JOIN USBeginners generally tend to exchange the pieces at the slightest chance in the hope that these exchanges would somehow prevent their opponents from exercising checkmates. At times it may work but while exchanging bishops and knights, there are possibilities that this decision could go haywire.
In the game which follows, Black rather surprisingly decides to exchange his light squared bishop for a knight. Reaction is swift and it is instructive to see how White capitalises on the white square weakness to bring home the point after sacrificing his exchange.
White: Mikhail Kozakov (2426) – Black: Andrei Maksimenko (2495) Lvov, 2000Sicilian Defence1.e4 c5The Sicilian Defence2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.f4Aggressive continuation6. ..e6 7.Qf3 Qb6 8.Nb3 Qc7 9.g4White makes the game interesting with aggressive advances by pawns on the King-side9. ..b5. Black reciprocates on the queen-side10.g5 Nfd7. If 10. ..b4 11.gxf6 bxc3 12.Qxc3 Qxc3+ 13.bxc3 gxf611.Bg2. Here White had options like 11.Be3 or 11. a3 or 11.Bd311...Bb7. Black also fianchetto’s his bishop but he can also think about 11. ..b4 or 11. ..Nc612.0–0. If 12.a3 g6 13.h4 Bg7 14.h5 Rg8 15.Bd2 Nc5 16.hxg6 hxg6 17.Nxc5 Qxc5 18.0–0–0 Nd7 19.Qd3 resulted in a victory for white in a previous game12...Nc6 13.Qh3. If 13.f5 b413. ..b4. If 13...Be7 14.g6 fxg6 15.Qxe6 Nd8 16.Qh3 b4 17.Nd5 Bxd5 18.exd5 Qxc2 19.Re114.Ne2 e5. Black does not want White’s knight sitting at the centre. If 14...Be7 15.c315.c3. Interesting decision. If 15.a3 bxa3 16.Rxa3 Nb415...a5 16.cxb4. If 15.fxe5 Ncxe5 16.Nf4 Be7 And if 15...bxc3 16.Nxc3 Ne7 17.Be316. ..axb4. If 16...a4 17.b5 (17.Na5 Nxa5 18.bxa5 Rxa5 19.Nc3) 17...Nb4 18.Nd2 Qb6+17.Be3 Ba6. If 17...h6 18.Rfc1 Nc518.Rf2
Diagram 1
18. ..Bxe2. Black suddenly decides to trade off his strong bishop for a knight which white would be only glad to exchange. He could have considered18...Nc5 19.Nec1 exf4 20.Bxf4 Ne619.Rxe2 exf4If 19...Be7 20.f520.Bxf4 Nde5If 20...Nce5 21.Nd4 Qc4 22.Qe3 Rxa2 23.Rc1 Qa6 24.Rec2 Ra1 25.Bf1! Rxc1 26.Qxc1 with advantage for White21.Rc2White can also think of 21.Rc121. ..Qb6+This check doesn’t help. He could have developed his bishop with 21. ..Be7 22.g6 fxg6 And if 21...Qb7 22.Rac122.Be3 Qb7Another wrong move by the queen! Though the position is difficult for Black he can play more boldly with 22. ..Qb523.Rac1 Be7The bishop finally enters the game but it is too late! If 23...Rxa2 24.Rxc6 Nxc6 25.e5 Ra6 26.Na5 Qd7 27.Bxc6 Rxc6 28.Qxd7+ Kxd7 29.Nxc6 And if 23...Ra6 24.Nd4+ And if 23...Ne7 24.Rc7 Qb5 25.Bf1 Qb8 26.Ba624.Rxc6. A tactical stroke! White sacrifices his rook for the knight and the white square weakness is very apparent now!24...Nxc6 25.e5Unmasking the long white diagonal where White’s bishop is sitting pretty25. ..d5If 25...Rc8 26.Na526.Bxd5 Ra6 27.Na51–0
Diagram 2
Black to play and checkmate1. .. Nf8 2.Bc4White has no choice but to move the bishop2. ..Ng6+ 3.Kh7 Rh8#