Modern Chess Magazine 15 PDF

ISSUE 15
MODERN CHESS
MAGAZINE
The Grunfeld Structure

Part 6
The Hedgehog Structure
Endgame Series
Part 15
Prophylactic
Thinking:
Modern Approach
Hedgehog Type of Positions:

Knight Sacrifice on "d5"
CONTENTS
Modern Approach to the Prophylactic Thinking (GM Daniel Naroditsky)
4
4 Introduction
5 Lasker,Emanuel - Capablanca,Jose Raul / St Petersburg final (7) 18.05.1914
8 Kribben,Dr. Matthias (2652) - Pinkovetsky,Semen Usherovich (2549) / WC27/final ICCF 10.06.2011
10 Naroditsky,Daniel (2628) - Puranik,Abhimanyu Sameer (2442) / Qatar Masters op (5) 24.12.2015
13 Karpov,Anatoly (2715) - Lautier,Joel (2580) / Biel (1) 1992
17 Test 1-5
Master the Hedgehog Structure (IM Renier Castellanos)

20
20 Introduction: The Hedgehog System
21 Strauss,David J (2390) - Gurevich,Dmitry (2490) / USA 1985
24 Van der Sterren,Paul (2470) - King,Daniel J (2435) / Baku 1986
25 Kostic,Nebojsa (2400) - Gurevich,Dmitry (2470) / Biel MTO op (7) 1991
28 Polugaevsky,Lev (2645) - Ljubojevic,Ljubomir (2550) / AVRO Hilversum (14) 1973
31 Nakamura,Hi (2772) - Caruana,F (2783) / Vugar Gashimov Mem 2014 (1.2) 20.4.14
33 Kovalev,Vl (2641) - Adhiban,Baskaran (2670) / 11th World Teams 2017 (3.1) 19.06.2017
35 Nakar,Eylon (2390) - Akopian,Vladimir (2684) / Chigorin Memorial 21st (2) 06.10.2013
38 Perunovic,Milos (2589) - Damljanovic,Branko (2606) / SRB-ch playoff (1.1)
40 Grigorian,Karen Ashotovich - Agzamov,Georgy / URS-ch49 sf Cheliabinsk 1981
42 Forcen Esteban,D (2535) Mareco,S (2650) / TCh-ESP Div Honor 2017 (3.3) 16.08.17
44 Maevsky,Nikolay (2342) - Gharamian,Tigran (2650) / EU-ch 12th Aix-les-Bains (1) 22.03.2011
45 Topalov,Veselin (2737) - Kasimdzhanov,Rustam (2652) / FIDE-Wch k.o. (6.2) 02.07.2004
45 Valdes Escobar,A (2387) - Cordova,E (2637) / Millionaire Chess Op 2016 (2.8) 06.10.16
47 Vila Gazquez,X (2483) - Cordova,E (2629) / ch-ESP Rapid 2017 (7.9) 13.08.2017
47 Kollars,Dmitrij (2445) - Castellanos,Renier (2477) / Open Can Picafort (4) 18.11.2015
48 Test 1-10
Knight Sacrifice on "d5" in Hedgehog Type of Positions (GM Nikolai Ninov)

51
51 Jakobsen,Ole (2440) - Csom,Istvan (2500) / Politiken Cup GM (8) 1983
53 Van de Mortel,Jan (2403) - Donk,Merlijn Silvester (2312) / NED-chT 9900 (9) 20.05.2000
54 Hernandez Carmenates,Holden2573 Rojas Keim,Luis Alberto 2357 Pamplona-A 19th (7) 06.12.2009
56 Ornstein,Axel (2424) - Prodanov,Dimitar (2335) / Albena 1978
58 Bernal Moro,Luis Javier (2451) - Chkhaidze,Nikoloz (2203) / Hastings Masters op (4) 31.12.2008
60 Ivanovic,Bozidar (2480) - Ermenkov,Evgenij (2455) / EU-chT (Men) 08th (2.7) 1983
62 Smirin,Ilia (2555) - Sakaev,Konstantin (2540) / Alekhine op Moscow 1992
65 Begnis,Nikolaos - Kesseler,Heiko / Oberliga NRW 9495 I (8.5) 1995
71 Haensel,Thomas (2263) - Wolter,Kai (2295) / GER-ch 73th Altenkirchen (9) 08.12.01
73 Test 1-5
Endgame Series - Part 15 (GM Davorin Kuljasevic)
75
75 Aronian,L (2780) - Caruana,F (2805) / 3rd Norway Chess 2015 (5.5) 21.06.2015
78 Giri,A (2791) - Bok,B (2562) / ch-NED 2015 Amsterdam NED (4.3)
81 Kuljasevic,Davorin (2561) - Jakovljevic,Vlado (2404) / 19th Zadar Open A (2.10) 17.12.2012
84 Xiong,J - Jones, / Tata Steel 2017 B (9) 25.01.2017
86 Adhiban,B - Eljanov,P / Tata Steel 2017 (4) 18.01.2017
Master the Grunfeld Structures - Part 5 Restrained Center (GM Mihail Marin)
91
91 Platonov,I - Kortschnoj,Viktor / USSR (ch) 10/713 1970
92 Kortschnoj,Viktor Smyslov,Vassily Moscow-Leningrad m 1967
93 Kasparov,Sergey (2315) - Notkin,Maksim (2515) / Minsk op (2) 1997
94 Portisch,Lajos (2590) - Epishin,Vladimir (2620) / 1991
95 Spassov,Liuben - Tukmakov,Vladimir B / WchT U26 fin-A 16th (6.1) 13.08.1969
96 Hansch,Stephan (2179) - Pribyl,Josef (2274) / Pardubice op rap 26th rapid (7) 23.07.15
97 Smejkal,Jan (2550) - Doncevic,Dario (2345) / Bundesliga 8586, 1986
98 Enklaar,Bert F - Kortschnoj,Viktor Lvovich / IBM Amsterdam 1972
98 Najdorf,Miguel - Milic,Borislav, 1950
99 Raetsky,Alexander (2399) - Eljanov,Pavel (2613) / Biel MTO op (7)
Modern Chess Magazine 4
Modern Approach to the and, by the end, I hope that we are

going to succeed in developing a potent
Prophylactic Thinking thinking mechanism that will bring us
one step closer to chess mastery. In
case you are interested, here is a quick
breakdown of the games that we are
going to examine, and the sub-concept
that each game will illustrate:
1. Lasker - Capablanca: In this game,

we review what standard, garden-variety
prophylaxis looks like, and we delineate
the Golden Question without which any
sort of prophylactic thinking is
impossible.
2. Kribben - Pinkotevsky: With the help
Introduction of an unknown but tremendously
The concept of prophylaxis was first instructive correspondence game, we
introduced by Aron Nimzowitsch in his begin our discussion of more advanced
renowned work My System. On the and less well-known types of
surface, prophylaxis appears to be a prophylactic thinking. This game deals
fairly straightforward notion: it refers to with what I call ideational prophylaxis.
the art of stopping your opponent's The name should give you a hint about
threats, with an emphasis on positional what that entails, but you're going to
threats and ideas. In this article, I will have to look at the game for more!
take your current understanding of 3. Naroditsky - Puranik: I present one of
my own games to discuss a type of
prophylaxis and turn it on its head! I will
prophylactic thinking that most players
argue that it is fundamentally wrong to
do not consider to be even related to
think of prophylaxis as a concept, as
prophylaxis! I will argue, however, that
something that you simply apply and the prophylactic mentality through which
then forget about. Quite the contrary. I viewed this position was the key to
Prophylaxis, I believe, is a way of winning the game. What exactly was this
thinking, a potent lens through which you mentality? You'll see!
can solve positional and tactical 4. Karpov - Lautier: Finally, we discuss
problems of the most complex degree. sacrificial prophylaxis through the lens of
Even if you know your Nimzowitsch and one of my favorite positional games of
Dvoretsky backwards and forwards, I all time.
invite you to join me on a quest to The instructive game are followed by
expand your positional boundaries. Each five exercises that will enhance and
illustrative game will be dedicated to a strengthen your understanding of the
separate facet of prophylactic thinking, material presented. Let's get started!
www.modern-chess.com
Lasker,Emanuel by that monster knight on e6. In such

Capablanca,Jose Raul positions, it is very easy to get sucked
St Petersburg final (7) 18.05.1914 into the false notion that your opponent is
Let's start pretty darn simple. And let's out of control -- and that is precisely why I
do that with some pretty darn strong chose this position as an illustration. At
classical players. The schoolboy the heart of prophylaxis lies the important
prophylaxis that most of us have learned point that there are very few positions in
centers on one crucial question. This which you can get away with assuming
question is so important that I will refer to that there are no threats. Even if all the
it as the golden question. The golden surface indicators of the position seem to
question can be stated as follows: What point that way, you must still ask yourself
does my opponent want? Alternatively, the golden question. So let's do it: what
you could phrase it like this: if it were my does Black want? Your first inclination
opponent's turn, what would he play? might be to ... Rxe6, sacrificing an
This question, which you must ask exchange in order to annihilate that
yourself on almost every single move monstrous knight. Upon closer
throughout the game, is the cornerstone inspection, however, we see that the
of prophylactic thinking. The rest of the exchange sacrifice is not a very big deal:
examples will rely on your ability to fully White will gladly accept the gift, defend
understand and appreciate the the e4-pawn, and end up with a huge
importance of this question. Let's put it advantage. The e5-square alone will not
into context with the following position, yield Black nearly enough compensation.
which occurred in the seventh If you look a bit closer, you might
matchgame of the 1914 World discover that Black actually has a threat,
Championship match between Lasker one a heck of a lot more serious
and Capablanca. than ...Rxe6. He wants to play ... b4,
a b c d e f g h
chasing away the knight. Once the knight
leaves, Black will follow up with
8 8
either ...d5 or ...c5, in both cases
7 7 threatening to put White's entire kingside
6 6
construction in very serious jeopardy.
The great thing about standard
5 5 prophylactic thinking is that it is quite
4 4 intuitive: once you learn to consistently
identify positional and tactical threats,
3 3
finding the way to prevent them is often -
2 2 not always, but often - relatively
straightforward. And this case is no
1 1
exception: 20.b4!! A brilliant move, in
a b c d e f g h
one fell swoop rooting out all of Black's
White has attained a clear advantage in counterplay. There is little need to
the endgame, most prominently defined explain anything: the heroic pawn puts
Black's entire queenside under anesthetic, monkey business connected with ...c5 or
not only rendering ...b4 impossible, but ...a5. Ba8 22.Kf2 Ra7?!
taking the sting out of all other pawn Way too cooperative. Capablanca
advances. What more can one ask from chooses passive defense, but Lasker
one move? crashes through without too much
[ 20.Kf2? trouble. Instead,
a b c d e f g h [ 22...d5 is cooly rebuffed by 23.exd5
8 8 cxd5 24.Nxd5 Bxd5 25.Rxd5 g6
7 7
26.g4 h5 27.gxh5 gxf5 28.Nf4
with decisive threats. ]
6 6
[ 22...Rxe6!? would have probably
5 5 yielded the most practical chances.
4 4 After something like 23.fxe6+ Rxe6
3 3
24.a4 Re5 25.axb5 axb5 26.Rd3
White should be winning, but
2 2
breaking through Black's rock-solid
1 1 position will be no easy task. ]
a b c d e f g h [ 22...a5!? was also a worthy
In light of our discussion, this sort of defensive try, hoping to advance the
move might now appear to be pawn to a4 and follow up with ...g6. ]
dreadfully ignorant, the kind of straw 23.g4 h6 24.Rd3 a5 25.h4 axb4
man move that lazy annotators like to 26.axb4 Rae7 27.Kf3 Straightforward
show in order to further their point! and strong. Lasker activates his king in
But really, it is not, because such order to prepare g4-g5, a breakthrough
moves are remarkably common when that will come with absolutely
you don't ask yourself the golden devastating effect. Rg8
question! b4 21.Ne2 d5! and Black [ 27...Rxe6 no longer offered serious
equalizes, because the knight will chances, since after 28.fxe6+ Rxe6
come out from c8 and White's entire 29.h5! Bb7 30.Kf4+- White will get a
construction is, indeed, in quite a bit knight to f5 and then it will be curtains.
of jeopardy. For instance, ( 21...c5 f5 ]
is a bit less accurate due to 22.Kf3 g6 28.Kf4 g6 29.Rg3 This doesn't really
23.g4 and White retains an edge. ) ruin anything, but I'm not sure it was
22.exd5 cxd5 23.g4 Nd6 24.Rd4 h5! necessary. The immediate
25.h3 Ne4+ 26.Kf1 hxg4 27.hxg4 [ 29.g5! looks totally devastating.
Ng5= and it is White who needs to be After fxg5+ ( 29...hxg5+ 30.hxg5
a bit careful! ] Rh8 31.Rg3+- is similarly uninspiring
[ 20.Ne2? d5! ] for Black. ) 30.hxg5 h5 31.Rf1! Rge8
20...Kf7 21.a3!? This wasn't strictly 32.Kg3 Black's position has, let us say,
necessary, but it certainly does not hurt. seen better days. ]
White solidifies the pride of his position, 29...g5+?! According to the machine,
adding further protection against various [ 29...gxf5! 30.gxf5 Rxg3 31.Kxg3
Re8 would have retained some a b c d e f g h

defensive chances. Black is going to
8 8
toggle between g8 and h8, hoping
against hope that his miserable 7 7
position will somehow hold together. I
6 6
doubt that it will, but this was
definitely worth a try. ] 5 5
30.Kf3! Avoiding the dreadful
4 4
[ 30.hxg5? hxg5+ 31.Kf3 Rh8!
when Black keeps his position under 3 3
control. ]
2 2
30...Nb6 31.hxg5 hxg5 32.Rh3!
1 1
a b c d e f g h
a b c d e f g h
8 8
7 7
A picture of utter devastation. And a lot of
it started with that outwardly innocuous
6 6 pawn push to b4. Bc8
5 5
38.Nxd7 Bxd7 39.Rh7 Rf8 40.Ra1 Kd8
41.Ra8+ Bc8 42.Nc5
4 4 1-0
3 3
With the next game, we begin to enter
2 2 somewhat uncharted waters. The first
1 1
example was dedicated to fine-tuning a
famous and time-tested model: you ask
a b c d e f g h
the golden question, you answer the
golden question, you act on the golden
Crushing. With the h-file under White's question. There, prophylaxis! But that is
control, penetration and utter just the beginning. Through the lens of
devastation is imminent. Rd7 33.Kg3 this game, we are going to look at an
Enjoying ourselves, aren't we, entirely different facet of prophylaxis: a
Emanuel?A more businesslike approach type of prophylactic thinking that I call
was "ideational prophylaxis." Allow me to
[ 33.e5!? fxe5 34.Ne4 , but why not explain. We often find ourselves in a
enjoy the moment? ] situation in which we have a certain
33...Ke8 34.Rdh1 Bb7 35.e5! tempting idea, but that idea does not
Now he does it. dxe5 36.Ne4 Nd5 quite work because of a certain
37.N6c5 defensive resource that our opponent
has. If we are able to exterminate this
resource, then our idea - be it positional
or tactical - will have a greater chance
of bringing success. Many players get especially strong, and in this position he
very discouraged when they identify a identified a very pretty combination.
defensive resource, and they are First, you take the bishop: 36.Nxf8. If
tempted to abandon the whole idea. 36...Rxf8, then 37.Rd3 followed by Rd6
This is where ideational prophylaxis will come with great effect. So Black has
comes to the rescue. Given an idea to play 36...Rxe3, but then White has a
that almost works, it is crucial to ask combination: 37.Bxe3 Kxf8 38.Nxb6,
yourself whether you can find a way to winning two (and perhaps even three)
improve that idea -- to insert a clever pawns and liquidating into an opposite-
sequence of moves, or even move, in colored bishop endgame. But let us take
order to weaken your opponent's this variation a bit further: 38...Nxb6 39.
defensive mechanism. Let us give this Bxc5+ Ke8 40.Bxb6 Bf3! is an important
some context with the following defensive resource, when the bishop
correspondence game, which features comes from behind (d1) to capture the
an absolutely stunning application of b3-pawn. White will still have two pawns
ideational prophylaxis. to the good in the resulting endgame,
but it is very hard to say whether that
endgame is winning or not.
Kribben,Dr. Matthias 2652 Now we apply the paradigm of
Pinkovetsky,Semen Usherovich 2549 ideational prophylaxis: is there a way to
WC27/final ICCF 10.06.2011 induce a concession such that this
defensive resource will no longer be as
a b c d e f g h
strong? The answer to this question is
8 8 yes, though this way is so incredible, so
7 7
insanely deep, that finding such a
concept at the board would require
6 6 tremendous positional mastery. But,
5 5 realistic or not, this idea is too brilliant to
pass up. 36.h4!! An incredible move,
4 4
whose brilliance is not fully evident until
3 3 you become acquainted with the
underlying logic. Black has a very hard
2 2
time making a move: Kribben calculated
1 1 that various resources such as 36...Bd5
a b c d e f g h fall through. So Black is forced to resort
to a copycat move:
In a battle between two giants of [ 36.Nxf8 Rxe3 ( 36...Rxf8?
correspondence chess, Dr. Kribben has 37.Rd3! Rc8 38.Rd6 and Black is
gained the upper hand. His knights are entirely paralyzed. White is going to
follow up
with f4-Kf2, etc. ) 37.Bxe3 Kxf8 subtle -- but very important -- difference.
38.Nxb6 Nxb6 39.Bxc5+ Ke8 The kingside pawns have been frozen in
40.Bxb6 Bf3 41.Bxa5 Bd1 42.Bb6 place. That doesn't seem to be very
Bxb3 43.a5 Bc4 and there is no clear important, but it is. Imagine a scenario
winning plan! ] in which White's king reaches f6. Black's
36...h5 Okay, so what's changed? The bishop will have to defend the pawn from
answer, as you are about to see, starts d3, but in that case, it will not longer be
with an "e" and ends with "vrything"! able to contain the c-pawn! Let's see
[ 36...Bd5 37.Nxf8 Rxf8 38.Nd6! how this plays out: 45.Kg2 Kd7 46.Kf3
is also extremely unpleasant for Black, Kc6 47.Kf4 Kb5 48.Kg5 Bd3 49.f3!
though this is not an easy conclusion Another brilliant positional move to
to make at a glance. The point is that induce Zugzwang. Bb1
White threatens Re7, which is [ 49...Ka6 50.c4 is the same. ]
surprisingly hard to defend against. 50.c4+!
Bxb3 ( 38...h6 39.Bxh6 Rf6 a b c d e f g h
40.Nc4 ) 39.c4! Who cares about
8 8
pawns? Bxa4 40.Re7 Bc6 41.Bh6
Rf6 42.Rg7+ Kh8 43.Nf7+ Rxf7 7 7
44.Rxf7 with a technically winning
6 6
endgame. ]
37.Nxf8 Initiating a familiar sequence. 5 5
Rxe3 38.Bxe3 Kxf8 39.Nxb6 Nxb6
4 4
40.Bxc5+ Ke8 41.Bxb6 Be4 42.Bxa5
Bc2 43.Bb6 Bxb3 44.a5 Bc4 3 3
a b c d e f g h 2 2
8 8
1 1
7 7 a b c d e f g h
6 6
5 5 And there we go! The bishop had to stay

on the b1-h7 diagonal, which allows the
4 4
pawn to inch its way forward. Ka6
3 3 51.Kf6 Bd3 52.c5 Kb5 53.f4 Bb1
54.Ke5 And now, having done its job of
2 2
tying down the bishop, the king returns
1 1 to finish off the game. Bc2 55.Kd6 Be4
a b c d e f g h 56.Kc7 Bf3 57.c6 Bg2
[ 57...Bxc6 58.a6 Ba8 59.a7 Bg2
60.Bd4 followed by Bf6-g5 and Kb8. ]
Alright, there we go. We've seen this 58.Bd4! And a final mini-combination to
before! Except now, there is a very win the game.
[ 58.Bd4 Kxa5 59.f5! gxf5 60.Kd7= Naroditsky,Daniel 2628

The bishop's lifeblood has been sliced= Puranik,Abhimanyu Sameer 2442
off - again - and the c-pawn promotes= Qatar Masters op (5) 24.12.2015
unobtruded. As luck would have it,= a b c d e f g h
White has the right-colored pawn!
8 8
Bh3=61.c7 f4+ 62.Kd8 f3 63.c8Q
Bxc8=64.Kxc8 Kb4 65.Kd7 Kc4 7 7
66.Ba7=Kd3 67.Ke6 Ke2 68.Kf5 f2
6 6
69.Bxf2=Kxf2 70.Kg5+- ]
1-0 5 5
4 4
3 3
Now, let's expand the boundaries of our
2 2
conception of prophylaxis! The first two
examples were instances in which a 1 1
player stopped a concrete idea: a threat,= a b c d e f g h
a move, a maneuver. But prophylactic
You are looking at a position from a game
thinking is synonymous with asking
between myself and a talented young IM
yourself what your opponent wants on
from India. Having gained the upper hand
the next move. Quite often, the source in the opening, I pressed on in the
of danger is more subtle; perhaps your middlegame but was unable to find a
opponent is not threatening anything winning blow at the critical moment. As a
right now, but there is a certain insidious result, I have given my opponent a
danger in the position that might rear its chance to somewhat untangle his pieces.
ugly head at some point in the future. The dream scenario is not difficult to
During the reign of Tigran Petrosian, his arrive at: White wants to roll his a-pawn
fans were frequently awed by his down the board, and once it lands on a7,
seemingly magical ability to stop threats Black's situation is bound to become dire.
before...well, before they actually But the topic of this article should prime
became threats. He was a mind reader. you to see that the immediate 32.a4 is a
If you want to find out how you can terrible blunder: Black replies 32...Bh6!!,
become a mind-reader too, read on and after 33.Qxh6 Qb3+ delivers a
(and this is not false advertising). sudden perpetual. And this is where
things get interesting: if we were to apply
conventional prophylactic thinking, we
might be led to believe that the problem
lies in the fact that White has to take the
bishop after ...Bh6, since the rook is
pinned. So a move like 32.Rc2 or 32.Qc3
pops into mind, eliminating the possibility
of 32...Bh6. Yet both of these moves perpetual. Getting ambitious with

are instances of the same fallacious ( 34...Qxa4+?? would justify White's
thinking: in stopping ...Bh6, you are sloppy play after 35.Kb2 Ra8 36.Nc3
targeting the symptom rather than the Qa3+ 37.Kc2 and the "attack" is
disease. The underlying issue is over. ) 35.Kb1 Qb3+= ]
not ...Bh6, but rather the fact that [ 32.Bxe7
Black's queen is contesting the b3- a b c d e f g h
square, and will constantly be
8 8
threatening dangerous counterplay
once White starts pushing his a-pawn. 7 7
Which leads us to the crux of the 6 6
matter: sometimes, it is not nearly
enough to ask yourself what your 5 5
opponent wants. Once you figure out 4 4

the threat, you must understand and
3 3
attempt to root out the SOURCE of the
threat. What is causing the problems in 2 2
the long run? Is it a piece? And if it is a
1 1
piece, can you trade that piece? Now
a b c d e f g h
we're getting somewhere...
32.Kb2! Try this on for size: I consider The greedy approach was suggested
this move to be purely prophylactic. The by a few players to whom I showed this
idea behind it is as straightforward as it position. It makes sense, but --once
gets: I want to trade off the queens with again -- does not address the
Qb3 while maintaining the passed a- underlying problem. Following Qxe7
pawn. But, Daniel, how is this 33.Qb3+ Kh8 34.Rxc6 Bf8! 35.a3
prophylaxis?, I hear you saying. Rd2! 36.Rc2 Qd7 Black retains some
Prophylaxis is about stopping very pesky counterplay, and White's
something...and here you are, well, technical task will not be an easy one.]
doing something! I hear you. But the 32...Nc8 The beauty of the situation is
point to keep in mind is that this plan is that there is nothing at all that Black can
still purely preventative: I am rooting out do. The obstinate
Black's queen, the source of all [ 32...Kh8 33.Qb3 Qe8
problems. Once that is done, the a- merely exacerbated the situation:
pawn will roll down the board 34.Qe6! Rd7 35.a4 and, for all
unimpeded, wreaking instant intents and purposes, White has dealt
devastation in its wake. Still think with the problem. Black is utterly
prophylaxis is for positional-minded paralyzed. ]
sissies? Think twice. 33.Qb3 Game over! Bh6
[ 32.a4?? Bh6 33.Qxh6 Qb3+ [ 33...Rd2+ 34.Rc2 Rxc2+ 35.Kxc2
34.Ka1 Qa3+ Black has to go for Qxb3+ 36.Kxb3
a b c d e f g h
AAAA, cleared for take-off! f5
a b c d e f g h
8 8
8 8
7 7
7 7
6 6
6 6
5 5
5 5
4 4
4 4
3 3
3 3
2 2
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h 1 1
a b c d e f g h
The absence of heavy pieces would
not relieve Black's suffering in the
slightest. However, after Bf8 This is actually an instructive moment.
it is important to keep the bishops on Some players, when faced with these
the board with 37.Bf2!+- , as White's sorts of last-ditch attempts from strong
bishop is going to be very important in players, begin to panic somewhat. But
guaranteeing the pawn safe passage in these circumstances, calculation is all
to heaven once it reaches a6.] that you need: start with the most
34.Rc2 Qxb3+ 35.Kxb3 Rd3+ obvious move, and see if your
The cold-blooded opponent's "counterplay" is really
[ 35...Kf7 36.a4 Ke6 would have anything to be worried about. 38.a5
prolonged the battle, as per the Here, it is nothing to be worried about!
computer. But this is one of those The wheels turn very slowly on the
rare positions in which Stockfish's kingside, while the pawn is already a
myopia shines through: the computer few steps away from pay dirt. fxe4
evaluates the position as "only" 39.a6 Nf5 Tantamount to capitulation,
around 1.7, when in reality it is but there was nothing to be done:
essentially resignable. For instance: [ 39...exf3 40.a7 ]
37.a5 Kd7 38.Nc3 Nd6 39.a6 Nb5 [ 39...e3 40.a7 ]
40.Ra2 Nxc3 41.Kxc3 Ra8 42.a7 [ 39...Nc8 This was nominally the
and Black is busted. There are many most tenacious, though 40.fxe4 Bf8
ways to win from this position, one 41.a7 Nxa7 42.Bxa7 simply picks up
nice plan being Rb2 followed by Kc4 a piece. ]
and b5. As usual, ...Bf8 is met with, 40.fxe4 Nh4 41.Be7!
you guessed it, Bf2! ]
36.Nc3 Nd6 37.a4 United Airlines flight
a b c d e f g h positional masters to understand that

8 8
the power of prophylaxis can be so
vast as to warrant material sacrifices.
7 7 And the game that we are about
6 6 to examine is one of my favorite
illustrations of this stubborness.
5 5
4 4
Karpov,Anatoly 2715
3 3
Lautier,Joel 2580
2 2 Biel (1) 1992
1 1 a b c d e f g h
a b c d e f g h 8 8
The last finesse. The bishop attacks the 7 7

knight and -- far more importantly --
covers the d8 square, guaranteeing safe 6 6
passage for the real hero of the day. 5 5

1-0
4 4
Our final example is going to be dedicated 3 3

to a fascinating type of prophylaxis that is
2 2
not frequently singled out: sacrificial
prophylaxis!Sometimes, your opponent's 1 1
intention is painfully easy to see. You know a b c d e f g h

exactly what it is that he wants to do, and
how he wants to do it. But there's a At first blush, it appears that the
wrinkle: prophylaxis doesn't always young Frenchman has held his own
"work." Sometimes, there is no convenient against the fearsome Karpov. He
way to stop your opponent's threat wants to take the bishop, but what
because every possibility falls prey to he really wants is to play ...c5,
some sort of tactical refutation. As we have liberating his sleeping a8-bishop and
already discussed, one of the hardest fully equalizing the position. The
things for players to do is to be stubborn obvious way to stop him from
with their ideas: the temptation to give up, doing is the move 22.Bf3, but it
to abandon an idea and say "to hell with it," does not take long to see that
is magnified hundredfold in the heat of Black has a very annoying reply
battle. Yet it is the mark of truly great in ...Qd2, threatening to
gorge on White's queenside pawns. Qa1+ 25.Kh2 Qa6? This is actually a

What then? Well, it seems that White is mistake. Most likely, Lautier simply did
reduced to a virtual draw offer with 22. not sense the danger - after all, he is a
Qe2. pawn up in the endgame. Passive bishop,
Hopefully, the examples we have looked passive shmishop; a pawn is a pawn.
at thus far have successfully primed you The path to a draw was very narrow, and
to instantly pick up on the flaw in this it started with active defense:
reasoning. Material is very important, [ 25...Qa3! was necessary, forcing
but it is not the only factor. Furthermore, White's hand on the queenside. After
it is by no means a fact of nature that A) 26.c5!? also forces Black to find
material always supersedes positional a few accurate moves to draw: bxc5
considerations. And this is just such an 27.Qh4 g6 28.Qd8+ Kg7 29.bxc5
example in which it does not. The way ( 29.Qxa8 cxb4 should also fizzle
Karpov plays this position, to put my out into a draw. ) 29...Qb4! 30.Qxa8
English skills on full display, is just sick: Qf4+ 31.Kg1 Qc1+=;
22.Bf3! B) 26.b5 Qc5 27.bxc6 g6!
[ 22.Bc2? g6= followed by ...c5. ] and it transpires that White cannot
22...Qd2 23.b3! make progress. If he tries to induce
Zugzwang with 28.Kg1
a b c d e f g h , then following a5 29.Qe3 Qxc4!
8 8
30.Qxb6 Qc1+ 31.Kh2 Qf4+
Black delivers an already-familiar
7 7 perpetual. ]
6 6 26.Qd4?! Uncharacteristic sloppiness by
the great Anatoly. Karpov proceeds with
5 5 his general campaign of locking out the
4 4 bishop, which makes perfect sense and
guarantees rather decent winning
3 3 chances. However, he missed a tactical
2 2 way to instantly put Black on the
precipice:
1 1
[ 26.b5! Qc8 27.bxc6 and Black is in
a b c d e f g h big trouble, since White has a rather
nasty plan of transferring the queen to
I love this move. White gives up the a2 d6. It is very difficult to say whether
pawn, his sole mission in this position Black can hold; my gut instinct tells
being to restrict the a8-bishop. Karpov me that he can, but even after
reasons that if he permanently stops the preliminarily analysis I wasn't able to
bishop from entering the game, his find a concrete way for him to do so.
small material investment will have Let's take a look: h5 This is the
repaid itself hundredfold. And, as one computer's recommendation, creating
would guess, he was right! Qxa2 24.b4 luft for the king. ( 27...Qc7?
loses instantly to 28.Qd4 and Black Of course, Black's material advantage

has to give up the bishop to prevent could not be less important: what
Qd6. ) 28.c5! b5 ( 28...bxc5 29.Qa4 matters is how far the passed pawns
Qc7 30.g3 g5 31.Qb5 Qxe5 are advanced, and in that department
32.Bxh5 Qc7 33.Bf3+- is very grim. ) White is very clearly ahead. f5 Black
29.Kg3! desperately needs to bring his king
a b c d e f g h
over in order to stop promotion.
( 32...b4? 33.c6 b3 34.Qd7! Qf8 35.c7
8 8
b2 36.c8Q b1Q 37.Qxf8+ Kxf8
7 7 38.Qd8# Boom shaka-laka!; 32...a4
33.c6 a3 34.Qd7 Qf8 35.c7 a2 36.c8Q
6 6
a1Q 37.Qxf8+ Kxf8 38.Qd8# ) 33.c6
5 5 Kf7 34.c7 Ke8 35.Qc6+ Ke7
36.Qc5+! Kd7
4 4
Black has succeeded in stopping an
3 3 immediate loss, but now White
transforms his advantage: 37.Qxb5+
2 2
Kxc7 38.Qxa5+ Kb7 39.Qb5+ Ka8
1 1 ( 39...Kc7 40.Qc5+ Kd7 41.Qxc8+
a b c d e f g h Kxc8 42.Kh4+- ) 40.Kh4! and this
endgame should definitely be winning
Power chess. In preparation for the for White. With his king totally out of
ensuing queen endgame, White commission, there is no way that
moves his king up to a more solid Black's queen alone can hold up the
square and supports the bishop. a5 dreadfully weak kingside pawns. ]
30.Qd4 Bxc6 31.Qd6 Bxf3 32.gxf3 26...Qc8 27.c5 bxc5 28.Qxc5
a b c d e f g h a b c d e f g h
8 8 8 8
7 7 7 7
6 6 6 6
5 5 5 5
4 4 4 4
3 3 3 3
2 2 2 2
1 1 1 1
Missed opportunity aside, Karpov's 32.Qxb7 Bxb7 33.Kf4

sacrificial prophylaxis has clearly been
successful. The bishop on a8 is quite a b c d e f g h
painful to look at, and the extra pawn is 8 8
not a particularly worthy cause to suffer
for. Black should be able to hold with very 7 7
accurate defense, but -understandably 6 6
enough - Lautier cracks. a6 29.Qe7 g6
30.h4 h5 31.Kg3 Panic, driven by the very 5 5
understandable fear that White will stick 4 4

his king on f6, Short-Timman style, and
deliver checkmate. As it turns out, 3 3
however, the queens are the only thing 2 2

keeping Black alive. Without them, Black
will simply be playing down a piece. The 1 1
drawing line started with Qb7?? a b c d e f g h
[ 31...Qb8! 32.Kf4 Qb6 The point is Now, it is simply all over. Notice how
that White's king is not quite in time, deftly the pawn on b4 immobilizes both
and grabbing that bishop on a8 results of its queenside counterparts, leaving
in perpetual. Take a look: Black's bishop imprisoned forever. All
A) 33.Kg5 Qd4 and White is the White needs to do is concentrate his
one who must bail out. 34.Qd6 attention on breaking through on the
( 34.Kf6?? Qxh4#; 34.Kh6?? Qd2+ other flank, where he is almost literally
35.Qg5 Qxb4 36.Qd8+ Qf8+!-+ ) playing up a piece. Kf8 34.Kg5 Ke7
34...Qxf2 35.Qd8+ Kg7 36.Qf6+ 35.Be4 Ba8 36.f3 Bb7 37.g4
Kg8=; Breakthrough time. Ba8
B) 33.Qe8+ Kg7 34.Qxa8 [ 37...hxg4 38.fxg4 Kf8 39.Kf6 Kg8
The queen is doing Black a favor. 40.h5 gxh5 41.gxh5 Ba8 42.h6 Bb7
Qd4+ 35.Kg3 Qxe5+ 36.Kh3 Qf5+ 43.h7+ Kh8 44.Kxf7 was similarly
37.Kh2 Qf4+ 38.Kg1 Qc1+= hopeless. Now, the king turns its
and the king will not escape the wrath on the other flank. Bc8 45.Ke7
queen's wrath. ] Kg7 46.Kd8 Bb7 47.Kc7 Ba8
48.Kb8+- Hey beeeeshop, come
here! ]
38.gxh5 gxh5 39.f4 Bb7 40.Bf3 Ba8
41.Kxh5
1-0
Test 1 Test 2
White to Move White to Move
a b c d e f g h
8 8 a b c d e f g h
7 7 8 8
6 6 7 7
5 5 6 6
4 4 5 5
3 3 4 4
2 2 3 3
1 1 2 2
a b c d e f g h 1 1
This position was reached in a game a b c d e f g h

between Alexander Onischuk and myself, This position occurred in a battle
at the 2015 U.S. Championship. If you between myself, playing White, and a
didn't think of Karpov-Lautier when you talented Canadian junior named
first laid eyes on this position, you Yuanchen Zhang playing Black. White is
haven't been paying attention! completely dominating, but we still need
Alexander Onischuk initiates a stunning to ask ourselves the golden question. If
positional combination that almost we do, we see that Black is threatening
exactly echoes Karpov's plan in that ...Nxd5. The rest is a matter of
game: 37.c5!! Sacrifical prophylaxis straightforward prophylactic thinking:
101! Black was threatening ...c5 (the 27.Rac1! Nxd5 28.Bxd5 Nxe6 29.Bc6
same move that Lautier had in mind), And there we have it. Qe7 30.Bxe8+-
freeing up the bishop. Winning the exchange and the game.
[ 37.Red3?? c5= ] 1-0
37...Rxd4 38.Rxd4 Rxd4 39.Rb3!
Forcing the rook back. Rd8 40.a6!+-
And the imprisonment is complete. Black
is completely lost, since the bishop will
remain on a8 until the universe becomes
a supernova and White can win by
switching, Karpov-style, to the other
flank. In another 10 moves I had to throw
in the towel.
1-0
Test 3 Test 4
Black to Move Black to Move
8 8 8 8
7 7 7 7
6 6 6 6
5 5 5 5
4 4 4 4
3 3 3 3
2 2 2 2
1 1 1 1
This is one of my favorite applications of This position comes from a game

both sacrifical and ideational prophylaxis. between GMs Miguel Illescas Cordoba
It comes from a game between Lev and Ulf Andersson. It doesn't take long
Polugaevsky and Tigran Petrosian (who to see that Black is under a huge attack,
else?), played in 1983. White seems to and asking ourselves the Golden
enjoy a slight edge: he wants to play Question yields a rather dreadful truth:
Qd2 and Rfb1, applying very strong White wants to play Bxf6 and Qxh7
pressure along the b-file. If only Black checkmate. What to do? 20...Kg8!!
could put an end to this pesky pressure... This is not a very difficult move to arrive
19...Rxe3!! It turns out that he can! What at via process of elimination, but it is
is particularly impressive about this still a tremendously instructive example
move is that even the terribly of prophylactic thinking. A tempting
materialistic computer approves of it (I alternative was 20...h6, but that merely
know, right?). 20.fxe3 Nc5 21.Qc2 Re8 deals with the immediate symptom, not
With massive compensation for the the cause. Andersson cures the
exchange. Notice that all that is left of underlying disease, running with his
White's pressure along the b-file is king toward the relatively safe center.
sticks and stones. Polugaevsky was so [ 20...h6? 21.Bxh6! is totally
devastated by the course of events that crushing: Ng8 ( 21...gxh6 22.Qxh6+
he lost in just a few more moves! Kg8 23.Qh8# ) 22.Bg5+ Nh6
0-1 23.f6+- ]
21.Bxf6 Bxf6 22.Qxh7+ Kf8
23.Qh8+? Out of inertia, Illescas sends example of prophylaxis? Well, if you

the king exactly where it wants to go solved it correctly, then you can
anyway. probably see! 1.g7 Rb2+ 2.Kf1 Rb1+
[ 23.Rd3! was more savvy, with a very So far so good. Now the automatic reply
unclear position after Re5 24.Qh5 is 3.Kg2, but the alert tactician should
The computer gives the rather funny notice that Black has an incredible
line Qf2!? 25.Qd1 Qc5 26.Qh5 Qf2 counterchance in 3...Bh2!!, clearing off
Go figure. ] space for the rook. Now, White will lose
23...Ke7 Run! 24.Qh5 Rd7! the queen if he promotes, and lose the
And another application of prophylaxis, pawn after 4.Kxh2 Rb8. What to do?
this time guaranteeing the king safe How about some ideational prophylaxis,
passage to d8. The worst is definitely gents? 3.Nd1!! Brilliant! The knight is
behind Andersson, and he is actually given up solely in order to block off the
already slightly better. He went on to win rook's access to b8. Rxd1+ 4.Kg2
the game in convincing, confident So, draw? Not quite. Black has one
fashion. more trick up his sleeve. Rd2+ 5.Kh1
0-1 Rh2+ 6.Kg1 Rh3 Uh-oh, ...Rg3+ is
coming. Our strategy has failed! 7.g8Q
Rg3+ 8.Kh1!! Or has it? Rxg8
Test 5 Stalemate! A lovely study, and if you still
White to Move don't think that 3.Nd1 is prophylaxis,
then I have not done my job properly.
1/2
a b c d e f g h
8 8
7 7
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
This is not a real game at all, but a

study by none other than Vassily
Smyslov. How could I study feature an
Master the Hedgehog are a completely different story. Let’s go

one step at a time and start by the
Structure positions with f3. From the position in
the diagram, the first and basic thing to
know is where our pieces go. You can
almost play automatically up to this
point. I will start pointing out 3 key
points that are obvious to strong
players but not so much to beginners in
the Hedgehog.
A) Rooks always on e8 and c8. Very

rarely we place our rooks elsewhere. As
a player gains experience and
confidence in the system he can opt for
alternative plans such as doubling rooks
on the c- file, placing the rooks on d and
Introduction c-files or even in c and b. However, the
most effective setup is a rook on c8 and
The Hedgehog System the other on e8.
Knowing how to play the hedgehog system B) Queen will go to b8 but almost never
is a useful tool for every player. English goes to a8. In some other Hedgehog
opening, Nimzo-Indian, Anti Benoni, structures, for example, when White has
Queen's Indian Defense and Rossolimo a fianchetto on g2 we can see Black
Sicilian are among the popular openings playing Qb8-a8 but not here. We almost
which might lead to a Hedgehog pawn never play this move. The main point of
structure. That is why it is likely that you Qb8 is to get out of the heat on the c-
might be able to play this system more than file while keeping close enough to the
once. However, for the Kan player, this action.
system is the core of his repertoire against C) Bishops. The bishop from e7 is often
e4. Therefore is necessary to learn the brought to c7 via d8. This is known as
deep secrets of this legendary setup. The the Saemisch Maneuver. We will talk
hedgehog for the Kan player can arise from more about it later. The bishop from b7 is
many move orders, for example, this one: often placed on a8 when necessary. For
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 example to allow the queen to defend the
5.c4 Nf6 6.Nc3 Qc7 7.a3 b6 8.Be3 Bb7 b6 pawn or even to support the rupture
9.f3 d6 10.Be2 Be7 11.0-0 Nbd7 b6-b5.
12.Qd2 0-0 13.Rfd1 Those are the key marks you must know
In this survey, we will dedicate our analysis about the development for Black in this
to the structure with the white pawn on f3. structure. So we continue with the natural
Note that there are other positions in which Rac8 14.Rac1 Rfe8
White plays with f4 and these positions [ 14...Qb8 also possible 15.b4
15.b4 effective. The good thing about this

a b c d e f g h advance is that very often it comes at a
8 8
moment where Black does not have
any other useful move, so he simply
7 7 advances this pawn and sees what new
6 6
ideas can show up.
C) The Fischer Plan. Fischer plan is
5 5 based on moving the king to h8
4 4
followed by Rg8 and then g5-g4.
Although this looks attractive at first
3 3 sight, I do not recommend it. If White
2 2 plays accurate the normal thing is that
his attack on the queenside and center
1 1 arrives before our attack has even
a b c d e f g h begun. However, there are occasions in
Let’s talk now about what are the plans which White plays very slow and then,
for Black in this position. First of all, is good to remember this very
our play is based on a counter-attack. aggressive idea. Having mentioned
Black has less space but the Hedgehog what I consider the fundamentals in
is not easy to crack. Our main goal order to understand the hedgehog it is
would be to play d6-d5 in good time to see some examples. I invite you
conditions, opening the position and to examine closely each position in the
taking over the initiative. However, such database. I have selected from classics
central rupture needs a lot of to most recent games and games of my
preparation since White is well placed. own in this structure to help you learn
The key point to know here is that Black more about the wonderful Hedgehog
has a few pre-determined ideas but then System.
the character of the play is very static. Strauss,David J 2390
This means that Black plays solid moves Gurevich,Dmitry 2490
that don’t change much his position and USA 1985
keep him ready to counter. You should
be patient when playing this system. The Saemisch Maneuver and the d6-d5
Black’s Main ideas: rupture. A classic mating combination.
A) The Saemisch Maneuver. The bishop 1.Nf3 c5 2.c4 b6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4
transfer to c7 is essential but as we will Bb7 5.Nc3 Nf6 6.f3 d6 7.e4 Nbd7
see in the examples sometimes the best 8.Be3 e6 9.Be2 Be7 10.0-0 0-0
is to keep it on d8 where it has a scope 11.Rc1 a6 From a completely different
to both flanks. opening we have arrived into the same
B) The Ljubojevic Plan. The advance of type of hedgehog that arises in the 5.c4
the h - pawn, as far as you can go in variation. 12.Qe1 The queen is going to
order to weaken the pawn chain g2-f3-e4 f2 from where it puts pressure on b6.
and make the d6-d5 break more White also has other moves
[ 12.Qd2 ] plan. It was already possible for him to

[ 12.b4 ] play the thematic d5 with even chances.
[ 12.a3 ] [ 17...d5 18.cxd5 exd5 19.Nxd5
12...Qc7 13.Qf2 Rac8 14.b4 Rfe8 Nxd5 20.exd5 Qe5! 21.Rxc8 Bxc8
15.Rfd1 Qb8 16.a3 Bd8 So far Black 22.Rd3 Nf6 23.f4 Qb2 24.Nd4 Nxd5
has done everything as explained in the 25.Bf3 Qxf2+ 26.Kxf2 Nxe3 27.Rxe3
introduction text. There isn't much more Kf8 with equality. ]
to choose from 17.Nb3 This is White's 18.g3 White anticipates the threat of d6-
standard procedure but he can play d5. Let's look at some alternatives:
many more moves that will make us [ 18.g4 Black must be aware of this
doubt. For instance, let's consider the move since White can always play it.
less straightforward 17.Kh1 h6!
[ 17.Kh1 A useful move, waiting to see A) 19.h4 is bad now because of
what black does. h6!? playing the d5! 20.g5 does not come in time
waiting game makes sense ( 17...Bc7 ( 20.f4 e5! looks good for Black )
is possible and in the event of 18.b5 20...Bg3 21.Qg2 hxg5 22.hxg5
Black should keep things flexible with Nh5 with a decisive attack;
Bd8!; 17...h5 is interesting too ) B) 19.Bf4 has been played before
18.Nb3 ( 18.Bf1 Ne5 19.Na4 d5! but now Black can play d5!
taking advantage of White's poor 20.Bxc7 Rxc7 21.cxd5 exd5
coordination 20.exd5 exd5 21.c5? 22.exd5 Qc8 23.Qd4 Qb8
Neg4! ) 18...d5!? spices things up a looks like a strange repetition of
bit for example: ( 18...Bc7 is a solid moves but now Black is threatening
alternative 19.h3 and now d5 to capture on c3 and White should
is terrible for white 20.exd5 exd5 probably accept the repetition. If
21.cxd5 Bg3 22.Qg1 Be5 for example, he plays 24.Rd2
with Nh5 ideas ) 19.exd5 exd5 Rxc3!? 25.Rxc3 Nxd5 26.Rc1
and now: Ne5 with good compensation for
A) 20.Nxd5 Nxd5 21.cxd5 Qe5 the exchange. Black will continue
black has the initiative.; with g5 and Nf4 ]
B) 20.cxd5 Bc7 21.g3 Be5 [ 18.h3 can be met again with d5
( 21...Qa8!? ) 22.Nd4 b5! ( 18...h6!? is always useful to keep the
Black will either capture on d5 or tension ) 19.cxd5 exd5
follow with Nb6 with a good and now White must be very resourceful
position; to keep the balance. 20.f4! ( 20.Nxd5
C) 20.c5! This seems to be the Nxd5 21.exd5 Bg3-+;
most precise move Bc7 21.c6 20.exd5? Bg3 ) 20...dxe4 21.g4 Nf8
Bxc6 22.Bxa6 Bb7! 23.Bxb7 Qxb7 ( 21...h6!? ) 22.g5 N6d7 ]
24.Nd4 Be5 Black has a decent
18...Ba8 Not really necessary but this is
position here despite having a
the game in the Hedgehog, stay quiet
worse pawn structure. ]
and wait for the right moment to strike
17...Bc7 Black continues with the typical violently!
[ 18...h5 has scored very well in a b c d e f g h
practice. One game went 19.a4?! 8 8

d5!20.cxd5 exd5 21.Nxd5 Nxd5 7 7
22.exd5 Nf6 ( 22...h4 was also
6 6
possible ) 23.Bg5 Nxd5 24.Bc4
Bd8!25.Bxd5? ( 25.Bxd8 Rcxd8 5 5
is only slightly better for Black 4 4
because of White's weak king )
3 3
25...Bxg5 Yuneev,A (2428)-
Cramling, P (2525) Stockholm 2010 ] 2 2
1 1
19.Rb1?!
a b c d e f g h
a b c d e f g h
It is now or never 20.cxd5 Standard
8 8
reaction. However, White had an
7 7 amazing resource to complicate things
[ 20.Nc5!! an incredible move Be5!
6 6
( 20...bxc5 21.bxc5 followed by c6 is
5 5 the point ) 21.Nxd7 Nxd7 22.Rbc1
Bxc3 23.Rxc3 Nf6 with an unclear
4 4
position ]
3 3 20...exd5 The center has opened and
we must look at White's possible moves
2 2
here: 21.Nxd5 The best
1 1 [ 21.Bxa6? Bxg3 The hedgehog
a b c d e f g h strikes! 22.Qxg3 ( 22.hxg3 Rxc3 )
22...Qxg3+ 23.hxg3 Rxc3 ]
White does not realize the danger he is [ 21.exd5? Bxg3! 22.hxg3 Rxe3
exposed to on the e-file. With this 23.Qxe3 Qxg3+ 24.Kf1 Ng4
move, he is also leaving the knight on beware of this combination, it's mate
c3 unprotected which allows black 25.Qg1 Nh2+-+ ]
several tactical motifs. The alternatives 21...Bxd5 22.exd5 Bxg3 23.hxg3?
19. Nd2 or hiding the bishop on f1 were with an insecure king it is better to trade
safer. d5! the queens
[ 23.Qxg3 Qxg3+ 24.hxg3 Rxe3
25.Kf2 Rcc3 26.Nd4 b5 27.d6
should keep the balance. ]
23...Rxe3 24.Nd4
[ 24.d6! cutting off the black queen
from White's broken kingside Rcc3
25.Nd4 b5! Black keeps the
initiative ]
24...Rxa3 25.Rb2 Qd6 26.Rbd2 g6- could try d5 20.cxd5 exd5 21.Nxd5
+ Black is winning now, white cannot do only move ( 21.exd5? Neg4 wins )
much to prevent defeat. 27.Kg2 Ne5 21...Nxd5 22.exd5 Nxf3+ 23.Nxf
28.b5 Neg4! 29.fxg4 Ne4 30.Bf3 Rxe3 looks reasonable for Black.
Nxf2 31.Rxf2 a5 32.Re2 Qf6 33.g5 Unfortunately, concrete play
Qd6 34.Nc6 Kg7 35.Rde1 Rxf3 demonstrates that things are not
A wonderful game in the Hedgehog system simple 24.Qd2 Rxc1 25.Rxc1 Re7
which shows the virtues of Black's position 26.d6 Rd7 27.Qe3 Bf6 28.Rc7!
0-1 ( 28.Qxb6 Rxd6 would make Black's
Van der Sterren,Paul 2470 dreams come true ) 28...Qd8! 29.Rxd7
King,Daniel J 2435 Qxd7 30.Qxb6 g6 despite being
Baku 1986 down a pawn the chances are even in
this endgame. Meaning that entering
a b c d e f g h
in the complications with d5 is justified,
8 8 if White plays the best moves the
7 7 position is still equal! ]
[ 19.b5 could also keep some balance
6 6
but it just looks terrible to surrender
5 5 the c5 square and the c4 pawn too.
4 4 However White can hold after Nxc4
( 19...a5!? is the move I would play
3 3
and game goes on. Black could follow
2 2 up with Nfd7 or think about d5 in the
1 1
future. ) 20.Bxc4 Rxc4 21.bxa6 Bxa6
22.Ncb5 Rxc1 23.Rxc1 Bb7 24.Qg3
a b c d e f g h
Be7 25.Rc7 Bf8 26.Bg5 Rc8
Over expansion. It is common to be 27.Rxc8 Qxc8 28.Bxf6 Qc1+ 29.Kf2
restricted in the Hedgehog. One of the Qb2+!= ]
problems you can find in practice is your 19...d5!
opponent controlling more space than a b c d e f g h
he actually can and therefore being 8 8
exposed to counter-attacks. This is the
case here: 18.b4? This move is simply a 7 7
big mistake, but one that anyone can 6 6

make. White wants to play Nb3 followed
5 5
by a4-a5 or c4-c5 but he is not in time.
[ 18.b3 is better ] 4 4
18...Ne5! The pawn on c4 is now weak 3 3
and not easy to defend. 19.Nb1
2 2
[ 19.Qa2 was the lesser evil. Black
could continue with almost any 1 1
reasonable move Be7, h6, h5 or he a b c d e f g h
White's poor coordination enables Black Kostic,Nebojsa 2400

to play this move. In this case, leaving Gurevich,Dmitry 2470
White with a grim position for the rest of Biel MTO op (7) 1991
the game. 20.cxd5 exd5 21.Rxc8
Bxc8 22.h3
[ white cannot take on d5 because of a b c d e f g h
22.exd5 Neg4! winning ] 8 8

22...dxe4 23.f4 Nd3 24.Bxd3 exd3
7 7
25.Rxd3 Bb7
6 6
a b c d e f g h
5 5
8 8
4 4
7 7
3 3
6 6
2 2
5 5
1 1
4 4
a b c d e f g h
3 3
2 2 The plan with Qf2-Be3 is one of the

1 1 toughest to beat in the Hedgehog. It
contains many subtleties that are
a b c d e f g h
difficult to understand. We shall have a
deeper look: 14.Bf1 Rac8 15.Qf2 Qb8
The rest of the game is irrelevant to our 16.a3 Bd8 Perfectly normal play so far.
subject. Black didn't convert his obvious In the Repertoire database, I proposed
positional advantage. 26.Nc3 Qc8 a different idea for Black that can be
27.Nf3 Qc4 28.Ne5 Qxb4 29.Qa2 employed here:
Qe7 30.Qb3 Bc7 31.Bxb6 Bxe5 [ 16...Ne5!? The purpose of this move
32.fxe5 Qxe5 33.Bf2 Qc7 34.Bg3 is to attack c4 and prevent White
Qc6 35.Qb2 Ne4 36.Nxe4 Qxe4 from advancing his queenside pawns
37.Rb3 Bc6 38.Rb4 Qe6 39.Rb8 with ease. 17.Na4 the best ( 17.b3
Bxa4 40.Rb6 Qc8 41.Be5 Bb5 would step into Black's plans since b4-
42.Rb8 Qc5+ 43.Bd4 Qf8 44.Rxe8 Nb3 is not available anymore. )
Bxe8 45.Qb8 Qe7 46.Qe5 Qxe5 17...Nfd7 18.b4 Bd8 and we have
47.Bxe5 reached a position from the game:
1/2 Ganguly, S (2578)-Arencibia
Rodriguez, W (2535) Turin 2006
which is analyzed in the main a b c d e f g h

database. Keep in mind this option. ]
8 8
17.b4 Bc7
a b c d e f g h 7 7
8 8 6 6
7 7 5 5
6 6 4 4
5 5 3 3
4 4 2 2
3 3 1 1
a b c d e f g h
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h now the threat of c4-c5 is very real

and Black does not have any good
way to meet it Ba8 20.c5!? ( 20.f4
The Russian GM Vladimir Malakhov is Ned7 21.Bd3 takes us to a scheme
very fond of this system with White and in which the bishop on c7 is out of
his results are extremely impressive. place. ) 20...bxc5 21.Bxa6 Bb7
Reaching this position, he usually 22.Bb5 cxb4?! ( 22...Bc6 23.Ba6
prefers to defend h2 by playing h3. Bb7 24.Bf1 ) 23.axb4 Bc6 24.Ba6
Certainly, this is very difficult to play Bb7 25.Bf1 d5 26.Nb5 ( 26.Ba7
against and therefore I advise to play Qa8 27.Nb5 wins outright Nc4
Ne5 earlier. 18.g3 28.exd5 exd5 29.Nxc7 Rxc7
[ 18.h3 30.b5+- ) 26...dxe4 27.Ba7 e3
A) we could try 18...d5!? and now 28.Bxe3 Nd5 29.Ba7 Qa8
19.cxd5 exd5 20.Nxd5 Bxd5 30.Rxd5 Bxd5 31.Nxc7 Rxc7
21.exd5 Nxd5 22.Nc6 Bh2+ 32.Rxc7 Bxb3 33.Qe3 1-0 (33)
23.Kh1 Rxc6 24.Rxc6 Bg3 Malakhov,V (2535)-Ortega,L (2490)
25.Qa2! Ne5 26.Qxd5 Nxc6 Celle Ligure 1996 ]
27.Qxc6 Rxe3 28.Qb7!? ( 28.Bxa6 18...h6!? More of the same, static play.
g6 black has no worries ) 28...Kf8! [ 18...Ne5 19.Be2 h6 ]
29.Qxb8+ ( 29.Qxa6 g6= ) 19.Nb3 Ne5 20.Bd4 Nfd7 21.Be2
29...Bxb8 30.Rd8+ Re8 Bd8
is equal, despite losing a pawn.;
B) 18...Ne5 19.Nb3
a b c d e f g h Black's counterplay has already begun

8 8 meanwhile white seems far from creating
7 7
any damage on the queenside. 26.g4?!
[ 26.Be3 ]
6 6 26...Bg5 27.Be3 Bxe3 28.Qxe3 d5
5 5 Typical break now with the white king so
4 4
open
[ 28...Bc6!? looking at the square a4 is
3 3 also quite interesting ]
2 2 29.Nf2 Nde5
[ 29...dxe4! was possible 30.Rxd7
1 1
Ne5 with an attack on d7 and f3
a b c d e f g h
31.Rxf7 Nxf7 32.Nxe4 Bxe4
Having provoked g3 the bishop is no 33.Qxe4 Ng5 34.Qe3 Qe5! ]
longer useful on c7 so it is time to get it 30.c5
back into the game. 22.Na4The thing [ 30.cxd5 exd5 31.Bxa6 Rxc1
about such positions is that it is not easy 32.Rxc1 b5!! 33.Nd4 Rd8 34.Bxb5
for White to make progress, and he could dxe4 threatening Rxd4 35.Be2 exf3
easily step on a mine. A reasonable move 36.Bf1 Re8 maybe white is able to
here was 22.Nd2 adding support to the keep the balance but his king is
center always a problem here ]
[ 22.Nd2 Bc6!? prevents Na4 ] 30...dxe4 31.fxe4 f5! Open lines!
22...Ba8! Gurevich understands these 32.gxf5 exf5 33.cxb6? A mistake in a
positions well and keeps the game tense. complicated position
Black had an interesting tactic but leads to [ 33.Bxa6 fxe4! 34.Nd4 bxc5
a rather simple game 35.bxc5 Rcd8 36.c6! Qc7 ]
[ 22...Nxc4 23.Rxc4 Rxc4 24.Bxc4 33...Ng4
b5 25.Nb2 bxc4 26.Nxc4 Be7 [ 33...Rxc1 34.Rxc1 Ng4 35.Nxg4
27.Nba5 Ba8 28.Ba7 Qc7 29.Bb6 Rxe4 36.Nh6+ gxh6 37.Qxh6 Rg4+
Qb8 30.Ba7= ] 38.Kf2 Qxb6+ 39.Rc5 Rf4+ 40.Ke1
23.Nb2 Routine play from White here. Qe6+ 41.Be2 Bf3 looks dreadful for
He prepares a3-a4-a5 but now black white. ]
can counter attack Ng6 Not a bad move 34.Nxg4 Rxe4 35.Rxc8+ Qxc8
but Black missed a wonderful 36.Qd3?
opportunity [ 36.Nf6+ gxf6 37.Qc1 could have
[ 23...f5! b5,d5, and f5! are our three saved the day. Rg4+ 38.Kf2 Rf4+
main ruptures in this system. Here is 39.Kg1 Rg4+ 40.Kf2 Qe8 41.Bh3
one example of when we can execute Re4 42.Re1= ]
the latter. 24.exf5 exf5 Black has 36...Rxg4+ 37.Kf2 Kh7 38.Nc5 Qc6
very good counterplay, some ideas 39.Ke1 Qf6-+ the game is now over
are Qb7,Bf6,b5. ] 40.Bh3
24.Nd3 h5!? 25.Bf1 h4 [ 40.Qe3 Ne5-+ ]
40...Qe5+ Black's attack is decisive attacked with Ne5 and also he does
0-1 not have control over the ruptures
d5 or b5. However, he has two
bishops 19.Qb2 Ne5 20.b5 axb5
21.cxb5 ( 21.Qxb5 Nfd7 )
Polugaevsky,Lev 2645 21...Rxc1 22.Rxc1 Rxc1 23.Qxc1
Ljubojevic,Ljubomir 2550 Bd8 It's hard to evaluate this
AVRO Hilversum (14)[IM Renier 1973 position. White has two bishops but
Black is very solid. He will either
a b c d e f g h play d6-d5 in the future or bring a
8 8 knight to c5. In any case, it's
unclear;
7 7
B) 17...Ba8 18.a3 h6 is typical. ]
6 6 16...Bc6!?
5 5
a b c d e f g h
4 4 8 8
3 3 7 7
2 2 6 6
1 1 5 5
a b c d e f g h
4 4
Static play and counterplay. 14.Bf1 3 3
Rc7!? This is another route to get the 2 2

queen to b8.
[ 14...Qc7 is normal ] 1 1
15.Qf2 Qb8 16.Nb3 a b c d e f g h

[ White can continue with his plan of
b4-Nb3 and Black could use the rooks This move prevents the idea of Na4.
on the C file to put pressure on c4. When the bishop gets attacked by Nd4
For example: 16.b4 Rec8 threatening then Black will retreat to a8 meaning
b5 17.Na4 that he would have gained a tempo.
A) 17...Bc6!? is quite surprising 17.Bf4 Rcc8! Cautious play
and we don't see this move too [ 17...Ne5?! would be a mistake
often but after 18.Nxc6 Rxc6 because the knight does not have
we can see White has some enough stability in the center and
problems to defend c4 which will be White can execute the typical 18.c5!
bxc5 19.Nxc5 with advantage ]
18.Kh1 Rcd8 19.Rd2 Nc5 20.Nd4
Ba8 21.Be3 Rc8
a b c d e f g h White has finally completed his plan and

8 8 now the threat of Na4 and c5 is very
close. Note how Black's position has not
7 7
changed much for the last 6-7 moves, a
6 6 true example of playing static without
weakening d5!? has to be done now
5 5
otherwise Black will be too passive
4 4 25.cxd5 exd5 26.Bxa6 Rcd8
3 3 [ 26...Bb7 27.Bxb7 Qxb7 28.Nxd5
Nxd5 29.exd5 Bxb4 30.Rxc8 Rxc8
2 2
31.Rxc8+ Qxc8 32.Qf1 is still a little
1 1 better for White. Black is under
a b c d e f g h
pressure and Qb5 is coming but
perhaps this was the best black had. ]
Both sides are making useful waiting 27.exd5
moves and neither wants to take risks. [ 27.e5! is the route to an advantage
This scenario is very typical in this Qxe5 28.Bd4 followed by a3. White
system especially at a high level when stands considerably better here ]
players with White are well aware of the 27...Bd6
possible counter attacks. 22.Rdc2
a b c d e f g h
[ 22.Rdd1 ]
22...g6 Black takes control of the square 8 8
f5 before playing d5. This is because
7 7
after cxd5 exd5 the knight from d4 could
go to f5 and attack g7 / e7 which is 6 6
annoying. 23.b4 Ncd7 24.Nb3
5 5
a b c d e f g h
4 4
8 8
3 3
7 7
2 2
6 6
1 1
5 5
a b c d e f g h
4 4
3 3
Ljubojevic has the typical counterplay
for the sacrificed material. Although
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
objectively the position is better for himself and can hope for a draw. ]
White, there are big practical chances 31...f6
for Black which is a good description of [ 31...Bxb4!? 32.Bxd8 Bc5 33.Rxc5!
these schemes in general. 28.Nd2 ( 33.Qh4 Rxd8 This is a position
[ 28.g3?! Nxd5 is already better for where White is worse even if he is up
Black ] an exchange. The immediate threat is
[ 28.h3! was possible Bg3!? Be7 followed by Nc5 34.Re2 Nb4 )
( 28...Nxd5 29.Nxd5 Bxd5 30.Bg5! 33...bxc5 34.Bg5 Re6 35.Nd6 Qxd6
f6 31.Bd2; 28...Bxb4 29.Bg5! Qe5 36.Bc4 ]
30.Qh4 ) 29.Qg1 Nxd5 30.Nxd5 32.Bd2 White should probably have
Bxd5 31.Bg5 f6 32.Be3 ] eliminated the bishop on d6
28...Bxh2 29.Nf1 In just two moves [ 32.Nxd6 Qxd6 33.Bh6 Qxb4
White has lost much of his advantage 34.Rb2 followed by Bc4 or Bb5 when
[ 29.Nde4! Nxd5 30.Nxd5 Bxd5 White is in no danger of losing ]
31.Bg5 Bxe4 32.fxe4 f6 33.Bh6 32...Bxb4
was the correct way to continue ] a b c d e f g h
29...Bd6
8 8
a b c d e f g h
7 7
8 8
6 6
7 7
5 5
6 6
4 4
5 5
3 3
4 4
2 2
3 3
1 1
2 2
a b c d e f g h
1 1
a b c d e f g h
The complications led to unforced errors
by White and Black emerged with an
With the idea of Re5-Rh5 it is clear that extra pawn for no compensation. 33.Nc3
Black has enough compensation for the [ 33.Bxb4 Nxb4 34.Nc7 Nxc2
pawn. More than just that, Black's 35.Nxe8 Rxe8 36.Rxc2 Nc5 ]
position seems to be easier to play 33...Bc5 34.Qh4 Nb4
30.Nb5 Nxd5 31.Bg5 [ 34...Re5! 35.Ng3 Ne3! would be
[ 31.Nxd6 Qxd6 32.Bb5 Nxe3 close to winning for Black ]
33.Nxe3 Qxb4 34.a4 would have led 35.Bc4+ Kh8 36.Rb2 Re5?!
to a position where Black is pawn up Natural but played at the worst time
but White has managed to activate [ 36...g5! 37.Qh6 ( 37.Qh3 Ne5-+ )
37...Bf8 38.Qh5 Ne5 ] d6 12.Nd2 Rc8 13.Re1 Nd7 14.b4

37.Ng3 Rde8 38.Nce4 Bxe4 39.fxe4 Bb7 15.Rc1 a6 16.Bf1 Re8 17.Qe2
Nc6 40.Bf4? Qd8 Nce5 18.Be3 Nf6 19.Na4 Ned7
[ 40...g5! 41.Bxe5 Ncxe5 42.Qh5 20.Bd4 Qc7 21.f3
Ba3 looks like a big positional a b c d e f g h
advantage for Black ]
8 8
41.Bxe5 Ndxe5 42.Rd2 Qe7 43.Nf1
Nxc4 44.Rxc4 Ne5 45.Rc1 h5 7 7
Black still stands a little better. The
6 6
strong knight on e5 and the dark
squares bishop fully compensate the 5 5
missing exchange. 46.Rcd1 Qe6
4 4
47.Nh2 Kg7 48.Qg3 Re7 49.Rd5 Ra7
[ 49...Nc4!? would probably win the 3 3
pawn on e4 ]
2 2
50.Qb3 Ng4?! After the trade of knights
black is in no danger of losing but his 1 1
winning chances are considerably a b c d e f g h
reduced.
[ 50...Ra3!? ]
51.Nxg4 Qxg4 52.Rd8 Qh4+ I have left the starting moves of the
53.Qh3!= Qxe4 54.R1d7+ Rxd7 game without comment to show you
55.Qxd7+ Kh6 56.Qd2+ Be3 57.Qe1 another opening move order that can
f5 58.a3 f4 59.Qb4 Qe5 60.Qf8+ Kg5 take us to the same type of position.
61.Rd1 Kh4 62.Qc8 Qb2 63.a4 Qe2 Here we should apply the standard
64.Qd7 Qc2 65.Kh2 Bf2 66.Rd5 knowledge. Bc6!
Bg3+ 67.Kh1 Qc1+ 68.Rd1 Qe3 a b c d e f g h
69.Qh3+ Kg5 70.Qc8 Kh4 71.Qh3+
8 8
Kg5 72.Qc8 Qb3 73.Qd8+ Kg4
74.Qd3 Qxd3 75.Rxd3 Bf2 76.Rd5 7 7
1/2
6 6
5 5
Nakamura,Hi 2772
Caruana,F 2783 4 4
Vugar Gashimov Mem 2014 (1.2) 20.4.14 3 3
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.Nc3 Nc6 4.d4 2 2
cxd4 5.Nxd4 e6 6.a3 Bc5 7.Nb3 1 1

Be7 8.e4 0-0 9.Be2 b6 10.0-0 Ba6
a b c d e f g h
11.Bf4
As a rule of thumb in the Hedgehog the a b c d e f g h

knight on a4 should be kicked out as 8 8
soon as possible by means of Bc6. This
knight exerts a constant pressure on b6 7 7
and does not allow Black to continue 6 6

with the standard development, so it
must be removed. 22.Nc3 Qb8 23.Kh1 5 5
Bd8 The Saemisch maneuver again as 4 4

we have seen in the previous examples.
24.a4 Bc7 3 3
[ 24...Ne5!? comes in consideration. 2 2

Here the trade on e5 is not dangerous
1 1
since White's queenside with the
pawn already on a4 looks a bit shaky a b c d e f g h
25.Red1 Nfd7 with normal play. I White does not have any further progress
believe Black is doing perfectly well at the moment. Both sides can make
here. One thing to know about such waiting moves but the pressure is on
positions is that we are not afraid of f4, White's side to take the first step forward
in fact, it could be a weakening move 29.Re1 Qa8 30.Rec1 Qb8
for White that Black can take 31.f4 Nakamura moves forward, naturally
advantage of later. In case of 26.f4 if White wants anything he should do this
we retreat to g6 and now there are move but it is not free. e5!the strike e6-
always possibilities of a new rupture e5 is most effective when there is a piece
with e6-e5 Ng6 27.Be3 Bf6!? on d4 so White is forced to make a
28.Ndb1 Red8 this is an important decision
move. Black indirectly defends d6 [ 31...Qa8 ]
and prepares the move a5! For 32.fxe5! This move is actually quite
example ( 28...a5!? 29.bxa5 bxa5 accurate. White can't take the risk of
30.Nb5 attacks d6 quickly forcing maintaining the tension or the spikes of
Black to play Be7 ) 29.Kg1 a5 30.b5 the Hedgehog will be all over him! For
( 30.bxa5 bxa5 31.Nb5 Nc5 ) example:
30...Bb7= the square c5 looks great [ 32.Be3 is met with d5!! a beautiful
for a black knight! ] central strike 33.Nxd5 ( 33.cxd5 exf4
25.g3 Qa8 There isn't much else to do 34.gxf4 Bxf4 when White's center is
but to sit and wait for very weak; 33.fxe5 Bxe5 34.exd5
[ 25...Bd8 could also be played ] Bxc3 35.Rxc3 Nxd5 36.Rd3 Nxe3
26.Ra1 Bb7 27.Bg2 h6 28.Rec1 37.Rxe3 Rxe3 38.Qxe3 Bxg2+
Qb8 39.Kxg2 Re8 with a clear advantage
for Black ) 33...Bxd5 34.cxd5 exf4
35.gxf4 Bxf4 and I prefer Black's
position here ]
32...Nxe5!? a risky capture, showing that
Caruana is not afraid of pushing the ( 56.Kh3 Qf2! 57.Qd4 Be2!

limits. with a mating attack ) 56...Qd2
[ 32...dxe5 seems the best way to Black wins material ]
keep the balance. 33.Be3 Bd6 55.Rxe4 Qf5+ 56.Ke3 Rc8 57.Qd3
34.Rab1 a5! 35.bxa5 bxa5 36.Rb5 Rf8 58.Kd2 Qg5+ 59.Kc2 Rf2+
Qa8 when Black is very solid. Next, he 60.Kb3 Qf6
will play Bc6 and he has as many [ 60...Rxh2 was the last chance to
good squares for his pieces as keep pushing for a win 61.Re8+ Kf7
White. ] 62.Re3 Qh5! ]
33.Nd5 61.Re2
[ 33.Bh3!? is the critical move and it is 1/2
hard to say what Caruana had in mind,
but it could be that he was thinking of
the exchange sacrifice with Bd8
( 33...Rcd8 34.Nd5 looks grim ) Kovalev,Vl 2641
34.Bxc8 Bxc8 to be honest there are Adhiban,Baskaran 2670
good practical chances here. White 11th World Teams 2017 (3.1) 19.06.2017
should stand better, he is up an
exchange there is still a game 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Nd7 4.0-0
ahead. ] Ngf6 5.Re1 a6 6.Bf1 b6 7.d4 cxd4
33...Nxd5 34.cxd5 Bd8 35.Nf3 Nd7 8.Nxd4 Bb7 9.f3 e6 10.c4 Entering in
[ 35...Ng4!? ] the Hedgehog Be7 11.Nc3 0-0 12.Be3
36.Qd3 Bf6 37.Bh3 Bxd4 38.Qxd4 Rc8
Rxc1+ 39.Rxc1 Qd8! Black is not [ 12...Qc7 ]
worse at all 40.Kg1 Re7 13.Rc1 Qc7 14.Qd2 Qb8 Not much to
[ 40...a5!? 41.Bxd7 forced Qxd7 comment so far, both sides following the
42.b5 Rc8= ] standard development 15.b4
41.Rc3 a5 42.b5 Nc5 Black is slowly Again, nothing much different from what
gaining ground and his position is we have seen in the previous game. In the
already better 43.Re3 Bc8 44.Bg2 top level game between Svidler and
[ 44.Bxc8 Qxc8 45.Nd2 f5! ] Topalov, White chooses the move 15. Kh1
44...Bg4 45.Ne1 Bh5 with the idea of Bg1, this deserves
[ 45...Qc8!? preparing f5! ] attention. Let's see
46.Nc2 Bg6 47.Qc4 Re8 48.Nd4 [ 15.Kh1 Rfe8 16.a3 Bd8 17.Bg1
Qf6 49.Nb3
[ 49.Re2 Bxe4 50.Nb3 Nxb3 A) 17...Ne5 18.Na4 Nfd7 19.b4
51.Qxb3 Qa1+ 52.Kf2 f5 h6 would be another typical way of
was the lesser evil for White ] playing this position. Black keeps
49...Nxb3 50.Rxb3 Qa1+ 51.Kf2 f5 the tension and he can try Bg5-Bf6
52.Re3 fxe4-+ 53.Bxe4 Qe5 54.Kf3 ideas ( 19...h5!? here it could be
Bxe4+? Missing a direct win with an option );
[ 54...Bh5+ 55.Kg2 Qb2+ 56.Kg1 B) 17...Bc7!? is of course
interesting; is not so great here ( 18...Rfe8

C) 17...h5!? This is the so-called it's correct to continue with this
Ljubojevic's plan. It is a typical idea move. ) 19.cxd5 exd5 20.Bxa6 Rce8
in the Hedgehog and as we will see 21.Nc6 Bxc6 22.Rxc6 dxe4 23.fxe4
in the next games it's one of the White's bishop pair is strong ]
Black's main sources of counterplay. 18...d5!?
However, in my opinion, Black [ 18...Rfe8 ]
should wait until White opens up a
bit with b4 and leave some a b c d e f g h
potential weaknesses. Pay attention
8 8
to what happened to Topalov here:
18.b3! Ne5 19.f4 Ned7! ( 19...Ng6 7 7
20.f5 Ne5 21.fxe6 fxe6 22.Nf3
6 6
leaves Black with a passive
position ) 20.b4 Qa8 21.Bd3 5 5
White stands better here. Svidler's
4 4
idea is to meet h4 with h3 followed
by Bf2 and Nf3 with chances on the 3 3
kingside. Topalov did not manage
2 2
to bother White a single bit Be7
( 21...h4 22.h3 Nh5 23.Bf2 Bf6 1 1
24.Nf3 ) 22.h3 Rc7 23.Re2 h4 a b c d e f g h
24.Bf2 Nh5 25.Nf3 Ng3+ 26.Bxg3
hxg3 27.Qe1 Nf6 28.Qxg3 Nh5
29.Qg4 Nf6 30.Qg3 Nh5 31.Qg4 Adhiban had a poor start in this
Nf6 32.Qh4 g6 ( 32...Nxe4 tournament and perhaps this explains
33.Ng5 Nxg5 34.fxg5 g6 35.Rf1 such aggressive play in this game.
looks very dangerous for Black ) The normal thing to do here is
33.Ng5 Svidler,P (2727) -Topalov, 18.. .Rfe8
V (2816) Baku AZE 2015 I would 19.cxd5 exd5 20.Bxa6 Greedy
definitely avoid playing h5 against [ 20.Nf5! could have put Black under
Svidler's plan ] a lot of pressure and it is one of the
15...Bd8 16.Kh1 Bc7 17.Na4 reasons why we shouldn't hurry up.
White is following the typical plan. Next Black's play is based mostly on the
is Nb3
counter-attack we must not forget this!
[ 17.Bg1 Rfe8 ]
Rfe8 21.Bxa6 Rcd8 22.Rec1 Bxh2
17...Ba8 We can see here how the
23.Rc8 Rxc8 24.Rxc8 Rxc8 25.Bxc8
strong Indian Grandmaster plays the
the bishop is immune on c8 Bd6
Hedgehog without playing Re8 at all
[ 17...Rfe8!? ] 26.Nxd6 Qxd6 27.b5 White has
18.Rc2 a big advantage in this endgame ]
[ 18.Bg1!? d5 in the spirit of Adhiban
20...Rce8 a b c d e f g h
a b c d e f g h 8 8
8 8
7 7
7 7
6 6
6 6
5 5
5 5
4 4
4 4
3 3
3 3
2 2
2 2
1 1
1 1 a b c d e f g h
a b c d e f g h
Objectively White should stand better This is an impressive game but we

here but Adhiban feels very comfortable shouldn't be blinded by the fireworks.
in tricky positions. The pressure is on Black played d5 prematurely and went
White to keep his advantage 21.Bb5?! the whole without the standard Rfe8,
[ 21.Rec1! Bxh2 22.Nf5 dxe4?! this strategy is likely to backfire if one
23.f4!+- ] of us mortals try it in our games.
21...dxe4 22.f4 Rd8 23.Bc6 Ng4! 0-1
24.g3? to handle the initiative to Black
[ 24.Bxa8 Nxe3 25.Bxe4 Nxc2 Nakar,Eylon 2390
26.Qxc2 Bxf4 27.Nc6 Qd6 28.Nxd8 Akopian,Vladimir 2684
Rxd8 29.Rd1 Qxb4 30.Bxh7+ Kh8 Chigorin Memorial 21st (2) 06.10.2013
31.Qe4 Qxe4 32.Bxe4 with an even
position ]
24...Ndf6! 25.Bxa8 In the next game we see a common
[ 25.b5 was the only try but Black is move order from the Kan variation 1.e4
clearly better after Qa7 ] c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6
25...Qxa8 26.Rxc7 Qxa4 27.Rcc1 5.c4 Nf6 6.Nc3 Qc7 7.a3 b6 8.Be3
[ 27.Rc4 b5 28.Rcc1 Nxe3 29.Qxe3 Bb7 9.f3 Be7 10.Be2 0-0 11.Na4 d6
Ng4 30.Qc3 Rxd4 31.Qxd4 Qxa2-+ ] 12.0-0 Nbd7 13.Rc1 Rfe8 14.b4 Rac8
27...Nxe3 28.Rxe3 Ng4 29.Re2 Qa3 15.Qd2 Qb8
30.h3 Rxd4
a b c d e f g h
be useful on the b-file when White
goes c5. However, here 16.Rc2 runs
8 8
into d5! 17.cxd5 Rxc2 18.Qxc2
7 7 exd5 when Black is already better
19.b5 ( 19.Nf5 is the lesser evil here
6 6
dxe4 20.Nxb6 Nxb6 21.Bxb6 exf3
5 5 22.Nxe7+ Rxe7 23.gxf3 Bxf3!? )
19...axb5 20.Bxb5 dxe4 with a clear
4 4
advantage for Black 21.Nc6 Bxc6
3 3 22.Qxc6 Bd6 23.Rd1 Bxh2+ 24.Kh1
Rc8 25.Qxc8+ Qxc8 26.f4 h5
2 2
27.Bxd7 Nxd7 28.Kxh2 Nf6
1 1 0-1 (28) Fernandez Romero,E (2442)-
a b c d e f g h Korneev,O (2601) Elgoibar 2005 ]
[ 16.Nb3
So far all normal moves for both sides A) 16...Bc6!? is an standard
but it's time to make a stop and take a reaction 17.Nb2 Ne5 with the idea
mental photograph of this position. There of Nfd7 and so on ( 17...Bd8 );
are some differences, White has played B) 16...d5! is our concrete solution
Na4 instead of the move Rfd1 this leaves and it is possible due to White's
him less control over the center so Black lack of coordination and center
should keep in mind the possibility of d6- control 17.cxd5 Rxc1 18.Rxc1
d5. 16.Kh1 Played fairly often. Let's see exd5
the alternatives: B1) 19.exd5? can be considered
[ 16.Rc2?! a blunder Bd6!
a b c d e f g h B1a) 20.g3 Bxg3 21.hxg3
Qxg3+ 22.Kf1 Nxd5 23.Bf2
8 8
Qh3+ 24.Kg1 ( 24.Ke1
7 7 Qh1+ ) 24...Re6;
B1b) 20.h3 Nxd5 21.Bf2
6 6
Bh2+ 22.Kh1 Bf4-+
5 5 Black wins material;
B2) 19.Bf4 Ne5 ( 19...Bd6
4 4
20.Bxd6 Qxd6 21.Nc3 b5
3 3 22.exd5 Bxd5 23.Nxd5 Nxd5
2 2
24.Bf1 Qe6 followed by g6 the
position is equal ) 20.exd5 Nxd5
1 1 21.Bg3 h6! and Black is very
a b c d e f g h active here, his position is
This is a common idea, White wants better;
to play Rb1 next and put pressure on B3) 19.e5!? Nxe5 20.Nxb6 Bd6
Black's queenside. The rook on b1 will 21.Kh1 Ng6 with very concrete
play Black has obtained enough will play d5 next with good
counterplay. Now White has to counterplay;
be accurate to keep the balance B) 20.Qe2 Nxc4 21.Rxc4 Rxc4
22.Nc5 Bxh2 23.Nxb7 Bg3! 22.Qxc4 b5 23.Qc2 bxa4 24.Nc6
24.Bxa6 Qe5 25.Rc8 Qh5+ Bxc6 25.Qxc6 d5 although White
26.Kg1 Qh2+ 27.Kf1 Qh1+ has two bishops here and Black's
28.Bg1 ( 28.Ke2?? Nf4# ) queenside is weak, it seems that
28...Rxc8 29.Nxc8 Bh2 30.Qe3 Black can hold the balance. For
in order to keep some threats on instance 26.exd5 Nxd5 27.Bg1
e8. The other two squares are Qc8 28.Rc1 ( 28.Qxa6 Qc2
clearly worse ( 30.Qd4 Nh5; 29.Qd3 Qa2 ) 28...Qxc6 29.Rxc6
30.Qf2 Nh5-+ ) 30...Nh4! Ra8 with idea of a5 30.Rxa6 Rc8
31.Ne7+ ( 31.Qf2 Nf5-+ ) 31.Bxh3 Rc1 32.Rxa4 Bf6
31...Kf8! 32.Qf2 Nh5 33.Qxh4 Black is down several pawns but a
Qxg1+ 34.Ke2 Qxg2+ 35.Kd1 draw is the likely outcome 33.b5
Qxf3+ 36.Kc2 Be5 37.Nxd5 Be7 34.Kg2 Rc2+ 35.Kh1 Rc1=;
Qg2+ 38.Kb3 Qxd5+ 39.Qc4 C) 20.Nxb6 Nxe4 21.Qe2 Ng5
Qd1+ 40.Qc2 where Black can 22.Bxg5 Bxg5 23.Nxc8 Bxc1
choose whether he wants a draw 24.Rxc1 Rxc8 25.Bxh3 Qa7
or prefers to take a risk. Of ( 25...Bd5!?; 25...a5!? 26.c5 axb4
course, this is a very long line 27.axb4 Bd5 this looks easier to
and White can make many play for Black ) 26.c5 dxc5
mistakes along the way ] 27.Qxe5 cxd4 28.Rxc8+ Bxc8
16...Bf8 Akopian's choice has a specific 29.Bf1 Qb6 30.Bd3= 1/2-1/2 (30)
reason in this position. White can't Dominguez Perez,L (2678)-
prevent d6-d5 Arencibia Rodriguez,W (2555)
[ 16...d5? is dubious here because Havana 2007 ]
17.cxd5 Rxc1 18.Rxc1 exd5 19.e5! [ 16...Bd8 17.Rc2 h5!? ]
Nxe5 20.Nxb6 as played in Alsina 17.Rfd1
Leal,D (2529) -Deepan Chakkravarthy, [ 17.Nb3! a direct attack on b6 seems
J (2506) Paris 2009 ] to be the only way to prevent d6-d5.
[ The other possibility is 16...h5!? Black can react in two ways:
The Ljubojevic plan. This key game A) 17...d5!? anyway! 18.Nxb6!
shows how effective this plan can be the only try ( 18.cxd5 Rxc1
17.Rfd1 h4 18.Bf1 ( 18.h3 Nh5 ) 19.Rxc1 exd5 looks good )
18...h3 19.g3 now that White's 18...Nxb6 19.Bxb6 Bd6! 20.cxd5
kingside has been weakened Black exd5 21.e5 Rxe5 22.Bc5
starts putting pressure along the White stands better here.
diagonal a8-h1 Ne5! Conclusion 17...d5 is interesting but
A) 20.Kg1 b5! 21.cxb5 Rxc1 White will be better with accurate
22.Rxc1 axb5 23.Bxb5 Rd8! play;
despite being down a pawn black B) 17...Bc6 18.Nb2 Ba8
with typical play, probably h5-h4 14.Qd2 0-0 15.Rfd1 Rfe8 16.Nb3
later on ] a b c d e f g h
17...d5! 18.cxd5 exd5 19.Bf4 Qa8
8 8
or
[ 19...Bd6 20.Bxd6 Qxd6 21.Nf5 7 7
Qe6 ]
6 6
[ 19...Qa7 20.Rxc8 Bxc8=
is more precise ] 5 5
20.Rxc8 Bxc8 21.exd5?
4 4
[ 21.e5! Nh5 ( 21...Nxe5 22.Nxb6
is a typical idea we have seen 3 3
before. ) 22.Bg5 Nxe5 23.Nxb6 Qb7
2 2
24.Nxc8 Qxc8 25.g4 Nf6 26.Bxf6
gxf6 27.Rc1 Nc4 28.Qf4 1 1
where White is a little better ] a b c d e f g h
21...Nxd5 22.Bc4 b5 23.Bxd5 Qxd5
24.Nc3 Qh5 25.Re1 Rxe1+ 26.Qxe1
Qg6 27.Ne4 I've decided to include this game
[ 27.Qe4 is better but of course Black because this position has been reached
has nothing to fear here ] several times in the 5.c4 Kan.
27...Nb6 28.Nc5 Nc4 29.h3 Qf6 Damljanovic's move deserves close
30.Qe4 Nxa3 31.Be5 Qe7 32.Nc6 attention d5!? 17.cxd5 Bd6
Qe8 33.Na5 h6 34.Qa8 Kh7 35.Bg3 a b c d e f g h
Nc2 36.Nxa6 Qe2 37.Nc5 Ne3 38.f4
8 8
Qd1+
0-1 7 7
6 6
Perunovic,Milos 2589 5 5
Damljanovic,Branko 2606
4 4
SRB-ch playoff (1.1) 22.09.2007
3 3
2 2
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4
a6 5.c4 Nf6 6.Nc3 Qc7 7.a3 b6 1 1
8.Be3 Bb7 9.f3 d6 10.Rc1 Nbd7 a b c d e f g h
11.Be2 Be7 12.0-0 Rc8 13.b4 Qb8
[ 13...0-0 14.Qd2 Rfe8 15.Rfd1 Ne5
16.Na4 Nfd7 takes us the stem game Very unusual and this is the only
Ganguly-Arencibia which is in the relevant game with this move 18.dxe6
repertoire database ] Bxh2+ 19.Kh1 fxe6
a b c d e f g h
either, for instance 23.Bf3 ( 23.Bd4
Bf4 24.Be3 Be5= ) 23...Bxf3
8 8
24.gxf3 Qb7 25.Kg2 Rxc3
7 7 26.Rxc3 Ne4! 27.fxe4 Qxe4+
28.Kf2 Rf8+ 29.Ke2 Qf3+ 30.Kd3
6 6
Qf5+ 31.Ke2 ( 31.Kc4? b5+
5 5 32.Kc5 Bd4+! 33.Kd6 Qd5+
34.Kc7 Rf7+ 35.Kb8 Qb7# )
4 4
31...Qf3+=;
3 3 B) 22...Qxe5! and White has to be
very careful to not lose. Black wants
2 2
Rf8 on the next move and create
1 1 some threats against the white king.
a b c d e f g h For example:
B1) 23.Bf3 Rf8! with similar play
to 23.Nd4 ( 23...Bxf3!? );
We should take a moment here and see B2) 23.Nd4 Rf8 24.Bf3 Bxf3
what the move 16. ..d5 has 25.Nxf3 Qh5+ 26.Kg1 Ng4
accomplished. Black has now a slightly 27.Ne2 Bh2+ 28.Kf1 Rce8!
worse pawn structure but he has now the threats could be Ne5 or
managed to weaken White's kingside. I sometimes Rxf3. If White unpins
believe Black is only slightly inferior with 29.Ke1 Ne5 30.Qa2 Rxf3!
which is OK. There are practical 31.gxf3 Nxf3+ 32.Kf2 Ne5
chances here. The computer gives 20. and White should probably take
Bf1 was the best move but nothing the draw ]
concrete is going on. Let's focus on 22.Qxc3 Nd5 23.Rxd5! Bxd5 24.Bd2
Perunovic's move, he played 20.f4 a b c d e f g h
[ 20.Bf1 Be5 with the idea of Nf8
8 8
maybe ]
20...Bg3 Only move 21.e5 and now the 7 7
great Branko Damljanovic went wrong in
6 6
his idea with the reckless 21...Rxc3 but
he had a very interesting continuation 5 5
[ 21.Bf3 e5 22.f5 h6 taking control of
4 4
the square g5. Black has definitely a
game here ] 3 3
21...Rxc3?!
2 2
[ 21...Nxe5! this finding is the reason
why I decided to include this game in 1 1
this article. It clearly illustrates the a b c d e f g h
resources of our Hedgehog. 22.fxe5
A) 22...Bxe5 Black is no worse
The rest of the game is irrelevant for us, This is the first flag we should see. The
Black was left without counterplay and usual plan is b4 followed by Nb3, and
soon lost Bf2 25.Rf1 Bh4 26.Nd4 Nf8 aim for a rupture with c5. When White
27.Qh3 Qd8 28.Be3 b5 29.Rd1 g5 plays moves like b3 this means that
30.Nf3 gxf4 31.Bxf4 Ng6 32.Be3 Be7 Black can breathe and plan to attack on
33.Rd4 Qc7 34.Bd3 Bxf3 35.Bxg6 the kingside. Against such slow moves,
hxg6 36.Qxe6+ Kg7 37.Rd7 Qc6 Fischer's plan of Kh8 and Rg8 with the
38.Rxe7+ Rxe7 39.Qxe7+ Kg8 40.e6 idea of g5 comes in consideration. Bc7
Bxg2+ 41.Kh2 Qf3 42.Qd8+ Kh7
43.Qd7+ Kg8 44.e7 18.Qh4 White defends h2 with this move
1-0 but the kingside squares g3,h3,h4 are
rarely good for the white queen in these
Grigorian,Karen Ashotovich 2445
structures. Ne5 19.Qh3 Ng6 20.Bg5
Agzamov,Georgy
Bd8 preventing damage on the structure
URS-ch49 sf Cheliabinsk 1981
but also with something else in mind..
21.Re1 Does White wants to play f4?
In this game we are going to see what
Rc5!
happens when the white queen wonders
around the kingside. It is surprising how
a b c d e f g h
often I've seen this in practice. Let's
start with a classic game that demonstrates 8 8
Black's resources against this strategy. 7 7

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.Nf3 cxd4 4.Nxd4
b6 5.Nc3 Bb7 6.f3 d6 7.e4 e6 8.Be2 6 6
Nbd7 9.Be3 Be7 5 5

10.0-0 0-0 11.Rc1 a6 12.Qd2 Re8
13.Rfd1 Rc8 14.Bf1 Qc7 15.Qf2 Qb8 4 4
16.Kh1 Bd8 17.b3 3 3
a b c d e f g h 2 2
8 8
1 1
7 7 a b c d e f g h
6 6
5 5 This is it. The rook goes to the kingside

and suddenly the white queen is very
4 4
awkward. What happens next never
3 3 ceases to amaze me. 22.Bd2
[ 22.f4? h6 forces White to capture
2 2
on f6 ]
1 1
a b c d e f g h
41
22...Rh5 23.Qg3 Bc7 25...d5!!
a b c d e f g h
a b c d e f g h
8 8
8 8
7 7
7 7
6 6
6 6
5 5
5 5
4 4
4 4
3 3
3 3
2 2
2 2
1 1
1 1
a b c d e f g h
a b c d e f g h
a super strong move that exposes the
White's kingside weakness. There is
It's a good moment to see how Black's nothing White can do now to save his
pieces stand in front of the white king position, the attack is too strong 26.exd5
and d6-d5 will come with a Rexe5! 27.h3 Rxd5 28.Qxc7
devastating effect. 24.f4 White tries to [ 28.Qe3 is strongly met with Rxd4!
block the h2-b8 diagonal. Now I want 29.Qxd4 Rxh3+ 30.Kg1 Bh2+ 31.Kf2
you to pay close attention to how Qg3+ 32.Ke2 Bf3+ 33.Kd3 Be4+
Black reacts e5!As explained in 34.Ke2 Qg4+ 35.Kf2 Rf3+ 36.Ke2
games before this rupture works Rf5+ 37.Ke3 Bg1# ]
against the pawn on f4 whenever 28...Qxc7 29.cxd5 Qd7
there is a white piece on d4. White is a b c d e f g h
forced to make a decision
8 8
25.fxe5? this loses by force
7 7
[ 25.Nf5 was the only try and
now Black can gain material with 6 6
the simple Nxe4 26.Nxe4 Rxf5 ]
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
Black is winning and there is not much This move isn't bad itself and in fact is one
more to comment. The idea of Rc5-Rh5 of the lines of the engine. However, in
is an idea that works well when White practice, it is not clear what to do with the
places his queen in front of his kingside queen on g3. The main plan with the attack
castle. 30.Kg1 Nxd5 31.Ne4 Re5 on the queenside is White's most
32.Nf3 Re8 33.Rcd1 h6 34.Bc1 f5 dangerous approach. Let's see how the
35.Ng3 Rxe1 36.Rxe1 Nc3 37.Bc4+ strong GM from Argentina reacted to
Bd5 38.Bb2 Bxc4 39.bxc4 Na4 White's queen move. Bd8 Naturally, the
40.Ba1 Nf4 41.Bd4 Nc5 42.h4 Ne4 bishop now on c7 is even more dangerous
43.Nf1 Qa4 44.Be3 Nd3 45.Rb1 b5 17.Bg5?! Kh8!?
46.cxb5 Qxa2 47.Rd1 Qb3 48.Ra1
Qxb5 49.Bd4 Nf4 a b c d e f g h
0-1
8 8
7 7
Forcen Esteban,D 2535 6 6

Mareco,S 2650
5 5
TCh-ESP Div Honor 2017 (3.3) 16.08.17
4 4
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6
3 3
5.Bd3 Nf6 6.0-0 Qc7 7.Qe2 d6
8.c4 Be7 9.Nc3 b6 10.Be3 0-0 2 2
11.Rac1 Nbd7 12.f3 Bb7 13.Rfd1 Rfe8
1 1
14.Qf2 Rac8 15.Bf1 Qb8
a b c d e f g h
By now we are familiar with this setup.
Now White plays the strange move 16.
Qg3 16.Qg3 A useful move. Not only Black can now
a b c d e f g h consider taking on f6 with the pawn
8 8
sometimes, he can also switch to
Fischer's plan with Rg8 18.b3
7 7 A sign of passivity. Black can now take
6 6 over the initiative Rc5! Just like in the
previous game! 19.Be3
5 5 [ 19.h4 is the computer's suggestion
4 4 with a favorable evaluation for White.
What can we say? I prefer Black! ]
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
19...Bc7 The threats are serious now a b c d e f g h

20.Nde2? White needed to do some
8 8
magic in order to get out of the attack
here, it is not easy. It seems he could 7 7
have played 20.b4 with the following line:
6 6
[ 20.b4! Rh5 21.Be2 d5 22.f4 e5!!
( 22...dxc4!? almost works but white 5 5
has 23.Nxe6! fxe6 24.Rxd7 Nxd7
4 4
25.Bxh5 Rd8 26.e5 b5 27.Qh3 Nf8
28.a4 Bc6 with an unclear position ) 3 3
23.Bxh5 Nxh5 24.Qg5 Ndf6
2 2
what a picture! 25.Nf5 ( 25.fxe5
Bxe5 ) 25...d4 26.fxe5 Bxe5 1 1
27.Rxd4! ( 27.Bxd4 Bxh2+ 28.Kh1 a b c d e f g h
Bf4 ) 27...Bxh2+ 28.Kh1 Be5
29.Rcd1 h6 30.Qh4 Ng3+ 31.Nxg3
Bxg3 32.Qh3 Bc8 33.Rd8 Bxh3 There is no stopping. Black keeps the
34.Rxb8 Rxb8 35.gxh3 Rc8! attack going move after move 27.Nd3
white can survive with 36.c5 bxc5 Ne5 This doesn't spoil anything but
37.bxc5 Be5= ] Black missed the chance to kill the
20...d5! Of course 21.Bf4 game with the tactical blow that this
[ on 21.Qh4 Black plays d4! game deserved!
( 21...dxe4 is also strong ) 22.Bxd4 [ 27...Nxh2! 28.Kxh2 fxe4 29.Nxe4
Rh5 23.Qe1 Bxh2+ 24.Kf2 Ne5! Rf8! key move White is hopeless
nothing deadly is happening yet but 30.Qe2 ( 30.Ndxc5 Rxf3 31.Nxb7
Black keeps a strong initiative. b6-b5 Qxb7-+ ) 30...Bxe4 31.Qxe4 Bxg3+
next and White is in trouble ] 32.Kg1 Rh5 33.Rc2 Rh4 34.Qe2
21...dxe4 Naturally Mareco settles for Qe8-+ ]
permanent gains, he could also have 28.Qe2 Nxd3 29.Rxd3 f4
started with 21..Ne5 [ 29...b5! all ruptures are good! ]
[ 21...Ne5 22.exd5 Nh5 23.Qh3 Nxf4 30.g4 b5 31.cxb5 axb5 32.Rcd1 Bb6
24.Nxf4 Nxf3+ 25.gxf3 Bxf4 26.Rc2 33.Kh1 Qe5! 34.Qd2 Ba5! 35.b4
exd5 27.Nxd5 and now either Bxd5 Bxb4
( or 27...Rc6 28.Nxf4 Qxf4 ) [ 35...Rxc3 was also winning 36.Rxc3
28.Rxd5 g6 ] ( 36.Qxc3 Qxe4+; 36.bxa5 Qxe4+ )
22.fxe4 36...Bxb4-+ ]
[ 22.Bxc7 Rxc7 23.Nxe4 Bxe4 36.Rd8 Rc8 37.Rxe8+ Rxe8 38.Qd7
24.fxe4 Nxe4 25.Qf3 f5 ] Qb8! 39.Bxb5 Rf8 40.Rb1 Bxc3
22...Ne5! 23.Qe3 Nh5 41.Bd3 f3 42.e5 f2+ 43.Rxb7 Qxe5
[ 23...Kg8!? ] A fantastic game!
[ 23...Nfg4 24.Qh3 ] 0-1
24.g3 Nxf4 25.Nxf4 Ng4 26.Qf3 f5!
Maevsky,Nikolay 2342 [ 21.cxd5 exd5 22.Rxc8 Qxc8

Gharamian,Tigran 2650 23.Rc1 Qd7 ]
EU-ch 12th Aix-les-Bains (1) 22.03.2011 21...exd5 22.Nf5
8 8 8 8
7 7 7 7
6 6 6 6
5 5 5 5
4 4 4 4
3 3 3 3
2 2 2 2
1 1 1 1
In the following position, White is a Now a typical combination exposing

couple of tempos down compared to the the weakness of White's piece
positions explained in the previous coordination Neg4! 23.fxg4 Nxg4
games. Here we can see how Black 24.Qg1 Qe5 Black regains the
executes the standard plan. 19...Ne5!? material 25.Bd4?
First a touch on c4 20.Na4?! Natural but
[ 25.Nxb6 Qxf5 26.Bd3 Qe6
probably not the best
[ 20.Nb3 is better when Black can
27.Nxc8 Nxe3 28.cxd5 Bxd5 29.Re1
choose what to do with different Bg5 30.Rc5! Rxc8 31.Rxc8+ Qxc8
alternatives. Nfd7, Ba8 or the 32.Rxe3 Bxe3 33.Qxe3 g6
straightforward line Nxc4 with an equal game ]
( 20...Nfd7!?; 20...Ba8!? ) 21.Bxc4 25...Qxf5 26.Bd3 Qh5 27.c5 b5
Rxc4 22.Bxb6 d5 23.Na5 Rc8 28.Nc3 Bg5 29.Ra1 Be3 30.Bxe3
24.Bxd8 Rcxd8 25.Qb6 Ba8 Rxe3 31.Ne2 Rh3 A nice game by
26.Qxb8 Rxb8 27.exd5 Bxd5 Gharamian
when probably White is little better. So 0-1
the alternatives mentioned should be
preferred ]
20...d5! 21.exd5
Topalov,Veselin 2737 [ 21.h3 Nh5!? with Bg5 next ]

Kasimdzhanov,Rustam 2652 21...h3! 22.g3 Ne5 23.Rd4
FIDE-Wch k.o. (6.2) 02.07.2004
a b c d e f g h
Let's start now with another plan for 8 8

Black. I the next few games you will see
7 7
positions in which Black plays h5 at
some point to create counterplay. This 6 6
is one of the Black's most reliable plans
5 5
and it should have priority. 1.e4 c5
2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.c4 4 4
Nf6 6.Nc3 Qc7 7.a3 b6 8.Be3 Bb7
3 3
9.f3 d6 10.Be2 Be7 11.0-0 0-0
12.Qd2 Nbd7 13.Rac1 Rac8 14.Rfd1 2 2
Qb8 15.Bf1 Rfe8 16.Kh1 Bd8 17.Bg1
1 1
h5!?
a b c d e f g h
a b c d e f g h
Black took the draw here but I think his
8 8
position is already very comfortable. For
7 7 example, here he could try 23...a5!? or
6 6
23...Qa8 Nc6
[ 23...a5!? ]
5 5 [ 23...Qa8!? and d5 next ]
4 4
24.Rdd1 Ne5 25.Rd4 Nc6
1/2
3 3
2 2 Valdes Escobar,A 2387

Cordova,E 2637
1 1
Millionaire Chess Op 2016 (2.8) 06.10.16
a b c d e f g h
1.Nf3 c5 2.c4 b6 3.Nc3 Bb7 4.e4 e6
The position is very similar to Svidler- 5.a3 d6 6.d4 cxd4 7.Nxd4 Nf6 8.f3
Topalov with the difference that the Be7 9.Be3 0-0 10.Be2 Nbd7 11.0-0 a6
white rook is on d1 here not on e1. It is 12.Qd2 Rc8 13.Rac1 Qc7 14.b4 Qb8
quite important that the black bishop 15.Rc2 Rfe8 16.Rb1 Bd8
remains on d8 in order to support the 17.Kh1 h5! Once White has played the
advance h5-h4. 18.Qf2 Ne5 This attack useful Kh1 then it is the right time for Black
on c4 puts a stop on White's queenside to advance his H pawn. The main
plans 19.b3 Ng6 20.b4 h4 21.Nb3 goal is to weaken the diagonal a8-h1.
Black has another interesting option
here:
[ 17...Ne5!? 18.Na4 Nxe4 19.fxe4 Black is a piece down but don't be

Bxe4 20.Rbc1 Qb7 21.Bf1 Bxc2 deceived by material unbalance, the
22.Rxc2 d5= with an even position ] position is quite complex 28.Be2!
18.Nb3 h4 19.Bf4 [ 28.Kg1 Rcd8 29.Bf1 Ng4 30.g3
[ 19.h3 is ussually met with Nh5 ] Re3! with a complete mess. The
19...Bc7 20.Rd1 d5! Very energetic threat is Rxd4 and Rxg3! 31.Nce2
play from the peruvian Grandmaster Qd5 32.Nc6 Bxc6 33.Qxd5 Rxd5
21.Bxc7 Qxc7 Natural but 21...Rxc7 34.Rxd5 Bxd5 Black wins back the
deserves attention as well piece although he might be a tad
[ 21...Rxc7 22.cxd5 exd5 23.Nxd5 worse after 35.Rc3! ]
Nxd5 24.exd5 Rxc2 25.Qxc2 h3 28...hxg2+ 29.Kg1 Qh3
26.g3 Qa8! White will lose the d5 a b c d e f g h
pawn and his position remains a bit
8 8
shaky ]
22.cxd5 exd5 23.Bd3 Not bad but 7 7
possibly White should aim for
6 6
simplifications with 23.Rdc1
[ 23.Rdc1 dxe4 24.Nxe4 Qb8 5 5
25.Rxc8 Rxc8 26.Rxc8+ Qxc8
4 4
27.Nd6 Qc7 28.Nxb7 Qxb7= ]
23...Qe5!? Black is tempted by the 3 3
complications that arise after this move.
2 2
Objectively White should be better but
this is the kind of practical play where 1 1
White can easily go wrong. a b c d e f g h
[ 23...Qb8= is better ]
24.f4 Qh5 25.e5 d4! 26.Nxd4 h3 This is the critical position where White
27.exf6 Nxf6 needs to be careful, the moves to get
bail out here and run away with the
a b c d e f g h
extra material are not obvious at all.
8 8 30.Re1?
7 7
[ 30.b5! with the idea of Nc6 killing the
bishop on b7 axb5 ( 30...a5
6 6 31.Nc6+- ) 31.Ncxb5 Rcd8
5 5
( 31...Rxc2 32.Nxc2 Ne4 33.Qe1+- )
32.Rc3 Qh4 33.Re3 Ne4 34.Qe1
4 4 Qxf4 35.Bf3 ]
3 3
30...Rcd8-+ The game is now over. The
threat is Rxd4 31.Bf3 Bxf3 32.Rxe8+
2 2 Rxe8 33.Nxf3 Qxf3 34.Qf2 Qd3
1 1 35.Kxg2 Ng4
0-1
a b c d e f g h
Vila Gazquez,X 2483 24.Bb1 Re7

Cordova,E 2629 [ 24...Ng3+ again ]
ch-ESP Rapid 2017 (7.9) 13.08.2017 25.Nde2 b5 26.cxb5 axb5 27.f4
[ 27.e5! ]
a b c d e f g h 27...b4 28.Na4 Nf6 29.e5?!
8 8
[ 29.f5 exf5 30.exf5 Ne5
looks good for Black but it was the
7 7 way to go 31.Bd3 ]
6 6
29...dxe5 30.Bxg6 fxg6 31.fxe5 Ne4
32.Qxh4 Rf7
5 5 [ 32...g5-+ 33.Qe1 Rf7 34.Bg1 Qb7
4 4
with decisive threats ]
33.Rf1 Bd8 34.Qe1 Rxc1 35.Nxc1
3 3 Bh4 36.Qe2 Nf2+ 37.Kg1 Qb7
2 2 0-1
1 1
a b c d e f g h Kollars,Dmitrij 2445
Castellanos,Renier 2477
20...h5!? Again 21.Bd3 h4 22.h3 Nh5 Open Can Picafort (4) 18.11.2015
23.Bh2
[ 23.Nde2 is strongly met with d5 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4
24.cxd5 exd5 25.exd5 ( 25.Nxd5? a6 5.c4 Nf6 6.Nc3 d6 7.Be2 b6
Bxd5 26.exd5 Rxe2-+ ) 25...Ngf4 8.0-0 Bb7 9.f3 Be7 10.Be3 0-0
26.Be4 f5! 27.d6! Bxd6 28.Bxb7 11.Qd2 Nbd7 12.Rac1 Qb8
Rxc3 29.Nxf4 Ng3+ 30.Qxg3
( 30.Kh2 Rxc1-+ ) 30...hxg3 31.Rxc3 a b c d e f g h
Bxf4 32.Bxa6 ] 8 8
[ 23.Nce2 allows the same d5!
24.cxd5 exd5 25.exd5 Bg3 26.Rxc8 7 7
Qxc8 27.Qf1 Bxd5= ] 6 6

23...Ba8 useful move but not precise at
this moment. Bearing in mind that this is 5 5
a rapid game, it is just a move to press 4 4

the clock and pass the turn
[ 23...Ng3+ was correct 24.Bxg3 hxg3 3 3
25.Qxg3 d5 26.Qf2 dxc4 27.bxc4 2 2

( 27.Bxc4? b5 28.Bf1 Bf4 29.Rc2
1 1
Red8 ) 27...Red8 ]
a b c d e f g h
This is rather unusual but I'm only Test 1

trying to be creative and change things
a b c d e f g h
a bit. Normal moves are 12...Rc8,
12...Re8 or 12...Qc7 13.Rfd1 Rc8 8 8
14.a3 Bd8 15.b4 Bc7 16.Kh1 h5 7 7
The right time 17.Bg5 Bd8 18.Nb3
Ne5!? striving for active play 6 6
[ 18...Be7 is solid but passive ] 5 5

19.Qxd6 Bc7 20.Qd4 Ng6 hitting on
4 4
h2. Black has some compensation for
the pawn due to his control over the 3 3
dark squares. 21.Qg1 h4 22.Be3
2 2
Bc6 defending b6 and keeping an eye
on a4 23.Nd4 Be8 24.b5?! axb5 1 1
25.Ndxb5 Be5 26.Bd4 Bf4 27.Rb1 a b c d e f g h
Nd7Black's chances are no worse
here Black to Play 17...d5 18.cxd5 exd5
28.Bf1 Nc5 29.Ne2 Be5 30.Bxe5 19.Nxd5 Nxd5 20.exd5 Qe5 21.Rxc8
Qxe5 31.Nd6 Rc6 Bxc8 22.Rd3 Nf6= with equality
[ 31...Rd8 32.Nxe8 Rxd1
33.Rxd1 Rxe8= ] Test 2
32.Nxe8 Rxe8 33.Nd4 Rd6 34.Nb5
Rdd8 35.Qf2 Qf4 36.Nc3 Ne5 37.Ne2 a b c d e f g h
Rxd1 38.Rxd1 Qf6 39.Qd4 Ra8
8 8
40.Qc3 Ra4 41.Nd4 Nc6 42.h3 Nxd4
[ 42...g5! ] 7 7
43.Qxd4 Qxd4 44.Rxd4 Rxa3 45.e5 6 6

Re3 46.Rxh4 Rxe5 47.Kg1 Re1
5 5
48.Rd4= f5 49.Kf2 Rb1 50.Be2
Rb2 51.h4 Kf7 52.g4 g6 53.h5 4 4
gxh5
3 3
54.gxh5 Kf6 55.f4 Ne4+ 56.Ke3
Rb3+ 57.Rd3 Rb2 58.Rd7 Rb3+ 2 2
59.Rd3 Rb2 60.Rd7 Rb3+ 1 1
1/2
a b c d e f g h
Black to play 19...Bc7! 20.g3 Bxg3!

21.hxg3 Rxe3 22.Qxe3 Qxg3+ 23.Kf1
Ng4-+
Test 3 Test 5
8 8 8 8
7 7 7 7
6 6 6 6
5 5 5 5
4 4 4 4
3 3 3 3
2 2 2 2
1 1 1 1
Black to play 19...d5! 20.cxd5 exd5 Black to play 31...e5! 32.Be3 d5!! with
21.Nxd5 Nxd5 22.exd5 Nf6 23.Bg5 counterplay
Nxd5 24.Bc4 Bd8! Black has an
excellent game
Test 6
Test 4
a b c d e f g h
a b c d e f g h 8 8
8 8
7 7
7 7
6 6
6 6
5 5
5 5
4 4
4 4
3 3
3 3
2 2
2 2
1 1
1 1 a b c d e f g h
a b c d e f g h
Black to play 16...d5! 17.cxd5 Rxc2
Black to play 18...Ne5! 19.Nb1 d5 18.Qxc2 exd5
20.cxd5 exd5 21.Rxc8 Bxc8 22.exd5?
Neg4-+
Test 7 Test 9
8 8 8 8
7 7 7 7
6 6 6 6
5 5 5 5
4 4 4 4
3 3 3 3
2 2 2 2
1 1 1 1
White has just played Kh1, how should How can Black try to take advantage of
Black continue? 16...h5!? 17.Rfd1 h4 the position of White's queen on g3 and
18.Bf1 h3 19.g3 Ne5 with counterplay bishop on g5? 18...Rc5! 19.Be3 Bc7
20.Nde2 d5! Black is clearly better
Test 8 Test 10
8 8 8 8
7 7 7 7
6 6 6 6
5 5 5 5
4 4 4 4
3 3 3 3
2 2 2 2
1 1 1 1
Black to play 24...e5! 25.fxe5 d5!!with a What should Black do here? 20...d5
winning attack 21.Bxc7 Rxc7 22.cxd5 exd5 23.Nxd5
Nxd5 24.exd5 Rxc2 25.Qxc2 h3 26.g3
Qa8! Black is at least equal
Knight Sacrifice on "d5" Jakobsen,Ole 2440

Csom,Istvan 2500
in Hedgehog Type of Politiken Cup GM (8) 1983
Positions a b c d e f g h
8 8
7 7
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
[ He had at his disposal the less
straightforward, but quite promising 22.f5
at once or after the preliminary 22.Na4. ]
Dear Reader, 22...exd5 23.Bxg7!!
a b c d e f g h
In this article, we continue dealing with 8 8

the knight sacrifice on the d5-square. 7 7
This time, we are going to see how the
powerful knight sacrifice can be used in 6 6
Hedgehog positions. In this article, you 5 5

will find a number of typical
4 4
combinations and tactical motifs.
3 3
1) BISHOP on g2 2 2
It is less common to find our thematic
1 1
sacrifice executed with a fianchettoed
a b c d e f g h
light-squared bishop. In such a case it is
usually connected with a long-term dxe4!!
compensation, but an immediate crisis [ Excellent judgement by both
is not an exception. Just have a look at opponents - after 23...Kxg7? 24.f5!
the next breathtaking competition of the attack must prevail, e.g. 24... f6
chess resourcefulness! White has ( 24...Kh8 25.f6 Bxf6 26.gxf6 Rxe4
concentrated nearly all his army on the 27.Qg5 ) 25.Qh6+ Kf7 26.Rg3! fxg5
kingside. A strike is in the air. 22.Nd5!? 27.f6! Bxf6 28.Qxf6+ Kg8 29.Rxg5+
Ng6 30.Rxg6+ hxg6 31.Qxg6+ Kh8
32.Rf7 , mating. ]
24.f5!! Bxg5? The first sign that this game was

a b c d e f g h
played by humans.
[ The thriller could finish in a deserved
8 8
draw after 26...Qd5+ 27.Rff3 Qd2+
7 7 28.Kg1 h6! 29.Qxh6 Qd4! 30.Rxe3!
Qd1+ 31.Kg2 Qd2+= ]
6 6
27.Qxg5+ Kxf8 28.Rxh7 Qe5 29.Rf3?
5 5 [ 29.Qh4! Kg8 30.Kh3! could have
turned the tables in White's favour. ]
4 4
29...e2 30.Rg3 Ra7!!
3 3
2 2 a b c d e f g h
8 8
1 1
a b c d e f g h 7 7
6 6
e3!! Great play by the experienced
Hungarian GM! Black is doing his best 5 5
to initiate counterplay! 25.Bxf8!
4 4
[ The tactical justification is revealed
after 25.Bxb7?! e2 26.Rg1 ( 26.Re1 3 3
Qxf5 ) 26...Qxg1+! 27.Kxg1 Bxg5
2 2
28.Qe1 Bd2 29.Qxd2 e1Q+
30.Qxe1 Rxe1+ 31.Kf2 Rae8 32.Bh6 1 1
R8e2+ 33.Kf3 c3! 34.Rg3+ Ng6 a b c d e f g h
35.fxg6 hxg6 ]
25...Bxg2+ 26.Kxg2 And here comes this amazingly cold-
blooded (and the only!) defensive
a b c d e f g h move!
8 8 31.Qg8+ Ke7 32.Qxf7+ Kd8 33.Qxa7
Qe4+ 34.Kh3 Qxf5+ 35.Rg4 Qf3+
7 7
[ The last chance to prolong the
6 6 exciting battle was 35...Qxh7+
36.Qxh7 e1Q 37.Qh4+ Qxh4+
5 5
38.Kxh4 c3 39.Rc4 Re3
4 4 , even though White should keep the
balance after 40.Kg4 Kd7 41.Kf4
3 3
Rh3 42.Ke4 Rxh2 43.Rxc3 Rxa2
2 2 44.Rh3 Kc6 45.Kd4 , etc. ]
36.Rg3 Qf5+
1 1
1/2
a b c d e f g h
Van de Mortel,Jan 2403 a b c d e f g h

Donk,Merlijn Silvester 2312
8 8
NED-chT 9900 (9) 20.05.2000
7 7
a b c d e f g h
6 6
8 8
5 5
7 7
4 4
6 6
3 3
5 5
2 2
4 4
1 1
3 3
a b c d e f g h
2 2
21.Qh5!!+-
1 1 [ A cold shower for Black, who was
a b c d e f g h apparently counting only on 21.Rae1
Nc8 , winning the pinned knight. ]
15...b5 was correctly countered with 21...Rxe7
16.Ncd5! exd5 17.exd5 [ 21...Kxe7 does not bring any relief -
22.Rae1+ Kf8 ( 22...Kd7 23.Qxf7+ )
a b c d e f g h
23.Qxh7 ]
8 8 22.Qxh7 Ke8 23.Bh3!
7 7 a b c d e f g h
6 6 8 8
5 5 7 7
4 4 6 6
3 3 5 5
2 2 4 4
1 1 3 3
a b c d e f g h 2 2
Na7? 1 1
[ By far, not the first example, in which a b c d e f g h
Black was wrongly sticking to the
material - 17...Rc8 was asked for. ]
18.Nf5 Rfe8 19.Nxe7+ Kf8 20.Bxf6 A rare case, in which the fianchettoed
gxf6 bishop appears with a devastating effect
on the h3-c8 diagonal!

Re8?! Allowing yet another typical
1-0
sacrifice, destroying the shelter of
his king.
Hernandez Carmenates,Holden2573 [ 18...Rc7?! does not differ much from
Rojas Keim,Luis Alberto 2357 the text - 19.Qd2 ( it is fully possible
Pamplona-A 19th (7) 06.12.2009 to copy the course of the game with
19.Rxe7 Rxe7 20.Bxf6 gxf6
21.Nh5 , but why not at first use the
a b c d e f g h
unfortunate position of this knight? )
8 8 19...a5 20.a3 Na6 21.Rxe7! Rxe7
7 7 22.Bxf6 gxf6 23.Nh5 Re5 24.Nxf6+
Kg7 ( 24...Kf8 25.Qh6+ Ke7 26.Ng4!
6 6
Qb8 27.f4! Re2 28.Bf3 Rb2
5 5 29.Re1+ - we are going the same
motif of chasing the rook off the e-file
4 4
in the featured game ) 25.Ng4 Rg8
3 3 ( 25...Kh8 26.Qf4! Rg8 27.Nxe5
dxe5 28.Qxe5+ Rg7 29.Qf6
2 2
transposes; 25...Rh5 26.Qb2+ f6
1 1 27.Nxf6 Re5 28.f4 Kxf6 29.fxe5+;
a b c d e f g h 25...Rf5 26.Qh6+ Kg8 27.Be4 Qc8
28.Ne3! ) 26.Nxe5 dxe5 27.Qg5+
16...Qa8 invited 17.Ncd5! exd5 Kh8 28.Qxe5+ Rg7 29.Qf6 Nc5
18.exd5
30.Qxb6 and, with so many pawns for
a b c d e f g h the piece, White is clearly on top -30...
8 8
Qc8 31.Re1 a4 32.b4 Nd7 33.Qd4
+- ]
7 7 [ It made sense to part with the
6 6 misplaced knight - 18...Nbxd5!
, but to reduce the tension. White has
5 5 some space advantage after, let us
4 4 say, 19.Bxd5 ( it is worth checking
19.cxd5 Re8 20.Rxe7! Rxe7
3 3
21.Bxf6 Rxc1 22.Qxc1 gxf6 23.Nh5
2 2 Qf8
24.Nxf6+ Kh8 25.h4 Qg7 26.Qf4 )
1 1
19...Nxd5 20.Nxd5 Bxd5 21.Qxd5
a b c d e f g h
Qxd5 22.cxd5 , but nothing decisive 23.Nxf6 Nxd5 24.cxd5

in sight. ] a b c d e f g h
[ Practically hopeless is 18...Kf8?
19.Rxe7 Kxe7 20.Qe1+ Kf8 21.Bxf6 8 8
gxf6 22.Qxb4 ] 7 7
[ 18...Bf8? 19.Bxf6 gxf6 20.Qg4+
6 6
Kh8 21.Be4 Re8 ( 21...Bg7 22.Nh5 )
22.Bb1!+- ] 5 5
[ 18...Nxa2? 19.Rxe7 Nxc1 20.Bxf6
4 4
gxf6 21.Qh5 Ne2+ 22.Kh1 Rf8
23.Be4 ] 3 3
19.Rxe7! Rxe7 20.Bxf6 gxf6 21.Nh5
2 2
Kh8 22.Qd2
a b c d e f g h 1 1
a b c d e f g h
8 8
Ba6? The decisive mistake.
7 7
[ 24...Rxc1+ 25.Qxc1 Qf8 26.Nd7
6 6 Qe7 27.Nxe5 Qxe5 28.Qd1
5 5 is indeed better for White, but he will
have to work hard to make use of his
4 4
extra pawn. ]
3 3 25.Rd1!
[ 25.Rc6! would have been quite
2 2
unpleasant as well. ]
1 1 25...Rg8 26.f4 Re2 27.Qd4 Rg6
a b c d e f g h
28.Bf1
a b c d e f g h
8 8
Re5
[ Here 22...Nxd5 (compare with the 7 7
note to move 18!) could be strongly
6 6
answered with 23.Bxd5! Rg8 24.Nxf6
Rg6 ( 24...Bxd5 25.Nxd5 5 5
and the attacked rook has no safe
4 4
retreat! ) 25.Qd4 with huge initiative
for the exchange. ] 3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
Rxa2?! A sign of a desperation, but Black has just moved his queen to the
White must anyway win after kingside. White tried immediately to
[ 28...Qc8 29.Bxe2 Bxe2 30.Re1 challenge it by the natural 16.f4 Rfd8
Qc5 31.Qxc5 bxc5 32.Rxe2 Rxf6 17.Rf3 , but what did he have in mind in
33.Kf2 Rf5 34.Rd2 by further reply to the typical small
advancing his king. ] combination 17.... Ne5 18.fxe5 dxe5
29.Bxa6 Rxa6 30.Re1!+- Rxf6 ? Here it is - 19.Nd5! exd5 20.exd5 e4
31.Qxf6+ Kg8 32.Qxd6 Qf8 33.Qxf8+ 21.Rxe4 Nxe4 22.Qxe4 Re8
Kxf8 34.d6 a b c d e f g h
1-0
8 8
2) A BISHOP ON b1-h7 DIAGONAL 7 7

The most frightening White's set-up is 6 6
when the second bishop is directed
against the short-castled king as well. 5 5
We have just seen how effectively it can 4 4
join the attack from the kingside. Let us
now have as a prelude a look at an 3 3
incredibly beautiful attack. 2 2
1 1
Ornstein,Axel 2425 a b c d e f g h
Prodanov,Dimitar 2335
Albena 1978 The thematic jump resulted in an
original exchange sacrifice. Both
a b c d e f g h diagonals have been cleaned for the
bishop. Let us get them started! 23.g4!
8 8
Qg6 24.Qf4
7 7
a b c d e f g h
6 6 8 8
5 5 7 7
4 4 6 6
3 3 5 5
2 2 4 4
1 1 3 3
a b c d e f g h
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
Qf6?! a b c d e f g h
[ The best practical chance lay in
8 8
24...Bd6 , when White has, amongst
all, 25.Bxg6 Bxf4 26.Bf5 , reaching 7 7
an ending with a sound pawn up. 6 6
But then we would not have been
able to follow his highly imaginative 5 5
idea in all its glamour. ] 4 4
25.Nf5!! 3 3
a b c d e f g h 2 2
8 8 1 1
a b c d e f g h
7 7
6 6
Bf6
[ 29...Qf6 fails to a charming knight
5 5 cruise - 30.Ng6+ Kf7 31.Ne5+ Kf8
4 4 32.Nd7+ ]
30.Qd6+ Re7 31.Ng6+ Ke8 32.Nxe7+-
3 3
a b c d e f g h
2 2
8 8
1 1
7 7
a b c d e f g h
6 6
5 5
Qxb2
[ 25...Bd6 could be met by 26.Nxd6 4 4
Re1+ 27.Kg2 Re2+ 28.Kg3 Qxf4+ 3 3
29.Rxf4 Rxc2 30.Nxc8 Bxc8 31.Bd4
with decisive advantage, as 31...b5 2 2
permits both 32.c5 and 32.Re4. ] 1 1
26.Nh6+ Kh8 27.Nxf7+ Kg8
a b c d e f g h
28.Bxh7+! Kf8 29.Nh8+!!
The exceptional forced play has ended,
leaving Black with just a few checks
before accepting his fate. 32... Qc1+
33.Kg2 Qd2+ 34.Rf2 Qg5 35.Bg6+
Kf8
1-0
Bernal Moro,Luis Javier 2451 and only here they diverged. In M.

Chkhaidze,Nikoloz 2203 Klauser - F. Lang, Zuerich, 2010, the
Hastings Masters op (4) 31.12.2008 natural 17.Qxe7 was played.
[ Instead, in Bernal Moro -
a b c d e f g h Chkhaidze, Hastings, 2008, the
Spanish IM was apparently in an
8 8
exceptionally fighting
7 7 mood, for he went for 17.Bxh7+!
6 6 Kxh7 18.Qh5+ Kg8 19.Bxg7 Kxg7
20.Qg4+ Kh8 21.Rd3 Nf6 22.Rh3+
5 5
Nh7 23.Rxh7+! Kxh7 24.Rf3 Qd8
4 4 25.Rh3+ Bh4 26.Rxh4+ Qxh4
27.Qxh4+ Kg7 28.Qg5+ Kh7 29.f5
3 3
Rg8 30.Qe7 ( 30.Qh4+ Kg7
2 2 31.Qg3+ Kf6 32.Qxd6+ Kxf5
1 1
33.Qxb6 ) 30...Kg7?! ( 30...Rae8!?
31.Qxf7+ Rg7 32.Qf6 Bd1
a b c d e f g h
was yielding decent chances for
AN AMAZING COINCIDENCE It is not creating counterplay ) 31.Qxd6 Rge8
easy to believe, but two games have 32.Qf4 Kf6 33.g4 Re2 34.Kf1 Rxa2
arrived from completely different 35.Qh6+ Ke7 36.Qxb6 and the
openings at this position! In both of rolling pawns prevailed in an
them White executed the thematic jump entertaining manner after 36... Re8
15.Nd5! exd5 16.exd5 Ba4 37.f6+ Kd7 38.b5 Ree2 ( 38...axb5
39.Qc6+ Kd8 40.d6; 38...Rc8
a b c d e f g h
39.Qa7+! Rc7 40.b6! Rxa7 41.bxa7
+- ) 39.Qc6+ Kd8 40.Qa8+ Kc7
8 8
41.Qc6+ Kd8 42.Qd6+ Ke8 43.b6!+-
7 7 Rf2+ 44.Kg1 Rg2+ 45.Kh1 Rxh2+
46.Qxh2 Rxh2+ 47.Kxh2 Kd8 48.g5
6 6
Be8
5 5 49.c5 a5 50.b7 Kc7 51.c6 Bxc6
4 4
52.dxc6 a4 53.g6 a3 54.gxf7 a2
55.f8Q a1Q 56.b8Q+ 1-0 ]
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
17...Bxd1 Rxf8 , when White must find 20.g4!

a b c d e f g h
Bxg4 21.Bxh7+! Kh8 22.Qh4 Qd8
23.Qh6 Nf6 24.Bf5+ Kg8 25.Qg5+
8 8
Kh8 26.Bxg4 with excellent winning
7 7 chances , e.g. 26... Rg8 27.Qh4+
Kg7 28.Kh1 Nxg4 ( 28...Rh8
6 6
29.Qg5+ Kf8 30.Re1 ) 29.Qxg4+ Kf8
5 5 30.Qh3+- ]
[ White has an easier task in case of
4 4
18...Qd8?! 19.Bxf8 Nxf8 20.Qxd8
3 3 Rxd8 21.Rxd1+- ]
19.Qg5+ Kh8 20.Qf5 Nf6 21.Qxf6+
2 2
Kg8 22.Rxd1
1 1
a b c d e f g h
a b c d e f g h
8 8
7 7
18.Bxg7!! Sometimes the pair of bishops
6 6
can be sacrificed in reversed order!
Besides, this is my suggested 5 5
improvement.
4 4
[ The game saw 18.Rxd1 Rae8
19.Qg5 g6 ( A deviation like 19...f6 3 3
20.Qh5 f5!? leaves White with rich
2 2
play for the exchange after 21.Bxf5
Nf6 22.Bxf6 gxf6 23.Rd3 ) 20.Qh6 f6 1 1
21.Bxg6 Re7 22.Bf5 Qxc4 23.Be6+ a b c d e f g h
Rxe6 24.dxe6 Qxe6 25.Qh3!? Re8
( 25...Qe2!? 26.Qb3+ Kh8 27.Bd4
Rc8 28.Bf2 Rc2 29.Qf3! Qxf3 Rae8
30.gxf3 Rc6 31.a4 b5 32.axb5 axb5 [ 22...Rfe8 23.Bxh7+! Kxh7 24.Rd3
33.Rd5 Kg8 34.Rxb5 Rc1+ 35.Kg2 Re1+ ( 24...Kg8 25.Rh3 Re1+
Rb1; 25...Qxh3 26.gxh3 Kf7 26.Kf2 Re2+ 27.Kf3+- ) 25.Kf2 Rf1+
deserves attention - 27.Rxd6 Ke7 26.Kxf1 Qxc4 27.Qxf7+ ]
28.Rc6 Rg8+ 29.Kf2 f5 30.Rh6 [ 22...Qd8 23.Bxh7+! Kxh7 24.Qf5+
Rc8! 31.Rxh7+ Ke6 Kh6 25.Qh3+ Kg6 26.Qg4+ Kh7
, with reasonable counterchances ) 27.Rd3 Qf6 28.Rh3+ Qh6 29.Qf5+
26.Qxe6+ Rxe6 27.Kf2 f5 28.Kf3 Kg7 30.Rxh6 Kxh6 31.Qf6+ Kh7
and Black failed to defend this 32.Qxd6+- It is worth to make a brief
inferior ending. ] comparison with 31st move in the twin-
18...Kxg7 game! ]
[ Relatively best is 18...Bh5 19.Bxf8 White can go immediately for 23.Bxh7+!
[ 23.c5!? Qe7 ( 23...bxc5? 24.Bxh7+ To sum up, in the initial position White
Kxh7 25.Rd3 ) 24.Qf5 f6 25.cxd6 seems to be almost winning. It is up to
is promising either. ] the reader to choose how.
23...Kxh7 24.Rd3 Re1+ 25.Kf2 Rf1+
26.Kxf1 Qxc4 Ivanovic,Bozidar 2480
Ermenkov,Evgenij 2455
a b c d e f g h
EU-chT (Men) 08th (2.7) 1983
8 8
a b c d e f g h
7 7
8 8
6 6
7 7
5 5
6 6
4 4
5 5
3 3
4 4
2 2
3 3
1 1
2 2
a b c d e f g h
1 1
Although the f7-pawn is defended, the
a b c d e f g h
advantage of the first player is out of
question. There are many ways to
enlarge it, for instance 27.Qd4 (c3) The retreat 15...Nd7 was met by
[ 27.Qf5+ Kg7 28.h3 Re8 29.Kg1 16.Nd5! Bf8 17.Rf3
+- ] 27...Rc8 28.Qxc4 Rxc4 29.a3
Rxf4+ 30.Rf3
a b c d e f g h
a b c d e f g h
8 8
8 8
7 7
7 7
6 6
6 6
5 5
5 5
4 4
4 4
3 3
3 3
2 2
2 2
1 1
1 1
a b c d e f g h
a b c d e f g h
Re8 19.Qg4
[ 17...exd5 18.exd5 Bb7 loses to a
typical combination with a small
a b c d e f g h
finesse for an end - 19.Bxh7+! Kxh7
20.Rh3+ Kg8 21.Qe4!!+- The point 8 8
and in fact the only winning move! 7 7

( an automatic move like 21.Qh5?!
may leave White in a search for 6 6
perpetual check after 21..... f6 5 5

22.Qh7+ Kf7 23.Rh6= )]
4 4
18.Rh3
3 3
a b c d e f g h
2 2
8 8
1 1
7 7
a b c d e f g h
6 6
5 5 Qd8
4 4 [ 19...Bg7 seems to be the most
stubborn resource for Black, but the
3 3
weakness of all dark squares around
2 2 his king is quickly telling after
20.Bxg7 Kxg7 21.Qg5! exd5
1 1
22.Qh6+ Kf6 23.exd5 Bb7 24.Qh4+
a b c d e f g h
Kg7
g6 25.Qxh7+ Kf6 26.Qh4+ Kg7
[ 18...exd5 cannot be recommended 27.Qh6+ Kf6 28.Qg5+ Kg7 29.f5!
for at least two reasons: Rh8 30.f6+! Nxf6 31.Rf1 Qd8
A) 19.Rxh7!? Nf6 20.Bxf6 gxf6 and now the simplest is ( 31...Nd7
21.Qg4+ ( 21.e5!? ) 21...Kxh7 32.Rxf7+ Kxf7 33.Qxg6+ )
22.exd5+ f5 23.Bxf5+ Kh8 32.Rxh8 ( 32.Rhf3 ) 32...Kxh8
24.Qh5+ Kg7 25.Qg5+ Kh8 33.Qxf6+ ( 33.Bxg6!? ) 33...Qxf6
26.Qh4+ Kg7 27.Rd3 Re1+ 34.Rxf6, picking up more pawns. ]
28.Kf2!+-;
B) 19.Qh5 h6 20.exd5
Bb7 21.Rg3! would have
been irresistible for Black as
well ]
20.Rf1! With all his pieces aiming at the king

White can have only one idea in mind -
a b c d e f g h
to crown his attack with a mate. 22....
8 8 exf5
[ 22...Ne5 23.f6+ Kg8 24.Qg5+- ]
7 7
[ 22...Bxd5 23.Rxh7+! Kxh7 24.fxg6+
6 6 Kh6 ( 24...fxg6 25.Rf7+ Kh6
26.Qh3+ Kg5 27.Qe3+ ) 25.Qh3+
5 5
Kxg6 26.e5+! ( even stronger than
4 4 26.exd5+ f5 27.dxe6+- ) 26...Kg5
3 3
27.Rf5+! ( the study-like 27.Rf4!!
is objectively the shortest win here )
2 2 27...exf5 28.Qxf5+ Kh6 29.Qh7+
1 1
Kg5 30.Qg7+ Kh4 31.g3+ Kh5
32.Be2+ Bf3 33.Bxf3# ]
a b c d e f g h
23.exf5 Bxd5 24.Rxh7+! Kxh7
25.fxg6+ Kh6 26.Qh3+
Bg7 1-0
[ 20...exd5 21.exd5 Bb7 22.f5!+-
Bg7 ( 22...Ne5 23.fxg6 fxg6
24.Bxg6 hxg6 25.Bxe5 ) 23.Bxg7
Kxg7 24.Rxh7+! ] Smirin,Ilia 2555
21.Bxg7 Kxg7 22.f5! Sakaev,Konstantin 2540
Alekhine op Moscow 1992
a b c d e f g h
8 8 a b c d e f g h
7 7 8 8
6 6 7 7
5 5 6 6
4 4 5 5
3 3 4 4
2 2 3 3
1 1 2 2
a b c d e f g h 1 1
a b c d e f g h
The position resembles Ivanovic - Nf8 19.cxd5 Bh4!? - White has a

Ermenkov a lot. The coincidence of the large advantage after the simple
very first moves is therefore not 20.Bxf8+ ( it is tempting to go for
surprising. 15.Nd5 Bd8 16.Rf3 Re8 20.Rg4 Bd7 21.Bf6+ Bxg4
a b c d e f g h 22.Qxg4+ Ng6 23.Bxh4 ) 20...Kxf8
21.dxc6 Bxg3 22.hxg3 b5
8 8
23.axb5 axb5 24.Rxa8 Qxa8
7 7 25.Bxb5 ]
6 6
18.Rg3+ Kf8
5 5
a b c d e f g h
4 4
8 8
3 3
7 7
2 2
6 6
1 1
5 5
a b c d e f g h
4 4
Is there a difference at all between
3 3
these two games? Well, the bishop was
forced into the opposite direction. The 2 2
knight was still immune on the last move,
1 1
but what about now? 17.Bxg7!!
a b c d e f g h
a b c d e f g h
8 8
19.Qh5!
[ Equivalent is 19.Qg4 Bxd5 20.Qg7+
7 7 Ke7 21.exd5 e5 22.Qg5+ Kf8
6 6 ( 22...Nf6 23.fxe5 dxe5 24.Rf3 Qd6
25.Raf1 Rg8 26.Qxf6+ Qxf6
5 5 27.Rxf6+- ) 23.Qh6+ Ke7 24.Rg7,
4 4 transposing to the text ]
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
Kxg7
[ Quite suspicious is 17...exd5 18.Rg3
19...Bxd5 20.Qh6+ Ke7 21.exd5 D) 27...Qb7 28.Re1 b5

a b c d e f g h
( 28...Qc6 29.Qg7 ) 29.axb5 axb5
30.c5 Bc7 31.Qh3+ Kd8 32.Rde3!
8 8
Qd5 33.Qg4! (resuming the Re3-
7 7 e7 threat) 33... Ra2 34.Re7 dxc5
35.Qg7 Qxg2+ 36.Qxg2 Rxg2+
6 6
37.Kxg2+- c4 38.Rd1+ Kc8
5 5 39.Rd5 ]
4 4 [ 21...b5 involves a picturesque
geometric defensive manoeuvre -
3 3
22.dxe6 Qb6+ 23.Kh1 Qd4 24.Rd1
2 2 Qf6 , but the precise 25.Qh3!
must decide the game, e.g. 25...
1 1
Nc5 26.exf7 Rh8 27.Re1+ ]
a b c d e f g h
22.Rg7 Nf6 23.Rf1?
e5 [ An unexpected slip from a great
[ Another option was 21...Nc5 - after tactician like Smirin. Further opening
22.dxe6 ( 22.Rg7 Rf8 23.Re1 ) of the position was necessary and
22...Nxe6 23.f5 Nc5 24.Qxh7 Rf8 the insertion of 23.fxe5 dxe5 was
25.f6+ ( 25.b4 Nxd3 26.Rxd3 Kd7 called for. After 24.Rf1 Qd6 he had
27.f6 is a possible transposition ) to calculate 25.Rxf7+!! Kxf7
25...Kd7 26.b4 Nxd3 27.Rxd3 26.Qxh7+ Kf8 27.Bg6! and now:
Black is considerably lacking space: Black must insert
The same is with A) 27...Ra7 has saved Black in
A) 27...Kc8 28.Qg7 Re8 29.Qxf7 Jacobsen - Csom, but here it
Re5 30.Rad1 Qc7 31.Qg7 Qxg7
gives a choice between two
32.fxg7 Re8 33.Rxd6 Bc7 34.Rf6
beautiful mates - 28.Qh8+ Ke7
Rg8 35.Rf8+ Kb7 36.Rf7
29.Qxe8+ ( 29.Qg7# ) 29...Nxe8
and after 37.Rdd7 Black will be
30.Rf7#;
completely paralysed.;
B) White is dominating in case of B) 27...Qc5+ 28.Kh1 Ra7, but
27...Ra7 28.Qf5+ Kc7 29.Rxd6 White is winning easily after
Kb7 30.Qd5+ Kc8 31.Re1; 29.Qh8+ Ke7 30.Qxf6+ Kd7
C) The assessment does not 31.Bxe8+ ( a prosaic way to the
change after 27...Kc6 28.Qe4+ win is 31.Qf5+ Kc7 32.Bxe8 )
Kc7 29.Qd5 ( 29.Rad1 Bxf6 31...Kxe8 32.Qg6+ Kd7 33.Rf7+
30.Rxd6 Qe8 31.Rd7+ Qxd7 Be7 34.Qe6+ Kd8 ( 34...Ke8
32.Qf4+ Kc8 33.Rxd7 Kxd7 35.Rg7 ) 35.d6+- ]
34.Qxf6 ) 29...Kc8 30.Qc6+ Bc7
31.Re1!;
23...e4! 24.Re1 [ 28...Nxe8 29.Rxf7 Qd4! would have

created sufficient counterplay. ]
a b c d e f g h
29.Rxf7 Qxf7 30.Bxf7+ Kxf7 31.g4!
8 8 Re8 32.h3!+- A quiet preparation for the
7 7
deadly advance of the g-pawn. 32...
Re1+ 33.Kg2 Bd2 34.g5 Re2+ 35.Kf1
6 6 Re1+ 36.Kf2 Ne4+ 37.Kf3 bxc4
5 5
38.Qxh7+ Kf8 39.Qh6+ Ke7 40.bxc4
Bc3 41.Qe6+ Kf8 42.Qxe4!
4 4 The simplest solution - the pawns are
3 3
unstoppable. 42... Rxe4 43.Kxe4 Kf7
44.Kf5 Be1 45.Kg4 Kg6 46.h4 Bc3
2 2 47.h5+ Kf7 48.f5 Kg7 49.f6+
1 1 1-0
a b c d e f g h
Qa7! Black catches his chance - it is

amazing how often a heavy piece of his Begnis,Nikolaos 2315
is defending the vulnerable f7-square Kesseler,Heiko
from the edge of the board! Oberliga NRW 9495 I (8.5) 1995
[ Premature was 24...b5? because of
25.Rxe4+!+- Kd7 26.Rxf7+ Re7
27.Qxf6 ] a b c d e f g h
25.Bxe4 b5+ 26.Kf1 Ba5! 27.Bg6+
8 8
Kd8 28.Rxe8+
a b c d e f g h 7 7
8 8 6 6
7 7 5 5
6 6 4 4
5 5 3 3
4 4 2 2
3 3 1 1
a b c d e f g h
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h Here is a good example for delving

deeper into the attacking resources,
offered by the examined set-up. After
Kxe8? Returning the favour. the well-familiar sequence 16...Nd7
17.Nd5 Bd8 queen move spells a big danger for

a b c d e f g h
Black:
[ Black is in a need for a good advice
8 8
after 18.Qh5! and now:
7 7 A) 18...g6?! 19.Qh6 f6 20.f5! Ne5
( 20...gxf5 21.Rf3!+- ) 21.fxg6+-;
6 6
B) 18...f6 19.Qh3! ( 19.Re3!?;
5 5 19.Rf3 Rf7 20.Rg3 Nf8 21.Ne3
is leading to the line in the notes to
4 4
18.Rf3 f6 ) and it is not clear how
3 3 Black can defend his pawn, for the
most natural 19...Re8?! loses to
2 2
20.e5! f5 21.exd6+- ]
1 1 [ After the impatient 18.f5!? exd5
a b c d e f g h 19.exd5 Black is walking on a tiny
rope:
A) 19...Qc7? 20.f6 Bxf6
White is at an important crossroad. ( 20...Nxf6? is losing in an
Compared with Smirin - Sakaev, the instructive manner after 21.Qd3! g6
only difference in Black's camp is the 22.Qc3! ) 21.Rxf6 Rae8 ( 21...Nxf6
placement of his light-squared bishop 22.Bxf6+- g6 23.Qe3! ) 22.Rxf7
and the queen. With the latter on c6, it Rxe2 23.Rxg7+ Kh8 24.Rxh7+
is worth to mention that Black cannot Kg8 25.Rg7+ Kh8 26.Rxd7+ Rxb2
touch the knight even if it has to move! 27.Rxc7+-;
For example, let us take a neutral move B) 19...Qc8 20.f6 Bxf6 21.Qd3
like 18.Rd1 e:d5? 19.e:d5 Qc7 and here ( 21.Rxf6? Nxf6 22.Bxf6 Re8!;
comes the standard 20.B: h7! K:h7 21. in case of 21.Bxf6 Nxf6 22.Rxf6
Qh5 Kg8 22.B:g7 K:g7 23.Rd3! Re8 24. Re8 23.Bxh7+ Kxh7 24.Qh5+ Kg8
Rg3 Kf8 25.Qh6 Ke7 26.Re3!! Ne5 27. 25.Qxf7+ Kh8 26.Ref1 gxf6
f:e5 d:e5 28.R:f7! K:f7 29.Qh7 Kf6 30. 27.Qxf6+ Kg8 28.Qg5+ Kh8
Rf3 Kg5 31.Rf5 Kg4 32.Qh3# This is why 29.Qh4+ Kg8 30.Rf3 Qd7
the rook had to be kept on f1! White, in 31.Rg3+ Qg7 32.Rxg7+ Kxg7
his turn, has brought his second rook Black still has to fight for a draw but
into play, although it is questionable in a better version of the
how effective its location on e1 is. We aforementioned Bernal Moro -
are going to see lines, in which it returns Chkhaidze ) 21...g6
(including in the game) to d1, eyeing at B1) 22.Rxf6!? Nxf6 23.Bxf6
the vulnerable d6-pawn. Also, it often Re8 24.Rg1 ( 24.Rf1 Qg4 )
goes to f1 after the other rook's usual lift 24...Qc5! ( risky is 24...Qg4?!
to the 3rd rank. The latter was exactly 25.Qd2 Qh5 26.Qf4 ) 25.Bd4
the game continuation. 18.Rf3 Qc7 and White must reconcile
From the alternatives nearly every himself with the draw - 26.Bf6
( 26.Qd2 f5 27.Bxf5 gxf5 19.Rh3 Apart from the text White has at
28.Qg5+ Kf8 29.Qh6+ Kg8= ) least another two tempting options:
26...Qc5=; [ 19.f5
B2) 22.Bxf6 Nxf6 23.Rxf6 Qc7 A) 19...exd5? 20.exd5 Qc7
24.Qg3 Rae8 25.Ref1 Re5 21.fxg6 puts Black on the verge of
with every chance to hold the losing:
position after repelling the first A1) 21...hxg6 22.Bxg6 Ne5
wave of the attack. ] 23.Bh7+! Kxh7 24.Rh3+ Kg6
[ Playable, but not the most testing is 25.Qh5+ Kf6 26.Qh4+
18.Qd3!? g6 ( 18...Re8?! 19.Nb4 ( 26.Bxe5+ dxe5 27.Qh4+ )
Qc5 20.e5 reveals the main idea ) 26...Kg6 27.Qh6+ Kf5 28.Rh5+
19.Qh3 ( 19.Qc3 f6 20.Nb4 Qc8 Kg4 29.Re4#;
21.f5 Ne5 ) 19...exd5 20.cxd5 Qc8 A2) 21...Ne5 22.g7! Kxg7
21.Rc1 Nc5 22.Qh6 f6 23.b4 Qd7 23.Rg3+
24.bxc5 bxc5 25.f5 Qg7 26.Qf4 A2a) 23...Kh8 24.Bxh7!+- f6
Be7 ] ( 24...f5 25.Bg6 Kg7 26.Qh5 )
[ Much more challenging is 18.Qg4 g6 25.Bf5;
19.f5! ( 19.Qh3 exd5 20.cxd5 Qc8 A2b) 23...Kf6 24.Re3
21.Rc1 Nc5 22.Qh6 f6 23.b4 Qd7 ( 24.Ba3!? Re8 25.Rf1+ )
24.bxc5 bxc5 25.f5 Qg7 26.Qf4 24...Ke7 ( 24...Re8 25.Qh5 )
Be7 ) 19...Ne5 20.Bxe5 dxe5 21.fxg6 25.Rxe5+ dxe5 26.Bxe5;
hxg6 22.Nf6+ Bxf6 23.Rxf6 Qc5 B) 19...Ne5 20.fxe6 fxe6 21.Rxf8+
24.Ref1 Rad8 25.Qf3! ( 25.h4?! Kxf8 22.Qf2+ Kg8 23.Rf1 Qe8
Qe3 ) 25...Qe7 26.h4 Kg7 27.h5 24.Nxb6 The point of the combined
Bc6 28.Qg3 Rd1 29.Rxg6+ fxg6 attack - 24... Rb8 allows a small
30.Rxd1 ] combination - 25.Bxe5! dxe5
18...g6 Black decided to take measures 26.Nd7! Rc8 27.Nf6+ Bxf6
against 19.Rh3, followed by Qh5, at the 28.Qxf6 , winning a second pawn.;
same time preventing the bishop C) 19...Re8 can be met by the
sacrifice from Smirin - Sakaev. However, remarkable 20.Qd2!! exd5
the move seems to have more ( 20...Ne5 21.Qh6 ) 21.exd5 Rxe1+
drawbacks than pluses. From now on we 22.Qxe1 Qc7 23.fxg6 hxg6
are going to see many variations, in 24.Rxf7! Kxf7 25.Qe6+ Kf8
which White's queen is finding a path to and here comes the deserved
h6 and respectively to the enemy king. magnificient mating finish with the
[ Therefore 18...f6 deserves attention, help of 26.Bg7+!! Kxg7 27.Qxg6+
preparing a defensive set-up like Kf8 28.Qh6+ Kf7 29.Bg6+ Kf6
19.Rg3 Rf7 20.Qh5 Nf8 30.Bh7+ Ke5 ( 30...Kf7 31.Qg6+ )
- White still has the initiative, but the 31.Qe3+ Kf6 32.Qe6+ Kg7
big diagonal is covered and he has to 33.Qg6+ Kf8 34.Qg8+ Ke7
come up with new ideas like 21.Ne3 35.Qg7+ Ke8 36.Bg6# ]
f5. ] [ 19.Rg3 e5 ( 19...Re8?! 20.Qh5 f6
21.Rxg6+ hxg6 22.Qxg6+ Kf8 the desperate and equally hopeless

23.e5!!+-; 19...exd5? 20.exd5 Qc5 30... Qxf6 31.Rxf6 Ng4 32.Qf4
21.Bxg6! hxg6 22.Rxg6+ fxg6 Nxf6 33.Qxf6+- Exciting tactics, but
23.Qe6+ Kh7 24.Qxd7+ ) 20.Qd2 take a note that White, while
( it is fully possible to continue in the exploiting the weakened f6-square,
spirit of Ivanovic - Ermenkov, e. g. has been simultaneously using the
20.f5 Qc5 21.Rf1 Bxd5 22.exd5 hanging ''hedgehog'' pawn on b6!
Bf6 23.fxg6 fxg6 24.Bxg6 hxg6 As seen from his next moves, he
25.Qg4! Rf7 26.Qxg6+ Rg7 27.Qf5! can concentrate his fire on the d6-
and White is winning the piece back pawn as well. Remember, the king
with a continuing attack, because of is not the only target in this type
27.... Rxg3 28.hxg3 Qc7 is refuted of position! ]
by 29.Qg6+ Kf8 30.Bc1! Ke7 19...Re8 20.Ne3 Quite a normal move,
31.Qh7+ Kd8 32.Qg8+ Ke7 although White had some well-hidden
33.Qxa8+- ) 20...exf4 21.Qxf4 Ne5 tactical subtleties at his disposal:
22.Bd4! b5 23.Bb6! Qe8 24.Bxd8 [ 20.Qf2!? is an attractive idea with the
Qxd8 25.Nf6+ Kg7 26.Rf1! bxc4 beautiful point that 20.... exd5?
White has achieved a great attacking ( 20...Qc5?! 21.Bd4 Qa5 22.b4 Qa4
position and there are more than one is nicely refuted by the unexpected
ways to the victory: In order to be in deflection 23.Nc7!!+- Bxc7
the footsteps of Mikhail Tal (this 24.Rxh7! e5 25.Qh4; 20...e5 21.Qd2
queen sacrifice will remind us of the f5 ) loses by force after 21.exd5
flourishing finish by Magnus Carlsen Rxe1+ 22.Qxe1 Qc7 23.Bxg6!! Nf6
in the last World championship match) 24.Bxh7+! Kf8 25.Bf5+- Ng8
White has to continue with much more 26.Rh8 ]
trivial is [ Having in mind this line, White can
A) 27.Qh6+!! Kxh6 28.Rh3+ Kg5 also continue with 20.Qd2!
29.Nxh7+ Kg4 30.Bc2!! Bxe4 with an idea for 20.. .. f6 21.f5!! ]
31.Bd1+ Bf3 32.Rfxf3!! Nxf3 20...f5?!
33.Rxf3 A remarkable position - in [ Another attempt at activity 20...b5
spite of his colossal material 21.Ng4 h5?! is running into the
advantage, Black is unable to react brilliant 22.Rxh5!! gxh5 23.Nh6+ Kf8
to the coming discovered check 24.Qxh5 Re7 25.Bg7+!! Ke8
with a mate to follow - 33... Qg5 26.Ng4!!+- A quiet move with
( 33...Re8 34.Rf1+ Kh4 35.Rf4# tremendous effect - Black can avoid
illustrates White's main threat ) the threatened mate in 2 only at the
34.Rf1+ Kh4 35.g3+ Qxg3 cost of heavy material losses. ]
36.hxg3+ Kxg3 37.Rf3+ Kg4 [ A better try is 20...Bf6 21.Ng4 Bxb2
38.Kg2! with an additional mate 22.Qxb2 e5 , but after 23.Nh6+ Kg7
from h1.; 24.Qf2 the queen is rapidly aiming at
B) 27.Nh5+ Kh8 28.Qh6 Rg8 the kingside with lasting pressure, as
29.Nf6 Rg7 30.Rh3 , which forces shown by 24... Qc7 ( Black is in
trouble after 24...Bc8 25.f5 Nf6 Re6? A blunder, which is surprisingly

26.Rf1 Rf8 27.Qh4 Qe8 28.g4; left unpunished. Black could have
24...Qc5 25.Qh4 exf4 26.Qxf4 Nf6 tried to complicate the situation by
27.Rf1 Qe5 28.Qh4 Re6 29.Nxf7!; means of
24...f6 25.Qh4 Rh8 26.f5 Qc8 [ 25...b5 26.Bxf5 bxc4 ]
27.Rg3 Nf8 28.Ng4 Qd8 29.Qh6+ 26.Rg3?
Kg8 30.Rf1; suicidal is 24...f5? [ 26.Bxf5+- ]
25.Qh4 Nf6 26.Qg5 ) 25.Qh4 Nf8 26...Rde8 27.Qc3
26.f5 Qe7 27.Qg3 Bc8 28.Rf1 f6
29.Ng4 Rd8 30.Rh6 Kh8 31.Qh4 g5
a b c d e f g h
32.Qh5 Nd7 33.Rd1 and, with the loss
of the d-pawn Black's position, will soon 8 8
collapse. ]
7 7
21.Qd2 Considering his previous and
next moves, White had most probably 6 6
the intention to exert pressure against
5 5
the d6-pawn. A logical idea in the view
of the expected exchange of the dark- 4 4
squared bishops.
3 3
[ However, White had a cunning way to
use the big diagonal - 21.exf5 exf5 2 2
22.Bxf5! would have been the direct 1 1
refutation, as 22.... gxf5 ( 22...Nf6
a b c d e f g h
23.Rg3 Kf8 24.Qd3! gxf5 25.Bxf6!Bxf6
26.Qxf5 d5 27.Qxh7 Qe6
28.Qh6+ Kf7 29.f5! Qxf5 30.Rf1 Qe5 Qc5?
31.Rg7+ Ke6 32.Ng4 ) fails to 23.Rg3 [ 27...Rf8 should have been played
+ Kf8 24.Qh5 Re7 25.Bg7+!!Rxg7 already on the previous move, while
26.Rxg7 ]
here it was the only way to stay in
21...Bf6 22.Rd1 Rad8 23.exf5 exf5 the game - 28.Re1 Rxe1+ 29.Qxe1
24.Nd5 Bxb2 25.Qxb2
Qc5 30.Ne7+ Kf7 31.Re3 Re8
a b c d e f g h
32.Nxf5 Rxe3 33.Nxe3 Qd4 and, in
8 8
spite of the missing pawn, Black can
7 7 rely on a compensation due to his
6 6 active pieces. ]
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
28.Bxf5 Bxd5 Qb1+?

a b c d e f g h
[ 34...d5 , getting rid of the main
weakness, would be even more
8 8 promising here. ]
7 7 [ 34...Qf6 (c5) 35.Rd3 Qxd4 36.Rxd4
would not save that pawn, but Black
6 6
must be fine after 36... d5 37.cxd5
5 5 Kf8 ]
35.Kh2 Qf5 36.Re7!?
4 4
[ 36.Qxd6 ]
3 3 36...Nc5?
[ It was not late to switch to the correct
2 2
36...Qc5! , but it is not easy to take
1 1 one's move back, except his name is
a b c d e f g h Carlsen. ]
37.Ra7! Ne6?! 38.Ra8+ Nf8 39.Qxd6
Be6
29.Bxe6+??
[ Just like 3 moves ago, White missed
a b c d e f g h
a simple win - 29.cxd5+- Re2
30.Be6+ Perhaps both players had 8 8
already entered the time-trouble, 7 7
because more turnovers were
ahead. ] 6 6
29...Bxe6 30.Re1 Bf7 31.Rxe8+ Bxe8 5 5
32.Re3 Bf7 33.h3 Qf5
[ 33...d5 34.Rd3 Qf2 ] 4 4
34.Qd4 3 3
a b c d e f g h 2 2
8 8 1 1
a b c d e f g h
7 7
6 6
40.g4?? A highly impractical decision for
5 5
passing the time-control, throwing away
4 4 his last chance to seal the victory.
[ 40.Rxf8+ Qxf8 41.Qxe6+
3 3
looked like the simplest solution,
2 2 achieving a technically winning
endgame with two extra pawns. ]
1 1
a b c d e f g h
40...Qc2+ 41.Kg3 Qc3+ 42.Kh4 g5+! After examining several crushing

43.fxg5 attacks, it is time to follow how effective
[ 43.Kxg5?? h6+ 44.Kh4 Qe1+ a long-term pressure can be. 20.Ncd5!
45.Kh5 Bf7+ ] exd5 21.exd5 Bb7 22.Nf5 Bf8
43...Qe1+ 23.Qg5
a b c d e f g h
a b c d e f g h
8 8
8 8
7 7
7 7
6 6
6 6
5 5
5 5
4 4
4 4
3 3
3 3
2 2
2 2
1 1
1 1
g6
44.Qg3 [ Perhaps Black should have put his
[ 44.Qg3 Qd2!= with a probable hopes on 23...Re8 24.Nh6+ Kh8
repetition after 45.Qe5 Qf2+ 46.Qg3 25.Nxf7+ Kg8 26.Nh6+ Kh8
Qd2 ] , although a line like 27.Ng4! Nxg4
1/2 28.fxg4 Ne5 29.Bxh7! Kxh7
30.Qh5+ Kg8 31.Bxe5 dxe5 32.g5
Haensel,Thomas 2263 illustrates the danger in front of him. ]
Wolter,Kai 2295 24.Bxf6 Nxf6 25.Qxf6 gxf5 26.Qxf5
GER-ch 73th Altenkirchen (9) 08.12.01 Bg7 27.Qxh7+ Kf8 28.f4 Qc7 29.f5!
a b c d e f g h
a b c d e f g h 8 8
8 8
7 7
7 7
6 6
6 6
5 5
5 5
4 4
4 4
3 3
3 3
2 2
2 2
1 1
1 1 a b c d e f g h
a b c d e f g h f6
[ Here too, 29...Bf6 looks like a better a sample line 44.... Rb8 ( 44...Bh6
alternative, even though White is still 45.Bf5 Rb8 46.Re6 ) 45.c5 dxc5
dominating after 30.g4! Qc5 31.Rde1 46.d6 Bf8 47.Bc4+ Kh8 48.Re6 Kg7
Re8 32.Be4! Ke7 After preventing 49.g5 fxg5 50.d7 Rd8 51.h6+ Kh8
any counterplay White can continue 52.Re8 Rxd7 53.Rxf8+ Kh7 54.Rf6
his assault - 33.Bg2+ Be5 34.f6+ Rd4 55.Bxa6 c4 56.Bc8 ]
Kd8 35.Qxf7 Rc7 36.Qh5! 39.fxe6 Qe7 40.Bg6!+- Rxc4 41.Bf7
and the rolling pawns must decide, e.g. Qxf7 42.exf7 Kxf7 43.Qh5+ Kg8
36... Rf8 37.f7 Bc8 38.g5 Qd4 44.Re8+
39.g6 Re7 ( 39...Rd7 40.Rxe5! ) 1-0
40.Qh6 Bg7 41.Qg5+- ]
30.Rde1! Qf7 31.Re6 Qg8 32.Qg6
Qf7 33.Qg3 Qc7 34.Rfe1 Re8
35.Qg6! Qf7 36.Qh7! Black can hardly
take a breath. The end is near. 36... b5
37.h4! bxc4 38.bxc4
a b c d e f g h
8 8
7 7
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
Rxe6 Allows the opponent to crown his

excellent strategical play in style.
[ A bit better, but also insufficient is
38...Rcd8 39.h5 Bc8 40.g4 Bxe6
( 40...Bd7 41.h6 Qg8 42.Qxg8+
Kxg8 43.Rxe8+ Rxe8 44.Rxe8+
Bxe8 45.hxg7 Kxg7 46.Kg2+- )
41.fxe6 Qg8 42.e7+ Rxe7 43.Qxg8+
Kxg8 44.Rxe7 and White must
convert his two extra pawns - here is
Test 1 It is time to break through! 21.Bxg7!+-

Kxg7 22.Qh6+ Kh8 23.Be4 f5?!This
a b c d e f g h loses by force and effortlessly for White.
[ Black would better bet on 23...Nf8
8 8
, even thogh it is instructively losing to
7 7 24.Nf6! Nbd7 25.Nh5! ]
6 6
24.gxf6
[ or 24.g6 Nf8 25.g7+ Kg8
5 5 26.Bxf5+- ]
4 4
24...Nxf6 25.Nxf6 Rg8+ 26.Kh1 Rg7
27.Nxh7
3 3 [ 27.Bxh7 Bxf6 28.Bf5+ Kg8
2 2
29.Be6+ Kf8 30.Rg1! ]
27...Kg8 28.Rg1 Bf8 29.Nf6+ Kf7
1 1 30.Bg6+
a b c d e f g h
White had correctly executed our Test 3

thematic knight sacrifice and should find
a way to complete the attack. 30.Re7! a b c d e f g h
Rxe7 31.Rxe7 Bxe7 32.Be4 8 8

The point - the mate in 2 is
7 7
unpreventable!
6 6
5 5
Test 2
4 4
a b c d e f g h
3 3
8 8
2 2
7 7
1 1
6 6
a b c d e f g h
5 5
Black has just played 17...Bxd5. Now,
4 4
the simple 18. cxd5 was good enough,
3 3 but can you find a stronger reply?
18.fxg6! fxg6
2 2
[ 18...hxg6 19.exd5 Ne5 20.Bxe5
1 1 dxe5 21.Bxg6 is equally hopeless. ]
a b c d e f g h 19.exd5 Nf6 20.Qxe6+ Kg7 21.g4!
White is winning.
Test 4 Test 5
8 8 8 8
7 7 7 7
6 6 6 6
5 5 5 5
4 4 4 4
3 3 3 3
2 2 2 2
1 1 1 1
Black's last move 16...Nf8 contains a Black's last move 21...Nc5 was rather
big oversight. Reveal it! 17.Nd5! careless. How could White take
is hard to meet. After 17.... Bxd5 advantage of it? 22.Nd5! Nxd5 23.Nf5!
[ disastrous is 17...exd5 18.Nf5 Ng6 By far not the only way to advantage,
19.Nxe7+ ] but the most vigorous one.
18.exd5 Black resigned and perhaps his [ White is much better after both
decision was slightly premature. 23.Nxe6 Nxe6 24.exd5 ]
Objectively, White is winning after e5 [ and 23.exd5 Bf6 24.dxe6 fxe6
19.Nf5 Ng6 20.Nxe7+ Nxe7 21.f4! 25.b4 ]
exf4 22.Bxh7+! Kxh7 23.Qh4+ Kg8 23...g6 24.Nh6+ Kf8 25.exd5
24.Rxe7 Re8 25.Qg5! would have led to a ferocious attack for
free, as shown by e5 26.f4!
White's attack will decide the game.
Endgame Series - Part 15 Aronian,L 2780

Caruana,F 2805
3rd Norway Chess 2015 (5.5) 21.06.2015
a b c d e f g h
8 8
7 7
6 6
5 5
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
Hello, Dear Chess Friends, a b c d e f g h
In the last issue of Endgame series Endgames with queen and knight pair
we explained the importance of limiting are often tricky. Here white has some
the mobility of your opponent's threats against the black king (Qxf7 and
pieces in endgames. In this issue, we will Ng5+), so black has to play carefully.
look at the flip-side of this topic; namely, But wait, doesn't he have a tactic to win
the instances when conceding mobility to a pawn? 39...Qxg3+? It would be
your opponent plays a decisive role in interesting to know if Caruana was
the game. The examples you will see under time pressure when he made this
often contain a "human" element; in seemingly "best" move, because a
other words, one or both of the players player of his class would have probably
will make a mistake in the assessment realized after some deliberation that it
of the activity of opponent's actually leads to a very difficult pawn-up
piece(s). You will realize that this is a (!) endgame.
moot point even for strong players as [ Instead, the right continuation was
virtually all games I am about to show 39...Qg6 and if 40.Ng5+ Kg8
are from grandmaster practice. 41.Qd8+ ( The trade of queens
Without any further ado, let us look at 41.Qxg6+ fxg6 is good for black, not
the first example in which top GM white, as b3 pawn falls. ) 41...Kg7
Caruana made a serious mistake by 42.Qxd5 and now probably the
taking a "poisoned" pawn in the simplest way to draw the game is
endgame, allowing his opponent Nxb3 43.Qxb3 Qxg5 44.Qxb6
Aronian to activate his king with a Qd5+= with a perpetual check. White
decisive effect. queen is too far away from its king. ]
40.Kxg3 Ne4+ 41.Kf4 Nxf6 42.Ke5 43...Kg5

a b c d e f g h
[ Again, 43...Ng4+ leads him nowhere
after 44.Kxd5 Nxe3+ 45.Kc6 f5
8 8
46.Kxb6+- etc. White picks up the a-
7 7 pawn as well and eventually gives up
his knight for black's passed pawn.
6 6
After that, the two connected pawns
5 5 on the queenside, supported by the
king, will find their way to the eight
4 4
rank. ]
3 3 44.Kd6 Ng4 45.Nc2!
[ 45.Kxd5?! which worked a move ago,
2 2
would now allow black to use the extra
1 1 tempo to secure a draw: Nxe3+
a b c d e f g h
46.Kc6 and now it's essential to
centralize the king: Kf4! 47.Kxb6
Despite being a pawn down, white is
Ke4= when draw should be near at
dominating because of his powerful
hand. ]
centralized king. Soon enough Caruana
will find out that taking the pawn on g3 a b c d e f g h
was a mistake because it allowed white
8 8
to obtain tremendous activity. Kg6
Centralizing the king is black's best bet. 7 7
[ If black instead plays 42...Ng4+ 6 6
then white can take the d-pawn first
43.Kxd5 Nxe3+ and then continue its 5 5
path towards undefended queenside 4 4
pawns: 44.Kc6 Nc2 45.Kxb6 Na1
46.Nd4 f5 47.Kxa5 f4 48.b4+- 3 3
with a completely winning position for 2 2

white. ]
43.Nd4! An excellent move by Aronian. 1 1
Before he invades the queenside via the a b c d e f g h

d6-c6 route, he makes sure black does
not get a chance to activate his king as Aronian is as precise as a Swiss watch.
well, by taking the f5 square under 45...Kf5 46.Kxd5 Nf6+ 47.Kc6 Ke4
control. 48.Kxb6 Thanks to his king's activity,
[ In that sense, it would be premature white went from pawn down to pawn up.
to play 43.Kd6 since black would go Black has two ways to fight for a draw
Kf5 44.Kc6 Ke4 and after 45.Ng5+ now, but neither of them is good enough.
Kxe3 46.Nxf7 d4 it is even white who Kd3
has to save his skin with 47.Ne5=
etc. ]
[ The other option is 48...Nd5+ a b c d e f g h

49.Kxa5 Nxe3 but white can actually 8 8
swap the knights: 50.Nxe3! Kxe3
51.Kb4! This is the point. White wins 7 7
by force by pushing the a-, rather than 6 6
the b-pawn. ( 51.b4 f5 52.b5 f4
53.b6 f3 54.b7 f2 55.b8Q f1Q 5 5
leads to an endgame where white can 4 4
not trade queens by force and the
resulting queens endgame is 3 3
theoretically drawn. ) 51...f5 52.a5 f4 2 2

53.a6 f3 54.a7 f2 55.a8Q f1Q
1 1
a b c d e f g h
a b c d e f g h
8 8
This beautiful move limits the
7 7
movement of black knight to such a
6 6 degree that he can not catch the a-
pawn while it is still on a4! 50...Ng4
5 5
51.a5 Ne5+ 52.Kc7 Nc4!? 53.a6!
4 4 Na3 54.Kc6+- ]
3 3
49...Kxe3 50.Kxa5 Kd2
[ 50...Nd5 51.b4 Kd4 does not help
2 2 either: 52.b5 Kc5 53.Nd3+ Kd6
1 1
54.Ka6+- and the pawns start
rolling... ]
a b c d e f g h
51.Nf3+ Kc3 52.b4 Nd5 53.b5 Kb3
and now white forces the queen trade This is Caruana's last defensive stance.
thanks to a nice geometry: 56.Qa7+! He attacks the less advanced of the two
Ke4 ( or 56...Kd2 57.Qd4+ Kc2 connected pawns, hoping to slow white
58.Qc4+ Qxc4+ 59.bxc4+- ) 57.Qb7+ down. Aronian found one of several
Ke3 ( 57...Ke5 58.Qb5+!+- ) 58.Qb6+ winning continuations: 54.Ne5
Ke4 59.Qe6+! Kd4 60.Qc4+ Qxc4+ [ 54.b6? Nxb6 55.Kxb6 Kxa4=
61.bxc4+- ] is black's idea. ]
49.Ne1+
[ White had an even more spectacular
(although more difficult to find) way to
win: 49.Nb4+!? axb4 50.Kc6!!
Diagram ( It would be mistaken to play
50.a5? due to Nd7+ 51.Kc6 Nb8+
52.Kb7 Nd7 53.Kc7 Nc5= )
54...f5 [ It would be wrong to go 59.Nc5+

a b c d e f g h Kb4=60.b7? due to Na5+ 61.Kc7
8 8
Nxb7=62.Kxb7 Kxc5 63.a5 f4 and
the pawn race would not have a=
7 7 winner. ]
6 6 59...Na5 60.Kb5 White completed the
triangulation against black knight,
5 5
which ran out of good squares, so
4 4 Caruana resigned in the view of the
3 3
inevitable a4-a5 etc.
1-0
2 2
1 1 In the second example, Dutch GM

a b c d e f g h Benjamin Bok had many opportunities to
55.Nd7! This was the point of Levon's= curb his opponent's king's activity in a
previous move. From here the knight= drawn endgame, but he repeatedly failed to
can support the march of the b-pawn= do so, until it was too late.
and also come back to stop black=
passed pawn in time. Ne3
[ The variation I had in mind in the= Giri,A 2791
previous comment is: 55...f4 56.b6!= Bok,B 2562
Nxb6 57.Nxb6 f3 58.Nd5 f2 ch-NED 2015 Amsterdam NED (4.3)
59.Ne3+- and white is just in time! ]
56.b6 Nc4+ 57.Kb5 Nd6+ 58.Kc6 a b c d e f g h
Nc4 Aronian seals his perfect play in= 8 8
this endgame with the last accurate=
move: 59.Kc5! 7 7
a b c d e f g h
6 6
8 8
5 5
7 7
4 4
6 6
3 3
5 5
2 2
4 4
1 1
3 3
a b c d e f g h
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
After an extremely sharp and exciting a b c d e f g h

middlegame, players have reached this
8 8
imbalanced, though objectively equal,
position with little material. Black 7 7
should be able to hold off white pawns
6 6
with precise play. The first issue he has
to solve is which of the heavy pieces is 5 5
better to trade. Bok offers a queen 4 4
trade: 53...Qf7?! which is a less
favorable trade for him. 3 3
[ It was better to offer a trade of rooks:= 2 2

53...Rc6 54.Rxc6 ( In case of 1 1
54.Qg5+he can just repeat the=
a b c d e f g h
position with Rg6= ; while if white=
declines the trade with 54.R a4
Black obtains good counterplay by= black has Bh6+ 61.Ke4 Rb4+
activating his rook: Rc2 ) 54...Qxc6= 62.Kd5 Rb5+ 63.Ke6 Rb6+ 64.Kd7
and now he can force the blockade
since in the queens endgame there=
with Bg7! 65.e6 ( 65.f6 is drawn by
are big chances to hold a perpetual=
the same piece sacrifice: Bxf6
check when white starts pushing his=
66.exf6 Rxf6 67.Rc5 Rg6= ) 65...Rb8
pawns forward. ] 66.Rc8+ Rxc8 67.Kxc8 Bf6 68.Kd7
54.Qxf7+ Kxf7 55.f4 Re6?! Kf8= ]
Another small inaccuracy. 56.h5 Be7 57.Rc7
[ Black could have fixed white's
pawns=with 55...h5! while at the a b c d e f g h
same time=denying white king the 8 8
pass via g4
7 7
(that he used in the game). After
56.Rc7+ Kg8 57.f5 Rb6 white can= 6 6
continue either 58.Kg2 ( or 58. e6
5 5
when black can force a drawn pawn-
down rook endgame with Rb2+ 4 4
59.Kh3 Rf2 60.e7 Bxe7 61.Rxe7 3 3
Rxf5= ) 58...Rb2+ 59.Kf3 Rb3+
and now if white king tries to 2 2
penetrate=via g5: 60.Kf4 1 1
a b c d e f g h
h6? This move is already a serious [ It was essential to activate the rook
mistake that gives white a good chance with 59...Ra3 making contact with the
to play for the full point. g3 pawn, which prevents white from
[ The right move was 57...Rh6! forcing advancing with his king. After 60.Rc6
58.g4 when white does not have the Kg7 61.Rg6+ Kh7 62.Kf5 Ra7
h3-g4-f5 route for his king any more. black still has a fighting chance. ]
Black can simply return Ra6 60.Kf5 Ra6 61.g4 Kf8
White can try with 59.f5 Ra2+ [ Now activity with 61...Ra1
60.Kg3 Diagram comes too late due to 62.e6+ Kf8
a b c d e f g h
63.g5 hxg5 64.h6! The key. Rc8+ is
the threat. Ba3 is forced, when
8 8 65.fxg5 Rf1+ 66.Kg6+- is winning for
7 7 white, similar to the game. ]
62.g5+-
6 6
a b c d e f g h
5 5
8 8
4 4
7 7
3 3
6 6
2 2
5 5
1 1
4 4
a b c d e f g h
3 3
but the problem is that he can not hide
2 2
well from the side-checks: Ra3+
61.Kf4 Ra4+ 62.Kf3 Ra3+ 63.Ke2 1 1
Ra2+ 64.Kd3 Ra3+ 65.Kc4 Ra4+ a b c d e f g h
66.Kd5 Ra5+ 67.Kc4 Ra4+ 68.Kb5
Rb4+ 69.Ka5 and now when white
king is far away, black can simply go White is winning now as black can not
Re4! 70.e6+ Kf6 when 71.g5+ Kxg5 give up his bishop for two pawns, as he
72.Rxe7 Kxf5= is drawn. ] did in some of the above lines. hxg5
58.Kh3 Ra6 59.Kg4 Rb6? [ If he stays put and plays, for
Such passivity is a sign that black example: 62...Ba3 white can just
believes that he has some kind of continue pushing: 63.g6 Kg8 64.e6
fortress, which is an assessment that Ra5+ 65.Kg4 Ra8 66.f5 and this is
Giri refutes very easily over the next few obviously beyond saving. Bb2
moves. Perhaps black was in time 67.Rf7+- ]
pressure for some time as it is difficult to 63.fxg5 Bd8 64.Rc8 Ke7 65.h6 Ra1
explain why he made several big 66.h7 Rh1 67.Kg6
mistakes in a row. 1-0
[ Instead 39...a5! 40.Bh5+ Kf6=

Kuljasevic,Davorin 2561 lead to a simple draw as white can not
Jakovljevic,Vlado 2404 break through with his king. ]
19th Zadar Open A (2.10) 17.12.2012 40.a5 Kf6? Jakovljevic loses the thread
in time trouble. Conceding the square h5
can be considered as an "unforced
I have often experienced this issue in my
error" that increases white's winning
own games. For example, in the
chances. The position is still objectively
following game my opponent IM
drawn, but black has to be far more
Jakovljevic did not take measures
careful and precise from now on.
against my attempts to activate pieces.
[ It was better to continue 40...Ba6
As I slowly but surely improved the
41.axb6 axb6 42.Na4 Nc8 43.Bh5+
scope of my pieces, black was suddenly
Kf6= when black would still control the
unable to save an otherwise simply
pass on the kingside. On the other
drawn endgame. Diagram
hand, white would have a possibility
to transfer his king all the way to the
a b c d e f g h
queenside, followed by b3-b4 break,
8 8 but black should not have problems
7 7
defending against this plan either.
44.Be2 ( 44.Be8 Ke7= ) 44...Kg6
6 6 45.Kg3 ]
5 5
41.axb6 axb6 42.Na4 Nc8 43.Kh5
4 4
a b c d e f g h
3 3
8 8
2 2
7 7
1 1
6 6
a b c d e f g h
5 5
4 4
Despite black's passive pieces, white
can hardly make progress in this 3 3
blocked position. Since my opponent
2 2
was in a light time-trouble, I figured I
might have a small practical chance to 1 1
continue the fight. 39...Bb7?! a b c d e f g h
The position is still drawn, but this
waiting move made me a little happy as
it allowed me to push a4-a5 and create Compared to the initial position, white
a pawn weakness on b6, forcing black to made breakthroughs on queenside and
put his knight to a passive position. kingside alike, increasing the mobility of
his own and decreasing mobility of= a b c d e f g h

opponent's pieces. d6 44.Nc3 Na7
45.Kh6 8 8
a b c d e f g h 7 7
8 8 6 6
7 7 5 5
6 6 4 4
5 5 3 3
4 4 2 2
3 3 1 1
a b c d e f g h
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h 56.Kf8 d4 57.Ke8 dxe3 58.Nc3 Kh5

59.Kd7 Na7 60.c7 Kg4 61.Kd6 Kxf4
62.Kxc5 Ke5
The critical moment for black. Bc8? a b c d e f g h
After this passive move he can not save
8 8
the position anymore.
[ He absolutely had to look for an 7 7
activity of his own with 45...b5!
6 6
46.cxb5 Nc8 47.Be2 Nb6 48.Bc4
Ba8! when white's minor pieces are 5 5
tied to the defense of weak d5 pawn.
4 4
White still has the idea to penetrate
with his king via the 8th rank: 49.Kh7 3 3
Bb7 ( The tactical point is that black
2 2
can not hold the opposition with
49...Kf7?? due to the cunning 50.Na4! 1 1
Nxd5 51.Nb6+- ) 50.Kg8 and after the a b c d e f g h
forced Nd7 we reach a very
interesting position where it seems
that black can save his skin despite 63.b4 Ke6 64.b5 Kd7 65.b6 Nc8
white's passed b-pawn. A fantastic 66.Nd5 Nxb6 67.Kxb6 e2 68.Kb7
line is: 51.b6!? Kg6 52.Bb5 e1Q 69.c8Q+ Kd6= and black
( 52.Nb5 Nxb6 53.Nxd6 Bxd5+= ) survives somehow. ]
52...Nxb6 53.Bc6 Bxc6 54.dxc6 d5 46.Ne2!+- The knight has done its job on
55.Na4 Nc8 the queenside and now it moves to the
kingside where it is needed to dislodge
black king from f6. Bd7 48.Nh5+ Kf7 49.Kg5

[ Now 46...b5 comes one move too
a b c d e f g h
late 47.Ng3 bxc4 48.bxc4 Ba6
49.Be2 Nc8 50.Nh5+ Kf7 51.Ng7 8 8
Kf6 Diagram 7 7
a b c d e f g h
6 6
8 8
5 5
7 7
4 4
6 6
3 3
5 5
2 2
4 4
1 1
3 3 a b c d e f g h
2 2
White king got to the key square g5 with
1 1
the help of the minor pieces. White can
a b c d e f g h now attack and capture the f5 pawn, but
in the game another opportunity arose.
Ne7 50.Nf6 Bc8 51.Bh5+ Kf8 52.Ne8!
and the knight completes a fantastic
The principle of two weaknesses! Black
tour around the board with 52.Ne8+!
pieces could not coordinate to defend
Ke7 53.Nc7 (a4-c3-e2-g3-h5-g7-e8-
them both and now the d6 pawn is lost.
c7 was its route!) Bb7 54.Kg6+-
Bd7 53.Nxd6+- The rest is simple.
and white finally breaks through. ]
Black resigned on move 65.
47.Ng3 Nc8
1-0
[ If he tries to prevent Nh5 with
47...Be8 white has a nice maneuver
48.Bh5 Bd7 49.Bg6 with Nh5 coming I like the following two examples from the
nevertheless: b5 50.Nh5+ Ke7 relatively recent Wijk aan Zee
51.Kg7 bxc4 52.bxc4 Nc8 tournament. In the first one, we will see
and now white wins with 53.Nf6! Nb6 how important it is to prevent your
54.Nxd7 Kxd7 55.Bxf5+ Ke7 opponent's rook activity in the rook
56.Bxe4 Nxc4 when the f-pawn endgame, even when the position looks
decides the issue: 57.f5+- ] like it is winning "by hand".
Xiong,J 48.Ke3 ( 48.Kf1 Rg1+ 49.Kf2

Jones,G Rg2+= ) 48...Rg6! The crucial tempo.
Tata Steel 2017 B (9) 25.01.2017 White will put his rook behind the
a b c d e f g h pawn as he intended too, but black
8 8 will also be in a position to promote
his h-pawn: 49.Ra4 Kg3 50.a7 h2
7 7
51.a8Q h1Q 52.Qb8+ Kg2
6 6
5 5 a b c d e f g h
4 4 8 8
3 3 7 7
2 2
6 6
1 1
5 5
a b c d e f g h
4 4
White seems to be totally winning as he
has three passed pawns and black king 3 3
blocks his own. However, strange things
2 2
start happening after white's next move:
46.Rh4? A completely logical idea to put 1 1
the rook behind the a-pawn. However, a b c d e f g h
black has an unexpected resource at his
disposal.
[ White could and should have limited and in this strange position both kings
the mobility of black rook immediately are shielded by the e2-f3 pawn pair. I
with 46.a6 Ra7 ( or 46...Rg7 have no idea what white's winning
47.Rb8! Rg2+ 48.Ke3 Rg7 chances are, but black is definitely
Forced, as black is not in time to get still in the game. ]
his king out and push the h-pawn. 47.Ra4? Jeffery Xiong stubbornly
49.Rb7 Rg1 50.a7 Ra1 and now we continues with his plan,
return to f2 to keep the black king in [ but he again misses a chance to play
the corner: 51.Kf2!+- followed by f4, 47.a6 immediately tying black rook to
etc. ) 47.Rh6 Rg7 48.f4+- and white the a-file. Ra1 48.Rh6 White is
wins by just pushing his pawns. For winning even without the rook behind
example: Rg2+ 49.Kf3 Rg3+ 50.Ke4 his a-pawn since he has the other two
Kg2 51.f5 h2 52.Rxh2+ Kxh2 53.f6 passers in reserve.
Rg8 54.f7 Rf8 55.a7 etc. Black rook
is helpless. ]
46...Rb1? Black misses his first chance.
[ The right idea was to use the rook on
the g-file. 46...Rg7! 47.a6 Rg2+!
After Ra4 49.Rb6⊙ A) 48.f4 is another option, just

activating the king and pawns. After
a b c d e f g h the forced Rg2+ 49.Kf3 Rg3+
8 8
50.Ke4 Kg2 51.e3 h2 52.Ra2+
Kh3 53.Rxh2+ Kxh2 54.f5
7 7
a b c d e f g h
6 6
8 8
5 5
7 7
4 4
6 6
3 3
5 5
2 2
4 4
1 1
3 3
a b c d e f g h
2 2
puts black in zugzwang! Ra1 1 1

( 49...Kh1 50.Kg3+- ) 50.f4+- Ra4 a b c d e f g h
51.e3 Ra2+ 52.Kf3 etc. ]
47...Kh1? This is a cute attempt to set
Black miraculously saves the game:
up a stalemate, but it fails, as we will
Rg8 55.Kf4 Ra8 56.e4 Kh3!
see.
As we know from previous issues,
[ Again, black draws if he brings his
the rook can not fight passed
rook to the g-file: 47...Rg1!!
pawns alone, so his king has to
a b c d e f g h come to aid as soon as possible.
8 8 57.f6 Kh4 58.Kf5 Kh5 59.f7
( 59.e5 Kh6-+ ) 59...Kh6 60.Kf6
7 7 Ra6+ 61.Ke7 Ra7+ 62.Kf6 Ra6+=
6 6 with perpetual check.;
B) 48.a6 and only now Ra1!
5 5
49.Rd4 Rxa6 50.f4 Rg6!
4 4 That's the point. Compared to 47...
Ra1, now black has the option to
3 3
bring his rook to the g-file! Of
2 2 course, this is virtually impossible to
find over the board, but engines
1 1
point it out in a second. 51.f5 Rg2+
a b c d e f g h 52.Kf3 Rg1! It will become clear
why the rook is needed on the first
rank in just a second. 53.e4
a b c d e f g h
This was Jones' idea. If white takes the
rook, it is a stalemate. However, he is not
8 8
obliged to and 50.Ke3! avoids all the
7 7 tricks. White is winning. Kg2 51.Rg4+
Kh1 52.a8Q Rxf3+ 53.Qxf3#
6 6
1-0
5 5
4 4 In our final example, GM Eljanov

squeezes out a victory against GM
3 3
Adhiban in what might seem as a "dead-
2 2 drawn" endgame with very little to play
for. Adhiban unnecessarily conceded
1 1
activity to his opponent, which leads to a
a b c d e f g h difficult same-colored bishops endgame
that we will analyze in detail.
and now Rd1! 54.Ra4 Ra1!
White can not avoid the stalemate. Adhiban,B
A fantastic resource worth Eljanov,P
remembering! 55.Rc4 Rc1= ] Tata Steel 2017 (4) 18.01.2017
[ On the other hand, the attempt to set
up the stalemate immediately with a b c d e f g h
47...Ra1 48.Rb4 Rxa5 would be 8 8

insufficient due to 49.f4+- the subtle
7 7
point being that black can not bring
his rook to the g-file as g5 is under 6 6
attack! ]
5 5
48.a6 h2 49.a7 Rf1+
4 4
a b c d e f g h
3 3
8 8
2 2
7 7
1 1
6 6
a b c d e f g h
5 5
White decided to capture the somewhat
4 4
annoying h-pawn: 29.gxh4 but at the same
3 3 time, he allowed black to activate his queen
via the fifth rank.
2 2
[ It was safer to play 29.Kg2
1 1 when in case of c4 white would have
a b c d e f g h the centralizing move 30.Qd4=
controlling all the important dark 31...Qxa3

squares. ]
29...c4! A strong move that threatens a b c d e f g h
to get rid of the isolated c-pawn with c4-
8 8
c3, while also opening the fifth rank for
the queen. 30.Qe2? Adhiban's 7 7
response is far from ideal. 6 6
[ 30.Qd4?? would be great, only if
5 5
there wasn't for Qe1+-+ winning the
piece. ] 4 4
[ However, white had at least two 3 3
other reasonable ways to extinguish
black's light initiative. The first one 2 2
is 1 1
30.Qc1 Qh5 and now a b c d e f g h
A) White would be losing if he
takes the pawn: 31.Qxc4 Qg4+
32.Kh1 ( 32.Kf1 Bb5-+ ) 32...Bb5 and suddenly black has a trump in the
33.Qc8+ Kh7 34.e5+ g6 because form of outside passed pawn. White
his king would be too weak.; has to play carefully now. 32.Kg2 a5
B) 31.h3! is good enough, covering [ Of course, it would not make sense
the g4 square. Bb5 ( 31...Qxh4 to make the following trade
32.Qxc4= ) 32.a4 Bxa4 32...Qxc3?33.Qxa6= ]
33.Qxc4= and the game is very 33.Qc4 Qa4! An excellent
like to end peacefully. ] assessment. Black will have better
[ The second one is 30.Kg2 Qe5 chances without the queens on the
( 30...c3 31.bxc3 Qxa3 as in the board. 34.Qxa4
game does not have the same effect [ 34.Qd4 is hardly any better. After
here because white can go 32.Qd8+ Qxd4 35.cxd4 Ba4! (threatening Bb3
Kh7 33.Qc7 Qxc3 34.Qxf7 and a4-a3, etc.) 36.Ba2 Bd1! 37.Kf1
with sufficient counterplay. ) Bf3 white would have a similarly
31.Qe2= also with a likely drawn difficult task in the bishops
outcome. ] endgame. ]
30...c3! White should not have allowed 34...Bxa4 35.Ba2 This was forced due
black to gain such activity with this to the Bb3 threat. Bc2
pawn. 36.Kf3 Also forced.
31.bxc3
[ The pinning move 31.Qe1
loses to a nice tactic: c2!-+ ]
[ White does not have time to put 39...Kf8

his pawns on dark squares, 36.e5 a b c d e f g h
because of a4 37.Kf3 Bb3-+ ]
8 8
36...e5!
[ 36...Kf8?! would therefore be 7 7
inaccurate due to 37.e5= ] 6 6

[ While in case of 36...a4 white saves
5 5
his skin with 37.Ke2! Bxe4 38.Ke3
winning the key tempo to capture the 4 4
a-pawn: Bd5 39.c4 Bg2 40.Kd4
3 3
Kf8 41.Kc5= etc. ]
2 2
a b c d e f g h
1 1
8 8
a b c d e f g h
7 7
We have reached the critical position.
6 6 Does white have a way to get to the
5 5
a-pawn in time? It turns out that he
does, but Adhiban had missed it. He
4 4 played
3 3 40.f3?
[ Instead 40.c4 was necessary in
2 2
order to open another route towards
1 1 the a-pawn via c3 square. After Ke7
a b c d e f g h it is important not to waste any time
and play 41.Kd2! right away, even if
An excellent application of it means that white has to give up the
Capablanca's rule in endgames with e-pawn. ( Other moves, such as
bishops which teaches us that the 41.c5?f5-+; and 41.f3? Kd6 42.Kd2
pawns should be put on the squares of Ba4
the color opposite of the bishop. 43.Kc3 Kc5-+ lose. ) 41...Bxe4
37.Ke3 a4 38.Bd5 Protects the e4 42.Kc3 Kd6 43.Kb4 f5 44.Kxa3
pawn and prepares the king's Kc5 45.Kb3 Bg2 ( 45...Kd4!? is a
maneuver to a3 via d2-c1-b2. Thus, more active attempt, but we should
black goes a3 forcing the bishop to not forget that White has a passed
return 39.Ba2 pawn, too. 46.Kb4 f4 47.c5 Bc6
[ since 39.Kd2 is answered by 48.Bc4 e4 49.Bb5 e3 50.fxe3+ fxe3
Bxe4! ] 51.Be2= ) 46.Kc3 e4 47.Bb1 Bf1
a b c d e f g h
42...f5! Diagram
[ Too slow is 42...f6? when White is
8 8
just in time to complete his plan:
7 7 43.Bd5 Kd6 44.Kb1 Bd1 45.Ka2
Bxf3 46.Kxa3 f5 47.Kb2 f4
6 6
( 47...Bxe4?? 48.Bxe4 fxe4 49.Kc2+-
5 5 is winning for white, though. )
48.Kc2= ]
4 4
3 3 a b c d e f g h
2 2 8 8
1 1 7 7
a b c d e f g h
6 6
and here White has a really nice 5 5

wayto avoid any complications and
4 4
reach the safe haven with 48.f3!
exf3 49.Kd2 f4 50.Ke1 Bxc4 3 3
51.Kf2= with a fortress. ]
2 2
40...Ke7 King should be centralized in
the endgame. 1 1
[ The sophisticated 40...Bd1? a b c d e f g h
would allow white to get away with
41.f4! f6 42.fxe5 fxe5 43.Kd2 Ba4
44.c4 Bc6 45.Kc3 Bxe4 46.Kb4 Bc6 With this move, Eljanov opens up the
47.Kxa3= ] second front in the center. White will not
41.Kd2 Ba4 42.Kc1 Played with the be in time to battle on both sides of the
intention to attack the a-pawn after Kb1, board. 43.exf5
Bd5, and Ka2. But this is rather slow. [ The same variation that worked in
[ The other options, however, also fail 42...f6 line, does not work here:
to save white. 42.Ke3 Bd7 43.Kd2 f5 43.Bd5 Kd6 44.Kb1 Bd1 45.Ka2
This is the key winning idea. 44.exf5 Bxf3 46.Kxa3 f4 47.Kb2 Bg2-+ as
Bxf5 45.Kd1 Kd6 46.Kd2 Bd7 white is a tempo short of catching
47.Kd3 Bc6 48.Ke3 Bd5 49.c4 Bf7 the f-pawn. ]
( 49...Bc6? 50.f4 e4 51.Kd4= ) 50.f4 [ After 43.Kd2 black can fix the f3
( 50.c5+ Ke7-+ ) 50...exf4+ 51.Kxf4 weakness with f4! and White is just
Kc5-+ ] helpless against the following plan:
[ 42.Bc4 Bb5! 43.Ba2 f6 44.Bd5 f5! 44.Kc1 Kd6 45.Kd2 Kc5 46.Kc1
45.exf5 Bc6 46.Ba2 Bxf3 47.Kc2 Bb5 47.Kd2 Bc4-+ ]
Kf6 48.Kb3 e4 49.Kxa3 e3 50.Bc4 43...Bc6-+ This means the end for the f3
Kxf5-+ ] pawn. Black is winning despite being
down a pawn because he gets another [ It is very important that 49.c5+

terribly strong passed pawn on the e-file. is refuted by Bd5-+ ]
44.Kd2 49...Kd6 50.Kd3 Kc5 51.Kc3
[ Adhiban probably realized that he can a b c d e f g h
not save the game with 44.Kc2 Bxf3
8 8
45.Kb3 e4 46.Kc2 ( 46.Kxa3 e3-+
You kill one enemy, an even stronger 7 7
one appears... ) 46...e3 47.c4 Kf6
6 6
48.c5 Kxf5 49.Kd3 e2 50.Kd2 Ke5
51.Ke1 Kd4 52.c6 Bxc6 53.Kxe2 5 5
Kc3-+ and Black wins by playing Kb2,
4 4
Ba4-b3, a2 etc. ]
44...Bxf3 45.c4 Kf6 46.Ke3 3 3
Adhiban's last defensive stance is to
2 2
block the e-pawn with the king, a-pawn
with the bishop, and hope for the best. 1 1
However, it is just a matter of time a b c d e f g h
when Black will break it. Bc6 47.Bb3
[ 47.c5 Kxf5-+ ]
[ 47.Bb1 Bd7-+ ] The invasion has been stopped, but
47...Kxf5 48.h3 Diagram white's position is like a hollow vessel -
a b c d e f g h
as you patch up one hole, another one
opens up. Now the e-pawn is free to
8 8
move: e4! 52.Bb3 Be8 53.Bd1 e3
7 7 54.Be2 Bf7 55.Kb3 Bxc4+! 56.Bxc4
a2 and white had to resign. An excellent
6 6
endgame by GM Pavel Eljanov.
5 5 0-1
4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1
a b c d e f g h
White managed to close down all entry

points for now, but Eljanov, in the
manner of experienced general, re-
routes his king to the final attack on the
queenside with: Ke6! 49.Ba2
Master the Grunfeld ***The next game illustrates the first

situation:
Structures - Part 5
Restrained Center
Platonov,I
Kortschnoj,Viktor
USSR (ch) 10/713 1970
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.e3

0-0 6.Qb3 dxc4 7.Bxc4 Nc6
a b c d e f g h
8 8
7 7
6 6
5 5
4 4
While strengthening White's center, 3 3

the typical knight exchange on c3 2 2
also solves most of Black's problems
of coordination caused by his relative 1 1
lack of space. This explains why there a b c d e f g h

are many systems in which White
aims building up a comparatively 8.Nf3
modest center (with pawns on d4 and [ This is not consequent as it allows
e3 or e2, but without a pawn on c3) a minor piece exchange, giving up
avoiding any early minor piece the bishops pair at the same time.
exchange.Not being under immediate Better is 8.Be2 when Black could
pressure, Black has a wide range of use the given tempo for starting
plans at his disposal, but this freedom queenside counterplay with a5 .
must be handled carefully for if he Compare with the Spassov-
delays concrete action, he may well Tukmakov below. ]
be left in a passive position without 8...Na5 9.Qb4 Nxc4 10.Qxc4 c6
counterplay. Mainly, Black can 11.Be5 Aiming at keeping at least one
choose between setting up piece bishop, as Black was
pressure without early pawn breaks, threatening ...Nh5. Bg4 The start of
or else prepare the typical ...e7-e5 Black's piece play more or less forcing
break and, slightly less usual, ...c7-c5 the knight weakening the control over
(or ...c6-c5. the central squares.
Kortschnoj,Viktor 16...Bg4 17.0-0 Nh5

Smyslov,Vassily a b c d e f g h
Moscow-Leningrad m 1967 8 8
For White, an effective plan could be 7 7

starting a queenside majority with b2-b4- 6 6
b5, but this idea has to be handled with
5 5
care. Insufficient preparing may run into
Black's effective piece counterplay. 1.d4 4 4
12.Nd2 Be6 13.Qe2 Rc8 3 3

a b c d e f g h 2 2
8 8 1 1
7 7 a b c d e f g h
The fluence of Black's play is very nice.
6 6
18.Ne2 Qd7 19.Qd3?!
5 5 [ The queen is exposed on this square.
Kortschnoj recommends 19.Qc3
4 4 but Black is doing great after f6
3 3
20.Bg3 a5 combining the positional
threats ... a5-a4, ...c6-c5 and ... Nxg3. ]
2 2 a b c d e f g h
1 1 8 8
a b c d e f g h 7 7
14.e4? White does not admit having lost 6 6

any chances for an advantage and takes 5 5
measures against ...c6-c5 which would at
4 4
least equalize. But his center becomes
vulnerable now. Bh6 Imeadiately occupying 3 3
the offered diagonal and unpinning the 2 2
knight. The immediate threat is ...Ng4 so
White needs defending the d4-square. 1 1
15.Nf3 a b c d e f g h
19...c5! Pulverizing White's center and

[ This admits that the knight has just
yielding Black strong initiative. 20.Rad1
lost time, but 15.Nb3 Nd7 16.Bg3 Bg7
[ 20.d5 fails to stabilize the position
17.Rd1 Bxb3 18.axb3 Qb6 wins a
pawn. ] after f5 ]
20...c4 21.Qc3 f5! Causing the chronical
15...b5! Preventing the castle due to ... weakening of White's center and kingside.
Bc4. 16.Qc2 Little wonder than in the game he will go down
[ Another loss of time but 16.b3 offers quickly. 22.exf5 Rxf5 23.Ng3 Rf7 24.Nxh5?!
Black a strong initiative after Nd7 17.Bg3 Weakening the king's defense. Bxh5 25.d5
Qa5 18.Qc2 c5 19.d5 Bg4 20.0-0 Bg7 Rcf8 26.Qd4 Rxf3! 27.gxf3 Qh3
21.Rac1 c4 ] 0-1
d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e3 g6 5.Nf3 needs sacrificing a pawn.

Bg7 6.Bd3 0-0 7.0-0 The Schlechter [ If 14.Nxd5 cxd5= / the knight will
Slav is classified by the ECO under a sooner or later land on d6-c4, taking
Gruenfeld code and not without reasons, advantage of White's premature
as this line combines the ideas of both activity. ]
openings. The game will soon become 14...Nxb4 15.e4 Nd7 16.Ba3 a5
relevant for the examined structure. Bg4 17.Rac1 Qh4 18.Nb2 Rfd8 19.Nc4
8.h3 Bxf3 9.Qxf3 e6 10.Rd1 Nbd7 Bf8 Black has regrouped perfectly and
a b c d e f g h
White has not much to show for the
sacrificed pawn.
8 8
0-1
7 7
Kasparov,Sergey 2315
6 6 Notkin,Maksim 2515
5 5
Minsk op (2) 1997
4 4
The plan based on ...c7-c5 (or ...c6-c5)
leads to interesting play only if White
3 3 manages to react with d4-d5 (meaning
2 2 that Black does not have better control
of that square). Otherwise, in most of
1 1 the cases, the position would be dully
a b c d e f g h equal after the exchange of the c5- and
d4-pawns. Black's counterplay is slightly
different than in the positions with a
11.b4?! Slightly premature. massive white center as we will see.
[ 11.b3 and ] 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3
[ 11.Qe2 are more consistent. ] Bg7 5.e3 0-0 6.Be2 dxc4 7.Bxc4 c5
11...dxc4 12.Bxc4 Our thematic central 8.d5
structure has arisen a bit later through a b c d e f g h
transposition, but the essence of the
8 8
general discourse remains the same.
Nb6 13.Bb3 Nbd5 7 7
[ It is hard to say why Smyslov 6 6
refrained from 13...Nfd5 Maybe he
feared that after 14.e4 ( If 14.Nxd5 5 5
cxd5 the knight would already be 4 4
close to the c4-square. ) 14...Nxb4
15.a3 Na6 his kingside defense 3 3
would be weakened, but there is no 2 2
obvious way for White to take
advantage of this. ] 1 1
14.Na4 To justify his previous play White a b c d e f g h
Ne8!? 13.Nc4 Exchanging the perfectly placed

[ Since White's e-pawn is not black knight.
threatening yet, Black has the time of [ If 13.e4 Black can weaken White's
transferring the knight to d6, thus light squares even more with Qa6
preparing his counterplay which can 14.Qxa6 Nxa6 15.a3 Preventing ...
embrace several forms. A classical Nb4. Rfe8!? Planning ...e7-e6, which
game went 8...e6?! this is too would be quite molesting for White
straightforward to equalize completely. due to his delayed development.
9.dxe6 Qxd1+ 10.Kxd1 Bxe6 16.f4?! Bd4+ 17.Kh1 f6 followed by
11.Bxe6 fxe6 12.Ke2 Nc6 13.Rd1 ...e7-e6 anyway. ]
Rad8 14.Rxd8 Rxd8 15.Ng5 13...Nxc4
with lasting advantage due to the [ 13...Qa6 14.Nxd6 Qxe2 15.Nxe2
control over the e4-square, exd6 may be even better, rwaching a
Petrosian-Botvinnik, Moscow 1963. In perfect Benoni. ]
this fragment, we see the benefits of 14.Qxc4 Qb4 15.Qd3
having the pawn on e3 rather than on [ 15.Qxb4 cxb4 16.Ne2 Rc8
e4. In the latter case, there would be leaves White terribly
no blockade on e4 and Black would underdeveloped. ]
have the d4-square for the knight. ] 15...Nd7 16.e4 c4 17.Qc2 Nc5
9.0-0 Nd6 10.Be2 Bg4 11.Nd2 followed by ...Nd3 soon with obvious
[ If 11.e4 Bxf3 12.Bxf3 ( 12.gxf3 f5 black advantage.
is also good for Black ) 12...b5 1/2
followed by ..Nd7 Black has stability
on dark squares and queenside
counterplay. ] Portisch,Lajos 2590
11...Bxe2 12.Qxe2 Qb6 Epishin,Vladimir 2620
1991
a b c d e f g h
Black's most usual plan remains
8 8
preparing ...e7-e5. There are two basic
7 7 ways of doing this, with ...Nbd7 or ...Nc6.
The former looks more flexible, but puts
6 6
less pressure on White, as in the
5 5 following typical game: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4
g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bf4 Bg7 5.Rc1 0-0
4 4
6.e3 c6 7.Nf3 Bg4 8.h3 Bxf3 9.Qxf3
3 3 Qa5 10.Bd3 Nbd7 11.0-0 dxc4
12.Bxc4 e5 13.Bh2 exd4 14.exd4
2 2
Since there is no pressure on d4 and
1 1 Black does not control the d5-square
a b c d e f g h that well yet, the Isolani is more of a
strength than a weakness. Black needs
being careful given the potential threat 17...a4 18.Bc2 Rfe8 19.a3 Qe7 20.g4
d4-d5, turning the bishops into an h6 with at least equal play due to the
irresistible power. Qb4 stability on d5.
[ Black decides to start queenside 1/2
counterplay and forcing the light-
squared bishop releasing the pressure Spassov,Liuben
on d5. 14...Nb6 15.Bb3 Rad8 Tukmakov,Vladimir B
16.Be5 Nfd5 17.Ne4 fails neutralizing WchT U26 fin-A 16th (6.1) 13.08.1969
White's pressure as the b3-bishop is
very stable. ] More typically, Black prepares the
15.Bb3 Nb6 16.Rfd1 a5 central break with ...Nc6. This plan puts
immediate pressure on d4, forcing
a b c d e f g h White releasing the tension.
8 8 ***Exchanging on e5 usually frees
Black's play, as in the following game:
7 7
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3
6 6 Bg7 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.Qa4+ Bd7 7.Qb3
Nb6 8.e3 0-0 9.Be2 a5 10.a4 Nc6
5 5
11.0-0 e5
4 4 a b c d e f g h
3 3 8 8
2 2 7 7
1 1 6 6
a b c d e f g h
5 5
17.Rb1?! After this passive move Black 4 4

gets comfortable play. White should
3 3
choose a way of breaking the centre.
2 2
[ True, 17.d5 Nfxd5 18.Nxd5 Nxd5
19.Bxd5 cxd5 20.Qxd5 doesn't seem 1 1
to offer more than a symblic initiative. ] a b c d e f g h
[ But 17.Be5 is more consistent. Nfd7
( 17...a4 runs into 18.Nxa4 Nxa4 12.Nxe5
19.Rc4 Qb5 20.Bxf6 Bxf6 21.Qxf6 [ In principle the critical reaction to the
Nxb2 22.Rc5 with strong initiative. ) central break is 12.d5 but White
18.Bxg7 Kxg7 19.d5 a4 20.dxc6 probably feared that his delayed
Ne5 ( 20...bxc6 21.Nxa4 development would offer Black the
wins a pawn. ) 21.Qe2 Nxc6 22.Bd5 initiative. This is only partly true, but
Rae8 23.Qf3 and Black has to the game move is even less favorable.
struggle a bit still. ] e4!? ( More ambitious than 12...Nb4
13.e4 c6 14.Bg5 with normal play for Hansch,Stephan 2179

this plan. ) 13.Nxe4 ( 13.dxc6 exf3 Pribyl,Josef 2274
14.Bxf3 bxc6 offers Black proper Pardubice op rap 26th rapid (7) 23.07.15
compensation for the shattered
structure because of the better But the structure from the previous
development and the queenside game does not always favor Black. It
pressure. ) 13...Nb4 14.Nc5 greatly depends on the piece placement. If
15.( 14.Nc3 c6 15.dxc6 Be6 16.Qd1 White has superior development then the
bxc6 offers Black considerable attack with the e and f pawns could be
advance in development harming. 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 Bg7
compensating for the pawn. ) 4.Bg2 d5 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.Nc3 Nb6
7.Nf3 Nc6 8.e3 0-0 9.0-0 Re8 10.b3 e5
14...Qe7 15.Nxd7 Nxd7= To all
11.dxe5 Nxe5 12.Nxe5 Bxe5 13.Bb2 c6
probability Black will soon retrieve the
14.Qc2
pawn with ...Nb6. ]
12...Nxe5 13.dxe5 Bxe5 14.e4 a b c d e f g h
In order to develop the bishop White 8 8
needs weakening the d4-square which
7 7
will have long term effects. Be6
15.Qc2 c6 Black has excellent 6 6
development while White is still
5 5
struggling to complete it as the bishop
does not have stable squares. 16.Be3 4 4
[ Of course 16.Bh6? loses to Qh4 ] 3 3
16...Nc4 17.Bc5 Re8 18.Rfd1 Qc7
2 2
[ 18...Qf6 followed by ...b7-b6,
preventing the exchange of the 1 1
problem bishop may have been a b c d e f g h
even better. ]
19.g3 b6 20.Bd4 Rad8! Keeping White is already slightly better developed,
the control over the d4-square. but the next move is a surprising
21.Bxe5 Qxe5 22.h4 h5 23.Bxc4 mistake from an all life Gruenfeld
Bxc4 specialist. Bf5?! Obviously, Black
24.Rxd8 Rxd8 25.Rd1 Rd4! wanted to weaken the d4-square, but he
with obvious black initiative. will never manage to occupy it. The last
0-1 move just offers a tempo for free. 15.e4
Be6 16.Rad1 Qe7 17.f4 Bg7 18.f5
The e6-bishop does not have good
squares already. Qc5+ Paradoxically,
the queen exchange will not diminish
Wite's pressure. 19.Qf2 Qxf2+ 20.Rxf2
This way, the rooks are ready to get
doubled along the d- or f-file, according to 1.Nf3 g6 2.c4 Nf6 3.d4 Bg7 4.g3 d5
the necessities. Bd7 21.Na4!? 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.Bg2 0-0 7.0-0 Nb6
A fine move exchanging two of Black's 8.Nc3 Nc6 9.e3 e5 10.d5 Ne7 11.e4
key defensive pieces. Nxa4
a b c d e f g h
[ 21...Bxb2 22.Nxb6 axb6 23.Rxb2
does not make much of a difference. ] 8 8
22.Bxg7 Kxg7 23.bxa4 Bc8
7 7
[ Sad necessity as 23...Rad8?
24.Rfd2 ] 6 6
[ and 23...Re7? 24.f6+ lose material. ]
5 5
24.h3 gxf5 25.exf5 f6 26.g4
With obvious white advantage and one 4 4
sided-play in the endgame. Black has no 3 3
real prospects of completing his
development again. h6 27.Rfd2 a5 2 2
28.Rd8 Kf7 29.R1d6 Rxd8 30.Rxd8 1 1
Rb8 31.Kf2 Ke7 32.Rh8 h5 33.Ke3
a b c d e f g h
hxg4 34.hxg4 Kd6 35.g5 fxg5 36.f6
Ke6 37.Bh3+ Kxf6 38.Rxc8 Rxc8 Bg4
39.Bxc8 b5 40.Bd7 bxa4 41.Bxc6 a3 [ This is not only strategically favorable
42.Kf3 Ke5 43.Kg4 Kd4 44.Ba4 Kc3 as the exchange on f3 would increase
45.Bb3 Kb2 46.Kxg5 a4 47.Bg8 Kc3 Black's control over the dark squares,
48.Kf5 Kd4 49.Ke6 Kc3 50.Kd5 but also concretely necessary to
1-0 prepare ... c7-c6, as 11...c6 12.d6
wins the knight.. ]
12.a4 White tries using the time needed
Smejkal,Jan 2550 by Black to carry out his plan (...c7-c6
Doncevic,Dario 2345 followed by the knight transfer to d6) to
Bundesliga 8586 1986 open a new front. c6 13.a5 Nc4 14.a6
bxa6 15.Qb3 cxd5 16.exd5 Nd6
White's main chances for an advantage [ When having this position with black
are connected with d4-d5. True, this one year earlier Smejkal in vain
offers Black a good blockade on d6, but refrained from this natural move in
White's space advantage should not be favor of 16...Nb6 Portisch-Smejkal,
underestimated. Reggio Emilia 1985. ]
17.Rxa6 Bc8! Unblocking the a-pawn.
18.Ra2 a5
[ And now 18...Nef5 19.Re1 Re8
was the simplest. With such great
control on d4, and d6 Black has a
wonderful play. ]
19.Re1 Enklaar,Bert F
Kortschnoj,Viktor Lvovich 2670
a b c d e f g h IBM Amsterdam 1972
8 8 a b c d e f g h
8 8
7 7
7 7
6 6
6 6
5 5
5 5
4 4
4 4
3 3
3 3
2 2
2 2
1 1
1 1
White has just played 18.Qd3. How are

How would you react to the pressure on you going to react? 18...Qxd3 19.Nxd3
e5? f6? Nothing justifies such an ugly Bxf3 20.gxf3 Bxd4! The bishop is taboo
move in a good position. Black in vain because the White minor pieces are
weakens the e6-square and his control hanging after ...Rxd4.
over d4. 0-1
[ The pawn sacrifice 19...Nef5
would offer excellent Black Najdorf,Miguel
compensation for instance: 20.Nxe5 Milic,Borislav
Re8 21.Nf3 Rxe1+ 22.Nxe1 Ba6 1950
a b c d e f g h
with very active minor piece play. ]
20.Be3 Ba6 21.Nd2 Nef5 22.Bc5 8 8
Planning Nce4 with lasting pressure. Rf7 7 7

23.Rea1 Bh6 24.Nce4 Bxd2 25.Nxd2
Rb7 26.Qd1 Bb5 27.b4 a4 28.Nb1 6 6
Nd4 29.Nc3 Nb3 30.Rb1 Rc8 5 5

31.Nxb5 Rxb5 32.Bxd6 Qxd6
33.Rxa4 Nd4 34.h4 Rcb8 35.Qd2 4 4
Rxd5 36.Qa2 Rbb5 37.Ra5 e4 3 3

38.Bxe4
2 2
1-0
1 1
a b c d e f g h
How would you start your counterplay with
Black, by pawn breaks or piece pressure?
12...Nb6 This is the best plan.
[ In this case the typical 12...e5? 16.hxg3 0-0

runs into 13.b4 Qc7 14.Bh2 [ 16...Bf5 17.Bd3 ( 17.e4 Bg6;
leaving Black under a nasty pin. ] 17.Ne4 Nf6 18.Nxf6+ Bxf6 19.Bd3
13.b4 Bxd3 20.Qxd3 e6 ) 17...Bxd3
[ 13.Bb3 Nfd5 attacks f4 and c3, 18.Qxd3 Rd8 ]
more or less forcing 14.Nxd5 cxd5 a b c d e f g h
with just symbolic white advantage. ] 8 8

13...Qf5 14.g4 Enabling Bd3. Qd7 7 7
15.Bd3 Nbd5 16.Nxd5 Nxd5 17.Rb3
6 6
[ 17.Bg3 allows e5 since 18.dxe5
Nc3 wins an exchange. ] 5 5
17...Nxf4 18.Qxf4 Rac8 19.b5 e5 4 4
[ 19...c5! may even be slightly better
3 3
for Black. ]
20.dxe5 1/2 Najdorf-Milic, Bled 1950. 2 2
1/2 1 1
a b c d e f g h
Raetsky,Alexander 2399
Eljanov,Pavel 2613 White played 17.a3 obviously planning to
Biel MTO op (7) 26.07.2004 take over the control over the whole board
a b c d e f g h
with b2-b4. Bf5! Indeed, a necessary
preparing move before breaking the center.
8 8 With hindsight, White could have punished
7 7 Black's previous hesitation with 17.Bd3.
[ If 17...c5? 18.d5! Bg4 White wins a
6 6
pawn with 19.Nxg5! hxg5 20.Bxg4 ]
5 5 18.Bd3
4 4 [ 18.e4 Bg6 with perfect bishops
coordination and followed by ...e7-e5 ]
3 3 [ or 18.Qc1 e5 offer Black good
counterplay. ]
2 2
18...Bxd3 19.Qxd3 c5=
1 1
[ 19...e5 is less recommendable now
a b c d e f g h
due to 20.Qf5 ]
What is the easiest way to the equality? 20.b4!? It is White's trun to be
12...Nd7 Subjectively, Black's decision of ambitious.
delaying concrete action with lower rated [ 20.Nd5 ]
player, is understandable and it eventually [ 20.d5 Rad8 21.e4 a6 ]
paid off. 20...cxb4 21.axb4 Qxb4 22.Rfb1 Qd6
[ But objectively 12...c5! would have 23.Qe4
equalized at once since d4-d5 is not [ Only not 23.Rxb7? Nc5 ]
possible due to the knight's pin. ] 23...Nf6 24.Qxb7 Rfb8 and Black
13.0-0 h6 14.Bf4 g5 15.Bg3 Nxg3 gradually took over the initiative. 0-1

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ISSUE 15

The Grunfeld Structure

Hedgehog Type of Positions:

Master the Hedgehog Structure (IM Renier Castellanos)

Knight Sacrifice on "d5" in Hedgehog Type of Positions (GM Nikolai Ninov)

Modern Approach to the and, by the end, I hope that we are

1. Lasker - Capablanca: In this game,

Lasker,Emanuel by that monster knight on e6. In such

Re8 would have retained some a b c d e f g h

5 5 And there we go! The bishop had to stay

[ 58.Bd4 Kxa5 59.f5! gxf5 60.Kd7= Naroditsky,Daniel 2628

of 32...Bh6. Yet both of these moves perpetual. Getting ambitious with

opponent wants. Once you figure out 4 4

a b c d e f g h positional masters to understand that

The last finesse. The bishop attacks the 7 7

passage for the real hero of the day. 5 5

Our final example is going to be dedicated 3 3

intention is painfully easy to see. You know a b c d e f g h

gorge on White's queenside pawns. Qa1+ 25.Kh2 Qa6? This is actually a

loses instantly to 28.Qd4 and Black Of course, Black's material advantage

Missed opportunity aside, Karpov's 32.Qxb7 Bxb7 33.Kf4

understandable fear that White will stick 4 4

however, the queens are the only thing 2 2

drawing line started with Qb7?? a b c d e f g h

This position was reached in a game a b c d e f g h

This is one of my favorite applications of This position comes from a game

23.Qh8+? Out of inertia, Illescas sends example of prophylaxis? Well, if you

This is not a real game at all, but a

Master the Hedgehog are a completely different story. Let’s go

A) Rooks always on e8 and c8. Very

15.b4 effective. The good thing about this

[ 12.Qd2 ] plan. It was already possible for him to

[ 18...h5 has scored very well in a b c d e f g h

practice. One game went 19.a4?! 8 8

big mistake, but one that anyone can 6 6

White's poor coordination enables Black Kostic,Nebojsa 2400

22.exd5 Neg4! winning ] 8 8

2 2 The plan with Qf2-Be3 is one of the

which is analyzed in the main a b c d e f g h

a b c d e f g h now the threat of c4-c5 is very real

a b c d e f g h Black's counterplay has already begun

Static play and counterplay. 14.Bf1 3 3

Rc7!? This is another route to get the 2 2

15.Qf2 Qb8 16.Nb3 a b c d e f g h

a b c d e f g h White has finally completed his plan and

37...Bf8 38.Qh5 Ne5 ] d6 12.Nd2 Rc8 13.Re1 Nd7 14.b4

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.Nc3 Nc6 4.d4 2 2

cxd4 5.Nxd4 e6 6.a3 Bc5 7.Nb3 1 1

As a rule of thumb in the Hedgehog the a b c d e f g h

and does not allow Black to continue 6 6

Bd8 The Saemisch maneuver again as 4 4

[ 24...Ne5!? comes in consideration. 2 2

Caruana is not afraid of pushing the ( 56.Kh3 Qf2! 57.Qd4 Be2!

interesting; is not so great here ( 18...Rfe8

Objectively White should stand better This is an impressive game but we

Black's resources against this strategy. 7 7

Nbd7 9.Be3 Be7 5 5

16.Kh1 Bd8 17.b3 3 3

5 5 This is it. The rook goes to the kingside

22...Rh5 23.Qg3 Bc7 25...d5!!

Forcen Esteban,D 2535 6 6

19...Bc7 The threats are serious now a b c d e f g h

Maevsky,Nikolay 2342 [ 21.cxd5 exd5 22.Rxc8 Qxc8