WEBVTT 00:01.050 --> 00:01.740 Hi there. 00:01.770 --> 00:08.040 In this lecture, we see Akiba Rubinstein playing against Alexander Alekhine in the 1926 simmering tournament 00:08.040 --> 00:10.170 around eight d4. 00:10.200 --> 00:16.350 From Rubinstein we have f6 c4 e6 Lloyd's F3, the Queen's Indian. 00:16.500 --> 00:17.880 We have B6. 00:18.690 --> 00:25.170 So if one had played Knight c free, we would have potentially a nimzowitsch Indian defence, but not 00:25.170 --> 00:27.030 aphria's Queen's Indian Territory. 00:28.200 --> 00:35.010 B6 g3 Bishop b7 Bishop g2 Bishop b4 check. 00:36.720 --> 00:39.870 So this tries to cause some disruption for white Knight. 00:39.900 --> 00:41.040 BD two is not ideal. 00:41.070 --> 00:42.370 Perhaps the knight had wanted. 00:42.390 --> 00:49.560 Ideally, Knight on C3 would have been nicer, but this disruptive move is worth the check. 00:49.710 --> 00:51.600 So both sides now castle. 00:52.230 --> 00:56.090 We have D5, A3, Bishop E7. 00:56.100 --> 01:04.930 So an interesting aspect of this position already, which is a little bit subtle, is that F7 is potentially 01:04.950 --> 01:06.630 secure than F2. 01:06.660 --> 01:09.510 The reason for this is C5. 01:09.900 --> 01:18.960 We can see that a bishop could come and hit F2 was this bishop is actually now being cancelled on this 01:18.960 --> 01:19.650 diagonal. 01:19.680 --> 01:24.260 So it's not really doing the same thing potentially on F7. 01:24.270 --> 01:28.680 So bear that in mind while we look at this game. 01:28.680 --> 01:30.880 So B4 and now C5. 01:30.900 --> 01:34.160 So the bishop really wants to potentially attack F2. 01:34.170 --> 01:38.670 So breaking open with C5 actually does that very soon. 01:38.700 --> 01:39.240 B Tanks. 01:39.240 --> 01:49.170 B tanks D takes and already the bishop staring now at F2 whilst F seven is cosy, it's not under scrutiny. 01:49.200 --> 01:54.990 Basically we have Bishop B2 Knight, BD seven and now 95. 01:54.990 --> 02:00.780 And actually this is a little bit of inaccuracy encourages even more pressure on F2. 02:01.260 --> 02:06.430 We have Knight takes E5, Bishop takes E5 and now Knight G4. 02:06.450 --> 02:12.210 So this hits E5 and it also hits F2. 02:12.210 --> 02:18.480 So you can see that the pressure being built up here and Y has to tread very carefully in this position. 02:18.690 --> 02:20.040 Bishop C4 is played. 02:20.040 --> 02:22.590 Other moves are not so good. 02:22.620 --> 02:26.140 Bishop B2 Can you see what happens here? 02:26.160 --> 02:27.750 What does black play in this position? 02:27.750 --> 02:31.980 And already, you know, this F2 pressure is yielding benefits. 02:33.880 --> 02:35.650 Okay, I'll show you now, Bishop. 02:35.660 --> 02:35.920 Thanks. 02:35.920 --> 02:36.910 I have to check. 02:37.030 --> 02:45.790 Rook takes up to Knight, takes F2, King takes half to Queen Bee six check, picks up the bishop, 02:46.650 --> 02:47.350 and you might wonder. 02:47.350 --> 02:48.790 Well, hold on, hold on. 02:48.790 --> 02:49.270 King's question. 02:49.270 --> 02:49.870 This will be one. 02:49.870 --> 02:52.690 Let's follow this through because we're losing this Bishop Right. 02:52.870 --> 02:57.010 So it's actually two pieces for Rook. 02:57.010 --> 03:00.040 But look how many pawns Black has overall. 03:00.070 --> 03:03.850 Black is doing really well here, this position. 03:03.850 --> 03:07.630 And you can see that C free pawn is a real pain. 03:09.740 --> 03:15.110 So if we have this scenario, for example, blacks doing really well, it's just very, very dangerous 03:15.110 --> 03:16.610 position here. 03:18.320 --> 03:21.900 So that's really unpalatable and Bishop F4 is even worse. 03:21.920 --> 03:23.570 Can you see what plant would play here? 03:26.450 --> 03:33.290 Yeah, there's E5, whereas the bishop going, you can see that this is going to be absolutely crushing. 03:33.710 --> 03:35.420 You know, we're just crushing white here. 03:35.780 --> 03:40.580 So it's funny that Bishop C3 is like an only move already in this game. 03:40.580 --> 03:42.050 We have rugby eight, 03:44.900 --> 03:46.820 so you might think, Oh hold on, hold on. 03:46.820 --> 03:48.800 What about this theme of the F two pressure? 03:48.800 --> 03:53.600 Well, Queen B six here, there's actually Queen one, which is sufficient for white hair. 03:53.930 --> 03:55.280 It's no big deal. 03:55.580 --> 03:57.050 The tanks, nine tanks. 03:57.050 --> 04:00.750 Quincy seven Bishop takes be seven queens. 04:00.790 --> 04:02.660 Actually, seven isn't even possession. 04:02.660 --> 04:05.810 So rugby is played whenever it be one. 04:05.930 --> 04:09.620 And now funny enough D four. 04:10.100 --> 04:15.170 So this is a really interesting position where White now plays an inaccuracy. 04:15.170 --> 04:15.650 Rook Thanks. 04:15.650 --> 04:22.790 B seven It was important to try and neutralize this bishop, which is still x ray f2. 04:22.820 --> 04:25.460 It seems Bishop before was possible. 04:26.420 --> 04:32.750 So here Bishop takes G2, King takes G2 Rooks eight. 04:32.780 --> 04:36.830 We can see that white should be fine here. 04:37.460 --> 04:38.600 Bishop takes D4. 04:38.600 --> 04:43.280 On the other hand, Queen saying C4 runs into problems at the end with 9/10 F2. 04:43.670 --> 04:48.350 So this would be a world of pain for white to annul this disaster on the diagonal. 04:48.980 --> 04:56.240 So this possession is just winning for black rook D1 is going off to champ picking up the rook so okay 04:56.270 --> 04:58.790 but rook thanks B seven was played, which is a mistake. 04:58.790 --> 05:02.000 We have now a wealth of choices. 05:02.000 --> 05:05.660 Actually, black has a wealth of choices in this position. 05:07.390 --> 05:09.310 Route 67 is played. 05:09.550 --> 05:12.640 It seems that de Tanks is plausible as well. 05:13.390 --> 05:18.220 If Rooke tanks, there's actually a can you see what black could play here, which is kind of nifty. 05:21.640 --> 05:23.980 Yeah, black play, Knight Things have to. 05:24.130 --> 05:27.220 Believe it or not, this position, Queen Tanks. 05:27.220 --> 05:30.830 Bay leaves a great position. 05:30.860 --> 05:32.400 Yeah, Black's got the advantage here. 05:32.410 --> 05:33.520 The exchange up. 05:36.060 --> 05:37.890 And if we look at this again. 05:39.950 --> 05:45.920 The queen takes after is the strongest bishop takes F to check This position is only a small edge for 05:45.920 --> 05:46.580 black. 05:46.610 --> 05:48.350 If anything, that's only a small edge. 05:48.770 --> 05:49.160 So. 05:49.160 --> 05:49.440 Okay. 05:49.490 --> 05:50.360 But yeah, there is. 05:50.360 --> 05:51.320 There is a way. 05:52.870 --> 05:53.310 I'm doing it. 05:53.320 --> 05:54.640 So just Queen takes me out. 05:54.640 --> 05:57.310 Leaving that pin is good for black. 05:57.310 --> 06:02.740 But there was also instead of rock takes me some of them was also that was played Rook takes B7 knight 06:02.740 --> 06:10.360 takes F2 here is is fascinating if rook takes details you can see that these two horrible pins and absolute 06:10.360 --> 06:12.580 and relative pin get ignited. 06:12.880 --> 06:19.870 Rook takes the queen takes paint this position taking out F2 a5 Black's also doing very well. 06:19.870 --> 06:24.820 There's a lot of pawns to compensate for the nine bishop against Rook. 06:24.820 --> 06:33.220 So anyway, in the game rook takes B7 was played and we have Bishop takes B7 which actually makes things 06:33.220 --> 06:34.510 a load worse. 06:35.080 --> 06:42.730 Why it had to try Bishop B4 to neutralize this Bishop So Bishop takes b4 taking the Bishop off the diagonal 06:42.730 --> 06:50.050 and Bishop takes b7 this position is only actually technically a small edge for black. 06:50.500 --> 06:52.930 This position here is only a small edge for black. 06:54.310 --> 06:55.660 So for example like that. 06:57.470 --> 07:02.930 So if if we look at this again, yeah, we don't you know, it doesn't want to play tanks because then 07:03.440 --> 07:05.290 black's the exchange up there. 07:05.300 --> 07:05.900 So yeah. 07:05.900 --> 07:10.160 The idea of Bishop before would be to just distract the bishop and then take on be some. 07:11.120 --> 07:17.870 But in the game Bishop takes be seven was played and Nell there's another wealth of. 07:20.100 --> 07:21.950 Really nice options for black hair. 07:21.960 --> 07:24.210 Can you see what black line in this position? 07:24.420 --> 07:30.390 So this this theme of F2 versus seven is fascinating in this game, actually. 07:30.390 --> 07:31.380 Absolutely fascinating. 07:31.380 --> 07:32.880 So what would you play here? 07:40.200 --> 07:46.500 So currently we're a piece down, so two pieces versus the three pieces. 07:46.500 --> 07:48.030 So we want to get our piece back. 07:49.200 --> 07:51.990 Knight takes F, though, was played hitting the queen. 07:52.080 --> 07:56.100 This leaves white in painful pins all over the place. 07:56.310 --> 08:01.080 D Take C three more kind of standard looking 94. 08:01.110 --> 08:02.610 There's no if three, believe it or not. 08:02.610 --> 08:04.620 So this actually makes this this plausible. 08:04.620 --> 08:07.890 This is an engine move, engine level tactic here. 08:08.130 --> 08:12.030 But this this this line is is fascinating as well. 08:12.270 --> 08:13.320 Let's have a look at it. 08:13.320 --> 08:16.320 So why is this winning for black queen tanks? 08:16.320 --> 08:17.280 Rook tanks? 08:18.270 --> 08:22.560 So the thing is, there's a very dangerous passport asset here. 08:24.150 --> 08:30.570 If F takes Bishop, takes E free check, two will be winning that rook and this will be banner for black. 08:30.960 --> 08:36.870 Black actually is the exchange up here if we look at this resulting position exchange jump. 08:36.900 --> 08:41.070 So that is absolutely fascinating that actually 90 free here. 08:41.370 --> 08:46.140 You know what is going on there and you might think, well, hang on in this line, what about Knight 08:46.140 --> 08:51.210 Be free there's Bishop takes F to check hand the rook can't take because of losing the queen. 08:51.210 --> 08:55.140 And here there's actually believe or not, there's another mega tactic here. 08:55.140 --> 08:56.460 What would you play in this position? 09:00.800 --> 09:01.820 400 points. 09:03.020 --> 09:04.000 There's 90 free. 09:04.040 --> 09:05.370 This is absolutely fascinating. 09:05.390 --> 09:10.490 If Queen St's work takes the rook can't take because then white would get mated. 09:10.640 --> 09:11.720 Rook D1 one check. 09:11.720 --> 09:13.490 Rook takes off one checkmate. 09:14.630 --> 09:17.480 And if rook c1c2. 09:17.510 --> 09:18.800 This is just crushing. 09:19.460 --> 09:21.650 Yeah, we've got route D one coming up. 09:21.650 --> 09:22.910 So fascinating stuff. 09:22.910 --> 09:28.760 So in fact D take C three with this amazing idea of 93 is possible. 09:30.710 --> 09:34.790 Yeah, it shows how strong the position is basically. 09:34.790 --> 09:42.170 But Knight takes F2 was played, which is more in a way visually appealing in a way so King takes was 09:42.170 --> 09:50.200 played if rook takes this leaves horrible pens off the D tanks so black's a piece down right now but 09:50.210 --> 09:53.390 going to get the piece back with interest, you know this is getting the piece back with interest. 09:53.660 --> 10:01.160 So anyway King takes F2 was played which is also horrible detail C Free tank, E free C tanks D two. 10:02.750 --> 10:09.800 This is much stronger to keep the pawn on D to not play queen tanks d to champ because this isn't as 10:09.800 --> 10:10.430 convincing. 10:10.430 --> 10:14.510 Black is technically better, but it's opposite kind of bishops. 10:14.510 --> 10:20.840 One has to be careful about this the way it's played by Anakin's C tanks D two is much more dangerous. 10:21.050 --> 10:27.260 King E two, Queen B eight, so vacating D eight and is very resourceful with tempo. 10:27.290 --> 10:33.530 He loves doing those kind of square vocations with tempo and that would hold on now to the D to pawn. 10:33.860 --> 10:45.470 So Queen B one Queen D six a4 a5 rook d one bishop before so that d two pawn is held onto and now the 10:45.470 --> 10:54.380 C5 square is a nice blockade square against that pawn, putting pressure on e three So King f2 a5 Bishop 10:54.380 --> 10:59.870 Ito and in the spirit of eccentric, accentuating the pressure on this diagonal, guess what Alekhine 10:59.870 --> 11:01.220 plays here. 11:01.220 --> 11:06.590 So obviously kind of bishop scenario but very passive one because that pawn on D2 but the pressure is 11:06.590 --> 11:09.170 built now, so can you guess. 11:10.470 --> 11:11.220 G five. 11:11.220 --> 11:11.460 Yeah. 11:11.460 --> 11:16.880 We wanted to crack open this diagram for Bishop D, free for not minding him out. 11:16.890 --> 11:22.080 Bishop takes H seven check and actually White resigned if. 11:23.050 --> 11:27.040 King F1 F-type C3 is diabolical. 11:27.040 --> 11:28.720 This F1 can be used. 11:29.290 --> 11:32.370 For example here Rook f8 King h3. 11:32.380 --> 11:33.610 This is just King. 11:33.610 --> 11:39.160 Safety issues are emerging, but also E2 is emerging as a big threat. 11:39.370 --> 11:42.450 So C5 E2 would be just winning. 11:42.460 --> 11:49.660 This is just hopeless for white and E1 even stronger than just taking the rook perhaps. 11:50.560 --> 11:53.560 Yeah, so it's a fascinating game. 11:54.100 --> 12:01.120 Who would have thought that actually the Queens engine can be so venomous that the classical placement 12:01.120 --> 12:04.240 of the bishop on this diagonal versus the thing? 12:04.240 --> 12:12.700 Katsu Bishop means that the corresponding F2 can light up as a major tactical liability to attack. 12:12.790 --> 12:14.680 Who would have fought from this position? 12:14.680 --> 12:20.200 And it's also actually fascinating for me, one of my UK grand master heroes, Michael Adams, is a 12:20.200 --> 12:26.560 specialist in Nimzowitsch and Queens in territory, and you can see that how things can really be spiced 12:26.560 --> 12:32.800 up sometimes where actually, although white, looks very solid and Rubinstein is a kind of champion 12:33.340 --> 12:41.980 of the thing Cato Systems against the Tarrasch, you know, was the Rubinstein who was one of the original 12:42.250 --> 12:44.590 people to play the thing Cato system. 12:44.590 --> 12:50.440 But there is a potential Achilles heel here that this bishop by not being on this diagonal, it's not 12:50.440 --> 12:52.870 going to put pressure on f7 what's wrong? 12:52.870 --> 12:59.440 Why is kind of emphatically put on the pressure, especially with 95 emphatically put on the pressure 12:59.440 --> 13:00.550 on F2. 13:01.720 --> 13:06.730 So this variation that was spotted by alekhine 9/10 F2. 13:07.000 --> 13:13.030 Rather than simply taking the piece on C3, that which is good anyway, the position is just good for 13:13.030 --> 13:13.660 black. 13:13.900 --> 13:15.880 It reveals king safety issues. 13:15.880 --> 13:17.200 So a fascinating game. 13:17.200 --> 13:20.470 I hope you've enjoyed this game example as much as me. 13:20.470 --> 13:21.460 Really is fascinating. 13:21.460 --> 13:27.130 Let's just recap that the pawns crash through that pawn, crashing through on D2 and then cracking open 13:27.130 --> 13:29.530 the diagonal again with G5 and F4. 13:29.650 --> 13:30.970 Wonderful stuff. 13:31.060 --> 13:31.740 Really. 13:31.750 --> 13:33.790 I hope you enjoyed this man so much.