Positional superiority and material majority both lead to victories in a game of chess. But how does one choose whether to opt for positional play or go and grab whatever pieces or pawns are on offer? The decision is tough to take and only experience will help when one is faced with such a dilemma on board. Chess basic however emphasize on positional superiority as it leads to victory most times.

In the game which follows, Black opts for active play and gives up some material. His pieces are posted on better squares but his biggest problem is the vulnerable position of his King.

White on the other hand has material advantage and fully exploits this fact by repeatedly attacking the King and romping home victor with his extra material.

White: Utut Adianto (2605) – Black: Liu Dede (2405)
Jakarta Gunadarma , 1996
Nimzo- Indian Defence
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4
The Nimzo-Indian Defence
4.f3 d5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 c5 7.cxd5 Nxd5 8.dxc5 Qa5.
The players are following opening theory.

9.e4 Ne7 10.Be3 0–0.

Black ahs castled while White has to still get his King side pieces out into the game
11.Qb3 Nd7 12.Rd1.

White played a new move or a novelty here. The usual continuation is  12.Nh3 Nc6 13.Bb5 Qc7 14.Rd1 a6 15.Ba4 Qa5 16.Bxc6 bxc6 17.Qb4 Qc7 18.0–0 Rb8 19.Qc4 Qa5 20.a4 Ne5 21.Qd4 Ng6 22.Bf4 Rb3 23.Rd3 Ra3 24.Bd6 e5 25.Bxe5 Rxa4 26.Qd6 Nxe5 27.Qxe5 Bxh3 28.gxh3 Rc4 29.f4 Qxc5+ 30.Qxc5 Rxc5 31.Ra1 a5 32.Ra4 g6 33.e5 Rb8 34.h4 Rb2 35.h5 Kg7 36.hxg6 hxg6  as went on a previous game which Black won.
12...Qc7 .

If12...Nxc5 13.Qb4 then White enjoys an edge.
13.Qc4 Nc6 14.Nh3 b6.

Good one!
15.cxb6 axb6 16.Qb3 Ba6
A good move.

17.Bxa6 Rxa6 18.0–0
White finally gets to castle.
18. ..Rfa8.

Doubling on the open file
19.Bf4 Nde5 20.Bc1 Na5 21.Qc2 Nac4 22.f4 Ng4.
Black chooses to play actively. Passive was 22...Nc6
23.Qe2 h5 24.Ng5.

An interesting move! If 24.Nf2 Qc5 give Black quite a bit of active play (If 24...Nxf2 25.Rxf2 Ra5 and if 25...Nxa3 26.Qxh5 Nc4.

24...Qc5+ 25.Rd4.

If 25.Kh1 Nxa3.

25. ..Nxa3 26.Be3 Qxc3.

If 26...Nxe3 27.Qxh5 R6a7 (27...Qc7 28.Qh7+ Kf8 29.Qh8+ Ke7 30.Qxg7) 28.Qh7+ Kf8 29.Qh8+ Ke7 30.Qxg7 Ke8 31.Nh7 Nac2 and white must settle for perpetual check.

27.Qxa6 Qxe3+ 28.Kh1 Rf8.

Black cannot capture the queen as 28...Rxa6 29.Rd8 checkmate.

In the skirmish Black has to part with the exchange.

29.Rdd1 Nc2 30.e5.
Black’s two knights and queen are posted on strong squares  but the material imbalance works against him. The major reason for that is the vulnerable position of Black’s King.

30...g6.
If 30...Nf2+ 31.Rxf2 Qxf2 32.Qd3 g6 33.Ne4 Qxf4 34.Nf6+ Kg7 35.Qxc2 with White in a dominating position.
31.Nh3 Qc5 32.Rc1 b5 33.Qd6 Qc4. If 33...Qxd6 34.exd6 and Black cannot coordinate his forces successfully.
If 34...Nge3 Rf2 and if 34...Nce3 35.d7 Nf6 36.Rc8 Nxd7 37.Rxf8+ Kxf8 38.Rb1
 34.Qd2 Rc8 35.Ng5 b4 36.Qd7 Rc7.

Not exactly the right move but he hardly ahs any good moves at his disposal. If 36...Rf8 37.Qb7.b3 38.Ne4 Nge3 39.Rf3 with white having a better position.

Diagram 1
37.Qd8+ Kg7 38.h3 Nge3 39.Qf6+ Kg8 40.Rfd1.
Improving and improving his position.
40...Nd5.
If 40...Nxd1 41.Rxd1 Nd4 42.Qd8+
 41.Qd8+ Kg7 42.Rxd5 exd5 43.Qf6+ Kg8 44.e6 d4 45.exf7+
If 45.Rxc2 Qxc2 46.exf7+ offers more resistance.
45...Rxf7 46.Qxg6+ Kf8 47.Nxf7 and Black resigned.
Diagram 2
White to play and win.

1.Bxh6 gxh6
2.Nd7 Nxd7 3.Rg4+ Kh8 4.Rxd7 Rad8 5.Qe5+ f6 6.Rg8+ and White wins.
Manisha Mohite