[Chess]the Tarrasch Formula

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}ne badlyplaced piecemakes yourwhole positionbad.

The TarraschFormula

by

GM Sam Palatnlk

and

NM Mark lshee

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Contents

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Ch:rpter O e: The KnishlI lnlantry Against Cavalry (Marshall-Ragozin) . . . I2 Opening ol 'Onc Knighl ( l \rrman-Polugacvsky) 2I Vir tual l ix l ra Malcr ia l (Kcres-t jnzickct) . . . . . 54 A (;rx)d Man is I lard b Ir ind (Rosenbcrg-Palalnik). '7

5 l 'hrowing Oil on lhe l ; ire (A l,clrosian-l 'alalnik). I I( r ( iordian Knot (Palatnik-Kl ingcr) . . . . . l77 l hc t lgly l ,ocation (Murthy-Palatnik) 208 Shadow ol 'a Knight (Kasparov Palatnik) 24L Knil ihl s ' l i )Lrr (Karpov-' lairnanov) . . . .2l lIlxcrcisos l,l

( lh{pter ' l wo: ' l 'hc Bishopl0 Opcn l l ighway (l lalashov l lornanishin)l l One-Wav I ickct to Nowhcre (Sprechich-l 'alatnik) . . .l2 ( r ' i rninal Broughl to Justicc (Palatnik-Aristorcnas)l. l Moving lhe lrcl loc (Palatnik-Gul'eld)l4 A I 'a i r , ' l ' ts , r ' ts (Grr l i lJ l 'a latnik)l5 Prisoner with a Lifc Scntcnce (Palatnik-Dandridge)l6 Inevitable Breakthrough (Palalnik-Schneider)l7 l)ead Wood (lshec-Rovdll l l l )remature Attack (Vaganian-l,alatnik) . . .l9 Struggling with Ciod (Kasparov-Ponomariov)20. From Bad to Worse ( Palatn ik- Shu sterman) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21. The (ireat Wall of l 'awns (Palatnik-Vasjukov) . . . . . . . . . . . . .22. Survival Instincl (Reshevsky-Vagani.rn)Exercises . . . . . . . . . . . 92

Chapter 'l'hree: Onposite Color Bishops2:l 'Q.E D.' (Durisch, Han & Hisler-Tarrasch). . . . . . . . . . . . . .96

25 More lnf i l trat ion (Palatnik-David) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10426 Diflerent Color, Different Power (Kaidanov-Palatnik) . . . . . 10727 Echoes ol 'Sleini tz (Platonov-Gel ler) . . . . . . . . . . . 11028 l- imit ing Mobil i ty (Boleslavsky-Sterner) . . . . . . . . . I l4

24 ln l i l l rar ion {Rubinslein-Sprelmanr . . . ' ' ' ' , , ' , ' , ' ' ,102

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The Tarrasch Fonnula

29 Banery Power (Larsen-Gligorich). ...........l0 Mind Over Marter (Platonov-Tal)3l. A Gathering Storm (Gurevich-Palatnik)..

Chaoter Four: Eeavy Pieccsl2 Debt Repaymenr (Smyslov-Tolush) .l l . Bur ied Al ive{Sakharov-Palatnik.) . . . . . . . .34. Queenside Blockade (AnandJvanchuk) ...15 Smothered Queen (Hofl-Alburt) .3b. Misplaced Queen ( l shee-Maynard) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37. Unbalanced Material (Diaz-Palatnik) ...38. Preventive Maintenance (Ardaman-Palatnik)....... .................Exercises.

Chaoter Five: Zuezwane39. The lmmortal Zugzwang Game (Saemisch-Nimzovich).........40. Encirclement (Nimzowitsch-Capablanca) ..............................4 l .Fol lowingPrecedent(Tseshkovsky-Palatnik) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42. Chemotherapy (Capablanca-Treybal)...43. Space Advantage (Alekhine-Nimzowitsch)..................... ......44. Extreme Measures (Ubilava-Timoschenko)...............45. Do Not Hurryl (Palatnik-Popov)46 To Trade or Not? (Karpov-Ribli).4T.Decis ivelmprovement( lshee-Guests89). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Exercises. .

Chaoter Six: Philidor's Defense RevisitedPhil idor's Concepr....Phil idor's Original Defense......The Neo-Phil idor Defense ........The Palarnik Cambit.Illustrative Games:

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Foreword

"One hadt! ptdced picce mdkes loM whote t \i1t:li:li^*^

All chcss playcrs arc cngagcd in a scarch for truth. Thcy scok tho chosscquivalcnt of thc Philosophcr's Stono. a mcthod of play that will cnabl0thcm to rvritc thcir ncxt movc on tho scorc shcot in "goldcn lcttcrsWinning morc gamcs roquircs maling morc good choicos whon sclocting$'hich movc to play. Thus. a phyor's dccision-making mothod is critical tohis rcsults. This volumc shows how a singlo. vcry poworful principlcwhich wc rofcr to as "Tho Tarrasch Formula"- can both strongthcn andfacilitatc cvcry chcss playcr's docision-making.

h is amazing to notc thc diffcijnt mothods bchind thc choicos madc bychcss plavors during a gamc. For oxamplo. thcrc arc many strong playcrswho can calculatc long variations with fcvcrish spcod. Aftcr tho gamc isovcr. thoy arc ablc to domonstrato many rnind_boggling variations ihoycnvisioncd during thc battlc. This kind of playcr rcprcscnts thc"accounting" school ofchcss. Evcrything to thcm is vcry concrcte. Thoy donot trust gcnoral principlcs. No chcss oxiom is accoptcd $ithoutaccompanying proof from specific variations that confirm or rofutc itscorrcctncss. Crcativc gcniuscs in this stylc of play includc Alckhinc andTal. Howcvcr, thcro aro many other playcrs of thc same high class \r'hospcnd compdrativcly littlo timc in calculating variations. Formidablccxpononts of this stylo includc Botvinnik. Sm)slov and Karpov. Thostudent who aspircs to improvc his lcvcl of play must rcfinc his thoughtprocoss to include both approaches Howevcr. it can sometimos bc difficultto kno$' whcn is thc right momcnt to calculate variations. or when it ismorc important to think abstractly

Grandmxstcr Sam Palalnik rcl i tes lhe fol lo$itrg ston

''When I was a young master (twcnty pounds youngdl), I scwed as traincrduring tho 1972 USSR Championship in laningrad for my fricnd. GMPlatonov. In his game against former World Champion Smyslov. Platonovhad thc bctter position throughout the first forty moves. and at adjournmentsccmed to be on the verge of a winning breakthrough I was proud to b{}entrusted with the adjournment a-nalysis of his game against such aformidablc opponent. Necdlcss to say. it was vcry desirable for me to 6nd a\,!inning continuatlon

The T arrasch Form la

"With grcat cnthusiasm and inspiration, I bcga.n aralysis of his adjoumedgame. I spent th€ entirc night analyzing ono promising variation afteranothcr. ln the moming I was able to give many long variations to myfriend, as well as a general conclusion: Smyslov will lose! With a fullnight's sleep aad the cncouragement of my night of work, Platonov set ofrfor breakfast, whcrc he encountercd Smyslov. Spending fivc hours theprcvious day as antagonists across the board did not prevent them fromhaving a pleasant brealfast together. Before even opening thc momingnewspaper, Smyslov offcrcd a draw in the adjoumed game. Platonovpromiscd to consider the offcr and to malc a dccision soon.

"When he reported the draw offcr to me, I \ras sha.ken! Sur€ly Smyslovwould not offer a draw in a lost position?! This mea.nt that his positioncould be defendedl It was ncccssary to reconsider everlthing, and to look atthc adjoumcd position through Smyslov's cycs: not going deep into ajungle of variations, but instead thinking abstractly, following generalprinciples. And ... in fivc minutcs the drawing idea was discovered. Thcopponsnts agrccd to a dmw on the telephone a few minutes later.

"What about thc night I spent analyzing thc adjoumed position? I was verycxcitcd to analyse a game against a groat player, and the position had marychances to win. My dcsirc to win the game blocked my objcctivity. Thisca.n oasily happen when you calculetc so many variations far from thc initialposition. ln scarching for thc happy ending to this fairy talc, I lost my wayin a Junglc ofvariations."

Thc point of this story is that cslculrting lots of vsrif,tions does notalways yield th€ right move. lt is oftcn simplor and morc cffcicnt tonarrow tho rangc of cardidatc movos by first considoring how a fcw gcncralprinciplcs might apply spccifically to tho position at hand.

Considoring only gcncral principlcs, howevor, with no calculations forsupport, will also incvitably lead to mistal@s. Thcre has not yet bcen achcss player who has found a pcrfcct balance between calculating variationsand applying gcncral principles. Enthlsiasm for onc of those aspectswithout the other leads in practicc to sad results. Succcssful pcrfoma.nce intoumament competition requir€s the ability to ma.ke rapid a.nd precisecalculations, but this "wcapon" must be used economically. Knowing wlenb calculate is Just as i\portant as knowing ,ol, to calculate- lt is ofcoursevcry dcsirablo to be able to idcntib' thosc "critical momcnts" during thoaa.rno as it unfolds.

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Roadcrs of this book wlll nolicc thut thc ulDolxtions ol-ganrcs usurlh donot contirin long. dazzling rariatrons. Frcqucntl) thc ruthors d'spcnsc wrthsuch anrlr-srs rn livor ol lookrng al thc posit'(m wilh "conlnron sonsc '

Thcrc aro sovcnl rcasons lb this npprcxch F'irst. to a grcal dogrcc lhcthors rcpnjsoDl lho'.positronrl' school ofchcss. us lhc roadcr carr rcadilv

obsonc allcr pcnrsrnlt this book Sccond. onc ol thc basic tasks of lhjsvohunc is to holp thc sludcnl know ho$ lo xppl! gcocral pfi'rcr cs tn lhccorrcct profo(iorr- rc to rccognrTo t\hcn it rs Inlporlilnt to crlculalclar i . r l idr\ or grc.r t dclr i l . or $hcn rnolhcr kind ol thinking

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appropf l i tc lhf ld. b\ adoplrrg x strcrml incd approach to chcss l lvs 's.our goal rs to highl ighl onlv lhc nrost Inport iul pl l f ts ol r l . so that thcslrdont cl tn dl ]nk l lonr r rrvr l - \1ng \ \c l lspfrng ol chssic chcss gantcs

Str i ' r i1z's lhtofy ol l 'osi l i rxr:r l I ' l r ty

lho scronl i l lc chcss thcorr dc\ 'cf t )per l br thc l i rs l ol lk i r l c l ,css ( hrnrtroDol thc Wodd. Wil l i rD Stcrni(z. hts v:r l rrc b$rrnd i ts usc i r chcss Slcrntz sthcor\ h.rs rpplrcxlnnrs li)f ovcnonc rs r law ol thc strugglu jar lilij. ol'r , ,hic l lhe grnrc ol chcss rs siDrpl \ a nnrdcl l 'ur lhcr dcvoloPnrcnl xnd0l. bor irrron ol Stornrtz s lhoor\ t relorrd l rrs orrgrnr l conccplxm could bcgoncrr l I r scope. corsrsturg ol r ' )hi losol)h\ ol strugglc \ lhrch coukl bri ts 0pphcr( ion rn chcss. of i rs t l spcci l ic rppl 'cr lxnr ( 'scl i r l onl \ in chcss. tocrhLrncc Lhc undorslrndrlg ol chcs\ lin lls oulr sr*c

'1hc pirkrsophrcr l rppl ic.r l ioD ol Steirr tzs thoor1 wirs onrbrrccd l) \Stciui t r 's succcssor of i lhc choss throDc. l imnucl l ; rsker lhort i is no dorrblthat l . rskor ' \ t r \ j rncr)dous succcss as r pl i l \er \ ! ls loru)dod on hrs.rdopl iolrol Stcrnitz s thoor\ h0 crcollcd lt urlonsilrirrg thc strugglc b) conslirnthposing dr l l lcul l pract icol problorn\ lbf h 's opponcnts Cons,:qucnt lrL$kors nros( cnduring.rnd inrport iu)t contf ibutroDs to chcss rrc hrs gamcs-spcci l lc.r lh thc nirnncr i r) $l) ich he l 'on l lowcvcr. his css, jnt ial l !phrlosophrcal Lrndcrsl.rnding ol tLc Storni(zrar chcss slrtrgglc $as t(X)pcrsonrl rDd roo lhr rcnr(xcd tioln thc chcssboard io provido the lb ndruonlbf . r chcss school I l is nol un.rccidenl lh:r t l . rskcr coutnbulcd 1rt l lo ot '\ahc to clrcss lilcr^L r0

Dr Srcgbcn larrrsch- also a drsciplc of Slexr i tz. cDlnrcod r di l l l rcotiDpfoach I lc dcrolopod spocitic choss rpplicxhons of Stcinitz s th0on ll\cxprcssnrg scicntiflc trulhs in thc lbn)r ol pith! chcss axioms. I)r. Tarraschbcc nc thc terchor of thc gcncrxtions thal fblhwcd Stcinitz 'I:rrrasch sgrcltost contributrons are in chess lrtcr:rturo His most valuablo $ork is J00Ma\to (;Ltn(\ t)/ ('ha$. n Nhrch ho stdcd nttm) (imclcss chcss principlcsin lln intorcsting and mctlor$lc Nir1.

fThe Tarrasch Formula

The Tarrasch Formula

Tarrasch was the first to formulate and cxpress the leth^t ,,If one piece isbadly placed, your whole game is bod.. Tllc genius ofthis phrase U;s in ilssimplicity as well as its corr€ctness. Properly applied, it is a significantaddition to Steinitz's thcory. On the ba^sis of this single axiom. varioustlpes of posrtrons can be studted \ herc the dtffcrcnce rn- force benveen thetwo sidcs is defined only by the difference in location betweencoresponding pieces. Applying the Tarrasch Formula in this wav develoDsand builds chcss rheory b) emphasizing dc Inrenelatronship bcnreen ti,clocahon of a piece and its real polrer. Examrne any modem rextbook ofchcss strat€gy and you will see its lasting value. Thc Tarrasch Formt|la is afundamental and unifiing principle that embraces familiar core conceotssuch as "good / bad bishop," "advantage of oppositc-colored bishops in anattack. supcnority ofkntghr o\er btshop" (and vice rcrsa), and so ionh

For conturies thc basic valuc of the chcss pieccs has becn well kno$n. Aspart of cvcryone's basic chess cducation. thc average value of thc pieccs isnot debatable. Howcvor, the real "market pric€,' of this or that picccfluctuatcs up or down depending on thc spccific board arrangcment.

Assumc. for exarnplc, that the Bishop (initially quotcd at an averagc valueof three pawns), under "advorsc morkct conditions" appcars in a aituationuhlyc tt ts blockcd rn b1 pawns. Such r blshop bccomls no morc \aluablctha.n a singlc pawn, and its valuc diminishcs to tho point whcrc it carrios a"rcd tag" discount salc pricc. If thc rosulting doficioncy (two pawns.worthof matcrial) is not covcrcd by tho incomc (activity) of thc othcr pioces. it islogrcal to assumc that it can rosult in thc bankruptcy oftho entirc company.This is thc csscncc of!h( Tarrasch Formula

Practicrl Applicstion, orHow to Find a Sick Buffrlo

Thorc vct remains tho qucstion of roconciling thc theorctical importance ofthc Tarrasch Rulo with its practical applications during compctition. In thiscontcxt. lot us considcr how thc choss strugglc is a modcl of real life, so thatmaking thc transition from chcss problcms to rcal-life situations (and vicevcrsa) will not seem unnatural.

lmagine a situation in the Afircan savannai. whcre a lion,s familv hasbcgun th( hunt for food. A ncarb) hurd of buffalo is an Invtring larg(.1 forsuch prcdators bccause it carries litcrally tons of meat. Howevcr. the

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groupcd bullalo hcrd also has hundrcds of sharp. strong horns and hoovcs.

and is colloctivolv as poworfi'l rs tons of dYncmitc. so thit cnl prcdator

musl Dc \r4,,1

So what is thc sccrct of thc fovul huntl l,ions $'ork according to thc

TarrAsch Rulcl Evcn tho KinS of Bcasts canrot succocd wilh ir liontal

assxult rgrirst lhc untirc hcrd Instcad. thc l|(nl takcs sdvantrgo oforrc woak

or sick anrmxl lhrt bocorncs bndly placcd. sop:rrulcd fron tho hord.

For f:Ins oftho royal gtrnc. thc situxtim as thc saDlc Whcn \"o look at thc

groupcd hcrd ol cttcnl), pioocs |tnd prr\ns. thcir collcctivc lbrco is lcrriblo

to bcholdl t lu l vrctory rs possiblo i f lou pat icnl l ] scok thc sick bul l i r lo in

tho cncnlv ciulp. thmks b thc lbnrulil lionr Dr l'trraschl Pltyrng stcadill

to r0ducc thc powcr of iI siDglc cnolllv piccc. 1o turn dowD thc volumo"

until its norfixl voicc bccomcs onl,v c \lhispor. ctn providc cno gh

advantagc 1() \\'ur thu g.rrDc Wh,v'l Bocausc it is ltrnctrorralll tho saorc as

winnrng ! prcco. Ilvcry chcss pltrcr lovcs to h:rv0 m cxtra pioco Tho

Tnrrnsch lbmrul.r points thc \"a-v Qward hxv0)g a vllrr., oxtra prccc

Thinknrg of stratogy iD thrs way is r vurt usct'ul pa( ol your choss

plannrng lt ollirs a strlighlfb$ird irnd oftcctivc mothod for lmproving

lour dccisior-nrakrng ilnd movo solcction. is dcnxnrstr:rtcd iD lhc galnos

collcclcd lbr this vohmc thitl arc now prcsontod lbr ,Your study

lrcqucnlh thc sLrcccsslul roalizutiort ol_ il plan bdscd on thc Txrrasch

Irornnrla includcs not onl) rn a condifion:rl irdvantago in lbrco. but also il

restriction in mobility of thc opposirrg army (prophr-laxrs). tbllowod bv its

blockadc ard pcrhaps finatty b! complete paralysis (zrrgzwazg) In

m:*ing uso ol thosc pnnciplcs thc authors cannot lail to rknor"lcdgo

lnothef groat chess thinkcr. Aron Ninrzovich. whosu tcachrngs aboutprcphllaxis irnd btockadc arc a corncrstonc of tnodom choss Although

Tanasch and Nimzolich did Dof lovo cach othcr in lil_c. thcir contributions

10 chess thoor\ iuc conrplolncntary. and thc intcrrolationship of thcir idcas

has cnrichr:d gcncrations ol plavcrs.

No\\ lcl us considcr spccific oxxmplcs of thc 'farrasch Fonnula rn

oPeration.

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Chapter OneThe Knight

We begin our rss€arch by considering games in which basic strategicattontion is given to de-valuing the stocks of the competitivo company,'Knlght and Sons.'

(1) Marshall - Ragozin [82011940

Intrntry Against cavalry

1.oil c5 2.b4 crb4 3.a3 NcO 4.axb4 t{16 5.b5 Nd4 6.c3 Ne6 7.05 Nd5 E.c4Ndtil9.g3 NgO 1o.til

An original situation! White's first ten moves have all been madg withpawns, pedodically attacking the enemy Knights and ddving them acrossthe board. Now finally one of them will perish

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The 'l'arrasch Forhula

l0...Ngxf4lf 10...Nc7 White can ptay two more pawn moves _ 11.fS Nxe5 12 d4 _ano rhe Kntgfi on e5 is traoDed.

l l .gxf4 Nxf4 12.d4 Ng6 t3,h4 e6 14.h5It's a record - White's fiast fourteen moves only with pawnsl

'14...8b4+ t5.Bd2 Bxd2+ 16.Nxd2 Ne7,t7.Ne4Now White can make good use of his extra Knight.

lJ.rNfl !9.!6 sG 19.Nf6+ KfE 20.Nf3 d6 2t.N9s dxo5 22.dxe5 exd,t+23.Ftxd'l Ke7 24.Rh3The entry of this rook into the game signals the end of the struggte.

2,{...b6 25.892 Rb8 26. gxh7 ,t-O

(2) Furman - Poluga6vsky [Ei4lMoscow. 1969

Openihg of One Khlght

1.d4It6-2.c4 eO 3.Nt3 Bb4+ 4,Nbd2 GO S.e3 b6 6.8d3 Bb7 2.0.0 d5 8.a3Be7 9.b,1 c5 l0.bxc5 bxcs 1l.Rbl Ba6?This,mov€ complicates the development of Black,s qu€enside. prererablowas 11.. .Oc8

l2.t{es cxd4 l3.exd4 NtdT 14.Ndf3 Nxes i5.Nxes Bt6?

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Efrer whlch Black canl oscape trom Whlt€'s vlse-llke grlp. Thooh€nc€ was an oxchange s€crlflco vdih 15,,,8xa{ 10.Nxc4 dc

l1.Rdl Octlo solvo hls problems by tradlng plec€s. However, 8fler lh€

of quecns, thg bsch,vadrogs of Bl60kl quo€n8ldc d€vglopm$tlv€n morc of I tsdo. In th6 gem6. Tho 'lllnesa' of tho lmmobll€

on b6 ihr€elons to bEcomE an Epldomlc tor tho entlrg ermyl

Oxcz lg.Bxc2 exd5 20.Bf,l Rdt 21.88/tlrestdctlng the enomyl mob{llty. Tho knlght at bE has no placo In

any moral

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2t...8e7 22.Rb3 g5 23.893 t6

24. 96lExchangino th6 dark-squered bishop is important for Whil€ b€cause thispioce is cementing Black's defense.

2,(...Bd6 2s.Bxd6 RrdO 26.N€7+ Kft 27.Nt5 Ro6

2E,RcllWhite is not tempted by winning a pawn, snd Insl6ad corr€c1ly slrengthensthe posltion of his piec€s. Most lmport.nt, h6 doe3 nol allow the knight toesc€De from its orison on b8. The invasion of White's.ooks into Black'scamp is now unavoidablo. ,

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28...h5 29.h3 h4 30.Rc7+ KI8 3l.Re3Exchanging Black's only active piece.

31...Rxe3 32.Nxe3 Bd3 33.Rc8+Paralysis.

33...Kfl 34.Nxd51-0

(3) Kores - Unzicker [C671Hamburg, 1956

Virtual Extra Material

When an opposing piece is cut off from the battle. according to theTarrasch Formula ii is poorly placed - and the 'business" of the gamegoes forward with a materiel advantage forthe active side.

t.e4 e5 2.Nt3 NcG 3.8b5 Nf6 4.0-0 Nxe4 5.d4 Bo7l\,4ore populaf today is 5... Nd6 6.Bxc6 dc 8.de Nfs 9.Qxd8+ Kxd8 with anunbalanced endgame, as played in the Kasparov-Kramnik Braingames2000 malch

6.0e2 NdO 7.BxcO bxc6 8.dxe5 Nb7 9.Nc3 0-0't0.t ' td4 Bcs t1.Rdl Bxd4t2.Rxd4 dG'l3.exd6 cxd6

14.b41Reslmining lhe Black knight on b7 from becoming active.

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14...Re8 15.8e3 Be6 l6.Of3White increases the Pressure

16...Qd7B;tte; than 16...d5 17.b5 c5 'l8.Rd2 when the ds-pawn is in jeopardv. andif 18...d4 19.Qxb7.

17.Ne4 BfsSteadier is 17...8d5, but Black was attracted by the chance to win material

{8.N93 Bxc2'lg.Rcl Ba4Nowihis Bishop is "switched off" from the game too! white is free to use hisadvantage in force in a decisive action on the opposite wing

2O.Nh5l f5 21.Rf4l Re7 22.Rxt5 Rf/

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23.Nxg7lBlack'a minor Diec€s can onlv stand by idly while their White count€rpanssacrifice themselves to destroy the royal fortr€ss

23...Rx97lf 23...Ls7 then Whit€ wins with 24 8h6+l Kg8 25 R95+ Kh8 26 Qc3+

24.8h6 Qe7 25.Bxg7 QxgT 26.h4White dominates on the kingside.

26...h0 27.Rc4 1.0

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(4) Rosenberg - Palatnik [E971odossa, 1 966

A Good Man i6 Hard to Find

l.d4 Nl6 2,c4 96 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 0-0 6.8e2 e5 7.0-0 Nc6 8.d567 9.895?l

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ln this game White prepared a not very successful ,,cocktail,, of two openinoideas in the King's Indian Defense. The move Bg5 is characleristic of th;Petrosian Syslem, wilh the main idea to creale a pin on the Black Kniohl atf6. For this reason il was necessary lo play d4-d5 one move earlte., b;loteBlack's knighl came to c6

Now the Bishop on 95 does not accomptish the tasks lhat werc to be sotvedon the diagonal h4-d8; namely, 10 rcstrain Black,s ini l iat ive on lhe kinoside.The Black Knight on e7 shields the pin and gives his co eagJe anopportunity to improve hjs batlle position. Then in turn Black wi have theopportunily to gain more space on the Kjng's flank by means of a pawnadvance in lhal seclor. Thus, Black has a ctear way lo improve hts poii t ionin the nexl few moves. Instead of 8.895 it would therefore be morepert ineni for White to play either 8.Ne1 or 8.Nd2, pfeventing Btack's knightlrom using the square h5.

While could also begin organizing his own queenside expansion with 9.b2-tr4, which compared to the game at least would nol lose lempi on emptymoves wilh the dark-sauared BishoD.

'lhe Tarrusch Formula

9...h6 t0.Bh4It is not good for White to exchange this Bishop because in that case it's notclear who will be responsible fof "laking care of business" on the darksquares.

l0. . .Nh511.NelToo late now.

11...Nf4This knighl obviously has been promoted a gfade. How long will it bepossible for White to suffer the presence of the invader on f4?

l2.Nd3 g5 13.893 f5 14.f3 c5l?It's not bad idea to supplement the teritorial gailts on the kingside withsomething rnore on the queenside. Now it is not favorable for White to play15.dxc6 because Blacks other knight, held down at present, could berelocaled through c6 to d4, when he would become as big a celebrity as hisfriend on f4.

15.BelThe Knight on f4 cannot favorably be exchanged by 15.8xf4, because after'15. exf4 the long diagonal opens for the Bg7. In this case, as sometimeshappens in the Kinq's lndian Defense, instead of the Bishop being aconscientious servant of church, he tunrs into a highway gangsterlTherefore White prepares to attack the f4-Knight by playing his pawn to g3

15.. .a616.Nf2

White f inishes his preparations lo neulmlize the Knighi at f4. His lasl movecontrols the h3-souare. lvleanwhile. Black underlakes action on lhe othef

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f lank. Curiously, the Knighl f4 on which White has focused so muchatlention promotes the success of all Black s strategic operation. Frcm thisfollows one more interpretalion of lhe Tarrasch Fofmula: "One very wellplaced piece posit ively inf luences your whote game."

16...b5rBlack offers a paw sacrifice. the acceptance of which woitld provide aopporlunily to activate the cornplete power of the Bc8 In this case theKnight on f4 would not hesitate to exchange h||nself for Whites Be2 10ensure domirration on the light squares for the Black army

17.b3Accepting the pawn sacdfice wilh 17.cxb5 perrnits Blacks light-sqLraredBishop to becorne very active: 17 Nxe2+l 18.Qxe2 axbs 19Nxbs(19.Qxb5? Ba6 fol lowed by 8xf1) 19 ..BaG 20 a4 ObG and Btack's init iat iveis more than enough cornpensation for a pawn

17...b4ll rs rathef difficult for Black to rnaintain the tension ofl the queefisidebecause While is the orrly one who can open the positiol there. Blt Blackcafl be pleased with a small gain 1oo. In t[rth, rnairrtaintng greater space onboth flanks rs not s!ch a small achievement. In addilion, there now arases anew importa|t faclor: the White knight on a4 is olt of lhe game.

'l8.Na4 Neg6ln contrast to White's misplaced Knight on a4, Black steers his knight inexactly the opposite difection.

19.93 fxe4l 20.fxe4Forced 20.q{4 e3l 21 Ne4 exf4 gives Btack a beautifut position, and20.Nxe4 al lows 20...Nh3+

20...Nxe2+This Knight has earned gratit!de for a job wetl done.

21.Qxe2The while Knight testing" on a4 allows Black quielly to strengthen hisposition on lhe other sile of a board, where Whjle's remajning pieces soonwll have no resl

The Tarrasch l,brmula

21...Ra71 22.8d2 Rafl 23.N94Exchanging Rooks would decrease the dangef. Perhaps all is not losl?

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23...Nf4tRemoving alldoubt. Aftef this Black is winning for sure.

24.gxf4 ext{25,Nt1lThe threat was 25...f3. For Black's powerful Bishop on 97, even the Rookon al is not bait because for him olher more important purposes havearisen. Nolice how the isolation of the Knight on a4 'dishonors.the Whitearmy,

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25...94126.Rae'l

[26.Nx94 f3]

26...0h4Now afler 'her Royal majesty" lhe Queen has f inal ly arrived, lhe f inalperformance on the kingside begins- lt will be a short performancel

'l h( litttdsch 1..,m 10

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27.Nd3 Bd4+ 28.Rf2 93 29.Khl Bxf2 0-'l

(5) Petrosian ,A - Palarnik [D941Tashkent, 1979

Throwing Oil on the Fire

Ld4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.e3 Nf6 4,Nc3 gG 5.Nt3 Bg7 6.8e2l,4ore active is 6.8d3.

6...0-0 7.0-0 BeoFollowing classicat opening principles, Black first of all tries lo neuhalize theopponent's advantage of the first move. Here the actual problems afe (1)linding a role for the light-squared Bishop, and (2) minimizing Whate'sgreater central activity. The threat to the pawn on c4 encourages White tostabilize the center by exchanging on d5.

l l

The Taftasch lbrm la

E.cxd5lf White had played 6.8d3, this woutd be an opportunity for 8.ee2,protecting the pawn at c4.

E...cxdS 9.Ob3 Ob6 ,t0.Qa3White shug.gles lo find an opening advanlago. However, tho previorjsexcnange ot pawns on d5 has reduced his pressure in the center. Tra(,ingQueens would remove allthe pr€ssure.

10.. .Nc611.Na4White begins operations on the queenside, but the price for this is th6r€moval of the Knight from the cent€r.

11...Oc7

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tnld bE 'l2,Nc5 Ns4l? 13.NxeO tx€6 when Whtt€ axDedenceswllh d8v€lopment of th€ Bc1: for sxampl€, 14.8d2? Rxf3l t5.gxf3

effange his piecos comiortably. He plans to put the otherend lhen wlthdraw hls Blshop to el, for sxampte, to acht€ve a

and hgrmonious posltlon. But thege manguvErs all r€oulre€n€my does not sleopl lt would be b6tter to play RIct first so

I could be played one move soon6r.

4,Rldl o5l?wer heats up.

l6.dxo5 REdEhl3 last reserves lnto the fioht,

ple provocationl Whlte ls willing to los€ a whol6 tempo toseriousness of tho opponents intentlons. In view ofthe Knight's

on e4, Black's buslness will involve bolh imaglnation and

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NxdO 18.exd6 Qxd6 19.Qxd6 Rxdoii 17.Nc5 Bxf3 18.Bxf3 NxcsQx€s=I

l8.gxt3out the fi.e with ggsoline! Nec€ssary was 18.Bxf3 Qxesi

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1E...Nxf2l 19.Kxf2 Qxes 20.f4The thrcat was Oh2+

20...Qf6 21.8d2Protecting lhe e3-pawn. There is no time to bring back the Knight: 21.Nc3Qh4+ 22.K92 Rxe3 21 Ncs Qh4+ 22.K92 Nxb4 23.exb4 Rxe3

21..-d4This move creates a new headache for White.

22.813

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22...BrElThe Black Bishop and Qleen previously had to share a diagonal, blt noweach will have a diagonal of his own.

23.Qb3 dxe3+ 24.Bxe3 Nd4 25.Bxd4 Rxd4 26.Nc3Bringing the wayward Knight back into the battle. lf 26.Rxd4 Qxd4+ 27.KS3Bd6 and the atlack along the black squares will be lnstoppable Notice lheineffectiveness of lhe "extra" Knight ofi a4 in this line.

26..,0xf4 27.Ne2The Knight is no longer the object of lhe Tarasch Fofinilla, but the plce forils rcactivalion is 4 pawns!

27...Qh2+ 28.Kl1Rb4 29.Qd5 Rxb2 30.Rd2

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30...Rxd2This continuation wins, b!t a rnore worthy end carne after 30...Rxe231.Bxe2 (31.Rxe2 Rxe2 32.Bxe2 Qf4+ 33.K92 Qxc 1) 31 ..Qf4+ 32.Ke1 Bb433.Rcd1O

3l.Qxd2 Qxh3+ 32.892 Qfs+ 33.Qf,t Qxf4+ 34.Nxf4 Bh6The misefy of the Knight in this game finally comes to an end

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The Taftasch Formula

35.Rc4 b5 36.Rd4 Bxf4 37.Rxf4 Re5 3E.Rd4 a5 39,Rd7 b4 40.Rd5 Rxd541.Bxd5 Kg?

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(6) Palatnik - Klinger [D341Havana, 1985

Gordian Knot

For a long time irr the following game it was not possible for White to find away to apply lhe Tarrasch Formula. Divine rnillstones grind slowly butsurely, however, and eventually under this formula a Black knight wasgro!nd down, as if beneath such Divirre millsto es

l.c4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.Nc3 Nc6 4.93 NfG 5.892 d5 6.cxd5 exd5 7.d4 Be7 8.0-0 0-0 9.dxcs Bxcs 10.895 d4 l1.Ne4 Be7 12.Bxf6 Bxf6 13.Qd2

'13..,8e7Also played is 13...8f5 14.Nxf6+ Oxf6 15.Qf4 d3 16.exd3 Bxd3 17.Qxf6gxf618.Rfd1 Ba6l

l4.Rfdl Bg,l 15.Qf4 Bxf3 16.Qxf3 QbO 17.Qb3 Qxb3 18.axb3 RacBl9.Nd2In this posilion the difference between lhe lwo afmies is that White s Bishopend olher pieces have poinls of attack in the enemy position whereprcssure can be applied, while Black lacks similar objecls of attack.

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19...8c5 2o.Rdcl Bbo 2l.NG/a NasTrying to "split the Gordian knot."

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22.Nxb6lNot 2ZNx€5?, which h€lps Black resch an opposito cotorod Bishop posi0onafter 22...Rxc1+ 23.Rxc't Bxas 24.Bxb7 Rd8 wher€ thg sxtra doubt€d pawnhas llttle valug.

ZI...axb6 23.b,t Nb3Making this fork is he high point of the Knloht's career. Wofse woutd b623...Nc6 24.b5 Nas 25.b4.

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25.Rr3 Ncl26.Bxb7 Black loEes a pawn In a joytess posttion; or

28.8f'l and Black has no tlme for 26...Nd2 becauso of 27.Ra8+.

27.Kfl R68 28.BcO and the Rook ts ovarioad€d.l

2t.Bb5h88 adssn by torc€. Whlt€ hae b€en sie€ring towsrd iht8

many moves, The poor Knlght on c1 13 now a typicel exampte of

Maj€8ty will honor the Enemy Knlght by porsona y taktngd68tny.

Kg7 3l.Kd2 Kl6 32.8.4 Xe5 33.R81wae 33.8di d3 34.exd3 Kd4 3Ii.Bc2 Ne2 36.Ral Kos

3ZA03+) 37.Re1.

3{lkcidl€8 In disg.ace.

Whit6's business is not diflicult techniouo.

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35...Kd5 36.Kd2 f5 37.Kd3 Ks5 38.h4 h6 39.Rcl bxa,t 40.Rc5+ Kd64t.bxa4 Rxa4 42.Rc4 Kes 43.f4+ Ke6 44.Kxd4 Ra2 45.Rc6+ Kft 46.b5Rxe2 47.b6 Rb2 48.Ke5 Re2+ 49.Kd6 Re6+ 5o.Kc7 1.0

The faftasch Formula

(7) Murthy - Palatnik [8221Columbus Open, 1996

The Ugly Location

'1.e4 c5 2.c3 Nf6 3.e5 Nd5 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nf38.exd6 Qxd6 9.Na3 a6lFrom lhis point in the gamg Black's hopes areon a3.

Nc6 6.8c4 Nb6 7.8b3 d5

bassd on the "ugly' Knight

10.crd4 BeO 1l.Bo3 Bd5l? ,12.0-0 e6 l3.Bxd5 Oxdst?Because of tho localion of the white Knight on a3, the Btack eueen iscomfortable on the d5-squaro-

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ta.NblWhite r€turns the knight to its initial posilion, as if to begin a new gamel Indoing so h€ admits to the loss of two full tempi.

' t4...Rd6r?Taking the squarc d5 undef contrcl.

' l5.Nc3 Oa5 16.Qe2 BeT lT.Rfdl 0.0 18.a3 NdsThe game against the "bad" Knight has been transfomed into a gameagainst a "bad Bishop" and very "bad" Pawn d4.

lg.Rac1 NxcS 20.Rxc3Th€ best practical chance was 20.bxc3 Qxa3 so as to buy his way out oftrouble at the cost of a pawn. Instead after the move played White's entireposition is infected with a general illness-

20...Rd5For the third time a Black piece makes use of the services of "d5, Inc."

2t.Rcd3 RfdE 22.8d2 Qbs 23.8c3

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23...a51This signals the next wave of improvemenls in Black,s position: mobiliziname.queeneoe pawns against whites weak Bc3. white has no gooimedicine for this weakness

24.93 Bt6 25.Kft hst?Black has no reason to be in a hurry with his queenside advance, andcalmly plays an imp.oving move on th€ kingsoe.

26.R3d2 Q.4Clearing the path for a pawn advance while keeping the eueen in positionto suDoort it.

27.Qe3 b5 2E.Rd3 b4 29.axb4 axb4 30.8s1

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Blrhop'8 only consol€0on lE fl6t ho hr! bk€n |€fug6 In flo Xlne'3r€dd€n€e on €1.

lln€ of Bhck atbclel! har imlly 6acl!6d lie lveak Pewn d4.

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R.6pk Rooks crg6r to lha oD€a €-fllt,behind the d4-oewn.

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'I he Tarrasch l ormula

(8) Kasparov - Palatnik [8041Daugavprls, 1978

Shadow of a Knight

In this game Btack was not successful in applying the Tarrasch formula,first to the opponent's pieces and then to his own -pieces.

l.e4 NtO 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.Nf3 96 S.Bc4 Nb6 6,8b3 a5 7.a4Worse is 7.NgS d5 and because of threat 8...a4 White does not have timeto feinforce his center with f2 f4. After g.a4 f6 Black wilt soon sotve ftisoPening problerns.

7...8g7 8.N95 eO 9.f4l1or9 .afn-bltiols is Lef3 ee7 (9...0-0 10.eh3 b6 1t.Nf3 tooks joytess forBlack) ' l0.Ne4 dres' l t .Bgs eb4+ when White does not ptat i l . ;4, ; ; iinstead 12.Nbd2 exd4 (12...Qxd4 13.0-0-0) 13.c3t. witfi a' Oangero;initiative.

9...dxe51o.fxe5 c5

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1'1.0-0?lWhrle.coLld avoid a probtems by ptaying 11.c3 cxd4 12.0_O Kasparov,s|1,"""1i"".

:"9"" speaks of his Lnwithngness to spend a tempo for a pawnmove mal lakes away a nalural square from his Knighl. Howevef, White s11th_move is an inaccuracy that Black coutd exptoi i with .11...exd4+ 12.Qxd4 cxd4 13. RxfT (13.Nxf7 0-O 14.Nd6 Rxfl+ rr i .x*rr aOz ro.t i lb] N"b]j13...8xe5 14.Rf1 Nc6, and Black is free from a diff icult ies.

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11...0-0?!Black is too lazy to take advantage of such details

12.c3Black can be satisfied fiow because the pawn on c3 row interferes with thedevelopment of White's Knight on b1.

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12...Nc6?A mistake caused by the reasons stated in the previous notes and by the"inedia of opening laziness" shown by Black on lhe 11th move. lt was rnoreimpor'lant to feslrain the development of the White's initiative as a whole.Betler was the prel imjnafy exchange 12...cxd4 13 cxd4, and now 13... NcGkeeps White busy defending his d pawn after 14.Nf3 f6 1s.exf6 Qxf6.

l3.Ne4l Nd7Alasl After 13. cxd+ 14 Bg5 Qd7 (14...Qc7 15.cxd4) 15 Nf6+ BxfG 16.Bxfodxci 17.Or 1 resLlts in Black s rapid dowrfal l

' l4.Be3lWhite strengthefls the center and prcpares to develop the other pieces.i4.Bqs?l Qb6 15.Nf6+ Kh8 16.Rf4 cxd4 17.Rh4 BxfG 18.exf6 dxc3+ 1g.Kh1cxb2 20.Ra3 Qc5 lt wo!ld be vefy risky for White

'l4...NezBlack hopes to solve his problems by covering his weakened kingside withthis kniqht l\4eanwhile he will attempt to give some air to his "gasping"bishop on c8.

' l5.Bs5lPlanting the Bjshop here spoals Black's plans. In order to banish thisBishop, he will have to weaken his kingside.

25

The Tarrasch Foruula

l5...cxd,lIt appears to be.impossible fight ofi the Bishop without opsning the c3_squarc for the White Knight: after 15...h6 t6.Bh4 05 Whits deiides thegame in his favor with 17.BxgS hxgs 1B.Oh5. Exchanging pawns in thecenter liquidates this dango..

l6.cxd4 h6 l7.Bh4 g5 18.8t2 Ng6 l9.Nbc3Finally.lhis knight reach€s the c3-square. Ctearty Btack's attempt to ptayagainst this Knight by the Tara8ch fomula has not been croineO itirsuccess.

19...Qe7Without thig prepafation it will not bE posslble to move the pawn from f/.

20,8a2The destiny oJ the Knight 96 was dotsrmined by thls move - on that squarehe is the weak buffalo in hls herd, ahd is doomed to suffef.

20...b6

[20...f5? 2l.exf6 Nxt€ 22.NxgS hxgs and 23,Bxg6l

2l.Bo3 BaO 22.Rf2 Nh6

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Black has plac€d the "sick paflent. in quaranflne on hB, and ls r6ady toventllate tho pr€mises with the mov€...i/-ts. Bul lhese sanltrry m€asursgare no longer gff€clive,

'I hc l tlrtosch I'bmula

23.Bxg5lIncredibly, the same White Eishops who have taken aim at the Black King srcsidence will also be sacrificed during the final attack. But the fire ofKasparov's imagination is aheady bufning, so that even a pair of brightBishops will be not very expensive firewood.

23...hx95 24.Qh5 f5Elack wolld not resist long aftet 24...tG 25.Nxg5 RfcS 26.8h7+ KfB27.Nce4.

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The strofiqest resistance. Quickly losing is 25...Rfd8 26.Rxfs!exfs 27.8b3+Kf8 28.Nh7#; or 25...Rfc8 26.Qh7+ Kf8 27.Nxe6+ Qxeo 28.8xf5.

26.BxtsllThe position needs another Bishop sacrifice? Big deall Kaspaov looks atthe Knight on h8 and launches the next wave of a violent attack.

26,..RxfsBlack does not survive after 26...exf5 27.Nd5 Qe8 28.e0 Rf6 29.Qh7+ Kf830.e7+.

27.Rxt5 exfs 28.Nd5The difference between the good Knight on d5 and his miserable shadowon h8 is visible now even to the untrained observer. Under threat now is notonly the Queen's life but also the destiny of the whole Kingdom.

2'7

f"The'lhrra:ch Ibtmuta

28-.Oe8 ?9.Qh7+ KfB 30.Oxf5+ KgE 3i.eh7+ Kf6 32.Ra3 RcB 33.Rf3+Nf6 34.h3!It is pleasanl to slop and to look back on perfeclly c,one workl Black,s lastchance was 34.Nxf6? Rcl+ 35.Kf2 Rf1+

34...Q90 35.Rxf6+ Bxt6 36.Ne6+ Ke8 3Z,Nxt6+ .t-O

(9) Karpov - Taimanov [A461Moscow. 1983

Knightrs Tour

The following game features a theme that by now is very familiar: a badlvlocated knaght. As long as Btack fo owed the ianascn rormuta witn ieip#lo this piece, his "business' was not bad. eotn opponents iljadyunderstood what was happening. Thus it is amazing to witch now throujiIon will crandmaster Karpov changes lhe course of ev€nls. He manag6sl0 pu lnts kntght through fire, water and copper pipes onto the kingside:asth,ough removing this piece from the conslraints of th€ Tarrasch Formuta.After seeing this game. one can conctude ttut tf,e f""aiin foirrLsometimes applies best to a specific time and place of action.

1.e4 c5 2tlf3 NcO 3.d4 cxd/t 4.Nxd4 e6 5. c3 a6 6.8e2 NgeT 2,0.0 Nxd48.Qxd4 NcG 9.Qd3 Nb4t?I\,4ore usuat is 9...ec7, but bad is 9...8e7 1O.eg3 0_0 11.8h6.

L

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28

I h, lurru:th 1,,,rnul,r

I

7

6

5

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8

7

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r0.Qd2Now White must fianchetto his q-bishop. Another plan was '10.Qd1followed byBf4-Qd2-Rad1.

,|0.,.8e711.b30-0 12.8b2 Qc7'l3.Rad1Inleresting also was the immediate 13.f4; for example, 13...Rd8 14.a3(aftor14.Bf3 d5 15.exd5 Nxds '16.Nxd5 exd5 White has a small advantage.)14...Nc615.Rf3.

,|3,,.Rd8'14.a3 Nc6 15.f4Int€resling instead would be 15.Nd5, but it's not very dangero!s forBlack:15...exds 16.exds Qd6! 17.dxc6 Qxd2 18.Rxd2 dxc6 =.

t5...b5 16.Khl Bb7 l7.Qe3lWhile transfers his queen alonq the 3rd rank to the kingside for attack.Black m!st think abolt rapid queenside and central counterplay.

FThe Taftasch Formula

t7...Mt,t8.NbtNot vsry aesthetic, but after 18.axb4? Nxb4 ,19.Rd2 dS Btack tskes f|€inltlalive. Watch this knight -- in this game tt leads 8 comp csted butInrerc8lng te.

lE...bla3 19.Nn3 d5 20.093 BtE 21.e5 ilo7 22.Oh3 t5 8.ad3 Rac6Now not very danoerous would bg 24.94 Nh6. In case of 24.BxfS exfs25.Qxf5 Bxa3 26.Bxa3 Qxc2 27.e94 d4 2a,t5 ee4t Btack is not won8.white's klngsido attiack can't succ€ed wlthout ustng his knight, buiconnecting th€ kntght to the kingside attack wi not bta shpb job (tik6pizza dellvery).

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'l hc Tarrasch hbrnt a

24.Nb1t?After four moves the knight retufns to his initial position but ats a goodmove!

24...96 25.Nd2 Qb6 26.4)d5lA corect but difficult decision. Al first 26.Nf3 looks right 26...Ne3?27.8d4 Bcs 28.N95 h5 29.Bxc5 Qxcs 30.Nxe6l and white wins. Butstronger for Black is 26...d4! 27.Bxf5 Bxf3! Black exchanges all white'sattacking pieces.

26...ex15 27.Nf3lNow i l 's too late for 27...d4 28.Bxd4 Qbs 29.N95 h6 30.c4! Qc6 31.e61.

27...Rxc2

8

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28.8d4 Qc6The only move. A mislake is 28...8c5? 29.Qh6l or 28...Qxb3? 29.Qh4 ReB30.N95 h6 31.Nxf7 KxfT 32.Qf6+ winning; or 28...Qc7 29.N95 h6 30.e61.

29.Qh4 Re8 30.e0Opens the diagonal for White's Bd4 and prepares e5 for use by White'sknight.

30...txe6 31.Ne5

After 31.Qf6 instead Black answers with 31...e51

31...Qc7 32.NxgoThe knight's tour "around the wodd" ends with great success.

3l

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flf":'Tf; f{'ff ir'difit1$1,:,""ilfi-:""!,and B,ack's Bb7 sIiltu't*lq{il*$"ffi';ffi i,jifl#il,],"{'***"

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lf.lia, -rt 37.Bxs7+ exsT 3B.Nd4 ex03 s9.hxs3 R2c3 4o.Nxe6 RcE

II:':J""n,n"U" ** *journed and white siep b,, slep, succesfurv rearized

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The Ta asch Fomula

RbO i|l}.Nxls Rf6 ,l4.Nd4 Rg6 45.R07 Rg7 46.Rdot Rh6+ 47.Kglil8,f5 RbO 41.R766 RxeO 50.tx€6 RgE 51.07 R€8 52.Nf5 BcoReE 54.oEQ BxoS ss.Nxe8 Rxgs 56.Nto

after 56...Rd3 57.R€7 it's impossible to stop threat RxhT#. 1-0

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rThe Tarrasch Fotmula

Exercise I

1.t71 Kg7 2.4e7 Xxfl 3.8b4t+- l-0

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1.Xcs Nc7 2.Kd8 Ne8+ 3.Ke7t t{g7 [3. . .Nc7 4.Kf7+l 4,A9St Xg6 5.8f7+ Kh7

?,1Jl,I]1.rt** [7 Ks6? NeBl 7 *h7 8Ko4r xrra s.xrl.xhi ro.xsr iiia

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7t7'&',/t 7't 'a1,.,L7ztz. Lz.z.. 7./,,:L7ztz. Lz.z.. 7z7t%2,

The Tatasch Fotmrla

Pogoslant8, 1062

Kg7 2.Ke6r kht t2...Nf6 3.Kf5 Nds 1.Re8 Kfl 5.R05 Nb6 6.Re7+ Kf83.KgC t{ho4.Krh6 Ke8 5.KeC KIE LKtt K.t 7,K971.0

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Frltz, 1950

2.R.7 b5 {2...8d5+ 3.KfOl 3.Rxb7 d6+ a.Ko7 NrbT 5.b'll+- 1.0

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35

IIThe Tarrasch Formula

Exercise 5

6

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1b c d e f gF

Fedorcv,1947

't...Nc2 2.4h7 Kt7 (2...Ne3 3.896#) 3.Bxc2) 2.8h7 t<tf4.8c4 Kt6 14...Nc2 5.Nd4+ Kf6 6.Nxc2l 5.Nd4 Kg5

L9 c d e I g h

' l ,Ne6 NaO [1.. .Na2 2.Nc7+;3.8d3 Nb4 [3.. .Nb6 4.Nc5]6.Kc5+- l-0

Exerciae 6

7

6

3

2

l

Dcdefgh

Adamson, 1924

't,N_d5t l{d7l 2.Kd6l 12.Bbs Kd8 3.Bj(d7= t3 Kd6 rVr6I4.Nxb6=) : 2.BhS+ Kd8 J.Kd6Nb6r.4.Nxb6=l 2. . .KdO [2.. .Nt8 3.8h5+ Kd8 4.Nf6+-] 3.Bd3t K€8 [3J!qq 4.Nb6+_;L.Nf8 4.iif6+-: 3...Kc8 4.Ne7+ Kd8 5.Nc6+ (cO 6.ba6#l 4.ilc7+T;8 tNe6+ Kcd6.8a6+ Kb8 7.K.xd7+- t-0

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Slmkhovlch, 1940

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ll.Bd2=l 1...d2 2.[ea dl Nl 3.4c5 Kb5 4.Kb3 KcG 5.801 Kd5 6.Nd2+- 1.0

8

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abcd€t0h

Al9shln, Mura6ov, Sevllov, 1041

dltll 2.8d2 blNl 3.Bcl l{bc3 4.Rfl+ Kh5 5.8d2 KOa 6.Roi Kf3 7.Kc6 Kt2lfit 9.Kc4+- i.0

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rThe Tanosch Fortfiula

Chapter TwoThe Bishop

(10) Balashov - Romanishin [E431Lvov, 1978

Open Highway

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e0 3.Nt3 b6,l.Nc3 Bb4 5.e3 Bb7 6.8d3 Ne4

7.o-ot?An eneeetic move. White does not tose any time protecting a pawn. Thissacrifice is justified because if Black accopts the pawn, his Bis|top wi b€olt of play.

7...Nxc3 8.bxc3 Bxc3 g,Rbl Nc6 t0.Rb3 Ba5 i1.o4 h6 12.d5 Ne7 t3,Bb2The difference an location of €ach side's da*-squared BishoD is nowappreciable. The White Bishop on b2 is on an Interstate highway, white hisBlack counterpart is crowded against th6 garage wall.

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13...G014.Ne51With idea f2 f4 f5

t4,,.N96 l5.N94 Qe7 16.f4 f5Black lries to ease his defense by clarifying the pawn structure.

l7.exf5 extsBefore deciding to play the followrflg sacrifice, il is enough for White to lookat Black s miserable bishops at a5 and b7 and then to do it with an easyhoart.

8

7

6

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The Tarrasch Fomula

18.Nxh6+! gxh6 19.Qh5 Kh7 20.Bxt5 Rxfs 21.Oxf5 RfE 22.ec2 OcS+23.Khl BxdsThis does not help.

24.R93 RgE 25.f5 Nf8 26.f6+ RO6 27.Rxs6 Nxg6 28.ft 1-0White wins. For example: 28...Qxc4 29.f8N+! Kg8 30.exg6#

(11) Sprechich - Patatnik [8251Bania Vrushitsa. 1991

One-Way Ticket to Nowhere

We shall not here argue with the we -known rule that the pieces should bedeveloped as quickly as possible But when considered from theperspective of the Tafrasch Formula, the rule about rapid development isnot aiways valid for a bishop because of its tong-range power on opendaagonals. An unmoved bishop that has an open diagonal may be counte(las an active, useful piece. When choosing a Bishop's possible newlocation, il is necessary beforehand to prepare the workplace for him. todefine clearly the terms of his new job in advance, and to be ready to coverhis moving expenses. Without these preconditions, moving a Bishop to anew location can make him unemployed, or even hom€l€ss.

In the game below, my opponent offered work to his Bishop on thg sauare95, and boughl only a one-way ticket to this seuare. but in the newworkplace the young employee soon felt unw;lcome. quickly madsenemies among his fellow employees, and as a result his effectiveness wassoon reouceo.

'1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.93 964.Bg2 Bg7 5.d3 d6 6.h4 h5 7.Nge2 Rb8 8.895This is the move about which we have already warned our reade;.Unfortunately my opponent was not warned, and the move turned out badlvfor him. lt s interosting to note that in this position a year eartier th€ playe;of the White pieces chose the befier move 8.0-0, and after 8...Nf6 9.Eig5(playable now that Black's knight is on f6) 0*0 1o.ed2 Kh7 1i.f4 O;512.Rael Ng4 13.f5 White had an anacking position on the kingside(Sprechich-Fil ipowicz. Tuzta l990).

\

40

' Ihc ldf tdsch I 'brmuld

E3.g@ AEl l r rE

ar ll gr

AAAA A

AAA AA.Q,Eg€tr

8,,.b5t?Therc are several reasons why Black deliberately does not huffy to developthe Knight to f6. First, doing so would close the diagonal for lhe Bg7.Second, having a kfiiqht on f6 would rnake it possible for the white f2-pawnl0 slip in wiih f4 - f5, whereas wilhout a Black Knight on f6 the advance f2f4 colld be met with ...f7-f6, plfting the Bq5 ifl a rather inconvenienlsiluation. Third, it is not always true that the best way to improve yourposilion is to play standard developing moves followed by castling.

The overextended Bg5 actually O@yerrts White from developilg a pawnadvance on the kingsade, and Black uses this circ!mstance as anoppodunity to seize space and control more squares in the certer aod onlhe queenside. In this way the Bg7 is lsed to ils full capacity. Stldying thiserample will help lhe student avoid "matter of course" moves in favor ofstrcnger ones thal are'inost important."

9.0d2 b4Increasing the scope and power of the Bg7.

lo.Ndl a51l .Rc1 Ba6Now the other Bishop joins the family business, restraininq the activity ofthe competition.

'r2.b3 Nd413.0-0

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13... t6 lit.Nf4 Nh7Now it becomes clear that th€ Bg5 will b€ exchano€d, so that Blsck can atmrnimum expect lo control the daft squares. The maximum benefltsresulting from this exchang€ are yet to be detorminsd.

15.Ne3The white pigces lin6d up atong the c1-h6 dlagonal aro like a i2-inch subsandwicht the only p.oblem is ... where to take lhe first bite?

5

4

I\- , .

't5...l{tElN€cessary preparations. Black must not ygt play 15...f6? becausg aftef16.NxgB fxg5 17.Nxh8 Bxh8 t8.hxg5 Nxgs 19.f4 White has th€ advantage.

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42

Now Black's only task is to show the advantage of having an

20.a3An uninspiring rnove that shows White's dissalisfaction withcannol effectively open the center against Black's king.

I ht l arr,rtth l,,trnul

t6.Nh3 f6 r7.f4Allexils are blocked for the Bishop on 95

l7,,, fxgS 18.hxg5 e6 lg.Rce1 RbTl?extra prece.

has posil ion. He

8Of5 Bes; 20.e5 dsl

20...Nd7 21.Nc4 Axc4 22.dxc4 0-0By caslling Black completes the openirrg period of the game, whichcoincidentally is also virtually the end of the gamel

8

7

6

5

3

2

1

tf 17.8 e5 traps the piece.

a

7

6

5

4

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23.a4

[23.e5 RbO 24.8e4 Nf5 25.Bxfs Rxfs 26.exd6 Bd4+ 27.Kh2 Rxd6-+]

23...Rc7 24.Qdl Nb6 25.Re3 Nbc6 26.Rd3 Ne7 27.Kh2 d5 28.cxd5 exd58.f5 dxe4 30.Bxe4 Nexfs 31.Bxf5 Rxfs 32.Rxf5 gxfs 33.Qxh5 Re734.Nf4 Qa8 35.96 Rel 36.N92 Re2 37.Qh7+ KfB 38.Qh3 Qe4 0-1

Dudng the final portion of this game the white pieces lived with only thememory of their losl colleague on 95.

lt'The Tarrasch tr'ormula

(12) Palatnik - Aristorenas [E911Nashville, 1 994

Criminal Brcught to Juatice

ln the next game the TarEsch Foflriula finds the object of its apptication tobe Black's light-squared Bishop. During the 'legat proceedings' against thispiece, While's h-pawn was identified as the victim whose sacrifice brouohtBlack s errant Bishop to justice. The r€turn road in the Bishop's ',crimin;fpast along the diagonal h3 - c8 became securety blocked, and his fate wassealed. The white King rcjected the Black Bishop's appeal for mercy bypersonally carrying out lhe execution.

1.d4 NfO 2.c4 d6 3.t{t3 96 4.Nc3 Bg7 5.e4 0.0 6.8e2 NbdT 2.0.0 c6 E.h3e5 9.d5 Ncsl0.Bg5 h6 l l .BxfO Qxt6 t2.b/t Nd7 ,t3.Rbt c5 14.a3By pressuring the qu€enside, While kies to k€ep the btack Knight on d7,which in lurn slows the activation of Elack's Bishop and Rook. The questionisr How long can Black manage without them? tf it takes Btack a tong timeto actavate them, then there will be tots of time for White to imDrove hisoosition.

14...a615.NE1 Oh4By transferring the Knight to d3 White strcngthens his position in the centerand on the queenside, but weakens his kingside. Black tries to takeadvantage of this situation.

16.93 Qe7lf 16...Oxh3 than 17.804+-

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44

'l ht'lhrrosch f.itnuLt

17.Nd3 Nb6The knighl has taken up an iflconvenient posalion, weake ir€ thequeenside, bll the justification for this move is that now two While pawns{c4 and h3) are simultaneously urder attack. At first glance it seems thatWhile cannot avoid losing material

HAEE E@I gr3.

ra l l lla l

AA AA AA AA

AAtr w tr€

18.Qb3Retaioing the c4-pawn is necessary for protecting and skengthening thegr0!ping on the b-file

l8...Bxh3Thus lhe Pawn on h3 is lost, moreover is lost with ternpo because the Rf1is now under attack. However, White's compensation is that the long-awaited freedorn of action for the Bh3 results in ils becoming a tarqet.

t9,Rfdt

'15

The Tarrasch Fbm la

19..,cxb4 20.Qxb4 Nd7The behavior of this Knight is not very noble! By retreating to d7 he saveshis own life but closes the path of retreat for the Bishop. Betler would be20...Nc8, when the knight would itself become the "sick buffalo" accordingto the Tanasch Formula, but at least it would prosorv€ the life of the Bh3. Inthas case, White would gain the upper hand with 21.Qxb7 Ra7 22.Qxe7NxeT 23.c5 dxc5 24.Nxc51.

2'l.Kh2 f5 22-Kxh3 fl 23. Bg4 h5 24.8e6+ l-0

When selecting games to illuskate the Tarrasch Formula, GEndmasterPalatnik had the pleasure of including the following lwo games againslGrandmaster Gufeld. Fortune has smiled broadly upon his efforts againstthis venerable Grandmaster: Palatnik has scored five wins in a row againstGufeld with no losses! Howover, this hunt against Grandmaster Gufolddoes nol seem to be a record: Grandmaster Alburt has in his collection six"scalps" from this same dangefous opponent.

(13) Palatnik - Guteld [A45]Beltsi, 1979

Moving lhe Fence

l.d4 NfO 2.895 Ne4 3.8f4 d5 4.Nd2 Bf5 5.Ngf3 e6 6.€3 g5?lPlayed aggressively with imagination. lt is curious to notice that bothopponents symmetrically have d€veloped theif Bishops on f4 and f5 andthen have cut off their mobility by advancing pawns to 03 and e6. Wealready pointed to the potential problems of such ineffectively developedBishops. Black is the first in this game to try to exploit the opponent'sBishoo Dlacement.

7.Nxg5lBlack probably expecled only 7.893? h5 when the "fence" of pawns movesto cut off the bishop. Black stands better aftef 8.h4 Nxg3 Lfxg3 Bd610.Kf2+

7...Nx95 8.h4Now it is White's turn to "move his fenco."

8...Ne4 9.g4 Nxd2 1o.Kxd2lA rather exotic move.

46

Tha Taftasch Formula

10...B.,1 ll.f,l BgE 12.h5Tho tlm€ has com€ lor this plece to bo lost'underthe lgnce,'

..8d6?mlstake. Better chances were offer€d by 12...897; for €xampl€ 13.hxg6

14.Rxh8+ BxhS

ll,E!? Q67l?18.Qh1 Bt6 (16...Qb4+ 17.Kc1 Bf6 18.Bxc7) 17.Qh2 QM+ 18.Kcl+ lg.Bdl Nc6 i8 fins tor Blacki16.c3 Nd7 l7,Qh1 0-0.0 18.Qh2 €51 s6iz6s the inltiativo;

lLag 15...Nd7 16.Qb3 Qh4l? 17.8e2 (17.Qxb7? Qf2+ 1B.Bo2 Rbg-+).,0-G0 with chancas for both sides.

BxdS cxd6 l4.hxg6 fxg6 l5.Bd3!a Gsult ot fighting "wall agalnst wall," Whlte has cr€ated slgnlflcant

I the Bd3 monopolizos the llght-squared dtagonats, and Whtteown th€ open h-file for attack on the black Klng.

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F-

'l he'l'arrasch liormula

15...0-0Unfortunately it is necessary lo choose this brave move because olhetuisethere is no defense against lhe threat Bxg6+.

16.Qfl e5?It would be better to develop the Knight with 16...Nc6 17.Qh3 Qe7 18.Rh2Qg7 19.Rah1 Rf7, although Whites advantaqe on the l ight squares is st i l lvery rnuch a factof thanks to his powerful Bishop for exarnple, 20.95 Re821.Q93 e5 22 RxhT OxhT 23.Rxh7 RxhT (23... KxhT 24.Qh3+ Kgl 25.Qh6+Kg] 26.Bxg6) 24.Bxg6 afld White wirrs.

' l7.Qh3 Qd7 18.dte5 dxesIt is tirne to make a visit to the residence ot the enemy monarch.

19.Bxg6! hxg6 20.QhE+ Kf/ 2l.Qxes Rg8 22.Rh7+ Kf8 23.Qt6+ KeE24.Rxd7 NxdT 25.Oe6+Now Black faces an unpleasanl choice: rnovirtg to the left will lose theRook, but movirrg to lhe raght will lose the Knight. 1-0

(14) Gufeld - Palatnik [897]Tbil isi , 1981

A Pair of Boots

We have already seen that the Tarasch Forrnula is very etfective whenapplied to a single piece. lt is even more effective when lsed agai.lst t\dopiecesl Throuqhout the next garne, White sufferc from a couple olineffeclive minor pieces thal hobble his progress lake an illfitting pair ofDOOtS.

48

'I hc lhrrusch f.itrnulct

Throughout his entire chess career Grandmaster Gufeld has been a faithfuladvocate of the Bishop. One mighl even say that the Bg7 in the Kirrg'slndian Defense is the personification of Grandmaster Gufeld. Therefore ifyo! are fortunate enough when playing such an opponent to be able toimpose not very "creative" condilions fof him in the handling of his Bishops,you should have good prospects. Very rmportant in this regard is that theprescription from Dr. Tarrasch sho!ld be caffied out!

Le4 c5 2.Nf3 dG 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 NfG 5.Nc3 aG 6.895 eG 7.f4 QboThe ultra-sharp Poisoned Pawn" Varialion.

6.Nb3Nol a courageous move, removing the Knight from the center. Criticalinstead is 8.Qd2 Qxb2 with a very lnbalanced position where White hascompensation for a pawn.

8..,Nbd7 9.Qe2l?After this move, the Bf1 does not love his Queen.

9...h610-Bxf6This exchange leaves White without a clear plansquares. Better as 10.8h4, intending 1'1.8f2.

l0...NxfoWhite faces ditficulties thal originate in his minolvoluntarily abandoned his central position on d4,blocked by the Queen.

for the futlre of black

pieces. First the Knightand now the Bishop is

49

I he Tdrrasch tornula

11.93 Be712.892 QcZ 13.0-0-0

13...e51?Played acCording lO the Tarasch Formula! Black prevents the white Knightfrom reluming_to the center through the d4-square. and simultaneou;lystops the Bg2 from expanding its radius of action by means of e4 eS. Fro;this poirrt forward White suffers from not one butiwo dysfunctional minorpieces.

14.h4 0-0 15,f5 b5Thus the light-squared Bishop changes its working diagonat.

16.a3 Bb7 17.9,1This pawn stofm on the kingside looks veryTarrasch advises not to worry as long as theon 92 are misplaced.

' t7...Nd718.Nd2While White spends time repairing the damage to his suttering KnEhl.Brack rmproves his posrl io by burlding Lp hrs heavy pieces on the;_ti lel

18...Rfc8Less precise is 18...Rac8 because on a8 the Rook could also potentiallyjoin the battle on the queenside (see note to Whit6's igth move).

l9.g5t?The rcutine 19.Nf3 is simpty too stow. Btack takes controt of the game with1.9...b4 20 axb4 a5 21.bs (21.bxa|? exa') 21...a4 22.Rd3 (22.:Nb1? Ncsthreatens both ...Nxe4 and ...Ntt3#) 22...a3 23.bxa3 d5t Btack,s Dioces atl

paintul for Black, but DoctorKnight on b3 and the Bishop

50

'I hc lhrratch l,onnula

join the attack. White has no defense. 24.Nb1 (24.Nxd5 BxdS 25.exd5 e4wins material) 24...dxe4 25.Rc3 Bxa3+ 26.Rxa3 (26.Kd2 Bb4: 26 Kdl exf327.Rxc7 fxe2+ 28 Kxe2 RxcT) 26...Rxa3 +

19...hx95 20.f6!?Wilh this pawn sacrifice White tdes lo "to stir !p watef'on the King s flank.Such a draslic decision is justified as a practcal measure because Whitehas no viable strategic altefnative. After this the game becomes morecomplicated and the probability of mistakes il|creases.

20...gxf6 21.Q94 gxh4 22.Nf3

22...961?Elack is ready lo slow down White's attack by returning part of the "stolen"material. His last move expands the role of the dark-sqlared Bishop,thereby significantly redticing White's attacking chances. The dark squaredSishop's job as a kingside defender has an excellent resum6: he is highlyrecomme0ded frcm similaf employment in the King's Indian Defense ancl inoragon variation of the Sicalian Defense.

The alternative 22...a5 fails after 23.Nxh4 b4 24.N96! (threatening Rh8#)when 24...fx96 gets mated with 25.Qe6+ KfB 26.Rh8#. perhaps 22...b4t?23.axb4 a5 would also be possible, leading to a sham position whereElack's attack is at least as strong as White's. However, the continuationchoseo by Black in the actual game (22...96) is at least as skong, and issaler.

23.Nxh4 Bg7 24.8h3This creates the impression that Bishop has found productive work alonglhe h3-c 8. However, blocking the potential of White's heavy pieces on the

5l

rThe Ta asch Fortnula

h-file means that the "improved" pieces on h3 and h4 are not really wetlplaced at all. A better job for this Bishop was to protect tho e4-pawn.

[24.Nx96 NfO 25.Qf5 fxg6 26.QxgG leaves Whito behind in materiatwithouta clear continuation of his attack.l

24...Nf6 25.Qe2 Nxe4l.+Black has spent time collecting stones, but now it is time to scatter theml

26.Nxe4After 26.Bxc8 Nxc3 27.bxc3 Rxc8 White would be defensetess. but nowBlack lands a knockout punch.

26...Qrc2+l 27.Oxc2 Rxc2+ 2E.Kxc2 Bxo,{+ 29.Kb3 Bxhl 3o.Rxht d531.B92 e4The mis€ry of Whit€'s minor pieces pgrsists even in their otd age. Theysurlive as typical ugly pationts of Dr. Tanasch's Formula.

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32.RtlPreventing ...8f6. lf 32.Rd1 then Black wins matedat with 32...8f6 33.Rxd5BxM 34.Bxe4 Ra7 and Black's connected passod pawns on the kingsidewillwin easily.

32...R0E 33.Bhl d4 GiThe pawns cannot be stopped - 34.Rel Bn5 35.N92 Bg5, etc.

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(15) Palatnik - Dandridge [D3O]Chicaqo, 1996

Prisoner with a Life Sentence

Ld4 d5 2.c4 cO 3.Nf3 NfO 4.Qc2A solid move that also prevents Btack's noffnat developrnent with Bfs

4...e6Black's rnair altentalive is 4. 96 (see palatflik popov in Chapter Five)

5.93 NbdT 6.4q2 BdO 7.0-0 0-0 8.8f4Challenging Black for control of the e5 square. While decides that theexchange of dark squafed Bishops woutd be ir his favor Btack woutct tosea ternpo il he ret,eated with 8 Be7 so his besl choice woutd be B...Bxl4wm sorne cornpeflsalion for the exchanqe of his better Bishop i|| thedoubling of White's pawns after 9.gxf4

gh

8...Qc7?!9.Bxd6 Qxd6 10.Nbd2 h6?!This mol/e does,r'l address Black's rnain problem--namely, how to jmprovehis bad bishop on cB Better was 10...b6

11.e4 Nxe4'12-Nxe4 dxe4 13.exe4White has a cleaf advantage. His winning plan is to use lhe TarraschFormula agairrst Black's light-squared Bishop to keep it imprisoned on c8.Back has no realistic chance to play ..e6-e5, so his ontv chance fofactvatinq hr., bishop wtl l necessatity invotve playi g a t imety c6 cS. At themoment this move would be undesirabte for Black because it would rnakeWhite's bishop on g2 more powerful on the h1,aB diagonat. ln addition. theexchange ol Black's c-pawn for White's d pawn would not only give While

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conkol of lhe d-file but would also create a White pawn majority on thequeenside. Cleady Black is facing an uphillfight for equality.

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'13...Nt6 14.Qe2 Bd7 t5.Radl Rad8l6.Ne5lmproving the position of lhe Knight and also opening the long diagonal forthe Bishop on 92.

16...8c8Black has made significant pfogress. His rooks are connected, and ho isfinally ready to play ...c6-c5. The Tanasch Form!la calls for preventing thismove because without it Black cannot activate his Bishop, and willeffectively be a piece down for the rest of the game.

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17.c51This move gives up conkol of the ds-square, but it is morc important tomake sure that the prisoner on c8 does not escape. Note also that fromhere on White plays to domir|ate the dark squares.

17...Qc7 18.b4 Nd5Threatefl inq..Nc3.

l9.Qb2 RdeS 20,Rfe1 Qd8 21.a4 a6?l 22.Nc4 Nc7It turns out that the beautifut outpost square for Blacks Knight on d5 isuseless to hirn withoul support from the rest of his pieces, and he rekeals ifto c7 to slop Whale from breaking thfolgh the queenside with b4 b5 Forexample, 22...Qf6 23Nd6 Rd8 24.b5 axbs 25 axbs gives White aslranglehold on the position.

23.h4!White's dornirralion over the dark squares increases

23...Qf6 24.Re5 Rd8 25.Rdel QgO 26.8e4 f5This weakens both the e6 pawn and the e5 square, and makes il evenore difficult for Black lo activate his Bishop Retatively best is 26 ef6,although Black's pfospects are bleak. Note lhat 26...Qg4? 27.Ne3 eh328.892 lraps Black's Queerr.

27.892 Og4 28.Nd6 Rd7 29.Qd2 g5 30.hxg5 hxg5 31.edilBlack's Queer is his only active piece, so Whjte is happy to exchaflge it.Less cleaf is 31 Rle4Qhs(3t lxe4 32.Rxg5+) 32.94 eg6.

31...Qxd1 32.Rxd1 94Elack's last pawn has taken its place atoflg with alllhe othefs ofl the whitesquares; now the Bishop on c8 is nothing rnore than a big pawn.

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55

the Tarrasch Formula

33.Kf'l Kg7 34.Ke2 KfO 35.Rhl Kg6 36.Kd3 Rh7 37.Rxh7 KxhT 38.RetKg? 39.Rhl Rd8 40.Ke3 Neg

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,l1.Nc4Trading Knights would ease Black's defense somewhat, so White retr€ats.

41 ,.,8d7 12.Kf4The weak dark squarcs are an op6n road for White's King to invade theBlack camp.

42.,.Rc6 43.K05 Rc7 44.Nb6 Kg8 45.Bfl

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The last improvement - White's Bishop will come to c4 with irresistiblethreats. Black is comptetety paratyzed tf now 45.. Ng7 46 Kd6 Ne8+47 Ke7. and the White King wi affest a the Black piece;. i-0

(16) Palatnik - Schneider [E091Washirqton DC. 1997

Inevitable Breakthrough

The pawn structure of the next game is very slrnilar to the previous one, bulhere Elack rnanages to dig his defenses more deeply a (t lhe winningbreakthfouqh fequires more rnoves. Notice how White paljenly contin!e;t0 [nprove hrs posil iol l lhroughoLt the garne

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 e6 4-Qc2 Nt6 5.g3 Be7 6.892 0-0 7.0_0 NbdT8.Nbd2 b5 9.c5 a5

gn

Now itwil l probably nol be possibte lo creale an open f i te on the queenside.While therefore lurns his attention lo opening l ines on the kingside.

10.e4 dxe4otherwise the advarce e4-e5 gives Whjte a strong kingside attack

1t.Nxe4 Nxe4 12.Qxe4 Bb7After severai erchanges Btack has garned a small arnount ot freedorn, butirs lrgnl squared Bishop has no active rote In choosing to play thrspositon, evidently Black either does not believe the Tarrasth Formula ordoes nol know about it at atl

E 3.9 [email protected]

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13.Qc2l?In any position, it is necessary to focus one's creative energy in the properdirection. For this purpose it is necessary to answ€r two questions: "How Ican improve my position?" and "Which move is most imporlant for thispurpose?"

Here White has no problems about flnding an active role for his Knight andwhite squared Bishopr they are his "elite" minor pieces. Finding a job for thedark-squared bishop is mofe difiicult because of the pawn struclure. Theamprovement of White's position as a whole centers on the difficulty offinding an appropriats diagonal for this piece. A nalural move such as13.8f4 encounters the reply'13...Nf6 and after 14.Oc2 comes 14...Nd5.

The preliminary withdrawal the Ouoen is therefore lhe most important movebecause it allows White to solve the problem of his dark-squared bishop byexchanging it The move played (13.Qc2) is better than 13.Oe2 becaus€ itdoes not give Black any opporlunities for activity along lhe diagonala6 -fl.

13...Nf6'14.895Here this Bishop can brealhe oasier.

14...h6Exchanging dark-squared bishops in such positions is not good for Black,as shown in the game Palatnik-Dandridge abov€. Preserving the knightwith 14...Nds therefore weakens lhe d6-square, and also createsprcconditions to transform lhe position into a battle of "Super Knight"against "leprous" Bishop after 15.Bxe7 QxeT 16.Nes.

15.Bxf6 Bxf6l6.Radl Oc7 17.Rfe1 Rad8l8.Oo2White should not immedaately play 18.Nos b€cause after 18...8xe5 'l9.dxes

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Rxdl 20.Qxd1 (20.Rxd1? QxeS)conlrols the d-file.

1E...0619,Ne5Thus with a single move two White pieces are satisfied at once:the Knightand the Bishop- lt's like receiving double payment for the samo work!

' t9...h5The attempt at furthef simplifications is uns!ccessful aftef 19...8xe520.dxe5 Rxdl 2l.Rxd1 Rd8 22.Rd6 when troubte on the d,fite is added toBlack's other woes.

20.14 KA7 21 .h4Tightening the vise around Black's camp-

2'l...RcE 22.b3White preparcs to clear up the siluation on the queenside, either byopening a file or by closing it up completely.

22...RfdB 23.a3 Rb8Not seeing any concrete threats from his opponent, Black is reduced tomaking empty maneuvers along the 8th rank.

24.Qc2 Ba8 25.8e4Checking the opponent's nerves: now the shadow of a threat to sacrifice ongO hangs over Black's position. However, it is not a thundercloud, andBlack has adeq!ate resources against it.

21.Qe2 Rd4 22.Rd1 Qd7 Black

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r'I he Taftasch lbrmltla

25...RfE 26.Rd2White continuos to improve his position. By rearranging his Rooks on lhed file he forestalls any possible exchange on e5 because While would beready to Lse the open file as a highway for invasion

26...Rh8 27.Red'l Rh6Ugly, but it reliably covers 96.

28.Kf2 RbhSProphylaxis against the opening of the kingside by 93-94, when the BlackRooks would come to life

29.Qc3 Bb7 30.Qf3Now Black will be occupied with defending the c6-pawn and will not beable to shuffle his Rooks along the 8th rank

30...Rc8 31.b4Forces the closing ofthe queenside.

31...a4Afler 31...axb4? 32.axb4 the a-file would be in White's hands.

32.Ke3Now is time to move the King away from the kingside, simultianeously usinghis presence in the center for protection of lhe d-pawn. After relocating theWhite Rooks to the kingside it will be possible to create a rcal oppodunityfor a pawn breakthrough. Black anticapates these plans from his opponenland take appropdate preventive measures. However, takifig into accounlvahe of the Bb7 as measured by lhe Taffasch Formula, it is possible toforesee the furlher course of events.

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Bo7 33.092 RhhE 34.Rhleverything is ready for 93-94, but ...

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36,8a2 RhoSoder to defend €6

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I 39.Kf2 RdeE39...8xe5 40.dxe5 Rxd2 4'1.Rxd2 Rd7 can be answered strongty with

Qd 4l.Re3 Qc7 42.Kg2 RdE /t:l.Oe2 Bc8 44.Kh3Majesty has arrived in his new residence.

t€akthrolgh 93-94 ha8 been stopped, bul only at the cost of crcatinglnlc w€akness on 06. Now occupation of thg e:file is no less attractiv;

Whfte lhan the d-fil€. Consaquonfly White should relocate his Bishop sol0 attack eO and also redsploy hts Rooks on the e-file. During this

the White King must take care not to get in the way.

whore should White put his King? The square h3 is €videnfly his mostod8ble location. Send him into exilel But before hs can be moved, it is

ary to ensure protection. tf White immodiatoly plays 38.Kf2 RdB, Black replies effectively with 39...Bxes 4o.dxe5 Rxd2 41.exd2 Rd7

lskos ov€r the d-file. Thus it is necessary first to Drotect the Rook on

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,14...Rde8 ,ls.Qel Bb7 46.Rde2During the preceding moves White has been assuring his King,s safety andmaneuvering to triple heavy pieces on the e-file. Having done so, it is nowclear that the wide back of the knight on e5 shields the Dawn e6 as surelyas il they were best friends, so White removes his Knight from ils centralourpost.

46...8c8 47.Nf3 Qd7 48.Ne5Psychologically played. Of course the Qleen can go back on cg, blt afterso many moves of passive defense it is difficult for Black to pass uD anoPPortunity to play actively.

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8|8Ck no doubt expecled on 49.dxe5 RdE with controt of the d-flle, but thel-f,le is even morg imDortant fof Whlto now.

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Dsncerous tor Blackjs 49...Qxd4 50.Rd2; for oxampte, 50...Qc3 (5a8re6Wkts no advantage fot Whtte aftet 50..Bxe6 S1.Rxe6 Rxe6 S2.Rxe6 Rxe6

Qxe6 Qe4!=) 51.R63 Qf6 52.Qe2 Rd7 (52...e5 S3.Rd6 ef' S4.RxeSt)Rd6 Rxd6 54.cxd6 Bd7 55.Re5 Qf8 56.eb2 KhZ 57.Od4r.

hsscollecled tho maxlmum posslble number of attackers against thewn (four) whlle lhere arg five Black pieces ready for its protection.can Whit9 make progress now?

King mak€s yet anothor journey. Black is Usd down to th€ defense ofe6-pawn, so Whlte clears the way on the kingside for a possible

gh there. Thus White's KinO will filst takg up .esjdgnce on c3l

c7 53.KfiI Qd7 5,l.Ko1 Qc7 55.Kd2 Qd7 56.Kc3safe arrivall

,.Qc7 57.94tWhite'8 attack accelerates

67..,fx94 then 58.f51 qxfs 59.Rxfs+ Kg8 60.Rxhs+-

Ks758.,.9xh5 59.Rxfs+ Kg6 60.R95+ Kh6 61.Rh2 and White wins.

RhE 60.Qgl rug6?1 6l.Bbl lBishop can easily find work, In contrast to his Btack countemart.

...Rh3+ 62.Kb263.Oxg4+.

The Tatasch Fonn ld

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63.d51Afiother breakthrcugh on a heavity protected square. Weaker is 63.Bxfsexfs 64.Rxe7 QxeT 65.Rxe7 KxeT 66.ee1+ Be6.

63...cxd5 64.Qd4 Kfl 65.Bxf5 ed8 66.Bxg4 Rh4 6Z.BhS+ Kt8 68.Rg5Rh7 69.Reg2 Now it's a roul..l-0

(17) lshee,M - Boyd,D [D531lremphis Invitationat, 1 984

Dead Wood

1.d4 eO 2.Nf3 d5 3.c4 Nf6 4.Nc3 Be7 5.895 c6 6.e3 NbdT 7.Rc1 a6

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ca's vadatio| (7...0-0 8.8d3 dxc4 9.Bxc4 NdS) is s l the bostin this.position. Black pmbably avolded it because sven though heequality, he has litUe chance to win. But a draw is better tian e

rspace-oaining movo will bo bad if Black can ever safely play ...e6_e5,In fio cunent positlon it is difficult fof him to do so.

9.8h4 Nh7 10.893piece trades In order to kesp Black crampeo.

lt.Bd3 f5?cBat9s permanent w€akn€sses in Black,s pawn Etructure on the daft€s, and also makes_lt vjrtualy impossibto evgr to dgvelop th€ bishop

c8, lt's fair to say that Black is positionally lost afrBr this move.

Nhf613.NgB Rfl l4.Nxe7+ RxeTll looks surp.ising.to swap the beautiful knight on eS, but etimtnatingdark-squsred bishop increases White,s advantage.

'lno down on e5 permanen y. Btack's oht.squarsd Btshop ts now

!417.Qf3 b5 16.h3 Ngf6 l9.O.O Kh7 20.94ls going. to break through on the klngside. and th€re is nothino Black

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right choice. Whtte's bishop has retativety tit e to do, but the knight onm become even.more poworful. In addltion, the rolative strsngth-of the

€-colorod bishops now strongly favors White -- just co;parg ttl€on d6 to the one on c8.

" mov-e lhat only makes things wolse. Black is trying to activato.ofl,a6, but even_if he does so it will accomplish litile. Moanwhite,

knight can reach e5 via b1-d2-c4.

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65

r'I he 'l anasch I'brnuta

31.Bxe7lAgain the ight decision, preventing Black's knight frorn reaching a bettefsquare, and entering a "good knight vs. bad bishop" position. The knight one5 assisls the kingside attack, while the bishop on b7 is useless.

31...Rxe7 32.Rh2 QeB 33.Kf2 Qd8 34.RglBl| l |qrng up al l lhe reserves belore lhe i vasron.

34...Qa5 35.Ke2To sloo.. .Od2+.

35...8a6+ 36.Kdl Rg8 37.96+ Kh8 38.Nfl+ Rxf/ 39.gxf/ g5 40.Rxh6+Kg7,l1.Qxg5+ Kxf/ 42.Qxg8+ 1-0

(28) Vaganian - Palatnik [D121Rostov on Don, 1979

Premature Attack

h this duel White "foruets" to develop his Bishop on f4. Witholt the s!pporlof this piece, it is difficult for White to expect lo make a slccessfuldemonstralion of force on the queenside. White's hoops carry out theirrnaneuvers sluggishly, as if slffering from a lack of motivation. BlaCkSpieces meanwhile show great enthusiasm for counterattack.

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 NfG 4.e3 Bf5 5.cxd5 cxd5 6.Nc3 e6Already Black can be satisfied with the resull of the opening.

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Evoab an exc€8s of ambiton tvithout gnough accompanylng

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vallant cavalry charg€, but in the gnd lt r,yill cost Whit€ too much

was 9...8x€5 10.dxe5 0"0, but the move in lh€ text is mor€aM strcnger. lt looks at first like Btack has tost a tempo, but

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actually the opposite is lrue: the gain in time wi be on the Black side.Black's Bishop spends two tempi in order to be developed at e7. However.with these same lwo lempi White wi aimlessly shift his Knight from c3 lob5 and then back to c3 shortly afterward_ Black thereby gains an importanltempo for his development.

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11.h4Tho wounded soldier can still run foMard a f€w steps on inertia withoutfallang down! Whit6's "attack' is coming to an end.

11.. .Nc612.Nxcolf 12.h5 then 12...Ndxes 13.dxe' (13.hx96 Nxg6-+) 13...8e4+

12...bxc613.Nc3We aheady warned the rgaderthat sooner or later it would b€ necessary forthis Knight to retEce his footsteps backward.

13.. .h5This is strong€r than 13...8xh4 14.Oxc6 0-0? 15.Rxh4.

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l he Tarrasch ].ormuta

l1.grh5Afler 14.95 Qb6 followed by ...0-0 Black has the advantage.

14,,,Rxh51s.Qxco Rc8 ' l6.QaG Bxh4All Blacks pieces have taken up active positions. Because White's mostuEgnl task continues to be lhe development of his forces, White is still inlhe opening stage of lhe game. In conkast, Black's position is fullydeveloped: he is feady for the middle game. and his task consists olconcenkation and coordination of his pieces toward the enemys weakpoints.

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17.R91The threat was 17.--Bxf2+ and 18...Rxh1.

17...8x12+lThe time has come for His Majesty to take a walx.

l8.Kxf2 Rh2+ 19.R92lf'l9.Bg2 Qh4+ 20.Ke2 Nb6 Black retains his active Rook on h2 for attack

19...Qh4+ 20.Ke2

ab fsh

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20...Rxc31?It as better for this Rook to give his tife for the Knighl on c3 than to be tostwith check on c8.

2'l.bxc3 Bh5+ 22.Kd3The only move. lf 22.Kd2lhen 22...Rx92+ 23.Bx92 ef2+ 24.Kd3 ee2#

22..,Qe4+ 23,Kd2 R\92+ 21,Bxg2 e\g2+

\-

70

The Ta asch Formula

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Og3+ 26.Ktlls 26.Kd2? Qf2+ 27.Kd3 Oez#

now has a choics among sevolal rgasonable-looking mov€a, butall lose.

gl.Ob2 Bh3+ 34.K€2 Qg2+ 35.Kel Qfl+ 36.Kd2 Qf2+ 37.Kcl Oe1+Bfs+ 39.Kb3 Qdl+ 40.Kb4 Qd3 41.Qb3 Qa6l forc€s mate.;

28...Qd1+ 29.Kf2 Qc2+ 30.K93 Qxb'l 31.Oc8+ K€7 32.8a3+ Kf6Q€4+ 34.Ks3 Oxe3+ 35.K92 Nb6 with a decisive advantage for

Qf3+ 2E.KS1 Qxe3+ 29.K92 Olher moves lsad to immediate. (29.Kh1? Bf3+ 30.Kh2 Qt2+ 31.Kh3 QS2+ 32.Kh4 QC4#)30.K93 Qxc3+ 3l.Kxg4 Nl6+ and again White is getiing mat€d:

Kgl Qg3+ 29.Kfl Nb6 30.Rxb6 (30.Qxa7? Bh3+ 31.Ke2 Qg2+Qfl+ 33.Kd2 Qf2+ U.Kd3 Bft#) 30,,.axb6 and Black has a d€cisivo

in the opposite-colored bishop posltion, e.g. 31.Qb5+ Ke7 32.Ba3+

(32.Kh4 g5+ 33.Kxg5 Ne4+ 34.KhO Qe3+ 35.Kh7 Nf6+ 36.K9737.Kh8 Qs'#) 32...Nh5+ 33.Ks4 (33.Ke5 Qg3#; 33.K95 Qg3+

Qh3+ 35.K95 f6+ 36.Kt4 St#) 33...093+ 34.Kxh5 Qh3+ 35.KS5Kf4 (36.Ksd 016#) 36...s5#l

28.8a3+ Kf6 29.Oxd7 Qf3+ 30.Kgl Bh3 3l'Qe7+ Kg6next move with ...Qg2# 0-l

71

r

The Thrrasch Fornula

('19) Kaslarov (2838) - Ponomariov (21171ICIOILinares.2002

Struggling With God

This game is Garry Kasparov's firct encounter across the board with theyoungest FIDE World Champaon in chess history, Ruslan ponomariov. Theplayer of the Black pieces in this game barety had time to try on his chessffown before facing a stern test from a long-term favorite of the chessGoddess Caissa. The sporting and psychotogical value of this qame wouldbe difiicult to overestimate. At stake were the ptayers' chimpionshipambitions and prestige, nol to mention moneyl

^ In this battle Kasparov performs as if he were a God descending from

Olyrnpus, condescending to do batfle with a mere modal. He Drese;ts hisopponenl with severe probtems from the oLtset by significantiy rmprovin0afi opening tane lhat had served ponomariov well in the past. itre novet!Kaspafov inlfoduces in this game has deep roots thal go allthe way backl;Dr Taffasch s teaching: "lf one piece is badly pleced; your whole game isbad." The economy with which Kasparov applies this iimeless wisdom inlhe following game is truly amazing. Afler such an encounter, Ruslan hasthe dght to be called by a new name: /srae/, which in the Bible means''Struggling wilh cod."

1.e4 eO 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7 5.Nf3 Ngf6 6.Nxf6+ Nxf6 7.ca

Kasparov has found the mosl importanl move in this situation. prolectingthe d-pawn and creatang in some cases an opportlnity to aciivate tn6Queen along the a4-e8 diagonat. In addition. i.c3 offers ttre greatesiamount of preparation for meeting Black.s plan to disrupt the cenier with

L

72

Elack delays+ 10.Rxd1


this advance and instead plays 7...8e7 8.895 c5 LdxcsBxcS he could lose a whole temDo.

is iustilisd in spending a move at this eady stage to strsngthen lhisposition b€cause he will not go to battle alone. The weakeneda4 -o8 "calls" the white pieces fo|ward.

9.8b5 Bd6 t0.Og4l?very active mov€. Whito's 'modest' beginnino with the movo c2-c3

harmless, but Whiie's advantage becomes more underslandable inht of Bleck's reaclion with 7...c5. Black's problems now starl to increese.

flrst among th€m is the future ofthe'bsd" French bishop on c8.

10...0-0, then 'l1.Bxd7 BxdT 12.8h6 Qf6 l3.Bg5 wilh a winning position.

Pawn sacrifice is made on the altar of Dr. Tarrasch's memory. Bythe Bc8 off from tho game, and with him the Black Rooks as well,

significantly decreases the genor.rl force of the enemy's army.tts purpose investing a Pawn is not much of a risk. To gain

on it is only n6c688ary for whit€ to make his piecos active more. This is the point of his laEt move. Exchanging pieces instead with+ BxdT 12.Bxd7 QxdT solves Black's problems and causes no

L"%A:%L'M.L%Tt%g'&. ffi '"%'%T"%V

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The latasch Formltla

1t...Nxe5'l2.dxes Bxes 13.Bg5 Bt6 14.RadlThe white pieces enterthe batfle fight as if on a timetable_

14...Qc7 15.Qh4

[15.8xf6 gxf6 16-Qh4 Ke7 gives the btack King more air.l

15...8x95 ,t6.Qxg5 f6 i7.Oh5 96 1g.eh6+ Kf/ t9.Rd3 a6Black needs lo mobilize his Bishop, and for this purpose kies to decreaseWhite's control over d7.

I

7

6

5

3

2

1

20.Rh3l Qe7

[20...4xb5? 21.Qxh7+ RxhT 22.Rxh7+ Kg8 23 RxcT+-]

21-Sd3

J21.Qxh7+ now only teads to equati ly. 21...Rxh7 22.Rxh7+ Kf8 23.Rxo7KxeT 24.8d3 g5=l

21...t5

7

6

5

4

3

2

l

There as no other answer for the thr€at of Bxg6+

22.911An anspired blow. Despite appearances, this p6wn move does nol endangerWhrte s King, but.does enabte his pieces to approach to lhe enemy XiigitstacK nas ptaced his pawns on lighl squares so as to reslaict White;sbrshop. but While now starts a campaign lo .tear down the walls."

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zt...of6P&st 22...fxg4? 23.Rh4lhe exposed Bd3 again has access to the g6-pawn'and 22...Qd0 23.Rd1 only invites new troubles for Black from th€ rook on01.

23.Rdt b5Trading quoens with 23...95 24.Qh5+ Qs6 25.gxf5 exf5 26.Bc4+ Kg727.Qxg6+ leaves Black without a good way to recapture:

A) 27...Kxg6 28.Rd6+ Kq7 29.Re3 and White's active rooks dominate theboard. 29...f4 (to dovelop the Bc8) (29...b5? allows a typical finish withjr'fe7+ KfE 31.Rf7+ KeE 32.BdS Pn6 33.RcZ and Black is completelypaGlyzed.) 30.Re5 h6 31.Rxcs;

B) 27...hx96 28.RxhE KxhS 29.RdE+ Kg7 30.8e6+-

24.B02 e5 25.Rhd3White renews his control of the d-file

25...Ra7 26,Rd6Gradual inliltration into the opponent's position begins.

26...Q97 27.Qe3 Rc7 28.a41A move cut from the same cloth as 22.941 white continues to find ways tomake his Bishop active. lf possible he wants to aim it directly at the enemyXing.

8...e4Not 28...bxa4? when 29.8c4+ Ke7 30.Q95+ mates.

'75

29.axb5 axbs 30,Bxb5While has restored material balance and continues his attack ffee ofcharge.

30...Qe5 3'l.Qg5 Qe7 32.Qh6 BeO 33.Qf4 BcB 34,Qh6 Be6 35.gxf5 gxts

t35...8xf5 allows 36.8c4+l

36.Be2lWhite creeps up towad the opponent's King from the other side. Now it'sall over - Black has no good way lo defend. Finally it is clear why Whiteplayed 92-94: without it the diagonal h5-e8 would not be open. While'sBishop performed exceptional service throughout lhe struggle, while Black'sBishop was confined for most of lhe game.

36...Qf6

[36...R98+ 37.Khl does not help Black.l

37.8h5+ Ke7 3E.Rre6+Black resigned. lf now 38...Qxe6 then 39.Q97+ Qn 4o.Qxfl#, or 38...Kxe640-Rd6+l Kxd6 41.Qxf6+ and 42.Qxh8. A dazzling and beautiful example ofthe power of tho Tarrasch Formula- {-0

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The Tarrasch Fomula

Palatnik - ShustermanlD76l, 1973

Bad to Worto

he following game Black's pieces become prcgressively morsus." Fi.st the black Knight goes astray, thsn a Bishop also snds !p

later a Rook takes up a clumsy position and evsntually lhehimself is misDlaced. White did not hesitate to sacdfice a piece to start

chain reaction.

Nf6 2"Nc3 d5 3.cxd5 Nxd5 4.93 96 5.892 Nb6 8.Nf3 Bg7 7.d4 0'0t{c6 9.d5 Nasvoluntarily deflects his Knight onto the edge of the chessboard in thethat it will not be there for a long time. Who in good conscience can

a long absence of a talented wofker from execution of hls otficial

.al c6is an attemDt to undermine the foundation of ths enemy centea and tothe Knight to work

.Rotl?offers as the basicgains nothing from

line: LLEgE hO 12.8f4 cxds 13.exd5 Nac4.11.dxc6 Nxc6 (ot 11...bxc6) with a very

game for Black.

t...cxd5llo's idea in playing 11.Rel was that in case of 11...h6 12 8f4 he hased a doveloping move with lhe Rook on e1 free ot charge compared to

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theoretical rccommendation.

71

The Tarrusch Formula

'l2.exd5 eoBlack is beaten with the enemy center oukight.The exchange ofthe Bishop tooks dangerous 12...8xc3 13.bxc3

A) 13...Nxds14.BhGAl) 14...Ro8 15.c4 (t5.ed4 Nf6 16.e\d8 RxdS 17.Rxe7) jS.JxcA .6.ed4..A2) 14...Nxc3 15.Qc2;

B) 13...Oxd514.8h6 Qxdl 1s.Raxdl Re8 16.Rxe7!

13.895Certainly after 13.dxe6 Bxe6 any While advantage wi be out of thsqueston, and 13.d6 Nac4 14.8f4 Nxb2 also off€rs titfle promise.

'13...f6 l4.dxe6t?Norv.lhis Pawn will.cod Black dearly. The threalened fork on e7 compelsErack lo excnange the eueens, which aclivates While,s other Rook.

14...Qxd1 I S.Raxdl fxg5 16.Nb5The Pawn on eO is like a bone in the throat of the trapped Bishop on cB.Behind his back the Rook on a8 is also choking.

8

7

6

5

4

3

2

1

16...Bxe6An understandable reaclion: Black seeks lo free his game with tactics. Aft6f16.. Nc6 ' l7.Nc7 Rb8 18.Nxg5 Btack's pieces woutd remain confined.

17.RxeO Bxb2It makes sense tor Black lo take thrs pawn rather lhan pfot€ct his doubledpawn on 95. out now his dark .squared Bishop has no work for lhe rest ofme game.

.]

'I hc l arrssch l;ormuld

lE.Nxg5 RfsBlack was playing for this counlerblow. At lirst glace it appears that White islosing a piece because now bolh his Kniohts afe simultaneously underattack.

'l9.Nc7 RcBAfter 19...Rx95 20.Nxa8 Nxa8 21.Re8+ Kf7 22.Rxa8 White wins theExchange.

20. d5 Rxgslf 20...Nxd5 2' l .Bxd5 the Knight on gS is taboo (21...Rx95? 22.Rxg€+).White's pieces are much mofe aclive and centralized, and the'tidiculous"Black Knight on a5 is still unemployed. However, as played lhe Rook on 95soon finds ilself in a verv awkward localion.

2l.Rxb6White wins back the sacrificed piece.

21... axbo 22-Ne7+ Kl8 23.Nxc8Afler an exchanqe of tactical "courtesies" White emerges with a virtrlal exlrapawn as well as the better position.

23...b5With a Knight on the rim, an unemployed Bishop, and a clumsy Rook, canBlack's King really hope to survive?

Z.Rd8+ Kf/ 25.Rd7+ Kf6 26.8d5 Rfs 27.f4

'19

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The Knight on a5 has nlot rejoined the struggle, the Bishop is idle, the Rookis arested on f5, and finally the btack King is lhreatened wilh mate. l-0

(21) Palatnik - Vasiukov [8091Palrna de [,4allorca. 1989

The Great Wall of Pawns

The game below, like the previous one, fealurcs a policy of 'fencing in"hostile minor pieces wilh pawns. Reskicting lhe enemy's mobililysomettmes occurs with a sangle pawn, whjle other limes more extensivimeasures are required, but in all cases lhe goal is to compelthe oppo0enl!pieces 1o abandon active posilions and set e clown in a "gypsy camp farfrcm urban noise." Aftea lhe enemy forces have been drive; back. it isjhentime to occupy and colonize the hostile territory. Such invasions arcperilous, and somelimes require hemic sacrifices in oader to win the waaThroughout the ballle lhe wounded and isolaled remnants of lhe enemvarmy conlinue lo receive Dr, Tarrasch's speciallreatmenl.

1.d4 dO 2.e4 NtO 3.Nc3 gO 4.f4 Bg7 5.Nf3 0.0 6.8d3 Na6This cavaky attack from the flank qives White a chafice to demonskate hi!advantage in the center.

7.e51?Marchirrq forward to the sound of drumsl

7...N94Further prcvocation.

8.h3 Nh6

80

8

7

6

5

4

3

2

1

It may seem unsafepawns forward, but

'I ha l arrurch l,itmuld

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for White to castlepawn cover for the

8

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kangsade afler moving so manyKing is not necessary because

2

1

9.941?Such medicirre for the srck palient on h6 comes frorn the prescriptioo rnadeby Dr. Tarrasch

9...c510.d5 Nc7 l1.Bc4 Kh8Preventive mainlenance. Black removes his King from the a2-98 diagonalin case he has to move his f-pawn, and also makes room to withdraw hisunhappy knighl from h6 back to has 'chi ldhood home" on 98.

t2.0.0

8

7

6

5

3

2

I

8l

l he Tarrasch lbrmula

Black's pieces have been driven so far back by the advancing Whitepawns. White's King can safety watch the batfle uniotd from afar.

l2...bO 13.a4 a6 l4.Rbl Bd7 15.ee2 Oe8While has staked out a lot of space. His problem now is whether or not he|s ready to meel Black's reclamalion effort.

r6.b4 b5

17.bxc5lSacrificing a piece to keep Black tied up |s necessary if White wants locontrnue his ptan. Worse would be 17.9a2? c4 and Whites Bishop isimprisoned.

17...bxc4 18.c6 Bc8 t9.exc4For the sacrificed piece White has two pawns plus a huge spac€advantage. The "Great Wa[' of White pawns reslrains €nemy agg;essi;n.

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19...Qd8 20.8e3 e6An attempted'lailbreak" that White stops dead in its tracks.

2l,exd6 Qxd621...Nxds 22.Nxd5 exds 23.Qxds, or 21...exds 22.dxc7

22.8c5 exd5|f22...Qd8 White could play 23.d6.

23.Bxd6 dxc4

8

7

6

5

3

2

1

a7

6

5

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24.Ne5! Ne8 25.Bxf8 Bxt8While restores nominal material equality, with Rook and Pawn aoainst t\ivo

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minor pieces. However, Blacks minor pieces are nol well placed, thusconrrrmrng lhe correctness of Wh e s strategy as measured by ihe TarraschForm!la.

26.Nd7 BxdT 27.cxd7 N97 28.Rfdl Ne6 29.Kf2lThe King assumes an active role. In terms of attacking power, the malerialDatance now is Pawn, Rook and King against two mino; pieces.

29...Rd8 30.Kf3 Kg7 3t.Ne4 f5

rgn

8

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a7

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32.Nd6tGives back lhe Pawn d7 bul forces a tmnsition to an ending wherc While,sRook wil l be much skongerthan lhe Black mrnor pteces.

32...Nc5Not the immediate 32...Rxd7? because ofthe repty 33.Nxf5+.

33.Nb7 RxdT 34.Nxc5 Rxd,i 35.Rxdl Bxcs 36.RdZ+ Nfl

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84

The Tormsch Formula

6tlll has snouoh Pawns to rgmlnd Blsck's pleces about their former'b6hlnd the f€ncE.'

ilil,Rr8 c4 4,t.Re7+ Kg8rblack Klng ha8 retr€ated to the 8th rank, while th6 'homeless'

g 0t hls Blshop and Knlght contlnues.

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aDcdafgh

Bdo 38.Rxc4 85 39.Rc6 Bs7 40.Ro6 Bb4 4l.RcC NdO '12.c3

abodef0h

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ng enotherweakness in Blsck's camp.

46.Ke2 Bf8.Bd6 then 47.Rd7l Cthreatens Kd3) 47...8xt4 (47...8f8 48.RdS and,t6.Rd4+-

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47.Rb7l? BdO 48.Rb5 Bxf4

Survival Instinct

Io. inll9du99 th€ next game we pass atong a true story totd by Doctorl"lr$l '1, !-l.g lormerly worked as ships docror on the passenger trne,Admial Nakhimov and hts otfice was in lhe lowermost comoartments oflhc ship. While the ship was in port at Sochr. the A(tmircl Nakhimov look onboard several new passengers, including a man with a faactured leq Who

49.Rc5lWirning the as-pawn creales a distant passed pawn, and is moleimportant for White than 49.Rxfs.

49... e5 50.Rxa5 Kg7 51.Rbst?Preventing Black s pieces front approaching the a_pawn. Nolice how Whitefai lhful ly employs the Tarrasch Fofmula in a stages ofthe game.

51...893 52.a5 f4 53.a6 f3+ 54.Kfl Kf6 55.RxestRemember how this Knighl was originally a'hermit" on h6? His l i fe hasbeen lul l ol persecution, but l inalty he perishes in the very cenlef ol theboardl The tocus ot this game was the eflectiveness of Whites pewnswhich brings to mind the greai Frcnch chess player philidor,s teachi;g thaipawns are the "soul of chess.' philidor would cedainly have been ver)pleased with this game. 1-0

(22) Reshevsky - Vaganian [C05]Skopie. 1976

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86

The Thndsch Formuh

lmmodiately required Dr. Petrukhin's help. The doctor spont over an hourt€ating the patient, during which timo the ship set sail for the high seasSlddonly the patient demandod to be teken out of the doclois@mparlmenl onto the open deck for fresh eir, even though the doctofst€atment was not finished. The patient could make no reasonableorplanalion for his request, but was neveriheless very insistent upon il, sowith greet difficulty Or. Petrukhin accompanied him to the top deck. In doingso bolh men saved their livos, beceuse only a tsw minutes laterthe Admla,lvekh,ifiov collided with another vessel, receiving a breach in the hullover Im6t6rs wide. The Admfal Nakh,imov qulckly sank to the bottom of the sea,killino over one hundred persons trspped inside.

Thg passengor with the brokon leg evidently possessed an increasedsurvival inslincl. Because of his iniury, every possible ssfety system in hisbody was in a state of increased readinoss. Consequently, he sensed thedangef ahead oft ime, and by being on lho top deck he and the docto.wereable to save their lives by abandoning lh€ sinking ship.

Coming back to chess (and you probsbly, alroady have guessed that theruthor se6s it as a metaphor of life), there is a parallel between this slorylnd the events of the following game. Black's Bishop on c8 in the FrenchOefense is like the passenger with a broken leg. However, it is necessary totrus1 his instinct for self-preservation. and it can be very useful sometimeslo bring him out into the open - escorted, of course, by Dr' Tarrasch

l.o4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 Nf6 4.e5 NfdT 5.f4 c5 6.c3 Nc6 7.Ndf3 Qa5 8.Kf2Be7 9.8d3 Ob6 10.NezClearly Black's Bishop on c8 in this position has a "broken leg" and it is verydifficult to not hear his urgent requesl fot fresh air.

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87

The'lArrasch borthula

10...f6!? 1l.exf6 Bxf6Black takes the first steps on the Bishop's difficutt path toward ,,f.esh air.,

l2.Kg3 cxd4 l3.cxd4 0-0Not 13...Nxd4? 14.Nexd4 Bxd4 15.Nxd4 exd4 .16.Bg6+t hxg6 and 17.exd4.

14.RelWhat can be is more natural than to put your Rook on an open file? But ifWhite had anticipated the coming slorm, he wolld have pGferred 14.Rf1

a

7

6

5

4

3

2

l

8

7

6

5

3

2

1

14...e511The storm hits, bringing with it a lot of fresh sea atrl

'l5.fxe5 Ndxe5Now tho way from the top deck is open a the way down to th€ Captain,s0noge_

16.dxe5

abcdel '2 ryeA2 '&7tL'&t'/l//,,: 7//.2'/&. ',9,gTtar&,t/.2,24\//:,2 LWH. 'ta,t/,a

88

The Tarnsch Fomula

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Bh4+lmove is like being hil with a torpedo, after which th6 White ship cannotn afloat for long,

,Kxh417,Nxh4? Qf2#

gxplosion amidship, afrer which fagedy follows.

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89

The Tatasch Fottnula

18.RtlOr 16.gxf3 Qf2+:

Al1gKg5 h6+ 20.Kf4 (20.K96 NxeS+ 21.Kh, Qxh2#: 2o.Kh5 Qxh2+21.K96 NxeS#) 20...95#iB) 19.No3 Qxh2+ 20.K95 Qh6#

lE...Ob4+l?This is more precise than 18...Qd8+.

'lg.Btil Oe7+ 20.895 Qo6 21.8t5

21.oxf3 Qh3#; 2'l.Rxf3 Qg4#zLbg Qxh3+ 22.gxh3 Rxh3#

These variations show that the Bc8 has reached full power.

21...Rxfstf 21...Qxfs? 22.Qxd5+ Be6 23.Qxf3.

22.Nt4 Oxo5 23.Q94 RflIn addition to all his other pluses, Black now has a material advantraqe.

24.Qh5 Ne7 25.94 Ng6+ 26.K93lf 26.Nxg6? Qxh2#

26...8d7The Bishop's l€gs are heal€d, and he can even walk nowl Bravo DoctotTarrasch!

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?.Rael QdO 2E.BhO RafE

An lmpoalant conclusion can b6 made 6fterthis game: You can consciouslygo into a position with a "pati€nl" who is sick according to O.. Tarasch'sFornula ifyou know (or €l least feel) that it is possiblo to curc him. (Fl

9 l


Exercise 9

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Neistadt, 1929

1.Kd1 Bd2 11...8b2 2.Nc2+; 1...8a3 2.Nc2+ Kd3 3.Nxa3l 2.Nc6l Kdl3.No5+ Kc3 [3...Ke3 4.Nc4+] 4.Nf3+ 1.0

Exercise 10

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Reti, 1922

1.Nd4+ Kc5 [1...Kb7 2.Kxh2 Ka6 3.Nb3+-] 2.Kh t Kd6 [2...Kc4 3.a6i2...8f8 3.Ne6+; 2...897 3.Ne6+; 2...895 3.Ne6+; 2...Bf4 3.Ne6+; 2...8d23.Nb3+t 2...Bcl 3.Nb3+l3.Nf5+ l-0

92

The Taftosch Formulo

.[1.N06? Bes=l l.,.Bal 2.Kb1 Bg7 l2...AU 3.Nd6+ KxcT 4.Nb5+;3,Nd6+ KxcT 4.Nb5+: 2...8fti 3.Nd6+ KxcT 4.Ne8+l 3, d6+ KxcTXd7 5.Nxg7+- 1.0

Kell 2.8c3+l [2.Nxh1? Kf1 3.K93 K91=]Kf3 5,Kh3 Bg2+ 6.Kxh2+- l-0

m%%%,%%*****.*

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Yunkson, 1937

93

2...K112 3.tld1+ Kg2

-

Exercise 13

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Gavashi, 1922

'l .Nb5+ Kb2 2.Nxa3l Bxa3 3.Nb4l+- 1.0

Exercise l4

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The Taftasch Formula

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Exercise 15

'lhe T arrasch l''ornula

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Kenig and Mandler, 1924

1.Bfl 896l 2.Ba2l [2.8b3? Bxhs 3.Nf5+ Kg6 4.8c2 Bdl l=] 2...Bxh5 3.Nf5+KgO 4.Bb'l Bf3 [4...8e2 5.Nd4+; 4 Bd1 5.Ne3+] 5.Nd4+ 1-0

Erercise 16

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Btaty, 1890

1.Kd'l Bb2 2.Ke1 Bcl 3-Kfl Bd2 4.K92 Be1 5.K91! Bd2 [5...8f2+ 6.Kf1+-]6.Kfl Bci 7.Ke'l Bb2 8.Kdl Bal g.Kcl Bb2+ lo.Kbl+- 1-0

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-'l he T arrasch l.brnula

Chapter ThreeOpposite Color Bishops

ln the endgame the presence of oppos e

iXl":g:;i.":*;::"n*"; ;..-,""",H:"":i',T,iiH::,:.J#i :ffi:;;;{fr f;5*:i111i;,i*k1di";4tf ""5#L'i'"si:{i'$di-t#jjflil,::'i#il'''l'.ffi 5l"i*"1",,ffi ililq,l^ql-i!fl il[;ilt;igili,i'"#*iff *tl*,;r-r:,"'*:*n..;;$;,*;i';::i:tti+f;r,r""r:ru*ru*f ld;*'ll"*xl[',?J".orilJiif;rt"" & Hisler - rarrasch [c67]

"o.E.D."

ilr:+ri:,:I^iliii!::iH:ri";r":i:,?f H:fl H1J;ffi ,ff ffi :lilt;ilT:ffi :::,'ff i"#::llt","J":1H,"*:'"',1",n*.l""i:mt:.:o_"j-1.{r !:g.1 "os

Nf6 4.0_o Nxe4 5.d4 Be7 6.dxes#;il?::,'Jj,Ji[,ff:lll ;i$Jl?l"l;ff i,J;;ff[:ii:l,t""J' -'6...d5 7.c3Dr Tarrasch says that thts is a weak morbener for whrte io conli,r" ," ol""iip riii Jii€nd

thal it would have been

'1ht tdrro.tch t.om ht

7.. .0-0Elack has overcorne the opening difficufiies and has reached a qame withrch perspective His central pawn occupies a more profilable position thafllhe eremy pawn Besides that he says, 'White does nol even rnake a hifitabout an attack ll is hard to disaqree with his assessme|tl

8.Bxc6?This is a weak rnove because white kades a piece that is very irnportant togLard whrte sqLares. but Dr Ta a\.h said thdl a othpr rnovp\ ot Whrte donol seern qood either, and continued irr his irrirnitabte style ',ln a badoo\i l io al l ol the Inove5 scem ba(t. ' Thrs staterne t rs Lpdainly true tgeneral, but not all afialysts would consrder that the position before takinoon 16lo be lhat bad tor whrtp Butwe should rernpmber hrs ro Llusro thaiIn a bad posit ion al l moves DO seem badl

8...bxc6 9.Nd4 8d710.f3 Nc511.Qe2 NeG 12.Nxe6?0r Tarrasch states that this was a decisive mistake. Untit this momentwhle still had hopes of realazirrg his pawn advantaqe on the Krngside. Butnow his possibililies equal zero

12...fxe6Black has a qood game He has two bishops, open files for his rooks, andpawn advantaoe on the queenside After this rnove, Tarrasch show thespectators that if white will play now or later, f3 f4, thefl he will receivecheckmate on q2l His prophecy carne true, but only after another 47moves. Looking at the position on the diaqram, especially considerinq thernood of the bishop on d7, yo! can wonder obout the deeD understandinolfdl tarrds' h lo predrct souh ul lusudt possrbrt iLres ol a brshop so lenced i;on d7

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13.t4?The consequences of thls mov6 pfovide us with an instruc0v€situation.

l3...c5l,a.Bo3 Rb6The blshop ts getting rcady to show hts teeth.

l5.Qd2 Bbsl6.Rdl Bc6Already. even ln thesg cloudy clrcumetiances. we are able to envislonthe hodzon I checkmate on 02.

l7.Na3 Qe8 1E.R8bt Rd6 tg.RbclOr 19.Nc2 d4 20.cxd4 cxd4 2,t.Bxd4 Bo4 with eg6 and cS to follow.

1E...dl 20.c',d4 cxd4 21.8nWhit6 cannot capture the pawn on d4 because of 2i.Ba4 followod by c5,2,1 'B* ZLR'1 c5 23.NG4 Bc6 2it.Nd6

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pass€dpawn and posslblllty of an attrack permtt this

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Bxd6 26.B93

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not b€ reasonable for whit€ to protect himself wlth 26.93 becaus€F-ds-and maybe g2l

fries to pr€vent black from playtng...h5-h4 by ptaying h3-h4Black would reply with QgO and aft€. threat€nlng checkmate on 92th€ pawn on f4 without Dunlchment.

2E.bxcs Bc7 29.Bxh4 BI'4 30.Oxd,t Ohst 3l.Bg3 Bxcl 32.Rrcl

w 0n Whit6 will be undgr the ihr€at of ch€ckmst€ on 92, whlch was20 moves oadler.

99

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33.8f2 Oxa2ln trulh Black has not achieved very much, bul it is gnough. On ong flank h6nas an anacK wtm the threat of checkmate, and on the oth€r flank he has apassed pawn. T_his is the kind of position where having opposito color€,brsnops can De ttke an oxtra piece for the player who has the initiative.

34.O03[34.Ra1 Qc2 White cannot take the a pawn.]

34...a5 35.Rel RfO 36.Re2 ed5 3Z.Bg3 a/r 38.Rd2 Oc4 39.h3While cannot immediately ptay Rd8+ because ol 39...K? 40.h3 whichwou|o De lo owed by 40...ef1+ and eg2#t In case of 40.Rd1 black wouldconllnue 40...Qc2 41.Qd2 Oxcs+ winning the c pawn, or 40...a3 and whit€cannor capture this Dawn because of oe2

39...Qc1+ 40.Kh2 Bd5Black was under the threat of tosing his queen aft€r Rd8 discovered check.

4l.Be5 RgGThfeatens Rg2+.

42.Qd3 Rs5 tr3.Rc2 ObtA repetilion of th6 same threat.

/r4.Bg3 Rf5The Jnove- 44...a3 woutd be prematurc because it woutd be foltowed by45.c6 Bxc6 46.Qd8+ foltowod by Rxc6.

45.Rc3lf instead of Rc3 white ptayod c6 he would simply tose the Dawn.


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100

The 'l arrasch l.brmula

15..,Qall46.c6The move 46.Ra3 would lead to an immediate loss because of 46...eb2.

16...Rf1 47.8h4Th€ bishop cannot move back to d6 because Black could ptay 47...ee1,with checkmate on hl to follow.

47,,.Rh1+ 4E.Kg3 RdlBlack colld not play 48...Q91 because white will push his c pawn and hisklng will escape via f4 and e5.

19.0e3 Rel 50.Qd3 Qb2Now the threat is 51...Qx92+ followed by Re4+.

5l.Rc2Itwolld not be correct to play Qc2 because of Re3+.

5'1...Q05+ 52.Kf2 RblWith the threat of 53...Qe'l# tf white wi protect himself by ptaying Re2 or0e2, lhen Qf4+ will foltowing, winning the que€n. lf S3.eo3 bla;k would

Ewer with Qfs+, winning tho rcok.

53.0d2 Qe4There is a threat of checkmats in thrce moves with the hetp of checks on92, e4 and f3.

g,Kg3 Rb3+ 55.Kh2ll White chooses to protect himself with the rook, he wi lose it after ees+.

55...qxh4Finally the opposite color bishop is the onty bishop.

56.c7 Qg3+ 57.K91 Rbl+ 58.Rct Rxcl+ sg.excl exg2#Quod:rct clemonslrcncluml (Just what we n€eded to prove.) This game,sspecially in the second half, is rich with interesting variations. The matinghreat on 92 was a motifthroughout the game. White's fate was seated afterhe Dlayed 13.f4?.

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The :t arrasch l,brmtla

(24) Rubinstein - spietman [D30]Zemmering, 1926

Infiltration

'1.c4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e3 NfO 4.t{f3 e6 5.Nbd2 96 6.b3 eas Z.Be2 Bg7 8.G00-0 9.Qc2 NbdT 10.8b2 Rd8 11.a3 NeBBlack cannot activate his tight-squared Bishop with 11...cS because afror12.b4 cxb4 13.axb4 Qxb4 14.c5 the Black Queen wi be traDDed with Rlblor Bc3.

12.Rfc1 Qc7'13.b4 Nb6 14.a4 Nxc4 15.Nxc4 dxc4 i6,exc4 BdzBlack tries in vain to improve the position of his light-squared Bishop.

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l7.Nes Rac8l8.b5White develops a Queenside initialive. He's ready to give Btack an isotat€d,weak Pawn on c6. Black had no choice but lo defend passively.

18...Nd6 l9.Qb3 Be8Because Black can't find an open road for lhis piece, he parks it on egsimply to get it out of the way.

20.Rc2Increasirrg power along the c-file.

20...Nf5 21.bxc6 bxc6 22.Rac1 Ne? 23.8t3 Rb8 24.ea2

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The Taftasch Form la

maximizes his pressure, creatino a weakness on c6 and attackino it.now exchanges his dark-squarod Bishop for ths Knight on eS- into decrease White's attack against c6, but thts in turn creates a

€tad piec€. Thsnks to the Bishops of opposite colors, White will be abteoxploit the weak squares on the Kingside. White's dark-squgred Bishop

weakness on the dark squares.

Bxes 25.dxe5 Nd5 26,Bxd5lsobedy exchanoes his Bishop for the Knight which was Black's best

be very busy, while Black's Bishop r€mains idl6 on e8.

Rxd5is 26...exd5, after which Whito coutd bring his euoen to d4 and

a breaklhrough with e5-s6. He could even play 27.e6l?[y because after 27...fx€6 comes 28.f4 with the throat BeS. Black

.navo an extr€t pawn, but the Exposed wgak dad( squares providelnan enough compensation.

.Brl4 Qas 28.h3 Qa6

€ chances to lose then to draw. He a Pawn down, and with Rooks onboard. Black's King remains very vulnerable.

Rc4 h5 30.Qa3 Rb7 3,1.e4 RdE 32.Oc3 RbdZ 33.ee3 Kh7 34.Bc5l+ 35.Kh2

t€ttof defense was 28...c5. However after 2g.Rxcs Rxcs 30.Rxc5 exa4l.Qxa4 Bxa4 32.Ra5 intending Ra7 rcach€s a position where Btack has

103

The Taftasch lbnfiltla

35...Rxc1?This move loses immediately, but even the better move 35.._Kg7 do€s nolprevent Black from losing. For example: 36.Rxd1 Rxdl 37.Rd4 0f138.Rxd1 Qxdl 39.Q95 Qd7 40.Qf6+ Kg8 41.8e3 Kh7 42.h4 with the threslof Bh6.

36.BfE 1-0Black resigns- White was able to dominate the Black squares with only t{0pieces, and even thcugh Black also had two pieces th€y wore functionallyoul of the game.

(25) Palatnik - David [D851Gradets-Kralove,'1988

Morc InfiltIation

This game follows the same path as the previous example belwgonRubinstein and Spielman. The pawn structufe in bolh games is similar gvontho!gh it afose from difterent openings. There is also considerable similadlyifl the way White uses opposite-colored Bishops in both games to fuelhhattack. However, the game below concludes not in a kingside attack bul inthe creation and use of a passed a-pawn.

1.Nf3 NfO 2.c4 96 3.Nc3 d5 4.d4 Bg7 5.cxd5 Nxds 6.e4 Nxc3 7,bxc3 c58.8b5+ Nc6 9.0-0 cxd4 10.cxd4 0.0 11.8€3 Bg4Black is making a maximum effort in his struggle against the White centor.

12.Bxc6 bxc6 t3.RclDespite Black's weak pawn on c6, it is not possible for White to obtain 8serious advantage as long as Black can keep making threats against h0White Dawn on d4.

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13...Qa50r 13...Qd7 14.h3 Bxf3 15.Qxf3 Bxd4 '16.Rfdl eS (16...c5? 17 RxcS)17 Bh6!

14.0e2 RfdSThis leads Black ilrlo diffic!lties. I\,4ore interesting is .j4...ebs 1Sexbs(15.Rc4? Be6 16.Rc2 Qxe2 17.Rxe2 Bc4) 15...cxb5 16.Rc7 Bxf3 t7.gxf3e618 Rfc1r.

l5.Rc5 Oa4 16.Qc4 Orc4 17.Rxc4 RabS 18.h3 BdzNow it is not difficult to recognize this Bishop as a patient of Dr. Tarrasch!The alternative 18...8xf3 19.gxf3 leaves the c6-pawn lo its doorn. and if18...8e6 White answers 19.Ra4.

lg.Rfcl Rb7 20.Nest BxeSThis exchanqe is forced if Black wants to keep his c-pawfl.

2l,dxes h5 22.Ra4 Ra8 23.Ra6 Rb5Evidently Black has no patience wrlh passrve "trench,, defense, so hed6cided on this Rook sortie with the goal of simptifyiflg the position.

24.Rxa7 RxaT 25.BxaZ Rxes0r 25...Ra5 26.8c5 Kf8 (26...Rxa2?t 27 BxeT onty hetps White crealektside threals o the dark squares) 27.a3t

26,Rd1ttWhile continues to focus his attention on making slre Black,s Bishop isbadly placed

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The Tanasch Formula

26...BeEThe only move. Instsad 26...8e6? loses after 27.RdE+ K 7 2g.Bd429.Rh8#.

27.RdE Kt8 2E.Be3l? foBlack loses a plece afrer 28...Rxe4? 2g.Bh6+ Kg8 3o.Rxeg+.

29.R.61Most imFrtant for Whit€ now is to assure the advance of his a-oawn.

29...c5 30.a,1Kf, 31.a5 c4 32.a6 Ras 33.a7Thls foot solder is ready to try on General's stars.

33...8c6 34.RcE Bxe4 35.Rxc4 Ads 36.Rc7 Ko6 37.8c5 06Not 37...Kd8? 3E.Bb6l+-

3E.BoZ Ral+ 39,Kh2 Ra2 ,to,Kgl Ral+ ifi.Kh2 R82 ,#I.Bcs43,Re7+ Kd8After 43...Kt8 ,{4.Rb7+l RxcS 45.a8e+ is concrusrve.

il4.Rx.6l 1.0lf nox/.14,,,Rxc5 then 45.Rd6+ Ke7 46.Rxd5 wtth winning position,46...Rc8 47.Ras Ra8 48.K93 €tc.

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(26) Kaidanov - Palatnik [A861Asheville. 1995

Dllferent Colo., Different Power

Ld4t5 2.93 Nt6 3.c/r gO 4.892 Bg7 5.Nh3White makes this move with a new strategic idea in mind. The usual moveis5.Nf3.

5,..0.0 6.Nf4 d6 7.d5 cO 8.Nc3 e5 9.dxe6 Oe7Itnow White plays 10.0-0 BxeO 11.Nxe6 Qxe6 he can reach a we knownposition. However, hero is where White inhoduc€s his new idea.

t0.h4t?This move is not consistent with castling short. lt is now ctear that Whiteplans t0 open the h-file and create some targets on the Kingside for the f4-Xnight. Becauss this plan requires several tempi White must be r€ady to!€crifice matedal in order to carry oul his idea, because otherwise it wilt bewry difficull for him to finish his developmenl.

l0,..Bxe61t.h5ll doesnl make sense for White to lose time defending the c-pawn, so heFoc€eds with his Kingside attack.

it...BJlSlack saves the Bishop and uses it for proteclion of the g6-square. Oftenhis Bishop is exchanged in the Leningrad systom, but by retaining it Blackisable lo keep pressure on the c4 pawn. Forthe moment White ignores thisbecause he is ready lo sac.ifice lhe c-pawn to pursue his attack.

7 he Tarrasch liormula

12.hxg6This confirms that White's idea is lo open the h fite. 12.h6? would havebeen a mistake because it would have ended White's initiative on heKingside, and in the endgame this pawn would have been a tasty targel onh6.

12...hxgO 13.8e3 NbdT 14.8d4Because the Knight on f4 blocks the c1-h6 c,iagonal, it makes sense forWhite to activate his dark squared bishop on the long diagonal inslead.

r4...Rfd8?Aratural looking move-il brings the Rook to a cenlral file direc y opposileWhite's Queen, and also opens room for lhe Black King. Howeier: ll is amistake! Better would have been 14...Nb6 wilh attaca on the c4 pawn,wnich would have put White on the defensive ancl called inlo questi;n hiswhole strategy.

15.Qc2 Nb616.0-0-01White conlinues in gambit style in ofder lo maintain his initiative. Forexample, in reply to 16...Nxc4 While would ptay 17.e4t after which the oponfiles and diagonals will become highways to the Black Kifiq.

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16...d5r?This move is designed to prevent White from playing e3-e4, but on d5 thepawn will be in dangert in fact, White can win the d-pawn. However, doingE0willgive Elack counterptay in an opposite-color Bishop Dosition.

l7.cxd5 NbxdS 18.Nfxd5 cxd5 t9.Bxf6?White is not faithful to his gambit style. Wath this move he gains a materialadvantage, but in doing so he hands over the initiative to Bltck.

l9...Bxt6 20.l.lxd5 Bxd5 21.BxdS+ Kg7

8

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This is a lypical situation with opposite-cotor Bishops suppo.ted by heavypreces. The right question to ask in this kind of position is'Which Bisho;

'l he Tarrasch l,ornula

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:l he Tarrasch Fomula

can cooldinate more effectively with the other pieces?' In lhis case, Blacknas a ready-made atlack down the open c,file and his Bishop Can supportan attack on b2, both of which afe very uncomfortabte for the White klng.White has an extra pawn, bul it means litfle in such a sharp position wiilthe Kjngs castled on opposile sides ofthe board.

22.KbINecessary to avoid a pin on the eueen.

22...Rac8The last Black piece comes into the game with tempo.

23.Qd2This is not a good move even though it threatens 24.eh6#. White's Bishooon d5 rs now pinned to the eueen. and i ls value goes down because i lbecomes a targel. ln contrast, the value of Black,s opposite color Bishopgoes up. 23.Qb3 is better, but after 23...Rd6 Black could develoo hisinit ial ive. l l is becoming clear lhat Black's stronger Bishop gives him morethan enough compensalion for e pawn.

23...95 24.Qd3 Qe5 25.Rd2Defending against mate on b2. No bettef is 25.eb3 because of 25...Rxd51and the White Queen is overtoaded (26.exd5 exb2#, or 26.Rxd5 Oe4+wirrni g the Rook on h1).

25...Rc5White is about to tose his Bishop.

26.e4 fxe4 27.Qe2 Rcxd5 28.Rc2 efs 29.ec4 e3Threatens mate with 30...Rd1. White resigned. O-l

(27) Platonov - celler [C591Moscow. 1969

Echoes of Steinitz

The next game by lgor Platonov took place at a very important momenl innrs cness career. lt was playod in the last round of the USSRCharnpionship, and by winning this game platonov earned not only abrcnze medal but also the tifle of Grandmaster. On the other side. in tosingthis game my co!ntryman and childhood idol, Gfandmastef Geller, also losithe title of "Champion of the Soviet Union.', The Tarrasch Formuta has a biginfluence on the course of this pressure-packed game.

i.e4 e5 2,Nf3 Nc6 3.8c4 NfO 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 Na5 6.8b5+ c6 Z.dxc6bxc6 8.8e2 h6

0

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Tho opponents have played a variation wilh ',a long beard." l\rany yearsbofore this game, oulstanding chess players of the 19th cenlury such asStoinitz and Chigorin had already given this Two Knights Detense a lot ofcrcalive inspiration. By secrificing a Pawn, Black has driven sway all lheunfriendly pieces. His compensation for the mateial is his initiative in thecgnter and on lhe kingside. However, it is also necessary for Black to t6kecare that his Knight on a5 does not turn into a weakness.

9.t{h3t?While revives an old move first essayed in this position by Steinitz. Thealtemative 9.Nf3 allows 9._.e4, after which the probtems of this Knight woutdnol COme to an end. But on h3 the Knighl can fe6l relatively safs because itwould be undesirable for Black to exchange a Bishop for il thero, even ifdoing so would dsstroy the pawn cover for the White King.

9..,8c510.0-0 0.0 l '1.d3 Nd5 t2.Nc3 Nxc3 t3.bxc3 eh4 i4.KhttWf te is ready to paft with a pawn in order to entice Black to exchange hisBishop for the Knight on h3. lf he does not, the Knight is ready to return to91 and make a'new beginning" to his l i fe.

'14,..8xh3 15.gxh3 Qxh3 16.Bf3Now White's idea is clear: his light-squared Bishop tooks much bette. thanEleck's Knight on a5.

16...8d6 17.8s2 Qh4 1E.Qf3An importanl part of White's plen. After this Queen move Btack's kingside,ltacking chances evaporate, and can only hope to save his skin in theending. His chances of doing so will depend on how much Btack iswilling topay forthe "buffalo skin" on a5.

l l l

The Tarasch Fbrrnula

can coordinate more effectively with lhe other pieces?" In this case, Blackhas a ready-made attack down the open c-file and his Eishop can suppodan attack on b2, both of which are very uncomfortable fof the White King.White has an extm pawn, but it means little in such a sham position witlthe Kings castled on opposite sides of the board-

22.Kb1Necessary to avoid a pin on the Queen.

22...RacgThe last Black piece comes into the game with tempo.

23.Od2This as not a good move even though it threatens 24.Qh6#. White's Bishopon d5 is now pinned to the Queen, and its value goes down because ilbecomes a target. In contrast, the value of Black's opposite color Bishopgoes up. 23.Qb3 is better, bul after 23...Rd6 Black could develop hisinitiative. lt is becoming clear lhat Black's stronger Bishop gives him morothan enough compensalion for a pawn.

23...95 24.Qd3 Qe5 25.Rd2Defending against mate on b2. No better is 25.Qb3 because of 25...Rxd51and the White Queen is overloaded (26.Qxd5 Qxb2#, or 26.Rxd5 Qe4+winning the Rook on h1).

25...Rc5White is about to lose his Bishop.

26.e4 fxe4 27.Qe2 Rcxd5 28.Rc2 Qfs 29.Qc4 e3Threatens mate with 30...Rd1. While resiqned. 0-1

(27) Platonov - Geller [C591Moscow, 1969

Echoes of Steinitz

The next game by lgor Platonov took place at a very imporlanl moment inhis chess career. lt was played in the last round of the USSRChampionship, and by winning this game Platonov earned not only abrorrze medal but also the title of Grandmaster. On the other side. in losingthis game my counkyman and childhood idol, Grandmaster Geller, also loslthe title of "Champion of the Soviet Union." The Tarrasch Formula has a biginfl!ence on the course of this pressure-packed game.

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.8c4 NfO 4.N95 d5 5.exd5 Nas 6.8b5+ c6 7.dxc6bxc6 8.8e2 h6

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The opponents have played a variation with "a long beard." Meny yearsbefore this game, outstanding chess playe|s of the 19lh century such asSleinitz and Chioorin had already given this Two Knights Defense a lot ofcfeative inspiralion. By sacrificing a Pawn, Black has d ven away all theuntfiendly pieces. His compensation for lhe material is his initaative in thecenler and on the kingside. However, it is also necessary for Black to takecare that his Knight on a5 does nol turn inlo a weakness.

LNhSt?White revives an old move first essayed in this posation by Steinitz. Theallomative 9.Nf3 allows 9...64, after which tho probtems of this Knight wo!tdnol come to an end. But on h3 the Knight can feel relatively safe because itwould be undesirable for Black to exchang€ a Bishop for it there, even ifdoing s0 would deskoy the pawn cover for the White King.

9,..8c5 10.0.0 0.0 ,|1.d3 Nd512.Nc3 Nxc3 13.bxc3 Qh4 t4.KhtlWhite is ready to pad with a pawn in order io entice Black to exchanoe hisBishop for the Knight on h3. lf he does not. the Knight is reedy to retum to91 and make a'new beginning" lo his l i fe.

l4...Bxh3 15.gxh3 Qxh3'l6.Bf3Now White's idea is clear| his light-squered Eishop looks much better thanBlack's Knight on a5.

t6...8d6 l7.Bg2 Qh4 1E.Qt3An importanl parl of Wh e's plan. After this Queen move Black,s kingsideattacking chances evaporate, and can only hope to save his skin in theonding. His chances of doing so will depend on how much Black is willing topay for the "buffalo skin" on a5.

l

The Tarasch Formula

'18.,,e4' lg.Qh3 Qxh3 20,Bxh3 exd3 2l.cxd3 RfdS

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22-Rg1The time has come for White lo activate his Rooks, and he does so withtempo by threatening 23.8xh6.

22...KhE 23.RblThe second Rook also finds an open file.

23...8f8 24.d4 Bd6It would be premalure to play 24...Nc4 because of 25.Rb7, and if 24.._Rab825.8f4 and White takes possession of lhe open fite.

25.8e3 Rab8 26.892 RbO 27.8e4 Rdb6 28.h3Black has successfully paotecled his posilion from intrusion by enemyheavy pieces, and has even made it possible not only to exchenge theenemy Rooks bul also to reconnect has "sleepy,' Knight on a5 to lhe bat s.However, White's advanlage is not all gone, as we shall soon see.

28...Rxb'l 29.Rxbl Rxbl+ 30.Bxb1 Nc4 31.K92 Nxe3+ 32.fxe3 96The game has reached an opposite color Bishop endgame in which Whitehas a large advantage because of the woakness of Black's queenside €ndWhite's more aclive King.

33.Kt3 KO7 34.c4 c5The threat was 35.c5 followed by Be4 and Bxc6.

35.Ke4The white King has opened lhe gate for a night walk on tho eueen.s hatfofChess Park.

rt2

The Taftatch Formuld

..KfO 36.Kd5 Ke7 37.Kc6 f5 38.a4

bad ls 36....5 39.Kb6; o.l9_!XC4 39.€xd/t and Bteck has no chancestop White's pass€d pawns from marching tolwal!.

Bo5 40.ext4 Bxf4 4l.Kb7l41.Bxg6? Be3.

5?llstake in tlme trouble that facilltateg Whlte,s task. Mor€ stubbom wss

..,a5.

continues to find ways lo strgnOthen hls position. By c.ntrast, Black.smoves for improving his position arg nowh€r€ to be found.

abod€fgh

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(28) Boleslavsky - SternerSveden USSR,1954, 1954

Limit ing Mobil i ty

This position arose after 37 moves of a hardjought game. At first glancechances seem balanced, and it would be so except for the presence olopposite-color Bishops. White's Bishop is much more effective than Black!Bishop, and White is able lo emphasize this difference.

38.RdlWhite corrcctly believes thal his winning chances depend on whetheror nolhe can create an al lack on the l ight squares. l f he is successful, he wil l lumBlack's dark-squared Bishop inlo a useless piece. White s Queen and Rookprovide essential support for his Bishop. Thus, lhere is no rcason for Whilelo oppose Rooks on the b-f i le, because doing so would only result in anexchange of Rooks.

38...8c7The irnmediate 38...Rf8 al lows 39.Rd7.

39.Qrl7The need lo defend f/ forces Black's Rook into a passive position, andWhite s iniliative grows.

39_..Rf8

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'l he 'lArrusch Formula

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10.s51White finds a very important and instruc.live way to strengthen his position.Wilh opposite-color Bishops on the board, it is often desa.6bl€ to praceyou Pawns on the same color squares as tha opponent's Blshop.Black's Bishop on c7 now is even more limited by White's es-pawn, which ifnecessary c€n advance further to open up the position ofthe Black King.

10...Qb6?tLosing a lempo. Black should immediately begin to transfer his Bishop tod4 with 40...Qb8 41.f4 Ba5.

4't.f4 Qb8lf41...QM Whit€ can play 42.e6 Qxc4 43.e7+-.

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I he Tarrasch lbrmula

12.h11White finds one more instructive attacking resource. lf White's h-pawlrcaches h6, the pawn cover around Black,s King will be damaged.However, if Black plays ...h7-hO then the bl-h7 diagonal is weakened andWhite can relocale his Queen and Bishop on it. White,s pawn on h5 couldalso be useful if Black plays ...97-96.

42,..BasAfter 42...96 White could play 43.h5. Atso anteresting is 43.e6 fxe6 44.f5lRd8.lnstead 44. .gxfs 45.8\e6+ Kh, 46.Bxf5 is +- accoding to Dvorctsky;

however, Black can play 46...8h2+ 47.Kh1 Qcl- (patatnik)

43.h5 Bc3

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In case of 43---Qb4 White replies with 44.e6l

A) 44...fxe6 45.Qxe6+ Kh8 46.ae7 Rb8 (46...ebA 47.h6 Bc3 4A.Rd7 with awinning aftack for white, e.g. 48...8d4+ 49 Rxd4l.) 47.h6 Qc3 48.Rd7 Rb1+

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The Tarrasch Formul!1

(48...Qc1+ 49.811 ends Black's counterplay) 49.Kh2 Rh1+ 50.Kxh1 Qc'1+51.Kh2 Qxf4+ 52.K91 Qc1+ 53.8f1 and Bla ck is oul of checks;

B) 44...Qxc4 45.e7 Qe6 46.exf8Q+ KxfB 47.Qa7 Bb6 (47...Qb6 48.Qa8+f\e7 49.Ra1 and the combined attack of l/yhite's Queen and Rook isdecisive,) 48.Qb8a Ke7 49.Rb1 Bd8 50.Qa7+ fo owed by Qxcs with awinning endgame for White.

1,{.Rd6lMaking sure that the Rook's activity is not reslricted when Black's Bishop€aches d4.

44,..Qb1+ 45,Kh2 h6An attempt at counterplay with 45...8d4 runs into 46.Qxf7+! RxfT 47.Rd8#

16.oxfl+lThe final combination along the lighl squares.

46..,Rxfl 47.Rd8+ Kh7 4E.Bxfl

Black resigned, lf now 48...8d4 lor 48...95 49.hxg6+ Kg7 50.R98#] then49.8g8+ Kh8 50.8a2+ Kh7 and 51.Bxb1+ l-0

We suggest that you use the next three examples as training exercises.

'l he Iarrasch Form la

(29) Larsen - cligorichMoscow, 1956

Battery Power

Evatuale Black's next move:i4...8c5

While has significant pressure ageinst f/. His rook conlrols the a-file. andhe has a queensrde pawn majonly that may become imporlant in tteendgame These elements lead to lhe conctusion thal Whiies posit ion Bbelte| ' Black s move 14...8c5 is an attempt to counler White s

-battery on

lhe a2-98-diagonal with a similar battery on lhe a7_g1 diagonal. How;vefwhen the Eishop stends in fronl ofthe eueen in this kind of bafiery, il is nolas dangerous as when lhe Queen stands in frcnl of the Bishop. Betterwas14...Qcs, but White would st i l l have befler chances. The game conlinued:

'l5.Ra8l Bxf2+??Although this attacking move looks like an achievement for Black, it loseslEfack had better chances with 15...RxaB 16.exaA+ BfB (16...Kh7? 17.'xflancl lhere is no protection against Qg8+ ) 17.ed5 ea7! .18.h4 b4 19.Oxe5Qe7 20.Qf5 QfG 21.Od5 when White relairrs winning chances because ofhis extra pawn on the Queenside together with has threats against lheopponent s King.

16.Kft Qf6Hopeless for Black is 16. RxaS 17.Qxa8+ Kh7 18 BxfT

8

Th. Tatasch Formula

abcdofghH

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Whlte can tradg down Into a wlnnlng Klng and Pawn €ndlng.

+l Qxft l8.Bxfl+ l(xf' 19.Rxt8+ KxtE 2o.ktit Ko7 2t,Ke3 Kd61.0

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(30) Platonov - Tal[roscow, 1969

Mind Over i/latter

White to move

lf in this position Black could keep his opponent busy protecting the weakpawn at b3, he could also leave the dangerous Bishop on d5 in "splendidisolation." Whites task, therefore, is to make good use of his more activoBishop.

38.Rg6lThe goal of this invenlive sacrifice is to lurn While's Bishop into anattacking piece, while the Black Bishop remains a " black shadow."

38...fx96?lBetter is 38...Oe3 39.Rf3 fxg6 or 39...Qc1.

39.fxg6 Qe3ll's important to protecl the h6-Pawn- lf 39...Rxb3? White bfeaks thrcughwith 40.Rxf6+l gxf6 41.Qxh6+ Ke8 42.Qh8+ Kd7 43.97 Rc8 44.Qh7!+-

40.Qfs

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)v€r, 4oJlgi 41.Qe6 Oxg6 lead to draw after 42.Q98+ Ke7 43.Qe6+(but nol 43...Kd8? 44.Qxd6+ Rd7 U4...K,B 45.Qxc7) 45.Qb8+ Ke7

not good was 40...Rxb3 41.Rf3 Og5 42.Oxg5 hxgs 43.Rxb3tich a mistake from Tal hims€lf is a dch reward for such entBrprising playl

42.Qxd6+ Re7 43.Od8+ Re8 4,l.Rxf6+ gxf6 45.Qxf6#

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alternalives ar€ no better:

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The I'arrasch Fbrnuta

Black resigned. White's Bishop ptayed his ,,opposite cotor rote,' verysuccessfully. The conctusion woutd be 42..,Ke7 /t3.Rxf6 gxf6 [43...Kx1611 q't fq9 11of5- Kh4 46.es4#l 44.er+ Kds 4s.axr6; Rezl4s Kd746.97 Rc8 47.Qfi+l 46.92 1-.0

(31) Gurevich, D - PalatnikDallas, 1996

A Gathering Storm

8

7

6

5

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Whilo to move

29.Rbt?An efror. Also favoring Black is 29.exd4 Rxel+ 3O.Bxe1 Rxa3;. Howev6a,good enough for equality is 29.f31? Rxe3 30.Rxo3 dxe3 31_Rc3 Bc432.Rxe3=.

29...8a21? 30.Rb2 dxe3 3l.fxe3lf 31.Rxa2? then Black comes oul ahead aft€r 31...Rxb4 32.axb4 Rxa233.fxe3 Rb2+ .

31...8c4f 32.Kf2 RaeS 33.8c5

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33...R4e51?Slack is lrying to crcate an attack using the opposite cotor Bishops.

34.8d4

[34.Rd2 Rfs+ 35.K91 (35.Ke1 Rf14; 35.K92 Bds+) 35...Rf1+ 36.K92 RfSl

34...Rf5+ 35.KSt Rft+ 36.K92 Rat t? 37.RaG

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Throwing more wood on the fire. lls inleresting that Black can ignite aEther large fire with only a pawn's worth of fuell

123

'I'he 'l arnsch lrormulo

38.Ra4lllutual pins and open lines for atteck make this e very tense position, but ilscentral fealure is Black's oppoftunily to attack the White King.

38...bxa3 39.Rd2 Bd5+Withdrawing one of two attacked pieces with check.

40.Kh3

White is afso losing with 40.Kf2 Rh1 41.h4 (or 41.Rxa3 Rxh2+ 42.Ke1 Rh3when White cannot rcgain a pawn with 43.Bxg7? because Black wins wllh43 Rh1+ 44 Kf2 Rh2+ 45.Ke1 Rxd2 46.Kxd2 KxgT) and now 41..a2leaves Black wilh a strong extra Pawn.

8

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40.. .R911This Rook prevents lhe White King's escape.

41.94 Re4l?Clouds are galhering around White's King, while the Bishop on d4 tooks onhelplessly.

42.Ra5lf 42.R02 then 42 Rxg2 43.Kxg2 Rxd4+.

42...8e6White resigned. This is the right time fof it, because if White ptays 43.Rg2then 43...Rx941 4,l.Rxg4 Rxg4 with a lethat discovered check to fo ow. O.,l

t24

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The fhtasch Formula

Chapter FourHeavy pieces

(32) Smyslov - Tolush [E061Moscow. 1961

Debt Repaymont

0!rfirst example of applying lhe Taffasch Formula to h€avy pieces is reallyj!st an opening battle. Black never has a chanc€ to mobilize his queensidepieces, and this givos White a chance to d€monstrate an advantag€. Thegame slddenly ends just as Elack seems to be on the verge of solving allhis problems.

l.d4 Nf6 2.o4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.93 c5 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.892 Nc6 7,0.0 867E.t{c3 Nxc3 9.bxc3 0.0

't o.Rb1!?This is probably the most useful move in the position. lt isn't ctear yet wherewill be the best location for White's dark-squared Bishop, so he activateshis Rook to an open file. The attack on b7 slows lhe developmenl of Black'sBishop on c8, thereby also keeping the Rook on a8 out of the bat e. White

125

The Tatasch Formula

is stalking his prey on the queenside, just as a lion on lhe African savannahwould stalk a buffato.

10...Qas 1' l .Qb3 RdE l2.Bf4t?

AtJhis,point In the game Black "onty.' has difficuttios with his Bishop on c8EracK nas In mtnct lo exchange whiles center pawn for his b7_pawn andalso to exchange light-squared brshops. He reasons lhal wtren nis ;bidibrshop disappears. his problems will also go away. This seems logical. bulrnefe is a pice lo pay. The debts this Bishop teaves behind wi sttii have tobe pard off by his relatives €frer he is gone.

12.,.cxd4l3.Nxd4With a single move, White activates two pieces

13...Nxd,| 14.cxd,l Rxd4 15.Bxb7 BxbT 15.exb7 edE?Black's only move to avoid losing materialwas 16...Reg.

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126

7 he 'ldtrdsch l i,m [a

17.Bb8lAnd the Black Rook on a8 is cryino. 1.0

(33) Sakharov - Patarnik [C801Kiev. 1967

Buried Alive

"The following game is a valuable moment in my chess biography becauseIn wrnning it I nol only defealed a slrono playef but also for ihe first timereacned e master norm. Meny years have elapsed sance that dav, and inanalyzing lhrs game now it seems to me that Btack s ptay was v;ry r isky;nowever, wtnners do not judge, and the way I managed to cope with theenemy Rooks in this game will serve as a good educaiional example to ourreaders " (Palatnik)

1,e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.8b5 a6 4.8a4 Nf6 5.0-0 Nxe4 6.d4 b5 7.8b3 exd4LRei d5 9.Nc3l?In response lo Black's provocative opening, White selects the most basic.mough €lso rather Sharp move_ 8y comparason, the quieter continuationLNxd4?! Nxd4 10 Qxd4 Be6i is timid lo the poimt of being cowardly!

t27

The 'lbrrasch Fornula

is stalking his prey on the queenside, just as a lion on the African savannahwould stalk a buffalo.

10...Qa5 1 l .Ob3 Rd8 12.Bf4l?

At this poinl in the game Black "only" has difficutties with his Bishop on cE.Black has in mind to exchange White's center pawn for his b7-pawn, andalso lo exchange light-squared bishops. He reasons thal when his ,bad"bishop disappears, his problems will also go away. This seems logical, butlherc is a price to pay. The debts this Sishop teaves behind wi sti have t0be paid off by his relatives atter he is gone.

' | 2...cxd4 13.Nxd4With a single move, While activates two pieces

l3...Nxd,l t4.cxd4 Rxd415.Bxb7 BxbT l6.Qxb7 Qd8?Black's only move lo avoid losing malerialwas 16...Re8.

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126

f he Tarrasch ];ornula

t7.Bb8lAnd the Black Rook on a8 is crying. 1-0

(33) Sakharov - Patarnik [c801Kiev, 1967

Buried Alive

'The following game is a valuable moment in my chess biography becausein wnning al I nol only defealed a slrong player but also for the first timercached a masler norm. lllany years have elapsed since that day, and inanalyzing this game now il seems to me that Black's play was very risky;however, winners do not judge, and the way I managed to cope with theenemy Rooks in this game will seNe as a good educational example to ourreaderc." (Palalnik)

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.8b5 a6 4.8a4 NfO 5.0-0 Nxe4 6.d4 b5 7.8b3 exd48.Rei d5 9.Nc3l?In response to Black's provocalive opening, White selects the most basic,though also rather sharp move. By comparison, the quieter continuationLNxd4?l Nxd4 10.Qxd4 Be6i is timid to the poirrt of being cowardtyl

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9...dxc3 1o.Bxd5 Bb7 1 l .Ng5lWhite does not fall into tho trap with 11-EI4!!? Ne7+ when he loses apiece; and if 11.Bxe4 Black simply responds with 'l1 . Be7 (but not1 1...Qxd1 ? 1 2.Bxc6++-).

'11... f512.Nxe4fxe413,Oh5+ 96 l4.Bxc6+ Bxc6 t5.Qe5+ Qo7

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16.Qxh8?The hirngry White Queen impatiently gobbles up the Rook, but it waspossible iirst to nibble on "Pawn's soup c3" as an appetizer. Thg Rook willstill tre on the menu lat€r! Winning for White here is 16.Qxc3

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16...Q97 17.Qxg7 BxgT 18.b3 0-0-0 l9.Be3 Rd2lThis would be even more effective if White's Bishop were still on c1.

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20.Rac{0f course 20.Rec1? would not give White the opportunity to oppose theinvasion of a black Rook on second rank.

White is not tempted by material gain wilh 20.Bxd2 cxd2 21.Redl Bc3lwhen Black's BishoDs would be more oowerfulthan White's Rooksl

White's Rooks are "buded alive" and are no malch for Black's Bishoos.

20...b4 21.Red1 Re2 22.BcsWhite overestimates his chances. A drawn oame could be reached after22.Re1 Rd2=.

22...a5 23.8e3 Bb7 24.895 c5 25.8e3 BfE 26.918e7 27.K92 Kc7 28.814+Kc6 29.95 a4

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White s allompls lo slrengthen his position have been kui ess, while BleclIn s|m ar Dusrness has succeeded noliceeblv.

30,Re1 Ba6Black's advantage will not be decfeased by the exchange of Rooks on 02.

3l.Kg3While's siluation is not improved afler 31.Rxe2 Bxe2 92.Rel Bf3+. BlackbBishops rule lhe board.

31.,.axb3 32.arb3 Bd6t?

]lli'loy: .lpp."r"" the finat operarion in which Btack wi improve hisposlton oecrsrvalv

33.Bxd6 Kxd6 3;.ha Rxel 35.Rxe1

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35...8d31Afterthis blow Black has a winning position.

36.Rctlf now 36.cxd3 then 36...exd3 37.Kf3 d2 38.Rd1 c4 39.bxc4 Kcs 4O.Ke2 c241.Kxd2 cxdlQ+ 42.Kxd1 Kxc4-+

36...c4 37.bxc4 Bxc2l 38.Rxc2 Kcs

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39.Kf4one has the impression throughout this game that tho ineffectjve WhiteRooks were not in the bsst sporting condition.

39...Kxc4 ,l0.Re2 b3 41.Rxe4+ Kd3 42.Rb4 b2 43.Ks5 c2,l4.Rb3+ Kc4{5.Rxb2 clo 0-l

{34} Anand - lvanchuk [C781Las-Palmas, 1996

0ueenside Blockade

'1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.8b5 a6 4.8a4 Nf6 5.0-0 Bc5 6.Nxe5 Nxes 7.d4 Nxe4E.Rel Be7 9.Rxe4 Ng6

131

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10.c4A very important move. White improves his control of lhe center wh okeeping his Bishop on a4 active and securc by preventing 10...b5 and11.. .d5.

10...0-0 l1.Nc3 d6 l2.Nd5 Bh4Otherwise White coutd exchange his Knight on dS for this Bishop, aftefwhich the next part of his strategy would be to make use of the BishoD Dair.

13.Qh5 cGPermitting an unexpected combinalion, the point of which is to anchorWhite's Knight on b6 where it wi paratyze the queenside and shut Btack,sf(ook out ot lhe oame

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t4.Rxh4l Qxh40r 14...Nxh4 15.895 with a prcmising attack for Whit6.

l5.Qxh4 Nxh4 l6.Nb6 RbE 17.Bf,l NfsThis is lhe best way to protect the d6-pawn. Instead 17...Rd8? walks rightinto'18.895, winning a piece.

l8.d5tThe point of White's combination. This move not only removes the d-pawnlrom attack by the Black Knight, but also imprisons lhe Bishop on cB andth6 Rook on b8 for the foreseeable futur€.

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tE...Re8 tg.Kfl h6 20.h3 Re4 21.8h2 cxds 22.94Now if Black moves the Knight from f5, White plays BxdG winning thelraooed Rook on b8.

22...Rxc4 23.Nxc4 dxc4 2,{.Re1lGaining a tempo.

2{.,.8e6 25.gxf5 Bxts 26.BxdO Bxh3+ 27.K91 RdE 2E.ReE+ RxeS29.Bxe8Black has thfee pawns for a piece, but White's Bishop Pair gives him thea0vanrage.

29...800 30.a4 95 31,a5 Kg7 32.8a4 Kg6 33.Bdt Bd5 3,t.Bc2+ Kfo35.8c7 Ke6 36.8h7 Bf3 37.Kh2 Kd5 3E.Bc2 Be4 39.Bdl Kd4 40.8e2 sd31'l.Bb6+ Kds 42,Bdl f5 43.K93 Kes,l4.Bc5 Kt6 45.8h5 t4+ 46.Kh2

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Black resigned. He cant protect his posilion against a lhe threats (47 Bf8tollowed by Bxh6. and atso 47.8f3 toltowed by BxbT) 1.0

(35) Hort - Alburt [A581Decin. 1977

Smothered Queen

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.cxb5 a6 S.bxa6 96 6.Nc3 Bxa6 7.Nf3 d6 A.g3Bg7 9.892 Nbd710.0.0 Nb6

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In lhe Benko Gambit, tactics almost always take a seconclary role, andmoves made eady in the opening such as...O-O and ...Rfb8 are almostmade automatically. Bul ther€ are no rulos without exceDtions. and Blackhas been forced to adopt som€ effeclive bul non- standard aDDroaches tocountef deployments of the White pieces which could crcate seiousproblems for Black's plan. The main idea of 10...Nb6 is to prevent Whitefrom playrng 11.Qc2 and 12.Rd'1. On the negative side, i t prevonts theBlack Queon from developing at a5.

l l .RelPreparing to defend lhe ds-pawn with e2-e4 if necessary. However, thebest squaro for this rook would be d1, not e1.

11.,.0-012.Nd2 Qc7 13.Rb1 QbzAlso possible was 13...N94, which wo!ld have countered White's Dlannedb2-b3. After a subsequent ...8d4, White might atso be induced to weakenlhe d3-square with o2-e3.

14.b3 Nfxd5lf Black lacked the courage to take this pawn, his 13th move woutd havebeen poinlless. He had lo calculate and evaluate many variations, includinga Possible Queen sacrifice.

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would have a clear advantage because of his tJetter pawn structure andother typical Benko Gambit advantages. White should have ptayed16.Ne4, hoping to find equalizing chances in the ensuing complications.

'16...Nc3'l7.BxbZ BxbTlAftef 17...Nxd1 18-Bxa6 (18.8xa8? Nc3) 18...Nc3 19.8d3 White has thea0vantage.

18.Qd3?lAs will soon become apparent, White would have had better defensivechances with 18.Qd2 Nxbl 19.Qe3.

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Because of White's 'l8th move, Black has been able to contralize hispieces. Now he has the option of capturing the rook with his bishop andretaining his Knighl on a dominant and more effective Dost than at b1.

21.a3White seeks to exchange his two weak pawns for lhe strong pawn on c5.

21...8a222.Nd2 RlbA 23.b4 cxb4 24.axb4 Rxb4 25.Nf3 Bo7The f irst of many questions to White's Queen.

26.Qh3

26.Qe3 Re4 27.Qd2 8c4 with the winning threat of 28...Ra2i26.Qd2 Bc4 with the same lhreat, when White's Dosition is hooetess.26.Q95 (gai ing a tempo by lhe attack on the e7 pawn) is no betterbecause of 26...Re4, attacking the e2 pawn and protecting the e7 pawn. ll

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While now pfays 27.e3 ot 27.8e3. the reply 27...h0 or the equally effoctive27...f6 spells disaster.

This is a rare case of a Queen apparently having free play in the middle ofthe board but actually having all the squares available to it controlled by lheopponent's pieces and pawns. Now the Queen has been forced into a veryupleasant position on h3.

26...8e0 27.QflProlecthg the pawn on e2.

27 ..4c4 28.K92Preparing to protect the e2 pawn with lhe Knight.

2E...Ral 29.Ngl

A totally unreal situation: the "smothered Queen" has no legal move and iscompletely surrounded by its own pieces. This is lhe culmination of Black'sstrategy. White's other pieces are also poorly placed, especially whencompared with the mobility of their Black counlepads. Now it is not difficultfor Elack to find a clearwin.

29...Rbb1 30.Kh3To make space for the Queen! Such moves are made from desperation andhelplessness, and cannot really save the game.

30...h5To answer 31 .Qg2 with 3'l ...Be6+ 32.Kh4 Rxc1 and then ...8f6+.

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The 't arrqsch tbrnula

31.11This makes space, but at the same time creates a decisive weakness.

31...8e6+ 32.Ks2 Nd5With the threat of 33...Rxc1 and 34...Ne3+.

33.Kf3 Bc3 34.Rd1 Bb2 White resigns. 0-1

(35) lshee - Maynard [D66]Nashvil le, 1995

Misplaced Queen

1.d4 NfG 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.895 Be7 5.e3 NbdZ 6.Nc3 0.0 7.Rcl c68.8d3 Re8?! 9.0-0 a6?l

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Black's last two moves would be useful if the moves cxcl5 and lhe reolv...exds had been played, creating a ',minoily aflack', pawn structure whemWhite wants to attack the queenside with the pawn lever b2-b4-b5. In thalcase the.rook.on e8 would be on an opon f i le, and ...a7-a6 would holpprelent the advance of the b-pawn. But none of this has happened yeillnstead, White willavoid the pawn trade on d5 and play on the ki;gsids.'

10.Ne5l Nxes11,dxes Nd7 12.BxeZ OxeTThe piece trades have not helped Btack much. He is still underdevelop€dafid has a very bad bishop on c8.

13.f4 Oc5?lA waste oft ime.

138

'l hc lAnasch Lbrnula

14.Qe2 Qa7?Cornpounding his previous error by misplacing the queen. Now white has avirtual exlra queen for a kingside attack.

15.Rf3 t5l i 15 ..d4 While replies with 16.Ne4.

l6.cxd5lOpening lhe c-f i le. Black's fs-pawn would be undefended after 16...exds,so Black's reply is forced.

'16...cxd517.Rh3 Nf8After 17...d4? White can use his "exha" Queen to good effect on thekrngsade with 18.Qh5! Kf8 1g.Qxh7l dxc3 20.Rxc3 Ki/ 2i.Be2 Rf8 22 Bh5+Ke7 23.Oxg7+ Kd8 24_Og5+ Nf6 25.exf6.

18.94 txg4

n8...d4 19.Nd1 b5 20.gxfs exfs 21 .Qc2 dxe3 22. Nxe3 favors White.l

l9.Qxg4 Bd7White now has a wirxting combinalion.

20.Nxd5lThe sharpest way to demonstrate White's advantage_

20,..exd5 21.Bxh7+ NxhTThe allernative 2'1...Kf7 runs into 22.896+ ...

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A) 22...Nxo6tr 23.Qxd7+ Kg8?l (23...Ne/! 24.Rc7 eb' 2'.exd'+ ee626.Qxe6+ Kxe6 27.Rxb7 RabA 2g.Rxb9 RxbS 29.b3 RdA 30.Ro3 Rdt+31.1<t2 Rd2+ 32.K13 Rxa2 33.Rxg/ Rxh2 34.Ke4 produces an endrig wherewhite has all the chances, with 3 pawns for a piece ptus an active kin0.)24.Qxd5+ KfB 25.Qd6+ Kfl 26.Rc7+ Re7 (26...Ne7?? 27.Qd5+ Kfl28.Rh8+ Ng' 29.Rxg8#) 27.f51+ and white wins -- for examDle,27...Rxc7? 28.fxg6r Kg8 29.Oe6+ Kf8 30.Rh8f;Bl 4:Kg2 23.Q95+ KeO 24.Rc7! RacS 25.Bt5+ Kf7 26.Rxd7+ NxdT27.Q96+ Kf8 28.Rh8+ Ke7 29.Qxg7+ Kd8 30.Qxd7#;c) 22...Ko8? 23.Rh8+ Kxh8 24.Qhs+ Kg8 25.Bfi#;

Also not good is 21...Kh8? because 22.896+l forces mate: 22...Nh723.Rxh7+ Kg8 24.8f7+! Kf8 25.Qxg7+ Ke7 26.Bxds+ Kd8 27.exd7#.

22.Qxd7 RadgA winning endgame for White adses after 22...Nf8 23.Qxds+ Ne6 24.f5 em25.fxe6 Qxe6 26.Qxe6+ Rxe6 27.Rc7 b5 28.Rq3.

23.Of5 b5lf 23...Qb6 24.Qxh7+ Kf8 25.Rq3 Qh6 26.Qf5+ Kg8 27.Rc7 Rf8 28.Qe6+lKh8 29.Rh3. Nolico also that Black cannot save th€ knight with 23...Nf8?because 24.Rc7 Rd7 25.Rxd7 NxdT 26.Qxd7 Rf8 27.Qxd5+ and whito

24.Qxh7+ Kf8 25.Qf5+ Kg8 26.Qh7+ Kf8 27.Rc6 Qft 28.Rhh6 Ke7After 28...9xh6 White wins with 29.Rf6 Rd7 (29...Qxf0 3o.exf6 RxeS31.Q97+ Ke8 32.f7+ Kd7 33.tBQ+ Kc6 34.Qxh6+ Kb7 3,.ef7+ Re736.Qxe7+ Rd7 37.Qxd7+ Kbg 38. Qf8#) 30.Oh8+ Ke7 31.Rxf7+ Kxfl32.Qh7+ Ke6 33.Qs6+ Ke7 34.Qf6#.

29.Rhf6White is so intent on trading into a won endgame lhal he overlooks an evenstronger move. 29.Qc2! forces mate: 29...9xh6 (29...Rd7 30.ec,+ Kda31.Rc9#; 29...Qf8 30.Rc7+ Rd7 31.Qc5+ Kt7 32.Qxd5+ Ra6 33.QxeM29...Qh5 30.Rc7+ Rd7 31.ec5+ Kn 32.Rxd7+ Kg8 33.exd5+ Re634.Qxe6+ Kf8 35.Rd8+ Qe8 36.Rxe8#) 30.Qc5+ Kd7 31.ed6#.

29...Q90Bad is 29...9xf6? aftef 30.Rc7+ Rd7 (30...Ke0 31.Qh3+ t5 32.Ah6+ Qfi33. Qxf6#) 31.Rxd7+ KxdT 32.Qxl7+.

30.Rc7+ Rd7 31.Rxd7+ KxdT 32.Rd6+ Kc7? 33.QxgEAgain 33.Qc2+! is quicket - 33...Kb7 (33...Kb' 34.Rb6+ KaB 35.ec6+ Kal36.Qb7#) 34.Rd7+ Kb8 35.Qc7+ Ka8 36.Ob7#.

33...Rxgg 34.Rxd5 Re8 35.Kt2 ReO 36.Rd6 t-0

140

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(37) Diaz - Palatnik lB03lCaracas, 1976

[Jnbalanced Material

The following game was played in ihe World Student Team Championship,where I was enlrusted to represenl the USSR. In those days, the USSRteem had no other task except to win gold medals. For represenlatives ofthe "Soviet chess school" during lhe Cold War, even second place wasregarded as failure, and could incur serious punishmenl. Therefore whendevelopments in this game made it necessary for me to play for a rathealong period of time with only two minor pieces againsl my opponenl'sQueen, the trainer and my friends on the team were quite woried. Theyassumed that I would not have volunlarily entered such a situation, and oneby one 6ach of them tried to look inlo my eyes for a clue aboul whal washappening. Their fears were calmed when they realized that I was bumingwith inspiration, and my eyos had a feveaish shine. This was definitely asituation wherc il was not desirablo to have a "Doker face."

Le4 Nf6 2.e5 Nds 3.d4 d6 4.c4 Nb6 5.exd6 cxd6 6.Nc3 gO 7.8d3 Bg78.t{ge2 Nc6 9,803 0-010.0-0 Bg41t.t3

White's idea in this opening variation is to make use of his advantage inspace by maneuvering in fouf ranks, while Black can only make use ofthree ranks. lf it were possible for White to confine Black's light-squaredbishop in lhis confined space, White could consider that he hadsuccessfully made use of the Tarrasch Formula. However, it is notnecessary for Black to have such an "infected" Bishop, and he undertakesvigorous efforts to exchange it.

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l1...Btst 12.b3lf 12.Bxf5? Nxc4! favo6 Black.

l2...Bxd313.Oxd3 d5An impoatant move- Black challenqes his opponenl's space advanlage andfixes White's pawn on d4 where it 'shortens the life" of the Bishop on e3.

14.c5 t{cEThis Knight has drawn White's fire and has beon forced to retreat, bul il canbe redeployed whereas While's pawn cennot do likewise.

ls.Rabt e6 16.Qd2 NEeT

17.941?White is obviously familiar with Dr. Tarrasch's Drescriptlon. First he tried loapply it againsl the lighl-squared Bishop. and now he tries io restrainBleck's Knighl, which was almost reedy to relurn lo work.

17...b6The advance of the c-pawn originally seNed a useful purpose, but il nowfulfills no function and can be exchanged, theGby reducing White's spac€aovamage even morc.

18.cxb6 Qxb6 19.K92 Qb4lf White could carry olt the maneuver Na4-c5 and suDDort thisredeployment with b3-b4, his control of the dark squares wouldcompensale for the fact that his d4-pawn hampors his Bishop on e3. Ofcoirlse Black tdes to prevent Whits from making these improvements.

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20.Qb2White has two hopes in ptaying this move. One is that it wi be possibte tocarry out progressive" transformations on the queensade wilh a2_a3 andNc3-a4-c5; the other is that the pawn d4 is immlne ffom capture at th;moment. Btack is able to show that neither of tnese nopes is luslfieJ.

-- - -

20,..Nxd4121.a3

21...Nxe2!Nol an easy Inove to make while playlng in a team competitionl Bul Black isafreaoy commfned because 21...Ob6?: 22 Na4 exb3 122.. Nxe2_) 23.Bxtl4is good for White.

143

The Tarrasch tbrmula

22.axb4 Nxc3

23.Bh6t?A very witty answer that Btack had to anticipate. tf 23.Rbc1 then 23...d424.8d2 (24.8xd4 Bxd4 25.Rxc3 NdS 26.Rfc1 Nxcg 27.Rxc3 RacS jswinning for Black) 24...Neds with advantage to Black.

23...BxhO 2,l,Oxc3 Rfc8 25.Qf6 Rc7Because of the unusual disposition of mateial, it is very important for Blacknot to exchange Rooks, and instead to double thom on ths c-file to createthe necessary attacking power. tf Black can activate his Rooks in this way,Elack will have compensation fof the sacrificed materiat_

26.b5 RacB 27.Qd4 Bg7 28.Q91It is already difficult for the Queen to find an effective post, and certainly hervisit to g1 does not look attractive. However, it is understandable that Whitowants to exchange Rooks on the c.l-square.

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2E...Bc3lThe "ill-bred" Bishop blocks the c-file and intederes with White's plan.

29.b6White is chasing an illusion on the b-file by cr€ating a passod pawn there.

29...axb6 30.Oxb6 d4 3l.KhlItloving out of the way of the incursion by the Black Knight.

3'1...Nd5 32.Od6 d3 33.Rtdt 8b4 34.Oa6 d2"Our trainer and the other members of my toam now had no more worriesabolt the result of this game." (Palatnik)

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145


35.Rxd2 Bxd2 36.h,| Nf4 37.b4 Bxb4! 0-1

white rcsigned. tf now 38.RxM then 38...Rc1+ 39.Kh2 R8c2+ 40.Kg3 e5l41.Rxf4 Rg1+ 42.Kh3 exf4 with checkmate to foltow.

(38) Ardaman - Patatnik [A081Dallas, 1996

Preventive lilaintenance

When yo! play the Black pieces. it is not oflen that you will be abte toobtain and maintain a space advantage. Black accomplished al in thefollowing game due to systematc application of the Tarrasch Formula

'1.e4 Nf6 2.d3 d5 3.Nd2 c5 4.Ngf3 Nc6 5.g3 96 6.892 Bg? 7.0_0 0.06.Re1?The Rook loves open files the same way that a hungry man loves a 24-hour restaurantl Such eatedes may be open round-the-clock, but it,s nolalways true when it comos to fites and mnks. Before ptaying 8.Re1, Whjtesholld first be slre that his Rook's hunger can be satisfiod. ls there a mo|spitiful sight in chess than a starving Rook, atrophied by hunger, compe sdto gnaw on the back of a Pawn that btocks his path to the tabte?

Bener would be 8.exd5 NxdS LRe1.

t46

The Tarrcsch hbrmula

8...d4t?This is directed aoainst tho Rook on 61. Now the e-file willstay closed, andWhile's Rook will go'without broakfast."

Le5Otherwase Black will also play...e6-e5 wh€n White's Rel and his Bg2 willboth remain hungry for a long time.

9...Nd510.a3 b6Black hasanswers'preventive maintenance"with'preventive maintenance"and has the better ot the bargain. lt is more impodant for Black to protectthe cs-Pawn than lor White to take conlrol ofth6 b4-squarc.

l1.Qe2 Bf5l?A comfonable square forthe Bishop. ln another location (94) he woutd haveto answer "questions" from White's pawns.

12.h3 Qd7Black's achievements are now cleaa, end the further strengthening of hisposition is possible by lhe mosl natural means. White's many lroubles canbe traced back to 8.Re1.

t3.Kh2lfnow 13.94 than 13...Nf4 14.Qf'! Be6t

' l3...RadEThe nature of Black's advantage renders il unnecesssry for him to calculatelong tactical vadations; he has only to decide which move is moslimportant. The move selecled lakes his Rook from any potential dangerfrom lhe enemy Bg2 and strengthens the outpost for the Knight on d5.

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t47

The ll arrasch Formula

14.Nf1The road cl-hO thus opens foa the c1-Bishop, but under sad conditions. TheKnight has to "hide in the bushes' on the ft-square in oder to make ilpossible- Inslead 14.Nc4 merely invites Black to gain more space wilh14.. . b5.

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14...Oc71?The Queen has done enough work on the c8-h3 djagonal. Stepping nowonlo an adjacent diagonal, she sets up,'X-Ray" threats against the WhiteKing.

l5.KglTurning away from the Black Queen's gaze, and making room on h2 for hismiserable f1-Knight.

15...h6t?Further limiting the enemy "appetite,'on lhe c1-h6 diagonat.

r6.Nth2It's a tighl fit in White's camp; he ha.dty has any room to maneuver. tf thosiluation does not soon chaoge, Black will quielly be able to accumulale alarge enough posilional advantage to win. There is no reason for him 10 boin a hufry to change the current siluation.

16...QcEA probing move that re-estabtishes controt of the c8-h3 diagonat.

17.Qi1While's "royal palace" is a very crowded house indeed_

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The Taftasch Formr/la

17...951?Galning more spac€ and limltlng the opponent's moblllty.

t8.8d2 b5Black ls lmproving his positlon on all fronts without oxchanglng any plgcEs,

19.b3 f6Exchanging the only White soldier who has crossed th6 4th rank Intoanomy teffitory, Afrer thls oxchang€ it ls obvlous that Black possosses ala0o Sdvaniaoe In space. Hls ploces operate on flv€ €nks, whlle Whltg canmake us€ of only thfEe ranks. Notlce also that even though lho €-tllgls nowopen, tha Rook on el is stlll ldle because it has no polnt ot Entry Into th69n9my canp,

20.oxt6 ext8 2l.Bcl BgO 22. d2f5l?D6nying the Whlte Knlghts 8cces8 to 04 and 04,

149

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'I he 'l arrasch l;ornula

abcd€f

23.Nhf3 Nc3 24.8b2 Bf/lmprovement upon improvemenl. Because the fs-Pawn has closed his"view," the Bishop moves to another diagonal.

25.Kh2 Qc7Dr Tarasch s prescdption for this palient: a new X-ray every six monthsl

26.QhtWhite prepares to fire a "piercing shell" down the long diagonal ...

26...Ne7.. but ends up shooting at empty airl

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t50

The'larrasch lbrn a

27.Bxc3This Knight was becoming tike a nait in the chair for White.

27...dxc3 28,N11 t4l?Another dose of medicine from Dr. Tarrasch, this time for the Knight on fl

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1ab lgh

29.94 Ng6 30.K91The barrel full of White pieces has sladed to ferment! He can barely move;l0r example 30.N91? f3+ wins material.

30...8f6 3t.Nlh2Notice how the Knight on f3 obslrLrcts helf of White's pieces.

X1...c117Now lhat White s pieces are confined, the time has come to break throughhis defenses.

32.bxc4 bxc4 33.d4 RfeSElack now does nol have a single passive piece.

34.Rre8+ RxeS 35.KftTo prevent the intrusion on e2.

35...Qb6 36.Rdl Rd8Placing White in zugzwang. a tactic we will explore in greater detail in thenext chapler. Right now it is enough to point out that a situation has beencreated where White aheady has no moves thal do not lose matedal.

t) l

The'Iarrasch [ormula

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37.h4 gxh4 38.Nei Rxd4 39.Rxd4 Qxd4The season for the harvest has arrived.

40.Nhf3 Qc5 41.a4 Qa5 42.Nh2 Qxa4 43.8d5 a5 /14.g5 Bxg5Four White Pawns "are removed from the arena.', Bdnging the game to avrctorious conclusion is now only a matter of technique.

45.Bxt+ Kxfl 46.Qd5+ Ks7 47.Nhf3 Bf6 48.Nd4 Qe8 49.Nt5+ Kh?50.Nt3 h3 51.Qxas Qd7 52.Ke2 Ne5 53.N3d4 h2 O-1

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White resigned. lf now 54.Qa8 IOr 54-Oal f3+ 55.Ke3 (i,.Nxf3 Nxl356.Kxf3 hlQ+ 57.Qxh1 Qc6+) 55...N94+ 56 Kxf3 h1Q+ 57.Qxh1 Qd5+lthen Black wins with 54...f3+ 55.Nxf3 h1e.

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t52

The Torrasch Formxla

ik was abl6 to manage hls slfahs In thts game who[y without oolno totroublo ot calculatng tractlcal variellons. Hts d€clslons w6r€ gulded by

th6 Ta..asch Formula In such a way a8 to restrlct th6 power ot thepieceg as much a8 pos8lbl6.

153


Exercise 17abcd€tgh

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Gorgiev, 1 928

Kc6 3,Bb6l lkb6 4.RcEl+- 1.0l.Rh6+ Kc7 2,Bd6+

Exercise 18ebcdol0h

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Rink, 1916

1.807 Rd,t+ [1...R96 2.8d1+l 2.K03 Rd7 [2...Rh4 3,8d1+ Rg4 4.s.Bfl+ Kg,{ 4.806++- 1,0

154

''l'I he 'l arrdrch |brnula

Exercise 19

l.Besl ll.Bd6 fxg6 2.fxg6 RgSl 1...8xe5+ 2,Rxst+ Kt8 3.RoB+ [3.Kd7Kg7 4.Re7 RfB 5.gxf7 Kf6=l 3...KxoE,t.O7 Rg8 5.f6+- i.0

Exercise 20

1.s7 f2 2.8e7 f1Q 3.8f65 exf6+-l 5.d41+- {-0

bcd€igh

G!liajev, 1 940

Qxf6l 4.gxhEo+ [4.exm=] 4...Qxh8 14...Kxh8

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155

Kubbet, 1924

1,Kb3l elQ 2.8f4+ Kbl 3.Bxc2+ Kal ,t.Bd6t eo2 s.Bb,t exbs 6.Bo{t 657.f3+- Qd7 E.Bc3#

Exercise 22


Exercise 2l

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calbershtadt, 1953

r.Nc6 d4 [1...8c3 2.K94 d4 3.Kt4 d3 (3...8e1 4.Ke4 Bfz 5.Kd5 d3 6.Kd6Bg3+ 7.Kd7 d2 8.KcA d1Q LB6T#) 4.Ke3 d2 5.Ke2+-l 2.Kg6 BhO [2...8f83.K17 d3 (3...8h0 4.KeG d3 5.Kd7 d2 6.Kc8) 4.Bxd3 Kb7 s.NaS+ Kb66.Nc4+ Kc5 7.Kxf8l 3.Bd3 Kb7 4.Nd8+ Kc7 5. f/+- ,t.0

156

The'lbrrasch l,brnula

Chapter FiveZugzwang

The term "zugzwang" was inlroduced into chess theory in the latter years ofthe 1glh century. ll is formed frcm two German words: Zug (the move), andZwarg (literally "compulsion'), thus 'compulsion lo meke a move.'However, the concepl of zugzwang exlends beyond this narrow definition.Zugzwang rcfets lo positions in which any move results in deterioralion ofone s own posilion, or lo maledal losses.

Grandmaster Razlvajev defined zugzwang as "any situation where it isimpossible for a playerto lmnsfer his enercy lo his pieces."

Even more broadfy, the cotcepl of zugzwang |r'ay be thought of as a kindof paralysis, in which no piece can safely move without doing harm. Inprevious chapters we have seen how it is possible to reach a decisiveadvantage by redlcing the power of a single enemy piece. lt is thereforelogical that completely immobilizing the opposing amy through zrlgzwangis the ultimate expression of the power of the Tarrasch Formula. Below wepresent several examples of lsing paralysis through zugzwang as astrategic concept.

(39) Saemisch - Nimzowitsch [E061Copenhagen, 1923

The lmmodal Zugzwang Game

Shortly afterthis game was played, conlempomry chess maslers of the daychnstened il as "The lmmodalZugzwang came." Our modern intercst in itconfirms lhat this name is noi an overslatemenl.

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 eO 3.Nf3When playing against Nimzowitsch, it makes sense to avoid lhe openingnamed after him that wo!ld arise after 3.Nc3 BM.

3...b6 4.93 Bb7 5.892 Be7 6.Nc3 0.0 7.0-0 d5 8.Ne5 c6Elack is fighting for control ofthe center, and forthis purpose he is willing torestrain the "oride" of lhe Bishoo on b7.

l5'1

The 'IArrasch Form la

9,cxd5?lWhite's idea in playing the exchange is to spoil the Bishop on b7 bykeeping the h'l-a8 diagonal blocked with a Black pawn on d5.

9...cxdsl0.Bf4White selects the most natural developing move for his last minor piec6_ Byreducing the pressure on the center with his previous move and creating asymmetrical pawn structure, he is creating preconditions for a quiet draw.

10...a61?Black strives lo improve his position. and rejects natural moves such 8s10...Nbd7 11.Rc1 Nxes 12.Bxe5 which woutd open a diagonat for White'sdad(-squared Bishop, and subsequently after 12...Qd7 13.ed2 RfcE wouldlead lo further "peace negotiations' by trading heavy pieces atong the c-fi16.Black prefers to leave the Knight on e5 where its broad back closes the t4-bB diagonal. Black inlends to play more ambitiously by expanding on thoqueensroe.

11.RclWhite is still prepadng for a "peace conference" on the c-file

11...b512.Qb3 NcoNow lhe time is right for this Knight to take his ptace on centef slage.Because White cannot allow Black to play ...Na5-c4, the followingexchange is compelled.

13.Nxc6 BxcoWhile's Knight has disappeared from his outpost on e5 after making thrcemoves, whale his "dancing paflner" on cO made only one. Thus lheexchange of Knights on cO has resulted in two lost tempi fof White.

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158

The T arrasch lbtmula

,t4.h3White is still making solid, unambitious moves in anticipation of fudherpiece exchanges followed by a dmw.

t4...Qd7 {5.Kh2

'15...Nh5t?Inslead of routinely exchanging Rooks on the c-file, Black reveals that hehas a completely differcnt approach to the position.

't6.Bd2 tslBlack's Durposeful maneuvers on both flanks has resulted in noticeableposilional gains. With his lasl move Black is not afreid to weaken lhe e5-squarc because lhere is no enemy piece lhal could make use of it. Nolicehow over the past few moves Black has steadily played to limit the mobility0l White's pieces, while at the same time White has had laouble making aconskuclive olan of imorovement.

t7.Qdl b418.NblThe Knighl "returns home" under adveFe circumstances. lt is clear lhatElack is steadily imp.oving his posilion by applying the Tarasch Formula.

159

The Taftasch Fomula

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1

1E...8b5Rgactlvatlng the Bishop.

1g.Rgl Bd6l?A provocalive move, leavlng the Knlght on h5 undefendod.

20,.4White snaps at the chsnce to explolt Black's 'eror.'

7

1

I

7

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20...fx041This was the reasonNimzowitsch provoked his opponent.

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160

'Ihc l arrasch l,irmula

21.Qxh5 Rxf2With this intrusion on the second rank, along with the powerful Bishop onb5, Black has in rnind to paralyze the entire White arrny. Black need nolworry about White s material ad vantage beca u se the sorry Knig ht ofi b l iscompletely out of the game.

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22.095 RafS 23.Khi R8f5 24.Qe3 Bd3 25.Rge'l h6l 0-1

This game is famous largely because of this move, creating a memorablefinal position. With a board full of pieces and a material advantage, Whitehas absolulely no safe move, and therefore resigned. His decision is fullyjlstified: 2qKt!? R5f3 t€ps the queen; 26gl R5f3 27.Bxf3 Rxf3 28.Q91Rxh3+ followed by ...R93+; 2043 a5 (Also possible as 26...Rx92 27.Kxg2Rf3) 27.axb4 axb4leaves White in z!gzwang.

l6 l

l he Taftasch lbrm la

(40) Nimzowitsch - Capablanca [812]New York. 1927

Encirclement

1.e4 c6 2.d1d5 3.e5 Bfs 4.8d3 Bxd3 5.exd3 e6 6.Nc3 eb6 7.Nge2 c58.dxc5 BxcS 9.0.0 Ne7 10.Na4 Qc6 1t.Nxcs exc5 12.8e3 ec7 13.f{ Nfs14.c3 Nc6 l5.Rad1 96 16.94 Nxe3 l?.Qxe3 h5

Tiis is lhe critical moment in the game. With his last move Black finallyclears up lhe situation on the kirrgside.

18.95Ugly but forced. Now it is safe for Black to cas o kingside.

18...0-0 19.Nd4 Ob6 20.Rt2 Rtc8 21.a3 Rc7 22.Rd3 Na5 23.Re224,K92 Nc6 25.Red2 RecS 26.Re2

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26,..Ne71?The Knight has accomplished nothing on tho queenside, so it heads fo. aninviting oulposl on f5 on the other flank where il will nol block lhe action onBlack's Rooks.

27,Red2 Rc4 2E.Qh3 Kg7 29.Rt2 a5 30,Re2 NtsForcing the enemy Knight to retfeat or to be exchanged-

3l.Nxfs+ gxfsl 32.Qf3The tasty-looking pawn on h5 is not edible: 32.Qxh5 Rh8 33.Of3 Rh434.Rf2 Rcxf,l 35-Qxf4 Rxf4 36.Rxf4 Qxb2+ with a winning position.

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t63

The Torrcsch Formula

32...K96

them on tho queensido is enflrely under Black,s control. In view ofsituallon, it will be diffioult for Write to organizo e .homelandsystem."

33.Rod2 Ro4 34.Rd4 Rc4 3s.Qfit Qb5 36,Kg3 Rcxd4 37.cxd438.K92

3E...b5t?

39.Kgl bil 40.rxb4 axba ,tl.Kg2

The long man€uvering struggle has result€d In a positional advantageBlack. His heavy pieces occupy be(er "access roads," and opening files

Bigoer and bigger functional dltferencos b€tweon the opposing forcesbocomlng Evidenl. Heavy pleces arc made for attack. nol defengol lnglven posltlon, Whllo's piec€s are Inf€rior to those of hls oppon6nt bothforcs end In 9fficiency ot applic. on b€c€us€ ofthe rol€s th€y arg torc€dpt8y.

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t64

The Tarasch Formula

this Whlte has no gscape. He wlllsoon have no good moves.

Ohl 43.Rd3 Ral ,l4.Rf3 Rdl ,15,b3 Rcl 40,R03Tho game would concludo b€au$tuly after 46.h3 Rgl+ 47.Kh4 Rg4#.

..Rfl 0.1

It€ reslgnod.The conclusion would be 47.Oe2 Qg1+ 48.Kh3 Re,tl

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The larrlisch Fbrmuld

(41) Tseshkovsky - Palatnik [804]Philadelphia, 1990

Fol lowing Precedent

Without being familaar with the preceding qame by Capablanca, thefollowing game would have been impossible to win, or even draw.

1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 dO 4.Nf3 gO 5.8c4 tlb6 6.8b3 Bg7 7.a4

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The openi.rg in this game is the same as in Kasparcv Palatnik in ChapterOfle. wrth the only ditterence thal the game with the fulute Champion ofth6Wodd included the rnoves a2 a4 and ...a7-a5 Likewise in this game Whitorovites Black to exchange "pawn's co!rtesies" on a-file. Black decides thalthe rnove ...a7 a5 would benefit White and therefore tries to avoid it. bulwas nevertheless t]nsuccessful irr avoiding opening difficulties.

7...d5For 7...a5 8.N95 e6 see Kasparov-Palatnik on page

8-a5 Nc4 9.Nbd2 Nxd2Now 9...b5 can be met with 10.axb6 Nxb6l

10.Bxd2 Bq411.h3 Bxf3 12.Qxf3 e6

t66

7 he T atatch lbnnula

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13.h41?Thls White clearly gives the Elack King to uncterstanct lhat he can exoectserioLs lroubles it he caslles ktngside. Weaker was .13.0-O O-0=.

13...c5The theoretically correcl re€ction: il is desifable to answer lhe oDoonent'sllank opemtion with a counter-allack in the center. Howevef. aftel this it isnecessary for Black to suffer a greal deal, thanks mainlv to White'sinvenlive resoonse.

l4.Ba4+ Nc6,t5.Bxc6+lf 15.a6?! doe not give White any advantago after 15...0-0! 16.axb7 Nxd4.

l5.,.bxc6 l6.Qc3l?White gains a material advantage in an original way.

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16...cxd4No help is 16...c4 17.b3.

17.Qxc6+ Kf8 18.Qc5+ Kg8 19.Qxd4 Qc7!?An obligatory move.

20.8c3 h5Another necessity.

21.Rh3!?Now it's time to stop and assess the situation. The opening phase of thegarne is virtually completed. By his enteryrising play, White has secu/ed arnaterial advantage in an !nbalanced position. Bolh sides have unresolvedopening problems. In particular, Black has lost a pawn and his Killg has lledthe center without castling. The well-known skategic principle "Oivide andconquer" has only been carried out on Black's half of the boardl he hasdivided hrs own Rooks, a situation not likely to increase the size of hiskrrgdom. Nevertheless, Black does not lose heart because there is yetcause for optimism. There is no doubt that white's achievements s0laraBeasily visible Even so, it will be a long time before White's materialadvantage can be decisive, and at the moment the queenside pawns do notrepresent a serious danqer. Black has in mind to turn his missing pawn t0account by rnaking use of the open files for his heavy pieces with the ideathat he rnighl thereby obtain compensation for lhe material ln addilionBlack can be happy that the scope of White's Bishop is blocked by his e5-

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t68

1

I he Taftosch lbrnula

21...8t80n 21...Kh7?l Whitrc fepl ies strongly with 22.94.

22.Qd3 RcENot giving the Bishop a chance to move away from c3 because the c2-pawn would be lost.

23.Ra4 Qc6l?White would be able lo carry out his artfut plan after 23...8e7 24.94 hxg425.Rxg4 Kg7 (25...Rhs? 26.Rxg6+!) 26.h5, after which the struggl; woutdrapidly conclude with a direct attack on the kingside.

24.Rt4 Bh6Atlacking ths Rook.

25.Rd4 Bg7Attacking the pawn. Black does not give his opponent time to ptay g2-g4.

26,Re3Inslead 26.f4 would block the Rook's action along the fourth rank.

26...Kh7Now lhis movo is not so dangerous

27.Re2lneffective now is 27.94 after the repty 27...K98! The point is that Whiteeilier aclivates the Black Rook with 28.gxh5 Rxhs or else ctoses thekingside completely with 28.95, both of which are good for Black.

2f,,,Rc7l?last prcpaGlions before solemn meeting the Rook on the eueen flank willbe open.

26.f3White persisls in trying to carry out g2-94.

/169

The 'lhrrasch l;ornula

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24...fst?In thas way Black's business is improved.

29.8b4In case of 29.exf6 Bxf6 30.Rf4 Bxc3+ 31.Qxc3 Qxc3+ 32.bxc3 Re8 reache!a balanced Rook ending.

29...8f8Such a Bishop should be exchanged, because he has given a fullfreodofito his temperament.

30.c3 Bxb4 31,Rxb4 RhcE 32.Kd2 RbTl?The time has come to recall with gratitud€ the previous game played byCapablanca and to exchange the most active heavy piece of the opponeniinamely, the Rb4.

33.Rxb7+ OxbTHere it's possible to see some posilive fesults for Btack. He has rid himsellof the majority of problems and has reach€d a position where his morc"heallhy" heavy pieces compensate for White's small materiat advantage.

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34.Kc2 Rcsl?Trying lo shift more and more problems onto lhe opponent's shouldels.

35.a6 Qb4lBlacks Queen is now obviously a very strong piece.

36.b3 Qa3lCapablanca would not b€ pteasod with tho continuation 36...exh4 37.Kb2.lfyou are fishing and the fish start to bite, do not announce a lunch break!

37,0d4 Qa2+ 38.Kd3 Oxa6+ 39.Ke3 Rc7Now that Black has regained the lost pawn, he has the advantage thanks tolhe more active location of his pieces. The initiatjve is in his hands.

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40.c4Attempting to solve his problems with tactics.

40...dxc4 4l,Rc2 Qa3 42.Rc3 Qb2l?Here Black's Queen is like having 'a goat in tho kitchon garden."

43.bxc4Not 43.Rxc4? Qxb3+.

43...Oxg2 4,{.c5Aftef this Black can demonstrate a forced win, but in any case Black wouldhave a clear advantage. However, il is still necessary for Black to calculaLvariations accu€tely.

, l4...QOl+ 45.Kd3 Odl+ 46.Ko3Black wins the Queen after 46.Kc4 Oa4+ 47.Kd3 Rd7.

46,,,t4+147.Ko4The afternative is 47.Qxf4 Rd7 48.Qc,{ Qe1+ | (Less tavorable fot Black tulsti adequate for a win would be 48...Qd2+ 49.Ke4 Rt7 when the thred...Rf4# torces 50.Re3. Black's atta* on the exposed White King is decisluraftat 50...Qd8!; for example,

'1.QxeO Rf4+! 52.Kxf4 Qxh4+ torcos the rcdt

53.Q94./ and now White loses his Rook (49.Qe2 Qxc3+) becauso 49.(llgets rnated with 49...R1/+ 50.Ks5 Rts#.

47...Os2+ ilE.lftf,{ Osl IZugzwang!

49.K95White's altomatives are no betler: llg.lQqg Qxh4#; 49.Re3 Qxh4#; 4glQglRr/+ 50.K95 Qg3+ 51.Q94 Rfs#.

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'1The Tanasch Formula

49...Rf/ 0-1Thank yo! very much, Mr. Capablanca!

(42) Capablanca - Treybat [D301Carlsbad. 1929

Chemothorapy

l.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 06 4.895 Be7?tIn playing this weak move Black aspircs to nothing morc than exchangingas many pieces a6 possibte, without considering ttre long_tirmconsequencos involved. But aftef the exchange of Bishops on e7, White witlbe able to apply the Taffasch Formula againsl Btack's other BishoD. Th€cancerous weakness of Black s dark sqljares spreads across his wholeposition, while his imprisoned tighl-squared Bishop is forced to endureexlensive "chemotherapy."

5.Bre7 QxeT 6.Nbd2 t5 7.e3 Ndz E.Bd3 Nh6?lTreybal does nol find the most active ptan. Better was 8...Ngf6 9_O-O Ne4.

9.0.0 0-0 t0"Qc2 96 tt.Rabl Nf6 12.Ne5 Nf/ 13.f4 Bd7 14.Ndt3 RfdEt5.b4 BeE l6.Rfcl acNow all Black's hopes are based only on passive defense.

l7.Qt2 Nxes l8.Nxes Nd7

t9.ltf3lExchanging Knights would clearly ease Black's defense. White is consistentin his exploitation of Btack's weak dark squares. In removing the Knight

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I he 'l sftasch hbrmula

from his "ideal" position on e5, Capablanca defines its lole as that ofWhite's main reserve in the future. Black's minor oieces arc both rcduced inpower compared to their white counteQans, and it is likely that the re-entryof White's knight into the game at a later poinl will be decisive.

19...RdcB 20.c5Whites strategic plan was defined by the exchange of dark-squaredBishops on the fifth move. He will ancrease his grip on the dark squares bygaining space, which in turn will resuli in "political and economic isolelion"for the opponent's useless Bishop.

20...Nf6 2l.a/t N94 22.Qel Nh6 23.h3 Nfl 24.94 Bd7 25.Rc2 KhE 26.R92Rg8 27.95

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29.. .Rh8The.conclusion of the game is still many moves away, but Black,s posilionis aheady tost. The question is not.What will happ;n?,,tut "Wtre?, wiiiiih-appen?" From this point White ctemonslrates grcel palience. Hisadvanlage is of a permanent nature because lhere is nothing Black can d;lo atterthe course of the game, so White does not have to b; in any h;rry.30.Rn2 9c7 31.ec3 Od6 32.Kf2 ec7 33.Rbh1 RagE 34.Oat Rb8 35.ea3RbsE 36.b51axb5Black does.nol ptay 36...ea5? becalse 37.b6t traps lhe eueent Btackwould be helpless to prevent the winning maneuver Nt3_d2_b3.

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An rmpressive paintingl Black is searching in vain for,,the fifth corner.,,

40.-Rc8 41.Qb4 RhdS 42.Ra7 Kt8 43.Rh1 BeB ,t4.Rha1 Kg8,t5.R1a4 Kfg46.0a3 Ks8 4t.Rs3 Bd7 4E.Kh4 Kh8 49.ea.t KsE ;;.i;3 ffi;;li;;yL,l"--T: 1 decisive attack against the b7_pawn. Notice that Btack,scrampeo p€ces are unable to coordinale for defense.

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52.Nd2! Bd7 53.Nb3 ReE 5,l.Na5 Nd8This Knighl s unhappy life has followed a lwisted path (Nb8-d7j6-94-h6-fi-d8) Now he tries unsuccessfully to relurn in time to aved trcuble al home.

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55.BaGlAlso good enough to win would be 55.Nxb7 NxbT 56.8a6, blt lhe mov6played in the game is stronqer.

55...bxa6 56.Rxd7 Re7 57.Rxd8+l 1-0Thus Black's tortured Knighl has not coped wilh an excessive lask, andperishes without glory. Black resigned now in view of 57...RxdB 58.Nxc6.

1'76

The Tarrasch l;bnh l.t

(43) Alekhine - Nimzowitsch [C171San Remo, 1930

Space Advantage

1.e4 eO 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4,t.es c5 S.Bd2An interesting decision. Usual instead is 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3, blt Alekhinedoes not give his opponent a chance to create preconditions for employinga blockac,e strategy against doubled pawns, a situatron in wi]iciNrmzowitsch ercelled.

5...Ne7 6.Nb5 Bxd2+ 7.Qxd2 0-0 8.c3

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8...b6?!Betler chances were offered by 8...NfS.

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12.b41An unpleasanl surprise for Black. Alekhine makes practical use of lheTaffasch Formula against one of ils most formidable exponenls,Grandmaster Nimzowitsch. Black expected lhal after provoking a2-a4 hewould be able to lransfer his Knighl via a5lo c4. While's lasl move dep vesthis prece of the chance lo raise i ts value with such a maneuver.

12...cxb4 13.cxb4 Bb7Black's prcblems would not be solved afler 13...8xb5 14.axb5 becauseWhile would have more space, open l ines and clear points of al lack on theopen a- and c-files. Blacks Knighls would be pushed backward, and h6posil ion would become even more cramped.

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14...157Necessary was 14...a5, trying to gain a litte mofe sDace.

l5.a5l Nc8 l6.Nxb7 QxbT i7.a6 OflBlack cannot gain freedom with 17...ee7? because 18.8b5 Nxb4 19.Rb1wtns a prece.

l8.Bb5 N6e7 19.0-0 hO 2o.Rfc,t Rtcg 2t.Rc2W-hile's. intenlions are clear: he plans a decisive buildup along the c_file.Although Black has sufficienl time for defensive maneuve.s, h; tacks thespace to cary them out. This is a typicel rosult oflhe successful applicetionofthe Tarrasch Formula: the reduclion in power of a single piece ;tiects hisenlrre army. In lhis case Black is slarved foa space, and his overa lack ofmobility finally results in zugzwang.

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21...Qe8Elack can exchange Rooks with 2.l...NdB 22.Racl Rxc2 23.Rxc2 RcX24.Rxc8 Nxc8, but after 25.Qc3 Ne7 26_ec7 White's invasion on the c-fitestill decides the game.

22.Rac1 Rab8 23.Qe3 Rc7 24.Rc3 ed7 25.Ric2 KfE 26.ecl Rbc8

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30...h5 3l.Kh2r?His Royal l\4ajesty is "nervous" in anlicipating the opponent's capitulataon.

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27 -Sa4l?White has strengthenod his position as much as possible, and nowthreatens b4-b5. Black tries to gain time to protect his Rook with his Kinoby sacrilicing a pawn.

27...b5 28.Bxbs Keg 29.Ba,l Kd8 30.h,llBlack is now reduced to pawn moves, and once lhoy a.e exhausled he willbe in zugzwang. For example, after ...Qe8 While wins with b4 b5.

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(44) Ubilava - Timoschenko [8301ussR, 1974

Extreme Mea$urea

'1.e4 c5 2,Nf3 Nc6 3.8b5 06,1.0.0 NgoT 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bxc6 Nxc6 ?.d4 cxd48.l,lxd,t d6 9.IxcGWhite handles the opening in an !nusual manner. The exchang€ of Knightson c6 brings more Black pawns toward the center, but it also frees theQueen from d€fending lhe Knight on d4 so thal she can kav€t on thekingside in search of adventur€!

g,..bxc6 lo.Qh5 gO 11.Qh3 RbE?lSurprisingly, lhis natural move is an error. White is able lo mako use of thelact that the Rook on bB is unprotected. Bener is 11...8g7.

l2.Rdl B9713.Os3 Be5White would sland well afrer 13.__e5 14.b3, and of course 13...d5? is badbecause of | 4.Qxb8l Now it's clear why 1 1...Rb8 was an error.

t4.Qxe5lThe beginning of an olegant and far-sighted tactical operation based onputting Black in zugzwang.

l4...dxe5 1s,RxdE+ KxdS l6.Bg5+ Ke8Very bad is 16...Kd7 17.Rd1+ Ke8 1B.Rd8#, and 1O...tKqZ gives White awinning grip on the position after 17.8f6 Bd7 18.Bxe5+ Kb7.lg_Rdl RhdS20.Bxb8 KxbS 21.Na4 Kc7 22.Ncs Bc8 23.RxdB KxdS 24.e5+-.

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17.BfG RgEBlack is now virtually a Rook down unless he can somehow activale ftispiece.

r8.Rdr Bd7Notice how the "incurable Tarrasch illness" expands from one Black piocato another, until finally the epidemic infects the entire black kingdom in thoform of zugzwang.

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19.Na4 Rb4 20.Nc5 Rd4 21.Rxd,lThe sole black piece not affected by illness disappears, after which Blaclcan oarety move.

21 .--exd6 22.h41Infectiols patients should be isolated. This makes suae that the Rook cannever escaDe.

22...e5 23.f3 Be6 24.b3 a5 25.94 h5 26.95From all Black's pieces, only his Bishop is sti watking.

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26...8h3 27.Kf2 Rf8 28.Ke2 Rg8 29.a4 Rf8 30.b41 axb4 31.a5 Bc8 32.Kd3Rg8 33.Kc4O l-0

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Now even the Bishop cannol move. His suffe ng is so extreme thal Blackresigned this position rather than waiting for the followrng to occur:

33...RI8 34.Kxb4 Rg8 35.Ka3 RfBThe Rook works like a clock, simply marking time.

36.Kb2 Rg8 37.Kc1 RfB 38-Kd2 Rg8 39.Kel Rf8 40.Kf2 Rg8 41.Kg3 Rf842.f4 erf,l+ 43.1Gf4 RgB 44.Ke5Now White's King functions as a hospilal atlendant, and hastens to pick upihe dead.

t83

The Tdrrasch Forml a

,l4...RfE 45.KdG Rg8 46.Kc7

And after capturing the Bishop White will promote his a-pawn.

(45) Palatnik - Popov [Dl1lLeningrad, 1976

Do Not Hurryl

1.Nf3 Nt6 2.c4 c6 3.d4 d5 4.Oc2Even at lhis early stage of the game White has in mind to "hunt" Black'slighl-squared Bishop. Black's initial pawn moves onlo light squares are nolfriendly in relation lo this piece, and now by covering the fs-square lhoWhite Queen also adds her voice in prclest against the Bishop's activily.

4...96Black pe|sists in the desire to develop his Bishop on f5, but the g6-pawnwill make his stay lhere !ncomfortable.

5.8t4 Bfs 6.Ob3 QbG 7.e3 NaGThis Knight's "lawful" square on c6 was stolen at the very beginning ofth€game, so his desire to find another location for aclive business is quit€understandable.

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E...Qxb3The attempt 10 create concrele threals imrnediately with lhe Knight wouldcome lo nothing: 8...Nb4 I c5 Qas (9...Ncz+ /0.exc2) 1O.Rclr. '

g.axb3 Nb410.Ra4t?Because Rooks love open l ines, White prefers this move over 1O.Rc1.

10...Nd3+Urplayable are lo...Nq&? 11.Kd2 and 1O--clO? 1t.Be5.

11.Brd3 Bxd3

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The Tarrasch Formxla

12,BeslThe threat lo win th€ ds-pawn compels Black to srchange pawnsafrer rrhich the pawn struclur€ favoB White.

12...dxc,| l3.bxc,t Bg7 l4.Kd2 8f515.Rhst a6

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Wlthout thla move Black cannot |strain iho b7-pawn becEus6 llm8brlal aft6r 17.cxb5 cxbs l8.Rxbs, wh e 10-,Ge0,t7.Na4

l7.Na4 ilc+i tt.Ko2 BxcSThls sxchange is torc€d bscause 18...0.0 allows,tg.Nb6 Ra7wlnnlng th€ trappod Rook,

19. x€5 ildO 20, b0 Rbt

task thorBforo is to flnd e vyay to mak6 hls posl0on evon bsttlr.Oen9ral rulo, ln slch po3itions lt ls not Edvlsabio io hurry. Bgc€usr

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2l.t3t?White proceeds with scientific logic. This mov6 incaeases his contfol of thecenter, places pawns on the samo color es the enomy Bishop, and furtherreslricls lhe mobility of the enemy's forces.

2't...f6Black cannot mobilize with 21...0-0 because of 22.Ned7 BxdT 23.Nxd7 witha fork.

22.Id3This Knight will lind other lodging to be at least as comfortabte as e5.

x2,,.KdaThe King personally attends to questions of safety on th6 qu€€nside.

23.e,1 Kc7 24.Nc5 R6ENow how can White continue to improv€ his position?

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25.RcllIn ord6r to determln€ th6 heslth of Black's Klng, lt wlll bo uslful t0an x-ray on the o.flle.

25...o0 20,Rc3l?Oo not hurryl

26....5Black i8 sufl6dng tmm I sevsrg shortago In fr€edom of movemorRb8, Bc8, or Nd6), so he d€cld€s to br€ak ih€ posl0on op6n.

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The Ta asch Formula

2E.h3tContinulng the plan of r€stralnlng th€ Bc8 in accordance with thg TarraschFomula.

2E...cxd5?lBlack los€s pationce €nd plays a loslng move. When we advised againstboing ln a hurry. thls ls th6 typlcal development of evenls w€ hed ln;ind.tslack's nervas was not €qugl to th6 task of prolonged def€ns€; howovsr,th6 posltlon was very close to zuozwang In any avent, and r€ssonablemoves for Black w€re had to flnd_

29.i{xd5+Also possible wa8 29,cxd5 Nbs 30.RxbS axbs 31,NcdZ+t Kd6 32.Nxb8+-.

29...KcoTh6 King steps foMard to me€t hls desflnyt The alt€.naflv€ was also notsppealing: 29...Kd8 30.Rb6 Nl/ 3t.RtB (o/ 3t.Nxa6 RaE g2.Nac7+-)31...Nh6 32.Rd6+ Bd7 33.Rxd7+ KcB 34.Nb6#.

30.Rb6+ l(xcs 3t.b,t+ Kd4 32.Rd3+ r\xc,t 33. 03*

(46) Karpov - Rlbli IA38lAmst€fdam, I 980

To Trado or oi?

Th€.hop6s Black plac€d on slmplific. on of the position w€ra not jusiifiedIn this game. Despite the reduc€d materlal, Whlte succeods 6 la TEnssch in'bringing down the prtce' of th6 opponent's Rook. Afler forcing Bteck'spieoos into passtvg posl ons, lty'hfie was th€n sble to atfange a ch€erful'yard ssl€' of th€ oppon6nt,s man.

1.5 g_5 ?.NIg !f.6 3:Nc3 {c6 4.s3 d5 5.cxd5 Nxds 6.8e2 06 7.0.0 Bs7E. xds Qxds 9.d3 G0 l0.Bs3 Bd7 fi,Id,a ed6 l2.Xxc6 Blc6 l3.Bx;6tuc€ l4.Rcl OeO l5.Rrc5 Qxa2 l6.Rb5 b0l7.O8l

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17...Qxa1?lShould Black keep the Queens on the board or not? Black comes up wilhthe wrong answer. l the ending many basic dangers await himi in fact, th€best he can hope for is a Rook ending with four Black pawns against fiveWhite pawns on the kingside. Preferable was '17...Qe6.

18.Rxa1 RtbSNow the a8-square will sim!ltaneousty be the birthptace of the Black Rookas well as the location of its oainful death

19.Ra6 Kf8 20.Rb4 Bes 2l.Rba4 b5lf instead 21...8xb2 then White reDlies 22.8xb6.

22.Ra2 Rb7 23.b31?White continues q!ietly to strenglhen the position, not giving the opponenllhe chance to exchange off the immobile Ra8 even at the cost of a pawn.Aftet 23.Bxa7?l Bxtt2 24.Rxb2 RaxaT 25.Rxa7 RxaT 26.Rxb5 White woltdernerge a pawn ahead but would encounler many difficulties in winning. Bllatter the move played, Black has little choace but to bury has BishoD also intrying to defend a7.

23...8b8Just a little rnore cement and the crypt will be ready.

190

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24.8c5 Ke8 25,d4 Kd7 26..4 e6 27,b4Black most likely will not be in time to die before the funeral.

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27...Kc8 28.d5 exd5 29.exd5 Rd7 30.d6Black's illness has followed a familiar progression. Filst one of his piecescatches a cold, then the anfection spreads to lhe entire army. Later pafalysissets in. The position at hand is like the final stage, when the souls of thedead soldiers are escorted into the next life by anoels of zugzwang.

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30...Rd1 3l.Xe2 Kd7 32.Re2Whit€ vldually has an 6xtra Rook and Bl8hoD.

32.,,KcE 33.Re7 Rd7 34.Ra2 rslf 34...Bxd6 35.Rxd7 KxdT 36.Rd2 wtns materiat.

35.Rc21.0

(471 lshe., M - guort589Int6rnet Chess Club, 2002

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While has been waging a campaign against Black's dark-squared bishop.Forcing as many of Black's pawns as possible onto dark squares has thelwin benefits of restricting the mobility of Black's Bishop as wellas crealingweaknesses on the light squares. Despite the long open diagonal a1-h8,lhe Bishop on 97 serves no useful function. White's lask now is to continuelo imprcve his position.

29.a4The threat of a4-a5 is very !npleasant. Black's reply is forced.

29...a5Now White's Knight can relocate to b5 where it willattack the backward c7-pawn, thus reslricting Black's pieces even mo.e.

30.Nc3 Ke7 3l.Nb5 Kd8 32.Nd4Heading for an even stronger oulpost on f5.

32...Ne7 33.Ke4 NdzBlack's first sign of life: he threalens to estabiish a Knight on c5. White rnustnol allow this to happen.

34.Bxd7 KxdT 35.Nf5 Bf8 36.Nre7 KxeT 37.Kf5 Kfl 38,8c3 Be7Black is nearly in zugzwang now, but the problem remains of how to breakdown his last line of defense.

39.b41 axb4 40.Bxb4 Bf6 4'1.a5 bxas 42.Bxa5 Bd8 43.94 O ,1.0Any Black move will lose material.

193

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Whit6 to mov6 & wtn

l.Oe7+ Qe5 [1...95? 2.Oel+ Qg3+ 3.Qxg3#l 2.Q.4+ Ogazugzwang. 3...s5 [3...O95 4.Oh3#; 3...QtS 4.O93#l,t.Ost+ Og3l I

Exorcba 24

Exerciso 23

The Tarasch Fottrulo

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t94

Exercise 25

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Black to move & wtrr

'1...Ke3 The threat of ...Kf2 followed by ...Rd1 and ...892# cannot boanswered adequately. For example, 2.Rxg5 Rdl+ 3.Rgl Kf2 4.Rxdl Bg2#

Exercise 26

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Gorvitz, Kl ing, 1851

t.Kg7 Bb7 2.Nf6+ Kd8 3.Kf8 BaE /t.Ng8 Bb7 5.[h6 BaE [5...8c8 6.Nfl#]6.Nf/+ Kc8 7.Ke8 Bb7 8.Ne5 Ba8 9.N96 Kb7 19...8b7 10.Ne7#l 10.Kd8Ka71l.Kc7 Bb712.Nhg Ba8 l3.Nfl Bb7'l4.Nd8 Bag 15.Kc8+- 1.0

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195

Exerciae 27

The Tarrasch Fornula

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Erarcise 28

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t96

The Thrrasch Formltla

Erercise 29

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r.Nd5 Kg6 2.Ne7+ Kh6 3.Bo3 r{f4+ [3...NfE+ 4.Kh6]4.Kh6 No6 5.8t2 No76.Ael+- 1.0

Exercise 30

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culko - Petkeviech, USSR 1975

'The winning idea in this position was my discovery, which caused mygratetul friend Boris Gulko to give it the nickname ,palatnik Lasso., inreference to the looping maneuver of the White Bishop that roduces Blacklo zugzwang." (Palatnik) l .Ke3 Nh3 2.Bh7t Kg7 [2...N9S 3.8q8] 3.Bd3lKf6 4.Btl Ng5 5.892 Ke6 6.Kf4+- Nfl Z.g5 1-O

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t97


Exercise 31

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1.KdE Bft 2.Kxs7 Bxh5 3.Nf4l 96 4. e2+ Kd3 5.Nq3 Kc4 6.KdG7.Kd5 Ka6 8.Kc6 Ka5 9.8c5 Ka4 [9...Ka6 10.8b6+-] l0.Kb6 Kb3 fi.Kc3'l2.Bb6 Kd3 Il2...Kb3 13.Ba5l l3.Kb4 Kc2 l4.Kc4 Kd2 15.8d4'i6.Bc3 Kdl 17.Kb3 Kcl 1E.Bb4 Kbl [18...Kd1 19.Kb2l t9.Br320.Bcl Kbl 2l.Bb2+- 1.0

f he lanasch I'brn ld

Chapter SixPhilidor,s Defense Revisited

I\,lany new opening ideas appear as tactical corrections to well-knownvariations, with or without changing thear strategic content. Less oftenappear new ideas with a new, solf-reliant strategic context: for example,the Benko Gambil. The basic method of finding new opening ideas at thepresent time is to search for the most imporlanl moves, wiih lhe goal ofbettering and slrengthonang your position. However, this is only one;ide ofme cotn.

0n the other side, the mosl interestirrg and delicate work is the search forway$ to highlight the weak side of the opponent's moves. The essence ofthrs method is to find ways to make your own moves more important for thedevelopment of evenls, and also how to turn th€ game in a direction so thatthe moves (or even just one move) of your opponent will become not verymporla t. Thts lurn ot evenls ts nol always easy to creale However, i t ;workable idea rs foLnd. and to it we adct errough analytic work. shong wilt.and unexpectedness of novellies, then we are jlstified in expecting goodpractical rcsults. This is lhe whole reason to search for new opening idJas.

In this chapter, we will show this method at work, first in the development ofa new opening idea and then the results of its usage in pfactice.

Phil idor's Conceot

ln considering pawn play as a skategic elemenl, one may reasonably ask.Under what condittons is it possible to make best use of pawns? Thos; whoare accustomed lo using pawns simply as lirewood (sacrillctng them tocreate attacking chances) wi have difficulty answering this questi6n.

Chess history recogniTes an oLtstanding chess ptayer of lhe past. Frar|coisPnirroor. as a great expert in pawn play He is best known lor lhe lamousobservation that "Pawns are the soul of chess.', philidor was far ahead ofhrs time in undeBtanding how much can be achieved by these most bravebattle units.

Philidor taught that the pawns should be used first of a aqainst theopponent s pieces. by limitrng their mobility and also protecting sarategicallyrmportant squafes from inhusion. philidof was a precursor of Dr. Taffaschin his use of pawns to decrease the power of enemy pieces, knowing that

199

me Taftasch Fomula

reducing ths strength of even one piece cdn l€ad to a decline ofopposing army.

Following his theorelic€l conclusions, Philidor developed andopening system that now caffi€s his nam€, in which the basic h0future succ€sstul d€v€lopment ot the game was the opposition otpawn on c6lo th€ white Knight c3.

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In thls way ths Black playor in Philidor's Defen8e hopoE bambitions of thg c3-Knlght, Thls orlginsl idoa - restdcting hepieces with pa',rins - i8 a common Stralegic theme in manyopenings. For example, in ths Najdorf Variation of the Siclllan(1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 dO 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.895 €6 7.I4

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Phil idor's Original Defense

Taking Philidofs ofiginal concept as a starlinO point, is it possible lo revivePhiiador's Defense as a viable modern opening system? Theorelically lheanswer should be yes; however, analysis of the move order 1.e4 e5 2.Nt3d6 3.d4 confims that White can expect to obtain a significant advantage. Inparticular, Black's weak spot on l/ creates many attacking chances forWhile because he can play Bc4 before Black can prepare lo castle.However, lhis is essentially a problem of move order. lf Black couid reachlhe basic position of Philidor's Defense through a differenl sequence ofmoves, he would have good chances lo pul Phil idor's original defensiveconcept in play. Black could apply lhe Tarrasch Formula against WhilesKnighl on c3 with ..c7-c6, followed eventually by queenside expansion with...b7-b5-b4.

The Neo-Philidor Defense

Phrl idor's Defense can also be reached via the move order'1.e4 d6 2.d4Nt6 3.Nc3, and now there is no reason why Black cannot play 3...Nbd7.After 4.Nf3 e5 5.8c4 Be7 Black is ready to castle, and the defense of fi isnot a problem. This order of moves we have named lhe Neo-PhiliatorDeferse.

The Palatnik Gambit

Can White deviate from this sequence? The only'punishment" for Black'smove order (1,e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 NbdT) is 4.f41?. However, thisambitious attacking move is not without its drawbacks. White spends animportant tempo on another pawn move mther than developing a piece.The f4-pawn blocks the c1-h6 diagonal for developing the dark-squaredBishop, and moving the pawn from f2 also creates potentially weak darkEuares in White's kingside.

After 4...eS 5.Nf3 exd4 6.Qxd4 c6 7.Bc4l? Black has an inleresting gambitconlinuation ai his disposal: 7...d51 This is the starting position of thePalatnik Gambit. Accepting the sacrifice with 8.exd5 Bc5 9.Qd3 0-0 givesBlack excellent chances.

The following games by GM Palatnik, in which Black utilizes the Neo-Philidor Defense move order. show how the connection between Philidor'soriginal concept and the Tanasch Formula can be molded into a viableopening system fof the second player. At the end of lhis chapterwe presentsome original opening analysis of the Palatnik cambit. Although notexhaustive, this analysis shows morc of Bleck's main idees in action. Ourgoal is to demonstrate that it is possible for Black to channel lhe game intopalhs that emphasize the disadvantages of White's opening setup.

201

Thc'ldrr.tlch l.brmula

(48) Melvin - Palatnik [8071Nashvi l le, 1994

1.e4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d6 3.d4 NbdT 4.f4A crilical reaclion. Less ambitious bul more usual is 4.Nf3 e5 5.8c4 Be7transposing lo the main l ine of Phi l idois Defense.

4...e5 5.Nf3For the conlinuahon 5.txe5 dxes 6 dxe5 Nxes 7.Qxd8+ Kxd8., seePalatnik-Meadows (Garne 53 below).

5...exd4 6.Qxd4ll 6.Nxd4 96 7 Be2 Bq7 8.0-0 0-0 and Black can expect counteplay againsl

6...c6 7.8c4Thjs posiliofl dernands attenlion fi|st of all because of the "defianlarrogaflce" ol the wh e pieces

ldeally Blacks answer to this challenge should sornehow reveal aweakness in the mighty qroupnrg of while pieces and pawns in the cenlorWith this in rnird, the analysis of this position focuses on how lo discr8ditWhite s achievernents of the rnove f2-f4. Current'public opinion favorsthhrnove because of its boldness, resoluteness and strong influenco onrnanagement of the center . However, tomorrow it rnay be that the move 12-f4 will be regarded as risky because it weakens the White King's safety andtherefore is not the most important rnove for White. Critics ol the movel2-f4 will rightly ask: Why did White waste his time and energy on sLrch a

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7...d5t?Exploiting the move f2-f4 begins with this gambit.

E.Bb3?lSurprised, White rcacts timidty. The main gambat tine is 8.exd5 Bc5 9.ed30-0.

E...Bc5 9.Qd3 dxe4 l0,Qe2Or 10-Nxe4 Qe7 11.Nfgs 0-0, when Black's safely casfled King gives himthe advantage.

'10.,.0-011.N95 Qe7 12.8e3 h6+ t3.h4t?Who is playing a gambit now?

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13-. .Bxe3 l4.Qxe3 Nc5lWhite's position does not deserve to be fewarded with lhe attack on lhe h-f i le that he would obtain after 14.. .hx95? 15.hxg5

15.Nf3 N94 16.Qe2 Qc7' l7.Nd2 Qxf4-+Black has a decisive material and positional advantage.

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'18.0-0-0 e3 19-Nf3 Nxb3+ 20.axb3 Be6 21.Rd4 Qc7 22.Ndl RaeE23.Nxe3 Afs 24.Rxg4 Bxg4 25.Qt2 QI4 26.Rei Brf3 27-gxf3 ReG 0-1

(49) Ersham - Palatnik [B07]Faidield Glade Open, ' l997

1.d4 Nf6 2,Nc3 d6 3.e4 NbdT 4.I4 e5 5.Nf3 exd4 6.Qxd4 c6 7.8c4 dsl?8.exd5While acceots the Dawn sacdlice

8.. .8c5 g.Qd3 0-0This is the basic posilion of the Palahrik Gambit i,r the Neo-PhilidorDefense At the cost of one pawn Black caslles and is ready t0 takeaclvantage of the open e_file with his Rook. Here perhaps for the first timethere is a big qirestion about why While spent tirne to advance f2 f4. As aconsequeflce of this pawn rnove, the White King cannot castle shod, andthe mobility of White s dark-squafed bishop as very lirnited. These lu/osignificanl problerns affect White's whole positior and influence lheeffective coordination of all his pieces With his next move, While preparesto evacuate his Kirrg toward the queensidet however, with hindsiqht we canrecognaze lhat the atternpt was lnsuccessful. Clearly Whate's slruqgles

204

Ioriganate in theunexpected.

fact that

? he Tarrasch Formula

Black's tactics were not onlyeffective but also

10.8d2After breaching his center fomation atong th€ e-fite, it would be eouallvundesirable for White atso to open the b-fito for use by a second Btack rooiwith 10.dxc6 bxc6.

10...Re8+ 1l.Kd{ Nb6 t2.b4t?A gosture of despaid The shadow of a black knight has fallen across thef2-square, and White is trying to divert Black's pieces from this wsak spot.

Instead j2.EhO cxds+ is fine for Black, and clearty unplayablo for White is12.dxc6? Ng4! 13.Rfl Nxc4 14.exc4 Ne3+ winning the eueon.

12...N941 l3.Rf1 Ne3+l?A cheerfulvariation for Btack arises after'13._.Nf2+ 14.Rxf2 Bxf2 .15.Ng5

9616.dxc6 Nxc4 17.Qxc4 Re1#. Of course il is nol forced, but this line sioirshow clangerous Black's attack can become afler only a few "natural" moves_

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The Tarrasch Fomula

15.bxc5Essentially forced because 15-Qd2? Nxc4 wins for Black.

15...Rxd3+ 16.cxd3 Nxc4 17.dxc4 Qa5From a purely matedal standpoint nothing awful has happened. White stillhas enough pieces lo compensate for losing his Queen. However,subsequently the fudous Black Queen will Meak havoc in the house of thewhile King.

18.Rc1 Qxc5 19.Ns4 Qe3 20.Rc3The psychology of this move is readily apparcnt. White is trying lodemonskale lhe "invulnerabilily" of the knight on c3, but only ends uptdcking himself. The alternalave 20.Re1 loses aftef 20...Qd3+ 21.Ned2 Bg4.

20...Qxe41Black does not believe a single word from his opponent.

21.Rel Ob1+ 22.Kd2 Oxa2+ 0.1

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(50) shiat - Paratnik [8071Asheville, l99T

l.e4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d6 3.d4 NbdT 4.f4 e5 5.Nf3 exd4 6.Oxd4 c6 7.e5

fg

With lhis central advance White immediately hopes to benefit from hiscentral buildup. By playing e4-e5 he not only wants to dislodge the BlackKnight from f6, but also hopes to incrcase the scope of his c3-knighi byvacat,ng the e4-square, lhus bypassing lhe restriclion caused by Blacks..c7-c6. In addil ion, the exchange of pawns on e5 opens the diagonal c1_h6 lo the benefat of White's cl-bishop.

However, exchanging pawns on e5 is nol wilhout disadvantaoes for Whi1e.Removal ol the d6-pawn lrees Blacks postt ion consider; ly ancl alsoincreases the fange of his da*-squared Bishop, which can now quickly be'introduced" to White's Queen after ...8f8-c5.

7...dre5 8.fxe5 Bc5 9.Qh4 Oe7 l0.Bf4 Bb,llBad is 10...N98? '11.Ne4 (Or 11.Q931) 1.1...Qxh4+ 12.Nxh4 Be7 13.Nf5with advantage to White.

'l1.0-0-0 Bxc3 12.exf6lf 12.bxc3? the White King finds an unusual square for checkmate (on e4l)after 12 Oa3r t3.Kd2 Ne4 r 14.Kd3 QxcJ+ i5 Kxe4 NcS#

12...8xf6 l3.Qg3 0-0Black was in time to castle and has kept an extra pawn. White cannotcreate strong threats.

207

me Tarrcsch Formula

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11.84Black emerges wlth a clear advantage after 14.BdO Qe3+ ts.Kbl/t5...Re82 t6.Ret) 16.b3 Re8.

'til...Qb4 l5.Bb3 NcsA multl-purposs move. lt opgns up theKnight to an activ€ square where it canBishoo.

c8-Blshop, and alsobe exchang6d for Whlb

16.BdO RoE l7.Rhfl NxbS+ l8,axb3 OS,tBlack 18 wlnning. White has no compensation tor the mat6dal, andgtrcngthen his position.

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lg.Rfel Bf5 20.Of,l Bql2l.h3 Ot5 22.0.2 Re6 23.Of,I h8t?ThEre i8 no need for Black to be In a hurry, and h€ choosEs a safe movethat digpel8 any llluslons about the weakness of hls back rsnk.

24.Rll Rse6l?Ac,tlvaffno hl8 last fss€rves glves Btack a domtneton po8t0on. Th6 finaloperallon i8 pr€pargd,

25.Oxr7

25...Rxd61 20.Rxd6 Of,a+ 27.Rd2 Bxt3 28.gxf3 BeS 29.Oa5Not 2g.Rfdl becaus€ ofth6.epty 29...Qxd2+t 3O.Rxd2 R€j#

29...b61The lmmediata 29,,,Re2 30.Rfd1 Qh2 glves whtte 3om6 br€sthingaft€.31,c4. As pleyed Whito ls d€nl€d thls pos3iblflty,

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32.Qxc6 Rxd2 33.QcE+Useless is 33.Qe8+ Kh7 34.Oe4+ 96, but after the mov€ playsdhoping for 33...Kh7? 34.Qf5+ gO 3s,Qxfl+ wlth 8 draw.

33...Rd8+ 0.1

(51) Mlranl - Palatnlk [8071Chsttanooga, 1 998

Ld4 Nf6The rcader should not b€ confused by the initial moves of this gam€,soon transDose to the Neo-Phllldor Dofense.

2.Nc3 d6 3,04 ilbd7 4.t4 e5 5.Nf3 oxd4 6.Oxd4 c6 7.Be3 d5 6.h3?

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Absolutely not a necessary move. Now Black's center Dawns can showtheir "Philido|- force.

E...c5 9.Qa4 d410.o5 Nh5 l1.Bb5 dxc3Playing against lhe c3-knighl is one of lhe main points of Black's setuD, soit is no surprise that its removal is e priority. Less offeclivo would be'11...dxe3 12.94 Ng3 13.Rgl whon Btack's knight istrapped.

12.0.0.0Th6 attempt to t|ap lhe Black knight with j2.g4 now fails after 12...cxb213.Rb1 Ng3 14.R91 Ne4 15.Qxe4 Qas+ 16.8d2 exbs with an enra piecefor Black.

12...a613.Rd5?White's best chance in this unusual posilion is the mad-looking 13.Ngst-,when he would retain practical chances because of the knight on h5 andBlack's undeveloped position.

l3...RbE 14.Rhdl?l axbs t5.Qxb5 BeZ 16.06 fxo6 iZ,RxhsBlack has rcturned part of the .stolen', mstedal, but it does not rescueWhite from bankruptcy.

17...Qb6 0.1

(52) Liss - Palatnik [8071Rishon-Lezion, 1998

1.o4 dO 2.d4 Nf6 3. c3 NbdT 4.t4 05 S.Nf3 oxd4 6.Oxd4 c6 7.s5?t dxos8.fxo5 Bc5 9.Ot4l?

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An improvement compared to LQh4 Qe7 10.8f4 Bb4l 11.0-0-0 Bxc312.ert6 (12.bxc3 Qa3+ 13.Kd2 Ne4+ 14.Kd3 Qxc3+ 15.Kxe4 NcSt)12...Bxf6 13.Q93 0-0 14.8c4 Qb4 15.8b3 Nc5+ (Shiaf-Palatnik, Ashevil le1997).

9...Qe7 10.8e2 Nd5l1.Nxd5 cxd5 l2.Be3lf12.Qg3!? then 12...f61 '13.exf6 Nxf6 with advantage to Black.

12...Bxe3 l3.Qxe3 Qb4+ 14.c31?Fine for Black is 14.Qc3 Qxc3+ 15.bxc3=.

14...Qxb2

'l5.e6l?''| honestly want to admit to the reader that at this moment during the gamsI felt short of breath. lt was as if I had been laken back in time! At fi|st Ithough il was necessary to accept the double Rook saorifice, after which Iwould appear 'in the skin' of poof Kiezeritsky as the loser of the immoddgarne in London 1951 against Ande6en!' (Palatnik)

15...0-01Studying historical mistakes is good, but repeating them is nolrecomrnendedl Accepting the double rook sacrifice with 15...Qxa1+? 16.Kf2Qxhl qives White a powerfulattack: 17.exd7+ KxdT 18.Ne5+ Kc7 (18...Kd'19.Nxf7+ Kd7 20.8b5+ Kcl 21.Qcs+ KbB 22.Qd6#) 19.Qc5+ Kb8 20.Qd6#.

The alternative 15 .fXCG is also very dangerous after'16 Qxe6+ Kd8 17.0-0Re8 18.Qxd5 Rxe2 '19.Nd4J when the melody of White's attacking piecesconlains sounds of victorv.

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16.0-0Bad now is 16.exd7? b€cause thon it is possible for Btack lo swalowRooks without chokingt 16...Qxa1+ t7.Kf2 exhl teaves Whiteinsufficient compensation for the material.

l6...Qb6r?Now White is the only one with probtems. Dangerous is 16...fxe6?17.Qxe6+ Kh8 18.Qe7t Qxc3? (18...Qb6+ 19.Nd4 ed8 is bettea atthoughWhik still has an active position) 19.Ne5! when Btack has no satisfactoryoetense.

l7.Nd4 fxe6 l8.Qxe6+White is compelled to exchange Queens and to try to save his Dosition inthe ending.

1E...Qxe6 19.Nxe6 Rxfl+ 2o.Rxfl Nf6 2t.Nc7 RbE 22.8f3So White wins back the pawn, but Black retains slight advantages.

22...b61? 23.Nxd5 Be6l 24.Ns7+Also worlh considering is 24.Nxf6+ 9xf6.

24...KfE 25.Nc6 RcE 26.Rct Rc7 27.c4 Bg,t

bothwith

,li2t3

The Tarrasch Fomula

28. d4t?Worse ls 28.Bxg4 Rxc6 whgn Black has winning chgnces.

28...Rd?Not 28...8xf3? 29.N€6+.

29.Bxg4 Rrd4 30.8fit Rd2 31 ,a1 .ky,lf now 31...Ra2, then 32.8c6 followed by c4-c5, o.lf 3,|...Nd7 th€nPlaying on In elthgr ca8e would b6 like floqglno a d€ad horse.

(53) Prlatnik - Meadows [8071Tennessee ODen. 2001

'The noxt game is esp6clElly Interosling bec€use I hgd to play'Palatnik Gambii.' K€nl Mgadows, my friend of flv€ years l€ss thr6atried to not miss any of my weekly lsclures st the Nashville Ch€ssIn thgse l6ctur6s I onen had ths pl€asure of testng on lhe publlcthat lal€r app€er€d In some of my books, Kont studled myrccomm€ndations wlth attgntion end trust, snd my trelne/s h6att

l.dil d8 2.el NfO 3. c3 NbdT il.fil 05 5.dxe5

louchod wh€n my sludent dscidsd in a prsc,tlcal gam€ to t€st sn oplidea he learned from me against lts inventor." (PElatnlk)

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The Tarrotch Forrnula

5...dx€5 6.fx.5 Nxe5 7.qrdt+ t(xd! E.Nfil Bd0 9.Be5

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0..,c01?A vgry important movg in lhe Philidor Defense.

l0.GS0 Kcz l'l 'Be2Whlto gains nothing tIom lLBxdo KxdO l2.Bf4 Nfd7, or from 11.Bxf6 gxf6.In both caso it is cl€ar that the c3-Knight is'unemployed'

...Nfd7Losing is 11...894? 12.Nxe5 Bxe2 (12 Bxes 13.BxtO Bf4+ 11.Kb1 Bxe215.Nxe2 and White keep' an exha piece) l3.Rxd6l

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12.1{d,rThreateningNxd6.

The Tarrasch Formlla

to win mate.ial ',vith 13.Ndb5+ cxbs

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't2...BtE?tNow Black loses lhls game, but I hope Palatnik is the quitty parg,"Palatnlk Gambltl" Also bad was l2JE? 13.Ne6+. However, aftorBlack could defend hi6 poslllon; lf't3.Nt5 then Black could safoiy13...8f8.

13.Bttl? BozWeak is'1 3...f6?l allowing 14.Ne6+,

'l4.Bg4l?White finds a successful opporiunlty to activate hls bad Bishop.

14...Bf6 15. t3 Re8The pinned knight on e5 18 a source of anxioty for 8lack.

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't6.Rhf ?Pr8paring 'laser suoery" on fl€ f-ff|e.

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17.ila4+ Kbs lt.BxdT ilxd7

t9.b3l Rxo,l20.Bg5l?tA v6ry important maneuv€r; now the black pi€ces ,'sag..

20...Rlaillf 20. . . Bxgs+ lhen 21 .Nxgs Re7 22, Nxf/r.

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The Tarrasch Fomula

2t,bxa,{+ }ka4 22,Bxf6 Nrl6 23.RdElK€eping Black lied up. White's active pieces givg him a winning

23...b6 2,t.Nos Bb7 25.Rf,{+ Kbs 26.Nr7 Rxdg 27.Nxdl Ba6?Bett€r ls 27...8c8.

28.NeO Nh5?This mistake c€rtainly does not improve Black's sltuation, but goodin this Dosltlon ls hard to flnd.

29.Rf5+ 1.0

(80) Cavsnoy - Palatnlk lc4'llFairfleld Glade ODen, 1 997

Now wa can add.ess th€ quegton of why lt was nec€ssary tomuch analytlcal 6ff0rt and tlme r€soarchlng the 'Palatnlk Gamblt,"n6 eppllcatlon 18 not v€ry rvidE, and stdctly spesklng ls not oblloatory.answgr to thls qugstlon can be glven aftor looking at the dlagramElack'8 flfth mov6 in lhe next gam6.

Afrer detomining that the 'Palatnlk G€mblt' is playable, th6 goel dorder ot moveg i9 to r99ch thls anclent Dosition trom Phllldor's Oefens6.inclusion of th€ mov€s Nc3 and ..,NfG ls I more lmportant schBlack than fof his oppon6nt. Ultimately thls small point i8 all Blackf.om his o.d€r of movesl

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The Tarrasch l.brmula

At the beginning of this chapter we spoke about the dircction in whichresearch into opening vaiations is conducted today. Similar .small"achievements can be found in many opening lines. lt is worth noting thatthe Neo-Philidor Defense (and the Palatnik Gambit) can arise byhansposition from a wide variety of move oder6. The desired position inthe diagram below after move five can be reached from Alekhine's Defenseand the Pirc oefense, as well as the Indian defense to 1.d4. in addition tothe familiar move order in Philidor's Defense.

1.e4 NfO 2.Nc3 dO 3.d4 NbdT 4.Nt3 e5 5,8c4 Bo7

Can this be a "dream position'for chess players who are ready to endurethe "torture" of analyzing oponings? To justify tho effod spent in preparingto play lhis variation, it is not only necessary lo play the 'Phitidor Dsf€nse'well, it is also necessary to trust Philidor's idea. ll will certainly be evenbetter if in doing so you can also place youf faith in Dr. Tarasch,s formula.

6.0-0 cO 7.a4 Qc7Strengthening the es-squar€ is a very important task in this opening.

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A chamcteristic continuation. Black creates a flexible pawn structure on thoqueenside. lf Black can eventually move his queenside pawns foMard, hewill gain a space advantage on that wing. The advance ...b5-b4 will be veryunpleasant for While because it will dislodge White's knight from c3, whichin lurn will weaken the e4-pawn. However, carrying out this plan is noleasy, and requires patience and enduEnce from Black. For example, thoimmediate I a6 is not good afte. the reply 10.a5, after which Black'squeenside pawns lose their flexibility.

10.8b3 Bb7l1.Bg5lf 11.ds?l then 11...a6 12.dxc6 Bxc6 creales a pawn struclure thal usuallyarises from the Sicilian Defense!

11.. .a0 12.Qd2 b5The first stone has shifted from the mountain, but it is a warning about apossible avalanche.

13.Rad1 b414.Nb'l a5 15.c3 QboBlack has significantly increased his control of space on the queenside-

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16.Oc2 h6When this move can be made without serious consequences and with gainof tempo, it seryes several functionst lo protect th€ gs-square f;ompossible softies of the Knight, to ensure greal€r safety for the sensitive f7-square, and to release the f8-Rook for morc active oDerations.

'l7.Bh4 RfeS 1E.Bg3 Bf8Providing additional support for e5.

19.Nbd2 Ba6Now this Bishop can break his "vow ofsilence."

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7 he thrrasch hbmula

20.Nfl RabS 21.Rb1For Black this is an encou€ging sign: White is compelled to worsen theposition of his Rook.

21...Nh5 22.8h2 c5The queenside pawn avalanche continues.

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23.94Other tries are unsatisfactory: 23.8d5 cxd4 24.cxd4 exd4; 23.dxe5 cAl23.dxcs Nxcs with advantaqe to Black

23...Nhf6 24.dxes Nxe5 25.Nxes dxe5 26.Ne3 Nh7 27.h4?The move 92 94 has weakened While's kingside, so Black ldes lornaneuver has Knaght into position to attack the new weaknesses. In tryingto prevent this, White blunders and loses rnaterial.

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27...Qdat?Doublo attack against h4 and d3.

2E.Rbd'1 Qxh4 29.cxb4 Rxb4From here the Rook exerts maximum power.

30,Rd7 Ng5 31.Qd1 Rxb3lOeflection.

32.Qxb3 Nf3+ 33.K92 Qxh2+ 34.Kxf3 Oh3# 0-t

(55) Andrews - Palatnik [C411Nashvil le, 1997

"lvy opponent in this garne, Todd Andrews, is young, capable and alreadyralher strong chess fighter. When this game was played I was aclivelyinvolved in his chess education; therefore, I can speak from first-hanclknowledge about his weaknesses, as shown in lhe next game.

"lf playing chess is perceived only as an opportunity lo earn an exka 50 or100 dollars in the next tournament, such a goal has a dekimental effect ona player's development, resulting in excessively stereotyped thinking. Theimagination grows dull, and deeper penekation into the secrets of the chessposition becomes more and more difficult, and not habitual business.

"NIy opponent did not make large mistakes in the fo owing game, but hisapproach to the game as a whole was ineffective. lt is not enough only tomake good moves quickly and to wait for a mislake from the opponentlSuccessful play also requifes creativity." (Patatnik)

'1.e4 d6 2,d4 NfG 3.Nc3 NbdT 4.Nf3 e5 5.8c4 Be7 6.8b3 c6 7.a4It is necessary to make this move immediately, otherwise Black will seizeihe oppod!nity for active counterplay on the queenside with ...b7 b5.

7...Qc7 8.Qe2 0-0 9.895?lEarlier in this book we already foclsed on the pfos and cons of similardeveloping moves by this Bishop, blt now we can speak about lheresponsibility for such a move. Because White spends a whole temDo toplay 895. it is necessary to be sure thal il is used to greatest effect.However, on 95 the Bishop can and probabty wi be subjected to attackwith ...h7-h6, by which Black will gain controt of the 95-square with tempo.AfteMard the f3-Knaght is diminished because it no tonger has anyprospects connected to an attack on the l/-square.

223

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9...b6 10.0.0 a6 l l .Radl?lThis allows Black to play ...b6-b5 without first clarifylng the mle 0fBishop. This is a small point in Black's favor, but a very pleasant onel

11...b5 12.Rd2?l

12...h6The tlme ha8 come to take advantags ot lh6 location of Whifo'sNow ls th€ most tavorable moment to do eo b6caus6 Whlte's laslblockod tho Blshop'8 rotrest along lb .natlva" dlagonal, and from

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Bishop will be an annoyance to the f3-knlght by blocking th6Nh4-f5.

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13.Bh,l Re8 l4.Kh1?lA passive move that gives Black's Knight time lo mane!ver to the kingside,atter which Black's potential opportunities in the philidor Defense can becompletely realized.

l4..,NfB ls.dxe5 dxes' l6,893 Ng61 17.Nd4?tThis move is made not so much because this piece has a bright future butbecause on the kingside the knight is starting to feet tonety.

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17...8b4t"Neutralization" of the c3-Knight. Credit for this is shared by phitidor and

1E.axb5The only move. lf 'l8.Rfd1 Bxc3 19.bxc3 c5 20.Nf5 c4 21.8a2 deactivatesWhite's Bishop.

'18...axb5 19.Rd3 Nf4 20.Bxf4 ext4 21.f3I BfSlBy this "calming" move Black creates iffosistable threats to gain a malerialadvantage. The game is pract|cally decided.

22.Odl Ba6 23.Nce2White has removed his pieces from the packed a6-fl diagonat, but theflexibility of Black's pawn's formation creatgs many troubles for theopponent.

23...c5-+ u.Rd2

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29...8c8!?Black must exchange the active f5 Knight.

30.Qh4 Bxf5 31.exl5 Bc5 0-1

(56) Burnett - Palatnik [C411New York Interrralional, '1998

1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 NbdT 4.Nf3 e5 5.8c4 Be7 6.0-0 c6 7.a4 Qc78.Qe2 0-0 9.Rd1 b6 10-Bg5?lA very |latural yet questionable move that we discussed eadief.

10...hG 11.8h4 ReB 12.893 Bf8To strenqthen the e5 square is one ofthe rnain slrategic tasks for Black inlhrs openrng. An even more irnportant task facing hirn is nol "lo bescattered" on the f7-square. For exarnple, Black sholld avoid 12...Nh5?13 BxtT+l KxfT l4.Nxe5+l dxes 15 Qxh5+ with an attack.

13.4b3Whrte is dfawn to a square f7 as though by a magnet The oppodunity loactivate the Queen along the diagonal a2-98 arises after this Bishopretreat lt is good "Philidor Defense" tactics to be able to react flexibly to theopponent's threats. Black takes advantage now of the fact that on b3 theEishop has moved withirr range of the Black Knight s sword.

226

The Tarrasch Fomula

13,,,oxd4A very flexible and conect Ieaction. When counterplay against the e4-squar€ is ready, it is no tonger nec€ssary to malntain a pawn on 95. Bymeans of this exchange White's initiative against i/ is blunted, and Black'sKnioht gains use of the cs-squarc wher6 it will nol only observg th6 e4-Dawn bul also the b3-Bishoo.

14.Bxf7+?lWhite feels thal the course of the game is not developing according to hisscript, and he creates an 'oxplosive wave' to atfoct it. Less drasticmeasures favor Black: 14.Nxd4 Nc5 15.f3 Nhsi.

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14...Kf ls.Ocil+ Kg6 l6,Nhit+ KhzFurther prcof that ...h7-h6 is a useful movs for Black if it cansafely in a timely mann€r.

17.Rxd4Aft6r17.Nb5 Ob7 18.Nxd6 BxdO 1g.Bxd6 c5 20,Qfl N€5 Black

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17...No5lE,Oe2 gt+Non/ lt'g clear that Whib ha8 no comp€nsation tor Black'3advantago.

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The Talrcsch Formula

(57) Wheeler - Palatnik [c41]Tennessee Open, 200'1

t.e4 d6 2.d,1 NfO 3.Nc3 NbdT 4.N13 e5 5.8c4 Be7 6.0-0 c6 7.a4 Qc78.8a2The light-squared Bishop takes r€fuge on a2, but White has no need tospend a whole t€mpo immediat€ly for this purpose. In addition, the a-file isnow blocked.

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8...0.0 9.Qe2 b6 to.Rdl BbzBlack could also play 10...a6

1l .Bs5a612.Nh4One more move and this Knight on f5 will be as shong as a Rook

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12---96lDr. Tarrasch warned that a Knight on the edge ofthe board is badly ptaced.So, let him stay therel

13.AhO RtcS!The f/-square requires constant viqitance. Now the natural 13...Rf08? isbad for Black after 14.dxe5 dxes? 15.Bxf7+ Kxn 16.ec4+

14.dxe5The tempting variation 14-Qc4 d5 15.exd5 cxds .t6.exc7 RxcT .l7.dxe5 failsafter'17...N94 with do!ble attack.

14...Nxe5It the White Knight's destiny ca s him to the edge of the board, then itmakes sense for Black's Knight to take advanlage of its absence byoccupying the cenler. Black really has no choice anyway becauset4...dxes? 15.Qc4 is winning for White.

15.h3White cannot afford to be overly aggressive. For example, 1S.f4 Neg416.8q5 b5l 17.axb5? (Befter is 17.Nf3 atthough then Btack is at teas! eqislaftet 17...b4) 17...Qb6+ and Black wins.

15.. .b516.a5Black s Knight in the center is unpleasant fof White, but banishing him fromthere is not such a simple lask. White's last move lakes contfol of the b6-square to prevent Black's Queen from becoming active.

'16...c5The flexibility of Black's advancing q!eenside pawns is philidor,s conc€pl,while Tarfasch's wisdom points out that the misplaced Knight on h4 spoilsthe picture for White.

17.Nf3White hastens to bring th€ Knight back into ptay. Inslead i7.f4 Nc6 is finefor Black, and after '17.Nds? Nxd5 18.Bxds Bxds 19.exds Bxh4 White losssa piece.

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The Tarrasch Formula Ifgh

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17,.,c41The Bishop has already 'retired," so Elack offers this piece a good pensionolan on a2.

lE,B95 NxfS+ l9,Qxf3Or 19.gxf3 Nh5 20.Bxs7 (20.8e3 Bf6 21.Rd2 Bxc3 22.bxc3+) 20...exe7 andWhite is defenseless.

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1g...Nxe,ll 20.Bxe7 OxsT 21.Nd5 Bxds 22.Rxd5 Nf6 23.Rd4 dsConverting Black's advantage into a win from this position is not difficult.White still has a few "monkoy tdcks" avaitable, but it does not chanae theoutcome of the game

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24.c3 Rc6!? 25.Rf1 Re8 26.Rd2 ReO 27.94 h6 28.Bbl Kg7 29.h4 Ro230.RddlWorse would be 30.Rfd1? Rxd2 31.Rxd2 Qe1+ 32.K92 Qxd2 winning aRook Also lnfavorable for White is 30.Rxe2 Qxe2 31.Qxe2 Rxe2 32.95hxqs 33.hxg5 Nh7 34.Rd1 Rxb2.

30.. .Rxb2 31.95 hxg5 32.hxg5 Ne4 33.Rxd5 Nd2 34.Q94 Nxf lSirnpler is 34.. .Rxbl (or 34 Nxbl ) with a clear wln for Black; for example,35.Qd4+ KSB 36.Qxd2 Rxf l+ 37.Kxf1 Qe4.

35.Bxg6l?' ' l f I rnusl die . . . let there be Inusicl '

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36...K971The Klng and Quo€n will always flnd mutual understandino.

37.Oh8+ Ks6 38.e0 t6r O.iBlack _must be carEfut to the ond. The car€tess 3O...tS? woutd39.Rss1.

The Tarrarch Fomula

Chapter SevenOpening Analysis

Palatnik GambitNeo-Philidor Defonse [8071[analysis by Mak lshee]

l.e,t d6 2.d,0 Nf6 3.Nc3 NbdT

B) 7.h3

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A1) r0.Ad2 Re8+ '1 1. . . .

Ala) 11.Kd1? Nb6; 12.dxc6 Ng4 13.8x?+t? Kxf7 t4.exh7 Ne3+ 1S.Kc1Bfs 16 Qhs+ KgB 17.cxb7 Rb8 White momentarity has five pawns for abishop, but Black's active pieces wi prevait, e.g. 18.Bxe3 Bxe3+ 19.Kb1Qd3l 20 Rc1 96 21.Q95 Qxc3! and Black wins because 22.bxc3? getsry!99 4ef 22...Rxb7 (also leading to mate are 23...Na4 and 23...Nc4)23.Nd4 Bxd4 24.Rhl Be3! 25.a4 Nc4+ 26.Ka2 Rb2#;

A1b) 11{I1 cxds 12.Nxd5 Ne4 13.8e1 Nb6 14.Nxb6 exb6 15.Ne5 Nd616.8b3 Bfs-;

A2l 10.h3Rea+ 1 1.Kf1 cxds 12.Nxd5 Ne4

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A2b) 13-M4? Bxd4 14.Qxd4 Ng3+ 1S.Kgt Re1+ 16 Kf2 Re4_+;

A2c) 13.N95!l 13...Nx95 14.fxg5 Ne5 15.ee4 Nxc4 16 exc4 ReS j7.Nc38f5 18.4f4 Bxc2!+,

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A3a)' l2.Ne2 Ne4

f!{) _ 1j}.0i9+..Nf2 14.Bxf/+ Kh8r (14...Kxf7? 1s.ec4+ Kr8 16.Ns5+-)15.Qc4 Re416.Ned4 Nxhl 17.Rxhl Bxd418.exc6 Bxb2+ 1S.Xtt l tS.xxtZBb7 20.Qd6 Nb6 21.Qxd8+ RxdO 22.Re1 Rxel 23.Bxe1 Bxf3 24.gxf3 Rfa25.8b3 Rxf4 26.893 Rxt3-+) 19...8b7 2o.exb7 Re7 21.8b3 ttOO ZZ.eaOBf6-+:

A3a2) l3.Be3 Bxe3 14.Qxe3 Qas+ i5.Nd2 Nd6 i6.b4 exM 17.eb3 eas18.0-0-0 Rb8 19.Oc3 Nxc4 20.Nxc4 Qxa2-{.

A3a3) 13.No5l?

A3a,l) 13.Rf1 Nxd2

A3a4l) 14.Nxd2? Re3 15.ef5 Nes+ 16.eg5 (16.8xf7+ KhA)16...Q\g5l? (16...8e7! |7.QxeS Rxei 18.ke' Be6 19.0-O-O Bg5 20.Bxe6ry96,?l:Nl! Qd4 22.s3 Rbg 2s.Nb3 exeS-+) 17.fxs5 Bs4 ra.aao nea19.Rf2 Nd3+ 20.Bxd3 Rxd3 21.cxd3 Bxf2+ 22.Kxt2 Rxe2+ 23.Ka3 Rxd224 Kxg4 Rxg2+ 25.Kf4 Rxb2 26.Rcl Rxa2 27.Rxc6 96;

A3a42l 14.Qxd2 14...ef6 15.ec3 (1i.NgS 1i.c3?) 15...exc3+l6.bxc3 Nb6 17.8b3 Ba6 18.Nestr Nds 19.BxdS cxds 20.Nd3 RabS+:

A3b) 12-Kd1? Ng4 exptoits White's weak kingside.

)23'7

The Tarrasch Fomtrh

B) 7.h3

7.h3 d5 E.s5 Bc5 9,Od3 Nh5 10, 95?l (t0.Ne2) l0...h6ll

This line favo6 Black; fo. exampl6:

Bl) 11,!0 hx05 l2.exd7+ BxdT 13.fxg5 0e7+ 14.BE2 Bfs 15.Of3 (ttNg316.QE Nxhl-+) 15...8xc2 16.04 d4-+;

82) 11.Nxfi Qh4+ 12.93 Nxg3 l3.Nxh8 Ne4+ 14,Kd1 Nf2+;

83) lLg[ hxg5 12.gxh5 gxf4 13.8xf4 Qh4+ l4.Bgg QxhS 15.802Elack wins.i

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7,8e3 d5lAnother va ation of the Paiatnik Gambit.

Cl) 8.€xd5?l Bc5 9.Qd3...

Cla) 9...0-0?! Now White can casfle safely, after which his chances are notworse. For example, 10.0-0-0 cxds 11.NxdS NxdS 12.BxcS NxcS 13.exdbi:

Clb)-g-=Qgn causes White morc prcbtems. 1O.Nd4 (1o.dxc6? Bxe311.cxd7+ BxdT+) 10...N94 11.Nfs Ndest 12.1\eS (12.Nxe7 Nxd3+ 13.Bxd3Nxe3 14.NxcB Rxce ls.dxcd Rxc6! 16.Kd2 O-O gives Black an attack onWhite's uncastled king deEpite the rcduced matelra, 12...exe5 13.dxc6(13...Nxe3?! 14.Nxe3 Bxe3 15.cxb7 BxbT 16.eb'+ exb' 17.BxbS+ Ke718.Kf1 and White emeryes from the complbations with a sotid extrc Dawn)13..bxc6 Now Black will win his piece back with interest, e.g. i4.Nxg7+Kf8! 15.Qd8+ KxgT l6.Qg5+ Qxgs 17.Bxg5 Nf2; 18.Rgl Nh3 19.gih3Bxgl -+;

C2) El]5 Nq4 LBsl Bcs 10.Qd2 Bxgl 11.Rxgl Ob6

12.0-0-0 (12.Na4 Qe3+ 13.Qre3 Nxe3 14.8d3!) 12.,Nxh2t i3.Na4! Nxf314.Nxb6 Nxd2'15.Nxa8 Nxfl 16.Rgxt1 (16.Rdxf1) 16...b6 j7.e6 (17.Nc7+Kd8 18.Nxds cxd, 19.RxdS Ke7+) 17...txe6 18.Nc7+ Ke7 19.Rfe1 Nf6 20.f5Ne4 21.fxe6 Bxe6 22.Nxe6 Kxe6+

The'lbrtasch Fbrhula

7.8c4 line. White guards his dark squares

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239

The Tarrqsch Fomula

Neo-Philidor DefunseQuEen trade variation [8071[analysis by Ma* Isheej

1.s4 dO 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 NbdT 4,t4 65 5.dx.5 dxes 6,fxe5 Nxe5 7Kxd6

E.It3 BdG LBgS cB 10.0.0.0 Kc7 tl.Be2

IPrcmature ls'l'l,Rxd6? KxdG 12.8f4 NfdTTl

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11...Nfd71? was played in Palatnik-l\,4eadows, but led to a difficult oositionfor Black. 12.Nd4 (threatens 13.Ndb5+) 1Z.JS (2... f6? t3.Ne6+ KbB14.RxdO lxgS 15.Nxg7+-; 12...a6?! delends b5 but White is still better after13.Nf5 Bf' 14.8f4 f6 15.Rhf1!) 1!BE (3.8h4 Ns6 14.8f2 Bf4+ 15.Kb1Nf6 /6.Nt3 Re8 and Black has no probtems.,) 13.__Be7 14.8f4 Bf6 15.Nf3Rqgj€.Bql Kbo 17.8b3 Nc5? (17...Re7 is beteL but even so Black standswolse./ 18.8C3!1 Threalening 19.Na4+. Btack wi have great difficuttybreaking this pin. 18..N{38 (8...Ned/? 19.Na4+ KbS 20.c4+ Ka521.Nxc5 NxcS 22.Bxcs+, lg.Sx!3 8rc320jrc3Be0 What etse? Btack hasno satisfactory move.21.Bxe6 Rxe6 2eBdZ with a wanning position forWhitet for exampte, 22...Kb5 23.a4+ Nxa4 24.Rxb7+ Kas 25.Rxf7 Nxc326.Kb2 Kb4 27 Ra1 (2/.8d2 does not win a piece after 27...Rb9 2A.Bxc3+Kc4+ 29.Kc1 Kxc3 although White stjl has a good position) 27...Rb828.Kcl Kc4 29.8d2 Rf6 30.Rxf6 gxf6 31.8xh61

11...Nxf3?l 12.gxf3t Voluntarily slrrendedng the e5 outpost eliminatesElack's chief trump

After t1...Nfg4 White has;

(A) 12.BIfl is nalural but offers White no advantage. After 12...f6 t3.8d2Ng6 '14.h3 N4e5i Black is firmly in possession of e5.

(8)12.h3?1 Nf2 13.Rxd6 Nxf3 14.BxI3 (14.8f4!? g5n-) 14...Kxd6 1S.Rf1Nxh3 16.gxh3 Bxh3;

(C) 1afud61 Kxd6 13.Rd1+ KcTa (13...Ke6? is a disastet after 14.Nd4+Kd7 (14...Kd6 allows a forced mate with 15.Ndb5+ KcS 16.Na4+ Kb417 Bd2+ Kxa4 18.b3#) 15.Ndb5+ and now in order to avoid mate Btackmusl stan shedcling pieces with 15...Nd3+, because 15...Ke6 a ows16.Nc7# or 16.Rd6#, and 15...Ke8 alows 16.Rd8#) 14.8f4 f6 15.h3 95(15...Nh6? 16.Nxe5 wins because Black gets mated after 16...fxei?17.Bxe'+ Kb6 18.Na4+ Kas 19.8c3+ Kxa4 2O.Rd4#) 16.893 No3 17.Nxe5Nxdl 18.Nfl+ Kd7 19.Bxd1! (Not lg.Nxh|? Nxc3 20.bxc3 Kel whenWhtte's Knight is trapped on t8..) 19...R98 20.894+ Ke7 21.Bxc8 RaxcS22.Nd61

241

What is"Cruise Control for Your Chess?"

l he ldndsLh Fonnufu is thc firsl book ilr a new series of chcss inslruclion. Thegoal ofthis series is to illustralc cll'cctive and ef}icient ways to find good

ln parlicular, this serics will lbcus on the search fot Ihc most i \rortant chessm.rra in cash position. We avoid saying "strongest' or "bcst" bccausc in manycascs slrch desc ptions arc mislcading or co'rfusing. tly conhast. concenlratingon thc' lnost inportant" aspccls ol a chcss posit ion hclps clar i fy dccision-mak-ing and kccps your lhoughts poinlcd in tho ghl direct ion.

"Mosl imporlanl" crn bc undcrslood in two \r'ays. First it rclbrs to wh tever ismost impLrr lant lbf thc improvcDrcnl ol 'your chess posit ion. Sccond, i l refers towhal is rnosl impoftrnt pcrsonally lor you.

l-ct us i im8inc r s i tuat ioD rvhcrc you l t rvc l () rn ke an impodunt dccisionbclwccr lwo possiblc l incs ofplay. Onc lnovc lcads lo a p|(nnising al l lck on thecncmy King. but i l . r lso pcrmils youl opponcDt a laruc. nounl ol_dct ivc oounter-play. lhc olhcr Inovc cxchrngcs Quccns i lnd nr kcs thc l r i tnsi t ion to an ondgamewhcfc you wi l l not hrvc rruch. i l_ ny. xdv nt.rgc. but whcrc you lccl vcry conf i-dcr) l in your rbi l i ly to hrD(l lc rh0 posit ioD wcl l .

Which choicc should you |*rkcl ' lhc conccl ruswcf dcpcnds orr wh l is nrostin)pof lrol l i r r you. Thc poinl is thl t dcciding lo pl .ry .r fcLrr ivcly cqual cndgamerathcr lhirn rr dyrrr) i ic rniddlcgarrrc is i r complctcly lcocprrblc choicc. cspccial lyi l -you i ! fc rrorc coorl i ) r l rblc i rr crrdgl l rncs th n in cotnplcx l i tc l ic i r l n l iddlcgames.' lh is rnolho(l ol dccision-nraking lcuds no1 only lo good pract ic l t l rcsults but alsoto sigDi i lcunl i rnprolcnrcnt rDd ( icvcloplrrcnl ol lhc l I1is l ic s idc ol your chcss8rn)c.

Wc c l l th is nrcthod cnrisc co'r l l l ) l 'by iurology with dr iv ing u car. Playing achcss grnrc is l ikc nlrrk ing long. j0LIIcy, rnd lhofc cirn bc nr irny dislrA0l ions enroulc lo sr lo i rr f ivul t l l youf iDtcDdcd dcst innl i (n). "( ruisc conlr( t hclps i ice youi ionr Lrninrport iur l dot i lssothat you can l iJcus your at lcnl ion on onlylhcmostimP()f l rnl nr i r l t i i rs. In this wly you cln Inrkc l i r l l usc ol your knowlcdgc andcxpcricDcc. youf l lndlyl iur l bi l i l ies. iud your spo iDg ch r:rc lcr t rr 1i)cus yourcDcrgy iD lhe r ight diructron-

l- rrndmaster Sam Polatnlk has served as\ttminer for some of the \aorld s leading play-eIs, including GM Vasily tvanchuk. Palatnik wascaptain ofthe Ukainian team that won the sllvermedal in the world team championship ahead ofRussia. In addition to being a world-class playerand an intemationally famous chess insructolhe is also a popular wri ler t hree ofhis previousbooks (Chess Tactics for lhe Tournamenl Plq)er,The King in Jeopard!, and Chess Struteg) for theTournament Player) are chess besFsellers as partol the famoJs Comprehehsire Chess Coursese es,

GM Palatnik has eamed an impressive list ofvictories: Soviet Union Team Chamoiorl WorldStudent team Champion (l974-76), EuopeanChess Cup Champion (1976-79), World Open Co-Champion (1991), six-timeTennessee State Champion, and Govemor's Cup Champion (1996). From 1985to 1994 he was coach ofthe Ukrainian national teams and vice-president oftheUkrainian Chess Federation. He now lives in Memphis, Tennessee, where hisgoal is to help create new chess superstars in the United States.

l\,Tatlonal Mrster Mrrk lshe€ is a four{rmeI \ Temessee slate chamDion who has woxnumerous state and local toumaments. A nation-ally known writ€r, his work has appeared inChess Li:[e, Inside Chess and School Mates. Hisfi$t chess book, tyar,t Gambh Games, was pub-l ished in 1991.

Besides his credentials as a chess player andwriter, tshee is well known as a chess teacherand coach. For ovei 15 y€ars he has taught chessto scholastic-age players in Nashville, Tennessee.His students regularly win local, state andnational competitions, and many of them havebeen Enked on the "Top 50" list for their age inthe USA.

lshee is a National Toumarnent Director, and has directed toumaments of everypossible description and level, fiom the local club toumament to the U.S. OpenChampionship. An active chess orgadzer, he is former Regional Vice Presidentofthe U.S. Chess Federation and curently serves on the USCF Hall ofFameCommittee. He is employed as Executive Director ofthe Nashville ChessCenter. where he qreates and administ€N school-based chess classes.

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rsBN 0-87518-000-3

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[Chess]the Tarrasch Formula

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