Chapter 41

The attack on the king

In chess, there is nothing more interesting than an attack on the main piece, the king. Even the translation of the word ‘checkmate’, from the Ancient Persian, means ‘the king is dead’.

To the experienced player, certain signs are usually visible when an attack is about to start. These are: weakened king’s protection, insufficient pieces defending the king, or a greater concentration of the attacker’s forces in the relevant area of the board.

234 *

Michael Adams

2460

Boris Gelfand

2585

Arnhem Ech jr 1988 (10)

There is a group of dark squares around the white king that are vulnerable, and Black exploits this:

19…♘xb2! 20.♗d3

Now we reach a technical position, with extra material for Black, but even in the case of 20.♔xb2 ♗a3+ 21.♔xa3 ♕c3+ 22.♘b3 a4 23.♗a7 axb3, White cannot avoid a quick mate.

20…♘xd3 21.cxd3 ♘f6 22.♘e4 ♘xd5 23.♖hg1 b4 24.♖df1 ♗xh4 25.♕f3 ♘xe3 26.♕xe3 b3 27.axb3 ♖b8 28.d4 0-0 29.g5 hxg5

White resigned.

235 *

Jan Timman

2625

Anatoly Karpov

2705

Montreal 1979 (11)

All of the white pieces are very passive, and at the same time, his king is protected only by pawns. There follows an energetic attack, as all the units covering the white king are eliminated one by one:

15…♘xh2! 16.c5

On 16.♖e1, the knight returns with 16…♘g4, and there is a threat of …♕e7-g5-h5.

16…♘xf1 17.cxd6 ♘xg3! 18.fxg3 ♕xd6 19.♔f2 ♕h6 20.♗d4 ♕h2+ 21.♔e1 ♕xg3+ 22.♔d2 ♕g2 23.♘b2 ♗a6 24.♘d3 ♗xd3 25.♔xd3 ♖bd8 26.♗f1 ♕e4+ 27.♔c3 c5 28.♗xc5 ♕c6 29.♔b3 ♖b8+ 30.♔a3 ♖e5 31.♗b4 ♕b6

White resigned.

236 *

Arash Golizadeh

Ashgar Roghani

Teheran 2008

With his last move, Black brought his last inactive piece to e8, and in the process meeting the threat of a check on e7. It appears that White’s attack has been beaten off. But White finds a nice idea that wins the game. The coordinated efforts of a queen and a knight attacking a king are a powerful force.

23.♕h3 ♘f8

Black loses in banal style after 23…h6 24.♘xh6+! gxh6 25.♕xh6 ♕c7 26.♕xg6+ ♕g7 27.♕xe8++–.

24.♘h6+!! gxh6 25.♕xh6

If the black pawn stood at a7, Black would play …♗f5, but now this is impossible, because of the loss of the queen. The fate of the game rests on such small, but vital nuances.

25…♕c7 26.♖xf8+ ♖xf8 27.♕xf8+ ♔xf8 28.♘xe6+ ♔e7 29.♘xc7

Black resigned. There could have followed 29…♔d6 30.♘e8+ ♔e7 31.♘g7 ♔f6 32.♘h5+ ♔g5, and now technique decides things:

analysis diagram

33.g4! (of course, he could also play 33.♘g3 ♔f4 34.♘f1 ♔e4 35.g4!, and the pawn should promote: 35…♔f3 36.g5 ♔g4 37.♔g2+–) 33…a5 (33…♔xg4 34.♘f6+ ♔f5 35.♘xh7 (White has a clear passed h-pawn) 35…b5 36.h4 a5 (36…b4 37.b3!) 37.♔g2 a4 38.♘g5 b4 39.♘f3, and the knight has managed to stop the black passed pawns) 34.♔g2 a4 35.♔g3 b5 36.♘f4 b4 37.h4+ ♔h6 38.♘xd5+–.

237 **

Alexander Alekhine

Friedrich Sämisch

Berlin 1923

The black kingside has been abandoned to its fate by the black pieces:

18.fxe6! ♗xg3 19.exf7+ ♔h8 20.♘d5

Black resigned. Wherever the queen goes, she comes under attack: 20…♕b8 (20…♕a7 21.♘c6+–; 20…♕b7 21.♘e6+–; 20…♕c5 21.♘e6 ♗e5 22.♗xe5 dxe5 23.♘xc5 bxc5 24.♘c7+–) 21.♘c6 ♗e5 22.♘xb8 ♗xb2 23.♘xd7 ♗xd7 24.♘xb6+–.

238 **

Janez Barle

2260

Alexander Beliavsky

2400

Yerevan tt 1971

White has sacrificed a pawn, and needs to show that he has something for it.

17.♘f6+ ♔h8 18.♕h3!!

An unexpected square for the queen. The main idea is to cover the square e3, via which the black queen could travel with check, to her king’s defence. Other moves are simply bad:

A) 18.♕h4? h6 19.♖hd1 ♘g6 20.♕h5 a5;

B) 18.♕h5? gxf6 19.♖h4 ♕e3+ 20.♔b1 h6–+.

18…gxf6 19.♖h4 ♔g8 20.♖xh7 ♘g6 21.♕h6 ♕e3+

Sad for Black, but necessary, otherwise he cannot avoid mate on g7.

22.♕xe3 ♔xh7 23.♕f3 ♖b8 24.♕xf6+–

In addition to his material advantage, White can add the plus of the weakened enemy king.

24…♖b6 25.h4 e5 26.♕f2 ♗g4 27.♕e3 f6 28.h5 ♘e7 29.♕e4+ ♗f5 30.♕b4 ♖b7 31.♖f1 ♗c8 32.♕e4+ ♔g7 33.g4

Black resigned.

239 **

Zhao Jun

2580

Xiu Deshun

2508

Xinghua Jiangsu ch-CHN 2011 (9)

1.d4 ♘f6 2.c4 e6 3.♘c3 ♗b4 4.a3 ♗xc3+ 5.bxc3 c5 6.e3 b6 7.♗d3 ♘c6 8.♘e2 ♗a6 9.e4 0-0

10.♗g5!

The plans of the two sides are clear. Black will try to win the pawn on c4, and pretends that he is not afraid of the white attack on the kingside. White, in his turn, will develop the maximum activity on the kingside, which is what his last move does.

10…h6 11.♗h4 g5

Radically escaping the unpleasant pin. Other continuations look more solid, but also fail to ensure Black a quiet life.

For example, 11…d6 12.f4! e5 13.0-0 exd4 14.cxd4 cxd4 15.♘g3 ♖e8 16.♘h5 ♖e6 17.f5 ♖e5 18.♗xf6 gxf6 19.♕g4++–.

Interesting is 11…e5, after which White should play aggressively: 12.0-0 g5 13.♗g3 d6

analysis diagram

14.f4!, a very important move. 14…♘g4 (Black is also worse after 14…♕e7 15.fxe5 dxe5 16.♕a4 ♗b7 17.d5 ♘a5 18.♗f2 ♘h5 19.♘g3 ♘xg3 20.♗xg3 ♗a6 21.♖f5 f6 22.♖af1 ♖ad8 23.h4; accepting the sacrifice loses immediately after 14…exf4? 15.♘xf4 gxf4 16.♗h4 ♘e5 17.♖xf4 ♘g6 18.♗xf6 ♘xf4 19.♗xd8 ♖axd8 20.♕g4+ ♘g6 21.e5+–) 15.♕a4 (it would be a mistake to play 15.fxe5? dxe5 16.♕a4 ♘a5 17.♖f3 exd4 18.cxd4 cxd4) 15…♘a5 (15…♗b7 16.d5 ♘a5 17.h3 gxf4 18.♗xf4 exf4 19.hxg4 ♗c8 20.♖xf4 ♕g5 21.♖af1 ♗xg4 22.♘g3)

analysis diagram

16.fxg5 hxg5 17.♖f3 ♕e8 18.♕c2 f6 (18…♗xc4 19.h3 ♘h6 20.♖f6 ♔g7 21.♖af1+–) 19.♖af1 ♗xc4 20.h3 ♘h6 21.♖xf6 ♕e7 22.♗xc4+ ♘xc4 23.♖6f2! – White has the advantage. Not now 23…♘e3 24.♖xf8+ ♖xf8 25.♖xf8+ ♕xf8 (25…♔xf8 26.♕d3+–) 26.♕c1.

12.♗g3 d6 13.f4

It was worth seriously considering the immediate 13.h4! e5 (13…g4 14.♗f4 ♔g7 15.♘g3 cxd4

analysis diagram

16.♘h5+!, as this tactical trick is the key idea of the move 13.h4. 16…♔h8 (16…♘xh5 17.♕xg4++–) 17.♗xh6 ♘xh5 18.♕xg4 f5 19.♕xh5 ♕e8 20.♕g5 ♖f7 21.cxd4) 14.♕d2 ♘e8 15.hxg5 hxg5 16.0-0-0 ♘a5 17.♕e3↑. The white attack looks very dangerous. As confirmation of this, we can cite the following variation: 17…f6 18.dxe5 dxe5 19.f4! (the standard break) 19…gxf4 20.♘xf4 exf4 21.♗xf4 ♕e7 22.♕h3+–.

13…♘a5?!

White is not really bothered about the fate of the c4-pawn, and it was more important to increase the pressure on the pawn at d4.

Black could have exploited his chance with 13…♘h5!? 14.0-0 ♘xg3 15.♘xg3 cxd4. Even so, after 16.♕g4!, White’s attack is strong (16.cxd4?! is grist to Black’s mill: 16…♘xd4 17.♖a2 ♖c8 18.♖af2 ♗xc4 19.♗xc4 ♖xc4 20.♕h5 ♕f6 21.fxg5 ♕xg5 22.♖xf7 ♖cc8∞) 16…dxc3 17.♕h3! ♔g7 18.e5! ♖h8 (18…dxe5? 19.fxg5 ♕xg5 20.♘e4 ♕g6 21.♖f6+–) 19.f5 ♘xe5 20.fxe6.

14.fxg5 hxg5 15.0-0 ♘h5

A) 15…♗xc4 16.♗xd6;

B) 15…♘xc4 16.♕a4+–.

16.♗xd6

He could have ended the game at once with the blow 16.♘f4! ♘xf4 (16…gxf4 17.♕xh5 fxg3 18.♖f3+–) 17.♗xf4 f6 18.♕h5 ♕e8 (18…♔g7 19.e5+–) 19.♕h6! gxf4 20.♖xf4 f5 21.exf5+–.

16…♕xd6 17.e5 ♕e7

17…♕d8 18.♘g3! ♘xg3 19.hxg3+–.

18.♘g3 ♘xg3

18…♘f4? 19.♖xf4 gxf4 20.♕g4++–.

19.♖f6

It was also possible to play more slowly. After 19.hxg3, Black cannot put up any effective resistance against the rook’s appearance on f6. There is no help from 19…f5 (19…♗xc4 20.♖f6!, transposing into the game) 20.exf6 ♖xf6 21.♖xf6 ♕xf6 22.♕h5 ♕g7 23.♖e1!, as the Black pieces cannot help their king, and White brings a rook to the e-file with decisive effect: 23…cxd4 24.♖xe6 ♗xc4 25.♗xc4 ♘xc4 26.♖g6+–.

19…♔g7

Nor is he saved after 19…♗xc4 20.hxg3! (20.♕g4 ♗xd3 21.♕xg5+ ♗g6 22.♖xg6+ fxg6 23.♕xe7 ♘e2+ 24.♔h1∞; 20.♗xc4 ♘xc4 21.♕g4? ♘f5–+) 20…♗xd3 21.♕xd3 ♔g7 22.♖af1. White consistently brings his pieces over to the field of battle. The extra knight on a5 is not felt at all and is just a spectator: 22…♖h8 (22…cxd4 23.♕d2 ♖g8 24.♕xg5+ ♔f8 25.♖xf7+ ♕xf7 26.♖xf7+ ♔xf7 27.♕f6+ ♔e8 28.♕xe6+ ♔f8 29.♕f6+ ♔e8 30.e6 ♖f8 31.♕g7 ♖d8 32.e7+–) 23.♕e3 ♖ag8 (23…♖h5 24.♕f3+–) 24.♕xg5+ ♔f8 25.♖xf7+ ♕xf7 26.♖xf7+ ♔xf7 27.♕f6+ ♔e8 28.♕xe6+ ♔d8 29.d5 ♔c7 30.♕f7+ ♔b8 31.d6 ♖c8 32.e6 ♘c6 33.e7 ♖ce8 34.g4!, winning.

20.♕g4 ♖g8 21.hxg3 ♘b7

21…♔f8 22.♖af1 ♖g7 23.♗g6+–.

22.♖af1 ♘d8 23.♕e4 ♕b7 24.d5 ♖h8

25.♕g6+!

An effective finish.

25…fxg6 26.♖xg6+ ♔h7 27.♖xg5+ ♔h6 28.♖g6+ ♔h7 29.♖g4+ ♔h6 30.♖f6+ ♔h5 31.♖h4+

Black resigned without waiting for mate.

240 ***

Mikhail Tal

2610

Gennady Zaichik

2510

Tbilisi 1988 (1)

Black had been counting, after the exchange of pawns on b4, on eliminating the ♗d3, which is the main piece eyeing up his kingside. But the white pieces are lined up to develop the initiative, not for exchanges:

14.♘d5!

14.axb4 ♘xb4 15.e5 does not work, because of 15…♗b7 16.♕h3 ♘xd3 17.exf6 ♘xe1 18.fxe7 ♗xg2 19.exf8♕+ ♖xf8 – during the series of mutual captures, Black has taken more.

14…exd5 15.exd5 ♗g4

In the event of 15…♘b8 16.axb4, White gets extremely strong positional compensation for the piece, as it is hard for Black to develop.

16.♕g3 ♘xd5

Just as a move earlier, after 16…♘a7 17.axb4, White has a strong initiative for the piece.

17.♕xg4 ♘f6 18.♕h3 d5

On 18…bxa3, there follows the zwischenzug 19.♗c3!, forcing the weakening …g7-g6.

19.a4

White has the more active pieces, harmonising with his pawn structure, and also the two bishops. Black’s defence is very difficult.

19…♖fe8 20.♔h1 a5 21.♕f3 ♗d6 22.c4!

Underlining the weakness of the light squares in Black’s camp.

22…bxc3

He cannot simplify the position, as after 22…dxc4 23.♗xc4 ♘d4 24.♗xf7+! ♕xf7 25.♘xd4, White keeps an extra pawn.

23.♗xc3 ♖xe1 24.♖xe1 ♗b4 25.♗xf6!

This move was easy to find, because White’s play is built around the light squares, and the ♘f6 is their main defender.

25…♗xe1 26.♕h5 gxf6 27.♕xh7+ ♔f8 28.♕h8+ ♔e7 29.♕xa8 ♗f2 30.♗b5 ♘d4 31.♕e8+ ♔d6 32.♕f8+ ♔e6 33.♘c5+ ♔f5 34.♗d7+ ♘e6 35.♕xf7 ♕xc5 36.♕xe6+ ♔xf4 37.♕xf6+ ♔e3 38.♕g5+ ♔d3 39.♗e6 ♔c4 40.♕f4+ ♗d4 41.♕c1+ ♔b4 42.♕xc5+ ♔xc5 43.b3 ♔d6 44.♗c8 ♔e5 45.g3 ♔e4 46.♔g2 ♗c5 47.♗b7 ♗b4 48.h4 ♗c3 49.♔h3 ♗e1 50.g4 ♔e5 51.g5 d4 52.♗a6 ♗b4 53.♔g4 ♔e4 54.g6 ♗f8 55.♔g5

Black resigned.

241 ***

Anton Korobov

2705

Sergei Zhigalko

2667

Baku 2012 (7)

This example reminds us of the importance of knowing the opening well, and thoroughly analysing one’s own games. White had prepared for the game, but Black had done so significantly better.

18…♕h4!

Beginning a direct attack on the king.

Probably, in his preparations, White had found some sort of improvement in the variation 18…♘g5 19.♖fe1 ♖f8 20.♗f1 h5 (20…f4! 21.exf4 ♖xf4 was stronger) 21.f4! ♘f3+ 22.♘xf3 ♗xf3 23.♗e2 ♗e4 24.♗d3 ♗xd3 25.♕xd3 h4 – and after further battles, the game ended in a draw, Van Wely-Zhigalko, Sestao 2010.

19.♗f3 ♕h3

There is already no defence! It turned out that Sergei Zhigalko had had this position on his board at home, and, what is even more important, he remembered its assessment!

20.♖fe1 ♖h6 21.♘f1 ♘xg3 22.fxg3

It was essential to test the opponent in the variation 22.♗xc6 ♘xf1 23.♗g2 ♖g6 24.f4, although here too, Black wins:

analysis diagram

24…♘xe3! (24…♘xh2? 25.♔h1! is already good for White) 25.♖xe3 ♕xe3+ 26.♔h1 e4 27.♗c1 ♖xg2 28.♕xg2 ♕b3 29.♖xd6 ♘f8 30.♗b2 g6 31.h4 ♕xc4 32.h5 ♖c8 33.hxg6 hxg6 34.♖xg6+ ♘xg6 35.♕xg6+ ♔f8 36.♕xf5+ ♔e8–+.

22…♗xf3 23.♖d2 ♕g4 24.♕b3 ♔h8 25.♖f2 ♖c8 26.c5 bxc5 27.♕f7 ♘f6 28.♕e6 ♖g8 29.♕xd6 ♘e4 30.♕xe5 ♘g5

White resigned.

242 ***

Lev Polugaevsky

Mikhail Tal

Moscow ch-URS 1969 (2)

White dominates in the centre, and the black king is protected only by pawns. Therefore, White carries out not the traditional plan involving creating a passed d-pawn, but instead sacrifices, depriving Black of the time needed to exchange his light-squared bishop for the white knight, whilst the white e-pawn becomes a battering ram:

16.d5! exd5 17.e5! ♘c4 18.♕f4 ♘b2

Black takes the risky decision to go for tempo play, but other moves do not solve his problems either:

A) 18…♖c6 19.♗xh7+! (19.♘g5 h6 20.♗h7+ ♔h8 21.♘xf7+ ♔xh7 22.♘xd8 ♖xf4 23.♘xb7 ♖e4=) 19…♔xh7 20.♘g5+ ♔g6 21.h4 allows White to develop a decisive attack;

B) The prophylactic 18…h6 leaves White with a strong initiative: 19.♕f5 g6 20.♕g4! (20.♕h3 ♔g7 21.e6 ♕f6 22.exf7 ♖c6 permits Black to hold) 20…h5 21.♕f4 ♔g7 22.♘g5 ♕e7 23.e6 f6 24.♘f7 ♖xf7 25.exf7 ♕xf7 26.♕g3, with advantage.

19.♗xh7+! ♔xh7 20.♘g5+ ♔g6 21.h4 ♖c4

Let us look at other moves:

A) 21…♘xd1 22.h5+! ♔xh5 23.g4+ ♔g6 24.♕f5+ ♔h6 25.♕h7+ ♔xg5 26.♕h5+ ♔f4 27.♕f5#;

B) 21…f5 22.♖d4!→ – the white rook is ready to transfer to the kingside in short order;

C) 21…♕d7 22.e6! fxe6 23.♕g4+–;

D) 21…♕e7 22.♖b1+–.

22.h5+

The blockading move 22.♖d4 is also good, getting the rook ‘off prise’. After 22…♖xd4 23.♕xd4 ♗c8 24.♕xb2 ♖h8 25.♕d4 f6 26.♘f3, White has a large advantage.

22…♔h6 23.♘xf7+ ♔h7 24.♕f5+ ♔g8 25.e6! ♕f6 26.♕xf6 gxf6

27.♖d2!

White regains the piece, retaining all the advantages of his position.

If 27.♘d6 ♘xd1 28.e7 ♖c1!.

27…♖c6 28.♖xb2 ♖e8 29.♘h6+ ♔h7 30.♘f5 ♖exe6 31.♖xe6 ♖xe6 32.♖c2 ♖c6 33.♖e2 ♗c8

The most tenacious is 33…♖c1+! 34.♔h2 ♖c7, although after 35.♖e6, Black still has a difficult position.

34.♖e7+ ♔h8

34…♔g8 35.♘h4 is not much better.

35.♘h4 f5 36.♘g6+ ♔g8 37.♖xa7

Black resigned.

243 ***

Mikhail Tal

2565

Lubomir Ftacnik

2500

Naestved 1985 (8)

Almost all Black’s pieces are on the back rank, his king is weak, and so are the light squares in his camp. All these factors allow White to start an attack:

15.f6! exd4

Black is in deep trouble, and in order not to suffer for nothing, he may as well take the piece.

On 15…gxf6, there follows 16.♗d3, with the threat of ♕d1-h5.

Whilst on 15…g6, both 16.♘b3, and 16.♘f3 are good.

16.♕xd4

White tries to leave the black pieces tied up in their own camp, but the other possibility 16.fxg7!, opening up the black king, was stronger: 16…♔xg7 (he loses at once after 16…♘xg7 17.♘f6+ ♔h8 18.♕d3 ♗f5 19.♖xf5) 17.♕xd4+ f6 (on 17…♔g8, there follows 18.♕xb6!, and Black’s queenside pieces are hanging: 18…♗c7 19.♘xc7 ♕xc7 20.♕xc7 ♘xc7 21.♗f3 – He has to give up rook for bishop, and the white queenside pawns decide the outcome of the game)

analysis diagram

18.♗d3!, with numerous threats, e.g.: 18…♔h8 (18…♖a7 19.♗h6+ ♔h8 20.♗xf8 ♗xf8 21.♕xb6; 18…♖f7 19.♗h6+ ♔h8 20.♕xb6) 19.♗g5 ♘d7 20.♕e4 ♖f7 21.♘xf6 ♘exf6 22.♕xa8, with a winning position.

16…♘c6

It was essential to fight against the bone in his throat on f6 with 16…♘d7!, and after a line such as 17.♗g5 (on 17.♕e4, there follows 17…♔h8!, and Black has good chances to beat off the attack) 17…gxf6 18.♗h6 ♗b7 19.♖ad1 ♔h8 20.♗xf8 ♗xf8 21.♘e3 ♘d6, Black has restrained the white attack.

17.♕h4 ♗g3

White is better after 17…g6 18.♗g5 ♔h8 19.♘e7.

The most tenacious was 17…♗c5, although after 18.♗c4, White’s attack is very dangerous anyway.

18.♕xg3 ♕xd5

19.♗f3

Once again, there was a simpler win with the immediate break-up of the black king’s pawn cover: 19.fxg7 ♘xg7 20.♗f3 ♕e6 21.♖e1 ♕f6 22.♕c7.

19…♕c4 20.♗h6 g6 21.b3 ♕c3

No better is 21…♕c5 22.♕h4 ♖a7 23.♗xf8 ♔xf8 24.♖ae1.

22.♕h4 ♗b7 23.♗xf8 ♔xf8 24.♕xh7 ♘xf6 25.♕h8+ ♔e7 26.♖ae1+ ♔d6 27.♕g7 ♘d5 28.♕xf7 ♘d8 29.♕xg6+ ♔c5 30.♖e4 b5 31.♖d1

Black resigned.

Additional material

Capablanca-Marshall, New York 1918

Keres-Geller, Moscow 1962

Tal-Flesch, Lviv 1981

Geller-Smyslov, Moscow 1965

Ivanchuk-Jussupow, Brussels match/9 1991

Kasparov-Roizman, Minsk 1978

Kasparov-Karpov, Lyon Wch match/20 1990