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Paul Keres - Chess Master Class - Pergamon (1983)
Paul Keres - Chess Master Class - Pergamon (1983)
Paul Keres - Chess Master Class - Pergamon (1983)
Master Class
PERGAMON RUSSIAN CHESS SERIES
PAUL KERES
CHESS MASTER CLASS
PERGAMON RUSSIAN CHESS SERIES
AVERBAKH, Y.
Chess Endings: Essential Knowledge
Comprehensive Chess Endings
Volume 1: Bishop Endings & Knight Endings
BOTVINNIK, M. M.
Achieving the Aim
Anatoly Karpov: His Road to the World Championship
Selected Games 1967-70
LIVSHITZ, A.
Test Your Chess IQ, Volumes 1 & 2
NEISHTADT, Y.
Catastrophe in the Opening
Paul Keres Chess Master Class
POLUGAYEVSKY, L.
Grandmaster Preparation
SMYSLOV, V.
125 Selected Games
SUETIN, A. S.
Modern Chess Opening Theory
Three Steps to Chess Mastery
By
Y. NEISHTADT
Translated by
KENNETH P. NEAT
PERGAMON PRESS
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OF GERMANY Taunus, Federal Republic of Germany
ISBN 0-08-023122-5
ISBN 0-08-029719-6 Pbk
COMBINATIONS 1
V
Paul Keres - a brief introduction
"After the death of Alexander Alekhine in 1 946, this was the greatest loss suffered by the
chess world". This is how the death of Paul Keres was received by his lifelong rival Mikhail
Botvinnik.
"Hours pass, days run, but years-fly .. .". In complete accordance with this piece of
Eastern wisdom, there rush past in our memory the countless international events, interzonal
tournaments, candidates events, and matches for the supreme title. New stars flare up on the
chess horizon. How many of them have appeared (and then faded) since the time that Paul
Keres first forced the chess world to talk about him.
This was in 1935. Little Estonia, which had never participated in the Tournaments of Nations,
decided to send a team to the 6th Olympiad in Warsaw. The right to lead the team was granted
to the 19-year-old winner of the country's championship.
The youth, who was unknown outside Estonia, made the fifth best score on top board:
12} points out of 1 9. This is how Keres began his ascent of the chess Olympus. Only three
years later the 22-year-old player shared first place with Fine in the AVRO-Tournament-one
of the most imposing events in the history of chess. Behind them were Botvinnik, Alekhine,
Euwe, Reshevsky, Capablanca, Flohr . . .
For 40 years, without fading, his star shone among the brightest chess stars. For a quarter
of a century he was a real contender for the title of the strongest in the world.
The AVRO-Tournament with the participation of the Champion and seven contenders in
1 938. The Match-Tournament for the World Championship in 1948, and then five Candidates
Tournaments*, without missing a single one!**
Throughout the entire history of chess it is possible to name only a few masters who have
retained their playing strength for as long as Keres. The 6th Olympiad in 1 935. The 1 6th
Olympiad in 1 964. And between them a further nine Olympiads***. The 12th USSR Cham
pionship in 1 940. The 41st Championship in 1 973, and in between, a further twelve Champion
ships, in which he three times won the title of USSR Champion.
Victory by the 20-year-old Keres at the international tournament in Bad Nauheim (together
with Alekhine), and, almost 40 years later, victory in the imposing international tournament
in Tallinn in the Spring of 1 975-his swan song.
Regarding the competitive exploits and the creative longevity of Paul Keres, more eloquent
* Budapest (1950), Zurich (1953), Amsterdam (1956), Yugoslavia (1959), Curacao (1962).
** By a decision of FIDE, in subsequent World Championship cycles the Candidates Tournament was
replaced by Candidates Matches - Quarter-Final, Semi-Final and Final. In 1965 Keres met Spassky in a
Quarter-Final Match.
*** In four (Warsaw 1935, Munich 1936, Stockholm 1937 and Buenos Aires 1939) Keres played for Es
tonia, and in seven (Helsinki 1952, Amsterdam 1954, Moscow 1956, Munich 1958, Leipzig 1960, Varna
1962, Tel-Aviv 1964) for the USSR.
vii
t han any words are the lists of events in which he participated, and the years of his appearances.
The greatness of his talent is told by his games, part of which are presented in this book.
* * *
"Chess is the most interesting game of all those in existence. Chess is competition, rivalry,
expression of character. Chess is art, creativity, a clash of personalities", said Paul Keres.
Tense battles at the highest chess level, the severity of competitive elimination, and the constant
nervous stresses-all this leaves its impression on the personality of famous players.Paul Keres
withstood this severe test with honour. Both on days of hope, and on days of failure, this
tireless chess fighter remained a kind and charming person. To the end of his days he main
tained good relations with his rivals. Here are a few opinions of his colleagues, which charac
terize the human and the professional aspects of the Estonian grandmaster:
" ... He was endowed both with enormous talent, and with a liking for hard work. Top-class
chess players are normally people of difficult character. In this respect Keres was an exception.
As a person he was very modest, restrained, and tactful .. ."
Boris Spassky
" .. .His outstanding talent was immediately apparent, and shortly after reaching the age
of 20 he was rightly called one of the main contenders for the chess throne ... In four Candid
ates Tournaments he was each time lacking in just a little bit of luck. Keres was ready to play
in events of the most varied standard, and in each of them he would generously demonstrate
his outstanding talent, playing artistically, freshly and boldly."
Vasily Smyslov
"I must be grateful to Paul. Had it not been for him, during the period 1 938-1948 I would
have been unable to advance so far in the field of chess. In 1 938 (the AVRO-Tournament)
and in 1 940 (the USSR Championship) Paul finished ahead of me ... As a tournament (but
not a match) fighter, it is unlikely that Keres was inferior to anyone in the world .
. .. Paul came into chess as a straightforward, reserved and friendly person, immensely
devoted to his favourite occupation, and that too is how he departed, leaving to chess enthusi
asts his games, his analytical works, and the fond memory of a fearless fighter".
Mikhail Botvinnik
* * *
Keres was one of the most erudite players in the world. He knew practically everything in
chess. The writings of the Estonian grandmaster include major works on the opening, orig
inal research in the endgame, and classic game annotations. For the player wishing to improve,
it is difficult to overestimate the importance of his book on the 1 948 Match-Tournament
and his own collection of lOO games.
The universal nature of his style enabled the Estonian grandmaster to view the course of
a game from various aspects. Keres's annotations are notable for their detailed analysis of
variations, subtle assessments, and precise indication of the turning points of the struggle.
They are not an accompaniment to the winner, but a genuine search for chess truth, a complete
"dissection" of a game.
* * *
viii
A rare objectivity, bordering on mercilessness, permeates the annotations to his own games.
The works created by a great chess master do not die-they continue to live. Paul Keres
was a chess classic in the true meaning of this word. Using his games and analyses, many
generations of players have learned and will continue to learn.
This book was conceived as a course in chess improvement, based on the games of one
player. The Paul Keres Chess Master Class is a text book devoted to combinations and positio
nal play, to tactics and strategy, to positional evaluation and specific calculation, to problems
of the initiative and attack, and to defence and counter-attack in various stages of the game.
This is a text book, and at the same time a gallery of impressive works. This is your teacher
and your partner in analysis.
ix
Combinations
Tactics and strategy. Combinational and What we understand by tactics is not every
positional play. The reader will encounter concrete operation (say, manoeuvre, re
these concepts, virtually the most widespread grouping, or exchange), but only actions of a
in chess, in the description of every game, in combinational nature, which radically change
every commentary. In our fascination for the the picture of the chess battle. Moreover, it is
game, we do not bother pondering over the of no significance whether the tactical oper
origin and initial meaning of the words which ation is a logical development of events (i.e.
make up our special chess terminology .... it follows from the strategic plan), or whether
Many of our terms are borrowed from war it is not connected with the overall direction
fare-after all, the game of chess is an ideal of the play, and the possibility itself of a
ized model of war, in which each side (in combination suddenly appears (as a result,
contrast to real wars) sticks to compulsory for example, of a mistake by the opponent in
rules. Strategy is a highly important part of a superior position).
warfare, relating to the preparation and In other words, tactics in chess are not
conduct of military actions, and to the plan always subordinate to strategy-they can be
ning of operations. Tactics are the art of de an end in themselves. Individual moves and
ploying the forces, of conducting a battle. manoeuvres, which are parts of a strategic
Since an individual battle is part of an overall plan, are not regarded as tactics. In general,
(strategic) operation, tactics are determined the expressions 'tactics' and 'combinational
by strategy, and put its missions into effect. play', and 'strategy' and 'positional play', are
In this sense chess strategy should cover used almost as synonyms in chess literature*.
the field of planning, and indicate the goal to ln starting work on this chess book, it is
which one should aim in a given position. useful to bear in mind this transformation of
Tactics, on the other hand, have in mind the warfare (and also political) terminology.
concrete actions, and answer the question as The task which the author has set himself
to how specifically one must act, in order to is a strictly practical one-it is to help the
achieve the set strategic goal (as Euwe put reader to understand chess better, and thus
it-"what to do" and "how to do it"). to raise his standard of play. Therefore ar
In short, if we follow the terminological guments about terminology, and clarifications
source, tactics are subordinate to strategy and and corrections of the formulations rooted
depend on it. But in fact, the chess concepts in our special literature, are outside the
which have been borrowed from warfare have bounds of the chosen theme. We will touch
acquired a rather different sense. on certain definitions only when they are
*For example, 'a strategically complete game' means roughly the same as 'a positionally complete game',
while the expression'the sacrifice was strategically justified' is understood to mean that the sacrifice was justified
from the positional point of view. When it is said that a player is an excellent tactician, this means that he is
excellent at finding combinations.
1
Paul Keres Chess Master Class
necessary for easier assimilation of the ma 39 Q X J5 + Kd8 40 Qf8 + Kd7 41 Bg4 +
terial. and 42 B X e6 mate) 3 9 BXe8 Qxe8 40
As has already been said, this book is a Qxe8+ KXe8 41 Rh8+. Mter the move
text-book, or more accurately a self-tutor, on played, an inexperienced player might decide
tactiCs and strategy, on combinational and that the black king has safely escaped from
positional play. It is a text-book, illustrated the checks. But in fact this is not so.
by the diverse talent of Paul Keres. We will
begin our exposition with the alpha and ome 37 Qh7+ ! K X h7
ga of chess-the combination. It is the com 38 Bf7 mate.
bination which has made chess into a game,
with which no other game ever devised by We saw that all Black's replies were
mankind can be compared. forced-there was nothing else that he could
have done.
Keres-Foldsepp Moves or series of moves, united by an
Correspondence, 1933 overall idea, logically linked to one another,
are called a variation. When one side compels
w the other to make strictly determined forced
moves, this is a forcing variation.
Compliance with such a forcing variation is
ensured by compulsive measures-in the given
case by checks. By 3 7 Qh7+ White sacrificed
his queen, which then enabled him to give a
deadly discovered check-3 8 Bf7 mate. Thus
White won by carrying out a forcing variation
with a sacrifice.
It is this that constitutes a combination.
For the sake of an attack White has made
big material sacrifices*. He has as though
taken upon himself the obligation to mate the
Keres-Dely
opponent without fail.
European Team Championship,
Now White will take the knight with check,
Kapfenberg, 1970
but even after this the opponent will still be
w
a rook up. Besides, in pursuing the enemy
king, White cannot allow himself the slightest
breathing space-he himself is threatened
with 3 6 ...Bfl+.
Thus the first move 36 QX g6+ is obliga
tory, since after 3 6 B X g6 + Kf6 the checks
come to an end.
Keres's opponent replied 36 . .. Kg8.
After 36 ...Ke7 White wins by 37
QXg7+ Kd8 3 8 QXf8+ Be8 (or 38 . . . Kd7 1
* We define a sacrifice as the voluntary (constant or temporary) granting to the opponent of a material
advantage.
2
Combinations
3
Paul Keres Chess Master Class
Keller-Keres 23 . . . Ng3
Zurich, 1961 White resigns.
B In this example Black, when sacrificing his
rook, had to consider two important moves
by the opponent (19 Qa6+ and 22 Rf8+ ),
which represented an attempt at counter
attack.
The student should bear in mind that if a
threat-even a very strong one-is not ac
companied by a check or at least a capture,
one normally has to reckon with a larger
number of replies.
18 . . . R X h2! The majority of authors regard a sacrifice
as a necessary feature of a combination. In the
A typical sacrifice, by which Black transfers examples examined earlier, the sacrifice was
his heavy pieces to the h-fi1e with gain of made on the very first, introductory move,
tempo, and creates a mating net: 19 K X h2 but it can also occur in the middle of a forcing
Qh4+ 20 Kgl Rh8. variation, or even at the concluding stage.
19 Qa6+
Laurentius (Laurine) -Keres
The capture of the rook would have put
Tal/inn, 1936j37
into effect the mating mechanism. But what
does the check at a6 change? . . . B
19 ... Kb8
20 K X h2 Qh4+
21 Kg1 Rh8
22 Rf8+
4
Combinations
24 RX£3 Qg4
inadequately defended, or the defence of it is
White resigns.
imaginary, squares in the immediate vicinity
A combination is an extraordinary path to of the king are weakened, there is a superiori
a goal. But in the given position this path is ty of forces or greater piece mobility than the
the only correct one, or else the shortest opponent in an important sector of the board,
possible one. individual pieces are badly placed (undefend
A combination sharply changes the balance ed, positioned on the same file or diagonal,
of forces of the two sides. Like a stroke of lacking in co-ordination), and so on. The
lightning it suddenly clarifies the situation, motif of the combination-this is the initial
exposes false values, and confirms true ones. pointer (or pointers), the features of the posi
The aims of a combination can be highly tion which indicate the direction of search.
varied : mate to the opposing king, the achieve Thus, in every combination we will dis
ment of a material advantage, a favourable tinguish its aim, theme and motif.
transformation of the position (say, transition We will begin with combinations on the
into a won ending), or, in an inferior position, very common theme of diversion.
saving the game (by means of stalemate, What is meant by diversion? .
perpetual check, reducing play to a theoreti This is a tactical device, forcing an enemy
cally drawn ending, etc.), and also weakening piece or pawn to be diverted from the
the opponent's pressure, or creating hin defence of a key square (or line).
drances to the realization of an advantage.
Keres-Hindre
In short, everything that is achievable by
Estonian Championship, Tartu, 1953
normal, positional means can under certain
(See diagram next page)
circumstances be achieved by an extraordina
ry, combinational path. Black has a difficult position-the opposing
There are several ways of classifying rook has invaded the eighth rank, and the
combinations. From the practical point of knights at e8 and a6 are awkwardly placed.
view (i.e. proceeding from the problem of Aiming to free himself, Black played 28 . . .
how to improve) the most important is the Nec7, offering the exchange of rooks. But
5
Paul Keres Chess Master Class
B w
Keres-Eiiskases
Semmering-Baden, 1937
30 R X dS RXdS
6
Combinations
33 RX hS !
Again diversion.
Keres-Kotov
Piimu, 1947 38 Qd2
20 NXe5!
It may appear that White has everything in
,
A pseudo-sacrifice on the theme of diver- order. But in fact his queen and rook are
sion with 'mate to the queen'.Black resigned. overloaded, and the bishop, which at first
2 7
Paul Keres Chess Master Class
38 • . . RXcl!
Lyublinsky-Keres
In offering the exchange of rooks at e7
18th USSR Championship, Moscow, 1950
with his previous move, White assumed that,
in view of the threat of capturing at f7, Black
w
would have no choice, and after 45 ...RXe7
46 BXe7 White's centralized queen securely
defends the squares d l and g2. In view of the
passed c-pawn, Black would not be able to
hope for more than a draw. For example
46 ... Qh3+ 47 Ke2 Qg4+ 48 Kd2 Qf4+
(48. . .Nf3 + ? 49 Ke3) 49 Kc3 QXf2 50 BXh4
Qxh4 51 Qxf7+ .
But in the game there followed ...
45 . . . R X cS ! !
The c3 pawn is attacked, but Black is not
threatening to take it, since then White gives
The check a t f 7 i s not so terrible! After
perpetual check at f5, c8 and d7. Therefore,
46 Qxf7+ Kh6 47 Qh7+ (or 47 Qg7+)
not fearing 46 . ..QXc3, Lyublinsky played
4 7 . . .Kg5 Black's king i s safe, and h e i s a
46 Qe6? (correct was 46 Kh2).
knight up. Mter 46 RXf7+ Kh6 Black is
Keres replied with the diverting sacrifice
again a knight up, since White cannot take
46 . . . b4!, and ... White had to resign.
the rook because of mate at d l .
The diversion of the c3 pawn from control
But why shouldn't White take the rook
over d4 (after 47 cX b4) allows Black to win
and remain the exchange up?
the bishop by 47 . . . Qd4 + . But if White does
not take on b4, Black himself captures the c3 46 Q x c5
pawn (or plays . . . b3), when it is all over.
Here the motif of the diverting pawn Now that, as a result of the diverting sac·
sacrifice was a double attack-a simultaneous rifice, the white queen has moved from d5
attack by the queen on the king (check) and (removing its guard on the squares d l , g2 and
the bishop at f4. h l ), Black's queen and knight, operating like
a well co-ordinated mechanism, win the
white rook by force.
8
Combinations
46 . . . Qdl+ w r-������--�
51 Kel Nf3+
White resigns, since after 52 Kd1 Qf l + he
loses his rook.
The motif of the combination, on the same
theme of diversion, was the co-ordinated
action of queen and knight, which became
possible after the diversion of the white
queen.
White's powerful bishops, excellently placed
Another fairly frequently-occurring com
knight, and active queen and rook are attack
binational theme is decoy (or luring). By
ing a black K-side which has been weakened
means of a sacrifice, an enemy piece is lured
by ...h6. The natural 29 ... N8d7 fails to
into an unfavourable position.
30 NXd7 QXg3 (or 30 .. QXd7 31 BXf6)
.
Spassky overlooked this. By luring the queen sacrifice enabled Black in one instant
enemy king to g7, White gives a discovered to seize the initiative and to be the first to give
check. First he picks up the knight, and then, mate.
by means of another discovered check, the
Keres-Kurajica
queen, as a result of which he comes out a
European Team Championship,
piece up: 30 ...KXg7 31 NXd7+ Kg8 32
Kapfenberg, 1970
Nf6+ Kf1(32 • . . Kh8 33NXe8+) 33 Nd5+.
Black therefore resigned. w
On this occasion too the motif of the com
bination was a discovered check, but in a
rather more complicated form.
Tolush-Keres
Training Tournament, Leningrad-Moscow,
1939
B
23 Q X h6+ !
after which there follows a destructive check. On 24 ...N6d7 White wins by 25 NXf7
KXf7 26 RXe7+. If 24 ...QXd4, then
37 KXg3 el Q+
25 Rh3 with the threat of 26 Qh8+ (decoy,
=
And, without waiting for the mate in followed by a deadly double check) 26 ...
three moves, Tolush resigned. KXh8 27 BXf6+ + and 28 Rh8 mate. It is
Here the motif of the combination was the easy to see that other replies similarly fail to
gaining of an important tempo, achieved by save the game-White's advantage is too
means of a decoy sacrifice. The temporary great.
10
Combinations
11
Paul Keres Chess Master Class
25 NXf7!
12
Combinations
defence-elimination. But here the opposing White is a passed pawn to the good, but it
piece protecting the key square (or line) is not is blockaded. The b6 pawn, attacked by the
diverted, but is destroyed by a 'crude' knight, is defended by the bishop. But the
capture. bishop, in turn, is attacked. By sacrificing the
exchange, White eliminates the defender of
Keres-Aiekhine the b6 pawn, and ensures the advance of his
Margate, 1937 d-pawn and of his passed pawns on the Q-side.
37 RXd4
w
On 37 . . . e x d4 there follows 38 N X b6
Rei+ 38 Kh2 Qd8 40 Q X d4, after which
the forced march of the a-pawn is threatened.
For example : 40 . . . Rc2 41 a5 Ra2 42 a6
Kf8 (42 . . . Ra5 43 Qc3! Qxb6 44 Qc7+ or
43 . . . R X b5 44 Qc7+ ) 43 Na4 Qa5 44 d7,
and the game is over.
Instead of 40 Q X d4 Keres was intending to
play 40 d7, which would also have won :
40 . . . Rc7 (41 Qa8 was threatened) 41 a5 Ra 7
Keres concluded the game by 23 Q X d7 + .
42 a6 Kf8 43 Q X d4 Rc7 44 Qe4 and then
The motif of the sacrifice is already familiar
45 Qe8+. In this variation the rook is helpless
to the reader. On 23 . . . R X d7 there follows
against the passed pawns.
24 Re8 + , and mates.
If instead Black keeps his king at g7 (or f7),
We will now examine combinations in the win is achieved as follows : 42 . . . Rc7
which the decisive word belongs to a passed (instead 42 . . . Kf8) 43 Q X d4 Ra7 44
of
pawn. Such combinations occur not only in Qd6 Kf7 (or 44 . . . Rc7 45 Qe6 Kf8 46 Qe8 +
the concluding stage of the game, when the Q X e8 47 d X eB=Q+ KX e8 48 Nd5 Ra7 49
field of battle is already fairly cleared through b6 RX a6 50 b7, and the pawn queens un
mutual elimination of the forces. hindered) 45 Qd5 + Ke7 (or 45 . . . Kf8 46
In the following example the promotion of Qe6) 46 Qe4+ Kf8 (if 46 . . . Kd6, then 47 Qe8)
a pawn is achieved by defence elimination. 47 Qe8+ Q X e8 48 d X e8=Q + K X e8 49
Nc8 Ra8 (if 49 . . . Rc7, then 50 b6 RX c8 51
Keres-Barcza b7) 50 b6 Kd8 (50 . . . RXc8 51 b7; 50 . . .
Szczawno-Zdroj (Poland), 1950 RXa6 51 b7) 51 b7 R X c8 52 b X c8=Q+
K X c8. While Black is picking up the a-pawn,
w White eliminates the enemy pawns on the
other wing : 53 Kg3 Kb8 54 Kf3 Ka 7 55
Ke4 KX a6 56 Kd5 Kb5 57 Ke6, and wins.
37 . . . ReS
38 NXb6! RXdS
39 RXdS Qf5
13
Paul Keres Chess Master Class
40 d7 Resigns
27 fXe3 B X g3+ !
er or not, in spite of loss of material, you can
28 K X g3
open this line.
Thus we have the theme of line-opening. If 28 Kg l , then 28 .. .Bh2+ 29 KXh2
(29 Kf2 Qh4 mate) 29 ...QeS+ 30 Kg l
Keres-Boleslavsky Qg3+. However, the same final position is
24th USSR Championship, Moscow, 1957 reached in the game.
w 28 • • • Qg5+
29 Kh2
Qg3+.
29 • • • Qe5+
30 Kgl Qg3+,
14
Combinations
possibility of a sacrifice, when 'for the sake of doing so, but then the rook at c2 is left un
a higher goal' the pinned piece leaves en defended.
prise the more valuable piece (for example, so Had White foreseen what was awaiting
as to carry out a tactical blow). him, he would of course have reconciled
An illustration of the exploitation of a himself to the loss of his c-pawn, although
vertical pin by positional means is provided this would not have saved the game.
by the finish to the following game.
28 Nd2 QXb3
29 RXc7
R. Garcia-Keres
Buenos-Aires, 1954 Forced, since after 29 NXb3 RXc2 White
is a rook down. Now he threatens mate at
B
c8, and on 29 ... RXc7 he regains his ma
terial by 30 NXb3.
Nevertheless, the intermediate capture at
c7 does not achieve its aim. Black has the
possibility with one move of both defending
against the mate and removing his queen.
29 . . . Qe6!
White resigns.
25 • • • d5 Keres-Radovici
Leipzig Olympiad, 1960
One further detail-the c-pawn is not only
unable to leave the c-file, but also to advance, w
since the c5 square is twice attacked by Black.
Now Black has four attacks on c4, while
White has only three defences, so he brings up
a fourth.
26 Rfcl
26 . . . dXc4
27 NXc4 Qe6!
White's centralized pieces dominate the
The vertical pin has been replaced by anoth entire board, while the black pieces occupy
er pin-along the diagonal. The knight is passive positions.
attacked by four pieces, and defended by By 27 Qd4 Keres attacked the b6 pawn.
three. There is no fourth defence. True, the There is no way of defending it, and the
knight can move, defending the queen in Rumanian master replied 27 . . . Qc7.
15
Paul Keres Chess Master Class
White can get away with taking the pawn: e-file-29 . .. Rae6, Keres would not have
28 RX b6, and now 28 . . . Rd8 29 Rc6 Qe 7 30 defended the pawn (30 e5 f6! or 30 f3 Nd3),
Qc3. But this was not at all the reason why but would have continued 30 Rc1, when after
Keres played 27 Qd4 ! 30 . . . dXe4 (or 30 . . . Rx e4 31 Rc7) 31 Rc7
White has a much more effective way of Black comes under an attack, for example :
winning. The f7 pawn is pinned and immobile, (a) 31 ... R6e7? 32 RXe7 R X e7 33 Qc8 +
which allows White to carry out a decisive Bf8 34 Bh6, and mates.
tactical manoeuvre. (b) 31 . ..Rf6 32 Qd7 Rf8 33 Bd6.
After only one more move, 28 Rg6!, Black (c) 31 ... Rf8 (relatively best) 32 R X f7
resigned in view of the inevitable mate at g7. (stronger than 32 QXa5 Nd3 33 Be3 BXb2,
when Black can still resist) 32 ...R X f7 33
In the following example a sacrifice allows
QXe6, and White must win.
the creation of two strong threats-mate and
the win of the queen. 29 ... Rf6
30 Qd7 Rfe6
Keres-Giigoric 31 Re3 d X e4
Candidates' Tournament, Yugoslavia, 1959 32 Rg3
32 . . . Ra8
33 Qd4 !
33. . . Rg6
34 Q x e4 ReS
35 b3 Nc6
27 RXg7+ ! B X g7
The black knight wants to reach d4.
28 Qg4
36 Rd3! Re6
The bishop at g7 is pinned and attacked.
37 Qc4 Ree8
Moreover, White is threatening not only mate
38 Rg3 Re6
at g7, but also 29 Nh6 + winning the queen.
Black is unable to obtain adequate com w
pensation for it by 28 .. .Rg6 : 29 Nh6 +
B X h6 30 Q X d7, and he has only a rook and
minor piece for queen and pawn. There only
remains the move in the game.
28 . . . QXf5
29 Q x rs
16
Combinations
A further variation on the theme of the pin. Here is an example of ignoring a pin for
The bishop cannot be taken, in view of the sake of 'a higher goal'.
40 Qg4 with the simultaneous threats of 41
QXg7 mate and 41 QXc8+. Keres-Behrensen
After the forced reply Keres exchanges Mar del Plata, 1957
bishops, after which the black king is in
adequately defended.
39 . . . Rg6
40 BXg7 KXg7
41 Qc3+ Kg8
27 g4
27 . . . N£6
43 RXg6 + hXg6
44 QXa5 Rcl +
45 Kh2 Rdl
17
Paul Keres Chess Master Class
Diversion.
37 Ke1 f4
38 Bc3 fX g3
39 R X a6 Rd4!
40 Ra7+ Kh6
41 Rf7
28 R X h6 Nxf3+
29 Kf2 g X h6
30 K X f3 ReS
18
Combinations
16 . . . NeS!
36 Ne7+ !
Again exploiting the pin. Now White has to
By cutting the connections between queen
parry the queen check at d5.
and rook (36 . . . B X e7 37 Q X e6+ ), White
17 £3 QdS forces the enemy king to go to f7 (decoy),
18 Qc3 Ng6! after which a discovered check is used to
19 Rael carry out the winning manoeuvre.
1
diversion. But the introductory move is based individual move (or moves) has seemed-this
on the theme of interference. was only a forcing variation, or forcing
In interference the connections are cut manoeuvre.
19
Paul Keres Chess Master Class
Defence-elimination !
22 R X c3 Q X d4
20
Combinations
for a discovered attack, 24 RXc4, after which 1 By . 20 Nh4 White created two threats:
Black's queen and rook are simultaneously 21 Ng6+ winning the queen, and 21 f4 win
attacked. But now he saw that 24 ...Qd7 ning the bishop.It is impossible to parry both
parries both threats, and in addition White threats simultaneously.
loses another pawn: 25 RXc6 Qxc6, or After 20 . . . Rg8 21 f4 Keres won a piece,
25 Qb3 Rec8 26 RXc6 (26Bd3BX e4!) 26 ... and a few moves later Black curtailed his
Qxc6. resistance.
24 a5 B X e4
We can remove another feature from a
After 25 BXe4 NXe4 again 26 RXc4 does combination-the fact that the variations
not work, this time because of 26 ...Qe3 ! comprising it have to be forced. It may
* We are not thinking here of lost positions, where anything may be tried to save the game.
21
Paul Keres Chess Master Class
Keres-Taimanov
Here Keres played 15 e4, 'inviting' his
19th USSR Championship, Moscow, 1951
opponent to take the pawn. Bnt Lilienthal
declined the 'gift', and retreated his bishop w
to c6. And he was right to do so.
Why was the e4 pawn invulnerable ?
Because on 15 . . . BX e4? there would have
followed 16 Ng5 ! BXc2 (if 16 . . . BXg5,
then 17 BXe4 and f2-f4) 1 7 BXb7 and 1 8
BXaS, with a material advantage.
This trap was of course a highly transpar
ent one. By placing his pawn en prise, White
himself appeared to urge his opponent to
search for the tactical blow he had devised.
Of course, Black is not threatening to win
The offer to take on e4 'for free' would in
the d4 pawn, in view of the exchange on d4
itself have forced Black to be wary.
and the discovered check (BXh7 + ). Keres,
however, moved his queen off the d-file, and
Keres-Gereben
played 12 Qe2.
Amsterdam Olympiad, 1954
There is no longer a discovered check with
w the bishop, and Black has the opportunity to
take the pawn. What had Keres prepared in
this case ?
12 . ..NXd4 13 NXd4 QXd4. The black
queen has been lured onto the diagonal of
the bishop at b2, and now comes a jump by
the knight : 14 Nd5 ! Black has only one reply,
14 ... Qc5, after which it may seem that all
his pieces are securely defended.
22
Combinations
3 23
Paul Keres Chess Master Class
24
The creation of a tactically favourable situation
3* 25
Paul Keres Chess Master Class
22 . . . B X gS
23 Radl Rh6
24 Qa5?
19 . . . d X c3 B
20 Bc6+
20 • • • XIS
21 Q X c3
25 . . . BX£2!
26 Q x £2 Rf6
27 Bf3 Qh3+
26
The Creation of a Tactically Favourable Situation
Mikenas--,Keres �, i'
,
"' Outwardly a logical move, in accordance
17th USSR Championship, Moscow, 1949 with White's plan of defence (he wants to
block the dangerous diagonal by c3-c4), but
B
in fact a mistake.
Correct was 13 B X c3, when on 13 . . . Qe7
White could have played 14 h4 ! . Weaker is
14 0-0, since then White has to reckon with
14 . . . g5 and 1 5 . . . Q X e2.
13 . . . gS!
14 Nd3
8 .. . b6
The first move of the combination is a
After driving away the queen, the bishop decoy sacrifice :
will be trained on e2.
14 . .
. R X e2+ ! !
9 Bg2 Ba6 15 K x e2
10 Qc2 Nbd7
Now the white king is on the diagonal of
More exact is the immediate 1 0 Re8,
the black bishop, and the knight at d3 is
. • •
27
Paul Keres Chess Master Class
16 . . . B X d3
17 Qa4
19 Kc1 b4 23 N X e6 !
20 QaS
This i s a pseudo-sacrifice. O n 23 ...fxe6
B there follows 24 B X d5, when the bishop
cannot be taken because of 25 Q X d5+ and
26 QxaS, while 24 ...Rb8 is decisively met
by 25 Qe5.
23 B X e6
24 B X d5 Rd8
28
The Creation of a Tactically Favourable Situation
• • •
B Walther-Keres
r·y�
.-.
. ._., ;··�·
'�10' Zurich, 1959
-�· - � � · B
. ·�� .
E . • E •-t•
• a�t• w�
���l-
.
�L.q;,·�.·���-
··'01' %�0!��� %
• • -
•
.... ..
• e
27 . . . Bf6
On 27 ...Bd6 Keres would not have moved
his queen, but would have replied 28 Bb3!,
pinning the bishop at d6. Then 28 . ..h5 is White is a pawn up, but his king is in an
forced, and after 29 RXd6! RXd6 30 extremely dangerous position. It should be
Qe8+ Kh7 31 BXf7 Black has only a few borne in mind that it has already moved, so
'dying' checks-31 ...Rd1+ 32 Kg2_ Bf3+ that castling is not possible.
(or 32 . . . Bh3+ 33 KXh3 etc.) 33 KXf3 By moving his attacked rook, 34 • • • ReS,
Qg4+ 34 Kg2, with a quick mate. Keres created the threat of a discovered
check-35 ... Bc4+.
28 Qc7 Rd7
Of course, White cannot take on e6: 35
29 Qc6 Bh3
Nxe6 RXe6+ 36 Kf l Qe2+ , while 35 Qe3
w
• • • • fails to 35 . ..Bf7.
��
if� �� � r��. �,
• :•
�
35 Kf l looks a natural continuation (35 . . .
•
���.�- -�·
• %
. .
Bc4+ 36 Kgl), but 35 ... Nd5! leaves White
. - % 1··-- ····
in a hopeless position, since a move by the
.
•
• •
• •
• �
6
Having blocked the second rank, White
decided that he could survive the discovered
30 Be6! check. Now on 35 ...Bc4+ there follows
36 Kf2, and if 36 .. . Nd3+ then 37 Kg2
The motif is the weakness of the back rank,
(37 . . . Nel + 38 Kf2!), after which all White's
and the theme-line-opening (the d-file), in
pieces are defended. But Keres had in mind a
terference (of the h3 bishop's diagonal) and
different discovered check ...
diversion (of the rook). And in specific terms:
the rook cannot be captured because of mate 35 . . . Bh3+ !
at e8, nor the bishop because of mate after
Preventing the white king from going to g2.
31 Qc8+ Bd8 32 QXd8+.
Black resigns. 36 Kf2 Nd3+
It is curious that both the tactical cata
Exploiting the pin.
strophes in this game should occur on the
e6 square. 37 . Kgl Rel + !
29
Paul Keres Chess Master Class
38 Kh2 39 . . . Nf2+
For Black it is extremely important that
For those who like elegant finishes, we
the white king should be deprived of the
suggest that they find another way to win
square g2, and that the exchange of rooks at
(cf. p. 1 77 No. 2 for the answer).
h l , which is an essential part of the combina
tion, should take place with check. Otherwise
40 Kh2 N X dl
White would be able to make the intermediate
41 Q X b2 N X b2
exchange on 1 77, enabling him to eliminate
all the threats. White resigns.
30
The calculation of variations
* Apart from the complicated nature of the position on the board, account must also be taken of a restriction
on time for thought.
31
Paul Keres Chess Master Class
given variation is favourable for him. Thus (a) 23 . . . Kg8 allows the elegant 24 Q X f6 !
in the course of a game conflicts arise and (24 . . . gXf6 25 Rg7 mate).
are settled, being conditional upon correct (b) On 23 . . . Kg6, mate follows after 24
and incorrect calculation of variations, or R X g7 + ! B X g7 25 Qg4 + Kf7 26 Q X g7 +
upon differences in positional evaluation. and 2 7 Nc5+ , a s well a s 24 Nf4+ Kf5 (or
First, an example in which the sacrifice of a 24 . . . Kh6 25 Qh5 mate ; 24 . . . Kg5 25 Qh5+
piece demands the concrete calculation of a KX/4 26 g3 mate) 25 g4+ Kg5 26 h4+
main variation and of all its branches. Kh6 (26 . . . KXh4 27 Qh3+ Kg5 28 Qh5+
KX/4 29 QJ5 mate) 27 g5 + B X g5 28 Qh5
Keres-Laurentius (Laurine) mate.
Correspondence, 1935 (c) Up till now in his calculation White
has been constantly pursuing the black king.
This is the simplest case. But after 23 . . . Ke8,
after weighing up the various discovered
checks (24 Nc5+ etc.), White has to find a
different way. In the end, by the analysis of
several plausible moves (attacks and cap
tures), or, much more quickly, by intuition, we
discover the strongest continuation of the
attack-24 R X b7, after which the knight at
c6 is attacked, the rook at d7 is no longer en
prise, and the discovered check has by no
This game was played by correspondence. means been removed from the agenda (for
We, however, will regard it as one played in example, if Black should defend his knight
a normal tournament, and will analyze the with his queen). While if 24 . . . Ne5, then
resulting position without moving the pieces. 25 N X g7+ B X g7 26 RX g7.
Thus there remains only the move played
22 B X f6!
in the game.
Black's choice is restricted to two replies :
23 .. Ne7
22 . . . g x f6 and 22 . . . B X f6-others are an
.
22 . .. BXf6
23 Rd7+
This second move of the combination This position, and a new sacrifice forcing
demanded greater effort : Black can not only mate, had to be foreseen by White when he
block the check with his knight (as occurred embarked on the combination-after all, at
in the game), but can also move his king : present Black is a bishop up.
32
The Calculation of yariations
Keres-Botvinoik
A/ekhine Memorial Tournament,
Moscow, 1956
w
33
Paul Keres Chess Master Class
Keres...Stahlberg
Warsaw Olympiad, 1935
34
The Calculation of Variations
31 ... Kf8
32 Re6 Qb4
33 Bg6 Ne7
34 Rf6+ Kg8
35 Bh7+ ,
and without waiting for the mate in two
moves, Black resigned.
Keres-Botvinnik
22nd USSR Championship, Moscow, 1955 9 Qa4+ Qd7
(See diagram next column) 10 BXf7 +
35
Paul Keres Chess Master Class
w w
36
The Calculation of Variations
32 c8 = Q Qb1 +
If Black does not take on f3, but plays
33 Ng1 Q X a2
28 . . . Qb4, defending f8, the knight comes in
33 Qf8 Resigns.
to play with decisive effect : 29 Ng5 ! Qf8.
Keres-Malich -l• ·1
w
Varna Olympiad, 1962
B
37
Paul Keres Chess Master Class
In the event of 27 . . . Bg7 the immediate Which bishop should White take ?
28 NgS fails to 28 . . . Bd7 ! !
(29 Q x d7 Qcl + 28 Q X e7 !
and 30 . . . QXg5; 29 Qd8+ Bf8 30 Qf6 Be8).
Correct is 28 Q X c8 + Bf8 29 B X g6 ! (on White 'steals up' on the f7 square !
30 Ng5 Q£4
Keres-Fine
Ostende, 1937
(See diagram next column)
24 N X h7!
The knight sacrifice is temporary : by
doubling heavy pieces on the h-file, White
restores the material imbalance.
38
The Calculation of Variations
w w
There can be no doubt that Fine saw nal for the enemy bishop at b3, and Keres
24 NX h7, and was pinning his hopes on elegantly exploits this.
Black's coming counter-play.
29 . . . Rf8
24 • • • N X h7
25 Rh3 Qcl Black has to make this passive move, since
It was on this counter-blow, exploiting the the rook cannot be taken because of mate,
remoteness of the white pieces from the de while on 29 . . . Bd5 White wins by 30 Qf6 +
fence of the back rank, that Fine based his cal Ke8 (or 30 . . . Kd7 31 BXd5 dX e3 32 QX/7)
culation. After 26 Q X h7+ Kf8 White cannot mate) 31 e6 ! fxe6 (or 31 . . . Bx e6 32 BX e6)
continue 27 Qh8+ Ke7 28 Qh4+ in view 32 RX e6+ B X e6 33 Q X e6 + , and mate
of 28 . . . g5 ! next move.
w 30 Qf6+ Ke8
31 e6!
Keres-8toltz
This means that White has to return his Salzburg, 1942
rook from h3 to e3, but then by 27 . . . d4
Black will begin a counter-attack . . . B
But now let us see what Keres had in mind.
26 Q X h7 + Kf8
27 Rhe3 d4
(See diagram next column)
28 Qh8+ Ke7
29 Q X g7!
This move had escaped Black's attention.
By playing 27 . . . d4 he has opened the diago-
4 39
Paul Keres Chess Master Class
Black resigns.
Keres-Borisenko
18th USSR Championship, Moscow, 1950
38 Q x a6 !
Keres has calculated further. I t turns out In order to exploit the 'overloading' of the
that on 38 . . . N X g4 there follows 39 Qa8+ bishop at g7 (which simultaneously defends
Kh7 40 Bd3 + g6 41 B X c2, and if 41 . . . Ne3 the knight at h6 and the e5 pawn), White
(attackitig'the bishop and also g2) 42 B X g6+ ! played 10 e4.
fXg6 (42 . . . KXg6 43 Qg8 + , and mates) Mter this 1 1 N X e5 is threatened. Keres's
43 Qb7+ Kg8 44 Qc8+ Kg7 45 Qd7+ and opponent rejected the anti-positional ex
46 Qd2 ! This is the reason for White's change 1 0 . . . fxe4 1 1 Ng5 (after which
'zig-zag' checks-g2 is now defended, and White obtains an excellent base for his minor
his extra b-pawn must assure him of a win. pieces at e4). He also did not care for 10 . . .
Black has to check with his rook at cl, so Ndf7 (on which 11 0-0 is the simplest reply).
as to be able to take on g4 with check. But He played 10 Nh£7, on which Keres
• . .
now White remains with two minor pieces for calculated a forcing tactical operation, lead
a rook. ing to a clear endgame advantage for White.
38 . • . Rcl + 11 Nd5 Ne6
40
The Calculation of Variations
12 eXfS gXfS
13 Nh4 c6
w
17 Ne6+ ! B X e6
18 d X e6 Nc2+
4* 41
Paul Keres Chess Master Class
25 B X e5 Keres-Fuchs
Marianske Lazne, 1965
Keres's plan has proved correct : with
material roughly level (White has two pawns w
for the exchange) his powerful bishops ensure
him a decisive advantage.
25 . . . Rhe8
42
The Calculation of Variations
�� "' Goldenov-Keres
15th USSR Championship, Leningrad, 1947
B
43
Paul Keres Chess Master Class
The bishop which took the rook now de open file first and threatening to invade the
fends h1, saving the king from mate. But second rank with his rook.
Black's attacking resources are not exhausted ! The Hungarian grandmaster replied
18 Rfcl, preventing this invasion.
21 . . . BcS 22 Bg2.
On 18 . . . Rxc1 + he planned 19 R X cl,
The ubiquitous bishop has blocked the and in the event of 19 . . . RX a2-20 Qb4,
queen's access to another key square-f2. regaining his pawn in an almost symmetric
But there is also a third key square . . . position.
B In the game that is in fact what happened :
18 . . . R X cl +
19 RX cl RX a2
20 Qb4
22 . . . Nf3 !
44
The Calculation of Variations
grandmaster here cut short his calculation. Barcza reluctantly goes into a rook ending
He was convinced that the game would soon a pawn down. And indeed, it is difficult to
end in a draw. endure the enemy bishop at h3, when the
Keres, however, extended the calculation. white rook is tied to the back rank. On 24 Rb 1
He extended it by only one move, but what there could have followed 24 . . . g5 !
a move !
w
20 • • • h6
21 Q X b6
45
Paul Keres Chess Master Class
one can understand Barcza, who decided to apparent how White can prevent the advance
get rid of the dangerous bishop at h3. of the d-pawn.
24 • • . B X g2 45 . . . e3
25 K X g2 R X b2 46 Kf3 Kd4
26 e3 Rb6 47 ReS Rf2+
48 Kg4 Kd3
It is very difficult to win a rook ending
White resigns.
with 'six against five', but Keres succeeds in
exploiting his opponent's errors, and soon
lreres-�ve�
Black's positional gains prove sufficient for
17th USSR Championship, Moscow, 1949
victory.
27 h4 h5 w
28 Kf3 f6
29 Rat eS
30 d X eS'?
30 . . • rx es
31 g4
46
The Calculation of Variations
24 Nd6!
Threatening 22 B X d5 (22 . QXd5 23
. .
NX e7 + Kh8 24 BXg5). Black should Black had not taken this into account.
have exchanged on f5 without delay, to He now has to lose time on the defence of his
eliminate the dangerous knight : 2 1 . . . B X f5 d-pawn, but then by a4-a5 White isolates the
22 RXf5 Ne6. After 23 Be3 the advantage is pawn at b4, and it becomes the Achilles heel
with White (he has two bishops, one of in Black's position.
which is directed at d5), but this was relatively 24 • • • B X e3
the best decision. 25 Q X e3 Nc7
47
Paul Keres Chess Master Class
27 Qd2 w
· Of course, not 27 Ba4 ? ? RX d6.
27 . . . Rb8
28 . . . Nb5 29 B X b5 a X b5 30 Q x b4 and
28 . . . RX d6 29 e X d6 Q X d6 30 Rcl are
equally hopeless. 35 Q X b4!
31 d5!
I
3 1 . . . Q X d5 32 Q X d5 N X d5 33 R X c4 is
64 h4+ K X h4
equally cheerless for Black.
On 64 . . . Kg4 there would have .-1011owed
32 RX c4 Ne7 65 Qg8.
33 Bb3! Q X e5
34 Re2
65 Qd8+ Kg4
Of course, not 65 . . . Qg5 66 Rd4+ win
Watch out for the back rank !
ning the queen, while 65 . . . Kg3 fails to 66
34 . . . Q£6 Qd3 + and 67 Qc4+ winning the rook.
48
The Calculation of Variations
w r-������--�
B
• • · ·
• • • � •
• • • J: .
� •
R
.• �
-@ •
.•J:
• • •••
• • • •
•• • • E .
. · � · ••
66 Qg8! Both 70 Qg3 mate and 70 g3 mate are threat
A simultaneous attack on the rook and the ened. Nothing is changed by 69 . . . Qe5 +
g6 pawn ! If now 66 . . . Qe2, then 67 Q X g6 + 70 g3 + and mate next move.
Kf4 (67 . . . Kh4 68 Rd4+ ) 68 Rd4+ Ke5 "It's all over", said someone loudly in the
(68 . . . Ke3 69 Re4 + ) 69 Qd6 + Kf5 70 Rf4+ stalls . 0 0 . At that point Keres played 69 . . 0
66 . . . Ral ! 26 B X d4 Qb5
27 RXc8+
This appears to lose, and that is what was
thought by the majority of the spectators Of course, for the moment 27 B X g7 is
who were following this interesting clash. not possible, since the rook at cl is left
undefended.
67 Q X g6+ Kh4
68 RX al Q X al 27 . . . B X c8
69 Kh2 28 Qc2 Bb7
49
Paul Keres Chess Master Class
31 h4
Mter 3 1 R X d5 e X d5 White would have Black has just played . . . Nd7-b6, attacking
had to waste a move on defending against the c4 pawn. Keres has reckoned with this
50
The Calculation of Variations
attack, and meets it with a deeply-calculated Black also had 21 . . . Nd5, on which Keres
tactical manoeuvre. was intending 22 NX c8 and then 23 Bel,
when, with two bishops at his disposal,
19 Qg3
White exerts positional pressure in the centre.
An X-ray beam penetrates to d6-the Even so, compared with what happened in
vulnerable link in Black's position. He is the game, this was the lesser evil for Black :
obliged to take the c4 pawn, otherwise after his bishop at g7 would have 'remained alive',
b2-b3 White's advantage will become obvious. and his K-side would not have been so weak
Besides, this last move contains the combina ened.
tional threat of 20 c5 ! d X cS 21 Nf6 + B X f6
22 Nf5
22 g X f6, when, since 22 . . . Qe8 23 QgS leads
to mate, Black after 22 . . . QXf6 23 B X eS B
comes out a piece down.
19 • . • NeX c4
51
Paul Keres Chess Master Class
w 25 ... NXf8
26 Ne8 Be6
27 Nf6+ Kh8
28 Qf4 Nh7
29 Qd4 NXf6
30 Q X f6+ Kh7
w
Here Keres had prepared 25 Qh6+
Kg8 and now 26 Rd5 ! . By taking away the e5
knight's defence, White successfully concludes
his attack. In this variation, as in others,
White's attack proves successful due to the
weakening of the black squares on the
K-side, which, in turn, is a consequence of
the exchange of the g7 bishop.
But now let us return to the game, and see
what happened after the other queen move. 31 e4
22 Qa3
While Black is picking up the Q-side
• . .
After this Black loses the exchange. pawns and including his rook in the defence,
White will play f2-f4-f5, when it will all be
23 N X g7 Ned7
over.
24 Bd6 Qa5
31 Q X a2
Possibly Petrosian had been intending to . . .
32 f4 B X b3
take the a-pawn, but it turns out that the
33 Rd6 Rg8
pawn is immune. After 24 . . . Q x a2 25 B X f8
34 f5 Rg7
N X f8 26 Ne8 White threatens 27 Qc3 or
27 Qe5 (to say nothing of 27 Nc7). This
Other moves (for example, 34 . . . a5) are
means that the black queen is obliged to
answered by 35 Rd8, and after 35 . . . RX d8
control the c3 and e5 squares, which is what
by a deadly intermediate check-36 fX g6+
Petrosian does.
fX g6 37 Qe7+ .
25 B X £8 But now White is able to double heavy
pieces on the 8th rank.
Good enough to win, but from the thematic
point of view 25 b4! should have been con 35 Rd8 Qa5
sidered (depriving the queen of one of the 36 Qd6 f6
squares-c3 or e5), and on 25 . . . Qb5- 37 Q£8 gXf5
26 B X f8 N X f8 27 Ne8. Now 28 Qc3 is 38 Qh8+ Kg6
threatened, and on the capture of the b4 39 Qh6+ ,
pawn there follows 28 Qe5. There is also a
more prosaic threat-28 Nc7. and mate next move.
52
The Calculation of Variations
53
Paul Keres Chess Master Class
and 28 b X a3, with an easily won position. sacrificed rook-28 . . . Qc6 29 Rdl, after
(c) 25 . . . B X g6 26 RX e7 ! KXe7 27 h X g6, which further resistance is pointless. For
with the threat of 28 Qe3+ and a won po- example, 29 . . . Rh6 30 QxdS+ Qxds 31
sition. 27 . . . Rd6 is strongly met either by RXdS RXg6 32 Rd7.
28 Qc3 (28 . . . d4 29 RX d4), or 28 Re i + Kf6 Black resigns.
(28 . . Kd8 29 Nb7 + ) 29 Nd7+ R X d7
.
54
Attack (preconditions for, and ways of conducting)
5 55
Paul :K.eres Chess Master Class
The pawn skeleton is clearly enough defined The pos1t1on now favours Black, whose
and only the e-file is free. The mutual arrange knight is comfortably placed at d4. But in
ment of the pawns determines the strong and this case the strong square is not so deep in
weak squares* in the positions of the two the opponent's position, and Black's advan
sides. Thus one only needs to place a white tage is not as significant as White's was in the
knight at e6 and a black bishop at e7, and to previous diagram (with the knight at e6).
add several heavy pieces (and, of course, the Thus the pawn formation discloses the
kings), and even an inexperienced player will weak and strong squares in the two sides'
realize that, thanks to his powerful knight at positions, but whether or not they can be
e6, White enjoys a significant positional ad exploited depends on the arrangement of the
vantage, enabling him to attack the K-side. pieces.
* We will regard a square as strong (and, correspondingly, weak for the other side), if a piece on that square
exerts strong pressure on the opposing position, or else plays a significant role in defence. By virtue of the pawn
formation, this piece cannot be driven from its position.
The possession of a strong square relates to other advantages, since it influences the entire course of the
subsequent battle.
56
Attack
For what disposition of forces then will does not have time).
5* 57
Paul Keres Chess Master Class
15 Bd2!
58
Attack
and pawns), and combinational operations. This also applies to an attack on the pawns
Thus closed positions become open, and a from the rear, which is typical of the con
positional manoeuvring struggle can trans cluding stage of the game-the endgame.
form into a close-range fight. And, on the
contrary, after exhausting their opportunities
to advance, pawns run up against one another
or as a result of exchanges open files are
blocked, and so on. In making a plan, we
weigh up these possible changes in position,
taking account of our own actions and those
of the opponent. The character of the result
ing position determines our strategy. Open
positions are subject to one set of laws, and
closed positions to another.
Isolated pawns are defenceless against
Connected, isolated, backward aild doubled attack from the front and from the rear-:they
pawns. The concept of blockade have to be supported by pieces. At the same
The pawn skeleton indicates to us the strong
time the square in front of an isolated pawn
and weak squares in the enemy position and (the so-called blockading square) is an excel
in our own. But pawns can be strong or weak lent base for an opposing minor piece (or
in themselves, depending on the position of sometimes even a heavy piece).
adjacent pawns.
• • • •
••• • • • • • •
• • • • • • • •
• • • • • .j_. •
• • • ·= ·
� �� -� �
• • ·
�
• %
�-.. �. � � n
.... %.•
�.•
�
•••
• • • •
• • • • • •
• • • • • • • •
• • • •
• • • •
When pawns are arranged in a phalanx
• • • •
(the name given to connected pawns which
are on the same rank), both in the event of a
• • • •
frontal attack, and of an attack from the rear, • •i• •
they are able to defend themselves. Mter . � . .
c4-c5 the c-pawn is securely defended. It is • • • •
true that the rook can attack one of the adja • • • •
cent pawns ( . . . Rd8 or . . . Rb8). But this
• • • •
tempo can sometimes prove costly, even too
costly (for example, in the case of far-ad Note that the weakness of an isolated pawn
vanced pawns,which areheadingfor thequeen becomes more appreciable as the number of
ing square and are prepared for self-sacrifice). fighting units is reduced. But in the middle-
59
Paul Keres Chess Master Class
game, when there is a large number of pieces, is achieved by the concentration of a large
the side with an isolated d-pawn-and we number of attacks on the critical square. (In
are talking in particular about this pawn the given case c3-c4 is not possible, since the
also has a number of advantages, in the form pawn will be supported by three white pieces,
of free piece play and possession of the semi but attacked by four).
open e-ille. In the section on the centre we In the second diagram the backward
will touch on this question in somewhat more d-pawn is being besieged. The fact that it is
detail. fixed on its initial square seriously hinders
Isolated pawns on other illes are usually a Black's play, since he is deprived of scope for
weakness, and not only in the endgame, with manoeuvring (connections between his Q-side
a small number of pieces, but also in the and K-side are hindered).
middlegame. A general method for exploiting Doubled isolated pawns are on obvious
the weakness of an isolated pawn is to simplify weakness, especially if they are on an open
the position by exchanges. ille.
Highly advantageous (and, correspond
ingly, unpleasant for the opposing side) can
be pressure by the heavy pieces on an isolated
or so-called backward pawn.
60
Attack
61
Paul Keres Chess Master Class
B 12 . . . g6
13 Na4 f5
62
Attack
But why not 14 . . . N X b6 ? Because this is arises which allows the two sides to contain
decisively met by 15 Be5 Rg8 16 d X c6, with each other.
an unexpected 'mate to the rook'.
The character of the pawn formation
15 e x fS Nc5 depends to a great extent on the opening
16 Q X b6 e5 chosen, or, more exactly, on the opening
On this move Black was pinning his last variation. We will give several typical po
hopes-after 1 7 B X e5 (or 17 dX e6) 17 . . . sitions with determined and undetermined
Ra6 to force the opponent to play his queen situations in the centre, with mobile and
to c7 (18 Qb4? ? Nd3+ ) and then to exchange immobile centres.
queens.
Mobile centre
17 d X e6 Ra6
Pawns at e4 and d4 against a pawn at d6
w
Smyslov-Keres
Match-Tournament for the Title of Absolute
USSR Champion, 1941
B
18 f6! ! N X e6
To his regret, Black realizes that he cannot
The previous moves-1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3
take the queen because of mate in two moves
Bb5 a6 4 Ba4 Nf6 S 0-0 d6 6 Re1 Bd7 7 c3
(19 f7+ and 20 Bg5 mate).
Be7 8 d4 0-0 9 Nbd2 e X d4 10 cX d4.
19 Qb3
Pawns at e4 and d4 against a pawn at e6
Matters are decided by diagonal pins.
19 . . . Kf7 Keres-Fine
20 0-0 c5 Ostende, 1937
21 Rfe1 c4 B
22 QbS Resigns.
White's occupation of the centre and the
advance of his d-pawn across the demarcation
line quickly led to a decisive advantage,
because of Black's serious lack of develop
ment. Crushing defeats of this type rarely
occur in master games. Usually, as a result
of the mechanical blocking of the pawns or
exchanges, a pawn (or piece-pawn) formation
63
Paul Keres Chess Master Class
The previous moves-1 Nf3 d5 2 d4 Nf6 3 and the advance e3-e4 proved to be un
c4 e6 4 Nc3 c5 5 cX dS NX d5 6 e4 N X c3 realizable.
7 b X c3 cX d4 8 cX d4.
In both cases White has two pawns in the Pawn tension in the centre
centre against one, and Black has to reckon
both with e4-e5, and with d4-d5. Note that Keres-Botvinnik
d4-d5 in the first example, and e4-e5 in the 22nd USSR Championship, Moscow, 1955
second, weaken the e5 and d5 squares
respectively. However, crossing the demarca w
tion line with a pawn increases White's
spatial advantage, and assists the regrouping
of his pieces and the mounting of an attack.
The following game shows a classic example
of play against a mobile pawn centre.
Gligoric-Keres
Candidates' Tournament, Yugoslavia, 1959
B
The previous moves-1 e4 e6 2 d4 d5 3 Nd2
Nc6 4 c3 e5.
GeUer-Keres
19th USSR Championship, Moscow, 1951
64
Attack
And now a position in which the close centre has taken shape. White's spatial ad
range fight spreads over to the extended vantage (outpost at e5) dictates a plan of
centre. activity on the K-side. Black will reply by
undermining the pawn chain. First, its base,
Bondarevsky-Keres
and then its outpost : 8 . . c5 9 Nf3 Nc6 1 0
Training Tournament, Leningrad-Moscow,
.
0-0-0 f6.
1939
We call a centre fixed when one of the
w
pawns (d- or e-) runs up against the enemy
pawn, and the adjacent file is free of pawns.
Capablanca-Keres
AVRO-Tournament, Holland, 1938
w
Furman-Keres
24th USSR Championship, Moscow, 1957
w
65
Paul Keres Chess Master Class
* 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 c xd4 9 e x d4 d X c4 10
10 B Xc4 Nb6 11 Bb3 Bd7 12 Qd3 Nbd5 1 3 Ne5 Bc6 14 Rad1 Nb4 1 5 Qh3 Bd5 1 6 N X d5 Nb Xd5 (16 . . .
NfXd5 w.as essential) 1 7 f4! ReS 18 f5 e X f5 19 R X f5 Qd6 (19 . . . Rc7 is more tenacious) 20 N Xf7 ! R X f 7 21
B X f6 B Xf6 22 R X d5 Qc6 23 Rd6 Qe8 24 Rd7 Resigns.
66
Attack
67
Paul Keres Chess Master Class
Hjort-Keres
Lidkoping, 1944
Keres-Petrov
12th USSR Championship, Moscow, 1940
68
Attack
15 c4 Be6 16 b3 bS!
* Such weaknesses can also arise after attacks by pawns on other pieces.
69
Paul Keres Chess Master Class
w B
17 N£4.
If 17 c X b5, then 17 . . . B X b3 ! 1 8 a X b3 White could have intensified the pressure by
N X b3 + 19 Kc2 N X d2, and White cannot 13 Ne5 !, since 14 . . . Nd5 ? again does not
take the knight in view of 20 . . . N X e4+ ; work, in view of 15 B X e7 Q X e7 (15 . . .
meanwhile 20 . . . c4 is threatened. NX e7? 16 Rd7) 16 N X c6 ! (by exploiting the
17 . . . b X c4 18 N X e6 R X e6 19 b X c4 Rb8 pin on the e-file, White wins a pawn) 16 . . .
23 Rc2 Qa3 24 £4 Rg6 25 Q£3 RX g2!, and Instead of 14 Ne5 Keres preferred to go into
70
Attack
Botvinnik, who a year earlier had tried this Counter-play in the centre
variation in his match games with Flohr*,
When talking about the struggle for the
expressed the opinion that 1 1 B X f6 Q X f6
centre and the advantage of occupying it with
12 Q x d3 would have ensured White a clear
pawns, we gave an example on p.61 showing
advantage. But also after White's Q-side
the strength of a pawn phalanx advancing
castling Black experiences great difficulties.
unhindered. An effective measure against
11 . . . Be7 12 Rhe1 0-0 13 RX d3
such strategy is the timely preparation of a
B counter-blow. Its aim is to break up the pawn
phalanx, and to transform advantageously
the position in the centre.
In the position already familiar to us in the
Giuoco Piano after 1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bc4
BcS 4 c3 Nf6 5 d4 eX d4 6 eX d4, instead of
6 . . . Bb6 ?, allowing the pawns to cross the
demarcation line with gain of tempo, we will
hold up their advance by 6 . . . Bb4+ . Mter
7 Bd2 B X d2+ 8 NbX d2 White retains his
central phalanx. But only for an instant.
13 . . . QaS.
On 13 . . . eX d5 Black would have had to
reckon with 14 RX e7 ! Q X e7 15 N X d5, but
now the d-pawn will have something to say.
14 d6 Bd8 15 Ne5 Bd7 16 Rh3 Nd5.
The threat was 1 7 B X f6 and 18 Qd3, with
attacks on h7 and d7.
17 Be7 N X c3 18 bX c3 Bb5 19 Kb2 B X e7
20 d X e7 Rfe8 21 Ng4 Rx e7.
• Instead of 10 . . . e6 Flohr chose 10 . . . g6, but after 1 1 B Xf6 e X f6 12 0-0 he incurred a lost position.
6 71
Paul Keres Chess Master Class
other hand, as we have already emphasized, pressure (mainly on d4) and the undermining
the seizure of space is advantageous only of the central pawns.
when this space is secured, i.e. it is controlled 5 . . . d X e5 6 f X e5 Nc6 7 Be3.
by pieces. Otherwise the advanced pawns, On 7 Nf3 Black can immediately pin the
remote from their main forces, can be liquidat knight by 7 . . . Bg4, intensifying the pressure
ed (usually as a result of a forced exchange), on d4.
and the time spent on advancing the pawns 7 . . . Bf5 8 Nc3 e6 9 Nf3 Nb4.
can be used by the opponent for development, The idea of this manoeuvre is to prepare
favourable regrouping, and the preparation the undermining . . . c5. The alternative is
of a counter-blow. In addition, an enemy 9 . . . Bg4, pinning the knight, although losing
piece can penetrate into the uncontrolled a tempo.
space. In a word, the occupation of the centre 10 Rc1 c5 !
does not signify the seizure of the initiative ; A complicated battle with chances for
a pawn centre can be not only a strength, both sides is in prospect.
capable of smashing the opponent, but also
a convenient target for attack. At any rate, an In this opening White more often chooses
arithmetic count of the number of pawns in a more restrained system of development,
the centre is insufficient for a correct evalua namely : 1 e4 Nf6 2 e5 Nd5 3 d4 d6 4 Nf3
tion of the position. Bg4 5 Be2 c6. This occurred, for example,
The idea of counter-play against a pawn in a game Tiim-Keres (Estonian Champion
centre, exploiting the space unsecured by the ship, Tallinn, 1945). Black's idea is to ex
opponent, is the basis of an approach to the change on f3 and e5, and then to pressurize
opening which is fundamentally different to the e-pawn by . . . Nd7, . . . Ne7-g6 and
the classical. In openings such as Alekhine's . . . Qc7.
Defence, the King's Indian Defence, the 6 0-0 (6 Ng5 is rather more promising)
Griinfeld Defence and the Pirc-Ufimtsev 6 . . . B X f3 7 B X f3 d X e5 8 d X e5 e6 9 Qe2
Defence, Black not only does not prevent the Nd7 10 c4 Ne7 11 Bf4 Ng6 12 Bg3 Qc7
occupation of the centre by pawns, but him 13 Re1 Bb4 14 Nc3 B X c3 15 b X c3 0-0-0.
self provokes their advance. In the King's Indian Defence Black allows
Take one of the sharpest variations of the opponent to set up a phalanx of four
Alekhine's Defence : pawns : 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 g6 3 Nc3 Bg7 4 e4 d6
1 e4 Nf6 2 e5 Nd5 3 c4 Nb6 4 d4 d6 5 f4 5 f4. The undermining 5 c5, with the idea
• • •
B on 6 d5 (6 d X c5 Qa5 ! 7 cX d6 ? N x e4 !)
of continuing . . . e6 and . . . e X d5 gives
Black counter-play on the e-file, and, in the
event of White answering c X d5, also on the
Q-side.
Black's strategy in the Pirc-Ufimtsev
Defence is similar : 1 e4 d6 2 d4 Nf6 3 Nc3 g6
4 f4 Bg7 5 Nf3 c5, and if 6 dX c5 then 6 . . .
Qa5.
72
Attack
the masters of the second half of the 1 9th of this century-Breyer, Nimzowitsch and
century. Thus the game Weiss-L. Paulsen Reti, proposed that one should avoid oc
from the 1 883 Nuremberg tournament went cupying the centre with pawns when playing
1 e4 d6 2 d4 Nf6 3 Nc3 g6 4 f4 Bg7 S Nf3 White, and having the initiative thanks to the
0-0 6 Bd3 Nbd7 7 e5 Ne8 8 0-0 cS! As a right of the first move.
result of this undermining and subsequent They replaced direct occupation of the
exchanges, White's apparently powerful pawn centre with so-called 'observation of the
centre was destroyed. centre'. The leading roles in this strategy
Black also voluntarily concedes the centre in belong to fianchettoed bishops, the c-pawn,
the Griinfeld Defence, for example, in the and the king's knight. A central set-up is
main variation : 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 g6 3 Nc3 deferred until the opponent declares his
d5 4 c X dS N X dS 5 e4 N X c3 6 b X c3 Bg7. intentions. Only after this do the d- and
Black's idea is to continue . . . c5 followed e-pawns join the battle, and by their advance
by . . . c X d4 and . . . Nc6, with pressure on d4. frequently decide the outcome of the opening
7 Bc4 cS clash.
We will give several variations of Reti's
w Opening, illustrating this plan.
1 Nf3 d5 2 g3 Nf6 3 c4 e6 4 Bg2 Be7
5 0-0 0-0 6 b3 c5 7 Bb2 Nc6 8 e3 b6 9 Qe2
Bb7 10 Rd1 Qc7 11 Nc3 Rad8 12 Racl.
B
6* 73
Paul Keres Chess Master Class
4 Bb2 g6 5 g3 B£5 6 Bg2 Bg7 7 0-0 Qc8 Keres-Euwe (12th match game, 1 939/40) :
8 Nc3 0-0 9 Rc1 d X c4 10 b X c4 Bh3. 1 Nf3 d5 2 c4 dX c4 3 e3.
3 Qa4+ or 3 Na3 is also possible, for
w
example : 3 Na3 c5 4 N x c4 Nc6 5 b3 f6
6 Bb2 e5 7 g3 Nge7 8 Bg2 Nd5 9 0-0 Be?
1 0 Nh4 !
3 . . . c5 4 B X c4 N£6 5 0-0 a6 6 b3 b5
7 Be2 Bb7 8 Bb2.
'Observation of the centre' : the bishop is
aimed along an open diagonal, and the e5
square is controlled by the minor pieces.
8 . . . Nbd7 9 a4 Qb6 10 a x bS a x b5 11
Rx a8+ B x a8 12 Na3 Bc6.
11 d4 (only now !) 11 . . . Rd8 12 Qb3 B X g2
w
13 KX g2 Nbd7 14 Ba3 c5 15 Nd5. White has
an ideal position.
In the game Keres-Euwe (Noordwijk,
1 938) Black advanced his central pawn at
the first opportunity : 1 N£3 d5 2 c4 d4
(for 2 . . . d X c4, see the next example) 3 e3
(by exchanging the advanced enemy pawn,
White drives away the queen by d2-d3 and
Be3, and then advances d3-d4) 3 . . . Nc6.
On 3 . . . c5 there is an interesting gambit
Only here did Keres play 13 d4 ! Mter
continuation, aimed at destroying Black's
advanced pawn : 4 b4 !, and if 4 . . . d X e3
13 . . . e6 14 d X c5 B X c5 15 Nd4 his position
was preferable.
5 fX e3 c X b4, then 6 d4.
4 e X d4 N X d4 5 N X d4 Q X d4 6 Nc3 Bg4 We should add that, if the position is of a
closed nature, White can delay castling, so as
(the alternative is 6 . . . e5, when there again
to then position his king depending on the
follows d2-d3 and then Be3) 7 Qa4+ c6
actions of the opponent.
8 d3 Nf6 9 Be3 Qd7 10 d4.
In certain cases control of the black
B
squares on the long diagonal (in particular e5)
is carried out by the queen's bishop supported
by . the king's knight, and sometimes by the
f-pawn (without the participation of the c4
pawn). The king's bishop is not fianchettoed,
but developed at b5, d3 or e2. White's
attack is aimed at the K-side, and his central
pawns are assigned a secondary role. This is
the idea of certain lines of Nimzowitsch's
Opening, which is similar in structure to the
On looking at this position, it is difficult old Bird's Opening.
to imagine that initially White conceded the 1 N£3 d5 2 b3 c5 3 e3 N£6 4 Bb2 Nc6
centre to his opponent ! 5 Bb5 (the point of this move and the subse-
74
Attack
quent exchange will soon become clear) what stronger than a rook and pawn, but
5 . . . Bd7 6 0-0 e6 7 d3 Be7 8 B X c6. weaker than a rook and two pawns), a rook is
In this way White strengthens his control equal to a minor piece and one and a half
of the key e5 square. pawns, and a queen is equal to two rooks, or
8 . . B X c6 9 NeS. By following up with
. three minor pieces, or a rook, minor piece
f2-f4 and possibly Rf3, White prepares an and one and a half pawns.
attack on the K-side. These computations are of course arbi
1 Nf3 d5 2 b3 c5 3 e3 Nf6 4 Bb2 Bc6 trary-everything depends on the concrete
5 BbS Qb6 (instead of 5 . . . Bd7) 6 Qe2 a6 situation. There are, however, general signs,
7 B X c6+ Q X c6 8 Ne5 Qc7 9 d3 g6 10 indicating how in certain situations the
Nd2 Bg7 11 f4 0-0 12 0-0, with good strength of individual pieces manifests itself.
prospects for White. For example, in the opening and middlegame
a minor piece is preferable to three pawns.
The scale of relative piece values. The position However, account must be taken of the sort
of the kings of pawns which are obtained for the piece :
whether they are connected or isolated,
Why have we devoted so much attention to central or wing pawns, whether they are far
the problem of the centre? Because to a great advanced or have not yet crossed the de
extent it is on the situation in the centre that marcation line, whether they are free to
the subsequent course of the game depends. advance (passed) or have in front of them a
Out of the numerous possible plans, the barrier-an enemy pawn (or pawns) or
character of the position, including the blockading enemy pieces, and whether they
situation in the centre, dictates to us a certain co-ordinate with the remaining forces or are
plan. lacking their support.
But, of course, what is most important is Since in the opening stage and the middle
the relative balance of the forces in combat, game the piece is normally valued more
and the position of the kings-their degree highly than the pawns, the exchange of a
of security*. The remaining components of a bishop or knight for three pawns is custo
position we as though add to this initial marily called a positional sacrifice. Positional,
information, obtained from the position on because its consequences do not become
the board, or from a position mentally apparent immediately. Compensation may
conceived in the calculation of variations. be provided by the exposed position of the
The formal balance of the forces is deter enemy king, which as a result of the sacrifice
mined by a scale of values of the pieces. (or exchange) is deprived of its pawn screen,
According to this scale, the bishop and knight and is subjected to attack. Such a sacrifice
are roughly equal. The value of a minor (exchange) can be carried out either to
piece is defined as three to three and a half break up the pawn fortress defending the
pawns (this means that a minor piece is castled position, or to eliminate the pawn
slightly stronger than three pawns, but weaker screen of a king which has not yet castled.
than four). Two minor pieces are roughly In the latter case an extra stimulus may be
equal to a rook plus one and a half pawns provided by depriving the opponent of the
(in other words, two minor pieces are some- right to castle.
* Here we are talking about the middlegame and the opening. In the endgame the king does not have to be
guarded-it becomes a strong piece, and the question is not of the security, but of the degree of activit¥ of the
king.
75
Paul Keres Chess Master Class
76
Attack
77
Paul Keres Chess Master Class
17 . . . Ke6 30 g4 RdS
31 b4 Ncd7
Played on the grounds that White will not
32 Re1
take the h-pawn (18 NXh6 ? Bf8). However,
despite the fact that the knight at f5 is very The point of exchanging rooks is to
strong, Black should have retained his bishop. attempt to take the king across to the Q-side.
However, things do not get as far as that.
18 N x d6 K X d6
In severe time trouble Olafsson blunders,
19 Bf4+ Ke6
which soon puts an end to Black's resistance.
20 h5!
32 . . . Rx e1
Fixing the pawn at h6, and tying down
the black pieces to its defence. 32 . . . b5 is more tenacious.
20 . . . c5 33 K X e1 Ke6
34 Ke2 NeS?
A natural move, but by no means the
best, since now the black knights will not Black's position is difficult, but he could
have any strong points in the centre. Correct still have continued the struggle by 34 . . . b5
was 20 . . . Ne4 followed by . . . Ng5, taking (35 B X a7 Rd6) or 34 . . . Rg5 and then
the pressure off the h6 pawn. Another plan . . . Rg8.
was to attempt to take control of the white
squares by 20 . . . b5, so as to establish a
knight at d5.
21 d X c5 Nxc5
22 Rad1 Nd5
23 Bel
78
Attack
79
Paul Keres Chess Master Class
• • •••
•
. •,. �1R
·
. �1
• • •1•
• • • • diagonals. The obvious deficiency of this
• • • • pawn formation will be emphasized by the
exchange of the white-squared bishop.
• • • • Let us now take a look at doubled pawns.
• • • •
• • • • • • •••
, The squares deprived of pawn protection • • · 1 �1
are guarded by the bishop. The attacking • • •1.
side will of course try to exchange it, so as to • • • •
weaken the complex of black squares h6, g7 • • • •
and f6. • • • •
However, the move . . . g6 is not bound to
be associated with the development of the
• • • •
bishop. It may be forced by a diagonal attack • • • •
on h7, or by a vertical attack on g7.
It is much more rarely that the f-pawn is • • • ••
advanced. • • • •1
The advance . . . f6 (whether it is made • • •1.
voluntarily or forced) weakens the a2-g8 . . . ·
diagonal and the square e6 (assuming that • • • •�
the d-pawn has moved).
In this situation a whole complex of white
• • • •
squares has been weakened. Especially dan • • • •
gerous are attacks along the a2-g8 and bl-h7 • • • •
80
Attack
In both cases the barrier screening the king 9 . . . 0-0 ! White cannot keep his knight, since
is fairly solid. In the first diagram there is a if it moves there follows 10 . . . Qf6 !, with a
possibility of danger for Black on the open simultaneous attack on the rook and on f2.
h-file. In the second diagram the security of 8 0-0 0-0?
the defensive formation depends on how The knight should have been retreated
dangerous the opponent's threats are on the immediately to f6.
f-file (the invasion points are f7 and f8) and 9 d3 Nf6.
the a2-g8 diagonal. After 9 . . . Nd6 White wins simply by 10
The following two positions are obviously Bg5 Qe8 11 a5.
unfavourable for defence. 10 Bg5 d6 11 Nd2!
Threatening 12 Ne4. The pin on the knight
• • ••• leads to a fatal deformation in the king's pawn
• • •i.i screen .
• • • • 11 . . . Bf5 12 Ne4 B X e4 13 d X e4 Nd4 14
Ra3!
• • • • As soon as the black king is exposed (this
• • • • now depends on White), this rook will join
• • • • the attack along the third rank.
• • • • 14 . . . Ne6
•
• • • •
• • •••
• • •i.i
• • • •
-;·;·;·;
• • • •
• • • •
• • • •
15 B X f6 gXf6 16 Qh5 c6.
Such a deformed pawn formation arises as The threat was 17 Qh6 and N X f6+ .
a result of an unfavourable exchange on f6 Black's bishop at b6 is a long way from his
(first diagram) or h6 (second diagram). K-side, and he is not able to defend f6. If he
Let us examine the following variation of attempts at least to protect h7, by 16 . . . Kh8
the Evans Gambit. 17 Qh6 Rg8 18 N X f6 Rg7, White gains a
1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bc4 Bc5 4 b4. decisive attack after 19 Rh3 Nf8 20 Rd1 and
By sacrificing a pawn, White gains a tempo Rd 1-d3-g3.
for the seizure of the centre : 4 . . . B X b4 5 c3 By . . . c6 Black drives away the menacing
and then d2-d4. knight, but even this does not save him.
4 . . . Bb6 (Black declines the gambit) 5 a4 17 N X b6 Q X b6 18 Rg3 + Kh8 19 Qh6.
a6 6 Nc3 Nf6 7 Nd5 ! Nx e4? On 19 . . . Qd8 (otherwise f6 cannot be
After taking this pawn Black comes under defended) White eliminates the defender of
a very strong attack. He should have played the g7 square by 20 B X e6-the game is over.
7 . . . N X d5 8 e X d5 e4, and if 9 d X c6 then * * *
81
Paul Keres Chess Master Class
'
82
Attack
(3) Pawn formation (the nature of the correct in the majority of similar situations)
centre, strong and weak squares resulting be followed, or is this one of the exceptions
from the pawn formation). to the rule ? The number of such exceptions
(4) Positioning of the pieces (their mobility in chess is endless. Also, in a practical game,
and co-ordination, control over open lines, following one rule often means breaking
their role in attack and defence). another-to carry out both simultaneously is
We should distinguish a preliminary evalua simply impossible. Which rule in this case
tion, a so to speak general glance at the posi should be given preference ? For instance,
tion without the checking of concrete varia when doubling pawns during a recapture it is
tions, and a final one, based on an anticipa expedient to take towards the centre. But,
tion of the most probable immediate actions according to another rule, it is advantageous
-your own and the opponent's. to open files for one's rooks. What should
There are a large number of positions in be done if in doing so a pawn has to take not
which the direction of the play-the typical towards the centre, but in the opposite
plans and the methods of carrying them out direction ?
are known from previous experience. A know A single solution on the basis of a rule is
ledge of typical positions and typical devices possible only in very simple situations. But
enables a situation to be evaluated more the majority of positions which are encoun
correctly, and the plan and individual move tered in practical play are complicated.
corresponding to this situation to be chosen. The basis of combinational play is cal
But at the same time almost every position is culation, but the basis of strategy is planning.
an individual one-it contains features which "Tactics", wrote Euwe, "require a penetrat
are peculiar to it alone. This individuality can ing glance, strategy requires reflection". In
be the result of the most insignificant change the chapter on combinations the positions
in the placing of the pieces and pawns, in which interested us were ones in which a
comparison with one seen earlier. The result penetrating glance and concrete calculation
may be that a feature which in a similar posi were required. Now what is required is
tion was the most important is now of se reflection, with the aim of answering the
condary importance-the position demands a question "what to do?".
different solution. Thus experience and know We will investigate a number of positions
ledge, although a considerable help in guiding which are favourable for attack. We will make
a player, by no means reduce chess to a re a plan of action, and see how this plan is
petition of what has occurred before in carried out in practice. Firstly, we will ex
practice. amine some positions in which an uncastled
(or forcibly prevented from castling) king is
How is a position evaluated?
subjected to attack, and then we will turn to
To divide a position into its component attacks when the two sides have castled either
elements and weigh up each factor in isola on the same wing, or on opposite wings.
tion is not such a difficult task. However,
evaluation is perhaps the most difficult aspect When the king has not castled
of chess. It all depends on the ratios in which
the individual elements are present. What, in A basic rule of warfare (and chess) strategy '
the given case, should be considered of pri runs : the success of an attack is ensured by
mary importance and what of secondary im a superiority in force in the decisive area of
portance ? Should a certain rule (which is the battlefield.
83
Paul Keres Chess Master Class
84
Attack
In playing this, Keres had first of all to 15 . . . Bd5, and after 15 Ndl (15 Nb1, 15 Na2)
weigh up the consequences of the reply 8 a3. 15 . . . Nf6 Black has an obvious advantage.
Should then Black exchange on c3 ? No ! By It was very tempting to clarify the situation
playing 8 . . . b5 !, and if 9 c X b5 ? Nd4 !, Keres by 13 e3, but after 13 . . . Nf6 14 Qbl B X fl 15
would have won. In fact, the bishop cannot RX f1 Nb3 White would have had to make
be taken by the queen because of 10 . . . Nc2 the awkward move 16 Ra2, and without this
mate, nor by the pawn because of 10 . . . Bb3, rook Black's pressure in the centre would
winning the queen. Things are not changed have been unbearable. He would have pro-
by 10 b X a6 + c6, when against 1 1 . . . Bb3 bably continued 16 . . . Qd6 and then . . . 0-0.
White can do nothing. In anticipation of . . . Nf6 White develops
Instead of 9 eX b5 ? White would have had his rook, so that after the retreat of his queen
to retreat his queen-9 Qdl , after which it should not be isolated.
9 . . . Q X d l + 10 K X d l 0-0-0+ 1 1 Bd2
13 . Nf6
B X c3 12 b X c3 B X c4 gives Black a position
. •
85
Paul Keres Chess Master Class
18 Bf4 Qd8
19 Rd1 Bf6
20 Qf3
20 . . . ReS Keres-Wilkins
21 b3 Correspondence, 1933
Vienna Game
B 1 e4 e5
2 Nc3 Nc6
86
1 940. V. Petrov (left) and Keres arrive in Moscow for the 12th USSR Championship.
In the tournament lobby. From left to righ t : Rokhlin, Flohr, Keres and Filip, with Baturinsky in the back
ground.
Keres and Petrosian. On this occasion the conversation is not about chess.
•
7 87
Paul Keres Chess Master Class
at f7. With the king uncastled, this square is possession of e5 gives him counter-chances,
the most vulnerable defensive link. In open although White's attacking possibilities
games-particularly in the King's Gambit, should not be underestimated.
Two Knights' Defence, Vienna and Italian 8 . . . e5 is unfavourable in view of 9 Nf5,
Games, and the Evans, Danish and Scotch and if 9 . . . g6, then 10 g5 g X f5 (10 . . . NX e4
Gambits-the majority of the attacks are 11 NX e4 B Xf5 12 Nf6 + favours White) 1 1
directed against it. g X f6.
8 . . . h5 9 g5 Ng4 cannot be recommended.
Keres-Bilek After 10 Bg 1 White is threatening to win the
Leipzig Olympiad, 1960 errant knight by 1 1 h3.
Sicilian Defence The correct reaction to White's flank diver
sion was to continue playing actively on the
1 e4 c5
opposite wing-8 . . . b5, when White does
2 N£3 d6
not have 9 e5 because of 9 . . b4 ! Correct
3 d4 c X d4
.
6 Be3 8 ... d5
The classical variation is 6 Be2 Nc6 7 0-0 The tactical basis of this move is that 9
Be7 8 Be3 a6 9 f4 Qc7 10 Qe1 0-0. In the e X d5 is answered by 9 . . . Bb4 !
present game White delays for the moment
9 e5 Nfd7
the development of his K-side. By the advance
of his g-pawn Keres aims to drive the knight 9 . . Ne4 10 N X e4 d X e4 1 1 Bg2 leads to
.
from f6, and then begin a central offensive. the loss of a pawn.
6 • • . a6 10 a3
7 £4 Qc7
White's chances are associated with the
8 g4
preparation of f4-f5, but he also has to reckon
How should Black play now ? with the weakness of his e5 pawn. This means
8 . . . h6 can be met by the quiet 9 Bg2 (as that he must first complete his development.
Keres was intending to play), when 9 . . . b5 He will of course castle on the Q-side. Now
fails to 1 0 e5. Great complications result from 10 Qf3 deserved consideration. Keres rejected
9 g5 (instead of 9 Bg2) 9 . . . h X g5 1 0 fX g5 this because of 10 . . . Bb4, but after the game,
Nfd7 1 1 g6 Ne5 12 g X f7+ Q x f7. Black's in analysis, he came to the conclusion that
88
Attack
15 BX d5 ! !
7* 89
Paul Keres Chess Master Class
The rook at h8 is attacked, and 20 f6 is also and . . . Nc6), the set-up with . . . e6 and . . .
threatened. If 19 . . . B X d5, then 20 Q X h8+ Nbd7, the . . . e5 system, as well as develop
Bf8 21 Qe5 + , and wins. ment in the spirit of the Dragon Variation
( g6).
19 £6
. • .
• . .
90
Attack
It is true that Black can play . . . g6 imme A tactical blow o n the theme of diversion
diately, without first exchanging on h5-9 . . . I t . . . Q X d5 12 Nc7 mate ! After the forced
g6 !, and if 1 0 Be2 Bg7. The weakness of the 1 1 . . . Nb6 12 Q X c4 N X c4 1 3 Nc7+ White
d6 pawn is only apparent, and after the comes out the exchange ahead.
possible 1 1 Qd2 b5 12 a3 0-0 1 3 Rad1 Nc5
11 NdS!
14 f3 Bb7 Black has a good game.
Black is again faced with a choice : he can
w
parry the check at c7 either by taking the
knight (and opening the e-ffie for the oppo
nent), or by giving up the right to castle. After
1 1 . . . N X d5 12 e X d5 Keres had in mind the
forcing variation 12 . . . Qf5 (the only move)
13 Qe l + Ne5 (or 13 . . . Qe5 14/4) 14 f4.
10 NXe6!
A bold decision, which demanded both a
tactical and a positional basis. The first
question is : why shouldn't Black now ex
The threat is 15 fXe5 Q X g5 16 e X d6 +
change on h5 and then take the knight? And
(16 . . . Kd8 17 Qa5+ ) , and Black i s not saved
the second question : why not take the knight by 14 . . . Be7, or 14 . . . h6, or 14 . . . g6.
immediately ?
11 . . Kd8
10 . . . Q x e6
.
12 Bg4
Kotov invites Keres to answer the second
White has an enormous lead in develop
question. In answer to the first question,
ment, the black king is stuck in the centre,
Keres was intending to meet 1 0 . . . N x h5
and the c7 and f6 squares are tactically
not with 1 1 Q X h5, but 1 1 Qd5 ! !
weak. In short, there must be a decisive con
B tinuation !
12 . .. Qe5
13 £4 Q X e4
Hopeless, as however is 13 . . . Q X b2 14
Rbl Qa3 1 5 B X d7. If Black captures with the
91
Paul Keres Chess Master Class
bishop there follows 16 N X f6, while if with 24 Bb6 + Kc8 25 Rc7+ Kb8 26 RX c6
the king, then 16 B X f6 and 1 7 Nb6 + . b X c6 27 Re8+ Kb7 28 Re7+ , and Black
loses after :
14 B X d7 B X d7
(a) 28 . . . Kc8 (28 . . . Kb8 29 Bc7+ and
If 14 . . . KX d7, then, as already stated, 30 QX/4) 29 Q X f4 RX b6 30 Qd4 (this
1 5 B X f6, when after 15 . . . Kc6 (15 . . . gXf6 double threat-31 Q X b6 and 31 Qh8-which
16 NXf6 + ) White wins by 16 c4 g X f6 1 7 had to be seen beforehand, is the point of
Qa4+ b 5 1 8 eX b5+ KX d5 1 9 Rad1 + . the entire plan) 30 . . . Kd8 31 Ra7, or
(b) 28 . . . Ka8 29 Bd4 ! (threatening not
15 N X £6 g X £6
only 30 QX/4, but also 30 Qe2!), and if
If 15 . . . Qc6, then 16 Nd5+ Kc8 (16 . . .f6 29 . . . Qh6, then 30 g3 Be5 31 Re8+ and
17 NXf6) 17 Rf3 Kb8 18 Rc3, and Black is 32 Q X f7 mate.
unable to parry the attack.
24 Bb6+ Kc8
On 15 . . . Qg6 there could have followed
25 ReS+ B x es
16 Nd5 + f6 1 7 Qd4 ! fX g5 1 8 Qb6+ Ke8
26 R X e8+ Kd7
19 Rae 1 + Kf7 20 Q X b7 Rd8 21 Qc7, when
27 RX£8 Resigns.
White wins.
By giving up the exchange, Black hopes to A grandiose game !
obtain counter-play.
Keres-Mikenas
16 B X £6+ Kc7
USSR Team Championship, 1969
17 B X h8 Bc6
18 Qd2 Bh6
19 Rae1 Qg6
20 Re7+ Kd8
21 Rfe1 aS
Otherwise 22 Qa5 + .
22 Bd4 Ra6
92
Attack
15 fX e5 Nd7
22 R X b7+ !
93
Paul Keres Chess Master Class
94
Attack
16 d5! e X d5
95
Paul Keres Chess Master Class
w Keres-Laurentius (Laurine)
Estonian Championship, Tal/inn, 1935
B
96
Attack
Q X g6-does not tempt Keres. After 1 9 . . . The knight heads for f5, but the right time
Qf7 ! 20 Q X f7 + R X f7 White is left with a has been missed.
bad bishop (impeded by its own pawns)
22 Racl Qd7
against an active black knight. 21 Be3 is
23 RXc8
strongly met by 21 . . . a4 followed by the
transfer of the knight via a5 to c4. 23 B X e7 RX c1 24 R X c l QXe7 25 Rc8
does not achieve anything after 25 . . . Qd7 !
18 • . . Rc8
23 . . . N x cs
w
•• 24 Re3!
.
•/- The knight has had to retreat to c8, and
J! Keres hastens to switch his rook to the h-file.
24 • . . Ra7
97
Paul Keres Chess Master Class
14 h4!
20 Rh1 Kg7
By the advance of this pawn White threat
Black does not have time to take the a
ens to open the h-:file and after Kg2 and
pawn : 20 . . . b X a4 21 Qc2 ! Kg7 22 Qe4
Rh1 to create threats to the black king.
Rae8 (or 22 . . . Qc7 23 RX a4, when after
14 . . . b5 23 . . . NX b3 24 R X a8 R X a8 25 Qh4 White
has irresistible mating threats) 23 Qe3 !, and
In order to divert White from his plan,
Black cannot parry the attack, for example :
Black begins a demonstration on the opposite
23 . . . Rh8 24 RX h8 K X h8 25 Qh6+ Kg8
wing. On the attempt to halt the further
26 Q X g6+ Kf8 27 Bh5.
advance of the h-pawn by 14 . . . h5 White
would have prepared g3-g4 (it does not 21 aXb5 Q X b5
98
Attack
The queen is aimed not only at a5, but also The terrible bishop prevents the black
h6. Therefore Black again cannot play king from escaping to the Q-side. Against
22 . . . Rh8, on which, when playing 19 . . . f6, the threat of 28 Rh8 there is no defence.
he was pinning his hopes (after 23 R X h8 he
27 . . . Qb7
has to take with the king, but then 24 Qh6+
28 Rh8 Resigns.
and 25 QXg6+ ). Note how, by simultaneous
threats, Keres exploits the unfortunate posi On 28 . . . Q x d5 + there follows 29 Be4.
tion of the black knight.
Keres-Bronstein
22 g5 I rq
26th USSR Championship, Tbi/isi, 1959 u
• • .
23 Qe3 Qd7
w
99
Paul Keres Chess Master Class
to offer the exchange of queens, so as to This tactical resource was taken into
weaken the onslaught. account by Keres.
42 • . . Qe4 48 N3g4 !
43 Q X e4 N x e4
Against the check at h6 there is no defence.
White will then give a discovered check
(by moving his knight from h6) after first
retreating his rook to h3. For example,
48 . . . Nd7 49 Nh6 + Kh7 50 Rh3 N X f6 (if
50 . . . Nx e5, then 51 NX/7+ Kg8 52 Nx e5,
and wins) 5 1 Nhg4+ Kg8 (or 51 . . . Nh5
52 RX/7+ Bg7 53 Nf6 + , and wins) 52
RX f6 !, and White wins.
After Bronstein's reply, White's task is
even simpler.
44 Rg4! 48 . . . g5
White's attack develops even without the 49 Rh5 R x e5
queens. By attacking the knight and forcing A futile attempt to divert the knight . . .
the opponent to take the c3 pawn, White
advances f5-f6, after which Black's bishop 50 Nh6+ ! Kh7
is shut out of play, and his king, which is 51 Nf5+ Kg8
restricted by his own pieces, comes under a If 5 1 . . . Kg6, then 52 Rh6 mate.
crushing attack along the h-fil e.
It should be mentioned that, in playing w
.�-
�.�• -
�%•� �
�W�·'· ;; :
- -- - �.
'tal � -
44 Rg4, Keres was obliged to take account
of the temporary piece sacrifice 44 . . . N X g5
;!L./. - ••
� �-� •" •·�
·· ·
45 R X g5 f6. To this he would have replied
��:0'Mi.
lWMi
•
%!'. ..�
M
-
� � ·i&�d�i0'� f
� �"ZJ�
;' J ..� �
:1L
46 RX g6 ! fX e5 (after 46 . . . NXg6 47 NXg6
White has two minor pieces and a pawn for a .j!!��"•'u�..�.•
;;;�;;; �•
; .•�
rook) 47 Rg4 !, when the threat of 48 B X e5 �• • �
(47 . . . Nd7 is very strongly met by 48 dx e5)
�
-� -�••• •• .. .....
. . �.
�u ,;
: :
-� • ·
renders Black's position hopeless.
•-5�
44 . . . Nxc3
52 Ne7+ !
45 f6! Bh8
Of course, the simple 52 B X e5 is also
After 45 . . . e x f6 46 g X f6 Bh6 White wins sufficient. But now the reader has the chance
immediately by 47 Nf5 ! But now the black of meeting a typical combination, in which a
king perishes in a cage formed out of his own pawn, on reaching the seventh rank, attacks
pieces. an undefended knight . . .
46 Rh4!
52 . . . RX e7
Threatening 47 N3g4 and then Nh6 + . 53 R X h8+ ! Resigns.
100
Attack
Keres-Unzicker 24 . . . Qe7
2nd Match Game, Hamburg, 1956
Having defended f8, Black is threatening
w to move his attacked rook.
25 B X g7 Q X g7
Or 25 . . . KXg7 26 Qc3 + , and now :
(a) 26 . . . Kg6 27 Rf3 Qe5 28 Qd3+ Kg7
29 Re3, and Black is lost.
(b) 26 . . . Kg8 27 Rf3 Qe5 28 Qc4+ Qd5
(if 28 . . . Kh8, then 29 Qf7!, or 28 . . . d5,
when 29 Qa6, with a simultaneous attack on
knight and bishop, is good enough to win)
29 Qf4 Qe6 (30 Rg3+ and 31 Qf6 mate was
In an attempt to weaken White's pressure, threatened) 30 Re3 (driving away the queen,
with his last move 22 . . . Re7-f7 Unzicker so as to then occupy the e-file with his other
offered the exchange of rooks. rook) 30 . . . Qf7 3 1 Rg3+ Kf8 32 Qh6+ Ke8
How does White exploit his advantage in 33 Re 1 + , and White successfully concludes
force on the K-side ? his attack.
23 N X g7! In all variations the exposed black king is
unable to defend itself against the numerous
The prelude to an attack. By exposing the threats. Note the sorry placing of Black's
enemy king, White achieves success. The bishop and knight.
general precondition for the sacrifice is
26 h4
the remoteness of Black's rook, bishop and
knight from the main scene of events. As in the variation analyzed in the note to
White's 24th move, this is an important
23 • • • R X g7
attacking resource. The threat is 27 Rg5.
The knight can be taken only by the rook,
26 . . . h6
since after 23 . . . K X g7 White wins immedi
ately by 24 Qg4+ Kf8 25 Bh6+ . 26 . . . Rf8 also did not help, when Keres had
Keres was intending to meet 23 . . . Raf8 a pleasant choice between 27 Rei R X f5
with the spectacular 24 Ne6 ! : 24 . . . R X f5 28 Q X f5, and an attack in which he exploits
25 Qg4+ Kh8 26 N X f8 followed by Bd4+ , the unfortunate placing of Black's bishop
or 24 . . . Q x e6 25 Qg4+ Kh8 (or 25 . . . Qg6 and knight : 27 RXf8 Q X f8 28 Qg4+ , and
26 Rg5, and wins) 26 Bd4+ Rf6 27 RXf6 now :
QX g4 28 RX f8 mate. (a) 28 . . . Kf7 29 Rc3 Qe7 (29 . . . Ke7 30
Qe2+ Kd7 32 Qa6!-a double attack) 30
24 Bh6!
Rf3 + Ke8 3 1 Re3.
The rook cannot move to g6 (or e7) (b) 28 . . . Kh8 (or 28 . . . Qg7 29 Qc8 + }
because of mate at f8, nor to f7, in view of 2 9 Qd4+ Qg7 (if 29 . . . Kg8, then 30 Rc3)
25 Rg5+ Kh8 26 Qc3+ . Therefore 24 . . . Re8 30 Qx a7, and wins.
appears to be the only move, but then comes
27 Rc4!
25 h4 ! with the threat of 26 B X g7 f}_ X g7
(26 . . . KXg7 27 Rg5+ Kh8 28 Qf6 + ) 27 The second rook comes decisively into
Rg5. play. Black resigns.
101
Paul Keres Chess Master Class
Euwe-Keres 17 . . . Bd3
Match-Tournament for the World 18 Rel R X e1 +
Championship, 1948 19 Q X e1
w B
Having sacrificed a pawn, Black has gained Keres's next move best answers the ques
a marked lead in development. All his pieces tion as to why he did not make any attempt
are in play, whereas White's Q-side pieces to control the open file, but exchanged rooks.
are still on their initial squares. The white Black will attack by exploiting another
queen looks awkwardly placed on the e-file. file-the f-file, where he will have a clear
Black, on the other hand, has two active advantage in force. But first he must remove
bishops and prospects of occupying the e-file. a barrier-the f4 pawn.
A significant defect in White's position is the
19 . . . B X f4 !
fact that his pawn is at f4, which, firstly,
makes his queen's bishop 'bad', and, second A bishop sacrifice which destroys White's
ly, weakens his white squares. However, it K-side defences. But why the bishop, and
should not be forgotten that Black is a not the knight ? Was Keres right to reject
pawn down. This obliges him to act energeti 1 9 . . . N X f4 ? (cf. p. 1 78, No. 7).
cally. Now the best chance for White was
20 g X f4
1 5 Nf3, when by 1 5 . . . B X b 1 16 R X b l Qg6
Keres would have regained his pawn with a What if White declines the sacrifice and
sligptly better position, thanks to his control by 20 Qe6+ exchanges queens ? (cf. p. 1 79,
of the white squares. No. 8).
Euwe made the plausible move 15 Nd2,
20 . . . N X f4
which within just a few moves allowed his
21 Ndf3
opponent to create dangerous threats on the
K-side. At last the white bishop comes into play.
But it is too late : the white king is exposed
15 . . . Ng6
and can no longer be saved.
Not only vacating the e-file, but also If 2 1 Qe5, then 21 . . . Ne2+ 22 Kh1 Qf2 !
provoking g2-g3, accentuating the weakness On 21 Ngf3 Black wins by 21 . . . Qg6 + 22
of the white squares. Kf2 Nh3 + 23 Ke3 Bc2 ! 24 Qe2 Qh6 + ,
or 24 Qfl Qe6 + . If 21 h4 , then simply
, 16 g3 Rae8
21 . . . h6 (22 . . Ngf3 Qg6+ ).
17 Q£2
.
102
Attack
28 Na6+ Ka7
The K-side is blocked, but on the Q-side,
w
where the kings are situated, White has a
significant advantage in force. Via the third
or fourth rank his rook can be switched
across to the a- or b-:file. Also apparent is the
weakness of the e6 and dS squares.
With his first move Keres exchanges the
enemy piece which is playing an important
role in defence.
21 Nd4! N X d4
8 100
Paul I{eres Chess Master Class
Black resigns.
104
Attack
8* 105
Paul Keres Chess Master Class
w 15 . • • hS
Qg4 !
12 b4 !
12 . . . Be7
13 Bb2 Bf6
16 g4!
A barrier on the vital diagonal. On 1 3 . . .
Nc6 Keres would no doubt have continued This move, which involves the sacrifice of
14 0-0-0, and if 14 . . . N X b4-15 Bc4 Qf5 16 three pawns, is the prelude to a decisive
Ng4 !(16 . . . Q x e4 17 Nh6 mate ; 16 . . . attack. The threat of breaking up his king's
Qxg4 17 Qe5!). pawn screen forces Black to exchange his
black-squared bishop, after which the bishop
14 0-0-0!
at b2 acquires enormous strength.
Another bold (and correct) decision.
16 . . B X eS
White's lead in development and the weaken
.
ing of the black king's pawn screen allow If 16 . . . h X g4, then 17 h5, or 16 . . . N X e5 ?
Keres to carry out a pawn storm. It is true 1 7 fXe5 and, of course 1 8 g X h5.
that White's Q-side castled position has also
been weakened by the move b2-b4, which 17 rx e5 Q X g4
obliges him to act extremely energetically. 18 Qe3
106
Attack
w 23 Qe8 + Resigns.
107
Paul Keres Chess Master Class
13 . . . Rb8
14 Qe3 Re8
15 Rh3 Qa5
108
Attack
The threat was 21 Qf6. The point of this move, defending the e4
pawn, is to avoid the pin 3 . . . Bb4 which is
w possible after 3 Nc3. Also, after 3 . . . Nf6 4 e5
Nfd7 the knight is more favourably placed
at d2 than at c3-it does not block the c-pawn,
and in the event of . . . c5 White can attempt
to maintain his centre by c2-c3, Ne2 and
Nf3.
The drawback to 3 Nd2 is that in certain
variations the knight, which blocks the bishop,
is more passively placed than at c3. In par
ticular, it does not control d5. After 3 Nc3
the reply 3 . . . c5 is a mistake, whereas after
21 RX g7 ! 3 Nd2 this move is perfectly possible and
comprises one of the main lines.
The second rook sacrifice in this game leads
to mate. 3 ... d X e4
1 09
Paul Keres Chess Master Class
9 ... cS
10 d X cS QaS+ (a) 16 . . . B X f6 1 7 Nd7 Qc6 (Black has to
11 Bd2 Q X cS defend his bishop, otherwise there follows
1 10
Attack
Keres-i\le�der
Hastings, 1954j55
w
18 Rh4!
11 1
Paul Keres Chess Master Class
the knight, which defends the a7 pawn and tremely unpleasant for Black, and the pawn
controls the important e5 square. sacrifice 16 . . . Ne4 1 7 B X e4 dX e4 18 RX e4,
while it prevents the occupation of f5, does
12 . . . h6
not give him any compensation. But Keres
Black in turn begins an offensive, but in finds an even more convincing move, involv
advancing his pawns he has to reckon with ing a tactical exploitation of the weakening of
the formation of 'holes'. the f5 square.
13 Bh4 g5 w
w
16 Ne5 !
14 Bg3
Alexander considered this move impossible,
Here White had the possibility of an ad since, after all, Black can take the knight, and
vantageous sacrifice, which went unnoticed after 1 6 . . . N X e5 White loses a piece : 17
by both commentators and players. Instead of Q x d7+ Nex d7, or 1 7 Q X a7 Nc6 1 8 Qa8 +
the bishop retreat, very strong was 1 4 Bb5 !, Nb8. But there is a third continuation, which
and if 14 . . . g X h4 (14 . . . a6 loses to 15 Ne5), Black had failed to take into account.
then 1 5 Ne5 Qd6 16 N X c6 b X c6 1 7 Qa6 +
16 . . . N x e5
Kd7 (if 17 . . . Kb8 18 B X c6 Bc8, then 19
17 Bf5!! Q X f5
Qb5+) 1 8 B X c6+ ! Q x c6 19 RXe7+ !
18 R X e5
Kd6 20 Qa3 + , and mate next move.
Black has won a piece, but his queen and
14 . . . B X f3
bishop are attacked. When contemplating the
On 14 . . . Bd6 White had a choice of two combination on his 16th move, Keres had
continuations : 1 5 Bb5 (after which 15 . . . a6 to calculate the consequences of the queen
fails to 16 Ne5! BX e5 17 BX e5, when things move to d7 (all others lead to loss of material
are bad for Black), and 15 b4. or to a positional advantage for White).
The exchange of this bishop (Black wants Thus, 18 . . . Qd7 1 9 QX a7. Now Black has
to clear the way for his pawns) is the first two replies :
indication of a significant weakening of the f5 (a) 19 . . . Qe8 20 Rael Ne4 (or 20 . . Ng8)
.
1 12
Attack
1 13
Paul Keres Chess Master Class
(open for the attacking side's heavy pieces, in gambit style with 8 c3, sacrificing a pawn
and closed for those of the defender). We for a lead in development. The point is that
should also mention the possible role of the the immediate 8 Q X d4? leads to the loss of a
:fianchettoed king's bishop. Given a favoura piece : 8 . . c5 9 Qd5 Be6 10 Qc6+ Bd7 1 1
.
ble pawnformation in the centre, it can attack Qd5 c4. At the 1 956 Moscow Olympiad Keres
targets on the opposite wing-on the Q-side. caught the Polish master Dworzinski in this
The defender will of course oppose the transparent trap.
weakening of his pawns, prevent the invasion
of the attacking pieces, and will in turn take 5 • • • Bd7
counter-measures. An especially sharp battle An interesting branch of this variation is
develops when a Q-side offensive is opposed 5 . . . Bg4, and if 6 h3, then 6 . . . h5 ! ?
by an attack on the king.
In aiming for success in the offensive sector, 6 c4
one may have to make concessions on the Transposition of moves has led to the
defensive flank. In such situations play pro Duras Variation.
ceeds according to the slogan : 'Who is the
quicker' . . . . 6 • . • g6
We will now analyze an example illustrat 7 d4 Bg7
ing a successful Q-side offensive, an example 8 Be3 Nge7
in which the opponent's K-side counterplay
Black allows d4-d5, after which White will
is too late.
have a spatial advantage on the Q-side.
Black's chances are on the K-side, where he
Keres-Shiyanovsky
hopes to prepare a pawn storm. But White
29th USSR Championship, Baku, 1961
has almost everything ready for his offensive,
Ruy Lopez
and his prospect$ are more real. Correct
1 e4 e5 therefore is 8 . . . e X d4.
2 Nf3 Nc6
3 Bb5 a6 w
4 Ba4 d6
114
Attack
12 Nd2 w
So as to answer 12 . . . f5 with 13 f3. The
king's knight is required on the Q-side.
12 • . . Nc8
13 b4 B X a4
14 Q X a4 f5
15 f3 Nd7 20 a4!
16 Racl Now the black a-pawn is doomed.
The immediate 16 c6 ! b X c6 17 dX c6 The pattern of attack in this game and in
deserved serious consideration. many similar ones is highly distinctive : one
side attempts to establish himself in the
16 . .. f4 opponent's Q-side position, so as then to
Of course, the exchange 16 . . . fXe4? 17 extend the action of his heavy pieces along tlie
NdX e4 is unfavourable, since it leaves the seventh or eighth (or sometimes sixth) rank.
white knight extremely well posted, but Black's The side attacking the king position aims by
intended plan of attack on the K-side, involv the advance of his pawns to cramp the oppo
ing the opening of the g-file ( . . . g5-g4) is too nent on that flank, and to open lines for his
slow. heavy pieces. The play proceeds as though in
16 . . . Nf6 looks more tenacious, maintain a clockwise direction.
ing the central tension and not allowing the
white pieces to switch completely to the siege
of the Q-side. 17 c6 could then have been
answered by 17 . . . b6.
Also to be taken into account is the fact
that after . . . f4 the bishop at g7 becomes
virtually a spectator.
17 Bf2 Kh7
21 NX a4 N x a4
On 18 . . . b x c6 19 d X c6 Ndb6 White 2z Q X a4 Ne7
would have retreated his queen to b3, intend 23 Rc2
ing the advance of his a-pawn.
Preparing to triple heavy pieces on the
19 Qa5 Ndb6 a-file.
1 15
Paul Keres Chess Master Class
23 . '. . NgS
24 Ra1 Bf6
25 QaS Be7
26 Rea2 RbS
Otherwise 27 b5.
27 Ba7!
1 16
Attack
1 17
Paul Keres Chess Master Class
Flohr was expecting to answer 20 Nc3 exerts pressure on the e6 pawn. Black on the
with 20 . . . Nd4 . . . other hand is cramped, and can only attempt
to use the f-file for creating tactical threats on
20 Na7!
the K-side. But it is a long time before this is
Keres called this manoeuvre one of the possible, and Keres consolidates his advan
most original in his tournament practice. tage in the centre.
One of Black's attacked pieces (bishop or
15 c5 !
knight) is lost, since even worse is 20 . . . RX a 7
2 1 R X c8 + Nf8 22 Qb6 with 'mate to the Mter the plausible 1 5 . . . d5 1 6 R4e2 Rac8
rook' (22 . . . Qd4 23 Bc5). 1 7 b4 White's positional advantage becomes
undisputed. His spatial advantage on the Q
20 Nd4
side, control of e5, pressure on the e-file, the
• • •
21 R X c8+ R X cS
weakness of the black e-pawn and, finally, the
22 N x cs Q x e2
'bad' bishop at d7 - all this leaves Black no
Black's faint hope-of creating threats hope of saving the game.
against the enemy king-is easily parried. On 1 5 . • . Qd5 there can follow 16 c X d6
c X d6 1 7 R4e3, and now 17 . . . Q x a2 18
23 h4 Nf5
B X d6 Rfe8 1 9 Ra3 Qc4 20 Ne5, or 1 7 . . .
24 Qe4 Resigns.
N X d4 1 8 Ne5 Qb5 1 9 Bfl Qa4 20 b3, or
In this game White's energetic play tied 17 . . . B X d4 18 N X d4 Q X d4 19 Rd3, in all
down his opponent ; all the time Black had to three variations with a positional advantage
parry positional threats, and he was deprived to White.
of counter-play. We must also consider the tactical try
1 5 . . . N X d4 ? ! , so as after 16 RX d4 B X d4
Positional pressure with the aim of giving
1 7 Q X d4 to continue 17 . . . Bc6 (the imme
the opponent long-term weaknesses can be
diate 1 7 . . . e5 is not possible, since after the
carried out on any part of the board, includ
capture on e5 the bishop is undefended)
ing the centre.
and then . . . e5. True, instead of 1 6 R X d4
White can play 16 NX d4, allowing . . . e5,
Keres-SimaginJ '!.. ,;- and after 16 . . . e5 17 cX d6 c x d6 18 Ne2
19th USSR Championship, Moscow, 1951
(on 18 Be3 Black has 18 . . . d5) 1 8 . . . e X f4
15 . . . d X c5
16 d X c5 e5
118
Attack
17 NxeS NX eS
22 R X e4 Raf8
18 B X eS Bc6
23 h4!
19 B X f6!
2 1 . . . Kg8 22 B X e4 is worse. 30 • . . h6
9 1 19
Pau1 Keres Chess Master Class
19 Bb3 Bc8
20 b4
Instead of this, White should have been
thinking of how to deploy his forces to pre
vent the seizure of d4 by Black. For example,
by transferring his knight from f3 to c2 (after
Re2).
20 • • • Nf8
White is splendidly developed and is now 21 B X c8 R X c8
faced with choosing a plan of how to pro 22 Rd6
ceed. Serious consideration should have been
A blow in thin air. White merely assists the
given to the doubling of rooks on the d-file
regrouping planned by Keres.
and, in some cases, Bh3, with pressure on the
central file. If Black were to concede the 22 ... Ne8
centre by . . . e X d4, and if N X d4 Ne5, this 23 Rd3 f6
would entail a serious weakening of his 24 Redl Kf7
d-pawn, and since his black-squared bishop 25 a4 Ke6
has already been exchanged, this entire plan 26 Rd8 Rec7
loses in strength. It should be borne in mind
Of course, not 26 . . . RX d8 ? 27 RX d8.
that Black's pieces are cramped and have
By the move played Black vacates e7 for his
little scope for manoeuvring, whereas White,
king, so that it can participate in driving
after doubling rooks, can choose the most
away the enemy rook.
favourable moment to exchange on e5 and
exploit the open file. 27 K£1 Ke7
However, such a moment has not yet 28 R8d3 Rd7
arrived, and the decision taken by Reshevsky 29 R X d7+ N X d7
120
Attack
38 Rd8!
39 Kc3
9* 121
Paul Keres Chess Master Class
44 Rb2 a6 54 h X g3 hX g3
45 g4 55 Rd3 g2
56 Ne2
This activity is forced. Had White 'stood
still', Keres would have been free to attack 56 Rg3 is again met by 56 . . . RX c3 + .
White's K-side by . . . h5-h4 and . . . Rg8 or 56 . . . R x e4
. . . Rh8. 57 Ngl Rel
The point of the pawn sacrifice offered by
Reshevsky is to establish his knight at e4, White resigns.
and thus to gain counter-chances.
Seizing the initiative in the opening. Develop
B ment of the initiative
122
Attack
is won (and lost) by attacking a more valuable we may describe the avoidance of castling
piece with a less valuable one. For example, as inexcusable carelessness, and in another as
by attacking a piece with a pawn, as a result objectively the best decision, gaining an
of which this piece is forced to retreat to its important tempo for bringing the other pieces
initial position or to a less favourable one, into action. Specific calculation, taking ac
or so-called 'development with gain of count of both positional and tactical possibili
tempo', when a minor piece, in developing, ties, sometimes suggests that it is expedient
attacks and drives back an enemy piece. to accept a gambit, so as then to neutralize
Time is lost in the exchange (forced or un the opponent's initiative and in the end,
forced) of a developed piece for an undevel having survived the danger, to retain a
oped enemy piece. Time can be gained if, material advantage. Or at an appropriate
for the sake of winning material, your oppo moment it may be possible to return the
nent makes moves with an already developed sacrificed material, achieving positional gains
piece. in return. Mter the acceptance of a gambit a
We have come to one of the central tactical turn of events is also possible, sharply
problems of opening strategy-that of gam changing the situation, and with it the entire
bits. The word 'gambit' arose in the distant evaluation of the position.
times of the Italian School. To employ a When a master, in accepting a gambit,
gambit means to sacrifice material in the breaks the principle of development-Que
opening (one or more pawns, or more rarely of the basic principles of playing the open
a piece) for the sake of rapid development, ing-this is not because he has forgotten
the seizure of the centre, restriction of the about it. Simply he has come to the conclu
opponent's pieces, delaying (or prevention) sion that what applies in the given instance is
of him castling, the weakening of his pawn not the rule, but an exception. And he goes
formation, and other advantages. in for the win of a pawn (or pawns), realizing
It may be asked : why then accept the gam that in doing so he is losing time and is
bit, why take the 'wretched' pawn, if you subjecting himself to a certain danger.
lose time, fall behind in development, and He may prove to be correct in his calculations
come under an attack ? and evaluation, and, having parried the
Of course, if the disadvantages of accepting onslaught, will exploit his material advantage,
the gambit are obvious, only an ignorant or, say, will find a tactical opportunity to
beginner will be tempted by it ; an experi refute the gambit idea. Or he may have been
enced player will decline it. But the evaluation mistaken in his decision, and as a result comes
of the overwhelming majority of chess under an attack . . . .
positions is determined by many factors. Let us see how, in the battle for the initia
All general chess recommendations, and tive, gambit means are employed.
even principles, are relative. That which in
one instance is the main, determining factor, Keres-Fuderer
may in another instance (often after the Goteborg Interzonal, 1955
opponent's very next move) be of secondary Sicilian Defence
importance. In some positions the determin
ing factor is positional (for example, a lead 1 e4 c5
in development, the occupation of an open 2 Nf3 d6
file), while in others, even of very similar ap 3 d4 c X d4
pearance, it is material. Thus in one instance 4 N X d4 Nf6
123
Paul Keres Chess Master Class
6 ... e6
7 £4 Qb6
8 Qd2
124
Attack
3 ". c5
4 d X c5
16 0-0!
In a game with Stahlberg, played a year
The knight cannot be taken, of course, earlier, Keres continued here 4 Nf3, sacrificing
because of mate at d8, while 16 . . . Be7
his d-pawn and securely reinforcing his
still does not work, this time because of outpost at e5. (This plan is analyzed in detail
1 7 Rb3 Qa4 1 8 B X e7 Q X e4 (18 . . . KX e7 on p. 154, where; mention is also made of
19 Qg5+ ) 19 Rf4 Qg6 20 Rg3 Qh6 21 Bg5 maintaining the centre by c2-c3).
Qg6 22 Qb4 ! Ra7 23 Qb8, and wins.
I
4 d X c5, which Steinitz considered the
The attempt to gain a tempo for develop- strongest move, pursues the same aims.
ment by 16 . . . Bc5 + also does not help. Moreover, White does not sacrifice his central
After 1 7 Kh1 Black has to reckon with the pawn, but exchanges it. However, in contrast
threat of 1 8 Rb3. to the 4 Nf3 c x d4 variation, he has to reckon
16 . . . Qa4 with the black bishop being actively placed
17 BhS + ! Kd7 at c5.
If 1 7 . . . Ng6, then 1 8 Qf4 or 1 8 B X g6 + 4 ". Nc6
h X g6 1 9 Qf2 !, while 1 7 . . . g6 loses to
1 8 Nf6+ . It became clear comparatively recently
that this reply is more accurate than the
18 RXf8! immediate 4 . . . B x c5. The point is that after
The theme of defence-elimination. On the 5 Qg4 Ne7 White does not play 6 QXg7
capture of the rook there follows 1 9 Nc5 + . (since by 6 . . Ng6 Black regains his pawn
.
125
Paul Keres Chess Master Class
fxes 8 N x es Nf6 9 Bf4 0-0 10 0-0 Ne4, In the opinion of Keres, on 8 . . . Ng6
with a roughly equal game (for example, it would have been most expedient for
11 NX c6 b X c6 12 Be3 B X e3 13 Q X e3 Nf6, White to sacrifice his b-pawn by 9 Qcl ,
as in Becker-Mar6czy, Karlsbad, 1 929), when after 9 . . . N X f4 10 Q X f4 Q X b2
and intensifying the pressure on e5 by 1 1 Nbd2 the e5 pawn is securely defended,
7 . . . Qc7. In this latter case Black should meet and his lead in development and the open
8 Bf4 with the bold 8 . . . g5 9 Bg3 g4 and b-file give White good attacking chances.
10 . . . N X e5, with an extremely sharp position
9 Nbd2 Qb6
in which it is not so easy for White to show
that he has sufficient compensation for his In taking the pawn, Black has lost two
lost central pawn. tempi and also opened for the opponent an
7 B£4 important file. It is instructive to follow how
Keres exploits these advantages of his posi
Keres invites a double attack on f2 and b2. tion.
The game Nimzowitsch-Alekhine (St Peters Note that the retreat of the queen was
burg, 1 914) showed that after the quiet forced. Further winning of material would
7 0-0 Black gains a good game by 7 . . . Ng6 have placed Black on the verge of catastrophe,
8 Rei Bd7 9 c3 Bb6 followed by . . . Bc7. for example : 9 . . . Ng6 10 Rb l Q X a2 ? 1 1
7 ... Qb6 Bg3 followed by h2-h4, with a very strong
8 0-0 attack.
10 c4
126
Attack
23 Nc4 + ! d X c4
24 Rfd1 + Resigns.
127
Paul Keres Chess Master Class
7 ... Qa5 +
128
Attack
B w
10 . . . cX b2?
N X e5, then 15 Bb5+ Nd7 16 Qx d5 ! !,
Played according to the principle : in for concluding the attack.
a penny, in for a pound. But Black should After the move in the game, the sacrifice at
have been concerned for his development, f7 works immediately.
and played 10 . . . Nc6, when by restricting
his gains to one pawn, he could probably w
have maintained a defensible position. For
example, 1 1 Re1 Be6 12 b X c3 d X e5 1 3
N X e5 N X e5 14 RXe5 Bd6. The point i s
that the consequences o f the exchange sacri
fice-15 RX e6+ fXe6 16 Qh5 + , which
Keres considered highly promising, are un
clear, on the retreat of the rook to e1 Black
simply castles, while if 1 5 Re3, then 1 5 . . . d4 !
But let us return to the Keres-Winter
game, in which Black is now three(!) pawns
13 NXf7 !
up.
11 Rb1 d X e5 Black is made to pay for his 'pawn-grab
bing'. Having delayed castling, the black king
A further mistake. You should not open
is forced into an unequal battle.
lines if the opponent has a lead in develop
ment. Essential was 1 1 . . . Nc6, and if 12 Re1 13 . . . KXf7
Be6, although even then after 13 RX b2 14 Qh5+ g6
White retains a dangerous attack. The follow
If 14 . . . Kg8, then 15 Qe8+ Bf8 16 Q X c8.
ing variation, for example, is amusing : 13 . . .
On 14 . . . Ke6 White wins by 15 Bf5 + Ke5
Qc7 14 Qb1 Rb8 15 Rc1 Bd7 (16 R X c6 was
(15 . . . KX/5 16 Bd2 + ) 16 Rfe l + , while in
threatened, and if 15 . . . a6, then 16 Rb6,
the event of 14 . . . Kf8 Keres had prepared
renewing this threat). this variation : 15 Rfe1 Bd7 16 Qf3+ Kg8 1 7
(See diagram next column) Be7 !, when Black is defenceless {17 . . . B X e7
16 e6 ! fxe6 1 7 Bg6+ ! h X g6 18 Q X g6 -18 RX e7, with the irresistible threat of
mate. 19 Qf7+ ).
12 N x e5 Bd6 15 B X g6+ ! h X g6
Now 12 . . . Be6 13 RX b2 Nc6 is very 16 Q X h8 Bf5
strongly met by 14 RXb7!, and if 14 . . . 17 Rfe1 Be4
1 29
Paul Keres Chess Master Class
7 BbS BfS
Black resigns.
Strangely enough, this natural move (Black
And now-an example of gaining time by wishes to maintain his control of e4) is the
a so-called obstructive sacrifice. cause of his subsequent difficulties. He should
have played 7 . . . N X d2 and 8 . . . e6.
Keres-Schmid
Bamberg, 1968 8 0-0 a6
Sicilian Defence
Of course, 8 . . . N X d2 9 B X d2 B X c2 ?
1 d4 c5 would have been suicidal : 10 e6 1 fXe6 1 1
2 e4 Rc1 Bf5 1 2 Ne5, with a n easy win.
In trying to get rid of the annoying bishop,
, Keres takes play from a closed opening
Black loses a tempo. In reply to 8 . . . e6 Keres
into a Sicilian Defence.
would probably have played 9 Qa4, with an
2 • • • c X d4 unpleasant pin on the knight at c6. Thus on
3 Nf3 9 . . . Qb6 there could have followed 10 Nb3,
and if 10 . . . Nc5, then 1 1 N X c5 B X c5 12
The gambit continuation 3 c3 is interesting,
b4 Be7 13 Be3, with advantage to White.
when Black is by no means obliged to accept
the pawn sacrifice. After 3 . . . d X c3 4 N x c3 9 B X c6+ b X c6
Nc6 5 Nf3 d6 6 Bc4 e6 7 0-0 Nf6 8 Qe2 10 Qa4 Qd7
White has compensation for it in the form
One more move, . . . e6, and Black will
of better development. But perfectly possible
have solved his opening problems . . .
is 3 . . . d5, 3 . . . Nf6, or even 3 . . . d3.
11 N X e4 B X e4
3 . . • Nf6
1 1 . . . dXe4 is strongly met by 12 Ng5
Holding on to the pawn by 3 . . . e5 is (12 . . . c5 13 Qc4; 12 . . . Qd5 13 c4 Qd7 14
dangerous. After 4 c3 (4 NX e5? ? Qa5+ ) c5 or 14 Rel).
4 . . . d X c3 5 N X c3 White has not only a
(See diagram next column)
lead in development, but also control of d5,
12 e6!
which gives him good prospects.
Instead of the move played, Black could This sacrifice obstructs the development of
have transposed into one of the normal Black's K-side.
variations of the Sicilian Defence by 3 . . . d6,
12 Q X e6
3 . . . e6 or 3 . . . Nc6, but instead the German
• . .
1 30
Attack
18 f3
Otherwise it is not clear how Black will Rd6, with an advantage in the ending.
defend against Rad1, after which White
22 . . . Bd8
threatens not only the doubling of his rooks,
but also Bd6. w
17 Rad1
17 . . . Qc6
131
Paul Keres Chess Master Class
24 Q X g7 Rf8
46 g5 Re3+
Forced, since 24 . . . Qd4+ ? 25 Q X d4 47 Kfl h3
RX d4 26 Be5 leaves White a bishop up. 48 c6 R X h4
132
Attack
Ke6 8 Nc3 White develops a strong attack, Therefore White must first drive away the
but even more convincing is 6 d4, and if bishop.
6 . . . e X d4, then 7 0-0, threatening the sacri
14 . . . BhS
fice on f7.
15 g4 Bg6
6 d3 16 d X c6 bXc6
The other branch of this well-studied open White still has not castled, his queen is
ing is 6 Bb5+ c6 7 d x c6 b X c6 8 Be2 h6 9 badly placed, and in addition his position
Nf3 e4 1 0 Ne5 Bd6, when again Black has has a number of weaknesses.
perfectly adequate compensation for the
17 Bd2?
pawn.
Essential was 1 7 Be3, preventing the open
6 ... h6
ing of the e-file. Black would probably have
7 Nf3 e4
continued 1 7 . . . Nd7, with excellent compen
8 Qe2 N X c4
sation for the sacrificed pawn.
9 d X c4 BcS
10 Nfd2 B
10 . . . 0-0
11 Nb3 Bg4
12 Qfl Bb4+ !
133
Paul Keres Chess Master Class
3 ... d5
134
Attack
Na3 B X h3, and White is helpless. Bg2+ 1 8 RX g2 (or 18 Kg1 Be4+ , winning
the queen) 1 8 . . . Qh3 + 19 Rh2 (otherwise
12 . . • Bh3! Black wins the queen) 19 . . . Qfl mate.
13 f3 16 ... Q X g3 +
"But why not 13 d4 ?", the reader may ask. 17 Kh1 Bg2+
Because then 13 . . . Rae8 ! 1 4 Q X e8 R X e8 1 5 18 Q x g2 Q x e1 +
R X e8 + Bf8, when both 16 . . . Qd1 + and 19 Qg1 Qe4+
16 . . . Qf3 (or 16 . . . Qd5) are threatened, and 20 Qg2
White is defenceless. Rather more tenacious is 20 Kh2 (so as to
be able to answer 20 . . . Qd3 with 21 Qe3),
B but then comes 20 . . . Re3, and the white king
is helpless against the attack by the heavy
pieces.
(See diagram next page)
White is two minor pieces up. What next?
20 . . . Qd3!!
A 'quiet' move o f exceptional strength.
By blocking the d-pawn, Black paralyzes the
opponent's entire Q-side. Now his rook comes
into play, and for it White has to give up his
13 . . . B X g3 queen.
10 135
Paul Keres Chess Master Class
Keres-Ojanen
Match Estonia-Finland, Helsinki, 1960
Sicilian Defence
1 e4 c5
2 Nf3 e6
3 d4 c X d4
21 c4 ReS 4 NX d4 a6
22 Nc3 Re6 5 Nc3 Qc7
23 b3 Rh6+ 6 Bd3 b5
24 Kg1 Rg6
A premature advance. Black should have
25 Q X g6 h X g6
completed his development, and only then
26 Na4?
taken active measures. For example, 6 . . .
A blunder, of course, but all the same Nc6 7 Be3 Nf6, when subsequently the
White's position was hopeless. The black following plan of developing the king's
g-pawn will march unhindered up to g3, bishop deserves consideration : 8 0-0 Bd6
while the white pieces will have to mark time 9 Kh1 (9 h3 b5) 9 . . . Bf4.
in order to defend one another. A possible
7 0-0 Bb7
continuation was 26 Ba3 Q X d2 27 Rcl g5,
8 Re1 !
or 26 Rbl g5 27 Bb2 g4 28 Rfl Qg3 + 29
Khl Qh3 + 30 Kgl g3, with an easy win. A very strong move, after which Black
finds himself in great difficulties. The game
26 . . . Qd4+
has only just begun, and White's initiative has
136
Attack
10* 137
Paul Keres Chess Master Class
Or 24 . ..RXa2? 25 Bc4.
25 Bc4 Resigns.
Keres-Kotov
1 4 b4! Piirnu, 1947
Sicilian Defence
Now the e5 pawn falls, which means that
for his knight White gains three pawns. At 1 e4 cS
the same time Black is prevented from cas 2 Ne2
tling,and proves unable to unite his scattered
White indicates his intention of playing the
forces.
closed variation (without d2-d4).
14 . . . Qc6
2 . • . d6
Of course, 14 . .. QXb4 fails to 15 Nc7+
3 g3 bS
Kd8 16 Reb l .
f6
In the closed variation, when there is a
15 Q x es
quiet position in the centre (for example,
16 Nd6+ Kf8
after 3 . . .Nc6 4 Nbc3 g6 5 Bg2 Bg7), Black's
17 Qd7 Na6
plan is to prepare active play on the Q-side,
On 18 b5 Black was intending 18 ... Qc5, and by 3 . ..b5 Kotov immediately initiates
but Keres has a different idea in mind. this plan. However, White has by no means
138
Attack
Threatening 9 e5, and if 9 . . . B X g2-10 Here too 1 1 Nc3 e6 12 Nd5 was a promis
e X f6 Bh3 {10 . . . Bb7 11 N/5 with a fatal ing continuation.
check at d6 or g7) 1 1 fX e7 B X e7 12 Qh5 ! 11 .
• . NcS
Qd7 (or 12 . . .Bd7 13 Bg5) 13 Bg5, and Black U Rc4 e5
loses material due to the pin.
Kotov defends against this threat. The best decision. Black agrees to a back
ward d6 pawn, if only to get rid of the menac
8 ... Qc7
ing knight.
Mter this White's lead in development
becomes menacing. It would have been rela 13 Nf5 Qd7
tively best for Black to agree to the weakening 14 b4 was threatened.
of his d5 square, and to drive away the
centralized knight by 8 . . . e5 9 Nf5 g6
14 Bh3 Ne6
followed by . . . Be7 and . . . 0-0.
15 BaS g6
16 Ne3
9 a4!
The combination 16 Rc7 N X c7 1 7 Ng7+
This breaks up Black's Q-side, since on B X g7 18 B X d7+ K X d7 does not work :
9 . . . b4 there follows 10 c3 !, gaining a further Black gains more than enough for the queen.
tempo for development, and opening the
c-file, on which the black queen is situated. 16 . • Rc8
17 Nc3
9 ... bX a4
The attempt to exploit the pin on the knight
w by 1 7 Nd5 N X d5 1 8 R x c8 + Q x c8 1 9
e X d5 does not work because o f 1 9 . . . Qc5,
with a simultaneous attack on the bishop and
the d-pawn.
White's problem now is to exploit the
weakness ofthe opponent's central pawns.
17 • . . RX c4
18 N X c4 Qc6
19 b3
139
Paul Keres Chess Master Class
Here 1 9 . . . Be7 loses a pawn after 20 B X e6 position is hopeless, in the first instance
fX e6 21 Bb4. True, one still has to calculate because of the threat of Rc7; on 24 . . . Qb5
the variation in which Black tries to exploit White wins by 25 NX d6 Q x a5 26 RXf7+
the pin-21 . . . 0--0 22 B X d6 Rd8. This, how Kg8 27 Nf6 mate) 22 Qb6 ! Be7 23 R X e4
ever, is refuted by 23 Nd5 !, when White re Q x e4 24 N x d6 + B X d6 25 Qd8 mate.
mains with a material advantage, for example : But let us return to the game. Things did
(a) 23 . . . e X d5 24 B X e7 ReS 25 e X d5 not get as far as a time scramble.
N X d5 26 Na5 (26 NX e5 ? Qc7!) 26 . . . Ne3
19 . .. Nc5
27 N X c6 N X d1 28 Na5, and White is a
pawn up. The reader will already have met this
{b) 23 . . . B X d6 24 N X f6 + , with a clear position in the section devoted to combina
advantage. tions on the theme of diversion (p.7). M
Relatively best was 19 . . . Nd4, when Keres, ter 20 N x e5 ! Kotov resigned-the knight
who was short of time, would have had a more cannot be taken because of mate at d8.
difficult task. Interesting complications arise Yes, playing the Sicilian Defence against
after 20 Nd5 ! NX d5 21 N x e5 ! , for example : Keres was an extremely dangerous business !
{a) 21 . . . d X e5 22 Q X d4 ! e X d4 23
eX d5 + , with a decisive material advantage, Keres-Scbmid
since 23 . . . Be7 24 d X c6 B X c6 fails to 25 Zurich, 1961
Bb4. Alekhine's Defence
(b) 21 . . . Qc5 22 Nc4. If now 22 . . . Be7, 1 e4 Nf6
then simply 23 Bg2. Mter the knight moves
This opening bears the name of the Russian
from d5, White regains his piece by 24 Bb6
World Champion, although it had been
and 25 B X d4, remaining a pawn up with an
employed earlier by the Moscow player M.
excellent position. If instead 23 . . . Nc6, then
Klyatsky. The idea of 1 . . . Nf6 is to provoke
24 e X d5 N x a5 25 Qe2 0-0 26 Q X e7
a further advance of White's central pawns,
B X d5 27 B X d5 Q X d5 28 Qx d6, with an
so as to then undermine and weaken them.
extra pawn and winning chances.
It remains for us to analyze 20 . . . N X e4 2 e5 Nd5
(instead of 20 . . . NX d5), with the idea after 3 Nc3
2 1 RX e4 of taking the knight at d5.
The most restrained continuation. The
(See diagram next column) basic idea of Alekhine's Defence is vividly
21 Q X d4 Q X d5 (after 21 . . . exd4 22 displayed in the so-called Four Pawns
RX e4+ Be7 23 RX e7 + Kf8 24 Bg2 Black's Attack : 3 c4 Nb6 4 d4 d6 5 f4.
140
Attack
6 Bb5 Bd7
7 Qe2
141
Paul Keres Chess Master Class
12 . . . h6 19 Rhd1 b6
13 Bh4 Bd6
Otherwise he cannot castle.
On 13 . . . g5 ? Keres would probably have
20 QhS 0-0-0
continued 1 4 Rd1 (14 . . . gXh4 15 Qd4!,
simultaneously threatening mate and the rook Black has achieved his aim, but at too high
at h8), while 1 3 . . . Be7 is strongly met by a price. White wins the f7 pawn, and even on
14 B X e7 and 15 0-0-0. the Q-side the black king does not find any
shelter. Note that 20 . . . 0-0 loses instantly to
14 0-0-0 Qc7
21 Kbl Bc8 22 Rd4.
It remains for Black to play . . . g5, when he And now consider how White should
will be able to castle long . . . continue the attack after 20 . . . Rd8. (For the
answer cf. p. 1 79, No. 9).
1S Qd4 !
the pawns.
17 B X f6 Qf4+
142
Attack
10 . . . c5
11 Ne2 c6
143
Paul Keres Chess Master Class
22 . . . g4
23 Nfl
The h2 square is securely defended, and
Black's attack parried.
23 ... Re4
24 Nf2 R X e1
25 Q X e1 Re8
17 . . . Q X h4 26 Qd1 Qh6
27 Nd3 Bc8
Reluctantly, Reshevsky decides to sac 28 Bd2 Qh4
rifice his knight. Why did he reject 1 7 . . . Nd6 ? 29 Qc2 Re2
(for the answer cf. p. 1 79, No. 10).
An instance when an invasion of the second
18 e X f7+ K X f7 rank is quite ineffective. 29 . . . Re4 would have
set White slightly more problems, but even
For the knight Black has gained two pawns
then, by transferring his bishop to g3 and
plus some hopes of an attack. See how Keres
then playing Rel and Nd2, Keres would all
neutralizes the threats and realizes his
the same have forced the exchange of rooks.
advantage.
19 Nd3 ! 30 Re1 RX e1
31 B x e1 Qe7
19 Qdl is strongly met by 1 9 . . . Bd6 ! 32 Qd2 h5
19 . . . Bd6 w
20 f4
20 . . . Rae8
gX/4 22 Nf3).
21 Qd1 g5 33 Ne5+
22 Nd2 The most efficient. The knight cannot be
taken, so that the game is over. Winning a
Keres calmly develops his Q-side. If now
pawn by 33 . . . B x e5 34 fx e5 Q x e5 allows
22 . . . B X f4, then 23 Nf3 RX e l + (otherwise
the invasion of the white pieces after 35 Bg3 !
after BX/4 the blocked black pawns are
quickly lost) 24 Qx e l Qx e l + 25 Nfx e 1 33 . . . Kg7
144
Attack
34 Qe2 h4 B
35 Nd2
(See diagram next column) 24 Qe3 e X f3, when his bishops are very
active.
Having chosen a restrained plan of devel
opment, Black's strategy has been based on 23 Qc2 NX c3
the preparation of a pawn counter in the 24 NX c3'?
centre. At last he has the opportunity to
As Moiseyev indicated after the game,
make a long-planned move.
24 QX c3 was essential. The positional
20 . . . d5 threat of 25 Nd4 (a blockading knight in
145
Paul Keres Chess Master Class
25 . . . Bd7
26 a3 Qf4
146
Attack
16 e X d4 21 Bb2 Nc3
22 B X c3 RX c3
After 16 c X d4 cX d4 1 7 e4 d3 1 8 Ba4 Nd7
23 Kh1
Black has a strong passed pawn.
16 . . . c X d4 B
17 RX e8+
19 Ba4 23 . . . h5!
On the edge of the board the bishop proves Keres not only makes an escape square for
to be far away from the main events. his king, but also threatens by the further
advance of this pawn to break up the enemy
19 . . . Qe5!
king's pawn screen. If now White moves
Not only centralizing the queen, but also his knight-24 Ne4, then 24 . . . Be2 25 Qd2
threatening to move the knight from d4. (or 25 Qdl, or 25 Qgl) 25 . . . N x f3 !
20 Rb1 24 Bd7
147
Paul Keres Chess Master Class
25 . . . Bb7 28 . . . R X e4!
26 Ne4? 29 R X e4 d5
30 Q x a6 dXe4
This allows a crushing tactical stroke.
31 Be3
Essential was 26 Qc4, when the knight
sacrifice at f3 would not have worked. As a result of this simple operation Black
There could have followed 26 . . . Qe3 27 Nfl, has gained a passed e-pawn, which is a great
and if 27 . . . Qe2-28 Be8 R x f3 29 Q x e2 er achievement than White's creation of a
N X e2 30 Nd2. passed a-pawn. But Black's main achievement
26 . . . B x e4 is that all his pieces (and also the e-pawn) are
27 fX e4 ready to join the attack.
B 31 . . . Qg4!
Euwe-Keres 32 Qc4
Match-Tournamentfor the World Is the e4 pawn attacked ?
Championship, 1948 32 • • • Rd3 !
B No, for the moment it is not attacked.
On 33 Q X e4 ? there follows 33 . . . Qe2,
winning the pinned bishop.
33 Bel
If 33 Rel , then 33 . . . f5 (34 Q x c7 Nh4,·
34g3 Nh4).
(See diagram next column)
33 . . . Nh4 !
148
Attack
B B
34 Q X e4+
Rde7 ! It turns out that White has a weak
There is no choice, since on 34 Qc2 there back rank-the queen cannot be taken be
follows 34 . . . f5 followed by 35 . . . Rc3 or cause of mate, and therefore the bishop
35 . . . e3. has to be retreated to c4.
34 . . . f5 Even so, White should have gone in for this
35 Qb7 c6 variation. After the possible continuation
23 Bc4 Rei + 24 RX e l RX e l + 25 Bfl
By luring the enemy queen onto the c-file,
Qbl 26 Qc4 White has defended his bishop,
Keres wins a piece for two pawns.
and is in turn threatening to attack f7 by
36 Q X c6 Rd7, and 26 . . . B X b2 27 Rd7 Qf5 28 R X b7
B leads to a roughly equal position.
22 g3
22 . . . Bg5 !
23 f4
We have reached a position in which Black On 23 Be6 ? Keres would have continued
decided the game within a few moves 23 . . . RX e6 24 R X d7 Re2 ! (note that, with
(cf. p.7). the black bishop at f6, this tactical stroke
would not have worked, since f7 would have
Bobotsov-Keres
been undefended). In view of the threat of
Beverwijk, 1964
mate, White loses his rook at d7, and comes
(See diagram next column) out a piece down.
Of course, the Bulgarian grandmaster
If it were White to move, he would win the
played 23 f4 very much against his will .
exchange by the elegant Be6. Keres parries
He rejected 23 Rd3, not wishing to allow the
this threat by tactical means.
enemy rook onto his second rank : 23 . . . Re2
21 . . . ReS ! 24 Rfl Bf6 !
Now 22 Be6 does not win in view of 22 . . . But now an important diagonal is denuded�
149
Paul Keres Chess Master Class
27 Q X b6 RX d3
28 Qd8+ RXd8
29 R X d8+ Kg7
30 B X e2
25 Rc2 is totally bad. Black continues the Black easily realizes his Q-side pawn
attack by 25 . . . Bb6 + 26 Kg2 Re3 ! 27 Rc3 majority.
(27 Qc4 Rc7) 27 . . . Re2+ 28 Khl (or 28 Kfl a4
36 Kdl
Rf2+ 29 Kel Re7+) 28 . . . Qh3, and mates. b4
37 Bd3
25 • .. Re2 38 Bbl Qgl +
26 Bf3 Bb6+
If 39 Kc2, then 39 . . . b3 + , but otherwise
The white king is without defence. If 27 the K-side pawns are lost.
Khl (27 Kfl Rf2 + ), then 27 . . . RX d3 White resigns.
150
Defence and counter-attack
11 151
Paul Keres Chess Master Class
passive to active defence, i.e. for the prepara Against a flank attack-counter-play in the
tion of a counter-attack. centre!
In active defence we can distinguish : Browne-Keres
(1) Defensive measures i n the sector under Vancouver, 1975
attack, combined with counter-play on the B
other flank. For example, the preparation
and carrying out of operations on the Q-side
in answer to an offensive by the opponent
on the K-side. Or-action in the centre in
answer to a flank attack. According to the
teachings of the first World Champion,
Wilhelm Steinitz-the founder of the posi
tional school-a secure centre and a spatial
advantage are preconditions for a successful
flank attack. Hence the defensive rule : a flank
White's pieces are somewhat more actively
attack should be met by active play in the
placed, and with his next move Keres simpli
centre.
fies the position.
(2) Parrying of the attack and the subse
quent seizure of the initiative on the same sec 12 ... Ng4
tor where the opponent is attacking. 13 B X e7 Nx e7
The choice of defensive means depends 14 N X g4 Bx bs
on the nature of the position ; the greater 15 Nh4 Bd7
the opponent's advantage (of course, we are 16 Re3
not talking of a material advantage), the B
more modest, the more restrained the defen
sive measures. But if the attack undertaken
is positionally unfounded, the defender is
simply bound to play actively, so as not only
to parry the insufficiently prepared attack,
but also to seize the initiative, and "to punish
the opponent for his audacity". In all instan
ces the defence should be flexible, i.e. both
positional and tactical means should be used.
In especially difficult positions, when by
Browne prepares an attack on the K-side.
normal methods the game can no longer be
In accordance with the rules of chess strategy,
saved, it is legitimate to employ tactical
Keres replies with a counter-blow in the
tricks and traps-i.e. actions involving an
centre, but first he makes a regrouping
obvious risk, and hoping for an error by the
necessary for the defence of his K-side.
opponent.
Using specific examples, we will analyze 16 . . . Kh7 !
certain methods of active defence. 17 Rg3 Ng8
18 Nf3 BX g4
Black's task is to exchange minor pieces,
and, after parrying the threats on the K-side,
leave the opponent with his rook out of play.
1 52
Defence and Counter-attack
28 • . . Q£4 !
1 1* 153
Paul Keres Chess Master Class
This was Keres's last game. His last victory 7 Nbd2 Ne7
in his last tournament. 8 Nb3 Nc6
9 Re1 g6
Defence by tactical means 10 Bf4 B g7
11 Qd2
Keres-Stahlberg
Warsaw Olympiad, 1935 White has harmoniously deployed his for
French Defence ces, and his e5 pawn is securely defended.
Black's extra pawn, which has no pawn sup
1 e4 e6
port, is under constant observation.
2 d4 d5
3 e5 c5 11 . . . 0-0
4 Nf3 12 h4 Qc7
Another way of handling this variation is Yet another attack, the fourth, on the e5
to defend the pawn centre by 4 c3. Then, by pawn. But White also has a fourth defence.
intensifying the pressure on d4 by 4 . . . Qb6, Therefore it would have been better to offer
. . . Nc6 followed by . . . Nge7 and . . . c X d4, the immediate exchange by 12 . . . f6. After
Black obtains a perfectly satisfactory posi 1 3 e X f6 N X f6 White controls the key e5
tion. square, and the e6 pawn remains backward,
In the opinion of Nimzowitsch, success for but . . . Bd7 and . . . Rae8 would have given
White in this variation is not bound to in Black a sound position.
volve defending his d-pawn-it can perfectly
13 Qe2 f6
well be sacrificed. What is important is to
maintain the outpost at e5, for which the This leads to wild complications, in which
support of the pieces is quite sufficient. White exact calculation is impossible. However,
also does not have to fear the exchange of his there was no longer any positional solution.
1 54
Defence and Counter-attack
14 eXf6 Q x f4
15 Q X e6+ Rf7
16 fX g7
17 Qe8+ KgX 7
18 R X eS !
18 . . . Bh3
155
Paul Keres Chess Master Class
rook-he has the excellent tactical reply 20 attack ! Keres exploits the open position of
Rf5 ! With what should Black take the rook ? the black king to create direct threats.
(a) 20 . . . g Xf5 2 1 Nc5 ! Q X f3 (or 21 . .
24 . . g5
.
25 Nd2 Qh6
Rel !, and it is no longer Black, but White,
who has the attack (the threat is 24 Qh8 + ). Played with the aim of preventing the trans
(b) 20 . . . RX f5 2 1 B X f5 B X f3 22 Q X b7 + fer of the knight to f3. In turn, Black threat
Kh6 2 3 Bh3 Q X h4 24 Qc8, and White ens to play . . . g4. But how terrible is this
wins. threat?
(c) Also bad for Black is 20 . . . Qg4 2 1
w
RXf7+ K X f7 22 Ng5+ .
20 Qe8 !
20 . . . Nc6
On 20 . . . N X f3+ 21 g X f3 Q X f3 Keres
would have played 22 Qe5+ and 23 Qg3,
parrying the threats and remaining a knight
up.
How Keres exploited his advantage, the
w reader already knows from the chapter 'The
calculation of variations' (p.34).
Euwe-Keres
AVRO-Tournament, Holland, 1938
B
21 Q X £7 + !
1 56
Defence and Counter-attack
In this desperate situation Keres finds an 39 . . . Kh7 40 Kg2 Kg8 41 Kg3 Kf7 42 f5 ! !
excellent chance. g X f5 43 Kf4 Ke6 (or 43 . . . Kg6 44 Ke5)
44 Kg5, picking up the h-pawn, with an
35 . . . f4!
easy win thanks to the passed pawns on
36 exf4
both wings.
Apparently, the natural reply-so as not But let us return to the game.
to allow . . . fX g3 followed by . . . Qg4 or
36 e3!
. . . Qh3. But it was precisely on this pawn
• • •
capture that Keres was pinning his hopes. The aim of this second pawn sacrifice is to
The correct continuation was 36 B X d5 ! weaken White's g3 square. On 37 fX e3 there
R X d5 ! (otherwise 37 Qc3!) 37 RX d5 Q X d5 follows 37 . . . Qh3 38 e4 N X f4, when on the
(37 . . . B Xd5 again fails to the same reply capture of the knight, 39 g X f4, Black wins
38 Qc3). by 39 . . . Qg4+ . What is White to do ?
His only defence is to divert the rook by
w
39 Bg7+ RX g7 40 g X f4. But even this does
not save him. Black continues 40 . . . Qg4 + ,
after which the white king is completely ex
posed, and the f- and e-pawns are attacked.
The position after 38 e4 is full of tactical
possibilities. Apart from 38 . . . NX f4, Black
also has another tactical blow. What is it ?
(For the answer cf. p. 1 79, No. 1 1).
Let us also see what would have happened
after 37 Be5. Then comes 37 . . . e X f2+ 38
When considering the exchange on d5, KX f2 Qh3 ! 39 RX d5 (39 Qf3 is decisively
Euwe probably saw that 38 Qc3, for which met by 39 . . . Nf6!) 39 . . . Qh2+ 40 Kfl
he had been hoping, no longer achieves its Qh1 + 41 Kf2 B X d5, and wins.
�
aim in view of 38 . . . Qd1 + 39 Kh2 (39 Kg2
37 B X d5 !
Qf3+) 39 . . . fX g3 + , when Black gives per-
petual check. B
Carried away by ideas of an attack, the
Ex-World Champion overlooked a chance of
obtaining . . . a won ending with opposite
coloured bishops ! From the psychological
viewpoint such a mistake is easy to under
stand.
A win would have resulted from the prosaic
38 Q x d5 ! B X d5 39 g X f4. It is not the
question of the extra pawn, which with oppo
site-coloured bishops does not play a signi
ficant role. Black's downfall is the unfor 37 . . . e2!
tunate position of his king. Were it at e6, the
Splendid ! White cannot take the queen
ending would be drawn. But in the given
because of mate in three moves.
position White wins by the advance of his
king to g3 and the break f4-f5, for example : 38 Rel Q X dS
157
Paul Keres Chess Master Class
158
The practical endgame
It by no means always happens that the middlegame (and, of course, the opening) on
game concludes in the middlegame-with a the same field of battle there are fewer fight
direct attack on the king, a crushing counter ing units operating, and it follows that their
attack, or the gaining of a material advantage duties become greater and their sphere of
which leaves the opponent with no hope of action expanded-this applies in particular
resistance. A stubborn struggle (this relates to the long-range pieces, which, as a result of
especially to games between opponents of pawn exchanges or the elimination of pawns
roughly equal strength) often leads to the in some other way, gain the opportunity of
outcome being decided only in the conclud penetrating into the enemy position. This
ing stage-the endgame, when there is a allows the opposing pawns to be attacked
limited number of fighting units remaining from the flank and from the rear.
on the board. Since the ultimate aim of a chess game is
The first fundamental difference between to mate the opposing king, this is also the
the endgame and the preceding stages is that aim of the endgame. But in order to obtain an
the king, which in the opening and the middle elementary ending, in which the achievement
game requires special consideration and a of mate is of a purely technical nature and
secure shelter, normally no longer needs does not present any difficultyt, you need a
defending*. It is transformed into a strong, very large material advantage. This is achieved
active piece, itself attacks opposing pieces by the queening of a pawn.
and pawns, and invades the enemy position. The promotion to a queen (or in certain
The position of the king, its ability to take a tactical circumstances-for example, so as
direct part in the play, determines to a great to avoid stalemate-to another piece) is
extent the further course of the battle and planned or carried out in every endgame.
its final result. A passed pawn is created (not necessarily
The second fundamental difference of the in the endgame) by the elimination of the
endgame is the sharp change in the role and opposing enemy pawns, i.e. those on the same
the real strength of the pawns, since the pro or adjacent files, by an exchange or a simple
motion of a pawn (or the prevention of pro capture, and sometimes by a break-through,
motion) is the alpha and omega of all end when a pawn barrier is overcome by means
game plans. of a sacrifice (or sacrifices). The opponent
The role of the remaining pieces also chan will of course try to prevent the advance of
ges considerably. In comparison with the the passed pawn, using his pieces either to
* Exceptions are provided by a few, mainly heavy-piece endings, in which the nature of the play is closer to
the middlegame than the endgame.
t For example, when a queen (or rook), two bishops, or a bishop and knight, supported by the king, drive
the opposing king into a mating net 011 the edge of the board or in a corner.
159
Paul Keres Chess Master Class
blockade the pawn or to attack the square in for. Instances when an attack on the king.
front of it. The pawn's further advance is begun in the middlegame with a board full of
ensured by the exchange of such pieces, by pieces is then continued in the endgame,
driving them away, or by controlling the occur comparatively rarely. Mating threats
square onto which the pawn must step. can of course be put into effect in the
If the defender is not able to blockade or endgame, but this is nevertheless an excep
stop the passed pawn, in order to prevent the tion.
appearance of a new queen he will have to The task of the stronger side in an endgame
give up a piece for the pawn and suffer loss usually consists of realizing a material or
of material. positional advantage gained by the preceding
In spite of the significant change in the play, while that of the weaker side is to neu
nature of the struggle in the endgame, many tralize this advantage.
strategic principles, as well as tactical devices, In general terms the plan of realizing a
retain their effect. For example, the principle material advantage reduces to simplifying the
of centralization. Only now, in contrast to position until a theoretical ending is reached,
the opening and the middlegame, an impor in which the method of winning has been
tant role is assigned to the centralization of exactly established. Theoretical endings are
the king. On becoming an active piece, from guides indicating which positions we should
the centre it can make for either flank, accord aim for, and which we should avoid, which
ing to circumstances. exchanges (of pieces or pawns) we should
Also unchanged is the principle of activat agree to or force, and which we should pre
ing the pieces and restricting the mobility of vent ; in which situations it is preferable to
the opposing forces. Specific plans take ac remain with a bishop against a knight, and
count of the fact that the action is taking place in which, on the contrary, it is better to have
with limited forces on a greater expanse of a knight against a bishop ; in which positions
space. Thus the activity of the rook shows it is favourable to exchange the last piece
itself to excellent effect in attacking enemy and go into a pawn ending, and in which
pawns from the side and the rear, when they everything must be done to avoid such an
are unable to defend one another. And the exchange.
penetration into the enemy rear is facilitated If the opponent has a material advantage,
by the fact that the number of open files is the weaker side's task is to re-establish the
greater than in the preceding stages. material balance or to neutralize the advan
The endgame also sees the appearance of tage in some other way, in particular by re
completely new concepts, ideas, and indi ducing play to a theoretical ending in which
vidual devices, which are foreign to the open the material advantage cannot be realized.
ing and the middlegame. We can mention For example, with opposite-coloured bishops
certain ways of simplifying calculation (for an advantage of one, and often two pawns
example, 'the rule of the square'), the concept proves insufficient for a win. It has been
of zugzwang, the use of 'corresponding established with complete accuracy in which
squares', and so on. situations the ending 'king and pawn against
The initial position of any ending is the king' ends in a draw ; a king and two knights
result of the preceding struggle, and that is are simply unable to mate a lone king, while
why the tasks and concrete plans of the two a king, bishop and rook's pawn cannot drive
sides are determined by what this result is, a lone king out of the corner (and hence the
and what, strictly speaking, should be aimed pawn cannot be queened) if the 'colour of the
160
The Practical Endgame
bishop'* is different to that of the queening will not be the realization (or neutralization)
square. Positions have been analyzed in which of an advantage, but the gaining of one.
the advantage of the exchange (or even the In the concluding stage an enormous role
exchange and a pawn) does not win, while a is played by logic and consistency of thinking,
rook and pawn may sometimes successfully combined with specific knowledge of theory.
defend against a queen and pawn, and so on. We, however, will not be interested in theo
If with exact play by the opponent it is retical endings (to which special multi-tome
impossible to neutralize the material advan researches have been devoted), but positions
tage, one should nevertheless do the maxi arising in practical play, and those which
mum possible to make his task more difficult, require not routine, but creative solutions.
to somehow complicate the game and to We will begin by demonstrating an original
create technical difficulties. tactical idea, which enabled Keres to obtain
In the realization of a positional advantage a passed pawn and then realize his advantage.
the stronger side tries to transform this ad
vantage into a material one. If the opponent SkOid-Keres
is stubbornly defending a weakness (for ex Stockholm, 1966/67
ample, a backward pawn), you should attempt B
to provoke a further weakening of his posi
tion, since the greater the number of weak
nesses, the more difficult it is to defend them
simultaneomly.
Perfectly possible is the transformation of
one positional advantage into another, more
favourable one. For example, in ridding the
opponent of an isolated pawn, the active side
may instead acquire an open file which enables
his rook to invade the seventh rank (which
It would seem that Black's only chance in
may then lead to gain of material).
this ending, in which he has three pawns
Of course, the defender will try to counter
against two on the K-side, it to try to create
any plan for realizing the advantage. He will
a passed pawn. But Keres finds a forcing
defend his weak points, attempt to prevent
way to win, by exploiting a latent threat.
the creation of new weaknesses, aim to repair
defects in his pawn formation, avoid un 31 . .
. Ba4
favourable exchanges (in particular, the ex 32 Be2 a6 ! !
change of his active pieces or of pieces ful w
filling important defensive functions), and
prevent the invasion of the opposing pieces.
But what if the middlegame has not led to
an advantage for either side ? If its outcome
has been a position of so-called dynamic
equilibrium ? Then the weight of the entire
struggle is transferred to the concluding stage,
and the tasks of the two sides in the endgame
* What is meant i s the colour of the squares along which the bishop moves.
161
Paul Keres Chess Master Class
34 .Kf3 Bh6
162
The Practical Endgame
and White wins) 37 Rg7+ (as becomes clear 45 . . . b2 46 B X b2+ K X b2 47 g4 ! (by this
move White creates a passed pawn).
at the end of the variation, this check allows
White to gain an important tempo) 37 . . . Kf8 The win is more difficult if Black purs-qes
38 Ra 7 Rc2. But then comes 39 RX aS b2 40 the bishop with his king : 45 . . . Kc2 46 g4
fX g4 47 e4 Kb 1 (little resistance is offered
B X b2 R X b2 41 R X f5 + (this is why the
rook check at g7 was needed !) 41 . . . Kg7
by 47 . . . b2 48 BXb2 KX b2 49 e5 a5 50 e6
42 Kf2. Black has regained his piece, but the
a4 51 e7 a3 52 e8= Q a2 53 Qe5+ and
rook ending is hopeless : he cannot save his
54 KXg4; as the reader will see, in the game
this same position is reached with an extra
e-pawn.
tempo for Black, which all the same does not
37 Rg7+ save him) 48 e5 Ka2 49 Bel (of course, not
40 RXf6, when the rook picks up the b- and 51 Bd4, and wins) 5 1 Bd4 Kd3 52 Bal . The
a-pawns in turn : 40 . . . a5 41 Rb6 a4 42 Rb4). bishop has 'escaped' from the king, and White
wins.
37 . . . Kf8
38 Bd6+ K X g7 w
39 B x cS Kf7
40 Ba3 Ke6
41 Kf2 Kd5
42 Ke3 Kc4
43 Kd2
46 g4!
One more move, e2-e3, and Black will lose
without a struggle. For example, 43 . . . aS This way, rather than 46 K X f5 ?, when
44 e3 a4 45 h3 h6 46 h4 h5 47 Be7 b2 48 Kc2 after 46 . . . b2 47 B X b2 + K X b2 48 e4 a4
163
Paul I<.eres Chess Master Class
164
The Practical Endgame
w 46 . . . gX f4
47 R X h6 Nf7
48 Rg6 Ne5
165
.
Paul Keres Chess Master Class
54 Kxf2 a4
ss bx a4 bX a4?
Of course, even without this oversight
Black's position was hopeless-the h-pawn
inexorably advances.
56 Rb8+ Resigns.
The episode from the following game illus
trates a typical positional mistake in an ending,
positional mistake. Firstly, he devalues his
regarding favourable and unfavourable pawn
pawn majority on the Q-side ; secondly, he
formations with like-coloured bishops.
seriously restricts the mobility of his bishop,
f-'1 which becomes 'bad'. Correct was 34 Bb5,
Kan-Keres \ :. '" (34 . . . Rb8 fails to
for example, 34 . . . Be4
20th USSR Championship, Mos�ow; 1952
35 c4 followed by 36 Rd7+ ) 35 RX d8 KX d8
B 36 f3, when by continuing Kf2-e3, White is in
no danger of losing.
34 . . . Be4
35 R X dS K X dS
36 Bdl
36 . . . Kc7
White has an extra pawn on the Q-side, 37 Kfl Kd6
and Black on the K-side. With the aim of 38 f4
weakening the enemy pawns, Keres played
Otherwise the black king advances via e5 to
30 aS, intending . . . a4.
d4(38/3 Bb1 39 a3 Ke5 40 Ke2 Kd4 41 Kd2
• • .
(See diagram next column) White cannot allow the enemy king into
166
The Practical Endgame
44 • • . h4!
35 . . . Q X e3
any move by the bishop (48 Be2 or 48 B/3)
allows 48 . . . Bc2.
36 fX e3
46 • . . Bf5 B
47 Kf3 Kf6
48 B X £5 KX£5
49 Ke3 £6
12 167
Paul Keres Chess Master Class
pawns are invulnerable, whereas the white follows . . Bc2). Therefore he has to move
.
pawns can be attacked. White has to defend his king or his g-pawn.
them, by placing his bishop in an extremely
42 . . . Bf5
passive position, or else he has to part with
one of his pawns. The natural continuation of the plan was
The e3 pawn is isolated, and as a conse 42 . . . f5. Keres, however, wants to provoke
quence White is unable to control the e5 g3-g4 (43 h4 allows 43 . . . Bg4+ 44 Kel
square. On occupying it, the black king be BX dl 45 KX dl, when the pawn ending is
comes master of the position. By playing . . . f5, hopeless for White ; simplest is 45 . . . gX h4 46
. . . g5 and then . . . f4, Black removes the e3 gXh4 Kf5 etc.).
pawn, and via d4 (or f4) takes his king into
43 g4 Bb1
the enemy position to devour the pawns.
44 Kf3 f5
This is, so to speak, the general plan. Let
us see how Keres carries it out. White is in a dilemma. If he allows . . . f4,
Black will exchange on e3 and play . . . Be4,
36 . . . Bb1
putting his opponent in zugzwang (45 Ke2 f4
37 a3 aS
46 Kf3 /X e3 47 KX e3 Be4, and the black
The first part of the plan is to fix White's king breaks through at d4 or f4, while if the
pawn weaknesses. In accordance with the white bishop moves Black wins the b- and
rule given above, White aims by b3-b4 to a-pawns by . . . Bc2). If in reply to 45 . . . f4
place his pawns on black squares, and Keres White plays 46 e X f4, then after 46 . . . K x f4
prevents this. 47 Kf2 Be4 he again ends up in zugzwang.
White's only alternative is to himself ex
38 Bd1
change on f5, which is what Smyslov does.
Otherwise 38 . . . Bc2.
45 gXf5 KXf5
38 . .. Kg6 46 Kf2 Be4
47 Kg3
The second part of the plan is centralization
The king heads for e5. B
39 Kg2 Kf5
40 Kf3 Ke5
41 a4
168
The Practical Endgan1e
51 . . . Kf6
52 Kh2 Ke6
As becomes clear within a couple of moves, The e4 and f5 pawns appear to be securely
Black must play this, rather than 52 . . . Ke5. defended, but Keres shows that this is not so.
Here Smyslov resigned the game, without
36 . . . c5 +
making his opponent demonstrate the follow
37 Kd3
ing forced variation : 53 Kg2 Ke5 54 Kh2 Bb 1
(this is why 52 . . . Ke6! was played, and only If 37 Kc3, then of course 37 . . . B X f5.
then 53 . . . Ke5 : White's king is now far away,
37 . . . b X c4 +
and is unable to control e4, which means that
38 bXc4
he cannot prevent the march of the black
king via e4 to d3) 55 Kg2 Ke4 56 Kf2 Kd3
57 Kf3 Kd2 58 Be2 Bf5.
38 . . . d5 ! !
12* 169
Paul Keres Chess Master Class
40 R x e4 R X e4
41 c X d5 R X g4 !
42 h X g4 BbS+
43 Ke3 B X fl
44 Bd3
49 Kc3 ! with a draw (49 . . . Kd7 50 Kd3 etc.).
Obviously Keres's opponent was hoping The black king cannot move to d6 (when
to save the pawn ending, since he rightly after Kc4 White picks up the c5 pawn and
judged that, with the bishops on, White had wins), nor the white king to c4 (when after
no chance at all. After 44 d6 Kb6 45 Be4 . . . Kd6 Black wins), so the result is a draw.
Bb5 46 Bd5 Ba4 47 Bf3 (otherwise 47 . . . Bd1) Thus the task of each side is to put the
Black puts his opponent in zugzwang by opponent in zugzwang.
47 . . . a5 !
46 a4+
w
A counter-chance ! If 46 Kc3, then 46 . . . c4
47 Kd4 (otherwise 47 . . . Kc5 and 48 . . . KX d5)
47 . . . c3 ! 48 K X c3 Kc5 49 Kd3 (marching
the white king over to the a-pawn is too slow :
49 Kb3 KX d5 50 Ka4 Ke4 51 Ka5 Kf4
52 KX a6 KXg4 53 Kb6 h5, and the h-pawn
queens first, blocking the enemy a-pawn's
path to the prize square) 49 . . . Kx d5
50 Ke3 Ke5 (it is easy to calculate that after
50 . . . Kc5 51 Ke4 Kb3 52 Kd5 KX a3 53 Ke6
The white bishop cannot leave the dl-f3 Kb3 54 KXf6 a5 55 KXg5 the f-pawn
diagonal because of 48 . . . Bdl . queens before the a-pawn) 51 Kf3 (or
If 47 Be2, then 47 . . . Kc6, while after 51 Kd3 Kf4) 5 1 . . . Kd5 52 a4 a5 53 Kf2 Ke4
47 Kd3 Black wins by 47 . . . Bc6 48 Bdl 54 Kg3 Ke3 55 Kg2 Kf4 56 Kh3 Kf3,
Bb5+ and 49 . . . Kc6. winning the g4 pawn. In short, with accurate
This only leaves 47 Kd2, but then 47 . . . c4 play Black puts his opponent in zugzwang.
wins. Let us now see whether or not he was
44 . . . B X d3 able to do this in the game.
45 K X d3
46 Kb6
(See diagram next column)
• • •
47 Kc4 a5
45 . . . KbS ! 48 d6
This way, rather than 45 . . . Kb6 ?, since
There is nothing else. After 48 Kd3 Kc7
after 46 Kc4 a5 47 a4 h6 48 Kd3 Kc7 White
49 Kc3 Kd6 50 Kc4 h6 White is in zugzwang1
does not play 49 Kc4 ? (when after 49 . . . Kd6
Black picks up the d5 pawn and wins), but 48 . • . Kc6
170
The Practical Endgame
The white king in turn is obliged to keep white king cannot go to c4 because of 56 . . .
within the square of the enemy g-pawn Ke5 57 Kb5 h5 58 g X h5 K X f5 and . . . g4.
It is interesting that, had the black pawn
(in case of . . . h5). For example, after 52 Kd6
h5 Black wins. In addition, the white king not been at h7, but at h6, White would not
have lost ! Whereas now Keres wins, and in
must be ready in the event of . . . h5 and
g X h5 to defend the h-pawn-otherwise study-like fashion. The key to victory is the
Black will pick it up with his king, winning e5 square, which Black has to occupy with
easily. Thus, with the white king on the d-:file his king. True, we should also add that
and the black king at f7 (if, for example, there was an alternative, simpler way (cf. the
52 Ke4 had not been played), the 52 . . . h5 note to Black's 57th move).
58 Kd3 Ke5
59 Ke3
(See diagram next page)
59 . . . hS !
At last, Keres's long-prepared break
through ! By exchanging his h-pawn for the
52 • . • Kf8 ! ! f-pawn, Black obtains a healthy passed pawn.
171
Paul Keres Chess Master Class
B 18 . . . Q X f7
23 e x d5 Q X e2
24 R X e2 R X e2
25 B X e2 B X dS
18 Nxf7!
After this, Black's queen and king end up White has not only three pawns against
in a diagonal pin. White regains his piece by two on the K-side. Also very unpleasant for
force, and . . . remains with an extra pawn in Black is the pin on the d-file. However, the
the endgame ! immediate 26 Rdl is parried by 26 . . . ReS !
1 72
The Practical Endgame
26 . . . Rd6
27 Rd1
173
Paul Keres Chess Master Class
7 0-0 Bg7
Black is planning an important role for his
fianchettoed bishop. If White blocks the
centre by d4-d5 and thus restricts its scope,
Black will then prepare operations on the
K-side.
8 d x es N x es 11 fS!
Modern opening guides give preference to A subtle positional move, which discloses
8 . . . d X e5. the drawbacks to the system chosen by Black.
By forcing . . . f6, White leaves his opponent
9 N x eS d X eS
with a 'bad' bishop.
Mter 9 . . . B X e5, 10 Bb3 is unpleasant
11 ... f6
for Black. For example, 10 . . . Ne7 1 1 f4 Bg7
12 Be3 B X a4
12 f5 ! , when the pawn sacrifice cannot be
13 Q X a4+ Qd7
accepted: 12 . . . g X f5 13 e X f5 B X f5 (or
14 Q X d7 +
13 . . . Nxf5) 14 Qh5.
Also strong is the preparatory 1 1 Bg5, so Keres happily goes in for simplification
as only on 1 1 . . . 0-0 to continue 12 f4 Bg7 -in the endgame the passive position of the
13 f5 followed by 13 . . . Be5 14 Bh6, with bishop at g7 will tell.
advantage to White.
14 . . . K X d7
10 f4 15 c4 Rhd8
16 Nc3 g X fS
A strong move, employed by Fine against
Alekhine in the 1 938 AVRO-Tournament. This exchange does nothing to ease Black's
Mter 10 . . . B X a4 1 1 Q x a4+ Qd7 12 position, and gives White additional pos
Q x d7 + K X d7 13 fx e5 Ke6 14 Bf4 White sibilities-he obtains e4 for his knight.
gained the advantage. Subsequently, instead However, after 16 . . . Ke8 1 7 g4, with the
of 10 . . . B X a4, the Soviet master Romanov eventual threat of h2-h4, fx g6 and h4-h5,
sky suggested 10 . . . Bb5, which Goldenov all the same Black would have had a difficult
tried against Averbakh, a few months before position. With his pawn on g4, in the event
his game with Keres. After 1 1 B X b5 + of the exchange on f5 White has the pos-
,174
The Practical Endgame
I
sibility not only of exfS, but also gXfS with Black is forced to part with the exchange.
subsequent exploitation of the g-file.
24 . . . R X e3+
17 e x f5 Ke8 25 K X e3 Bh6+
18 g4 Rd3 26 Kf3 Nd5
27 Rfd1 Kc6
This move is only apparently active.
w
19 Kf2
19 . . . bS'?
28 g5!
Not anticipating such an unfavourable
turn of events, Black attempts to complicate This wins by force. By blocking the diago
matters by a pawn sacrifice. It is perfectly nal, White threatens to win the knight by
possible, however, that in his calculations he Racl + , or to obtain a won pawn ending.
overlooked a double threat by his opponent.
28 . . . e4+
Which one will become clear within a few
29 Kg3 B X g5
moves.
30 NxgS fX g5
20 c x b5 a X b5 31 Racl + Kd6
21 N X b5 Rb8 32 ReS RbS
22 N X c7+ Kd7 33 Rd8+ Ke5
175
Answers to questions
Here the idea of the temporary queen sacri White would have continued 30 Qd8+
fice was to exploit a knight fork-a simultane Kh7 (if30 . . . Kg7, then 31 Qf6+ and 32 Ng5)
ous attack on two objects. As a result White 3 1 Ng5 + Kh6 32 N X f7+ Kg7 (32 . . . Kh5
eliminated the threat of mate, and, on re 33 Qh8 + , 34 Qh3+ and 35 Qf3 mate) 33
gaining his queen, simplified the position to Qf6+ Kg8 34 Ng5 ! Q x fl + 35 Kh2, and
his advantage. the black king is in a mating net.
1 77
Paul Keres Chess Master Class
No. 4 (p.42) w
Keres-Fuchs
Marianske Lazne, 1965
178
Answers to questions
B w
when White has 22 Ndf3 ! !, after which the said that in this variation Black would have
black queen has no good retreat. A piece created the maximum difficulties for his
down, Black himself would have had to opponent.
offer the exchange of queens . . .
No. 10 (p .l44)
No. 8 (p.102) Keres-lteshevSky
Euwe-Keres AVRO-Tournament, Holland, 1938
Match-Tournament for the World
Championship, 1948 w
179
Paul Keres Chess Master Class
180
Index of opponents
Alekhine 1 3 , 23 Guti 57
Alexander 111
Alexandrescu 125
Arlanowski 1 1 Hindre 5
Hjort 68
Barcza 13, 44
....
Becker 68 Jansa 9
Behrensen 1 7
Bilek 88
Blumenov 14 Kan 166
Bobotsov � Karu 84
Bogoljubov 66 Keller 4
Boleslavsky 14 Kotov 7, 90, 1 38
Bondarevsky 65 Kurajica 10
Borisenko 40
Botvinnik 33, 35, 64
Bronstein 42, 99
Larsen 1 1
Browne 1 52
Laurentius (Laurine) 4, 32, 70, 84, 96
Levenfish 28, 46, 67
Lilienthal 22
Capablanca 65, 66, 68
Luckis 1 32
Clarke 21 , 165
Lutt 134
Lyublinsky 8
Dely 2
Donner 94
Malich 37, 177
Maslov 1 8
Mikenas 27, 92, 103
Ekenburg 68
Moiseyev 145
Eliskases 6, 54, 70, 178
Etruk 1 04
Euwe 7, 74, 102, 148, 1 56, 1 78, 1 79
Ojanen 1 36
Olafsson 76
Feilitzsch 69 Oren 113
Fine 12, 38, 63
Flohr 1 1 6
Foldsepp 2 Petrosian 50
Fuchs 42, 178 Petrov 1 04, 109
Fuderer 123 Pfieger 8
Furman 65 Pirc 1 64
Garcia 15 Radovici 1 5
Geller 64 , 94, 1 72 Randviir 169
Gereben 22 Raud 36
Gligoric 16, 64 Reshevsky 1 20, 143, 179
Goldenov 25, 43, 1 74, 178 Richter 162
181
Index of opponents
Index of openings
French Defence 64, 65, 66, 70, 109, 125, 154 Reti Opening 73, 74
Ruy Lopez 63, 64, 68, 69, 1 14, 174
Griinfeld Defence 65, 73
Guioco Piano 61, 71 Sicilian Defence 68, 88, 90, 107, 123, 127, 130, 136,
138
King's Gambit 68, 104
King's Indian Defence 68, 72 Two Knights Defence 68, 132
182
Paul Keres Chess
Master Class