Masters use forcing moves to achieve positional goals – and sabotage opponents who do the same.
Vincenzo Castaldi White
Samuel Reshevsky Black
Dubrovnik 1950
Reti Opening A06
1 ♘f3 d5 2 g3 ♘f6 3 ♗g2 g6 4 0-0 ♗g7 5 c4 d4 6 e3 c5 7 exd4 cxd4 8 d3 ♘c6
White’s prime strategic goal is to expand on the queenside with b2-b4 and possibly b4-b5.
Black can delay if not prevent that (9 a3 a5 or 9 ♘a3 0-0 10 ♘c2 a5).
9 ♕a4?
But now 9...a5? is met by 10 ♘e5!, attacking the knight three times and winning at least a pawn. White is using a tactic, the pin, to carry out his strategic plan.
9...0-0 10 b4 ♘d7!
Black points out drawbacks of 9 ♕a4. If White advances b4-b5, he makes ...♘c5 strong. Also, Black can attack the undefended d3-pawn with ...♘de5 and ...♗f5.
11 ♘bd2?
With 11 ♗a3 White would prepare b4-b5. But Black is faster, 11...♘ce5! (12 ♘xe5 ♘xe5 13 ♕c2 ♗f5!).
White can meet 11...♘de5 by 12 b5! ♘xf3+ 13 ♘xf3, with advantage.
For example, 13...♘b8 14 ♖e1 and ♗a3. A bit better is 11...♘ce5 12 ♕a3.
11...a5!
Question 113: What happens after 12 b5 ?
12 ♗a3? axb4! 13 ♕xa8 ♘b6! White resigns.
The queen is trapped.
A similar example:
Vladimir Kirillov White
Blankstein Black
Moscow 1938
1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 ♘d2 ♘c6 4 ♘gf3 ♘f6 5 e5 ♘d7 6 c3 f6 7 exf6 ♕xf6 8 ♗b5 a6 (now 9 ♗xc6 favors White slightly) 9 ♕a4?? axb5! 10 ♕xa8? ♘b6! White resigns.