Diacreat Suowine ALermate DistexaToss (OF SQUARES ON THE ChUSSHOARD MODERN CHESS STRATEGY ay LUDEK PACHMAN Translated and Abridged »y ALAN S. RUSSELL DOVER PUBLICATIONS, NEW YORKCapri gt yh Ral “rb in he Dated gen by aie Author’s Preface “Tus book doesnot pretend to bea complet textbook ofthe conduct ca cer game elie doe claim fo prevent ane approach to hss rate: ny aim as meey bee o produce a praca! guide {ote sy of the mide-game- Everyone wbo dees to take up ‘hes serio iterated in the question: How can I ecogize the taraceie features of a postion and then iy my Pans ocd Sngy? To help ansncr ths guestion the task hit Dok. "We begin with an examination ofthe pestis ofthe indivi pices and pawns, Then the problem ofthe cee, materi and [pace advactage on «porter scton of thea, pw formas {tonsa some peer probles a he ces struggle are cased. ’Ava found forthe Bok I ave used large tumbero ames spaming many periods of chest, though nally examples Tom teont tournaments predominate It may be acd that my own faes appear wih Comprativ fequency. ‘This not because f Eonsidr tem to beth best example of correct ratgkal pay, but bernie every ches player nrtandtir own games beter than those fates ard can therefore best expan the ovat proces he esperened dering the ame. Lop Pactan Translator’s Preface Ms. Paciwa the Czechoslovak Grandmaster, bs for many years teen a leading Chess expert and theorist on the Consnenty only ‘crt, however have any of is works bon tanlaed into English "The preset book isan abrdgement that attempts to com into ene volume the materi contained inthe thee taimes of “Merye Schachoraregs, the German tandlation of the Ceash signal, Strategie Moderiho Sacha. To do this 1 have omited & ‘ter of games and lft out the opening moves of many ater But om the whos, have avid any amion of es an tees resented by Me Pachnan Auas 8. ResoContents 1. The Basic Concerts oF Curss SrmATECY 'A, Strategy and Tats The Character of the Pos Plea . The Equilibrium of the Position and its Distur ‘bance « : fon and the Choice of UW, The Varwr oF He Pres IML Thar Mixon Pues . ‘Te Bishop and Open Diagonal ‘The Good and the Bad Bishop Unlike Bishops. The Knight and its Operation Base The Strugele of Bishop against Knight 1. The Superiority of the Bishop 2. The Superiority ofthe Knight - ‘The Two Bishops roos> IV. Tis Rooks “The Creation and Meaning of Open Files Orgs Fes a Faso inn Ack agar the ‘The Conversion of Open Files in the Centre and on ‘the Queen's Wing, The Seventh and Eighth Ranks - Active Rooks infront of the Pawn Chain moo we , Te QuEeN AND Pray qr THe Heavy Preces Vi Tae Kise A. The Active King in the Middle-game B. Casting C. The Exposed King’s Position as «Strategic Facior 8 4 4s 31 3 8 os 2B 3B 8 vil. vm, XI xu Coments EXCHANGE OF MATERIA Tue Paws “The Passed-pawn: its Crestion and Conversion ‘The Blockade Special Types of Pasted-pawn ‘The fsolated Pawn ‘The Backward Pawn ‘The Isolated Pawn-pair Doubled Pawns pzrpnee “Tue Centre ‘A. Tho Classical Centre B. The Litde Cente ©. Other Types of Pawn Centre D. Teasion in the Centre FE. Pee Centraization . F. Consol ofthe Central Squares G. The Paslyblocked Centre SUPERIORITY ox THE Wisc ‘A, Pawn Majrity on the Wing B. Piece Concenteaton on the Wing Space Superiority om the Wing D. The Blocked Pawn Chain E. The Flank Attack and the Centre “Te Mivorery ArrACK. A. Struggle for Control of C4 B. The Advance P-QN4 by Black - ©. The Change in Pawn Formation “Tue Straseoicat Poms ‘A. The Pieces in a Forwatd Position B. Advanced Pans (C. Weak Squares in the Pawn Chan 153, ba 19 170 8 it 6 192 197 207 207 2216 207 228 232 236 2s 2s - 282 232 237 260xm. XIV, XY, Contents Dvavwte Euewents ‘A. Lead in Development D. Gain in Time atthe Cost of Material . Co-operation of Pies und Pawns . The Positional Sacrce Metiops oF Coxpuctine THE FiGkT ‘A. Attack and Defence 1. Repulsion of Tactical Threats 2. The Counter-Attack 3. Preventive Defence 1B. Tacking . Technical Conversion of Superiority INDIMDLAL STYLE: PSYCHOLOGICAL PLAY Coxronmiry ax ConTmADicnioN #S CHS Indes of Openings Indes: of Games Bibliography Te mite ae ches ht see reed ese ston iam de Sit ts cing ing ke, we ee tay cate” inst, Sten Eee Atay nae Fim he Me Geme Chet Kinoeh, Pam Power Chat For thus who con read fori language hers of course the three volume ensbrdged tensor of the preset hook. Stee ‘Modeniio Sachs, writen in Cosh, ot the Geman tation ‘Modee Solachraigi. De. ume tus dope good Werk i his Hor Madd ss of twee booklet in Duss thee hve ter trated ito German yds the tle Das Mielpc “Snape sts contninmmcracfivormation ase rumarvs emp canbe found in cere magasie, tourna Socks and enons of inst Two elecois warty of Imenton ate Motor ofthe Chetbord hy Rehan My Bert ‘Gomeref Seri wo volume by Alekhise Both hove wor are ‘lominting om many spect fees state an 2 2282 a3 314 CHAPTER | The Basic Concepts of Chess Strategy 4. STRATEGY AND TACTICS ‘wins ld iwi tht the dierence between the expert ches Byer anc the novice lee inthe extent to Wisk the formes can Elen advances and the quenon of how many moves in ad- vance a Grandmaster ean reckon is oen thrown up for srgument “The ay to caevate corey ondoubedy een forte tops lagers but i not the only one. aed certaly ot the most mporsne diferene betwsen the master and the average Player, There are many payers so have a good command ofthe {rt of accurate combinations, but who il over reach master strength for they lack the ability 10 conduct the ere game on the bass of correct plan tak out fn advance. The eaeuaton of arcular varations fs only possible, and. nocesay, in cerain ‘Sarl defined ponitons; in ot eases one's overall lan of play 8 {he comet pointer to finding ten move ‘The pan of play at parkulas point in the game i cal the sutogeal plate gin which ld ut te collin of Principles we follow ini determination, i» Known a8 tategy {Thee terme. and bers lke state goal and tacts, ave He se eng asin the scence of warfar,plital selene, et Tt mght be thought thatthe straepeal goin every gue was the matingof the opponing King. Arde nes sch perf em: rehonson of Rtsegypreeled Inthe early aye of the magery im of chow.” Nowadiys, however, chase has improved and ideashavebecome more profound Inthe gmt of good Payers ven the winning of « weak pawn no longer appears with eqaracy a8 Steageal goal; more often smal postonal advantage (ch central of an open file, the weakening of un opposing pawn, or the ‘reation of plsedspawn) the object for whch a payer Puts UP a bier gb Tels hardly osesay oad tht the best of plans come to nothing itthey are not cared out correctly, this applic in hes asin ie ‘The colton of measures an methods for exeeting one's strat a plan or thwaring the opponen’s fs called tacts. To this BSG Seong manoeuvres, combirations and ssrifees, as wel asPachman's Modera Chest Strategy double attack, inning, discovered check, traps, ete. To deal with these concep in detail is, however, not the tsk of this book, ‘though the feader will become familar with them by studying the ‘games and examples given in the following pages. 1B. THE CHARACTER OF THE POSITION AND CHOICE OF PLAN “he choice of plan is in every case dependeat on the consrcte poshion on the Bou mun tettorcorespond vo that potion, ‘Fo judge a postion corecly and recognise porate an essential protege for ning sae strategie plan We ‘hecefore ak what factors dstrmine the character of poston and how the Seuepcal plan can thereby he deduced. Naturally tis ‘cannot be answered in one chapsr tthe Basic question with which the whe of the ok i onterncd. But we can bry 549 that the character of « posdon is teri’ by the folowing factors 1. The material slaonship: that is, material equality othe nae superiority of ae se 2 "The power of the ini ies. 3 The gut of he india pawns. 44 The postion of tho pawns; thatthe pawn srtur, 5: The postion of the Kings '. Cocoperation amongst the pists and pasa Some ofthe factors that determine the chaser ofthe poston ae lasing, others temporary. Am important lasting factor st ality an poston of the pa, for thee sonnos in soot thepices, been taken from one de ofthe Doar tothe others the poutions of the pawns as a rule only change gradually, whereas The pees can mot take up a new post wihoat undve difeuty ‘Ar real we have the apparent contradiction thats the paw, spite their elaivey sll valu, which lrgely determine te Staracter ofthe postion. Other Ising ctor se material sper ‘ny and, in many essen, the poston of the Kings ow let ws lok at some postions and ase how thir chaacers sare determined an how the cortest seeps plas chow. Tm Diagram 1 we have a poston froma rarely payed variation ‘ofthe Ray Lopez. In practice tis peston has ot yet been Sl ‘Setly tid out and the theoretcnns have dering views on We norce that Back has 4 material vantage of to pawns, noe counting that on uS,which samot be hells he however behind ‘The Base Canceps of Chess Strategy in development ard his pieces are passively placed. White, on the ‘other hand, has his Quesn, Knight and Bishop actively placed, and his Rooks are ready to join in the Hight along any of the open les, ‘These factors determine the character ofthe postion and point £0 the plan to be adopted by both players, whit us fallows— 1, White must use his beter posted pies to create tatial threats and £9 launch a dee onslaught'on the opposing Kings ‘yplcal threats would be BX QP, Q-KRS, R-KI, N-KNS, te 2. Black musi atemps to patry the immediate threats, somplete his development, and convert hi material advantage by split cation Duna Dior 2 aw gnenatEt ae fh bie a ae & Bote a Ems ees ae wis only by accurate and deep analysis ofthe possbiites of both players tht wo can stale whether White or Black hat the better prospects with his plan. But We are not interested in thi at the Fromont; we are much more concerned withthe fact that a lasting actos (atrial advantage) was ped ageins a temporary one ead in development and actively placed pices). The forme fa strate sical factor the later dynamic fator. Inthe last example these factors were opposed to one anather and demanded a quite diferent plan from each se ‘In Diagram 2 we again have a posiion feom the Ruy Lopez Here the material sequal and both sides have the same nimber of pleces developed. ‘What pan should be adopted by each player? “The chi factor hare is the aspmtetrcal postion of the pawns. we dite the boat int by line between the King and Queen files we see that Black as Tour ans against White's tres on the ‘Queensde, whereas on the Kingide the postion is revered ‘Another important fator is Whites paw on eS, which, having ‘crossed the demarcation line," restricts Black's movements on the 3‘Pachman's Modora Chess Statey Kingaide: lack cannot occupy £6, and if he ties P-KBS (or PHA) he mst reckon wilh BPs frermore, shuld be pay PANS he ges White the opportu to cacy fe with a pie ‘We can now cin he steps lane tht Soespood fo this poston 1. White wll prepare pee attack onthe King side wth such snover st G-Q3, 8-QH2, ARS, ots be wl be Rep nthe Uy the crarping elect of the King pawn on Mack: In addon be wafer through preparation, advance th his pawns on the Kingade (KD) 2 ack wil counter the heats onthe Kingsde and wil hen prepare an advance of his on pans on the Queealde(N-QR P-QB4, etc,). In Diagrar 3 we have a potion fom the Ratner Variation ofthe Sisian Defence Here the dominant factor ithe poston of the Kings on opposite flanks Both shes mast endeavour to ae thet Dinonas 3 Doran 4 Position ater 8... PKB cs and pawns aginst the enemy King without Tos of tine: in heh postions the mnin ft come fret served generally Hols te. White wil therefore aves bh Kings paws a guikly 3 ponsibl, and Black his Quonsde pats, neers important, itor the weshnon of Sacks pava ov 06. awe of this ‘lick, in carrying ovt bs plan should try and arranges pices 0 ‘hat his pawn an be avantageouly covered eg, R-QH end Q-082). Somes postions aecr in which chic of stele! pans is posible. Inthe Strick Varation of the King’ Indian, White batter the moves QS, N-KBS: 2P-QB4,PAKNS; 3 N-OBD, ‘The Basie Concepts of Chess Stratery BLNZ; 4 P-K4. PLQ3; 5 PLB, 0-0; 6 B-K3, P-K4; 7 P-O5, N-Ré) 8 0-02, P-KI) the choice between two completely dif ferent plans (ee Diagram 4). 1. He can play 9 PXP, PxP: 10 0-0-0, and then uy 10 Jausch 2 sharp Kingside attack with B-Q3, KN-K2, R-KNI, and P-KNN4; lack will then goin for an attack on the opposite ‘wing (P-QR3, P-QN4, et}; the game will have © sharp two edged character. 2 He can, by 9 0-0-0, P-BS; 10 B-B2, allow Black to sbiain a Kizgside space advantage, which can be increased by PAKNES, White, however, will have more space on the Quees side and after the development of his piees can proceed withthe advance P-QNS, P-QBS, et 1m the transitional period between the opening and the mide sai, the postbity of a choke betwaen two fans often ares, Sometimes not posible to decide, afer an objective asesiment, ‘which i beter; then subjective ators (sch s one's oom spe and {hat ofthe opponent aswell the state ofthe tournament mst Be taken into consideration; but that we shall dea! within Inter shaper ‘When the corect theoreti plan corresponding tothe character ofthe poston hasbeen seleted, it must be cared ut in a cone Sstent Ianner with sl the tetesl means avaable. BUC a Word oF ‘waming the plan shoulé always be kept under conto in eae a hange i the postion should occa, even avery sigh change may necsskat an immodiat alteration tothe satis plan C. THE EQUILIBRIUM OF THE POSITION AND ITS DISTURBANCE In judging a postion we have up to now concerned ourselves with the determination of ics stratepical character and the choie ofthe ‘correct stratepeal plan. A second, and no less important, part of| ‘analysis of a postion isthe assessment ofthe prospects ofboth players for the further course of the game, Such'an tscsement f ‘specially important if we want to calculate a particular trie of Imoves; itis clear chat we should only deide on a manoeuvre oF ‘combination when we consider the end position to be more fayour- ble, o- atleast equal, tthe initial one; therefore we must under Stand howto assess the prospects for bth sites inthe positon before 4nd alter every forced manoeuvre or contbination, ‘The sume ype 5Pachoan' Modern Chess Strategy ‘of assessment should also in fluence the determination ofthe srate- Bical plan. If the prospects of hoth players are equal ina particular position, -we speak of the equilibrium ofthat position. ‘This is often confused swith the concept drain poston, bu! to inteschange the terms freely is completely wrong, asthe folowing two examples will show. {In Diagram 5 the position of the pawns is symmetrical. Sooner or laser an exchange of heavy piss will ake place oa the open ele, Feaving, amongst the minor pieces, Bishops of opposite colours, aie nyt fis 282 wt a @ whats aa outate eS me we 6 oes GA OR Ge 8 6 The Basle Concepts of Chess Strategy Basically, therefore, we have two Forms of equilibrium — 1. Drawn postion offering nether side prospects of an active snd elective pian. "2. Positions in which the prospects for both sides are equal: here the eg atti by India stor that ‘determine the character ofthe poston. How isi that equilibrium arises? We know that White has the right to make the frst move, and this gives him a certain advantage fn development and possibly also in space. Theoreticians once argued about whether the advantage of the fist move should suc, with correct play, to win or whether a faulessly played game must fend in a draw. Recent experience bas shown that the advantage of the frst move i not so great as was onee thought; Black canon the ‘whole nevtrlize Whites initial advantage within the frst twelve t0 twenty moves. However, the first move has some impoctance: any Ingecoracy, no matter how small, ow the putt of the second player uring th opening generally ells in disturbance ofthe equim: White, on th other hand, can generally allow himself more scope and can often choose objectively weaker moves (perhaps fr psycho~ Togiesl reasons) without ssking a seriously unfavourable shift inthe cguilibrun, Th the fist phase ofthe game Black endeavours to obtain equality, ‘which of course does not mean that he is fered to play fr & dra. ‘When hear qualized the position we have an equilibrium. How can this be upset? Basically, only by 8 mistake on the part of one of the players; but thie does'not obly mean material loss or lear positional disadvantages a faulty statepical plan or a seties of Ininor inaceuacis that in jolation have ble eect can also lead (0 ‘disturbance ofthe equilibrium. ‘When we maintain that the equilibrium ean only be upset by | nistake on te part of one player, we do not imply that one cannot Fight to achieve sich a change. In order to foree an advantage one snd tastcal problems that aford the oppo> ‘en dfculty. Often in clearly drasrh positions its possible to tnd ‘continuation that makes it hard forthe opponent to work out the ‘ight stategieal plan or even one chat bumbooces him into making sfactice eon, ‘The equilibrium cannot, however, be udvantapeously upset by a sudden attack; that would have the reverse effect for ks initiator. ‘This i one of Steint’s principles, A simple exaraple will show: it at work, 7Pachman's Modern Chess Strategy MEEK-MORPRY (Mobile 155) 1 Ps PKs 2 NKR N-Q83 3 P04 PxP 4 Bae ry SINS? White's fourth ove was in 2 sexy an atenpt to distr the ira by ping pen for te aale of detopmss It Wit ha fled up in com tet snr wih SR Sen ftere wou pave ben na ufoour- sie tht the ein or him With he texnve, tomer, hero os he wakes of {7 by a sodden stack Th ‘rong for Buck bs oi nat Imai eer ti ts op Shum was undress Ws Alspy of aggesion can schiee some Daxcraw 7 ‘ehata wl ee mw ft Sa at gue Gel iar as 2ex8 Diagram 7 showed the poston ‘before White's combinations dae gram 8 gives the picture afer i Inthe course of the lst ve moves Whites sacmrded in recovering the avin sacrieed on move foot nd atthe sume Sime has exposed Black's King; but he fs x0 much twhind ic developoent thatthe ‘silrium fas been dstrbed ‘our of Black! 2. ga 10 Cons xt SV QNSen A player failiae with the prin ciples of present-day sategy, find ing himse in tis postin, would without station ope for the 2 {ination 11 0-0,8P: 12-02, REKL: 13 N-B3. Although after ‘Alck’s Q-BS he would sil hase ineuiint compensation for his pwn, be would at last have con Pete his development and 50 be fia poston to. ward off all im rodiate heats. The Basie Concepts of Chere Sate) ". Poe 98 BOO Etro en, ck ase it 4 Par. Gseh een RTCA 435 F-KNS Rxrh 19 aere: 16 K-82 en Baa rox Na Ke NBD a ONS possl 22 Resigns oni his ston wo shal enamine the concep ack and inten ston to he uit hy ack ne ean ect Sth ppg psn tery owners gre owes ofS cobtcaon af pct do pra ston Rea, wchknown see om tesco wate hv te sce esa Of an aac rele open of th atuchig fore! gpl sho toch ven many bepenen Tow of hetdogn, “Bo stats where you se wen oer wicyou wal fers cadventage™Inorrocaryour sh tack Venda eiteramore ace pacbgof he paces ora suc aranage maye moie psy or weak ons fn te ey poston r SSomiing sina We stdin eer word daturtunce of the Gall, THs rule hus‘ one engin, wih osc a PBston af he pe owe in Dag 6 Heri ame a, Bot cach payer bs pace advantage on itrent ston of he eu Ei on uth a atc rom bi region of spot Batmist con on ouferafack onthe opp ming We can sow conse the cnssoncen oft dance of the quiron cured by he opponet instr ay A sco Reruns ote epainnuteniead oan ogee) von game fer eumpl he hater! oe whew adopts cnet Inve is question of converting the ave gee one OF cigs "and where te Ki poston Na bes eran Sraened a ese nstack can fen ele Bu mont est TThturtace of te equ dot stead at nce oan oj ray wor pe nt ey advarag at Be ed fo gn Wr. Illy aie tad game odes tone ih nen are ful naeroge Canal be conse for cal,» ihap INET ool apt one Ring suet won the erie ‘nee ditt slot rom th Bop sn cone by i Cceting King, The wl oa Guanes egalbun irate ht on deb eld fo cary ou hs saga pan der more favours cneions an tht he exeaton of te lan Wiles ar oe se ote games tc oppnen aly :