tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6403265870426874122012-01-12T11:11:48.360-08:00"The middle game is real chess. Whereas the opening is an initial development<br></br> of the forces and the end game scientific calculation, the middle game embodies <br></br>every conceivable principle of the [sixty-four squares], strategical and tactical, <br></br>[simple and profound]. The middle game is the art of chess."<br></br> <b>I.A. Horowitz</b>, <b><i>How to win the middle game in chess.</i></b>Chris Kannonnoreply@blogger.comBlogger321100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640326587042687412.post-88517796141610190262008-02-20T05:09:00.000-08:002008-03-17T11:14:31.105-07:00

1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nf3 Bb4+:A dual-purpose move. Black ensures rapid kingside castling and likely e4 domination. If the b1 knight jumps to c3/d2, it’s then unable to challenge f6 on e4. If the c1 bishop covers e1, Black is still solid on e4. LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BOGO-INDIAN DEFENSEBOGO-INDIAN DEFENSE ELECTRONIC-BOOK (E-BOOK)KRAMNIK: My Life And GamesEVERYMAN CHESS: Vladimir Kramnik & Iakov

Chris Kannonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640326587042687412.post-62951845082029992532008-02-11T17:27:00.001-08:002008-03-17T11:23:02.379-07:00

Position after 9 ... Be7.What's the game plan for White?* Dislodge the errant e4 knight (Bb3-c2, Nb1-d2, Nf3-d4, f2-f3) and look for attacking possibilities against Black's kingside.* If possible, contain Black's queenside counterplay via Be3 and Nb1-d2-b3.What's the game plan for Black?Position after 9 ... Be7.* Seek queenside counterplay through... c5 and ... d4. On occasion, ... d4 is playable

Chris Kannonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640326587042687412.post-71990266782918377322008-02-11T16:59:00.000-08:002008-03-17T11:24:10.819-07:00

Position after 8 ... d59 exd5 Nxd5 10 Nxe5 Nxe5 11 Rxe5 c6 12 d4 Bd6 13 Re1 Qh4 14 g3 Qh3 15 Be3 Bg4 16 Qd3 Rae8 17 Nd2 Re6 18 a4 Qh5 19 axb5 axb5 20 Ne4 Bf5 21 Bd2 Rxe4 22 Rxe4 Nf6 23 f3 Qg6 24 Qf1 Nxe4 25 fxe4 Bxe4 26 Bf4 Bd3 27 Qf2 Bxf4 28 Qxf4 h6 LineWhat's the Game Plan for Black?Position after 8 ... d59 exd5 Nxd5 10 Nxe5 Nxe5 11 Rxe5 c6 12 d4 Bd6 13 Re1 Qh4 14 g3 Qh3 15 Be3 Bg4 16 Qd3 Rae8

Chris Kannonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640326587042687412.post-71303361593939476942008-02-11T16:30:00.000-08:002008-02-11T16:54:42.082-08:00

Position after 2 ... Qxd53 Nc3 Qa5 4 d4 Nf6 5 Nf3 c6 6 Bc4 Bg4 7 h3 Bh5 8 Bd2 e6 9 Qe2 Bb4 10 a3 Nbd7 11 O-O-O Bxc3 12 Bxc3 Qc7 13 g4 Bg6 14 Ne5 Nd5 15 Bd2 O-O-O LineWhat's the game plan for White?* Control the center, starting with 3 Nc3 and d2-d4.* Attain the e5 outpost by Ng1-f3-e5 and consolidate it according to the dictates of the position. Some common buttress-ing maneuvers are: f2-f4, Bc1-

Chris Kannonnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640326587042687412.post-38796237897001069092008-02-11T15:08:00.000-08:002008-02-11T15:46:52.562-08:00

Position after 15 f3.Since White has a queenside pawn majority and space advantage, his ultimate aim is to advance and create a passed pawn on that wing. Silicon Suspire!?:Position after 15 f3.15 ... Rfd8 16 Bd3 Kf8 17 Rhe1 h5 18 a4 h4 19 Ne4 Ke7 20 Nxf6 Kxf6 21 a5 d5. 15 ... Rfc8 16 Nb5 Ne8 17 Bd3 h5 18 Rhc1 h4 19 Ke3 d5 20 c5 Kf8 21 a4 bxc5. 15 ... d6 16 a4 Rfb8 17 a5 d5 18 c5 bxc5 19 dxc5 a6

Chris Kannonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640326587042687412.post-33676110463494125922008-02-10T19:28:00.000-08:002008-03-17T10:55:48.586-07:00

O’Kelly-Najdorf, Dubrovnik 1950: Black to play.Black is under fire on c7! How should he respond? He could take on b5, but that may allow White to use the resultant half open c-file to trouble further c7. Obviously, such harassment would first require kicking back the c5 knight through a timely b2-b4. Black to play.Alternatively, he could take on d5. This option is attractive because after exd5,

Chris Kannonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640326587042687412.post-38018751495041493082008-02-10T10:03:00.000-08:002008-02-11T16:14:37.836-08:00

Position after 11 Qc2.How should Black proceed in this position? Attacking the kingside isn’t a reasonable option given he’s got only the f6 knight and c8 bishop aiming in that direction. What’s more, White has no weaknesses there. In the center, both knights draw appreciable water, therefore there’s hope for a game plan there. Since there aren’t any easy posts or shortcomings to go for, Black is

Chris Kannonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640326587042687412.post-54397937070654628132008-01-25T09:52:00.000-08:002008-03-17T11:46:08.055-07:00

1 Nf3 d5 2 c4 dxc4 3 Na3 c5 4 Nxc4 Nc6 5 g3 f6 6 Bg2 e5 7 O-O Nge7 8 d3 Be6 9 Nfd2 Nd5 10 Ne4 Be7 11 f4 f5 12 Nc3 exf4 13 gxf4 O-O 14 Bd2 Rf6 15 Ne5 Nxe5 16 fxe5 Rg6 LineLearn More About The Reti1 Nf3 d5 2 c4 dxc4 3 Na3:3 ... c53 ... a63 ... Nf63 ... Be63 ... g63 ... e53 ... Nd73 ... Qd53 ... f63 ... c63 ... Nc63 ... e63 ... Nc6 4 Nxc4 Qd5 5 d3 e5 6 g3 Bb4+ 7 Bd2 Bxd2+ 8 Qxd2 8 ... Nf6 9 Bg2 0-0

Chris Kannonnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640326587042687412.post-57760975090228203452007-10-23T04:38:00.000-07:002007-12-30T13:04:47.626-08:00

Position after 10 Qe1The Queen is headed for g3. From there, she can trouble Black's kingside and also support the potentially lethal advances e4-e5 and f4-f5.LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SCHEVENINGEN

Chris Kannonnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640326587042687412.post-90273963987626674242007-10-20T17:07:00.001-07:002008-03-17T11:58:33.837-07:00

White's focus is a kingside attack formulated around the following ideas:* Moving the bishop on e3 to h6, where it can capture the bishop on g7. If Black's bishop takes on h6, White's Queen can recapture, and, subsequently work with the h1 rook to attack the h-file, once that file is opened up.* Playing h2-h4-h5 so as to tempt ... Nf6xh5. Thus, White opens up the h-file and enables g2-g4 with

Chris Kannonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640326587042687412.post-60865741278219337772007-10-18T07:11:00.000-07:002008-03-17T12:02:04.053-07:00

Position after: 12 ... Nd7White wants to get at the Black King by arranging an attack on the light squares:13 f5 Bxg5+ 14 Kb1 Ne5 15 Qh5 Qe7 16 Nxe6. [13 f5 Bxg5+ 14 Kb1 O-O 15 fxe6 Nb6 16 Nd5 Nxd517 exd5 fxe6.13 f5 Bxg5+ 14 Kb1 O-O 15 fxe6 Ne5 16 Qg3 Qd8 17 Nc6 Nxc6 18 Rxd6.13 f5 Bxg5+ 14 Kb1 Nc5 15 fxe6 Bxe6 16 Rg1 h6 17 h4.13 f5 Bxg5+ 14 Kb1 e5 15 Nd5 Qb7 16 Ne6 fxe6 17 Qh5+.13 f5 Bxg5+ 14 Kb1

Chris Kannonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640326587042687412.post-37694113975636235122007-10-17T01:26:00.000-07:002007-12-30T13:03:26.944-08:00

Black's focus is an offensive on the e4 pawn. The usual way of assault is ... Bd7, ... Nxd4, and ... Bc6, together with an ... e5 break. The advance ... e5 fixes the target in place. It also threatens an exchange on f4, after which the e-file is half open and available for pressure against e4.LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SCHEVENINGEN

Chris Kannonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640326587042687412.post-981714622932380802007-10-14T15:43:00.000-07:002008-03-17T10:57:12.825-07:00

Position after 19 ... Nb6Black is looking good with his protected passed c-pawn.His doubled f-pawns are not readily attacked and hiskingside is fully defensible.20 Ne3 Na4 21 Qa3 Rb4 22 f4 f5 23 exf5 Bxf524 Nxf5 gxf5 25 Qd3.20 Ne3 Qe7 21 f4 Na4 22 Qa3 Rb2 23 Rab1 Rxg2+24 Kxg2 Qxe4+ 25 Kg1 Re8 26 Rfe1 Bh3 27 Qc127 ... Qd4 28 Rb3.20 Ne3 Qe7 21 f4 Na4 22 Qa3 Rb2 23 Rfe1 Rfb824 Rac1 R2b4 25 h3 Nb2 26

Chris Kannonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640326587042687412.post-78623785850703629972007-10-14T08:16:00.001-07:002008-01-25T13:22:56.798-08:00

Position after 16 ... Bf8.White's ready strike force is being taunted by Black's noncommittal men. But, how to make progress? The backward d6 pawn is a target. Yet, if White gangs up on it by doubling up on the d-file, it gives him nothing. That's becaused6 is presently covered and if need be, it can be shielded some more. b6 is also backward. Nonetheless, White can't easily access it.Maybe the

Chris Kannonnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640326587042687412.post-5354211355258042202007-10-14T08:12:00.000-07:002008-03-24T12:36:58.101-07:00

Position after 9 ... Bb7.Black has given up immediate occupation of the center for long-term control. White, on the other hand, has set all eyes on the enemy King.10 Qh5? (10 Kf1!)10 ... Qe7? (10 ... Bxe5!)11 Qxh7+And mate is imminent.LEARN ABOUT THE DUTCH DEFENSE: LENINGRAD VARIATION

Chris Kannonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640326587042687412.post-15903168382068337882007-10-14T08:11:00.001-07:002008-02-15T22:14:43.189-08:00

Position after 21 Rd6.In order to maximize his position, White needs to:(i) Exploit the d6 outpost and open d-file(ii) Invade with a timely e5-e6. This thrust also liberates b2 along diagonal a1-h8.21 ... Be6 22 Rfd1 Rb8 23 Qd3 Bxc4 24 Qxc4 b5 25 Qd5 c4 26 e6 Rg8 27 Qxf5 Nb7 28 Rd7 Qc5+ 29 Qxc5 Nxc5 30 Rxa7. 21 ... Be6 22 Rfd1 b6 23 Qc3 Bxc4 24 Qxc4 Re8 25 Qd3 Qf8 26 Qd5 Rc8 27 e6 c4 28 bxc4 Rc5

Chris Kannonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640326587042687412.post-65577747495249087822007-10-14T08:10:00.001-07:002008-02-15T21:45:36.271-08:00

Position after 34 ... Kxf6.The way forward is to march the King to c2to aid c2-c4-c5-c6-c7-c8=Q. Thanks to thee2 rook, Black's King can't do much toprevent White's plan.PRINCIPLES OF CHESS STRATEGYIn the opening the forces have marched up to battle array. Then, having got into touch with each other, they come into collision. How is the intelligent player to conduct a campaign that is approaching

Chris Kannonnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640326587042687412.post-66270209953731411052007-10-14T08:07:00.000-07:002008-01-22T15:08:16.305-08:00

Position after 10 ... exd5.Black's bishops are biting on granite whereas White's knights are nimble. For instance, the f3 one can bother d5 by moving to f4. As a result of 7 ... b6, Black is slightly nude on the light squares, and, should he cover up ... c6 style, he'll only give more meaning to a timely b2-b4 or e3-e4 even.Comments:Anonymous said... How is f3's nimble knight going to get to f4

Chris Kannonnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640326587042687412.post-56952042206795924542007-10-14T08:06:00.000-07:002008-02-15T21:06:26.288-08:00

Position after 3 ... Bb4After Black castles, he will attempt to grip thecenter by ... Re8 and ... Bxc3. He'll also try toget the better pawn structure in light of thelikely doubling of pawns on c3. The drawback to this plan is that it abandons the bishop pair.Position after 3 ... Bb4:4 g3 O-O 5 Bg2 Bxc3 6 bxc3 Re8 7 O-O e5:8 d3 c6 9 e4 d6 10 h3 Nbd7 11 Be3 Nc5 12 Qc2 b6 13 Rae1 Qe7 14 Nd2. 8 h3

Chris Kannonnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640326587042687412.post-35857751765976165982007-10-14T08:04:00.001-07:002008-03-17T10:58:33.602-07:00

Position after 14 b4!White is strategically won thanks to his superiordevelopment and centralized pieces. He will soonget in c4, thereby threatening to create holes onBlack's queenside.14 ... exd4 15 Nxd4 Ba6 16 f4 h6 17 c4 bxc418 Qxa4.14 ... Ba6 15 Rc1 exd4 16 Nxd4 Nb6 17 f4 Nfd718 Rb1 Rad8 19 N4f3 Nf6 20 Qe2 h6 21 Qf2 Nbd722 e5 dxe5 23 Nxe5 Nd5 24 c4.14 ... exd4 15 Nxd4 Ba6 16 c4 bxc4 17 N4f3

Chris Kannonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640326587042687412.post-44217910634573161812007-10-14T08:01:00.000-07:002008-01-23T15:27:46.905-08:00

Position after 22 ... Bf8:Position after 23 Be3!:A move that combines offense with prophylaxis.It helps the e4 rook to relocate to the kingsidealong the fourth rank, and, it prevents the c6 knightfrom kingside defense since ... Ne7 causes Qxf7.Position after 23 Be3!:23 ... b5 24 g4 Qd5 25 Rf4 Qxf3 26 Rxf3 Kg827 g5.23 ... Na5 24 g4 Nc4 25 g5 Nxe3 26 fxe3 hxg527 Rg4 c5 28 Rxg5 Qe7 29 Rg2. 23 ...

Chris Kannonnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640326587042687412.post-81154211006315443262007-10-14T07:57:00.001-07:002008-03-17T11:10:15.491-07:00

Position after 21 Rfd1In such positions, Black ought to move the f6 knightelsewhere to enable ... f7-f6. The idea is to limit theb2 bishop's scope along a1-h8. For example,21 ... Nc5 22 Rc2 Nfe4 23 f3 Ng5 24 h4 Nge625 e4 f6.21 ... h6?! 22 f3?! (22 e3!) 22 ... Nc5 23 e4:The g2 bishop is shut in and the center pawns areimmobilized. White aims to push a2-a3 and b3-b4,as well as g3-g4 and h2-h4.LEARN

Chris Kannonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640326587042687412.post-47489144889856465072007-10-14T07:55:00.000-07:002007-10-14T07:56:19.665-07:00

The Minority AttackWhite pushes b2-b4-b5, threatening bxc6. If Black permits this capture by responding ... bxc6, he leaves the c6 pawn backward and vulnerable on the half open c-file. If he tries to stop b4-b5 through ... b5, the c6 pawn is still weakened, unless he can block the c-file by sinking a piece into c4. The third possibility, which entails exchanging the menacing b5 pawn via ... cxb5

Chris Kannonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640326587042687412.post-18838083961268650302007-10-14T07:46:00.000-07:002008-02-15T20:26:38.256-08:00

Position after 18 O-OWhite has just completed mobilization in the face of thetoothless threat 18 ... Bxe2 19 Rfe1 followed by 20 Bxd5.At first glance, Black's position looks solid, but suchis not the case. His d5 knight is tied down to denyingthe g2 bishop access to c6, otherwise Nc6+ is unpleasant.Additionally, the c5 pawn may become a weakness, whatwith the presence of a half open c-file.18 ...

Chris Kannonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640326587042687412.post-73995371413756815582007-10-14T07:45:00.001-07:002008-03-17T10:59:41.005-07:00

Position after 11 Be3The most prominent feature of this line is the mobilization of the c1 bishop to e3. This gives Black a free tempo for his kingside attack when he plays ... f4, but in compensation the bishop at f2 is well placed to help White's queenside play. Not only does it support c4-c5, it also aids to put uncomfortable pressure on the a7 pawn and if Black should later play ... a6 (to

Chris Kannonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640326587042687412.post-84823960099687463152007-10-14T07:44:00.001-07:002008-03-24T12:34:24.511-07:00

Position after 16 ... Nd7The above position contains more opportunities for Blackthan for White. Black has a commanding central presenceand real potential for a kingside attack. White's doubledpawns are a fundamental weakness and his chances forplay are nowhere in sight.If he proceeds passively, Blackwill complete development with ... Nf6, ... Be6, and ... Raf8,after which he will then be ready

Chris Kannonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640326587042687412.post-65114863577677070272007-10-14T07:35:00.000-07:002008-03-17T11:28:17.524-07:00

Position after 17 ... Ng8 What a sight! After seventeen moves, Black does nothave a single piece off the eighth rank. It is more thanclear that his development is not superior. Yet, theprocedure for utilizing this drawback is not so obvious.For there isn't a single organic weakness in Black'spawn structure nor in any sector of his front. However,his backward play means he can't quickly free

Chris Kannonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640326587042687412.post-427427307201843662007-10-14T07:29:00.000-07:002008-03-17T11:00:28.511-07:00

Position after 15 Ra3White wants to place his knight on b5 and bishop on b2,and then play g2-g3/Bf1-e2. The idea is to drive backBlack's f4 knight in order to enable f2-f4. Moreover,he reserves the option to intensify pressure alonga1-h8 by Qd1-a1.15 ... g5!?15 ... f5 fails to 16 g3 Nh5 17 exf5, when White gainscontrol of e4, the key square in the King's Indian Defense.However, 15 ... Kh8

Chris Kannonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640326587042687412.post-12178902228205662472007-10-14T07:18:00.000-07:002008-02-15T19:04:50.946-08:00

Position after 39 Bd7With this move, the bishop cuts off the King.Black now has only ... Bd5 and ... Kb8 at hisdisposal. Nonetheless, his position isn't soeasy to breach. The push a4-a5 is still distant,and the attempt to enter enemy grounds (Kg4)can always be spoiled (... Bd1+).Comments:Position after 39 Bd7Anonymous said... At first, I thought 40 Kc3 was White's best play, planning 41 Kb4...but

Chris Kannonnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640326587042687412.post-33337224163479478642007-10-14T07:17:00.001-07:002008-02-15T18:05:10.541-08:00

Position after 9 ... e5Deters any play White could have in the center,and deadens the b2 bishop. Black now has a smalledge because he's able to make some play on the kingside, whereas White's ill-prepared to do anything on the queen side. White's central bastion e4 will shortly be attacked by ... f5, whereas Black's c5 won't experience b4 any time soon.Understanding the Sicilian

Chris Kannonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640326587042687412.post-72001342658811632512007-10-14T07:10:00.000-07:002008-02-15T16:06:13.908-08:00

Position after 17 Rae1Black's d-pawn, though passed, is isolated, andreadily blockadeable on d4. It is therefore moreof a weakness than a strength. Also, his bishophas much less attacking scope than White's.Overall, Black has no prospects for active playand has to defend accurately to keep White at bay.ALEKHINE-CHATARD ATTACKMILNER BARRY GAMBIT1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 e5 c5 4 c3 Nc6 5 Nf3 Qb6 6 Bd3 cxd4

Chris Kannonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-640326587042687412.post-28646667397337238592007-10-14T07:05:00.000-07:002008-03-17T11:01:03.996-07:00

Position after 11 g4White wants to block the kingside entirelyso that play can only take place on thequeenside, where the pawn configurationfavors him. For instance, if Black plays11 ... f4, then White will reply 12 h4,meeting ... g5 by h5 and ... h5 by g5.Similarly, 11 ... h5 is met by 12 g5.If Black exchanges on e4 or g4 then hisattacking potential is minimized; hisdefensive ability is also

Chris Kannonnoreply@blogger.com4