***Chess - Instructive Positions Thread ***
09-21-2011
, 12:08 PM
Thanks for all your thoughts on that previous position!
In the game, I was white, and I was considering between b4 and g4. I looked at f5, but didn't give it nearly as much consideration as it deserved. I didn't see how strong it was until after the game was over and I was going back over it. Crafty considers b4 and f5 to be roughly equal, slightly preferring b4, but I think that just says that I need to stop using Crafty for anything but blunderchecking.
After b4 and the trade-down into the endgame, I ran out of ideas pretty fast and it turned into a draw.
Okay, new one! I'm really, really, really working on getting better at these classical, closed, center-fighting positions:
Black to move.
Can he safely play e4?
Does he want to play e4?
If he could play e4 and he wanted to, why would it be good for him?
If he could play e4 and he didn't want to, what other plan would be better for him?
In the game, I was white, and I was considering between b4 and g4. I looked at f5, but didn't give it nearly as much consideration as it deserved. I didn't see how strong it was until after the game was over and I was going back over it. Crafty considers b4 and f5 to be roughly equal, slightly preferring b4, but I think that just says that I need to stop using Crafty for anything but blunderchecking.
After b4 and the trade-down into the endgame, I ran out of ideas pretty fast and it turned into a draw.
Okay, new one! I'm really, really, really working on getting better at these classical, closed, center-fighting positions:
Black to move.
Can he safely play e4?
Does he want to play e4?
If he could play e4 and he wanted to, why would it be good for him?
If he could play e4 and he didn't want to, what other plan would be better for him?
09-24-2011
, 05:43 AM
Quote:
Here's a position I think is very instructive, except I don't have the answer. White to move, and what I want to know here is threefold:
1) Who is better?
2) Who benefits if rooks are traded?
3) If it's black, is giving up the file still bad enough that white has to trade?
Here's a position I think is very instructive, except I don't have the answer. White to move, and what I want to know here is threefold:
1) Who is better?
2) Who benefits if rooks are traded?
3) If it's black, is giving up the file still bad enough that white has to trade?
09-27-2011
, 09:45 AM
I've been reading Zurich 1953 lately, and the following game is my favorite I've seen in a long time. It doesn't have any flashy tactics or combinations, but Smyslov's logical, strong endgame play is absolutely fantastic and extremely instructive. The way Bronstein breaks down the position is really illuminating and also has helped me form plans in other phases of the game. Watching Smyslov carry out his plans is a thing of beauty.
In the position below, after 20. b3, Bronstein makes the following comments.
There exists a widespread, and therefore dangerous, misconception that the win is automatic once you are a pawn ahead. As a matter of fact, Black's chief advantage in this position lies not so much in his plus pawn, which he is still far from exploiting, as in his control of most of the center squares: d4, d5, c5, f4 and f5.
White has his counterchances: a queenside pawn majority and the d-file. How many similar games have been drawn because of inexact play! Smyslov, however, manages such endings with an iron hand. His plan may be divided into the following phases:
1. The immediate exchange of one rook, leaving the other to restrain White's queenside pawns and attack the c- and e-pawns.
2. Deflecting White's rook to the h-file by the threat to create an outside passed pawn, and then occupying the d-file with his own rook.
3. Advancing the g-pawn to g4, undermining the e-pawn's support, which is the f3-pawn.
4. Tying up White's pieces by attacking the e-pawn.
5. Sending his king in to pick off the weak pawns.
As we shall see, a simple winning plan - for a Smyslov, naturally!
Here is the full game for anyone that is interested.
http://www.chessvideos.tv/chess-game...r.php?id=50667
In the position below, after 20. b3, Bronstein makes the following comments.
There exists a widespread, and therefore dangerous, misconception that the win is automatic once you are a pawn ahead. As a matter of fact, Black's chief advantage in this position lies not so much in his plus pawn, which he is still far from exploiting, as in his control of most of the center squares: d4, d5, c5, f4 and f5.
White has his counterchances: a queenside pawn majority and the d-file. How many similar games have been drawn because of inexact play! Smyslov, however, manages such endings with an iron hand. His plan may be divided into the following phases:
1. The immediate exchange of one rook, leaving the other to restrain White's queenside pawns and attack the c- and e-pawns.
2. Deflecting White's rook to the h-file by the threat to create an outside passed pawn, and then occupying the d-file with his own rook.
3. Advancing the g-pawn to g4, undermining the e-pawn's support, which is the f3-pawn.
4. Tying up White's pieces by attacking the e-pawn.
5. Sending his king in to pick off the weak pawns.
As we shall see, a simple winning plan - for a Smyslov, naturally!
Here is the full game for anyone that is interested.
http://www.chessvideos.tv/chess-game...r.php?id=50667
10-02-2011
, 10:02 PM
^I didn't comment on this when it was posted, but that was a very cool position and annotation.
Okay, intermediate tactics time. White has played a classic bishop sacrifice and now must find the way to finish it off. White to play and win:
Okay, intermediate tactics time. White has played a classic bishop sacrifice and now must find the way to finish it off. White to play and win:
Spoiler:
Last edited by KyleJRM82; 10-02-2011 at 10:08 PM.
Reason: Fixed notation error
10-06-2011
, 02:01 AM
12-06-2011
, 05:58 PM
I got to test the alertness of a famous endgame composer over the board today. Black to play.
Last edited by RoundTower; 12-06-2011 at 10:14 PM.
12-06-2011
, 08:39 PM
12-06-2011
, 10:14 PM
12-07-2011
, 10:00 AM
