Master Preparation II

Lesson 12: Bishops of opposite color in the middlegame

Lecture by UMBC Chess Coach Igor Epshteyn

In endings with pawns where each side has one bishop, when the bishops stand on opposite colors, a draw usually results. In open and half-open middlegames, however, bishops of opposite color usually lead to sharp dynamic positions. In such positions, pawn structure and initiative take on especially great importance. When suitable targets can be exploited, sometimes the side with the initiative can attack as if he holds an extra piece.

In Game 1, Karpov trades his good knight for Kasparov's bad bishop to receive a favorable middle with bishops of opposite color. In this middlegame, Karpov successfully exploits Kasparov's weak hanging pawns and Kasparov's complex of weak squares around the Black king.

Game 1: Karpov-Kasparov (Moscow, World Championship, 4th game, 1985)

1. d4 d5
2. c4 e6
3. Nc3 Be7
4. Nf3 Nf6
5. Bg5 h6
6. Bxf6 Bxf6
7. e3 0-0
8. Qc2 Na6
9. Rd1 c5
10. dxc5 Qa5
11. cxd5 Nxc5
12. Qd2 Rd8
13. Nd4 exd5
14. Be2 Qb6
15. 0-0 Ne4
16. Qc2 Nxc3
17. Qxc3 Be6
18. Qc2 Rac8
19. Qb1 Rc7
20. Rd2 Rdc8
21. Nxe6 fxe6
22. Bg4 Rc4
23. h3 Qc6
24. Qd3 Kh8
25. Rfd1 a5
26. b3 Rc3
27. Qe2 Rf8
28. Bh5 b5
29. Bg6 Bd8
30. Bd3 b4
31. Qg4 Qe8
32. e4 Bg5
33. Rc2 Rxc2
34. Bxc2 Qc6
35. Qe2 Qc5
36. Rf1 Qc3
37. exd5 exd5
38. Bb1 Qd2
39. Qe5 Rd8
40. Qf5 Kg8
41. Qe6 Kh8
42. Qg6 Kg8
43. Qe6 Kh8
44. Bf5 Qc3
45. Qg6 Kg8
46. Be6 Kh8
47. Bf5 Kg8
48. g3 Kf8
49. Kg2 Qf6
50. Qh7 Qf7
51. h4 Bd2
52. Rd1 Bc3
53. Rd3 Rd6
54. Rf3 Ke7
55. Qh8 d4
56. Qc8 Rf6
57. Qc5 Ke8
58. Rf4 Qb7
59. Re4 Kf7
60. Qc4 Kf8
61. Bh7 Rf7
62. Qe6 Qd7
63. Qe5
1-0

Position 1: Karpov-Korchnoi (Merano, World Championship, 6th Game 1981)

White (to move): Kg1, Qc1, Ra1, Rf1, Be3, Nf4, a2, b3, c5, f2, g2, h2.
Black: Kg8, Qf3, Ra8, Re4, Nb4, Bf7, a3, b5, d5, g7, h7.

Continuation:
1. Ne2 d4 2. Ng3 Ree8 3. Qd2 Nc6 4. Bg5 Qe5 5. Rac1 d3 6. Rfd1 Bg6 7. Be3 Re6 8. Bf4 Qf6 9. Re1 Rae8 10. Rxe6 Rxe6 11. Rb1 h5 12. h3 h4 13. Bg5 Qd4 14. Be3 Qd5 15. Nf1 Be4 16. Bf4 Bxg2 0-1

Position 2: Karpov-Korchnoi (Merano, World Championship, 2nd Game 1981)

White (to move): Kg1, Qe2, Rd1, Re1, Nc3, Be3, Nf5, a2, b2, c2, f2, g2, h2.
Black: Kg8, Qd8, Ra8, Rf8, Bd7, Be7, Ne6, a7, c6, d5, f7, g7, h7.

Continuation:
1. Nxe7 Qxe7 2. Qd2 Qh4 3. Ne2 Rfe8 4. b3 Re7 5. Ng3 Qf6 6. f3 Be8 7. Ne2 h6 8. Bf2 Qg6 9. Nc1 d4 10. Nd3 Qf6 11. Bg3 Rd7 12. Re5 Qd8 13. Rde1 Rd5 14. Rxd5 Qxd5 15. Re5 Qd7 16. Qe1 Rc8 17. b4 Qd8 18. Ra5 Qd7 19. h3 f6 20. Rxa7 Qd5 21. Ra5 Qd7 22. Ra7 Qd5 23. Ra5 Qd7 24. Qe4 Bf7 25. Qf5 Re8 26. Kh2 Qb7 27. a3 Rd8 28. h4 h5 29. Nf2 Qd7 30. Ra6 Qe8 31. Qa5 Bg6 32. Nd3 Kh7 33. Qb6 Rc8 34. a4 Bf5 35. a5 c5 36. bxc5 Bxd3 37. cxd3 Nxc5 38. Ra7 Qg6 39. Rc7 Rxc7 40. Bxc7 Nxd3 41. Qxd4 Ne5 42. Bxe5 1-0

Position 3: Petrossian-Polugaevsky (Moscow, 1970, Match, 4th Game)

White (to move): Kg1, Qc1, Rd1, Bb2, Bd3, a2, b3, f2, f4, g2, h2.
Black: Kh8, Qf7, Re8, Bb2, Nc5, a7, b6, d5, f5, g7, h7.

Continuation:
1. Be5 Rc8 2. Qb2 Nxd3 3. Rxd3 Rc6 4. h3 h6 5. Re3 Rg6 6. Bd4 Kh7 7. Qc2 Qd7 8. Kh2 Bc8 9. Rc3 Ba6 10. Rc7 Qe6 11. g4 Bf1 12. Qxf5 Qxf5 13. gxf5 Rg2 14. Kh1 1-0

Homework 1: Korchnoi-Karpov (Merano, 1981, World Championship, 15th Game)

How can White realize a material advantage? Formulate and explain your plan.

White (to move): Kg1, Qc1, Rf1, Bg2, a2, b3, d5, f2, g3, h3.
Black: Kg8, Qb6, Rd8, Bf6, a7, b7, f7, g6, h7.