The central squares
The central squares and those immediately surrounding them are of particular importance. The “center” of the board consists of the four squares: d4, e4, d5, e5. It is natural that these boxes are extremely important. Any piece placed in the center of the board has a greater chance of acting and is easily transferred to either wing. Sometimes it is spoken of a “widened center”, taking into account the square delimited by boxes c3, f3, c6 and f6. The pieces placed in the squares next to the center also have an active position and press on the center. We will examine the position of the game Ortega, R – Kortschnoj, V 0-1 of the International Tournament Memorial Capablanca, in Havana, 1963.
[Event "Havana Capablanca-mem"]
[Site "Havana"]
[Date "1963.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Ortega, Rogelio"]
[Black "Kortschnoj, Viktor Lvovch"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B44"]
[Annotator "Sokolsky,Alexey P"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "1963.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "21"]
[EventCountry "CUB"]
[Source "Inforchess"]
[SourceDate "2003.09.15"]
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e6 5. Be2 Nf6 6. Nxc6 bxc6 7. Bd3 d5 8.
exd5 cxd5 9. O-O Bd6 (9... Be7 $145 10. Nd2 (10. c4 d4 11. Bf4 O-O 12. Be5 Bd6
13. Bg3 Bxg3 14. hxg3 Rb8 15. b3 e5 16. Nd2 Ng4 17. Be2 Nh6 18. Bf3 Bb7 19. Re1
Re8 20. c5 Bxf3 21. gxf3 Qd5 22. Rc1 f5 23. Qc2 Qc6 24. a3 Kh8 25. b4 Rbd8 26.
Qd3 a6 27. Re2 g6 28. Rce1 Nf7 29. Qb3 Kg7 30. Qd3 h5 31. Nc4 Ng5 32. Nd2 Qf6
33. f4 Nf7 34. fxe5 Rxe5 35. Nf3 Rxe2 36. Rxe2 f4 37. Re4 fxg3 38. fxg3 Ng5 39.
Nxg5 Qxg5 40. Kh2 Qf6 41. Rf4 Qe5 42. a4 Qd5 43. Rf2 a5 44. bxa5 {1/2-1/2
Hajek Miroslav-Chloupek,S/ch CSS Prague Czech Republic 1993}) 10... O-O 11. Qe2
Bb7 12. Nf3 Nd7 13. b4 Bf6 14. Rb1 e5 15. Ba6 Bxa6 16. Qxa6 Qc7 17. Ne1 e4 18.
Rb3 Bc3 19. Qe2 Rac8 20. Bd2 Bxd2 21. Qxd2 Nb6 22. Rg3 f5 23. f3 Qe5 24. fxe4
fxe4 25. Qg5 Qd4+ 26. Qe3 Rxf1+ 27. Kxf1 Rf8+ 28. Ke2 Qf6 29. c3 g6 30. Qg5 Qf7
31. h4 d4 32. cxd4 Qxa2+ 33. Kd1 Qa1+ 34. Ke2 Qb2+ 35. Kd1 Qxd4+ 36. Ke2 {0-1
Nystrom Leif-Rantala Jyrki/JYVASKYLA HOF 1991}) 10. Nd2 O-O 11. Re1 e5 12. Nf1
e4 13. Be2 d4 {Kortchnoi advanced his central pawns, restricted with them the movement of the opponent’s pieces and conquered space for his own.} 14. Ng3 Qa5 15. Bd2 Qd5 {Black’s queen occupies the important space d5.} 16. Qc1 Bb7 {Excellent location have the minor pieces of the second player, those who cooperate harmoniously with each other.} 17. Bf4 d3 $1 {Taking advantage of his positional advantage, Kortchnoi goes on the decisive offensive.} 18.
cxd3 e3 $1 {With this maneuver, Black opened the large diagonal and created
mate threats.} 19. Bf3 exf2+ 20. Kxf2 Ng4+ 21. Kg1 ({Of course, you can’t} 21. Bxg4 {by} Qxg2+ 22. Ke3 Bxf4+ 23. Kxf4 Qf2+ 24. Kg5 Qf6+ 25. Kh5 g6+ 26. Kh6 g5+ 27. Kh5 Qg6#) 21... Qd4+ 22. Be3 ({After} 22. Kh1 {the white king receives “mate by drowning”:} Nf2+ 23. Kg1 Nh3+ 24. Kh1 Qg1+ $1 25. Rxg1
Nf2#) 22... Nxe3 23. Qxe3 Qxe3+ 24. Rxe3 Bc5 {Now the first player loses quality. Using his material advantage, Kortchnoi achieves victory easily.} 25. Bxb7 Bxe3+ 26. Kh1 Rab8 27. Bf3 Rxb2 28. Nf5 Bc5 29. d4 Ba3
30. h4 Rd8 31. d5 g6 32. Ne3 Rb4 33. Ng4 h5 34. Nh2 Rxh4 35. g3 Rd4 36. Rb1 Rc8
37. Rb3 Rd2 38. Nf1 Rc1 {Of course, the occupation of all the central squares and the creation of positions similar to the one examined are possible. only thanks to the opponent’s omissions. Normally, the fight for dominance of the center collides with the obstacles set by the opponent. The conquest of the entire center is achieved only very rarely. As a general rule, one should focus on obtaining one or two central squares. Very important for White is the occupation of space d5 or e5, since the pieces located at these points restrict the opponent’s game. Less active is the occupation by the first player of squares d4 or e4. There are fewer reasons for Black to be able to occupy either d4 or e4. Since the play of the second player in the opening is rather defensive, the fortification of one of the d5 or e5 squares will be sufficient to preserve equality.} 0-1
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White’s dominance of the d5 square . Botvinnik completed the conquest of the central square d5 with special mastery. Let’s get to a position of the game Botvinnik, M – Lilienthal, A 1-0 (Moscow 1936).
[Event "Moscow it"]
[Site "Moscow"]
[Date "1936.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Botvinnik, Mikhail M"]
[Black "Lilienthal, Andrei A"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A30"]
[Annotator "Sokolsky,Alexey P"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "1936.05.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[Source "Inforchess"]
[SourceDate "2003.09.15"]
1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 b6 3. g3 Bb7 4. Bg2 c5 5. O-O g6 6. d4 cxd4 7. Nxd4 Bxg2 8.
Kxg2 Bg7 9. Nc3 O-O 10. e4 Nc6 11. Be3 Qc8 12. b3 Qb7 13. f3 Rfd8 (13... Rad8
$145 14. Rc1 Rc8 15. Qd2 Rfd8 16. Rfd1 d6 17. Nd5 Nxd5 18. cxd5 Nxd4 19. Bxd4
Rxc1 20. Rxc1 Rc8 21. Bxg7 Kxg7 22. Rc2 Rc5 23. b4 Rxc2 24. Qxc2 Qa6 25. a4 h5
26. Kf2 Qb7 27. b5 a6 28. Qc6 Qa7 29. Ke3 axb5 30. Qxb5 Qc7 31. Qc6 Qa7 32. Kd3
Qa5 33. Qc3+ f6 34. Qxa5 bxa5 {1-0 Tyni,J-Tornroos,J/Turku SS 1990}) (13...
Rfe8 $145 14. Rc1 Rad8 15. Qd2 d6 16. Nxc6 Qxc6 17. Rfd1 Rc8 18. Bd4 Qb7 19.
Qe3 e5 20. Nb5 exd4 21. Rxd4 Ng4 22. fxg4 Bxd4 23. Nxd4 Qxe4+ 24. Qxe4 Rxe4 25.
Rd1 Rxg4 26. Nb5 a6 27. Nxd6 Rd8 28. Rd5 h6 29. h4 Kf8 30. Kf3 h5 31. Ne4 Rxd5
32. cxd5 f5 33. Nf6 Rb4 34. Nd7+ Kg7 35. Ke3 Re4+ 36. Kf3 b5 37. Nc5 Rd4 38.
Nxa6 Rxd5 39. Nc7 Rd3+ 40. Kf4 b4 41. Na6 Kf6 42. Nc5 Rd5 43. Na6 Rd4+ 44. Ke3
Rg4 45. Kf3 f4 46. Nxb4 Kf5 47. Nd5 Rxg3+ 48. Kf2 Rd3 49. Ne7+ Kg4 50. Nxg6
Rd2+ 51. Ke1 Rxa2 52. b4 Kg3 {0-1 Becker,M-Stelzer,H/2.BLSW 1990}) (13... Nh5
14. Rc1 f5 15. exf5 gxf5 16. Nde2 Rf7 17. Qd2 Raf8 18. Rcd1 Ne5 19. Qd5 Qb8 20.
Nf4 Nf6 21. Qd2 Ng6 22. Rfe1 Qb7 23. Ncd5 e6 24. Nxf6+ Bxf6 25. a4 Ne5 26. Qe2
Ng6 27. Rd3 e5 28. Nd5 f4 29. Bf2 fxg3 30. hxg3 Rg7 31. Qe4 Qc8 32. Be3 Nf4+
33. Nxf4 exf4 34. Bxf4 Re7 35. Qd5+ Ref7 36. Re4 Kh8 37. Be5 d6 38. Bf4 Bg7 39.
Qxd6 Qf5 40. Qe6 Qc5 41. Be5 Qa3 42. Bxg7+ Rxg7 43. Qd6 {1-0 Adamski,
J-Prochownik,F/Zielona Gora POL-31ch 1974}) 14. Rc1 Rac8 15. Qd2 a6 16. Rfd1
Nxd4 17. Bxd4 d6 18. a4 Ne8 19. Nd5 {This distribution of White’s figures and pawns is highly harmonic. On the d5 box, which is part of a semi-open column, the knight was affirmed. He could be evicted with the advance … e6, but that would lead to the appearance of a weak pawn in Black’s field (d6 pawn). The development of the game continued in this way:} Rc6 20. Bxg7 Nxg7 21. h4 Re8 22. Rc3 Nh5 23. Qd4 {White’s superiority in the center is quite evident. Black cannot obtain any counterplay. The break hatched by them would result in the opening of column “c”, which is suitable only for the first player.} b5 24. cxb5 axb5
25. Rdc1 $1 Rxc3 ({Attempting to retain column “c” would lead to immediate and certain defeat:} 25... Rec8 $4 26. Rxc6 Rxc6 27. Rxc6 Qxc6 28.
Nxe7+ {And the decisive blow would be given by the horse located in the center.}) 26. Rxc3
bxa4 27. Rc7 $1 Qb5 ({After} 27... Qxb3 $2 {Black receives mate:} 28.
Nxe7+ Rxe7 29. Rc8+ Re8 30. Rxe8#) 28. bxa4 $1 Qe2+ 29. Qf2 Qxf2+ 30. Kxf2 e6 (
{It can not} 30... Ra8 {because} 31. Rc8+ Rxc8 32. Nxe7+ {etc.}) 31. Nb6 Nf6 32.
a5 Rb8 33. Rc8+ Rxc8 34. Nxc8 Ne8 35. a6 Nc7 36. a7 Na8 37. Nxd6 Kf8 38. e5 Ke7
39. Ke3 f6 40. Kf4 h6 41. Nc8+ Kf7 42. Ke4 Kg7 43. Kd4 Nc7 44. Kc5 1-0
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Such a scheme of the distribution of the white forces (as we have seen in the Botvinnik-Lilienthal game, previously commented) is carried out in many cases and in different openings under the condition of a somewhat passive game by Black. Let’s see an example: Sokolsky, A – Strugach 1-0 (Championship of Belarus, 1959).
[Event "Bielorrusia-ch"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1959.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Sokolsky, Alexey P"]
[Black "Strugach"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B39"]
[Annotator "Sokolsky,Alexey P"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1959.??.??"]
[Source "Inforchess"]
[SourceDate "2003.09.15"]
1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 g6 5. e4 {By transposition of plays, the Veresov-Simagin -Variante Maroczy- Variation in the Sicilian Defense was reached.} Bg7 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Nc3 Ng4 8. Qxg4 Nxd4 9. Qd1 Ne6 10. Qd2 Qa5 11.
Rc1 b6 12. Be2 Bb7 13. f3 d6 14. O-O g5 {With this move Black wants to secure the location of his bishop in space e5.} 15. Rfd1 Be5 16. Nd5 $1 {White’s desired structure is taking shape.} (16. b3 Bf4
17. Nd5 Qxd2 18. Bxd2 Bxd2 19. Rxd2 f6 20. Kf2 Kf7 21. Ke3 Rac8 22. Rdc2 h5 23.
Bf1 Ng7 24. Bd3 e5 25. Nc3 Rhd8 26. Rd2 h4 27. Bf1 Bc6 28. Rcd1 Ke7 29. g3 hxg3
30. hxg3 g4 31. f4 Nh5 32. Be2 Rg8 33. Rxd6 Nxg3 34. f5 Nh5 35. Re6+ Kf8 36.
Rg1 Bd7 37. Rd6 Ke7 38. Rdd1 Nf4 39. Rxg4 Rxg4 40. Bxg4 b5 41. Nd5+ Nxd5+ 42.
cxd5 Rc2 43. d6+ Kf8 44. Rh1 Rc3+ 45. Kf2 Rc6 46. Rh8+ Kg7 47. Ra8 a6 48. Ke3
Rxd6 49. Bh5 Kh6 50. Bg6 b4 51. Bf7 Bb5 52. Bd5 Rd7 53. Kf3 Rg7 54. Rf8 Kg5 55.
Ke3 Rc7 56. Rg8+ Kh4 57. Rg6 Rc3+ 58. Kd2 Rd3+ 59. Kc1 Rf3 60. Rxf6 Rf1+ 61.
Kd2 Kg4 {1/2-1/2 Gligoric,S-Larsen,B/Dallas 1957/CHECK99 (61)}) 16... Qxd2 {The coordinated actions of white pieces, harmoniously located, unlike black’s disconnected forces, promise white good prospects. The second player decides to change the checkers in order to better defend himself.} ({Taking the a2 pawn is dangerous. After} 16...
Qxa2 $6 17. Rc2 ({or well} 17. c5 $1 {several strong threats arise for the black king.}) ({After Sokolsky suggested this variant, the following game was played:} 17. Rc2 Rc8 18. Rdc1 Qa4 19. b4 Qd7 20. g3 Rg8 21. Bf1 h5
22. Kh1 Bh8 23. Ra2 Ba8 24. Qd1 g4 25. Qa4 Qxa4 26. Rxa4 Bd4 27. Rxa7 Bxe3 28.
Nxe3 gxf3 29. Nd5 Rg4 30. Nxb6 {1-0 Ree,H-Mestel,J/Elvetham Hall tt 1977})) 17.
Rxd2 h6 (17... Bf4 $145 18. Nxf4 gxf4 19. Bf2 Rg8 20. b4 Rg5 21. Rc3 f6 22. Rb2
Rc8 23. Ra3 Ra8 24. Bd1 Nd8 25. Be1 Nc6 26. Bd2 Ne5 27. Be2 Ng6 28. g4 h5 29.
h3 hxg4 30. hxg4 e6 31. Kf2 a6 32. Rb1 f5 33. exf5 exf5 34. gxf5 Nh4 35. Rh1
Rh5 36. Bxf4 Kf7 37. Rd3 Re8 38. Bg3 Nxf5 39. Rxh5 Rxe2+ 40. Kxe2 Nxg3+ 41. Ke3
Nxh5 42. Rxd6 Nf6 43. Rxb6 Bc8 44. Rc6 Be6 45. Kd4 {1-0 Ree,H-Van Den Berg,A/
NED tt 1973}) (17... Rc8 18. b4 Nf4 19. Nxf4 Bxf4 20. Bxf4 gxf4 21. c5 O-O 22.
Rdc2 bxc5 23. bxc5 dxc5 24. Rxc5 e6 25. g3 fxg3 26. hxg3 Kg7 27. Kf2 Rxc5 28.
Rxc5 Rc8 29. Ra5 a6 30. Ke3 f6 31. Ra4 e5 32. Bxa6 Bxa6 33. Rxa6 Rc3+ 34. Ke2
h5 35. Rd6 Ra3 36. Rd2 Kg6 37. Kf2 Kg5 38. Kg2 Rc3 39. Rf2 Re3 40. Kh3 Ra3 41.
Kg2 Re3 42. Kg1 Kg6 43. Kg2 Kg5 {1/2-1/2 Gufeld,E-Kapengut,A/ch Armed Forces
Moscow RUS 1966}) 18. b4 $1 {The mobility of pawns in the queen wing: here is the “trump card” in the hands of the first player. Black has no plan for a successful counterplay. It is not seen where they could try an advantageous column opening.} Rc8 19. a4 {With the idea of Ra2 followed by a5.} Bxd5 {The answer to any other move will be Ra2, followed by a5.} 20. exd5 Bf4 21. Kf2 Bxe3+ 22. Kxe3 {The centralized king is an advantage for White.} Nf4 23. Bf1 Ng6 24. Ra2 Kd7 25. a5 bxa5 26. Rxa5
Rc7 27. Rca1 Rb8 28. R1a4 Kd8 29. c5 $1 dxc5 30. bxc5 Rb1 31. Bd3 Rb3 32. Kd4
Nf4 33. Bc4 Rb2 34. Rb5 Ne2+ ({In case of} 34... Rxb5 35. Bxb5 Nxg2 36. d6 exd6
37. cxd6 Rb7 38. Bc6 Rb6 39. Kc5 $18) ({Also if} 34... Rxg2 35. Rb8+ Rc8 36.
Rxc8+ Kxc8 37. Rxa7 $18 {White wins without much effort.}) 35. Bxe2 Rxe2
36. Rb8+ Rc8 37. Rxc8+ Kxc8 38. Rxa7 Kb8 39. Rd7 Kc8 40. c6 f6 41. g3 {And White won the final.} 1-0
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Petrosian (white) took advantage of the d5 square for his pieces in the match against Kozma, played at the XIII Olympiad in 1958. Opening Peón Dama. Petrosian, T – Kozma, J 1-0.
[Event "Munich ol-13"]
[Site "Munich"]
[Date "1958.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Petrosian, Tigran V"]
[Black "Kozma, Julius"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A46"]
[Annotator "Sokolsky,Alexey P"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "1958.??.??"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[Source "Inforchess"]
[SourceDate "2003.09.15"]
1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. Bg5 c5 4. e3 b6 $2 5. d5 $1 exd5 6. Nc3 Bb7 7. Nxd5 Bxd5
{White pieces now take over d5 square permanently.} ({Better game gave} 7... Be7) 8. Bxf6 Qxf6 9. Qxd5 Nc6 ({It is tempting} 9... Qxb2 $2 {but after} 10. Rd1 $1 Qb4+ 11. c3 $1 Qxc3+ 12. Rd2 Qc1+ 13. Ke2 {the loss of the tower is suffered.}) 10. Bc4 {Immediate long castling is also possible. Let’s see:} (10. O-O-O $145 Rd8 11. Bb5 Be7 12. Bxc6 dxc6 13. Qe5
O-O 14. c3 (14. Rxd8 Rxd8 15. Rd1 Rxd1+ 16. Kxd1 Qd6+ 17. Ke2 f6 18. Qe4 g6 19.
Ne1 f5 20. Qa4 Qd7 21. Qb3+ Kg7 22. Nd3 Bf6 23. c3 g5 24. Qa4 Kg6 25. h3 b5 26.
Qa6 c4 27. Nb4 c5 28. Qc6 Qxc6 29. Nxc6 a6 30. Nb8 a5 31. Nd7 Be7 32. Ne5+ Kf6
33. Nc6 Bd6 34. a4 Bc7 35. axb5 Ke6 36. g4 fxg4 37. hxg4 a4 38. Kf3 Kd5 39. e4+
Kd6 40. e5+ Kd5 41. Ke3 h6 42. f4 gxf4+ 43. Kxf4 Ke6 44. Kg3 {1-0 Bronstein,
D-Foguelman,A/Mar del Plata 1960}) 14... h6 15. Rxd8 Rxd8 16. Rd1 Rxd1+ 17.
Kxd1 Qd6+ 18. Qxd6 Bxd6 19. c4 Kf8 20. Nh4 Be5 21. b3 g6 22. f4 Bf6 23. Nf3 h5
24. Kd2 Ke7 25. Kd3 Bb2 26. e4 f6 27. e5 f5 28. g3 b5 29. Kc2 Ba1 30. Kd3 Bb2
31. Ke2 Bc3 32. Kf1 Ba5 33. Ne1 Bb6 34. Nd3 a5 35. a4 b4 36. Kg2 Ke6 37. Kf3
Ba7 38. h3 Bb6 39. g4 hxg4+ 40. hxg4 Kf7 41. Kg3 Ke6 42. Ne1 Bc7 43. Nf3 Bd8
44. Nh4 fxg4 45. Nxg6 Kf5 46. Nh8 {1-0 Cejtlin,M-Damjanovic/Prague 1983}) 10...
Be7 11. O-O-O Rd8 {As a consequence of the opening, White took over
from point “d5” and created pressure via the semi-open column “d”. Black has a weakness here: a backward pawn.} 12. Rd2 (12. a3 $145 O-O 13. h4 Qe6 14. h5 Na5 15. Ba2 Bf6 16. Kb1 Nc6 17. e4 Qxd5 18. Bxd5 b5 19. Rhe1
a5 20. e5 Be7 21. Re2 a4 22. Red2 Rc8 23. Be4 Nb8 24. Bf5 Rfd8 25. Bxd7 Nxd7
26. Rxd7 Kf8 27. Kc1 Rxd7 28. Rxd7 Rb8 29. Ra7 Ke8 30. c4 b4 31. Rxa4 Kd7 32.
b3 Ke6 33. Ra6+ Kf5 34. a4 g5 35. hxg6 hxg6 36. Ra7 Re8 37. Rd7 g5 38. Rd5 g4
39. Ne1 Bg5+ 40. Kc2 Rxe5 41. Rxe5+ Kxe5 42. f3 f5 43. fxg4 fxg4 44. Nd3+ Kd4
45. a5 {1-0 Wagenaar,H-Nielsen,R/7th NATO Viborg DEN 1996}) 12... O-O 13. c3
Na5 14. Be2 Qe6 {Black tries to decrease the pressure of the enemy by changing pieces. White, of course, does not accept changes in space e6, but allows the checkers to be changed on d5, where hers will be replaced by the white rook.} 15. Rhd1 Qxd5 16. Rxd5 d6 17. Nd2 $1 f5 {Black is forced to weaken his position by defending himself against the Ne4 threat.} 18. f4 g6 19. g3 Rf6 20. e4 fxe4 21. Nxe4 Re6 22. Bf3 Kg7 23. b3 Nc6 24. R5d3
Nb8 25. Nf2 h5 26. Kd2 Bf8 27. Bd5 $1 Re7 28. Ne4 {Comparing the distribution of pieces on either side, undoubted preference must be given to White. Excellent location in the center is the bishop on d5 and the knight on e4. In column “d” the first player’s rooks unequivocally threaten to fall on d6’s weak pawn. To make matters worse, White has a strong threat: Ne4-Ng5-Ne6 +. The second player has to defend against this threat, and is doing so by moving his knight to c7.} Na6 29. Ke3 Nc7
30. Kf3 Nxd5 31. Rxd5 {It is interesting to note that White’s pawn, knight, queen, bishop and white’s rook have passed over this key square d5. Black’s position is already lost. Advancing with the pawns on the king’s wing, Petrosian easily achieves victory.} Rde8 32.
Re1 Re6 33. Re2 b5 34. h3 a5 35. g4 hxg4+ 36. hxg4 Be7 37. f5 Re5 38. Rxe5 dxe5
39. Rd2 Rf8 $2 40. Rd7 Rf7 41. Rxe7 $1 {Black abandoned.} (41. Rxe7 {If}
Rxe7 {then} 42. f6+) 1-0
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Black domination of the d4 space . For black, box d4 is of equal importance to box d5 for white. But Black has a harder time pinning down his dominance, and they only do so sometimes by taking advantage of an inaccurate play by White in the opening. In the game Beni, A – Tal, M 0-1 (XIII Olympiad, Munich 1958).
[Event "Munich ol-13"]
[Site "Munich"]
[Date "1958.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Beni, Alfred"]
[Black "Tal, Mikhail N"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B20"]
[Annotator "Sokolsky,Alexey P"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "1958.??.??"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[Source "Inforchess"]
[SourceDate "2003.09.15"]
1. e4 c5 2. c4 {This order of plays is rarely chosen. It is obvious that point d4 can be a source of problems, and it will have to be defended against the invasion of black pieces. However, with careful enough play, a square can be defended from the opposite conquest as long as it is not in an open column.} Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. d3 e6 5. f4 (5. Nf3 $142
) {Now comes the second player’s counterattack in the middle.} 5... d5 6. e5
Ng8 ({In more recent examples, Black has chosen to} 6... d4 {Let’s see some examples:} 7. Nb5 $145 (7. Nb1 Ng8 8. g3 b6 (8... Nge7 9. Nd2 Qa5 10.
Kf2 Nf5 11. Ne4 Be7 12. Nf3 Bd7 13. Bg2 O-O 14. g4 Nh6 15. g5 Nf5 16. Bh3 f6
17. gxf6 gxf6 18. exf6 Bxf6 19. Rg1+ Kh8 20. Nfg5 Qd8 21. Nxh7 Bh4+ 22. Kf1 Rf7
23. Neg5 Bxg5 24. Nxg5 Rg7 25. Qh5+ Kg8 26. Bd2 Qf8 27. Kf2 Re8 28. Ne4 Ree7
29. Nxc5 Ne3 30. Nxe6 Qf6 31. Nxg7 Qxf4+ 32. Qf3 Qxh2+ 33. Rg2 Nxg2 34. Qxg2
Qxh3 35. Qxh3 Bxh3 36. Nh5 Rf7+ 37. Nf4 Bf5 38. Rg1+ Kf8 39. Ke2 Ke8 40. Kd1
Kd7 41. Re1 a5 42. Kc2 Re7 43. Rh1 Rh7 44. Rg1 Rh2 45. Rg5 Nb4+ 46. Kb3 Rxd2
47. Rxf5 b6 48. a3 Nxd3 49. Nxd3 Rxd3+ 50. Kc2 Rh3 51. Rd5+ Kc6 52. Rxd4 b5 53.
Rd3 Rh4 54. cxb5+ Kxb5 55. Rd5+ Kb6 56. Kb3 Rg4 57. a4 Rb4+ 58. Ka3 Rh4 59.
Rd6+ Kb7 60. Rg6 Rf4 61. Rg2 Kb6 62. b3 Rf3 63. Kb2 Rh3 64. Kc2 Rf3 65. Rg6+
Kb7 66. Rd6 Rh3 67. Rd3 Rh4 68. Kc3 Kc6 69. Rg3 Rf4 70. Rg6+ Kb7 71. Rd6 Kc7
72. Rd4 Rxd4 {1/2-1/2 Dias,P-Sanz Alonso,F/ Loures POR 1997}) 9. Bg2 Bb7 10.
Nf3 Nh6 11. O-O Nf5 12. Qe2 h5 13. Ng5 Qd7 14. Bf3 g6 15. Nd2 Be7 16. Nde4 Kf8
17. Bd2 Rd8 18. Rad1 Nb4 19. Bxb4 cxb4 20. Rc1 Kg7 21. Nf6 Bxf3 22. Rxf3 Qc6
23. Nge4 Ne3 24. Rf2 Nd5 25. Nxd5 Rxd5 26. Qf1 Rd7 27. b3 a5 28. Re1 a4 29. Qe2
axb3 30. axb3 Ra7 31. Qf3 Rha8 32. Kg2 Ra1 33. Rxa1 Rxa1 34. h3 Qa8 35. Nd2
Qxf3+ 36. Kxf3 f5 37. exf6+ Bxf6 38. Rf1 Ra2 39. Rd1 Kf7 40. Ne4 Rb2 41. Ra1
Rxb3 42. Ra7+ Be7 43. Ng5+ Ke8 44. Ra8+ Kd7 45. Ra7+ Ke8 46. Ke4 Bxg5 47. fxg5
Rb1 48. Rb7 Rg1 49. Rxb6 Ke7 50. Rxb4 Rxg3 51. Kxd4 Rxg5 52. c5 Rg3 53. Rb7+
Kd8 54. Rg7 g5 55. Ke4 Rxh3 56. Rxg5 Ke7 57. d4 Rh1 58. Rg7+ Kf6 59. Rg2 h4 60.
Rf2+ Ke7 61. Kf3 Rd1 62. Ke3 Rh1 63. Kf3 {1/2-1/2 Pupols,V-Graves John/NWC May
1992}) 7... Ng8 8. g3 a6 9. Na3 Nge7 10. Bg2 Nf5 11. Nc2 Bd7 12. Nf3 Be7 13.
O-O O-O 14. a3 b5 15. Bd2 bxc4 16. dxc4 Rb8 17. Rb1 Na5 18. g4 Nh6 19. Bxa5
Qxa5 20. h3 Ba4 21. Qe1 Qd8 22. Na1 Kh8 23. b3 Bc6 24. Nc2 Qc7 25. Qe2 Rfd8 26.
Nce1 Qa5 27. Nd3 Qxa3 28. Nd2 Bxg2 29. Ra1 Bxf1 30. Qxf1 Rxb3 31. Rxa3 Rxa3 32.
Qb1 Ng8 33. g5 Rc8 34. h4 Rc3 35. h5 a5 36. Ne4 Rxc4 37. Nd6 Bxd6 38. exd6 f6
39. Qb7 Rf8 40. g6 Rc3 41. Nf2 hxg6 42. hxg6 Rg3+ 43. Kf1 Rxg6 44. d7 e5 45.
Qc8 Rxc8 46. dxc8=Q exf4 47. Qxc5 Rg5 48. Qxd4 Rf5 49. Ne4 Nh6 50. Nd6 Rg5 51.
Qxf4 Kh7 52. Qe4+ Kg8 53. Qe8+ Kh7 54. Qe4+ Kg8 55. Nc8 Rf5+ {1/2-1/2 Szilagyi,
S-Csete Szemesi,A/tt-HUN2 Debrecen-Nyi 1994}) 7. Nf3 Nge7 {The black knight sets out on the journey to “d4”.} 8. Be2 Nf5 9. O-O Be7 10. Qe1 O-O 11. Nd1 dxc4
12. dxc4 Nb4 13. Qc3 Nd4 $1 $36 {In this way, Black occupied square d4 and seized the initiative.} 14. Bd3 ({If white plays}
14. Nxd4 {then follow} cxd4 15. Qd2 (15. Qb3 d3 $1 16. Bf3 d2 {with gain of one piece}) 15... d3 16. Bf3 Qd4+ $1 17. Ne3 Nc2 18. Rb1 Bc5 {etc.}) 14...
b5 $1 {The purpose of the pawn sacrifice is to conquer the “d4” space for the knight and develop the queen bishop along the large diagonal.} 15. cxb5 Bb7 16.
Bc4 Nd5 17. Qd2 Nb6 {It is to observe the activity of black horses.} 18.
Be2 Qc7 19. Nxd4 {The change is obviously forced but now the free queen pawn appears, whose advance is extremely dangerous.} cxd4 20. Bd3 Nd5 21. a3
a6 22. Qe2 axb5 23. Bxb5 Qb6 24. Kh1 Nb4 25. a4 d3 26. Qg4 Nc2 27. Rb1 Rfd8 28.
Bd2 Qd4 29. Bc3 Qd5 30. Rf3 d2 31. f5 exf5 32. Qxf5 Ne1 33. Rg3 ({If white played} 33. Ne3 {Tal intended to sacrifice the queen in this way:}
Qxf3 $3 34. gxf3 Nxf3 {with decisive threats}) 33... Nxg2 34. Kg1 Bc5+ 35. Kf1
Nf4 36. Rxg7+ Kf8 37. Qxf4 Qh1+ 38. Ke2 Qe1# 0-1
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The first player greatly weakened the d4 box in the opening. By occupying a square in the center, make sure that the piece can be kept in it. With special care every pawn movement must be meditated. Isn’t this giving a strategically important space to the enemy? Let’s see the position that was reached in the game Petrosian, T – Bronstein, D 0-1 (Amsterdam, 1956).
[Event "Amsterdam ct"]
[Site "Amsterdam"]
[Date "1956.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Petrosian, Tigran V"]
[Black "Bronstein, David Ionovich"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E65"]
[Annotator "Sokolsky,Alexey P"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "1956.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "18"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[Source "Inforchess"]
[SourceDate "2003.09.15"]
1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 O-O 5. Nf3 c5 6. O-O Nc6 7. d4 d6 8. dxc5
dxc5 9. Be3 Nd7 10. Qc1 {In this position Black fell into the temptation to occupy the “d4” space with the knight, despite the fact that, sooner or later, White’s driver would move him advancing the pawn to e3. This caused the second player great difficulties.} Nd4 $2 (10... b6
$142 {is better}) ({One year after playing the game we are examining,
it was experienced:} 10... Qa5 $145 11. Bh6 Nf6 12. Nd5 Bg4 13. Bxg7 Kxg7 14. Qe3
Bxf3 15. Bxf3 Rfe8 16. Rfc1 Rac8 17. a3 Nxd5 18. Bxd5 Qb6 19. Qc3+ Kg8 20. e3
Red8 21. Rab1 Rd7 22. h4 h5 23. b4 Rcd8 24. Be4 cxb4 25. axb4 Qc7 26. b5 Ne5
27. c5 Nd3 28. b6 Nxc1 29. bxc7 Ne2+ 30. Kg2 Nxc3 31. cxd8=Q+ Rxd8 32. Rb4 Nxe4
33. Rxe4 Kf8 34. Ra4 a6 35. c6 bxc6 36. Rxa6 Rc8 37. Kf3 f6 38. Ke4 Kf7 39. Kd4
Rd8+ 40. Kc3 Rd6 41. Kc2 Ke6 42. Ra4 Rd5 43. Ra6 Rf5 44. f4 Kd6 45. Ra8 g5 46.
hxg5 fxg5 47. Kd3 Rb5 48. Rh8 g4 49. Ke4 Rb4+ 50. Kd3 Rb2 51. Rxh5 Rg2 52. Rh6+
Kd7 53. Kd4 Rxg3 54. e4 Rg1 55. f5 g3 56. Rg6 g2 57. Ke5 Ke8 58. Ke6 Kf8 59. e5
c5 60. f6 exf6 61. Rxf6+ Ke8 62. Rf2 Kd8 63. Rd2+ Kc7 64. Re2 Kc6 65. Ke7 Kd5
66. e6 Kc4 67. Re4+ Kc3 68. Rg4 c4 69. Rg3+ Kb4 70. Rg4 Kb3 71. Rg3+ c3 72. Rg5
c2 73. Rg3+ Kb2 74. Kf8 {0-1 Giustolisi,A-Dreyer/Dublin zt 1957}) 11. Rd1 (11.
Bh6 $145 Re8 12. Bxg7 Kxg7 13. Rd1 Nxf3+ 14. Bxf3 Qa5 15. Qe3 Nf6 16. Qe5 Be6
17. Bxb7 Rab8 18. Bc6 Rec8 19. Bd5 Rxb2 20. Bxe6 fxe6 21. Nb5 Rxa2 22. Rxa2
Qxa2 23. Qxe6 Qc2 24. Qxe7+ Kh6 25. Qe3+ g5 26. Rd6 Kg6 27. Nxa7 Rf8 28. Nc6 h6
29. Qe7 Kf5 30. h3 {1-0 Raffalt,M-Smole,A/1999}) 11... e5 $2 {By supporting Nd4, Black weakens the “d5” space.} 12. Bh6 Qa5 13. Bxg7 Kxg7 14. Kh1 (14.
Rd2 $145 f5 15. b3 Re8 16. Qb2 Nf6 17. Rad1 Qc7 18. Ne1 e4 19. e3 Nc6 20. Nd5
Qe5 21. Qxe5 Rxe5 22. f4 exf3 23. Nxf3 Re4 24. Ne1 Re5 25. Nd3 Ne4 26. Nxe5
Nxe5 27. Rc2 Rb8 28. Nc3 Nxc3 29. Rxc3 Be6 30. e4 Re8 31. exf5 Bxf5 32. Bxb7
Re7 33. Bg2 Bg4 34. Re1 Nf3+ {1-0 Lauk,U-Stavrinov,A/Vosu 1989}) 14... Rb8 15.
Nd2 $1 a6 16. e3 $1 Ne6 17. a4 h5 18. h4 f5 {Otherwise 19.Ne4 will continue, but such activity, without sufficient development or coordination of the pieces, only weakens the position.} 19. Nd5 Kh7 20. b3 ({Petrosian, commenting on the game, observes: “He seemed more energetic …”} 20. b4 cxb4 21. Nb3 {“White did not do this so as not to leave the c5 box to the black knights.” Fight for a point!}) 20... Rf7 21. Nf3 Qd8 22. Qc3 Qh8 23. e4 $1 fxe4 24. Nd2
Qg7 ({Of course, you can’t} 24... Rxf2 $2 25. Nxe4 Rf7 26. Rf1 {with decisive attack}) 25. Nxe4 Kh8 26. Rd2 {White achieves a clear positional superiority.} Rf8 27. a5 Nd4 28. b4 cxb4 29. Qxb4 Nf5 30. Rad1 Nd4
31. Re1 Nc6 32. Qa3 Nd4 33. Rb2 Nc6 34. Reb1 Nd4 35. Qd6 Nf5 36. Ng5 $4 Nxd6
0-1
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We will continue to study this topic in Part 3 of the opening principles.