JOIN USControlling open files is crucial, especially choosing the ones to control when you have an option. Many a times a player is left wondering whether to attack from an open file or try to defend from an open file or a semi-open file.
In the game which follows, White decides not to attack from the open rook file but tries to control his opponent’s pawns with his rook. Thereafter another mistake in not exchanging the queen’s leads to White’s defeat.
White: Vladimir Kramnik (2625) – Black: Joel Lautier (2580)
Pamplona , 1992
Slav Defence
1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.c4 c6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 Bf5 6.e3 e6 7.Bxc4 Bb4 8.0–0 Nbd7 9.Nh4
White can think about 9.Qe2 Bg6 10.h3
9. ..Bg6 10.Be2 a5
If 10...Rc8 11.g3 0–0 12.Nxg6 hxg6 13.Qb3 Qb6 14.Rd1 Rfd8 And if 10...0–0 11.Nxg6 hxg6 12.Qc2 Qe7
11.Nxg6 hxg6. Black has not castled yet and would like to open up the rook file
12.Qc2 Qc7 13.g3
If 13.h3 g5 with the intention of advancing g4.
13...e5 14.Rd1
If 14.dxe5 Qxe5
14...Rd8. If 14...0–0 15.dxe5 Qxe5 (15...Nxe5 16.f4 Ned7 17.e4)
15.Bf3. If 15.Na2 Bd6 And if 15.Bc4 Kf8 Bd2 Re8. 15. .. 0–0
If 15...exd4 16.exd4 (16.Rxd4 Ne5) 16...0–0 (16...Nb6 17.Bf4 Qd7 18.Qe2+) 17.Bf4 Qb6 (17...Bd6 18.Nb5) 18.Be3
16.Na2. If 16.Bg2 exd4 17.exd4 (17.Rxd4 Ne5 with the idea Qb6=) 17...Nb6 18.Bf4 Qd7 19.Na2 Bd6 20.Bd2 Ra8
16...Bd6. If 16...Be7 17.Bd2 exd4 18.exd4 Nb8 (18...Rfe8 19.Nc1 ) 19.Nc1 Na6 20.Nb3 Nb4 with more or less a balanced game
17.dxe5. If 17.Bg2 exd4 18.Rxd4 Nc5. White can also think of 17.Bd2 Rfe8
17...Nxe5 18.Bg2. White can even think of 18.Be2 Rfe8
18. ..Be7. Worth a look is 18. ..g5 19.Bd2 g4 20.Bc3 Rfe8
19.Bd2 Nd5 20.Qb3. White can play 20.h3 with the idea 20.h3 f4
20...Nb4. A good move!
21.Nxb4 axb4 22.Be1
If 22.Bxb4 Qb6 23.Qc3 Qxb4 24.Qxe5 Bf6
22...c5 23.Qc2 c4 24.Bd5 Rd7 25.Rac1
If 25.Kg2 Rfd8 26.e4 Bc5
25...Rfd8 26.e4
If 26.Bxc4 Qc6 (26...Rxd1 27.Bxf7+ Kxf7 28.Qxc7 Nf3+ 29.Kf1 Nxe1 30.Rxd1 Rxd1 31.Ke2 Rb1 32.Qxb7) 27.Bb3 (27.Rxd7 27...Nf3+ 28.Kf1 Nxh2+ 29.Kg1 Nf3+ 30.Kf1 Qxd7 31.Kg2) 27...Nf3+ 28.Kf1 Nxh2+ 29.Kg1 Nf3+
26...Qa5 27.Rb1. Not exactly the right move! Better appears27.h4 Bf6 28.Kg2 Kh7 29.Ra1Rc7 or even 27.Kg2 was better
27...Bf6. Black could have thought about 27. ..g5 And if 27...b3 28.Qc3
28.Kg2 b3 29.Qe2. If 29.Bxa5? 29...bxc2
29...Qxa4
White has lost a pawn and Black’s advanced pawns on the queen flank could prove dangerous
Diagram 1
30.Rbc1. A mistake! If 30.Ra1 Qb5 31.Ra5 Qb6 32.Ra4
30...Qa7. A good move! . If 30...b5 31.Ra1
31.Bc3 b5
Black is better now!
32.Bxe5 Bxe5 33.h4
If 33.Rd2 Qc5 34.Rcd1
33...Qc5 34.Rd2 Rxd5 35.exd5 Rxd5 36.Rcd1 Rxd2 37.Rxd2 Qc6+ 38.Kh2
White should have used this opportunity to exchange queens and fight it out for a draw. Now Black is in a commanding position
38. ..Bf6 39.h5 gxh5 40.Qxh5 b4 41.Rd5 g6 42.Qf3
If 42.Qd1 c3
42...Kg7
If 42...c3 43.Rd8+
0–1
Diagram 2
Black to play and win
1... Rh4 2.Rxh4 Bxg2+ 3.Ke2 Qe5+ and Black wins.
0–1