Jeroen Bosch:

Pawn Chain and Kingside Attack

Concept
In the ninth chapter of his classic My System
(Mein System) Nimzowitsch writes on the
pawn chain. To simplify his ideas for our
purposes let's limit ourselves to two
important points:
1. The pawn chain dictates where each side
should attack. in the diagram the chain d4
e5 dictates that White has more space on the
kingside - so this is where he should attack.
2. Pawn chains should be attacked at their
base (not at the front). The second point is
outdated to some extent as John Watson has
argued convincingly in his Secrets of
Modern Chess Strategy. In modern chess it
is very common to attack the front of the
chain (which is often a lot easier and quicker
to execute) rather than the base.
In the course of this article we will
investigate a particular middlegame position
of the kind as given in the diagram.

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wq-trk+0
9zpp+nvlpzpp0
9-+-+p+-+0
9+-+pzP-+-0
9-+-zP-+-+0
9+-+-+N+-0
9PzP-vL-zPPzP0
9tR-+Q+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
The positions are dictated in the centre by a
pawn chain d4e5 versus e6d5, and two
pairs of minor pieces have been exchanged.
We will only investigate positions where the
light-squared bishops have been exchanged
(or are about to be exchanged). Although,
White's attacking potential has been
FIDE Surveys Jeroen Bosch

diminished by the trade of two minor pieces

we will see that the first player nevertheless
often obtains a dangerous attack by
involving his queen and a rook (along the
third rank). Sometimes it is possible to
slowly advance the pawns on the kingside as
well.
In general, Black should have sufficient
counterchances to keep a dynamic balance,
although his role of defender is slightly more
difficult. In the conclusion I will list the
defensive principles.
The practical use of studying this type of
middlegame is rather high in my opinion.
These positions arise quite frequently out of
very different opening systems: - Sicilian 3.
Bb5+ - Slav Defence, the Dutch Variation Caro-Kann Advance (or the similar structure
of the French Advance, but this is less
common). - Reti Opening And it isn't limited
to these openings of course; in one of our
examples our study object even arose out of
a classical Queen's Indian!
Anand V. : McShane L.
London 2013

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wq-trk+0
9zpp+nvlpzp-0
9-+p+p+lzp0
9+-+pzP-+-0
9-+-zP-+-zP0
9+-zP-+-zP-0
9PzP-+-zPLsN0
9tR-vLQtR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
This is a noteworthy moment. Black appears
to be quite all right in this position. Anand
decides to exchange the light-squared
bishops (thus eliminating an important
defender). Note that White's so-called 'good
1

bishop' is biting on granite (the pawn chain

b7c6d5) here, while Black's 'bad bishop' is
outside the pawn chain controlling the
queenside and defending his own king. Note
that in this example the c-pawns are still on
the board (they will soon disappear).
15.Bf1! c5 16.Bd3
Please note that Anand does not interpolate
h4h5. 16.h5 Bh7 17.Bd3 Bd3 18.Qd3.
16...Bd3 17.Qd3
The pawn chain dictates the course of the
play here. The head of the chain (pawn e5)
gives White space on the kingside which is
where he will attack. Black's pressure on the
base of White's chain and the d5pawn mean
that Black will play on the queenside (and
against pawn d4).
17...cd4 18.cd4
Now a structure has arisen of the type that
we study in this article.

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wq-trk+0
9zpp+nvlpzp-0
9-+-+p+-zp0
9+-+pzP-+-0
9-+-zP-+-zP0
9+-+Q+-zP-0
9PzP-+-zP-sN0
9tR-vL-tR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
18...Qa5
18...Rc8 planning ...Qb6 and ...Nb8c6 is
normal in such positions. But White has a
clear target in the form of pawn h6.
19.Be3
19.Bd2 Bb4 and White will lack fire power
on the kingside. He needs his dark-squared
bishop.
19...Rfc8 20.Qe2 Qa6
Hoping to trade queens or to bring the queen
to the kingside via the key square d3.
FIDE Surveys Jeroen Bosch

20...Rc6 21.Qg4 Kf8! was a very decent

alternative, and Black should be fine.
21.Qg4!? Kh8?!
21...Kf8! was correct as Speelman pointed
out in NIC Magazine 2014/1 (pp.4445).
22.Red1, to prevent 22...Qd3, meets with
(best is perhaps 22.Qe2 Qe2 23.Re2 but only
Black can be better.) 22...Rc2 23.Rd2 and
now either 23...Rac8 keeping all the pieces
on (or 23...Rd2 24.Bd2 Qb5 (24...Qd3)
25.Bc3 Bb4 when White's attacking pieces
are exchanged).
22.Qh5 Kg8
After 22...Rf8 White also sacrifices a piece
with 23.Bh6! (23.Ng4 Qd3! the black queen
can often defend via the diagonal b1h7
24.Rad1 Qg6 25.Qg6 fg6=) 23...gh6 24.Qh6
(24.Re3 Kg7 25.Ng4 Rh8; 24.Ng4 Qd3!)
24...Kg8 25.Re3! (25.Ng4 Qd3; 25.Rad1
Qc4) 25...Qa4 (25...Qb6 26.Rf3 Qb2 27.Rf4
Qa1 28.Kg2 f5 29.Qe6 Kh8 (29...Rf7?
30.Rf5 Raf8 31.Ng4 Qc1 32.Rf7 Rf7 33.Nh6
Qh6 34.Qh6+) 30.Qe7 and White is a rook
down, but with such a king Black cannot
survive: 30...Nb6 31.Ng4! fg4 (31...Nd7!?
32.Nf6 Nf6 33.ef6 Rg8 34.Rf5 Qd1 35.Qe5
and mate will follow) 32.Rf8 Rf8 33.Qf8
Kh7 34.Qf5 Kg8 35.Qg4 Kf8 36.Qf4 Ke8
37.e6+ the passed e-pawn decides the
game.) 26.Rf3 Qc2 (26...Qd4? 27.Rf4+)
27.Rc1 Qb2 and now the prophylactic
28.Kg2!! which prepares Rf4 and wins. Best
was 22...Bb4!? 23.Bh6 (23.Qf7 Be1 24.Re1
Rc7; 23.Rec1 Kg8; 23.Red1 Kg8) 23...gh6
24.Ng4 (24.Qh6 Kg8 25.Ng4 Qd3+)
24...Qd3!
23.Bh6!
23.Qg4 Kf8!
23...gh6 24.Ng4!
24.Re3 Kg7.
24...Bf8 25.Re3
Just in time to keep out the queen and to add
fire power to the attack.
25...Rc4
Here 25...Rc2 26.Rf3 Qe2 27.Rf7 Qg4 fails
to 28.Rf8 Speelman.
26.Rd1
2

Objectively it was stronger to play 26.Rf3

Rd4 27.Nh6 Bh6 28.Qf7 Kh8 29.Qh5 Rg4!
30.Ra3! Qb6 31.Rb3 Qa6 (31...Qd4 32.Qh6
Kg8 33.Qe6 Kh8 34.Rd3!! (34.Qd7? Rag8!
35.Qf5 Rg3 36.Kf1 Qc4 37.Ke1 Rg1 38.Kd2
Qd4 39.Ke2 Qc4+=) 34...Qd3 35.Qg4 is a
typical line of the engine. White is better. He
has sufficient pawns for the piece, and
Black's king is not safe.) 32.Qg4.
26...Qb6?
This loses. 26...Rc2! 27.Rf3 Qe2! 28.Qf7
(28.Rf1 Qf3 29.Nh6 Bh6 30.Qf3 Rac8 is OK
for Black) 28...Kh8 29.Rf1 Bg7 30.Nh6!

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+-+-mk0
9zpp+n+Qvl-0
9-+-+p+-sN0
9+-+pzP-+-0
9-+-zP-+-zP0
9+-+-+RzP-0
9PzPr+qzP-+0
9+-+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
30Rf8 (Black can probably draw with
difficulty after 30...Bh6 31.Qh5 Qd2 32.Rf4!
Kg7! (32...Nf8 33.Qh6 Nh7 34.Qe6) 33.Rf7
Kh8 34.Rd7 Rg8) 31.Qh5 Rf3 (31...Qf3
32.Nf7 Kg8 33.Qf3 Rf7 34.Qb3 Rc7 35.f4)
32.Nf5 Kg8 33.Ne7 Kf8 34.Ng6 Kg8
35.Ne7+= is a draw by repetition.
27.Rf3!
Now White is winning easily.
27...Rd4 28.Rd4 Qd4 29.Rf7 Qd1 30.Kg2
Qg4 31.Rf8! Rf8 32.Qg4
And the rest is simple.
32...Kf7 33.Qa4 Rd8 34.h5 Nf8 35.Qf4 Ke8
36.Qh6 d4 37.Kf1 Rd5 38.Qf6 1:0

FIDE Surveys Jeroen Bosch

Jones G. : Gelfand B.
London 2013

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+-trk+0
9zpp+qvlpzpp0
9-+n+p+-+0
9+-+pzP-+-0
9-+-zP-+-+0
9+-+-+N+-0
9PzP-vL-zPPzP0
9+-tRQtR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
Again the pawn chain dicates that White
should play on the kingside. Jones now
comes with a standard attacking ploy: the
rook lift.
14.Rc3! Rac8 15.a3 Nb8!? 16.Rd3!
Preserving the rook for the attack.
16...Qb5
In NIC Yearbook 110 (pp 29-30), Joel
Benjamin indicates 16...Qc6 as stronger. His
point is that after 17.Rc3 the queen retreats
to d7 (And in case of 17.Bc3 White keeps
the queenside closed for the moment, but he
will also miss his bishop for the attack along
the dark squares on the kingside.) 17...Qd7
and in case of an exchange of rooks, White
will lack firepower on the kingside (He
misses out on the rook switch along the third
rank).
17.Rb3 Qc6
After 17...Qa6 White also gets dangerous
chances with 18.Ng5! h6 (18...Bg5 19.Bg5
Nd7 20.Qg4) 19.Nh3! Nc6 20.Rg3 (20.Bh6
gh6 21.Rg3 Kh7 22.Qc2 Kh8 23.Qd2 Kh7 is
only a draw) 20...Nd4 (20...Kh8 21.Qh5!
Nd4 22.Rg7!+) 21.Bh6 Nf5 22.Bg7 Ng3
23.Bf8 and White will be a pawn up.
18.Ng5 Bg5
18...b6? is met by 19.Nh7! Kh7 20.Qh5+
Kg8 21.Rh3 the rook switch along the rank
3

wins: 21...f5 22.Qh7 Kf7 23.Rg3 Rg8

24.Bh6 and wins, as after 24...Bf8 White
mates: 25.Qg6 Ke7 26.Bg5 Kd7 27.Qf7 Be7
28.Qe7#.
19.Bg5
White is much better - queen, rook and
bishop combine well against Black's
unweakened kingside.
19...Nd7
19...b6 20.Rg3 Kh8 21.Qh5 Qc2 22.Bf6!
(22.Bh6) 22...gf6 23.Qh6+ Qg6 24.Rg6 fg6
25.Rc1+.
20.Qg4!
Curiously, there was a predecessor up until
now. It seems that Gelfand was not fully
prepared for this line.
20...f5
A good practical chance. Black can defend
on the kingside with 20...Qc2, but not
without simply losing a pawn. 21.Rb7;
20...Kh8 has been played, but after 21.Qh5!
White has a very strong attack (22.Rh3 is the
big threat again) 21...b6 (21...f6? 22.Rc3! an important intermediate move to distract
Black's queen from its defensive task (22.ef6
Nf6 23.Bf6 Rf6 is only slightly better for
White; 22.Rh3 is met by 22...Qc2!) 22...Qa4
23.b3 preventing the ...Qc2 idea.
a) 23.ef6 Nf6 24.Bf6 also wins, but
Degraeve's move is very human 24...Rc3
(24...gf6 25.Qh6! Qe8 26.Rc8 Qc8 27.Re6!)
25.Bg7 Kg7 26.Qg5 Kf7 27.bc3;
b) 23.Rc8 Rc8 24.ef6 Nf6 25.Bf6 gf6 and it's
a pity that pawn d4 is hanging, this is why
Degraeve interpolates 23.b3 Qa5 24.b4 with
tempo (the queen no longer attacks pawn
d4).; 23...Qa5 (if 23...g6 then 24.Qh6! Qd4
25.ef6 Nf6 26.Rc7!+) 24.b4 Rc3 (in case of
24...Qa4 White does have 25.Rc8 Rc8 26.ef6
Nf6 27.Bf6 gf6 and now that d4 is not
hanging 28.Qf7 just wins a pawn and the
game.) 25.ba5 fg5 26.Qg5 Rf7 27.Rc1 Ra3
28.Qe7! a neat back rank combination to end
the game, 1:0, Degraeve : Areshchenko,
Germany 2007) 22.Be7 Qc2 23.Rg3 Rg8
24.Qf7 and Black has lost the base of his
pawn chain.
FIDE Surveys Jeroen Bosch

21.Qh4
21.ef6 Nf6 22.Qe6 Qe6 23.Re6 h6 24.Be3
Rf7 was a line given by Speelman; 21.Qh5.
21...Rfe8

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+r+r+k+0
9zpp+n+-zpp0
9-+q+p+-+0
9+-+pzPpvL-0
9-+-zP-+-wQ0
9zPR+-+-+-0
9-zP-+-zPPzP0
9+-+-tR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
22.Bf6! Nf8 23.Bg7! Kg7 24.Qf6 Kg8
25.h4! Rc7?!
Black can still defend with 25...f4! 26.Qf4
Re7 27.Rg3 Rg7 28.Rg7 Kg7 29.Qf6 Kg8
30.Re3 Ng6 31.Rg3 (31.h5? Rf8 32.Qg5 Rf5
33.Qh6 Qc2 34.Kh2 Rf2 35.Rg3 Qd2
36.Qd2 Rd2 37.hg6 should be a draw but
only Black is playing.) 31...Rf8 32.Rg6 hg6
33.Qg6=.
26.Rg3 Ng6 27.h5 Rf8 28.Qg5
White wins back the piece with an
advantage.
28...Rg7 29.Rc1 Qb6?
Tougher was 29...Qd7 30.hg6 Rg6 31.Qf4
Rg3 32.Qg3 Qg7 33.Kh2!?.
30.hg6+ Rg6 31.Qh4 Rg3 32.Qg3 Kh8
33.Qh4 Qd8
The exchange of queens brings no relief
here. In the rook ending White controls the
open c-file and enters the seventh rank
decisively.
34.Qd8! Rd8 35.Rc7+ Rg8 36.Rb7 Rg4
37.Ra7 Rd4 38.b4 Rd1 39.Kh2 d4 40.b5 d3
41.Rd7 d2 42.a4 Kg8 43.a5 Rb1 44.b6 d1Q
45.Rd1 Rd1 46.b7 1:0.

Sanduleac V. : Ftacnik L.
Calvia (ol) 2004
I just briefly want to mention this
theorectically important game for the
defensive idea that it illustrates so well.
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5 Bd7 4.Bd7 Nd7
5.00 Ngf6 6.Qe2 e6 7.c3 Be7 8.d4 cd4
9.cd4 d5 10.e5 Ne4 11.Nbd2 Nd2 12.Bd2
Qb6 13.Qd3
We are not concerned with the opening of
course, but here we have our familiar
structure. It is noteworthy that Black first
prevents the exchange of the dark-squared
bishops with:
13...h6!
13...00 14.Bg5!
14.Rfc1 00 15.Qc3

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+-trk+0
9zpp+nvlpzp-0
9-wq-+p+-zp0
9+-+pzP-+-0
9-+-zP-+-+0
9+-wQ-+N+-0
9PzP-vL-zPPzP0
9tR-tR-+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
White is not in time to attack on the kingside
ans switches his attention to the c-file.
Ftacnik's next move is important to
remember.
15...Nb8!
Excellent, Black regroups to attack the base
of the pawn chain (and next he can also
oppose on the c-file).
16.b4
16.Qc7 is logical, but brings nothing after
16...Bd8! 17.Qc8 Bg5 18.Qc2 Be7 19.Qc7
Bd8 20.Qc8 and now Black justifiably
FIDE Surveys Jeroen Bosch

decided to play for a win with 20...a6!? was

Mikheev : Loskutov, Smolensk 2000.
16...Nc6 17.Rab1 Rac8
Black is comfortable. White won blundered
with:
18.b5?
18.Qd3.
18...Ne5!+ 19.Qc8 Nf3 20.gf3 Rc8 21.Rc8
Kh7 0:1.
Huebner R. : Osieka U.
Altenkirchen 1999

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+rwq-trk+0
9zpp+-+pzp-0
9-sn-+p+-zp0
9+-+pzP-+Q0
9-+-zP-+-zP0
9vlP+NvL-zP-0
9P+-+-zP-+0
9+R+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
In this example White attacks with pawns
rather than solely with his pieces.
21.Qg4
The sacrifice on h6 does not bring anything
for the moment: 21.Bh6!? gh6 22.Qh6 Re8
23.b4 (23.Nf4 Bf8) 23...Qe7 24.Rb3 Nc4
25.Nf4 Qf8 26.Qf6 Qg7! (26...Qe7?! 27.Nh5
(27.Qh6 Qf8) 27...Qf6 28.Nf6 Kg7 29.Ne8
Re8; 26...Bb4? 27.Qg5! Qg7 (27...Kh8
28.Rb4 Qb4 29.Qh6 Kg8 30.Nh5+) 28.Qg7
Kg7 29.Rb4; 27.Nh5 Qg6 28.Qg6 fg6
29.Nf6 Kf7 30.Ne8 Re8= 31.Rd1 b5 and if
32.Rdd3 then 32...Bb2).
21...Kh7 22.Qe2
Huebner decides that there is nothing
concrete yet on the kingside (knight and
rook are unable to join the attack). So he
plays more slowly, eventually preparing an
advance of his kingside pawns.
5

22...Qc7 23.Rbd1
To answer 23...Qc2 with 24.Rd2.
23...Nd7 24.h5 Rce8?!
Too passive (Black aims for ...f6 at some
point) but it is illogical to remove the rook
from the c-file even though there are no
points of entry at the moment. The rook
restricts White in his activity (the queen is at
the moment bound to defend the second
rank). Stronger were 24...Nb8 or 24...Qc3.
25.Kg2 a6 26.g4!?

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+rtr-+0
9+pwqn+pzpk0
9p+-+p+-zp0
9+-+pzP-+P0
9-+-zP-+P+0
9vlP+NvL-+-0
9P+-+QzPK+0
9+-+R+R+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
Either preparing f4f5 or simply g4g5 to
force entry into Black's fortress.
26...f6
26...Nb8 27.f4 Nc6 28.f5; 26...Rc8 27.g5!?
hg5 28.Bg5 Rh8 29.h6 is already quite
dangerous 29...gh6? 30.Rh1+.
27.Bf4
27.f4 f5 is still unclear; 27.Bc1! Bc1
(27...Be7 28.Nf4 Qb6 29.Ng6) 28.Rc1 Qb6
29.ef6 Rf6 30.Qe3.
27...Qd8?!
27...fe5 28.Be5 Ne5 29.Ne5 Kg8 was more
stubborn, White's position is more
comfortable.
28.ef6 gf6?!
28...Nf6 29.f3.
29.Bd2 Rg8?!
29...f5! keeps White's advantage in check.
30.Nf4 f5 31.Ng6 Bd6 32.Qe3
Best was perhaps 32.Rde1 Qf6 33.Qd3!?
FIDE Surveys Jeroen Bosch

32...f4?
Correct was trading queens with 32...Qg5!
33.Qg5 hg5 34.Bg5 Nf8! 35.Bf4 Bf4 36.Nf4
Rg4 37.Kf3 Kh6 38.Rg1.
33.Qd3 Kg7 34.Nf4+
White is a healthy pawn up and has kept all
his positional advantages. The remaining
moves were:
34...Kf7 35.Ng6 Nf8 36.Qf3 Qf6 37.Ne5
Be5 38.de5 Qf3 39.Kf3 Nd7 40.Rfe1 Kg7
41.Kg3 Rc8 42.Re2 Kh7 43.Rc1 Rc1
44.Bc1 Rc8 45.Bb2 Nc5 46.f3 Nd3 47.Bd4
Rc1 48.Rd2 Nb4 49.f4 Nc6 50.f5 Nd4
51.Rd4 Re1 52.fe6 Re5 53.Kf4 Re6 54.Rd5
Re7 55.Rd6 Rf7 56.Ke5 Rg7 57.Rd4 Rg5
58.Kd6 Rb5 59.Kc7 Kg7 60.Rd6 Rb4
61.Rg6 Kh7 62.g5 hg5 63.Rg5 b5 64.Kb6
Rh4 65.Ka6 b4 66.Kb5 Kh6 67.Rf5 1:0.
Mamedyarov S. : Carlsen M.
Baku 2008

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+r+-+k+0
9+q+n+pzpp0
9pzp-+p+-+0
9+-+pzP-vL-0
9-vl-zP-+-zP0
9+-+Q+-zP-0
9PzP-+NzPK+0
9tR-tR-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
Just to indicate the relevance of studying this
structure - in this game the opening was a
classical Queen's Indian!
20.h5 h6 21.a3!?
21.Bd2.
21...Bf8 22.Bd2 Rc1 23.Rc1 Rc8
Black correctly tries to trade all the rooks,
but Mamedyarov does not comply of course.
24.Rf1!
Excellent this prepares the advance f4f5.
6

Black cannot obtain sufficient counterplay

along the c-file.
24...b5 25.f4 Qc6 26.Rc1 Qb7 27.Rf1 Qc6
28.Qf3
Mamedyarov avoids the repetition.
28...Qb6
This is a mistake, Black should overprotect
d5. 28...Nb6! 29.f5 ef5 30.Qf5 Qe6 was
correct. After 31.Qf3 Qd7 (31...Rc2!?
32.Bc3 Nc4 33.Qd3 Qg4 looks very
dangerous, but White preserves some edge
with 34.Kf2! Qe4! (34...Rb2!? 35.Bb2 Nb2
36.Qf3 Qf3 37.Kf3 Nc4 38.Ra1 Ba3 39.Nf4
a5 40.Nd5 Bb2 41.Rd1 a4 42.Ke4 and the
ending is better for White) 35.Qe4 de4
36.Rc1 Rc1 37.Nc1) 32.Rf2.
29.f5! ef5 30.Bc3!?
30.Rf2!? Qe6? 31.Nf4; 30.Qf5 Qe6
31.Qf3 Nb6.
30...a5?

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+r+-vlk+0
9+-+n+pzp-0
9-wq-+-+-zp0
9zpp+pzPp+P0
9-+-zP-+-+0
9zP-vL-+QzP-0
9-zP-+N+K+0
9+-+-+R+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
Best was 30...Qc6 although White has a
pleasant choice 31.g4!? (31.Qf5; 31.Ba5!?
planning Nc3).
31.Ba5!
A nice sacrifice, 31.Qd5 also gives an edge.
31...Qa5 32.Qf5 Qd2
32...Rd8? 33.Qf7 Kh7 34.Nf4 Qd2 35.Kh3
Qd4 36.Qg6 Kg8 37.Ne6+.
33.Qf7 Kh8 34.Rf2! Rd8?
The decisive mistake, although Black is also
in a bad way after 34...Ne5! 35.Qe6 Rd8
FIDE Surveys Jeroen Bosch

36.Qb6 (36.Qe5 Bd6 37.Qd5 Qb2).

35.Qd5+ Qa5 36.Nf4 Qa8 37.Ng6
Carlsen resigned because of the line 37.Ng6
Kh7 38.Qa8 Ra8 39.Rf7+ Rd8? 40.Rd7
Rd7 41.Nf8 Kg8 42.Nd7 1:0.
Vachier Lagrave M. : Wang Hao
Wijk aan Zee 2011

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wq-trk+0
9+p+-vlpzp-0
9p+n+p+p+0
9zP-+pzP-+-0
9-+-zP-+-+0
9+-+-+-+Q0
9-zP-vL-zPPzP0
9tR-tR-sN-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
A finale complex example between two top
players. There is no mistake here the
opening was a Slav Defence (Dutch
Variation), where the white-squared bishops
have been exchanged on g6, and Black has
been forced to take back with the h-pawn
(often he will prefer to take back with the fpawn to avoid an attack along the h-file).
Vachier Lagrave first improves his queen.
22.Qg4 Rc8 23.Nf3 Qd7 24.Bg5
Preparing 25.Qh4 and when he succeeds to
get his knight to g5, mate will follow. Wang
Hao defends correctly for the next few
moves.
24...Bb4 25.Qh4 Ne7
25...Na5 was possible, when Postny gives
the following complex line for chessbase:
26.Bf6 (Preparing Ng5.) 26...Rc1 27.Rc1 gf6
28.ef6 Rc8 (Just in time!) 29.Rc3! Rc3
(29...Bc3?? 30.Qh6) 30.bc3 Qa4! 31.g4 Qd1
32.Kg2 Nc4! and by a miracle Black's
counter attack is in time: (32...Bf8??
33.Ng5) 33.Ng5 Ne3! 34.fe3 Qe2 35.Kg1
7

Qe3 with perpetual check.

26.g4!
Guarding the f5square, saving White from
a possible future back rank mate, and quite
importantly: not blocking the third rank!

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+r+-trk+0
9+p+qsnpzp-0
9p+-+p+p+0
9zP-+pzP-vL-0
9-vl-zP-+PwQ0
9+-+-+N+-0
9-zP-+-zP-zP0
9tR-tR-+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
26...Rc1 27.Rc1 Rc8 28.Kg2
This seems to throw away the advantage.
28.Rd1 Qa4!; 28.Ra1 Nc6. In his analysis
Postny does not indicate 28.Rc3!! which is a
beautiful and strong idea: 28...Bc3 (28...Rc3
29.bc3 Ba3 30.Bf6! gf6 31.ef6 Bc1 32.Ng5
Bg5 33.Qg5 Nf5 34.gf5 Qe8 and now taking
on g6 gives a winning queen ending, but the
pawn ending after 35.Qh6 Qf8 36.Qf8 Kf8
37.Kg2 also wins for White and is therefore
cleanest. Best is 28...Nc6 29.Bf6! always
this move 29...gf6 30.ef6 Be7 31.fe7 Kg7
32.Ne5) 29.Be7 Bd2 30.Nd2 and in order
not to get mated Black can only transpose
into a lost ending with 30...Re8 31.Bc5 Qd8.
28...Nc6?
Black should have used the opportunity to
trade rooks - an essential defensive play.
28...Rc1 29.Bc1 Qc7 30.Ng5!? and now the
engines show that (30.Bf4 g5! 31.Ng5 Qc2
and once again Black is save when placing
the queen on this diagonal.) 30...Qc1 31.Qh7
Kf8 32.Qh8 Ng8 33.Nh7 Ke7 34.Qg8 is only
a draw after 34...Qf4 35.Qf8 Kd7 36.Qb4
Qg4 37.Kf1 Qd1 38.Qe1 Qh5! 39.Nf8 Ke8
FIDE Surveys Jeroen Bosch

and Black wins the knight when the queen

ending will end in a draw.
29.Rd1!
Vachier-Lagrave now keeps his rook and
prepares the familiar switch along the third
rank.
29...Ba5 30.Rd3 Nb4 31.Rb3! Qb5

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+r+-+k+0
9+p+-+pzp-0
9p+-+p+p+0
9vlq+pzP-vL-0
9-sn-zP-+PwQ0
9+R+-+N+-0
9-zP-+-zPKzP0
9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
32.Be7?
A tragic moment. After a well-played game
White misses a beautiful defensive idea. The
following moves all win: 32.Ng1 and Rh3
will follow or 32.Nd2 is similar or 32.Bf6 is
also good, as 32...Rc1 33.Ng5 Qf1 34.Kg3
Qg1 35.Kf4! and his majesty is safe or
32.Bd2, preparing Ng5. By the way, not
32.Ne1? Nc2 33.Rb5 Ne1 34.Kf1 ab5 and
Black might well have a fortress.
32...Nd3!!
A fantastic defence!
33.Rb5
Winning the queen, but a draw can only be
avoided by losing: 33.Ng5?? Nf4 34.Kg3
Qb3 35.Kf4 Bd2#; 33.Rd3? g5!! clearing the
b1h7 diagonal for the queen to defend!
(33...Qd3?? 34.Ng5+) 34.Ng5 (34.Rc3 gh4
35.Rc8 Kh7 36.Ng5 Kg6+) 34...Qd3 and
Black just wins.
33...Nf4 34.Kg3
White more or less has to accept the draw.

34.Kh1 Rc1 35.Ng1 Ne2 does not even look

like a winning try, although objectively the
result is still a draw: 36.h3 (36.Kg2?! Rg1
37.Kf3 Nd4 38.Ke3 Nb5 and only Black can
win, although 39.Bd8! Bb4 40.Bb6 Re1
41.Kf3 Re5 42.Qd8 Kh7 43.Qh4 is a human
way to draw the position.) 36...ab5 37.Qg5
Rg1 38.Kh2 Rb1 39.Qe3 Rb2 40.Qa3! Bc3
41.Qa8 Kh7 42.Qf8 Bd4 43.Bf6! (43.Qf7?
Be5+) 43...gf6 44.Qf7 with a draw by
perpetual.
34...Ne2 35.Kh3 Nf4 36.Kg3 Ne2 37.Kg2
Nf4
A lovely drawing mechanism, but a tragic
oversight for the French player .
Conclusion
We have studied the kingside attack in a
characteristic middlegame position with a
pawn chain d4e5 versus e6d5. In the
course of this article we were of course
limited by space. There are many more
examples in the database (or arising out of
your favourite opening) to study. I would
like to single out one, particularly complex
example in the diagram position.

XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-wqr+k+0
9zpp+n+-zpp0
9-+-+p+-+0
9+-+pzPpsN-0
9Pvl-zP-zP-+0
9+-+QvL-+-0
9-zP-+-+PzP0
9tR-+-+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy

Levitov's book From London to Elista. The

position is of a more blocked nature (owing
to ...f5). Topalov (as White) eventually
broke through on the kingside by advancing
his pawns and sacrificing material. The
Bulgarian player lost, but only after mistakes
by both players in an extremely complex
position.
On the whole we have seen in the games that
we studied that it is slightly easier to attack
than to defend. White usually attacks with
pieces, often breaking through by means of a
piece sacrifice (for example 23.Bh6 in
Anand : McShane, and 23.Bg7 in Jones :
Gelfand). White needs to keep at least one
pair of rooks, often for a rook switch along
the third rank, but sometimes also to support
a pawn advance (for example in
Mamedyarov : Carlsen).
Black should in principle be able to defend
and we have seen several important
principles:
- the defender can trade queens/pieces,
- the king may run away (21...Kf8! in the
note to Anand : McShane).
- the queen defends via the diagonal b1h7
- counterplay via the c-file and specifically
by entering the second rank (for example
26...Rc2! in the note to Anand : McShane),
- trading rooks along the c-file (16...Qc6! in
note to Jones : Gelfand),
- attacking the base of chain to keep White
occupied (15...Nb8! in Sanduleac : Ftacnik).

This is the second game from the match for

the World Championship between Kramnik
and Topalov (Bonn, 2006). You may find
this game with extensive notes by Marin in
the chessbase Megabase, or in Bareev's and
FIDE Surveys Jeroen Bosch