soviet chess strategy excerpt

8/2/2019 Soviet Chess Strategy Excerpt

1/9

Chess Classics

Soviet Chess Strategy

By

Alexey Suetin

Quality Chesswww.qualitychess.co.uk


2/9

Contents Key to symbols used & Bibliography 6

Chapter 1: General Questions o Strategy and actics 7

Chapter 2: Te Chess Game as a Unied Process o Struggle 31Te Results o Mobilization: Teir Inuence on the Character o the Middlegame 31Features o the Middlegame Struggle at the Start o the Game 38Te ask o Harmoniously Co-ordinating the Forces its Role in the Opening 38ransition rom Opening to Middlegame: Te Principal ask Involved 43ransition to the Endgame 48Some Other Key Moments in the Chess Struggle 50

Chapter 3: Foundations o Positional Play 55Relative Values o the Pieces 55Open File or a Rook Penetration to the Seventh Rank 56Te Minor Pieces: Teir Values Compared 57Diverse Material Compensation or the Queen 58Compensation or a Rook 62Compensation or a Minor Piece 65Rare ypes o Compensation or Queen or Rook wo Minor Pieces against

Rook and One or wo Pawns 66

Chapter 4: Te Centre ypical Pawn Structures 69Old and New Conceptions o the Centre 69ypical Pawn Structures in the Centre 70Te Open Centre 70Numerical Equality o Pawns in the Centre 71Te Closed Centre 72Fixed Central Pawn Position with Open d-le or e-le 76Mobile Centre with wo Pawns on the Fourth Rank 83One Mobile Pawn in the Centre 85

Te Hanging Pawn Centre 85Te Piece-and-Pawn Centre 86Pawn Weakness in the Centre (accepted in return or good piece-play) 89

Chapter 5: Te Dynamics o the Chess Struggle 99Some General Concepts: a Brie History Lesson 99Some Important Features o the Dynamic Approach 100Te Relation o Logic to Imagination in Chess 107Co-ordination o the Forces 116Te Initiative 132


3/9

Chapter 6: Modern Positional Play 136Te Modern Understanding o Centralization 136Structures with ension in the Centre 136Fluid Situation in the Centre 141Te Centre and Space Crossing the Demarcation Line 143Te Centre and the Flanks 144Pawn Counter-stroke in the Centre 146Pawn Chains Pawn Restraint 147Connected Wing Pawns versus a Central Pair: Te Key Role o Blockading 150Pawn Sacrices 152Weak Square Complexes 155

Chapter 7: Te Attack Afnity between Strategic and actical Methods 159General Concepts 159Dynamic Moments Launching the Assault 160Te Sudden Attacking Coup 160ranserring the Attack to the King 163

Chapter 8: Methods o Deence Switching rom Deence to Attack 167Persistence 168enacity 169Deence and the Elements o Strategy 170Activity the Main Teme o the Deence 171Interrelation between Methods o Attack and Deence 172Switching rom Attack to Deence 173From Deence to Counterattack 173Strategic Aims o actical Operations 175Te Art o Manoeuvring in Balanced Positions 176

Conclusion 180

Appendix: From the Book Te Middlegame in Chess 181Te Initiative 181ransormation o Positional Factors 187Te Concrete Approach to Evaluating a Position 194Middlegame Mastery: Ways o Working to Improve It 210

Dynamics should be Dynamic 227

Game Index 240


4/9

Chapter 1

General Questions oStrategy and Tactics

Te game o chess has many acets. Its attraction lies above all in the inner beauty o its ideas its aesthetics. At the same time the laws o logic are applicable to it which is what constitutesits anity with science. Te development o creative thought in chess, especially since theRenaissance era, vividly demonstrates that chess is an inseparable part o world culture.

By what process do the artistic ideas o chess arise? In what does the logic o chess ndexpression? Tis question, o no small importance, is what we shall illuminate rst and oremost.In this connection let us ponder some widely amiliar and basic chess truths.

In a game of chess the fundamental law of development is struggle. Ater the rst ew moves which

are needed to bring the two opponents orces into contact, a battle is already unolding, in whichthe active means o ghting (a move, a threat, an operation, a plan, etc.) are constantly opposedby various deensive and counter-aggressive measures.

Among the principles on which the chess struggle is ounded, we must include such elementaryconcepts as the scale o relative values o the pieces and pawns, and the ghting qualities and char-acteristics o each piece type. Another important actor is the role o the king in the game.

Te material actor is inseparable rom the various properties o the area where the battle takesplace the chessboard. Depending on its position on the board, and its interaction with otherpieces those on its own side as well as those o the opponent the power o a ghting unit (a

piece or pawn) may noticeably change. Even an inexperienced player cannot help being struck bythe act that the outward contour o the position requently inuences the strength o a particularpiece. Such positional elementsas centralization, strong and weak squares, the character o thepawn structure and so on, are generally amiliar.

As we can easily see, it is in pursuit o the main aim o gaining positional and material assetsthat the battle is ought out. In this process (and here in act is one o the key characteristics othe chess struggle), all the elements I have mentioned are primarily weapons in the ght. Tusin a chess game the distinction between an object o attack and the orces in action is decidedlyrelative. In the course o play it may sometimes happen that an object o attack is instantlytransormed into an active orce.

Te ollowing example is instructive.


5/9

8 Soviet Chess Strategy

Alexander Kotov N. Novotelnov

Moscow 1947

1222222223 + T +l+5Ov+t+oVo5 O +oM +5+ + B +o5 + P + +5+ N Np+ 5

pP + KpP5+ +rR + 579An object o attack has arisen in the white

camp, namely the isolated pawn on d4,against which Black has directed the pressureo his orces. Te most logical move here wasprobably 23...d5, blockading the weakness.However, Black chose a more straightorwardplan.

23...e8 24.c2d6?Te threat o 25...5 looks most unpleasant.

However, Black has overlooked that thed4-pawn is not only an object o attack butalso a ghting unit in his opponents hands.Grasping the opportunity, White rids himselo his weakness.

25.d5!Te pawn sacrices itsel, but the pieces

dramatically gain in activity.

25...exd5 26.xg7 xg7 27.d4!Unlike Black, who orgot about the

principle o blockade, White is rmly blockingthe dangerous passed pawn on d5. It nowbecomes clear that Blacks scattered pawns are

coming under pressure. His position rapidlydeteriorates.

1222222223 + T + +5Ov+t+oLo5

O M + +5+ +o+ +o5 + N + +5+ N +p+ 5pP + KpP5+ +rR + 579

27...6 28.ce2 5 29.4 g7 30.h4e7 31.xe7 xe7 32.e1 d7 33.e56 34.e2 c8 35.d2 a6 36.de2 e737.c3 d4 38.xd4

1222222223 +t+ + +5+v+ L Mo5oO + O +5

+ + + +o5 + R N P5+ N +p+ 5pP + Kp+5+ + + + 579White has regained his pawn while keeping

a large positional plus, which he condentlyproceeded to turn into a win.

In the chess battle the distinction betweenengaged forcesand reservesis also relative.

Naturally, i there is a major disturbance inthe balance o the position, the game ought toend in one players avour. But then we alsoencounter positions where just the slightestadvantage in the interplay o orces creates


6/9

9General Questions o Strategy and actics

realistic conditions or victory. O coursethere are also exceptions such as standardendgames where a material plus proves

insucient to win, or the rare phenomenono so-called positional draws where thestronger side is again unable to exploit itstrumps.

Isaak Boleslavsky Vassily Smyslov

Leningrad 1948

1222222223 + + + +5

+ + +lO 5oMt+ O O5+ + + + 5 + + + +5+ +k+pBp5p+ R P +5+ + + + 579Tere are ew pieces let on the board, and

the position looks drawish. On each wingthe pawns are numerically balanced. But oncareul analysis, Blacks advantage stands out.His kingside pawn position is more elastic,and in this kind o situation the pairing orook and knight works much better than thato rook and bishop.

By bringing his king into play, Black strength-ens his position and proceeds to exploit Whitesweaknesses.

1...c5Te rook heads or a5.

2.b2 d7 3.d4 a5 4.c2 e6 5.c65 6.c7e5 7.c5

White seeks salvation in exchanges. Teollowing powerul move dashes his hopes.

1222222223 + + + +5+ + + O 5

o+ + O O5+ R Ml+ 5 + K + +5T + +pBp5p+ + P +5+ + + + 579

7...a3! 8.xe5 a4! 9.c4Simpliying Blacks task. Ater 9.e3 xe5

10.c2 a3 11.e2 White could still oferprolonged resistance.

9...xe5 10.d5 xa2 11.g4 g5White resigned.

Tis example demonstrates the role o minute,

sometimes barely perceptible, advantages inthe chess struggle.

A game o chess amounts to aprocesso struggle,in which each move alters something morethan the outward aspect o the position. Allthe material and positional elements alreadymentioned are in a state o motion. Tis is whatdenes the role o the move, the unit o timein chess. Timeshould also be counted among

the basic actors o the struggle. I chess can becompared to a lm, the rames o the lm arelike the positions that succeed each other witheach move in the game.

Te concept o a chess position embraces theelements o space, time, the material correla-tion o orces, and also the way the pieces arearranged their mobility, co-ordination andso orth. Tis last actor undoubtedly plays amost important role in the game. Sometimes

you can acquire an advantage in material, intime and in space, but still not win.


7/9


I will give a pair o examples.

1222222223 + + +vT5+ + + +m5 + + +pK5+ + + + 5 + + + +5+ + + + 5 + + + +5L + + + 579

White to move

1222222223l+ + +vW5+ + + +m5 + + +pK5+ + + + 5 + + + +5+ + + + 5 + + + +5+ + + + 579

White to move

In the rst position Black has an overwhelmingmaterial plus, but the co-ordination o hispieces is in disarray. Ater 1.g7 he is orced tocease resistance. In the second position, ater1.g7, Black is still unable to win: 1...xg72.xg7, and White proceeds to pick up one othe minor pieces.

***

A game o chess develops according to theprinciples o strategy and tactics.

Te strategy o chess embraces questionsabout the general co-ordination o the ghtingorces that are employed to achieve the key

aims at a particular stage o the struggle. Tebasis o strategy is aplan a purposeul methodo action. As the art o chess develops, strategicplans are enriched by constantly adoptingnew orms. O course, many new plans laterbecome accepted as standard.

A plan in a game o chess is always oundedon an evaluation o the position rom whichthe plan begins an appraisal o the essentialpeculiarities o that position. Te game plan is

a guideline to be ollowed during the struggle.I the conditions o the struggle alter, so doesthe plan since every change in the position,sometimes even just a minor one, demandsnew strategic decisions.

Planning always accompanies a chess gamerom the rst move to the last, as thoughilluminating its course. Sometimes the strategyo the game stands out in bold relie. At othertimes it becomes, you might say, imperceptible.

Planning recedes into the background whenevertacticsbegin to play the key role. actics is thesecond integral component in the process othe struggle.

I strategy gives a player principles or thegeneral management o his orces, tactics de-mands a concrete approach to the particularposition, the closest possible attention to thespecic details o the conict. As Euwe point-edly observed: Strategy requires deliberation,tactics requires penetrating vision.

actics in chess is the art o ghting. Ittakes account o the ghting qualities andpeculiarities o the pieces, the various waysin which they act together. Te plans a playerhas devised are implemented through tacticaldevices and operations.

Te basis o a tactical operation is a threat (in

the broad sense o the word). Treats can difersharply in character:


8/9

11General Questions o Strategy and actics

a threat to the enemy king a threat to gain a material advantage a threat to gain space and restrict the

mobility o the opponents pieces a threat to exchange the opponentsattacking pieces in order to ease thedeence

and so on. Tis variety is one morereection o the inexhaustible wealth ochess.

Let us look at some examples that illustratetactical devices.

One o the efective tactical ploys is amanoeuvre. It is oten airly concise,consisting o two or three moves. Butmanoeuvres that are several moves long,outwardly striking and memorable, are notinrequent either. Te ollowing example ischaracteristic.

Alexander Alekhine Siegbert Tarrasch

Mannheim 1914

1222222223t+v+l+ T5+o+mWo+o5o+ O Mo+5P +p+ + 5

Pb+o+ +5+ P Pn+ 5 + N +pP5R + QrK 579

20.g5!Tere might seem to be more point in

immediately directing the knight to d4 (where

it will be very actively placed) but Alekhineis in no hurry to do so. He will only occupy

d4 ater a ew more moves. His knight istravelling along the route 3-g5-h3-4-e2-d4.Te idea o this remarkable manoeuvre is that

by means o a combinative attack against e4,White rst wants to induce a weakening oBlacks pawn position and thus gain control othe 5-square.

20...h620...e5 is strongly answered by 21.b3!

5 22.a4 8 23.c2!.

21.h3 e5 22.c1g4 23.4!

Te knight continues on its way.

23...g5 24.h3 g6 25.e2 xd5 26.xd5xd5

1222222223t+v+l+ T5+o+m+o+ 5o+ O + O5

P +w+ O 5 P +o+ +5+ P P +p5 + Nn+p+5+ R QrK 579

27.d4!

Te manoeuvre is completed. Te possibilityo invading the kingside with the knight via 5decides the outcome o the game.

27...e5 28.c4 d5 29.5! 830.xd6

White soon won.

Frequently a useul tactical ploy or improvingyour position is exchanging your opponents

important pieces. Te ollowing example isnoteworthy.


9/9


Mikhail Botvinnik N. Sorokin

Moscow 1931

1222222223t+v+ Tl+5+o+ +oO 5oM + M O5+ W O + 5p+ +p+ +5+ N +n+ 5

bP RqPpP5+ +r+ K 579In this case it is simplication that enables

White to improve his position urther.

20.e3! xe3 21.xe3 g4 22.a5 c823.c1x3 24.gx3e7 25.d5!

Te exchanges increase Whites superiority,making it easier or him to break through tothe seventh rank with his rooks.

25...c625...xd5 could be answered either by

26.exd5 or 26.xd5xd5 27.xd5.

26.x6 gx6 27.d7 ab8

1222222223

T + Tl+5+o+r+o+ 5o+m+ O O5P + O + 5 + +p+ +5+ + Pp+ 5bP + + P5+ R + K 579

28.2! xa5 29.cc7 bc8 30.x7 xc731.xc7h8 32.d5!

White won easily.

O course, among the range o tacticalprocedures, the most powerul and efectiveis a combination, which introduces an elemento aesthetics and art into chess and lends it itspeculiar attraction. Te combination usuallyinvolves a sacrice o material.

Efm Bogoljubow Alexander Alekhine

Hastings 1922

1222222223t+ +wT L5+ Ov+ O 5 + + M O5Ro+ +o+ 5 +pPoP P5+ QmP P 5

+ N +r+5+ +n+ Kb579Alekhine nds an exceptionally beautiul

combination, drastically changing the courseo the struggle to his own benet.

29...b4! 30.xa8 bxc3! 31.xe8 c2!!

1222222223 + +rT L5+ Ov+ O 5 + + M O5+ + +o+ 5 +pPoP P5+ +mP P 5

+oN +r+5+ +n+ Kb579

soviet chess strategy excerpt

Documents