Invisible Chess Moves
Page 6
Saric,Ivan
Yakovenko,Dimitry
Novi Sad Ech-tt 2009 (1)
A simpler but less easy-to-see motif was missed by Yakovenko in this game. What is Black’s best move in order to secure his winning advantage here? Compare with the Kasimdzhanov-Topalov fragment.
1. … Ng4-f2+!
A beautiful idea, which you may find if you notice the lack of protection of the a3 knight.
1…Rxd2 was played in the actual game.
2. Qg3xf2 Qe6xh3+
3. Kh1-g1 Qh3xa3
This looks like a billiards move; the black queen rebounds from the h-file to the third rank.
Black has a decisive advantage.
Here is an example from the practice of a very imaginative grandmaster.
Kogan,Artur
Nataf,Igor
France tt 2010 (3)
1. e2-e4 c7-c5
2. Ng1-f3 Nb8-c6
3. Nb1-c3 g7-g6
4. Bf1-c4 Bf8-g7
5. 0-0 e7-e6
6. d2-d4 Nc6xd4
7. Nf3xd4 c5xd4
8. Nc3-b5 d7-d5
9. e4xd5 e6xd5
10. Rf1-e1+!
10.Bb3, played in the game, was good enough to ensure White a clear advantage which he was able to convert elegantly after 10…Ne7 11.Re1 a6 12.Nxd4 h6 13.c3 0-0 14.Qf3 b5 15.Bf4 Ra7 16.Qe3! Nice piece harmony. 16…g5 17.Be5 Bxe5 18.Qxe5 Rd7 19.Bc2 Qc7 20.Qf6!, with a brilliant win for White.
Kogan writes: (The text) ‘was also good and I wanted to play it, but only if I would find…’
10. … Ng8-e7
11. Bc1-g5!
Kogan: ‘I saw this but was not sure…’
11. … f7-f6
12. Bg5-d2!
12.Bf4! dxc4 and now:
A) 13.Bd6 is similar to the main line;
B) There is also 13.Nd6+!! Kf8 14.Qxd4 b5 (otherwise, 15.Qxc4 wins) 15.Rxe7 Qxe7 (15…Kxe7 16.Re1+ Kf8 17.Qd5) 16.Nxc8 Rxc8 17.Bd6+.
12. … d5xc4
13. Bd2-b4+−
The change of wings by the bishop is very pleasing to the eye.
A rapid game by one of the authors illustrates both the horizontal effect and the change of wings theme.
Afek,Yochanan
Kogan,Artur
Israel Cup rapid 1999
1. e2-e4 c7-c5
2. Ng1-f3 d7-d6
3. d2-d4 c5xd4
4. Nf3xd4 Ng8-f6
5. Nb1-c3 e7-e6
6. Bf1-c4 Bf8-e7
7. Bc1-e3 0-0
8. Bc4-b3 Nb8-c6
9. Qd1-e2 a7-a6
10. 0-0-0 Bc8-d7
11. Rh1-g1 Nc6-a5
12. g2-g4 Na5xb3+
13. a2xb3 Qd8-a5
14. g4-g5 Nf6-e8
15. Kc1-b1 Ne8-c7
16. Qe2-h5 Nc7-b5
Classical strategy. With opposite-castled kings, both players bring their forces as quickly as possible in front of the enemy king in order to be the first to give checkmate. But here White opts for an odd move:
17. Be3-d2!?
Sacrificing the knight on d4. This may not be the best move in a ‘scientific’ sense, but it reminds us that chess is, before all, a game!
17.Rg3 would be the standard move, with the not so invisible idea 18.Rh3 and 19.Qxh7.
17. … Nb5xd4?
17…Qc7 would have been correct, with a balanced game.
18. Nc3-d5 Qa5-d8
Now comes a bolt from the blue.
19. Bd2-a5!!
A very difficult move to anticipate and an altogether crushing one, after which Black can resign in view of the following variations:
A) 19…Qb8 20.Nf6+ Bxf6 21.gxf6 with mate soon;
B) 19…b6 20.Bxb6 does not change the evaluation;
C) 19…Qxa5 and now:
C1) Not 20.Nxe7+ Kh8 21.Rxd4 Qd8∞ 22.g6? (22.e5 Qxe7 23.exd6 Qd8 24.Rh4 h6) 22…h6;
C2) 20.g6!! Illustrating the danger of having the queens aligned on the same rank. 20…fxg6 21.Nxe7+ Kf7 22.Qxa5.
19. … Qd8-e8
A) 19…Qxa5 20.g6!!+− (20.Nxe7+? Kh8 21.Rxd4 Qd8 22.g6 h6−+) 20…fxg6 21.Nxe7+ Kf7 22.Qxa5;
B) 19…Qb8 20.Nf6+ Bxf6 21.gxf6 g6 22.Qh6;
C) 19…b6 20.Bxb6.
20. Nd5-f6+! Be7xf6
21. g5xf6 g7-g6
22. Qh5-h6 1-0
A similar case was the following game from the Dresden Olympiad. This time the invisible move was a defensive possibility that went unnoticed by the attacker. The problem was a change of wings thanks to an intermediate move.
Charbonneau,Pascal
Hussein,Hantoosh
Dresden Olympiad 2008 (6)
1. e2-e4 e7-e6
2. d2-d4 d7-d5
3. Nb1-c3 d5xe4
4. Nc3xe4 Nb8-d7
5. Ng1-f3 Bf8-e7
6. Bf1-d3 Ng8-f6
7. Ne4xf6+ Be7xf6
8. Qd1-e2 0-0
9. Bc1-f4 c7-c5
10. h2-h4 c5xd4
Isn’t everything in order for the classical sacrifice on h7?
11. Bd3xh7+??
This move has been the only one played in this position, in two recorded games in our database. Alas, this is not a Greek gift, but rather a Christmas gift. 11.0-0-0 is wiser, leading to lively play with chances for both sides.
11. … Kg8xh7
12. Nf3-g5+ Kh7-g8
13. Qe2-h5
13. … Qd8-a5+
An intermediate check that allows the queen to unexpectedly join the defence of h7 (the horizontal effect).
If 13…Re8 14.Qh7+ 1-0 because of 14…Kf8 15.Bd6 and mate next (Rosen-Nietsch, Dresden 2009).
14. Bf4-d2 Qa5-f5
And White has no attack to compensate for his missing piece.
Mogranzini,Roberto
Caruana,Fabiano
Porto Mannu 2007 (2)
The two bishops are placed on diagonals aimed at the opponent’s fortress.
Since the situation has changed, a change of wings by both bishops ensures White a winning advantage.
1. Ba3-b4!
The dark-squared bishop wants to reach e1.
1.Bf7 was played in the game.
1. … Re8-d8
Best.
2. Bc4-e2!
The light-squared bishop defends d1, and from its central position it can be moved in all directions.
2. … Rd8-g8
2…Bf2 3.Rxh6+ gxh6 4.Qxf2 e3+ is nice but insufficient: 5.Qg2 Bxg2+ 6.Kxg2 Rd4 7.c4 Rxf4 8.Be1+−.
3. Bb4-e1 Bh4xe1
4. Rh3xh6+ g7xh6
5. Qe3xb6 Rg8-g7
6. Be2xa6 Be1-f2!?
7. Qb6xb7! Rg7xb7
8. Ba6xb7+−
D – Backward moves
Backward moves are notoriously difficult to see1. Bent Larsen even points out that especially backward moves on diagonals are difficult to see ‘except for the long diagonal’ (Larsen, 50 Selected Games.)
In the following game, White’s material advantage was offset by the activity of Black’s army, who had the initiative and won the game. However, a single backward move could have forced a transition into a technically won endgame for White.
Levitt,Jonathan
Speelman,Jonathan
Torquay ch-GBR 1982 (1)
According to the winner (see his entertaining book Speelman’s Selected Games), none of the two players saw the straightforward win beginning with
1. f2-f4
White is attacking the knight that defends the bishop on c4. Hence the answer is forced.
1.b3?! was played in the game, and Black won after 1…Bxb3.
1. … Rd2-d1
And here the powerful defensive retreat
2. Qh7-b1!
(or 2.Qc2!) forces the line:
2. … Rd1xc1
First 2…Bb3 is the same.
3. Qb1xc1 Bc4-b3
And now a very simple win is available:
4. f4xe5! Rd8-d1
5. Qc1xd1 Bb3xd1
6. e5xf6
With a technically (and practically) easily winning endgame, e.g. 6�
��gxf6 7.Bf5 Kc7 8.Bg6 Kd6 9.h4 Ke7 10.h5+−.
The line is not too difficult to calculate, but the defensive move Qh7-b1 was not easy to anticipate.
Sumets,Andrey
Golubev,Mikhail
Odessa 2009 (3.2)
The pin along the long diagonal is very awkward and Black lost after 1…Qf7 2.Qxf7+ Rxf7 3.Rd3+−. However, there was a strong possibility involving a curious retreat:
1. … Kg8-h8!
2. Bg2xd5 Bb7-c8!
The queen is dominated.
3. Nb5xc7
Best.
3. … Bc8xe6
4. Nc7xe6 Qg7-d7
5. Ne6xf8 Ra8xf8
And Black is not worse.
Interestingly, the best defensive move for White was not found in the following game either.
Bogdanov,O1eksi
Tischbierek,Raj
Oberwart 2003 (6)
Instead, Bogdanov just resigned here. An understandable decision. But can you see the only chance for White to save the game?
He can continue with
1. Bf2-g1!!
Other possibilities fail to impress, for example:
1.Bg3? Qxe3+ 2.Kf1 Nd2#;
1.Ra1? Qc3+−+.
1. … Qd3-d1+
2. Ke1-f2 Nc4xe3!
3. Ra8-a2!?
Another retreat. If 3.Kxe3? (3.Kg3 Qd6+ 4.f4 Qd2) 3…Qd2+ 4.Ke4 f5+ 5.Qxf5 Re8+ and Black wins. The text looks more resilient. Objectively Black is still much better, but he has no forced win.
Extremely intriguing was White’s resignation in the following game, between two young members of the elite.
Mamedyarov,Shakhriyar
Carlsen,Magnus
Wijk aan Zee 2008 (1)
The position could have been included in another chapter, because in combinations, invisibility can cover various aspects.
White is two pawns up, while Black displays great activity and his pieces are better positioned. The infiltrated knight on e3 is particularly awkward to deal with, which adds to the specific problem of the lack of squares for the g2 bishop.
After the coming 1…Rxb2, or, after 1.b3, 1…Rd8 and 2…Rd2, there seems to be no escape for the bishop on g2, so White resigned. However, there was a simple solution.
1. b2-b3 Rb8-d8
2. Kh1-g1! Rd8-d2
3. Bg2-h1!
And the bishop is saved. Black is still clearly better after
3. … Be5xc3
but the game is not over yet and White can still fight.
E – Backward knight moves
Amongst all the possible backward moves, the hardest to spot are those by the knight. There is also a technical reason for this (see Chapter 3): as a short-range piece, the knight must generally be centralized. It takes too much time to bring it back to the crucial areas once it is out of play. A psychological role is also played by several old maxims that are learned early by ‘well-trained’ players, like ‘A knight on the rim is dim’ or the French ‘Cavalier au bord, cavalier mort’ (‘A knight on the edge is dead’). These are all possible causes for a (type of) move to remain invisible.
Morozevich,Alexander
Movsesian,Sergey
Sarajevo 2007 (9)
Black’s doubled pawns are offset by his activity on the g-file, which gives him some attacking chances. Had White put his queen on c3, the game would have been equal. Instead, the natural, centralizing move played by White lost immediately.
1. Qc1-e3?? Ne6-g7!
Retreating the knight with a ‘backward attacking move’ (see Chapter 4). The knight now trots to g3, via f5 or h5.
2. Rf1-g1
2.Qc3 Nh5−+; 2.Qe1 Nf5−+.
2. … Ng7-f5
3. Qe3-e1 Rg8xg1+
4. Kh1xg1 Rd8-g8+
5. Kg1-h1 Nf5-g3+
6. Kh1-g1 Ng3-f1+
7. Kg1-h1 Nf1xh2
Mates follows in three moves.
Rowson,Jonathan
Yermolinsky,Alex
Philadelphia 2002 (4)
White was slightly better when Black deliberately offered him the a7 pawn. Rowson (in Seven Chess Sins) was justifiably proud of this piece of accurate calculation. Can you follow his steps and give the winning variation till the end?
1. Qa5xa7! Qc6-c2
After this counterattack, the moves on both sides are virtually forced. 1…Rc8 2.Qa3 gives a big advantage to White.
2. Rd1-d2
White must keep the pawn, of course.
2. … Qc2-c1+
3. Kg1-h2 Be7-g5!?
The climax, from Black’s point of view. It looks like he gains the edge.
4. Rd2-e2
If 4.Rd3 Bf4+ 5.g3 Qf1 and Black is winning.
4. … Bg5-f4+
5. g2-g3 Qc1-d1
All the variations are winning for Black, except one: the little, invisible
6. Nf3-g1!
And White is winning.
Mamedyarov,Shakhriyar
Carlsen,Magnus
Baku 2008 (4)
White’s last move was 1.Rc1-f1, intending to launch a kingside attack with f2-f4. Black played 1…b5 and eventually lost. Instead, according to Mamedyarov in New In Chess Magazine 2008/4,
1. … Qb7-c6!
was very strong, inviting White to repeat moves with Rf1-c1: ‘During the game, I thought that the a6 pawn would be lost and that the move was pointless, but in fact the capture of the pawn gives Black very good play.’
2. Qd3xa6
2. … Nd7-b8!
‘It was this simple move that we both overlooked’, wrote Mamedyarov.
3. Qa6-a7
3.Qd3 Qc2=. Now, among other possibilities, 3…Rc7!? gives Black a good game: 4. Qxb8 Rc8 5. Qa7 Ra8 6. Rc1 Qxc1 7.Qxa8 Qxd2=.
In the following fragment, three black pieces are in precarious positions and in order to win it is sufficient for White to find one good move. Kortchnoi did not manage it here.
Kortchnoi,Viktor
Gipslis,Aivars
Tallin zt m 1967 (3)
1. Nf3-e1!
One small step for the knight, and one giant leap for the win.
Kortchnoi preferred 1.Nd4?, obviously with the same idea, but he failed to take into account the counterattack 1…Rd8! and Black was even better in the game.
After 1.Ne1! the variations are not difficult:
1…Rc8 2.bxc5+−;
1…Qxc2 2.Nxc2 Rc8 3.bxc5+−.
F – Pin and self-pin
Another type of ‘hard-to-see move’ is the pin. We all know that ‘a pinned piece does not defend’ but do we actually ‘see’ it?
Very pleasing to the eye is White’s elegant last move in the following game:
Karjakin,Sergey
Kosteniuk,Alexandra
Brissago m 2003 (4)
Black has a solid position and here she should have kept the integrity of her pawn structure intact, with an unclear, probably equal game.
29. … Bb7xd5
29…Qe7∞ was more cautious.
30. Qb6xa6!?
The obvious 30.Rxc8+ Rxc8 31.Qxa6± was simpler and probably better. But Karjakin felt in an artistic mood and was rewarded with a magnificent finish:
30. … Rc8xc1+?
30…Rcb8 31.Qd3 Bxb3 32.Rxb3 e4! would have enabled Black to equalize, for example after 33.fxe4 fxe4 34.Qc4 (34.Qd1 may be better, with a slight advantage) 34…Qxc4 35.Rxc4 Rxa5=.
31. Rb1xc1 Ra8xa6
The following sequence is a lesson in chess geometry.
32. Rc1-c8+ Qf7-e8
This forced answer seems sufficient.
33. Rc8xe8+ Kg8-f7
And now a superb cross-pin:
34. Re8-a8!!
Had White been inspired by the classical game that follows? The finish is a charming variation on the theme of the pin.
Tal,Mikhail
Brinck Claussen,Bjorn
Havana Olympiad 1966 (4)
25. Qd3-f3! f7-f6!
26. Ne5-c4!
The first move directly linked to a pin. Mistaken would have been 26.Bxd5+?
because of 26…Bxd5 27.Qxd5+ Re6,
Analysis diagram
even if White has a counter-pin with 28.Qd8! Qxh5 29.Nd3.
26. … Re8-d8
27. Ra1-e1 Bb7-c8
28. Nc4-e3!±
28. … Bc8-e6
29. Re1-c1 Be6-f7
30. h5-h6!?
A slight deflection of the queen. 30.Qf5± was simpler, but Tal wanted to extract more out of the position.
30. … Qg5xh6
31. Rc1-c7 Qh6-g5
31…Ne6! was better, with hopes of equality for Black: 32.Rxa7 (or 32.Rxf7 Kxf7 33.Bxd5∞) 32…Ng5.
32. Rc7xa7 Nf8-g6
33. Ne3xd5!?
The quiet 33.Qf5 would have brought White a safe victory with a decisive advantage, but once again Tal wants more.
33. … Bf7xd5
34. Ra7-a8!
Same causes, same effects. What a picture! The bishop looks like it is drawn and quartered between the two diagonals.
34. … Bd5xa2
34…Qc1+ 35.Kh2 Bxa2 36.Rxd8+ Kf7 is a better defence but White should win after 37.b3! Qe1 38.Qd5+ Qe6 (38…Ke7 39.Qd7+ looks like a winning endgame) 39.Qxe6+ Kxe6 40.Rb8 Kd6 41.Rxb6+ Kc7 42.Rb5±. The rook and two passed pawns are vastly superior to the minor pieces.
35. Ra8xd8+ Kg8-f7
Here only one move wins.
36. Qf3-c6!
After this accurate move, White plays cat-and-mouse with the hapless black king.
36. … Ng6-e7
37. Qc6-e8+ Kf7-e6
38. Rd8-c8 Qg5-d5
39. Rc8-c3 Qd5-d7
40. Rc3-e3+ Ke6-d6
41. Qe8-b8+ Kd6-c6