JOIN USCastling in a game of chess is a manoeuvre done with the intention of safeguarding the King as the pawns and pieces act as a castle wall for the King. The game becomes interesting if the opponent can breach the castle early with a piece sacrifice and catch the King in a checkmating net.
The game which follows is a thrilling one where White sacrifices a knight early in the game to shatter Black’s castle. Thereafter White’s pieces start closing in around the Black King and he is forced out of his shelter. To add to Black’s woes, his rook and bishop on the queen-side do not get an opportunity to enter the game till everything is lost!
White: Jan Timman (2630) – Black: Viktor Kortschnoi (2610)
Tilburg, 1991
French Defence
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5
The French Defence
3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7
Black can play 4. ..Nd7
5.Nf3 Ngf6 6.Bg5 Be7 7.Nxf6+ Bxf6 8.h4
Interesting move by White to support the bishop this way rather than exchange it
8. ..c5
If 8...0–0 9.Qd2 e5 10.0–0–0 e4
9.Qd2. An indication that White may be thinking of castling on the queen-side. If 9.dxc5 0-0 10.Qd2 Nxc5 11.0-0-0
9. ..cxd4
If 9...0–0 10.0–0–0 cxd4 11.Nxd4 Qb6
10.0–0–0
White does castle on the queen-side
10. ..e5. Black chose to focus on the centre. He could have castled 10...0–0 11.Bxf6 Nxf6 12.Qxd4 Qxd4
11.Re1 0–0.
If 11...Qb6 12.Bxf6 Qxf6 13.Qxd4
12.Nxe5.
Interesting move considering the fact that Black’s bishop is pinned
12. ..Re8
Not the right move! Black could have played 12...Nxe5 13.Rxe5 Be6 14.Bxf6 Qxf6 15.Qxd4 Rad8 (15...Rfd8 16.Qe3 and white seems to keep his extra pawn) 16.Qe3 Rfe8
Diagram 1
13.Nxf7
This knight sacrifice livens up the proceedings.
13. ..Rxe1+
If 13...Kxf7 14.Bc4+ Kf8 (14...Kg6 15.Qd3+ Kh5 16.Bf7+) 15.Rxe8+ (15.Qb4+ Be7 16.Bxe7+ Rxe7 17.Qd6 Ke8 18.h5 Ne5 19.Bb5+ Bd7 20.Rxe5 Bxb5 21.Qxd8+ Rxd8 22.Rxb5) 15...Qxe8 16.Re1 Ne5 17.Bxf6 (17.Qb4+ 17...Qe7 18.Qxe7+ Kxe7 19.Rxe5+ Kf8 20.Bxf6 gxf6 21.Re4) 17...gxf6 18.Qh6+ Ke7 19.Qg7+ Kd6 20.Qxf6+ Kc7 21.Rxe5
14.Qxe1 Kxf7
If 14. ..Qf8 15.Bc4 b5 16.Bd5 Bb7 17.Nh6+ Kh8
15.Bc4+ Kf8 16.Qe6
White’s pieces have started closing in around the Black King
16. ..Bxg5+
If 16...Ne5 17.Qg8+ Ke7 18.Qxg7+
17.hxg5 Qxg5+ 18.Kb1 Ne5
White is threatening checkmate on f7 and Black tries to guard with his knight. If 18...Qf6 19.Qg8+ Ke7 20.Re1+ Ne5 21.Qd5
19.Qg8+
The Black King is terribly exposed and the pieces on the queen-side are still not developed
19. ..Ke7 20.Re1
Getting the rook into action with a pin!
20. .. Bd7
It is a terrible position for Black now and there is no respite. If 20. ..Kf6 21.Qf8+ Kg6 22.Qe8+ Kf6 23.Bd5 And if 20...h6 21.Qd5 Kf6 22.Qd6+
21.Qxa8 Qd2 22.Rxe5+ Kf6 23.a3
Taking time off to create an escape square for the King
23. ..Kxe5 24.Qb8+ Kf5
If 24...Ke4 25.Qxb7+And if 24...Kf6 25.Qd8+
25.Qf8+ And Black resigned for if 25.Qf8+ Kg6 26.Qf7+ Kh6 27.Qxd7+
1–0
Diagram 2
Black to play and checkmate in two moves
1. Re4+ 2.Qxe4 Qg5 checkmate.