Pieces at the centre often win a game

Chess Checks

All the major and minor pieces like the queen, rooks, bishops and knights exert maximum pressure on the opposing forces when they are positioned around the centre of the chess board.

When these pieces are pushed to the sides or the corners or the board then their power diminishes considerably and can very often decide the out come of the game.

In the game which follows, Black succeeds in pushing his opponent’s bishop to the side ofthe chess board rather early in the game. What makes it worse for White is the fact that the bishop is sort of imprisoned and cannot exert any influence on the game.
 
White: Peter Wells (2506) – Black: Jonathan Rowson (2494)
Canadian op Edmondton, 2000
Queen Pawn Opening
1.d4 d62.Nf3 Bg4 3.e4 Nf6 4.Bd3 e6 5.h3 Bh5 6.0–0 d5
If 6...Be77.Re1 d5 8.exd5 Nxd5 9.Nbd2 0–0
7.Nbd2 Be7 8.c3

Here he can also think about 8.e5
8. ..0–09.exd5
Black played a new move here. Previously played was 9.Re1c5 10.exd5 Nxd5 11.Nb3 cxd4 12.Nbxd4 Nd7 13.Qc2
9...exd5
Also worth a look is 9...Nxd5
10.Re1  
White’sKingside knight is unpleasantly pinned and here he vacates the f1 square forthe other knight to retreat and move to g3
10...c5 Black is smart enough to realize that he has to try for counterplay and makes a good move
11.dxc5
If 11.Nf1cxd4 12.cxd4 Nc6 13.Be3 Qb6
11...Bxc512.Nb3 Bb6
Black has got a good isolated pawn on d5 and his pieces are active  
13.Bg5  If 13.Be3Nc6 14.Bxb6 Qxb6 15.g4 (15.Be2 Rfe8) 15...Bg6 16.Bxg6 hxg6 17.Nfd4 a5 which saddles white with a number of pawn weaknesses all over
13...h614.Bh4
If 14.Bxf6Qxf6 15.g4 Bg6 16.Bxg6 Qxg6 17.Qxd5 Nc6
14...Nc615.Bf5
If 15.g4Bg6
15...g516.Bg3 Ne4
A good move where Black makes a positional pawn sacrifice and suddenly things become difficult for White
17.Bxe4dxe4 18.Rxe4 f5 19.Re6 Qxd1+
Black thinks that the time is right to swap off the queens
20.Rxd1f4

21.Bh2  
Pushing the bishop back to the side of the board from where it becomes a mere spectator and cannot get into the game
21...Rad8
Black is not keen on defending the pawn but rather focuses on getting his pieces to bemore active
22.Rxd8
White’s first rank is vulnerable and he realizes it! If 22.Rde1Bxf3 23.gxf3 Kg7 24.h4
22...Rxd823.Nfd2
If 23.Nbd2Bf7 24.Re1 (24.Rxh6 Kg7) 24...Bxa2 25.b3 Na5 and Black is better  
23...Bf724.Re2 Bc4! 25.Re1 Ne5
Black’spieces look very menacing
26.Nxc4
If 26.Rxe5Bxb3 also works well for Black
26...Nxc427.Kf1
If 27.g3Nd2
27...Nxb228.g3 f329.g4
Desperately trying to get the bishop into play 29. ..Bxf230.Kxf2
If 30.Re7Bh4 31.Nd4 Rxd4 32.cxd4 Nc4
30...Nd3+31.Kf1 Nxe1 32.Kxe1 Re8+ 33.Kf1 Re2 34.Bg3
The bishop has moved after a long time but then things are over for White! If 34.Bd6Rxa2 35.Nd4 a5 36.Nxf3 a4 37.Nd4 a3 38.Nb5 Ra1+
34...Rxa235.Nd4 a5! 36.Nxf3 a4  0–1
Whiteresigned as the positiona is totally hopeless.

White to play and win
1.Rd1Kf8 2.Rd8+ Ke7 3.Rxc8 Kd6 4.Rf8 Kxc7 5.Rxf7+ and White wins.