Chapter 11

Connected pawns

Connected pawns is the name for two or more pawns of the same side, on adjacent files, that can support each other. By advancing, they can seize space and cramp the enemy’s pieces. Often, to prevent them promoting, the defender has to sacrifice a piece for them.

56 *

David Griego

2335

Rafael Vaganian

2625

Philadelphia 1994

15…b5!?

In this theoretical position, Black has also tried 15…♖c7, 15…cxd4, and 15…♗f8.

16.♘e5

Not 16.cxd5?! c4!.

16.dxc5? ♗xc5 helps Black’s development.

After 16.cxb5 ♗xb5, Black has clarified the position in the centre, and obtained some advantage.

16…bxc4 17.♘xd7 cxd4!?

A provocation, for which White falls, underestimating the strength of the hanging pawns.

18.♘xf6+?!

After 18.♘xc4 dxc4 19.♖xd4 ♕a5 20.bxc4 ♖b8!, we have a position of approximate equality: 21.♘xb8 ♖xb8 22.♖d7 ♘xd7 23.♕xd7 ♖xb2 24.♕xe7 ♗xc4=.

Or 18.♗xd4 ♕xd7 19.♕xd7 ♘xd7 20.♗xd5 c3 21.♗c4 ♗xc4 22.♘xc4 ♘b6 23.♖ac1 ♘xc4 24.bxc4 ♖xc4 25.♖xc3 ♖xc3 26.♗xc3 ♖c8=.

18…♗xf6 19.bxc4 dxc4

Black only has two pawns for the piece, but what pawns!

20.♘e4 ♗g7 21.♗c1?

Excessive materialism. Such pawns need to be eliminated at all costs: 21.♖ac1! c3 22.♘xc3! ♕b6 23.♖b1 dxc3 24.♗xc3 ♖cd8 25.♗xg7 ♔xg7 26.♗f1, and White should not lose.

21…♖e5 22.♕h4?

The decisive mistake. Correct was 22.g4!. White has kept his extra piece, so he needs to start creating some threats: 22…c3 (for example, 22…♕d7? 23.♗f4!) 23.♘xc3 ♕e8! 24.♗d2 (24.♗f4 ♖xc3–+) 24…dxc3 25.♗xc3 ♖e2 26.♗xg7 ♔xg7 – Black has the advantage, but White may hold.

22…♕xh4!

The endgame proves simply hopeless for White.

23.gxh4 ♖ce8 24.f3 f5 25.♘g3 c3 26.♗f1 d3 27.♗f4

Other moves also lose easily:

27.♗xd3 ♖d5 28.♗xa6 ♖xd1+ 29.♔g2 c2–+;

27.♖xd3 ♗xd3 28.♗xd3 ♖e1+ 29.♔g2 c2–+.

27…c2 28.♖xd3

Finally, White eliminates one of the connected pawns, but too late – his material losses are too great.

28…♗xd3 29.♗xd3 ♖e1+ 30.♖xe1 ♖xe1+ 31.♔f2 c1♕ 32.♗xc1 ♖xc1 33.♘e2 ♖h1 34.♔g2 ♖d1 35.♗c4+ ♔h8 36.h5 ♗e5 37.f4 ♗d6

0-1

57 *

Efim Geller

Robert Fischer

Curacao ct 1962 (2)

In such structures, a great role is played by the pawn on a5, which holds back two black pawns, and stops him playing the strengthening move …b7-b6. And with the c5-pawn unsupported, White played…

17.b4!

In whatever form the pawns on b4 and c5 are exchanged for each other (and ‘exchanged’ is the operative word, because if Black captures on b4, his pawn will not survive there long), Black is guaranteed a backward pawn on the b-file. On the other hand, White’s pawn pair will represent a real threat, because if the b7-pawn falls, they will be connected passed pawns. It is important too that the ♗g6 is just a spectator to what is going on. A knight on d7 would be a much more useful piece, taking part in the blockade of the white pawns.

17…♖ac8 18.♕b3 ♗d6 19.♖fd1 ♕e7 20.bxc5 ♗xc5 21.♗xc5 ♖xc5 22.♖a1 ♖d8 23.♖a4!

The b1-square is attacked, so White uses a different square.

23…♗f5 24.♖b4 ♗c8 25.♖b6 ♖d6

On 25…♖xa5, there would follow 26.d6 ♕e8 27.♕c3, preparing c4-c5.

26.♕b4 ♕c7 27.♖xd6 ♕xd6 28.♖b1 ♕c7 29.♕a4! ♗d7 30.♕a3 ♖xa5 31.♖xb7 ♕xb7 32.♕xa5

The triumph of White’s strategy! This is exactly the sort of position he was aiming for, when he played his 17th move.

32…g6

33.h3!

The connected pawns are impossible to block, so White is in no hurry, and makes a useful prophylactic move first.

33…♕b1+ 34.♔h2 ♗f5 35.♕c3! ♕e4 36.♗f3 ♕d4 37.♕xd4 exd4 38.g4 ♗c8 39.c5 a5 40.c6 ♔f8 41.d6

1-0

58 **

Alexander Kotov

Efim Geller

Moscow ch-URS 1949 (16)

In heading for this position, Black had accurately weighed up all the nuances, characteristic of King’s Indian positions in general: if he can create a weakness on b3, this will outweigh the one on d6.

15…axb3!

In this case, Black sacrifices a whole piece, as the resulting avalanche of pawns will sweep all before them.

16.♗xc5 ♘xc4 17.♕c1

17…bxa2

Even stronger is 17…b2! 18.♕c2 (on 18.♕b1, a very strong reply is 18…b5!, leaving the bishop attacked. If it moves away with 19.♗d4, the knight is lost after 19…b4) 18…dxc5 19.♖xd8 ♖xd8 20.♖e1 b5! 21.♘b1 ♖xa2 – the white queen is helplessly surrounded by the black pieces, and the passed pawns inevitably advance to their target.

18.♘xa2 ♕a5 19.♕xc4 ♗e6 20.♕c1 dxc5 21.♘ac3 b5

Time to get moving!

22.♘b1?

Passive defence is prospectless, and the knight has no future on b1. It was essential to take urgent measures to activate his position, by giving back another pawn: 22.e5!. Admittedly, after the strengthening move 22…♕b6 (it is less accurate to start with 22…c4, since the other knight becomes active with 23.♘d4!; whilst after 22…♗xe5 23.f4, Black has to exchange the bishop that is the pride of his position, or lose one of his passed pawns on c6) 23.♘e4 c4+ 24.♔h1 ♗xe5, Black nonetheless keeps some advantage.

22…b4 23.♘f4?

The last chance was to activate the ♗g2 with 23.f4! c4 24.e5 ♕c5+ 25.♔h1 ♗d5 – in view of the passive ♘b1, Black has the advantage, but there is still a battle ahead.

23…♗b3

Now it is all over – White has so placed his minor pieces that he has no possibility of organising counterplay.

24.♖d6 c4 25.♖xc6 c3 26.♘d5 ♗xd5 27.exd5 ♕xd5 28.f4 ♕d4+ 29.♔h1 ♖a2 30.♗f3 ♖b2 31.f5 ♗e5 32.♕e1 ♖d8 33.♗e4 ♔g7 34.f6+ ♔g8 35.♖a6 h5 36.♖a5 h4 37.♗xg6 ♖xh2+ 38.♔xh2 ♗xg3+ 39.♕xg3 hxg3+ 40.♔h3 fxg6

The time-trouble phase is over and White resigned.

59 ***

Shakhriyar Mamedyarov

2765

Csaba Balogh

2643

Ningbo Wch tt 2011 (3)

The two advanced connected pawns, supported by the bishop, are fully worth a piece, and so there followed.

18…♘xb2!

If he retreats with 18…♘b6, then after 19.♘xa5 ♕d7 20.♘b3, it is not so simple to play …c6-c5, and White’s position is slightly preferable.

19.♕xb2 a4 20.♘bd2 c5

The fact that Black has been able to play …c6-c5, opening up his light-squared bishop and exerting pressure on the centre, was undoubtedly part of what persuaded him to play the sacrifice.

21.♗e4

By exchanging light-squared bishops, White reduces the attacking potential of the black pieces, but the pawns are very strong all the same, and only need to be well supported.

21…♕b8

Dubious is 21…♗xe4? 22.♘xe4 c4, because of 23.♘f6+ ♗xf6 24.exf6 – the pawn on b4 is hanging, and if it is guarded, the knight comes to e5, after which there is a threat to bring the queen to h6.

An excellent way to increase the pressure on the queenside was to include another fighting unit – the pawn on e6. The strongest move is the surprising 21…♗d5!. Sooner or later, the exchange of bishops on d5 is unavoidable, and Black’s idea is to take on d5 with the pawn. In this case he limits the activity of the ♘d2. In addition, White must himself take on c5, because of the threat of …c5-c4. The game could then proceed roughly as follows: 22.♖fc1 (on 22.♗xd5, possible replies are both 22…exd5 23.dxc5 ♗xc5, and 22…♕xd5 – the queen immediately comes to an active position) 22…a3 23.♕b1 ♖c8 24.♗xd5 exd5 25.dxc5 ♖xc5 26.♕d3 ♖xc1+ 27.♖xc1 ♕d7 – Black has a lasting initiative.

22.♗xb7 ♕xb7 23.♘c4 b3 24.♘d6 ♕b4 25.dxc5 ♕xc5 26.♕d4 ♕xd4 27.♘xd4 b2 28.♖a2 ♖fb8 29.♖b1 a3 30.♔f2 ♖a6

Nothing is achieved by 30…f6 31.♘c4 ♖a4 32.♘xa3 ♗xa3 33.♘c2 fxe5 34.♘xa3 – Black has regained the knight for the b2-pawn, but White should hold (he loses after 34.♖xa3? ♖c4).

31.♔e2

31…♗xd6

Now, the game simplifies and the chances of a drawn rook ending increase.

Stronger is 31…f6! 32.♘c4 fxe5 33.♘c2 e4! 34.♘2xa3 ♗f6 35.♘xb2 ♖b4! – all the pieces are tied up and one of the knights will inevitably soon be lost, and White faces a difficult fight for a draw (Black suddenly loses after 35…♖b3? 36.♘a4).

32.exd6 ♔f8 33.♘f3

More accurate was 33.♘c2 ♖b3 34.♖xa3 ♖axa3 35.♘xa3 ♖xa3 36.♖xb2 ♔e8, with a draw.

33…♔e8

Black misses a chance to fight for the advantage: 33…♖b5!, taking the e5-square from the white knight, and intending …♖b5-c5.

34.♘e5 f6 35.♘c4

A draw also results from 35.d7+ ♔d8 36.♖xa3 ♖xa3 37.♘c6+ ♔xd7 38.♘xb8+ ♔c7 39.♖xb2 ♖a8 40.♖c2+ ♔xb8 41.♖c6 ♖a7 42.♖xe6 ♖f7.

35…♖a4 36.♘xa3 ♖b3?

Losing a tempo. More precise is 36…♔d7 – the knight is not going anywhere. Now, however, Black loses a pawn and he faces difficulties, although he copes with them.

37.♖axb2 ♖xb2+ 38.♖xb2 ♖xa3 39.♖b7 ♖a2+ 40.♔f3 ♖d2 41.♖e7+ ♔f8 42.♖xe6 ♔f7 43.♖e7+ ♔f8 44.♖d7 ♔e8 45.♖xh7 ♖xd6 46.♖g7 g5 47.g3 ♔f8 48.♖a7 ♖d2 49.h3 ♖h2 50.♔g4 ♖e2 51.♖a3 ♔f7 52.♔h5 ♖h2 53.♖a7+ ♔e6 54.♖a6+ ♔f7 55.♔g4 ♖e2 56.♔f3 ♖h2 57.♔g4 ♖e2 58.♔f3 ♖h2 59.♔g4

Draw.

60 ***

Artur Jussupow

2615

Garry Kasparov

2800

Linares 1990 (9)

36…♕c5+ 37.♔h2 ♕d4 38.♖f3

White hopes to begin an attack on the black king after f4-f5.

38…b4!

The most accurate, but other moves also look good.

Also possible was 38…♖d8!? 39.f5 ♕xe5 40.f6+ ♔h8 41.♕c1 ♕xe4 42.♕h6 ♖g8 43.♖f4 ♕e3! – it was this idea of pinning the white queen and rook on the diagonal that was the basis of Black’s previous play. It is not clear how White can strengthen the attack, and the black pawns quietly advance to promote.

39.♕a4

Black also wins after 39.f5 b3 40.f6+ ♔h8 41.♕c1 b2 42.♕h6 ♖g8 43.♖f4 ♕d2, a highly important pin, which destroys all White’s hopes of mating the black king.

39…c3!! 40.♖xc3!

He loses after 40.♕xe8 ♕d7!, an important resource, which Black had to have foreseen earlier: 41.♕xd7 ♗xd7. Now, the pawns queen. 42.e6 (42.♖d3 ♗e6 43.f5 gxf5 44.exf5 ♗xf5 45.♖f3 c2 46.♖f1 ♗d3! (but not 46…b3? 47.♗d5! b2 48.♖xf5 c1♕ 49.♖xf7+ ♔g6 50.♖f6+=) 47.♖c1 b3–+) 42…♗xe6 43.f5 (43.♖f1 c2 44.e5 b3 45.♗e4 ♗f5 46.♗xc2 ♗xc2–+) 43…♗c4 44.f6+ ♔g8 45.♗f1 ♗xf1 46.♖xf1 c2 47.♖a1 h5 48.e5 b3 49.♖a8+ ♔h7 50.e6 c1♕ 51.exf7 ♕d2+ –+.

40…♗d7 41.♖c4! ♗xa4

Even more convincing was 41…♕xc4 42.♕xd7 ♖e6! 43.♕d5 ♕c3 44.♕a5 ♕b2 45.♕c5 b3 – it is not clear how White will stop the b-pawn.

42.♖xd4 ♖b8 43.♗f1 ♗c2!

Only one passed pawn remains of the connected black pawns, but White will have to give up a piece for it.

44.♗c4

44.♗d3 b3 45.♗xc2 bxc2 46.♖c4 ♖b2–+.

44…b3 45.♗xb3

He also loses after 45.♖d7 b2 46.♗a2 (46.♗xf7 ♖d8!–+; 46.♖xf7+ ♔h8 47.♗a2 ♗b3–+) 46…♖a8 47.♖xf7+ ♔h8 48.e6 ♖xa2 49.e7 ♗a4–+.

45…♖xb3 46.g4 ♖e3 47.f5

47…gxf5!

It was still possible to blunder! 47…♖xe4? 48.f6+ ♔h6 49.♖xe4 ♗xe4 50.e6 ♗d5 51.e7 ♗c6 52.h4 g5 53.h5 – we have a drawn position on the board.

48.exf5 ♖xe5

Now, the ending is absolutely hopeless for White.

49.♖d2 ♗a4 50.♔g3 ♖e3+ 51.♔h4 ♗b5 52.♖d5 ♗d3! 53.♖c5 h6 54.♖c3 ♖f3 55.♖b3 ♗e2 56.♖b2

No better was 56.♖xf3 ♗xf3 57.♔g3 ♗d1 58.♔f4 f6 59.h4 h5 60.g5 ♗c2–+.

56…♗f1 57.♖h2 ♔f6 58.♖h1 ♔e5 59.♖h2 f6 60.♖h1 ♔e4 61.♖h2 ♔f4 62.♖h1 ♗g2 63.♖h2 ♖g3

0-1

61 **

Alexander Grischuk

2764

Teimour Radjabov

2793

London ct 2013 (5)

White wants to entrench his knight on d4, after which he can prepare an attack on the kingside with g3-g4 and f4-f5. The move …h6-h5 will not bother him, because he can reply simply h2-h3. Of course, White’s plan is hard to implement, but it is potentially possible, and Black cannot afford to relax. Therefore, exploiting a fleeting chance, Black sharply changes the picture, forcing White onto the defensive:

34…♗xc5!

A brilliant decision! Black solves all his problems, which consist of his inactive bishop, blocked by the enemy pawns, and his lack of space. The connected passed pawns created by the sacrifice are joined by the d5-pawn, and form a dangerous avalanche. The pawns have a long way to go to promote, and therefore Black had to realise that the position is fairly closed, and the white knight cannot organise counterplay on the kingside.

35.bxc5 ♕xc5 36.♘e3 h5

A bit of care is in order – there is no reason to allow the knight to g4 and f6, from where it can start to worry the black king.

37.♕c2

White’s task is to simplify the position, by giving up his knight for the b- and c-pawns. He manages this successfully, securing a draw.

37…♕b6 38.♖b2 ♖e4 39.♖b1 c5 40.♘d1 ♕c6

By playing 40…b4!?, it was possible to pose White greater problems.

41.♘c3 ♖c4 42.♕d3 b4 43.♘e2 ♕a4

44.f5!

Passive defence on the queenside does not lead to any happiness, and so White seizes the first chance for counterattack, which proves to be the saving resource.

44…♕c2

On 44…gxf5, there would follow 45.♕e3, heading to g5 – White has a draw by perpetual check in hand.

45.♕xc2 ♖xc2 46.♘f4 gxf5 47.♘xh5+ ♔h6 48.♘f6 ♖a2

Otherwise, the white rook on a1 comes via a8 and then to h8-g8.

49.♘d7 ♖a5

This could also have been delayed until the next move, when the black rook stands on b5, but Black decided not to fight against the inevitable.

50.♘xc5 ♖xc5 51.♖xb4 d4

½-½

Additional material

Bronstein-Botvinnik, Moscow Wch match/18 1951

Kasparov-Portisch, Brussels 1986