Google
Search Our Site
Search The Web
 
 
DOUBLED PAWNS
STRENGTH AND WEAKNESS

by Georgi Orlov

 

Part 1 | Part 2

10...Rb8 11.Qa6

11... g6!

Black should not exchange pieces. Instead, he plays to increase his lead in development. After 11...Nxb2? 12.Rb1 White's pieces would suddenly come to life.

12.h4?

White clearly underestimates the danger. Better was 12.g3.

12...Rb6 13.Qa4 Bg7 14.Rh3 0-0 15.Nd1?

A final mistake. Better was 15.f3.

15...Rb4! 16.Rxd3 Qxd3 17.Qxc6

Apparently, White went for this position thinking that it was defensible. Not really!

17...Rxe4 18.Ne3 Rxe3!, White resigned.

Doubled pawns present more trouble than good when they are located next to one's King. It usually means the pawn-cover around one's King is damaged and unable to keep out the enemy forces, thus leaving his Majesty in a tenuous situation. Frequently, such situations allow tactics against the King. In the following game Vassily Smyslov masterfully took advantage of such a position.

GM Vassily Smyslov - GM Gideon Stahlberg
Zurich, 1953
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 dxe4 5.Nxe4 Be7 6.Bxf6 Bxf6 7.Nf3 Nd7 8.Bc4 0-0 9.Qe2 Nb6 10.Bb3 Bd7 11.0-0 Qe7 12.Rfe1 Rad8 13.Rad1 Ba4 14.Bxa4 Nxa4 15.Qb5 Nb6 16.c4 c6 17.Qb3

17...Qc7?

Black is short on space and tries to regroup his pieces. He, however, allows serious damage to his King's position. Since there are practically no pieces around the King, Smyslov quickly develops a decisive attack. Better was 17...Rd7, though according to Smyslov, 18.a4 would keep the pressure.

18.Nxf6+ gxf6 19.Qe3!

White immediately sends his Queen to attack the opponent's compromised position.

19...Kg7

In case of 19...Nxc4 20.Rd3! Rd5 21.Ne5! Nxe5 22.Rxe5! Rxe5 23.dxe5, White checkmates. Also bad is 20...Kh8 21.Nh4! Rd5 22.Nf5! Rxf5 23.Rh3.

20.Ne5!

This move wins the game. White now threatens 21.Qg3+ Kh8 22.Ng6+! winning a Queen. Here 20...fxe5 loses to 21.Qg5+ Kh8 22.Qf6+ Kg8 23.Rd3 Rfe8 24.Qh6! exd4 25.f4! Kh8 26.Rg3 and checkmates.

20...Qe7 21.Ng4 Rg8

This move loses the Exchange by force. However, White also retains a clear advantage after 21...Kh8 22.d5! cxd5 23.Qh6! Nd7 24.Rxd5! Rg8 25.Rxd7 Rxd7 26.Nxf6.

22.Nh6!

22...Qc7 23.Nxg8 Rxg8 24.b3

Now Black has lost an Exchange and his kingside position remains weak.

24...Kh8 25.Qh6 Rg6 26.Qh4 Nd7 27.Re3 Qa5 28.Rh3 Nf8 29.Rg3!

It is important to exchange Rooks, leaving Black with even less chances.

29...Qxa2 30.Rxg6 Nxg6 31.Qxf6+ Kg8 32.Qf3 Qc2 33.Qd3, Black resigned.

Part 1 | Part 2