Lots to do...
The initial exercise of King and Bishop vs King and Rook was meant to challenge the players in recognizing basic threats and mating techniques with a very basic set up. To be able to identify for themselves drawing/mating techniques and positioning for themselves. Being able to complete basic challenges like this is a necessary part of any chess players arsenal.
The main theme this week is attacking. Identifying what conditions enable and justify attacking play. To do this we first looked at 5 potential triggers to an attack and what could make them successful.
1. Material advantage in aggressive positioning near the enemy king.
Where there is a clear material advantage in one location on the board, there is likely (assuming overall material balance) to be a weakness elsewhere, such that if your advantage is not exploited then your opponents will be potentially advantaged.
2. Open lines.
Open lines allow clear passage across the board and behind enemy lines, as such they will always be a key opportunity for attacks and counter attacks.
3. Superior positioning/development.
Similar to 1, but that if you have managed to squeeze a slight edge in development, then sitting back will potentially allow your opponent to equalize, creating a potential missed opportunity.
4. Weakness.
If the enemy positioning is solid, then attacking and potentially weakening your own position is unlikely to be the best idea. Some times its necessary for your opponent to make a mistake before you can force anything. And when there is a weakness, work on exploiting it being careful to not over extend.
5. Counter attacks.
There is not point having a mate in 5 if your opponent wins in 4. Being careful and on the lookout for potential counter aggression should be a major part of judging the potential success of any attacking action.
To show this in practice we analysed a game to try and identify these features ... (you can download it as a PGN at the end of the page).
Garry Kasparov (2815) - Veselin Topalov (2725)
Wijk aan Zee, Jan 1999
1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 {The Pirc Defense. A fairly regular part Topalov's opening repertoire. Not many GM's use this defense today.} 4. Be3 {
A relatively new move to opening theory. 4. Nf3 is the Classical variation and 4. f4 is the Austrian Attack.} Bg7 {GM DeFirmian gives 4...c6! as superior in
MCO beginning Queenside expansion and GM Yasser Seriawan who sometimes essays the Pirc also prefers 4...c6.} 5. Qd2 c6 {Now black enters into the Queenside expansion idea.} 6. f3 b5 7. Nge2 {Kasparov chooses piece development. Seirwan feels that 7.0-0-0, Nbd7 8. Bh6 is stronger.} Nbd7 8. Bh6 {Risky is 8...0-0 as after 9. h4! White has a strong attack.} Bxh6 9. Qxh6 Bb7 10. a3 $1 {The right moment for prophylaxis. After 10. 0-0-0 black has fine counterplay after 10...b4 and 11...Qa5 according to GM Soltis.} e5 $1 {Black claims his fair share of the center.} 11. O-O-O Qe7 12. Kb1 {A waiting move. The point is White doesnt want to attack the black kingside until the black king declares its intentions. 12 h4!?, Qf8 is unclear. Seirawan prefers 12. g3 and if 12....0-0-0 then 13. Bh3 is good for white.} a6 {This prepares the advance....c5 freeing the Bb7.} 13. Nc1 {White repositions his knight by preparing the tour Nc3-Nc1-Nb3-Na5.} O-O-O 14.Nb3 exd4 {Black plays enterprising chess. With this central break he prepares the advance d6 to d5.} 15. Rxd4 {White wants to send his knight to a5 so takes back with his rook} c5 16. Rd1 Nb6 $1 {Continuing with his plan of playing ...d5 which would completely equalize.} 17.
g3 $1 {Most players would play Be2} Kb8 18. Na5 {This is the position that Gary was striving for with his knight, however even stronger is 18. Bh3!} Ba8 {
Black does not want to trade his bishop for the white knight as this would weaken the light squares around his king.} 19. Bh3 d5 {Black has freed his
game with this central thrust. GM Soltis notes that "Black appears to stand well and White could have easily end up with a bad-Bishop Middlegame. (20.
exd5, Nfxd5; 21. Nxd5, Nxd5; etc.)"} 20. Qf4+ Ka7 {Bad is 20...Qd6?? when 21.e5 and White wins a piece.} 21. Rhe1 {Strengthens e4 and completes the mobilization of White's forces- GM Larry Christiansen.} d4 {Best. According to GM Soltis "Playing for the advantage. (22. Ne2, Nc4!) Old man hindsight would later say that 21...dxe4; 22. fxe4, and Nd5 was too risky. " GM Christiansen gives this further analysis 24.exd5 Qd6 (24...Qxe1?; 25.Qc7+ Bb7 26.Qxb7#) 25.Rxe8 Nxe8 26.Qxf7+ with a clear advantage to White. The actual text move as played by black shows that he is playing to win. In fact it is White who appears to be in trouble, but...} 22. Nd5 {An amazing by Gary.He sacrifices a pawn to open up lines to the enemy king, the resulting position becomes extremely complex.} Nbxd5 23. exd5 Qd6 {If Now 24. xd6, Rxd6 or 24. Nc6+ leads to bad endgames for White and Black has a clear advantage
according to GM Soltis.} 24. Rxd4 $3 {One of the most shocking moves ever played in modern chess. Of this move GM Larry Christiansen wrote: "This
terrific shot was a basis of the strengthening move 24. Rhe1. White saves his position by finding mating patterns that utilize to the degree his apparently
disjointed forces. His seemingly randomly placed Knight and Bishop cooperate in creating mating-nets out of thin air." This suprising attack out of nowhere
is worthy of any brilliancy by the great Alexander Alekhine, who is Kasparov's hero. It truly deserves to be ranked as the greatest attacking game of all
time!} cxd4 {Played after an hours thought by a 2700 plus GM. It must be noted that finding a defense was very difficult as black must place his king in what
appears to be in even greater danger to survive. It is also a very difficult task to anticipate whites attack. The current position is very difficult and
many of the world's strongest computer programs assess this position as winning for black when in fact he is lost! Blacks only defense was 24...Kb6!
when: a) 25. Nb3, Bxd5! 26. Qxd6+, Rxd6 27. Rd2, Rhd8 28. Red1, a5! and black survives with a minimal advantage with his greater space though a draw is
likely. Or the better: b) 25. Rxd5! Nxd5 (Not 25...Qxf4?; 26.Rxd8! Qc7; 27. Rxh8, Qxa5; 28.Re7+ Kb6; 29.Rxf7 with Clear advantage to White.) 26.Qxf7+ Nc7
(Forced.) 27.Re6!, Rd7!; 28.Rxd6 Rxf7; 29.Nc6+ Ka8; 30.f4 "when White has a pawn and annoying pressure for the exchange - GM Larry Christiansen. White
plans "Bg2" which was "very promising for White" - GM A. Soltis.} 25. Re7+ $3 {Another very shocking move! It is so unbelievable it looks like a blunder.} Kb6
{Forced. The following two variations are by GM Garry Kasparov in Informant # 74/110. # 1.) 25...Qxe7? 26.Qxd4+ Kb8; 27.Qb6+, Bb7; 28.Nc6+ Ka8 (The square c8 is guarded by the White Bishop on h3.) 29.Qa7#. Var. # 2.) 25...Kb8? 26. Qxd4 Nd7; This looks like it is forced. Not 26...Rd7??; 27.Rxd7 Nxd7?! 28. Qxh8+ winning. 27.Bxd7!, Bxd5 28.c4! Qxe7 29.Qb6+ Ka8 30.Qxa6+ Kb8 31.Qb6+ Ka8 32.Bc6+! and White wins.} 26. Qxd4+ Kxa5 {Soltis gives the following main alternative: 26...Qc5!? 27.Qxf6+ Qd6; (27...Kxa5??; 28.b4+, which wins Black's Queen.) 28.Be6!! An amazing move, based on the fact that if Pawn captures Bishop, then Rook takes the Pawn on e6 and White wins the Black Queen. 28...Bxd5 Forced as 28...Kxa5; 29.b4+ Ka4; 30.Qc3 Bxd5; 31.Kb2! is winning for white. 29.b4!! Bc6 Forced, to guard d4 and give Black's King an escape square (29...Rhe8??; 30.Qd4+ Qc5; 31.Qxc5#.) 30.Qxf7 Qd1+; 31.Kb2 Qxf3 (31...Qd4+; 32. Ka2, "+/") 32.Rc7!, Qxf7; 33.Rxc6+ Ka7; 34.Bxf7 "and wins." - GM A. Soltis.} 27. b4+ Ka4 28. Qc3 {White threatens mate on b3. However, GM Lubosh Kavalek found an even better move. 28.Ra7!!, Now play could proceed: 28...Nxd5 29. Bd7!, Rxd7 (Or 29...Rc8!? 30.Qd3 Nc3+; 31.Kb2 Qf6; 32.Qd4!! Nd1+ 33.Kc1! winning) 30. Qb2! Black is helpless to prevent Qb3 without giving back reams of material.} Qxd5 {Forced as "Black must somehow prevent mates along both the a-file, and also schemes involving Kb2 and Qb3+." - GM L. Christiansen.} 29. Ra7 Bb7 {Other black moves lose this keeps him alive.} 30. Rxb7 Qc4 {A better try was 30...Rhe8!?; - GM V. Topalov, (shortly after the game). 31. Rb6 Ra8 though after 32. Bf1!! - IM Gert Ligterink. 32...Re1+ 33. Qxe1 Nd7; 34. Rb7!! Qxb7 35. Qd1!! Kxa3 36. c3! And White has a mating net.} 31. Qxf6 Kxa3 {Soltis gives the line: 31...Rd1+; 32.Kb2 Ra8 If 32...Qd4+; 33.Qxd4 Rxd4; 34. Rxf7 winning. 33.Qb6 Qd4+ 34.Qxd4 Rxd4; 35.Rxf7 winning.} 32. Qxa6+ Kxb4 33. c3+ {Yet another beautiful move! White attacks Black's King, but further exposes his own king.} Kxc3 34. Qa1+ Kd2 35. Qb2+ Kd1 36. Bf1 {Soltis exclaims: "A fine concluding blow. The Bishop cannot be taken because of because of 37. Qc2+, and 38. Re7+."} Rd2 {Not 36...Qxf1?! 37.Qc2+ Ke1 38.Re7+ Qe2 39.Qxe2#} 37. Rd7 {One last tactical body blow!} Rxd7 38. Bxc4 bxc4 39. Qxh8 {It's over.} Rd3 40. Qa8 c3 41. Qa4+ Ke1 42. f4 f5 43. Kc1 Rd2 44. Qa7 {The final position. Black Resigned.} 1-0
Tactical Themes: Line opening, demolition, deflection, decoy, piece explotation, pin, double attack
Mating Themes: Knight and Bishop, Rook File Mate, Edge of the Board mate, King and Queen Mate, Queen and Rook mate, Epaullette Mate.
I consider this to be the # 1 Greatest Attacking Game of All Time.
The main theme this week is attacking. Identifying what conditions enable and justify attacking play. To do this we first looked at 5 potential triggers to an attack and what could make them successful.
1. Material advantage in aggressive positioning near the enemy king.
Where there is a clear material advantage in one location on the board, there is likely (assuming overall material balance) to be a weakness elsewhere, such that if your advantage is not exploited then your opponents will be potentially advantaged.
2. Open lines.
Open lines allow clear passage across the board and behind enemy lines, as such they will always be a key opportunity for attacks and counter attacks.
3. Superior positioning/development.
Similar to 1, but that if you have managed to squeeze a slight edge in development, then sitting back will potentially allow your opponent to equalize, creating a potential missed opportunity.
4. Weakness.
If the enemy positioning is solid, then attacking and potentially weakening your own position is unlikely to be the best idea. Some times its necessary for your opponent to make a mistake before you can force anything. And when there is a weakness, work on exploiting it being careful to not over extend.
5. Counter attacks.
There is not point having a mate in 5 if your opponent wins in 4. Being careful and on the lookout for potential counter aggression should be a major part of judging the potential success of any attacking action.
To show this in practice we analysed a game to try and identify these features ... (you can download it as a PGN at the end of the page).
Garry Kasparov (2815) - Veselin Topalov (2725)
Wijk aan Zee, Jan 1999
1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 {The Pirc Defense. A fairly regular part Topalov's opening repertoire. Not many GM's use this defense today.} 4. Be3 {
A relatively new move to opening theory. 4. Nf3 is the Classical variation and 4. f4 is the Austrian Attack.} Bg7 {GM DeFirmian gives 4...c6! as superior in
MCO beginning Queenside expansion and GM Yasser Seriawan who sometimes essays the Pirc also prefers 4...c6.} 5. Qd2 c6 {Now black enters into the Queenside expansion idea.} 6. f3 b5 7. Nge2 {Kasparov chooses piece development. Seirwan feels that 7.0-0-0, Nbd7 8. Bh6 is stronger.} Nbd7 8. Bh6 {Risky is 8...0-0 as after 9. h4! White has a strong attack.} Bxh6 9. Qxh6 Bb7 10. a3 $1 {The right moment for prophylaxis. After 10. 0-0-0 black has fine counterplay after 10...b4 and 11...Qa5 according to GM Soltis.} e5 $1 {Black claims his fair share of the center.} 11. O-O-O Qe7 12. Kb1 {A waiting move. The point is White doesnt want to attack the black kingside until the black king declares its intentions. 12 h4!?, Qf8 is unclear. Seirawan prefers 12. g3 and if 12....0-0-0 then 13. Bh3 is good for white.} a6 {This prepares the advance....c5 freeing the Bb7.} 13. Nc1 {White repositions his knight by preparing the tour Nc3-Nc1-Nb3-Na5.} O-O-O 14.Nb3 exd4 {Black plays enterprising chess. With this central break he prepares the advance d6 to d5.} 15. Rxd4 {White wants to send his knight to a5 so takes back with his rook} c5 16. Rd1 Nb6 $1 {Continuing with his plan of playing ...d5 which would completely equalize.} 17.
g3 $1 {Most players would play Be2} Kb8 18. Na5 {This is the position that Gary was striving for with his knight, however even stronger is 18. Bh3!} Ba8 {
Black does not want to trade his bishop for the white knight as this would weaken the light squares around his king.} 19. Bh3 d5 {Black has freed his
game with this central thrust. GM Soltis notes that "Black appears to stand well and White could have easily end up with a bad-Bishop Middlegame. (20.
exd5, Nfxd5; 21. Nxd5, Nxd5; etc.)"} 20. Qf4+ Ka7 {Bad is 20...Qd6?? when 21.e5 and White wins a piece.} 21. Rhe1 {Strengthens e4 and completes the mobilization of White's forces- GM Larry Christiansen.} d4 {Best. According to GM Soltis "Playing for the advantage. (22. Ne2, Nc4!) Old man hindsight would later say that 21...dxe4; 22. fxe4, and Nd5 was too risky. " GM Christiansen gives this further analysis 24.exd5 Qd6 (24...Qxe1?; 25.Qc7+ Bb7 26.Qxb7#) 25.Rxe8 Nxe8 26.Qxf7+ with a clear advantage to White. The actual text move as played by black shows that he is playing to win. In fact it is White who appears to be in trouble, but...} 22. Nd5 {An amazing by Gary.He sacrifices a pawn to open up lines to the enemy king, the resulting position becomes extremely complex.} Nbxd5 23. exd5 Qd6 {If Now 24. xd6, Rxd6 or 24. Nc6+ leads to bad endgames for White and Black has a clear advantage
according to GM Soltis.} 24. Rxd4 $3 {One of the most shocking moves ever played in modern chess. Of this move GM Larry Christiansen wrote: "This
terrific shot was a basis of the strengthening move 24. Rhe1. White saves his position by finding mating patterns that utilize to the degree his apparently
disjointed forces. His seemingly randomly placed Knight and Bishop cooperate in creating mating-nets out of thin air." This suprising attack out of nowhere
is worthy of any brilliancy by the great Alexander Alekhine, who is Kasparov's hero. It truly deserves to be ranked as the greatest attacking game of all
time!} cxd4 {Played after an hours thought by a 2700 plus GM. It must be noted that finding a defense was very difficult as black must place his king in what
appears to be in even greater danger to survive. It is also a very difficult task to anticipate whites attack. The current position is very difficult and
many of the world's strongest computer programs assess this position as winning for black when in fact he is lost! Blacks only defense was 24...Kb6!
when: a) 25. Nb3, Bxd5! 26. Qxd6+, Rxd6 27. Rd2, Rhd8 28. Red1, a5! and black survives with a minimal advantage with his greater space though a draw is
likely. Or the better: b) 25. Rxd5! Nxd5 (Not 25...Qxf4?; 26.Rxd8! Qc7; 27. Rxh8, Qxa5; 28.Re7+ Kb6; 29.Rxf7 with Clear advantage to White.) 26.Qxf7+ Nc7
(Forced.) 27.Re6!, Rd7!; 28.Rxd6 Rxf7; 29.Nc6+ Ka8; 30.f4 "when White has a pawn and annoying pressure for the exchange - GM Larry Christiansen. White
plans "Bg2" which was "very promising for White" - GM A. Soltis.} 25. Re7+ $3 {Another very shocking move! It is so unbelievable it looks like a blunder.} Kb6
{Forced. The following two variations are by GM Garry Kasparov in Informant # 74/110. # 1.) 25...Qxe7? 26.Qxd4+ Kb8; 27.Qb6+, Bb7; 28.Nc6+ Ka8 (The square c8 is guarded by the White Bishop on h3.) 29.Qa7#. Var. # 2.) 25...Kb8? 26. Qxd4 Nd7; This looks like it is forced. Not 26...Rd7??; 27.Rxd7 Nxd7?! 28. Qxh8+ winning. 27.Bxd7!, Bxd5 28.c4! Qxe7 29.Qb6+ Ka8 30.Qxa6+ Kb8 31.Qb6+ Ka8 32.Bc6+! and White wins.} 26. Qxd4+ Kxa5 {Soltis gives the following main alternative: 26...Qc5!? 27.Qxf6+ Qd6; (27...Kxa5??; 28.b4+, which wins Black's Queen.) 28.Be6!! An amazing move, based on the fact that if Pawn captures Bishop, then Rook takes the Pawn on e6 and White wins the Black Queen. 28...Bxd5 Forced as 28...Kxa5; 29.b4+ Ka4; 30.Qc3 Bxd5; 31.Kb2! is winning for white. 29.b4!! Bc6 Forced, to guard d4 and give Black's King an escape square (29...Rhe8??; 30.Qd4+ Qc5; 31.Qxc5#.) 30.Qxf7 Qd1+; 31.Kb2 Qxf3 (31...Qd4+; 32. Ka2, "+/") 32.Rc7!, Qxf7; 33.Rxc6+ Ka7; 34.Bxf7 "and wins." - GM A. Soltis.} 27. b4+ Ka4 28. Qc3 {White threatens mate on b3. However, GM Lubosh Kavalek found an even better move. 28.Ra7!!, Now play could proceed: 28...Nxd5 29. Bd7!, Rxd7 (Or 29...Rc8!? 30.Qd3 Nc3+; 31.Kb2 Qf6; 32.Qd4!! Nd1+ 33.Kc1! winning) 30. Qb2! Black is helpless to prevent Qb3 without giving back reams of material.} Qxd5 {Forced as "Black must somehow prevent mates along both the a-file, and also schemes involving Kb2 and Qb3+." - GM L. Christiansen.} 29. Ra7 Bb7 {Other black moves lose this keeps him alive.} 30. Rxb7 Qc4 {A better try was 30...Rhe8!?; - GM V. Topalov, (shortly after the game). 31. Rb6 Ra8 though after 32. Bf1!! - IM Gert Ligterink. 32...Re1+ 33. Qxe1 Nd7; 34. Rb7!! Qxb7 35. Qd1!! Kxa3 36. c3! And White has a mating net.} 31. Qxf6 Kxa3 {Soltis gives the line: 31...Rd1+; 32.Kb2 Ra8 If 32...Qd4+; 33.Qxd4 Rxd4; 34. Rxf7 winning. 33.Qb6 Qd4+ 34.Qxd4 Rxd4; 35.Rxf7 winning.} 32. Qxa6+ Kxb4 33. c3+ {Yet another beautiful move! White attacks Black's King, but further exposes his own king.} Kxc3 34. Qa1+ Kd2 35. Qb2+ Kd1 36. Bf1 {Soltis exclaims: "A fine concluding blow. The Bishop cannot be taken because of because of 37. Qc2+, and 38. Re7+."} Rd2 {Not 36...Qxf1?! 37.Qc2+ Ke1 38.Re7+ Qe2 39.Qxe2#} 37. Rd7 {One last tactical body blow!} Rxd7 38. Bxc4 bxc4 39. Qxh8 {It's over.} Rd3 40. Qa8 c3 41. Qa4+ Ke1 42. f4 f5 43. Kc1 Rd2 44. Qa7 {The final position. Black Resigned.} 1-0
Tactical Themes: Line opening, demolition, deflection, decoy, piece explotation, pin, double attack
Mating Themes: Knight and Bishop, Rook File Mate, Edge of the Board mate, King and Queen Mate, Queen and Rook mate, Epaullette Mate.
I consider this to be the # 1 Greatest Attacking Game of All Time.
| Kasparov-Topalov game as PGN |