Piece in enemy territory can decide the fate of the game
Manisha Mohite
Many a time in a game of chess the mere presence of the opponent's piece established in your territory can decide the fate of the game even though the piece may not actually indulge in exchanges. This piece which has ventured and anchored deep on an enemy square may bind or paralyze a few pieces or even render the pawns immobile. This hampers free movement of other pieces and ultimately affects the result of the game.
In the game which follows White firmly fixes his bishop and as a consequence both of Black's rooks are virtually paralyzed. White then exchanges two of his rooks for queen and an interesting point here is that after causing all the damage the bishop retreats back and is exchanged for his opponent's strong bishop even though the game is more or less decided by then.
White: Sune Berg Hansen (2558) – Black: Simen Agdestein (2580)
Gentofte , 1999
Sicilian Defence
1.e4 c5
The Sicilian Defence
2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3
The most often played continuation is 3.d4
3. ..Nf6 4.Bb5 Nd4 5.e5 Nxb5 6.Nxb5 Nd5 7.Ng5 f5 8.0–0
Black has opened up on the queen side and still White decides to castle on the queen side. If 8.Qf3 e6 9.h4 a6 10.Nc3 Nb4 11.Kd1 Be7 12.d3 0–0 13.Qh5 h6 14.Qg6 hxg5
8...a6
If 8...g6 9.d4 Nc7 10.Qe2 h6 11.Nf3 Nxb5 12.Qxb5 e6 13.dxc5 appears better for Black
9.Nc3 Nxc3 10.dxc3 e6
Though this continuation is not played often, the position is evenly balanced
11.Qf3
If11.Re1 Qc7 12.Qf3 g6 13.Qg3 b6
11...g6 12.Qg3 b6 13.h4 Bb7 14.Rd1 Qc7 15.Bf4 Qc6
There was no need to play this move. Perhaps he could have looked at 15...h6 16.Nxe6 dxe6 17.Qxg6+ Qf7 18.Qxf7+ Kxf7 19.Rd7
16.Nf3 0-0-0
Castling long!
17.Bg5 Re8
Diagram 1
18.Bf6
Establishing himself in the enemy territory
18. ..Rg8 19.Rd2 h6 20.Rad1 g5
White is concentrating in the centre while Black is focusing on targeting the King side. If 20...Qc7 21.Rxd7 Qxd7 22.Rxd7 Kxd7 23.Nd2 b5 24.c4 with advantage for White
21.Rxd7
Sacrificing two rooks for the queen. If 21.hxg5 hxg5 22.Nxg5 f4 23.Qg4 Bh6 24.Rxd7 Bxg5 25.Bxg5 Qxg2+
21...g4 22.Ne1 Qxd7 23.Rxd7 Kxd7
Though material balance is maintained Black's rooks are hopelessly out of play and ironically both are kept in check by the dark squared bishop which Black cannot exchange due to dark square weakness. 24.Nd3 c4
If 24...Be7 25.Qe3
25.Nf4 Bc5 26.b4 cxb3
Black's position is further weakened. If 26...Bf8 27.Qe3 Kc7 28.Qd4also concedes advantage to White
27.cxb3 b5 28.Qd3+ Kc8 29.Kf1 Bb6
If 29...g3 30.f3 Be7 31.Nxe6 Bxf6 32.exf6 Rxe6 33.Qxf5 with a win for White
30.Qd6. White is in total command now
30. .. Bc7 31.Qc5 Rgf8 32.c4
White could have wrapped up the proceedings immediately with 32.Nxe6 Rf7 33.Ng7 Rg8 34.Nxf5
32...Rf7
If 32...Kb8 33.cxb5 Rxf6 34.exf6 Bxf4 35.f7
33.cxb5 axb5 34.Qxb5
White has virtually won the game as Black's pieces are too disorganized
34...Rd7 35.a4 Be4 36.a5 Rf8 37.Qc5 Re8 38.Ke2 Bb7 39.Qb5 Bb8 40.a6
This passed pawn is marching merrily!
40. ..Be4 41.f3 gxf3+ 42.gxf3 Ba8 43.h5
Vacating a square for the bishop to join the action
43...Ba7 44.Bh4
This bishop has caused maximum damage to black's position just by staying menacingly in the enemy territory
44. ..Bg1 45.Bf2 Bxf2
Finally the bishop gets exchanged
46.Kxf2 Ree7 47.Qb6 Rc7 48.Nxe6 Rc2+ 49.Kg3 Re8 50.a7 Rc3 51.Qa6+ Kd7 52.Nc5+ and Black resigned as 52.Nc5+ Ke7 (52...Rxc5 53.Qd6+ Kc8 54.Qxc5+) 53.Qf6 check-mate.
Diagram 2
Black to play and win
1. ... Nd3+ 2.Kd1 Rxd2+ 3.Kxd2 Nc5 4.Rd1 Nxb3+ and Black wins comfortably.