Master Preparation-Fall 1996

Lesson 1. Typical plans for White in the Karlsbad I:
Minority attack on the queenside
and central breakthrough with e3-e4

Lecture by UMBC Chess Coach Igor Epshteyn

The Karlsbad pawn structure is characterized by the pawn chains d4, e3, f7 for White and b7, c6, d5 for Black. The name arises from the International Karlsbad Tournament in 1923, where this structure was widely scrutinized. This structure can arise from a variety of opening, including the Queen's Gambit, Nimzo-Indian, Gruenfeld, and Caro-Cann. In this lecture we will discuss two major plans for White: pawn minority attack on the Queenside, and central breakthrough with e3-e4. To understand the Karlsbad structure, it is important also to understand structures with isolated or hanging pawns, since the Karlsbad can transform into these structures.

In the Karlsbad, White has a pawn minority on the queenside in the sense that White has two pawns (on files a and b) which oppose Black's three pawns (on files a, b, c). By contrast, White has a pawn majority in the center. Although White has fewer pawns on the queenside, these pawns are qualitatively superior to Black's pawns because they are freer to move and because White has a spacial superiority on the queenside. This qualitative superiority of White's queenside pawn minority enables White to undertake a ``minority attack'' by advancing the `b' pawn and often also the `a' pawn. The main idea of such minority attack is to gain space and to create weaknesses in Black's queenside pawn chain. White's spacial advantage facilitates White's ability to exploit Black's resulting pawn weaknesses.

To succeed with a pawn minority attack, the following precautions are advisable for White. First, White should keep his minor pieces (especially knights) within defensive range of his kingside in order to prevent a kingside piece attack by Black (see Homework 2). Second, White should play the move g2-g3 at the appropriate time against Black's possible pawn attack with f7-f5-f4. Third, White must prevent Black from playing c6-c5 in response to White's advance b4-b5, when such breakthrough by Black leads to an isolated pawn position favorable to Black.

A second plan for White is to breakthrough in the center with e3-e4. This central breakthrough can occur with or without the supporting pawn move f2-f3. Without f2-f3, this central breakthrough leads to an isolated pawn position for Black. With Botvinnik's f2-f3, White's mobile central pawn majority can be more dangerous for Black. To prevent f2-f3, Black can use the Petrosian-Lasker Queen's Gambit move order 1 d4 d5, 2 c4 e6, 3 Nc3 Be7.

In Game 1, Petrosian methodically carries out a successful minority attack against Krogius, carefully employing the aforementioned precautions. In Game 2, two contemporary authorities on the Karlsbad (top-level Grandmasters Timman and Yusupov) each defend their point of views on this structure. In Game 2, White obtained a strong attack, but Black managed to draw.

Game 1: Petrosian-Krogius (Tbilisi, 1959)

1. d4 Nf6
2. c4 g6
3. Nc3 d5
4. Nf3 Bg7
5. Bg5 Ne4
6. cxd5 Nxg5
7. Nxg5 e6
8. Nf3 exd5
9. e3 0-0
10. b4 Nc6
11. b5 Ne7
12. Bd3 Bf5
13. Bxf5 Nxf5
14. 0-0 Qd6
15. Qb3 Ne7
16. Rfc1 Kh8
17. Rc2 c6
18. Rac1 h6
19. Na4 Rab8
20. g3 Kh7
21. Nc5 Rfd8
22. bxc6 bxc6
23. Qa4 Qf6
24. Kg2 Ra8
25. Nb7 Re8
26. Na5 g5
27. h3 Qf5
28. Nxc6 Qe4
29. Rc5 f5
30. Qc2 Nxc6
31. Rxc6 f4
32. exf4 gxf4
33. g4 Bxd4
34. Qd2 Bg7
35. Re1 Qa4
36. Qxd5 Rxe1
37. Nxe1 Rf8
38. Nf3 Kh8
39. Rc7 a6
40. Qb7 Rg8
41. Nh4
1-0

Game 2: Timman-Yusupov (Riga PCA, 1995)

1. c4 e6
2. Nc3 d5
3. d4 Nf6
4. cxd5 exd5
5. Bg5 Be7
6. e3 0-0
7. Bd3 Nbd7
8. Nge2 Re8
9. 0-0 c6
10. Qc2 Nf8
11. f3 Be6
12. Rad1 Rc8
13. e4 dxe4
14. fxe4 Ng4
15. Bf4 Ng6
16. e5 Bg5
17. Bxg6 hxg6
18. Qd2 Bxf4
19. Nxf4 Bc4
20. Rfe1 c5
21. Ne4 cxd4
22. Nd6 d3
23. Nh3 Rxe5
24. Nxc8 Qxc8
25. Rxe5 Nxe5
26. Qe3 f6
27. Nf2 Bd5
28. Rc1 Qf5
29. b3 Ng4
30. Qd4 Nxf2
31. Qxf2 Qg5
32. Re1 f5
33. Qg3 Qxg3
34. hxg3 Kf7
35. Kf2 Kf6
36. Ke3 Be4
37. Rc1 a6
38. Rc7 Bxg2
draw

Homework 1 (Game 3): Timman-Karpov (Bugoyno, 1978)

1. c4 e6
2. Nc3 d5
3. d4 Be7
4. cxd5 exd5
5. Bf4 Nf6
6. e3 0-0
7. Qc2 c6
8. Bd3 Re8
9. Nf3 Nbd7
10. 0-0-0 Nf8
11. h3 Be6
12. Kb1 Rc8
13. Ng5 b5
14. Be5 h6
15. Nxe6 Nxe6
16. g4 Nd7
17. h4 b4
18. Ne2 Bxh4
19. f4 c5
20. Ba6 Be7
21. Bxc8 Qxc8
22. Ng3 f6
23. Rxh6 Nef8
24. Rh3 c4
25. Nf5 fxe5
26. fxe5 Qc6
27. Rdh1 Ng6
28. Nd6 Ndf8
29. Nxe8 Qxe8
30. Rh5 Qc6
31. Qf5 a5
32. e6 Qxe6
33. Qxd5 a4
34. Rc1 c3
35. bxc3 bxc3
36. Rxc3 Qxd5
37. Rxd5 Ne6
38. Kc2 Kf7
39. Ra5 Ng5
40. Rc6 Ne4
41. Rxa4 Nf6
42. Ra7 Nd5
43. Rxg6 Kxg6
44. e4 Nb4
45. Kb3 Bf8
46. Rb7
1-0

Questions:

1. Find a counterplan for Black after White's 13th move Ng5.
2. Calculate and estimate the consequences for White had Black played 17 ... Bxh4.
3. Find a decisive combination for White after Black's 27th move Ng6.

Homework 2 (Position 1): Taimanov-Nejmetdinov (Kiev, 1954)

Homework 3 (Position 2): Flor-Keres (Zemmering, 1937)