Chapter 58
Positions with non-standard material balance
Here, we delve a little bit in fairy tales. Positions with non-standard material relations are relatively rare in games of top players. Exchanges of identical pieces for one another occur much more frequently in practice. But there are rare exceptions, when we see positions with unusual material relations, and these often involve a battle between a queen and assorted other pieces.
368 *
Mikhail Tal
Mikhail Botvinnik
Moscow Wch match 1960 (7)
26.♖xd7+!
With the help of a tactical operation, White simplifies the position, and even obtains some material advantage.
In a ‘normal’ course of events (26.♘xf6 ♘xf6), Black retains a slight advantage, due to White’s weak pawn structure on the queenside.
26…♘xd7 27.♖xd7+ ♔xd7 28.♘f6+ ♔d6 29.♘xg8
Although White has obtained two knights for the black rook, his knights are positioned on the edge of the board. Black can attack the weak white pawns on the queenside. The position remains double-edged.
29…♖c5 30.♘h6 f6 31.♘g4 ♗xc2 32.♘xf6 ♗xb3
It was worth considering 32…♗f5!?∞, limiting the ♘f6.
33.axb3 ♖b5 34.♘xg5
34…♖xb3?
Black was counting on the fact that the short-range knights find it difficult to fight against an outside passed pawn. But Black had missed something in his calculation of concrete variations.
Correct was 34…♔e5! 35.♘fe4 ♖xb3 36.♘f3+ ♔d5 37.♘f6+ ♔d6, which allows Black to continue the battle, probably with a drawn outcome.
35.f4 ♖b1+
In this case, general considerations give way to concrete realities. After 35…b5 36.♘fe4+ ♔d5 37.f5, the pawn cannot be prevented from reaching f7, ensuring the win: 37…♖a3 38.f6 ♖a8 39.f7 ♔e5 40.♘c5 b4 41.♘ge6 b3 42.f8♕ ♖xf8+ 43.♘xf8 b2 44.♘d3++–.
36.♔e2 ♖b2+ 37.♔f3 ♖b3+ 38.♔g4 ♖b2 39.g3 b5 40.♘fe4+ ♔d5 41.f5 b4 42.f6 ♖a2 43.f7 ♖a8 44.♘h7 b3 45.♘d2 b2 46.♔f3 ♔d4 47.♔e2 c5 48.f8♕ ♖xf8 49.♘xf8 c4 50.♘e6+ ♔d5 51.♘f4+ ♔d4 52.♘b1
1-0
369 **
Konstantin Landa
2639
Predrag Nikolic
2636
Belgium tt 2011/12 (9)
18.♗xg5!
Otherwise, it is hard to show an advantage for White.
18…hxg5 19.♘xg5 ♗xd5
Forced.
20.♘xf7 ♗xf7
Thus, we have an unusual material balance on the board. White has queen and two pawns for three minor pieces. If the black king were not exposed, the position would be unclear.
21.♕e3 ♔h7!
A strong move – Black prevents the queen appearing on the kingside.
22.♕f4
Unclear was 22.♕g5 ♘e5 23.♕xf5+ – see the note to White’s 23rd move.
22…♘e5 23.♖ae1
The continuation 23.♕xf5+ ♗g6 24.♕h3+ ♔g7 25.♖ae1 ♖ae8 26.♔h1 ♖f3!? leads to a position where it is far from obvious that White has any advantage. Black’s pieces are very active.
23…♖ae8 24.♖e3!
White finds a manoeuvre that allows him to cover the kingside light squares, and prepare the advance of his pawns on the queenside.
24…♗b6 25.♖c3!
In a surprising way, the ♖c3 becomes the key piece in the position. It is hard for Black to create counterplay.
25…♔g7 26.♔g2
26.b4!? was worth serious attention, trying to close the dark-squared bishop: 26…♘g6 27.♕c1! (but not 27.♕xd6 ♖d8–+) 27…♗d4 28.♖d3, and now not 28…♖e4? 29.♖xd4 ♖xd4 30.♕c3+–.
26…♗e6
27.h4?
In positions with unusual material balances, the usual contours are lost, and the player often has to find moves ‘blindfold’, without the customary indications. Correct was to activate the rook from the f1-square: 27.♖d1! ♗c5 28.b4! ♗xb4 29.♖b3 a5 30.a3 ♗c5 31.♕g5+ ♔h7 32.♖xb7+ ♖f7 33.♖xf7+ ♘xf7 34.♕f6 ♔g8. Only now, after the exchanges, when the black pieces can no longer organise an attack, is it time to advance White’s main trump: 35.h4+–.
27…♖f6 28.h5
An unobvious line was 28.b4 ♗d7 29.c5 ♗c6+ 30.♔h3 dxc5 31.bxc5 ♘g6∞.
28…♗d7! 29.b4 ♗c6+ 30.f3 ♘g4
The black pieces are starting to work in coordination with one another. The position has become unclear.
31.c5 ♖e2+
Interesting variations, although in White’s favour, arise after 31…dxc5 32.bxc5 ♗a5 33.♖d3 ♗b5 34.fxg4 ♗xd3 35.♖d1 ♗e4+ 36.♔g1 ♖f7 37.gxf5! ♗xf5 38.h6+ ♔g8 (38…♔h7 39.♖d7! ♖xd7 40.♕xf5++–) 39.♕a4 ♖e2 40.♕b5! (40.♕xa5 ♗e4=) 40…♖e3 (40…♖xa2 41.♕e8+ ♖f8 42.h7+ ♗xh7 43.♕e6++–) 41.♕xa5 ♖xg3+ 42.♔f2
.
32.♔g1 dxc5 33.bxc5 ♗a5 34.♖d3 ♘e5 35.♕g5+ ♔f7 36.h6
A transformation that deserves detailed attention occurs after 36.♖e3 ♗d2 37.♕xf6+ ♔xf6 38.♖xe2 ♗c3 (not 38…♗b4 39.♔g2 ♗xc5? 40.♖xe5! ♔xe5 41.h6 ♔f6 42.♖h1, and the pawn unexpectedly queens) 39.♔g2 ♔g5∞.
36…♘xd3?
In time trouble, Black goes wrong.
Correct was 36…♖xh6! 37.♕xh6 ♘xd3 38.♕h7+ ♔f6 39.g4 (39.♕h8+ ♔f7 40.♕h7+ ♔f6=) 39…♘e5! 40.♕h6+ (40.♕xf5+ ♔g7 41.♖f2 ♖e1+ 42.♔h2 ♘g6! – the activity of the black pieces suffices for equality) 40…♔f7 41.g5 ♘xf3+ 42.♖xf3 ♗xf3 43.♕f6+ ♔e8 44.♕g6+ ♔e7 45.♕f6+ (45.♕xf5 ♖g2+ 46.♔f1 ♗c6 47.♕f6+ ♔e8 48.g6 ♗c3 49.♕xc3 ♖xg6=) 45…♔e8, and despite the scattered black pieces, the white queen has no way to profit.
37.♕g7+ ♔e6 38.h7 ♗b4 39.h8♕ ♗xc5+ 40.♔h1 ♗e7
We have a far from standard balance of forces, to say the least. White’s two queens are opposed by an entire black army: rook, two bishops and knight.
41.♕hh7
One must be a bloodless computer to move the pawn in front of the king in such a position: 41.g4. Even so, this move is the quickest way to win: 41…♔d7 (41…fxg4 42.♕xg4+ ♔d6 43.♕d4+ ♔c7 44.♕xd3+–) 42.♕hh7 ♖d6 43.gxf5+–.
The continuation 41.♕hg8+!? ♔d7 42.♕8h7 ♔d6 leads to a position from the game.
41…♔d6 42.♕h4 f4! 43.gxf4 ♖ee6 44.♕gh7 ♘xf4 45.♖d1+
White brings up his last reserves with check, and is first to begin an attack on the king.
45…♘d5 46.♕g3+ ♔d7 47.♕g5 ♔c7 48.♖xd5!
Simplifying the position.
48…♖h6+ 49.♕gxh6 ♖xh6+ 50.♕xh6 ♗xd5 51.♕c1+ ♔d7 52.♔g2 ♗d6
52…♗xa2 53.♕d2++–.
53.♕d2 ♔c6 54.♕a5!
On this square, the white queen completely deprives Black of counterplay on the queenside – he cannot advance his pawns.
54…a6 55.♔f2 ♗c4 56.♔e3
The white king helps the f-pawn advance, and Black is defenceless.
56…♗c5+ 57.♔e4 ♗d5+ 58.♔f4 ♗d6+ 59.♔g4 ♗c4 60.f4 b6 61.♕a4+ ♔d5 62.f5 ♗e5 63.♔g5
Black resigned.
370 **
Konstantin Sakaev
2590
Mikhail Kobalia
2495
St Petersburg 1997 (5)
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.♘f3 ♘f6 4.♘c3 e6 5.e3 ♘bd7 6.♕c2 ♗d6 7.♗d3 0-0 8.0-0 dxc4 9.♗xc4 e5 10.♗d2 ♕e7 11.♗b3 e4 12.♘g5 ♗xh2+ 13.♔xh2 ♘g4+ 14.♔g1 ♕xg5 15.♕xe4 ♘df6 16.♕f4 ♕h4 17.f3 g5
White notices that Black’s last move has sharply weakened the f-file, and he exploits this with a queen sacrifice:
18.♕d6!
18.♗e1 ♕h6 19.♕c7 ♘xe3 20.♖f2 ♗e6 leads to a double-edged and roughly equal battle.
18…♘e8 19.♕xf8+!
The point of White’s idea! Otherwise, he remains a pawn down after 19.♗e1 ♘xd6 20.♗xh4 ♘xe3 21.♖fe1 ♘xg2 22.♔xg2 gxh4, which was obviously not in his plans.
19…♔xf8 20.fxg4 f6
20…♘d6 21.♖f6 ♔e7 (21…♗e6 22.♗xe6 ♔e7 23.♗e1+–) 22.♖af1 ♕xg4 23.♗e1+– – the black queen is completely blocked.
21.♘e4 ♔g7
21…f5 22.♗d1! ♔g7 23.♗e1 ♕h6 24.gxf5 g4 25.♖f4! ♗xf5 26.♘g3+–.
22.♗d1!
White had calculated this far when sacrificing the queen. The intuitive assessment was that the pressure on the f-file, plus the pawn on g4, ensuring squares for the knight on f5 and h5, should represent powerful compensation for the queen. As it turned out, defending such a position in a practical game is very difficult!
22…♗e6
Black should have played a counter-sacrifice: 22…♗xg4! 23.♗e1 ♕h5 24.♘g3 ♗xd1 25.♘xh5+ ♗xh5. Black maintains a blockade on the light squares, thanks to which he should not lose. An important point is that he can answer 26.e4 with 26…♗e2! 27.♖f2 ♗d3 28.e5 f5!, with a double-edged game.
23.♗e1 ♕h6 24.♗c3 ♕g6
If 24…♕h4, preventing the transfer of the knight to g3, then instead of repeating moves, White can choose to strengthen the position with 25.♖c1!, creating the threat of 26.d5!.
25.♘g3 ♕d3
The queen tries to stir up trouble in White’s camp, but this does not happen, because White’s pieces are too well-coordinated.
On 25…♖d8, there follows 26.e4, continuing to strengthen the centre.
26.♔h2!
The king moves away from a check on e3, thereby indirectly defending the central pawn.
26…♖d8
He cannot gorge himself: 26…♕xe3? 27.♖f3, and the queen is trapped in mid-board!
27.♗e2
Also interesting is 27.e4!?, sending the enemy queen to the queenside.
27…♕g6 28.e4 ♔g8 29.♖f2 ♘d6?
This first active move proves to be his last.
It was essential to be patient, and choose a move such as 29…♖d7 30.♖af1 ♖f7, after which White has a rich choice. For example, the prophylactic 31.a3 or 31.a4 are good. Later, it is also useful to put the king back on g1, after which White can start the assault. One of his ideas is ♘g3-f5, and then ♗e2-d3 and e4-e5, but there are also other possibilities.
30.d5! ♕h6+
He also loses after 30…cxd5 31.exd5! (after 31.♖xf6 ♕e8 32.exd5 ♗xd5 33.♖d1 ♘f7, Black can still defend) 31…♗xd5 (31…♗c8 32.♖xf6 ♕e8 33.♖e1+–) 32.♖d1 ♘e4 33.♖f5 – Black loses the bishop.
31.♔g1 ♕h4 32.dxe6 ♕xg3 33.♖d1 ♔f8 34.♖d3
The queen is trapped anyway, and Black resigned.
371 ***
Kiril Georgiev
2670
Konstantin Sakaev
2590
Niksic tt 1997 (8)
Black has played the opening badly, and fallen into a cramped position. White’s plan is to play b2-b3 and c2-c4, and exchange knights on b6. After that, Black will be completely deprived of counterplay. To change the character of the position, he has to settle on a positional queen sacrifice:
18…♕xa5!?
It seems to me that Black’s decision is not one-sided, and might prove to be mistaken after deep research But I have never seen such an idea anywhere else, and it produces a certain creative satisfaction, in any event.
19.♘b6 ♕xb6
It is very important to deprive White of his dark-squared bishop, especially with the e3- and f4- squares weakened, as these are the squares of which the black knight dreams! However, these hopes look a little exaggerated for the moment. One must understand that the sacrifice has a kind of forced and defensive character, but whilst counting on potential counterplay.
After 19…♕h5 20.♘xc8 ♖xc8, Black has sacrificed less material, but has obtained no compensation for it.
20.♗xb6 ♘xb6
Black’s pieces are like a coiled spring, ready to unwind at a later moment. At the same time, an important element is the complete elimination of even a potential weakness in his camp, which means that White has nothing to fasten onto. From White’s side, his best plan is to prepare a counter-sacrifice of the exchange on d6, returning part of his extra material, to try to create some object of attack in Black’s camp.
21.♕d4 ♘d7 22.♔h1 ♗b5 23.♖d2 ♖c7 24.♖ad1
It was worth considering 24.b3, followed by c2-c4.
24…♖fc8 25.c3 ♘c5 26.♕e3 ♗a4 27.♖f1
Stronger was 27.♖xd6! ♗xd1 28.♖xd1 b5. Black’s plan is to advance …b5-b4, obtaining counterplay on the dark squares. White undoubtedly retains the advantage, but it is far from easy to break into Black’s position.
27…♘b3 28.♖dd1
28…♘a5!
Black spots a promising regrouping on the queenside.
29.♖a1 ♘c4 30.♕f2 ♗b3
Over the last few moves, Black has made noticeable progress, entrenching his pieces on good squares. As well as the break …d6-d5, there are ideas of advancing the queenside pawns or transferring the rook via c5 to b5, taking aim at the b2-pawn.
31.♗f3
White’s idea consists of the exchange of light-squared bishops via d1, but Black finds an excellent resource:
31…d5! 32.exd5 ♗c5 33.♕e1 exd5
Now, Black cannot be stopped from entrenching his knight on e3, and he begins to feel confident.
34.♖f2
Taking the pawn is risky: 34.♗xd5 ♖e7 35.♕b1 ♖d8 – the black pieces are very active.
34…♖e7!
If Black is tempted to regain part of his sacrificed material, then after 34…♗xf2 35.♕xf2 ♖d8 36.♖e1, White would again obtain the advantage.
35.♖e2 ♘e3 36.♕d2 ♖ce8
White has no plan, but it is also hard for Black to become active.
37.♖ee1 ♔f8 38.♖e2 ♗c4 39.♖ee1 ♗b3 40.♕c1 g6 41.♖e2 h5 42.♕d2 ♗c4 43.♖ee1 ♗b3 44.f5
White avoids the repetition, and, at the cost of a pawn, wants to simplify the position somewhat.
44…♘xf5 45.♖xe7 ♖xe7 46.♖e1 ♘e3 47.♖e2
In the final position, White has no plans, and only Black can play for a win. To begin with, he could advance his pawns to a4 and b5, put his rook on e5, and his king on g7. Admittedly, after that, it is harder to strengthen the position any further, and playing for a win would involve some risk – after all, a queen is a queen. So: draw agreed.
372 ***
Miguel Najdorf
Viacheslav Ragozin
Saltsjöbaden izt 1948 (16)
The position has a double-edged character – both sides are involved in an active fight for the centre. The ♕d8 and ♘d6 are both in the sights of the white rook on d1, but White has been deceived by the undefended pawn on e4:
17…♘xe4!!
Black gets almost sufficient material equivalent for the queen. At the same time, he eliminates several active white pieces, and takes control of a group of important squares in the centre.
If 17…♗xd5 18.♖xd5 ♕b6 19.e5 ♘f5, the position also remains complicated, but White’s chances would be somewhat superior, because of his two bishops.
18.♘f6+ ♘xf6
The other knights captures are roughly of equal value, and also ensure Black compensation for the queen:
A) 18…exf6!? 19.♖xd8 ♖fxd8 20.♗e3 f5
;
B) 18…♗xf6 19.♖xd8 ♖fxd8.
19.♖xd8 ♖fxd8 20.♗d2 ♘e4 21.♗e3 ♘d6!
The knight heads to f5, with the intention of exchanging on e3. And if the bishop retreats, the knight gets the chance at any moment to land on d4.
22.♖c1
22.♖d1 allows the exchange of the light-squared bishop, and after 22…♘c4! 23.♖xd8+ ♖xd8 24.♗xc4 ♗xc4, Black also has the advantage.
22…♘f5 23.♗f4 ♗d5
The bishop is not only secure in the centre, but also frees the path for the e-pawn to seize more space.
24.♗c4 ♗xc4 25.♖xc4 e5! 26.♗g5
Another possibility was 26.♖xc6!? bxc6 27.♗xe5 ♘d4 28.♗xg7 ♘xf3+ 29.♕xf3 ♔xg7 30.♕xc6 – when Black starts to attack the queenside pawns, there will be a chance of perpetual check.
26…♖d1+ 27.♔h2 h6 28.♖c1
Now, the bishop loses the possibility of a normal retreat.
It was necessary to settle for 28.♗d2 ♖d8 29.♕b3! ♖1xd2 30.♘xd2 ♖xd2 31.♕xb7, with a sharp game, where attack and defence roughly cancel each other out.
28…♖d7 29.♗e3
Passive, but after 29.g4 hxg5 30.gxf5 e4 31.♘xg5 gxf5, Black also keeps a strong initiative.
29…e4! 30.♘e1 ♖ad8
White has a very bad position, since his ♘e1 takes no part in the game.
31.♗c5 ♗e5+ 32.g3 ♖d2 33.♖c2 ♗xg3+ 34.♔g2 ♗e5 35.♔f1 ♖xc2 36.♘xc2 ♖d1+ 37.♔e2 ♖b1 38.b4 ♖b2 39.♔d1 ♖b1+
A repetition of moves, to save time before the time control.
40.♔d2 ♗f6 41.♗xa7 ♘e5 42.♕a4 ♘f3+ 43.♔e2 ♘g1+ 44.♔d2 ♘f3+ 45.♔e2 ♘d6 46.♕d7 ♘g1+ 47.♔e3 ♖d1
White resigned.
373 ***
Sergei Karjakin
2780
Anish Giri
2720
Wijk aan Zee 2013 (5)
Black’s problem is that his queen is being attacked with tempi, and the solution is a radical one:
19…♕d8!
A quiet course of the game would promise Black some unpleasantness:
A) 19…♕a5 20.♕b5 ♕xb5 21.♗xb5
;
B) 19…♕c5 20.♕b5 ♕f2 (20…♕xb5 21.♗xb5) 21.♘e4 ♕h4 22.g3 – the black queen is banished to h6, which guarantees White the initiative.
20.g3!
A good decision.
Accepting the sacrifice with 20.♘f6+ exf6 21.♖xd8 ♖xd8 22.exf6 ♗xf6
leads to a position where the white king is in serious danger, whilst the black pieces are well coordinated.
20…♗e6 21.♗g2 ♖c8 22.♔b1 ♕a5
Black has satisfactorily resolved the problems he faced and has developed his pieces. The game is equal.
374 ***
Zahar Efimenko
2689
Konstantin Sakaev
2607
Serbia tt 2010 (4)
White has deliberately not defended the d4-pawn, counting on seizing control of the b-file and exploiting the strength of the two bishops.
14…♖xd4 15.♖ab1
On 15.♗c5, there could follow 15…♖d5! 16.♖ab1 ♖a8!, sacrificing only one exchange.
15…♖b6!
Conceding the b-file would clearly be unfavourable.
16.♗c5
Here, Black succumbed to the temptation to play beautifully, and chose
16…♖d5!?
The position has a closed character, and there are no open lines for the rooks. Therefore, Black’s idea is perfectly correct, but there was no necessity for it.
He could have limited himself to one exchange sacrifice, and played 16…♖d7. After, for example, 17.♖fc1 h6, a dynamic equality arises – neither side has any concrete plan. At the same time, taking on b6 is risky for White – the black pieces immediately become untangled.
17.♗xd5 cxd5 18.♗xb6 axb6
It is interesting that each player assessed his own chances as superior at this moment, whereas the truth is in the middle – the position is equal, with mutual chances. White hopes to open some lines and enter with his rooks, whilst Black hopes to transform his pawn mass into a new queen with the support of his minor pieces.
19.♕b4 ♘d7 20.a5 b5
21.♕e7!
If the white queen stays in her own camp, there follows …c7-c5 and …d5-d4 (White will not allow …b5-b4, by playing a2-a3), and Black’s advantage becomes obvious.
21…c5 22.f4!
The queenside can be forgotten about, so White strives to open lines on the other wing, even at the cost of weakening his king. Now, how should Black advance his pawns? Structurally, it is more important to play …b5-b4, so as to remove the b5-pawn permanently from a possible attack. However, White has started dangerous counterplay against the king, and for additional counterplay, Black would like to have the long diagonal open. It seems to me that, from the viewpoint of logic, both possibilities are equally valid.
22…d4 23.f5 e5
24.f6
There could also follow 24.g4 ♘f6 (on 24…h6, there is the dangerous 25.h4, creating the threat of g4-g5. If 25.g5 hxg5 26.♕xg5 ♘f6 27.♖f3 c3 28.♖g3 ♔f8 29.♕xg7+ ♔e7, White is risking more) 25.g5 ♘e4, with an unclear, irrational position.
24…gxf6 25.g4!?
White’s idea is to play g4-g5.
25.♖xf6 ♘xf6 26.♕xf6 ♕e6 27.♕d8+ ♔g7 28.♕g5+ ♔h8 leads to a repetition of moves.
25…h6
It was possible to advance almost any of the queenside pawns, but the prophylactic advance on the kingside looked safer.
26.♖f5
Here, the players agreed a draw. There could have followed…
26…♕c6 27.♔f2 c3 28.♖g1 ♕e6 29.♕d8+ ♔g7 30.♖h5
and White will soon give perpetual check.
Additional material
Alekhine-NN, Moscow 1915
Euwe-Lasker, Zurich 1934
Smyslov-Reshevsky, USSR-USA 1945
Tal-Panno, Portoroz 1958
Polugaevsky-Nezhmetdinov, USSR 1958
Keres-Fischer, Bled/Zagreb/Belgrade 1959
Polugaevsky-Geller, Skopje 1968
R. Byrne-Spassky, San Juan ct match/3 1974
Gelfand-Kazhgaleev, Istanbul Olympiad 2012 – White’s 26th move
Gelfand-Anand, Moscow Wch match/9 2012 – White’s 19th move
Kramnik-Anand, Las Palmas 1996 – White’s 20th move
Karpov-Velimirovic, Skopje 1976
Filip-Kortchnoi, Bucharest 1954 – White’s 20th move
Nezhmetdinov-Chernikov, Rostov-on-Don 1962 – White’s 11th move
Alburt-Kasparov, Lucern 1982 – Black’s 14th move
Karpov-Kasparov, New York Wch match/3 1990