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Lesson
#9
How To Get The Gold
How does the chess master approach chess? I believe he applies three
all-important attitudes. They are like the water, sun and nutrients that, over
time, enable a tiny seedling to grow into a big tree. You may be surprised at
what these three attitudes are. They aren't about combinations or opening
theory. Rather, they enable you to mater and take charge of your play. This
times let's look at the first attitude.
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White to move
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The prospector in search of gold has a few things to teach an aspiring chess
player. Both seek their pay-dirt – be it a big gold nugget or a beautifully
played combination. Today, let's travel with the gold miner in search of chess
gold.
Our game is between two young grandmasters, Kramnik (white) and Lautier. As
we will see, Kramnik has listened well to the gold miner. Starting with the
position above, watch how he follows the miner’s five steps to victory.
Step 1 – Decide Where to Look for the Gold
Kramnik studies the terrain of the 64 squares and decides that his best
chance for gold is the hills near the black king. Notice the weakness of the
black h-pawn and the strong b1 - h7 diagonal for white. Before making any quick
moves, though, Kramnik takes his time and does the miner’s second step.
Step 2 – Decide Where the Equipment Goes
These days, you’re not likely to find gold with just a shovel. You’re
going to need some heavy equipment. Kramnik wisely decides to get all of his
pieces developed before digging. He’ll castle kingside, put his rooks on d1
and e1 and get his queen on the b1-h7 diagonal with this bishop. This is his
dream position.
Step 3: Place the Equipment in the Right Order
Kramnik is an excellent miner. He is very careful to move his equipment into
position in the best possible order! From experience he knows that his bishop
will want to go back to b1, thus making room for his queen. He first plays 1.
Rd1 so his bishop can retreat without causing a traffic jam. (By the way,
can you see why this also prevents black’s 1. … e5?)
Let’s now watch how Kramnik completes the prospector’s third step. 1.
… Qe7 2. Bb1 e5 3. 0-0 exd4 4 exd4. So why did he take back with pawn?
Aren’t isolated pawns bad? Kramnik wants to open up the lines so his equipment
has a highway to the gold. After 4. Nxd4 black can play Ne5 with equality. The
isolated d-pawn can actually help the attacking player if he plays forcefully
enough.
Black continues his development with 4. … Nb6 and Kramnik naturally
answered with 5. Qd3. Alert, gold is in site! Now, after the weakening 5.
… g6, Kramnik played 6. Re1 and achieved his dream position.
Lautier decided to look for some gold dust in the white queen-side with 6.
… Qb4. You will notice, though, that black’s digging will be without
reward due in part to his lack of developed equipment.
Step 4: Starting digging
Now, for the fun part. The white queen has successfully loosened the soil
near the gold with the push of the black g-pawn. Also, Kramnik doesn’t want to
allow exchanges with 7. … Bf5. so he plays 7. Qd2. Black should defend
carefully with 6. … Bg7 but he got greedy and recklessly played 7. … Nc4.
All of white’s pieces are developed whereas black’s Bc8 and Ra8 are not.
Time to dig with 8. Qxh6 and black also moved some dirt with 8. …
Nxb2.
Step 5: BLAST!
With the first four steps complete it’s time to really open things up.
Bring out the dynamite. In chess, we blast by sacrificing.
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White to move
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Kramnik enjoyed playing 9. Bxg6! and after fxg6 the gold around
the king’s neck is in clear sight. Careful, though! The tempting 10. Qxg6+ Bg7
11. Ng5 is foiled by 11. … Bf5!
Kramnik unlocked the combination by changing the move order. He played 10.
Ng5 first! Again, the move order can make all the difference. The
game continued 10. … Bxg5 11. Qxg6+! Kh8 12. Qh5+ Kg7 13. Qxg5+ (taking
the bishop with check saves a move) Kf7
With the treasured gold dangling from the black king’s neck, Kramnik
played the pretty 14. Re3! with the threat of 15. Qf4+ followed by 16.
Rg3+ and mate soon. Finding no suitable defense, black gave up the gold and
resigned.
If you follow the prospector’s five steps in your games then the gold can
be yours too. It takes practice to avoid digging and blasting too soon. But once
you are prepared let the sparks fly!
PS: Perhaps you would like to figure out how to win after black tries 14. …
Qd6. You’re on your own.
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(c) 2001 Ross Stoutenborough
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