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Planning to Succeed

Prolific chess author GM Neil McDonald follows up his book from 2004, Chess: The Art of Logical Thinking with this new title, The Art of Planning in Chess.  In both books he uses the Chernev style of annotating, i.e., commenting on almost every move of every game (although there are some games where he just gives the opening moves without comment until about move 10).  While those rated over 1900 will likely find these books a bit too shallow in variations for their tastes, those rated under 1900 will appreciate the clear descriptions and explanations McDonald uses to explain what’s going on in the position.

The book contains 39 games (refreshingly, all the games were played within the last six years; each contain approximately 4-6 pages of mostly verbal notes), and is broken down into 6 chapters:

1.  Ferocious files

2.  Dangerous diagonals

3.  Wearing down a weakness

4.  Surging through the centre

5.  Pawns and goat pegs [McDonald uses “goat pegs” to refer to
    a pawn that “restrains” an opponent’s piece(s)].

6.  Horrible holes

Here is game one, which features not only my favorite opening, but what must be considered a big upset, as GM Peter Wells takes down GM Alexei Shirov with the Trompowsky in only 13 moves!  (All notes—and you can see there are quite a few—by McDonald):

Wells, Peter (2501) - Shirov, Alexei (2709)

Gibraltar 2006

1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 c5

Black’s plan is to gain maximum benefit from the weakness of the b2 square created by White’s second move. He therefore clears the way for his queen to go to b6 as quickly as possible. He also challenges the d4 pawn as part of a general ‘anti-dark square’ campaign.

 

3.Bxf6  In contrast, Peter Wells is content to do some damage to his opponent’s pawn structure, even if it means handing over the traditional defender of his dark squares.

 

3…gxf6  Shirov recaptures towards the centre as he sees it gives him the opportunity to activate his bishop.

 

4.d5  The pawn grabs a space advantage and denies the enemy knight its natural post on c6.

 

4…Qb6  Black’s plan gains momentum.  No doubt he was encouraged by White’s previous move, which appears to be something of an abdication of the fight for the dark squares in the centre.

 

5.Qc1  An awkward looking response.  The white queen is reduced to the role of guardian of the b2 square.  Surely White has no hope of the initiative here?

 

5…f5  Shirov calls on the help of the f-pawn in his bid to punish White’s apparently lackadaisical build up.

 

6.c4  Another red flag to a bull.  Wells strengthens his grip on the light squares in the centre, but is apparently oblivious to his opponent’s intentions on the dark squares.

 

6…Bh6  Black gains a lead in development by harassing the white queen.

7.e3  The obvious response, but now we see the point of Black’s fifth move.

 

7…f4  The intention is to leave White with a weak pawn on e3 after 8…fxe3 or reopen the diagonal for the dark squared bishop.

 

8.exf4  Apparently surrendering the dark squares, but there is a surprise waiting.

 

8…Bxf4  The high point of Black’s game.  White surely can’t capture the bishop as it leads to disaster on b2—or does it?

 

9.Qxf4!!

Up until now Black has been convinced that he has been positionally outplaying his opponent.  Indeed, if White now played 9.Qc2, Black would have a pleasant position as his dark squared bishop is by far the strongest minor piece on the board.  Wells’ exchange sacrifice, even if objectively the verdict is no more than ‘unclear’, is a big psychological shock for Black, who has the initiative wrenched from him.

 

9…Qxb2  I find it easy to sympathise with Shirov here, as it (sic) hard to accept that White can build up a dangerous attack, when as yet he only has the queen in play.

 

10.Ne2!  The knight heads for c3 to support his comrade on b1 and also close an escape route for the black queen.

 

10…Qxa1  A nice feast, but if Black is careless then his queen or king are going to pay with their lives.

 

11.Nec3  Completing an unusual knight manoeuvre: how often does the knight head straight from g1 to c3 in the opening?

 

11…Qb2?

Shirov was understandably keen to get his queen out of the corner, as White had the straightforward plan of 12.Qd2, taking away the escape route on b2, followed by 13.Be2, 14.0-0 and 15.Na3, winning the trapped queen.

 

Instead Black could have made it difficult for White to implement this plan after 11…d6! 12.Qd2.  Now useless for Black is the variation 12…Bf5 13.Be2! When 13…Bxb1 14.0-0 leaves him powerless against the threat of 15.Rxb1 when the black queen is captured anyway; or if 13…Qxb1+ 14.Nxb1 Bxb1 and then 15.Qb2 is a killer as it forks the bishop on b1 and the far off rook on h8.

 

However 12…Rg8! keeps Black alive, as if 13.Be2 Rxg2 stops White from castling.  In fact, it is hard to see how White can capture the black queen in a ‘clean’ way.  Instead, White could play g3, reigniting the threat of Be2 and 0-0, but then Black can create counterplay with a7-a6 and b7-b5.

 

Apparently, Shirov had been consuming a large amount of time hereabouts, which shows he had come to the game unarmed.  It proved beyond the capacity of even a tactical wizard to work out all the ramifications after 9.Qxf4.

 

12.d6!  A very strong move. White’s basic aim is to mate the black king, or failing that, force Black to hand over a lot of material to avoid mate. His plan depends on two inter-related themes: An attack on Black’s dark squares and the crippling of Black’s pawn/minor piece deployment.

 

An attack on Black’s dark squares

 

It is somewhat ironic that after parting with his queen’s bishop on move two, and then putting his pawns on light squares, White has become master over a key complex of dark squares in the centre.

 

Not only is e7 vulnerable to attack, most obviously with Qe5 and Qxe7 mate, but its elimination with d6xe7 will bring Black no succour: thereafter, the white queen and knights would be able to exploit the d6 and f6 squares with moves like Qf6 or Nf6+  or Nd6+.  Furthermore, by vacating the d5-square, the pawn advance has opened the way for the (sic) Nd5 and Nc7+ - another dark square!

 

Also with 12 d6, Black has been denied any escape route with his king to c7, as the dark squares have ceased to be his friend.

 

The crippling of his pawn/minor piece deployment

 

But surely with 12.d6 White has handed Black a nice square on c6 for his knight?  True, but White has prevented a far superior deployment of the knight with 12…d6 followed by Nd7 and Ne5, when the knight is well centralized and shelters e7 from attack.

 

And crucially, the bishop on c8 has been shut out of the centre by 12.d6!  It could be developed by b7-b6 and Bb7, but this is painfully slow and unlikely to have any bearing on the life and death struggle involving the black king.

 

12…Qc2  Not the way to put up the most resistance, but Shirov was no doubt dispirited by the unexpected disaster.

 

13.Qe3!  1–0

Much stronger than 13.Qe5, which appears to win due to the double threat of mate on e7 and h8, as Black has the riposte 13…0-0! when 14.dxe7 Re8 is far from clear.  Besides, White has to reckon with a disruptive check on c1.

 

By putting his queen on e3, Wells ensures that 13…0-0 can be met with 14.Bd3 – another free developing move at the expense of the black queen – 14…Qb2 15.Qg5+ Kh8 16.Qh6!  There is a double threat of mate on f8 and h7, and this time Black has no clever response.  Shirov gave up the ghost here and resigned.

 

After Black deals with the threat of mate on e7, White can develop his pieces with Bd3 and 0-0, when he will have a decisive advantage in firepower aimed at the Black king.

 

A possible finish is 13…Nc6 14.Bd3 Qb2 15.0-0 and if now 15…e6 16.Nb5 Kd8 (or 16…Kf8) 17.N1c3 and White will trap the queen with 18.Rb1, whilst keeping a lethal attack on the black king.

 

Or 15…b6 16.Be4!?- threatening 17.Bxc6 dxc6 18.Qxe7 mate – 16…e6 17.Qg5 – aiming again at the e7 square – 17…Kf8 18.Bxc6 dxc6 19.Qh6+ Kg8 (if 19…Ke8 20.Qf6! wins at once threatening mate on e7 or h8) 20.Re1 f5 – trying to make space for the king- 21.Re2 – driving off the black queen as 21.Re3?? Qc1+ mates for Black! 21…Qb4 22.Re3 and 23.Rg3 mates.

 

An amazing demolition of one of the best players in the world.

*     *     *     *     *     *

As you can see, McDonald does a great job of explaining things, especially the subtle points, such as that even though White gave up his dark squared bishop on move two, his attack exploits Black’s weakened dark squares!

By the way, I think it goes without saying that this game goes directly into the “Tromp hall-of-fame,” as another example of what can happen when even a great player like Shirov fails to give this mighty opening the respect it so obviously deserves!  ;)

Okay, let’s move on to a different game.  In this one, McDonald uses the technique of “getting inside each player’s head.”  While there have been numerous chess books that claim to tell you “what the players were thinking,” (in an attempt to sell more books), here McDonald actually delivers:

In the game I. Cheparinov - V. Ivanchuk, Khanty Mansyisk 2005, after the moves:

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.cxb5 a6 5.b6 d6 6.Nc3 Nbd7 7.a4 a5 8.e4 g6 9.Nf3 Bg7 10.Be2 0–0 11.0–0 Qxb6 we arrive at the following position of the Benko Gambit:

Now McDonald writes:

Let’s try to imagine each player’s thoughts about the position as they weighed up their strategic chances.

 

Ivan Cheparinov:  I have spotted a weak square in my opponent’s position on b5.  I should try to place a knight there and do my best to support it.  This will not only deprive Black of any counterplay against my b2-pawn, but also deter him from attacking my centre with e7-e6, as the d6-pawn would then become vulnerable.  So in this way I will secure my queenside from attack and also keep my space advantage in the centre.  That means I will be able to start a kingside attack based on f2-f4 without being disturbed.  With luck, this will culminate in a mating attack against the black king.

 

Vassily Ivanchuk:  My pawn structure is solid, my king is safe and I’m not lagging behind in development.  But I still haven’t shaken off White’s space advantage.  Maybe e7-e6 is an option to attack d5?  Yes, I might try that if allowed!  I see that White can stop me, but never mind: I should be able to exchange some pieces, and in an endgame I can exploit the weakness of the b2-pawn, and possibly the a4- and e4-pawns as well.  Yes, I have a hold on b5, but I’m confident I’ll be able to bring enough pieces to bear on this square to make sure White doesn’t enjoy it in peace.  Or perhaps I can occupy the b4-square with one of my knights in the future?  Yes, I can be ambitious here and play for the win!

And then McDonald tells you what to look for:

Two positional titans engage in an exemplary display of cat and mouse.  Then Ivanchuck becomes over-confident and makes a superficially strong manoeuvre that just leaves him in a strategic stranglehold.  He puts a knight on b4, but what does it do?

Man this is good stuff!  White does go on to win and I recommend getting this book just for this game alone to see how Cheparinov, the 19-year old trainer of Topolov, takes apart one of the strongest players in the world.

While this is the only time in the book that McDonald uses the “what they are thinking” technique, he does ask a lot of questions and then gives the answers to many of the thoughts that are likely to pop into the heads of most readers. (By the way, the only book that I know of that actually tells you what each side is thinking throughout the entire game, for every game in the book, is a little yellow paperback by Paul Schmidt called, How Grandmasters Think, published by Chess Enterprises in 1988, and now out-of-print and very hard to get).

Other Neil McDonald titles reviewed at Chessville:

• Chess: The Art of Logical Thinking

• The Sicilian Bb5 Revealed

• The Benko Gambit Revealed

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