Page 1 | Page 2

THOSE THAT LIKE 1.b3

INTENDING a2-a3 and b3-b4. BLACK TO MOVE

Rick Jaconette (1300) said:

In terms of the problem position, several imbalances seem significant. White has a strong pawn center with a significant advantage in space in that area. There is a semi-closed pawn center and I believe that White should prepare a pawn break of b2-b4, followed by further space gaining such as c4-c5. Due to the advantage in space, I would avoid exchanges which would reduce Black’s difficulties. Neither side appears ready to play on the kingside immediately, although my thought is that Black could obtain some counterplay on the kingside by preparing a pawn break of …f7-f5. However, White’s pieces, particularly his f-file Rook and his Bishops, appear to patrol these kingside squares adequately for the moment.

Black has some pressure on sensitive pawns on c4 and particularly e4, though these are adequately defended currently. The hole on d4 is well defended but a black Knight that journeyed there could only be taken at the expense of activating Black’s dark squared Bishop. In fact, although White could immediately win a pawn with Nxe5 followed by Bxc5, this could lead to troublesome pressure on the e4-pawn with a Rook on e8, as well as activation of the g7-Bishop.

[JS: Rick gave more imbalances, but we’ll settle for what I’ve listed.]

Summing all these factors, I think I would play positionally to increase the space imbalance and not rush for a knockout punch. Play appears to be indicated on the queenside, while Black will choose to either ignore this and pursue kingside plans with …N-h5 (or-e8), …f7-f5 etc. versus attempting to suppress White’s queenside play. For example, a2-a3 is met by ...a5-a4 and then the Knight on c5 could eye b3. But, I think that White’s best plan is the pawn break b2-b4 be prepared by 1.b2-b3, 2.a2-a3, then b4 (with the Knight on f3 moving to d2 in order to exchange Knights if Black jumps into b3 with his Knight after pushing …a5-a4.

SILMAN: His comments were far beyond what most 1300 players could manage. He was wrong about White being able to win a pawn by Nxe5, but his positional comments were right on target. I also like his patience, which is something most players have far too little of.

His 1.b3 is a logical move, though one must wonder if this plan is sharp enough to stop Black’s kingside ambitions.

Don Wisdom said:

Tactically 1.Nxe5 Qxe5 2.Bxc5 Re8 does a lot for Black: Releases the black Bishop, brings the Rook to a better square, pressurizes the d4-square, and basically does nothing for White except gain a pawn in a position that looks great for Black.

1.b3 with the idea of a3, then b4 gains space on the queenside with tempo, since the Knight has to leave. If this did occur, the Knight may have to fall back to a6, thereby hitting b4 along with the Queen. Would it be okay to give up the b4-pawn for the open files? Not sure. So, what about dropping the c3-Knight to a2 after b3 and a3, supporting the b4 push. This seems like a really good idea, but can this all occur before Black’s ideas get under way – it seems slow. If Black does get …f5 in, White’s options are also to play Nfd2 and Bishop to f3 holding the kingside while the queenside plans move forward – the Queen and minor pieces are placed well enough that if Black’s attack does break through, defense will be possible. I don’t know that White would be ready to go into an endgame quickly if exchanges started to occur; the pawn structure seems a bit porous.

So, my preference is, 1.b3 Ne8 2.a3 f5 3.Nd2 fxe4 4.Rxf8+ Qxf8 (...Bxf8 looks good to protect c5 and the b4-square, but weakens the protection of e5) 5.Ndxe4 Nxe4 6.Nxe4 Bf5 7.Bd3 and the immediate Black threats are slowed. White can now proceed on the queenside.

SILMAN: Once again we see a player cave in to the illusion that 1.Nxe5 wins a pawn (and he doesn’t access the position after 1…Qxe5 2.Bxc5 Re8 properly since 3.Bf3 is good for White). Don does much better with his positional ideas (though the idea of dropping the Knight back to a2 to reinforce b4 made my blood curdle). The problem, though, is his analysis: 1.b3 Ne8? (1…Nh5 is far superior) 2.a3 f5 3.Nd2 fxe4?, a move that makes life easy for White. When you analyze, try hard to find replies that challenge your immediate perceptions. Superior choices are 3…Nf6 4.b4 Ncxe4 (and not 4…axb4 5.axb4 Na6 6.c5!) 5.Ndxe4 Nxe4 6.Nxe4 fxe4, though White is better after 7.c5!, and 3…Na6!?, stopping b3-b4 cold.

THOSE THAT LIKE 1.Nh2

WHERE IS THE HORSE GOING? BLACK TO MOVE

Richard Fifield (977) said:

White’s d5-pawn gives him an advantage in the center. The d6-square is weak and Black would do well with a Knight there attacking e4 and c4. The e4-pawn is backwards and has to be defended with minor pieces. The pawn on c4 can be protected by b3 but is under no pressure at the moment. White’s light-squared Bishop is stuck behind his pawns and is inactive and Black’s dark-squared Bishop is inactive since his pawn is on e5. Black’s pawn on a5 is stopping b2-b4 which would herd the Knight away. Black’s Knight on c5 doesn’t do a whole lot but his Knight on f6 is blocking a pawn advance – Black might want to play …Nh5, preparing for …f7-f5.

So, to kill enemy counter play and free my bad Bishop I’d think about 1.Nh2.

SILMAN: This odd looking move is actually quite interesting since it stops …Nh5 and also prevents (sort of) 1…Ne8 due to 2.Bg4 (trading off his “bad” light squared Bishop). This poses Black a problem since keeping the Knight on f6 doesn’t allow him to get much needed counterplay with …f7-f5.

Personally I don’t like to pull a piece away from the center in this fashion, but 1.Nh2 is worth serious consideration.

One thing: Richard’s comment about Black’s c5-Knight not doing much is odd. That piece is his pride and joy, and stops White from overrunning the queenside by blocking the c4-pawn.

THOSE WHO ANSWERED 1.Nd2

SOLID AS A ROCK. BLACK TO MOVE

Laurent Selvi (from France) said:

I looked for a tactical shot and was attracted to 1.Nxe5, but it seems 1…Nfxe4 is perfectly correct for Black. Then I noticed that 1.Bxc5 (idea Nxe5) fails to 1…Qxc5 with check. So I went back to calmer areas. My first idea was 1.Kh1, a useful protecting move, but …a5-a4 was worrying me. So I thought along Accelerated Dragons lines (Hey, it’s Silman’s site, isn’t it?) and found 1.b3, but isn’t 1…Nfxe4 dangerous?

Let’s see: 1.b3 Ngxe4 2.Nxe4 Bf5 3.Nd2 – oh – it looks okay, BUT 2...Nxe4 3.Qxe4 Bf5 and the Queen is trapped – argh!

So what about 1.Bg5? Does it prevent 1…Ngxe4? 1.Bg5 h6 and I don’t see anything special.

I think I’d play 1.Nd2 and if 1...a4 2.b4 axb3 3.Nxb3 when the …Bf5 trick doesn’t work any longer as the f3 square is available.

Hope my mail doesn’t go in the next edition of THE AMATEUR’S MIND!

SILMAN: Laurent seemed to have quite an adventure, dodging tactics right and left. Sadly, almost all the tactics were more imagined than real. He was right about 1.Nxe5 being met by 1…Nfxe4, but then things start getting a big dodgy. First, his 1.Kh1 runs into 1…Nh5 when White has only made this highly desirable Knight move stronger. His fear of 1.b3 Ngxe4 was also an illusion since 2.Nxe4 Nxe4 3.Qxe4 Bf5 is calmly answered by 4.Qh4, winning. He didn’t give 1.Bg5 a chance, but he eventually did find refuge with the excellent 1.Nd2.

One must be very careful about buying into illusory tactics since belief in them will often prevent you from tossing out the strategic moves you are longing to play. Once you buy into your self-imposed lie, you become bound by it. This is a VERY common problem, so thanks to Laurent for giving me a chance to bring it up.

Kevin Ludwig (1790) said:

If it were Black to move he would play …Nh5, heading for f4, to be followed by the …f5 break. He could either play for a kingside pawn storm, beginning with …f4 (assuming the Knight doesn’t go there), or maybe he could exchange on e4 and attack with pieces, since White’s kingside is much weaker than it would usually be in a KID (because of the advanced h-pawn & missing f-pawn). If the black Knight gets to f4, it would not be in White’s interest to win the e-pawn with Bxf4 since Black wishes the pawn were gone anyway (its absence makes the g7-Bishop good, and now White no longer has a dark-squared Bishop, so Black controls the dark squares.) If the Knight stays on f4, it can help out in what could be a strong kingside attack.

However, it is NOT Black to move, and so he should expect White will find 1.Nd2!, when 1...Nh5 would be out of the question, since after 2.Bxh5, moves like Rf2, Raf1, Qd1, Qh5 would give White the kingside attack instead.

I would propose that Black’s best plan after 1.Nd2 would be to try to trade/improve his bad Bishop on g7, by the moves …Kh8, …Ng8, …Bh6. He then might be able to put an …f7-f5 plan in motion by getting his Knight onto h6 (supporting it with …Kg7 if needed), and then playing …f5. Even if White goes out of his way to avoid the dark squared Bishop trade, Black has improved his Bishop.

In the meantime, White will probably try to trade away Black’s Knight on c5 with Nf3-Nd2-Nb3, when Black should probably avoid the exchange by playing …Na6. This is because White’s position starts looking too good after 1.Nd2 Kh8 2.Nb3 Nxb3 3.Qxb3 b6 and White can play Rac1 and Na4, followed by c5.

Instead, a possible line might go: 1.Nd2! Kh8 2.Nb3 Na6 3.a3 (3.c5? a4; 3.Nxa5? Nb4) 3…Ng8 4.Nc1 (heading for d3, so the Rook can go to c1) 4…Nc5 5.Nd3 Nxd3 6.Bxd3 Bh6 and White is probably still doing better, but whatever, that may be the point.

SILMAN: Kevin is the only player who mentioned the thematic KID plan of …Kh8 followed by …Ng8 and …Bh6. With this in mind, all his subsequent analysis was based on Black’s use of this idea. He did a great job, though his analysis did contain cracks: 1.Nd2 Kh8 (1…Ne8 is the main choice, and this will be looked at later) 2.Nb3 Na6 and now he gives 3.a3 (The immediate 3.Nb3-c1-d3 also deserves attention). However, the most interesting possibility is 3.Nxa5!? (Kevin gave this a question mark, and it’s easy to see why!).

LAUGHING AT 3…Nb4 FOLLOWED BY 4…Rxa5

The following line seems forced: 3…Nb4 4.Qb3 Rxa5 (4…b6 5.Nb7 Bc8 6.c5) 5.d6 Qxd6 6.c5 Rxc5 7.Qxb4 Rxc3! (White is simply better after 7…Rc6 8.Qxb7) 8.bxc3 Qxb4 9.cxb4 Nxe4.

WHITE TO MOVE

I’ll let you readers chew on this position if you’re so inclined, but we’ll quietly float by it and return to Kevin’s 3.a3 (which might yet prove best).

BLACK TO MOVE

He now gave 3…Ng8 (??), forgetting about 4.Nxa5. This threat against a5 forces Black to play 3…a4 (Bad is 3…b6 4.c5! a4 5.Bxa6 axb3 6.Qe2 bxc5 7.Bc4 Rfb8 8.Qf2) when 4.Nc1 Nc5 5.b4 axb3 6.Nxb3 Na4 7.Bf3 with the idea of 8.c5 looks promising for White.

This leaves us wondering if 1…Kh8 was correct, since Black never got his kingside attack going with …f7-f5. As I said before, we’ll look at the ramifications of 1…Ne8 next.

Wayne R. Peterson said:

The black piece that annoys me most is the c5-Knight. So I’m tempted to play Ne1-d3 to drive off/exchange this piece. However, if Black leaves his Knights alone, it drops a pawn. That doesn’t work.

White does seem to have a space advantage, esp. on the queenside. However, the a5-pawn causes problems (1.a3 a4! and White is stuck), so b3, then a3, then b4 would seem to be necessary. That does seem a bit slow to me, as Black is bound to try to do something.

That leads to Nd2-b3 to dislodge the Knight. Black’s play seems to be on the kingside – his plan might be prepare ...f5.

So then 1.Nd2 Ne8 (to prepare ...f5) 2.Nb3 Nxb3 3.Qxb3 b6 (to defend the pawn) 4.c5! bxc5 5.Qa3 and you’ll get the pawn back, have a nice c-file for that a1-Rook that needs something to do; you’ll still have a space advantage, and his g7-Bishop is still locked up, White’s looking good. If Black tries 5...f5 6.Bd3 fxe4 to break up your pawn center, 7.Bxc5! Nd6 8.Nxe4 Qh4 (where else?) 9.Bxd6 cxd6 10.Qxd6.

SILMAN: We’ll discuss 1.Ne1 later, but I have to give Wayne credit for mentioning it (most didn’t). We’ve already discussed 1.a3 as being better than one might suppose, but it’s understandable that he rejected it.

In the end, he found one of White’s very best moves: 1.Nd2 (though he didn’t point out that one of the main reasons for 1.Nd2 is to open up the d1-h5 diagonal and prevent Black’s …Nh5). His analysis was fine, except that he defended too softly (after 1…Ne8 2.Nb3) with 2…Nxb3, which is just good for White. The most interesting line after 2.Nb3 is 2…Na6 when the shocking 3.Nxa5! is the move that gets my heart churning (Also good for an edge is 3.a3 a4 4.Nd2 Nc5 5.b4 axb3 6.Nxb3 Na4 7.c5). After 3…Nb4 4.Qb3 Rxa5 5.c5 Black’s Knight is trapped!

THE b4-KNIGHT ISN’T GETTING OUT ALIVE. BLACK TO MOVE

Since 5…Na6 6.Qxb7 Nxc5 7.Qb4 is hopeless, and since 6…Nf6 7.Bxa6 Bc8 8.Qxc8 Rxc8 9.Bxc8 Rxc5 (the best shot) 10.Bxc5 Qxc5+ 11.Kh2 is also unappealing for Black, that leaves 5…Nxa2 6.Rxa2 Rxa2 7.Qxa2, but this is very nice for White.

Tim Spanton (Fide 2005, London, England) said:

The opening was almost certainly a King’s Indian and, judging by the exchange of White’s f-pawn for Black’s d-pawn, a Four Pawns Attack. Material is equal.

White has more space on the center/queenside but Black’s a5-pawn gives him a share of space on the queenside. White has the half-open f-file. White’s king’s position is draughty. Black has a great Knight outpost at c5. Black has pressure against e4 but his Queen could be overloaded defending e5 and c5 and has to be wary of tactics springing from the move d6. White’s strategic aim is to expand on the queenside, dislodging the c5-Knight in the process (Bxc5 would leave White horrendously weak on the dark squares, especially around his King). A natural plan would be 1.b3, intending a3 and b4 (not 1.a3? a4).

Black would like to exchange dark-square Bishops, perhaps by ...h5, ...Kh7 and ...Bh6. He might also try ...Nh5, intending ...Nf4 or ...Ng3. White has a tactical shot in 1.Nxe5 Qxe5 2.Bxc5. Would Black have enough compensation in the form of a kingside attack? I don’t think so. But Black can instead play 1...Ncxe4, when the main result of exchanges would be to open the h8-b2 diagonal for Black’s fianchettoed Bishop.

What should White play? He could play 1.Kh1 or 1.Kh2 to get his King off the g1-a7 diagonal. 1.b3 looks fine too as the shot 1...Ncxe4 2.Nxe4 Nxe4 3.Qxe4 f5 (3...Bf5 4.Qh4) 4.Qc2 e4 is met by 5.Nd4. Another possibility is 1.Bd3, reinforcing e4 and allowing the queen’s Knight to drop back to e2 in case of ...Nh5. 1...Nxd3 is not to be feared, and the queen’s Knight could go Ne2-c1-d3/b3 to swop off the c5-Knight. However, Black is not compelled to play ...Nh5. He might well want to play ...Ne8-d6 instead, or he could play ...Nh5 and leave it there for the time being, tying White’s Knight to e2.

A better way to get rid of Black’s strong c5-Knight is 1.Nd2, intending Nb3. Now 1...Nh5 could be met by 2.Bxh5, and 1...a4 by 2.b4. My choice is 1.Nd2.

SILMAN: Tim, a strong player, gave us a very concise talk about the position (he even recognized it as coming from a Four Pawns KID). However we can still see cracks in his armor. He didn’t notice 1.Bg5 (trying to paralyze Black’s army), and he also didn’t mention 1.Ne1.

He was quick to reject 1.a3, which again shows how dogma can affect even strong, experienced players. When you notice such fun lines as 1.a3 Nh5 (The critical 1…a4 2.Nd2 Ne8 3.b4 axb3 4.Nxb3 Na4 5.c5 gives White active queenside play: 5…Nxc3 6.Qxc3 f5 7.Nd2 with a promising position.) 2.b4 axb4 3.axb4 Na6 4.d6!! Qxd6 (or 4…cxd6 5.Nd5 Qd8 6.Bb6 Qe8 7.Bc7) 5.c5 Qe6 6.b5 you realize 1.a3 deserves serious attention.

Of course, he did (rather effortlessly) come up with one of the best moves in the position. But lower rated players should feel better about themselves – everyone has their weaknesses!

THOSE THAT LIKE 1.Ne1

HEADING FOR d3. BLACK TO MOVE

Chris Doyle said:

First the imbalances – White has space in the center, two Bishops, the light-squared B is bad, and there is a half open f-file. Black also has two Bishops, his dark-squared B is biting granite, his two Knights are pressuring the pawn on e4.

I think Black would like to move his f6-Knight and push the f-pawn forever. As White I would move my f3-Knight to e1-d3 to eliminate the Knight, the reason being is that I would like to improve the scope of my bad bishop (on e2) by pushing my c4-pawn.

I think this way because it looks like Black would like to play on the kingside (most of his pieces are there and, once he pushes his f-pawn, he will also have more kingside space) and White’s advantage will lie in queenside play. By the way, it took me three days to come up with the plan of Nf3-e1-d3. I know I suck but that’s my plan and I’m sticking to it!


SILMAN: Chris is the only one to advocate 1.Ne1, which I find amazing. It certainly is a straightforward way to challenge the c5-Knight. After 1.Ne1 we get a very interesting situation: White can’t play Nd3 since that would hang the e-pawn. However, Black can’t play …Ne8 because that would take the juice away from e4 and allow Nd3. Though both sides would be “stuck,” Black’s inability to prepare the crucial …f7-f5 advance should swing the chances in White’s favor (all the more so since White can follow with Bf3 when Nd3 is once again “on.”

ANSWER

Hubbard (1600) – Spigel (2052), Florida 1997
WHITE TO PLAY

In a way there is no definitive answer. Personally, I would choose either 1.Nd2 (solid and offering a clear follow-up), 1.Ne1 (to the point!), or 1.Bg5 (This gives me a Petrosian rush!), while also staring longingly at 1.a3 (aggressive, interesting, and somewhat surprising).

To be honest, the whole problem, though strategically instructive, was a trap since I wanted to see what people said about 1.Nxe5. The vast majority thought it was bad (quite rightly!), though some of those felt it won a pawn under poor circumstances (which isn’t true). But virtually everyone missed a key concept: just because a tactical move doesn’t have an explosive effect, its positional ramifications must be considered. Yes, everyone raved about White opening the g7-Bishop’s diagonal (a reasonable criticism, by the way), but very few bothered calculating more than a move or two before making some sweeping statement and moving on to something else.

Most importantly, nobody paid attention to the position after 1.Nxe5 Nfxe4 2.Nxe4 Nxe4 3.Nxd7 Ng3 4.Rf3 Nxe2+ 5.Qxe2 Qxd7.

WHAT IF? WHITE TO MOVE

I already discussed this position in the earlier analysis, but what if this was forced, and what if White’s central majority gave him a clear advantage? Not a soul would have noticed, and the position’s secrets would have remained undiscovered.

As it turns out, White doesn’t have anything here. And, as it turns out, one must (in a real, timed game) often be practical and avoid lines that may or may not be good if you have lots of delicious (and safe!) alternatives (1.a3, 1.Bg5, 1.Nd2, and 1.Ne1) to choose from. Just keep one thing in mind: tactical operations are often employed to create strategic gain. In this case it didn’t matter if you delved deeper into 1.Nxe5. But more often than you think, rejecting a tactic because you can’t see its positional basis is just one more way of putting blinders over the eyes of your chess understanding.

To finish, I would like to thank everyone who participated. Also, my apologies for leaving out the analysis of many others who made the effort to write. A few names of those that did a great job but were left out due to the author’s exhaustion: Thomas Powers, Jorge Palau, Harvey Caron, Travis Guenther, Ching-Wai, and Davar Alai.

Page 1 | Page 2