In Chess Tactics: The King’s role in attack – part 1, you saw how one King, while apparently running away from opponent’s checks, was actually moving towards the enemy camp to assist his own pieces for trapping the opponent’s King. By the time the opponent realized what was happening, it was too late to do anything about it.
The three games we have chosen for this article is slightly different from the aforesaid theme. Here a King deliberately steps out of his castled position and marches towards the enemy King to provide support to his own attacking pieces. Of course this was possible because though opponent’s heavy pieces were still on board, the pawn positions severely restricted their free movement and the attacking King deftly maneuvered through the crowded position.
First game –
position after 30 moves:
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31 |
Kh2 |
Rc8 |
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If Black could guess the intention behind the White King’s move, he could try 31. … Bc8. We would have missed the interesting ending, but White could have still won the game by:
31. … Bc8 32. Ng5 Bxd7 33. Rf4. For example:
33. … Bc8 34. Nxf7 (threatening 35. Qxg6#) Rxf7 35. Qxf7+ Kh8 36. Qxg6 Qd7 37. Qxh5+ Qh7 (37. … Kg8 38. Rg4+ Kf8 39. Qh8+ Ke7 40. Qf6#) 38. Qxe8+ and Black has to give up his Queen to avoid checkmate.
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32. |
Kg3 |
Rce8 |
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Black is so short of option that he just keeps moving his pieces without much purpose! |
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33. |
Kg4 |
Bc8 |
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34. |
Kg5 |
Resigns |
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34. … Bxd7 35. Kh6 any 36. Qg7#
34. … Kh7 35. Rxf7+ Rxf7 36. Qxf7+ Kh8 37. Kh6 with mate in two moves. |
Position after 34. Kg5:
Second game –
position after 33 moves:
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34 |
f4 |
Ra2+ |
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1…Rxd4 2. f5 exf5 3 e6 Re4+ 4 Nxe4 fxe4 (4…Bb3 5. Ke3) 5 Rc7, threatening Rxc6 |
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35. |
Kf3 |
Ra3+ |
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36. |
Kg4 |
Rd3 |
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37. |
f5 |
Rxd4 |
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38. |
Kg5 |
exf5 |
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39. |
Kf6 |
Rg4 |
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40. |
Rc7 |
Rh4 |
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41. |
Nf7+ |
Resigns |
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41. … Ke8 42. Rc8+ Kd7 43. Rd8# |
Position after 41. Nf7+:
Third game –
position after 28 moves:
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29 |
Kf2 |
h6 |
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30. |
Ke1 |
Re6 |
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31. |
Qg3 |
Be8 |
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32. |
Kd2 |
g5 |
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33. |
Kc3 |
Kf8 |
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34. |
Kb4 |
Bf7 |
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35. |
Ka5 |
Kg7 |
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36. |
Kb6 |
Kf8 |
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37. |
Kc7 |
Kg7 |
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38. |
Kd7 |
Kf8 |
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39. |
Qf2 |
Rg6 |
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40. |
Qf5 |
h5 |
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41. |
g3 |
Resigns |
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Black is totally tied up and White will soon be able to create passed pawns that will wear down any resistance Black may have in mind. |
Position after 41. g3:
You will notice that the oldest game we chose in Chess Tactics: The King’s role in attack – part 1 was played in 1888 (there are even older examples in chess archives) and the latest one in this article is from 2008. So, you now know that such Royal ventures, though not so frequent, have continued to recur for more than a century even when chess theories and styles have undergone a lot of change over these years.
We hope that these games will broaden your thinking on the role of the King and to identify situations where such steps by the King may reap benefits for you.
Filed under Attacking tactics, Chess Strategy, Chess Tutorials, Chess lessons, Chess tactics
Tagged as attacking chess, attacking chess tactics, Attacking tactics, chess combination, Chess Strategy, Chess tactics, Chess Tutorials
Please note:
The best way for beginners to get better at chess and learn these ideas is to setup the position on a chessboard and go through the moves instead of trying to picture it. At this stage, understanding the ideas is more important than taking the burden of memorizing the positions.
As you keep gaining in experience, you do need to develop your power of visualization as without that, you won’t be able to work out deep combinations in your actual play.
In fact, in these articles on chess combinations, that is the purpose behind showing the positions after every few moves as the game progresses. Starting from one diagram and noting the moves till you reach the next one, check if your mental picture of the board tallies with that next diagram.
Continuing our theme on creating chess combinations, played out at a tournament at Bad Pistyan in 1922. Black chose the Neo-Steinitz defense which enhances Black’s chances in the Ruy Lopez opening that normally tends to be more in favor of White. But Black went one step further to take up initiative for a King side action based on his center control of e5 and d4 squares. White’s last move 12. Qd2 indicated his intention to bring a Rook to d1 for increasing control on d4. Black intended to undermine it by attacking the White Knight at f3 with 12. … Bg4. The Bishop would also pin the Knight against the Rook when it came to d1. Because if Black’s initial center control and King side pawn actions, White pieces have been somewhat restricted in their movement.
You should examine how Black continues his campaign from this point onwards.
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Position after 12. … Bg4:
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13. |
Rfd1 |
Nd4 |
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The threat is 14 … Bxf3 15. gxf3 Nxf3+ attacking the Queen also.
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14. |
Bxd4 |
exd4 |
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15. |
Ne2 |
c5 |
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Knight retreated as 15. Nxd4 Bxd1 would lose the exchange. Black brought more support for the pawn which further strengthened his hold on the center..
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16. |
Ne1 |
Ng6 |
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17. |
f3 |
Be6 |
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White was able to drive away the irritating Bishop but at the cost of weakening his castle. Black immediately shifted attack from flank to center.
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18. |
Rac1 |
Ne5 |
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19. |
Bb3 |
b5 |
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Black keeps raising the ante!
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Position after 19. … b5
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20. |
cxb5 |
c4 |
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Black was not wasting time to restore his pawn balance. He pressed home his attack expanding his center control
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21. |
Ba4 |
Qb6! |
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Black again used one of his central pawn as bait to create a pin on the King.
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22. |
Nxd4 |
axb5 |
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White obviously could not capture with his Queen because of 22. … Nxf3+ which loses the Queen. Black timed his pawn capture to maintain his tempo though it meant losing another pawn.
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23. |
Bxb5 |
Rfd8 |
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Now Black creates a two-way pin on the Knight! It is an exemplary chess tactics on how to use the center control by pawns to launch attacks and then giving them up to bring the pieces into attack.
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24. |
a4 |
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White is still unaware of Black’s plan to exploit the pin.
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Position after 24. a4
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24. |
… |
Nd3! |
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With one move, Black cuts off all the support for the Knight at d4. 25. Rxc4 Bxc4 26. Bxc4 Qxd4+ 27. Kf1 (27. Kh1 Rf2+) Qxc4 28. Nxd3 renews two-way pin on Knight and a solid Rook extra for Black
25. Bxc4 Qxd4+ 26. Kf1 Bxc4 (27. Nxd3 Bxd3+ 28. Qxd3 Qxd3+ 29. Rxd3 Rxd3) 27. Rxc4 Qxc4 28. Nxd3 gives same position as above
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25. |
Nxd3 |
Qxd4+ |
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26. |
Qf2 |
cxd3 |
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27. |
Rxd3 |
Qxd3! |
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27. … Qxf2+ 28. Kxf2 Rxd3 29. Bxd3 Rxa4 leaves White with two extra pawns against a Bishop – still a fighting chance. But Black’s move takes away a Rook against two extra pawns as shown below and White resigned.
28. Bxd3 Bd4 29. Qxd4 Rxd4 30. Bb5 Bb3 loses the a4 pawn also.
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The position after 27. … Qxd3
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Filed under Attacking tactics, Chess Basics, Chess Opening, Chess Strategy, Chess Tutorials, Chess lessons, Chess tactics
Tagged as Attacking tactics, chess combination, Chess Opening, chess opening guide, Chess Strategy, Chess tactics, Chess Tutorials
A vivid example on importance of center control in chess showed you the importance of this aspect of chess openings. At the risk of overstressing the point, here we bring another short game played with Sicilian Defense which is supposed to give Black a good fighting chance against White’s King Pawn opening.
We have already discussed about the theory behind one variation of Sicilian opening in Chess Opening: Control of Center – Part 1 and showed examples in Chess Opening: Sicilian Defense Theory to Practice about the kind of play that can win for White or Black.
Sicilian Defense is the choice of combative players because Black is playing to create advantage, not just to achieve equality. At the same time, Black must realize that by not directly going for the control of center, he may be allowing White an early initiative. Therefore Black has to play carefully so as not to be swept off his feet by a quick attack before his own thrusts have taken effect.
Just adopting Sicilian Defense without this realization is not going to help Black to get the upper hand. He must be prepared to play aggressively but precisely in line with the theories to snatch the initiative, otherwise it could be a recipe for swift demise! That is what happened in the following game played at Bad Gastein in 1948 and we try to identify where Black went wrong and allowed White his brilliant attack.
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Nicolas
Rossolimo
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Ivan
Romanenko |
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1. |
e4 |
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Aims to control d5 and f5 and create space for King side initiative
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1. |
… |
c5 |
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Shows black’s intention to go for Sicilian Defense.
This move apparently violates the principle of controlling the central and semi-central squares as it applies pressure only to d4.
Unlike moves like …e5 or …Nc6 which challenge center control or develop minor pieces, …c5 does neither. It also needs some more pawn movements like …d6, …e6, …a6 etc., allowing White a lead in development with attacking chances.
Then why go for it?
On the positive side, it gives Black
- space advantage on Queenside and further actions on that flank
- pawn majority at center by exchanging this pawn with White’s d4 pawn when he advances it to get full control of center
- control of open c-file after the exchange, using his Queen or Rook in that file to facilitate Queenside counterplay
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2. |
Nf3 |
Nc6 |
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Moves and countermoves to wrest control of d4 and e5 squares
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3. |
Bb5 |
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To quote Al Horowitz, this move was ‘actually an idea of Nimzowitsch, who called it one of his little jokes in the opening’. It was Rossolimo who adopted it many times to achieve remarkable success (as in the present game). That is how this line of Sicilian Defense goes under the name of Nimzowitsch-Rossolimo attack (ECO code: B31)
The main purpose is to get a rapid development and a strong center with c3 and d4. The struggle for d4 dictates the tactics for both sides and Black must be ready to capture on d4, else White gets great lead in development.
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3. |
… |
g6 |
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Black is getting ready to develop his KB to g7 and to apply pressure on d4 and e5 squares.
White’s usual intention is to play Bxc6, giving Black doubled pawns. Black’s major responses are 3…g6 preparing …Bg7, 3…d6 preparing …Bd7, and 3…e6 preparing 4…Nge7.
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4. |
0-0 |
Bg7 |
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White safeguards his King and wants to use KR as part of his attacking plans. Black of course carries on with his development plans.
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Position after 4 moves
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5. |
Re1 |
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Normal continuation is 5. c3 Qb6 with a struggle for control of d4. The text move was introduced by Gurgenidze for expected line of play along 5. Re1 e5 6. b4
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5. |
… |
Nf6 |
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This changes track from control of d4 to attacking e4 pawn and exposed the Knight to an early attack.
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6. |
Nc3 |
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White develops his Knight to support his QP as also his KB and adds to the control of d5
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6. |
… |
Nd4 |
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In keeping with the strategy discussed against move 3, Black should have gone for 6. … e5 followed later by …Qb6. Other alternatives would be 6 … d6 to enable …Bd7 or to safeguard his King (because of the distant and not so distant pins by White’s Bishop and Rook) by …0-0. The text move was not consistent with any of these ideas and hence a questionable move.
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7. |
e5 |
Ng8 |
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Black’s inhibited play and inconsistencies allow White considerable space in center with tempo through attacks on enemy pieces.
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8. |
d3 |
Nxb5 |
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See how Black is surrendering all initiative to White. While White opens lines for his QB, Black’s QB is still locked in and his King’s Knight has retreated and blocked castling for his King. His center pawns remain immobile. The exchange of Knight and Bishop was originally the intention of White’s 3rd move to reduce Black’s control on d4 and e5. Without being forced, Black Knight has taken the trouble of wasting several moves to give White what he wanted!
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9. |
Nxb5 |
a6 |
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Another questionable move by Black. As subsequent moves show, White’s QN was headed for d6 square, Black’s move just assisted it in taking that step!
One of the basic tenets in chess is that you should not force a badly placed enemy piece to move to a better square. By extension of the logic, do not induce your opponent to take a move that he was ready to take. Both these lose tempo for you as you could use that time to make more profitable moves for your own pieces.
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Position after 9 moves
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10. |
Nd6+! |
exd6? |
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White knew that the capture of his Knight would give him a fierce attacking opportunity and so his move was an excellent idea. But Black still fell for it, making a bad situation really worse by exposing his King to the possibility of a discovered check. After this, White’s attack through a brilliant combination simply rolls on.
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11. |
Bg5! |
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White has timed his moves to perfection! He held back the discovered check to first drive away the Queen which could come to some help against what White planned. With an immediate discovered check, Black would be able to extricate himself with Ne7.
There is a couple of important lessons here. Firstly, you can sometimes get out of a difficult situation by returning the material that was sacrificed by your opponent to gain an attack. By doing this, you are still even on material, but the opponent’s attack may fizzle out. Trying to hold on to the material only adds to your difficulties.
Secondly, you need not be in a hurry to execute a move which is there for the taking when you can make some other move that compels your opponent to attend to it first. All good players know this maxim of looking for a better move when a good move has been found.
The text move by White takes care of both these possibilities.
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11. |
… |
Qa5 |
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11. … Qb6 would not be any better.
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12. |
exd6+ |
Kf8 |
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At this stage, White’s win was only a matter of time and most players would possibly go for the simple 13. Qe2 with one likely line as:
13. Qe2 Bf6 14. Qe8+ Kg7 15. Ne5 (threatening 16. Qxf7#) Bxg5 16. Qxf7+ Kh6 17. Qf8+ Kh5 18. g4+ Kh4 19. Qf3 (threatening 20. Qg3#) Bf4 20.Qxf4 Nf6 (or Qb4) 21. Nf3+ Kh3 22. Qg3#
But White found a more elegant line.
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Position after 12 moves
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13. |
Re8+! |
Kxe8 |
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14. |
Qe2+ |
Kf8 |
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15. |
Be7+ |
Ke8 |
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15. … Nxe7 16. Qxe7+ Kg8 17. Ng5 with Qf7# to follow
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Position after 15 moves
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16. |
Bd8+! |
Kxd8 |
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17. |
Ng5 |
Resigns |
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It is either 18. Nf7# or 17. … Nh6 18. Qe7#
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The final position:
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