Secrets of Chess Training Mark Dvoretsky Foreword by Gary Kasparov BRITISH CHESS FEDERATION ‘BOOK OF THE YEAR’Secrets of Chess Training Mark Dvoretsky Translated by Howard Turner B T Batsford Ltd, LondonFirst published 1991 Reprinted 1992, 1993, 1994 © Mark Dvoretsky 1991 ISBN 0 7134 6287 6 British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data. A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, by any means, without prior permission of the publisher. Typeset by Latimer Trend & Company Ltd, Plymouth and printed in Great Britain by Redwood Books Trowbridge, Wilts for the publishers, B.T. Batsford Ltd, 4 Fitzhardinge Street, London W1IH OAH A BATSFORD CHESS BOOK. Adviser; R. D. Keene GM, OBE Technical Editor: Graham BurgessContents Foreword by Gary Kasparov Author’s Preface 1 Analysis of Adjourned Positions 2 The Endgame 3 Studies Afterword: An Amazing Coincidence Answers to Exercises Appendix vii 66 145 176 184 217In all I want to reach The inmost part In work, in seeking the way, In disturbance of the heart. To the essence of the passing days To their cause To the bases, to the roots, To the very core. Boris Pasternak I have tried to write in such a way that the student can always see the inner basis of the things he is studying, so that he can discern the source of the discovery and, consequently, analyse everything as though he had thought of it himself. Gottfried LeibnitzForeword by Gary Kasparov In this fine and essential book, Mark Dvoretsky has set out his creative and quite out-of-the-ordinary approach to many important problems of current chess theory. I got to know Mark at the very beginning of my chess career, at one of the sessions of Botvinnik’s chess school in 1974; in those days, Dvoretsky was Botvinnik’s assistant. In his free time, he often gathered the lads together and talked to them. Maybe I couldn’t make such generalisations at that time, but I felt that Dvoretsky was constantly engaged in a creative search for the rules that might in future form the basis of a system for preparing sportsmen— high- class chess players. Dvoretsky’s first attempts as a trainer brought him great success; you have only to recall the names of Valery Chekhov, Artur Yusupov, and Sergei Dolmatov. The last two are of my generation, and I have played with them and conducted creative discussions and disputes with them right through from the youth level to the very highest. Each player has his own creative path and tries to realise his views in practice, but I shall not dwell on what divides me from the author of this book. We are adherents of the same, analytical, way and we believe in the triumph of an analytical penetration into the secrets of a position. The end of the 1970s and the beginning of the 1980s were marked by their own kind of pragmatism, a sterile pragmatism, and many players adhered to it. It was against this background that the worth of Dvoretsky’s method became apparent as his leading pupils achieved some important successes in competi- tion when they had assimilated it. Like Dvoretsky, I think that (other things being equal) the analytical method of studying chess must give you a colossal advantage over the chess pragmatist, and that there can be no certainty in chess without analysis. I personally acquired these views from my sessions with Mikhail Botvinnik, and they laid the foundations of my chess-playing life. In this book, Dvoretsky generalises the experience that he has gathered in his years of training and describes the methods he uses. In his analysis he strives not only to bring to light the secrets of concrete positions, but also to uncover the essence of some more general and (as yet) little-investigated chess pheno- mena: these can be, for instance, the problem of preparing for competition or even the principles of analysis itself. It is very important that Dvoretsky does not confine himself to a purely theoretical study of problems in chess, but constantly recalls the necessity of using the knowledge that has been acquired in practice, and gives a lot of useful practical advice. In the chapters concerning the analysis of adjourned positions, the first thing is indeed the attempt to penetrate the very essence of this analysis. What kind of generalisations can there be here, in a purely individual, creative matter? But Dvoretsky gives rules—you can argue with them, but many of them have been tried and vindicated by practice. The endgame is the theme of the second part of the book. The worth and advantages of the methods adopted by Dvoretsky can be demonstrated morevi Foreword graphically in positions with a smal] amount of material. In fact, his most brilliant achievements lie in the endgame. The chapters about playing positions out in the next part of the book are especially interesting. Here we are dealing with virgin lands that no-one before Dvoretsky took seriously. A real game requires the player to find his bearings in extreme situations with limited time for thought. Training by playing positions out, using the methodology given by the author and tested by him and his pupils, will help any player to acquire the valuable skill of taking decisions in these situations. Of course, we should not idealise the system of views that is held by the author. Chess is diverse, and it is both practically and theoretically impossible to exhaust it with any number (however large) of studied positions, technical devices, and ideas. The exceptional value of this book lies elsewhere. It convinces us of the necessity of an analytical study of chess, acquaints us with the author’s experience in preparing high-class chess players and with their creative activity both in the quiet of the study and in matches and tournaments, where the material they have studied is put into practice. It seems to me that any class of player can find much that is interesting and valuable for himself if he studies Dvoretsky’s book carefully.Author’s Preface The Grandmaster is annotating a game. He gives complicated variations, but he certainly does not always explain how they were found and what ideas and tules are concealed behind them. And this is quite natural: experienced players somehow feel things intuitively, and a lot goes without saying. But for a trainer these truisms are the most important thing there is. One day I realised that I look at chess in a different way from previously and with other eyes than those of a practical player. But I value variations and exact analysis as highly as before. Without them, any general discussions become indefensible, unprovable, and float in the air. But it is impossible for me not to look for the essence of the position behind the variations and the hidden mechanisms that direct the play. Here we have not only chess ideas and technical devices, but also the rules of thought and the principles of rational searching and decision-taking. Training attracted me early on. I gradually gave up practical play, without even having become a Grandmaster (this would have been a perfectly achiev- able target for a player with a rating of 2540). And I was immediately able to formulate the main principles that formed the basis of a system for preparing young players. Here are some of these principles: An all-round development of the personality and struggle against failings both as a chess-player and a human being. A rejection of the concentration of one’s efforts on only one opening which is, unfortunately, typical of our days; all-round preparation and a high level of chess culture. The development of the strong sides of one’s game, and the elaboration of a characteristic style with an obligatory liquidation of one’s weaknesses. Maximum activity and independence, and a creative approach to all the problems studied. Constant training, solving of special exercises that are directed towards developing the necessary thinking skills. Achieving mastery of analysis, in particular careful analysis of one’s own games. Competitiveness . . . Only practice can prove the validity of theoretical ideas. Results came more quickly than I expected. I began serious work as a trainer in 1972, and in 1975 Valery Chekhov became Junior World Champion. Soon afterwards, Artur Yusupov and Sergei Dolmatov also gained this title. Alyosha Dreev was twice victorious in the World Cadet Championship. The young players grew up and became Grandmasters. In 1986, Yusupov was a finalist in the World Championship Candidates’ competition. But I had worked at this level before 1986, since four years’ work with Nana Alexandria had been crowned by her match with World Champion Maia Chiburdanidze, which ended in a draw. A trainer’s life is a series of outings with his charges as they go to meetings and competitions. We somehow constantly studied and analysed, and now and then obtained extremely interesting results. Our searches and discoveries in the opening and middle game are another story, and in this book I want to acquaint my readers with the most interesting analyses dealing with positions where there is only a small amount of material on the board (adjourned positions, endings, and studies). Having read this book, I hope you will agreeviii Author’s Preface that it is not possible to become a great player without having learned how to analyse deeply and accurately. You will see how fascinating (if difficult) it is to decipher the secrets of a position. And, finally, you will increase and consoli- date your understanding of the endgame. This book is meant for advanced players—many of the examples chosen are extremely difficult. But I think that a less experienced player will find in it many pages that are accessible and interesting. In competitive games, a player has constantly to solve problems of the widest imaginable range. So we should consciously develop and train this ability. To assimilate material soundly (not only, but especially, in chess) it is also necessary to train oneself and to solve exercises on the subject that is being studied. The outstanding mathematician and teacher George Polya wrote as follows: ‘Solving problems is a practical skill like swimming, skiing, or playing the piano. It can only be learnt by imitating a good example and practising continuously’. It is hardly useful if you trustingly play through variation after variation from a book. It is a great deal more useful and more interesting if you take part actively in the analysis, find something for yourself, and try to refute some of the author’s conclusions. Here, the stipulations for independent solution (mentally, without moving the pieces) or analysis (moving the pieces on the board) that are given in the book will help you. They are divided into ‘questions’ (marked by a ‘Q’, with numbers indicating the part of the book and the number of the question within that part) the answers to which are included in the following text, and ‘exercises’ (marked with an ‘E’) with answers at the end of the book. You will also encounter questions whose answers it is almost impossible to calculate exactly, so that you can only guess. These are included to develop your positional feeling and intuition. In the third part of the book, we discuss a comparatively little-known, but extremely effective, form of training—playing- out given positions. Two subject indexes are included at the end of the book. The first one is a grouping of positions by material. If you want to go deeply into some particular type of endgame, you will easily be able to pick out all the endings of this type. The second index is a grouping of the exercises according to the skills they are meant to develop and by the types of problems that are solved. If, say, you tend to underestimate the opponent's resources or are not always able to tell who an exchange will favour, then you can work through all the appropriate exercises in succession. The list of skills is, of course. incomplete, and it should not be taken as an exact classification. It is merely a too! that I use in my work. Teaching is always a two-way process. The trainer teaches his pupils something, but he gains a lot from being with them, and is himself learning constantly. This book would have been impossible without the active creative participation of my friends (the word ‘pupil’ would be out of place here) Artur Yusupov, Sergei Dolmatov, and Nana Alexandria. They are the main heroes of my book and, in effect, its co-authors. f want also to thank the chess journalist Marina Dolmatov who gave much valuable advice concerning the construction and formulation of this book.1 Analysis of Adjourned Positions The gong has sounded and the game is adjourned. The sealed move is written down, the score- sheets are put in the envelope, and the clocks are stopped. The adjourned position has now set- tled itself in your thoughts and it will give you no peace until it is played on. A mass of problems appear im- mediately. There is never enough time for analysis. Sometimes you have to sit down at the board again within two or three hours, and in the interim you have to manage to eat as well. You hold a fork in one hand and move the pieces on a pocket set with the other. It is not a great deal easier when there are special days for playing on adjourned games. You have to get ready for the next games, play them and, finally, you simply have to get some rest. Can you find much time for the adjourned position? The eternal dilemma in a tournament is the choice between sleep and analysis. A player has to be able to ana- lyse his adjourned positions independently. But sometimes it is necessary to work as a team. Your friend or trainer may include you in the analysis, and maybe you will become a trainer yourself. It often happens that in team com- petitions several people take part in the analysis at once. The com- bined work load has to be properly allocated. After years of practical work as a trainer, I have accumulated great experience in solving these ‘organisational’ problems as well as creative problems connected solely with chess. I want to share this experience with you now. When you have assimilated the technique of analysis and the principles used in organising it and putting it into effect, you will be able to reduce unplanned losses to a minimum and to enjoy unexpected gains during the re- sumption more and more fre- quently. The Continuation That Decided a Match The standard of women’s play is, at present, inferior to that of men, but on the other hand women’s competitions are very hard- fought and short draws are quite2 Analysis of Adjourned Positions rare. Women players adjourn many of their games, so their trainers have to work hard to make a living. I became convinced of this when I helped Grandmas- ter Nana Alexandria in the 1979 Interzonal Tournament, the Can- didates’ Matches a year later and, finally, in her World Champion- ship match against Maia Chibur- danidze. For example, eight out of the nine games in the Alexan- dria-Akhmylovskaya —_ quarter- final match were adjourned. It is no secret that it is rare for a player (of either sex) to have only one second in competitions at such a high level, and in the 1980 Candidates’ Semi-Final Match Gavrikov and Dzhanov worked with Nana Alexandria, as well as the present author. Her opponent, Marta Litinskaya, was helped by the masters Zhelyandinov, Sher, and Buturin. Towards the end of the match, Grandmaster Mikhal- chishin was also brought in to help Litinskaya. The ‘normal time’ of the match (ten games) was not enough to give either of the opponents the advantage, and the score stood at 5-5. Two additional encounters were decreed. The first of these was exceptionally tense and was, of course, adjourned. Alexandria—Litinskaya Vilnius 1980 Black wrote down a move. The strongest and most natural seems to be 41... &b2!, which cuts off the White king and intends 42... &d5 with the threats 43 ... Hg2+ or 43... @a8 and 44... EB fb8. Q. 1.1 Evaluate 42. f5* * Remember that the answers to the tasks marked with a ‘Q’ (‘question’) are given in the fol- lowing text. We recommend the reader to put the book aside for the time being, attempt to answer the question, and only then read on. Trying to play for a passed e- pawn does not pay off: 42 5? exf5S 43 &xf5 §d5! (threatening 44... He2) 44 e6 Bxe6 45 §xe6 Hb6 46 Hd7 Bf6. After 42 © f7, Black does not play 42 ... §d5?, because of 43 f5, or 42... @c7? (counting on 43 Rxe6+7! &c6) 43 Re&+!, and she has to return to b8, but 42... 8 d8!, and the threat of &d8—-d7— c7 is extremely unpleasant. So she has to play 42 §e4!, not allowing 42... §d5 in view of 43 &xd5 exd5 44 e6. But here it is necessary to reckon with theanswer 42... h5 with the idea of breaking the white pawns up by hS h4. Of course, 43 &h7 is bad because of 43... Bg8. Having looked at the natural continuation 43 @f3 Eh8 together, we went off to rest thinking that White’s position was the more preferable, but that the opponent apparently had a draw. Grandmaster Lilienthal recom- mended beginning to analyse such positions by answering the ques- tion, ‘Do I have a safe draw?’ Remembering this advice, I de- cided to check the variation 43 x3 h4 44 gxh4 with care. Obviously Black cannot play 44 ... xf4 because of 45 Be8+ &c7 46 Bc8+ &d7 (46... &b6 47 4b8+ and 48 #xb2) 47 ic6+ We7 48 Be8 mate. But there is 44... &b3!, and Black waits until after 45 @g2 (or 45 22) before playing 45... &xf4. Now the black rook is defended, and 46 2g8+ @c7 47 Hc8&+ #b6 is harmless. Perhaps White has to struggle for equality here, since the Black rooks are active, and the passed h-pawn can be patrolled from b1 by the bishop, if necessary. 1 wanted to find something a little safer, so I returned to the beginning of the variation and soon found an idea that was quite unexpected, although also uncomplicated. Q. 1.2 What is this idea? Since 43 § f3 does not force 43... Analysis of Adjourned Positions 3 #£h8, it has no special virtue. Let us try 43 §c6!, with the idea of weaving a mating net by 44 AbS! Now, after 43 ... h4 White can force a draw: 44 AbS5 &xb5 (forced) 45 @xb5 hxg3 46 Hxg3 uxf4 47 §c6. If now 43... #b6 (with the aim of preventing 44 &\bS5), then 44 @ bS, and the rook is in a trap. However, after 44... h4 (44... §d545 @h2 h4 46 g4!? &xf4 47 @h3 8c6 is also pos- sible) 45 gxh4 &xf4 46 h5 Hh4 47 Beg8+ a7 48 Ac8+ &b7 49 2)xb6 &xb6 White will evidently not be able to realise the extra pawn. The idea I had found guaran- teed White against losing but did not promise any chances of vic- tory. But all the same, when the opposing ‘staff’ rang to offer the draw, it was rejected. Black could have sealed an inferior move (before the resumption we ser- iously considered, for example, 41 ... BcS with a subsequent 42... &d5 or 42 ... #7). Moreover, up to this point in the match we had enjoyed the advantage in home analysis and we realised4 Analysis of Adjourned Positions that our refusing the draw would help to create uncertainty in the opposing camp. The diagrammed position arose after resumption of play. After 43 &c6, Litinskaya thought for several minutes and played 43... 4 h8?? She clearly had not antici- pated White’s plan, and she was unable to make out the mating net at the board, perhaps as a result of exhaustion after lengthy home analysis. Litinskaya was let down by the fact that after 43 § f3 she and her trainers had prepared not 43 ...h4, but the more modest 43 #h8?! (as Mikhalchishin explained afterwards, they were instinctively afraid of the passed h-pawn). In the new situation, Litinskaya tried to use the plan from her analysis, but this was a serious mistake here. 44. AbS = xb5 46 {bs A xd5? Black is ‘punch-drunk’. 45 ... h4 was necessary, and if 46 g4, then 46... &f8. However, after 46 Ac6 hxg3 47 &g2! (but not 47 lib7+ @c8 48 a7 because of 48 ... &h2) White’s advantage is considerable. 46 a7! h4 47 ¢4 38 48 £5 exf5 49 gxf5 and White soon won. It is even difficult for a har- dened veteran to survive such fail- ure at a decisive moment. It was not surprising that in the next game Alexandria (Black) gained an easy victory and won the match with a score of 7-5. What conclusions can we draw when we have considered this story? 1. The quality of home analysis often has a decisive influence on the outcome of a game and even of a whole competition. 2. An unexpected idea prepared for the resumption of play can have a great practical effect. In choosing between several possibi- lities of approximately equal worth, think about which of them the opponent will least expect. 3. Before you go deeply into a mass of variations, you should carefully look for all the possibili- ties, both for yourself and for the opponent, in the very first moves. It is also worthwhile to return to this checking in the course of your analysis. Omissions in the first few moves are usually much more ser- ious and have a stronger influence on the outcome of a game than a deficiency somewhere at the end of long variations. I still want to direct the atten- tion of my readers to something that certainly did not happen by chance (and I am not doing this because I want to boast): the idea that proved to be decisive in this example was not discovered in collective analysis of the adjourned position. An important principle of organising collective analysis that is connected with this will be discussed in the fol- lowing section.Don’t Get in Each Other’s Way! Dolmatov—Petursson Groningen 1978-79 Black has the move and also the advantage: his king is more secure and his pieces are more actively placed. There remained less than two hours before resumption and, of course, after dinner Dolmatov and I did not leave our pocket set. It soon became clear that only an advance of the c-pawn was a serious cause of anxiety. After 42 ... €5 43 a4, 43... a2 is inno- cuous in view of 44 #d3! wxf3+ 45 @xf3 &xa4 46 #d8!, and the Black king will not be able to take part in the game. But what should White do in answer to 43 ... c4? Exchanging queens on d5 seems to be dangerous, since the oppon- ent gets two connected passed pawns. We decided to devote most of our attention to 44 #a3. It gra- dually became clear that White is in a bad way, and then I tried a couple of times to switch over to analysing the rook ending. But I Analysis of Adjourned Positions 5 did not succeed: Dolmatov soon found new chances in the 44 #a3 variation, and we began to test them together. To sum up, at re- sumption we had found out nothing about the rook ending, but on the other hand we had analysed the second way accur- ately ... to a Black win. 44 wa3 wd4 45 a5 Bd3 46 %xd3 cxd3 47 a6 (47 wyf2 We3 48 wre3 wc2 49 wed wWdl is also hopeless) 47 ... d2 48 a7 (48 wd1 wre3 +). Q. 1.3 What does now? Black play Taking the pawn throws the win away: 48 ... wyxa7? 49 wd3 wa2 50 @f3 wb2 (or 50... wd5 51 wxdS exd5 52 @e2 with a draw) 51 @e3! dl(wy) 52 wxdl wrxg2 53 wWd8 with a drawn queen endgame. It is much more convincing to play 48 ... d1(wy)! 49 a8(wy) (49 wxdl wxd1 50 a8(w) we4+) 49 . Wel+ 50 @h3 whi+ 51 @g3 wrdgl! and Black will win.6 Analysis of Adjourned Positions What would you have done in our position? Would you have gone in for an exactly-analysed, but losing, continuation and counted on the opponent making a mistake, or would you have played a rook ending which you knew nothing about and which might also have been hopeless? Indeed, later on I decided to look at the rook ending after all. After 44 wyxd5 exd5 neither 45 sa3 d4 46 a5 c3 47 a6 HE d3 +! 48 @f2 c2 or 45 2b5 c3 46 HS d4 47 aS c2 48 a6 #d3+ 49 &f2 3 will do. 45 & b7! is necessary, to gain and important defensive tempo after 45 ... @&f8: 46 %c7 %d3+ 47 &f2 c3 48 a5 d4 49 a6 #d2+ 50 @f3 Ha2(50...c2 51 a7) 51 @e4 or 51 a7. 45 ... c3! is more dangerous, but it seems that White can hold the position by playing 46 e6. Another move deserving atten- tion was 43 wxd5 (instead of 43 a4) 43... exdS 44 Eb7. We clearly did not use what little time we had for analysis rationally by analysing together only one of two possible conti- nuations and ignoring the other. I should probably have asked Dol- matov to assess the variation with 44 ~a3 on his own so that he did not distract me from the rook ending. But how did this compare with Petursson’s analysis? It turned out that his was even worse than ours. It was our good fortune that the Icelander was helped (that is to say: hindered) by the other players in the tournament. We cannot speak of any proper analy- sis when a lot of people sit down at the board together. The variations flash past, and a mass of over- sights occur, especially on the first few moves. The analysis soon finds itself a long way from the starting point, and arrives at posi- tions that may be interesting, but are certainly improbable. 2... wed4!? 43° wed wad (43... wd5! 44 wf3 5) 44 #3 wdl Black has been aiming for this position, which he thinks is won for him. At the board, Dolmatov easily found a simple defence that his opponent had not noticed. 45) &h2! He2 And now White can bring the game down to a drawn rook end- ing that we had considered in our analysis. 46 el! # xe3 47 jexdl &xa3 48 =2d8! c5 49 xc8 ac 50 2d8 ace4 51 &g3 e3+ 52 @&f2 Eel 53) ke8 He2+ Draw. Alexandria—Litinskaya Vilnius 1980 The game was adjourned in this joyless (for White) rook ending. Q. 1.4 What should White seal?White has to transfer the rook to the defence of the d3 pawn at once: 41 i£h2! This, the only pos- sible move, was sealed by Alexan- dria. 41... 42 2d2 In the game there followed 42 . xg3+ 43 @f2 Be4 (43... ui h3 44 @&g2) 44 b4. White wants to play #b2 and then a3-a4—aS, when her queenside activity guar- antees her reasonable compensa- tion for the missing pawn. This variation does not require detailed analysis, since White’s plan is quite clear. The game ended as a draw. The variation 42... Ze1+!43 #f2 bl is much more danger- ous. Black turns down the win of a pawn, but in compensation her rook penetrates into the White position and pins down White’s pieces, which are forced to con- tine themselves to passive defence. In rook endings, the activity of one's rook is a most important criterion for evaluating the position and for choosing a plan of action. Now the Black king is quite happy to force its way in on the h- file, and so the moves 2 xe3 Analysis of Adjourned Positions 7 44 &f3 &f7 45 &e4 #26 46 &h4 are logical. 46 2 is also posible, when White does not worry about 46... Hdl in view of 47 c3. I studied this position together with Viktor Gavrikov. We first of all considered the most natural plan for strengthening Black’s position: 46... a6 47 &@g4 (47 a4? Hal) 47... b5 48 cxb5 (48... b4 was threatened) 48 ... axbS 49 ic2 @f6. We had to spend quite a lot of time on it. Practical players are well aware how difficult it is to analyse these unforced variations and to assess the positions that arise correctly. White has little joy here, but with exact defence she can apparently save herself all the same. Then we discovered another plan for Black: play for zugzwang. It is simple to deny the king h4, since putting the rook on hl will suffice. After having placed the queenside pawns advanta- geously, Black can also try to counter the manoeuvre ¥d2-c2- c3-b3. 46 ... a5 47 &g4 bé6! Black should not put a pawn on a4: 47... a4 48 &h4 b6 49 &g4 #hl 50 2c2 Hdl 51 Bc3 Bd2 52 b3, and White is O.K. 47... &h1 is also premature in view of 48 b4! 48 @&h4 #el 49 &g4 zhi Now 50 b4 is losing because of8 Analysis of Adjourned Positions 50... Ebl or 50... essence of Black’s idea lies in the variation 50 %c2 Hdl 51 Hc3 Hd2 52 £b3 a4! 53 Hxb6 Hxd3 54 #a6 &f6 55 Hxa4 #e3 (there Mal. The is also 55 ... &b3). We studied this position for a long time, con- sidered some quite complicated variations, and finally came to the conclusion that White is faced with difficult problems here. We also evaluated the attempt to hold a passive defence: 50 #&f3 @g5 51 &g2 Hbl 52 wf3. Q. 1.5 Why should this plan be rejected? The following variation was found: 52... &f1+ 53 @g2 (it is easy to see that 53 Hf2 &xf2+ 54 @xf2 &g4 also loses) 53... Bf6! (but not 53... 4 £8754 Kd] @e4 5 sh] g5 56 Hh6) 54 Hdl (54 @h3 43!) 54... &g4 55 ahi g5, and White is defenceless against the threat of 56... & f3. Thus, notwithstanding our pro- longed searchings together, we were not able to find a secure defence, and we reached an im- passe in our analysis. Then I set the position up on a pocket set and suggested to Viktor that we look for a solution separately. This ‘move’ proved to be ex- tremely effective, and within mi- nutes I was able to show him a beautiful new idea. 50 Hed “dl 51 ec Hd2 52 adl! Hi xb2 53 Had Now the Black rook is chained to the b-file, and so it is not pos- sible to play for zugzwang again. Here is a sample variation: 53 ... Hb4 54 &h4 Gh6 55 we4 g6 56 @h4 g5+ 57 &e4 &g6 58 w&f3! @hS 59 g4+ &g6 60 wal, and Black cannot win. When a player is thinking about the position that has arisen during collective analysis, his partner usually proposes his own move at the same time, and it is necessary to respond to this pro- posal and to find an answer quickly. As a result, we get a somewhat superficial analysis and hidden nuances) may remainundiscovered. But if he is working alone, he can study exactly that moment where, according to his feeling, the decision lies hidden. He is getting in no-one’s way if he just thinks, smiling at the thought of variations that he finds interest- ing or, conversely, begins to move the pieces on the board. I shall now describe a rough scheme for organising collective analysis which seems to me to be optimal. It is useful to begin with an exchange of first impressions of the adjourned position and a col- lective preparatory testing of the ideas that arise here. Then it is necessary to go over to individual examination of the conclusions that have just been obtained and to look for new possibilities both for oneself and the opponent. It is useful to discuss the results together, and then work individu- ally for a time, and so on. Import- ant findings that can significantly change the direction of the analy- sis should soon become common property, while variations that are not so basic should firstly be dee- pened and refined and only then be brought out for general judge- ment. Traps Found in Analysis I dislike a fatal outcome. Vladimir Vysotsky An objective estimation of the adjourned position often turns out to be unfavourable for us. We Analysis of Adjourned Positions 9 establish that with correct play the opponent will be able to realise his advantage or save him- self, if he has the worse position. In these situations, it is very im- portant to help him go wrong. Even a simple trap may work if the opponent does not expect it. And if he sees through it, we should not be distressed, since we may be luckier next time. aw ee Romanishin—Dvoretsky Odessa 1972 Romanishin sealed the obvious 48 wh7+. There was no doubt that after 48... @e8 White would not take the pawn (49 wxh6? we2+ 50 @g5 we3+ Sl &g6 wxg3 +), but instead would play in preparation 49 wg6+, so that after 49 ... @d8(e7) 50 wxh6 we2+ 51 @g5 we3+ 52 &g6 wWxg3+ the queen interposes on g5 with check. But if the g3 pawn is not taken it is easy to ascertain that the White king escapes the pursuit and the two extra pawns remain. There was no point in resuming to test Romanishin’s technique in10 Analysis of Adjourned Positions such a simple situation. If Black wanted to resume, he had to find a continuation that gave him some kind of a practical chance, how- ever small. I decided to choose 49... eel 50 wxh6 weat+!? After 51 @#h5, Black resigned. Capitulation would also have been obligatory after 51 wf4, but on the other hand after 51 weg? the game would have unexpec- tedly ended in perpetual check: 51 WS +! 52 &g6 Wht or 52 we4 wdlt. Of course, this was an €X- tremely naive trap. But, as he ad- mitted after the game, Romanis- hin did not see how a trap was being set for him and so there was some (admittedly small) chance of the opponent making an error. Schubert-Dolmatov Groningen 1977-78 White sealed a move. The sur- est path to the draw was 48 g4!, so as to answer 48... Hc2+ with 49 &g3 and 48... @f4 with 49 2f8. He could also have played 48 & g2 with the same idea of not allowing the king to be driven back to the first rank. But Dolmatov and I also tested carefully the inferior move 48 c6?!, which was in fact sealed. 48... we2t 49 &el ee3 50 @dl Now 50... &c5 51.7 e4 comes into consideration, but after 52 g4! (52 #8 is also possible) 52... fic6 53 Bf Hxc7 54 xf6 White gains the draw without difficulty. But the opponent’s task can be made more complicated by setting a little trap. 59 .. gd2t+! Schubert had not taken ac- count of this resource in his analy- sis. He still had six moves left to make before the time control, and he only had about five or seven minutes left (he had to take too much on himself upon adjourn- ment). 10\ Ua oJ Whey _ we G7. "e:8 6m e Oo © oo 0 @ @ AA “ “2 Uy Q. 1.6 Where should the king go? As you answer this question, try to put yourself in the same time-trouble as Schubert. Dolmatev’s opponent wanted to escape from the mating threats due to the jux- taposition of the kings, but 51 el! was the right decision. Then 51... 2g2 52 @fl &xg3 53 Hf8 leads to a draw in the near future. 51 &cl? Hdé! 52 7 wd7! Black simply plans to streng- then his position (e5—e4, @e3-f2, and so on) and to take the c7 pawn with check if the rook moves away. The White king is obliged to go to the b-file, from where it will not be able to return to deal with the passed e-pawn. 53. &b2 e4 54. f8 On 54 g4 there follows 54... £7! (or 54... #e7!); 54... @f4 55 g5! is not so good. 54 D i xe7 55 x xf6 Heg7 56 6? White had to try his last chance: 56 @c2! If now 56... ~ xg3? (56... @e2! wins), then 57 = e6! with a draw, for example 57 . £g2+ 58 @&dl Hglt+ 59 &c2 &f3 60 &d2! (not allowing the e-pawn to move—now the reason for 57 #e6! is clear) or 59 ... el (intending 60 ... @f2!) 60 h6!. However, all this is well known to theory, and Dolmatov and IT had already exerted our- selves in studying rook endings, so he naturally would have avoided the trap. 56... Hxg3 57) Se3+ wf4 58 ac8 “d3 Analysis of Adjourned Positions 11 White resigned. The ending we have considered can serve as a good illustration of another important principle of working on adjourned positions. Exhausted after a hard game, the opponent may seal a weak move. So you have to evaluate all the possibilities with care and not worry about the fact that if your opponent has sealed a_ strong move all your analysis will have been wasted. And now I want to give some positions where the reader is asked to complicate the oppon- ent’s task by setting him a trap. In each case, Black is to move. E11 The ‘Best Endgame’ Prize It is usual to think that mastery of the endgame comes only with ex- perience and maturity, and so it does a young player a great deal of honour if he is given a prize for a skilfully-conducted ending. Sergei Dolmatov has received these prizes more than once or twice.Analysis of Adjourned Positions E 1.2 Vda &£Y ae a .s Oo UY Y Yj 7 yy In the situation we are presently considering, the award was guar- anteed by a successful analysis that Dolmatov made together with the present author. Dolmatov—Machulsky Vilnius 1978 Q. 1.7 What would you have sealed in Machulsky’s place? Black has a wide choice. He can change the pawn structure by playing 46 ... b6, 46... b5 or 46 . f6. There is also sense in the waiting move 46... #c6, which allows Black to decide in his home analysis whether he should ad- vance the b-pawn by one or by two squares, or whether he should leave it at home. Only a sense of danger can indicate the necessity for an immediate (otherwise this will not be possible) exchange of kingside pawns by 46... f6, after which the draw is achieved comparatively easily. For ex- ample, 47 gxf6 @#xf6 48 xhl zc6! (48 ... b6 49 Zh6+ is weaker, and not 49 ... &g7 50 &e5)49 Zh8 (49 Zh6+ &g7) 49... b6 50 2f8+ @e7 SI Bb8 bxa5 52 @&e5 a4 53 Hb7+ &d8 with a subsequent a4-a3. If you are defending an inferior ending, try to exchange a few more pawns! The plan of defence we have indicated is in full agreement with this principle. It is also possible that Black did not seal 46... £6! The other possi- bilities should be analysed with care. First of all, 46... #6, since before adjournment one does not normally want to take important decisions, especially when the position seems quite without danger. Analysis showed that after any sealed move other than 46... f6! Black, as is not surprising, would find it extremely difficult to save the game. White has two advan- tages that are barely visible at first sight, even though they are actually very weighty. Firstly, White’s king is nearer the centre and, secondly, White can attack the base of the enemy pawn chain at £7, while it is significantly more difficult for Black to get at the b2 pawn. 46 Hc6? Nothing would have been changed by 46... b6.47 ®e5 Hc6 48 = f1! (see the comments on the following move). On 46... b5, we intended 47 hl, for example 47 . «d8 48 Gh6+ &g7 49 wed ~ b8 (49 ... b4 50 cxb4 2b8 SI ~!6 =xb4 52 g6) 50 2f6 Hh8!? Sl @d6! «h2 52 @e7! &xb2 53 ~XI7+ & 26 54 £8! 47) &e5! Analysis of Adjourned Positions 13 Now 47... @xg5 48 Hgi+ and 49 @f6 (or 49 %g7) is bad. White intends 48 fl, and then 49 {6+ @&g7 50 g6. Black has to seek counterplay by advancing the b-pawn. We first consider 47 ... b6. 48 “fl! bxaS 46 Hf6+ &xg5 (49 ... &g7 50 g6) 50 &xf7 Bb6 51 Hg7+ @h4 (it is useful to bring g3 under control: if 51... @h5, then 52 Kgl Hxb2 53 @xe6 Hc2 54 Bg3 wh4 55 23 a4 56 @xd5 a3 57 c4 a2 58 Had wins) 52 gl! (52 %g2? a4; 52 He7 Hxb2) 52... #xb2 53 @xe6 c2 54 Hal &xc3 55 Bxa5, and the remoteness of his king does for Black. Or 53... & b5 54 c4! dxc4 55 d5 &b3 56 d6 He3+ 57 @d7! (but only not 57 @d5? 2d3+ 58 &c6 c3 59 d7 c2 or 59 cl &g4 60 d7 &f4 61 &c7 ®e3) 57...c3 58 Bcl a4 (58... &e4 59 &c7 &f4 60 d7) 59 &c7 a3 60 d7 Bd3 61 d8(wy)+ Bxd8 62 &xd8 a2 63 &d7 &g4 64 &d6 @f4 65 &d5 with a win. 47... b5! 48 ufl Kev! Black has now countered the threat of 49 &f6+, against which he now has 49... @&xg5. Either 48 ... 64249 cxb4 #c4 50 b5 axb5 51 Bal or 50... Ba4 51 b6! Bxa5 52 &d6 Eb5 53 &c7 Uxb2 54b7 would be very bad. 49 &d6 Ec8 After 49 ... #c4 50 Bf6+ &g7 51 weS b4 52 g6 fxg6 53 cxb4 #xb4 54 Hxe6 a position arises that White has still to get to in the game.14 Analysis of Adjourned Positions 50 Hf6+ Sl FBI! 51 &e5 Xh8! is useless, and not 52 g67? because of 52... HhS+. The subtle rook move creates the threat of 52 @d7 (52... c4? 53 b3), and it has an additional aim, that of weakening the impact of the break b5—b4, which Black is now about to implement. &g7 SI... ba! 52 exb4 =b8 53. &b3! Threatening 54 bS. 53... abs 54. &e5 Zugzwang! Black has to put his king on g6, which makes it easier for White to carry out his basic plan of 4 f3-f6 and g5-g6. 54. #26 55) a f3 Q. 1.8 Try to make the difficult choice between 55 ... xb4 and 55... Kb7. How do we make decisions in these situations? First of all we find the forced, easily-calculated, moves in both variations. It is possible that they will lead to a clearly drawn position in one of the continuations. Or, on the con- trary, it becomes clear that we will lose by force with one of the initial moves, and then by the method of elimination we should choose the other one. Things are more com- plicated if positions that are not totally clear arise in both cases, and then we require a long, hard calculation of variations or an intuitive choice of one of the two possible continuations. On 55... 4 xb4 there follows 56 &f6+ @g7 (56... &xgs 57 uk xf7 Mxb2 58 @xe6 with a further 59 “f5+ and 60 Exd5 loses) 57 g6 fxg6 58 %xe6 Hxb2 59 #xa6. Here we stop and say with regret that it is difficult to state definitely whether Black has a draw or a loss here. The second possibility was what happened in the game. Sse b7 56 «2 f6+ &xg5d 57 bd! ke xbS Of course, 57 ... axb5 58 b4, with a subsequent 59 x fl and a comparatively easy win, does not attract Black. 58 uxf7 i xa5S We had already evaluated the variation 58... i xb2 59 @xe6in White’s favour in view of the threat 60 #f5+ and 61 &xd5. But now Black hopes for 59 @xe6 21bS with an obvious draw. 59 Hg7+ @h6 60 Hb7! If Machulsky had found this elegant resource in making his de- cision on move 55, then he wouldnot have played 55... #b7?. The rook is now hobbled (60... Ha4 61 b3), and White wins both cen- tral pawns and, with them, the game. 60... wgs 61 &xe6 wef 62 b4 wad 63 &xd5 a5 64 «~+#bS5 &e3 65 a7 &xd4+ 66 «&c5 iad 67 &b6 Hh4 68 &xa5 @d4 69 He7 eds 70 b6 ed6 71 el wh2 72 =b7 Hb2 73 a6 Ha2+ 74 &b6 ub2+ 75 a7 Ha2+ 76 &b8 Hh2 77 Hal Black resigned. Now it is clear what is good and what is bad, and that he had to go in for the variation 55... Bxb4! S6 4f6+ @g7 57 g6 fxg6 58 ~xe6 #xb2 59 Hxa6, and to look for salvation here. The most reliable defensive plan is to wait while the White king takes the d5 pawn and only then advance the Black passed pawn. For example, S9.... Ha2 60 Ha7+ @h6 61 ~ a8 @g7! 62 a6 Had 63 web ~ a2 (both 63 ... g5? 64 @f5 and 63... Bal? 64 @xd5 g5! 65 @e4 x4 66 dS! would have been serious mustakes) 64 d&xd5 g5 65 @ed4 (65 cS 94 66 &b6 Hb2+ 67 @a7 #368 e8 g2 69 Hel &f7 70 d5 ~02) 65... 466 @&f4 (66 dS g3) Analysis of Adjourned Positions 15 66... Kad 67 &xg4 Exd4+ 68 BLS dé! (This is a typical and extremely important device in playing against a rook pawn: the white rook, which is tied down to defending the pawn, cannot move from a8, and the king has no pro- tection from horizontal checks.) 69 eS &b6 70 &d5 Bf6 71 &cS uf5+ 72 &d4 Hf6! and so on. In all probability, an immediate 59... g5 (instead of 59... a2) is possible, but here we have to reckon with 60 &b6. Now the obvious 60 ... # a2 loses in view of 61 a6 g4 62 @f4 Had 63 @xg4 xd4+ 64 &g5! &f7 65 @wf5S ®e7 66 &e5 a4 67 Kb7+ wd8 68 a7. He has to cut the White king off from the g-pawn: 60... Hf2! 61 a6 g4 62 a7 Ha2 or 62 @xd5 &f7! (but not 62 ... g3? 63 1 b3 g2 64 Hg3+ Sf7 65a7 Ha2d 66 Hxg2 Hxa7 67 He2! with a win). When he adjourned the game, Machulsky was sure that the draw would be achieved easily, and he did not begin to analyse the posi- tion carefully. Up to move 55, he defended himself excellently, but to find a long chain of ‘only moves’ up to the end proved be- yond his powers (and who could be sure of managing such a task in conditions with limited time for thought?) A zero in the tourna- ment table is the correct punish- ment for careless analysis, and Dolmatov’s point (which gave him a prize at the end of the tournament) was a reward for his determined search for means of16 Analysis of Adjourned Positions prolonging the struggle in an end- ing that, at first sight, was even. It is useful for a player to accus- tom himself to the thought that there are neither absolutely drawn nor absolutely hopeless positions. In analysis and at the board, you have to discipline yourself to find the smallest practical chances that might change the seemingly cer- tain course of the game. However, we have already discussed this in the preceding section. I Do Not Choose The Strongest Plan —Tell me please, where should I go from here? —That depends on where you want to be. Lewis Carroll Zakharyan~-Dvoretsky Riga 1975 White’s sealed move is obvious: 41 axbS. The following variation seems to be forced: 41... axb5 42 wal! (with the threats 43 wxb5 or 43 2el)42... 4d3!43 Hel e3 44 txe3 e4. Black has kept his extra pawn, and in the future he will attack by advancing his kingside pawns. But the position of his king will become less secure here, and the opponent will get definite tactical counterchances. However, Black has every reason for counting on success. We already know that the first few moves of an analysis must be checked especially carefully. Are there other, more promising, possibilities for us or for the op- ponent? Looking at the position from this point of view, I quickly discovered that the natural 41 ... axbS5 is not obligatory. 41... e3!? deserves serious attention, with the intention of preventing the White rook from reaching the first rank and seizing it. White has to choose between 42 fxe3 and 42 w&xe3. Q. 1.9 And why not 42 2 xa6? 42 #xa6? loses at once in view of 42... wxf2+ (not 42... exf2+ 43 @fl) 43 wxf2 edl+ 44 wl e2. 1) 42 fxe3 whl + 43 @h2 Hdl. Now the counter-attack 44 w24? is insufficient because of 44 ... Hhi+ 45 @g3 wel+ 46 @f3 Hfl+ 47 @e4 Hf4+! Does Black have _ serious threats? Let us try 44 b6 Zhl+ 47 @g3. Now 45 ... wye4? is an error: 46 Wed! wxe3+ 47 wf wrel+ 48 wf2 wed 49 wf6! and Black has to give perpetual check. He has to deprive the White queen of g4 by 45... h5! Here are some sample variations:46 b7 we4 47 @f2 wh4+ 48 g3 wh2+! (better than 48... wh2+ 49 &f3 e4+ 50 &xe4d wyxe2 51 b8(¥¥)) 49 fl wh3+. 46 2d7 We6+ 47 @f2 eA! 46 e4 wel 47 Ef7 &g6! 48 b7 h4d+ 49 @f2 (49 &e4 wes+) 49 . welt 50 ef Bh3+! The best defence is 44 @g3!, and if 44... axb5, then 45 we4. The attempt to attack e3 does not come off: 44... wel 45 b6 e4 46 b7 wel 47 b8(%) Hxe2 48 ~xg7+! &xg7 49 weS+. There remains only 44... Hh1 45 Bd7! axb5 46 wd3+ wxd3 47 4xd3. However, after 47 ... @g6! it is difficult for White to defend him- self, since on 48 #d6 there is the strong reply 48... Eb1!. 2) 42 Wxe3 Ed1+ 43 @h2. Neither 43... wyb1? 44 wxeS nor . .d3 44 we2 axbS 45 Hf7! gives anything, and so Black has to play 43 ... axb5. White can bring matters down to a rook ending in which, not- withstanding the lack of a pawn, he has the right to hope for a draw: 44 we3! whS+ 45 wh3 mxh3+ (worse is 45... #26 46 ~b7 4d2 47 Hxb5 Exf2 48 ~xe5 xb2 49 c4!, but not 49 ~xe6? Exg2+ SO wyxg2 wxe6 with chances for Black to win in the queen ending) 46 &xh3 #d2 47 2e7 &xf2 48 Hxe6 Hxb2 49 -xce5 &g6. Analysis showed that if White 1s worried about playing the rook ending and decides not to hurry with the queen exchange, he will meet with much more serious Analysis of Adjourned Positions 17 problems. So, after 44 f3? 44... bl! is very strong, for example 45 b4 wh5+ 46 &g3 we64 47 @h2 ¥b2. Q. 1.10 What should Black do in answer to 44 £b7? a a 2 Vi pk a The refutation of this move was found by Yuri Balashov (the game was played in a team com- petition, and I showed my prepar- atory analysis to my team-mates). Running ahead of myself, I will say that it was just this variation that occurred upon resumption. When I had finished analysing the adjourned position, I found myself in a dilemma: should I choose 41 ... axb5 or 41... e3? It was clear that the first continua- tion was objectively stronger, but I did not choose it (as the reader will have guessed a long time ago, from the section heading). Why? Firstly, 41 ... e3 could have escaped notice in the opponent’s analysis, and we have already seen how important it is to use the effect of surprise. Secondly, after 41... axb5 rea- lising the advantage is still very1& Analysis of Adjourned Positions difficult, and it would be neces- sary to expend a lot of time and effort. But 41... ¢3 had been analysed in detail, and the smal- lest inaccuracy by the opponent would tead to him being beaten easily and quickly—using home analysis. A more principled player with more faith in his powers would possibly have made another de- cision. It is pointless to argue about who is right here, since there is no definite answer. The choice depends upon one’s style of play and chess tastes, and also on a number of attendant factors that have to do with the tournament position, your opinion of the op- ponent’s personality, how strong you feel, and so on. So what happened at resump- tion? 41 42 wxe3 Zakharyan thought about this move for twenty minutes or so, and this meant that Black—as he had anticipated —had managed to surprise his opponent straight a away. Cs adl+ 43° &h2 axb5 44 2b7? “d3! 45 we2 wa+ 46 g3 2d2! 47 gxf4 “uxe2 48 sxb5 exf4! A simple calculation shows that Black’s pawns will become queens rather more quickly than those of his opponent. 49 deg? 25 50 &f3 Hel 51 b4 &26 52 bs 05 53 bS5 e4+ 54 &g2 f3+ The whole series of Black moves was planned at home. The outcome of the game is already clear now. 55 w®h2 “fl 55... €3 54 &g3 24! is also pos- sible. 56 &eg3 git It is very important to learn to weigh up objectively (or assess intuitively) the totality of the com- petitive and psychological factors. Then we can do what is most un- pleasant for the opponent and safest for ourselves, and so gain results that may, superficially, seem undeserved. 57 @&h2 58 &h3 White resigned. Hg2t w@hs Zaid—Yusupov Leningrad 1977 This was the adjourned posi- tion, and Yusupov sealed 42...#8. White’s position is difficult: his kingside pawn structure is shattered and Black has the ad- vantage of the two bishops (this is a significant advantage in open positions). However, as a brief analysis (the game was to be con- tinued the same evening) by Artur and myself showed, it would be difficult for Black to realise his advantage given exact defence, since too few pawns remained on the board. 43 «bd! Quite correct! You must try to exchange pawns when you are defending a worse ending. Now Black has to make the difficult choice between 43... #e7 and 43 ... axb4, After 43 ... &e7 44 bxa5 bxa5 45 AcS Hd5 46 £d3! no clear road for further strengthening Black’s position is visible. 46... «C3 47 Ded gets nowhere. If 46 ... @b2, then 47 Ze4 (47... #6? 48 Ab7+). If 46... &d6, then 47 De4+ eS and the same-coloured bishop ending after 48 2xf6?! &xf6 is appar- ently won due to the weakness of the White pawns. However, by playing 48 2d2! (with the threat of 49 404+), White can drive the opposing pieces back. It is obvious that in the 43 ... @&e7 variation Black has to apply him- self to a long war of manoeuvre, where (at least at first) he is with- out a clear plan. A completely different situation arises after 43 axb4 Analysis of Adjourned Positions 19 44 &xb4 we7 Q. 1.11 How should White con- tinue? After any ‘normal’ move, such as 45 @f2, 45 ... @d6 produces a situation that is significantly more favourable for Black than those in the variations considered above. If we assess White’s position as being lost here (and this is the correct assessment), we immedi- ately feel a strong desire to play 45 a5! bxa5 46 Dc6+ It is necessary to play this if, of course, the calculation of varia- tions does not show a forced win for Black. We shall see! 46... &d6 There is a simple draw in the opposite-coloured bishop ending: 46... & xc647 &xc6 Bal 48 &f2 &d6 49 Ze8 £6 50 Be2 &c5 SI @d3 or 47... @d6 48 He8 Sc5 49 &f2 @b4 50 &xf7a451 Hxe6 a3 52 @f3 &c3 53 we4 Sb2 54 @fS & d8 55 e4a2 56 Qxa2 wxa2 57 eS &b3 58 &e6! &c4 59 &d7 @d5! 60 e6 §f6 61 e7 &xe7 62 Bxe7 Se!20) Analysis of Adjourned Positions 47) Dxa5 add White has exchanged another pair of pawns, but his knight is in danger. Of course, he cannot play 48 2ac4+? w&c5S, and 48 §c4? £c3! 49 gxdS w&xd5 50 Ab3 wc4 SI Act Hd2 52 He2 &xe3+ is also bad. 48 43! eS 49 @f2! A hurried 49 e4? is mistaken: 49 ... £a8 50 Ab3+ Bb4 51 Acl @c3 with an easy win. On the other hand, in answer to any natural move the counter- blow e3-e4! now saves White. For example, 49 ... @b4 50 e4! a8 (50... §a2 51 e5!) 51 Ac4 or 49 ... &c3 50 e4f Ba8 SI Ab3+ &b4 52 Acl d4+ 53 we2 &c3 54 Qa2+ &b355 Acl+ wb2 56 @d2 or 49... §d8 50 e4! 9.8 51 Ac4 (51 Ab3+ #Hb4 52 Dd?! is also possible) 51... @d4 52 &e2 hxe4 53 G xed dxe4 54 Ad6+ and the endgame, as further analysis shows, is drawish in character. It may be that 49... e5 50 e4 §e6 promises Black more practical chances, but a draw is also probable here, since too few pawns remain on the board. Thus, 45 a5! is correct. But the further play requires great accur- acy from White, especially since the positions that arise are dan- gerous for him. If we are not alive to the hopelessness of White’s position in other, unforced conti- nuations, then it would be very difficult to decide on 45 a5! Let us return to the problem of Black’s choice between 43 axb4 and 43 ... &e7. The situa- tion is indeed in part like the one that arose in the Zakharyan— Dvoretsky ending. Each trainer was a practical player and at one time used to play in tournaments (and it is even better if he still plays, even though this is rare). One’s own competitive experience is con- tinually helpful in working as a trainer. Here there are not only games, variations, and analysis, but also recollections of various competitive situations and the successful or mistaken decisions that were taken there. So it is not difficult to guess what advice I gave Yusupov on resumption. Artur agreed with me and, as it became clear, we had guessed cor- rectly. 43... axb4!? 44 2xb4 Be7 45 &f2? #d6 Black’s further plan is simple: after he has maximised the ac- tivity of his pieces, he will advance the e-pawn so as to restrict the mobility of the opponent’s pieces and, finally, penetrate with his king into the opponent’s position. 46 203 23 47 @fl {6 48 AN Hes! 49 a3 283 In implementing a_ strategic plan, it is important to find the best squares for one’s pieces. We established in our home analysis that the black-square bishop would be especially active on g3. 50. Acl AdsS51 Ad3 Ab3 52 @e2 &d5 53 @&fl ed! 54. Ab4 Ab7 Extreme accuracy is always required in realising an advantage. The careless 54... §e6?! would give White counterchances after 55 e4! 55 443 e4 56 «abl &cS 57 Dad Ra6t+ 58 wegl §a3! 59 Ac3 &xbl As is known, possessing the two bishops is good because we can always exchange one of them at an appropriate moment. 60 Axbl eA 61 wf #d3 62 Had &xe3 63 Acd4t+ ed3 64 Ab2+ &c3 65 Ddl+ ed2 66 = Ab2 e3 67) Ac4+ ed3 68 = Ab2+ &c3 White resigned. How Hard it is to Win a Won Position! Then I glanced at the position without any preconceived opinion and—oh joy!—I understood the secret of this endgame. Mikhail Botvinnik In preparing for resumption we work at a serious analysis and then suddenly understand what a rich content there may be con- cealed in the simplest and, at first Analysis of Adjourned Positions 21 glance, most uninteresting posi- tions. We discover that it is pos- sible to defend oneself in any sit- uation, even in a very difficult one, and that we have to over- come a great many obstacles on the way to victory and to find deep moves which are sometimes the only ones. The truth that is found with effort in analysis usually gives us considerable crea- tive satisfaction. Akhmylovskaya—Alexandria Kislovodsk 1980 The first impression is that Black has a large, and probably winning, positional advantage. Her pieces are significantly more active, and the d4 and h2 pawns are weak. What had Akhmylovskaya sealed? Of course not 41 wye2? wxa3 or 41 Ac2? Ac3+ 42 wal wdl1+, and certainly not 41 @a2, when the knight goes to c3 with check. It is also easy to refute 41 &cl?, Black can take the h2 pawn straightaway: 41... e3 42 wb4 wdl+ 43 @b2 we2+ 44 #b3220 Analysis of Adjourned Positions mm Xh2. [tis still more accurate to play for zugzwang, since after 41 ... &h7! any White move wor- sens her position. For example, 42 De2 wfl+ 43 dd2 wi2+ 44 &d3 (44 @&cl wglt+; 44 @dl 2e3+) 44... wxh2. Or 42 Dbl pifl+ 43 @d2 (43 &c2 De3+ winning the queen) 43 ... gyf2+ 44 &cl welt. There remains only 41 @al, but then the obvious 41 ... Ac3 wins the d4 pawn in time. Where can the opponent’s counter- chances be? Let us first of all consider 42 bl. Q. 1.12 Evaluate the king and pawn ending a pawn up. There is a slight disappointment at once here, since after 42 ... 2)xbl 43 wexbl wxd4+ 44 wb2! wixb2+ 45 @xb2 we get a drawn king and pawn endgame: 45... #28 46 &c3 &f7 47 &b4 He7 48 &c5 &d7 49 &b6 g5 50 h3 (50 h4 gxh4 comes to the same thing) 50 ... g4 51 h4 hS 52 @aS! &c7 53 ao. Let us try to evaluate the queen ending. 44... wd545 wf2 (or 45 wre2) 45... 5 46 &b2 c4 47 wre3 (or, with the queen on e2, 47 #c3). Black cannot win without bringing her king into the game, and this is not so simple since it gives White definite chances for perpetual check. The conclusion is that it is desirable for Black to avoid the exchange of queens. Let us play 42... b5! (instead of 42... 2xbl), intending 43... xd4. We ask ourselves again who the exchange of queens favours. It turns out that after 43 yod2 wexd2 44 2xd2 Axd4 45 @b2 White has counterchances because of the vulnerability of the c6 and e6 pawns and the remote- ness of the opposing king from the centre of things. On the other hand, while the knights and queens remain on the board the defence is very difficult, since Black can combine the ad- vance of the c-pawn with threats to the king and the h2 pawn. Thus, on 43 wd2 we answer 43 ... bye4, and then we play 2xd4, c6-c5, and so on. Or 43 @#a2 2xd4 44 wc3 wab6+ (44... we2+ is also possible) 45 @&b2 wbS+ 46 @a2 cS. It may not be worthwhile to analyse 42 2)bl further, since we have found the strongest answer for Black and selected a plan for the further play. There are no serious difficulties visible in realis- ing this plan. We can now note that in analys- ing adjourned positions it is very important to draw some general conclusions by way of evaluation, as well as investigating concrete variations. For example, as in the present example, we should con- sider the profitability of exchang- ing some pieces or other. Let us try 42 wb4. After 42... wrd2 43 wrb2 wxd4 44 Dbl the exchange of queens is unavoid- able, and we have already decided that exchanging queens compli- cates the realisation of the advan- tage. 42... e243 @b2 Axd4 44mc4! gd2+ 45 Ac2 is also unconvincing, since White has managed to restore coordination between her pieces, create the threat of exchanges and attack the c6 and e6 pawns. 42... wd2 43 wb2 wdl+! 44 Dbl AbS! 45 wd2 wad+ 46 @&b2 2xd4 47 we3 wb5+ and 48 ... c5 is much stronger, when we arrive at about the same favourable situation as after 42 Dbl. But on the way we have, so it seems, already discovered the best placing of the White pieces with the king on b2 and the knight on c2. White can get to it by 42 wb3! wrxd4 44 c2. At first sight, this plan is also not to be taken too seriously. It seems that we have only to find a couple of accurate moves for the opponent’s resistance to be over- come. Let us try. 43... wd2 is obvious, but where should the knight go after 44 &b2? The ‘active’ 44... 2e2 is harmless in view of 45 we4, when it is not clear how the c6 pawn is to be defended. Analysis of Adjourned Positions 23 44 ... Bd5 seems the most solid, to shield the e6 pawn and threaten 45 ... wyxh2. If 45 h4, then 45 ... c5, and White is in a bad way. White has to create her own counter-threats immediately: 45 wWb8+! @h7 46 wd6 wc3+ (46 ... Wxh2 47 wxe6 De3 48 wyxc6) 47 @cl! (but not 47 &b1? wb3+ 48 @&cl Ac3 with a decisive at- tack). If now 47... Ae3, then 48 wWd2! wxd2+ 49 @&xd2 Afl+ (we recall that after 49 ... 2xc2 the pawn ending is drawn) 50 @e2 &xh2 51 Dd4. The pawn sacrifice 47... c5 48 Wyxe6 De3 49 wa2 &c4 looks tempting but, as has become clear, there is nothing decisive here. Now let us try 44... AbS (in- stead of 44... Ad5). The e6 pawn is defended indirectly: 45 wyxe6? wyxe2+! On 45 wWe4 there follows 45... Wwxh2 46 wxc6 Ad4, forc- ing a transition to a won pawn ending (the first exchanges were to Black’s advantage). She has to play 45 h4, intending 46 wWe4. The defence can be held in reply to 45 ... We2 by continually threaten- ing to exchange the Black queen: 46 wre3 (not 46 h5? &h7! 47 we3 wxh5 or 47 @&bl1 cS! 48 wWe3 wed) 46... wg2 (46... wed 47 wb3) 47 wb3! &h7 48 we4!, and 48... wxg3 49 Wxc6 is not con- vincing, when White is already thinking of h4—hS. Thus, after 43 ... wyd2 we do not seem to successfully streng- then Black’s position with simple play. Let us try 43... wel+ 4424 Analysis of Adjourned Positions b2, and again look through all the possible knight moves. 44... AdI+ would be vindi- cated after 45 @a3?, but the king can bravely walk into the disco- vered check with 45 @&cl! There is also an interesting defence after 44... De® 45 wed (45 wxeb? wacl+ and 46... Wxc2+)45... eexh2. Q. 1.13 How should White con- tinue? White only saves herself by 46 wxe6! Dd4 47 we8+! @h7 48 #c3! Black poses her opponent significantly more difficult prob- lems with 44... Ad5. Q. 1.14 How does White hold the defence here? The counter-attack 45 wyb8+ weh7 46 wd6, which is appropri- ate with the Black queen on d2, is not successful here: 46... wb6+! 47 a3 (47 &cl Ac3!) 47... waS+ 48 @b3 wb5+ 49 wad Abo! 50 web4 wd3+ SI wb3 (51 Bb2 Ach4t+) S51... wab6+! 52 #b2 c5! The e6 pawn is not vul- nerable to attack and Black is back in the happy (but already half-forgotten) position of being able to strengthen her position without hindrance (Ab6-d5, c5— c4, and so on). Neither 45 wed? wxh2 43 wxc6 2e3 nor 45 h4? cS with a decisive advantage for Black are of any use. Quiet moves like 45 wb7!! do not usually strike us immediately. In attacking the c6 and e6 pawns, White also keeps the enemy queen away from b6 for the time being. If 45... wxh2, then there follows a variation that we already know: 46 we8+ @&h7 47 wxe6 De3 48 wxc6. We have to realise that the question of the best plan for rea- lising the advantage still remains open. By choosing the only moves, White can avoid forced loss in all variations and pose us serious problems. This means that it is always necessary to go deeper and deeper into variations that have already been found in trying to find some unnoticed resources in them. Along with Nana Alex- andria’s other helpers, the present author worked at this for a long time, but without success. The reader already knows that there is another, often more effec- tive, method of looking for a way out of an impasse in our planning. It is very useful to try to discard the mass of variations, evaluations and opinions that you have alreadyaccumulated and to look at the position with fresh eyes and try to find an idea that has not been found so far. Such new ideas are often found on the very first moves of an analysis. When I finally gave up the exhausting investigation of varia- tions, I suddenly realised that all of Black’s difficulties spring from her king not being involved in the game. It is for just this reason that many of the endgames with an extra pawn are unclear. So is it worth spending time on winning the unimportant d4 pawn and allowing White to consolidate? The knight on d5 and the queen on d3 are excellently placed, and Black has to improve the position of the only piece of his that is not taking part in the game—the king. The most difficult thing was to reject 41... Ac3 and find the manoeuvre @h7—g6—h5. Working out the variations was, as they say, a matter of technique. 41 @h7!! Besides the objective strength of this move, it is also good because of its value in surprising the opponent. 42 Dbl After 42 &c2 @g6 there are really no sensible continuations to be seen (43 |b4 Wdl+ 44 wa2 wa4dt+), 42 #6! Threatening &g6—h5—-24-h3. After 43 wb8 there follows 43 ... wd4+ 44 @a2 Db4+! with a decisive attack. 43 wd2 wyxd2 Analysis of Adjourned Positions 25 Black agrees to the queen exchange, since her king pen- etrates into the opposing position. 44 &xd2 @hs 45 Ac4 Neither 45 Ab3 wg4 46 AcS ®c7 nor 45 &b2 &g4 46 &b3 #h3 47 &c4 @xh2 48 &c5 &xg3 49 &xc6 h5 50 @d6 Axf4 51 d5 exd5 52 e6 Axe6 give White any chances. The main variation of the analysis seemed to be the fol- lowing: 45 h3 g5 46 fxgS hxg5 47 @b2 24 (47... £47 48 gxf4 pxf4 49 2)f3) 48 hxg4 (48 h4 f4) 48... &xg4 49 &c2!2 (49 |fl Sf3 with threats of 50... @f2 or 50... ®e2 51 Dh2 #2 is also hopeless, and 49 @b3 leads to the main variation) 49 ... @&xg3 50 @&d3 @g2! (but not 50... £427 51 @e4; 50... &f2 51 Ab3 £4 52 wed is inexact) 51 @c4 (on 51 4b3 or 51 @e2, 51 ... f4 decides) 51... @f2! (51... £452 &c5 f3 53 &xc6 f2 54 @d6 is imprecise, and 54... £4? 55 d5! is bad) 52 @cS (52 &d3 DAf4+ 53 decd We2) 52... @e2 with an easy win since White cannot even sacrifice her knight for the f-pawn.26 Analysis of Adjourned Positions The position in the last diagram looks completely hopeless for White. You could get the impres- sion that there was no need to analyse it in detail, but we already know how difficult it can some- times be to realise even a very large advantage, and how much attention and accuracy it requires. In order to be sure of one’s evalu- ation of the position and avoid complications on resumption, one should prolong the analysis of the forced variations as far as possible until they lead to absolutely clear (or, conversely, completely unclear) situations. In addition, by choosing and elaborating the clearest and most secure roads to victory, we are effectively undergoing training in a subject that is exceptionally im- portant for the practical player— the technique of realising an ad- vantage. The games of all those players like Fischer, Karpov, Petrosian and Andersson, who are famous for their technique, are distinguished by a thoughtful ap- proach to taking decisions even in totally won positions, efforts to restrict the opponent’s counter- play as much as possible, and continuous attention to ‘trifles’ and ‘details’. 45... we4 46 Bad Be7 47 &b2 On 47 &b7, both 47... g5 and 47 ... @h3 48 d8 @xh2 49 2)xe6 &xg3 50 Axg7 we4 are possible. 47... @h3 48 &c3 @xh2 49 &c4 @&xg3 50 @c5 h5 51 &d6 On 51 &xc6, the simplest is 51 ... Axc6 52 &xc6 h4 53 d5 h3, and Black queens with check. 51... ads 51... h4 also wins easily. 52 &xe6 h4 53. Axc6 &xf4+ 54. @&xf5 h3, White resigned. The positional considerations that lead to 41 ... @h7!! are elementary. In the endgame, the king should play an active part in the struggle, and if any of our pieces is badly placed we should improve its position as a matter of urgency. We know all this very well, so how did a group of exper- ienced players fail for such a long time to find the solution in this position? Evidently, we were all too much impressed by material, and winning the d4 pawn after 41 ... Ac3 straight away seemed to be the most attractive option. And in general there is nothing criminal about winning material “when it involves only a minimal expenditure of time and no posi- tional concessions, and this is in- deed a tactic that is most often sensible. There are several different rules acting in every position, and the recommendations following from these rules often contradict each other. Players often make choices intuitively, relying on positional feel. But the solution cannotalways be divined, and you often have to look deeply into varia- tions and occupy yourself with a detailed investigation of possibil- ites. Different players will arrive ut the same correct solution by different paths, according to their individual idiosyncrasies of thought and their move-search algorithms. In the given case, both 41 ... @h7!! and the best disposition of White’s pieces in answer to 41... Ac3? (42 wb3! and 43 2c2!) were found as a result of concrete analysis, but somebody else could have arrived at them more quickly by way of positional evaluation. We should not value everything concrete over the general, analysis over evaluation, and logic over intuition, or the other way round (such attempts are sometimes mide). The player must develop in himself both of these opposing forms of thought, possess various ways of approaching a position, and learn to combine them pro- perly in accordance with his own tastes and style of play. E15 £ atk Las, Y DB Black to move wa g a Analysis of Adjourned Positions 27 hg ae "ae ata ZZ White to move Black to move28 Analysis of Adjourned Positions An Analysis That Was Not Taken to Its End A draw can be obtained not only by repeating three moves, but also by one weak move. Tartakower We have already discussed, in the preceding chapter, the necessity of analysing all forced variations ‘to the end’ and of working out meth- ods for realising our advantage in won positions. The following ex- ample shows what unpleasant- nesses we can encounter if we neglect this principle. Georgadze—-Yusupov Vilnius 1980 After 41 wyxb5 wxd6+ , despite the approximate material equa- lity, there is an obvious advantage for Black. The White knight is out of the game, and the c3 pawn is very strong. If the queens are exchanged, Black’s rook will pen- etrate into White’s position with decisive effect. Black’s problem is to reorganise his forces so that threats of mate will force White to acquiesce in an exchange of queens, all without letting the knight escape from captivity. 42 @hi 42 @gl is weaker in view of 42 ... Wd4+ 43 @hl (43 &h2 wf4+ 44 @hl wel+ and 45... wxc2) 43... Be6! 44 wb8+ (44 wf1+ @e7 with threats of 45... wrd2 and 45... wh4) 44... #e8 45 weg3 g5!, and White has no defence against 46... wf4! 42 Heé Tamas Georgadze and his trainer Mikhail Podgaets were mainly concerned in their analysis with another plan that began with 42... #f2. The bishop is invulner- able for the moment, but on 43 S)b6 (or 43 Ac5) there is 43... Bxc2 44 wf5+ &g8 46 wxc2 wWxb6 with a winning queen end- ing. Black intends to mount a serious attack on the bishop after playing 43 ... 26. You cannot win a game by several methods at once, and you have to concentrate your forces on one of them. We chose the plan that seemed to us to be the most certain. 43 wfi+ 44 wf2! The only move. White has countered the threats of 44 ... wWe3 and 44... wd2, and now he intends to bring his knight into the game. 45 geS! 44. wd does not work in view of 45 weS+ @f7 46 we7+ &f6 47 cS! The move played we7denies White’s pieces the import- ant cS square and renews the threat of wyd2. For example, 45 pia7+ wrd7 46 wf2 wa2 47 wa7t @f8 48 wa8+ He8 49 wf3+ @g8, and White is de- fenceless. 45 Ab6 wd2 46 Ac&+ @d8 47 wbh6+ @&xc8 or 47 w8+ i£e8 also loses. 45 we3! Again the only move. The fate of the knight is the leitmotif of this whole ending, and Black has no time to strengthen his position unhurriedly with 45 ... g5? or 45 . wf6?, since then the knight gets into the game immediately with 46 Abé! 45... &d8! Now on 46 Ab6 there follows 46... %e6!, which forces the exchange of queens and leads to an _casily won endgame after 47 wxd6+ Hxd6 48 Ac4 Heb 49 x43) gel+ or 49 ... Be2. Meanwhile, Black is preparing to play 46... i19e6 47 wyF2 wd2 48 miS+ e8. On 46 @gl, the game is decided by 46... wd4+ 47 &hl g5 with a following wf4. Analysis of Adjourned Positions 29 If White chooses 46 wf2, then after 46 ... wf6 the following variations are possible: 47 wd4+ &e7 48 wa7+ &f8 49 wb8+ #e8 50 we3 Wilt! (not 50... g5? 51 Acd! w4 52 wxf4 pxf4 53 Ae4, and Black cannot break through anywhere) 51 @h2 we2 with threats of 52... wrxe2 and 52... weS. 47 wWe3 we! (threatening 48 ... Hel+ 49 @h2 weS) 48 @h2 wd6! 49 &hl He6 50 wf2 wd2 with a won game. It seemed that we had found a forced win. The analysis was diffi- cult and took a lot of time and energy. When we finished chec- king the variations, there remained only two or three hours before resumption. In principle, it is a good thing to rest before resumption, since there will cer- tainly be some problems that will have to be solved at the board and a rested brain will surely prove more necessary than a couple of not particularly important refine- ments found at the last moment. In the present case, however, we still had a few minutes’ work to do. We had still not considered the consequences of the knight sacri- fice (from the last diagram) 46 &xc3 bxc3 47 wWxc3, since it seemed to give rise to a won posi- tion for Black. But after we had analysed the other, better- founded, variations, it was still worthwhile searching for a clear plan for realising the advantage here.30 Analysis of Adjourned Positions Q. 1.5 What should Black play? The surest way to victory is 47... we5! 48 we3 (48 wd3+ w&e7 is no better) 48... g5 49 a3 wre3 50 wxe3 Hxe3 S51 b4 Hc3! Having discovered this variation, Yusu- pov could have rested with a clear conscience, while I could have prepared an article on the adjourned position for a chess magazine. Unfortunately, we were seized by euphoria over the beauty of the ideas we had already found. Do you, in fact, often see the major dancing in circles on a sixpence and so completely disorganising the opponent’s defence? Just look at the routes of the Black pieces in the main variation: x f6-e6-e5— e6, wd6-f6—-e6-d6, &f8-e7—-d8— e7-f8, and all these, of course, are the strongest moves! Having seen the alluring 47... &c5, Yusupov announced that, if necessary, he would investigate this situation at the board. Georgadze decided to give up the knight. 46 = c3!? bxc3 47 w&xc3 Here Artur saw that his intended move 47... #c5? would not work because of 48 wyxg7! Bxc2 49 we8t+, 50 wh7+, and 51 wxc2. So Black apparently made the wrong decision out of chagrin. 47... wy d5? 48 we3 web Here, Georgadze could have forced an exchange of the queen- side pawns by playing 49 a3! Hel+ 50 @h2 wreS 51 wxed %xe5 52 b4, after which White would have tried to bring about one of the following two posi- tions: Such positions are called for- tresses in endgame theory. A for- tress is an impregnable position in which we can confine ourselves to passive defence and waiting, occa- sionally using an exact move to prevent some (previously antici- pated) attempt of the opponent to overcome our defence. Construct- ing a fortress is an important method of defence in the endgame.We have already seen an ex- ample on this theme when we were looking at the Alexandria- Litinskaya ending (52 a4!! and 53 & 3), and we will encounter this theme more than once in the rest of the book. Black’s error was still more an- noying because before resumption we had discussed the necessity of avoiding a queenside pawn exchange, so as to prevent White constructing a fortress. But all the same Yusupov could not find a plan that would allow him to avoid the exchange and, perhaps, he simply forgot about it the course of playing on. 49 &h2?! 50 §d3? This was the last opportunity for White to exchange pawns: 50 03! wes (50... Bxc2 51 wd3+) Sl wxeS5 Bxe5 52 b4. HS 50... wes 51 wyxe5S 2 xe5 52 ged He3! Now 53 a3 is useless, because in answer to b3—b4 there will always be 5 a4! White’s position is once morc lost. 53 ad &e7 54 hd &d6 55 g3 &e5 56 @&h3 eb4 57 @&g4 # xb3 58 bs cS 59 Hes Hb8 60 gd7 &d6 ot §f5 eS 62 §d7 26 White resigned. Analysis of Adjourned Positions 31 Give Me an Envelope, Please Anyone can err, but only a fool persists in his error. Cicero A player's success depends not only on the strength of the moves he makes, but also on how well he has thought out the other decisions he makes, such as the choice of open- ing variation, refusing a draw offer, determining the best mo- ment to offer a draw, and so on. Let us assume that forty moves have already been made and the time for adjournment has not yet arrived. What should we do, ad- journ the game or continue play- ing? Here are some significant considerations that should be taken into consideration when deciding whether to seal a move or continue the contest at the board. 1. If you feel very tired, you should adjourn the game, since each new move you make at the board may turn out to be a serious mistake. 2. If you have a completely win- ning position, ask the controller for an envelope. ‘If the opponent does not resign, adjourn him.’ Your opponent has continued to resist in the hope of a random error. He understands that you will work out the exact path to victory in your home analysis, and will probably resign without resuming play. It is sensible to do just the same if the opponent is trying to win a32 Analysis of Adjourned Positions clearly drawn position. However, if there is a possibility of his going too far and running into difficul- ties himself as he chases after vic- tory, why not let him play on a little bit longer? 3. If there is a wide choice of candidate moves, you should ad- journ right away. Then you will know which move has _ been sealed, but the opponent will have to analyse all the possibilities and work several times harder. 4. You can also make the op- ponent’s home analysis harder by sealing a move that you think will be a surprise to him. 5. Let us assume that the answer to your intended conti- nuation is obvious, and that you have a wide choice on the follow- ing move, so that you have to make an important decision. In such cases, you should seal your intended move, and put the difficult decision off until home analysis. Conversely, if it is the opponent who is faced with the choice, you should make your move and force the opponent to come to a de- cision at the board. It is possible that these recom- mendations may contradict each other from time to time. They should not be followed auto- matically, since they are merely signposts. You can increase your experience of these situations by remembering and evaluating your own experience of adjourned games, and also by becoming acquainted with the practice of other players. Romanishin—-Dvoretsky Odessa 1972 Black should have sealed the obvious 44 ... we6+. Then in peaceful analysis at home I would have seen whether I could exchange queens (45 ... &e7) after the only reply 45 we4, or whether it was necessary to defend the queen ending. How- ever, through my mind there flashed the proud thought ‘Who am I if I can’t work out such a simple pawn ending?’, and I played the queen check at the board. Romanishin interposed his queen, and I began to think about 45... &e7 46 wxe6+ &xe6 47 &24 &f6. Q. 1.16 Does Black have a draw here? After thinking for about ten minutes, I decided that White could win by 48 @f3!, and there and then I made the natural move45... wf6? There followed 46 eg8+ @e7 47 w&e4!, and it became clear that Black was going to lose the h6 pawn. After 47... meS the game was finally adjourned. The reader has already seen, in the Section on Traps Found in Analysis, how it ended. Black’s loss was deserved pun- ishment for his conceit. After five hours of hard struggle, one should not be too much of an optimist in estimating one’s capabilities and, as it turns out, the pawn ending was drawn. I saw that in the variation 48 Wf3! (after 45... @e7 46 wxe6+ wxe6 47 &e4 &f6) 48... wf (48 ... @e5 49 g4 makes no dif- ference) 49 g4+ @e5 50 @&e3 White seizes the opposition and exploits it by going round, which is the main method for exploiting the opposition. So, 50... @f6 51 &f4 &c6 52 &e4 &f6 53 &d5 (here it is, going round!) 53... @f7 (53 ... hS 54 g5+ is also hopeless, something that was known to me from theory) 54 @&e5 ®&e7 (now Black has seized the opposition, but this is of no importance since White has a spare tempo in the form of a reserve pawn move) 55 #& PS @&f7 56 hS. It seemed that moving the king to the seventh rank (instead of 48 ... %f5) changes nothing, in view of 49 &f4 @f6 50 24. I did not realise that the opposition was only necessary with the pawn on g4 and that while it was on g3 it was necessary, on the contrary, Analysis of Adjourned Positions 33 not to take the opposition under any circumstances. Thus, 48 ... eT! 49 &f4 &e6! 50 24 Sf6 or 49 94 @f7! with a draw. We should note that 48 ... @f7? is a mistake since White gains the distant opposition with 49 g4!, and then he converts it into the close opposition by going round: 49 ... &e7 50 #e3! @f7 51 &d4! (going round) 51... ®e6 52 ®e4 &f6 53 &d5 (going round again), and so on. However, as well as 48 ... @e7!, the draw can also be obtained by 48 ... @g6! 49 @&f4 (49 &e4 &f6!, but not 49... @h5? 50 &f4 &g6 51 &e5) 49... @hS! 50 @e5 (50 &f5 is stale- mate) 50... @g4 51 @f6 @xg3 52S @f4! 53 &g6 weS 54 wxh6 wf. By the way, Black was not even obliged to lose the queen ending, since instead of the ‘natural’ 45 wf6?, 45 wWf7!? was stronger. After this incident, I came to realise that there are positions where the best move is to turn to the controller and say: ‘Please bring an envelope, I want to ad- journ the game’. This conclusion helped me more than once later on. Andersson—Dvoretsky Wijk aan Zee 1976 Why did the obvious 43 ... £47 have to be sealed? The fact is that White cannot manage with- out h3-h4, after which Black has34 Analysis of Adjourned Positions a choice between exchanging on h4 or keeping a pawn on g5. Q. 1.17 Without going into analy- sis deeply, decide which possibility you prefer. During the game I was firmly convinced that I had to play 44... @f7 (or 44... &e7), since in this case I could see no way for White to break through. Meanwhile, after 44... gxh4+ 45 @xh4 @f7 46 @h5, the king cannot defend the h6 pawn, because of 47 2b5, and it is already necessary to look for some tactical resources. All this seems to be obvious, but my experience with Romanishin had not been in vain, and the game was adjourned. After a short analysis (there were two hours until resumption), I discovered to my horror that after 44... @f7 45 hxg5 hxg5 White has an extremely danger- ous plan, which consists of trans- ferring his king to b3 with a subse- quent bS and @a4. The Black king cannot mount a counterat- tack, since the constant threat of AbS5 prevents him going further than the f-file. If Black stops White’s king get- ting to b3 by playing aS—a4, then it returns to g3, after which trans- ferring the knight to b6 leads to Black losing either the a4- or d6- pawn. If the Black king goes to meet its opposite number on the queen- side, the g-pawn becomes vulner- able. White forces g5-g4 by playing 2)c3-d5-f6-h7, and then he re- turns the knight to e3 or c3 and the king to g3 and wins easily. We shall see that although only one Black pawn is on a ‘bad’ white square (a square of the same col- our as his bishop), his position deteriorates sharply at once. So, the fortress that Black has constructed turns out to be in- secure. It remains to try some attempts to hold the position by tactical means. We assume that when White plays #b3 or AbS Black’s king is on e7 and the bis- hop starts a counterattack straightaway with |... §h3. Let us investigate the variation 2 #a4 Qf1 3 @xaS5 8xd3 4 Ac3! gxc4 5 @b6. Black even has an extra pawn, but it is not clear how he is going to hinder the advance of the passed a-pawn. I do not presume to assert that Black’s position is lost after 44... @f7, but the serious difficulties that he has to face are obvious. For quite a long time I looked at variation after variation as I tried to find a defence, until I finallydecided to pay attention to the advice of Mikhail Tal (who was taking part in the analysis) and switched over to 44... gxh4+!! Although Black’s passed pawn seems to be weak, it brings some sharpness into the position, and this is what you have to do when vou have a bishop against a knight. On the other hand, the side with the knight is usually favoured by a static situation, as occurs in the 44 ... &f7 variation. These are quite simple considerations, but unfor- tunately I have to say that they only came into my head after the answer had been determined by concrete analysis. I was obviously too keen on sitting the siege out in a secure fortress. Indeed, the choice between 44 ... @f7 and 44... gxh4+ is one of the possible types of exercise for developing intuition. It is quite difficult to work the varia- tions out exactly here, and we have to try to ‘guess’ the answer to the problem using a small amount of calculation and some general considerations. Then we should check the course of our thoughts against the ‘answer’ and pick out those approximate con- siderations that prove to be the most useful in the given case and can help us arrive at the correct conclusion. To learn to divine things, we have to make guesses continually and then evaluate the quality of our guesses. Now let us see what actually happened on resumption. 44 hd exh4+!! Analysis of Adjourned Positions 33 45 &xh4 wi7 46 £3 wf6 47 AdS+ After a long thought, Anders- son decided not to go in for the sharp main variation. After 47 @h5, there would have followed 47... Qh3! 48 De2 (48 AdS+ &eg7 49 De3 Qd7 50 Agt Bxed 51 fxg4 a4 52 g5 hxgS 53 &xg5 @f7 54 &fS Be7 55 &g6 web with a draw) 48... @f1 49 Acl @g7 50 &h4 &f6 51 &g3 h5 52 @f2 h3 53 Ab3 a4 54 Acl h4 55 He2 &g5 56 Ac3 2d7 57 DbS Sf4 58 Axd6 h3 59 Ab7 h2 60 &g2 hlw+ (60... &e3 also deserves attention) 61 @#&xhl a&xf3 62 Axc5 He8, and the activity of the Black king probably compen- sates for the two-pawn deficit. It is certainly impossible to break down Black’s defence by simple methods and avoiding complications. 47... eT 48 &g3 wf7 49 De3 49 f4 also gives nothing. 49... wt 50 a@&h4 636 Analysis of Adjourned Positions 51 Adl 52 Ae3 On 52 Ac3 there would follow . &c2 53 Abs Hxd3 54 Axd6 &f6. had 52 £d7 53 dS ee7 54 &g3 ef 55 Ac3 Drawn. White to move Annotate the finish of the game 57 @f3 we7 58 &f4 Heb 59 g4 &f6 60 &f3 &e7 61 &e3 #7 62 &d4 &f6 63 &d5 we7 64 Bed &f7 65 @F5 we7 66 web wg6 67 h5+ @g5 68 @&f7 &xg4 69 &g6 #4 70 @xh6 Black resigned. Grandmasters Also Err The mistakes are all there, waiting to be made. Tartakower The title of this chapter is excep- tionally banal. It is clear that even leading players cannot conduct all their games without error (per- haps computers will manage it someday). However, one has to feel guilty about typical errors that occur in standard positions, since it should at least be possible to avoid them. I shall give two examples from the same competi- tion in which grandmasters suf- fered as a result of acting incor- rectly in a typical situation we have just studied—that of adjourning a game. Dolmatov—Dorfman Frunze 1981 The time control had already passed, so that Dolmatov could have sealed the natural 41 Ba7+, so that after the only possible reply 41 ... de8 he could have analysed the position at home and made his choice between 42 d6, 42 e5, and 42 @d4. But Sergei thought that he could easily find the strongest continuation at the board (remember that the same belief misled me in the game against Romanishin that we looked at in the preceding sec- tion).Dolmatov usually calculates variations excellently, and the reader is going to get to know some of his brilliantly-played end- ings in this book. But even a Grandmaster has to take account of tiredness building up towards the end of a round and disturbing the proper working of his brain. Dolmatov gave the check, and after his opponent’s reply he thought for a long time. If Black was forced to return his king to e7 after 42 &a8+, he could have sealed this move and then decided at home what he should do after 43 Ha7+ @e8. But, unfortu- nately, it is possible not to repeat the position: 42 Ba8+ @f7 49 a7+ @g6, and this means that a decision had to be taken at the board. In working out the variations, Dolmatov made a number of mis- takes and sealed the least good candidate move, 42 e5? When we had returned to our hotel, we straight away established that after 42 ... fxe5 43 ged h5 44 xh7, Black has the simple defence 44 ... “h4! All this actually came to pass on resump- tion, and Dolmatov had to acquiesce in a draw. At the board, Dolmatov rejected 42 d6!, since after 42 ... hS he could not find the winning idea 43 He7+ @d8 44 He6. Dorfman, who had to spend many hours analysing the adjourned position, later told us that after 42 @d4?! Black’s posi- tion would have been difficult, but Analysis of Adjourned Positions 37 that it could have been held by playing 42... Hd2+! (not 42... hS 43 Bh7) 43 e3 (43 Bcd He2) 43... Bg2! 44 @f3 Bh2, but after 42 d6 there was no salvation. An annoying story! I had, of course, already discussed the events recounted in the preceding chapter with Dolmatov. It is clear that you do not always assimilate somebody else’s__—_— experience firmly, and sometimes you also have to be turned yourself. Psakhis—Yusupov Frunze 1981 The advantage is with White, who has an extra pawn. Yusupov only had a few seconds left on his clock, and Psakhis, almost with- out thinking (playing on the op- ponent’s time trouble in better posi- tions is a serious error) made the unfortunate move 39 #c4? With his flag ready to fall, Yusupov found the splendid reply 39 ... c5!, and decisively rejected the draw offered by Psakhis, who had quickly realised his mistake. After 40 &xc5 Hxc5, the time control had been passed.38 Analysis of Adjourned Positions If Psakhis had thought for even a little while, he would probably have realised that he had to seal the only move playable here (and you could not imagine a more obvious one) so that he would then have the choice between several possibilities. However, 41 wxcS was played immediately, and Yusupov at once replied 41 .». &xh3, forcing his opponent to take a decision at the board. Q. 1.18 What path should White choose? We can probably answer this question both by calculation and by evaluation. It was established in analysis that 42 wxa7! wxg4 43 Ab3! (or 42 Db3 wxgd 44 wyxa7) led toa forced draw. The knight on b3 shields the king from checks and protects the d4 pawn, which also helps protect the king. White in- tends to advance the passed a pawn, and there may follow 43... hS 44 a4 h4 45 a5 h3 46 a6 &h7! (46 ... h2? 47 wb8+ and 48 wxh2+) 47 wb8 (or 47 wb7) 47 ... Mxd4! 48 Dxd4 wxd4 49 a7 wa4+ 50 @bl wd1+ with per- petual check. 42 Ac6?! wxg4d 43 wyxa7 (43 d5 wxf5) 43... wxf5 (43... h5S 44 eS! is not so good) is weaker, and only leaves White a choice between a difficult minor piece ending with 44 wc5 wre6+ 45 d5 we2 46 Ad4l? wh 47 wc8+ @h7 48 wSt+ wxfS 49 Axf5 &g6!, and a difficult ending with 44 De7+ &xe7 45 Wxe7 wd5+ 46 b3 (46 #al is no better) 46... g5 (on 46...h5, White should not play 47) weS? wrxe5 48 dxc5 @f8!, but 47 a4 is possible, when White waits until after 47 ... g5 before playing 48 weS) 47 wes (or 47 a4 w&xd4 with the advan- tage) 47... wg2+ (but not 47... wWxc5 48 dxc5 @f8 49 a4) 48 @bl welt 49 @b2 24. Lev Psakhis, the Soviet Cham- pion, played brilliantly at Frunze and won his second title in a row there (jointly with Kasparov). But this time, under the influence of the last few minutes of the round that had turned out badly for him, he was not able to control his nerves and he sealed the inferior 42 d5? Yusupov and I had also considered this possibility care- fully (the reader already knows that you cannot just analyse the best continuations). 4a... 43 d6 43 wxa7 hS is completely bad. In analysing, we first of all no- tice the moves that define the position or force the play—at- tacks, captures, threats, and wxge4exchanges (it is more difficult to find quiet moves that do not involve direct threats). And here to start with we tried the exchange of queens with 43 ... wd4 44 im xd4 4xd4, and we found some quite interesting variations. The reader will probably find it inter- esting to work out for himself the position that arises after 45 Ac6 af6 46 2xa7 (46 d7 hS 47 d8(#)+ $xd8 48 2xd8 h4, and the pawn cannot be stopped) 46 .. hS 47 b4 h4 48 bS. Black to move It was finally established that the exchange of queens leads only to a draw, since the White king is able to get over to the kingside in time to deal with the h pawn: 45 #b3! hS 46 @c2! (but not 46 #c4? 2b6) 46... h4 47 @d3 wXb2 48 @e4. An attack on b2 is also prema- ture. After 43... wye2 44 Ac4 White intends 45 wyd5, and after 44... tyd3 Black has to reckon with 45 DeS. A cold-blooded advance of the h-pawn with 43... h5! proved to be the strongest alternative. After Analysis of Adjourned Positions 39 44 wdS wd4! or 44 Ac4 wd4!, Black has got a free extra tempo by comparison with the endgame after an immediate 43 ... wd4? After 44 d7, 44 ... wedi! 45 wce8+ &h7 is decisive, as White has no counterplay. Psakhis chose 44 2)c6, but then the attack on b2 gained in strength. 44... we2 45 wh4 45 Ad4 wd2 46 d7 #h7 45 wd3! Black prevents the manoeuvre 46 De7+ w&h7 47 DdS. On 46 2e7+ &h7 47 wb, the simplest is 47... we4t! Here the analysis of both sides came to an end. In what followed, Black gave his opponent good counterchances but Psakhis, who was in time trouble by then, did not make use of them. 46 wed @h7?! 46... swd2! was stronger. 47 Ab4 wd2 White loses the b2 pawn, but in compensation he seizes the im- portant d5 square, and the posi- tion becomes a lot sharper.40 Analysis of Adjourned Positions With his previous move, Yusu- pov was preparing a blunder: 47 ... Wd47?, and at the last moment he noticed that after 48 wxd4 &xd4 49 Ad5! the d-pawn cannot be stopped. 48 &b3! wyxb2 + 49 @ad we2 It is possible that 49 ... we5 was stronger. 50 wd5 50 &®d5 also deserved con- sideration. 50... 51 wxf7? 51 d7 was necessary, after which Yusupov intended 51 ... wh5!, but then after 52 d8(wW) Hxd8 53 wyxd8 h3 54 f6! h2 55 fxg7 @xg7 56 wd4+ the out- come of the contest is still unclear. However, Psakhis simply did not have enough time for these varia- tions. hd! S51... wdl+ 52 &bS wxd6 53) whS+ 53 Ad5 53... w&g8 54. w&e4 a5 White lost on time. Thoughtlessness is Punished! The greatest thing in the world is self-possession. Michel de Montaigne Chestyakov—Dvoretsky Moscow Championship 1966 The diagram shows the adjourned position. First of all, White has to exchange on d7, and then he will put his rook on the sixth rank and attack the f6 pawn by placing his king on e7. Analysis showed that this plan was dangerous and so I decided to advance the f-pawn without waiting for the White king to get into my position. I thought that here I might be able to ease my defence by exchanging a couple of pawns. When there is very little material left on the board, positions known to endgame theory may arise. You have to consult your books and look for some useful information there. In Averbakh’s handbook, I discovered an ending which became my main guide on re- sumption.Romanovsky—Rabinovich Leningrad 1924 1 @&g5! Bxga+ 2 @&f6 ae4 Otherwise 3 § 25. 3 ghé! 3 2b2? Bc2 loses. 3... we24 3... Bc6+ 4 @g5, and then ag? and @f6. 4 &xg6 He6é+ 5S &g7 ets 6 Res Drawn. It is probable that my opponent did not devote attention to this position in his analysis, and I was soon able to obtain it after the resumption of play. 41 xd7 Axd7 42 &d2 £5 43 “d8 Abs 44 d6+ @hS 45 &e3 f4+ 46 @f3 Afl! 47 gat+ fxg4 48 hxg4 &h3 49 &xa6 Ad7 50 “d6 Beat 51 &e3 ic8 The obvious plan to play for a win is to transfer the king to f6, but then we get exactly that theoretical draw which we already know (with a change in the colour of the pieces). At this time, I had already mentally awarded myself half a point in the tournament table, and I was simply not thinking about the moves. 52 ad8 heb Analysis of Adjourned Positions 41 53. “d4 Ac8 54. &d3 B+ 55° &c4 fe6+ 56 &c5 Ac8 57 &d6 Afs 58 Hed £h3 59 eS Bd7 60 &f6 Rh3 61 eS After 61 #d4 §c8 62 “d5 the position from the Romanovsky— Rabinovich game would have been reproduced exactly. 61 #24 52 HxgS5+ wf3 63 &e5 hed 64 &d4 w®xg3 ‘Theory’ has ended, and Black has to begin thinking. But it was difficult to stop after playing almost twenty blitz moves. Black should not have hurried to take the pawn (64... §h3!). 65 wes #h3 The king is in no danger if he is in the corner of opposite colour to his bishop (in the given case, on h8 or al). So it is desirable in principle to play 65... @h4; un- fortunately, after 66 @f4 White wins. 66 «wf42 Analysis of Adjourned Positions Q. 1.19 Where should the bishop go? 66... Sa77? Thad to move the bishop away along the d1-h5 diagonal with 66 ... Rd (e2)! so as to keep the f3 square under control. 67 =&g3+ wh2 67... @h4 68 Hg7 ge8 69 &h7+ @h570 “h8 is zugzwang. 68 @f3 This simple move was outside my field of vision, which is not surprising if you switch from blitz to a serious game. White wins easily with the king confined in the ‘dangerous’ corner. 68... Bad 69 He2+ @&h3 70 He3+ wh2 71 @f2 hed 72 e3 Abl 73 el Ad 73... §a2 74 Hce2 Bbl 75 #b2. 74 He6 Black resigned. Every player has games or parts of games that he remembers es- pecially. As a rule, these hotly- contested, tense contests are asso- ciated with original ideas, unusual finds or some kind of interesting circumstance, or they have some special meaning from the compe- titive point of view. Such games are usually studied with care, and the experience we get from them has a significant effect on the player’s future games. I want to present the reader with the second half of one such game of mine. Dvoretsky—Filipowicz Polanica Zdroj 1973 The adjourned position seemed easily won to me, but analysis did not support this evaluation. I devoted most of my attention to the active move 41... #d2! After 42 Bxf7+ @h8 (42... #h6? 43 24!) 43 @f3 it is useless to attack the bishop: 43... Ad3 44 £e3 or 43... Dd1 44 5, and he has to play 43 ... hS!, which creates the threats 44 ... Ad3 45 He3? BHel+ and 44... Hd3+ 45 &g2 d2. White should play 44 §e3 Hd3 45 @e2 6d4 46 Scl Exg3 47 £5. Now 47 ... 4d3 is bad in view of 48 @g5 Af4t+ 49 Sdl and the White king escapes from the checks. 47 ... gxf5 is enticing, with the idea of 48 exf5? e4 or 48 225? Bg2+ 49 @f3 af2+ 50 @e3 f4+ 51 &h3 Wf3+ with perpetual check. But White still has a pleasant choice between 48 Hxf5 Hg2+49 @f3 22+ 50 @g3 wxfd 51 exfS and 48 2f8+ @h7 49 w Xf5+, and in both cases he still has winning chances. It is evident that 47... Dxa4 48 Bf8+ Hh7! (48 ... @g7? 49 f6+! &xf8 50 x h6 +) is better. I had a stroke of luck and Black sealed an inferior move. 41... 2xad? 42 =&xf7+ #&h8 43 £5 Ad4 44 f6! 44 g4 is a mistake in view of 44 ... DeS 45 Qd5 Gxf2 46 &xf2 exf5! 47 exfS5 #7! 44... Dc On 44 ... 2c3, there would have followed 45 @xd4 exd4 46 e5 d3 47 ged. 45 £d5 Sxf2 45... a4 is more stubborn. 46 &xf2 a4 47 &e3 h6 On 47... a3, White intended 48 #4!, and only then 49 a7. 48 87 a3 49 xg6 Threatening mate. Black can- not play 49 ... Hxd5 50 exd5 a2 because of 51 f7 49... @h7 50 He7+ @h8 51 24? The elementary 51 a7! #f8 S2 f7 did not attract me. I wanted to win at my ease, and to keep my pawn on f6 and so prevent a tem- porary black-square blockade. This was, in principle, a praisew- orthy ambition, but I anticipated my victory and stopped checking Analysis of Adjourned Positions 43 the variations carefully, while the inventive Filipowicz did not give up the ghost in this difficult posi- tion and found a noteworthy de- fensive resource. Q. 1.20 What had my opponent thought up? Stalemate combinations are met with often in studies and almost never in practical play. Here you can enjoy a rare spec- tacle. 51 2d! 52 35 hxgS 53. hxg5 a2! 54. gxa2d 54 % 26? Axf6! 55 gxf6 Hxd5! does not work. 54... xf! After 55 gxf6 &d3+!, the king cannot escape from the ‘rabid’ rook. So White has to get to work again. 55 2 f7 Hab! 55... HHS? 56 g6 Ag7 57 BAZ De8 58 H+ wg7 59 Met and 60 @f7 would have lost at once. 56 xf6! —44 Analysis of Adjourned Positions The only move! 56 §e6 Ha3+ 57 @e2 |xe4 58 g6 Dg5! 59 g7+ #28 will not do. Black manages to draw after 56 gxf6 2a3+ 57 @e2 Hxa2d+ 58 &f3 &g8 59 &g7+ (59 Be7 Zab) 59... &fs! (the attempt to play for stalemate with 59... @h8? is a mistake here in view of 60 #g5 Ha6 61 2f5 &g8 62 &24 Sf7 63 &g5 witha subsequent 64 @f2 and 65 £b2) 60 &24 2f261 wg5 F462 Ba7 Exed 63 @f5 Hb4 64 Seb Hb6+ or 64 &g6 Hg4+ does not work. 56. 4a3+ 57 &f2 xa2+ 58 @f3 White, as they say, has got off with a fright, and the e5 pawn is lost. Having decided that realising two extra pawns was a matter of technique, I again relaxed and stopped looking for the most ac- curate moves. 58... Sal 59 &g4 &eg7 60 w&f5 uel 61 Hg6+ It was strongest to play 61 a6 immediately, since after 61 ... Hfl+ 62 @xe5 Hgl, the White king can use e6: 63 @f5 Bfl+ 64 @e6, with an easy win. The move played in the game would have been a good move to seal in adjourning the game. It would not be difficult, in home analysis, to decide whether it is worth moving the rook to a6 immediately after 61... @f7, or whether it is neces- sary to give an intermediate check on f6. 61... f7 62 a6? #fl+ 63 &xe5 zgl!? 4 " 64 «&f5? I should have worked out the variation 64 2a7+! &g6 65 #e6 #b1 66 eS &b6+ 67 &e7, and if 67 ... @f5, then 68 @f7! wins. But I decided to adjourn the game, assuming that I would be able to repeat moves before choosing the best plan for realis- ing my advantage. But repeating moves turned out to be impos- sible, and so I did not enjoy this opportunity. But what does all this mean? Is it really that difficult to win with two extra pawns? I had more than enough time, since according to the tournament schedule the fol- lowing day was a rest day. The tournament organisers had arranged an interesting excursion for us in Ziemlja Klodska, the picturesque mountainous region of Poland where the spa Polanica Zdroj is located. If I had realised the difficulties I was going to encounter in analysing the adjourned position I would, ofcourse, have stayed at home, but I have to say that I approached the whole game in an insouciant man- ner, and so I decided to go on the excursion, since I thought that I would quickly be able to work out the route to victory on the coach, using my pocket set. On the excursion, I became more nervous with every hour that passed, and paid less and less attention to the local sights, since I was totally unable to find a win. Towards evening, when we returned home, I had still not found the solution, but I seemed to discover a winning plan before I went to sleep. In the morning, I had a temper- ature of 39°C, and I was not able to check my analysis. But I was not about to ask the judges for a postponement, since I was deter- amined finally to get rid of the burden of the adjourned position at any price. 64 “fl+ 65 &e5 Hel! The rook does not return to gl, so as to prevent the variation given above. 65Hbl! is clearly equally as good. 66 g6+ &e7 67 &dS udil+ 68 &e6 ugl! On 68... & b1, there follows 69 5 wxg6 70 @e7+, and if 70... @tS, then 71 e6 Bb7+ 72 @f8 wi6 73 e7+. And after 68 ... x26 69 we7+ &27 70e5 Bbl 7| .a7 &b6 72 e6 &b8 we get a well-known theoretical position, which I had used as a signpost. Analysis of Adjourned Positions 45 Uj, Yj | wo a Of course, neither | Hd7? Ba8 or | @&d7? &f6 2 e7 @f7 give White anything here. | al? also proves to be premature after 1... Hb7+ 2 wd8 Bb8+ 3 &c7 Eb2 4 «fl Ka2!5e7 ka7+ witha draw, since the rook has been able to start checking on the long side at the proper time. In order to win, White has to lose a tempo and give the move to his opponent. 1 @d6+! &f6 1... #g6(g8) 2 wal; 1... @f8 2 &d7 He8 3 wal ke7+ 4 Gd6 b75 %a8+ We7 67. 2 w&d7! &g7 3 w&e7! Zugzwang! On 3... bl, 4 a8! is decisive. Q. 1.21 But in what way does the natural king move harm Black’s position? 3 .. B26 4 al! b7+ 5 &d8 eb8+ 5... ®f66e7 Bb8+ 7 &c7 #e8 8 &d6 2b89 Efl+ &g7 10 @c7 Ha8 11 Bal! 6 w&c7 &b246 Analysis of Adjourned Positions 7 Hel! This is it. With the king on g7, Black would have the answer w fs. [= xe2+ 8 w&d7 xd2+ 9 &e8 Had 10 e7 And White wins. The cunning 68... # gl! forces the rook to leave its favourable position on the sixth rank, since after 69 @e7 Hel 70 He6 e271 e5 Hel there seems to be no way to further strengthen White’s position. On the other hand, I had foreseen all this in my analysis. 69 Ha7+ &xg6 70 «eS Q. 1.22 Can Black save himself? When I had made my move, I went cold with horror—and maybe this was not such a bad thing for someone running a tem- perature—as I noticed a hole in my analysis. Black can play 70... el!! The reader has already met this device, albeit in a rather dif- ferent setting (recall the note to move 56 in the Schubert-Dolma- tov game in the section on traps). Here the draw is attained straight away, for instance 71 &d6 &f5! 72 Hf7+ &g6 73 e6 ui d1+, followed by Hal and the black rook has taken over the long side. On 71 a5, there fol- lows 71 ... & bl, and the White rook cannot shield the king from checks. And if71 a8, then71... &g7 72 &d6 &f7!, or 72 Hes Hal. Fortunately, everything ended happily, since my opponent missed his chance. 70 71 71... above. 72 6 bs Neither 72... @f5 73 wa5+ &g6 74 Kal or 72... &g7 73 a8 helps Black either. AG bl? we7 Hb6 b8 72 e6 &g7—see 73 sal #b7+ 74 &d8 Hb8+ 7S) &e7 Eb2 76 «el! He2+ 71 &d7 ud2+ 78) &e8 Black resigned. So, the plan that White had formed turned out to be incorrect, while after the game Filipowicz remarked that he had not foreseen how he was going to be beaten. After I had returned to Moscow, I thought I had found the solution and gave it in my notes to thegame in Chess in the USSR. But there was also a dubious moment to follow here. I showed the ending to Belyavsky at a training session— Belyavsky, of course, loves ana- lysing and is very good at it, and it is only thanks to him that I can now demonstrate a sound plan that leads to victory in this ‘easily won’ position, and takes more than thirty moves to do it in. We already know that 66 g6+? gets nowhere. 66 Ha7+? @g6 67 wedS &xg5 68 eS @FS! 69 BI7+ #26 70 e6 Hal also gets nowhere. First of all, we should advance the e-pawn to e5, and for this we should put the rook on f6. 66 “f6+! &g7 67 =&f5 ufi+ 68 web Xgl 69 eS If now 69... &xg5, then White wins by using the unfavourable placing of the Black rook. 70 #f1 we8 (70... Hg6+ 71 we7 Hab 72 Sgl+; 70... BhS 71 &d6 .g572 Wall, but not 72 e6? Ba5 with a draw) 71 @d6! (after 71 #f6? Hg7 72 e6, Black is saved Analysis of Adjourned Positions 47 by stalemate: 72... @f8 73 Hal Bf7+!) 71... Bg7 72 e6 (72 Hal is also strong) 72... #a7 73 e7 Ha6+ 74 @e5 Ba8 75 &f6 ka6+ 76 &g5 Ha8 77 &26, followed by el or Bf6-d6-d8. 69... Hal! This is more stubborn. The obvious transfer of the rook to the d-file gives nothing here, for ex- ample 70 f2(70 Hf7+ &g6 71 d7 Ha6+ leads to the same thing) 70... @g6 71 Hd2 a7! 72 ad7 Ba6+ 73 we7 (73 Hd6 Ha7) 73... @xg5 74 e6 @g6 75 ud6 (75 Mdl Ha7+) 75 ... a8! with a well-known theoreti- cal draw. Neither 72 4d8 Ha6+ 73 @e7 @xg5 nor 72 wd6 &xg5 73 06 @f6 74 Mf2+ @g7 leads to victory and, finally, the attempt to play for zugzwang by 72 Hd} is well met by 72... &a5!, prevent- ing 73 @e7. Let us try advancing the pawn to e6. 70 &d6 In my Chess in the USSR notes, I considered 70 @&d5. 70 .. udl+ 70... Ma6+ 71 wdS5 HaSt+ 72 @e4 wad+ 73 &f5 Had 74 Hg6+ Wf7 75 Kd6 &e7 (75... a7 76 i6d7+ %&xd7 77 e6+) 76 4 £6, and the g-pawn on its own is sufficient for victory. 71 &e7 Hal 72 6 Ha7+ (51) Here we will try to advance the e-pawn further, but first of all we have to shelter the king from checks.48 Analysis of Adjourned Positions 73 &d6 aot 74 &eS aaSt+ 78 @f4 gadt+ 76 f5 gaSt+ If 76 ... a7, then 77 @g4 He7 78 &h4! (an excellent tempo loss; 78 @h5S He8 79 HF7+ w&g8 gives nothing) 78... He8 (78... #a779 @ f4 and 80 Bed) 79 @h5S Mh8+ (79... He7 80 HF7+!) 80 #24 Be8 81 BFS He7 82 g6. 77 &g4 ze On 77... 2a4+, 78 @h5? isa mistake; 78 ... He4 79 Hf7+ #28 80 He7 &f8 or 79 He6+ @h7 80 Bh6+ @g8! 81 HBf6 @g7 with a draw. The correct procedure is 78 #f4 &al 79 Hed Hgl+ 80 @f4 Kf1+ 81 &g3 (81 @e5 is also possible) 81 ... &f8 82 e7+ &e8 83 &g4, am the g- pawn cannot be held back. On 77 . Ha7or77... Hal, 78 Hf4 is also decisive. 78 @f4 gel 79 @f5 gfi+ 80 we5 Zel+ 81 &d6 adi+ 82 &c7 gel+ 83 &d7 Hal 84 e7 The last step remains. Incidentally, in the position of the last diagram it is also possible to hide from the checks in another way, by moving the king towards the rook. So, 73 #d8 #a8+ 74 @c7 #a7+ (otherwise White will put his pawn on e7 immediately, so avoiding the exhausting king march to the right-hand side of the board and back again) 75 @b6 Hal (75... Be7 76 &c6 Ba7 77 BFS Ha6+ 78 &d7 Ha7+ 79 @d8 Ha8+ 80 @c7 Ha7+ 81 &b6 He7 82 HeS and so on) 76 &f7+ &g6 77 ad7! (77 &c7? Hel 78 e7 &xg5 and 79 . &f6 or 78 Ec6 @&Ff5! with a draw) 77... Hel 78 e7 &f7 79 g6+ &xg6 80 &c7 @F7 81 wd8. Or 75... #a8 76 #f5 Be8 77 BeS @f8 78 &c6 Be7 79 &d5 Hf8 80 ded (80 26? Hg8 81 Bg5 @f6 82 Bgl Hd8+ and 83... @xe6) 80... Bf1 81 BFS Hel+ 82 @f4 &xe6 83 “f6+ we7 84 @f5 and White wins. 84... Ha7+ 85 &d6 Ha6+ 86 &d5 BaS+ 87 &c6! a8 87 ... HeS 88 @d6; 87... a6+ ‘88 @b7. 88 “f5! 88 afl? Ha6+ or 88 Bd6? @f7 89 2d8 Ba6+ 90 &b5 &xe7! are both mistakes. However, 88 He6 17 89 BeS Se8 90 Sd5 Bad 91 web e492 SF6 Bxe5 93 &xe5 Bxe7 94 26 He8B 95 web! SF8 96 @f6 &g8 97 g7 also wins. 88 a6+ If 88... @g8 89 g6 and 90 eS 89 &d5 HaS+90 &d4 ga4t+ If 90... a8 91 BeS &f7 92 ot @e8 93 wed 91 &c5! gaS+ 92 &bé! 2a8 93 ge @f7 94 g6+ ees 95 97 @f7 96 e8CH)+ Phew! All this hard work would have been unnecessary if I had been more serious and collected during the game. However, my labour was not completely wasted and helped to facilitate my educa- tion in the endgame. Now, even when I am woken in the middle of the night, I can immediately show the theoretical positions and de- vices on which the analysis of this chapter is based. Can You be Too Serious? While forced play winds through a labyrinth of variations like Ariadne’s thread, you have to go in this direction. Ivor Zaitsev Analysis of Adjourned Positions 49 A World Championship Zonal Tournament was held in Yerevan in 1982, and it was won by Artur Yusupov, the youngest competi- tor. He gained the first prize with a swift (20 moves in all) and effi- cient victory over Kupreichik in the last round. But before think- ing about winning, we had to achieve our minimum target of qualifying for the Interzonals. Kuzmin—Yusupov Yerevan 1982 Yusupov chose the right mo- ment to adjourn. For a start, there was the possibility of adjourn- ment analysis revealing ways of realising Black’s advantage that were clear and convincing enough to make Kuzmin resign without resuming. Secondly, besides the sealed move ... AA marrt wh4 + ... the opponent had to analyse 44... Hel as well (the only reply to this is 45 @h3). 45 @gl How should we evaluate the rook exchange by 45 ... wf4 46 bl Be3 47 Bxe3 wxe3+ 4850 Analysis of Adjourned Positions @h2 wf4 49 #b3! (with the idea of #f3)? It is not easy to give a definite answer, and it is possible that in future White will have to sacrifice his knight. If Black still has his g-pawn after this, it is obvious that he will win easily. But here the ‘rook and g2 pawn against queen and h pawn’ position is drawn. If he wants, Black can exchange rooks at any time. It is more logi- cal to try to organise an attack on the king. 4... gel+ 4 f2 gal How can White parry the threat of 47... wf4+? If 47 Bb8+ @h7 48 #f8, 48 ... wWe7! is very strong. On 47 @f3 there follows 47... #a2! (with the threat of 48 ... Wh2), after which the follow- ing variations are possible: 48 gbd6 h5! 49 B6d4 wf6t 50 Bf4 whb2. 48 Be6h5! 49 we8+ (49 Be2 wf6+ SO @#e3 Bad! 51 AxhS weS+ 52 @f2 wxh5 53 Bh3 #h4) 49... #h750 De2 Hal (50 ... WE + 51 D4 wc6+ 52 Bed is worse) 51 Ag3 we4+ 52 wf2 h4 53 De2 wfS+ 54 Hf3 whl. 48 #26 Had (but not 48... wh2 49 Hed wh5+ 50 He4 Hxg2?51 Hd8+ @h7 52 Df6+! gxf6 53 2d7+) 49 de2 we7+. 47 He! Everything has been compara- tively easy so far. But let us re- member the ending of Akhmy- lovskaya—Alexandria: it is very difficult to win a won position if the opponent employs the best defence. That is also true here: after we had found the best. de- fensive placing of the White pieces, our analysis was stuck for some time. 47... wh2 (threatening 48... # gl) 48 Be2, or 48 Ae2 wht 49 #g3. 47... wf4+ 48 8f3 wel 49 Bfe3! wd2+ 50 @f3! Ba7 (50 .. Ha2 S51 He2) 51 Ae2 (51 He7? Ba6 52 H7e6 wd5+ 53 H#6e4 Bf6+ 54 @e4 wd7+ and so on) 51... Hf7+ 52 @g3 wel+ 53 @h2 Hfl? 54 Dg3. Not having found anything striking, we tried to use the method that brought success in the Akhmylovskaya—Alexandria ending of looking for new possibi- lities from the very beginning. For example, 45 ... wWye4 (in place of 45... Hel+), so as to take e6 away from the rook. After 46 Bbd6? Hel+ 47 @f2 Sal Black achieves his aim, but there is also 46 Hbb3! Bel+ 47 Sf! It gradually became clear that it was impossible to break down White’s defence merely by attack- ing with the queen and rook, since his king is defended by three pieces at once.Analysis of Adjourned Positions 51 Not long before the Zonal Tournament, Yusupov and I had analysed his adjourned game against Lev Psakhis (see the section entitled Grandmasters Also Err). There, Black was able to gain an important tempo by cold-bloodedly moving an outside pawn. The experience of previous analyses and associations with ideas that we already know are often helpful in taking decisions, so let us try the same move here (in the diagrammed position). 47... The threat of wf4+ is now significantly stronger. The same position arises in most of the var- iations: 48 2 f3(48 Be2 wf4+ 49 3f3 wel; 48 Bel wf4+ 49 Bf wd2+ 50 Be2 wel) 48 ... ewd4+ 49 Bee3 wd2+ 50 He2 wcl. There can follow 51 %e8+ (Sl &fe3 h4 or S51 @f5 wegl+ 52 #f3 a3+ 53 @f4 wel+ or 51 2xh5 wfl+ 52 @e3 Ha3+) 51 ... @h7 52 DxhS Ha2+ 53 Be2 weS+ 54 @fl wxe2 55 Afe+ (after 55 @xe2 wxh5S, White’s rook is pinned) 55 ... gxf6 56 ®xe2 wel or 56... &g6 with an easy win. We would have probably con- tented ourselves with this if the game had not been so important from the competitive point of view. But qualifying for an Inter- zonal Tournament is an import- ant matter, and this time we dis- played an extremely serious approach to our analysis. We de- cided to check all the opponent’s defensive resources and to pull out the threads of the forced var- iations as far as possible. 48 Hed! The only chance for avoiding the possibility considered above. : wf6t+ 49 #f3 wyb2+ 50 De?! White conclusively rejects the variations we know (50 He2 wel). 50... whol 51 Bfe3 But not 51 #ff4 wel + 52 @f3 #a3+ 53 Be3 wflt+. i) wel+ 52 @f3 a2 52 ... h4 is premature because of 53 @g4. to tie Black has managed White’s pieces down, and only a move of the White rook along the e-file is possible. Is it not finally time to finish the analysis? No, we still have to work out a detailed plan for obtaining victory. 53. HeS w&e28! On 53... h4, there is 54 &g4. Let us try to bring up the king, put a pawn on g6, and then play52 Analysis of Adjourned Positions h5—h4. On @& 84, we will then have the answer i xe2! 54. He8+ 55 8 8e7 Q. 1.23 How should Black pro- ceed? The simple 55 Bh6?! 66 #%7e6+ g6? runs into 57 #xg6! Black has to play for zugzwang. 55. ab2! 56 eS On 56 & 3e5, Black intended 56 ... Bb3+ 57 Be3 wfl+ 58 @g3 wxe2! 59 Hxg7+! @xg7 60 H#xb3 weS+. As we remarked above, this endgame can be drawn, but for this the White pieces have to occupy secure posi- tions: rook on f3, king on h2 or f2. But now Black wins easily, for instance 61 @f2 wd4+ 62 He3 @g6 63 @e2 h4!, and on 64 #f3 there is 64... Wl. 56... 57 2 8e7+ 57 83e7+ @h6 58 Hh8+ @eg5 is useless. After 57 % 86, Black is able to implement his plan quickly: 57 ... h4! (with the threat of 58... wfl+ 59 @&g4 wxg2+) 58 @g4 Bxe2! 59 Bxe2 we3 mate. 57... 58 H7e6 The last problem. There is no time for the planned 58 ... h4 because of the familiar comp 59 Exg6+!58... whi! After this subtle manoeuvre, White’s defence is destroyed. White cannot play 59 Af4 wfl+ 60 @g3 wi2+.On 59 wf2, 59... @h7 26 Hho #b1! 50 Dg3 (60 Af4 wh4+ 61 g3 wh2+ 62 @f3 whl+) 60... welt 61 @f3 h4. And if he had the move, Black would play 59... h4 60 Af4 wdl+ 61 Be2 (61 He2 wit) 61 ... Bxe2d 62 H xe2 25 63 Deb g4+ 64 we3 h3 65 gxh3 gxh3, and the pawn ad- vances to queen. In one of his articles, Bent Lar- sen asserted that overly long var- iations are never correct. Artur and I were, of course, overcome with anticipation as we waited to see whether our twenty-move main variation would hold and we awaited resumption with impa- tience. But the denouement was unexpected: Yusupov_ reported tht the game was resigned without any further play. How can we explain Kuzmin’s decision? It is possible that he was reckoning with the other sealed move (44... Hel), and that he found things to be even worse in this variation that after 44 ... wh4+. But it is most probable that Kuzmin, assessing his posi- tion as objectively lost, believed that the opponent would analyse the adjourned position in good conscience and find a clear route to victory. He was right in this assumption, but in principle his decision does not warrant appro- val, since no game has ever been saved by premature resignation. But what then is the answer posed in the chapter heading? Did the position require such careful analysis? There are probably dif- ferent opinions that can be heldhere. In thinking about this, the reader will naturally take into ac- count, as well as the ‘resumption’ of Kuzmin-Yusupov, the experience studying and playing the adjourned games that are investig- ated in the other sections of this book. of The Usefulness of ‘Abstract’ Knowledge | decided that I did not like Max Kellard even before I met him. W. Somerset Maugham The information obtained from a handbook on the endgame can be very useful in analysing adjourned games, and we have already seen quite a few examples of this. But does endgame theory really con- sist only of a collection of actual positions, exactly analysed? Of course not! The most important part of the theory lies in general rules, typical plans, and charac- teristic devices for carrying on the contest. Concrete information, if it is not reworked and comprehended, merely burdens the memory, while general, methodological informa- tion enriches our understanding of the game. In analysing adjourned games, as well as at the board, deepening our knowledge of general principles can greatly faci- litate the search for a solution. The diagram shows _ the adjourned position (after Black’s obvious sealed move, 41... Hc8— f8). At first sight, it is about even, since the drawing tendencies of the opposite-coloured bishops are Analysis of Adjourned Positions 53 Alexandria—Litinskaya Vilnius 1980 well-known. But a short con- sideration shows that after 42 t@d2 4 f4 White runs into serious difficulties, since her pawns are vulnerable and the opponent’s pieces are very active. I give some typical variations that were con- sidered by Nana Alexandria and her trainers immediately on returning to the hotel after ad- journment. 43 402 Wc7 4413 2b645 Ke2 (45 aS 3 xa5 46

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