Boost Your Chess 3

Mastery

By

Artur Yusupov

Quality Chess
www.qualitychess.co.uk
 CONTENTS
Key to symbols used 4
Preface 5
Introduction 6

1 Attacking the king in the centre 8

2 Realizing an advantage 20
3 Counterplay 34
4 Knight endings 44
5 The English Opening 56
6 Hanging pawns on c3-d4 70
7 Counter-attack 82
8 Rook against pawn 92
9 The technique of calculating variations 100
10 The Reti Opening 110
11 The passed pawn in the middlegame 122
12 Prophylactic thinking 134
13 Bishop against knight 146
14 Defence 158
15 Candidate moves 170
16 Combinational vision 180
17 The King’s Indian Defence 190
18 Queenside pawn majority 204
19 Central pawn majority 216
20 Pawn storms 228
21 The initiative 240
22 The Grünfeld Defence 254
23 The elimination method 266
24 Knight against bishop 276
Final test 287
Index of composers 297
Index of games 298
 Preface
…
It was a pleasure to have Artur Yusupov working as my second, both personally and professionally.
It is therefore an honour for me to write the preface to this series of books.
This book was created by expanding and improving the original online lessons from the Chess
Tigers University. As an honorary member of the Chess Tigers, it has given me great pleasure
to see this logical follow-up take concrete form and meet the twin challenges of being both a
valuable textbook and a bedside book.
It was in 1994 that I met Artur Yusupov in the semi-finals of the Candidates’ cycle in Wijk
aan Zee. I managed to come out ahead by 4.5–2.5, but I recognized that Artur harboured great
potential, both in his chess knowledge and extensive match experience.
Artur’s systematic and professional approach to analysing games was the decisive factor in
having him as my second in the World Championship Finals in New York 1995 and Lausanne
1998. His mastery of the methods of the Russian chess school was very helpful in the preparation
for the matches, as well as during the matches themselves. It was his idea that I should play the
Trompovsky in the last game in Lausanne. I was 3-2 down, but was able to level the match at
3–3 and thus force a play-off .

I am still very grateful for everything that Artur did for me.

Artur’s vast experience as a trainer convinced him that there is a considerable need for better
tuition for amateurs. Matching the level to the needs of the student is perhaps not too difficult,
but the masterstroke is structuring the information in such a way that makes it immediately
useful for amateurs. I am naturally enthusiastic about the rich variety of material in this series,
which can help beginners become top amateurs.
I wish Artur Yusupov all the best with the publication of this series of books. Making this work
available in English means that even more people who are keen to learn can enjoy it to the full.

World Champion, Viswanathan Anand

 chapter 2
Contents Realizing an advantage
ü The correct psychological
attitude In this chapter we shall deal with the most important
ü Technique principles for realizing an advantage. (See also Boost
Ÿ Do not allow any Your Chess 2, Chapter 20.)
counterplay
Ÿ Do not hurry The correct psychological attitude
Ÿ The principle of two If we have an advantage, we must raise our level of
weaknesses concentration. If we can solve the next problems to
Ÿ Making the correct arise, then the game may come to a quick end and we
exchanges will not have to make any further effort!

Technique

1) Do not allow any counterplay

The most important principle! You can often (but
unfortunately not always) control the game when you
have a better position and deprive your opponent of
his final chances of becoming active. When you have
the better position you don’t want to allow him any
counterplay.

2) Do not hurry
This principle comes into play when the opponent
has no counterplay left. The first thing to do is to
improve your position as much as possible (or to
make your opponent’s position worse) and only then
turn to making active changes in the position.
If your opponent does have some ideas to improve
his position, or if by chance you see an opportunity,
then you have to hurry!

3) The principle of two weaknesses

This is an important strategic concept. If your
opponent has one weakness, then normally he will be
able to protect it sufficiently well. But you can break
down his defence by provoking a fresh weakness,
as far away as possible from the first one. You then
attack the two weaknesses turn about and the
attacking side’s superior lines of communication will
play a decisive role.

4) Capablanca’s principle – the correct exchanges

You should retain only those pieces (or pawns!)

20
20
 Realizing an advantage

chapter
which you require to win the game! You should
…

2
try to swap off any superfluous pieces. A perfectly
played positional game is finished off with a won
ending.
There is a rule of thumb: the side with the advantage
in material strives to exchange pieces, the side which
is behind tries to swap off pawns!

The following examples will illustrate these principles

of technique.

A.Yusupov – L.Christiansen
Las Palmas 1993

1.d4 d6 2.e4 ¤f6 3.f3 e5 4.dxe5

After the exchange of queens White obtains a small,
but safe, advantage.
4...dxe5 5.£xd8† ¢xd8 6.¥c4 ¥e6?!
This exchange damages the pawn structure.
Diagram 2-1 r
6...¢e8!? would be better, or even 6...¢e7!? preparing 1222222223
...¥e6 (Rivas).
7.¥xe6 fxe6
ÇtM L V T5
Diagram 2-1 ÆOoO + Oo5
8.¤h3!?² Å + +oM +5
The first goal is to attack the weakness on e5. For
that reason, the white knight wants to go to d3.
Ä+ + O + 5
8...¥c5 9.¤f2 ¥xf2† 10.¢xf2² Ã + +p+ +5
This exchange is also good for White, because his Â+ + +p+ 5
dark-squared bishop will be slightly stronger than the
opposing knight. ÁpPp+ +pP5
10...¤c6 ÀRnB K Nr5
10...¤bd7!?
11.¥e3 ¢e7
7ÈÉÊËÌÍÎÏ9
Diagram 2-2 r
12.¤a3!?
Diagram 2-2 1222222223
White retains various options for the knight: b5, c4 Çt+ + + T5
or (after c2-c3) the c2-square. ÆOoO L Oo5
12...a6 13.c3 ¦hd8
The more active 13...¦ag8!?² (…...g5) might be a
Å +m+oM +5
better attempt to create some worries for White. Ä+ + O + 5
14.¢e2 h6?! Ã + +p+ +5
Black is just weakening his position with pawn
moves.
Â+ + Bp+ 5
If 14...b5, then 15.¤c2². ÁpPp+ KpP5
15.¤c2 ¦d7 ÀRn+ + +r5
21
7ÈÉÊËÌÍÎÏ9
2
chapter
Positional play 1

†Diagram 2-3 r Diagram 2-3
1222222223 The main problem in the position is the question
Çt+ + + +5 of exchanging. What shall we do with the open file:
Æ+oOtL O 5 should we exchange all the rooks on it, should we
avoid exchanges or should we exchange only one pair
Åo+m+oM O5 of rooks?
Ä+ + O + 5 16.¦hd1
à + +p+ +5 The correct answer is to exchange one pair of rooks,
in order to reduce any possible counterplay. White
Â+ P Bp+ 5 needs to keep one rook to prepare his own active
ÁpPn+k+pP5 operations.
ÀR + + +r5 16...¦ad8
If 16...¦xd1 17.¦xd1 ¦d8, then 18.¦g1!² is
7ÈÉÊËÌÍÎÏ9 correct.
17.¦xd7† ¦xd7
17...¤xd7!?
18.¤e1!
White regroups his pieces in order to attack the
e5-pawn. In doing so, White wants to tie the black
Diagram 2-4 r
1222222223 knight down on c6, where it is not so well placed and
Ç + + + +5 where it can later become a target (after b4, a4 and
b4-b5).
Æ+oOtL O 5 18...¤e8
Åo+mMo+ O5 18...¤d8? 19.¤d3 ¤f7 20.¤c5±
Ä+ + O + 5 19.¤d3 ¤d6
Diagram 2-4
à + +p+ +5 20.¥f2!
Â+ PnBp+ 5 The position of the bishop is also improved; it goes
to g3, to exert even more pressure on e5.
ÁpP +k+pP5 20...b6?!
ÀR + + + 5 Black wants to protect the c5-square, but once more
7ÈÉÊËÌÍÎÏ9 he weakens his own position with the pawn move.
21.¥g3 ¤f7
Diagram 2-5 r
1222222223 Better is 21...¢f6.
22.a4 a5
Ç + + + +5 White needs a second weakness to attack. It now
Æ+ OtLmO 5 makes sense to play on the queenside.
Å Om+o+ O5 23.¦c1!±
Diagram 2-5

ÄO + O + 5 Intending b2-b4. Before undertaking any active

Ãp+ +p+ +5 operations, White first improves his position as much
Â+ Pn+pB 5 as possible. After 24.b4 the rook will be very well
placed here.
Á P +k+pP5 The over-hasty 23.b4? gives the opponent
ÀR + + + 5 counterplay: 23...axb4 24.cxb4 ¤d4†
7ÈÉÊËÌÍÎÏ9 22
 Realizing an advantage

chapter
23...¢f6 24.b4 ¦d8
…

2
24...axb4 25.cxb4 ¤d4† is no longer dangerous;
after 26.¢e3 c6 27.a5 White is clearly better. For
Diagram 2-6 r
example: 27...bxa5 28.bxa5 ¦a7 29.¤xe5! ¤xe5 1222222223
30.¥xe5† ¢xe5 31.¦c5†+–
25.b5 ¤e7 Ç + T + +5
Diagram 2-6 Æ+ O MmO 5
26.¥f2!
Preparing c4-c5. Once more White must pay
Å O +oL O5
attention. The immediate 26.c4 allows counter- ÄOp+ O + 5
chances after 26...c5! 27.bxc6 ¤xc6. Ãp+ +p+ +5
26...¦b8
After 26...¦c8 White continues 27.c4 c5 28.bxc6
Â+ Pn+pB 5
¦xc6 29.c5 bxc5 30.¦xc5 ¦xc5 31.¤xc5 ¤c6 Á + +k+pP5
32.¤b7+– and Black cannot protect the a5-pawn À+ R + + 5
often enough.
27.c4 c5
7ÈÉÊËÌÍÎÏ9
Diagram 2-7 r
28.¤xc5?!
Diagram 2-7
1222222223
The sacrifice on c5 is very tempting. Unfortunately Ç T + + +5
White spotted his opponent’s defensive idea too late Æ+ + MmO 5
and gave up the wrong piece. 28.¥xc5! would have
been even better: 28...bxc5 29.¤xc5+– Å O +oL O5
28...bxc5 29.¥xc5 ¤d8!? ÄOpO O + 5
There is no hope after 29...¦c8 30.¥b6 ¤d6
31.c5+–.
Ãp+p+p+ +5
29...¦b7 is simply met by 30.¥a3±. Â+ +n+p+ 5
30.¥d6 ¦b7 31.¦d1! Á + +kBpP5
It was only here that I understood that Black wants
to return the piece. 31.c5?! is answered by 31...¤ec6÷,
À+ R + + 5
and the white bishop on d6 finds itself offside. 7ÈÉÊËÌÍÎÏ9
31...¤dc6!? 32.bxc6 ¤xc6 33.¥c5
Now the bishop can join the play again. But the
Diagram 2-8 r
mistake on move 28 has given Black good defensive
chances.
1222222223
33...¦b2† 34.¦d2 ¦b3 35.¦d6 ¤e7? Ç + + + +5
Black misses his chance. 35...¤d4†!? is correct: Æ+ + + O 5
36.¥xd4 exd4 37.¦xd4 (37.¦a6!?±) 37...¦b4±
36.¥b6 ¤g6
Å B RoLmO5
Diagram 2-8 ÄO + O + 5
37.¥xa5 Ãp+p+p+ +5
White calculated a long variation and decided
to force matters. His passed pawns will be too
Â+t+ +p+ 5
dangerous. After the technical 37.g3!? Black could Á + +k+pP5
still reply 37...¦b4. À+ + + + 5
23
7ÈÉÊËÌÍÎÏ9
2
chapter
Positional play 1

† 37...¤f4† 38.¢d2 ¤xg2 39.c5 ¤e3 40.¥d8† ¢f7

41.¦d3!+– ¤c4† 42.¢c2 ¦b8
The point is 42...¦xd3 43.¢xd3 ¤b2† 44.¢c2
¤xa4 45.¥b6!+– and White forces a won pawn
ending.
43.c6 ¢e8 44.c7 ¦a8
Diagram 2-9 r Diagram 2-9
1222222223 45.¦c3
Çt+ Bl+ +5 Just before the winning post White begins to lose
Æ+ P + O 5 his concentration. Fortunately he was not punished
for it in the game: his opponent’s resistance was
Å + +o+ O5 already broken.
Ä+ + O + 5 45.¢c3! would be better: 45...¤b6 46.¢b4+–
Ãp+m+p+ +5 45...¤b6 46.a5
Nor is this move the best. 46.¦b3! is correct:
Â+ +r+p+ 5 46...¤d7 47.a5+–
Á +k+ + P5 46...¦xa5
À+ + + + 5 Or 46...¤c8 47.¦c5+–.
47.c8£
7ÈÉÊËÌÍÎÏ9 Black resigned, slightly prematurely. After 47...¦a2†
I would still have had to find the variation 48.¢b3
¤xc8 49.¦xc8 ¦xh2 50.¥f6† ¢d7 51.¥xe5+–.

Diagram 2-10 r
1222222223 Diagram 2-10

Ç T + + +5 A.Yusupov – J.Hall
Bundesliga 1999
Æ+tL MmO 5
White is better. He controls the a-file and has an
ÅrO O O O5 advantage in space. Black has the b6-pawn as a
Ä+pOpO +p5 weakness, but it is hard to attack and relatively easy
à + +p+p+5 to defend. Despite that, it is worth first forcing your
opponent onto the defensive and tying down some of
Â+ P BpN 5 his pieces.
Á + + +k+5 46.¤f1!
ÀR + + + 5 Planning ¤d2-c4, so as to put further pressure
on b6.
7ÈÉÊËÌÍÎÏ9 46...¦e8 47.¤d2 ¤c8 48.¤c4 ¦f8
In order to make progress, White must undertake
something on the kingside (the principle of
two weaknesses). Since Black has absolutely no
counterplay, White manoeuvres for quite a long
time, aiming to first bring his pieces to their optimal
positions. These waiting tactics are rather unpleasant
for his opponent.
49.¥d2 ¦e8 50.¢g3 ¦d8 51.¦a8 ¦b8 52.¦8a4

24
 Realizing an advantage

chapter
White is still not sure whether he wants to exchange
…

2
the rooks.
52...¦b7
Diagram 2-11 Diagram 2-11 r
53.f4! 1222222223
There is no way to make progress without this Ç +mT + +5
breakthrough. 53.¤e3 achieves nothing after
53...¤e7.
Æ+tL +mO 5
53...¦e8 Å O O O O5
Also after 53...exf4†!? 54.¥xf4 ¦e8 55.¢f3 ¤e5† Ä+pOpO +p5
(or 55...¤g5† 56.¥xg5 fxg5 57.¤e3±) 56.¥xe5 dxe5
57.¦a8± the position remains very unpleasant for
Ãr+n+p+p+5
Black. Â+ P +pK 5
54.¢f3 ¦f8 55.¦a8 ¦b8 56.¦8a6 ¦b7 57.¢e2 Á + B + +5
The waiting game continues.
57...¦e8 58.¢d3 ¦h8 59.¥e3 ¦e8 60.¦a8 ¦b8
ÀR + + + 5
61.¦8a2 ¦b7 62.¦a6 ¦h8 63.¥d2 ¦f8 64.¦a8 7ÈÉÊËÌÍÎÏ9
¦b8 Diagram 2-12 r
Diagram 2-12 1222222223
Having gained some time for thought, White now ÇrTm+ T +5
realized that he could profit from the black rook
having left its position on h8. Æ+ L +mO 5
After 64...¦h8!? there follows 65.¦1a6!?± and the Å O O O O5
black pieces are even more tied down. Not so good
is 65.fxe5 ¤xe5† 66.¤xe5 dxe5 with a solid position
Ä+pOpO +p5
for Black. Ã +n+pPp+5
65.¦xb8 Â+ Pk+ + 5
White exchanges the superfluous rook. One rook
is all he needs for his active play (as in the previous
Á + B + +5
game). In addition he obtains better possibilities of ÀR + + + 5
activating his king. 7ÈÉÊËÌÍÎÏ9
65...¢xb8
Diagram 2-13 r
Diagram 2-13 1222222223
66.g5!
The principle of two weaknesses.
Ç Lm+ T +5
66...fxg5 Æ+ + +mO 5
66...exf4 67.gxf6 gxf6 68.¥xf4 ¤e5† 69.¥xe5 fxe5 Å O O O O5
70.¦g1 ¦f3† 71.¢d2 ¦h3 72.¦g6 ¦xh5 73.¤xd6
¤xd6 74.¦xd6± is also to White’s advantage. Ä+pOpO +p5
67.fxg5 ¤xg5 68.¥xg5 hxg5 69.¦g1 ¦h8 70.¦xg5 Ã +n+pPp+5
¦h7
The result of the operation is very pleasing for
Â+ Pk+ + 5
White. Black has a clear second weakness on g7, the Á + B + +5
white king can now come quickly into play, and the ÀR + + + 5
d6-pawn also becomes a serious target.
7ÈÉÊËÌÍÎÏ9
25
2
chapter
Positional play 1

† 71.¢e2!?
71.¤e3 ¤e7 72.¤f5 ¤xf5 73.exf5 ¢c7 74.¢e4
¢d7 75.¦g6 ¢e7± would be less clear.
71...¢c7 72.¢f3 ¤e7
72...¤a7 73.¤a3± does not change the situation.
73.¢g4
Black is in zugzwang and has to abandon his
defensive line.
73...g6!?
Black sets a final trap. 73...¤g8 74.¢f5 ¤f6
75.¢g6 ¤xe4 76.¢xh7 ¤xg5† 77.¢xg7 ¢d7
78.h6+– is hopeless.
Diagram 2-14 r 74.hxg6 ¦h1
1222222223 Diagram 2-14
Ç + + + +5 75.¢f3!
Æ+ L M + 5 Mistakes are always possible. 75.g7? is met by
75...¦g1†=, resulting in a repetition of moves.
Å O O +p+5 75...¦h3† 76.¢f2 ¦xc3 77.¤e3+–
Ä+pOpO R 5 The g-pawn is too strong.
à +n+p+k+5 77...¦a3 78.g7 ¦a8 79.¤f5 ¤g8 80.¦g6
The second weakness – the d6-pawn – is also
Â+ P + + 5 attacked.
Á + + + +5 80...¦d8 81.¢f3 ¦d7 82.¢g4
À+ + + +t5 The threat is 83.¢h5 and then 84.¤h6. Black tries
to obtain counterplay.
7ÈÉÊËÌÍÎÏ9 82...c4
Diagram 2-15 r Diagram 2-15
1222222223 83.¢f3!
Ç + + +m+5 The simplest solution. White’s king will simply take
this pawn first, before returning to the kingside.
Æ+ Lt+ P 5 1–0
Å O O +r+5
Ä+p+pOn+ 5 When you do the exercises, always bear in mind the
principles of technique.
à +o+p+k+5
Â+ + + + 5
Á + + + +5
À+ + + + 5
7ÈÉÊËÌÍÎÏ9

26
 chapter 12
Contents Prophylactic thinking
ü “What does my opponent
want to do?” Prophylactic thinking is one of the most important
ü Prophylactic solutions themes in the positional game. Chess players often
ü When we should employ forget that they are not alone at the board, and that
prophylaxis they must also take into account their opponent’s
plans.
The habit of always asking yourself what your
opponent wants to do, of answering the question
correctly and taking into account the information
you have gained, is prophylactic thinking.
Prophylactic thinking is for me a philosophy of the
chess struggle, which embodies due respect to one’s
opponent.
Prophylactic thinking often helps not only to find
the opponent’s ideas, but also to work out the solution
to the position. A move which simultaneously
improves our own position and blocks our
opponent’s plans is usually the optimal solution.
Prophylactic moves are stronger than purely
defensive moves because they improve your own
position. Prophylactic moves are also stronger than
mere improvements to your own position, because
they also hinder your opponent’s game.

There is another important psychological factor in

prophylactic thinking which I wish to emphasize:
it is extraordinarily difficult to battle against a
prophylactic player. Once the plans you have
prepared have been thwarted a few times, mistakes
often creep in.

Of course we do not always make use of prophylactic

thinking. It is when the course of the game is very
quiet that prophylactic thinking is most useful. In
situations in which we have forcing options, we must
first of all calculate variations – we are not interested
in our opponent’s intentions if we have a forced mate
in three moves!

The following games show how and when we should

employ prophylactic thinking.

134
134
 Prophylactic thinking

chapter
…
A.Yusupov – J.Van der Wiel

12
Lucerne Olympiad 1982

1.c4 ¤f6 2.¤c3 e6 3.e4 d5

An alternative is 3...c5.
4.e5 ¤e4
4...d4 is the main variation.
5.¤f3
5.¤xe4 dxe4 6.£g4 wins the e4-pawn, but Black
gets control of the d4-square and develops an
initiative. White prefers a quieter set-up.
5...¤c6 6.¥e2
After 6.d4!? Black can reply 6...¥b4.
6...¥e7 7.0–0
7.£c2 is met by 7...¤g5!, as in Seirawan –
Christiansen, USA Ch, South Bend 1981.
7...0–0 8.d4
Now White can occupy the centre.
8...b6 9.¥e3 ¤xc3
Diagram 12-1 r
Or 9...¥b7 10.cxd5 ¤xc3 (10...exd5 11.¦c1²) 1222222223
11.bxc3 exd5 12.¥d3².
10.bxc3 dxc4 Çt+ W Tl+5
10...¥a6!? (Bagirov) ÆOvO VoOo5
11.¥xc4² ¤a5 12.¥d3 ¥b7
Diagram 12-1
Å O +o+ +5
Black prepares ...c5. Here White has a typical ÄM + P + 5
regrouping of his pieces to prepare the attack on the à + P + +5
kingside.
13.¤d2! c5 14.£g4! g6
Â+ PbBn+ 5
Not 14...cxd4? 15.¥h6±. Áp+ + PpP5
15.¤e4 cxd4 ÀR +q+rK 5
If 15...¥xe4? 16.¥xe4 ¦c8, then comes 17.d5±.
16.cxd4 ¤c6
7ÈÉÊËÌÍÎÏ9
Diagram 12-2 r
Diagram 12-2
Black probably should have preferred 16...¥xe4
1222222223
17.¥xe4 ¦c8². Çt+ W Tl+5
With the game move, Black has the tactical ÆOv+ Vo+o5
threat of ...¤xe5. This threat can easily be parried
if White puts his rook on d1. It is more difficult to Å Om+o+o+5
do anything against his opponent’s positional idea Ä+ + P + 5
of bringing his knight via b4 to d5. But one logical à + Pn+q+5
move takes into account both ideas.
17.¦fd1! Â+ +bB + 5
Why not the other rook? In the variation 17.¦ad1?! Áp+ + PpP5
¤b4 18.¥h6 (18.¥b1 ¦c8„) 18...¤xd3! 19.¥xf8 ÀR + +rK 5
135
7ÈÉÊËÌÍÎÏ9
12
chapter
Positional play 2

† £xf8 20.¦xd3 ¥a6= we can clearly see the difference

between the two moves.
17...¤b4
17...¤xd4?? is of course bad, on account of
18.¥xd4 £xd4 19.¤f6†+–.
18.¥h6! ¦e8
18...¤xd3? 19.¥xf8 £xf8 20.¦xd3+–
19.¥b5 ¥c6 20.¥xc6 ¤xc6
Diagram 12-3 r Diagram 12-3
1222222223 White can be content. The exchange of bishops was
Çt+ Wt+l+5 not bad for him. But it is once more time for some
ÆO + Vo+o5 prophylactic thinking. What does his opponent want
to do here? Probably ...¤b4-d5 again! White can
Å Om+o+oB5 protect the b4-square with a3. But the prophylactic
Ä+ + P + 5 move played in the game is much better.
à + Pn+q+5 21.¦ab1!±
White develops his rook and aims to bring it into
Â+ + + + 5 the attack by ¦b3-f3(or h3). At the same time he
Áp+ + PpP5 prevents the move ...¤b4.
ÀR +r+ K 5 21.£f4 ¤b4 22.¤g5 ¥xg5 23.¥xg5 ¤d5! 24.£h4
£d7 25.£h6 f5 26.exf6² would not be so clear.
7ÈÉÊËÌÍÎÏ9 21...£d5?
After White has twice thwarted his plans, Black
reacts nervously and loses a decisive tempo.
21...¤b4? is followed by 22.¦xb4! ¥xb4 23.¤f6†
¢h8 24.£h4+–.
But 21...¦c8± would have been better.
22.£f4+–
The threat is ¤f6†. The black queen must retreat.
22...£d8 23.¦b3 ¦c8 24.h4
Also good is the simpler 24.¦f3 ¦f8 25.¥xf8+–.
24...¦c7
Diagram 12-4 r
1222222223 24...¥xh4 is followed by 25.¦f3 (or 25.¤d6!?)
25...¦c7 26.g3+–.
Ç + Wt+l+5 Diagram 12-4
ÆO T Vo+o5 25.¦f3
As Tal showed me after the game, White has a
Å Om+o+oB5 pretty way to win here: 25.d5!! exd5 26.¦xd5 £xd5
Ä+ + P + 5 27.¤f6† ¥xf6 28.£xf6 £xe5 29.¦e3!+–
à + PnQ P5 25...¦f8
After this loss of the exchange, the game cannot be
Â+r+ + + 5 saved. But if 25...¥xh4, then simply 26.g3+–.
Áp+ + Pp+5 26.¥xf8 £xf8 27.d5! exd5 28.¦xd5 ¤b4
À+ +r+ K 5 28...¤d8+– would have lasted longer.
29.¦d1
7ÈÉÊËÌÍÎÏ9
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Threatening 30.e6.
…

12
29...¦c6 30.¤d6 ¤xa2 31.£a4
1–0
The two prophylactic moves 17.¦fd1 and 21.¦ab1
practically decided the game.

A.Yusupov – G.Timoscenko
Kislovodsk 1982

1.c4 c6 2.e4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.d4 ¤f6 5.¤c3 ¤c6

6.¤f3 ¥g4 7.cxd5 ¤xd5 8.£b3 ¥xf3 9.gxf3 ¤b6
9...e6 is the main alternative.
10.d5!? ¤d4 11.¥b5†!?
White tries to make use of his lead in development.
11.£d1 is also possible.
11...¤d7
11...¤xb5 12.£xb5† £d7 13.£xd7†²
12.£a4 e5?
This optimistic move escaped punishment in the
game.
12...¤xf3†?! 13.¢f1!± would also have been too
risky for Black.
The correct choice was 12...¤xb5 13.£xb5, when
White’s initiative should compensate for his pawn
weaknesses.
13.dxe6 ¤xe6
Diagram 12-5 Diagram 12-5 r
Black wants to play ...a6 and release the pin. 1222222223
That should encourage White to seek an active Çt+ WlV T5
continuation.
14.¥e3?
ÆOo+m+oOo5
14.¥g5!! (Petrosian) would be correct: 14...£xg5 (or Å + +m+ +5
14...¤xg5 15.0–0–0+–) 15.¥xd7† ¢e7 16.¤e4!+– Ä+b+ + + 5
14...a6 15.¥xd7† £xd7 16.£xd7† ¢xd7²
White wants to exploit the open position of the
Ãq+ + + +5
black king. For that he needs all the central files. Â+ N +p+ 5
17.0–0!? ¥d6 ÁpP + P P5
Black has two ways to consolidate the position and
bring his king to safety: ...¦ac8 followed by ...¦c6, or
ÀR B K +r5
...¦fd8 followed by ...¢e8. 7ÈÉÊËÌÍÎÏ9
But it would have been better to begin the first plan
with the immediate 17...¦c8!. Then after 18.¦fd1†
¥d6 19.¤e4 ¦c6 20.¦ac1 ¦d8! (20...¦hc8? 21.¤xd6
¦xc1 22.¥xc1+–) 21.¦xc6 ¢xc6 22.¦c1† ¢b5
23.¤c3† ¢c6 the position remains level.

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12
chapter
Positional play 2

†Diagram 12-6 r Diagram 12-6
1222222223 18.¤d5!
Çt+ + + T5 This move activates the knight and prevents both
Æ+o+l+oOo5 defensive ideas.
As we already know, 18.¦fd1 achieves nothing:
Åo+ Vm+ +5 18...¦ac8 19.¤e4 ¦c6 20.¦ac1 ¦d8!=
Ä+ + + + 5 18...¦ad8
à + + + +5 Now Black wants to play ¢c8. Therefore…
19.¦ac1!
Â+ N Bp+ 5 If 19.¦fd1, then 19...¢c8 20.¥b6 ¦de8=.
ÁpP + P P5 19...¤c7
ÀR + +rK 5 19...¢e8 20.¦fd1 is also unpleasant for Black.
20.¤b6†
7ÈÉÊËÌÍÎÏ9 Of course White should keep the pieces on the
board.
20...¢e6 21.¦fe1!
Not 21.¦fd1, on account of 21...g5! followed by
...f6 and ...¥e5, and Black stabilizes his position.
21...¢f5 22.¦ed1
Threatening 23.¦xd6 ¦xd6 24.¦xc7.
22...¤e6
22...¢e6? allows 23.¦xd6† ¢xd6 24.¥f4†.
23.¦d5† ¢f6
23...¢g6!? is worth considering, or even 23...¥e5!?
24.¤d7 f6=.
24.¦cd1 ¥c7 25.¤d7† ¢e7
Diagram 12-7 r
1222222223 Diagram 12-7
White retains the initiative. Now he strengthens
Ç + T + T5 the pressure on the queenside.
Æ+oVnLoOo5 26.b4!
If 26.¥c5†? ¤xc5 27.¤xc5, then 27...¦xd5
Åo+ +m+ +5 28.¦xd5 ¦d8 29.¦xd8 ¥xd8 30.¤xb7? ¥b6–+ and
Ä+ +r+ + 5 the knight is trapped.
à + + + +5 26...f6 27.a4
Intending b5-b6.
Â+ + Bp+ 5 27...g5?!
ÁpP + P P5 Black wants to control the f4-square, but he
À+ +r+ K 5 voluntarily weakens his f6-pawn.
27...¦he8!? followed by ...¢f7 was sounder.
7ÈÉÊËÌÍÎÏ9 28.¥c1!?
The bishop wants to go to b2 to attack the f6-
pawn.
If 28.b5, then 28...axb5 29.axb5 ¦hg8=.
A decent alternative is 28.¥d4!? ¤xd4 (28...¦xd7?
29.¦xd7† ¢xd7 30.¥xf6†+–) 29.¦1xd4, although

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chapter
Black can hold the position after 29...b6 30.¦e4†
…

12
¢f7 31.¦c4 ¢e6 32.¤xf6 ¥xh2† 33.¢xh2 ¦xd5=.
28...¤f4?!
This move has more drawbacks than pluses.
28...¦hg8! would have been better: 29.b5²
29.¥xf4 ¥xf4?
Better is 29...gxf4±.
Diagram 12-8 Diagram 12-8 r
30.¤xf6! 1222222223
This tactical blow brings White a clear advantage. Ç + T + T5
30...¦c8?!
Of course not 30...¢xf6? 31.¦xd8+–.
Æ+o+nL +o5
But 30...¦xd5 (or 30...¦d6!?) 31.¤xd5† ¢e6 Åo+ + O +5
32.¤xf4† gxf4 33.¦d4± would have been more Ä+ +r+ O 5
resilient.
31.¤h5!?
ÃpP + V +5
31.¤xh7!? is also possible, but in time trouble Â+ + +p+ 5
White chooses a safer continuation. Á + + P P5
31...¥c7 32.¦e1† ¢f7 33.¦d7† ¢g6 34.¤g7!?
Threatening mate in one.
À+ +r+ K 5
34...¥d8 7ÈÉÊËÌÍÎÏ9
34...¦hf8 35.¦e6† ¦f6 36.¦xf6† ¢xf6 loses to
37.¦xc7! ¦xc7 38.¤e8†.
35.¦xb7+–
White has a large material advantage, which he was
able to convert into the full point.
Black’s mistake on move 29 was not a matter of
mere chance. With his prophylactic decisions on
moves 18, 19 and 21, White hindered his opponent’s
desired consolidation of the position and developed
a dangerous initiative. Mistakes in such situations
are almost preprogrammed and prophylactic play
provokes them.

“The development of the capacity for prophylactic

thinking brings the chess player a powerful step
forward and clearly raises his playing strength.” –
Mark Dvoretsky

In the test which follows, we shall train this ability.

First ask yourself what the other side wants to do,
and note that down in your answer. Try to prevent it
and, if possible, to improve your own position at the
same time.

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