We study books on tactics and often feel we have a good grasp of this aspect of the game since we appear to find many of the indicated shots. We look at books on strategy and sometimes find the correct course here, too. However, in an actual game we often don’t know if we should be playing quietly or sharply, tactically or positionally. Thus, our over the board play is less incisive -- how can we find the best moves if we don’t even know what we’re supposed to be doing? (This is the critical issue that my book, THE REASSESS YOUR CHESS WORKBOOK, is designed to help you with.)

In the diagram, Black has just played 12...Bf8-e7.

Who, if anyone, stands better? If you were White (and it doesn’t matter whether or not anyone has an advantage -- you still have to make a move!), what plan would you create and what move would help you implement it? Is the game going to turn into a tactical mess or will it be fought in calm, strategic waters?

ANSWER:

As always, I would like to thank all those brave souls that participated. Before giving the “truth” about the diagrammed position, let’s take a not-so-quick look at what my site’s readers had to say. I will break their feedback down by what move they recommended.

I should add that the vast majority of our “guests” made a real effort to list all the imbalances (which warms my heart!), and everyone did an excellent job in this respect. I’ll list the imbalances here since repeating the same information again and again is a waste of time.

IMBALANCES:

1) White has a lead in development.
2) Black’s c8-Bishop is a horrible, “bad” bishop.
3) The center is closed. This means that play will be sought on the wings.
4) White’s pawns point to the kingside (meaning that this is White’s natural area of interest) while Black’s pawns point towards the queenside.
5) In general, one plays on the wings with pawns when the center is closed (open centers call for speedy piece attacks), though this isn’t always the case (don’t become a slave to generalities!).
6) White can (if he feels it offers him anything) make use of the hole on b5, while Black’s Knight is itching to leap into the hole on b4. In many lines, the c5-square can also fall into White’s hands (and his b3-Knight is certainly well poised for such an excursion).
7) White’s pawn on d4 is the “base” of his chain and must be carefully defended.
8) The c-file is open. This means that whoever dominates it with their Rooks can use it as a “road” into the enemy position. Of course, if both sides stick their Rooks on that file, it might just lead to mass exchanges with no gain for either player.

THOSE THAT RECOMMEND 13.Be3:

GREG BEAVER says:

“The primary imbalances in the position are the differences in development, and the difference in the minor pieces. However, a lead in development usually is diluted by a closed center. Black’s play is on the queenside, as there is a slight space advantage as well as the hole on b4. White should play on the kingside. Since the center is locked, pawn advances on the wings are usually called for, so White should investigate ways of getting in f2-f4-f5 and opening files for the Rooks. A lead in development calls for tactics, but a closed center calls for strategy.

“Targets in the White camp are on b2, b3, and d4. Black only has the resources to attack d4 twice, whereas White can defend it up to 4 times and currently is 3 times. The target on b2 is safe as long as b3 is defended. Black’s first concern is development. He will castle followed by a long series of moves to get the pieces over to the queenside and do …b7-b5. This gives White plenty of time to protect d4, and initiate kingside pawn advances with a sequence like Be3, Nfd2, f4, Kh1, f5. Black can’t prevent this plan with …g5 because it simply makes it happen faster. Also, Black will simply create a big weakness on c5 with b7-b5, and any kingside pawn advances lose to the active Bishops.

“Strategy wins, I believe. First off, White can’t use this imbalance before Black castles and begins to activate the Bishop, and White can’t prevent Black from castling. In my opinion, the board asks for pawn advances instead of piece play like 1.Bg5 (although Bg5 is my intuitive first choice). More important, the Rooks are not active and the Knight on b3 is not able to participate in the fight because of the weak pawn on b2, and the Rook on a1 is not directly connected to the kingside, precluding any devastating attacks, as Black has too much counterplay on the queenside.”

SILMAN: He thought things through very nicely, not only looking at White’s active ideas, but also making sure he was aware of the weaknesses that need looking after in his own camp.

TOM CETERSKI says:

“Lately I have been basing my decision on whether to use strategy or tactics depending on the age of my opponent! I am 47 years old so if my opponent is in his or her teens (or less!) I go for the strategy side of things. If my opponent is my age or older and on his or her rating floor (there is that rating thing again) I go for the tactics side of things. Okay, okay…the position on the board is a consideration too, as you remind me every time I pick up one of your great books!

“I would go with strategy in the position you give. The theory/plan I would apply is: reinforce the center since that is a target for Black. This is based on the ideas you explained in one of the Grunfeld games you went over while giving a lecture at North Bay, Canada. This position appears to have developed from a French Defense, which usually leads to strategy play.

“The play might go as follows: 13.Be3 O-O (I would now try and control the c-file.) 14.Rc1 f6 (Black tries to attack White’s center.) 15.Bd3. I would follow this with Qc2 and keep and eye on any kingside attacking chances.”

SILMAN: The idea of changing styles in accordance with the kind of opponent you’re facing has some validity, but you still have to play a specific position in a proper manner. The style-change can come about through choice of opening – playing a sharp system if you want things to get crazy, and playing a calm, positional opening if you want a youngster to die of boredom.

I think the move 13.Be3 makes good sense. White is tightening up his center and, as a result, squeezing the opponent in its coils without (hopefully!) allowing the usual anti-center counterplay. The position after 15.Bd3 (as indicated by Mr. Ceterski) is anything but quiet, though. On one hand White wanted to defend his center and control the c-file. Then he watches it fall apart in the hope of switching to a kingside attack. Not very laid back and controlled, is it? I won’t explore the complications that occur after 15.Bd3 fxe5 16.dxe5 Qb4, but suffice it to say that 13.Be3 isn’t the move chosen in our actual solution.

THOSE THAT RECOMMEND 13.Bd2:

IGOR UMMEL (8 years-old and in 3rd grade!) says:

“I enjoyed the position in this lesson. I think White stands better because he has more space, he is ahead in development, and because he has a chance to put his Knight to c5 and d6. White would play Bd2, followed by Qc2 and Rc1. I think that the play is going to be tactical. I think that White should develop then attack. Here’s how it can go: 13.Bd2 0-0 14.Qc2 Nb4 15.Bxb4 Qxb4 16.Bd3 h6 17.Re1 Nb6 18.Re3 Nc4 19.Bxc4 dxc4 20.Nbd2 Bd7 21.Ne1 Rac8 22.Rh3 Bd8 23.Ne4 Bb6 24.Nf6+ gxf6 25.Rxh6 Re8 26.exf6 Bxd4 27.Qh7+ Kf8 28.Qh8 mate.”

SILMAN: The young man’s analysis showed an admirable degree of bloodlust! Of course, this doesn’t mean that it’s correct (there are many improvements for both sides). Without breaking down his moves, it’s sufficient to simply say that an “all or nothing” approach such as 21.Ne1 is not the controlled reaction I am looking for in such a position. When you put your fate in a do or die mating attack, the game enters a state of risk – even a gamble. There is no reason to allow such a situation to come about from our original position; a deep view of the entire board is needed – this whole-board-view leads to control, and control allows you to often coast to victory without risking anything at all.

JORGE PALAU says:

“Your last chess problem was easier; this one is not as straight forward to me. White has more space, his pawns point toward Black’s kingside, he is slightly ahead in development, and the f6-square is off limits to the Black pieces. White also has the worst pawn structure because of the weakness on d4. The Black Queen attacks that weakness with its c6-Knight and also keeps an eye on the b3-Knight and the b2-pawn (White must be careful not to hang b2, d4, or the Knight), plus the b4-square is a good outpost for a Black piece (ditto for white on b5).

“If I learned anything from your books, it’s that it is all about weaknesses and imbalances. Since the center is locked at present, Black will seek play on the queenside attacking the weaknesses mentioned, while White should seek play on the kingside trying to capitalize on the lack of Black pieces there and his extra space.

“Now this is where it gets a little confusing for me. What do I do with my dark-squared bad Bishop? Should I trade it for Black’s good Bishop and defender of the g5-square (and adjacent dark squares) even though the side with more space should avoid trades? Or do I keep it for the defense of the queenside weaknesses?

“I went with the latter simply because I find White’s queenside rather precarious. I also did not see any immediate gain or advantage trading the Bishops. My plan goes thus:

1) Place the dark-squared Bishop on c3.
2) The f3-Knight will go to g1 after Kh1 (gets the King of the a7-g1 diagonal)
3) Advance the f-pawn.
4) The light-squared Bishop eventually goes to h5 or h3.
5) The King’s Knight may relocate to g3 via e2 (I am basically building up on the light squares).
6) If the Black Knight ever moves into b4, I will bring the b3 Knight to d3 via c1 followed by Qd2.

I guess I am saying my move is Bd2.”

SILMAN: Another solid, interesting, and logical plan. White intends to use his dark-squared Bishop to guard d4 and b4 at the same time via Bc3 (though it sort of looks like a tall pawn on that square). I like the idea that players are using the imbalances and striving to protect their center, but 13.Bd2 is a bit passive. White can do better.

THOSE THAT RECOMMEND 13.Ne1:

MIKAEL BACKMAN says:

“The first thing I notice is that Black has a very cramped position: Bc8 is blocked by the d7-Knight and by the b7-pawn, and this pawn is blocked by the Queen at b6. The d7-Knight has two squares to move to – b8 and f8. The Black Queen, and the c6-Knight seem to be the only pieces that actually do something. They are attacking the backward d4-pawn. However, the d4-pawn is currently thrice protected. Black cannot bring in another attacker quickly, so no worries there for White.

“White has a lot of space to maneuver in. Since the black pieces are cramped on the queenside, and the kingside is open, action should be taken there. The only thing about White’s position I don’t like is that the Queen has to protect the c3-Knight.

Strategy:

1. Keep Black tied down.

2. Transform the Queen’s role to an attacking one.

3. Attack the kingside.

Tactics:

“1.Bb5 to restrict Black even more and free White’s Queen of her defensive task. But does this move really restrict Black? What if 1…f6 here? Thus: 13.Bb5 f6 14.exf6? Nxf6. Now Bc8 has more room and the horse is out of its stable. Or: 13.Bb5 f6 14.Re1 fxe5 15.Nxe5 Ndxe5 16.Rxe5 Bf6. The d4-pawn is now attacked 2.5 times. When Black moves …Be7 to break the pin, d4 is under pressure.

“I think the Knights must be allowed out of their boxes, so:

“13.Ne1 is an option. 13…f6 is answered by f4. If the pawns are exchanged at e5, Black finds himself in trouble.

“If Black plays …f6 in any of the variations White has Bh5+ which more or less forces …g6, and then h6 will be a good spot for the White’s dark-squared Bishop.

“The White Queen is still protecting the c3-Knight. White could move it to d3 where it gets two roles, protecting the Knight and at the same time supporting an f4-f5 advance. Is it a good idea to give a Queen two roles?”

SILMAN: Mr. Backman’s analysis “shrunk” in the editing process, but suffice it to say that he did an excellent job of breaking the position down, and in taking note of most salient features. His 13.Ne1 follows a common (and logical) thread: get f2-f4 in, which defends e5 and prepares to clash heads on the kingside via f4-f5. Nevertheless, 13.Ne1 doesn’t give a fluid impression (in fact it’s rather ponderous). There are far better ways to handle the beginning position.

CHRIS says:

“White points to the kingside, Black’s play is on the queenside. Center is locked but Black’s Knights are cramped (so both his Bishops and Knights are hampered). I think Black has not castled short because the White Queen and Bishop pair both look to travel that direction, and with a couple pawn pushes and piece movements White has command of the kingside. Maybe if White looks to capitalize over there Black can still hope to castle long. Of course, the Black white-squared Bishop is real garbage right now, and would require divine intervention to get him out from underneath his pawns.

“Black’s play is on the queenside. A Knight on b4 (or c4 but that’s a while away) looks annoying for White without even spending much time looking at it. Both Knights can be in that region (with the Knight on the seventh rank going Nd7-b8-a6 but this is an eternity). In my judgment this is not a fast position and looks fairly quiet. Of course, I’m spilling words that really aren’t my own, just what I’ve read recently. But I don’t feel any pressure on either side when I look at this. However, as White I’m inclined to prevent a Knight on b4. I just saw Nf3-e1-c2 would protect c4, but it pulls the Knight from happiness on the empty kingside (although frees up the f-pawn for a push). First, though, White would move his Q to d3 to not hang the Nb3 after Nc2. Also note that currently White has a backward pawn weakness on d4 but it is well defended.

“Other than some queenside play, the Black pieces are pretty cramped and cannot easily head for a kindside defense so I am sure that Black’s plans are all on the queenside. I’m thinking of something I’ve absorbed recently which was if your chances for play on some part of the board aren’t going away any time soon, then better to stop the other person’s plans before going forward. It’s reactive but probably prudent as I can see the queenside getting out of control. Both previous a4 and ...a5 moves were quality because it prevents the other from shoving an a-pawn down each other’s throats. I just saw the Black Bishop getting into play after a Knight exchange on b4, but I’m not sure this is anything useful, so I imagine Black would take with the a-pawn, meaning White would need to eventually protect his a-pawn with a minor piece. I believe having the a-pawns continue to butt heads is better for White. Now I’m left wondering if a Knight on b4 would really be that bad. I feel it would. White to move and it’s me – I would begin the f-Knight’s journey 13.Ne1. I want to keep the Bishop pair so they are not to be engaged in any battle – but kept with focus on the kingside and allow some background protection. After the Knight moves I would probably follow up later with f4 getting a partial file for the rook. This is about as far as I can see into the position.”

SILMAN: One thing of interest is Chris’ comment that “If your chances for play on some part of the board aren’t going away any time soon, then better to stop the other person’s plans before going forward.” While this is indeed true in many situations, you have to be very careful not to get into a mindset where you start trying to stop everything the opponent can do. In that case, you are not pushing forward with your own ideas, you are often giving the opponent’s plans too much respect, and you can easily find yourself stopping moves that are best ignored.

Chris correctly noted that White’s play was going to come on the kingside, but he obsessed a bit too much about Black’s …Nb4. This prevented him from going deeper into how White actually intended to break through to the enemy King.

THOSE THAT RECOMMEND 13.Bd3:

BILL RAVDIN says:

“I would play for a more tactical game and take advantage of my lead in development while I have it. I would play to keep Black’s King in the center. I would then move the f3-Knight and advance the f-pawn in order to rip open the center. Black will try to catch up in development. If he can do so, he will play for a quieter game that will take advantage of his positional advantages.

“My first move as White would be 13.Bd3. Black will be unable to castle due to Bxh7+ (a tactical theme that takes advantage of all of the factors for the classic Bishop sacrifice being in place.) I would retreat the Bishop to b1 if Black plays ... Nb4.

“I lost a game as Black tonight because I was playing for a nice quiet game and I was overwhelmed by a Bishop sacrifice like this one... so maybe I learned something from it.”

SILMAN: Ah, the Classic Bishop Sacrifice. This is certainly a subject for a future article, but here we see a little knowledge acting in a negative manner. If 13.Bd3 0-0, White can’t play 14.Bxh7+ Kxh7 since 15.Ng5+ Bxg5 doesn’t give him nearly enough for the sacrificed piece.

In general, the Classic Bishop Sacrifice doesn’t work if Black can chop off the Knight on g5 with his Bishop. There are several other things that will tell you if such a sacrifice will or will not work, but the section on this subject in THE ART OF ATTACK IN CHESS (a classic!) will give you the particulars.

ANTHONY TOOHEY (1100) says:

“I'm just an E player and thought I’d take a stab at what I see going on in the position.

“To me, White has the slightest advantage due to a small space advantage. However, this might be offset by the big hole at b4 and the backwards d-pawn, which seems to be teetering just a little bit. It looks like a typical French Advance set up with Black preparing to attack on the Q-side, and White aiming at the kingside. White also seems to have a lead in development, as his Bishop at c1 is, to my mind, well placed for a kingside attack. I don’t like the position of the b3-Knight. There is a hole in Black’s position at b5, but I don’t think that’s where White’s action is going to be, and with Black’s aggressive stance on the queenside, I don’t think White has three moves to waste repositioning the Knight.

“The thing that stands out most to my amateur eyes is the nakedness of Black’s kingside, coupled with Black’s 12th move, …Bf8-e7, which seems to prepare kingside castling. Personally, I think that is a mistake in the making, because White’s pieces are poised to jump onto the kingside while Black’s pieces will be hard-pressed to transfer to the kingside for defense before White can break through.

“So, if I was going to set up a fantasy position, what would it be? Well, I think my idea is based on Black castling. If he does, I would like to put pressure on g7 and h7, perhaps with a B on d3, Q on h5, N on g5, R on e1 ready to lift and swing over, the other N on f3...

“In fact, seeing the ideas, it makes me think that tactics are going to rule the day here. Let’s see if I’m right when we get further into it. With Black’s pressure on the Q-side, I think White has to strike first and hard and not give Black time to rearrange his pieces and make himself a menace on the Q-side which would pull firepower away from the kingside and possibly render an attack powerless.

“So, let’s pursue my idea of a kingside attack. First thing is, I don’t think I want to do anything to discourage Black from completing his castling move, so I would want to find a quiet move that would position a piece for a quick transfer for the attack. Also, playing on the White squares might be easier because Black’s bishop is hemmed in from the kingside by his pawn structure, so my pieces might have more freedom. On the other hand, …Be7 might be a freeing move, with the idea of pushing …f6 to break down White’s center. Of course, then Black’s e-pawn is backwards and...Jiminy crickets! Focus…

“Okay. Okay. Can I soften the kingside without getting blown over in the center? No wonder I lose so many games in the middle game. With the pawn structure the way it is, and, IMO, one of they keys to …f6 is the B on e7. Whether Black castles or not, the B acts as a restraint by putting pressure on the d8-h4 diagonal. On the other hand, directly challenging the B with Bg5 brings at least one Knight over to the kingside and doesn’t do anything to prevent f6, in fact, might facilitate it.

“My next inclination, thinking tactically, is to put pressure on the white-squares. 13.Bd3 0-0 14.Bxh7+ Kxh7 15.Qd3+ gets the kingside open, making f6 too dangerous. Following up with 16.Bg5 then 17.Bxe7, unless Black speeds it up by exchanging on g5, allowing White to threaten mate and buy time to get the Ra1 over to e1 and up to e3.

“Anyway, if Black doesn’t castle, I think the same moves might still cause him problems as the weak pawns at f7 and g7 are vulnerable to a breakthrough there that could create problems for Black’s K in the center or even if it gets shifted to the Q-side behind his pieces.

“I know that’s not a complete plan, but I’m learning. I’m just interested to know if I’m even barking up the right tree.”

SILMAN: Anthony saw that his chances were on the kingside, deduced that Black was preparing to castle there, and took immediate action to punish the enemy King as soon as it skipped to that side of the board. The problem is that he put a bit too much emphasis on Black walking into a “punch,” and wasn’t clear on what his plan would be if that punch wasn’t there.

It’s important to be ready for Black’s most obvious move (in this case, kingside castling), and it’s equally important to have a plan ready that takes into account your opponent’s ideas and anything he can throw at you. However, loading up with a Bxh7+ isn’t a plan (it’s a move, not a plan), and as I mentioned in the previous bit of reader feedback, it simply doesn’t work here even if Black “falls” into it.

The actual solution shows a much broader interpretation of the position, and is an excellent illustration of a real plan.

By the way, Anthony’s reading of the position strikes me as being very advanced for a player rated 1100. But perhaps “E” players are simply stronger than they used to be (or perhaps Anthony is just better than he suspects). I can assure you that, when I was an “E” player, I didn’t have the chess strength to fully understand anything that he said!

PHIL OWENS (1300) says:

“For the time being the center is locked. If the pawn structure remains intact the Knights will probably prevail over Bishops. White has four pawn islands compared to Black’s three islands. White’s pawns point kingside, while Black’s point queenside. This would suggest that is where each side’s respective attacks will take place. The c-file is free of pawns, but not open for activity yet. White’s d4-pawn looks to be a central point of contention for both sides, since it helps to cramp Black and thwart his advance. However, White is over-protecting the d4-pawn right now, so he must be careful when moving if he wishes to maintain his center. White is castled kingside and his King is the sole defender of the g2-pawn. Black is not yet castled, but since the center is locked this does not mean he is weakened at all. Black’s g7 pawn is weak at the moment.

“In general I think Black is gearing up for a queenside assault and White is leaning toward a kingside attack. This is primarily due to the current pawn structure. Since Black is not castled I admit to being tempted to attack on the c-file with White, but I think this may be a bad idea because the pawns don’t point that way. Got to avoid being a mindless King Hunter! White needs a plan here for sure. Even though the c-file is opened I think White would rue trying a queenside attack because it would allow Black to free up some of his pieces and White would like Black to remain cramped. So I think as White I will want to attack kingside, and hopefully take advantage of his weak g7-pawn.

“The part I really have trouble with is coming up with fantasy positions. I have so much trouble figuring out one position’s imbalances that I can never figure out what a good fantasy position would be.

[JS: Here he gave a detailed position and a list of candidate moves…but I’m snipping away here and these items didn’t survive the edit!]

“My plan involves a kingside attack for White. I want to trade my bad Bishop for his good one and place my Knight on g5. I had to labor over this decision because a couple of factors suggest that this might not be wise. I have more space so I shouldn’t trade (this is a rule I remember!), and the center is locked so Bishops will be less effective. However, to achieve my fantasy position I need the e7-Bishop out of the way, and it gives my Knight a nice support point on g5. Also I know trades will happen at some point, so my thinking is even though his Knight’s might be better to have due to the closed position, I would rather be the one who chooses when and where the trade will take place. In addition, I think Black wants to open up the position and would rather trade one of his Knights for some space, and I don’t want to accommodate his plans.

“13.Bd3 is my intended first move. While this move is quiet, it is an important step to achieving my fantasy position, and does not reveal too much of my plan. I picked it because it sets up and makes possible my planned Qh5. The Nc5 move would allow Black to trade his Bishop there and open the center so I don’t want to do that until the Bishop is gone. The immediate Bg5 to get my Knight to g5 will make my d4 pawn weak when I move the Bishop to d3 later, so I want to move it now before I move one of its defending Knights. So to end my plan here is my series of moves: 13.Bd3, 14.Bg5, 15.Nxg5, 16.Nc5, and 17.Qh5.

“I fully expect this to be ripped to shreds if you post this, but hey, that's how I learn things...from doing them wrong. I look forward to seeing the results on your website!”

 

SILMAN: Phil obviously put some serious thought into this, and his many excellent observations certainly don’t warrant me ripping him to shreds. I liked the fact that he wanted to play where the pawns pointed, I liked the way he looked for candidate moves, I liked his being aware of the dangers of King hunting, I was happy to see his awareness of avoiding exchanges if you possess more space, and I liked his honesty about the difficulty of coming up with a fantasy position.

Firstly, I have long stressed that most players should not bother with my idea of fantasy positions. Fantasy positions should only be applied when you completely master the concept of imbalances. When you understand each thing on my “imbalance list,” and when you can spot them quickly and accurately, then you can move on to the more complicated issue of fantasy positions.

One thing that puzzled me was his pawn island count: “White has four pawn islands compared to Black’s three islands.” This isn’t correct. Both sides have two pawn islands. For more on pawn islands, click HERE to take yourself into the Glossary. Of course, the normal way to reach it is to click on the “instruction and chess news” button (at the top of the home page), then click on “glossary of chess terms,” and click on “P.”

THOSE THAT RECOMMEND 13.Kh1:

BENJAMIN (1754) says:

“Space: White has a space advantage on the kingside and the center, Black on the queenside. Material is even.

“Minor Pieces: Black’s Bishop is absolutely miserable on c8, but he may try to trade it of by ...Qc7, ...b6, ...Ba6 and if it is needed, ...Nb4. White would like to trade his Bishop on c1, maybe by Bg5, but he has to watch for ...f6. Pawn Structure is symmetrical.

“White may have a small lead in development, but it is difficult to take advantage of. The initiative is hard to locate. There aren’t really any important files or diagonals that need to be controlled.

“Based on all of the above, I believe that White should play 13.Kh1, keeping ideas of f4 open while at the same time not diminishing the opportunity of Bg5.”

SILMAN: Benjamin says that Black has an advantage in space on the queenside, but is that true? Black’s pawns (f7-e6-d5) are indeed pointing in that direction, and it’s clear that Black should seek his play on the queenside, but the space in that sector is about even.

He said there are no important files. This is interesting, because there is the open c-file, which might prove important at some point down the line. There is also the matter of Black’s …f7-f6 advance, which would lead to a half-open e-file and pressure against e5 and e6, and also to a half open g-file (after …f6, exf6 gxf6) that Black might be able to use.

His recommended 13.Kh1 is a funny move. The idea is to eventually move the Knight and play f2-f4 without having to fear tactics on the a7-g1 diagonal. The problem is, 13.Kh1 is a sort of copout. I suspect that Benjamin isn’t quite sure what White should do, so he’s opting for a move that might prove useful later while he waits for a cue as to the correct follow up. The flaws in this kind of thinking are: 13.Kh1 might prove to be completely useless, and therefore a waste of a whole tempo; this show of indecision sets a certain mental tone, and can easily lead to further indecision and, ultimately, defeat.

Though Benjamin’s plan for Black (…Qc7, …b6, …Ba6) is very passive (White can just move his c1-Bishop and play Rc1 when it’s hard to see where Black’s play will come from), he showed good intuition by wanting to play 13.Bg5, which is a very sensible idea. Was he right in passing on it due to 13…f6? The solution will make this clear.

THOSE THAT RECOMMEND 13.Ng5:

MENNO BOENDERMAKER (1600) says:

“In my opinion this position is more or less equal, i.e. White has more space on the kingside (it’s a closed center and pawn e5 is in attacking position) and White has a better development. He wouldn’t mind trading off his Bc1 for Black’s good Bishop Be7. Black on the other hand is still developing. He must find a solution for his bad Bc8. The Nc6 has an annoying outpost on b4, and Black should take control of the c-file (and play on the queenside) and attack White’s center by …f7-f6.

“So, White has two positive imbalances: development (a temporary imbalance) and kingside space. White must play sharp against his less developed opponent: try to keep his King in the middle and to become very active on the kingside.

“I would suggest 13.Ng5. Now it’s dangerous for Black to castle (14. Bd3), …f7-f6 is not possible and 13... Bxg5 is fine for White. After 13...h6 the Knight retreats – it created a weakness in Black’s future King’s shield.”

SILMAN: White is correct on almost every count, though he didn’t let us know how that “weakness” created by …h7-h6 could be utilized (Yes, there might be sacrifices against it sometime down the road, but “might” is hardly a plan!). In my opinion, moving the Knight to g5 and back to f3 isn’t worth the lost time. However, the retreat to h3 is quite another matter, when the Knight can recycle to f4 and, perhaps, h5. White could also consider ideas – after 14.Nh3 – like Qd3-g3.).

GEOFF DAVIES says:

“This seems to me to be a strategic position and any tactics that arise will be to achieve a strategic aim or to prevent a strategic aim being reached.

“It’s a French Defense and the center pawns are blocked. Black’s pawns point towards the queenside, where he enjoys more space and has developed his pieces. White’s pawns point to the kingside, where he enjoys more space.

“Blocked pawns would indicate play on the wings, Black on the queenside and White on the kingside. However Black can and should be thinking of playing in the center with …f6.

“Black is attacking White’s center pawns, which cramp his game. However, White currently has them well defended. Black would dearly like to play …f6 to start chipping away at the cramping pawns, and …0-0 to get his King to safety. …f6 would virtually force exf6 since Black is already attacking the e-pawn with both Knights, but then Black would recapture on f6 with his Bishop. Although Black ends up with a backward e-pawn on an open file, he would succeed in freeing his game and intensifying the pressure on the d4-pawn.

“White wants to retain his cramping pawns and would be deliriously happy if he could get f4 in. The bind on Black’s position would remain and White could open the f-file at any time. The only problem is the Knight on f3, which is in the way. So the move that cries out to be played by White is Ng5; a strategic move in that it prepares f4, but with the tactical point that it discourages Black from playing …f6, which would hang the e6-pawn. Sure, Black could destroy the center pawns, but his position is opened right up and I don’t believe he should invite this when his king is uncastled.

“What should Black do in response to Ng5? Taking the Knight with his Bishop could be justified as exchanging in a cramped position, but I don’t like it. Black is exchanging his good Bishop for a Knight.

“If Black does something else, say …0-0, then White can play f4 and his first strategic aim has been achieved. Things are looking good for him.

“Can Black prevent f4? Only by …h6 (attacking the Knight with tempo) followed by …g5. The sequence I am thinking of is 13.Ng5 h6 14.Nh3 g5 and now 15.f4 cannot be played because 14.f4? gxf4 15.Rxf4 Nd7xe5 loses a pawn because the d-pawn is pinned. Maybe, but White can move his King into the corner before playing f4.”

SILMAN: A good job by Geoff. He pointed out that a closed center means play on the wings, and that Black doesn’t want to open up the center when his King is uncastled. All true. His idea of Nf3-g5-h3 followed by f2-f4 is quite reasonable, but his attempt by Black to stop f4 with the horrible …g7-g5 is a bit over the top since it just creates new weaknesses in Black’s camp.

The biggest flaw in this thinking (which was pretty advanced) is his only seeing a bit of the board. The actual solution will offer us a much more expansive strategic view.

JAMES HAMILTON (1750) says:

“I would say White definitely stands better. Black has to move some pieces out of the way just to develop his c8-Bishop, and the d7-Knight has nowhere to go. The c6-Knight may park annoyingly at b4 and do some real damage if Black could take control of the c-file, but it would take quite a few moves to put that into play and White will get the c-file first. Black’s only other plan would involve trying to undermine White’s center with …0-0 and …f6, but opening up the position with White’s advantage in space and threats on the kingside would be very risky.

“On the other hand, White’s control of the center, added space on kingside, and lead in development give him a number of good prospects. The dream position would have White controlling the c-file and move his Knight, Bishop and Queen into positions more directly threatening the Black King. The immediate task is to get the c1-Bishop into the game.

“My candidate move for White would be Ng5. If Black takes with his one good Bishop, White will have a big advantage in minor piece mobility, with the two Bishops becoming very powerful if Black eventually does get in …f6 and exchanges center pawns. Even with the center frozen, exchanging Bishop for Knight would leave Black with weak squares at c5, d6, and e7 (for example: 1.Ng5 Bxg5 2.Bxg5 0-0 3.Rc1 Nb4 4.Be7 Re8 5.Bd6). Or, if Black instead leaves the Knight at g5, it becomes a significant threat against the King, for example, 1.Ng5 0-0 2. Bd3 forces Black to move the g- or h-pawns protecting the King, facilitating White’s plans for kingside attack. Or 1.Ng5 Nb4 2.Bd3 Nxd3 3.Qxd3, when again the White Knights are better than the c8-Bishop and threats on the castled King still loom.”

SILMAN: James was very confident in what he wanted to do with the position, and this is important because your opponent can actually feel your self-belief over the board. It also allows you to follow your ideas quickly and efficiently – and mediocre ideas (I’m NOT saying that James’ ideas are mediocre!) carried out with gusto are far superior to a reasonable plan carried out in a half-hearted manner.

The leap with the Knight by 13.Ng5 caught the attention of lots of readers, and it’s quite a reasonable choice. I don’t agree with 13.Ng5 Nb4 14.Bd3? (Far better is 14.Bb5 followed by bringing the Queen to h5 or g4.), since I see no reason in making too many exchanges, or in letting Black capture this fine Bishop: 14…Qd8! (This allows for …b6 and …Ba6 is many variations.) 15.Nh3 (Bad is 15.Nxh7? b6! 16.Re1 Ba6 17.Qb1 g6 18.Nf6+ Nxf6 with advantage for Black) 15…Nxd3 16.Qxd3 0-0 17.Qg3 f6 18.Bh6 Rf7 and Black can be quite happy.

James also failed to discuss 13.Ng5 h6 14.Nh3 when Black’s advance of the h-pawn has made his …f7-f6 idea less desirable due to the resultant weakness of the g6-square. I consider the position after 14.Nh3 to be attractive for White.

WILL DAVIS (1600) says:

“Step 1: Since this is Jeremy Silman giving a problem, I will turn to How to Reassess your Chess to give me a clue. On page 27, you urge us to examine the imbalances in the position, so I will do just that.

“1. Superior minor pieces: the first thing I notice is Black’s miserable Bc8. Not only is it bad because Black’s pawn chain is on its color, but the only way for it to seek activity (the a6-f1 diagonal) is blocked in by Black’s own Ns. Just as bad at the moment is the Ra8, which is trapped as well. Black’s Nc6 is his most active minor piece, applying pressure to the d4-pawn, and threatening to jump onto b4 if necessary.

“One the contrary, White’s minor pieces are much less restricted, each of them has useful possibilities. The Bc1 (which is technically bad, but useful at the moment) and Nf3 both work to control the square g5, the Be2 controls the b5 square, and can move to d3 if necessary. The Nb3 is the least mobile of White’s minor pieces, but it serves a valuable role protecting d4, and threatening to jump to c5 if the opportunity arises. While it also attacks the a5-pawn, that pawn isn’t a good target, since …Qc7 and …b6 make it unshakable.

“What do we conclude from this? White’s minor pieces are far superior.

“2. Pawn structure: Both sides have symmetrical pawns on the Q-side, both with potential weaknesses on b4 and b5 respectively. On the K-side though, White’s pawn chain on d4 and e5 give him a definite space advantage. Other than that, the pawn structure is equal.

“3.Space: Here is where White’s position really shines. While both sides are approximately equal on the Q-side, the K-side is very restricted by White’s pawn on e5. White has a definite space advantage.

“4. Material is equal, but if you consider Black’s miserable Bc8 and Ra8, White might as well be up materially. What pieces he has are much more valuable than Black’s.

“5.Control of a key file or squares: The only open file to work with is the c-file, but that is largely obstructed by minor pieces. Nevertheless, White has the only real chance to take it, by Ra3-c3. On the Q-side, both sides have control of b5 and b4 respectively, but posting a piece there for either player is not necessarily good, I foresee the real action will be forthcoming on the K-side.

“6. Lead in Development: again, Black’s miserable minor pieces severely cripple him. All of White’s pieces are on squares giving them at least reasonable activity. In short, White has an excellent lead in development.

“7. Initiative: With the move in a position like this, White has a major initiative. All Black can do is react to White’s moves, thus giving White the choice of how to play the game out.

“Step 2: Figure out which side of the board I want to play on. OK, I can see immediately that all of Black’s pieces are on the Q-side, and will have difficulty moving over to the K-side. Also, given my pleasant space advantage there, I believe the K-side is where the game will be decided.

“Step 3: Dream up suitable fantasy positions: Any fantasy involving a strong K-side attack really suffers without the K’s presence there. In short, if I can get Black to castle K-side (Q-side is of course not an option, it would take at least 3 tempos to do it (…Nf8, …Bd7, …0-0-0), and it would be castling right into an open file), and could get my B on d3, and play Qh5, it doesn’t get much better. Also, Black’s one immediately available piece (the Be7) must die, it is the only real defense available. I would also wonder about the validity of considering fantasy positions when planning to assault a king, since any fantasy position then is mate, and is greatly dependant on the defender.

“Step 4: I will insert my 2 cents here, and examine whether or not an outright K-side attack is correct. A quote from Steinitz springs to mind: ‘If you have the advantage, you have not only a right to attack, but also a duty to attack, otherwise there is the risk of losing the advantage.’

“Also here, I will just glance through Vukovic’s THE ART OF ATTACK IN CHESS for positions that are analogous, for further ideas. After this, a search through Chessbase for analogous positions will follow. This is an option not open to us in a tournament game, but I will see what I can do with it now. First things first, the pawns on d4 and e5, and the open diagonal b1-h7 make me think immediately of the classic B sac on h7. Unfortunately, this is not yet an option, since Black has not yet castled. Also, the move f5 could cause problems for that. However, I feel that given my development advantage, a sacrifice or two is most definitely an option. Regrettably, Chessbase seems not to yield useful positions. However, just from looking at the position, it would seem that this position probably resulted from an French Defense, probably 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 Nf6 4.e5 Nd7, but this would have to imply many errors on the part of the players if only because the Bd3 or f4 seemed to be always played by White. So I am really unsure how a position like this could have come about.

“Anyway, away from my hiatus from finding candidate moves.

“Step 4b: Determining candidate moves. I will list them, and a reason for them.
1. The obvious Bg5, preparing to trade off the B by force.
2. Bd3, planning on the eventual sac on h7.
3. Ra3: since we want Black to castle, making a completely obvious attacking move seems foolish, Ra3 prepares to swing the R to the c-file (after the Nb3 moves), or directly to the K-side to attack.
4. Ng5, preparing f4 and f5.
Of these, I would select Ng5, since Black has no real counterplay against it.”

SILMAN: Wow! This guy did a great job! His breakdown of the imbalances was flawless, and his dedication was so overwhelming that I am forced to wonder if he has a life (Chessbase? Vukovic’s book? This is one diligent dude!). His work was so to the point and well presented (which is why I gave it in full) that I am left wondering why his rating isn’t far higher than 1600. Anyway, Mr. Davis deserves a lot of credit for his effort here.

He also brings up an interesting question: “I would also wonder about the validity of considering fantasy positions when planning to assault a king, since any fantasy position then is mate, and is greatly dependant on the defender.”

I think there are many situations where fantasy positions are a waste of time. In fact, more often than not, a simple reading/understanding of the imbalances will make the correct move and/or plan obvious. Fantasy positions are useful for stronger players who are seeking in-depth, strategic plans – players under 2000 should simply master imbalance recognition, and they should learn how to make use of everything in the imbalance list.

The only things that Will said which are a bit off is his attraction to Ra3 ideas (even if Black didn’t have …Bxa3, I would still doubt this Rook lift’s usefulness since making a path along the 3rd rank would mean moving his Knights out of the way, and this would leave his center vulnerable to attack). The other “off” comment is his attraction to the Classic Bishop Sacrifice (other readers also were taken by this idea), which simply won’t work if Black’s Bishop can chop off the Knight when it calls check on g5 (after Bxh7+ Kxh7).

THOSE THAT RECOMMEND 13.Bg5:

FERDI VAN BAVEL (1800) says:

“The position is closed, (Knights are almost always better) we are still in the opening and have to develop in a good way. Since the position is closed, we have time (if needed) to bring our pieces to a better square or file. Also, we have to find out on which side of the board we will play. The most sensible move is 13.Bg5. White has more kingside space, and the only defensive piece Black has on that side of the board is the dark-squared Bishop. Therefore, trading that piece will make it very risky for Black to castle.”

SILMAN: Ferdi shows that he has excellent instincts, since it turns out that 13.Bg5 is, indeed, the move we’re looking for. However, one move doesn’t make a game, and he fails to mention most of the nuances associated with it.

ROBERT KELSO (1220) says:

“As a 1220 player I often find myself in an actual game being unsure about whether or not to play quietly or sharply, tactically or positionally. With that in mind, I set up the board and tried to view the situation as I would during a game.

“Looking at Black, I would be asking myself why he put the Bishop on e7? It would indicate to me that he is likely to castle kingside and advance his f-pawn f6 and either swap pawns on f6 or e5, freeing up the center for his pawns. At present he has good queenside chances with good posts for his Knights at b4 and later on c4 or e4. His only weaknesses that I can see are the backward pawn on b7, the blocked Bishop on c8 and the fact that he hasn’t castled yet which might give a kingside attack some possibilities.

“As White I need to do something about the queenside attack by Black as the pawn on b2 is backward and d4 is a definite target. On the plus side I am castled and if I move the Bishop on c1 then the Rooks and the Queen will be connected. The pieces are well set up for a kingside attack if I can contain the attack on the queenside.

“My plan would be to put my black Bishop on g5 then the white Bishop on b5 and follow this with the Queen on d3. If I can get the Rook on b1 to support the advancement of the b-pawn and the Knight to c5 then I think I could get a good endgame.”

SILMAN: Robert gave the position a calm look and came up with some solid stuff. He’s one of the few people that saw the potential of a later Nc5, but a b2-b4 advance seems completely unrealistic (Black just has too much stuff hitting that square!). Also, it’s a bit early to be talking about an endgame. Actually, it’s a bit strange that he mentioned his chances for a kingside attack, yet never pursued that idea in any concrete fashion.

CHRIS CONNELL says:

“Assessment: To say who has the advantage is a bit difficult. White, I think, is ahead in development because of castling and both Bishops have potential; White also has a slight space advantage.

“Black’s c8-Bishop is locked in and trapped; castling hasn’t occurred, but the King seems safe for the moment behind the pawns, Knights, and Bishop; and the Queen is out, though not easily threatened at this point. And Black has his Knights and Queen situated on one side of the board.

“However, Black seems to have a more aggressive stance on the board – his Knights attack White’s central pawns, while White’s are defensive; White’s d4-pawn is under a lot of pressure, but is defended well. To my eye, however, this situation gives White a difficult position because there is little that can easily be done.

“Black also has a potential home for Knight or Bishop at b4; Black’s Knight might be somewhat side-lined on b4, but the Bishop could pose a real threat. Black’s move of the Bishop to e7 gets it ready for some action, though its mobility is limited, with the exception of b4.

“WHITE’S POSSIBLE CANDIDATE MOVES:
1) 13.Q-c2 as a way to put pressure on c5 in hopes of creating a support point for White’s Knight; but it would take too long to get other pieces into a supportive role.

“2) 13.Q-d2, preparing for some potential tactical action on the c1-h6 diagonal with the Knight, but this particular configuration of pieces seems like an ultimately futile attempt, may block White’s own position, and could involve a useless Queen sacrifice.

“3) 13.N-g5, which would probably create a response of …h7-h6 and then the Knight could make a sacrifice by Nxf7, which would threaten the Rook on h8 and therefore dislodge the King (...Kxf7) or force the move of the Rook to ...g8 or f8, create a hole in Black pawn shield for later penetration by White’s Rook or Queen from f3, and disrupt Black’s pawn chain. And followed up by B-h5, this looks like a tempting tactic. For my taste, though, it would loose too much material at this point in the game, and could create a good home for Black’s rook on f8, but still very tempting if one were in a tactical mood. If Black responded to the Knight ...f6, it could be a somewhat secure position for Black.

“4) 13.B-g5. This I think is the move to take. It would force the trade off of the dark-squared Bishops (13...Bxg5 14.Nxg5), leaving Black only with his trapped Bishop. White’s Knight on g5 would probably be forced to return to safety or sacrifice (picking up part of option 3, but now without the Bishop). However, with ...h7-h6, threatening the Knight, the Knight could go for the tactics of Nxf7, preventing Black’s castling chances (...Kxf7) and creating a nice eventual home for White’s other Knight on g6. If Black chose ...R-f8, then N-d6+ is good. White could follow up with B-h5, which would be a troublesome situation for Black.

“So here is a possible solution and move order, which combines a bit of strategic creation of imbalances and some tactics: 13.Bg5 Bxg5 14.Nxg5 h6 15.Nxf7 Kxf7 16.B-h5+ K-f8 17.Q-g4 (or Q-f3+), and I think White would have a good position, immobilizing Black’s Bishop and Rook, and creating an eventual home for White’s other Knight.

“What I DON’T like is that White sacrifices a Knight and creates serious material imbalance in a closed position. However, with Black’s Knights and Queen stuck on the queen-side, and Black’s dark-squared Bishop and h8-Rook having very limited range, the material sacrifice may be worth it.”

SILMAN: It’s interesting that Chris prized Black’s queenside chances quite highly. The problem with this is that the only square Black really owns is b4, while White has its sister square on b5 firmly in hand. Other than that, the attack on the b3-Knight is easily dealt with, and the attack against d4 isn’t that dangerous because Black can’t bring any other pieces to bear on this point. In a way, then, Black has “shot his bolt” on the queenside and must look towards the other wing with some trepidation.

White must be better due to his space advantage and lead in development. In fact, White has a few promising plans, while active play for Black (other than a …f7-f6 idea) is a long way off.

Mr. Connell’s idea of sacrificing a piece after 13.Bg5 Bxg5 (Chris failed to take the critical 13…f6 into account) 14.Nxg5 h6 15.Nxf7 is incorrect since a piece is too great a price to pay for an attack that isn’t that threatening (15…Kxf7 16.Bh5+ g6 is a simple reply). However, the idea of gaining long term pressure on the central enemy King and the poorly developed Black army is a valid one in many positions, and it’s to Chris’ credit that he tried to make it work.

JIM MONGIARDO (ICC: 1580-1620) says:

“Potential plans for White:

“Kingside
On the kingside, White would proceed by expanding with f2-f4 gaining more space. Therefore the Knight would have to move. The only candidate moves that fit this scenario are Nh4, Ng5, Ne1 and Nd2.

“Center
Since the center is closed, play will most likely be determined on the wings. However, White must be careful about his d4-pawn as currently Black’s c6-Knight and Queen are attacking it.

“Queenside
White has some opportunities to get his pieces to good squares potentially on the queenside, but only after he has traded off some the Black pieces so that his own pieces can reside their permanently. In particular, Black’s dark squares could be seriously weakened if the dark-squared Bishop were to be traded.

(23:54)

“What is Black’s main idea?

“Kingside
Black has virtually no play of his own on the kingside since none of his pieces aim there nor does White have any weakness there.

“Center
Black has pressure on the d4-pawn but no real way to develop more without some maneuver like …Be7-d8-b6.

“Queenside
Black has most of his pieces on the queenside but they are somewhat uncoordinated. Other considerations: Black has not yet castled (though the position is closed, so it’s not imminently necessary) and his light-squared Bishop is completely inactive. Black needs to pressure the queenside while activating some of his minor pieces. Black will play Nb4. If White wants to get rid of it, he’ll have to give up the Bishop pair.

(35:03)

“White’s kingside thrusts look menacing, but with no targets, should prove fruitless. White’s main area of play should be against the weakened dark squares. This can be accomplished via Bg5. If 13.Bg5 f6, then 14.exf6 gxf6 saddles Black with a weak pawn on f6 and a backwards one on e6. If 14…Bxf6 3.Bxf6 gxf6. What if Black plays Nxf6? That seems to short-circuit White’s whole idea. After 14…Nxf6 15.Ne5 seems ok for White. If 13.Bg5 Bxg5 14.Nxg5 Nb4 15.Bb5 followed by Bxd7, Nc5 and Rc1 seems to create pressure for White. Total time: 50:15.”

SILMAN: Jim correctly noted that after 13.Bg5 f6 14.exf6 gxf6 Black’s e-pawn is potentially weak, but he didn’t say if these pawns had any positive attributes either (i.e., control of key central squares). As it turns out, the pawns are indeed weak, but proving that takes some very nice play by White (as our solution demonstrates).

Jim didn’t think much of White’s kingside attacking potential (which is an error on his part), but he was on the money when he said that Black couldn’t increase the pressure against d4.

SOLUTION FOR OUR POSITION (STRATEGY OR TACTICS?):

This position is from Benko-Ogaba, Hungary 1950. The first moves were: 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 Nc6 4.Ngf3 Nf6 5.e5 Nd7 6.Bd3!? Nb4 7.Be2 c5 8.c3 Nc6 9.0–0 Qb6 10.Nb3! cxd4 11.cxd4 a5 12.a4 Be7.

Benko’s comment (from the soon to be published BENKO’S LIFE, GAMES, AND COMPOSITIONS): “Black controls the b4-square, which seemingly assures him of an equal game. However, this view is shallow. White’s many plusses far outweigh the single hole on b4: more central space, chances on the kingside, control over b5, and he can also play to occupy c5, the possession of which later proves decisive.”

Notice how Pal is looking over the whole board. He sees he has all the chances on the kingside thanks to his space advantage there. But why give Black the queenside? If White can dominate the c5-square (which would make a very nice home for a White Knight) he might be able to take over in that sector too. Don’t make it a race between mutual wings if you can strive for world domination instead!

With this in mind, his choice of move makes perfect sense.

13.Bg5!

Again, we’ll borrow from Benko’s notes:

“Black is faced with a difficult choice. Either he allows the trade of dark-squared Bishops, which would leave the c5-square fatally weak (in this scenario, Black’s c8-Bishop and d7-Knight would both occupy bad positions), or he pushes his pawn to f6, when his King will have trouble finding a safe place to live.”

Pal is creating a domino effect: Black can accept one unfortunate possibility (weakening c5), or he can prevent that but risk opening up new targets for the White army.

13...f6

The exchange of dark-squared Bishops would have left Black with a very passive position, so he decides to sharpen things up a bit.

14.exf6 gxf6

Of course, 14...Nxf6 would leave Black with a weak square on e5.

15.Bh6 Nf8
16.Nh4 Ng6
17.Bh5 Rg8
18.Qd3

White is trying to provoke ...f6-f5. In that case, White would have rushed his pieces back towards the center and initiated play against the permanent weaknesses on e5 and e6.

This is a very important point! White’s threats against g6 were not designed to win material or give an attack. Instead, White was merely trying to create new strategic points of attack in Black’s camp that would allow him to torture his opponent in a safe, long lasting, and effective manner.

18...Kd8

A painful decision that leaves the Black King in constant danger. However, a good idea was hard to find. The “active” 18...Nb4 19.Qg3 Bd6 20.Bf4 Bxf4 21.Qxf4 would have made White very happy due to the threats of Qxf6 and Qh6, not to mention the fact that c5 has completely fallen into White's hands after all! Note that 21…Nc2 22.Qxf6 gives White a decisive attack.

19.Nf3

Let’s indulge in another Benko quote: “The pin has done its job, and now it’s time to bring my pieces back to the center and prepare to put pressure against the target on e6. Note that 19.Nxg6? hxg6 20.Bxg6?? would be suicide, since 20...Rxg6 21.Qxg6 Qxb3 picks up material.”

19...Bd7
20.Rfc1

White shows that he’s still very interested in the c5-square! The other Rook is left on a1 in order to firmly defend the a4-pawn.

20...Nb4 21.Qe3 Na6

Black has kept White off of c5, but the Knight isn’t well placed on a6.

22.Bg4!

Bringing his attention back to the e6-pawn.

22…Nh4
23.Bh3 Nxf3+
24.Qxf3 Rc8
25.Bd2

The noose is tightening. This forces Black’s Knight back to b4,