Table Of ContentStrategy for
Advanced
Players
by Eric Schiller
Chess Digest
1992
2
Copyright © 1992 by Eric Schiller
All rights reserved under Pan American & International
Copyright conventions.
ISBN: 0-87568-202-2
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Author: Eric Schiller
Manuscript preparation: M.L. Rantala for Chessworks Unlimited
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Cover: Elaine Smith
Proofreading: Hugh Myers
Publisher: Chess Digest, inc., 1601 Tantor, Dallas, Texas, 75229.
Send the publisher $2 for the New Chess Guide that catalogs
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through Master level.
3
Contents
Introduction. .................................................................... 7
Lesson 1
Exchanging pieces • Michell-Leonhardt.. ...................... 10
Lesson 2
Spatial disadvantage • Forgacs-Tartakower .................. 11
Lesson 3
Doubled pawns • Janowski-Capablanca ......................... 13
Lesson 4
Control of the center • Capablanca-Bogoljubow .......... 16
Lesson 5
Infiltration • Wolf-Rubinstein ........................................ 20
Lesson 6
Coordination • Blechschmidt-Flohr .............................. 24
Lesson 7
Kingside attack • Winter-Colle ........................................ 27
Lesson 8
Kingside attack • Botvinnik-Vidmar ............................. 28
Lesson 9
Queenside majority • Keres-Fine .................................... 30
Lesson 10
Open file • Alekhine-Book ............................................... 34
Lesson 11
Quiet move • Alekhine-Capablanca ............................. 37
4
Lesson 12
Pin • Keres-Euwe ................................................................ 39
Lesson 13
Discovered check • Botvinnik-Euwe ............................. 44
Lesson 14
Active position • Smyslov-Reshevsky ......................... .45
Lesson 15
Isolated pawn • Spassky-Aftonov .................................. .48
Lesson 16
Control of the diagonal • Smyslov-Botvinnik ............ 50
Lesson 17
Flexibility • Spassky-Smyslov .......................................... 51
Lesson 18
Control of the Center • Evans-Larsen ............................ 52
Lesson 19
Cramped position • Nyezhmetdinov-Sakharov ......... 55
Lesson 20
Pressure • Smyslov-Spassky ............................................. 58
Lesson 21
Outpost • Smyslov-Simagin ............................................ 59
Lesson 22
Seventh rank • Reshevsky-Larsen ................................. 62
Lesson 23
Blockade • Spassky-Petrosian. .......................................... 65
Lesson 24
Zugzwang • Fischer-Petrosian ......................................... 67
Lesson 25
"Man-on-man" coverage • Gligoric-Portisch ............... 70
Lesson 26
Bishop pair • Karpov-Hort ............................................... 75
5
Lesson 27
Fortress • Najdorf-Huebner ............................................. 78
Lesson 28
Good knight • Gligoric-Kavalek. ..................................... 82
Lesson 29
Pin • Pavlenko-Furman. ................................................... 85
Lesson 30
Diagonal • Reshevsky-Schiller ........................................ 87
Lesson 31
Exchange sacrifice • Karpov-Spassky .............................. 89
Lesson 32
Bad bishop • Karpov-Uhlmann ...................................... 92
Lesson 33
Bishops of opposite color • Hort-Kurajica .................... 95
Lesson 34
Counterattacks • Reshevsky-Vaganian ......................... 97
Lesson 35
Open files • Hort-Alburt ................................................. 100
Lesson 36
Space • Ribli-Portisch. ...................................................... 103
Lesson 37
Exploiting the light squares • Speelman-Larsen. ....... 106
Lesson 38
Doubled rooks • Kasparov-Hjorth ................................ ll0
Lesson 39
Outpost • Hort-Karpov .................................................... 111
Lesson 40
Weak light squares • Kasparov-Yusupov ................... 114
Lesson 41
Open file • Borik-Hort ..................................................... 117
6
Lesson 42
Rook on the 7th rank • Hort-Miles .............................. 120
Lesson 43
Spatial advantage • Timman-Kasparov ...................... 123
Lesson 44
Pressure • Schiller-Shannon. ......................................... 126
Lesson 45
Outpost • Yermolinsky-Fedorowicz ............................. 127
Index of Themes ......................................................... 131
Index of Openings ....................................................... 133
Index of Games ............................................................ 134
Strategy for Advanced Players 7
Introduction
The art of strategic planning is not easily acquired
from most teaching materials, yet it is one of the most
important aspects of practical play. I think that the reason
for this is primarily because the pedagogical technique
applied in most cases mimics that used in the teaching of
tactics. Tactical skill can be obtained by studying individual
elements of a position using a small set of stock maneuvers.
Positional factors have also been approached in this
way, with examples showing how a certain positional
weakness can be exploited by specific means. This is a fine
introduction to strategic play, and suitable for beginners.
The major difficulty, however, lies in combining the
appropriate methods with a solid positional evaluation and,
importantly, recognizing that one's opponent is likely to
counter any plan that arises. In a real game, therefore, a
player has to be prepared to switch plans frequently, to
constantly re-examine the strategy to see if it is still
appropriate under new circumstances. Often a change of
plan is required every few moves. Sometimes a plan which
was countered at one point in the game is made possible
again later in the game. For this reason the .games are
presented in chronological order, as each contains multiple
themes. To study individual ideas, use the index to find
games containing a particular theme.
This book contains complete games where the
strategic and positional factors that you have already
acquired are seen in the complex interplay of the
middlegame and endgame. There are few quick
knockouts-most of the games feature a fascinating ebb and
8 Strategy tor Advanced Players
flow of strategic plans. In some cases a single motif runs
throughout the game, in others many ideas are required in
order to achieve victory.
A few words of general advice are in order regarding
both studying the games and putting the knowledge gained
into action in tournament play. If tactics are the down-to
earth business of chess, then strategy is its fine art. As such,
creativity is needed. It is well-known that computers do not
do well at long-term planning in chess. They can crunch
numbers, but they cannot dream. And indeed it is dreaming
that is necessary in order to amalgamate th.e positional
characteristics one sees on the board and to create a concrete
plan.
At the board, and especially when the opponent is on
the move, it is useful to fantasize about the position.
Imagine tactical operations which could be carried out if it
were not for the presence of a certain piece. Forget about the
laws of chess for a moment and think about where you
would like to put your pieces if you could simply pick them
up and move them to any square you wish without any
intervention on the part of your opponent. These mental
exercises help to focus your mind on the strategic goals of
the position. Once you know what you want to do, it is
simply a matter of figuring out some way of getting your
opponent to cooperate. The desired result can often be
achieved by such tactical operations as deflections and
sacrifices.
As you study the games in this book, constantly ask
yourself what each player is trying to accomplish and what
means are available to counter these plans. In some games a
player achieves his goal quickly because his opponent is
caught napping, in others the immediate threats are parried
and others take their place. In your own games, do not get
frustrated when your opponent sees what you are up to and
takes measures to prevent it - that is the normal course of a
