Chapter 14

Weakening the opponent’s pawn structure

Of course, if there is a chance to double the opponent’s pawns, or create additional pawn weakness or islands in his structure, one should usually seize it. But in this chapter, we will look at cases where piece play provokes an unfavourable pawn advance by the opponent, weakening his structure. Sometimes, one can spend extra tempi on doing this, when the static weakness created will be more important than the dynamic factor of the time expended. One should also say that less experienced players sometimes weaken their structure, forgetting that pawns don’t move backward.

68 *

Alexander Alekhine

Sergei Freiman

Cologne 1911

White’s position is better, but at the moment, the black pieces are harmoniously placed, and are able to hold the defensive lines. The next move is designed to provoke disharmony in Black’s position.

23.♗h4!

It turns out that Black must weaken his position with a pawn move.

23.f4 ♘g4, although it keeps White’s advantage, allows Black to continue the battle.

23…g5?

A bad reaction, as now White gets the f5-square, which is too great a concession.

He loses after 23…♖d7? 24.f4+–.

The most tenacious was 23…f6 24.♕c3 ♕e6 25.f4 ♘f7 26.f5 ♕e5 27.♕d3 g5 28.♗g3 ♕e7 29.♘c4 ♗f8 30.♕e2, although here too, Black’s position looks lost, because of the great number of weaknesses.

24.♗g3 ♕e6 25.♘f5 ♗f8 26.♕c3 f6 27.f4 ♘g6

28.♘xh6!+ ♗xh6 29.f5 ♕e7 30.fxg6 ♗f8 31.♕c4+ ♔g7 32.♗xd6!

Black resigned.

69 *

Alexander Alekhine

Emanuel Lasker

New York 1924 (3)

The d4-pawn is isolated and needs defending. Black exploits this:

18…♗h5!

The weakening of a whole group of dark squares, which this move forces, is very significant, especially in view of White’s lack of a dark-squared bishop.

19.g4 ♗f7 20.bxc6 ♖c8

Also strong was 20…bxc6, because taking the pawn is bad: on 21.♕xc6, there is the strong move 21…♘e6!.

21.♕b2 bxc6 22.f5 ♕d6 23.♘g2

An attempt to cover the square f4 against an entry by the black queen. But the knight is badly placed here, because it does not perform any other functions. White’s problems are growing.

23…♗c7 24.♖fe1 h5 25.h3

25…♘h7!

Including yet another piece in the attack on the dark squares, decides the game.

26.♖xe8+ ♖xe8 27.♖e1 ♖b8 28.♕c1 ♘g5 29.♘e5

29.♘xg5 ♕h2+ 30.♔f1 fxg5–+.

29…fxe5 30.♕xg5 e4 31.f6 g6 32.f4 hxg4 33.♗e2 gxh3 34.♗h5 ♖b2 35.♘h4 ♕xf4 36.♕xf4 ♗xf4

White resigned.

70 *

Benjamin Blumenfeld

Alexander Alekhine

Moscow match 1908 (2)

Black has the more harmoniously placed pieces and the two bishops. If the bishop avoids exchange by moving to f8 or c5, White puts his rook on d2 and it will be hard to fight for the d-file. Instead, there followed

17…♗b4!

Now, the advance of the c-pawn looks too weakening, but otherwise, White cannot fight for the d-file.

18.c3

The move 18.g3 takes the f4-square from the knight, but weakens the light squares around the white king, which Black can exploit with the move 18…♘g5.

18.f3 looks good structurally, but White ends up with passively-placed pieces: 18…♘f4 19.♖f2 ♗xf5 20.exf5 ♗c5.

18…♘f4

Stronger is 18…♗f8, retaining all the advantages of his position.

19.♖d2 ♗xf5 20.♘xf5 ♗c5 21.b4 ♗f8 22.♖xd8 ♖xd8 23.♕c2 ♕d7 24.♖f1?

White wants to fight against the ♘f4 by playing his bishop to c1, but this loses precious tempi.

It was essential to play 24.g3! ♘e6 25.♘e3, and White is close to equality.

24…♕d3!

Now, Black firmly controls the only open file.

25.♕b3+ ♔h8 26.♘g3

Attack by the rook’s pawn

26…h5

Another good possibility was 26…c5, bringing the bishop into play.

27.♗c1

More tenacious was 27.h4!, after which the best reaction is 27…♖d7!, defending the seventh rank against the white queen. After 28.♗c1 c5 29.bxc5 ♗xc5 30.♗xf4! exf4 31.♕e6 fxg3 32.♕e8+ ♗f8 33.♕xf8+ ♔h7, Black retains the advantage in the major-piece ending.

27…h4 28.♗xf4 exf4 29.♘f5 h3!

The white king’s pawn cover is irretrievably weakened.

30.♕e6 hxg2 31.♔xg2 f3+ 32.♔g1 ♕xf1+!

White resigned.

71 **

Paul Keres

Vasily Smyslov

Bled/Zagreb/Belgrade ct 1959 (23)

There is a lack of coordination among the white pieces. Exploiting this, Black creates an object of attack on the queenside:

19…a5! 20.♘d4

He should not allow Black to open lines for his rooks; instead, he should prefer 20.bxa5 bxa5 21.♘d4, with chances of equalising.

20…axb4 21.axb4 ♕b7 22.♘d2

More active is 22.♘c3, after which Black’s advantage is minimal.

22…♖a3! 23.♗f2 b5

The pawn stands slightly more actively, taking c4 from the white knight, and opening a path to b6 for the bishop.

24.♘c2 ♖a2 25.♘b3 ♖c8 26.♘cd4

26…♗d8! 27.♖xc8 ♗xc8

Also good was 27…♕xc8 28.♖c1 ♕a8, with the idea of …♕a8-a3.

28.♖c1 ♗d7 29.♔h1 ♕a8 30.♗h4 ♗b6 31.♕d1

Also bad was 31.♗xf6 gxf6 32.♕g3+ ♔f8 33.♕h4 ♔e7 – the white knights are unstable.

31…♕a4 32.♗e1 h6

It was useful to make luft.

33.♗c3?

Losing at once. He could resist further with 33.h3! ♕a3 34.♗c3.

33…e5! 34.fxe5 ♘g4 35.♗e1 dxe5 36.♘f5 ♗xf5 37.exf5 ♖xg2 38.♖c8+ ♔h7 39.d4 ♖xh2+ 40.♔g1 ♗xd4+

White resigned.

72 **

Klaus Bischoff

Konstantin Sakaev

Brno 1992 (2)

The ♘f2 is very limited, which gives rise to the idea of landing a blow against d4, which White finds hard to strengthen without the knight.

13…c5!

This results in a rather ragged pawn structure, but Black is not disturbed by the fact that his pawn on e4 has no supporting colleague, as the dynamic factors in the position, and the possibility of immediately bringing his knight to an active position, outweighs the structural weakness resulting from his last move.

Of course, it was possible to choose the simple 13…d5, strengthening the e4-pawn, and ensuring a small space advantage, similar to a type of reversed French Defence structure. After 14.g3 ♘d7, Black’s position is preferable.

14.g3

After 14.g4, both 14…♕f3 15.♕xf3 exf3 and the tension-retaining 14…♕g6 are strong.

The exchange 14.dxc5 is also nothing special, with the most promising reply being 14…♘c6! (less accurate is 14…dxc5 15.g3 ♕f3 16.♕xf3 exf3 17.♗d3 ♘c6 18.♗e4!; but also interesting is 14…♘d7, and even 14…♘a6!?) 15.♗c3 dxc5 16.g3 ♕f3 17.♕xf3 exf3, with the advantage in the endgame.

14…cxd4 15.exd4 ♘c6 16.♗e3 d5

Black plans to open up the enemy king’s cover.

However, it was also possible to attack with pieces: 16…♗g5! – it turns out that White cannot hold the dark squares, because after the natural 17.♗g2, a deadly blow falls from the other side: 17…♕a5+!, and after 18.♔d1, there is the decisive 18…♗xe3 19.♕xe3 ♕b4! 20.b3 ♖xf2! 21.♕xf2 ♕c3 – the rook is hanging, and …♗c8-g4 is a threat.

17.0-0-0 ♘a5!

Now, it is the c4-square that is the most vulnerable point in the white camp, and this is where the next blow will fall.

18.♕d2 ♘xc4 19.♗xc4 dxc4 20.d5 ♗f6

The pawn could advance even further, but it represents no danger, since it is surrounded by black pieces.

21.♖he1 c3

It was also possible not to hurry with this, choosing instead the methodical 21…♗d7. Admittedly, after 22.♕c2, White avoids having his king opened up, but there is no great need for this anyway, and the quiet 22…♖fe8, increasing the pressure, looks strong.

22.bxc3 ♗d7 23.♕c2 ♖fe8

In calculating the line 23…♗xc3! 24.♕xc3 ♖ac8 25.♗c5, Black missed the intermediate check 25…♕g5!+ 26.♔b1 ♖xf2 27.♕e3 ♕g6, with a winning position. Of course, the variation is far from obvious.

24.c4

24…b6!

It is important to fix the pawn on c4, so it cannot advance further, because on c5 it would be harder to attack.

25.♔b1 ♖ac8 26.♕b3 h5

After a series of short-range blows, Black returns to other measures. The text restricts White’s chances of counterplay involving the advance of his g-pawn.

27.♖d2 ♗e5 28.♖c1 ♕g6 29.♘d1 ♖f8 30.♘c3 ♖f3 31.♘e2 ♗a4

A simpler win was 31…a5.

32.♕a3

32.♕xa4 ♖xe3 33.♕d7 ♖f8 was more tenacious, but also offers few chances.

32…♕d6! 33.♕xa4

33.♕xd6 ♗xd6 34.♗f4 (34.♗d4 ♖d3–+) 34…♗a3–+.

33…♖xe3 34.♘d4 ♖a3 35.♕c2 b5

He could win with the prosaic 35…e3 36.♖d3 ♖xd3 37.♕xd3 ♗xd4 38.♕xd4 e2 39.♕d2 ♕e7, but once again, the variation is not obvious.

Another way of winning, easier to find, was 35…♕b4!+ 36.♕b2 (36.♘b3 a5–+; 36.♔a1 e3 37.♖dd1 ♖f8–+) 36…♕c5! – White falls under a deadly pin.

36.c5

36.♕xe4 bxc4–+.

The way to pose maximum difficulties in realising the advantage was 36.♘c6! ♗c3 (36…♖c3 37.♕xe4 ♖xc6 38.♖xc3 ♕b4+ 39.♖b3 ♕xd2 40.♕xe5 ♕d1+ 41.♔b2 ♖xc4 42.♖c3 ♕d2+ 43.♔b3 ♖xc3+ 44.♕xc3 ♕xd5+ 45.♔b4 ♕xa2 46.♔xb5 leads to a queen ending in which White has good chances of saving himself) 37.♕xe4 ♖xc6 38.♕e8+ ♔h7 39.♕xh5+ ♕h6 40.♕f5+ ♕g6 41.♕xg6+ ♖xg6 42.♖d3 ♗b2! 43.♖xa3 ♗xa3 44.♖c3 b4 45.♖f3 (45.♖d3 ♖g4–+) 45…♖g4 46.♖f4 ♖xf4 47.gxf4 b3 48.axb3 ♔g6 – the bishop copes excellently with the task of blockading the white pawn phalanxes.

36…♕xd5 37.♘b3 ♕f7 38.♖e2

38.c6 ♗f6!–+.

38…a5 39.♖xe4 ♗f6 40.♖d1 a4

With time-trouble over, White resigned, since after 41.♘c1 ♖c3 42.♕e2 ♖3xc5, he is a pawn down and has no counterplay.

73 **

Jacek Gdanski

2395

Boris Gelfand

2585

Adelaide Wch jr 1988 (9)

The knight jump into d3 is natural and strong – Black gets the two bishops and active piece play. But in view of the fact that White will have to part with his light-squared bishop, Black first provokes a weakness:

15…♗h4!+ 16.g3 ♗f6 17.♖c1

If 17.bxc5 ♗xa1 18.cxd6 ♕xd6 19.♘xb7 ♕e7 20.♘c5 ♖b8 21.♘b3 ♕f6 22.♔f2 ♗c3 23.♕c2 0-0, White does not get full compensation for the exchange.

17…♘d3+ 18.♗xd3 exd3 19.0-0 0-0 20.♖fe1 ♖fe8 21.c5 dxc5 22.♖xc5

Better was 22.bxc5, strengthening the position in the centre. However, because of the weakness of the kingside light squares, the advantage would still lie with Black.

22…♕d7 23.♘c4 ♖ad8 24.d6 ♗e4

With such a bishop, White has to surrender a rook, and the rest is a matter of technique.

25.♗f2 ♕h3 26.♖xe4 ♖xe4 27.♕xd3 ♖xf4 28.d7 ♖h4 29.♖c8 ♕xh2+ 30.♔f1 ♕h3+ 31.♔e2 ♕e6+ 32.♔f3 ♖h5 33.♘b6 ♖f5+

White resigned.

74 ***

Veselin Topalov

2745

Evgeny Bareev

2726

Dortmund 2002 (2)

White has more space, but with all the minor pieces having been exchanged off, Black has no problem with a lack of room for his pieces. In addition, the pawn on h5 is cut off and the d4-pawn weak, so the position can be assessed as being in Black’s favour. With the following typical blow, Black creates a new target in the white position.

22…b5! 23.b3

White does not want to concede the d5-square to Black, but now his king’s pawn cover is weakened. Preferable was 23.♖c1, although after 23…bxc4 24.♖xc4 ♖d5, Black retains a small advantage anyway.

Much the same is true of 23.♕c5 bxc4 24.♕xc4 ♕d7, followed by …♖f8-b8 – White’s weaknesses show.

23…bxc4 24.bxc4 ♕e7 25.♔c2 ♖fd8 26.♕c5

26…♖8d7!

White has no active play, so the important rule ‘do not hurry!’ applies. The rook on d7 not only defends the a7-pawn, but also covers the seventh rank, since the king has an escape on h7.

27.♖hd1 ♕h4! 28.g4 f6 29.♕b4

White returns the queen to the defence, trying to oppose the transfer of the black queen to f4, after which there would be a threat of …e6-e5. However, now a blow comes from the other side:

29…f5!

Now, White faces the loss of his kingside pawns.

30.♕b8+

The passive transition into a rook ending by 30.♕e1 ♕xe1 31.♖xe1 ♖xd4 32.♖xd4 ♖xd4 gives Black winning chances.

It was possible to hold the balance with the extremely hard-to-see 30.♕a4!, creating the threat of c4-c5 and attacking c6. After 30…e5 31.c5 ♖xd4 (or 31…♖d5 32.♕xc6=) 32.♕xc6, White is saved by the threat of perpetual check.

30…♔h7

Stronger was the less obvious 30…♖d8! 31.♕xa7 fxg4 32.fxg4 e5.

31.♕e8

White again misses a chance to hold the balance: 31.c5! ♖d5 32.gxf5! exf5 33.♕e8 ♕f6 34.♖g1 solves all the problems.

31…♕f6 32.c5

Now, after 32.gxf5, there follows 32…♕xf5!.

32…♖d5 33.♖e1?

The patient defence 33.♖1d2 fxg4 34.fxg4 e5 35.♕xe5 ♖xe5 36.dxe5 ♕xe5 37.♖xd7 would still allow him to count on saving the game.

33…♖e7 34.♕xc6 fxg4 35.fxg4 ♕f2+ 36.♔d1 ♖xd4

The game opens up, and White perishes due to the open position of his king.

37.♖xd4 ♕xd4+ 38.♔c2 ♕c4+ 39.♔d2 ♕xa2+ 40.♔e3 ♕b3+ 41.♔e2 ♕c2+ 42.♔e3 ♕c3+ 43.♔e2 ♕e5+ 44.♔d2 ♕d4+ 45.♔c2 ♕c4+ 46.♔d2 ♕b4+ 47.♔e2 ♕b2+ 48.♔e3 ♕c3+ 49.♔e2 ♕e5+ 50.♔d2 ♕d4+ 51.♔c2 ♕c4+ 52.♔d2 ♕b4+ 53.♔e2 ♖f7

Black gets his rook into the attack in such a way that White has no checks on the diagonal.

54.♕xe6 ♖f6 55.♕d5 ♕xg4+ 56.♔d3 ♖f5 57.♖e5 ♕g3+ 58.♔d4 ♕f2+

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