} 22. Rd4 $1 {is decisive, with the idea of 23 h5+, as well as the quieter 23 Re3, intending Rg3.}) ({"Neither does} 21... Qd7 {defend, because of} 22. e6 $1 fxe6 23. Qg4 Rf6 24. Nxe6+ Kh6 25. Re5 g6 26. Qg5+ {" (Polugaevsky).}) 22. h5+ {Still following his analysis, White gains an advantage.} ({The engines also suggest} 22. Rd4 {as well as a move they consider to be much stronger,}) (22. Qg3 {, with ideas of 23 e6 or attacking the knight with 23 Rb1 or 21 Rd2, but obviously over the board these ideas are difficult to consider as a first choice.}) 22... Kh6 {Forced.} (22... Kxh5 $2 23. g4+ {leads to mate, as we have seen.}) 23. Nxf7+ Kh7 24. Qf5+ Kg8 25. e6 $1 {"I reached this position in my analysis that morning, prior to the game. And yet 25 moves have already been made! Now on 25...Qe7 the piquant 26 h6! is decisive (26...Rh4 27 Rd4!). In addition, Black was on the threshold of severe time trouble, whereas White had spent literally only a few minutes, and most of those on the first few moves." (Polugaevsky) --- "Glancing at this position, I could not believe my eyes. It had been reached that morning on Polugaevsky's board in his hotel room! His analytical work in this variation resembles the best examples of Botvinnik's work." (Geller)} Qf6 $1 {The best defence,} (25... Nxd1 $2 {is refuted with} 26. e7 Qe8 27. exf8=Q+ Qxf8 28. Nh6+ $1 gxh6 29. Qg6+ {and 30 Re8.}) 26. Qxf6 gxf6 27. Rd2 (27. Nd6 $2 {fails to} Nxd1 28. e7 {and now} Rc1 $1 {is the only move, after which White has many possibilities but none which achieve any advantage.}) 27... Rc6 $1 {Once again the best defence.} ({If} 27... Na4 {then} 28. Nd6 $1 {is strong, while after} Bc6 29. e7 Re8 30. Nxe8 Bxe8 31. Rxd5 {the two passed pawns on e7 and h4 give White the advantage.}) ({Against} 27... Rb4 {the strongest is} 28. e7 $1 Kxf7 29. exf8=Q+ Kxf8 {and now for instance} 30. a3 $1 {, disturbing the black rook, and after} Rb3 31. h6 {there is no time for} Nc4 {because of} 32. h7 Kg7 33. Re7+ Kh8 34. Rd4 {.}) 28. Rxb2 Re8 ({Another defence was} 28... Bc8 {, when Polugaevsky pointed out the line} 29. Nh6+ Kh7 30. Nf5 Rxe6 31. Rc1 {and White, dominating the c-file and with his passed pawn and agile knight, is better. If} Kg8 {the strongest seems to be} 32. f3 {(with the idea of Nd4) when} Re5 {is answered with} 33. Nh4 $1 {, with advantage.}) 29. Nh6+ $1 Kh7 30. Nf5 Rexe6 31. Rxe6 Rxe6 {Here too Black has won back his pawn, but White's pieces are better and the passed pawn is very strong, hindering Black's coordination.} 32. Rc2 {White wants to infiltrate with his rook.} ({Another idea was to play} 32. f3 {, planning Kf2, and possibly g4 also on the agenda.}) 32... Rc6 33. Re2 $1 Bc8 ({If} 33... Rc7 {White can still invade advantageously with} 34. Re6 {.}) 34. Re7+ $1 Kh8 ({Retreating to this square lends more force to White's following knight move, but after} 34... Kg8 35. Nh4 Rc1+ ({or} 35... f5 36. Rxa7 d4 37. Kf1 {and Black's counterplay is at an end}) 36. Kh2 Rc4 {White has} 37. g3 $1 ({better than} 37. Ng6 Bf5) ({or even} 37. f4 $1 Rxf4 38. Ng6 {) followed by 38 h6, not forgetting a timely Rxa7 capture.})) 35. Nh4 $1 f5 36. Ng6+ Kg8 37. Rxa7 1-0 [Event "3: FIDE Candidates, Berlin"] [Site "?"] [Date "2018.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Mamedyarov, S."] [Black "Ding Liren"] [Result "0-1"] [Annotator "Zenon Franco"] [ECO "D41"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [BlackFideId "-1"] [PlyCount "86"] [GameId "2321224548143182"] [EventDate "2018.??.??"] [SourceTitle "MBM Planning"] [Source "Everyman Chess"] [SourceDate "2019.09.01"] {In Game 3, in contrast to the two preceding games, Black managed to prevent the central break, then neutralise White's kingside attack and finally realise his queenside majority.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nxc3 7. bxc3 cxd4 8. cxd4 Bb4+ 9. Bd2 Bxd2+ 10. Qxd2 O-O 11. Bc4 Nd7 12. O-O b6 13. Rad1 ({QUESTION: What? Wasn't} 13. a4 {the most appropriate way to punish the knight coming out to d7? --- ANSWER: Yes, you're right. As the winner pointed out, "13 a4 is considered as the main line, but hard to get any advantage." So instead of going into terrain where White is better but Black is difficult to break down, White is trying to focus on the centre (the d5-break) and the kingside. --- It's notable that Black didn't start with 11...b6 and 12...Bb7, showing that he doesn't fear the advance of the white a-pawn. Black is willing to acquiesce to the creation of an isolated pawn on the queenside, thinking that it's not a serious problem. This is an idea that has been employed by, among others, Korchnoi, Carlsen and especially Kramnik. --- After 13 a4 play can continue} Bb7 14. Rfe1 {, and now instead of other moves such as} Rc8 {,} (14... Nf6 {, etc.}) ({Kramnik came up with} 14... Rb8 {, which plans to respond to} 15. a5 {with} b5 $1 {when} 16. Bxb5 $6 Bxe4 {gives White nothing, so Black has time to play 16...a6, avoiding the creation of a weak pawn. --- QUESTION: Even so, I'm surprised that Black submissively accepts something which is rather inferior. --- ANSWER: In reality Black counts on White choosing another option if he wants to win. Possibly before the computer age it would not have been played by such strong players, or, as Giri put it, "One other well-known plan is a4-a5 with the rook on a1, but lately Black seems to have gotten that under control, mostly due to the fact that the engines have shown that the pawn sortie is not as dangerous as previous engines have been showing." He closes with the sarcastic remark "so romantic."})) 13... Bb7 14. Rfe1 Rc8 {The bishop must now decide which diagonal to occupy, which affects his future plans.} 15. Bb3 {White opts for the most usual idea nowadays; the bishop on b3 will provide a boost to the eventual d5-break. --- Instead, one of the aims of 15 Bd3 is to target h7, so it's hardly surprising that one of the main replies is 15...Re8, which, among other things, allows an eventual ...Nf8.} Re8 ({QUESTION: Here as well? What's the purpose in this case? --- ANSWER: Black doesn't face any concrete threat, therefore he has various acceptable possibilities, such as} 15... Qf6 {, with the idea of ...Rfd8. Naturally Black doesn't fear} 16. e5 {, opening the long diagonal of the b7-bishop.}) ({Also popular is} 15... h6 {, controlling g5, with the plan of ...Qc7 and ...Rfd8, etc. Then} 16. Qf4 {could be answered with} Qf6 {.}) (15... Nf6 {can met by} 16. d5 exd5 17. exd5 {and 18 d6, (} Qd6 $6 18. Nd4 $1 {) consistent with the idea of 15 Bb3.}) ({Black's move postpones a decision about where to place the knight and it reduces the impact of} 15... Re8 16. d5 {by controlling the e-file. The continuation would be} exd5 17. exd5 Nc5 {and the knight has the bishop in its sights. Then} 18. d6 Bxf3 $1 19. Rxe8+ ({or} 19. gxf3 Qd7) 19... Qxe8 20. gxf3 {and now the most precise move seems to be} Qc6 {, trying to disrupt the coordination of the white pieces. For exmaple after} 21. Kg2 Qd7 22. Re1 Ne6 23. f4 Rc5 {the white king is a bit more exposed on g2 than on g1.}) 16. h3 {White also responds with a useful waiting move. In general it's advisable to give the king some luft, but here it also specifically provides a retreat square for the white queen, as occurs in the game. Another idea which can often be used in similar positions is Re3, with the idea of moving the knight at an appropriate moment and playing Rg3.} Nf6 17. Qf4 ({It's likely that in their preparation both players discovered that} 17. d5 {brings no advantage in view of} exd5 18. exd5 Rxe1+ 19. Qxe1 Qd6 ({not} 19... Nxd5 $2 {due to} 20. Qe5 Rc5 21. Ng5 {, followed by Ne4 and Nc3, as Ding Liren pointed out}) 20. Nd4 g6 (20... Re8 {, intending 21...Ne4, is also playable}) 21. Nb5 Qc5 22. Nxa7 Re8 23. Qd2 {, and now... --- EXERCISE: How does Black win back his pawn? --- ANSWER: With the pleasing sequence} Bxd5 $1 24. Bxd5 Nxd5 25. Qxd5 Re1+ $1 26. Kh2 Rxd1 27. Qxd1 Qc7+ {and 28...Qxa7. --- With the move played White prepares the thematic idea 18 d5 exd5 19 e5, followed by Nd4, which would follow 17...h6?! for instance.}) 17... Nh5 {Proposing a repetition. To avoid it White must withdraw his queen to a less active square.} 18. Qh2 ({After} 18. Qe5 Nf6 {the queen is not well situated on e5 to be able to play d5 and White doesn't appear to have any more useful move than} 19. Qf4 {. --- QUESTION: But isn't it rather unambitious to aspire only to repeat moves, even when playing with Black? --- ANSWER: It may seem so, but firstly Black isn't forced to play} Nh5 ({and if he wants to continue playing for a win he can play} 19... Qc7 {, answering} 20. Qh4 {with} h6 {. --- Secondly, we shouldn't ignore the practical element. This game was played in the twelfth round of the Candidates tournament. Mamedyarov was on 'plus two' and was aiming for first place, for which he needed to get at least one and possibly two wins in the last three rounds, which ruled out agreeing to a draw without a fight in this game. Meanwhile Ding Liren, in spite of fighting fiercely, had drawn all eleven of his games so far.})) 18... h6 {A useful waiting move, which we already know is an option to be considered. Black gives his king an escape hole on h7 and controls g5.} 19. Ne5 {Threatening 20 Nc4 and also with 20 d5 in his sights. In addition it clears the third rank, enabling the eventual transfer of a rook to the kingside via d3 or e3.} ({Only here did the game diverge from what was at the time the 'last word' in this variation. In the fifth round of this 2018 Candidates tournament, W.So-V.Kramnik continued} 19. d5 exd5 {QUESTION: In this line, instead of 20 exd5, wasn't it good to carry out the same thematic pawn sacrifice that we saw earlier, with 20 e5, threatening 21 g4, followed by Nd4 - ? --- ANSWER: It's playable, but the white pieces are not active enough for it to be dangerous. Black would play 20...g6, preparing the retreat of the knight to g7, from where it controls e6. --- In fact that was exactly what happened in a subsequent game between the same opponents: S.Mamedyarov-Ding Liren, Batumi Olympiad 2018, continued} 20. e5 (20. exd5 Rxe1+ 21. Nxe1 Qf6 22. Nd3 {, when Black replied with the accurate} Ba6 $1 {and after} 23. Qe5 Bxd3 24. Qxh5 Bc2 {he had no problems.} (24... Z0)) 20... g6 21. Nd4 Ng7 ({instead of 21...Ng7 it seems more precise to play} 21... a6 $1 {first}) 22. Nb5 Nf5 23. g4 a6 24. Qf4 axb5 25. gxf5 Qg5+ 26. Qxg5 hxg5 27. f6 {, and White gained a slight advantage (the game was drawn in 54 moves).}) 19... Nf6 {The knight returns to the centre, attacking e4 and parrying for the time being the two threats mentioned, 20 d5 and 20 Nc4.} 20. Qf4 {EXERCISE: How did Black respond? (Remember the typical plans; check that it's tactically correct though!) --- ANSWER:} b5 $1 {A move which not only prevents the main threat, 21 Nc4, which also exploits one of the advantages of the black position by setting in motion the queenside pawn majority. The ...a5-a4 advance is planned as soon as possible. As we noted earlier, this is a move which could be considered ideal, since it makes progress with Back's own plans while simultaneously hindering the opponent's plans. But before playing this Black needed to recognise that it weakens c5; he also had to take into account the possibility of the sacrifice 21 Nxf7 Kxf7 22 e5.} 21. Re3 {The rook is heading for g3.} (21. Nxf7 Kxf7 22. e5 {wasn't dangerous as Black can play} a5 $1 {, continuing the idea begun with 20...b5. He threatens 21...a4, so White must act quickly. After} 23. exf6 Qxf6 24. Qd2 {, Black can play} ({while the incursion} 24. Qd6 Rc6 $1 25. Qd7+ {achieves little after} Qe7 26. Qxe7+ Kxe7 27. d5 $6 Rd6 {, followed by ...a4}) 24... a4 25. Bc2 Qg5 {, with an excellent position.}) 21... Rc7 {Defending f7 and preventing 22 Rg3 due to 22...Nh5.} ({It was possible to play} 21... Qc7 {with the same idea, intending to answer} 22. d5 {with} Rcd8 {and the advance of the pawn to d5 has achieved little.}) 22. Nd3 ({Here} 22. d5 {can be answered with} exd5 23. exd5 ({or} 23. Bxd5 Bxd5 24. exd5) {, and now our familiar blockading resource} 23... Qd6 $1 {, intending to apply pressure to the d5-pawn. The queen is once again a good blockader.}) 22... Rc3 {"I want to exchange a pair of rooks to release the pressure on the kingside", commented Ding Liren.} 23. Nc5 {White can continue with the plan to transfer his rook to the kingside, but only at a price.} ({After} 23. e5 Nd5 24. Bxd5 Bxd5 25. Rg3 {, Black can play} Kf8 $1 {when} 26. Qg4 {allows} Qg5 $1 {, with excellent play.}) 23... Rxe3 24. Qxe3 ({Not} 24. Nxb7 $2 {because of} Rxe4 {.}) 24... Bc6 {Ding Liren commented that "with the knight on c5, I have to beware of the potential e4-e5 (which would be answered with ...Nd5) followed by Ne4."} 25. Rc1 Qb6 26. f3 {As Ding Liren pointed out, with this move it becomes clear that White is abandoning the plan of playing e5. After strengthening the defence of e4 one idea is to begin an attack on the kingside with g4.} ({EXERCISE: What would Ding Liren have played after} 26. e5 Nd5 27. Qg3 {- ? --- ANSWER:} Ne7 $1 {, preventing the plan of Ne4-d6, although after} 28. Qg4 Kh8 29. Qf4 {, it seems best to play} Kg8 {, proposing a repetition of moves.}) 26... Rd8 {"Improving my position slowly" (Ding Liren).} 27. Kf2 {EXERCISE (easy): Now that the placement of the rook has improved, how did Black continue?} a5 {ANSWER: Black proceeds with the plan which has been latent right from the very opening.} 28. g4 ({It's important to be on the lookout for tactical blows such as} 28. Nxe6 {, but this only "leads to a drawish ending} fxe6 29. Bxe6+ Kf8 30. d5 Qxe3+ 31. Kxe3 Bd7 (31... Bxd5 32. Rd1 $1 {only gives chances to White}) 32. Bxd7 Nxd7 33. Rc7 Ke8 34. Kd4 a4 35. Rb7 Rc8 36. Rxb5 Rc2 37. e5 Rd2+ 38. Ke3 Rxa2 39. e6 Rxg2 40. exd7+ Kxd7 {", as Ding Liren pointed out. Current engines see no possibility of improvement for either side.}) 28... a4 29. Bc2 $6 {Ding Liren criticised this natural retreat, after which the white pieces lose some coordination. --- EXERCISE: How did Black continue to make progress?} ({He considered that the best square for the bishop was e2 and he suggested} 29. Bd1 {.}) 29... Nd7 $1 {ANSWER: Proposing the exchange of the strong white knight, which must acquiesce or retreat.} 30. Bd3 ({Here} 30. Nd3 {was possible, although after for example} Bb7 31. Bb1 Rc8 $1 {, the exchange of rooks would not only enhance the value of Black's queenside majority but would also reduce White's attacking potential on the kingside. After} 32. Rxc8+ Bxc8 {, counterplay based on ...Qd6 become possible, with the idea of invading on h2, which is what would happen of White tries to blockade with} 33. Nb4 $4 {.}) 30... Nxc5 31. Rxc5 {EXERCISE (easy): How did Black's plan proceed? --- ANSWER:} b4 {Of course, after the exchange of knights the black pawns advance more easily and forcefully. The black position is now somewhat preferable and we can add the practical element to that, as Ding Liren pointed out, "also my opponent was in time trouble, he had around 15 minutes at that point, while I had 40."} 32. Bc4 $6 {Ding Liren commented, "It's understandable that my opponent doesn't want to stay passive, but after the text I have many decisive plans to support the pawns, for example ...Rb8, ...b3 or ...b3 followed by ...a3." --- White's move lays his cards on the table. He wants to quickly open up the kingside but now Black's future passed pawn will increase in power (because the white bishop no longer controls b1) after the necessary preparation.} ({Ding Liren also mentioned another possibility:} 32. h4 Be8 {(the bishop evades the pressure of the white rook and the black queen gains in mobility; it's useful for it to have access to d6)} 33. Bb1 b3 34. axb3 axb3 35. Qc3 b2 36. e5 {, which would provide greater fighting chances.}) 32... Bd7 {The bishop protects e6 in advance and prepares a possible rook exchange with ...Rc8.} ({Ding Liren pointed out that} 32... Be8 {was also playable, keeping the black rook active along the d-file, and the engines endorse this. He provided the following sample line:} 33. d5 b3 34. axb3 a3 35. dxe6 a2 36. exf7+ Bxf7 37. Bxf7+ Kh8 $1 38. Qc3 a1=Q 39. Qxa1 Qxc5+ 40. Kg3 Qc7+ {, winning.}) 33. g5 hxg5 34. Qxg5 {EXERCISE: We are now in tactical terrain; what is Black's best response?} Be8 $1 ({ANSWER: The alternative was the natural} 34... Rb8 {, preparing ...b3, but it's less clear because of} 35. Qe7 Be8 36. Qc7 b3 37. Qxb6 Rxb6 38. axb3 axb3 39. Bd3 b2 40. Bb1 {.}) 35. Qe7 {Now 35...Rb8 would transpose to the previous note, but Black has another idea.} b3 $1 36. axb3 a3 $1 {This is the key. This pawn will lead to a serious material loss for White.} 37. b4 Ra8 38. d5 {A last attempt to complicate matters, but it won't succeed.} (38. Ba2 {would allow} Qxb4 {, and there is no defence against so many threats.}) ({After} 38. Ra5 Qxd4+ {White's king is so exposed that further resistance is doomed to failure. Ding Liren gave the line} 39. Kg2 (39. Kg3 {is no better as, although it avoids the previous line by preventing Black's check on e2, it allows a devastating attack on the white king after e.g.} Qg1+ {, followed by 40...Rb8, when the a3-pawn is immune due to 41...Qc1}) 39... Rxa5 40. Qxe8+ Kh7 41. bxa5 Qxc4 42. Qxf7 Qe2+ 43. Kg3 Qe1+ 44. Kg2 Qxa5 {, preventing the perpetual with Qh5+ and Qe8+, and Black wins.}) 38... a2 39. dxe6 a1=Q 40. exf7+ Bxf7 41. Bxf7+ Kh7 {"It's important that the c5-rook gets pinned", wrote Ding Liren.} 42. Qh4+ Qh6 43. Rh5 {EXERCISE (easy): With which move did Black force White's resignation? --- ANSWER:} Qa7+ {The only move, but sufficient. Next comes 44...Qxf7;} ({but not the careless} 43... Qd4+ $4 {, since there is no mate and Black's advantage would evaporate after} 44. Kg2 Qdd2+ 45. Qf2 {.}) 0-1