Master Preparation-Fall 1996

Lesson 5. Strategic ideas in piece-pawn centers II:
Typical plans for White

Lecture by UMBC Chess Coach Igor Epshteyn

This lecture proceeds the discussion about valuableness of the fianchetto bishop in piece and pawn center structure(c4 and e4 - White, against d6, e7 - Black). An examples presented here are selected for demonstration of items 2b and 4b of previous lecture: the pieces of opponent side are replaced from targeting by fianchetto bishop and it's opponent(same square color bishop) is more effective because it is cohesive with a plan of advance the pawn chain on the queenside.

It happened that so-called 'piece in shadow' - opponent of fianchetto bishop - need to be saved from exchange in order to support for the pawn majority in space advantage and operations on queenside. In the same time fianchetto bishop position looks nice, but the problem is that it is alone or separated from another pieces and has no targets ahead. Another important points of this center - rooks placed on b1 and c1(or d1) and knight on d5 - to accompany the pawn advancing.

The game Portish - Liuboevich expose consequent and persistent plan realization for achieving positional advantage.

Game 1: V. Ivanchuk-V. Anand (Buenos Aires, 1994)

1. e4 c5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. d4 cxd4
4. Nxd4 g6
5. c4 Nf6
6. Nc3 d6
7. Be2 Nxd4
8. Qxd4 Bg7
9. Be3 0-0
10. Qd2 Be6
11. 0-0 Qa5
12. Rab1 Rfc8
13. b3 Nd7
14. Rfc1 Qd8
15. Nd5 Nc5
16. Bf3 a5
17. h4 Bxd5
18. exd5 Qd7
19. Qe2 Re8
20. h5 Qf5
21. Rd1 Be5
22. g4 Qc8
23. Kg2 Bg7
24. Rh1 Nd7
25. hxg6 hxg6
26. Rh4 a4
27. Rbh1 axb3
28. axb3 Ra1
29. R1h3 Qa8
30. Rh7 Qa2
31. Rxg7 Kxg7
32. Bd4 f6
33. Qe3 Nf8
34. Be4 Kf7
35. Rh8
1-0

Position 1 (Game 2):
Portish-Ljuboevich (Moscow, 1977)

17. Be3 f5
18. exf5 Rxf5
19. Rac1 axb4
20. axb4 Nf8
21. Bd3 Rh5
22. Ne4 Ra3
23. Ng3 Rh4
24. Be4 Rxe3
25. Qxe3 Bh6
26. Qf2 Bxc1
27. Rxc1 Bc6
28. Ra1 Bxe4
29. Nxe4 Rh5
30. Qa2 Re5
31. Rd1 Qd7
32. Rxd6 Qf5
33. c5 Kg7
34. Rd1 Ne6
35. Qb2 Kh6
36. Nf2 Rd5
37. Ng4 Kg5
38. Rxd5 Qxd5
39. Qc1 Nf4
40. h4 Kf5
41. Nh6
1-0

Homework 1 (Position 2):
(this position has appeared several times-see questions)

Evaluate the position, and find appropriate plans for White, starting with:

1. Qd2 Geller-Bellon (Las-Palmas, 1976)
2. Rc1 Tseshkovski-Bellon (Las-Palmas, 1976)
3. f3 Georgiu-Bellon (Las-Palmas, 1976)

Homework 2 (Position 3): Anderson-Larsen (Linares, 1983)