JOIN USRegrouping necessary at certain points
Many a time it is necessary to evaluate a position properly and decide to change the positioned pieces in different direction or pattern or adjust them on different squares.
This is known as regrouping of pieces. Many a time the pieces have to retreat all the way back to the first rank and it is like embarking on another journey.
In the game which follows, White is better off and it is interesting to see the way he decides to regroup his pieces mid-way through the game. Thereafter the pieces once again harmoniously co-ordinate to clinch the game.
White: John Van der Wiel (2544) – Black: Vladislav Tkachiev (2648)
Cannes, 1999, Scotch Game
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4
The Scotch Game
3. ...exd4 4.Nxd4 Bc5 5.Nxc6
Preferring to exchange rather than retreat
5. ..Qf6 6.Qd2
White can give a thought to 6.Qf3
6. ..dxc6 7.Nc3 Bd4
Black can also play 7. ..Be6 or 7...Ne7
8.Bc4
White played a new move here. If 8.f4 Be6 9.e5 Qh4+ 10.g3 Qd8 11.Bg2 Nh6
8...Ne7. Once again Black could have played 8. ..Be6.
Now White can focus on his development. The continuation is the 9.Bxe6 fxe6 10.0–0 0–0–0 11.Qe1
9.0–0 Ng6 10.Kh1
White could have played 10.Rd1 here.
10. ..Be6 11.Bxe6 fxe6 12.Ne2 Bb6 13.Qg5
White is interested in exchanging queens
13. ..Ne5 14.f3 Rd8 15.b3
He wants to fianchetto the bishop but there was an alternative in 15. Bf4
15. ..0–0 16.Qxf6 gxf6 17.Ba3 Rfe8 18.Rad1
White is enjoying a positional edge
18...Kf7 19.Bb2 Ng6 20.g3
White also decides to bring out his King and vacates a square for him
20...Be3 21.Kg2 a5 22.f4 Bc5
Black really cannot plan anything now! White on the other hand has plenty of scope
23.Nc1 Kg7 24.Rxd8 Rxd8 25.Nd3 Bb6 26.Bc3 Ne7 27.g4. A good move!
27...a4 28.g5 Bd4 29.gxf6+ White can also think about 29.Bxd4 Rxd4 30.Kf3
29...Kxf6
Diagram 1
30.Be1.
White decides against exchanging his strong bishop and prepares to regroup his pieces. If 30.Bxd4+ Rxd4 31.Kf3
30...axb3 31.axb3 Ra8 32.c3 Bb6 If 32. ..Ra2+ 33.Kh3
33.Bh4+ Kf7 34.Ne5+ Ke8 35.f5 exf5 36.exf5 Nd5 37.Kh3. A good move! Black’s pieces are stuck while White’s pieces are positioned superbly.
37...Kf8. Black hardly has any good moves at this disposal as 37...Ne3 38.Rf3 Ra5 39.Bg3 also do not work
38.c4 Nb4. A mistake! Black could have offered more resistance with 38...Bd4 or even 38...Ne3
39.c5 Ba7 If 39...Bxc5 40.Nd7+
40.Rg1. If 40.Bg5 Re8 41.Bh6+ Ke7 42.f6+ Ke6 43.f7 Ra8 44.Ra1 Na6 45.Rg1! Bxc5 46.Rg8 Rb8 47.Re8+ Kf6 48.Be3! Bd6 49.Ba7
40...Re8 If 40...Nd5 41.f6 Nf4+ 42.Kg4 Ng6 43.Nxg6+ hxg6 44.Ra1
41.Bf6
Now Black has to give up an exchange
41...Rxe5
If 41...Rc8 42.Rg7 Nd5 43.Nd7+ (43.Rxh7 Nxf6 44.Ng6+ Ke8 45.Rh8+ Kd7 46.Ne5+ Ke7 47.Rxc8) 43...Ke8 44.Bg5 and White should absolutely have no problem in winning
42.Bg7+
A totally clinical approach as White makes all accurate moves
42...Kf7 43.Bxe5 Nd3 44.Rg7+ Kf8 45.Rxc7
Final finishing touches!
45...Nxe5 46.b4
Black resigned as White is threatening to win a pieces with Rb7 1–0
Diagram 2
Black to play and win
1. ..Rxa2+ 2.Kg1 Rg2+ 3.Kh1 Rb2+ and White wins.