The Bishop Pair - Power of The Sun by Efstratios Grivas, Thinkers Publishing 2022-TLS

Table of Contents
Title page
Key to Symbols
Bibliography
Foreword
Introduction
Chapter 1 – Bishop Pair Versus Bishop & Knight

a) The Open Centre
b) The Semi-Open Centre
c) The Closed Centre
d) Unbalanced Pawn Structure
Chapter 2 – Bishop Pair Versus Knight Pair
Chapter 3 – Stubborn Defense
Chapter 4 – Bishop Exchange
Chapter 5 – Investing Material
Chapter 6 – Bishop Pair fails
Chapter 7 – Compensatory Factors
Index of Games
2
The Bishop Pair
Power of the Sun
An Innovative Course
by
Efstratios Grivas
Thinkers Publishing 2022
www.thinkerspublishing.com
First edition 2022 by Thinkers Publishing

Copyright © 2022 Efstratios Grivas
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or
transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or
otherwise, without the prior written permission from the publisher.
All sales or enquiries should be directed to Thinkers Publishing, 9850 Landegem, Belgium.
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Cover Design: Iwan Kerkhof
Graphic Artist: Philippe Tonnard
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ISBN: 9789464201499
3
D/2022/13731/1
4
Key to Symbols
! a good move
? a weak move
!! an excellent move
?? a blunder
!? an interesting move
?! a dubious move
™ only move
N novelty
‰ lead in development
ʘ zugzwang
= equality
∞ unclear position
© with compensation for the sacrificed material
² White stands slightly better
³ Black stands slightly better
± White has a serious advantage
µ Black has a serious advantage
+– White has a decisive advantage
–+ Black has a decisive advantage
‚ with an attack
ƒ with initiative
„ with counterplay
… with the idea of
¹ better is
≤ worse is
+ check
# mate
5
Bibliography
Chess Odyssey, Efstratios Grivas, Chesscafe.com 2007

Advanced Chess School – Volume 1 – The Bishop Pair, Efstratios Grivas, FIDE 2014
Chess Analytics: Training with a Grandmaster, Efstratios Grivas; Russell Enterprises, Inc. 2012
Chess College 1, 2 & 3, Efstratios Grivas, Gambit 2006
Dvoretsky’s Endgame Manual, Mark Dvoretsky, Russel Enterprises 2003
Endgame Corner, Karsten Mueller, Chesscafe.com 2001-2013
Fundamental Chess Endings, Karsten Muller & Frank Lamprecht, Gambit 2001
Grivas Method: Middlegame Strategies, Efstratios Grivas, Chess Evolution Kft 2017
Grivas Opening Laboratory – Volumes 1-7, Efstratios Grivas; Chess Evolution Kft 2019-2021
Modern Chess Planning, Efstratios Grivas, Gambit 2007
Monster Your Endgame Planning – Volume 1 & 2, Efstratios Grivas; Chess Evolution Kft 2019
Monster Your Middlegame Planning – Volume 1 & 2, Efstratios Grivas, Chess Evolution Kft 2019
New In Chess (Magazine & Yearbook), Various Contributors, Interchess BV 1984-2021
Practical Endgame Play – Mastering the Basics, Efstratios Grivas, Everyman 2008
Secrets of Minor-Piece Endings, John Nunn, Batsford 1995
Secrets of Modern Chess Strategy, John Watson, Gambit 1998
The Bishop Pair, Mikhail Gurevich, FIDE Syllabus 2010
The Grandmaster Program, Efstratios Grivas, FIDE 2015
The Seven Deadly Chess Sins, Jonathan Rowson, Gambit 2001
6
Foreword
Dear Reader,
Every chess player who wishes to improve his level in the difficult subject of chess is obliged to study
methodically and understand the existing principles that govern the theory of the opening, the
middlegame and the endgame.
Most chess players focus more on the study of opening theory than any other aspect of the game. The
reasons are probably clear: opening theory is easier to learn and can provide immediate results,
although this is based more on the opponent’s ignorance than our own abilities. Even for a chess
trainer, it is easier to teach some variations from this or that opening, or a set of simple tactical motifs,
than to engross himself in the exposition of middlegame and endgame theory.
Yes, middlegame and endgame theory does exist. The great difficulty in approaching it lies in the fact
that it does not follow absolute and clear-cut paths, but rather involves deep research in the ideas and
logic by which specific types of positions are treated. Moreover, unlike opening theory, the theory of
the middlegame and the endgame does not change rapidly based on modern developments – rather, it
remains almost intact through the years.
In view of the above, any chess player who wishes to follow a chess career or simply become a better
player must refrain from the commonplace and assume a different approach. He or she must develop
a good understanding of middlegame and endgame theory, so as to be able in their games to proceed
in a proper way after the chosen opening has reached its conclusion.
The chess player can differentiate themself only in the opening; there, each one of us brings forth
their own beliefs and convictions, and in general their own experiences and references. Objectively,
no opening loses – but also, no opening wins.
The opening is just the beginning of the journey and serves to offer us a comfortable start. But to
reach the end of this journey successfully we have to count on our knowledge and experience, as
regards middlegame and endgame theory.
Endgame theory teaches us two fundamental issues: First, how to extract the maximum from a basic
theoretical position with little material, where the experts (from practice comprising thousands of
games) have reached definite conclusions. Second, the way in which we can handle an endgame,
depending on the material remaining on the board, and the ideas and plans we should employ.
This second issue is significantly more difficult to master because, apart from making full use of the
first one (we must be aware of the possible outcomes of the endgame in question) it is greatly
influenced by our experience and understanding, which are basically derived from the images and
impressions we have from related positions. A primary role is played here by the effort we have
invested in studying.
In middlegame theory, things are even tougher. We are obliged to study various types of positions
with specific strategic and tactical attributes, so as to understand the underlying ideas and be able to
employ them ourselves in similar situations. While many chess players have studied these topics and
acquired knowledge, it is the application of this knowledge in practice that helps differentiate between
7
them. Chess is not a simple game.
The purpose of this series is to introduce the reader to advanced training concepts, using the same
methods of presentation and instruction that were taught to great players by famous trainers that they
have worked with.
The series will start with the topic of “the Bishop Pair” and we will examine how to handle this
“power of the sun” coupling.
Efstratios Grivas
Sharjah, April 2021
8
Introduction
Terminology
The possession of the bishop pair (vs. bishop & knight, or knight pair) is an important strategic
element that may guarantee superiority and even determine the outcome of the game. In modern
chess, the bishop pair has been established as a positional advantage in the majority of cases, and it’s
very common nowadays to hear teachers tell their students ‘keep your bishops’ or ‘capture that
bishop’.
In today’s chess, the importance given to this element has increased to the point that in some of the
most popular opening variations, the main goal has become to gain the bishop pair. That is because
the bishop pair can be a powerful advantage in any phase of the game. For example, it’s a lethal
weapon in an attack against the king. It can also be very efficient in attacking weaknesses: one bishop
can put pressure on the target, while the other attacks the defending piece. However, it is the endgame
where it is particularly strong.
Larry Kaufman, in his Evaluation of Material Imbalances (1999), wrote: “The bishop pair has an
average value of half a pawn (more when the opponent has no minor pieces to exchange for one of
the bishops), enough to regard it as part of the material evaluation of the position, and enough to
overwhelm most positional considerations. Moreover, this substantial bishop pair value holds up in
all situations tested, regardless of what else is on the board. This large a bishop pair value is
surprising because in the opening Grandmasters will often give up the bishop pair to double the
opponent’s pawns or to gain a mild lead in development, factors which are generally not worth half a
pawn...”
The bishop pair overcomes the problem of having a lone bishop, which can only operate on half the
board, half the colours. So, strategically, the owner of the bishop pair can limit his opponent’s activity
anywhere on the board that’s not shielded by pieces. GM Ludek Pachman observed that this
advantage extends to being able to control and sometimes force an advantageous simplification.
Requirements
The basic requirements for the exploitation of this element are:

SOS Tip 1 – Requirements
1. Open centre (currently, or in the future)

2. Presence of pawns on both flanks
Consequently, possession of the bishop pair does not always guarantee an advantage. Only after
careful examination of the respective pawn structures and the situation in the centre are we able to
determine whether possession of this element is an advantage. Most chess players have a strong liking
for the bishop pair regardless of the specific features of the position. This phenomenon has a simple
9
explanation: a strong positional player can more easily transform the position so as to suit the bishop
pair than to suit the knight pair.
However, it has to be remembered that it is the pawns (placement, pawn chains), the soul of the game,
that determine whether possession of the bishop pair is an advantage. The bishop pair is usually very
strong, because the main disadvantage of a single bishop, its monochromacity, is compensated by the
second bishop.
GM Jonathan Rowson describes this in his work The Seven Deadly Chess Sins as follows:
“Although the pair of knights can be very effective, we don’t see them as ‘a pair’ because there is
nothing one knight can do that the other can’t in principle...there may be something good about the
knight pair in a particular position, but this is purely accidental, for there is no reason in principle why
a pair of them should be more than the sum of their parts.
“On the other hand, one bishop makes up for the shortcomings of the other, and takes care of its own
shortcomings in the process. So what happens when you capture the opponent’s bishop is not only
that you remove one piece of value, but that you ‘weaken’ the other bishop too.”
The strength of the bishop pair (provided of course that the above-mentioned requirements are met)
can be exploited either in the middlegame or the endgame. In the middlegame, bishops can control
many squares and from a distance; this implies better control of the position and the prospect of
creating a direct attack, either against the king or against other weaknesses. Bishops are also able to
restrict the opponent’s pieces and create severe (and often insoluble) problems to the opponent,
exactly due to their long range of action, which allows them to switch quickly from one target to
another without even needing to approach it.
GM Mikhail Gurevich (one of the true aficionados of the bishop pair), wrote in his FIDE Syllabus –
The Bishop pair: “The bishop pair is a powerful weapon. We refer usually to the bishop pair
advantage over a bishop and knight, or over two knights. An important point to consider in most
positions with the bishop pair is the pawn structure and the existence of pawns on both sides of the
board. We will explain how to evaluate the importance of the bishop pair and different techniques of
playing with them...
“First of all let us discuss the importance of the pawn structure. There are many possible pawn
structures. We will classify them as following: open centre, semi-open and closed positions. Our
general knowledge proves to us that the more the centre is open the bigger advantage of bishop pair
becomes. This is simple. But each of these structures has its own characteristics and techniques of
playing with the bishop pair differentiate considerably.”
SOS Tip 2 – Centre Definitions
1. Open Centre – Two (or more) open (no pawns) central files (c, d, e, f)
2. Semi-open Centre – One open (no pawns) central file or two semi-open central files (c, d, e, f)
3. Closed Centre – No open central files
Just like with any other strategic element, the boundaries between success and failure are not always
clearly visible. The games and examples that follow will help to impose on the reader a deeper
10
understanding of the positive aspects of the bishop pair.
Historical Approach
Janos Flesch in his famous Planning in Chess wrote: “Throughout human history false dogmas have
arisen that greatly influence the politics, the social views and the arts of the particular age. Thus also
with chess in its international development. A typical mistake of chess theory and practice in the
present age is to overestimate the bishop, and even more so the two bishops, when correspondingly
valued against the knight and the two knights!
“Statistics ... have emphasised the superiority of the bishop pair. But all this has come about from a
mistaken approach to and a misunderstanding of the middle game. For there is no difference in the
value of these pieces whatsoever. But, and this is the point, contemporary chess players use the
bishop and especially the bishop pair better and with more assurance than did their predecessors.
“Human beings – owing to their physical build – are less well shielded against attacks from the side
than from the front. This disadvantage is more accentuated in our ‘forward-looking’ modern man as
he spends a considerable amount of his time behind the wheel or in front of the file or television
screen. Perhaps here can be found one of the reasons for overestimation of the bishop’s value ... the
truth is that chess players of a previous age knew better how to use one or two knights”
Then it was the turn of Piotr Romanovsky: “Thus to the question of whether, in evaluating a
position, the factor of the presence of the two bishops for one of the opponents should be taken into
account as a particular aspect of the advantage, the right reply, in our view, will be no, it should not.
This particular aspect of the advantage does not exist.”
Well, both of them were a ‘bit’ dogmatic and this old debate is no longer such a heated one.
GM John Watson in his Secrets of Modern Chess Strategy writes: “In a majority of cases, modern
chess players prefer the two bishops for the very good reason that they tend to win games.
Those rare, completely locked positions, or the more frequent ones in which the side with the knights
have countervailing advantages, are a different matter.”
Statistical Overview
GM John Watson, in his Secrets of Modern Chess Strategy, delves into some very fascinating
statistics, concerning our subject. These statistics were based on the large MegaBase database and,
although there are some years passed by, I believe that they are still valid and can give some a
practical idea of the power of the bishop pair. All theses statistiscs assume that the conditions of the
bishop pair vs. the knight pair and level material last at least 6 half-moves:
“With even pawns the two bishops win against two knights about 40% of the time for either Black or
White, whereas the knights win only 15% of the time. This yields a hefty 63%/37% winning ratio in
both cases. Now the normal winning percentage for White/Black is 54%/46% ratio; so the bishop pair
creates a 9% improvement for White over the usual percentages, and an amazing 17% improvement
for Black!
11
“When we take all cases of the bishop pair vs. the knight pair, with even material, but including
queens and rooks, the winning ratio for the bishops is 62%/38% with White and 57%/43% with
Black.”
A very interesting statistical approach, and there is more...
“It is worth pointing out that part of this last winning percentage for the bishop pair is probably due to
the fact that the possessor of the knight pair will do almost anything to avoid the pure ending (without
other pieces), and may take risky steps to avoid it.
Finally, I should mention Mayer’s observation that Mikhail Chigorin himself, the two knights
defender, scored only 29%/71% in games in which he himself had the knight pair vs. the bishop pair.
“The bishop pair vs. bishop & knight case is similarly successful for the bishops. With no other
pieces, White’s winning ratio is 64%/36%; interestingly, this includes wins for Black (with the bishop
and knight) in only 8% of the games! When Black has the two bishops versus White’s bishop and
knight (again with no other pieces), his percentage is a hefty 62%/38%.
“When queens and rooks are included (but with even material), White’s winning ratio with the bishop
pair goes to 61%/39%, still well above the 54%/46% norm; and Black’s (also with the bishops) is
54%/46%, 8% above average.”
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Chapter 1
Bishop Pair Versus Bishop & Knight
Chapter Guide
a) The Open Centre

d) Unbalanced Pawn Structures
Before we get into a detailed study, we have to review some basic concepts that we should know
when playing with the bishop pair vs. bishop & knight:
– We should place the pawns on the same colour as our opponent’s bishop. In this way, we reduce the
mobility of this piece.
– In the endgame, it will always be difficult for the side playing against the bishop pair to transfer his
king to the centre, as it will run into annoying checks or even mate threats.
– We should always keep in mind that, once a bigger advantage is obtained, we can trade one of the
bishops, turning the position into a simple winning endgame.
– When there are rooks on the board, it is useful to trade one rook in order to reduce our opponent’s
defensive resources. This combination of rook and bishop pair works very efficiently together;
– When playing the endgame with the bishop pair, we should try to create a passed pawn.
– The bishop pair can also be used to help connected pawns crawl forward and defeat the facing
pawns, and to provide a shield for the king to advance behind.
– It is at its strongest when the position is open, so the owner of the bishop pair should prepare one or
more pawn breaks to clear the centre. Therefore, when playing against the bishop pair, we should
block the position as much as possible, and find or create good outposts for the knight(s).
So, the evaluation of the bishop pair’s advantage depends on the character of the position and,
especially, on the pawn structure. In general, it behaves the way the single bishop vs. knight does;
pawns on both wings enhance it, and the openness of the position enhances it. Blocked positions
reduce it, and pawns on only one wing reduce it too.
a) The Open Centre
Positions with two or more open vertical files in the centre, we may call open. This provides the best
conditions for the bishop pair and we may use its dominating, long-range powers to develop all kinds
of attacks and initiatives.
However, according to GM Mikhail Gurevich, the most technical, most ‘pure’ technique of
13
exploiting the bishop pair advantage in positions with an open centre is the Technique of Exchanges.
This element is rather important; to know what and when to exchange usually determines the result.
The 1st World Champion William Steinitz was a true admirer of the bishop pair and he introduced
into practice the Restriction Method.
This is quite simple: with the advance of the flank pawns, the side with the bishop pair restricts his
opponent’s supply of valuable squares and space for his pieces, especially for the knight(s).
SOS Tips – Open Centre
1. Technique of Exchanges
2. Restriction Method
GM Ludek Pachman raises four important points on the bishop pair in open positions, in his
Complete Chess Strategy Vol 1 book:
1. In open positions their effectiveness is an extremely important factor.
2. The opportunity for purposeful simplification.
3. The side with the two bishops can bring the king to the centre more easily under their protection.
4. They help by preventing the enemy king from using the otherwise weak squares of a certain colour.
The Horwitz Bishops
A quite interesting case which proves the strength of the bishop pair in open positions is the so-called
Horwitz Bishops. This is a configuration in which the bishop pair is aggressively placed on adjacent
diagonals, which seems to be a great asset. This is also called “raking bishops”, and sometimes
“Harrwitz Bishops”. Bernhard Horwitz (1807-1885) was a German master and writer.
Endgame
In general, we should appreciate the concept of an open centre in the endgame. This is the most
‘desirable’ set-up for the bishop pair; an endgame with an open centre is like an invitation to heaven!
The bishop pair is free to act and present its possesor with plenty of positional and tactical
possibilities. In practice the defender rarely succeds in gaining his goal; usually he ends up with
nothing.
The combined power of the bishop pair in such positions, where no central pawns exist, can be
compared to two swords controlling the entire board and ‘killing’ anything that comes in their way.
Although this sounds more poetic than chessic, it’s nothing other than the truth...
Two Central Open Files
We can start our examination by noting some masterpieces played by the old masters, and especially
by the “teacher”, the 1st World Champion, William Steinitz.
Game 1
14
Rosenthal, Samuel
Steinitz, William
Vienna 1873
Position after: 16.Qf2
Of course Black, with the ideal pawn structure for the bishop pair, holds the advantage. The usual
Restriction Method comes to the fore:
16...c5 17.Nf3 b6
Already the d4-square is lost to White.
18.Ne5 Qe6 19.Qf3 Ba6 20.Rfe1 f6!
15
Position after: 20...f6!
And e5 is also “lost”!
21.Ng4 h5 22.Nf2 Qf7 23.f5
This looks like a good move, but the truth is that the pawn will be just too weak.
23...g5 24.Rad1 Bb7 25.Qg3
Or 25.Qe2 Rd5!
25...Rd5!
16
Position after: 25...Rd5!
Black could pick up the a-pawn with 25...Rxd1 26.Rxd1 Qxa2, but as White could present some
counterplay with 27.h4 g4 28.Rd7, he preferred to leave it for a later stage...
26.Rxd5 Qxd5 27.Rd1 Qxf5
Black has maintained his bishop pair and even won material – the end should not be too far off.
28.Qc7 Bd5 29.b3 Re8 30.c4 Bf7 31.Bc1 Re2 32.Rf1
17
Position after: 32.Rf1
32...Qc2 33.Qg3 Qxa2 34.Qb8+ Kh7 35.Qg3 Bg6 36.h4 g4 37.Nd3 Qxb3 38.Qc7 Qxd3
0-1
Game 2
Englisch, Berthold
Steinitz, William
England 1883
Position after: 17.Nb3
This is a good example of how to play with the bishop pair in an otherwise almost symmetrical
position.
17...b6!
This is a typical strategy: Black strengthens his light-squared bishop as it has no counterpart and
restricts White’s knight at the same time.
18.h3 Be6 19.Rfd1
18
Position after: 19.Rfd1
19...c5!
Continuing the strategy of restriction.
20.Bg5 f6 21.Bf4 Kf7 22.f3 g5 23.Rxd8 Rxd8 24.Be3 h6
Finally all Black’s pawns are on dark squares!
25.Re1
19
Position after: 25.Re1
25...f5
Steinitz wants to grab space on the kingside with ...f4 and to follow up with ...a5-a4-a3, or with a
further advance on the kingside.
26.f4 Bf6 27.g3 a5!
Planning to create weaknesses on White’s queenside with ...a4-a3.
28.Nc1 a4 29.a3 Bc4
This domination of White’s knight is called “corralling”. A serious chess player should know this
important motif by heart!
30.Kf2 gxf4 31.Bxf4
20
Position after: 31.Bxf4
31...Bg5!
Threatening to exchange White’s best defender, the dark-squared bishop. This transformation of one
advantage into another is one major asset of the bishop pair, as it is usually easier for the player with
the bishops to exchange one pair of minor pieces.
32.Bxg5 hxg5 33.Ke3 Kf6
21
Position after: 33...Kf6
34.h4?
This loses by force

A) 34.Ne2? Rd3+ 35.Kf2 Rd2 also loses;
B) White had to try something like 34.Rg1 and hope to hold.
34...gxh4 35.gxh4 Re8+ 36.Kf2 Rxe1 37.Kxe1
Position after: 37.Kxe1
37...Ke5! 38.Ne2 Bxe2 39.Kxe2
The pawn ending is winning for Black as his active king is more important than White’s outside
passed pawn.
39...Kf4 40.c4 Kg4 41.Ke3 f4+ 42.Ke4 f3 43.Ke3 Kg3
0-1
It is widely accepted that we tend to learn from our predecessors and then improve that knowledge
and/or the technique. This is what we call the Steps of Learning.
The 3rd World Champion, Jose Raul Capablanca, was able to study the play of the 1st World
Champion, Wilhelm Steinitz, and understand how to handle the bishop pair with accuracy and
efficiency...
22
Game 3
Capablanca, Jose Raul
Vidmar, Milan Sr
New York 1927
Position after: 15...a5
White’s opening spatial advantage does not guarantee anything particularly impressive but the
combination that follows does!
16.Nfxe5! Ba6
Or 16...dxe5 17.d6 Bxd6 18.Qxd6 wining for White .
17.Bb3 dxe5 18.d6 Bxd6 19.Qxd6 Qxd6 20.Nxd6
23
Position after: 20.Nxd6
Now White can claim a pleasant advantage, based on his bishop pair.
20...Nb7?!
After the passive text move, White’s hands are free. Preferable was 20...Rb8, although White stands
clearly better after 21.Bc4! Bxc4 22.Nxc4 Nc6 23.Bd2!, as the a5-pawn is rather weak – but at least
he wouldn’t possess the bishop pair!
21.Nxb7 Bxb7 22.cxb4 cxb4 23.f3!
24
Position after: 23.f3!
Stabilising the centre and cutting off any potential black activity. The upcoming Be3-b6 will clearly
undermine Black’s main weakness: the a5-pawn.
23...Rfd8
The alternative was 23...Nd7 24.Be3 Rfc8 25.Red1 Rc7 26.Rd6±
24.Be3 h6
24...Rd3 25.Bc4 Rd6 26.Red1 Rad8 27.Rxd6 Rxd6 28.Rc1 Rc6 29.Rd1±
25.Red1 Bc6 26.Rac1 Be8 27.Kf2 Rxd1 28.Rxd1 Rc8
25
Position after: 28...Rc8
J.R.Capablanca now follows with the Restriction Method.
29.g4!
With the idea of h4 and g5; Black has no defence to oppose the dominating bishop pair.
29...Bd7?!
Blunders usually come in difficult positions, but even after 29...Bc6 30.Rc1 Black will not last long...
30.Bb6! Be6
30...Ra8 loses to 31.Bc7.
31.Bxe6 fxe6
Or 31...Rc2+ 32.Ke3 fxe6 33.Rd2+–.
32.Rd8+!
26
Position after: 32.Rd8+!
Simplification guarantees a trivial win.
32...Rxd8 33.Bxd8 Nd7 34.Bxa5 Nc5 35.b3! Nxb3 36.Bxb4 Nd4 37.a5
1-0
Game 4
Gurevich, Mikhail (2633)
Sandipan, Chanda (2522)
Gibraltar 2006
27
Position after: 20...Bxc8
White has achieved the exact material that he was aiming for: the bishop pair versus bishop and
knight in the endgame. A typical and pleasant advantage, where the game usually goes in his favour.
Although there are no weaknesses in Black’s position so far, the fact that White possesses the bishop
pair with an open centre and pawns on both sides of the board, makes this endgame extremely
difficult for Black. Gaining space in the centre is the first stage in White’s plan: he should activate his
bishops as much as possible, create pawn weaknesses in his opponent’s position (on both sides
preferably), centralise his king and create passed pawn(s). Black faces a long and difficult defence.
21.e4!
Restricting the black knight from the centre.
21...Ne7
28
Position after: 21...Ne7
If 21...Nf4, then 22.Bc4 (with the threat of Bb2-e5-b8) 22...Ng6 23.b5±
22.b5!
This creates weakness number 1, the a7-pawn.
22...f6
With the idea of 23...Kf7, 24...e5 and 25...Be6, trying to block the position in the centre as much as
possible.
23.Bc3
Planning Bb4-d6-b8.
23...Kf7
Or 23...e5 24.Bc4+ Kf8 25.Bb4±
24.Bc4 Ng6 25.Bb4 Ne5 26.Be2
29
Position after: 26.Be2
26...Bb7
26...Nd7 27.Bd6 Nc5 28.f3 e5 29.Bb8±
27.f3 Nd7 28.Bd6 g6 29.Kf2 f5 30.exf5
Position after: 30.exf5
30
30...gxf5
30...exf5 was probably a better decision, although after 31.Bc4+ Kf6 32.Ke3, White stands clearly
better.
31.g4!
This creates a passed pawn on the kingside and by using the classical principle of the two
weaknesses, makes Black’s position practically indefensible.
31...fxg4 32.fxg4 Bd5 33.Ke3 Kg6 34.h4 h6 35.h5+ Kg7 36.Bg3 Nf6 37.Be5 Kf7 38.Bf4 Kg7
Position after: 38...Kg7
39.Kd4
With the idea of Ke5-d6-c7-b8, although 39.Bb8 Nd7 40.Bxa7 e5 41.Bf3± was good as well.
39...Ne4 40.Be5+ Kf7 41.Bf4 Kg7 42.Ke5 Nc3 43.Bd3 Bf3 44.Kd6
White continues his plan, and creates the threat of 45.Be5+

44.Kxe6 Bxg4+ 45.Kd6±
44...Na4 45.Be5+ Kg8
31
46.g5 Nc5
The only move as after 46...hxg5 47.h6, the h-pawn is unstoppable.
47.Bg6 Ne4+ 48.Kxe6 Nxg5+ 49.Ke7 Be2 50.Bb8 a6 51.bxa6 Bxa6 52.Ba7 Nf3
52...b5 53.Bd3+–
53.Bxb6 Ne5 54.Be8 Bc4 55.Bd4 Nd3 56.Be3
32
56...Kg7 57.a4 Nb4 58.Bd4+ Kg8 59.a5 Nd5+ 60.Kd6 Nf4 61.Be3 Kf8 62.Bc6 Nxh5 63.Bxh6+
Kf7
64.Bd5+!
In this way, White converts the advantage of the bishop pair into material, as Black’s pieces are
33
unable to stop the a-pawn.
64...Bxd5 65.Kxd5
1-0
Top players are very well trained in the various techniques of typical strategical motifs. And this is
the main reason why they have climbed to the top!
In the following game the time control was short (a rapid game), but still White treated the needs of
the position extremely well and accurately, cashing in the point without facing too many problems:
Game 5
Harikrishna, Pentala (2719)
Amin, Bassem (2686)
ICC 2020
Position after: 22.Ne2
White has achieved a slight advantage out of the opening and Black needs to be careful...
22...Qc5?
Simply a bad move which hands White the bishop pair.

Better was 22...Bh6 23.Bc1 Bxc1 24.Rexc1²
22...Qc5? 23.Nxf4 Qxc2 24.Bxc2 exf4 25.Rad1
34
Position after: 25.Rad1
White’s domination is clear and Black will find it difficult to defend.
25...Rad8
Maybe the passive 25...Re7 26.Bd3 Ne8 27.Rc1± was a better try.
26.Ne5! Nxe5?!
Black shouldn’t agree with White’s plans; better was 26...Nc5 27.f3 Nh5 28.Nd3±
27.Rxd8 Rxd8 28.Bxe5 Nh5
35
Position after: 28...Nh5
29.Rd1!
White is playing simply but rather effectively. With his last move he stops any black counterplay
(...Rd2), while the black pawns will start to fall...
29...Re8
There was no longer any salvation:

A) 29...Rc8 30.Rd7+–, or
B) 29...Rxd1+ 30.Bxd1 Bxe4 31.Bf3! Bd3 32.Bb7+–
30.Bxc7 Bxe4 31.Bxe4 Rxe4 32.a5
The passed a-pawn will cost Black the exchange and the game.
32...Re7 33.Bb6 Re6
36
Position after: 33...Re6
34.a6
Also good was 34.Rd8+ Kg7 35.Rb8+–
34...Rxb6 35.a7 Ra6 36.Rd8+ Kg7 37.a8=Q Rxa8 38.Rxa8
And Black decided he had suffered enough...
1-0
Game 6
Carlsen, Magnus (2815)
Nisipeanu, Liviu Dieter (2659)
Romania 2011
37
Position after: 18.h3
An early queen exchange doesn’t undermine the initiative process and here Black’s position is worse
than it looks. White’s bishop pair together with the lack of any counterplay makes it difficult to
defend, especially in a practical game and especially with little time. White’s plan is to advance the
kingside pawns, gaining more space, and then trying to create a weakness in Black’s pawn formation.
Possibly disappointed by the course of the game, Black failed to put up his usual tough resistance.
18...g6?!
This somewhat strange-looking move is meant to prepare ...Nd5. But on d5 the knight won’t be doing
much anyway, while the weaknesses created by the text move will soon prove fatal.
18...h5 was preferable, stopping g4, at least for a while. Magnus Carlsen said he would play g3, Kg2
etc, when Black has no active play, but it was still probably better than the game.
18...g6?! 19.g4! h6
19...h5 is answered by 20.g5 Nd7 21.Kg2 with an advantage.
20.Bf1 Rac8 21.Rac1 Nd5
38
Position after: 21...Nd5
22.h4! Ke8
Too passive. Something like 22...Ncb4, was called for, trying to get some counterplay as quickly as
possible.
23.g5 hxg5?!
After this slight inaccuracy, the position becomes really difficult. The opening ofthe h-file doesn’t
help Black according to Carlsen and now his position is more or less winning. Black must try to keep
the kingside closed and therefore 23...h5 was necessary.
24.hxg5 Be7 25.Kg2 Nb6 26.Bd3! Nb4 27.Be4
39
And now Black is really lost.
27...Nxa2
There was no salvation in 27...Rxc1 28.Rxc1 Nd3 29.Bxd3 Rxd3 30.Bd4 Nd5 31.Rc8+ Kd7 32.Rb8
Kc7 33.Rg8+–
28.Rxd8+ Kxd8 29.Rh1
Black is temporarily a pawn up, but his position is lost: the bishop pair dominates the board and the
rook is going to come to h7, with the knight going to e5.
Black simply can’t withstand such pressure.
29...Nd5 30.Ne5 f5
40
Position after: 30...f5
31.Bxd5
Black resigned
Black’s position has fallen apart. He resigned due to 31...exd5 32.Rh8+ Kc7 33.Rh7 Kd8 34.Bd4 and
huge material losses are unavoidable: 34...Rc6 [34...Nc1 35.Nxg6 Bxg5 36.Bb6+ Ke8 37.Rh8+ Kf7
38.Rxc8] 35.Rh8+ Kc7 36.Nxc6+–
1-0
As we have already noted, the bishop pair is a strong element to fight against, so the defending side
should avoid any further weaknesses, otherwise things can get scary.
Game 7
Grivas, Efstratios (2507)
Parligras, Mircea Emilian (2542)
Greece 2007
41
Position after: 17.gxf4
Black secured the bishop pair, along with the better pawn structure.
17...Nc5!
Simplification to a much better ending!
18.Nxc5 Bxc5 19.Qxd8 Rfxd8 20.Red1
42
Position after: 20.Red1
20...h6!
Not allowing the Ng5-e4 manoeuvre. As said, Black has a steady advantage based on his bishop pair
and the White’s weakened pawn structure – but White can still fight!
21.Rac1
21.Ne1?! is bad on account of 21...Ba6 22.Bf1 Bxf1 23.Kxf1 Rd4 24.Rxd4 Bxd4 25.Rb1 b5µ
21...Bd5 22.b3 Be4?!
This looks good but in fact helps White. Instead, 22...Kf8 was called for.
23.Ne1?
White missed again his chance!
Position after: 23.Ne1?
Best was 23.Nd4! Bxg2 24.Kxg2 a6 25.Kf3 Rd5 26.Ne2 Rcd8 27.Rxd5 Rxd5³
23...Bf5!
Preserving the bishop pair and targeting the a2-pawn.
24.Kf1 Ba3 25.Rxc8 Rxc8 26.Bb7 Rc1 27.Ke2
43
Position after: 27.Ke2
Setting a (final) trap into which Black falls.
27...Bb1?
27...Rxd1! 28.Kxd1 Bc5 29.Ke2 Bb1 30.a4 Ba2 is an easy win for Black.
28.Ba6! Bxa2! 29.Rxc1 Bxc1 30.Kd1! Bxf4 31.Kc2
And the a2-bishop is a goner ! But Black still preserves his advantage as he gets plenty of pawns for
the lost piece.
31...Bxh2
The correct pawn; Black must create passed pawns.
32.Nd3 g5 33.Kb2 Bxb3 34.Kxb3 Kg7
44
White has won a piece for four pawns and three of them are passed and dangerous. Anyway, Black is
not in a position to lose and he can calmly improve his position.
35.Bb7 g4 36.Kc4 Kg6 37.Kd4
White cannot go after the queenside pawns: 37.Be4+ Kg5 38.Kb5 h5 39.Ka6 h4 40.Kxa7 Bxe5
41.Nxe5 Kf4 42.Nxg4 Kxe4–+
37...Kf5 38.Be4+ Kg5 39.Bc6 h5 40.Be8 Kg6 41.Ke4 h4
45
Position after: 41...h4
42.Nf4+
42.f3 g3 [42...gxf3 43.Kxf3 Kf5 44.Bxf7 Bxe5] 43.Nf4+ Kg7 44.Ng2 h3 45.Nf4 g2 46.Nxh3 a6–+
42...Kg5 43.Ne2 h3 44.Bc6
44.Bxf7 Bf4! 45.Nxf4 h2–+
44...a5
White is lost and the end of the game was:
45.Be8
46
45...Bf4! 46.Bc6 h2 47.Kd4 a4 48.Kc4
48.Nc3 a3 49.Na2 b5 50.Bg2 Bd2 51.Kd3 Be1 52.Ke2 Ba5 53.Nc1 Kf5–+
48...Bxe5 49.Kb4 f5! 50.Kxa4 f4 51.Bh1 f3 52.Nc1 g3!
0-1
Simple positions do not necessary lead

to a draw. What is really important is what remains on the board and not outside of it!
Game 8
Damljanovic, Branko (2530)
Barlov, Dragan (2490)
Yugoslavia 1989
47
Position after: 21...Bxd8
This time queens are on the board, but this cannot really help Black to defend.
22.Ba3!
A very strong move which emphasises Black’s back-rank weaknesses. Due to a lack of piece
coordination, Black’s position deteriorates step-by-step until his position becomes critical. The
initiative rests firmly with White, and he treats the final phase of the game with the utmost accuracy.
22...Nf8 23.h4 Qe5
48
Position after: 23...Qe5
24.Qc6! f5
Black desperately needs fresh air to parry the threat of Qe8, but now a new target (the e6-pawn) is
created.
25.Qe8 Qf6 26.Bd3!
The bishop is transferred to c4, attacking the weak black e6-pawn.
26...g6 27.Bc4 Kg7
49
28.Bd6!
This stalemates all of Black’s pieces, and he now finds himself in zugzwang. Black might as well
have resigned here, but under time pressure he instinctively played on.
28.Bxf8+? Qxf8 29.Qxe6 Bf6 would give Black some survival chances...
28...b5 29.Qxb5 Qf7 30.Qb8 Be7 31.Bf4 Bf6 32.Bc7 h6 33.Qxa7
The black queenside simply falls!
33...g5 34.hxg5 hxg5 35.Bb6 Nd7 36.Bd4
1-0
Game 9
Moskalenko, Viktor (2532)
Cuartas, Jaime Alexander (2522)
Catalonia 2012
1.c4 c6 2.e4 e5 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 Bb4 5.Nxe5 0-0 6.Be2 Re8 7.Nd3 Bxc3 8.dxc3 Nxe4 9.0-0 Na6
10.f3 Nf6
50
Position after: 10...Nf6
White has the bishop pair and the more free position, but is far from showing something concrete. Re-
arrangement of the pieces should be a priority here.
11.Bg5 Nc7 12.Nf2
Threatening Ne4 or Ng4.
12...d5 13.Ng4
It seems that 13.cxd5 Ncxd5 14.c4 h6 15.Bd2!² is quite nice for White.
13...Bxg4 14.fxg4 Re6
51
15.Bd3!
Forcing central exchanges.
15...dxc4
15...h6 16.Bh4 doesn’t change much.
16.Bxc4 Ncd5
White would have a free hand after the queens’ exchange: 16...Qxd1 17.Raxd1 Nfd5 18.Bb3²
17.Qd4!
52
Position after: 17.Qd4!
White has an evident advantage in the form of the bishop pair and several nasty pins. The doubled
pawns on the g-file are of little consequence; in fact, the f-file akllows White to pour even stronger
pressure onto Black’s position.
17...Qe8?
17...Qb6 is a good way to counter White’s initiative, though after 18.Qxb6 axb6 White can simplify
to an advantageous rook ending with 19.Bxf6 Rxf6 20.Bxd5 Rxf1+ 21.Kxf1 cxd5 22.a3 with a clear
advantage. Black is not yet lost, of course, but he would certainly have a difficult defence ahead of
him.
18.Bxf6 Re4
The move that Black prepared with his 17th move.
53
18...Rxf6 19.Bxd5 Rxf1+ 20.Rxf1 cxd5 21.Qxd5± would simply leave White a pawn up.
19.Bxg7!
A nice concept! White gets rook, bishop and pawn in return for his queen, but more importantly, the
black kingside will have been weakened due to the disappearance of the g-pawn. White needed to see
deeply into the position to ensure he could indeed make this factor a decisive influence on the
outcome.
Black was clearly expecting the queen to retreat: 19.Qf2 Nxf6 [19...Rxc4 20.Bd4!] 20.g5 leaving
White with a slight initiative.
19...Rxd4 20.Bxd4 Qd7
It turns out that White’s Rf5 cannot be stopped for very long, so Black tries to glue his position
together. Should he play any other move, then 21.Rf5, or 21.Rae1, would have been the response. For
instance: 20...Qe4 21.Rae1 Qxg4 22.Bxd5 cxd5 23.Rf3!+–
21.Rf5!
The threat is Rg5+, followed by Bc5+, winning.
21...h6
What else?
54
If 21...Qe7? 22.Re5 Qh4 23.Rf1+–
22.Bxd5! cxd5
Position after: 22...cxd5
23.Rf6!
With very subtle finesses, White has found the right path for the rook to infiltrate the black kingside.
There is now no defence and the game soon ended.
23...Re8 24.Rxh6 f6 25.Rf1 Qxg4 26.Rhxf6 Qh5 27.R6f3! Re4 28.Rf8+
1-0
Three or More Central Open Files
The more the better is the motto! Quite naturally, too, as in this case the bishop pair has more space to
manoeuvre and to dominate.
Game 10
Capablanca, Jose Raul
Znosko Borovsky, Eugene
Paris 1938
55
Position after: 22...fxe6
White’s bishop pair and superior pawn structure should be enough to bring home the full point.
23.Bc6 Bf6 24.b5 Qc8
24...Qa5 25.Rd3 Rc8 26.Bd6 Be7 27.Bd7 wins material.
25.Rc2 Re7 26.Bd6 Rd8
56
Position after: 26...Rd8
27.f4
Although other moves like 27.Re1 or 27.Be4 look extremely strong, Capablanca’s solution is
“pleasant”! White includes the f1-rook into the action, achieving complete domination!
27...Kh8?!
Black had to get rid of the bishop pair with 27...Rc7 28.Rf3 Be7 29.Rd3 Bxd6 30.Rxd6 Rxd6
31.Qxd6±, although he will likely not save the game...
28.Rff2! Rf7
28...e5 loses to 29.f5 Nf8 30.Rcd2+–
29.Rfd2
Full restriction...
29...Rg8 30.Qh5
Position after: 30.Qh5
Black can hardly move and loses material...
30...Qd8 31.Be4 Nf8 32.Qxf7
57
1-0
A well-educated and higher-rated player shouldn’t be afraid of playing simple endgames. At the end
of the day, the lower rated player’s knowledge and defensive skills are usually rather limited...
Game 11
Kolomvas, Ioannis (2074)
Greece 2010
White has the bishop pair and it seems as though Black will face a long and difficult defence,
especially as the open nature of the position strongly favours his opponent’s strategic advantage.
17...Qxd1?
Black has nothing to hope for in the endgame, so he should preserve queens on the board, in order to
try to find some counterplay.
17...Qe5! was therefore much better, trying either to create counterplay, or to exchange the dark-
squared bishops in the process. As he will be ‘active’, his chances increase, as per the maxim of
activity and counterplay. Exchanges (especially of the heavy pieces) only help the stronger side. But
Black went for the usual mistake of the lower-rated player – he tried to exchange whatever moves!
17...Qxd1? 18.Rfxd1 Rfd8 19.b4! Rxd1+ 20.Rxd1 Rd8 21.Rxd8+ Bxd8
Of course White welcomed the proposed exchanges and now the endgame is a formality...
58
22.Kf1 Ne5 23.Ke2 g5
Black creates a further weakness, but otherwise the restriction method (f4) will come in handy.
24.h3 h5 25.Bb3 Kf8
26.f4! gxf4 27.Bxf4 f6 28.Ke3 a5 29.b5!
Avoiding pawn exchanges.
29...Be7
29...a4 30.Bxa4 Be7 [30...Nc4+ 31.Kd4 Nxa3 32.Kd5+–] 31.Bd1 Bxa3 32.Bxh5+– simply loses a
pawn.
30.a4 Bc5+ 31.Ke4
White is not only pleased with his bishop pair, but his centralised king as well!
59
31...Ke7 32.Kd5 Nd3 33.Bg3 Nb4+ 34.Ke4
And now White is ready for Bd1, picking up a pawn.
34...Bd6
Or 34...Kf8 35.Bd1 Na2 36.Kd3 Nb4+ 37.Kc4+–
35.Be1 Bc5 36.Bh4 Bd6
60
Position after: 36...Bd6
37.Kf5 Be5 38.Bf2 Bc7 39.Bd4 Be5 40.Bxb6
Tip: Preserve heavy pieces on board, to create an initiative and counterplay!
1-0
Game 12
Kalesis, Nikolaos (2310)
Corfu 1991
61
Position after: 18...Qxd5
The dust has settled on the opening and Black enjoys an undisputed superiority – the bishop pair in an
open position. Tactics are in the air...
19.Rd2 Rac8
As there is nothing serious immediately, Black tries to be creative. He would love to force White to
push any of his kingside pawns, so he tries to “weaken” his opponent’s back rank by exchanging a
pair of rooks.
20.Re1
And it is now understandable why White avoids the exchange.
20...Rfe8 21.Qb1?
Allowing Black to land a nice combination.
62
Position after: 21.Qb1?
21.Kg1µ was a must.
21...Qh5?
Missing that 21...Rxe3! 22.Rxe3 Bxd4 works immediately, due to the loose queen on b1 and White’s
weak back rank: 23.Qd1 [Or 23.Red3 Qf5–+] 23...Bxe3! 24.Rxd5 Bxd5–+
22.Qd1 Qh4!
Threatening to win by 23...Rxe3 24.Rxe3 Bxd4.
23.Bf2 Qg5 24.Ne2?!
Black now converts his superiority without much effort.

24.Rxe8+ Rxe8 25.Ne2 offered better defensive prospects.
63
Position after: 24.Ne2?!
24...Rcd8!
By exchanging the d2-rook, White’s weaknesses will be accessible to Black.
25.Be3 Qh4 26.Rxd8 Rxd8 27.Qc1 Bxb2
Black has won material without losing any of his advantages.
28.Bg5 Qf2! 29.Qb1 Re8 30.Qd1 Bc3 31.Bd2 Bxd2 32.Qxd2
64
Position after: 32.Qxd2
32...Bd5!
White resigned in view of 33.Rg1 Rxe2 34.Qxd5 Re1 35.Qd8+ Kg7. A crystal clear game, in which
Black made exemplary use of his bishop pair.
0-1
Game 13
Van Wely, Loek (2670)
Van der Werf, Mark (2450)
Netherlands 2001
65
Position after: 21...Bc6
It looks like Black doesn’t have many, or even any, problems to solve in this position, but this is not
the case, as White can execute a small combination.
22.d5! Bxd5
If 22...exd5, then 23.Nf5 Bg5 24.Bxg7 Bxc1 [24...Rfe8 25.Rc2 Bd7 26.Rxd5 Be6 27.Rxd8 Rxd8
28.Bh6±] 25.Bxf8 Kxf8 26.Rxc1±
23.Nxd5 exd5 24.Bf3 Bc5 25.Bxd5
66
Position after: 25.Bxd5
The position has clarified in White’s favour; he has obtained the bishop pair with the ideal pawn
structure. Black will have to deal with a long, defensive battle...
25...a5 26.Bf3 h6 27.Kf1 Rfe8 28.Be2 Nc6
Position after: 28...Nc6
29.a3?
67
White missed Black’s “threat”. Instead, 29.Bb5 had to be played: 29...Rxd1+ 30.Rxd1 Rd8 31.Rxd8+
Nxd8 32.Ke2±
29...Rxd1+?
But it seems that also Black had missed his own threat (!), as he didn’t go for 29...Bd4!, eliminating
the bishop pair: 30.Bxd4 [30.Rxc6 Bxb2 31.Rxd8 Rxd8 32.a4 Bd4=] 30...Nxd4 31.Bc4 b5 32.Bd3
Rd6 with equality.
30.Rxd1 Rd8 31.Rxd8+ Nxd8
Back to the ‘natural’ game track...
32.Bf3 Kf8 33.Ke2 f6 34.Bd5 Ke7 35.f4 Kd6 36.Bc4 Nc6
37.Kd3
White has avoided any further exchanges and already started to implement the ‘Restriction Method’.
37...Ne7 38.Ke4 f5+
Maybe Black had to go for 38...Bf2, although after 39.g4 Kc5 40.a4 Kb4 41.g5±, he would still be in
trouble.
39.Kf3 g5
68
Position after: 39...g5
40.Be5+?
The simple 40.fxg5! hxg5 41.g4± would create many problems for Black as he will not be able to
hold all his weaknesses (b6, g5). The bishop pair loves and open centre and space to move in general!
40...Kc6 41.a4
Now 41.fxg5? hxg5 42.g4 is not possible due to 42...Bxa3=
41...g4+!
69
Position after: 41...g4+!
Blocked positions help the knight!
42.Ke2 Kd7 43.Bg7 Nc8
The black h-pawn is lost in any event (For example, 43...h5 44.Bf7), so Black improves his knight.
44.Bxh6 Nd6 45.Bd5 Bd4 46.Bf8
70
Position after: 46.Bf8
46...Bh8?
46...Bc5 is more tenacious (Black had to keep the option of ...Bf2 alive), when it is not completely
clear if White can win.
47.Kd3 Bf6 48.Bg8!
With the idea Bh7 and Bxd6, winning Black’s entire kingside pawn structure.
Nothing is gained by 48.Bh6 Bh8 49.Bg5 Bg7 50.Bh4 Bh8.
48...Ne4
49.Kc4!
In life on the chessboard you have to work, even when you are the king!
49...Ke8
Or 49...Nxg3 50.Kd5 Nf1 51.Be6+ Ke8 52.Bd6 Ne3+ 53.Kc6±
50.Ba3 Kd7 51.Bc1 Bd8 52.Be3 Nf6 53.Bf7
71
White has reshuffled his pieces, improved his king (the extra pawn is not important) and is ready for
the final penetration.
53...Ne4?!
53...Kc6 is again more tenacious: 54.Be6 Ne8! (This small tactic is probably what Black missed)
55.Bd5+ Kd7 56.Ba8! [56.Kb5 Nc7+ 57.Kc4 Ne8] 56...Kd6 57.Bb7! Kc7 58.Ba6 Kd6 [58...Nf6
59.Kd4 Kd6 60.Bc8 Nd5 61.Bxf5+–] 59.Bg1!+– and Black is in zugzwang.
54.Kd5 Ke7 55.Be6 Nxg3 56.Bf2 Ne2 57.Bh4+ Ke8 58.Bxd8 Kxd8 59.Ke5
72
And Black is losing the house. The rest was just a formality.
59...Ke7 60.Bxf5 g3 61.Bd3 Nc3 62.Bc4 Nd1 63.Ke4 Nf2+ 64.Kf3 Nh1 65.Bd3 Kf6 66.Bc2 Ke6
67.Kg4 Kf6 68.Kh4 Ke6 69.Kg5 Kf7 70.Be4 Nf2 71.Bd5+ Ke7 72.f5 Nh1 73.f6+ Kf8 74.Kf4
Ke8 75.Ke5 Nf2 76.Kd6 Ng4 77.Kc7 Nxf6 78.Bf3 Ke7 79.Kxb6
1-0
Game 14
Damljanovic, Branko (2530)
Ivanovic, Bozidar (2530)
Yugoslavia 1989
73
Even with the reduced material, White’s advantage is obvious.
33.a4
Fixing the pawn on b6 – and the knight (its protector) too, of course!
33...Kf8 34.Bc4 Bb7
74
Position after: 34...Bb7
35.g6!
Creation of weaknesses is always welcomed.
35...Bc6?!
35...fxg6 36.Bxe6 Bc6 37.Bb3 just gives White a passed e-pawn, but nevertheless it was forced.
36.gxf7 Kxf7
No better was 36...Bxa4 37.Bxe6 and the white pawns will roll.
37.f5!
Position after: 37.f5!
37...Ke7 38.fxe6 Nf8 39.Bb3 Nxe6 40.Bxb6
White has won an important pawn and now his extra, outside, passed pawn will decide.
40...Ng5 41.e5 Ne6 42.a5 g5
75
43.Bd1
Also good enough was 43.a6 Nf4 44.Bc5+ Kd7 45.a7 Ba8 46.Bd6+–
43...Nf4 44.Bg4 Bb7 45.Bc5+ Kd8 46.Kd4 Bc6 47.Bb6+ Ke7 48.a6 Bb5 49.a7 Bc6 50.Bc5+ Kf7
51.Bd6 Ne6+ 52.Ke3 Nf4
76
53.Bf3 Nd5+ 54.Kd4 Ke6 55.Bg4+ Kf7 56.Kc5 Ba8 57.Bd7
Black resigned because the threat of 58.Bc6 is decisive.
1-0
Game 15
Gelfand, Boris (2755)
Leko, Peter (2756)
FIDE 2009
Position after: 40...Ng7
White’s bishop pair is clearly dominating. For the time being White is a pawn down, but he will soon
recover it, while Black can hardly improve his position.
41.Bh6!
Stronger than 41.Bxb6?! Bxb6 42.Qxb6 Qf8 when White stands still better, but obviously Black has
improved his situation.
41.Bh6! Be7
A) No better was 41...Qf8 42.Bc4

A1) 42...Qc5 43.Qb7 Qf8 44.h3 Qe7 45.Qd5±
A2) 42...Qe7 43.Qd5 Qf8
77
Position after: 43...Qf8
A2.1) 44.Qd4!? g5 [44...Qe7 45.Bd2 Bc7 46.Qd5±] 45.Qd3± followed by Bb3-c2

A2.2) 44.g4 g5 [44...Be7 45.Kg2±] 45.Qd4 Be7 46.Qxb6 f5 47.Bb3 fxg4 48.Qd4±, or
B) 41...Nf5? 42.Bc4+–
42.Bc4
42.Qxb6? Qxa2= is out of the question!
42...Qd8
78
Position after: 42...Qd8
43.Be3!
The bishop retreats, temporarily, to win the b6-pawn.
43...Nf5
After 43...Bc5?! White wins with 44.Bxc5 bxc5 45.Qxc5 Qb8 46.Qe7 f5 47.Bf7+–
44.Bxb6 Qf8
79
An attempt to go into counterattacking mode with 44...Qd1+ 45.Kg2 Nh4+ backfires after 46.Kh3
[46.gxh4? Qg4+=] 46...Nf5 47.g4!+–
45.Be6
Now White has a clear plan: to exchange queens, followed by the march of his king to the b-pawn,
and finallly transposition into a won bishop ending.
Another winning strategy starts with 45.Qd5, planning g4 and Bd4-b2, with a mating attack.
45...Ng7
80
46.Bd7?!
Centralisation with 46.Bd5 Nf5 47.Qd7 was the correct – and nearly always proper – winning
strategy.
46...h5 47.Qc8 Kg8 48.Kf1 Qxc8 49.Bxc8 Kf7
81
White’s strategy triumphs, as now he has obtained a strategically superior (if not won) ending due to
his bishop pair.
50.Ke2 Ne6 51.Kd3 Nc5+ 52.Kc4 Ne4 53.Ba6 Ke6 54.Be3 Nc3 55.Kb3!
It looks like White can win a pawn by 55.a3?, but after 55...Nd1! 56.Bc8+ Kf7 57.axb4 Nxe3+
58.fxe3 f5, Black should draw, as the opposite-coloured bishops help!
55...Nd5 56.Bc4 Ke5
Position after: 56...Ke5
57.Bxd5?
White thought that he could exchange to a won bishop ending, as he will pick up the black b-pawn.
It’s a typical way to cash the point, but here it fails, for wwant of a single tempo!
White should have gone for 57.Ba7 f5 58.f4+ Kd6 59.Bb5±, where he will still have some work to
do, but he would obviously be on the right path.
57...Kxd5 58.Bd2 Bc5 59.f3 f5! 60.Bxb4 Bg1 61.h3 Bf2 62.g4 fxg4 63.fxg4 hxg4 64.hxg4
82
Position after: 64.hxg4
64...g5?
The right idea, but incorrectly implemented!

Black could have drawn by 64...Bh4! 65.a4 Bd8 66.Bd2 g5 67.Kb4 Ke4=
65.a4! Bb6
65...Ke4 loses to 66.Kc4 Kf3 67.a5 Kxg4 68.Bc5 Bg3 69.a6 Bb8 70.Kd5 Kf3 71.Kc6+–
66.Be7! Ke4 67.Bxg5 Kf3
83
The white a-pawn will carry the day...
68.Kc4 Kxg4 69.Kb5!
The only winning move!

Wrong would be 69.Be7? Kf5 70.Kb5 Bc7! 71.Bb4 Ke6 72.Kc6 Bd8=
69...Bf2
Or 69...Bc7 70.Be3! Kf5 71.Bb6+–
70.Bd2 Kf5 71.a5 Ke4 72.Kc6 Kd3 73.Bg5 Kc4 74.Be7 Be3 75.a6 Ba7 76.Bd8 Bb8 77.Bc7 Ba7
78.Kb7
1-0
Game 16
Leko, Peter (2740)
Corus 2006
84
Position after: 20.Rc4
White holds a small, but steady, positional advantage. After the inevitable trade of the rooks the white
bishop pair will become an X-factor in the play on two wings.
20...Nd7?!
The knight is a bit passive on d7 and for that reason preferable was 20...f6!? 21.Rac1 Na4 22.Rxc8
Rxc8 23.Rxc8+ Bxc8 24.Bc1 e5 and a draw is a much more likely result than a White win.
20...Nd7?! 21.Rb1 Rxc4 22.Bxc4 Rc8 23.Nd2 N5b6 24.Bd3 e5
85
Position after: 24...e5
25.h4
25.Bxe5 deserved attention: 25...Nxe5 26.Rxb6 Nxd3 27.Rxb7 f5 28.Rb3 Rc1+ 29.Nf1 Nc5 30.Rb8+
Kf7 31.Rc8 Ke6², but Van Wely prefers to keep the pressure.
25...f6 26.h5 Rc7 27.Ne4 Bd5 28.Rc1 Rxc1+ 29.Bxc1 Nc4
Or 29...Bc4 30.Bc2 Bd5 31.g4²
30.g4
86
Position after: 30.g4
30...g6?!
30...h6 looks ugly, but was probably Black’s best chance.
31.hxg6 hxg6 32.Nd2!
A fine exchange, reminding Black that the pawn on a6 is a serious weakness.
32...Nxd2 33.Bxd2 Bf3
87
Position after: 33...Bf3
34.g5!
Black can put up a defence after 34.Bxa6 Bxg4 35.Bc8 Kf7 36.a4 Ke7 37.a5 Kd8²
34...fxg5?
The losing mistake. After the correct 34...Bb7! 35.e4 Kg7 36.f3 Nc5 37.Bc4 Bc8 38.gxf6+ Kxf6
39.Kf2 Ne6±, White would still have to work hard to prove his advantage is sufficient for a win.
35.Bxa6
88
Position after: 35.Bxa6
Now it’s all over; White enjoys an extra passed pawn on the queenside. The rest of the game was a
formality...
35...Bc6 36.Ba5! Kf7 37.Bd8 g4 38.Be2 Bf3 39.Bc4+ Ke8 40.Bc7! Bd1 41.Bb5 e4 42.a4 Bc2
43.a5 Bd3 44.Bc6! Ke7 45.Kh2 g5 46.Kg3 Nf6 47.Bb7
1-0
I am strongly of the opinion that an author should present his own proofs on whichever subject he
writes about. And this opinion ought to be logical and a sign of understanding and knowledge...
Game 17
Petropoulos, Konstantinos (2200)
Greece 1986
89
White holds a plus due to his bishop pair.
23.Rfe1!
The last white force enters the game, seeking heavy pieces’ exchanges.
23...Rxe1+ 24.Rxe1 Bc3 25.Re4
90
Position after: 25.Re4
25...a5
The text is not that helpful to Black, as now White gets rid of his only weakness. In addition, the b5-
pawn is weakened, as it can no longer be protected by ...a6.
If 25...Bd2 White’s advantage is undisputed: 26.g4! a6 27.g5!±, 27...Bxg5?! 28.f4! Bh4 29.Bxc6
Rxc6 30.Re8+ Kg7 31.Bf8+ Kf6 32.Be7+
26.bxa5 Nxa5 27.b4 Nc6
28.g4
White seems to be in no hurry, but he should seriously consider 28.Bxc6! (transforming the
advantage of the bishop pair to an extra pawn) 28...Rxc6 29.Re8+ Kg7 30.Rb8±
28...g5 29.h4?
An optimistic continuation.
Better was 29.Bxc6! Rxc6 30.Re8+ Kg7 31.Rb8±
29...h6?
91
Position after: 29...h6?
Black had to accept the challenge and opt for 29...gxh4! 30.f4 Kg7 31.Kg2 h6 32.Kh3 Bf6 33.Re3².
30.h5?
But after the text move White loses all his advantage. It is understandable the desire to fix the
weakness on h6
30.hxg5! hxg5 31.Bxc6 Rxc6 32.Re8+ Kg7 33.Rb8± was the way to the cash the point.
30...Kg7 31.Kg2
92
Position after: 31.Kg2
31...Ne5 32.Re3
32.Bb7 Rb8 33.Ba6 Nd3∞ doesn’t lead anywhere.
32...Bb2
32...Rd8 33.Bf3 Rd3!= was probably more precise.
33.Re2 Bc3 34.Re3 Bb2 35.Kg3 Rd8 36.Be4
93
36...Nc4?
36...Bd4! was good enough for the draw. For example: 37.Rb3 Bxc5 38.bxc5 Rd4 39.f3 b4=
37.Rd3! Be5+ 38.Kg2 Rxd3?!
Better survival chances were offered by preserving the rooks with 38...Rb8 39.Bf5±
39.Bxd3 Bc3?
94
Position after: 39...Bc3?
A) 39...Bd6? 40.Bxc4 Bxc5 41.bxc5 bxc4 42.c6+–

B) 39...Nd6! 40.Kf3 Kf6 41.Bc2± and Black can still fight.
40.Be4?
White missed the simple 40.Bxc4! bxc4 41.Kf3 Be5 42.Ke4+–
40...Ne5 41.f3 Nc4?
41...Nd7! was a good – and unexpected – chance for Black: 42.Be7 Bf6 43.Bxf6+ Kxf6 44.Bc6 Nb6
45.Kf2 Ke5=
42.Kf2 Ne5 43.Ke3 Nd7
Too late...
95
44.Bd4+!
An exchange that the defending side usually wishes for, but here we have an exception, as it allows
the white king to penetrate into the black queenside.
44...Bxd4+ 45.Kxd4 Kf6 46.Kd5
White wins the b5-pawn and the game.
46...Ne5 47.Kc5 Nc4 48.Kxb5 Nd6+ 49.Kc6 Ke5 50.b5
A game full of mistakes...
1-0
Game 18
Diamantis, Georgios (2200)
Egypt 1981
96
Position after: 38...fxg6
A nice position for Black, but due to the reduced material White retains excellent chances to split the
point. But it is also a fact that he can’t play like an engine, so sooner or later he will go astray!
39.Be3
It was better to go for the intermediate 39.Bb6! a4 40.Be3 Be7 41.Bc5 Bf6³
39.Be3 Be7!
Of course there is no point to exchanging either bishop, as then there will be no chances for Black...
40.Bc5
Passed pawns are a great help for the bishop pair, so White rightly avoids 40.Bxh6?! Bb3 41.Kd3
Bxa3µ
40...Bf6 41.Nc7 Be5 42.Ne6 Bb3 43.Nd4 Bd5
97
An aesthetic position for the bishop pair, which proudly stands, in the centre dominating the board!
44.Ke3 Kf7 45.Ke2 Kf6 46.Ke3 h5!
Introducing a new asset – the passed pawn ! White’s position becomes critical...
47.Ne2?!
For better or worse, White had to go for 47.gxh5 gxh5 48.f4 Bb8 49.Bb6 a4 50.Bd8+ Kf7µ
47...hxg4 48.f4
After 48.fxg4 Kg5µ Black will win a healthy pawn. White’s idea/hope was that the doubled g-pawns
would not be proven dangerous, but he was wrong.
48...Bb2?!
98
Position after: 48...Bb2?!
A much better option for Black was 48...Bc7 49.Bd4+ Ke6–+
49.Ng3?
Because here White had a good saving chance, based on exchanging one of the bishops: 49.Bd4+!
Bxd4+ 50.Kxd4 Bg2 51.Ng3 g5 52.Ke3 Bb7µ
49...Bc1+ 50.Kf2 Bxf4
And Black emerges two pawns up!
51.Ne2 Bc7 52.Ke3 g3 53.Nf4 Bc6 54.Ne2 g2 55.Kf2 Ke5
Although centralisation is a nice concept, accurate here was 55...Kg5 56.Be3+ Kg4–+, which is end
of story.
56.Be3 Ke4 57.Nd4 Bb7 58.Ne6
99
58...Bg3+
Again more accurate was 58...g1=Q+! 59.Kxg1 Kxe3 60.Nxc7 Kd3–+
59.Kxg2! Kxe3+
Or 59...Be1 60.Kf1 Kxe3 61.Kxe1 Be4–+
60.Kxg3 a4?
Black goes wrong again, giving White a (difficult to find) chance to save the game.
100
Position after: 60...a4?
60...Bd5! 61.Nc5 Kd4–+
61.Kh4!
According to tablebases, this position is drawn!
61...Be4 62.Nc5?
But of course it was difficult to be accurate...the only move to draw was 62.Kg5!
62...Kf4! 63.Nxa4
101
Position after: 63.Nxa4
63...Bf5!
Missed by White; now his king cannot block the passed g-pawn.
64.Nc3 g5+ 65.Kh5 Bg4+!
The only winning move – the white king and knight have to be dominated.
66.Kg6 Bf3!
And now it is over.
67.Nb5 g4 68.Nd4 g3 69.Ne6+ Ke3 70.Ng5 g2
0-1
Game 19
Papastavropoulos, Andreas (2205)
Greece 1987
102
Position after: 31.Ng4
Obviously things went wrong for White earlier, as now the black bishop pair dominates. To start
with, Black should remove the defenders!
31...Rc2! 32.Rxc2 Bxc2
And now Black wins material.
33.Bf2 Bd1!
33...Bxb2? 34.Bxa7 would give White some chances.
34.Nd4 Nxf4
103
Position after: 34...Nxf4
35.Nb5?!
White has lost his fighting spirit.

35.Ne3 Ba4 36.Nec2 Bd7 was better, although White’s chances are limited.
35...a6 36.Nd6
Or 36.Nc3 Bxg4 37.hxg4 Bxc3 38.bxc3 Ne2+–+
36...b5 37.Ne3 Bb3 38.Nb7 Nd3 39.Na5 Be6 40.Nc2 Nxf2 41.Kxf2 Bxb2
104
Position after: 41...Bxb2
A position to make you cry... The bishop pair vs. the knight pair and two extra pawns...
42.Nc6 Bc3 43.Ke3 Bc4 44.Na3 Bf1 45.Kf2 Bd3 46.Ke3 Bb2 47.Kxd3 Bxa3 48.Nb8 a5 49.Nc6
a4 50.Nd4 b4 51.Nc2 Kg7 52.Kc4 Kf6 53.Kb5 Ke5 54.g3 Ke4 55.Kxa4 Kf3
56.g4 Kg3 57.Nd4 Kxh3 58.Nf3 Kxg4 59.Ne5+ Kf4
105
0-1
Game 20
Koerant, Filipos (2175)
Glyfada 1995
White’s bishop pair and the weak black b-pawn give him an indisputable advantage.
Position after: 25...Na5
26.Rb6! Nc6
Black could consider 26...Nc4 27.Rxb4 Nxe3 28.fxe3± He would have relieved some of the pressure,
but being a pawn down is not a bundle of fun either.
27.Be2!
With threats such as Bc5, or Bb5, Black has no choice.
27...Rb8 28.Rxb8+ Nxb8 29.f3
106
Position after: 29.f3
A typically enjoyable position for the bishop pair. The black b-pawn is also weak and Black cannot
present any serious counterplay. White’s plan is simple: he should centralise his king and then
advance his kingside pawns, seeking to provoke further weaknesses.
29...Bb7 30.Bc5 Nc6
30...Ba6 doesn’t solve Black’s problems after 31.Kf2 Bxe2 32.Kxe2 Nc6 33.Kd3 f6 34.Bd6 Kf7
35.Kc4+–
31.Kf2 f6 32.Ke3 Kf7 33.Bb5 h6
107
34.h4!
As outlined previously. A typical mistake here would be to win the b-pawn but hand over the bishop
pair: 34.Bxc6? Bxc6 35.Bxb4 e5 and the opposite-coloured bishops should give Black the draw.
There is no need to hurry, as Black cannot really improve...
34...g6
The other way is by 34...h5 35.Bd6 g5 36.g3±
35.Bd6
Black can hardly move.
35...Na7 36.Ba4 Nc6 37.g4!
108
Position after: 37.g4!
37...h5?!
Even after the “best” 37...Kg8 38.h5! (Fixing another weakness, on h6.) 38...g5 39.Bb5 Kf7
40.Kd3±, Black is suffering...
38.gxh5 gxh5 39.f4!
Creating the threat of Bd1.
39...e5
Or 39...Kg6 40.Bb5 Kg7 41.e5 Kg6 [41...fxe5 42.fxe5 Kg6 43.Kf4+–] 42.Bd3+ f5 43.Be2 Bc8
44.Bc5 Kh6 45.Kd2 Bb7 46.Kc2+–
40.f5! Ba8
109
Position after: 40...Ba8
41.Bd1
White wins a healthy pawn and the rest of the game was straightforward:
41...Ke8 42.Bxh5+ Kd7 43.Bc5 Na5 44.Bf7! b3 45.h5 Nb7 46.Bb4 Nd8 47.Bxb3
1-0
Game 21
Seirawan, Yasser (2570)
Kortschnoj, Viktor Lvovich (2630)
FIDE-Wch 1985
110
Position after: 41.Bb3
Black’s advantage is clear, due of course to his strong bishop pair, which fully dominates.
41...Rc5
Putting pressure on the opponent’s pawns is a good strategy!

41...Rc3 42.Kg2 Be5 43.Rf3 Rc5µ
41...Rc5 42.Rd1
The alternative was 42.a4 Rc3 43.Bd5 Be5 44.Rf3 Rc2+ 45.Kg1 b6µ
42...Be5
111
Position after: 42...Be5
43.Rd5 Rxd5 44.Bxd5 b6 45.Bc4
The only move, as 45.Kg2?! Bd3 46.Bc6 Bc4 loses material.
45...Be4 46.h4 Bb1 47.Kh3 Kg7 48.Kg4 Kf6 49.Nh5+ Ke7 50.Nf4 Kd6
Surrendering the bishop pair with 50...Bxf4? 51.Kxf4 Kd6 only leads to a draw: 52.Kg5 Kc5
53.Bg8=
51.Nd3 Bf6 52.Kh5 Bg7 53.Kg5 Bc2 54.Kf5 Bc3 55.Kg5 Bg7 56.Kf5
112
Position after: 56.Kf5
White has defended well and seems to be holding the balance, as he keeps the enemy king at bay. But
this is not the case, as the bishop pair is a strong positional asset and rarely fails...
56...Bf8!
The h4-pawn is the first real target!
57.Kg5
If 57.Kf6, then 57...Be7+ 58.Kg7 h5 59.Kh6 Bd1 60.Bf7 Bxh4 61.Bxh5 Ba4 62.Be8 Kd5–+
57...Bd1 58.Nf2
Pushing the h-pawn does not solve White’s problems: 58.h5 Bf3! 59.Nf4 Ke5! 60.Ne6 h6+ 61.Kg6
Be4+ 62.Kf7 Ba3–+
58...Kc5?
58...Be7+! was correct: 59.Kh6 Bf3 60.h5 Ke5! [60...Bf8+ 61.Kxh7 Bxh5 62.Nd3 offers White
some survival chances.] 61.Kxh7 Bxh5 and Black should win.
59.Bd3 Ba4 60.Bxh7 Bxb5
113
61.Bg8?
White ought to have forced Black to make some hard decisions.

With 61.h5! Be7+ 62.Kf4 Bc4 63.Bb1 Bf8 64.Kg5 he would have excellent chances to share the half
point, due to his h-pawn counterplay.
61...Be7+ 62.Kg4 Be2+
114
Position after: 62...Be2+
63.Kf4
Or 63.Kh3 Kd4 64.Nh1 Ke5 65.Ng3 Bf3 and Black dominates.
63...Kd4?!
Leaving the h-pawn alive is generally the wrong policy, as White will always have counterplay.
63...Bxh4 64.Ke3 Bh5–+ was good enough.
64.Kg3 b5 65.Bf7 Bd6+ 66.Kg2
The ending is, of course, won for Black but the truth is that he mishandled it many times from now to
the end of the game. But that’s just clear proof of how difficult is to play such endings...
66...a5?
Here Black was obliged to find 66...Bc4! 67.Bxc4 bxc4–+ to secure the full point.
67.h5 Bf4 68.Nh3 Be3 69.Ng1 Bd1 70.Nf3+ Kc3
115
Position after: 70...Kc3
71.Ne5?
A critical moment. White had to find the difficult continuation 71.Nh4! Bg5 72.Nf5 b4 73.h6 Bc2
74.h7 Bf6 75.Ne3! Bxh7 [75...Be4+ 76.Kh3 Bh8 77.Bg8=] 76.Nd5+ Kb2 77.Nxf6 Bb1 78.Be8
Bxa2 79.Bb5 when the position is drawn according to the endgame tablebases!
71...a4 72.Kf1 b4 73.Ke1 Bc2 74.Nc4
116
Position after: 74.Nc4
74...Bf4?
74...b3! 75.axb3 [75.Na3 Bd2+ 76.Kf1 b2 77.Bg6 Bxg6 78.hxg6 Bh6 79.Ke2 Bf8–+] 75...Bxb3
76.Nxe3 Bxf7–+
75.Nb6 Kb2?
Position after: 75...Kb2?
Black had to prepare this entry by 75...Kd4! 76.Nc4 [76.Nd7? a3–+] 76...Bh6 77.Na5 Kc3 78.Ke2
Bb1 79.Ke1 Bf8 80.Ke2 Kb2 81.Nc4+ Ka1–+
76.Nd5?
White again missed a drawing motif: 76.Bg6! a3 [76...b3 77.Nxa4+ Kxa2 78.Ke2=] 77.Nc4+ Kc3
78.Bxc2 Kxc2 79.Na5 Kb2 80.Kd1 Kxa2 81.Kc2=
76...Be5?
But this is another serious mistake from Black.
117
Position after: 76...Be5?
He should instead have opted for 76...Bg3+! 77.Ke2 b3 78.Ne3 Bf4 79.axb3 Bxb3 80.Nd1+ Ka3
81.Be8 Kb4 82.Bxa4 Bxa4 and Black wins the notorious bishop pair vs. knight without pawns
ending.
77.Ke2?
Missing the drawing line.

77.Ne3! Bc3+ 78.Ke2 Bb1 79.Nc4+ Kxa2 80.Nb6+ and White holds.
77...Bc3?
118
Position after: 77...Bc3?
And Black “refuses” to win with 77...b3! 78.Nb4 [78.axb3 a3 79.Nb4 Bb1! 80.h6 Bc3 81.h7 Bxh7–
+] 78...a3! 79.axb3 Bb1–+
78.Bg6?
Again White could draw with either 78.Nxc3 bxc3 79.Bg6 Bb1! 80.Bxb1 Kxb1 81.h6 c2 82.h7 c1=Q
83.h8=Q Qc2+ 84.Ke3 Kxa2 85.Qd4=, or 78.h6 a3 79.Be6 and Black cannot improve.
78...b3!
But now it’s all over.
79.Ne3 Bxg6 80.Nd1+ Kc2 81.Ne3+ Kc1 82.axb3 a3
White resigned. An interesting ending with many serious mistakes by both sides, which not only
proves its difficulty, but also the excellent resources that rule our royal game.
0-1
Game 22
Golod, Vitali (2591)
Potkin, Vladimir (2470)
Linares 2001
119
White has the bishop pair and should feel happy, but Black’s counterplay can be strong, especially on
the f2-pawn.
27.Be5! Rc1+
27...Rc2 does not solve Black’s problems: 28.Bxg7+ Kg8 29.Bxh6 Rxf2 30.Kh2±
28.Kh2 Nf7
Weaker seems to be 28...Bxf2 due to 29.Bxg7+ Kg8 30.h4 Nf7 31.Bb2!± The bishop pair dominates!
29.Ra8+ Ke7 30.Ra7+ Kf8 31.Ra8+ Ke7 32.Bxg7 Bxf2 33.Ra7+ Ke8
120
34.Be4! b5
A) It seems to be difficult for Black to find a satisfactory continuation: 34...Bxg3+? 35.Kxg3 Rg1+
36.Bg2+–
B) 34...Nd6? 35.Bg6+ Kd8 36.Bxh6+–.
35.Ra3!
35.Rb7? loses most of the advantage: 35...Nd6 36.Bg6+ Kd8 37.Bxh6 Rc3∞
35...Ke7 36.Bg6 Bc5
121
37.Rc3!
After the rooks are exchanged, the white bishop pair will dominate.
37.Rf3?! Ng5 38.Bf8+ Kd7 39.Rd3+ Kc7 40.Bxc5 [40.Bxh6 Rc2+ 41.Kh1 Nxh3 42.Rd7+ Kxd7
43.Bxc2=] 40...Rxc5 41.h4 Rc2+ 42.Kh1 Nh3 43.Rd7+ Kxd7 44.Bxc2 Nf2+ 45.Kg2 Ng4 46.Kf3
Nf6 47.g4² and Black should survive.
37...Rxc3 38.Bxc3 Be3
Not much different is 38...Bd6 39.Bd2 [39.Kg2!? Ne5 40.Bh5±] 39...Ng5 40.Kg2 Kf6 41.Bd3 b4
42.h4 Nf7 43.g4±
39.Bb4+
122
Position after: 39.Bb4+
39...Kf6?!
More stubborn is 39...Nd6 40.Bd3 Kd7 41.Kg2±. Time trouble was difficult to handle...
40.Bd3
And White wins material.
40...e5 41.Bxb5 e4 42.Bc3+ Ke7 43.Bc6 Nd6 44.Bd5! Bc5 45.a4 e3
123
46.g4
The black knight is fully dominated – the end cannot be far away.
46...h5
46...e2 loses to 47.Bf3 Ne4 48.Be1!+–
47.Kg2 hxg4 48.hxg4 Ne8 49.g5 Nc7 50.Bc4 Ne6 51.Bf6+ Kd7 52.Kf3 Nf8 53.Kg4
Also good enough is 53.Be5 Ng6 54.Bg3+
53...Ng6
Or 53...Kd6 54.Kf5 Nd7 55.Bc3 Nb6 56.g6+–
54.Bd3 Kd6 55.Bxg6 e2 56.Bc3 Bf2
124
The end is obviously near and White found the most accurate way.
57.a5!
1-0
Game 23
Schmidt, Harald (2408)
Zakhartsov, Viacheslav V (2562)
Travemuende 2009
125
Position after: 12...Rxd8
Black has obtained a pleasant, and better, endgame with the pair of bishops.
13.Be3 Bg4 14.Rfd1 a6
15.Nbd4 Nxd4 16.Rxd4 Rxd4 17.Nxd4 Rc8 18.h3
126
Perhaps 18.f3 Bd7 19.Rd1 f6 20.Kf2 was more precise.
18...Bd7
19.Rd1 f6!
Black brings more central squares under control, while his king can now be centralised easier via the
light squares.
20.Bf4
20.f3 Kf7 21.Kf2 Ba4 22.b3 Be8 doesn’t change much.
20...Kf7 21.Nc2?!
A dubious attempt at simplification; the knight on d4 was very strong.

21.Be3 Ba4! created some weaknesses in the white camp: 22.b3 Be8³ and so on.
21...Ba4
21...Rxc2! 22.Rxd7+ Kg6 was probably best: 23.a3 [23.Rxb7 Rxb2 24.a4 a5 25.g4 Ra2³ winning the
a4-pawn.] 23...Be1 24.Rxb7 Bxf2+ 25.Kh2 h5µ
22.Rd4
127
Position after: 22.Rd4
22...Bf8
Keeping the bishop pair.

After 22...Rxc2 23.Rxb4 Bc6 24.Be3= White has good chances to survive due to the opposite-
coloured bishops, despite Black’s initiative.
23.Ne3
Or 23.Rxa4? Rxc2 24.b3 Ke6 25.Be3 Bd6³ with a better ending for Black.
23...Bc6 24.Nf5
24.Bd6? leads to a forced line, in which, after 24...Rd8 25.Nf5 Bxd6 26.Nxd6+ Ke6 27.Nf5 Rxd4
28.Nxd4+ Kd5 29.Nxc6 Kxc6 30.Kf1 Kd5 31.Ke2 Ke4 32.Kd2 Kd4µ, the pawn ending should be
winning for Black.
24...Ke6 25.Nd6 Rd8 26.Nb5
128
26...Rxd4?
26...Rd7! was very strong: 27.Rxd7 Bxd7 28.Nc3 b5 29.a3 a5 and the black king penetrates on the
queenside via the d5-square.
27.Nxd4+ Kd5 28.Be3?
28.Nxc6! gives White every chance of surviving: 28...bxc6 [28...Kxc6 29.Kf1 Kd5 30.Ke2=] 29.Kf1
Ke4 30.Be3 Kd3 31.b3 Kc2 32.Ke2 f5 33.Bd4 g6 34.f3 Kb1 35.Kd3 Kxa2 36.Kc2 and White
should hold this position, as it is difficult to improve Black’s position.
28...Bd7 29.Kf1
129
29...Bc5?!
29...f5! seems like a killer move: 30.f3 [30.g3 f4! 31.gxf4 Bxh3+–+] 30...f4 31.Bf2 Bd6! 32.Ke2
Bc5! 33.Nc2 Bb5+ 34.Ke1 Bd6 35.b3 Bd3 36.Kd1 Bf1 37.Ne1 Bb4 and Black has a huge
advantage.
30.Nc2 Bd6 31.Ke2 Bb5+ 32.Kd2
130
Position after: 32.Kd2
32...Be5?!
White wins a pawn but not the game, due to the opposite-coloured bishops.
32...Bf1 33.Ba7 Bf4+ 34.Ne3+ leads to the same ending as in the game, but again strong is 32...f5!
33.Bd4 g6 34.Bc3 f4 35.Nb4+ Ke6µ
33.b3 Bf1 34.Ba7! Bf4+ 35.Ne3+ Bxe3+?!
35...Kc6 gives better winning chances.
36.Kxe3 Bxg2 37.h4
37...Ke5
Or 37...g5 38.hxg5 fxg5 39.f4! g4 40.Kf2 with a draw.
38.Bc5 Kf5 39.Bf8 g6
Nothing is offered again by 39...g5 40.hxg5 fxg5 41.f3 Bf1 42.Bd6 Bb5 43.f4! g4 44.Kf2 with a
draw.
40.Be7 Bd5 41.f4 h6 42.Bf8 g5 43.fxg5 fxg5 44.hxg5 Kxg5
131
Position after: 44...Kxg5
45.a4!
White offers a second pawn but Black cannot take advantage of it.
45...Bxb3 46.a5 h5 47.Bc5 Kg4
47...b5 48.axb6 Bd5 49.Be7+ Kg4 50.Kd2 h4 51.Bxh4 Kxh4 52.Kc3 is also a draw, due to the
“wrong” queening square on the a-file!
48.Kf2
Even two pawns up, the draw is unavoidable.
½-½
Game 24
Alcazar Jimenez, Victor (2407)
La Roda 2004
132
Position after: 26...Nxg7
The bishop pair and the superior pawn structure guarantee a clear advantage for White in this
endgame.
27.b4! Na6 28.Bd2
Also good is 28.Be4 Rad8 29.Bb7 Nf5 30.Bf2±
28...Nf5 29.Bxf5
One of the advantages of the superiority of a piece when facing another is that there is always the
possibility of trading them under good conditions.
29.Bc3! Nd4 30.Rae1± was also good.
29...Rxf5 30.Bc3 Kf7 31.b5 Nc7 32.Be5 Ne8
133
The black knight is fully dominated by the bishop and it is time to find the entry point to the black
position.
33.a4! a5
Black cannot allow White’s a5-advance, but the text further weakens the b6-pawn.
34.Rad1!
Placing the rooks on open files is like firing the artillery!
34...Ke7 35.Rf3 Rd8 36.Rxd8 Kxd8 37.Rh3 h5 38.Kf2!
Time to improve the king.
38...Nf6 39.Bxf6+!
Another positive exchange, transposing to a winning ending.
39...Rxf6 40.Ke3
134
40...Rf5?
Black shouldn’t stay passive.

Here the dynamic option was 40...Rg6! 41.Rxh5 Rg1 42.Rh8+ Ke7 43.Rb8 when White should win,
although there is still a lot of technical work to be done.
41.Ke4
Getting to the desired position. Meanwhile, the black king and his rook are too passive. The rest is
automatic.
41...Ke7
135
42.Rg3 Rf7 43.Rg6 Kd7 44.h4 Rh7 45.Ke5 Rf7 46.Rxe6! Rxf4 47.Rd6+ Ke7 48.Kxf4 Kxd6 49.Kf5
1-0
136
With a solitary open file in the centre, the so-called semi-open centre, the strategy of playing with the
bishop pair should be different. Because total exchanges, as we have just seen, might lead to drawish,
or let us say defendable endgames, the recommended strategy should be Partial Exchanges in
combination with developing an Initiative, or an attack, on a certain side(s) of the board.
SOS Tips – Semi-Open Centre
1. Partial Exchanges
2. Develop Initiative
Remember something quite important: if the position is semi-open, the bishop pair is better only if the
opponent’s knight doesn’t have any outposts or active squares.
Game 25
Tata Steel 2013
17.Rb1!
A logical novelty.
17.Rc2? Be5 18.f4 Bd4 19.Bd3 Re8+, was OK for Black in Bukhman, E – Nezhmetdinov, R
Daugavpils 1973.
137
17.Rb1! Bc3+ 18.Kd1
White has a large advantage already, as he will regain his pawn, remaining with the strong bishop
pair.
18...Re8?!
I think that Black’s last chance lay in 18...b6 19.Bd3 Nd7 20.Be7 Rfe8 21.Bxd6 Ne5 22.Kc2 Nxd3
23.Kxd3±
19.Rxb7 Na6
20.a3!
The black knight is a prisoner!
20...Rab8 21.Rxb8
21.Rxa7 is fine as well, but White doesn’t need to take any risks.
21...Nxb8 22.Bd3 Nd7 23.Kc2 Bd4?!
23...Bf6 was a bit more stubborn, although Black should lose the ending after 24.Bd2 Rb8 25.Rb1
Rxb1 26.Kxb1 Ne5 27.Be2.
24.Rb1 Nb6 25.Bf4 Be5 26.Re1 Kg7 27.Bg3! Re7 28.f4 Bf6 29.Rxe7 Bxe7
138
Position after: 29...Bxe7
30.Be1!
And now the f5-pawn is a goner...
30...h5 31.g3 Bf6 32.Kb3 Kg6 33.h3
1-0
Game 26
Polugaevsky, Lev
Uhlmann, Wolfgang
IBM 1970
139
Position after: 23...Kxe7
White holds the advantage, as he possesses the bishop pair in a semi-open centre position. What he
needs to do next is to open more files and diagonals!
24.a5!
The ‘usual’ queenside fixing! Now White will prepare the b4 and g4 advances.
24...h5
Or 24...Nh5 25.Bd2 f5 26.Ne2 Bb2 27.f3! [27.g4? Ne5!] 27...Nhf6 28.g4²
25.Bd2 Ne8 26.g3 Bd4 27.Kg2 Ng7 28.f4 Nf5 29.Nd1
29.Ne2? Ne3+=
29...Nh6 30.Kf3
140
30...f5!
This is the best set-up for Black to defend properly.

30...Ng8?! 31.g4! hxg4+ 32.hxg4 Bg7 33.g5±
31.Bd3 Kd8 32.Ne3 Ke7 33.Nc2
33.Ng2 Kf6 34.Nh4 Ba1 35.Ke2 Bd4 36.Nf3 Ba1 37.Bc2²
33...Bb2 34.Ke3 Nf6 35.Ne1 Bd4+ 36.Kf3 Bb2 37.Ng2 Nd7 38.Nh4 Kf6 39.Ke3 Nf7 40.Bc2
141
Position after: 40.Bc2
40...Ba1?!
Black had to make White’s g4 advance more onerous by 40...Nh6!
Position after: 40...Nh6!
White now has a few ideas, though nothing obviously winning:

A) 41.Kf3 Bd4 42.Ng2 Bb2 43.Ne1 Bd4 44.Nd3 Kf7 45.b4 cxb4 46.Bxb4 Nc5²,
142
B) 41.Ke2 Ba1 42.Nf3 Nf7 43.Kd3 Bb2 44.Bd1 Ba1 [44...Ba3? 45.Bc3+ Ke7 46.Nh4 Nf8
47.Bg7+–] 45.Kc2 Kg7 46.Be2 Bf6 47.Bd3 Ba1 48.Be1 Bf6 49.g4 hxg4 50.hxg4 fxg4 51.Nh2 Nh6
52.Be2 g3 53.Bxg3 Nf5=
C) 41.b4 cxb4 42.Bxb4
Position after: 42.Bxb4
42...Nc5! 43.Nf3 Nf7 44.Nd4 Bc1+! 45.Kf3 Bb2 46.Nb3 [46.Bxc5?! dxc5 47.Ne6 Ba3=] 46...Nxb3
47.Bxb3 Bd4! 48.Bc2 Ke7 49.g4 hxg4+ 50.hxg4 Nh6! [50...fxg4+ 51.Kxg4 Kf6 52.Bd3±] 51.gxf5
Nxf5! [51...gxf5?! 52.Kg3±] 52.Ke4 Bc5 53.Bc3 and White stands better.
41.Ke2?! Bb2?!
41...Nh6! was a better try
42.Be1?!
Why not 42.g4! hxg4 43.hxg4 fxg4 44.Nxg6 Nh6 45.Nh4 Bd4 46.Kf1+–
42...Ba1?!
143
Position after: 42...Ba1?!
Again 42...Nh6! had to be tried.
43.g4!
Strong and decisive!
43...hxg4 44.hxg4 fxg4 45.Nxg6
Even better was 45.Bxg6 Nh6 46.Kf2+–
45...Kg7
45...Nh6 46.Bh4+ Kg7 47.Be7+–
46.Nh4 Kf8
46...Nh6 47.Nf5+ Nxf5 48.Bxf5 Nf6 49.Bc8+–.
47.Bf5 Nf6 48.Bc8 Nd8 49.Nf5 Nh5 50.Bd2 Bd4 51.Nxd4
1-0
Game 27
Uhlmann, Wolfgang
Gligoric, Svetozar
Christmas Congress 1970
144
Position after: 21...Kxe7
A similar ending to the previous game.
22.a5! Ne8 23.Bd2 h5 24.Kf1 Bd4 25.b3 Ng7 26.Bc2 Ne8 27.Ne2 Bb2 28.f3 Ng7 29.Kf2
29.g4 is quite interesting.
29...Bf6 30.Nc3 Bd4+ 31.Ke2 f5
145
32.f4?!
White hurries to advance his f-pawn, but 32.g3 Kf6 33.f4 was more accurate.
32...Ne8 33.Bd3 Bxc3?!
A quite unexpected move that leaves Black with the knight pair.
A) 33...Nef6 would transpose to the previous game’s formation but probably Black could go for the
natural variation...
B) 33...h4 34.Be1 Bf6 35.Nb1 Ng7 36.Kf3 Nh5²
34.Bxc3 Nef6 35.Be1 Kf7 36.Ke3 Ke7 37.Bc2 Kf7
Now White has a free hand in every part of the board: the bishop pair dominates and what White
needs to do now is to open the position using the thematic breaks.
38.b4!
38.Kd2 Ke7 39.Kc3 Kf7 40.Bf2 Ke7 41.b4 was also not bad.
38...cxb4 39.Bxb4 Nc5 40.Kd4
146
40...Nfd7
It is difficult to say whether Black has any serious chances left to save the game. Nevertheless, he
should have tried:
A) 40...Nfe4 41.g4 hxg4 42.hxg4 Ke7 43.gxf5 gxf5 44.Be1! [44.Bxc5? dxc5+! 45.Ke5 Nd6 46.Bb3
147
46...b6! 47.axb6 a5 48.b7 Nxb7 49.Kxf5 Nd6+ 50.Kg6 a4 51.Ba2 Ne4 52.f5 Kf8 53.f6 Nd6=]
44...Kf7 45.Bd1±
B) 40...Nce4?! fails to 41.g4 hxg4 42.hxg4 Nxg4 43.Bxe4 fxe4 44.Bxd6+–
41.Bd1 Ke7 42.g4 hxg4 43.hxg4 Kf6 44.Ke3
44...b6?
This loses.
Black had to wait with 44...Ke7 45.gxf5 gxf5 46.Bc2 Kf6 47.Kd4±
45.gxf5 gxf5 46.Bxc5 Nxc5
46...bxc5 47.Ba4 Nb8 [47...Nf8 48.Bc6 Ng6 49.Bb7+–] 48.Kf3 Kg6 49.Kg3 Kf6 50.Kh4 Kg6
51.Bc6 Kf6 52.Bb7 Kg6 53.Bc8+–
47.axb6 a5 48.Bc2 Ke7
48...a4 49.Bxa4+–
49.Kd2
148
49...Kd8
49...Kf6 loses to 50.Kc1 Kg6 51.Ba4 Kf7 52.Bc6 Ke7 53.b7 Na6 54.Bb5 Nb8 55.Kb2 Kd8
56.c5!+–
50.Bxf5 Na4 51.b7 Kc7 52.Bc8 Nc5 53.f5 Ne4+
Position after: 53...Ne4+
149
54.Kc2! Kb8 55.Kb3 Nd2+ 56.Ka4 Nxc4 57.f6 Ne5 58.Kxa5
1-0
Game 28
Gulko, Boris F (2622)
Radjabov, Teimour (2483)
Corus 2001
Position after: 26...Nxe8
27.a5!
This is the typical “fixing” for the Averbakh variation of the King’s Indian defence. Black is doomed
to eternal passivity.
27...Kf8 28.Kg2 Ke7 29.Kg3 Bd4
29...b6 30.axb6 Nxb6 31.b3±
30.Bc2 Ng7 31.b3 f5
The alternative was 31...Ne8 32.Ne2± but Black cannot sit and wait forever. But now White has a
new target on the kingside.
32.Ne2 Bf6 33.Kf3 fxg4+ 34.hxg4 g5
150
35.Kg3
35.f5?! Ne5+ 36.Kg3 h5 would be fine for Black.
35...gxf4+
This opens up the position for the bishop pair.

Also bad is: 35...Nf8 36.fxg5 Bxg5 37.Bxg5+ hxg5 38.Nc3 Ne8 39.Bf5! [39.Ne4? Nh7 40.Nxc5
dxc5 41.Bxh7 Nd6=] 39...Kd8 40.Ne4+–
36.Nxf4 Bg5 37.Be1 Ne5
151
38.Ng6+!
It is useful to exchange a pair of knights as then the remaining bishop pair dominates!
38...Nxg6 39.Bxg6 Kf6 40.Bh7 Ke7 41.Bg6 Ne8
152
41...Kf6 42.Bc2 Ke7 [42...Ke5?? 43.Bc3#] 43.b4 is similar to the game.
42.b4!
This is the decisive breakthrough! White opens a second front on the queenside and plans to attack
the b7-pawn.
42...cxb4
42...Nf6 43.Bf5 Kd8 [43...cxb4 44.Bxb4 transposes to the game] 44.bxc5 dxc5 45.Bf2 Bd2 46.Bxc5
Bxa5 47.Be3±
43.Bxb4 Nf6 44.Bf5
Threatening Bc8.
44...Nd7
After 44...Bc1 White must opt for 45.Kf3! [But not the immediate 45.Bc8?! Ne4+ 46.Kf3 Nc5, when
it is not clear how he will break Black’s blockade.]
45.Bxd7! Kxd7 46.Kf3
Black has two weaknesses; the d6- and h6-pawns. The white king will penetrate on f5 and soon
zugzwang will come into play.
153
46...Bd8 47.Ke4
47...b6
Looking for some counterplay, as passive defence was also hopeless. For example: 47...Bg5 48.Kf5
Be3 49.Kg6 Bf4 50.Bc3 Be3 51.Bg7 Bd2 [51...b6 52.axb6 a5 53.Bxh6 Bxh6 54.Kxh6 a4 55.b7 Kc7
56.b8=Q+ Kxb8 57.g5+–] 52.Bxh6 Bxa5 53.Kf7 b5 54.cxb5 axb5 55.Bc1+–
48.axb6 Bxb6 49.Bd2 a5 50.Bxh6
A material advantage!
50...a4
154
51.Kd3
The king has to deal with the passed a-pawn.
51...Ke7 52.Bg5+ Kf7 53.Kc3 Bc5 54.Kb2
With the idea of Ka2 and Bc1-a3.
54...Kg6 55.Bf4 Kf6 56.Ka2 Bb4 57.Bc1! Ke5 58.g5 Ba5
58...Kf5 59.Ba3 Ba5 60.Bxd6 Kxg5 61.Ka3+–
59.Ka3
1-0
I felt jealous of the previous games and tried to imitate them, but unfortunately without success...
Game 29
Banikas, Hristos (2445)
Greece 1996
155
This is a theoretical position in which White can (more or less) play as he ‘wishes’.
21.g3
A) 21.Qd3 Nf6? 22.Ne2 Ng4+ 23.Bxg4 fxg4 24.Nxd4 cxd4 25.hxg4+– Petraki, M – Nikolin, Z
Athens 1991, or
B) 21.Re2 Nf6 22.g3 Rf7 23.Rfe1 Rfe7 24.Kg2 h5 25.Qd3² Chjumachenko, A – Potter, J
Hendersonville 2006.
21.g3 h5
156
As noted in previous games, this is Black’s best set-up.
22.Kg2
White shouldn’t be in a hurry.
22...Rf7 23.Rxe8+ Qxe8 24.Re1 Re7 25.Rxe7 Qxe7 26.Qd3 Kf7 27.b3 Bf6
157
28.g4?!
I tried to be ‘smart’ and go for a quick g4. But as this falls to a tactical motif, better was 28.a5²
28...hxg4 29.hxg4 fxg4
29...g5 was also not bad: 30.gxf5 gxf4 31.Bxf4 Ne5©
30.Bxg4 Bxc3!
This is, of course, tactically justifiable.
31.Bxc3 Nf6 32.Bh3
Position after: 32.Bh3
If 32.Bc8 then 32...Nfh5! 33.Bd2 Qf6 and Black has strong counterplay.
32...Nf5!
Missed by White!
33.Bxf5
White offered the draw as things can become dangerous after 33...gxf5 34.Bxf6 [34.Qxf5? Qe2+–+]
34...Qxf6=
158
½-½
Game 30
Sahovic, Dragutin (2475)
Papanastasio 1983
White has a small plus here.
21.f4!
Time to win some central squares (restriction)!
21...Nf7 22.Bf2
Forced.
22.Re2? fails to 22...Rxe3! 23.Rxe3 Bd4 24.Rce1 Ng5!, which would be excellent for Black.
22...Rae8 23.Rxe7 Rxe7
159
Position after: 23...Rxe7
24.Re1!
The heavy pieces’ exchange is a welcome element for the holder of the bishop pair.
24...Rxe1 25.Qxe1 Qe7 26.Qxe7 Bxe7
160
White has achieved the ending he was hoping for, but of course things are far from easy.
27.Bd3
The immediate 27.g4?!, allows a typical answer: 27...fxg4 28.hxg4 g5!, gaining full control of the
central dark squares.
27...h5!
Position after: 27...h5!
Black goes for the most accurate set-up.
28.g4?
White became nervous and tried to force matters. Strong and natural is 28.g3 b6 29.Kg2, planning a3
and b4 and, only much later, g4.
28...hxg4 29.hxg4 Nh6!
But not 29...g5? 30.Bxf5! gxf4 31.Be6! Kg7 32.Bxf7 Kxf7 33.Kg2+–
30.gxf5
After 30.g5 Nf7 White cannot really improve his position, as he no longer has the second entrance on
the queenside.
30...Nxf5
161
Position after: 30...Nxf5
31.Kg2 Kf7 32.Kf3 b6 33.Kg4 Nh6+ 34.Kh3 Nf5
White can’t do much here, as Black’s pieces stand well.
½-½
Game 31
Solomons, Deon (2226)
Greece 2006
162
White showed no real ambitions, giving Black an easy game and a clear plus in the endgame, due to
the bishop pair.
21...Bf8 22.b4 f4!
This seems illogical, but actually Black has a good idea behind it. He has two main advances – ...b6
and ...g4 – which combined will increase his advantage.
23.a3 Kf7 24.Kf2 Bc4 25.Na4 Ke6 26.Bc3 g5 27.Nb2 Ba6
163
28.Nd1
If 28.g4 then 28...fxg3+ 29.hxg3 [29.Kxg3 h5µ] 29...h5µ, when Black adds a future passed pawn to
his arsenal.
28...h5 29.Ke1
Here or later, White should seriously consixder 29.h3.
29...Be7 30.Nf2 Bb5 31.Nd1
White stands passively and waits for Black to show his plans. This is not a recommended strategy, by
the way!
31...Bd8 32.Kf2
164
32...b6!
The first of the afore-mentioned advances.
33.Ke1
After 33.cxb6 Bxb6+ 34.Ke1 g4µ Black dominates, but now the c5-pawn is weak.
33...bxc5 34.bxc5 Be7 35.Bb4 g4!
And the second advance – White is busted!
36.Nc3
36.h3 does not bring White salvation: 36...gxh3 37.gxh3 Bd8 38.Kd2 [38.Nc3 Bh4+–+] 38...Bf1–+
36...Bh4+! 37.Kd2 Bf1
And finally Black wins material...
38.fxg4 hxg4
38...Bxg2 39.gxh5 f3–+ was quicker.
39.g3 fxg3 40.hxg3 Bxg3 41.Ke3 Bf4+ 42.Kf2 Bd3 43.Ba5
165
Position after: 43.Ba5
43...Bc1 44.a4 Bf4 45.Kg2 Kf6 46.Bd8+ Kg6 47.Bc7 Kh5 48.Bd6 g3 49.Kf3
49.Bc7 Kg4 50.Bd6 Be3 51.Bxe5 Bf2!–+
49...Kh4
Easier again was 49...Bf1–+
50.Kg2 Kg4 51.Bb8 a6 52.a5
166
Position after: 52.a5
52...Kg5
Or 52...Be3! 53.Bxe5 Bf2! 54.Bd6 Bd4–+
53.Bc7 Kf6 54.Kf3 Bf1 55.Ne2 g2 56.Bd8+ Kf7 57.Ng1 Bd2 58.Kf2 Bb4 59.Bb6 Ke6 60.Nf3
Bd3 61.Ng5+ Ke7 62.Kxg2 Bd2 63.Nf3 Bxe4 64.Kf2 Bf4
167
There is no doubting the final outcome!
65.Ke2 Ke6 66.Nd2 Kd5 67.Ba7 Bg6 68.Bb6 e4 69.Nf1 Kd4 70.Nd2 Bh5+ 71.Ke1 e3 72.Nb3+
Kc3 73.Nc1 Bg3+ 74.Kf1 Kd2 75.Nb3+ Kd1 76.Nd4 Be5
0-1
Game 32
Kochyev, Alexander (2475)
White Nights 1989
White holds a good plus, as Black’s passivity is not a good sign. Also the b7-pawn is rather weak and
a target of White’s light-squared bishop.
27.h4! Kf8
27...gxh4? loses to 28.Qxg6+ Bg7 29.gxh4+–
28.h5!
28.hxg5? would only serve Black after 28...Bxg5! 29.Bxg5 Qxg5 30.Qxg5 [30.Qc8+? Kg7 31.Qxb7
Qc1+ 32.Bf1 Qb1µ] 30...Nf3+ 31.Kg2 Nxg5 32.f3=
28...gxh5 29.Qxh5 Kg7
168
The light squares are further weakened, so White’s plus has been increased. The b7-pawn remains a
potential target, while the white king can also think about a future advance to g4.
30.Kg2 Nc2 31.Bd2 Nd4 32.Bc3 Ne6 33.Qg4 Nd4 34.Qc8 Nc2
35.Be2!
With the idea of Bg4-d7, winning material.
35...Nd4 36.Bg4 Ne6 37.Kh3
White is in no hurry, preparing the transition to a queenless ending if necessary.
37...Nf8 38.Bf5
The usual knight domination!
38...Ne6 39.Bb2 Nd8
169
40.Qd7!
After the queen exchange, the white king will have a free hand.
40...Qxd7 41.Bxd7 Kg6 42.Kg4 Bg7 43.Bf5+ Kf6 44.Bc8
Also good was 44.f4 gxf4 45.gxf4 Ke7 46.Bc8 Bf6 47.Bxe5 Bxe5 48.fxe5+–
44...Kg6 45.Bf5+ Kh6 46.Bc1 Bf6 47.Bc8 Kg6 48.Bd2 Be7 49.f3 Bf6 50.Bc3 Bg7 51.Bb2
170
51...f6
An ugly move.
But also bad is: 51...Bf6 52.Bf5+ Kh6 53.f4 gxf4 54.gxf4+–
52.Bc1
White wasn’t looking for combinations, otherwise he would have found 52.b5! cxb5 53.Ba3! b4
[53...Bf8 54.c6+–; 53...Kf7
171
54.Bxb7! Nxb7 55.c6+–] 54.Bxb4 Nc6 55.Bd2 Nd8 56.Ba5 Nc6 57.Bb6+–
52...Kf7
Or 52...Bf8 53.Bd2 Bg7 54.Bd7 Bf8 55.Be8+ Nf7 56.Bc3 Bh6 57.Bd7 Bf8 58.Bf5+ Kh6 59.Bc8
Nd8 60.Kf5+–
172
53.Kh5
The absence of Black’s light-squared bishop allows the white king to penetrate into Black’s position
via the light squares.
53...Bf8 54.Bd2 Bg7 55.f4!
After a lot of ‘preparation’ the final break arrives.
55...gxf4 56.gxf4 exf4
56...Bf8 loses to 57.fxe5 fxe5 58.Kg4+– Kg6 59.Bg5+–
57.Bxf4 Bf8
58.Kg4! Ne6 59.Be3
59.Bxb7? would be a grave blunder in view of 59...Nxf4 60.Kxf4 Bh6+ 61.Kf5 Bd2=
59...Nd8 60.Kf5 Bg7 61.Bf4 Bh8
After 61...Bf8 White can prevail by 62.Bd2! [62.Bc7 Be7 63.Bxd8 Bxd8 64.Bxb7 Bc7 65.Bxc6 Bg3
66.Bd5+ Ke7 would only make the win more complicated.] 62...Bg7 [62...Be7 63.Bc3 Kg7 64.Be1
Kf7 65.Bh4+–] 63.Bc3 Bh8 64.Be1 Bg7 65.Bh4 Bh8 66.e5+–
62.Bc7 Ke8
173
63.Bg3
63.Bxd8 Kxd8 64.Bxb7 Kd7 65.Ba6+– is a win as well.
63...Bg7
63...Kf7 64.Bh4 Bg7 65.e5+–
64.Kg6 Bf8 65.Kxf6
White has won material without giving-up any of his pluses... a model game.
65...Bh6 66.e5 Bd2 67.e6 Nxe6 68.Kxe6 Bxb4 69.Bf2
1-0
Game 33
Mekhitarian, Krikor Sevag
Tsuboi, Edson Kenji (2322)
Itau 1999
174
White’s opening play cannot be considered a success, as Black has an easy game and boasts the
bishop pair in the endgame.
22...Rd8!
Exchanging the rooks allows Black to centralise his king and open the centre.
23.Rxd8+ Kxd8 24.Kd3 Kd7 25.b4?!
Such moves usually help the bishop pair, so White had to stay put and avoid pawn moves in general.
25...cxb4! 26.cxb4 Ke6 27.Nc2 Kd5 28.Nd4 Bd7 29.b5
175
Position after: 29.b5
29...f6!
The central pawns should be exchanged – the bishop pair needs mobility!
30.exf6 exf6?
Black needs to exchange central pawns, so preferable is: 30...Bxf6! 31.Bf2 [31.Nc6 Bxc6 32.bxc6
Kxc6 33.Ke4 e6µ] 31...e5 32.fxe5 Bxe5µ
31.a4
176
31...Bf8
The immediate 31...g5 32.f5 h5 33.h3 g4 34.hxg4 hxg4 35.Bf4! gives White enough counterplay.
32.Bd2?
Returning the favour.

After 32.f5! gxf5 [32...g5
177
33.g4! Bc5 34.h3=] 33.Ne2 White should have enough compensation to preserve the balance.
32...g5! 33.fxg5
A) White has little choice, as any move leads to an unpleasant position: 33.f5 h5! 34.h3 Bc5 35.Be3
g4! 36.hxg4 hxg4µ
B) 33.Be3 Bc5 34.h4 gxh4 35.gxh4 h5µ
33...fxg5 34.h4 gxh4 35.gxh4
Position after: 35.gxh4
Now, after the profitable (for Black) pawn exchanges, the bishop pair has gained tremendous
strength.
35...Be8!
Preparing the decisive check...
36.Ne2?!
More stubborn is 36.Nc2 Bg6+ 37.Kc3 Ke4 38.Nb4 Be8!µ
36...Bg6+ 37.Kc3
Or 37.Ke3 Kc4 38.Nf4 Bc2–+
178
37...Ke4!
The invasion of the black king will soon decide matters.
38.Ng3+ Kf3! 39.h5 Bg7+ 40.Kb4 Bd3!
And the white knight is trapped – bishop pair domination!
41.Be1 Kg2 42.a5 Be5
0-1
179
In positions with a completely closed (but not entirely blocked) centre, the strength of the bishop pair
goes down significantly. We have to ensure that our opponent’s pieces (read knights) have no good
outpost squares, and the only way to use the bishops is to place them on the most active squares
where they will support the Gaining Space strategy.
In the majority of closed positions, knights are a good match for the long range power of the bishop
pair. But the primary thought must be to open up the centre!
SOS Tips – Closed Centre
1. Gaining Space
2. Play on the Flanks
3. Open the Centre
Game 34
Yilmaz, Mustafa Enes (2407)
Training Handicap 2009
Position after: 15.0-0-0
White should ‘feel’ happy, as he can look to prove his bishop pair strong in the long run. But of
course there is a long way to go before the realisation of the this advantage...
15...Be7 16.g6
180
16.Nxh2 Rxh2 17.Rxh2 Qxh2 18.Rf1 Qxg2 19.Rxf7 Qxg5 20.cxd5 exd5 21.Bf5 g6 22.Be6 Qh4!
23.Qd3 Kb8 is just drawish.
16...f5!
Position after: 16...f5!
Rightly trying to create the ‘correct’ environment for his knight, by blocking the centre. The main
alternative is 16...Nxf3?! 17.Rxh8! [17.gxf3 Rxh1 18.Rxh1 fxg6 19.Bxg6 Qg3 20.Bh5 Rh8∞]
17...Rxh8 18.gxf3 fxg6 19.Bxg6 Qg3 20.Bf7²
17.cxd5! cxd5+ 18.Kb1 Kb8
The bishop pair can come into force after 18...Nxf3?! 19.gxf3 Rxh1 20.Rxh1 Kb8 21.e4²
19.Nxh2
Probably the best try. Black should be fine after these other continuations:
A) 19.Qc2 Qxc2+ [19...Nxf3?! 20.Qxc7+ Kxc7 21.gxf3 Bd6 22.e4²] 20.Kxc2 Ng4=
B) 19.Bb4 Bxb4 20.Qxb4 Nxf3 21.gxf3 Nf6 22.Rxh8 Rxh8 23.Rc1 Qd8=
19...Rxh2 20.Ba5!
181
Position after: 20.Ba5!
20...b6?
Weakening the light squares around the black king too much.
Black should have opted for 20...Nb6! 21.Bxb6 axb6 22.Rxh2 Qxh2 23.Qxb6 Rd6! 24.Qc5 Qh4!,
with about equal chances. [24...Qxg2? 25.Rc1±]
21.Ba6?
White still retains a certain advantage after the text move, but 21.Rxh2! Qxh2 22.Ba6 Qd6
[22...Qxg2 23.Rc1 Qe4+ 24.Ka1 Bd6 25.Qb5+–] 23.Qb5 planning Rc1-c6-xb6, was curtains.
21...Rxh1
21...Ka8? 22.Rxh2 Qxh2 23.Qa4+–
22.Rxh1 Qd6?
Black had to go straight for 22...Ka8 23.Rc1 which transposes.
23.Rc1?
23.Qb5! was again game over – see above.
23...Ka8! 24.Be1 Nb8 25.Bb5
182
White’s bishop pair can operate strongly if some central pawns are exchanged, so he should focus on
that plan. On the other hand, Black cannot do much more than stay put and watch the procedures.
25...Kb7 26.Qc2
Also possible was 26.g4 fxg4 [26...f4?! 27.a3!±] 27.Qd1 a6 28.Ba4 b5 29.Bb3 Nd7 [29...g3 30.Qg4]
30.Qxg4 Nf6 31.Qg2 Qd7 32.Bg3 Bd6 33.Bh4 Be7 34.Rf1², but White is in no hurry!
26...a6 27.Be2 Qd7
It is time to fully open the centre for the bishop pair.
183
28.g4! fxg4
28...Rc8?! 29.Qxc8+ Qxc8 30.Rxc8 Kxc8 31.gxf5 exf5 32.Bd3+–
29.Bxg4 Bg5 30.Bg3!
30.Qc3 was also fine, but White found this nice tactical shot.
30...Nc6
30...Bxe3?! 31.Rf1! Rc8 32.Qd3 Bh6 33.a3! [33.Rf7? Rc1#] 33...Qe8 34.Rf7+ Nd7 35.Bh4!+–
31.Qf2 Bf6
184
32.Qf4!
The bishop pair finely cooperates with the heavy pieces, giving its owner a decisive long-term
advantage.
32...Rc8
32...Re8 33.a3 a5 34.Be2! Rc8 35.Bb5±
33.a3 a5 34.Bh3!
Preparing Qg4 and e4.
34...Ne7?!
Maybe a bit ‘better’ was 34...Nd8 35.Rxc8 Qxc8 36.e4! dxe4 37.Bg2!±
35.Rxc8 Qxc8 36.Qd6!
White wins!
36...Qc4 37.Qb8+ Ka6?!
Losing on the spot

37...Kc6 38.Qc7+ Kb5 39.Qxc4+! dxc4 [39...Kxc4 40.Kc2! Kb5 41.Bxe6+–] 40.Bxe6 Nxg6
185
41.Kc2! Bh4 42.Bh2 Nf8 43.Bf7 Nh7 44.Be8+ Ka6 45.a4 and White wins.
38.Bc7
Black resigned. The game might have concluded: 38.Bc7 Qd3+ [38...Qc6 39.Bf1+ b5 40.Bxb5+
Qxb5 41.Qa8#] 39.Ka1 Qd1+ 40.Ka2. An instructive example of the power of the bishop pair.
1-0
Game 35
Kramnik, Vladimir (2740)
Illescas Cordoba, Miguel (2635)
Dos Hermanas 1997
A rather blocked position, where the bishop pair shouldn’t be anything special...
22.Nb1!
With the idea of Nc3-a4 and d4, trying to put pressure on the weak b6-pawn. Actually, White is better
here only because his bishop pair is ‘supported’ by his knight. Just imagine this position without a
pair of knights. Because of the blocked, closed centre, the bishop pair advantage would be practically
irrelevant, and a draw would be a predictable result.
The alternative was 22.f4 Nc7 23.Kf2 d5²
22.Nb1! Bb7
186
22...Ne5 23.Bxe5!? [23.Bf1²] 23...dxe5 24.Nc3 Nd6 25.Na4 Nc8 26.Bh3 Kf8 [26...g5!?] 27.f4 exf4
28.gxf4± and White is better because the a8-bishop and the c8-knight are paralysed by their defence
of the b6-pawn.
23.f4 f6 24.Nc3 Kf7 25.Na4 Ke7
26.d4!
White expands his centre, focusing on opening up the position.
26...Kd8
If 26...Nc7 then 27.e5!? Bxg2 28.exd6+ Kxd6 29.Kxg2± cxd4?! 30.Ba3+ Nc5 31.Nxb6 e5 32.Na4
N7e6 33.f5+–
27.d5!
A bit ‘illogical’, but White feels that it is important to gain maximum space in the centre and render
Black’s pieces the utmost passive.
27...exd5
27...e5? 28.Bh3+–
28.exd5
187
28.cxd5!? Nc7 29.Nc3± was also good for White, with the idea of meeting 29...f5? with 30.e5 dxe5
31.d6+–
28...Nc7
28...Kc7 29.Bh3 Nf8 30.Kf2+–
29.Bh3 Na8 30.Be6 Nf8 31.f5 Bc8 32.Kf2
White’s pieces are dominating; it’s time to improve the king and to attack on the kingside, creating a
second weakness.
Also possible was 32.Nc3 Nc7 33.Ne4 Ne8 34.g4 Bd7 35.Bc1 Ke7 36.Bf4 g5 37.Bd2±
32...Bd7 33.g4 Ke7 34.g5
188
34.h4!? was more technical. After 34...Nxe6 35.fxe6 Be8 36.h5 h6 [36...g6 37.hxg6 hxg6 38.g5+–]
37.Bc1 Kf8 38.Bf4 Ke7 39.Kg3+–, with the idea that the knight goes to f5, and White is winning.
34...Nxe6!
34...Be8 35.gxf6+ gxf6 36.Nc3 Nd7 [36...Nxe6 37.dxe6+–] 37.Ne4 Ne5 38.Bxe5 dxe5 [38...fxe5
39.f6++–] 39.d6+ Kd8 40.Bd5+–
35.fxe6
35.dxe6!? Bc8 36.Kf3± is also good enough. The bishop pair advantage has been transformed into
the powerful, passed e6-pawn. We will stop the annotations here, as the rest of the game has nothing
to do with the bishop pair topic.
1-0
An excellent example of the the Gaining Space strategy can be observed in the following game. Jan
Timman slowly – but with a steady hand – delivered a blow to the then World Champion Anatoly
Karpov.
The latter chose a frequently-played variation of the Queen’s Indian Defence in which Black gives up
the bishop pair early, but gets a rather passive position:
Game 36
Timman, Jan H (2650)
Karpov, Anatoly (2700)
189
Netherlands 1999
Position after: 14...Rfb8
White has the bishop pair and a healthy position in general, so he should hold a small plus. The centre
is not open but not blocked either, so he has the possibility to try to get good bishop pair positions.
Meanwhile, Black’s position cannot be active, so he has to stay put and await White’s actions. But, of
course, Black is rather solid... The “elasticity” of White’s position is perfect here, so he should avoid
any immediate exchange(s) and seek to control more space and squares.
15.Nd2 Qd8
15...Ne4? 16.Nxe4 Bxe4 17.dxc5 Qg5 18.f3+– further restricting the b7-bishop and taking the centre
under control.
16.f3 Rxa1 17.Bxa1
An interesting strategic decision. White refrains from further exchanges. Keeping queens and a pair
of rooks on the board, he believes that control over the a-file is irrelevant and hopes to develop an
initiative in the centre.
17.Rxa1 Ra8 18.Rxa8 Qxa8 19.Qa3 Qxa3 20.Bxa3 Bc6²
17...Ra8
190
Position after: 17...Ra8
18.Bd3 Qc7
A) 18...cxd4 19.exd4 [19.Qxd4 Qc7=] 19...b5!? was an interesting idea, undermining the strength of
White’s pawn centre: 20.cxb5 Nd5 21.Qb3 Qg5 22.Ne4 Qe3+ 23.Kh1 Nxb4 24.Bc4 Qxb3
25.Bxb3²
B) 18...Ra4? 19.dxc5 dxc5 20.Bxh7+!+–
19.Bc2
191
19...Rc8?!
The text puts pressure on the c-file and forces White to clarify the pawn structure in the centre. But...
A) 19...e5 20.Bb2² or,
B) 19...cxd4 20.Qxd4 [20.exd4 b5 21.c5∞] 20...b5 21.Bb3², destabilising the centre, were probably
better continuations. With the game move, Black tries to keep the centre as closed as possible.
20.dxc5 dxc5
192
Position after: 20...dxc5
21.b5!
The pawn structure is now fixed on the queenside; that was Black’s main idea. However he has
neither active pieces, including the c8-rook, nor any active plan left. The bishop pair gives White a
prolonged initiative.
21...Ne8
With the idea of ...f6, blocking the a1-h8 diagonal.
22.Ne4 f6
193
23.Qd3!
White activates all his pieces, developing an initiative in the centre.
23...Bxe4
Practically forced.
If 23...Nf8 24.Nd6! Nxd6 [24...Rd8 25.Nxe8 Rxe8 26.Qd6± and Black is in trouble] 25.Qxd6 Qxd6
26.Rxd6 Ra8 27.Bc3
194
27...Ra2 [27...Ra3 28.Be1 Ra2 29.Bd3 Ra3 30.Bf1+–] 28.Bd3 Bc8 29.Bf1 Ra3 30.Be1±
24.Qxe4 Nf8
And now we have a case where the bishop pair will fight against the (poorly-placed) knight pair!
195
25.Qd3!
With the semi-open centre, White takes the only open central file under full control, and avoids rook
exchanges.
25...Kf7!?
25...Ra8 26.Bb2 Ra2 27.Ba3 Qa7 28.Bc1±
26.Bc3 Ke7
With the idea of ...Rd8. An exchange of rooks and (or) queens might allow Black to hold the position,
or at least ease his defence.
26...Ra8 27.Be1!±
27.Ra1!
Again avoiding exchanges; Black has no points of entry on the d-file anyway.
27...Rd8 28.Qe2 Nd6
28...e5 29.f4!± is a typical way to further open the position or create some weaknesses.
29.f4
196
Planning e4-e5, developing an initiative in the centre and on the kingside.
Of course 29.e4?! e5 is out of the question.
29...Kf7 30.e4 Nc8
30...Ng6 31.e5±.
31.e5!
White must open up the position in order to prove the dominant character of the bishop pair over the
knight pair.
31...f5
Keeping the centre closed is forced, but White gains more space, and starts an attack on the kingside.
The alternative was 31...Ne7 32.Qh5+ Neg6 33.exf6 gxf6 34.Rf1±
32.Qf3 Ne7 33.h3 Kg8 34.Kh2
34.g4?! Nfg6 35.Qg3 Rf8² would only decrease White’s advantage.
34...Nfg6 35.g3 Kf7
197
36.h4!
It’s time for decisive action. With this move, White plans h5 and g4, attacking Black’s king.
36...Kg8 37.h5 Nh8
Hoping to bring the knight to h6 and then g4, blocking the kingside. White has no time to lose.
37...Nf8 38.g4±
38.g4 Rf8?
A decisive mistake in a difficult position.

A) 38...fxg4 39.Qxg4 Qc8 40.Ra7 Re8 41.h6 Nhg6 42.Ra8! Qxa8 43.Qxe6+ Kh8 44.hxg7+ Kxg7
45.Qf6+ Kg8 46.e6+–,
B) 38...Nf7!? 39.gxf5 Nxf5 40.Bxf5 exf5 41.Kg2! [41.e6? Ng5 42.Qe3 Ne4 43.Rg1 Nxc3 44.h6 g6
45.e7 Ne4=] 41...Qe7 42.Be1!±
39.gxf5 Nxf5
Or 39...exf5 40.e6+–
40.Bxf5 Rxf5
198
Position after: 40...Rxf5
40...exf5 41.e6 Qe7 42.Qg2!+–
41.Ra8+
Finally, Black will lose knight and the game.
41...Rf8
41...Kf7 42.Rxh8+–
42.Rxf8+ Kxf8 43.Qa8+ Kf7 44.Qxh8 Qb7 45.h6!
Black resigned
45.h6 Qf3 46.Qxg7+ Ke8 47.Qg8+ Ke7 48.Qxh7+ Kd8 49.Qg8+ Kd7 50.Qf7+
1-0
Game 37
Stefanova, Antoaneta (2444)
Spain 1999
199
White has the bishop pair and a spatial advantage. But as the centre is closed, a lot of work remains to
be done.
15.a4!
The text avoids possible counterplay with ...b5.
15...g5?!
This pseudo-aggressive advance must be suspicious.

However, the former Women’s World Champion’s style at this time was obviously attacking.
16.f4!
A correct middlegame move, as now one of the white bishops will have a powerful life.
16...Ng4?
This attack does not work because of some tactical details.
200
Position after: 16...Ng4?
The defensive idea 16...Nf7 was necessary: 17.Qd2 Qe7 18.Nc3² and White keeps pressing.
17.fxe5! Qh5
17...Nxe3 18.Qd3 Nxf1 19.e6!+–
18.h3 Nxe5
201
The point is that if 18...Nxe3? 19.Qd3 [19.Qd4!? Qxe2 20.Rf2+–] 19...Nxf1 20.e6!+– White gets a
huge advantage.
19.Nd4!
Inviting a queen trade.
19...Qg6 20.Qc2
Exerting strong pressure on the f5-pawn.
20...Rf6 21.Rf2 Ndf7 22.Raf1 Nh6
Position after: 22...Nh6
23.g4! Raf8 24.Ne6!
Small tactics will lead to a clear plus for White.
24...Bxe6 25.dxe6 c6 26.c5!
A good breakthrough idea. Also strong was 26.b4±
26...bxc5 27.Bxe5 dxe5
202
Position after: 27...dxe5
28.gxf5?!
White, in time trouble, eventually missed the strong 28.Qc4+–, winning tactically.
28...Rxf5 29.e7! Rxf2! 30.exf8=Q+?!
Again an inaccuracy. The right move was 30.Rxf2! Re8 31.Qxc5 Nf7 32.Qb4+–, winning the
important pawn on b7.
30...Rxf8 31.Rxf8+ Kxf8
203
Position after: 31...Kxf8
32.Qxc5+?
The third bad move in a row.

White could still claim a plus after 32.Qxg6! hxg6 33.a5!±, threatening 34.Bxc6!. After 33...Ke7
34.Bxc6 Kd6 35.Bxb7 Kc7 36.Be4±, White would be on the right track.
32...Kg7?
After 32...Kf7! 33.Qxe5 Qb1+ 34.Kh2 Qf5= Black should be fine.
33.Qxe5+ Qf6
204
34.Qxf6+!
Turning the position into a technical bishop vs. knight ending with the better pawn structure.
34...Kxf6 35.a5!
Fixing the c6-b7 black queenside structure and preparing the field for the bishop.
35...Nf7 36.Bxc6!
The previous idea in action!
36...Nd6
205
36...bxc6 is not possible due to 37.a6 and the a-pawn promotes.
37.Bxb7!
The bishop has become mighty, dominating the knight!
37...Ke5
And it is also untouchable: 37...Nxb7 38.a6+–
38.a6 Nb5 39.Kf2
1-0
Game 38
Tzermiadianos, Andreas (2200)
Greece 1991
206
Position after: 28...Kh8
The centre is blocked, so the bishop pair shouldn’t be so ‘strong’. On the other hand, White enjoys a
good spatial advantage (thanks to the e5-pawn) and has dangerous plans, based on the b4-b5 and g4
advances. Black must stay passive, as the opening of the position wouldn’t be at all in his favour...
29.b4! Rg8 30.Bf1 Bf8 31.b5 cxb5 32.Bxb5!
32.axb5 is less accurate. After 32...Rxa2 33.Qxa2 g5 Black is not so badly placed.
32...g5
What else? Black cannot stay passive for ever...
33.Rc2 gxf4 34.gxf4 Qh4
207
Position after: 34...Qh4
With the idea of ...Nh6-g4+.
35.Rg2 Bh6
35...Nh6 36.Bf2! Qh5 37.Rxg8+ Kxg8 38.Bg3± is great for White, as he will penetrate on c7.
36.Qc1! Raf8 37.Rxg8+ Rxg8 38.Rg2!
By exchanging all the rooks, White stops any potential black counterplay. Black’s weaknesses (b7
and e6) are hard to protect in an endgame without heavy pieces.
38...Rg4 39.Qc8+
208
Position after: 39.Qc8+
39...Nd8?!
Maybe 39...Kg7 40.Qxe6 Bxf4+ 41.Bxf4 Rxg2+ 42.Kxg2 Qxf4 43.Qxd5± offers Black better
chances of survival.
40.Qd7! Bf8 41.Bd2
Or 41.Bf2 Rxg2+ 42.Kxg2 Qe7 43.Be1+–.
41...Rxg2+ 42.Kxg2 Kg8 43.Qe8!
With the lethal threat of Bb4.
43...Qe7 44.Ba5! Qxe8 45.Bxe8
Black is busted now, as he can hardly move anything and he will soon lose material.
209
Position after: 45.Bxe8
45...Be7 46.Kg3 Kf8 47.Bd7 Kf7 48.Bb6 h6 49.Bc7 Kg6 50.h4 h5 51.Be8+ Nf7 52.Bb6 Kg7
53.Bd7 Nd8 54.Bc7
54.Bxd8 Bxd8 55.Bxe6 Bb6 56.Bxf5 Bxd4 57.Be6 should also win, but White doesn’t have to go for
an opposite-coloured ending where the drawing chance will always loom...
54...Kf7 55.a5! Kf8 56.Bb6 Kf7
210
57.Bc8
Finally, White executes the winning idea, as in the previous example!
57...Ke8 58.Bxb7!
Black resigned
58.Bxb7 Nxb7 59.a6 and the a-pawn queens.
1-0
Game 39
Kamsky, Gata (2683)
Holt, Conrad (2530)
USA 2015
Position after: 16.Kb1
Despite arising from a slightly unusual opening, this position is pretty standard. White has the bishop
pair, but Black has an excellent pawn structure that controls it well.
16...Rhe8 17.Rc1 Nc5?!
This move looks artificial.

17...Kb8 looks like a non-committal, improving move, waiting to see White’s plans.
211
18.f4
A logical move, expanding and making Black think about g5.
18.c4 looks strong as well, with the idea that if 18...dxc4 then 19.d4! followed by taking on c4 and
White has opened up lines for the g2-bishop.
18...e5
Black has to try a central break, or else he’ll simply end up worse.
18...Be7 19.h4 Kb8 20.h5 and White is taking over the kingside.
19.g5 f5?!
It is understandable that Black wants to free his bishop, but this severely weakens his pawn structure.
19...Ne6 20.Qg4 Rh8 and while the bishop is awkward on h4, it can’t be won. White stands better
here, but it isn’t easy to prove anything yet.
20.gxf6 Bxf6 21.fxe5 Qxe5 22.Qg4+ Ne6
212
Black looks very active, but he has no real threats.
23.c3!
This move looks very passive, but it kills off all of Black’s play. The bishop on d2 is bad temporarily,
but can come into the game later.
23.d4 Qg5 24.Bf3 also looks promising for White, but here he has to worry about a knight landing on
e4.
23...Qf5 24.Qxf5 gxf5 25.h4
213
This ending is actually very dangerous for Black, despite the fact that White fixed Black’s pawn
structure a little bit. The f5-pawn is still a weakness, and the bishop pair is potentially very dangerous.
25...g6?!
The text allows White to penetrate with his rook.

25...Rh8 was a more stubborn defence, but after 26.h5 Rdf8 27.Rcf1 Black is still under pressure.
26.h5! gxh5 27.Rxh5
Despite the reduced material, Black will be hard pressed to defend here.
27...Ng7 28.Rh7 Rh8 29.Rch1 Rxh7 30.Rxh7 Kd7 31.Kc2 Ke7?!
The wrong approach.
214
Position after: 31...Ke7?!
31...Re8 32.Bh3 Kd6 would be a good choice of defensive set-up, keeping the king closer to the
queenside. Black is fairly immobilised, however, so White will have plenty of time to expand on the
queenside and improve his pieces.
32.e4!
White shows excellent understanding of the position. Despite the fact this leads to 3 vs. 3 pawns on
the same side, the bishop pair is extremely strong, and Black’s king will face serious problems.
32...dxe4 33.dxe4 fxe4 34.Bxe4 Kf7 35.a4
215
35...Kg8?!
It is understandable that Black wanted to free his knight, but his king will simply be too far away
from his pawns.
35...Re8 36.Bd3 Ke6 37.a5± was a better try.
36.Rh1 Ne6 37.Be3 a6 38.Bd3 Nc7
216
38...Kf7 39.Rh7+ Bg7 40.Bc4 Re8 41.a5±
39.Bb6
39.Rg1+ Kh8 40.Bc5± was even more accurate, but the idea is similar.
39...Rd7 40.Bf5 Re7
41.Bc8
Black’s queenside looks very tender, and it isn’t so easy to keep it defended.
41...Kg7 42.a5!
White fixes the pawns on the light squares

42.Bxb7? Nd5³
42...Nd5 43.Bc5 Rc7
43...Re2+ 44.Kc1 Bg5+ 45.Kb1 and Black’s activity has run out: 45...Bf6 46.Rg1+ Kf7 47.Rf1 Kg7
48.Rf2±
44.Bf5 Be5 45.Kd3
217
Although the material is reduced, Black’s pieces are running out of squares.
45...Nf6
46.Re1
46.Ke3! and Black has no moves, though this is far from an obvious zugzwang.
46...Nd7 47.Bf2 Bd6 48.Bd4+ Kf7 49.Kc4 Nf8 50.Bg4 Re7
50...c5 was likely necessary, but after 51.Rf1+ Kg6 52.Bf5+ the future looks grim.
51.Bh5+ Kg8 52.Rg1+ Kh7
218
53.Bg4
Black’s king is nearly mated; Bf5+ is a powerful threat.
53...Kg6 54.Bc8+ Kh5 55.Rg7
Black’s king survives, but his queenside won’t once the rooks are off. An impressive, one-sided
domination!
1-0
219
d) Unbalanced Pawn Structure
A fourth (main) category affects the handling of the bishop pair, and once more it has to do with
pawn structures. Unbalanced pawn structures can be found everywhere and the main question is –
which side does it favour?
The bishop pair, as it is powerful, is helped by having passed pawns, majorities (and minorities),
central activity and, of course, the initiative, in all phases of the game. But we must keep in mind that
these pawn structures favour tactics; so, we should proceed with much more care and alertness..
The unstable nature of the positions can offer more forceful, or even violent topics and themes, but on
the other hand the amount of counterplay for the ‘weaker side’ increases as well.
Passed Pawn
The bishop pair helps the advance of passed pawn(s), while it can easily stop the opponent’s passed
pawn(s). Nothing new under the sun, as its long range power must not be underestimated, especially
in (somewhat or partly) open centre positions.
Game 40
Dimitriadis, Konstantinos (2335)
Greece 1984
White has sacrificed a pawn, but his active and better-placed pieces give him decent compensation.
His position is more comfortable, as he is better developed, controls the open c-file and the f5-square,
and can prepare an attack against the black king.
220
23.Kg1!
Prophylaxis!
23...Bd4
Black need to exchange some pieces, so he should try 23...Ba6 24.Nf5 Bf8 [24...Bxd3 25.Qxd3 Bf8
26.h4©] 25.h4! Qf6 26.Bxa6 Nxa6 27.hxg5 hxg5 28.Qc6 Rd8 29.Qxa6 Qxf5 30.Qxa5²
24.Qd2!
An excellent move, stopping both 24...Rxe3 and 24...Bc5 (the latter due to 25.Rxc5), while
simultaneously threatening 25.Bh7+, or 25.Bb5. This is how White improves his position; with
‘clever’, simple and effective moves such as the text! Chess can be a simple game when we think in a
logical way...
24...Qf6
After 24...Bxe3 25.fxe3 Ba6 26.Bf5, the bishop pair and the weakness of the black king will tell in
the end.
25.Nc4
White regains the pawn while retaining his edge.
221
25...Bc5 26.Nxa5 Nd7?!
26...Ba6! was Black’s best try: 27.Bxa6 Nxa6 28.h3².
27.Nb3! h5
The only way to prevent further losses.
28.Bb5!
By means of a tactical sequence, White obtains two very significant positional advantages: the bishop
pair, and a passed d-pawn. Usually these pluses are enough for victory and indeed White’s position
after this sequence is clearly superior.
28...h4 29.Nxc5 dxc5
29...Nxc5 cannot save Black after 30.Bxe8 Nb3 31.Bxf7+! Kg7 32.Qc2 Nxc1 33.Bh5 hxg3
34.hxg3+–
30.Bc7!
222
Position after: 30.Bc7!
The position that White was aiming for.
30...h3!
Black seeks counterplay against the opponent king – a natural idea to fight against the bishop pair.
31.gxh3! Re4 32.Re1!
Exchanging Black’s dangerous-to-be pieces is always a good strategy.
32...Rxe1+
White wins in case of 32...Rd4? 33.Re8+ Nf8 34.Qe2 Bxh3 35.Be5!+–
33.Qxe1 Nf8 34.Qe5! Qg6!
223
Position after: 34...Qg6!
Neither does 34...Qxe5 35.Bxe5 Bxh3 36.Bf6! g4 37.Be7+– complicate White’s task. Black is
obliged to preserve the queens on board in order to seek complications.
35.Bd8?
A serious mistake. 35.Bf1± was simple.
35...Nh7?
Black could take advantage of White’s previous mistake with 35...Qb1+ 36.Kg2 Ng6 37.Qxg5 c4!∞
[Or 37...Qe4+∞]
36.Bf1?
224
Position after: 36.Bf1?
36.Kg2! Qh5 37.Qg3± was the correct follow up, but time-trouble can be cruel...
36...c4?
After this second consecutive mistake Black is left with no hope and the game was over without too
much trouble for White.
36...Qb1 37.Qe2 Bxh3 38.Qd3! Qxf1+ 39.Qxf1 Bxf1 40.Kxf1 Kf8 41.Bb6²
37.Ba5! c3 38.bxc3 b3
38...bxc3 39.Qe8+ Nf8 40.Bb4+–.
39.c4! f6 40.Qb8 Qe8
225
41.Qxb3 Bf5 42.c5 Kg7 43.c6 Kh6 44.Qc3 Qe4 45.d6 Be6 46.d7 Bd5 47.f3 Qe7 48.d8=Q Qa7+
49.Bb6
1-0
Game 41
Caruana, Fabiano (2775)
Dortmund 2012
226
Position after: 38.Ra8
White possesses the bishop pair and the passed e-pawn, and he is obviously putting on the pressure.
38...Nxe6?
This runs into a furious attack.

38...Kg6! 39.Bxc5 [39.Rxa7 Nxe6] 39...Bxc5 40.Rxa7 Kf5 and Black keeps practical drawing
chances in both cases.
38...Nxe6? 39.Bd3+! Kh6
227
40.h4
This weaves a mating net.

40.Be3+!? g5 41.Rg8 is even stronger: 41...h4 [41...Rg7? 42.Rh8+ Rh7 43.Rxh7#] 42.Rg6+ Kh5
43.Kh3+–
40...g6 41.Rh8+ Rh7 42.Rg8! Rg7
There is nothing else Black can do to postpone resignation.

A) 42...Nf8? 43.Be3+ Bf4 44.Bxf4+ g5 45.Bxg5#
B) 42...Nxd4? 43.Rxg6#
43.Bxg7+ Kh7
43...Nxg7? fails to 44.Rh8#
44.Re8 Nxg7
228
45.Re3
Black is completely lost as White’s attack increases in strength due to the opposite-coloured bishops.
45...Kh6 46.a4 Kh7 47.Kh3 Kh6 48.Bc2
229
48...Kh7
Or 48...Nf5 49.Bxf5 gxf5 50.Re8+–
49.g4 hxg4+ 50.Kxg4 Kh6 51.Re2 Bb4 52.Re5 Nh5?! 53.Re6
1-0
Game 42
Nakamura, Hikaru (2769)
Tata Steel 2013
Of course, Black holds the advantage due to the bishop pair; the passed e-pawn is for later!
52...Bc5+
Black wanted to provoke a weakening of White’s blockade on the light squares.
53.Kd3?
White cannot live with facing the bishop pair, but the aalternatives were also unappealing.
A) 53.Nxc5 bxc5 54.Rf2 Rb8 55.Bd1µ
B) 53.Ke2 Rf4 54.Nxc5 bxc5 55.Rc1 Rd4 56.Rc3µ In both cases Black’s initiative is still annoying.
230
53...Rd8+ 54.Kc2?!
Staying in the pin runs into an amazing refutation.
Position after: 54.Kc2?!
54.Ke2 does not save White in the long run due to 54...Rd4 55.Nxc5 bxc5 56.Rc1 Rd3 57.Bh5 Bf5
58.Bg4 Rxb3–+
54...g4!
A mighty tactical blow, which opens the gates of White’s castle.
55.hxg4 h3 56.Rd1
56.gxh3 Rf8 57.Kd3 Rf4 and White loses a piece due to the pins: 58.h4 Bxe4+ 59.Bxe4 Rxf1–+
56...Rf8?!
A slight slip.
231
Position after: 56...Rf8?!
56...h2! 57.g3 Rh8 58.Kd2 Bxe4 59.Bxe4 Rh3–+ was even more precise, as Black’s rook would have
been more active.
57.Kd3?
57.Kc3 was forced, but it is unlikely that White can survive after 57...Bxe4 58.Bxe4 h2 59.g3 Rf2
60.Kd3 [60.g5 Bb4+ 61.Kd4 Rb2 62.Ke5 Rxb3 63.c5 bxc5 64.Bc6 Re3+ 65.Kf4 Re2–+] 60...Rb2
232
Position after: 60...Rb2
61.Rd2 Rxb3+ 62.Kc2 Ra3 63.Kb2 Rxa4 64.Rxh2 Rxc4 65.Re2 Kf6–+
57...h2
An alternative win can be found in 57...Rf4 58.Re1 Bxe4+ 59.Bxe4 Rxe4 60.Kxe4 hxg2–+
58.Rh1 Bg1 59.Ke2
59...Bxe4!
The advantage of the extra option to exchange one of the bishops at the right moment... Without the
knight, White’s blockade crumbles immediately, because all the dark squares in his camp are fatally
weak.
60.Bxe4 Kf6 61.Bf3 Rd8
White resigned in view of 61...Rd8 62.Be4 Kg5 63.Bf3 Kf4 64.g5 Kxg5 65.g3 Rf8 66.g4 Kf4
67.Bb7 Kxg4 68.Be4 Kg3 69.Bb7 Rf2+ 70.Ke1 e5–+
0-1
Game 43
Gligoric, Svetozar (2565)
Jamieson, Robert Murray (2420)
233
Olympiad 1978
White’s bishop pair looks like a good asset, but it cannot win alone! Activity on the queenside is
required. Note that in this position the passed black e-pawn is going nowhere, so it cannot be
considered as a plus.
30.b5!
A well-timed advance, which undoubles White’s queenside pawns.
30...Nxc5
Worse is 30...cxb5? 31.Rxb5 Rd7 32.Rb6++–
31.bxc6 b6 32.Ra7!
Accurate and strong.

32.Rb5? is bad on account of 32...Rc8 33.Rxb6 Na4=
32...g5 33.Bb4
234
33...Kd6!
Black again defends well.

33...Rc8? is a lost cause after 34.g4! Bg6 35.Bxc5 bxc5 36.Bf3 e4 37.Bxe4 Bxe4 38.Kxe4 Rxc6
39.Rxh7+–
34.Rf7 Bg6 35.Rf6+ Kc7
35...Ke7? 36.c7 Rc8 37.Rxb6 Rxc7 38.Rb5 Kd6 39.h4 gxh4 40.gxh4+– Although Black is really
suffering, he is doing his best in a position that refuses to help him...
36.Bc3 Re8 37.Bf3 e4
37...Re7 38.Bd5+–
38.Bg4 Re7
235
39.Bd4?!
After 39.h4! gxh4 40.gxh4 Be8 41.Rh6 Bxc6 42.Bf5±, it would be difficult for Black to defend.
39...Nb3! 40.Bc3 Nc5?!
40...Na5 41.Be6 Nxc6 42.Bd5 Be8 43.h3 Even a pawn up it’s tough!
41.h4!
Back to business!
41...gxh4 42.gxh4 Be8
236
42...Rf7?! 43.Be5++–
43.Rh6! Bxc6 44.Bf5
The black h-pawn will be lost, making White’s h-pawn a real force.
44...Be8 45.Bf6! Rf7 46.Bxh7! Rd7
237
47.Be5+! Kb7 48.Bd4 Re7 49.h5
49.Bxc5 bxc5 50.Bxe4+ Kc7 51.Kf4 wins as well.
49...Bc6 50.Bg8! Kc7
51.Rh7!
Without rooks on the board, Black can find neither counterplay nor defensive ideas.
51...Rxh7 52.Bxh7 Ne6 53.h6 Nf8 54.Bf5 Be8 55.Bg7! Bg6 56.Kxe4
1-0
Game 44
Sandipan, Chanda (2446)
Vladimirov, Yevgeniy (2598)
Penta Media 2000
238
Position after: 44.Nxb1
The position might be somewhat misleading, as it looks as though White stands well, as he possesses
a well-protected, passed pawn. But the truth is that Black’s bishop pair and his generally better-placed
pieces will tell in the end – and by the way, the white d-pawn goes nowhere!
44...Nb3! 45.Nac3 Bb4 46.Kf1 Kd6
The black king will play an important role in the battle, so takes up his position.
47.Ke2 Kc5
47...Nd4+ 48.Kd1 Kc5 49.Kc1 Nxc2 50.Kxc2 Kd4µ is also good.
48.Kd1 Bc8
239
Black is preparing ...f5 and White has run out of useful moves and any active plan... the white knights
in particular tell a sad and bitter story.
49.Bxb3
49.Nb5 Bd7 50.N1c3 Bxc3 51.Nxc3 Kb4 52.Bxb3 cxb3 53.Kd2 f5 54.f3 Kc4 and the penetration of
the black king decides. White cannot do much about it...
49...cxb3 50.Kc1 Ba6 51.Kb2 Bf1 52.g3 Bxh3 53.Nd2 Bg2! 54.Kxb3
54.Nxb3+ Kc4 55.Nd1 Kd3–+
54...Kd4
240
Position after: 54...Kd4
Black’s king has become too active and White is lost.
55.Nb5+ Kd3 56.Nc4 Kxe4 57.d6 Bh3!
White’s counterplay with the d-pawn came too late.
58.Nb6
Tactics help the bishop pair: 58.g4 Bxg4 59.Nc3+ Kd4 60.Nb5+ Kc5 61.Nxe5 Be6+ 62.Kb2 Kd5
63.d7 Be7–+
58...Be6+! 59.Kc2 Bc5 60.Na8 Bxf2 61.Nac7 Bf5
0-1
Majorities & Minorities
As usual, the pawn structure is the great secret to the bishop pair. With an uneven pawn structure,
where majorities and minorities exist or are created, the bishop pair can show some real strength!
And this is because the bishop pair can assist a mobile pawn structure (which can result in a passed
pawn) or stop the opponent’s majority from afar.
Game 45
Kasparov, Garry (2710)
Smyslov, Vassily V (2600)
FIDE-Wch 1984
241
Position after: 22...Rae8
The bishop pair and the white kingside pawn majority secure a huge advantage for White.
Furthermore, Black has been deprived of any active play.
23.Rb2! Bc8 24.Rbd2 Rd7
The continuation 24...h5 25.Bd6 Rd7 26.Bc4± seems rather pathetic.
25.Rxd7 Nxd7 26.g4!
As per William Steinitz’s basic principle: Restriction!
26...Nc5?!
26...h6 is a must, as the defending side should try to exchange as many pawns as he can: 27.h4 Nc5
28.Be3 Nb3 29.Bb6±
27.Be3 Nd7
Black is close to resigning after 27...Ne6 28.f4 Rd8 29.f5 Rxd1 30.Bxd1 Nc7 31.a4! Ne8 32.Bb3 Nf6
33.Kf3 Nd7 34.Kf4 Kf8 35.e5+–; the bishop pair dominates!
28.g5! Ne5
242
28...Re5 29.f4! Re8 [29...Rxa5? 30.Bg4+–; 29...Rxe4? 30.Bg4 Re7 31.Bc5+–] 30.h4± While the white
pawn majority is mobile, Black’s can hardly move...
29.Bd4
• 29.Kg3?! Be6 reduces White’s advantage, but even better seems is:
• 29.h4 Be6 30.Rb1 Bc8 31.f4+–
29...Ng6 30.Kg3 Nf8 31.h4 Rd8 32.f4 Be6
243
33.Bc3!
33.f5?! is inaccurate: 33...Bb3 34.Rd2 c5! 35.Bc3 Rxd2 36.Bxd2 Nd7 37.Kf4 f6! 38.Bc3±
33...Rxd1 34.Bxd1 Nd7
34...g6 35.Bc2 and f5 is coming anyway.
35.f5 Bc4
Finally, a plain minor pieces ending is on the cards.
244
36.h5! h6
Unfortunately for Black, he cannot continue with 36...f6 due to 37.h6!+–
37.gxh6 gxh6
Now another weakness has been created on h6.
38.e5 Nc5 39.Kf4 Bd5 40.Bc2 f6
40...Nb3 loses to 41.e6! fxe6 42.f6!+–
41.e6! Kg7 42.Bb4
Easier is 42.Bd4 Nb3 43.e7 Kf7 44.Bxf6 Nxa5 45.Bc3 Nc4 46.f6+–
42...Nb3 43.Ke3
245
43...c5
43...Bc4 is the alternative defence, but it cannot save Black anyway: 44.Bc3 Bd5 45.Be4! Bc4
[45...Nc5 46.Bxd5 cxd5 47.Kd4 Ne4 48.Bb4 Ng3 49.Kxd5 Nxf5 50.Kc5 Ng3 51.Kb6 Nxh5
52.Kxb7 Nf4 53.Kxa6 Nxe6 54.Kb6+–] 46.Bf3 Nc1 47.e7 Bf7 48.Bd1+– Zugzwang.
44.Bc3 Kf8
The game was adjourned, with Vasily Smyslov writing his 44th move on his scoresheet and sealing it
in the referee’s envelope. However, overnight analysis convinced the former FIDE World Champion
that further play was useless against Kasparov’s bishop pair and great positional advantage, so he
gave up without resuming play. The following continuations are clear:
A) 44...Nc1 45.Ba4+–
B) 44...c4 45.Be4 Bc6 46.Bxc6 bxc6 47.Ke4+–
C) 44...Kf8 45.Bxb3 Bxb3 46.Bxf6 Bd1 47.Kf4 Bxh5 48.Bc3 c4 49.Ke5 Ke7 50.f6+ Ke8 51.Bb4
Bg6 52.Kf4 Bh5 53.Kf5+– A clear-cut, high-level example on the bishop pair theme.
1-0
Game 46
Khalifman, Alexander (2530)
Piket, Jeroen (2495)
Groningen 1988
246
White has the bishop pair and a semi-open b-file to play with, but Black’s position seems to be quite
solid. Most of the ‘great’ examples on the bishop pair are concerned only with the final steps; here we
will see how to create the pre-conditions to benefit from the bishop pair.
22.e4!
There is no doubt that White must not allow ...e4, after which Black would have chances of an attack
on the kingside.
22...Kh8 23.Rfe1
Now Black has to solve the situation in the centre, as e5-pawn is under attack.
23...dxe4
After 23...d4, White would gradually break down the black position by means of a combination of
pressure along the b-file and preparing for f4.
24.dxe4 Rd7
247
25.Rbd1
From White’s point of view it would be good to exchange both pairs of rooks (less counterplay for his
opponent!), but this is not yet possible.
25...Rfd8 26.Rxd7 Rxd7 27.h3 Qe6 28.Kh2
There is no harm in such moves – Black has no counterplay, so White can afford these
improvements!
28...Rd8
248
29.Ba1
Time-trouble can also produce such meaningless moves. White’s true plan should be to transfer his
bishop to e3.
29.f3! is correct, when the white queen is relieved from the defence of the e4-pawn, so eventually the
rooks can be exchanged. But is the exchange of rooks so important? The answer is yes – as White
will ‘weaken’ his king by playing f4, so any form of counterplay should be deterred!
29...Qe7 30.Bb2 Rd7 31.Re2 Bg6 32.f3!
Finally, White finds the correct path!
32...Nh5 33.Bc1 Nf6 34.Be3 Nd5 35.Bd2
Simpler again was 35.Bg1 immediately, followed by Rd2.
35...Nc7 36.Be3
249
36...Nb5
If Black were to maneuver his knight to d4, his position would be tenable, but he lacks a tempo.
37.Rd2! Bf7
37...Nd4 38.Qc3 and 39.f4, would be strong.
38.Qd1 Rxd2 39.Qxd2 Bc4 40.f4!
The exchange of the central pawns is profitable for White – his bishops will gain in strength.
40...exf4
Unfortunately for Black he can choose only from unpleasant continuations: 40...Qf6 41.f5 [Also good
is 41.fxe5 Qxe5 42.Qd7 Qc7 43.Qe8+ Bg8 44.Bf4±] 41...Nd4 42.Bxd4 exd4 43.Qf4 Bb3! 44.e5
Qg5 45.Qxg5 hxg5 46.Be4 Bc4 47.Bc2!± (47...Be2? 48.Bb3! d3 49.e6+–).
41.gxf4 Bf7
250
The material balance is equal, but White is practically a passed pawn to the good in the centre – just
compare the e4-pawn with the b7-pawn. The plan now is simple: Bf2-g3 and Qe3, followed by
mobilising the e- and f-pawns.
42.Bf2 Qf6 43.Qe3 Qb2 44.f5! Nc3
251
45.Qd4!
Now Black is (practically) forced to swap queens and go into a hopeless endgame, in view of the
threatened f6.
45...Nd1
45...Qa2 loses to 46.Be3 Nb5 47.Qd7.
46.Qxb2
Even better seems to be 46.Bg1 Bh5 47.e5+–, but White had a definite plan in his head, so just goes
for that...
46...Nxb2 47.Kg3 Kg8 48.Bd4 Nc4
More tenacious was 48...Nd3, but after 49.e5 Bd5 50.e6, followed by Bf3 and Kf4, this is losing as
well.
49.Bc3 g6
50.fxg6! Bxg6 51.Bf3! Kf7
Now Black cannot transfer his bishop to e6: 51...Bf7 52.Bg4!+–
52.Kf4 Ke7 53.Bg4 Kd8 54.Be6 Na3 55.Bf6+ Kc7 56.Bg7!
252
The bishops fully dominate!
56...h5
57.Bf5!
It is time to reap the harvest.
57...Bxf5
There is no longer hope of salvation: 57...Be8 58.e5 Kd8 59.Bf6+ Kc7 60.e6 Nc4 61.e7+– Nxa5?
62.Be5#
58.exf5 Kd7 59.Kg5 Nc4 60.Kxh5
1-0
Game 47
Hristodoulou, Panagiotis (2092)
Games Festival 2008
253
Position after: 16.Rfe1
A theoretical position has arisen. White did not feel obliged to fight for an opening advantage, so
Black had little trouble in equalising.
16...h6!?
A fine novelty.
16...Be8 17.Nd4 Nd5 18.Qe4 g6 19.Bxe7 Qxe7 20.Bc4 Qc7= Gonzalez Pruneda, A – Iglesias, J
Andorra 2002.
16...h6!? 17.Bh4 Qf4 18.Bg3 Qa4
Black is using his queen all over the board, in order to create trouble for White!
19.Bb1
254
Interesting was 19.Nd4!? Rac8 [19...Qxa2? 20.Bc4 Qa5 21.Nxe6 Bxe6 22.Bxe6 Rxd1 23.Bxf7+
Kxf7 24.Qxe7+ Kg6 25.Rxd1±] 20.Be5 Qa5∞
19...Bb5! 20.Qc2 Bc4 21.Be5
Also possible was 21.Nd4 Qxc2 22.Nxc2 Bd3=
21...Rxd1 22.Rxd1 Rd8 23.Rxd8+
23.Bxf6?! would just play into Black’s hands: 23...Rxd1+ 24.Qxd1 Bxf6³
23...Bxd8 24.Nd4?
255
Position after: 24.Nd4?
24.Qd2 Be7 25.Bd6 Kf8 maintains the balance.
24...Qa5! 25.Bxf6
White was forced to give up the bishop pair.

25.Qd2 Qxe5 26.Nc6 Qd5 27.Qxd5 Bxd5 28.Nxd8 b6µ
25...Bxf6 26.Qh7+ Kf8 27.Qh8+ Ke7 28.Qc8 Bd5
256
Black’s bishop pair dominates the board.
29.Nb3
29.Nc2 Be4 30.Qc4 Qe5µ
29...Qb6! 30.Qc5+?!
White should try to keep the queens on the board in order to create some trouble (counterplay) for the
black king. This is an obligation for the side that tries to defend against a strong bishop pair.
A) 30.Nc5 Bc6!µ
B) 30.Bd3 Be5 31.g3 g5µ
30...Qxc5 31.Nxc5 b6 32.Ne4 Be5 33.g3
257
33...g5!
Now Black’s bishop pair is excellently-placed in the centre and his kingside pawn majority will start
to roll.
34.Kf1 f5 35.Nd2 g4
Planning ...h5-h4, weakening White’s kingside.
36.Ke2 h5 37.c4
Maybe White should try 37.f4 gxf3+ 38.Nxf3 Bd6µ, but he would still have to defend a rather
unpleasant position, with limited survival chances.
37...Bb7 38.b4
38.b3 Bd6 39.Bc2 Kf6 40.f4 h4 leaves White with no reason to smile.
38...Bc3! 39.b5 Bd4 40.Nb3 Bf3+ 41.Kf1 Bc3 42.c5?!
Although White’s position is beyond repair, the text make things easier for Black, as White is losing
material.
258
Position after: 42.c5?!
42.Bd3 Kd6 43.Bc2 Ke5 44.Bd3 Bb4 45.Bc2 Be7 46.Ke1 h4 and Black will prevail anyway. But
nevertheless, White is obliged to be stubborn!
42...Bd5! 43.cxb6 Bc4+ 44.Kg1 axb6 45.Nc1 Bxb5 46.Bd3 Bc6
There is no need to exchange the bishop pair!
47.Ne2 Be5 48.Kf1 h4 49.Ke1 h3 50.Kd2 Bd6 51.Ke1 Kf6
0-1
Game 48
Adams, Michael (2704)
Martinovic, Sasa (2509)
ECU-Ch 2010
259
White’s advantage rests on his bishop pair and his mobile queenside majority.
23.Bd4!
Although White would be better after the rook exchange, Black’s king would come to defend his
queenside. Having a pawn majority on the queenside and the bishop pair to support an attack there,
White deprives his opponent of any defensive chances.
23...Bc6
23...f6?! 24.c5 is decisive: 24...e5 25.Be3 Rxd1 26.Bxd1 bxc5 27.Bxc5++–.
24.a5
260
24...Rb8?
A mistake in a very difficult position.

Better was 24...bxa5 25.Bc5+ [25.Bxa7 Rxd1 26.Bxd1 Nd6 27.Bd4 f6 28.Bc2±] 25...Nd6 26.Bxa7
[26.Ra1 a4 27.b4 a6 28.b5 axb5 29.cxb5 Bd5 30.Rxa4±] 26...Nb7 27.Bd3±
25.b4! f6 26.b5 Bd7 27.c5!
Black can no longer hold his queenside together.
1-0
Game 49
Vaganian, Rafael A (2585)
Dvoirys, Semen I (2520)
USSR 1989
It seems that Black’s strong centre and his centralised king fully compensate for White’s bishop pair.
261
20.Bf4+!
A nice way to increase White’s advantage. The dark-squared bishop helps out his light-squared
colleague. The black e-pawn is forced forward and a new diagonal is opened for the hitherto blunted
bishop on g2. The rest proceeds rather like clockwork.
20...e5
20...Ke7 21.Be3! [21.Bc7 Rdc8 22.Bxb6 Rxa4! 23.Be3²] 21...Nd7 22.Rc7±
21.Bd2!
262
Position after: 21.Bd2!
21...e4
A) The domination of the bishop pair can be seen after 21...Ke7 22.Bc3!+–
B) 21...Rdc8 22.Bb4+ Kd7 23.Bh3++–
22.Bf4+
22.Bh3! seems to be even stronger.
22...Ke7 23.Rc7+ Rd7 24.Bh3 Rxc7 25.Bxc7 Nd7 26.Bxd7 Kxd7
263
Position after: 26...Kxd7
27.Bxb6
The opposite-coloured bishops spell no special technical problems with those fearsome passed pawns
in tow.
27...Rc8 28.Bd4 Rc4 29.e3 Rb4 30.Bc3 Rb3 31.Bxg7 Bc8
264
32.a5 Bb7 33.a6
Planning Ra5, Bd4 and b6.
33...Ba8 34.Ra5 d4 35.Bxd4 Bd5 36.b6 Rb1+ 37.Kg2 Bc4 38.g4
1-0
Game 50
Topalov, Veselin (2700)
Gelfand, Boris (2700)
Dos Hermanas 1996
Position after: 19...Rab8
In this line of the ‘Slav Defence’, Black surrenders the bishop pair to White and also has the worse
pawn structure. In general, I cannot find any positives in this choice, so I can only suggest its
avoidance.
20.g3 h5
This creates a weakness without offering anything in return.

20...a5 is preferable.
21.Rd4!
21.Rxd8 Rxd8 22.Rd1 also seems excellent for White.
265
21...Ba5
With handsight, Black should prefer 21...Rxd4 22.Bxd4 a5 23.Rd1±
22.Ba3+ Ke8
22...Bb4 doesn’t change much: 23.Rxd8 Kxd8 24.Bb2±
23.Rad1 Rxd4 24.Rxd4 Rb1
24...Rd8 25.Rxd8+ Bxd8 26.f4, is more ‘logical’ but Black’s desire to create some threats, or just
activate his rook, is understandable.
25.Bd3! Re1+ 26.Kf2
266
26...Kf7
26...Nd5 27.Bc5! Ra1 28.Bxa7 Ra2+ 29.Kg1 Nc3 30.Bg6+ Ke7 31.Bc5+ Kf6 32.Rd6++–
27.Bc5 Ra1 28.Bc4+ Ke8
267
29.Bd3
White must repeat moves as 29.Bxa7? Bc3 30.Rd3 Rxa4= loses the advantage.
29...Kf7 30.Bxa7 Ra2+
30...Nd5 is losing anyway (see notes above) so Black tries something else.
31.Kg1 Ra1+ 32.Kg2 Ra2+ 33.Kh3 Ra3 34.f4 Be1 35.Bc5 Rc3
Position after: 35...Rc3
36.Bc4+
White wins; the bishop pair dominates.
36...Ke8 37.Bb4 Rc1 38.Bxe1 Rxe1 39.a5 Ra1 40.a6 Ke7 41.Rd2!
Black resigned as Ra2 will be decisive.
1-0
Other Cases
If we were to analyse the various possibilities and position types revolving around the bishop pair, we
would come to no end.
But, we have to remember that flexibility, elasticity and open centre positions in general, favour the
268
bishop pair!
Game 51
Braun, Arik (2536)
Corus 2008
Position after: 18.Bd2
White has the bishop pair and a strong attack against the weak black king.
18...Qb6 19.h5 Re8
19...Qxb2?! 20.Rhb1+–
20.Bb4 a6 21.Rag1!
Preparing the final attack on the black king.
21...Rg8
21...g6 loses in spectacular fashion to 22.hxg6+ hxg6 23.Bxe6+ Rxe6 24.Rxh8 Rxe3+ 25.fxe3 gxf5
26.Rxf8+ Ke6 27.Rg6+–
22.Rg3!
An instructive moment: White doesn’t go for just a mere pawn after 22.Bxf8? Qxb2+ 23.Kf3 Rgxf8
24.Rb1 Qc3 25.Rxb7+ Kg8 26.Bxe6+ Kh8 27.Kg2±, Black more or less holds. Instead he is
269
preparing for the real feast!
22...Qd8 23.Rhg1 Qb6
Position after: 23...Qb6
A) Black is short of moves: 23...h6? 24.Qg6+! Nxg6 25.hxg6#

B) 23...g6 24.hxg6+ hxg6 25.Qe4 g5 26.f4!+–
24.h6!
Black resigned as there is no defence.

24.h6 Ng6 [24...g6 25.Qxf6+! Kxf6 26.Rf3#; 24...g5 25.Bxf8 Qxb2+ 26.Kf3 Rgxf8 27.Qxh7+ Bg7
28.Qxg7#] 25.Rxg6 hxg6 26.Qxg6#
1-0
Game 52
Bellia, Fabrizio (2265)
Vinkovci 1989
270
Position after: 20.cxd3
Black has repulsed White’s aggression while also catering for the future by obtaining the bishop pair.
20...Bd7?!
20...b4 21.Nce2 Rf7∞, would be correct and fine.
20...Bd7?! 21.a3?!
Here White missed an interesting chance with 21.f5!? b4! 22.fxe6 bxc3 23.Nf5! [23.exd7? cxb2µ]
23...Rxf5 24.exf5 cxb2 25.Rf1 Bf6 26.fxg6 Nxg6
271
27.Rxg6+ [27.exd7?! Qxd7³] 27...hxg6 28.Qxg6+ Bg7 29.Qf7+ Kh8 30.exd7 Rd8=
21...Rf7 22.Rc1 Qd8 23.Nce2?!
White should have chosen instead 23.Nf3!, intending 24.d4.
23...Bf6! 24.Rg2 Bg7 25.Qg5
272
Position after: 25.Qg5
25...e5!
The bishop pair needs central clarification!
26.Nc6
Black obtains complete control over the position after 26.Qxd8?! Rxd8 27.Nc6 Rc8! 28.Nb4 Rxc1+
29.Bxc1 exf4µ
26...Qe8! 27.Nb4 Ne6 28.Qg3 exf4 29.Nxf4 Be5 30.Nbd5 Rc8! 31.Rf1
31.Rxc8? Qxc8 32.Nb6 Qc6 33.Nxd7 Qxd7 34.Rf2 g5! is just winning for Black.
31...Bc6
White has been driven into various pins, as the bishop pair sets itself in motion...
32.Qe1?!
White should have played 32.Qh3 Nxf4 33.Nxf4 Qd7³
32...Nxf4 33.Nxf4 Qe7!
The position slowly clarifies in Black’s favour. His bishop pair keeps all of White’s possible plans in
273
check.
34.Nh5 Rxf1+ 35.Qxf1 Rf8 36.Qe2
Position after: 36.Qe2
36...Bd7!
With various threats, including ...Bh3!
37.d4?!
White’s final mistake, fatally weakening the e4-pawn. He had to sit tight with 37.Ng3.
37...Bh8 38.Ng3 Bg7 39.Rf2 Rc8 40.Qd3
274
Position after: 40.Qd3
40...Qe6! 41.Ne2?!
Although ultimately insufficient to change the result of the game, 41.Rc2 would have put up greater
resistance: 41...Rxc2 42.Qxc2 h5!
41...Re8!
41...Qc4!? was also adequate: 42.Qxc4+ Rxc4 43.Bf4 Bh3!µ
42.Ng3
275
White no llonger has a defence. For example: 42.Nc3 a5 43.b4 [43.Nxb5 Qxe4–+] 43...axb4 44.axb4
Rc8! 45.Nxb5 Bxb5 46.Qxb5 Qxe4–+
42...Bc6!
42...Bc6 43.Rf4 [43.d5 Bxd5–+] 43...g5 44.Rf5 Bxe4 45.Qxe4 Qxe4 46.Nxe4 Rxe4 47.Bxg5 Bxd4+–
+
0-1
Game 53
Lutz, Christopher (2600)
Morozevich, Alexander (2625)
Olympiad 1998
276
This is a more-or-less equal position, although White should not feel too happy about his b2-knight.
Maybe this is what struck Morozevich...
20...Ne4!
Black strives to open the position for his long range bishops, in the ideal case together with the
weakening of White’s kingside.
21.Bxe4 dxe4 22.Be3?!
A) 22.Be5?! Bxe5 23.fxe5 Bb7 24.Rxf8+ Rxf8 25.Nd1
277
Position after: 25.Nd1
A1) 25...e3!? 26.Qxe3 Qf7 [26...Qc6 27.Ra2²] 27.Nf2 Qg6 28.Qg3 Qc2 29.h4 Rf7©
A2) 25...Qxe5 26.Ne3 Qc7! 27.Re1 Rd8µ
B) 22.g3! Bb7
B1) 23.Qe2? e3! 24.Qxe3 e5! 25.fxe5 [25.Bxe5 Bxe5 26.Qxe5 Qc6–+] 25...Qc6–+
B2) 23.Nd1! e5 24.fxe5 Rxf1+ 25.Kxf1 Bxe5 26.Ne3∞
22...Bb7
278
23.c4
White’s defence was based on the text move. If 23.Ra7 Rfd8 24.Rd1 g5!³
23...g5!
Position after: 23...g5!
279
An extremely strong move. It’s rather difficult to find a sufficient defence.
24.cxb5?
Losing by force.
A) 24.c5? Bxf4 25.g3 Bxg3! 26.hxg3 Qxg3+ 27.Kh1 Rf3 28.Rg1 Qh3+ 29.Qh2 Rxe3 30.Rxg5+
Kh8–+
B) 24.fxg5? Bxh2+ 25.Kh1
Position after: 25.Kh1
25...Be5 26.cxb5 [26.Bd4?! Qd7 27.Rxf8+ Rxf8 28.Rd1 Rd8–+] 26...Qg7 27.Rxf8+ Rxf8 28.Rb1
Qg6! 29.Qe2 Rf3! 30.Kg1 Qh5 31.gxf3 exf3 32.Qd3 Bd5–+
C) 24.g3! (The only valid answer) 24...gxf4
C1) 25.gxf4 Rf6 26.cxb5 [26.c5 Rg6+ 27.Kh1 Be7³] 26...Bd5 27.Na4! Rxb5 28.Nc5 Rg6+ 29.Kh1
Qf7³
C2) 25.Bxf4! Bxf4 26.Rxf4 Rxf4 27.Qxf4 Qxf4 28.gxf4 bxc4 29.Nxc4 Bd5 30.Ne3 Rxb4³, when
White keeps fair chances for the draw, due to the reduced material.
24...gxf4! 25.b6
280
This was White’s defence – or at least this is what he had thought it to be!
25...fxe3!
A small combination which immediately decides the game. White’s tactical solution fails, as
suddenly the black pawns will roam around promotion squares.
26.bxc7 Rxf1+ 27.Rxf1
27.Kxf1 Rf8+–+
27...exd2 28.cxb8=Q+
281
Position after: 28.cxb8=Q+
28...Bxb8
White is helpless against the two black pawns, which simply advance with some help from the bishop
pair!
29.Nd1
A) 29.Kf2 Ba7+ 30.Ke2 Ba6+–+

B) 29.Nc4 Ba7+ 30.Kh1 e3–+
29...Ba7+ 30.Rf2 Ba6!
And White resigned as he has no response to Black’s threat of ...e3-e2.
0-1
282
Chapter 2
Bishop Pair Versus Knight Pair
Chapter Guide
a) Superior Bishop Pair versus Knight Pair

b) Superior Knight Pair Versus Bishop Pair
If the question is specifically on the pair, then yes a bishop pair is generally superior to a knight pair.
The reason is that the bishops have synergy, while the knights are often redundant.
Think of it this way: the bishop weakness (being only on one colour) goes away if you have a pair of
them. The knight weakness (being short-ranged) remains. Well, the synergy of the bishop pair is
weakened in closed positions and the knight’s weakness of being short-ranged is nullified in closed
positions. And the reverse is true in open positions!
So, the bishop pair working together on an open board is just crushing. But if not, the knight pair is
superior.
Chess is a team game...
a) Superior Bishop Pair versus Knight Pair
With all other strategic elements being equal, the bishop pair is generally superior to a knight pair.
However, all things are very rarely equal, and taking maximum advantage of the positional
imbalances is a cornerstone of any good chess strategy.
The problem with the knight pair is that it is hard to coordinate together, and therefore it rarely works
in harmony as easily as the bishop pair does. Wilhelm Steinitz formed a kind of rule: When playing
against knights, take away their advanced outposts.
So, if you look at the clean case of having an endgame with the bishop pair vs. the knight pair, then in
the majority of cases, the bishop pair is stronger. Yet, this depends primarily on the pawn structure
and the number of pawns still on the board.
The strengths of the bishop pair is its ability to quickly switch flanks, and to control both flanks at
once, as well as to create new weaknesses and open up the opponent’s position like a tin can!
Game 54
Lasker, Emanuel
Steinitz, William
Wch 1894
283
Lasker didn’t get anything serious out of the opening – on the contrary Black stands quite OK – but
now he plans c4 and Nc3-d5 with even chances.
18...c4!
An excellent pawn sacrifice, which White probably shouldn’t accept. But if not, then Black would
stand great anyway.
19.Bxb6 cxb6 20.bxc4
Now it’s the bishop pair vs. the knight pair. White has a pawn for it, but it is useless at the present
stage.
20...Bb4!
Forcing more weaknesses in White’s camp – the d3-square in particular.
21.c3 Bc5+ 22.Kh1 Rd3 23.Rc1 a5 24.Nde3
284
Position after: 24.Nde3
Lasker again plans to block Black’s bishops with an eventual Nd5.
24...f5! 25.exf5
Probably preferable was 25.Nd5 fxe4 26.fxe4 [26.Rxe4 Bxd5 27.cxd5 R8xd5µ] 26...Re8 27.h3 h5³
25...gxf5 26.h3
White cannot capture the pawn: 26.Nxf5?! Rxf3! 27.Nd4 [27.Ne7+ Bxe7 28.Rxe7 Rf2µ] 27...Rf2
28.Nxc6 bxc6µ
26...Rg8 27.Nd5
White decides to return the pawn.

27.Nxf5 Rxf3! 28.gxf3 Bxf3+ 29.Kh2 Bg1#
27...Bxd5 28.cxd5 Rxd5 29.Rcd1 Rxd1 30.Rxd1
285
Position after: 30.Rxd1
30...f4!
Black’s position is still preferable due to his better minor piece and he brought the bacon home some
moves later.
31.Kh2 Re8 32.a4 Kc7 33.h4 Kc6 34.c4 Bb4 35.Kh3
286
35...Re1!
The ending is won for Black as the knight cannot aid the defence...
36.Rxe1 Bxe1 37.Kg4 Kc5 38.Kxf4 Kxc4 39.Ke4 Bxh4 40.g3 Bd8 41.Ne3+ Kb4 42.Kd3 Kxa4
43.Kc2 Kb4 44.f4
44...Kc5 45.f5 Kd6 46.g4 b5 47.Nd1 Ke5 48.Nc3 b4 49.Na4 Kd4 50.Nb2 b5 51.Kb3 Be7 52.g5
a4+ 53.Nxa4 bxa4+ 54.Kxa4 Ke5 55.Kb3 Kxf5
0-1
We will continue with two old, but rather important examples. In both of them, the patriarch of Soviet
Chess – ex-World Champion Mikhail Botvinnik – is involved.
Game 55
Flohr, Salo
Botvinnik, Mikhail
Moscow 1933
A very interesting ending. While Botvinnik believed that Black could defend, Flohr was of the
opinion that White wins in any event. Many theoreticians have analysed it since then, but it still
remains unclear whether White’s advantage is sufficient, due to the presence of many (fixed) central
pawns. What is for sure is that Black will suffer for a long time!
287
25.Kf2 Ke7 26.Be3 Kd8 27.Ke1 Kc7 28.Kd2 Nc5 29.b4
29.Bxc5? dxc5, followed by ...Ne8-d6, even favours Black.
29...Ncd7 30.g3
30.a4! as proposed by Shereshevsky is more accurate.
30...Nb6 31.Kc2 Nbd7
288
Position after: 31...Nbd7
Black should take advantage of White’s inaccurate 30th move by 31...Na4! 32.Kb3 b5²
32.a4!
Gaining more space on the queenside in order to limit the scope of the knights.
32...Nb6 33.a5 Nbd7
White’s next aim is to play f4 and to advance his kingside pawns.
34.Bc1 Kd8 35.Bb2 Ne8 36.Kd2 Nc7 37.Ke3 Ke7 38.Bf1 Nb5
289
Position after: 38...Nb5
39.h4 Nc7 40.Bh3
Immobilising the d7-knight due to Bc8. Black’s position is getting ever harder to defend...
40...Ne8 41.f4 f6 42.Bf5 g6 43.Bh3
Now f5, followed by fxg6, is threatened.
43...h6
43...Ng7?! is pointless: 44.f5 g5 45.hxg5 fxg5 46.f6+!±
44.Bc1! Ng7 45.fxe5 dxe5
Forced.
290
Position after: 45...dxe5
A) 45...Nxe5? 46.Bc8+–
B) 45...fxe5? 46.Kf3 h5 47.Bg5+ Ke8 48.Bh6+–
46.Kf3
White can also think about 46.Ba3 Kd8 47.g4 [47.b5 axb5 48.Bf1 f5 49.Bxb5 Nh5 50.exf5 gxf5
51.Kf3²] 47...h5 48.gxh5 Nxh5 49.b5 axb5 50.Bf1 f5 51.Bxb5²
46...h5 47.Be3 Kd6 48.Bh6 Ne8 49.g4 hxg4+ 50.Bxg4
291
Position after: 50.Bxg4
White has made considerable progress but still there is nothing clear yet; Black can still put up a
defence.
50...Nc7?
50...Ke7! is an improvement: 51.h5 [51.Be3 Nd6 52.Bc5 Nxc5 53.bxc5 Nc4 and it seems that White
cannot win] 51...gxh5 52.Bxh5 Nd6²
51.Be3 Nb5 52.Ke2 Nc7
52...Nc3+ is not as ‘tricky’ as it looks, due to 53.Kd3 Nxe4? 54.Bxd7+–
53.Kd3
292
53...f5
The pawn endgame after 53...Nb5 54.Be6 Ke7 55.Bc5+ Nxc5+ [55...Ke8 56.d6±] 56.bxc5 Nd4
57.Bc8 Nb3 58.Kc4 Kd8 59.Kxb3 Kxc8 is won for White, as his king goes to g4 and then opens a
path with h5.
54.exf5 gxf5 55.Bxf5 Nxd5 56.Bd2
Othe open centre and passed pawns favour the bishop pair.
56...N7f6 57.Kc4 Kc6
293
58.Bg6
Good looks 58.Bg5! b5+ 59.axb6 Nxb6+ 60.Kb3 Nbd5 61.Bd3 Kb6 62.Bc4+–
58...b5+ 59.Kd3 Ne7 60.Be4+ Ned5 61.Bg5 Nh5 62.Bf3 Ng3 63.Bd2
63.h5! Black’s days are numbered.
63...Kd6 64.Bg4 Nf6 65.Bc8 Kc6
294
66.Be1?!
White misses another good chance.

Winning was 66.Bxa6! Nf5 67.Bc8 e4+ 68.Ke2 Nxh4 69.a6+–
66...e4+?
This makes things easy.

66...Nge4 67.Bf5 Nd6 68.Bg6 Kd5± Now White wins easily.
67.Kd4 Ngh5 68.Bf5 Kd6 69.Bd2
1-0
Game 56
Botvinnik, Mikhail
Bronstein, David Ionovich
FIDE-Wch 1951
295
A critical position in a critical stage of the 1951 FIDE World Championship. This was the 23rd game
(out of a total of 24) and Bronstein was leading 11½-10½ at the start of the game.
35...Bxc1?!
Black decides to win a (useless) pawn but he has to give the bishop pair vs. the knight pair advantage
to his opponent. A bad decision that cost Black the title of World Champion!
35...Kf7 36.Kc2 [36.Bxa6? bxa6 37.Bc7 Bxc1 38.Kxc1 Nxb3+ 39.Kc2 Na5µ] 36...Nb4+ 37.Kb1
Na6=
35...Bxc1?! 36.Kxc1 Nxb3+ 37.Kc2 Na5
The knight pair is stuck on the rim and White just has to open the centre.
38.Kc3 Kf7
296
39.e4?!
Too early. Accurate was 39.Bd6 Nc6 40.e4.
39...f5?!
Black had to go for 39...dxe4 40.fxe4 e5! 41.dxe5 [41.d5?! Nc5] 41...Nc5
40.gxf5 gxf5 41.Bd3 Kg6
297
Here the game was adjourned and White had to seal his move.
42.Bd6?
42.Bb1! Nc6 [If 42...fxe4 the game opens up after 43.fxe4 dxe4 44.Bxe4+ Kg7 45.Bxb7! Nxb7
46.Kc4+–]
Position after: 46.Kc4+–
298
43.exd5 exd5 44.Ba2 Ne7 Bh4±
42...Nc6 43.Bb1 Kf6?
43...Na7! (with the idea of ...b5) 44.exd5 exd5 45.Ba2 b5 46.a5 [46.Bxd5 bxa4] 46...b4+! 47.Kd3
Nb5 48.Be5 Nac7 49.Kc2 Kf7 50.Kb3 Na6=
44.Bg3!
Position after: 44.Bg3!
A) 44.exd5?! exd5 45.Ba2 Ke6=

B) 44.h4?! Nab8 45.Bf4 Nd7 46.Bg5+ Kg6 47.exd5 exd5 48.Ba2 h6 49.Bf4 Ne7! [49...Nf6?!
50.Be5] 50.Bd6 Nc8!= and White cannot make headway.
44...fxe4
A) 44...Nab4 45.Be5+! [45.Bc7? dxe4 46.fxe4 fxe4 47.Bxe4 Nd5+=] 45...Kg6 [45...Nxe5 46.dxe5+
Kxe5 47.Kxb4+–] 46.Bd6 Na6 47.exd5 exd5 48.Ba2+–
B) 44...Kg6 45.exf5+ exf5 46.Ba2 Nab4 47.Bb3 Kf6 48.Bd6+–
C) 44...Kg5 45.exd5 exd5 46.Ba2 Ncb4 47.Bb3 f4 48.Be1± planning Bd2-c1-a3
D) 44...Ne7 45.Bh4+ Kf7 46.Bxe7 Kxe7 47.exd5 exd5 48.Bxf5 h6 49.Bc8+–
45.fxe4 h6
299
Black is fighting to stay alive, but he is not helped by his badly-placed knights...
46.Bf4 h5
46...Kg7 47.exd5 exd5 48.Ba2 Nab4 49.Bb3 Kg6 50.Bd6+–
47.exd5 exd5 48.h4 Nab8 49.Bg5+ Kf7 50.Bf5?!
Better was 50.Bc2! Na7 51.Bd1 Kg6 52.Bf3+–
50...Na7
50...Ne7 was more resistant: 51.Bh3! Nbc6 52.Bg2 Kg7! 53.Bxe7 Nxe7 54.Kb4 Nc6+ 55.Kb5
Nxd4+ 56.Kxb6+–
51.Bf4 Nbc6 52.Bd3
300
52...Nc8?!
Black’s final mistake. Instead 52...Ne7! 53.Bc7 Ke6 54.Bxb6 Nac6 55.Be2 Nf5 56.Bxh5 Nxh4
57.Bc5±
53.Be2 Kg6 54.Bd3+?!
54.Bf3 N8e7 55.Bc7 wins.
54...Kf6 55.Be2 Kg6?!
A better chance can be found in 55...Kf5! 56.Bh2 Ke4 57.Bg1 Nd6 58.Bxh5 Nf5 59.Bg6±
56.Bf3 N6e7
301
Position after: 56...N6e7
56...N8e7 57.Bc7 [57.Bg5 Nf5 58.Bxd5 Nfxd4 59.Be4+ Kf7 60.Be3±] 57...Nf5 58.Bxd5 Nfxd4
59.Bxb6+–
57.Bg5!
And Black resigned.

57.Bg5 Nc6 58.Bxd5 Nd6 59.Bf3 b5 [59...Kf5 60.Bc1! b5 61.Bxc6 bxc6 62.a5+–] 60.Bf4 Nf5
61.Bxc6 bxc6 62.a5 Ne7 63.Kb4 Kf5 [63...Nd5+ 64.Kc5 Nxf4 65.a6+–] 64.a6 Nd5+ 65.Kc5 Kxf4
66.a7 Nc7 67.Kxc6+–. This win allowed Botvinnik to equalise the score and go on to retain the title
(12-12) as the last game of the match ended in a draw.
1-0
The young Vladimir Kramnik was an excellently-trained machine.

Game 57
Ulybin, Mikhail (2570)
Greece 1992
302
This is a quite pleasant position for White. The possession of the bishop pair against the knight pair in
a not-fully-blocked position is an ideal weapon for cashing points. At least, this is what the statistics
say!
22.e3 Nd7 23.Kf1 Re7 24.Ke2 Rde8 25.g4!
After the centralisation of his king, White proceeds with the ‘restriction method’. This is best done by
the advance of both his kingside and queenside pawns.
25...Re6 26.h4 R6e7 27.Bf3 Ndc5 28.Rd5 Na6
Or 28...f6 29.Bg2! Nd7 30.a3±
29.a3!
29.Rh5 gives Black an unexpected tactical chance: 29...Nb4 30.a3 Ng3+!∞
29...Nac5
On 29...Nec5 30.g5! Nxb3 31.Rg1 White’s attack is quite strong.
30.b4 axb4 31.axb4 Na6
303
32.b5!
Also possible was 32.Ba3±, but White wants to take advantage of the a-file. The c5-outpost is
irrelevant, as nearly all Black’s pieces are passive.
32...Nac5 33.Ra1 Nf6 34.Rdd1!
It would be a bad idea to surrender the bishop pair: 34.Bxf6 gxf6 35.Ra7 Kg7 and Black might hold.
34...Nfe4 35.Ra7 Kf8
304
36.g5!
An active solution!
36.Kf1 would also do the job: 36...Kg8 37.Kg2 Kf8 38.Be2 Kg8 39.Bf1 [39.f3? Nc3!] 39...Kf8
40.f3 Nf6 41.e4±
36...hxg5 37.hxg5 Nxg5 38.Bc6 Rc8 39.Rh1 Kg8
305
40.Raa1!
A fine retreat, preparing the rooks’ doubling on the h-file. Black can do little to avoid defeat...
40...Nce6
If 40...f6, White wins by 41.Bd5+ Nf7 42.Rag1 Kf8 43.Rh7+–
41.Rh4 f6
Or 41...Nh7 42.Rah1 Nef8 43.Be4 g6 44.Bd5 Rd8 45.f4+–
42.Rg1 Kf7
43.Bd5
Avoiding a little trick: 43.f4?! Nh3! But now the bishop pair is fully dominant.
43...Ke8 44.Rh8+ Nf8 45.f4 Nge6
45...Ngh7 46.Bg8+–
46.Kf3
306
46.Bxe6 Rxe6 47.Rxg7+– also wins, but White is in no hurry!
46...f5
47.Rg6! Nc5 48.Bxg7 Rf7 49.Bxf8
Black resigned.
49.Bxf8 Rxf8 50.Rxf8+ Kxf8 51.Rg8++–
1-0
Game 58
Popchev, Milko (2475)
Ano Liosia 1993
307
Position after: 14...Rfd8
White has the bishop pair with a semi-open centre, but there are a lot of pieces are on the board,
which makes his task harder, as Black might obtain counterplay at a certain stage. Also, there are no
potential weaknesses in Black’s camp to go after, so he should create some. White should complete
his development, but there is no good square for his dark-squared bishop, nor should he place a rook
on the d-file, as this will only result in premature exchanges, easing Black’s position. So, he should
first try to improve his kingside pawn structure and his pieces in general.
15.g3!
15.Bg5 h6! 16.Bh4 Nf8! and Black improves his pieces.
15.g3! Nb6 16.Ne3
Exchanges would only relieve Black.
16...Bxe3
After 16...g6 17.Kg2 Rd7 18.Ng4 Nxg4 19.hxg4² his opponent would get the initiative on the
kingside, while he is not doing much in the centre and on the d-file in particular. But handing over the
bishop pair (so easily and without any compensation) in return for the knight pair cannot be the right
attitude.
17.Bxe3 Qe6 18.Kg2 Rd7
18...Nc4 is only temporarily active: 19.Bc1 Nd6 20.Rd1.
308
19.Bc1 Qc6 20.Re1 h6
21.Qb5!
21.Bd3 Qe6 is not much, so White opts for an ending in which the bishop pair will show its true
force!
21...Qxb5
What else?
If 21...Qe6 22.Bb3 Qe8 23.Be3±
22.axb5
309
Position after: 22.axb5
22...a4
22...Rd6 23.b3 c6 24.f4 Nfd7 25.bxc6 Rxc6 26.Bd2±
23.Kf3 Ra5 24.b4
A) 24.b3! Rxb5 25.b4!± was even stronger!

B) 24.Ke2 Rxb5 25.Rxa4 Nxa4 26.Bxa4 Ra5 27.Bxd7 Nxd7 28.Kd3²
24...Rxb5?
Black bites the decoy!

24...Ra8 25.Be3 [25.Rd1 Rxd1 26.Bxd1 Ne8 27.c4 Nxc4 28.Rxa4 Rxa4 29.Bxa4²] 25...a3 26.Ra2
Nc4 27.Rea1²
25.Be3
Now the poor rook is trapped along the deadly bishops’ diagonals!
25...Ne8
310
26.Red1
26.Bxa4 Nxa4 27.Rxa4 Rd3 28.Rc1+–
26...f5
The alternative was 26...Rxd1 27.Bxd1 Nd6 28.Be2 Nbc4 29.Rxa4 f5 30.Bc5 [30.Bxc4+ Nxc4
31.Ra8+ Kf7 32.exf5±] 30...Nd2+ 31.Kg2 Rxc5 32.bxc5 N6xe4 33.Ra2+–
27.Rxd7 fxe4+
311
Position after: 27...fxe4+
28.Ke2! Nxd7 29.Bxa4 Rd5 30.Bb3 c6 31.Ra7 Nd6 32.Bc5 Nb5 33.Bxd5+ cxd5 34.Rxb7 Nxc3+
35.Kd2
1-0
Game 59
Kasimdzhanov, Rustam (2661)
ICC 2020
312
An excellent position for White; the bishop pair vs. the knight pair with an open centre cannot be
welcomed by Black...
22...Rxe1+ 23.Rxe1 Ne6 24.Be3!
A) 24.Bxa7?! would only give Black counterplay after 24...Ra8 25.Bb6 Rxa4∞
B) 24.Bxf6?! gxf6 25.a5²
24...a5 25.b5 c5
313
Position after: 25...c5
Logical, trying to keep the position a bit closed, at least on the queenside.
26.b6!
Now the threat of Rb1-b5 becomes rather strong.
26...Nd7
26...Nd4 transposes to the game continuation.
27.Rb1 Nd4!
Black’s only chance to find some practical hope.
28.Bxd4 cxd4 29.Rb5 d3
29...Kf8 30.Kf1 Ke7 31.Ke2 f6 32.Bd5+–
30.Kf1
314
30...Rc8
The text is losing without many troubles for White.

30...Re8! 31.Bxb7 d2 32.Bf3 Re1+ 33.Kg2 d1=Q 34.Bxd1 Rxd1 35.b7 Kf8! [35...Nb8? 36.Rc5+–]
36.b8=Q+ Nxb8 37.Rxb8+ Ke7 38.Rb5 Rd4! 39.Rxa5 Rxc4 40.Ra7+ Kf6. This endgame is
considered to be drawish, but here Black is some tempos behind from his ideal set-up (...Ra4 and
...g6, ...h5), so he should be losing after 41.a5. Nevertheless, this was his most stubborn try.
31.Bg4
31.Bxb7! seems to be better than the text: 31...Rxc4 32.Ke1 Rxa4 33.Bc8 Ra1+ [33...Nb8 34.Bg4
Kf8 35.b7 Ke7 36.Re5+ Kd6 37.Re8 Kc7 38.Bf3 Ra1+ 39.Kd2 Ra2+ 40.Kxd3 Rxf2 41.Be4+–]
34.Kd2 Ra2+ 35.Kxd3 Nxb6 36.Rxb6 Rxf2 37.Ke3+–, with a theoretically winning position for
White, as his h-pawn is not on h4!
31...Rxc4?!
Black should have tried 31...d2! 32.Ke2 Rxc4 33.Bxd7 Rd4 34.Kd1 Rxd7 35.Rxa5 Kf8 36.Rb5 Ke7
37.a5±
32.Bxd7 Rc1+ 33.Kg2 d2 34.Bg4 d1=Q 35.Bxd1 Rxd1 36.Rxa5 Rb1 37.Ra8+ Kh7 38.a5
315
38...Rb3?!
Black’s last chance was to be found in 38...Kg6, although after 39.Ra7 Rb5 40.Kf3!+– White should
win by transferring his king to the queenside.
39.Ra7 Ra3 40.Rxb7 Rxa5 41.Rxf7 Kg6 42.Rc7 Rb5 43.b7 Rb3 44.g4 Kf6 45.h4 g6 46.f3 h5 47.g5+
Kf5 48.Kg3 Rb1 49.Rf7+ Ke5 50.Rf6 Rxb7 51.Rxg6
1-0
Game 60
Shanya, Mishra (1509)
Dubai Rapid 2019
316
Position after: 26.Qxc7
Black can present the bishop pair vs. the knight pair in an open position, but his pawn structure is not
perfect and White’s e4-knight is well placed.
26...Rc8! 27.Qd6?!
A) 27.Qxd8 Rfxd8 28.Kf2 a4³

B) 27.Qxc8 Qxc8 28.Rxc8 Rxc8 29.Rb1 Rc2 30.Kf1 a4³
27...Qxd6! 28.Nxd6 Rxc1 29.Rxc1 g4! 30.Rc8?
Now Black gets a decisive advantage. White had to opt for 30.h3 gxf3+ 31.Kf2 e4! 32.N2xe4 Bd4+
33.Kf1 Be6 34.g4 Rb8µ
30...gxf3+ 31.Kf2 Rxc8 32.Nxc8
317
Position after: 32.Nxc8
32...Bf8!
And White’s c8-knight is trapped!
33.Nxf3 Bc5+ 34.Ke2 Bb7 35.Nxe5 Bxc8 36.Nc6 a4 37.Kd2 Bxa3 38.Kc3 Bd6 39.Kc4 Be6+
40.Kc3 Kg7
White resigned
0-1
Game 61
Osmanoglou, Halil (2144)
Games Festival 2008
White has achieved the bishop pair, but in order to take advantage of this fact he must create the right
environment: an open centre with pawns on both flanks.
318
10.e4! dxe4?!
Black should try to keep the centre closed: 10...Bb4!? 11.e5!? Ne4 12.Bxe4 dxe4 13.Qb3 c5 14.a3
Bxd2+ 15.Bxd2 Nc6 16.Qxb7 Qc8 17.Qxc8+ Rxc8 18.dxc5 Nxe5
19.Bc3 [19.b4 Nxc4 20.Bc3 f6] 19...Rxc5 20.Bxe5 Rxe5 21.b4²
319
11.Nxe4 Bb4+
Position after: 11...Bb4+
11...Nxe4 12.Bxe4 Bb4+ 13.Ke2 [13.Kf1 Bd6 14.Kg2²] 13...Nd7 14.Be3² White’s king is perfectly
placed and safe in the centre.
12.Nc3 Nbd7 13.Qb3 Qb6
The alternative was 13...Qa5!? 14.Bd2²
14.Be3 Ba5?!
An inaccuracy.
A) 14...c5?! 15.0-0-0!±
B) 14...0-0-0 15.0-0-0²
15.g5! Nh5?!
Having a knight on the edge cannot be advisable.
320
Position after: 15...Nh5?!
Black had to go for 15...Ng8 16.d5 Qxb3 17.axb3 Bxc3+ 18.bxc3 exd5 19.cxd5 Ne7 20.dxc6 Nxc6
21.b4±
16.d5!
The correct evaluation – the position should be opened in order to create a feast for the bishop pair!
16...Qxb3
16...Nc5 17.Qxb6 axb6 18.dxc6±
17.axb3 Bxc3+ 18.bxc3 exd5 19.cxd5 Ne5
If 19...cxd5 20.Bxd5 Black loses material with no compensation.
20.dxc6 Nxc6
321
Position after: 20...Nxc6
21.b4!
White could win a pawn with 21.Bxc6+? bxc6 22.Rxa7 Rxa7 23.Bxa7 Nf4 24.h4 Ke7, but Black
should feel more than happy with the resulting position. There is no need to hunt useless pawns: a
serious player should wait for the right moment for material gain and mainly try to increase his
advantage instead of hurrying to win ‘suspicious’ material.
21...a6 22.b5 Nd8
322
23.Kd2!
Accurate. White must place his king somewhere in order to connect his rooks. On d2 the white king
protects the valuable c-pawn and avoids any potential ...Nf4+ threats.
23.bxa6? Rxa6 24.Rxa6 bxa6 25.Kd2 Ne6 26.Ra1 Nhf4 27.Bf1 Rh5∞
23...Kd7 24.Rhb1 Kc7
Or 24...a5 25.Ra4! f6 26.h4 Kc7 27.Rba1+–
25.bxa6 Rxa6
Position after: 25...Rxa6
26.Rxb7+!
White wins material while preserving his advantages. Game over!
26...Nxb7 27.Rxa6 Rd8+ 28.Kc2 Rd7 29.Bb6+ Kb8 30.Bd4
The absolute triumph of the bishop pair vs. the knight pair. A model game for White and something
to avoid with Black...
1-0
b) Superior Knight Pair Versus Bishop Pair
323
The bishop pair needs targets to attack and space to move. If the pawn structure is closed and there
are many pawns still on the board, then the knight pair rises in strength. The knights can jump around
and therefore do not care if the pawn structure is open or closed.
They can still jump over any obstacles and cause havoc wherever needed.
Game 62
Khenkin, Igor (2603)
Gyimesi, Zoltan (2624)
Germany 2005
Position after: 11...Rxc8
This is an interesting endgame, White has the bishop pair vs. the knight pair but otherwise Black has
no problems, no weakness, no poorly-placed pieces, so this position must be playable for Black.
12.g3
A) White usually develops the bishop on g2. The main alternative is 12.Bd2 Nc6 13.0-0-0 Rd8
14.g3², or
B) 12.Bg5+ f6 13.0-0-0 Rd8 14.e4 fxg5 15.exd5²
12.g3 Nc6 13.Bg2
13.Bh3 Rd8 14.0-0 Rd6 15.e4 Ndb4 16.Bf4 Rdd8 17.Rfd1 Rxd1+ 18.Rxd1 Rd8 19.Ra1 Nd4 ½-½
Baron Rodriguez, J – Cifuentes Parada, R Zaragoza 1999.
13...Rd8
324
Black firmly controls the d-file.
14.Bg5+ f6 15.Bd2 Rd6
Against this set-up, it is not easy to obtain something with White.
16.0-0
16.Rc1 Rad8 17.0-0 b6 18.Rfe1 Ndb4 [18...Kf7 19.Bf1 Nde7 20.Bf4 Ne5 21.a3 a5= Bellon Lopez, J
– Seirawan, Y Zuerich 1984] 19.Bf4 Ne5 20.Be4 h6 21.a3 Nd5 22.Bd2 Nc7 23.Bc3 Nb5= Babula, V
– Luch, M Warsaw 2005.
16...Rad8 17.Rfc1 b6 18.Kf1 a5
325
19.Ke1
A) 19.a4?! g5 20.e3 Ne5 21.b3 (Scarani, A – Valverde Lopez, M ICCF email 2001) 21...g4³
B) 19.Be1 g6 20.Rab1 Ndb4 21.a3 Na6 [21...Na2? 22.Rc4± Psakhis, L – Speelman, J Hastings 1987]
22.b4 axb4 23.Bxc6 Rxc6 24.axb4 Nc7=
19...g6 20.h4 h5 21.Rab1 Kf7 22.a3
326
Black is rather active in the centre and his pieces are well-placed. On the other hand, no-one should
underestimate the bishop pair... So the players, each being afraid of the other’s position, called it a
draw.
½-½
What was the main ‘secret’ of the knight pair in the previous and in the next game? Obviously,
activity and centralisation; then there is little to be afraid of.
Game 63
Anand, Viswanathan (2787)
FIDE-Wch 2010
This is the position that Topalov was aiming for. Material is even and both sides can claim some
pluses and minuses. White has the better pawn structure (due to Black’s isolated d-pawn and weak
queenside) and Black the bishop pair versus the knight pair. It seems like a fair battle, although I
prefer the bishop pair a little more here...
20.Rc2!
With the text move, White takes full control of the c-file and simultaneously protects his e-pawn.
20...Rfe8
327
Naturally, Topalov casts an eye towards the e-file and the backward e2-pawn.
21.Rfc1
Position after: 21.Rfc1
21...f6
As we have mentioned, this is called the bishop pair ‘restriction method’, first employed by Wilhelm
Steinitz. The idea is simple: push the enemy knights back and deprive them of any good squares by
using healthy placement of the pawns.
22.Nd7
On 22.Nc6?! Bb6 the knight pair would be stuck, not really doing anything of importance.
22...Bf5! 23.N7c5 Bb6
A) After 23...Bxc5 24.Rxc5 Bxd3 25.exd3 Re2 26.R5c2 Rae8 27.Kf1 R2e5 the game would be dead
drawn. Topalov can perfectly well continue the game with the text move and this proves the validity
of his position – that he can try for two results.
B) 23...a5 was the other option but it is advisable for Black to delay the movement of the pawn,
which is always a responsible decision (pawns can’t go backwards!).
24.Nb7!
White’s duty is to create threats and exploit his doubled rooks on the c-file; so his c5-knight has to
328
move somehow from its good but useless c5-outpost.
24...Bd7
Black covers the square c6, stopping a white rook invasion and defends against White’s threat of
Nd6.
24...Bg4! 25.f3 Bd7 as then White can’t immediately move his d3-knight, while the weakness on e3
cannot be underestimated.
25.Nf4
Position after: 25.Nf4
The main alternative was 25.Nd6 Re6 26.Nf5 [26.Nc8 Bd8 27.Kf1 Kh7∞] 26...Kh7∞
25...Rab8?!
Topalov wants to be practical but he cannot live fighting against the doubled white rooks on the c-
file. He had to opt for exchanging the major pieces with the natural 25...Rac8 26.Nd6 [26.Rxc8 Rxc8
27.Rxc8+ Bxc8 28.Nd6 Bd7∞] 26...Rxc2 27.Rxc2 Re5∞
26.Nd6?!
26.Nc5! forces 26...Bxc5 [26...Bc8 27.Rd2 Rd8 28.Nfe6] 27.Rxc5 g5 28.Nd5 Kf7 29.R1c2!²
329
Position after: 29.R1c2!²
If White exchanges one of the black bishops, he will stand a bit better. In general, White wants to
exchange as many pieces as possible because then the d4-pawn would become a real weakness, while
the e2-pawn can be easily defended, with Kf1 for example.
26...Re5! 27.Nc8 Ba5
330
28.Nd3
28.Na7?! Rbe8 is just bad for White.
28...Re8 29.Na7
29.Nd6 Re6 [29...Re7 30.b4 Bb6 31.Nc8²] 30.Nf5

A) 30...Rxe2 31.Nxh6+ gxh6 32.Rxe2 Bf5 33.Rd1 [33.b4 Bxd3 34.Rd2 Bxb4 35.Rxd3 Bc3 36.Kf1]
33...Bg4 34.Rdd2 Bxd2 35.Rxd2
B) 30...Bb6 31.b4 Rbe8 32.Kf1 Rd8∞
29...Bb6 30.Nc6 Rb7
A) 30...Ra8 31.Nf4 Bf5 32.Rd2 and Black cannot defend his isolated pawn.
B) But Black could accept White’s (temporary) pawn sacrifice with the natural 30...Bxc6 31.Rxc6
Rxe2
Position after: 31...Rxe2
The game will probably will end in a draw after 32.Kf1 Re7 [32...Rd2 33.Rc8+ Rxc8 34.Rxc8+ Kh7
35.Rc6 Ba5 36.Rxa6 Bc3 37.bxc3 Rxd3 38.cxd4 Rxd4] 33.Nb4 d3 34.Nd5 Reb7 35.Nxb6 Rxb6
36.Rxb6 Rxb6 37.Rc8+ Kf7 38.Rd8 Rc6 39.Rxd3 Rc2 40.Ra3 Rxb2 41.Rxa6 and maybe that’s why
Topalov was not attracted to it.
31.Ncb4! a5 32.Nd5
331
And White finally eliminates the black bishop pair!
32...a4 33.Nxb6 Rxb6 34.Nc5 Bf5 35.Rd2
Position after: 35.Rd2
So, after 13 consecutive knight moves (!), White decided to vary and move something different! The
main difference that took place during the last few moves is the elimination of the black bishop pair,
but at least Black kept his good bishop, accepting the exchange of his worse one. His pressure against
the e-pawn is enough to keep a dynamic balance, but probably there is nothing more than a draw to
come, be it sooner or later.
35...Rc6 36.b4 axb3 37.axb3
37.Nxb3?! d3! 38.Rxc6 [38.exd3? Rxc1+ 39.Nxc1 Re1+] 38...dxe2 39.Rc1 e1=Q+ 40.Rxe1 Rxe1+
41.Kg2 Be6³, as the black bishop is a better minor piece than its counterpart.
37...b4!
37...Rd8?! 38.b4 only offers White chances.
38.Rxd4 Rxe2 39.Rxb4 Bh3
332
Position after: 39...Bh3
White has an extra pawn but Black has strong compensation due to White’s weak back rank and the
activity of his rooks.
40.Rbc4 Rd6 41.Re4
41.Rh4 Rc2 42.Ra1 Ra2 43.Re1 Re2= which verifies the previous note as to the weak white back rank.
41...Rb2 42.Ree1
White is ‘forced’ to ‘accept’ the draw.
42...Rdd2 43.Ne4 Rd4 44.Nc5 Rdd2 45.Ne4 Rd3!?
Topalov feels like he has to try all his chances before he agrees to a draw. After 45...Rd4 46.Nc5, we
would have another draw by three-fold repetition.
46.Rb1! Rdxb3 47.Nd2
333
47...Rb4 48.f3 g5 49.Rxb2 Rxb2
The rest could be skipped but for the ‘Sofia Rules’ (no draw offers).
50.Rd1 Kf7 51.Kf2 h5 52.Ke3 Rc2 53.Ra1 Kg6 54.Ra6 Bf5 55.Rd6 Rc3+ 56.Kf2 Rc2 57.Ke3 Rc3+
58.Kf2 Rc2
½-½
A case of full knight pair domination will be examined in the following example.
White correctly saw that the blocked pawn structure and the immobilisation of the bishop pair can
only be to his benefit and he just went for it.
Beware, knights can also deliver deadly blows and must not be underestimated!
Game 64
Geller, Efim P
Ivkov, Borislav
Yugoslavia 1967
334
In this position the knight pair dominates. The pawn structure is fixed and blocked and the central
pawns make the life of the bishop pair truly difficult! But how to proceed? White will need his king
in order to cash in the full point.
46.Kf1 Bc6 47.Ke2 Ke6 48.Kd2
The white king will try to penetrate through the queenside; the only valid path he has at his disposal.
48...Ba4
335
49.f3
49.Nc7+ does not win a pawn (as it seems at first sight): 49...Kd7 50.Nxa6? Kc6 but rather loses the
knight!
49...Bc6 50.Nc3 Bd7 51.Kc2 Be8 52.Kb3 Bd7 53.Nd5 Bc6
336
54.Ka3!
And this simple waiting move places Black in zugzwang!
54...a5
Black’s alternatives are also losing:

A) 54...Kf7 55.Nc7 a5 56.Nb5 Ke6 57.Ka4 Be8 58.Kxa5 Kd7 59.Kb6 Bf7 60.Ne3+–
B) 54...Bb7 55.Ka4 Bc8 56.Ka5 Bb7 57.Kb6 Bc8 58.Nc7++–
55.Kb3 Kd7
A) There is not much that Black can do anymore: 55...a4+ 56.Ka3 Bd7 57.Nc7+ Kf7 58.Nb5 Bxb5
59.cxb5 c4+ 60.Kxa4 Bc5 61.Nxh6++–
B) 55...Kf7 56.Nc7 Bd7 57.Nb5+–
56.Nxf6+ Ke6 57.Nd5 Kd7
58.Nc3
And Black resigned as the coming Nb5 is hard to meet.

58.Nc3 Kc7 59.Nb5+ Kb6 60.Nbd6 and h6 is lost.
1-0
337
In the next game Black gave up his bishop, correctly judging the resulting position, and later he even
gave his second one in order not to allow any counterplay.
Brave decisions, based on logic and ‘feeling’. The latter is mostly founded on knowledge...
Game 65
Stein, Leonid
Hort, Vlastimil
Interzonal 1968
Here Black correctly evaluates that his knights will be more precious than the white bishop pair; later
he will even give up his second bishop.
17...Bxc4! 18.dxc4 c5
The natural follow up, which secures the squares d4 and b4 for the black knights. Note that the text
move weakens the squares d5 and b5 respectively, but the white knight is too far away to benefit. So,
this important detail had to be taken into account before Black gave up the bishop pair.
19.Re1 Nc6 20.Nd2
338
20...h5!
The meaning of the text move is simple: not to allow the white knight to come to d5!
21.Nf1 Bh6 22.Ne3 Bxe3 23.Rxe3 Nab4
Position after: 23...Nab4
339
Unfortunately for White, his bishop pair is useless. Black not only controls important squares but his
pieces are generally more active.
24.Bf3 Rd6!
The entire d-file will be used by Black, not only the d4-square.
25.Qb2 Rad8 26.Kg2 Qe7 27.h4 Qe6 28.Be2 Nd4!
As the knight is a very tactical piece, it easily helps to improve Black’s position!
29.Rc1
29.Bxb4 Rb6 30.Qa2 Rxb4µ
29...R8d7 30.a5
Now ...Rb6 will no longer be possible, but the a-pawn is now weaker...
30...Ndc6 31.Qa1 Rd8 32.Qa4
Position after: 32.Qa4
32...Qe7!
32...Ra8 33.Qb5 would allow White some counterplay – there is no need for that.
33.Rb1
340
33.Qb5 Na2 34.Re1 R6d7 35.a6 Nd4µ
33...Ra8 34.Qb5
34.Rxb4 cxb4 35.Bxb4 Nxb4 36.Qxb4, doesn’t help White: 36...Qc7 37.Ra3 Rda6.
34...Rxa5 35.Qb6 Rd7 36.Bxb4 cxb4 37.Rd3 Ra2 38.Rbd1 Nd4 39.R1d2 Ra6 40.Qb5 b3
40...Nxb5 41.Rxd7 Qe6 42.cxb5 Ra2 should be enough for victory, but there was no need to give up
this excellently-placed knight for a lousy queen!
0-1
Game 66
Frendzas, Panayotis (2200)
Training Match 1981
White stands better, as his Na5 threat will force Black to play with the knight pair versus the white
bishop pair.
22.Na5?!
There was no need to hurry, especially as Black has some nasty tactical continuations.
White should opt for the calm 22.Kf1! Kf8 23.Ke2 Ke7 24.Na5±
341
22.Na5?! Bxa5 23.bxa5 Nd6 24.b3 Nb5 25.Bd2
25...c5!
Black has to be active, otherwise he will find himself in trouble.
26.dxc5
Maybe White should accept his mistake and go for 26.Bxb5 axb5 27.dxc5 Nxc5 28.b4 Ne6=
26...Nxc5 27.Bc2 d4! 28.c4 d3! 29.Bd1?!
29.Bxd3 Nd4! 30.Bc3 Ncxb3= was the only way to stay in the game.
29...Nd4 30.b4 Ne4 31.Be3 Nc2
342
32.b5
32.Bxc2 dxc2 33.Kf1 Nc3! 34.b5 axb5 35.cxb5 Nxb5 36.Ke2 Nd4+ 37.Kd3 Nb3 38.Kxc2 Nxa5
39.Kc3 Nc6 40.Kc4 f6µ White is suffering...
32...Nxe3 33.fxe3 Nc3?
Black took things too lightly and went for faulty tactical solutions.
33...f5 34.Kf1 Kf7µ should be a slow but secure win.
34.Bf3 d2
343
Position after: 34...d2
35.bxa6?
White didn’t make use of Black’s gift, missing 35.b6! Ne4 [35...d1=Q+? 36.Bxd1 Nxd1 37.c5+–]
36.Kf1 d1=Q+ 37.Bxd1 Nd2+ 38.Ke2 Nxc4 39.Kd3 Nb2+ 40.Kc2 Nxd1 41.Kxd1 Kf8=
35...bxa6 36.c5
Position after: 36.c5
344
36...Kf8!
Now Black stops the white c-pawn and thus wins the game...
37.Kf2 d1=Q 38.Bxd1 Nxd1+ 39.Ke2 Nb2 40.Kd2 Nc4+ 41.Kc3 Nxa5 42.Kd4 Ke7 43.Kd5 Kd7
0-1
345
Chapter 3
Stubborn Defense
Stubborn defence should be in the mind of each and every chess player! The main question is how we
should do it? Well, if the position doesn’t ‘help’, then it is simply on our opponent to finish off the
job. Otherwise we should take every available opportunity, including:
1. Weak pawn structure, or general pawn weaknesses in the opponent’s camp.
2. Tactical opportunities.
3. Opposite-coloured bishops endings, even at the cost of a pawn.
4. Correct exchanges.
And many other defences that might exist, or put in an appearance!
Game 67
Anand, Viswanathan (2788)
FIDE-Wch 2010
In this ending, chances are equal; all three results are possible, but the most expected result would be
draw. White has the bishop pair but his d-pawn can be regarded as weak rather than passed, so his
pawn structure is a bit worse. Black will try to blockade the d-pawn with his knight and then attempt
to take advantage of his mobile pawn majority on the queenside. If White feels too much ‘pressure’,
then he should exchange his dark-squared bishop for the black knight, achieving an immediate draw
346
thanks to the opposite-coloured bishops.
29.Kf2 Kf7 30.Bg5 Nf5 31.g4 Nd6 32.Kf3
As I do not believe that Black has any real winning chances at all (the bishop pair is nearly always too
strong!), it would be preferable to have taken a draw out of his many possibilities earlier.
32...Ne8
There is no need for this; the black knight belongs on d6. Black’s plan only helps White to benefit
from his bishop pair.
33.Bc1
33.Ke4 Bg7 [33...Bd6 34.Bc8 Nc7] 34.a4 Nd6+=
33...Nc7 34.Bd3 Bd6 35.Ke4 b5 36.Kd4 a6
37.Be2!
Now Black will face some problems, as White’s plan to expand on the kingside (g5 and h4-h5) and/or
to go for Bg4-c8 and Bd2-a5 is dangerous. Black has to defend accurately.
37...Ke7 38.Bg5+ Kd7 39.Bd2
With the dark-squared bishops off the board, Black’s advantage would be large; I would suggest that
347
readers take a look at the game Zhu Chen – Korchnoi, V Marbella 1999.
39...Bg3 40.g5 Bf2+ 41.Ke5 Bg3+ 42.Ke4
42...Ne8!
The knight quickly heads back to its ‘ideal’ square.
43.Bg4+ Ke7 44.Be6 Nd6+ 45.Kf3 Nc4!
Black is now OK again, but nothing more.
46.Bc1 Bd6 47.Ke4 a5 48.Bg4 Ba3 49.Bxa3+
49.Bf4 Bd6 50.Bc1 is an immediate draw. As only Black has some tiny chances now, Topalov should
have gone for this line – sometimes his desire to win backfires and destroys him!
49...Nxa3
348
Position after: 49...Nxa3
50.Ke5
Or 50.Be2 Kd6 51.Bd3 Nc4 [51...b4 52.Kd4 a4 53.h4 b3 54.axb3 axb3 55.Kc3 Nc2 56.Bxc2 bxc2
57.Kxc2 Kxd5 58.Kd3=] 52.Bxc4 bxc4 53.Kd4 c3 54.Kxc3 Kxd5=
50...Nc4+ 51.Kd4 Kd6 52.Be2 Na3
52...Ne5!? was still interesting and surely more ‘problematic’ for White than Black: 53.h4
[53.Bxb5?! Nf3+ 54.Ke3 Nxg5 55.h4 Nf7³] 53...b4 54.Bd1 Nd7 55.Kc4=
53.h4
53.Bd3 b4 54.h4 transposes to the draw given above.
53...Nc2+ 54.Kc3 Nb4
Black could ‘torture’ White by 54...Ne3, although it should be still a draw after 55.Bxb5 Ng2 56.Kd4
Nxh4 57.Ke4 Nf5 58.Bd3.
55.Bxb5 Nxa2+ 56.Kb3 Nb4
349
57.Be2
White could also draw with 57.Ka4 Nxd5 58.Kxa5 Ke5 59.Bc4 Ne7 60.Kb6 Kf4 61.Kc5 Kg4
62.Kd6 Nf5+ 63.Ke5 Nxh4 64.Bg8 Nf3+ 65.Kf6 Nxg5 66.Bxh7=
57...Nxd5 58.h5 Nf4 59.hxg6 hxg6 60.Bc4
And the opponents agreed to a draw.

60.Bc4 Kc5 61.Bf7 Kb5 62.Be8+ Kb6 63.Ka4 Ka6 64.Bf7 There is nothing left to fight for. That
was an excellent result for Black, not so much because he made a rather easy draw with the black
pieces, but just because he did it by exchanging only the right pieces...
½-½
Game 68
Kasparov, Garry (2849)
Timman, Jan H (2629)
Corus 2001
350
White stands better, as his bishop pair can be proven stronger than Black’s minor pieces. While the
white king can approach the centre, his counterpart is obliged to guard his h-pawn...
42...b5?
In such cases, it is important to reduce the material, therefore...

42...b6! should have been played. After 43.axb6 Nxb6, White can try: 44.Ba5! Nc4 [44...Bc4 45.Bf5
Nd5 46.Bd8± and Black is in trouble, as the bishop-pair dominates.] 45.Bd8 a5 46.Bc2! [It is
important to stop the passed pawn. 46.Bxf6?! looks like it wins a lot of material, but after 46...a4
47.Be7 a3 48.Bxc4 Bxc4 49.Bxa3², Black should hold] 46...Nd2 47.Bxa5 Nxf3 48.Ke3 Nh2 49.Bf5
and White is on the top, but the result is far from certain.
42...b5? 43.Bb4
With the deadly threat of Bf5-c8.
43...Nb2
351
Or 43...Be6 44.Be4+–
44.Bf5
44.Be2? allows Black to halve the bishop pair on his terms: 44...Kf7 45.Ke1 Bc4=
44...Bc4
If 44...Bb7?!, then the bishop pair can even execute a mating continuation: 45.Be6+ Kh8 46.Bf8
Nd3+ 47.Ke3 Nf4 48.Bg7#. Yes, the bishop pair can be a very important and strong positional
element!
45.Ke3 Bd5
45...Nd1+ 46.Kd2 Nf2 47.Bc5 [47.Bc8 Nd3 48.Bd6 b4 49.Bf5+–] 47...Nh3 48.Bc8+–
46.Bc8 Nc4+ 47.Ke2
Important material is lost, so Black resigned.
1-0
Game 69
Heinemann, Thies (2420)
Wilhelmi, Christian (2355)
352
Hamburg 1996
Position after: 22.Nxc1
Of course, Black stands better due to his bishop pair, but on the other hand his isolated e-pawn
doesn’t help.
22...Bc4 23.b3 Ba6 24.f3
Correct!
24.f4? exf4 25.Bxf4 Bc5+µ leaves Black with only pluses and no weaknesses.
24...Kf7 25.Kf2 Bb4 26.Ne2 Bd3 27.Bc1 Bc5+ 28.Be3 Bb4 29.Bc1 Ke6 30.Bb2 Bc5+ 31.Ke1 g6
32.Kd2 Ba6 33.Bc3 h5
353
34.Kd1
This is a better defence than to allow the bishop pair to attack White’s kingside: 34.Nc1? Bg1 35.h4
[35.h3 Bf1–+] 35...Bf1 36.Nd3 Bh2 37.g4 Bg3–+. The power of the bishop pair can be truly
magnificent!
34...Bf2 35.Be1 Bc5 36.h4 Be7 37.Bf2 Bb7 38.Nc3 Kf5 39.Ke2 Bc6 40.g3 Bb4 41.Be1 a6 42.Bd2
Bd6 43.Nd1 Bb5+ 44.Kf2
A typical demonstration of this power can be seen after 44.Ke3?? Bc5#
44...Bd3
354
45.b4?
There was no point in this advance, which only weakens the queenside and makes provides
opportunities for the black king to enter.
White should stay put with 45.Ne3+ Ke6 46.Nc4 Bc7 47.Be3 b5 48.Nd2³
45...Ke6 46.a3 Kd5 47.Ke3 Bc2 48.Nb2
355
Or 48.Nf2 Kc4 49.Bc1 Bf8µ
48...e4! 49.f4
Exchanging pawns is of no help: 49.fxe4+ Bxe4 50.Be1 [50.Na4 Bf5 51.Nxb6+ Kc6 52.Nc4 Bxg3–
+] 50...Be5 51.Nc4 Bd4+ 52.Kf4 Kxc4 53.Kxe4 b5–+
49...b5!
The knight is further restricted; the bishop pair is fully dominant.
50.Bc1 Bc7 51.Kd2 Ba4! 52.Ke2
The knight can finally be exchanged with 52.Nxa4 bxa4, but this doesn’t guarantee White’s survival:
53.Kc3 Bb6 54.f5 [54.Kc2 Bf2–+] 54...gxf5 55.Bf4 Bd4+ 56.Kc2 Be5–+
52...Bd8 53.Be3 Bf6
Forcing the exchange and allowing the black king to penetrate and collect White’s queenside pawns.
54.Nxa4 bxa4 55.Kd2 Kc4 56.Bc5
Or 56.Kc2 Bd4 57.Bxd4 Kxd4 58.Kd2 e3+ 59.Ke1 Kd3 60.g4 hxg4 61.f5 g3–+
56...Bb2 57.Ke3 Bxa3 58.Kxe4 Bb2!
0-1
Game 70
Banikas, Hristos (2445)
Greece rapid 1996
356
Position after: 27.Rc1
White stands better due to his bishop pair and the healthier pawn structure. But the closed centre
makes his task harder.
27...Na5 28.Rxc7+ Bxc7 29.Bb4+ Kf7 30.Bb5 Nc6 31.Bc3 h5 32.a4 Ke7
33.f4?
357
This central blocking move cannot be helpful for White. Elasticity and flexibility should be the main
considerations here.
33.f3!, with ideas such as e4 or g4, should guide White to the right path.
33...Bd6 34.Be1 Kd8 35.Bh4+ Be7 36.Bxc6
A final try.
Position after: 36.Bxc6
If 36.Bf2 h4 and Black shouldn’t face any problems.
36...Bxh4!
A good escape to a pawn-down, opposite-coloured bishops ending.

Black would lose after the naive 36...bxc6? 37.Bxe7+ Kxe7 38.b4 Kd6 39.a5! bxa5 40.bxa5 Kc7
41.Kf2 h4 [41...Kb7 42.Kg3 Ka6 43.Kh4 Kxa5 44.Kg5+–] 42.g3 Kb7 43.gxh4 Ka6 44.h5 gxh5
45.Kg3+–
37.Bxb7 Be7!
Stopping the b4-advance, which would allow White to get a passed pawn on the queenside.
38.Ba6 h4 39.Kf3
Or 39.Kd3 Bb4 40.Kc2 Ke7=
358
39...Bb4 40.g3 hxg3 41.Kxg3 Be1+ 42.Kf3 Bb4 43.Ke2 Ke7 44.Kd1 Kd8 45.Be2 Ke7
½-½
Game 71
Atalik, Suat (2535)
Pre-Olympic 1996
Position after: 20...Rxa5
White has the bishop pair, but the blocked centre helps Black to defend.
21.Bd2! Ra7 22.Bxb5 Rb8!
A tactical defence that was planned by Black in advance.

Less accurate is 22...Rxa2 23.Nc4 Bf8 24.Be3²
23.a4
Of course White should avoid 23.Bxd7? Rxb2 24.Bc3 Rbxa2 25.Bc6 Bh6µ
23...Nxa4! 24.Bxd7
Black stands OK, even after 24.Bxa4 Rxb2 25.Rc8+ Nf8 26.Bc1 Rbb7
24...Nxb2 25.Bb5
359
Black is very near to full equality; he only needs to exchange any worse piece he has and regroup his
knight.
25...Bf6!
25...Rxb5? would be a really criminal decision as 26.Rc8+ Bf8 27.Bh6 and mate follows. But now
Black plans ...Bd8-b6-c5 and his former-worst piece comes to life, while also protecting his weak d6-
pawn.
26.Be2 Bd8 27.Rc6 Bb6+ 28.Kh1 Bc5 29.Bh6 Na4
And now it’s the knight’s turn to return!
30.h4 Nc3 31.Bd3
360
31...Na2! 32.Ra6
Forced due to the threat ... Nb4.
32...Rxa6 33.Bxa6 Nb4 34.Be2 Nc2!
Another good move, preparing ...Be3 and securing the draw.
35.Rc1 Rb2 36.Bd3
White has nothing better than to agree.
36...Be3! 37.Rxc2 Rxc2 38.Bxc2 Bxh6 39.g4
The opposite-coloured bishop ending with even pawns offer no chance to either side! Black had a
‘lucky’ escape...
½-½
Game 72
Davies, Nigel Rodney (2505)
Rishon 1993
361
Black stands really badly, as he is a healthy pawn down and without counterplay. He has two choices;
either to resign, or to find some clever idea...
31...Bg4!
A strange move: Black is not only a pawn down, but he is happy to hand his opponent the bishop
pair!
32.Kf2
32.Nd4! Bxe2 33.Nxe2 Bd8 34.Nc3+–
32...Bxf3! 33.Kxf3 Bd8!
362
Position after: 33...Bd8!
White has only just got the bishop pair and he should keep it alive!
34.h4?
To this end, good was 34.Be3 Bb6 35.Bd2+–
34...Bb6! 35.Bb8 Bc7!
The white bishop is ‘trapped’ and must be exchanged.
36.Bxc7 Nxc7 37.Bd1 Kg7 38.Ba4 Na8!
38...Kf6? 39.Bc6+– The b-pawn should be blocked by the knight on b6.
39.Be8 Kf6 40.Kg4 Nb6 41.b5
363
There is no way for White to break the blockade on b6, nor to penetrate with his king, so Black has
survived! All thanks to the correct exchanges, with some serious help from his opponent!
41...Nc8 42.Bd7 Nb6 43.Be6 Na8 44.Kf3 Nb6 45.Ke3 g5! 46.hxg5+ Kxg5 47.Kd3 Kf6 48.Kd2
Ke7 49.Kc3
Draw agreed.
49.Kc3 Kd8 50.Kb4 Kc7 51.Ka5 Kb7=
½-½
364
Chapter 4
Bishop Exchange
Chapter Guide
a) Positive Aspects
b) Preserving
a) Positive Aspects
It should be remembered that (one of) the strengths of the bishop pair is that we can exchange one of
the bishops off, at a convenient moment. We should always keep in mind that knights are not bound
to one colour on the board, while bishops are! Preserving the bishop pair at all cost is not always
wise. In summary, the pawn structure has a decisive impact on comparing the knight pair vs. the
bishop pair.
Also, the value of a piece always depends on the concrete position on the board. So, there are certain
moments where it would be good to exchange one of our bishops for concrete gains. The usual motto
for such an action goes: One of the advantages of the bishop pair consists of the possibility of a
favourable exchange of it, or at least one of them! For such cases, some examples can be found in the
first subchapter, where we can observe the positive aspects of such an exchange.
But, of course, in simple chess matters, there is only black & white. But when it comes to other, more
complicated positions and factors, we can safely say that there is not only black & white!
Game 73
Nihal, Sarin (2598)
Sigeman & Co 2019
White has the bishop pair, which here doesn’t seem to be that great an asset, as the d-pawns are
blocking the centre, making their operation difficult.
365
39.Bxc6!
An interesting concept and probably White’s only chance to chase the full point. Although opposite-
coloured bishops generally help the weaker side, here the passed a-pawn can be proven rather
strong...
39...bxc6 40.a5 Bd3
The text should be enough for the draw, but 40...Kd7 seems much more accurate, and after 41.Kf2
Kc8 42.h4 Kb7 43.h5 Ka6 44.Be5 g6 45.Bg7 gxh5 46.gxh5 Kxa5 47.Bxh6 Kb6, White has no real
winning chances.
41.Kf2 Kd7 42.Ke3
366
42...Bc2?
42...Ba6 is what Black would have wanted to play, but after 43.h4 he was afraid that his kingside
pawns would be fixed with 44.h5. However, after 43...c5! 44.dxc5 Kc6 45.Kd4 Bc8 46.g5 hxg5
47.hxg5 g6, the position should be a draw.
43.Kd2?
White got confused and could have thrown the win away with this move!
43.a6! Kc8 44.Kd2+– is the accurate move order.
43...Ba4 44.a6
367
Now it looks quite critical for Black, but he can still escape...
44...Kc8?
Black missed his last saving chance with 44...c5! 45.a7 Bc6 46.dxc5 Kc8 47.h4 Kb7 48.Ke3 [48.h5
d4! 49.Be5 Bf3=] 48...Kxa7 49.h5 Bd7 50.Kf3 d4 51.Be5 d3=
45.h4!
Now it is a lost cause...
45...Bb5
368
46.Bxh6!
Black resigned
46.Bxh6 gxh6 [46...g6 47.h5 gxh5 48.gxh5+–] 47.g5! hxg5 48.h5 and the h-pawn pawn cannot be
stopped.
1-0
Game 74
Anthopoulos, Hristos (1581)
Karapanos Memorial 2010
369
Position after: 33.Qc1
Black stands better due to his bishop pair, but his d-pawn is weak and he must think about how to
face the threat of Nf4.
33...Qc2! 34.Qxc2 Bxc2 35.Nf4?!
And White bites the decoy!

Far better was the passive 35.Nc1µ
35...Bxf4! 36.exf4
After 36.gxf4, Black can perform the same routine, but with the extra asset of the passed h-pawn.
36...f6 37.g4 h6 38.Kg3 Kf7
370
Black can simply go to a5 with his king and then sac his bishop on b3, winning. That’s why, if the
black a-pawn was on a5, the position would be drawn...
39.Kh4 Ke6 40.Kg3 f5
Clarifying the situation on the kingside.
41.g5
White has no real choice: 41.Kh4 fxg4 42.fxg4 Kf6 43.Kg3 Bd1 44.Kh4 h5–+
41...h5 42.Kh4 Kd6 43.Kg3 Kc6 44.Kh4 Kb6 45.Kg3 Ka5 46.Kh4
371
46...Bxb3! 47.Nxb3+ Kxa4 48.Nc5+ Ka3! 49.Nxa6 b3 50.Nc7 b2 51.Nxd5 b1=Q 52.Ne7 Qg1!
53.Kh3 h4 54.Kxh4 Qh2#
0-1
Game 75
Kovacevic, Vlatko (2555)
Ribli, Zoltan (2610)
Bugojno 1984
Black is a healthy pawn up. But the centre is closed, so it is difficult to say whether or not Black’s
bishop pair is a real asset. However, he found a genius way to benefit from his position...
372
26...Bxf3!
Black gives up the darksquared bishop because he sees that the coming e5 break is going to be
extremely powerful.
27.Bxf3 Kf7!
27...e5? 28.Bg4!, and White get Bd7, when Black has no way to defend his pawns. So first his king
has to come to e7.
28.Bg4 Ke7 29.h4 h6 30.h5
373
30...e5!
Now that everything is in order, Black goes for the central break. The most incredible thing here is
that the opposite-coloured bishops helps the stronger side, even with a simple extra pawn. Well,
everything is about pawn structures!
31.fxe5 fxe5 32.f4
32.dxe5 Bxe5 33.Kd2 d4! 34.cxd4 Bxd4–+ and Black wins.
32...exd4+ 33.Kxd4
374
Position after: 33.Kxd4
33.cxd4 Bxb4–+ looks quite easy.
33...Kd8!
Going to b6, to aid the ...c5 advance.
34.Be6 Kc7 35.Bf7 Be7 36.Be8 Kb6
White resigned
After 36...Kb6 37.Ke3 Bf6 38.Kd2 d4 39.cxd4 Bxd4 40.Kc2 c5, Black gets two connected passed
pawns on the queenside, winning without problems.
0-1
Game 76
Le, Quang Liem (2712)
Nepomniachtchi, Ian (2717)
FIDE-Wch Rapid 2013
375
The bishop pair dominates but old masters used to say that one of the main advantages of this asset is
the possibility to exchange one of the bishops under favourable circumstances!
48...Bxc3+! 49.Kxc3 Kf4?!
49...Kh4–+ was more accurate, as now White can create some problems.
50.h4! Kg3 51.Bg8 h6 52.Bf7
376
52...Kxg2!
52...g5 53.hxg5 hxg5 54.Bg6 holds, as 54...Kxg2 55.Be4! Be8 56.f4+ is drawn.
53.Bxg6 Kg3 54.h5 Kxf3 55.Kb4 Kf4 56.Bc2 Kg5 57.Bd1
57.Bg6 Bf3 58.Kxa4 Bxh5 wins for Black – tablebases indicate mate in 19 moves!
57...Be8 58.Ka3 Bxh5 59.Bxa4
59...Bg6!
The only winning move! In this bishop endgame the rook pawn is the best to have, as the defending
bishop has only one diagonal at his disposal.
60.Bd1 Bf5 61.Kb2 Bg4 62.Kc1 h5 63.Kd2 Kf4 64.Ba4 h4 65.Ke1 h3 66.Bc6
Or 66.Kf2 Bf3 67.Kg1 Kg3–+
66...Bf3 67.Bxf3 Kxf3
0-1
b) Preserving
377
The opposite opinion is that such an exchange should be very much being avoided, if less-than-
concrete ‘compensation’ exists.
As we have already noted, the bishop pair is usually very strong, as it overcomes the main
disadvantage of a single bishop; its mono-chromacity is compensated for by the second bishop. If we
want to make it simpler, the exchange of one bishop considerably weakens the other!
A lot has been written on the relative worth scale of the bishop pair. If we take as granted that in this
scale every single minor piece (bishop or knight) is evaluated as three pawns, the bishop pair is
actually worth 6½ pawns (!). But by exchanging one of them, then the worth of the other goes down
to just 3 pawns, so we can safely assume that half-a-pawn was lost! So, preserving the bishop pair (if
of course there is nothing concrete in return for their exchange) is generally a good action and should
be carefully kept in mind.
For such cases, some examples can be found in this subchapter, where we can observe the positive
preservation of the bishop pair.
Game 77
Vachier Lagrave, Maxime (2789)
Grenke 2018
White has a good version of the bishop pair, as the centre is open, but his pawn structure is a bit
inferior to that of his opponent. He now has to make an important decision; to exchange the dark-
squared bishops, or not?
24.Bg3!
378
Of course not, as he gains nothing from 24.Bxg7?! Nxg7 25.Ke2 Ke7=
24.Bg3! Kd7 25.a4?!
The text offers White nothing, but he could claim a pleasant advantage after 25.Bd5! f5 26.f3!²
25...f5 26.f3?!
The text is not strong here, so White should opt instead for the natural 26.Ke2 Ke6 27.Kd3²
26...Ke6!
Now the black king can achieve centralisation.
27.Bc8+ Kd5 28.Bb7+ Ke6 29.Bc6 Nd6 30.Bf2 Be5 31.h4
31...f4!
An excellent resource, which dominates the dark squares.
32.exf4
32.e4 Bc3 Black has no problems at all.
32...Bxf4
379
But now the white kingside is weak, so White has to be careful, as Black has found enough
counterplay.
33.a5 bxa5 34.Bxc5 Nf5 35.Bb6 Bd2 36.Bd8 Nd4! 37.Ba4
37...Kd6!
And of course not 37...Nxf3? 38.Ke2+–
38.Kg2 Ne6 39.Bb6 Nc5
Leaving White with no choice...
40.Bxc5+ Kxc5
½-½
Game 78
Adly, Ahmed (2603)
Olympiad 2016
380
Position after: 20.Rfd1
The position seems to be quite drawish, as many exchanges (rooks and light-squared bishops) will
take place soon.
20...Bc8!
A strange-looking, but actually fantastic move by Kramnik! Black preserves his bishop pair, hoping
to exploit it in the endgame.
21.Rxd8 Rxd8 22.Rxd8+ Bxd8 23.Qc2 Kf8
The endgame is approaching, so Black begins to centralise his king.
24.Kf1 h5 25.Bd3 g6 26.Ne4 Qxc2 27.Bxc2
381
Black has succeeded in his plan; he has a pure endgame with the bishop pair, in which he holds a
significant advantage.
27...Ke7 28.Nd2 Bc7 29.Ke2 b5 30.a4 bxa4 31.Bxa4 Bb7 32.Nf3 a5 33.Bb5 f5 34.Kd2 Bd6
35.Kd1 Bd5
The bishop pair stands proudly in the centre and White can hardly move...
36.Nh4 g5 37.Nf3 g4 38.Ne1 Bb4 39.Ke2
382
39...Kf6?
It was time to give up one of the bishops to gain a winning position:

39...Bxe1! 40.Kxe1 Bxg2 41.Kd2 e5 42.Kc3 Kf6 43.b4 axb4+ 44.Kxb4 Kg5 45.Bd7 f4 46.exf4+
exf4 47.Kc3 h4 48.gxh4+ Kxh4 49.Kd3 Bf1+ 50.Ke4 g3 51.fxg3+ Kxg3–+. The boundaries
between preserving and giving up the bishop pair are quite difficult to draw...
40.f4! Ke7 41.Nd3 Bxg2 42.Nxb4 axb4
383
Position after: 42...axb4
Black has finally won a pawn, but here White has a good blockade and in the end he escaped with a
draw after 85 moves!
43.Kd2 Bb7 44.Ba4 Kd6 45.Bb3 Bd5 46.Ba4 Bc4 47.Bc2 Kd5 48.Bb1 Bb5 49.Bc2 Bd7 50.Kd3
Bb5+ 51.Kd2 Ba6 52.Bb1 b3 53.Ke1 Bc8 54.Bd3 Bb7 55.Bf1 Kc5 56.Bd3 Bc6 57.Bf1 Bb5
58.Bg2 Kd6 59.Bb7 Bd3 60.Kd2 Bc4 61.Ke1 e5 62.Kd2 Kc7 63.Bg2 e4 64.Ke1 Kd6 65.Bf1 Bd3
66.Be2 Ke6 67.Bd1 Bc4 68.Be2 Bd3 69.Bd1 Bc4 70.Be2 Kd5 71.Bxc4+ Kxc4 72.Ke2 Kd5
73.Kf1 Kc5 74.Ke1 Kd5 75.Kf1 Kd6 76.Kf2 Ke6 77.Kf1 h4 78.gxh4 Kd5 79.Kf2 Ke6 80.Kg2
Kf7 81.Kf2 Kg6 82.Kg2 Kh6 83.Kh2 Kh5 84.Kg3 Kg6 85.Kg2 Kh6
½-½
Game 79
Kavalek, Lubomir (2550)
Hermann, Manfred
Germany 1981
Of course, White’s superiority is indisputable, due to his bishop pair. But how to increase the
advantage?
384
18.a4
An interesting way, seeking to create weaknesses on the queenside.

18.Rd6 Rfe8 [18...Bxa2? 19.Rxa2 Qxa2 20.Bd5++–] 19.a3 Rad8 20.Rad1 Rxd6 21.Rxd6±
18.a4 Rfe8 19.Qf4 Bb3 20.Rd6 Rad8 21.a5
This move probably served the purpose of bringing the a1-rook into play without losing the a-pawn.
But now the a5-pawn is also comfortably protected by the well-positioned c3-bishop – and it also
fixes Black’s b-pawn.
White can’t gain a pawn here, as after 21.Bxc6 bxc6 22.Rxc6? Black has 22...Qd7–+
21...Rxd6 22.Qxd6 Rd8 23.Qf4 Bd5
385
A natural follow-up. If the opponent has the bishop pair, you should exchange one of the bishops.
24.Be2!
But, of course, White doesn’t accept the trade – an instructive moment to remember.
24...Re8 25.Bf1 a6 26.Rd1
Placing the rook on a good central square, while threatening Rxd5!.
26...Bb3 27.Rd6
And now White threatens Bxa6.
27...Re6 28.Rd3
Quite typical of the stronger player’s thought process; don’t allow too much material to be
exchanged.
28...Re7 29.Rg3
White switches to the kingside, with the immediate threat of Bxf6.
29...Ne5
386
30.h4
White goes for the mirror pawn advance of his 18th move! With this move he gains more space and
increase his initiative.
30...Bd5?!
The text allows the white h-pawn to advance, creating further weaknesses. 30...Kh8 31.Re3 Nc6
32.Rxe7 Qxe7 33.Qf5± was a better try.
31.h5! Qe6
31...Qxh5? 32.Qxf6+–
32.h6 g6
387
Obviously, White has made progress: f6 has become weaker and the h6-pawn may later allow mating
threats or attacks on the 7th rank. The defence has become increasingly difficult for Black.
33.Re3 Kf7?
A blunder which loses the game at once.

Black had to try 33...Qc6 34.Be2±
34.Rxe5!
1-0
388
Chapter 5
Investing Material
The bishop pair alone, as a strategical plus, can be quite lethal. But of course the opposite side will
not accept his ‘fate’, at least not without a good fight, seeking counterplay and resources. Counterplay
is a magical word and the modern approach to many solutions, contrary to what was happening, let’s
say, a hundred years ago, where players didn’t put up stubborn defence.
A good way to slow down the opponent’s aggression and clarifying matters, or get the desirable set-
ups, is to invest some small material (usually a pawn). This looks even better when the bishop pair
side is already material up, so in reality risks little with such an approach.
Game 80
FIDE-WC 2007
Position after: 29...Nde7
White’s advantage is indisputable: he not only possess the bishop pair, but is also a pawn up.
30.Bf1!
But now he suddenly decides to give up the d4-pawn in order to open the position, where his bishop
pair together with the weakness of the b6-pawn, will secure the advantage.
Of course he could have kept the extra pawn with 30.Rd1 Nxd4?! 31.Bxf7+ Kxf7 32.Nc4 Nec6
33.Nxb6+–
389
30.Bf1! Nxd4 31.Re1 Ndc6 32.Nc4 Nd5
33.Rb1!
An excellent response, predicted in advance.
33...Kf8
After 33...Nxc3 34.bxc3±, White regains the pawn, but this time under more favourable
circumstances.
34.Be1!
The bishop pair retreat is only temporary; soon they will re-emerge to excellent squares...
34...Ke7
34...Ncb4 35.Rd1 Nc2 36.Bd2² [36.Nxb6?! Nxe1 37.Nxd5 Nxg2=]
35.Kg1!
Again White finds a powerful way to improve the position. The f2-square ‘belongs’ to the e1-bishop,
from where it can easily attack the weak black b-pawn.
35...Nb8 36.Bf2
390
White’s advantage has become huge. The open position helps the bishop pair to the maximum, while
Black’s fixed queenside weaknesses will prove to be his downfall.
36...Nd7 37.Re1+ Kf8 38.Rd1 Ke7 39.Re1+ Kf8 40.Nd6 Ne5
After 40...Nc5 41.Nxf7 Kxf7 42.Bxc5 [Or 42.Bb5±] 42...bxc5 43.Bc4 Rd7 44.Rd1 Ke6 45.f4 g5
46.g3±, Black will run out of useful moves, sooner or later.
41.Nxf7 Kxf7 42.Rd1
Such positions should be avoided for Black, as the bishop pair will eventually fully dominate the
knight pair.
42...Ke7 43.f4?!
391
Position after: 43.f4?!
43.Ba6± was more accurate.
43...Ng4!
Of course, not 43...Nxf4? 44.Rxd8 Kxd8 45.Bxb6++–
44.Re1+ Kf8 45.Bd4 Rd6
Again taking on f4 loses: 45...Nxf4? 46.Bxb6 Rd5 47.b4! axb4 48.a5 and the knights can’t fight
against the marginal passed pawn.
46.h3
392
46...Nh6?!
46...Nxf4 was worth a try, at the same time containing a trap:

A) 47.Rd1? [threatening 48.Bc5] 47...Ke7! [47...Ne6 48.Bc5+–; 47...Ke8 48.hxg4 Ne6 49.Re1+–]
48.hxg4 Ne6 and it is White who must look to escape.
B) 47.Re4 Ne6 48.Rxe6 Rxe6 49.hxg4±
47.Rd1!
Back on the right track!
47...Nf5 48.Bf2 Ke7
48...Nxf4 49.Rxd6 Nxd6 50.Bxb6±
49.g4 Nh6 50.f5 Nf7 51.Bg2 Nf4 52.Rxd6 Nxd6 53.Bxb6
In spite of Black’s best efforts, the inevitable has happened. Now the extra pawn secures a technical
win.
53...Nc4 54.Bc5+ Kd7 55.Bf1
Even stronger was 55.b3 Nxg2 [55...Nd2 56.Be3 Nxg2 57.Bxd2+–] 56.Kxg2 Nd2 57.b4+–
55...Nxb2
393
Position after: 55...Nxb2
56.Bb5+ Kd8?!
More stubborn was 56...Kc7, although after 57.Bf8 [Or 57.h4] 57...g6 58.fxg6 hxg6 59.h4 Black’s
position is difficult anyway.
57.Bb6+ Ke7 58.Kh2
394
There is no way out for Black anymore...the bishop pair dominates.
58...Nd5 59.Bxa5 Kd6 60.Bd2 Kc5 61.Kg3 Nc7 62.Be3+ Kb4 63.Bd2+ Kc5 64.Bc1 Nc4 65.Bxc4
Kxc4 66.Bd2 Na6 67.a5 Kb5 68.Kf3 Nc5 69.Bc3 h6 70.Ke3 Kc4 71.Bd4
1-0
Game 81
Schuh, Hubert (2350)
Strasbourg 1985
Black has won a pawn, but White has compensation, as he is exerting pressure on the black camp.
35...Nc4!
Black had no choice but to return his material gain, but in fact his only option is also a pleasant one.
In order to regain the pawn, White must simplify into an endgame where Black’s bishop pair
dominate, while he also foregoes any chance to ‘annoy’ Black.
36.Bxc4 bxc4 37.Qxc4 Bxe4! 38.Qxe6+ Kg6 39.Qg4+ Kh7 40.f5 Bd5 41.Ne6 Kg8
A good prophylactic move, escaping from a possible future perpetual check (with Qg6+/e8+).
42.a4
395
White had little choice here.
42.Qg6 is easily defeated by the simple 42...Qf7µ
42...h5! 43.Qe2 a5!
Position after: 43...a5!
Black fixes the target pawn on a light square, where it will always be threatened by the d5-bishop.
Black’s bishop pair, augmented by the fact that there are no central pawns and that play develops on
both flanks, proves deadly. White has no possibility of creating counterplay, and is thus condemned
to a slow but certain death.
44.h3 h4 45.Nd4 Be4 46.Nf3 Bg3 47.Nd2 Bc6! 48.Bh2?!
The desire to get rid of the enemy bishop pair is understandable, but this speeds up the end. White
should have tried 48.Nc4 Bc7µ
48...Qd7! 49.Bxg3 hxg3 50.Nf1
50.Qc4+ Bd5 51.Qc2 Qa7! does not save White either.
50...Qxf5 51.Nxg3 Qxh3+ 52.Kg1 Qd7!
Certainly not 52...Qxg3? 53.Qe6+ Kf8 54.Qxc6 when Black has lost the greater part of his
advantage.
53.Nh5
396
Position after: 53.Nh5
53...Qd4+! 54.Kf1
54.Kh1?!, loses on the spot: 54...Qa1+ 55.Kh2 Qe5+–+
54...Be4! 55.Nf4 Qxa4 56.Qh5 Qa1+ 57.Kf2 Qd4+ 58.Kg3 Qe3+
White resigned
58...Qe3+ 59.Kg4 f5+ 60.Kg5 Qg3+
0-1
Game 82
Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar (2729)
Dominguez Perez, Leinier (2725)
FIDE Grand Prix 2012
397
Position after: 22...Bxd5
White still has the bishop pair as an asset, while the black h5-knight seems to be out of play. But
Black’s healthy pawn structure can contribute to his defence.
23.Ba4 Nb8 24.b5! Nd7 25.Bd1 Rc7 26.Nd4 Ng7
27.Nc6! Bxc6?! 28.bxc6 Rxc6
398
Now, despite the extra pawn, Black’s position is dangerous due to White’s strong bishop pair.
29.Ra8
Position after: 29.Ra8
29...Nc5?
29...Nf5! was the right move; a very difficult one to find. Black holds on, although White retains
unpleasant pressure: 30.Ba3 [30.Ba4 b5! 31.Bxb5 Rb6 32.Bxd7 Rxb2=] 30...Nd6 31.Bxd6 [31.Ba4
b5 32.Bxd6 Rxd6 33.Bxb5²] 31...Rxd6 32.Ne4 Rd5! 33.Ra7 Re5! 34.Bc2 Nb8 35.Ra8 Nd7 36.Rd8
f5! 37.f4! [37.gxf6 Nc5∞] 37...Rb5 38.Nd6 Rb2 39.Kd2 Nc5 40.Ra8 Ne4+ 41.Nxe4 fxe4 42.Kc3
Rb5 43.Bb3²
30.Nc4?
30.Ba3! should be enough, tying up Black’s pieces. Then White’s knight goes to e4 or c4 with
decisive threats.
30...b5! 31.Ne5 Ra6 32.Rb8 Ra2 33.Rxb5 Ne8!
Black has considerably improved his position.
34.Kf3 Nc7
34...Ne4?! 35.Rb8! Nxg5+ 36.Kg2±
399
35.Rb8 Ra8?
A natural way to oppose White’s pressure, but Black missed a nice tactical solution: 35...N5a6!
36.Rb7 Rxb2 37.Rxb2 Bg7 38.Nd3 [38.Kf4? Nd5+ 39.Ke4 Nc5+µ] 38...Bxb2 39.Nxb2=
36.Rxa8 Nxa8 37.Ng4
Although material has been reduced, the white bishop pair remains strong.
37...Be7?
It was essential for Black not to allow the exchange of his bishop for the white knight: 37...Nd7!
38.Ba4 [38.Nh6+ Bxh6 39.gxh6 f5 when Black gets a lot of luft.] 38...Nab6 39.Bb5 Bg7 40.Nf6+
Nxf6 41.gxf6 Bf8 42.Bd4±
38.Nf6+ Bxf6 39.gxf6
400
Position after: 39.gxf6
Unbelievably, this endgame is lost for Black! His knights have no strongholds, and White gradually
encircles them.
39...Nc7 40.e4 Nd7 41.Ba4 Nb6 42.Bc6 Nc4 43.Bc3
43...e5?!
401
Desperation. White quickly wins this pawn, after which his victory will be certain. If Black waits,
then White will improve his king by going after the black knights!
44.Ke2 Ne6 45.Kd3 Nb6 46.Bxe5 Nd7 47.Bc3 g5
48.Kc4 Ndf8 49.Kd5 Ng6 50.Kd6 Kf8 51.Bb4 Kg8 52.Bd5 Nef4
Or 52...Ngf8 53.Ke7 Ng6+ 54.Kd7 Ngf8+ 55.Bxf8 Nxf8+ 56.Ke8+–
53.Kd7 Nh5 54.Be7 Ne5+ 55.Ke8
402
Game over; Black will get into zugzwang sooner or later...
55...g4 56.Bd8 Nf4 57.Bc7 Nfd3 58.Bxe5
One of the many winning moves...
58...Nxe5 59.Ba2 h5 60.Bd5 h4 61.Ba2 h3 62.Bd5
The zugzwang!
62...Kh8 63.Bxf7 g3 64.fxg3 Ng4 65.Ke7
1-0
403
Chapter 6
The Bishop Pair Fails
The bishop pair is usually strong, but there are always ways to fight against it and try to negate its
action.
The advantage of the bishop pair lies in its duality and co-operation; the bishop pair can control both
light and dark squares, complementing each other. Bearing this in mind, the defensive ideas against
the bishop pair should already start shaping. Basically, it is important to limit its activity and turn it
into a disadvantage.
Some good tips are:
1. Try to keep the game as closed as possible.
2. Create outposts for the knight(s) and turn it/them into strong, uncomfortable piece(s).
3. Trade off one of the opponent bishops. Pay attention, though, to the resulting position; you should
only use this idea if the exchange favours you.
4. Modify the pawn structure; strive to block the pawns.
These are the main ideas that should be followed when playing against the bishop pair.
Game 83
Spassov, Liuben (2417)
Le Ruyet, Leopold (2045)
Rohde Open 2008
404
Of course this cannot be a position made for the bishop pair, as the centre is blocked and the black
bishops lack targets.
21.Rb3
Nothing is gained by 21.Ba6 Rxb1+ 22.Nxb1 Nb6 23.Na3 Bb2 24.Nb5 f5 25.Nc7 fxe4 26.Nd2 Kf8
27.Nxa8 Nxa8 28.Nxe4 Ke7 29.Kf1 Nb6 30.Bb7 h6 31.Ke2 Be5 32.h3 Bd4 33.f4 Nc4 34.g4 Ne3
35.Nf2 g6 36.Nd3 ½ – ½ Chetverik, M – Turov, M Sochi 2007.
21.Rb3 Na7
The alternative is 21...Bd8 22.g4 Bc7 23.Nh4 g6 24.Ng2²
22.Ba6! Rxb3 23.Nxb3 Kf8 24.Nfd2
Position after: 24.Nfd2
White stands slightly better due to his control of the c4-square and the future e5-advance. His knights
dominate the position.
24...Bd8 25.Nc4 Ke7 26.g4
A typical advance, stopping any counterplay by ...f5.

Also good is 26.Nc1 Kd7 27.Ne2.
26...Kd7 27.Kg2 Kc7 28.f4 Be7 29.Nba5
405
Position after: 29.Nba5
White can also increase his advantage by 29.Kf3 g6 30.g5 Bb7 31.Bxb7 Kxb7 32.Ke3.
29...Nc8?
Black logically tries to improve his knight, but he should have opted instead for a passive defence
with 29...f6 30.Kf3 g6.
30.Bxc8! Kxc8 31.Nb6+ Kb8 32.Nxa8 Kxa8 33.Nc4?!
Easier was 33.e5 dxe5 34.fxe5+–
33...Kb7
406
Position after: 33...Kb7
34.e5?
Again White misses the road: 34.Kf3 Ka6 35.e5! dxe5 36.d6 Bh4 37.Nxe5±
34...Kc7?
Counterplay is important and this could be achieved by 34...dxe5! 35.fxe5 [35.d6?! Bd8 36.Nxe5 f6]
35...Ka6!=
35.Kf3 h6 36.Ke4 Kd7
407
37.h4! dxe5 38.Nxe5+?!
Preferable is here 38.fxe5 Bxh4 39.Nd6 c4 40.Nxf7 c3 41.Kd3 Be1 42.e6+ Ke7 43.Ne5+–
38...Ke8 39.h5 Bd6 40.Nc4 Ke7?!
40...Kd7! 41.g5 Bf8±
41.g5! Bc7 42.gxh6?
Accurate and winning was 42.Ne3 Kd7 43.f5!+–
42...gxh6 43.Ne3 Kd7 44.Ng4 c4?
The final blunder.

Black could be saved by 44...f5+! 45.Kxf5 c4=
45.Ne5+!
Black resigned
45.Ne5+ Bxe5 [45...Ke7 46.Nxc4+–] 46.fxe5+–
1-0
Game 84
408
Gesos, Pavlos (2380)
Greece rapid 1998
Here White’s bishop pair is not doing much, as the light-squared bishop appears doomed to passivity.
The pawn structure is not ‘helpful’, besides which, Black has an easy plan: expanding on the
queenside.
13...b5 14.Bg5
14.Be3 looks more natural: 14...Rc8 [14...Qb6 15.Bd2 b4 16.Ne3 bxc3 17.bxc3 Rfb8 18.Rac1 Qd8∞
Tempone, M – Adla, D Buenos Aires 1993] 15.d4 cxd4 16.Nxd4 Nxd4 17.Bxd4 Bxd4 18.cxd4 Qb6
19.Rad1 Rc2 20.Qb3 Rfc8∞ Faase, R – Rogers, I Netherlands 1995.
14...b4! 15.Bd2
White should strongly consider sacrificing a pawn in order to activate his bishop pair: 15.d4 bxc3
16.bxc3 cxd4 17.cxd4 Nxd4 18.Nxd4 Bxd4 19.Rab1©
15...a5 16.Rab1 Rb8 17.Ne3 a4
409
18.Rec1?!
Too passive.
18.Nf5 was called for: 18...Be5 [18...gxf5?? 19.Bh6] 19.f4 Bf6 20.Nh6+ Kh8 21.Ng4 Bg7 22.c4 and
although Black controls important dark squares, things are far from clear.
18...a3!
Breaking down White’s queenside.
19.bxa3
A better try was 19.b3 Bxc3 20.Bxc3 bxc3 21.Rxc3 Nd4³
19...bxc3 20.Be1
Or 20.Rxb8 cxd2! 21.Rxd8 dxc1=Q 22.Rxd7 Rb8µ
20...Rb2! 21.Nc4 Rxa2 22.Bxc3
410
22...Nde5
Further exchanges of important pieces (everything other than the f1-bishop) can only improve
Black’s position.
23.Ra1 Rxa1 24.Bxa1 Nxc4 25.Bxg7 Kxg7 26.dxc4 Qa5 27.Qc3+ Qxc3 28.Rxc3 Ra8
The ending is won for Black as his superior pawn structure and superior minor piece will do the job.
29.f3 Kf6 30.Kf2 Rb8 31.Ke3 Rb1 32.Bd3 Rg1 33.Rc2 Re1+ 34.Be2
34.Kf2 Ra1 35.Rc3 Ra2+ 36.Kg3 Ke5–+
34...Nd4 35.Ra2 Nxe2 36.Kd2
411
36...Rg1! 37.a4 Nd4 38.Kc3 Rc1+ 39.Kd2 Nb3+
0-1
Game 85
Spassky, Boris Vasilievich (2660)
Fischer, Robert James (2785)
FIDE-Wch 1972
412
White has the bishop pair and a passed d-pawn, while Black’s kingside pawns are doubled and his b6-
pawn is weak and backward. But Black stands fine (!) and this can be explained by the blocked centre
and the immobility of the bishop pair.
20...g5 21.Bd2 Qe8! 22.Be1 Qg6
Black has started to build pressure against the white weak pawns on a4 and e4.
23.Qd3 Nh5
Sooner or later, the rooks must be exchanged; Black cannot withstand forever the combined force of
the white rooks down the f-file.
24.Rxf8+ Rxf8 25.Rxf8+ Kxf8 26.Bd1!
According to Jan Timman this is better than 26.g3?! Nf6³
26...Nf4
But here a ‘famous’ blunder took place!
27.Qc2?
27.Qb1 h5! [27...g4!?] 28.Bd2 [28.h3?! g4 29.hxg4 Bxg4 30.Bxg4 Qxg4µ; 28.Bg3 h4 29.Bxf4
413
gxf4³] 28...g4 29.Be1 Qf6∞ was playable.
27...Bxa4!
27...Bxa4 28.Qxa4 [28.Qb1 Bxd1 29.Qxd1 Qxe4–+] 28...Qxe4 29.Kf2 Nd3+–+
0-1
414
Chapter 7
Compensatory Factors
Chapter Guide
a) A Pawn
b) An Exchange
The bishop pair is a powerful weapon and this should by no means be underestimated! So, in certain
cases the possibility to sacrifice (or lose!) some ‘small’ material comes into fore. In these cases, the
possibility of certain compensating factors come into play.
The ‘usual’ sacrifice concerns just a mere pawn. And this can be done for various reasons, either
offensive (initiative, domination, etc), or defensive (escaping to a holdable endgame, fighting off a
lethal attack, etc).
The second case concerns the sacrifice of the exchange. Well, this case is more difficult, as of course
the material invested is higher. The side that proceeds to the sacrifice has to examine the position
carefully and make the decision if it is worthy or not.
Of course ‘security’ is an alien word to these cases and most of the decisions are based on strategic
concepts and knowledge of certain position and motifs. As is understandable, there is a lot of
uncertainty in these cases, so we will try to examine some of them and draw some interesting and
useful conclusions.
After all, good training is the basis of every improvement!
a) A Pawn
Game 86
Barlov, Dragan (2485)
Balkaniad 1988
A very interesting position has arisen after a complicated opening. Black has ceded the bishop pair to
White, but things are far from clear yet.
415
21...g5
A quite aggressive move, which seems to give Black good play on the dark squares.
However, the modest 21...g6² was better.
21...g5 22.e5!
The correct reaction, investing a pawn.

White refuses to weaken his king (with 22.g3?) or surrender the very important e5-square with
22.fxg5? Instead, he opens up the position, hoping to benefit from his potentially powerful bishop
pair, and the weaknesses around Black’s king caused by the ambitious 21...g5. Of course, White will
probably lose a pawn but this will be small payment for the bishop pair, a weakened black king and
the initiative.
22...dxe5 23.fxe5 Bg7 24.Rbd1 Nc8
416
25.Ne4
White could have proceeded in the same dynamic spirit with 25.Nd5!? cxd5 26.cxd5
A) 26...Qg6? 27.Bd3 f5 [27...Qh5 28.g4!] 28.d6+ Kh8 29.e6+–
B) 26...Qe7 27.d6 Qd8
417
[27...Qf8 28.e6 fxe6 29.Rxe6 Kh8 30.Bb5 Rd8 31.Qd3 Ne5 32.Qd5±] 28.e6! fxe6 29.Rxe6
B1) 29...Kh8 30.Bd4! Bxd4+ [30...Nf6?! 31.d7! Qxd7 32.Rxf6+–] 31.Rxd4 Kg7 32.Bd3©
B2) 29...Rxe6 30.Qxe6+ Kh8 31.Bd4 Bxd4+ 32.Rxd4 Kg7 33.Bd3 Nf6 34.h4!© But, of course, it is
quite difficult to calculate all these variations over the board...
25...Nxe5
Another option was 25...Bxe5 26.g4!, intending 27.Ng3 and 28.Bd3, with an initiative for White,
while also good for White seems to be 26.Qf3 f5 27.Ng3 f4 28.Ne4 Nf8 29.c5 Qf7 30.Nd2 Kh8
31.Rxe5 Rxe5 32.Bd4 and 1-0 Rodgaard, J – Kristensen, L Aarhus 1989.
26.Nc5 Qe7 27.Nd7!
Position after: 27.Nd7!
27...Nd6?
A serious error, induced by time trouble. After the text move, Black falls victim to a simple
combination that costs him two minor pieces for a rook. The resulting position is easily won for
White.
A) Black’s only chance lay in 27...f6! 28.Bd3! Qf7 29.Bf5 Nxd7 30.Rxe8+ Qxe8 31.Bxd7, when
White has a strong initiative for just one pawn and his light-squared bishop has no worthy opponent.
On the other hand,
B) 27...Kh8?, loses quickly to 28.Nxe5 Bxe5 29.Rxe5 Qxe5 30.Bd4+–
418
28.Nxe5! Bxe5
29.Rxe5! Qxe5 30.Bg3 Qe3+
Not much different is 30...Qe4 31.Bxd6 Ra1 32.Bc5! Rea8 33.Bd3±
31.Qxe3 Rxe3 32.Bxd6
White got two powerful bishops for a black rook and he is in full control.
32...Rd8 33.c5 Rb3
419
Position after: 33...Rb3
34.Rd4
34.b5 cxb5 35.Be2 b4 36.Bf3 Rc3 37.Rd4 b3 38.Rb4+– looks good too.
34...Rb2 35.Re4 Ra8 36.Bc4 Ra1+?!
Time trouble and a bad position combine to help Black blunder!
37.Kh2 Rc1?!
420
Position after: 37...Rc1?!
38.Re8+
38.Re8+ Kh7 39.Bd3+ Kg7 40.Be5+
1-0
Game 87
Polgar, Judit (2671)
Shirov, Alexei (2734)
EuroTel Trophy 1999
White has won (or Black has sacrificed) a pawn, but the black bishop pair compensates for this small
deficit.
421
Position after: 23...Bxc7
24.c5
24.Nd4 g5 [24...Bxe5 25.fxe5 Bxc4 26.b3 Bd5³] 25.g3 Bxe5 26.fxe5 Bxc4 27.b3 Bd5³ and White
has good chances to hold the endgame, but nothing more of course.
24.c5 g5
The immediate 24...f6 was possible: 25.Nd4 [25.Nc6 Bxf4 26.Nxa7 Be3+ 27.Kh1 Bc4³] 25...Ke7
26.Nec6+ Kd7∞
25.Nc6?!
422
Position after: 25.Nc6?!
25.g3 is called for: 25...gxf4 26.gxf4 f6 27.Nd4!, merely transposing to the above variation with the
g-pawns missing.
25...gxf4?!
25...Bxf4!, was much better: 26.Nxa7 Be3+ 27.Kh1 Bc4³
26.a4?!
This allows the bishop pair to dominate.

26.Nbd4! e5 27.Nc2 Ke8 28.Nxa7 Kd7 29.Nb4 Bc4 30.b3 Be6 31.Kf2²
26...Bc4! 27.Nd2 Bd5 28.Nxa7
The other option was no better: 28.Nb4 Bb7 29.Nc2 [29.c6 Ba8 30.Nc4 Ke7 31.Na6 Bb6+µ]
29...a5³
28...Ba5
423
This ending is a classic example of ‘what the bishop pair is capable of doing’.
29.Nb1 Bb4
Black slowly, but with a steady hand, dominates over the knight pair.
30.Nb5 Bxc5+ 31.Kf1 f3!
This undoubles the f-pawns and in turn creates a pair of passed pawns.
32.gxf3 Bxf3 33.Nd2 Bd5 34.Ke2 Ke7 35.Kd3 f5 36.Nc3 Bb7 37.Kc4 Be3 38.Kd3 Bg1 39.b4?!
For good or bad, White should not allow another passed pawn. 39.h3 e5 40.b4 e4+ 41.Ke2 Bd4
42.Nb5 Bf6µ had to be played.
39...Bxh2 40.b5
424
40...h5! 41.a5 h4 42.Ke2
Or 42.a6 Bg2 43.b6 [43.Nc4 h3 44.b6 Bb8–+] 43...h3–+
42...h3 43.a6 Bg2?!
43...Bc7!! 44.Nf3 Ba8, was curtains.
44.Kf2 Bd6 45.Nf3
Black wins even after 45.Na4 Ba8 46.Nf3 h2 47.Nxh2 Bxh2 48.b6 Bd5–+
45...Bc5+ 46.Kg3 f4+ 47.Kg4
425
Or 47.Kxf4 Bd6+ 48.Ke3 h2 49.Nxh2 Bxh2 50.Kf2 Bh1 51.b6 Kd6–+
47...Bg1! 48.b6
A) 48.Kxf4 h2 49.Nxh2 Bxh2+ 50.Kg4 Bg1–+, or

B) 48.Nxg1 h2–+
48...Bxf3+ 49.Kxf3 h2 50.Kg2 f3+
50...f3+ 51.Kh1 f2 52.a7 f1=Q 53.a8=Q Be3+ 54.Kxh2 Bf4#
0-1
Game 88
Aronian, Levon (2802)
Leko, Peter (2735)
Tata Steel 2013
426
Black decided to give a pawn in return for an easy game with the bishop pair as a compensating
factor. Here, White can play for two results, while Black only for one – a draw...
29.Kf1 Kf7 30.Ke2 Ke6 31.Kd3 g5 32.Kd4 h5 33.b3 Bc7 34.Bb6 Bd6 35.Bd8 Bb4 36.a3 Be1
37.Ke3 Bc3 38.Bc7 Bc6 39.Kd3 Ba1 40.f4 Bb5 41.a4 Bc6 42.Na5 Bg2 43.Kc4 Kd7 44.Bb8 Bf1+
45.Kc5 Bc3 46.Nc4 Be2 47.f5 Be1
White has made some progress, but Black can still, of course, defend.
427
48.Nb6+!?
Aronian advances on the queenside with his whole army.

48.Kb6 Bd3 49.Kxa6 Kc6, when White’s king is badly placed, for example: 50.Ba7 h4 51.Bd4 hxg3
52.hxg3 Bxg3 53.Bxf6 Bf4 54.Bd4 Bxf5=
48...Ke8 49.b4 Bf2+ 50.Kc6
Position after: 50.Kc6
50...Bxb6?
Black crumbles under the pressure. The resulting endgame with opposite-coloured bishops is
extremely difficult as he has no clear-cut way to set up a fortress.
50...Bd3 51.Nc8 [51.Nd5 Bxf5 52.Nxf6+ Kf7 53.Nxh5 Be4+ 54.Kc7 Bf3 55.g4 Bxg4 56.Ng3 Bf3
57.b5 axb5 58.axb5 Bg1 59.h3 Bg2=] 51...Bg1 52.Nd6+ Ke7 53.b5 axb5 54.axb5 Bxh2 55.Bc7 Be2
56.Nc8+ Ke8 57.b6 Bf3+=
51.Kxb6 Kd7 52.Kb7
428
52...Bd3
A) 52...h4 53.Ba7 Bd3 54.Bd4 hxg3 55.hxg3 Ke7 56.Kb6 g4 57.Kc7 Bc4 58.Bc5+ Ke8 59.Kd6 Kf7
60.Kc6 Bb3 61.Kb6 Bxa4 62.Kxa6+–
B) 52...a5?! 53.b5+– It doesn’t help.
53.Ba7
429
53...Bc2
A) For a defender, it usually makes sense to reduce pawn material, but 53...h4 54.gxh4 gxh4 55.Bd4
Ke7 56.h3+– won’t solve his problems – the h4-pawn will be targeted soon: 56...Bf1 [56...Bxf5
57.Kxa6 Bxh3 58.b5+–] 57.Bf2 Kd6 58.Bxh4 Ke5 59.Be1 Kxf5 60.h4 Ke5 61.Kc6 Bg2+ 62.Kb6
Bf1 63.h5+–
B) The same goes for 53...Kd6 54.Bd4
54...Ke7 55.Kb6 g4 56.Kc7 Be2 57.Bc5+ Ke8 58.Kd6 Bc4 59.Bd4 Kf7 60.Kc5 Bd3 61.b5 axb5
62.axb5 Bxf5 63.Kc6+–
C) 53...g4 54.Bd4 Ke7 55.Kb6 Be2 56.b5 axb5 57.axb5 Bd3 58.Kc6+–
54.Kxa6 Bxa4 55.b5 Bc2
430
56.Bd4!?
The direct 56.b6?! seems to win after 56...Bd3+ 57.Kb7 Bxf5 58.Kb8 Be4 59.b7 Ke6 60.Bb6 Kf5
61.Bd8 h4 62.gxh4 gxh4 63.Kc7 Bxb7 64.Kxb7 Ke5 65.Kc6 h3 66.Kc5 f5 67.Kc4 Ke4 68.Kc3
Ke3 69.Bg5+ f4 70.Bh6 Kf3 71.Kd2 Ke4 72.Ke2+–. But Aronian’s solution is more clear-cut from a
human point of view.
56...Bd3
56...Kc8!? 57.Bxf6 Bxf5 58.Bxg5 Bd3 is more tenacious, but still insufficient, e.g. 59.Bf4 Bf1
60.Kb6 Kd7 61.h3 Bxh3 [61...Be2 62.Kc5 Bf1 63.g4 h4 64.b6 Kc8 65.g5 Bxh3 66.g6 Be6 67.Kc6
Bd7+ 68.Kd6 Be8 69.g7 Bf7 70.g8=Q+ Bxg8 71.Kc6+–] 62.Kb7 Bg2+ 63.Kb8+–
57.Bxf6 Kc8
57...g4 58.Bg7 Bxf5 59.b6 Be4 60.b7+–
58.Bxg5 Bxf5 59.Ka7
1-0
Game 89
Shirov, Alexei (2739)
Karjakin, Sergey (2694)
FIDE-WC 2007
431
A well-known position of the Marshall Gambit in the Ruy Lopez, played on numerous occasions at
the top level. According to my statistics, White has scored 57.4% over 34 games.
18...Qxg2+
Here Black can preserve the queens on board with 18...Qh5 19.Be3, where many games have been
played.
18...Qxg2+ 19.Kxg2 Bxd3 20.Be3 Rfe8 21.Nd2
432
21...f6
Possible is 21...b4 22.Bb6 Rxe1 23.Rxe1 Rb8 24.Ba5 bxc3 25.Bxc3 f6 26.Ne4 Bf8 27.f3 Bc4
[27...Rc8 28.Rd1² Shirov, A – Aronian, L Linares 2008] 28.b3 Bb5 29.Ba5² Shirov, A – Leko, P
Linares 2008.
22.Bb6 Rb8 23.Rxe8+ Rxe8 24.Nb3 Bc4 25.Rd1 Bf8 26.Be3 Kf7 27.Na5 Be6 28.a3 Rc8 29.f3 Rc7
30.Rd8 Rc8 31.Nb7 Rc7 32.Nd6+ Bxd6 33.Rxd6
433
Position after: 33.Rxd6
If the rooks were off the board, this would be a trivial draw. But as it stands, White can put a lot of
pressure on his opponent.
33...Bc8 34.Kf2 Ke7 35.Rb6 Kd7 36.g4!
A typical idea – White wants to expand on the kingside. The aim is to create weaknesses in Black’s
position.
36...Rc6 37.Rb8 g6 38.Ra8 Ke6 39.Bd4 h5 40.h4! Ke7
40...hxg4?! 41.fxg4, would favour White, who can then create an outside passed pawn.
41.Ra7+ Bd7 42.Kg3 Re6 43.Kf4
43...Ke8?
43...Rc6 was the only way to put up a fight. Now the white king penetrates and the black pawns fall.
44.gxh5 gxh5 45.Kf5 Rd6+ 46.Kg6 Bc6 47.f4 Be4+ 48.Kxh5 Rd5+ 49.Kh6 Rf5 50.Be3 Bf3
51.Kg6 Be4 52.Kg7 Rh5 53.Kxf6 Bd3 54.Ra8+ Kd7 55.Ra7+ Kc6 56.Rxa6+ Kd5 57.Ra8 Rxh4
434
Position after: 57...Rxh4
58.Rd8+ Ke4 59.Kg5 Rh2 60.Bc5 Rg2+ 61.Kf6 Bc4 62.Rd4+ Kf3 63.a4 Rxb2 64.a5 Ra2 65.Bb4
Re2 66.f5 Re8 67.Rxc4 bxc4 68.Kg7 Re4 69.f6 Rg4+ 70.Kf8
1-0
b) An Exchange
Game 90
Svidler, Peter (2710)
Olympiad 1998
435
White has sacrificed the exchange, but in return he has the bishop pair, two pawns, and a strong
centre. Obviously, this compensation should be more than adequate.
31.d4 cxd4 32.cxd4 Nb6
32...f5 33.g4! [33.e5? Qc6+ 34.Kg1 Qxc2 35.Bh6+ Kh8 36.Qg5 Rg8 37.Bg7+ Rxg7 38.Qxd8+ Rg8
39.Qxd7 Qd2!=] 33...fxe4 [33...fxg4 34.Bd3±] 34.Bxe4±
33.Qf2 Nd5 34.Bd2!
34.exd5? allows Black to equalise after 34...Rxe1+ 35.Qxe1 Qxc2 36.Qe7+ Kg6 37.Qxd8 Qe4+
38.Kg1 Qe1+ 39.Kg2 Qe2+= 40.Kh3? Kh5!–+
34...Ne7 35.e5! f5
436
Unfortunately Black cannot go for 35...Qxc2? 36.Bh6++–
36.e6!
With the simple idea of pushing d5, opening the long diagonal for a direct attack on the black king.
36...Qf6 37.Bb3 Kg8
37...Rxd4 38.Bc3 Red8 loses to 39.g4! fxg4 40.Qxf6+ Kxf6 41.Re4 Nc6 42.e7+–
38.Re5
Full domination; the black camp is under heavy pressure...
38...Kg7
437
39.d5! Qxe5
39...Qxe5 40.Bc3 Qxc3 41.bxc3 Nxd5 42.Qxf5 Ne7 43.Qf7+ Kh6 [43...Kh8 44.Bc2 Ng6 45.e7
Rxe7 46.Qf6++–] 44.Qf6+ Ng6 45.h4+–
1-0
Game 91
Makropoulou, Marina (2315)
Greece 2001
Black’s handling of the position and its problems had, up to this point, been successful. However,
with her last move she allows White an excellent exchange sacrifice, after which her position
becomes difficult. After the correct 26...Rc8! there would be all to play for.
438
27.Rxc6! Nxc6 28.Qxc6 Qb7
Otherwise, Black would lose another pawn.
29.Qxb7 Nxb7 30.g4! fxg4 31.hxg4 Nd6 32.Nc5
For the sacrificed exchange, White has obtained a pawn, the better pawn structure, the bishop pair,
and clear targets (a6 and d5). His position is preferable.
32...Ra8
439
Position after: 32...Ra8
33.Be1!
The white bishops are getting ready to be placed on better diagonals, via g2 and g3.
33...Ra7 34.Rd3 Kg7 35.Bg2 Ne4
440
36.f3! Nxc5
White would have a decisive superiority after 36...Nd6 37.Bg3, intending Be5 and f4.
37.dxc5
Now a protected passed c-pawn has been added to White’s advantages.
37...Rae7 38.Kf2 Kf7 39.f4
Not bad, but more human was 39.Bc3! Bg7 40.Bxg7 Kxg7 41.f4!±, with an easy win.
39...d4!
Black’s last practical try!
40.Bd5+ Kf6 41.e4?!
Position after: 41.e4?!
After 41.Bd2! dxe3+ 42.Bxe3, Black is busted.
41...Rxe4!
Returning the exchange allows Black to fight for a positive result.
42.Bxe4 Rxe4 43.Rxd4!
441
Compulsory, as 43.Bd2?! Ke6! 44.Kf3 Kd5, would have been satisfactory for Black.
43...Rxd4 44.Bc3 Ke6 45.Bxd4 Kd5 46.Be5?!
Position after: 46.Be5?!
46.Bf6 is clearly preferable, with good winning chances. The excellent placement of the black king in
the centre makes White’s task a bit difficult.
46...g5! 47.Kf3 Bh6 48.Bf6 gxf4 49.g5 Bf8 50.Kxf4 Ke6
50...Kc4?!, loses easily to 51.Ke4 Kxb4 52.c6 Bd6 53.Be7+–
51.Be5 Be7
442
52.Bd6?
The text move (played in extreme time trouble) allows Black to win directly! 52.Bg7! Kf7 53.Bh6
Ke6 54.Kg4 Bd8 55.Bg7 Be7 56.Kh5+– was the winning idea.
52...Bd8?
This is even losing! The black bishop had to keep an eye on the h6-square, preventing the white king
from invading. Losing control of the f8-square leaves Black unable to defend... Black could have won
here by 52...Bxd6+ 53.cxd6 Kxd6 54.Kf5 Kd5 55.Kf6 Ke4!–+
53.Kg4!
Back to the winning method!
53...Kd5 54.Kh5
443
54...Kc4
Or 54...Ke6 55.Bf4 Kf5 56.Bd2 Ke4 57.Kh6+–
55.c6 Kb3
1-0
Game 92
Benjamin, Joel (2475)
FIDE-Wch U20 1982
White felt that he could preserve a strong advantage in this position, when he entered a variationback
at move 32. His bishop pair and his passed b- and d-pawns might easily overcome Black’s extra
exchange, but thanks to various cross-pins, Black can stay still in the game.
444
Position after: 37.Kxe2
37...Rxb6!
Proving that the a5-pawn and the c5-bishop are false guards of the valuable b6-pawn.
38.Qb4!?
A) 38.Bxb6? Qxc2+ 39.Kf1 Rc8, leads to a quick and painful end, but maybe White could have
tried...
B) 38.Rxh4 Rxa5 39.Qxa5 Qxc5 40.Bd1 Qe3+ 41.Kf1 Qc1∞
38...Rba6 39.Bb3 Rxa5 40.Rxh4
I had now to play my 40th move (first time control) and I was feeling uncomfortable...
445
Position after: 40.Rxh4
40...Ra2+!
Again proving that a bishop is a false guard, this time of the a2-square. Black, by returning his extra
exchange, is able to stay in the game.
41.Bxa2 Rxa2+ 42.Kd3 Rxg2 43.Rh1?
White could have saved himself by entering a complicated variation starting with 43.Qxb5! Nxf3
44.Qc6! [44.Rh1? Rd2+ 45.Kc3 Rc2+–+] 44...Ne1+ 45.Kc4 Rc2+ 46.Kb5
446
46...Qb8+ [46...Qxc6+ 47.dxc6 Nd3 48.Bb6 Rb2+ 49.Ka6 Nb4+ 50.Kb7 Nxc6 51.Kxc6 Rb4 is a
draw, but Black will suffer for it!] 47.Ka4 Ra2+ 48.Ba3 Qa7+ 49.Kb5 Qb8+ 50.Ka4=
43...Nxf3 44.d6
A) Unfortunately for White a forced move, as everything else loses on the spot: 44.Rh5 Qa6–+
B) 44.Ra1 Qh3–+
C) 44.Qxb5 Rd2+ 45.Kc3 Rc2+–+
D) 44.Be7 Qc2#
44...Rd2+ 45.Kc3 Rxd6 46.Qxb5
447
Position after: 46.Qxb5
46...Kg7!
A quiet but strong move, which brings White into zugzwang.
47.Rb1 Rc6 48.Kb4
48.Qb7+ Qc7! [48...Qxb7 49.Rxb7+ Kf6 50.Kc4] 49.Qxc7+ Rxc7 50.Kc4 Nd2+–+
48...Rc7!
Providing real, and not false, protection to the black king, allowing the rest of Black’s forces to
become threatening. White lacks useful moves and it is no surprise that the end arrived quickly:
49.Bb6 Rc2 50.Rb3 Qe6! 51.Bc5 Nd2 52.Qb7+ Kg6
0-1
Game 93
Cela, Altin (2405)
Greece 1995
448
Position after: 20...dxc5
Black sacrificed the exchange, hoping to get good counterplay based on his bishop pair.
21.Bg4!
So, it is important to exchange a pair of them!
21...e4?
A bad evaluation of the position.

Black should preserve the bishop pair by 21...Bh7 22.0-0 e4 23.Qe2²
22.Bxf5 Rxf5 23.Qg4! Qf6 24.Rd1!
White is getting ready to advance his passed pawn; Black’s counterplay is now limited...
24...Rf4
Black cannot really go for 24...Rxf2 25.Qe6+ Qf7 26.Qxf7+ Rxf7 27.Ke2+–
25.Qe6+
25.Qc8+ Kh7 26.Rd2+– was even stronger, but White wanted to feel safe without the queens on the
board.
25...Qxe6 26.dxe6 Bd4 27.Rd2 Kf8
449
28.Rh3!
Activating the rook and creating the threat of Rb3.
28...a4 29.Ra3 Ke7 30.Rxa4 Kxe6 31.Ra7 Rh4
31...Rf7 32.a4! Kf5 33.a5+– is curtains.
32.Kf1 Rxh5 33.Rxb7 g4 34.a4?!
34.Kg2 Rh3 35.Re2 Kf5 36.a4+– looks more accurate.
34...Rf5?!
Black missed his best chance to fight on by 34...Rh1+ 35.Kg2 Ra1 36.b3±
35.Kg2! h5 36.Rh7 Kf6
450
37.a5 Kg6 38.Re7 e3 39.fxe3 Bf6 40.Re4
1-0
Game 94
Kofidis, Andreas (2408)
Greece 2000
451
White seems to be on top, but this is an illusion...
19...cxd4! 20.Bxc8 Qxc8
Black sacrifices the exchange for central activity and White should be careful to maintain the balance.
21.Qxc8?
He should have opted for 21.Rac1! Qxc2 22.Rxc2 Kf7©
21...Rxc8 22.Rfc1 Nc5!
Now Black has the initiative.
23.Rcb1?
Position after: 23.Rcb1?
White had to go for 23.Nf3 dxe3 24.Be5 exf2+ 25.Kf1 Nd3 26.Rxc8+ Bxc8 27.Bxg7 Kxg7©
23...Nb3!
Missed by White and now Black has the advantage.
24.Nxb3 Bxb3
452
The black bishop pair has become extremely strong, dominating along with threats such as ...d3.
25.a5 Bc2! 26.Rf1 d3 27.a6 Bxb2 28.a7
28...Ra8!
28...Bxa1? looks inviting, but White can be saved with 29.Bb8! d2 30.a8=Q Rd8! 31.h3 Bg7 32.Qb7
b3©
29.Ra2 Bc3 30.Bb8 b3
The black pawns are unstoppable...
31.Ra6 d2 32.Rc6 d1=Q 33.Rxd1 Bxd1 34.Rxc3 b2 35.Rc8+ Kf7
0-1
Game 95
Van der Werf, Mark (2389)
Corus 2008
453
Position after: 14.e5
14...Nfe4!?
The prelude to an exchange sacrifice.

Equality is reached after 14...dxe5 15.Nxe5 Qb6 16.Qe3 e6 17.Rad1 Rac8.
14...Nfe4!? 15.exd6 Nxg5!
Forced and good.

15...Qxd6? 16.Rad1 Nxc3 [16...Qb6 17.Bxe7 Bxc3 18.bxc3 Nxc3 19.Qe5+–; 16...Qc7 17.Nd5 Bxd5
18.Bxd5 Nxg5
454
19.Nxg5! Rab8 20.Bxf7++–] 17.bxc3 Qc7 18.Qxe7 Qxe7 19.Bxe7 Bxf3 20.gxf3 Rfc8 21.Bd5 Rab8
22.c4±
16.dxe7 Nxf3+ 17.gxf3
White must accept the offer, as otherwise he will face problems.

17.Qxf3? Bxf3 18.exd8=Q Raxd8 19.gxf3 Nd3 20.Bxd3 Rxd3 21.Re3 Rd2³
17...Qd7 18.exf8=Q+ Rxf8 19.Kg2
455
Black’s sacrifice of an exchange and a pawn looks quite OK in view of his compensation:
1. The bishop pair.
2. The opponent’s weak king.
3. The initiative and active.
19...Qf5
A) The alternative 19...Bc8!? 20.Rh1 Qf5 21.Ne4 Bxb2 22.Rad1 Nxe4 23.fxe4 Qg5+ 24.Kf1 Qf6©
was also interesting, but not
B) 19...Bxc3? 20.bxc3 Qf5 21.Qe3±
20.Ne4
456
20...Ne6?
A bad mistake.
Black had to go for 20...Bc8! 21.Nxc5 Qg5+ 22.Kh2 Qxc5 23.Rad1 Qf5 24.Qe4 Qxh3+ 25.Kg1
Bxb2©
21.Bxe6 fxe6
21...Qxe6 22.Nc5+–
22.Rad1 Bd5 23.Qe3?
Time-trouble badly affects the next stage of the game.

Good was 23.b3±
23...Bxb2 24.Rd3 Bg7?
A) 24...a5 25.a4 Bg7© was a must, but not...

B) 24...Bxa2? 25.Re2 Qb5 26.Rdd2 Bc1 27.Nc3+–
25.Ra3!
457
Position after: 25.Ra3!
25...Qe5?
25...Ra8 26.Ra5±
26.Rxa6 Qb2 27.Re2 Qb4 28.Rd2 Rf7 29.Rb6?
White missed a clear and quick win: 29.Ng5! Re7 [29...Bh6 30.Rxd5 exd5 31.Ra8++–] 30.Rb6+–
29...Qf8 30.Qd3 Be5 31.Re2?!
Again White should have opted for the stronger 31.Rc2!±
31...Qd8?
458
Position after: 31...Qd8?
A bad mistake.
Black missed out on a good chance here, as after 31...Ra7! 32.Ra6 Rxa6 33.Qxa6 Qf4© he would
have great compensation..
32.Rb1?!
Bad moves are played by both sides, like a table-tennis game!

32.Rxe6! Rxf3 33.Re8+ Qxe8 34.Qxd5+ Qf7 35.Qxe5+–
32...Qh4 33.Qe3 h6 34.Rd1 Kh7 35.a4 Bb8 36.a5 Ba7 37.Qc3 Qf4 38.a6 Bb8 39.Rh1 Be5?!
39...Ba7±
40.Qe3 Qh4
Now time-trouble is over; White calmed down and found a winning plan.
41.Rd1 Bb8 42.Rb1 Ba7 43.Qd3 Qf4 44.Reb2! Qe5
459
45.Rb7!
Returning the exchange is the quickest way to cash in. Black’s king will pay the price!
45...Bxb7 46.Rxb7 Rxb7 47.axb7 Bb8 48.Qd7+ Kg8 49.Qe8+ Kg7 50.Qe7+
1-0
Game 96
Karjakin, Sergey (2767)
FIDE Candidates 2018
460
Position after: 16...Bg4
17.Bxd5!
This exchange sacrifice for a pawn and the bishop pair was an excellent decision from Karjakin. The
value of his idea lies in creating an extremely unpleasant situation for Black, who objectively might
not be much worse, but will find it difficult to plan and play!
Of course, not 17.Qxd5?! Qxd5 18.Rxd5 Bxf3 19.Rxd8+ Rxd8 20.gxf3 Rd5=
17.Bxd5! Bxd1 18.Rxd1 Qc7 19.c4
Securing the monster on d5!
19...Rge8 20.Qf2 b6?!
461
Position after: 20...b6?!
A) As rooks need open files to operate, Black should seriously consider 20...Bd6 21.Kb1 Re7,
doubling on the open e-file.
B) 20...f5!?, was also better than the text.
21.g4!
Good activity on the kingside.

21.Bxf7? would fall into a trap: 21...Rxd1+ 22.Kxd1 Bh4!µ
21...Bf6
21...Bd6 22.Kb1 Rxe3 23.Qxe3 Bxf4 24.Qd3! Kb8 [24...Bxh2? 25.Bb7++–] 25.h3² would offer
White long-term attacking chances. With opposite-colored bishops, king safety is paramount, and
obviously Black’s king would be weaker...
22.Kb1 Rd7
462
22...Qe7 23.Rd3 Bd4? 24.Bxd4 Qe1+ 25.Ka2+– The problem here for Black is mainly the lack of a
good plan – he has to stay put and wait, while White can build-up an initiative on both sides of the
board, pushing his pawns. An unpleasant situation – humans are not computers and break under
pressure!
23.Rd3!
The 3rd rank could be proven strong for the white rook, as ideas such as b4, Rb3 and h4, g5, would
preserve White’s ‘compensation’.
23...g5?
An ugly move, which just creates weaknesses, but Black felt that he had to do something...
24.Ka2 Ree7 25.Qf3 Kd8 26.Bd2 Kc8
463
27.Qf1!
With the idea of Rh3.
27...Rd6
Now White wins a second pawn, and, more importantly, gets a passer on the h-file.
27...Kd8 28.Rh3 would break down Black’s defences.
28.fxg5 Bxg5
Or 28...hxg5 29.Bxg5 Bxg5 30.Qf5+
29.Bxg5 hxg5 30.Qf5+ Rdd7 31.Qxg5
Two good pawns for the exchange and still passivity for the black rooks – Black will soon fall...
464
Position after: 31.Qxg5
31...Qe5 32.Qh6 Kd8
32...f6 33.h4 Kc7 34.g5 Rh7 35.Qg6 Rdg7 36.Qxf6 Qxf6 37.gxf6 Rd7 38.f7 Rd8 39.Rf3 Rf8
40.Rf4+– and the black rooks are doomed to passivity.
33.g5! Qd6 34.Qh8+ Re8 35.Qh4 Qg6 36.Qg4 Re5 37.h4 Ke7 38.Rd2
A) Not a bad move, but either 38.Qg3 Qf5 39.Rf3+–, or the immediate...
B) 38.Bxf7! Qf5 39.Rxd7+ Kxd7 40.Qd1++– would be simply curtains.
38...b5
465
Position after: 38...b5
Strategic domination is crowned by tactical measures...
39.Bxf7! Qf5
39...Qxf7 40.Rxd7+
40.Rxd7+ Kxd7 41.Qxf5+ Rxf5 42.g6 Ke7 43.cxb5 Rh5
It seems like Black can hold here, but...
44.c4! Rxh4 45.a4 Rg4 46.a5 Kd6 47.a6! Kc7 48.Kb3
And Black resigned, as the white king simply marches to the kingside, winning the rook.
1-0
466
Index of Games
1. Rosenthal–Steinitz Vienna 1873

2. Englisch–Steinitz England 1883
3. Capablanca–Vidmar New York 1927
4. Gurevich–Sandipan Gibraltar 2006
5. Harikrishna–Amin ICC 2020
6. Carlsen–Nisipeanu Romania 2011
7. Grivas–Parligras Greece 2007
8. Damljanovic–Barlov Yugoslavia 1989
9. Moskalenko–Cuartas Catalonia 2012
10. Capablanca–Znosko-Borovsky Paris 1938
11. Grivas–Kolomvas Greece 2010
12. Kalesis–Grivas Corfu 1991
13. Van Wely–Van der Werf Netherlands 2001
14. Damjlanovic–Ivanovic Yugoslavia 1989
15. Gelfand–Leko FIDE 2009
16. Van Wely–Leko Corus 2006
17. Grivas–Petropoulos Greece 1986
18. Diamantis–Grivas Egypt 1981
19. Papastavropoulos–Grivas Greece 1987
20. Grivas–Koerant Glyfada 1985
21. Seirawan–Korchnoi FIDE–Wch 1985
22. Golod–Potkin Linares 2001
23. Schmidt–Zakhartsov Travemuende 2009
24. Moskalenko–Alcazar Jimenez La Roda 2004
25. Carlsen–Van Wely Tata Steel 2013
26. Polugaevsky–Uhlmann IBM 1970
27. Uhlmann–Gligoric Christmas Congress 1970
28. Gulko–Radjabov Corus 2001
29. Grivas–Banikas Greece 1996
30. Grivas–Sahovic Papanastasio 1983
467
31. Solomons–Grivas Greece 2006
32. Kochiev–Grivas White Knights 1989
33. Mekhitarian–Tsuboi Itau 1999
34. Grivas–Yilmaz Training Handicap 2009
35. Kramnik–Illescas Cordoba Dos Hermanas 1997
36. Timman–Karpov Netherlands 1999
37. Moskalenko–Stefanova Spain 1999
38. Grivas–Tzermiadianos Greece 1991
39. Kamsky–Holt USA 2015
40. Grivas–Dimitriadis Greece 1984
41. Caruana–Kramnik Dortmund 2012
42. Caruana–Nakamura Tata Steel 2013
43. Gligoric–Jamieson Olympiad 1978
44. Sandipan–Vladimirov Penta Media 2000
45. Kasparov–Smyslov FIDE–Wch 1984
46. Khalifman–Piket Groningen 1988
47. Hristodoulou–Grivas Games Festival 2008
48. Adams–Martinovic ECU–Ch 2010
49. Vaganian–Dvoirys USSR 1989
50. Topalov–Gelfand Dos Hermanas 1996
51. Grivas–Braun Corus 2008
52. Bellia–Grivas Vinkovci 1989
53. Lutz–Morozevich Olympiad 1998
54. Lasker–Steinitz FIDE–Wch 1894
55. Flohr–Botvinnik Moscow 1933
56. Botvinnik–Bronstein FIDE–Wch 1951
57. Kramnik–Ulybin Greece 1992
58. Grivas–Popchev Ano Liosa 1993
59. Harikrishna–Kasimdzhanov ICC 2020
60. Shanya–Grivas Dubai Rapid 2019
61. Grivas–Osmanoglou Games Festival 2008
62. Khenkin–Gyimesi Germany 2005
468
63. Anand–Topalov FIDE–Wch 2010
64. Geller–Ivkov Yugoslavia 1967
65. Stein–Hort FIDE–Wch 1968
66. Grivas–Frendzas Training Match 1981
67. Topalov–Anand FIDE–Wch 2010
68. Kasparov–Timman Corus 2001
69. Heinemann–Wilhelmi Hamburg 1996
70. Banikas–Grivas Greece rapid 1996
71. Atalik–Grivas Pre–Olympic 1996
72. Davies–Grivas Rishon 1993
73. Harikrishna–Nihal Sigeman & Co 2019
74. Anthopoulos–Grivas Karapanos Memorial 2010
75. Kovacevic–Ribli Bugojno 1984
76. Le–Nepomniachtchi FIDE–Wch Rapid 2013
77. Carlsen–Vachier-Lagrave Grenke 2018
78. Adly–Kramnik Olympiad 2016
79. Kavalek–Hermann Germany 1981
80. Carlsen–Adams FIDE–WC 2007
81. Schuh–Grivas Strasbourg 1985
82. Mamedyarov–Dominguez Perez FIDE Grand Prix 2012
83. Spassov–Le Ruyet Rohde Open 2008
84. Gesos–Grivas Greece rapid 1998
85. Spassky–Fischer FIDE–Wch 1972
86. Grivas–Barlov Balkaniad 1988
87. Polgar–Shirov EuroTel Trophy 1999
88. Aronian–Leko Tata Steel 2013
89. Shirov–Karjakin FIDE–WC 2007
90. Svidler–Adams Olympiad 1998
91. Grivas–Makropoulou Greece 2001
92. Benjamin–Grivas FIDE–Wch U20 1982
93. Grivas–Cela Greece 1995
94. Grivas–Kofidis Greece 2000
469
95. Van der Werf–Grivas Corus 2008
96. Karjakin–Caruana FIDE Candidates 2018
470
Table of Contents
Title page 3
Key to Symbols 5
Bibliography 6
Foreword 7
Introduction 9
Chapter 1 – Bishop Pair Versus Bishop & Knight 13
b) The Semi-Open Centre 137
c) The Closed Centre 180
d) Unbalanced Pawn Structure 220
Chapter 2 – Bishop Pair Versus Knight Pair 283
Chapter 3 – Stubborn Defense 346
Chapter 4 – Bishop Exchange 365
Chapter 5 – Investing Material 389
Chapter 6 – Bishop Pair fails 404
Chapter 7 – Compensatory Factors 415
Index of Games 467
471

The Bishop Pair - Power of The Sun by Efstratios Grivas, Thinkers Publishing 2022-TLS

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Table of Contents

Chapter 1 – Bishop Pair Versus Bishop & Knight

Thinkers Publishing 2022

First edition 2022 by Thinkers Publishing

Editorial Director: Adrien Demuth

Chess Odyssey, Efstratios Grivas, Chesscafe.com 2007

The basic requirements for the exploitation of this element are:

1. Open centre (currently, or in the future)

a) The Open Centre

a) The Open Centre

The Horwitz Bishops

Two Central Open Files

Position after: 16.Qf2

Already the d4-square is lost to White.

18.Ne5 Qe6 19.Qf3 Ba6 20.Rfe1 f6!

And e5 is also “lost”!

21.Ng4 h5 22.Nf2 Qf7 23.f5

23...g5 24.Rad1 Bb7 25.Qg3

26.Rxd5 Qxd5 27.Rd1 Qxf5

28.Qc7 Bd5 29.b3 Re8 30.c4 Bf7 31.Bc1 Re2 32.Rf1

Position after: 17.Nb3

18.h3 Be6 19.Rfd1

Continuing the strategy of restriction.

20.Bg5 f6 21.Bf4 Kf7 22.f3 g5 23.Rxd8 Rxd8 24.Be3 h6

Finally all Black’s pawns are on dark squares!

26.f4 Bf6 27.g3 a5!

Planning to create weaknesses on White’s queenside with ...a4-a3.

28.Nc1 a4 29.a3 Bc4

30.Kf2 gxf4 31.Bxf4

32.Bxg5 hxg5 33.Ke3 Kf6

This loses by force

34...gxh4 35.gxh4 Re8+ 36.Kf2 Rxe1 37.Kxe1

Position after: 37.Kxe1

37...Ke5! 38.Ne2 Bxe2 39.Kxe2

39...Kf4 40.c4 Kg4 41.Ke3 f4+ 42.Ke4 f3 43.Ke3 Kg3

Position after: 15...a5

Or 16...dxe5 17.d6 Bxd6 18.Qxd6 wining for White .

17.Bb3 dxe5 18.d6 Bxd6 19.Qxd6 Qxd6 20.Nxd6

21.Nxb7 Bxb7 22.cxb4 cxb4 23.f3!

The alternative was 23...Nd7 24.Be3 Rfc8 25.Red1 Rc7 26.Rd6±

25.Red1 Bc6 26.Rac1 Be8 27.Kf2 Rxd1 28.Rxd1 Rc8

J.R.Capablanca now follows with the Restriction Method.

30...Ra8 loses to 31.Bc7.

Or 31...Rc2+ 32.Ke3 fxe6 33.Rd2+–.

Simplification guarantees a trivial win.

Restricting the black knight from the centre.

If 21...Nf4, then 22.Bc4 (with the threat of Bb2-e5-b8) 22...Ng6 23.b5±

This creates weakness number 1, the a7-pawn.

Or 23...e5 24.Bc4+ Kf8 25.Bb4±

24.Bc4 Ng6 25.Bb4 Ne5 26.Be2

26...Nd7 27.Bd6 Nc5 28.f3 e5 29.Bb8±

27.f3 Nd7 28.Bd6 g6 29.Kf2 f5 30.exf5

Position after: 30.exf5

Position after: 38...Kg7

White continues his plan, and creates the threat of 45.Be5+

44...Na4 45.Be5+ Kg8

The only move as after 46...hxg5 47.h6, the h-pawn is unstoppable.

53.Bxb6 Ne5 54.Be8 Bc4 55.Bd4 Nd3 56.Be3

Position after: 63...Kf7

Position after: 22.Ne2

Simply a bad move which hands White the bishop pair.

22...Qc5? 23.Nxf4 Qxc2 24.Bxc2 exf4 25.Rad1

White’s domination is clear and Black will find it difficult to defend.