Chess is Fun:

The French MacCutcheon

 by Jon Edwards

©2011: Jon Edwards

jedwards.chess@gmail.com
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Chess is Fun
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 About the Chess is Fun series

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 Table of Contents

Introduction to the French MacCutcheon

Edwards, J (2480) - Norman, T (2015) [C12]
Edwards, J - Murray, T [C12]
Edwards, J (2455) - Quigley, D (2065) [C12]
Edwards, J (2430) - Stone, W (2010) [C12]
Leko, Peter (2736) - Radjabov, Teimour (2624) [C12]
Anand, Viswanathan (2800) - Shirov, Alexei (2749) [C12]
Short, Nigel D (2712) - Kadhi, Hameed Mansour Ali (2379) [C12]
Anand, Viswanathan (2753) - Radjabov,Teimour (2624) [C12]
De Firmian, Nick E (2547) - Nakamura, Hikaru (2644) [C12]
Aseev, Konstantin N (2485) - Dolmatov, Sergey (2615) [C12]
Fischer, Robert James - Petrosian, Tigran V [C12]
About the author
 Introduction to the French MacCutcheon
1.e4
A very popular move, which stakes out a presence in the center of the
board, helps the bishop on f1 and queen to develop freely, and which carries
a threat. If Black does nothing to prevent it, White will likely continue with
2.d4 greatly expanding the control over the center. Think of chess as a game
of war. Control the high ground, the center, and your attacks are much more
likely to succeed.
1...e6
The French Defense, a popular response which seeks to counter White's
command over the center of the board with 2...d5.
2.d4 d5 3.Nc3
The French produces some very distinctive pawn structures because
White will rarely capture on d5, a move that releases the Bc8 from its prison
after the e6xd5 recapture.
Here, White continues with a very natural move, developing the knight to
a square that defends the e4-pawn and adds to the pressure upon d5.
3...Nf6
Just as White developed a knight to pressure the central pawns, so Black
counters with influence on both pawns, defending d5 and adding to the
pressure on the white e4-pawn.
4.Bg5
White could play 4.e5 here, driving off the black knight to d7, but the
resulting fixed pawn structure would leave White's dark-squared bishop
imprisoned by the newly fixed pawns in the center.
Instead, White first develops the bishop to g5 anticipating a Classical
French with 4...Be7 when 5.e5 leads quickly to an exchange of White's bad
bishop for Black's good one.
 4...Bb4
The MacCutcheon, named for John Lindsay McCutcheon (1857–1905)
of Philadelphia who gained notoriety for the variation when he used it to
defeat World Champion Wilhelm Steinitz in a simultaneous exhibition in
Manhattan in 1885. Although Steinitz won that first encounter,
MacCutcheon impressed his American compatriots, Harry Nelson Pillsbury,
Frank Marshall, and Jackson Showalter with the possibilities in this new line.
Through the years, the line has been played by Capablanca against
Moroczy, Tarrasch and Marshall against Lasker, Tartakower against Steiner,
Reti against both Bogolyubow and Reti, and Alekhine against Capablanca.
The line has many modern adherents, who have fondly dubbed the variation
the "Big Mac."
 5.e5
At first glance, the whole variation seems unsound for Black since White
can simply play 5.e5 apparently winning the pinned Nf6.

5...h6
To survive the attack on the Nf6, which cannot safely move, Black must
find a threat of his own.
 6.Bd2
The aggressive alternative 6.exf6 meets 6...hxg5 7.fxg7 Rg8 8.Qh5 Qf6
when Black will recover the pawn with interest, superior development.
6...Bxc3
Removing the knight in order to follow up actively with ...Ne4.
7.bxc3
The usual response, accepting the doubled c-pawns but establishing a
strong central chain and with attacking chances on both sides of the board,
though notably on the kingside where the dark-squares are weak in the
aftermath of the exchange of Black's dark-squared bishop.
The effort to preserve the pawn structure with 7.Bxc3 carries no punch,
though Bobby Fischer once tried it against Petrosian (see game 11).
 7...Ne4
The knight reaches an active central square and is guaranteed at a
minimum to be able to capture the Bd2.
8.Qg4
Given the nicked pawn structure, White must play actively. Amateurs
may not feel fully comfortable with this early queen sortie, but the move
strikes at the heart of the black position. As so frequently happens in the
French, the exchange of Black's dark-squared bishop leaves the kingside
weak, notably g7 and the other dark-squares.
 8...g6
By far the most common response, directly defending the pawn by
advancing it, but Black has at least one alternative in 8...Kf8 a very rarely
played but tough nut to crack. White is advised to continue with Bd3, h4, and
Rh3.
Certainly not 8...0–0 which walks straight into 9.Bxh6+-.
9.Bd3
The second attack upon the Ne4 forces it to capture White's bad bishop.

9...Nxd2 10.Kxd2
And so the white king emerges in the center protected mainly by a shield
of central pawns. With a carefully orchestrated move order, Black will
attempt to explode the center with ...Qa5, ...c5, ...Nc6, ...b6, and ...Ba6.
10...c5
Black begins with pressure on the d4-pawn, to be followed soon with
...Nc6 and ...Qa5. This key position offers three alternatives for White.
 11.Qf4
A Yassar Seirawan favorite, this waiting move takes aim at f6,
discouraging the black queen from deploying actively on a5.
11.Nf3 A natural developing move that reinforces the center and
connected the rooks.
11.h4 An aggressive choice with two ideas: h5 and Rh3 to f3 or g3.
 1: Edwards, J (2480) - Norman, T (2015) [C12]
APCT correspondence, 1992
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Bb4
The MacCutcheon.
5.e5
Attacking the pinned piece.
5...h6
Responding to the threat with a threat.
6.Bd2 Bxc3
Removing the knight, in anticipation of bringing the Nf6 to e4.
7.bxc3
To the surprise of many beginners, the best move, reinforcing the pawn
chain.
7...Ne4
At a minimum, the knight will be able to capture the Bd2.
8.Qg4
A typical French theme, attacking the now undefended g7-pawn.
 8...g6
Defending the pawn by advancing it. The downside for Black, of course,
is that every pawn move creates a weakness, in this case on f6 and h6.
Also playable is 8...Kf8 using the king to defend the weakened pawn. Of
course, the downside is that the king move will make it hard for Black to
develop the king's rook. 9.Bd3 Forcing the knight out of its central perch, and
placing the bishop on its most active diagonal. 9...Nxd2 10.Kxd2 White's
king is also stuck in the center for many moves, but it's White with the
initiative. 10...c5 The typical counter-attack begins, attacking the central
pawn chain. 11.h4 With the black king trapped on the kingside, White begins
the attack with Rh3-f3 or g3 next. 11...c4 Areshchenko, A -Yemelin, V
(2570) St Petersburg 2009 continued 12.Be2 b5 13.Rh3 Nc6 14.Qf4 Bd7
15.g4 b4 16.cxb4 Qb6 17.Rb1 (17.c3? a5) 17...Nxd4 18.c3 Nc6 19.a4 Qc7
20.Re3 d4 21.Re4 dxc3+ 22.Kxc3 Ne7 23.Rxc4 Nd5+ 24.Kd2 Qd8 25.Qd4
Bxa4 26.Ke1 a6 27.h5 Bb5 28.Rc5 Bxe2 29.Nxe2 Qh4 30.Rbc1 Rd8 31.Rc8
g6 32.Rxd8+ Qxd8 33.hxg6 Kg7 34.gxf7 Rf8 35.Ng3 Qe7 36.Nf5+ exf5
37.Qxd5 Rxf7 38.e6 fxg4 39.Rc4 h5 40.Re4 Rf6 41.Qg5+ Kh7 42.Qxh5+
Rh6 43.Qf5+ Kh8 44.Qc5 Qd8 45.Ke2 g3 46.e7 Qe8 47.Qe5+ Kh7 48.Qxg3
1–0
9.Bd3
Forcing the centralized knight to leave its perch, and placing the bishop
on its best diagonal.
9...Nxd2
Capturing White's bad bishop, not Black's greatest hope, but bringing the
white king into the center where it will be exposed in many lines.
10.Kxd2 c5
The usual response, staking a claim in the center. Black will follow in
some lines with ...Nc6 and ...Qa5 pressuring the center. In other lines, the
pawn can advance to c4, forcing the Bd3 off the strong b1–h7 diagonal.
11.Qf4
A Yassar Seirawan favorite, taking aim at the f6 entry square, which may
delay Black from moving the Qd8, attacking h6, so that Black cannot 0–0, in
some lines preparing Qe3 to assist the defense of the weak c3-pawn, and
watching the f7 pawn so that Black cannot castle on the queenside.

11...cxd4
Premature. Better to keep the pawn on c5, awaiting events. For example,
should White err with 12.Ne2, ...c5-c4 would trap the Bd3. In many lines, the
white knight is better placed on e2, and so White will often wait to develop
the knight, but he cannot wait forever.
Better for Black is the simple ...Nc6 augmenting the pressure on White's
center.
12.cxd4
The obvious recapture, straightening out the pawn structure and keeping
the queen on its active square rather than on d4 where it would be tormented
by ...Nc6.
 12...Nc6
A natural move for the knight, applying pressure on d4 and in some lines
headed to ...a5-c4. Note that White is conspicuously delaying the
development of the king's knight, awaiting events.
13.h4
Preparing to storm Black's kingside pawn structure with h5, and useful in
making possible a rook swing via h3 to g3 or f3.

13...Qa5+
An aggressive check, reminding White that his king remains in the center,
preparing ...b6 and ...Ba6 to trade off the bad bishop, and in some lines, with
the idea of ...Qa3-b2. But there is a down-side. The check is relatively easy
to parry and the black queen no longer prevents White from bringing the
queen to f6.
14.c3
Blocking the check and securing the pawn chain.

14...b6
With the often-played idea of trading Black's bad light-squared bishop for
the active Bd3.
15.h5
A pawn-led attack that strikes at the heart of Black's kingside.
15...gxh5
Not a happy moment for Black, but he cannot permit hxg6.
After the alternative 15...g5 the white queen enters powerfully on f6
16.Qf6 when Black cannot prevent both threats against the undefended Rh8
as well as the h6-pawn 16...Rg8 17.Ne2.
16.Ne2
Patience is often rewarded. The knight finally reaches e2, connecting the
white rooks and providing needed support for the pawns on c3 and d4.
 16...Ba6
Black places his hope in exchanging off the bad bishop and then
completing his development by connecting the rooks.
17.Bxa6
A novelty. Two other masters had previously played 17.Qf6.
17...Qxa6 18.Rxh5
The rook enters the position powerfully with two attacks upon the h6-
pawn.

18...Rc8
 Taking aim at White's weak c-pawn. Black hopes to respond to White's
attack with ...Na5-c4 and ...Qa3-b2.
19.Rxh6
Once again, the French Defense becomes a gambit. White is up a pawn.
To gain adequate compensation, Black must play actively.
19...Rg8
Positioning the rook on an open file with the obvious threat on the g-
pawn.

20.Rh7
Responding to Black's threat with a bigger threat, Qxf7 with mate to
follow. The positioning of the queen on f4 is beginning to pay significant
dividends.
20...Rc7
Unwilling to take the king's rook off the open file with ...Rf8, Black uses
the other rook to defend the f-pawn.
21.g3
Securing the extra pawn but, more importantly, fashioning a secure home
on g2 for the king. Many young players will be surprised that White, in this
very position, assembled a plan right here that involved the migration of the
king out of the center to the relative safety of the kingside.
 21...Na5
Although ...Nc4 looks threatening, the real problem for White is ...Nb3+
winning an exchange.
22.Rah1
With the knight temporarily on a5, the rook can move since ...Qxa2+ is
not immediately possible.
22...Nc4+
Entering the hole with check. Qxa2 is next.
23.Ke1
The king rushes towards its new home on g2.
 23...Qxa2 24.Kf1 Nd2+
Using the check to redeploy the knight more actively on e4 where it hits
key squares such as c3 and f2.
25.Kg2 Ne4
With many threats, most notably ...Qxe2.

26.Rh8
Once again, White's threat against the unanchored Rg8 is greater than
Black's threat.
26...Rxh8 27.Rxh8+ Ke7
 28.Rb8!!
Ending the game by covering the king's escape square.
Almost all players looking at this position will look first at 28.Qh4+ with
the following forced sequence 28...Kd7 29.Qd8+ Kc6 30.Qe8+ Kb7
Reaching an escape square. 31.Qb8+ Kc6 With a draw by perpetual.
But by playing 28.Rb8 first 28...Qxe2 29.Qh4+ Kd7 30.Qd8+ Kc6
31.Qe8+ Rd7 32.Rc8+ Kb5 33.Qxd7+ White forces the win of the rook with
check 33...Ka5 34.Qxf7 and then makes sure that Black cannot safely play
...Qxf2+.
1–0
 2: Edwards, J - Murray, T [C12]
US11 CCC correspondence, 1995
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Bb4
The MacCutcheon.
5.e5 h6 6.Bd2 Bxc3 7.bxc3 Ne4 8.Qg4 g6 9.Bd3 Nxd2 10.Kxd2 c5
All as in the introduction to the book.
11.Qf4
The move popularized by American Grandmaster Yassar Seirawan. The
queen relocates to a very useful square, watches f6 while maintaining
defensive help on d4.

11...cxd4
These first two games are instructive for showing why this capture is
premature.
11...Nc6 first limits White's options to 12.Nf3 and 12.h4 because 12.Ne2?
drops a piece to 12...c4.
When I play against the MacCutcheon in speed chess, I often encounter
11...Qg5? 12.Qxg5 The exchange works clearly to White's advantage, harshly
weakening Black's pawn structure. 12...hxg5 13.g4 Fixing the structure, with
the idea of Nf3xg5 13...c4 14.Be2 f6 Trying to prevent White's simply idea.
15.exf6 Consistent. In the French, White almost always captures on f6 when
possible. 15...Kf7 16.f4 gxf4 (To dangerous is 16...Kxf6 17.fxg5+ Kxg5
18.Nf3+ Kh6 19.Ne5) 17.g5 With the obvious advantage in the structure, and
the f4-pawn will soon fall.
12.cxd4
After the exchange, White gains at least one additional option, the ability
to play Ne2 without having to worry about the pawn push to c4.

12...Qa5+
This was Black's idea, a quick check that aims to exploit the presence of
the king in the center.
13.c3
Establishing the familiar pawn chain but also setting a target on c3 for
Black's attack. Black will organize his forces down the c-file and in many
lines maneuver a knight to the hole in the pawn structure on c4.
13...Nd7
The knight can play an aggressive role in heading via b6 to c4, and for the
moment the knight acts to prevent the white queen from entering the position
on f6.
 14.Ne2
Taking advantage of the ability to post the knight on e2 without having to
worry about c5-c4. In some lines, the knight will act aggressively by entering
the kingside with Nf4 or Ng3. In other lines, the knight can relocate via c1 to
the b3 and c5. For the moment, the Ne2 plays an important role in defending
White's center, especially the weak c3-pawn.
14...b6
With the often-played idea of trading off Black's bad light-squared bishop
on a6 for White's good one.
 15.Nc1
Remarkably enough, a novelty. The knight will emerge on b3 with three
ideas, forcing the queen to a less active square, to advance the a-pawn to a5,
and keeping a watchful eye on c5 and the center.
Busse, K (2210) - Huelsmann, J (2225) Germany 1992 tried a slightly
different path 15.a4 Ba6 16.Qf3 Rc8 17.Rhb1 Bxd3 18.Qxd3 Rc4 19.Rb5
Qa6 20.Rb4 b5 21.Qb1 Nb6 22.axb5 Rxb4 23.bxa6 Rxb1 24.Rxb1 Kd7
25.Nf4 Rb8 26.Nd3 (26.Kc2 retains the advantage) 26...Nc4+ 27.Kc1 Rxb1+
28.Kxb1 Kc7 29.Kc2 Kb6 30.Nc5 Na5 31.g4 Nc6 32.h4 Nxe5 33.Nxe6 fxe6
34.dxe5 Kxa6 35.f4 Kb5 36.h5 gxh5 37.g5 hxg5 38.fxg5 h4 39.g6 h3 40.g7
h2 41.g8Q h1Q 42.Qxe6 Qe4+ 43.Kb2 Qe2+ 44.Ka3 Qc4 45.Qd7+ Kb6
46.Qd6+ Ka5 47.Qd8+ Kb5 48.Qb8+ Ka6 49.Qb2 Qe4 50.Qb8 Qc4 51.e6
Qxc3+ 52.Qb3 Qa1+ 53.Kb4 Qa5# 0–1.
15...Ba6 16.Nb3
The bishops will be traded, but White gains a tempo by attacking the
queen, which must remain in communication with the Ba6.
16...Qa3 17.Bxa6 Qxa6

18.a4
White's attack will include a4-a5 aiming either to open the a-file for the
rook or the c5-square for the knight.
18...Rc8 19.Rhb1
 In other games in this book, the rooks develop more aggressively on the
kingside, most notably down the h-file. This game offers an illustration of
why 11.Qf4 might be more accurate than h4, which commits White to a
tempo on behalf of that kingside initiative. Here. White is quite happy not to
have played that move.
19...Rc4
Occupying the hole with a rook, threatening the white a-pawn and
hoping, as quickly as possible, to complete his development by bringing the
king's rook to the queenside. After the game, Murray thought that ...Qc4
might have been safer, but at the time of the game, he did not see here how
well White's two rooks would coordinate on the queenside.

20.a5
Defending the pawn by advancing it.
20...b5
The only way to fight for advantage. Capturing the a-pawn, or allowing
to capture on a6, will only serve to activate White's rooks. Here, especially
with the knight on b3, Black can continue with ...b4 attempting to undermine
the pawn chain.
21.Qe3
Aiming to prevent ...Qc6 with a5 and the knight fork with Na5.
 21...Kf8
A typical maneuver, walking the king to relative safety on g7, using the
Rh8 for an additional move to watch over the h6-pawn.
On 21...Qc6 22.a6 22.h4-h5 is another logical try 22...Ra4 23.Rxa4 bxa4
24.Nc5 showing off the power of the Rb1.

22.h4
With the king heading to the kingside, White only now launches a pawn-
led attack to loosen up the structure in front of the king.
22...Kg7 23.h5 b4
Black responds to the pawn led attack with one of his own. The pawn
push attacks the base of White's pawn chain but also serves to activate the
Rb1.
24.cxb4 Rxb4
Making ready to deploy the Rh8 on the b- or c-files.
25.hxg6
Inserting the exchange.
25...fxg6
 26.Nc5
The key move in the attack. Of course the knight is vulnerable on c5, but
the knight move exposes the absence of an anchor on b4, and Black cannot
safely respond with ...Rxb1 because the Qa6 is under attack.
26...Qb5
Safeguarding the queen, protecting the Rb4 and the Nd7, and placing a
second attack upon the Rb1.
27.Rxb4 Qxb4+

28.Qc3
 Showing off the usefulness of Qf4-e3. The queen trade results in a highly
favorable endgame for White.
28...Qxc3+
Queen retreats cannot simultaneously defend the Nd7 and the e6-pawn.
29.Kxc3
Material is even, but the white king is far more active than its counterpart.

29...Rc8
The rook and pawn endgame after 29...Nxc5 30.dxc5 Rb8 31.Rc1 when
White will easily be able to advance the passed c-pawn, place the rook
behind it or on the open b-file, and actively post the king within Black's
camp.
30.Kb4
Two attacks, two defenses, and the king threatens to advance to b5.
30...Rb8+
Taking the b-file.
31.Ka4
The king finds safety, Black must now find a response to two threats,
Nxd7 and Nxe6+.
 31...Nf8
There's no hope in the rook and pawn endgame because Black's king will
be tied to the defense of the kingside pawns. 31...Nxc5+ 32.dxc5.
32.Ra3
With the idea of Rb3-b7, and inviting Black to seize the second rank
when Rb3-b7 infiltrates too quickly.
32...Rb2 33.Rb3

33…Rxf2
33...Ra2+ only speeds White's infiltration with 34.Kb5.
 34.Rb7+
Gaining time with a check.
34...Kg8 35.Rxa7
The a-pawn is a flier.
35...Rxg2
Eliminating White's last kingside pawn, and hoping to counter the
advance of the a-pawn with similar advance of the h-pawn.

36.a6
Of course, the a-pawn will promote first.
36...Ra2+ 37.Kb4
With the idea of ...Na4 blocking the rook's ability even to sacrifice itself
for the a-pawn.
37...g5 38.Na4 Rc2
The rook must now rush to a8.
39.Rb7 Rc8 40.a7 Ra8
 41.Nb6
Brutal efficiencies. The capture on a7 is forced because retreats along the
eighth rank will meet Rb8 with a full queen to follow.
41...Rxa7 42.Rxa7
The only question left: Can White prevent Black's pawns from queening?
42...g4 43.Kc3 h5
The pawns cannot safely advance by themselves: 43...g3 44.Kd3 g2
45.Ra1.
44.Kd3 h4
 45.Ke3
Arriving in time to take on the pawns.
45...Ng6 46.Nd7 g3 47.Nf6+
The knight joins the defense with an aggressive move.

47...Kf8
Obviously not 47...Kh8 48.Rh7#
48.Nh7+ Ke8 49.Ng5
Beautifully placed, taking aim at e6, preventing ...h3, and by doing so,
making sure that the advance of the g-pawn will have no assistance.
49...Ne7 50.Nxe6
After 50.Nxe6 h3 the king alone can handle the pawns. 51.Kf3 g2 52.Kf2.
1–0
 3: Edwards, J (2455) - Quigley, D (2065) [C12]
APCT correspondence, 1996
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Bb4 5.e5 h6 6.Bd2 Bxc3 7.bxc3 Ne4
8.Qg4 g6 9.Bd3 Nxd2 10.Kxd2 c5 11.Qf4
Once again, 11.Qf4, placing the queen on the f-file, taking aim at the
dark-square weaknesses on f6 and h6, and still supporting White's center.

11...Qa5
In previous games, we saw 11...cxd4, a move that seemed premature
because without having to face the idea of ...c4, White was free to develop
the king's knight to e2.
The difference between 11...Qa5 first and 11...Nc6 is that after ...Nc6,
White can respond to the capture on d4 with the c3-pawn, giving White here
an additional option with 12.h4.
12.Nf3
With the pin of the c3-pawn, the knight develops in order to over-protect
the d4-pawn. Note again that the knight cannot defend here from e2 because
…c4 would trap the bishop.
12...Nc6
 Re-entering the main line after 11...Nc6 12.Nf3 Qa5.
Jaworek, T (2017) - Riehl, J (1979) Bayern 2003 tried a different path.
12...b6 13.a4 c4 (Trying to exchange the light-squared bishop gets crushed by
13...Ba6 14.Bxg6 fxg6 15.Qf6) 14.Be2 Nd7 15.h4 Bb7 16.Nh2 0–0–0
17.Qxf7 Rhf8 18.Qxe6 Rxf2 19.Ng4 Rxe2+ 20.Kxe2 Qxc3 21.Rhd1 Qg3
22.Kf1 Qxh4 23.Nf6 g5 24.a5 bxa5 25.Kg1 Qf4 26.Rxa5 Qe3+ 27.Kh1 Qe2
28.Rb1 c3 29.Rc5+ Kb8 30.Rxb7+ Kxb7 31.Qc6+ Kb8 32.Nxd7+ 1–0.

13.dxc5
Alternatively, White can settle for an easy, positional advantage with
13.Rhb1 cxd4 14.Nxd4 Nxd4 15.Qxd4 Qc7 with easy play on both sides of
the board. On the kingside, h4-h5 is fully playable even without the rook on
h1, and on the queenside, White can pursue Rb4 and c4. White's bishop will
remain far more active, the king is safer in the center than is Black's king, and
Black has no good way to dislodge the white king from its central perch.
13...Qxc5 14.Nd4
Here, another good reason for the queen's move to f4, holding the e5-
pawn so that the knight can occupy the hole on d4.
 14...a6
On 14...Nxd4 The key game is Riedel, F -Karabalis, H (2225) Germany
1994 15.cxd4 Qa5+ 16.c3 Bd7 and White is clearly better, with the more
active bishop and with the queen having access to the entry square on f6.
17.Qf6 Rg8 18.a4 Rc8 19.Ra3 a6 20.Rb1 Bc6 21.h4 Qd8 22.g4 Qxf6 23.exf6
g5 24.h5 Kd7 25.a5 Kc7 26.Rab3 Rge8 27.Re1 Kd6 28.Re5.

with a complete lock on the position. White will use his active rook and
king to barge through on the kingside. 28...Rb8 29.Rb6 Rbd8 30.Ke3 Kc7
31.Rb4 Rb8 32.f4 gxf4+ 33.Kxf4 Kd6 34.Rb1 Rh8 35.g5 hxg5+ 36.Rxg5
Rh6 37.Bg6 (37.Bxa6!) 37...Rg8 38.Rbg1 Be8 39.Bf5 Rgh8 40.Bg6 Rf8
41.Bd3 Rxf6+ 42.Ke3 Rh8 43.Rb1 Bc6 44.Rb6 Kc7 45.Be2 Rfh6 46.Bf3
R8h7 47.c4 f6 48.Rg8 Rd7 49.cxd5 Bxd5 50.Bxd5 exd5 51.Rg5 Rdh7
52.Rxd5 Rxh5 53.Rxh5 Rxh5 54.Rxf6 Rxa5 55.Ke4 Rh5 56.d5 a5 57.Rf7+
Kb6 58.d6 a4 1–0.
15.Rab1
Also playable for White is 15.Rhb1 as in Audet Bouchard, N (2034) -
Sauve, R (1954) Quebec 2001 15...b5 16.Nxc6 Qxc6 17.a4 bxa4 18.Rxa4
with active play on both sides of the board. 18...0–0 19.Rd4 Qc7 20.Re1 Bd7
21.Qxh6 Rfc8 22.c4 dxc4 23.Bxg6 Qa5+ 24.c3 fxg6 25.Qxg6+ Kf8 26.Rf4+
Ke7 27.Qf6+ 1–0.

15...Nxd4
Xu Yuhua (2484) - Chen,Y (2181) Hefei 2010 tried instead 15...Na5
16.Nb3 Nxb3+ 17.Rxb3 maintaining active pieces rather than trying to
straighten out the structure. 17...b5 18.h4 Qe7 19.Rh3 Bb7 20.h5 g5 21.Qd4
0–0 22.Rf3 f6 23.exf6 Qd6 24.Re3 Rae8 25.Re5 Rxf6
 26.Rxg5+! hxg5 27.Qxf6 Qf4+ 28.Qxf4 gxf4

29.a4 Kg7 30.axb5 axb5 31.Bg6 Re7 32.Rxb5 e5 33.Rb6 e4 34.h6+ Kxh6
35.Bxe4+ Kg5 36.Bf3 With an easy endgame thanks to the glaring weakness
of the d5-pawn. 36...Rd7 37.Kd3 Kf5 38.Kd4 Identifying and fixing the
weakness on d5 38...Rc7 39.Rb4 Rd7 40.Rb5 Attacking the weakness with
three pieces 40...Bc6 41.Rc5 Bb7 42.c4 And then and only then attacking the
weakness with a pawn 1–0.
16.cxd4
Straightening out the structure at the cost of the a-pawn, but White's
attack will come on the king's wing.
16...Qa5+ 17.Ke2 Qxa2
18.Rb6
Also strong is 18.Qf6.
18...Qa4 19.Rd6 Bd7 20.Qf6
Entering the hole and forcing Black to castle.
20...0–0

21.h4
The threat of course is h5 busting up the kingside and activating the rook.
21...Be8
 Securing the bishop in order to threaten the d4-pawn.
Or 21...Bb5 22.Ke3 Bxd3 23.cxd3 Qe8 24.h5+-.
22.h5 Qxd4
The queen alone cannot attack meaningfully.

23.Rh4!
23.Rh4 Qb2 24.Rg4 Rc8 25.Bxg6 fxg6 26.Rxg6+ Bxg6 27.Qxg6+ Kh8
28.Qxh6+ Kg8 29.Qxe6+ Freeing up the remaining rook to join a mating net.
1–0
 4: Edwards, J (2430) - Stone, W (2010) [C12]
APCT correspondence, 1993
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Bb4
Once again, the MacCutcheon.
5.e5 h6 6.Bd2 Bxc3 7.bxc3 Ne4 8.Qg4 g6 9.Bd3 Nxd2 10.Kxd2 c5
11.Qf4

11…cxd4
Once again, an inaccurate continuation. Better to delay the capture with
...Qa5+ or ...Nc6.
12.cxd4 Qa5+
In Edwards-Norman, we saw 12...Nc6 prior to the queen check.
13.c3
 13…Nd7
Rather than develop the knight at c6, which has the aggressive intent of
pressuring d4 and e5 and of repositioning the knight with Nc6-a5-c4, Black
here develops the knight more passively with some pressure on the black
center but more importantly preventing the white queen from entering f6.
14.Ne2
As we have seen in previous games, the early capture on d4 now permits
White to deploy the knight to e2. Without the c5xd4 exchange and the later
movement of the white c-pawn to c3, Ne2 would meet c5-c4 trapping the
Bd3.Here, the knight helps to protect the c3-pawn and White's rooks are now
connected.
 14...b6
A familiar theme. Once again, Black aims to exchange off his bad light-
squared bishop on a6 and bring the Ra8 to the semi-open c-file.
15.Nc1 Ba6 16.Nb3 Qa3 17.Bxa6 Qxa6 18.a4 Rc8 19.Rhb1 Rc4 20.a5
b5 21.Qe3 Kf8 22.h4 Kg7 23.h5
We reached the same position in Edwards-Murray, who tried ...b4 with
the idea of breaking up the pawn chain. As it turns out, this game was played
first and was published just prior to the start of the game against Murray. As
you might imagine, there are clear disadvantages to publishing your games!
 23...Rhc8
Here's the original move on which Murray sought an improvement.
24.hxg6
There are two attacks upon the c3-pawn, but White is willing to exchange
his queen for the two rooks. Many young players are unwilling to consider
parting with their queen for the rooks. Some hopefully will change their
minds after observing the rest of this game.

24...Rxc3 25.Qxc3 Rxc3 26.Kxc3

As a result of the exchanges, both sides have simple strategies for the rest
of the game. White intends to coordinate the rooks to win the au7-pawn and
then advance the passed a-pawn. For his part, Black will seek to undermine
the center and obtain and then push a passed pawn on the kingside.
26...f6
Rather than capturing the g6-pawn, Black speeds the counter attack in the
center knowing that every tempo will matter.
27.f4
Securing the center but running the risk that the black king will infiltrate
via g6-f5-e4.
 27...Qc8+
Activating the queen, which can enter the position at c4 or now on the g-
file once the king has cleared it.
28.Kb2
A relatively safe square, preparing Rc1.
28...Kxg6
Capturing the pawn, but more important, the king is heading towards the
center to torment the f4-pawn and to make room for the queen's entry down
the g-file.
29.Rc1 Qd8
Not 29...Qg8 when the white rook more quickly reaches c7.
 30.Rc6
An active entry square, hitting the undefended e6-pawn, eyeing a6 and
the a7-pawn, and making room for the other rook to double on the open file.
30...Kf5
Defending e6, attacking f4, and making room for the queen on the g-file.
31.Rac1
Doubling the rooks in order to reach c7.
31...Qg8
No longer able to prevent the penetration of the rooks, the queen embarks
on its own mission, to capture the white g-pawn and escort forward the
passed h-pawn.
 32.Rc7
Hitting both the knight and the important a-pawn.
32...Nf8
There are no meaningful alternatives. Black cannot afford to defend the
knight, and the knight has no more active posts.
33.Rxa7 Qxg2+
The race is on, but White has a significant head start with the passed
pawn already on a5.
34.Rc2
 34…Qg6
Unable to win the race, the queen returns to impede the advance of the a-
pawn.
35.a6 Qe8 36.Rb7
Getting the rook out of the way of the pawn.

36...b4
With the idea of placing the queen behind the passer and reaching a3 for
an attack upon the king.
There's no hope for Black after 36...Qa8 37.Nc5 Kxf4 38.Rg2.
37.a7 Qa4
With the threat of ...Qa3 winning the Nb3 with check.
 38.Nc1
A wonderful defensive resource. Black no longer has a path into White's
position.
38...Qa3+ 39.Kb1
With the threat of Rc8 and the queening of the a-pawn.
39...Qa6
Not even 39...b3 prevents the threat 40.Rc8.
40.Rcc7
With Rb8 on the next move.
1–0
 5: Leko, Peter (2736) - Radjabov, Teimour (2624)
[C12]
Linares, 2003
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Bb4 5.e5 h6 6.Bd2 Bxc3 7.bxc3 Ne4
8.Qg4 g6 9.Bd3 Nxd2 10.Kxd2 c5 11.h4

In previous games, we saw the usefulness of 11.Qf4. Here, White tries a

different idea, 11.h4. Chess players enjoy trying to find the most efficient
path. At issue here is which move is more likely to be an inherent part of
every line. Obviously, in the previous games, I believed that 11.Qf4 was
useful in every variation, and I concluded that there were some lines in which
h4, while useful, was in some lines more useful when played later. By
playing h4 first, White makes clear his commitment to a quick kingside
assault. The move also serves to prevent both ...Qg5 and ...g5.
11...Bd7
The bishop move, a frequent response to 11.h4, signals Black's intent to
castle on the queenside after ...Nc6 or ...Bc6 and ...Nd7.
 12.h5
Very interesting but insufficient is the rook swing to f3 with 12.Rh3 Qe7
Necessary to create an escape square for the king 13.Rf3 Setting up the
sacrifice on g6 13...Bc6 Also playable is ...Nc6 14.Bxg6 Certainly ambitious,
but Black survives with 14...fxg6 15.Qxg6+ Kd8 (Not 15...Kd7 16.Rf7
winning the queen) 16.Rf7 Be8 Or ...Qe8. The bad bishop shows that it has
considerable utility 17.Rxe7 Bxg6 18.Rxe6 Bf7 With relatively even chances.
19.Rd6+ Ke7 20.dxc5?! Nd7 21.e6 Bxe6 22.Re1 Nxc5 23.Rxd5 Rad8 24.Rd4
Kf6 25.a3 Bf5 26.Kc1 Rhe8 27.Rxe8 Rxe8 28.Nf3 Rc8 29.Rd6+ Kg7 30.Nd4
Bg6 31.h5 Bh7 32.Rd5 b6 33.a4 Bg8 34.Rd6 Rf8 35.g4 Bh7 36.a5 Rxf2
37.axb6 Rf1+ 38.Kb2 axb6 39.Rc6 Be4 40.Rc7+ 0–1 Minguez Rodriguez, R
(2085) - Baches Garcia, G (2264) Barcelona 1999.
12...g5
Forced. The threats on the pawn do not permit it to stay on g6, and
...gxh5 permits the queen to reach g7 and the rook would recapture on h5 and
soon gain help from the Ra1.
 13.f4
White must play actively on the kingside since Black's counterplay on the
queenside will occur quickly with ...Qa5 and cxd4.
13...Nc6
After 13...gxf4? White gains a strong outside passed pawn and can
maintain the center 14.Qg7 Rf8 15.Nf3 cxd4 16.cxd4 Nc6 17.Qxh6.
It is rarely useful for Black to seal the queenside structure with 13...c4
14.Be2 Obviously the pawn move forces the bishop off the b1–h7 diagonal,
but the sealed structure also makes it impossible for Black's light-squared
bishop to have a meaningful role in the attack or defense, and the counter-
attack will now miss the possibility of an open c-file. 14...f5 15.exf6 The
usual response when Black counters with ...f6 or ...f5. 15...e5 Certainly
vigorous... 16.Qf3 e4 17.Qg3 but when the dust settles, Black's kingside is
being destroyed. 17...Qc7 18.Rf1 0–0 19.Qe3.
14.fxg5
 14…Qa5
The counter attack is in full gear. With the c3-pawn pinned, the threat is
cxd4.
The queen trade 14...Qxg5+ 15.Qxg5 hxg5 invites an untenable endgame.
White retains control over the center, all of the active pieces and, after Rb1,
control over the key files. 16.Ke3.
15.dxc5
Opening the fourth rank for the queen and the d4-square for the knight.
Very tempting is 15.g6 but Black survives after 15...0–0–0.
15...d4
The pawns are now tripled, but Black doesn't have time to pick them off
one at a time.
Black can't now capture the undefended e5-pawn because after 15...Nxe5
White picks up the piece. 16.Qd4.
 16.Nf3
The e-pawn will need to be defended after Black castles queenside, and
the knight can later join the attack with Ng5 or now Nd4.
16...0–0–0 17.Rab1
Or 17.Ke2 anticipating the check on c3.
17...dxc3+ 18.Ke2
Making sure that the rooks remain in touch with one another.

18...Rhg8
 After 18...hxg5 White's h-pawn and queen take on more aggressive roles.
19.h6 Qxc5 20.Rb5 Qa3 21.Qc4 with the idea of Ng5-e4.
19.Qe4
Centralizing the queen, but even stronger is Qc4.
19...Qc7

20.g4
Not waiting for hxg5, Leko now threatens gxh6 and g5.
20...Ne7
With the pawn on g4, the knight does not have access to f5, but the light-
squared bishop now takes aim at c6 hitting the queen and establishing itself
on the long diagonal.
21.Bb5
The only way to maintain the advantage, preventing the black bishop
from reaching c6 unopposed.
21...hxg5
There's no point in permitting White now to capture on h6, but the
capture now on g5 leaves White with a powerful outside passer and the
knight's attack on the g5-pawn.
 22.Rb3
If Black doesn't now exchange bishops, White now will follow up with
Rxc3 or Rhb1.
22...Nd5 23.Rhb1 Bc6
The remaining hope to stay in the game was 23...Bxb5+ 24.Rxb5 b6
shutting down the file.

24.Bxc6! Qxc6
24...bxc6 25.Qc4+- or 25.Qa4.
25.Nd4
And now the knight joins the attack from an unassailable central perch.
25...Qa6+
Black is getting crushed after 25...Qxc5 26.Rxb7 Nb6 27.Rxa7.

26.Ke1 Rd7 27.c6 Rc7

On 27...bxc6 28.Rb8+ Kc7 29.Rxg8+-.
28.Rxb7 Rxb7 29.Rxb7 Nb6 30.Qh7 Rf8 31.Qg7 Qa3
Is Black surviving the attack?

32.Qxf8+
 Very showy.
32.Qxf8+ Qxf8 33.Nb5 Qc5 34.Nd6+ Kd8 35.c7+ and the pawn will
queen with check.
Also winning is 32.Rxf7 Qc1+ 33.Kf2 Qd2+ 34.Ne2 and there are no
more checks.
1–0
 6: Anand, Viswanathan (2800) - Shirov, Alexei (2749)
[C12]
Bilbao, 2010
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Bb4 5.e5 h6 6.Bd2 Bxc3 7.bxc3 Ne4
8.Qg4 g6 9.Bd3 Nxd2 10.Kxd2 c5 11.h4
You can expect that two great players will be extremely careful with their
move orders. In the critical position, Anand plays h4, as we have seen a very
useful move in most positions as part of a kingside attack.

11...Qa5
The queen move pins the pawn and threatens rather than plays c5xd5.
12.Nf3
Defending the pawn from f3, since 12.Ne2? c4 traps the bishop. In many
lines with 12.Qf4 we saw the knight develop to e2, but those games involved
sloppy move orders by Black in exchanging too early on d4.
12...Nc6 13.Qf4
Reaching the same position as Edwards-Quigley except that there, White
essentially had the choice here between playing h4 and dxc5 opening the d4
square for the knight. Of interest, of course, is that White in that game
selected dxc5, suggesting that 11.Qf4 might well be the right approach.

13...cxd4
Capturing the pawn before White captures on c5, and with the aim of
exchanging knights, dulling the potential of White's attack.
14.h5
A seldom-played but remarkable move, essentially sacrificing the c- and
d-pawns to speed the attack and to maintain intact his attacking force.

14...g5
Black's latest effort to dull the attack. Of course, Black has the
opportunity here to capture on c3 with either the d-pawn or the queen. I
insert two games played by Horvath in each of these lines.
Horvath, A (2455) - Naiditsch, A (2390) Paks 1998 continued 14...dxc3+
15.Ke2 g5 16.Qf6 Rg8 17.Qxh6 with a passed h-pawn and two attacks upon
the g5-pawn. 17...g4 18.Ng5 With the obvious idea of Nh7-f6 as well a more
aggressive approach 18...Qc7 (The more critical line was 18...Nxe5 19.Qf6
Qd8 20.Qxe5 Qxg5 21.Qxg5 Rxg5 22.h6 Rg8 and Black appears to be
surviving) 19.Nxf7! Qxf7 (avoiding 19...Kxf7 20.Qh7+ Rg7 21.Bg6+ Kf8
22.Qh8+ Rg8 23.Qf6+ with mate next move) 20.Bg6 Rxg6 21.hxg6 Qg8
22.g7 Nd4+ Taking advantage of the check to repost the knight on f5. 23.Kd3
Nf5 24.Qg6+ Kd7 25.Rh8 Qxg7 26.Rh7 Qxh7 27.Qxh7+ Kc6 28.Qg8 d4
29.Qe8+ Kc5 30.Rb1 a6 31.a4 1–0.
Horvath, A (2464) - Hoang Thanh Trang (2426) Budapest 2002 tried
14...Qxc3+ 15.Ke2 Black can now break through with ...Nb4 and the capture
on d3, or with ...b6 and ...Ba6 but White's attack is now in full bloom and the
black knight is required to pressure the e5-pawn and in some lines, to retreat
to e7. 15...gxh5 16.Rab1 mixing strong defense with offense. The rook move
keeps the Bc8 at home and prevents any thought of castling on the queenside,
but the immediate threat is Rb3. 16...Qa3 The queen will be needed to block
checks from h8. 17.Rxh5 b6 18.Rxh6 Rxh6 19.Qxh6 Bd7 20.Ng5 Nxe5?!
Necessary was ...0–0–0 21.Qh8+ Ke7 22.Qxe5 f6 23.Qg3 Rg8 (White is also
winning after 23...fxg5 24.Rh1) 24.Rh1+- e5 25.Rh7+ Ke8 26.Bg6+ Rxg6
27.Qxa3 1–0.
15.Qf6
The main objective when White plays Qf4, the entry square on f6. The
queen hits the rook and the h6-pawn, and the Bd3 eliminates ...Rh7 as a
defense.
15...Rf8
Black appears to be fine after 15...Rg8! 16.Qxh6 g4 17.Ng5 Nxe5 18.Qf6
dxc3+ 19.Ke2 Qd8 20.Qxe5 Qxg5 21.Qxg5 Rxg5 22.h6 Rg8 23.Rab1 White
will not easily be able to promote the h-pawn.
 16.Qxh6
The passed h-pawn and double attack upon g5more than compensate for
the weakened center.
16...g4 17.Ng5
With themes similar to the Horvath-Naiditsch game referenced above.
17...Nxe5 18.Nh7 Rh8 19.Ke2

19…Nxd3
Better first to play 19...Qxc3 20.Nf6+ (not 20.Qf6 Nxd3 21.Qxh8+ Kd7–
+) 20...Ke7 21.Qg5 (not 21.Qxh8 Nxd3–+).
 20.cxd3 Bd7 21.Nf6+ Ke7 22.Qg5

22...dxc3
Trying to sidestep the discoveries leaves the black king more exposed in
the center than White's. 22...Kd6 23.cxd4 Bc6 24.Nxg4+-.
23.Ne4+ Ke8
23...f6 walks into a quick mate. 24.Qxf6+ Ke8 25.Nd6#
24.Nf6+
Finding no way to make progress with Ne4+, Anand tries again.
24...Ke7 25.Nxg4+
 25…Kd6!
Avoiding 25...Ke8 26.Nf6+ Ke7 27.Nxd5+ Kd6 28.Qe7+ Kxd5
29.Qxd7+.
26.Ne5 f6 27.Qxf6 Raf8 28.Qg7
On 28.Nf7+ Rxf7 29.Qxh8 e5 with compensation for the exchange.
28...Qa4 29.Nf7+ Rxf7 30.Qxf7 Qc2+ 31.Kf1 Qxd3+ 32.Kg1 Qd2
33.Qg7 c2
33...Rc8 34.h6 c2 35.Qg3+ e5 36.Qa3+ Ke6 37.Qc1=.
34.Qxh8 c1Q+ 35.Rxc1 Qxc1+ 36.Kh2 Qf4+ 37.Kg1
With a perpetual.
37...Qc1+ 38.Kh2 ½–½
 7: Short, Nigel D (2712) - Kadhi, Hameed Mansour
Ali (2379) [C12]
Tripoli, 2004
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Bb4 5.e5 h6 6.Bd2 Bxc3 7.bxc3 Ne4
8.Qg4 g6 9.Bd3 Nxd2 10.Kxd2 c5

11.h4
For the second time here, the pawn move that obviously aims for a quick
kingside attack.
11...Bd7
In the face of h4-h5, Black rushes to castle queenside, either with ...Nc6
or with ...Bc6 and ...Nd7.
12.Rb1
Seldom played but there is logic here. By placing the rook on the semi-
open file, Black will need to prevent Rxb7. ...b6 would block the queen's
access to a5. and ...Bc6 would block the knight's access to c6. Still, the
rook's move is a bit of a distraction. Can Black now find a way to question
the usefulness either of the rook moves or the advance of the h-pawn?
 12...Bc6
Rather than defend the pawn, Black can choose to sacrifice it. In
Blomqvist, E (2313) - Skjoldebrand,M Taby 2007, Black tried 12...Nc6
13.Rxb7 Consistent, but by no means forced. Also playable is 13.dxc5 since
13...Nxe5 meets 14.Qd4. In that line, the pawn capture opens the fourth rank
for the queen and the d4 square for the knight. Of course, also at issue is
11.h4, which would no longer appear to be a useful tempo. 13...cxd4 Taking
advantage of the pressure on the center to open the a5-e1 diagonal 14.cxd4
Qa5+ 15.Ke3 Nb4 16.Ne2 Quick development, reinforcing the center, eyeing
c3, and in some lines helping to connect the rooks with ...Rhb1. 16...0–0–0
Trapping the rook! 17.Rxb4 Qxb4 18.Qf3 Rhf8 (Better is 18...Qe7 to guard
the f6 entry square) 19.c4 To open the c-file 19...Bc6 20.Rc1 (Better is
20.Rb1 ) 20...Kd7 21.Qf4 Rb8 22.Qxh6 Qe7 (22...dxc4!=) 23.Qf4 Rb2
24.cxd5 Bxd5 25.Nc3 Bc6 26.Ne4 Qb4 27.Nc5+ Ke8 28.Rd1 Rxa2 29.g4
Qb2 30.Qf6 Bd5 31.h5 gxh5 32.gxh5 a6 33.h6 Ra1 34.Rxa1 Qxa1 35.Bxa6
Qe1+ 36.Kd3 Qd1+ 37.Kc3 Qa1+ 38.Kc2 Qa2+ 39.Kd3 Qb1+ 40.Kd2 Qb2+
41.Ke3 Qc1+ 42.Kd3 ½–½.
13.h5
Already a critical position. The rapid advance of the h-pawn with the
white bishop on d3 places the g6-pawn under stress. The pawn cannot remain
on g6, and the capture on h5 provides both the rook and the queen with easy
paths for improvement.
 13...g5
In Stellwagen, D (2561) - Wang Hao (2519) Istanbul 2005, Black
captured the h-pawn. 13...gxh5 14.Rxh5 Nd7 15.Nf3 Holding d4, but once
the h6 pawn disappears, the knight will rapidly join the attack on g5 15...Qa5
16.Qg7 The natural entry square, and now the h6-pawn goes. 16...Rf8
17.Rxh6 0–0–0 18.Rbh1 To support Rh8. When the rooks go, Black's
kingside pawns will fall. 18...Nb6 19.Rh8 Rfe8 20.Ng5 Na4 Black breaks
through on c3, but White's king will find sanctuary hiding within the
advancing attack. 21.Nxf7 Qxc3+ 22.Ke2 c4 Fuel for his attack 23.Bg6
Continuing to hold c2 23...Qxd4 Opening c3 for the knight 24.Kf3 Qc3+
25.Kg4 Impressive and best. The king will find safety on h6. 25...Qd4+
26.Kg3 Qc3+ 27.Kg4 (Simpler is 27.f3 ) 27...Qd4+ 28.f4 Qf2 29.g3 d4
30.Nxd8 Qf3+ 31.Kg5 Qxg3+ 32.Kh6 Rxd8 33.Rxd8+ Kxd8 34.Qf8+ Kc7
35.Qd6+ Kb6 36.Qxd4+ Kc7 37.Rh5 Nc3 38.Rg5 Qh4+ 39.Rh5 Qg3 40.f5
exf5 41.Rxf5 Nd5 42.Rf7+ Kb8 43.Kg7 1–0.
Black cannot successfully gain time with 13...c4 because White's
breakthrough is too rapid. 14.hxg6 gleefully sacrificing the bishop 14...cxd3
15.g7 Rg8 16.Rxh6 Kd7 17.Kxd3 Kc7 18.Rh7 Tying up Black's forces. The
finale will require patient maneuvering of a knight to f6 or h6.
14.f4
Consistent. White will either gain an outside passed pawn or access for
the queen to g7.
 14...Nd7 15.Nf3
An illustration of why White benefits from postponing the development
of the knight until now, behind the f-pawn and increasing the pressure on g5.

15...cxd4 16.cxd4
Straightening out the structure and maintaining the knight's pressure on
g5.
16...gxf4 17.Qxf4
With an obvious bind on Black's position. The king's rook is tied to the
defense of the h-pawn, the knight must watch the f6-entry square, and the
light-squared bishop has no scope. Meanwhile, White has a g-pawn to
advance.
Not 17.Qg7 Ke7.
 17...Qe7
Preparing the castle queenside. [Going after the a-pawn with 17...Qa5+
18.Ke3 Qxa2 exposes the queen on the a- and b-files 19.Ra1 Qb2 20.Rhb1
Qc3 21.Ra2 Trapping the queen. Rb3 is next.
18.Ke2
After the exchange of queens on h4 and advancing the g-pawn, the king
will need access in some lines to support the g-pawn from f3.
18...0–0–0 19.Qh4 Qf8
After 19...Qxh4 20.Nxh4 Rhg8 The attack on the f-pawn is compelling.
21.Rbf1.
 20.g4 Rg8 21.g5
And White will emerge with an outside passer.
21...hxg5 22.Nxg5

22…Nxe5
A completely justified sacrifice, opening to lines for the major pieces and
the light-squared bishop. Without the sacrifice, Short would simply advance
the pawn to h7 and then mount the pressure on f7.
23.dxe5 Qg7
Pressuring the pawn on e5, the Ng5, and the g2 entry square.
 24.Rhg1
The right rook.
On 24.Rbg1 Qxe5+ And the queen's access to the queenside squares
makes it harder for the king to escape the checks.
24...Qxe5+ 25.Kd2 d4 26.Rbe1
Covering the e3 entry-square.
26...Qa5+ 27.Ke2

27…Rd5
27...Qe5+ 28.Kd1 and the king is safe.
28.Nxf7
Covering both h8 and e5.
28...Re8 29.h6
Passed pawns are meant to be pushed.
29...e5
With the idea of e4.
30.Rg4
White might have simply ignored the threat with h7.
30...Rd7

31.Ng5
And here too, h7 was stronger.
31...e4 32.Nxe4 Bb5 33.Kf1
Evacuating the center.
33...Bxd3+ 34.cxd3 Kb8 35.Kg1 Rh7 36.Rf1 Reh8 37.Qg3+
And Black resigns in the face of Rg8 next.
1–0
 8: Anand, Viswanathan (2753) - Radjabov,Teimour
(2624) [C12]
Corus Wijk aan Zee, 2003
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Bb4 5.e5 h6 6.Bd2 Bxc3 7.bxc3 Ne4
8.Qg4 g6 9.Bd3 Nxd2 10.Kxd2 c5
The same critical position in the MacCutcheon. We have previously seen
11.Qf4 and 11.h4 in action. In both of those cases, the players kept the Ng1 at
home. In one game, the knight developed behind a pawn on f4. In other
games, the Ng1 waiting first for ...cxd4 in order safely to develop on e2. If
the knight is going to move, it heads now to f3, certainly not e2 inviting ...c4
trapping the bishop before it can successful sac on g6.

11.Nf3
Here on f3, the knight usefully reinforces the center, eyes g5, preventing
the black queen from popping out there, after h4-h5, and can quickly occupy
d4 after 12.dxc5.
11...Bd7
11...Nc6 is the most common response here, preserving the idea of ...Qa5,
...b6, and Ba6, but ...Bd7 is also flexible. Black still aims to castle on the
queenside, developing either with ...Nc6 or with ...Bc6 and ...Nd7.
 12.dxc5
12.h4 is more often played, but the pawn capture is the only way quickly
to take advantage of the different move order. The tripled pawns are amusing
but of no meaningful consequence. Black will recover the pawn, but White
gains immediate access to d4 for the knight.
12...Qe7
...Qa5 no longer has sting without the threat of c5xd4 and with the Nf3
already watching d4. Also playable is ...Bc6 with the knight developing on
d7.
13.Rab1 Bc6 14.Nd4 Nd7
There's no rush to capture on c5. The knight enters the position with
threats on c5 and e5.
 15.Rhe1
Anand is fully prepared to cede the c5-pawn. The position is remarkably
different from others we have already seen. White has as yet made no effort
to advance the h-pawn, the white knight occupies an impressive central post,
but there is a downside. There is as yet no hint of a white attack upon the
kingside.
Anand rejected 15.f4 in favor of the rook move in part because even
without having moved the h-pawn, the rook now gains the option of a rook
swing to f3 or g3.
15...Nxc5
One of the disadvantages of not having played h4 is that Black has this
check at his disposal. 15...Qg5+ 16.Qxg5 hxg5 17.h3 The exchange of queens
results in black gaining the open h-file as well as an undefended pawn on g5.
17...Nxc5 18.Rb4 In positions with the rook on h1 and the knight on g1, we
saw that White had time for g4 and Nf3 fixing and then attacking the pawn.
Here, the g5-pawn is weak but there's certainly no quick way to attack and
win it. 18...a5 19.Rbb1 Kd7 20.Ke3 Rh4 21.Nf3 Winning the g-pawn
requires the loss of a time by the knight and permitting the black rook to
transfer remarkably to the queenside. 21...Ra4 22.Nxg5 Ke7 23.Rb2 Rc8
24.Reb1 ½–½ (61) Garcia, G (2515) - Arboleda,J Bogota 1992.
 16.Re3 h5 17.Qg3 0–0–0
Of interest here is that White's piece led attack makes no meaningful
progress. Black's only weakness on the kingside, the f7pawn, is hard to reach
and is well defended.

18.Ke1
Of course, the advantage of White's approach is also obvious... the king
reaches a pristine sanctuary on the kingside.
18...Qc7 19.h4 Qa5 20.Kf1 Rd7
Defending the f7-pawn and preparing ...Rc7 which would protect the king
and gain enough activity to enable the capture on c3.
The c3-pawn is immune 20...Qxc3 21.Nxc6 Nxd3 Black cannot play
21...bxc6 because 22.Ba6+ wins the queen. 22.Rxd3 Qxc6 23.Rc3 with a
skewer.

21.Qf4 Rhd8
White is not fearful of 21...Nxd3 22.cxd3 Qxc3 23.Rg3 with considerable
play on the kingside.
22.Kg1 Nxd3 23.Rxd3
Holding the pawn, but 23.cxd3 Qxc3 24.Ree1 is fully playable.
23...Qc5 24.Rb4 a5 25.Rb1 Rc7 26.Qc1 Be8 27.Nb3 Qb6 28.Nd4
With a very respectful draw.
½–½
 9: De Firmian, Nick E (2547) - Nakamura, Hikaru
(2644) [C12]
San Diego, 2006
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Bb4 5.e5 h6 6.Bd2 Bxc3 7.bxc3 Ne4
8.Qg4 g6 9.Bd3 Nxd2 10.Kxd2 c5
Our critical position.
11.Nf3
As we have seen, the development of the knight permits White
immediately to consider a plan with 12.dxc5 and 13.Nd4.

11...c4
Black normally plays ...Nc6 or ...Bd7, but there is logic in locking the
structure. The knight has now committed to f3 and will not now be able to
reach d4. In addition, Nakamura hopes to hide his king on the queenside.
The down side, of course, is that the locking in of the pawn structure has
imprisoned Black's light-squared bishop.
12.Be2 Nd7
A relatively new but interesting idea. After ...Qe7 and a queenside
fianchetto, Black will castle queenside and seek counter-play against the
central structure by pushing the f-pawn. If, as expected, White captures with
exf6, Black will try to play ...e5 busting up the center and releasing the light-
squared bishop from its jail.

13.h4
The obvious kingside advance, but White has another option, anticipating
...0–0–0 with 13.Rhb1 with a4.
13...Qe7 14.a3
A novelty, aiming at slowing Black's eventual counterplay with ...a5 and
...b5.
Played previously was 14.a4 which stakes a presence on the queenside, in
theory slowing down the counterplay. 14...a5 Fixing the pawn, an isolated
weakness, and Black will be able to attack it with ...Nb6 and ...Bd7, but
meanwhile White expects to make more significant progress on the kingside.
15.Qf4 Ra6 16.Nh2 Nb6 17.Ng4 Bd7 18.Nxh6 Nxa4 19.Rhb1 Bc6 20.g4 Ra8
21.g5 b5 22.h5 Rf8 23.Qf6 Kd7 24.f4 Ra7? (24...Rab8! 25.Nxf7 Nxc3
26.Qxe7+ Kxe7 27.Kxc3 b4+ 28.Kd2 Rxf7 29.Ke3 a4 with a dynamic
equality) 25.hxg6 fxg6 26.Qxg6 b4 27.f5 exf5 28.cxb4 axb4 29.Nxf5 (Even
better is 29.Ng8 ) 29...Qe6 30.Qxe6+ Kxe6 31.Bg4 Kf7 32.Rh1 Kg6
33.Bh5+ Kxg5 (33...Kxf5 34.Raf1+ Ke6 35.Bg4+ Ke7 36.Rh7+ Ke8
37.Bh5++-) 34.Rhg1+ Kxh5 35.Rg2 1–0 Tseshkovsky, V (2554) - Gukasian,
R (2416) Krasnodar 2002.
14...b6
 15.Kc1
An awkward idea. DeFirmian hopes to hide his own king on b2 where,
with the Ra1, it will defend rather than toss away the a-pawn.
15...Bb7 16.Nd2
By moving the king, the knight gains a post that permits the advance of
the f-pawn. Moreover, the knight helps to prevent Black's knight from
reaching e4 now that the Bd3 has been relocated.
16...0–0–0

17.f4
 A clear reason not to post the queen on f4. Apart from over-protecting the
e5-pawn, White gains the idea of a pawn led attack with Qh3, g4, and f5.
17...f5 18.exf6
When White has the opportunity to capture on f6 in the French, it is
almost always correct. As a result of the capture, Black's e6-pawn becomes a
major focus of attention on both sides. Black wants to push it. White expects
to fix and attack it with his pieces, forcing Black to defend it with his pieces.
18...Nxf6

19.Qh3
Laterally defending the third rank and preparing g4 in support of f5.
19...h5
Preventing the advance of the g-pawn, which would be very useful in
support of a possible f4-f5, but now creating a new weakness on g6.
20.Qe3
Having fixed the e6-pawn, Defirmian sets about to attack it directly with
the queen and rook and potentially also with the bishop from h3 and the
knight from g5.
20...Rhf8
 21.g3
Defending the f-pawn and making room for the bishop to reach h3.
21...Bc6
The bishop has a roll to play, contributing to the defense of the e-pawn.
22.Re1
Joining the attack upon e6.
22...b5
The counterattack commences. To succeed, Nakamura will need to place
a rook on a4 and then draw in the a-pawn to a5, all in support of b5-b4.
 23.Bf1
The bishop unblocks the e-file and heads to g2 or h3..
23…Rd6
Very efficient. The rook is heading to a6, and Black avoids playing ...Bd7
blocking the rook's access to d6.
24.Nf3
Heading towards the e5-hole.
24…Bd7
Defending the e6-pawn, and also opening the rank for the rook.
 25.Ne5
Occupying the hole threatens Nxg4 and prevents the opposing knight
from trying g4.
25...Rg8 26.Bg2
Keeping the knight off e4.
26...Ra6
With the idea of ...Ra4 and drawing in the a-pawn to a5.
27.Kb2
White certainly needs to consider where the king will be safest before the
attack fully commences. The best square is more likely on the kingside,
perhaps h1.
27...Ne8
With no access to e4 or g4, the knight reposts to c7, helping to free up the
Ra6 for duties other than protecting e6.
 28.Nf3 Nc7
Where the knight overprotects e6 and also watches over captures on d5.
29.Ng5
The white knight finally reaches g5, adding a third attack on the
backward pawn.
29...Ra4 30.Bh3 Re8
Four attacks, four defenses.

31.Qe5
 Thematic use of the e5-square. Now the queen occupies the hole. To
break through, white will need to find a way to play f5.
31...a5 32.Qe3
Perhaps in time pressure, beginning to lose the thread of the position.
Sufficient for a draw is 32.Nf3 b4 33.axb4 axb4 34.Rxa4 Bxa4 35.Ra1 bxc3+
36.Kxc3 Bd7.
32...Kb7 33.Nf3 Ra8 34.Reb1 Kc8

35.Qe1
White won't be able to win, but he certainly should be able to hold the
position after 35.Ne5 Be8.
35...Rb8
Black can already break through with 35...b4 36.axb4 axb4 37.Rxa4 Rxa4
38.Kc1 b3.
36.Ne5 Be8 37.Nf3
Undoubtedly in serious time trouble, White tries to repeat the position.
37...Rb6 38.Ne5 b4 39.axb4 axb4 40.Rxa4 Bxa4 41.Kc1 b3 42.cxb3
Qa3+ 43.Kd2
 43…Qa2+
Crashing through.
44.Ke3 Rxb3 45.Rc1 Qh2 46.Bf1 Nb5 and now, even the knight joins
the attack.
47.Nxc4?
The only chance left was 47.f5 gxf5 48.Kf4.
47...dxc4 48.Bxc4 Rb2–+ 49.Bxe6+ Kd8 50.f5 gxf5 51.Bxf5 Nd6
52.Bd3 Rg2 53.d5 Rxg3+ 54.Kd4 Qxh4+ 55.Kc5 Qf4 56.Qe6 Nb7+ 0–1
 10: Aseev, Konstantin N (2485) - Dolmatov, Sergey
(2615) [C12]
Odessa, 1989
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Bb4 5.e5 h6 6.Bd2 Bxc3 7.bxc3 Ne4
8.Qg4 g6 9.Bd3 Nxd2 10.Kxd2 c5
Once again, the critical position.
11.Nf3
White again decides to play the knight to f3 where it watches e5, and d4,
connects the rooks, and stays off e2 where ...c4 would trap the bishop.
11...Qc7
A seldom played but very interesting idea. The queen moves the c-file,
waiting for a rook on c8 to pry open the file. And on c7, Black has prepared
...f5 in response to Qf4.

12.h4
Once again with the idea of h5 and if appropriate, a rook swing to g3 or
f3.
12...cxd4
The more common move order 12...Nc6 13.Qf4 f5 14.g4 cxd4 15.cxd4
transposes to the game in the note to White's 15th move.
13.cxd4 Nc6 14.Qf4 f5
Black's idea, to counter Qf4 with ...f5. In the French, White very often
responds to ...f5 by capturing en passant on f6, but here, the capture would
lose the Qf4.

15.Qg3
Attacking the newly weakened g6-pawn, but the queen move is a clear
mistake.
Far better to play 15.g4! with the idea of opening lines of the kingside
into which White's pieces can infiltrate. 15...Bd7 16.gxf5 gxf5 17.Rhg1
Taking immediate advantage of the open g-file. 17...0–0–0 18.Rg6 Kb8
19.Rxh6 Rxh6 20.Qxh6 Rc8 21.Ke2 Nb4 22.Qd2 Nxc2 23.Qxc2 Qxc2+
24.Bxc2 Rxc2+ 25.Ke3 The material is even, but the outside passer tells the
story. 25...Be8 26.Ng5 f4+ 27.Kxf4 Rxf2+ 28.Kg3 Rd2 29.Nxe6 Rd3+
30.Kf4 Bf7 31.Kf5 a5 32.Rg1 a4 33.Nf4 Rf3 34.Rg7 Bh5 35.Rg5 Bf7 36.h5
1–0 Kurenkov, N (2401)-Pliasunov, A (2397) Samara 2004.
15...Ne7
Covering the pawn, and White's attack quickly evaporates.
 16.Rhc1
Switching his interest to the queenside, with the idea of c4.
16...Bd7
On c4, Black will capture and place the "bad" actively along the long
diagonal.
17.Ke2 Bc6

18.Ng1
The knight is heading to f4.
 18...0–0–0 19.Nh3 Qd7
Anticipating Nf4 by protecting the e6-pawn, and preparing ...Bb5 trading
off the bad bishop.

20.a4 Kb8 21.a5 Bb5 22.Nf4 Rc8 23.Rab1 Bxd3+ 24.cxd3 Nc6
Activating the knight with a threat upon d4.

25.Ke3
White makes no meaningful progress with 25.Qxg6 Nxd4+ 26.Kf1 and
indeed, Black's rooks gain control over the g-file. 26...Rcg8.
25...Rhg8 26.a6 b6 27.Ne2 g5
 Black has seized control over the kingside.
28.hxg5 hxg5
The obvious threat is ...f4+.

29.Kd2 Qe7 30.Rc3 Nb4

Brutal is 30...Nxd4! 31.Nxd4 Rxc3 32.Kxc3 Qa3+.
31.Rcb3 Nxa6
Missing 31...Rc2+ 32.Kd1 Rh8–+.
32.Qh2 Rc6 33.Qh1 Kb7 34.R1b2 g4 35.g3 Nb8 36.Qa1 Rgc8 37.Ra2
a6 38.Nf4 R8c7 39.Rb1 b5 40.Qb2 Rb6 41.Raa1 Nd7 42.Qb3 Nb8 43.Qa2
b4 44.Qa4 Nc6 45.Ne2 Ka7 46.Rb2 Rc8 47.Ke3 Qb7 48.Nc1 Nxd4!
48...Nxd4 49.Kxd4 Qc7–+.
0–1
 11: Fischer, Robert James - Petrosian, Tigran V
[C12]
Curacao, 1962
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Bb4 5.e5 h6 6.Bd2 Bxc3

7.Bxc3
A highly unusual move, but the American Grandmaster has something
interesting in mind.
7...Ne4 8.Ba5
More common here is Bb4, preventing Black from castling and with the
goal of challenging Black's knight without it being able to capture anything.
8...0–0
In playing the bishop to a5, Fischer hoped to entice 8...b6 because the
presence of the pawn, though it enables ...Ba6, also prevents Black from
playing the queen eventually to a5
 9.Bd3
Fischer's idea is to challenge the Ne4 while it cannot capture the dark-
squared bishop.
9...Nc6
Petrosian solves the challenge of the novelty by developing the knight to
attack the Ba5.
10.Bc3
An apparent waste of time, but Fischer has succeeded in enticing the
knight to c6 where it blocks the development of Black's c-pawn to c5.
10...Nxc3 11.bxc3
 Fischer must have been pleased with this position. With his knight on c6,
Petrosian will not easily now be able to generate counterplay on the
queenside.
11...f6!
Petrosian finds a solution, attacking the chain at its head. Normally,
White would capture quickly on f6, but here, with Black's King already
castled, the knight on c6, and White behind in development, the capture
would only serves to speed Black's counterplay with ...e5.
12.f4
Trying to hold the center together, hoping for an endgame that takes
advantage of his good bishop against Black's weak e6-pawn.
12...fxe5 13.fxe5 Ne7
Unblocking the c-pawn and taking aim at ...Nf5 and ...Qh4.
 14.Nf3 c5 15.0–0 Qa5
Despite Fischer's efforts, the queen actively reaches a5.
16.Qe1
Defending the c-pawn and threatening c4.

16...Bd7
Connecting the rooks and often with the idea of ...Bb5 exchanging off the
bad bishop, but better was ...c4, taking advantage of Black's lead in
development by driving back the bishop and initiating an pawn led attack
upon the queenside.
 17.c4
Not giving Petrosian a second chance to push the pawn, but the pawn
structure blasts open at a time when the Russian is best able to exploit it.
17...Qxe1 18.Rfxe1
Fischer must have expected that the exchange of queens would end
Black's hopes of a queenside attack and give White a chance to fight
effectively in the center.
18...dxc4
Opening uncustomary diagonal lines for the bishop.
19.Be4
Turning down the recapture in order to prevent Black from playing ...Bc6.

19...cxd4 20.Bxb7 Rab8 21.Ba6

Counting on the two attacks to recover the pawn.
 21...Rb4 22.Rad1
The immediate capture 22.Nxd4 gives black the chance to double safely
on the b-file with the threat of Ra4 trapping the bishop. 22...Rfb8.
22...d3 23.cxd3 cxd3 24.Rxd3 Bc6 25.Rd4
Seeking trades to minimize Black's advantage.

25...Rxd4 26.Nxd4 Bd5 27.a4!?

Better were 27.a3 or 27.Nb5.
27...Rf4 28.Rd1 Ng6
Winning the e-pawn.

29.Bc8 Kf7 30.a5 Nxe5 31.a6

With the hope of Nb5 and a capture on a7.
31...Rg4 32.Rd2
Avoiding 32.g3 Rxd4 33.Rxd4 Nf3+.
32...Nc4 33.Rf2+ Ke7 34.Nb5 Nd6 35.Nxd6
35.Nxa7 Rc4–+.

35...Kxd6 36.Bb7 Bxb7 37.axb7 Kc7 38.h3 Rg5 39.Rb2 Kb8

 It's all over. Petrosian needs only to bring the rook to b7.

40.Kf2 Rd5 41.Ke3 Rd7 42.Ke4 Rxb7 43.Rf2 0–1

About the author

Jon Edwards won the 10th United States Correspondence Championship

in 1997 and the 8th North American Invitational Correspondence Chess
Championship in 1999. He is a four time winner of the APCT (American
Postal Chess Tournaments) Championship and a two time winner of the
APCT Game of the Year Award. He received his correspondence
International Master (IM) in 1997, his Senior International Master (SIM) in
1999. He has competed on the United States Correspondence Chess
Olympiad team, reaching the final round. His correspondence ICCF rating of
2580 places him in the top 200 correspondence chess players worldwide.
He has written more than a dozen chess books, notably including The
Chess Analyst (Thinkers Press, 1999) which chronicles the success in the US
championship, Teach Yourself Visually: Chess (Wiley, 2006), a
photographically based chess primer, and Sacking the Citadel: The History,
Theory, and Practice of the Classic Bishop Sacrifice (Russell Enterprises,
2011). He is also web master of Chess is Fun [www.queensac.com], a
popular chess instruction web site that receives more than 100,000 hits a
week.
Jon provides chess instruction in the Princeton, NJ area. He has taught
chess to more than 1,500 students over 30 years.
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