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Master Games Week 1 ~ Coach Johan Steenkamp
Ockert Almaro de Villiers

Master Games Week 1 ~ Coach Johan Steenkamp

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Master Games Week 1

"When AlmaroOckert asked me to contribute to his blog I was, at first, not altogether sure what to write. Having considered his existing blog entries, I was impressed with his willingness to start at the beginning, so to speak, with the old masters. So I decided to contribute some games from one of my first chess books. Tartakower and Du Mond's 500 Master Games of Chess."

~ Johan Steenkamp

GAME 1:

I found this game instructive in the way black finds the fights for the initiative in open game. This is a continuous recurring theme in open games and is worth taking note of. At the end Black sacrifices a queen in order to win the game in a instructive intermezzo check manoeuvre

Notes:

  • Fighting for the initiative in open-games
  • Intermezzo
  • Blockading of the potential counter strike (d5!)
  • Attack against the exposed King

I've included the game mentioned in the notes for curious readers. Indeed I (student)  find Dubov's b4 pawn move very creative. It illustrates the same Bd5 move blockading the counter-break but under better conditions.

Game 2:

In this game the play is slower. White manages to get his king stuck in the middle and Black takes advantage of this fact. Here we can note the system of opening files to increase the attack. Either way at the end due to the central king weakness white pays the price, a pawn and later the game.

Notes:

  • Power of the d-file
  • Central King Weakness
  • Pawn weaknesses
  • Attacking the King in the center

Once again I have included the game as mentioned in the notes. Kasparov instructively played for the more useful d-file.

Game 3:

In this game we see the open game characteristics, however with kings castled on opposite sides. Black launches a pawn storm and since his attack is the only attack and foremost strong he gains the advantage. At the end finishing the game with a King hunt is just a cherry on top.

Notes:

  • Opposite Castled Kings
  • Pawn Storm
  • King Hunt

These 3 annotated games are instructive in handling open positions. One must first learn the elementary ideas and basic building blocks of these positions (found in mainly the 1800's) before advancing to more advanced lessons. I hope the reader found these games as instructive as I have.

Feedback is always appreciated.