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Typical Patterns Everyone Should Know.

The dangerous 'h' file.
GM Gserper

| Jul 17, 2009 | 12690 views | 48 comments

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Last week we discussed the dangerous diagonal 'a5-e1'. Today

we are going to talk about the most dangerous file. I think no
other file can claim even a half of the number of Kings killed on
the 'h' file. This is not a big surprise since the Rh1 (Rh8 for
Black) can attack the position of the opponent's castle along
the 'h' file without even moving! All you need to do is get rid
of the h2 (h7) pawn that obstructs the 'h' file for its own Rook
and you instantly get an attack. There are many ways to
accomplish this task. One of them was discussed in "Typical
Patterns Everyone Should Know. Part Three." Today we'll see
some other ways to achieve the same goal.
One of the most common ways to open the 'h' file is to place your Bishop on g5 and when your
opponent tries to kick the Bishop, you calmly play h4. If your opponent accepts the sac, the 'h'
file gets opened instantly and a deadly attack follows as the next classic game shows.

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Another very common idea is to push your pawn up to h5 (h4). Assuming that you control the diagonal
a2-g8 (a7-g1), you play Ng6+ (Ng3+). Since his Kh8 (Kh1) is checked he has no choice but take the
Knight, which consequently opens the 'h' file with the same deadly result. The next game is a brilliant
example.

Baburin, A. (2530) vs. Adianto, Utut (2510)

Liechtenstein op | Liechtenstein | Round 9 | 1993 | ECO: D26 | 0-1
1

21. Be3

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8
h

g : (

Black to Move

The next game is the unique example where Black was able to combine the two above-mentioned ideas.
Also notice that the author of the "Immortal" and the "Evergreen" games Adolf Andersen found himself on
the receiving end of the attack!

Anderssen, Adolf vs. Lange, Max

Breslau m2 | Breslau | 1859 | ECO: C61 | 0-1
1

11. Kh1

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8
h

g : (

Black to Move

Sometimes just a simple march of your 'h' pawn forward wreaks havoc on your opponent's position. The
next game is Rubinstein's masterpiece in his pet line in the Four Knight's Defense.

Belsitzman, Zdzislaw vs. Rubinstein, Akiba

POL-ch01 | Warsaw | 1926 | ECO: C48 | 0-1
1

14. c3

Black to Move

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g : (

Black to Move

Next time we will discuss a situation where your opponent fianchettoes his/her bishop by playing g7-g6.
In this case all you need to do to launch an attack is to push your 'h' pawn (h2- h4-h5) and the 'h' file
opens.
to be continued....

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Comments
zochess

1 2 3 Next

12 months ago

Mr. Serper you are my favorit on this site. A BIG THANKS.

Anarkand

3 years ago

Nice article :)

Nav1tal

3 years ago

This is one good article. Very helpful. Thank you, sire.

g-levenfish

3 years ago

Great article!

osalexandeko

3 years ago

Great,thank you!!!

DingoLoco

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3 years ago
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Wow...thanx a lot for the article, the patterns you explain are really helpful. I`ll keep
studing them!!
4 years ago

X301

Mr Serper, thank you for your articles. I'm having a great week just reading your articles
and learning these techniques.
miquele

4 years ago

I agree with the above: your series on "Typical Patterns" are some of the best on this
site. Please keep them coming. thank you!
Gilmar32Andersen

5 years ago

Very good the queen sacrifice!

barnettech

5 years ago

this is just a great article. It really shows that sacrificing pieces in return for the
opponents lack of king safety is a worthwhile trade.
penguinposse

5 years ago

Wow, beautiful checkmates! Good job collecting all of them. I'm learning a lot from your
notes, learning how they can see the checkmate so far ahead. :-)
chessmaniac007

5 years ago

Castling created all the troubles...!!!

Lampy

5 years ago

I want to thank you for all those beautiful articles. I did enjoy them a lot. And I hope I`ll
learn a lot off them too.

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phmilet

6 years ago

Konstantin has a point in the Max Lange game, 16. f3 is a better defense. Black has a
harder time to find
16. f3 hxg3 17. Qe2 gxh2+ 18. Kh1 Nh5!! (threatening mate on g3), where both 19. Nf5+
and 19. Qb5+ are unable to refute black's attack (Though a somewhat lenghty analysis is
required).
I went to Fritz to check this and Fritz thinks that 16. Nf3 instead gives white the
advantage.
pawngenius

6 years ago

excellent article for tacticians like me

jimboy_24th

6 years ago

Wow....watta moves!!! tnx,i've learned from it...

hope2b

6 years ago

Fantastic! Gives me the desire to apply the tactic at every chance I'll get.

fireb0x

6 years ago

Thanks very much for keeping the notation combinations to a minimum and using the
interactive chess boards to illustrate your points.
It is much more difficult to follow notation speak than it is to follow along with a click.
This was a fantastic lesson and a fantastic help when penetrating a castled king's
defenses.
kitifolen

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6 years ago
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Lovely article....im learning more in one month reading than in one year playing..!!!

gramps33

6 years ago

Where do I castle now? o-o-o?

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