Bruce Pandolfini - Weapons of Chess

Weapons of Chess Bruce Pandolfini

RELATED SECTION INDEX Advantage Positional Chess Analysis Calculating Variations Oversights Visualization Anti-Positional Move Weakness Backward Pawn The Bind Weakness Bad Bishops Bishops of Opposite Colour Good Knight Minor Exchange The Bind Backward Pawn Blockade Blocked Centre Bishops of Opposite Colour Blockade Blockade Isolated Pawn Isolated Pawn Couple Blocked Centre Pawn Centres Pawn Chain Breakthrough Combination Passed Pawn Calculating Variations Visualization

2 Doubled Pawns Pawn Majority Weakness Doubled Rooks Backward Pawn Exchanging Pieces Outside Passed Pawn Fianchetto Two Bishops Weakness Fixed Pawns Pawn Centres Good Knight Blockade Minor Exchange Isolated Pawn Blockade Minor Exchange Weakness Isolated d-Pawn: Advancing It Isolated d-pawn Isolated d-pawn: Strength Isolated d-pawn: Drawbacks Isolated d-Pawn Isolated d-pawn: Advancing It Isolated d-pawn: Drawbacks Isolated d-pawn: Strength Isolated d-pawn: Drawbacks Isolated d-pawn Isolated d-Pawn: Advancing It Isolated d-pawn: Drawbacks Isolated d-pawn: Strength Isolated d-pawn: Strength Isolated d-pawn Isolated d-Pawn: Advancing It Isolated d-Pawn: Drawbacks Isolated Pawn Couple Weakness Knight Corral Two Bishops Minor Exchange Opening a File Pawn Majority Opening a File Doubled Rooks Minority Attack

3 Outside Passed Pawn Breakthrough Combination Passed Pawn Pawn Majority Oversights Visualization Passed Pawn Outside Passed Pawn Pawn Majority Protected Passed Pawn Pawn Centres Blocked Centre Fixed Pawns Pawn Chain Pawn Chain Blocked Center Pawn Centres Pawn Majority Minority Attack Passed pawn Positional Chess Advantage Anti-Positional move Weakness Protected Passed Pawn Passed Pawn Two Bishops Knight Corral Minor Exchange Visualization Analysis Calculating Variations Weakness Anti-Positional Isolated Pawn Positional Chess

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ADVANTAGE Definition: Any factor that increases your winning chances. TIME More pieces developed than your opponent = advantage in time. Time is measured in terms of initiative, or the ability to control the flow of play. SPACE Controls of the centre, more advanced pawns, rooks on half-open files are some indicators of an advantage in space. Also, better placed pieces leading to control of more than your half of the board, translating into better piece mobility. MATERIAL More men or more valuable men. SAFETY If your king is less exposed than your opponents. Kings are generally safer on the kingside than the queenside. Also, there are fewer pieces to get out of the way before castling. Having the three kingside pawns on their original squares, with the protecting knight at f3 (f6 for Black) forms the strongest possible defense of a castled position. TYPES OF ADVANTAGES These can be temporal, positional or material. Temporal advantages have a way of evaporating and should therefore be transformed into other advantages early in the game. Your opponent will be able to catch up in development if you don’t. Positional advantages (centre control, superior pawn structure, control of halfopen files, king safety) change constantly throughout the game. Positional play constitutes the collective addition of little advantages until they amount to real superiority and force your opponent to surrender material or submit to a strong attack on his king. Material advantages are usually the most decisive. Advantages in material and pawn structure tend to be more permanent than temporal advantages.

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ANALYSIS Making a mental tally sheet of each side’s strengths and weaknesses. While playing, divide the process into two sections. When it is your move, be concrete and specific. When it is your opponent’s move, let your mind wander over the board, asking general questions about the position. QUESTIONS      

What does my opponent’s move threaten? Are any pieces or pawns attacked or threatened? If so, are they adequately protected? If not, then what can I do to protect them? If a piece is threatened, probe the position to determine whether to guard, move, or trade it. Or perhaps counter with a more significant threat of my own. [DANGER] If you meet your opponent’s threat with one of your own, and he ups the ante by defending with another threat, you now have two threats to answer! [SCREWED] Not threatened? Then perhaps do some threatening of your own, but without risking your game or the potential for future attack. If your opponent answered your last threat with one of his own, decide which threat is more powerful before choosing your next move.

While waiting for your opponent’s move, ask these general questions about the position.  Does the enemy have any weaknesses?  Given the opportunity, how could they be exploited?  What are the enemy strengths?  Are there any potential threats the enemy can generate?  What are my weaknesses?  Can I get rid of them?  Can I compensate for them?  Determine a course of action!!

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ANTI-POSITIONAL MOVE Definition: One that is unsound strategically, differing from a blunder, which is an oversight that loses a piece or pawn. An anti-positional move violates the logic or direction of the game. Usually, it is a pawn move that weakens a key square or group of squares. Example: Castling, then moving the pawns that protect the king. ATTACKS AREN’T EVERYTHING Most anti-positional moves are made for the sake of attack. But attacking for the sake of attacking, without regard to consequences creates weaknesses.

/ + W Tl+\ /+o+ +o+o\ /o+ + +o+\ /+ + O + \ / + +pJp+\ /+ H + + \ /pP +qP P\ /+ + +rK \ D

Did Dia Anti-Positional Diagram

DD

White tried to dislodge Blacks knight by playing g2-g4. He thus creates irreparable weaknesses at f3, f4, h3, and h4. Black answers by moving the knight to f4, where it attacks White’s queen and endangers White’s kingside. PAWNS CAN NEVER GO HOME

7 Pawns can never retreat and can never again guard a square that it has moved past, allowing enemy pieces to occupy such weak squares. Hence, study your pawn moves well, ensuring that you understand the consequences before you move it.

BACKWARD PAWN Def: One that cannot be advanced with the support of a friendly pawn or protected by one. Although not physically prevented from moving, it cannot advance because it would be captured by an enemy pawn on an adjacent file. Its inability to move or be defended by another pawn makes it a WEAKNESS in its owner’s position! We can assume that there is either no adjacent pawn on the same side as the backward pawn, or any such pawn is already advanced beyond the point of being helpful. SUBJECT TO ATTACK A backward pawn is vulnerable to attack from an enemy queen and rooks along the halfopen file in front of it. MAKING YOUR OPPONENT SUFFER (Vertical Double Attack vs. Semi-Vertical)

-------/ + + +l+\ /+ +t+ Oo\ / +tO + +\ /+ +rO + \ / + +p+ +\ /+ + +p+p\ / + + +p+\ /+ +r+ K \ ________ In the above diagram, Black’s backward pawn results in White’s capture of the e-pawn. If 1.Rxe5 dxe5, then 2.Rxd7 and Black has no recourse. If Black’s second rook were at d8, then 1.Rxe5 dxe5 2.Rxd7 Rxd7 and White loses 4 points. Even in this scenario, the author feels that White still has a positional superiority (If he does not initiate the trade)

8 since he has the initiative, meaning that his rooks have greater freedom of action while Black’s are tied to defense! PILING UP ON THE WEAKNESS In the vertical double rook attack and matching defense, if White adds a pawn as a third attacker, will Black be able to compete? Answer: If Black can add a third piece as a defender, then White has just tied up another of Black’s pieces for the use of his pawn. Whether Black adds a third defender or not, if he initiates an exchange (pawn takes pawn, he loses as the target then becomes Black’s closest rook which is then attacked twice and defended once! (Black loses 4 points) EVERYONE JOINS IN The above diagram is an indication of what can happen in an all out fight for any particular square. Black’s d6-pawn is attacked 5 times and defended 5 times. But wait, White’s queen also attacks the g5-pawn, which is defended by f6. White can change the dynamics of this stalemate by advancing his e4-pawn to e5 (attacker #6). If Black attempts to address this imbalance by fxe5, then Qxg5 and he loses a pawn. If Black does nothing threatening, then the d6-pawn will fall to a superior force! Personal Lesson: A pawn and a bishop can form a diagonal attack group! OCCUPYING THE BLOCKADING SQUARE The square directly in front of a backward pawn is weak and can be occupied by an enemy piece (knight or bishop), which allows the possibility of a discovered attack by rooks and queen along the half-open file, while attacking the enemy elsewhere. This constitutes another positional advantage, as the enemy must use pieces to defend against the potential discovered attack. MAKE IT A SAFE OCCUPATION When attempting to occupy the blockading square, be sure that if the blockading piece is captured you can recapture with another piece not a pawn. This ensures that the file is kept open for rooks and queen. In the above diagram, first play 1.Rfd1, gaining time because it attacks the backward pawn. Then 2.Nd5 Bxd5 3.Rd5.

9 ADVANCING THE PAWN The above example illustrates how Black can eliminate the weakness of his backward pawn and achieve material superiority. If the e7-bishop were not blocked by the d6-pawn, it could pin White’s e3-rook and win it. Black therefore advances the pawn to d5, and no matter how White takes it (with knight or pawn) Bc5 pins the rook and wins it on the next move! If White sees this in advance, he can move the rook to e2, but Black’s continuing pawn advance will create problems. If Black takes one of White’s pawns, he will not win material but White’s pawn structure will be permanently weakened! PUSHING AHEAD In this position, Black to move can push the d-dawn, although protectors do not support it. White could not then capture it with the e4-pawn, for Black would then follow with a thrust of his own e-pawn, from e5 to e4. Double threat! White’s knight at f3 is attacked by Black’s g7-bishop along the a1-h8 diagonal. White must lose material. BRINGING IN THE TROOPS Alleviating a backward pawn condition by:  Capturing with an adjacent pawn. The example includes a resulting isolated pawn at a7. Possible compensation being a stronger hold on the centre.  Threatening the enemy pawn with capture by advancing the adjacent pawn on the far side of the backward pawn formation. This pawn should be supported in its threat so as not to create a potential sacrifice scenario.

BAD BISHOP Def: One that is blocked or impeded by its own pawns. Advice     

Avoid having your own pawns on the same colour as your bishop Try to fix your opponent’s pawns on the wrong color squares If you have a bad a bad bishop, try to trade for a good bishop or knight. If you have a good bishop don’t exchange it without a really good reason. If your opponent has a bad bishop, try to invade the squares his bishop cannot protect.

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THE BIND Def: When one side’s pawns and pieces are so well positioned that they prevent the enemy from moving freely, a bind is created! MAROCZY BIND In the above diagram, White’s pawns at c4 and e4 make it extremely difficult for Black to free his position by advancing the d-pawn to d5. Advice    

Try to set up binds using pieces and pawns to restrict the enemy’s movement If you can cramp him long enough, he may be forced to make a weakening move Keep the bind tight until you can convert it to a tangible advantage To soon a release may lead to the enemy seizing the initiative with a counter-attack

BISHOPS OF OPPOSITE COLOUR Def: When opponents each have one bishop controlling squares of different colour. ENDGAMES ARE USUALLY DRAWN Even if one side is ahead, the defending bishop can usually block the enemy passed pawn(s). Since the attacking bishop cannot control the same squares, the blockade tends to be unbreakable. THE ATTACKER HAS THE ADVANTAGE IN THE MIDDLEGAME The above diagram, White’s queen goes to e5 threatening mate at g7. Black can only move f7-f6, leaving the bishop unprotected which falls to the queen. Advice  

If behind a pawn or two, try trading minor pieces to reach an endgame with bishops of opposite colour. In the middlegame, use your bishop for attack. Your opponent may not be able to neutralize its power.

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BLOCKADE Definition The blocking of a passed, isolated or backward pawn by an enemy piece, or the restraining of a pawn’s advance by guarding an occupying the square directly in front, called the blockading square. Once a pawn is fixed by a blockade a generalized attack can be launched against it. Advice      

First restrain the enemy pawn’s ability to advance by controlling the blockading square with pawns. Then attack Knights are best, but bishops make good blockaders too Rooks are not good blockaders If you have an isolated pawn and your opponent is attempting to blockade it, try to advance the pawn and exchange it for a healthy enemy pawn. If you have a passed pawn that is being blockaded, try to drive away the blockader so your pawn can move ahead.

BLOCKED CENTRE Definition When the pawns of both sides are fixed in the center without the possibility of pawn exchange, the center is said to be closed. This is accomplished by a formation known as a pawn chain. The solution is to attack the base of the enemy’s pawn chain by advancing your c or f-pawn. THE STONEWALL Characterized by an incompletely blocked center which for White involves having pawns at c4, e3 and f4. This controls the e5 square forcing Black to play e6, blocking his queenside bishop. If Black has a pawn at d5 and his knight at f6, White’s f3-knight may advance to e5.

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The Stonewall as White Reuben Fine gives this magnificent line as an example of what you are trying to do in the Stonewall system: 1. d4 d5 2. e3 Nf6 3. Bd3 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. f4 This the basic Stonewall set-up. 5... e6 blocks the Bc8 6. Nf3 Bd6 7. O-O O-O 8. Ne5 Qc7 9. Nd2 Re8 10. g4 with a crushing attack! Well, it's not always like that, Black has several improvements: 1. d4 d5 2. e3 Nf6 3. Bd3 [3. f4 is sometimes played to avoid the 3...Nc6 line] 3... c5 [3... Nc6 4. f4 [4. c3 e5] 4... Nb4 5. Nf3 Nxd3+ 6. cxd3 g6 7. Nc3 Bg7 8. O-O O-O=] 4. c3 Nc6 5. f4 5... e6 blocks the Bc8 so [5... Bg4 6. Nf3 e6 7. Nbd2 Bd6 8. h3 Bh5 9. b3 cxd4 10. cxd4 Rc8 and Black is comfortable] 6. Nf3 Bd6 7. O-O O-O 8. Ne5 Qc7 Ne5 needs some better response; Black could also try to occupy e4 Advice To develop against a stonewall formation, try to make underming pawn advances on the c- and f-files.

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BREAKTHROUGH COMBINATION Definition A series of moves in which a passed pawn decides a chess game. Handles correctly, the pawn becomes anew queen, or forces the opponent to surrender material to stop it, eventually leading to checkmate!

FASHIONING A PASSED PAWN OUT OF NOTHING A passed pawn can be created by a breakthrough sacrifice or combination. The above diagram is an illustration of a bishop sacrifice, resulting in a passed pawn. White captures the f5-pawn, forcing Black to recapture with the e6-pawn, causing White’s e5-pawn to become a passed pawn.

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CALCULATING VARIATIONS: HOW TO DO IT IN YOUR HEAD

1. 2. 3. 4.

Make a superficial analysis of move possibilities Create a mental list of these candidate moves in order of preference Analyze the first move as deeply as you can If you run into trouble, turn to the next move on the list

DOUBLED PAWNS Definition Two pawns of the same colour that occupy the same file. They may be isolated or connected. Connected doubled pawns have at least one friendly pawn occupying an adjacent file. Doubled pawns tend to be unfavourable because they can be weak, difficult to defend, or subject to attack especially if immobile. If they can’t be attack, they aren’t necessarily weak. BREACHED WALL White has doubled pawns at f2, f3, resulting from a knight exchange …1.Ng5xf3 2.g2xf3 Qg5+ 3.Kh1 Qg4 4.Qe2 Bxf3 5.Qxf3 Qxf3 and White loses his queen!

BEWARE OF TACTICAL THREATS In the above diagram, White has a superior position as his doubled c-pawns prevent Black’s e6-knight from advancing to d4 and, together with the e4-pawn form a double guard of the d5-square to which White’s b4-knight has access. In addition, if the White knight moves to d5, it will present a triple discovered attack to Black’s b6-pawn. Black

15 makes a common mistake in not evaluating the knight move and plays 1…c5 2.Nd5 Bxd5 3.cxd5 and Black must choose between losing his knight or his pawn!

DOUBLED PAWNS LEADING TO PAWN MAJORITY The example shows a minor exchange leading to a queenside pawn majority after recapture by the adjoining enemy pawn, causing double pawns. Good Advice 

Doubled pawns often tend to be weak, difficult to defend, or subject to attack especially if immobile. But in some situations their existence can be advantageous.



Before saddling your opponent with doubled pawns, evaluate whether they may be advantageous afterwards.

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If the resulting situation is unclear, play in such a manner as to cause the doubletons to remain a long-term weakness.

Try to avoid accepting doubled pawns if you determine that they will be a weakness

DOUBLED ROOKS