The six master games that comprise this chapter have been chosen to illustrate the changing styles of play over the last century and a half. They range from the swashbuckling “Immortal Game”, the positional mastery of Capablanca, the genius of Fischer, the technique of Karpov and the unrivalled creativity of Kasparov to the universal style of Anand, the World Champion at the time of writing.
This game, played in London in 1851 between two of the leading players of the day, is popularly known as the Immortal Game. Typically, both sides attack, with White sacrificing in turn both rooks, a bishop, and finally the queen.
|
White |
Black |
|
Anderssen |
Kieseritzky |
1. |
e4 |
e5 |
2. |
f4 |
exf4 |
The King’s Gambit. White gives up a pawn to gain time and development.
Bc4 |
b5 |
Striking at the weak square f7, Black returns the pawn to deflect the bishop.
4. |
Bxb5 |
Qh4+ |
5. |
Kf1 |
Nf6 |
6. |
Nf3 |
Qh6 |
7. |
d3 |
Nh5 |
8. |
Nh4 |
c6 |
9. |
Nf5 |
Qg5 |
10. |
g4 |
Nf6 |
11. |
Rg1 |
cxb5 |
A sacrifice: the black queen now finds herself in a deal of trouble.
12. |
h4 |
Qg6 |
13. |
h5 |
Qg5 |
14. |
Qf3 |
Ng8 |
Black’s queen finds space at the cost of delayed development.
15. |
Bxf4 |
Qf6 |
16. |
Nc3 |
Bc5 |
17. |
Nd5 |
Qxb2 |
This takes the queen away from the action. Sometimes called “the poisoned pawn”, the b-pawn is frequently put on offer in modern opening play.
18. |
Bd6 |
Bxg1 |
The bishop moves into place for the mating net. Black now accepts the offer of the two rooks.
19. |
e5 |
Qxa1+ |
20. |
Ke2 |
Na6 |
21. |
Nxg7+ |
Kd8 |
22. |
Qf6+ |
|
The final sacrifice.
22. |
. . . |
Nxf6 |
23. |
Be7# |
|
The strategy in this game is clear cut, White’s superiority in space affording greater manoeuvrability for his pieces.
White |
Black |
|
|
Capablanca |
Eliskases |
1. |
e4 |
e5 |
2. |
Nf3 |
Nc6 |
3. |
Bc4 |
Bc5 |
The Giuoco Piano is considered a slow game, as its name implies: it is much less popular than the Ruy Lopez in master play.
4. |
Nc3 |
|
Another good move here is c3.
4. |
. . . |
Nf6 |
5. |
d3 |
d6 |
Decorous development: neither party interferes with the other – yet.
6. |
Bg5 |
h6 |
If Black had castled, White would have played Nd5 followed by an exchange of pieces on f6, when Black would have been compelled to recapture with the pawn, seriously compromising his king’s defence.
7. |
Bxf6 |
Qxf6 |
8. |
Nd5 |
Qd8 |
To guard against Nxc7+, winning the exchange, and also of course to rescue the queen.
9. |
c3 |
White sacrificed the two bishops (marginally stronger than bishop and knight, remember) but in turn achieved quicker development. The text prepares to press home this advantage.
. . . |
Ne7 |
|
10. |
Ne3! |
|
The move presents Black with a difficult problem since on 10. . . . 0-0 11. d4 exd4 12. Nxd4 White would command the centre.
10. |
. . . |
Be6 |
This move is a mistake, as Capablanca demonstrates.
11. |
Bxe6 |
fxe6 |
12. |
Qb3 |
|
Threatening two pawns.
12. |
. . . |
Qc8 |
13. |
d4 |
exd4 |
14. |
Nxd4 |
Bxd4 |
15. |
cxd4 |
|
The first phase may be said to be over. White, by unassuming moves, has gained a distinct advantage in the centre, a well-placed queen (against Black’s passive one) and an open c-file for the white rooks.
15. |
. . . |
0-0 |
16. |
0-0 |
Qd7 |
17. |
Rac1 |
|
If 17. Qxb7 Rfb8.
17. |
. . . |
Rab8 |
Necessary, since White was now threatening 18. Qxb7 and if 18. . . . Rfb8 19. Qxc7.
18. |
Rc3 |
d5 |
19. |
Qc2 |
c6 |
19. . . . Nc6 would have given Black more counter-chances after 20. exd5 exd5 21. Rc5 Nxd4 22. Qd3.
20. |
e5 |
Rf4 |
21. |
Qd1 |
Rbf8 |
22. |
f3 |
Qd8 |
23. |
g3 |
R4f7 |
24. |
f4 |
Nf5 |
25. |
Nxf5 |
Rxf5 |
26. |
h4 |
|
White has a pawn majority on the king’s side whereas Black’s queen’s side majority has been rendered immobile. White controls more of the board and has a better pawn formation. Small considerations, perhaps, but enough for Capablanca to forge a win.
. . . |
g6 |
|
27. |
Kg2 |
Qe7 |
28. |
a3 |
|
White does not wish the black queen to exercise her nuisance value on the queen’s wing.
28. |
. . . |
Qg7 |
29. |
Rcf3 |
Qe7 |
30. |
Qc2 |
Kg7 |
Black awaits the gathering storm. White was threatening 31. g4 followed by 32. Qxg6+.
31. |
g4 |
R5f7 |
32. |
Kh3 |
Qd7 |
33. |
b4 |
Rg8 |
34. |
Rg1 |
Kh8 |
35. |
Qd2 |
|
Threatening f5.
35. |
. . . |
Rh7 |
36. |
Qf2 |
h5 |
37. |
gxh5 |
Rxh5 |
If here 37. . . . gxh5 38. Rg5, followed by a concentration of pieces on the g-file would be decisive.
38. |
Rg5 |
Qh7 |
39. |
Qg3 |
Qh6 |
40. |
Qg4 |
Rg7 |
41. |
Rg3 |
Kh7 |
On 41. . . . Rh7 42. Rxh5 Qxh5 43. Qxh5 gxh5 44. Rg5 followed by f5 creating a passed pawn would give White a winning advantage.
42. |
Rg2 |
The object of this move is to bring the rook to the defence of the h-pawn and release the queen for action elsewhere.
42. |
. . . |
Kg8 |
43. |
Kg3 |
Kh7 |
44. |
Rh2 |
Re7 |
For now White did threaten Qxe6.
45. |
Rh3 |
Kg7 |
A weak move, but Black’s hopes are fading. 45. . . . Re8 was better.
46. |
Rxh5 |
Qxh5 |
47. |
Qxh5 |
gxh5 |
48. |
f5! |
|
The breakthrough.
48. |
. . . |
exf5 |
49. |
Kf4 |
Re6 |
If 49. . . . Rf7 50. Rg3+ Kh6 51. Rg5.
50. |
Kxf5 |
Rg6 |
51. |
e6! |
Rg4 |
52. |
Ke5 |
Re4+ |
53. |
Kd6 |
Rxd4 |
54. |
Re3 |
Resigns |
The pawn must go through to queen.
This game demonstrates the folly of neglecting development and the safety of the king.
|
White |
Black |
|
Fischer |
Geller |
1. |
e4 |
e5 |
2. |
Nf3 |
Nc6 |
3. |
Bb5 |
a6 |
4. |
Ba4 |
d6 |
5. |
0-0 |
Bg4 |
6. |
h3 |
Bh5 |
The ingenious sacrifice 6. . . . h5 is quite playable: if 7. hxg4 hxg4, the knight is attacked, and, if it moves, Black will threaten mate by 8. . . . Qh4.
7. |
c3 |
Qf6 |
8. |
g4 |
|
This pawn advance in front of the castled king is usually dangerous; however Fischer has calculated that Black’s king’s side is uncoordinated.
8. |
. . . |
Bg6 |
9. |
d4 |
Bxe4 |
White has sacrificed a pawn to open up the game.
10. |
Nbd2 |
Bg6 |
11. |
Bxc6+ |
bxc6 |
The black king now has no shelter on the queen’s side.
dxe5 |
dxe5 |
|
13. |
Nxe5 |
Bd6 |
Not 13. . . . Qxe5 because Black would lose his queen after 14. Re1.
14. |
Nxg6 |
Qxg6 |
15. |
Re1+ |
Kf8 |
16. |
Nc4 |
h5 |
17. |
Nxd6 |
cxd6 |
18. |
Bf4 |
d5? |
This move loses quickly. Somewhat better would have been 18. . . . Rd8, but Black would still have had problems developing his K-side pieces and defending his Q-side pawns.
19. |
Qb3 |
hxg4 |
20. |
Qb7! |
gxh3+ |
21. |
Bg3 |
Rd8 |
22. |
Qb4+ |
Resigns |
Black must lose knight and rook after 22. . . . Ne7 23. Qxe7+ Kg8 24. Qxd8+. See diagram 94.
An example of a nicely controlled king’s-side attack. The players castle on opposite sides which usually makes for an exciting contest.
|
White |
Black |
|
Karpov |
Korchnoi |
1. |
e4 |
c5 |
2. |
Nf3 |
d6 |
3. |
d4 |
cxd4 |
4. |
Nxd4 |
Nf6 |
5. |
Nc3 |
g6 |
6. |
Be3 |
Bg7 |
7. |
f3 |
|
This is a sharp continuation in which White plans to castle queen’s side and attack on the king’s side.
7. |
. . . |
Nc6 |
8. |
Qd2 |
0-0 |
9. |
Bc4 |
Bd7 |
10. |
h4 |
Rc8 |
11. |
Bb3 |
Ne5 |
12. |
0-0-0 |
Nc4 |
13. |
Bxc4 |
Rxc4 |
14. |
h5 |
Nxh5 |
White has given up a pawn to clear the file for the king’s rook.
15. |
g4 |
Nf6 |
16. |
Nde2 |
Qa5 |
17. |
Bh6 |
|
This is a favourite manoeuvre to get rid of a fianchettoed bishop which here both defends the king and indirectly attacks White’s castled position.
17. |
. . . |
Bxh6 |
18. |
Qxh6 |
Rfc8 |
19. |
Rd3 |
|
It is necessary to defend the knight and consolidate the defence before launching the final attack on the king’s side. Notice the black knight is tied to the defence of the h-pawn which is under pressure from the white queen and rook.
19. |
. . . |
R4c5 |
20. |
g5 |
Rxg5 |
The black rook has been lured from its attacking position on the c-file.
21. |
Rd5 |
Rxd5 |
22. |
Nxd5 |
Re8 |
23. |
Nef4 |
Bc6 |
24. |
e5! |
Bxd5 |
If 24. . . . dxe5 25. Nxf6+ exf6 26. Nh5.
25. |
exf6 |
exf6 |
26. |
Qxh7+ |
Kf8 |
27. |
Qh8+ |
Resigns |
After 27. . . . Ke7 28. Nxd5+ Qxd5 29. Re1+ and White wins a rook or a queen for a rook.
In this game the centre is locked, both sides castle king’s side and seek play on opposite wings. This time it is Black who attacks on the king’s side, and Kasparov finishes the game with a startling coup-de-grace.
|
White |
Black |
|
Piket |
Kasparov |
1. |
d4 |
Nf6 |
2. |
Nf3 |
g6 |
c4 |
Bg7 |
The “Indian” bishop is in place. White does not venture the Four Pawns’ Attack (see Opening 7) and instead develops circumspectly.
4. |
Nc3 |
0-0 |
5. |
e4 |
d6 |
6. |
Be2 |
e5 |
7. |
0-0 |
Nc6 |
8. |
d5 |
|
Locking the centre.
8. |
. . . |
Ne7 |
9. |
Ne1 |
|
In order to mobilize the f-pawn.
9. |
. . . |
Nd7 |
10. |
Be3 |
f5 |
11. |
f3 |
f4 |
12. |
Bf2 |
g5 |
13. |
b4 |
|
White counter-attacks on the queen’s side.
13. |
. . . |
Nf6 |
14. |
c5 |
Ng6 |
15. |
cxd6 |
|
Opening the c-file.
15. |
. . . |
cxd6 |
16. |
Rc1 |
Rf7 |
17. |
a4 |
Bf8 |
a5 |
Bd7 |
|
19. |
Nb5 |
g4 |
If 20. fxg4, the white e-pawn is undefended.
20. |
Nc7 |
g3! |
21. |
Nxa8 |
Nh5 |
Maintaining the pressure. After 21. . . . gxf2+ 22. Rxf2 Qxa8, Black gains material but the attack disappears.
22. |
Kh1 |
If 22. Bxa7 Qh4 23. h3 Bxh3 24. gxh3 Qxh3 25. Rf2 gxf2+ 26. Kxf2 Nh4 and White will have to return his extra piece, leaving Black with a winning position.
22. |
. . . |
gxf2 |
Rxf2 |
Ng3+ |
The knight can’t be taken (24. hxg3 fxg3 with Qh4+ to follow).
24. |
Kg1 |
Qxa8 |
25. |
Bc4 |
|
White still dare not take the knight.
25. |
. . . |
a6 |
26. |
Qd3 |
Qa7 |
27. |
b5 |
axb5 |
28. |
Bxb5 |
Nh1! |
|
Resigns |
|
Black wins rook for knight to secure a bishop-for-pawn advantage. See final position in diagram 97.
As chess enters the twenty-first century, players are increasingly willing to accept structural weaknesses in exchange for dynamic piece play. In this game Indian Grandmaster Anand breaks many of the accepted tenets of good play: he leaves his king in the centre while advancing his king-side pawns, at the same time sacrificing material. His exceptional judgement of the resulting position results in a swift and brilliant victory.
|
White |
Black |
|
Anand |
Lautier |
1. |
e4 |
d5 |
The Scandinavian or Centre Counter Defence has become increasingly popular in recent years.
2. |
exd5 |
Qxd5 |
3. |
Nc3 |
Qa5 |
4. |
d4 |
Nf6 |
5. |
Nf3 |
c6 |
6. |
Bc4 |
Bf5 |
7. |
Ne5 |
e6 |
8. |
g4 |
Bg6 |
9. |
h4 |
Nbd7 |
10. |
Nxd7 |
Nxd7 |
11. |
h5 |
Be4 |
12. |
Rh3 |
Bg2 |
13. |
Re3 |
Nb6 |
14. |
Bd3 |
Nd5 |
15. |
f3 |
|
White leaves his rook to be captured, having calculated that he will eventually be able to win the bishop on g2, and having judged that the closed nature of the resulting position will favour the white bishops rather than the black rook and pawns. Black, who has reached the same conclusion, consistently refuses to take the rook.
15. |
. . . |
Bb4 |
16. |
Kf2 |
Bxc3 |
17. |
bxc3 |
Qxc3 |
18. |
Rb1 |
Qxd4 |
19. |
Rxb7 |
|
As explained in Chapter 4, rooks are at their most powerful on the seventh rank. Now Black cannot play 0-0 because he would lose his queen after Bxh7+.
19. |
. . . |
Rd8 |
20. |
h6 |
gxh6 |
21. |
Bg6 |
|
An exquisite winning move. If Black captures the bishop, he loses his queen, while 21. ...Qxd1 loses to 22. Rxe6+ Kf8 23. Bxh6+ Kg8 24. Bxf7#.
21. |
. . . |
Ne7 |
22. |
Qxd4 |
Rxd4 |
23. |
Rd3 |
Rd8 |
24. |
Rxd8+ |
Kxd8 |
25. |
Bd3 |
Resigns |
After 25. . . . Bh1 26. Bb2 Re8 27. Bf6, Black is in zugzwang and will soon have to lose either his knight or his bishop.
