Analyze with KIMPLODES! E = Energy
KIMPLODES! is an acronym to guide you through the process of analyzing a chess game.
E = Energy. I abducted (or perhaps, promoted) the "e" from "De" in IMPLODeS-K, the original acronym, so that I could give the appropriate reverential head nod to GM Mihai Suba, and his phenomenal concept of the coiled spring in chess as he explains it in his fantastic Dynamic Chess Strategy. IM Watson also discusses this concept in his award-winning chess offering, Secrets of Modern Chess Strategy. GM Suba also wrote, The Hedgehog, illustrating that sometimes the owner of the pieces with less Space enjoys tremendous latent energy, just waiting to explode in retribution for the opponent's audacity in trying to squeeze from the other side.
Am I going to pretend to be able to fully explain and put into action the full facets of "Energy". Not on your life. I appreciate the concept, but after 5 years of playing the Pirc (online) I finally decided I appreciate the spirit, but I don't fully "get it". Nonetheless, it is an aspect I consider when looking at positions. Oversimplified, does one side have pieces that are simmering with energy, even boiling. An incipient explosion that only needs a short fuse lit to unleash devastation across the board.
Perhaps the prototypical example of a Pawn Structure that is designed to demonstrate the precepts of Energy during a game is the Hedgehog 🦔 formation, shown below. A distinctive feature of the Hedgehog is that Black has played ...c5, generally resulting in an exchange of pawns on d4, thus placing it firmly in the Sicilian family of Pawn Structures. We will examine several variants on this thematic structure. Black's pieces initially tend to lurk on their first three ranks (White can also use Hedgehog structures, but I chose to focus on one color and provide multiple examples from one branch of the Hedgehog family tree). From those first three ranks the pieces hoard their energy, like a banked fire that bursts into flame when oxygen is added by the opening of Lines. Meanwhile, White generally has more Space and maneuverability, but it may be difficult to improve White's position, let alone find targets in Black's solid Pawn Structure. Theoretically, if Black can quietly position their forces and achieve a breakthrough at some point, then the balance of power will shift, granting Black an Initiative that allows them to take over the game.
That's Mr./Ms. Hedgehog to you!
- Break in the center with ...d6-d5.
- Break on the queenside with ...b6-b5.
- Create a kingside attack with ...Kh8, ...Rg8 and ...g7-g5-g4. Or maybe with ...h7-h5-h4-h3.
- Prepare all the plans above without actually executing any of them until the right opportunity arises."
How to achieve both White's and Black's plans is what I consider the true secret sauce of GM Rios' approach. I will leave finding that sauce to those who wish to delve further into his work on their own dime.
Note1: There are of course strategies for White to combat the Hedgehog structure. I am glossing over those strategies as I felt it more important in this initial blog on Energy to focus on how it can work, not how it can be banked and even subdued in some instances. The initial point I sought to make is that Energy is a useful concept to incorporate into analysis. And if you don't play the Hedgehog, or similar type structures, it is still more than possible you will face such a structure on the other side of the board.
Note 2: There are some similarities between the Maroczy structure and the Hedgehog structure. For the sake of keeping this blog relatively focused, I will again refer you to GM Rios' book, pp. 205-225 which covers the Maroczy in sufficient detail for a comparative analysis of the two structures. My thanks to @ChessUniversity for introducing me to this book.
The Opening
First, let's look at a typical, modern opening, the Taimanov Sicilian, that results in a Hedgehog formation. Then we'll move on to the middle game and how play might proceed.
The Middle Game
We will be examining the Hedgehog with games from the 1970s thru the 2010s to see how play has evolved over time. A key characteristic of the Hedgehog is patient maneuvering. Sometimes too patient in the view of modern software🤣. But in an encounter between humans the side that has a firm grip on what they are trying to achieve can make all the difference if they face an opponent who must expend valuable time and energy both trying to conceive of a plan for themselves and to understand what their opponent is up to, and when and where their opponent will strike in an attempt to create counterplay.
Vukic, Milan (2495) - Suba, Mihai (2455) Georgievic Memorial-01, 1977
It seems apropos to start with an early game from the Godfather of Energy strategies GM Mihai Suba, one of the foremost theoretical and practical proponents of strategies seen in the Hedgehog. GM Suba received his grandmaster title in 1978, three years after achieving his IM title. In this game we encounter him while he was still in that brief interim period as an IM. The game remains balanced for some time with quiet maneuvering. Even on move 28 there is only one pawn off the board for each side and both positions appear stable. Until move 28 when White commits an inaccuracy that allows Black to make a thematic ...b6-b5 break that offers an Initiative. Shortly thereafter, on move 35, White lashes out in an attempt to change the trajectory of the game. But that inopportune notion creates new weaknesses in White's game and favorably opens Lines and key Squares for Black's pieces, not White's. White resigned before making their 48th move as Black controlled all critical aspects of the game and White's King was on death watch.
Garcia Gonzales, Guillermo - Karpov, Anatoly (2690) Linares-03, 01.25.1981
It is no surprise to me that then World Champion GM Karpov played the Hedgehog in the below 1981 game. In my opinion, White offered a perfect demonstration of how not to play against the Hedgehog beginning on move 21. White seemed to be playing without a plan. As John Claudius Loudon said in 1824 in An Encyclopedia of Gardening, "Any plan at all, even a bad plan, is better than none.” Later, Black provokes some unnecessary weakening of White's Kingside Pawn Structure and continues to play with purpose while White dilly-dallies. White finally does lash out on move 27. But though best from a practical perspective, rather than suffering a python-like Karpovian crush, it abandons control of the g4 Square. Then, in the face of continuing pressure across the board as Black's pieces were now at the height of their powers, White made a dooming mistake on the last move of the time control. And found themselves forced to resign on move 44.
Yudasin, Leonid (2635) - Lautier, Joel (2580) Pamplona 9293 3rd, 1992
In the below 1992 game we explore a separate offshoot of the Hedgehog in which White recaptures on d4 with the f3-Knight rather than the Queen. It this line it is standard for White to reach a position with Knights on a3 and c3 and then have to address the fate of the wing Knight. As a consequence, Black actually achieves a tiny edge in Development by move 23. At that point Black also has the better Officers as the White Knight on b1 is clearly less efficacious than its Black counterpart on d5 and the Black Bishop is a good Bishop as compared to White's bad Bishop. Then Black effects an exchange of Officers that leaves two Knights against a bad Bishop and poorly performing Knight, while White's Rooks languish, at least momentarily, on a blocked file.
Gajsin, Evgenij (2456) - Kopylov, Alexander, Polyarniy Krug op, 12.05.2006
By 2006 the handlers of the Hedgehog position were occasionally foregoing some of that extensive maneuvering. At least, when the position merited an early adventure. In this next game we see Black attacking White's central e-pawn with a relatively early ...f7-f5 break! White responded poorly in this instance and allowed Black's pieces to activate immediately, culminating in a King chase. Play on!
Now we explore another 2006 game where White responded correctly to the provocative 16...f5!? But failed to continue precisely on move nineteen when they pushed the a-pawn forward one square to keep Black's Knight out of the b4 Square. Logical, but wrong. In response Black realized it was time to unleash the latent Energy of their forces with an ...e6-e5 break that offered control of the d4 Square and open Lines for Black's pieces. Thereafter, Black was able to switch to a middle game with major pieces and a good Knight versus a somewhat bad Bishop. But White was holding their own until a blunder on move 29 allowed the game's outcome to be determined by an Energetic, sacrificial explosion.
Another typical Hedgehog where White inadvertently allowed the bubbling Energy in Black's pieces to burst forth. To the point that Black was able to make a positional Exchange sacrifice. In a futile effort to curb Black's energetic play White traded a pair of Rooks on d8. But that removed one of White's effective pieces and left them with a far less effective Rook on a1. Black's Initiative was redoubled, and the game didn't last much longer after that ill-timed Rook exchange on move 28. But finding the correct path for White to stay in the game would have been very difficult.
Chess Energy at the Opera
What Have We Learned
If entered willingly, with a knowledge of standard plans, the willingness to maneuver quietly despite less Space, and the patience to await an advantageous moment to strike, then positions like the Hedgehog may be for you. Certainly, the pyrotechnics seen in the games and sidelines above should be enough to excite any chess player. But before you jump on that horse and ride off in all directions, I would advise you to explore games where White has countered Black's methodology.
Next Blog: Analyze with KIMPLODES: Space/Squares
Prior Blogs:
KIMPLODES! Explosive Analysis Approach--Break it up, baby!
Analyze with KIMPLODES! K = King Safety
Analyze with IMPLODES! I = Initiative
Analyze with IMPLODES! M = Material
Analyze with KIMPLODES! P = Pawn Structure
Analyze with KIMPLODES! L = Lines
Analyze with KIMPLODES! O = Officers
Analyze with KIMPLODES! D = Development
