DAY 311 Tarrasch’s Rule

If one piece stands badly the whole position is bad, said Siegbert Tarrasch. He might have added “especially if it’s a bishop.”

Aleksander Sznapik White
Gyozo Forintos Black
Sochi 1974
Sicilian Defense, Grand Prix Attack B23

1 e4 c5 2 f4 g6 3 f3 g7 4 c3 c6 5 c4 e6

This is significantly different from the Day 133 game because Black can play ...d5 in one step.

6 f5 ge7

Rather than accept the gambit (6...exf5 7 d3 or 6...gxf5 7 d3) Black shoots for 7 0-0 d5 (8 b3? c4).

7 fxe6 fxe6 8 d3 d5! 9 b3 b5!

illustration

Black threatens to bury the bishop with 10...c4. This is based on 10 xb5 a5+ (11 c3 d4).

10 a4 b4 11 e2 a5 12 c3 b6

Also good is 12...b8, threatening to win a piece by 13...bxc3. The endgame of 13 c2 b3 14 b1 dxe4 15 dxe4 xd1+ 15 xd1 0-0 is very favorable.

13 b1?

This is even worse than 13 c2 b3 14 b1 dxe4 15 dxe4 0-0 followed by ...a6 and ...ad8.

Question 348: How bad is 13 c4 ?

13...c4!

Black dooms the piece he’s harassed since move eight (14 c2 b3).

14 g5 xb3 15 xe7 xe7 16 exd5 exd5 17 d4? f5! White resigns.

White will be a full rook down after 18...xb1.

R. Jonas White
Joseph Gallagher Black
Bargteheide 1988

1 e4 c5 2 c3 c6 3 f4 g6 4 f3 g7 5 c4 e6 6 f5 ge7 7 fxe6 fxe6 8 0-0 d5 9 exd5 exd5 10 b3 c4 11 a4 f5 12 d3 cxd3 13 cxd3 0-0 14 h4? b6+ 15 h1 g4 16 xf8+? xf8 17 e1 e5! 18 e3 xb2 19 h3 xd3! 20 b1 xe1 21 xb2 xc3 22 xb7 f1+ 23 h2 e5+ 24 g3 f5 White resigns.