The Genesis of Power Chess Effective Winning Technique For Strategy and Tactics Compress

THE GENESIS OF
POWER CHESS
Effective Winning Technique
for Strategy and Tactics
e
Dr. Leslie Ault

USCF Master
Thinkers' Press
Davenport, Iowa
1993
The Genesis of Power Chess
Copyright© 1993 by Leslie Ault
All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or

transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or
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First Printing:
October 1993
ISBN: 0�938650..50 5 ..
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Contents
AOO.tt Me ara.d.. T'his B<xlk •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• iv
Chapter 1: Some Basics ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 1
Chapter 2: The Fight to Win or Draw •••••••••••••••••••••••••• 20
Chapter 3: Cashing in at t he End •••••.•••••••••••••••••••••••.•. 64
Chapter 4: More Fun at the Cashier's Window •.•••••••••••• 101
Chapter 5: The Care and Feeding of Pawns •••••••••••••••••• 130
Chapter 6: Piece ara.d.. Hamwny ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 170
Chapter 7: The Era.d..angered King •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 220
Chapter 8: No Holds Barred •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 276
Appendix 1: C'hess Notatiorl •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 335
Appendix II: Annotated Glossary •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 337
The Purpose of T'his B<xlk •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 346
Colopllort •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• copyright page
Thinkers' Press Catalog ................................ available upon request

See copyright page for address.
iii -------
About Me and This Book • • •
I am writing this in the shade of an overhang atop the red cliffs of Colorado
National Monument. Ten years ago I sat in this same spot writing the opening
pages of this book, using this inspirational setting to start transforming outlines
and thousands of chess positions into a readable text. Now, my Western camping
trip brings me here again, and my remaining task is to say something about myself
and this book.
For as long as I can remember I have known how to play chess. My father was
an avid player, and taught me and my brother Robin (a year younger) to play at
an early age. Thus we kids could play each other, or our father at odds, which he
gradually decreased over the years. Soon he began taking us to his club in
Elizabeth, N.J., and then to tournaments, which even then (in the fifties) were
readily available in the New York area. One year ( 1957) we even camped for two
weeks outside of Cleveland and drove in and out every night to play in the U.S.
Open (late games were tough, adjournments even worse, but it was hardest of all
on my mother and little brother being left in a tent in the woods when the three
of us went off to play). By this time my brother and I were "experts" (the "master"
rating was much harder to reach back then) and venturing into chess journalism.
With a friend we wrote a newsletter and distributed it through the county high
school clubs. Even though Robin and I continued to improve and went on to win
state and national titles (for him the U.S. junior in 1959, '60, and '61; for me the
U.S. Intercollegiate in 1959), all three of us viewed chess as a recreation
secondary to our studies and went on to get doctorates and become college
professors.
Before that, in my case, I spent seven years working in what was called the
"knowledge industry," starting with a small company in New York called Basic
Systems. This company was started by some Columbia behavioral psychologists
and specialized in programmed�instruction training programs. When I was hired,
I had finished work on my Master's in psychology, which helped, as did the fact
that one of the executives, Stuart Margulies, knew me from chess tournaments
and figured my chess ability would transfer to instructional writing. Unknown to
me, Stuart had a contract along with Donn Mosenfelder (for writing) and Bobby
Fischer (for the name) to prepare a basic "chess program," covering simple
mating techniques in step,by,step fashion with active responding. After Donn
was slowed down by an auto accident, I was asked to help him complete the
manuscript on schedule. For this I was paid a small hourly rate but gained
valuable experience. Once completed, the book sat on the shelf until giant Xerox
acquired our little company and pumped in cash to support publishing it. I was
------ iv -------
given the job, nominally as "editor," to get it ready for publication. To help me I
hired Mike Valvo, whom we had recruited a few years before to help Columbia
win the U.S. Intercollegiate Team Championship (1960). Our job was to tidy up
the text, make sure all analysis was accurate, and work with Bobby Fischer in
integrating some of his own positions into the text. While I knew Fischer by sight
from various tournaments in my teens, I had never met him personally. At first he
was suspicious and defensive, but soon he became very helpful and cooperative-
all in all a fascinating experience to work with a genius on the verge of becoming
a household name in America. The result, of course, was Bobby Fischer Teaches
Chess, which continues in print today, certainly helped by Fischer's name but
also I believe because of its unique systematic presentation for beginners.
Nevertheless, I was feeling that another book, written in a similar manner
but concentrating on basic tactics, would be much more useful for aspiring
players beyond the level of rank beginner. Along the way, my "experience" got
me involved as co,author of a zo,hour instructional program in contract bridge
marketed under Charles Goren's name (which "bombed" instead of making us
rich). By 1972 I had a full,time faculty position (at Hostos C.C./C.U.N.Y. in the
South Bronx, where I still am today as Professor of Psychology) and had finally
finished my Ph. D. in psychology. Now I was ready to tackle chess again. And the
public was too, for this was the year Fischer beat Boris Spassky to capture the
World Championship while millions watched on live Tv. Originally I was
hoping to deal with Fischer myself, but his subsequent withdrawal from all public
activity forced me to sell my manuscript on my own. This I was able to do, and
the result was The Chess Tutor: Elements of Combinations ( 1974, paper 1976).
The paperback printing was just at the end of the fading Fischer boom, and led
directly to me being asked to write two books on the briefly popular game
"Mastermind."
Meanwhile, I was thinking,
and people were asking, about a
chess book sequel. After tactics,
"
- ,·J , ��.��
the next logical topic is strategy,
and I wanted to write a step, by, . .;;; .. ) "
. ·
;�:.�;1;� .-; :•
·
.
�.
step programmed book in simi, .1
lar fashion. But I was hesitating, . -...�c· ..

:·
·
.;J·
. -/�
for I couldn't figure out how to
organize and sequence it. After
the Fischer book, I found it easy
to design my own on tactics.
The various tactical themes are
already widely known and clas,
sified, so the major effort was
gathering thousands of posi, Les, in his element.
------- v
tions, classifying them, selecting the most appropriate, and putting them in order.
For strategy, things were much harder to organize. To begin with, very few
positions illustrate one single clear strategical theme; there are almost always
other themes involved as well. Another serious problem is the constant intru,
sion, possible or actual, of tactical themes. For example, a Bishop is supposed to
be a little better than a Knight, but this is true only some of the time and in
relation to other factors, especially where the pawns are; so telling the reader to
"win" with a Bishop for a Knight assumes some understanding of the present and
possible future pawn formations, and also assumes that the Knight will not tum
into a monster and fork your pieces. So how to handle all this in a coherent
manuscript?
For a few years I weaved around, gathering positions while trying this or that
outline. I even tried to interest some of my fellow masters in collaborating with
me-their typical response was that what I was trying to do was interesting but
too difficult. Finally, I came to some conclusions and ten years ago, as mentioned
above, began writing the text in earnest. Two key organizing factors gave me the
confidence to proceed. One was settling on the organizational sequence used in
this book, which has a reasonable degree of increasing complexity. The other was
accepting and operating within the ambiguities of themes, trusting to my judg,
ment that players beyond the beginner level already have numerous insights
about chess principles, even if perhaps ill,formed. Thus I could write without
fearing brief discussions about secondary themes and tactics in a position, relying
on the reader to have some idea of what I am referring to and gaining bits and
pieces on various other themes as I proceed through the main theme. The result
is a book which I think is unique in its detailed, step,by,step approach to the
underlying principles of chess, and one I believe will be very helpful to any
intermediate chess player wanting to improve.
When someone asks, "My cousin (or whoever) is getting into chess-what
book should I get him (her) ?" This one!
Leslie H. Ault
August 1 993
P.S. Some people who helped me deserve my heartfelt thanks: Carol Ruderman
and Dr. Walter Blanco, chess enthusiasts in the target population for this book,
read and reacted to positions and drafts. Bob Long had what we hope is the good
sense to like the manuscript and persevere in getting it assembled and published.
Finally, my wife Kathie helped with numerous edits and rewrites, and encouraged
me to pursue the obsessions necessary to produce a book like this. Thanks one
and all!
Ed.Note: See page 346 on "The Purpose of This Book.''
------ vi ------
Some Basics-1
Some Basics
Because chess is primarily a ally over a million sequences.) In,

mental game, it is necessary to out .. stead, the chess player must analyze
think your opponents in order to only partially and very selectively.
win consistently. To some extent in� That is where j udgment comes in.
telligence helps, as do other mental Having analyzed several possible
qualities such as concentration and move sequences, the player must
freedom from anxiety. But the most make some j udgments about the de,
important quality-what distin sirability of the resulting possible po..
guishes masters and experts from sitions, and these judgments guide
''patzers" and beginners-is the the selection of a move. In addition,
specialized ability to think effec.. since there are so many possible
tively about chess positions. moves and replies, the player again
Using this chess�thinking ability, uses his judgment to select only a few
a player looks at a position, goes plausible lines of play on which to
through a mental process, and emerges concentrate his analysis. In this way,
with a move. In doing so, the player the player can look several moves
uses analysis and judg ment. By ahead, but only at the most plausible
analysis I mean the process of exam� sequences. Despite the stereotype of
ining possible moves, possible replies chess masters seeing so many moves
by the opponent, possible replies to ahead, evidence indicates that they
the replies, and so on. In a very simple don't analyze more-th ey analyze
game like tick,tack,toe one can ana, better! Chess j udgment is the key.
lyze all the possibilities and thereby
never lose a game. Chess of course is .§. Actually you already use your
too complex for that, even for a su .. judgment to analyze partially and se�
per..fast computer. (Except at the be� lectively. Consider, for example, the
ginning of the game and in simpli .. following position (reached after the
fied endings with few pieces left, opening moves 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3.
there are typically 30,40 possible }e.. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 N£6 5. Nx£6
gal moves. When one move and one Qx£6 6. N£3 c5 7. Bg5 ), with Black
reply by the opponent are consid .. to move. (Chess notation is described
ered, there are usually over one in Appendix I. If you are not familiar
thousand possi b i l ities. For two with it, the algebraic notation used
moves and two replies, there are usu, here can easily be learned. )
1
1, 1. Black's 7th move; what should for Black's judgment in the previous
he do? (Look below after you position was quite specific (saving
have thought about and cho, his Queen), most positions require
sen your move.) more generalized judgments-that
in positions of a certain sort, such
and such a move is likely to be useful.
1-1
Many of these useful moves involve
B patterns in the configurations of the
pieces, and many of them can be
understood and expressed as gen�
eral principles. You will learn about
these principles and how to use them
in this book. To begin with, it is im,
portant to know and think readily
about the basic properties of the vari,
ous pieces in combat with one an,
ANSWER other.
Black has 29 possible moves, but Here White is about to finish off
you need not and should not bother the game with his Queen and King
to check out most of them. Within a against Black's lone King. Can you
few seconds (from examining where find two moves that mate?
the pieces are and how they are re,
lated) you should realize that your
Queen is under attack, that the
Bishop attacking it is protected (by
the Knight) , and that there seems to
be no reason to give up the Queen.
Therefore, since a Queen is
much more valuable than a Bishop
( the relative values of the chess
pieces, and explanations of many
chess terms, are given in Appendix
II), Black should move his Queen.
ANSWER
There are ten such places to move.
All but two of these moves One way is 1. Qg7#, the "on,
would still subject the Queen to im, top" method-the Queen protected
mediate capture. The only two safe by the King gives check and covers
moves are 7 . . Qg6 and 7 QfS. You
. . . .
all possible flight squares.
should have chosen one of these The other is 1. QcB#, the back,
moves. (At this point, we won't go rank method-the Queen attacks
any further into the finer points of along the back rank (a side file [when
this position, including the fact that the opponent's King is on a side file]
White can next play 8. dxc5 and will do just as well) while the King
threaten mate in one with 9 . QdB# .) covers the possible flight squares
along the next rank (here f7, g7, and
� Although the underlying reason h7).
2
Some Basics-1
Note that either method requires lA. White to move.

that the lone King be backed up
against the edge of the board with
the other King nearby.
.§ Using these same ideas, can you

find four moves that mate in one
here ? Also, can you find the two
moves White should not make?
1 , 3. White to move.
ANSWER
Let us consider the various ways
to mate, theme by theme:
A. Perhaps the simplest to find is the

"on,top" mate: 1. Qa7 KfB 2.
Qf7#. ( If Black responds in,
stead 1 . . .Kh8 , White has four
ways to mate: 2. Qg7/Qh7/
QaB/QbB#, as in the previous
ANSWER position. )
White mates in one by 1. QgB# B. Not quite so obvious is to use the
or 1. QhB# (on the back rank) , or by back,rank method by forcing
1. Qa7# or 1. Qb7# (on top, sup, Black's King into the comer: 1.
ported by the King). Qf2 KhB 2. QfB#. Any move
The moves to avoid are 1 Qc7? ?
.
that controls f8 . works, and
and 1 . Qh2?? , both of which are there are two alternate first
stalemates-they leave Black not in moves: 1. Qf1 and 1. Qc5.
check but with no legal move (thus, C. Finally, and hardest to find, there
a draw results) . is a set of mates delivered on d8,
where the Queen covers the
.§ In the previous two examples, potential flight square e 7. One
White mated in one. In the next way is 1. Qd4 KfB (forced) 2.
diagram, that is obviously impos, QdB#. The three other ways
sible; so your task is to mate in two start with 1. Qd1 or 1. Qb6 or
moves, which requires taking into 1. Qg5, which all give Black
account that the Black King is going the option of responding either
to move in the meantime. But don't 1. .. KfB or 1. .. KhB; but in all
stop when you find a two,move mat, cases, 2. QdB is mate.
ing sequence-find as many as you
can. Thus there are eight moves that
lead to mate in two: 1 . Qa7/Qf2/Qf l/
Qc5/Qd4/Qdl/Qb6/Qg5 .
3
.§ So far we have been looking at

mates in the bitter endgame, but the
same mating patterns occur in the
middlegarne , when the board is
crowded with pieces. Try this one.
1 �5 . White to move.
1-5
w
ANSWER
White mates in one with 1.
Qxg7#, using the "on�top" method
with the Kn igh t at hS supporting the
Queen.
4
Some Basics-1
EXTRA PRACTICE: Here are four additional positions on the same theme for
those of you who want some extra practice. These four are slightly different from the
last one. Your task in each is: does White still mate with 1. Qxg7?
1 -6a 1-6b
w w
1-6c 1-6d
w w
ANSWERS
(a) No, since nothing protects the Queen (note the Knight here is on g5, not h5).
(b) No, Black's Queen on c7 protects g7, so I. Qxg7t?? Qxg72. Nxg7Kxg7leaves
Black a piece ahead.
(c) No, this time the Bishop on f8 protects g7.
(d) Yes, finally, since White's Bishop on b2 guards the Queen; so 1. Qxg7 is mate.
Newcomers often do not understand the prin..

ciple of "greater piece value" or the exchange
of one piece for another of "equal value."
Study these positions well.
5
.§. Now try this one.
1�7. White to move.
1-7
w
ANSWER
Here the Queen uses the back�
rank method, Black having left the
8th rank unprotected: 1. Qe8#.
6
Some Basics-1
EXTRA PRACTICE: Again, here are four variants from the previous position.
Does White still mate with I. QeB?
1 -Ba 1 -Bb
w w
1-Bc 1 -Bd
w w
ANSWERS
(a) No, for Black's King escapes to h7.
(b) Yes, since the Bishop on c3 covers the potential escape square g7.
(c) No, Black's Knight covers e8; so if 1. QeBt??, 1 . NxeB.
. .
(d) No, for Black's Bishop can interpose: 1. QeBt BfB and Black is safe.
7
.§. Of course, the same themes can It is true that this last variation
also be used where mate is not immedi� requires you to see three moves
ate. Here is an example. Does White ahead; but even at this point you may
mate here? If so, how? well have been able to, by concentrating
only on the moves relevant to the mating
1 �9. White to move. pattern.
ANSWER
White closes in for the "on�top"
mate with 1. Qh6, with the threat of
2. Qg7#. In general, Black can try to
avoid mate by:
(a) running away with his King,

which is not possible here;
(b) protecting the mating square,
also not possible here;
(c) disrupting a supporting piece ( see
below); or
(d) mating White first (also see be�
low).
As for (d), Black can indeed

threaten mate in one, taking off a
piece in the process, with 1 . . bxc3 ;
.
but White mates first: 2 . Qg7#. That

leaves (c), and as a matter of fact
Black can capture White's support�
ing Bishop: 1 . . Nxf6 ; but then 2 .
.
exf6 renews the threat of mate, and

Black has no way to stop 3. Qg7#,
with the Queen now supported by
the pawn.
8
Some Basics- I
EXTRA PRACTICE: Once again here are another four variants, but these are
more complicated than the previous extra practice positions. Just decide one thing in
each position-does 1. Qh6 force mate, or can Black escape?
1 - 1 0b
w
1 - 1 0d
w
ANSWERS
(a) No, for 1. Qh6 QfB (or 1. Qh6 Nxf6 2. exf6 QfB) protects g7.
(b) No, for 1. Qh6 Ne6 (or 1. Qh6 Nxf6 2. exf6 Ne6) again protects g7.
(c) No, for Black can capture twice on f6 (1. Qh6 Nxf6 2. exf6 Rxf6), thereby elim
inating any support for the Queen.
(d) Again no, for this time White's King is exposed, and Black mates first: 1. Qh6
bxc3t 2. Kcl (2. Kal has the same result) Qb2#.
9
!! Rather than continue to explore .§: Let us make things a little more
such complexities, let us switch back, complicated with the fol lowing
for now, to some other basic patterns. slightly changed position. How
The Rook, being less mobile and should White best proceed ? And, by
less powerful than the Queen, can the way, what moves should White
normally only mate with just one of not make ?
the Queen's two methods. Here is an
example for you to figure out. 1, 12. White to move.
1-11. White to move.
ANSWER
The quickest way to mate is 1.
ANSWER Kg6 Kg8 ( the only move) 2. Rb8#.
White mates in one with 1. Observe how White, having run
Rh8#, using the back-rank method Black's King into the comer, forces it
with the escape squares on the 7th back into the familiar mating posi
rank covered by White's King. Of tion opposite his own King.
course the "on-top" method fizzles, But don't play 1 . Rg7? ? , which is
for after 1 Rb7t the black King side
. a stalemate, or lose your Rook by 1 .
steps to either a8 or c8. Rh7 t?? Kxh7.
10
Some Basics-]
� Again let us add another small leaving Black the choice of 1 . KcB
. .
complication for your amusement 2 . RhB# or 1 . . . KaB 2 . Kb6 KbB 3 .

and edification. How should White RhB#or 1 . . Ka7 2 . Rh8 Ka6 3. Ra8# .
.
mate most quickly? ( In fact, most Rook moves end up

mating in three-only 1 . Rd7, 1 .
1, 13. White to move. Rc7, 1 . Rblt , and I. Ra7? ? do not. )
.§ If you understand the winning

technique in the last position, the
one below should be easy for you.
Can White win? How?
1,14. White to move.
ANSWER
The first thing to realize here is
that if White moves opposite Black's
King by 1 Kb6 , Black does not
.
oblige by going into the comer to be

mated, but runs the other way with
1 . . . KcB . The next thing to realize is
that it would be desirable for White ANSWER
to leave his King where it is and If you realize that Black has only
make Black move his first. Therefore one move, and a disastrous one, then
he should make a waiting, or tempo, it should be easy to select a tempo
move with his Rook, 1. Rg 7 (or Rf7/ move along the h,file: 1. Rh2 (or
Re7) . Now if Black moves opposite Rh3/Rh4/Rh5) KhB 2. Rxh6#.
with 1 . . . KcB, 2. Rg8 is mate; but if Normally, the player w ith a
he runs away with I . . KaB , we have
. Bishop against a Rook ( with no
a mirror image of the previous posi, pawns) should be able to draw by
tion and White mates with 2 . Kb6 heading tow ard a corner o f the
KbB 3 . RgB# . color opposite that of his Bishop.
While the method given above But here Black got caught near the
is more thematic and probably easier wrong corner and was forced to
to find, there is another method, abandon his Bishop. Move all the
which you may have found. In its pieces one square up the board (so
pure form it goes 1. RhSt K a7 2. that Black's King is on h8 and the
Rg 8 ( another tempo move-the Bishop at h 7 ) , and Black is in a stale,
Rook can also go to c8/d8/e8/f8 with mate position which renders harm,
the same effect) K a6 3. Ra8#. l e s s W h i te's attempted tempo
White can also retreat his Rook any, squeeze.
where along the h,file, e.g., I. Rhl,
11
� Like the Queen, the Rook can � Here is a position of the same sort
also deliver mates in the middlegame from an actual game. As you can see,
or endgame with other pieces on the Black is giving check on White's
board. Here is an example for you. back rank. The question for you is,
does Black mate or not ? Support your
1, 15. White to move. answer.
1 -1 5 1,16. Alburt-Gulko, U.S. Open,

w 1986, at White's 25th move.
1 -1 6
w
ANSWER
White has a back,rank mate
starting with 1. RdSt. There are two
subtleties: one is that Black created ANSWER
an escape square at h 7 by moving his Not with proper play, which is
pawn, but White's Bishop at c2 cov, 25 . Qe l Qxe l t 2 6. Rxel, when
ers this square; the second is that White not only is safe but is ready to
Black's Rook can interpose by 1 ... regain his pawn with the better game
ReS, but it is unprotected, and because of Black's exposed King (in
White simply continues 2. Rxe8#. fact, Black lasted only seven more
Note too that Black gets no help moves) .
from his Bishop and other Rook, Of course, White can get himself
which are still "undeveloped" on mated with the careless/greedy 25 .
their original squares. Rxdl?? , for then the back rank is fa,
tally weak: 25 . . . Rxdl t 26 . Qe 1
Rxel#.
12
Some Basics-1
� Alone Bishop cannot give mate, � The mate by the Bishops on an

but two Bishops can. Can you see open board must come in one of the
how to finish off Black here ? four comers, but a little congestion
can be fatal along the edge. Try this
1,1 7. White to move. example.
ANSWER
White uses the Bishops on adja,
cent diagonals to sweep the King ANSWER
into the comer where he is mated: 1. White mates in one with 1.
Bd4t Ka8 2. Be4#. Bc 8#, made possible by Black's
Bishop blocking the potential escape
square at aS.
13
� Occasionally the Bishops are able !! A Bishop and Knight are also
to give mate in the middlegame, as in able to force mate against a lone
the following position from a well, King, though the process is more
known game. See if you find how difficult than with two Bishops.
White mates in two. Here is a typical finish with the Black
King about to be mated. Finish it off.
1,19. Ed. Lasker-Englund,
Scheveningen, 1 9 1 3 , at 1,20. White to move.
White's 17th move.
1-19
w
ANSWER
ANSWER The correct way again involves
White finished off the game with driving the King into the comer, by
1 7. Qxc6t bxc6 1 8. Ba6#. Since 1. Na6t Ka8 2. Bf3#. The other
the first move sacrifices the Queen, it Knight check, 1 . Ndl t , allows the
may be a little hard to find ( Black black King to get away from the cor,
didn't see it before making his previ, ner with 1 . KcB .
. .
ous move), but knowing the mating With the Bishop and Knight, the
pattern with the two Bishops should mate must be delivered in one of the
help. two comers controlled by the Bish ..
op. Knowing this, the player with
the lone King, as he is pushed toward
the edge of the board, should head
for one of the opposite comers. The
player with the pieces cannot stop
this, but must then force the King
along the edge of the board to one of
the fatal comers, which is not so easy
to do. For those interested, the com,
plete process is illustrated in most
basic endgame books.
14
Some Basics-1
� Likewise the Bishop and Knight � As we have seen, against a lone

can sometimes team up for a middle, King two Bishops can force mate,
game mate. Try this simple example. and so too, with more difficulty, can
a Bishop and a Knight. But, two
1,21. White to move. Knights cannot FORCE mate. Here
is an illustration; note that it is Black
to move this time, and avoid mate.
1,22. Black to move.
ANSWER
White mates in one by 1. Nh6#.
Moving up the Queen by 1 Qh6 .
doesn't help here, for 1 Nf5 both

. . .
covers the intended mating square ANSWER

( g7) and threatens the Queen There are only two possible
(though not immediately, since 2 . . . moves: the right one, 1... Kc8 and
Nxh6 is answered by 3 . Nxh6#). the King gets away; and the wrong
one, 1 . Ka8?? 2 . Nc7# . As long as
. .
the lone King doesn't willingly walk

into a mate in the corner, the
Knights can't do the job.
15
� There are certain positions where � Now that you have the idea, see if
the weaker side has a pawn when the you can work out this one.
two Knights CAN force mate. The
difference a pawn makes is shown in 1 �24. White to move.
the diagram below. Decide what
White (to move) should do. 1-24
w
1-23
w
ANSWER
With Black's King confined to
just two squares (a7, a8), White can
bring over his Knight from g4 to con�
ANSWER fine the King further, then give mate
Black's King is trapped in a cor� while the pawn is still running. The
ner where, as you know, it is in dan� most direct win is 1. Ne5 g4 2. Nc6
ger; but it has no legal moves. With� gJ 3. Nd 7 (or Na4) g2 4. Nb6#.
out Black's pawn, White would have
to release the stalemate; but with the Naturally, you have to COUNT
pawn on the board, White has time out in these positions to make sure
to prance his other Knight into posi� you can mate before the pawn turns
tion and give mate: 1. Nb4 (or Ne l ) into a Queen and breaks up your
h l=Q 2. Nc2#. hanging party.
Of course the timid 1. Nf2 ?
catches the pawn, but then 1 . . .
hl =Q 2 . Nxhl is a stalemate.
16
Some Basics-]
� In the middlegame Knights can � Sometimes even one Knight can

cause all kinds of trouble, including give mate by itself. For this to hap,
mate, as in this example. pen, the enemy King must be
hemmed in by its own pieces, over
},25. White to move. which the Knight uses its unique
j umping ability. Here is an example
1-25 of what is known as the "smothered
mate," played by America's first great
w
champion, Paul Morphy. Can you
find how White mates in four, ad,
ministered by the Knight?
1 , 26. Morphy-Amateur, Paris,

1859, at White's 2 1 st move.
1-26
ANSWER
w
The Knights mate in two with 1.
Nh6t Kh8 (forced) 2. Ng£ 7#.
ANSWER
Morphy won by 2 1. Nd7t Kc8
22. Nb6t Kb8 ( if 22 . . Kd8, 23 .
.
Qd7#) 23. Qc8t! Rxc8 24. Nd7#.
17
REVIEW PRACTICE: These four positions illustrate the basic bitter endgame
mates you have learned in this chapter. In each, it is White to move and mate, but I
have added a little extra twist to challenge you.
ANSWERS
(a) First you need the King up close for support, so 1. Kb6 (Ka6 works too) Kb8 2.
Qb7# (or Qd8/Qe8, if you prefer the back,rank method).
(b) Black's King is in a stalemate position, so don't move your King; instead, move the
Rook across: 1. Rd7 (or Re7/Rf7/Rg7/Rh7) Kb8 2. Rd8#.
(c) Here mate can be given next to the comer by I. Bb7t KbB 2. Be5#; if you prefer,
you can mate in the comer by starting with a tempo move: I. Bf6 (or Bal /Bb2/
Bc3/Bd4/Bh8) KbB 2. Be5t Ka8 3. Bb7#. But don't play 1. Be5, stalemate!
(d) This time you must use the tempo move 1. Bd6, which also keeps Black from
escaping at f8; then after 1... Kg8 you have the familiar mating sequence 2.
Nh6t Kh8 3. Be5#.
Remember, you can force mate with a lone Queen,

with a lone Rook, with two Bishops, with a Bishop
and a Knight, but NOT with two Knights.
18
Some Basics-]
EXTRA PRACTICE: These next four positions, from actual games, give you some
practice finding middlegame mates similar to those shown before. In the first two it is
White to move, but in the third and fourth note that it is Black to move.
1-28a 1 -28b
w w
1 -28c 1 -28d
B B
ANSWERS
(a) Ault-Kretzmer, NJ 1983. l played 22. Qxh6#; the Bishop on g7 is pinned.
(b) L. Steiner-Stiassny, Brunn, 1925. The Knights ride: 10. Nc6t Ke8 1 1. Nc7#.
(c) Field-Tenner, 1923. Black played 17 Qh3 and White resigned. Mate in one
•••
is threatened by the Queen on g2 supported by either the Bishop or the Knight

(so taking one won't help), while if 18. gxh3, 18... Nxh3#.
(d) Spassky-Fischer, World Ch. Match, game 3, 1972. You also have to see mates
by your opponent and avoid them. Fischer did, of course; he played 35 Qg6.•.
(protecting g7) and went on to win the game.
19
The Fight to
Win or
Draw
Most chess games are aban, t ions including Rook and

cloned, by one player resigning or by Bishop vs. Rook, and two Bish,
both agreeing to a draw. When the ops against a Knight-again see
game is played all the way out to the the latest Official Rules.
end, the result is either a win by
checkmate or a draw by various ways. Usually when the game goes to
the bitter end, one side is trying to
Besides agreement between the win by forcing checkmate while the
two players, there are four ways to other side is trying to achieve a draw
draw: through one of these means.
In most of the endgame posi..
1. stalemate, the player to move tions in the first chapter, the mates
having no legal move (and not are easy enough that the player
being in check, of course) ; with the lone King would be ex..
2. insufficie nt material, where Pected to resign long before. In this
mate is impossible, such as only chapter, however, the outcome is not
Kings, or King and Bishop or so clear, and you will be asked to
Knight against a King; think hard and fight to win or draw.
3. repetition, where the same posi,
tion with the same player to
move occurs three times (there
are technicalities explained in
the Official Rules requiring a
claim to be made, either by the
player on move in the third rep,
etition or by the player about to
move to produce the third rep,
etition); and
4. fifty moves without a pawn being
moved or a piece being cap,
tured ( again, a claim must be
made and supported, and spe,
cial extensions to 100 moves
can be granted for certain posi,
20
The Fight to Win or Draw-2
� This first position nicely illus, King, but then will be threatening to
trates several of these themes. Give promote his pawn, and it is not so
some thought to decid ing how clear how Black can stop it. If he
White should proceed. can't, and White gets a Queen,
White can win against the Rook. Let
z, 1. End of a study by Liburkin. us consider this situation further . . .
White to move.
2-1
w
ANSWER
The only correct move follows
from logical thought, so let's think it
through. With a Knight and a pawn
for a Rook, White is slightly behind
in material, except for the fact that
the pawn is on the 7th rank, able to
capture the Rook and promote. The
trouble is that 1 cxbB=Q is stale,
.
mate. Nor can White dilly,dally; a

move like 1 Ne2 is met by 1
. ReB
. . .
capturing the pawn ( leaving an end,

ing where White will be able to draw
with careful play). The solution is an
underpromotion (you don't have to
take a Queen, remember): not to a
Rook (still stalemate} or to a Knight
(two Knights can't force mate) , but
1. cxb8=B. There is no stalemate,
and, as you should recall, the Bishop
and Knight can force mate.
There is one other try, which
doesn't work but is worth looking at
more closely to see why not: 1 .
Nb3 t. This move relieves the stale,

mate, but Black captures with check:
1 . . . Rxb3 t. White must move his
21
§ After 1. Nb3t Rxb3t in the previous position, here are some of the resulting
possibilities, depending on where White goes with his King. In each position it is
Black to move and save the draw.
2-2a
B
ANSWERS
(a) White has moved down onto the c,file; Black can't get to the pawn, but can
continue to check on the 1st or 2nd ranks supported by his King: 1. Rb2t 2.
••
Kcl Rbl t, etc. If White moves up to c3, the position is analogous to (b).
(b) Black no longer has a safe check. But he saves the game with a tactical device
known as a "skewer" or "x,ray attack": 1. Rbl!, and now if 2. c8=Q??, 2 ...
.•
Rcl t and Black wins the Queen and the game. White can still draw, but only
starting with 2. Kd5.
(c) White has stayed off the c,file and walked his King up to the pawn, but Black
stops it with a "pin": 1. Rb7! With the pawn paralyzed, White can move his
••
King up again, 2. Kd8, producing position (d).

(d) Black plays simply 2 Rxc7, and after 3. Kxc7 there are only Kings left (drawn
•••
by insufficient material).
22
!! Now White's correct move in this � Dealing with an advanced passed

position should be easy for you. pawn is much easier when you have a
Queen ( instead of a Rook) . Even
2'3. White to move. when the pawn is only one square
away from queening, the Queen
can win about half the time, and if
not, drawing is no problem. Here is
a typical position----'--Can White to
move win?
2,4. White to move.
2-4
w
ANSWER
Black is threatening mate (by
.. RaB), and queening either pawn
.
won't stop it, nor will 1. Kf8 . The

King can escape by 1 Kd8, but that
.
abandons the pawns ( 1 . Kxf7, etc.)

. .
and loses, too. The only winning

move is a simple (once you think of ANSWER
it) underpromotion to a Knight To win, White must bring up his
with check: 1. f8=Nt. The check King without letting Black queen his
forces Black's King away from its "on, pawn ( if 1 . Kc6 , 1 . . dl =Q with an
.
top" mating position, giving White easy draw, Queen against Queen) .
time to queen his other pawn next. The winning idea starts with 1.
After 1 K£6 2. g8 Q, White has
••• = Qe3t In reply Black can hardly
.
nothing to fear from 2 RaSt 3..•• abandon his pawn, so he must play
Kd 7 with a fairly easy win with 1. Kd l, blocking the pawn, which
••
Queen and Knight against the Rook. gives White time to bring up his King
with 2. Kc6.
23
t! Continuing from the last position � As you have seen, in these sorts of
(after 1. Qe3t Kdl 2. Kc6), let us positions White uses his Queen to
assume Black plays on with 2 Kc2,
••• force Black to block his pawn, which
again threatening to queen the lets White bring his King a step
pawn. That brings us to this position. closer. Eventually the King arrives
Again, White 's task is to make on the scene, and we get a position
progress with his King by compelling like this one.
Black to block his pawn. How is that
done here? 2'6. White to move.
z,s. White's 3rd move. 2-6

w
2-5
w
ANSWER
The quickest finish is 1. Ke3
ANSWER Kel 2. Qxd2t Kf l 3. Q£2#.
Working out the correct se,
quence takes some mental analysis,
but if you aim to check on the 3rd
rank you should be able to find it.
Start by pinning the pawn with 3.
Qe2, and after 3 Kcl ( if 3 . . . Kc3,
•••
then 4. Qdl stops the pawn dead) 4.

Qc4t Kh2 5. Qd3 Kcl we have the
desired position. Now 6. Qc3t forces
the block 6 Kd l, and White brings
•••
his King a step closer with 7. Kd5.
24
� Here the pawn is on the edge of !:! This time the pawn is on the c,
the board, and White's Queen is giv, file, again with the Queen giving
ing check in the critical position. check in the critical position. Can
Can Black survive ? How? Black survive here? How?
2, 7. Black to move. 2'8. Black to move.
ANSWER ANSWER
Black can draw, because by play, If Black plays 1 . Kcl we have
. . ,
ing 1. Kal he creates a stalemate

•• the familiar position with the King
position which White must release blocking the pawn, letting White
by moving his Queen. Thus he has bring up his King with 2 . Kd4 . After
no time to bring up his King. (The this, Black quickly succumbs: 2. . .
same thing happens with the pawn Kd2 3 . Qd3 t Kcl 4 . Kc3 Kb l 5 .
on the h,file. ) Qxc2t Kal 6 . Qb2# .
But Black does have a saving
move that draws: 1... Ka 1! This
move seems to abandon the pawn,
but look again; 2 . Qxc2 is stalemate.
Meanwhile, the pawn threatens to
queen, so White has no time to bring
up his King and can make no
progress.
Of course the same thing hap,
pens with a pawn on the f,file.
In summary, the side with the pawn draws these sorts of

positions (pawn one step from queening, opposing King not
on scene) when the pawn isonthea , c , f..., or h..files (Rook
.. ..
pawns or Bishop pawns, for those of you familiar with

descriptive notation). But the Queen wins when the pawn
is on the b , d.., e.., or g ..files.
...
25
� Remember, one of the conditions � Do you get the idea? Then try this
for drawing is that the opposing one.
King is not on the scene. When it is,
things change, as in this example. 2,1 0. White to move.
Can White win? How?
2 '9. White to move.
ANSWER
This time you can not only let
Black queen his pawn, but also let
ANSWER him move the new Queen--once.
The winning idea may be tough Even if you don't see it at first, there's
to find, since it violates a mental set nothing else to do but move your
you are likely to have. First of all, King toward the action, so do it. Af,
White can neither take the pawn ter 1. Kh4 (moving the King to g4 is
(stalemate) nor advance his King ( 1 . OK too, but on h4 you can tease
Kc3 c 1 =Qt, or 1 . Kd3 and Black Black by letting him queen with
might as well stick the draw in check) h l =Qt 2. Kg3, Black is help,
White's face by taking a Knight, 1 . . . less. Moving the new Queen to any
cl =Nt, which forks the King and "safe" square allows 3 . Qe 1 # . The
Queen). What to do, then? To win, only faint hope is 2 ...Qf3t, which
White must let the pawn promote, brings us to the next position.
but in a position of his choosing: 1 .
Q a3t Kh l 2. Kh3! Now if 2 . . .
cl=Q, 3 . Qa2# . Only by 2 cl =Nt

. . .
can Black prolong the game, but just

for a little while.
26
!:! Black has played his last hope � Here is another variation, in
(2 ••• Qf3t); dash it! Wh.lCh Black has a second pawn
. be a
added to what would otherwtse
2� 1 1 . White's 3rd move. drawn position. What happens
now-can Black to move still draw?
ANSWER
Think before you grab, and do it
by 3. Kx£3, followed by 3 Khl 4. •••
QgZ#. But don't be careless: 3 ·

ANSWER
Qxf3 ? ? is stalemate. Things are quite different, f r
�
the "saving" move 1 . . Khl doesn t
.
work here, since 2 . Qxf2 is not stale�

mate because of the other pawn.
That leaves 1 Kfl as the only t�;
. . .
but this blocks the pawn, and Whtte

wins in the usual way by bringing up
his King (ignoring Black's a�pawn for
the time being).
27
� Here is a similar position, two � This position would arise in the

pawns against the Queen. Is Black last line given if Black plays 5 . . h2
.
doomed here, too? Where should he instead of settling for a draw by 5 .. .
move? Kh2 . Now Black has hopes of maybe

even getting two Queens. Can you
2, 13. Black to move. find what to do for White?
2, 14. White's 6th move.
2-14
w
ANSWER
Again the correct move follows
from thinking logically, making use ANSWER
of what you already know. If Black Exploiting the pin on the g,
moves his King to the first rank, pawn, White mates in two by 6. Qe4
White takes the pawn ( 1 . . .Khl 2 . Kg 1 (forced) 7. Qe 1 #, a type of
Qxh4t or 1 . . . Kgl 2 . Qxh4), leaving back,rank mate on the front rank.
an ending you should remember is
won for White. That leaves only 1. ..
Kh3, and even if you don't see the

continuation you should pick this
move because the others clearly lose.
The point is that after White re,
plies with the "obvious" 2. Q£2,
Black saves the game with 2 ••.
g 1=Q! 3 . Qxg 1 stalemate. White

could also try 2 . Qf5t, but Black can
draw easily by 2 . Kg3 3. Qg5t Kh3,
. .
etc., and also by 2 . . . Kh2 3 . Qf2 h3 4 .

Ke6 Khl 5 . Qf 3 Kh2, etc. Let's look
further at this last position . . .
28
.§. With a minor piece against an .§. What about here--can you draw
advanced pawn, there is no chance for White?
of the weaker side winning. The aim
is simply to stop the pawn from 2,16. White to move.
queening, often by giving up the
piece for it. If you can do this, the
game is drawn; if not, and the pawn
queens safely, you lose. Here is an
example with a Bishop; plan out how
to save the game.
2,15 . White to move.
ANSWER
In order to stop the pawn this
time you have to use the tactical de,
vice of decoying or diverting Black's
King, though the principle of getting
onto a diagonal intersecting the
pawn still applies. With 1. Bb3t
Kxb3 2. Kxd2 only Kings are left,
ANSWER while 1 Kc l 2 . Bd1 Loses the pawn,
. . .
With the Bishop, all you need to though not the game. Do note that
do is get it onto a diagonal intersect, the timid 1 . Bf5t? Kc l leaves White
ing the pawn's path. Here there is unable to stop the pawn.
one obstacle, your own King, so get it
out of the way: 1. Kc5 (anywhere but
b7 or dS will do) d2 2. B£3 d 1=Q 3.
Bxd 1 Kxd 1 draw. There is also one
finesse: if Black plays (after 1. Kc5)
1 . . . Kf2 , blocking the Bishop's access
at f3. Not to worry, though-just
head for the other diagonal with 2 .
Bc6 (or Bd5/Be4) d2 3 . Ba4 , securing
the draw.
29
� For a change, take the point of quite open, and you have already
view of the player with the pawn. seen the advantage of a pair of Bish�
Can White do better than a draw in ops over Knights, and of a Bishop
this position? and a Knight over two Knights, in
mating a lone King. In combat with a
2� 17. End of a study by Otten. single pawn, the board is also open,
White to move. and a Bishop functions well in stop�
ping the pawn. The Knight has
more trouble against a pawn. It has
to get close to the pawn, which
takes precious time if the Knight is
far away to start with. Here, for
example-what happens with White
to move?
2� 1 8. White to move .
ANSWER
For Black to stop the pawn, he
must control a 7 with his Bishop be�
fore White's pawn gets there. The
immediate access is from e3, but
White covers that wi th 1. Ke4!
Black's King blocks another access,
so 1 . . Ke6 2 . a6 BdB 3 . a7 is too late,
.
as is 1 . Bd2 2 . a6 BaS 3 . a7. Black's

. .
only chance is 1... Bh4, hoping to ANSWER

reach f2, but White continues 2. It's too late. After 1 . Ng6 a4 2 .
Kf3. Now there is no way to stop the Ne5 a3 3 . Nc4 a2 , with the pawn out
pawn, and White wins. of reach White can delay its queen�
ing with a check: 4 . Na3 t Kb3 or 4.
� A Bishop and a Knight, as you Ne3 t Kd3 . Then the pawn queens
probably know, are approximately and Black wins.
equal in value. However, their pow� Since the Knight can't do the
ers of movement vary considerably, job, you should also check out
and their relative value varies with whether the King can stop the pawn.
the type of position. The basic factor Unfortunately it can 't ei ther, be�
is pawn structure ; in general, posi� cause Black's King keeps it away: 1 .
tions that are closed or blocked up Ke4 a4 2 . Kd4 a3 3 . Kc4 a2 , etc.
with lots of pawns favor the Knight
with its unique hopping ability,
while open posi tions favor the
Bishop with its long�range powers.
With no pawns at all, the position is
30
.§ Here we have another distant .§ And when the Knight does catch
Knight needing to stop a passed the pawn, it may be subject to moles,
pawn, this time in a World Champi, tation in ways that wouldn't bother a
onship M atch. I t was Black to Bishop. For example, decide what
move-what should he do, and what happens here with Black to move.
happens?
z,zo. Black to move.
z, 19. Bronstein-Botvinnik, World
Ch. Match, game 6, 1 95 1 , at 2-20
Black's 5 7th move.
B
ANSWER
Black molests with 1 K£3
• • •
( . . . Kf2 is OK too). The Knight is

ANSWER obliged to move, and the only place
Botvinnik, the defending World to control the pawn is 2. Nh l. Black
Champion, played 5 7 ••• Kg3 and continues 2 Kg2, and the Knight is
•..
White resigned. Black's King is now lost. After that Black queens his
positioned out of the Knight's return pawn unmolested (e.g., 3. Kc2 Kxh l
path (58 . Ne6 e2 59 . Nd4 is to no 4. Kd2 Kg2 5. Ke3 h l =Q ). (A
avail; but with Black's King on f3 B ishop in similar circumstances
instead, that last Knight move would would just retreat to a safe distance
be with check) and ready to support while still controlling the critical in,
the pawn ( if 58 . Kd l , then 58 .. . tersection. )
Kf2) . White can't stop the pawn.
31
� With the pawn away from the Et Even when the Knight can't quite
edge of the board, the Knight has get in front of the pawn safely, it still
more room to maneuver, and that has some tricks that may save the
makes a big difference. What does game. The position below looks bad
White do here, for example? for the Knight, but in fact White can
quickly force a draw. Find it.
2�2 1 . White to move.
ANSWER
With l . Na3 White removes the ANSWER
Knight to a safe distance and has no First the Knight threatens the
difficulty drawing. The other retreat, pawn, 1 . Nd4; then, when it queens
1 . Nc3 , gets the Knight chased im� ( 1... e l =Q), uses its forking powers
mediately by 1 . Kc2 , and loses
. . with 2. Nf3t. Then, of course, 2 •••
(though after 2 . Nb5 Black must play Ke2 3. Nxe l Kxe l leaves only Kings
2 . . . Kb3 , then 3 . Nd4t Kc3 4 . Ne2t on the board. Since Black must pro�
Kd2) . mote to save his pawn, the only way
to avoid the fork is to promote to a
Knight, which hardly helps.
In general, if the Knight can safely

reach a square in front a/ the pawn on
the b through g...files, it can stop the
pawn and draw.
32
� Often it is the King alone that White now advances his pawn,
must stop an enemy pawn. To do so, 2 . d7t KdB, he must either
unless it can capture the pawn di� abandon it or play 3 . Kd6 with
reedy, it must be able to get in front a stalemate. If instead White
of the pawn and stay there. Con� p lays around with his King
versely, the player with the pawn (such as by 2 . Kd5) , Black still
should try to keep the King away or draws by taking care to keep
dislodge it from in front of the pawn. the opposition at critical times.
Consider the following basic posi�
tion-what happens with White to � Here is an illustration of the ad�
move? . . . with Black to move ? vice j ust given, keeping the opposi�
tion at critical times. From the previ�
2�23 . (a) White to move, or (b) ous diagram, after 1... Ke8 2. Kd5
Black to move. Kd 7 3. Kc5 we reach this position.
How should Black continue ?
2�24. Black's 3rd move.
ANSWER
(a) White to move wins simply by 1.
d7 Kc7 2. Ke 7, and the pawn
queens next move. White first ANSWER
squeezes the black King out of There is only one drawing move:
d8 and then keeps it out so the 3 Kd8, which allows Black to op�
•••
pawn can advance. pose White's King when it comes for�

(b) With Black to move, the out� ward: 4. Kc6 Kc8. If instead 3 . . .
come is different. Black op .. Kc8? , then 4 . Kc6 Kd8 5 . d7 and

poses White's King with 1. •• wins.
Ke8. Black now has what is
called the "opposition," where
the two Kings face each other Having the
and the opponent is on the " opposition"
move; while in most positions is generally
it is better to be on the move,
advantageous.
in these sorts of King endings
the player on the move must
give way, so having the "oppo�
sition" is an advantage. If
33
� Now that you've seen the basic .§ These endings do indeed occur in
principle of opposition, figure out practical play. Here, for example, I
what to do here for White to move. was playing Black and trying to save
And what happens with Black to the game. How ?
move ?
z,z6. Murphy-Ault, NJ 1 973, at
z,zs. (a) White to move, or (b) Black Black's 63rd move.
to move.
ANSWER
ANSWER I played 63... Kc 7 and drew;
(a) White to move wins by taking 63 . . . Kb7 also draws. Either move
the opposition with 1 . Kd6. keeps the White King from getting
When B l ack moves as ide , in front of the pawn (as in the previ,
White moves diagonally for, ous position). As long as Black keeps
ward, either 1 . . Kc8 2 . Ke7 or
. the white King back, it doesn't mat,
1 . . Ke8 2 . Kc7 , and then
. ter whether he takes the opposition
pushes the pawn through to (63 . Kc7) or not (63 Kb7) , since
. . . . .
queen as Black watches help, the pawn gets in White's way when
lessly. he tries to use the opposition.
(b) Even with Black to move, White
wins: 1... Ke8 2. d6; note that
Black takes the opposition but
White uses the pawn tempo to
gain it back, producing a famil,
iar winning position. Now of
course 2 Kd8 3. d7 Kc7 4.
•••
Ke 7 wraps up the win.
34
� And here it was Bobby Fischer, � With a pawn on the edge (a, or h,
then in his teens and still thirteen file), winning is out of the question
years away from winning the World unless the King can establish the "es,
Championship, trying to save a draw. cort" position for the pawn by occu,
With Black to move, can he? How? pying b7 (for an a,pawn) or g7 (for an
h,pawn) . In this position, as an illus,
z,z7 . Gligoric-Fischer, tration, Black has two different draw,
Candidates' Trn., 1959, at ing methods. Can you find them?
Black's 57th move.
z, 28. Black to move.
ANSWER
The only way to save the game is ANSWER
5 7 Kb8. Fischer played this, and a
••• One way is to head for the corner
draw was agreed at this point. It may with 1.. Kg8. White would like to
.
seem strange for Black to hang back move diagonally forward, like 2 .
with his King, but the effect is to give K "i" 7 , but there is no such square; so
him the opposition when White's he must settle for 2. Kg6. Black con,
King moves forward. If now 58 . Kb5, tinues into the corner, 2 Kh8, and
•..
then 58 . . . Kb7, or if 58 Kc5, then there is no way to squeeze the King

58. . . Kc7 , with the oppo sition ; out.
White can make no useful progress Alternatively, Black can lock
(e.g., 58 . Kc5 Kc7 59 . Kb5 Kb7 60. White's King with 1. K£6, and after
.•
Ka5 Ka7 6 1 . b5 Kb7 62 . b6 Kb8! 63 . 2. K h 7 K£7 3. h6 K£8 White can

Ka6 Ka8, etc.) Other moves, besides
. choose between stalemating Black
Fischer's, lose the opposition and the with 4 . Kg6 Kg8 5. h7t Kh8 6 . Kh6
game; for example, 57 . . . Kb7 58 . stalemate or stalemating himself with
Kb5 Kc7 59 . Ka6 Kb8 60 . Kb6! Kc8 4 . Kh8 Kf7 5. h7 Kf8 stalemate .
6 1 . Ka7, and the pawn queens with, Since, as stated, White needs to
out hindrance. get his King to g7 (g8 will do, too),
even 1 K£8 draws, as either 2. Kg6
•••
Kg8 or 2 . Kh7 Kf7 leads to familiar

positions. The only way to lose is to
wander off in the other direction,
like 1 . . Ke6? ? 2 . Kg7, etc.
.
35
� With each side having a pawn � And what about here-can

(not passed-see definition on page White ( to move) save the game ?
343 ) , winning requires capturing the How?
opposing pawn and queening your
own. Sometimes this can be done. z,30. White to move.
How about here ?
ANSWER
True, White must abandon his
pawn; but if you remember to keep
ANSWER the opposition, the game is saved: 1 .
White should approach Black's Kfl! Kxg3 2 . K g l with what should
pawn, but only by 1 . Ke 7. Now 1... by now be a familiar drawn position.
K g5 2. Ke6 leaves both Kings at, (Unlike the previous position, the
tacking and defending the pawns, remaining pawn is even with [n ot
and the player to move loses. Here behind] its King. )
that is Black, and 2 Kh6 3. Kx£6
••• Of course not 1 . Kgl ? ? Kxg3 , and
Kh7 4. Ke 7 is nice and easy for Black has the opposition and wins.
White. By contrast, 1 . Ke6?? Kg5
creates the same position, except
that it is White to move and lose.
Note also that after 1. Ke 7,
Black can also try 1 . . Kg7 2 . Ke6
.
KgB 3 . Kxf6 KfB, which gains the

opposition and blocks White's pawn;
but with his King on the 6th rank
ahead of his pawn, White still wins:
4 . Ke6 KeB 5 . [6 KfB 6 . f7 Kg7 7.
Ke7, etc. (Compare position 2,23 . )
36
!! White to move in the position � Things look brighter for White

below seems to be in trouble. What here. How should he proceed, and
should he do, and what is the out� what is the outcome ?
come ?
2� 3 1 . White to move.
2-31
w
ANSWER
ANSWER Sure, White wants to gobble
White only has two possible Black's pawn and queen his own, but
moves, 1 . Ka4 or 1 . b6 . Neither one a little care is called for. First play 1 .
saves White's endangered pawn, but b5; then the win is easy. But if 1 . Kb6
either one leads to a draw provided Black responds 1 . . . Kd4 ( 1 . . . KdS is
White plays correctly to keep the op� also sufficient) , ready to answer 2 .
position. On 1. Ka4 b6 White must Kxb7 w i th 2 . . . Kc4 , catching
play 2. Ka3! ; then 2 Kxb5 3. Kb3
••• White's pawn. If instead White con�
holds Black at bay. So does 1 . b6 Kc6 tinues 2 . b5 , then 2 . . . Kc4 , ready to
2 . Ka4! Kxb6 3 . Kb4 . take pawn for pawn. (Now if White
refuses to accept the immediate
draw, 3 . Ka5 Kc5 reaches the preced�
ing position. )
37
.§ Here again, you must combine � This simple position occurred in a

what you know with a little careful game between an almost, and an ex,
thinking. Can White win ? How? World Champion. Does White win?
If so, how?
2,34. Kortchnoi-Petrosian,
Candidates' Match, game 3 ,
1 974, a t White's 5 1 st move.
2-34
w
ANSWER
Obviously Black is prepared to
shuffle his King between g8 and h8
indefinitely, waiting for White to ac, ANSWER
complish something. For White to Taking either pawn only draws
win, he must get a pawn to g7 when (e.g., 5 1 . Kxc5 Kxa4 52. Kb6 Kb3 53 .
Black's King is on g8. (It will probably c5 a4 , etc. ) . The key is to take the
help for you first to look for and, I hope , opposition: Kortchnoi played 5 1 .
find this winning position without ana, Kb5 and Petros ian resigned ( if 5 1 . . .
lyzing step,by,step; then analyze how to Ka3, 52 . Kxa5 Kb3 53 . Kb5 and the
reach it.) a,pawn scores) .
To reach this winning position
requires timing. You must start with
1. h3. Then after 1. Kh8 2. h4 Kg8
••
3. h5 Kh8 4. g6 hxg6 (if4 . . . Kg8 , 5 .

g7 wins) 5. hxg6 Kg8 6. g 7 , we have
our intended winning position.
The timing is wrong if White
starts with 1 h4? Then we get 1 . . .
.
KhB 2 . h5 KgB 3 . g6 hxg6 4 . hxg6 Kh8

5 . g7t Kg8 6 . Kg6 stalemate .
By the way, if Black moves first
in the starting position, White still
wins by adjusting the timing : 1 . . .
KhB 2 . h4! (i.e., moving two squares

instead of one to get the winning
position).
38
� Once more use what you know quence . . Ke5,Kf5,Ke4 has the same
.
about the opposition along with effect) , returning us to the starting

some careful thinking, from the chair position but with White to move.
of another future World Champion. Now Black wins easily: 57. Ke l Ke3
How should Black continue ? 58 . Kfl f2 , etc.
z, 3 5. Alburt-Kasparov, Latvia, � Let us change the position just

1 978, at Black's 54th move. slightly by moving the pawns on the
h,file one square. Can Black still
2-35 win, with either side to move first?
(That ambiguity gets to the heart of
B
the question, for if it's Black's move
and he wants White to move in,
stead, he can just triangulate, right?)
z,36. Either side to move.
ANSWER
The obvious moves 54 . . . Ke3 55 .
Ke 1 and 54 . . . Kf4 55 . Kf2 both leave
White with the opposition and Black
having to back off. What Black really
wants is for White to move in this
position.
In these sorts of positions, Black
can lose a move by a maneuver ANSWER
known as triangulation-Black No, Black can't win. The big dif,
makes three moves, marking out a ference is that Black's King has no
triangle, to get his King back to entry at g3, so White can play his
where it started. For this to work, King to f2 without fear.
White must not be able to maneuver With White to move (better for
in a similar way but must have to Black, though it makes no real differ,
shuffle back and forth, which is the ence) , we get 1 . Kf2 Kf4 2 . Kfl ; but
case here. Black can make no progress, as g3 is
Anyway, let's watch Garry Kas, blocked and 2 . . . Ke3 3 . Ke l f2t 4 .
parov, who in 1 985 became the Kfl Kf3 is stalemate.
youngest official World Champion at In fact, White can even get away
the age of twenty,two. Kasparov with playing ( after 1 . Kf2 Kf4) 2 . Ke l
played 54 Kf5 55. Kg l Ke5, and
••• Ke3 3 . Kfl because 3 . f2 is stale,
. .
White resigned. If now 56. Kf2 , 56 . . . mate, with the escape at g2 stopped
Kf4 and Black enters at g3 when by Black's h,pawn.
White retreats; or if 56 . Kfl , 56 . . .
Ke4 completes the triangle (the se,
39
� Here again Black is up two pawns � There are certain tricks to hold,
to one; but this time, take White's ing the previous position besides
seat. keeping the opposition. For example,
after 1. Kfl! Black can try 1... e4.
2,3 7 . White to move. How should White hang in there ?
2-37 2,3 7 . 1 . White's 2nd move.

w
2-37. 1
w
ANSWER
White is hard,pressed, but he can
draw with accurate play. The key is, ANSWER
as so often in King and pawn endings, The straightforward 2 . dxe4 ?
the opposition. But here the obvious loses because Black queens his pawn,
play to take the opposition fails, 1 . not only first but with check (2 . . . c4
Kd1 Kb2 2 . Kd2 Kb3 , for now White's 3 . e5 c3 4 . e6 c2 5 . e7 cl =Qt) . In,
pawn gets in the way and Black will stead, White must close in with his
be able to gain the opposition while King by 2. Ke2, so that 2 exd3t 3.
•••
moving onto the c,file (3 . Ke2 Kc2 4 . Kxd3 Kb2 4. Kc4 collects Black's
Ke3 Kd1 5 . Ke4 Kd2 , and the end is in last pawn. Also, if 2 . . . Kb2 White
sight for White) . can now afford to race with 3 . dxe4
Instead, White must take the dis.. c4 4 . e5 c3 5 . e6 c2 6 . e7 cl =Q (but
tant opposition. The saving move, not with check) 7. eB==Q drawn.
and the only one, is 1. Kfl! Now if These variations illuminate an,
Black moves onto the c,file White other Black trick: (from the previous
CAN oppose, 1 . . . Kcl 2 . Ke 1 or 1 . . . position, i.e. 2,3 7 ) 1 . Kfl ! Ka l . Now
Kc2 2 . Ke2 , and CAN maintain the the "pseudo,sophisticated" reply 2 .
opposition. If Black stays away, 1 . . . Kgl ? makes a winner of 2 . . e4! , as
.
Kb2 , so does White, by 2 . Kf2 ; if then White's King is too far away. But
Black continues 2 . . . Kb3 3 . Kf3 Kb4 , White can hold by playing to the e,
White holds the balance by 4 . Kf2 . file, ready to go back to the f,file to
Whatever Black tries, White can maintain the opposition from a dis,
hold the draw. (Try it with a set and tance, e.g., 2 . Ke2 Kb2 3 . Kf2! , etc.
board, if you'd care to. )
40
.§: With two pawns to the good, the � Here, even though the pawns are
win is usually routine. Sometimes, even (three against three) , Black can
though, finesse is needed, as in this make use of pawn tempos to control
position. Win it for White. the opposition and win. How?
2�38. White to move. 2�39. Donner-Smyslov, Havana,

1 964, at Black's 72nd move.
2-39
B
ANSWER
The white King can approach no ANSWER
further without stalemating Black With 72 g5, which should be
•••
(e.g., 1 . Ke7 Kh8 2 . Kf8!) . To win, he easy enough to find and play, Black
must sacrifice the h�pawn and trans� fixes White's pawns and obliges him
pose to a winning position with King to move his King ( if 73 . f4t, 73 . . .
and pawn against King: 1. h8=Qt gxf4t 74 . Kf3 [6) . White resigned,
Kxh8 2. K£6 (not 2 . Kf7 stalemate) not bothering, against an ex�World
Kg8 3. g7 and wins. Champion, to go through the mo�
tions of 73 . Ke2 Kf4 74 . Kf2 f6!
Note how Black used the first
pawn tempo (72 . . . g5) to gain the
opposition, and then after White, in
retreating, gets it back, regains it
with the second pawn tempo ( 74 . . .
[6!) ; indeed, without this move, if
the pawn were on f6 to start with,
Black could not win. With it, White
must give way again and his position
quickly collapses.
41
!! Again here it is three pawns a good time to make a break for the
against three, but there is an impor, enemy pawns on the other side of the
tant difference in how the pawns are board. (If instead you wait around by
positioned. How should White make your passed pawn, Black will advance
use of this difference? his pawns and, if you still wait, create
his own passed pawn and queen it. )
!! From the previous position Black
does have an alternative worth look,
ing at-and for him worth trying.
After 1. Ke5 he can play 1. .. c5
( instead of 1 Kh5) . Then 2. Kd5
. . .
b6 3. Kc6 Kh5 produces this posi,

tion. What now for White ?
2,40. 1 . White's fourth move.
2-40.1
ANSWER
w
The pawn position is "unbal,
anced." On one side of the board, it is
three black pawns against two of
White's, while on the other side of
the board White has one unopposed
pawn. This single pawn, which is of
course passed, is known as the "out,
side passed pawn." In endings, such
pawns are advantageous because ANSWER
they divert opposing forces. In this Actually Black has set a sneaky
position, the advantage is big enough trap: 4 . Kb7? ? b5 and Black queens a
for White to win simply by gobbling pawn on c 1 . Instead, White must
up Black's pawns while his King is first restrain the pawns with 4. a4!
occupied with the outside passed Then 4 Kxh4 5. Kb 7 Kg4 6. Kxa7
•••
pawn: 1. Ke5 Kh5 2. Kd6 Kxh4 3. wins in a walk.

Kc7 Kg4 4. Kxb7 a5 5. Kxc6 Kf4 6.
Kb5, etc.
When you want to calculate out
such positions "to see who gets there
first," it may help you to count moves
separately for each side; e.g., in four
moves White can get to the pawn at
b 7, while Black captures the h,pawn
and gets back only to the f,file. How,
ever, in this and similar positions,
you really have no choice but to pick
42
� Here the pawns have been � The white King can stop the
changed aro und s l ight ly-does passed pawn as long as it is in the
White (to move) still win? . . . or lose? "square" or can move into it. Re�
member that the "square" shrinks as
2A 1 . White to move. the pawn moves forward . Thus
White's King is all right on the g�file,
2-4 1 but if it moves outside the square to
the h�file the pawri will move for�
w
ward, shrinking the square, and the
King will not be able to catch the
pawn. Now, your task in this posi�
tion is, how does White draw?
2�42. White's 2nd move.
2-42
ANSWER
w
White still has his outside passed
pawn, but now Black has a protected
passed pawn at c5, which is even
stronger. If White uses the same plan
as in the previous position, he loses:
1 . Ke5? Kh5 2 . KdS Kxh4 3 . a5 (the
best try now) Kg4 4 . axb6 axb6 5 .
Kc6 (to no avail, but waiting around
with 5 . Kc4 is hopeless) c4 6 . Kxb6 c3 ANSWER
7. Ka7 c2 8 . b6 c l =Q 9 . b7 Qc7 and The general idea, previously
Black wins. Notice that against the given, is to hold on to the the h�
protected passed pawn, White's King pawn while keeping Black's passed c�
must release the passed pawn in order pawn under restraint (which means
to attack and win any of Black's staying in its "square") . Thus 2 . Kf5
pawns, and usually (as here, though Kh5 fails to do the former and loses,
not always) White's counterplay is and 2 . Kh3 c4 fails to do the latter
too late. and also loses.
However, we are not done with That leaves three other King
the position. White can also fight to moves. One of them is wrong, 2 .
draw by holding on to his h�pawn Kg3 ? ; 2 . . . Kh5 , and something has to
without letting the c�pawn queen. It give. The other two moves bring
will help to visualize an imaginary about the proper timing: 2 . Kf4 Kh5
square with the passed pawn at one 3 . Kg3 or 2 . Kf3 Kh5 3 . Kg3 , and
corner, shown in the next diagram Black must retreat. Also playable is
after the moves 1 . Kg4 Kh6. 2 . h5 , for after 2 . Kg7 3 . Kg5 Kh7 4 .
. .
Kf5 Kh6 5 . Kg4 White's King is again

meeting its double duty, and Black
must retreat.
43
.§. Next are two more positions from .§. This second position is a little
actual games with passed pawns. The more difficult, but think it through.
first is fairly simple-how does Black
win? 2,44. Stoltz-Nimzovich, Black to
move.
2,43 . Scott-Ault, 1 983, Black to
move. 2-44
B
ANSWER
If Black plays the obvious I ...
ANSWER Kxf4? , he loses after 2 . b6 g3 3 . b7 g2
First realize that pushing the b, 4 . bB=Qt. Instead, Nimzovich (for
pawn to Queen doesn't work: 1 . . . b2? whom the N irhzo, Indian Defense
2 . d7 bl =Q 3 . dB=Qt; White not was named) won by 1. Kd6!, which
••
only gets a Queen too, but does so leaves Black's King able to hold up
with check and quickly captures the enemy pawns long enough to
Black's remaining pawn. So the way queen one of his own first. For ex,
to win is simply to stop White's pawn ample, 2 . b6 g3 3 . b7 Kc7. The game
first: after 1 K£6 my opponent re,
••• continued 2. a5 g3 3. a6 Kc7 (stop,
signed, since he can't stop the b, ping the a,pawn) 4. Ke2 d3t 5.
pawn. Kxd3 g2, and Black won.
44
.§. In this position, White seems to

be in trouble. See if you can save
him, using your cleverness and your
knowledge of the critical "square."
2A5. White to move.
ANSWER
If White simply heads after
Black's pawn, he won't catch it: 1 .
Kd7 h5 and so long, sucker! Remem,

ber, for its initial move a pawn has
the option of moving one or two
squares; this fact requires that the
"square" for such pawns be drawn
one square forward. For Black's pawn
here, the proper "square" includes
the area bounded by h6 to c6 to c 1 .
With this "square" in mind, the futil,
ity of 1. Kd7 should be apparent.
The saving move is 1. Kb7 ,
which gains a step by the threat to
resurrect White's pawn. Black must
capture, 1. Kxa5, but then 2. Kc6
••
steps into the "square" and catches

Black's pawn.
45
OPTIONAL BOARD PRACTICE: If you feel insecure maneuvering in these

King and pawn endings, get a partner, set up these positions, and practice playing
them out to the correct result. Explanations are under each position, which you can
consult before, during, or after playing them out. In each, play both White to move
and Black to move.
This is an almost foolproof draw no This time White has time to get far
matter which side moves first. Black enough in front of his pawn and win,
must just take care to block White's King provided he moves first. With Black to
and not let it get in front of the pawn. move, Black can take the opposition on
the 5th rank and hold the draw.
With either side to move, White With either side to move, White
wins easily by moving his King toward should win with careful play. Though
Black's pawn and advancing his a,pawn. no t passed, the extra pawn is a tremen,
Black's King will be diverted far away to dous advantage in this simplified ending.
stop the h-pawn.
46
MORE EXTRA PRACTICE: Want some more ? These positions are more compli,
cared, especially the last two, but they require correct analysis to find some key moves
rather than simple technique. For this reason, you can either solve them yourself or
play them out with a partner. Again, work with White to move and Black to move.
2-47a 2-47b
W/B W/B
2-47c 2-47d
W/B W/B
ANSWERS
(a) Things look bad for White, but he has a well,known winning trick up his sleeve:
1. g6! Black must capture, but then White sacrifices two of his pawns to queen
the third: I . fxg6 2. h6! gxh6 3 . f6 or I . . . hxg6 2 . {6! gxf6 3 . h6 . Black to move
. .
breaks all this up by moving any pawn and blocking the pawn position, then
wins by gobbling up White's pawns. Also sufficient is 1 . . Kc5/6 , since after 2 .
.
g6 fxg6! 3 . h6 gxh6 4 . f6 Black is close enough to stop the pawn.

(b) Whoever moves loses; the second player must only take care to match pawn
moves so as to end up "off,move" when the pawns are blocked. For example,
with White to move: 1 . h3 h6 2 . g4 g5 or 1 . h4 h5 2. g3 g6 , and White will have
to abandon the b,pawn.
(c) Whoever moves still loses, but the addition of a set of pawns changes things a bit.
Here the second player must copy in mirror image: 1. f4 h5 ! , and now 2. g3 g6
3 . h3 f6 4 . g4 h4! and Black wins. On the other hand, if 1 f4 f5? White creates
.
problems with 2 . h3 h6 3 . g4 g6 4. g5 ! hxg5 5 . fxg5 , although Black can just

hang on to draw.
(d) Again the player to move loses, but with White moving first, Black's first move
must be 1 . f5! (or 2 . c4! for White, with Black starting).
. .
47
E! When we give the superior side a !! With a pawn on the a, or h,files,

piece as well as a pawn, winning is things get a little more complicated.
almost always a simple matter. Here Here some proper timing is required,
is an example. but you can solve that-right?
2,48. White to move. 2,49. White to move.
ANSWER ANSWER
All you have to do is move the In these situations you must be
Bishop anywhere-its main use here especiaUy careful to leave the oppos ..
is to gain tempi (see page 344) when, ing King room to move, and there's
ever you need one. Then Black must no room after 1 . a7t? Ka8; White
abandon the "stop,square" by 1 ••• must abandon his pawn to release the
Kb7 , and White moves in with 2. stalemate, and that leaves only the
Kd7. Of course you didn't choose 1 . Knight. The right way is 1. NbS Ka8
Kc6?, which is stalemate. 2. Nc7t (of course, starting with 1.
NeB to get here is OK too) Kb8 3.
a7t, and the pawn queens, followed
by a quick mate (3 Kc8 4. a8=Qt
•••
Kd7 5. Qe4! Kd6 6. Qe6#).
48
� Then what happens here ? � Here we have the same position,

one move before and switched to the
2�50. Black to move. other side of the board. Your prob�
lem: can White win? How ?
2�5 1 . White to move.
ANSWER
Obviously Black should move
into the corner and stop the pawn
with 1 . .. Ka8. The real point is that ANSWER
the game is then drawn, since White Sorry, White can't win, despite
must release the stalemate by aban� having a pawn and a Bishop. As we
cloning his pawn. Of course White's j ust saw, 1 . h7t Kh8 would lead to a
Bishop is a helpless spectator, though quick draw. The only other purpose�
things would be quite different were ful move is 1 . Bd5 t; but after 1 . . .
it a light�squared Bishop able to con� Kh8 Black has no moves, and White
trol the queening square (a8 )-then must back off to release the stale�
a Bishop move onto the h 1 �a8 diago� mate. Nor is there any other way to
nal would be mate. make progress.
As long as the lone King can get
in front of the pawn, these endings
with an "edge" ("Rook") pawn and
"wrong.. colored Bishop" are drawn.
(Of course, with a "right,colored
Bishop," controlling the queening
square, the superior side wins easily. )
49
� Here is a position from practical � Now try this position for a little
play where you must make use of practice thinking things out. Can
what you have j ust learned. How Black, to move, stop the pawn, and if
should White proceed? so, how?
z,sz. Capablanca-Corzo, Match, z,53. Suetin-Gufeld, Tbilisi,

game 1 1 , 1 90 1 , at White's 1 970, Black to move.
53rd move.
ANSWER
ANSWER Black's King isn't quite close
What you don't do is play 53 . enough (out of the square ! ), but his
bxa5?, for then Black plays 53 . . . Bishop can zigzag back just in time by
KdS, covering the passed pawn ( in 1 . . Bb4 2. h6 B£8 3. h7 Bg7. So far
.
the "square") and heading for the so good for Black, but his situation is
safe,hole at a8 from which the King still precarious, and in the game
can't be budged. The extra pawns on White continued 4. Kg5 and man,
the board do not change the essential aged to win in another couple of
nature of the position: White has an dozen moves.
a , p awn w ith a "wrong,colored
Bishop" and can't win.
The White player, Jose R. Capa,
blanca, was only twelve at the time,
but already knew what to avoid; he
played 53. Bb6 and went on to win
the game. This game and three other
wins against Cuba's best player estab,
lished Capablanca as the unofficial
champion of Cuba. He went on to be
World Champion for 1 92 1 , 1 927 and
is considered one of the greatest play,
ers in chess history.
so
REVIEW: See how easily you can work out these practical positions using what you
have learned. Select your move and also assess the outcome. White to move in (b),
Black to move in all others.
2-54c 2-54d
B B
ANSWERS
(a) Smyslov-Kortchnoi, U.S.S.R. Ch., 1 960. Black simply takes the opposition and
forces White away from the pawns: 53 Kc3 54. K£3 Kd3 and White resigned
•••
( if 54 . K/4 , 54 . . . Kd4 , etc. ).

(b) Kasparov-Yusupov, U .S.S.R. Ch., 1 979. Push 'em! Having stopped Black's
majority, White has only to push his own: 36. b3 a3 3 7. c4 bxc4 38. bxc4 K£5
39. Kxh5 Ke4 40. Kxg4 Kd4 41. h4 and Black resigned.
(c) Larsen-Fischer, Monaco, 1 96 7. First things first! Fischer stopped the pawn, and
after 60 Kc6 6 1 . Kg2 Kxb6 White resigned, though against an ordinary
•.•
player one should make Black play out at least through 62 . Kf3 cl ==Q 63 . Nxcl
Nxc l 64. Ke4 Nd3! (the pawn is more important than the Knight here-after
65. Kxd3 Kc5 Black protects the e,pawn and wins by capturing White's h,pawn
at the right moment).
(d) Berg-Petrov, Kemeri, 1 93 7. The game was adjourned at this point, and White
resigned without resuming play. With I . . a5 Black creates a protected passed
.
pawn (otherwise White can advance his own a,pawn and cut off Black's b,
pawn) and after 2 . g4 KgB eventually gets his King to f4.
51
.§. Here White has an extra pawn, .§. A t this point, White's move here
but his pawns are in grave danger. should be obvious.
What should he do?
z,56. White to move.
z,SS. Lunna-Hjort, NJ 1983 , at
White's 49th move. 2-56
w
ANSWER
Liquidate to a draw with 1. Bx£3
ANSWER Kx£3, insufficient material. So what
If Black gets both pawns for free if you must give up your Bishop? This
he will win, as after 49. Kc3? Kxf4 is the last chance to stop the pawn
50. Kd2 Kxg4 5 1 . Ke2 Kg3 , etc. But from queening.
how can White save them ? He can't,
but with 49. £5 he takes out Black's
remaining pawn, since 4 9 . . g5? in
.
reply leaves White with a protected

passed pawn and a won game. After
49 gx£5 50. gx£5 Kx£5 only Kings
•••
were left, and the game was drawn.
52
� Here, the situation is more criti� � Can White, to move, draw here ?
cal for the defender trying to stop the How?
pawn. Can White win? How?
2�58. Velikov-Hazai, Vrnjacka
2�57. White to move. Banja, 1 985, at White's 53rd
move.
2-58
w
ANSWER
Yes indeed, by screening off (or ANSWER
chasing off) the black Bishop's cover� It should be obvious that Black
age of e 7. The first move is 1 . Be5 , to wants to devour White's a� and b�
be followed after 1 . Bg5 or 1 . Bd8
. . . . pawns while keeping his own last
by 2 . Bf6 . Black's Bishop can no p a w n ( w i th the rig h t � c o l ored
longer cover e 7 , and the trade 2 . . . Bishop) . White can't let this hap�
Bxf6 3 . Kxf6 Kd8 4 . Kf7 offers no pen, so he played 5 3 . a5 Kc5 54. b6,
hope; one way or the other, the pawn and a draw was agreed. Black now
queens. The closest Black can come has no choice but to liquidate pawns
is 1 . Kd8 2. Bf6t Bx£6 3. Kx£6
.• (54 . . . axb6 55 . axb6 Kxb6) , for 54 . . .
Ke8----one more move to f8 reaches a a6? loses to 55 . b7 Bf4 56. h6 Kc6 57.
drawn position, but White wins with h7, queening a pawn.
4. e7 Kd7 5. K£7, etc.
53
t! Now let us switch from Bishops to � Here things seem even more criti,
Queens contending over a passed cal for Black trying to save the game.
pawn. Can White save the game What do you think?
here? How?
2,60. From a study by G. Lolli,
2�59. White to move. 1 763 . Black to move.
2-59
w
ANSWER ANSWER
With Queens there's no salva� Black's only check allows White
tion in sacrificing for the pawn ( 1 . to queen his pawn. But as Lolli
Qxa2t?) , which leaves your oppo, showed over two centuries ago, per..
nent his Queen to mate you with. petual check still works, even against
But recall another way to draw-re� two Queens, with the King stuck in
peating moves. White draws easily by the corner : 1 ... QdSt 2. g8=Q
simply checking over and over again: Qd4t, and Black will always be able
1 . Qe5t Qb2 2. Qe l t Qb l 3. Qe5t, to check somewhere (on d8, d4 or f6,
etc. h4) no matter how White covers his
King.
In these cases the resulting repeti .. Black could also stop the pawn
tion is known as "perpetual check." by pinning with 1 Qd4 , and will be
. . .
able to hold the game by checking or

pinning as needed to stop the pawn.
However, White can play on for doz,
ens of moves, and one careless move
by Black will lose the game.
54
.§ Often perpetual check is resorted §. Here is another example, from

to earlier in the game when one side one of my games. How should White
falls behind. Here is an example from continue?
a game between the then, World
Champion, Mikhail Tal, and the fu, 2,62. Ault-Cole, NJ 1 984, at
ture World Champ i on, Robert White's 44th move.
("Bobby") Fischer. What would you
do here for Black? 2-62
2,6 1 . Fischer-Tal, Leipzig Olym,

w
piad, 1 960, at Black's 2 1 st
move.
2-61
B
ANSWER
White is down two pawns for a
Knight, so I took the perpetual check
with 44. RhSt Ke7 45. Rh7t. At
this point we agreed to a draw, since
Black must return to the starting po,
ANSWER sition by 45 . . . KdB (if45 . . . Ke8? , 46 .
Clearly Black is in trouble, being ReB#) . The only way to avoid the
down a Knight for a Rook (the "ex, perpetual check would be to give up
change"); in the long run, Black will the Knight by 44 . RhBt Nf8 45 .
lose. But Tal saved himself with 2 1 ••• Rxf8t, and White is winning.
Qg4t, which sets up a perpetual By the way, the attempt by
check. The players agreed to a draw White to win back his piece by 44 .
at this point without bothering with Rd6 fails because Black can defend
22. Khl Qf3t 23 . Kgl Qg4t, etc. his pinned Knight, as by 44 . . . Rxc4t
45 . Kd3 Rc7, for example.
55
� In this position, Black is threat� � Can you find salvation for White
ening to queen as well as to capture here?
White's Rook. What can White do?
2�64. Pilnik-Reshevsky, U.S. Ch. ,
2�63 . White to move. 1 942, White to move.
2-64
w
ANSWER ANSWER
Finding White's drawing idea re� This is a well�known position in
quires some foresight, but there are which Samuel Reshevsky, many
few choices to consider. The drawing times U.S. Champion, went astray.
move is 1. R a7, so that after 1 . •• Reshevsky had carefully guarded
c 1 =Q White can check forever on against any possible perpetual check,
the a� and b�files (2. Rb7t KaJ J . but overlooked some thing e lse.
Ra7t, etc. ) with the Rook protected White played 1. Q£2!, which leaves
by the King. If at any point Black Black no reasonable move except for
should move his King onto the c�file, 1 •.• Qx£2 stalemate.
then Rc7t skewers the King and Just in case you wanted to take
Queen. the loose pawn, it doesn't work. I'll
show you why in the next chapter.
56
� Previously, the stalemates we saw !! Can you save Black here ?

were the result either of clumsy play
while trying to checkmate a lone 2,66. Fichtl-Hort, Kosice, 196 1 ,
King (Chapter 1 ) or of a lone King Black to move.
steadfastly blocking a pawn about to
queen (earlier in this chapter). The 2-66
last position, however, represents a
third category with more pieces on
B
the board, where the stalemate is
produced "out of the blue" by a losing
player. Here is another example
can you save Black ?
2,65. Nikolayevski-Taimanov,
Tallinn, 1 966, Black to
move.
ANSWER
2-65 You might think about the
B Bishop and h,pawn, but should real,
ize the Bishop is of the "right color,"
so no hope there. But there is one of
those "stalemate holes., Black played
1. Kh3 and a draw was agreed, as 2 .
••
Kxf3 is stalemate and there is no

other way for White to do anything
constructive.
ANSWER
Black's position seems desperate
despite the momentary material
equality. Moving his King abandons
his c,pawn, and if he pushes his a,
pawn White simply shuttles his King
between d6 and d5 until Black runs
out of pawn moves. But there is a
saving stalemate hole: Black played
1 Ka5 ! Since 2 . Kxc5 is stalemate,
•••
White can make no progress and the

game is drawn.
57
.§. What do you make of this posi,

tion, White to move?
z,67. Middleton-Tassmari, at
Whites 5 1 st move.
ANSWER
Black's King, as you should no,
tice, is in the comer with no legal
moves, and Black was expecting to
shed his Bishop and pawn to produce
a stalemate. Sure enough, White
took the Bishop and Black pushed
his pawn: 5 1 . Nxh4 a2, and now 52 .
Bxa2? is stalemate. But White pro,
duced 52. Kh6! instead, and Black
resigned, realizing that 52 . . . al =Q
53 . Ng6 is mate.
58
EXTRA PRACTICE: Here are four additional positions on drawing themes if

you're interested. In each, it is White to move.
2-68a 2-68b
w w
ANSWERS
(a) Obviously hard,pressed, White can force an immediate draw by 1 . Qe6t; either
capture leaves White stalemated. (This position is based on the game
Kortchnoi-Ljubojevic, Tilburg, 1 985, agreed drawn at Move 62 with Black's
King in check on f6 and a White pawn on fS; had Black played 62 . . . KxfS, we
would have it. )
(b) An earlier variation from the same game. Again White forces stalemate by 1 .
Qa8t Kh 7 2 . Qe4t, leaving Black no real choice but 2 Qxe4 stalemate.
•••
(c) Dzindzichashvili-Timman, Tilburg, 1 985. White played 84. Na3, and after
84 Bg3 85. Nb5 Bf4 86. Nxa7 was close to the win. Wrong of course
•••
would be 84 . Kxc7? stalemate, and likewise 84 . Nd6? Bxd6 85 . Kxd6 , leaving a

"wrong,colored" Bishop that can't win.
(d) This is the conclusion of the same game. Black resigned after 96. Ka6, in view of
96 . . . Bxd4 97. Nc7# (other Bishop moves, save for 96 . . Bel, allow 97. Nb6#.
.
Naturally 96 . Bxe5? is stalemate. And after the cautious 96 . Be3 Black has
96 ... Bd4t 97. Ka6 Bxa7 with a draw in store).
59
MORE EXTRA PRACTICE: Haven't had enough? Then help the desperate side
to draw in these positions. White to move in (a) and (b); Black to move in (c) and
(d).
2-69c 2-69d
B B
ANSWERS
(a) Reveron-Villegas, World Under, 1 4 Ch., 1 985 . Black was thinking about win,
ning, but White produced 84. Bh2! and the game concluded 84 Kxh2 85. .•.
K£2 Kh 1 86. Kg3 h2 87. K£2 stalemate.

(b) Study by E. Cook, 1 864. White starts with 1 . Rb7t Kc8 , which looks hopeless;
but then 2. Rb5 !, and when Black queens, 2 cl=Q (White was threatening
••.
3 . ReS t, and taking a Rook won't win), 3. Rc5 t Qxc5 is stalemate.

(c) Najdorf--Curtis, Mar del Plata, 1 984. Black completed a nice stalemate combi,
nation by 46... Qh4 t 4 7. Kxh4 (the only other move, 4 7. Kf4 , loses the
Queen) g5 t and drawn; any White move leaves Black in stalemate. The
altemative 46 . . . Qd2 t fails to achieve perpetual check after 4 7. Qf4 Qxd5 t 48 .
Kh4 .
(d) Analysis by Benko and Pinter. Black draws with 1 . . . Kf8 and White's King can
never get out of the comer ( 2 . Ng4 Kf7 3 . Nh6t KfB) , or also by 1 . . . Kf7 2. Ng4
Kf8 3 . Nh6 g4 4 . Nxg4 Kf7 5 . Nh6t KfB. In either case White's Knight must
give way before Black's King, and the Knight can never lose a tempo to correct
the timing. Of course, it is obviously hopeless for Black to grab the Knight: 1 . . .
Kxf6?? 2 . Kg8 and queens next move.
60
t! Sometimes the maneuvers in,

volved display real artistry, as in this
position from a composed study. Save
it for White.
z, 70. Part of a study by A. Troitzky,

1895. White to move.
ANSWER
White can't stop the pawn from
queening, but he can create a stale,
mate position starting with 1. Kh3 !
Now on 1. g l =Q, 2. Rg5t compels
••
Black to capture the Rook {other,

wise 3 . Rxg 1), but either 2 . . . Qxg5 or
2 . . . Bxg5 is stalemate. Since 1 . Kh3
threatens the pawn, Black has little
choice but to push it and promote.
From a practical point of view, his
only hope is to promote to a Rook,
hoping to be able first to win White's
pawn and then manage to win the
ending of Rook and Bishop versus
Rook. But Troitzky didn't leave this
loose end. After 1 Kh3 g 1 =R White
.
can force a sirnplication with 2 . Rf2

Bg5 3 . Rg2 , and there is nothing left
to play for after 3 . . Rxg2 4 . Kxg2 .
.
Note, however, that White can,

not transpose moves: if first 1 . Rg5 t?
Bxg5 2. Kh3 , Black promotes not to a
Queen or a Rook (stalemate), nor to
a Bishop (two Bishops mate, but not
when they're the same color), but to
a Knight, and wins.
61
.§ In concluding this chapter I have Bishop can be captured, but 2. Qxc5

selected three positions, each illus, e 1 =Qt 3 . Kxe 1 is stalemate. IfWhite
trating something worth emphasiz, declines to capture the new Queen
ing. You may or may not find them and instead moves away with 3 . Kg2 ,
difficult; they can be easy if you catch Black has a perpetual check starting
on to the right idea and work it with 3 . . . Qg3 t .
through, and thinking logically and Finally, White can decline to
flexibly about each position will help take the Bishop in the first place and
you to the right idea and the right play 2 . Ke 1 but then Black gets a
,
move. crucial extra step in the race to liqui,

The first position illustrates the date the pawns: 2 . . . BxfB 3 . BxfB Ke3
various drawing themes shown in 4 . f4 Kxf4 5 . Kxe2 Kg3 followed by
this chapter. Use them to save Black. 6 . . . Kxh3, leaving insufficient mate..
rial.
z, 7 1 . Part of a study by V. Smyslov,
1 976. Black to move. .§ In this second position, it is again
Black with the move and a passed
2-71 pawn at e2. What should you do?
B z, 72. Galic-Vukcevic, Yugoslavia,
1975, Black to move.
ANSWER
White has j ust queened a pawn
at f8, but Black can capture it. That
is the first thing you should look at.
Unfortunately, after 1 . . . Bxf8 2 . BxfB
Black can't succeed with his passed ANSWER
pawn (2 . . . Kd2 3 . Bb4t stops him Black's pawn is ready to queen,
cold), and the attempt to liquidate but if 1 ... e 1 =Q White promptly
all the pawns with 2 . . . e 1 =Qt 3 . wins the Queen with 2 . Re3 t, and
Kxe 1 Ke3 fails to 4 . f4 Kxf4 5 . Kf2 , or after 2 . . . Qxe3 3 . fxe3 White wins
even to 4 . Kf1 Kxf3 5 . Bd6. Note the ending with his extra pawn.
that in these resulting positions Black can queen the pawn safely by
White's Bishop is on the "right first playing 1 . . . f4 , but after 2 . Rd4
color." e 1 =Q 3 . Rxf4 White can set up an
If you can't save the game by impenetrable barrier with his Rook
taking off your opponent's Queen, and pawns, and hold the game.
something drastic is called for. The The correct move, simple once
key move is 1 Bc5 t. Of course the
••• you think of it but hard with the wrong
62
The Fight to WiJl or Dra�-2
mental set (the white player in the � Finally, what can you do for
game missed it) , is 1 . e l =Nt. The
•• White here?
underpromotion to a Knight creates
a simple Knight fork. Black saw it, z, 73. End of a study by A. Troitzky.
played it, and White resigned, for 2 . White to move.
Kg3 Nxd3 is an easy win.
What I want to stress is that the 2-73
outcome of this game depended on
the particular configuration of the
w
pieces, allowing the Knight fork to
be both necessary and to work.
(Place Black's King on f6, and Black
can queen the pawn safely; place
White's King on g3 or Rook to c3,
and the fork doesn't work. ) While
this book concentrates on less tan,
gible strategical aspects of chess, if
you are to have good results in practi, ANSWER
cal play you must be able to see tacti, With a pawn on the 7th rank
cal combinations when they arise plus a Bishop, White should hope to
and play them or avoid them. win. The trouble is that the obvious
way of proceeding runs into a "stale,
mate hole": 1 . Ke5 KgB 2 . Ke6 is
stalemate. A different plan is needed,
but there seems no way to coax or
force Black out of this hole.
We l l-besides rem inding us
again of the beauty of chess-the so,
lution requires discarding, for this
special position, a basic mental set,
one we have been operating under in
these first two chapters. That limit,
ing set is that we need the pawn to
Remember: win, since we can't force mate with
j ust a Bishop. Right! ?
use Rules and (If you haven't yet found the so,
Principles, but lution, try again now. )
White w ins by turning the
don't be a Slave "stalemate hole" into a death trap,
which requires sacrificing the pawn
to them. to set it up: 1 . g8=Qt! Kxg8 2. Ke6
Kh8 ( the only legal move) 3. K£7 e5
4. Bg7#.
63
Cashing In
at the
End
A couple of diagrams back we ANSWER

dismissed the position below as easily
The winning process for Black
won for Black. Indeed, in the game
involves the following:
White resigned upon being forked
rather than bother playing out this
(a) Secure the remaining pawn,
position (reached from position 2� 72
which is needed to win. (A
after 1... e l =Nt 2. Kg3 Nxd3 3.
good start is 3 K£6, whereas
K£3 ). It is an easy win, but for now
•••
3 . f4 ? 4 . Ke4 loses it.)

let's not take this for granted.
. .
(b) Block White's h�pawn, using the

Knight. (It is not really neces�
� Your task here is not simply to
sary to take the time to win this
select a move or two, but-more im�
pawn.)
portant-to work out and describe
(c) Penetrate with the King, using
Black's winning plan.
Knight moves to gain tempos
when needed, and capture the
3� 1 . Describe what Black should
f�pawn. (This is the key ob�
do to win the game.
stacle. )
(d) Push forward the now�passed f�
pawn, supported by the King,
and queen it.
(e) Checkmate White with the new
Queen.
If you have any doubts about this

process, set up the board and play it
out (with a partner, a computer, or by
yourselO until you can win smoothly.
64
Cashing In at the End-3
� As a further illustration, here is � Here is the finale to that game, a

another position from the Capa� few moves later. Note how White
blanca-Corzo game (see position 2� has progressed with his King. What
52). Black, an established master, was now?
not yet ready to resign to a twelve�year�
old boy, and played on to this position. 3�3 . Capablanca-Corzo, Match,
What should White do now? game 1 1 , 1 90 1 , at White's
60th move.
3�2. Capablanca-Corzo, Match,
game 1 1 , 1 90 1 , at White's
56th move.
ANSWER
N ow the b�pawn is ripe for
plucking; Capablanca played 60.
ANSWER Kc5, and Black decided it was time
We already noted that the care� to give up, for the b�pawn falls fol�
less/greedy capture of Black's pawn lowed by the a�pawn. But Black had
results in a drawn ending with the one last trick: if instead 60. Kc6? ,
"wrong�colored" Bishop. Another Black saves the game with 60 . . .
lemon is 56 . Ke2? , which allows gl =Q 6 1 . Bxgl stalemate!
Black to liquidate both White pawns
by 56 . . . axb4 57. axb4 Kc4 58 . Bc5
gl =Q 59 . Bxgl Kxb4 .
As in the last position (3� 1 ),
White need not capture B lack's
passed pawn; it is enough to restrain
it while penetrating with the King
and capturing Black's b�pawn. For
that purpose Capablanca played 56.
Bh2, which keeps Black's King off
eS. Black retreated immediately with
56 ... Kc6, perhaps still hoping the
kid would take the a�pawn. Capa�
blanca, however, played 57. Kd4,
continuing with the correct winning
process.
65
The key to winning these end, C ha mpionship M atch ( 1 9 7 2 ) .

ings is to create a passed pawn, push World champions usually don't per,
it, and promote it, thereby turning a mit such a position to actually occur.
modest advantage into a big one. However . . .
With a piece ahead, this process is
usually easy. With a smaller advan, .§ . . here we have an actual posi,
.
tage, like a pawn or j ust a better posi, tion from a game between two aver,
tion, the process is the same but of, age club players. What happens with
ten harder to carry through, for the White to move?
opponent can resist more effectively.
In this chapter we will examine this 3,5. Heath-Ruderman, NJ 1986,
winning process, concentrating on at White's 60th move.
positions with more pieces on the
board and equal or nearly equal rna, 3-5
terial.
w
.§. In preference to further exposi,
tion, let's get down to cases. What
does Black do here ?
3,4. Black to move.
3-4
B ANSWER
Black had just played 59 Nc7 ..
•••
Ne6, attacking White's d,pawn. Un,

fortunately, she forgot the a,pawn
(59 . Nc7,Na6 was necessary, and
. .
sufficient to draw). White ignored

his d,pawn and pushed his passed
pawn, 60. a5. There is no way to stop
it; the pawn queened, and White
ANSWER won.
Material is even, each side has
several pieces, and each side has a
passed pawn. White's passed pawn is Create a passed pawn,
securely blocked from queening, push it, and promote
even though it can move forward a it-tum a "modest"
couple of squares. Black's passed advantage into a big
pawn has nothing blocking it, and
one.
when it moves forward, 1. c2-oh,
..
my!-nothing can stop it.

This position is from an un,
played variation of one of the games
from the Spassky-Fischer World
66
� And take a look at this, White to � This next position may well re,
move. quire more mental effort than the
last three, but the aim is the same
J,6. Capablanca-Corzo, Match, just find the means for White.
game 9, 1 90 1 , at White's
59th move. J, 7. Engels--Maroczy, Dresden,
1 936, White to move.
3-6
w 3-7
w
AN SWER
Though Black was a master, he AN S WER
had been through Capablanca's The direct 1 . d7 leaves the pawn
endgame,grinder and was lost any, blocked and doomed after 1 . . . Rd8
way, even if he had stopped the (when 2 . Rd1 fails to 2 . . Rxd7 3 .
.
passed pawn. As it was, nothing is Rxd7 Nxd7, and now 4 . Qxd7? leaves
stopping it except the illusion it must the back rank vulnerable and Black
protect the Bishop; so Capablanca mates) .
played 59. g7, and Black resigned. White needs another way, and
has it with a little combination in,
volving the Knight's clumsiness at
very close quarters: 1 . Qxc8t! Nxc8
2. d7. The pawn threatens to queen
in two ways, 3 . dxc8 and 3 . dB . Mov,
ing the Knight won't stop the latter,
while Black's Queen can stop one or
the other, but not both ( though if the
Queen were on a3 or b4 instead, then
2 . . . Qf8 would cover both prospec,
tive queening squares, and the com,
bination would fail). As a result,
White gets a new Queen for his old
one and emerges with a clear mate,
rial advantage (Rook for three pawns
after Black saves his Knight) .
67
� In the last position the defender tinuation, and Black can draw by
was keeping an eye on the passed keeping his King on d6/e6 where it
pawn, so that a simple advance of the helps control e7.
pawn would not work. Such is the
case most of the time, for most play.. � Can you see what to do here?
ers quickly learn to pay close atten.. Make sure to work it all out.
tion to stopping passed pawns . Con�
sequendy, the struggle usually rages 3�9. White to move.
over control of the remaining
square(s) in front of the passed pawn
and in relation to the pieces covering
or occupying the crucial square(s). In
the last position, White succeeded by
disposing of Black's covering Rook.
In the stripped�down position below,
White must use a di fferent method.
Can you find it?
AN SWER
All White has to do is drive the
Bishop from the short a6�c8 diagonal
so he can get a new Queen and keep
it. There is just enough time to carry
out this plan after 1 . Kc6 Kf6 2.
Kb6 Ke7, and now 3. Kxa6! Kxd7
4. Kb7 does the job directly, though
3 . Bg4 Kd6 4 . Bh3 ! (not 4. Kxa6?
Kxc7 draw) leaves Black in a losing
zugzwang.
AN S WER Note that the alternate plan I.
To win, White must do some� Ke7 Kg7 2 . Kd8 Kf6 3 . Bc8 does not
thing about Black's Bishop, which work. Black must move his Bishop
cannot be allowed even to sacrifice away, but returns to cover c8 when
itself for the new Queen. The right White unblocks it; e.g., 3 . . . Bd3 4 .
start is 1 . Nf5 with the double threat Bb7 BfS (or 4 . Bd7 Ba6) .
of capturing the Bishop (2. Nxh4)
and cutting it off ( 2 . Ne7) . Black
can meet both threats by 1 ... Bd8,
but then 2. Ne7 leaves him squeezed
to death-a King move abandons
the Bishop, while 2 Bxe7 3 . Kxe7
. . .
is hardly better.
The alternative 1 . NdS t Kd6
leaves White with no effective con�
68
� Now we'll add a few pawns. What E: In this position White is two
difference does that make for Black pawns down, but has the obvious as,
to move in this position? set of the passed pawn at h 7 . How
does White "cash in" this asset?
3, 10. Smejkal-Larsen, Leningrad
Interzonal, 1 973, at Black's 3, 1 1 . Capablanca-Kupchik,
40th move. Havana, 1 9 1 3, at White's
6 1st move.
3- 1 0
B 3- 1 1
w
AN SWER
It makes it easier-with the ex, ANSWER
tra pawns for each side, Black need It is not feasible to screen out or
not worry about insufficient material drive away Black's Rook, but it can be
(to mate); so he simply cashes in his traded for the h,pawn. Capablanca
advanced pawn for White's Bishop. played 61. ReSt Ka7 62. h8=Q Rxh8
Larsen played 40 ... Ba2 and White 63. Rxh8. Now even though Black
resigned, for there is no way to pre, gets White's last pawn (63 Kb6),
•..
vent 41 . bl=Q 42 . Bxbl Bxbl with

. . White's King is close enough, and
an easy win. (Note that Black cannot Black's pawn flock not far enough
delay Ba2 , for otherwise White
. . . advanced, that White wins with
approaches the pawn with his King little difficulty. (First he captures all
and wins it. ) of Black's pawns, then he has a Rook
left to mate. )
69
.§ What can you do with White's � Again it is White on the move

passed pawn here ? with a passed pawn.
), 1 2. Gruenfeld--Christiansen, ), 1 3 . Ault-Weeramantry, NY
World Open, 1 985, at 1 974, at White's 42nd move.
White's 42nd move.
3- 1 3
w
AN SWER
AN SWER With advantages in both mate,
White's passed pawn has two rial and position, White can win at
squares to cross: c7 is controlled by leisure; but the quick way to finish is
B lack's Bishop but a lso White's 42. a7 ReS 43. NbS, which cuts off
Rook; c8 is not controlled at the mo, the Rook. With no way to stop the
ment. While Black's Rook can move pawn, Black resigned.
to control c8 (42 . c7 Rc3) , White
then can use the same maneuver as
in the last position (43 . RaBt Ke7 44 .
cB=Q) . That is why in the game
White played 42. c7, and Black re,
signed. The best Black could do
would be to give up his Bishop at
once, but after 42 . Bxc7 43 . Rxc7
. .
Rxe3 44 . Rxh7 it is hopeless against a

competent player.
By the way, you probably noticed
there are various "loose" pawns; but
taking one (4 2 . Rxh7 or 4 2 . Rxa5) or
protecting another (42 . Kf2) is
trivial-win the piece first, then deal
with the pawns!
70
§. Once again, it is White wanting .§. This time White has given up a
to score with his passed pawn. Knight for two threatening pawns.
Was he right ?
3� 14. Ault-Platt, Dumont Futurity,
1985, at White's 44th move. 3 � 1 5. Capablanca-Beynon, NY
1 9 1 3, at White's 39th move.
3-1 4
w
AN SWER
If White can't convert to a win� AN S WER
ning advantage at once, he'll lose. Yes, for White now won quickly:
Fortunately for me, with 44. e7 the 39. d7 Nxd7 40. Rxd7 Resigns, for
pawn can only be stopped at the cost Black has no way to stop 41 . Rd8t
of the Rook: 44 . .. Rh8 45 . eB=Q and 42 . c8=Q . Also, there was no
RxeB 46. NxeBt , and since 47. Nxf6 hope for Black after 3 9 d7 Kxe7 40 .
.
follows, White wins with no trouble. dB=Qt Ke6 4 1 cB=Q .

.
Black can resist better with 44 . . .
Kxd6 45 . eB=Q , but the Queen will

soon pick off a pawn or two, and
White still has his own pawns to use
to win (unlike position 2� 72 after
l . f 4). In the game, Black played
. .
44 Rh3t 45. Ka4 and then re,

•••
signed ( if 45 . Rh4t, 46 . b4 shelters

. .
the King from further nuisance

checks, leaving Black the alterna�
tives explained above) .
71
� Here, for a change, it is Black to a How should Black proceed here ?

move.
3 � 1 7. Leonhardt-Capablanca,
3� 1 6. Spassky-Fischer, World Ch. San Sebastian, 19 1 1 , at
Match, game 13, 1 972, at Black's 5 1st move.
Black's 60th move.
3-1 7
3- 1 6 B
B
AN SWER
AN SWER Learned your lesson? Black isn't
Black has a bunch of passed ready to cash in his two beautiful
pawns, but White has one, and is pawns quite yet, while White is threat�
threatening to play 6 1 . Bf8 and 62 . e ning 52 . Bal. Thus Capablanca
gB=Q . Black must give this threat played 5 1 . Bb8. Wrong are 5 1 . . . g2
•.
priority over pushing his own pawns 52 . Ba7 and 5 1 . f2 t 52 . Bxf2 gxf2t
. .
(e.g., 60 . . h2 6 1 . Bf8 h l =Q 62 .
. 53 . Kxf2 ( wh ich eliminates the
Rxhl al =Q 63 . Rxal Rxal 64. gB=Q pawns Black needs to win). After
leaves White with one live Queen some maneuvering . . .
while Black's two are dead and
gone) . Accordingly, Fischer played
60. . . Rg8 ( the only w ay, even
though the Rook gets entombed) .
The game continued 6 1 . B£8 h2,
with Fischer in effect fighting with
five pawns against a Rook. ( Eventu�
ally Fischer won, though Spassky
missed a drawing line. )
72
.§ . this position was reached. fin,

. . g In this position, White has an
ish it off for Black. extra pawn but some problems--can
you solve them?
) , 1 8. Leonhardt-Capablanca,
San Sebastian, 1 9 1 1 , at Black's 3 , 19. Capablanca
59th move. Dus,Chotimirski,
St. Petersburg, 1 9 1 3 , at
3-1 8 White's 35th move.
B
3- 1 9
w
AN SWER
Black is momentarily stymied, so
Capablanca played a waiting move AN S WER
to force White to move: 59 Bc7. ••• White's real advantage lies in his
Even though this allows 60. Ba7, advanced e ... pawn, but it must be
Capablanca had calculated it out: pushed immediately, as Capablanca
60 Kh2 6 1 . bB=Q g2t! White
..• d i d . ( " Passed pawns must be
resigned here, trusting Capablanca pushed! "-an old adage that often
to carry through with the forced applies . ) After 3 5 . e7 the pawn
variation 62 . Ke 1 BxbB 63 . BxbBt threatens to queen supported by the
Khl 64. Ba7 gl =Qt 65 . Bxgl Kxgl , Bishop, and Black loses material:
and Black queens his last pawn. 35 K£7 36. Re l (no need to give
•••
up the pawn yet) ReS 3 7. BxeSt

Kxe8 38. Re6 and White won eas,
ily. On the other hand, the immedi,
ate 35. Re 1 allows 35 . . . d3 36. e7 d2
and Black is winning.
73
� Here, for a change of pace, is a � Now consider this position. Is

little teaser. there a way for White to win? . . .
quickly ?
3�20. End of a study by Saavedra.
White to move. 3�2 1 . White to move.
AN S WER AN SWER
Don't forget the lessons of the White's Rook is well�posted,
previous chapter. To win here you protecting both his pawns. Black's
must avoid stalemate by under� Rook, on the other hand, is blocking
promoting, then use a double threat. White's advanced pawn, but has much
The obvious 1 . cB=Q only draws to less scope. Black's King and pawn,
1 . . . Rc4t! 2 . Qxc4 s talemate. And 1 . moreover, cannot move at all. For
Kc3 is answered by 1 . . . Rd1 , when in White these facts mean stalemate dan�
view of 2 . cB=Q? Rc l t White has ger, but also opportunity. By playing 1.
nothing better than 2 . Kc2 Rd4, re� Kh3, White compels the Rook to
turning to the original position and move. Naturally Black wants to keep
another chance to find the right the pawn blocked, and so replies 1 .••
move. The w inning move is 1 . Ra8; but when White continues 2.

c8=R; normally Rook against Rook a 7, the Rook is squeezed out. After
is of course drawn, but in this posi� 2... ReS 3. aS=Q Rxa8 4. Rxa8,
tion Black can't get untangled. White wins easily with his extra Rook.
Black's only defense to the threat of As for the stalemate danger,
mate (on a8) is 1 Ra4, whereupon
••. whenever Black captures the a�pawn
White plays 2. Kb3 with the double or its descendant, the new Queen,
threat of 3 . Kxa4 and 3 . Rc1 # . White's Rook in recapturing releases
the stalemate by permitting . Kxg5 .
. .
There is a more clever try after 1 .

Kh3, namely 1 . . . Rc7 2 . a7 Rc5 , which
is worth further examination .. .
(P.S. The alternate first move 1 .
Kf4 is OK, though not as quick, and
is worth a separate look too--stay
tuned. )
74
� in this resulting position. � You may recall that in reference

Black is trying to sneak a draw-how to the original position (3�2 1 ) I men�
should White react? tioned that 1 . K£4 was plausible. If
Black then moves his King, 1 Kh4, ..•
3�22. White's 3rd move. we get the position below. Now

squeezing the Rook doesn't work, so
White must pursue another plan, and
that's up to you.
3�23. White's 2nd move.
AN SWER
Black's hope is either 3 . Rxc5?
stalemate or 3 . aB=Q RxaS 4. Qxa5?
stalemate . Furthermore, he may envi�
sion that if White doesn't fall for the
second stalemate, he can capture ANSWER
White's g�pawn and set up a drawing White should cross over to the
fortress with his Rook and pawn 6th rank with his King, but the im�
against the Queen. mediate 2 . Ke 5 allows 2 Kxg5 and
. . .
But if White is awake he can win Black draws with little difficulty.
in either of two ways, one thematic Even if White then moves his King
and the other tactical. The thematic over to b6/b 7 , Black can be pushing
win is simply to retreat the Rook and his pawn so that when he must give
leave Black dangling. Most conve� up his Rook for White's pawn, his
nient is 3. Ra3 (it stops annoying own pawn will soon require White to
checks); now there is no possibility give up his Rook in tum.
of stalemate, and White threatens to To win, White should first force
queen the pawn. On the last�ditch Black's King away from attacking the
stalemate try 3 .•. Ra5, White re� pawn, which can be done by 2. Ra 1
sponds simply 4. a8=Q ( naturally threatening 3 . Rhl #. Black has two
not 4. Rxa5? stalemate). lines of defense, but neither stops
The tactical win arises after 3. White. One is 2 . . . Kh3 , which al�
a8=Q Rxa5. With the Rook "im� lows 3 . Ke 5 Kg4 4. Kf6 , whereupon
mune" to capture for the moment, Black's g,pawn is dead meat. The
White must strike quickly before other is 2 . . . Rf7t 3 . Ke 5, but then
Black can set up his fortress. A short 3 . Ra7 4 . Kf6 is essentially the same
. .
combination does the job: 4. Qh8t as the first defense, while 3 . Kxg5 4 .
. .
Kxg5 5. QdSt and White safely cap� a7 requires Black to give up his Rook
tures the Rook. right away, at a point when White's
75
King is still close to Black's pawn, .§ In this position it is the King

allowing White to stop it easily. blocking Black's passed pawn, with
help from the Rook. How does Black
break this blockade ?
) ,24. Fedorowicz-Ault, World

Open, 1 974, at Black's 48th
move.
AN SWER
With 48 . . . Kd3 , White is
squeezed. His King cannot move,
and the Rook must guard the first
rank and so has no safe moves. That
leaves only the pawns. White tried
49. h3 g5 50. h4 g4 and resigned. In
this case Black didn't have to worry
about running out of pawn moves
first, which would happen after 5 1 .
h5, because he can lose a move at will

by 5 1 . Rc3 52. Rbl Ra3 . At this
. .
point, which White preferred not to

face, the zugzwang is complete-any
move White makes loses.
76
REVIEW: Here is a set of review positions for you to solve. White to move in ( b),
Black to move in all others.
3·25a
B �:'-
• """·'"<'"'"'"
�W
3·25c
B
ANSWERS
(a) Euwe-Lilienthal, Stockholm Olympiad, 1937. White, the reigning World
Champion, had just blundered by 71 . Bf7,Bd5 . Black seized his opportunity
with 7 1 £2, and Euwe resigned; the pawn queens, though some finesse is still
...
needed: 72 . Kxc5 fl=Q 73 . Bxb7 Qf2t 74. Kd6 Qxa7 75 . Be4 Qd4t, etc. If
Euwe doesn't "blunder" then 7 1 . Kxc5 (the Bishop at f7 is immune) f2 72 . Bc4
Kxh7 drawn.
(b) Timman-Ribli, O.H.R.A., 1986. A typical sacrifice to clear the pawn's way: 36.
Rxa6 and Black resigned (36 . . . Rxa6 37. c7, and the Rook can't stop it).
(c) lvkov-Kortchnoi, Yugoslavia,U.S.S.R. Match, 1966. Black simply covered the
queening square by 39 Rdl, and after 40. Rb7t Kg8 White gave up, for the
•••
checks soon run out.

(d) Campomanes-Cassidy, Havana Olympiad, 1966. White's ambitions were
squelched by 59 Bd4, and a draw was agreed (if 60 . f6 , 60 . . . Bxf6 6 1 . Kxf6
...
Kd5 , etc.).
77
EXTRA PRACTICE: Often, cashing in your passed pawn becomes a matter of

striking the right blow to collapse your opponent's defense. Here are four positions
for your practice. Black to move in (c), White to move in all others.
3-26a
w
3-26d
w
AN S WERS
( a) Smyslov-Konstaninopolsky, Moscow, 1 939. White won at once by 56. Rb7t
Kc8 5 7. Ra7 Resigns. Mate is threatened, and on 57 . . KbB White gets a new
.
Queen after 58. c7t KcB 5 9 . Ra8t Kd7 60 . RxeB . White needn't bother to take
the f�pawn, but 57. R/7 still leaves Black helpless.
(b) Dzindzichasvili-Beliavsky, Thessaloniki Olympiad, 1 984. Black resigned on
93. Kh6, for he can't stop both pawns. If93 . . . KeB 94 . Kgl Bd5 , White simply
pushes and gives up one pawn, then pushes and queens the other. The slovenly
alternative 93 . Kxg4 does win, but in time and with effort.
(c) Prokhorovich-Kortchnoi, U.S.S.R., 1953. Black induced resignation with 35 ••.
B£5. Since the Knight is pinned (36. Nxf5 ? Rxgl #) , White has no counter to
the intended 36 . . . Rxgl t followed by 37 . .. bl =Qt .
(d) Shamkovich-McCarthy, N Y 1 985. White has no time for 1 . Kd6 Kxh5 2 . Kc7
g5 and both pawns queen, so he blasted the way open with 1 . c6! bxc6 2. b4
axb4 3. Kd4 Resigns. Now White queens his a�pawn in four more moves,
while Black requires six to queen his g�pawn, and that's too slow.
78
MORE EXTRA PRACTICE: Here are four more positions if you want them. Black
to move in (a) and (c), White to move in the others.
3-27a 3-27b
B w
ANSWERS
(a) Fischer-Tal, Candidates' Trn., 1959. White resigned after 5 1 h2, since 52.
•••
Kxc3 bl=Qt wins by the discovered check, while 52. Ka5 Rcl collects the
Rook for the passed pawn.
(b) Botvinnik-Schmid, Leipzig Olympiad, 1960. Don't get fixated on the passed
pawn-here White must deal with mating possibilities on the back rank and at
g2: 29. Rb8?? Re l#, or 29. g3 ? ? Qh3 or 29. d5 ?? Qg4 30. g3 Qh3 with mate next
at g2 in either case. So Botvinnik played 29. gx£3 Qh3 30. Qc6, and Black
resigned. A good continuation could be 30 . ReB 3 1 . Rb8 followed by 32. Qb7.
. .
(c) Christiansen-Shirazi, U.S. Open, 198 1 . Black should first attend to White's
pawn, which otherwise could become dangerous; so he played 72 Ke5. Since
•••
73 . Bbl Rd6 bags the pawn and White's last hope, White resigned.
(d) Petursson-Bellon, Hastings, 1985,86. It's another Bishop and wrong edge,pawn
if White plays the straightforward 57. f6? Bxf6 . Instead, White played 5 7. Bc5
Bf6 58. Bxb4 and won shortly by bringing his King over to help the f,pawn.
79
� Here White's passed, and only, � With the previous example in

pawn is not so far advanced; but con, mind, solve this one.
sider what is stopping it.
J,29. White to move.
J, 28. Ozindzichasvili-Strenzwijk,
Baltimore, 1 984, White to
move.
AN SWER
White wins at once by 1. Qf6t
Qx£6 2. exf6t Kx£6 3. d7, and only
AN S WER by giving up the Rook can the pawn
With Black's King so far behind, be stopped. To reach this winning
the Rook is at present the only effec, position, you have only to realize
tive hindrance for White's pawn. By that you can remove the blockader of
1 . Rg5 White forces the exchange of the passed pawn ( Black's Queen) by
Rooks and wins in a walk ( 1. Kh2
•• forcing the exchange of Queens at
2. Rxg3 Kxg3 3. h5, etc. ). the trivial cost of a pawn.
Exchanging the Rooks can be
seen to win directly here, but also
conforms to the general principle of
exchanging pieces (but not pawns)
when ahead.
80
t! Now then, what should Black do � How should White finish it off
in this position? here ?
3�30. Tan-Ault, NJ 1 974, at 3�3 1 . Ault-Shure, World Open,

Black's 44th move. 1 974, at White's 39th move.
3-30
B
AN SWER AN SWER
Black is comfortably ahead in Again, the superior side, White
material, but the white Queen can in this case, can win eventually with
cause a lot of aggravation. The almost any move; but the way to in�
simple remedy is 44 . Qb3 t 45.
.. duce immediate resignation is to
Qxb3 Bxb3. White resigned here, trade everything off: 39. Re3 Rb7 ( if
for Black wins easily without Queens 39 . . . Kc8 , then 40. Rc3 tKd8 4 1 .
on the board. Rcd3 brings us back to the main line)
40. Red3 Ke7, and now 4 1 . Rxd7t
Rxd7 42. Rxd7t Kxd7 and Black
resigned.
81
.§ Now find Black's winning move EI The position below is what

here. Reshevsky had in mind in his game
against P ilnik (position 2,64 ) , to
3,32. Braga-Geller, O.H.R.A. II, which I promised to return. Instead
1 986, at Black's 40th move. of playing 1 . Qf5,Qf2 and drawing
because of the stalemate, suppose in,
3-32 stead White had simply grabbed off
Black's pawn on g4. Now what?
B
3,33. Black to move.
3-33
B
AN SWER
Geller didn't mess around with
40 . . Rg2 t 4 1 . Kh 1 Rxf2 t (winning a
.
second pawn but leaving a lot of

work still ahead), but instead forced
immediate simplification by 40 •••
AN SWER
Rh4. After 4 1 . Rxh4 gxh4 42. £4 Black l iquidates the Queens
a5, White realized the futility of try, with 1 . Qe l t 2. Kg2 QgJ t 3.
••
ing to stop the distant passed pawns Qxg3 hxg3 4. Kxg3. Black could
and resigned. spare the pawn it cost to trade
Queens, for he still has two,to,one
left. Let's consider that too . . .
82
� . in the position below ( after 4.

. . � Here White has a slight material
Kxg3 ). What should Black do now? advantage plus a threatening passed
pawn. How can he cash in these as,
),34. Black's 4th move. sets for an easy win?
),35 . Capablanca-Corzo, Match,

game 1 1 , 190 1 , at White's
4 1 st move.
AN SWER
If you keep on liquidating with
4 . b6 5 . axb6t Kxb6 , the game is
. .
only drawn. White's King can get

close enough to prevent the pawn AN S WER
from queening-it gets at least to cl, Well, let's try "passed pawns
blocked by the black King at a2, must be pushed" and play 4 1 . d7.
which is sufficient to draw (refer B l ack responds 4 1 . . . Rd8 and
back to position 2,28). threatens the pawn, which seems
Instead, Black wins by stepping lost. Was the pawn push foolish?
around with his King and nabbing No, for we are following Capa,
White's pawn before White's King blanca, who now played 42. Ng8t.
can get over to help: 4 Kb8 5. K£4
••• Black might as well take the Knight,
Kc7 6. Ke4 Kc6 7. Kd4 Kb5, etc. for if 42 . Kg6 , 43 . Nf6 protects the
. .
As exemplified in this and the previ, pawn and 44 . Bel follows. But after
ous position, trading pieces when 42... Rxg8, White continued 43.
ahead is usually a good idea, but not Bc7 Kg6 44. d8=Q Rxd8 45. Bxd8.
trading pawns . In a material sense White gains
very little: he gets a Rook for a Knight
and pawn, and when you consider that
it was a strong passed pawn, the trans,
action by itself seems questionable.
However, the broader picture is that
White has reduced the position to an
easily won ending where he has a
Bishop and two pawns against three
pawns. In a few moves position 2,52
was reached, and shortly thereafter
positions ),2 and ),).
83
a Now what should Black do here? E! How should White proceed here?
3�36. Seirawan-Beliavsky, Rest of 3�3 7 . Adelman-Feuerstein, Bergen

World�U.S.S.R. Match, Futurity, 1 985, at White's
1 984, at Black's 64th move. 57th move.
3-36 3-37
B w
AN SWER AN SWER
The same principle appl ies: Again liquidation is the key,
Black forces the trade of Rooks by though here you must realize that
64 ... Nd3t. After 65. Kf5 Rxe4 66. after 57. Rg7t Kc6 58. Rxb7 Kxb7
Kxe4 Ne l , White has only his King 59 . Kg3 Black's King is too far away
and an extra pawn to resist Black's to save his g�pawn (and once that
Knight and King. While it still takes disappears, White's h�pawn starts
a while, for any reasonably compe� running). It also helps to realize that
tent player the win is sure and fairly after the thoughtlessly greedy 57.
simple. Rxg5 Ke6 White has at best a long,
hard struggle to convert his extra
pawn into a win, and in fact he can't,
with best play. In the actual game,
Black resigned after 57. Rg7t.
84
� In this position, it would seem .§ This time decide what to do for

that White is winning easily; but the inferior side.
think carefully.
3,39. Kasparov-Karpov, World
3 �38. Benko-Averbakh, Portoroz Ch. Match, game 40, 1 984,
Interzonal, 1 958, at White's 85, at Black's 59th move.
78th move.
AN S WER
AN SWER If trading down is good for the
Again, trading down is the an, superior side, it must be bad for the
swer; as long as a winning position is inferior side. Here it should be ap,
reached, it is fine to get the short parent that if Black allows the ex,
end of an exc hange here a pawn for
- change of Knights, he will soon lose
a Knight. After 78. Nxf7! (Black (59 . . . Nxd4? 60 . Kxd4 Ke6 6 1 . Kc5
resigned at this point) Kxf7 79 . Kd7 Ke7 62 . Kd5 , etc . ) . So the right move
the remaining pawn is escorted is 59 ... Ng7, removing the Knight
smoothly to promotion. Indeed from the possible trade and also pro,
White's liquidation is needed to win, tecting the pawn. Karpov made it,
for otherwise Black can force his own and the game was eventually drawn.
liquidation and draw: 78 . Nc4 f6 or
78 . Ne4 Ke6. ( If the above is not
completely clear to you, it may help
to realize that White must have his
pawn, but not necessarily his Knight,
to win the game.)
85
E! Do the same considerations apply E! Suppose that after 1 Kc7 in the

•••
here ? In deciding on your move for previous position White makes a

Black, please evaluate 1 BxbS , 1 . .
. . . . reckless attempt to win by 2. e6 Kd6
Bb7, 1 . Kc7, and 1 . . Bdl.
. . . 3. e7, bringing us to this position.
What should Black do ?
3�40. Lombardy-Gliksman, NY
1 985, Black to move. 3,4 1 . Black's 3rd move.
3-40 3-41
B B
AN SWER AN SWER
White has an extra pawn, but Now Black turns the tables with
the position is sealed up; so there is 3••• Bxb5 4. axb5 Kxe7. Black's
no way for his King to penetrate and King, having picked off the e�pawn,
secure the victory. As a result, there is still in the "square" to get the b,
aren't many ways for Black to lose, pawn, too. Then . . .
but one way is 1 . BxbS? When White
. .
recaptures, 2. axbS , he has two passed

pawns, separated and far enough ad,
vanced that Black's King cannot deal
with both of them (2 Kc7 3 . e6 Kd6
. . .
4. b6 Kxe6 5 . b7 and queens).

In the game Black played 1. ••
Bb7, and after 2. Ke2 Ke7 White

conceded the draw. Black followed
the principle for the inferior side of
keeping pieces on the board, which is
fine here, even though not necessary
to draw. In fact Black can allow the
exchange of Bishops, as long as he
doesn't disturb the pawn position; ei,
ther 1 . . . Kc7 2 . Bxc6 Kxc6 or 1 . . .
Bd7 2 . Bxd7 Kxd7 leaves White un�

able to win (for, as mentioned above,
his King can never penetrate into
Black's position, and Black has only
to keep an eye on the e,pawn) .
86
� . . . Black brings his King to bS � Time for a new position. Here

and pushes his a�pawn, producing a Black is a Rook up but his King is a
position such as the one below. What fugitive, and there are various
should he do next? threats. What should he do?
3�42. Black to move. 3 �43 . Bouaziz-DeFirmian,

Gammarth Interzonal, 1 985,
3-42 at Black's 3 1st move.
B
3 -43
B
AN SWER
Don't play 1 . a3 t , which gives
. .
Black a beautifully protected passed AN SWER

pawn he can admire from a distance, Black p layed 3 1 • • •R£8 and
as the pawn barricade keeps out the White resigned. After 32 . BxfB QxfB
black King just as it kept out White's 33 . QxfB NxfB the game is reduced to
King when he was hoping to win in a simple endgame that Black would
the previous diagram. win easily with his extra Knight.
Instead, Black must open a path Naturally, Black is quite happy to
for his King by 1 . axb3. After 2.
•• trade his Queen and Rook for
Kxb3 Ka5 3. Kh2 Ka4 Black works Wh i t e 's Queen and B ishop to
his way forward, and after 4. Ka2 achieve this result.
h3t 5 . Kh2 Kh4 6. Khl Kc3 Black
gets the d�pawn and the win is easy.
Note that this time, contrary to the
general principle, the win requires
trading off a pair of pawns.
87
� Here White is on the move with � In this position Black is only

an extra piece. How should he pro, slightly ahead in material, but he
ceed? does have an advanced passed pawn.
What can you make of it ?
3,44. Dzindzichashvili-Tlmman,
Tllburg, 1 985, at White's 3A5 . Goldenov-Kortchnoi,
49th move. U.S.S.R. Ch., 1 952, at Black's
45th move.
3-44
w
AN SWER
Trade down? Wait a minute ! If AN SWER
49. Nxb6 ? , there is only the a,pawn The key is in controlling the
with the "wrong" Bishop left for pawn's file. The immediate 45 . . . d2
White. White must keep his Knight is stopped by 46 . Rd6 , but by first
to win, so he played 49. Kd3. The placing his Rook behind the passed
game continued 49 ... Kb4 50. Ba3t pawn with 45 Rd8 Kortchnoi in,
•••
Ka4 5 1 . Bd6 and White is making duced his opponent to resign. Now
progress. For the last phases of this of course 46. Rd6 is met by 46 . . .
game, look back to positions z,68c/d. Rxd6 47. cxd6 d2 , etc., while 46 . Bf4
runs into 46 . . . Rxf4t (better than
the prosaic 46 . . . d2 4 7. Bxd2 Rxd2)
47. Kxf4 d2 and queens. The only
way to stop the pawn is (45 . . . Rd8)
46 . Rb6 d2 47. Rbl dl =Q 48 . Rxdl
Rxdl , but that is really hopeless.
88
� Material is even below, but t! How do you make progress for

White's pawns look much better, White here ? (Any similarity be-
don't they? Can you show why ? tween this and the previous position
is not coincidental. )
3--46. Symslov-Lilienthal,
Moscow Ch., 1 938, at 3--4 7 . Smyslov-Lilienthal,
White's 5 2nd move. Moscow Ch., 1 938, at
White's 46th move.
AN SWER
This time the correct process is AN S WER
to push the d--pawn and get the Rook Both general principles and per-
behind it: 52. d7 Ra8 (note that if haps a sharp memory can help you
52 . . . Rd4 , 53 . Rd6 ends any resis- here: the correct move is 46. Q£4 in
tance) 53. Rd6 Rd8. At this point order to force an exchange of
Black has stopped the passed pawn, Queens. (If Black declines, by 4 6 . . .
but in doing so he has had to immo- Qd8 , we have position 3--29, where
bilize his Rook. However, White White wins quickly. ) After 46 • • •
must be sure he can support his ad- Qx£4 4 7. Rx£4, White has a fairly
vanced forces before they become easy time, with the finish shown in
vulnerable. Smyslov continued 54. the previous position.
£4 K£8 55. £5 Ke7 56. f6t, forcing The wrong move, though, is 4 6 .
back Black's King and putting him d7, which would be good in principle
into near paralysis, whereupon Black but fails here because of Black's
resigned. counterattack with 46 . . .Ral .
. .
With 47 . . . Qgl # threatened, White

has no salvation in either 47. Qg2
Qxe5t 48 . Qg3 Qxd4 or 47. h4 Qgl t
48 . Kh3 Ra3 t 49 . f3 Ra2 , etc. Thus,
forcing the exchange of Queens
makes it much easier for White to
exploit his advantage without hin-
drance.
89
� Then what do you do for White .§. For emphasis, let's go back over
to move here? applications of this principle of trad,
ing pieces when ahead in the next
3A8. Botvinnik-Lilienthal, few positions.
Moscow, 1 936, at White's
33rd move. 3,49. White to move.
AN S WER AN SWER
The principles of trading off The Queens on the board would
when ahead (White's menacing a, make all sorts of difficulties, but
pawn is a considerable advantage, White wins in a walk by forcing their
even though material is even) or to exchange with either 1 . Qd4t or 1 .
clear the way for your passed pawn Qb3 t . (This position is analysis from
apply here. Botvinnik played 33. Cayford-Zagarovsky, U . S . A . ,
ReSt Rxc8 34. Nxc8, and now the U.S.S.R. Correspondence Match,
a,pawn threatens to queen. Black 1 984,85, where Black resigned be,
continued 34 NeB 35. a6 Nc7 36.
••• fore reaching this position. )
a7 NaB ( the threat was 37. Nb6) 37.
Nxd6 and White won easily. Thus
the move that is good on general
principles (33 . RcBt) turns out to be
the start of a five,move forced varia,
tion resulting in the gain of a pawn.
We can expect a good player with
time for though t to work this
through, but we can also expect any
experienced player ( and this book
aims to make you such) to find the
starting move quickly on general
principles (it must be good to elimi,
nate the Rooks in such a position) .
90
t! Can Black ( to move) cash in on .§ Here, a similar opportunity is

his slight material advantage here ? presented to White; should he take
it?
) ,50. Cirino-Shvartsman, U.S.
Amateur, 1 985, at Black's ),5 1 . Yuchtman-Ault, NY Open
53rd move. 1974, at White's 47th move.
ANS WER AN SWER

This is a typical position where He should: 47. Rxe6 Bxe6 48.
the Rook must be given up at the Kxe6 produces a winning position,
right moment for a Bishop and pawn as Black can't hang on to his f,pawn
in order to win. Here, after 53 ••• after 48 Kg6 49. Ke5. I persisted
•••
Rxg3 54. Bxg3 Kxg3 Black gets a with 49 ... Kg7 50. Kx£5 K£7 5 I .
second pawn right away, and-most Ke5 Kg6 52. Ke6 before resigning.
important-wins the ending with his Most important in the decision to
remaining pawn. White tried 55. h5 give up a Rook for Bishop and pawn is
gxh5 56. Kd2 Kg2 before resigning. seeing that White wins a second pawn
Also futile is 54 . Bf6 Rh3 55 . Kd2 after that. It may also help to realize that
Rxh4 56 . Bxh4 Kxh4 57. Ke2 Kg3 , White has reached an optimum deploy,
and Black's King is still placed so as ment of his pieces and can't really im,
to escort the pawn to paydirt. prove his position, so it's time to take the
Note that these winning lines plunge with the Rook.
depend on White's King being far
enough away so that Black has time
to gobble the last pawn and get his
King back to a sufficient escort posi,
tion.
91
� How should White continue � Well then, what should White do

here ? here ? Be careful!
) ,5 2 . White to move. ),53. Capablanca-Janowski, San

Sebastian, 1 9 1 1 , at White's
65th move.
AN S WER
White wins at once by 1. c8=Qt
Rxc8 2. Rxc8 Kxc8 3. Kc6, collect, AN SWER
ing Black's pawns. Naturally White Capablanca won with 65. Qh8t
is pleased to give up his passed pawn Kg4 66. Qc8t. With a little fore,
to reduce the position to such an easy sight, White ends up a Queen ahead,
win. (In the first game of the second whereas 65 . Qc5 t only trades
Kasparov-Karpov World Champi, Queens into a hairy ending, and the
onship Match, 1 985 , Karpov re, crude 65 . Qxb8 lets Black out
signed at adjournment rather than through perpetual check ( 65 . . .
have this or a similar position arise Qc2 t 66 . Kal Qcl t , etc. ) .

within a few moves.) Always be on
the lookout for opportunities to fiq..
uidate into winning King endings.
92
§. Can you find a good move for � What would you do for Black
White in this position? here ?
3,54, Dzindzichashvili-Timman, ),55 . Leonhardt---Capablanca,

Tilburg, 1 985, at White's San Sebastian, 1 9 1 1 , at
45th move. Black's 24th move.
3-54
w
AN SWER AN S WER
With a Knight for two doubled Black can force the trade of
pawns, White is ahead and would Rooks, which should be easy to spot;
like to trade off pieces, especially and he should do so following the
Black's active Rook. That opportu, principle of trading pieces and re,
nity is present, and White forced the clueing to a simpler endgame, even
exchange with 45. Rg4 Rxg4 46. though Black's advantage is small
Nxg4. It may seem surprising that and the win a long way off. The
Black's Rook on an open board can game went 24 ... Ra l 25. Rxa l
be confined, but you might have no, Bxal , and Capablanca won in an,
ticed to start with that the Rook has other 3 6 moves. ( Later positions
nowhere to move on the 3rd rank. from this game are shown in posi,
With the Rooks gone, White domi, tions ), 1 8 and ) , 1 9. )
nates the board; later stages of this
game are shown in positions z,68c/d
and ) ,26b.
93
� And how should White, two � Bring home the win for White
pawns up, wind up this position? here.
3�56. Ault-Kappler, NJ 1 974, at 3�57. Kavalek-Portisch,

White's 34th move. Thessaloniki Olympiad,
1 984, at White's 53rd move.
3-57
w
AN SWER
The immediate liquidation by AN SWER
34 . Qb7t results in the crippling of White uses his passed pawn and
White's pawns after 34 . . . Qxb7 35 . the possibility of trading down to fin�
axb7 Nd7 (meeting the threat of 36. ish the game: 53. f6 and Black re�
Bb4) . White now would have a lot signed. If now 53 . . . Rxg4 , 54 . Rg6
of work to do to win, and that is too compels the trade of Rooks, leaving
high a cost unless Black has real nothing to stop the f�pawn. Or if
threats for counterplay. 53 . . . Rxa2 , 54 . f7 Ra8 55 . Rf6t wins
Accordingly, White should look the Rook for the pawn. The most
to exploiting his threatening forces sophisticated defense is 53 . . . Rh2 t
while taking care that any counterat� 54 . Kg6 Rxa2 55 . f7 Ra8 56 . Kg7
tack can be controlled. That leads to Kxg4 , which brings us to the next
the correct move, 34. Ba5, which position . . .
both threatens and covers Black's
only immediate counterattack: if
34 . . . Bxf4 35 . exf4 Qxf4 White now
has 36 . Qc7t , trading Queens. In the
game Black tried the slower 34 . . g5 ,
.
but had to resign after 35. Bb6 gx£4

36. a7.
94
!! . Black now hopes, after giving

. . � How should Black proceed here
up his Rook for White's pawn, to use with his one, pawn advantage?
his own remaining pawn to the same
effect. How can White finish off the ),59. Menchik-Capablanca,
game most easily? Hastings, 1 93 1 , at Black's
3 1 st move.
J , SS . White's 5 7th move.
3-58
w
AN S WER
ANSWER In genera l , Black should be
By 5 7. Re6, White threatens happy to trade off Bishops so as to
both to screen the pawn with 58. more easily exploit his extra pawn
ReB and to simply capture Black's with only Kings left. Here he can
pawn with 58 . Rxe5 . Black has no force this exchange by 3 1 . . . Bg5 , but
way to counter both threats; for ex, there is another important factor
ample, after 57 . . . Ra7 58 . Rxe5 Black that must be considered, too. White's
will soon have to give up his Rook. King is already in the center, well,
The best practical chance is 5 7 •.• posted for the endgame , wh ile
Kf5 58. ReS Ra7 59. Kg8 Rxf7 60. Black's King is still tucked away from
Kxf7, where White must demon, the action. Trading Bishops at this
strate a little technique in stopping point would be di sastro u s , for
the pawn (which you can practice White's King turns vicious: 3 1 . . .
playing out, if you're interested) . Bg5? 32. Bxg5 hxg5 33 . Ke3 (uh,oh ! )
Kf8 34 . Kd4 Ke7 35 . Kc5 a6 , reach,
ing a position worth coming back to.
But first, the correct move: Capa,
blanca played 3 1 . .. a6 32. Be3 Kf8
(the reverse order of moves is also
OK) , bringing his King to the center
to oppose White's King, and won in
another ten moves. Remember, trad
ing pieces when you're ahead is gen
erally good strategy, but don't follow
this or any other principle blindly.
95
!:! As just mentioned, this hypo, � . . for you to play for White.
.
thetical position is worth a further

look. How should White proceed? 3,6 1 . White's 38th move.
3,60. White's 36th move. 3-6 1

w
3-60
w
AN SWER
Once again a little patience is
AN SWER called for-think before you grab! If
Clearly White's King is poised to 38 . Kxa6 Black defends his b,pawn
erase the material deficit, but playing with 38 . . . Kc6 , and while White can
36. Kb6 at once would be a greedy still win, it will take clever play for
blunder. The reply would be 36 b4!
. . . many moves (work it through, if
and Black queens a pawn. Seeing you're interested) . However, it is
this, you can take preventive action much simpler to exhaust Black's
first and still go pawn,gobbling with pawn moves right here and force his
your King. After 36. a3 g4 3 7. Kb6 King back, like so: 38. h3 gxh3 39.
Kd7 we reach the following position gxh3 g5 40. f3 Kd8. Now White's
King can pluck all three pawns ( 4 1 .
Kxa6 Kc 7 42. Kxb5 Kh7 43 .
Kxc4), and the win is easy as pie.
Note also that if Black tries 40 a5 , . . .
the correct procedure is 4 1 Kxb5 .
first.
96
REVIEW PRACTICE: Let us pause and conclude this chapter with four sets of
review positions. See how easily you can solve them. Black to move in (c), White to
move in all others.
3-62b
w
3-62d
w
AN SWERS
(a) Kasparov-Short, London Speed Match, game 1, 1 987. The pawn marches: 6 1 .
e 7 and Black resigned.
(b) Popovic-Bellin, Hastings, 1 980�8 1 . Another unstoppable pawn, perhaps a little
harder to see because a sacrifice is necessary: 1 . b4 and Black resigned.
(c) Browne-Alburt, U.S. Ch., 1 986. The straightforward 83 . . hl ;:;Q 84. Bxhl
.
Rxhl is not sufficient to win. Instead Black gives up his Rook to protect his new
Queen: 83 Rg2 84. Ne l h l ;:;Q 85. Nxg2, and after 85 Qa t t 86. Kd3
..• ..•
Qd 1 t 87. Kc4 Qd2 Black soon won.

(d) Kortchnoi-Tal, Wijk aan Zee, 1 968. Just as you want to guard and push through
your own passed pawns, you want to block and capture your opponent's.
Kortchnoi played 44. Ra7 Rb8 45. h5 Kg8 46. Rxa4 and won the ending. If
White messes around, such as by 44 . Rd6 , then 44 . . . RaB and the pawn
becomes a menace.
97
REVIEW PRACTICE: Here are four more-can you use your passed pawns ? Black
to move in (a) and (b), White to move in the others.
3-63a 3-63b
B B
AN S WERS
(a) Kasparian-Simagin, Sochi, 1 952. Cash in your passed pawn: 1 Bb5 2. Bxg7
•••
fl=Q 3. Rxfl Bxfl 4. Bxh6 Be2, and Black collected the pawns and won.
(b) From analysis by Kasparov. The knightmare strikes: 1 . c2 2. Rc5 Nd3 3. Rxc2
.•
Ne l t and wins.
(c) Sax-Fedorowicz, NY 1 986. White blasted through with 3 1 . Qxc8t Qxc8 32.
d7 Qa8 33. Rxc6 ReB 34. Rdc l and Black resigned.
(d) Fischer-Euwe, Leipzig Olympiad, 1 960. Fischer finished with 34. Rc7t Kd3
35. Rxc3t Kxc3 ; and now the key move, which hopefully you saw, 36. Be5 !,
and Black resigned (the a,pawn queens).
98
REVIEW PRACTICE: Another four, to queen or not. Black to move in (a) and
(d), White to move in the others.
AN SWERS
(a) Gold-Dlugy, National Open, 1987. Black won by 37 e3 38. K£3 (hopeless,
.••
but so is 38. dxe3 Bxc3 with 39 . . . d2 next) e2, and White gave up here ( if 39.
Kf2, 39 . . . Bh4t) .
(b) Petrov-Grau, Buenos Aires Olympiad, 1 939. Black seems to have everything
closed up and covered, but, as often happens in such positions, a temporary
sacrifice rips it open: 35. Nxb7 Rxb7 36. Rxb7 and Black resigned, seeing that
36 . . . Qxb7 37. Qa7 has no answer.
(c) McKay-Hort, Lucerne Olympiad, 1982. White is comfortably ahead, but the
correct way to cash in is 46. Bd4t. Black resigned here, since the e�pawn must
queen whether he takes the Bishop (46 . . . Rxd4 47. Rxd4 Kxd4 48. e7) or not
( 46 . . . Ke4 4 7. e7 ReB 48. Rd8) . As you should see, the immediate 46. e7 allows
46 . . . Re4 , which the correct Bishop sacrifice blocks.
(d) Fischer-Tal, Candidates' Trn., 1 959. Black should want to win this position,
and needs his b�pawn to do so; Tal played 45 b3 and won in several more
•••
moves. In general, as here, avoid trading pawns when ahead.
99
REVIEW PRACTICE: And finally, finish off with these four. White to move in
(d), Black to move in all others.
3-65c
B
AN SWERS
(a) Short-Kasparov, London Speed Match, game 2, 1987. Black is winning, but
White's doubled Rooks can cause all sorts of trouble. Kasparov played 5 1 . ••
Rg4t 52. Ke5 Re4t and White resigned. Not only does a pair of Rooks go off,
but White's King will get cut off from the pawns (53 . Kd5 Rxe8 54 . Rxe8
Rd3 t) .
(b) Unzicker-Botvinnik, Amsterdam Olympiad, 1 954. Black has two ways to get a
pawn back, and Botvinnik correctly chose 67 Re4t 68. Kfl Rxe5, keeping
•.•
Rooks on the board and soon drawing. The alternative is suspect on general
principles and wrong by specific analysis: 67 . . . Rxf6? 68 . exf6 Kxh6 69. Ke2
Kg6 70 . Ke3 Kxf6 71 . Kf4 Kg6 72 . Kxg4 and with his King in front of the pawn,
White wins.
(c) Speelman-Timman, Mendetaxco Interzonal, 1985. Ahead but bothered, Black
liquidated with 30 Re l t 3 1 . Kg2 Qe4t 32. Qxe4 Rxe4 33. Bxh6 Re6 and
•••
won.
(d) Alburt-Speelman, U.S.-U.K. Match of Champions, game 4, 1986. White can
trade Queens at any time, so the urgent business is to support the d-pawn.
Alburt played 35. Rd3 Rh8t 36. Kg2 Re2t 37. K£3 Rexh2 38. d7 and
eventually won. Various move orders will win, but the key idea is for White to
get a Rook behind his passed pawn.
1 00
More Fun
at the
Cashier's �
Window ��
As we have seen, the key to win,

ning in the endgame is to queen a 4- 1
pawn. In the last chapter we looked
at examples of pushing and support,
B
ing a passed pawn, ways of clearing
the way for the pawn, and the prin..
ciple of trading pieces, but not
pawns, when ahead. In this chapter
we will look further at issues involv,
ing getting to queen a pawn, concen,
trating more on some of the pawn,
play techniques involved.
AN SWER
E: Let us start with a position requir, Most obvious is the capture 4 1 . . .
ing some clear thought, perhaps Kxh4 , but after 42 . Kf4 White gets
aided by what you have learned pre, the pawn back and his King is closer
viously. How should Black proceed? to the remaining pawns on the other
side of the board, the typical advan,
4, 1 . Englisch-Steinitz, London, tage resulting from the "outside
1 883, at Black's 4 1 st move. passed pawn." With this understand,
ing, you can quickly judge Black is in
trouble in this line, and if you go into
it further, analysis will show Black in
Using "technique" to fact loses. So something e lse is
win when materially needed. Steinitz, the acknowledged
World Champion at the time, played
ahead is emphasized in
4 1 ... f4t! Now if 42 Kf2 , 42 . . . Kxh4
Genesis. Do not assume
.
43 . Kf3 Kg5 , and Black holds on to

you know what in the extra pawn and wins easily; so
reality you neither White tried 42. Ke4 to stay next to
know nor practice. the pawn. But that doesn't stop it,
and after 42 ... £3 43. Ke3 Kg3
White resigned, for Black queens
well ahead of White's h,pawn.
101
� Now figure out what to do for and the extra tempo gives White a
White in this basic position. win in the race resulting from 4 •••
Ke5 5. a4 K£4 6. b5 Kxg4 7. a5 , etc.

4,2. White to move. 2 . b3 also works against 1 . a5 .
. .
� And here is a practical example,

Black to play.
4'3. Friend-Ault, NJ 1 973, at

Black's 48th move.
AN S WER
The correct move, which may or
may not be obvious, is 1 . g4! Mate,
rial is even, but the position is unbal,
anced with each player having a two,
to,one majority on one side of the
board. In general, each player wants AN SWER
to advance his own pawn majority The usefulness of crippling the
and create a passed pawn. Also each opponent's pawns applies here, too,
player should hold back his oppo, and takes precedence over cashing in
nent's majority, if possible. Here the advanced pawn for the Bishop.
White has a golden opportunity, for The correct move is 48 h5, and
..•
1 g4 cripples Black-for a while at

. after 49. c6 b l =Q 50. Bxb l Bxb l
least, White's one pawn holds back 5 1 . c7 B£5 Black wins. In real life I
Black's two. Meanwhile White will must confess I played the hasty 48 . . .
be able to use his own pawn majority bl =Q 49 . Bxbl Bxbl , but now 50.
and win the game. It is hopeless for g4! allowed White to draw, since
Black to go to the aid of his pawns: Black cannot preserve his last pawn.
1 . . Kf6 2 . b4 Kg6 3 . a4 h5 4. gxhSt
.
KxhS 5 . b5 , etc.-Black is too late.

Instead he must hang around in the
center with 1. Kd5. Now White
••
must think carefully, for 2 . b4? allows

2 Kc4 , and 2 . Kd3 Ke5 threatens to
. . .
penetrate at f4 and obliges 3 . Ke3

KdS , repeating the position. But 2.
b3 ! marks time constructively (keeps
Black out of c4) and leads to a win,
though White must still play accu,
rately: 2 Ke5 3. b4 Kd5 4. Kd3 !,
•••
1 02
More Fun at the Cashier's Window-4
� This time it might appear that � Obviously here White wants to

White has crippled Black's extra queen one of his pawns. The ques,
pawn. Is that really so, or can Black tion is, how?
do something to win?
4,5. White to move.
4A. Martinez-Coho, Havana
Olympiad, 1 966, at Black's
47th move.
AN SWER
Neither direct push of a pawn
works: 1 . e7t allows Black to liqui,
ANSWER date to a draw by I . . Bxe7 2 . fxe7t
.
In fact the f,pawn is not really Kxe7, while 1 . f7 allows Black to set
stopped; Black played 47 ... £4! and up an unbreakable blockade, most
White resigned. Either way White simply by 1 . . . Ke7 followed at some
captures allows Black to quickly point by . . Kf8 ( essential when
.
queen his e,pawn: 48 . Bxf4 Bxf4 49 . White threatens to bring his King to
exf4 Kd2 50. f5 e3 t or 48 . exf4 e3 t g7 or g8) , after which Black can
49 . Ke 1 Bb4t. If White declines to move his Bishop ad infinitum as long
capture, say by 48 . Bh6 , Black can as it controls e 7 .
win as he chooses by either 48 . . . f3 T h e winning process, qu ite
49. Bg5 Bg3 t 50. Kfl (keeping the simple once you realize the pawn
pawn blocked, while if 50 . Kxg3 , pushes don't work yet, is to bring up
50 . . . Ke2 and the f,pawn queens) the King: 1 . Kg6 followed by 2 . Kf7
Kd2 and something must give, or and 3 . e7t .
48 . . . fxe3 t 49 . Bxe3 Bg3 t 50. Kxg3
Kxe3 .
103
!! Here it's two connected passed � Material is even below, but White
pawns against a Rook. What should has two advanced pawns. Can he
White do? make use of them?
4'6. White to move. 4, 7 . Benko-Gruenfeld, NY

Open, 1 986, at White's 33rd
move.
4-7
w
ANSWER
Here White must push right
away, and the one to push is clearly AN SWER
the b,pawn: 1 . b6. Now either pawn Yes he can, in two ways. Benko
threatens to advance, and if 1 . . . Rh6 played 33. Rxa7 Rxa7 34. b6, and
White gives up one to queen the Black resigned. As you have seen,
other: 2 . a7 Rxb6 3 . a8=Q or 2 . b7 the Rook alone can't deal with the
Rxa6 3 . bB=Q and White can play on two advanced pawns, though note
to win with Queen against Rook. Al, that after 34 . . . RaJ White must play
tematively, Black can try to get his 35 . b7 Rb1 36. c7 to win, while 35 .
King on the scene to help, but it is c7? Kd7 loses.
j ust too late: 1 . b6 Kd6 2 . a7! (but not Alternatively, White could win
2 . b7? Kc7 and Black wins) RhB 3 . b7 by 33 . b6 , for after 33 . . . axb6 34 .
Kc7 4 . a8=Q and wins (but not 4 . RaBt Ke7 35. c7 (35 . Ra7t Ke6 36.
bB=Qt? RxbB 5 . axbB=Qt KxbB Rxj7 also wins) Rf8 36. Rxf8 KxfB
draw) . As shown here, two con .. 37. cB=Qt.
nected passed pawns on the 6th
rank win against a Rook, in the
absence of Kings.
Since the pawns can do it on
their own, White doesn't need to
bring over his King to help by 1 . Kc4?
In fact, that would be fatal, for it lets
Black's King get close enough too,
and the game turns in Black's favor:
1 . . . Kd6 2 . b6 Kc6 3 . b7 RhB 4. a7
Kxb7.
1 04
More Fun at the Cashier's Window---4
� Here are two variations of the � White's advantage here lies with
previous position. In each, decide his passed pawn. What should he do
whether one (which ?) or both or nei, with it?
ther of the methods works to win for
White to move. 4,9. Capablanca-Villega,
Buenos Aires, 1 9 1 4, at
4-Sa White's 30th move.
w
4-Sb
w AN SWER
Push it! While after 30. c6 the
pawn is not going any further in the
near future, the closer it is to queen,
ing, the more of a threat it is. By
contrast, most other moves allow
Black to play 30 . Qc6 and block,
. .
ade the pawn one square further

back. The importance of this differ,
AN SWER ence can be seen in the game con,
tinuation: 30 Kg7 3 1 . a4 Rd6 32.
..•
In (a) only the Rook sacrifice Qe5 t £6, bringing us to . . .

works: 1. Rxa7 Rxa7 2. b6, etc., as
before. With the Rook on e 7 instead,
I . b6? axb6 2 . RaBt Kf7 leaves White
looking foolish and having to fight
for the draw.
It's vice versa in (b), where the
winning line is 1 . b6 axb6 2. Ra8t,
etc. With the King on g 1 instead, the
Rook sacrifice fails because Black
gains a vital tempo by checking: 1 .
Rxa7? Rxa7 2 . b6 Ral t 3 . Kg2 Kd8
and Black's King holds the pawns.
105
� . this position. What now for

. . � In this position White has the
White? possibility of a similar combination
that could end the game quickly. Can
4� 10. Capablanca-Villega, you see it? How about it?
Buenos Aires, 1 9 1 4, at
White's 33rd move. 4� 1 1 . Tal-Kortchnoi, U.S.S.R.
Ch., 1 958, at White's 33rd
4-1 0 move.
w
4-1 1
w
AN SWER
Capab l a nc a c o n t i nu e d 3 3 .
Qxd6 Qxd6 34. c7 and Black re� AN SWER
signed, for he can't stop the pawn Tal, probably under time pres�
except by giving up his Queen for it sure, saw "it" and played 33. h6t?
and leaving White a Rook ahead. Rxh6 34. Qxh6t? Kxh6 35. g7, but
( N ow you see why Capablanca resigned when Kortchnoi played
played 30. c6 .) 35 Qxg3t (obviously after 36. fxg3
•••
Kxgl it is hopeless) .
Correct was 33 . Qf3 QdS 34 .
Qf4 , which will quickly produce a
draw by repetition since Black can�
not let White's Queen penetrate to
the 7th rank, while White cannot
afford to lose his h�pawn.
A point of unusual interest here
is 33 . . . Qb5 . For example, 34 . Qf4
e5 35 . h6t Rxh6 36 . Qxh6t Kxh6 37.
gl Qbl t 38 . Kh2! Qxc2! If White
goes 39 . gB=Nt he's probably lost.
On the other hand 41 . gB=Q ob l iges
Black to take a perpetual. Also, 33 . ..
Qb5 34 . a4 pretty much forces 34 . . .
QdS etc.
1 06
More Fun at the Cashier's Wirulow-4
.§ In this next position pawns are � . . in the resulting position, how

.
even, and White's only advantage can White win?

seems to be his more advanced
passed pawn. What can you find to 4, 13. White's 4th move.
give White a decisive advantage?
4- 1 3
4, 1 2. White to move.
w
4- 1 2
w
ANSWER
White has two ways to win. One
is to make use of a checking possibil,
AN SWER ity to queen one of his pawns: 4.
With 1. b4! White forces two ReSt (this check can be made now
connected passed pawns on the 5th or on either of the next two moves)
rank, by either 1 bxc4 2 . bxc5 or
. . . Kg7 5 . c6 Rxd6 6. c7 Rc6 7 . cB=Q
1 cxb4 2 . c5 (in the latter case at
. . . Rxc8 8. Rxc8 and White wins easily
the cost of a pawn, which here is enough with his extra Rook, though
trivial) . Black is then helpless to stop some care is required.
the "pawn roller"--e.g., 1 . cxb4 2.
.• The other method involves put,
c5 Rh4 3. d6 Rd4, and now . . . ting White's Rook behind one of his
passed pawns: 4 . Re l (or 4 . Re2 with
similar intent) Kgl 5 . Rcl and Black
can't stop the c,pawn, not even by
giving up his Rook for it (5 Kf8 6 .
. . .
c6! Rxd6 7. c7, etc. ) .
107
� How should White proceed in � Here Black's pawns are menac,

this position ? ing, but White seems to have enough
forces to hold them back. In fact,
4, 14. Chiburdanidze Black can force a decisive advantage.
Akmilovskaya, Women's How?
World Ch. Match, game 5,
1 986, at White's 36th move. 4, 1 5 . Marshall-Capablanca,
Match, game 23, 1 909, at
4- 1 4 Black's 3 1st move.
w
4- 1 5
B
ANSWER
The pedestrian 36. gxh5? leaves
White stymied after 36 . . . h6 , but AN SWER
White, the Women's World Cham, Capablanca played 3 1 . .. b3 32.
pion at the time, played 36. g5 ! This Rd2 ( if 32. Rc3 , 32 . . . Rxb2 33 . Bxc4
leaves Black's h,pawns as sitting Rc2 wins) Rc l 33. Bd l (necessary
ducks to White's King, and Black re, to stop 33 . . . Rc2) and now, with
signed after 36... Kd8 3 7. Kh4. A White's pieces disorganized . . .
simple continuation is 37 . . . Ke7 38 .
Kxh5 KfB 39. Kh6 KgB 40 . Bxh7t KhB
41 . g6 Bxd5 42 . g7#.
1 08
§. . j ust in case you didn't see this

. . � . . this position. True, Black has
.
far, what next? enough of an advantage that he can

afford some sloppy play and still win;
4, 16. Marshall---Capablanca, but it's so much easier to bear down
Match, game 23, 1909, at now instead of relaxing, and finish
Black's 33rd move. off the game. That's what Capa,
blanca did; how about you?
4,1 7 . Marshall�apablanca,
Black's 36th move.
AN SWER
Capablanca bagged a piece with
33•.. c3 34. bxc3 h2 35. Rxb2
Rxdl . Even so, Marshall with two
pawns for his lost Bishop wasn't
ready to resign, and put his Rook AN SWER
behind his passed pawn with 36. The passed pawn will be an an,
Rc2, giving us . . . noyance, and it can be blocked by
36 Bc4; but this leaves Black's
. . .
pieces rather unaggressive. There is a

much better move, which Capa,
blanca played: 36 B£5 ! First of all,
.••
this drives away White's Rook and

allows Black to attack the c,pawn
from behind with his own Rook: 3 7.
Rh2 Rc 1. When White defended
with 38. Rb3, Capablanca contin,
ued 38 Be4t 39. Kh3 (the alter,
•••
native 39 . f3 Rc2t loses a pawn at

once) Rc2. At this point White's
Rook is "off in left field," while
Black's Rook and Bishop create seri,
ous threats to White's King. In the
game, Black soon won.
1 09
.§. Turning to a new position, we colored Bishops, pretty much nulli

again find some menacing pawns. fies White's material advantage, and
But this time consider for the other the game was agreed drawn in an
player-what should Black do about other few moves.
them ?
g In this position, again with oppo
4- 1 8. Henley-Ault, World Open, site-colored Bishops, Black has two
1976, at Black's 43rd move. extra pawns but White appears to
have them securely blocked. True ?
4-1 8 How should Black proceed ?
B 4- 1 9. Jarecki-Benko, NY 1 964, at
Black's 5 2nd move.
4- 1 9
B
AN S WER
In order to stop the pawns Black
must blockade them, which must be
done with one pawn ahead of the
other, not when they are next to
each other. Because of White's light ANSWER
squared Bishop, a successful blockade Black exposes the blockade as a
must be on the dark squares with the sham with 52 a5! After 53. bxa5
.••
pawns on the light squares. But (obviously the Bishop must stay on
White will not willingly allow this; the g1 -a7 diagonal) , Black has a sec
instead he will seek to advance first ond passed pawn. True, Black gives
on the dark squares, using his Bishop up a pawn and allows White a passed
to remove any blockade on the light pawn, but that one pawn is easily
squares-e.g., 43 . . Bxa3 44 . f6 Re6
. stopped. On the other hand, Black's
45 . Bf5 ReB 46 . e6 is hopeless for two passed pawns are more than
Black. So Black must take forcing White can cope with. The game con
action, specifically by attacking the cluded 53 b4 54. a6 b3 55. Bd4 £2
•..
e-pawn at once to force it forward to and White resigned (of course 56 .

a light square. Bxf2 lets the b-pawn through).
This can be done by 43 . Bd4 or
. .
43 Bd6. I played the latter, relying

•••
on the tactical p in ( 44 . exd6 ?

Rxe2t) , and after 44. e6 Kg7 the
pawns were blockaded and the a
pawn was still under attack. The
blockade, along with the opposite-
1 10
More Fun at the Cashier's Window--4
� This time White has one extra ;§ Here the pawns are even, and
pawn, but Black, helped by the oppo� each side has a passed pawn. What
site�colored Bishops, is hoping for a should Black do?
blockade. Can he get away with that
against Fischer? Play for White. 4,2 1 . Power-Ault, NJ 1 974, at
Black's 35th move.
4� 20. Fischer-Sandrin, North
Central Open, 1957, at 4-21
White's 35th move.
B
4-20
w
AN SWER
Black can't race with the passed
pawns, for 35 . . . a4? 36. c5 a3 37. c6
AN SWER is winning for White. But he can
As in the last position, one take the opportunity to block White
passed pawn can be blocked success� first: 35 Bc5 is the move. Now
•..
fully, but not two. Fischer played 35. Black can advance his a�pawn, while
fxg5 hxg5 36. h4 gxh4 3 7. gxh4 White is throttled-an important
and soon won by penetrating with feature of the position is that White's
his King. Here's how: 3 7 Bd4 38.
• • • Rook is tied down to protect his back
a4 B£6 39. h5 Bg5 40. Kd3 Kb6 4 1 . rank, and so can't be used to bother
Kc4 Be3 42. B£3 Kc7 43. Kd5 and the blockading Bishop. It took some
Black resigned. time, but Black eventually won.
111
� This time not only are the pawns g Here White to move has a
even, but neither side has a passed choice, but you can figure it out.
pawn. What should White do about
this ? 4,23. Fischer-Spassky, World Ch.
Match, game 1 6, 1 972, at
4,22 . Smyslov-Konstantinopolsky, White's 33rd move.
Moscow, 1939, at White's 3 1 st
move. 4-23
w
4-22
w
ANSWER
The choice is between taking off
AN SWER Black's a,pawn or saving the h pawn
..
Create a passed pawn-Smyslov ( in which case Black will then pro,

played 3 1 . c5 dxc5 32. dxc5, giving teet his a,pawn). Fischer played 33.
him a clear advantage. Of course the Rxa6 Rxh2, reducing the pawns and
game is far from won, and Black re, producing an easy draw (which could
sis ted for another 25 moves, but get.. have been agreed at this point, but
ting a passed pawn to threaten and for other reasons Spassky played on
tie down the opponent was the first for another 2 7 moves) .
step. With the correct move, White
eliminates a distant passed pawn and
leaves himself easily able to deal with
Black's only remaining potential
threat, getting a passed h,pawn.
More generally, the right move fol,
lows the principle that the inferior
side should exchange pawns, but
not pieces.
1 12
t! Then what should White do t! In choosing your move for White

here ? in this position, first decide who has
the better position. From this judg,
4,24. Euwe-Alekhine, World Ch. ment follows what you should aim
Match, game 1 7 , 1 93 7 , at for.
White's 44th move.
4,25. Regan-Benko, U.S. Ch.,
4-24 1978, at White's 45th move.
w
AN SWER
Liquidate the pawns on the left
side of the board. Euwe played 44. b6 AN S WER
for that purpose. Now 44 axb6 45 .
. . . First of all, Black has the better
Rxb6t clarifies to an easy draw, so position, based on his outside passed
Alekhine tried 44 Ra3t 45. Kf2
•.• pawn. This difference is of lasting
a6 46. Rb8 Rb3 4 7. b 7 Kg7 ( neces, importance, but the fact that White's
sary, for White threatened to win by King is better placed is only tempo,
48 . RgBt and 49 . bB=Q) . Euwe per, rary and cannot be exploited to
severed with his plan: 48. Ra8 Rxb7 White's advantage. Therefore White
49. Rxa6, and the draw was agreed. should be playing to draw, and it
serves this purpose to exchange off
pawns.
He played 45. h4 Ke7 46. hxg5
hxg5, eliminating one pair of pawns.
(Note that Black allowed White to
make the exchange so as to keep bet,
ter winning chances, rather than do,
ing the trading himself by 45 gxh4
. . .
and leaving h,pawns. ) Black still had

the advantage and played on for an,
other 1 5 moves, but White was able
to hold the draw.
The full principle, applicable
here and in several previous posi,
tions, is: When ahead, trade pieces
but not pawns ; when behind, trade
pawns but not pieces.
1 13
E! Now what about here, with E! . with Black to move. Should he

. .
White to move? trade Queens or run away?
4�26. Karpov-Vaganian, Budapest, 4� 2 7 . Karpov-Vaganian, Budapest,

1 973, at White's 37th move. 1 973, at Black's 49th move.
4-26 4-27
w B
AN S WER AN SWER
First off, it does White no good He should run away. Here the
to play 37. Qxh6 , for Black just gets principle holds, especially so in that
the pawn back with 37 . . . Bxf2; so Queen endings are usually very diffi,
you must look further. Then how cult to win, whereas the King ending
about taking off the Bishop first ? resulting from 49 . . Qxb4 50. axb4 is
.
With 3 7 . Nxc5 bxc5 3 8 . Qxh6 , fairly easily won for White with his
White not only trades off pieces (fol, extra pawn.
lowing the principle) but also wins a The fact that the extra pawn is
pawn. How can this be wrong? Well, doubled makes little difference here,
it is, because Black is left with a because among other things Black
passed c,pawn, and after 38 . c4 it is
. . can't keep them doubled. In the
so menacing that White will have to game Black played 49... Q£6, but
force a draw by repeated checks. after 50. £3 ! was in difficulty, went
Karpov himself commented, "Black's wrong, and lost (50 Qh4t 5 1 . Kgl
•••
passed pawn easily secures the draw;" Qh5 ? 52. Qe7, leading to a forced
so in the game he played 37. Nc l exchange of Queens (e.g., 52 . . . Qd5
Kg7 38. Nd3, preserving his win� 53 . Qe8 t followed by either 54 .
ning chances and improving the po� Qe4 t or 54 . Qe5 t depending we the
sition of his Knight. King goes) .
Subsequently it was Black who
was obliged to trade his Bishop for
the Knight on f4, and this next posi�
tion was reached . . .
1 14
!! In this position, Black is behind � Here Black has the only two
and faces a decision. How should he pawns in a Rook ending, but one of
resolve it? the pawns is under attack. What
should Black do about it?
4� 2 8 Alekhine-Reti, Vienna,
.
1 922, Black to move. 4�29. Yusupov-DeFirmian,

Thessaloniki Olympiad,
1 984, at Black's 67th move.
ANSWER
Again we have an illustration
where you can't follow principles AN S WER
blindly. If you avoid exchanging Black has only two ways to pro�
Rooks and play 1 . . . ReS to protect teet his g,pawn, by placing his Rook
the f�pawn, White continues 2 . g5- alongside it or behind it. Correct is
of course White prefers not to ex, 67 Rg6, behind, following the gen�
•••
change pawns, especially when he eral principle: place Rooks behind

can establish two connected passed passed pawns . (From behind the
pawns on the 5th rank and steam, pawn, the Rook can support the
roller you. pawn's advance and increase in mo,
However, Reti saw that he could bility as the pawn advances. ) The
liquidate down and still draw, and game proceeded 68. Kc3 g4, and
played 1. Rxg4 2. Rxg4 fxg4t 3.
•• Black won in another seven moves.
Kxg4 Kg7, and a draw was agreed.
Despite his extra pawn in the King
ending, White can't win. His only try
is to leave the h,pawn as a decoy, go
over and grab Black's b�pawn, and
queen the a,pawn. But Black has just
enough time to grab the h,pawn and
get his King back close enough to foil
White. ( Play it out if you wish; the
main line runs 4. Kf4 Kh6 5 . Ke4
Kxh5 6 . Kd4 Kg5 7. Kc4 Kf5 8 . Kxb4
Ke6! 9 . KcS Kd7 1 0. Kb6 Kc8 1 1 .
Ka7 Kc7, etc.)
1 15
t! In contrast, this time Black is .§. And how should Black proceed
seriously behind. Is there hope? here?
4,30. Burger-Alburt, NY 4, 3 1 . Ostermeyer-Dueball,

(Kavkasian) , 1 983, at Black's German Ch., 1 975, at Black's
50th move. 5 1 st move.
4-3 1
B
AN SWER AN S WER
You bet ! A l though behind , White's King protects his pawns,
Black does have a dangerous passed but Black's pawn is in the hands of
pawn which should be supported at the Rooks. White is going to get be..
once from behind-the principle in hind it (which is the place to be,
action again. whether it is your own or an enemy
After 50... Rb4! White's only pawn) before Black can. That leaves
way to stop the pawn is 5 1 . Ra1 (not Black a choice of defending it from in
by 5 1 . Nd3 b2) b2 52 . Rb1 , but then front or along the side.
White's Rook is immobilized, and B lack correctly p layed 5 1 •••
Black cannot be prevented from ex, Rc 1 , prepared to defend with 5 2 . . .

changing off White's last pawn (by Rc4 t, alongside. There Black will
. . . Kgl and . h6) while White takes
. . have chances to harass White with
the time to win the b,pawn. In the checks along the ranks without giv,
game, White realized this and simply ing up his pawn, whereas in front of
took the immediate draw by per, the pawn the Rook will have a more
petual check with 5 1 . RaSt (5 1 . . . limited mobility (which decreases if
Kg7 52 . Ralt, etc. ) , which suited he pushes the pawn). White still has
Black fine. a difficult win, but in this game Black
managed to cause enough trouble
and gained a draw.
When stopping or pushing a pawn, the best

place for the Rook(s), friendly or enemy, is
behind the pawn. Get there first!
1 16
More Fun at the Cashier's Wirulow-4
� Here is a similar position for you � How does B lack deal with
to think about. White's winning attempt?
4-32. Salomon-Kretzmer, NJ 4-33. Variation, at Black's 3rd

1 983, Black to move. move.
4-32
B
AN SWER AN SWER
Black can defend his pawn with White's last move was a mistake,
1 . . Rg2 , but that would leave him in
. punished by 3 ••• Rg6! , leaving
a passive position, and he would lose. White no choice but to play 4. Rxg6
To hold the game, Black must now f1 =Q. Now it is White who must
harass to the fullest, starting with 1 ... play carefully, to hold the draw with
Rg4t, and a draw was agreed shortly. his Rook and pawns against the
Since Black is able to give checks on Queen (5. Rc6 to start with ) .
the 3rd, 4th, and 5th ranks, White's
King can seek shelter either below on
the 2nd rank or above on the 6th
rank. But neither of these havens
works; let us see why:
(a)below, 2 . Kc3 Rg3 t 3 . Kd2 , Black

attacks the b-pawn and draws
easily after 3 . . . Rg4 4 . Rxf2
Rxb5 5 . a5 Kc6 , etc.
(b) above, 2 . Kc5 Rg5 t 3 . Kb6-you
solve it, in the next position . . . .
117
� Here is a position I faced as Black. � In this position White is trying to

hold back the pawns and save the
4,34. Feuerstein-Ault, Bergen game. Can you help?
Futurity, 1 985 , at Black's
50th move. 4,3 5 . Part of a study by Chekhover.
White to move.
4-35
w
ANSWER
The "obvious" move is to protect ANSWER
the pawn, and that's what I played- Black is threatening 1 . . Kal fol,
.
50 Rb2? Unfortunately, this Rook

••• lowed by 2 . . . b2 , after which White
ends up doing little but protecting the has no way to stop both pawns.
pawn while White rolls forward. The Therefore White must stop this
game continued 5 1. Ke4 Rh4t 52. threat now, and there is a way: 1 .
K£5 Rb2 53. £4 and White soon won. B£7. Obviously now 1 . . . Kal aban,
The correct move is to keep the dons the b,pawn, but Black has two
Rook and King active and blockade other tries. One is 1 . . . Ka2 , but that
White's pawns. Achieving these moves into a pin that prohibits the
aims is worth giving up a pawn, so pawn from advancing, and White
50 . . . al =Q! 5 1 . Rxal Ke6 52. [4 Kf5 need only keep his Bishop on the
and White is unable to win. diagonal by 2 . Be6 (or equivalent
(Chess players typically can offer moves) and wait for Black to try
some good excuse for their losing something else. The other try is 1 ..•
move, but here it has some broader Ka3, which clears the path for the
value-1 "knew" I should be able to pawn and doesn't move into a pin.
draw by sacrificing the pawn; but I You saw what to do now, didn't you?
had only a few seconds to make my If not, look again before proceed,
move before the time control, and ing . . . .
was afraid to make the plunge. Fool, After 1 . Bf7 Ka3 , White saves
ishly I told myself "Don't give up the himself with 2. Bg6, ready to answer
pawn yet--cover it and make the 2 . . . b2 by 3 . Bb 1 with a safe block,
time control and then you'll have ade. Of course 2 . . . Ka2 is met by 3 .
time to think it all out." So I quickly Bf7, establishing the pin.
made the "safe" move, and then had
plenty of time to think about my lost
position.)
1 18
.§ Can White win here? How? .§ Again here, decide how White
should proceed-both his immediate
4,36. End of a study by A. Troitzky. move and the follow,up.
White to move
4,3 7 . Ribli-Smyslov, Ti lburg,
1 984, at White's 36th move.
4-37
w
AN SWER
White has an advantage, but
must "strike while the iron is hot." AN S WER
Here that requires a tactical stroke White played 3 6. Qd4 and
based on combining the threat to Black resigned. The resignation may
queen the f,pawn and an attack on seem surprising at first glance, but
the Knight. White wins by 1. £7! consider Black's problems. White is
Ke7 2. Ke3. Surprisingly, there is offering the trade of Queens ( to
now no safe place to move the Black's unprotected Queen ) , and
Knight, for 2 . . . NcS gets zapped by 3 . also sets up a two,against,one attack
Bd6t, and similarly 2 . Ng5 3 . Bf6t
. . on Black's pawn at a 7 . This pawn is
( in either case the Bishop is immune blocking White's advanced pawn at
to capture on pain of letting the a6 , and its loss would be cata,
pawn promote) . strophic. [f Black moves his Queen
away White captures the pawn (e.g.,
3 6 . . QbS 3 7. Qxa7) and there is
. ,
little to hinder White from clearing

the way for his pawn and queening it,
in particular since 3 7. . . Qb 1 t 38 .
Kh2 leaves Black no more checks.
On the other hand, trading Queens
leads to . . .
1 19
� . . . this position, after 36 . . . Qxd4 !! Now back to Rooks-what

37. Bxd4 Bd6 . What next for White ? should White do here?
4,38. White's 38th move. 4,39, Kasparov-Karpov, World

Ch. Match, game 48, 1984,
4-38 85, at White's 64th move.
w
4-39
w
AN SWER
White simply takes off the a,
pawn and uses his own: 38. Bxa7 AN SWER
Bx£4 39. Be3 Bb8 40. a7 Bxa7 4 1 . White has two extra pawns, but
Bxa7, winning easily. Obviously ( I his g,pawn is under attack. He can
trust), the alternative of preserving take Black's pawn in trade, but 64 .
the f,pawn by 38. Be3 and allowing Rxh7 Rxg4 leaves White's position
Black to protect his a,pawn (by 38 . . . too disorganized to win (e.g., 65 . Rh8
Bb8) hardly merits consideration. Rd4t 66. Kc5 Rh4 67. h7 Kg7 68. Rb8
Kxh7) . Nor does checking help after
64 . Re6t Kf7.
That leaves defending the pawn,
which can be done in two ways: 64 .
Re4 or 64 . Rg7. The former is rela,
tively passive, and once you realize
that 64 . Rg7! Rxg7 65 . hxg7 Kxg7 66 .
Ke7 wins at once, the attractions of
the latter become clear. Besides cov,
ering the g,pawn, it chases Black's
Rook, maintains the attack on
Black's h,pawn, and keeps Black's
King out of g5 where it would be
troublesome. Kasparov played it ( 64.
Rg7! ).
In reply, Karpov didn't want to
play the passive 64 . . . Rh8 , so he tried
64 Rd8t 65. Kc5 Rd5t, bringing
•••
us to . . .
1 20
More Fun at the Cashier's Window----4
� the position below. What � Here White has j ust captured on

should White do now? b3, and Black has three ways to re,
capture. Which one ?
4AO. Kasparov-Karpov, World
Ch. Match, game 48, 1 984� 4,4 1 . Monokrousos-Lief, U.S.
85 , at White's 66th move. Junior Open, 1985 , at Black's
3 1st move.
4-41
B
AN SWER
Of course you wouldn't play 66 . AN S WER
Kxd5 ? ? stalemate! Kasparov played The clear choice is with the
66. Kc4 Rd4t (one more offer) 6 7. pawn, creating a dangerous passed
Kc3, exhausting the checks (67 . . . pawn. That's what Black played, and
Rd3 t 68 . Kxd3 is not stalemate) . At White's game quickly collapsed :
this point Karpov chose to resign 3 1 axb3 32. Qb2 Bxe2 33. Rxe2
•••
rather than play on to the bitter end. c4, and White resigned in the face of
(With this win, by the way, the impending transfer of the Knight
Kasparov brought the score to three on e6 to c5 to d3.
wins for him and five for Karpov in
this marathon match. But this turned
out to be the final game, for the
match was aborted without conclu,
sion a few days later. )
121
� What should Black do here?
4,42. Friend-Ault, NJ 1 973, at

Black's 4 2nd move.
4-42
B
AN S WER
A pawn down, Black wants to
draw, and must deal with the imme,
diate threat of 43 . Kc4 . There is an
incisive solution, supported by a tac,
tical trick: 42... b3 ! Now 43 . cxb3
loses the Bishop ( if not the game) to
43 . Bf5 t , so White is more or less
. .
obliged to allow the exchange of

pawns (43. Kc3 bxc2 44. Bxc2).
As a result, Black carries out the
principle of exchanging pawns
when behind, and furthermore re..
moves the pawns entirely from one
side of the board, producing an eas,
ily drawn position. (With no distant
liability to worry about, Black can
simply keep his King on or about g7
and glide his Bishop around the
board for as long as White wants to
keep trying. )
I n the actual game, I missed 4 2
..•
b3 ! and played instead the unimag,

inative 42 . Be6 . This induced
. .
White to try to win, but in doing so

he almost lost (see position 4,3 ) be,
fore the game was eventually drawn.
1 22
REVIEW: The four positions below illustrate some of the principles covered in this
and the previous chapter. Can you handle them? Black to move in (a) and (b), White
to move in the others.
4-43c 4-43d
w w
AN SWERS
(a) Nimzovich-Capablanca, Riga, 1 9 1 3. White is just barely hanging on by stop�
ping Black's passed pawn, so get another one: 5 7 h4 ( this pawn is immune)
••.
58. Ke3 g3 59. hxg3 h3 ! and White soon gave up.

(b) Capablanca-Janowski, NY 1 9 1 6. Black faces the choice between trading Bish�
ops and giving up his only pawn. Here the former is equivalent to resignation,
so Black played 76 B£2. Capablanca did manage to win, but only after Black
•••
missed a problem�like draw.

(c) Kortchnoi-Karaklajic, U .S.S.R. vs. Yugoslavia, 1 959. White, having just cap�
tured one Rook on f8, can now take the other, but that would be suicidal (21 .
Qxa8? Qxg2t 22 . Kd3 Bf5t 23 . Kxd4 Qd2t , etc.). Kortchnoi correctly liqui�
dated to a winning ending with 2 1 . Qd6t Qxd6 22. exd6 Kxd6 23. Rhfl .
(d) Spassky-Fischer, World Ch. Match, game 1 , 1 972. To win, White must keep
pawns on the board; so Spassky played 39. b6, and after 39 £5? {later analysis
•••
showed 39 . . . e5! leads to a draw) 40. Kh4 £4? was on his way to a win.
1 23
EXTRA PRACTICE: Here are four more positions for some extra practice if you
would like it. Black to move in (b), White to move in all others.
4-44b
B
AN SWERS
(a) Petursson-Bellon, Hastings, 1 985�86. A pawn ahead, White forced the ex�
change of Rooks by 39. Rd4 Rxd4 40. Bxd4t K£7 4 1 . Kg3, leaving a won
Bishop ending.
(b) Ed. Lasker-Capablanca, NY 1 9 1 5. With even material, some judgment is
needed to realize Black's superiority in the King ending after 30 Bxc4 3 1 .
•••
bxc4 Kc5 32. Kd3 e5 . Capablanca played this, and won in another eight
moves-play it out and see how for yourself.
(c) Fischer-Reshevsky, U.S. Ch., 1 962�63 . A simple example of putting the Rook
behind the passed pawn: Fischer played 54. Re 1 and Reshevsky resigned.
( d) Novak-Rye, Czechoslovakia, 1 978. A curveball, for 1 . Ra8 a3 2 . Rxa3 Rb7
follows principle while snaring a pawn, but leaves White unable to proceed
effectively. Instead White used a mating net for a pretty win: 1 . Rh8! a3 2.
Rxh6 a2 3 . Rg6, and Black resigned rather than be mated by 3 al =Q 4.
. . .
RgS#.
1 24
MORE EXTRA PRACTICE: Want some more? Missed a couple? Well, try these.
Black to move in (d), White to move in all others.
4-45a
w
4-45c
w
AN SWERS
(a) Sax-Smyslov, NY Open, 1 987. Black resigned on 42. Nxh7, for White simply
helps himself to all of Black's pawns in the King ending after 42 . . . Kxh7 43 .
Kc4 . If you thought preserving your Knight was prudent, do penance by
analyzing exactly how you're going to stop that h,pawn later.
(b) Beliavsky-Salov, U.S.S.R. Ch. Playoff, game 4, 1 987 . A simple case of reducing
to an easily won ending by trading Rooks: 46. Re6 Rxe6 47. Nxe6 Bd5 48.
Nc5 (keeping the two extra pawns), and White soon won.
(c) Dlugy-Suba, NY Open, 1 987. Push that pawn: 4 1 . d6 and Black resigned, for
4 1 Rd8 42 . Ke5 a6 43 . Bf5 Na7 44 . d7 strangles Black.
. . .
(d) Pachman-Lundin, Leipzig Olympiad, 1 960. But don't always push! Black did
here with 4 1 . £3 , but resigned in the face of mate after 42. ReS. Obviously,
••
some preventive move like 4 1 Kh6 was needed.

. . .
1 25
.§ In concluding this chapter, let us .§ . . this position was reached.

.
look first at a fairly simple illustrative What next?

sequence, played by Capablanca.
How should White proceed in the 4,4 7 . Capablanca-Corzo, Match,
position below ? game 9, 1 90 1 , at White's
37th move.
4,46. Capablanca-Corzo, Match,
game 9, 1 90 1 , at White's 4-47
30th move.
w
4-46
w
AN SWER
White has tied down Black's
pieces stopping the g,pawn, and now
AN S WER should immobilize Black's pawns.
White is temporarily a pawn Capablanca played 3 7. b3 Kg8 38.
down, and he should capture it im, a4 , p r e v e n t ing any p o s s i b l e
mediately by 30. Kxg4, which Capa counterplay from Black's pushing his
blanca did. Taking the time to first pawns. (Usually, by the way, pawns
defend the d,pawn with 30. c3 ? should be placed on the opposite
would not only be unnecessary, but color of your Bishop, but fixing
also cause White real problems after Black's pawns is much more impor,
30 . . g3 (if now 3 1 . Bx/5?? , 3 1 g2) .
. . . . tant here.) After this, Capablanca
After 3 0 Kxg4 Black cannot hold
. worked his King back to the center,
the Knight's position by 30 . Ke6. . reaching . . .
because 3 1 Bxf5 t gxf5 3 2 . Kf4 leaves
.
Black lost, for he will have to aban,

don his f,pawn after a few more pawn
moves (work it out if you're inter,
ested) . Therefore Black continued
30 ... Nxd4 3 1 . Bxg6, maintaining
material equality but unbalancing
the position. As should be clear to
you by now, this imbalance favors
White, for he is left with an outside
passed pawn whose advance will
force Black to divert his pieces to
stop it. Soon . . .
1 26
� . . this position. What now?

. !! And lastly, let us follow a game by
Smyslov, illustrating some of the
4,48. Capablanca-Corzo, Match, concepts from this chapter.
game 9, 1 90 1 , at White's
49th move. 4,49. Smyslov-Rudnev, Gorky,
4-48
w 4-49
w
AN SWER
Just as in King and pawn end, ANSWER
ings, the outside passed pawn diverts Clearly the immediate question
the opponent and leaves his pawns is how to capture the pawn on bS, for
vulnerable. Capablanca continued which there are three choices.
49. Kc6 Ng7 50. Kb7 Kd6 5 1 . Smyslov chose 40. axb5, which ad,
Kxa7 Kc7 52. Ka6, and Black is on vances a pawn and reconnects two of
his last legs. The conclusion is shown White's pawns (pawns like com,
in position 3 '6. pany) . It's true that 40. cxb5 does
these things too, but the difference is
the greater e ase i n advanc i ng
White's lagging pawn (to cS after
Smyslov's choice, or to aS after the
alternate; but aS is firmly controlled
and hard to contest). The game pro,
ceeded 40 Re6, giving us . . .
•••
127
� . . the position below. While rna,

. Et . . with Black trying to organize a
.
terial is even, White has an advan, defense. Can you find how Smyslov
tage based on Black's vulnerable wrapped it up ?
pawns, W h i te 's more advanced
pawns, and White's more active 4,5 1 . Smyslov-Rudnev, Gorky,
pieces. Now how should White ex, 1938, at White's 43rd move.
ploit his advantage ?
4-5 1
4,50. Smyslov-Rudnev, Gorky,
w
1 938, at White's 4 1 st move.
AN SWER
In such positions, the possibility
of creating and pushing through a
passed pawn should always be con,
AN S WER sidered. Here it works, based on the
Smyslov now eliminated the tactical support of various Knight
Rooks w ith 4 1 . Rd6 Rxd6 4 2 . forks. Smyslov played 43. c5 and
Nxd6. White carries out the prin, Black resigned.
ciple of exchanging pieces when To see why, note that on the
ahead, and furthermore eliminates natural 4 3 . . bxc5 , 44 . b6 BaS (or
.
the Rooks, which are often a source 44 Bg3 45 . Nf5 t forks) 45 b7 Bel
. . . .
of frustration to the superior side try, 46 . NeBt forks the King and Bishop.
ing to win. And more specifically, Black could also try 43 . . . Bb4 , and
Black's Rook was defending both the probably should have in the game
b,pawn and the h,pawn along the before resigning, for it makes White
6th rank. When Black continued find a winning line . . .
42 ... Kg7 , the next position was
reached . . .
1 28
!! . . in this position. Can you?

.
4�52. White's 44th move (after

43 . Bb4) .
. .
4-52
w
ANSWER
There are ways to go wrong, like
44 . Ne4? f5 45 . Kc4! bxc5! , but 44.
Nf5t does the trick. After 44 K£6 •••
45. c6 Ke6 (the King must stop the

pawn) 46. Nxh6 Bd6 47. Ke4,
White's two passed pawns are more
than Black can cope with ( next
comes 48 . Nf5 , 49 . Ne3 , and 50 .
Nd5) .
1 29
The Care and

Feeding of
Pawns
The i mp or t ance o f p a w n s , � For example, every pawn hopes to

through their unique power of pro, make it to the end of the board and
motion, should be quite clear by be promoted. Can you manage that
now. In addition, pawns serve other here for White?
critical roles. These include protect,
ing your own pieces and driving 5,1. Fellner-Ault, NJ 1983, at
away the enemy's (for which their White's 38th move.
low individual value makes them
weJI,suited ) , providing cover for 5- 1
your King, and defining the terrain
on the chessboard (open, closed,
w
blocked, etc.) through which other
pieces operate with varying degrees
of efficiency. But a single pawn is the
weakest unit on the chessboard. Its
mobility is much less than the other
pieces', and its inability to move
backwards has great consequences
for how chess is played. So, too, does
its inability to capture onto the ANS WER
square it could otherwise move to. Despite his pawn minus, White
wins if he uses his pawns right. He
What all this means in practice is played 38. a6! Kf6 39. b6, leaving
that you should deploy your pawns me helpless. Neither 39 . Kxe6 40.
. .
carefully and wisely. bxa7 nor 39. . . axb6 40. a7 doesn't

work for Black, so I tried 39 Nc6..••
But 40. Bd5 chases the Knight, and

after 40 Nd4t 4 1 . Kd3 axb6 42.
•••
a 7 I resigned.
1 30
The Care and Feeding of Pawns-5
� This position should also be of a � Here is another basic situation,

familiar type. Consider whose pawns which should be fami liar. How
are better and why in selecting a should White proceed?
move for Black.
5�3. Dlugy-Zuckerman, NY
5�2. Lombardy-Fischer, U.S. Ch., Open, 1987, at White's 49th
1 960�61 , at Black's 38th move. move.
5-2 5-3
B
AN SWER AN S WER
Black has the better pawns be� Straightforward play is 49. Rxa5
cause he can create an outside Rxb3 50. Kg2 Ra3 , when White is
passed pawn. King endings of this still a pawn ahead but has traded
sort usually lead to an easy win, and pawns and left Black's Rook well�
this time is no exception. Fischer placed behind the passed a�pawn,
played 38 a5 39. bxa5 bxa5 40.
.•• leaving White little chance to win.
Kb2 a4, using the typical winning Instead White gave himself good
procedure of diverting the opponent's winning chances by 49. Re5t Kd7
King. White could just as well have 50. Re3 ! Rc2 (obviously Black must
resigned here, but played on for a few avoid trading Rooks) 5 1 . Kg2, and
more moves ( 4 1 . Ka3 Kxc3 4 2. managed to win a long ending.
Kxa4 Kd4 43. Kb4 Ke3 ).
131
.§ Here White is two pawns behind, .§ Again White has a choice.

but can get one back. Take your pick. Which way this time ?
5,4. Botvinnik-Fischer, Varna 5, 5. Kortchnoi-Botvinnik,

Olympiad, 1962, at White's Leningrad,Moscow Match,
55th move. 1 960, at White's 39th move.
5-5
w
AN SWER ANSWER
Given the choice, White should Playing to win in the face of op,
not leave Black with two connected posite,colored Bishops, White wants
passed pawns. So Botvinnik played connected passed pawns, which are
55. Rxb5 and succeeded in drawing harder to blockade when advanced
the game. The alternative 55 . Rxh5? properly. Kortchnoi thus captured,
b4 puts White in dire straits at once. 39. Kxh5, and after 39 Bxa4 40.
••.
f5 Bdl 4 1 . Kg5 b5 42. Bc3 Botvin,

nik resigned. Had Black chosen to
play on, White's winning process
would be slow but sure, as White can
gradually force his connected pawns
forward while Black's separated
pawns are easily restrained on the
dark squares by White's Bishop.
1 32
.§ What should Black do here ? ,t! In this position White is obvi,

ously going to recapture the Queen;
5'6. Larsen-Fischer, Monaco, the question is, which way?
1967, at Black's 39th move.
5 7.
... Christiansen-Root, U.S.
Open, 1 983, at White's 3 1 st
move.
5-7
w
AN S WER
Establishing a strong protected
passed pawn by 39 c4, Fischer se,
AN S WER
.•.
cured the advantage and went on to

win. White played 3 1 . Nxc4, in pref...
Note that 39 . . . c4 also deprives erence to 3 1 . bxc4 which presents
White's Knight of the c5 square via Black with a dangerous passed a,
d3 . pawn. Besides keeping the b,pawn to
watch Black's a ...pawn, the recapture
with the Knight places the a...pawn
under attack and sets up the unstop...
pable threat of 32 . Nd4 (removing
the a,pawn's guardian) .
133
.§ In this position, consider care, .§ What should White do here?

ful ly the relative health of the pawns
and select a move for White. 5 ,9. Ault-Platt, NJ 1 985, at
White's 2 1 st move.
5'8. Kasparov-Vukic, European
Team Ch., 1 980, at White's 5-9
37th move.
W
AN SWER
Again, Black's weakness is the
doubled f,pawns. In particular here,
AN S WER the front pawn is difficult to defend.
Kasparov played 3 7. Rdl , fore, At the moment, it is subject to cap,
ing the exchange of Rooks, and ture; but White's Knight is also de,
Black resigned. On casual observa, fending the g,pawn, so the immedi,
tion it might seem that Black's ate capture (21 . Bxf5 Bxf5 22 . Nxf5
doubled f,pawns are of minor signifi, Rxg2) helps Black by exchanging off
cance, for he can quickly establish a his weak pawn. Instead I played 2 1 .
passed pawn (by . e5) , and also he
. . Rd2, putting another defender on
can quickly harass White's pawns (by the g,pawn (so would 2 1 . Re2) . Now
. . . Kc5 , etc. ) . But there is a fatal the threat to capture on fS is valid,
weakness in Black's pawns-they and Black can neither defend his
cannot defend against a break, pawn another time nor add another
through. After 37 . . . Rxdl 38 . Kxdl attacker to White's g,pawn. Note
Kc5 39. g5! White queens at h8 be, that the other f,pawn (at f6) is not
fore Black can do anything serious only unable to defend its companion,
(39 . . . fxg5 40 . fxg5 hxg5 4 1 . h6 and but also blocks the King from defend,
bound for glory ) . Realizing this, ing it. The game proceeded 2 1 . ••
Black can manage to cover h8 just in Bd7 22. Bx£5 Bxf5 23. Nx£5, and
time by 3 7 . . Rxdl 38 . Kxd l Kd6 39.
. White has an extra pawn and a good
g5 fxg5 40 . fxg5 Ke7 4 1 . gxh6 Kf8 , position as well.
but then White simply advances his
pawns on the other side starting with
42 . b4 and queens a pawn there.
N ote that with one of the
doubled f,p awns shifted to g 7 ,
Black's pawn line would be solid.
1 34
!! Another point is illustrated in E! What should White do here?

this simplified position. Play for
White. 5� 1 1 . White's 1 6th move.
5� 10. White to move. 5-1 1

w
5- 1 0
w
AN S WER
In fact this position is from the
AN SWER same game as the next�to�last posi�
Material is about even, but the tion (Ault-Platt) , six moves earlier.
unbalanced pawn position and an My continuation, 1 6. Bx£6 gx£6 1 7.
open board favor Black's Bishop over N£3, should be fairly obvious, for it
White's Knight. But White changes leaves Black with awkward doubled
all that with 1 . Nf4t Ke5 2. Nxg6t and isolated pawns. Within a few
hxg6. Now Black's doubled pawns more moves, White captured the
effectively cripple his pawn majority, pawn on f5, as shown previously.
and with care White wins the King If you were reluctant to make
ending. this move, perhaps because it means
giving up a well�posted Bishop, look
ahead more clearly. At the moment
Black can play 1 6 . . . Nxd5 , and while
White can recover the pawn by 1 7 .
Bxg7 Bxg7 1 8 . Rxd5 Be6 1 9 . Ra5 , the
whole transaction helps Black. If
White avoids this by 1 6 . Bc3 , then
Black gradually develops by Bel, . . .
. . . h6 , Kf7, etc., reaching a fairly

. . .
sound position where White has

weaknesses to worry about (the pawn
on d5, the square e4).
135
.§. And what about here, White to .§. What should White to move do
move? here?
5, 1 2. Capablanca-Bum, San 5, 13. Botvinnik-Tal, World Ch.

Sebastian, 191 1 , at White's Match, game 1 , 196 1 , at
32nd move. White's 23rd move.
5-1 3
w
ANSWER AN SWER
Already a pawn up, Capablanca Black's position looks rather
widened the gap further by 32. Bxe6 good, but Botvinnik created a lasting
fxe6 33. Ne3. Black is left with structural weakness to work on in the
doubled isolated e,pawns which can ending. Indeed after 23. Bxf6 gx£6
be troublesome to defend, and, even 24. b4 Black was unable to save the
more important here, the diversion game, and Botvinnik was on his way
of the f,pawn gives White two con, to regaining the title he had lost to
nected passed pawns. Capablanca Tal the year before.
won easily in another 13 moves.
136
.Et Once again, move for White in ,Et Now take a different perspective,
this position. and play for White in this position.
5, 14. Browne-Ljubojevic, Tilburg, 5, 15. Simagin-Keres, Moscow,

1 979, at White's 1 9th move. 1 963, at White's 22nd move.
5- 1 4 5- 1 5
w w
AN SWER AN S WER
Again the answer is to double White's pawn structure is sound
Black's pawns by 19. Bx£6 gx£6. This while Black's is fragmented, with two
time the purpose is not an endgame pairs of doubled pawns. But Black
advantage, but rather to weaken threatens to mess up White's pawns,
Black's King position. In fact, Black's too, so the logical thing to do is move
situation is desperate, and after 20. the Knight. White chose 22. Ndl ,
d5 exd5 2 1 . Qb4 Qd7 22. Qh4 Kg7 which protects the b,pawn and fa,
23. Nd4 he gave up. cilitates the Knight's return to action
soon via e3. By contrast, 22 . Ne4
Bxb2 23 . NxeS a5 trades a good pawn
for a weak one, and 22 . Na4 puts the
Knight out of play.
137
!! With the principle of not letting !! Now play for White in this posi�
your pawns get doubled unnecessar� tion.
ily in mind, decide what to do for
Black here. 5, 17. Gelb-Ault, NJ 1977, at
White's 1 7th move.
5� 16. Fischer-;--Gheorghiu, Buenos
Aires, 1 970, at Black's 1 6th 5-1 7
move.
w
5-1 6
B
AN SWER
As you should notice, Black has
. just captured (a Knight) on f3, so
ANS WER White needs to recapture. Of the two
White threatens 1 7 . Nxf6 t , choices, one is positionally good but
breaking up Black's pawns, as well as tactically poor, and the other is the
1 7. Qxb4 , winning the other Knight reverse. In the game, White, a better,
outright. If Black focuses only on the than,average club player, chose the
latter threat and plays 1 6 . . . Nxd3 , former with 1 7. Qx£3? So concerned
White repl ies 1 7 . Nxf6 t ( with was he not to allow the doubled
check ! ) gxf6 18. Qxd3 . In the game, pawns in front of his King that he
Black played 1 6 Nxe4 1 7. Bxe4 neglected my simple reply 1 7 Nd2,
•.• •••
N a6 and kept his pawn structure in, forking Queen and Rook and gaining
tact. a decisive material advantage. The
lesser evil was 1 7. gxf3 . True, White
still loses a pawn after 1 7 . . Nxc3 1 8 .
.
bxc3 Bxc3 1 9 . Rad1 ; but White's

control of the light squares with the
opposite,colored Bishops means seri,
ous difficulties for Black trying to ex�
ploit his extra pawn.
138
� Assess this position and play for

·
� Black to move in the position
White. below has various possibil ities.
Which would you choose ?
5� 18. Smejkal-Smyslov, Wijk aan
Zee, 1 972, at White's 25th 5 � 19. Zuckerman-Hjartarson, NY
move. International, 1984, at Black's
2 1 st move.
5- 1 8
w 5-1 9
B
AN SWER
Pawns are equal in number, but AN SWER
not in quality-Black's doubled An important feature of this po�
pawns give White a clear advantage. sition is that White already has a set
White logically played 25. Rc 1 , de� of doubled pawns, and would like to
dining to trade Rooks and putting dissolve them by f4 . Black stopped
the doubled pawns under pressure. this by 2 1 . g5 and eventually won.
••
Naturally 25 . Rxd5? would be a posi .. Perhaps you noticed that Black

tional blunder, for it undoubles the could give White another set of
pawns and gives Black a strong doubled pawns by 2 1 . . . Nxb3 , and
passed pawn in the center. Yet some then play 22 . . . g5 . But Black re�
players (not you!) would unthink.. frained from this exchange, for sound
ingly grab the Rook, "because it's reasons. For one thing, as we will
there!" soon explore further, White's three
Queenside p awns w i l l s t i l l b e
clumped together and not be particu�
larly vulnerable, while White gets in
return a useful semi �open file for a
Rook. In addition, Black needs the
Knight to exploit White's weak
Kingside pawns, for the King alone
can't manage it after the likely ex�
change of all the Rooks on the open
d�file.
139
� This time a slightly different issue � What should Black do here?

is involved. How should White pro,
ceed? 5, 2 1 . Pogrebyssky-Botvinnik,
U.S.S.R. Ch., 1 939, at Black's
5,20. Barde--Quinteros, Lone Pine, 22nd move.
1979, at White's 13th move.
5-20
w
ANSWER
AN S WER White's doubled c,pawns really
It should be clear that Black suf, cramp his game, so Black should not
fers from the defect of the doubled f, willingly straighten them out. But
pawns, and since White is a pawn this time even as great a player as
down he will need to exploit it. Black Botvinnik couldn't resist the tempta,
can't dissolve the doubled pawns, but tion of getting rid of White's useful
he will have a mobile and menacing Bishop, and p layed 22 Nxb4.
•••
center if he can safely play .f5 . So it

. . Botvinnik called this "a positional
is important for White to prevent blunder," giving away most of Black's
this move by controlling the fS advantage, and would play 22 . Qc7 . .
square himself. Thus White played next time.

13. Qd3 Qd7 1 4. Nh4 (the reverse
move order has the same effect), put,
ting the clamp on f5. Black now tried
to stir up a little trouble on the g,file
with 1 4... Qg4, but White smoothly
repulsed this with 1 5 . g3 h5 1 6. Re4
Qd7 1 7. Q£3, with a good game de,
spite his pawn minus.
1 40
� In this position Black has been .§ Here material is even, and White
defending a pawn,down ending, and has the two Bishops but doubled c ..
has j ust captured a pawn on e4 from pawns. What should White do ?
fS . White's reply should be easy to
choose. 5 .. 23. Chiburdanidze-Aleksandriya,
Women's World Ch. Match,
5,22. Ault-Friend, NJ 1974, at game 7, 198 1 , at White's 24th
White's 5 1 st move. move.
5-23
w
AN SWER AN S WER
Obviously 5 1. fxe4 straightens White played 24. Bxg7 Nxc5
out White's doubled pawns and 25. Rh l . With the exchange of
keeps Black under pressure, for pawns White gets rid of her ad ..
White needs to play fS himself to vanced c..pawn, which could become
make progress (note that a future troublesome to defend. Also, by
Kd6 is stymied by NeBt) . To re..
. . . elim inating Black's g .. p awn she
capture with the Bishop or the King leaves Black's f..pawn isolated and
would leave square fS in Black's con, potentially vulnerable. Finally, the
trol and cripple White's extra pawn. transaction opens the position to the
You might wonder then why advantage of the Bishops and allows
Black played 50 fxe4 on the previ ..
. . . White to take control of the only
ous move. The reason is that he open file (the h .. file) .
could not maintain the fS point
much longer, for White can use his
dark.. squared Bishop to threaten
Black's Knight and undermine the
defense.
141
� See what you can find for White � You may be thinking that
to move in the position below. doubled pawns, especially doubled
isolated pawns, are real liabilities.
5,24. Quinteros-Larsen, Americas, That is often true, but there are sev ..
Europe Match, 1 98 1 , at eral types of positions in which the
White's 1 9th move. doubled pawns are not only no par..
ticular weakness, but even confer
5-24 certain advantages. One example is
shown below; play for Black.
w
5,25. Tal-Botvinnik, World Ch.
Match, game 1 8, 1 96 1 , at
Black's 2 1 st move.
5-25
B
AN S WER
White has a nice position except
for his doubled a,pawns, and he
solved that by 19. Qb4. The attack
on the Bishop, which has no place to
run, induced 1 9 Qxb4 20. axb4,
.••
and White went on to win. It is not

feasible for Black to support h is AN SWER
Bishop by 1 9 . . . Nc5 ? , for then 20. It might appear that Black's extra
Nxc5 Qxc5t 2 1 . Qxc5 bxc5 22 . RxbB pawn, in the form of a doubled iso,
wins a Rook. lated a,pawn, is practically useless.
The only real choice is 1 9 . . . Botvinnik showed otherwise by play,
b5 ! ? , an awkward, looking move ing 2 1 Rb6, using the pawns to
•••
leading to a complex position but in support a build,up on the b,file.

White's favor after 20. Qxe7 Rxe7 With . . . RhbB to follow, White will
2 1 . Na5 bxc4 22 . RxbB NxbB 23 . Be3 have to either cede control of this
or 23 . Bd2 . Interested readers can try important file or undouble the
this out on their computer. The posi, pawns. Tal chose the latter after 22.
tion is murky and hard to generalize Kg3 Na5 by 23. Rxb6 axb6, but the
about with variations. healthy extra pawn allowed Botvin,
nik to win.
1 42
� Try this position for White. � Here White has exchanged

Queens, giving Black a choice of
5, 26. Larsen-Matanovic, Biel how to recapture. How?
Interzonal, 1976, at White's
lOth move. 5 ,27. Capablanca-Janowski, NY
1 9 1 6, at Black's 1 1 th move.
5-26
w 5-27
B
AN SWER
White could of course give Black AN SWER
doubled e,pawns by 1 0 . Bxe6 fxe6 , Black chose to double his own
but the resulting configuration gen, pawns by playing 1 1 . .. axb6 (rather
erally favors Black because of the ad, than 1 1 . . Nxb6) . Since the three
.
ditional central control and the pos, pawns are still clustered together,
sibility of using the semi,open f�file. they are not susceptible to attack.
Experienced players don't play Bxe6 Meanwhile, the opening of the a,file
in this type of position without a spe, for Black's Rook helps him. The
cific reason that outweighs the gen, game continued 1 2. Nxd7 Kxd7
eral considerations. Larsen accord, (centralizing the King for the end,
ingly played 1 0. Ne2, inviting Black ing) 1 3. Bd2 b5, with a good game
to double his pawns by 1 0 Bxc4 1 1
. . . . for Black.
dxc4 . Black declined, for that would
give White a firm grip on dS, choos,
ing instead to fight in the center by
10 ... g5 1 1 . B£2 d5. However, the
price for this choice was weakening
the Kingside, and after 12. exd5
Nxd5 13. Qd2 White maintained a
slight advantage.
1 43
.§. What would you do for Black .§. This position is to some extent
here ? similar, with White facing a choice
of how to recapture on dS. How
5, 28. Taimanov-Kristinsson, would you?
Reykjavik, 1 956, at Black's
22nd move. 5,29. Smyslov-Veresov, U.S.S.R.
Ch., 1 940, at White's 1 7th
5-28 move.
B
5-29
w
AN S WER
Black mistakenly played 22
AN SWER
.••
Bxb5?, doubling the pawns. But after

23. cxb5 Q£8 24. Qc3 White is ex, While the obvious 1 7. BxdS is
erting pressure along the c,file. not bad, Smyslov made what he
On the defensive and cramped, called a "non,routine decision" and
Black is in no position to threaten played 1 7. exd5. After the forcing
the doubled b,pawns, and the pawn moves 1 7 Na7 1 8. Bg5 Rfe8 1 9.
•••
on b4 keeps his Knight off the other, Rfe 1 the purpose is evident: Black is
w ise desirable square c5 . While subjected to uncomfortable pressure
White still has an advantage if Black defending the now,fixed weak pawn
refrains from this exchange, making on e 7 , and White has a clear advan,
something of it would be much tage.
harder.
1 44
� I n this position White has .§. Here is a similar position; do

doubled isolated c,pawns; but, prop, similar considerations apply? Move
erly exploited, the pawn structure ac, for White.
tually favors him. How would you
show this? 5, 3 1 . Vaganian-Katalimov, 1 97 1 ,
at White's 13th move.
s,Jo. Botvinnik-Chekhover,
Leningrad, 1938, at White's 5-3 1
18th move.
w
5-30
w
AN S WER
Yes, for again White can use dS
to plant a piece, this time his Bishop.
AN SWER First he needs to dispose of a pair of
Botvinnik played 1 8. Rd5 b6 Knights, then deploy the Bishop: 13.
19. Rfd 1 , using the dS square as an Nx£6t Qx:£6 ( Black naturally main,
anchor to build up on the d,file. tains his pawn structure, but in so
Should Black capture, White can re, doing loses control of dS ) 1 4. Be4
capture, cxd5 , straightening out his Na5 1 5 . Bd5 with advantage to
pawns and establ ishing a strong White.
passed pawn. Black would like to
chase the Rook with his Knight, but
19 Nb4? loses it to the c3 pawn
. . .
(better here than at b3 ) , and 1 9 . . .
Ne7? cuts off one of the Rook's de,

fenders. In sum, Black has troubles.
1 45
� This time White has to do some, � In this position, White has an

thing about his Bishop, and his deci, obvious move exchanging Queens
sion may affect the pawn structure. and doubling Black's pawns. Is it cor,
What would you do? rect?
5,32. Keres--Tarnowski, Helsinki 5,33. Benjamin-D. Gurevich, U.S.

Olympiad, 1 952, at White's Ch., 1 985, at White's 19th
2 1 st move. move.
5-32 5-33
w w
AN S WER ANSWER
Since White cannot protect the It would be routine to play 1 9.
Bishop on b3 (and would never, ever Qxf5 and double Black's pawns
willingly entomb it by 2 1 . c4) , he rather than allow Black to do the
must move it. There are five choices. same, but there is a specific tactical
The most obvious is to exchange it reason not to do so. At the moment,
by 2 1 . Bxe6; but we have previously Black's forces are disorganized and
noted that this type of exchange gen, should be vulnerable somewhere.
erally should be avoided, and here The soft spot is d6, exploitable by a
the reply 2 1 fxe6 both strengthens
. . . Knight via e4. Since 1 9 . Qxf5 gxf5
Black's center and chases White's covers that square, White played 1 9.
well,posted Knight from f5. On the Ne4 directly. Now Black can neither
other hand, the retreats look dismal, protect the pawn on d6 nor maintain
and . . . Keres played 2 1 . Bc4. Black the pin on the Knight. He tried 1 9 •••
accepted the invitation to double Qx£3 20. gx£3 Ng7, but after 2 1 .
White's pawns by 2 1 ... bxc3 22. Nxd6 White was well on his way to
bxc3 Bxc4 23. dxc4, but the result, victory.
ing position really favors White be,
cause of his pressure along the d,file
and his strong Knight.
146
� What should Black do in this

position?
5,34. Smyslov-Antoshin, Sochi,

1963, at Black's 1 5th move.
5-34
B
AN SWER
Attracted by the prospect of dou,
bling the pawns in front of White's
King, Black played 1 5 Bxf3; but
•••
after 16. gx£3 b6 1 7 . Kh1 it was

White who had the attack.
In this case Black is in no posi,
tion to exploit the weakening in
White's King position, while White
is able to make quick and effective
use of the opened g,file to attack
Black's King. So 1 5 . . . Bxf3 was a
positional error, begun by moving
the Bishop to g4 on the move before;
a redeployment was called for, start,
ing perhaps with 1 5 . . . b6 .
1 47
REVIEW: Below are four positions illustrating various considerations involving

doubling. Can you solve them all ? Black to move in (a), White to move in all others.
5-35a 5-35b
B w
5-35c 5-35d
w w
AN S WERS
( a) Del Campo-Dlugy, World Junior Ch., 1985. Black played 1 2 Bxf3 13. gxf3
•••
Be7 and won the ending.

(b) Botvinnik-Kann, Team Match, 1930. Black has just "put the question" to the
Bishop on gS, and White should preserve it rather than exchange it for the
Knight. Botvinnik played 1 1 . Bf4, since the routine 1 1 . Bh4 allows 1 1 . . .
Bxc3 t , forcing White to accept doubled isolated pawns by 1 2 . bxc3 at once or
by allowing the sequence 1 2 . Qxc3 Nxe4 1 3 . BxdB Nxc3 1 4 . Bxb6 axb6 1 5 .
bxc3 .
(c) Bohatirchuk-Botvinnik, Moscow, 1935. White cannot lightly allow his c�
pawns to be tripled, but properly refrained from 1 5 . Bxe6 fxe6 . Instead he
played 1 5 . Bb3, allowing Black to capture and improve White's pawn struc�
ture-more on this shortly.
(d) Smyslov-Stdhlberg, Zurich Candidates' Trn., 1953. This time it is White who
gets the attack. Smyslov played 1 8. Nxf6t gxf6 19. Qe3 Kg7 20. Ne5 ! with
a fierce attack.
1 48
The Care aru:l Feeding of Pawns-5
� The position below arose in one � Here is another example from a

of the games j ust mentioned when game seen before. How should Black
Black captured on b3 . Which recap� recapture?
ture would you choose ?
5,37. Capablanca-Janowski, NY
5� 36. Bohatirchuk-Botvinnik, 1 9 1 6, at Black's 1 5th move.
Moscow, 1 935, at White's 1 6th
move. 5-37
B
5-36
w
AN S WER
Here, too, the principle of cap ..
AN S WER turing in clearly applies. The grue,

Let us examine the three recap, some 1 5 . . . fxg6 would leave Black
tures in turn. First, 1 6 . Nxb3 takes with an isolated e,pawn and three
the Knight off to the side where it "pawn islands." Black naturally
doesn't look effective, and it leaves played 15 ... hxg6, with a fine game.
the a,pawn "isolated" all by itself. Black's two sets of doubled pawns
Second, 1 6 . cxb3 restores White's present no liability, and having the
pawn position (back to one pawn per semi,open a, and h,fi les for h is
file) and is reasonable. Third, 16. Rooks is a plus.
axb3 leaves the c,pawn doubled; yet
it is the move White played, and
which most experienced players
would choose.
Why ? It opens the a,fi le for
White's Rook, which might prove
useful in the future. As for the
pawns, it reunites the isolated a,
pawn with the others and (compared
with 1 6 . cxb3) exerts more influence
on the center, without compromis,
ing the security of the c,pawns. More
generally, White was following the
principle of recapturing toward the
center.
1 49
� While the in�capture is almost � Now use your judgment here for
automatic in many positions, there White.
are many others where careful judg�
ment is required, as illustrated in the 5�39. Regan-Benko, U.S. Ch.,
next several positions. Start thinking 1 978, at White's 37th move.
with this one, Black to move.
5�38. Hort-Spassky, Candidates'

Match, game 1 0, 1 977, at
Black's 1 7th move.
AN SWER
Again, the principle is less im�
portant than specific reasons in the
position. White needs to keep the
Kingside pawn position balanced,
AN S WER and succeeded in drawing the game
This time we have a fairly clear after 3 7. fxg3. The alternative 37.
out .. capture; the benefits of un� hxg3 would allow Black to establish
doubling the c�pawns make the dif� another outside passed pawn by 3 7 . . .
ference. Spassky played 1 7 cxb5,
••• h5 , etc. Then the outside passed
though after 1 8. a4 b4 19. d4 exd4 pawns on either side of the board
20. Nxd4 White still had an advan� would be too much for White to hold
tage. back. (See position 4�25 for a later
view of this game. )
1 50
.§ What should White to move do .§ How should Black recapture the

here ? Queen in this position ?
SAO. &tvinnik-van Scheltinga, 5�4 1 . Winslow-Kortchnoi, U.S.

Amsterdam, 1 963, at White's Open, 1 983, at Black's 28th
8th move. move.
5-40 5-41
w B
AN SWER AN S WER
Botvinnik played 8. bxcJ Be7 9. Since Black is two pawns ahead,
d4, the enterprising choice, selected his overriding concern should be to
because he was the better player and get rid of any bothersome counter�
playing White. The in�capture un� p lay and reach a routine ending
balances the pawn structure and where his extra material will pay off.
helps White fight to control the cen� Here White's hopes lie on the h�file,
ter. By contrast, the alternative 8. so Kortchnoi played 28 fxg6. Now •••
dxc3 gives up the center fight and, by 29 . Rghl ? allows 29 . Bxg5 t , while
. .
leaving a balanced pawn structure 29 . Be3 allows Black to seal the h�

and encouraging the exchange of file permanently by 29 . . h5 ( ex� .
Queens, leads toward a draw. plaiting the pin-B/e7 v. R/h4). So

White could plausibly choose White requires some real time to or�
this move only if he were definitely ganize any threats, and that gives
playing for a draw and feared his op� Black time to consolidate his de�
ponent, or if he feels he is the much fenses.
better endgame player. On the other hand, the unthink�
ing in�capture by 28 . . hxg6 leaves
.
the h�file completely open and vul�

nerable. White still can't play 29 .
Rhgl ? right away, but 29 . Kc2 makes
that a powerful threat.
151
g Decide how White should recap, g This time it is Black with a choice
ture here. of recaptures. Take your pick.
5A2. Nimzovich-Wolf, Karlsbad, 5,43. Poliak-Botvinnik, Team

1923, at White's 22nd move. Comp., Moscow, 1 929, at
Black's 9th move.
5-42
w 5-43
B
AN S WER
N imzovich chose to strengthen AN SWER
his center by 22. bxc4, and after Botvinnik captured out with 9 . ..
22 Bxe5? 23. Bxe5 had a strong

••. exd5. Taking with the Knight yields
game. The principle holds here be, central superiority to White, while
cause White is helped by having an, 9 cxdS "would greatly weaken the
. . .
other pawn in the center. Queenside" ( Botvinnik) . Although

this latter consideration is not so ob,
vious, let us note briefly here that in
the position after 9 . cxd5 the
. .
Knight on d7 is misplaced {it would

be better on c6) .
1 52
!! And here is one more with some .§ A basic concept underlying the
subtle factors involved. Recapture use of pawns is keeping them to,
for White. gether, preferably side,by,side. Here
is a whimsical position in which the
5A4. Littlewood-Botvinnik, question is, what can Black ( to
Hastings, 196 1 ,62, at White's move) do?
13th move.
5A5. Black to move-who wins?
5-44
w 5-45
B
AN SWER
White played 13. cxb3, captur, AN S WER
ing out, because he wanted to safe, There is nothing useful for Black
guard his own King and attack to do. Even though he has four pawns
Black's. You will note that White has to White's two, their quality is more
already castled on the Queenside important here. Black's pawns are all
while Black is about to castle on the isolated, so they can't help one an,
Kingside, a situation that typically other, and the doubled a,pawns pre,
produces all,out attacks on the re, vent Black's Rook from rendering ef,
spective King positions with victory fective service behind them. White's
going to the player who breaks two pawns, on the other hand, help
through first. White's choice best fits each other out. By themselves they
this strategy, whereas 1 3 . Nxb3 loses will shortly produce a Queen and a
time by removing the Knight from win for White.
the center and placing it where it will
soon be chased by pawns, and 1 3 .
axb3 weakens the defensive position
of White's King by opening the a,
file.
153
� Now let's move to a real position. � Now decide what to do for Black
What should White do below? in this position.
SA6. Botvinnik-Gotthilf, SA 7. Kirillov-Botvinnik, U.S.S.R.

Leningrad, 1930, at White's Ch., 193 1, at Black's 29th
20th move. move.
5-46 5-47
w B
AN SWER AN SWER
White has to do something When he captures on d4, Black
about his Knight on eS, and it should will be a pawn ahead. After 29 •••
be e asy to select, as Botvinnik Qxd4, Black enjoys a positional ad,

played, 20. Nxc6 bxc6. White elim, vantage as well; White's b,pawn and
inates Black's well,placed Bishop d,pawn are isolated and weak.
and leaves Black with an isolated c, The alternative 1 9 . . exd4 eases
.
pawn that can become a problem to the pressure on White by isolating

defend. Black's pawn, too, while screening
Other choices are inferior, espe, White's d,pawn. In fact, in the game
dally 20 . [4? NxeS 2 1 . fxeS Qg5 , after 29. . . Qxd4 White tried some
winning the e,pawn, because of the cursory counterplay and quickly col,
threat of mate. Note that 20 . Nxd7 lapsed: 30. Ra2 a5 3 1 . Ra4 Qdl 32.
3
requires Black to play 20 . Bxd7, for
. . Rh4, and now . . .
after 20 . . Rxd7? 2 1 . bS the Bishop
.
has nowhere to run; but White has a

good game with correct play, and has
no need to try a "cheapo" like this.
1 54
� . . . we have this position. How � Here is another apparently simple

should Black finish it off? position, White to play.
SA8. Kirillov-Botvinnik, U.S.S.R. 5�49. Nuchess--Belle, World

Ch., 1 93 1 , at Black's 3 2nd Computer Ch., 1983, at
move. White's 1 4th move.
5-48 5-49
B w
AN SWER AN S WER
By this point White is making Most humans would play 1 4 .
one last gamble with a Kings ide dem� Qxe3 , keeping their pawns intact in
onstration. If Black fixates on gob� a drawish position. Yet one of the
bling pawns, he'll be sorry: 32 . . . world's best computer programs (at
Bxb3 ? 33 . Qh5 Qxd3 ? 34 . Be4 , etc. that time)played 14. fxe3? Bg6, giv�
Such situations call for prudent liq� ing Black the advantage because of
uidation, and Botvinnik played 32 ••• the weak isolated pawn fixed firmly
Qc 1 . The forced e xchange of on e3 . The computer was obviously
Queens eradicates White's attack attracted by the apparent aggressive�
and leaves his b�pawn indefensible, ness of maintaining an attack on the
so he resigned here. Bishop and opening the f�file, which
it wrongly but typically (for comput�
ers in the 1 980s) valued more than
the lasting pawn weakness.
ISS
,Et Now we switch back to humans, Et Again Black has a choice of how
with Black to move in an old�time to recapture based on the pawn struc�
game. ture. Which way ?
5�50. Cochrane-Staunton, 5�5 1 . Botvinnik-Kann, Leningrad,

London, 1842, at Black's 20th 1934, at Black's 1 5th move.
move.
5-5 1
5-50 B
B
AN SWER
AN SWER The correct move is 1 5 . cxd5 ,
. .
White has just exchanged on e6, but in the game Black erred position�
and Black took the opportunity to ally with 15 exd5. Although the
•••
link up to his lonely d�pawn by 20 ••. rule of capturing in does work here,
fxe6. As a result, the d�pawn is pro� the real basis for the choice is the
tected conveniently by a pawn (not effect on the pawn structure.
the case after 20 . Qxe6) , and after
. . With his move Black leaves him�
2 1 . Rac l Qh4 Black was making self with a backward c�pawn that
good use of his Queen to attack (not he'll have to worry about defending
defend a pawn). While Black's pawn (and if he can manage to play . . . c5 in
structure, with three "pawn islands" the future, the exchange of pawns
vs. White's two, is still a little looser, will leave his d�pawn isolated). In
his pieces are much more active than addition, the removal of the e�pawn
Black's, and he won in another 1 3 unbalances the position and leaves
moves. White with a potentially dangerous
Kingside pawn majority. And finally,
since Black's position is cramped,
creating an open c�file (after the cor�
rect 1 5 . . . cxd5) would give him a
chance for some relief by exchanging
pieces.
1 56
� Here White has a choice of how .§ Again White has a choice of how
to recapture on b4. Which should he to recapture. Take your pick.
choose ?
5,53. Seirawan-Wilder, U.S.
5,52. Karpov-Portisch, Milan Junior, 1979, at White's 1 2th
(game 2), 1975, at White's move.
34th move.
5-53
5-52 w
w
AN S WER
AN SWER This is a typical situation in
Karpov played 34. axb4, reunit, which taking with the pawn, 1 2.
ing his pawns side,by,side on b4 and gx£4, as White played, is preferable
c4. In addition, clearing the a,file to taking with a piece. In setting up
exposes Black's pawn at a6 to attack. the side,by�side "duo" at e4 and f4,
White increases his grip on the cen�
ter in a way that is more lasting than
a piece recapture. White denies the
eS square to Black's pieces, and may
later play d4 and/or f5 .
157
� In this position White has a dif, � This time Black faces a different
ferent opportunity with his pawns. problem. What is it, and how should
What should he do? he deal with it?
5, 54. Botvinnik-Levenfisch, 5,55. Botvinnik-Riumin, U.S.S.R.

Moscow, 1 935, at White's 15th Ch., 1 93 1 , at Black's 22nd
move. move.
5-54 5-55
w B
AN S WER AN S WER
Botvinnik took his chance to Of course Black must do some,
ram his pawns down Black's throat by thing about his loose Bishop, but his
1 5 . e5 Nb5 1 6. d6. It is the cramp, basic problem is how to deal with
ing effect of these pawns, more than White's passed d,pawn. If securely
the fact the pawn at d6 is passed, that blockaded it can be neutralized,
gives White the advantage in this which 22 Bd6 does, despite hand,
. . .
middlegame position. But it is impor, ing over the long diagonal (al ,h8) to
tant that White can maintain his White.
pawn wedge against Black's efforts to In the game, though, Black made
undermine it. the mistake of using his Queen for
this task with 22 Qd6. In general,
•••
the Queen is a bad blockader, for

not only are its considerable powers
wasted on such a task, but also its
value makes any other piece capable
of driving it away. The game pro,
ceeded 23. f4 Bg7 24. Bc5 Qd8 25.
Be7 Qe8 26. d6 with a winning posi,
tion for White and an object lesson
against using the Queen to blockade.
1 58
,E! Here again White has a choice of ,E!

Now, if not before, White's
how to recapture, with another as, choice should be obvious. Make it.
pect of pawn care at stake. Make your
choice. 5,57, Karpov-Nunn, Amsterdam,
5,56. Capablanca--Salwe & allies,
Lodz, 1913, at White's 23rd 5-57
move.
w
5-56
w
AN SWER
Clearly 24. Rxd5 keeps Black's
backward d,pawn exposed, while 24 .
AN SWER exd5 would improve Black's pros,
One of White's advantages lies pects. Karpov played the former, and
in Black having a backward c,pawn after 24 ... Rc6 25. Radl Ne6 26. c4
on a semi,open file. After 23. Rxc5 was on his way to victory.
this pawn is a permanent weakness,
as can be seen after 23 Qd7 24. g4
•••
c6 25. Ree l Rac8 26. Qc3 Re6

with Black completely tied down to
defend the pawn. From here the win
takes time and technique, which
Capablanca had; he won in another
27 moves.
The alternative 23 . dxc5? shields
the weakling and leaves Black's d,
pawn passed, and after . c6 , pro,
. .
tected too.
1 59
� Here Black has some choices with � This time you must take a slightly
a little more to think about. What different point of view. Play for
should he do? Black.
5�58. Kasparov-Short, London 5�59. Bisguier-Gligoric, Bled,

Speed Match, game 3, 1 987, at 196 1 , at Black's 28th move.
Black's 28th move.
5-59
5-58 B
B
ANSWER
AN S WER Black's King is under pressure,
Obviously, Black will recapture though he can hope White will over;
on c4; but how best to do this is less reach himself in pursuing his King;
clear. Naturally Black would like to side demonstration. At the moment
keep White's backward pawn on c3 things are under control on the
under pressure, but Black's pawn at Kingside, but what about elsewhere?
b5 is also backward. In fact, things are up for grabs on the
To begin with, the out�capture Queenside. If White can play c4 he
28 . . . dxc4 seems least desirable on will establish a grip there, and Black
several counts (gives White central will be left in a cramped, passive po�
superiority, shields White's backward sition. So Black played 28 Bb5, •..
pawn on c3 while leaving Black's ex� taking control of the c4 square him;
posed) . That leaves the other two self. After 29. Q£3 N£6 White's posi;
captures. The problem with the in� tion was starting to creak, and Black
capture 28 . . . bxc4 is that White's won in another ten moves.
Rook is planted firmly on b4, and
after 29 . Qdl Black is going to have
to capture it to save his a�pawn. That
leaves 2 8 • • • Rxc4, which Short
played. Now 29 . Rxc4 bxc4 leaves
Black controlling the b�file and able
to plant his Rook at b3, so Kasparov
played instead 29. Bd2, defending
his c�pawn. Nevertheless, after 29 •••
Qc6 30. e5 £5 Black had a reason ..

able game, and in fact later won.
1 60
� In this position Black is a precari, � . . . this position. How should

ous pawn ahead, but White has a Black continue now ?
threat. What should Black do?
5,6 1 . Bondarevsky-Botvinnik,
5,60. Bondarevsky-Botvinnik, U.S.S.R. Absolute Ch., 1 94 1 ,
U.S.S.R. Absolute Ch., 194 1 , at Black's 19th move.
at Black's 13th move.
5-61
5-60 B
B
AN SWER
AN SWER While no longer a pawn ahead,
Botvinnik played 1 3 Kf7, pro,
••• Black still has some advantages in
tecting the pawn on g6 while keep, the form of his two Bishops and his
ing his pawns side,by,side. While central pawn mass. It is essential to
Black does give up the possibility of connect these pawns now while
castling, his King is really safe Black can still control the eS square,
enough. In the game, after 14. h4 so Botvinnik played 1 9 e5 ! After a
•••
Qg8! 15. Bd2 Qh7 Black had the little quibbling, 20. gxf6 Kxf6 2 1 .
advantage, because his potential Bd6 ReS, Black was clearly in con,
threats to White's King give White trol of eS, and the pawn mass in the
little choice but to exchange Queens center proved so powerfu l that
into an ending favoring Black. Let us White lasted only another eight
see why by looking further ahead (af, moves.
ter 16. Bb4 g5 1 7. Qxh7 Rxh7 1 8.
exf6 gx£6 1 9. hxg5 ) to . . .
161
� What should Black do here? � Quick now, move for White here.
5,62. Schlechter-Lasker, World 5,63. Fischer-Reshevsky, U.S. Ch.,

Ch. Match, game 5, 19 10, at 1 962,63, at White's 20th
Black's 37th move. move.
5-62 5-63
B w
AN S WER AN SWER
Lasker started by putting pres, Of course Fischer played 20.
sure on White's h,pawn by 3 7 ••• Rxd5, keeping Black's d,pawn back,
Rh8, pretty much forcing White to ward and vulnerable. (You didn't
compromise his pawn structure by take with the pawn, did you?) Then
38. g4 (38 . Qhl is not a reasonable followed 20 Kd7 2 1 . gx£6 Bx£6,
•••
way to avoid this, while 38 . Qg4 giving us . . .

Qxg4 leaves Black better placed in
the resulting endgame) . Then Black
should fix White's a,pawn by 38 . . .
RaB . Instead, Lasker played the ag,

gressive 38 Qc4, allowing White
•••
to sacrifice a pawn by 39. a4! to

expose Black's King.
Lasker was noted for his willing,
ness to grab material and withstand
attacks; but this time it didn't work,
and White won.
162
!1 . . . this position. What next for .§ .. . the position below. What

White ? should Black do about his problems
now?
5,64. Fischer-Reshevsky, U.S. Ch.,
1 962,63, at White's 22nd 5,65. Variation, Black's 28th move.
move.
5-65
5-64 B
w
A N S WER
AN SWER With 28... h5 ! Black turns his
Fischer played 22. g5 Be 7 23. weakling into a protected passed
Ke2. The point is that Black's h, pawn. Of course White would like to
pawn is also fixed as backward, and capture en passant, but that is ruled
will be even harder to defend than out by the pin on the pawn. In the
the backward d,pawn. Of course actual game Fischer prepared to
White's f,pawn is also backward, but double his Rooks on the h,file, and
it will be relatively easy for White to on his 28th move played his Rook
defend this one weak pawn while from h l to h3 instead of h4. On
keeping Black under pressure de, move 29 Fischer played his other
fending his two weak pawns. But Rook from a l to h l .
take a look at . . .
1 63
� Is a similar objective worthwhile � Then what should White do

for White in this position? here ?
5�66. Rubinstein-Salwe, Karlsbad, 5�67. Lasker-Cohn, St. Petersburg,

1 9 1 1 , at White's 18th move. 1909, at White's 20th move.
5-66 5-67
w w
AN SWER AN SWER
White is tangled up on the It is very important for White to
Kingside, but that can be relieved take control of c5 before Black does.
with a little time, while 1 8 . e4 would Lasker played 20. Na4 Qe7 2 1 . Qd4
be too rash (then 1 8 dxe4 1 9 . fxe4
. . . with two�to�one on that key square.
c5 , and B lack is fine ) . I nstead, Let's look ahead after 2 1 Rfb8 22.
..•
White should concentrate on fixing Nc5 a5, bringing about . . .

Black's center pawns. Rubinstein
played 18. Qd4, putting a third
piece observing the c5 square and
preventing Black from playing . . . c5 ,
both now and for the foreseeable fu�
ture.
1 64
� . . . the next position, below. Now � Here Black faces a somewhat dif,
what should White do ? ferent situation. What should he do
about it?
5,68. Lasker-Cohn, St. Petersburg,
1909, at White's 23rd move. 5,69. Veingold-Kasparov,
Spartakaid, 1979, at Black's
15th move.
ANSWER
Having set up his b lockade,
White should maintain it (certainly AN SWER
not give up his well,placed Knight Black already is under consider,
for Black's wretched Bishop) . If you able restraint (Kasparov was very
have been paying attention to young at this time ! ) , but he must not
Black's last couple of moves ( . . . Rfb8 allow White to e xp and on the
and . . . a5) , you should realize he is Queenside. Accordingly Kasparov
still trying to get back control of cS . played 15 ... a4, stopping White's b,
His idea is to play . . . Rb5 when pawn. This is a standard move in
White cannot answer with b4 . such positions, for if White can play
Therefore Lasker p layed 23. a3 , b4 and c5 Black will be really
ready to answer 23 . . . Rb5 with 24 . cramped. Note that in this position
b4. (Also possible was 23 . a4 , keep, White was not threatening 1 6 . b4
ing the Rook off bS; but Lasker's directly (although 1 5 . . . Nc5 would
move has the advantage of preparing to allow this), but rather 1 6 . b3 , after
anchor the Knight with a pawn , thus which White cannot be prevented
freeing White's Queen.) from achieving a later b4 (e.g., by 1 7.
The game continued 2 3 K£7 ••• Rbl and then 1 8 . b4) .
24. Ral Rb5 25. b4 Rab8 26. c3,
when Black in desperation gave up
Rook for Knight and soon resigned.
1 65
.§. While the last two positions, de, .§ In this position Black j ust ad,
spite their differences, revolved vanced 2 6 . . . h4 . What should
around control of the c5 square, here White do about it?
the issue is quite different. What
should Black do? 5, 7 1 . Kortchnoi-Portisch,
Candidates' Match, game 9,
5, 70. Spassky-Fischer, World Ch. 1983, at White's 27th move.
Match, game 5, 1972, at
Black's 1 6th move. 5-71
w
5-70
B
ANSWER
Since Black threatens 27 . . . hxg3
AN S WER White needs to do something about
Although at first glance White's it, like moving or protecting the
pawn structure might look better (a pawn on g3 . A logical move to main,
passed pawn vs. Black's crippled King, tain his pawn structure is 27. Kg2 so 1
side majority), it contains weaknesses that after 27 . . . hxg3 28 . hxg3 White's

Black can easily exploit with his pieces, King is comfortable behind the pawn
whereas White cannot easily do the duo and his Rooks can take over the
same. At the moment, White would h,file. However, this assumes Black
like to play 1 7. a5 eliminating his a,
1 will obligingly capture-at best
pawn ( if 1 7. a5 bxa5 White soon wishful thinking, and here, not nee,
recovers the pawn and gets pressure essary.
against a7 and cS ) and opening a line While you can't play for your op,
for his light,squared Bishop. So ponent, neither must you accept his
Fischer played 16 a5 !, keeping the
..• reasoning. Evidently Black consid,
position closed and fixing White's a, ered his last move reasonable, but
pawn. True, this leaves a backward b, you don't have to. Kortchnoi played
pawn ( which would have happened 27. gxh4, announcing his judgment
anyway had White been allowed to that Black's last move was wrong.
play a5 and axb6) ; but after 1 7. Rb 1 This capture seems to undermine
Bd7 (as the game went) Black is able White's pawn structure, but more
to protect his b,pawn without strain, important is that White can make
and soon will make White sweat to quick use of the g,file to develop an
protect his a,pawn. It is really Black attack against Black's King while his
with the advantage here, and Fischer own King remains reasonably safe.
eventually won. The game proceeded 2 7 Ne5 28.
•••
1 66
Ne3 Qxh4 29. Rgl Qh5 30. Rg3 f! Here White has a pawn to recap�
b5 3 1 . Rcgl bxc4 32. Qg2 Ng6 33. ture on f3 . Which way, and why?
bxc4 with a strong attack.
5�72. Ault-Perks, NJ 1986, at
White's 2 1st move.
5-72
w
AN S WER
The simplistic 2 1 exf3 only
.
helps White's pawn structure, not his

game. More important is for White
to make immediate use of his better�
developed pieces and get his Bishop
into action. I played 2 1 . Bx£3, and
after 2 1 . Be6? 22. Nc7 collected
••
the exchange for an easy win. How�

ever, Black has no satisfactory way to
escape unharmed from the pressure;
for example, 2 1 . . . Bd7 22. Nd6 , and
now 22 . . . RabB 23 . Bd5t KhB 24 .
Nf7t wins the exchange ( if 24 . . .
Kg8 , then 25 . NeS t, picking up the
Bishop on d7 ) or 22 . . . RfbB 23 . Rfdl
a6 24 . Nxb7! Rxb7 25 . Rxc6! Bxc6
26. Bxc6 leads to White being a good
pawn ahead in a Rook ending.
167
REVIEW: Here are four positions reviewing some of the concepts covered in this
chapter. Have fun! White to move in (b), Black to move in all others.
5-73a 5-73b
B w
5-73c 5-73d
B B
AN SWER S
(a) Tal-Ljubojevic, Montreal, 1979. Obviously Black, in recapturing, plays 1 1 . ••
Bxd5 (not 1 1 . . exd5) , keeping his pawns together as well as the long diagonal
.
open for his Bishop.

(b) Smyslov-Antoshin, Sochi, 1 963. Here the choice is how to recapture on d4,
and Smyslov chose 20. cxd4. More important than simply following the
principle of capturing toward the center, his choice keeps a cluster of pawns
together, while the alternative 20. exd4 leaves weak spots in the form of the
backward c�pawn and the doubled isolated f�pawns.
(c) Karpov-Kortchnoi, Candidates' Match, game 20, 1974. If Black plays 33 . . . .
Qxe4 , White gets a passed pawn when he recaptures. Kortchnoi played 33 •••
Q£6, and after 34. Q£5t Qx£5 35. Nx£5 he could afford to lose a pawn but still
draw after further liquidation (35 Nb4 36. d4 Nd3 37. Nxg7 Nxb2 ).
•••
(d) Fedorowicz-Seirawan, U.S. Ch. , 198 1 . Here the principle of capturing toward
the center holds: 1 1 . fxe6 keeps some company for the c�pawn and main
•.
tains a strong influence in the center. Black has a good game despite his a�
pawns, and won.
1 68
MORE REVIEW: Finally, here are four more positions. These are a little more
subtle than the previous set. Good luck! Black to move in (a) and (c), White to move
in the others.
5-74a 5-74b
B w
5-74c 5-74d
B w
AN SWERS
(a) Greenberg-Belle, NJ Open, 1983. While some experienced human players
would hesitate to do so, the computer program gave up a Bishop for a Knight to
double White's pawns by 1 3 Bxa3 1 4. bxa3 ReB and went on to win.
•••
(b) Pinter-Tal, Mendetaxco Interzonal, 1985. Here White cannot afford to trade
off his last piece to double Black's pawns (by 38 . Bxf5 gxf5) while Black's King
is so much closer to the center. He played 38. Bc4 K£6, although he was still
unable to hold the endgame.
(c) Botvinnik-Szabo, Groningen, 1946. White's hanging pawns on c4 and d4 are
doubfe,edged-strong if they can help cramp Black's game, weak if they can be
broken up or blockaded. Black attacked them by 1 9 b5 ! Since 20 . cxb5 Qd5
•••
regains the pawn using the mate threat, White chose 20. c5, but now the
pawns are blockaded and the d4 pawn is backward and subject to further
attack.
(d) Alburt-Sigurjonnson, Lone Pine, 198 1 . White must give back a pawn, but if he
does so passively he will be left with a backward e,pawn with Black controlling
e4. So he played 1 7. e5 dxe5 1 8. d5 with advantage.
1 69
Piece
Hannonr
and
Lined up abreast on the second 6, 1 . Averbakh-Taimanov, Zurich

rank, pawns start the game well, Candidates' Tm., 1953, at
placed to help each other out. To be White's 2 1st move.
sure, at least some of them have to
move forward; but a major consider..
ation of pawns is keeping the aJ...
vancing ones in good order and
avoiding various weaknesses, as we
saw in the last chapter.
The pieces, by contrast, start the
game poorly placed. Not only are
they hemmed in, but also they coop,
erate poorly and exert little influence
on the important central squares.
Thus, developing the pieces and
moving them throughout the game AN SWER
have the generally positive aim of White played decisively: 2 1 .
improving their location. Bd4 Rg8 22. Nd5. With two inci,
sive moves, White has saved his
.§. For example, in this position threatened Bishop and pawn and
White has two extra pawns, but has moved his minor pieces to dominat,
to worry about his b,pawn as well as ing and harmonious positions. Faced
his Bishop. How should he resolve with the loss of the exchange by a
these problems? Knight fork at f6, Black tried 22 •..
Rg5 , but White collected a third

pawn with 23. Nhf6t Bx£6 24.
Nxf6t Kc6 25. Nxh7 and soon won.
Contrast White's play with the
ineffectual alternatives: 2 1 . Be 1 or
,
2 1 . Radl t and then 22 . Bel or 2 1 .

,
Nd l . While these moves retain

White's material advantage and
should still win, they make things
much harder.
1 70
Piece and Harmony---6
a What does White want to do .§ Here again, decide how White

about his pieces here ? can improve his position.
6'2. Botvinnik-Keres, U.S.S.R. 6, 3 . Capablanca-Ragozin,

Ch., 1 952, at White's 23rd Moscow, 1 935, at White's
move. 2 1 st move.
6-2 6-3
w w
AN S WER AN S WER
In the absence of any direct Capablanca p layed 2 1 . Ng7,
threats for either side, it is often use, sticking the Knight into Black's posi,
ful to improve the position of your tion and heading for e6 at the right
pieces. For White here, there is an time. After 2 1. Bd7 he secured the
••
easy way to bring his Knight to a Knight's outpost by 22. h5 Rac8 23.
dominating square. Botvinnik played h6, then maneuvered his other
23. Ne4 N£8 24. Nd6 with a big pieces, leaving Black to worry about
advantage. the constant possibility of Ne6 . As a
matter of fact, Capablanca didn't
play it until Move 46, after which
Black soon resigned ( at Move 49) .
N ote that 2 1 . Qg7 Qxg7 22.
Nxgl i s much weaker, for the ex,
change of Queens considerably eases
Black's cramped defensive position.
(More on this later.)
171
� Now think carefully about this Now try this one, again with
�
position, White to move. White to move.
6A. Botvinnik-Capablanca, 6'5 . Botvinnik-Kan, Leningrad,

A.V.R.O., 1 93 8, at White's 1 939, at White's 1 7th move.
2 1 st move.
AN SWER
ANSWER Perhaps you recall examples of
If you chose 21 . Nf5 heading for this sort of pawn formation, where
d6, take some credit, but j ust a little. the doubled isolated c,pawns don't
The problem is that Black also has hurt White at all. From the stand,
his threat, and would respond with point of the pieces, White's task is to
2 1 . . . Nbc5! This would leave White get them well,posted in relation to
with the unpleasant choice of allow, his relatively fixed pawn formation.
ing this Knight into d3 (22 . Qd2 Of particular interest is White's
Nd3) or exchanging Queens (22 . Bishop, at this point quite limited in
Qxa4 Nxa4) , which would sui t scope, and the square d5. Botvinnik
Black fine since he is a pawn ahead. chose the direct solution 1 7. Nxf6t
With Queens on the board Qxf6 18. Be4, leaving White with
White, in fact, has good prospects an active Bishop against Black's pas,
based on expanding and attacking on sive Bishop.
the Kingside-to greater effect than Perhaps you noticed Black's
Black's counterplay on the Queen, pawn at c5 is unprotected, but I hope
side. So Botvinnik played 2 1 . Qf2, you didn't grab it. In general, White
keeping Black's Knight at b3 , far shouldn't be too eager to "win" this
from the main action, and bringing pawn right in front of his doubled
the Queen over for the upcoming isolated pawns without a good con,
Kingside action. White went on to tinuation in mind. And here, it hap,
win this famous game, of which more pens that Black has a good continua,
later. tion: 1 7. NxeS? Qb6 , winning the e,
pawn.
1 72
Piece and Harmony-6
� How should White proceed here � Where does White improve his
for the best deployment of his pieces? piece activity in this position?
6'6. Fellner-Ault, NJ 1 983, at 6, 7. Smyslov-Suetin, U.S.S.R.

White's 13th move. (Note: Ch. , 1 95 2 , at White's 20th
White's King has moved.) move.
6-6 6-7
w w
AN SWER AN SWER
White wants to develop and This time it is White's Queen,
keep Black cramped on the Kingside. relatively ineffectual at c2, which
He accomplished this by 13. c4. suddenly assumes frightening powers
Since 1 3 . e6 1 4 . cxd5 exd5 leaves
. . on the long d iagonal. Smyslov
me with an isolated d,pawn, I played nudged it over with 20. Qb2. Black
1 3 dxc4; but 14. Bxc4 gets the
.•. must now reckon w i th various
Bishop well,placed. Furthermore, threats based on his pinned Knight,
the opening of the center favors and protected it with 20 Qe7. But
••.
White with his two Bishops and ex, this allowed White to play 2 1 . Nd4
poses the disharmony of Black's (big threat: a Knight fork on fS ! ) Kg8
pieces. As the game went, I never did 22. Nxc6 bxc6 23. Rxc6 with a
manage to get untracked, and the winning advantage.
conclusion was shown earlier (posi,
tion 5, 1 ).
1 73
� What can White accomplish � For a change, it is Black to move

here ? this time. Where and why?
6'8. Fischer-Euwe, Leipzig 6'9. Evans-Lein, U.S. Ch. ,

Olympiad, 1 960, at White's 1 98 1 , a t Black's 1 6th move.
2 1 st move.
6-9
6-8 B
w
AN SWER
A N S WER Again, the main objective is to
White can gobble a pawn by 21 . keep the opponent bottled up. Here
Bxa7, but after 2 1 . . . Bd6 22. Rb7t the p articular v ictim is White's
Kc6 23 . Rxg7 Bxh2 even Fischer Bishop. White would be happy with
thinks it "would be hard to win." the likes of 1 7. bxc5 bxc5 1 8 . dxc5
Instead, White can use his active NxeS 1 9 . Bb4, and his Bishop be,
pieces to keep Black all tied up. comes active . That's why Black
Fischer played 2 1 . Rb8!, which wins played 1 6 c4! White then tried for
•••
the a,pawn anyway because of the Kings ide play with 1 7. Nh4, but af,
threat of 22. Bc5 . After 2 1 ••. Kc6 ter 1 7 ... g5 ! 1 8. hxg6 fxg6 19. £4
22. Bxa7 g5, White had both his h5 ! Black has successfully barricaded
extra pawn and a better position. there, leaving White's Bishop per,
The finish is shown in position ) , manently enfeebled. (This sort of
63d. Bishop, blocked in by its own pawns,
is known as a "bad Bishop," and we'll
see many more of them in this chap,
ter. )
1 74
Piece and Harmony--6
t:! Here Black has just played 23 ••• t:! Where does White want to get
£7 ..£5. How should White reply? this time, and how?
6,1 0. Unzicker-Pomar, Tel Aviv 6, 1 1 . Kasparov-Beliavsky,

Olympiad, 1 964, at White's Candidates' Match, game 9,
24th move. 1 983, at White's 22nd move.
6-1 0 6- 1 1
w w
AN SWER AN S WER
White's Bishop on e4 is being In positions of this sort, sinking a
prodded, and the question of keeping Knight at fS is one of White's objec,
it active faces White. A retreat like tives. At the moment, there is one
24 . Bc2 (watching the d3 square) is White Knight (at g3 ) aimed at fS,
rather dismal. But why slink off? opposed by Black's Bishop (at c8) ; so
White played 24. ex£6 Bx£6 25. Kasparov played 22. Ndfl Nh7 23.
Rad l . The Bishop remains strongly Ne3. After 23 B£6 ( Black at least
•••
posted at e4, and Black now has an, eases his cramped position somewhat
other weak pawn at e6 besides the by forcing this exchange) 24. Bxf6
one at a 7 to worry about. In addition, Nx£6 25. Ng£5, White had a clear
the slight opening up of the position advantage and soon won.
tends to favor White's Bishops. Consider that the kill that soon
fo llowed was set up by getting
White's pieces appropriately posi,
tioned. In the present position, the
player with the White pieces doesn't
really have to see or calculate the
concluding moves far in advance
he can j ust get his pieces well ..
placed, and things will happen.
175
� Then what should Black do here ? � Whither White's Knight in this

position ?
6� 1 2. Alekhine-Capablanca,
St. Petersburg, 1 9 14, at 6� 13. Kortchnoi-Karpov, World
Black's 1 6th move. Ch. Match, game 1 1 , 1 978,
at White's 1 9th move.
6- 1 2
B 6- 1 3
w
AN SWER
Don't just fixate on possible bet� AN SWER
ter places for Black's Knight. Much Obviously the Knight wants to
more important here is White's im� go to c5, but you must check for tac�
pending placement of his Bishop on tical "bugs" in your strategical plans.
d4, with unpleasant consequences Here 1 9 Na4? is met by 1 9 . . . Nxd4!
.
for Black. Accordingly, Capablanca ( 1 9 . . . Nxe5 works too) , winning a

played 16 c5, and won an exciting
••• pawn. Does this mean White should
game based on the activity of his settle for the likes of 1 9 . Ne2 ? Not
Kn ight versus W h i t e 's passive necessarily-keep looking.
Bishop. In the game, Kortchnoi played
1 9. Bg4! e6 20. Na4. What would
have made Black's combination ( af�
ter 1 9 . Na4?) work is not simply the
discovery (by the Knight) , but his
ability to take White's Bishop on f3
with check. Kortchnoi's insertion of
the Bishop move serves to remove
the Bishop, with gain of tempo, from
the line of fire; thus now 20 . Nxd4?
. .
2 1 . Nc5 Qe8 22. Bxd4 leaves White

a piece ahead. The game instead
went 20 Na5 2 1 . Nc5 , with
...
White's Knight strongly placed after

all.
1 76
Piece and Hannony-6
.§ Now what should Black do here? EX This time for White, decide how
you want to improve, and go for it.
6� 14. Najdorf-lvkov, Bled, 1 96 1 ,
at Black's 1 3 th move. 6� 1 5 . Botvinnik-Flohr, Moscow,
6-1 5
w
AN SWER
Obviously Black needs to take AN S WER
back the Knight on eS, and it seems White's Knight is doing little,
he must do so by 1 3 . . . dxe5 , which but could really flex its muscles on
leaves his Bishop on g7 blocked in. d6--if it could get there. There is a
Here, too, there is a tactical key that way, and White started the journey
opens the way for Black to play 1 3 •.• by 34. Nb 1 ! Sometimes players miss
Bxe5, which he did, in the game. such maneuvers because they take
While the Knight on h6 seems to too long. But the real question is
hang, Black answers 1 4 . Bxh6 with what the opponent can do in the
1 4 . . . Qh4 , using the threat to h2 to meantime. When, as here, the an�
recover his piece (if then 1 5 . Bxf8 ? , swer is "not much"-and that is of,
1 5 . . . Qxh2t 1 6 . Kf2 Qg3 t! 1 7. Kg1 ten the case in blocked positions
Bd4t 1 8 . Qxd4 cxd4 when White then the time is well spent. The
lives but Black is ahead) . Under� game continued 34 Q£8 35. Na3
•••
standably, in the game White chose Bd8 (protecting the a�pawn) 3 6.

14. B£4; but after 14 Bd4t 1 5 .
..• Nc4 Bc7 3 7. Nd6, with a big advan�
Kh 1 g5 16. Bd2 £4 he was in real tage to White because of his Knight
trouble. outpost. Of course Black can always
trade his Bishop for the Knight, but
then a protected passed pawn recap�
tures onto d6 and Black still has a
"bone in his throat."
1 77
E! In this position, White looks .§ This next position has some

w e l l ,deve loped w h i le Black i s similarity to the last. Should White
cramped. What should White do proceed in similar fashion ?
about it?
6, 1 7. Uhlmann-Osnos, Zinnowitz,
6, 16. Lunna-Cornelius, NJ Open, 1 97 1 , at White's 1 8th move.
6-1 7
6-1 6 w
w
ANSWER
AN S WER Indeed, White played 18. Qc3.
White's opportunity lies in the Even though Black covered h8 con,
use of diagonals for his Queen. He veniently by 1 8 . . . Nf7, White con,
played 20. Qc3 and Black resigned, trols the long diagonal and pro,
seeing that closing the long diagonal ceeded to attack with 1 9. g4. While
by 20 . . . e5 to stop immediate mate this time White doesn't win any,
(at either g7 or h8) allows 2 1 . Qc4t thing right away, his move ( 1 8 . Qc3)
Kh8 22 . Qf7, using the adjacent di, keeps a grip on the long diagonal,
agonal to penetrate to the heart of and he went on to win. Without it,
Black's position. At this point, Black Black can successfully contest this
would have no way to meet the diagonal by 1 8 . . . Bg7 or 1 8 . . . Qc7
threats of both 23 . Qxh7# and 23 . 1 9 . Qc3 Bg7.
Qxe8t .
1 78
� Fischer's move in this position � What should Black do here ?

may not be obvious, though it will
help if you think about how to place 6, 19. Karpov-Andersson, World
White's pieces. Can you find it? Junior Ch., 1 969, at Black's
2 7th move.
6, 18. Fischer-Spassky, World Ch.
Match, game 6, 1 972, at 6- 1 9
White's 20th move.
B
6- 1 8
w
AN S WER
The position is blocked, and
White has both more space and a
AN SWER wonderful Knight outpost at g6. The
At present, White's Bishop can immediate question for Black is what
be put to better use. Of course 20. to do about his b,pawn-push it or
Bxa6? Rca8 is a blunder; but 20. Bg4 trade it. Black correctly chose the
or 20. Bd3 are reasonable, though latter, giving himself some counter,
one,dimensional. Fischer's move is play on the Queens ide by 2 7 bxc4
•••
more subtle: he played 20. e4 ! , 28. bxc4 Na6. Now the Knight can
which induced Spassky to respond go to b4, the Rooks can be doubled
20... d4. ( Spassky's move, though on the open b,file, and White must
obvious, was criticized as playing into keep an eye on protecting his a,
Fischer's hands; other suggestions pawn. These things still aren't
were 20. . c4 or 20 . . . Qd6 so as to
. enough to balance White's chances
keep the Bishop from becoming so on the Kings ide (and Karpov won in
active, but not 20 dxe4? when
. . . 60 moves), but at least they give
White will soon regain the pawn, Black something to do. The alterna,
leaving Black with pawn weaknesses tive 27 . b4 blocks the Queenside
. .
all over the board . ) In any case, completely, so that all the action will
Fischer continued 2 1 . f4 Qe7 22. e5 take place on the Kingside where
with the advantage because of the White has a big advantage in maneu,
Bishop's potential power on the a2, vering room.
g8 and b l ,h7 diagonals. The game
continued 22 Rb8 23. Bc4 (fi,
•••
nally) Kh8 24. Qh3 Nf8 25. b3,

with White's pieces repositioned for
a decisive attack (which we'll look at
further in the next chapter).
1 79
� Now we switch to an endgame. � . . . from the position below. What

would you do for Black now ?
6�20. Marshall-Lasker, World Ch.
Match, game 1 , 1 907, at 6� 2 1 . Marshall-Lasker, World Ch.
Black's 3 2nd move. Match, game 1 , 1 907, at
Black's 34th move.
6-20
B 6-2 1
B
AN SWER
Do not forget about using your ANSWER
King, which is a valuable fighting Don't fixate only on moving
piece in endings. Here Black's other your own pieces around-sometimes
pieces are well�placed, but his King you want your opponent to move his
can penetrate with decisive effect. first. There were many applications
Lasker played 32 ... Kd4, threaten� of "zugzwang" in the early chapters,
ing a further invasion at e3 or c3 . and this is another one. Various
Marshall tried 33. Rx£6 gx£6 (note pawn moves will serve the purpose of
that Lasker allowed White to make making White move one of his
this exchange, which White needs pieces, and Lasker chose 34 c6 35.
•.•
to get his King into play, rather than a5 a6. Now White had to yield
making it himself, with the result somewhere, and after 36. Nfl Kxe4
that the pawn now on f6 holds Black soon won.
White's e�pawn) 34. K£2, covering
e3 and ready to meet 34 . . Kc3 with
.
35 . Ke3 . Let us consider the situa�

tion further . . .
1 80
Piece and Harmony-6
!! Now choose your move for White � In this position, White is badly
in this position. cramped but trying to hold out. How
can Black dash his hopes ?
6�22. Capablanca-Allies, Simul�
taneous, London, 1 922, at 6� 23 . Kmoch-Alekhine,
White's 23rd move. Semmering, 1 929, at Black's
28th move.
6-22
w
AN S WER
White must provide for his Rook ANSWER
at c l , so Capablanca played 23. Ke2, White's pawn on e4 is a decoy
keeping his King in the center to he would be happy to have Black
participate in the endgame that is capture it, for either pawn capture
beginning. In so doing he made the allows White to take a pawn with his
important-and correct-judgment Bishop, or to play 2 9 e5 . What re�
.
that his King would be perfectly safe ally matters is the devastating effect
in the center. His move is really of Black switching his Knight to e4,
simple and logical, but many inexpe� so Alekhine played 28 Nd6!, one
•••
rienced players almost reflexively hop away. The removal of the

castle in such positions and then suf� Knight also requires White to do
fer for having their Kings out of ac� something about the Rooks, and he
tion. chose 29. Rxb7 Rxb7 30. Rxb7
Qxb7 3 1 . Qc 1 . But his cause was
hopeless, and he resigned after 3 1 . ••
Nxe4 32. Ne3 hxg3 33. hxg3 Nxg3

34. K£2 Ne4t.
For the sake of illustration, let us
consider an alternate try for White at
the 3 1 st move: 3 1 . Ne3 Nxe4 32 .
Qe I giving us . . .
,
181
.§. . . the position below. Now what

. .§. This position has something in
for Black? common with the last, as you will
see. What should Black do?
6,24. Variation, Black's 32nd
move. 6, 25. Podgomy-Pachman, Czech.
Ch., 1 954, at Black's 1 6th
6-24 move.
B
6-25
B
AN SWER
While White is protecting both
c3 and g3 , nothing is watching the ANSWER
b,file. Black invades with 3 2 Qh2,
•.• White has doubled Rooks on the
and White is helpless. If now 33. d,file, but Black has a well,placed
gxh4 , 33 . . . Nxc3 i s very strong, Knight on eS plus the better pawn
while 33 . Ndl Bxdl 34 . Bxdl hxg3 structure. White threatens to win the
35 . hxg3 Qxa2 also leaves White Knight with 1 7. f4 , so Black must
strangling. Do note that the "safe" handle this threat properly. The
32 . . . h3? would let White cover the choice is between keeping the
invasion point with 33. Qcl . Knight in place or providing some,
where to go. Once you realize that
one of the Knight's functions in this
position is to keep enemy Rooks out
of d7, the answer should be clear.
Pachman chose 16... g5 in prefer,
ence to 1 6 . . . Bh6, for the Bishop is
more useful on the long diagonal and
the tempo gain is not important. Let,
ting the Knight get kicked around is
not so good, even in the variation
1 6 . . . b5 1 7. f4 Nc4 1 8 . Bxc4 bxc4 1 9 .
Rd7.
1 82
Piece and Harmony---6
.§. Before going further, let's make All right, here is another easy
.§.
sure of something with this simple decision, White to play.
position. What move should White
make ? And this time, decide on a 6, 2 7. Botvinnik-Boleslavsky,
move for Black to play also. U.S.S.R. Ch., 1 945, at
White's 24th move.
6,26. Couto-Ault, 1 983, White
to play. (Also choose for 6-27
Black to play. )
w
6-26
W/B
AN S WER
Obviously White will recapture
the Rook on d2, and the clear choice
AN S WER is 24. Qxd2. Only this allows White
In this casual game at my college, to control the d,file ( if 24. Rxd2 ,
my opponent had been playing well 24 Rd.B) and then use this control
. . . ,
until this point. I had finally man, to penetrate into Black's position
aged to grab a pawn at the cost of and attack targets before Black can
reaching this position, where White neutralize the file. As a result, White
has an active Rook on the only open had a clear advantage and went on
file. But he failed to make use of this to win the game.
asset by playing 1 . Rd7 ("Rook to the
7th ! ") , where it attacks pawns left and
right, tying me to passive defense. The
general wisdom is that "a Rook on the
7th is worth a pawn" in such endings,
so White can reasonably hope for a
draw despite his pawn minus.

However, my inexperienced op,
ponent actually chose the passive 1 .
c4, allowing me to play 1 . Ke7 with
. •
a sigh of relief and a little lecture to

him. The King move keeps out the
Rook and allows Black to oppose
Rooks on the d,file, with a clear plus.
With Black to move in the original
position, this same 1 . Ke7 would be
..
the choice.
1 83
� Perhaps you'll find this one as � In this position White clearly has
easy. What should Black do? the advantage. How does he capital,
ize?
6,28. Feuerstein-Ault, NJ 1 983,
at Black's 25th move. 6,29. Kortchnoi-Shtem, Toronto,
6-28
B 6-29
w
AN SWER
There are distractions in the AN SWER
form of White's vulnerable pawn at White should not grab at 24 .
h4 (but that can wait, for it's fixed in Bxd7? Bxd7 25 . Qxc7 Bxb5 26. Qxe7
place and not easily defended) and Nxd5 , with unclear complications
White 's potential attack on the not when he has such a good clear
pawn at g6 (but that's defendable, line. The key is simply to invade on
both directly and indirectly). What the a,file. Kortchnoi played 24. Ral
really matters is control of the c,file. Bb7 (forced, to save the Queen) 25.
White's Rooks are in position to Ra7 Bxc6 (forced again) 26. dxc6
double on the file and get control; Ne5 27. Nxe5 dxe5 28. Bxe5, and
e.g., 25 . . . Bf6 26 . Rcl Rac8 27. R2c2 Black was sinking fast.
Rxc2 28. Rxc2 Rf7 and White has
compensation for the pawn about to
be lost.
Thus I played 25 ... Rac8, and
after 26. a4 Bf6 27. Rlgl Bxh4
collected the pawn while controlling
the c,file myself. With the last move
I was not stopping to defend the
pawn at g6 directly, relying on 28 .
Rxg6? a5 29 . Na2 Bf2 30. R l g2
Bxe3 , shredding White's position
faster than he can retaliate.
1 84
Piece and Hannony-6
.§ While White has a little more � How should Black proceed here ?
space here, the outcome depends
more on what happens on the c�file. 6� 3 1 . Heath-Ruderman, NJ 1 986 ,
Plan White's next two moves. at Black's 2 7th move.
6�30. Pachman-Kuzelka, Prague, 6-3 1

1 942, at White's 1 9th move.
B
6-30
w
A N S WER
In this game between two club
players, Black was oblivious to the
AN SWER implications of the open b�file and
White took control by 19. Rfcl played 2 7 Bf8? That allowed
• • •
Rxc2 20. Qxc2, ready to invade at White to clear the file and invade by
c7. The Queen in front works fine, 28. Bxd5 exd5 29. Qb7, bagging
and the attempt to get the Rook in the now�defenseless a ... pawn. Aware�
front by 20. Rxc2 QdB 2 1 . Qc 1 can ness of the danger should have led
be neutralized by 2 1 . . . Nb6 22 . Rc7 Black to find 27 . . . QbB . Now 2B .
ReB . BxdS Qxb1 t liquidates any threat on
the file, although White can create
complications with 2B . c6 ( e.g. ,
2B . . . BfB 29 . NbS NeB 30. Bc3
Nd6) .
1 85
� In this position, control of the a, � Things are different in this posi,

file is an obvious issue. Can you see tion-but you work it out for Black.
what to do for White?
6,33. Mattison-Nimzovich,
6,32. Karpov-Unzicker, Nice Carlsbad, 1 929, at Black's
Olympiad, 1 974, at White's 1 8th move.
24th move.
6-33
6-32 B
w
AN SWER
AN SWER There are no open files here, so
At the moment White is poorly why not open one? N imzovich did by
placed to fight for the a,file. Black is 1 8 a6! 19. bxa6 Rxa6, with irre,
. .•
ready to play 24 . . . Rxa2 25 . Qxa2 sistible pressure. This famous game

RaB 26. Qb2 Ra6 , taking control, continued 20. dxc5 bxc5 (keeping
and it is not clear how White can the d�file half�closed to White's
even break even in this struggle. But Rook) 2 1 . Ng2 Nd5 22. Rd3 Rfa8
you must look for a way. 23. e4 Ne5, and White resigned.
Karpov's solution was 24. Ba7 !,
setting up a screen behind which to
build up his forces. Critical to the
success of this idea is that Black's
pieces are unable to repel this Bishop
quickly. The game continued 24 ..•
Ne8 25. Bc2 Nc7 26. Real , with

White well on the way to gaining
control.
1 86
Piece and Harmony-6
a Here material is about even, so .§ . . . why don't you take it from

how does White help his Rooks? here for White ?
6,34. Beliavsky-W. Watson, 6,3 5 . Beliavsky-W. Watson,

London, 1 985 , at White's London, 1 985, at White's
29th move. 34th move.
6-34
w
AN SWER ANSWER
White wants open lines for his White's task is to dispose of the
Rooks, so he played 29. £4! After pesky f,pawn efficiently, and he gave
29... ex£4 30. Re7 Rc6 3 1 . Rh l Black no chance by playing 34.
White quickly regained his pawn, Rhg7t Kh8 35. Rg£7 (threatening
with his Rooks in a dominating posi, mate) ReS 36. Rx£2. Now Black is
tion. Black tried to make trouble the clear exchange down with no
w i t h h i s f, p a w n , b u t W h i t e real play, so he resigned.
squelched that too: 3 1 . .. Nd5 32.
Rxa7 £3 33. Rhxh7 £2, coming
close, but . . .
Look over 6 34 and 6 3 5

... ...
again. This is tactical

technique at its best!
187
� If you followed White's winning .§ Now play for Black here.

technique in the last position, you
can handle this one . Move for 6, 3 7 . Chekhover-Pirc, Moscow,
White. 1 935, at Black's 3 7th move.
6,36. Christiansen-Kudrin, U.S. 6-37

Ch., 1 98 1 , at White's 40th
move.
B
6-36
w
ANSWER
Again the idea is to use the
( Black's) 7th rank, which Black did
by 3 7 ... Rc2. Clearly 38 . Qxd2
AN S WER R8xd2 is unappetizing for White, so
Although two pawns up for the he tried 38. Kfl . Black then pro,
moment, White could easily dissi, duced a cruncher: 38 Qd3 ! Since
.•.
pate his winning chances with sloppy 39. Qxd3 Rxf7 is mate, White re,
play like 40. Ra7? ("better defend the signed.
pawn") Rbxa3 4 1 . Rxa3 ("trading
down") Rxa3 42 . RdB t ( "always
check, it might be mate") Kh7 with a
draw in sight. So White played ener,
getically: 40. R lc7, setting up the
dreaded doubled Rooks on the 7th.
Black tried 40... Rb 1 t 4 1 . Kh2
Rxa3 42. Rxg7t K£8 43. Rgd7, and
then gave up a hopeless cause.
1 88
Piece and Hannony-6
� Here is another chance to use � This time White looks in good

Queen and Rook, White to play. shape, but how would you proceed ?
6�38. Smyslov-Denker, U.S.S.R.� 6� 39. Botvinnik-Reshevsky, World

U.S.A. Match, 1 946, at Ch. Tm., 1 948, at White's
White's 3 7th move. 34th move.
6-39
w
AN SWER AN SWER
White's advantage is based on White can simply win a pawn by
his better�placed pieces more than 34 . cxb5 , but there's much better.
on his extra pawn. Here it is the 8th Botvinnik played 34. B£5 !, forcing
rank that is vulnerable. Smyslov 34 ... Ra8 (since 34 . . . Rxc4? loses a
played 37. Rd8 Rg7 38. Qe8 g5 39. piece to 35 . ReBt) . Then after 35.
Qh8t Kg6 40. Rd6t Kf7 4 1 . ReSt Kh7 36. cxb5 White had his
Qxh6, winning a second pawn and extra pawn plus a helplessly immobi�
further exposing Black's King with� lized opponent. Also good was 36.
out allowing any counterplay. Note Bc7 directly since Black can't escape
that throughout the sequence Black the pin on the Knight. The game
had to scramble in terror with his concluded 36 ... f6 3 7. Bc7 Ne6 38.
King without having a chance him� Rxa8 Nxc7 39. Rxa7 Nxb5 40.
self to give a safe check. Rd 7 fxg5 4 1 . a4 and Black resigned.
1 89
� Now choose a move for Black in .§.

Here consider carefully, and
this position, but don't be hasty. choose a move for White.
6,40. Sokolov-Yusupov, 6,4 1 . Kasparov-Lutikov, Minsk,

Candidates' Match, game 3 , 1 978, at White's 1 7th move.
1 986, a t Black's 2 1st move.
6-41 ril��-�im
6-40 w
B
AN SWER
ANSWER You should notice Black is be,
Black is temporari ly a p iece hind in development and has a back,
down and needs to recover it, for ward e,pawn. This weakness should
which there is a little combination. be pressured along the e,file, so a
However, the obvious 2 1 . . . Rxdl t Rook to e 1 looks good. Meanwhile,
22 . Qxdl Qxe5 leaves White con, be aware of Black's potential for mis,
trolling both open files. I nstead chief with 1 7 . . . Qb4 . However, with
Black played 2 1 •••Qxe5, utilizing a Rook on e 1 this foray is meaning,
not only the "overworked" condi, less, for the Queen must stay in touch
tion of White's Queen but also the with e 7 to stop mate (so 1 8 . a3 forces
weakness of White's back rank (22 . 1 8 . . . Qd6) .
Qxe5 ? ? Rxd 1 t and mates next That leaves the question of
move) . which Rook. Grandmasters usually
The big difference is that Black pick the right Rook, while beginners
is maintaining some initiative and often choose the "wrong Rook."
not yielding file control. White Kasparov chose 1 7. Rae 1, leaving
shielded his loose Queen with 22. his other Rook at f1 to support the
Be3 , but Black moved his Knight likely prospect of opening the f,file
into a dominating position with by f4,f5 .
22 N£5 23. Q£3 Rxd1 t 24. Rxd 1
•••
Nd4 on the way to victory.
1 90
Piece and Hannony-6
REVIEW: To confirm your understanding, play for the world champions in these
four positions. White to move in (a) and (c), Black to move in the others.
6-42a
w
6-42c
w
AN SWERS
(a) Fischer-Spassky, World Ch. Match, game 10, 1 972. With only a slight material
advantage, White needs active Rooks to win; Fischer played 34. Rd7t K£6 35.
Rb7, placing his Rook actively on the 7th rank behind a passed pawn.
(b) Kmoch-Alekhine, Kecskemet, 1 92 7. Black's pieces are well,placed, but with no
immediate way to break through White's defenses; so Alekhine played 22 •••
b5 ! to block in White's Bishop. Rather than wait passively, White tried tactics:
23. Q£3 bxc4 24. Qxc6 Qxf4 25. Qxc4 e5 ! 26. Qe2 exd4 and Black is
winning.
(c) Kasparov-Butnoryus, Spartakaid, 1 979. White's Knight will love d6, so
Kasparov headed there with 1 9. N£5 ! ( 1 9 . Nb5 gets it there too, but Kasparov's
move gains time; if Black tries 1 9 exf5 , 20 . QxdS leaves Black in trouble
. . .
because of his poorly,placed Knight). After 1 9 Rae8 20. Nd6 Re7 2 1 . R£4
•••
White had a clear advantage.

(d) Stapfer-Capablanca, NY 1 9 1 3. Capablanca played 30 Rd2 3 1 . Nxg4 (unpal,
•••
arable but necessary) hxg4 32. Rgd 1 R8d8 33. Rxd2 Rxd2, and White has
avoided being mated but is still being throttled.
191
So far in this chapter we've been the better way: 68. NeSt K£8 69.
concentrating on getting your pieces Nxc7t Nxd8 70. Kc3, preserving
to good placements, and also keep, his b,pawn and his well,posted
ing your opponent's pieces from Knight on e5.
same. These include Rooks and
Queens on files and into the oppo.. .§. And can you wrap this one up for
nent's back ranks, Bis hops and White ?
sometimes Queens on open diago ..
nals, Knights on secure outposts in 6,44. Gheorghiu--Ginsburg, World

the middle of the action, and even Open, 1 979, at White's 29th
active Kings in endgames . move.
Another important aspect of us,
ing your pieces involves knowing
when and for what to exchange
them. We've already looked at some
of the principles involved, in earlier
chapters (especially Chs. 3 and 4),
and here we'll go further.
.§. First, let's make sure you can play

positions like the one below cor,
reedy. What do you play for White ?
6,43 . Capablanca-Yates, NY AN SWER

1 924, at White's 68th move. White's advantage lies in his ad,
vanced passed pawns, but these must
6-43 be made use of before they can be
w blockaded. White took care of that
by 29. Qd5 Qxd5 30. Nxd5. In
these two moves White has elimi,
nated a key piece in Black's defenses
(note the threat was 30. Qg8#) and
placed his Knight where it is attack,
ing a Rook and threatening to go to
b4. Now 30 . . . Rf8 3 1 . Nb4 Rc6 32.
Nxc6 Bxc6 33 . Nxf5 is hopeless, so
Black tried the desperate 30 ... Bh6.
AN SWER But White squashed this with 3 1 .
White can trade Knights or c6! and soon won (note 3 1 Bxc6
. . .
Rooks. Because of the Rook's greater 32. Rxc6 Rxc6 33 . d7 queens).

strength and potential for making
trouble, you generally want to get rid
of them in these sorts of positions.
The obvious way is 68 . Rd7t , but this
loses the b,pawn and with it any real
chances to win. Capablanca played
1 92
.§. Now consider this position care� � . can you see why Karpov would
. .
fully, White to play. have answered 3S . . . Qxc3 with 36.

Re3 Qb2 37. ReS and not with 36.
6A5. Karpov-Kuzmin, Leningrad ReS? directly? The latter would pro�
Interzonal, 1 973, at White's duce this position, with Black to
35th move. move.
6�46. Variation, Black's 36th move.
6-46
B
AN S WER
White has an extra pawn, which
may or may not be enough to win. He AN SWER
also has some possibilities of attack White is poised to mate Black's
against Black's King, but his own King, but Black need not cringe with
King is potentially insecure. What 36 . . . Qc8 in hopes White will slip
this adds up to is White might well and let him play Qh3 t . Instead he
. . .
trade Queens to an ending, but not completely turns the tables by 36 •••
in any old way. RhJt ! 37. KxhJ QxfJt 38. Kh2

The obvious 35 . Qe5 t Qxe5 36. Rh8t 3 9. Kgl Rh l #.
RxeS allows Black to set up a tough
defensive position on his 2nd rank by Even easily won games can be
36 . . . Rd7 37. Re7 R8d.B . Not settling turned into zero with one careless
for that, Karpov played 35. Qe7 !, move.
compelling the exchange on e 7 be�
cause of the deadly nature of Qf6t ( if
3S . . . Qxc3 this is not possible at
once, but 36. Re3 Qb2 37. ReS as�
sures it). After 35 Qxe7 36. Rxe7
•••
Rd3 37. Rc7 Black's game was hope�

less. The game concluded 3 7 Nb3•••
38. Kg4 R£8 39. R l e7, and Black

resigned in the face of 40. NeS . Oh,
by the way . . .
1 93
� Don't forget that last lesson. Now � Once again, make your move for
play for White here. White.
6A7. Alburt-lvanov, NY 6,48. Unzicker-Bobotsov,

(Kavkasian), 1 983, at Bamberg, 1 968, at White's
White's 28th move. 38th move.
6-47 6-48
w w
AN SWER AN SWER
White has a big lead in material, But don't exchange down mind,
but he must be careful of disasters lessly j ust because you're ahead. Here
like 28. Rb8 Rcl t 29. Rxcl Qxc l t White needs his Rook to help pro,
30 . Kf2?? Ng4t 3 1 . Kf3 NeSt . Even teet his King, so he played 38. Nd3
after 30. Bfl in this line, 30 . . . Ng4 is and soon converted his material ad,
unpleasant to handle. So why bother vantage to victory. On the other
with all this when you can liquidate hand, after 38. RxdBt BxdB the com,
for a measly pawn ? That's what b ination of Black's Queen and
Alburt did, by 28. Qa3 Qxa3 ( Black Bishop becomes quite menacing: 39.
can't run from the trade because of Nd3 Qfl t 40. Kh2 Bg5 , threatening
the attack on f8) 29. R8xa3 Rxe2 41 . . . Be3 ; nor is the Queen ending
30. Bf3, and Black soon resigned. after 39 . Qb8 Qe 1 t 40. Kh2 Qxc 1 41 .
QxdBt Kh7 any way to play for a win.
1 94
Piece and Hannony-6
.§ This time you don't have to worry .§ . this position. What now for
. .
about your King's safety, but find a White ?

good move for White.
6,50. Variation, White's 3 1 st
6,49. N ikolic-Razuvaev, N ovi move.
Sad, 1 982, at White's 29th
move. 6-50
w
6-49
w
AN S WER
Again, don't mindlessly trade.
ANSWER Obviously, here the extra pawn will
While White is a pawn up, it's be insignificant because it's doubled;
doubled, possibly vulnerable, and but what's worse is exchanging Bish,
not by itself sufficient to win. ops, because it loses: 3 1 . Bxe6? fxe6
Though immobilized at the moment, 32 . Kf2 Kd7 33 . Ke3 Kc6 , nabbing
Black's Knight can become active the b,pawn. The correct way for
and bothersome if White delays. White is to reapply his stranglehold
Black's Bishop, on the other hand, with 3 1 . Bd5 ! Since 3 1 . . . Bxd5 3 2 .
can be kept in a dismal state-espe, exd5 is clearly hopeless, Black must
cially if the Knights are removed. slink his Bishop back to c8 and wait
Accordingly White played 29. Nb3, for White to slowly strangle him.
forcing the exchange of Knights to a
won ending. After 29 Nxb3 ( if
..•
29 . . . Nc6 , 30. Bxc6 bxc6 3 1 . Nc5

wins at once) 30. Bxb3 Black tried
30 ••• £6 3 1 . exf6t Kx£6 32. K£2
(bringing the King up! ) , to no avail.
On the other hand, he could have
refrained from undoubting White's
pawns and instead brought out his
Bishop (30 . . . Be6) , creating . . .
195
� Now try this position, Black to .§ Now decide what to do for White
move. in this position.
6�5 1 . Rubinstein-Alekhine, 6�52. Fischer-Petrosian, Candi�

Dresden, 1 926, at Black's dates' Match, game 7, 197 1 ,
22nd move. at White's 22nd move.
6-52
w
AN S WER ANSWER
Black's advantage lies in his be� Fischer played 22. Nxd7t! Rxd7
ing able to attack White's King posi� 23. Rc 1 . The elimination of the
tion along the g�file. In relation to Bishop by the Knight clears the way
this theme, Black's Bishop is doing for further inroads into Black's posi�
nothing while White's Bishop is de� tion, as can be seen in the follow�up.
fending the critical g2 square. So White threatens 24 . Rc6 , and when
Alekhine traded them off by 22 ••• Black stopped that by 23... Rd6
Ba6. The game continued 23. Rf2 Fischer went to the 7th rank instead:
Qg3 24. Rc2 Bxfl 25. Rxf l , and 24. Rc7, with advantage to White.
Black's attack has become dangerous. An additional point concerns
In this case, the exchanging of a the exchange of Knight for Bishop;
particular piece was designed to re� while in many positions that is rea�
move a key defender to facilitate an son enough to trade, here the Bishop
attack against the King, a theme seems feeble in relation to the
we'll look at further in the following strongly�placed Knight. However,
chapter. Black can relocate the Bishop to b5,
where it becomes a very useful de�
fender or will be exchanged under
more favorable circumstances.
By the way, while a Rook and
pawn are approximately equal to
two minor pieces, you should have a
clear and good reason to give up the
two pieces. Here there is none: after
22 . Bxa6 Rxa6 23 . Nxa6 Rxa6 White
has two connected passed pawns, but
they are not going anywhere fast.
1 96
Piece and Hannony-6
� What should White do here? � Should White exchange Queens

here too ?
6,53 . Botvinnik-Bronstein, World
Ch. Match, game 1 5, 1 95 1 , 6,54. Keres-Fine, Ostend, 1 93 7 ,
at White's 18th move. a t White's 1 7th move.
AN SWER AN S WER
Against this sort of isolated This decision may not be so
pawn you want to exchange down to clear, so let's consider what's in,
a simplified ending, while the oppo, volved. White has two pawns in the
nent wants a more complex middle, center, more space, and the possibil,
game in which his generally freer ity of attacking Black's King, all of
pieces may prove superior. Accord, which suggest keeping Queens on
ingly Botvinnik played 1 8. Qxg6 the board. By contrast, trading re,
hxg6 (toward the center) 1 9. Rad l , lieves the cramp, removes any dan,
bringing pressure on the isolated d, ger to Black's King, and leaves Black
pawn. with the potential for a distant
passed pawn.
Spec ifically, 1 7 . Qxc7 Rxc7
leaves White's e,pawn under attack,
obliging 1 8 . d5 (you wouldn't play
1 8 . e5? Nd5 after the last chapter,
right?) exd5 1 9 . exd5 Rd7, when the
d,pawn is dangerously ill. So Keres
played 1 7. Qh4, observing Black's
King position and maintaining the
guard on the e,pawn ( in middle,
games the two pieces usually out,
weigh a Rook and pawn, so 1 7 . . .
Nxe4? 1 8 . Rxe4 Bxe4 1 9 . Qxe4 is
fine with White) .
1 97
t! In this position White has to save t! Decide what White wants to ac,
his Knight. Where and why? complish in this position, and choose
your move.
6,5 5 . Ljubojevic-Karpov,
European Team Ch., 1977, at 6,56. Lublinsky-Botvinnik,
White's 1 8th move. Moscow Ch., 1 943 , at
White's 2 1 st move.
6-56
w
AN SWER
S i n c e W h i t e 's p o s i t i o n is ANSWER
cramped, exchanges provide relief The most immediate feature in
(fewer pieces to be cramped). Mov, this double,edged position is the pos,
ing the Knight will lead to an ex; sible transfer of Black's Knight from a
change of Rooks, but where is the good square at f4 to a much better
Knight's future? Wouldn't you rather one at d4, where it will dominate the
exchange it too? That's why White center and screen Black's weak pawn
played 1 8. Ne4!, making use of a at cS. Exchanging it off with 2 1 . Bxf4
discovered attack and a zwischenzug. exf4 is undesirable (leaves Black with
The game continued 1 8 Rxc 1 1 9.
.•. two Bishops against two Knights in a
Nxf6t Bxf6 20. Qxc 1 Qd5 2 1 . position where White's Knights lack
Qb 1 (avoiding pawn weaknesses) , good postings) , and 2 1 Nxf4?? sim;
.
with White still cramped but re, ply loses a piece.

lieved by the two exchanges. White's solution was 2 1 . Qd2!
This threatens 22 . Nxf4 exf4 23 .
Bxf4 , winning a pawn, and 2 1 . Ne6
. .
allows 22 . QxaS . Also, supporting

the Knight won't work, for 2 1 gS
. . .
allows 22 . Bxf4 gxf4 23 . NfS fol,

lowed by 24 . Qxa5 , and using the
Queen (2 1 . . . Qf6 or 2 1 . . Qg5) a},
.
lows 22 . Nxc5 . The whole point is

Black is pretty much obliged to ex;
change by 2 1 . Nxd3 22. Qxd3,
•.
which clearly helps White. By way of

illustration, consider . . .
1 98
Piece and Harmony-6
� the position below, reached a

. . . � Now decide on White's move in
few moves later (after 22 RedS 23.
.•• this position.
Ne2 c6 24. Nc3 Bc7 25. Qc2).
Notice the pawn o n cS is attacked by 6,58. Reshevsky-Kogan, U.S.
White's Bishop and defended by Ch., 1 981 , at White's 27th
Black's Queen, but White is now in move.
position to double and triple up on it
by Qf2 and Na4 . Now switch to 6-58
Black, and decide what to do about
w
it.
6,5 7. Lublinsky-Botvinnik,
Moscow Ch., 1 943, at Black's
25th move.
6-57
B
AN S WER
White has a small material ad,
van tage ( Rook for Knight and
pawn), so trading down is a general
objective. More specifically, as men,
tioned in connection with the previ,
ous position, it is almost always use,
ful for the exchange,up player to
AN SWER trade off the opponent's remaining
Rather than lose the pawn, Rook. So Reshevsky p layed 2 7 .
Botvinnik played 25 Rd4!, giving
••• Ra5 !, forcing the exchange 2 7 •••
up the exchange instead. While this Rxa5 28. Bxa5 and winning even,
choice cannot be j ustified numeri, tually. That White is trading what at
cally, there are good reasons in this the moment is an active for a passive
position. Botvinnik mentions the Rook is insignificant here. What
lack of open files (which would favor does matter is the possible trouble
Rooks ) , B lack's chances for a Black's Rook could cause if it got
Kingside attack, and Black's retain, loose, especially in view of White's
ing one Rook to use in combination ventilated King position.
with his Bishops. This last reason is
why Black must plant his sacrificial
Rook at once; otherwise, White can
advantageously exchange a pair of
Rooks. Although clearly a case of
making a virtue of necessity, Black
eventually won this game.
1 99
.§. In this position material is even, .§. This time, decide what you want
with Black to move. Make your pick. to accomplish for Black, and then
choose your first move and how
6�59. Benjamin-Alburt, U.S. you're going to follow it up.
Ch., 1 98 1 , at Black's 23rd
move. 6�60. Kortchnoi-Chekhover,
Leningrad Ch., 19 5 5 , at
6-59 Black's 3 2nd move.
B
6-60
B
AN SWER
In view of his own loose Rook,
Black can't win anything (23 . . . Rxal AN SWER
24 . Bxal ) , but elected to make an While Black is fine in a material
advantageous trade by 23 R5xc5.
•.. sense, his position is precarious. The
After 24. dxc5 Bxb2 25. Ra6 Rxa6 big danger is that White is ready to
26. Qxa6 Nxc5 material was ap� force the exchange of Rooks by 33.
proximately even, but Black was on ReB . If that happens, Black's d�pawn
his way to a 39�move victory. This can be stopped by White's King and
time Black didn't mind the further Black's a� and b�pawns will become
exchange of Rooks (by 25 . . . Rxa6 easy prey to White's Rook.
rather than 25 . RxcS) because he The first move is easy to find,
gets his Knight into play quickly, and which Black did: 32 B£5 , covering
•••
his Bishops working together already c8. In your planning you should have
generate a lot of power. These fac� foreseen the Bishop can be chased by
tors, plus Black's strong pawn center, 33 . g4 and found how to redeploy
give him a clear advantage. safely. That can be done by 33 . . . Be6
34. Rcl (necessary to stop the d�
pawn; if 34 . R4c6 , 34 . d3 mandates
. .
this retreat) b5 ! 35 . Kf2 Bc4 with

advantage to Black. In the game,
however, Black went wrong by an�
swering 33. g4 d3?, for then 34. Rc l
Be6 35. R7c3 ! cost Black the d�
pawn and the game. The fatal differ�
ence is that after 35 . . . b5 36. Rdl Bc4
White can chase the Bishop away by
37. b3 .
200
Piece and Harmony-6
� Likewise in this position, decide � Here, it is Black to move. What

what you want to accomplish for should he do ?
White to move.
6,62. Tolush-Botvinnik, U.S.S.R.
6,6 1 . Spassky-Fischer, World Ch. Ch., 1 945, at Black's 2 1 st
Match, game 1 3 , 1 972, at move.
White's 38th move.
6-62
6-61 B
w
AN SWER
ANSWER Here, too, Black's extra pawn is
Although White is a pawn largely negated by the opposite,col,
down, his position is very difficult to ored Bishop controlling the dark
crack because of the opposite,col, squares. Aiming to win, Botvinnik
ored Bishops and his control over played 2 1 ... Rxd6 22. exd6 Bc6 and
the dark squares. Fischer in fact had succeeded. The effect of this ex,
just played his Rook from e8 to h8, change "sacrifice" is small in a mate,
in part hoping White would "win" rial sense ( Black will eventually get
material by 38. BxhB RxhB , for then the stranded d,pawn and have two
Black will pick up the d,pawn and be pawns and a Knight for a Rook ) , but
able to use his two extra pawns with it helps Black's position greatly. The
his Bishop to win fairly easily. disappearance of White's strong
Spassky, however, refused the Bishop leaves him unable to offer ef,
bait and played 38. B£6!, leading to a fective resistance to Black's gradual
long and difficult ending that Fischer advance of his Queenside pawns.
finally managed to win. (See posi, Another aspect is that White lacks
tion ) , 1 6. ) The point here is that open files on which to use his Rooks.
White's Bishop is more valuable than
Black's Rook.
201
� What should Black do here? � The most common exchanging

situations involve the minor pieces,
6�63 . Flohr-Botvinnik, Match, to which we now return for further
game 1 0, 1 933 , at Black's study. Here, White clearly has to do
26th move. something about his Bishop. What is
your choice?
6-63
6�64. Botvinnik-Alekhine,
B AY.R.O., 1 938, at White's
1 7th move.
6-64
w
AN SWER
Your first thought, reasonably,
may well be to retreat your threat,
ened Queen. But don't move auto,
matically-at least make sure there is
no plausible alternative. In this posi, AN SWER
tion there is one: 26 hxg3 ! After
••• The choice should be clear to
27. Bxg4 gx£2t (zwischenzug) 28. trade, for Black's Bishop is a little
Kg2 (if 28. Kxf2 Nxg4t 29 . Kg2 ReB "better" in terms of the pawn struc,
collects the e3 pawn) Nxg4 Black ture and it's on an excellent diago�
emerges with a Rook, Bishop, and nal. Furthermore, with 1 7. Bxd6
Knight for the Queen-a clear Qxd6 18. Rae 1 Botvinnik used the
advantage. That's what Botvinnik gain in time to take over the c,file to
played, and after 29. h3 N£6 30. his advantage. Now Black has prob�
Kx£2 Ne4t White realized how bad lems completing his development.
things were and resigned ( if 3 1 . Kg2 Alekhine tried 1 8 Ra7, creating
•••
Bxh3 t, etc.).
202
Piece and Harmony-6
� the position below. What .§ Now back to exchanging. What

next? should White do here ?
6,65 . Botvinnik-Alekhine, 6,66. Sokolov-Vaganian,

A.V.R.O., 1 938, at White's Candidates' Match, game 2 ,
1 9th move. 1 986, at White's 22nd move.
6-65 6-66
w w
ANSWER AN SWER
The issue now is control of the c, White's Bishop is better than
file. Black wants to play . Rc7, so
. . Black's, so exchanging it is no bar,
Botvinnik tightened his grip by 1 9. gain, and the game is about equal
Qc2! Alekhine tried 1 9 Re7, but
.•• after 22 . Bxb5 Nxb5 23 . Kf2 Na7
20. Rxe7 Qxe7 2 1 . Qc7 Qxc7 22. (heading for c6) . Therefore White
Rxc7 left Black in what Botvinnik played 22. Bb l , only a temporary
called "a quite joyless endgame." retreat, as Black also must retreat. He
chose 22 Nc6, and after 23. Bc2
•••
R4a8 24. a4 Ba6 25. b4 b5 26.

Reb l Black was in trouble.
203
§. The next position is later in a t! What does White do about the

game seen previously (6, 1 9) . What Bishops in this position ?
should White do now?
6,68. Karpov-Ljubojevic, Bugojno,
6,67. Karpov-Andersson, World 1 986, at White's 1 9th move.
Junior Ch., 1 969, at White's
42nd move. 6-68
w
6-67
w
AN SWER
White's Bishop at g2 exerts great
ANSWER influence on the long diagonal, and
The b l o c ked p a w n s m a k e Black has moved his to h3 to effect
White's dark,squared Bishop better an exchange. This is a typical sort of
than his light,squared one, and vice position in which it pays to preserve
versa for Black's Bishops. So Karpov the powerful Bishop. Karpov played
played 42. Bg4, forcing an advanta, 19. Bh 1 , and after 1 9 ... Rab8 20.
geous exchange. Further, after 42 ... Nd5 ! c6 2 1 . Nb6 Qc7 22. Na4 had
N g5 4 3 . Bxd7 Qxd7 44. N £ 1 the better game and eventually won.
White's Knight was headed for fS,
already exploiting the absence of
Black's light,squared Bishop.
204
Piece and Hannony-6
!! Now decide what to play for � Here again Black has a well,
White in this position. posted Bishop. What should White
do about it?
6,69. Lein-Donner, Amsterdam,
1 979, at White's 25th move. 6, 70. Kogan-Browne, U.S. Ch.,
1 986, at White's 2 1st move.
6-69
w 6-70
w
ANSWER
Black's Bishop on g7 controls the AN S WER
long diagonal, but White need not This time the simple Bishop
go through any long,winded maneu, trade is best, 2 1 . Bg2 . While White
ver to oppose it and trade it off. In, might like to keep this Bishop to
stead, White simply sealed it in with help protect his King position, that
25. £6 B£8 26. Bb2. is not very realistic considering the
Black Bishop's dominant posting on
c6 compared with White's on h3 .
More broadly, White's position cries
out for hitting the center, by e4 , con,
trol of which White is wrestling
away from Black. After 2 1 . Bg2
Bxg2 22. Kxg2 Qb6 23. b3 Qc6t
White successfully played 24. e4!,
not greatly bothered by the pin. The
game continued 24 fxe4 2 5 .
• • •
Nxe4 Rd8 26. N£3 (relieving the

pin and returning the Knight to cen,
tral action) Nxe4 2 7. Rxe4 with
advantage to White.
205
� Now decide on your move for � What should White do here?

White in this position.
6, 72. Unzicker-Neikirch, Leipzig
6, 7 1 . Kasparov-Georgadze, Olympiad, 1 960, at White's
U.S.S.R. Ch., 1 979, at 24th move.
White's 1 7th move.
6-72
6-71 w
w
AN SWER
AN S WER The pawn s tructure makes
Here it's another case of trading White's Bishop good and Black's bad,
bad for good Bishops. Kasparov but other aspects of the position
played 1 7. Ba4! a6 1 8. Bxd7 Nxd7 make it useful for White to trade.
on his way to a 40,move win. White controls the c,file and has a
protected passed pawn at dS. Black's
Bishop is blockading the pawn and
covering a key entry square at c7.
And while Wh ite's Bishop has
sweeping views to a 7 and h6, it
doesn't help White do anything con,
structive. So White played 24. Bc5 !
After 24 £5 25. £3 fxe4 (note how
•••
Black, feeling pressed, opens the f,

file looking for some counterplay)
26. fxe4 R£7 2 7. Bxd6 Qxd6 28.
ReS! White's advantage was clear.
206
Piece and Harmony-6
� This position is later in a game t! Which is better, the Bishop or the

seen recently ( 6,68 ) . Since our last Knight, cannot be answered simply.
look White has won a pawn, but On the table of values, both are
Black has liquidated the Queenside worth three points; but proponents
pawns. Decide what to do for White of the Bishop recommend adding a
next. small amount to the Bishop's value.
The problem is that the relative val
6, 73. Karpov-Ljubojevic, Bugojno, ues of these pieces, especially of the
1 986, at White's 35th move. Bishop, fluctuate depending on the
position. That is, sometimes the
6-73 Bishop and Knight are about equal,
but in some positions a Knight is bet,
w
ter than a Bishop, while in others
(perhaps more) a Bishop is better
than a Knight. The trick is distin,
guishing the types of positions. Let us
look at some examples. Here decide
on Black's first and next moves.
6, 7 4. Steiner-Botvinnik,
Groningen, 1946, at Black's
ANSWER 14th move.
The question is whether to trade
or retreat the Bishop at a3 . If you 6-74
think only of the principle of trading B
pieces when ahead, you might go
ahead and play 35. Bxf8 or perhaps
35 . Qb3 . However, there are some
other, more subtle, factors that tip
the scales the other way, and Karpov
played 35. Bb2 Bg7 36. Qb3.
First of all, as played, the Bishops
are placed so that White's is attack,
ing and Black's is defending the pawn
on eS. In addition, White has pre, AN S WER
served his pair of Bishops, which usu, White's Bishop is strongly placed
ally constitute an advantage over a at eS, so it should be an easy decision
Bishop and Knight or two Knights. to exchange a Knight for it: 14 Nxe5
•••
Finally, the trade would leave White 15. dxe5. Next Botvinnik played
with a Bishop against a Knight in a 15 £4! with an advantage, for this
•••
position with the pawns on one side move prevents White from support,
of the board, which tends to favor ing his now,doubled pawn at eS by
the short-stepping Knight. playing f4 himself, discourages 16. e4
because 1 6 . f3 would entomb White's
. .
remaining Bishop, and expands

Black's influence on the Kingside.
207
.§. Here Black must make a capture. .§. Then what should White do in
this position?
6� 7 5 . Seirawan-Fedorowicz, U.S.
Open, 1 983, at Black's 32nd 6� 76. Fedorowicz-Smyslov,
move. Dortmund, 1 986, at White's
1 6th move.
6-75
B 6-76
w
AN SWER
Black has only two viable moves, AN SWER
for his cornered Bishop must be A quick glance indicates two
traded for either Knight or Bishop. possible captures ( . . . Nxd3 and
Since Black should want to play for a B xf6) Neither of these captures con�
.
win with his extra pawn, the choice fers any obvious benefit to White, so
is clear. After 32 . . . Bxb5? 33 . cxb5 he should prevent the former and
the opposite�colored Bishops pre� refrain from the latter. Accordingly
elude any real winning chances. So White played 16. Bb l , leaving this
Black played 32 Bxc2 33. Kxc2
••• Bishop aimed at Black's Kingside
K£7 (bringing up the King) and won while the Knight at b4 is really doing
the ending against the Knight. little. White's advantage is already
apparent, and he went on to win in
3 1 moves.
In general, you should trade a
Bishop for a Knight only with some
clear reason.
In this position you could play
Bbl on general principles, even with�
out the further j udgment that the
Bishop will be much more useful on
the b 1 �h 7 diagonal than Black's
Knight languishing at b4. As for the
opposite exchange, trading a Knight
for a Bishop is often reason enough
on general principles , and you
should do it unless you have some
reason not to.
208
Piece and Harmony-6
t! Here Black must decide what to t! Now choose a move for White in
do with his Bishop. What? this position.
6, 7 7 . Wilder-Kortchnoi, Toronto, 6, 78. Karpov-Spassky, Candidates'

1 985 , at Black's 1 4th move. Match, game 9, 1 974, at
White's 1 8th move.
6-78
w
AN SWER
As the general principles just dis, AN SWER
cussed would suggest, Kortchnoi Karpov played 1 8. h3, prevent,
chose to retreat with 1 4 Be7
• • • ing 1 8 . . . Ng4 which would force
rather than exchange his Bishop for a White to give up a Bishop for the
Knight. While the retreat involves a Kn ight and ( in Karpov's words)
loss of time, and Black has not com, "naturally . . . cannot be allowed."
pleted his development, Kortchnoi
had to judge that (a) White could
not do anything important in the
next couple of moves to exploit his
slight lead in development, and (b) it
might be worth preserving the two
Bishops for later use. This last factor
is both a long,range (though reason,
able) hope, for the Bishop team pres,
ently exerts little influence, and also
a declaration of winning intentions,
for the exchange 1 4 . . . Bxd2 both
simplifies and leaves opposite,col,
ored Bishops (increasing the chances
of a later draw).
209
� Then what about this position, � Here the situation for White to
White to move ? play is somewhat different. Make
your choice.
6, 79. Kasparov-Butnoryus,
Spartakiad, 1 979, at White's 6,80. Capablanca-Janowski, NY
1 5 th move. 1 924, at White's 27th move.
6-79 6-80
w w
AN SWER AN SWER
This time heed Kasparov: "the Black would be happy to trade
two Bishops must be retained." He Bishops, but Capablanca played 2 7.
played 15. Bel , making an awkward Nd5, forcing 27 ... Bxd5 28. Qxd5.
but temporary retreat to keep his The elimination of the Bishop for
Bishop pair. (Look back to position the Knight leaves White's Bishop at
6--42c for confirmation of White's g2 dominating the long diagonal, to
plan. ) Black's serious discomfort.
2 10
Piece and Harmony-6
t! In this position White has just g This time White is trying to capi,
lost a pawn. Has he any recourse ? talize on his extra pawn. How should
he proceed?
6,8 1 . Stoltz-Szabo, Saltsjobaden
Interzonal, 1 948, at White's 6,82. Benko-Szilagyi, Hungarian
2 1 st move. Ch., 1 946, at White's 3 7th
move.
AN SWER
Black's Bishop is far afield, a AN S WER
condition White exploited by 2 1 . Don't get used to routinely pre,
Nc3, blocking its retreat. Black ferring Bishops to Knights, for there
wriggled with 2 1 . Bb2 and White
•• are plenty of positions where Knights
insisted with 22. Rb l , so Black felt are equal or better. But do ask, is
obliged to exchange by 22 Bxc3
••• there a clear reason to trade Bishop
23 . Bxc3 ( the alternative 22 . . . for Knight? Here there is. By playing
Qxb4! ? looks risky, but Black can 3 7. Bx£6 Kxf6 White reduced the
reach an unpalatable ending still a ending to a good versus bad Bishop.
pawn up after 23 . NbS! Qc5 t 24 . More specifically, after 38. g5t Kf7
Be3 d4 25 . Nxd4 Bxd4 26 . Qxd4 39. Kf4 White wins easily, for Black
Qxd4 27. Bxd4 a6 28 . Rb7) . is simply unable to defend his posi,
After the exchange, White's tion. (Try it and see, if you're inter,
Bishop on the long diagonal along ested, with the white King going to
with Black's weakened King position eS, or even b4. )
(versus the limited scope of Black's
Knight) give White real compensa,
tion for his pawn, and he was able to
draw the game.
21 1
� What should Black do in this � If Black taking a Knight with his

position ? Bishop was fairly obvious in the last
position, what about here ?
6,83. Karpov-Kasparov, World
Ch. Match, game 1 3 , 1987, 6,84. Bronstein-Petrosian,
at Black's 28th move. Amsterdam, 1 956, at Black's
1 7th move.
6-83·�
B �
� 6-84
B
AN S WER
If White's Knight gets to fS ANSWER
Black's King will be in trouble, so It is true the Bishop on g7 seems
Black should be glad to be able to to be Black's best minor piece, and
exchange his Bishop for it. Kasparov many players would not even con,
played 28 Bxd4 29. Rxd4 Rh8
.•• sider parting with it. But Petrosian
with a slightly better position, al, did, and played 1 7 Bxc3 1 8. bxc3
.••
though the game ended in a draw. N£6. In the resulting position the
White's passed pawn, though ad, doubled pawns, while defensible,
vanced, is securely blockaded and deny White any serious offensive ac,
could become vulnerable, his Bishop tion on the Queenside. Meanwhile,
is immobilized, and Black's Rooks the Bishop's absence is no great
are on the only open files. problem for Black because White
cannot get his dark,squared Bishop
onto the long diagonal to exploit it.
For his part Black has no serious of,
fensive possibilities anyway, so the
effect is to reduce White's potential,
and the result was a draw at Move
29 .
212
Piece and Harmony-6
� How about it for Black in this � Now decide what to do for White
position? in this position.
6�85 . Miles-Gulko, World Open, 6�86. Averbakh-Lilienthal,

1 987, at Black's 22nd move. Moscow, 1 949, at White's
3 1st move.
6-85
B
ANSWER
H e r e , t o o , Bl ack took the AN SWER
Knight, but with an offensive rather It is specifically the presence of
than a defensive purpose. After 22 •.. White's Knight, well�placed at d4,
Bxd5 23. exd5 Rc5 Black had artifi� versus Black's rather bad Bishop that
dally isolated White's d�pawn ( that gives White an advantage in this po�
is, while White has a c�pawn for po� sition. Thus 3 1 . Nxe6? Kxe6 would
tential support, it is cut off from that be a serious positional mistake.
duty for some time to come) and was White actually played 3 1 . Re2 B£7
bringing it under attack. Of course in 32. £4, keeping Black in his grip.
the process Black left his e�pawn His first move drives back the
backward on an open file, but he Bishop and occupies the only open
correctly judged that this would be a file (White is happy to trade Rooks if
minor problem (for Black won in 48 Black should oppose) . His second
moves). move keeps the Bishop confined;
Black will not likely be so coopera�
tive as to play . . . f5 and seal in his
Bishop himself, but could well try
. . . g5 and . . . Bg6 . But now White an�
swers 32 . g5 with 33 . f5 .
. .
2 13
� In this position Black evidently !! Is the Knight here better than the
must move his Knight. If so, where Bishop? Move for Black.
and why?
6�88. Karpov-Azmayparashvili,
6�87. Spassky-Ptl.eger, Munich, U.S.S.R. Ch., 1 983, at
1 979, at Black's 1 2th move. Black's 28th move.
6-87 6-88
B B
AN SWER AN SWER
The desirable move is 1 2 . . . Yes it is, particularly because it
NdS , but Black does not have suffi� can get into the thick of the action
cient control to maintain a piece while the Bishop remains on the
there (of course Spassky knew that, sidelines. Black played 28 Nf5 29.
•••
and played 1 2 . c5 rather than rou� Kf2 Ne3 and went on to upset the
tinely castling) . If 1 2 . . . Nd5 1 3 . then�World Champion.
Bxd5 cxd5 , Black is left with an iso�
laced d �pawn plus his crippled
Kingside maj ority versus White's
healthy Queenside majority, and a
rather bad Bishop against White's
Knight. Consequently Black played
1 2 Nd7 , unappetizing but neces�
•..
sary. After 13. o..o he should have

defended with 1 3 . . . Rd8 followed by
1 4 . Qc2 Nf8 1 5 . Rfdl Be 6 fighting
,
to control d5. But when he chose to

work on the Queenside with 1 3 b6 •••
1 4. cxb6 axb6 15. Re1 Bh7 16.

Ng3 Rfe8, he got smashed-of
which more later.
214
Piece and Harmony-6
� How should White proceed here ? � Next, give this position some
thought and choose your move for
6�89. Fischer-Bolbochan, White.
Stockholm, 1 962, at White's
19th move. 6�90. Hort-Gligoric, Hastings,
6-89
w 6-90
w
AN SWER
Fischer e l im i n a t e d B l ack 's AN SWER
Knight by 1 9. Bxb6 Qxb6. The rea� Black's Knight at cS is well�
son is not simply that the Knight will placed for both offense (when Black
be annoy ing if it moves to c4 plays an eventual . . .f5 , the Knight
(whereas stopping that by 1 9 . b3 will help threaten the e4 square) and
would seriously weaken White's defense ( in blocking the Queens ide,
pawn cover for his King). More im, where White has more space) . White
portant is the positive benefit of the can exchange his Bishop for the
resu lt ing matc h � up of W h i t e 's Knight, but that's his good Bishop,
Knight against Black's locked�in and the exchange doesn't afford the
Bishop. After 20. Nd5 the Knight benefits Fischer got in the previous
dominates the board and can't be position. So if we don't like the
chased away, giving White ( in Knight there but don't want to give
Fischer's words) "a strategically won up our good Bishop for it, what else
game." can we do?
The next possibility is for White
to use his Knight against Black's
Knight. That will take some time,
and meanwhile Black will consoli�
date his Knight's position by protect�
ing it with a second pawn. Therefore
White played 20. b6! with a slight
advantage.
215
.§ The next two positions require a .§ And here work out your plan for
little more maneuvering. See what White.
you can do, for Black in this one.
6,92. Smyslov-Rudakovsky,
6,9 1 . Blumin-Fine, NY 1 939, at Moscow, 1 945, at White's
Black's 1 2th move. 1 5th move.
6-91 6-92
B w
ANSWER ANSWER
Black's best move is not so obvi, The idea here is the same as in
ous, unless you think about what the Fischer game recently seen ( 6,
pieces you'd like to have traded off. 89 ), except White has to go after the
First on Black's wish list would be the Knight. Smyslov played 15. Bg5,
l ight ,squared B ishops . So F ine protecting his pawn on e4 and pre,
played 1 2 Na7, preparing . Bb5 .
.•• . . paring to take the Knight. Black
With no practical way to prevent this played 1 5 ••• Rfe8, protecting the
( 1 3 . Qd3 QeB enforces it), White Bishop so as to be able to move the
played 13. Ne5 Bb5 and with 1 4. Knight ( 1 5 . . . Nd5 was playable, but
Bb2 allowed the exchange, since White can choose between 1 6 . Nxd5
avoiding it with 1 4 . Ba2 leaves him Bxg5 1 7. c3 , similar to the game con,
unable to castle on the Kingside. The tinuation, and 1 6 . Bxe7 Nxe7 1 7. f6 ,
game continued 1 4 • • • Bxc4 1 5 . breaking up Black's King position) .
Qxc4 Qd5 1 6. Qxd5 exd5 , and I n the game, after 1 5 . Bg5 ! Rfe8 ,
Black was into an ending where his Smyslov didn't let the Knight get
Knights can prance effectively while away and played 1 6. Bxf6 Bxf6.
White's Bishop is bad. Then he established the Knight's
dominance with 1 7. Nd5 Bd8 18.
c3, making use of the tactical protec,
tion of his c,pawn, for 1 7. . . Qxc2
loses the exchange to 1 8 . Rf2 QcS
1 9 . Rc1 Qd4 20. Nc7 with a fork.
2 16
REVIEW: By this point, you should be comfortable handling these positions. Black
to move in (c), White in all others.
6-93b
w
AN S WERS
(a) Alekhine-Euwe, London, 1 922. White clearly has an advantage, but the ques,
tion is how to proceed. He won't get far with the d,file, so Alekhine opened
another, more useful one with 25. aS Kc6 26. axb6 axb6 27. RaJ.
(b) Averbakh-Lilienthal, Moscow, 1949. White wants to keep the Bishop limited
in scope, so he played 30. cS ! Kd7 3 1 . Nd4, leading to a position seen earlier
(6,86).
(c) Fischer-Smyslov, Palma de Majorca, 1970. Smyslov played 23 QfS ! 24. •••
Qxf5 gxfS, exchanging off White's only active piece and leaving him ill,
equipped to ward off further attacks.
(d) Karpov-Polugaevsky, Candidates' Match, game 8, 1974. White has a slight
material advantage in this mixed,piece melee, so he simplified starting with
33. Bc7 ! Black escaped the immediate effects of this fork by 33 ReS ( if 33 .. .
•••
ReB , 34 . Qxa6! Rxc7 35 . QaBt wins), but then came 34. QxcS NxcS 35. Bxb8
Bxc3 36. bxc3 Nfxe4 37. c4 with a clearly won ending.
217
MORE REVIEW: Now see if you can handle these four. Black to move in (d),
White in all others.
6-94a 6-94b
w w
6-94c 6-94d
w B
AN SWERS
( a) Opocensky-lvkov, Rogaska,Slatina, 1 948. White must d o something with his
Bishop, and the choice should be clear. He played 1 6. Bd3 Rfd8 1 7. Bh 1 ,
aiming at Black's Kingside; exchanging it for a Knight would be a crime.
(b) Botvinnik-Levenfisch, Moscow, 1 93 5 . White has a clear advantage, but chose
what Botvinnik called "the simplest," forcing "an endgame which is hopeless
for Black." After 3 1 . Qg2 Qxg2t 32. Kxg2 Black lacks the resources to defend
his Queenside. The game proceeded 32 a4 33. Nxc5 Nxc5 34. Bxc5 Rc8
•••
35. B£2 Rxc4 36. Rfa l , and the a,pawn falls.

(c) Benjamin-Nikeloff, Pan,American Intercollegiate, 1 982. Although not as ob,
vious as the first position here too, White's Bishop is worth preserving. White
played 26. Bfl Rc8 27. h5, on his way to breaking into Black's King position
with the Bishop usefully employed.
(d) Karpov-Kuraj ica, Skopje, 1976. With the good idea af forcing White to block
in his Bishop, Black played 1 6 Be6 1 7. Qc3 Qd7 1 8. Rfe 1 Q£7 1 9. Qh2 h6
•.•
20. c5 b5. Through five moves Black pursued his objective consistently, and
emerged with the better game because his Bishop has become much better than
White's.
218
Piece and Harmony-6
STILL MORE REVIEW: Finally, finish off with these. White to move in (d), Black
in all others.
6-95c 6-95d
B w
AN S WERS
(a) Plaskett-Rohde, Marshall International, 1 979. Black has a choice, and natu,
rally chose to exchange his Knight for a Bishop with 1 5 Nxd3 1 6. cxd3 Bb7.
•..
(b) Weinstein-Bradford, Lone Pine, 1 979. This is a typical position where you must
safeguard a valuable Bishop (here, from Nb5) . Black played 1 2 ... a6 13. Bg5
0-0.
(c) Spassky-Fischer, World Ch. Match, game 1 7, 1972. Black has compensations
for his slight material deficit-a sound pawn structure, a well,placed Knight,
and an active Rook. But he must preserve this last asset and keep White's
Rooks from breaking into his position, and White threatens 30 . Rc2 . So
Fischer played 29 Nc6 30. Rc2 Re i 3 1 . Rfe2 Ra l , keeping his Rook while
.•.
the Knight blocks the c,file, and held the draw.

(d) Unzicker-Dankert, Munich, 1979. An ambush to end the chapter! Did you, like
White (an established Grandmaster), figure to get rid of Black's Knight by 30.
Nc3? A logical idea, but it fails to a tactical shot. Black replied 30 Qg3t! and
.••
White, partly out of shock, resigned. The Queen is immune (3 1 . Rxg3 ? hxg3 t
32. Khl Nf2#) , so Black wins the exchange after 3 1 . Khl Nf2t 32. Rxf2 Qxf2 .
Instead, White should have played moves like 30. Rf4 or 30 . b6 or 30. Ral with
a slight advantage.
2 19
The
Endangered
King
Through the last five chapters 7� 1 . Spielmann-Rubinstein,

we've been treating the King prima� 191 1 , at White's 37th move.
rily as one of the pieces-get it out of
the way in the middlegame, use it
actively in the endgame, resign
when your opponent's material supe�
riority is such that mate is inevitable,
etc. Indeed, many games fit this pat�
tern. However, the King is not sim�
ply one of the pieces, for its unavoid�
able capture ( i.e., checkmate) ends
the game regardless of any other
considerations. In many other games
the King's safety is an important
consideration, sometimes the deci� AN SWER
sive one. It is to this topic we now If White plays 37. Bxe7t Qxe7
tum. his attack fades with him still a piece
down, so he must look further. Since
§. In our first position White has the Rook on e 7 is pinned, g7 is vul�
sacrifi ced materi al going after nerable. Possible is 37. Qxg7t, but
Black's King. What now? after 3 7. . . Ke8 Black's King escapes
at the cost of a Rook (e.g., 38. QxgBt
Kd7 39 . Bxe7 Qxg8 40. RxgB Kxe7) ,
although White can still expect to
win the ending with his two extra
pawns.
But the best move, as White
played, is 3 7. Rxg7 ! and it wins right
away. In fact Black resigned here
rather than play through 3 7. . . Ke8
38 . Rxg8t Kd7 39. RxdB#. Such po�
sitions require finding the right se�
quence of moves, partly by calcula�
tion and partly by feel.
220
The Endangered King-7
PRACTICE: If you had any trouble with the last position, practice on these before
going on. Black to move in (c) , White in all others.
7-2b
w
7-2c
B
AN SWER S
(a) J. Polgar-Angelova, Women's Olympiad, 1988. The game's newest prodigy
ended things with 1 7. Qx£8t. Black resigned here in the face of 1 7 . . . Kxf8 1 8 .
Bh6t KgB 1 9 . ReB#.
(b) Hoi-Gulko, Thessaloniki Olympiad, 1988. White chalked up a sensational
upset with 3 1 . Qh7t. Black resigned because 3 1 . . . Nxh7 allows the "epau�
lette" mate 32. Rg6#.
(c) Gheorghiu-Kasparov, Thessaloniki Olympiad, 1988. Black's firepower is too
much-Kasparov played 35 ... Bxb2t 36. Qxb2 Qxb2t, and White resigned
in view of 37. Rxb2 Rxc l t 38 . Rbl Rxb1#.
( d ) Tal-Rantanen, Tallinn, 1979. Here a little more finesse is required, starting
with 28. Bh8! ! Since 28 . . . KxhB 29. Qxh7# is obvious, Black tried 28 Kx£7,
•••
but then came 29. Qx£6t Kg8 30. Qg7#.
221
;§. More pertinent for us in this .§ Now choose a continuation for

book is to go over some general prin� White in this position.
ciples of how to establish and exploit
positions where the opponent's King 7A. Fischer-Najdorf, Varna
is in danger, and also how to keep Olympiad, 1962, at White's
one's own King healthy. The posi, 1 6th move.
tion below illustrates one of these
basic principles. 7-4
7 ,J. Tchigorin-Steinitz, World

w
Ch. Match, 1892, at White's
1 6th move.
7-3
w
AN SWER
Although the exchange down,
White has an attack against Black's
King, which is still in the center
where it is more vulnerable than
tucked away in a comer. It is impor,
A N S WER tant to keep it there, and Fischer
White's Knight is under attack, played 16. Ng7t Ke7 (worse is 1 6 . . .
and where else but 16. Nd6t, chas, Kf8 1 7. Bh6) 1 7. Nf5t Ke8, bring,
ing Black's King? After 1 6 K£8 1 7.
••• ing us back to the original position
Ba3 Kg8 1 8. Rb 1 White had an except that Black has lost the right
attack to compensate for his being a to castle. Then Fischer completed
pawn down. his development with 1 8. Be3 and
Black's inability to castle pre, won quickly ( 1 8 Bxe3 19. fxe3
•••
vents him from readily coordinating Qb6 20. Rd 1 Ra 7 2 1 . Rd6! Qd8

his pieces, which makes him vulner, 22. Qb3 Qc7 23. Bxf7t Kd8 24.
.
able to attacks on his King position Be6 resigns, which deserves deeper
and elsewhere. In this game Steinitz, study than space permits) .
although noted for his defensive
powers, failed to withstand the pres,
sure, and White won in 3 1 moves.
222
Et White's move here should be ob, Et What can White accomplish in

vious, so select a follow,up as well. this position?
7,5, Seirawan---Gurevich, U.S. 7 '6. Geller-Sahovic, Novi Sad,

Ch., 1986, at White's 14th 1978, at White's 1 1th move.
move.
7-6
7-5 w
w
AN SWER
AN SWER Black has a solid position (and
Black of course wants to castle, note he can control d6, so he need
but 14. Re 1 t stops that. After the not worry about a hole there) , but he
forced 14 K£8 Seirawan followed
••• hasn't castled yet. So White stops
up with 15. Ne5, closing in with an that by 1 1 . Bh6, and then 1 1 . ••
attack. Black now tried to untangle Nh5 1 2. Qe3 (preventing the liber,
h i m s e lf w i t h 1 5 Kg7 , but
• • • ating 1 2 . . . Bg5) . Black now faces a
Seirawan "struck while the iron was real problem in providing for his
hot" with 16. Nx£7 ! Kx£7 1 7. d6t King's safety and completing his de,
K£8 18. Re7 and soon won ( 1 8 ••• velopment.
Be8 1 9. Ne4! Bxc 1 20. Nx£6 Bxb2
2 1 . Nxh7t Rxh7 22. Qf3t B£7 23.
Rx£7 resigns).
Here, as often happens, the har,
ried King falls victim to a sacrificial
attack. Carrying through the attack
requires tactical flair, but building up
to that point usually involves sound
preparation: disrupt your opponent's
King, get your pieces near it, etc.
223
Et This time, move for Black. ;§Can you find Black's proper
course of action in this position ?
7� 7. Gligoric-Timman, Niksic,
1 983, at Black's 14th move. 7 �8. Ljubojevic-Nogueiras, Wijk
aan Zee, 1986, at Black's 1 7th
7-7 move.
B
7-8
B
AN SWER
White needs j ust a couple of
moves ( 1 5 . Bg2 and 1 6 . 0�0) to com� AN SWER
plete his development with a nice Black has allowed White to
game. If Black goes about his own "win" a pawn for the chance to ex�
development, that's what will hap� plait White's King position. Since
pen. Instead Black played 1 4 Qc5
••• White can castle either side, the di �
15. Rh2 (ugly, but forced to protect rect 1 7. . . Bc4 isn't sufficient (then
f2 ) a4 ! with the better game. Black's 1 8 . 0�0,0) . But Black played 1 7 •••
last move was important, for 1 5 . . . ReS! Now castling costs the ex�
d6? would have allowed 1 6 . Na4 change to a discovery attack ( 1 8 . o�o
Qxb5 1 7. Bxf6 gxf6 1 8 . Rbl win� Bc4 or 1 8 . o,o�O Bg4) , so White
ning, whereas now 1 6 . Nxa4 is met played 1 8. Qg3. Then 18 Bc4t •••
by 1 6 . . . BaSt and it's Black who 1 9. Kd l Rc8 left White's King

wins a piece. stranded in the center under attack,
and Black went on to win.
224
.§. Now you must take a different .§. What would you do for White in
viewpoint, White to move. this position?
7 �9. Fischer-Petrosian, 7 � 10. Karpov-Beliavsky,

Candidates' Tm., 1959, at Spartakaid, 1983, at White's
White's 1 1 th move. 26th move.
7-9 7- 1 0
w w
ANSWER AN SWER
White's Knight is threatened, Few games go with a player de�
and behind that is his Bishop. Con� laying castling this long, but now it's
sequently White has to protect his about time for White. Karpov played
ability to castle by undeveloping his 26. o..o, removing his King to a safer
Knight, and the game went 1 1 . Nb 1 corner j ust before Black broke in the
Bxd2t 1 2. Nxd2 (the Knight re� center with 26 d5. The game con�
•••
turns anyway, for it is part of Black's tinued 2 7. exd5 Qxd5 28. Qc3 with
strategy to exchange his Bishop ) . Black having a slight advantage,
Clearly, the alternative 1 1 . Ne2 though the game ended in a draw.
Bxd2t 1 2 . Kxd2 would be foolhardy
this early in the game.
225
!! Give this position some thought, Here things are more drastic.
�
White to move. What would you play for White?
7 � 1 1 . DeFirmian-Hort, Tunis 7� 1 2. DeFirmian-Rogers, World

Interzonal, 1 985, at White's Open, 1 986, at White's 1 7th
1 7th move. move.
7-1 1 7- 1 2
w w
AN SWER AN S WER
Both sides are ready to castle, Black has given up a piece for a
but White found a way to stop Black: very speculative attack. White's
1 7. Ng6! Since 1 7 . . . fxg6 loses a prime concern should be the safety
pawn ( 1 8 . Qxe6t and 1 9 Bxg6t) ,
. of his King, and he played 1 7. o..o.
Black played 1 7 Rg8 and White
•.. From here, he gradually worked his
castled, 1 8. o .. o. White's King is way out of difficulties: 1 7 Q£5 1 8.
•••
now safely removed to the side, but Rae1 Nh5 1 9. Qg2 g5 20. Be l ! and
Black's is still in the center with no won in 33 moves.
easy path to a safe place ( 1 8 Q,Q,Q
. . . A cautionary lesson on what not
is hardly safe with the Queenside to do is to go pawn,grabbing (after
pawns already advanced ) . In the all, White already has a clear mate,
game, Black couldn't overcome rial advantage) with 1 7. Qxg7? This
these difficulties and lost. also attacks two pieces at once, but
Black replies 1 7. . . Rhd8 , threaten,
ing mate. Then follows swift punish,
ment for White's sin: 1 8 . Nd2 Ng4
1 9 0�0�0 R5d7, winning the Queen.
.
22 6
� Here, some analysis is needed to Nxcl Qxcl 20. Bxe5 Nxe5 2 1 . f4

back up White's continuation; but if leads to White emerging a pawn up)
you keep our theme in mind it will 1 9. Qg6t , when Black still loses the
help you on the right path. right to castle.
7, 13. Ault-Feuchtbaum, NJ Open, � Of course, most of the time play,

1979, at White's 1 5th move. ers get their Kings out of the way by
castling. On the side, behind a pro,
7-1 3 tective barrier of pawns, the King is
safer than in the center. But that
w only makes things more difficult for
the attacker, not impossible. One of
the first aims for the attacker can be
achieved in this position. What
should you do for White?
7, 14. Euwe-Landau, Noordwijk,

AN SWER 7- 1 4
With Black's King still in the w
center but ready to castle, White
should see what can be done to dis,
rupt the process. This purpose sug,
gests hitting at the semi,open e,file
with 15. d4!, which I did. True, this
leaves two pawns loose, but Black
can't digest either. If 1 5 . . . Qxc4 1 6 .
dxe5 dxe5 1 7. Rxe5 , Black faces seri,
ous trouble on the now,open e,file,
and likewise after 1 5 . . . exd4 1 6 . AN SWER
NbS . On the other hand, Black can't By the use of a simple Knight
safely castle yet, for 1 5 . . . Q,Q 1 6. fork, 1 9. Nd7 Rfd8 20. Nxf6t,
dxe5 dxe5 1 7. Rxe5 drops a pawn he Euwe broke up Black's Kingside
can't regain with 1 7. . . Bd6 ( antici, cover. After 20... gxf6 2 1 . Rd3
paring 1 8 . Re2 Qxc4) because of 1 8 . White's attack was rolling to victory.
Nd5!
In the game Black tried 1 5 •••
Nd7 (protecting eS ) , but 16. Nd5

kept up the pressure. Then 1 6 ReS ••• To one side, behind a
1 7. Nxe7 Kxe7 left the King hope, barrier of pawns, the
lessly exposed in the center. Nor
would 1 6 . . . Bd8 have made much
King is safer than in
difference, for 1 7. dxe5 dxe5 1 8 . Bf4 the middle.
puts eS under enough pressure to
oblige 1 8 . . . f6 (for 1 8 . . . Bel 1 9 .
227
E! Now move for White in this po� E! Here your first move for White
sition. might be obvious, so plan two or
three moves further.
7 � 1 5. Ttmman-Ljubojevic, K.R.O.
Match, game 5, 1987, at 7 � 1 6. Tarrasch-Pillsbury, Vienna
White's 14th move. (playoff, game 3), 1898, at
White's l Oth move.
7- 1 6
w
AN SWER
Again the exchange on f6 breaks AN SWER
up Black's pawn cover. After 14. Black's position had been con�
Bx£6 gx£6 15. Ng4 Bxg4 1 6. Qxg4 sidered sound enough until Tarrasch
White's attack was worth much exposed the flaw in this game. He
more than Black's extra pawn, and started with 10. Bx£6 gx£6 and con�
White won in eight more moves. tinued with 1 1 . Bxe6 fxe6 1 2.
Nh4. Black countered with 1 2 •••
Ng6, but 13. Nxg6 hxg6 14. f4 left

him with the lasting problem of his
exposed King.
228
.§. This time the aim is the same, .§ Here again, play for White
but the means slightly different. Play against Black's King position.
for White.
7, 18. Hitech-Schach 2.7, World
7, 1 7. Calloway--Garfinkel, Corres., Computer Ch., 1 986, at
1985, at White's 19th move. White's 1 5th move.
7-1 7 7- 1 8
w w
AN SWER AN SWER
With 1 9. Ng5 g6 20. Qh4 h5 Computers, too, know how to
White used the threats of mate on weaken the pawn cover in front of
h 7 to force Black to loosen the the enemy King. After 1 5 . Bh6
pawns around his King. Next White Black is obliged to play 15 g6 (not
•••
began to breach the barrier with 2 1 . 1 5 . . . Bf8 1 6 . Rg5 Qb6 1 7. Bxg7 Bxg7
g4, and went on to win. 1 8 . Rdgl , etc.). The game continued
1 6. Bg5 Qc5 1 7. Q£4 Nh5? 1 8.
Qh4 and White soon won.
229
t! Now think about this position, t! In this position Black has already
White to move. somewhat weakened his King's pro,
tection, and White's continuation to
7,19. Chekhover-Rudakovsky, exploit it should be fairly obvious.
Moscow, 1945, at White's 27th
move. 7,20. Short-Ljubojevic, Amster,
darn, 1 988, at White's 19th
7- 1 9 move.
w
7-20
w
AN SWER
White could take the prosaic
path of going after Black's weak b, ANSWER
and c,pawns, but his dominating po, White played 1 9. g5 , which
sition gives a much more important forces some kind of break,up in
quarry-Black's King. He played 2 7. Black's pawn cover. Black chose
Bd3 ! g6 28. Q£6!, creating and irn, 1 9 hxg5 20. fxg5 Nd7, creating
•..
mediately fixing on a weakness in

front of Black's King, leading to a
successful attack.
230
!:! . . the position below, in which

. � Let's return to a simpler position,
White took immediate advantage of this time with Black to move.
Black's weakened defenses. You may
not be able to work it out, but give it 7, 22. Tartakover-Botvinnik,
a try. Groningen, 1 946, at Black's
18th move.
7� 2 1 . Short-Ljubojevic,
Amsterdam, 1988, at White's 7-22
2 1 st move.
B
AN SWER
Botvinnik struck further a t
White's seriously compromised
AN SWER Kingside with 18 £5 ! As Bot,
.•.
While building up an attack vinnik notes, White can afford nei,

against the King involves some basic ther to capture on fS nor to defend
principles which can guide the selec, g4; so he sacrificed the pawn, hoping
tion of moves, the final break, for counterplay: 1 9. Rae l fxg4 20.
through often involves a sacrifice to Re5 R£3 2 1 . Qb5, but then 2 1 . ••
more fully expose the King to a mat, Ng6! was very powerful. You will
ing onslaught. Unless the outcome note that Black's advantage rests en�
can be readily foreseen, these sacri, tirely on play against White's weak,
fices and their proper follow�up re, ened Kingside, and his play is consis,
quire a depth of analysis and judg, tently aimed against it.
ment beyond what we can explore
here.
Nevertheless, I will present a few
examples, including this one: White
played 2 1 . Bxg7 ! Kxg7 22. Nh5t
with a winning attack. If now 22 . . .
KfB , 23 . g6! Nf6 24 . Qh6t crashes

through; so Black tried 22 ... Kg6
23. e5t Kxh5, taking another piece,
but 24. Qf4 Bxg5 25. Qxf7t put
Black's King on the road to the gal�
lows.
23 1
t1 Here again, play for Black. !! Back to White doing the attack�
ing-what do you play?
7,23. Andonov-Garcia,Palermo,
Camaguey, 1 987, at Black's 7,24. Sax-Kortchnoi, Lugano,
20th move. 1986, at White's 20th move.
7-23 7-24
B w
AN SWER AN SWER
If White could transfer his White played 20. g4, opening
Knight to d4 and get his King tucked lines against Black's King.
away, he could be fairly comfortable. True , he also exposes his own King,
As it is, Black exploited the situation but the big difference is that it is the
by 20 d4! Now 2 1 . Qe l was neces,
•.• White pieces that control the area
sary with Black holding an advan, (note , for example , the inability of
tage, but White went astray with 2 1 . Black's Bishop to reach the a8,h 1 diago,
exd4 Qxd4t 22. Kg3 g5 ! 23. fxg5 nal) .
RfdS, and White resigned (when he The game continuation further
moves his threatened Knight, a dis, illustrates this difference: 20 fxg4
•..
covered check bags his Queen: 24 . 2 1 . Rxg4 g6 22. Rag l R£8 23. Rh4
Nf3 Qg4t or 24 . Nb3 Qxe5t) . Rh8, giving us . . .
232
.§ . . the position below. Perhaps

. E! Here is a famous game seen ear,
you'd like to finish Black off. lier ( 6A). Continue for White.
7,25. Sax-Kortchnoi, Lugano, 7,26. Botvinnik--Capablanca,

1986, at White's 24th move. A.V. R.O., 1 938, at White's
22nd move.
AN SWER
Now is the time to break in, AN S WER
done by a little pawn sacrifice to With a pawn down in return for
clear the way for the Queen: 24. £5 ! superiority on the Kingside, White
Black tried 24 ex£5 (no better is
•.. must attack there. The first order of
24 . . . gxf5 25 . Qh6) 25. Qg5 RagS business is to clear lines, so Bot,
(meeting one threat of 26 . Rxh7 vinnik started with 22. £4. Capa,
Rxh7 27. Qxg6t) 26. Qf6t Ke8 27. blanca resisted with 22 ... £5 , but
Qe6t Kf8 (if 27 . . . Kd8 , 28. Rxh7 Botvinnik continued 23. exf6 Nxf6
wins) 28. Qd7. Here Black resigned, 24. f5 on his way to victory.
for the coming 29. Ne6t is a killer.
233
.§. And here is another famous .§. . . . the stage was set for the deci,
game, also seen earlier ( 6, 1 8) . Play sive finale. Can you find it?
along with Fischer.
7,28. Fischer-Spassky, World Ch.
7,27. Fischer-Spassky, World Ch. Match, game 6, 1972, at
Match, game 6, 1972, at White's 38th move.
White's 26th move.
7-28
7-27 w
w
AN SWER
A N S WER Fischer played the "obvious" sac,
Fischer started breaking in with rifice 38. Rxf6! gx£6 39. Rx£6, fa,
26. £5. Then followed 26 ex£5 2 7.
••• tally exposing Black's King. Spassky
Rx£5 Nh7 28. Rcfl Qd8 29. Qg3, tried 39 Kg8 40. Bc4 Kh8 4 1 .
•••
and White's attack was raging. After Q£4 and resigned (you can work out
some more maneuvering . . . why, if you care to) .
234
� More often Spassky has been on

the other side, dishing it out, like
here in a game seen earlier (6�87 ) .
How does White strike ?
7 �29. Spassky-Pfleger, Munich,

7-29
w
AN SWER
Spassky played 1 7. Bxf7t Kx£7
I 8. Qh5 t, getting two pawns (h 7
falls next) and exposing Black's King
for the modest investment of his
Bishop. Black tried 18 •.. g6 1 9.
Qxh7t Kf8, but resigned after 20.
h4 since there is no way to stop 2 1 .
h5 gxh5 22 . Nf5 , with deadly conse�
quences. No better was 1 8 . . Kf8 1 9 .
.
Qxh7 Qf4 ( trying t o cover g7 ,

whereas 1 9 g6 reverts to the game)
. . .
20. Nf5 Qg5 2 1 . QhBt Kf7 22 . Nd6t

and wins.
Of course, it's nice if you can
work out all these variations before
taking the plunge with your Bish ..
op; but your judgment can lead you
to look for ways to expose the en..
emy King and find the sacrifice in
the first place, and even perhaps to
play it "on speculation" without
being fully aware of the conse..
quences.
235
PRACTICE: At this point, the attacking continuations in the positions below

shouldn't be too hard to find. White to move in (b) and (d), Black to move in all the
rest.
7-30a
B
7-30c 7-30d
B w
AN S WERS
(a) Blau-Van Scheltinga, Hilversum, 1 947. Black broke with 1 6 g4. If now 1 7.
.•.
hxg4 , 1 7 . . Qh4t 1 8 . Nh3 Nxh3 1 9 . gxf3 Qxf2 t 20 . Bg2 Qxb2 , so White tried
.
1 7. g3 Nxh3 1 8. Nxh3 gxh3 1 9. Qd2 Qg6 20. f4 Bg4 2 1 . f5 Qh5 , and

Black won.
(b) Capablanca-Blackburne, St. Petersburg, I 9 1 4 . A typical strip,away "sac"
which can be played by feel: 28. Rxg7t Kxg7 29. Rgl t K£8 30. Qg6 left
Black helpless; he tried 30 Rxh3t 3 1 . Kxh3 and resigned.
•••
(c) Reshevsky-Christiansen, U.S. Ch., 198 1 . Black pried it open with 42 g4. ••.
S ince 43 . hxg4 allows a decisive i nfil tra tion with 43 . . . Rxf3! and 44 . . . Rh2 t
(more shortly) , White tried 43. Nxe5 , but then 43 gxh3t 44. Kg1 h2t 45.
•••
Kh 1 put him in trouble (more on this too).

(d) Pachman-Ojanen, Trencianske,Teplice, 1 949. White played 4 1 . f4, creating
new threats. Let's follow them . . .
236
FOLLOW UP: Here are three possible positions from the Pachman-Ojanen game.
..
In each, follow up properly for White.
7-31 a
w
After 4 1 . . . gxf4 42. Qxf4 t Kg7. After 4 1 . Qb6 .

. .
7-31 c
w
After 4 1 ..• Ra6.
AN S WERS
All of these positions require tactical sequences to win, a common result of
attacking positions. If you had trouble, some more study of chess tactics is indicated.
In a., White demolishes with the forcing sequence 43. Rxf7t Kxf7 (declining
with 43 . . . Kg8 44 . Qf6 won't help) 44. Qxf7t Kh8 45. Ng6t, and Black must give
up his Queen to avoid mate.
In b., another combination snares the Queen: 42. Rxf7t! Bxf7 43. Nd7t, etc.
The game continued as in c., and White exploited the Bishop's need to defend
fl by playing 42. £5 . Black replied 42 •.. Bxf5 43. Rxf7t Ke6 44. Qc8t and
resigned rather than be mated next move. A similar fate awaits the alternate
capture: 42 . . . Kxf5 43 . Qfl t Ke4 44 . Qd3 t , etc. For White an alternative you might
have considered is to pursue the plan of exposing Black's King by 42 . fxg5 t hxg5 43 .
h4 , but after 43 . . . Kg7! 44 . Qxg5 t Kf8 Black's end is not yet in sight.
237
MORE FOLLOW UP: These three positions are from the Reshevsky
..
Christiansen game ( 7 ,JOc). In each, work out decisive continuations for Black.
7-32a 7-32b
B B
After 43 . hxg4 Rxf3 44 . Rxf3 After 43 . hxg4 Rxf3 44 . Qxf3

Rh2t 45 . Kfl . Rh2t 45 . Kgl .
7-32c
B
After 43. Nxe5 gxh3t 44.

Kg l h2t 45. Kh l .
AN SWERS
In a. Black plays 45 Rf2t with impunity ( if 46 . Rxf2 ? , 46 . . . Qxf2#) , and after
.••
46. Kgl he simply captures the Rook on f3 for an easy win.

In b. Black continues 45 Bd4t 46. Re3 Bxe3 t 47. Qxe3 (simple enough so
•••
far, but now comes the crusher} Rhl t! 48. Kxh l Qxfl t 49. Qg l Qh3t 50. Qh2
Qxh2#.
The game continuation led to c., where 45 . . . dxe4 46 . Qxg3 t is nothing to be
thrilled with. Instead Black uncorked 45 g2t! 46. Kxg2 h l =Qt 47. Rxh l Rf2t,
. ••
and White resigned rather than play through 48 . Kgl Rxhl t 49. Kxhl Qh4t and
mate follows.
238
� Let's go over some of these as� .§ Here is another one-work out

pects of attacking again, with some what to do for White.
positions that are perhaps a little
more complex. Try this for White. 7�34. Short-Rodriguez, Subotica
Interzonal, 1 987, at White's
7�33. Burger-Dlugy, NY 22nd move.
(Kavkasian), 1 983, at White's
20th move. 7-34
w
7-33
w
AN S WER
White has invested a pawn for
ANSWER an attack which seems precarious,
White should not worry about for Black is poised to expand in the
defending his b�pawn, but should center starting with . e5 . One idea
. .
pursue his attack. A convenient and for White is to advance the h�pawn,
thematic way is by hitting at g6 with but that takes too much time. lmme�
a pawn, so White chose 20. h4 Rf8 diate action is called for, and White
2 1 . h5, and after 2 1 . NeB 22.
.• played 22. g6! , prepared to meet
hxg6 h6 23. Qh4 soon won. 22 . . . e5 with 23 . Bxd5! exd4 24 .
For the record, 20 . h4 Bxb2? is Qh3 , winning. Black tried instead
bad for Black, not just on general 22 Qe7, but after 23. Bg4 Rfe8
•••
principles (removing Black's main 24. gx£7t Qxf7 25. Rdfl White
defensive piece just as the attack is soon won.
coming), but can be punished imme�
diately by tactics: 2 1 . Bxg6 hxg6 22 .
Qxg6t KhB 23 . Bd4t, winning the
Queen. This variation shows a rea�
son to prefer 20. h4 to 20 . f4 - had
White played the latter, Black would
be able to play 23 . . . Bxd4 with
check (20. f4 Bxb2 2 1 . Bxg6 hxg6
22 . Qxg6t Kh8 23 . Bd4t Bxd4t) and
the "combo" falls flat on its face.
239
� Can you finish off Black here ? � Work out White's continuation
as far as you can in this position. Can
7�35. Soter-Savino, American he force a win?
Open Reserve, 1 988, at
White's 2 1 st move. 7 36. Ttmman-Kortchnoi, Brussels,
�

7-35
w 7-36
w
ANSWER
White looks ready to crash AN SWER
through, and he did, by the pseudo� Black's three pawns provide ap�
sac 2 1 . Bxg5 ! Bxg5 22. R£6 (22. proximate compensation for his
Nf6 t works similarly) Nxe5 23. piece down, but White can use his
Qxg5t Ng6 24. Rxg6t; Black re� e x tra p ie c e � strength to attack
signed in view of 24 . . . fxg6 25 . Black's King. White did that with
Qxg6t Kh8 26. Qg7#. 26. Nxh6t gxh6 2 7. Qxh6, a fairly
Note that the simple thematic obvious start with Ng5 and Qh7t in
pawn break 2 1 . h4 is irrelevant, for mind. Black tried to defend with
White needs to capture on gS with a 2 7 £6 28. ex£6 Rc7, but then 29.
••.
piece, not a pawn. After 2 1 . h4 Qc7, Ne5 proved decisive. Since 29 . . .

for example, 22. hxg5? Qxe5 throws Ng3 t 30. hxg3 Rh7 3 1 . f7t Rfxf7 32.
away White's chances, but 22 . Bxg5 Nxf7 Rxh6t 33 . Nxh6 t loses too
still wins. Another line is 2 1 . h4 f5! ? much material for White's Queen,
2 2 . exf6 Nxf6 23 . Qxg5t Kf7 24 . Black tried 29 Rh7 at once. But
•••
Nxf6 Bxf6 25 . Rxf6t! Qxf6 26. Rf1 , White answered 30. Qg6t and
emerging with a Queen and Bishop Black resigned, for 30 . . . Kh8 3 1 . f7
for two Rooks. forces Black to give up material to
stop being mated.
Note that ( instead of 29 . Ne5)
29 . Qg6t Kh8 30. Ne5 would be all
right too, based on 30. . . d2! 3 1 .
Qh6t Kg8 32. f7t Rcxf7 33 . Nxf7
Rxf7 34 . Qxe6 .
240
:§ Here, too, work out White's con, !! Here is one more of this sort,
tinuation as far as you can. with Black to play this time. Once
again, work it out as fully as you can.
7,3 7. Hardicsay-Ortel, Hungary,
1 98 1 , at White's 25th move. 7,38. Spassky-Tal, Montreal, 1 979,
7-37
w 7-38
B
AN SWER
White's position is rather dreary AN SWER
unless he can get at Black's King Black started with a familiar sac,
pretty quickly. He was able to do rificial idea, 20 Bxh2 t 2 1 . Kxh2,
•••
that by 25. Ng5 ! By blocking the and then hit with 2 1 . Rh5t 22.
••
escape square at h 7, this threatens Kgl Ng4. Here White resigned, un,
mate in two on the back rank, so able to meet ( in Tal's words) "the
Black took the Knight: 25 hxg5 ••• prosaic 23 . . . Qh4 and the elegant
26. fxg5. Now new threats appear, 23 . . . Rhl t . "
particularly 27. Qh5t Kg8 28. g6 and Bleak as it is, White had to de,
mates next move. Black stopped this cline the sacrifice with 2 1 . Kf1 when
with 26... g6, but then 2 7. ReSt a possible continuation might be
ended the game ( if 27 . . . Rxe8 , 28 . 2 1 . . . Rh5 22. Re 1 Qd7 23 . Rxe8t
Qxe8t Kg7 29 . Rf7#) . Qxe8 24 . Re l Qc6 25 . f3 Bg3 . In
taking the Bishop ( 2 1 . Kxh2) , Spass,
ky had apparently counted on the
typical follow,up 2 1 . . . Ng4t and was
prepared to take his chances after
2 2 . Kg3 . But Tal's 2 1 . . . Rh5 t !
changes that escape, for 22. Kg3 gets
clobbered by 22 . . . Ne4t 23 . Bxe4
Qh4 t 24 . Kf3 Qxe4 t 25 . Kg3 Qh4# .
24 1
� Now see what you can make of ;§ In this position nothing spec..
this position, Black to move. tacular seems present , so what
should White do?
7, 39. Deep Thought-Browne,
Long Beach, 1988, at Black's 7 40. Petrosian-Larsen,
..
2 1 st move. Copenhagen, 1960, at White's

1 5th move.
7-39
B 7-40
w
AN SWER
Rather than make some timid AN SWER
reaction to the attack on his Rook, White began a Kingside attack
the human Grandmaster p layed with 15. g4.
2 1 ... Qd5 ! Good as they are these Such moves expose one's own King
days, computer programs are swayed position, so in making it White has to be
by tangible material gain and fail to pretty sure his extra space and control of
understand the long,range strategi, the center will allow his pieces to domi..
cal implications of things like Black's nate .
grip on the long diagonal after 22. For example, if Black could sue ..
Bxe8 Rxe8 23. Kg2 (ugly, but nee, cessfully play 1 5 d5 he could make
. . .
essary to stay ahead materially) Nc4 trouble, but here that would only
24. Be l g5. Actually it is Black who lose a pawn. Black actually tried
is winning here, which became 15 Nc5, and Petrosian took it and
•••
clearer after 25. h3 h5 26. g4 e5 ! built up his own attack: 16. Bxc5
27. Qdl £5 28. gxh5 g4, and the dxc5 1 7. e5 Nd7 1 8. Nde4 and
computer lasted only eight more went on to win.
moves.
242
� What should White do here ? � this position. What would you

. . .
do now for White ?

7A l . Spielmann-Maroczy,
Goteborg, 1 920, at White's 7�42. Spielmann-Maroczy,
1 4th move. Goteborg, 1 920, at White's
18th move.
7-41
w 7-42
w
ANSWER
The Kings on opposite,sides,of� AN S WER
the�board usually signal an all�out Black has chosen to reduce
assault by each player against the White's attack by trading off pieces,
other's King, with the winner usually but has made an important conces�
the one who gets there "first with the sion. Rather than retreat the Queen
most." in an attempt to continue the attack
Lacking any access for his pieces, (when, as it happens, White's e,
White should advance his Kingside pawn will come under immediate
pawns, and the logical candidate is pressure), even such a noted master
14. g4, which Spielmann played. of attack as Spielmann played 1 8.
You might have worried that this Qxf6 gxf6 1 9. Ng3 with an advan�
pawn can be captured, but such cap� tageous endgame.
tures typically lose time and open
lines for the attacker. Black properly
declined, and the game continued
14 Nf6 15. Nf5 (note this strong
•••
Knight outpost cannot readily be ne,

gated, for capturing it now allows re�
capture with the g,pawn, opening
the g�file, while chasing it with . . . g6
creates a serious weakness in the
King's defenses) Nxd5 1 6. Qxd5
Bc6 1 7. Qd4 Qf6, producing . . .
243
.§. Now decide how to continue for .§. Choose your continuation for
Black in this position. White here.
7 A3. Chekhover-Botvinnik, 7 ,44. Weinstein-Christiansen,

Leningrad Ch., 1 932, at U.S. Ch., 1978, at White's
Black's 34th move. 22nd move.
ANSWER AN SWER
This time the attacker can bring White could convert his domi,
in his pieces with devastating effect, nating position to a material gain by
so it would be wasteful to try a pawn, 22 . Rxc8 Qxc8 23 . Qxd7, but the
storm by . h5 , . h4 , etc. Botvinnik
. . . . resul ring ending is not clear
simply p layed 3 4 . . . Qh5 ! and White's two Knights won't be able to
White, finding no answer to Black's work effectively on the open board.
intended Re6 and Rh6 , resigned
. . . . . . Instead White pursued his attack
here. with 22. Ne5. Then 22 Qb6 23.
•••
Ng4 both attacked the Rook on f6

and defended the pawn on f2. After
23 R£4, White revealed the fur,
•••
ther point with 24. Nx£7. Now 24 . . .

Rxf7 is smashed by 25 . Nh6t so ,
Black tried 24 Kg7 25. Nd6 Re5

•••
26. Nxe5 Qxf2t 27. Kh l and re,

signed.
244
� The next three positions present � Here is another chance.

various solutions to the problems of
enhancing and concluding an at, 7 ,46. Botvinnik-Ragozin, Match,
tack. See what you can do with game 5, 1 940, at White's 32nd
them, starting with this one. move.
7AS. Feigin-Flohr, Kemeri, 1 937, 7-46

w
AN SWER
When Botvinnik p layed 3 2 .
Rg7t Black resigned.
AN SWER This first move is easy enough to
You might have been distracted play, so take full credit only for see,
by things like White's attack on b7 ing the fol low,up: 32 . . . Kd6 33 .
or how to get at the weak pawn on Rxd7 t ! ( much better than 3 3 .
h4, but there is a quick kill. Qxe6t and 34 . Rxh7) Kxd7 3 4 .
Flohr played 39 •.. Nf2t! and NeSt. Wrong is 32 . Qxh7t Kd6 33 .
White resigned. The Knight must be Rg6 Nf6 34 . Qg7 , which looks crush,
captured, but 40. Qxf2 Qh3 t 4 1 . ing but allows Black a perpetual
Qh2 Qxfl t and 40. Rxf2 Qb l t (see check with 34 . . . Qe 1 t 35 . Kh2
that?) both result in mate shortly. Qh4t, etc.
245
� How about this one, for White? .§. Now we tum to another basic
consideration in attacking, illus·
7 �4 7. Balashov-Miles, Bugojno, trated below. Play for White.
1978, at White's 2 1st move.
7 ·48. Lunna-Gasthorevich, NY
Open, 1983, at White's 27th
move.
7-48
w
AN S WER
Black seems to be holding on
with his two extra pawns, but White
dispelled that impression with 2 1 . AN SWER
B£4 !, made p layable by another Beyond the obvious question of
Knight fork: if 21 . . . gx/4?, 22 . Qh5 t White's "loose" Bishop on d3 , it
Kd7 23 . Nc5 t . Since he can't very should be clear White has an impres�
well take the Bishop, Black has no sive·looking attack against Black's
way to protect c 7. He tried 2 1 Bh6 ••• King position. This fact dictates
22. Re 1 (no hurry) Qb6, but after White's move, 27. Bb 1 , preserving
23. Nxc7t K£8 24. Re6 Black was the Bishop to participate in the at·
in hot water and soon lost . ( 24 . . .
. . tack. After 2 7 Rec8 White turned
•••
gxf4 25 . Rxc6 Qb8 26. Ne6t Ke8 27. up the heat with 28. £6 and soon
Rc7 Kf7 28. Nxf4t KfB 29 . Qc5 1 �0) . won.
246
� So White's move here should be � Now consider this position for

simple. White to move.
7A9. Gligoric-Matulovic, Palma 7 ,50. Nogueiras--Gurgenidze,

de Mallorca, 1 967, at White's Thilisi, 1 983, at White's 1 9th
38th move. move.
7-49 7-50
w w
ANSWER ANSWER
White is down the exchange Facing the exchange of Queens,
and a pawn, so he must make more White must decide who has the at,
of the position than 38. Qxe6t Qxe6 tack.
39. Bxe6t provides. So he built up Despite the appearance of men,
the pressure with 38. Qe5 ! Black ace from Black's advanced Knight
attempted a defense with 38 ... K£7, and g,pawn, it is actually Black's
but had to resign after 39. Rd6 Qc7 King that faces more peril in the
40. Bxe6t Ke7 4 1 . d8=Qt (getting long run. So White should play 1 9.
the pawn out of the way so the King Qd3 ; he did, and went on to win.
can't hide on d8) Rfxd8 42. Bc4t
(mate in three follows).
247
� What should White do here? .§.

Once again, take care of your
attack for White below.
7-5 1 . Alekhine-Kmoch, San
Remo, 1 930, at White's 30th 7-52. I. lvanov-Zaltsman, NY
move. (Kavkasian), 1983, at White's
1 9th move.
7-5 1
w
AN S WER
Since White has committed his AN SWER
Rooks to assault Black's King posi Black would l ike to retard
tion, he should avoid the exchange White's attack by playing . . . Qg5 , so
of Queens now threatened. Alekh White played 1 9. h4. The game
ine played 30. KhZ Qc 1 3 1 . Qb4, continued 1 9 a6 20. Rd2 b5 2 1 .
..•
maintaining his attack on his way to Rdf2, intensifying the attack.

a win.
248
� Here, obviously the question is � Less obvious, but with the same
whether White should trade logic, was White's continuation in
Queens. What do you think? this position. What's yours?-
7,53. Karpov-Kasparov, World Ch. 7 ,54. Fischer-Gheorghiu, Buenos

Match, game 4, 1 985, at Aires, 1 970, at White's 18th
White's 39th move. move.
7-53 7-54
w w
ANS WER ANSWER

It is true White can win a pawn White has the attacking pros,
by 39. Qxd2 Bxd2 40. Rdl , but after pects, so Black hopes to play . Bf5 . .
40 . Bg5 4 1 Rxd5 Rd8 Black forces

. . . and exchange Bishops. Fischer ac,
the exchange of Rooks to an oppo, cordingly played 1 8. Nd4, centraliz,
site,colored Bishop ending that ing the Knight while preventing the
Black easily draws. Bishop exchange. Black took the op,
On the other hand, the chronic portunity to improve and protect his
weakness of Black's King position Knight's placement with 1 8 Nc5
..•
gives White attacking prospects 1 9. Bc2 a5, but Fischer kept the
which are enhanced by the opposite, upper hand and went on to win (20.
colored Bishops. So Karpov played Re 1 Qd8 2 1 . Re3 b6 22. Rg3 with
39. Qe5 Rd8 40. Q£5, and eventu, his Rook joining the attack).
ally won.
249
.§ Another principle of attacking is .§ Now pick your move for White.

illustrated clearly in this position.
Proceed for Black. 7 ,56. Karpov-Spassky, Candidates'
7 ,55. Sunye-Rocha, Sao Paulo, White's 35th move.
1979, at Black's 40th move.
7-56
w
AN SWER
AN S WER Black is just barely holding his
Black's 40 . . . Ng4 would be position together, but Karpov's 35.
deadly except for White's ability to Rxd8 persuaded him to resign . . This
block with 4 1 . Qh4. So Black played stroke removes a key defender Black
the simple but "deadlier" 40 ReS,
••• needs much more than White needs
getting rid of a key defender. After his Rook. As Spassky realized, 35 . . .
4 1 . Qc7 Ng4 White gave up rather RxdB 36. Bel leaves Black's King
than be mated. hopelessly exposed, e.g., 36 . . RfB
.
37. BxfBt Kxf8 38 . Qxf6t, etc.
250
.§ Find the best way to continue for .§ And roll on with Black in this
White in this position. position.
7 57
� . Karpov-Gik, Moscow State 7 �58. Steiner-Botvinnik,
Univ. Ch., 1968�69, at White's Groningen, 1 946, at Black's
32nd move. 25th move.
7-57
w
AN SWER AN S WER
White assumes a slight material The key is eliminating White's
advantage when he captures the f� Knight at f3 , so Botvinnik played
pawn, and the issue is to assure a 25... Nh4 26. Ne3 Nxf3. White
clear positional advantage as well. then avoided quick death from 27.
Karpov did both by 32. Qg5t Ke8 Bxf3? Qxh2t 28 . Kxh2 Rh4#, but af�
33. ex£5. With his Rook away from ter 27. exf3 ( if 27. Nxg4 Nxe l and
the action, Black cannot resist effec� Black emerges a piece ahead) Rh4
tively and soon (33 ReS 34. QgBt
••• 28. Nfl Bg5 he resigned in view of
Ke7 35. Qg7t) resigned. By con� 29 . . . Bf4 putting more attackers on
trast, the casual 3 2 . exfS allows h2 than White can deal with.
Black to offer some resistance after
32 . . . Rf8 .
25 1
E! Once more, help out Black in E! In order to better illustrate the

this position. progressive development of an at,
tack, we will follow two games. In
7,59. Alekhine-Lasker, NY 1 924, the first, play along with Fischer as
at Black's 28th move. White.
7-59 7 ,60. Fischer-Larsen, Portoroz

Interzonal, 1958, at White's
B 1 6th move.
7-60
w
ANSWER
Black's big threat is the Queen
and Bishop aimed at h2, which is
covered by White's Knight at f3, so
Lasker disturbed it with 28... Ng5. AN SWER
Alekhine tried to close off the diago, With Kings on opposite sides of
nal with 29. Ne5, but 29 fxe5 30.
..• the board, both sides are looking to
Qxg5 e4 kept White on the run. attack. To start with, Fischer pre,
served his Bishop for attacking use
(as well as possible defensive use)
with 1 6. Bb3 ! Black played 1 6 •••
Rc7 to protect his a,pawn ( if 1 6 . . .

Qb5 at once, 1 7. Bxa7 is feasible,
when the Bishop at b3 becomes a
defensive bulwark) . After 1 7. h4
Qb5 . . .
252
!! this position was reached. � . . . this position. What now?

Can you find a clever move now?
7 ,62. Fischer-Larsen, Portoroz
7 ,61 . Fischer-Larsen, Portoroz Interzonal, 1958, at White's
Interzonal, 1 958, at White's 22nd move.
1 8th move.
7-62
7-6 1 w
w
AN SWER
AN SWER Now the time is ripe to rip open
The conservative attacking plan Black's King position with a sacri,
would be 1 8 . g4 and then 1 9 . hS , fice. Fischer played 22. Rxh5 gxh5
during which time Black will be 23. g6. Black chose to resist with
playing 1 8 . . . a5 and 1 9 . . . a4 , evict, 23 .•• e5 24. gxf7t K£8 25. Be3 d5 !,
ing the Bishop. C onseque ntly creating . . .
Fischer played 18. h5 ! immediately,
prepared to open lines if Black
should take the pawn ( 1 8 . . . NxhS
1 9 . g4 or 1 8 . . . gxhS 1 9 . g4! gives
White an open h,file and an irresist,
ible attack due in no small part to
the Bishop on d4 and the Queen
aiming at h6). The game proceeded
18 Rfc8 1 9. hxg6 hxg6 20. g4 a5
•.•
2 1 . g5 Nh5, giving us . . .
253
g the position below. What � Here is the second game se,

now? quence. This time play with Euwe, as
White.
7 ,63. Fischer-Larsen, Portoroz
Interzonal, 1958, at White's 7 ,64. Euwe-Bogoljubov, Match,
26th move. game 6, 1923, at White's 19th
move.
7-63
w
AN SWER
Resourcefu l opponents fight ANSWER
back, which Black has been doing, White has prospects for an at,
and a careless move can botch the tack, and Euwe began it right away
whole attack. One such here is 26 . by 1 9. g4. An obvious alternative
Bxd5 fixated on keeping the pawn
I was to preserve the Bishop by 1 9 .
on f7 but al lowing 2 6 . . . Rxc2 ! Bbl , but the problem is Black can
Fischer played 26. exd5 ! Rx£7 (on always play his Knight to e4 and ne,
26 . . . a4 1 Fischer gives 27. d6 axb3 gate the Bishop's support in any at,
28 . dxc7 wins) 2 7. d6, satisfied with tack. Hence Euwe's move, not wast,
replacing the lost f7 ,pawn with one ing time. For his part, Black pursued
just about as menacing at d6. If now exchanges with 1 9 Nxd3 20.
• • •
2 7. . . Rxf3 28. d7 threatens 29 .

I Qxd3 Qc4, giving us . . .
Qd6# as well as queening, so Black
tried 2 7 R£6. But by now it was
•••
mop, up time, which Fischer did: 28.

Bg5 Qb7 29. Bx£6 Bx£6 30. d7
Rd8 3 1 . Qd6t resigns.
254
� . this next position. What now?

. . .§. . . . the position below. What
next?
7,65. Euwe-Bogoljubov, Match,
game 6, 1923, at White's 2 1 st 7 ,66. Euwe-Bogoljubov, Match,
move. game 6, 1923, at White's 23rd
move.
AN S WER
Obviously White wants to avoid AN S WER
exchanging Queens, and Euwe chose This move should be easy to
2 1 . Qd2, quite willing to let Black find, for White now has the chance
occupy himself gobbling a pawn at to make the dangerous break 23. £5.
a2 while White proceeds with his Black replied 23 Qe4, and . . .
.•.
attack. Instead, Black played 2 1 ...

Bb4 22. Q£2 Qd3, creating . . .
255
.§. . we have the position below.

. . .§. . . the position below. As you
.
What should White do now ? can see, Black has managed to ex,
change Queens. Does this mean he
7�67. Euwe-Bogoljubov, Match, has weathered the attack and is now
game 6, 1 923, at White's 24th secure?
move.
7�68. Euwe-Bogoljubov, Match,
game 6, 1 923, at White's 30th
move.
AN SWER
Of course White would like to
exchange pawns and open the f,file,
but you can't let your own threats AN SWER
blind you to your opponent's. Black No, for Euwe now produced 30.
will happily answer 24. fxe6 with e6! If Black now captures, 30 . fxe6,
. .
24 . Qxg4 t , when White must ex,

. . then 3 1 . Nxe6 Rf7 32. NdB! Rd7 33 .
change Queens to avoid perpetual f7t wins. Instead Black tried 30 ••.
check. So Euwe played 24. Qg3, Kh7, but then came 3 1 . e7 ReB 32.
pausing to protect g4 as well as e5 Rc 1 Kh6, and now . . .
while still leaving Black the problem
of how to stop the attack. The game
continued 24 ex£5 25. gx£5 B£8
•••
26. Bx£8 Rx£8 2 7. £6 (threatening

Qg5�Qh6�Qg7#) h5 28. Qg5 Qg4t
29. Qxg4 hxg4, producing . . .
256
E! . . can you find the clincher be,

. E! From the other side of the board,
low? the defender must prevent such
things from happening to him. Let us
7,69. Euwe-Bogoljubov, Match, examine some examples, starting be,
game 6, 1 923, at White's 33rd low with Black to move.
move.
7,70. Pruzansky-Ault, NJ 1 973, at
Black's 18th move.
7-70
B
AN SWER
The winning move is 33. Ne6!,
which persuaded Black to resign. AN S WER
Capturing with 33 fxe6 allows 34.
. . . It should be clear that White in,
f7 and a new Queen, but otherwise tends 1 9 . h5 to open the h,file. The
the Knight hops next to c 7 or g7 and simple preventive 1 8 h5 stops not
••.
bags the Rook for the e,pawn. only that, but also any other realistic
possibi lities for White to break
through. With Black's King now safe
and snug, the focus shifts to the inse,
curities of White's King. After 1 9.
a4 d4 I had an easy game and won
pleasantly.
257
� Now play for Black in this posi� � Here is another position-should

tion. Black handle it the same way?
7 � 7 1 . Bertok-Fischer, Stockholm 7�72. Kortchnoi-Khasin, U.S.S.R.

Interzonal, 1 962, at Black's Ch., 1 96 1 , at Black's 14th
29th move. move.
7-72
B
AN SWER AN SWER
Earlier Fischer had won a piece, White has sacrificed a pawn for
and by now his opponent was play� an attack, and naturally wants to
ing on in hopes something might open the h,file. So Black kept it
turn up-like real threats against closed with 1 4 g4 15. Be2 Re8
••.
Black's King. But Fischer squelched 1 6. Qd1 h5.

that with 29 g4, blocking the g,
.••
file. White staggered through 30. h5

Qc5 t 3 1 . R£2 and then resigned.
258
.§ Once again, fend for Black. � Here again Black faces perils,
though he has an extra piece (not to
7 � 73. Tal-Kortchnoi, U.S.S.R. Ch., mention a strange pawn structure).
1958, at Black's 23rd move. How would you proceed?
7-73 7�74. Radulov-R. Byrne,

Leningrad Interzonal, 1 973, at
B Black's 2 1 st move.
7-74
B
AN SWER
The threat of 24 . Qxg7t is omi�
nous, and the straightforward 23 . . .
RgB fails to 24 . Bh7. Meanwhile 23 . . .

Qbl t leads nowhere. Kortchnoi's AN S WER
simple solution was 23 g5 ! After
••• The pawns can't help, so Black
24. hxg6 Kg7 Black has a good used his Bishop to block the e�file:
game, for the pawn on g6 clogs 2 1 . Bc8! 22. Re l Be6, and Black
••
White's attack while Black's pieces consolidated and went on to win.

become menacing. Actually it would Note that first exchanging with
have been better for White to an� 2 1 . . . Rxdl t 22 . Rxdl BcB is defec�
swer 23 . . . gS with 24 . h4 Qf4 , result� tive: 23 . Rel Be6 24 . QhBt snags the
ing in a roughly equal endgame after unprotected Rook at a8.
25 . hxgS QxgS 26. QxgS fxgS 27.
RxgS . (For the conclusion of this
game, see 4� 1 1 . )
259
.§ In this position Petrosian, who � Now decide what to do for White

did such things, has snatched a pawn below.
at h2 in front of his King position.
Now what? 7 76. Hubner--Spassky, Montreal,
�

7, 7 5. Sax-Petrosian, Rio de Janeiro
Interzonal, 1 979, at Black's 7-76
1 8th move.
w
7-75
B
AN SWER
If you look for what Black is go,
ing to do, you should realize I I f4
. . .
AN S WER sets up a pawn avalanche at White's

What not to do is snatch an, King position. Sometimes in this
other pawn and allow White to in, sort of position White can block
tensify his attack. On general prin, with a pawn, but here 1 1 f4? exf4
.
ciple, Black has already taken up the exposes the Rook on a 1 . Conse,
challenge of being able to repulse quently White chose 1 1 . exf5 Nxf5
White's attack; he already has an ex, 1 2. Bb2.
tra pawn, which should be enough to
win if he survives the attack; so his
prime consideration should be stop,
ping the attack (not "throwing more
fuel on the fire"). Specifically, here it
happens that another capture leads
to immediate disaster: 1 8 . . Qxg2?
.
1 9 . Rdgl Qf3 20 . Rxg7t Kxg7 2 1 .

Bh6t wins the Queen.
And so Petrosian retreated with
1 8 .. Qe5, handled the attack, and
.
won.
260
� What should Black do here ? � Here again, Black is under some

pressure. How should he respond ?
7, 77. Elinoris-Kasparov, U.S.S.R.
Junior Ch., 1975, at Black's 7, 78. Prokhorevich-Kortchnoi,
1 9th move. U.S.S.R., 1953, at Black's 23rd
move.
7-77
B 7-78
B
AN SWER
White threatens 20 . [5 , so Kas, AN S WER
parov (at age 1 1 ) played 1 9 f5 ! If
••• Kortchnoi took the opportunity
White captures, 20 . gxf6 , 20 Bxf6
. . . to eliminate White's Bishop, a po,
leads to greater exposure for White's tentially dangerous attacker (e.g.,
King than for Black's. Instead the Bxg6 followed by Qxg6 might come
game continued 20. Be3 d5 2 1 . c4 into consideration) , and after 23 •••
N8c7, and Black, a pawn up and Nxd3 24. Qxd3 Qc5 25. Kh1 a4
with little to worry about in relation B l a c k 's c o u n t e r a t t a c k o n t h e
to his King's safety, went on to win. Queenside was rolling. (The conclu,
sion is shown in 3,26c. )
261
� Play for Black here, too. � . . . as shown below. What now?
7�79. Euwe-Reshevsky, A.V.R.O., 7 �80. Euwe-Reshevsky, A.V.R.O.,

1 938, at Black's 22nd move. 1 938, at Black's 26th move.
7-79 7-80
AN SWER AN SWER
White's threat is 23 . Ng5 and The threat of course is mate on
24 . Rxf6 , but the simple antidote is h 7, and Reshevsky chose 26 Qg7•••
to exchange off the Knight (don't (over 26 . . . Nf6) in order not only to
worry about giving up a Bishop for a cover h 7, but also to evict White's
Knight herel ) . After 22 Bx£3 23.
••• Queen while leaving the Knight
Rx£3 b5 ! Reshevsky was counterat� nicely centralized.
tacking to break up White's center. Since Black is a pawn up, he can
Next came 24. cxb5 Qe5 ! 25. Rel use offers to exchange to his advan�
(covering Black's double attack from tage (remember Chs. 3 and 4). Euwe
eS ) Nxd5 , and Euwe tried 26. Rh3, retreated, 2 7. Qd2, but then 2 7 • .•
e6 secured the Knight's post and

Black won eventually.
262
� This time, can you help out .§ In this position Black must move
White? his King, and has only two places to
go. Which one?
7 �8 1 . Ilyin�Zhenevsky-Botvinnik,
U.S.S.R. Ch., 1 927, at White's 7 �82. Szabo-Smyslov, Moscow,
25th move. 1 956, at Black's 30th move.
7-81
w
ANS WER AN S WER

Black's attack is getting danger� In this case Black must keep his
ous, so White correctly played 25. King in the center, where it survives.
Be3 ! Rxh4 26. Bxf4 Rxf4 2 7. Smyslov played 30 Ke7 and soon
•••
Rae 1 , reducing the attack and ap� made his extra pawns count. The
proximately equalizing. It was better careless alternative 30 . . . Kg8?? puts
for White to exchange off Black's the King into a deathtrap: 3 1 . Qd3
powerful Knight than to try to hold already threatens mate in three start�
on to the doubled pawn on h4 with ing with 32. RhBt (see it?), and there
25 . Bf2 . is no satisfactory defense.
263
� Here is another problem for E! Here Black has two Queens, but
Black facing an attack. What would faces mate. What to do?
you do about it?
7 ,84. Unzicker-Bronstein,
7 ,83. Karpov----G ligoric, San Goteborg Interzonal, 1955, at
Antonio, 1 972, at Black's 34th Black's 41st move.
move.
AN SWER
AN SWER When you are ahead, especially
In positions of this sort White this far ahead, you can afford to give
has a lasting initiat ive on the back much of your extra material,
Kingside, and Black's King faces seri, not j ust to simplify to an easy ending
ous danger even if it is not yet imme, (as in Ch. 4) but also to break an
diate. Rather than try to "stop the attack. Here Black p layed 4 1 ...
tide," Black cleverly evacuated by Qxg2t 42. Qxg2 (the King gets
34 .. K£8! 35. h4 Ke7 and survived
. mated if i t capture s ) Re2 . H is
for quite a while longer ( though threats gone and facing a hopeless
Karpov won in the end) . ending, White resigned.
264
Et Now play for Black in this posi� .§ Here, too, Black needs help.
tion. How?
7 �85. Planinc-Ivkov, Yugoslav Ch., 7 �86. Brooks-Peters, Texas Open,

1978, at Black's 32nd move. 1988, at Black's 27th move.
7-85 7-86
B B
ANSWER AN S WER
White's attack has kept him Realize Black is two exchanges
from resigning, but when Black ahead, and doesn't need both. More
played 32 Rxb5 33. Qxb5t Qxb5
.•• important is reducing White's at�
34. cxb5 Rxc l t 35. Kxc l Bxh2 the tackers; so Black played 2 7 Rxe5
•••
mass liquidation ended any hope for 28. Qxe5 t K£7 29. Nd5 ReS, grad�
White, and he resigned. ually improving his position. With
his King so exposed, patience and
time are required, but after a while
Black reached . . .
265
� . . . this position. What next? an extra pawn; and now after 36 . . .

Qf5 t? 37. Qxf5 gxf5 38 . Ke3 a4 39.
7,37. Brooks-Peters, Texas Open, Kd3 White is a critical tempo ahead
1 988, at Black's 35th move. and stops the pawns .
.§: Things really look bad for White

here. Is there a way?
7 ,88. Timman-Romanishin,
Indonesia, 1983, at White's
3 1 st move.
7-88
w
AN SWER
Finally Black gets his chance to
trade down, but he must do it the
right way. He played 35 Qf5t 36.
.••
Qx£5 gx£5 , producing an ending

where Black has not only a slight
material advantage but also a dan,
gerous pair of pawns way over on the AN SWER
Queenside. These pawns prevent I ndeed-Wh ite p l ayed 3 1 .
White from winning a pawn by 3 7. Qxg4! Qxg4 (3 1 . . . Qxh2t produces
Ne7t Kf7 38 . Nxf5 , for then 38 . . . nothing) 32. a7 and soon won. The
Rf6 39 . g4 a4 40. Ke3 Rxf5 and a sacrifice ends any real hope for
pawn queens . Instead, the game Black's attack, so the focus shifts to
went 3 7. Ke3 Kf7 and Black soon the other side of the board where
won with a little endgame tech, Black lacks the means to deal with
nique. the a,pawn for very long.
There is another tradedown you
might have looked at, but I hope did
not pick. With 35 . . . Rxd5 ? ! 36 .
Qxd5 ? Qxd5 37. cxd5 Black queens a
pawn with 3 7. . . a4 , etc. (of course
38 . Ke3 b3 39. axb3 requires 39 . . . a3
to win). Also, Black wins after 35 . . .
Rxd5 ? ! 3 6 . Qxg6 t? Qg7 because
again the pawns get there first: 3 7.
Qxg7t ( if 37. Qe8 t Qf8t or 37.
Qe6t Qf7t and Black forces the ex,
change of Queens) Kxg7 38 . cxd5
a4 , etc. But the trouble is White re,
captures, 35 . . . Rxd5 ? ! 36 . cxd5 , with
266
� Is there a way out for White in .§ . . . this position. What's best

this position? now?
7;89. Chernin-Nikolic, World 7;90. Chernin-Nikolic, World

Junior Ch., 1 979, at White's Junior Ch., 1 979, at White's
7-90
w
ANS WER AN S WER

While 27. Nd2? stops the mate, Black hopes to continue 29 . . .
Black happily equalizes material by Ng4 , but White used another,
27 . . . Qxd2 28 . Bxh3 Qxa5 . The so; though somewhat deeper, tactical
lution is a simple tactical device, the trick: 29. Qb l ! Qxd2 30. Nb3 (the
zwischenzug ( in;between move) 27. point) Qg5 3 1 . Bxh3 Qh5 32. Bfl .
Qb4t Kg8, and then 28. Nd2 is By now Black was too discouraged by
covered. When Black persisted with White's incisive play to even bother
28 Qe l , we have . . .
••• with the "cheapo" 32 . . . Ng4 ( easily
handled by 33 . h3) and resigned.
As we have been seeing, the de,
fender as well as the attacker can make
telling use of tactics .
267
� Now play for Black in this posi, .§ Here is another Black player fac,
tion. ing threats-what to do?
7 ,91 . Romanishin-Ribli, Mexico 7 ,92. Sokolov-Karpov, Candidates'

City Interzonal, 198 1 , at Match, game 1 1 , 1987, at
Black's 18th move. Black's 25th move.
7-9 1
B
AN SWER AN SWER
White has an attack for his pawn Once again, the defender must
minus, so Black must defend care, attend to the attacker's threats and
fully. He has a good counterattack meet them--or at least the most se,
with . . b5 in the offing, but the im,
. rious one(s). Here the real threat is
mediate 1 8 . . . b5 ? allows 1 9 . Bxg7! not taking a Rook, but 26 . Bf6 and
Bxg7 20 . Qg5 , taking advantage of 27. RhB#; so Karpov played 25 •..
Black's Queen being screened off. Nf4. White resigned here, for 26.
Consequently Black p layed first Bf6 Nh5 stops White cold, as does
1 8... g6 (also weak is 1 8 . . . e5 1 9 . 26. Bxa8 Rxa8 27. f3 Nd5 . In either
Be3 b5 20 . Bh6 g6 2 1 . Nd5) 1 9. case, Black is still a piece ahead after
Rh3, and then 1 9 b5. This coun,
••. giving back the exchange.
terattack led to neutralizing White's
attack, and Black went on to win.
268
.§ What do you do about it here for .§ Black's exposed King here seems
White ? to indicate a long struggle if he wants
to make something of his slight rna�
7 �93. Gligoric-Olafsson, Lone terial advantage-but is that really
Pine, 1979, at White's 30th the case ?
move.
7 �94. Kavalek-Karpov, Montreal,
7-93 1 979, at Black's 40th move.
w
7-94
B
AN SWER
Here, too, you must see the
threat and counter it. Black hopes AN S WER
for 30. Rxe5 ? ? Qxh2 t 3 1 . Kxh2 Black doesn't have to just pa�
Rh4# . The simple solution: 30. tiently maneuver for a chance to
Qc8t, and Black resigned. The big trade off pieces; he can also be offen�
difference is that now White can sive. Karpov got nasty with 40 •••
safely take the Knight: 30 . . . Kh7 3 1 . Nd4. This threatens both the Rook
Rxe5 , and if 3 1 . . . Qxh2t, 32 . Kxh2 on fS and a deadly fork on e2, and
Rh4t 33 . Qh3 . since the obvious reply 4 1 . ReS is
inadequate ( 4 1 . . . Ne2 t 4 2 . Rxe2
Qxe2 leaves Black with an extra
Rook) , White gave up.
269
.§. In this position, White seems to !! Here White has disturbed Black's
be "on the ropes" and ready to fall. King. What would you do about it as
Can his game be saved ? Black ?
7,95. Friend-Ault, NJ 1 979, at 7 ,9 6. Van Parreren---ro

-C tto, Women's
White's 22nd move. Olympiad: Lucerne, 1982, at
Black's 28th move.
7-95
w 7-96
B
AN S WER
N aturally I was hoping not, for ANSWER
the Knight is threatened, and its de, Possible is 28 . . . Qxh7 29. Qxd4 ,
parture clears the way for Qf2t.
. . . but Black has no advantage in mate,
But White played 2 2 . Qh6! , and af, rial and might still find her compro,
ter 22... Rxe4 23. Rfl B£3 24. mised King position to be a problem.
Rx£3 we abandoned the game as Instead she produced 28... Bf3 !
drawn, for 24 . . . Qxf3 25 . Qxg6t es, Shaken, White fell into 29. Qxd4??
tablishes a perpetual check. Qxh3t 30. Kgl Qxg2#.
Probably White feared 29 . gxf3
Qxh3 f 30. Kgl Nxf3 t , which looks
bad after 3 1 . Kf2 Ng5 . Actually,
White puts up stiff resistance with
32 . Rhl fS! 33 . exf6 Nxe4t 34 . Bxe4
Rxf6t 35 . Ke2! Qxhl 36 . Bxh l Rh6
3 7. Bg2 Rc6 38. Ke3 Rc2 , and Black
goes a pawn up in a rare contest of
two Rooks against three minor
pieces.
270
.§ In the next several positions, � Now decide how to proceed for

concluding this chapter, you can Black in the position below.
deal with some more complex con,
siderations of attack and defense. 7 ,98. Smyslov-Fischer, Candidates'
Start with this one for Black. Tm., 1959, at Black's 25th
move.
7,97. Golombek-Papa, Warsaw
Olympiad, 1935, at Black's 7-98
28th move.
B
7-97
B
AN S WER
Black cannot grab the Rook, for
25 . . . Nxf6? 26 . gxf6 Qe5 27. Qh6
AN SWER sets up a basic mating pattern (here
White's threats seem worth his stopped only by giv ing up the
sacrificed piece, for 28 . . . fxg6 29 . Queen) , so a little discipline is called
Qxh6 t Kg8 30. Rxg6 t Qxg6 3 1 . for. Actually Black has his own con,
Qxg6t gives him at least a draw, structive action, and Fischer played
while 28 . . . Qg7 29 . Bf5 Qf6 30. Bg6 25 e3 26. b3 Rd2. Now Black can
..•
repeats the position. But Black did take the Rook (27 . . . Nxf6 28 . gxf6
better: 28 ... Qxf2t! and White re, Qc5 29 . Rc 1 Qd4) , so Smyslov felt
signed (29. Kxf2 fxg6t and Black compelled to simplify by 27. Bxd7
safely emerges two pieces ahead) . Rxd7 , and Fischer's extra pawn was
enough to win.
271
� What do you do about that � Now play for Black in this posi,
Bishop for Black here ? tion.
7,99. Bronstein-Petrosian, U.S.S.R. 7 , 1 00. Portisch-Karpov, Moscow,

Ch., 1960, at Black's 1 6th 1 977, at Black's 22nd move.
move.
7- 1 00
7-99 B
B
AN SWER
AN S WER Back in Chs. 3 and 4 you might
Retreating to get away from the have been primed to trade Queens to
Bishop leads to a lot of grief, so keep a slight material advantage, but
Petrosian took it off. Naturally 1 6•.. by now you should consider whether
hxg6 1 7. Qxh8 yields the exchange, that's the best you can do. Naturally
but in return the initiative shifts Karpov did, and came up with 22 •..
over to Black. Qd2. After 23. cxb6? the point was

The game continued 1 7 dxc3
••• revealed with 23 ReS, and White
•••
1 8. Qh7t Bg7 1 9. Be3 (obviously resigned. If White tries to save his

1 9 . bxc3 is out of the question) cxb2 Queen with 24 . QbS , Black strikes
20. Rdl Ba6, when it is clear White against f2 with 24 Rc2 and White
. . .
is in dire straights. In fact, the game must lose his Queen after all by 25 .
lasted only three more moves ( 2 1 . £5 Qfl Rc l .
ex£5 22. Qh3 Qc2 23. Q£3 Bc4)
before White surrendered.
272
� What should Black do in this � How should Black proceed in

position ? this position?
7,10 1 . Teichmann-Tchigorin, 7, 102. Shirazi-Christiansen, U.S.

Cambridge Springs, 1 904, at Open, 198 1 , at Black's 29th
Black's 1 Sth move. move.
7- 1 01 7-1 02
B B
AN SWER AN S WER
Remember, in positions like this Black pursued his attack with
with Kings on opposite sides of the 29 ReS 30. Qg1 Be2, when his
•••
board, attack your opponent's King threat to f3 netted the exchange un,
before he gets yours. Thus 1 5 . . . der advantageous circumstances: 3 1 .
Qxg2 is foolhardy, and Tchigorin Kg2 Qh5 ! 32. Rfl Bxf l , and Black
played 1 5 b5 with advantage
• • • won. On the other hand, it should
based on White's already compro, be obvious that grabbing the ex,
rnised King position. The game con, change directly is suicidal: 29 . . .
tinued 1 6. Rhg1 Qe7 1 7. Rdf l Bxa l ? 30. Qxal t Kh7 3 1 . Nf6t, etc.
Qa3 t 1 8. Kd2 ( to protect the pawn
on c3 ) b4! 1 9. c4 Ba4 with White
in big trouble.
273
� Here, White's choice is some, � This time White seems in

what similar-what's your pick? trouble-what to do?
7, 1 03 . Fischer-Sherwin, NJ Open, 7,104. Pachman--Sefc, Trencianske,

1 95 7, at White's 22nd move. Teplice, 1 949, at White's 29th
move.
ANSWER
While not immediately fatal, AN SWER
22 . Bxb7 Bxb7 hands the initiative In fact, White is winning, and
over to Black for minor material there is no need to duck for cover
gain. Fischer typically wanted more, with 29. h4 gxh3 30. Kh2 . Instead he
and played 22. h6! After 22 Qxh4
••• coolly played 29. Rfc l , not worried
23. hxg7 Kxg7? 24. Re4! Qh5 25. about 29 . . . Qxh2 t 30. Kfl when
Re3 his attack was raging and soon Black has chased his quarry to no
triumphed. avail and now finds his Queen out of
play. Realizing this too, Black played
29 Qxe5 , but after 30. Rxa7 Qb8
•••
3 1 . Rlc7 White's stranglehold was

obvious in a position of approximate
material equality.
274
.§ To conclude this chapter, here is .§. . . . you can finish off the game,
a position where it is not clear who is and the chapter: your move for
winning. It is White's move, but White.
Black threatens . . . Qxa3 and/or
. . Rxb2t. Who wins, and why?
. 7 � 1 06. Farre--Gudmundsson,
Munich Olympiad, 1 958, at
7�105. Farre---Gudmundsson, Munich White's 24th move.
Olympiad, 1958, at White's
22nd move. 7-1 06
w
7- 1 05
w
AN S WER
White produced Black's resigna�
AN SWER tion with 24. Qf8t! After 24 . . .
White has serious threats too, RxfB , White can play either 25 .
and bought some time with 22. Bb5 ! Rxh7 Kxh7 26 . Rh l t Kg8 27. RhB# or
When Black captured, 22... Rxb5 25 . gxfB=Qt Kxf8 26 . Rxh7 with
(the other two captures allow 23 . RhB# to follow. White also wins by
Qxc3) , White played 23. Qxd6. Be� 24 . c4 , which disrupts Black's attack,
sides the obvious threat on the back e.g., 24 . . . Rb3 or 24 . . . Bxc4 allows
rank, this move covers a3, so that 25 . Rxh7.
23 . . . Rxb2t 24 . Kxb2 offers Black On the other hand, White can
nothing. Black accordingly defended still lose by trying 24 . Rxh7?! The
with 23 ReS, and now . . .
•.• idea is 24 . . . Kxh7? ? 25 . Rhl t and
mates, but Black turns the tables by
24 . . . Rxb2ti Now comes 25 . Kxb2
Qc3 t 26 . Kbl Qxc2t 27. Kal Qa2#,
or 25 . Kcl R8xc2#, or 25 . Kal Ra2t
26 . Kbl Ral ti 27. Kxal Qc3 t and
mates in two.
The critical difference is Black's
Rook at c8, which here plays an im�
portant role, but in the winning line
(24 . QfBti) is off the board. Such
differences can make the difference
between winning and losing, espe�
cially when both Kings are endan�
gered. So look carefully!
275
No Holds
Baned
In the previous chapters, the po, 8, 1 . Keres-Richter, Munich

sitions for the most part have been Olympiad, 1 936, at White's
related to the theme of the chapter. 46th move.
Here in this last chapter things are
different-the correct move may be
related to any of the strategical
themes we have covered, or it may be
tactical. This condition may make
finding the right move a bit harder,
but it is also more realistic. But real
games, as opposed to single posi..
tions, also involve some consistency
over stretches of moves, which can
facilitate the choice of move. So this
chapter contains sequences from
games, with between two and six po, AN SWER
sitions for your practice. Ready? Go It should be clear that White
to it. will have to give up his Bishop for
the b,pawn, leaving a foot race
among the remaining pawns. Keres
gained precious time by 46. g4! fxg4
47. e4.
Now, after the Bishop and the
b,pawn are liquidated, White queens
his e,pawn one step ahead of Black's
a,pawn, and the position of Black's
King allows White to force the ex,
change of Queens (QhBt) , leaving
White's King a clear field to gobble
pawns to . . .
276
No Holds Barred---8
!! . . this position. ( If that descrip,

. � Do your best for White in this
tion lost you, set up a board and play position.
it out from there to here.) Now finish
it off. 8'3. Fischer-Larsen, Candi,
dates' Match, game 5, 1 97 1 ,
8'2 . Keres-Richter, Munich at White's 39th move.
Olympiad, 1 936, at White's
59th move.
AN S WER
Clearly White's passed a,pawn
AN SWER confers a big advantage, and he
Keres played 59. Kg6 and Black should push it as quickly as feasible.
resigned. Only this move allows Gaining a tempo would help, though
White to advance and queen his 3 9 Bb4t KeB only chases Black's
.
pawn without hindrance. Notice King where it wants to go anyhow

that 59 . h4? Kf6 60. h5 Kf7 produces (over to stop the a,pawn). Instead
what should be a familiar drawing Fischer played 39. Bc3, gaining the
situation where White's King is stuck tempo in a meaningful way by the
in the corner blocking his pawn, offer to exchange Bishops. Normally
while 59 . Kg7? Kf5 60 . h4 Kg4 loses Black would like to decline such an
the pawn. offer, but here 3 9 . . Ba3 40 . a5 Bc5
.
4 1 . Bd4 wins easily (note the a,pawn

is now beyond the reach of Black's
King). Thus Black exchanged, hop,
ing that after 39 Bxc3 40. Kxc3
•••
Ke7 4 1 . Kd4 Kd6 Fischer would

somehow bungle . . .
277
.§. . • . the position below. How about .§. Time for some more pieces. Play
you? for White.
8'4. Fischer-Larsen, Candi, 8'5. Capablanca-Janowski, NY

dates' Match, game 5, 1 97 1 , 1 9 1 8, at White's 28th move.
at White's 42nd move.
8-5
w
AN SWER
AN S WER Capablanca went for the kill
Winning here is a matter of with 28. Qh5 with the powerful
technique, based on divert ing threat of 29 . Rh4 . Black tried a des,
Black's King to chase the pawn on perate defense with 28... g6 29.
one side while your King goes hunt, Rxg6 Rad8, bringing us . . .
ing on the other.
The game concluded 42. a5 £6
43. a6 Kc6 44. a7 Kb7 45. Kd5 h4
46. Ke6 resigns.
278
No Holds Barred-8
� . . . to this position. What now? � In the position below, Black is in

the process of emerging from the
8'6. Capablanca-J anowski, NY opening with the more comfortable
1 9 1 8, at White's 30th move. position, based on his advantage in
space. However, he still has to com,
8-6 plete his development. How should
he proceed?
w
8, 7 . Spassky-Kortchnoi,
Candidates' Match, game 5 ,
1 968, a t Black's 1 2th move.
8-7
B
AN SWER
Black is now able to defend h 7
along the 7th rank, so 30. Rh4 Rd7
leaves him holding on with hopes
White will somehow forget about his
own 1 st rank. Bu t Cap ablanca
brought down the curtain with 30.
Rg7 1 Black saw the rest and resigned AN S WER
rather than play through 30 . . . Kxg7 Kortchnoi played 12 Bg4!, de,
.••
3 1 . Qg5t KhB 32 . Rxd8 . The point veloping the Bishop while threaten,
now is that 32 . . . Rxd8 allows 33 . ing to break up White's pawns with
Qf6#, which is threatened anyway, 1 3 . . . Bxf4 . Since White's develop,
leaving Black with no effective de, ing move 1 3 . Qd2 is met by 1 3 . . .
fense. Bxe2 followed by 1 4 . . . Bxf4 to the
same effect, he was obliged to help
Black develop further by playing 1 3.
Bxd6 Qxd6.
Note that Black did not have to
worry about his b,pawn; for example,
now 1 4 . Bxb7 RbB 1 5 . Bg2 Rxb2 re,
covers the pawn. In the game, White
continued ( after 1 2 . . . Bg4! 1 3 . Bxd6
Qxd6) weakly with 14. h3, bringing
us to . . .
279
� this position. What should � . . . the pos1t10n below. How

Black do now? should Black improve his position
now?
8�8. Spassky-Kortchnoi,
Candidates' Match, game 5 , 8�9. Spassky-Kortchnoi,
1 968, at Black's 1 4th move. Candidates' Match, game 5 ,
1 968, at Black's 1 7th move.
8-8
B 8-9
B
AN S WER
The Bishop is threatened, and ANSWER
with no surprise move in sight, the The key is to find a vulnerable
choice comes down to where to spot to bother White. That Kortch�
move it. Exchanging such a nice noi did with 1 7 Nd7, the Knight
•••
Bishop for the Knight would be al� heading for eS and f3 . To meet this
most criminal, and the retreats 1 4 . .
. threat Spassky answered 1 8. Bxc6
BhS or 1 4 . . . Be6 only leave it ex� Qxc6 19. Ng2, prepared to meet
posed when White gets his Knight to 1 9 . . . Ne5 with 20. Nh4 . Kortchnoi
f4. And as we saw previously, Black played 1 9 h6, renewing the threat
•..
need not worry about protecting his (by supporting the evicting . . g5) , .
b�pawn yet, so 1 4 . . . Bc8 would be which prompted Spassky to weaken

absurd . That leaves Kortchnoi's his King position with 20. £4. Now
move: 1 4 Bd7. The game contin�
••• after 20 N£6 (heading now for d5
•.•
ued 1 5. N£4 Rfe8 1 6. Qd2 Bc6 1 7. and b4 or e3 ) Kortchnoi had a last�

Rae 1 , resulting in . . . ing advantage, though Spassky was
eventually able to draw.
280
No Halas Barred--8
� Let's take a break from world � . . . this position. What now?

champions-here's one of my games.
Play for Black. 8� 1 1 . Stella-Ault, NJ 1 974, at
Black's 1 6th move.
8� 1 0. Stella-Ault, NJ 1 974, at
Black's 1 2th move. 8- 1 1
B
8- 1 0
B
AN S WER
With 1 6 Qh4 I threatened
•••
ANSWER both mate on f2 and the Bishop on

White has carelessly neglected g4. After 1 7. Bg3 Qxg4 White was
to cover his King, so I cheerfully down a piece, and resigned shortly.
played 1 2 Bh4t, obliging 1 3. Kfl.
•••
Now disconcerted, my teen�aged op�

ponent answered 1 3 Nd7 with 1 4.
.••
Bh5 Qe7 1 5 . Bg4 ? Nxe5 1 6.

. .
Bxe5 7. gtvmg us . . .
,
28 1
� Now take stock of this position � . . this position. Can White fi,
.
and play for Black. nally get free, or can you find a good
continuation for Black (to move) ?
8� 1 2 . DeFirmian-Alburt, U.S.
Ch., 1 988, at Black's 40th 8, 1 3 . DeFirmian-Alburt, U.S.
move. Ch., 1 988, at Black's 67th
move.
8- 1 2
B 8- 1 3
B
ANS WER
Despite his pawn minus at the AN SWER
moment, it is Black who is playing White is on his last legs if Black
for a win, especially after he played plays correctly, and he did by 67 ..•
40 Rc4! The threat of 4 1 . . . Rxg4t

••• Ra2t! Since 68 . Ke3 loses at once
is so compelling that White felt it (can you see why?), White tried 68.
preferable to play the ugly 4 1 . £3 and Kdl Rb l t 69. Nc l R£2 70. Rc3
entomb his Rook on h3. The only (protecting the Knight again). But
real choice is 4 1 : Ne3 , but after 41 .. . then 70 Rxh2 left White helpless,
•••
Rb4 White soon loses his b� and e� and he resigned (he can only give
pawns and still can't get his Rook Rook checks, after which Black can
out. Subsequently, after stout resis� simply check at h l and take the
tance by White, his Rook was still Knight, queening his pawn if White
there in . . . liquidates).
282
No Holds Barred-8
.§ Here White has some obvious � . . . the position below. What

advantages-how do you make use next?
of them?
8, 1 5 . Fischer-Addison, U.S.
8, 14. Fischer-Addison, U.S. Open, 1 95 7 , at White's 3 1st
Open, 1 9 5 7 , at White's 29th move.
move.
8-1 5
8- 1 4
w
AN SWER
ANSWER Black is willing to let go of the
Not only is the Bishop better pawn on f4 to free his Knight, but
than the Knight in this sort of why let him off so lightly? Black is
endgame, but also Black's crippled not threatening anything yet, and
pawns doom him in a King ending. White has a pawn majority on the
So Fischer played 29. Be5 !, effec, Queenside-so use it. Fischer played
tively immobilizing Black's Knight 3 1 . b4, and the pawns are rolling
(29 . Nf6 30. Bxf6 , etc. ) . Black
. . with not enough to stop them. Black
wriggled with 29 Kh5 30. Kd3 g4,
••• played to delay and harass: 3 1 . .. a6
bringing about . . . 32. a4 gxf3 33. gx£3 Kh4 34. b5
axb5, to . . .
An example of serious immo,

bilzation of a Knight by a Bishop.
283
Et . . this position. Now what?

. Et In this position, White is trying
to win with his extra pawn; but you
8, 1 6. Fischer-Addison, U.S. have to play for Black.
Open, 1 9 5 7 , at White's 3 5 th
move. 8, 1 7. Karpov-Kasparov, World
Ch. Match, game 1 9, 1 987,
8- 1 6 at Black's 59th move.
w
8- 1 7
B
AN SWER
It's true White still wins after 35 .
axb5 , but would I really ask you for AN SWER
such an obvious move ? I hope you Routine play by 5 9 . . . Rfl is no
looked further and found Fischer's good because of 60. Rg6 collecting
move: 35. a5 ! This ensures a new the h,pawn, but Black can save him,
Queen in the near future without a self by violating a principle and go,
pawn having to traverse the c 7 ing into a pawn,down King ending.
square, which was obvious to Black Kasparov played 59 Ke5 !, allow,
.••
after 35 . Kh3 36. c6, and he re,

.. ing 60. Re7t Kd6 6 1 . Re6t (61 .
signed (36 bxc6 37. a6 , etc.) .
. . . Rg7 Ke5 only goes in circles) Kxe6
62. Kx£4, producing . . .
284
No Holds Barred-8
� . . the position below. Make the

. .§. Is White's pawn at d6 an asset or
right move. a liability? Play for Black.
8, 1 8. Karpov-Kasparov, World 8, 1 9. Rao-Kasparov,

Ch. Match, game 19, 1 987, Simultaneous, NY 1 988, at
at Black's 62nd move. Black's 22nd move.
8- 1 8 8- 1 9
B B
AN SWER AN SWER
The crucial point is Black must Kasparov began dismantling
keep the opposition, so Kasparov White's chances with 22 Bxc3 23.
•••
played 62 Ke7 ! and a draw was

••• bxc3. Giving up this good Bishop
agreed. After 63 . Kf5 Kf7 White can makes sense only when done with a
make no progress with his King, and specific, good reason in mind, which
64 . e5 fxe5 65 . Kxe5 Ke7! maintains Kasparov had. If you didn't see why,
the opposition and the draw (but not
65 . . . Kgl? 66 . Ke6 Kh7 67. Kf6 , and
White wins the h,pawn and the
game) .
285
� . . look again in this position.

. a Here is another position with a
problem for Black. How would you
8�20. Rao-Kasparov, handle it?
Simultaneous, NY 1 988, at
Black's 23rd move. 8�2 1 . Ault-Shapiro, NJ 1 973, at
Black's 24th move.
8-20
B
AN S WER
The idea is revealed by 23 •••
AN SWER
Ne5 , exposing an attack on White's Both sides can generate mating
Queen, made unprotected by Black's threats, but White's come sooner
previous move. Since retreating to f1 (with only one more move: Bb2) . So
is unappetizing and 24 . Qe2 Nec4 Black must go over to the defensive,
loses the exchange, White submitted in particular by blocking the long
to 24. Qxd7 Nxf3t 25. gxf3 Nxd7. diagonal a l �h8. He played the only
In four moves Kasparov has removed effective defense: 24 •••ReB 25.
half the pieces and loused up White's Rxe8t Bxe8 26. Bb2 Qe5 2 7. Qxe5
pawn structure, reaching an easily dxe5 28. Bxe5 c6. In doing so he
won ending. lost a pawn, leaving the question of
whether he can hold the game in the
long run. The answer can be seen . . .
286
No Holds Barred-8
� . . . in this subsequent position. � This time, Black's prospects look

What should Black do now? much brighter. How would you pro,
ceed?
8,22. Ault-Shapiro, NJ 1 973, at
Black's 38th move. 8,23 . Czemiak-Unzicker,
Moscow Olympiad, 1956, at
Black's 48th move.
AN SWER
Opposite,colored Bishop end,
ings are often drawn despite an extra AN S WER
pawn, and here Black not only has Of course Black can take the
achieved a comfortable blockade but Knight, in two ways. But meanwhile
also has White's King confined. All his last pawn is loose, and his win,
he need do is sit tight. He played ning chances after 48 . . . Kx/7 49 .
38 ... Bd7, and a draw was agreed. Rxa4 are problematic at best. That's
On the other hand, a move like 38 . . . why Black chose 48 Bb3 ! 49. Nd6
•••
Kd3 ? 39. Kf4 turns the pawn on hS a3 . After some maneuvering to

into a targe t , wh i l e 3 8 . . . Kf5 reach . . .
shouldn't lose but lets White play on
for a while (39. d7 Bxd7 40 . Kxf3 ,
etc.).
287
� . this position, Black was ready

. . a Now play for White in this posi,
(or is it almost ready?) to queen his tion.
pawn. Take your pick.
8,25. Nimzovich-Salwe,
8,24. Czemiak-Unzicker, Karlsbad, 1 9 1 1 , at White's
Moscow Olympiad, 1 956, at 1 7th move.
Black's 5 5 th move.
8-25
w
AN SWER
AN SWER Control of eS is the critical issue,
The immediate 55 . . . al =Q is so Nimzovich secured it by 1 7. Ne5
not good enough: 56. Rxal Rxdl t (otherwise Black could play . . . Ng4
(Black's two moves can be reversed) and e5 with advantage). The game
. . .
57. Kxdl Bxal drawn. Also, a dis, continued 1 7 Be8 1 8. Rae 1 Bxe5
..•
covery like 55 . . . Rh2 t is negated by 1 9. Bxe5 (preserving Queens, natu,

56. Nxc3 . So Black produced the rally) Qc6 20. Bd4 Bd7 2 1 . Qc2
c l e v e r 5 5 . . . R e 2 t , prompting with White having a clear advan,
White's resignation. The best White tage. Subsequently White managed
can do is 56 . Kxe2 Bc4t (the point) to capture the h,pawn, and . . .
57. Bd3 Bxa6 58. Bxa6 al =Q, but it's
not good enough.
288
No Holds Barred-8
E! . this position was reached.

. . � . what should White do in this
. .
What should White do now? position?
8,26. Nimzovich-Salwe, 8, 2 7. N imzovich-Salwe,

Karlsbad, 1 9 1 1 , at White's Karlsbad, 1 9 1 1 , at White's
34th move. 3 7 th move.
8-26 8-27
w w
AN SWER AN S WER
Now with an extra pawn, White The "two Bishops " generally
is glad to liquidate into an ending. confer an advantage, but one of
N imzovich played 34. Qxd4 exd4 their uses is to create opportunities
35. Rxe7 Kxe7 36. Bd3 (blocking for favorable simplification.
the d,pawn-otherwise . Bb5 is . . In this case, Black himself has
troublesome) Kd6, and now . . . offered it, and N imzovich took ad,
vantage. After 37. Bx£6 gx£6 38. h4
White's newly,minted passed pawn
plus his extra pawn make Black's de.
fense relatively hopeless, and he re.
signed.
289
.§ Now decide what to do for White .§ . . the position below. Same

.
in the position below. question.
8,28. Kortchnoi-Segal, Sao 8,29. Kortchnoi-Segal, Sao

Paulo, 1 979, at White's 28th Paulo, 1 979, at White's
move. 42nd move.
8-28 8-29
w w
AN S WER ANSWER
The issue revolves around the This time the answer is different,
Bishops currently in contact. Con, for White is now ahead and Black's
si dered by the mse l v e s , B l ack's Bishop can be a useful defender.
Bishop is "better" than White's, so Kortchnoi exchanged, 42. Bxe8
White should trade. But in relation Qxe8, and concluded the game in
to the whole board, White is apply, short order: 43. Rh8t K£7 44. Qd3
ing pressure based on a spatial advan, a6; and now . . .
tage, and exchanging would ease
Black's cramp.
Accordingly, Kortchnoi played
28. Bc2 Bh3 29. R£2 and eventu,
ally was able to gain a slight material
advantage, bringing us to . . .
290
No Holds Barred-8
� . . . how do you proceed in this � . . . how do you finish off in this

position ? position?
8,30. Kortchnoi-Segal, Sao 8, 3 1 . Kortchnoi-Segal, Sao

Paulo, 1979, at White's 45th Paulo, 1 979, at White's 46th
move. move.
8-30 8-31
w w
AN SWER AN S WER
The purpose of White's last The clincher was 46. RxfSt,
move, not to mention exchanging and Black resigned. The Knight was
Bishops previously, now appears. helping cover d7, and after 46 . . .
Kortchnoi played 45. d6, threaten, Kxf8 47. Rh8t either 47 . . . Kf7 48 .
ing a deadly check on dS . Black d7 or 47 . . . Rg8 48 . Rxg8t Kxg8 49 .
made the only reasonable defense d7 leaves Black able to stop the pawn
with 45 . Qc6, but then . . .
.. only at the cost of his own Queen.
29 1
� Turning to a new game, we have � . . this position. Does White still

.
various possibilities for White below. exchange ?

Make your choice.
8�33 . Zaharov-Estevez, Sochi,
8�32. Zaharov-Estevez, Sochi, 1 976, at White's 35th move.
8-33
8-32 w
w
AN SWER
AN SWER Sure enough-this is no excep,
Rather than engage in any fur� tion! After 35. Rxe5 dxe5 36. K£3
ther complications, White pretty White's King easily holds Black's two
much forced the exchange of Queens connected passed pawns. As for
by 30. Q£3 !, banking on his extra Black's task, consider after 36 K£7
•••
pawn. Black complied, and after 37. Ke4 b6 38. b4 g5, giving us . . .
30 Qx£3t 3 1 . Kx£3 (bringing the
.••
King into the center) Re3t 32. K£2

Re5 33. Rd l Re4 34. Re t Re5 we
have . . .
292
No Holds Barred-8
!! . . the position below. What does

. !! Here, Black's obvious choice is
White do now? how to capture the Bishop. How?
8�34. Zaharov-Estevez, Sochi, 8� 3 5 . Lilienthal-Botvinnik,

1 976, at White's 39th move. U.S.S.R. Absolute Ch. ,
1 94 1 , at Black's 22nd move.
8-34 �-�
w� 8-35
B
ANSWER
Wh ite's winning edge comes AN SWER
from being able to create another Botvinnik chose 22 Kx£6, for,
•••
passed pawn over on the h�file, giv� as he notes, Black's winning chances
ing Black's King more than it can with his extra pawn depend on keep�
cope with. With 39. h4 gxh4 40. ing his pawn structure healthy. Now
gxh4 he established it, and Black re� 23 . Qf3 t Qf5 would give Black no
signed. problem. The game continued 23.
The danger in the position as b3 g6 24. Rdl Rd8, and Black has
given is that Black was threatening his Rook developed and a safe haven
to cripple White's pawn majority. For for his King on g7 ready and waiting.
example, the careless 3 9 . c5? bxc5 Subsequently . . .
40. bxc5 g4! gives Black a draw.
293
� . . . this position arose. How .§ . . this position. What next for

.
should Black continue ? Black?
8, 36. Lilienthal-Botvinnik, 8, 3 7. Lilienthal-Botvinnik,

U.S.S.R. Absolute Ch., U.S.S.R. Absolute Ch.,
1 94 1 , at Black's 38th move. 1 94 1 , at Black's 39th move.
8-36 8-37
B B
AN S WER A N S WER
G iv e n the oppos ite .-colored White was hoping he could force
Bishops and the resulting pawn the exchange of Rooks and end up
weakness, Black is not ready to force defending his b.-pawn as well (39 . . .
the exchange of Queens by 38 . . . Rxdl 40. Qxd I ) but Botvinnik un.

,
QhS t 3 9 . QxhS gxhS . Besides, corked 39 Rg2 ! Since 40. Qxg2?

•••
White's King is certainly uncomfort, QhS is mate, White tried blocking

able stuck out on h3 . So Botvinnik the a8,h l diagonal with 40. Qe4,
turned up the pressure a bit with now hoping for an exchange of
38 •••Qd5 . White reacted poorly Queens. But then Botvinnik won
with 39. Rd l ?, bringing about . . . another pawn by 40... Rxh2 t 4 1 .
Kxh2 Qh5t 42. Kg2 Qxd l . When
White protected the b.-pawn by 43.
Bc4, . . .
294
No Holds Barred--8
.§ this position was reached. .§. . . this position was reached, and
.
Now what should Black do ? Black was ready to "make his move."
8,38. Lilienthal-Botvinnik, 8, 39. Lilienthal-Botvinnik,

U.S.S.R. Absolute Ch., U.S.S.R. Absolute Ch.,
1 94 1 , at Black's 43rd move. 1 94 1 , at Black's 49th move.
8-38 8-39
B B
AN SWER AN SWER
White's King position is still in, Botvinnik's idea was to ex,
secure, so Botvinnik went after it change his d,pawn for White's g,
with 43 h5. The threat of 44 . . . h4
••• pawn, and he played 49... Bb4.
persuaded White to offer the ex, White could resist better by replying
change of Queens, which Black ac, 50 . Kf3 , although that means re,
cepted: 44. Q£3 Qxf3t 45. Kx£3. treating, but when he accepted the
The factor underlying Black's bait the game soon ended: 50. Kxd4
play here is the awareness that the Be l 5 1 . Ke4 Bxg3 52. K£3 Be l 53.
two extra pawns will be enough to Bc6 Bb4 54. Ba4 Bd6 55. Bc6 £5
win the ending despite the opposite, and White resigned, for e5 will
. . .
colored Bishops. By way of illustra, give Black three connected passed

tion, after 45 Be7 46. Ke4 Bc5
••• pawns.
47. Bb5 K£6 48. Be2 Ke7 49. Bb5
295
,§ As we pick up the next game, ,EJ. • • • this position. What next for
Black has a simple decision to make. Black ?
It's up to you.
8,4 1 . Htibner-Karpov, Tilburg,
SAO. Htibner-Karpov, Tilburg, 1 9 7 7 , at Black's 2 1 st move.
1 97 7 , at Black's 20th move.
8-41
8-40 B
B
AN SWER
AN S WER N o w the Kn ight can move
Karpov played 20 Kd7, keep,
... strongly into the center with 2 1 . .•
ing the King in the center in the Nd5. White made the normal re,
endgame and specifically keeping treat, 22. Bb2, leading to . . .
watch on the d6 square. White now
inaccurately played 2 1 . Bc3, creat,
ing . . .
296
No Holds Barred---8
� the position below. Continue

. . . � . the next position. What does
. .
for Black. Black do now?
8,42. Hiibner-Karpov, Tilburg, 8,43 . Hiibner-Karpov, Tilburg,

1977, at Black's 22nd move. 1 97 7 , at Black's 23rd move.
8-42 8-43
B B
AN SWER ANSWER
And now White has a soft spot Karpov chose the sequence 23 •••
along the c 1 ,h6 diagonal, which Bxe3 24. fxe3 Nxe3t 25. K£3 Nxfl
Karpov aggravated by 22 Bh6.
••. 26. Nxfl Rxc l 27. Bxc l , emerging
White can neither move the Knight with a Rook and two pawns for
nor satisfactorily defend it with a White's Bishop and Knight.
Rook, so he blocked the diagonal by Such a transaction is often dan,
23. e3, giving us . . . gerous in the middlegame, when the
two pieces can generate attacking
power, but becomes more attractive
in the endgame, when the pawns as,
sume more importance. A further as,
pect of Karpov's j udgment here is
that his Rook gets good play while
White's two pieces don't get to coop,
erate strongly. Karpov played 2 7 •••
ReS 28. Bb2, producing . . .
297
� . . the position below. Play once

. � In this position it is White to
more for Black. move. Make your choice.
8A4. Hi.ibner-Karpov, Tilburg, BAS. Botvinnik-Alatortsev,

1 977, at Black's 28th move. Leningrad Ch. , 1 932, at
White's 1 7th move.
8-44
B 8-45
w
ANSWER
It is important to make use of the ANSWER
Rook's aggressive powers when the The basic nature of this position
opportunity arises, which Karpov did is that White's isolated d�pawn usu�
by 28 Rc2! 29. Bxf6 Ra2 30. Ke3
••• ally requires him to seek his chances
Rxa3. in the middlegame, using his greater
Black would rather not allow the space to attack.
weakening of his Kings ide, but in re� Here the exchange of two pairs
tum he gets the more important ben� of minor pieces already diminishes
efit of two connected passed pawns. White's attacking chances, although
From this point Karpov used his White could alter the pawn forma�
technique to squeeze out the victory, tion by 1 7. Bxd.S exd.S , when both
White finally resigning after Move sides have isolated pawns and Black's
49. Bishop is a bit "bad." But Botvinnik
found a much better way: 1 7. Ng6!
fxg6 1 8. Bxd5. Of course White re�
gains his piece, and he emerges with
active pieces opposed to Black's
weakened pawns. Subsequently . . .
298
No Holds Barred---8
t! . this position was reached after

. . � . . here is the resulting position
.
some maneuvering and exchanges. in the game. Move again for White.
How should White proceed ?
BA 7. Botvinnik-Alatortsev,
8�46. Botvinnik-Alatortsev, Leningrad Ch., 1 932, at
Leningrad Ch., 1 932, at White's 3 2nd move.
White's 3 1st move.
8-47
8-46 w
w
AN S WER
AN SWER With no urgent opportunity or
At first glance, the correct move threat to attend to, get the King into
may seem undesirable; but then you the center: 32. Kf2 g5 33. Ke3 Kg6
should realize there's little choice, 34. Kd4 K£6, which brings us to . . .
and it really is useful. Botvinnik
played 3 1 . Rxf5 ex£5.
While this eliminates Black's
pawn weakness as a target to attack,
it still leaves Black with a doubled g�
pawn that is virtually useless to him
for offensive purposes. And consider
the alternative of 3 1 . Rxe6? Rxc5 ,
which rates as a real positional blun�
der, throwing away White's advan�
tage. At any rate, . . .
299
� . . the position below. What now

. � In the next position we find
for White? Black with an isolated d�pawn, and
you can play for White.
8�48. Botvinnik-Alatortsev,
Leningrad Ch., 1 93 2 , at 8�49. Capablanca-Rubinstein,
White's 35th move. Bad Kissingen, 1 928, at
White's 1 7th move.
8-49
w
AN SWER
Realize that Black's doubled AN SWER
pawns make White a pawn up for Here Black is already tied down
practical purposes, so simplification to defending the d�pawn, and White
suits him fine. With 35. Bd5 Bot� has the initiative. Capablanca
vinnik forced an easily won King stepped up the pressure with 1 7.
ending, though Black played on till Re4 ! Rad8 ( three defenders to
Move 46. counter the three attackers on the d�
pawn) 1 8. Rael (doubling on the
open file and threatening 1 9 . Bb4) .
Now Black sought relief by 1 8 ...
Qc6 1 9. g3 Rfe8, giving us . . .
300
No Holds Barred-8
� . . this position. How should

. Queens) N£8 Black was still holding
White proceed? grimly on. A later position from this
game . . .
8,50. Capablanca-Rubinstein,
Bad Kissingen, 1 928, at § . . is shown below. By this point,
.
White's 20th move. prolonged maneuvering by White

had gained a pawn, but not the still,
8-50 weak d,pawn. What now?
w 8,5 1 . Capablanca-Rubinstein,
Bad Kissingen, 1 928, at
White's 43rd move.
8-5 1
w
AN SWER
White could win the d,pawn
right away, 20 . RxeBt RxeB 2 1 .
RxeBt QxeB 22 . Nxd4, but look at
the problems that ensue: 22 . . . Qd7
23 . Nf5 (screens the loose h,pawn)
Qxd3 24 . cxd4 Ne5 , recovering the ANSWER
pawn with more threats. The clincher was 43. Nc5 Nd8
Correct analysis is called for to 44. Nb3 and Black resigned, for the
verify the inadvisability of taking the d,pawn finally falls and White will
pawn, but also some proper j udg, have two extra connected passed
ment can help: often you need not be pawns. Of no use was the exchange
in too much of a hurry to capture the of Knights by 43 . . . Nxc5 44 . bxc5 ,
weak pawn, especially when it's not for the advanced passed pawn sup,
going anywhere and you can keep ported by the Rook from behind ties
the pressure on. As such is the case Black to a hopeless bind ( e.g., 44 . . .
here, look for ways to maintain and, Rb7 45 . c6 Rc7 46 . Ke4 , etc.).
if possible, increase the pressure on
Black.
With that reasoning, Capa,
blanca's move is not so hard to find:
20. Ba5 ! While White's Bishop is
theoretically better than Black's, it
isn't doing anything much, while
Black's is a key defender of the d,
pawn. After 20... Rxe4 2 1 . Qxe4
(White maintains control of the e,
file and is perfectly happy to trade
301
a Next case. What should White a . . White faced this position.

.
do here ? What should he do now?
8,52. Filip-Barda, Bucharest, 8,53 . Filip-Barda, Bucharest,

1 95 2 , at White's 20th move. 1 952, at White's 27th move.
8-52 8-53
w w
AN S WER AN SWER
Each side has a loose pawn, mak, The loose d,pawn should be re,
ing the obvious question whether to garded as bait for the unwary, not as
protect or capture. White chose the the prize for strong play. Consider
latter, for after 20. Rx£5 ! Qxe2 2 1 . the consequences of grabbing it: 27.
Ne4 you will note that White's Qxd4? Bb6 28 . Qc4 Rd8 (suddenly
Knight has found a very useful post Black's p ieces are generating energy)
from which it can't be chased, and 2 9 Nc5 (there goes that wonderful
.
gone are the worries about defending Knight outpost) Bxc5 30. Qxc5 Rxd3
that backward pawn on e2. In the 3 1 . Qxal b5 , and White is no longer
meantime, the invasion of Black's winning.
Queen can be seen as nothing to be Instead, White preserved his ad,
frightened of. After a few more vantage with 2 7. b5 ! cxb5 28. Qxb5
moves . . . Rf8 29. Qc4 (of course maintaining
his d,pawn anchoring the Knight) .
Subsequently . . .
302
No Holds Barred---8
.§: this position was reached, .§: . . . the position below. Is White
with the Knight still enjoying its ready for the knockout blow?
perch on e4. Want to move it-or
something else? 8,55. Filip-Barda, Bucharest,
1 952, at White's 5 1st move.
8,54. Filip-Barda, Bucharest,
1 95 2, at White's 46th move. 8-55
w
8-54
w
AN S WER
Indeed yes, and it's the Knight
AN SWER that does it: 5 1 . Ng5t, and Black
Not yet for the Knight. At this resigned. After the forced 5 1 . . . hxg5
point the open window of opportu, 52. hxg5 Black has to give up his
nity is for the King, and White Rook to stop mate on g6 (52 . . . g6t
played 46. Kh5 ! This hangs the f, 53 . fxg6t forking).
pawn, but 46 . . . Rxf5 t 47. Kg6 is bad
news for Black, and so is 46 . . . Kh7
47. f6 . Accordingly Black tried 46 •••
R£7 47. Ra8t Kh7 , but then 48. g4

Bgl 49. Rd8 Be3 50. h4 Bg l
brought about . . .
303
.§. In this game, you get to go along .§. . . this position was reached.
.
with Alekhine on extended maneu� What now for White ?

vers. Play for White.
8�57. Alekhine--Chajes,
8�56. Alekhine-Chajes, Carlsbad, 1 923 , at White's
Carlsbad, 1 923, at White's 48th move.
27th move.
8-56
w
AN SWER
AN S WER To make further progress White
In keeping Black's defensive po� needs to get into Black's position
sition under pressure, White would somewhere, so Alekhine played 48.
like to half�open the h�file; that is, Bh5 ! While White's Bishop is "bet�
exchange at g6 without Black being ter," what matters more is that
able to recapture with his h�pawn Black's Bishop is a key defender. Af�
and then oppose heavy pieces on the ter its exchange the White Rooks
h�file. That opportunity is now penetrate: 48 ... Ra8 49. Bxg6 hxg6
present, and Alekhine played 2 7 . 50. Rh 7 Rae8 and White's progress
hxg6!, giving Black no choice but to is evident. With the Rooks in,
recapture, 2 7 Nxg6. Then Alekh�
••• Alekhine exchanged Queens and
ine sidestepped the Queen exchange reached . . .
with 28. Qh5, naturally preserving
the Queens. Then fol lowed 2 0
moves repositioning the pieces until
304
No Holds Barred-8
!! this next position. What � . . move for White in this posi,

.
should White do now? tion.
8,58. Alekhine-Chajes, 8.-59. Alekhine-Chajes,

Carlsbad, 1 923, at White's Carlsbad, 1 923, at White's
57th move. 6 1st move.
AN SWER AN SWER
Here is a critical point for White White can win another pawn
to maintain his domination. If he with 6 1 . Nxe6 , but Alekhine chose
plays the mild 57. Kc3 , Black gets the "more energetic" 6 1 . N£7 ! Ra8
counterplay by 57 . . . b4t! 58 . axb4 62. Nd6 Reb8. Obviously he has
R7b7. On the other hand, Alekhine kept the pressure on and improved
played vigorously by 57. Rg8! b4 the position of his Knight, but . . .
58. R l h8! Now Black just fails with
58 . . . bxa3 59. RxfB a2 60. Rxb8t
Ka7 61 . RaBt Kb7 62 . Rxa4 catching
the pawn. So he must defend by 58 •••
R7 e8, leaving him stilt tied up and

now a pawn down after 59. axb4
Ka7 60. Kc3 Ka6. Next, . . .
305
!! . . can you find Alekhine's real

. � As we pick up the next game,
idea in this position ? White has three ways to recapture.
Make your pick.
8�60. Alekhine-Chajes,
Carlsbad, 1 923, at White's 8�6 1 . Smyslov-Euwe,
63rd move. Groningen, 1 946, at White's
1 6th move.
8-60
w 8-61
w
ANSWER
Black has covered himself on ANSWER
one side, but the other is vulnerable. Smyslov chose 1 6. hxg3, captur�
Now Alekhine swung around with ing toward the center with a pawn,
63. Rhl ! Nd7 64. Ra l ! Black can so as to control the f4 square where
delay but not stop mate by Rxa4 , so otherwise Black could post his
he resigned. Knight.
While Black could have wrig� The d e l ay in bringing the
gled out of mate, the ending is hope� Knight at f1 closer to the action is
less after 63 . Rhl ! Rd8 64 . Rg7 Rd7 not as important, and this Knight
65 . Ral Ka7 66 . Rxd7t Nxd7 67. has a better square to use at e3 . Sev�
Rxa4t Kb8 68 . Rxa8t Kxa8 69 . b5 , eral moves later, Queens had been
so we should thank him for dying exchanged and the center had been
nobly. closed to reach . . .
306
No Holds Barred---8
� . this position. What now for

. . � . . in the position below. How
.
White ? should White proceed?
8�62. Smyslov-Euwe, 8�63 . Smyslov-Euwe,

Groningen, 1 946, at White's Groningen, 1 946, at White's
8-62 8-63
w w
AN SWER AN SWER
Wh ite should avoid the ex� Smyslov caught the pawn by 4 7.
change of a Knight for Black's Bish� Nb5, making use of the fork 47 . . . e2
op, so Smyslov played 26. NJ£5. On 48. Nd4t. Seeing this, Black tried
the other hand, an exchange of 47 K£4 48. Nc3 Kg3, but resigned
..•
Knights would leave White with one after 49. c5, for it is White who soon
left to roost on fS for as long as he queens a pawn. Note that 47. Ne6
wants, so Black played 26 Ng8. .•. looking for the same fork doesn't
Then after 2 7. Ke2 Euwe could have work, for Black replies 47 . . . Ke4 .
played 27 Bg5 and exchanged his
. . .
Bishop, but neglected to. Later he

ended up sacrificing the Bishop to
get some pawn play, as can be seen . . .
'307
� Here White clearly has the � . . this position. Now what?

.
stronger position, but how does he

make progress? 8,65. Botvinnik-Vidmar,
Groningen, 1 946, at White's
8,64. Botvinnik-Vidmar, 35th move.
Groningen, 1 946, at White's
3 1 st move. 8-65
w
8-64
w
AN SWER
It may seem White has overex,
AN S WER tended himself, but it was all as
Against a cramped but basically planned. Botvinnik now played 35.
solid position like Black's, you need Rxd 7 ! Rxc l 36. Nxb5 . While
to break through somewhere, some, White is down the exchange, his
times at the cost of a temporary sacri, pieces cooperate so as to throttle
fice. That's what Botvinnik did here, Black.
playing 3 1 . b5 ! Nxb5 32. Bxb5 The game continued 36 ... R8c8
(perhaps you preferred 3 2 . Nxb5 , ( Black needs both Rooks covering
which looks safer, as the Bishop is against a Knight check on c 7 ) 3 7.
preserved to defend the pawn at a6; Rxg7 h6 38. Rxa7t, restoring ap,
but stay tuned) cxb5 33. Rc7 ReB proximate material equality with,
34. Rb7t Ka8, bringing us to . . . out letting Black free. In time Black
was able to exchange a pair of Rooks
and get some freedom, and . . .
308
No Holds Barred-8
� . . . this position was reached. � Here we have an ending where

What should White do now? you get to play for Black. Go to it.
8�66. Botvinnik-Vidmar, 8,67 . Euwe-Pilnik, Amsterdam,

Groningen, 1 946, at White's 1 950, at Black's 48th move.
49th move.
8-67
8-66 w
w
ANSWER
AN S WER Superficially it might seem Black
After many similar examples should be trying to save a draw, but
where the pawns triumph, you might in reality he is winning if he plays
have been lured by variations like correctly. At the moment he must do
49 . d6 Rxb5? 50. d7 and wins. But something about his Bishop, but
Black can better use his Rook to stop 48 . . . Bxb3 49 . axb3 Rxb3 50 Kg2 is
.
the pawns (not grab the Knight), unpromising, while 48 . . . Bxe4 t 49 .

e.g., 49 . d6 ReB 50. Kd3 Rcl 5 1 . Nc3 Nxe4 Nxe4 50. Rc6t is hardly better.
Ral . So White must be more pa� The key to the position is minor
tient, and Botvinnik played 49. p iece play, taking advantage of
Nd6t Kxa7 50. NeB Kb6 5 1 . White's bad Bishop and Black's supe,
Nxf6, letting go of the pawn at a 7 rior King position. For those condi�
but getting another in return to stay tions the Rooks are better elimi,
three pawns up (for the exchange nated, and so Black played 48 ••.
down), more than Black could cope Rh l ! After 49. Rxb l Bxb l 50. Ne2
with. Black held out for a few more Bxe4t 5 1 . Kh2 Ke5 52. Nc3 Bd3 .
moves before resigning. Black's advantage should be
more apparent, desp ite White's
p a s s e d d , p awn v e rs u s B l ack 's
doubled g,pawns. Soon Black won
the d�pawn and Knights were ex�
changed, leading to . . .
309
� the position below. What � . . . this position, where he seems

should Black do now ? close to winning. How do you pro,
ceed ?
8,68. Euwe-Pilnik, Amsterdam,
1 950, at Black's 5 7th move. 8,69. Euwe-Pilnik, Amsterdam,
1 950, at Black's 69th move.
8-68
B 8-69
B
A N S WER
When playing endgames with AN SWER
pieces, you should always assess the If it looked easy and you leaped
King ending resulting from an ex .. in and pushed your g,pawn to glory,
change of pieces. you fell for it: 69 . . . g4? 70 . Bxg4!
Here Black wins the King end, Kxg4 is drawn. (Remember?)
ing if Bishops are exchanged, not so What Black must do instead is
much because of his extra pawn, screen this pawn, which he has time
which is doubled, but more on the to do while White's is occupied with
strength of his better King position. the a,pawn. He played 69... B£7 !
Consequently, Black played 5 7 ••• 70. Kxa4 Bg6 7 1 . Kb4 B£5. Now
Bd5. Since 58 . Bxd5 Kxd5 wins eas- the pawn can safely cross g4, and
ily for Black, White was left to make then Black has time to screen at e4,
the best of 58. Bxg6 Bxa2, trans, leading to victory. The remaining
forming Black's extra pawn from the moves were 72 . Bc6 g4 73 . Kc5 Be4
inoffensive doubled g,pawn to a dan, 74 . Bd7 g3 75 . Bh3 Ke3 76 . Kd6 Bf5
gerous distant passed a,pawn. In 77. Bg2 Kf2 0--1 .
time Black got to . . . Note that Black's precise play
was necessary, for 69 . . Bel actually
.
loses critical time: 70 . Kc3 Bf5

( Black should transpose back to the
winning line by 70 . . . Bb3) 71 . Bxa4
g4 72 . Kd2 g3 73 . Ke l Bd3 74 . Bc6
Ke3 75 . Bg2! draws. If 72 . Kd4 Be4
73 . Bd7 g3 74 . Bh3 Kf3 75 . Bfl Kf2
76 . Bh3 Bf5 wins.
310
No Holds Barred---8
.§ Now give some thought to how � the position below. Continue

. . .
to proceed for White in this position. for White.
8, 70. Botvinnik-Sorokin, 8, 7 1 . Botvinnik-Sorokin,

U.S.S.R. Ch., 1 93 1 , at U.S.S.R. Ch., 1 93 1 , at
White's 20th move. White's 29th move.
8-70 8-71
w w
AN SWER ANSWER
White's lead in development can In return White gets the pawn at
be seen by contrasting his Rooks and f7, obtainable. by 29 . Rg1 t KhB 30.
Bishop with Black's, but how White Bxfl but more strongly with 29.
capitalizes on this lead is not so clear. R lc7, doubling the Rooks on the
Botvinnik's idea was that without 7th rank. The game continued 29 •••
Queens on the board Black will have Rbc8 30. Rx£7 Rxc7 3 1 . Rxc7t
a harder time holding his position Kh8 to . . .
together. Thus he played 20. Qe3 !,
forcing the exchange ( if 20 . . . Qcl? ,
2 1 Nxe5) even at the cost of the
.
doubled pawns from 20 Qxe3 2 1 .

•••
fxe3. Now Black's e,pawn is hang,

ing, and the only comfortable way to
preserve it is to trade on f3 , as the
game went: 2 1 . Bg4 22. a5 Nc8
.•
23. Re t Bx£3 24. gx£3, consider,

ably improving White's pawn struc,
ture.
From here White stepped up the
pressure while Black consoled him,
self with capturing the pawn at aS ,
giving us . . .
311
� . . . this position. What should � . . this position. What next for

.
White do now ? White ?
8� 72. Botvinnik-Sorokin, 8� 73. Botvinnik-Sorokin,

U.S.S.R. Ch., 193 1 , at U .S.S.R. Ch., 1 93 1 , at
White's 32nd move. White's 33rd move.
8-72 8-73
w w
AN SWER AN SWER
The next step is to centralize the Botvinnik put the shackles on
Bishop, and Botvinnik played 32. Black's Knight by 33. b3, and kept
Bd5. Black responded 32 .•.b5, them on through 33 ... Rd8 34. Kg3
moving the threatened pawn and £5 35. Kh4 fxe4 36. fxe4 Rd6 3 7.
creating . . . Kh5. After waltzing around for sev�
eral moves through the time control,
White reached . . .
312
No Holds Barred---8
a . the position below. How does

. . a . . . the position below. Can he
White get serious? wrap it up now?
8, 74. Botvinnik-Sorokin, 8, 75 . Botvinnik-Sorokin,

U.S.S.R. Ch., 1 93 1 , at U .S.S.R. Ch., 1 93 1 , at
White's 47th move. White's 50th move.
8-74 8-75
w w
AN S WER AN S WER
Finally it is time to shift the Sure enough, by 50. Rh7t Kg8
Bishop to a new and better post on 5 1 . Rg7t Kh8 52. B£7. Black must
g6, where it will cooperate with give up the exchange by 52 Rx£7 .•.
Whites King in weaving a mating 53. Rx£7, but still faces mate. After
net. Botvinnik played 4 7. B£7 ! R£6 53 Kg8 54. Kg6 Nd2 ( if he
•.•
(the j ailbreak 47 . . . Kg7 is refuted by doesn't move and lose this Knight,
48 . b4 winning the Knight with a White can just push up the h,pawn)
d iscovered check wherever i t 55. Rd7 Black resigned.
moves) 48. Bg6 Nxb3 49. Kxh6, By the way, j ust before the posi,
threatening mate. When Black de, tion above, if Black had resisted with
fended by 49 R£8, White faced . . .
••• 49 . . . Kg8 instead of 49 . . . R(f6,)f8
White could win by the following
pretty variation: 50. Kg5 RfB 5 1 . h5
a5 52 . h6 a4 53 . h7t KhB 54 . Kh6 a3
55 . Rgl! a2 56 . Bf7! al =Q 57. RgBt
Rxg8 58 . hxgB=R!# (a Queen works
too, of course, but the Rook is more
aesthetic) .
313
� Now play for Black, starting with E! . . . the next position. How should
the position below. Black recapture?
8, 7 6. N imzovich-Capablanca, 8, 7 7 . Nimzovich-Capablanca,
NY 1 92 7, at Black's 1 7th NY 1 92 7, at Black's 3 1st
move. move.
AN SWER ANSWER
White has been a bit rash push, The rule of "capture in" works
ing his Kingside pawns, and Capa, here, though the proof takes thought
blanca took advantage by 1 7 h5. .•• because either way hangs a pawn,
This gives White the choice be, and White's pawn on f4 is loose too.
tween 1 8 . h3 hxg4 1 9 . hxg4 Q,Q,Q and On 3 1 . . . exf5 the further ex,
Black attacks on the open h,file, or, change 3 2 . Rxd5 Rxf4 is not so good
as he chose, 1 8. g5 0..0 and Black's for White, but 32. Qf3 protects the f,
King ends up tucked away more se, pawn while putting the d,pawn un,
curely than White's. Further piece der the gun. On the other hand,
maneuvers led finally to an exchange 3 1 . gx£5 ! , which Capablanca
• .
of Knights, as can be seen in . . . played, keeps the center secure and

the h,pawn indigestible: 32. Qxh5
Rh8 33 . Qf3 Rh4 lands White in big
trouble. So White prudently pro,
tected his pawn with 32. Q£3, and
the game continued 32 Kg6 33.•••
R2d2, producing . . .
314
No Holds Barred-8
� . . . the position below. Make your � . . . this position was reached.

move for Black. How does Black improve his posi�
tion?
8� 78. Nimzovich-Capablanca,
NY 192 7 , at Black's 33rd 8� 79. N imzovich-Capablanca,
move. NY 1 92 7 , at Black's 4 1 st
move.
8-78
B
AN SWER
White would be happy to seal up ANSWER
his position by 34 . Rd4 , but Capa� Capablanca played 4 1 . .. Qc l !,
blanca gave him no chance, playing not only establishing his presence on
33... Re4 34. Rd4 R8c4. A few the 1 st rank but also giving White a
moves later . . . problem in finding a safe move. When
he played 42. Kg3, Capablanca infil�
trated further with 42 Qh l , and
•••
likewise after 43. Rd3 Rel 44. Rf3

Rdl . Now White played 45. b3, and
315
t! . you can move for Black in this

. . � . . . you can finish off this posi�
position. tion.
8�80. N imzovich-Capablanca, 8�8 1 . N imzovich-Capablanca,

NY 1 92 7, at Black's 45th NY 1 92 7, at Black's 46th
move. move.
8-80 8-81
B B
AN S WER ANSWER
The point is that White's last The Rook was helping to cover
move was his last harmless move, fl , so Capablanca struck with 46. ..
and he is now in "zugzwang." So Rfl. Here White resigned, for 47.

Capablanca just nudged his Rook Qe2 Qgl t 48 . Kh3 Rf2! mates short�
over a square: 45 .••Rc l ! and left ly (48 . . . Rel also wins).
White to choose his own poison. By the way, if White had played
If White moves his King Black his Rook to d3 instead of e3, Black
diverts the Queen, captures the wins quickly after 46. Rd3 Rc3 ! , for
Rook, and mates on g4 (e.g., 46 . Kh4 White can't deal with the passed
Rc2 47. Qxc2 Qxf3 , etc. ) ; while 46 . pawn after 47. Rxc3 bxc3 , while 47.
h3 gets hit with 46 . . . Rgl t 47. Kh4 Re3 h4t 48 . Kh3 Qdl 49 . Kg2 h3 t is
Rg4#; and 46 . Qe2 Qgl t 47. Qg2 annihilating.
Qxd4 loses the d�pawn without af�
fording any relief. White's choice
was 46. Re3, which . . .
316
No Holds Barred---8
.§. Time for another game-again, .§. the position below. Continue
• . .
play for Black. for Black.
8,82. Tchigorin-Janowski, 8,83. Tchigorin-Janowski,

Hastings, 1 895, at Black's Hastings, 1 895, at Black's
1 3th move. 1 4th move.
8-82 8-83
B B
AN S WER AN SWER
Attacking each other's King po, Why be satisfied with j ust a
sitions is plainly the name of this pawn when you can continue the at,
game, and Black is ahead in the race. tack? Black played 14 ... Bxb2t 15.
In fact he is ready for the final as, Kxb2 Qa2 t 1 6. Kc 1, a forcing se,
sault, and he played 1 3 ... Bxa3 ! quence of moves resulting in . . .
White decided, for reasons we will
return to, to decline the offer of the
Bishop and responded 14. Nb1 , giv,
ing us . . .
317
E! . . . this position. What next for E! here is the position after ( 13 ...
. . .
Black? Bxa3 ) 1 4 . bxa3 Qxa3 t (obvious) 1 5 .

Kbl . How should Black proceed?
8�84. Tchigorin-Janowksi,
Hastings, 1 895, at Black's 8�85. Variation, at Black's 1 5th
1 6th move. move.
8-85
B
AN SWER AN SWER
Now it is a simple matter of Again the idea is to bring up an�
bringing up another attacker. Black other attacker, the Knight; but here
played 1 6... Nd4 and White re� conditions are a little different, and
signed, for he is helpless to protect c2 15 Nb4 is the right spot. This
...
(except by 1 7. Na3 Qxa3 t , etc.). threatens a mate in three starting

Earlier I promised to look further with 1 6 Ba2t (see it?), so assume
. . .
at what happens if White takes the White does the best he can by cover,
Bishop immediately, so . . . ing c2 with 1 6. Rc 1 , producing . . .
318
No Hold.s Barred-8
� the position below. What � The game below is already much

now? further along as we pick it up. Move
for Black.
8,86. Variation, at Black's 16th
move. 8,87. Bass-Henley, NY 1 983 , at
Black's 29th move.
8-86
B 8-87
B
AN S WER
Black can't quite do the job with AN SWER
his Queen, Knight, and Bishop, so Black played 29 R5f2 30. Bfl
•••
again the key is to bring up reinforce, b6, first doubling his Rooks on the
ments and overload the defense. 2nd rank (or "7th" as it is known
Here a Rook can be brought into from descriptive notation) and tying
action quickly, by 16 R£6. •.. down White's Bishop, then protect,
Now the Rook can be brought ing the pawn and restricting the
across to a6/b6/c6 with gain of tempo Knight.
by 1 7 Ba2t, while White can't get
. . . These factors, rather than the
another defender to the scene nearly extra pawns with the triplets, give
as fast. White might as well resign, Black a clear advantage. To get some
for a plausible defense is lacking. counterplay White gave up his two
pieces for a Rook, reaching . . .
319
.§. . the position below. What

. . .§. . . this position. What should
.
should Black do? Black do now?
8,88. Bass-Henley, NY 1 983, at 8,89. Bass-Henley, NY 1 983, at

8-88 8-89
B B
AN S WER AN S WER
] ust because the e,pawn is there Now Black wants to bring home
for the taking doesn't mean you his passed h,pawn, which can be a
should take it. If 36 . . . Rxe3 , 37. Rb5 tricky proposition. To begin with, it
and White gets the a,pawn. Instead is important to keep White's King as
Black wanted to be the one with an far away as possible, so Black played
outside passed a,pawn, so he played 4 7 R£2 and then 48. Ke5 h3. The
.••
36 Ra2 3 7. Re6 K£7 38. Rxe5

•.• immediate 47 . . . h3 would allow 48 .
Rxa4. Subsequent pawn exchanges Kf3 . In the actual game the e,pawns
led to . . . were liquidated, leading to . . .
320
No Holds Barred--8
t! . . the position below. By this

. .§ Now play for Black, again, start�
time Black ought to be ready to fin� ing with this position.
ish things off. What do you suggest?
8�9 1 . Brasket-Shamkovich,
8�90. Bass-Henley, NY 1 983, at Midwest Masters, 1 987, at
Black's 53rd move. Black's 23rd move.
8-91
B
AN SWER ANSWER
It would take some doing not to The problems with White's posi�
win this position for Black, but he tion really became apparent when
played the clincher: 53 Rh3 and
••• Black played 23 d5 ! White chose
•••
White resigned. The Rook behind to keep the center closed with 24.
the passed pawn compels 54 . Rhl , e5, and then followed 24 ... Nd7 25.
and then Black simply marches his Bd4 ReS 26. Rae 1, bringing us to . . .
King up, starting with 54 . . . Kg5 .
321
!! the position below. What !! . . . it was Black to move in this

would you do now for Black? position.
8�92. Brasket-Shamkovich, 8�93 . Brasket-Shamkovich,

Midwest Masters, 1 987, at Midwest Masters, 1987, at
8-92 8·93
B B
AN S WER AN SWER
White's use of his Bishop to keep Now White threatens to neu�
a Black piece off cS diminished his tralize Black's control of the file (by
control of c l , so Black took control 30. Rc 1 ) so it's pretty much now or
,
of the c�file by 26 Rc7 2 7. Rxc7

.•• never for infiltrating. Black played
Qxc7 28. f4 Rc8. When White 29 Qc2, and White liquidated the
.••
played 29. Be3, . . . heavy pieces by 30. Qxc2 Rxc2 3 1 .

Rd2 Rxd2 32. Bxd2, giving us . . .
322
No Holds Barred-8
� this next position. Has White

. . . � . the position below. Now what
. .
managed to get out of the woods, or for Black?

can Black (to move ) make some,
thing of the position ? 8,9 5. Brasket-Shamkovich,
Midwest Masters, 1 987, at
8,94. Brasket-Shamkovich, Black's 38th move.
Midwest Masters, 1 987, at
Black's 32nd move.
AN S WER
Now Black is ready to put his
AN SWER center pawns to work, starting with
With most of the pieces gone, 38 e4. White interposed 39. gx£6
.•.
the respective pawn structures come Kx£6 before retreating, j ust in case
into sharper focus. To begin with, Black did something careless, and
Black has a protected passed pawn at the game went 40. N£2 K£5 4 1 .
d5, while his pawn on b4 is holding Nh l Nd4 42. Ng3t Ke6 43. Be l
two of White's pawns. N£5 44. Nfl Bc5 and White, in a
In addition, Black increased his hopeless position, decided it was
central superiority by 32 £6! 33.
•.. time to resign.
ex£6 gx£6. Now Black has the pros,
pect of getting two connected passed
pawns in the center, and the game
continued 34. Nb2 NbS 35. Nd3
Nc6 (both sides improving their
Knight postings) 36. g4 K£7 (bring,
ing up the King) 3 7. Kg2 e5 (finally,
after careful preparation) 38. g5, to
323
13. On to another game, and this � . the position below. Continue

. .
time it is White to move. for White.
8�96. Wilder-Kogan, U.S. Ch., 8�97. Wilder-Kogan, U.S. Ch.,

1 987, at White's 1 4th move. 1 987, at White's 1 6th move.
8-96 8-97
w w
AN SWER AN SWER
White's Rook didn't get to gl Black does have a threat in
through s o me m i s hap- i t was b5 , but White needn't stop for
. . .
planned that way, to support the that. With 1 6. g5 hxg5 1 7. Nxg5 he

pawn thrust White now played: 14. created more serious threats of his
g4. Black hoped for some counter� own ( 1 8 . Bxf6 , etc.), forcing Black
play in the center and responded to respond defensively with 1 7 .••
14 dxc4 15. Bxc4 ReS, bringing

••• ReS, creating . . .
us to . . .
3 24
No Holds Barred--8
� the next position, below. � . . . this position. How should

What now for White ? White proceed?
8�98. Wilder-Kogan, U.S. Ch. , 8�99. Wilder-Kogan, U.S. Ch. ,

1 987, at White's 1 8th move. 1 987, a t White's 1 9th move.
8-99
w
AN S WER AN SWER
Now the black King escapes af� With Black reeling, White gave
ter 1 8 . Bxf6 Qxf6 1 9 . Qh7t KfB , but him no rest, hitting him again with
the departure of the Rook has ere� 1 9. Ne4! Since White threatens 20.
ated a new weakness which White Nxf6t, and 1 9 . . . Nxe4 clears the
exploited by 1 8. Nxf7 ! If Black ac� way for 20. Rxg7t , Black tried 1 9 •••
cepts the piece, he gets ripped to Kx£7 but resigned when White con�
shreds (after 1 8 . . . Kxf7) by 1 9 . Qg6 t tinued 20. Nx£6.
Ke7 20. Qxg7t Kd6 2 1 . Bxf6, etc., so Having taken one Knight, Black
he hung on grimly with 1 8 Qe7, •.• can't take the other, for 20. . . gxf6
gtvmg us . . . 2 1 . Qg6 t mates next move, and
White threatens a similar mate with
2 1 . Rxg7t ( if Black ignores the
Knight on f6) Kxg7 22 . Qh7t, etc. If
Black stops this by 20 . . . RhB , White
can proceed 2 1 . Qg6t KfB 22 . Nxd7t
Qxd7 23 . Qxg7t Qxg7 24 . Bxg7t,
turning the game into a slaughter.
325
� Now play for White, starting � . from the position below. What
. .
with the position below. would you do for White now?
8� 1 00. Smyslov-Reshevsky, World 8� 1 0 1 . Smyslov-Reshevsky, World

Ch. Tm., 1 948, at White's Ch. Trn., 1 948, at White's
22nd move. 24th move.
8-1 00 8-1 01
w
AN SWER AN SWER
Already the happy possessor of Smyslov now played 24. Bb6!,
two Bishops against two Knights, stopping both Rd8 and Na5 and
. . . . . .
Smyslov increased his advantage by creating some offensive possibilities,

22. Rxd6 cxd6 23. Qg4 Kh8, giving as well. So annoying was the Bishop
Black a weak backward pawn and a here that Reshevsky decided to evict
new threat to worry about, which it, and played 24 ... NbS? (heading
Black would have been better off for d7 ) . But Smyslov took advantage
meeting by 23 . . Kf8 . In the corner
. of the dislocation of Black's pieces
the King is far from the action, as we and began a combination with 25.
will soon see in continuing the game Bxe6 fxe6 26. Qh4! Qd7. Rather
than ask you to see the whole thing,
we'Ll pick it up at this point . . .
326
No Holds Barred---8
� . . . in the position below. How � . . . in this position. Play for

should White continue ? White.
8, 1 02. Smyslov-Reshevsky, World 8 , 1 03 . Smyslov-Reshevsky, World

Ch. Trn., 1 948, at White's Ch. Trn., 1 948, at White's
8-1 02 8- 1 03
w w
AN SWER AN S WER
White's idea has been to ex, The general rule is "Rooks be,
change Queens, for Black's Queen is hind passed pawns," and Smyslov did
his only piece able to defend the d, that right away with 40. Ra7, which
pawn. So Smyslov carried that idea keeps Black's Rook stuck in front of
through by 2 7. Qd8t Qxd8 28. the pawn. After 40... Kg8 4 1 . g4 a3
Bxd8 Nd7 29. Bc7 Nc5 30. Rxd6, 42. Kg3 Re2 . . .
winning a pawn .
A series of exchanges ensued as
Black struggled to catch up, but
when the dust had settled White was
a clear pawn up . . .
327
.§ this position was reached. � In this game White's position

What should White do? seems rather constricted, but now
tha t's your problem. Move fo r
8� 1 04. Smyslov-Reshevsky, World White.
Ch. Trn., 1 948, at White's
43rd move. 8, 1 05 . Spraggett-Yusupov,
Candidates' Match, game 2,
8-1 04 1 989, at White's 3 1st move.
w
8-1 05 �
w �·
�
AN SWER
Remember another general rule,
"trade pieces but not pawns when AN SWER
ahead." A terrible error would be 43 . Rather than wait for Black to
Rxa3 ? Rxe4 and Black draws, with build up his position, White struck
the pawns all on the same side of the with an exchange sacrifice, 3 1 .
board. Smyslov p layed 43. Kf3 , Rxc6 bxc6 32. Nxd4. Besides the
sending the Rook back to a2 (rather pawn, White has also shattered
than 43 . f3 a2 , when Black's Rook B l ack's Q u e e n s i d e pawns and
has much more scope). stopped Black's initiative, as can be
After 43• . . Ra2 44. Ke3 KfB seen after 32 NbS 33. Nxf5 Qxf5
•••
45. f3 Ral 46. Kf4 Smyslov was 34. Ne4. Now Black decided to
carefully working his K ing and bring his Knight into play with 34 ...
pawns forward, and soon won. Nd7, giving us . . .
( In such positions, White must
be careful not to expose his King to a
Rook check: e.g., 46 . f4? a2 47. e5??
Re 1 t 47. Kf2 al =Q and Black wins.)
328
No Holds Barred-8
!! . . this position. Move for White.

. � . . in the position below. Now
.
what do you do?

8, 106. Spraggett-Yusupov,
Candidates' Match, game 2 , 8, 107. Spraggett-Yusupov,
1 989, a t White's 3 5 th move. Candidates' Match, game 2,
8-1 06
w 8- 1 07
w
AN SWER
Black 's Knight is obviously AN S WER
headed for e5 and f3, which White First off, you must correctly cal,
could stop by 35 . [4 at the serious culate the consequences of taking
cost of weakening his King position. the Knight: 40 . Kxh2 Rxe4! 4 1 .
Besides, White is still the equivalent Qb3 t Re6 , and now White must
of being a pawn down, and he can't capitalize on the pinned Rook, as by
afford to j ust wait around. 42 . Re5 Rxf2t 43 . Bg2 Rf6 44 . Rxe6
So he grabbed the c,pawn while Rxe6 45 . Bd5 , but then Black draws
the grabbing was good, 35. Rxc6, by 45 . . . Qf2t with a perpetual.
and after 35 Ne5 36. Rc5 Nf3t
••• If you want to win you must find
37. Khl Qg6 38. Rxa5 Qb6 39. b4 better, as White did by checking
had gained a third pawn for the ex, first: 40. Qb3 t Kh7 4 1 . Kxh2
change, trusting in his ability to re, Rxf2t, for . . .
pulse whatever Black could throw at
him.
For his part Black felt the need
to come up with something, and
tried the tricky 3 9 Nxh2? !, put,
•••
ting White's defenses to the test . . .
329
!! . . . the next posttton. What � . in the position below. What

. .
should White do next? can you find for White ?
8, 1 08. Spraggett-Yusupov, 8, 1 09. Spraggett-Yusupov,

Candidates' Match, game 2, Candidates' Match, game 2,
1 989, at White's 42nd 1 989, at White's 5 1 st move.
move.
8- 1 09
8- 1 08 w
w
AN SWER
AN SWER Here the solution is tactical:
Again first decide if you can White played 5 1 . d4!, and it was all
safely take what's offered, and you over for Black. Mate on the move is
should find 42 . Nxf2 Qxf2t 43 . Bg2 threatened with 52. Nf6#, and if
Re3 and Black is winning, for White Black blocks the discovery with 5 1 . . .
can't defend g3. g6 it's still a King,and,Queen fork.

In looking for an altemati ve it So Black tried 5 1 . .. Qf5, ready to
should occur to you that this time answer 52 . Nf6t with 52 . . . Kg6 . But
White is already ahead in material, White played 5 2 g4, driving the
.
so why invite Black's Queen and Queen back: 5 2 ... Qg6, and . . .
Rook into your parlor for a little
more?
Therefore White played 42.
Bg2! Rf8 43. Rc5 , closing down
Black's attacking possibilities with a
comfortable material advantage.
The conclusion can be seen . . .
330
No Holds Barred--8
!! . . . we have this position. Can !! In conclusion, here is another

you find another good sequence ? game by Botvinnik, whose frequent
appearance in these pages results
8� 1 1 0. Spraggett-Yusupov, from not only his holding the
Candidates' Match, game 2, World Championship through my
1 989, at White's 53rd move. formative years, but also his playing
numerous games illustrating the
consistent exploitation of strategic
advantages. You and he have White,
starting with the position below.
8� 1 1 1 . Botvinnik
Konstantinopolsky,
Sverdlovsk, 1 943, at White's
20th move.
8-1 1 1
AN SWER w
White wins the Queen by 53.
Nf6t gxf6 54. Rh8t, and here
Black resigned.
After 54 . Kxh8 ( if instead 54 . . .
. .
Kg7, 55 . RgBt still wins the Queen

and an important tempo as well) 55 .
Qxg6 , White has several threats
along with his extra piece.
AN S WER
Black has a protected passed
pawn and a lead in Rook activity, but
he also has a bad Bishop, and it is
really White who has the advantage
with proper play. To begin with,
W h i t e m u s t k e e p the B i s h o p
hemmed i n and neutralize Black's
control of the e�file.
Botvinnik played 20. f4! Re7
2 1 . Rfe l R8e8 22. Rxe7 Rxe7 23.
Kf2, accomplishing these purposes,
and when Black continued 23 Kf7 •.•
we have . . .
33 1
� . . the next position below. What

. � . . this position. Continue for
.
now for White ? White.
8, 1 1 2. Botvinnik 8, 1 1 3 . Botvinnik
Konstantinopolsky, Konstantinopolsky,
Sverdlovsk, 1 943, at White's Sverdlovsk, 1 943 , at White's
8-1 1 2 8- 1 1 3
w w
AN S WER ANSWER
You might think next of ex, Now the time is right to oppose
changing Rooks by 24 . Re 1 , but on the file, and Botvinnik played 26.
Black's position is not yet under firm Re2, for he can answer 26 . . . Rxe2t
domination. The result is 24 . . . Rxe 1 with 2 7 . Nxe2 , controlling d4.
25 . Kxe 1 d4! 26. Ne2 Ke6 27. Nxd4t Black, wishing to avoid the pure
KdS and Black regains the pawn and Knight,against,bad,Bishop ending,
frees his Bishop. sidestepped with 26 Rb8, produc,
•••
Be patient instead, for Black ing . . .

can't do anything on the e,file.
Botvinnik played 24. Rd 1 !, and
then 24 ReB 25. Rd2 h6 brought
.••
us to . . .
332
No Holds Barred---8
� this position, with White to

. . . � . the next position below. What
. .
move. Make your choice. do you do now?
8� 1 14. Botvinnik 8� 1 1 5 . Botvinnik

Konstantinopolsky, Konstantinopolsky,
Sverdlovsk, 1 943, at White's Sverdlovsk, 1 943 , at White's
27th move. 3 1 st move.
8-1 1 4
w
AN SWER ANSWER
Botvinnik took the opportunity Consistent with the purpose of
to post his King powerfully by 27. keeping the "bad" Bishop hemmed
Ke3 Rb3 28. Kd4. True, Black's in, White must maintain the f4
Rook is a hindrance at b3 , but it can point. He can't use the Rook, for it is
be evicted. On the other hand, the needed to deal with a possible . aS . .
obvious alternative 27. b4 keeps the on the other side of the board; so
Rook out at the cost of allowing re� Botvinnik played 3 1 . g3 , even
ally bothersome counterplay from though 3 1. gx£4 32. gx£4 a6 33.
••
27 . . a5 (then 28 . bxaS Ra8 recovers

. Nc3 Rg8 gives Black counterplay on
the pawn and attacks two more, the newly�opened g�file. (Of course
while 28 . Rb2 axb4 29 . Rxb4 Rxb4 you really want your opponents to
30. axb4 helps Black's defense by re� roll over and play dead while you
moving White's possibilities of get� mop up, but often they don't! )
ting a passed a�pawn as well his post� Now followed some more rna�
ing a Knight at b4 ). neuvering, resulting finally in . . .
The game continued 28 K£6 • • •
29. Na2 Rb8 30. b4 ( as now 30 . . .

a5 can be answered by 3 1 . bxa5 ,
when either 3 1 . . . Ra8 32. Nc3 RxaS
33 . a4 or 3 1 . . . Rb3 32. Nc3 Rxa3 33 .
Ra2 leaves White w ith a strong
passed a�pawn) g5, giving us . . .
333
� this last position. What do you

. . .
AN SWER
do for White now?
Now White can penetrate with
his King to deadly effect, starting
8� 1 16. Botvinnik
with 42. Ke5. If Black tries to hold
Konstantinopolsky,
on by 42 . . . Ke7, White wins easily
Sverdlovsk, 1 943, at White's
with 43 . c6 d4 44 . Rb7t Kd8 45 . Kd6
42nd move.
Rxe2 46. RbBt Bc8 47. c7t , etc. In�
stead, Black gave up a pawn by 42 •.•
d4 43. Kxd4, which allowed him to

hold out a little longer but gave no
real hope against Botvinnik's careful
play (43 Kg6 44. Nc3 Kh5 45.
•..
Re2 Rxe2 46. Nxe2 Kg4 47. Ke5

Bc8 48. Nd4 h5 49. Nxf5 ! Bd7
(49 . . . Bxf5 50. h3 t) 50. Ng7 Ba4
5 1 . £5 Kg5 52. Ne6t resigns).
THAT'S ALL FOR NOW. But don't stop

here. Play and use what you have learned.
Also read some more chess books. In particu..
lar there are some good treatises on strategy
and middlegames, and I have found the game
collections of several of the great players to be
very instructive. And keep on playing!
334
Appendix I
Appendix I
To indicate moves, there are various forms ofchess notation. The notation
used in this book is known as algebraic, now used almost universally because
of its logical simplicity and versatility. The version used here is a compromise
between the full version and the stripped,down version, chosen because it
seems most comfortable for less,experienced players.
• The squares on the board are

each identified by a letter
and a number, from White's
perspective (on the bottom) .
The letters designate verti,
cal "files," and run "a" to "h"
from left to right; the num,
bers designate horizontal
"ranks," and run " 1 " to "8"
from bottom to top. Thus
the bottom right, hand
square, always light,colored,
is h l . (See diagram. )
• Pieces are designated by capi,

tal letters, using the first let,
ter of the piece (except for
(k)Night) , while no letter is
used for pawns. Thus we have
(with the figurine symbols as
used in chess d iagrams
added) :
K=King � *
Q=Queen 'Ill ..
R=Rook � B
B= Bishop -'1. .t.
N =Knight 4) •
no letter=pawn !. t
335
• An ordinary move is simply designated by the piece and the square to which
it moves. Since pawns use no letter, only the square is indicated for their
moves. For example (numbered with White's moves first) :
1 . e4 e 5 2. N f3 Nc6 3 . Bb5 a6 (the Ruy Lopez opening).
• Captures are indicated in this book with an "x" in between the piece and
the square. Pawn captures identify the file the pawn started on. For example:
(Continuing) 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5 . Q,Q (see below).
• That last move was castling on the Kingside, while Queenside castling is
indicated by Q,Q,Q. The moves given to this point produce the position
shown in the diagram, if you want to check out your understanding.
• Sometimes additional information is needed to clarify a move. This is

done by inserting a letter, or instead a number if that is needed, after the
piece. For example:
1 6. Rae 1 (Rook on the a,file to e 1 , when another Rook on the first

rank could also move there).
1 6 ... R8c3 ( a Black move, Rook on the 8th rank to c3, when another
Rook could also move there).
336
Appendix I
• Pawn promotions are indicated with an equal sign and the new piece (56.
bB=Q or 64 . e l =Nt, and see below) .
. .
• For convenience, in this book checks are indicated with a plus or dagger
symbol (28. Qxh7t) and checkmate with a double plus or pound sign ( 29.
Qh8#) .
• Finally, though not really part of the notation, commentators like to append
exclamation marks or question marks to indicate their opinion of the move
( 2 7 . Qh2 ! ) . The most common are:
! for a strong move, or the best move.
! ! for a really strong (even an amazing) move.
? for a weak move, a mistake.
?? for a blunder, a real lemon.
! ? (rarely) for a strong move but not quite sound, or unnecessarily

tricky.
?! (rarely) for a tricky but basically unsound move.
337
Appendix II
ANNOTATED GLOSSARY
Backward Pawn-a pawn behind its fellows (but not isolated) and unable to
advance, especially when there is no opposing pawn on its file. Such pawns
involve difficulties similar to those of isolated pawns (subject to attack, square
. front 1s "weak") .
m .
Balanced/Unbalanced Pawn Structure after pawn exchanges have broken

-
pawns into groups, the pawn structure is balanced if opposing groups contain
equal numbers of pawns, or unbalanced if not (e.g., one side has a pawn
majority on the Queenside, the other on the Kingside) . Unbalanced pawn
structures create more winning chances for both sides, while balanced pawn
structures tend to be easier to draw.
Bishops-have several descriptive terms reflecting how their capabilities are

affected by other pieces and especially pawns:
Better Bishop: a Bishop less hampered by its own pawns than another
Bishop (either one's own or the opponent's).
Bad Bishop: a Bishop that is significantly hampered by its own pawns

(on the same,colored squares as the Bishop) . With its mobility
impaired, such a Bishop can be at a real disadvantage against an
opposing Knight or "better" Bishop. But realize that there are degrees
ofbadness, and that a bad Bishop's quality can be improved by altering
the pawn structure or getting the Bishop out from in back of the
confining pawns.
Opposite-Colored Bishops: where each side has one Bishop, control

ling squares of the opposite color. Opposite,colored Bishops are
usually very draw ish in endgames, often allowing the defender to draw
easily despite being a pawn down. However, in attacking situations
their presence can promote winning chances where the attacker can
use his Bishop to dominate squares of one color without opposition.
The Two Bishops: having two Bishops against either a Bishop and
Knight or against two Knights. Two Bishops working together control
338
Appendix II
squares of both colors, adding to their power (e.g., two Bishops with
a King can mate a lone King, but two Knights can't-see Ch. 1 ), and
often constitute a small but clear advantage.
Wrong-Colored Bishop: in an endgame with a Bishop, "edge" pawn,

and King against a King, the Bishop is on the wrong color if it does not
control the queening square. Such endgames are drawn if the lone
King can reach the queening square. (See Ch. 3 . )
Blockade-blocking the path of a passed pawn by occupying a square in front

of it, particularly directly in front. In many positions a Knight serves well as a
blockader, and so can a Bishop, while the Queen makes a poor blockader (for
it can be better used elsewhere and is most easily driven away from its
blockade) . (See Ch. 4.)
Blocked Pawn-a pawn that cannot move forward because the square in front
of it is occupied. Most commonly the blocking is done by an opposing pawn,
as in (from the starting position) 1 . d4 dS, where the d,pawns block each other.
In the opening sequence 1 . e4 e6 2. d4 dS 3 . eS, each side has a short "chain"
of blocked pawns, leading toward a "Blocked Position." The blocking can also
be done with a piece, and particularly where the piece is maintained in front
of a passed pawn or isolated pawn, it is called a "Blockade." In some cases, the
pawn is blocked (typically involuntarily) by a friendly piece, especially the
King in endings like Queen vs. pawn or King with "edge pawn." (See Ch. 2 . )
Castling-a special, once,a,game move (for each side) in which the King is
moved two squares left or right (back rank only) and the Rook is placed next
to the King closer to the center. In order to castle, ( 1 ) the squares between the
King and Rook must be vacant, ( 2 ) neither the King nor Rook may have
moved previously, and ( 3 ) the King must not be in check, move through
check, or land in check. Castling is a valuable privilege and is usually done
early in the game to remove the King to a safer location and activate the Rook.
Disrupting the opponent from castling is generally worth some effort and often
leads to an attack on the King. (See Ch. 7.)
Center-the central squares, particularly e4, d4, dS, and eS . Control of the
center is a useful advantage in the opening and middlegame ( though less so in
the endgame) because it facilitates attacking on either side or on both sides at
once. Of the pieces, the Knight is most affected by its location relative to the
center; placed in or near the center, it controls eight squares, but in the comer
only two.
"Cheapo"-a slang term for a one,move threat or simple combination,

typically by a hard,pressed player in hopes the opponent will overlook it.
Sometimes that happens, which underscores the importance of not relaxing
because one's game is "easily won."
339
Closed (Blocked) Position-characterized by blocked pawn chains and few

if any (semi� )open files. Closed positions favor Knights because of their unique
hopping ability, and also make it easier for a defender behind in development.
(See Ch. 6.)
Color Weakness-a series of chronic "weak squares" of the same color, as

further specified by a "light�squared" or "dark�squared weakness." For ex�
ample, a light�squared weakness could arise from having blocked pawn chains
on the dark squares, and be exacerbated by lacking a light�squared Bishop and
the opponent having one (and thus more mobility for the opponent's Bishop).
Combination-a forcing sequence of moves to result in some gain, usually

material, but also checkmate (a "mating combination"), or even a positional
or strategic gain.
Connected Passed Pawns-are passed and on adjacent files, thereby being

able to protect and clear the way for each other. Such pawns can be very strong;
for example, two connected passed pawns on the 6th rank (for White) beat a
Rook by themselves. (See positions 4�6, 4� 7, 4�8.)
Development-putting the pieces into action from their original squares, one
of the basic aims of the opening. For various reasons, such as from a gambit, one
player might get ahead or behind in development, which can be an important
advantage or disadvantage. But its temporary nature requires quickly convert�
ing a lead in development into some kind of more lasting advantage (before the
opponent can catch up).
Distant Passed Pawn (a/k/a "outside" or "offside passed pawn")-a passed

pawn that is on the other side of the board from most of the other pawns and/
or pieces. The effect is that stopping it requires a diversion that may seriously
weaken the defense in the main area of action. Possession of a distant passed
pawn, or the potential to create one, can be an advantage, especially in
endgames. (See Chs. 3 and 4. )
Doubled Pawn-a pawn on the same file as another friendly pawn. Thus the
front doubled pawn blocks the rear one, and they cannot protect each other.
Doubled pawns can be a weakness, but sometimes are even useful. (See Ch. 5 . )
Double(d) Isolated Pawns-a pawn pair that is both doubled and isolated
from other friendly pawns. Usually doubled isolated pawns are a real liability
(hard to defend, the square in front is weak, cannot force a passed pawn by
themselves, etc.) , although there are circumstances in which they can be an
asset. (See Ch. 5 . )
Draw-as explained in Ch. 2 , draws result from ( a ) agreement; ( b ) stalemate;

(c) insufficient material, making mate impossible; (d) repetition, the same
340
Appendix II
position occurring three times when properly claimed; or (e) 50 moves passing
without a capture or a pawn move, when claimed.
Edge Pawn-a newer way of describing a pawn on the a� or h�file (which in

the older descriptive notation was aptly termed a "Rook pawn") . These pawns
can be useful if distant and (potentially) passed, but if blockaded can be much
harder than other pawns to force through. An extreme case is where the
"wrong�colored Bishop" with an edge pawn cannot win against a lone King
blockading the pawn at the queening square. (See Ch. 3 . )
Endgame (Ending)-the third and last phase of the game; characterized by

fewer pieces (and usually without Queens) on the board and the change in the
King's role from a frail piece needing shelter to an active one. In endgames, the
potential promotion of pawns becomes a dominant theme. (See Ch. 4. )
Escape Square-an empty square in front of a (castled) King position,

providing an escape from a back�rank check. Making an escape square, by
moving a pawn adjacent to the King, can prevent a back�rank mate or the
exploitation of a vulnerable back rank (see Ch. 1 ), but may create a weakness
in the King's defenses that an attacker can exploit (see Ch. 7 ) .
Exchange The-having a Rook for a Bishop or Knight (minor piece), as in

,
"White wins the Exchange."
Files-run up and down the board, designated by letters ( a,file, etc. ), used by
Rooks and Queens when they are "open" or "semi,open;" i.e.:
Closed File: occupied by both White and Black pawns.
Open File: with no pawns on it, or ( loosely) with none of one player's
pawns.
Semi..Open File: with none of one player's pawns, which player is said
to "have a semi�open file."
Hole-a weak square in a player's position not capable of being controlled by

a pawn, into which the opponent can sink pieces (see positions 5�59, 6� 1 5 ,
etc.).
Initiative-the ability to make threats over a series of moves, constituting an

advantage.
Isolated Pawn-a pawn with no other friendly pawns on adjacent files. Thus,
the isolated pawn cannot be protected by another pawn and may prove
difficult or inconvenient to defend. In addition, the square in front of the pawn
is potentially "weak." Nevertheless, several popular opening systems involve
341
either White or Black accepting an isolated pawn in return for freer develop�
ment, more space, attacking chances, etc.
Kingside-the side of the board where the Kings are placed originally, the f�,
g�, and h�files (as opposed to the other side the board, the "Queenside").
Because players usually castle on the Kingside, the term "Kingside attack" is
often used to refer to an attack on the King position.
Long Diagonal-the diagonals running a 1 to h8 and aS to h 1 . Because they

each run through two important central squares, as well as being longer than
other diagonals, they are often useful placements for Bishops.
Middlegame-the second phase of the game, between the opening and

endgame; characterized by a fairly large number of pieces, especially Queens,
still on the board and the need to keep one's King safe from attacks. The
transition from opening to middlegame occurs when development, usually
including castling, which also brings a Rook into action, is complete and the
players start maneuvering their developed pieces. Another definition is when
the game reaches the stage where the players are thinking for themselves and
no longer relying on opening "book" moves.
Minor Piece-a Bishop or Knight, "minor" in value in relation to a Rook or

Queen.
Opening-the beginning phase of the game, starting from the original

position and lasting some number of moves until the "middlegame" begins.
The basic aims of the opening are to:
• (a) develop one's pieces,
• (b) fight for control of the center, and
• (c) get the King to safety, typically by castling.
Open Position--characterized by some pawns having been exchanged and

pawns in flexible (not blocked) positions. Open positions with pawns on both
sides of the board favor the long�range pieces, particularly Bishops in relation
to Knights. (See Ch. 6. )
Opposition-when the Kings are directly facing one another with one square
in between, the player not on move has "the opposition." The other player
then must move aside and give ground, which can be a critical factor in King
endings. The opposition can also be "diagonal" or "distant" (facing and
separated by three squares or even five squares). (See Ch. 2.)
Outpost-a fairly secure piece placement, especially of a Knight in a central

or forward square.
342
Appendix ll
Queenside-the side of the board where the Queens are placed originally, the
a,, b,, and c-files. Since players usually castle on the Kingside, terms like
"Queenside attack" or "Queenside majority" (of pawns) generally imply not
only these files, but also that the Kings are elsewhere.
Passed Pawn-a pawn that cannot be stopped by an opposing pawn (by either
blocking or capturing). Such a pawn can be a real asset, especially as it gets
closer to promotion at the 8th ( 1 st) rank. (See Chs. 3 and 4.)
Pawn-see entries following, and also Backward Pawn, Blocked Pawn, Con
nected Passed Pawns, Distant Passed Pawn, Doubled Pawn, Double(d) lso,
lated Pawn, Edge Pawn, Isolated Pawns, Passed Pawn, Triple(d) Isolated
Pawns.
Pawn Break-attacking a blocked pawn, usually part of a pawn chain, with

another pawn. The effect is to threaten to or actually break open the position,
creating tension and complexity in the position.
Pawn Chain-a line of pawns protecting one another, often blocked by an

opposing pawn chain. Each pawn in the chain is protected by another except
for the base pawn, which is often the most vulnerable point to attack.
Pawn Duo--two friendly pawns next to each other, generally an advanta,

geous placement because each covers the square in front of the other, and
together they can cover a row of four squares against enemy pieces.
Pawn Island-A pawn or group of pawns on adjacent files, which allows them
to support one another. Pawn exchanges generally separate players' pawns into
two or more islands, but the fewer the better, as a rule.
Pawn Majority-a larger number of pawns opposing a smaller number. As

long as the pawn majority is sound or healthy (not crippled in some way), its
pawns can be advanced to create a passed pawn.
Perpetual Check-a sequence of checking moves by which a player brings

about a draw by repetition. (See Ch. 2.)
Piece-broadly, any playing unit, but often used to exclude pawns (e.g.,
"blockade with a piece") or pawns and Kings (e.g., "exchange pieces but not
pawns when ahead") , and even more narrowly to mean a Bishop or Knight
(e.g., "two pawns for a piece"). The varied meanings make the term potentially
ambiguous, but generally the meaning is clear in the specific context.
Protected Passed Pawn-a pawn that is not only passed but also protected by
another pawn. Being passed confers potential strength, and being protected
gives extra security and generally adds more worth. In particular, in King
343
endings the protected passed pawn can be very important because the enemy
King cannot capture the supporting pawn without releasing the (protected)
passed pawn to promote. On the other hand, a Knight is an ideal blockader of
a protected passed pawn because it attacks the supporting pawns while
blockading. (See examples in Chs. 3 , 4, and 6.)
Ranks-run horizontally across the board, designated by numbers. Of particu,

lar importance:
Back Rank: the 1st (for White) or the 8th (for Black) , where a King
without escape squares may get mated by a Rook or Queen (a "back,
rank mate"-see Ch. 1 ).
7th (2nd) Rank: as the rank where the opponent's pawns start and are
most likely to be found, the 7th rank (for White) or the 2nd rank (for
Black) represents a desirable placement for a Rook or Queen. 1 t is said,
reasonably, "a Rook on the 7th is worth a pawn" ( i.e., having your
Rook on the 7th rank will compensate for being a pawn down).
Sacrifice-giving up material for later gain, especially (as in "real" sacrifice)

when not part of a combination or when the outcome cannot clearly be
foreseen.
S trategy refers to general, long,range plans (also known as "positional

-
play"), as opposed to "tactics."
Tactics-specific sequences of moves to achieve aims, as by "combinations,"

as opposed to "strategy."
Temp�a move (which is the measure of time on the chessboard) in relation

to the opponent, as in "gaining a tempo" (by a check or other threat to which
the opponent must reply) or being "a tempo ahead" (a move ahead, as in a race
to promote or to mate each other) .
Triangulation-a maneuver with a King to lose a move and gain the

opposition by moving in a triangle instead of back and forth. (See positions z,
35, 2,36.)
Triple( d) Isolated Pawns three pawns on the same file and isolated; worse
-
than doubled isolated pawns, but rare (a set appears in position 7,74).
Values-used to express the relative strengths of the pieces, commonly as

follows:
pawn = 1 Rook = 5
Knight = 3 Queen = 9
Bishop = 3 ( + ) King = infinity ( or, about 3 as an attacking piece)
344
Appendix II
These values should be considered approximate, and vary according to the

position. This variance is most clear for a pawn as it gets closer to promoting
(and thus more valuable), and also applies particularly in relation to Bishops
vs. Knights (see Ch. 6 and glossary entries for Bishops), although many
authorities express their slight preference for the Bishop by giving it a ( + ) or
an extra fraction of a point.
The King's value is infinite based on its loss (checkmate) ending the game,
but when used as an offensive force in endgames it assumes a strength
approximating that of a minor piece. In addition, these literal values become
fuzzy in various mixed contests, including:
• B+B vs. N+N or N + B (6�6, but usually favors "the two Bishops," even to the
point of being a winning advantage) .
• two minor pieces vs. R +pawn ( 6�6; approximately even in endgames, but
usually clearly favors the two pieces in middlegames) .
• B orN vs. 3 pawns (3� 3, but the piece is generally more useful as an attacking
force in middlegames, while the pawns become approximately equal, or
even superior, in endgames) .
• three minor pieces vs. R+R (9� 1 0, but three pieces are stronger! ) .
• R + B vs. R + N ( 8�8, but the Rook and Bishop generally work better
together) .
• Q+N vs. Q+B ( 1 2� 1 2, but the Queen and Knight are often more effective
working together).
Weak Square ( s )-an important square or squares adjacent to pawns, but not
readily controlled by them. Thus enemy pieces can readily occupy them. (See
also Color Weakness. )
Zugzwang-literally "move compulsion," when a player cannot move without

hurting his position.
Zwischenzug-literally "in�between move," when a player inserts a tempo�

gaining move to effect a crucial repositioning before replying to a threat or
recapturing.
345
The Purpose of This Book
In designing and writing this book, I have made certain assumptions based
on my experiences as a chess player, psychologist, and teacher. These are:
• That you know something about chess and want to play it better.
• That you can move the pieces around the board with some idea of
how they relate to one another (for example, seeing that your Queen
is attacked, that one piece protects another, etc. ).
• That you are willing to devote some effort to learning, but will
appreciate the time and effort saved by being able to read this book
and think about the diagrammed positions without (for the most
part) having to set up a board and play through the moves.
• That motivated readers can learn principles of good chess play that
will improve their playing strength.
• That efficient learning requires well,chosen examples (my task) and

active participation on your part, which means thinking out fully
what moves to make when asked, and afterwards carefully reading the
answer for feedback on your efforts.
• That without formal instruction an improving player develops some

(mainly intuitive) understandings of the principles of good chess play,
that you already have some of these understandings, and that further
learning from this book will be most efficient by allowing you to draw
upon your understandings with proper guidance.
If the above is okay with you, please continue . . .
Leslie H. Ault
Editor's Note: I am asking more from my authors nowadays . I want to know

about them and their inspirations and I am sure readers do too . So I thought
it important to establish Les' credentials right up front, on pages 4'6 . Enjoy.
346

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THE GENESIS OF

Dr. Leslie Ault

Copyright© 1993 by Leslie Ault

All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or

Cover design: Bob Long & Greg Sterling

Requests for permissions and republication rights or a catalog of

AOO.tt Me ara.d.. T'his B<xlk •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• iv

Chapter 1: Some Basics ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 1

Chapter 2: The Fight to Win or Draw •••••••••••••••••••••••••• 20

Chapter 3: Cashing in at t he End •••••.•••••••••••••••••••••••.•. 64

Chapter 4: More Fun at the Cashier's Window •.•••••••••••• 101

Chapter 5: The Care and Feeding of Pawns •••••••••••••••••• 130

Chapter 6: Piece ara.d.. Hamwny ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 170

Chapter 7: The Era.d..angered King •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 220

Chapter 8: No Holds Barred •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 276

Appendix 1: C'hess Notatiorl •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 335

Appendix II: Annotated Glossary •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 337

The Purpose of T'his B<xlk •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 346

Colopllort •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• copyright page

Thinkers' Press Catalog ................................ available upon request

lar fashion. But I was hesitating, . -...�c· ..

Ed.Note: See page 346 on "The Purpose of This Book.''

Because chess is primarily a ally over a million sequences.) In,

Note that either method requires lA. White to move.

.§ Using these same ideas, can you

A. Perhaps the simplest to find is the

.§ So far we have been looking at

Newcomers often do not understand the prin..

.§. Now try this one.

1�7. White to move.

(a) running away with his King,

As for (d), Black can indeed

but White mates first: 2 . Qg7#. That

exf6 renews the threat of mate, and

1-11. White to move.

steps to either a8 or c8. Rh7 t?? Kxh7.

complication for your amusement 2 . RhB# or 1 . . . KaB 2 . Kb6 KbB 3 .

mate most quickly? ( In fact, most Rook moves end up

1, 13. White to move. Rc7, 1 . Rblt , and I. Ra7? ? do not. )

.§ If you understand the winning

1,14. White to move.

oblige by going into the comer to be

1 -1 5 1,16. Alburt-Gulko, U.S. Open,

� Alone Bishop cannot give mate, � The mate by the Bishops on an

1,18. White to move.

� Likewise the Bishop and Knight � As we have seen, against a lone

1,22. Black to move.

doesn't help here, for 1 Nf5 both

covers the intended mating square ANSWER

the lone King doesn't willingly walk

� In the middlegame Knights can � Sometimes even one Knight can

1 , 26. Morphy-Amateur, Paris,

Qd7#) 23. Qc8t! Rxc8 24. Nd7#.

Remember, you can force mate with a lone Queen,

is threatened by the Queen on g2 supported by either the Bishop or the Knight

(protecting g7) and went on to win the game.

Most chess games are aban, t ions including Rook and

mate. Nor can White dilly,dally; a

capturing the pawn ( leaving an end,

Nb3 t. This move relieves the stale,

King up again, 2. Kd8, producing position (d).

!! Now White's correct move in this � Dealing with an advanced passed

2,4. White to move.