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    Chess Ebook - Mark Dvoretsky & Artur Yusupov - Attack and Defence PDF

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    Jaime Cacere

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    and Defence The fifth and final session from the world-famous chess school Attack and Defence How Creative Thought Develops in a Chess Player Mark Dvoretsky and Artur Yusupov With contributions from: Mikhail Krasenkov Beniamin Blumenfeld Sergei Dolmatov Vladimir Vulfson Igor Belov ‘Translated by John Sugden B, T. Batsford Ltd, London isu pubbched 199% © Mark Dvotetshy and Astor Yusupoe 188 ‘English guage caneation © John Sugden 1998 Repnnted 1999. ISBN 0713482141 British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data. ‘A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library {Al sights reserved. No part ofthis book may be reproduced, by any ‘means, without prior permission of the publisher. Ealted by Graham Burgess and typeset by John and Petra Nunn for Gambit Publications Lid, London. Printed in Great Britain by ‘Redwood Books, Trowbridge, Wilts for the publishers, B.T. Batsford Li, ‘9 Blenheim Court, Brewery Road, London N7 9NT ‘A member ofthe Cheats Group ple A BATSFORD CHESS BOOK Contents Symbots Preface (Mark Dvoretsky) Part 1; Calculating Variations 1 The Technique of Analysis and Decision-Taking (Mark Dvoretsky) 2. Wandering in the Jungle (Mikhail Krasenkov) 3 Visual Imagination and Chess Analysis (Beniamin Blumenfeld) art 2: Inmuitive Decisions 4 How Chess Inmition Develops (Mark Dvoretsky) 5 Chess in the Style of Jazz (Sergei Dolmatov) Pat 3: The Practical Elements in Decisions 6 Practical Chances in Chess (Beniamin Blumenfeld) 7. Isit Worth Complicating? (Vladimir Valfson) ‘8 Thoughts about a Book (Mark Dvoretsky) Pare 4: Attack 9) Missed Brilliancy Prizes (Artur Yusupov) 10 A Controversial Postion (Mark Dvoretsky) 11 ‘Auacking afer Casting on Opposite Wings (Mark Dvoretsky) Part 5: Defence 12 Training Session: Making Difficult Choices (Igor Belov) 13. Virtoso Defence (Mark Dvoreisky) 146 Exrors and What Lies Behind Them (Mark Dvocetsky) n n 3 3 100 100 110 7 1st 1st 176 12 19 19 216 21 4 Contents Part 6: Further Examples 15. Analysis of a Game (Mark Dvoreisky) 16 Some Achievements of Our Pupils (Artur Yusupov) Solutions to Chapter 1 Exercises Solutions to Chapter 4 Exereses Solutions to Chapter 11 Exercises Index of Players Index of Composers Index of Games Index of Openings 28 238 251 269 213 26 285 288 Symbols + check 3+ double check x capes 0-0 Gales kingide 0.0.0 cates uoenside bent move 1 good move 10 Koereting nove 21 dubious move 2 bad move blunder 1-0 the game ends ina win for White ‘nth — the game ends ina draw O-1 the game ends in a win for Black (match game @) Siagram follows Preface Mark Dvoretsky ‘The book you have before you isthe fifth and final volume inthe series "School for Budding Chess Champions’, based on material from the Dvoretsky/Yusupov school for gifted young chess players. (Our lite school existed foronly three years (1990-2). Its sessions were tended by 10-15 young people. Neary all of them fist joined us atthe age of 12-15 years, Five years on, [am proud to beable to say that eightof| ‘our students have become grandmasters, some of them very strong ones enjoying world fame. Here are thei names: Alexei Alexandrov, Inna Ga- ponenko, Vasily Emelin, Vadim Zviagintsev, Hakha Kadymova, Sergei MovsesiansElla Piter and Peter Svidler. In the very near future Iam sure that Viadimi Baklan and Peter Kiriakov will atain the grandmaster tile too, Hardly any other children’s chess school can boast of such a high Tn listing the school's achievements Tam nonetheless perfecly aware that the successes were gained first and foremost by the students them- selves and their regular coaches. Was there much that we could teach (for instance) Peter Svidler ~thres-times Russian Champion ~ atthe three ten-day sessions of the school which he attended (he second, fourth and sixth)? The chief ingredients of Svidier’ssuecesses were of course his, ‘own immense talent and the help of his oustanding coach Andrei Lukin. "Yusupov and I saw our role as that of stimulating the young players further development; helping them to come to terms with themselves, ‘with theis own strengths and weaknesses; formulating plans for the fu- tue; discussing the problems they faced atthe chessboard andthe means ‘of overcoming them: pointing out the basic policies and methods for per- {ectng their chess. That was al. twas not an immense amount, butt was ‘ot negligible either. The students’ results confirm that this was the right approach, and that a8 & whole we performed our task successfully. ‘Among other things, it was ata session of our school that Peter Svidler was advised by me to tm to Lukin for assistance. 8 Preface “This same approach is reflected in our books. We have not attempted 9 write textbooks to elaify this or that tope fully and precisely. Our aim has been fo equip our readers with high-quality material and a variety of ideas conducive to independent thinking and work along the lines we have mapped out. The ideas are not all our own they include those of other specialists (particularly trainers working together with us at the schoo), Naturally this method of exposition requires readers to adopt an inventive (and sometimes critical) attitude tothe text they are studying; it ‘is unsuited to lovers of ready-made precepts. To judge from the popular~ ity of our books, a great many chess players like this approach. ‘The issues discussed inthis book are not confined narrowly to chess they are all situated on the border between chess and psychology. The chess player's thoughts at the board, the characteristic processes of stars the ish as apne he piyer who went on #0 win the Eamponship but se ow easy this win was for Yusupow 4-86 3 1440-06 842 Oba? (Backs in- fending 5, ee botertoplay tat ne 6 and mee 7 da05 by Seana 7 0-0 eS (7. es! 161 8 dues Og 9 D3 dees 10 a2 2e8 10.18 would be a fered by 1108 bt perhaps chat fre thelese evi) 11d 6 12 Biehl exb6 (12x06 13 Wd Had 14201, and 4, 68 flo 15 045) 13 Wad ina 14 Kad 4S (good ideas for Black ar al- Teady hard to come by) 15 8x67 Eabs 16 ef a7 17 03, and ‘White went onto exploit his ex in comfort ae 4 00 ‘occasionally even sochanato- ral move as casting ean prove @ fos of tine, The, most precise tnovearer is 4,061 Gntending Bucs) 5 dt oS. The point is that ‘White has to-do someting about Suexdt 7 Sad a5, bot Och can ‘The Technique of Analysis and Decision-Taking 29 be answered cither by 6..0xd4 7 Dxdd 45 8 Bg? des, or by 6..Ded with the unpleasant threat cof 7. a5+ (if the moves 4.0.05 g2, had been inserted, White ould simply caste here). Nor docs White achieve anything with 6 dees WaS-+7 bd We (ehreat- ‘ening 8..Qg4; 8 23 would now be 3 mistake due 10 8.0.0 9 Sp? Dat 10 De Dxs2t!) 8 ad ws (8.397 is also good) 9 2 6 10 bbe ans, Another way of carying out the same idea is 4..5! (threatening 5.8) 5 e4 d6! (with a view to 6.25) 6 d4@e4! Sa os 6 ef Bes 700 a6 In such positions ..e5 pleasant positional threat, the b2-bishop would be shut oat of the game. White could only acti- vate it with €2-e3 and d24, which ‘would be dificult to carry out 8 a4 ‘Bed 9 Dbaz ‘The game Korchnoi-Gligorié, LUSSR-Yagoslavia match 1956 con- tinued 93 Ses 10 Wel xt3 11 x13 igs 12 xc6 bxe6 13 dxeS dec 14 xg7 sbxg7 15 14 Ded ‘with equi ° rs After 9."@xd2 10 Wa? the pin ‘on the al-h8 diagonal disappears and White wll aim to gain a space advantage with dé-d5, 10 Dh4!? (D) ‘The ef-knight is attacked. How would you continue for Black? ‘What position would you aim for? Sharp attempts like 10..¢5? 11f4@h3+ 12 ht and 10..d5? 11 exds Was 12 g4 clearly fail 10..2167 ig also bad; the space ‘ining 4-45 (ether atonce or af- ter exchanging on 15) guarantees ‘White a positional plus, That leaves only 10..2xa2. ‘When playing 10 0b, Twas in- tending to investigate whether I could spoil Black's pawn forma- tion by inserting an exchange on £5. The complications following 11 DxfS Oxf 12 Dixg7 mighe wen ‘out n my favour, due tothe power- falb2-bishop. Butof course didn’t start working out the variations 30. The Technique of Analysis and Decision-Taking beforehand: I merely satisfied my- Self thatthe simple 11 Wxd2 (he “emergency exit!) was perfectly playable. In general terms 11 Qxf5 looks suspect idea; therefore, as Thave Sad before, we should begin by looking forthe simplest refutation. ‘Theres no harry to stad the posi- tion where Black isthe exchange ‘up (evenf that position iin his fa- ‘your. Fist ask yourself what the ‘candidate moves ae, Isaw the re- ply 1...2e4!, keeping a sound ‘xtra pawn for Black, and broke fff my calcalations at that point. ‘So 11 Wad2 is forced. Most likely Black should not allow the advance 44-5 (although 11.07 is possible) so he should choose between I1.cxd8 12 Df gxf5 13 x6 bros 14 xd and 11x 12 O65 DxfS 13 AAxb7. Which of these positions should Black pre- fer? What is required now is not ‘calculation but sure positional as- festment. Think the second possibility is the right one. White hast conduct lan attack onthe ingside with ha- 1 or 4-5 a8 appropriate, but the success of such an attack is very ‘oubifl, because there are not all that many pieces lft on the board fand meanwhile Black is ready to Counter-attack on the queenside at fonce by advancing his a-pawn, CObjectively the chances are about level ber. “Taking on d withthe pawn is weaker, since pawn weaknesses te formed in the black camp. The better pawn structure guarantees ‘White © small but lasting advan- tage. "What happened in the game? ‘After I played 10 Db, Chekhov sank into thought. T=pent a couple ff minutes looking at the conse Gguences of 10..@xd2 11 @xt5. ‘Then, having convinced myself (in his thinking me!) that that line ‘wasunplayable, got up and walked bout. There was nothing more to think about itwas upto my oppo- ‘et to choose his move. “Ten minutes passed, then an- ‘other ten. This rather began toi fate me. What was he thinking of? By process of elimination it is auite easy to sce that Black must ‘xchange knights. Why waste any time oni then? 10 Budd 11 fxaz ‘As you would expect, Imade my move instantaneously, whereupon ‘Chekhov once again immersed him- self in though for ewenty-five min- bites or so. Evidently he had still pot come toa definite conclusion, frelse some new doubts had arisen, ‘ringing him back to the problem. he had been sirugaling with ‘The Technique of Analysis and Decision-Taking 3 ‘OF course it was sheer waste to spend nearly an hour on such & relatively uncomplicated problem ‘What's more, Chekhov's soliton was by no means the best. ees exe?! 2 Bes gts 13 axe bac 14 fsa | deaart 14.05 15 Bb? Wel was prefer able. 15 Wade e500) Alter this Back has a difficult position. He had to choose be- tween 15..Wa7, intending 5, and 15.06, preparing ..d5. But then, there i othing uprising in ray opponent's weak play. Ifyou ‘ieuptoomuch ime and energy at one particular stage, you won't 17 Bad ‘This threatens 18 245, winning pawn, 17 a wes 18 Bret Black has to contend not only with a5, but also with the line- opening move e-e4, 18 ts 1F 18.86, White plays 19 a5 ‘5 20 Wa2 (fom this variation we ‘can sce why 18 632! would have ben less exact) 19 Eds as Black could put up suffer resis- tance with 19,.Wed 20 xs Wits 21 Eixfd a5, The advance of the a- pawn would promise him some ounteplay inthe endgame, ba is ‘ot mach ein the middlegame, ‘White replies by organizing an at- tack on he King. 20Exts af 2 ef ax 22 bs ios 23 Hes White has a strategically won ‘position. He aims to open Hines on the ingside with gg. ‘After the game Inatrally asked (Chekhov what he had been think- ing about when he took such along time over move 10. “Well, you know.” he replied, “I deciding what t0 do after- wards. 32 The Technique of Analysis and Decision-Taking “But 10,.xd2 was forced, reat" “Ye, it ws “Were you risking anything when you played it? Could it have Jost outright?” “No” ‘Then why didn’t you play it and think afterwards, in the posi tion where you actually had to make a choice? With that position in front of you on the board, it ‘would be easier — there would be Jess chance you'd miss something. Tn any case, you might have been able 0 do some of your thinking in my time. If you'd taken on d2 ‘once, I'd stil have been looking at 1x5" daly enough, these arguments were new t9 Chekhov atthe time. He was wholly unfamiliar with such time-saving devices as the process of elimination. But then, large numbers of players ae prone to thie same kind of inefficient thinking. ‘As aresult of analysing hs typi- cal mistakes inthe taking of deci sions, Chekhov almost eliminated ‘the desperate time-scrambles that had characterized his earlier games. Im the following year (1975) he successfully came through the elimination process and went onto gain the distinguished ite of ‘World Junior Champion In Part 3 of Secrets of Chess Training I described an interesting type of exercise — playing out end- ‘game studies over-the-board. In this way you can develop your {imagination and your analytical technique: in particular, you can lear to make sensible use of the ‘process of elimination. G. Kasparian 4st Prize, ‘30 Years of Soviet ‘Armenia’ Tourney 1950 White's knight is tapped and will hard escape alive. The at- ‘tempt wo extricate it with the aid of the bishop is easly refuted: 1 845? 2f4 (oot the immediate 1.06? 2 Bexe6 exe 3 D6) 2 sd 06 3 ‘Eps a6 and 4..<697. 1 sexh3 Jooks tempting in view ofthe lines 1 fig? 205+ and 1.287 2 des Dies 3 G15, However, Black has ‘The Technique of Analysis and Decision Taking 33 the much sronger 1.442 sepa £05! followed by ..fig7. Paying it this way, White has no chance. "What else can he do? The only ccontinvation to offer any hope is 1 5+ dg7, and now either 2.63 4 3bg3 or 2doxh3 xh 3 gt Dg? 4 SBS, trying to exploit the temporary lack of co-ordination of, the black pieces. Of course, we have o be quick to unearth the li- tle taps that make life easier for us in some variations, for instance 2 buh3 Dee 3 chet and then 3.03 4 D6! or 3, eb 4 7! EXIT 5 5 with a draw. ‘Thus ourvirst move is clear. Lest bg7 [Now which way do we go? If £137 4 3:&p3, the black knight finds an extra square, g2. After 3..g2! 4 Sxh3 De3 our defen- five resources are exhausted. Tere- {fore we must capture the pawa at 2 beast exh ‘An immediate draw would re- sultfrom2..r4+ 3 gd D2 we already know how to meet 3...043 or 3.,.B06) 4 sbg5 oxhB 5 e6, and Black cannot stop the threat” cme 610g 5 ERS eS), 3 tet 4 bes Now Black must have a long think, ait is not at all simple to convert his extra knight into a win, ‘While he is tit, we shall work out some variations too. After 4.98 Spe hear only serpent position by 5..c6 616 4. Now 17 c¥? would be a mistake, as af ter 7.18 the e6-pawn cannot be taken because of 8.2274; while on 8 a7 e7+ 9 p6 dB 10 e8 ‘Sint (Zugewang) 11d Black places his king on €7 and consoli= dates his forces. We must attack the pawn from the other diagonal: 7 BAG! WIE 8 Les Be7s 9 bes 24 10.202, and Black is unable ‘oimprove his position any further. “4..S0h7 does not alter matters: 5 Bede eS 6 96. Black's only remaining try isto remove his knight from g7: ‘4 S dys Sg7t(D) 5.8 is uscless: 6 Sd (in- tending 76) 6..067 Bxe6! Dxe6 se. 34 The Technique of Analysis and Decision-Taking ‘Seeing that 6 £7? Qa is un- playable, White must move his Bish (9p, renewing the threat of fT, Black will reply 6...48, and then wwe play 7 e61, However, where should the bishop go? 1f6 067, Black replies 6.248 ‘with tempo. Other tries that fail are 6 387 D7, 6 Bes? D5, 6.2137 Bas and 6 g2? Dts. Thar leaves only 6 eB or 6 &h1, but after 6 8? Od! 7 06 see8 the black knight comes into play via 16 of bY. The bishop is compelled ‘tw remain on the long diagonal 6 ahi Das 7 et aba 8 fast Not 8 a8? 2ixe6 9 £7 De7. a a3 9 ins ets -ip8 doesn't help: 10 g6 ‘Again the only safe square for the bishop. Mw £3 12 Bast ‘The drawn result is now obvi- ‘We have thus traced roughly ‘what a chess player would be think ing if he had to play the postion in ‘Kasparian’s endgame study. As you can see, there is no need to ana- lyse any long and complicated ‘variations ‘tothe end’; itis much more important to examine the cssential short variations pre- cisely, while trying to register all the vital resources both for our- selves and for the opponent. 4. Comparison ‘This is quite a sophisticated device. Sometimes a quick choice of move ‘can be made purely on the fol= Towing lines: you realize that this move brings about 2 situation which isin no respect worse, and Im some respect better, than the ‘one you would obtain from a dif- ferent continuation. For example, it was justin this way that we ar rived atthe correct order of moves (33.,431, not 33,..b1+2) in the ‘game Alexander-Euwe, The Technique of Analysis and Declsion-Taking 35 Let us consider the following study. F.Bondarehko and M. Liburkin ‘Qnd Prize, All-Union Physical Culture and Sport Committee 1950 White has two moves, 1 Dihé and 1 Del. They come tothe same thing in the case of 1..égl 2 BB+ sg? 3 xh2. However, ter 1 Del Sc3! White again as to play 2 13, whereupon 2..<2¢2 ‘beings about the same position ‘only with the black bishop on c3. ‘We don’t even need to figure out whether this has any significance. ‘Why should we give the opponent sn additional defensive resource? ‘What we should play is clear 1 Dba! ‘When thinking about a move in practical play, you aren't called upon to lucite how the game is ‘meant to end. Starting by compar ing the two possibilities, you aqickly place the knight on and leave it to your opponent to look fora way to save himself. In his thinking ine you can form a beter Picture of the ensuing variations ce et 22m oe 3 Gx tah Now if White goes after the pawa, Black wil Jock him in by ‘Fanning across toc7 with his king. “low can this be prevented? 4 est Axes (D) 5 shes es 6 a7 eta 7 tee Black's bishop gets in the way of his own king. ‘Observe what happens inthe case of 4.23 (instead of 4.fxe5) 5 36 The Technique of Analysis and Decision Taking The Technique of Analysis and Decision-Taking 37 6 Stbd 6 eS shg3 7 thdS EC48 you may find a precise solution Exercises ‘Sco es 9 Eb7 Las, and this to the problem that faces you, time the king hampers the bishop: and that this solution will deci- 10 €7? and wins. sively affect the further course of From this last variation it thegamein other words, at the ‘emerges that if White mistakenly key moments of the struggle (the : Sars with 1 el, the tempo ability to identify them is very = Black gains by 1..0¢31 is of vital Important); alternatively If you significance: 2 413 €g2 3 xh? can’tsee a continuation that is at ww a Pana 4 e5 dps 56 Ads 6 Ges all acceptable, and need to dis- Is (or 6.8) 7 B45 HUB cover one. ‘Bes es 9 o7 sas 10 dxa7 $e7 and draws ‘With that, this chapter closes. I ‘o don't recommend that you esti. . Don't spend too long yourself tothe above advice delve 1. White to move 3 lysing extremely complex into the matter more deeply, Variations in such eases, evolve new priaciples of your own, rely on your ‘eet Study examples which illustrate the rational technique of searching Quite often we encounter obscure for moves and taking decisions. wx Situations where it is practically Solve special taining exercises; lag ™ Es impossible to arive atthe truth in analyse your own performance in ‘conditions of limited thinking time. tournament games, I hope that this 2 ‘Even if you find the right move, manner of working at Your chess a the price forusing up animmense will gain your interest. But are we ‘a amount of energy may prove too talking about chess alone? ALter high. Most likely you will have too all, rational, precisely organized A mwa Tile time and strength eft for later thought isof value in any sphere of Saw fe AR decision. Iie ae i _@rme| sensetospend nlotoftime think: In conclusion, here are some 2. Evaluate WS 4. Black to mo. Ing about a move? The answer quite dificult excriss for you is, when you understand that solve independently. Solutions are given on pages 269-272, 2 Wandering in the Jungle Mikhail Krasenkov ‘The calculation of variations is one cof the fundamental elements deter- ‘mining a chess player's choice of ‘move. The ability o calculate ac- ‘curately along way ahead, in con- ‘ditions of limited time on the clock, isthe paramount factor in your stan- dard of play, and depends toa large ‘extent on organizing and isciplin- ing your thoughts. Perhaps the foremost specialist inthis field was ‘Grandmaster Alexander Kotov, the originator of a theory of chess snalysia which ought to be familiar to every accomplished player. (AI ‘my quotations are from his book ‘Think Like a Grandmaster) “The fundamental concept in Ko- {ov's theory isthe “tee of varia tions’. “All possible continuations in a given position can be visual- {zed a8 a ‘wee’ in which variations ‘and sub-variations are represented ‘ branches and twigs" Kotov dis- tinguithes between different types fof ‘tee’ — between a “bare trunk’ (@ single variation or branch), “coppice (lots of short lines) and “impenetrable thickets or ‘jungle ‘undergrowth’ (masses of long. i- ‘volved variations). In his opinion, the chief rule for calculation is “to ‘g0 down each branch only once. [No going over things twice, no go- ing back! Only in afew individual ‘cates, in especially complicated ‘postions, will a grandmaster check. through his chosen variation a sec- ‘ond time. As a rule, he will not keep climbing all over the tree.” T would observe that, essentially, the tee of variations is formed dur- ing the process of calculation itself, 0 that we can speak ofa particular ‘order in which it takes shape. ‘On the very important question of assembling the branches of the tree — that it, deciding on the ‘moves which call for examination in any particular position ~ Kotov formulates the following rule: “When beginning our analysis we must first ofall mentally enumer- ate, and make an exact note of, all the possible candidate moves in the given situation... Having de- fined and collected them, we start working out one variation after ‘another in turn.” This must, of course, apply not only tothe intial position bu to any position reached inthe analysis, where one side has ‘choles of continuations. Thus, all, possible candidate moves are de- termined once and forall, in ad. vance of your analysis of the position. They are selected on the basis of general considerations, im tuition, and so forth. Basically, these two rules of Ko- tov's are applicable tothe majority ‘of postions in practical play, and if ‘a chess players able to obey them ‘as a matter of second nature, this ‘constitutes an immense step for- ‘ward in his mental development. ‘Yetthese rules also have signift- ‘cant shortcomings which emerge ppaticuarly in complex, obscure po- sitions. International Master Boris ‘lonik, who has investigated this ‘question, writes as follows: “I. ln complex position itis ex- tremely difficult to compile the ist of eandidate moves at the very set of your calculations. In prac- tice, the candidates come to light ‘during the process of fathoming the position. "2A fine point inthe analysis ‘of one variation often dawns 00 ‘you in the course of calculating a ‘ifferent line. Therefore in diff cult situations, repeating your cal- culation is essential” Wandering in the Jungle 39 Hereis.a very simple exampleto ittustrate Zlotnik’s fist point. From examining the line 1 54 exf42 px, to which Black replies 2.-dee3 — controlling the gl-square = you could hit on the idea of side- stepping with the knight fst, by 1 @A5 or 1 Das! (and then 2 Hts, ‘The move 1 @ad is indeed the quickest way to win. But without any analysis (however rudimen- tary) ofthe 1 Fé line itis hard ‘ee wha reason there would be to include 1 @a4 among your candi- date moves. Zlomik’s second remark points to such characteristics of human thought as the workings ofthe sub- ‘conscious and the faculty of asso- ciation. Another major defect of 40 Wandering in the Jungle Kotov's theory is also readily ap- parent: he ignores the problem of the order in which to examine the candidate moves, asserting that this “depends on the character and, habits ofthe player, and onthe pe- couliarites of the position”. If, as Kotov assumes, itis obligatory to examine all the candidate moves, then of course the order hardly matters. Infact, though, there are many cases where, in the interests ‘of economy, the analysis of some ‘candidate moves can be dispensed ‘with: thas no bearing on your de- cision, which can be reached sim- ply by analysing the other moves. In such cases the order of analysis is of supreme importance. Ith chapter shall ty to pre cent a more complex (though admit- tedly none too schematic) algo- sithm for calculation. This algo- ‘thm, which [shall illustrate by an example, isin fact used (uncon- sciously) by many chess players in obscure postions (ofthe “jungle” ‘ype. 1 Define the aim of your analy sis “in other words the eriterion by Which you will judge the varia- tions and decide whether they sa- ify you or not. The aim might be, for example, to attain a decisive ‘material plus; to increase your po- sitional advantage: to equalize the game; to put up resistance in a bad ‘position; and so on. The aim must hoe realistic, that is, it must be ‘based on your assesément of the position and on intuitive consid- erations. Your sights may be raised somewhat higher if enough think- {ng time is available, or lowered if time is shor. 2. Look for ideas to achieve the aim; select appropriate can- date moves, and (this is very important) decide on their order ‘of priority; that is, decide which ‘ones are most or leat likely to sue- ceed. 13. Analyse the variations (as deeply as possible) in order of priority (starting with those which ‘seem most likely to achieve the aim). Similarly, at each point inthe ‘analysis where a choice arses, the ‘order of calculation should depend, fon the priority of the possible ove with ou pci si in 4. If you find a continuation which achieves the aim, what fol- ows depends on your available thinking time. If time is short, the ‘main part of your analysis should stop this point (though there sil remains the essential “Blumenfeld re-check’~ see point 8 below). If thereis plenty of ime, the aimmay be adjusted (thats, raised); the list ‘of candidate moves that remain 10 be considered may be revised, and the analysis may continue. Should the new aim not be attained, you will fall back on the line already Found. ‘5.1 as a resultof your analysis ‘no way Is found to achieve the aim, your further action depends fonce again on the clock situation, With a time shortage you must lower your sights, correct the list of candidate moves, and resume the analysis. I often happens that your new aim is already satisfied iy a line you have examined — ora suitable continuation is relatively simple to find. The essential thing is not to make your move ‘on spec’, without any calculation, 6. Fon the other hand there is plenty of time lett, and your intui- tion suggests thatthe aim ought to bbe attainable (an accomplished player should put more faith i his fnuition, which afterall embodies his accumulated understanding of ‘chess) ~ then you may (and must) deliberately perform 2 “repeat analysis" of cern lines. In $0 do- ing you will be looking for new ideas to achieve the aim. Aceord- ingly, you wil find new candidate ‘moves and “candidate variations’ [Let me explain what this means. In ‘many variations, when analysing the frst time round, you will al- ready have discovered your oppo- strongest, or only, replies; Wandering in the Jungle 41 some forced lines of play will have ‘merged. Often the new idea ~ the variation’. You will now start eal- culating the new possibilities (com- pare point 3); this is stage two of the analysis. (Sometimes, though ‘not often, you will go through this, cycle a third time.) Generally speaking, @ repeat analysis is a admission of paral failure. Ideally, all ideas for purs ing your aim should be incorpo- rated in stage one of the analysis, However, as we have seen, this is pot always possible 7-lumay be that while analysing. ‘one variation you ton anew idea, ‘anew candidate move, which does not apply to this particular varia- tion, In that ease, decide where the new move comes in order of prior- ity, but don't start to examine it be- fore finishing with the line you are ‘currently calculating. An excep tion may be made when itis obvi- ‘ous at first glance that the new idea is better (not just worthy of higher Priority than the lie you ae look ing at. '8.One ofthe major defects inthe ‘mental equipment of many players is ‘chess blindness’, a proneness 10 ‘overlook elementary replies forthe 42 Wandering in the Jungle ing is. ‘Blumenfeld’s rule? (of ‘which Kotov also speaks): on com- pleting your calculations and mak- ing your decision, pause for a ‘moment (write the move on You scoresheet) and look at the posi- tion with the fresh eyes of an out- sider, Could the move you intend bea blunder leading to immediate disaster? Check that itis not, and only then make your move. Ifyou see thatthe move és an error, you will have to renew your analysis. Inthiscase, as arule, you willneed 10 lower your ‘aim and seek sim- plifications, since a erude oversight fies your unreadiness for a complex struggle. ‘Blumenfela's rte is well known to the majority of accomplished players, but. inthe heat of batle they often forget it. T would like to ilustrate the foregoing by showing the concla- sion of one of my own games. I consider the winning manoeuvre I ‘found in this game to be one of my best creative achievements, “The awkward placing of White's pieces and the weaknest of hi first rank prompted me to look for a forced win in other words a large ‘material gain (this constituted the ‘aim’ of my analysis). The idea was to combine attacks on the bishop with threats to penetrate onthe back rank, [listed the following ‘cand- date moves" in order of priority 2) 23..Wdl 24 $1, and pow: al) 24..Wigd 25 2 Wet 26 ‘We2, and Black has nothing. 2) 24.85 25 42, and [Black has two choices: 21) 25..eh2 26 031 Whit gy gn Wits 28 a Wetr 29 2 222) 25..WbS+ 26 dog] Wad? 27 423 and then 27.183 28 Wl, (0 27..Wo4 28 Wel 37 29 Wal, 3) 24, Wad 25 a2 WhS+ 26 sgl, transposing 1 222" Tn the above variations, Black merely gains a second pawn — the Aim is not achieved. 'b) 23.184 24 Wel Wes (or 24,7 25 Wal) 25 Se? He? 26 ‘Wa2! £6 and after 27 $63! or 27 SL, Black guins nothing, ¢) 23..at 24 S.d2 (out n0t 24 13? Wa5), and there is nothing to be found. 1d) 23..gd 24 262. ) 23..MeS 24 3. In these last two lines, Black's possibilities are clearly exhausted. ‘So stage one ofthe analysis has failed to give the desired result If Black were now short of time, he ‘would have to revise his aim let tus say, by seeking the best way to ‘win a second pawn, In that case, incidentally, he would have an ex: tra ‘candidate move’ to consider: 1D 23..Wxb2 (which clealy falls shortof the original maximum aim). His choice would be between 21", ‘922! and “f". Fortunately, ‘however, Thad enough time in hand (he togmament was played atthe “good old rate of 40 moves in two ‘and ahalf hours), and [resolved 10 Took for new ideas. The thought ‘occurred to me to re-position my Wandering inthe Jungle 43 queen behind the rook; I would have to-do this without allowing White to defend dl by Sc2. The following ‘candidate variations? suggested themselves: A) 23.8841 24 sett Wad 25 a2 Bas; ') the same, but with 25.45; ©) the same with 25.244, D) 23..Wad 24 Bd? Ha6, E) the same, bu with 24.24 F) the same with 24.2048, © 23..al 24 et Whs 25 .d2 WO5+ 26 seg Ba6, 1H) the same, but with 26.2245; 1D the same with 26... Ia all cases Black threatens a7. I quickly rejected the first, ‘tio of variations in view of 26 “We2. The third trio was discarded if only because of 27 Sc3. Inthe remaining cases, what [discovered was a8 follows: D) 23..Was 24 a2 Has 25 Wer! (25 S11? Wes+ 26 Wer Wrb2. 27 a3 Wd) and then 25..Wa7 26 Sel or 25...Wa6 26 ‘Wel (beter than 26 We3 WO"), intending to defend everything with dicd and Ste2. B) 23..Wad 24 2a? Has 25 ot! and then 26 213, 28 25..HeS? Tails v0 26 x74. 44 Wandering in the Jungle F) 23..as 24 242 25 Wer (better than 25 1 WS + 26 We2 Wrt2 27 £03 Wra2) and then 25...847 26 Sel or 25...a6 26 Wes. Inall variations Black is at aloes hhow to win, So stage two of the analysis has also ended without producing the results. ‘Should Black afterall renounce the maximum aim and revise his analysis accordingly? I decided to ‘keep on searching, and I was not disappointed, An idea came into ‘my head lke a flash of lightning. 23..Wad 24 £a? Bas 25 Wer wast! (0) ‘Yes, the idea of going back with ‘the queen is far from obvious. Tbe- lieve it would have been impossible to find it without calculating many ‘other lines first ~ without explor- ing the jungle of multiple atacks and defences. On the other hand, the remaining ealeslation (stage three already!) is not complicated. ‘With White's queen on e2, the Black queen's penetration 10 dl is deci- sive: 26 el Wal 27 Wes £5,0r 26 Wes e877 det Wal 28 WAS bs, ‘The entre three-stage analysis (including re-checking) took ex- actly an hour. The game continued 23..Wad! 24 2.42 Ede! (D). i i aot wom a _ eee WA [Now my opponent from Novo- sibirsk unfortunately played 25 f1(2), and after 25..WDS+ he re- signed (0-1). Black's main idea, alas, remained off-stage TTmay aay with some pride that cout of the many strong players (masters and_grandmasters) to ‘whom Ihave shown this position, only one managed to find the solu: tion on his own, An interesting point is that even one ofthe latest Mephisto’ model computers (ad mittedly no the strongest failed to find the right continuation, though ‘you might think this would not be “ifficat for a computer Tam fa from imagining that my proposed algorithm is applicable to all complex positions. Like any other algorithm, however —in fact, Wandering inthe Jungle 45 like any method of organizing one's thinking ~ itcan yield good results ‘once itis absorbed into a player's subconscious and he follows it automatically, However, this ean ‘only be achioved by special train- ing, a matter to which too few players, alas, give sufficient atien- 3 Visual Imagination and Chess Analysis Beniamin Blumenfeld ‘Note: This article was fist published in 1938 “The prime concern of chess theo- reticians isthe study of openings In practical chess, opening know!- ‘edge undoubtedly plays a major role ~ bat not a decisive one. Even inthe recent Alekhine-Euwe match (4935), for all Euwe's massive ‘opening preparation and Alekhine’s

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