On the Origin of Good Moves: A Skeptic's Guide at Getting Better at Chess

404 Pages·2020·19.09 MB·English

by  Willy Hendriks

Willy Hendriks
On the Origin of Good Have you found any errors in this book?
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New In Chess 2020
ISBN: 978-90-5691-879-8
© 2020 New In Chess
Published by New In Chess, Alkmaar, The
Netherlands
www.newinchess.com
All rights reserved. No part of this book may
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recording or otherwise, without the prior
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Cover design: Buro Blikgoed
Supervision: Peter Boel
Editing and typesetting: Ian Kingston
Proofreading: Dennis Keetman
Production: Anton Schermer
6 7
Explanation of Symbols !! excellent move
? bad move
?? blunder
!? interesting move
The chessboard with its coordinates:
?! dubious move
K King
Q Queen
R Rook
B Bishop
N Knight
² White stands slightly better
³ Black stands slightly better
± White stands better
µ Black stands better
+– White has a decisive advantage
–+ Black has a decisive advantage
= balanced position
! good move
8 9
13 283
Table of Contents
Exercises for Chapter 13 283
Anderssen versus Morphy: stereotypes
284
Title page 6 upside down
14 296
Explanation of symbols 8
Exercises for Chapter 14 296
Preface 10
The father of modern chess 299
1 20
15 318
Exercises for Chapter 1 20
Exercises for Chapter 15 318
Footnotes to Greco 22
From the coffeehouse to the arena 319
2 40
16 335
Exercises for Chapter 2 40
Attack at all costs 335
The Nimzowitsch of the 17th century 43
17 352
3 63
Exercises for Chapter 17 352
Exercises for Chapter 3 63
The art of positional play before Steinitz 356
With a little help from the opponent 65
18 382
4 94
Exercises for Chapter 18 382
Exercises for Chapter 4 94
The sword in one hand and the olive
First discussions: Philidor versus the 384
98 branch in the other
Modenese masters
19 399
5 115
The Great Steinitz Hoax 399
Exercises for Chapter 5 115
20 402
The start of serious competition 117
The concept of balance 402
6 133
21 418
Exercises for Chapter 6 133
Exercises for Chapter 21 418
Staunton and the chess column as a
135
second front The elements of positional play 420
7 157 22 444
Exercises for Chapter 7 157 Exercises for Chapter 22 444
London 1851 159 Of the dead, nothing but good 446
8 187 23 466
Exercises for Chapter 8 187 Exercises for Chapter 23 466
Williams and the Wyvill formation 189 Before the endgame, the Gods have
468
placed the middlegame
9 207
24 487
Exercises for Chapter 9 207
Exercises for Chapter 24 487
Murder at the seventh attempt 209
A pawn is worth a little trouble 489
10 236
25 504
Questions for Chapter 10 236
Exercises for Chapter 25 504
Meanwhile in India 239
The king can take care of itself 506
11 247
26 527
Exercises for Chapter 11 247
Lasker making history 527
Blitzkrieg chess 249
27 545
12 262
Exercises for Chapter 27 545
Exercises for Chapter 12 262
Tarrasch versus Chigorin: the dialectic of
A chivalrous battle in the open field 263 548
theory and praxis
809 810
Preface
28 575
Preface
Exercises for Chapter 28 575
Back to the future 578
29 601
A small quiz to begin with
Exercises for Chapter 29 601
The test of time 603 Let’s throw you in at the deep end: play over
30 625
the following game and try to figure out:
Exercises for Chapter 30 625
• How strong are these players?
Accumulating tactical ideas 627
31 649 • Where did Black go wrong?
Exercises for Chapter 31 649 • Approximately when was this game played?
The best plan is the absence of it 650 • Who might be the players?
32 671
Exercises for Chapter 32 671
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Bc5
Study openings 672
5.c3 Nf6 6.e5 d5 7.Bb5 Ne4 8.cxd4 Bb4+
33 690
Exercises for Chapter 33 690 9.Bd2 Bxd2+ 10.Nbxd2 0-0 11.Bxc6 bxc6
A few bits of endgame knowledge 693 12.0-0 f5 13.Rc1 Qe8 14.Qc2 Rb8 15.Nb3
34 711
Rb6 16.Nfd2 Qh5 17.f3 Nxd2 18.Qxd2 f4
Exercises for Chapter 34 711
19.Nc5 Qg6 20.Rfe1 Be6 21.Rc3 Qe8
Revolution or evolution 713
35 743 22.Ra3 Bf5 23.b3 a6 24.Rxa6 Rxa6
Exercises for Chapter 35 743
25.Nxa6 Qc8 26.Nc5 Be6 27.a4 g5 28.a5
Bottom-up development 745
Re8 29.a6 Qb8 30.Ra1 Qa7 31.Qb4 Kf7
36 769
Exercises for Chapter 36 769 32.Qb7 Qb6 33.a7 Qxb7 34.Nxb7 Ra8
On the origin of good moves 771
35.Nd8+ Ke7 36.Nxe6 Kxe6 37.b4 1-0
Endnotes 786
Index of names 792
The game of chess has a rich history. Of all
Selected bibliography 804
the different interesting aspects of this
history, this book will focus on the
development of our knowledge of the game
and our capability to play it well.
This is a book about the history of
improvement in chess – about the
improvement of the chess-playing species as
it were – but I hope it might contribute to
the improvement of the chess-playing
individual (i.e. you, the reader). In biology
there is a theory summarized as ‘ontogeny
recapitulates phylogeny’, meaning that the
811 10
Preface
development of the individual resembles the main characteristic. With his concepts of
development of the species. Today this old balance and of making plans based on the
theory has few adherents left in the science of elements of the position, Steinitz more or less
biology and I am not so sure about its worth brought science and enlightenment into
for chess, but it is an interesting starting chess thinking.
point. For one thing Garry Kasparov opens There were players and writers in the
the first chapter of his major work My Great romantic period already anticipating a more
Predecessors with this perspective: ‘The stages positional approach. Often mentioned is
in the development of chess resemble the François-André Danican Philidor, and
path taken by everyone who proceeds from a sometimes Howard Staunton and Paul
beginner to a player of high standard.’1 Morphy are added to this list. As typical
Kasparov stands in a tradition at this point. representatives of the romantic school we
For example, his predecessor Max Euwe have Gioacchino Greco and his Italian
wrote: ‘The development of a player runs compatriots. Later on, Adolf Anderssen and
parallel with the development of the game of Mikhail Chigorin are supposed to stand for
chess itself, and that’s why the study of the the Romantic ideals.
history of the game of chess has great However, I believe that if you take a closer
practical value.’2 And, to add one more look at this history, it seems rather strange
version of this idea, Richard Réti wrote: ‘We that we have ended up with this ‘official’
perceive after a careful consideration of the version of how chess developed. The story of
evolution of the chess mind that such what did happen is a fascinating one and at
evolution has gone on, in general, in a way first it was my intention to shape this book as
quite similar to that in which it goes on with a whodunnit. While describing all the battles
the individual chess player, only with the that have been fought in the history of chess
3 between different schools of thinking and
latter more rapidly.’
styles of playing, and all the discussions and
The above seems to suggest that there is
controversies that went along with it,
agreement on what ‘the stages in the
somewhere near the end it should become
development of chess’ consist of, and indeed,
clear how the crime was committed.
there is a view that almost all those writing
Unfortunately, this asks too much of my
about the history of our game adhere to.
writing abilities. So I may just as well give it
In this generally approved view, William
away right here: Emanuel Lasker did it!
Steinitz plays a central role. He is supposed
I hope that after this journey we can end
to have been the first to understand the laws
up with some alternative points of view and
of positional chess and also the first to
some different heroes. But I would also like
present this knowledge in his writings. The
to take on a new perspective, concentrating
period before Steinitz is often described as
not solely on the great players and the big
‘romantic’, with ‘attacking at all costs’ as its
11 12
Preface
ideas, but also on the small innovations and are a mix of strategy and tactics. Mostly, but
pieces of new knowledge that, in my not always, there is a clear best move. And
opinion, form the real motor of usually you are just asked to give a move –
improvement – to give away the second part hopefully you can back it up by some
of the plot. variation or idea. Sometimes a different
Finally – if I manage to make a case for this question is asked – for example, your
evolutionary point of view – the question opinion on who is better.
arises again as to what this means for the The exercises follow the line of the story,
individual, aspiring to master our game. which means that simple ones can be
This perspective connects the present book followed by difficult ones, without any
to my first one, Move First, Think Later, warning. Just as in your own games.
subtitled ‘Sense and Nonsense in Improving The minimum I hope for you to do is to
Your Chess’. That book dealt with the nature take a good look at the position and decide
of improvement in chess, and some of its on the move you want to play.
main themes and questions will return from An anachronistic game!?
a more historical point of view.
Years ago in my chess club’s magazine there
Exercises was a regular quiz that looked a bit like the
In my first book I used a set-up with one I presented to you at the start. This was
exercises at the start of each chapter. Those in the pre-computer era. Of course, I hope
positions then returned in the actual chapter. you tried my quiz without computer help.
This structure is used again in this book. It is Nowadays we are used to having engines
my conviction that, if you want to learn running almost all the time. That makes it
something from a position, you first have to easy to forget how difficult chess is.
think about it for yourself and decide upon While I was writing this, the World
your move, preferably without any clues. Championship match between Carlsen and
Also, to be able to form an idea of how chess Caruana was going on. I read the following
was played in the past and how they handled witty comment on Twitter: ‘In my opinion,
different positions, it is essential to think computers didn’t ruin the game of chess, but
about these positions yourself, to see how they did ruin the spectators.’ It is indeed
you relate to their way of thinking and their difficult to escape: if you tune in to the live
playing strength. broadcast of any match or tournament today,
I hope that every so often you will be in most places you get the actual position
surprised and add some new bits to your presented together with a computer
knowledge of chess. evaluation of the position. This already spoils
The exercises range from very easy to very half of the fun. It’s not the same as presenting
difficult. I guess the stronger club player the score during a soccer match.
won’t have an easy time solving them. They
13 14
Preface
Let’s have a look at the questions I posed. If 12.Rc1 White has to reckon with the
Your first impression might well be that they
...Ba6 idea, either directly or after 12...c5
are at least decent players. They play opening
13.dxc5 Ba6. Later in this book we will see
theory for some time and don’t blunder
some more examples of this idea, aiming to
material. The opening itself doesn’t give
keep the king stuck in the centre.
much of a clue. This line was already played
long ago and is still played today, though
maybe not at the highest levels.
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Bc4 Bc5
5.c3 Nf6 6.e5 d5 7.Bb5 Ne4 8.cxd4 Bb4+
9.Bd2 Bxd2+
More often 9...Nxd2 is played.
10.Nbxd2
The weaknesses on the c-file are Black’s
major problem and now is his last chance to
address this with 12...c5!, after which White
is only slightly better. Black’s next move not
only doesn’t help with his problems on the c-
file, but also gives White a protected passed
pawn and blocks his bishop on c8. Surely,
White is not going to help Black by taking
on e4. So Black’s only big mistake in this
game is already the decisive one. Well done if
you noticed this.
10....0-0 12...f5? 13.Rc1 Qe8 14.Qc2 Rb8 15.Nb3
Rb6 16.Nfd2 Qh5
If Black wants to avoid getting his pawn
structure damaged he can play 10...Bd7.
11.Bxc6 bxc6 12.0-0
15 16
Preface
game White cashes in on his advantage in an
exemplary way.
19...Qg6 20.Rfe1 Be6 21.Rc3 Qe8 22.Ra3
Bf5 23.b3 a6 24.Rxa6 Rxa6 25.Nxa6 Qc8
26.Nc5 Be6 27.a4 g5 28.a5 Re8 29.a6
Qb8 30.Ra1 Qa7 31.Qb4 Kf7 32.Qb7
Qb6 33.a7 Qxb7 34.Nxb7 Ra8 35.Nd8+
Ke7 36.Nxe6 Kxe6 37.b4 1-0
On closer consideration of this game you
might come to the conclusion that it looks
like a typical example of ‘master beats
amateur’. It could have been played long ago,
17.f3! but also very recently. White seems to be a
reasonably strong player. He outplays his
Much better than 17.Nxe4 fxe4, which
opponent in a purely positional manner – a
would greatly improve Black’s possibilities on
model game on the theme of weaknesses in
the kingside.
the pawn structure and a good knight on a
strong square versus a (rather) bad bishop.
17...Nxd2 18.Qxd2 f4 19.Nc5
Since the laws of positional chess were
discovered, as the story goes, by Steinitz,
around the 1880s, this game must have been
played after that. Maybe it was even Steinitz
himself, you might think, playing with
white.
Although this game was given to you without
any information, the fact that it is in this
book probably gave you a clue that it is not a
very recent game. And indeed it isn’t. It is a
game by Adolf Anderssen against Daniel
Harrwitz, the first of their match played in
Breslau in 1848. Harrwitz was at the time
considered to be one of the world’s top
players, and drawing this match 4-4 was
The good knight versus bad bishop dream
Anderssen’s first notable result.
position has been reached. In the rest of the
17 18
Exercises for Chapter 1
Adolf Anderssen (1818-1879), the great Exercises for Chapter 1
protagonist of the so-called Romantic chess
era, playing purely positional chess years
before this was invented? That raises a few
1 (go to the solution)
questions. Is this game some sort of
anachronism, an occasional lucky shot? Or is
there more to be found in the history of
chess that challenges conventional views?
Years ago I stumbled upon this game by
accident and it was an inspiration for further
investigations of games from the past – and
not only the small number that recur in
every textbook.
So let’s start our journey into the forgotten
days. At our first stop we will meet a player
who has much more to offer than his
reputation as a primitive tactician would
suggest.
White to move
2 (go to the solution)
White to move
19 20