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In this issue, Dorian Rogzenco begins a new series on fortresses in which one side has two connected extra pawns whilst the bishops are of opposite colours. The first motif you will encounter here is fairly straightforward to understand. Specifically, the fortress looks like this:
White’s extra pawns are on the fifth rank along the c- and d-files, and the black pieces have occupied the fortress squares c7 for the king and e7 (or f8) for the bishop. This position is simply a draw because White cannot make any progress. In Response to 1.c6, Black could, for example, establish a black-square blockade with 1...Bd6. After 1.d6+, Black sacrifices his bishop for the two pawns with 1...Bxd6. And should White, for example, interpose a waiting move such as 1.Bb5, Black can counter this with 1...Bf8 (only this move maintains the fortress, as it keeps control over the d6-square and also keeps an eye on the pawn on c5). It is also important to note that the fortress only works if the pawns are still on the fifth rank. If the pawns had already advanced to the sixth rank, the defender would be lost! If the extra pawns have been moved to other files, e.g. the d- and e-files, the way the fortress works remains unchanged.
An important practical tip is for the defender to wait until both extra pawns have reached the fifth rank before taking up the fortress position. If one of the pawns is still on the fourth rank, the attacking king has additional options – as in this position from the Lammers–Dinstuhl game (Bundesliga 2016):
Black played 1...Bg7 – a logical and good move that keeps an eye on the lagging pawn. The aim is to tempt White into advancing the pawn to the fifth rank – the game ended quickly in a draw. 1...Be7 would also have been correct, but Black must not allow himself to be lured into simply shuffling his bishop back and forth between e7 and f8 – as if the fortress had already been built! Otherwise, after 2.Bb5 Bf8 3.Kd5 Be7 4.Ke6, White can force this position:
The obvious 4...Bf8 now loses due to 5.Kf7 Bh6 6.d5 Bf4 6.Ke6! ...
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The new format of the pdf allows selected theory articles and analyses by renowned authors to be presented in full. This issue features, amongst other things, opening articles on the Slav Marshall Gambit 4.e4 dxe4 5.Nxe4 Bb4+ 6.Bd2 Qxd4 7.Bxb4 Qxe4+ and the Barendregt Variation 1.d4 g6 2.c4 Bg7 3.e4 d6 4.Nc3 c5!? 5.d5 Bxc3+. You can also look forward to in-depth analyses by Le Quang Liem and Anish Giri! And there’s plenty of space in this beautifully laid-out pdf-file for the presentation of ChessBase Magazine’s wide range of training columns. From opening videos and ‘Practical Tips for the Tournament Player’ to a detailed guide on how to build this issue’s ‘Fortress’ – you’ll find all this in issue #233!
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