JOIN USThe focus many a time in a game of chess can be on the king-side, the queen-side or in the centre and at times there might be action on the whole board. It is important to formulate a plan, decide on the area of action and then try to implement it by manoeuvring the pieces to the desired squares.
In the game which follows, it is worth noting how white manoeuvres his knight from the queen-side to the king-side. Even as the queen spearheads the attack, the white knight infiltrates into the enemy territory and weakens the king-side, after which white wraps up the game.
White: Alexei Bezgodov (2576) – Black: Dmitry Bocharov (2475)
Samara, 2000
Sicilian Defence
1.e4 c5
The Sicilian Defence
2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2 Qc7 7.0–0 Nf6 8.Be3 Be7 9.f4
Very much still in the Opening theory, played very often
9. ..d6 10.Qe1 0–0
With White’s queen threatening to start proceedings on Kingside, Black castles
11.Qg3 Nxd4. Preferring to exchange
12.Bxd4 b5 13.a3 Bb7 14.Rae1
White could have thought of controlling the open file with 14.Rad1
14. ..Rad8 15.Kh1 Bc6 16.Bf3 Qb7 17.Nd1. Even now White could have thought about 17.Rd1
17. ..g6
Diagram 1
18.Nf2. The knights journey from the queen-side to the King-side has been an interesting one! White is slowly but surely building up an initiative on the queen-side
18...Rfe8 19.c3 Nd7 20.Ng4. The knight has started positioning himself
20. ..Bf8. If 20...d5 21.Nh6+ Kf8 22.f5
21.f5. A strong pawn advance
21. ..e5. If 21...exf5 22.exf5 Rxe1 23.Qxe1
22.Be3 f6. A big mistake! Black is trying to prevent White’s pawns from advancing. If 22. ..a5 23.22...d5 23.exd5 Bxd5 24.Bg5
23.Nh6+
If 23.fxg6 hxg6 24.Nf2 Kf7
23...Bxh6. If 23...Kg7 24.fxg6 hxg6 25.Bh5 Bxe4 26.Nf5+ Bxf5 27.Rxf5 g5 28.Rxg5+ fxg5 29.Qxg5+ Kh8 30.Bf7
24.Bxh6 Kf7. The King is attempting to flee from his castle which is being surrounded by the enemy pieces. If 24...g5 25.h4
25.Qh4 Rg8 26.Be3. White could have enhanced his advantage with with 26.fxg6+ hxg6 27.Bd1 Qa8
26. ..Rg7 27.Bh6
Even now White should have played 27.fxg6+ hxg6 28.Rd1 Nf8
27. ..Rgg8. Once again White misses 27.fxg6
28.Rd1 Ke7 29.Bg5 Rg7
A big blunder! Black can offer better resistance with 29. ..Rh8 30.Rd2 gxf5 31.exf5 Bxf3 32.Rxf3 fxg5 And if 29...fxg5 30.Qxh7+ Kf8 31.Rxd6 Rg7 32.Qh8+ Rg8 33.Qh6+ Ke7 34.Re6+ Kf7 35.Bg4
30.fxg6 hxg6. If 30...fxg5 31.Qh6 Kf8 (31...Rxg6 32.Qxh7+ Kf6 33.Rxd6 checkmate) 32.gxh7
31.Bg4. The bishop pair has become dangerous and the Black King will find it difficult to escape
31...Rf7. If 31...fxg5 32.Qxg5+ Ke8 33.Rxd6 And if 31...Rf8 32.Bxd7 Kxd7 33.Rxf6 Rxf6 34.Bxf6
32.Bxd7 Kxd7. If 32...Rxd7 33.Bxf6+ Ke8 34.Bg7 Rde7 35.Qh8+ Kd7 36.Rxf7 Rxf7 37.Bxe5
33.Rxf6 Rxf6 34.Bxf6 Rf8. Black’s position had already deteriorated and this move hastens the downfall
35.Bxe5 Bxe4 36.Bxd6 Bxg2+ 37.Kg1 Qf3 38.Qe7+
1–0
Diagram 2
White to play and win
1.Re6+ Kf7 2.Re7+ Kf8 3.Rd8+