The Winning Academy 37: Rooks in Paradise

by Jan Markos
10/8/2024 – Every chess piece has a favourite region of the board. Knights like to be in the centre, kings rely on the safety of the corners. However, no piece loves a specific diagonal, file or rank as much as rooks do. Rooks love the 7th rank. On this rank, they feel like a kid in a candy shop. There are so many pawns to consume! Also, sometimes the opponent’s pieces are vulnerable as well. But why is the seventh rank so attractive for rooks? Jan Markos has some answers and examples! | Diagram: Final position of the game Vidit Gujrathi vs Wei Yi, Global Chess League 2024
Let us explore together how the rooks should enter the game in the early middlegame, how they operate on open files and how they sometimes join a deadly attack, being transferred in front of the pawn chain and many more topics!

Well, the reason is closely linked to the character and placement of the pawns. Pawns can never protect anything on the first two ranks, as they are placed on the second (or seventh) rank at the beginning, and they only march forward.

However, some rules do apply:

Firstly, the longer the 7th rank is for the rook, the better. If a rook only has one or two squares available on the 7th, its activity might be quite limited.

Secondly, a rook on the 7th is usually in the middle of the opponent’s army. Therefore, it usually needs some support. If it has no support (as in the last example of this article), it might be suffering more than expected.

At any case, 7th rank is usually something like a paradise for the rooks. And they want to get there at almost any cost and stay there as long as possible!

***

Sometimes, you need to take original routes to get your rook to the paradise. Mariya Muzychuk was up to the task in the following example.

M. Muzychuk - A. Goryachkina, Women Candidates 2019, White to move:

White is a pawn down. Moreover, Black’s pawn structure is more compact. However, not pawns, but pieces are the soul of the modern chess. Muzychuk is much better developed. But how should she convert her development advantage?

Well, the best way is to buy the e1-rook a one-way ticket to the paradise!

18.Re3!

The rook is aiming to c7 and there is little Black can do against it, as she has very little forces on the queenside.

18…Ne7

A logical try is 18...Rc8 19.Ra3 Rc7, but after 20.Bf1 followed by 21.Nb5 Black’s queenside pawns are falling.

19.Rc3 h5 20.Rc7

With a rook on the seventh rank, Muzychuk dominates the board. Later in the game, she added another rook to the bind on the 7th rank and won convincingly.

Here's the complete game:

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This game was played in the last round of the Women's Candidates Tournament. I have the pleasure to comment it as this game got a prize for the most beautiful game of the event. 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nf3 e6 5.Be2 c5 6.Be3 Qb6 7.Nc3 Nc6 The sharp and principled variation of the Caro-Kann Defence. For me this line did not come as a surprise because Alexandra had chosen it several times before and the last time she played it was exactly at this tournament in the 12th round against the Chinese Tan Zhogyi. That game continued with 8.Na4, which is less known but also interesting. In my game I chose 8.0-0 after which we kept on following the forced line. 8.0-0 Qxb2 9.Qe1 cxd4 10.Bxd4 Nxd4 11.Nxd4 Bb4 12.Rb1 Bxc3 13.Rxb2 Bxe1 14.Rxe1 b6 15.h4 Up to this moment everything was played quite fast from both sides. It is a well known line where the game from the opening gets into the endgame. In the current position Black is a pawn up but the pieces on the kingside are undeveloped. The move 15.h4 isn't new, but rarely played. 15.Bb5+ is a far more popular move: Kf8 16.Nxf5 exf5 and now 17.Rb3 and 17.c4 has been tested many times. Also there are games with 17.Rd1. All these continuations are interesting for analysing but for this game I had prepared another direction. 15...Be4 I didn't check Be4 before the game, so from now on both Alexandra and myself started to play on our own It was correct to play 15...h5 with an approximately equal position. And it's much better than 15...h6 as after 16.Nxf5 exf5 17.Bb5+ Kf8 18.c4 dxc4 19.Bxc4± where Black cannot play Rh6 which was possible in case she had started with 15...h5. 16.Bb5+ The best decision. White rules out Black's option of castling and plans to manoeuvre the rook from e1 to the seventh rank Worse but also quite strong was 16.Nb5 Kf8 16...Ke7 17.h5 The threat is to trap the bishop after f3 just not 17.Nd6? in view of Nf6= and Black develops on the kingside with the help of tactical trick 17.c4± 17...h6 17...d4 18.Nxd4 Bb7 19.a4± 18.c4+- and here we see that the insertion of the moves h5/h6 is in White's favour as now, with the pawn on h6, there is no ...Nh6. 17.h5 h6 18.Nd6± White's position is much better The same position could arise if initially we start with 16.h5 h6 and then get into the vatiation you can see above: 17.Nb5 Kf8 18.Nd6± Likewise it was possible to play firstly 16.f3 Bg6 transposing to the game after 17.Bb5+ Kf8 18.Re3 16...Kf8 17.f3 If White manoeuvres the rook to c7 immediately with 17.Re3 then it's necessary to take into account the possibility of the pawn sacrifice g5!? (the idea is to clear the g7 square for the king) 17...Ne7 18.f3 Bg6 19.Rc3 transposing to the game. 18.f3 Bg6 19.hxg5± The material became equal and obviously White possesses a strong initiative, but now Black has a chance to finish development (Kg7, Ne7). 17...Bg6 18.Re3 Ne7 If 18...Rc8 then 19.Ra3 Rc7 20.Bf1 followed by Nb5. 19.Rc3 During the game I also considered another possibility of playing on the queenside: 19.Ra3 The idea is to retreat the bishop from b5 and to attack the a7 and b6 pawns. But objectively it is less strong, as at the cost of losing pawns on the queenside Black gets time to move the king to h7 and to develop the pieces which can be seen in the following lines: h5 20.Be2 20.Ba6 Kg8 21.Bb7 Rb8 22.Rxa7 Kh7 23.Ba6 Ra8 24.Rxa8 Rxa8 25.Rxb6 Nc8 26.Bxc8 Rxc8 27.Kf2± Obviously White struggles to win but I tend to think that with precise play Black can hold a draw. 20...Kg8 20...Nf5 21.Nc6± 21.Rxb6 Nf5 22.Nxf5 22.Nc6 Kh7 23.Rba6 Rac8 24.Bb5 Nxh4 25.Rxa7 Kh6 22...Bxf5 23.Rb7 Bxc2 24.Raxa7 Rxa7 25.Rxa7 Kh7 26.Rc7 Bf5 27.a4 Ra8 28.g4 hxg4 29.fxg4 Bxg4 30.Bxg4 Rxa4 31.Bh5 Rxh4 32.Bxf7 Re4 with a theoretically drawn position 19...h5 It was possible to stop the penetration of the rook to c7 only by playing 19...Rc8 but after 20.Rxc8+ Nxc8 21.Rb3+- another rook goes to c7 after which all the queenside crumbles down. 20.Rc7 The plan is fulfilled, and due to such an active position of the pieces White has a decisive advantage even with a minus pawn. a6 Now it's hard to advise Black a good move as in every followup White forcedly creates serious problems: 20...Nf5 21.Nxf5 Bxf5 22.Bc6 Rb8 23.Rxa7 g6 24.Ra6 Kg7 25.Raxb6 equally strong is 25.a4 Rhc8 26.Raxb6 Rxb6 27.Rxb6 Bxc2 28.a5 Rc7 29.a6+- 25...Rxb6 26.Rxb6 Bxc2 27.a4 d4 28.Kf2! The last important move, with a winning position. Or 20...a5 21.Be2 Rb8 22.Ra7+- 21.Bd7 b5 22.a4 bxa4 The best defense was 22...Nf5 and now White has to find a series of precise moves: 23.Nxf5! 23.Nc6?! Kg8 23...bxa4 24.Ra7+- 24.a5 Kh7 23...Bxf5 24.Bc6! Rd8 24...Rb8 25.Ra7+- 25.a5!+- and after the winning a6 the passed a-pawn becomes unstoppable. 23.Bxa4 Nf5 One more critical moment. I understood that I had to play concretely here because Black threatens to move the king to h7 with possible counterplay on the weak c2-pawn. 24.Ra7! It is very pleasant to make such a move, moreover, this continuation is not only beautiful but also the strongest one. Rd8 The exchange sacrifice after 24...Rc8 25.Bd7 Nxd4 is interesting but doesn't save the game: 26.Bxc8 Kg8 27.Rc7+- 27.Bxa6 Nxc2 28.Rc7 Nd4 29.Rb4 Nc2 30.Rb8+ Kh7 31.Rxh8+ Kxh8 32.Kf2+- while 24...Rxa7 loses immediately: 25.Rb8+ Ke7 26.Nc6+ Kd7 27.Nxa7+ and White wins a rook. 25.Nc6 Re8 Almost the same position as in the game could arise after 25...Rc8 26.Rc7! An important move continuing tough play based on using the weakness of the back rank. Re8 26...Ra8 27.Nb8! Kg8 28.Bc6+- 27.Ne7! Rd8 28.Nxg6+ fxg6 29.Rbb7+- 26.Ne7! One more beautiful move. Rd8 27.Nxg6+ fxg6 28.Bd7 I could have won more forced and faster continuing 28.Rbb7 Kg8 29.g4 hxg4 30.fxg4 Rxh4 31.gxf5 Rxa4 32.Rxg7+ Kf8 33.Raf7+ Ke8 34.fxe6 with inevitable mate. 28...Kg8 29.Bxe6+ Kh7 Here I considered three possibilities: 30.Bf5, 30.Rbb7 and 30. Bf7. After calculating, I decided to maintain the advantage of the bishop versus the knight and to try to advance the e-pawn. 30.Rbb7 The least I wanted was to get into the rook endgame and to undouble the g6-g7 pawns by means of 30.Bxf5 gxf5 31.Rbb7 Rhg8 32.Rxa6 Rc8 33.Rf6 Rc4 34.Rxf5 Rxh4 35.Rd7+- White's position seems winning but it is well known that many rook endgames have a drawing tendency. 30.Bf7!? with the idea of e6-e7 was also interesting but there is the defence Nh6 after which I have to get into the rook endgame again 31.Rbb7 Nxf7 32.Rxf7 Rhg8 33.Rxa6+- or move back with the bishop 31.Be6 30...Nd4 Another option is 30...Nxh4 31.Rxg7+ Kh6 and here several moves leads to win, but mostly I liked 32.f4+- creating a mating net and keeping the rook on h8. 31.Bd7! Black could get theoretical chances of rescue after 31.Rxg7+ Kh6 32.Bh3 Nc6 33.Rac7 Nxe5 winning the e5-pawn. From now on White has to play very precisely over again 34.Kf2!+- 31...Rb8 32.e6 Nf5 33.Ba4 Rbc8 34.e7 Nd6 35.Rb6 Ne8 35...Nb5 36.Raxa6+- 36.Rbxa6 Kg8 There are several ways leading to victory, but the simplest for me was to get into the winning pawn endgame. 37.Ra8 37.Bd7 Rb8 38.Be6+ Kh7 39.Bxd5+- 37.Rb6 Kf7 38.Bd7 Rxc2 39.Be6+ Kf6 40.Bxd5+ Ke5 41.Bf7+- 37...Rxa8 38.Rxa8 Kf7 39.Kf2 Black resigned in view of 39.Kf2 Kxe7 40.Ke3 Rf8 41.Rxe8+ Rxe8 42.Bxe8 Kxe8 43.Kd4+- and White wins 1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Muzychuk,M2563Goryachkina,A25221–02019B12Candidates (Women)14

***

Sometimes, you need vision and courage to foresee that your rook will shine on the 7th rank.

Caruana-Giri, Gashimov memorial 2015, White to move:

In this symmetrical position, many players would automatically play 19.cxb6. However, after 19…Qxb6 the game evaporates into a complete equality.

Caruana had something else in mind. He understood that with his rook on the 7th rank, Black’s minor pieces will be a target, as they can not be protected by their own pawn.

Therefore, he played 19.Ra7!.

Now Black has several possible ways to defend, but none of them is sufficient. Giri chose 19…Bxf3 20.Bxf3 Nxc5, but after 21.Qb1 his pieces remain under an unpleasant attack. (Of course, 21.Rxd8? Nxb3 would favor Black. Without his vulnerable queen, his defence would be much easier.)

21...Ncd7 22.Nb5 +-

Black is completely tied down. Material losses are inevitable. However, Caruana did not choose the best continuation later and the game ended in a draw.

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1.Nf3 d5 2.d4 Nf6 3.c4 e6 4.g3 Fabiano has deep theoretical knowledge in various openings, so predicting his choice is a tough task. Bb4+ 5.Bd2 Be7 6.Bg2 0-0 7.0-0 c6 8.Qc2 Nbd7 9.Rd1 b6 10.b3 Ba6 11.a4 c5 12.a5 Rc8 The most popular continuation. There are a couple of alternatives: 12...cxd4 13.Nxd4 Bc5 14.Be1 Rc8 15.Qb2 Bxd4 16.Qxd4 e5 17.Qb2 1-0 (31) Tomashevsky,E (2736)-Landa,K (2645)/Sochi 2012/CBM 148 12...Qc8 13.cxd5 Nxd5 13...exd5 14.Nc3 14.Nc3 N7f6 14...Nb4 15.Qb2 bxa5 16.Rac1 Rd8 17.Bg5 1-0 (31) Gyimesi,Z (2595)-Parligras,M (2601)/Germany 2010/EXT 2012 15.Nxd5 exd5 16.Bg5 h6 17.Bxf6 Bxf6 18.Rac1 Qe6= ½-½ (44) Nielsen,P (2693)-Almasi,Z (2707)/Beijing 2011/CBM 145 Extra 13.Qa2!?N Fabiano comes up with an interesting novelty. A well known theoretical position arises after: 13.axb6 Qxb6 and now White may choose between different continuations, but none of them poses Black any serious problems. For instance, 14.Qa2 14.Ba5 Qb8 15.dxc5 Bxc5 16.Bc3 Bb7 17.Nbd2 dxc4 18.bxc4 Qc7= 14...Bb7 15.Ba5 15.b4 cxb4 16.c5 Nxc5 17.dxc5 Bxc5 18.e3 Ra8 as was played in Laznicka,V (2690)-Aronian,L (2783)/Plovdiv 2010/CBM 139 gives Black full compensation for a piece at the least. 15...Qa6 16.dxc5 Nxc5 17.Nbd2 17.b4 Nce4 18.c5 Ng4 19.Nd4 Ngxf2 20.b5 Qxa5 21.Qxa5 Bxc5 leads to a wild position, where Black is definitely doing well. 17...dxc4 18.bxc4 Bd8 19.Ne5 19.Bb4 Qxa2 20.Rxa2 Bb6= 19...Bxg2 20.Kxg2 Bxa5 21.Qxa5 Qxa5 22.Rxa5 Rc7 Wang Hao (2752)-Leko,P (2735)/Wijk aan Zee NED 2013 Black was able to neutralise the slight small pressure. 13...Nb8 The looks extremely passive, but it is not that bad. I guess, Fabiano's preparation was mainly based on: 13...b5 14.b4! and it looks like the resulting complications are quite promising for White: cxd4 14...cxb4 15.c5 Nb8 After 15...Nxc5 16.dxc5 Bxc5 17.Qb2 Ne4 18.e3 Black doesn't have sufficient compensation for a piece. 16.Ne5 Ne4 17.Bxb4 f6 18.Nd3 Nc6 19.Qb2 14...bxc4 15.dxc5 Ne4 16.Nc3 Ndf6 17.Rab1 15.cxb5 Bxb5 16.Nxd4 Ba6 16...Bc4 17.Qa4 Ne5 18.Na3 Ba6 19.b5 Bb7 20.Rac1 17.Na3 Ne5 18.b5 Bb7 19.Qb2 Ne4 20.Bxe4 dxe4 21.Bc3 Bxa3 22.Qxa3 Qg5 23.Rac1 However, the safest seems: 13...Bb7! 14.a6 14.Nc3 dxc4 15.bxc4 cxd4 16.Nb5 16.Nxd4 Bxg2 17.Kxg2 Qc7= 16...a6 17.Nbxd4 Ne4 18.Be1 Bc5 19.Nb3 Qc7= 14...Bc6 15.Nc3 Qe8! A less accurate way is: 15...Qc7 16.Bf4 Bd6 17.Bxd6 Qxd6 18.cxd5 Bxd5 18...Nxd5 19.dxc5 bxc5 20.e4 Nxc3 21.Rxd6 Nxa2 22.Rxa2 19.Rac1 15...dxc4 16.bxc4 cxd4 17.Nxd4 Bxg2 18.Kxg2 Rc5 19.Ncb5 Qa8+ 20.f3 16.Ne5 cxd4 17.Nxc6 dxc3 18.Nxe7+ Qxe7 19.Bxc3 Rfd8 with good chances for equality. 14.axb6 But 14.Nc3 promises nothing special: dxc4 15.bxc4 cxd4 16.Nb5 Bxb5 17.cxb5 Bc5 18.Be1 Qe8 19.Nxd4 Bxd4 20.Rxd4 Qxb5= 14...axb6 Correctly rejecting 14...Qxb6 15.Bf4 Bd6 16.Bxd6 Qxd6 17.Nbd2 and White is clearly better. 15.Nc3 Another tempting continuation was 15.Qb2 cxd4 16.Nxd4 dxc4 17.Bf4 Black's position looks scary now, but the precise Nfd7! 18.bxc4 18.Rxa6 Nxa6 19.Nc6 Qe8 20.Nxe7+ Qxe7 21.Bd6 Qf6 22.Qxf6 Nxf6 23.Bxf8 Rxf8 24.bxc4 Nc5= 18...Rxc4 18...Bf6 19.Bd6 Re8 20.e3 19.Rxa6 Nxa6 20.Nc6 Qe8 should solve Black's problems: 21.Nxe7+ Qxe7 22.Bd6 Qe8 23.Nd2 Rc5 24.Nb3 Rc4 25.e3 Qc8 26.Bxf8 Nxf8= 15...dxc4 This decision seems risky - opening up the d-file gives White definite tactical resources. As in the previous note, the safer way was: 15...Bb7 16.dxc5 bxc5 17.Qa7 Rc7 17...Bc6 18.Ne5 Bd6 19.Nxc6 Nxc6 20.Qb7 18.Bf4 Rd7 19.Ne5 19.cxd5 Bxd5 20.Qa4 Bc6 21.Qc4 Qb6 22.Ne5 Rxd1+ 23.Rxd1 Bxg2 24.Kxg2 Nc6= 19...Nc6 20.Nxc6 Bxc6 21.Qa6 Bb7 22.Qb5 Qc8 23.Ra7 with only a small edge for White. 16.Bf4 cxb3 17.Qxb3 At the moment Black is a pawn up, but White's pieces are much more active. Bb7? This move leads to a major loss of material. Giri should have opted for 17...Bc4 18.Qxc4 cxd4 19.Qb5 Rxc3 20.Nxd4 Nd5 21.Bxd5 Qxd5 22.Qxd5 exd5 23.Nf5 Bf6 24.Rab1 d4 25.Nxd4 Or 17...Nd5 18.Nxd5 exd5 19.dxc5 Bc4 20.Qxb6 Bxc5 21.Qb1 In both cases White keeps a definite positional edge, but the reduced material balance offers Black excellent drawing chances. 18.dxc5 Nbd7 19.Ra7! The appearance of White's rook on the 7th rank is very unpleasant. Bxf3 19...Bd5 offered no hope: 20.Nxd5 exd5 21.cxb6 Nxb6 22.Ne5 Bd6 23.Bh3 Bxe5 24.Bxe5 Rc4 25.Rb7 Na4 26.Qxc4 dxc4 27.Rxd8 Rxd8 28.Rb4+- 20.Bxf3 Nxc5 After 20...Bxc5 21.Bb7 Rc7 22.Bxc7 Qxc7 23.Nb5 Qe5 24.Bf3+- White should be able to convert the material and positional advantages into a full point. 21.Qb1 Ncd7 21...Qe8 didn't help to save material either: 22.Nb5 Rd8 22...Nd5 23.Bd6+- 23.Nd6 Bxd6 24.Bxd6+- 22.Nb5 Rc5 23.Bc7 White has missed a very clean way to a victory: 23.Be3! Suddenly it turns out, that Black's rook doesn't have a normal square for retreat: Rc4 23...Rc8 24.Bg5 Qe8 25.Nc7 Qd8 26.Bxf6 Bxf6 27.Nb5+- 24.Qa2 Rb4 25.Nc7 Qb8 26.Nxe6 fxe6 27.Qxe6+ Kh8 28.Qxe7 Qxa7 29.Qxb4+- 23...Qc8 24.Bd6? That only leads to a simplifications, which are suitable for Black. Luckily for Anish, Fabiano has failed to find 24.Qd3! Nd5 (I hardly can see any other reasonable move) 25.Nd6 Qxc7 26.Rxc7 Ne5 26...Rxc7 27.Bxd5 exd5 28.Qxd5 Nf6 29.Qb3+- 27.Rxc5 Nxd3 28.Rxd5 Nb2 28...exd5 29.Nf5+- 29.Nc4! Nxc4 30.Rd7 Bc5 31.Rc7+- some technical work is still required, but White's position is winning here. 24...Bxd6 25.Nxd6 Qd8 Of course, not 25...Qb8? 26.Rb7 Qd8 27.Ne4 Rd5 28.Nxf6+ Nxf6 29.Bxd5 Nxd5 30.Ra7+- 26.Ne4 Rc7 Now the 7 is unprotected, so Black manages to maintain the material balance. 27.Nxf6+ gxf6 28.Qa1 Re8! The only, but sufficient defence. 28...Qc8? 29.Ra8 Nb8 30.Qxf6+- 29.Bc6 After 29.Rd4 f5! But 29...Rxa7 is less accurate: 30.Qxa7 Re7 31.Bc6 Nf8! 32.Qa1 Qc8 33.Rg4+ Ng6 34.Qxf6 30.Bc6 Rxc6 31.Rdxd7 Qg5 32.Kg2 Rf8 White's advatage would be rather symbolic. 29...Re7 30.Ra8 There are no special prospects after 30.Rxc7 Qxc7 31.Qa3 Nf8 32.h4 Kg7 33.h5 h6= 30...Rc8 31.Rxc8 Qxc8= Black has finally consolidated. 32.Qa3 Nc5 33.Qf3 Kg7 There was also nothing wrong with 33...f5!? 34.Rd4 f5 35.Rh4 This move isn't scary, since White cannot create any serious threats. Ra7 36.h3 Ne4 Anish could have tried 36...Ra1+ 37.Kg2 Kg8 38.Bb5 Qb7 39.Bc6 Qc7 though after 40.Bb5 the vulnerablity of Black's king gives White sufficient counterplay. 37.Bxe4 Qc1+ 38.Kh2 Ra1 39.Qh1 Liqudating into a drawish rook ending. The remaining few moves didn't change much. fxe4 40.Qxc1 Rxc1 41.Rxe4 b5 42.Re5 b4 43.Rb5 Rc2 44.Rxb4 Rxe2 ½–½
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Caruana,F2802Giri,A2790½–½2015E15Gashimov Memorial 2nd5

***

Who would like to leave the paradise? However, sometimes you need to show a lot of skill to keep your rook on the 7th rank.

Vidit-Wang, Danzhou 2019, White to move:

White’s 7th rank is of the most precious sort. Some authors call it the "absolute 7th rank". The white rook controls all the squares on this rank, and the black monarch can not escape. Is this not a paradasie?

Well, not exactly. Black is prepared to do everything to expel the white rook, or exchange it. White needs to be smart to keep it in the paradise. Vidit solved the problem with a nice pendulum maneuver.

33.Ra7!

The other retreat 33.Rb7 Qc6 34.Ra7 Qc1+ allows Black to exchange the queens and get a lot of counterplay against White’s b-pawn.

Now after 33...Ra8 34.Rb7 Qc6 White’s rook would return to the initial square: 35.Rc7. The gained tempo would allow White to keep the rook on the 7th rank.

Instead of all this, Wang tried to chase White’s rook with the queen:

33...Qc6 34.Bf4 Qb6

However, now White does not need to retreat with the rook, as …Qb6xa7 is refuted by the fork on e6. Therefore, White played simply 35.Qe5! and won smoothly.

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1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.Bg2 Be7 5.Nf3 0-0 6.0-0 dxc4 7.Qc2 7.Qa4 a6 ½-½ (85) Caruana,F (2828)-Dominguez Perez,L (2739) Saint Louis USA 2019 7...a6 8.Qxc4 b5 9.Qc2 Bb7 10.Bd2 Be4 11.Qc1 c6 This line, introduced at the high level in the game Giri-Kramnik, used to be considered equal in the past few years. However, recently many players with White came up with micro ideas to test Black. I had one such idea for this game. 12.a4 Nbd7 13.Nc3 Bg6 14.Nh4 Bh5 15.h3 A rare move. This was played in Caruana-Dominguez in the USA Championship 2019. Nd5 16.axb5 axb5 17.Nxd5!?N A new concept. The resulting positions look quite harmless. But as the game shows, White's idea does have some poison. 17.Rxa8 Qxa8 18.e4 Nb4 19.Bg5 Qd8 20.Bxe7 Qxe7 21.Qe3 Rd8 22.Rc1 Nf8 23.Bf3 Bxf3 24.Nxf3 ½-½ (85) Caruana,F (2828)-Dominguez Perez,L (2739) Saint Louis USA 2019 17...cxd5 18.Bf3 Bxf3 19.Nxf3 Qb6 20.Qc2 It might look harmless for Black, and it could actually be. Before the game, I didn't see a clear way to neutralize the pressure on both the c-file and the a-file. It felt a little uncomfortable for Black. My theory was approved by Wang Hao as he thought for more than 35 mins! Rac8 21.Qd3 Ra8 Looks strange! 22.Rxa8! Rxa8 23.Rc1 Taking complete control over c-file. Whereas black can't make much use of the open a-file. Also it's hard for black to come up with a plan. Whereas white just plays Bf4 and puts the major pieces on the c-file h6 24.Bf4 g5 A very committal decision. But I understand the reasoning. The threats of Rc7 were quite annoying. 24...Bd6 doesn't really work. 25.Bxd6 Qxd6 26.Qxb5 Rb8 27.Qa4 Rxb2 28.Rc8+ Kh7 29.Rd8+- 25.Ne5!? Straightforward and tempting! 25.Be3 Nf6 26.Kg2 Ne4 27.Ne5 followed by ideas of h4 was also an idea. 25...Nxe5? A pleasant surprise! 25...Nf6 Looked more compact. 26.Rc6 26.Be3 26...Qb7! 27.Be3 Ne4 28.Qc2 Bd6 Keeps things together concretely! 26.Bxe5± b4?! 26...Bf8 and Bg7 next is more tenable. Wang Hao clearly seemed frustrated at his position as he started to blitz out the moves from now on. 27.Qf3?! It's very tempting to attack on the kingside. The move itself is not bad as such, but in hindsight it seems like a step in the wrong direction. 27.h4! The queen on d3 is ideally placed as Black can't play f6. At the same time it's not easy to see how Black can possibly avoid the opening up of the kingside. 27...Qd8! 27...f6 28.Rc7 Bd8 29.Rd7 Qc6 30.Rxd8+! was the point! Rxd8 31.Qxf6+- 28.Qh5 Bf8 28...Qf8 29.Rc7+- Black's completely paralyzed. 29.Rc7 Qe8 30.h4? The big mistake! This throws away the entire advantage. I actually thought for over 20mins at this point. Probably the theory that if you think over 20mins you are more likely to make a mistake has some sense to it! 30.Kg2 Apparently just keeping the status quo was the way. Bg7 31.Bxg7 Kxg7 32.f4! gxf4 33.Qg4+ Kf8 34.Qxf4 Kg7 There are many good moves, but I like the Engine's suggestion of Kf3 :D 35.Kf3± 30...f5 31.Qf3 g4? The decisive error. As soon as I had played h4, I realized that instead of the automatic g4, Black can take on h4, with the concrete of idea of exchanging the queens. The logic behind this mistake could be that the entire game Black was trying to close up the kingside! He chose the wrong moment to do so. 31...gxh4! 32.gxh4 Qg6+ 33.Kh2 Qg4! The point! Black is now completely fine. 32.Qe3 Rc8 33.Ra7! Probably Black thought that he could keep challenging the rook on the 7th rank. 33.Rb7? Qc6 34.Ra7 Qc1+ 33...Qc6 33...Ra8 34.Rb7! Qc6 35.Rc7! The clever rook dance evades the exchange. 34.Bf4! Protecting c1 and avoiding the queen exchange. Qb6 35.Qe5! Very precise! There was another tempting option, which leads to a study like draw. 35.Rd7 Initially I was tempted to go in this direction. Qc6 36.Rd6 This flashy move looked quite tempting! Qc1+! 36...Bxd6 37.Qxe6++- 37.Qxc1 Rxc1+ 38.Bxc1 Bxd6 39.Bxh6 It looks like White is pawn up and he should be winnning, but in fact Black saves the game. b3! 40.Bd2 The only idea for white is to try to attack the b3 pawn with the King. e5 41.Bc3 41.dxe5 Bxe5 42.Bc1 Kh7 is easy draw. 41...e4 42.e3 The plan seems simple. Bring the king to d2 and then play Ba5 and Kc3. Kf7 43.Kf1 Kg6 44.Ke2 Be7 45.Kd2
45...f4‼ Absolutely brilliant defense 46.exf4 Bf6!= Surprisingly, There is no way to improve! 35...h5 36.Qf6 Rc1+ 37.Bxc1 Qxa7 38.Qxe6+ Qf7 39.Qc8+- Now the win is technical and White has more than one way to convert. Kh7 40.Bf4 Kg6 41.Be5 Be7 42.Qc6+ Kh7 43.e3 Bf8 44.Bd6 Bxd6 45.Qxd6+- b3 46.Qb6 1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Vidit,S2707Wang,H27371–02019E05Danzhou 10th7

***

The "longer" the 7th rank is, the more difficult it is for a defender to expel it. However, Anatoly Karpov was up to the task in the following example.

Karpov-Polgar, Linares 2001, White to move:

White is a pawn up. Also, Black’s minor pieces, especially the g6-bishop, are not very active. However, Polgar’s rook is a beast. Controlling the almost entire 7th (or 2nd, if you wish) rank, it seems to be the boss on the board.

Yet Karpov nicely shows that the rook lacks sufficient support. The game continued:

24.Kc1!

His majesty comes to the queenside to rob the rook off the squares a2 and b2.

24…Ne5

Black’s try to switch to the 8th (1st) rank would be unsuccessful either. After 24…Ra1+ 25.Kb2 Re1 26.Nf2! Black is hopeless against Nf2-d3 in combination with Nb5-c3.

25.Kb1 Rd2 26.Kc1 Ra2 27.Kb1 Ra2

Karpov is in no hurry. However, now he finally expels the rook.

28.Nc3 f5 29.Kb1 Rd8

Mission accomplished. White is winning.

Here's the complete game:

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MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.c4 b6 4.a3 Bb7 5.Nc3 d5 6.Bg5 Be7 7.Qa4+ Qd7 8.Qxd7+ Nbxd7 9.Nb5 0-0 10.cxd5 Nxd5 11.Bxe7 Nxe7 12.Nxc7 Rac8 13.Nb5 Rc2 14.Rb1 Be4 15.Ng5 Nf6 16.Nxa7 16.f3 Bd5 17.Nc3 Bc4 18.Nge4 Nfd5 19.Nd1 Nf5 20.Nd2 Nfe3 21.Nxc4 Nxc4 22.e4 Nde3 ½-½ Delemarre,J-Psakhis,L/Vlissingen 2000/ (27) 16...Bg6! 16...Ra8 17.e3 Bg6 18.Nb5 Rac8 19.Be2 Rxe2+ 20.Kxe2 Rc2+ 21.Ke1 h6 22.Nh3 Bd3 23.Nc3 Rxc3 24.bxc3 Bxb1 25.f3 Ne8 26.Kd2 1-0 Bacrot,E-Gershon,A/Linares op/2001/ (73) 17.f3 Rd8 18.e4 18.e3? Rd5 18...Nf5!? 19.h4 Rc7 20.e4 Rxa7 21.exd5 Bxb1 18...Rxd4? Polgar misses the great defense with 21.Rd1!, black can hope for full compensation after the initial 18...h6! TUTO 18...h6! 19.Nh3 Rxd4 20.Nf2 Rdd2 21.Nd3 Nfd5= 19.Nb5 Rdd2 20.b4 h6 21.Rd1! 21.Nh3 Nd7 22.Rd1 Rxd1+ 23.Kxd1 Ra2 21...Rxd1+ 22.Kxd1 Ra2 23.Nh3 Nd7 23...Nc6 24.Nf4 Kh7 25.Ne2± 24.Kc1 24.Nf4 Ne5 25.Kc1 N7c6 26.Kb1 Rf2 27.Nxg6 Nxg6 28.Nd6 Nd4 24...Ne5 25.Kb1 Rd2 26.Kc1 Ra2 27.Kb1 Rd2 28.Nc3 f5 28...Rd8 29.Kc1± 29.Kc1 Rd8 30.Nf4 Bf7 30...fxe4? 31.Nxg6 N7xg6 32.Nxe4± 31.Bb5 Rc8 32.Kb2 Karpov has consolidated the position and now has to manage the technical part. fxe4 33.fxe4 33.Nxe4!? Nd5 34.Nd6 Rd8 35.Nxf7 Kxf7 36.Rd1± 33...Be8 34.Bxe8 Rxe8 35.Kb3 35.Nxe6! Nc4+ 35...N7c6 36.Nc7+- 36.Kb3 Nd2+ 37.Kc2 Nxe4 38.Nxe4 Nd5 39.N6c5 bxc5 40.Nxc5 Re2+ 41.Kb3 Rxg2 42.b5+- 35...g5 36.Nfe2 36.Nxe6!? N7c6 37.Nc7 Nd4+ 38.Kb2 38.Ka4 Nd3 39.Rb1 Rf8 40.N3b5 Rf1 41.Nxd4 Rxb1 42.Nf5± 38...Rf8 39.N3b5 39.N3d5 Rf2+ 40.Kc3 Ne2+ 41.Kb3 Nd4+ 42.Ka4 Nc4 43.b5 Rc2 39...Rf2+ 40.Kc3 Nxb5+ 41.Nxb5 Rxg2 42.Kd4± 36...N7c6 37.h4 g4 37...Kg7 38.hxg5 hxg5 39.Rd1± 38.Rf1 Kg7 39.g3 39.Na4 Nd7 40.b5 Nce5 41.Nf4± 39...Rc8 40.Rd1 Kf6 41.Na4 Rb8 41...b5 42.Nc5 Na5+ 43.bxa5 Rxc5 44.Kb4 Rc4+ 45.Kxb5 Rxe4 46.Nf4 Re3 47.a6± 42.Rd6 Ke7 43.Rd1 Kf6 44.Rd2 Ke7 45.b5 Na5+ 46.Kb4 Nac4 46...Rb7 47.Nd4 Rb8 48.h5 Rb7 49.Rd1 Rb8 50.Nxb6 Rxb6 51.Kxa5+- 47.Rc2 Ne3 48.Rc7+ Kd6 48...Kf6 49.Nf4 Nf1 50.Rh7 Nxg3 51.Rxh6+ Kf7 52.Nc3 Re8 53.Rh7+ Kf6 54.Rb7+- 49.Rh7 Nd3+ 50.Kc3 50.Kb3 Nf2 51.Rxh6 Nxe4 52.Nf4 Re8 53.Nxb6 Nxg3 54.Nc4+ Nxc4 55.Kxc4 Nf5 56.Rg6+- 50...Nf2 51.Rxh6 Ke5 51...Nxe4+ 52.Kd3 Nf5 53.Rg6 Ke5 52.Rg6 Nxe4+ 53.Kb3 Nd2+ 54.Ka2 54.Kc3 Ne4+ 54...Ndc4 55.Nac3 55.Nb2 Nxb2 56.Kxb2 Kf5 57.h5 Rd8 55...Ra8 56.a4 Nd2 57.Kb2 Rd8 58.Rg5+? 58.Nf4± 58...Kf6 59.Ka2 Nf3 60.Ne4+ Kf7 61.Rh5 Nd5?       Polgar misses golden chance to exploit the unfortunate location of white rook. 61...Kg7! 62.Nf4 Ra8! 63.Nxe6+ 63.Kb3 e5! 64.Ne6+ Kg6 63...Kf7 64.N4g5+ Nxg5 65.Nxg5+ Kg6 66.Rh7 Rxa4+ 67.Kb3 Ra5 68.Kb4 Nd5+ 69.Kc4 Ne3+= 62.Rh6 Ra8 62...Rg8 63.Kb3± 63.Kb3 Rg8 64.h5 Ng5 65.N2c3 65.Nd6+ Ke7 66.Nc4+- 65...Nxc3 66.Nxc3 Rd8?! 66...Ke7 67.Ne2± 67.Rg6 Nf3 67...Rg8 68.Rxg8 Kxg8 69.a5 bxa5 70.b6 Nf3 71.Ka4 Ne5 72.Kxa5+- 68.Rxg4 Nd4+ 69.Kb2 e5 70.Rg5 Kf6 70...Re8 71.Ne4 Re6 72.Kc3+- 71.Ne4+ Ke6 72.Rg6+ Kd5 72...Kf5 73.Nd6++- 73.Rd6+! The h pawn decides, so white can use small combinations. Rxd6 74.Nxd6 Ne6 74...Kxd6 75.h6+- 75.h6 Ng5 76.Nc8 e4 77.Kc2 Kd4 78.Nd6 e3 79.a5! Kc5 79...bxa5 80.b6 e2 81.Kd2+- 80.a6 1–0
  • Start an analysis engine:
  • Try maximizing the board:
  • Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
  • Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
  • Drag the split bars between window panes.
  • Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Karpov,A2679Polgar,J26761–02001E12Linares 18th8

***

Playing with the minor pieces is relatively simple. They are not so mobile, and therefore it is easier to guess where they belong. Playing with major pieces is usually a more difficult task. However, one think is clear: The rooks love the 7th rank, and placing them there, you would only seldom commit a mistake.

In this video course, kings will play a role of strong and active pieces. We will explore how Kings can be helpful in defence and prophylaxis, or even in attack!

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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