JOIN USIt is important to bring in reinforcement when an attack is in progress in a game of chess. Pausing with defensive moves which don’t seem needed may alter the whole course of the game and the attack may lose momentum. Hence it is important that most pieces present on board should join the attack as soon as possible.
The game which follows is an interesting one where the players have castled on opposite sides and initiated attacks against the respective Kings. However Black takes a pause a couple of times even though his queen has infiltrated deep into enemy territory. Black fails to bring his bishop and knight into the attack when it was possible and his attack soon loses fizz and White ends up winning the game from a disadvantageous position.
White: Michael Hoffmann (2425) – Black: Markus Schaefer (2435)
Muenster, 1992
King’s Indian - Sammisch Variation
1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 g6 3.e4 d6 4.d4 Bg7
The King’s Indian defence, one of the popular defences against the Queen’s Gambit
5.f3
The Sammisch variation of the King’s Indian defence
5. ..0–0 6.Be3 Nbd7 7.Qd2
An indication that White is interested in castling on the queen side.
7. ..c5 8.Nge2 a6 9.0–0–0 Qc7
If 9...Qa5 10.Kb1 b5 11.dxc5 dxc5 12.Nd5! Nxd5 13.cxd5 Qxd2 14.Rxd2
10.d5
It is difficult to understand why White decided to strike at the centre when he had a better continuation in 10.g4 b5 11.cxb5 axb5 12.Nxb5 Qb6 13.Nec3
10...Ne5
Here Black also had a better option in 10. ..Qa5 11.Ng3 Rb8 12.a4 Nb6
11.Ng3 b5
Black decides it is time to start an attack on the queenside where the White King has castled
12.Bh6.
Again White does not play the best move. Correct appears 12.cxb5 axb5
12. ..b4. Black need not have hurried with this move. He could have exchanged bishops with 12. ..Bxh6 13.Qxh6 b4
13.Nb1 Bxh6 14.Qxh6 Qa5
It is interesting to see the position of both queens
15.h4 Qxa2 16.h5
White should have paid heed to defence with 16.Rd2
Diagram 1
16...Bd7
Black takes a pause in his attack! Clearly better is 16...Nxc4
17.Rd2 Nxc4 18.Bxc4 Qxc4+ 19.Rc2 Qb3. If 19...Qd4 20.Rd1 Qe5 21.f4 Ng4 22.Qxf8+
20.Nd2. If 20.e5 Ba4 And if 20.hxg6 fxg6 21.Nd2 Qa2
20...Qa2 21.e5
An interesting advance at the centre!
21. ..Qa1+. Both the players have been launching attacks on each other’s Kings. However it is the Black queen who invades deep into enemy territory. If 21...dxe5 22.Nde4 (22.d6 Rfe8 23.Nge4 Bf5 24.dxe7 Qa1+ 25.Nb1 Nxe4 26.fxe4 Bxe4) 22...Bf5
22.Nb1 dxe5 23.d6. A good advance! If 23.b3 Qd4 24.hxg6 fxg6
23. ..Rfe8. If 23. ..b2 24.Rd2 Rae8 And if 23...exd6 24.Ne4 Nxe4 25.hxg6 Nf6 26.gxh7+ Kh8 27.Qxf6 checkmate And if 23...Rae8 24.Ne4
24.hxg6 fxg6 25.Ne4 Bf5 26.Nxf6+ exf6 27.Qxh7+
For a long time now Black’s queen is on the eighth rank but has been idle for a while. The White queen now however is in the thick of action
27. ..Kf8 28.Qc7
Now swinging onto the queen side
28. ..Qa2. If 28...Kg8 29.Rh7
29.Rh8+. The rook also joins the action and it is curtains for White now!
29. .. Qg8 30.Rxg8+ Kxg8 31.Rd2 Red8 32.Qe7 1–0
Diagram 2
Black to play and win
1. .. Nxg3+ 2.fxg3 Bg1 3.Rxg1 Rxc2 4.Rxc2 and Black wins.