Efstratios Grivas
GRIVAS METHOD MIDDLEGAME STR STRA ATE TEGIES GIES
Chess Evolution
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
KEY TO SYMBOLS .........................................................................................................� INTRODUCTION ...........................................................................................................� EDITORIAL PREFACE ................................................................................................ � BIBLIOGRAPHY ............................................................................................................�� SURVEYS ON MIDDLEGAME STRATEGY ....................................................... ��
A Backward Problem ....................................................................................................�� Domination .................................................................................................................. �� Initiative .........................................................................................................................�� Preparation ................................................................................................................... �� Queen Exchange ...........................................................................................................�� Te Bad Bishop .............................................................................................................�� Te Capablanca Manoeuvre ...................................................................................... �� Te Forepost ..................................................................................................................�� Te Hungarian Knight-our .....................................................................................��� Te Royal Centre ........................................................................................................ ��� Te Super�uous Knight ..............................................................................................��� Weak Square .................................................................................................................��� Te buried bishop ........................................................................................................��� Underdevelopment ......................................................................................................��� Unortunate bishop .................................................................................................... ��� SURVEYS ON TACTICS ........................................................................................... ���
Attack via the Edge Files ........................................................................................... ��� Boden’s Mate ............................................................................................................... ��� Castled Death .............................................................................................................. ��� Fierce Queen ................................................................................................................��� Lethal Diagonals ..........................................................................................................��� Long-term Sacri�ces ..................................................................................................��� New York Queen Sac ...................................................................................................��� Te G-point Check ..................................................................................................... ��� Te Pony Express ........................................................................................................��� Te Smothered Mate ..................................................................................................��� win Games ................................................................................................................ ��� CURRICULUM VITAE............................................................................................ ���
KEY TO SYMBOLS
=
Equality or equal chances White has a slight advantage
Black has a slight advantage
White is better
Black is better
+-+
White has a decisive advantage Black has a decisive advantage unclear
with compensation
with counterplay
with initiative
with an attack
with the idea
only move
N ! !! ? ?? !? ?! + #
novelty a good move an excellent move a weak move a blunder an interesing move a dubious move check mate
INTRODUCTION
Dear Reader, A responsible chess trainer is ‘destined’ to analyse, prepare and teach his/her trainees the plain truth and the difficult paths to chess excellence. Well, this is easier said than done, but o course nothing is really as diffi cult as it sometimes appears. When the responsible trainer knows what to do and how to do it, things get simpler and can be more easily absorbed by the trainee! And rom time-totime the responsible trainer should reveal his work and his ways o teaching. Te book that you are holding in your hands is a kind o continuation o my previous work named ‘Chess Analytics’ (English language — Russell Enterprises Inc, ����); a work that was also translated into Italian and Spanish. Te basic concept is simple but quite effective: various sur-veys on all aspects o the game, covering and explaining unrevealed or poorly explained ideas and paths. In the present book by ‘Chess Evolution’, a total o �� concepts are deeply analysed. Well, noth-ing really too difficult, as the modern author has at his disposal powerul databases, tablebases, analysed material, books and — by adding his knowledge — you will get what you are looking or! oday we have shorter time-controls and there isn’t really enough time to dig into the subtleties o each ending. You have to know and to repeat knowledge; don’t be carried away by the usual myth o the ‘chess talent’. As I have repeatedly written and proved, ‘talent is the excuse o the ailed’. ‘Unortunately’, the modern chess player is entitled and orced to work more than his predeces-sors. Te modern chess trainer also needs to prepare more delicate themes, understand them and then teach them to his students. So, there is plenty o room or everything and or everybody who is thirsty or knowledge. Knowledge is the key word. And knowledge is absorbed sub-consciously; it is impossible to re-member everything you study. So, it is highly important to
work with good material and good trainers in order to improve towards the Chess Olympus. Nowadays the help o the Silicon Monster (chess analysis engines) is quite valuable, as it can save an author countless hours o analysis and checking. But stil l the role o the quali�ed trainer remains important; he knows where the truth is — he knows what to keep and what to throw away… I do not want to hold a ‘high nose’ and claim that everything I have written is perect and completely sound; I always think o the surprise actor and I just try to write honestly and with responsibility. Have a nice reading journey! Estratios Grivas Athens, ����
EDITORIAL PREFACE
For a chess book to be instructive and inormative, it would help a lot i these actors are present; that the author possesses the gif, the passion and love or the game and at one point in time, he is or was a competitive chessplayer - preerably a grandmaster. And it would also be to his advantage i he has previous experience in writing, and is or was actively involved in training and conducting chess seminars and lectures. All o these elements are wonderul o course, but more is required rom the author to ensure success. He must work hard in collating pertinent chess materials to substantiate his thoughts and ideas. In order to best illustrate and appreciate the theme that he is introducing, the author needs to compile instructive games o the great masters or rom average players. Even better is or the author to include those games he won and lost - as long as it perta ins to the subject being tackled. As the saying goes, it is the player himsel who knows best about the intricacies and turn o events that occurred in his games. It is bene�cial to provide a ‘label or name’ to the motis the author is presenting, in order to help the reader recall the concept when it appears in his own actual games. Appropriate title descriptions o concepts is a good guide or readers to better understand its objective and how to achieve it. Likewise, providing a ‘conclusion’ at the end o each method is crucial in aiding the reader to completely discern what the author is trying to transmit and to impart. Te author becomes effective when he is not stingy in sharing his ideas. He must have a child-like attitude wherein he is very eager, proud and generous in passing on to the readers all his knowledge and understanding accumulated through many years o competing. And it would be impressive i he is also experienced in chess writing and teaching. Most authors are ocused on emphasizing the importance o knowing and understanding basic and general principles to achieve success. However, readers must be constantly reminded and enlightened that exceptions to the rules or out o the box concepts are essential as well. A good example here is the ‘Te Bad Bishop’ perception which Estratios propounds in his excellent book ‘Gri vas Method - Middlegame Strategies’.
When all these ingredients mentioned above are present - and you augment it with spicy tidbits about great players, composers, anecdotes, recollections, puzzles, memorable events etc. - then a complete recipe or a good, yummy and worth-reading chess book is served. And this book is it. Eugene orre, ����
BIBLIOGRAPHY
�. Advanced Chess School: Volumes �-�; Estratios Grivas; FIDE ����-���� �. British Chess Magazine; Various Contributors; BCM ����-���� �. Chess Analytics: raining with a Grandmaster; Estratios Grivas; Russel Enterprises ���� �. Chess College �: Strategy; Estratios Grivas; Gambit ���� �. Chess College �: Pawn Play; Estratios Grivas; Gambit ���� �. Chess College �: echnique; Estratios Grivas; Gambit ���� �. Chess Curiosities; im Krabbe; Allen & Unwin Ltd ���� �. Chess Expertise Step by Step. Volume �: Unexpected actics; Estratios Grivas; Chessbase ���� �. Chess Expertise Step by Step. Volume �: Mastering Strategy; Estratios Gri vas; Chessbase ���� ��. Chess or igers; Simon Webb; Oxord University Press ���� ��. Chess oday (Internet Newspaper); Alexander Baburin; ����-���� ��. ChessBase Mega Database; Various Contributors; ChessBase ���� ��. Inormator; Various Contributors; Inormator ����-���� ��. Learn rom the Legends; Mihail Marin; Quality Chess ���� ��. My System; Aaron Nimzowitsch; Hays Publications ���� ��. New In Chess (Magazine & Yearbook); Various Contributors; Interchess BV ����-���� ��. Secrets o Modern Chess Strategy; John Watson; Gambit ���� ��. Te Middlegame; Euwe / Kramer; Hays Publications ���� ��. Wikipedia — Various Articles; Wikipedia ���� Te above sources were my main help and guide while writing this book. I would like to thank the (rest) o the authors or their contributions to chess literature and the chance they gave to all chess players to become better. Wikipedia was quite helpul too!
SURVEYS ON MIDDLEGAME STRATEGY
A BACKWARD PROBLEM
Modern backward pawns are not considered as bad as, let’s say, �� years ago. Modern approaches and methods are very much concerned with the so-called ‘activity’ measure. As long as the possessor o a backward pawn can preserve an elastic and potentially- active position, his de�cit is not that important, as the opposing side cannot ‘concentrate’ on it. A good strategy is to exchange pieces, preserving only those that could be useul in pressuring the backward pawn. In this case, the backward pawn side will hardly �nd any activity, while passivity is something that they will have to live with! Well, this o course doesn’t guarantee a win, but mostly a pleasant, nondangerous, middlegame or endgame. Let’s examine some cases with a backward black d-pawn:
▷ ▶
Karpov Anatoly Gheorghiu Florin Moscow ����
�.c� c� �. f� f� �.c� e� �.g� b� �. g� b� �.�-� e� �.d� cxd� �. xd� d� �.b� �-� ��. d� bd� ��. b� a�
r+ q w r tk+ � +l+nv lpz pp � pz p p zps n + � + + + + � +Pw Q + + � +Ps N +Nz P � Pv L +Pz PLz P � t R +R+ m K
�
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
��. e�!? An interesting set-up. White plans to play d� and then get his queen on the diagonal. ��... b� Not bad, but more ‘logical’ is ��...c� ��. d� xg� ��. xg� e� ��. g� � ��. ac� ac� ��. e� xe� ��. xe� b� ��.a�+= imman,JLobron,E Brussels ����.
14
GRIVAS METHOD: MIDDLEGAME STRATEGIES
��.d� xg� ��...e� ��.h� xg� ��. xg� b�+ ��. g� ab� ��. ac� e�, as in Anelli,A-Szmetan,J Buenos Aires ����, seems to be more accurate. ��. xg� b�+ Te text allows White a pleasant endgame and I eel that Black should go or something like ��... e� ��.� b� ��. d� d� ��.e� d� ��.exd� exd� ��. e�+= Rubinetti,J-Szmetan,J Quilmes ����. ��.f�! xf�+ ��. xf� fc� ��.d� ab� ��. ac�
t rr+ +k+ � + +nv lpz pp � pz p p zps n + � + + + + � +Ps N + + � +Ps N + P z � Pv L +Pz PKz P � + R tR+ +
�
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
��.f� f� ��. f� b� Logical was ��... �! when White should avoid ��.e�? dxe� ��. xe�+ e� ��. a�! bc� ��.ce�! ime or regrouping! ��... c� ��. d� g� ��. c� g� ��.e�! Te direct ��.g�?! ails to ��...g�!=
+r+n+k+ � + r t +pv l � pz p p zp+pz p � + n s + + � +P+Pz P + � LP+ v N sKz P � P+ R tN+ P z � + R t + + �
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
��...f�?! Te text doesn’t add anything to Black’s cause. More logical was ��... b� ��.h� h� ��.g� hxg�+ ��.hxg�+=
Exchanging queens simply means that there will be less tactics on the board, which emphasises permanent weaknesses, such as the backward black d-pawn. O course White has just a slight (but nearly permanent) advantage, and Black is airly still in the game.
��.exf� gxf� ��.h�! h� ��. g�! Preparing an assault on the kingside.
��...h� ��.e� e�?! A passive retreat. ��...e� is more to the point.
��.g�! hxg�+ ��.hxg� fxg�+ ��. xg� f� ��. g�
��... f� Another passive approach. Black needs to become active, so ��...b� was essential: ��.g� hxg�+ ��.hxg� xg�+ ��. xg� bxc� ��.bxc�+=
SURVEYS ON MIDDLEGAME STRATEGY
+r+nm k + � + + +rv l � pz p p zp+ + � + n s + + � +P+ P zR+ � LP+ v N sKs N � P+ R t + + � + + + + �
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
��...a� ��... e�!? looked better and surprisingly allows Black to stay in the game: ��. g� � ��. x� x� ��.b� (��. e�+!? ex� ��. x�+ � ��. xd� � ��. xg� xg� ��. xb�+=) ��... cd� ��.b� e� (��...c� ��. e� � ��.�+=) ��. e� c� ��. xc� dxc� ��. e�+= ��. g� e�?!
+r+n+ + � + + k mrv l � p p z zp+R+ � z p n s + + � +P+ P z + � LP+ v N sKs N � P+ R t + + � + + + + �
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
15
��.f�! f� ��...ex� loses to ��. d�+ d� ��. xb�. ��. xf� xf� ��. e�! f�?! Although not pleasant, Black had to opt or ��...e� ��. xc� bxc� ��. h� a� ��.e�
+ + r t + � + + k m l v � p p z zps n + � z p n s +P+ � +P+ + + � LP+ v N sKs N � P+ +R+ + � + + + + �
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
��. xc�! Decisive, and better than ��.xe�?! xe� ��.e�+ d� ��. xe� xe� ��. xg�+ d� ��. �� ��...bxc� ��...dxc� ��.xe� g�+ ��. e�+ e� ��.e�+��.fxe� xe� ��... g�+ ��.e�+ e� ��.e� � ��. e�+-
h
But this is really bad. Also unsatisactory was ��... �?! ��. xg�! xg� (��... xg� ��. xd�) ��. h�+ g� ��. x� x� ��. h� or ��... c�?! ��. d� (��. h� c� ��.�) ��... e� ��. xc� dxc� ��.e� d� ��.� but good was ��... e�! ��. g� g�! ��.xe� x� ��. e�+=
��.ef�+ e� ��. xe� O course bad was ��. xe�? x�+ ��. g� e�= but ��. xe�+ e� ��. e� x�+ ��. x� x� ��. e�+- was also winning. �-�
16 ▷ ▶
GRIVAS METHOD: MIDDLEGAME STRATEGIES
Suba Mihai Nicholson John Malaga ����
�.c� f� �. f� c� �.c� e� �.g� b� �. g� b� �.�-� e� �.d� cxd� �. xd� d�
rs n q wk+ r t � z pl+ l vpz pp � z p p zps n + � + + + + � +Pw Q + + � + N s +Nz P � Pz P +Pz PLz P � t R L v +Rm K
�
a
b
c
d
s nq+k+ r t � t r + l vpz pp � pz p p zp+ + � + + + + � +Ps N + + � + N sQ+ P z � Pz P +Pz PKz P � + +R+R+
�
e
f
g
h
A well-known position in the popular ‘Hedgehog’ set-up. �. g� In general I like White’s potential set-up. Exchanges that will support the centre and avoid a uture ...b� or ...d� advances. �...a� ��. xf� xf� ��. d� ��. � was chosen by M.Carlsen: ��...�-� ��. d� e� ��. e� xe� ��. xe� a� ��. d�+= Carlsen,MGashimov,V Wijk aan Zee ����. ��... a� ��. ad� e� ��.d� Another idea is ��. e� �-� ��. e� a� ��. d� d� ��. d�+= Korchnoi,V-Atlas,V Ptuj ����. ��... xg� ��. xg� c�
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
��.f� A quite interesting idea, aiming at weakening e� or gaining the d�square. ��...c� ��... c�?! ails to ��.�! e� (��...c� ��. xc� xc� ��.xe� xe� ��.e�) ��. b� xc� ��. d� d� ��.� Nikolic,P-Ribli,Z Novi Sad ����. ��. f� �-� ��. xc� xc� ��.f� c� ��.b�
+ + r tk+ � + r t l vpz pp � pz pqz pp+ + � + + +P+ � +P+ + + � +Ps NQ+Rz P � P+ +P+Kz P � + +R+ +
�
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
��... b� Worse is ��... d�?! ��.xe� xe� ��. e� d� ��.cxd� exd� ��.b�! (��. d�?! d� ��. e� b� Freisler,P-
SURVEYS ON MIDDLEGAME STRATEGY
Panchenko,A Berlin ����) ��... cd� ��. xd� ��.a� White must stop ...b�. ��... bb� ��.e� be�? A aulty tactical ‘solution’. Te alternative was ��... d� ��.h�+= ��.fxe� f� ��. e� White gets the advantage anyway, but he should seriously consider here: ��.ex�+ x� ��. � or ��. d� xe� ��. xb� xe�+ ��. � x�+ ��.x� ��... xe� ��. xe� xe� ��. xf�+ gxf� ��. f�
+ + r tk+ � + + +p+p � pz p p zrz p + � + + + + � P+P+ + + � +P+ +Rz P � + +Pm K P z � + +R+ + �
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
White has much the better ending, as Black is ull o weak pawns. ��... fe� ��. d� f� ��. fd� e� ��. d�! g� ��.a� Creating a urther weakness!
17
��. xd� xa� ��. d�+ e�?! Black doesn’t like passivity, but sometimes it is the only solution. Black had to opt or ��... � ��. d�+ (��. a� g� ��. dd� � ��. db�) ��... xd� ��. xd�+ e� ��. b� �+ ��. e� b� ��. b�+ e� ��. a� ��. a� Even better was ��.g�! c� ��. �d�+ e� ��. �+��... a�?! ��... �+ ��. e� e�+ ��. d� a� ��. ad�, was the only chance. ��. e�+! Winning material. ��... f� ��. xf� g� ��. ee� b� ��. g�+ f�
t r + + + � + + R t R tp � pz p + p z + � + + +k+ � +P+ + + � +P+ + z P � r +Pm t K P z � + + + +
�
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
��. f�! And a mating net is created! ��... xb�+ ��.e� h� ��.h� �-�
��... b� ��. �d� e� Black couldn’t stand the passive ��... bxa� ��. xa� a�
h
18 ▷ ▶
GRIVAS METHOD: MIDDLEGAME STRATEGIES
Tiviakov Sergei Anand Viswanathan Baden Baden ����
�.e� c� �. f� d� �. b�+ d� �.d� cxd� �. xd� a� �. xd�+ xd� �.c� e� �.d� h� �.c� f� ��.�-� e� ��.a� Also possible is ��. d� c� ��.b� c� ��.a� �-� ��. a�+= Fressinet,LKolbus,D Germany ����.
r+ q wk+ r t � +p+lv lpz p � p+ p z n s p z � + + p z + � P+P+P+ + � + N sQ+N+ � P + P z zPz P � t R L v +Rm K
�
a
b
c
d
e
f
+lw qk+ r t � + +rv lpz p � pz p p z n s p z � + + p z + � P+P+P+ + � LPs v NQ+N+ � + + P zPz P � t R +R+ K m �
g
h
��...b� A highly dubious choice according to S.iviakov. ��.b� a� Another try is ��... c� ��. a� a� ��.d� xd� ��.cxd� d� ��.d� b� ��.axb� xb� ��. c�+= Gdanski,JKoch,J Arnhem ����. ��. d� c� ��. a� d� A backward pawn position — typical o the ‘Sicilian Deence’ — is on the board. But this is quite unpleasant or Black, and while he is in no immediate danger, nor does he have any active prospects.
a
b
c
d
e
f
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h
��.d� White is heading his knight to d� ( d�-�-e�); typical o such pawn structures. ��...�-� ��. f� b� ��. e� e� ��. cd� xd� ��. xd� xd� ��. xd�
+ q wr+k+ � + +rv lpz p � pz p p z + p z � + +Qz p + � P+P+P+ + � LP+ v + + � + + P zPz P � t R +R+ K m �
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
White has exchanged many pieces, but the ones lef are all quite useul to him, so he holds a nice advantage. ��... a� ��. xa� xa� ��. d� f� ��. ad� ad� ��.g�! Another typical idea in such positions. White cannot win by just pressing one weakness; Black will deend it. He needs to create urther weak-
SURVEYS ON MIDDLEGAME STRATEGY
nesses in other part o the board and start moving his pieces around them. Tis is what we call the ‘Rule o the wo Weaknesses’! ��...g� ��.f�
+ r t +k+ � + +rv l + � pz p p z p z p z � + +Rz p p z � P+P+Pz P + � LP+ v + P z � + + + P z � + +R+ K m �
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
19
��. c�! Te bishop will attack both d� and h� rom the excellent �-square. ��... c� ��. xf� f� ��.h�! Another excellent and typical idea. argets must be �xed, so will h�! Also, a strong outpost will be created on g�. ��... c� ��.h� b� ��. e� b� ��. d� c� ��. g� g� ��. g� f� ��. e� And White wins material... ��... d�?
t r + + + � + +r+ v l � pz p p zkz pRz p � + +R+ +P � P+P+P+ + � +P+ L vK+ � + + + + � + + + +
�
��...gxf�? Black’s last not only doesn’t solve any o his problems, but it opens up the g-�le or White. Black’s serious lack o space and mobility means that he cannot switch rom one side to the next as quickly as his opponent. Had he lef it to White to exchange, then it would have been the -�le opened, and it would be ar easier to keep control o both.
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
Missing a shot that White also missed with the time-control approaching.
��.gxf� f� ��. f� exf� ��. f� e�
+ r t + + � + +rv l + � pz p p zkz p p z � + +R+ + � P+P+Pz p + � LP+ v +K+ � + + + P z � + +R+ + �
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
��. f�?! Te spectacular ��.e�! would have won on the spot, but ortunately or the Dutch GM, this does not squander the win: ��... � (��...dxe� ��. xd� xd� ��. xg�++-) ��.ex� � (��... x�? ��. �!) ��. xh� and the end is near. ��... f� ��. g� f� ��. xh� xh� ��. xh� g�+ ��. f�!
20
GRIVAS METHOD: MIDDLEGAME STRATEGIES
��. g�? would be a blunder: ��... xg�+ ��.hxg� g� ��. h� h�+ ��.g� g�= ��... f� ��.a�! Opening up urther weaknesses to overwhelm Black’s pieces. ��... g� ��...bxa� is no help: ��.e�! dxe�+ ��. xe�+! � ��. �! e� ��. xa� a� ��. e�+ � ��. �+��.axb� b� ��.b� xb�
+ + r t + � +P+ + + � p+ p zkz p R t � + + +R+P � +P+Pm K + � +r+ + + � + + + + � + + + +
�
a
b
c
d
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��.e�! dxe�+ ��. xe�+ d� ��. f� e� ��. h� d� ��. d�! Black resigned due to ��... xd� ��.cxd�+ xd� ��. � c� ��.h�. �-� CONCLUSION
Selective exchanges help the pressure against a backward pawn. Its possessor should certainly try to avoid them.
DOMINATION Chess is a game o domination. From our very �rst moves we try to dominate the opponent, the development, the centre, the pieces’ placement and so on. We try to get better positions than our opponent and in the end to cash in the ull point by precise, dominating play. Complete domination means that we can nearly do what we like and that our opponent is helpless, no matter how hard he is trying! Well, that’s too good to be realised in every game, but rom time-to-time we might be able to achieve complete domination! Domination is the dream o every chess player. He would love to be able to play simultaneously in every part o the board and simply be better everywhere. Tis might happen sometimes; no counterplay by our opponent — nothing to ear. Dominated actors can be met in every stage o the game, even pawnless endgames! We will start with some studies o the amous chess composer Genrikh Kasparyan, but �rstly I eel that we should know a bit more about him. Genrikh Kasparyan (�� February ���� in bilisi — �� December ���� in Yerevan) is considered to have been one o the greatest composers o chess endgame studies. Outside Armenia, he is better known by the Russian version o his name
SURVEYS ON MIDDLEGAME STRATEGY
Genrikh Moiseyevich Kasparyan or Kasparian. Genrikh Kasparyan became a national master in ���� and an international master in ����. He was awarded the titles o International Judge o Chess Compositions in ���� and International Grandmaster o Chess Composition in ����, the �rst composer to receive this title rom FIDE. Genrikh Kasparyan was also an active chess player, winning the Armenian championship ten times (rom ���� to ����, including two ties with uture World Champion igran Petrosian) and the i�is championship three times (����, ����, and ����). He reached the USSR Championship �nals our times (����, ����, ���� and ����), but never �nished higher than tenth place. Genrikh Kasparyan is best known or his compositions. He started with chess problems, mainly three-movers, but soon discovered that his best �eld was in endgame studies. He wrote several books and collections and composed about ��� studies, many on the theme o domination, winning �� �rst prizes. He won the USSR Composing Championship several times.
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Study � Kasparian Genrikh ����
+ + r t k m � + + + +q � + + + + � + + + + � + + + + � + + + + � +Qt R + + � + +K+ +
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Te material is so limited and most players would think that the draw is near. But here the side to move dominates the game and it is White’s turn! �. b�+! Nothing else works. �. c�+? ails to impress afer �... g�! �. h�+ h�! (�... g�? �. g�+-) �. c�+ g� �. h�+ g� �.c�+ �!= Te main concept o the queen’s movement is to co-operate with her rook in certain variations. �...g� �... g� loses to �. g�+ � �. b�+. �. h�+ g� �.a�+! White’s queen operates harmoniously rom the � nd rank! �...f� �... � �. g�+- is a sad story... �. g�+! g� �. d�+ f� Again �... � loses to �. g�.
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GRIVAS METHOD: MIDDLEGAME STRATEGIES
�. g�+ h� �. e�+! and White mates! �... h� �... h� �. e�+ ; �... � �.h�+. �. e�+ h� ��.xh�# �-�
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�... g� �... g�+ loses to �. xg�+ xg� �. a�+. �. g�+ g� �. b�+! f� I �... �, then �. a�+ h� �.b�++-
Study � Kasparian Genrikh ����
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�. c�+! As in the previous study, the queen should co-operate with her rook on the same rank, so wrong would be �. d�+? g�=
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Adding an extra rook or both sides makes the right to the �rst move even more important; domination is in sight... �. h�+! �. h�+? offers nothing afer �... h� �. xh�+ (�. d�+ g� �. g�+ g�=) �... xh�! (�... xh�? �. h�+ g� �. d�+ � �. g�+ � �. a�+!+-) �. h� �+! �. g� �+= �... h� �... g� loses to �. g�! and next moving the king to the h-�le!
�. a�! xb� Nothing is changed by �... xg�+ �.xg�++�. gxg�+ h� �. h�+ g� �. ag�# �-�
O course domination is easier when material is increased.
SURVEYS ON MIDDLEGAME STRATEGY
Study � Kasparian Genrikh ����
�...f� Afer �... b� White wins by �. a� b�+ �. � b�+ �. g�! � �. x�+ x� �. g� e� ��. c�.
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Here the � th rank domination by the white rooks is rather important. Te white king is more �exible and this actor leads to the win. �. aa�! Full domination! �...f�+ �. f�! White must be careul, as wrong would be �. �? h�! �.b� � �. g�+ h� �. � h�+! �. g� �+ �. x� hx� �.b� xb� �. x�= �... g� �... h� now loses to �.b�! (�. g�+? h� �.b� h�+ �. e� e�+ �. d� d�+=) �... h�+ �. g�! (�. e�? b�! �. a� �=) �...� (�... g�+ �. h� � �.b� � �. b�+ h� �. h�#; �... b� �. a�) �. g�+ h� �. �!+�.b� g�+ �. f�! Precise! Again �. e�? doesn’t help: �... e�+ �. d� b� �. g�+ h� �. h�+ g�.
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�. f�!! Not only the only winning but also the only not losing move! �... b� �. a�! �. c� �! �... xf� �. xb� g�+ �. xf� b� And now the usual endgame trick: �. h�! xb� ��. h�+ e� ��. xb� �-�