Chess Master’s

Strategy
 Witalis Sapis

Chess Master’s
Strategy

Sawit 2020

3
Copyright © Witalis Sapis
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced,
by any means, without prior permission of the author.

Cover Design: Julia Sapis

Composition and Breaking: Przemysław Jahr
Translation: Adam Załuski

ISBN 978-83-954423-6-0

First edition
Published by Sawit in 2020

Contact: [email protected]

4
 I’m the one to do you good,
Out of sleep, out of food
Only thinking nights and days,
How to make the best chess aids...*

* in the original version,

the fox thought about helping animals....

Jan Wiktor Lesman (Jan Brzechwa)

“The Mischiefs of Vitalis the Fox”

5
6
 Table of Contents
Introduction ............................................................................................ 9
A Practical Guide ................................................................................... 11
Chapter 1 – Weakening the Opponent’s Position ................................... 13
▪ 1.1. Restricting the Opponent’s Pieces ........................................... 13
▪ 1.2. Weakening the Pawn Structure ................................................ 27
▪ 1.3. The Hobbit ............................................................................... 36
▪ 1.4. The Disappearing Move .......................................................... 42
Chapter 2 – Improving Your Own Position ............................................ 51
▪ 2.1. Opening Files .......................................................................... 51
▪ 2.2. The Peregrination of the King ................................................. 62
▪ 2.3. Improving the Pieces ............................................................... 66
▪ 2.4. The Transfer of the Queen ....................................................... 77
▪ 2.5. Occupying the Outpost ............................................................ 86
Chapter 3 – Prophylaxis ......................................................................... 97
Chapter 4 – Exchanging Pieces ............................................................. 111
Chapter 5 – Exercises ............................................................................. 127
Chapter 6 – Solutions to Exercises ......................................................... 139
Afterword ............................................................................................... 192

7
8
 Introduction
The Purpose
Every chess player needs to think strategically, look for different plans and
skillfully evaluate their outcomes. The key to success in a game is often
the ability to gradually improve one’s position. Not surprisingly, such
life-important qualities as strategic, critical, logical and analytical thinking,
problem solving, anticipation and rational decision-making, concentration,
patience and memory, can be naturally improved by playing chess regularly,
which we strongly encourage.

In chess, there are a number of strategic principles, the application of which

can help to choose correct moves and plans, especially at key moments of the
game. All in all, they can help to achieve success. Such principles are often
universal and are not necessarily related to a particular position. This means
that understanding them can be beneficial for a player during all stages of the
game, regardless of the choice of the opening.

Strategy does not replace tactics, but is their perfect companion. One
could even say that strategy prepares tactics to appear. A lot of chess players
are excellent at spotting tactical solutions, but only in other people’s games.
This is because in their own games, they are unable to reach positions in
which such solutions would be possible. It is often said that there is no point
looking for tactical shots in positions that can easily be considered as bad,
because they violate the basic principles of strategy. Similarly, in positions
based on strong strategic foundations, there is almost always a strong move
to be found.

The purpose of this book is to acquaint readers with basic principles of

chess strategy and to show them the benefits of their application, based on
carefully selected examples.

9
 Examples
I have used my own games because doing so has two major advantages:
first of all, it is easier to recreate one’s thinking process, and secondly, the
material in the book is undoubtedly original.

I have decided to provide the readers with the complete game scores in
order for them not to have to refer to other sources when looking for the
continuation of a given game. The analysis of a game starts with the moves
printed in bold.

If the same game has been used to present several examples, its complete
game score can be found after the last of them. Such game scores also
include references to particular concepts presented in the book, indicated
by the keyword in parentheses.

Examples taken from the same game are additionally numbered. For
example, (1/3) means that this is the first out of three examples from
a particular game. The numbering of examples reflects the order in which the
positions actually occured in the game.

Sometimes the same example has been used to illustrate different motifs.
In such cases, it was the subjective choice of the author to decide where
in the book a particular example should be included.

In all parts of the book (except exercises), the games are presented
in chronological order.

Exercises
A part of the book is written in the form of a test, which can show us how
good we are at solving strategic problems.

The exercises should be solved in the order given, because some of them
may refer to the same game and we would be at risk of prematurely finding
out the answers to previous questions.

10
 A Practical Guide
A few practical guidelines can facilitate the decision-making process,
but without doubt they only present a certain problem in simple terms.
Chess, however, is a highly complicated game and each general rule contains
a lot of exceptions. It is our task to spot the moment in which one of these
exceptions occurs.

Look for weaknesses!

When driving, drivers use traffic signs as a form of guidance. For chess
players, such traffic signs are weaknesses.

Squares in the centre and in one’s own camp, which are not defended
by pawns, can easily become weak. Avoid exchanging pieces which defend
these squares. If your opponent has a weakened complex of squares of
a given colour, try to exchange the Bishops that control these squares.

Isolated pawns or especially doubled isolated pawns become a long-term

target for enemy pieces. The square in front of an isolated pawn is often
weak and can become a perfect outpost for the opponent’s piece. Do not
weaken the pawn structure unless doing so will bring you tangible benefits.
Remember that pawns do not move backwards!

Pawns can also be potential tactical weaknesses, especially when the

difference between the number of attackers and defenders of a given target
is equal to or greater than zero. In such case, each additional and unexpected
attack of the opponent, especially double attack, may result in our material
losses.

Pieces can also be tactical as pieces are easier to move around than pawns,
they are considered to be more strategical than tactical weaknesses.
More often they are considered to be strategic weaknesses when their acti-
vity is limited by our own or our opponent’s pawns. Do not let that happen!

11
You should consider your moves in the following order:
a) forcing moves
a1) checks
a2) captures
a3) attacking weaknesses
b) non-forcing moves

When you have a space disadvantage, try to exchange pieces. This will
increase your chances of finding a good spot for each of your chessmen.

When you have a space advantage, try not to exchange pieces.

Play on the side of the board where you have a space advantage.

If you have a lead in development, open up the position. The enemy King can
easily find himself in trouble. The opening of a position is also good when
you have the Bishops and your opponent has the Knights.

When you are the side with the Bishops, try to establish an asymmetrical
pawn structure.

Do not leave your King without any defending pieces. Also, make sure that
the King has an escape square, where he could take refuge in case of a check
along the back rank.

12
 Chapter 1
Weakening the Opponent’s Position
1.1. Restricting the Opponent’s Pieces
The strength of pieces varies depending on the position. Pieces that cannot
spread their wings are naturally weaker than those that can. Hence, we must
strive to cut the wings of our opponent’s army.

□ Sapis Witalis □ Rudenko Jerzy

■ Kozieł Ryszard ■ Sapis Witalis
Częstochowa 1980 Częstochowa 1980

# 1.1 # 1.2
XABCDEFGHY XABCDEFGHY
8-+-+-+-+( 8r+-wq-trk+(
7+n+-+-+-' 7zp-+-+-+p'
6-+l+-+L+& 6Lzp-zp-+p+&
5+p+p+-+-% 5+-+Pzp-+-%
4p+-zP-vLpmk$ 4-+-snPzp-+$
3+P+-mK-+-# 3+-+-+P+-#
2P+-+-+P+" 2PzP-wQ-+PzP"
1+-+-+-+-! 1+-tR-+RmK-!
xabcdefghy xabcdefghy
White to move Black to move

By playing 1.g3+ Kh3 2.Bc7, With 1...b5, Black cuts off the
White restrains the Knight on b7 f1-a6 diagonal for the Bishop and
and the play continues as if White due to the threat of 2...Qb6, the
were a piece up. Bishop drops.

13
 □ Włodarski □ Sapis Witalis
■ Sapis Witalis ■ Ostrowski Leszek
Częstochowa 1981 Cracow 1985

# 1.3 # 1.4
XABCDEFGHY XABCDEFGHY
8-+rwq-mk-tr( 8rsn-wq-trk+(
7zpl+-zppvlp' 7zpl+-zppvlp'
6-zp-zp-+p+& 6-zp-+-snp+&
5+Qsn-sn-+-% 5+-+p+-+-%
4-+PsN-+-+$ 4-+-zPPvL-+$
3+-+-zPP+-# 3+-+L+N+-#
2PzP-vLLsNPzP" 2PzP-sN-zPPzP"
1tR-+-mK-+R! 1+-tRQmK-+R!
xabcdefghy xabcdefghy
Black to move White to move

By playing 1...a5, Black restricts The move 1.e5 closes both of

the possibility of White’s Queen Black’s Bishops and drives the
retreat from her too active position. f6-Knight away from the defence
In order not to lose Her Majesty, of the kingside, which immediately
White has to give up material. allows White to start the attack on
that part of the board.

14
 □ Sapis Witalis □ Ferenc Józef
■ Sendera Jarosław ■ Sapis Witalis
Szczecin 1986 Słupsk 1991

# 1.5 # 1.6
XABCDEFGHY XABCDEFGHY
8q+-+-trk+( 8-+N+-+-+(
7trl+nzppvlp' 7+-+-vl-zpp'
6pzp-+n+p+& 6rzpp+kzp-+&
5+-+p+-+-% 5+-+-+-+-%
4-+-zPP+-+$ 4PzpP+-+-+$
3+-+LwQN+P# 3+K+-zPP+-#
2PzP-sN-zPPvL" 2-+-+-zP-zP"
1+-+RtR-mK-! 1+-+R+-+-!
xabcdefghy xabcdefghy
White to move Black to move

After 1.e5, the white pawns on d4 With 1...Bc5, we restrain White’s

and e5 restrict the activity of the Knight. Although it cannot be won
g7-Bishop, while the black pawn immediately, White will always
on d5 restrains the Bishop on b7. have to protect it with his Rook,
Controlling the c-file will not whose other activity will be consi-
matter at all, as all important derably reduced.
squares on this file are controlled
by White’s pawns and pieces.
In general, Black cannot defend
himself against the attack on the
kingside, as he has too little space
and not enough pieces in this area
of the board. The plan of f4-f5
and a possible g2-g4 if Black puts
a pawn on e6 is practically inde-
fensible.

15
 □ Sapis Witalis □ Sapis Witalis
■ Gozdecki (1/2) ■ Zapolskis Atanas
Lębork 1991 Legnica 1992

# 1.7 # 1.8
XABCDEFGHY XABCDEFGHY
8r+-wq-trk+( 8-+-+-+-+(
7zp-+lzppvlp' 7+-snR+p+p'
6-zp-zp-snp+& 6-+N+nmkp+&
5+-snP+-+-% 5+pzP-+-+-%
4-+-sNP+-+$ 4-zP-+-+-+$
3+-sN-vL-+P# 3+-+K+-zP-#
2PzPQ+LzPP+" 2-vl-+-zP-zP"
1tR-+-+RmK-! 1+-+-+-+-!
xabcdefghy xabcdefghy
White to move White to move

With 1.b4, we kick the active By playing 1.Kc2 Ba1 2.Rd1 Be5
Knight back to the horrible b7 3.f4, we win the Bishop, which
square. turns out to have had too little
space to manouever. Another
possibility was 1 ... Ba3 2.Kb3 Bc1
3.Nd4 Nxd4 4.Rxd4 Ke7 5.f4 Ne6
6.Re4 f5 7.Re1 Bd2 8.Re2 Bc1
9.Kc3 with 10.Re1 to follow.

16
 □ Sapis Witalis □ Sapis Witalis
■ Jaracz Paweł (5/5) ■ Daurelle Herve
Soczewka 1992 Legnica 1993

# 1.9 # 1.10
XABCDEFGHY XABCDEFGHY
8-+-trrsnk+( 8-+-+-+-+(
7+p+lwqpvln' 7+-+-+-+R'
6-+-zp-+-+& 6-+p+ktr-zp&
5+Pzp-+Pzpp% 5+-+-+-+-%
4N+P+P+-+$ 4-+PzPK+P+$
3+-+-+NzPP# 3+-+-+-+-#
2-+Q+-vLL+" 2-+-+-+-+"
1+-+RtR-mK-! 1+-+-+-+-!
xabcdefghy xabcdefghy
White to move White to move

After 1.Nb6, the black pieces are The move 1.Rg7 puts the opponent
so cramped that with a full board in zugzwang and they must give
of pieces there is a risk of winning up one of his pawns. If the Rook
the Queen by Nb6-d5. retreats, we pick up the h6-pawn,
while after 1...Kd6 2.c5+ Ke6
3.Rc7, we pick up the pawn on c6.

17
 □ Sapis Witalis □ Sapis Witalis
■ Borkowski Franciszek (1/3) ■ Borkowski Franciszek (2/3)
Legnica 1993 Legnica 1993

# 1.11 # 1.12
XABCDEFGHY XABCDEFGHY
8r+lwq-trk+( 8r+lwq-trk+(
7zppzp-+pvln' 7zp-zp-+-vln'
6-+-zp-+pzp& 6nzp-zp-+pzp&
5+-snPzp-+-% 5+-zPPzp-+-%
4-+P+P+-+$ 4-zP-+Pzp-+$
3+-sN-vLP+-# 3zP-sN-+P+-#
2PzP-wQL+PzP" 2-+-wQLvLPzP"
1tR-+-mK-sNR! 1tR-+-mK-sNR!
xabcdefghy xabcdefghy
White to move White to move

With the move 1.b4, we force the After 1.cxd6, we would open the
Knight away from its active posi- c-file, which would naturally be
tion. After 1...Na6 2.a3, the Knight beneficial for us. However, by
will be out of play for a long time. playing 1.c6, we achieve much
more, because we practically
exclude the Rook, the Knight and
the Bishop from the game.

18
 □ Sapis Witalis □ Sapis Witalis
■ Borkowski Franciszek (3/3) ■ Shishkin Vadim (5/5)
Legnica 1993 Jarosławiec 1995

# 1.13 # 1.14
XABCDEFGHY XABCDEFGHY
8rsnlwq-trk+( 8-+-+-+-+(
7zp-zp-+-vln' 7+-+-+k+-'
6-zpPzp-+pzp& 6n+-vL-+p+&
5+-+Pzp-+-% 5+-zpP+-+-%
4-zP-+Pzp-+$ 4pzpP+-+-+$
3zP-sN-+P+-# 3zP-+-sN-+l#
2-+-wQLvLPzP" 2-zP-mK-zP-+"
1tR-+-mK-sNR! 1+-+-+-+-!
xabcdefghy xabcdefghy
White to move White to move

By playing 1.a4, we plan a4-a5-a6 Black wants to drive the Bishop

and b4-b5 pawn pushes. After away from the d6-square to allow
1...a5 2.b5, the queenside is closed his own Knight to enter the game.
and so are three Black’s pieces. Thus, we have to defend the
d6-Bishop with the following
sequence of moves: 1.Kd3 Ke8
2.Ke4 Kd7 3.Ke5.

19
 □ Niziałek Ryszard □ Niziałek Ryszard
■ Sapis Witalis (1/5) ■ Sapis Witalis (2/5)
Legnica 1996 Legnica 1996

# 1.15 # 1.16
XABCDEFGHY XABCDEFGHY
8r+l+-trk+( 8r+l+-trk+(
7+p+-sn-vlp' 7+-+-sn-vl-'
6-+nwq-+p+& 6-zpnwq-+-+&
5zp-zp-zpp+-% 5zp-zp-zp-zpp%
4-+PzpP+-+$ 4-zPPzpPzp-+$
3+P+P+-zP-# 3zP-+P+PzP-#
2P+NvL-zPLzP" 2-+NvL-+LzP"
1tR-wQ-sNRmK-! 1+RwQ-sNRmK-!
xabcdefghy xabcdefghy
Black to move Black to move

With 1...f4, we gain space on the After 1...a4, almost all of White’s
kingside, close the c1-h6 diagonal minor pieces are out of play. Now,
for the Bishop and the Queen, the Knights cannot escape either
as well as close the g2-Bishop and via a3 or b3.
prevent f2-f4.

20
 □ Dębowiak Marcin □ Dymek Łukasz
■ Sapis Witalis ■ Sapis Witalis (1/8)
Poraj 1998 Międzybrodzie Żywieckie 2005

# 1.17 # 1.18
XABCDEFGHY XABCDEFGHY
8-+-trk+-tr( 8r+lwqkvlntr(
7+p+-vlpzpp' 7zpp+-+p+-'
6-zpn+l+-+& 6-+n+-+p+&
5+-+-zp-+-% 5+-zp-zpP+-%
4-+P+-+-+$ 4-+-zpP+Pzp$
3zP-sN-+N+-# 3+-+P+-+-#
2-zP-+-zPPzP" 2PzPP+N+LzP"
1tR-+-mKL+R! 1tR-vLQmK-sNR!
xabcdefghy xabcdefghy
Black to move Black to move

Despite the doubled isolated By playing 1...g5, we close the

b-pawns, the position is much kingside and restrict the activity
better for Black, who has two of practically all of White’s minor
Bishops, better-developed pieces pieces.
and a stronger centre. With the
move 1...f5, we increase the control
over the centre, prepare to chase
the white Knight away from the
f3-square in order to install our
own Knight on either d4 or e5, and
open the a1-h8 diagonal for the
dark-squared Bishop.

21
 □ Dymek Łukasz □ Sapis Witalis
■ Sapis Witalis (8/8) ■ Barwiński Dionizy (1/5)
Międzybrodzie Żywieckie 2005 Chotowa 2006

# 1.19 # 1.20
XABCDEFGHY XABCDEFGHY
8-+-+-+-+( 8rsn-wqk+-tr(
7wq-+-+lmk-' 7zplzppvlpzpp'
6-+n+-zp-+& 6-zp-+psn-+&
5+p+-zpPzp-% 5+-+-+-+-%
4-+-zpP+Pzp$ 4-+PzP-+-+$
3+PvlP+K+P# 3zP-sN-+N+-#
2-+L+Q+-+" 2-zP-+PzPPzP"
1trRsNN+-+-! 1tR-vLQmKL+R!
xabcdefghy xabcdefghy
Black to move White to move

With 1...Qa3, we threaten to take With 1.d5, we blunt the b7-Bishop

the c1-Knight. Due to a space and claim some space in the centre.
disadvantage, even the exchange Developing the Bishop to b7 at
on c3 will not help White. the cost of two tempi (b7-b6 and
Bc8-b7) turns out to be a waste
of time.

22
Sapis Witalis – Kozieł Ryszard [C03]
Częstochowa (Poland) 1980
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 Be7 4.Ngf3 Nf6 5.Bd3 c5 6.exd5 exd5 7.dxc5 0-0
8.0-0 Bxc5 9.Nb3 Bb6 10.Nfd4 Nc6 11.c3 Nxd4 12.Nxd4 Bxd4 13.cxd4 h6
14.Qb3 b6 15.Bf4 Be6 16.Rac1 Rc8 17.Rxc8 Bxc8 18.Re1 Re8 19.Rxe8+
Qxe8 20.Be5 Qc6 21.Qc2 Qxc2 22.Bxc2 Nd7 23.Bd6 b5 24.b3 f6 25.Bg6 Nf8
26.Bd3 Bd7 27.Bb8 a6 28.f3 Ne6 29.Ba7 Kf7 30.Kf2 Nf4 31.Bc2 g6 32.Bb8
Ne6 33.Ke3 f5 34.Bd6 Nd8 35.h4 Ke6 36.Bf8 Nf7 37.Bd3 Kf6 38.Kd2 g5
39.hxg5+ hxg5 40.Kc3 a5 41.Bc5 Nd8 42.Bb6 Nb7 43.Bc7 g4 44.fxg4 fxg4
45.Kd2 Bc6 46.Ke3 Kg5 47.Bf4+ Kh4 48.Bg6 a4 49.g3+ Kh3 50.Bc7 axb3
51.axb3 b4 52.Kf4 Bb5 53.Bf5 Be2 54.Bc8 Ba6 55.Bxg4+ Kg2 56.Bf3+
Kf2 57.Bxd5 Ke2 58.g4 Kd3 59.Ke5 Kc3 60.g5 Bd3 61.Bxb7 Kxb3
62.Bd6 Kc3 63.Be4 Bc4 64.d5 b3 65.Ba3 b2 66.g6 Ba2 67.Bxb2+ Kxb2
68.g7 Bxd5 69.Bxd5 1–0

Rudenko Jerzy – Sapis Witalis [A31]

Częstochowa (Poland) 1980
1.c4 c5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 b6 5.Nc3 Bb7 6.Bf4 d6 7.Bg3 g6 8.f3
Bg7 9.e4 0-0 10.Be2 Nh5 11.Bf2 Nf4 12.Bf1 Nc6 13.Nd5 Nxd4 14.Bxd4
Bxd4 15.Qxd4 e5 16.Qd2 Ne6 17.Bd3 Bxd5 18.cxd5 Nd4 19.0-0 f5 20.Rac1
f4 21.Ba6 b5 22.Rfd1 Qb6 23.Qxd4 exd4 24.Rc6 Qa5 25.a3 Rab8 26.Rdc1
Rb6 27.Bc8 Qd2 28.Be6+ Kh8 29.R6c2 Qe3+ 30.Kh1 d3 31.Rc8 Rxc8
32.Rxc8+ Kg7 33.h4 Qe1+ 0–1

Włodarski – Sapis Witalis [A31]

Częstochowa (Poland) 1981
1.c4 c5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 b6 5.Nc3 Bb7 6.Bf4 d6 7.Bd2 g6 8.f3
Bg7 9.Qc2 Nbd7 10.e3 Ne5 11.Be2 Nfd7 12.Nd1 Rc8 13.Qb3 Nc5 14.Qb5+
Kf8 15.Nf2 a5 16.Bxa5 bxa5 17.b4 Ba6 18.Qxa5 Qxa5 19.bxa5 Bxc4
20.Rb1 Bxe2 21.Kxe2 Nc4 22.Nc6 Bf6 23.Rhc1 Rxc6 24.Rxc4 Ra6 25.Rb5
Kg7 26.Nd3 Nxd3 27.Kxd3 Rha8 28.Ra4 Rc8 29.Rb6 Ra7 30.a6 Rc3+
31.Kd2 Rcc7 32.Kd3 d5 33.a3 e6 34.e4 dxe4+ 35.fxe4 Bd8 36.Rd6 Be7
37.Rb6 Bc5 38.Rb5 Bg1 39.h3 Rc6 40.Rb1 Bh2 41.Rb7 Raxa6 42.Ra7
Rd6+ 43.Ke2 Rac6 44.Rb7 Rc2+ 45.Ke3 Bg1+ 46.Kf4 Rf2+ 47.Ke5
Bh2+ 48.g3 Bxg3# 0–1

23
Sapis Witalis – Ostrowski Leszek [A48]
Cracow (Poland) 1985
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 c5 3.c3 b6 4.Bf4 g6 5.Nbd2 Bg7 6.e4 cxd4 7.cxd4 0-0 8.Rc1
Bb7 9.Bd3 d5 10.e5 Ne8 11.h4 Nc7 12.h5 Ne6 13.Be3 Nc6 14.hxg6 fxg6
15.Rc3 Nf4 16.Bxf4 Rxf4 17.Nb3 e6 18.Qc1 Rg4 19.Rxc6 Qf8 20.Rc7
Rxg2 21.Nbd2 Rc8 22.Bf1 Rg4 23.Bh3 Rxc7 24.Qxc7 Re4+ 25.Nxe4
Qxf3 26.Bxe6+ Kh8 27.Rxh7+ 1–0

Sapis Witalis – Sendera Jarosław [A48]

Szczecin (Poland) 1986
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Bf4 Bg7 4.e3 d6 5.h3 0-0 6.Bc4 b6 7.0-0 Bb7 8.Nbd2
c5 9.c3 Nbd7 10.Bh2 a6 11.Qe2 Ra7 12.Bd3 Qa8 13.e4 Ne8 14.Rfe1 Nc7
15.Rad1 cxd4 16.cxd4 Ne6 17.Qe3 d5 18.e5 Rc8 19.Nh4 Nd8 20.f4 f6 21.e6
Nf8 22.f5 Bc6 23.fxg6 hxg6 24.Nxg6 Bb5 25.Bf5 Nxg6 26.Bxg6 Rc6
27.Bf5 Qc8 28.Bf4 Ba4 29.Nb3 1–0

Ferenc Józef – Sapis Witalis [D16]

Słupsk (Poland) 1991
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 c6 3.d4 d5 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 Bg4 6.e3 e5 7.dxe5 Qxd1+ 8.Kxd1
Nfd7 9.Bxc4 Nxe5 10.Be2 Nxf3 11.gxf3 Be6 12.Kc2 Nd7 13.b3 Nc5 14.Bc4
Bxc4 15.bxc4 a5 16.Ne4 Na6 17.Bb2 Nb4+ 18.Kb3 f6 19.Rad1 Be7 20.Rhg1
Kf7 21.Bd4 Rhd8 22.Bb6 Rxd1 23.Rxd1 Ra6 24.Bc5 b6 25.Nd6+ Ke6
26.Bxb4 axb4 27.Nc8 Bc5 28.Rd8 g5 29.Re8+ Kd7 30.Rh8 Kc7 31.Rg8
h5 32.h3 f5 33.e4 fxe4 34.fxe4 g4 35.hxg4 hxg4 36.e5 Ra8 37.Ne7 Rxg8
38.Nxg8 Bxf2 39.e6 g3 40.Nf6 g2 41.e7 g1Q 42.e8Q Qb1# 0–1

Sapis Witalis – Zapolskis Atanas [D00]

Legnica (Poland) 1992
1.d4 d5 2.Bf4 c6 3.e3 Qb6 4.b3 Bf5 5.Nf3 Nf6 6.Bd3 Bxd3 7.Qxd3 e6
8.0-0 Nbd7 9.c4 a5 10.Nc3 Be7 11.c5 Qd8 12.a3 0-0 13.b4 b5 14.e4 dxe4
15.Nxe4 Nd5 16.Bd2 axb4 17.axb4 Qc7 18.Ra3 e5 19.Rfa1 Rxa3 20.Qxa3
exd4 21.Qa7 N7f6 22.Ng3 Qc8 23.Nxd4 Rd8 24.Ngf5 Bf8 25.Qa6 Qxa6
26.Rxa6 g6 27.Nd6 Bxd6 28.Nxc6 Bf4 29.Nxd8 Bxd2 30.Ra8 Nc7 31.Rc8
Nfe8 32.Nc6 Kf8 33.Rd8 Bc3 34.Rd3 Bb2 35.Kf1 Nf6 36.Rd8+ Kg7 37.Ke2
Nfd5 38.Rd7 Ne6 39.g3 Ndc7 40.Kd3 Kf6 41.Kc2 Ba1 42.Rd1 Be5 43.f4
Bxf4 44.gxf4 Nxf4 45.Rd7 Nfd5 46.Kd3 g5 47.Kd4 Nf4 48.Nd8 Nce6+
49.Nxe6 Kxe6 50.c6 1–0

24
Sapis Witalis – Jaracz Paweł [E68] (5)
Soczewka (Poland) 1992
1.d4 g6 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.g3 Bg7 4.Bg2 0-0 5.0-0 d6 6.c4 Nbd7 7.Nc3 e5 8.b3
Re8 9.Qc2 c6 10.Rd1 Qe7 11.e4 exd4 12.Nxd4 Nc5 13.f3 a5 14.Be3 Nfd7
15.Bf2 (prophylaxis) Ne5 16.h3 (prophylaxis) h5 17.f4 Ned7 18.Re1 Nf8
19.Rad1 Bd7 20.a3 Rad8 21.b4 axb4 22.axb4 Nce6 23.Nf3 (exchange) Nh7
24.Na4 (improving) c5 25.b5 g5 26.f5 Nef8 27.Nb6 f6 28.Qd2 Qf7 29.Qd5
g4 30.hxg4 hxg4 31.Qxf7+ Kxf7 32.Nh2 Ke7 33.Nd5+ Kf7 34.Nc7 Bc8
35.Nxe8 Kxe8 36.Nxg4 Ke7 37.Ne3 Nd7 38.g4 Ne5 39.Bg3 Bh6 40.Nd5+
Kf7 41.Bxe5 fxe5 42.Kf2 Bd7 43.Rh1 Kg7 44.f6+ Nxf6 45.Nxf6 Rf8
46.Rxd6 1–0

Sapis Witalis – Daurelle Herve [D32]

Legnica (Poland) 1993
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5 4.cxd5 cxd4 5.Qa4+ Bd7 6.Qxd4 exd5 7.Qxd5
Nc6 8.Bg5 Nf6 9.Qd2 h6 10.Bxf6 Qxf6 11.Nd5 Qg6 12.Nc7+ Kd8 13.0-0-0
Kxc7 14.Qxd7+ Kb6 15.Qd3 Qxd3 16.exd3 Bc5 17.Nh3 Rhe8 18.g3 Rad8
19.Kb1 g5 20.Bg2 f5 21.a3 a5 22.Bxc6 bxc6 23.Rd2 Rd6 24.Kc2 a4 25.Rhd1
Bd4 26.Ng1 g4 27.Ne2 Bf6 28.Nc3 Ka5 29.Re2 Rb8 30.Rde1 Bxc3 31.bxc3
Rb3 32.Re5+ Kb6 33.Rxf5 Rxa3 34.Rb1+ Kc7 35.d4 Ra2+ 36.Rb2 Ra1
37.Rf7+ Rd7 38.Rxd7+ Kxd7 39.Kd3 Rh1 40.Rb4 a3 41.Ra4 Rxh2 42.Ke3
Rh1 43.Rxa3 Rc1 44.Kf4 Rc2 45.Kxg4 Rxf2 46.Ra7+ Kd6 47.Rh7 Rh2
48.c4 Ke6 49.Kf4 Rh1 50.g4 Rf1+ 51.Ke4 Rf6 52.Rg7 Rf1 53.Rg6+ Kd7
54.Rxh6 Re1+ 55.Kd3 Rd1+ 56.Kc3 Rf1 57.Rg6 Rf4 58.Kd3 Rf1 59.c5
Rd1+ 60.Ke4 Re1+ 61.Kf5 1–0

Sapis Witalis – Borkowski Franciszek [E73] (3)

Legnica (Poland) 1993
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Be2 0-0 6.Bg5 Na6 7.Qd2 e5 8.d5
Nc5 9.f3 h6 10.Be3 Nh7 11.b4 Na6 12.a3 f5 13.c5 f4 14.Bf2 b6 15.c6 Nb8
16.a4 a5 17.b5 Bf6 18.Bc4 Bg5 19.0-0-0 Kg7 20.Kc2 Qe7 21.Nge2 h5
22.h4 Bh6 23.Rdg1 Rf6 24.Be1 Qf8 25.Qc1 Kh8 26.Bd2 Bg7 27.Nd1 Rf7
28.Nf2 Qe7 29.g3 Qf8 30.gxf4 exf4 31.Rxg6 Nf6 32.Nd3 Bh6 33.Rhg1
Kh7 34.Bxf4 Bxf4 35.Qxf4 Nxe4 36.Rh6+ 1–0

25
Sapis Witalis – Shishkin Vadim [E74] (5)
Jarosławiec (Poland) 1995
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Be2 0-0 6.Bg5 (disappearing) h6
7.Be3 c5 8.d5 e6 9.h3 exd5 10.exd5 Bf5 11.g4 Bd7 12.Qd2 Kh7 13.g5
(opening) Ng8 14.gxh6 Nxh6 15.h4 (opening) Nf5 16.h5 Kg8 17.hxg6 fxg6
18.Bg5 Qe8 19.0-0-0 a6 20.Re1 b5 21.Nh3 b4 22.Nd1 Qf7 23.Bd3 a5 24.Nf4
(outpost) Na6 25.Ne6 Rfe8 26.Nxg7 Kxg7 27.Qf4 Rxe1 28.Rxe1 Re8 29.Rh1
Rh8 30.Rxh8 Kxh8 31.Bxf5 Qxf5 32.Qxf5 Bxf5 33.Be7 a4 34.Ne3 Be4
35.Bxd6 Kg7 36.a3 Kf7 37.Ng4 Bg2 38.Kd2 Bf1 39.Ne3 Bh3 40.Kd3 Ke8
41.Ke4 Kd7 42.Ke5 b3 43.Nd1 Bf1 44.Nc3 Bxc4 45.Nxa4 Bb5 46.Nxc5+
Nxc5 47.Bxc5 Bc4 48.Kd4 Be2 49.Kc3 Bf3 50.Kc4 g5 51.a4 g4 52.Be3
Kc7 53.Kc5 Kd7 54.Bf4 Be2 55.Kb4 Bf3 56.Kc4 Bg2 57.d6 Kc6 58.Kxb3
1–0

Dębowiak Marcin – Sapis Witalis [B01]

Poraj (Poland) 1998
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Nf6 3.d4 Nxd5 4.c4 Nb6 5.Nc3 e5 6.d5 Bb4 7.Bd2 c6 8.dxc6
Nxc6 9.a3 Be7 10.Be3 Be6 11.Qxd8+ Rxd8 12.Bxb6 axb6 13.Nf3 f5 14.Be2
e4 15.Nd2 Nd4 16.0-0-0 Bg5 17.h4 Bh6 0–1

Dymek Łukasz – Sapis Witalis [B23] (8)

Międzybrodzie Żywieckie (Poland) 2005
1.e4 d5 2.Nc3 d4 3.Nce2 e5 4.d3 c5 5.g3 Nc6 6.Bg2 h5 7.f4 h4 8.f5 g6 9.g4
g5 (restricting) 10.a4 f6 11.b3 a6 12.Nh3 Bd7 13.0–0 Nh6 14.Bf3 Nf7
15.Bd2 b5 16.axb5 axb5 17.Rxa8 Qxa8 18.Qa1 Qb7 19.Qa2 Be7 20.Ra1 0–0
21.Nf2 Rb8 22.Nd1 Be8 (improving) 23.Kf2 Nd6 24.Nb2 Bf7 25.Nc1 Kg7
(improving) 26.h3 Qc7 27.Be1 Rb7 28.Qa8 Nc8 29.Qa2 Nd6 30.c4 dxc3
31.Bxc3 Nd4 (outpost) 32.Bxd4 cxd4 33.Nd1 Nc8 (improving) 34.Rb1 Ra7
35.Qd2 Bb4 36.Qb2 Ra3 37.Be2 Qc5 38.Kf3 Ne7 (improving) 39.Nf2 Nc6
40.Bd1 Bc3 (outpost) 41.Qe2 Qa7 42.Bc2 Ra1 43.Nd1 Qa3 44.Nxc3 dxc3
45.Qd1 Nd4+ 0–1

26
 Afterword
“As Vitalis in his burrow sat
Of his forehead rubbed some sweat.
– Doesn’t seem to be that great!
Once or twice his tail he spun,
And then sadly said: – It’s done!”

Jan Wiktor Lesman (Jan Brzechwa)

“The Mischiefs of Vitalis the Fox”

192