Initially it might appear that only one problem is listed (“Ruy Lopez for White – 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.Qe2”). In order to access the rest of the problems, you should click on the small rectangular box above the chessboard that has a “…”. Once this rectangular box is clicked, a drop-down menu with the rest of the variations will appear that you can review.
The buttons below the chess board look like what you might find on a tv remote control. Below are the buttons and what they do…
“<<” – this button takes you to the starting position of the current problem.
“<” – this button takes you one move backward in the current problem.
“+” – this button will automatically play through the current problem.
“>” – this button takes you one more forward in the current problem.
“>>” – this button takes you to the final position of the current problem.
There are some “hidden” functions that will allow you to interact with the chessboard.
Here are some of those important functions…
“f” – by clicking on the “f” key, you will flip the board and can view it from White or Black’s point of view.
“b” – by clicking on the “b” key, you will load the previous game.
“n” – by clicking on the “n” key, you will load the next game.
“f8-square” – by clicking on the f8-square with your mouse, you can initiate the ‘Shortcut Keys Help’.
“g8-square” – by clicking on the g8-square with your mouse, you can initiate the ‘Shortcut Squares Help’.
Ruy Lopez for Black – Marshall Gambit (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 0-0 8.c3 d5)
Ruy Lopez for Black – Romanishin Variation (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.h3 0-0 9.c3 Na5 10.Bc2 c5 11.d4 Bd7)
Ruy Lopez for Black – Variation 1 (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.h3 0-0 9.c3 Na5 10.Bc2 c5 11.d4 Bb7)
Ruy Lopez for Black – Variation 2 (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.h3 0-0 9.c3 Na5 10.Bc2 c5 11.d4 Qc7)
Ruy Lopez for Black – Variation 3 (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.h3 0-0 9.c3 Na5 10.Bc2 c5 11.d4 cxd4)
Ruy Lopez for Black – Variation 4 (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.h3 0-0 9.c3 Na5 10.Bc2 c5 11.d4 Qc7)
Ruy Lopez for Black – Variation 5 (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.h3 0-0 9.c3 Na5 10.Bc2 c5 11.d4 Nd7)
Ruy Lopez for Black – Variation 6 (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.h3 0-0 9.c3 Na5 10.Bc2 c5 11.d4 Qc7)
Ruy Lopez for Black – Model Games
[Event "Open Pawn Center"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Joecks, C."]
[Black "Hansen, Lars Bo"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C96"]
[Annotator "Gardner,Lee"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "1996.??.??"]
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 Bb7 12. Nbd2 cxd4 13. cxd4 exd4 14. Nxd4 Re8 {
[%csl Gf5][%cal Ge7f8,Gg7g6,Gf8g7,Yf6d7,Ye7f6,Rd6d5,Gd2f1,Gf1e3,Gf1g3,Ge3f5,
Gg3f5,Yb2b3,Yc1b2] Diagram [#]} 15. Nf1 Bf8 16. Ng3 g6 17. b3 {Diagram [#]} d5
$5 18. e5 Ne4 19. Nxe4 dxe4 20. Bxe4 Rxe5 21. Bxb7 Rxe1+ 22. Qxe1 Nxb7 23. Bb2
Qe8 24. Nf3 Qxe1+ 25. Rxe1 Nc5 {Diagram [#]} 26. Bd4 $6 (26. Bf6) (26. Rd1)
26... Ne6 27. Bf6 Rc8 28. Rd1 h5 29. g4 $6 (29. g3) 29... Bg7 30. Bxg7 Kxg7 31.
gxh5 gxh5 32. Rd7 $6 (32. Nd4) 32... Rc2 33. a4 $6 (33. Rd2 Rc3) 33... Rc3 34.
Ne5 Kf6 $1 35. Nxf7 {Diagram [#]} Nc5 $1 36. Rc7 (36. Ra7 b4 $1) 36... Nxa4 $1
37. Nd6 $5 (37. Rxc3 Nxc3 38. Nd6 Ke5) 37... Ke6 38. Ne8 Rxb3 39. Ng7+ Kd6 40.
Ra7 Nc5 41. Kg2 b4 42. f4 Rc3 43. f5 Ke5 0-1
[Event "Open Pawn Center"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Claussen, B."]
[Black "Hansen, Lars Bo"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C96"]
[Annotator "Gardner,Lee"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "1994.??.??"]
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 Bb7 12. Nbd2 cxd4 13. cxd4 exd4 14. Nxd4 Re8 {
[%csl Gf5][%cal Ge7f8,Gg7g6,Gf8g7,Yf6d7,Ye7f6,Rd6d5,Gd2f1,Gf1e3,Gf1g3,Ge3f5,
Gg3f5,Yb2b3,Yc1b2] Diagram [#]} 15. Nf1 Bf8 16. Ng3 g6 17. b3 {Diagram [#]} Nd7
18. Bb2 Rc8 19. Qd2 Bg7 20. a4 b4 21. Rab1 Qb6 22. Ndf5 $5 Bxb2 23. Rxb2 $6 (
23. Nh6+) 23... gxf5 24. Nxf5 d5 $1 25. e5 Nxe5 26. Rxe5 Rxe5 27. Qg5+ Qg6 28.
Nh6+ Kf8 29. Qxe5 Qxh6 30. Bf5 $2 Qc1+ (30... Qc1+ 31. Kh2 Qc7) 0-1
[Event "Mar del Plata"]
[Site "Mar del Plata"]
[Date "1959.03.30"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Fischer, Robert James"]
[Black "Shocron, Ruben"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C97"]
[Annotator "Shipov"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "1959.03.23"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "ARG"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]
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 Bd7 13. Nf1 Rfe8 14. Ne3 g6 15.
dxe5 (15. Bd2) 15... dxe5 16. Nh2 Rad8 17. Qf3 Be6 18. Nhg4 Nxg4 19. hxg4 (19.
Nxg4 Bxg4 $1 20. hxg4 c4 $10) 19... Qc6 $6 (19... Nc4 $1 20. Nd5 Bxd5 21. exd5
Nb6 22. Rd1 Rd6 23. a4 Red8 24. axb5 axb5 25. Be3 c4 $10 {Keres,P-Matanovic,A/
Bled/1961/0,5/83/}) 20. g5 (20. Qg3 $142 $1 f6 (20... Qc7 21. Nf5 $1 $40) (
20... Bf6 21. g5 Bg7 22. Qh4 $40) 21. g5 Kh8 22. b3 Rf8 23. Nd5 $1 Bxd5 24.
exd5 Qxd5 25. gxf6 Bxf6 26. Bh6 $16 {Boleslavsky,I-Tal,M/Tbilisi/1957/1:0/93/})
20... Nc4 (20... Bxg5 21. Nd5 $1 Bxc1 (21... Bxd5 $2 22. Bxg5 $16) 22. Nf6+ Kh8
$1 23. Raxc1 (23. Nxe8 Bg5 24. Nf6 Nc4 $44) 23... Rf8 (23... Re7 24. Qg3 Qc7
25. Qh4 $36) 24. Qg3 Qc7 $13 25. Qg5 Kg7 $10) 21. Ng4 Bxg4 $8 22. Qxg4 Nb6 $1 (
22... f6 $2 23. gxf6 Bxf6 24. a4 Nb6 25. axb5 axb5 26. Be3 $16) 23. g3 c4 (
23... Nd7 24. a4 c4 $1 (24... b4 $2 25. cxb4 cxb4 26. Bb3 $16) 25. axb5 axb5
$10) 24. Kg2 Nd7 $10 25. Rh1 Nf8 26. b4 $1 (26. b3 b4 $1 27. cxb4 c3 $1 $44) (
26. a4 b4 $1 27. cxb4 Bxb4 28. a5 Qc7 $10) 26... Qe6 (26... cxb3 $6 27. Bxb3
Qxc3 28. Be3 $36 {>< c7/}) (26... a5 $5 27. a3 Ra8 $10) 27. Qe2 a5 $1 28. bxa5
Qa6 29. Be3 Qxa5 30. a4 Ra8 (30... Qxc3 31. axb5 $10) 31. axb5 Qxb5 (31... Qxa1
$2 32. Rxa1 Rxa1 33. Qxc4 $16) (31... Qxc3 $5) 32. Rhb1 Qc6 33. Rb6 $1 Qc7 34.
Rba6 Rxa6 35. Rxa6 $14 {>< c4/} Rc8 36. Qg4 Ne6 (36... Bc5 $6 37. Bxc5 Qxc5 38.
Ba4 $1 $16) 37. Ba4 Rb8 38. Rc6 Qd8 $2 (38... Qd7 $3 39. Kh2 (39. Rxc4 $2 Qd3
$1 40. Rc6 Rb1 $17) 39... Rb1 $1 40. Rb6 (40. Rxc4 Qd3 41. Rc8+ Kg7 42. Qh4
Bxg5 $1 43. Bxg5 Rh1+ $1 44. Kxh1 Qf1+ 45. Kh2 Qxf2+ $10) 40... Qd3 41. Rxb1
Qxb1 42. Bd7 Nc7 43. Bc6 Qd3 $14) 39. Rxe6 $1 Qc8 (39... fxe6 40. Qxe6+ Kf8 41.
Qxe5 $18) 40. Bd7 $1 $18 (40. Bd7 $1 Qxd7 41. Rxg6+ $18) 1-0
[Event "Portoroz Interzonal"]
[Site "Portoroz"]
[Date "1958.??.??"]
[Round "18"]
[White "Fischer, Robert James"]
[Black "Matanovic, Aleksandar"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C97"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "1958.08.05"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "21"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]
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 Bd7 13. Nf1 Rfe8 14. Ne3 g6 15.
dxe5 dxe5 16. Nh2 Rad8 17. Qf3 Be6 18. Nhg4 Nxg4 19. Nxg4 Bxg4 20. hxg4 c4 21.
g3 Nb7 22. Kg2 Nc5 23. Rh1 f6 24. Be3 Rf8 25. Rad1 Rxd1 26. Rxd1 Rd8 27. Bxc5
Qxc5 28. Rxd8+ Bxd8 29. Qd1 Bb6 30. Qd2 Kf8 31. a4 Ke7 32. g5 fxg5 33. Qxg5+
Kf7 34. Qd2 Kf6 35. axb5 axb5 36. Bd1 1/2-1/2
[Event "Bled"]
[Site "Bled"]
[Date "1961.09.14"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Fischer, Robert James"]
[Black "Matanovic, Aleksandar"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C97"]
[Annotator "Bulletin"]
[PlyCount "113"]
[EventDate "1961.09.03"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "19"]
[EventCountry "YUG"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]
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 Bd7 13. Nf1 Rfe8 14. Ne3 g6 15.
Bd2 $6 (15. dxe5) (15. b4) (15. a4) 15... Bf8 16. b4 cxb4 17. cxb4 Nc4 18. Nxc4
bxc4 19. Rc1 (19. Bc3 Bh6) 19... exd4 20. Nxd4 d5 21. exd5 Rxe1+ (21... Nxd5
22. Be4) 22. Bxe1 (22. Qxe1 Re8 23. Qd1 Nxd5) 22... Qd6 (22... Nxd5 23. Be4)
23. Ne2 (23. Nf3 $1 Qxd5 (23... Nxd5 24. Be4) (23... Re8 24. Qd4) (23... Bh6
24. Rb1) 24. Bc3) 23... Re8 24. Nc3 $2 (24. Ng3 Qxd5 25. Bc3 Bc6 26. Qf1) 24...
Qe5 $1 {/\Bf8-d6, Bf8xb4} 25. Ba4 Bxa4 (25... Bxb4 $1 {/\26...Qxe1+} 26. Bxd7
Nxd7 27. Qa4 Nc5 $1 28. Qxb4 Nd3 $17) 26. Qxa4 (26. Nxa4 $142) 26... Bd6 27. g3
Qg5 $1 28. Qc2 (28. a3 Bxg3 29. fxg3 Rxe1+ 30. Rxe1 Qxg3+ 31. Kf1 Qxh3+ 32. Kg1
Qxc3 $17) (28. Qd1 $1 Bxb4 29. h4 Qf5 30. Qd4) 28... Bxb4 29. Bd2 Qh5 30. Qa4
Qxh3 $1 {/\31...Ng4, 31...Bc5} 31. Re1 $1 Rxe1+ (31... Rb8 32. Qd1 $1 Ng4 33.
Qf3) 32. Bxe1 Bc5 33. Qxc4 Qxg3+ 34. Kf1 Qh3+ (34... Qd6) 35. Ke2 Qh5+ (35...
Qg4+ 36. Qxg4 Nxg4 $15) 36. Kf1 Qh1+ 37. Ke2 Qh5+ 38. Kf1 Bf8 39. Qxa6 Nxd5 (
39... Qf3 $1 40. Kg1 Qg4+ 41. Kf1 Nh5) 40. Nxd5 Qxd5 41. a4 f5 42. Bc3 f4 43.
Qf6 Qh1+ 44. Ke2 Qe4+ 45. Kd2 f3 46. Qh8+ Kf7 47. Qf6+ $1 (47. Qxh7+ Ke8 $19)
47... Ke8 48. Qe5+ Qxe5 49. Bxe5 Bc5 50. Kd3 g5 (50... Bxf2 51. Ke4) 51. Ke4 g4
52. Bg3 h5 53. a5 (53. Kf5 Be7) 53... Kd7 54. Kd5 Ba7 55. Ke4 Kc8 (55... Ke6
56. a6) 56. Kf5 $1 Bb8 57. Kg5 (57. Kg5 Bxg3 58. Kxh5 $1 Bxf2 59. Kxg4) 1/2-1/2
[Event "Politiken Cup 18th"]
[Site "Copenhagen"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Hartman, Christer"]
[Black "Hansen, Lars Bo"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C99"]
[WhiteElo "2370"]
[BlackElo "2565"]
[Annotator "Hansen,LB"]
[PlyCount "104"]
[EventDate "1996.06.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "DEN"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.10.01"]
1. e4 {Wedberg} 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
Rac8 15. Ne3 Nc6 16. a3 $6 (16. d5 Nb4 17. Bb1 a5 18. a3 Na6 19. b4 $14 {Main
line}) (16. d5 $142 {Wedberg}) 16... Nxd4 17. Nxd4 exd4 18. Qxd4 d5 $1 {/\ Bc5
>< Bc2} 19. e5 (19. exd5 $4 {Wedberg} Bc5 20. Qd3 Bxe3 21. Bxe3 Qxc2 $19) 19...
Bc5 20. Qf4 Rfe8 $1 21. Nf5 $1 (21. Nf1 Nh5 22. Bxh7+ $6 Kxh7 23. Qxf7 Rxe5 $1
24. Rxe5 Qxe5 25. Qxd7 Bxf2+ $1 26. Kxf2 Rf8+ 27. Kg1 Qe1 {0-1/Vogt,
L-Cladouras,P/Budapest/1989/}) 21... Nh5 (21... Bxf2+ $2 {Wedberg} 22. Qxf2
Qxc2 23. Qxc2 Rxc2 24. Ne3 Rc7 25. exf6 d4 26. fxg7 dxe3 27. Bxe3 Kxg7 28. Bd4+
Kg6 29. Rf1 f5 $10 {Klovans,J-Cladouras,P/Bern op (5) 1993/1/2-1/2 (63)}) 22.
Qf3 (22. Nh6+ {Wedberg} gxh6 23. Bxh7+ Kxh7 24. Qxh6+ Kg8 25. Qxh5 Qb6 $17)
22... Bxf2+ $1 {Wedberg: NowWhite has to fight for a draw.} (22... Rxe5 23. Bd2
$1 $36) 23. Qxf2 Qxc2 24. Qxc2 Rxc2 25. Ne3 Rc6 26. Nxd5 Rc5 27. Nc3 {This
just loses a pawn.} (27. Nb6 {Wedberg: Looks dangerous, but the knight is not
easy to trap.} Be6 {>< Nb6} (27... Bc6 {Wedberg} 28. g4 Nf6 29. Bf4 Ne4 30.
Rac1 $13)) (27. Nf4 $2 Rxc1 $1 28. Raxc1 Nxf4 $17 {Hartman}) 27... Rcxe5 $17
28. Rxe5 Rxe5 29. Bd2 Bc6 30. g4 $5 Nf6 31. Re1 Nd7 32. Rxe5 Nxe5 33. Be3 f6
34. b3 Kf7 35. Kf2 g5 36. Kg3 Kg6 37. a4 $1 {/\ a5 >< a6} bxa4 $8 38. Nxa4 {/\
Nc5} (38. bxa4 {Wedberg Its better to keep opposite coloured bishops.}) 38...
Bxa4 39. bxa4 h5 {/\ h4 >< h3} 40. gxh5+ $1 Kxh5 41. Bd4 Nd7 42. Kf3 f5 43. Kg3
Nf8 44. Bf2 Ng6 45. Kf3 Nf4 46. h4 $4 (46. Kg3 $17) 46... Nd3 47. hxg5 Nxf2 48.
Kxf2 a5 $1 49. Kf3 Kxg5 50. Kg3 Kf6 $19 (50... f4+ $4 51. Kf3 $10 Kf5 52. Kf2
Ke4 53. Ke2 Kd4 54. Kf3 Kc3 55. Kxf4 Kb3 56. Ke3 Kxa4 57. Kd2 Kb3 58. Kc1 $10)
51. Kf3 Ke5 52. Ke3 Kd5 (52... Kd5 53. Kf4 Kc4 54. Kxf5 Kb3 55. Ke4 Kxa4 56.
Kd3 Kb3 57. Kd2 Kb2 $19) 0-1
[Event "North Sea Cup 15th"]
[Site "Esbjerg"]
[Date "2000.07.10"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Hansen, Curt"]
[Black "Hansen, Lars Bo"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C99"]
[WhiteElo "2613"]
[BlackElo "2562"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2000.07.07"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "DEN"]
[EventCategory "14"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2000.10.18"]
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 Rac8 15.
Ne3 Nc6 16. d5 Nb4 17. Bb1 a5 18. a3 Na6 19. b4 axb4 20. axb4 Qb7 21. Bd2 Bd8
22. Bd3 Bb6 23. Qe2 Nc7 24. Nd1 Ra8 25. Rb1 Kh8 26. Nc3 Ng8 27. Rec1 Rae8 28.
Kh1 Bd4 29. Be3 Bxe3 30. Qxe3 f6 31. Nd2 Ne7 32. Nb3 f5 33. Na5 Qb8 34. f3 f4
35. Qf2 Rf6 36. Ra1 1/2-1/2
[Event "Corus"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2006.01.21"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Leko, Peter"]
[Black "Kamsky, Gata"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C99"]
[WhiteElo "2740"]
[BlackElo "2686"]
[Annotator "Marin,M"]
[PlyCount "92"]
[EventDate "2006.01.14"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[EventCategory "19"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2006.04.04"]
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 Bd7 {Black's play in this
variation is aimed to ensure maximum of flexibility to his pieces. He refrains
from threatening a pawn break in the centre and restricts himself to
developing pieces on natural squares.} 13. Nf1 Rac8 14. Ne3 cxd4 15. cxd4 Nc6
16. d5 $5 {The simplest solution to the pressure set up by Black against the
white centre.} (16. Bb3 Na5 17. Nd5 Nxd5 18. Bxd5 {is very slightly better for
White, but Black's position is quite solid.}) (16. a3 {can be strongly met by}
Nxd4 17. Nxd4 exd4 18. Qxd4 d5 {[%csl Rc2][%cal Ye7c5,Yc5e3] with excellent
counterplay for Black.}) 16... Nb4 {The next long sequence of moves is quite
natural.} 17. Bb1 a5 18. a3 Na6 19. b4 axb4 20. axb4 Qb7 21. Bd2 Bd8 {The
thematic acivation of the passive bishop via b6.} ({The main alternative is}
21... g6 {Leko,P (2746)-Short,N (2686) Budapest Hunguest Hotels 2003 (2) 1/2-1/
2 when Black generally keeps his bishop "home" in order to cover the dark
squares around his king. In fact, Leko had some experience with it, see}) 22.
Bd3 Bb6 23. Nc2 {This is a move that aims to keep both wings under pressure.
It prepares the attack against the relatively weak b5-pawn with Na3 and it
opens the diagonal of the d2-bishop to the king side.} ({The immediate
initiation of a king side attack is relatively easily parried with} 23. Nh4 g6
24. Qf3 Bd8 {. In the long run, if Black will manage to carry out the thematic
break ...f5 in spite of the concentration of white pieces, his position could
become very promissing.} 25. g3 Kg7 ({In an older game, Cladouras preferred}
25... Kh8 {and it is hard to guess why he changed his mind many years later:}
26. Kh2 Ng8 27. Nhg2 Nc7 28. g4 Ne8 29. Qe2 Ng7 30. Rg1 Be7 31. Ra5 Ra8 32. Rb1
f5 $132 {1-0 Sax,G (2600)-Cladouras,P (2370)/Germany 1992/GER-chT2 (59)}) 26.
Kh2 Ng8 27. Nhg2 Nc7 28. h4 (28. g4 $5 $14) 28... Ne8 (28... f5 $5 29. exf5 Ne7
30. g4 Ncxd5 $132) 29. Ra3 Bb6 30. h5 Nc7 31. Nh4 Ra8 32. Rxa8 Qxa8 33. Bf1 {
[%cal Yf1h3]} Qc8 34. Rc1 f6 $2 (34... f5) {1/2-1/2 Klovans,J (2465)-Cladouras,
P (2335)/Hamburg 1999/EXT 2001 (49)} 35. Bxb5 $3 Bxb5 36. hxg6 hxg6 37. Nef5+
$18) ({The other way of redirecting the e3-knight, namely} 23. Qe2 Nc7 24. Nd1
{is more time consuming than Leko's plan, allowing Black to regroup, too:} Ra8
25. Rb1 Kh8 26. Nc3 Ng8 {Now, there is no scope for the d2-bishop on the king
side, while the concentration of forces on the queen side offers White very
little.} 27. Rec1 Rae8 28. Kh1 Bd4 29. Be3 Bxe3 30. Qxe3 f6 31. Nd2 Ne7 32. Nb3
f5 33. Na5 Qb8 34. f3 f4 35. Qf2 Rf6 36. Ra1 {1/2-1/2 Hansen,C (2613)-Hansen,L
(2562)/Esbjerg 2000/CBM 078}) 23... h6 $6 {This mechanic way of preventing Bg5
weakens the king side in chronic way.} (23... Rfe8 24. Nh2 g6 25. Qf3 Nxe4 {
1-0 Anand,V (2610)-Milos,G (2540)/Novi Sad 1990/TD} 26. Qxe4 $1 f5 27. Qh4 e4 (
27... Bd8 28. Qg3 e4 29. Qxd6 exd3 30. Bh6 $18) 28. Qf6 Bd8 29. Qxd6 exd3 30.
Bh6 $18 {Anand}) ({The most efficient plan seems to be} 23... Kh8 {[%cal Yf6g8,
Yg7g6,Yf7f5] preparing the usual king side counterplay.} 24. Nh2 Nc7 25. g4 Ng8
26. Qf3 g6 27. Kh1 Ne8 28. Nf1 Ng7 29. Ng3 f5 $1 $17 {[%csl Yc2] 0-1 Leib,A
(2180)-Cladouras,P (2390)/Geneve 1997/EXT 98 (33)}) 24. Nh4 $1 $146 {As a
consequence of Black's previous move, the f5-square became irremediably weak,
allowing White to obtain a strong attack.} ({Queen side play alone does not
offer Black too much:} 24. Na3 Nc7 25. Qe2 Ra8 26. Bc3 $6 Nh5 $1 27. Bd2 Ng3
28. Qd1 f5 $19 {0-1 Cerniauskas,P-Hegoburu,P/ARG-ch H corr 1993/Corr 2000 (35)}
) 24... Nh7 25. Qf3 Ng5 26. Qg3 Nc7 27. Ne3 $1 {Given the favourable
circumstances, the knight returns to the king side.} Ra8 28. Nef5 $16 {White
has a very powerful attack. Black cannot defend his d6-pawn and the king's
position at the same time.} Rxa1 29. Ne7+ Kh8 30. Rxa1 Nh7 31. Qf3 Nf6 32. Bxh6
Ra8 33. Rf1 Nce8 34. Bc1 Ra1 35. Nhf5 Qc7 36. Bd2 Rxf1+ 37. Kxf1 g6 38. Ne3 Kg7
39. g4 Nh7 40. Kg2 Qb7 41. Nc4 g5 42. Na5 Qa8 43. Nf5+ Kf8 44. h4 Bd8 45. Nh6
f6 46. hxg5 f5 1-0
[Event "EU-chT (Men) 16th"]
[Site "Heraklio"]
[Date "2007.10.30"]
[Round "3.3"]
[White "Gashimov, Vugar"]
[Black "Schandorff, Lars"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C96"]
[WhiteElo "2664"]
[BlackElo "2520"]
[Annotator "Schandorff,L"]
[PlyCount "129"]
[EventDate "2007.10.28"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GRE"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2007.11.14"]
[WhiteTeam "Azerbaijan"]
[BlackTeam "Denmark"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "AZE"]
[BlackTeamCountry "DEN"]
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 Nd7 12. Nbd2 exd4 $5 {A risky variation, that
suffers a big blow in this game.} 13. cxd4 Nc6 14. d5 Nce5 15. a4 $1 {It is to
White's advantage to open the a-file.} Rb8 (15... b4 $6 16. Nxe5 Nxe5 17. f4
Ng6 18. Nc4 $16) 16. Nxe5 Nxe5 17. axb5 axb5 18. f4 Ng6 19. Nf3 Bh4 {This
bishop manoeuvre is standard.} 20. Rf1 $1 (20. Nxh4 Qxh4 21. f5 Ne5 $11) 20...
Bg3 {The point. Black forces White to play f5 and gets e5 for his pieces.} 21.
f5 Ne5 22. Ng5 $1 {Goes for the initiative.} Nd7 (22... h6 $6 23. f6 $1 hxg5
24. Bxg5 g6 25. Ra3 {And the black bishop is not particularly happy anymore.})
23. e5 $1 $146 {With a strong attack. It is a well known novelty.} Bxe5 24.
Nxh7 $1 {The spectacular point.} Qh4 ({If Black takes the knight he is mated
by force:} 24... Kxh7 25. Qh5+ Kg8 26. f6 Nxf6 (26... g6 27. Bxg6) 27. Rxf6 {
I have to sacrifice an exchange to avoid disaster.}) 25. Nxf8 Kxf8 26. Qf3 Nf6
{Black has good positional compensation on the dark squares. Gashimov decides
to give up a pawn in order to exchange some pieces and get a better endgame. A
good practical decision.} 27. Bf4 $1 Bxf4 28. Qxf4 Qxf4 29. Rxf4 Nxd5 30. Rh4
Kg8 {Otherwise Rh8.} 31. Kf2 Ne7 32. Rf4 Nd5 33. Rf3 Nb4 34. Bb1 Bb7 35. Re3
Kf8 {Back again.} 36. h4 {Hopes to create a distant passed pawn.} d5 (36... Nc6
37. f6 Ne5) 37. f6 $1 d4 38. Rg3 gxf6 39. h5 d3 (39... Ke7 40. h6 Rh8 41. h7)
40. h6 $2 {A big mistake in the last move before the time control. I was in
time trouble and Gashimov played too quickly in order to confuse me.} (40. Bxd3
Nxd3+ 41. Rxd3 Kg7 42. Ra7 Be4 43. Rg3+ Kh6 44. Rxf7 $18) 40... Be4 $1 {Stops
the h-pawn and defends d3. Suddenly Black is on top.} 41. Ke3 Bg6 42. Kd2 Kg8
43. Ra7 Kh7 44. Rh3 c4 45. Rd7 Nc6 46. Rd6 Ne5 47. Rh1 (47. Rxf6 b4 48. Rh1 c3+
49. bxc3 Nc4+) 47... b4 48. Rd4 Rc8 49. Rc1 c3+ $2 ({I had missed} 49... Kxh6
50. Ba2 b3 51. Bxb3) (49... Bf5 50. Rf4 Be6 51. Rxf6 Rg8 52. Rg1 Rg5 {with
good winning chances. The white bishop is completely out of play.}) 50. bxc3
Nc4+ 51. Rxc4 Rxc4 52. Bxd3 Bxd3 53. Kxd3 Rxc3+ 54. Rxc3 bxc3 55. Kxc3 Kxh6 56.
Kd4 Kg5 57. Kd5 $1 {The pawn ending is drawn. The white king attacks the black
pawns from behind.} f5 58. Kd6 f4 59. Ke5 Kg4 60. Kf6 Kh4 61. Kf5 Kg3 62. Kg5
f6+ 63. Kf5 f3 64. gxf3 Kxf3 65. Kxf6 1/2-1/2
[Event "Candidates Tournament"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "1953.10.07"]
[Round "21"]
[White "Boleslavsky, Isaak"]
[Black "Keres, Paul"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C97"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "1953.08.30"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "30"]
[EventCountry "SUI"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]
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 Rd8 13. Nf1 d5 14. exd5 exd4 15.
cxd4 Nxd5 16. Qe2 Bb7 17. Ng3 cxd4 18. Nxd4 g6 19. Bh6 Bf6 20. Nb3 Nc4 21. Ne4
Bxb2 22. Nbc5 Bxa1 23. Rxa1 f5 24. Nxb7 Qxb7 25. Nc5 Qc6 26. Nd3 Nc3 27. Qe1
Qf6 28. f4 Ne4 29. Kh2 Qc3 30. Qb1 Ncd2 31. Qc1 Rxd3 32. Bxd3 Qxd3 33. Qc7 Nf3+
0-1
[Event "Part 3"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1899.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Zeissl"]
[Black "Walthoffen"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C63"]
[Annotator "Gardner,Lee"]
[PlyCount "36"]
[EventDate "1907.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventCountry "AUS"]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 {The Ruy Lopez.} f5 $5 {Diagram [#] The Schliemann/
Jeanisch Variation - a very tricky setup that can cause White many pitfalls if
they don't know what they are doing.} 4. d4 {Freeze here and decide how Black
should handle the center. Should he play 4...fxe4, 4...exd4, or 4...Nxd4?}
fxe4 {This captures a free P and threatens White's N on f3.} 5. Nxe5 {Diagram
[#] Be very careful here for Black! Since Black's f-P (Freddie the Forbidden
P) is missing, White is planning on a quick Qh5+. When Black blocks it with ..
.g6, White will respond with Nxg6. If Black plays ...hxg6, White will capture
the R on h8 by Qxh8.} Nxe5 6. dxe5 {Diagram [#]} (6. Qh5+ $2 {A bad move
trying to get Black to play 6...g6.} Ng6 {After this move, Black is simply up
a piece.}) 6... c6 {Diagram [#] Attaching the B and getting ready to fork the
White K on e1 and White P on e5.} 7. Bc4 Qa5+ {Diagram [#]} 8. Nc3 Qxe5 {
Diagram [#] Black has won a P.} 9. O-O d5 {Diagram [#] Black has a clear
plan - his P structure tells him to attack on the K-side.} (9... Bd6 $143 $2 {
This move is a mistake. Don't play for simple tricks. Yes, Black is
threatening checkmate, but look at the B on c8. Because Black blocked it by
playing 9...Bd6, the c8-B can't expect to get out anytime soon.} 10. f4 $1 {
Stopping Black's threat of checkmate on h2 and shutting down the h2-b8
diagonal.} Qc5+ {Forking the White B on c4 and White's K on g1. White has two
choices - 11.Kh1 or 11.Rf2 - one move loses and one move leads to a large
advantage for White. Can you spot which one is which?} (10... exf3 $4 {A
horrible blunder.} 11. Re1 {Pinning the Black Q to the Black K. This will
cost Black their Q.}) 11. Rf2 $1 {I hope you were able to find this move.} (11.
Kh1 $4 Qxc4 {White is stuck. He would love to be able to capture the Black B
on d6, but the White R on f1 would hang and allow Black to checkmate White.}
12. Qxd6 Qxf1#) 11... Qxc4 12. Qxd6 {White is much better and Black's
development issues begin to show.}) 10. Bb3 $2 {Diagram [#] A very poor choice
from White. As mentioned earlier, Black's P-structure points towards White's
K-side and White will need protection there. By placing his B on b3, it is in
effect a "huge P" and does nothing. White should have played 10.Be2.} (10. Be2
$142 {A much better move from White.}) 10... Nf6 {Diagram [#] Developing their
N before their B.} (10... Bd6 $2 11. f4 $1 {Shutting down the h2-b8 diagonal
and setting a small trap for Black.} exf3 $4 12. Re1 {Bam! There goes the
Black Q.}) 11. Be3 {Diagram [#]} Bd6 {Threatening checkmate on h2.} 12. g3 (12.
f4 $143 $2 exf3 {White's B on e3 is hangining, as well as the P on h2.}) 12...
Bg4 {Bringing Black's last piece into the game and doing so with an attack.}
13. Qd2 Bf3 {Diagram [#] White's K has 0 FSA (Flight Squares Available).
Checkmate is close and Black can smell it.} 14. Bf4 {A skewer, but Black has a
trick up his sleeve.} Qh5 $1 {Diagram [#] The plan is simple - we want to go
from h5-h3-g2 for checkmate.} 15. Nd1 {White finds the best defensive chance.
He wants to put his N on e3 to protect the square g2.} Qh3 {Threatening mate
on g2.} 16. Ne3 Ng4 $1 {Diagram [#] Added more pieces into the attack. White
cannot stop all of Black's threats. If the White N captures on g4, Black will
deliver checkmate on g2.} 17. Rfe1 {Diagram [#] Setting one more small trick
for Black if they aren't paying attention. The idea is that White is "hoping"
for Black to play 17...Nxe3. If this happens, White will recapture with the
f-P and the White Q on d2 will cover the g2 square laterally.} (17. Nxg4 Qg2#)
17... Qxh2+ {Diagram [#] Not falling for White's trick. After this, mate is
inevitable.} (17... Nxe3 18. fxe3) 18. Kf1 Qh1# {Diagram [#]} 0-1
[/pgn]