Grivas Method Middlegames Strategy

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Efstratios Grivas

GRIVAS METHOD

MIDDLEGAME

STR

A

TE

GIES

Chess Chess Evolution Evolution

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First edition �� by Chess Evolutionion �� by Chess Evolution

Grivas method. Middlegame strategies

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KEY TO SYMBOLS...�

INTRODUCTION...�

EDITORIAL PREFACE ... �

BIBLIOGRAPHY...��

SURVEYS ON MIDDLEGAME STRATEGY ... �� A Backward Problem ...�� Domination ... �� Initiative ...�� Preparation ... �� Queen Exchange ...�� Te Bad Bishop ...�� Te Capablanca Manoeuvre ... �� Te Forepost ...�� Te Hungarian Knight-our ...�� Te Royal Centre ... �� Te Super�uous Knight ...�� Weak Square ...�� Te buried bishop ...�� Underdevelopment ...�� Unortunate bishop ... �� SURVEYS ON TACTICS ... �� Attack via the Edge Files ... �� Boden’s Mate ... �� Castled Death ... �� Fierce Queen ...�� Lethal Diagonals ...�� Long-term Sacri�ces ...�� New York Queen Sac ...�� Te G-point Check ... �� Te Pony Express ...�� Te Smothered Mate ...�� win Games ... �� CURRICULUM VITAE... ��

KEY TO SYMBOLS

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Dear Reader,

A responsible chess trainer is ‘destined’ to analyse, prepare and teach his/her trainees the plain truth and the diﬃ cult paths to chess excellence. Well, this is easier said than done, but o course nothing is really as diﬃ cult as it some-times appears.

When the responsible trainer knows what to do and how to do it, things get simpler and can be more easily absorbed by the trainee! And rom time-to-time the responsible trainer should reveal his work and his ways o teaching.

Te book that you are holding in your hands is a kind o continuation o my previous work named ‘Chess Analytics’ (English language — Russell Enter-prises Inc, ��); a work that was also translated into Italian and Spanish. Te basic concept is simple but quite eﬀective: various sur-veys on all aspects o the game, covering and explaining unrevealed or poorly explained ideas and paths.

In the present book by ‘Chess Evolution’, a total o �� concepts are deeply analysed. Well, noth-ing really too diﬃ cult, as the modern author has at his disposal powerul databases, tablebases, analysed material, books and — by adding his knowledge — you will get what you are looking or!

oday we have shorter time-controls and there isn’t really enough time to dig into the subtleties o each ending. You have to know and to repeat knowledge; don’t be carried away by the usual myth o the ‘chess talent’. As I have repeat-edly written and proved, ‘talent is the excuse o the ailed’.

‘Unortunately’, the modern chess player is entitled and orced to work more than his predeces-sors. Te modern chess trainer also needs to prepare more delicate themes, understand them and then teach them to his students. So, there is plenty o room or everything and or everybody who is thirsty or knowledge.

Knowledge is the key word. And knowledge is absorbed sub-consciously; it is impossible to re-member everything you study. So, it is highly important to

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work with good material and good trainers in order to improve towards the Chess Olympus.

Nowadays the help o the Silicon Monster (chess analysis engines) is quite valu-able, as it can save an author countless hours o analysis and checking. But stil l the role o the quali�ed trainer remains important; he knows where the truth is — he knows what to keep and what to throw away…

I do not want to hold a ‘high nose’ and claim that everything I have written is perect and completely sound; I always think o the surprise actor and I just try to write honestly and with responsibility.

Have a nice reading journey!

Estratios Grivas Athens, ��

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For a chess book to be instructive and inormative, it would help a lot i these actors are present; that the author possesses the gif, the passion and love or the game and at one point in time, he is or was a competitive chessplayer - pre-erably a grandmaster. And it would also be to his advantage i he has previous experience in writing, and is or was actively involved in training and conduct-ing chess seminars and lectures.

All o these elements are wonderul o course, but more is required rom the author to ensure success. He must work hard in collating pertinent chess ma-terials to substantiate his thoughts and ideas. In order to best illustrate and appreciate the theme that he is introducing, the author needs to compile in-structive games o the great masters or rom average players. Even better is or the author to include those games he won and lost - as long as it perta ins to the subject being tackled. As the saying goes, it is the player himsel who knows best about the intricacies and turn o events that occurred in his games.

It is bene�cial to provide a ‘label or name’ to the motis the author is presenting, in order to help the reader recall the concept when it appears in his own actual games. Appropriate title descriptions o concepts is a good guide or readers to better understand its objective and how to achieve it. Likewise, providing a ‘conclusion’ at the end o each method is crucial in aiding the reader to com-pletely discern what the author is trying to transmit and to impart.

Te author becomes eﬀective when he is not stingy in sharing his ideas. He must have a child-like attitude wherein he is very eager, proud and generous in passing on to the readers all his knowledge and understanding accumulated through many years o competing. And it would be impressive i he is also ex-perienced in chess writing and teaching.

Most authors are ocused on emphasizing the importance o knowing and un-derstanding basic and general principles to achieve success. However, readers must be constantly reminded and enlightened that exceptions to the rules or out o the box concepts are essential as well. A good example here is the ‘Te Bad Bishop’ perception which Estratios propounds in his excellent book ‘Gri- vas Method - Middlegame Strategies’.

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When all these ingredients mentioned above are present - and you augment it with spicy tidbits about great players, composers, anecdotes, recollections, puzzles, memorable events etc. - then a complete recipe or a good, yummy and worth-reading chess book is served. And this book is it.

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�. Advanced Chess School: Volumes �-�; Estratios Grivas; FIDE ��-�� . British Chess Magazine; Various Contributors; BCM ��-��

�. Chess Analytics: raining with a Grandmaster; Estratios Grivas; Russel Enterprises ��

�. Chess College �: Strategy; Estratios Grivas; Gambit �� . Chess College �: Pawn Play; Estratios Grivas; Gambit �� . Chess College �: echnique; Estratios Grivas; Gambit �� . Chess Curiosities; im Krabbe; Allen & Unwin Ltd ��

�. Chess Expertise Step by Step. Volume �: Unexpected actics; Estratios Grivas; Chessbase ��

�. Chess Expertise Step by Step. Volume �: Mastering Strategy; Estratios Gri- vas; Chessbase ��

��. Chess or igers; Simon Webb; Oxord University Press ��

��. Chess oday (Internet Newspaper); Alexander Baburin; ��-�� . ChessBase Mega Database; Various Contributors; ChessBase �� . Inormator; Various Contributors; Inormator ��-��

��. Learn rom the Legends; Mihail Marin; Quality Chess �� . My System; Aaron Nimzowitsch; Hays Publications ��

��. New In Chess (Magazine & Yearbook); Various Contributors; Interchess BV ��-��

��. Secrets o Modern Chess Strategy; John Watson; Gambit �� . Te Middlegame; Euwe / Kramer; Hays Publications �� . Wikipedia — Various Articles; Wikipedia ��

Te above sources were my main help and guide while writing this book. I would like to thank the (rest) o the authors or their contributions to chess literature and the chance they gave to all chess players to become better. Wiki-pedia was quite helpul too!

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A BACKWARD

PROBLEM

Modern backward pawns are not con-sidered as bad as, let’s say, �� years ago. Modern approaches and meth-ods are very much concerned with the so-called ‘activity’ measure.

As long as the possessor o a back-ward pawn can preserve an elastic and potentially- active position, his de�cit is not that important, as the opposing side cannot ‘concentrate’ on it.

A good strategy is to exchange pie-ces, preserving only those that could be useul in pressuring the backward pawn. In this case, the backward pawn side will hardly �nd any activ-ity, while passivity is something that they will have to live with!

Well, this o course doesn’t guaran-tee a win, but mostly a pleasant, non-dangerous, middlegame or endgame. Let’s examine some cases with a backward black d-pawn:

▷ Karpov Anatoly ▶ Gheorghiu Florin Moscow �� .c� c� �.f� f� �.c� e� �.g� b� �.g� b� �.�-� e� �.d� cxd� �.xd� d� �.b� �-� ��.d� bd� ��.b� a� �

r+ w

q t

rk+

+l+nv

lpz

pp

pz

p z

pps

n +

+ + + +

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Q + +

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N +Nz

P

Pv

L +Pz

PLz

P

t

R +R+ m

K

� � � � � � � a b c d e f g h ��.e�!?

An interesting set-up. White plans to play d� and then get his queen on the diagonal.

��...b�

Not bad, but more ‘logical’ is ��...c� ��.d� xg� ��.xg� e� ��.g�

_{� ��.}_ac� _{ac� ��.}_e� _xe�

��.xe� b� ��.a�+= imman,J-Lobron,E Brussels ��.

SURVEYS

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14 GRIVAS METHOD: MIDDLEGAME STRATEGIES

��.d� xg�

��...e� ��.h� xg� ��.xg� b�+ ��.g� ab� ��.ac� e�, as in Anelli,A-Szmetan,J Buenos Aires ��, seems to be more accurate.

��.xg� b�+

Te text allows White a pleasant endgame and I eel that Black should go or something like ��...e� ��.�

_{b� ��.}_d� _{d� ��.e� d� ��.exd�}

exd� ��.e�+= Rubinetti,J-Szmetan,J Quilmes ��. ��.f�!xf�+ ��.xf�fc� ��.d� _{ab� ��.}_ac� �

t

rr+ +k+

+ +nv

lpz

pp

pz

p z

pps

n +

+ + + +

+Ps

N + +

+Ps

N + z

P

Pv

L +Pz

PKz

P

+ t

RR+ +

� � � � � � � a b c d e f g h

Exchanging queens simply means that there will be less tactics on the board, which emphasises permanent weaknesses, such as the backward black d-pawn. O course White has just a slight (but nearly permanent) advantage, and Black is airly still in the game.

��...h� ��.e�e�?!

A passive retreat. ��...e� is more to the point.

��.f� f� ��.f�b�

Logical was ��...�! when White should avoid ��.e�? dxe� ��.xe�+

_e�

��.a�! bc� ��.ce�!

ime or regrouping!

��...c� ��.d� g� ��.c� g� ��.e�! Te direct ��.g�?! ails to ��...g�!= �

+r+n+k+

+ t

r +pv

l

pz

p z

pp+pz

p

+ s

n + +

+P+Pz

P +

v

LP+ s

NKz

P

P+ t

RN+ z

P

+ t

R + +

� � � � � � � a b c d e f g h ��...f�?!

Te text doesn’t add anything to Black’s cause. More logical was ��... b� ��.h� h� ��.g� hxg�+ ��.hxg�+=

��.exf� gxf� ��.h�! h� ��.g�!

Preparing an assault on the kingside.

��...f�

Another passive approach. Black needs to become active, so ��...b� was essential: ��.g� hxg�+ ��.hxg� xg�+ ��.xg� bxc� ��.bxc�+=

��.g�! hxg�+ ��.hxg� fxg�+ ��.xg� _{f� ��.}_g�

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SURVEYS ON MIDDLEGAME STRATEGY 15 �

+r+nm

k +

+ + +rv

l

pz

p z

pp+ +

+ s

n + +

+P+ z

PR+

v

LP+ s

NKs

N

P+ t

R + +

+ + + +

� � � � � � � a b c d e f g h ��...a�

��...e�!? looked better and surpris-ingly allows Black to stay in the game: ��.g� � ��.x� x� ��.b� (��. _{e�+!? ex� ��.}_x�+ _{� ��.}_xd� _{� ��.}_xg� _{xg� ��.}_{xb�+=) ��...} _{cd� ��.b�}_{e� (��...}_{c� ��.}_e�_� ��.�+=) ��._e� _{c� ��.}_{xc� dxc�} ��.e�+= ��.g� e�?! �

+r+n+ +

+ + m

krv

l

z

p z

pp+R+

z

p s

n + +

+P+ z

P +

v

LP+ s

NKs

N

P+ t

R + +

+ + + +

� � � � � � � a b c d e f g h

But this is really bad. Also unsatis-actory was ��...�?! ��.xg�! xg� (��...xg� ��.xd�) ��.h�+ g� ��.x� x� ��.h� or ��...c�?! ��.d� (��.h� c� ��.�) ��...e� ��.xc� dxc� ��.e� d� ��.� but good was ��...e�! ��.g� g�! ��.xe� x� ��.e�+=

��.f�! f�

��...ex� loses to ��.d�+ d� ��.xb�.

��.xf� xf� ��.e�! f�?!

Although not pleasant, Black had to opt or ��...e� ��.xc� bxc� ��.h� a� ��.e� �

+ + t

r +

+ + m

k v

l

z

p z

pps

n +

z

p s

n +P+

+P+ + +

v

LP+ s

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P+ +R+ +

+ + + +

� � � � � � � a b c d e f g h ��.xc�!

Decisive, and better than ��.xe�?!

_{xe� ��.}_e�+ _{d� ��.}_xe� _xe�

��.xg�+ d� ��.��

��...bxc�

��...dxc� ��.xe� g�+ ��.e�+

_e�

��.e�+-��.fxe� xe�

��...g�+ ��.e�+ e� ��.e� � ��.

e�+-��.ef�+ e� ��.xe�

O course bad was ��.xe�?

_{x�+ ��.}_g� _{e�= but ��.}_xe�+ _{e� ��.}_e� _{x�+ ��.}_x� _x�

��.e�+- was also winning.

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16 GRIVAS METHOD: MIDDLEGAME STRATEGIES ▷ Suba Mihai ▶ Nicholson John Malaga �� .c� f� �.f� c� �.c� e� �.g� b� �.g� b� �.�-� e� �.d� cxd� �.xd� d� �

rs

n w

qk+ t

r

z

pl+ v

lpz

pp

z

p z

pps

n +

+ + + +

+Pw

Q + +

+ s

N +Nz

P

Pz

P +Pz

PLz

P

t

R v

L +Rm

K

� � � � � � � a b c d e f g h

A well-known position in the popu-lar ‘Hedgehog’ set-up.

�.g�

In general I like White’s potential set-up. Exchanges that will support the centre and avoid a uture ...b� or ...d� advances.

�...a� ��.xf� xf� ��.d�

��.� was chosen by M.Carlsen: ��...�-� ��.d� e� ��.e� xe� ��.xe� a� ��.d�+= Carlsen,M-Gashimov,V Wijk aan Zee ��.

��...a� ��.ad� e� ��.d�

Another idea is ��.e� �-� ��.e� a� ��.d� d� ��.d�+= Korchnoi,V-Atlas,V Ptuj ��. ��...xg� ��.xg� c� �

s

nq+k+ t

r

t

r + v

lpz

pp

pz

p z

pp+ +

+ + + +

+Ps

N + +

+ s

NQ+ z

P

Pz

P +Pz

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+ +R+R+

� � � � � � � a b c d e f g h ��.f�

A quite interesting idea, aiming at weakening e� or gaining the d�-square.

��...c�

��..._{c�?! ails to ��.�! e� (��...}_c�

��.xc� xc� ��.xe� xe� ��.e�) ��.b� xc� ��.d� d� ��.� Nikolic,P-Ribli,Z Novi Sad ��.

��.f� �-� ��.xc� xc� ��.f� c� ��.b� �

+ + t

rk+

+ t

r v

lpz

pp

pz

pqz

pp+ +

+ + +P+

+P+ + +

+Ps

NQ+Rz

P

P+ +P+Kz

P

+ +R+ +

� � � � � � � a b c d e f g h ��...b�

Worse is ��...d�?! ��.xe� xe� ��.e� d� ��.cxd� exd� ��.b�! (��.

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Freisler,P-SURVEYS ON MIDDLEGAME STRATEGY 17

Panchenko,A Berlin ��) ��...cd� ��.xd�

��.a�

White must stop ...b�.

��...bb� ��.e� be�?

A aulty tactical ‘solution’. Te alter-native was ��...d� ��.h�+=

��.fxe�f� ��.e�

White gets the advantage anyway, but he should seriously consider here: ��.ex�+ x� ��.� or ��.d�

_{xe� ��.}_xb� _{xe�+ ��.}_� _x�+

��._x�

��...xe� ��.xe� xe� ��.xf�+ gxf� ��.f� �

+ + t

rk+

+ + +p+p

pz

p z

prz

p +

+ + + +

P+P+ + +

+P+ +Rz

P

+ +Pm

K z

P

+ +R+ +

� � � � � � � a b c d e f g h

White has much the better ending, as Black is ull o weak pawns.

��...fe� ��.d� f� ��.fd� e� ��.d�! g� ��.a�

Creating a urther weakness!

��...b� ��.�d�e�

Black couldn’t stand the passive ��... bxa� ��.xa� a�

��.xd� xa� ��.d�+e�?!

Black doesn’t like passivity, but sometimes it is the only solution. Black had to opt or ��...� ��.d�+ (��.a�g� ��.dd�� ��.db�) ��...xd� ��.xd�+ e� ��.b�

_{�+ ��.}_{e� b� ��.}_b�+_{e� ��.}_a�

��.a�

Even better was ��.g�!c� ��.�d�+

_{e� ��.}

�+-��...a�?!

��...�+ ��.e� e�+ ��.d� a� ��.ad�, was the only chance.

��.e�+! Winning material. ��...f� ��.xf� g� ��.ee� b� ��.g�+f� �

t

r + + +

+ + t

R t

Rp

pz

p + z

p +

+ + +k+

+P+ + +

+P+ + z

P

t

r +Pm

K z

P

+ + + +

� � � � � � � a b c d e f g h ��.f�!

And a mating net is created!

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18 GRIVAS METHOD: MIDDLEGAME STRATEGIES ▷ Tiviakov Sergei ▶ Anand Viswanathan Baden Baden �� .e� c� �.f� d� �.b�+ d� �.d� cxd� �.xd� a� �.xd�+xd� �.c� e� �.d� h� �.c� f� ��.�-� e� ��.a� Also possible is ��.d� c� ��.b�

_{c� ��.a� �-� ��.}_a�+=

Fressinet,L-Kolbus,D Germany ��. �

r+ w

qk+ t

r

+p+lv

lpz

p

p+ z

p s

n z

p

+ + z

p +

P+P+P+ +

+ s

NQ+N+

z

P + z

PPz

P

t

R v

L +Rm

K

� � � � � � � a b c d e f g h ��...b�

A highly dubious choice according to S.iviakov.

��.b� a�

Another try is ��...c� ��.a� a� ��.d� xd� ��.cxd� d� ��.d� b� ��.axb� xb� ��.c�+= Gdanski,J-Koch,J Arnhem ��.

��.d� c� ��.a�d�

A backward pawn position — typi-cal o the ‘Sicilian Deence’ — is on the board. But this is quite unpleas-ant or Black, and while he is in no immediate danger, nor does he have any active prospects.

�

+lw

qk+ t

r

+ +rv

lpz

p

pz

p z

p s

n z

p

+ + z

p +

P+P+P+ +

v

LPs

NQ+N+

+ + z

PPz

P

t

R +R+ m

K

� � � � � � � a b c d e f g h ��.d�

White is heading his knight to d� (d�-�-e�); typical o such pawn structures. ��...�-� ��.f� b� ��.e� e� ��.cd� xd� ��.xd� xd� ��.xd� �

+ w

qr+k+

+ +rv

lpz

p

pz

p z

p + z

p

+ +Qz

p +

P+P+P+ +

v

LP+ + +

+ + z

PPz

P

t

R +R+ m

K

� � � � � � � a b c d e f g h

White has exchanged many pieces, but the ones lef are all quite useul to him, so he holds a nice advantage.

��...a� ��.xa� xa� ��.d� f� ��.ad�ad� ��.g�!

Another typical idea in such posi-tions. White cannot win by just press-ing one weakness; Black will deend it. He needs to create urther

(19)

weak-SURVEYS ON MIDDLEGAME STRATEGY 19

nesses in other part o the board and start moving his pieces around them. Tis is what we call the ‘Rule o the wo Weaknesses’! ��...g� ��.f� �

+ t

r +k+

+ +rv

l +

pz

p z

p

+ +Rz

p z

p

P+P+Pz

P +

v

LP+ + z

P

+ + + z

P

+ +R+ m

K

� � � � � � � a b c d e f g h ��...gxf�?

Black’s last not only doesn’t solve any o his problems, but it opens up the g-�le or White. Black’s serious lack o space and mobility means that he cannot switch rom one side to the next as quickly as his opponent. Had he lef it to White to exchange, then it would have been the -�le opened, and it would be ar easier to keep con-trol o both.

��.gxf�f� ��.f� exf� ��.f�e� �

+ t

r + +

+ +rv

l +

pz

p z

pkz

p z

p

+ +R+ +

P+P+Pz

p +

v

LP+ +K+

+ + + z

P

+ +R+ +

� � � � � � � a b c d e f g h ��.c�!

Te bishop will attack both d� and h� rom the excellent �-square.

��...c� ��.xf�f� ��.h�!

Another excellent and typical idea. argets must be �xed, so will h�! Also, a strong outpost will be created on g�.

��...c� ��.h� b� ��.e� b� ��.d�c� ��.g�g� ��.g�f� ��.e�

And White wins material...

��...d�? �

t

r + + +

+ +r+ v

l

pz

p z

pkz

pRz

p

+ +R+ +P

P+P+P+ +

+P+ v

LK+

+ + + +

� � � � � � � a b c d e f g h

Missing a shot that White also missed with the time-control ap-proaching.

��.f�?!

Te spectacular ��.e�! would have won on the spot, but ortunately or the Dutch GM, this does not squander the win: ��...� (��...dxe� ��.xd�

_{xd� ��.}_{xg�++-) ��.ex�} _{� (��...} _{x�? ��.}_{�!) ��.}_{xh� and the end}

is near.

��...f� ��.g� f� ��.xh� _{xh� ��.}_xh� _{g�+ ��.}_f�!

(20)

��.g�? would be a blunder: ��...

_{xg�+ ��.hxg�} _{g� ��.}_h� _h�+

��.g�g�=

��...f� ��.a�!

Opening up urther weaknesses to overwhelm Black’s pieces.

��...g�

��...bxa� is no help: ��.e�! dxe�+ ��.xe�+! � ��.�! e� ��.xa�

_{a� ��.}_e�+_{� ��.} �+-��.axb� b� ��.b�xb� �

+ + t

r +

+P+ + +

p+ z

pkz

p t

R

+ + +R+P

+P+Pm

K +

+r+ + +

+ + + +

� � � � � � � a b c d e f g h

��.e�! dxe�+ ��.xe�+ d� ��.f� _{e� ��.}_h�_{d� ��.}_d�!

Black resigned due to ��...xd� ��.cxd�+ xd� ��.� c� ��.h�.

�-�

CONCLUSION

Selective exchanges help the pressure against a backward pawn. Its posses-sor should certainly try to avoid them.

DOMINATION

Chess is a game o domination. From our very �rst moves we try to domi-nate the opponent, the development, the centre, the pieces’ placement and so on.

We try to get better positions than our opponent and in the end to cash in the ull point by precise, dominat-ing play.

Complete domination means that we can nearly do what we like and that our opponent is helpless, no mat-ter how hard he is trying!

Well, that’s too good to be realised in every game, but rom time-to-time we might be able to achieve complete domination!

Domination is the dream o every chess player. He would love to be able to play simultaneously in every part o the board and simply be better eve-rywhere. Tis might happen some-times; no counterplay by our oppo-nent — nothing to ear.

Dominated actors can be met in every stage o the game, even pawn-less endgames! We will start with some studies o the amous chess composer Genrikh Kasparyan, but �rstly I eel that we should know a bit more about him.

Genrikh Kasparyan (�� February �� in bilisi — �� December �� in Yerevan) is considered to have been one o the greatest composers o chess endgame studies.

Outside Armenia, he is better known by the Russian version o his name

(21)

SURVEYS ON MIDDLEGAME STRATEGY 21

Genrikh Moiseyevich Kasparyan or Kasparian.

Genrikh Kasparyan became a na-tional master in �� and an interna-tional master in ��. He was award-ed the titles o International Judge o Chess Compositions in �� and International Grandmaster o Chess Composition in ��, the �rst com-poser to receive this title rom FIDE.

Genrikh Kasparyan was also an ac-tive chess player, winning the Arme-nian championship ten times (rom �� to ��, including two ties with uture World Champion igran Pet-rosian) and the i�is championship three times (��, ��, and ��).

He reached the USSR Championship �nals our times (��, ��, �� and ��), but never �nished higher than tenth place.

Genrikh Kasparyan is best known or his compositions. He started with chess problems, mainly three-movers, but soon discovered that his best �eld was in endgame studies.

He wrote several books and collec-tions and composed about �� stud-ies, many on the theme o domina-tion, winning �� rst prizes. He won the USSR Composing Championship several times. Study � Kasparian Genrikh ��  �

+ + t

r m

k

+ + + +q

+ + + +

+Qt

R + +

+ +K+ +

� � � � � � � a b c d e f g h

Te material is so limited and most players would think that the draw is near. But here the side to move domi-nates the game and it is White’s turn!

�.b�+!

Nothing else works. �._{c�+? ails to}

impress afer �...g�! �.h�+ h�! (�...g�? �.g�+-) �.c�+ g� �.h�+ g� �.c�+�!= Te main concept o the queen’s movement is to co-operate with her rook in certain variations.

�...g�

�...g� loses to �.g�+� �.b�+.

�.h�+ g� �.a�+!

White’s queen operates harmoni-ously rom the �nd_rank!

�...f�

�...� �.g�+- is a sad story...

�.g�+! g� �.d�+ f�

(22)

�.g�+ h� �.e�+!

and White mates!

�...h� �...h� �.e�+ ; �...� �.h�+. �.e�+ h� �.h�+ h�+ ��.xh�# �-� Study � Kasparian Genrikh ��  �

+ + t

r m

k

+ + w

qr+

+ + + +

+Q+ + +

t

R + + +

+ + +K+

t

R + + +

� � � � � � � a b c d e f g h

Adding an extra rook or both sides makes the right to the �rst move even more important; domination is in sight...

�.h�+!

�.h�+? oﬀers nothing afer �...h� �.xh�+ (�.d�+g� �.g�+g�=) �...xh�! (�...xh�? �.h�+ g� �.d�+ � �.g�+ � �.a�+!+-) �.h� �+! �.g� �+=

�...h�

�...g� loses to �.g�! and next moving the king to the h-�le!

�.c�+!

As in the previous study, the queen should co-operate with her rook on the same rank, so wrong would be �.d�+? g�=

�...g�

�...g�+ loses to �.xg�+ xg� �.a�+.

�.g�+ g� �.b�+!f�

I �...�, then �.a�+ h� �. b�++-�

+ + t

rk+

+ + +qt

r

+ + + +

+Q+ + t

R

+ + +K+

t

R + + +

� � � � � � � a b c d e f g h �.a�! xb� Nothing is changed by �...xg�+ �. xg�++-�. gxg�+ h� �.h�+ g� �.ag�# �-�

O course domination is easier when material is increased.

(23)

SURVEYS ON MIDDLEGAME STRATEGY 23 Study � Kasparian Genrikh ��  �

+ + t

rk+

+ +R+ +

Rz

P + t

r +

+ + + +

+ + z

p +

+ + + +

+ + +K+

+ + + +

� � � � � � � a b c d e f g h

Here the �th_{rank domination by the}

white rooks is rather important. Te white king is more �exible and this actor leads to the win.

�.aa�!

Full domination!

�...f�+ �.f�!

White must be careul, as wrong would be �.�? h�! �.b� � �.g�+ _{h� �.}_� _{h�+! �.}_{g� �}_{+ �.}_x� _{hx� �.b�} _{xb� �.}_x�= �...g� �...h� now loses to �.b�! (�.g�+? _{h� �.b�} _{h�+ �.}_e� _{e�+ �.}_d� _{d�+=) �...}_{h�+ �.}_{g�! (�.}_e�? _{b�! �.}_{a� �=) �...� (�...}_{g�+ �.}_h� � �.b� � �.b�+ h� �.h�#; �...b� �.a�) �.g�+ h� �. �!+-�.b� g�+ �.f�!

Precise! Again �.e�? doesn’t help: �...e�+ �.d� b� �.g�+ h� �.h�+g�.

�...f�

Afer �...b� White wins by �.a�

_{b�+ �.}_� _{b�+ �.}_{g�! � �.}_x�+ _{x� �.}_g� _{e� ��.}_c�. �

Grivas Method Middlegames Strategy

GRIVAS METHOD

GRIVAS METHOD

MIDDLEGAME

MIDDLEGAME

STR

STR

A

A

TE

TE

GIES

GIES

TABLE OF CONTENTS

KEY TO SYMBOLS

A BACKWARD

PROBLEM

r+ w

q t

rk+

+l+nv

lpz

pp

pz

p z

pps

n +

+ + + +

+Pw

Q + +

+Ps

N +Nz

P

Pv

L +Pz

PLz

P

t

R +R+ m

K

SURVEYS

t

rr+ +k+

+ +nv

lpz

pp

pz

p z

pps

n +

+ + + +

+Ps

N + +

+Ps

N + z

P

Pv

L +Pz

PKz

P

+ t

RR+ +

+r+n+k+

+ t

r +pv

l

pz

p z

pp+pz

p

+ s

n + +

+P+Pz

P +

v

LP+ s

NKz

P

P+ t

RN+ z