Keep an eye on that pesky pawn

Chess Checks

Pawns may be the lowest units on the chess board but when they advance into the enemy territory they are like a thorn in the flesh and quite dangerous. These pawns then assist any piece which infiltrates into the enemy territory and also threaten to touch the eighth rank and get promotion.

In the game which follows, White manages to advance one of his pawns onto the sixth rank as early as the 19th move. Thereafter this pawn is a constant source of irritation for Black as it aids other pieces with fresh threats.

White: Lubomir Ftacnik (2535)– Black: Heikki Westerinen(2410)
Esbjerg , 1982, Ukranian Variation
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 d6

The Ukranian variation which is not one of the very popular defences
3.Nf3 Nbd7 4.Nc3 e5 5.g3 c6 6.e4
If 6.Bg2 e4 7.Ng5 d5
6...a6

Black could have developed with 6...Be7
7.Bg2 b5. Black is intent on Queen side play
8.0–0 .  If 8.a3 Be7 9.0–0 0–0 And if  8.c5 Bb7
8...Bb7. Black cannot push his pawn as 8...b4 9.Na4 Nxe4 10.dxe5 give a better game for White. If 10.Nxe5 or 10.Re1 work well for White
9.Re1 b4. Not the right move! Black is lagging in development and should have brought out his bishop from the King side into play with9...Be7
10.Na4 c5. Still intent on the queen side!. If 10...Be7 11.c5 0–0 (11...dxc5 12.dxe5 Ng4 13.Bf4) 12.cxd6 Bxd6 13.dxe5 Nxe5 14.Nxe5 Bxe5 15.Nc5
11.d5. White decides to block the centre
11...g6. He has to make way for the Black bishop to get into play!
12.Nd2 Bh6. If 12...Bg7 13.f4 is slightly better for White
13.f4. White now wants to focus on the King side
13. ..0–0. If 13...exf4 14.Nf3 g5 15.e5± is better for White
14.Nf3 exf4. Once again not quite the right move!. If 14...Re8 15.Qd3 (15.fxe5 Bxc1 16.Rxc1 (16.exf6 Bh6) 16...Nxe5 17.Nxe5 Rxe5) 15...Nh5 16.f5 Bxc1 17.Raxc1
15.Bxf4 Bxf4 16.gxf4 Nh5
If 16...Re8 17.e5 (17.Qd3 Nh5 And if 17.Nd2 Nh5 18.Qf3 Qf6) 17...dxe5 18.fxe5 Ng4 19.e6 fxe6 20.h3
17.Qd2 Qf6 18.e5 Qf5
If 18...Qxf4 19.Qxf4 Nxf4 20.exd6 Rfe8 21.Re7 with White having advantage
Diagram 1
19.exd6. Advanced pawns are always dangerous!
19. ..Nxf4 20.Re7. Invading seventh rank
20. ..Nxg2 21.Qxg2 Rad8 22.Qg3 Bc8 23.Rf1. White is threatening Ng5
23...Qf6 24.b3. A formidable pawn wall
24. ..Qg7 25.Qf4 h6 26.Ne5
Here White can also consider 26.Qe3
26...g5. If 26...Nxe5 27.Qxe5 Qxe5 28.Rxe5 Rxd6 29.Nxc5
27.Qf5 Nxe5 28.Qxe5
Inviting the exchange of queens
28. ..Qg6. Declining the offer! . If 28...Qxe5 29.Rxe5 Rxd6 30.Nxc5 is better for White
29.Nxc5. This pawn was always vulnerable and Black loses it
29...Bh3. If 29...Rxd6 30.Ne4 and Black will have a fresh set of problems
30.Re1. Tripling forces on the crucial centre file!
30. ..Qc2. Invading the seventh rank to set up one move checkmate but White has things under control
31.Qg3 Bf5 32.d7. Everything appears to be winning for White now!
32. .. Qxa2 33.Qf2 Qxf2+ 34.Kxf2 Kg7
If 34...a5 35.R1e5 Bg4 36.Kg3
35.Ne6+ Bxe6 36.R1xe6 a5 37.Ra6 Rb8 38.c5  and Black resigned.
Diagram 2
White to play and win
1.Qxf6 gxf6 2.Rxg8+
If 2.Bxg8 Qxg8 3.Rxg8+ Kxg8 4.a7
2...Qxg8 3.Bxg8 Nxa6 4.Bxh7  and White wins.