The Winning Academy 34: Welcome to the Open Space

by Jan Markos
5/27/2024 – Most of the time, chess pieces can rely on the pawn structure. Pawns serve as a shelter, as a support, and as a natural barrier. However, sometimes all the central pawns get exchanged. The pawn structure evaporates, and the pieces are hovering in an open, empty, pawnless space. What does change in the lives of chess pieces when pawns disappear? | Photo: David Baron

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Well, two things. Firstly, pieces (except of knights) are more powerful on an empty chessboard. Secondly, they are also more vulnerable, as they lack outposts naturally created by pawns. Again, knights suffer most, as they are much slower than bishops, rooks, or queens.

Positions with a pawnless centre are very tactical and the price of every move is high. Therefore, you should play actively and dynamically. In open positions, there is little space for fear or hesitation!

****

In the first example, we will have a look at the game of a genius of dynamical play, Garri Kasparov:

Kasparov-Kasimdzhanov, Wijk aan Zee 1999, White to move:

The pawn structure on both wings is symmetrical, and the centre is fully open. White's pieces don’t seem to stand very actively, so many club players would simply assess this position as equal.

And yet Kasparov has some initiative. Firstly, he is to move. Secondly, the a5-knight is badly placed and vulnerable. And thirdly, the bishops are operating on different diagonals. That gives White the chance E.g. to attack the opponent's queenside, and black bishops might have difficulties to join the defence.

These pluses are very small and might vanish soon. Therefore, Kasparov needs to act quickly. I think that many players would more or less automatically play something like 15.Rc1, giving Black the precious time to recover.

However, Kasparov knew that he must act quickly. He played: 15.Ne4! Now after 15...Bxa1 16.Qxa1 Nd5 (covering both the a5-knight and f6) 17.Bh6 White regains the sacrificed material and keeps the edge. Therefore, Black responded 15…Nc6. And again, Kasparov went for the most active move: 16.Bg5 Qxd1 17.Raxd1.

White harmoniously developed his pieces and is going to secure his knight a strong outpost on d6.

After almost 20 moves of an interesting fight, the following position with White to move appeared on the board:

White's edge is now rather obvious. All his minor pieces are active, and Black's pawns are vulnerable. However, even here it is not too late to spoil the advantage. For example, the materialistic 34.Bxb7?? leads after 34…Ne5 only to an equal game. Black's pieces might get fairly strong on the open chessboard.

However, Kasparov knew better. In fact, White is winning by force, making use of the vulnerability of both the black rook and the bishop. He played 34.Bc1 Rb1 (34...Rc2 35.Bxe6 fxe6 36.Nd4) 35.Be4 Ra1 36.Ne7+ and Black resigned, as any retreat of his king will be answered by a check of the c1-bishop, followed by Rxa1.

Here's the complete game:

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1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 Bg7 4.Bg2 d5 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.e4 Nb6 7.Ne2 0-0 8.0-0 Nc6 9.d5 Na5 10.Nbc3 c6 11.b3 cxd5 12.exd5 Bg4 13.Bd2 13.f3 Bd7 14.Ba3! 14.Be3 e6!? 14...Re8 15.Rc1 e6 16.d6 Bc6 17.Nd4?! 17.Kh1! Nd5 18.Nxd5 exd5 19.Nd4± 17...Nd5 18.Nxd5 Bxd5! 19.Rc7!? Nc6 20.Nxc6 bxc6 1/2-1/2 Obukhov,A-Kotsur,P/Kurgan/1994/ (28) 13...e6 13...Nd7 14.h3 Bf5 15.Be3 Rc8 16.g4 Bxc3 17.Nxc3 Rxc3 18.gxf5 Nf6 19.Bd4 Rc7 20.Bxf6 exf6 21.Rc1 Rxc1 22.Qxc1 Qd6 1/2-1/2 Hirschhorn,J-Feldman,V/Sydney 1995/ (53) 14.dxe6 Bxe6 15.Ne4 15.Nf4 Bf5 16.Ncd5 Nc6 17.Rc1 Re8 18.Bc3 Nxd5 19.Nxd5 Be4 20.Bxg7 Kxg7 21.Rc4 Bxg2 22.Kxg2 Re5 23.Ne3 Qxd1 24.Rxd1 1/2-1/2 Mozny,M-Kalod,R/CZE/1997/ (24) 15...Nc6 15...Bxa1 16.Qxa1 Nd5 16...Nd7 17.Bh6 f6 18.Bxf8 Qxf8 19.Rd1± 17.Bh6 f6 18.Bxf8 Qxf8 19.Rd1± 16.Bg5 Despite symmetrical pawn position white exercises better control of the center, especially his knight on e4 is annoying for black. 16.Bc3 Re8 17.Bxg7 Kxg7 18.Nd6 16...Qxd1 16...f6!? 17.Be3 f5 17...Bg4 18.f3 18.Nc5 Bxa1 19.Nxe6 Qxd1 20.Rxd1 Rf6 21.Nc7 Rc8 22.Nd5 17.Raxd1 h6 17...f6 18.Bf4 18.Be3 18.Bf6 Bxf6 19.Nxf6+ Kg7 20.Ne4 18...Rad8 18...Nd5 19.Bc5 Rfd8 20.Nd6 b6 21.Ba3 19.Nd6 Bg4 19...Nb4 20.Nxb7 20.Nf4!? 20...Rxd1 21.Rxd1 Nxa2 22.Nc5 20.f3 Bc8 21.Bc5 Bf6 21...Nd7 22.Ba3 22.f4! Logical continuation, white's plus is in maximum pressure against black position. Bg4 22...Be7 23.Nxb7 Bxb7 24.Bxe7 Nxe7 25.Bxb7± 23.Ne4 Bxe2 23...Bg7? 24.Bxf8 Rxf8 25.Rfe1+- 24.Nxf6+ Kg7 25.Rxd8 25.Bxf8+ Rxf8 26.Bxc6 Bxd1 27.Rxd1 bxc6 28.Rd6 Rc8 25...Rxd8 26.Re1 Rd2 Kasimdzhanov can claim first success, he managed to generate some counterplay. 26...Kxf6 27.Rxe2 27.Bxc6 bxc6 28.Rxe2 Rd7 27...Rd1+ 28.Kf2 Nd5 29.Bf3 26...Rd1 27.Ne8+ Kh7 28.Rxd1 Bxd1 29.Nd6± 27.Ne8+ Kg8 28.Nd6 Nd7 28...Rxa2 29.Nxb7 Nb8 30.Bd4± 29.Be3 Rxa2 29...Rxd6 30.Rxe2 a6 31.Kf2± 30.Bd5 Nd8 30...Kf8!? 31.b4 Rc2 31...Rb2 32.Bc1 Rb1 33.Be4 Ra1 34.Bxc6 bxc6 35.Kf2+- 32.Bxf7± 31.b4 Rb2 32.f5!       Kasparov has excellent feeling for the dynamics of the position, black pieces are badly coordinated and white's bishop's pair dominates. 32.Bc1 Rb1 32...Rc2? 33.Be4 Ra2 34.Bb1 Ra6 35.Nc8! Re6 35...Ra1 36.Bb2+- 36.f5!+- 33.Be4 Ra1∞ 32...gxf5 32...Nf6? 33.Bd4+- 32...g5 33.Rc1! Nc6 33...Nf6 34.Rc8 Nxd5 35.Rxd8+ Kh7 36.Bd4 Rb1+ 37.Kf2+- 34.Nxf7 Nxb4 35.Rc8+ Kg7 36.Bd4++- 33.Nxf5 Ne6 33...b6 34.Bc1 Rb1 35.Be4 Ra1 36.Ne7++- 34.Bc1 Rb1 34...Rc2 35.Bxe6 fxe6 36.Nd4 Rxc1 37.Rxc1 Bg4 38.Rc7+- 35.Be4! Ra1 36.Ne7+ 36.Ne7+ Kf8 37.Bxh6+ Kxe7 38.Rxa1 Ba6 39.Be3+- 1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Kasparov,G2812Kasimdzhanov,R25951–01999D72Hoogovens8

Please, remember: in an open positions, even seemingly unimportant differences in the activity of the pieces might be decisive. Without the pawn structure, pieces are stronger than they seem to be, and the differences between them are also far more important than they seem to be.

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Keeping your pieces active is thus the most important task in an open position. Let us have a look at an example from the highest possible level.

Kasparov-Anand, World Championship Match 1995, White to move:

It is great that such a position can arise in a World Championship Match! Black is an exchange up, but his centre is collapsing, and his pieces are not cooperating at all. In fact, except of the king they are all standing in corners.

Anand was out of book at this stage, and he took twenty minutes to find the best move. But he found it. After a long thought, he played 15...0-0-0!!.

It seems to be totally crazy to castle right into all this mess on the queenside. However, long castling is the most effective way of getting the rooks into play. The d8-rook is already centralised, and the other rook will get to e8 with a check.

After 16.Rxc6 Rhe8+ 17.Kd3 Rd7 Black was fine and the game was drawn five moves later.

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1.e4 Benjamin e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 At this time, Kasparov hadn't yet found the solution against my Open Ruy Lopez, that he employed in game 10, so he deviates a bit earlier. Garry, for at least the time being, has decided not to test Anand's Open variation to the Ruy Lopez. exd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nxc6 This variation was played twice in the 1990 World Championship match between Kasparov and Karpov, with the champion scoring a win and a draw. bxc6 6.e5 Qe7 7.Qe2 Nd5 8.c4 Ba6 9.b3 g5! The point of thie move is very simple. Black wants to stop f4 which is quite good against 9...g6. A theoretical novelty. The usual choices are 9...Qh4 and 9...g6. Karpov tried 9...O-O-O against Garry. 9...g6 10.f4 10.Ba3 After a reasonable think, Kasparov decided to follow an idea he had against g6 the previous move, reaching a position which he had prepared with the only difference being the pawn on g5. The champion thought for 15 minutes here, and then played his next few moves at a rapid tempo. As will be seen on move 15, the two players are following a game where 9...g6 was played. It seems likely that Garry spent his time here trying to decide whether ...g5 makes a big difference compared with ...g5.The latter move, which seems Speelmanesque, allows not only ...Bg7 but ...Nf4 as well. d6 10...c5 11.g3 Nb4 12.Bg2 0-0-0 13.0-0 Bg7 14.Bb2! /\ a3 11.exd6 A forcing line. Qxe2+ 12.Bxe2 Bg7! 13.cxd5 Bxe2 13...Bb7?? 14.dxc7! Bxa1 14...cxd5 15.Bb5+ Bc6 16.Bxc6# 15.d6+- 14.Kxe2 Bxa1 15.Rc1 This position was reached (with the pawn on g6) in Kuksov-Aleksandrov Smolensk Cup 1991.
15...0-0-0‼ Found after a 20-minute think. The point is that Black needs the open centre for his rooks and any pawn capture (cxd6, cxd5) closes the file and gives White time to bring his N to c4. A substantial improvement over Kuksov-Aleksandrov,A., Smolensk Cup 1991, (remember the Black pawn was on g6 instead of g5) which saw 15...cxd6 16. Rxc6 O-O 17.Bxd6 Rfd8 18. Nd2 Rd7 19.Kd3 Re8 20.f4 f6 21.b4 with a considerable advantage for White. 15...cxd5 16.Rxc7± 15...cxd6 16.Rxc6 Be5 16...0-0 17.Bxd6± 17.Nd2! /\ Nc4+/- 15...Be5 16.Rxc6 Bxd6 17.Bxd6 cxd6 18.Na3! Kd7 19.Nc4± 16.Rxc6 Rhe8+ 16...Rd7! 17.Nc3 17.Kd3 Be5 18.dxc7 Rxc7 18...Rxd5+ 19.Ke4 Rb5 20.Nc3 Bxc3 21.Rxc3 Re8+ White still has an uphill struggle to draw. 17...Bxc3 18.Rxc3 Re8+ This leads to a position that I wanted to reach in the game. Black has some chances. 17.Kd3 The best move and one which cost Garry 37 minutes on the clock. The alternative 17. Kf3 is strongly met by 17... Re5. Rd7 18.Nc3! It was Kasparov's turn to sink into long thought (40 minutes!) here and he finally found a way to keep the balance. If White has any chances to improve it has to be here. Two alternatives to the game continuation are: (1) 18.Bc5 Kb7 19.Rxc7+ Rxc7 20. dxc7 Kxc7 21.Bxa7 Kd6; (2) 18.Nd2 Be5! (less clear is 18...Re5 19.Nc4 Rxd5+ 20. Ke4 Rd4+ 21.Ke3 Rd1 22.Bc5) 19.Nc4 Bxh2 20.g3 h5 21.dxc7 Rxd5+ 22.Kc3 h4 23. Nd6 + Rxd6 and Black has all the chances. These lines are not meant to be exhaustive, but rather to show that Anand seems to have found a very good antidote to the Scotch. 18.Nd2 Re5 19.Nc4 Rxd5+ 20.Ke4 Probably White has enough ~/= here, but the method chosen in the game ismore efficient. 18...Bxc3?! 18...Re5 19.Nb5 Rxd5+ 20.Kc4 Rd2 21.Bc5! Be5! 19.Kxc3! I had underestimated this move. I only expected 19.Rxc3. 19.Rxc3 Re5 19...Re5 20.Kc4 Re4+ If Black tries to play 20...Re2 it will still be a draw. Play might continue 20. ..Re2 21.Bc5 Rxa2 22.b4 and now there are two possibilities: (1) 22...Kb7 23. dxc7 Rxc7 24.Rf6 (or 24.Rh6); (2) 22...a5 23.b5 Kb7 24.Ra6 cxd6 25.Ra7+ Kc8 26. Ra8+ Kb7 27.Ra7+. White can even win if Black overpresses - 20...Kb7 21.dxc7 Rxc7 22.Bd6! 20...Re2 21.Bc5 Rxa2 22.b4 Now White is completely safe. Kb7 23.dxc7 Rxc7 24.Rf6 21.Kd3 Re5 22.Kc4 Re4+
½–½
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Kasparov,G2795Anand,V2725½–½1995C45PCA-World-ch Kasparov-Anand +4-1=138

***

The last example is from a game that I saw live, playing in the same hall. In the diagrammed position, I was unsure how Black is going to tame White's obvious initiative. The task was also complicated by the fact that the white army was led by Magnus Carlsen…

Carlsen-Movsesian, European Club Cup 2008, Black to move:

White's pieces are well placed in the centre. Once the a1-rook joins the rest of the army, Carlsen's initiative might become unbearable. Therefore, Black must act now. And Movsesian was up to the task.

He played 16...Bg4!, attacking the queen as well as the d5-bishop. White had to take the bishop: 17.Nxg4 Nxd5. And now it was Carslen's time to be annoying. He played the surprising 18.Nh6+. Now after 18...gxh6 19.Bxh6 Kh8 20.Bxf8 Bxf8 21.Qb3 White has a strong initiative. Therefore, Black correctly answered 18…Kh8, and after 19.Nf5 Nxf4 20.Rxe7 g6 21.Qxd8 Raxd8 the game transposed to an almost equal endgame.

Here's the complete game:

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1.e41,166,62354%2421---
1.d4947,29855%2434---
1.Nf3281,60256%2441---
1.c4182,10256%2442---
1.g319,70256%2427---
1.b314,26554%2427---
1.f45,89748%2377---
1.Nc33,80151%2384---
1.b41,75648%2380---
1.a31,20654%2404---
1.e31,06848%2408---
1.d395450%2378---
1.g466446%2360---
1.h444653%2374---
1.c343351%2426---
1.h328056%2418---
1.a411060%2466---
1.f39246%2436---
1.Nh38966%2508---
1.Na34262%2482---
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 a6 5.a4 e6 6.Bf4 This move is rare, harmless, but quite playable, of course. c5 Other options seen in practice: 6...Be7 6...Bb4 6...a5 6...dxc4 7.e3 Nc6 8.Be2 dxc4 ≤8...Be7 9.dxc5 Bxc5 10.0-0 0-0 11.cxd5 Nxd5 12.Nxd5 exd5 13.Rc1 Bd6 14.Bxd6 Qxd6 15.Qb3 Rb8 16.Qb6 1/2 Arbutina,S (2320)-Guzsvany,A (2049)/Senta 2007/CBM 119 ext (54) 9.Bxc4 cxd4 10.exd4 Be7 11.0-0 With a transposition of moves a well-known QGA position has arisen. 0-0 12.Re1 12.Qd2 is another popular option. 12...Nb4 12...b6?! 13.d5 12...Nd5 13.Bg3 Ncb4 14.Ne5 b6 15.Nxd5 exd5 16.Bb3 Bf5 17.Qf3 Be6 18.Rac1 Rc8 19.Rc3 Bg5 20.Bf4 Qf6 21.Bxg5 Qxg5 22.Qe2 Qf4 23.Qd1 Qh6 24.h3 1-0 Sokolov, I (2690)-Simutowe,A (2442)/Tripoli 2004/CBM 102 (82) 12...Qb6!? 13.Ne5 13.Qb3 Nc6! 14.Qd1 Nb4 13...Bd7 14.d5 Leads to simplifications. 14.Re3!? Rc8 15.Rg3 Re8 16.h4 Bc6 17.h5 Bf8 18.Bh6 Be4 19.Be2 19.Bg5!? Bf5 20.Qe2 19...Nc2 20.Bg5 Bf5 21.Ng4 Bxg4 22.Qxc2 Bxe2 23.Qxe2 Be7? 23...Bd6! 24.h6 g6 25.Qe5 Rf8 26.Re1 Ne8 27.Bxe7 Qxe7 28.d5± 1-0 Epishin,V (2599)-Velicka,P (2445)/Werther 2002/CBM 087 ext (32) 14...exd5 15.Nxd5 Nbxd5 16.Bxd5 Bg4! 17.Nxg4 17.Bxf7+ Rxf7 18.Nxg4 Qxd1 19.Nxf6+ Bxf6 20.Raxd1 Bxb2= 17...Nxd5 18.Nh6+!? Kh8 ≤18...gxh6 19.Bxh6 Kh8 19...Bf6? 20.Qg4+ Kh8 21.Bxf8 Qxf8 22.Qf3+- 19...Nf6 20.Qf3 Ne8 21.Qxb7± 20.Bxf8 Bxf8 21.Qb3 Nf6 22.Qxf7± 19.Nf5 Nxf4 20.Rxe7 g6 21.Qxd8 Raxd8 22.Ne3       /= White's advantage in this endgame is largely symbolic but he continues fighting. b5 23.axb5 23.a5?! Nd3 23...axb5 24.Rb7 Rb8 24...Nd3!? ∆25.Rxb5 Rb8 25.Rd7 Kg7 25...Rbd8!? 26.Rad1 Rxd7 27.Rxd7 Rc8 28.h4 Kg7 29.Kh2 Ne6 30.Rd5 Rc5= 26.g3 Ne6 27.Raa7 h5 28.h4 Rbd8 29.Rdb7 Nd4 30.Kg2 Rb8 31.Nd5 Nc6 32.Rxb8 Rxb8 33.Rc7 Nd4 34.Rd7 Ne6 35.Nc3 Nc5 36.Rd5 Na4 37.Nd1 Kf6 38.Kf3 Ke6 39.Ke4 f5+ 40.Kd4 Rc8 41.Re5+ Kf6 42.Ne3 b4 43.Nd5+ Kf7 44.Re7+ Kf8 45.Rb7 Nxb2 46.Rxb4 The draw is not yet guaranteed as Black needs to consolidate his position. Nd1 47.f3 Rd8 48.Ke5 Nf2 49.Rb3 Kg7 50.Nf4 Re8+ 51.Kd4 51.Ne6+ Kf7 52.Rb7+ Re7= 51...Re7 52.Rb6 Looks formidable but... Rd7+ 53.Kc4 Kh7! 54.Ne6 54.Rxg6 Nh3 55.Rf6 Nxf4 56.gxf4 Rd1 57.Rxf5 Kh6= 54.Nxg6 Rg7 55.Nf8+ Kg8 56.Ne6 Rxg3 and Black should not lose. 54...Kh6 55.Nf8 Rg7 56.Kd4 Nh1 57.Ke5 Nxg3 White has given up a pawn but continues pushing for a win! 58.Ne6 Rg8? 58...Ra7= 59.Kf6? Missing an excellent chance: 59.Ng5! Re8+ 59...f4 60.Rb7 Rg7?? 61.Rb8 Re7+ 62.Kf6+- 60.Kf6 Rf8+ 61.Ke6! f4 61...Re8+? 62.Kf7+- 61...Kg7 62.Rb7+ Kh8 62...Kg8 63.Nh7 Re8+ 64.Kf6 63.Nh7! Re8+ 64.Kd5 Rd8+ 65.Ke5 Re8+ 65...Kg8 66.Nf6+ Kf8 67.Ke6 66.Kf4 Ne2+ 67.Kg5+- 62.Rb7 Re8+ 63.Kd5 Rd8+ 64.Kc4 Rc8+ 65.Kb3 Rh8 66.Nf7+ Kg7 67.Nxh8+ Kxh8 68.Rb4 and White should win this ending. 59...f4! Bringing the knight to defense. 60.Ng5 Nf5 61.Nf7+ Kh7 62.Ng5+ Kh6 63.Rb7 Rf8+ 64.Nf7+ Kh7 65.Kg5 Ng7 66.Nd6 Rd8 67.Ne4 Rd5+ 68.Kf6 68.Kxf4= 68...Rf5+ 69.Ke7 Ra5 70.Kf7 Nf5 71.Nf6+ Kh6 72.Ng8+ Kh7 73.Nf6+ Kh6 74.Ng8+ Kh7 75.Kf8+??       Overconfidence is sometimes self-killing! 75.Nf6+= 75...Kh8 76.Nf6? A blunder but White is already lost: 76.Rb8 Ra7-+ 76...Ra8+ with decisive material gains. 0–1
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Carlsen,M2786Movsesian,S27320–12008D26EU-Cup 24th3

So many blows and exchanges in only five moves! This is very typical for positions with an open centre. Pieces are both powerful and vulnerable, and therefore the fight often escalates quickly.

****

Let us summarize what we have learned about positions with an open centre:

  1. Pieces are more powerful and more vulnerable at the same time.
  2. Knights might suffer, as they are the slowest pieces on the board.
  3. Even an optically small difference in the activity of the pieces might prove decisive.
  4. The fight is often quick and tactical.

Let us learn together how to find the best spot for the queen in the early middlegame, how to navigate this piece around the board, how to time the queen attack, how to decide whether to exchange it or not, and much more!

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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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