Middle game is all about exerting pressure

If Chess Openings are about rapid development and central control then the middle-game is all about manoeuvring the pieces to squares from where they can inflict maximum pressure.

The general tendency amongst beginners and amateurs is to be on the aggressive side and try to infiltrate into the enemy territory with their pieces.

In the game which follows, it can be seen that at times there is need to pause and retreat in order to infuse fresh life into the attack. White retreats his queen back to the first rank and then proceeds to join the attack most effectively.

White: Viktor Bologan (2620); Black: Dimitrij Bunzmann (2596)
Biel, 1999 French Defence

1.e4 e6 2.d3 d5 3.Nd2 b6 4.Ngf3 Nf6 5.c3 Be7 Not the usual set up encountered in a French Defence but it has been played before
6.Qa4+An early queen check
6. ... c6 7.Be2 0–0 8.0–0 b5  If8...Ba6 9.Re1 Qc7 10.Nf1 Nfd7 11.Ng3 Bd6 12.exd5 cxd5  
9.Qc2 c5 10.d4If [10.exd5 Nxd5 11.Re1 Nc6 12.a4 b4 13.c4 Nc7 14
10...Qb6Though it was not a popular variation, the players had been following a previously played game till now and here White makes a new move. If 10...c4 11.e5 Nfd7 12.b3 Nb6 13.Rd1 Nc6 14.Rb1 Ba6 15.bxc4 bxc4  
11.dxc5 Bxc5 12.Bd3  A good move! Queen and bishop are doubled up on the crucial diagonal
12. ..Nc6 If 12...Nbd7 13.exd5  exd5 14.Nb3  
13.exd5 exd5 14.Nb3 Bg4  15.Nxc5 Exchanging the knight for the dangerous bishop
15. ..Qxc5 16.Be3 Qd6 17.Nd4 a6 More or less forced!
18.Nxc6 Qxc6 19.Bd4 h6 20.f3 Bd7 21.Rad1Here White had a better move in 21.Qf2
21...Rad8 22.Qd2Making way for the bishop to retreat
22. .. Nh7Black should have given some thought to 22. ..Rfe8
23.Bc2 Rfe8 24.Qf2 Qd6 25.Rd2 Bc6 Here 25. ..Ng5 looks better
26.Bc5 Qf4 27.Rd4 Qe5 28.Rfd1 Nf6If 28...Nf8 29.Bxf8 Kxf8 30.Bb3
29.R4d2 Nh5 30.Qd4 White is interested in swapping queens
30. ..Qg5 Black is not interested as  30...Qxd4+ 31.Bxd4 Nf4 32.Kf2 does not help  
31.g3 Nf6 32.Qd3 g6 33.Bd4 Nd7  

34.Qf1 The Queen goes back to the first rank to find a new way to intensify the attack
34. ..Qe7 35.Qh3 Once again getting into good position for attack
35. ..Kh7 If 35...h5 36.g4  
36.g4White is distinctly better after 36.f4 Nf6  37.f5 36. .. Nc5 37.Qg3 Ne6 38.Re2 Qg5 If 38...Qd6 39.Be5 Qc5+  
39.Be5 Nc5 40.Bf4 Qf6 41.g5A strong pawn advance which makes life very difficult  for Black
41...Qh8A very bad looking move but then Black hardly has any choice. If 41...Rxe2 42.gxf6 Rxc2 43.Bxh6
42.Be5 Piling on the misery!
42. ..Qf8 43.gxh6 Ne6 If 43...Qxh6  44.Rd4
44.h4White is totally dominating  
44...Qxh6  45.h5 Ng7 If 45...Qg5 46.hxg6+ fxg6 47.Rh2+ Kg8 48.Rh8+ Kf7 49.Rh7+ Kg8 50.Bxg6 Qxg3+ 51.Bxg3 Rf8 52.Be5
46.hxg6+ Kg8 If 46...fxg6 47.Rh2 Nh5 48.Bxg6+ Qxg6 49.Rxh5+
47.gxf7+  Kxf7 48.Kf2Making way for the rook to get into the attack. If 48.Rh2 Qe3+
48...Nh5 49.Qh4 Rg8 50.Rh1 d4 If 50...Rg5 51.f4
51.Bb3+ 1–0

White to play and win   1.Qh4+ Kg8 2.Qg3+ Kh8 3.Bc3 and White wins.