Efstratios Grivas

GRIVAS METHOD
MIDDLEGAME STR
STRAATE
TEGIES
GIES

Chess
Evolution
Cover designer
Piotr Pielach

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First edition
edit ion ���� by Chess Evolution

Grivas method. Middlegame strategies

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS

KEY TO SYMBOLS .........................................................................................................�

INTRODUCTION ...........................................................................................................�

EDITORIAL PREFACE ................................................................................................ �

BIBLIOGRAPHY ............................................................................................................��

SURVEYS ON MIDDLEGAME STRATEGY ....................................................... ��

A Backward Problem ....................................................................................................��
Domination .................................................................................................................. ��
Initiative .........................................................................................................................��
Preparation ................................................................................................................... ��
Queen Exchange ...........................................................................................................��
Te Bad Bishop .............................................................................................................��
Te Capablanca Manoeuvre ...................................................................................... ��
Te Forepost ..................................................................................................................��
Te Hungarian Knight-our .....................................................................................���
Te Royal Centre ........................................................................................................ ���
Te Super�uous Knight ..............................................................................................���
Weak Square .................................................................................................................���
Te buried bishop ........................................................................................................���
Underdevelopment ......................................................................................................���
Unortunate bishop .................................................................................................... ���

SURVEYS ON TACTICS ........................................................................................... ���

Attack via the Edge Files ........................................................................................... ���
Boden’s Mate ............................................................................................................... ���
Castled Death .............................................................................................................. ���
Fierce Queen ................................................................................................................���
Lethal Diagonals ..........................................................................................................���
Long-term Sacri�ces ..................................................................................................���
New York Queen Sac ...................................................................................................���
Te G-point Check ..................................................................................................... ���
Te Pony Express ........................................................................................................���
Te Smothered Mate ..................................................................................................���
win Games ................................................................................................................ ���

CURRICULUM VITAE............................................................................................ ���

 KEY TO SYMBOLS

= Equality or equal chances

 White has a slight advantage
 Black has a slight advantage
 White is better
 Black is better
+- White has a decisive advantage
-+ Black has a decisive advantage
 unclear
 with compensation
  with counterplay 
 with initiative
  with an attack 
 with the idea
 only move

N novelty  
! a good move
!! an excellent move
? a weak move
?? a blunder
!? an interesing move
?! a dubious move
+ check  
# mate
 INTRODUCTION

Dear Reader,

A responsible chess trainer is ‘destined’ to analyse, prepare and teach his/her

trainees the plain truth and the difficult paths to chess excellence. Well, this
is easier said than done, but o course nothing is really as diffi cult as it some-
times appears.

When the responsible trainer knows what to do and how to do it, things get
simpler and can be more easily absorbed by the trainee! And rom time-to-
time the responsible trainer should reveal his work and his ways o teaching.

Te book that you are holding in your hands is a kind o continuation o my

previous work named ‘Chess Analytics’ (English language — Russell Enter-
prises Inc, ����); a work that was also translated into Italian and Spanish. Te
basic concept is simple but quite effective: various sur-veys on all aspects o the
game, covering and explaining unrevealed or poorly explained ideas and paths.

In the present book by ‘Chess Evolution’, a total o �� concepts are deeply

analysed. Well, noth-ing really too difficult, as the modern author has at his
disposal powerul databases, tablebases, analysed material, books and — by
adding his knowledge — you will get what you are looking or!

oday we have shorter time-controls and there isn’t really enough time to dig
into the subtleties o each ending. You have to know and to repeat knowledge;
don’t be carried away by the usual myth o the ‘chess talent’. As I have repeat-
edly written and proved, ‘talent is the excuse o the ailed’.

‘Unortunately’, the modern chess player is entitled and orced to work more
than his predeces-sors. Te modern chess trainer also needs to prepare more
delicate themes, understand them and then teach them to his students. So,
there is plenty o room or everything and or everybody who is thirsty or
knowledge.

Knowledge is the key word. And knowledge is absorbed sub-consciously; it is

impossible to re-member everything you study. So, it is highly important to
work with good material and good trainers in order to improve towards the
Chess Olympus.

Nowadays the help o the Silicon Monster (chess analysis engines) is quite valu-
able, as it can save an author countless hours o analysis and checking. But stil l
the role o the quali�ed trainer remains important; he knows where the truth
is — he knows what to keep and what to throw away…

I do not want to hold a ‘high nose’ and claim that everything I have written is
perect and completely sound; I always think o the surprise actor and I just
try to write honestly and with responsibility.

Have a nice reading journey!

Estratios Grivas
Athens, ����
 EDITORIAL PREFACE

For a chess book to be instructive and inormative, it would help a lot i these
actors are present; that the author possesses the gif, the passion and love or
the game and at one point in time, he is or was a competitive chessplayer - pre-
erably a grandmaster. And it would also be to his advantage i he has previous
experience in writing, and is or was actively involved in training and conduct-
ing chess seminars and lectures.

All o these elements are wonderul o course, but more is required rom the
author to ensure success. He must work hard in collating pertinent chess ma-
terials to substantiate his thoughts and ideas. In order to best illustrate and
appreciate the theme that he is introducing, the author needs to compile in-
structive games o the great masters or rom average players. Even better is or
the author to include those games he won and lost - as long as it perta ins to the
subject being tackled. As the saying goes, it is the player himsel who knows
best about the intricacies and turn o events that occurred in his games.

It is bene�cial to provide a ‘label or name’ to the motis the author is presenting,

in order to help the reader recall the concept when it appears in his own actual
games. Appropriate title descriptions o concepts is a good guide or readers
to better understand its objective and how to achieve it. Likewise, providing
a ‘conclusion’ at the end o each method is crucial in aiding the reader to com-
pletely discern what the author is trying to transmit and to impart.

Te author becomes effective when he is not stingy in sharing his ideas. He

must have a child-like attitude wherein he is very eager, proud and generous
in passing on to the readers all his knowledge and understanding accumulated
through many years o competing. And it would be impressive i he is also ex-
perienced in chess writing and teaching.

Most authors are ocused on emphasizing the importance o knowing and un-
derstanding basic and general principles to achieve success. However, readers
must be constantly reminded and enlightened that exceptions to the rules or
out o the box concepts are essential as well. A good example here is the ‘Te
Bad Bishop’ perception which Estratios propounds in his excellent book ‘Gri-
 vas Method - Middlegame Strategies’.
When all these ingredients mentioned above are present - and you augment
it with spicy tidbits about great players, composers, anecdotes, recollections,
puzzles, memorable events etc. - then a complete recipe or a good, yummy
and worth-reading chess book is served. And this book is it.

Eugene orre, ����

 BIBLIOGRAPHY

�. Advanced Chess School: Volumes �-�; Estratios Grivas; FIDE ����-����

�. British Chess Magazine; Various Contributors; BCM ����-����
�. Chess Analytics: raining with a Grandmaster; Estratios Grivas; Russel
Enterprises ����
�. Chess College �: Strategy; Estratios Grivas; Gambit ����
�. Chess College �: Pawn Play; Estratios Grivas; Gambit ����
�. Chess College �: echnique; Estratios Grivas; Gambit ����
�. Chess Curiosities; im Krabbe; Allen & Unwin Ltd ����
�. Chess Expertise Step by Step. Volume �: Unexpected actics; Estratios
Grivas; Chessbase ����
�. Chess Expertise Step by Step. Volume �: Mastering Strategy; Estratios Gri-
 vas; Chessbase ����
��. Chess or igers; Simon Webb; Oxord University Press ����
��. Chess oday (Internet Newspaper); Alexander Baburin; ����-����
��. ChessBase Mega Database; Various Contributors; ChessBase ����
��. Inormator; Various Contributors; Inormator ����-����
��. Learn rom the Legends; Mihail Marin; Quality Chess ����
��. My System; Aaron Nimzowitsch; Hays Publications ����
��. New In Chess (Magazine & Yearbook); Various Contributors; Interchess
BV ����-����
��. Secrets o Modern Chess Strategy; John Watson; Gambit ����
��. Te Middlegame; Euwe / Kramer; Hays Publications ����
��. Wikipedia — Various Articles; Wikipedia ����

Te above sources were my main help and guide while writing this book.
I would like to thank the (rest) o the authors or their contributions to chess
literature and the chance they gave to all chess players to become better. Wiki-
pedia was quite helpul too!
 SURVEYS
ON MIDDLEGAME STRATEGY

A BACKWARD ▷ Karpov Anatoly

▶ Gheorghiu Florin
PROBLEM Moscow ����

Modern backward pawns are not con- �.c� c� �. f�  f� �.c� e� �.g� b�
sidered as bad as, let’s say, �� years �.  g�  b� �.�-�  e� �.d� cxd�
ago. Modern approaches and meth- �. xd� d� �.b� �-� ��.  d�  bd�
ods are very much concerned with the ��.  b� a�
so-called ‘activity’ measure.
As long as the possessor o a back-
� r+ qw r
tk+
� +l+nvlpzpp
ward pawn can preserve an elastic and
potentially- active position, his de�cit � pzp p
zps
n +
is not that important, as the opposing � + + + +
side cannot ‘concentrate’ on it. � +Pw
Q + +
A good strategy is to exchange pie- � +PsN +NzP
ces, preserving only those that could � Pv
be useul in pressuring the backward
L +Pz
PLzP
� t
R +R+ m K
pawn. In this case, the backward
pawn side will hardly �nd any activ- a b c d e f g h

ity, while passivity is something that

they will have to live with!
Well, this o course doesn’t guaran-
tee a win, but mostly a pleasant, non-
dangerous, middlegame or endgame.
Let’s examine some cases with
a backward black d-pawn:
��. e�!?
An interesting set-up. White plans
to play  d� and then get his queen
on the diagonal.
��... b�
Not bad, but more ‘logical’ is ��...c�
��. d�  xg� ��. xg�  e� ��. g�
 � ��.  ac�  ac� ��. e�  xe�
��.  xe�  b� ��.a�+= imman,J-
Lobron,E Brussels ����.
14 GRIVAS METHOD: MIDDLEGAME STRATEGIES

��.d�  xg� ��.f�  f� ��. f�  b�

��...e� ��.h�  xg� ��. xg� b�+ Logical was ��... �! when White
��. g�  ab� ��.  ac�  e�, as in should avoid ��.e�? dxe� ��. xe�+
Anelli,A-Szmetan,J Buenos Aires e�
����, seems to be more accurate.
��.  a�!  bc� ��.ce�!
��. xg� b�+ ime or regrouping!
Te text allows White a pleasant
endgame and I eel that Black should ��... c� ��.  d� g� ��. c�  g�
go or something like ��... e� ��.� ��.e�!
 b� ��. d�  d� ��.e� d� ��.exd� Te direct ��.g�?! ails to ��...g�!=
exd� ��. e�+= Rubinetti,J-Szmetan,J
Quilmes ����.
� +r+n+k+
� + r
t +pv l
��.f�! xf�+ ��. xf�  fc� ��.d� � pzp pzp+pz p
 ab� ��.  ac� � + n
s + +
�  t
rr+ +k+ � +P+Pz P +
� + +nvlpz
pp  v
� LP+ N
sKzP
� P+ RtN+ P z
� pz
p pzps
n +
� + R
t + +
� + + + +
a b c d e f g h
� +PsN + +
� +Ps
N + Pz
� Pv
��...f�?!
L +PzPKz
P Te text doesn’t add anything to
� + RtR+ + Black’s cause. More logical was ��...
a b c d e f g h b� ��.h� h� ��.g� hxg�+ ��.hxg�+=

Exchanging queens simply means ��.exf� gxf� ��.h�! h� ��.  g�!

that there will be less tactics on the
board, which emphasises permanent
weaknesses, such as the backward
black d-pawn. O course White has
 just a slight (but nearly permanent)
advantage, and Black is airly still in
the game.
Preparing an assault on the kingside.
��...  f�
Another passive approach. Black
needs to become active, so ��...b� was
essential: ��.g� hxg�+ ��.hxg� xg�+
��.  xg� bxc� ��.bxc�+=

��...h� ��.e� e�?! ��.g�! hxg�+ ��.hxg� fxg�+ ��.  xg�

A passive retreat. ��...e� is more to f� ��. g�
the point.
 SURVEYS ON MIDDLEGAME STRATEGY 15

� +r+nmk + ��.f�!  f�
� + + +rvl ��...ex� loses to ��.  d�+ d�
� pz
��. xb�.
p p
zp+ +
� + n
s + + ��.  xf�  xf� ��. e�!  f�?!
� +P+ PzR+ Although not pleasant, Black had to
 v
� LP+ N
sKs
N opt or ��...e� ��.  xc� bxc� ��.  h� a�
� P+ Rt + + ��.e�
� + + + +  + + r
� t +
a b c d e f g h � + + km l
v
��...a� � p p
z zpsn +
��... e�!? looked better and surpris- � zp ns +P+
ingly allows Black to stay in the game: � +P+ + +
��.  g�  � ��.  x�  x� ��.b� (��.  v
� LP+ N
sKsN
e�+!? ex� ��. x�+ � ��.  xd� � P+
� ��. xg� xg� ��.  xb�+=) ��...
+R+ +
� + + + +
cd� ��.b� e� (��...c� ��. e� �
��.�+=) ��. e�  c� ��.  xc� dxc� a b c d e f g h

��. e�+=
��.  xc�!
��.  g� e�?! Decisive, and better than ��.xe�?!
 xe� ��.e�+ d� ��.  xe� xe�
� +r+n+ + ��. xg�+ d� ��. ��
� + + kmrv
l
� p p
z zp+R+ ��...bxc�
� zp ns + + ��...dxc� ��.xe�  g�+ ��. e�+
� +P+ P z + e� ��.e�+-
 v
� LP+ N
sKs
N
� P+
��.fxe� xe�
R
t + + ��... g�+ ��.e�+ e� ��.e�  �
� + + + + ��. e�+-
a b c d e f g h

But this is really bad. Also unsatis-
actory was ��...  �?! ��.  xg�! xg�
(��... xg� ��.  xd�) ��. h�+ g�
��. x� x� ��.  h� or ��... c�?!
��.  d� (��.  h� c� ��.�) ��... e�
��.  xc� dxc� ��.e� d� ��.� but
good was ��...  e�! ��. g�  g�!
��.xe�  x� ��. e�+=
��.ef�+ e� ��. xe�
O course bad was ��.  xe�?
 x�+ ��. g�  e�= but ��.  xe�+
 e� ��.  e�  x�+ ��. x�  x�
��. e�+- was also winning.
�-�
16 GRIVAS METHOD: MIDDLEGAME STRATEGIES

▷ Suba Mihai �  s
nq+k+ r t
▶ Nicholson John � t
r + lvpz
pp
Malaga ���� � pz
p pzp+ +
� + + + +
�.c�  f� �. f� c� �.c� e� �.g� b�
�.  g�  b� �.�-�  e� �.d� cxd� � +PsN + +
�. xd� d� � + NsQ+ P
z
� Pz
P +PzPKzP
� rs
n qwk+ r
t
� + +R+R+
� z
pl+ lvpz
pp
a b c d e f g h
�  z
p pzps
n +
� + + + +
� +PwQ + + ��.f�
� + Ns +Nz
P A quite interesting idea, aiming
� Pz
at weakening e� or gaining the d�-
P +PzPLz
P square.
� t
R Lv +Rm
K
a b c d e f g h ��...c�
A well-known position in the popu- ��...  c�?! ails to ��.�! e� (��...c�
lar ‘Hedgehog’ set-up. ��. xc�  xc� ��.xe� xe� ��.e�)
��. b�  xc� ��. d�  d� ��.� 
�.  g� Nikolic,P-Ribli,Z Novi Sad ����.
In general I like White’s potential
set-up. Exchanges that will support ��.  f� �-� ��. xc� xc� ��.f� c�
the centre and avoid a uture ...b� or ��.b�
...d� advances.
�  + + r tk+
� + rt l
vpzpp
�...a� ��.  xf�  xf� ��. d�
��. � was chosen by M.Carlsen: � pz
pqzpp+ +
��...�-� ��.  d�  e� ��. e�  xe� � + + +P+
��. xe�  a� ��. d�+= Carlsen,M- � +P+ + +
Gashimov,V Wijk aan Zee ����. � +Ps
NQ+Rz P
� P+ +P+Kz P
��...  a� ��.  ad� e� ��.d�
� + +R+ +
Another idea is ��.  e� �-�
��. e�  a� ��.  d�  d� ��.  d�+= a b c d e f g h

Korchnoi,V-Atlas,V Ptuj ����.

��...  b�
��...  xg� ��. xg� c� Worse is ��...  d�?! ��.xe� xe�
��. e� d� ��.cxd� exd� ��.b�! (��.
d�?! d� ��. e� b�  Freisler,P-
 SURVEYS ON MIDDLEGAME STRATEGY 17

Panchenko,A Berlin ����) ��...  cd� ��.  xd�  xa� ��. d�+ e�?!
��. xd� Black doesn’t like passivity, but
sometimes it is the only solution.
��.a� Black had to opt or ��... � ��. d�+
White must stop ...b�. (��.  a� g� ��. dd�  � ��. db�)
��...  xd� ��.  xd�+ e� ��.  b�
��...  bb� ��.e�  be�?  �+ ��. e� b� ��.  b�+ e� ��.  a�
A aulty tactical ‘solution’. Te alter-
native was ��... d� ��.h�+= ��.  a�
Even better was ��.g�!  c� ��. �d�+
��.fxe�  f� ��. e� e� ��. �+-
White gets the advantage anyway,
but he should seriously consider here: ��...  a�?!
��.ex�+  x� ��. �   or ��. d� ��...  �+ ��. e�  e�+ ��. d� a�
 xe� ��. xb�  xe�+ ��.  �  x�+ ��.  ad�, was the only chance.
��.x� 
��. e�+!
��... xe� ��. xe�  xe� ��. xf�+ Winning material.
gxf� ��. f�
��... f� ��.  xf� g� ��.  ee�  b�
�  + + rtk+ ��.  g�+ f�
� + + +p+p
� pz
p pzrz
p + �  tr + + +
� + � + + R
t Rtp
+ + +
� P+P+ � pzp + pz +
+ +
� +P+ � + + +k+
+Rz
P
� + +PmK Pz � +P+ + +
� +P+ + zP
� + +R+ +
a b c d e f g h
� r +Pm
t K Pz
� + + + +
White has much the better ending,
as Black is ull o weak pawns. a b c d e f g h

��...  fe� ��. d� f� ��.  fd� e� ��. f�!
��. d�!  g� ��.a� And a mating net is created!
Creating a urther weakness!
��...  xb�+ ��.e� h� ��.h� �-�
��...  b� ��.  �d� e�
Black couldn’t stand the passive ��...
bxa� ��.  xa�  a�
18 GRIVAS METHOD: MIDDLEGAME STRATEGIES

▷ Tiviakov Sergei � +lw

qk+ r t
▶ Anand Viswanathan � + +rv
lpzp
Baden Baden ���� � pzp p
z ns pz
� + + pz +
�.e� c� �. f� d� �.  b�+ d� �.d�
� P+P+P+ +
cxd� �. xd� a� �.  xd�+  xd� �.c�
e� �.d� h� �.c�  f� ��.�-� e�  v
� LPsNQ+N+
��.a� � + + PzPzP
Also possible is ��.  d�  c� ��.b� � t
R +R+ Km
 c� ��.a� �-� ��.  a�+= Fressinet,L- a b c d e f g h
Kolbus,D Germany ����.
� r+ qwk+ rt ��.d�
� +p+lvlpzp White is heading his knight to d�
� p+ p
z ns p
z ( d�-�-e�); typical o such pawn
� + + pz + structures.
� P+P+P+ +
� + NsQ+N+ ��...�-� ��. f�  b� ��. e�  e�
��. cd�  xd� ��. xd�  xd�
� P + P
z zPz
P ��. xd�
� t
R Lv +RmK
a b c d e f g h � + q
wr+k+
� + +rv
lpzp
��...b� � pzp p
z + p z
A highly dubious choice according � + +Qz
p +
to S.iviakov. � P+P+P+ +
 v
� LP+ + +
��.b�  a�
Another try is ��... c� ��.  a�  a�
� + + PzPzP
� t
R +R+ Km
��.d�  xd� ��.cxd� d� ��.d� b�
��.axb�  xb� ��. c�+= Gdanski,J- a b c d e f g h

Koch,J Arnhem ����. White has exchanged many pieces,

��. d� c� ��. a� d�
A backward pawn position — typi-
cal o the ‘Sicilian Deence’ — is on
the board. But this is quite unpleas-
ant or Black, and while he is in no
immediate danger, nor does he have
any active prospects.
but the ones lef are all quite useul
to him, so he holds a nice advantage.
��... a� ��. xa�  xa� ��.  d� f�
��.  ad�  ad� ��.g�!
Another typical idea in such posi-
tions. White cannot win by just press-
ing one weakness; Black will deend
it. He needs to create urther weak-
 SURVEYS ON MIDDLEGAME STRATEGY 19

nesses in other part o the board and ��. c�!

start moving his pieces around them. Te bishop will attack both d� and
Tis is what we call the ‘Rule o the h� rom the excellent �-square.
wo Weaknesses’!
��... c� ��.  xf�  f� ��.h�!
��...g� ��.f� Another excellent and typical idea.
argets must be �xed, so will h�!
� + r
t +k+ Also, a strong outpost will be created
� + +rvl + on g�.
� pzp p
z pz pz
� + +Rzp p
z ��...  c� ��.h�  b� ��.  e�  b�
� P+P+Pz P + ��. d� c� ��.  g�  g� ��.  g�  f�
 v
� LP+ + Pz ��. e�
And White wins material...
� + + + P z
� + +R+ Km ��... d�?
a b c d e f g h
�  tr + + +
� + +r+ v
l
��...gxf�?
Black’s last not only doesn’t solve � pzp p
zkz
pRzp
any o his problems, but it opens up � + +R+ +P
the g-�le or White. Black’s serious � P+P+P+ +
lack o space and mobility means that � +P+ L
vK+
he cannot switch rom one side to the
next as quickly as his opponent. Had
� + + + +
� + + + +
he lef it to White to exchange, then
it would have been the -�le opened, a b c d e f g h

and it would be ar easier to keep con- Missing a shot that White also
trol o both. missed with the time-control ap-
proaching.
��.gxf� f� ��. f� exf� ��. f� e�
��.  f�?!
� + r
t + + Te spectacular ��.e�! would have
� + +rvl + won on the spot, but ortunately or
� pzp p
zkzp p
z the Dutch GM, this does not squander
� + +R+ + the win: ��... � (��...dxe� ��.  xd�
� P+P+Pz p + xd� ��.  xg�++-) ��.ex�  � (��...
 v
� LP+ +K+  x�? ��.  �!) ��.  xh� and the end
is near.
� + + + Pz
� + +R+ + ��...  f� ��. g�  f� ��.  xh�
a b c d e f g h  xh� ��.  xh�  g�+ ��. f�!
20 GRIVAS METHOD: MIDDLEGAME STRATEGIES

��.  g�? would be a blunder: ��... DOMINATION

 xg�+ ��.hxg�  g� ��. h�  h�+
��.g�  g�=
Chess is a game o domination. From
��...  f� ��.a�! our very �rst moves we try to domi-
Opening up urther weaknesses to nate the opponent, the development,
overwhelm Black’s pieces. the centre, the pieces’ placement and
so on.
��...  g� We try to get better positions than
��...bxa� is no help: ��.e�! dxe�+ our opponent and in the end to cash
��.  xe�+! � ��.  �! e� ��.  xa� in the ull point by precise, dominat-
 a� ��.  e�+ � ��.  �+- ing play.
Complete domination means that
��.axb�  b� ��.b�  xb� we can nearly do what we like and
that our opponent is helpless, no mat-
�  + + rt + ter how hard he is trying!
� +P+ + + Well, that’s too good to be realised
� p+ p
zkz
p Rt in every game, but rom time-to-time
� + + +R+P we might be able to achieve complete
�  +P+PmK + domination!
� +r+ + + Domination is the dream o every
chess player. He would love to be able
� + + + + to play simultaneously in every part
� + + + + o the board and simply be better eve-
a b c d e f g h rywhere. Tis might happen some-
times; no counterplay by our oppo-
��.e�! dxe�+ ��.  xe�+ d� ��.  f� nent — nothing to ear.
e� ��.  h� d� ��. d�! Dominated actors can be met in
Black resigned due to ��...  xd� every stage o the game, even pawn-
��.cxd�+ xd� ��. � c� ��.h�. less endgames! We will start with
some studies o the amous chess
�-� composer Genrikh Kasparyan, but
�rstly I eel that we should know a bit
CONCLUSION more about him.
Genrikh Kasparyan (�� February
���� in bilisi — �� December ���� in
Selective exchanges help the pressure Yerevan) is considered to have been
against a backward pawn. Its posses- one o the greatest composers o chess
sor should certainly try to avoid them. endgame studies.
Outside Armenia, he is better known
by the Russian version o his name
 SURVEYS ON MIDDLEGAME STRATEGY 21

Genrikh Moiseyevich Kasparyan or Study �

Kasparian. Kasparian Genrikh
Genrikh Kasparyan became a na- ���� 
tional master in ���� and an interna-
tional master in ����. He was award- �  + + rt km
ed the titles o International Judge � + + + +q
o Chess Compositions in ���� and
�  + + + +
International Grandmaster o Chess
� + + + +
Composition in ����, the �rst com-
poser to receive this title rom FIDE. � + + + +
Genrikh Kasparyan was also an ac- � + + + +
tive chess player, winning the Arme- � +Qt
R + +
nian championship ten times (rom � + +K+ +
���� to ����, including two ties with
a b c d e f g h
uture World Champion igran Pet-
rosian) and the i�is championship Te material is so limited and most
three times (����, ����, and ����). players would think that the draw is
He reached the USSR Championship near. But here the side to move domi-
�nals our times (����, ����, ���� and nates the game and it is White’s turn!
����), but never �nished higher than
tenth place. �. b�+!
Genrikh Kasparyan is best known Nothing else works. �. c�+? ails to
or his compositions. He started with impress afer �... g�! �. h�+ h�!
chess problems, mainly three-movers, (�... g�? �.  g�+-) �. c�+ g�
but soon discovered that his best �eld �.  h�+ g� �.c�+  �!= Te main
was in endgame studies. concept o the queen’s movement is to
co-operate with her rook in certain
He wrote several books and collec-  variations.
tions and composed about ��� stud-
ies, many on the theme o domina- �...g�
tion, winning �� �rst prizes. He won �... g� loses to �.  g�+ � �. b�+.
the USSR Composing Championship
several times. �.  h�+ g� �.a�+!
White’s queen operates harmoni-
ously rom the � nd rank!

�...f�
�...  � �.  g�+- is a sad story...

�. g�+! g� �. d�+ f�

Again �...  � loses to �.  g�.
22 GRIVAS METHOD: MIDDLEGAME STRATEGIES

�.  g�+ h� �. e�+! �. c�+!

and White mates! As in the previous study, the queen
should co-operate with her rook on
�... h� the same rank, so wrong would be
�... h� �. e�+ ; �... � �.h�+. �. d�+? g�=

�. e�+  h� �.  h�+  h�+ �... g�

��.xh�# �-� �... g�+ loses to �. xg�+  xg�
�.  a�+.

Study � �.  g�+  g� �. b�+! f�

Kasparian Genrikh I �...  �, then �.  a�+  h�
����  �.b�++-
�  + + r
tk+
�  + + rt k
m � + + +qt
r
� + + q
wr+ � + + + +
� + + + + � + + + +
� + + + + � + + + +
� +Q+ + + � +Q+ + R
t
� t
R + + + � + + +K+
� + + +K+ � t
R + + +
� t
R + + + a b c d e f g h
a b c d e f g h

Adding an extra rook or both sides �.  a�! xb�

makes the right to the �rst move even
more important; domination is in
sight...
�.  h�+!
�.  h�+? offers nothing afer �...  h�
�.  xh�+ (�. d�+ g� �.  g�+  g�=)
�... xh�! (�...  xh�? �.  h�+ g�
�. d�+  � �.  g�+ � �. a�+!+-)
�.  h�  �+! �. g�  �+=
Nothing is changed by �...  xg�+
�.xg�++-
�.  gxg�+  h� �.  h�+  g�
�.  ag�# �-�
O course domination is easier when
material is increased.

�...  h�
�... g� loses to �.  g�! and next
moving the king to the h-�le!
 SURVEYS ON MIDDLEGAME STRATEGY 23

Study � �...f�
Kasparian Genrikh Afer �...  b� White wins by �.  a�
����   b�+ �. �  b�+ �. g�! � �.  x�+
x� �. g� e� ��. c�.
�  + + r
tk+ �  + + rtk+
� + +R+ + � t
RP+R+ +
� Rz
P + r
t + � + + + +
� + + + + � + + + +
� + + p
z + � + + + +
� + + + + � + + + +
� + + +K+ � + + p
zr+
� + + + + � + + +K+
a b c d e f g h
a b c d e f g h

Here the � th rank domination by the

white rooks is rather important. Te
white king is more �exible and this �.  f�!!
actor leads to the win. Not only the only winning but also
the only not losing move!
�.  aa�!
Full domination! �...  b� �.  a�!
�. c�  �!
�...f�+ �. f�!
White must be careul, as wrong �... xf� �.  xb�  g�+ �. xf�  b�
would be �. �?  h�! �.b� � �.  g�+ And now the usual endgame trick:
h� �.  �  h�+! �. g� �+ �.  x�
 hx� �.b�   xb� �. x�= �.  h�!  xb� ��.  h�+ e� ��.  xb�
�-�
�...  g�
�...  h� now loses to �.b�! (�.  g�+?
h� �.b�  h�+ �. e�  e�+ �. d�
 d�+=) �...  h�+ �. g�! (�. e�?
 b�! �.  a� �=) �...� (�...  g�+ �. h�
� �.b�  �  �. b�+ h� �.  h�#;
�...  b� �.  a�) �.  g�+ h� �.  �!+-

�.b�  g�+ �. f�!

Precise! Again �. e�? doesn’t help:
�...  e�+ �. d�  b� �.  g�+  h�
�.  h�+ g�.