Do not hurry
This item is named after one chapter in the fantastic Mikhail Shereshevsky’s book Endgame Strategy
I believe the proper usage of this principle is one of the main distinctions between strong masters and rest of the players. Strong masters have this “instinct” to always take the most from the position and also a certain feeling of caution to prevent surprises.
“Do not hurry” principle can be used in positions with small but permanent advantage and when opponent has no active counterplay. The main features are causing further weaknesses in opponent’s camp, masking our own plans and strong psychological pressure.
This psychological pressure consists of weakening opponent’s attention by “putting him to sleep” before the final action. “Sleepy” opponent will miss the best defence or possible counterplay, with great probability. Inpatient “hyperactive” opponent could force things on his own damage. An entire chapter can be written only on the subject of sleep, so we will skip it and focus on other aspects, but you can look at some “boring” Petrosian’s or Karpov’s games.
Richard Reti - Alexander Romanovsky
Moskow, 1925
The first thing that drives our attention is position of the Bishops. Even if both are well placed in the center, there is one important difference - Black Bishop’s mobility is limited by its own pawns c5 and e5. This gives us a clue for start, what will happen after Kf3 and e3? Bd4 has only two squares to move and we can also note that c5 pawn would be denied from defence. Still, if White starts with Kf3 and e3, Bishop will cover c-file after Bc3 and c5 pawn is still safe. So there is another hint, play Rc4 first to keep the pressure against c5, and only then prepare e3. This way, Black Rook will be tied for c5 defence and we can plan further - after Rc8, play Be4-d5, Rh4, Ke4 (to support Bd5) and then advance kingside pawns for a breach. Black can hardly stop it.
1. Rc4 Kf8 2. Kf3 Rc8 3. e3 Bc3
Everything seems ready for the basic plan or Bd5, Rh4 etc. Black has no active move and White can look deeper for his own weaknesses. There is a backward a2 pawn, what will happen if Black Rook attacks it while White pieces are occupied on the kingside? To be honest, this scenario is not very likely, Bc4 should have it covered. But the fact that setup Rc4-Bc3 allows a4 to be played (4. a4 bxa3 5. Rxc3) is good enough for White to make a short break from his plan and eliminate this slightest possibility of counterplay. Even if pawn on a2 wouldn’t make the difference big enough for Black to save the game, pawn on a4 stands better, there is one weakness less and White will get “the most from the position”. Then back to the basic plan.
4. a4! Ke7 5. Bd5 Rc7 6. Rh4 h6 7. Ke4 Kf6 8. Rh5 Rd7
While White is doing his business, Black has found a hidden tactical resource for counterplay. Obviously, Reti’s feeling of caution has decreased, otherwise he would have played 9. Bc4 first, moving his Bishop away from the Rd7 attack.
9. g4?! g6! 10. Rxh6 Kg5 (tempo on Rh6) 11. Rh7 Kxg4
Now there is mate threat with gxf5. 12. fxg6 f5 mate and 12. Rxf7 gxf5 13. Rxf5 Rxd5! is winning for Black because White didn’t move his Bishop from d5. Luckily, there is another resource for White, he will sacrifice piece for passed Pawn and win because Black Bishop is out of play.
12. Be6! fxe6 13. fxg6 Rd8 14. Rxa7 Kg5
White has two distant passed pawns. Bishop would be late for one move only (!) 14… Be1 15. a5 Bh4 16. a6 Bf6 17. g7 Rg8 18. Rb7 Bxg7 19. a7 (threatening Rb8) Ra8 20. Rxg7
15. g7 Kh6 16. a5 Kh7 17. a6 (idea Rf7 and Rf8) Rd6 18. h4 Be1 19. h5 Bh4 20. h6 with Ra8 next and Black resigned.
