Chess Middlegame Planning

229 Pages·1999·2.715 MB·English

by  Peter Romanovsky

CHESS
MIDDLEGAME
PLANNING
by
Peter
Romanovsky
Trans lated from the Russian by
Jimmy Adams
AMERICAN CHESS PROMOTIONS
Macon, Georgia, U.S.A.
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Contents
Translator's Preface 4
Introduction 5
Planning 6
A: General Principles
1. Basic Understanding 6
2. Concrete Ideas 9
3. Dynamics 1 7
4. Harmony 26
B: Squares
1. Weak Points 36
2. The "Eternal" Knight 38
3. Weak Squares on the sixth (third) rank 43
4. Some Conclusions 51
C: Lines 52
Chapter One: Two victories of Wilhelm Steinitz
The main points of his creativity and technique 60
Chapter Two: Stages of the Plan
Squares and lines as special purpose objects of the
plan. The preparatory stage. Concrete definition of a
position. Realisation of successes achieved. 68
Chapter Three: Play on the a-file 87
Chapter Four: The centre and its strategical significance.
The knight on e5 and d5 ( e4 and d4). The pawn
centre. Attack with the central "Hanging" pawns. 99
Chapter Five: More about active play with pawns.
The pawn wedge and the reaction to it. The pawn
nail. The phalanx of e and f-pawns. Pawn storm. 143
Chapter Six: The Struggle with Heavy Pieces 175
Chapter Seven: Manoeuvering. About the Initiative. 194
Chapter Eight: The Two Bishops 215
Translator's Preface
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4
Introduction
The central stage of the chess game of theoretical laws and principles
is called the middlegame. It is in practice, naturally is sharply
characterised by a comparatively increased in the endgame. The
large number of active forces of middlegame struggle most fully and
both fighting sides. Also character­ vividly reflects the creative
istic for this segment of the chess substance of chess art. The most
game is the passive position of the important creative factor of the
king and the emergence of conti­ chess struggle - the combination -
nuous threats in that area of the is displayed chiefly in the central
struggle where it is placed. The stage. In the middlegame, there is
consistently arising threats, asso­ the strongest stimulation for imagi­
ciated with a single idea, represent nation and creative thought by a
an attack, of which the object in chessplayer, and the most distinct
the middlegame frequently be­ expression both of purely human
comes the king's position. The traits of his nature (temperament,
middlegame is thereby distingu­ boldness, inventiveness etc.) and
ished from the endgame, where a features of his chess style, creative
comparatively small number of for­ outlook and the ideological ten­
ces are operating, where an attack dency to which he belongs. It is no
on the king is rare, where, finally, coincidence that middlegame ma­
the king assumes an active role. It terial, if looked at in a historical
is precisely this abrupt contrast in connection, allows us to very
the role of the king which is the clearly trace the evolution of chess
main sign distinguishing the end­ ideas.
game stage from the middlegame. Besides the middlegame and the
It goes without saying that the endgame, there is also the opening
scantiness of forces operating in - the initial stage of the game, the
the endgame will appreciably nar­ theory of which discusses the ques­
row the range of creative ideas, the tion of the expedient development
diversity of which, on the other of pieces. At the beginning of the
hand, forms the distinguishing fea­ opening stage, within the first 3-5
ture of the middlegame. The theo­ moves, the maximum number of
ry of many endings bears a finished forces are operating and in the
character, and a knowledge of majority of cases they remain very
technique, that is the application numerous right up to the approach
5
Chess Middlegame Planning
of the middlegame. In this respect, Of course there must exist a very
the characters of the game in the close connection between the
opening and central stage are close opening and the middlegame. In
to one another. However there is the opening one should not simply
one substantial difference: the develop the pieces, but place them
opening ideas are concentrated in such a way that they are able to
around the full mobilisation of fulfil the role intended for them at
forces whereas in the middlegame the first stage of the central phase.
the plan arises from the possibility In other words, the middlegame
of an operation by already mobi­ scheme must logically continue the
lised pieces, which immeasurably opening line of play, blending with
broadens the creative horizon of it into a single systematic plan of
ideas. action.
Planning
A: General Principles course, it is necessary to look at
1 Basic Understanding ways of achieving the objective
One can, without exaggeration, with an outline of the objective
say that the formation and carrying itself. And what is more, the
out of a plan of action is the main choice of the objective to some
task in the course of the process of extent must be determined by the
the chess struggle. possibility of achieving it. This
A skilfully conceived and purpo­ possibility, however, has to be
sefully executed plan serves as a assessed in highly relative terms,
true token of success. since one chessplayer's striving for
A skilfully conceived plan - first an objective will run across the will
and foremost this means a correctly and intentions of the opponent. It
mapped out objective which the might also happen that the
chessplayer must direct his counter-action of the opponent
thoughts towards achieving. This forces a change of plan and even a
problem is far from simple, and transfer to defence. And yet,
many difficulties arise on the way despite the above-mentioned rela­
to solving it. However, a correctly tivity, it is not possible to conduct
mapped out objective is only half a game without drawing up a plan
the matter. It is not enough to and without directing one's opera­
contemplate a plan, it is also tions in accordance with it.
necessary to solve another, no less In order to give very simple
serious problem - to carry it out. Of examples of how to formulate an
6
Chess Mi.ddlegame Planning
idea of a plan, we look at two • the other - to attack the White
elementary positions from the end­ pawn on the king's flank at that
game. moment when the king has set off
for the queen's flank to the a6
pawn.
The first plan must be discarded
at once, since a simple calculation
shows that the White pawn
reaches h8 far quicker ( 8 moves are
necessary for this - Kg4, Kxh4,
Kg5, and h4-h5-h6-h7-h8Q) than
Black's does to al (this operation
requires 10 moves - Kd5, Kc4,
Kb5, Kxa5, Kb4 and five moves
White to move. with the pawn). There remains the
His position is better since he second plan.
will easily win the h4 pawn. Is this 1 Kf6 2 Kg4 Kg6 3 Kxh4 Kh6
...
sufficient for victory? Indeed, it is 4 Kg4 Kg6 5 Kf4 Kh5 6 Ke4
sufficient, but only if White cor­ Kh4 7 Kd5 Kxh3 8 Kc5 Kg4 9
rectly maps out an idea and a Kb6 Kf5 10 Kxa6 Ke6 11 Kb7,
method of realising it. His plan and the unhindered pawn reaches
ought to consist of the following: the queening square.
• the first stage consists of the
win of the h4 pawn;
• in the second stage, White
makes his way with the king to the
a6 pawn and, exploiting the fact
that the enemy king will be di­
verted from the queen's flank by
his own passed pawn on the h-file,
also wins this pawn;
• finally, he promotes the a­
pawn into a queen and finishes off
the opponent's lone king.
And so: 1 Kf4 In this example, White's posi­
There are two possible plans of tion looks even more favourable.
defence for Black: He already has an extra passed
• one - to make his way with the pawn and the plan of play seems
king to the a5 pawn, capture it and obvious: at the cost of the passed
try to queen his passed pawn on pawn, to penetrate with the king
the a-file; to g7 so as to do away with the h 7
7
Chess Middlegame Planning
pawn. However, there is a well­ choice between many objectives
known type of position from end­ and ways to achieve them. The
game theory in which the weaker ability to choose the best and most
side shadows the enemy king and correct from these is usually deter­
achieves a draw. It turns out that mined by the correctness of the
the present position is one of evaluation of the position.
these. Consider the starting position of
1 e5 Ke7 2 Kd5 Kd7 3 e6+ Ke8 the chess game.
4 Ke5 Ke7
Black tries to prevent the king
getting to f6, but White still has
the possibility of achieving this.
5 Kd5 Ke8 6 Kd4 Kd8 7 Ke4
Ke8 8 Kd5 Ke7
If 8 ... Kd8, then 9 Kd6 and the
e-pawn goes on to queen.
9 Ke5 Ke8 10 Kf6
The first stage of the plan -
penetrating with the king to the f6
square - is completed. Many inexperienced amateurs
10 . . Kf8 11 e7+ Ke8 12 Kg7 assume that in the starting position
.
It seems that also the second it is not possible to draw up a
problem of the plan has been relatively real plan of action, since
solved, but ... this is very complicated in that on
12 . Kxe7 13 Kxh7 Kf7 14 each of White's moves, Black has
..
Kh8 Kf8 15 h7 Kf7 stalemate. the possibility of replying in va­
White did not achieve his ob­ rious ways. To some extent this is
jective thanks to fine resistance by of course true. And yet, nowadays,
Black, whose defence revealed an in a period of stormy growth of
interesting drawing resource. creative ideas in chess art, and
hence a continuous enrichment of
In positions where there are its theory, we know only too well
considerable forces operating (a that the opening position is un­
characteristic of the central stage), clear. Already after the first, se­
the essence of the plan remains the cond and third moves, variations
same, but, of couse, on the whole are obtained out of which arise
the game is complicated immeasu­ objectives, not only in the sphere
rably. The defending side will have of purely the opening, but also in
available far more possibilities of the whole of the future struggle. In
resistance, indeed also the attack­ selecting his first move, be it 1 c4,
ing side has in prospect to make a 1 d4, 1 Nf3 or 1 e4, the modem
8
1.Att::i:i 1v11UtUt:gurrtt: rtunrung
chessplayer is already contemplat­ then the idea does not prove to be
ing several positions which he concrete and almost certainly will
wants to achieve in the opening be doomed to failure. Not without
and which, in their tum, will be reason, in chess literature, in such
for him the initial point for work­ cases one talks of "chasing after
ing out a general strategical plan, shadows".
which he will realise mainly in the It is necessary to distinguish
middlegame. The planned process between strategical and tactical
of the chess struggle can be sub­ ideas.
divided into three stages: Strategy - this is the plan as a
• the preparation for the general whole; tactics - separate opera­
battle; tions, leading to its fulfilment. If,
• the struggle for the advantage, graphically, a strategical plan is
and represented in the form of a chain,
• the realisation of the advant­ then tactical ideas make up its
age. link. Tactical ideas are the means
The success of the first stage, to of realising a strategical idea.
a considerable extent, is decided in A concrete strategical idea
the opening. The main and most represents the main overall task in
complicated stage is undoubtedly a given stage of the struggle. It is
the second. The third stage is based on the created positional
getting results. situation ensuing from it and al­
lows a rough mapping out of a path
2: Concrete Ideas to solve the problems with which
The most purposeful, the most one is confronted.
well-founded and therefore having An incorrect choice of the ob­
the most chances of being success­ jective should be regarded as a
fully realised, are plans at the basis strategical mistake, as also are
of which lie concrete ideas. moves which are in conflict with
With concrete ideas one should the projected plan. A tactical mi­
take into account those ideas in stake is a error in calculation,
which the thoughts of a chess­ which overlooks the opponent's
player embrace both special­ reply, all of which makes difficult
purpose objectives, arising out of or absolutely impossible the carry­
real positional considerations, and ing out of a concrete strategical
ways to achieve them, since the idea.
latter provides the greatest possible There will be positions in the
detailing of them. process of the struggle where it is
If, however, the objective cho­ very difficult to think of a real
sen is incorrect or the way to objective and, consequently, to
achieving it shrouded in a haze, work out a concrete idea. In such
9