The Winning Academy 17: Fast or slow?

by Jan Markos
1/31/2023 – Time is important when playing chess. The time that the players have on the clock, but also the dynamic pieces and pawns develop during the game and that dictates whether to play fast or slow. Jan Markos knows how to use such dynamics to your advantage. | Photo: Michael Hofmann, Kitzingen., CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

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When playing a game of chess, you should be sensitive to two different forms of time. There is the time remaining on your clock that decides how quickly you should take your decisions.

But there is also another form of time: the pace of the chess game itself. In some positions (we usually call them "tactical") the position transforms quickly and abruptly, and the chess time flows swiftly, as a spring running down in a mountain slope. In another positions (we usually call them "strategical") plans of both sides unfold in a slow, steady pace. The time flows naturally and steadily, as a river in a mountain valley. And there is also a third type of positions (we call them "fortresses") the chess time seems to stop, and the game resembles a frozen lake. No real change is taking place.

However, things might become even more interesting. Sometimes White wants the game to evolve quickly, whereas Black would prefer a calmer pace. And sometimes Black plays extremely slowly, because he knows that White cannot improve his position at all, and all he can do is sit, grind his teeth, and wait.

It is a subtle art to be able to decide whether you should speed up the matters on board, or whether you should rather prefer an unhurried approach. Fast or slow? Decide for yourself in the following four diagrams!

***

Let us start:

Kasparov-Petrosian, Bugojno 1982, White to move:

 

 

White is dominating all over the board. All his pieces are excellent, whereas Black is only half-developed. Therefore, most of club players would try to find some fireworks to end up the game quickly and in style.

However, a direct win is difficult to find. Petrosian is passive but solid. Therefore, Kasparov decided for a different approach that is both slow and delicate.

White played 21.a3!, stressing that Black has absolutely nothing to do. Petrosian answered with a meaningless 21…Kg7 and Kasparov played 22.b3!. White’s plan is simple: to push a3-a4-a5, chasing the b6-knight away. And he can afford to be slow, as Black is almost immobile, fully dominated.

No fireworks needed. Black resigned a few moves later. Please remember: If your opponent has no way to improve his position, your slow play is extremely unpleasant for him.

Here's the complete game:

 
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1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Bb4+ 4.Bd2 Qe7 5.g3 Bxd2+ 6.Qxd2 0-0 7.Bg2 d5 8.0-0 dxc4 9.Na3 c5 10.dxc5 Qxc5 11.Rac1 Nc6 12.Nxc4 Qe7 13.Nfe5 Nxe5 14.Nxe5± Nd5 15.Rfd1 Nb6 16.Qa5! g6 16...f6 17.Nc4 Nxc4 18.Rxc4 +- 17.Rd3! Nd5 17...Rd8 18.Qc5! Qxc5 19.Rxd8+ Qf8 20.Rxf8+ Kxf8 21.Rc7+- 18.e4 Nb6 19.... f6 20.4 4 21.4 b6 22.3 6 18...Qb4? 19.Rxd5 19.Bf1! Re8 19...f6 20.Nc4 Bd7 21.Nxb6 axb6 22.Qxb6 Bc6 23.a3 +- 20.Rdd1! Rf8 20...f6 21.Nc4 Bd7 22.Nxb6 axb6 23.Qxb6 Bc6 24.Bb5! Bxb5 25.Qxb5+- 21.a3! Kg7 22.b3 a4-a5 +- Kg8 23.a4 Rd8 24.Qc5! 24.Qc5! Qxc5 24...Qe8 25.Ng4! 25.Rxd8+ Qf8 26.Rxf8+ Kxf8 27.Rc7 1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Kasparov,G2640Petrosian,T26051–01982E11Bugojno6

 

***

In the following example, the situation is very different.

Carlsen-Nakamura, Moscow 2013, White to move:

 

Carlsen is an exchange up, but his king is far in the corner, his rook has little to do and almost all his pawns are vulnerable on white squares. Moreover, Black has three forceful methods of counterplay: to attack the b3 pawn, to organize the c5-c4 break and to move his king to d6. The World Champion understood that he has no time to slowly improve his pieces. The position needs a radical, swift action.

Therefore, he played 36.d6!, activating his bishop and depriving the Black king a safe road to the centre. The game quickly turned into a tactical skirmish, in which White had the upper hand.

Please remember: If your opponent has a clear plan that plays almost itself, you might want to radically change the character of the game. A bold action is called for!

Here's the complete game:

 
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1.c4 e6 2.g3 d5 3.Bg2 c6 4.Qc2 Nf6 5.Nf3 dxc4 6.Qxc4 b5 7.Qb3 Bb7 8.0-0 Nbd7 9.d4 a6 10.Ne5 Qb6 A rare and probably less accurate continuation instead of the main move 10...Nxe5 , examined in my survey in CBM 150. After that White sometimes sacrifices his e5-pawn obtaining a positional compensation (active pieces etc.). However, in future Black's queenside pawn advantage can become essential. Here are some recent games: 11.dxe5 Nd5 12.Nc3 Be7 13.Ne4 0-0!? is probably simpler: 13...Qc7 14.Nd6+!? 14.Bf4 Nxf4 15.gxf4 0-0 16.a4 Rad8 17.Rfc1 Rd4 1/2 (31) Ni Hua (2641)-Frolyanov,D (2555) Moscow 2012 14.Bg5 Bxg5 15.Nxg5 Qxe5 16.Ne4 0-0 17.Nc5 Qc7 18.Rfc1 Rad8 19.Qc2 Bc8 20.Nd3 Bb7∞ 1-0 (52) Bruzon Batista,L (2694)-Leitao,R (2623) Quito 2012 CBM 150 [Krasenkow,Michal] 14...Bxd6 15.exd6 Qxd6 16.Rd1 16.e4 Nb6∞ 16...Qe7 17.e4 Nb6 18.Qc3 0-0 19.b3 c5 19...Nd7 may be a bit more accurate 20.Qa5 Qc7 21.Bf4 e5 22.Be3 Rac8 23.Rac1 23.Bh3! Rcd8 24.f3 23...Nd7 24.Qxc7 Rxc7 25.Bh3 Bc8 26.Bxd7 Rxd7 27.Rxd7 Bxd7 28.Rxc5 f6= 1/2 (31) Maletin,P (2567)-Yudin,S (2546) Kirov 2012 14.Be3 14.Rd1 c5 15.a4 c4∞ 14...Nxe3 15.Qxe3 c5 16.Rac1 c4 16...Bxe4!? 17.b3 Qc7 18.bxc4 Qxe5 19.Nf6+ Bxf6 20.Qxe5 Bxe5 21.Bxb7 Ra7= 1/2 (25) Shyam,S (2484)-Vaibhav,S (2494) Kolkata 2012 11.Be3 c5 12.Nxd7 Nxd7 13.d5 e5?       A big positional mistake. 13...exd5 14.Bxd5 Bxd5 15.Qxd5 Rd8 15...Rc8 16.a4 b4 16...Be7 17.axb5 axb5 18.Nc3 - Black can't castle 17.Nd2 Nf6 18.Qe5+ Qe6 19.Qxe6+ fxe6 20.Rac1 Be7 21.Nc4 0-0 22.f3 Rfd8 23.Rfd1 1-0 (59) Smirnov,P (2599)-Zontakh,A (2556) Sochi 2012 16.a4 Be7 17.axb5 axb5 18.Nc3 0-0 19.b4 19.Qe4 19...Qf6 20.Nxb5 cxb4 21.Ra7 Nc5= 1/2 (44) Meier,G (2656)-Ponomariov,R (2764) Dortmund 2011 14.a4 Black will be forced to play ...b5-b4 or ...b5xa4 weakening his position. b4 14...Bd6 is even worse: 15.axb5 axb5 16.Rxa8+ Bxa8 17.Nc3 b4 18.Qa4!± If 14...c4 then 15.Bxb6 cxb3 16.Bc7 Bb4 16...Rc8 17.d6 17.axb5 axb5 18.Rxa8+ Bxa8 19.Rc1 0-0 20.Nc3± 15.Nd2 Bd6 16.Nc4 16.Rac1!? 16...Qc7 17.f4 17.Bh3!? Nf6 17...Bxd5 18.Rfd1 Bxc4 19.Qxc4 Nf6 20.Bg2± 18.Bg5 Bxd5 18...Nxd5 19.Rad1 h6 20.Bh4 18...Ne4 19.Bh4 19.Rfd1 Bxc4 20.Qxc4± 17...0-0 ≤17...exf4 18.Nxd6+ Qxd6 19.Bxf4 Qg6 20.Qe3+ 18.Rac1 exf4 18...Rae8!? 19.fxe5 Bxe5 may be more stubborn. 19.Bxf4 Bxf4 20.gxf4 a5 21.e4 Rae8 21...Ra6! was the only chance to put up resistance. If 22.e5 then or 22.d6 Rxd6 23.Nxd6 Qxd6 22...Rg6 22.e5+- White's pawns now just sweep Black's pieces away. Ba6 23.Rfe1 Kh8 23...Bxc4 was equally hopeless. 24.Nd6 Re7 24...Rd8? 25.Nxf7+ Rxf7 26.d6+- 25.Qe3 25.Qh3!? c4 26.Nxc4 Bxc4 27.d6 Qc5+ 28.Qe3+- ∆Ree8 29.Qxc5 Nxc5 30.Rxc4 Nxa4 31.Bc6 Rc8 32.d7 Rc7 33.Rd4! 25...Qd8 25...g5 26.Nf5 Ree8 26...gxf4 27.Qxf4 Rxe5 28.d6 Rxe1+ 29.Rxe1 Qd8 30.Re7+- 27.Qg3+- 26.b3! A good prophylactical move stopping ...c5-c4. g5 27.Kh1 27.Nf5 Ree8 28.Qg3+- was more energetic ∆Rg8 29.Nh6 27...Qb8 28.Qf2 gxf4 28...Bd3 29.Nb7! gxf4 30.Nxc5+- 29.Qxf4 Bd3 30.Re3??       A tactical oversight, however, not taken advantage of by Black. 30.Bh3! If Qa8 then 31.Rxc5! 31.Qf3 is also possible 31...Nxc5 32.Qf6+ Kg8 33.Rg1+ Bg6 34.Nf5 Qxd5+ 35.Bg2+- 30...Bg6?? 30...Rxe5! 31.Rxe5 Qxd6 32.Rf5 Qxf4 33.Rxf4 c4! , and the position becomes unclear. 31.Rf1? Again 31.Bh3 was winning 31...Rxe5! This is less effective than a move earlier but still creates serious problems for White. 32.Rxe5 Qxd6 33.Re8 33.Re3 deserved attention, not exchanging Black's passive rook. 33...Qxf4 34.Rxf8+ Kg7 35.Rxf4 Kxf8       35...Kxf8 TUTO 35...Kxf8 36.d6! Ne5 37.Bf1! Bc2 38.Bb5 f5 38...Bxb3 39.Rf5 f6 40.Rxf6+ Nf7 41.d7! Ke7 42.Rf5 Be6 43.Rxc5 , and White should win. 39.Kg2 c4? This miscalculation hastens Black's defeat. 39...Nf7 40.d7 Ke7 41.Rf2! Bxb3 42.Rxf5 etc. like in the previous annotation. 40.Bxc4 Be4+ 41.Kg3 Nxc4 42.bxc4 Ke8 Or else: 42...b3 43.Rf2 Bc2 44.Re2! b2 45.d7 b1Q 46.d8Q++- 42...Kf7 43.c5 ≤43.Rf2 Ke6 44.c5 Bc6 43...b3 43...Ke6 44.Rh4‼ b3 45.Rh6+ Kd7 46.Rxh7+ Kd8 46...Ke6 47.d7 47.Rh8+ Kd7 48.Rb8+- 44.Rf2 Bc2 44...Ke6 45.Rb2 Bc2 46.Kf4 h6 47.h3 h5 48.h4+- 45.d7 b2 45...Ke7 46.Rd2 Kd8 47.c6 46.d8Q b1Q 47.Qd7+ Kf8 48.Qd4 Qg1+ 49.Kh4+- 43.c5 Bc6 43...b3 44.Rf2 Kd7 44...Bc2 45.c6 b2 46.c7 Kd7 47.Rxc2+- 45.Rb2 Bc2 46.Kf4 Ke6 47.h3 h6 48.h4 h5 is not a reciprocal zugzwang as White can play 49.Kg5+- 44.Rxf5 Bxa4 45.Re5+ Kd8 46.Re7 Bc6 47.Rc7 47.Rc7 Bd5 48.c6 b3 49.Rd7+! Kc8 50.Rxh7 Bxc6 51.Rc7+ Kd8 52.Rxc6 a4 53.Rb6+- 1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Carlsen,M2864Nakamura,H27841–02013A13Moscow Tal Memorial 8th8

 

***

Let us have a look at a second example from Kasparov’s praxis:

Kasparov-Short, Sarajevo 1999, White to move:

 

Again, this position contains a certain danger for White. His c3-pawn is isolated, and Black wants to implant his knight to c4. After that, the positional advantage of Black would be very stable and difficult to tackle.

Therefore, Kasparov realised that he should act quickly. He did not waste time for an automatic castling and started to play powerful forcing moves instead. The game continued

13.Bg5! Qc7 14.Nb5! Qc5 15.c4! Qxc4 16.Rb1

The situation has changed. Now Black is a pawn up, but his queen is vulnerable and all White’s pieces are very active. Kasparov went on to score a fine victory.

Here's the complete game:

 
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1.d4 McShane Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nf3 c5 5.g3 After preferring Capablanca's 4.2 for a long time Kasparov returns to his old love, which has brought him the World title in 1985. He has tried it recently in a few blitz games, so it was only a question of time when it would appear in a tournament encounter. 0-0 5...cxd4 6.Nxd4 Ne4 7.Qd3 Qa5 8.Nb3 Nxc3 9.Bd2 Ne4 10.Qxe4 Bxd2+ 11.Nxd2 0-0 12.Bg2 Nc6 13.Qe3 13.Qd3!? 6.Bg2 cxd4 7.Nxd4 d5 8.cxd5 Already the K-K matches proved Black has no problems after 8.Qb3 Bxc3+ 9.bxc3 9.Qxc3 e5 10.Nb3 d4 11.Qa5 Qe8 12.Bg5 Nc6 13.Qa3 Qe6 14.Rc1 b6 15.0-0 Bb7 16.Bxf6 Qxf6 17.c5 Rfc8 18.Nd2 Nd8 19.Ne4 Qe6 20.b4 Rc7 21.Qa4 h6 22.Rc2 f5 23.Nd6 Bxg2 24.Kxg2 bxc5 25.bxc5 Nf7= ½, Boensch,U-Ftacnik,L/Munich/1993/ 9...Nc6! 10.cxd5 Na5 11.Qc2 Nxd5 12.Qd3 Qc7! 8...Nxd5 9.Bd2 Garri understandably refrains from 9.Qb3 Qb6 10.Bxd5 exd5 11.Be3 Bxc3+ 12.Qxc3 Qg6! 13.0-0 Nc6 14.Rfc1 Bh3 15.Qc2 Nxd4 16.Bxd4 Qe6 17.f3 Rfe8 18.Kf2?! Qh6 19.Qd3 Re7 20.Rc2 Rae8 21.Re1 Qh5 22.Kg1 Bf5 0-1,Kasparov,G-Kramnik,V/Moscow m 5'/1998/ 9...Bxc3 A theoretically important moment. What is more-a tempo or the Also playable is 9...Nxc3 10.bxc3 Be7 11.Rb1 a6!? 11...e5? 12.Rxb7 exd4 13.Rb3 Be6 14.Bxa8 Na6 15.Bf3 Bxb3 16.Qxb3 d3 17.Qc4 Nc5 18.0-0 dxe2 19.Qxe2 Bf6 20.Be3 Qc7 21.c4 Re8 22.Qc2 Rb8 23.Rb1+- Kasparov,G-Anand,V/Wijk aan Zee 5'/1999/ 11...Qd7 12.Bf4 Bf6 13.Nb5 a6 14.Qxd7 Nxd7 15.Nd6 Bxc3+ 16.Kf1 Bf6 17.Nxb7 Stohl,I-Aronian,L/Portoroz/1999/ 12.0-0 Qc7 13.Qb3 13.Qc2 Nd7 14.c4 Rb8 15.Bf4 e5 16.Nf5 Bc5 17.Be3 b6 18.Rfd1 Nf6 19.Bxc5 Qxc5 20.Ne3 Be6 21.Qa4 b5 22.cxb5 Rxb5= ½,Panzer,P-Ribli,Z/BL9192/1992/ 13...Nd7 14.Bf4 e5 15.Nf5 Bc5 16.Bg5 Nb6 17.Ne7+ Kh8 18.Nxc8 Raxc8 19.a4 Rb8 20.Rfd1 Nc4 21.Bd5 b5 22.axb5 axb5 23.Kg2 h6 24.Bc1 Ba7 Piket,J-Nielsen,P/Moscow olm/1994/ 10.bxc3 Nb6!? A rare move, which however has it's logic. The main struggle will take place on the where White's is already aimed. Black therefore wants to create on this part of the board, ×c4 is a welcome target. On the other hand Black loses time. More usual is 10...e5 11.Nb5 Currently the most topical move. Nc6 12.0-0 Be6 13.Bc1 a6 14.c4 Nb6 14...Nde7 15.Nd6 b6 16.Ba3 Ra7 17.c5 bxc5 18.Ne4! c4 19.Ng5 Qxd1 20.Rfxd1 Rc8 21.Nxe6 fxe6 Kasparov,G-Kramnik,V/Wijk aan Zee/1999/ 22.e3  15.Nd6 Nxc4 16.Nxb7 Qb6 17.Qb3 Qd4 18.Ba3 Nxa3 19.Qxa3 Qb4 20.Qxb4 Nxb4 21.Nc5 Bd5 22.a3 Bxg2 23.Kxg2 Nd5 24.Rfc1 Rfd8 25.Rab1 h6 26.a4 Nf6 27.Rd1= ½,Piket,J-Kortschnoj,V/Nijmegen m/1993/ 11.Be3!? This move is certainly more enterprising, than the stereotyped 11.0-0 e5 12.Nb5 Harmless is 12.Nc2 Nc6 13.Be3 Qxd1 14.Rfxd1 Na4! 15.Nb4 Nxc3 16.Nxc6 bxc6 17.Bxc6 Nxd1 18.Rxd1 Be6 18...Rb8 19.Bxa7 5 19.Bxa8 Rxa8 20.a3 a6 ½,Izhnin,A-Gurevich,V/UKR-ch sf/1986/ 12...Nc4 12...Nc6?! 13.Be3 7 13.Bc1 Nc6 14.Bd5 Nb6= 14...N6a5?! 15.Qd3 a6 16.Na3 Bf5 ½,Makarichev,S-Yudasin,L/Ivano Frankovsk/1982/ 17.e4 Nb6 18.c4 14...Be6!?∞ ≤11.Nb5?! Bd7 6 ≤11.Qb3?! e5 6 11...Nd5N 11...Nc4 12.Qd3 Nxe3 13.Qxe3 Nd7 14.0-0 ,1-a8,×b7 e5 15.Nb5 Qb6 16.Qxb6!? 16.Rab1?! Qxe3 17.fxe3 Nc5 18.Nd6 Rb8 19.Bd5 Be6 20.Bxe6 fxe6 21.Rb4 Rxf1+ 22.Kxf1 b6 23.Ke1 Rd8 24.Ne4 Nxe4 ½,Mochalov,E-Dydyshko,V/Minsk/1982/ 16...axb6 17.Nd6 11...N8d7 12.Qb3!? Nd5? 13.Bxd5 Nc5 14.Qc4 Qxd5 15.Qxd5 exd5 16.Nb5± 12.Qd2 ≤12.Qd3 Nd7 5,5 12.Bd2= is a move Kasparov would never play. 12...Nd7 b6 12...Nxe3 -11...4 13.Bg5! If White doesn't want to relinquish the initiative, hew must act fast. 13.c4 Nxe3 13...N5b6?! 14.Rc1 Ne5 15.c5 Nbc4 16.Qc3± 14.Qxe3 Compared to the position after 11...4 White has played c4 instead of 0-0, this eases Black's task. Qc7!? ≤14...Nc5 15.Nb3! 15.Rc1 15.0-0!? Qxc4 16.Rfc1 15...Nc5 16.0-0 16.Nb3 Nxb3 17.axb3 Bd7= 16...Bd7 17.Nb5 Qb6 13.0-0?! N7b6 13...Qc7 14.Nb5 14.Bxd5?! exd5 ע,c4 15.Nf5 Kh8!? 16.0-0 Qe5 14.e4 N5b6 14...Qxc3? 15.exd5 Qxa1+ 16.Ke2+- 14...Qc5 14...Qa5? 15.c4± 14...Qc4 15.Nd6 15.Rb1!? 15...Qc5 16.c4 Qxd6 17.cxd5 e5 18.0-0 15.c4!       A typical Kasparovian intuitive "stab". Less energetic is 15.Rb1 a6! ≤15...N7b6 16.e4 Nc4 17.Qd4 / 15...f6 16.Bf4!? 16.e4 Nxc3! 16...Nxf4 17.gxf4 and Black has problems with unravelling his 15...h6 16.c4!? 16.Bxd5 hxg5 16...exd5 17.Be3± 17.Bg2 6,6,4 16...N5b6 16...Qxc4?! 17.Bxd5 exd5 18.Nd6 7 17.Be3 Nxc4 17...Qf5 18.Qd3!± Nxc4? 19.Be4+- 17...Qxc4? 18.Rb4± 18.Bxc5 Nxd2 19.Bxf8 19.Rc1 Nxc5 20.Rxc5 Rd8 21.Rc2 Bd7 22.Na3 Rac8! saves the 19...Nxb1 20.Bb4 פb1 16.Bxd5 16.e4 axb5 17.exd5 Qc4! 16.c4? f6! 17.Nd4 fxg5 18.cxd5 e5 19.Nf3 g4 16...exd5 16...axb5 17.Bg2= 17.Be3 Qc4 18.Nd6 Qc6= 15...Qxc4 16.Rb1 5,7,6 N7b6 16...Nc5?! 17.Bxd5 exd5 18.Rb4! 18.Nd6 Qa4 19.Be7 Ne4 18...Ne4 19.Rxc4 Nxd2 20.Rxc8± 16...f6 17.Bf4!? ≤17.Nd6 Qc6 17.e4? fxg5 18.exd5 Nc5 17...N7b6!? 17...Nxf4 18.gxf4 Nb6 19.0-0 Bd7 19...e5!? 20.Nd6 Qa4 21.Rfc1!? 21.Rb4 Qa3 22.Nxb7 6 18.0-0 18.Bd6?! ץd6 Rd8 19.0-0 Bd7 20.Rfc1 Bxb5! 18...Bd7 19.Rfc1 19.Nd6 Qa6 20.Rxb6?! Qxb6 21.Bxd5 exd5 22.Qxd5+ Kh8 23.Nf7+ Rxf7 24.Qxf7 Be6 19...Qa4 20.Nc7 Rac8 21.Nxd5 Rxc1+ 22.Rxc1 Nxd5 23.Bxd5 exd5 24.Qxd5+ Kh8 25.Qxb7 Be6= /Despite being a pawn down black should be able to hold this position. 16...a6? 17.Bxd5! exd5 18.Nd6± wins an exchange. Interesting also is 16...N7f6!? 17.0-0 Ne4 18.Bxe4 Qxe4 19.f3 4 17.0-0 h6!? Brave, but probably the best. 17...f6?! 18.e4! fxg5 18...Ne7 19.Be3 19.Rfc1 d5 17...Bd7 18.Rfc1 Qa4 19.Nd6 h6 19...f6 20.e4! Ne7 20...fxg5 21.exd5 Qa3 22.Nxb7 exd5 23.Nc5± 3,5 21.Be3± with very strong pressure,e.g. Bc6 22.Bh3 20.Bxh6 20.e4 hxg5 21.exd5 exd5!?∞ 20...gxh6 Much more effective is the surprising 21.Bxd5! 21.e4 Qa3!? 21...Nf6 22.e5 22.Qxh6 Qd4 23.Rd1 Qxf2+! 23...Ng4 22...Nfd5 22...Ng4? 23.Rb4 23.Bxd5! 4,4 21...Ne7 22.Rc5!? 22.Qxh6 Qd4 22.e5 Qg4! 22...Rfc8 22...Rfd8 23.Qxh6 Be8 24.Rg5+ Ng6 25.Nxf7 Bxf7 26.Rxg6+ Bxg6 27.Qxg6+ 22...Kh7 23.Ra5 Nc4 23...Qc6 24.Rc1+- 24.Nxc4 Qxc4 25.Rc1!+- 23.Rh5 Ng6 23...Qc2? 24.Qxh6 Qxb1+ 25.Bf1+- 24.Qxh6 Be8 25.e5 22.e5 22.exd5 Qxd6 23.Qxh6 Qe5 22.Qxh6 Qxd6 23.Qg5+= 22...Kg7 23.Rb3 Qa6 23...Qa4 24.Bxd5 4,4 24.Bxd5!? Nxd5 25.Rc4 Ne7 25...f5 26.Rh4 Rh8 27.Rxb7 Nb6 27...Rad8 28.Nxf5+ exf5 29.Qxd5+- 28.Nxf5+ exf5 29.Rxb6!? Qxb6 30.Qxd7+ Kg6 31.Rc4 26.Rxb7 Rad8 27.Rcc7 Bc6 28.Rxa7 Qb5‼ 1,5,5 28...Qb6 29.Qc1 21...exd5 21...Nxd5? 22.Rc4 22.Rb4 Qa3 22...Qa6 23.Rh4 23.Rc7! Rfd8 23...Kh7 24.Rxd7 Nxd7 25.Nf5 Kg6 25...Qa6 26.Rh4 26.Qxh6+ Kxf5 27.g4+ Ke5 28.f4# 23...Bh3 24.Nb5 6+- 23...Rad8 24.Rxd7 Rxd7 25.Rg4+ Kh7 26.Nf5 Rd6 27.Rg7+ Kh8 28.Qd4 Qc1+ 29.Kg2 f6 30.Qg4+- 7 24.Qf4 24.Nb5?! Qa6! 24...Bxb5 25.Rg4+ 25.Qxh6 Nc4∞ 24...Rf8 25.Rxb6 axb6 26.Rxd7± 18.Bxh6!       The only consistent continuation of the attack, which leads to amazing tactical complications. 18.Rfc1 Qg4 18.e4 hxg5 19.Rfc1 Qa4∞ 18...gxh6 19.e4 The must be cut off from the 19.Qxh6? Qg4 19...Ne7 19...Bd7? 20.Rfc1 Qa4 21.exd5 Bxb5 22.Rb4+- 4-h4 20.Rfc1 Qa4 21.Qxh6 A very important critical position. White has sacrificed a piece to attack Black's moreover Short's pieces are uncoordinated and his undeveloped. But White's forces are also still quite far from the main action, so it's a question of who manages to mobilize his reserves more effectively. Although it was very hard to foresee, Black's logical next move probably loses, so now is the time to look for alternatives. McShane: 'So white has a queen hovering around the vulnerable black king. But that's not enough for a winning attack, so Kasparov swings an extra rook around.' Bd7?! The weakening 21...f6?! gives White a whole array of attacking possibilities: 22.Rc5!? 22.Rc7 Bd7 22...Rf7 23.Nd6 Qxa2 24.Rbc1 e5 25.Nxf7 Qxf7 26.Rd1 23.Nc3 Qd4 24.Rd1 Qe5 25.Rdxd7 Nxd7 26.Rxd7 Rf7∞ / 22.g4!? 3,b3-h3,g4-g5 22.a3!? 4 22.e5!? Qg4 23.Rc7 23.exf6?! Nf5 23...Qg6 24.Qxg6+ Nxg6 25.exf6 Rxf6 26.Nd6 22...e5 22...Qxa2? 23.Rh5 Qxb1+ 24.Bf1+- 23.Rc7 23.Rxe5 fxe5 24.Qg5+ Kh8 25.Qxe7 Rxf2!?∞ 23...Rf7 23...Bd7 24.Nc3 Qd4 24...Qa3 25.Rxb6 axb6 26.Rxd7 5,3 25.Bh3! ≤25.Rd1 Qb4 26.Rdxd7 Nxd7 27.Rxd7 Rad8= 25...Rac8?! 26.Rxd7 Nxd7 27.Be6+ Rf7 28.Nd5!+- 24.Nd6 Qxa2 25.Rbc1 21...Ng6!? 22.h4! 22.Rc5?! Qxa2! 22...Rd8 23.Bf3!? 22...Nd7 23.Rg5 22...e5 23.Nc7! 6,5 23.Nc3 Qa3 enables Black's to join the defence effectively. 22...Nc4!? is better, White's attack is very dangerous, but probably not winning by force. 22...Bd7 23.h5 Ne7 23...Nh8 24.Qf6 Kh7 25.Nd6 5,4+- 24.Qf6 24.Rc5 f6 24...Kh7 25.h6± 23.a3! ≤23.h5 Nge5 21...Rd8 is not an ideal defence either. 22.Qf6! 22.h4 22.Qg5+ Kf8 23.Qh6+= 23.h4!? 22...Nc6 23.e5 22.Rc5 22.Nd6? Qd4 22...Ng6 The best. 22...Bxb5? 23.Rh5+- 22...Rfd8?! 23.Rg5+ Ng6 The simplest is 24.Nd6 24.Rxg6+!? fxg6 25.Qxg6+ Kh8 25...Kf8 26.Qf6+ Kg8 27.Nd6 Be8 28.Qxe6+ 26.Nd6 Rf8 27.e5 24.h4 Bxb5 25.Rbxb5 Qxa2 26.Rxg6+ fxg6 27.Rg5 Qa1+ 28.Kh2 Kf7! 29.Qxg6+ Ke7 30.Bh3 30.e5? Rf8! 30...Rd1! 31.Qxe6+ Kd8 32.Qf7 Rh1+ 33.Kg2 Qf1+ 34.Kf3 Qd1+= 24...Be8 25.e5 25.Nxf7? Rd1+ 25...Rxd6 26.exd6 Qd4 27.h4 Qh8 28.Qxh8+ Kxh8 29.h5± 23.Rg5 4-h5,e5,6-e4,4 McShane: 'Now white always has a perpetual check up his sleeve with Rxg6+' 23.Rh5 Rfd8 24.Qh7+ Kf8 25.Nd6 Be8 26.e5 Rxd6!? 26...Nxe5? 27.Qh8+ Ke7 28.Nf5+! exf5 29.Qxe5+ Kd7 30.Rc1+- 27.exd6 Qd4 28.Qh6+= was possible, but here White's attack is grounded and Kasparov didn't want that. 23.h4? Qxa2 24.Nc3 Qa3 25.Rg5 Rfc8! 25...Qxc3 26.e5 Qd3 27.Rb4 Nd5 28.Be4 Qd1+ 29.Kh2 Be8 30.h5 Nde7 31.Rxb7 Qe2 32.Rxe7 Qxe4 33.Rxg6++- 26.h5 Qf8-+ enables Black's to return to the defence. It's crucial for White to prevent this. 23...Qc2 Black can't avoid a perpetual and has to do something against the abovementioned attacking ideas. Short's move is the best practical chance, although objectivly it should also lose. 23...Bxb5!? 24.Rbxb5 24.Rxg6+ fxg6 25.Qxg6+ Kh8 26.Qh5+ Kg8 27.Rxb5? Rf7 24...Qd1+!? 24...Rfd8? 25.Rxg6+ fxg6 26.Qxg6+ Kf8 27.Qf6++- 24...Qd4 25.e5! 25.Rxg6+ fxg6 26.Qxg6+ Qg7 27.Qxe6+ Rf7 25...Qd1+ 26.Bf1 Rfc8 27.Rb4! Rc4 28.Rxc4 Nxc4 29.Rxg6+ fxg6 30.Qxg6+ Kf8 31.Qf6++- 6-c4+- 25.Bf1 Qd4 26.e5 Rfc8 27.Rb3! White needs h4 for his 27.h4 Qd1! 28.Rb4 Rc1 29.Rxg6+ fxg6 30.Qxg6+ Kh8= 27...Qe4 27...Qd1 28.Rb4 -24...4 28.h4 Nd7 29.h5 Ndxe5 30.Re3 Ng4 31.Rxe4 Nxh6 32.hxg6± 23...Qxa2? 24.Nc3 Qc2 25.e5 Qxc3 25...Bc6 26.Bxc6 bxc6 27.Rb4+- 26.Be4 Be8 27.Rh5! #2 23...Rfd8 -22...d8 24.Na3 Qd3 Controls e4. 24...Qxa2? 25.e5 Qxa3 25...Rfc8 26.Be4 Be8 27.Rh5! 6+- 26.Be4 Be8 27.Rh5+- 24...Qe2 25.h4 Qxa2 26.e5!+- 25.h4?! Kasparov's intuition proved him right once again: just after the game he proposed the winning 25.Rb3! Qd1+ 25...Qd4 26.e5 Rac8 27.Bf1 Bc6 27...Rc1 28.Rf3!+- 28.Rd3 Qe4 29.f3 Qe1 30.Nc2 Qa5 31.Rd4 Qc5 32.Kg2! 4+- 26.Bf1 Rfc8 27.Rxg6+! 27.g4? Rc1 28.Rxg6+ fxg6 29.Qxg6+ Kf8 30.Qf6+ Ke8 31.Qh8+ Ke7 32.Qh4+ Kd6-+ 27.Rd3?! Qa1! 27...Qe1? 28.Rxg6+ fxg6 29.Qxg6+ Kf8 29...Kh8 30.g4 Rc3 31.Qf6++- 30.Rf3+ Ke7 31.Qf6+ Kd6 32.Rd3+ Kc7 32...Kc6 33.Qe5! Qb4 34.Rc3+ Qxc3 35.Bb5# 33.Nb5+ Bxb5 34.Qe5++- 28.e5 Be8! 28...Rc1? 29.Rxg6+= 29.Rh5 29.Rf3 Nd7-+ 29...Bc6! 29...Rc1 30.Qh7+ Kf8 31.Qh6+= 30.Rg5 Be4-+ 27...fxg6 28.Qxg6+ Kf8 28...Kh8? 29.g4+- 29.Qf6+!? 29.Rd3 Qa1 30.Rf3+ Ke7 31.Qg5+ Kd6!? 31...Ke8 -29.6+! 32.Qd2+ Nd5 33.exd5 29...Kg8! 29...Ke8? 30.Rf3 Qd6 31.Nb5! Qc5 31...Bxb5 32.Bxb5+ Rc6 33.Qh8+ Ke7 34.Qg7+ Ke8 35.Qg8++- 32.e5!+- 30.Qg5+! Kf7 31.Rd3 Qa1 31...Qc1 32.Rf3+ Ke8 33.Qg8+ Ke7 34.Qg7+ Kd6 34...Kd8 35.Qf6+ 35.Qd4+ Ke7 36.Qf6+ Kd6 37.Rd3+ Kc7 38.Rc3++- 32.Rf3+ Ke8 33.e5!+- Ba4 34.Qg8+ Kd7 35.Qf7+ Kd8 36.Qf8+ Be8 37.Rd3+ Nd5 38.Rxd5+ exd5 39.Qf6+ Kd7 40.Qd6# A beautiful finish, White's does the job single-handed. 25.e5? Rfc8! 3-f8-+ 25...Qxa3? 26.Be4+- 25...Qxa3 26.h5?! McShane: 'This move gives up the last opportunity to play Rxg6+ with a draw, so its is an extremely crucial moment. Objectively its probably best to take the perpetual check, as Short has an improvement at move 30, but full marks for bravery.' 26.Rxg6+= 26...Qe7 26...Be8? 27.hxg6 fxg6 28.Rxg6+ Bxg6 29.Qxg6+ Kh8 30.Rb5!+- 27.e5 27.hxg6 McShane f6 28.g7 28.Rh5 Qg7 28...fxg5 is no good 27...Be8! 27...Bc6? 28.Bxc6 28.hxg6? f6 28.Rb4 Qxb4 28...Be8? 29.Rbg4! Nd7 30.hxg6 f6 31.g7 fxg5 32.Rxg5! Bg6 33.Rxg6 Rfe8 34.Bh3+- 29.hxg6 Qb1+± -28.6 bc6 29.4 28...bxc6 29.Kg2! Kasparov's move wins by force. 29.Rb4 Qxb4 30.hxg6 Qe1+ 31.Kg2 Qe4+ 32.Kh2 fxg6 33.Rxg6+ Qxg6 34.Qxg6+ Kh8 35.Qh6+ Kg8 36.Qxe6+ 4+- 29...Qd7 29...Qb7? 30.hxg6 f6 31.g7 fxg5 32.Qh8+ Kf7 33.gxf8Q+ Rxf8 34.Qh7++- 29...c5 30.Rh1 Qb7+ 31.f3 31.Kg1? Rfd8 31...Nc4 32.hxg6 Ne3+ 33.Kf2 Qb2+ 34.Kxe3+- the escapes to h3. 30.Rh1 Qd5+ 31.f3 Qd2+ 32.Kh3 Qd7 33.g4! 3,hg6+- 28.Be4 f5 29.exf6 29.hxg6? Qg7-+ 29...Rxf6 30.hxg6? 30.Bxg6 Bxg6 31.Rxg6+ Rxg6 32.Qxg6+ Kf8!? 32...Kh8 33.Qh6+ Qh7 34.Qf6+ Qg7 35.Qxe6 33.Re1 33.Rb3 Qf7 33...Qf7∞ But with Short in time-trouble Kasparov wants to keep as many pieces and tension on the board as possible. 30...Qg7?! '?' McShane. 30...Bc6!-+ 30...Bc6! McShane: gains time to regroup and make use of the extra piece. 31.Qh7+ Kf8 32.Qh4!? A suprising retreat. Also interesting, but probably weaker was 32.Kg2 Bc6 32...Rd8 33.Rh1 Rd2? 34.Qxg7+ Kxg7 35.Rh7+ Kg8 36.g7!+- 33.Bxc6 bxc6 34.Rh1 Rf5! 34...Nd5? 35.Qh8+ Qg8 36.Rxd5+- 34...Rc8 35.a4!? 35.Qh5 35.Rxf5+ exf5 36.Rh5? Qxh7 37.gxh7 Kg7 35...Rxg5 36.Qxg5 32...Rc8?       The decisive mistake. Critical is 32...Bxg6 33.Rb3 33.Rb4! McShane For instance, Rc8 34.Bxg6 Rxg6 35.Rf4+ Ke8 35...Kg8 36.Rxg6 Qxg6 37.Rg4 36.Qh5 33...Nd5! Hiarcs-this protects f4! 33...Kf7? 34.Bxg6+! 34.Rf3? Rxf3 35.Rxg6 Qa1+ 36.Kg2 Rh8-+ 34.Qg4 Rg8 35.Rc3!? 35.Rf3? Rxf3 36.Bxg6+ Kf6 35...Qh6! 35...Kf8 36.Rf3 Rxf3 37.Qxf3+ Qf7 38.Qd3! Bh7! 39.Qd8+ Qe8 40.Qf6+= 36.Rc7+ Kf8 8 34...Rxg6 35.Rf3+ 35.Qh5 Rg8 35...Kg8 36.Rxg6 Qxg6 37.Rf4!+- 37.Rf6 Qg7 38.Rxe6 Rf8!= 34.Qg4 34.Rf3 Rxf3 35.Rxg6 Qa1+ 36.Kg2 Rf6! 37.Qh8+ Ke7 38.Qxa8 38.Qg7+ Kd6 39.Bxd5 Rh8!-+ 38...Ne3+ 39.Kh3 Rxg6 40.Qxb7+ Kf6 41.Bxg6 Qf1+ 42.Kh4 Ng2+ 43.Kg4 Kxg6 44.Qe4+= 34...Ne7 34...Kf7? 35.Rxb7++- 35.Rxb7 Qh6 36.Bxg6 36.Rxe7 Rc8! 37.Rd7 Rc1+ 38.Rd1 Bxe4-+ 36...Rxg6 37.Rxg6 Qxg6 38.Qh4 Re8 32...Kg8!? also deserves close attention, White probably doesn't have more than a draw after 33.Qh7+= ≤32...Ke7 33.Bxb7 4ע 32...Bc6? 33.Rh5 Bxe4 34.Rh8+ Ke7 35.Rh7 Qxh7 36.Qxh7+ Kd6 37.Rd1+ Nd5 38.Qh4!+- 33.Rh5!+-  '!' McShane. Bxg6 33...Rxg6 34.Rh8++- 7 33...Kg8 34.Rh7+- 34.Rh8+ Kf7 35.Rxc8 Nxc8 36.Rxb7+ Ne7 37.Bxg6+ Qxg6 37...Kxg6 38.Qg4+ Kh7 39.Qxg7+ Kxg7 40.Rxe7++- loses another pawn. 38.Qb4 McShane: 'How embarassing. Almost any square is better than f6 for the rook!' Qf5?! Hastens the end, but Black was lost anyway. 38...Kg8 39.Qxe7 Rf8 40.Rb5 Re8 40...Rf7 41.Rb8+ Kg7 42.Qh4+- 41.Qxa7+- 39.Qxe7+ Kg6 40.Qh7+ 40.Qh7+ Kg5 41.Rg7+ Qg6 41...Rg6 42.Qh4# 42.Qh4+ Kf5 43.Qf4# 1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Kasparov,G2812Short,N26971–01999E20Sarajevo Bosnia 29th3

 

***

Sometimes, playing slow is the best way how to maximize your winning chances. This is the case of many small advantages. Often a position is not good enough for a direct win, but still good enough to annoy and torture your opponent endlessly. In the following example, I was the one being tortured:

Vajda-Markos, Slovakia 2017, White to move:

 

White is undoubtedly better. He has got more space and a safer king. But how to proceed? There is no clear solution to this riddle. Vajda therefore started to shuffle his pieces, creating various small threats. More than 30 moves later, the position looked approximately the same.

 

However, up to this point my energy resources and my time on the clock were critically low. I collapsed after a few more moves, unable to resist any longer the slow torturing strategy of my opponent.

Here's the complete game:

 
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1.e4 c5 2.c3 Nf6 3.e5 Nd5 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nf3 d6 6.cxd4 Nc6 7.Bc4 Nb6 8.Bb5 dxe5 9.Nxe5 Bd7 10.Nxd7 Qxd7 11.Nc3 e6 12.0-0 Be7 13.Qg4 0-0 14.Bxc6 bxc6 15.Bh6 Bf6 16.Rad1 Kh8 17.Ne4 Qe7 18.Bf4 Rad8 19.Qg3 Rg8 20.Bd6 Qd7 21.Bc7 Rc8 22.Be5 Nd5 23.Nd6 Rcf8 24.Qf3 Bd8 25.Nc4 Be7 26.a3 Nb6 27.Na5 f6 28.Bg3 Rc8 29.b4 Rge8 30.Rfe1 Kg8 31.Qe4 Bd6 32.Bxd6 Qxd6 33.Rc1 Nd5 34.Rc5 Rc7 35.Rec1 Rec8 36.g3 h6 37.Qc2 Ne7 38.Qc4 Kf7 39.Re1 Nd5 40.Qc2 Ne7 41.Qb3 Nd5 42.Rec1 Ne7 43.R1c4 Nd5 44.Qc2 Ne7 45.Qa4 Qd7 46.Qc2 Qd6 47.Qe4 Nd5 48.Nb3 Rb8 49.Qc2 Rbc8 50.Ra5 Re8 51.Rcc5 Rb8 52.Qe4 Ne7 53.Rc1 Rd8 54.Rc4 Nd5 55.Kg2 Re8 56.Rc1 Ne7 57.Ra6 Rb8 58.Ra5 Re8 59.h4 Nd5 60.Ra6 Ne7 61.Na5 Rec8 62.Rc5 Qd7 63.Nb3 Rb8 64.Rca5 Nd5 65.h5 Re8 66.Nc5 Qe7 67.b5 f5 68.Qf3 Nb6 69.bxc6 Kg8 70.Nd3 Rd8 71.Ne5 Nd5 72.Ng6 Qf7 73.Ne5 Qe7 74.Rb5 Qd6 75.Ra4 f4 76.g4 Rf8 77.Rb7 Ra8 78.Raxa7 Rxa7 79.Rb8+ Qf8 80.Rxf8+ Kxf8 81.Qd3 Nf6 82.Qb3 Ra8 83.Qxe6 1–0
  • Start an analysis engine:
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  • Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Vajda,L2596Markos,J25721–02017B22SVK-chT 161710.1

 

There are some more rules that might you help to decide whether you should play slowly or swiftly, e.g:

  1. With a pair of bishops, a patient approach is often the best. With every exchange the power of the bishop-pair will increase, as there will be more room for them on the board.
  2. With a space advantage, you again often might go for a patient, unhurried pace. Your opponent might experience problems to organize his forces in a cramped position even if he gets all the time in the world. There is simply not enough space for all his pieces!
  3. In the opening, you should almost always act very fast. Once the armies are full developed, the game often slows down.
  4. Position with pawn asymmetries tend to be faster than positions without them.
  5. Fortresses are much more common than you would probably think. However, most of them are extremely simple and appear in deep endgames.

The inner time of a chess game is a fascinating and almost unexplored topic. I am sure that asking a simple question "Should I play fast or slow?" might help you find you the correct solution in many difficult at-the-board situations.

Links


Jan Markos is a Slovakian chess author, trainer, and grandmaster. His book Under the Surface was the English Chess Federation´s 2018 Book of the Year. His last book, The Secret Ingredient, co-authored with David Navara, focuses on the practical aspects of play, e.g. time-management over the board, how to prepare against a specific opponent, or how to use chess engines during the training process. Markos was the U16 European Champion twenty years ago. At present he helps his pupils from several countries to achieve similar successes. Apart from focusing on the royal game, he is also the author of several non-chess books, focused on critical thinking, moral dilemmas, and phenomenology.

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