training

88 | January 5n2013

lets improve your chess

A real game of chess (2)

In the previous game I got into a move repetition with Black very early on
in the opening and so I was eager to actually play a real game of chess
for once.

girisgrabbag
Kovalyov,A (2596) - Giri,A (2715)
Spanish league (Len), 07.11.2012

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+rwq-trk+0
9+-+-+pvlp0
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19...d7 20.f2 h4+?!
I'm a bit surprised, to be honest, that I didn't
take the pawn, as normally I'm pretty much
always in favour of that. I was probably a bit
overenthusiastic and tried to play against his
king. 20...xa2! 21.b3 b6! 22.xa2 xc3
23.e2 xb3 24.xd5 e5 and the position
is transformed into something that would have
been easier for me to handle. Black has a
passed pawn and a better king and pieces.
21.g1
21.g3 h3 22.g1 was another way of trying
to develop, following it up with g2. I was
expecting that, but my opponent chose what
was probably a better approach.
21...e5 22.h3 fe8
Improving the position of my pieces, but at this
point I already felt that I didn't really know how
I was going to break through in this game, with
time trouble approaching.
23.f4 d7 24.h2
Slightly awkward, as my opponent correctly
admitted after the game, but on the other
hand it's hard to come up with a better move.
24...c5 25.f3!
For some reason I totally forgot about this

By GM Anish Giri
option while focussing on g3. Now, somewhat
disappointed, I decided to transfer my queen
along the sixth rank, but somehow I only
realized I'd just given away another pawn
when it was already gone.
25...f6?!
25...d8! feels very shaky, but in fact White
can't exploit the x-ray on the d-file and so
Black keeps slight chances of eventually
creating something out of his wonderful pieces.
26.xd5 a6 27.c3
I'm a bit embarrassed to say that I sort of forgot
that such a simple move was possible. Here I
started to feel that my opponent's position was
just getting better and better with every move
and I decided it was time to simplify it all a bit
and prepare to go back to the hotel.
27...d3 28.d4 xc1!?
I could obviously keep on playing two pawns
down with such pieces, but as I already said,
I didn't like it anymore. Two pawns aren't one.
29.xc1 xa2 30.d2 c4
From this point on the position is just equal. I
have amazing bishops but White has a solid
knight on d4 supported by his extra pawn.
31.he1 cd8 32.a1 b6 33.f2 a6
34.ad1 b7 35.d2 d7 36.a1 ed8
37.ad1 a8
I've achieved the maximum I can, and so has
my opponent.
38.db5 xd2 39.xd2 xd2
I offered a draw somewhere around this point,
but my opponent decided to play on due to
their match situation. In fact they would soon
be lost even without this game.
40.xd2 h5 41.d4 b4 42.b1 b7
43.c3 b4 44.b1 b8 45.g1 a4
Somehow I decided to make some moves as I
felt there was really no risk in my position with

such bishops.
46.c3 b4 47.e4 e7 48.c3 b4
49.b1 c4 50.c3 f6?!
I totally forgot about my opponent's threat, and
it could have ended badly.
51.e2!

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51...xe2?
I was pretty pissed about the fact I was on the
defending side at the end, but I felt that with two
bishops I should make an easy draw anyway,
so I just took the queen without even thinking
about whether I had alternatives. 51...c8!
and actually the a4pawn is poisoned and a3 is
a threat, so the position remains totally equal.
52.cxe2?
I actually noticed I was in some danger if he
took with the other knight, but he didn't really
take his time here. 52.dxe2! c6 53.d4
d7 54.d5!? and Black has to be careful.
52...e7! 53.c3 a3
Now it should really just be a draw and my
opponent also didn't really have any objections,
slowly exchanging all the pawns.
54.bxa3 xa3 55.f2 b4 56.ce2 d5
57.g4 hxg4 58.hxg4 f6 59.f3 f7 60.g5
c5 61.c3 b7 62.gxf6 xf6 63.e5 b4
64.e2 g5 65.d3 d6 66.d4 gxf4 67.exf4
a6 68.e5 xe5 69.fxe5+ xe5 n

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88 | January 5n2013

The classical blockading knight

The is known to be the best blockading piece as its allowed to jump
over other pieces and can therefore make its short-range pressure felt
while blockading a passed pawn.

guessthemove
Kempinski,R (2602) - Areschenko,A (2710)
Bundesliga (Emsdetten), 09.12.2012
1.d4 f6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 g7 4.g2 d5 5.cxd5
xd5
Now we're in the Fianchetto Variation of the
Grnfeld.
6.e4
6.f3 is the more circumspect alternative.
6...b6 7.e2 c5
The typical Grnfeld move to undermine the
white centre.
8.d5
8.dxc5 xd1+ 9.xd1 a4 is nice for Black.
8...00 9.00 e6 10.ec3 a6 11.a4 exd5
12.exd5
White now has a passed d-pawn, but for the
moment it lacks the support required for it to
become dangerous.
12...c4 13.d2 e5
Blockading the passed pawn with 13...d6 is
ineffective here because White can effectively
challenge it with 14.de4.
14.de4 g4
14...c4 15.g5 f6 16.f4 d3 17.d6
Kempinski-Bacrot, Warsaw rapid 2011
15.f3
15.b3 b6 16.b5 is a solid alternative.
15...d7 16.h1
16.g5 f6 Navara-Bacrot, Belfort 2012, and
now 17.e3 c4 18.f2 looks balanced,
since Black has also been forced to move his
f-pawn.
(diagram)
Question 1
Would you play:
A) 16...c4 to create a square on d3;

By IM Merijn van Delft

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wq-trk+0
9zpp+l+pvlp0
9n+-+-+p+0
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9-zP-+-+LzP0
9tR-vLQ+R+K0
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B) 16...f5 to push the away from its central
position;
C) 16...h6 to prepare the f5push by controlling
the g5square.
16...c4!
A good novelty, creating a stepping stone for
the knights on d3, 5 points. 16...h6 17.b5 is
playable, but less thematic, 2 points. 16...f5 is
met by 17.f4! f7 18.g5 with dynamic play,
therefore no points.
17.g5 f6 18.e3 f5 19.f2?!
19.d2 e8 20.b5 is roughly balanced.

XIIIIIIIIY
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9tR-+Q+R+K0
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Question 2
Would you play:
A) 19...b4 to play the second around to d3;
B) 19...e8 to gain time by attacking e3;

C) 19...f7 to play the around to the

blockading square on d6.
19...e8!
In this type of position, where Black has
plenty of potential weaknesses of his own,
it's extremely important to keep fighting for
the initiative by activating pieces and creating
threats, 5 points. 19...b4!? with the idea
of 20.c5 ed3! 21.xf8 xf8 gives Black
interesting compensation for the exchange,
3 points. 19...f7 20.e1 d6 21.h3 is too
passive because White has his own plan
of playing the around to e6, therefore no
points.
20.f4?
This is badly-timed. Better is 20.d4 b4
21.d2 c8 when Black retains a harmonious
position.
20...f7 21.d4
White wants to neutralise the Grnfeld , but
this doesn't solve his problems.
21...xd4 22.xd4 d6!
Installing the classical blockading on d6.
Nimzowitsch already famously wrote about
this subject a century ago.
23.ab1

XIIIIIIIIY
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9P+pwQ-zP-+0
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9-zP-+-sNLzP0
9+R+-+R+K0
xiiiiiiiiy


In this game quiz you can get a maximum of 40 points by answering the eight questions that follow the eight diagram
positions. More important than points though, is that you enjoy playing over the game and learn a few new ideas. If you
feel that the quiz questions are generally too difficult for you, dont be discouraged by the point system. You can simply
make a quick guess at the diagram positions and enjoy the beauty of the game.

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guessthemove
Question 3
Would you play:
A) 23...a5 to increase the pressure on the
queenside;
B) 23...b6 to remove the white from her
dominant position;
C) 23...e7 to centralize the .
23...b6!
Black keeps playing in a very concrete manner,
5 points. 23...e7 and 23...a5 also continue
development, 2 points.
24.f6?
This hands Black the initiative. 24.xb6 axb6
25.b3 ac8 26.bxc4 xc4 gives much better
chances of a successful defence.
24...f8 25.h4 d8 26.h3
26.xd8 axd8 27.h3 would still have been
a better try.
26...e8 27.g4 c5 28.b5

XIIIIIIIIY
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Question 4
Would you play:
A) 28...xb5 to speed up Black's tactical play;
B) 28...xb5 to head for a good - bad
scenario;
C) 28...ce4 to weaken White's kingside
defences.
28...xb5!
Areshchenko goes for the positional solution,
5 points. 28...xb5 29.axb5 d3! 30.g3
(30.xd3 fxg4) 30...b6! 31.xd3 cxd3 with
a powerful attack is the tactical approach, 3
points. 28...ce4 29.xd6 xd6 30.a3! is
somewhat less convincing, 2 points.
29.axb5 f6 30.gxf5 gxf5 31.h5
31.g1 h8.
(diagram)
Question 5
Would you play:
A) 31...xb5 to pick up the weak pawn;
B) 31...e3 to activate the rooks;

88 | January 5n2013

By IM Merijn van Delft

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+r+k+0
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C) 31...h8 to move the to safety.
31...e3!
Black starts dominating the position, 5 points.
31...h8 is a safe choice, 3 points. 31...xb5
32.h3 is pretty messy, therefore no points.
32.h3 ae8 33.g5

XIIIIIIIIY
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Question 6
Would you play:
A) 33...8e7 to defend on the 7th rank;
B) 33...g6 to keep offering the exchange of
queens;
C) 33...h6 to push back the white .
33...8e7
A reasonable choice, but not the best move,
3 points. 33...h6! 34.e6 xe6 35.dxe6 xe6
seems to be the most accurate approach, 5
points. After 33...g6 34.h4 Black has too
many pieces on the g-file, therefore no points.
34.b6
A creative attempt to generate counterplay via
the a-file, but it doesn't quite work. 34.e6!
had to be tried to activate g2.
34...axb6 35.a1 h6!
Right in time.
36.a8+ e8 37.xe8+ xe8 38.f3

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A) 38...d3 to create an octopus;
B) 38...e7 to set up a seventh rank defence;
C) 38...f7 to prevent the from getting to e5
and bring another defender to the .
38...d3!
Now Black has two dream knights, 5 points.
38...e7 is safe, if a bit modest, 2 points.
38...f7 39.e5 completely loses control,
therefore no points. As a rule the blockading
should never move.
39.h4

XIIIIIIIIY
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Question 8
Would you play:
A) 39...b5 to set the queenside majority in
motion;
B) 39...e3 to take away squares from the
white ;
C) 39...h7 to step away from the g-file.
39...e3!
The finishing touch - the white pieces can no
longer move, 5 points. 39...h7 is the next
best thing, 3 points. 39...b5 40.h3! allows
White back into the game, no points.
40.h3 h7 41.h2 b5
White is completely paralysed, so there's no
choice other than to resign. 01

(diagram)
Question 7
Would you play:

Conclusion: blocking the passed pawn on d5

with d6 tends to have a paralysing effect on
White's position. 
n

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88 | January 5n2013

The people versus the queen

When can you give up your queen for a rook, piece and pawn and
remain on the safe or even better side? In which situations is the queen
likely to prevail? Whats the verdict? Lets be the judges!

guidelinesinthejungle
Nisipeanu-Labib
Dubai Open, 2012

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NO SPACE FOR THE QUEEN 19.xc8+ The
only way to keep contesting the c-file, but also
a daring decision, it seems. For now the queen
is inactive within Black's own pawn structure,
and also tied to the defence of d8. Will White
have enough time to coordinate his pieces?
19...xc8 20.xc8+ d8 21.e4 fxe4?
Generally speaking Black is happy to open
up the position (more long-range possibilities
for the queen) and to create weak pawns in
White's structure that can be targetted. Here,
though, it makes it very easy for White to
activate his pieces, while the queen remains
passive. A slower plan like 21...g6 (with the
idea of g7 and f7) 22.exf5 d7! 23.a8
gxf5 or 21...f4 first is more appropriate.
22.xe4 g5?
The intermediate move 22...d7 no longer
made sense because of 23.h3! , but the text
move restricts the queen's activity and just
squanders one more square than g7g6. White
now duly goes on to occupy f5 with his bishop.
23.h3 g7 24.f5 h5 25.h3 f7
So Black can now finally move the queen
freely, but where to?
26.g4 h4 27.b4 b5 28.c6 a5?
The white pieces give each other excellent
support and are ready to target the black
pawns. Black, on the other hand, can hardly
move. The text move, however, is the wrong
pawn sacrifice to try and create some space
for the queen. The passed a-pawn is more

By IM Arthur van de Oudeweetering

than Black can deal with here. 28...a6 29.xa6
b7 30.c6 a7 was a more reasonable try.
29.bxa5 a7 30.a6 d4 31.c7 d1+ 32.h2
xd5 33.a7 xa2 34.e6 d5 35.xf7+ g6
36.d7 10

Kempinski- Jakubowski
Polish Championship (Warsaw), 2011

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+rmk-+0
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A PASSED PAWN A passed pawn is an
important asset for either side. Here White can
create one on the queenside, after which the
black pieces will have to divide their attention
between the pawn and the activities of the
queen on the other side of the board. The
other case, when the side with the pieces
creates a passed pawn, is even more obvious.
It's especially significant when the opponent
has no pieces remaining other than the queen,
a notoriously bad blockader, so stopping the
pawn becomes troublesome. See, for instance,
Guliyev-Mainka, Bundesliga 2008. Keeping all
of this in mind would have prevented Labib
from playing his 28th move in the first example.
31.b5 c5 32.b4! xb4 33.xb6 d5
34.b7 d8 35.c7 35.a7 35...xc7
36.xb4+ e8
Black tries to bring his king over to help stop
the a-pawn, but that leaves his kingside pawns
vulnerable. The alternative 36...g8 would
also lose the e5pawn and a knight for the
a-pawn in the long run. For example: 37.c5
d7 38.xe5 g6 39.a5 h5 40.g2 h7 41.b2
d5 42.b7 xa5 43.xc7 winning.
37.c5 d7 38.xe5 f6 39.d4+ c8

40.g4+ d7 41.g2 e8 42.a5 d8 43.b4

d6 44.b6+ e8 45.a6 c8 46.c5 d8
47.h3!
Elegantly introducing the king to deliver the
decisive blow on the kingside.
47...e7 48.g4 a7 49.f4 c8 50.h5 d7
51.g6 a7 52.h4 c8 53.g4 a7 54.f8+
c7 55.xg7 10

Gaehwiler-Grandelius
World Ch U16 (Kemer), 2009

XIIIIIIIIY
9-trltr-+k+0
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A FORTRESS Giving up the queen for a rook
and piece is a common defensive method. If
it leaves you with well-supported pieces in a
symmetric pawn structure it may be the proper
drawing method. In this case Black has landed
himself in big trouble, but with some help from
his opponent he manages to achieve a draw.
19.c5
19.d4 would be even more painful.
19...xc5 20.xc5 xc5 21.d1 xb6
22.axb6 d7 23.d2
Better is 23.d4, putting the rook first on the
d-file.
23...xb6 24.e5 d5 25.c4 a4 26.e1
f6 27.f4 bc8 28.h3 b5
Black is trying to get in as many exchanges as
possible, as each one increases his drawing
chances. 29.e3 c2 30.c3 g6 31.cxb5
xc3 32.bxc3 axb5 33.b4 d5 34.xb5?
Giving up any ambitions of winning the game.
With all the queenside pawns gone White has
no plan to make headway. 34...xc3 35.a5
c8 36.xg6 hxg6 37.e5

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furtherexamples
Yegiazarian-Pashikian
Armenian Ch (Yerevan), 2008

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lets improve your chess

88 | January 5n2013

By IM Arthur van de Oudeweetering

A KING ATTACK WITH THE QUEEN With the help of more pieces on the board the queen is able to set up a
normal king attack. 25...g6 26.g2 g7 27.e3 f6 28.d8 h5 29.d2 A passive move. 29.ed5? b7 is
impossible, but 29.c4 g5 30.e3 is a more solid try. 29...h4 30.c4 h5 31.g2 hxg3 32.hxg3 g4 Now
Black has managed to obtain some play on the kingside. 33.d5 33.d1 , also protecting f2, seems to be the
better defence: 33...e6 34.de3 xe3 35.xe3 a5 36.f1 33...e3! 34.cxe3 e4 Now, in contrast to the
situation after d1, xe4 is of course impossible. 35.d4 exf2 36.f1 h3+ 37.xh3 xh3 38.xb6 h2!
39.xh2 xg3+ 40.f1 xh2 41.c4 f5 42.a4 g5 Again, it's a passed pawn that carries the day. 43.e3 e5
44.d3 f4 45.g4 xb2 46.d5 b1+ 47.f2 g6 48.a5 h5 49.d7+ g6 50.d6+ f5 51.h6+ e5
52.b6 h2+ 53.f1 h3+ 54.e1 c3+ 55.f2 c5+ 56.f3 g1 57.f7+ d4 58.d6+ c5 59.a6 e3+
60.g4 f3 61.a7 61.exf3 f4+ 62.h5 xf7+ 63.g6 xf3+ 64.xg5 d5 61...e4+ 62.xg5 fxe2 63.a8
xa8 64.e6 d5+ 65.e5 e1 01

A BATTLE ON ONLY ONE WING 25...c3 This is how a material imbalance often arises: the move wins the
exchange, or.... 26.xc3! xb1 27.dxb1 g5 28.b7 g8 29.xg7+ xg7 30.b5 g6 31.c5 Exchanging the
last queenside pawn. 31...dxc5 32.xc5 xe6 Aronian about this moment: Only when he captured on c5 and
took on e6 did I already feel that I had a clear advantage. White has a clear plan while Black is just suffering with
his pieces. It's clear that the queen benefits from a battle on two wings, when its long range activity can come
to the fore. The same thing was observed earlier in CVT 56 (a queen vs 3 pieces). 33.f3 d6 34.d4 h8
35.c6 d7 36.ac1 f4 37.c8 a7 38.e6 f6 39.exf4 gxf4 40.c7 a4 41.xf4 d6 Here 41...xf4 was
given as a better defence: 42.gxf4 xf4 43.1c3 (43.b7 f6 44.h3 e4 45.xe4 xe4 46.7c3 e5 47.g3
h5) 43...e5 44.a6 f6 45.c8+ g7 46.g3+ f7 47.c4+ e6 but the position, while perhaps defendable,
remains unattractive for Black. In the game Aronian slowly improved his position by advancing and closing in on
the black king, which eventually proved too much for Nakamura.

Castaldo-Sulskis
EU Union Ch (Arvier), 2007

XIIIIIIIIY
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Aronian-Nakamura
Tata Steel (Wijk aan Zee), 2012

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9nvLP+-+-+0
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TRANSPOSITIONS & COORDINATION 28.c4! Preventing 28...c8. 28...b5 The immediate 28...xa3 is met
with 29.e4 f6 30.xc3 and the proud c-pawn has disappeared, though Black can still try 30...c5 31.xc5
bxc5 29.xb5 xa3 30.b3 30.e4 f6 31.b3 transposes to the game. 30...e7 31.e4 f6 32.f3 White is
trying to win, as the coordination of the black pieces isn't ideal. The rook can be attacked when moved to c8,
and the bishop has neither a stronghold or protection from another piece. f6 is now also kept out of play by the
white e-pawn. 32...c8 33.b7 d8 34.xe7? Too eager, and now Black escapes. Much stronger was 34.e5!
and White wins the c-pawn. 34...e8 (34...d7 35.c6 c2 36.b2; 34...c2? 35.xe7) 35.c6 34...xd3 35.e5
d2+ 36.h3 d7 37.b4 d3 38.b5 c2 The simplest move, transposing back to a position with balanced
material. Transpositions to other material imbalances are also common - for example to two pieces vs a queen,
see Pruess-Perelshteyn, New England Masters 2007. This is always something you have to be on the lookout
for (just as you have to be for the transposition leading to the initial material imbalance)! 39.xd3 c1 40.xd7
c5 41.f4 h6 And a draw was agreed on move 59. A narrow escape for Sulskis.

OPENING THEORY This material imbalance is yet another strategic feature that you can study perfectly
together with, or with the help of, opening theory. While examining the theoretical lines you'll get a feel for the
plans and the coordination of the pieces, and whether the queen sac will be sufficient or not. You can encounter
this material imbalance in numerous openings, such as the Catalan or the Winawer French. In the PGN file you'll
find Krasenkov-Hector (the Slav countergambit) and the initial moves of a regular Semi-Slav line and a Dragon
line. The knowledge you acquire might even enable you to find an occasional novelty like the one in this game,
albeit in a less topical line. 12.c3 xc3 13.bxc3 dxe3 14.xd8 exf2+ 15.f1 axd8 16.g5 This variation
hadn't been played since Antunes-Flear from 2006, which saw 16.e4 e7 17.xe6 fxe6 18.g5 f5 19.e2
e3 20.f3 Factors such as the presence of a passed pawn and the unsafe position of the white king should
convince you that Black has sufficient compensation (and can thus improve on Flear's 20...d5 with 20...b6,
for instance. 16...xb3 17.axb3 h6 18.e4 b6 19.xf2 de8 20.e1 xe5 21.h5 g6 22.h4 h5 23.g3
d7 24.h3 f6 25.f3 g7 26.d3 h4 27.c4 bxc4 28.bxc4 a5 29.xe8 xe8 30.g4 e4

Shomoev-Salinnikov
Aratovsky Mem (Saratov), 2006

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wq-trk+0
9+-zp-+pzpp0
9p+n+l+-+0
9+pvl-zP-+-0
9-+-zpn+-+0
9+L+-vLN+-0
9PzPP+QzPPzP0
9tRN+R+-mK-0
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tacticstactics
XIIIIIIIIY
9rtr-+-+k+0
9+-zp-+-zpp0
9-+P+q+-+0
9+-wQ-+p+-0
9-+-+p+-+0
9+-+lzP-zP-0
9-+-tR-zPLzP0
9+-tR-+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-trk+-tr0
9zpp+-+pzpl0
9-+-vLp+-zp0
9wq-+-+-+P0
9-+L+-+-+0
9+Psn-+-+R0
9P+-wQ-zPP+0
9mK-+R+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+q+-trk+0
9+l+-vl-zpp0
9-zp-snp+-+0
9zp-+psN-+-0
9Psn-zP-zP-+0
9tR-+-+Q+-0
9-zP-sN-vLPzP0
9+L+-+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-wqktr-+0
9tr-+l+p+-0
9-+-tRpzP-+0
9+L+-+-wQp0
9-+-+P+-+0
9zP-sN-+n+-0
9-zPP+-+-zP0
9+-mK-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy

88 | January 5n2013

By IM Robert Ris

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-tr-+k+0
9+L+-+pzpp0
9-vl-+-wq-+0
9zpP+-zpl+-0
9P+-+-+-+0
9+-wQ-+-+-0
9-+P+NzPPzP0
9+-+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+rmk-0
9-+pwq-+p+0
9zppsN-tRl+p0
9P+-zP-wQ-+0
9+P+-+-+P0
9-+-+-+P+0
9+-+-+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9-tr-+r+k+0
9+-zp-+pzpp0
9-+-zp-+-+0
9zp-vln+-+-0
9-+-+q+-+0
9zP-+-zP-vL-0
9-zP-+QzPPzP0
9+-tRL+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-wq-+k+0
9+-+-+p+-0
9-+-+l+p+0
9+-tR-zp-+p0
9-zpL+P+-zP0
9+P+-wQ-zP-0
9r+-+-zPK+0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-trr+k+0
9+pwq-snpzp-0
9p+-+-+p+0
9+-+-+-+-0
9-+PsNQtR-+0
9+P+-+-+-0
9P+-+-+PzP0
9tR-+-+-+K0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+QwQ-+-+0
9zp-+-+pmkp0
9-+-+p+p+0
9zP-+l+-+-0
9-+-+-wq-+0
9+-+-+N+-0
9-tr-+-+PzP0
9+-+R+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+ltr-+k+0
9+pwq-vlpzpp0
9p+-+-+-+0
9sn-+p+-+-0
9P+-+-zP-+0
9+-+LvL-+-0
9-zPPsN-wQPzP0
9tR-+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+R+-+-+0
9+-+q+r+p0
9-+-+-+pmk0
9+ptRp+-+-0
9-zPnsNr+-+0
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9-+-+-zPKzP0
9+-+-+-+-0
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88 | January 5n2013

Queen versus rook+bishop+knight

This week were going to take a look at four recently played games
featuring the attacking trio of ++ against a . Learn the pros and
cons of this special material distribution!

practicalendings
Hausrath-Van Kampen
Groningen Open, 2012

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In our first example the strength of the attacking
trio will be shown. A little extra effort has been
made by the . Once it joins the attack things
go downhill pretty fast for White.
97...d3+ 98.b2 d4+ 99.c1 a4!
In endings the becomes a very strong piece
and should be used as actively as possible.
100.g4 b3 101.c5 a2+ 102.b1 c3+
103.a1 e2+
103...e2+ and White resigned, in view of
104.b1 d1#. 01

Nakamura-Ding Liren
Mind Games Rapid (Beijing), 2012

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9+-+N+-tR-0
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9+-+-+-+-0
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The often isn't able to join the attacking trio,

but that shouldn't be a big deal, especially
when the opponent's has been cut off along
the 7th rank.
50.e5!
A nice square for the , allowing it to join the
attack while also covering the b8h2 diagonal

By IM Robert Ris
against any checks.
50...xf2 51.f6+ d8
After 51...f8 52.d7! nothing can be done
to stop checkmate on d6. Note the wonderful
coordination between White's forces: the
and take away the 's escape squares,
while the plays a role both in defence and
attack!
52.d6
Another illustrative line highlighting the
excellent cooperation between White's forces
is 52.c7+ c8 53.e8! (threatening mate on
d6) 53...b7 54.g3+ and White wins the .
52...c8 53.c7+ d8
After 53...b8 White picks up the with
54.c2+.
54.b7 and Black resigned, in view of 54...c8
55.b8#. 10

Cramling-Zatonskih
Mind Games Blitz (Beijing), 2012

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Black has a huge material advantage and
there are various ways of converting her
advantage. Zatonskih opts for the most
economic solution of simplifying the position
- a typical mechanism in this type of ending.
46...f3 47.d1 f2 48.a4 g2 49.a5 g1+
50.xg1 xg1 51.xg1 b6 and White
resigned, since after the liquidation Black has
been left with an extra . 01

Sumets-Kozul
Zadar Open, 2012

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Finally we'll examine a very interesting position
where the initially has the upper hand. Often
such an advantage is only a temporary result
of the poor placement of the three pieces
and therefore the chance has to be seized
immediately!
36...b4?!
Based on a small trap, but it would have been
much better to open up the kingside with 36...
e4! when White is just completely lost. The
following line is pretty straightforward: 37.fxe4
e7 38.xb5 xe4+ 39.g1 d4+ 40.f2 f3!
and White's pieces can barely move. A nice
illustration of the queen's superiority.
37.e2
White doesn't, of course, fall for 37.xb4 e1!
and Black wins on the spot.
37...f6?
Again, it would have been a good idea to
disturb the configuration of White's forces with
37...e4! 38.xe4 f2 39.e2 e1+ 40.g2
d2 and Black threatens to take either the
on d7 or the on a2, when the b-pawn is
unstoppable. After the text move White is able
to regroup his pieces.
38.c5 h5 39.g2 f5 40.d2 g7 41.e4
c8 42.b5 a8?
Hitting the weak on a2, but the is
obviously completely misplaced in the corner
of the board. Better would have been 42...f5!
43.d7+?! (More stubborn is 43.f2 now, or
even on the next move.) 43...h6 44.f6?
g5 45.xh7+ h4! and the activation of the
black turns the tables.


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88 | January 5n2013

practicalendings
43.h4 f5?
Houdini 3 points out the following variation:
43...g8 44.d7+ h8 45.xf6 xa2+
46.g1 a7+! and a perpetual check is
inevitable, but not 46...a1+? because of the
interference move 47.f1!.
44.d7+?
Again, the silicon monster is critical of this
human interpretation of the position and
instead recommends 44.g5 which yields
White a decisive advantage.
44...f8 45.g5 xa2+ 46.h3
(diagram)
46...e4?
Wasting valuable time. Black should have
chased the away immediately with 46...h6!

By IM Robert Ris

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-mk-+0
9+p+R+-+p0
9-+-+-+p+0
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9q+-+-+-zP0
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xiiiiiiiiy
and after 47.h7+ g8 48.f6+ f8 49.c7
f2 50.h7+ g8 51.f6+ f8 neither side
can avoid the repetition.
47.c7! b2
The point of White's play is that 47...exf3 can
be met by 48.xh7+ g8 49.c4+! winning
the .
48.xh7+ g8 49.c4+ h8 50.g5 and

Black resigned, as he can't avoid mate, e.g.

50.g5 g7 51.c8+! and White wins. 10
Conclusion: ++ is normally stronger than
the . Some important features worth keeping
in mind:1) Watch out for tactical tricks. The
attacking trio is incredibly ruthless if it can strike.
2) safety plays an important role and once
the succeeds in escaping from the attacking
trio it can also become an asset, as can be
seen in the last example. 3) Using simplification
to steer the game into a favourable ending is
something you should always reckon with, as
shown in the 2nd example.On the other hand,
you shouldn't underestimate the strength of
the . The last example is a nice illustration
of what can happen when the mobility of the
attacking trio has been reduced. 
n

solutionspage 6
33.xd3! [33...exd3 34.d5+] 10 Ivanova-Tomin, WY GU16 2012
Maribor SLO (10.20), 17.11.2012
2
 5...e4! 26.xe4 xf2+! [27.xf2 d1+ 28.e1 xe1#] 01
Abdullatif-Martins, WY BU14 2012 Maribor SLO (2.66), 09.11.2012
23.e6! d7 [23...fxe6 24.xe6+ h8 25.h4#] 24.xd8 xd8
25.af1+ Azarya-J. van Foreest, WY BU14 2012 Maribor SLO
(9.20), 16.11.2012
24...xd6! 25.b5+ [25.xd6 xa2#] 25...xb5 26.xd6 xd1 01
Baert-Vanstreels, TCh-BEL 201213 Belgium BEL (5.7), 02.12.2012
37.xf5! xf4 [37...xf5 38.xd6+] 38.e6+ h6 39.xf4 10 Van
Kampen-Gullaksen, London Chess Classic FIDE Open Kensington
Olympia, London, E (6), 06.12.2012
33...xg2+! 34.h1 [34.xg2 xf3+ 35.g1 g2#] 34...xh2+!
35.g1 g3+ 36.f1 f2# 01 Farrand-Hamitevici, 4th London
Classic Open London ENG (2), 02.12.2012
27.xh7+! xh7 28.h5+ [28...g8 29.h3 c1+ 30.f1+] 10
Holzke-Hoegener, 4th London Classic Open London ENG (2),
02.12.2012

23...xe3! [24.fxe3 xe3+ 25.h1 xe2 26.xe2 xe2+] 01

Eames-Szalontay, 4th London Classic Open London ENG (3),
03.12.2012
16...d4! 17.xd4 xd4!+ [18.xd4 c5+] Casaschi-Baasansuren,
4th London Classic Open London ENG (3), 03.12.2012
26.xe6+! fxe6 27.g6+ f7 28.g8+ f8 29.xe6+ [29...e7
30.xe7#] 10 Zimmermann-Guthrie, 4th London Classic Open
London ENG (4), 04.12.2012
41...d1! 42.h6 [42.xe6 a1 43.xf7+ g7+] 42...h3+!
[43.h2 xf2+ 44.xh3 h1#; 42...a1? 43.c8+! xc8 44.xg6+
h8 45.f6+ h7 46.xf7+ h6 47.f8+ g6 48.f7+ f6 49.g8+
g6 50.f7+ h6 51.h7#] 01 Anand-Adams, 4th London Chess
Classic London ENG (6.3), 07.12.2012
44...a7? [44...e3+! 45.xe3+ (45.fxe3 h4! 46.f3 h3+
47.g1 xf3+) 45...xe3 46.fxe3 e7+] 45.c1+ g7 46.f5+
xf5 47.8c7+ xc7 48.xc7++ Schlosser-Hausrath, Bundesliga
201213 Baden Baden GER (5.8), 08.12.2012

training
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