Lecture by UMBC Chess Coach Igor Epshteyn
Important type of pawn structure in Center (White pawns d4 and e3 against Black d5 and e6 or vice-versa) is discussed in the lecture. Supported by pawns `a' and `b', queenside majority can create real advantage if other side does not aggressive enough to prevent far advancing pawns. The plan of using queenside majority is especially effective when one playing for advantage in endgame (in endgame passing pawns on flanks usually are more valuable than ones in center, because of their influence on the position of rival king).
Effectiveness of the plan depends of number and disposition of the pieces on the chessboard: the less number of pieces, the less chances for king's attack, using control of central squares, the closer endgame - the more effective this plan is. For advance of 'c' pawn, other side should react immediately with classical counterplay in center - preparation of breakthrough e3-e4(White). That is why early advance 'c' pawn in opening or right after it makes, easier plan design for the partner: e3-e4 - activity in center versus aggression on flank - will bring domination in center, activation of pieces and reason for attack on enemy's king. On another hand, the lack of time(tempo's) or delay in providing counter play leads to difficulties and gives more chances to other side. Important tip for this type of position is cooperation of pieces. From this view point, interesting is positional trap - nicely placed but absolutely useless White knight on e5 in game Liliental - Botvinnik (Black knight on e4 in Botvinnik - Kmokh), it's place is on d2 supporting e3-e4.
The selection of games for this topic were based on their instructive values. The games of classic of positional chess world champion Botvinnik gives very consistent and solid impression of 'what to do, what not to do and what never do'. The game of top level players (Epishin - Smagin) gives the picture of the discussion on the same topic in modern times.
1. c4 c6
2. e4 d5
3. exd5 cxd5
4. d4 Nf6
5. Nc3 Nc6
6. Bg5 e6
7. c5 Be7
8. Bb5 0-0
9. Nf3 Ne4
10. Bxe7 Nxe7
11. Rc1 Ng6
12. 0-0 Bd7
13. Bd3 f5
14. b4 Be8
15. g3 Rc8
16. Re1 Qf6
17. a3 Ne7
18. Ne5 Qh6
19. f3 Nf2
20. Qe2 Nh3
21. Kg2 g5
22. Nb5 Bxb5
23. Bxb5 Rf6
24. Bd7 Rd8
25. b5 Qh5
26. c6 Rh6
27. Kh1
1-0
1. d4 Nf6
2. c4 e6
3. Nf3 d5
4. Nc3 Nbd7
5. cxd5 exd5
6. Bf4 c6
7. Qc2 Nb6
8. h3 Bd6
9. Bxd6 Qxd6
10. e3 Qe7
11. Bd3 Nc4
12. Bxc4 dxc4
13. 0-0 0-0
14. e4 b5
15. Rfe1 Rd8
16. a4 a6
17. axb5 cxb5
18. d5 Bb7
19. Rad1 Qc5
20. Rd4 Re8
21. Red1 Nd7
22. Ne2 Qd6
23. Ng3 g6
24. Qd2 f6
25. h4 Ne5
26. h5 Bc8
27. Nh4 Ra7
28. Re1 Rg7
29. Re3 Ng4
30. Rc3 Bd7
31. Nf1 g5
32. Nf5 Bxf5
33. exf5 Nh6
34. g4 Rge7
35. Ng3 Nf7
36. Kg2 Qd8
37. Ra3 Qb6
38. d6 Rd7
39. Ne4 Kg7
40. Re3 Re5
41. h6 Nxh6
42. Nxf6 Qc6
43. Kg1 Kxf6
44. Rxe5 Kxe5
45. f4 Kf6
46. fxg5 Kf7
47. gxh6 Qc5
48. Kf1 Qe5
49. Kg2 b4
50. Kf3 a5
51. Qe3 Qxe3
52. Kxe3 Kf6
53. Rxc4 Kg5
54. Rd4 a4
55. Ke4 a3
56. bxa3 bxa3
57. Ke5 Rd8
58. Ra4 Re8
59. Kd5 Re3
60. d7 Rd3
61. Rd4
1-0
1. d4 Nf6
2. c4 e6
3. Nc3 Bb4
4. Qc2 d5
5. cxd5 exd5
6. Nf3 c5
7. Bg5 h6
8. Bxf6 Qxf6
9. a3 Ba5
10. 0-0-0 Bxc3
11. Qxc3 c4
12. Qe3 Be6
13. Ne5 Nc6
14. g4 0-0-0
15. f4 Rhe8
16. Qf3 Qe7
17. e3 Na5
18. Bg2 f6
19. Ng6 Qc7
20. Kb1 c3
21. Rc1 Nc4
22. Rxc3 Nd2
23. Kc2 Nxf3
24. Bxf3 Bf7
25. Nh4 Rxe3
26. Rxc7 Kxc7
27. Kd2 Rde8
28. Rc1 Kb6
29. Rc3 Rxc3
30. bxc3 g6
31. Ng2 Kc7
32. Ne3 Kd6
33. h4 Rh8
34. h5 gxh5
35. gxh5 Be6
36. c4 dxc4
37. Bxb7 Rb8
38. Be4 Rb2
39. Kc3 Rb3
40. Kd2 Rxa3
41. d5 Rxe3
42. Kxe3 Bxd5
43. Bc2 Kc5
44. Bf5 a5
45. Bc2 Bc6
0-1
Questions:
1. d4 d5
2. c4 e6
3. Nc3 c6
4. Nf3 Nf6
5. cxd5 exd5
6. Bg5 h6
7. Bxf6 Qxf6
8. Qb3 Bd6
9. e3 Nd7
10. Bd3 Qe7
11. 0-0-0 Nf6
12. Rhe1 Be6
13. Qc2 0-0-0
14. Ne5 Kb8
15. f4 c5
16. Kb1 c4
17. Bf5 Bxf5
18. Qxf5 Bb4
19. Qc2 Rd6
20. Re2 Bxc3
21. bxc3 Ne4
22. Ka1 Ra6
23. Qc1 Rd8
24. Rc2 Rdd6
25. Ng4 Rg6
26. h3 h5
27. Ne5 Rgb6
28. Nf3 Qa3
29. Ng5 Nxc3
30. Qxa3 Rxa3
31. Rdc1 Nb5
32. Nxf7 Rxe3
33. Ne5 Kc7
34. g4 Nxd4
35. Rd2 Ne2
36. Re1 Nc3
37. Rc1
0-1
Questions: