Qendro,Llambi
Shaw,John
Turin Olympiad 2006 (12)
In this quite equal position, resulting from an Exchange Slav, Black plays for a win by setting a vicious trap.
1. … Qb5-a5!?
2. Rc1xc8+?!
2.Qd6 was equal.
2. … Ra8xc8
3. Rf1-c1?
Both players were happy to reach this position. White seems to be on the road to an imminent draw; however Black has already anticipated a nice trick which forces the win. The next move came as a cold shower for White. 3.Qd6 was still playable.
3. … Rc8-c2!
Black is now threatening 4…Be7, deflecting the queen from the defence of the rook, as well as 4…b5, pinning the knight. There’s no escape.
4. g2-g3
4.Rd1 b5−+;
4.Rxc2 Qe1+.
4. … Bf6-e7
5. Qa3xe7 Rc2xc1+
And Black won.
Exercises
On the following pages we offer you a little test with six positions – from simple to difficult – dealing with the same theme: activating the rook on a controlled file.
The number of stars is an indication of the difficulty of the task: *easy ** average, *** difficult, **** very difficult, and so on.
EXERCISE 1
*
Pähtz,Elisabeth
Zawadzka,Jolanta
Antakya 2010 (1.3)
How can White make use of a back-rank motif to win a piece?
Solution
Solution 1 *
Pähtz,Elisabeth
Zawadzka,Jolanta
Antakya 2010 (1.3)
The classic invasion of the second rank, with a double attack, wins on the spot:
1. Rd1-d7! Re8-f8
2. Rd7xb7+−1-0
Back
EXERCISE 2
**
Grant,Alan
Wohl,Aleksandar
Hastings 2010/11 (8)
Try to take profit from the vulnerability of the white king.
Solution
Solution 2 **
Grant,Alan
Wohl,Aleksandar
Hastings 2010/11 (8)
1. … Rd8-d2!
0-1
Back
EXERCISE 3
***
Bagirov,Vladimir
Kholmov,Ratmir
Baku ch-URS 1961 (12)
Here is a classic example on this theme.
Solution
Solution 3 ***
Bagirov,Vladimir
Kholmov,Ratmir
Baku ch URS 1961 (12)
After a preliminary exchange, the arrival on the second rank poses two unstoppable threats: of mate beginning by a check on f2, and an attack on the queen, while the rook must stay protected.
1. … Re4xe1+
2. Rd1xe1 Re5-e2!!
0-1
Back
EXERCISE 4
****
Janssen,Ruud
Sokolov,Ivan
Leeuwarden ch-NED 2002 (6)
The key to this position is the fight for the d-file. Only one move wins for Black.
Solution
Solution 4 ****
Janssen,Ruud
Sokolov,Ivan
Leeuwarden ch-NED 2002 (6)
1. … Rd8-d2!
2. Rd1xd2
If 2.g4, 2…Rxe2 3.Nxe2 and now the horizontal capture 3…Qxb3! wins.
2. … Bh5-f3+
3. Be2xf3
3.Kg1 Qg2#.
3. … Qh3-f1#
Back
EXERCISE 5
*****
Beliavsky,Alexander
Smeets,Jan
Amsterdam 2007 (7)
Black seems to have his defences in order. Find the weak spot in his armour.
Solution
Solution 5 *****
Beliaysky,Alexander
Smeets,Jan
Amsterdam 2007 (7)
1. Re1-e7!!±
Threatening to win material after 2.Rd1. In the game 1.Rxe8 Rxe8 2.Be3 was played, with a draw as a result.
1. Bd6xe7
2. f6xe7 Rd8-a8
2…Rb8 3.b3±
3. Ra1-d1 f7-f6
4. Bg5xf6 Nd7xf6
4…Qxa4 5.Qe4+! Kc7 6.Be5+! Nxe5 7.Qxe5+ With the queen and rook in the open field White has a decisive attack. 7…Kb7 8.Qe4+ 8…Kb6 9.Rd6+ Kc7 10.Rd4+− Kb6 11.Rxc4 a5 12.Qd4+ Kb7 13.Qd5+ Kb6 14.Qd6+ Kb7 15.Rc7+ Kb8 16.Qb6#. 8…Kc7 9.Qxc4+
5. Na4-c5+ Kb7-c7
6. Qd4-e5+ Kc7-c8
7. Rd1-d6+−
Back
EXERCISE 6
******
Novikov,Stanislav
Efimenko,Zahar (variation)
Moscow 2010 (8)
This position was investigated by Larry Christiansen in an ICC lecture. In his analysis of a variation of the game, Christiansen demonstrates that White can play for the win with a beautiful concept.
Solution
Solution 6 ******
Novikov,Stanislav
Efimenko,Zahar (variation)
Moscow 2010 (8)
1. Rf1-f8!!
An almost quiet move to begin with. White is not really threatening anything, so it seems, but the rook is taboo due to the mate on e6.
1. … e5-e4
1…Rxf8 2.Qe6#; 1…Qe7 2.Rf7. Now comes a hard-to-see move:
2. Rf8-g8!!
Moving to a controlled square and attacking g7. White gets an advantage in all lines:
A) 2…Qe7 3.Rxg7 Qxg7 4.Qxg7+Re7 5.Qf6 and the queen is very powerful in connection with pawn advances, for example: 5…Rbe8 6.Kf2 e3+ 7.Ke2 g4 8.a4! Kc8 9.a5 bxa5 10.c5;
B) 2…Re7 3.Qc6+ Kc8 4.Rxd8+ Kxd8 5.Kf2±.
Back
Why were all these moves invisible?
In all positions the invading rook plays along a seemingly well controlled file (or rank), finally landing unprotected on an attacked square behind the enemy lines. In fact the opponent’s control is just optical, as the overloaded defender is at the very same time also committed to the safety of the back rank – thus the intruder is untouchable.
D – Forgetting the rules
In the heat of the battle it may happen that the players forget certain official FIDE rules. A famous example was when Kortchnoi asked the arbiter if White was allowed to castle kingside when the opponent was attacking the rook on h16. Another story was told by Tal, who once in a game used all possible means to keep the opponent from castling, only to remember in the end that the enemy king had already moved twice earlier on.
It happens frequently that a player – or both players – forgets about a legal possibility because it does not seem to apply in the given situation.
Flear,Glenn
Adams,Michael
Hastings 1996/97 (3)
Black has three pawns against a knight, a very advantageous material balance in an endgame. But the three white pieces, all protected from checks by the black pawns, can easily force a draw.
In this English duel, the players were ready for the traditional shake-hands concluding the peace and Adams carelessly pushed a pawn:
1. … b4-b3??
Any defensive move like 1…Rf1 or 1…Kd 8 would have secured the draw.
2. Nd5-f6!
The threat is mate in one.
2. … Kc8-d8
And now White forced a draw with
3. Rg7-d7+?
Flear forgot about the rule of mate! The black king is dead after 3.Kb7! b2 (or any legal move) 4.Rd7+.
3. … Kd8-c8
4. Rd7-g7?
4.Re7! was winning.
4. … Kc8-d8
5. Rg7-d7+?
5.Kb7!.
5. … Kd8-c8
6. Rd7-g7? ½-½
Meshkov,Yury
Maletin,Pavel
Miass 2007 (8.2)
In this complicated position, both players have unprotected pieces. Black is better thanks to his Queen+Knight duo hovering dangerously near White’s monarch. He could also t
ake the g4 pawn at some point.
65. … Kg7xg6?
Two moves were easily winning 65…Nxg4!; or first 65…Nh3+! 66.Kh1 Kxg6 67.Qxe2 Nf2+ 68.Kg1 Nxg4 There’s no perpetual: 69.Qe4+ Kg7 70.Qd4+ Kh7 71.Qe4+ Kg8 72.Qe8+ Kg7 73.Qe4 Ne3 74.Qd4+ Kh7 75.Qe4+ Kh6 76.Qc6+ Kg7 77.Qe4 Qxg2+.
Now which move should have drawn for White?
66. Qe7-g5+!!
In the actual game White forgot about the stalemate and played 66.Qxe2? after which Black gained a clear advantage by 66…Nxg4.
66. … Kg6-h7
Another rule leads to a draw: perpetual check. 66…Kxg5 would be stalemate.
67. Qg5-h5+ Kh7-g7
68. Qh5-g5+ Kg7-f8
69. Qg5-d8+ Kf8-g7
70. Qd8-g5+= ½-½
Strating, Sybolt
Van der Schilden,Eric
Haarlem 1996 (4)
White has gained the advantage from the opening better development, better pawn structure and a space advantage. Black wanted to get at least a material advantage and took a pawn on b2. What unpleasant surprise awaited him?
1. Qd1xd8+ Ke8xd8
White now wins a rook thanks to a double attack, in one move with two different pieces.
2. 0-0-0+! 1-0
Taimanov,Mark
Polugaevsky,Lev
Leningrad ch-URS 1960 (19)
1. d2-d4 d7-d5
2. c2-c4 d5xc4
3. Ng1-f3 Ng8-f6
4. Qd1-a4+ Nb8-d7
5. Nb1-c3 e7-e6
6. e2-e4 c7-c5
7. d4-d5 e6xd5
8. e4-e5 d5-d4
9. Bf1xc4 d4xc3
10. e5xf6 Qd8xf6
11. Bc1-g5 Qf6-c6
In this classical game, the great Taimanov surprised his opponent with
12. 0-0-0!!
Winning on the spot.
In the two latest games with this variation, this possibility was not spotted by two strong players. In Marzolo-Brethes, Vandoeuvre 2008 (½-½, 36), and Arutinian-Gelazonia, Tbilisi 2007 (1-0, 21), both white players opted for the casual 12.Qb3, after which 12…f6 is unclear.
12. … c3xb2+
If 12…Qxa4 13.Rhe1+ Be1 14.Rxe7+ Kf8 (14…Kd8 15.Rexd7+ Ke8 16.Rd8+) 15.Rxf7+ Kg8 16.Rfxd7+! Qxc4 17.Rd8+ Kf7 Black would be OK were it not for the following fork: 18.Ne5+!+−.
13. Kc1xb2
13.Kb1 is even stronger.
13. … Bf8-e7
13…f6 14.Rhe1+ Kd8!? 15.Bb5 Qb6 16.Ne5+−.
14. Rh1-e1! f7-f6
15. Bc4-b5 Qc6-b6
15…Qc7 16.Bf4.
16. Kb2-c1f 6xg5
17. Bb5xd7+ Ke8-f8
18. Re1xe7! Kf8xe7
19. Qa4-e4+ Ke7-d8
20. Bd7-f5+ Kd8-c7
21. Qe4-e5+ Kc7-c6
22. Rd1-d6+ Kc6-b5
23. Qe5-b2+ 1-0
Zamarbide Ibarrea,Borja
Kononenko,Tatiana
Pamplona 2006 (2.5)
In this winning position, Black, a knight up, wanted to take the g7 pawn with his queen, and in order to protect the e6 pawn, played the nonchalant
33. … Rc8-e8?
33…Qe7 had to be played first, followed by …Re8 and …Qxg7.
White missed a golden opportunity to exploit a rare yet simple motif:
34. Rf3-f8+!
In the game White played 34.Qg5? Qxg7 35.Qh5 Rf8 and resigned.
34. … Re8xf8
35. Qg6-h7+!!
Double deflection in order to create the possibility of a knight fork.
35. … Kg8xh7
36. g7xf8N+! Kh7-h6
37. Nf8xd7
And the game should be a draw after
37. … Nd6-e4
38. Nd7-c5 Ne4xc5
38…Nc3 39.Nxb7 Nxa2 40.Nc5=.
39. d4xc5 Kh6-g6
40. Kg2-f3 Kg6-g5
41. Kf3-g3 e6-e5
42. Kg3-h3=
E – Quiet positions
It sometimes happens that in a quiet and dull game, players forget to look for fighting opportunities. Here is an example.
Hartston,Williarn
Penrose,Jonathan
London 1963
In this position, smelling a rat, the experienced Penrose offered a draw to young Hartston, who duly accepted. He missed a straightforward win:
1. Rf1xf7! Kg8xf7
2. Bd3-c4+ Kf7-f8
3. Rd1-f1+ Be7-f6
And here there is a forced checkmate thanks to an elegant queen manoeuvre:
4. Rf1xf6+! g7xf6
5. Qg3-g8+ Kf8-e7
6. Qg8-e6+ Ke7-f8
7. Qe6xf6+
And mate follows.
Levitina,Irina
Marinello,Beatriz
Bloomington ch-USA 1994 (2)
It looks like another boring opposite-coloured bishops endgame is awaiting both players. Black did what she was supposed to do and played the orthodox move
1. … Kg8-f7?
Centralizing the king, but missing an immediate win by 1…Be4!!. As a result the b-pawn will be crowned. On e4 black’s bishop incarcerates White’s. The lone white king is able to reach the ‘square’ (b5-b1-f1-f5) but cannot stop the pawn after 2.Kf1 (2.fxe4 b4 3.Bf4 b3) 2…b4 3.Ke2 b3 4.Kd2 b2.
Karpov,Anatoly
Antunes,Antonio
Tilburg 1994 (3)
After a quiet game with a symmetrical pawn structure, White has just played Qc4 to a6, giving Black a golden opportunity to conclude the game immediately:
1. … b4-b3!
1…Bf8? was played in the game, and White eventually won after 2.Rc8± Qe7 3.Qa8.
2. a2xb3
If 2.Rc8 bxa2 3.Rxd8+ (not 3…Rxd8 since 4.Qxa5 wins for White) 3…Bxd8!−+ as the pawn promotion is inevitable.
2. … Nd3-b4
3. Qa6-c8 Nb4xc2
4. Qc8xc2 Qd8-c7
With a decisive advantage Black.
Gashimov,Vugar
Bacrot,Etienne
Baku 2008 (1)
After a very quiet game. White has a slight advantage. Probably feeling sleepy, Black tried to prepare some sort of opening of the game by …b4-b3 and unwisely played:
33. … Rc8-b8?
Note that 34…b3 is not yet a threat because of 35.Na5. Gashimov, who went on to win this tournament, continued to press slowly:
34. h4-h5?
Black then defended with
34. … Qc6-c7
And drew after a long struggle. White had an elementary win with 34.Qxf7+!, exploiting the lack of protection of the black queen:
A) 34…Kh8 35.Ne5! Qd5 (35…Qd6 36.Qc4+−) 36.Rf4 Rbc8 37.Rf5;
B) 34…Kxf7 35.Ne5+.
At the end of every chapter we to present a number of exercises on the themes that we have studied:
EXERCISE 1
*
Premature Resignation
Fridstein,German
Lutikov,Anatoly
Riga 1954 (2)
Everybody knows that two connected pawns cannot be stopped by a rook as soon as they have arrived on the sixth rank (or the third rank in the case of black pawns). The white player also knew this and resigned here. What should he have tried?
Solution
Solution 1
*
Fridstein,German
Lutikov,Anatoly
Riga 1954 (2)
White correctly calculated that taking on b3 would lose because after
1. Rb8xb3 c3-c2
the promotion cannot be averted:
2. Rb3-b4+ Kd4-d5
3. Rb4-b5+ Kd5-c6
4. Rb5-b8 Kc6-c7
However, an in-between check (or Zwischenschach) would have drawn easily:
1.Rb4+! forces the king to stand on an unfavourable square, before taking the pawn. 1…Kd3 (1…Kd5 2.Rxb3 Kc4) 2.Rxb3 The c3 pawn is pinned, and the draw is inevitable.
Why was this a hard-to-see-move?
It is a typical in-between move, without any apparent link with the main element of the position: the two dangerous passed pawns.
Back
EXERCISE 2
Parry-Riposte
Lapiken,Peter
Reshevsky,Samuel
United States 1955
Black has interpolated a Zwischenschach before taking back the bishop on g7. What could White have replied here?
Solution
Solution 2
**
Lapiken,Peter
Reshevsky,Samuel
United States 1955
White did not notice the surprising refutation of Black’s unjustified intermediate move.
He could have interposed and attacked the queen with
1. Bf1-c4! Qe6xc4+
Or 1…bxc4 2.Qh6+ followed by mate.
2. b2-b3
And White wins.
Why was 1.Bc4! a hard-to-see-move?
This is an attacking move in defence, a kind of ‘parry-riposte’ like in fencing. It is also a real Zwischenzug because after the white bishop is taken, his king is still in check.
Back
EXERCISE 3
Invisible Chess Moves Page 4
