Tactics in the Spanish Opening – Part 2

Spanish Opening - Strategy and Tactics is now available as a paperback, here are some sample training exercises that illustrate the play in typical pawn structures of the Classical Spanish opening. Scroll down to see the solutions.

The book presents a straightforward repertoire for White after 1. e4 e5 and focuses on the Spanish Opening. Most major variations at Black's disposal are briefly explained and covered. The book is intended for chess players who want to learn the Spanish opening and are looking for a quick overview of the major variations. For each line, several sample games are followed by tactical positions typical for that line. Any player who plays the Spanish Opening either as White or Black - can benefit from learning the specific middlegame themes presented here. Most chapters have examples from practical games of chess champions of the past and present, such as Fischer, Karpov, Anand and Carlsen, followed by puzzles for the reader to solve. That should reinforce newly learned concepts and help get a better sense of the pawn structures discussed throughout the book. There are also questions for the reader to answer at the key moments of the games.

 

Safvat, Yousof - Calero, Ivan, 1962

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Be7 7. Re1 d6 8. c3 Na5 9. Bc2 c5 10. d4 Qc7 11. h3 O-O 12. Nbd2 Nc6 13. d5 Nb8 14. a4 b4 15. c4 Ne8 16. g4 g6 17. Nf1 Qd8 18. Ng3 Ra7 19. Bh6 Ng7 20. Kh1 Kh8 21. Rg1 Rg8 22. Rg2 Ne8 23. Qd2 Nd7 24. b3 Bf8 25. Rag1 Bxh6 26. Qxh6 Qf6 27. Ng5 Nf8 28. Nf5 gxf5 29. gxf5 Rg7 30. Qh5 Kg8 31. f4 h6 32. fxe5 dxe5 33. Nf3 Rxg2 34. Rxg2+ Ng7 35. Nh2 Kh7 36. Qf3 h5 37. Qg3 Re7 38. Bd1 Re8

White's turn

---

Tseshkovsky, Vitaly - Henry, Paul, 1969

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3 d6 9. h3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Qc7 12. Nbd2 Nc6 13. d5 Nb8 14. a4 Bb7 15. c4 b4 16. Nf1 Nbd7 17. g4 Rfb8 18. Ng3 g6 19. b3 Bf8 20. Kh1 Bg7 21. Rg1 Kh8 22. Be3 Ng8 23. g5 f6 24. h4 Nf8 25. h5 fxg5 26. Nxg5 Bc8 27. hxg6 hxg6 28. Nf5 Bh6 29. Nxh6 Nxh6 30. Rg2 Kg7 31. Qf3 Nf7 32. Rag1 Nxg5 33. Rxg5 Qf7 34. Qh5 Ra7

White's turn

---

Arshaev, Ajush - Ismayilov, Nijat, 2012

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Qc7 12. Nbd2 Bb7 13. d5 Bc8 14. a4 Bd7 15. Nf1 Rab8 16. Ng3 bxa4 17. Bxa4 Qb6 18. Bg5 Bb5 19. Nf5 Bd8 20. Bxb5 axb5 21. N3h4 g6 22. Nh6+ Kg7 23. Qf3 Ng8 24. N4f5+ Kh8 25. Bxd8 Rbxd8

White's turn

---

 

Solutions

 

 

Safvat, Yousof - Calero, Ivan, 1962

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Be7 7. Re1 d6 8. c3 Na5 9. Bc2 c5 10. d4 Qc7 11. h3 O-O 12. Nbd2 Nc6 13. d5 Nb8 14. a4 b4 15. c4 Ne8 16. g4 g6 17. Nf1 Qd8 18. Ng3 Ra7 19. Bh6 Ng7 20. Kh1 Kh8 21. Rg1 Rg8 22. Rg2 Ne8 23. Qd2 Nd7 24. b3 Bf8 25. Rag1 Bxh6 26. Qxh6 Qf6 27. Ng5 Nf8 28. Nf5 gxf5 29. gxf5 Rg7 30. Qh5 Kg8 31. f4 h6 32. fxe5 dxe5 33. Nf3 Rxg2 34. Rxg2+ Ng7 35. Nh2 Kh7 36. Qf3 h5 37. Qg3 Re7 38. Bd1 Re8

39. Bxh5!

Black resigned, not without reason, but perhaps a bit prematurely.

( 39. Bxh5 Kh8 ( 39. ... Nxh5? 40. Qg8+ Kh6 41. Ng4# ) 40. Ng4 Qg5 41. Bxf7 Re7 42. h4 Qf4 43. Nxe5 Qxg3 44. Rxg3 Rxe5 45. f6 +- )

1-0

---

Tseshkovsky, Vitaly - Henry, Paul, 1969

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3 d6 9. h3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Qc7 12. Nbd2 Nc6 13. d5 Nb8 14. a4 Bb7 15. c4 b4 16. Nf1 Nbd7 17. g4 Rfb8 18. Ng3 g6 19. b3 Bf8 20. Kh1 Bg7 21. Rg1 Kh8 22. Be3 Ng8 23. g5 f6 24. h4 Nf8 25. h5 fxg5 26. Nxg5 Bc8 27. hxg6 hxg6 28. Nf5 Bh6 29. Nxh6 Nxh6 30. Rg2 Kg7 31. Qf3 Nf7 32. Rag1 Nxg5 33. Rxg5 Qf7 34. Qh5 Ra7

35. Qh6+!! Kg8 36. Rxg6+ Nxg6 37. Rxg6+ Qxg6 38. Qxg6+ Rg7 39. Qxd6 Rh7+ 40. Bh6 1-0

---

Arshaev, Ajush - Ismayilov, Nijat, 2012

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Qc7 12. Nbd2 Bb7 13. d5 Bc8 14. a4 Bd7 15. Nf1 Rab8 16. Ng3 bxa4 17. Bxa4 Qb6 18. Bg5 Bb5 19. Nf5 Bd8 20. Bxb5 axb5 21. N3h4 g6 22. Nh6+ Kg7 23. Qf3 Ng8 24. N4f5+ Kh8 25. Bxd8 Rbxd8

26. Ne7

Black resigned, because capturing either knight leads to Qf6 mate, and otherwise White will capture on 'g8' himself.

1-0

Tactics in the Spanish Opening

 

Spanish Opening - Strategy and Tactics is now available as a paperback, here are some sample training exercises that illustrate the play in typical pawn structures of the Classical Spanish opening. Scroll down to see the solutions.

The book presents a straightforward repertoire for White after 1. e4 e5 and focuses on the Spanish Opening. Most major variations at Black's disposal are briefly explained and covered. The book is intended for chess players who want to learn the Spanish opening and are looking for a quick overview of the major variations. For each line, several sample games are followed by tactical positions typical for that line. Any player who plays the Spanish Opening either as White or Black - can benefit from learning the specific middlegame themes presented here. Most chapters have examples from practical games of chess champions of the past and present, such as Fischer, Karpov, Anand and Carlsen, followed by puzzles for the reader to solve. That should reinforce newly learned concepts and help get a better sense of the pawn structures discussed throughout the book. There are also questions for the reader to answer at the key moments of the games.

Palosz, Andrzej - Jaracz, Barbara, 1999

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Qc7 12. Nbd2 cxd4 13. cxd4 Bd7 14. Nf1 Nc6 15. Ng3 Rfe8 16. Re2 h6 17. Be3 Rac8 18. a4 Na5 19. d5 Nc4 20. Bc1 bxa4 21. Bxa4 Bb5 22. Bxb5 axb5 23. b3 Nb6 24. Be3 Nfd7 25. Nf5 Bf8 26. Rea2 Ra8 27. Qd3 Rxa2 28. Rxa2 b4 29. Bd2 Qc5 30. Rc2 Qa5 31. Rc6 Nc5 32. Qe3 Nc8 33. N3h4 Kh7 34. Qe1 Nd3 35. Qe2 Nc5 36. Qe1 Nd3 37. Qe2 Nc5 38. Bxh6 gxh6 39. Qh5 Qa7

White's turn

---

Rodriguez, Gonzales Jesus - Aguirre, Pedro, 1960

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Be7 7. Re1 d6 8. c3 Na5 9. Bc2 c5 10. d4 Qc7 11. Nbd2 O-O 12. h3 Nc6 13. d5 Nb8 14. Nf1 Re8 15. g4 Bf8 16. Bg5 Nbd7 17. Qd2 c4 18. Ng3 g6 19. Bh6 Kh8 20. Kg2 Ng8 21. Be3 f6 22. h4 Nc5 23. g5 Qd7 24. Rh1 Nxe4 25. Nxe4 f5 26. Ng3 f4 27. h5 fxe3 28. Qxe3 Kg7 29. hxg6 hxg6 30. Qe4 Ne7 31. Rh6 Nf5? 32. Rah1 Kf7

White's turn

---

Ljubarskij, Juri - De Leeuw Johannes, 2004

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Be7 5. O-O Nf6 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Nc6 12. Nbd2 Qc7 13. d5 Nb8 14. Nf1 Re8 15. g4 Qd8 16. Ng3 g6 17. Bh6 Bf8 18. Qd2 Re7 19. Bg5 Re8 20. Rf1 Bg7 21. Nh2 Nbd7 22. Rae1 Qe7 23. Kh1 Qf8 24. Rg1 h6 25. Be3 Kh7 26. Rg2 Qe7 27. Reg1 Rg8 28. g5 hxg5 29. Bxg5 Qf8 30. f4 Bh6 31. Nf3 Rh8 32. f5 Bg7 33. Nh4 Qe8 34. Rf1 Kg8 35. Kg1 Nh7 36. fxg6 fxg6

White's turn

---

Solutions:

 

 

Palosz, Andrzej - Jaracz, Barbara, 1999

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Qc7 12. Nbd2 cxd4 13. cxd4 Bd7 14. Nf1 Nc6 15. Ng3 Rfe8 16. Re2 h6 17. Be3 Rac8 18. a4 Na5 19. d5 Nc4 20. Bc1 bxa4 21. Bxa4 Bb5 22. Bxb5 axb5 23. b3 Nb6 24. Be3 Nfd7 25. Nf5 Bf8 26. Rea2 Ra8 27. Qd3 Rxa2 28. Rxa2 b4 29. Bd2 Qc5 30. Rc2 Qa5 31. Rc6 Nc5 32. Qe3 Nc8 33. N3h4 Kh7 34. Qe1 Nd3 35. Qe2 Nc5 36. Qe1 Nd3 37. Qe2 Nc5 38. Bxh6 gxh6 39. Qh5 Qa7

40. Nxh6! Bxh6 41. Nf5

There is now no good defence against White's attack.

41. ... f6 42. Qxe8 Nxe4 43. Rc2 Bf4 44. Qh5+ 1-0

---

Rodriguez, Gonzales Jesus - Aguirre, Pedro, 1960

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Be7 7. Re1 d6 8. c3 Na5 9. Bc2 c5 10. d4 Qc7 11. Nbd2 O-O 12. h3 Nc6 13. d5 Nb8 14. Nf1 Re8 15. g4 Bf8 16. Bg5 Nbd7 17. Qd2 c4 18. Ng3 g6 19. Bh6 Kh8 20. Kg2 Ng8 21. Be3 f6 22. h4 Nc5 23. g5 Qd7 24. Rh1 Nxe4 25. Nxe4 f5 26. Ng3 f4 27. h5 fxe3 28. Qxe3 Kg7 29. hxg6 hxg6 30. Qe4 Ne7 31. Rh6 Nf5? 32. Rah1 Kf7

33. Rxg6!

White's pieces have concentrated on the kingside; this sacrifice breaks through Black's defences.

33. ... Kxg6 34. Nxf5! Re6

( 34. ... Qxf5 35. Nh4+ +- )

35. Nxd6+ 1-0

---

Ljubarskij, Juri - De Leeuw Johannes, 2004

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Be7 5. O-O Nf6 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Nc6 12. Nbd2 Qc7 13. d5 Nb8 14. Nf1 Re8 15. g4 Qd8 16. Ng3 g6 17. Bh6 Bf8 18. Qd2 Re7 19. Bg5 Re8 20. Rf1 Bg7 21. Nh2 Nbd7 22. Rae1 Qe7 23. Kh1 Qf8 24. Rg1 h6 25. Be3 Kh7 26. Rg2 Qe7 27. Reg1 Rg8 28. g5 hxg5 29. Bxg5 Qf8 30. f4 Bh6 31. Nf3 Rh8 32. f5 Bg7 33. Nh4 Qe8 34. Rf1 Kg8 35. Kg1 Nh7 36. fxg6 fxg6

37. Nxg6!

This opens up the 'g' file with decisive effect.

37. ... Qxg6 38. Nf5 1-0

More of Best Combinations of 2016 - October, November, December 2016

My ebook Modern Chess Combinations: October, November, December 2016 is now also available in paperback format, so you can order a physical copy and have it delivered to you like most chess books you probably already own. Here is a sample set of exercises for you to get the taste of it. The highlight of this edition are the games from the World Championshop match between Karjakin and Carlsen, and World Rapid and Blitz Championship. The combination played by Magnus Carlsen in the last game of the tie-break - was found by him instantly and was a worthy finish to the tough match. It proved yet again, that being able to spot tactics quickly and effortlessly is an essential part of being a strong player.

Scroll down to see the solutions:

Rakhmanov, Ale - Domogaev, S.
   2016.10.04   

White's turn

---

Dreev, A. - Lugovskoy, M.
   2016.10.04   

White's turn

---

Shaposhnikov, E. - Vitiugov, N.
   2016.10.04   

White's turn

Solutions

Rakhmanov, Ale - Domogaev, S.
ch-RUS Blitz 2016   2016.10.04   

24. Rxf5

Black resigned in view of

24. ... gxf5 25. Qg5 1-0

---

Dreev, A. - Lugovskoy, M.
ch-RUS Blitz 2016   2016.10.04   

37. Qxh6+

Black resigned in view of

37. ... Bxh6 38. Rh7# 1-0

---

Shaposhnikov, E. - Vitiugov, N.
ch-RUS Blitz 2016   2016.10.04   

32. Qxd4

Black resigned in view of

32. ... exd4 33. Rc8+ Bd8 34. Rxd8+ Qe8 35. Rxe8# 1-0

Exchange Slav – Sample Puzzles from new PaperBack Book

My ebook Exchange Slav – Strategy and Tactics is now available in paperback format, so you can order a physical copy and have it delivered to you like most chess books you probably already own. Here is a sample set of exercises from the “Pressure on c6” chapter. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to see solutions.

Kramnik, Vladimir - Anand, Viswanathan
   2007.11.21   

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 cxd5 5. d4 Nc6 6. Bf4 a6 7. Rc1 Bf5 8. e3 Rc8 9. Be2 e6 10. O-O Be7?!

( 10. ... Bd6! )

11. Qb3

11. ... Na5?

( Correct was 11. ... Qd7! 12. Na4 Na5! 13. Rxc8+ Qxc8 14. Qb6 Nc4 15. Qa7 although White still maintains some pressure. )

12. Qa4+ Nc6

White's turn

---

The following examples have colors reversed, as it is Black who is putting pressure on 'c3'.

Babu N Sudhakar - Sriram, Jha
   2002   

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. cxd5 cxd5 5. Bf4 Nc6 6. e3 Bf5 7. Nf3 e6 8. Bb5 Nd7 9. O-O Be7 10. Rc1 Rc8 11. Ne5 Ndxe5 12. Bxe5 O-O 13. Bg3 Qb6 14. Qe2 a6 15. Ba4 Bg6 16. Bd1 Nb4 17. Qd2 Qa5 18. Be2 b5 19. a3?

Black's turn

---

Khropova, Larisa - Shumilina, Alexandra
   2008   

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. cxd5 cxd5 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. Bf4 a6 7. e3 Bg4 8. Be2 e6 9. O-O Be7 10. h3 Bxf3 11. Bxf3 O-O 12. Rc1 Rc8 13. Qd2 b5 14. Qd3 Qb6 15. Rfd1 Rfd8 16. Be2 Na5 17. Qb1 Nc4 18. Bd3 h6 19. b3 Na3 20. Qb2 Qa5 21. g4 Bb4 22. Ne2 Qb6 23. Kg2 Qb7 24. Kg1 a5 25. Bg3 Ne4 26. Bh2 Ng5 27. Kg2 Nc4 28. Qb1 Nd2 29. Qb2 Rxc1 30. Rxc1 Ndf3 31. Nc3 Rc8 32. Bg3?

Black's turn

 

 

Solutions

Kramnik, Vladimir - Anand, Viswanathan
Wch Blitz 3rd   2007.11.21   

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 cxd5 5. d4 Nc6 6. Bf4 a6 7. Rc1 Bf5 8. e3 Rc8 9. Be2 e6 10. O-O Be7?!

( 10. ... Bd6! )

11. Qb3

11. ... Na5?

( Correct was 11. ... Qd7! 12. Na4 Na5! 13. Rxc8+ Qxc8 14. Qb6 Nc4 15. Qa7 although White still maintains some pressure. )

12. Qa4+ Nc6

13. Bxa6! Ra8

( After 13. ... bxa6 14. Ne5 Qb6 15. Ne2 Qb5 16. Qxb5 axb5 17. Rxc6 +/- White remains up a pawn. )

14. Bxb7 Rxa4 15. Bxc6+ Kf8 16. Nxa4 Ne4 17. Bb7 Nd6 18. Bxd6 Qxd6 19. Rc6 Qd7 20. Rc8+ Bd8 21. Ne5 1-0

---

Babu N Sudhakar - Sriram, Jha
Chhattisgarh Trophy   2002   

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. cxd5 cxd5 5. Bf4 Nc6 6. e3 Bf5 7. Nf3 e6 8. Bb5 Nd7 9. O-O Be7 10. Rc1 Rc8 11. Ne5 Ndxe5 12. Bxe5 O-O 13. Bg3 Qb6 14. Qe2 a6 15. Ba4 Bg6 16. Bd1 Nb4 17. Qd2 Qa5 18. Be2 b5 19. a3?

19. ... Na2 20. b4

( 20. Rcd1 Nxc3 21. bxc3 Bxa3 would have left Black up two pawns, as the 'c3' pawn is also going to fall. )

20. ... Nxb4 21. axb4 Bxb4 22. Ra1 Bxc3 23. Rxa5 Bxd2 24. Rxa6 b4

Black came out of complications with an extra passed pawn and is winning here.

25. Rb6 Rc2 26. Bd6 Rfc8 27. Ba6 R2c6 0-1

---

Khropova, Larisa - Shumilina, Alexandra
Moscow-ch   2008   

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. cxd5 cxd5 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. Bf4 a6 7. e3 Bg4 8. Be2 e6 9. O-O Be7 10. h3 Bxf3 11. Bxf3 O-O 12. Rc1 Rc8 13. Qd2 b5 14. Qd3 Qb6 15. Rfd1 Rfd8 16. Be2 Na5 17. Qb1 Nc4 18. Bd3 h6 19. b3 Na3 20. Qb2 Qa5 21. g4 Bb4 22. Ne2 Qb6 23. Kg2 Qb7 24. Kg1 a5 25. Bg3 Ne4 26. Bh2 Ng5 27. Kg2 Nc4 28. Qb1 Nd2 29. Qb2 Rxc1 30. Rxc1 Ndf3 31. Nc3 Rc8 32. Bg3?

32. ... Ne1+ 33. Rxe1 Bxc3 34. Qe2 Bxe1 35. Qxe1 b4 -+ 36. Bd6 Rc3 37. Qe2 Ne4 38. Bxe4 dxe4 39. Bc5 e5 40. Kh2 exd4 41. Bxd4 Qc7+ 42. Kg2 Rd3 43. Bb2 Qc6 44. Kg1 a4 45. bxa4 Qxa4 46. Bd4 Ra3 47. Qc4 Qd1+ 48. Kh2 Qf3 0-1

Samples of Best Combinations of 2016 – Now as Paperback

My ebook Modern Chess Combinations: October, November, December 2016 is now also available in paperback format, so you can order a physical copy and have it delivered to you like most chess books you probably already own. Here is a sample set of exercises for you to get the taste of it. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to see the solutions.

This publication is a collection of over 140 best combinations played by strong chess players in tournaments that took place in the fourth quarter of 2016. This book is the eighth in the "Quarterly Tactics" series, which provides instructive tactical positions from the most recent top chess tournaments. Quarterly Chess Tactics will allow you to
    * Follow the recent games of top grandmasters
    * Improve your game
    * Study combinations any time and anywhere
    * Enjoy a collection of annotated puzzles that you have not seen in any other tactics books
    * Maintain regular practice by solving several puzzles every day

The highlight of this edition are the games from the World Championshop match between Karjakin and Carlsen, and World Rapid and Blitz Championship. The combination played by Magnus Carlsen in the last game of the tie-break - was found by him instantly and was a worthy finish to the tough match. It proved yet again, that being able to spot tactics quickly and effortlessly is an essential part of being a strong player.

Nabaty, T. - Vaganian, R.
   2016.10.07   

White's turn

---

Nenezic, M. - Miladinovic, I.
   2016.10.01   

White's turn

---

Flores, Di - Real de Azua, E.
   2016.07.20   

White's turn

---

Bosiocic, Mari - Fercec, N.
   2016.10.12   

White's turn

 

 

Solutions

Nabaty, T. - Vaganian, R.
1st Yerevan Open 2016   2016.10.07   

28. Qxc8+

Black resigned in view of

28. ... Rxc8 29. Ne6+ Kf7 30. Nxg5+ 1-0

---

Nenezic, M. - Miladinovic, I.
TCh-SRB Premier 2016   2016.10.01   

21. c4 bxc4 22. Qxb7 Nxd4 23. Bxc4

---

Flores, Di - Real de Azua, E.
91st ch-ARG 2016   2016.07.20   

40. Rxe6

Black resigned in view of

40. ... Qxe6 41. Bd5 1-0

---

Bosiocic, Mari - Fercec, N.
25th TCh-CRO Div 1b 2016   2016.10.12   

18. Nxd5 cxd5 19. Rxd5 Bd6

( 19. ... Rxd5 20. Bxd5 Qd7 21. Qxb7+ Qxb7 22. Rc8# )

20. Qxb7+ Kxb7 21. Rxd6+ 1-0

The Break by Vladimir Kramnik – Examples from new Paperback book

My ebook The Break - Learn From Schlechter, Botvinnik and Kramnik is now available in paperback format, so you can order a physical copy and have it delivered to you like most chess books you probably already own. Here is a sample set of exercises from the chapter about Vladimir Kramnik. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to see solutions.

Korobov, Anton - Kramnik, Vladimir
   2013.08.24   

Black's turn

---

Alexander Ipatov - Vladimir Kramnik
   2013.12.02   

Black's turn

---

Svidler, Peter - Kramnik, Vladimir
   2014.03.15   

Black's turn

---

Kramnik, Vladimir - Ulibin, Mikhail
   1992   

White's turn

 

Solutions

 

Korobov, Anton - Kramnik, Vladimir
FIDE World Cup 2013   2013.08.24   

45. ... d4!?

Although this move is speculative, Kramnik sacrifices a pawn to activate his rook and bishop. Objectively it may be not the best, but for a human player passive defense is intolerable, so that justifies his decision.

46. exd4 Re6+ 47. Kd2 Bd3 48. d5 Rd6 49. Kc1 Bg6 50. Bb4 Rxd5 51. Rxa6 Kd7 52. Rf6 Rb5 53. Bc3 Rf5 54. Rb6 Rxf4

The active rook is able to eliminate white pawns, achieving a draw now.

55. a6 Rf2 56. a7 Be4 57. Kd1 Ra2 58. Rf6 Ke8 1/2-1/2

---

Alexander Ipatov - Vladimir Kramnik
FIDE World Team Championship   2013.12.02   

29. ... e5 30. dxe5 Nxe5 31. fxe5 Qxe5

Black has only a pawn for a piece, but White's pieces are badly placed, and all of his pawns are vulnerable.

32. Nf1 Bg7 33. a3

( Defending the pawns was not really possible in the long run: 33. Kd2 Re6 34. Nb7 Bh6 35. Nc5 Bxe3+ 36. Nxe3 Qxe3+ 37. Kd1 Re5 -/+ [%eval -32767,0] Black has still more ways to improve his position with Rhe7, Qxg3 and d5-d4. )

33. ... Qxc3+ 34. Qxc3 Bxc3 35. Bd1 Re6 36. Bc2 Bg6

Both White's rooks and knights are effectively out of the game for many moves to come, so the current material balance is virtually irrelevant here.

37. Nd2 Rxe3 38. Rd1 Bf6 39. Rhh1 d4 40. Rde1 Rhe7 41. Rxe3 Rxe3

In view of inevitable material losses, White resigned. A true positional masterpiece by Kramnik!

0-1

---

Svidler, Peter - Kramnik, Vladimir
World Chess Championship Candidates   2014.03.15   

41. ... e4 42. fxe4 Qe2 43. Rf3 Rxd6 44. Qe8 f6 45. e5

45. ... f5 46. gxf5

46. ... Rf6!!

Paradoxically, this is the only move that keeps Black alive!

( After 46. ... Ra6 47. e6! the black rook would be cut off from the kingside and Black would lose: 47. ... Ra7 48. f6 +- )

47. Kg3

( 47. e6 Qe4 = )

47. ... Qe4

Now the game ends with a repetition.

48. Bc5 Qe1+ 49. Bf2 Qe4 50. Bc5 Qe1+ 51. Bf2 1/2-1/2

---

Kramnik, Vladimir - Ulibin, Mikhail
Chalkidiki   1992   

36. g5!?

White opens up the game to exploit the power of his two bishops.

36. ... hxg5 37. hxg5 Nxg5 38. Bc6 Rc8 39. Rh1

As compensation for the pawn, White's rooks are also obtaining a lot of potential - on both sides of the board.

39. ... Kg8 40. Raa1 Nce6 41. Rh4

White is threatening to double on the 'h' file, so Black has to create an escape square for his king.

41. ... f6 42. Rg1

42. ... Kf7 43. Bd5 Ke8 44. Rh8+ Nf8 45. f4 Ne6 46. Kf3 f5 47. Rg6

Black's pieces are tied up in too many ways, so White begins to pick up the fruits of his labour.

47. ... Nc5 48. Bxg7 Rf7 49. Bxf8

( 49. Bxf8 Rxf8 50. Rxf8+ Kxf8 51. Rg8+ Ke7 52. Rxc8 +- )

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