Chess Strategy

Mikhail Yudovich - Grigory Levenfish
Leningrad, 1935

The pawn structure is giving White space advantage on the King’s flank. This kind of blocked center (White d4-e5, Black d5-e6) is designated for White’s attack on Kingside, while Black is seeking for counterplay on Queenside.

Let’s evaluate how pieces are placed. All of the White’s pieces are either well positioned or they have nice perspective. Nf3, Bd2 and Qd1 (after N move) are ready for operations against Black King. Black is late with “the usual counterplay” over the c-file and against d4 pawn. His only well placed piece is Be7, preventing the crushing Bxh7 sacrifice and participating in Kingside defence. Bb7 and Nb6 are far from the main scene (Kingside), and they also don’t have perspective of joining the battle soon. Black should spend more then couple of moves (tempis) to improve the potential of these two pieces, so we can say they are bad in long term. Natural square for Black Knight is c6, where he is pressing the base of White’s pawn chain - d4 pawn.

How should White continue? Before starting with activities on the Kingside, White should improve his only inactive piece Bf1, and place it on the diagonal for direct attack against Black King.

This is good moment to share the advice I received from FIDE trainer IM Mihajlo Stojanovic. He said: “When you don’t know what to play and you can’t come up with satisfying plan - start with moving your pieces to better positions, the worst placed piece goes first”. This very useful advice is not really designed for the given position, because White has clear plan of attacking the opponent’s King, but it is good to have it in mind for general usage. Bd3 might fall in this category, White is improving his worst placed piece.

22. Bd3 Rfc8

Black is in hurry to organize counterplay on the Queenside.

23. Ng5!

After all pieces are ideally placed, White is launching an attack. For defender, the best pawn setup in front of the King is to hold f7, g7 and h7. This kind of pawn structure is delaying the “first contact” between the pawns and/or pieces. Imagine Black pawn on h6 - should White start the pawn advance, he needs three moves g4, h4, h5 to make a contact and open Black King. Not to mention possible Bxh6 sacrifices. With the current pawn setup, White needs at least five moves. The delay can buy some time for defender to bring the additional forces, if possible.

The main idea behind Ng5 is to provoke pawn weaknesses. Additional benefit is cleaning the path for Qd1, Queen can go to g4 or h5. Now if 23…h6, White is playing 24. Nh3! with idea of Qh5 or Qg4, Nf4, Nf5 with Bxh6 threatening at any moment.

Another important attacking motif that you should remember is 23…h6 24. Nh7! with idea Qh5, Bh6 or Qg4, Nf6. It is good to play Nh7 while Black Rook is on f8, to earn a tempo. Also the position of g-pawn can be of crucial importance, currently g3 pawn is preventing devastating Rook lift. Of course, it all depends on the given position, you have to carefully calculate all the lines. I am not going to analyse 23…h6 24. Nh7 in this position, let that be your homework.

On 23…Bxg5 24. Bxg5 with next Qh5, White has crushing attack.

23…g6 24. Qf3! Bxg5

With Qf3 White has earned tempo by attacking f7. Black has tough choice, Bf8 or Rf8 would have been met with h4-h5. After the trade, Black dark squares around the King will be horribly weak.

25. Bxg5 Rxc2 26. Qf6!

Wonderful intermediate move! The mate threat is “older” that the material. The only move against Bh6 is Qd8.

26…Qd8 27. Qxd8 Rxd8 28. Bxd8 Rd2

Both Rd2 and Nb6 were hanging. Pawn on b5 will go anyway.

29. Bxb5 Na8

29…Nc8 30. Rc1 with idea Rc7.

30. Rc1 Rxd4 31. Bc6 and Black resigned because Na8 is falling.