Sunday, March 16, 2014

See if you instead can move forward


When a piece is threatened you must sometimes move it backwards to stop a disaster. But "sometimes" is not "always". 

Many players wants automatically to move a threatened piece backwards, easily missing the much better solution to move it forward. Moving forward could be the best defence. Think more like someone who wants to score a goal in football (soccer). Then you or a teammate must kick the ball forward. 

Even a Grandmaster 
can fail to kick (move) forward. 

Let's take a look at the game Levon Aronian - Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, Candidates Tournament 2014, Khanty-Mansiysk.
  

White played 13.f5. 




Black played 13...Ne7? 



and was lost after... 
 


















14.Nde4!!


The black Queen is trapped.


14...dxe4 15.Nxe4 Qh4 16.g3 Qh3 17.Nf2 Qxf1+ 18.Kxf1 Nxf5
19.Qf3...1-0. 



Black needs to play a more active defence after 13.f5. 



There is one. Move forward. 



13...Qg5! 

Black threats to play Qxe3+ followed by Qxd3.
(13...Nh4 14.Qh5!)

14.Qe2 Nh4! 



Black is OK. 


The game 
Levon Aronian - Shakhriyar Mamedyarov at Chessgames.com and ChessVibes   
       

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About me

I played my first chess game in December 1977 and was lucky to hold draw. I continued to play chess and joined a chess club in September 1978. I'm still enjoying playing chess. I like to do many other things than playing chess. Long walks, some jogging, cycling, reading books, listen to music, watch movies, writing and much more. Life is fun!