In my books I tend to stress positional understanding and learning to read the imbalances in any given position. However, part of that "body language of the board" mentality is knowing when a position is based on statics and when a position is dependent on dynamics (not to mention those situations when both statics and dynamics combine to form one complex mess!).

Knowing the "tempo" of a game is important since it will tell you when patience is required, and when a berserk burst of activity is needed. Moreover, even when brute force is in the position's blood, what mix of strategic understanding and raw calculation is correct?

BENKO-SUTTLES, BOSTON 1964

BLACK TO MOVE

The position in the diagram is teetering on two paths: Black can exchange Queens and accept a pawn down endgame (this would take us into a static, technical position), or he can find some sort of dynamic counterattacking option. However, if the latter idea is correct, make sure you assess the resulting complications properly.

Correctly assessing the possible paths will require high-level calculation. No cheating! Don't use a computer. Instead, analyze the position as best you can (as if it were a tournament game), write down your thoughts and variations, and then share it with the rest of the readership by writing to: silman@jeremysilman.com

ANSWER:

A lot of readers wrote and overwhelmingly agreed that trading into the pawn-down Rook endgame was a bad idea. And that same majority found Black's correct way out of his difficulties via 1.Nf3+. This takes advantage of the pin along the a7-g1 diagonal and forces both players to find accurate moves if they wish to avoid stepping over a cliff into tactical oblivion.

If 1.Qxd6 gave real drawing chances, and if 1.Nf3+ turned out to simply lose after giving a few spite checks, then one would have to switch to dour defense and exchange Queens. But this isn't the case here. The reality is that 1.Qxd6 promises Black a life of endless suffering, while 1.Nf3+ should draw with best play, while also giving Black some practical chances of a win if White loses his nerve and goes berserk.

In this case tactics was the key to salvation for Black. But in other positions patient defense will allow you to survive an inferior position. Deciding which way to turn is never easy and calls for an honest and calm look into the position's true nature.

Here's the game continuation from the diagram (unless otherwise stated, all notes are by Benko's, taken from the now available Benko autobiography, MY LIFE, GAMES and COMPOSITIONS by Benko & Silman):

1.Nf3+! 2.gxf3

Obviously, 2.Kh1 Rh4 mate wasn't acceptable.

2...Rxg3+ 3.Kh2 Rg5!

JS: Now Black threatens mate in three, starting with 4...Rh5+. I would choose 3.Rg5 over 3.Qxd6 4.Rxd6 Rxf3 because, though 3.Qxd6 should also draw, it gives White a shade the better of it after 5.Rd7. In other words, 3.Qxd6 draws at best, while 3.Rg5! draws with best play, but can also lead to a Black victory if White isn't up to the challenge.

4.f4!

THE SAVING MOVE

By opening f3 as an escape hatch for his King, White not only parries the immediate threat but also stops the enemy attack altogether.

4...Rh5+

Playing to win, but perhaps the simplest choice was 4...exf4 5.Qxb6 axb6 6.Rd3 Rxa2 7.Rb3 Rc5 8.Rxb6 Rxc2 9.Rxb7 Raxb2 10.Rxb2 Rxb2 11.Kh3 Kg7 12.Kg4 Rb4 13.Ra1 with a draw.

5.Kg2 e4

Threatens mate again, but this time the move only weakens his own King position. He ought to resort to the liquidation just mentioned above by 5...Qxd6.

6.Rg1!

This move has a concealed sting.

6...Rg8+?

Still treading the wrong path. A draw would have resulted after 6...Qxb2!.

7.Kf1 Qb5+

Looks like a killer, but it is actually suicide. Still, there is no good alternative. The endgames reached after 7...Rxg1+ or 7...Qxd6 are very bad for Black.

WHITE TO MOVE AND WIN

8.Rd3!

This "desperate" move is forced but, believe it or not, it wins. White threatens mate in two.

8...Rxg1+

The mate must be parried somehow, but there is no playable way of doing so. The only move that simultaneously guards against 9.Qd4+ and 9.Qf6+ is 8...Qxb2, but then 9.Rxg8+ Kxg8 10.Qe6+ still leads to the death of the Black King.

9.Kxg1, 1-0. The threats of 10.Qf8 mate and 10.Qd8+ Kg7 11.Rd7+ as well as 10.Qf6+ are murderous.