The text move is better, because it also
forces White to take on c6 and must be
played to prepare ...e5.
15. Bxc6 bxc6
That move should be preferred – Black's
avalanche in the centre looks even
more impressive now.
16. Nxd4
Position after: 16. Nxd4
16... c5
This is the more precise attack on the
knight. The move ...e5 is unstoppable as
well.
16... e5 allows White to fight for the c5-
square after 17. Nb3.
17. Ne2 Kf7
There are many good moves here. Black
chose this one, it is a matter of style...
Of course, other good options include
17... e5, 17...Rc8, 17...Rb8, 17...Rg8.
18. f3 Nd6 19. b3 e5
Position after: 19... e5
As a result of the risky (and bad) excursion of the white knight, Black is better.
White has no more bishop pair, and the
black pawn centre looks strong and impressive. Also, Black has more space,
better piece centralisation and the better bishop.
Note: do not think Black has all that advantage randomly. No, usually one advantage leads to another...
White has
problems in finishing development, and
even after finishing it there will be a lack
of harmony in his camp due to a lack of
space.
20. Ba3 Rac8
That rook, of course. Black predicts the
other rook will probably be needed on
the d-file, in order to prepare advancing
the pawns.
21. Rad1 d4
(see diagram next page)
Chapter 1: The Centre 27
Position after: 21... d4
Please, remember the following quote:
“pawns and knights should stay on
squares of the same colour, and bishops
on opposite ones.”
Take a look at the black central pawns
and minor pieces – there is full harmony! All central squares are perfectly
covered! Now, imagine the black knight
and bishop swapping places – instead of
harmony there would only be lightsquared weaknesses!
22. Nc1 Nf5
Black found a target, the c2-pawn.
23. Rf2 Ne3 24. Re1 c4
24... Bf5 was also a good move, but still
the text move should be preferred.
25. b4
Only one brief look at the position is
enough to reach an evaluation – White
is hopeless.
Position after: 25. b4
His pieces are cramped while Black’s
pieces dominate, together with the central pawns. Here, Black found a beautiful manoeuvre...
25... Ba4 26. Ree2 Nd1 27. Rf1 Nc3
28. Ref2 Nb1?
... but, executed it poorly. He missed
White's 30th move.
28... Nb5 29. Bb2 c3 30. Ba1 would
win easily – White plays without a
bishop.
29. Bb2 c3
Position after: 29... c3
28 Fundamental Chess Strategy in 100 Games
30. Nb3
This move delays resignation. Black is
forced to find more good moves to convert.
30... Bxb3! 31. axb3
31. Rxb1 Bxa2 32. Ra1 cxb2–+
31... Nd2 32. Re1 Rhd8! 33. Bc1 d3!
34. cxd3 Rxd3
Position after: 34... Rxd3
After a series of active black moves,
White is close to resignation.
35. Bxd2 Rxd2
Taking with the pawn was also winning.
Black transposes to a trivial endgame –
the rook behind the passed-pawn decides the game.
36. Ra1 Ke6 37. Kf1 Rxf2+ 38. Kxf2
c2 39. Rc1 Kd5 40. Ke3 Rc3+ 41.
Kd2 Kd4
Position after: 41... Kd4
White is in some kind of zugzwang.
Black’s king will inevitably collect the
white kingside pawns, with a win to follow.
42. h4 Rd3+
White resigned. A terrible defeat. Never
forget about the centre and never go for
a flank attack if your centre is not secured. White’s centre simply collapsed
in this game after his 8th move. Afterwards, White could not get control back
over the centre and the punishment
was well deserved.
0-1
Game 5
Stolberg – Botvinnik
Moscow 1940
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3
0-0 5. Bd3 d5 6. Nge2
Chapter 1: The Centre 29
Position after: 6. Nge2
6... c5
Black decides to crush the white pawn
centre immediately. 6... dxc4 7. Bxc4
c5 was also very solid.
7. 0-0 Nc6 8. cxd5 exd5
8... Nxd5 is bad. After 9. Nxd5 Qxd5
10. a3 Ba5 11. Qc2, White attacks
pawns both on c5 and h7 with a clear
advantage
9. a3
Position after: 9. a3
9... cxd4
9... Bxc3 10. bxc3 c4 11. Bc2 b5 is also
playable, of course. Butthat plan simplifies White's task. White will organise
the e4-advance with Ng3 and f3. The
text move poses more problems to
White.
10. exd4
10. axb4 dxc3 11. bxc3 Ne5 gives comfortable play to Black. White will dominate the d4-square, but on
the other
hand Black can use the squares c4 and
e4.
10... Bd6 11. h3
11. Bf4 was a logical move, finishing
development and exchanging a bad
bishop for a good one. Instead of that,
White made his bishop a worse piece...
You'll see.
11... h6
Position after: 11... h6
Securing the d5-pawn by preventing
Bg5.
30 Fundamental Chess Strategy in 100 Games
12. b4?!
White wanted to secure a spot for the
queen on b3. Alas, advancing pawns on
the queenside misses its mark. In open
positions, pawn play is rarely promising.
Piece play should be preferred!
12... Re8 13. Qb3 Be6 14. Bd2 Qd7
Position after: 14... Qd7
Black harmoniously finished development and is already better. The idea of
the last few moves is the exchange of
the light-squared bishops.
15. f4?
It looks like suicide. One is not allowed
to play on the flank if worse off in the
centre. Also, attacking the black king is
just an illusion. Take a look at the pawn
on f4, restricting the rook, bishop and
knight. Try to move or exchange such
pawns in your games. And, what’s
more, e4 and e3 are now desperately
weak squares. Black’s idea of exchanging light-squared bishops is even more
logical and dangerous now.
15... Bf5! 16. Qc2 Be4!
Position after: 16... Be4!
17. b5?
The game is over now. White invites so
many black pieces into his camp. The
knight goes to c4, along with future invasions on the c- and e-files. White is
without counterplay. With careless advances, White simply gave Black full
control over the centre.
17... Bxd3 18. Qxd3
18. bxc6 Qf5–+
18... Na5 19. Ng3 Nc4
Position after: 19... Nc4
Chapter 1: The Centre 31
20. Bc1
20. Nxd5 is not good. After 20... Nxd5
21. Qxc4 Ne3 22. Bxe3 Rxe3 things
are bad for White. There is no good
place for the knight to retreat to and
Black will keep the initiative with
...Rc8.
20... Rac8
White cannot oppose the black occupation of light central squares. His position
is hopeless.
21. Ra2 Bf8
Supporting the d5-pawn and freeing the
d6-square for the knight.
22. a4
This leaves the b4-square without control, but what else is there to suggestfor
White…?
22... Bb4
Position after: 22... Bb4
Black would be happy to exchange the
bishop for the knight – the e4-square
will be easier to control.
23. Nd1 Ne4 24. f5
Trying to die for something... With some
precise moves, Black eliminates all
threats on the kingside.
24... Nxg3 25. Qxg3 Bd6 26. Qf3
Be7 27. Qg3
Position after: 27. Qg3
27... Bf6! 28. Bxh6
It looks like White got some chances,
but that was just an illusion.
28... Bxd4+
The pawn on d4 is more important than
the one on h6. See how Black invades on
central squares. Very soon, a storm will
break out in the centre.
29. Kh1 f6! 30. Bc1 Re4 31. Qd3
Ne5
32 Fundamental Chess Strategy in 100 Games
Position after: 31... Ne5
If you follow games by such great masters, chess looks like a really simple
game. Actually, it is sometimes. Dominate the centre and you will dominate
all over the board.
32. Qb1 Rc4
Black used his last move to achieve full
centralisation. At the same time, White
regrouped his troops... to the first rank!
Botvinnik convincingly realises his advantage.
33. a5 Bc5 34. b6 a6 35. Nb2 Rc3 36.
Bd2 Rb3 37. Qc2
Position after: 37. Qc2
Not that many squares are available for
the white pieces...
37... Qb5 38. Rc1 Bf8 39. Rd1 Re2
Dominating in the centre gives you excellent prospects on both flanks. Botvinnik chooses the fastest way
– he attacks
White’s king. White’s cramped pieces
on the queenside are of no help.
40. Qc1
Position after: 40. Qc1
40... Rxh3+! 41. gxh3 d4
A sad fate for White. Paralysed pieces in
open positions is not a common site.
There is no way to prevent ...Qd5, with
mate. White resigned. A terrible defeat.
Recklessly advancing pawns, White invited the black pieces to comfortable
central positions. The realisation of a big
positional advantage should be carefully studied and it depicts Botvinnik's
impressive technique.
0-1
