opening theory in correspondence chess

I believe that the single most important psychological factor in chess is attitude. Everything else must flow out from it. Correct attitude is essential and the core of correct attitude in chess must be to begin the game playing for a win. After all, that is the purpose of any competitive game. You have time later to begin “playing against the opponent,” but it is my view that one should never begin a game aiming to draw, even more so if one have the White pieces. In the game that I am about to show you, apparently, my opponent chose a different approach. Let me introduce you to the situation. We were playing in the preliminary phase of a World Cup, my opponent has the White pieces and he happens to be a fellow countryman of mine. As I later learned, he is a chess instructor of respectable standing in various scholastic circles. The only thing that might had blurred his understanding was the difference in rating points (around 400 +).  But I just don’t believe that to be accurate in real playing strength. But allow me to go straight to our game.

Ganin-Monasterio

IECG-World Cup, 2005

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6

So far so good. Obviously nothing can be said about White’s approach at this early stage. Nevertheless, White next move, objectively quite good and solid, already announced that Ganin was perhaps aiming for “too solid” a game…

4.Qb3

The most appaling move for Black to meet, for the simple reason that White is aiming to seat on a very solid position and it is going to be difficult for Black to generate chances. But it also tells me – perhaps I am absolutely wrong about this – that White’s approach lacks punch and gives Black a solid and riskless game immediately.

4…dxc4 

The simplest plan.

5.Qxc4 Bf5 6.Nc3 e6 7.g3 Nbd7 8.Bg2 Be7 9.O-O O-O 10.e3

White is solid, but nothing more. Allow me to believe that a player having the White pieces in an email game must be a little more ambitious, unless he considers himself able to outplay his opponent positionally, which will not be the case.

10…Ne4 11.Qe2

At this point Black has several moves to chose from, …Qa5, …Qb6, …Bb4 among others. Now it was my turn to chose a very solid approach.

11…c5 12.Nxe4 Bxe4 13.Bd2

As far as I know, this is a new move (but not a new idea) and certainly not a very inspired one. 13.Rd1 and 13.Nd2 were the alternatives. White is still quite solid, of course. But already my suspicion was a certainty: he is shamelessly  playing for a draw…

13…Rc8 14.Rfd1

The turning point of the game, as Black must now very carefully choose his plan. White may be playing for a draw but I was certainly aiming to play for a win. However, despite White’s uninspired play so far, Black, objectively, has no reason to believe that he can win this game, as the position is still balanced. But attitude is a factor that must not be underestimated, and in that field Black is ahead! Having said this, I must add that no matter what my attitude, if I now allow White to clear the tension in the center by an exchange of pawns, the position would be a boring dead draw. I felt duty-bound to choose the alternative approach, and so I did.

14…c4!

The sign is almost academic.  If Black wants to play for something else he must try this.

15.Rdc1

As the “d” file will not be open, White moves his Rook to a more active post. Black is, of course, far from winning in this position, but his position looks more promising.

15…b5 16.a4 a6 17.axb5 axb5 18.Ba5 Qe8

Black has calculated that the lack of space for his Queen is an irrelevant factor that will quickly change.

19.Nd2 Bxg2 20.Kxg2 Ra8 21.Nf3 Ra7!

Of course. This was Black’s idea, albeit very natural and simple to find.

22.Be1 Qa8 23.Rxa7 Qxa7 24.b3 cxb3 25.Rb1 Qb7 26.e4 Ra8 27.Rxb3 b4 28.Qc2 Ra3 29.Nd2

Okay. All according to plan. But now what? This kind of situation was not uncommon to me as I will show in my next article. I played a rather nice positional game against the Italian IM Massimini Gerbino some time ago that was quite reminiscent of this one.

But beware, because no matter how nice Black’s position looks – and it certainly does look nice indeed – he has no winning line at this point. The passed b-pawn and better placed pieces are not a definitive factor yet. Most readers should know that Black needs to open a second front. How?

I must confess that I have several favorite players, but if I had to chose just one I will not hesitate to select Bobby Fischer. Therefore, following “Bobby’s advice” in this position, it was not difficult for me to play the next move…

29…g5!

Yes, indeed. “Fischer’s move!” Jokes apart, I recommend that all readers check out the wonderful book FISCHER’S APPROACH TO CHESS, written by a perhaps lesser player (but certainly a great chess writer), Elie Agur. Take a look at his analysis of Berliner-Fischer, Western Open Ch., 1963. What a game from the legendary World Champion!

30.f3?!

I admit that I lack the strength to suggest a plausible plan for White at this point, but it looks to me that giving Black a “piece to bite at” cannot be the correct approach. It is certainly the main move that engines suggest … but my readers already know my beliefs about the strength of engines in the field of strategy. I want to add that, in this particular position, Fritz and his crew are also wrong in the tactical area, as it is rather ridiculous to play a move that not only does not avoid Black’s potential threat but even invites it. Furthemore, White’s second  and first ranks are also severely weakened . In other words, it’s a disaster!

30…g4!

A move that even the engines find immediately. If “they” find this, why in heaven “they” chose 30.f3?! in the first place? Unfathomable mysteries of the silicon minds…

Now please, allow me another diagram.

From now on watch how Black’s pieces fly to the kingside opnening the second front in the most deadly fashion.

32.fxg4 Nf6 33.Kf3 Qb5! 34.Nc4 Ra1

Black’s pieces are lead to the places that they love…

35.Bf2 h5 36.h3 hxg4 37.hxg4 Qg5

White’s position is beyond salvation. He completely lacks any coordination to stop Black’s assault.

38.Ne3 Qh6

The idea flows naturally. Black used the pressure on the Queen’s side to launch an offensive on the opposite side and the center.

39.Rb1 Ra3 40.Re1 Nh7!

All Black pieces are aiming to the same target.

41.Kg2 Ng5 42.Rh1 Qf6, 0-1.

White decided to call it a day.

Therefore, if you are aiming for a draw, please, think about playing for a win!