Who's afraid of the Big Bad Minority attack?

Actually, I am. There comes a point (about 150) when the serious threat represented by a minority attack becomes a realistic game plan. And at master level, there is a school of thought that suggests the best way to win with the Queen's Gambit Declined as White is to play the minority attack in the Exchange Variation. I can remember several Swiss tournaments where Keith Arkell ground out a couple of his valuable wins using this line, without apparent effort. The other classic setting for the minority attack is the Sicilian Defence, and Pal Benko has been a great exponent of this winning method in the eyes of John Watson.

This session is an example of the need to study middle-games and not just openings. First of all, what is a minority attack?

+-----------------+
|.+.+r+.+|
|0p+.+p0p|
|.+p+.+.+|
|+.+p+.+.|
|.+.).+.+|
|+.+.+.+.|
|P).+.)P)|
|+R+.$.+.|
+-----------------+

This is the classic setting for a minority attack. White has two Pawn islands, the larger of which is on the King's-side and you might think that White's best plan is to advance it. However, as well as exposing the White King castled King's-side, the advance would be in the teeth of Black's opposition on the e-file, and an advance of the f-Pawn would leave the e-Pawn effectively backward.

Instead, White uses a similar logic to argue that it is best to use White's own half-open file, the c-file, as the basis for an attack on the Queen's-side. White plans to advance the b-Pawn and either play b5xc6 (b7xc6), when we have a Black Pawn on c6 which is backward on an open file, or ...c6xb5, when the d-Pawn will become weak.

The advantages of a minority attack are several:

+-----------------+
|.+r+.+.+|
|0p+.+p0p|
|.+.0ph.+|
|+.+.+.+.|
|.+.+P+.+|
|+.+.+.+.|
|P)P+.)P)|
|+.+.+.+.|
+-----------------+

This is the Sicilian setting for a minority attack. White in fact has an uncompromised Queen's-side majority, and you might expect then a general Queen's-side advance. But typically pressure on the e-Pawn leads White to play Nb1-c3, in front of the c-Pawn, and Black usually nails it down with pressure on the half-open c-file.

So, encouraged by Black's lack of space and lagging development, White can punt down the King's-side, while Black can play ...b7-b5, engaging in a minority attack against the White Queen's-side Pawns.

Of course, the Sicilian is one of the most complex and flexible openings, and not all games can be interpreted in this way; nonetheless, this reading of the Pawns explains a lot of what goes on under the bonnet of Sicilian systems.

Now, I'm just having a look at playing and recommending the Orthodox Defence to the Queen's Gambit, so this the minority attack an important thing to see coming, and know how to defend against it. Let's look at the positive side of the Minority Attack first, before trying to work out what to do about it.

(817) Evans - Opsahl (CHERNEV)

[D36]
, 1950

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Bg5 Nbd7 5.e3 Be7 6.Qc2 0-0 7.cxd5 exd5 8.Nf3 c6 9.Bd3 Re8 10.0-0 Nf8 11.Rab1 Ne4 12.Bxe7 Qxe7

+-----------------+
|.IR+.+R+|
|)P).+Q)P|
|.+N)BH.+|
|+.+n).+.|
|.+.+p+.+|
|+.+.+p+.|
|p0p1.+p0|
|+khr+b+r|
+-----------------+

The classic setting for the minority attack.

13.b4 a6 14.a4 Nxc3 15.Qxc3 Bg4 16.Nd2 Qg5 17.Rfc1 Re6

+-----------------+
|.I.+.$R+|
|)P).H.+.|
|.+.)B!.+|
|+b+.).)P|
|.1.+p+.+|
|+.+r+p+p|
|p0p+.+p+|
|+kh.+.+r|
+-----------------+

Drumming up some King's-side counterplay. Nigel Davies in a BCM article strongly recommended this idea.

18.b5 18...axb5 19.axb5 Bh3 20.g3 Rae8 21.bxc6 bxc6 22.Bf1 22...Bxf1 23.Nxf1 Ng6 24.Rb6

+-----------------+
|.IN+.$.+|
|).).+.+.|
|.).).!.+|
|+.+.).+.|
|.1.+p+.+|
|+n+r+p$.|
|p0p+.+.+|
|+k+r+.+.|
+-----------------+

A critical moment - if Black has to go back now he is really up against the ropes.

24...Ne7

[24...Nh4 25.Rxc6 The Rook on c6 stops the Black Rook on e6 joining the attack. I think the White King is safe here. 25...Nf3+ 26.Kh1 h5 27.Qb3 (27.Qd3) ]

25.Qb4 h5 26.Rb8 Rxb8 27.Qxb8+ Kh7 28.Qf4 28...Qxf4 29.gxf4

[The h-pawn cannot really be attacked, and with Queens off White can use the King]

29...g6 30.Nd2 Rd6 31.Kf1 Kg7 32.Ra1 Rd7 33.Nb3 Rb7 34.Nc5 Rb2 35.Ra7 Kf6 36.Ra6 Rb1+ 37.Kg2 Rb2 38.Ra7 Rb1 39.Rc7 Ra1 40.Nd3 Ke6 41.Nc5+ Kf6 42.Nd7+ Ke6 43.Nf8+ Kf6 44.Nh7+ Ke6 45.Ng5+ Kd6 46.Rb7

+-----------------+
|.+.+.+.4|
|)K).+.+.|
|.+.).+.+|
|+.).).+.|
|pH.+p+.+|
|+p+.ip+.|
|.+ph.+R+|
|+.+.+.+.|
+-----------------+

46...f6

[46...f5]

47.Nh7 Ke6 48.Nf8+ Very neat 48...Kf7

[48...Kd6 49.Rd7#]

49.Nxg6 Kxg6 50.Rxe7 White has a pawn and hopes of collecting more. 50...Kf5 51.Rc7

+-----------------+
|.+.+.+.4|
|)K).+.+.|
|.+.).+.+|
|+.).).+.|
|p+k+p+.+|
|+.0.+p+.|
|.+.+.$.+|
|+.+.+.+.|
+-----------------+

51...Rc1 52.Rc8 Kg6 53.Kg3 Rc2 54.h4 Kf5 55.Rh8 Kg6 56.f5+ Kxf5 57.Rxh5+

Now White has a passed pawn.

57...Kg6 58.Rh8 Kf5 59.Rg8 Rc1 60.Kg2 Ra1 61.h5 Ra7 62.Rg3 Rh7 63.Rh3 Kg5 64.Kf3

Offering to trade the pawn for a winning King raid.

64...Rh6 65.Rh1 Kf5 66.Kg3 Kg5 67.Rh4 Kf5 68.Rf4+ Kg5

+-----------------+
|.+.+.+.+|
|+.).+.+.|
|.I.).+.+|
|+.$.).+.|
|Pi.+p+.+|
|4.0.+p+.|
|.+.+.+.+|
|+.+.+.+.|
+-----------------+

69.Rg4+

Again offering the pawn, but again Black dare not accept.

69...Kf5

[69...Kxh5 is rather like the game continuation: 70.Rh4+ Kg5 71.Rxh6 Kxh6 72.Kf4 Kg6 73.f3 Kg7 74.Kf5 Kf7 75.f4 Ke7 76.Kg6 Ke6 77.f5+ Ke7 78.Kg7]

70.Kh4 Rh8 71.Rg7 Ra8 72.h6 Ra1 73.Rg3 Rh1+ 74.Rh3 Rg1 75.Rf3+ Kg6 76.Rg3+

The winning clearance

76...Rxg3 77.Kxg3 Kxh6 78.Kg4 Kg6 79.Kf4 Kg7 80.Kf5 Kf7 81.f3 1-0

Here is Benko in the Sicilian version of the attack:

(30) Conrady - Benko,P [B43] minority attack in Sicilian: Dublin zt (12), 1957

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Be2 Nf6 7.0-0 Be7 8.Nb3 b5 9.Bf3 Nc6 10.g3 0-0 11.Bf4 d6 12.Bg2 Bb7 13.g4 b4 14.g5 Ne8 15.Ne2 a5

+-----------------+
|r+.+n4k+|
|+b1.gp0p|
|.+n0p+.+|
|0.+.+.).|
|.0.+PG.+|
|+N+.+.+.|
|P)P+N)B)|
|$.+Q+RI.|
+-----------------+

"Black simply drives the pieces away and then uses the c-file pressure." - WATSON

16.Ng3 a4 17.Nd2 Nd4 18.Rc1 a3 19.b3 Rc8 20.Nc4 Nb5 21.Qg4 Nc3 22.Rfe1 Nxa2 23.Ra1 Nc3 24.Re3 e5 25.Nh5 exf4 26.Rh3 Nxe4 0-1

(31) Reyes - Benko,P [B85] minority attack in Sicilian: Lugano, 1968

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6 6.Be2 a6 7.a4 Nc6 8.0-0 Be7 9.Kh1 0-0 10.f4 Qc7 11.Bf3 Rd8 12.Nb3 b6 13.Qe1 Rb8 14.Be3 Na5 15.Rd1 Nc4 16.Bc1 b5 17.axb5 axb5 18.Ne2 e5 19.Qg3 Bb7 20.Nc3 b4 21.Nd5 Bxd5 22.exd5 e4

+-----------------+
|.4.4.+k+|
|+.1.gp0p|
|.+.0.h.+|
|+.+P+.+.|
|.0n+p).+|
|+N+.+B!.|
|.)P+.+P)|
|+.GR+R+K|
+-----------------+

"Isolating and winning the d-pawn." -- Watson.

23.Be2 Nb6 24.Nd4 Nfxd5 25.f5 Bf6 26.Bg5 Qc5 27.Bxf6 Nxf6 28.Rf4 Nbd5 29.Rh4 Ne7 30.Qh3 Nc6 31.Nxc6 Qxc6 32.Rc1 Qd5 33.Rd1 Qc5 34.g4 Qxc2 35.Qe3 h6 36.Rg1 Nd5 37.Qf2 Qd2 38.g5 hxg5 39.Rh5 f6 40.Qg2 Ne3 41.Qxe4 Re8 42.Qf3 g4 43.Rxg4 Nxg4 44.Bc4+ d5 0-1

Defending against a minority attack.

Now, what can you do about it? Actually, lots. Temperamentally, we might find the most appealing response in the middle-game is to deliver a mating attack on the other side. Realistically, it is helpful to combine this with other defensive methods, and to be aware of ways of counter-attacking on the Queen's-side. We shall review:

+-----------------+
|.+.+.+.+|
|0p+.+p0p|
|.+p+.+.+|
|+.+p+.+.|
|.).).+.+|
|+.+.).+.|
|P+.+.)P)|
|+.+.+.+.|
+-----------------+

The King's-side counterattack, using the e-file and the e4 point.

The Third-rank defence

Counter-attacking on the Queen's-side:

  1. Playing ...a5 to get an open a-file after ...a5xb4.
  2. Playing ...a6 to get a passed a-Pawn after ...c6xb5 and ...a6-a5
  3. Meeting b4-b5 with ...c6-c5, with an IQP
  4. Meeting b4-b5 with ...b7-b5, with use of the c4 square

The King's-side counterattack, using the e-file and the e4 point.

(826) Gligoric S - Larsen B [D36] Ch, Moscow, 1966

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Nbd7 5.cxd5 exd5 6.e3 c6 7.Bd3 Be7 8.Qc2 0-0 9.Nf3 Re8 10.0-0 Nf8

A move with a number of points, one of which is the exchange of the 'bad' light-squared Bishop by ...g7-g6, and then ...Nd7-d8-e6-g7 followed by ...Bf5!

11.Rab1 a5 12.a3

+-----------------+
|.IR+.+R+|
|)P).+Q).|
|.+N)BH.)|
|+.+.).+.|
|.G.+p+.0|
|+.h.+p+.|
|p0pg.+p+|
|+khr1b+r|
+-----------------+

Meeting minority attack with a King's-side attack using half-open e-file and e4 square.

12...Ne4 13.Bxe7 Qxe7 14.b4 Bf5 15.Bxe4 dxe4 16.Ne5 axb4 17.axb4 Qg5 18.Ne2 h5 19.Ng3 Bh7 20.h3 h4 21.Ne2 Ne6 22.Qb3 Bf5 23.Kh2 Qh5 24.Rbe1 Kh7 25.Nc4 Rad8 26.Nd2 Bg6 27.Nc3 f5 28.Qd1 Qg5 29.Nc4 b5 30.Na5 Rd6 31.Ne2

+-----------------+
|.+R$Q+.+|
|IP)N+.+.|
|P+.).+.+|
|0.+p).).|
|.1p+.+pH|
|+b+n4p+.|
|k0.+.+.+|
|+.+r+.+.|
+-----------------+

31...f4 32.exf4 Nxf4 33.Nxf4 Qxf4+ 34.Kg1 Qf6 35.Nb3 Bf7 36.Re3 Re7 37.Rfe1 Bxb3 38.Rxb3 Rxd4 39.Qh5+ Kg8 40.Ra3 Rd8 41.Rd1 Rf8 42.Qe2 Ref7 43.f3 exf3 44.Rxf3 Qe7 45.Qxe7 Rxe7 46.Rxf8+ Kxf8 47.Rd4 g5 48.Rd6 Re1+ 49.Kf2 Rc1 50.Rd4 Ke7 51.Ke3 Ke6 52.Rg4 Rc3+ 53.Kf2 Kf5 54.Rd4 Rc4 55.Rd6 g4 56.hxg4+ Kxg4 57.Kg1 Kf5 58.Kh2 Ke5 0-1

(827) Fehmer Dirk - Khalifman Alexander [D36] It (open) (active), Eupen (Be (1), 1994

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Bg5 Nbd7 5.cxd5 exd5 6.Nc3 c6 7.e3 Be7 8.Qc2 0-0 9.Bd3 Re8 10.0-0 Nf8 11.Rab1

+-----------------+
|.IR+.+R+|
|)P).+Q)P|
|.+N)BH.+|
|+.+.).+.|
|.G.+p+.+|
|+.h.+p+.|
|p0pg.+p0|
|+khr1b+r|
+-----------------+

Meeting minority attack with a King's-side attack using half-open e-file and e4 square.

11...Ne4 12.Bxe7 Qxe7 13.b4 a6 14.a4 Ng6 15.Nd2 Nxd2 16.Qxd2 Nh4 17.Ne2

+-----------------+
|.IR+.+R+|
|)P)N!.+.|
|.+.)B+.+|
|h.+.).)P|
|.+.+p+.+|
|+.+.+p+p|
|p0p1.+p+|
|+k+r+b+r|
+-----------------+

17...Bh3 18.Qc2 Bxg2 19.Rfc1 Be4 20.Ng3 Nf3+ 21.Kf1 Qh4 22.Bxe4 dxe4 23.b5 axb5 24.axb5 Qh3+ 25.Ke2 Qg4 26.Kf1 h5 27.bxc6 bxc6 0-1

(828) Lipnitsky,I - Panov,V [D36] SSSR, 1952

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Nbd7 5.cxd5 exd5 6.e3 c6 7.Bd3 Be7 8.Nf3 0-0 9.Qc2 Re8 10.0-0 Nf8 11.Rab1 Be6 12.b4 a6 13.Na4

+-----------------+
|.IR+.+R+|
|)P).+Q+P|
|.+N)B+.+|
|+.+.).)N|
|.G.+p+.+|
|+.hb+p+p|
|p0pg.+p+|
|+khr1.+r|
+-----------------+

Meeting minority attack with a King's-side attack using half-open e-file and e4 square.

In this game exchanges on e4 and d5 let the Black c-Pawn escape the Queen's-side.

13...Ne4 14.Bxe7 Qxe7 15.Bxe4 dxe4 16.Nd2 Bd5 17.Rfc1 Rad8 18.Nb6 f5 19.a4 Ng6 20.Nxd5 cxd5 21.Qc7 Rd7 22.Qg3 Rf8 23.Rc5 f4 24.Qg4 Qd6 25.a5 Rdf7 26.Rc8 Ne7 27.Rxf8+ Rxf8 28.Nf1 Nf5 29.Qd1 Qh6 30.Qb3 Qe6 31.Rc1

+-----------------+
|.IN+.$.+|
|)P).+.+.|
|.+.).+Q+|
|+.0p).).|
|.+n+p+.)|
|+.+q+.+p|
|p0.+.+p+|
|+k4.+.+.|
+-----------------+

31...f3 32.Rc5 fxg2 33.Nd2 Ne7 34.Qd1 Qh3 35.Rc7 Rf6 0-1

(52) Portisch,L - Kasparov,G [D35] Skelleftea (9), 1989

This top-flight game shows a couple of important ideas.

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.c4 e6 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Nc3 c6 6.Qc2

+-----------------+
|rhb1kg.4|
|0p+.+p0p|
|.+p+.h.+|
|+.+p+.+.|
|.+.).+.+|
|+.H.+N+.|
|P)Q+P)P)|
|$.G.IB+R|
+-----------------+

6...Na6

The early exchange in the centre gives Black a couple of extra options, including this one.

7.a3 Nc7 8.Bg5 g6 9.e3 Bf5 10.Bd3 Bxd3 11.Qxd3 Be7 12.0-0 0-0 13.b4 Ne4 14.Bf4 Nxc3 15.Qxc3 Bd6 16.Bxd6 Nb5 17.Qb3 Nxd6

+-----------------+
|r+.1.4k+|
|0p+.+p+p|
|.+ph.+p+|
|+.+p+.+.|
|.).).+.+|
|)Q+.)N+.|
|.+.+.)P)|
|$.+.+RI.|
+-----------------+

This is a superb square for the Knight. well-placed for defence and attack.

18.a4 a6 19.Ne5 Re8 20.Rfe1 Qg5 21.h3 Kg7 22.Qc2 Re6 23.Rac1 Rae8 24.Qb1 Qh5 25.Qb3 f6 26.Nd3

+-----------------+
|.+.+r+.+|
|+p+.+.ip|
|p+phr0p+|
|+.+p+.+q|
|P).).+.+|
|+Q+N).+P|
|.+.+.)P+|
|+.$.$.I.|
+-----------------+

26...g5 This is Black's minority attack: White is in no position to take advantage of the loose King's-side. 27.Qd1 Qg6 28.Qc2 R6e7 29.Red1 h5 30.Qb1 h4 31.Qc2 g4 32.Nf4

+-----------------+
|.+.+r+.+|
|+p+.4.i.|
|p+ph.0q+|
|+.+p+.+.|
|P).).Hp0|
|+.+.).+P|
|.+Q+.)P+|
|+.$R+.I.|
+-----------------+

32...Qxc2 33.Rxc2 g3

+-----------------+
|.+.+r+.+|
|+p+.4.i.|
|p+ph.0.+|
|+.+p+.+.|
|P).).H.0|
|+.+.).0P|
|.+R+.)P+|
|+.+R+.I.|
+-----------------+

Black's attack reveals a second side: not just a King's-side hack but a Pawn attack that persists into the endgame.

34.Rd3 Kh6 35.Kf1 Kg5 36.Ne2 Nc4

+-----------------+
|.+.+r+.+|
|+p+.4.+.|
|p+p+.0.+|
|+.+p+.i.|
|P)n).+.0|
|+.+R).0P|
|.+R+N)P+|
|+.+.+K+.|
+-----------------+

Black has all the pressure here, and White now sheds a Pawn.

37.Rcc3 Nb2 38.Rd2 Nxa4 39.Rb3 Nb6 40.Ng1 Nc4 41.Nf3+ Kh5 42.Rdd3 a5 43.bxa5 Ra8 44.Rd1 Rxa5 45.Re1 b5 46.Re2 Ra1+ 47.Re1 Rea7 48.fxg3 Rxe1+ 49.Kxe1 Ra1+

+-----------------+
|.+.+.+.+|
|+.+.+.+.|
|.+p+.0.+|
|+p+p+.+k|
|.+n).+.0|
|+R+.)N)P|
|.+.+.+P+|
|4.+.I.+.|
+-----------------+

The final assault, ironically down the Queen'-side.

50.Ke2 hxg3 51.Ne1 Ra2+ 52.Kd1 Rd2+ 53.Kc1 Re2 54.Kd1 Rxe3 55.Rxe3 Nxe3+ 56.Ke2 Nf5 57.Nc2 Nh4 58.Nb4 Nxg2 59.Kf3 Nh4+ 60.Kxg3 Nf5+ 61.Kf4 Nxd4 62.Ke3 Nf5+ 0-1

And one last recent romp:

(53) Ward,C - Sasikiran,K [D91] British (8), 1998

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Bg5 Ne4 6.cxd5

+-----------------+
|rhb1k+.4|
|0p0.0pgp|
|.+.+.+p+|
|+.+P+.G.|
|.+.)n+.+|
|+.H.+N+.|
|P).+P)P)|
|$.+QIB+R|
+-----------------+

What, you might ask, is this opening doing here?

6...Nxg5 7.Nxg5 e6 8.Nf3 exd5 9.e3 0-0 10.b4

+-----------------+
|rhb1.4k+|
|0p0.+pgp|
|.+.+.+p+|
|+.+p+.+.|
|.).).+.+|
|+.H.)N+.|
|P+.+.)P)|
|$.+QIB+R|
+-----------------+

A classic minority attack position from a hypermodern opening.

10...c6 11.Be2 Be6 12.0-0 a6 13.Ne1 Nd7 14.Nd3 Qe7 15.Qb3 Nb6 16.a4 Nc4

+-----------------+
|r+.+.4k+|
|+p+.1pgp|
|p+p+b+p+|
|+.+p+.+.|
|P)n).+.+|
|+QHN).+.|
|.+.+B)P)|
|$.+.+RI.|
+-----------------+

This helps hold up the Queen's-side, but Black is not in a defensive frame of mind - far from it!

17.Ra2 Bf5 18.Kh1 Rfe8 19.a5 Qg5 20.Nc5

+-----------------+
|r+.+r+k+|
|+p+.+pgp|
|p+p+.+p+|
|).Hp+b1.|
|.)n).+.+|
|+QH.).+.|
|R+.+B)P)|
|+.+.+R+K|
+-----------------+

20...Nxe3 21.fxe3 Rxe3

Black gets two Pawns and a raging attack.

22.Rd2 Qh4 23.Rfd1 Bh6 24.Bf1 Bf4 25.g3 Rxg3

+-----------------+
|r+.+.+k+|
|+p+.+p+p|
|p+p+.+p+|
|).Hp+b+.|
|.).).g.1|
|+QH.+.4.|
|.+.$.+.)|
|+.+R+B+K|
+-----------------+

Players of a nervous disposition may wish to look away now.

26.Qb2 Bg4 27.Rd3 Rf3 28.Qg2 Rf2

The 17-year old's demolition of a former UK champion was most impressive. 0-1

 

The Third-rank defence

(818) Flohr,S (2500) - Apscheneek,F [D36], 1939

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e3 0-0 6.Nf3 c6 7.Qc2 Nbd7 8.cxd5 exd5 9.Bd3 Re8 10.0-0 Nf8 11.Ne5 Ng4 12.Bxe7 Qxe7 13.Nxg4 Bxg4 14.a3 Rad8 15.Rfe1 Rd6 16.Ne2 Rh6 17.Ng3 Bc8 18.b4 a6

+-----------------+
|.I.$.+.$|
|)P).+Q+.|
|.H.)B+.)|
|+.+.).).|
|.+.+p+.+|
|4.+.+p+p|
|p0p1.+p+|
|+khr+b+.|
+-----------------+

Playing ...a6 to avoid a weak a-Pawn is a sort of minimum defence of the Queen's-side by Black.

19.Rab1 Qc7 20.a4 Nd7 21.Rec1 Nf6 22.Nf1 Ne4 23.b5 axb5 24.axb5 Bd7 25.Qa2 Qd8 26.bxc6 Bxc6 27.Bb5 Rg6 28.Bxc6 bxc6

+-----------------+
|.IN+.$R+|
|)P).+.+Q|
|.+.).+.+|
|+.+n).+.|
|.+.+p+.+|
|+r+.+p+.|
|p0p+.+.+|
|+k+r1.+.|
+-----------------+

"The minority attack proper has come to an end with White having inflicted a serious weakness on c6 and in fact controlling the entire left flank. It looks like a fairly simple matter systematically to attack c6 and, if not win it, then at least drive Black's pieces onto horribly passive squares. But the sequel demonstrates that matters are not to simple: Black's Rook on the third rank not only defends c6 but also creates pressure against White's King's-side" - Nigel DAVIES

29.Rb2 h5 30.Rbc2 Qd7 31.Kh1 h4 32.h3 Qf5 33.Nh2 Qg5 34.Ng4 f5 35.f4 Qh5 36.Ne5 Rg3

+-----------------+
|K+.+.$.+|
|+P+.+R+Q|
|P4.).+.+|
|0.)n).+.|
|q+pHp+.+|
|+.+.+p+.|
|.0.+.+.+|
|+k+r+.+.|
+-----------------+

The game approaches its climax, with both themes strongly featured in the variations - White's threats to win a Pawn and Black's threats to win a King!

37.Re1

[37.Rxc6 Rxe3 38.Qxd5+ Kh7 but White faces threats to the King]

37...Rb8 38.Kh2

[38.Rxc6 Rxe3! 39.Rxe3 Qd1+ 40.Kh2 Rb1! 41.Qa8+ Kh7 42.Rh6+! gxh6 43.Qa7+ draws]

38...Kh7 39.Nxc6

[39.Rxc6 was the last chance to play for a win 39...Qe8 but not 40.Qxd5? Rb2]

39...Qg6 40.Rg1

[40.Nxb8 Rxh3+! gives Black at least a draw 41.gxh3 Qg3+ 42.Kh1 Qxe1+ 43.Kg2 Ng3 44.Kf3 Qd1+ 45.Re2 Qh1+ 46.Rg2 Qd1+]

40...Rxe3 41.Nxb8 Qg3+ 42.Kh1 Qxf4 43.Rd1 Ng3+ 44.Kg1 1/2-1/2

Counter-attacking on the Queen's-side:

Polugaevsky, in his otherwise excellent book on the Queen's Gambit Orthodox Defence, says that it does not really matter whether the Black a-Pawn challenges the White b-Pawn on b4 by ...a5 or on b5 by ...a6. From the point of view of the opening variations that Polu was looking at, perhaps it doesn't, but from the point of view of a player handling the middle-game, it can form the basis of totally separate plans.

 

(a) Playing ...a5 to get an open a-file after ...a5xb4.

Arkell Keith C - Maksimenko Andrei [D35] It (open), Copenhagen (Denmar (6), 1994

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d5 3.c4 e6 4.Nc3 c6 5.cxd5 exd5 6.Bg5 h6 7.Bh4 Bf5 8.e3 Nbd7 9.Bd3 Bxd3 10.Qxd3 Be7 11.0-0 0-0 12.Rab1 a5

+-----------------+
|.IR+.+R+|
|)P).+.)P|
|.+N)QH.+|
|G.+.).+.|
|.+.+p+.0|
|0.h.+p+.|
|.0pgn+p+|
|+k4.1.+r|
+-----------------+

Playing a5 to get an open a-file.

13.Qc2 Ne8 14.Bxe7 Qxe7 15.Na4 Nd6 16.Nc5 Nxc5 17.Qxc5 Qe6 18.b3 a4 19.Qb4 axb3 20.axb3

+-----------------+
|.IR+.+R+|
|)P).+.+.|
|.+N).+P+|
|+.+.).!.|
|.+.+p+.+|
|0.+qhp+.|
|.0p+.+p+|
|+k4.+.+r|
+-----------------+

20...Ra2 21.Ra1 Rfa8 22.Rxa2 Rxa2 23.Qb6 Qe7 24.Qb4 f6 25.Ne1 Kf7 26.Nd3 Ne4 27.Qxe7+ Kxe7 28.b4 Ra3 29.Nc5 Nd2

+-----------------+
|.IR+.+.+|
|)P).h.+.|
|.+.).+.4|
|+.+.).).|
|.+.+pH.+|
|0.0.+p+.|
|.0.i.+p+|
|+.+.+.+.|
+-----------------+

30.Nxb7 Nxf1 31.Kxf1 Ra4 32.h4 Rxb4 33.Nc5 h5 34.Nd3 Rb1+ 35.Ke2 g5 36.g3 Ke6 37.Kf3 Kf5 38.Nc5 Rc1 39.hxg5 fxg5 40.g4+ hxg4+ 41.Kg3 Rh1 42.Nd3 Rh6 43.Nc5 Rh8 44.Nd3 Ra8 45.Nc5 Ra1 46.Nd3 Rg1+ 47.Kh2 Rd1 48.Nc5 Rd2 49.Kg3 Rc2 50.Nd3 Rc3 51.Nc5 Ra3 52.Nd7 Ra2 53.Nc5 Ra5 54.Nb3 Ra7 55.Nc5 Rc7 56.Nd3 Rb7 57.Nc5 Re7 58.Nd3 Rg7 59.Nc5 Rf7 60.Nd3 Rf6 61.Kg2 Rh6 62.Nc5 Rh3 63.Nd3 Rf3 64.Ne1 Rh3 65.Nd3 Rh7 66.Nc5 Kg6 67.Nd3 Re7 68.Nb4 Re6 69.Kg3 Kh5 70.Nd3 Re4 71.Nb4 Re6 72.Nd3 Re8 73.Nb4 Rc8 74.Nd3 Rc7 75.Nb4 c5 76.dxc5 Rxc5 77.Kg2 Kh4 78.Nd3 Ra5 79.Ne5 Ra6 80.Nd3 Ra2 81.Nb4 Rd2 82.Kf1 g3 83.fxg3+ Kxg3 84.Ke1 Rb2 85.Nxd5 Kf3 0-1

We'll see this ...a5 manoeuvre more than once again below, in combination with other ideas.

(b) Playing ...a6 to get a passed a-Pawn after ...c6xb5 and ...a6-a5

(820) Moutousis,K - Ruzhiale,D [D35] Manila ol (9), 1992

1.c4 e6 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nc3 d5 4.d4 c6 5.cxd5 exd5 6.Bg5 Be7 7.e3 Bf5 8.Bd3 Bxd3 9.Bxf6 Bxf6 10.Qxd3 Nd7 11.b4 a6

+-----------------+
|R+.I.+.$|
|)P).+.+P|
|.+N)QH.+|
|+.+.).).|
|.+.+p+.+|
|+.g.+p+p|
|p0p+n+p+|
|4.+k1.+r|
+-----------------+

Playing ...a6, and on b4-b5 exchange with the c-Pawn and push past to get a passed a-Pawn.

12.0-0 Be7 13.Rab1 0-0 14.a4 Nb6 15.Rfc1 Qd7 16.b5 cxb5 17.axb5 a5

+-----------------+
|.I.+.$R+|
|)P).+.+.|
|.+N)QH.+|
|+.+.).+.|
|.+.+p+P0|
|+.+.+.h.|
|p0pgq+p+|
|+k4.+.+r|
+-----------------+

18.Ne5 Qe6 19.Qd1 Ba3 20.Rc2 Rfc8 21.Na4 Nxa4 22.Rxc8+ Rxc8 23.Qxa4 Qf5 24.Rf1 Bb4 25.Qb3 Qe6 26.Nd3 Rc4 27.Ra1 g6 28.g3 Qf5 29.Ne5 a4 30.Qd3 Qxd3 31.Nxd3 Bc3 32.Ra3 f6 33.b6 Kf7 34.Nc5 Bb4 35.Rxa4 Bxc5 36.Rxc4 dxc4 37.dxc5 c3 38.c6 c2 0-1

 

(c) Meeting b4-b5 with ...c6-c5, with an IQP

(822) Certek Pavel - Nikolov Sasho [D35] It (open), Prague (Czech Repu (5), 1986

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Be7 5.cxd5 exd5 6.Bf4 c6 7.Qc2 g6 8.e3 Bf5 9.Bd3 Bxd3 10.Qxd3 0-0 11.h3 Nbd7 12.0-0 Re8

+-----------------+
|.IR+.+.$|
|+P).+.)P|
|P+N)QH.+|
|+.G.).+.|
|.<