Pawn Majority
Hi everyone. It’s been a busy time for me, sorry about the delay with extended lessons. I will try to complete the first one asap. In the meantime, here is a post about pawn majority.
In his book “Chess lessons”, Max Euwe has mentioned pawn majority on queenside as one of the elements for evaluation. According to him, the player with queenside majority can count it as small additional plus.
Euwe’s recommendation can be considered when both kings are castled short. Players with pawn majorities on different sizes of the board will naturally aim to create passed pawns which can be important factor for positional advantage. The problem with kingside majority is that any kind of advance is connected with the certain risk for king’s safety.
In the game Smyslov-Gligoric white has pawn majority on the queenside. He would be happy to play b4, earning tempo on Nc5, with next c5-b5, getting really close to creating the passer while black pawns on kingside are still standing in the base. The thing is that it’s black to move and he has to figure out how to obstruct white’s plan.
1…Bb3!
White’s advance is prevented and he cannot challenge Rd8 because Black is firmly controlling important d1 square. Gligoric’s plan is to double rooks on d-file and support blockade with a5-a4.
2. Rfc1
White could have tried with 2. Rcc1 with idea Bd1 to eliminate d-file control. In that case, after 2. Rcc1 a5 3. Bd1 a4 4. Bxb3 axb3 pawn structure transformation would give nice target on b2 for possible Nd3 or Na4. One of the White’s rooks would be tied for b2 pawn and Black can seize d-file again.
2… a5
It is important to support Bb3 and block backward b2 pawn. Next is doubling rooks on d-file and only then advance of the kingside majority.
3. Kf1 Ra6 4. Ke1 Rad6 5. Rb1 a4 6. h3 f6 7. Nh2 b6 8. Nf1 Kf7 9. f3 f5 10. Ne3 g5
Finally, after preparing all necessary conditions - meaning improving his pieces to the best possible position, Black is starting pawn avalanche on the kingside.
11. Nc2 Kf6 12. Na1
White Knight has spent 6 moves (tempos) to exchange Bb3 and kill the pressure on d1. Meanwhile, Gligoric is ready to create passed pawn in the specific moment. The following exchanges forced by Smyslov will delay that plan because of the transformation.
12… h5 13. Nxb3 axb3 14. Rd1 Rxd1 15. Bxd1 Nd3 16. Kf1 Nxb2 17. Be2
17. Bxb3 Rd3! 18. Rxd3 Nxd3 and Black king is breaking over dark squares.
17…Na4 18. Rxb3 Rd6
White’s pawn majority on queenside is downgraded into two separated pawns. In addition, Knight is dominating weak Bishop limited with its own pawn setup (c4, f3, g2, h3) and dark squares are horribly weak.
19. g4 Nc5 20. Rb5 hxg4 21. fxg4 f4! 22. Ke1 Ke5 23. a4 Kd4 24. a5 bxa5 25. Rxa5 Ra6! 26. Rb5 e5 27. Kf2 e4 28. Rb1 Ra2 and Smyslov resigned.
