Master Preparation II

Lesson 13:
Combining positional advantages in the middlegame

Lecture by UMBC Chess Coach Igor Epshteyn

Throughout the semester we have discussed a variety of types of positional advantages. Now, we will study how to evaluate and to combine such advantages to achieve strategic goals. For this purpose, we will examine two games in which one side (Black) gives up the exchange in return for positional advantages. In each game, Black's skillful combination of these positional advantages yields a decisive multiplicative effect.

In Game 1, after strategic inaccuracies by both sides, Black sacrificed an exchange to gain the following positional benefits: improved pawn chain, closed lines for White's rooks, space for Black's rook and bishop, and a defended passed pawn. Preserving one of his rooks, Black expanded on the kingside, creating weaknesses in the enemy camp. After some tactical complications, Black achieved a winning bishops of opposite color ending.

In Game 2 as Black, Karpov sacrificed an exchange for strong mobile hanging pawns, together with space advantage and control of center, compromised the safety of White's king, and discoordination of White's pieces. The space advantage increased the activity of Karpov's minor pieces. Karpov combined all of these advantages to attack the White king, yielding a won interesting ending.

Position 1: Ljublinski-Botvinnik (Moscow Championship, 1943-44)

White: Kg1, Qc2, Ra1, Rd1. Be3, Ne1, Ng3, a2, b3, c3, e4, f2, g2, h2.
Black (to move): Kg8, Qe2, Rb8, Re8, Bc8, Bd6, Nc5, a5, c7, c6, e5, f7, g6, h7.

Game 1 (from Position 1):
1. ... Ne6
2. Nd3 Nf4
3. f3 Ba6
4. c4 c5
5. Qd2 Nxd3
6. Qxd3 Red8
7. Ne2 c6
8. Nc3 Bc7
9. Qc2 Rd4
10. Ne2 Bc8
11. Nxd4 cxd4
12. Bf2 c5
13. Rf1 f5
14. Bg3 Bd7
15. Rad1 f4
16. Bf2 g5
17. g4 fxg3
18. Bxg3 Bh3
19. Rf2 h5
20. Rfd2 h4
21. Bf2 Rf8
22. Rd3 Rf4
23. Kh1 Kh7
24. Rg1 Bd8
25. Qe2 Qf7
26. Qd1 Qh5
27. Be3 Qxf3
28. Qxf3 Rxf3
29. Bxg5 Rxd3
30. Bxd8 Re3
31. Bb6 Rxe4
32. Bxc5 Re2
33. Rd1 Bg4
34. h3 Bxh3
35. b4 Bf5
36. Bd6 d3
37. Bxe5 h3
0-1

Game 2: Lautier-Karpov (Linares, 1995)

1. d4 Nf6
2. c4 e6
3. Nc3 Bb4
4. Qc2 0-0
5. a3 Bxc3
6. Qxc3 b6
7. Bg5 Bb7
8. e3 d6
9. f3 Nbd7
10. Bd3 c5
11. Ne2 Rc8
12. Qb3 h6
13. Bh4 cxd4
14. exd4 d5
15. c5 Ba8
16. Ba6 Rc7
17. Bg3 bxc5
18. Bxc7 Qxc7
19. Qc3 e5
20. Bd3 exd4
21. Nxd4 Re8
22. Kf1 Qb6
23. Nf5 d4
24. Qd2 Ne5
25. Re1 Re6
26. Bb1 Bb7
27. Kf2 d3
28. Rhf1 c4
29. Kg3 Nh5
30. Kh3 Ng6
31. g3 Bc8
32. Re4 Qc5
33. g4 Ngf4
34. Rxf4 Re2
35. Qc1 Nxf4
36. Qxf4 Bxf5
37. gxf5 Rxb2
38. Re1 Qf2
39. Qg3 Qxg3
40. Kxg3 Rxb1
0-1

Game 3: van Vely-Almasi (Groningen, 1996)

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. a3 Ba6 5. Qc2 Bb7 6. Nc3 c5 7. e4 cxd4 8. Nxd4 Nc6 9. Nxc6 Bxc6 10. Bf4 Bc5 11. Be2 0-0 12. 0-0-0 a5 13. Kb1 Qe7 14. e5 Ne8 15. Ne4 Bxe4 16. Qxe4 Rd8 17. Bd3 f5 18. Qf3 d6 19. Bc2 dxe5 20. Rxd8 Qxd8 21. Bxe5 Nf6 22. Rd1 Qe7 23. Qc6 Qe8 24. Qxe8 Rxe8 25. f3 Kf7 26. Ba4 Rc8 27. Kc2 g5 28. Bb5 h5 29. Kb3 Ke7 30. Ka4 Be3 31. b4 axb4 32. axb4 Bf4 33. Bd4 Bc7 34. Be3 g4 35. Ba6 Rb8 36. h3 gxf3 37. gxf3 Rg8 38. Rg1 Rxg1 39. Bxg1 e5 40. Kb5 e4 41. fxe4 fxe4 42. Bb7 Ke6 43. Bc8 Ke7 44. Bf5 h4 45. Bf2 Kd6 46. Bxh4 Ke5 47. Bg6 Bd8 48. Bxe4 Kxe4 49. Bxf6 Bxf6 50. Kxb6 Kd4 51. c5 Bd8 52. Kb7 Kc4 53. c6 Kxb4 54. h4 1-0