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Nckchrls

I haven't read Reassess in awhile and it was a library copy but I did read Amateurs Mind more recently so I might be up enough on the concepts.

For my contribution, I'd like to frequently post games that seem to have some key imbalance situations that Silman refers to. I'll also throw in some question that try to tie the game to Silmans teaching.

Spassky - Korchnoi 1962 USSR Champ.

At 14...Rc8, what's the imbalances and assessment?

From 15...Na5 to... 20...Qb6 what's blacks idea?

At 25...Rcd8 what's the imbalances and assessment compared to at 14...Rc8.

From thereafter, what Silman rook advantage does both white and black seem to be fighting for?

I don't think it's necessary to post the answers and if this whole idea is no good, let me know and I won't do it.

 

torrubirubi

Thanks Nck for the contribution, everything what can help us to identify imbalances is welcome. We can see the game here:

http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1081486

torrubirubi

Let's try. Material is even, king safety probably the same, but black has more pieces around his king.

White as an isolated pawn on d4, black more space on the queenside.

Minor pieces? All are still on the board! White as a strong bishop on b1, probably similar to the black bishop on b7.  The knight on f6 would like to jump on d5. I don't see right now how white can improve the position of their knights. 

I know that the side with the isolated pawn will avoid exchanging material, and black would like to go for an endgame (I don't know much about isolated pawns, I just know this, but it is probably very simplistic).  Otherwise the d4 is controlling the important squares c5 and e5.

The open c file is contested by the c8 and c1 rook. 

I guess black will go on playing on the queenside because he has more space there, while white could attack the king on the kingside, as he could trade the f6 knight and bring the queen and at least one rook to this side, but I cannot tell if this is realistic or not.

Nckchrls

I pretty much agree with you on the assessment at 14...Rc8. The big deal imbalance is probably the isolated pawn on the open file so might be helpful to read everything Silman has to say about an isolated pawn that's not passed.

While black is going to be concentrating on the pawn, Silman also stresses one must be alert to opponents opportunities. White does have potential mate threat on b1 diagonal so first black needs to see if it can be easily dealt with. Seems so, so Korchnoi initiates idea against what Silman says is the key square with isolated pawn.

Then follows through with direct pressure on pawn with ...Qb6 and ...Red8. Forcing white to react. Interestingly Korchnoi decides to tradeoff advantage with one imbalance for another. Probably useful to read Silman's take on Rooks and open files for ideas on the rest of the game.

Seemingly a pretty good example of some Silman concepts I thought.

 

torrubirubi

It is. I have three books with Korchnoi's games, but unfortunately this game was not included. It would be interesting to see how he commented the game. 

torrubirubi

But I think I saw a video on isolated pawns using this game, by a French guy I think. In any case, he said that the player without the isolated pawn should push the g pawn to defend.