How to Play Chess: Sacrificing the Q and focal point f7 weakness

One of the most popular openings is the Ruy Lopez; many defenses are tried through the years and one of the modern approaches relatively speaking is the Arkhangelsk variation and sidelines. So set up your pieces, copy this lecture and be prepared for an exciting trip through the countryside of the 64 squares! Opening: Arkhangelsk (Modern line).

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Bc5 6.c3 [6...Nxe4? 7.Qe2 and 8.d4 when the Kt retreats gives white very good play.]

6…b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.d4 exd4 9.cxd4 Bb6 10.Bg5 [Here a classic going back to 1859, Loewenthal vs. Morphy, London, went 10...Bb7 11.Nc3 Ne7 12.Re1 h6 13.Bh4 g5 14.Bg3 Kf8 15.Qd3 c5 16.e5 dxe5 17.Bxe5 Kg7 18.Bxf6 Kxf6 19.Qe3 Qd6 20.Ne5 cxd4 21.Ng4+ Kg7 22.Qxe7 Qxe7 23.Rxe7 dxc3 24.Rxf7+ Kg6 25.Ne5+ Kh5 26.Bd1+ g4 27.Bxg4+ Kg5 28.Rf5+ Kh4 29.g3 mate.]

10…0-0 11.Nc3 Bg4 12.Nd5 [Lets look at some alternatives here. 12...Bxf3 13.gxf3 Bxd4 14.Rc1,and; 13...Nxd4 14.Nxf6+ gives White a powerful attack.]

12…Bxd4 13.Nxd4 [White here gets an inspiration and carries out a splendid attack with a Q sac tossed in!! Note that this type of position occurs occasionally so you should always consider if the Kt pin is really a pin. Commentary and analysis suggested also the strong move 13.Rc1 but who can blame White for this brainstorm solution!]

13…Bxd1 14.Nxc6 Qd7 15.Raxd1 Nxe4 16.Ne5 Qe8 [It is worth noting the SqCt 12/6. White now demonstrates the inherent weakness of the f7 square on the board.]

17.Nxf7 xf7 18.Nxc7 Qb8 19.Nxa8 Nxg5 20.h4 Kf8 21.hxg5 Ra7 22.Bd5 Aristizabal – Ramirez, Bogota 1992. After 20..Ne4 21.Rfe1 Nc5 22.Nc7 Nxb3 23.Re8+ Qxe8 24.Nxe8 Nc5 25.Rxd6 Watson-Schiller analysis]

There are many variations within this opening system. You can find more on this opening and many others in the excellent work: Survive & Beat Annoying Chess Openings–The Open Games by Schiller & Watson.

How to Play Chess: Backward pawn and f7 focal point

Alexander Alekhine while visiting Russia played many blindfold exhibition games of which this was one. Many were never kept for posterity’s sake but thankfully this one was preserved for all of us to enjoy.

Alekhine vs Amateur  Opening: The French Defense

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.exd5 Nxd5 [More normal seems to be recapturing with the pawn.]

5.Ne4 f5?! [Dangerous as it leaves the e pawn backward in the half-open file. A sounder idea is to retreat the N to f6 as Bg5 can be answered by Be7.]

6.Ng5 Be7 7.N5f3 c6 8.Ne5 0-0 9.Ngf3 b6 10.Bd3 Bb7 11.0-0 Re8? [Obviously his plan includes adding defense to the e-pawn but now the vulnerable f7 square as mentioned in my lecture about Chessboard study turns the light on in Alekhine's sharp mind as this square is only guarded by the King.]

12.c4 Ndf6 13.Bf4 Nbd7 [Developing but at the same time eliminating some free squares for the Queen to move.]

14.Qe2 c5 15.Nf7!! [With the threat of Qxe6 after the Queen moves. He then has a neat mate pattern. Do you see it?]

15…Kxf7 16.Qxe6+ Kg6 [Naturally after Kxe6 White mates with 17.Ng5 mate.]

17.g4 Be4 18.Nh4++(Checkmate).

Where did Black go wrong? Except for the weak f5 play, he developed his game but did that development contribute to improving his position or eliminating his pawn weakness? The answer is no. Here is a perfect example of my lecture dealing with the f2,f7,c2,c7 focal points, f7 here in this game. Alekhine honed in on the weakness and like a cat, pounced when his forces were positioned for the kill.

How to Play Chess: Functions in position play

This example carries forward the SqCt theory but also stresses the role of function and central tension.

Botvinnik vs Keres  featuring The English Opening

1c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e5 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.g3 [White can also choose 4.d4 which leads to a different type of game.] 4…Bc5 [Aggressive with alternatives perhaps being either g6 or d5.] 5.Nxe5 [Inviting black to either sac with Bxf2+ or 5...Nxe5 6.d4 Qe7! setting a pretty trap for if 7.dxc5 then Nf3 mate!! The K has no free square which to move nor can the N be captured. So, then White has to play 7.dxe5 Qxe5 8.Bg2 with central control of d5.] 5…Bxf2+ [Leave it to Keres to play for a sharp position even in the opening!] 6.Kxf2 Nxe5 7.e4 [Stopping d5 that would give black about equal chances.] 7…c5 8.d3 d6 9.h3 [Here is an example of SqCt defense of one's own position guarding the g4 square.] 9…h5 10.Be2 [A two point idea that adds defense to g4 and Q protects the KR.] 10…Ng7 [Inviting White to capture the h pawn which would be a major mistake because after Ng5, Black gets an attack.] 11.Kg2 h4 12.g4 Ng5 13.Be3 Bd7 14.Qd2 Ne6 [Now placing a Rf1 is in accordance with SqCt seems the natural move but should it be played right now? Look around for alternative ideas was advice by Lasker among other great exponents of the game. For many of us, the chess clock tends to curb this vital search in the belief it saves time. Can White open lines or strengthen the center directly? The answer is yes and SqCt is advanced as well.] 15.b4! b6 [If 15...cxb4 16.Nd5 gives White increased control over the center. Now White starts a series of maneuvers to strengthen his position as Black has little he can do but wait to see how White will continue.] 16.Rab1 Bc6 17.Rhf1 Bb7 18.Kg1 Nc6 19.Kd5 Ncd4 20.Bd1 f6 21.Kh2 Bc6 [21...Bxd5 22.cxd5 Ng5 23.bxc5 dxc5 24.Ba4+ is winning for White.] 22.a4 a5 [Keeping with Keres philosophy to avoid passive play. I would suggest mayb Rb8 to keep the defense compact.] 23.bxa5 bxa5 24.Qf2 [Eying the h pawn requiring the Q to guard it and pressuring the Kside in general.] 24…Ra7 25.g5 0-0? [How often does castling appear to be a bad choice? Black should consider the position as White's Nd5 outpost is his most dominate piece that influences squares deep in the enemy lines. The Kt should be hacked off with Bxd5!? no matter the consequences.] 26.g6 f5 [Black has to protect the h4 pawn but here we have an example from my lecture that illustrates a combination of tactic to remove a defender with a deflection.] 27.Rb8!! Qxb8 28.Qxh4 Qb2+ 29.Kh1 [There is no defense against mate in a few moves at most.] 1-0.

What are the lessons to be learned from this exciting battle and very instructive game to study? First we see a short range plan to secure a strong center by White. For Black, he chooses a plan to weaken the K position that included a neat little trap. Still, the physical structure curtails any real attack against the King and white is left with his strong center intact. No successful attack is good without central counterplay and White has seemingly shut that down completely. The black Queen is a perfect example of having a double function, to protect h4 and to guard the back rank. She cannot do both in the position as White demonstrates with the shocker Rb8.

How to Play Chess: A Look at how square count can apply to winning.

As explained, many factors go into winning and losing but we play for enjoyment of the battle; it is just nicer to win than lose! The following two games are examples of how and not how to play chess.

Botvinnik vs Pomar  Opening: QGD-Slav

1.c4 c6 2.Nc3 d5 3.cxd5 cxd5 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.Bf4 Bf5 7.e3 e6 [We find ourselves in a symetrical position that can only favor White in the long run. Better would be to play 7...a6 to guard b5.] 8.Bb5 Bb4 9.Ne5 [An excellent outpost.] 9…Qa5 10.Bxc6+ bxc6 11.0-0 Bxc3 12.bxc3 Rc8 [On 12..Qxc3 13.Qa4 would increase space for white on the Qside. SqCt. 8/15.] 13.c4! [This pawn advance increases sq ct to 10. Most important is the threat to play c5 which cannot be prevented without black weakening his position. Perhaps now h6 would be best.] 13…0-0 14.g4! [Another increase in SqCt by 2 and reducing black SqCt by the same.] 14…Bg6 15.c5 [Black sqs become ever more weak and the cramp will begin to tell on black's available options. Here a question might be asked if white Bishop is bad because the pawns are on his color. No; the Bishop is outside the  pawns and therefore able to participate in any attack into the enemy lines.] 15…Ne4 16.f3 Nd7 [If 16...Nc3, then 17.Qd2.]17.Rf2 Nc4 18.Nxc4 dxc4 19.Bd6 Rfe8 20.e4 f5[Otherwise the B will be boxed in but this weakens the K-side. SqCt 11/11. The = here in count is deceptive. White's units are much better placed.] 21.Qc2 fxe4 22.fxe4 Qa3 23.Re1 Qh3 24.Rg2 Rcd8 [Bishop controls both open files available for black.] 25.Rg3 Qh6 26.Qxc4 [SqCt 16/8 is significant because White controls the whole board and Black's count is without teeth.] 26…Qd2 27.Qc3 Qxa2 28.Rg2 Qa6 [Forced because on Qa5? White wins the Q with Ra1 and Rb2.] 29.h4 Rd7 30.h5 Bf7 31.Ra1 [Driving the Q further to a dismal end.] 31…Qc8 32.Qf3 [Preparing a mating net starting with h6 g6 Qf6 and Qg7++. Notice my lecture about the squares being strangled with mate coming.] 32…Qd8 33.g5 g6 34.h6 e5 [Desperation as Qf4 and Qe5 had to be stopped.] 35.Bxe5 Rb7 36.Qf4 [Stopping Rxe5 dxe5 and Qd4+ capturing the unprotected Ra1.] 36…a5 37.Rf2 Bb3 38.d5 cxd5 39.c6 Ra7 40.c7 Qe7 41.Bd6 [Restrict the enemy movement; Square Count vastly improves for the winning forces and often the count for the losing side is more illusionary than real.] 41…Qxe4 42.Qf8+ Rxf8 43.Rxf8++. 1-0.

The next example is from Botvinnik vs Robatsch. Qpening is  Queen Gambit Declined, Exchange variation.

1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e6 3.d4 d5 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bg5 c6 6.e3 Be7 7.Qc2 Nbd7 8.Bd3 0-0 9.Nf3 Re8 10.0-0 Nf8 11.Rae1 Ne4 [More interesting is something like 11...g6 with the aim of Ne6, Ng7 and Bf5 to challenge the white Bd3.] 12.Bxe7[This is probably best as 12.Bf4 Bf5 and Black seems to be okay.] 12…Qxe7 13.Bxe4 dxe4 14.Nd2 b6 [Black conjures up a couple of neat one-two punch trap idea which fails to work and leaves his position more tarnished.] 15.Qa4! [15.Nxe4? Bh6 wins the Exchange.] 15…f5 [Now if 16.Qxc3? Bh6 17.Nc4 Rac8.] 16.f3 exf3 17.Nxf3 Bb7 18.Ne5 Qe6 19.Qc2[How to defend the f-pawn? Note that g6 now weakens the King position and Bc8 disconnects the Rook pair and loses time. Although SqCt is only 7/5 White forces control most of the key squares and whole board will soon come under its pressure play.] 19…Bc8 20.e4 [This center advance shows the power of thinking SqCt so often in a game. Often the sharpest and best move in the position is enhanced by SqCt.] 20…Qd6 21.Rd1 Ne6 22.Qb3 Pins the Kt and launches another strike into the enemy lines. Unfortunately 22…Kh8 23.exf5 Ng5 24.h4 wins the Kt.] 22…fxe4 23.Rf7 [A pretty tickle! Now on 23...Nxd4 24.Rf8+!!] 23…a5 24.Nxe4 Qxd5 25.Rxg7+ Kxg7 26.Qg3+ Kf8 27.Rf1+ Ke7 28.Qh4+ Ng5 29.Qxg5+ Ke6 30.Qf6++. 1-0.

Both games give my theory of Square Count as being an added element to the Board’s examination and topic in the previous lecture. It is not 100% effective as a principal answer but coincides with other functioning elements toward both position and tactical motifs explained in books.

One nice feature of this is that you can actually map the ups and downs of a chess game graphically.

How to Play Chess: Don’t Give Up the Ship!

Did you ever play a game where you were certain of victory, and; conversely, did you ever play a game you found yourself in despair? The following battle exhibits numerous lessons about chess, encompassing strategy, tactics and psychological pitfalls we all have experienced.

1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.d3 e6 6.Be3

This opening is the closed variation of the Sicilian Defense and has less need for exacting play that other Sicilian lines necessitate due to the sharp tactical nature of those variations. 6.Be3 is a clever idea of Smyslov which sets a clever trap. Should black now play 6…Nd4 7.Nce2 Nxe2 8.Nxe2 Bxb2? 9.Rb1 Qa5+ 10.Bd2 Qxa2 11.Rxb2! Qxb2 12.Bc3 skewering the Queen and Rook.

6…d6

An alternative is 6..b6 with Nge7 which looks good with …d5 striking the center without wasting a tempo as a short range plan.

7.f4 Qb6

This early Queen sortie is dangerous if he looks to capture the b-pawn if left unguarded. Can you picture the reason for this?  Again, a good alternative is …Nge7 and 0-0 which develops forces for the middlegame fight.

8.Nge2! Qxb2?! 9.0-0!!

For the b-pawn snatch white has gained two tempi that bodes high risk of the Q adventure. Do you see a threat here?

9…Nd4

Black threatens Nxe2+ 10.Nxe2 Qxa1 winning the Exchange. Supposing he tries instead here 9…Bxc3 10.Rb1 Qa6 11.Rb3. With the dark square bishop removed, the dark squares become weak targets.

10.e5!

A sharp and alert tactic opening up the long diagonal of the Bg2, vacates e4 for entry by his N and threatens to play Nxd4 cxd4 (Qxc3 Nb5!) Bxd4. It also increases square count.

10…dxe5

Opening the position favors the more aggressively posted white forces but what can black do here? If 10…Nxc2 11.Qd2 threatens 12.Rb1, and; 10…Qxc3 (11.Nxd4; 11.Bc1; 11.Bxd4) all lead to a huge white advantage.

11.Rb1 Qa3

No good is …Qxc2 12.Qxc2 Nxc2 13.Bxc5 as life is slowly squeezed out of black.

12.Ne4

Now the threat of Nd6+ is potent and must be dealt with.

12…Bf8 13.fxe5

Surrender is no option so long as there is a ticking clock and forces exist to put up some defense. Wait you say?! Lordy be, you got weaknesses all over the place: King in the center; a position riddled with holes galore; miserable negative square count; white has the attack.

13…Nf5 14.Bc1 Qa5 15.g4 Nd4 16.Nxd4 cxd4

Now white can eliminate all black counterplay with 17.Qf3! Qc7 18.Nd6+ Bxd6 19.exd6 Qd7 leaving him passive.

17.Ng5 Nh6 18.Bxb7?!

The beginning of a faulty strategic and tactical plan. Correct is again 18.Qf3 Qc7 19.Ne4 Ng8 20.Nd6+ reverting to the earlier note.

18…Bxb7 19.Rxb7 Qd5!

Centralization of the Queen is the only chance to muddy the waters. Perhaps white still gets a winning endgame by 20.Qf3 as Qxf3 21.Rxf3 Be7 22.Nxe6 fxe6 23.Bxh6 keeps pressure on black.

20.Nxf7

White probably only considered 20…Nxf7 21.Rfxf7 and if 0-0-0 then 22.Rfc7 mate!

20…Qxb7 21.Bxh6

Wrong capture. Vital here is 21.Nxh8 with chances about even. Naturally the bishop is taboo as Bxh6 meets with Nd6+ forking King and Queen.

21…Qd5!

Chess Praxis at its best!!

22.Nxh8 Bxh6 23.Qf3 Be3+ 24.Kh1 Rc8 25.Nf7 Rxc2 26.Nd6+ Kd7 27.Ne4 Qxe5 28.Qf7+ (28.Ng3)

The black monarch now goes for a long walk.

28…Kc6 29.Qe8+ Kb6 30.Rb1+ Ka5 31.Ng3 Qd5+ 32.Ne4 Rxh2+!! 33.Kxh2 Qxa2+ 34.Kg3 Qxb1 35.Qd8+ Qb6 36.Qe7 Ka4 37.Nc5+ Ka3 38.Nxe6+ Kb2 39.Nc5 Kc2 40.Na4 Qb8+ 41.Kh3 Qb1 and white is lost.

Lessons to learn from this chess battle:

1.It is important to complete development in timely fashion. Going off on a pawn hunt especially with as here Qxb2 is very dangerous because for a pawn the opponent gets tempi ahead which can be hard to overcome.

2.Black’s early assault on the center was brave but the fact that the Queen was exposed to harrassment and the seemingly potent tactical threats on c2 were imaginary left black struggling.

3.As the heading lists: DO NOT GIVE UP THE SHIP!

4.Beware of the time clock ticking. White secured a substantial attacking position and on move 17 chose a fairly decent move Ng5 but it was not as good as Qf3 that leaves black in dire straights. Hence, with the combination with Bxb7 white begins to go astray as to the course leading to victory. Once black gets a chance for counterplay, he made the most of it.

5. POSTSCRIPT: The lessons here are extensions to teaching chess and are noted in How To Play Chess: The Beginning which should be reviewed periodically along with other lecture topics.

How to Play Chess: Adjudications

Col. Ed Edmondson finished his chess career as Executive Director of the United States Chess Federation who guided that organization during much of its growing years. He had helped establish an Industrial Chess League while residing in Rochester, NY that had been discontinued. I had been appointed a USCF Region II Director, was active in our club as its program director, TD, organizer and treasurer. One of the objectives I had was to increase interest in our local chess scene. I was at the time in close contact with Col. Edmondson working on some projects. He mentioned that he had once lived in Rochester and had helped set up an industrial team league. I learned that it was defunct mostly from just lack of interest. I decided to contact Roman Kuzelak who had been the adminstrator and a prominent chess personage in the area business world. I contacted him explaining my thoughts about reviving the league which met with enthusiasm. A meeting of all company representative was set up and we met in Todd Hall at the Central YMCA branch. It was my intention to introduce ratings and USCF membership which I gave a short talk on about the advantages of supporting US chess and having the added value of having an official rating for players that would help organizers and team captains evaluate the relative strength of their teams and members. However, it was met with total objection as the Rochester Athletic Association that controlled all company and corporate sports play involved had bylaws which prohibited anyone from having to belong to any outside organization inorder to participate in sponsored events. And companies would not compete without their approval. Of course my main desire was to bring better opportunities for chessplayers locally and the 30 teams we set up with 150 players plus 2 subs per team would enrich my program hoping that some would join the Rochester Chess Club and participate in our activities and regional tournaments.

Moving ahead in time, we had a number years of success with Kodak Recreation Center hosting the league. I was asked along with Dr. Marchand to accept appointment as an adjudicator of unfinished games which we accepted. Mr. Kuzelak would do a diagram of unfinished game positions and provide either of us with them for adjudication. No names or team was known to us. This was a very enjoyable experience for us.

The question of what constitutes an adjudication in terms of a result never came up until one I did where I found a beautiful win leaving the opponent in zugswang (any move played creates a lost position). Well, that raised the devil with the team captain who along with his team members felt the game was drawn. The lines I submitted with my result was questioned and Dr. Marchand was asked to give his evaluation without seeing my analysis. He analyzed it with the players involved, one being the winner, Rev. Poluikis who admitted that he did not see the move starting my lines of analysis and probably would have settled for a draw result. However, my analysis could not be refuted after more than a half hour tries to do so by Marchand and the opposing player so the victory was given to Rev. Poluikis.

What has all this to do with the leadup of the last comment? Mostly for historical reasons of how the Industrial-Civic League was reestablished and blossomed in part and to set the stage for the necessity of the adjudicationary function. I argued that the only thing that mattered was the position and result, not whether a player or players would have seen the moves deciding the adjudicator’s result. The principle involved here is the truth of a position to be fair to both parties. My reasoning was accepted by all and it kept the members from creating the type of situations that led to the demise of the league previously.

Adjudications are a tough call. I have seen some conducted in correspondence events where poor decisions were handed down largely on superficial review such as material or position without any support but a decision statement.

How to Play Chess: My introduction to Swiss Tournaments

For me the following game is historic being the first Swiss System Tournament I entered and my first round game. A word about my opponent. Ralph Nasca was a well known TD and organizer in the Buffalo (Erie County) area and each Lake Ontario Open would always make it to Rochester to play and bring with him a host of Buffalo stars.

These were the days when chess computers and even computers for business were almost unknown other than maybe a scientific journal or two. Players limited libraries contained a few books of great players, instructional literature and the opening bible for the chess enthusiast was limited to MCO editions.

D.R. (KindredSpirit)  Ralph Nasca –Caro Kann Defense

1.e4  c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.c4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6 6.Nf3 Bb4

At the time the Petrov system founded in 1929 was my main weapon as it suited my style of attacking play.

7.Qc2 0-0 8.a3 Bxc3+ 9.bxc3 h6 10.Bd3 Re8 11.Ne5 Re7 After the game Ralph said he feared my Nxf7 and Bg6+ but he would get B,N for a R,P which did not appeal to me. Black’s waste of time enables me to further my development combining it with aggressive moves into his position ala my Square Count theory.

12.0-0 Nbd7 13.f4 Nb6 14.c5 Nbd7

White is tying up black pieces and ability to find good moves with needed counterplay.

15.Rf3 Nxe5 16.fxe5 Ne8 17.Rg3 Kf8

Played to prevent what? White had a threat using the tactic idea that the black g7 pawn is pinned.

18.Bxh6 gxh6 19.Qd2 Rc7 20.Qxh6+ Ke7 21.Rf1 Kd7 22.Bb5+ Ke7 23.Rxf7+ Kxf7 24.Qh7+ Kf8 25.Rg8#(checkmate).

Dr. Marchand congratulated me on this pretty finish but warned that I would find the competition much tougher. That said, I went on to finish the tournament 4-1 losing one game. However, I must admit to some considerable luck.

Study this game and make note of mistakes made either in losing valuable time, lack of a concrete plan, shortcomings of theory of the Caro Kann Opening.

How to Play Chess: Aiming at c7 as a focal point

Dr. Erich W. Marchand was president of the Rochester Chess & Checker Club (later checkers was deleted from the masthead) for many years, served as a VP or Region II Director in USCF, many times club and city champion with additional titles as champion of Missouri and New York State. For many years he conducted a chess column in Chess Life newspaper and later the magazine and was the most active player in the United States. A mathematics professor, married, the family moved from Missouri to NYS and joined The RCCC, employed by Eastman Kodak as a mathematician, he was one of 4 who devised what became known as the ELO Rating System. He was well thought of by his peers. A well known chessmaster noted in Chess Life when Dr. Marchand was elected a VP, that it was a joy to see him in that position because his integrity and his hard work for chess as well as his professional credentials was much needed. The Rochester community honored him by naming their most prestigious tournament in his honor: The Marchand Open. Dr. Marchand (1914-00) died shortly after turning 85 years old and was active at the club almost to the end, still exhibiting his winning ways but mostly his gentle manner and helpful support.

My good friend and protege Ed Frumkin, regional TD, developed the concept of the Hurricane Tournament and ran a series of these fast t/c events as well as Tornado Tournaments (30/30) while attending university.

Hurricane Henrietta, 1974, Y, Todd Hall, Rochester, NY.

D. Reithel  vs  Dr. Erich W. Marchand  English System

This is one of the last tournaments I played in and rarely for the next 2 decades. I finished in lst Place with a score of 5 wins, 2 draws, 0 losses = 6-1 total. Besides drawing in this game, I also drew the black side of a Queen Gambit Slav Exchange Variation vs Mark Buckley.

1.c4 g6 2.Nf3 Bg7 3.g3 Nf6 4.Bg2 d5 5.d4 0-0 6.0-0 c6 7.b3 Ne4 8.Bb2 Nd7 9.Nbd2 Ndf6 10.Ne5 Nxd2 11.Qxd2 Be6 12.Rad1 Nd7 13.cxd5 cxd5 14.e3 [Solidifying the d4 sq.]

14…f6 15.Nd3 Rc8 16.Rc1 b6 17.Nf4 Bf7 18.Nxd5 Re8 [At the time this was played I was the club champion winning with a total 5-0 in a Swiss event. I abhor Swiss tournaments to determine a club champion preferring a round robin but times change and players want instant gratification. I tended to play in these rapid events to support the activity and to hone my skills.]

[At this point a number of players came to our board. I was surprised to having won a pawn.] 19.Nb4 Nb8 20.Rxc8 Qxc8 21.Rc1 Qd7 [Perhaps he hoped to use the clock against me as I was known to play too slow and this t/c was not to my liking. But there is an idea, diabolic in nature, that the good Doctor was scheming up for me! which seems more his reasoning.]

22.Qc2 a5! 23.Nd3 h5! [Ah, he uses SqCt idea expanding territory and some freedom. I have an edge of 12/8 with control over a good portion of the board. Notice now how black's bishop pair points to the Q-side pawns.]

24.Nf4 g5 25.Ne2 Rd8 26.Qc7 Qxc7 27.Rxc7 [Just like a Capablanca, Alekhine or Nimzowitsch would play it.]

27…e5 28.Bb7 a4 29.bxa4 Bxa2 30.Rc8 Rxc8 31.Bxc8 Bb3 32.dxe5 fxe5 33.Nc3 e4 34.Bb7 Bxc3 35.Bxc3 Bxa4 36.Bxe4 Kf7 37.Kg2?! Nd7 38.Kf3 Bd1+ 39.Kg2 Nc5 40.Bd5+ Kg6 41.Bd4 Be2 [The game has turned into rapid play by both.]

42.Bxc5 bxc5 [I could find nothing better and the exchange at least puts the pawn on the c-file with the wrong color if Queening making it easier to control the pawn advances.]

43.f3 Bd3 44.Kf2 c4 45.e4 c3 46.Ke3 Bb1 47.Bb3 Kf6 48.Bd5 h4 49.f4 hxg3 50.hxg3 gxf4+ 51.gxf4 Kg6! 52.Ke2 Kh5 53.Ke3 Kg6 54.Bb3 c2 55.Kd2 c1(Q)+ 56.Kxc1 Bxe4. [Draw accepted. I gave him the honor of proposing it.]

Study this game carefully. Do you see any way White could press his advantage into a winning position? Marchand had a well deserved reputation as one of the best endgame players in America so I felt happy to draw. I had most of the fun in this one I think! I provided no annotations as I want you to study the game, analyze it and try to understand its mysteries. Notice that I made c7 the focal point in this operation on the Q-side. Somehow I wondered whether he just overlooked the loss of the d-pawn or had in mind the type of positions resulting in the game.

Chess Marches On

In the chessworld there have been a remarkable number of talented super masters who have enriched the game with both originality of style, strategic concepts, extraordinary performances of endurance and mental magic that have soared like eagles across the 64 squares time and again through the ages. It is a remarkable testament to the game that many of these performances and battles waged have been recorded for all to enjoy, whether it be the game scores or descriptive recorded events by those viewing the activities and events.

It is difficult to classify the comparative strengths of thes players as each era has produced their own list of chess stars. Times change and historical knowledge is entrapped as in a balloon to be ever expanded with the breath of new life until it bursts on the scene spilling forth like flowing rivers into every society. Trying to compare players from different eras is like trying to compare apples and oranges or lemons and limes. It is pretty much impossible given the facts that each era was greatly influenced by the literature of the past and of the day, technical advances of modern travel, instant internet coverage of live world tournaments or matches resulting in ever more competitions and games available for the world chess community. Indeed, today we have the unique experience unlike those of past generations to get instant gratification from viewing live games, deep analysis from master commentary, and to review games often at our leisure.

Great players we know only from their published games like McDonnell, Labourdonnais, Staunton, Morphy, Anderssen, Dufresne, Blackburne, Steinitz, Zukertort, Pillsbury, Lasker, Rubinstein, Bernstein, Capablanca, Alekhine, Nimzowitsch, Tarrasch, Marshall, Bogoljubow, Reti, Spielmann, Maroczy, Botvinnik, Fine, Reshevsky, Euwe, Keres, Najdorf, Smyslov, Bronstein, Tal, Fischer, Karpov, Korchnoi, Kasparov, Kramnik, Anand and new blood emerging even as I write this. Certainly this proves that chess is not dead but continues to flourish with new ideas and old concepts revisited where new angles are applied to old strategies and tactics.

How to Play Chess: The Beginning.

The question might be asked at the very beginning: What characteristics of chess play should the student desiring to improve view the elements of space, time, and force thereby formulating a personal agenda aimed at a system to apply in each game regardless of positions arising from initial and subsequent moves by both sides? I have found that books on chess play often fall short of their aim or purpose largely because they deal with positions and how to handle illustrative problems but do not answer the question of how the position evolved in the first place. They often stress strategies and tactical motifs but little about the most important feature of chess in my opinion, “The Chessboard” of 64 squares, various squares within the board such as center, central complex, wing files a/b and g/h. The terrain in chess is composed of two battlefields initially: the midpoint at which two rectangles are formed being the home field and the enemy territory. Thus, any inroads pressuring squares in enemy territory must be regarded as part of the attack to either restrict or hinder enemy planning. There are a number of features the student should examine about the structure of the board and relationship with pieces and pawns. Once such a study of the board is complete, the student will be better prepared to understand the elements of chess strategy, various pawn structures, importance of outposts, semi-open and open files, value of the “bishop pair” and how restriction of piece movement and King limited mobility lead to prospects for spatial freedom and success or failure as the conditions materialize on the board.

Let us look at the board with all the units in their starting position. Notice that the f2/f7 squares are only protected by the Kings; the c2/c7 squares only by the Queens. In both cases, these squares initially are guarded by the two most important pieces, the Kings needing defense against mate and the Queens being the most powerful of the individual units. So what does this observation suggest concerning the initial plans that make up “the opening”? Give it some thought. I might suggest that some opening moves are played to pressure those squares either in the opening itself or later in the middlegame and/or endgame.

Providing helpful study habits will increase your skill. There is no better way to improve than to study games from books, preferrably those having notes and analysis. Game collections of the famous players past and present makes learning chess both enjoyable as well as instructive. But how to do so. My own plan was to cover with a 3by5 card the score, exposing only the last moves played and trying to decide what both players were trying to achieve in reaching the position at hand; then going on to see if my own choice matched that of the player. In effect, I would be playing both sides of the board in that manner. In doing so you will get the feel for chess strategies more quickly because you took the time to study the elements of the board; as those games develop a better sense of what goes on in the battle is made clearer from this board arrangement and analysis.

Here, my theory of square count is worth mentioning. It is the added up squares attacked in enemy territory by forces for both sides. A comparison often suggests a spatial edge for the side with the highest count and the need for the other to decide how and when to devise a plan to increase his own square count. It is a great method also to locate good squares for your pieces, considering same for the opponent, and where defensive considerations must be weighed regarding territorial weaknesses (weak squares). Of course the opponent’s weak squares should become objects for attack or at least pressure or restrictive movement.

 All of the above thoughts and suggestions make sense of how to play chess with a plan from move 1. Naturally there are many factors that go into playing with a plan. Just what is a plan? A plan can be short-range or long-range in nature. The latter is best described as kind of being “stubborn” in pursuit of a long term strategy that often involves an attack on the enemy king position. It might also be nothing more than dominating and controlling an open file toward securing an endgame win, or blockade of playable moves that force the enemy to make concessions in the position due to the need to move!

Chess is one move at a time; each side plays a half move and if the response is not well founded, can be one nail in the coffin of the opponent.  We are all appreciative of “book” being previously thought out moves that become standard play making up an opening. But often there are different ideas that can be played in a position which are called “alternative moves.” One must never assume that if a player plays a move you have not seen before that it is a mistake. You must examine carefully such a turn of events; how does it fit in the opening being played? Such moves may not be good or bad. But they may reflect some form of weakness in position or in either short or long term weak from the point that some advantage, even if slight, can be hit upon with such examination.