...and other Queen's-side openings
As White, you often have a choice of going for a big advantage in a risky position, or going for a safe small advantage. Here are the sorts of advantage you can seek in the Queen's Gambit.
Better development
[Event "attack: knight on e5 (Budapest"]
[Site "attack: knight on e5 (Budapes"]
[Date "1896.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Pillsbury"]
[Black "Winawer"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D46"]
[Annotator "Regis,Dave"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r1b1rbk1/ppq2pp1/2p1pn1p/2P5/3P4/3QBN2/PPB2PPP/R4RK1 w - - 0 15"]
[PlyCount "1"]
[EventDate "1896.??.??"]
15. Ne5 {[#]} 1-0
White has got their pieces to better squares and can attack wherever is most suitable. In this case, that is by playing Bxh6!
Highway robbery
[Event "Top 10 endgames:"]
[Site "weak pawns: weak colour compl"]
[Date "1922.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Alekhine, A."]
[Black "Yates, F."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D64"]
[Annotator "Regis,Dave"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r1b1r1k1/3nq1pp/4p3/pp1p1p2/3P4/4PN2/PPQN1PPP/2R2RK1 w - - 0 16"]
[PlyCount "1"]
[EventDate "1922.??.??"]
{A game which seems to illustrate the positional elements in turn.} 16. Nb3 {
Dark squares.} 1-0
White controls the open c-file. White was able to do this, in fact, because of better development.
Pillsbury Attack
[Event "Petrosian - Portisch Candidates Quarterf"] [Site "Palma ESP"] [Date "1974.02.08"] [Round "10"] [White "Lajos Portisch"] [Black "Tigran Vartanovich Petrosian"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D63"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "r2q1rk1/1b2bppp/pn2pn2/3pN1B1/2pP1P2/2N1P3/PPB3PP/2RQ1RK1 b - - 0 14"] [PlyCount "1"] [EventDate "1974.01.18"] 14... Rb8 1-0
White has a strong supported Knight on e5. White will force open the King's-side with f4-f5!
Pawn storm
[Event "(ol)"] [Site "Thessaloniki"] [Date "1988.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Kasparov, Garry"] [Black "Campora, Daniel Hugo"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D35"] [WhiteElo "2760"] [BlackElo "2540"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "r3rnk1/pp2qppp/4bn2/2pp4/3P1N2/2NBPP2/PPQ3PP/1K1R3R w - - 0 15"] [PlyCount "1"] [EventDate "1988.??.??"] [Source "ChessPublishing"] [SourceDate "2010.01.22"] 15. g4 1-0
White grabs space and tries to open lines on the King's-side
Central wave
[Event "(m/15)"] [Site "London"] [Date "1993.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Kasparov, Garry"] [Black "Short, Nigel D"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D35"] [WhiteElo "2805"] [BlackElo "2655"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "2rq2k1/1b2rpnp/ppp1n1p1/3p4/1P1PP3/P1N2P2/B2QN1PP/3R1RK1 b - - 0 20"] [PlyCount "1"] [EventDate "1993.??.??"] [Source "ChessPublishing"] [SourceDate "2010.01.22"] 20... Rd7 1-0
White takes over the centre with f3 and e4
More space
[Event "TCh-POL"] [Site "Lublin POL"] [Date "2009.09.12"] [Round "1"] [White "Kempinski, Robert"] [Black "Zawadzki, Stanislaw"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D10"] [WhiteElo "2616"] [BlackElo "2419"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "r1q1k2r/1p1nnppp/p1pbp1b1/8/2PPpPP1/1QN3N1/PP1B3P/R3KB1R w KQkq - 0 12"] [PlyCount "1"] [EventDate "2009.09.12"] [Source "ChessPublishing"] [SourceDate "2010.01.22"] 12. Ncxe4 1-0
The structure gives White an advantage in space, although Black can hope hit back later with ...e5 or ...c5
Isolated Queen's Pawn: White Isolated Queen's Pawn
[Event "weak pawns IQP: Attack with sp"]
[Site "weak pawns IQP: Attack with s"]
[Date "1975.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "keene, r"]
[Black "miles, aj (Hastings)"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D42"]
[Annotator "Regis,Dave"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r2q1rk1/pb2bppp/1p2pn2/4N1B1/1n1P4/2N5/PP3PPP/RB1QR1K1 w - - 0 14"]
[PlyCount "1"]
[EventDate "1975.??.??"]
14. Re3 {[#] This is the key move of the game, and thematic for this section.
White gets away brilliantly with it in this game, but obviously the downside
of this manoeuvre is that the Rook is very exposed once it is committed to the
attack.} 1-0
White hopes to make use of the extra space and Knight outpost on e5 to attack the Black King.
Black has the IQP.
[Event "IQP"] [Site "Moscow"] [Date "1984.10.05"] [Round "9"] [White "Karpov, Anatoly"] [Black "Kasparov, Garry"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D34"] [WhiteElo "2705"] [BlackElo "2715"] [Annotator "World Championship 31th-KK1"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "8/2r2pk1/p3bnp1/1p1p3p/2rR4/P1N1PBPP/1P3PK1/3R4 b - - 0 32"] [PlyCount "1"] [EventDate "1984.09.10"] [EventType "match"] [EventRounds "48"] [EventCountry "URS"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceDate "1999.07.01"] 32... R7c5 1-0
White hopes to keep Black defensive and awkward by attacking the IQP – if not, White will take it!
Hang on, are IQPs good or bad things to have? Answer: yes!
Isolated Queen's Pawns have good and bad points – in fact, you can find something positive about most messy pawns, because they control some squares and allow some open lines. So if you have the IQP, keep pieces on and attack, but avoid the endgame if you can.
Queen's-side clamp
[Event "RUS-ch Superfinal"] [Site "Moscow"] [Date "2008.10.14"] [Round "10"] [White "Tomashevsky, Evgeny"] [Black "Riazantsev, Alexander"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D37"] [WhiteElo "2646"] [BlackElo "2656"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "r2q1rk1/3nbppp/Bpp1pn2/p1Pp4/1P1P1B2/P1N1PN1P/5PP1/R2QK2R b KQ - 0 11"] [PlyCount "1"] [EventDate "2008.10.03"] [Source "ChessPublishing"] [SourceDate "2010.01.22"] 11... Rxa6 1-0
White holds the Queen's-side in a grip of iron. Any move of the b-pawn will give a backward c-pawn.
Backward c-pawn
[Event "weak pawns: backward pawn"]
[Site "weak pawns: backward pawn"]
[Date "1945.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "chekhover, v"]
[Black "rudakowsky, i (moscow) CHERNEV"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D61"]
[Annotator "Regis,Dave"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "3r1rk1/qb3ppp/p1p1p3/P1R5/1p1P3Q/1P2P3/4BPPP/2R3K1 w - - 0 27"]
[PlyCount "1"]
[EventDate "1945.??.??"]
27. Bd3 {[#] Chernev suggests adding up the legal moves of the pieces of each
side. He reckons White's pieces are worth twice as much as Black's! We now
enter a new phase, where a second front is opened on the King's-side.} (27. Bf3
$1) 1-0
Black's backward c-pawn is weak and White gangs up on it. But White also has a fine outpost to use just in front of the backward pawn.
Hanging pawns
[Event "weak pawns: hanging pawns (wea"] [Site "weak pawns: hanging pawns (we"] [Date "1972.??.??"] [Round "6"] [White "Fischer"] [Black "Spassky WCh"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D59"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "1nr3k1/r3qpp1/p3b2p/2pp4/8/Q3PN2/PP2BPPP/2R2RK1 b - - 0 17"] [PlyCount "1"] [EventDate "1972.??.??"] 17... Nd7 1-0 [Event "34th Olympiad"] [Site "Istanbul TUR"] [Date "2000.11.05"] [Round "8"] [White "Kastanieda, Georgiy"] [Black "Zaw, Win Lay"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D05"] [WhiteElo "2457"] [BlackElo "2533"] [SetUp "1"] [FEN "2rqr1k1/pb2bppp/1pn1pn2/8/2PP4/P2B1N2/1B3PPP/2RQRNK1 b - - 0 15"] [PlyCount "1"] [EventDate "2000.10.28"] [Source "ChessPublishing"] [SourceDate "2010.01.22"] 15... Rc7 1-0
These may be the strongest weak pawns you can have. Black gets space but often the pawns can't be supported without one of them stepping forwards, and then Black's structure is mostly holes.
Minority Attack
This attack by two pawns against three is designed to produce one of the other advantages in the list - weak pawns or an open file.
So, White plays hoping for one or more of these advantages.
Complete games (click [...] to see list)
[Event "attack: knight on e5 (Budapest"]
[Site "attack: knight on e5 (Budapes"]
[Date "1896.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Pillsbury"]
[Black "Winawer"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D46"]
[PlyCount "41"]
1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. e3 Nf6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 Bd6 7. O-O O-O { [#]}
8. e4 dxe4 9. Nxe4 Nxe4 10. Bxe4 Nf6 11. Bc2 h6 12. Be3 Re8 13. Qd3 Qc7 14. c5
Bf8 15. Ne5 { [#]} 15... Bxc5 16. Bxh6 Bxd4 17. Qxd4 gxh6 18. Qf4 Nd5 19. Qxh6
f6 20. f4 Re7 21. Ng6 1-0
[Event "Top 10 endgames: "]
[Site "weak pawns: weak colour compl"]
[Date "1922.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Alekhine, A."]
[Black "Yates, F."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D64"]
[PlyCount "75"]
{ A game which seems to illustrate the positional elements in turn. } 1. d4 Nf6
2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. Rc1 c6 8. Qc2 Re8 9. Bd3
dxc4 10. Bxc4 Nd5 11. Ne4 f5 12. Bxe7 Qxe7 { Bad bishop.} 13. Ned2 b5 14. Bxd5
cxd5 15. O-O a5 16. Nb3 { Dark squares.} 16... a4 17. Nc5 Nxc5 18. Qxc5 Qxc5
19. Rxc5 b4 20. Rfc1 { Controlling the file.} 20... Ba6 21. Ne5 { Outpost in
front of a backward pawn.} 21... Reb8 22. f3 b3 23. a3 h6 24. Kf2 Kh7 25. h4
Rf8 26. Kg3 { KUFTE.} 26... Rfb8 27. Rc7 { Seventh rank.} 27... Bb5 28. R1c5
Ba6 29. R5c6 Re8 30. Kf4 Kg8 31. h5 Bf1 32. g3 Ba6 33. Rf7 Kh7 34. Rcc7 {
Seventh absolute.} 34... Rg8 35. Nd7 Kh8 36. Nf6 { Silent sacrifice.} 36...
Rgf8 37. Rxg7 Rxf6 38. Ke5 { A final quiet move wins.} 1-0
[Event "Petrosian - Portisch Candidates Quarterfinal"]
[Site "Palma ESP"]
[Date "1974.02.08"]
[EventDate "1974.01.18"]
[Round "10"]
[Result "1-0"]
[White "Lajos Portisch"]
[Black "Tigran Vartanovich Petrosian"]
[ECO "D63"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "65"]
1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Be7 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Bg5 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7
7. Rc1 a6 8. c5 c6 9. Bd3 b6 10. cxb6 c5 11. O-O c4 12. Bc2
Nxb6 13. Ne5 Bb7 14. f4 Rb8 15. f5 Nbd7 16. Bf4 Rc8 17. Qf3
exf5 18. Bxf5 Nxe5 19. dxe5 Ne4 20. Nxe4 dxe4 21. Qh3 g6
22. Rcd1 Qb6 23. Rd7 Rce8 24. e6 gxf5 25. Rxe7 Rxe7 26. Qg3+
Kh8 27. Bh6 fxe6 28. Bxf8 Rd7 29. Bh6 Qa5 30. Qb8+ Qd8
31. Qe5+ Kg8 32. Qxe6+ Rf7 33. Rxf5 1-0
[Event "TCh-POL"]
[Site "Lublin POL"]
[Date "2009.09.12"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kempinski, Robert"]
[Black "Zawadzki, Stanislaw"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D10"]
[WhiteElo "2616"]
[BlackElo "2419"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "2009.09.12"]
[Source "ChessPublishing"]
[SourceDate "2010.01.22"]
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. e3 Bf5 4. Nc3 e6 5. g4 Bg6 6. Nge2 Bd6 7. Qb3 Qc8 8. Ng3
Nd7 9. Bd2 Ne7 10. f4 a6 11. e4 dxe4 12. Ncxe4 Bc7 13. Bg2 h5 14. gxh5 Bxe4 15.
Bxe4 Nf6 16. Bf3 Qd7 17. O-O-O O-O-O 18. Kb1 Bb8 19. Rhe1 Qc7 20. Be3 Rd7 21.
Qc2 Qa5 22. d5 exd5 23. Bd4 Bxf4 24. Bxf6 gxf6 25. Rxe7 1-0
[Event "RUS-ch Superfinal"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "2008.10.14"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Tomashevsky, Evgeny"]
[Black "Riazantsev, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2646"]
[BlackElo "2656"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2008.10.03"]
[Source "ChessPublishing"]
[SourceDate "2010.01.22"]
1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 Be7 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. c5 c6 8. h3 b6
9. b4 a5 10. a3 Ba6 11. Bxa6 Rxa6 12. b5 cxb5 13. c6 Qc8 14. c7 b4 15. Nb5 a4
16. Rc1 Ne4 17. Nd2 Ndf6 18. f3 Ra5 19. Nxe4 Nxe4 20. fxe4 Rxb5 21. Qxa4 Ra5
22. Qc6 bxa3 23. exd5 Rxd5 24. Qxb6 Qd7 25. O-O Rc8 26. Rc6 h6 27. Rfc1 Kh7 28.
Qa6 Rf5 29. Bd6 Bh4 30. Qxa3 Bf2+ 31. Kh1 Rd5 32. Bf4 f5 33. Qc3 Bh4 34. Rb6
Bg5 35. Be5 Bd8 36. Rb8 1-0
[Event "(ol)"]
[Site "Thessaloniki"]
[Date "1988.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Campora, Daniel Hugo"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D35"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[BlackElo "2540"]
[Annotator "R. Scherbakov"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "1988.??.??"]
[Source "ChessPublishing"]
[SourceDate "2010.01.22"]
{Long castling with the Knight on e2 is rather a dangerous plan for Black who
has to know what to do very well. In this game Black played passively and
allowed White to seize a strong initiative. As usual, Kasparov's pieces
exercised full power.} 1. c4 Nf6 2. d4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 Be7 6.
e3 O-O 7. Bd3 Nbd7 8. Nge2 Re8 9. Qc2 Nf8 10. O-O-O Be6 {Black tries to
advance his pawn to c5 in one step.} 11. Kb1 {To move the King from the c-file
is rather useful in view of Black's plan.} Ng4 (11... Rc8 $5 {deserves
attention as was played in the game Annageldiev - K. Petrosian, Belgorod 1989.}
) 12. Bxe7 Qxe7 13. Nf4 Nf6 14. f3 {White begins action on the kingside so
Black, who wasted a couple of tempi with the knight's manoeuvring is forced
now to undertake his plan without good preparation.} c5 ({In the case of} 14...
Ng6 15. g4 $1 Nxf4 16. exf4 $16 {followed by f4-f5, g4-g5, etc and White's
attack seems to be very strong.}) 15. g4 $1 cxd4 $6 {A serious mistake which
makes White's task much easier.} (15... c4 $1 {was clearly better, trying to
achieve counterplay by advancing his queenside pawns:} 16. Bf1 Qd6 (16... Qd7
$2 {was inaccurate because of} 17. e4 $1 dxe4 18. d5 Bxg4 19. fxg4 Qxg4 20. Qf2
$16) 17. g5 N6d7 {followed by ...Rab8, ...b7-b5, etc though White's chances
should be preferred.}) 16. exd4 Qd6 17. Qd2 a6 18. Nce2 {Transferring the
Knight to g3 to concentrate more forces against the black King.} ({According
to Garry Kasparov, immediate attack was not too effective:} 18. h4 $6 b5 19. h5
N6d7 20. g5 Nb6 $132 {with a counterplay.}) 18... Re7 ({Still} 18... b5 {
followed by the Knight's transfer to c4 was worthy of consideration.}) 19. Ng3
Ng6 ({In case of} 19... Rae8 {White could have seized a strong initiative by}
20. Nxe6 $1 Rxe6 (20... fxe6 21. g5 N6d7 22. f4 $1 $16) 21. Nf5 $16) 20. Ng2 $1
{A very good decision. White wisely avoids the offered exchange, as we'll see
both his knights will be quite useful in the attack.} Nd7 21. Rhg1 Ree8 22.
Rdf1 $3 {While studying the games of the best players, especially the World
Champions, it is rather useful to pay attention not to the moves itself but
how the moves are evaluated. The last move deserves two exclamation marks for
its difficulty. It's quite understandable that the rook on g1 has good chances
to find itself on an open file after a possible Nf5/Bxf5/gxf5 but what is the
other Rook doing on f1? Let's follow the game...} Ngf8 (22... Nb6 {could be
met by} 23. f4 Nf8 ({after} 23... Bxg4 {the Rook is not hanging so} 24. f5 {
is quite possible:} Nf8 25. Qg5 $40 {and so on}) 24. f5 $1 $16 {with a strong
attack.}) 23. Ne3 (23. Nh5 $5 Ng6 24. h3 {following with f4-f5 was also
interesting, according to Kasparov.}) 23... Kh8 24. Nh5 $1 (24. f4 {looked
natural but, according to Kasparov, it could grant Black some counterplay:} Nf6
$1 25. f5 Bd7 26. g5 Ne4 27. Nxe4 dxe4 28. Bc4 Bb5 $1 $132 {and White has to
glance at the queenside.}) 24... g6 (24... f6 {was not better:} 25. Nf5 Bxf5
26. gxf5 $1 Re7 27. Qg2 $40 {and g7-square is cracking.}) 25. f4 $1 {The rook
on f1 fulfils its role in the attack.} ({Not less spectacular} 25. Nf5 $6 {
was weaker:} Bxf5 26. gxf5 gxh5 27. Qg5 Ng6 $13 {with unclear consequences.})
25... gxh5 26. f5 h4 $8 {It risky for Black to free both white's rooks...} 27.
fxe6 fxe6 28. g5 {The attack looks irresistible as White just has more pieces
in play.} Re7 (28... Ng6 {did not help:} 29. Bxg6 hxg6 30. Qf2 Re7 31. Ng4 Rh7
32. Nh6 $1 Rf8 33. Qxh4 $18 {with a decisive advantage, according to Kasparov.}
) 29. Ng4 Rg7 30. Nh6 Qb6 (30... Qe7 31. Rg4 {/\\ Rgf4+-}) 31. g6 hxg6 32. Nf7+
Kg8 33. Qh6 Rh7 (33... Rxf7 34. Bxg6 Rxf1+ 35. Rxf1 {was just as bad.}) 34.
Rxg6+ $1 Nxg6 35. Qxg6+ Rg7 36. Qh6 {Black resigned. A crushing defeat.} 1-0
[Event "(m/15)"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "1993.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Black "Short, Nigel D"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D35"]
[WhiteElo "2805"]
[BlackElo "2655"]
[Annotator "R. Scherbakov"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "1993.??.??"]
[Source "ChessPublishing"]
[SourceDate "2010.01.22"]
{With the Knight on e2 White's main plan seems to be a central pawn advance
e3-e4. Sometimes he realises this plan with a quite interesting method. First
he makes it appear that he is going for minority attack by a2-a3 and b4-b5 -
notice that the Rook is not used but then he completely switches for the e3-e4
having an additional control over square c5 to prevent the quite typical Black
reaction ...c6-c5. In the examined game Nigel Short tried to advance ...c6-c5
at all costs but this only created some extra weaknesses in his position...} 1.
d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 Be7 6. e3 O-O 7. Bd3 Nbd7 8. Nge2
Re8 9. O-O Nf8 {Black tries to treat this position without c7-c6 but it grants
White an interesting option.} 10. b4 $1 a6 ({The pawn cannot be taken for free:
} 10... Bxb4 $6 11. Bxf6 gxf6 12. Nxd5 $1 Qxd5 13. Qa4 Bh3 $5 ({both} 13... Be7
14. Qxe8 Bh3 15. Nf4 $1 $18) ({and} 13... Bd6 14. Qxe8 Bh3 15. Qe4 $1 $18 {
do not seem to work}) 14. Nf4 Qa5 15. Qxa5 Bxa5 16. Nxh3 Ne6 $14 {and Black is
far from equality because of his weakened kingside pawns structure}) (10... h6
$5 {is worthy of consideration:} 11. Bxf6 (11. Bh4 $5 {is interesting:} g5 12.
Bg3 Bxb4 13. Nb5 Ba5 14. Qc2 c6 15. Nd6 Re7 $13 {with complicated play}) 11...
Bxf6 12. b5 $14 {with a small advantage for White} ({or} 12. Qb3 $14)) (10...
Ng6 11. b5 Ng4 12. Bxe7 Rxe7 13. Bxg6 $1 hxg6 14. Nf4 c6 (14... Nf6 15. Qb3 Be6
16. Na4 Ne4 17. Rfc1 $16) 15. h3 Nf6 {and here, a ccording to Andrey
Istratescu, White could have secured his advantage by} 16. bxc6 bxc6 17. Nd3 $1
Ba6 $8 18. Re1 Bxd3 19. Qxd3 Ne4 20. Rec1 $1 Nxc3 21. Qxc3 Re6 22. Rab1 $16 {
, Istratescu - Notkin, Bucuresti 1997}) (10... Ne4 {did not solve Black's
problems, in the game Lautier - Van der Sterren, Germany BL 2000 White
achieved a clear advantageafter} 11. Bxe7 Rxe7 12. Qc2 Bf5 13. Nf4 c6 14. Nce2
g5 15. f3 $1 gxf4 16. fxe4 Bxe4 17. Nxf4 Qd6 18. Nh5 Nd7 19. Bxe4 Rxe4 20. Ng3
Rh4 21. Rf3 $16) 11. a3 (11. a4 $5 {deserves attention, in case of} Bxb4 {
White obtains more than enough compensation for the pawn by means of} 12. Bxf6
gxf6 13. Qb3 Bxc3 14. Qxc3 $5 (14. Nxc3 c6 15. a5 $44 {Bareev - Nenashev,
Luzern 1993}) 14... b6 15. Ng3 Be6 16. Rac1 $36 {with the initiative,
according to Garry Kasparov.}) 11... c6 12. Qc2 {With a slightly different
move order we have transposed to the main lines.} g6 ({The position after}
12... Ng6 {will be considered in the next game.}) 13. f3 {White's main plan
should be connected with central pawn advance e3-e4. Black's typical reaction
is ...c6-c5 but here it is not so easy to realize as White has taken
additional control over the c5 square.} Ne6 14. Bh4 Nh5 (14... Ng7 {was played
in the game Kasparov - Beliavsky, Moscow TV 1987:} 15. Bf2 h5 16. h3 Nh7 17. e4
Bh4 18. Qd2 Bxf2+ 19. Rxf2 $16 {and White had obtained tangible advantage.})
15. Bxe7 ({After} 15. Bf2 Bd6 $132 {Black was not without a counterplay.})
15... Rxe7 $6 (15... Qxe7 {seemed to be better. After the possible} 16. Rae1 a5
17. Qb2 axb4 18. axb4 $14 {White could have secured small but lasting edge but
Black's position was quite solid.}) 16. Qd2 b6 $6 {This move does not look
very good. Black is trying to break with ...c6-c5 but this idea is
impracticable. Moreover it weakens the queenside pawn structure and so makes
White's task easier. Fairly speaking it is already not so easy for Black to
arrange his pieces after the inaccurate 15...Re7?!} 17. Rad1 Bb7 18. Bb1 $1 $16
{Preventing an advance ... c6-c5 by shadowing the d5 pawn. The Bishop will go
to a2 if required. It seems like Black is left without a particle of
counterplay and should only be waiting. We can assume White has achieved a big
advantage.} Nhg7 19. e4 ({According to Kasparov,} 19. f4 $5 {would also
promise a certain advantage, for example:} f5 (19... Re8 20. f5 Nf8 21. Ng3 $16
) 20. Nc1 $16 {with Nd3-e5 to follow but the text move looks more natural.})
19... Rc8 20. Ba2 Rd7 21. Nf4 $1 {A very concrete and strong decision. At the
first glance the exchange makes Black's defence easier but actually this
increases a power of the light-squared Bishop as removes the obstacle from
diagonal a2-g8. Besides it was not at all clear if there was a better way to
use the knight on e2.} Nxf4 ({An alternatives were much worse. After} 21... Qg5
$2 22. Nxe6 Qxd2 23. Rxd2 Nxe6 {trouble comes from the other side:} 24. Na4 $18
) (21... dxe4 $6 {was very kind for the bishop on a2:} 22. Nxe6 Nxe6 23. fxe4
$5 (23. Bxe6 fxe6 24. fxe4 {was also not bad but the text move is more in
Kasparov' style}) 23... Nxd4 (23... Rxd4 24. Qf2 Rd7 {was the same}) 24. Qf2 c5
({after} 24... Ne6 25. Bxe6 $5 (25. Rxd7 $5 Qxd7 26. Na4 $16) 25... fxe6 26.
Rxd7 Qxd7 27. Na4 $16 {the Bishop on b7 is suffering too much}) 25. Bxf7+ Kg7 {
and now} 26. Be6 $1 Nxe6 27. Qf6+ $1 Kh6 (27... Qxf6 28. Rxd7+ $18) 28. Qxe6
$16 {with a big advantage, according to Kasparov, although after} Rd4 {Black
is still fighting.}) 22. Qxf4 Ne6 23. Qe5 Re7 (23... Nc7 $5 {deserved
attention with the idea of ...Nb5.}) 24. Qg3 Qc7 25. Qh4 $5 (25. Qxc7 $5 {
was also good:} Nxc7 26. Na4 Nb5 27. Nxb6 Rd8 28. e5 $8 Nxa3 29. Rd2 $16 {
with f4-f5 to follow but Kasparov prefers to keep more tension.}) 25... Ng7 (
25... c5 $2 {was bad because of} 26. dxc5 dxe4 27. Bd5 $1 $18 {with decisive
advantage as the Knight is going to f6.}) 26. Rc1 Qd8 27. Rfd1 Rcc7 28. Na4 $1
dxe4 (28... Rcd7 {was hardly better as White advances:} 29. e5 {and the attempt
} f5 $2 {fails to} 30. exf6 Rf7 31. Nxb6 $1 (31. Bb1 Ne8 32. Re1 Nxf6 $16)
31... Nf5 32. Qe1 $1 $18) 29. fxe4 Qe8 ({After} 29... Rcd7 30. Kh1 $1 $16 {
Black's position was also not very fun.}) 30. Nc3 Rcd7 31. Qf2 Ne6 $2 {The
decisive mistake.} (31... h6 $6 {with the idea of ...Kh7 and ...f5 was
suspicious:} 32. d5 cxd5 33. Bxd5 b5 34. Bxb7 Rxd1+ 35. Rxd1 Rxb7 36. Nd5) ({
but something like} 31... Kh8 32. Qf6 Qd8) ({or even immediate} 31... Qd8 {
was definitely a more stubborn defence.}) 32. e5 $18 (32. d5 cxd5 33. exd5 Ng7
34. Qxb6 {was also possible but the text is more to the point (f6)!}) 32... c5
$6 (32... Qd8 {was the only way to fight.}) 33. bxc5 bxc5 34. d5 Nd4 35. Ne4
Qd8 36. Nf6+ Kg7 37. Nxd7 Rxd7 38. Rxc5 Ne6 39. Rcc1 {Black resigned. The line
with 12 ...g6 looks too passive, in my opinion.} 1-0
[Event "weak pawns IQP: Attack with sp"]
[Site "weak pawns IQP: Attack with s"]
[Date "1975.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "keene, r"]
[Black "miles, aj (Hastings)"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D42"]
[PlyCount "51"]
1. c4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 c5 5. cxd5
Nxd5 6. e3 cxd4 7. exd4 Be7 8. Bd3 { the position actually arose by a different
move order} 8... O-O 9. O-O Nc6 10. Re1 Nf6 ( 10... Ncb4 11. Bb1 Nf6 12. Bg5
Bd7 13. Ne5 { is similar to the game} )11. Bg5 Nb4 { right idea against IQP
but too early} 12. Bb1 b6 13. Ne5 Bb7 14. Re3 { [#] This is the key move of
the game, and thematic for this section. White gets away brilliantly with it in
this game, but obviously the downside of this manoeuvre is that the Rook is
very exposed once it is committed to the attack.} 14... g6 { or} ( 14... Ng4
15. Bxe7 Nxe3 16. Bxh7+ Kh8 17. Qh5 Ng4 18. Bg6+ Nh6 )15. Rg3 ( 15. Rg3 Re8 16.
Bh6 Bf8 17. Bxf8 Rxf8 18. Qd2 { +- keene} 18... Rc8 19. Nxg6 hxg6 20. Bxg6
fxg6 21. Qh6 Kf7 22. Rxg6 Rg8 )15... Rc8 ( 15... Nc6 16. Bh6 Qxd4 17. Qxd4 Nxd4
18. Bxf8 Kxf8 19. h3 Rd8 )16. Bh6 Re8 17. a3 Nc6 { [#]} 18. Nxg6 hxg6 19. Bxg6
( 19. Bxg6 Bd6 20. Bxf7+ Kxf7 21. Rg7+ Kf8 22. Qf3 )19... fxg6 { [#]} ( 19...
Bf8 20. Bc2+ Kh8 21. Bxf8 Rxf8 22. Qd2 Ng8 23. Rh3+ Kg7 24. Rh7+ Kf6 25. d5
)20. Qb1 ( 20. Qc2 { or} )20... Ne5 21. dxe5 Ne4 22. Nxe4 Kh7 23. Nf6+ Bxf6 24.
Qxg6+ Kh8 25. Bg7+ Bxg7 26. Qxg7# 1-0
[Event "IQP"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1984.10.05"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Karpov, Anatoly"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D34"]
[WhiteElo "2705"]
[BlackElo "2715"]
[Annotator "World Championship 31th-KK1"]
[PlyCount "139"]
[EventDate "1984.09.10"]
[EventType "match"]
[EventRounds "48"]
[EventCountry "URS"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]
1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. g3 Nf6 6. Bg2 Be7 7. O-O O-O 8. Nc3
Nc6 9. Bg5 cxd4 10. Nxd4 h6 11. Be3 Re8 12. Qb3 Na5 13. Qc2 Bg4 14. Nf5 Rc8 15.
Bd4 Bc5 16. Bxc5 Rxc5 17. Ne3 Be6 18. Rad1 Qc8 19. Qa4 Rd8 20. Rd3 a6 21. Rfd1
Nc4 22. Nxc4 Rxc4 23. Qa5 Rc5 24. Qb6 Rd7 25. Rd4 Qc7 26. Qxc7 Rdxc7 27. h3 h5
28. a3 g6 29. e3 Kg7 30. Kh2 Rc4 31. Bf3 b5 32. Kg2 R7c5 33. Rxc4 Rxc4 34. Rd4
Kf8 35. Be2 Rxd4 36. exd4 Ke7 37. Na2 Bc8 38. Nb4 Kd6 39. f3 Ng8 40. h4 Nh6 41.
Kf2 Nf5 42. Nc2 f6 43. Bd3 g5 44. Bxf5 Bxf5 45. Ne3 Bb1 46. b4 gxh4 47. Ng2
hxg3+ 48. Kxg3 Ke6 49. Nf4+ Kf5 50. Nxh5 Ke6 51. Nf4+ Kd6 52. Kg4 Bc2 53. Kh5
Bd1 54. Kg6 Ke7 55. Nxd5+ Ke6 56. Nc7+ Kd7 57. Nxa6 Bxf3 58. Kxf6 Kd6 59. Kf5
Kd5 60. Kf4 Bh1 61. Ke3 Kc4 62. Nc5 Bc6 63. Nd3 Bg2 64. Ne5+ Kc3 65. Ng6 Kc4
66. Ne7 Bb7 67. Nf5 Bg2 68. Nd6+ Kb3 69. Nxb5 Ka4 70. Nd6 1-0
[Event "weak pawns: hanging pawns (wea"]
[Site "weak pawns: hanging pawns (we"]
[Date "1972.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Fischer"]
[Black "Spassky WCh"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D59"]
[PlyCount "81"]
1. c4 e6 2. Nf3 d5 3. d4 Nf6 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 O-O 6. e3 h6 7. Bh4 b6 8. cxd5
Nxd5 9. Bxe7 Qxe7 10. Nxd5 exd5 11. Rc1 Be6 12. Qa4 c5 13. Qa3 Rc8 14. Bb5 a6
15. dxc5 bxc5 16. O-O Ra7 17. Be2 Nd7 18. Nd4 Qf8 { [#]} 19. Nxe6 fxe6 20. e4
d4 21. f4 Qe7 22. e5 Rb8 23. Bc4 Kh8 24. Qh3 Nf8 25. b3 a5 26. f5 exf5 27. Rxf5
Nh7 28. Rcf1 Qd8 29. Qg3 Re7 30. h4 Rbb7 31. e6 Rbc7 32. Qe5 Qe8 33. a4 Qd8 34.
R1f2 Qe8 35. R2f3 Qd8 36. Bd3 Qe8 37. Qe4 Nf6 38. Rxf6 gxf6 39. Rxf6 Kg8 40.
Bc4 Kh8 41. Qf4 1-0
[Event "34th Olympiad"]
[Site "Istanbul TUR"]
[Date "2000.11.05"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Kastanieda, Georgiy"]
[Black "Zaw, Win Lay"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D05"]
[WhiteElo "2457"]
[BlackElo "2533"]
[Annotator "Aaron Summerscale"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "2000.10.28"]
[Source "ChessPublishing"]
[SourceDate "2010.01.22"]
{Colle-Zukertort: White goes directly for the hanging pawn formation and reaps
the rewards of imaginative attacking play.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. e3 c5 4. Bd3
d5 5. b3 Nc6 6. O-O Bd6 7. Bb2 O-O 8. c4 {An unusual and quite aggressive way
of handling the Colle-Zukertort. White immediately strikes out on the
queenside without any provocation from Black.} cxd4 9. exd4 dxc4 {This is a
very dangerous move from Black's point of view. He does not, as yet, have a
plan for blockading White's hanging pawns. This leaves Black open to all sorts
of dynamic shots.} 10. bxc4 b6 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Re1 Be7 13. Rc1 {White
manoeuvers patiently, awaiting his opportunity. The d5 pawn break is clearly
beckoning, it is just a matter of getting the timing right.} Rc8 14. a3 Re8 15.
Nf1 Rc7 {Not the sharpest move. Black weakens the defence of his own back rank,
not a particularly bright idea and White is quick to pounce.} 16. d5 $1 Rd7 {
The pawn is taboo on account of:} (16... exd5 17. Bxf6 Bxf6 18. Rxe8+ Qxe8 19.
cxd5 {winning material.}) 17. Qe2 exd5 18. Bxf6 gxf6 19. Bf5 Rd6 {Black is all
tied up with nowhere to go.} 20. Nh4 {White begins to home in on the weakened
Black king position.} Ne5 21. Qh5 Ng6 {What else! However, White now finishes
Black off with a series of fine attacking blows.} 22. Nxg6 hxg6 23. Bxg6 {
Kapow!} fxg6 24. Qxg6+ Kf8 25. Qh6+ Kf7 26. Qh7+ Kf8 27. Rc3 {As so often the
inclusion of a rook in the attack speeds Black's demise.} f5 28. Rg3 Bg5 29.
Rxg5 {A fine attacking display by the player behind the White pieces.} 1-0
[Event "weak pawns: backward pawn"]
[Site "weak pawns: backward pawn"]
[Date "1945.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "chekhover, v"]
[Black "rudakowsky, i (moscow) CHERNEV"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D61"]
[PlyCount "77"]
1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 O-O 6. Nc3 Nbd7 7. Qc2 c6 8. Bd3
dxc4 9. Bxc4 Nd5 10. Bxe7 Qxe7 11. O-O b5 { [#] Now the c-pawn is backward
Black must undertake to advance it.} 12. Be2 a6 13. Ne4 Bb7 14. Ne5 Rac8 15.
Nxd7 Qxd7 16. Nc5 Qc7 17. Rfd1 Rcd8 18. Rac1 Bc8 19. Qe4 Nf6 20. Qh4 Qa5 21. a3
b4 22. a4 Nd7 23. b3 Nxc5 24. Rxc5 Qb6 { [#] The Rook stops the advance of both
the c- and e-pawns, which means Black's Bishop and other pieces will remain
constrained.} 25. Rdc1 Bb7 26. a5 Qa7 27. Bd3 { [#] Chernev suggests adding up
the legal moves of the pieces of each side. He reckons White's pieces are worth
twice as much as Black's! We now enter a new phase, where a second front is
opened on the King's-side.} ( 27. Bf3 $1)27... g6 28. Qf6 Rd6 29. Qe7 Rfd8 30.
h4 R8d7 31. Qf6 Qa8 32. Be4 Qe8 33. h5 Rd8 { [#] Something has to give.} 34.
Bxc6 Bxc6 35. h6 Kf8 36. Rxc6 Rxc6 37. Rxc6 Rd7 ( 37... Qxc6 38. Qxd8+ Qe8 39.
Qd6+ Kg8 40. Qxa6 { threat Qb7} 40... Qe7 41. Qb6 )38. Rc8 Qxc8 39. Qh8+ 1-0
[Event "QGD, EV: 2 the modern minority attack"]
[Site "minority attack in the QGD ex"]
[Date "1950.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Evans"]
[Black "Opsahl"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D36"]
[PlyCount "161"]
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bg5 Nbd7 5. e3 Be7 6. Qc2 O-O 7. cxd5 exd5 8.
Nf3 c6 9. Bd3 Re8 10. O-O Nf8 11. Rab1 Ne4 12. Bxe7 Qxe7 { [#] The classic
setting for the minority attack.} 13. b4 a6 14. a4 Nxc3 15. Qxc3 Bg4 16. Nd2
Qg5 17. Rfc1 Re6 { [#] Drumming up some King's-side counterplay. Nigel Davies
in a BCM article strongly recommended this idea.} 18. b5 { !} 18... axb5 19.
axb5 Bh3 20. g3 Rae8 21. bxc6 bxc6 22. Bf1 { !} 22... Bxf1 23. Nxf1 Ng6 24.
Rb6 { [#] A critical moment - if Black has to go back now he is really up
against the ropes.} 24... Ne7 ( 24... Nh4 25. Rxc6 { The Rook on c6 stops the
Black Rook on e6 joining the attack. I think the White King is safe here.}
25... Nf3+ 26. Kh1 h5 27. Qb3 ( 27. Qd3))25. Qb4 h5 26. Rb8 Rxb8 27. Qxb8+ Kh7
28. Qf4 { !} 28... Qxf4 29. gxf4 { <em> [The h-pawn cannot really be attacked,
and with Queens off White can use the King] </em>} 29... g6 30. Nd2 Rd6 31.
Kf1 Kg7 32. Ra1 Rd7 33. Nb3 Rb7 34. Nc5 Rb2 35. Ra7 Kf6 36. Ra6 Rb1+ 37. Kg2
Rb2 38. Ra7 Rb1 39. Rc7 Ra1 40. Nd3 Ke6 41. Nc5+ Kf6 42. Nd7+ Ke6 43. Nf8+ Kf6
44. Nh7+ Ke6 45. Ng5+ Kd6 46. Rb7 { [#]} 46... f6 { ?} ( 46... f5)47. Nh7 Ke6
48. Nf8+ { Very neat} 48... Kf7 ( 48... Kd6 49. Rd7# )49. Nxg6 Kxg6 50. Rxe7 {
White has a pawn and hopes of collecting more.} 50... Kf5 51. Rc7 { [#]}
51... Rc1 52. Rc8 Kg6 53. Kg3 Rc2 54. h4 Kf5 55. Rh8 Kg6 56. f5+ Kxf5 57. Rxh5+
{ Now White has a passed pawn.} 57... Kg6 58. Rh8 Kf5 59. Rg8 Rc1 60. Kg2 Ra1
61. h5 Ra7 62. Rg3 Rh7 63. Rh3 Kg5 64. Kf3 { Offering to trade the pawn for a
winning King raid.} 64... Rh6 65. Rh1 Kf5 66. Kg3 Kg5 67. Rh4 Kf5 68. Rf4+ Kg5
{ [#]} 69. Rg4+ { ! Again offering the pawn, but again Black dare not accept.}
69... Kf5 ( 69... Kxh5 { is rather like the game continuation:} 70. Rh4+ Kg5
71. Rxh6 Kxh6 72. Kf4 Kg6 73. f3 Kg7 74. Kf5 Kf7 75. f4 Ke7 76. Kg6 Ke6 77. f5+
Ke7 78. Kg7 )70. Kh4 Rh8 71. Rg7 Ra8 72. h6 Ra1 73. Rg3 Rh1+ 74. Rh3 Rg1 75.
Rf3+ Kg6 76. Rg3+ { The winning clearance} 76... Rxg3 77. Kxg3 Kxh6 78. Kg4
Kg6 79. Kf4 Kg7 80. Kf5 Kf7 81. f3 1-0