Chess Strategy

Vsevolod Rauzer - Nikolay Riumin
Leningrad, 1936

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.Re1 d6 7.c3 b5 8.Bb3 Na5 9.Bc2 c5 10.d4 Qc7 11.Nbd2 Nc6 12.a4 Rb8 13.axb5 axb5 14.dxc5 dxc5 15.Nf1 Be6 16.Ne3 O-O 17.Ng5 Rfd8 18.Qf3 Rd6

Black has to cover potential outposts d5 and f5. White controls open a-file and Black controls d-file, but this is not of the major importance because all entry squares are well protected. White’s biggest problem are his passive Bishops and with his next move he’s trying to give them some air. 19. Ne6 is not the best because after fe6 Black is covering d5 and f5 and his single weakness e6 will be easily defended. 19. Ne6 Re6?! 20. Nd5! favors White.

19. Nf5 Bxf5

Russian author Mikhail Yudovich suggested 19…Rdd8 as better, but it seems that after 20. Ne6 fe6 21. Ne7 and Be3, White can create strong pressure on Black queenside pawns. Alexander Koblenz, coach of Mikhail Tal, also mentioned this game in his book but didn’t comment on Bf5.

20. exf5 h6

White’s doubled pawn has gained space allowing good chances for future advance of Kingside pawns. Before the advance, White has to improve his pieces and prevent opponent’s counterplay. The most important feature of exf5 is that White gets e4 square for transfer of his pieces. Instead of h6, better was 20…Rdd8, in order to meet Ne4 with Nd5.

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David Bronstein - Yrjo Rantanen
Tallinn, 1975

1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 e6 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. d4 Nbd7 7. Qc2 c6 8. Bf4 b6 9. Nbd2 Bb7 10. e4 dxe4 11. Nxe4 Nxe4 12. Qxe4 Nf6 13. Qe2 c5 14. Rad1 cxd4 15. Nxd4 Qc8 16. b3 Bxg2 17. Kxg2 Qb7+ 18. Qf3 Qxf3+ 19. Kxf3 Rfc8

Last Black’s move was somehow forced because Rd8 would run into Nc6. On 19…Rac8, white would have annoying 20.Nb5.

White has space advantage, better placed pieces and the only open d-file. Common scheme “would require” fast doubling of Rooks over the d-file. But then what? Black is firmly controlling all of the entry squares.

20. g4!

Bronstein decided to take the advantage of the perfectly placed Kf3 and seize more space on the Kingside. At the same time he’s removing protector of the d7 square. Just then, Rooks will be ready to penetrate.

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Andre Lilienthal - Paul Keres
Moskow, 1941

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Bb7 5.Bg2 Be7 6.O-O O-O 7.Nc3 Ne4 8.Qc2 Nxc3 9.Qxc3 Be4 10.Ne1 Bxg2 11.Nxg2 c6 12.d5 cxd5 13.cxd5 Na6 14.Nf4 Qc8 15.Qf3 Qc2 16.e4

With this example I will only scratch the surface of the important and extensive theory of chess evaluation. More on this topic in lessons to come.

Black is better because his Qc2 has paralyzed White’s Queen side. White will have to spend some moves (tempis) to stabilize b2 pawn before completing the development. Black can continue to increase the pressure on b2 pawn with 16…Bf6. After the only move 17. Qd3 (trading Queens was White’s intention anyway) 17…Qd3 18. Nd3 ed5 19. ed5 Rfe8 20. Be3 Nc7 Black is still slightly better, but absence of Queens makes White’s life easier.

Instead of constantly pressing on single weakness, more consistent plan of exploiting development advantage was “play over the entire board”. The main feature of development advantage is time. If Black plays normal but soft moves (Rc8 for example, Black is taking over the file!), White will catch up with Nd3-Bc1 somewhere, Qd3 or Re1-e2-Bc1 move and Black’s only advantage will evaporate. Having time (tempo) as its essence, development advantage can be defined as dynamic factor of chess evaluation.

Static factors, such are weak square, isolated or doubled pawn are mostly (but not exclusively) longer present than dynamic factors. Therefore, we can rely on static factors as long-term variable in our chess planning. Dynamic factors are calling for faster response. Your patient siege of the backward pawn will be fruitless if your opponent can launch devastating attack on your King.

Back to the game and “play over the entire board”. Of course, don’t take it literally. The main idea is to find another target while opponent’s pieces are undeveloped and/or tied defending a weakness. This new target can be e4 pawn. We have already seen that d3 square is important for White’s defence, he will try to exchange the Queens. The logical multipurpose move is 16…Nc5 - attacking e4 and controlling d3. For example 17. Re1 e5 18. Nh5 f5! and White pieces are under strong pressure. And if White tries 17. e5, the best reply is 17…d6! - open center and files can only benefit Black because of his better development, all pieces are ready for action while Ra1 and Bc1 are locked.

16…e5?

Wrong assessment that huge activity on Queen side will be sufficient. Closed center will only help White to protect and develop his Queen side. Moreover, this is great example how easy tempo can switch sides.

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