Author: Covax
Date: 07:42:38 12/09/97
1 game Keene R D - Stein L Hastings, 1967 1.Nf3 d6 2.c4 Nf6 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.0–0 0–0 6.Nc3 e5 7.d3 Nc6 8.Rb1 h6 9.b4 Be6 [par=2]Prepared by Black's last. 10.b5 Ne7 [par=2] 11.Qc2 Qd7 [par=2 ]Preparing the "slide" ...Be6-h3, challenging White's important bishop. Broadly speaking, White's strategy in the English Opening is to dominate the central light squares, so the disappearance of his king-bishop robs his game of most of its punch. 12.Re1 Bh3 [par=2] 13.Bh1 Ng4 [par=3]Freeing the f-pawn. 14.Nd2 Rab8 [par=2]The least compromising defense of the b-pawn. Note that after 15. Qa4, Black can riposte with ...e5-e4 (n(either)xe4...f7-f5). 15.Nd5 Nxd5 [par=2]The only way Black can be rid of the knight d5 (15...c7-c6 16.Nxe7+ and b5xc6). 16.cxd5 f5 [par=2]Envisioning an opening of the f-line. Note that an over-hasty ...f5-f4 will cede White's knight the ideal e4 square. 17.Rb4 Rbe8 [par=3 Rf7=2]Quite a deep move. Clearly, doubling on the f-line is accomplished fastest by ...Rf8-f7 and ...Rb8-f8. The text move, however, has in mind the possibility of laying siege to the d-pawn with ...Ng4-f6 and ...Qd7-f7, whereupon pressure on the c-line can be negated by ...Re8-e7. 18.Nf3 Nf6 [par=3]Tenderizing the d-pawn. 19.e4 White's surest defense of the d-pawn congeals whatever ambitions he may have had on the light squares. 19...f4 [par=2]Making contact. 19. g3xf4 is, of course, refuted by 19... Qd7-g4+. 20.Bb2 Ng4 [par=2 Rff7=2]The knight resumes its post with tangible pressure on f2. Of similar intent is 20...Rf8-f7. 21.Rc4 Re7 [par=2 Rff7=2]Equivalent is ...Rf8-f7. 21...Rc8 is the sort of passive move one makes only when forced. 22.a4 The b-pawn was looking takeable. 22...Ref7 [par=2]Threatening ...f4xg3. 23.Qe2 What? After all I've said about ...Rc8 being terribly passive, doesn't White force that move by tripling on the c-file? Actually, no. After 23.Rec1, Black has the following fantastic counter: 23...fxg3 24.hxg3 Rxf3 25.Bxf3 Ne3!! 26.fxe3 Rxf3, when 27.Rxc7 is crushed by 27...Qg4. 23...Qd8 [par=3 h5=2]Planning to infiltrate on the dark squares. 24.Rc2 h5 [par=2]Preparing to infuse another attacking unit at g3. 25.Bc1 Bh6 [par=2 g5=1]Affords Black the choice of recapturing at f4 with pieces should the need arise. Further, Black introduces ideas of...Rf7-g7. Correct is ...g6-g5. 26.Bb2 fxg3 [par=2] 27.hxg3 h4 [par=2] 28.Bc1 hxg3 [par=2]White must respond to the threat of ...g3xf2+. 29.fxg3 Bxc1 [par=2] 30.Rexc1 a6 [par=5]A brilliant move: Black threatens ...Qb8 and ...Qa7+. 31.Nh2 A defensive measure against...Qb8: The elimination of Black's knight permits interpositions. 31...Nxh2 [par=3]Conceivably, White will sacrifice his queen in the event of ...Rf2. In the words of the well-known West Coast player, The Once-Mighty Carl, "What are you doing to yourself? What are you doing to your poor self!?" 32.Kxh2 Qg5 [par=3]Black rules out any defensive queen sacs by sighting the rook c1. Meanwhile, the threat seems to be something to the h-file. 33.Kxh3 Rh7+ [par=2] 34.Kg2 Qh6 [par=2] 0–1 2 game Janowski D - Lasker E Paris, 1909 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bb5 Bb4 5.0–0 0–0 6.d3 d6 7.Bg5 Bxc3 8.bxc3 Ne7 9.Bc4 Ng6 10.Nh4 Nf4 [Par=2 h6=–1]Rules out any ideas of f4 (White threatens to capture on g6 and advance f2-f4). h6 loses material after Nxg6. Note that, if White captures the knight f4, he forfeits the advantage of the bishop-pair. 11.Bxf4 exf4 [Par=1] 12.Nf3 Bg4 [Par=2 c6=1 Be6=1]Black threatened Nxe4 with attack on the knight h4. After this move, White has difficulties in developing any meaningful aggression. 13.h3 Bh5 [Par=1]Note White's difficulties at breaking the pin because of Black's handy f4 unit. 14.Rb1 b6 [Par=2 Rb8=1]In such situations, commentators frequently suggest defense of such pawns with pieces, so as not to incur weaknesses. However, here Lasker judges correctly that a minute weakness in his queen-side is preferable to a reduction of mobility. 15.Qd2 Bxf3 [Par=2]White's pawn structure continues to degrade; now boasting three "islands" of pawns with two lonely atolls on the a and h files. One should jump at inflicting such bloody pawn wounds. Additionally, how does one defend f4 without these moves? 16.gxf3 Nh5 [Par=3]Never use pawns to do a man's job: They can't retreat. 17.Kh2 Qf6 [Par=3]A good positional move securing the Kingside dark squares. 18.Rg1 Rae8 [Par=2] 19.d4 Kh8 [Par=2]A building move, stepping out of any possible danger down the g line and freeing the f-pawn from the pin. 20.Rb5 Qh6 [Par=3]Again, Black employs piece-play to maintain his position. The permanent, static nature of his structural advantage affords him that choice. 21.Rbg5 f6 [Par=3]After his many preparations, Black begins to take over the king-side squares. No credit for the flashy Ng3, hanging the f4 pawn. 22.R5g4 g6 [Par=2] 23.Bd3 Re7 [Par=2]Again a modest building move. It's impossible to over-emphasize the positional value of these little moves. Black's plan is simply to improve his pieces to the maximum. He wants to open the position when White's doubled pawn pairs will tell and his decentralized rooks will look silly. 24.c4 Ng7 [Par=4]What's this? Hanging the guy on f4? Of course. After trades on f4 (not 25.Rxf4 Ne6 winning at least the exchange), the knight hops to e6, scoops up the d-pawn and Black's knight reigns. 25.c3 Ne6 [Par=1]The knight is very strong on this central square. 26.Bf1 f5 [Par=2] 27.R4g2 Rf6 [Par=2] 28.Bd3 g5 [Par=3]With the big threat of Qxh3. 29.Rh1 g4 [Par=4]Black has strong threats on the king-side and in the center. A capture on this square will un-prop the e-pawn. Meanwhile, Ng5 is coming. 29... g4 30.fxg4 Ng5 31.Kg1 fxe4–+. 30.Be2 Ng5 [Par=2 gxf3=2] 31.fxg4 f3 [Par=2] 32.Rg3 fxe2 [Par=2] 0–1 3 game Teichmann R - Schlecter K Karlsbad, 1911 1.e4 Never did Richard Teichmann (1868–1925) play so powerfully as he did here in this monster event, crushing all his rivals and proving himself to be one of the strongest players of the day. Karl Schlecter's turn came in the eighteenth round. Schlecter's drawn match with Emanuel Lasker the year before had added to his reputation as being the most difficult man in the world to defeat. Teichmann adopts his pet line, the seemingly quiet 9.d3 and gains control of the vital d5 and f5 squares. After this, his attack surges irresistibly. 1...e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0–0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0–0 9.d3 Na5 10.Bc2 [par=2]An essential move. In the Ruy Lopez, the squares d5 and f5 are strategically vital. Without his white-squared bishop, White cannot hope to control them. It may be said that, at c2, the cleric waits in ambush. He may reemerge at b3. Or, after some clearing of the center, he might pressure the black king-side. 10...c5 11.Nbd2 [par=2 a4=1]One of the Ruy's virtues is that in most variations it denies Black freeing exchanges. If it permits exchanges, it derives some form of compensation. However, the Ruy demands accuracy, in that White must deploy his pieces thoughtfully and meaningfully to effective posts. At this moment squares don't exactly cry-out to White's pieces; his queen bishop, for instance. Hence the text move, which is virtually reflexive for Ruyites. 11...Qc7 Black shores up e5 in readiness for a freeing d5 push. 12.Nf1 [par=2 a4=1]Also reasonable is a2-a4, probing the Black queen-side. 12...Nc6 13.Ne3 [par=2 Bg5=1]Prevention (d6-d5) and aggression (possible hops into f5). Bc1–g5 also prevents d5, but might lead to unwanted exchanges after Nf6-e8. 13...Bb7 Almost an invitation. 14.Nf5 [par=2] 14...Rfe8 15.Bg5 [par=3]An important move, after which d5 is answerable with the guard- removing Bxf6. 15...Nd7 16.Bb3 [par=2]Back to this attacking diagonal now that the bishop cannot be molested. 16...Nf8 17.Bd5 [par=2]This threat to capture on c6 and e7 in turn pins Black down. 17...Ng6 18.Bxe7 [par=3] 18...Ngxe7 19.Bxf7+ [par=2]Other continuations promise little; Black threatens to exchange-off the attackers. 19...Kxf7 20.Ng5+ [par=2]This is the only logical continuation of the attack. 20...Kg8 Why is this move forced? Black's possible retreats refuted by Ne6, Nxg7, or Nxf7. 21.Qh5 [par=2 Qb3=–1]Qb3+ is defeated by... c5-c4. 21...Nxf5 22.Qxh7+ [par=1] 22...Kf8 23.Qxf5+ [par=1 exf5=1] 23...Kg8 24.Qg6 [par=2]Black hoped to play...g7-g6 to bring his queen to the defense. 24...Qd7 25.Re3 [par=2]The clincher, coming in to seal off the f-file. 1–0 4 game Flohr - Ravinsky Moscow, 1944 1.d4 Salo Flohr (1908–1983) emigrated to the Soviet Union from Czechoslovakia during the Second World War. There the notorious drawing-master for some time succeeded in sharpening his style, as in this game against a minor Soviet master. 1...d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.e3 b5 6.a4 b4 7.Na2 e6 8.Bxc4 Nbd7 9.0–0 [par=2 Qe2=2 b3=1]Prudently castling before commencing operations in the center. 9...Bb7 10.Qe2 [par=2]White threatens e3-e4. 10...c5 11.Rd1 [par=2]A normal move, but awkward for Black to meet. His queen is likely to be exposed on both of the natural squares c7 and b6. Note that White threatens e3-e4, ...N(or)Bxe4, d4-d5 with attack. 11...Qc7 12.Ba6 [par=2 e4=2]The text is a deep positional move, cutting Black's b-pawn off from his comrades. White intends dxc5 and Bd2, harvesting the little guy. 12...Bd5 13.Bd2 [par=2]Threatening dxc5. 13...Rb8 14.Rdc1 [par=3 Rac1=1]The a-rook performs valuable sentry duty over the a-file. Black's queen again must move. 14...Qb6 15.Bb5 [par=2]Gunning for the b-pawn. 15...a5 The only way to firmly guard the b-pawn. 16.Ne5 [par=3]Virtually sentencing Black's king to live out his days in the center. 16...Bd6 17.dxc5 [par=2]White continues to confuse Black's pieces. 17...Bxc5 18.e4 [par=3]Black can scarcely capture this pawn in view of his pinned knight. 18...Bxe4 (...Nxe4 19.Nxd7, wins) 19.Bg5, threatening to take on f6 and d7 in turn. 18...Bb7 19.Bg5 [par=2 Nc4=2]Because it will reduce Black's mobility yet more, White plays this move anyway, as a purely positional move. Also good is 19.Nc4, winning a pawn next move with Nxa5. Probably, White's pressure is worth at least a pawn. 19...Bc8 20.Bf4 [par=3 Rd1=–1]Not recommended is 20. Rd1, allowing 20...Bxf2+ 21. Qxf2 Qxf2+ 22.Kxf2 Nxe4+, and ...Nxg5. 20...Ra8 21.Qc2 [par=3 Rc4=2]White's position continues to improve while Black's game regresses. Also good is Rc4, with the idea of doubling. 21...Be7 22.Qxc8+ [par=3]In view of Black's cramped state almost mundane. 22...Rxc8 23.Rxc8+ [par=1] 23...Bd8 24.Nc4 [par=2 Rad1=2 Nxd7=3]Better than the text move is the immediately winning 24.Nxd7 Nxd7 25.Bc7, winning back the queen when White has an extra piece, or gaining a bucket-load of material. 24...Qd4 25.Be3 [par=2 Re5=2]Getting the idea. Note that ...Qxe4 puts the family in a fork. 25...Qd3 A perilous square. A takes nerve to leave one's queen under discovered attack. 26.Bc5 [par=2 Na5=2]Setting up 27.Nd6+. Also good is 26.Nxa5. 26...Nxe4 Hoping to emerge materially okay, after say, 27.Nd6+ Nxd6 28.Bxd3 Nxc8. 27.Ne5 [par=2]The idea is 28.Bxd7+ and 29. Rxd8. 27...Qxb5 28.axb5 [par=1] 28...Nxe5 29.Rd1 [par=2 Bb6=1]Also good is Bb6, allowing ...Kd7, whereupon Black can crawl into an endgame. 29...Nd7 30.Bb6 [par=1] 30...Ke7 31.Bxa5 [par=1] 31...Nxf2 32.Rxd8 [par=2 Bxd8=2 Kxf2=1 Bb4=2] 32...Nxd1 33.Rxh8 [par=1] 33...b3 34.Nc1 [par=2]Black shouldn't be allowed to keep his b-pawn. 34...Nc5 35. Bb4, ruthlessly. 1–0
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