WinningWinning Pawn Structures Alexander Baburin B. T. Batsford Ltd, LondonFirst published 1998 ‘Reprinted 2000, 2001 © Alexander Baburin, 1998, ISBN 07134 8009 2 British Library Cataloguing ia-Pubiction Data ‘A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. All rghts reserved. No part ofthis book may be reproduced, by any mean, without prior permission ofthe publisher. Edited by Tim Harding and typeset by (Chess Mail Lid, Dubin Printed and bound in Grest Britain by Creve Prin and Desiga Wales for the publishers, B.T. Basford Lid, 9 Blenheim Court, Brewery Road, London N7 9NT. ‘A member of the Chilis Group ple Acknowledgments This book would not have been possible without the help of my fiends and family. I would lke to thank. Michael Crowe. for his encouragement. ‘Tim Harding for his professionalism, and my first trainets, Tdeys Blagonadezhnaya and her husband {M Oleg Cherikoy. AN special thank you must zoo my parents. who supported my passion for chess and my wife Elen, who was very patient and understanding during the ‘whole couse of rhs work Contents ‘Bibliography Symbols Preface PART ONE: ‘Advantages ofthe [slated d-pawn, General Considerations Chapter 1 White advances d4-as Chapter? Attack on the £7-(72-) square. CChapter’3—_Kingside attack: the Rook ft Chapter 4 The Bishop szerifice on h6 andthe Queen shift ChapterS The h-pawn battering ram Chapter 6 Queens activity and play onthe e-file Chapter? Play onthe ele Exercises for Part One PART TWO: Disadvantages of the isolated d-pawn Chapter 8 The weak isolanl in the endgame ‘King and Pawn Endings Bishop Endings Endings with Bishops and Knights Rook Endings ‘Queen Endings ‘Queens and Rooks Rook and Minor Pees Endings Chapter 9 The weak itolant in the middlegame Position with Bishops Opposite Coloured Bishops Positions With Knights night versus Bishop Middlegames Chapter 10 Combatting the isolani by simplification Berelaes for Part Two nz 2 1 15 18 9 19. 146 18 Isa 159 104 Contents /Bibliography PART THREE: ‘Associated pawn structures Chapter 11 Transformations ofthe pawn skeleton m Chapter 12 Hanging Pawns & the Isolated Pawn Couple 205 Exercises for Part Three nr Solutions to Exercises 229 Index of Players 255 Bibliography D. Bronstein Mechdarehiy tert gressmesterov (Itesational grand- ‘master tournament’, Zurich 1953] (Moscow, “Fizkultura i Sport, 1956) M. Yudovieh, B. Kaze Druzya opera {Friends and rival") (Zag ‘eh, published by the Chess Union of Yugosiava, 1967) ‘Shaka Okonchanya Chess Endgames"), under editorship of Y. Avertak; in five volumes, Maso, “Flckutura Sport, 1980-1984) A Suetin Grossneister Boles (Grandmaster Boestavsky"] (Mos- ‘ow, "Fizkulurai Sport 1981) M, Shereshevsky Stratesiva end- shpiya Endgame svategy’} (Minsk, “Polinya”, 1981) M. Botvinnik Anatvichestive # Kotichestye Raber ‘Analytical and ential works’ n four volumes (Mar ow, “Fizhulrai Sper”, 1984-1987) ‘A. Mikhlehishin, Ya, Srokovaky, V. Braslevsky Jsolsed Pawn Theory of Chess Middegare (Lvov, Ukraine, “Tneinvest’, 1994) M. Dvoretsy, A. Yusupov Open ing Preparation (Batsford, London 1984) V. Smysioy Leos Shakhmamogo Porctesia [Azra of Creative Werk in Chess") (Moscow, “Mashino- ‘A. Beliavsky, A. Mikhalchishin Winning Endgame Technique (Bas ford, London, 1995) Keres Paul Keres: The Quest fr Petocion( Basford, London 1997) ‘A. Karpov My 300 Best Games (Publisher: M- Amannazarov, Mos- cow, 1997) 1. Sokolov Satolov's Best Gumes (Cadogan, Landen 1997) A. Nikin $ Kasparovin kod 2a ‘bode, god 24 god ("With Kas: atov, move after move, year after year] (Moscow, "64", 1998) Informaters and oer periodical Symbols OL Echt Wee Mem. st it Check Dovble Cesk Mate Goed move Excellent move Shebt advange to White Sah adage to Black Clear avamage to White Cea advamage to Black Wining avenge to White Wining arantage to Back Uncle poston Bad move Blonder Ineresing move Dabios nove White wins Black wins Draw Champonstip Olympia Zee intezonal Candies event Word camponship “Team champinsip European etm carponship Word eam campronship Memoria armament Seni Sumi eent Womens event Rapid game Comespondene game Smet dsplsy game imhmatch game Diagn fellowsPreface Introducing this book, whichis my first major work in chess literature, 1 ‘would like to saya few words about its aims. Although T hope that this ‘book wil be of interest omy fellow professional payer, Ibeieve tat my ‘main audience willbe that large group of club players who ae eager to learn ‘more about positional play, but have problems approaching the subject. ‘Studying positional play i not an easy matter and there are afew dif- Terent ways to tackle this problem. ‘This work deals with one of them — studying chess by examining various ‘ypteal pawn formations. This isthe approach aken by professional chess players while working on particular ‘openings, middlegame positions, or even endgames — they study particu: lar pattems and typical techniques. Indeed, i's more efficient to study standard typical situations as they are more likely to arise in tournament practice, And when Wwe fook for the ‘most standard, most common posi- tions, we should look for the most ‘ypieal pawn structures. Why is thi $07 The answer lies inthe nature of pwns. When we play ches, we deal ‘with ovo diferentkinds of chessmen =the pieces, which are rater flex- ‘ble and move around quite lt and pavers, which are much more static and usually form the skeleton of a pasition. Probably Philidor had this particular quality of pawns in mind, ‘when he called them “the soul of chess. So, our task sto define stand- ard pawn skeletons and learn where the pieces belong within them, what plansare availabe for both sides, etc. This isthe main aim ofthis work. ‘When a player knows well the charateristc features of various typi ‘al pawn formations, he is tetrpre- pared for the game. Then it will be fensir fo choose an appropriate plan and to implement it. But before that ‘ve should eam quitea lot about typ- cal pawn formations themselves, 30 wwe can develop so-called “pattern recognition’ —— shen looking at a particular position you compare it ‘with the ones you have seen before snd tat helps you to come up with a suitable plan. opel this book will help you to develop such paternree- ‘enition. OF course, there many different ‘ypieal pawn structures in chess and sf should ty to cover all of ther in this book. it would probably run 10 several hundreds of pages. Rather than merely making only an ntoduc- ‘on tothe topic, I therefore chose & few popular pawn skeletons and dealt ‘with them intensively. Perhaps, one day I shall continue this work. ‘As you will see, this book deals with all three phases of the game — opening, middlegame and endgame, ‘The approach of looking a the mak ing ofa plan through the lenses of ‘ypical pawn structures is probably ‘most applicable and productive inthe Hees 18 Exe5+ Hxe5 19 Orgs Dd8 leads io almost compete equality ‘by 14 est? is anather logical move as White immediately threat ens Daf! since the rook has moved to eB, 14..Dxes 15 axeS Da7 16 14 We7 17 Le? offers good atack- ing chances for White, 25 recom- mended by GM Suetn in his book ‘on Boleslavsky. ‘This analysis shows how dificult ican be fo prevent tbe 44-45 thrust ‘without giving Whice some other ad- In this particular case Black's po- sition is just difficult. 35 he is sei- ously behind in development, there fore there is no completly satistac- tory remedy forhim here, and his next move does not help either: 1B ‘Qasr “This attempt to remove the 63- bishop from its active position fails, but it took energetic play by White to prove it 14 ast (D) 1s axes bs ‘The point of White's pay is that ater 15..23f32 he wins both pieces back by 16 extT+ Sh8 17 Zxd8 ‘Axe? 18 Bxa8 Bxab 19 Bxe2,re- ‘maining Ovo pawns up. 16 axb3 fxe6 7 Ode Bas 18 @xe6+ Ons 9 Bass 20 Bx 2 Bris 2 Wiss 2 Bes 4 Ques 25 This endgame is easily wining for White White advances dds 17 2s .. 26 bat Bes Fixing the black pawns on the light squues. As the black knight cannot leave 6 without being taken by the ‘shop, the presence of te opposite coloured bishops here doesnot give Black drawing chances, The conclusion was: 26..h5 27 13 n7 28 Ded g5 29 G42 ba 30 3 bxg3 31 hug3 632 94.867 53 e3 e634 Dc3.20735 Ded ‘Bos 36 Des 17 37 Bras Geo 38 Bed a8 39 Desh S17 40 Des 6.41 Bes Bas 42 Dar er 10. Here is another example of an carly dS thrust In this game twas related to some interesting tacts. Topalov - Gausel Moscow OL 1994 Let 6 2 a as 3 eds xd 4c are 5 a3 6 6 OB aos 7 cds Qxas 8 Hes 9 33 Another option here is 9 a3, \vhigh may eed ta very complicated position after 9...2xe3 10 bxe3 Dydd 11 Deas Wras 9 10 Bas no er ars oo18 White advances d-d5 12 Bar a6) ‘This move makes lite sense. As itcamot be a preparation for. (hich would drop a pawn after xb and We), the main point oF thetetis to cover h bS-squar, pre: paring for WS and Ba How {her Black has no tne fr this slow plan a6 White now proves eonvine- iney Black did beter after 12.047 in the game Topaloy-Yudasin, Groningen 1993, which ended in 2 draw after 13 Bes a6 14 Be} We7 15 Dxa7 Wa? 16 dS exas 17 fs Wa6 18 Ded Wes 19 Qixfs+ Bxf6 20 Axh7+ hs 21 a3 Wab2 22 Zabi Wre2 25 ‘ner da 24 te bs. ‘The at hat Topalov repeated this tine raises the question — how did he ited to improve on his payin that game? Webbeleve that had Back selected 12.47 im the present game, “Topaiov woul have played the more aggressive move: 13 dS! exd5 Ld xd5 and ater 14.6 15 Dxe7~ White obtains a significant advan- tage, having the bishop pair in an ‘open position. Bas! Here this well-timed pawn ad- vance wins White a pawn by force. ‘The main feature of this postion is the pressure of White's battery onthe ‘I-H7 diagonal and the influence of the dl-to0k onthe éile ae exds 1 Bras Oxas 15 os 16 es "7 Sus 8 6 » ‘Bus Pn Bras 2 The rest ofthe game isthe tech- nical work of capitalising on an extra pawn: 2 24622 Hbt Das 23 b3 gs 24 OHI acs 25 Bast Has 26 242 Bas 27 04 D6 28 e2 S18 29 3 e730 Hat Bhs 31 ha wes 32 g3 7 33 Digs+ Sixes 34 Bes Hos 35 Bas (6 36 $a? Der 37 Best 17 38 Hes Das 39 Hes bes 40 Hel thes 41 sas shee 42 13 15 43 Migs Dbse 44 Get Das 45 Sd b6 46 Bet Hes 47 Hes De7 $8 Bos sba7 49 B23 Deb> 50 bas Hes 51 Has+ de7 52 Bas 5 53 wed b7 $4 Hd7+ eo 55 Hir7 Hes 6 Her b5+ 57 axbs+ bor 58 was Der 59 Ges Dubs 60 Hes+ 07 61 Le7 Hes 62 Hluge Hixb3 63 hs Be3+ 64 B16 Det 65 17 1-4. Often the side possessing the isola simply has to go for d4-45 (or -dS-d8) when the time is right, as ‘otherwise thi chance will be gone and the pawn will be blockaded. Hesitation in strategically double edged positions, such as those with the isolated é-pawn, often leads 10 inferior situations. Let us illusrate ‘with an example from my own play. Baburin - Ryan Kilkenny open 1996 1 as as 2 axed 3 a os Here White's most aggressive move is 44S, but [was suprised by ‘my opponents choice of openingand therefore decided to surprise him in retum by selecting this less popular reply 43 exad 5 Gxt Wer This is the point of 4.., ‘where Black's pawns on the queen- side are going to fll. Another line — 22 Bes Bxe6 23 Bxds dxds 24 Wad — is less convincing be- cause of 24,.DeS! 28 Dt Wad 26 Dexds Hd 27 dues xc5 28 xt x18 29 bs Ber ‘The text leads to serious trouble, but perhaps Black underestimated White's next move, Thus, 19..h6 was already absolutely necessary. 2 pst From this square, he knight theat- ens to jump either to 16 or g7. As Black must now deal withthe deadly threat of xd followed by Daf6e, his next move is forced. 0. ‘ar 20.8 would have led toa col lapse after 21 De3, a5 21..2xe3? is Impossible because of 22 bxeb+ hs. 23 2g74. hat White creates the theeat of 22 DgS, leaving Black helpless. eis very instructive that with all the pieces on the board Black has no oom for manoeuvring, while White enjoys great space advantage. This isone ofthe reasons behind Black's desire to simplify the position, when faced with sch 3 pain formation, aii ans lack has nothing beter than the text but now he loses control over the dS-square, After 21..fexhd 22 {26 He? White can choose between 23 g) gxhs 24 gant eB 25 Dxo7 {Bxb7 26 Hes with astrong attack or the even more energetic move 23, ld!, when Black's dark-squared bishop causes him a lot of problems. 2 Dhxte+ Dxf6 (D) a ast “This thrust wins the game: the ait ference in aetivty between White's and Black's pieces is too great and therefore Back cannot bear te te sion thus erated inthe centre. 2B Dred After 23..2xd5 Black would have lost because ofthe weakness of the fS-square in the fllowing lie: 24 AixdS Bxds 25 Bad5 exds 26 DfG- Bh 27 Dred Wre8 28 Wir Axf6 29 Bxesi, However, the text dees not save him either. wo des 2s Bras Baas 2% Baio ‘Kamsky - Karpov lista FIDE Web 2) 1996 1 6 2 a as 3 eds exe 4 a 5 Os 6 6 O35 abe 7 ads Bras 8 aa Bes 9 2 er 0 00 | (00 n We = fe The knight moves tothe kingside, which needs protection, potentially ‘vacating the blockading d5-square for the other knight. At the same time Black brings some pressure to bear ‘on the solani 12 Best? Dy > dae Gave Tak ae a°a 2 @ 828 @ Beoe AR Swe A en maa” ‘White's last move introduces an important strategie problem — itis known that the side possessing the 'solated d-pawn usally should avoid exchanges, while the opposite side tries to induce them, However, this panciple is often not very well un White advances a4-d5 23 derstood by club payers. In reality, ite just impossible to avoid simpli- fation altogether and there are defi- nitely cases when certain exchanges should be initiated by the possessor of the isola. Here for example, White does not mind exchanging = pir of knights, asthe Black knight (nis an important defensive piece. We will discuss this strategic prob- lem in more detail later. In the meantime, White discour- ages Black ffom developing the c8- bishop tothe long diagonal, as now 12.067? loses 19 13 Dxf6> Bxl6 14 Wed. The text also solves by tac- tical means the problem of protet- ing the at-pawn, as 12..Oxd4?! leads to White's advantage ater [3 Dydd Wadd 14 ed Was 15 Det 2xf6 16 Zadl a7 (or 16..We 17 Wes g6 18 Bb4=) 17 xt (17 Wed g6 18 Axf6 Wri6 19 Hrb7 is in White's favour oo.) 17.6 13 AynT= uh 19 Bud. (aes at ‘Two games later in the mateh Karpov eame up with an improve ‘ment over this game — 12... 13 a3 Rd? 14 Eadt Bods 15 Dxl67! Bf 16 Wed 96 17 B03 Det! —and Black got an advantage and eventually won, 13 Badl Bet Perhaps Black should have pre ferred 13...b62? with mutual chances, while 13..@hxed would have given Whitean attack aftr 14 Wed 26 15 ba 14 Biter = Qasr24 White advances dds Better was 14...xe4 15 Wied g and then if 16 a3, preventing the con- solidating manoeuvre ..c6-b4-5, Black plays 16. 16 with a solid position, 15. Dest ‘An excellent decision — the ack bishop did not come to b7 and the e721 Wxbit) 20 Wao? e721 Wh Wat 03. 1 West This is the reason why Black Stouldhave not reapured on 6 ith the bishop — now he lass a pice andthe game42. Attack on the £7- (12) square wp. as 20 ws Axel 2 Bret bes 2 Ba = Ber 2 Das Bet 4 Best 10 (Our next game proves that with ‘many pieces on the board the Blow ‘on f7 can bea major strategic threat, ‘which may be rather difficult to pre- vent due to Black's space limitations. Remember, one of the advantages conferred on the possessor of the isolaniis he command of more space. ‘Taimanov -P.Ostojlé Reykjavik 1968 1.44 B16 2€4 «63 DE b64 Dd Bb7 S03 B07 6 43.45 70-00-0 303.059 Sb? Dba7 10 Wer ext Meds 6/0) Black employs plan, standard for such positions — he limits the d3- bishop and prepares for ..Re8 and Ae7-f8-g7. Then the residence of is monarch will be very safe 12 Baar Ons ‘The thematic 12 -he8 would have been more appropiate 13 Bes 4 Qo Bes 15 Des det 16 Bxcat? After 16 bxed Oxe5 17 Wres 8:6 Black would have got unpleas- ant pressure against the hanging pas. The text is moe inerestng snd inventive, 6 ante? Black should have Tet the knight on hS fora litle while longer. From there it covers the f-square, not lowing the e2-knight to advance there Instead ofthe txt Black could have played 16.818 with good ply. ‘White's position has one very sen- ‘ous defect the inactive placement of the dark-squaed bishop, which usu: ally does not belong on b2 in sueb a pawn formation, 7 Oe am ‘White has aimed his knights and bishop athe e6 and £7 squares and Black should have taken careful note ‘ofthat. Instead he caries on with is plan of fianchettoing the bishop, Which allows White to finish the ‘game in fine syle Rather than the text move, Black ‘ought to play 17..2d8 (D). after ‘which it wouldn't be easy for White to prove his advantage. ‘The diagram position atthe tp of the facing pageis worth more detailed analysis. White doesnot achieve any: thing postive by playing 18 QxdS Brd5, as then afer 19 5 Ores 29 Bue (probaly 20 dieS isa be. ter uy) 20. Os 21 pats Waed Black has good posional conpen- sation forthe exchange, while 19 “Ed leads oa roughly equal psi iin afer 19..exd8 20 W3 fo 21 ei Wes 2283 Wes. However, White has a terrific use sacrifice ahs disposal — 18 Dutt Ded 19 fe. Although now White has only a knight and a pawn foe a queen and is Black to play hile the £-knight is en pris. nevertheless White who is beter here! Black has to give a queen back immediately by playing 19. dix, 8 19.7? ose because of 20 Dxes W821 Dos hs 225+ DoS 23 Anes Waes 24 Dt7+ ys 25 eS After 19x04 20 eds Ze? Dxb7 Hxb2 22 Dxes Black Stoudtry 22.8 wih some draw. ingchances, while 2.8? fils o com the (7- (2) square 43 23 Bel!, wining [Now we fetum to the game con- ‘ination following 17.888. 1s Ox This blow is devastating! B. on 19 Bree Bes 20 Bres+ — by7 2 Wm oh 2 Bret White has both a material and 2 positional advantage. As soon asthe B2- bite ec te rn B lew Ber m4 as es 28 Bator 0 Summary Playing with the igoated d-pawn, always keep an eye on the f7=(f2-) square, since its weakness can eften be exploited — typically by a Dxi7 strike. Then usally he e6-pawn goes as well, Black's position becomes unsafe and White gets an attack on ‘the opponent's king. ‘When you play aginst the isolated spawn, pay atention:0 the eritcal 17-(f2-) square — protect, partieu- larly when there is existing pressure tn the a2-g8 (37-gl) diagonal, Chal> lenge or chase away the opponent's peces which target that square3 Kingside attack: the Rook lift ‘Along withthe pawn break dt-d5 (or 45-4 for Black) and the strike on 72, the possessor of te isolated doxgT 25 WIE be8 26 Le 20 gs Was Bet ‘hs Threatening 24 xi dixfo 25 Bxh7+ oxh7 26 Eh3+ sbg7 27 ‘Whe B as 4 was 3 Bes 6 Ber 7 sxhs 8 10 ‘Tukmakov - Korchnoi USSR Ch, Riga 1970 1 4 a 2 of 6 3 Ds Bs a3 oo 5s fa 6 Os as 7 00 dxet 3 xed Dba? 9 bs 6 0 at Ger u Ba Bas Here we make a small digression imo opening theory. Instead ofthe text Taimanoy, in his monograph Zaschita Nimzovicha\ Niezo-indian Defence’, Moscow, 1985) recom- mended 11.05 12 d5 WAS 13 Dd2 2xc3!? 14 bxc} ef with mutual hanees, as in Uusi-Piksear, USSR. Kingside attack: the Rook lift 47 1958, while Beliavsky wed 11-hd8 12.Ba2 NOI? 13 De? ena? 14 Daz in his game against Vaisser in [Novosibirsk in 1993. According to Vaisser, Black could obtain good play by 14.86. Note that in the both cases Black avoided cx, a dubious plan ‘which Korcinei adoped in the game under review and in a later game against Prtsch in Belgrade in 1970, in which he also experienced great