94 | February 16n2013

1 of 8
lets improve your chess
training
thegrandmaster'seye By GM Robin van Kampen
A positional Ruy Lopez
Dear readers, Im an 18year-old Dutch GM currently rated 2596. Every
once in a while Ill be annotating an instructive or interesting game for you.
For my frst column I picked an interesting Ruy Lopez I played with White.
Van Kampen,R (2565) - Urkedal,F (2486)
World Juniors (Athens), 14.08.2012
1.e4 e5 2.f3 c6 3.b5 a6 4.a4 f6 5.00
b5 6.b3 b7
This slightly offbeat line goes by the name
Archangel. In general it's one of the many
sidelines in the Ruy Lopez where, to my mind,
White can get a nice position without having to
know deep theory. Instead it's more important
to understand the ideas.
7.d3!
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+wqkvltr0
9+lzpp+pzpp0
9p+n+sn+0
9+p+zp+0
9++P++0
9+L+P+N+0
9PzPP+zPPzP0
9tRNvLQ+RmK0
xiiiiiiiiy
The right move from a strategic point of view.
White will try to prove that Black has shown
his cards too early, and instead of playing
the usual set-up with c3d4, he now wants to
prove that the black on b7 is misplaced as
White's e-pawn is not a great target when the
is on d3 instead of d4.
7...e7 8.bd2 00 9.e1 d6
'Threatening' a5 and taking the on b3,
which would give Black the bishop pair, thus
a good game.
10.a3 a5?!
10...d7! was probably the correct way to play,
mentioned by my opponent a few days after
the game. The move introduces a plan which
is not too common in the Spanish: putting the
on e6: 11.f1 d8 12.g3 e6 13.e3 c5
14.f5 d8, leading to a complicated game.
11.a2 c5 12.f1
White will continue g3f5 and it's evident
that Black's is slightly misplaced on b7.
12...c8
Black has basically lost two tempi!
13.c3 c6 14.g3 e8?!
Logical but here this move appears to be
clumsy: 14...c7 15.e3 d7 16.d4.
15.g5! f8 16.h3
Now Black can't play e8f8 without
weakening himself with h6.
16...d7 17.e3 c8 18.f3 e8 19.d4 f8
19...c4 20.d2 h6 21.ad1, followed by b1
c2, gives White a nice space advantage.
20.d5 e7 21.b4 c4 22.a4 g6 23.b1 a8
24.c2
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+wqrvlk+0
9++l+pzpp0
9p+zpsnn+0
9+p+Pzp+0
9PzPp+P++0
9+zPvLNsNP0
9+L+zPP+0
9tR+QtRmK0
xiiiiiiiiy
Black still lacks any kind of play: his own
pieces stand in the way of a pawn break on
the kingside.
24...h6 25.d2 a5?!
I was a bit disappointed when I saw this move
on the board as I had dreams of using an idea
from the 1974 game Karpov-Unzicker! In the
given line you can see what I had in mind:
25...c7 26.a3 b7 27.ea1 eb8 28.1a2
e7 29.axb5 (29.c1! would of course be
even better, only releasing the tension at the
best given moment!) 29...axb5 30.a7! c8
31.c1 f4 32.a1 and, with the help of the
blockading on a7, White can take over the
a-file next move.
26.axb5 axb4 27.cxb4 xb5 28.e2!
White is winning on the queenside.
28...c7 29.c3 b7 30.a5 d7 31.ea1
xa5 32.bxa5 a8 33.a4 xa4 34.xa4
b5 35.a1 e7 36.c3 d8 37.d2 c5
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+vl+k+0
9+++pzp0
9+zpsnnzp0
9zPwqPzp+0
9+p+P++0
9+wQ+N+P0
9+LvLzPP+0
9tR++mK0
xiiiiiiiiy
38.g3!
A nice way of permanently eliminating any
counterplay on the kingside.
38...e7 39.g2 xe4
A desperate sacrifice to try and gain some
counterplay. 39...c7 40.a6+.
40.xe4 f5 41.c2 e4
41...xd5 42.a3 e4 43.g1.
42.d4 xd5 43.e6! Forcing the exchange
of queens, after which White remains a piece
up in the endgame.
43...xc3 44.xc5 b5 45.a4
45.xe4 fxe4 46.xe4 c8 47.a6 c3 48.e3+
45...f6 46.a2 c3 47.e3 dxc5 48.xb5
d4 49.a6
Now the game is over.
49...xe3 50.fxe3 f7 51.c2 b8 52.c4+
e7 53.xc3 b2+ 54.f1 10 n
94 | February 16n2013
2 of 8 2 of 3
guessthemove By IM Merijn van Delft
training lets improve your chess
In this game quiz you can get a maximum of 40 points by answering the eight questions that follow the eight diagram
positions. More important than points though, is that you enjoy playing over the game and learn a few new ideas. If you
feel that the quiz questions are generally too difficult for you, dont be discouraged by the point system. You can simply
make a quick guess at the diagram positions and enjoy the beauty of the game.
The Sicilian endgame
Thanks to the following game I qualifed for the Tata Steel Grandmaster
C group 2014, which will be a nice goal for me to work towards during
the course of 2013.

Bekker,S (2191) - Van Delft,M (2392)
Wijk aan Zee, 26.01.2013
1.e4 c5 2.c3 a6 3.f3 d6 4.d4 cxd4 5.xd4
e6 6.e3 b5 7.a4 b4 8.a2 f6 9.f3
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsnlwqkvltr0
9+++pzpp0
9p+zppsn+0
9++++0
9PzpsNP++0
9++vLP+0
9NzPP++PzP0
9tR+QmKL+R0
xiiiiiiiiy
Question 1
Would you play:
A) 9...b7, simply to keep developing, since
taking on b4 is not an attractive option for
White;
B) 9...d5 to counter in the centre while a2 is
out of play;
C) 9...e5 to counter in the centre while a2 is
out of play.
9...e5!
First occupying the e5 square is the right way
to counter in the centre, 5 points. 9...d5 10.e5
fd7 11.f4 leads to a French structure that
is fine for White, therefore no points. 9...b7
10.d2 (10.xb4 is indeed well met by 10...
d5) 10...d5 11.e5 is similar (no points).
10.b3 d5 11.g5 e6 12.exd5 xd5
13.xd5 xd5
Since I basically had to win this game due to
the tournament situation, I wasn't particularly
happy that the queens came off so early, but
I remembered one thing: Sicilian endgames
tend to favour Black.
14.000 f6 15.c4
XIIIIIIIIY
9rsn+kvltr0
9+++zpp0
9p++lzp+0
9++nzpvL0
9PzpL+++0
9+N++P+0
9NzPP++PzP0
9+mKR++R0
xiiiiiiiiy
Question 2
Would you play:
A) 15...c7 to exchange the light-squared
bishops;
B) 15...f4 to exchange the light-squared
bishops;
C) 15...fxg5 to eliminate White's imporant
dark-squared .
15...c7!
Calmly keeping control over the position, 5
points. 15...f4 16.xe6 xe6 leads to the
same thing, so also 5 points. 15...fxg5 16.xd5
xd5 17.xd5 leaves Black seriously lagging
behind in development, therefore no points.
16.xe6 xe6 17.e3 c6 18.d5 e7
19.hd1
Question 3
Would you play:
A) 19...d8 to neutralise White's initiative by
taking one pair of rooks off the board;
B) 19...f7 to keep the in the centre, since
the queens have already been exchanged and
we are basically in the endgame;
C) 19...00, simply to bring the to safety,
since there are still many pieces on the board.
19...f7!
The endgame factor plays the main role here,
5 points. 19...00 is a reasonable alternative
here, though: 3 points. 19...d8 20.xd8+
exd8 21.c5 leaves the a-pawn vulnerable
and should be avoided (no points).
20.c5
White is starting to lose track around this
point. I was planning to answer 20.d7 with
20...hb8!?. 20.b1 to regroup the with
ac1 may be the most healthy option.
20...hc8 21.c3?
This weakens White's position. Retreating with
21.b3 was still possible.
21...bxc3 22.bxc3
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+r+++0
9++vlkzpp0
9p+n+nzp+0
9+sNRzp+0
9P++++0
9+zPvLP+0
9N+++PzP0
9+mKR++0
xiiiiiiiiy
Question 4
Would you play:
XIIIIIIIIY
9r++k+tr0
9++vlzpp0
9p+n+nzp+0
9++Rzp+0
9Pzp+++0
9+N+vLP+0
9NzPP++PzP0
9+mKR++0
xiiiiiiiiy
94 | February 16n2013
3 of 8
guessthemove By IM Merijn van Delft
training lets improve your chess
A) 22...ab8 to bring the final piece into play;
B) 22...xc5 to start by eliminating White's
most active piece;
C) 22...cd4 to create an immediate crisis
along the c-file.
22...cd4!?
The right idea, but not the most accurate
execution, 3 points. 22...ab8! I dismissed
because of 23.c2 (23.xa6 a3+ followed
by b2 wins.) but here Black has 23...xc5
24.xc5 cd4+! 25.cxd4 exd4 staying a
healthy pawn up (5 points). 22...xc5 23.xc5
ab8 is very similar, 4 points.
23.xd4
23.cxd4 exd4 24.xd4 xd4 25.1xd4 xc5 is
very bad for White.
23...xd4 24.d7
24.cxd4! exd4 25.d2! xc5 26.xc5! xc5
27.b1 a7 28.c1! gives White positional
compensation for the pawn and chances to
fight for a draw.
24...c6 25.e1
XIIIIIIIIY
9r++++0
9++Nvlkzpp0
9p+r+zp+0
9++Rzp+0
9P+sn++0
9+zP+P+0
9N+++PzP0
9+mKtR+0
xiiiiiiiiy
Question 5
Would you play:
A) 25...a7 to get the to the open b-file with
b7;
B) 25...ac8 to double up rooks and defend
c6 again;
C) 25...d8 to increase the pressure against
the brave white .
25...ac8
An inaccurate move, regretted as soon as
played, so no points. Strongest is manoeuvring
the around with 25...a7! since now 26.f4
b7 27.fxe5 a3+ 28.d2 b2+ 29.d3 e6!
is winning for Black (5 points). Also strong is
25...d8 with the idea 26.f4 e8! (4 points).
26.b2
White can try to confuse the issue with 26.f4
when, starting with 26...a3+ , Black still holds
an advantage.
XIIIIIIIIY
9+r+++0
9++Nvlkzpp0
9p+r+zp+0
9++Rzp+0
9P+sn++0
9+zP+P+0
9NmK++PzP0
9++tR+0
xiiiiiiiiy
Question 6
Would you play:
A) 26...a3 to initiate a direct attack against
the white ;
B) 26...e6 to take control over the f4 square;
C) 26...f5 to manoeuvre the around to d6.
26...e6
Missing an opportunity to finish the game
right away, so no points. 26...a3+! 27.b1
(27.xa3 c2+) and here I missed 27...8c7!
28.a5 (28.cxd4 b7+ is over.) 28...b5
winning (5 points). 26...f5 27.a5 (27.f4 is met
by 27...e6!) 27...e6 is also strong, 3 points.
27.g3 d6 28.a5!
White keeps fighting.
28...c7 29.d3 b5 30.b6 8c7 31.d5
White should just sit tight with 31.b3.
31...b7 32.db4
XIIIIIIIIY
9++++0
9+r++kzpp0
9p+rvlzp+0
9zPn+zp+0
9sN+++0
9+zPR+PzP0
9NmK++zP0
9++tR+0
xiiiiiiiiy
Question 7
Would you play:
A) 32...xb4 to open up the way for the to
e6;
B) 32...xc3 to seek a concrete tactical
solution to the position;
C) 32...c8 to maintain the tension and keep
all options open.
32...xc3!?
With only a few minutes left on the clock for
both players, I couldn't resist playing this move,
3 points. 32...c8! keeps a clear advantage
without complications, 5 points. I correctly
dismissed 32...xb4 33.xb4 xc3 (33...e6
34.ed1 is comfortable for White.) based on
34.b3! and here I actually missed 34...a2
but White has 35.d7+ xd7 36.xc6 and a
draw is the most likely result.
33.xd6
33.xc3 xb4 34.xc6 (34.b3 xe1 35.xb7+
g6 36.b6 c5 37.xa6 xa5 gives Black
excellent winning chances.) 34...xe1+
(34...xa5+ actually doesn't work due to
35.b4!) 35.b6 a7 and the complications
are not over yet, but Black retains a large
endgame advantage.
33...xd6 34.xc3 b5
I saw that I would get the a-pawn and could
safely keep playing for a win.
35.e4?
White loses control in time trouble. 35.b3
xa5 36.c3 is the right way to coordinate the
white forces, when Black should do the same
starting with 36...d7.
35...xa5 36.c4
36.b3 was the only way to keep fighting.
36...a3+ 37.c2
XIIIIIIIIY
9++++0
9+++kzpp0
9p+trzp+0
9++zp+0
9sNR+++0
9tr++PzP0
9N+K++zP0
9++++0
xiiiiiiiiy
Question 8
Would you play:
A) 37...a5 to chase away the ;
B) 37...d4 to offer an exchange of rooks;
C) 37...xf3 to pick up another pawn.
37...xf3
Now the game is over, 3 points. 37...a5 actually
wins a piece, since 38.b2 axb4 defends
the , 5 points. 37...d4 is least convincing,
therefore no points.
38.c7+ g6 39.c1 f2+ 40.c3 xh2
41.cd3 h3
Picking up the final pawn. 01
Conclusion: It's remarkable how much play is
left in the position after the queens have come
off. Black's central influence tends to be very
important in the Sicilian endgame. n
94 | February 16n2013
4 of 8
training lets improve your chess
guidelinesinthejungle By IM Arthur van de Oudeweetering
CONVERTING MATERIAL ADVANTAGE
You will find that several reasons for deciding
on an exchange of queens will be the same as
for the exchange of any other piece. However,
the exchange of queens is bound to have a big
influence on the further course of the game.
(For one thing, the position will be steered
towards an endgame.)
Kuljasevic-Kozul
Croatian Ch (Plitvicka Jezera), 2013
XIIIIIIIIY
9r++r+k+0
9zpp++pvlp0
9+p+snp+0
9++P++0
9sn+P+vL0
9wqPsN+P+0
9P+Q+N+PzP0
9++R+R+K0
xiiiiiiiiy
Black has sacrificed a pawn and set up an
initiative on the queenside. How would you
react?
18.c1!
The simplest! In the endgame the extra pawn
is more important. In general it is useful to
exchange pieces when you are material up.
Here it would also be logical to let the queen on
a3 stay where it is and centralise with 18.d2
In this case Black would obtain some activity
after 18...cxd5 19.xf6 xf6 20.exd5 ad8
though, true, it will hardly be sufficient after
21.d6.
18...xc1 19.xc1 cxd5 20.a3!
The tactical justification.
20...d3 21.cd1 dxe4?!
21...c5 22.xf6 xf6 23.xd5 would leave
White just a pawn up, but with a technical
phase still to come. The text move loses
immediately.
22.xf6 xf6 23.xe4
And now two pieces are hanging, the game is
over.
23...ed8 24.xf6+ g7 25.e4 f5 26.4c3
10
The second logical thing that springs to mind
is preserving your queen for an attack. When
your only plan is going for the enemy king,
you should logically avoid the exchange of the
most dangerous attacker.
Kotanjian-Petrosian
Amenia Ch (Yerevan), 2013
XIIIIIIIIY
9r++k+tr0
9zp++tR0
9+pzpzp+0
9+p+zP+p0
9wql+P+zP0
9++vLP+0
9P++mK+0
9+tRQ++0
xiiiiiiiiy
KEEP THE ATTACK GOING
29...b2+
29...fxe5 30.c2 followed by g1 gives White
dangerous play. 29...dxe5 30.d7+ f8
31.xc4 is completely out of the question,
of course. But what would you play after the
intermediate text move?
30.d2?
A strange decision, as now White will be two
pawns down with the queens off. It is well
known that opposite-coloured bishops with
the major pieces on the board favour the
attacker. So White should have gone fearlessly
for 30.g3 xe5+ 31.f4 e6 32.f2!? again
followed by g1(Although here 32.xd6 xd6
33.xd6 also seems to generate sufficient
activity). 30.c2 xe5 31.d4 (31.g1) was
another serious alternative. Naturally, in all
these lines g7 is an essential strong attacker
on the 7th rank.
30...xd2+ 31.xd2 fxe5 32.g5
White still has compensation due to the passive
black pieces, but loses track further on.
32...g8 33.h7 a5 34.d1 g6 35.d2 a4
36.f4?!
36.h8+ g8 (36...g8 37.xd6) 37.xh5.
36...exf4 37.xf4 d8 38.c7? d5!
Now Black gets rid of his weaknesses, while
activating his rooks and preserving h5.
39.g5 d7 40.c8+ f7 41.e3 e6
42.f2+ g7 43.e5 xe5+ 44.d4 e4+
45.c5 d4 46.xc6 d3 47.d2 f7 48.c3+
h7 49.xf7+ xf7 01
Shimanov-Cramling
Rilton Cup (Stockholm), 2013
XIIIIIIIIY
9r++r+k+0
9+l++pzpp0
9vL+++0
9zPzpzpsn0
9++P+q+0
9+++zP0
9+QtRzPLzP0
9+tR+mK0
xiiiiiiiiy
STOPPING THE ATTACK
Logically enough, a queen exchange can also
be used as a defensive resource, putting an
end to the opponent's attack. In the diagram
position Black has some play on the white
squares on the kingside, but after
31.d1! xd1+ 32.dxd1
White has found a safe way to increase his
advantage.
32...xe4 33.xe4 xe4 34.g2!
Not the hasty 34.f3 g5 35.g2 e6.
34...h6 35.f3 35.c4! 35...f6 36.xc5 e4!
37.f4!?
Ambitious, but it soon pays off.
37...e3 38.c2 d5? 39.xd5 e2 40.f2
e1 41.xe1 xe1 42.a2 a6 43.f2
c1 44.e3 g6 45.b5 e1+ 46.d4 d1+
47.c5 c1+ 48.b4 g7 49.c5 b1+
50.a4 h5 51.b5 g1 52.b6 a8 53.a6 h4
54.gxh4 f1 55.b5 xf4 56.a7 xh4 57.b8
xa7 58.xa7 xh2 59.c4 10
The big decision
On which grounds should you decide on (or refrain from) an exchange of
queens? Lets look into some diverse recent examples and discover the
various reasoning behind them.

94 | February 16n2013
5 of 8
training lets improve your chess
furtherexamples
By IM Arthur van de Oudeweetering
Hovhannisyan-Grigoryan
Armenian Ch (Yerevan), 2013
XIIIIIIIIY
9+k++r+0
9+l+r++0
9vL+pzpzp0
9+p+sn+q0
9P+zp+zp0
9++++Q0
9+P+zPP+0
9tR+tRL+K0
xiiiiiiiiy
REMOVING A DEFENDER When exchanging a piece you can try to eliminate an active piece of your opponent,
but when attacking you can also try and remove one of your opponent's strongest defensive pieces. So what
would you play in the diagram position? 30...f5! The difficulty here is maybe that, when conducting an attack
on the king, you are disinclined to opt for an exchange of queens. Yet in this case the attack continues with great
force. The pawn on g2 is deprived of a defender and h4h3 is a nasty threat. 30...g4 was also possible but a
slightly less forceful execution of the idea after 31.xg4 xg4 32.f3 31.xf5 exf5 32.a3 c4 Simple enough,
though engines also indicate 32...d3 33.cxd3 b4 34.b3 h3, for example 35.f3 hxg2+ 36.xg2 dg7 33.xc4 bxc4
33...xg2+ 34.h2 bxc4 35.g1 is less strong than keeping the threat of h4h3. 34.e6 c3 But now 34...xg2+
35.h2 e4 was a pretty serious alternative. 35.xf6 h3 36.xh6 hxg2+ 36...xg2 seems more forcing, but Black
won easily anyway. 37.g1 e7 38.a1 ge8 39.h2 e1 40.xe1 xe1 41.h8+ d7 42.h7+ e6 43.h6+
e5 01 Hopefully, these examples have made you more aware of the possibilities of a queen exchange.
Mchedlishvili-Harikrishna
Bundesliga (Emsdetten), 2013
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+trk+0
9zpp+nwqpzpp0
9++p++0
9++p++0
9+zPvL+0
9zPwQzPP+0
9zP++PzP0
9tR+mKsNR0
xiiiiiiiiy
A FAVOURABLE ENDGAME In reality, exchanging is not just about what is taken from the board, but more
about what is left on the board. After an exchange of queens the strength of remaining pieces may come to the
fore, yielding a pleasant endgame. 14.b4 xb4+ 15.axb4 White is hoping to use the a- and c-files for his
rooks. The doubling of pawns on the way can make it harder for you to detect this possibility, though there are
some famous precedents, for example Smyslov-Tal, Bled 1959. Here a whole fight is still ahead. For a more
forcing example of a transposition into the endgame, see Baryspolets-Moranda, Krakow 2013. 15...b6 16.b3
d7 17.e2 c8 A natural move would be 17...fc8 but after 18.d2 Black has no clear plan, while White can
contemplate d6c5, or moving his h1 rook to the c-file. 17...a6! (Van Delft) seems like the most logical and best
move, stopping the pressure on the a-file and keeping the c8-a7 manoeuvre as an option. 18.c3 a6 19.b5
Otherwise Black would play a7b5. 19...a5 20.f2 b6 21.b4 a4 22.xa4 xb5 23.c3 xa1 24.xa1 c4
25.c7 f6 26.a4 f7 27.xb6 And eventually White managed to squeeze out a win.
Le Quang Liem-Salgado Lopez
Gibraltar Masters, 2013
XIIIIIIIIY
9ltrtr+k+0
9+++pzp0
9+p+pwq+0
9zp+n++p0
9+LzPQzP+0
9++N++P0
9zP+zPP+0
9+tRR+mK0
xiiiiiiiiy
Giri-Anand
Tata Steel (Wijk aan Zee), 2013
XIIIIIIIIY
9trwqvlk+0
9+++p+p0
9Q+zpsnpvL0
9+zpzpNtR0
9P++P++0
9+zPP++P0
9++zPP+0
9+++mK0
xiiiiiiiiy
IMPROVING THE PAWN STRUCTURE A queen exchange, like other exchanges, can also be used for positional
gains, for instance, if it allows you to reunite pawns or undouble a pawn when recapturing. CVT 66 The double a
status already featured an example with an exchange of rooks in Ponomariov-Grund. 30.e5! xe5 30...g6
31.xd5 cxd5 32.c7 and; 30...g6 31.b3 also leave White clearly on top. 31.fxe5! A nice concept. White gives up
his backward pawn on d4 in order to enclose the bishop on a8. 31...c7 After 31...a4 , preventing b2b3, White
has time to protect b2 with 32.d2 32.b3 xd4 33.c5 xd1+ 34.xd1 Now the picture is clear. Black cannot
prevent White from winning back a pawn on a5. 34...d5 35.a1 e7 36.xa5 d8 37.d3 Black has ended
up in a terrible position: he can hardly move. 37...h4 38.a4 g6 39.f1 g7 40.a7 f8 41.e2 d5 42.f3
And with the white king entering his position, Black decided to call it a a day. 10
GAINING ENTRANCE ON AN OPEN FILE White is a pawn up, but with his queen on the other side of the board
his kingside attack has run into a dead end. 32...b6! With the queens off, the pawns on a4 and c3 will be an
easy target for Black's rook, for example via b3. You could also include this one under the heading eliminating
the defender. 33.c4! Justifiably declining. Being a pawn up is of no significance here. It would take White too
long to get his pieces from the kingside centralised and back into play. 33...e8 Protecting d6 and preparing
his next move. The immediate 33...b3 34.xb3 xb3 runs into 35.xf8 xf8 36.xd6 34.g3 b3! 35.xb3
xb3 36.d2 a3 37.d4 White is trying very hard to bring back his rook to the scene of the action. 37...xa4?!
This lets White off the hook. More challenging attempts were 37...f6 or; 37...a2 38.dxe5 dxe5 39.h6+ g7
40.d3 f6 41.g4! A lucky escape. Black does not manage to make something of his extra pawn. 41...xg4
42.hxg4 xe4 43.g5 a4 44.f1 a6 45.c4 d6 46.e2 xd3
94 | February 16n2013
6 of 8
tacticstactics
By IM Robert Ris

training lets improve your chess
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+vlk+0
9++wqzp0
9p+p+p+zp0
9++zp+0
9++N+zP0
9++Q+zP0
9P+P++L+0
9+++R+K0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9+r+r+k+0
9+p+l+p+p0
9q+p++p+0
9zp++P+0
9P+p+P+vL0
9tRzPntR+0
9+wQ+PzP0
9+++L+K0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9+rmk++0
9+R+n+p+p0
9zpRzpzP+0
9++++0
9++sN+0
9+++P+0
9+trPmKzP0
9++++0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9+r+r+k+0
9+++pzp0
9+vl+zp0
9zp+++0
9+++P+0
9zPP+PzP+q0
9vL+KzP+0
9tR+QtR+0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+ltrvl+0
9+p+psnpmk0
9p++psNpzp0
9++zP+0
9PwqzpzPP+0
9+P+L++Q0
9+PzP+zP0
9tR++RmK0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9k+++tr0
9+pzpsnpzp0
9p+n++tr0
9zP+p++0
9N+zPzPq+0
9wQ+tRzP0
9zP+lvLL+0
9++tRmK0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9+tr+k+0
9+++p+p0
9+wqzPp+0
9++p+R+0
9+p+wQzP0
9+P++zP0
9P++zP+0
9+++mK0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+r++k+0
9+++pzpp0
9++p++0
9zppwqpzP+0
9+tRlzP+0
9+zPwQ+0
9PzP+L+PzP0
9++R+mK0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9r++r+k+0
9zppzplwqp+p0
9+vl+p+0
9++snvL0
9+N+n++0
9+wQ+NzP0
9PzP+PzPLzP0
9tR++RmK0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+tr+k+0
9zpp++p+0
9+l+p+ptR0
9+++sN0
9+wq+wQ0
9+L+n++0
9PzP+zPPzP0
9tR++mK0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9+++k+0
9+l+wqp+p0
9p+zp+p+0
9++trP+0
9zP+++0
9zP+++0
9vlvLwQPzP0
9+L+tRmK0
xiiiiiiiiy
XIIIIIIIIY
9r+l+r++0
9+pzp+mkp0
9++wqp+0
9zpzPL+p+0
9+tRp++0
9+wQzP+0
9PzP+zPPzP0
9tR++mK0
xiiiiiiiiy
_
_ @
_
@
_ _ _
_ @ _
94 | February 16n2013
7 of 8
practicalendings By IM Robert Ris
training lets improve your chess

Pawns in the crosshairs (2)
In CVT 31 the complicated opposite-coloured ending from Kramnik-
Nepomniachtchi featured a very important drawing technique. This week
we have another instructive example from two promising young players.
Hovhannisyan-Belous
Moscow Open, 2013
XIIIIIIIIY
9++++0
9zp++p+0
9zp+l++0
9+k++vL0
9++++0
9+K++zP0
9++++0
9++++0
xiiiiiiiiy
Black is currently two s up, but in view of
the opposite-coloured s White retains good
drawing chances. Without the s on g3 and
f7 White can quite easily achieve his goal by
giving up his for the two s. In fact, analysis
shows that White can simply sacrifice his
for the b-pawn, leaving Black with a
which doesn't control the corner square. In
the current example this drawing mechanism
doesn't play a role and White needs to find
another way (blockading the s on the dark
squares) to save the game. White's next move
is not such an obvious mistake.
52.c3?
The young Armenian player picks the wrong
square for the . Instead, correct would have
been 52.b2! preventing the black from
supporting the advance of the passed s. The
is excellently placed on g5, ready to answer
the move ...a5 with d8! attacking the s from
behind. If Black decides to put the on a4, the
retreats to e3, preventing the mobilisation of
the s on the queenside, while a5 can now
simply be countered with a check on d2. The
following lines are quite instructive and show
the elementary drawing techniques for this
type of ending. The last attempt is transferring
the to the on g3, aiming to deflect the .
However, White is able to defend without too
many difficulties. For example:
a) The main point of White's strategy is that
in case of 52...a5 the will attack the s from
behind with 53.d8! when suddenly it's difficult
mobilising the b-pawn. The only try is to
retreat the with 53...a6 but then the white
can be activated with 54.c3! b5 55.d4!
b4 (After 55...a4 56.e7 a5 57.c3 Black
can't make further progress.) 56.c5!
XIIIIIIIIY
9+vL++0
9+++p+0
9k++l++0
9zpmK++0
9zp+++0
9+++zP0
9++++0
9++++0
xiiiiiiiiy
(the white is excellently placed here, as its
counterpart is no longer able to support the
passed s) 56...b3 57.f6 a4 58.b4 and
White has succeeded in blockading the s on
the dark squares.
b) 52...a5 53.d2+ (Note that this check is
not possible with the on c3. Another option
is 53.a3 b5 54.d8+ a6 55.b4 and
White saves the game.) 53...a4 54.e3! (a
very important resource, preventing the s
marching forward) 54...b5 and now precision
is required: However, correct is 55.g5!
intending to meet (A careless waiting move
like 55.d2? doesn't do the job, in view of 55...
a5 56.e3 a6 57.c3 b5 58.d4
XIIIIIIIIY
9++++0
9+++p+0
9k++l++0
9zpp+++0
9+mK++0
9++vLzP0
9++++0
9++++0
xiiiiiiiiy
58...b6! (Covering the c5 square, since after
58...b4? 59.c5! White controls the two s.)
59.c3+ c6) 55...a5 with 56.d8! with a
transposition to the line 52...a5 53.d8! Also
sufficient is 55.f4! a5 56.c7! and White
holds on.
c) 52...a4 can be answered with 53.e3! and
the queenside s can't make progress without
the aid of the black .
d) 52...c4 53.e3! (again preventing the
advance of the s on the queenside) 53...d3
54.g1 e2 55.d4 f3 56.e5 b5 (56...e4
57.b8 a6 58.c7 b5 59.c3 and White
blockades on the dark squares.) 57.d6 a5
58.c7 f5
XIIIIIIIIY
9++++0
9+vL++0
9++l++0
9zpp++p+0
9++++0
9+++kzP0
9mK+++0
9++++0
xiiiiiiiiy
59.d6 (Of course, White shouldn't play
59.xa5? xg3 as the can't defend both
passed s on the same diagonal.) 59...b4
60.b1 a4 (In the case of 60...e4 White has
to play 61.c7! not allowing the black to
support his s. After 61...a4 62.d6 b3 63.b2
a draw is inevitable.) 61.xb4 xg3 62.d6+
f4 63.xf4+! xf4 and, as the doesn't control
the corner square, the position is drawn.
52...a5!
Of course, Black should refrain from advancing
his a-pawn immediately with 52...a5? in view
of 53.d8! and White saves the game. The
alternative 52...a4 doesn't spoil anything,
but after 53.e3 Black needs to play 53...a5
anyway to make progress.
53.d2
White is no longer able to stop the s. After
53.d8 a4 54.e7 b5 55.d6 a5 56.c7 b4+
57.b2 b5 58.e5 a4 59.f6 a3+
60.b1 b3 61.e5 b2 White is forced to give
94 | February 16n2013
training
8 of 8
training lets improve your chess
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_ 22.xb7! e6 [22...xb7 23.d7+ e7 (23...g8 24.xf6+)
24.xe7++; 22...b8 23.xc8 bxc8 24.d7++] 23.xa8 xa8
24.ad1+ Lapidus-Shkapenko, Paul Keres Mem Prelim Tallinn
EST (7.4), 12.01.2013
@ 29...d4! [30.xd4 xe1+ 31.f2 (31.xe1 xe1#) 31...e2+
32.g3 xg2++] 01 Pratyusha-Kulkarni, 11th Parsvnath Open
New Delhi IND (3.32), 06.01.2013
_ 28.xg6+! f8 [28...fxg6 29.h7+ f8 30.f7#] 29.h7+ e8
30.g8+ [30.g8+ d7 31.xd4++] 10 Baumegger-Matsenko,
Prague Open A 2013 CZE (2.8), 10.01.2013
_ 33.xd5! [33...xf4 34.xd8#; 33...f8 34.xd8 xd8 35.bxc4+;
33...xd5 34.h6 d1+ 35.h2+] 10 Liascovich-Feliciano, VII
Magistral da Hebraica Sao Paulo BRA (3.3), 07.01.2013
_ 21.xe4! dxe4 [21...xe3+ 22.xe3+] 22.d8+! xd8 23.xc5+
Solberg-Tari, TCh-NOR Eliteserien 201213 Haraldsheim (6),
02.11.2012
_ 14.xe5! xe5 15.fxe5 xe5 16.xe4+ Nikolic- Grandelius,
75th Tata Steel GpB Wijk aan Zee NED (8.1), 20.01.2013
@ 32...h1+! 33.xh1 h3 [34.g2 h2#] 01 Liuba-Sodoma, Prague
Open A 2013 CZE (6.20), 13.01.2013
@ 28...xe3+! 29.fxe3 [29.d2 xd3+ 30.e2 e8+ 31.e5 xe5#]
29...g2# 01 Komljenovic-Haslinger, 38th Seville Open ESP (4.2),
14.01.2013
_ 32.e6+! fxe6 33.xd7+ [33...xd7 34.xc8 xc8 35.f7+] 10
Bj.Hansen-Schmidt, TCh-DEN XtraCon 201213 Denmark (5.6),
13.01.2013
_ 19.xh6+! [19...xh6 20.f3 f5 21.h3+ h4 22.xh4+ g7
23.h7#] 10 Cabarkapa-Muskardin, 18th Bosnjaci Open CRO
(8.13), 08.01.2013
_ 23.g5! e4 [23...hxg5 24.g6 d7 25.e4+] 24.xe4 hxg5
25.g6! [25...d7 26.e4+] 10 Naiditsch-Grandelius, 75th Tata
Steel GpB Wijk aan Zee NED (6.4), 18.01.2013
28.xd3! cxd3 29.h6 d2 30.a1! [30.xa6? d1++; 30.a1! b6
31.f6+] 10 Movsesian-Van Kampen, 75th Tata Steel GpB Wijk aan
Zee NED (7.5), 19.01.2013
solutionspage 6
up the , because of the threat 62...f5. Also,
after 53.e3 a6 , nothing can be done against
Black's plan of b5, a4, a5, b4, b5, etc. 53...
a6
53...b5 54.d4+ a4 55.c5 a5 also suffices.
54.g5
54.b2+ a4 55.e3 b5 56.d2 a5 57.e3
b4 58.f4 b5 , followed by the advance of
the a-pawn, is also hopeless.
54...a4 55.d4 a5 56.f6 b5 57.c5 b4
58.g5 b3!
(diagram)
XIIIIIIIIY
9++++0
9+++p+0
9++l++0
9zpmK+vL0
9zp+++0
9+k++zP0
9++++0
9++++0
xiiiiiiiiy
Here White resigned, as Black is about to
promote the b-pawn after 59...c2. 01
Conclusion: The defensive mechanism
pointed out in CVT 31 and this week's column
is quite difficult to understand. The fact that
such strong players fail to apply this technique
correctly confirms it. Note that this defensive
mechanism is only effective against passed
pawns on the a- and b-files (or g- and h-files),
because the board becomes too small for the
king to render assistance. In the variation with
52.b2! a5, after the move 56.c5! it's clear
that the black has become offside. It's also
important to realise that without the f- and
g-pawn in the starting position White can
easily secure a draw by sacrificing his for
the two s. n
practicalendings By IM Robert Ris