Jeroen Bosch:

The Open File

In My System Nimzowitsch called the
open file his favourite subject. He usefully
defines the open file as: a file on which
your own pawn is missing. Thus, he notes
that principally there is no difference
between the attack on an enemy pawn, or
the attack on a square within enemy
territory. In the literature sometimes the
distinction is made between half-open
files (your own pawn is missing, but your
opponents pawn stands on the file) and
open files (there are no pawns on the file
of either colour). Hopefully, you will also
enjoy our brief discussion of the principal
elements involved in the open file.
The back rank
Possession of an open file often introduces
threats on the 8th or 7th rank. Indeed,
intrusion on either rank is often the sole
purpose of the attacker.
Lepek : Koonen
corr 1962

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In this first example we see Black pressing
down on the half-open file, and he clearly
possesses several positional advantages.
However, it is White to move, and Black's
weak back rank will give us the right idea:
1.Tc2!
White occupies the open file.
1...Dd4
FIDE Surveys Jeroen Bosch

Black defends against an immediate mate,

however, White has the intermediate:
2.Tc4! Db6
The pin decides after 2...Dd2 3.Tc8 Td8
4.Dd2.
3.Tc8 Td8 4.Db5 and Black resigned 1:0.
He obviously can't take, while 4...Dd4 fails
to 5.De8 and mate.
The 7th rank
Stahlberg G. : Taimanov M.
Zrich 1953

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Bronstein calls this game a textbook
example in his famous book on Zrich
1953. Obviously, Black has a host of
positional advantages: a superior bishop,
active pieces, and most importantly he is in
possession of the only open file. Taimanov
correctly dismisses a small material gain in
favour of an invasion on the seventh rank:
1...Tc2!
1...Tc1 2.Tac1 Sd2 3.Tc8 Dc8 4.Dd1 Se4
favours Black, but White definitely has
more chances to save the game than after
Taimanov's continuation.
2.Se4 de4 3.a3 h5
Immediately transferring the queen to the
kingside with 3...Db5 was the strongest
continuation.
4.d5 T8c4
Taimanov will not allow any counterplay.
5.Td1
Or 5.de6 De6 6.Da4 (6.Tf1 Tc1! wins a
piece) 6...ba3 and White cannot take back
because of a double attack (...Df6).
5...ed5 6.Ld2 Df6
1

The queen goes to the kingside with gain

of tempo.
7.Tab1 h4
Black is now completely winning.
Bronstein jokes that Taimanov was
obviously enjoying his position so much
that he takes the long road to victory.
8.Da4 Df5
Very fast was 8...Df3 9.Dd7 hg3 10.hg3
and now moving back along the file to lift
the rook to the kingside with 10...Tc6!
11.Dh3 Tb2!
9.Da7 Lf8 10.Db8 g5
Again there was 10...hg3 11.hg3 Tc6.
11.gh4 gh4 12.Df4 Df4 13.ef4 d4 14.b3
Tc6 15.ab4 f5 16.h3 Ta6 17.Tbc1 Tc1
18.Tc1 Ta2 19.Le1 Tb2 20.Kg2 Tb3
21.Tc8 Tb1 22.Ld2 e3
And after 23.fe3 the seventh rank is
opened to allow the winning 23...Tb2, so
White resigned 0:1.
Nimzowitsch A. : Capablanca J.R.
New York 1927

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Here too, we have a textbook example, and
one in which Nimzowitsch has often been
(somewhat unfairly) criticized for his next
move. The implication is that he did not
understand the importance of the seventh
rank here (a subject on which he has taught
us all!).
25.Ld4
White can more or less keep the balance
with 25.Tad1! a5 (25...Td1 26.Td1 a5
27.ba5 ba5 28.Td7 and White has
sufficient counterplay. 28...Tc2 29.Tb7!)
26.Ld4! ab4 27.ab4 Tc2 (27...Lb4
28.Lb6=; 27...Db4 28.Tb1=) 28.Df1 and
FIDE Surveys Jeroen Bosch

White keeps equal chances as 28...Lb4? is

bad due to 29.Db5! and Black suddenly
has to reckon with the threat of 30.Qg5
among other threats. Instead 25.Tac1 has
been indicated by commentators (to cover
square c2). However, Black keeps a
nagging edge with 25...a5. It for this reason
that Nimzowitsch played 25.Ld4.
25...Tc2 26.Da6
This is a mistake. Although again it makes
sense to take issue with some
commentators. Strongest was 26.Dd1 when
White takes advantage of the pin to trade
material. For Black cannot play 26...e5 due
to 27.Te2! (Fine only mentions the losing
27.Tc1 Tc1 28.Db3 Te1+) 27...Tc3
28.Db3 Tb3 29.Le5; Black keeps an edge
after 26.Df1 f6 (it is too early for
Capablanca's pawn sac 26...e5 27.Le5
Tdd2 28.Tec1 Tf2 29.Df2 Tf2 30.Kf2 h5;
26...Tdc8 to take possession of the c-file is
also good). Note that 26.Df3? is a blunder:
26...Td4.
26...e5!
Powerful play by Capablanca. He
sacrifices a pawn to get both rooks on the
seventh.
27.Le5 Tdd2

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28.Db7?
Best was 28.Df1! when Golombek
provides the following line 28...Dd5
(28...h5) 29.Lf4 Dh5 30.h4 h6! (30...Df3
31.Tec1! Tb2 32.Tcb1 Tbc2 33.Tc1 Tf2?!
(33...Df2 34.Df2 Tf2 35.Tc2 Tc2 36.Td1=)
34.Tc2 Tf1 35.Tf1) 31.Tac1 (but 31.Tad1!
Tf2 32.Df2 Tf2 33.Kf2 is equal) 31...Tf2
32.Df2 Tf2 33.Kf2 g5 when Black is
slightly better (but not winning).
2

28.Tf1? De3! illustrates the strength of two

rooks on the seventh rank rather well:
29.fe3 Tg2 30.Kh1 Th2 31.Kg1 Tcg2
mate!.
28...Tf2 29.g4 De6 30.Lg3 Th2
This sacrifice cannot be accepted, adn
therefore Black is totally winning. The
remaining moves were:
31.Df3
31.Lh2 Dg4 32.Kh1 Dh3.
31...Thg2 32.Dg2 Tg2 33.Kg2 Dg4
34.Tad1 h5 35.Td4 Dg5 36.Kh2 a5
37.Te2 ab4 38.ab4 Le7 39.Te4 Lf6
40.Tf2 Dd5 41.Te8 Kh7 0:1.
Stronghold on an open file
Petrosian T. : Pilnik H.
Amsterdam 1956

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In this example White has a stronghold on
the open file.
22.Tc6!
Less good is 22.Tc4 when Black can seek
relief in trading rooks 22...Tc4 (or he can
make use of his own stronghold with
22...Tc5 ).
22...Dd8
22...Tc6 23.bc6 and with such a passed
pawn the win should pose no difficulties.
A future a5 will be hard to meet.
23.Tac1
It is logical to double rooks, but this move
actually serves no real purpose.
23...Sf6
Pilnik defends well. He aims to plug the
file with ...Sf6-d7-c5. Petrosian prevents
this plan with his next move.
24.Lf1! Tcb8
FIDE Surveys Jeroen Bosch

24...Sd7 25.Lh3 Tc6 26.dc6 Sc5 27.Sd5

simply wins.
25.Lh3 a6
Black seeks counterplay by opening a file
for his own rooks.
26.Te1!
Excellent play by Petrosian. He indirectly
covers pawn e4 to prepare Se3-c4. Black
would have gained counterplay after 26.f3
ab5 27.ab5 h4, as Petrosian indicated.
26...ab5 27.ab5 Sh7 28.Sc4 Ta2 29.Lg2
Rather cautious. According to Euwe in the
tournament book, Petrosian was in
timetrouble it did not want to allow any
counterplay. Winning was 29.Db3 Tba8
30.Tb6 Sg5 31.Lg2 Df6 32.Tf1.
29...Df6 30.Tf1 Sg5?
30...Dd8.
31.Db3! Tba8 32.h4! Sh7 33.Tb6
White has gained a dangerous passed
pawn. Black has insufficient counterplay
(just look at his light pieces!).
33...Ta1 34.Tc6 T8a2
Threatening to take on f2 with the queen.
35.De3 Dd8 36.Ta1
36.b6 was a lot simpler.
36...Ta1 37.Kh2 Sf6 38.f3 [Or 38.Lh3 ]
38...Db8 39.Db3 Sd7 40.b6 Sc5 41.Db2
Ta4 42.Db5 Ta2 43.Tc7
Finally the rook leaves the stronghold to
prepare Dc6, b7 and Tc8; or Sa5, Sc6 and
b7. Pilnik makes a final desperate attempt
with:
43...g5
But to no avail:
44.Se3 gh4 45.Sf5 Kg8 46.gh4 Ta6 47.b7!
Ta7 48.Tc8 Db7 49.De8 Sd7 50.Sd6 1:0.
Doubling (or tripling) on a file
Karpov A. : Unzicker W.
Nice 1974
The most famous classical example of this
kind is:

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Karpov played the brilliant 1.La7! to
prepare the doubling of rooks. The block
set by the bishop denies Black the
possibility to trade rooks via the open file.
Interestingly, Karpov himself likens his
manoeuvre to the 10th game of the
Candidates match Spassky : Karpov, where
it was Spassky who played 32.La7!, with
somewhat similar intentions.
1...Se8 2.Lc2 Sc7 3.Tea1
The rooks have been doubled, but it is
rather the constant threat of invading than
an actual invasion that will decide the
game. Unzicker has to defend passively,
while Karpov has his hands free on both
flanks.
3...De7 4.Lb1 Le8 5.Se2 Sd8
Finally this knight leaves the terrible b7square. In an ideal situation (going back to
a plan devised by Rubinstein) Black will
play ...f6 and ...Sf7, while the other knight
should move to e8 and g7. Here however,
Black lacks the space to implement this
plan - notably because La7-e3 to 'open' the
a-file is a constant threat. Ironically,
Unzicker will eventually move the knight
back to b7.
6.Sh2 Lg7
Karpov now starts to operate on the
kingside with
7.f4! f6
Kasparov indicated 7...ef4 8.Sf4 f6! (a
difficult move) to at least move the knight
to e5. 9.Sf3 Sf7 10.Sd4 Se5.
8.f5 g5?
8...gf5 9.ef5 Sf7 threatening ...Lh6 is met
by 10.Le3 Df8 11.Sg4 (Kasparov). We can
take this line a little further and note that
FIDE Surveys Jeroen Bosch

after 11...Ta2 12.Ta2 h5! 13.Sf2 Lh6

14.Lh6 Sh6 White keeps a huge edge by
finally invading on the seventh rank with
15.Ta7. 8...Sf7 was probably best.
9.Lc2
Karpov will emphasize the weakened light
squares by moving the bishop to the
kingside.
9...Lf7 10.Sg3 Sb7 11.Ld1! h6?! 12.Lh5
De8 13.Dd1 Sd8 14.Ta3
Black's position is hopeless, he must now
even reckon with a possible tripling on the
a-file.
14...Kf8 15.T1a2 Kg8 16.Lf7 Sf7 17.Dh5
Sd8 18.Dg6!
White also wins after 18.Lb6 Tab8 19.Lc7
Dh5 20.Sh5 Tc7 21.Ta7.
18...Kf8 19.Sh5
and Unzicker resigned. He is defenceless
against Sg4 and Lb6 1:0.
Seirawan Y. : Sokolov I.
Sarajevo 1987

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Often, when doubling or tripling on an
open file, the stronger side does best to
take the rooks to the front and move the
queen behind. The exception is when a
direct attack on the king is involved. Then
the queen (with her greater firepower) goes
in front:
22.Dg1! Lf5 23.Dh2
Black is already defenceless, a scenario we
are familiar with from the Sicilian Dragon.
23...e5 24.Lg5! Lg7 25.Dh4 f6
This loses, but so does everything else:
25...Te6 26.e4 or 26.Dh7 Kf8 27.Lh6;
25...Kf8 26.Lf6 mates.
26.Lf6 Tab8 27.g4 1:0.
4

Opening a file
Timing can be important when opening a
file. If the opponent is ready to oppose
rooks then an open file can lead to
exchanges and a draw. When we are too
late in opening a file, the opponent may
prevent it once and for all.
Botvinnik M. : Ragozin V.
Leningrad 1940

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Botvinnik has so many positional trumps
here that White can actually pick his win.
The future World Champion takes the most
energetic win.
1.b4!
A pawn sacrifice to open the file. Other
good moves are 1.Ld5, 1.Dd3 and 1.a5.
1...cb4 2.Tc7
Invading the seventh rank by means of an
outpost provided by the passed pawn.
2...Tc7 3.dc7 Sb6 4.Lb6!
The cleanest win. Botvinnik trades off the
defender of the squares c8 and d7.
4...Db6 5.Dc4 Tc8 6.Td7
Another rook to the seventh!
6...Dc6 7.Dc6 bc6 8.Tf7 c5 9.Le6 1:0.

FIDE Surveys Jeroen Bosch

Kasparov G. : Natsis T.
Malta 1980

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White already has a rook on the seventh
rank. With his next move he supports the
rook, and more importantly attacks f7.
22.d6 b5?
Black overlooks White's threat, which is to
open the f-file. 22...g5 (to stop 23.f4)
would be met by the unpleasant 23.h4.
Best was 22...Kg7 to defend stubbornly
after 23.f4 (23.h4) 23...Kf6 and if 24.Tf1
then 24...Le6.
23.f4!
Kasparov timely opens the f-file to
increase the pressure on his target f7.
23...ef4 24.Kf4 Ta6
24...a4 25.Ld5 Tab8 26.Kg5 wins.
25.e5 a4 26.Ld5 a3?! 27.Tf1
All of White's forces concentrate on f7.
27...Ta4 28.Ke3 Le6 29.Le6 fe6 30.Tff7
With two rooks on the seventh rank and a
passed pawn the win is elementary.
30...Th4 31.Tg7 Kh8 32.Tge7 1:0.

Possession of an open file

Possession of an open file is an advantage
in itself. Although, as has often been noted,
it is important that your rooks do not stand
there idly doing nothing (there must be
entry points or other advantages).
Sometimes controlling an open file, means
having a free hand somewhere else. The
Karpov : Unzicker game shown above is
an example of such a case. As is, for
instance, the famous Short : Timman
(Tilburg 1991) game, where Short, due to
his control over the d-file which left Black
passive, could just walk his king over to
h6. Now let us look at a pure case with
only heavy pieces.
Donner H. : Pomar A.
Brunnen 1966

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White has a clear advantage as he has
doubled rooks on the c-file. Black cannot
so easily defuse the pressure therefore.
Moreover, White has a marked advantage
in space. Nevertheless, things are not that
simple.
1.a4
Donner improves his position, and does not
fall for the immediate 1.Tc7 when Black
has 1...Tc7 2.Tc7 Tc8! 3.Tb7 (3.Dc3 Tc7
4.Dc7 Dh6 and Black has decent chances
to hold.) 3...Dh6! (3...Dg7 4.Dd2!) 4.f4
(4.Te7 Dc1 5.Kh3 Dh6 6.Kg2 Dc1 is a
repetition.; 4.Ta7?? Dc1 and Black wins in
a direct attack on the king!) 4...Dg7 and
Black has dangerous counterplay, based on
the fact that he is now in sole possession of
the open c-file!
FIDE Surveys Jeroen Bosch

1...De8?!
1...Tc3 2.Dc3 leaves White in possession
of the c-file, but was nevertheless more
tenacious.
2.Tc7!
Now Black no longer obtains counterplay
based on ...Dg7!
2...Tc7 3.Tc7 Tb8 4.Dc3 Dd8 5.e5! a6
5...de5 6.De5 is also quite depressing.
6.h4
Gaining space for his king and preparing a
possible h4-h5-h6. 6.b4 was also attractive.
In that case 6...b5 as in the game, is just
met by 7.a5.
6...b5! 7.Tc6?!
Correct was 7.ab5! ab5 8.b4. After the text
Black could have gained sufficient
counterplay.
7...ba4 8.ba4 de5 9.De5 Tc8
It is too soon for 9...Tb3 10.h5! (10.Tc7?
Te3! 11.De3 Dc7=; 10.Ta6 Td3) 10...gh5
(10...Df8 11.Tc7+-) 11.d6 ed6? 12.Td6
Tb2 13.Kf1 Tb1 14.Ke2 Tb2 15.Kd1 Tb1
16.Kc2+-; 9...a5 is met by 10.g4 prepares
h4-h5-h6. Having seen the above lines, you
may be able to guess that it was best to
play 9...h5! which prevents g4 and h5
ideas, while it also keeps the king in a
cage. Black draws after 10.Ta6 Tc8!
11.Tc6 (11.De4 Tc5!) 11...Tc6 12.dc6 Dd2
13.Kh3 Df2 (or 13...Dc1 ).
10.Dc3
The queen ending after 10.Tc8 Dc8 11.De7
Dc2 12.Kh3 Df5 is a draw. Best was
10.g4!
10...Tb8! 11.De5 Tc8
11...h5! 12.Ta6 Tc8 was the line we
previously examined.
12.g4
Donner hits on the right plan!
12...e6? 13.Dc3! Tc6
White wins after 13...Tb8 14.de6 fe6
15.Tc7 Df8 16.De5.
14.dc6 Kf8?
14...Dc7 15.a5! and White wins the queen
ending.
15.c7 Dc8 16.Dh8 1:0.

We have seen many instances where those

in possession of the open file would win.
Naturally, it is also possible to defend:
often by means of opposing rooks on the
open file. Sometimes by covering the entry
squares, or by gaining an advantage
elsewhere.
Sanakoev : Paroulek
corr 1972

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Black is in possession of the c-file, and has
even invaded the second rank. White has
more space, though, and his light pieces
have more active possibilities. First it is
necessary to chase away the rook.
1.Ted1 Se8
1...Sd7 2.Se1 pushing back the rook.
2...T2c7 3.Sf1 g6 (3...Lg5!? looks more
logical to me.) 4.Lc1 Sd8 5.Ld2 Db7
6.Tb3!? Tc4 7.g4!? Sf6 8.Sg3 Se4?
(8...Dd7 and Black is not worse.) 9.Se4
Dd5 10.Sg3 De6 11.h3 with a sharp game
in which White eventually came out on
top. Sanakoev : Sorokin, corr 1972-75.
2.h4!?
Preventing a future ...Lg5 and gaining
space on the kingside.
2...Dd8 3.g3 Dd7 4.Se1 T2c7 5.Sf1 g6
6.Tbc1
White trades one pair of rooks to gain
active possibilities.
6...Sg7
6...Tc1 7.Lc1!
7.Tc7 Tc7 8.Sd3 f5?!
8...Dc8 9.f4 (9.Td2!) 9...Tc2 10.Td2 Td2
11.Dd2 f6.
9.f4! fe4 10.De4 Tc4
FIDE Surveys Jeroen Bosch

This looks active, but is in fact a fairly

meaningless demonstration of his ability to
move along the c-file to this stronghold.
The rook will soon have to leave c4 again.
White meanwhile advantageously opens
the long diagonal and files for his rook and
queen.
11.De2 ef4 12.Sf4 Sf5 13.Sg2!?
13.Te1.
13...Sd8?
13...Ld8!
14.Sge3! Se3 15.Se3 Tc8 16.Sg4 Sf7
17.Tf1
White now occupies both the e- and the ffile. 17.Lf6 h5!; 17.De4! Tc4 18.Ld4+-;
17.La1!? Tf8 18.De4! (18.Db2 Se5! 19.Se5
de5 20.De5 Lf6).
17...Tc4 18.Sf6 Lf6 19.Tf6
19.Lf6 Sh6!
19...Tc8 20.Te6 Tf8?
This loses due to a simple tactic, but Black
was in trouble anyway. Most stubborn was
20...Kf8.
21.Dg4! Se5
21...Td8 22.Tg6! hg6 23.Dg6 Kf8 24.Lg7
Ke8 25.Lf6+-.
22.Le5 Df7
22...de5 23.Tg6+-.
23.Tf6 Da7 24.Ld4 1:0.
Ivanov A. : De Firmian N.
Salt Lake City 1999

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White has the better pawn structure, and
Black's king is weak. Nevertheless, Black
controls the d-file. What should White
play?
1.Td2!
Or 1.Dg5 Kh8 2.Td2.
7

1...Tfd8
The best chance probably. 1...Td2 2.Dg5
Kh8 3.Dd2 is also clearly better for White.
On top of the previously mentioned
advantages he now also holds the d-file.
1...Td5 2.Tad1 (or even 2.c4) does not help
either.
2.Dd8 Td8 3.Td8 Kg7 4.Te1
and White won, but this is beyond the
scope of this article 1:0.

Exercises
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Black to move.

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White to move.

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-tr-tr-+0
9+q+-vl-mk-0
9n+p+Qzpp+0
9zp-+-zp-+p0
9P+-+P+-+0
9+-zP-vLN+P0
9-zP-tR-+PmK0
9+-+-+R+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
White to move.

FIDE Surveys Jeroen Bosch

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+rtr-+k+0
9+-+-wq-zpp0
9-zpltRp+n+0
9zp-zp-zPp+-0
9P+P+p+-+0
9+PwQ-zP-zP-0
9-vL-+-zPLzP0
9+-+R+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
Black to move
.XIIIIIIIIY

9-+r+r+k+0
9+-+-+pvl-0
9p+-zp-+p+0
9+-wqP+-+n0
9-+P+-+-vL0
9+-+-+P+P0
9P+-wQN+-+0
9+-tR-+R+K0
xiiiiiiiiy
Black to move.

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-trk+0
9+p+-+-zp-0
9pwq-+p+p+0
9+-+pzPnsNp0
9-zP-zP-+-zP0
9zP-+-+-zP-0
9-+-+QzPK+0
9tR-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
White to move.

Solutions:
1. McDonald : Horvath
Zug 1991
1...Tg4! 2.hg4
2.Kh5 also ends in mate after 2...Tc8 or
2...Tg8.
2...hg4
and White cannot defend in any
meaningful way against the threat of Tc6c8-h8 mate 0:1.
2. Renet O. : Yusupov A.
Dubai 1986
1...Sh8!
An excellent defensive move. At first sight
White seemed to hold an appreciable
advantage in the diagrammed position (the
doubled rooks on the d-file appeared to
coordinate well with the stronghold and the
possible opening up of the long diagonal.
Yusupov aims to trade all rooks to relieve
the pressure.
2.Kf1?!
White should have considered sacrificing
the exchange with say 2.h4 Sf7 3.Lf1 Sd6
4.ed6 Df7 5.De5 Td7 6.Le2.
2...Sf7 3.Td8 Td8 4.Td8 Dd8
If anyone is better now, it is Black, who
has some ideas of improving his pieces in
this closed position. White's bishop pair
brings him nothing. Black won after:
5.Ke1 g5 6.Dd2 Dd2 7.Kd2 Sh6 8.h3 Le8
9.Ke1 Lh5 10.Lc3 Kg7 11.Lb2 Sg8
12.Kd2 Se7 13.Lc3 Lf3! 14.Lf1 Kg6
15.Lb2 h5 16.Lc3 Sc6 17.Lb2 Se7 18.Lc3
f4! 19.ef4 gf4 20.gf4 Kf5 21.Le2 Le2
22.Ke2 Sg6 23.Ke3 Sf4 24.f3 ef3 25.Kf3
Sh3 26.Kg3 Sf4 0:1.

Dd7 24.Td1 g6 25.Db4 Td5 26.Dc4 Dg4!?

27.f3 Dd7 28.b3 b5 29.ab5 ab5 30.Dc3 h5
31.Kf2, , Barsov : Bosch, Dieren 2000.
19...Tc7
19...Tc6 20.Df4 Te7 21.Db8+-.
20.Tac1!
Due to Black's weak back rank, White
keeps a clear edge.
20...Tc1
20...Te7? 21.Tc7 Te3 22.Te3+-.
21.Dc1 Te7 22.Te7 De7 23.Dc8 Df8
24.Db7
And White won the queen ending, but that
is beyond the scope of this article. 1:0.
4. Anand V. : Kasparov G.
Linares 2000
1...Tb8!
What could be more logical then moving
the rook to the open b-file? Black threatens
to invade on the second rank, whilst also
introducing the threat of Dc5-c8. However,
there is a twin solution based on the
invasion of the other rook on the second
rank. Also strong is 1...Lh6! 2.Dh6 (2.f4
Da3 3.Kh2 Te2! 4.De2 Lf4 5.Tf4 Sf4
6.Df1 Da2+) 2...Te2. Attractive but less
clear is 1...Lf6 2.Lf2 Da3 3.Sg1.
2.Sg1?!
2.Tc2 Dc8 3.Sg1 Df5 with a substantial
positional advantage based on moves like
...Le5 and ...Sf4, the weakness of White's
king, but also on the possession of two
open files.
2.Lf2 Dc8 3.Sg1 Df5.
2.Sg3 Tb2 3.Tc2 Lh6 4.Dc3 Tc2 5.Dc2
Dc8+.
2...Tb2 3.Tc2
3.Dd3? g5! 4.Le1 Te1+.
3...Dc4! 4.Tc4 Td2 5.f4 Td5
And Anand resigned. 0:1.

3. Vaganian R. : Inkiov V.
Buenos Aires 1978

5. Karpov A. : Spassky B.
Leningrad 1974

19.De3!
White only has a minimal edge after
19.Kf1 (20.Kf1 in the actual game)
19...Tc6 20.Df3 Te7 21.Te7 De7 22.Dd5
Td6 the game ended in a draw after 23.Dc5

1.Td8!
The right moment to trade rooks. White
will either invade on the d-file or on the ffile. White also wins after doubling his

FIDE Surveys Jeroen Bosch

rooks with 1.Tfd1 Td2 (1...Sb8 2.Td8 Td8

unespectedly ends in mate after 3.Sh4! (or
3.Se5 fe5 4.Tf1 Tf8 5.De5 Lf6 6.Tf6 Tf6
7.Ld4+-) 3...Td1 4.Lh6 Kh6 5.Df7 Kg5
6.Dg6 Kf4 7.Dg3 Ke4 8.Df3#) 2.Td2 Td8
and now the neat 3.Sh4 Td2 4.Ld2 Lf8
5.Lh6! (5.De8 Df7 6.Dc6+-) 5...Kh6 6.Df6
Kh7 7.Df8+-.
1...Ld8
1...Td8 fails to 2.Se5! Dc7 3.Df7 Kh8
4.De7! (4.Dg6 De5 5.Lf4+-).
2.Td1! Sb8
Protecting the seventh rank. Karpov now
first gains a tempo with:
3.Lc5 Th8
before striking with:
4.Td8!
and Black resigned. If he takes back, White
has 5.Le7. 1:0.
6. Gouma R. : Van Kortenhof H.
Dutch tt 2011
25.Tc1!
25.Td1? Tc8 and Black had equal chances
in the game.
25...Te8
25...Sd4?? fails to 26.De3+-.
26.Dc2 and now White is in full possession
of the open c-file. It is important that Black
still can't take the pawn with:
26...Dd4?
26...Dd8 27.Dc5+- or 27.a4, when White
has
27.Dc8, winning 1:0.

FIDE Surveys Jeroen Bosch

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