JOIN USPlacement of pieces decides way forward
Generally at one time, all the pieces cannot be actively involved in either attack or defence and it is important to sort them out and play accordingly.
In the game which follows, White is on the aggressive front while Black is trying to search for a defence. At this crucial moment, White decides to exchange one of his strong knights for a bishop which is a strong defender. Black’s game collapses immediately after White gets rid of the bishop.
White: Sergei Dolmatov (2600) – Black: Pavel Kotsur (2548)
FIDE-Wch,1999
Irregular King Pawn opening
1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 c6
Rather dull and slow play by black
4.f4
White on the other hand is sticking to chess basics, occupy and control the centre!
4. ..d5 5.e5 h5. First sign of aggression
6.Nf3 Nh6 7.Be3 Bg4 8.Be2 Nd7 9.Qd2
A hint that White may be contemplating castling on the quee side. If 9.Ng5 e6 And if 9.Bf2 Nf8 10.h3 Bxf3 11.Bxf3 Qd7 12.Qd2 0–0–0 13.0–0–0 Ne6
9...Nf5
If 9...Nf8 10.Bf2 Nf5 11.g3 Ne6 12.h3 Bxf3 13.Bxf3 and White is distinctly better
10.Bf2 Qa5
If 10...Qb6 11.g3 Bf8
11.g3 Nb6
If 11...Bxf3 12.Bxf3 Nb6
12.b3
Note that Black’s knight on b6 has no squares
12...e6 13.h3 Bxf3 14.Bxf3 Bf8 15.Ne2
White is now interested in swapping queens as he is slightly better. If
15.a3 Bb4 16.axb4 Qxa1+ 17.Nd1 (17.Ke2 Qa6+) 17...a5 is better for Black
15...Qxd2+
If 15...Qa3 16.Kf1 and things work out well for White
16.Kxd2 Be7 17.g4
It is now White who wants to open up on the queen side. Interestingly both players have preferred not to castle
17. ..Ng7. The knight is forced to retreat to a square which looks bad at this point but then he hardly has any choice for if 17...Nh4 18.Bxh4 Bxh4 19.gxh5 ( If 19.g5 Nc8 20.Rh2 Ne7 21.Rg2 Nf5 22.Rag1 Rc8 23.c3 c5) 19...gxh5 20.Rhg1
18.Ng3 0–0–0
Black finally decides to castle. If 18...h4 19.Nf1 gives advantage to White
19.gxh5 gxh5 20.Rag1 Nd7 21.Be2 Nf8
If 21...c5 22.Bd3 (If 22.c3 cxd4 23.cxd4 Nb8 24.Rc1+ Nc6 25.Bb5 Kd7) 22...cxd4 23.Bxd4 Nc5 24.Ne2 Nf5 (24...Nxd3 25.Rxg7) 25.Bxf5 exf5
22.Bd3 f5
If 22...Ng6 23.f5 is better for White
23.Nf1. This knight has really been manoeuvred beautifully by White
23...Rh7 24.Nh2 Kd7 25.Nf3 Ke8 26.Rg2
Intending to double his rooks on this crucial open file
26...Kf7 27.Rhg1 Nd7
Diagram 1
28.Ng5+
A good move which forces the exchange of the bishop with the knight, and at the same time White get rids of a strong black defender
28...Bxg5 29.Rxg5 Rdh8 30.c4 Ne8
Black could have tried out 30...Rg8
31.cxd5
White immediately pounces on the idea to open the c file and infiltrate from there
31. ..cxd5 32.Rc1 Nb6 33.Bh4
Another good move which was needed.
33...Rg8 34.a4 Rxg5 35.Bxg5 Kf8
If 35...a5 36.Bd8
36.a5 Na8
If 36...Nd7 37.Rc8
37.Rc8
This infiltration totally finishes Black
37. ..Nac7 38.Rb8 Na6 39.Ra8 Nb4 40.Bb5 Nc6 41.a6 1–0
Diagram 2
White to play and win
1.Qh7+ Kxh7 2.Bf7 check-mate.
