FIDE Surveys Alonso Zapata Page 1

Alonso Zapata:

Useless pieces
Concept
This happens when one or more pieces are
trapped inside a pawn structure or remain
enslaved defending weaknesses. It occurs
frequently in endgame and middle game
situations. It is rare to see it in the early
stage of the opening. Aim at neutralizing the
strength or activity of the opponent's pieces,
to the point of making them useless. That is
a strategic search and an ideal aim for the
competitive chess player. At first, before we
start a game, the nominal value of each of
our pieces is exactly the same as that of our
opponent's pieces. Of course, there is no
advantage for either side, except for White's
having the first move. Once the game starts,
it is up to each of us to optimize our
respective positions, with better technical
execution (both strategic and tactical). It is a
constant purpose to keep our pieces more
useful and valuable, in order to attain the
initiative. A next step is when, in addition to
securing an advantage, we neutralize our
opponent and make his pieces useless, avoid
any counterplay and execute a strategy of
tiresome defense. This frequently brings to
the scene a motif that reminds us of our
yearned Zugzwang and of the Domination
theme; in which one side is dynamic and the
other becomes a mere spectator. Generally,
when there is a useless piece on the board
(having a useless piece is frequently like
being a piece down!) the total harmony of
that side's position is harmed, and often the
result of the game turns on that element.
Having a useless piece, with no activity,
which is not contributing to the overall aims
of the position, is a headache. Frequently,
the opponent's attacks become deadly; or the
winning side artfully simplifies the position
by exchanging material, so that the
imbalance between his active pieces and the
opponent's useless ones becomes clearer and
the weakness of the useless piece is
emphasized. Basic strategy: simplify the
position, but let the opponent keep his
useless pieces. By applying this principle,
we will regularly prevail easily. Control of
mobility: How often do we see a bishop that,
because of its limited mobility it resembles a
pawn and we say that its side has one extra
pawn but one piece less! Or a knight totally
neutralized by the opponent's control of the
squares to which it can move. It is really like
being a piece down. We are reminded of
endings in which one side has a decisive
advantage, consisting of a knight in a
dominating central position against a bishop
blocked and trapped by its own pawns; or of
endings in which a powerful bishop in an
open position controls all the possible
escape squares of a trapped knight.
Something similar happens to any other
piece that because of its lack of mobility or
functionality becomes useless. We also see
it in king and pawns endings in the case of
the opposition or with respect to the concept
of related squares

Example
XIIIIIIIIY
9++++0
9+mk++0
9p++++0
9zPpmK+N+0
9zP+++0
9++++p0
9+++zP0
9+++sn0
xiiiiiiiiy
1.Nd4+
FIDE Surveys Alonso Zapata Page 2

This is a clear example of Domination; note
that the black knight becomes a useless
piece. Pawns in a6 and b5 soon will fall.
1...Kd7 2.Kb6 Kd6 3.Kxa6 Kd5
The counterplay is harmless, by the speed of
"a" pawn.
4.Kxb5 Kxd4 5.a6 1:0.

Bishop against useless knight
XIIIIIIIIY
9++++0
9+++k+0
9L+++zp0
9+++KzpP0
9+++P+0
9sn+++0
9++++0
9++++0
xiiiiiiiiy
1.Bd3+
Similar to the previous example, the black
knight becomes useless and white wins by
using the opposition.
1...Kg7 2.Ke6
The victory is elemental.
2...Kg8 3.Kf6 Kh8 4.Kg6
And the black pawns fall. 1:0.

Schweser's composition

Incredible example of useless pieces. This is
a great funny and antique example,
composed by Schwers. Apparently black
have a winning position, but white used a
fantastic idea, inspired by the theme of
Zugzwang, where black have to play and
sadly must make himself the "harakiri".







XIIIIIIIIY
9rvl+++0
9+kzpsn+0
9+++Q+0
9zPK++p+0
9+zp++0
9+++vL0
9+++p+0
9++++0
xiiiiiiiiy
1.a6+! Ka7
1...Kc8?? 2.Qe8#.
2.Qc6!!
XIIIIIIIIY
9rvl+++0
9mkzpsn+0
9P+Q+++0
9+K++p+0
9+zp++0
9+++vL0
9+++p+0
9++++0
xiiiiiiiiy
2...Nxc6 3.Bf2!!
XIIIIIIIIY
9rvl+++0
9mkzp++0
9P+n+++0
9+K++p+0
9+zp++0
9++++0
9++vLp+0
9++++0
xiiiiiiiiy
Marvelous example compound useless
pieces (Zugzwang). White has sacrificed
most of his material, but have just what it
FIDE Surveys Alonso Zapata Page 3

takes to win! The black figures spectators
and have became authentic decorative
pieces. Black has to play and waste their
moves becoming "useless", which will lead
to checkmate. 3.Bf2 f4 4.Bg1 f3 5.Bf2.
3...f4 4.Bg1
Once the black movements are consumed,
the game is over.
4...f3 5.Bf2 g1Q 6.Bxg1 f2 7.Bxf2 Nb4
8.Bxd4+ c5 9.Bxc5# 1:0.
XIIIIIIIIY
9rvl+++0
9mk+++0
9P++++0
9+KvL++0
9sn+++0
9++++0
9++++0
9++++0
xiiiiiiiiy

Queen useless
XIIIIIIIIY
9++++0
9+vL++0
9++++0
9+++zpp0
9+++mk0
9++++P0
9++wqPmK0
9++++0
xiiiiiiiiy
This is a fantastic Kaminer's composition
(1925), with just a four pieces per side and
although White has a disproportionate
disadvantage (a bishop against a queen)
curiously, the queen is a useless piece!
1.Bd6!!+
Simple and sufficient. This is an incredible
position Zugzwang, the calamity of having
to play! Other options lost after: 1.Be5 g4
+; 1.Bb8 g4+.
1...Qf4+
Nothing to do in view of: 1...Qe1 2.g3+;
1...g4 2.Be7+
2.g3+ Qxg3+ 3.Bxg3# 1:0.

Zapata A. : Velez B.
Santo Domingo 2012
XIIIIIIIIY
9r++trk+0
9+p+l++p0
9+n+p++0
9+L+p+pzp0
9+zPnsN+0
9+zP+N+0
9zP+zPPzP0
9tR+tRmK0
xiiiiiiiiy
In this example we will see, the typical
problem of ineffective bishop locked in their
own pawns, which is almost like having a
piece down. If White could simplify to only
the strong knight against the useless bishop
that would be enough to win.
19...g5
19...Rfe8!? To defend e6 and capture on c6
e6 with bishop.
20.Bxc6 bxc6 21.Nd3
XIIIIIIIIY
9r++trk+0
9++l++p0
9+p+p++0
9++p+pzp0
9+zPn++0
9+zPN+N+0
9zP+zPPzP0
9tR+tRmK0
xiiiiiiiiy
It is clear that White wants to improve their
FIDE Surveys Alonso Zapata Page 4

knights on the black weaknesses squares e5
and c5, to attack e6, c6.
21...Rfb8 22.Nfe5 Be8 23.f3 Nd6 24.Rxa8
Rxa8 25.Nc5+
Note that the black bishop has an unhelpful
role.
25...Ra2 26.Ned3 Nc4 27.b3 Nd2 28.Rxe6
Bf7 29.Rxc6 Ra1+ 30.Kf2 Ra2 31.Ke1
Nb1 32.Ne5
XIIIIIIIIY
9+++k+0
9+++l+p0
9+R+++0
9+sNpsNpzp0
9+zP++0
9+PzP+P+0
9r+++PzP0
9+n+mK+0
xiiiiiiiiy
White has enhanced the value of its pieces
and "the bishop was quoted limited less and
less".
It threatened Rc8 and Rc7.
32...Ra7 33.Ncd3
The away Nb1 becomes another headache.
33...Rb7 34.Kd1 g4 35.Nc5 Ra7 36.Kc2
Na3+ 37.Kb2
37.Kd3+.
37...gxf3 38.gxf3 Nb5
38...Kg7 39.Rb6+ trapping the knight.
39.Rb6 Nc7 40.Nc6 1:0.
40.Nc6 Ra8 41.Rb7+ (41.Ne7++)
41...Ne8.

Abreu C. : Zapata A.
Santo Domingo 2012

Useless pieces in the opening phase: this
item is an example. This topic occurred in
the early stage of the opening and it affected
the remaining of the game.
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.g3 d5 4.exd5 exd5 5.Bg2
Qe7+ 6.Qe2 Nc6 7.Nc3 Qxe2+ 8.Kxe2?
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+kvlntr0
9zpp++pzpp0
9+n+++0
9+zpp++0
9++++0
9+sN+NzP0
9PzPPzPKzPLzP0
9tRvL++R0
xiiiiiiiiy
This error is the cause of all the subsequent
difficulties. 8.Nxe2.
8...Bg4! 9.Re1
9.Kf1 Nf6+.
9...000 10.Kd1
10.Kf1 Nb4 11.Ne5 Be6 12.Rb1 Nxc2
13.Re2+.
10...Nd4 11.Re3 Nf6
Stronger is 11...h5!! I missed this important
tactical resource; the idea was to value
immediately Rh8.
XIIIIIIIIY
9+ktrvltr0
9zpp++pzpp0
9++sn+0
9+zpp++0
9+sn+l+0
9+sNtRNzP0
9PzPPzPzPLzP0
9tRvLK++0
xiiiiiiiiy
A) 12.Ne2 Nxf3 13.Bxf3 d4 14.Ra3 (14.Rb3
c4+) 14...c4! 15.Bxg4+ hxg4 16.Rxa7
(16.Ra4 b5 17.Rxa7 Rxh2 18.d3 Rh1+
19.Kd2 Bb4+ 20.c3 dxc3+ 21.bxc3 Rxd3+
22.Kc2 Re1+) 16...Kb8 17.Ra4 Rxh2 18.d3
b5+;

FIDE Surveys Alonso Zapata Page 5

B) 12.h3 Nxf3 13.hxg4 hxg4 14.Bxf3 gxf3
15.Rxf3 d4 16.Ne4 Rh1+ 17.Ke2 Nh6+
18.d3 f5+
12.h3 Bh5 13.g4 Bg6 14.Ne1
14.d3 Nxc2 15.Kxc2 d4 16.Re1 dxc3
17.Ne5 cxb2 18.Bxb2 Nd5 19.a3 f6.
14...Ne6 15.Ne2 h5 16.f3
Note, the marginalized position of
practically all the white pieces.
16...d4 17.Ra3 a6
Better was 17...Kb8 18.d3 Bd6+.
18.d3 Bd6 19.Bd2 Nd5+ 20.c4 dxc3
21.bxc3
21.Nxc3 Ndf4 22.Ne4 hxg4 23.Nxd6+ Rxd6
24.Bxf4 Nxf4 25.fxg4 Nxg2+.
21...c4 22.Ra4 Nb6 23.Ra5 cxd3 24.Nd4
Nf4
24...Nc4! 25.Nxe6 (25.gxh5 Bxh5) 25...fxe6
26.Rg5 Be8+.
25.Bxf4 Bxf4 26.Bf1 hxg4 27.fxg4 Nd5
28.Rc5+ Kb8 29.Nxd3 Nxc3+
29...Bxd3 30.Bxd3 Rxh3+.
30.Rxc3 Rxd4 31.Kc2 Be5 32.Rb1 Rhd8
32...Rf4!+ 33.Rc5 Rd8 34.Rxe5 Rxf1+.
33.Rcb3 b5
XIIIIIIIIY
9mktr++0
9+p++pzp0
9p+++l+0
9++vl+0
9+tr+P+0
9+R+N++P0
9P+K+++0
9+R++L+0
xiiiiiiiiy
34.Rd1 Bf6 35.Ra3 Ka7 36.Rb3 Kb6
37.Be2 Rc8+ 38.Kb1 a5 39.a3 a4 40.Rb4
Rc3 41.Rxd4 Bxd4 42.Bf1 Rxa3 43.Kc2
Ra2+ 44.Kc1
44.Kb1 Rf2.
44...Be3+ 0:1.
44...Be3+ 45.Kb1 Rf2+.
Carlsen M. : Anand V.
Sao Paulo/Bilbao 2012
XIIIIIIIIY
9r++n+k+0
9zp+zp+p0
9wqr+p+p+0
9+zp++0
9+Pzp+P+0
9+P++P+N0
9P+wQ+zP0
9++tRR+K0
xiiiiiiiiy
26.Qh6 Nf6 27.Ng5 d3 28.Re5!
With the creative idea of isolating the king's
side and force Kh8.
28...Kh8
Only move. Threat is Nh7. If 28...Qc7
29.Nxe6 Rxe6 30.Rxe6 Qd7 31.Qe3+;
28...Rd8 29.Nxh7! Nxh7 30.Qxg6++.
29.Rd1
Black is paralyzed, the black pieces abruptly
became useless.
29...Qa6
29...Qa5 30.Rxe6 Rxe6 31.Nxe6 Rg8
32.Qe3.
30.a4 1:0.

Safarli E : Grachev B.
Moscow 2011
XIIIIIIIIY
9tr+trk+0
9++p+zpp0
9p+l+p++0
9++++0
9+PzpP++0
9++P+zP0
9P++R+zP0
9++N+RmK0
xiiiiiiiiy
25...Rxf1+ 26.Kxf1 Rb1
FIDE Surveys Alonso Zapata Page 6

It's notable the difficulties in coordinating
white's knight and the rook which are about
to become useless figures. It is also true that
the structure and the central pawns, c4, d3
and e4 on white squares are not helpful to
white. The bishop is strong and the pawn on
d4 doesn't allow any counterplay to the
knight.
27.Rd2 a5 28.Ke2 e5 29.Nf2
29.Rb2, with the idea of a4 and a3 for a2
29...Ra1.
29...Kf7 30.Rd1 Rb2+ 31.Rd2 Rb1 32.Rd1
Rb8 33.Rd2 Ke6 34.Nh3
If 34.Nd1 back 34...Rb1.
34...h6
With rook paralyzed, defending the weak a6,
also wants to limit the white Knight jumps
and prevent any counterplay. Then goes to
the next level, save space.
35.Kd1 Rb1+ 36.Ke2
Nothing gets 36.Kc2 Rh1 37.Rg2 Ba4+
38.Kb2 Rd1 39.Ka3 Bc6 40.Nf2 Rd2+ the
black is paralyzed!
36...Ra1 37.Kf2 a4 38.Ng1 a3 39.Nf3 Ba4
Several decisive threats looming on a2, as
Rb1b2 followed Bb3.
40.Ne1 Rc1!
Playing against Nc2!
41.Ke2 Kd6
Threatening Kc5 via b4 - c3.
42.Nf3 Rb1 43.h4 Rb2
With the idea Bb3.
44.c5+ Ke6 45.Ne1 h5! 0:1.
White has a sort of zugzwang. There is
nothing to do, before the imminent Bb3
45...h5 46.Nf3 Bb3.

Zapata A. : Vasquez R.
Mar del Plata 1996

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 g6 5.d4
exd4 6.Nxd4 Bg7 7.Nxc6 bxc6 8.00 Rb8
8...Bb7.
9.c3 Nf6 10.Re1 00 11.Nd2 Qe7 12.Nb3!?
Re8
12...c5 13.e5.
13.Bf4 Rb7 14.Bg5 Qf8
14...h6 15.e5 hxg5 16.exf6 Qxe1+ 17.Qxe1
Rxe1+ 18.Rxe1 Bf8 19.Re8 Rb8 20.h4+.
15.Qf3 Qd6
XIIIIIIIIY
9+l+r+k+0
9+rzpp+pvlp0
9p+pwqsnp+0
9+++vL0
9L++P++0
9+NzP+Q+0
9PzP+zPPzP0
9tR+tRmK0
xiiiiiiiiy
Here, it is very difficult to coordinate a good
plan.
16.Na5 Qe5
Fails 16...Rb8 17.e5 Rxe5 18.Nc4 Rxe1+
19.Rxe1 Qd5 20.Bxf6.
17.Bxf6!
Better than: 17.Nxb7 Qxg5 18.e5 Rxe5
19.Nd8! (19.h4?! Rxe1+ 20.Rxe1 Qd2
21.Re7 Kf8).
17...Qxa5 18.Bb3 Bxf6 19.Qxf6 Rf8
XIIIIIIIIY
9+l+trk+0
9+rzpp+p+p0
9p+p+wQp+0
9wq+++0
9++P++0
9+LzP++0
9PzP+zPPzP0
9tR+tRmK0
xiiiiiiiiy
20.Rad1
More accurate is 20.e5! c5 21.Qf4 stopping
c4 and threatening h4h5.
20...c5 21.e5 c4 22.Bxc4 Rxb2 23.Rd3 Qb6
24.Bb3
FIDE Surveys Alonso Zapata Page 7

24.Qf4.
24...Qxf6 25.exf6 c6?
25...d6 26.Re7 Be6 27.h4.
26.Rd6
XIIIIIIIIY
9+l+trk+0
9++p+p+p0
9p+ptRzPp+0
9++++0
9++++0
9+LzP++0
9Ptr+zPPzP0
9++tRmK0
xiiiiiiiiy
Paralyzing the counterplay in the center.
26...a5 27.h4 a4 28.Bc4 h5 29.f3 Rc2
30.Re3 Kh7 31.Kh2
XIIIIIIIIY
9+l+tr+0
9++p+p+k0
9+ptRzPp+0
9++++p0
9p+L++zP0
9+zPtRP+0
9P+r++PmK0
9++++0
xiiiiiiiiy
The plan is to bring the king to the square g5
and eventually to h6!
31...Kg8 32.Kh3 Kh7 33.g4 hxg4+ 34.fxg4
Rc1 35.Kg3 Kh6 36.Kf4 Kh7
36...Rh1 37.Re7 Rxh4 38.Bxf7+.
37.Kg5
Because of the lack of coordination and the
limited game, the black's pieces are useless.
37...Rg1 38.a3 Rg2
If: 38...Ra1 39.Re7 Kg8 40.Kh6 Rxa3
41.Bxf7+ Rxf7 42.Kxg6.
39.Be2 Kg8 40.Bd1 Ra2 41.c4 Ba6 42.c5
Bb5 43.Rxd7 Ra1 44.Bc2 Rc1 45.Bxg6+
Rxc5+
45...fxg6 46.Rg7+ Kh8 47.Ree7.
46.Kh6
XIIIIIIIIY
9++trk+0
9++R+p+0
9+p+zPLmK0
9+ltr++0
9p+++PzP0
9zP+tR+0
9++++0
9++++0
xiiiiiiiiy
Finally, concluding the idea of bringing the
king to h6!
46...Bc4 47.Ree7 Ba2 48.g5 Rc3 49.Bh7+
Kh8 50.g6 fxg6 51.Bxg6 1:0.