Caro-Kann Defense Exchange Variation

MIKHAIL TAL vs. LEONOV
Riga 1949

Caro-Kann Defense Exchange Variation

1. e4, c6
2. d4, d5
3. exd5, cxd5

The Exchange Variation of the Caro-Kann.

4. Bd3, Nf6
5. h3, h6
6. Bf4, e6
7. Nf3, Bd6

The Bishop at f4 is at an advantageous position.  It would be prudent to neutralize the Bishop at once.

8. Bxd6, Qxd6
9. c3, Nc6
10. 0-0, 0-0
11. Qe2, Re8
12. Ne5, Qc7
13. f4, Nxe5
14. fxe5, Nh7
15. Qh5, Re7
16. Na3, a6
17. Nc2, Qd7?

Why block the Bishop's way?  If the Queen intends to travel to f8, Black could have moved 17....Qd8 at once

18. Ne3, Qe8
19. Rf6, Qf8

If 19....gxf6, then 20. Bxh7+ Kxh7, 21. exf6 Rc7, 22. Rf1 ... and White gets attacking position in exchange.

20. Rf4, Bd7
21. Ng4, Be8
22. Nf6+ ....

22. ....  Nxf6

If 22....exf6, then 23. Bxh7+ Kxh7, 24. exf6 Rc7, 25. Rg4 ... and White weaves a mating net.

23. exf6, Rc7

If 23....gxf6, then White mates with 24. Rg4+ Kh8, 25. Qh4 and 26. Qxf6.

24. fxg7, Kxg7

Of course not 24....Qxg7 then 25. Rg4.

25. Qe5+, Resigns

White would have tremendous material advantage after 25....f6, 26. Qxc7.

Superior Mobility

In chess sometimes sacrifices have to be made in order to gain rapid development and attain an attacking position.  In the posted game, an attack ostensibly aimed at Black's queenside suddenly turns into an attack on the other wing.  The explanation:  superior mobility.

E. LASKER vs. WINKELMAN
New York, 1926

Queen's Gambit Declined

1. Nf3, Nf6
2. d4, d5
3. c4, e6
4. Bg5, Nbd7
5. e3, Be7
6. Nc3, 0-0
7. Bd3, a6

Stronger is 7....c5, allowing Black to equalize.

8. Ne5!, dxc4
9. Nxc4, b5??

This move drives White's Knight to a5 where it will make inroads to Black's position.

10. Na5!, c5
11. Nc6, Qe8
12. Qf3!! ....

Now, White threatens to win a Rook with 13. Nxe7 and 14. Qxa8.

12. .... Nb6

Protecting the Rook. If 12....Bb7, White still wins a piece by 13. Nxe7.

13. Ne4! ....

Black cannot take the c6 Knight because of 14. Nxf6 winning the Queen.

An interesting situation develops after 13....Bb7, 14. Nxe7+ Qxe7, 15. Nxf6+ gxf6, 16. Qh5 with Black losing its Queen as 16. ...f5 is the only way to avoid mate.

13. .... Nfd5

Black's position deteriorates. But 13....Nxe4, 14. Nxe7+ Kh8, 15. Bxe4 would leave White in tremendous material advantage.  At this point, saving the Rook is not a solution. For if 15....Ra7, 16. Bxh7 Rxe7 (not 16....Kxh7, 17. Qh5 mate), 17. Qh5...., White wins with a mating attack.

14. Nxe7+, Nxe7
15. Nf6+, Resigns

An elegant finish.  The subsequent moves would have been 15....gxf6, 16. Bxh7+ Kxh7 (If 16....Kg7, then 17. Qxf6+), 17. Qh5+ Kg7, 18. Qh6+ Kg8, 19. Bxf6 Ng6, 20. Qg7 mate.

Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense, Botvinnik Variation

MIKHAIL BOTVINNIK vs. MILAN VIDMAR
Nottingham, 1936

Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense, Botvinnik Variation

1. c4, e6
2. Nf3, d5
3. d4, Nf6
4. Nc3, Be7
5. Bg5, 0-0
6. e3, Nbd7
7. Bd3, c5
8. 0-0, cxd4

Alekhine commented that 8....dxc4 would be better as Black is not yet developed to attack the isolated d pawn. The game may then continue as 9. Bxc4 a6, 10. a4 Re8.

9. exd4, dxc4
10. Bxc4, Nb6
11. Bb3, Bd7
12. Qd3 ....

Intending 13. Bc2 and 14. Bxf6....

12. .... Nbd5
13. Ne5, Bc6
14. Rad1, Nb4?

A mistake, according to Alekhine, which makes White's attack tremendously strong.

15. Qh3, Bd5?

Exchanging this good Bishop for a Knight is a bad strategy.  Moreover, White's powerful King's Bishop is still preserved.

16. Nxd5, Nbxd5
17. f4, Rc8
18. f5, exf5
19. Rxf5, Qd6
20. Nxf7!! ....

A subtle and magnificent move. Whichever way the Knight is taken, Black's Knight at d5 would be pinned.

20. .... Rxf7
21. Bxf6, Bxf6

If 21....Nxf6, then 22. Rxf6 and 23. Qxc8.

22. Rxd5, Qc6
23. Rd6 ....

If 23. Rd7, then 23....Rcf8.

23. .... Qe8
24. Rd7, Resigns

Both Rooks are endangered, and Black sees no hope for recovery.

Nimzo-Indian Defense: Bronstein Variation

RAYMUND KEENE vs. STEPHEN KERR
Sydney, 1979

Nimzo-Indian Defense: Bronstein Variation

1. d4, Nf6
2. c4, e6
3. Nc3, Bb4
4. e3 ....

The Bronstein (Byrne) Variation.

4. ....  b6
5. Ne2, Ba6
6. Ng3, 0-0
7. e4, Nc6
8. Bd3, e5

Not 8....Nxd4, 9. Qa4 wins.

9. a3!, Bxc3+
10. bxc3, d6

If 10...exd4 then 11 cxd4 Nxd4, 12 Bb2 c5, 13 Bxd4 cxd4, 14 O-O would be better for White, as he regains the pawn with a great advantage in structure.

11. Bg5 ....

White intends to follow up with 12. Nh5.

11. .... h6
12. Be3, Na5
13. Qe2, Qd7
14. Nf5, Qa4

Black hopes to win the c4 pawn.

15. Bxh6! ....

15. .... gxh6
16. Qe3, Ne8
17. Qxh6, Qd7

White has nothing better.  If 17....f6, then 18. Qg6+ Kh8, 19. Ne7 and White mates with 20. Qh6.

If 17....Qb3, then 18. 0-0 Qxc3, 19. f4! Qxd3, 20. Rf3! and White wins with 21. Rg3+.

18. Qg5+, Kh7
19. Qh4+, Kg8
20. Qg3+ Kh7
21. Qh3+, Kg8
22. Nh6+, Resigns

White takes Black's Queen!

Sicilian Defense: Pin. Koch Variation

JONATHAN D TISDALL vs. GRAHAM LEE
London 1981

Sicilian Defense: Pin. Koch Variation

1. d4, e6
2. e4, c5
3. Nf3, cxd4
4. Nxd4, Nf6
5. Nc3, Bb4
6. e5 ....

The aggressive Pin. Koch Variation. White gives up some pieces in exchange for an attack on Black's King side.

6. .... Ne4
7. Qg4, Nxc3
8. Qxg7, Rf8
9. a3, Nb5+
10. axb4, Nxd4
11. Bd3, Qb6
12. Bg5, Nf5
13. Bxf5, exf5
14. 0-0-0, Qg6
15. e6 ....

The Queen could not be taken. If 15....Qxg7, then 16. exd7+ Bxd7 (or Nxd7), 17. Rhe1+ Be6, 19. Rd8 mate.

15. .... d5
16. Rxd5 ....

Threatening Rd8+ mate.

16. .... Nc6
17. e7, Nxe7

White's Queen is still invulnerable because of the threat 18. Rd8+ Nxd8, 19. exd8=Q+ mate.

18. Rd8+, Resigns

If 18....Kxd8, then 19. Qxf8+ Kc7, 20. Qxe7+ Bd7 (Not Kb6, 21. Qc5+ Ka6, 22. Qa5+ mate.), 21. Bf4+ Kb6, 22. Qc5+ with the same mating attack.

French Defense: Classical, Delayed Exchange Variation

AARON NIMZOWITSCH vs. SENIOR ALAPIN

Saint Petersburg 1914

French Defense: Classical, Delayed Exchange Variation

1. e4, e6
2. d4, d5
3. Nc3, Nf6
4. exd5, Nxd5

Typical of the this variation. Black surrenders the center in exchange for disrupting White's central pawn structure.

5. Nf3, c5

Black wants to eliminate the d4 pawn.

6. Nxd5, Qxd5
7. Be3 ....

This move is both a defensive and attacking move. White threatens dxc5, winning a pawn.

7. .... cxd4
8. Nxd4, a6
9. Be2, Qxg2 ??

Black takes the poisoned pawn. The move allows the White Bishop to take up an attacking position.

9. Bf3, Qg6
11. Qd2, e5 ??

Another bad move. Black meant to get rid of the pesky Knight so that somehow he can catch up in development.

12. 0-0-0, exd4
13. Bxd4 ....

Notice that White's development far exceeds that of Black. Notice further the open e-file which would be crucial to the outcome of the game.

13. .... Nc6
14. Bf6 ....

A tempo making move. Any other Bishop move would have had a defensive reply. Now, there is no more time for this. Black must take the Bishop. If not, White moves 15. Bxc6 then 16. Qd8 mate.

14. .... Qxf6
15. Rhe1+!! ....

The beginning of a breakthrough. White's sacrifices are showing results.

15. .... Be7

If 15...Be6 then 16. Qd7 mate.

16. Bxc6+, Kf8

If the Bishop is taken, then White answers 17. Qd8 mate.

17. Qd8+!!, Bxd8
19. Re8 mate.

A superb ending! White must have had all these in mind while offering sacrifices.