Exercise care in opening up positions

Open positions in chess are the ones where there is ample scope for movement of pieces as the pawns do not form a closed and connected front.

On the other hand closed positions need experience, patience and some slow manoeuvring to force a decisive result. Aggressive players prefer open positions though chess sense always is tilted on the prevailing position at that particular point on the chess board. However there are times when active defence works better than a passive one. It is important at such points to open up the position rather than cramp it by over defensive moves.

In the game which follows, White’s best chance was to open up the position but he preferred to play passively and ended on the losing side.

White:  Ilya Tsesarsky (2489) –  Black: Mark Tseitlin (2445)  
Givataim, 2000, King’s Indian Defence

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.d4 0–0 6.Be2 e5 7.d5 a5 If 7...Nbd7 8.Nd2
8.Nd2 Na6 9.h4 Nc5
If 9...h5 10.f3
10.h5. White is intent on aggression and advances this pawn
10. ..c6. If 10...Ne8 11.hxg6 hxg6 12.Nb3 f5 13.Nxc5 dxc5 14.Be3 b6 15.exf5 gxf5 16.Bh6 Bxh6 17.Rxh6 Qg5
11.g4. Another indication of his aggressive intentions
11. ..cxd5. If 11...Bd7 12.f3 a4
12.cxd5 b5. Black on the other hand would like to initiate proceedings on the queen side
If 12...a4 13.f3
13.a3. If 13.g5 Nxh5
13...Qb6 14.f3. If 14.g5 Ng4
14...Bd715.Nb3. If 15.a4 bxa4 16.Nc4 Qb4 17.Ra3 Nb3 18.Be3 Rab8
15...b4. Black pushes through on the queen side. If 15...Na4 16.Nxa4 bxa4 17.Nd2
16.Nxc5 bxc3. If 16...Qxc5 17.Na4 Qa7 18.b3
17.Nxd7. If 17.Nd3 Bxg4
17...Nxd7. If 17...cxb2 18.Rb1 (18.Nxf6+ Bxf6 19.Rb1 Bh4+ 20.Rxh4 Qg1+ 21.Kd2 Qd4+ 22.Ke1 Qg1)
18.bxc3 f5 19.h6. If 19.hxg6 fxe4 20.gxh7+ Kh8 21.fxe4 Qf2+ 22.Kd2 Nc5 23.Kc2 Qg2 24.Be3 Qxe4+ 25.Kd2 Qxd5+ 26.Kc1 Qb3 works well for Black. If  19.gxf5 gxf5 20.Qc2 fxe4
19...Bf6 20.gxf5 gxf5 21.Qc2
If 21.Qa4 Nc5 22.Qc2 Rab8 23.Be3 f4 24.Rg1+ Kh8
21...Kh8. Black should have played  21...Rab8 22.Ra2 Qc5 23.Rb2 Rxb2 24.Bxb2 Bg5 which would have led to an unclear position
22.Rb1 Qa7.

23.Qd3. White had a better move in 23.exf5 Rg8  24.Bf1 Bg5 25.Qf2  Nc5 26.f4 Bf6 27.fxe5 Bxe5 but he opts for a defensive move rather than open up the position
23...Nc5 24.Qe3
If 24.Qc2 f4 25.a4 Rg8 26.Bb5 Rg6
24...f4 25.Qf2 Rab8 26.Rb5 Rxb5 27.Bxb5 Rb8 28.Qe2 a4
If 28...Nb3 29.Bb2 Bh4+ 30.Kd1
29.c4.
Things look difficult for Black now as he no longer has active play on queen side
If 29.Bc4 Qa5 30.Qc2 Nb3 31.Bb2 Qc5  32.Qe2 Na5 33.Ba2 Qb6
 29...Nb3.
If 29...Bd8 30.Bxf4 And if 29...Rg8 30.Kf1 Nb3 31.Qf2 Qa5 32.Bb2 Nd2+
30.Bb2. If  30.Qf2 Nd4 (30...Qa5+ 31.Bd2 Qc7 32.Rg1 Nd4 33.Kf1 Nxb5 34.cxb5) 31.Kf1 Bd8
30...Rg8. A good move!
31.Qf2 Qa5+ 32.Kd1 Rg3 33.Rh2 Bd8. Another good Move!. Retreating the bishop for a more better and dangerous diagonal
34.Rg2 Bb6 35.Qf1. If 35.Qe2 Bd4 36.Rxg3 fxg3 37.Bxd4 exd4
35...Bd4 36.Qh1. If 36.Kc2 Bxb2 37.Kxb2 Nd2 (37...Qa7 38.Bxa4) 38.Qe2 Nxe4
36...Rxf3 37.Qh4  Rd3+ 38.Kc2 Qd2+ 39.Kb1. If 39.Rxd2 Rxd2+ 40.Kb1 Rxb2 checkmate.
39...Qxb2+ 40.Rxb2 Rd1+  and White resigned for if  41.Kc2 Rd2+ 42.Kb1 Rxb2 checkmate.   0–1

White to play and win
 1.Nb6+ axb6 2.Qa8 checkmate