Hi there.
In this lecture we see Anatoly Karpov playing against Vishy Anand's in the 1991 candidates match.
Round four we see D4 from Karpov and Anand.
d5c4c693969.
C three.
E six.
E three.
Knight BD seven.
And now Queen C two.
You might ask about Bishop D three.
Well black and gain the tempo of D Take C four and play now after Bishop take C four, B five.
And this should be even.
The point of White's play is to encourage an awkward move here like Bishop DD six.
The thing is, if Bishop e seven you might ask, well, why is that awkward?
Well, why can now play B three safeguarding the pawn on C4 with a pawn and this should be a slight
advantage there.
So Bishop DD six is better for the Bishop and now Bishop e2.
So the point is that later if DD takes E4, the bishop is slightly more awkward.
Four E, 4e5 from white.
We see black castling.
It turns out though, let's look technically at this.
So we're saying here that the bishop's awkward, but actually it's not that big a deal.
If e five here, it seems as though this should be fine for black.
This position is fine for black.
If we try Bishop G five this is also a bit more colourful, but black can actually be with advantage
with Bishop takes H two Knight G four, Queen 6g5.
So it probably safer to play details here.
And yeah, it should just be about equal.
So it's not such a big deal, these finesses as you might think.
So Black castles, white castles D take C for Bishop, take C4.
We have Queen E, seven, H three.
This prevents 9g4 stuff.
We have a six.
And yeah, this is an interesting moment.
If e five white can afford to play a free here because any E4 is overstretched, white can hit that
pawn and tuck away the bishop and just munch the pawn.
Now with nine takes e four so let's say instead of h six Bishop f five white can play f three undermining
that pawn.
So that's a useful thing for the Queen to be on C two pinning the pinning the pawns of the bishop.
This situation White's actually just taking a pawn.
Pretty non controversial with some basic tactics of inserting a check.
And what has the advantage here?
So a six is played.
We have e four, e five and now rook d one if d five.
You might think this is a bit of a concession giving up the C five square.
Yeah.
C takes D five.
Bishop takes D five though is the way to play this.
If White did want to play like this because Knight takes this is just even that's about even black hasn't
really got difficulties there but if bishop takes this is slightly different why it should have an advantage
here For example, this way of playing it, White's D five score is pretty good.
Instead of might be six if Knight 65.
This is also going to be pretty good for white.
For example, like this with Knight B six coming, it's going to be nice for white.
So och so D five is an option.
But rook D one was played B five here.
If E takes dd four knight takes the four.
If 95 the bishop will drop back.
This is a small edge for white as well this position.
So B five we have Bishop F one, C five.
This is quite daring.
Now after D five it seems as though Black has a free two to pull majority.
But is there some controversy involved in pushing these pawns If D takes C five instead?
This gets all the fun out of the position with a more symmetrical pawn structure.
And yeah, White really can't claim an advantage here.
This is just even this position.
For example, even if that transaction happens, it's just even.
So day five, closing up the center C four.
But now, yeah, these pawns look as though they're undermining all what's the risk factor in trying
to undermine the structure?
So we see a four.
This is a very interesting undermining example, which is quite dramatic.
What's about to occur would be a8x8x.
So we want to undermine the relative, the exploitable base of the chain so we can see four.
And we see an interesting undermine move.
So guess what it is for five points.
Yeah.
Rock five encouraging B For now, this is looking a little bit scary and almost, you could say in some
respect it looks at position.
Right in the room is dim, however C4 is weakened.
Now we have Queen DD eight hitting the rock, so the rook now goes to a seven and it's useful.
The knight covering B six hair.
Of course we have B three.
So the pawns look slightly dangerous, don't they.
We see 9c5.
So what gets rid of the the knight on the rim being them.
It's not so dim.
It's gone now Bishop takes C five rook a one.
So here we see a tactical move C three.
So this is.
Getting.
Interesting to say the least.
So what on earth is going here?
Going on here?
Why caught this -- on C Freeh be taken And what about e five?
What should we do?
Now, this is where a huge tactical ability really helps.
So at least see the point of Black's tactics.
Yeah.
We need to appreciate the tactical aspects of this position and choose the right -- to take.
So our preventative measures do need a great tactical ability.
If we play B, take C free, this would be a mistake.
Can you see why this would be a mistake?
Yeah.
Black has B to her.
So if Bishop takes me to an exchange sack and that leaves black with a menacing bishop pointing f to
made worse with night takes e for and this is just horrible for white.
Well, it can be totally horrible.
But if Rook did to to give back the exchange, then Knight takes to nine takes DD two as example because
this is also carrying now certain dangers of queen takes.
There's dangers like E four and E three to dismantle White's king and rookie.
So let's say 962 queen takes this is just even yeah if we don't play rook d2 if we played Rook eight
we're really asking for trouble Knight Knight takes F two and it's going to be a disaster like 91.
Shaq picking up our Queen.
So it's important to be aware, acutely aware of tactics here after C free and Copperplate Knight takes
E five.
Now visually it looks hang on C two.
Visually this looks a little bit concerning, right?
But the undermining campaign is still underway.
We can still try and undermine the base.
These points will base of the pawn chain, which is be free.
So rook de free we have Queenie ain't hitting the knight.
If Bishop dd seven we can play queen free trying to really undermine be free so this position we can
take on DD seven take on be free with small advantage.
So Queenie is try 9c6, rugby six and now Bishop E three we have here Knight takes E four.
If Bishop takes E three, this helps white bit.
So there's hitting the rook and then we can play.
Rook takes be free and the undermine helps things here.
If Knight takes E4, finally we can pick up c two.
If Queen takes E4 instead, then Bishop D free hair is rather nice.
So if Queen takes the five, we have 97.
Check if Queen F-4, we're taking on C two.
And we're kind of doing better actually, than you'd think.
This is two points up.
I mean, this is pretty good and big advantage.
And if Black Day is to take on day five, we can do better than Bishop takes.
Age seven.
We've got a neat trick here, Queen five.
The point is, if nine of six, can you see what neat trick we can use her?
Yeah, we can play 97 check King eight chains.
And now, in fact, we can play 95.
Hitting the queen, hitting for eight.
So we're winning material.
This is an example we can play.
Queen takes F eight and takes F for rock out.
Thanks very much.
So, yeah, the undermining effects seem to be working.
So like takes e fall is played.
We have Bishop take C five, nine take five and now with tempo rookie free.
So still it seems black is persistently holding the pawn chain.
Right now we have queenly seven if my E six This is a tactical response we can play here Rook See three
This is another amazing tactical idea.
So in this position.
If Bishop B seven, Queen E three hitting the rook.
If Bishop takes six instead of taking the rook, we can do better.
Takes.
And B contends we're undermining the pawn chain.
Yeah.
If we took on B six, this is just even and B four is being held.
We want to undermine this pawn chain.
So forget that.
Take on E six instead and take on F seven and we're going to undermine this pawn chain soon after Bishop
C for this position, we finally take out B free, which dismantles the pawn chain, and we're an exchange
up there.
Anyway, so interesting stuff.
So Queen D seven is played and we have Queen C four, Rook takes C six, while DD takes four, Queen
D one.
The rook has to go back.
Queen dd six.
So it seems to be tied down.
And Shannon's doing a good job at the moment of holding be free.
But there's a key move here which changes the balance of things.
Can you see what it is?
So this annoying queen D one is a bit of a pain, but actually if we can dislodge the knight then we
can take out B free and take out C two after.
If only we could dislodge the Knights.
So this next move is key for 100 points.
What would you play?
So we are in the midst of an undermining operation.
To get rid of this pawn chain.
It's Queen C free.
It protects E one.
Quite often.
A deep knowledge of the tactics will often lead to strengthening moves, and strengthening moves might
often be protecting pieces more.
And what this means is later, if we move a rook and Queen rd one happens.
We don't have to move rook back because we're holding E one so it protects e1a bit more over protecting
E one and it means Rook five is more significant.
Now as a front, if we play Rook five Queen DD two we're dragged back, we're just dragged back.
So Queen C Free is a great preventative move for the operations.
We want to improve our position.
The active operations to improve our position involve getting rid of this pawn chain so we see Queen
D five being played if H six just to show now Rook a five, Queen D one We're just taking on C five.
We've got x ray defense against C one.
The Queen is protecting E one.
No problem.
If H five again rook five if 96 we're playing bishops C four here and we're going to dismantle the pawn
chain.
So Queen Di five is tried.
And now see seven.
This is a real pain.
So taking time out for C seven, we have Bishop B seven.
If 96, we can actually play Bishop, see four and job done to take out the pawn chain.
Big advantage.
So Bishop B seven and now rook five and black starts to crumble.
Finally, 94 Queen's come off rook DD three So still after this be free pawn 90 to 2.
No worries about C one Rook takes B free hitting the bishop on B seven.
So here the bishop moves off C one.
We're just taking that.
Thanks very much.
And then taking.
And that's a winning end game with these two connected pass pawns.
So Bishop C, we have Bishop C four and not Minding Black being a piece up if C one queening G six is
played if C one queening.
That piece up is not a big deal here.
The ninth stranded.
This is just a big advantage for Waynes.
Now you might ask Holland, why is this a big advantage?
Let me demonstrate if g six we just push our b pawn, we play b four.
And this knights kind of stranded the bishops controlling the knight.
What does that do here?
King G seven.
B five.
The past pawns are actually winning.
B six, King E seven.
And here we might consider Rook takes the eight, Rook takes Bishop a six, King D seven.
But now B seven and we're absolutely winning.
So that's touchdown B eight queening.
No problem.
So yeah, fascinating variation.
So G sex is played here rook A free and we have a similar circumstance emerging so blacks are.
A piece up.
Now.
So it's a similar circumstance.
Brooks See frame.
And what is black actually do now?
In fact, this night's stranded in this version.
So it's even better than what I've just shown you.
Yeah, I mean, 92.
So what we're just taking it hasn't really delayed as much.
Rookie is played, Rook takes one.
So we've got these two connected past pawns where two pawns up rookie seven and now Bishop F one safeguarding
the pawn.
And Shannon resigns here if King G seven.
Yeah, we move the B pawn B five, and we're going to make easy progress soon.
We're two pawns up for nothing, really.
It's, you know, may require King walk to help matters, but it's absolutely winning.
So yeah a fascinating game.
It really was undermining it in spectacular style in a way.
So early on it looked as though this is like dangerous proportions.
You might think these pawns.
Yeah, it's vicious tactical ability seeing this C free concepts.
So allowing what seems to be a ridiculously aggressive near queening pawn chain.
But bearing in mind, you know, be free is going to be a target here once we take out B free and it's
done in great style.
Yeah.
Black sacrificing the exchange there because be free is about to be wiped out for the nightmares we're
going to take on be free.
So vishy I'm trying to maintain the pawn chain but key move strengthening the position, which means
that rook five to lift c five to we can be free.
So that's a really interesting undermining game.
Very, very interesting.
And this situation where black is allowed to be a piece up is rather special and fun potentially.
So allowing this situation where although Black will be a knight up, there's two connected pass pawns
are absolutely winning So fascinating scenarios really fascinating here and this this just simplifies
to a just much more easily winning position.
Okay I hope you enjoyed this one Spectacular undermining pawns reaching very scary proportions.
But we must understand the tactics of the opponent.
The positional player needs to be able to prevent tactics before it's too late.
Prevention is much better than cure.
So just to draw your attention again, you know, if we took the wrong pawn, if we'd actually taken
the wrong pawn here, we'd be getting absolutely nothing from the position If you took these take free.
So it's very important to be tactically aware of exchange sacrifices.
The opponent might be preparing as well.
So that's another aspect here.
Okay, So much.