"The threat is stronger than its execution", is probably the most cryptic rule in chess culture. I remember that in my teenager years I was told this sentence (ascribed to Mr. Nimzowitsch) many times, and still could not understand it at all, although I was otherwise a relatively smart chess student. I was confused: Why shouldn't I execute a strong threat? Why should I wait? And what is actually so threatening about a threat that is not worth executing?
Recently I accidentally visited a chess forum on this topic, and saw that a huge portion of club players share my confusion about this rule.
A player nicked Divyesh_B asked: "I have heard this statement in many YouTube videos and some books but never actually understood that how can a threat be stronger than it's execution. So, can anyone please explain this to me?"
However, there was little clarity in the answers:
"The threat means the other side has to defend against it compromising their own ideas of making active plans against you....I suppose."
"Don't ask me I never said it....:("
"It basically means the threat is a bluff."
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So, it is our task today to explain this mysterious rule of Nimzowitsch. Let us start with a lovely example:
Shcherbakov - Daniliuk, Elista 1995, White to move:
White's light pieces resemble a gun that is prepared to fire. There are many different discovered checks at White's disposal, but none of them wins immediately. White therefore kept all his possibilities open and simply took 40.Qxa7!?, winning without much effort in the subsequent fight.
However, he could have won in a more direct way. The stunning 40.Qf4!! Qxa1+ 41.Kh2 was best, E.g. 41…Kf6 42.Qd6+ Be6 43.Qf8+ Bf7 44.Qg7+, winning the black queen in the corner.
Please note how in the previous line the white queen enjoyed the support of the f5-knight. The queen dance was possible only because White resisted to "fire the gun" and kept the knight in its dominating position.
Delaying the knight jump, White achieves a mysterious think: his knight is in fact located on several places at once. On f5, obviously, but also on h4, g3, e3, e7, d6 etc, as it can be transferred there in an instant. White's f5-knight resembles Schrödinger's cat. It is and isn't on f5 at the same time.
An unexecuted threat allows us to bother our opponent with two scenarios at the same time: 1) the threat will be executed and 2) the threat will not be executed. Our opponent has to adapt his play, so he is prepared for both scenarios. Thus, his possibilities are seriously limited and ours seriously expanded.
Also, we are usually delaying the execution of threats only when they are not decisive in this exact moment. Keeping the threat unexecuted therefore means looking for the best moment of its execution.
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In the following position, Black was far too hasty:
Petrosian-Zhou, Lake Sevan 2011, Black to move:
Petrosian has a nice attacking position. Most of his pieces are directed at the black king. Zhou therefore decided to pull an emergency brake and played 25…d3? However, this pawn sacrifice does not give him enough compensation. After 26.Bxd3 Nxd3 27.Rxd3 Rxd3 28.Qxd3 Rd8 29.Qe2 White is simply better. Black's pair of bishop is optically impressive, but he has no targets for attack and White has therefore time to gradually improve his position.
However, Black could have been much more patient. In the diagrammed position he has got many defensive resources, delaying the …d4-d3 move for a more suitable moment. As one of my pupils suggested, the paradoxical 25…h5! is very strong. Black slightly weakens the shelter of his monarch, but takes away the g4-square from the white knight, and thus slows down the attack. Of course, 26.Nf3 is a no-go, as then ...d4-d3 is much stronger than before. After a long analysis we have agreed that White should probably play 26.Bd3, stopping the thread to …d4-d3 for good. Then after 26…Nxd3 Black gets two bishops as in the game, but with his pawn still on d4 and material being still equal. A good result for a little bit of patience, is it not?
Here's the complete game:
1.e4 | 1,184,215 | 54% | 2421 | --- |
1.d4 | 958,932 | 55% | 2434 | --- |
1.Nf3 | 286,327 | 56% | 2441 | --- |
1.c4 | 184,722 | 56% | 2443 | --- |
1.g3 | 19,884 | 56% | 2427 | --- |
1.b3 | 14,598 | 54% | 2428 | --- |
1.f4 | 5,953 | 48% | 2377 | --- |
1.Nc3 | 3,906 | 50% | 2384 | --- |
1.b4 | 1,790 | 48% | 2378 | --- |
1.a3 | 1,250 | 54% | 2406 | --- |
1.e3 | 1,081 | 49% | 2409 | --- |
1.d3 | 969 | 50% | 2378 | --- |
1.g4 | 670 | 46% | 2361 | --- |
1.h4 | 466 | 54% | 2382 | --- |
1.c3 | 439 | 51% | 2425 | --- |
1.h3 | 289 | 56% | 2420 | --- |
1.a4 | 118 | 60% | 2461 | --- |
1.f3 | 100 | 47% | 2427 | --- |
1.Nh3 | 92 | 67% | 2511 | --- |
1.Na3 | 47 | 62% | 2476 | --- |
Please, wait...
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.c3 Nf6 4.h3 e6?! 4...Nc6 5.Bd3 d5! 5.Bd3 d5 6.e5 Nfd7 7.0-0 Nc6 8.Re1 Qc7 9.Qe2 Rb8 9...f6 10.exf6 Nxf6 11.Bf5 9...Be7 10.Bc2 b5 11.d3 b4?! 11...Be7 12.c4! Nb6 13.Nbd2 Be7 14.Nf1 14.cxd5 Nxd5 14...exd5 15.d4 c4 16.Nf1 15.Qe4 0-0 16.Nb3 14...0-0 15.Bf4 Bb7 16.Qe3 Rfd8 17.b3 Nd4 18.Nxd4 cxd4 19.Qg3 Nd7! 20.Bh6 Bf8 21.Bg5 21.Nh2 dxc4 22.bxc4 22.dxc4 Nc5 22...f6 23.Bf4 23.Ng4 f5 23...fxe5 24.Bxe5 Nxe5 25.Qxe5 Bd6 26.Qxe6+ Kh8 21...Re8 22.Bf4! 22.Nh2? f6 22...dxc4?! 22...Be7! 23.Nh2 Nf8! 24.Ng4? Ng6 23.dxc4 Nc5 24.Rad1 Rbd8 25.Nh2 d3 25...Kh8 26.Ng4 Qc6 27.f3 d3 28.Bb1 26.Bxd3 Nxd3 27.Rxd3 Rxd3 28.Qxd3 Rd8 29.Qe2 a5 29...Qa5 30.Rc1 30.Rd1 Qc6 31.Nf3 Rxd1+ 32.Qxd1 Be7 33.Qd4! h5 34.Be3! 34.Qa7?! g5 35.Be3 g4 36.hxg4 hxg4 37.Ne1 Qd7 34...a4 35.Qa7! a3 36.Qb8+ Kh7 37.Kh2! Kg6?! 37...Qd7 38.Qh8! h4? 38...Qc8 39.Qxc8 Bxc8 40.Nd4 Bc5 41.Nc2 39.Bh6‼ Bf6 40.Nxh4+! Bxh4 41.Qxg7+ Kf5 41...Kh5 42.g4# 42.Qg4+ 1–0
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Petrosian,T | 2636 | Zhou,J | 2636 | 1–0 | 2011 | B50 | Lake Sevan | 2 |
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The following example is from an extremely important game, the 10th game of the Carlsen-Karjakin 2016 match for the chess crown:
Carlsen-Karjakin, World Championship match (10), New York 2016, White to move:
A small reminder about the context: Carlsen was in a very difficult match situation. He lost the 8th game and won none. Therefore, with only two more games to go, he desperately needed to win this promising position.
White's plan is simple: he needs to push b4-b5. However, when should he strike? Now, or later?
When is it possible to delay a threat? Well, when your opponent has no means to prevent it anyway. Or, more generally, when he is not able to improve his position any time soon. In the diagrammed position, time has very little value for Black, as he is destined to defend passively for a long time.
Carlsen therefore decided to be patient. Delaying the threat, he has also put a serious psychological burden on his opponent. Black has to calculate b4-b5 at any moment in the following moves, and this costs a considerable amount of time and energy.
The game continued slowly:
48.Ra3 Nd4 49.Rd1 Nf5 50.Kh3 Nh6 51.f3 Rf7 52.Rd4 Nf5 53.Rd2 Rh7 54.Rb3 Ree7 55.Rdd3 Rh8
Magnus, is now the time?
56.Rb1
No, not yet. Let us lure the black h8-rook to a slightly inferior square…
56...Rhh7 57.b5!
Now! Carlsen has finally decided to start a direct attack and he was successful in the following fight. Karjakin resigned 18 moves later.
It is impossible to assume how much time and energy has Carlsen taken from his opponent by delaying the b4-b5 break, but I think most of us know from our own experience how psychologically difficult it is to wait passively in an inferior position.
Here's the complete game:
Replay and check the LiveBook here |
Please, wait...
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 3.Bc4 Bc5 3...Nf6 4.d3 4.0-0 Nxe4 5.Re1 4...Bc5 5.c3 5.Bxc6 dxc6 6.Qe2 Qe7 6...Bg4 7.h3 Bxf3 8.Qxf3 7.Nbd2 Bg4 8.h3 Bh5 9.a3 Nd7 10.b4 Bd6 11.Nc4 f6 12.Ne3 a5 13.Nf5 Qf8 14.bxa5 Rxa5 15.0-0 Qf7 16.a4 Nc5 16...0-0? 17.Bh6! 17.Qe1 b6 18.Nd2 Rxa4 19.Nc4 Bf8? 20.Be3 5...0-0 6.Bg5 6.Bxc6 bxc6 7.Nxe5 d5 6...h6 7.Bh4 Be7 7...g5 8.Bg3 d6 9.Nbd2 8.0-0 8.Bxc6 bxc6 9.Nxe5 Nxe4! 8...d6 9.Nbd2 9.Bg3 Nh5 9...Bd7 10.h3 Nh5 11.Bh2 f5∞ 10.Bxc6 bxc6 10...Nxg3 11.Bxb7! Bxb7 12.hxg3± 11.Nxe5 dxe5 12.Qxh5 Qxd3 13.Qxe5 Re8 9.Re1 Nh5 10.Bxe7 Qxe7 11.d4 Nf4= 9...Nh5 10.Bxe7 10.Bg3 Nxg3 11.hxg3 Bf6 11...Nb8 12.d4 c6 13.Bd3 Nd7 14.Nc4 Qc7 10...Qxe7 11.Nc4 11.Bxc6 bxc6 12.d4 12.g3 f5 12...Nf4 13.Qa4 Rb8 14.b3 Rb6 11...Nf4 11...f5 12.Ne3 fxe4 13.dxe4 Kh7= 12.Ne3 Qf6 12...f5 13.g3 fxe4 14.dxe4 Nh3+ 15.Kg2 13.g3 Nh3+ 14.Kh1 14.Kg2 Ne7 15.d4 Ng6 16.Bd3 14...Ne7 15.Bc4 15.d4 exd4 16.cxd4 c5= 15...c6 15...b5 16.Bb3 16.Bxb5 Rb8 16...Rb8 16.Bb3 Ng6 16...d5!? 17.exd5 cxd5 18.Nxd5 Nxd5 19.Bxd5 Rd8 20.Be4 Bg4! 17.Qe2 a5 18.a4 18.d4 a4 19.Bc2 Ng5 20.Nxg5 hxg5 21.Rad1 18...Be6 19.Bxe6!? 19.Nd2! Bxb3 20.Nxb3 Ng5 21.f3 19.Bc2 Ng5 20.Nxg5 hxg5 21.Rad1 19...fxe6 20.Nd2 d5 20...Nxf2+ 21.Kg1! 21.Kg2? Nh4+ 22.Kg1 22.gxh4? Qg6+ 22...Nh3+ 23.Kh1 Nf2+ 21...Nh3+ 22.Kg2 Nhf4+ 23.gxf4 Nxf4+ 24.Rxf4 exf4 24...Qxf4 25.Qf3! Qh4 26.Qg3 25.Nc2 e5 25...b5 26.e5! dxe5 27.Ne1!? 26.Qg4 21.Qh5!? 21.f3! Rad8 22.Rae1 21...Ng5 21...Nxf2+ 22.Kg2 22.Kg1 Qg5 23.Qxg5 Nh3+ 24.Kg2 Nxg5 22...Qf7! 23.Kg1 23.Qe2 Nh4+ 24.Kg1 24.gxh4? Qg6+ 24...Nh3+ 25.Kh1 Nf2+ 23...Qf6! 24.Kg2 24.Ng4 Qg5 24...Qf7= 22.h4 22.Rae1! Nf3 23.Ng4 Qg5 24.Qxg5 hxg5 25.Nxf3 Rxf3 26.Rd1± 22...Nf3 23.Nxf3 Qxf3+ 24.Qxf3 Rxf3 25.Kg2 Rf7 26.Rfe1 26.Ng4 h5 27.Nh2 Nf8 28.Nf3 Nd7 29.Rae1 26...h5 26...Raf8 27.Nd1 27.Re2 Nf4+ 28.gxf4 exf4 27...h5 28.Re2 27.Nf1 Kf8 27...Raf8 28.Re2 Rf3 29.Rd1 28.Nd2 Ke7 29.Re2 Kd6 30.Nf3 Raf8 31.Ng5 Re7 32.Rae1 Rfe8 33.Nf3 Nh8! 34.d4 34.b4 axb4 35.cxb4 Nf7 36.a5 34...exd4 35.Nxd4 g6 35...Nf7 36.exd5 cxd5 37.c4 dxc4 36.Re3 36.Nb3!? b6 37.Nd4 36...Nf7 37.e5+ 37.Rf3 Ne5 38.Rf6 Rf7 39.Rxf7 Nxf7 37...Kd7 38.Rf3 38.b4 38...Nh6?! 38...c5 39.Nb3 b6 40.Nd2 Nh8! 40...Rg8 41.Rf6 41.c4 41.Rf6 Rf7! 41...Rf7 38...g5 39.hxg5 Nxg5 40.Rf6 38...Rg8 39.Rf6 39.Rf6 Rg7 40.b4 40.c4!? 40...axb4 41.cxb4± Ng8 41...Nf5 42.Rf3 Nh6 43.a5 Nf5 44.Nb3 Kc7 45.Nc5?! 45.Rc1 Kb8 46.a6 Rc7 47.Rfc3 bxa6 48.Rxc6 Rxc6 49.Rxc6 Kb7 50.Na5+ Ka7 51.Rc7+ Kb8 52.Rf7+- 45...Kb8 46.Rb1 Ka7 47.Rd3 Rc7 47...g5 48.hxg5 Rxg5 49.b5+- 47...b6 48.Na4 48.axb6+ Kxb6 49.Ra3 Ra7 50.Rxa7 Kxa7 51.Kf3± 48.Ra3 Nd4 49.Rd1 Nf5 50.Kh3 Nh6 51.f3 Rf7 52.Rd4 Nf5 53.Rd2 53.Rf4 Rh7! 53...Rh7 54.Rb3 Ree7 55.Rdd3 55.b5! cxb5 56.Rxb5 Ne3 57.Rd3 Nc4 58.f4 55...Rh8 56.Rb1 Rhh7 57.b5! cxb5 58.Rxb5 d4 59.Rb6 Rc7 60.Nxe6 Rc3 61.Nf4 Rhc7 62.Nd5! 62.Rxg6 Rxd3 62...Rc1 63.Nxd3 Rc3 64.Rf6 Ne3 65.Nf4 62...Rxd3 63.Nxc7 Kb8 64.Nb5 Kc8 64...Rxf3 65.a6 65.Rxg6 Rxf3 66.Kg2! Rb3 67.Nd6+ Nxd6 68.Rxd6 Re3 69.e6 69.Rxd4? Rxe5 70.Ra4 Kd7 69...Kc7 69...d3 70.Kf2+- 70.Rxd4 Rxe6 70...Re5!? 71.e7!? Rxe7 72.Rd5 71.Rd5! Rh6 72.Kf3 Kb8 72...b6 73.axb6+ Kxb6 74.Kf4 Kc6 75.Rd8 Kc7 76.Rg8 Kd6 77.Kg5 Rh7 78.Kg6+- 72...Kc6 73.Rf5 Kd6 74.g4 hxg4+ 75.Kxg4+- 73.Kf4 73.g4 hxg4+ 74.Kxg4+- 73...Ka7 74.Kg5 Rh8 75.Kf6 1–0
- Start an analysis engine:
- Try maximizing the board:
- Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
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- Drag the split bars between window panes.
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Carlsen,M | 2853 | Karjakin,S | 2769 | 1–0 | 2016 | C65 | World-ch Carlsen-Karjakin +2-2=10 | 10 |
Please, wait...
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The "threat-execution" rule can help us also in calculation. It reminds us of the fact that attack can be advantageously slowed down after a few forceful moves.
Krasenkow-Radjabov, Dos Hermanas 2001, Black to move:
In this position, Radjabov decided to allow b2-b4 and played 11…Ne8. However, as I was writing my book "Beat the KID" about the Kings Indian defence in 2008, I found out that Black can be considerably more ambitious.
More logical is 11…Bd7!
Now white has to go 12.b4, as otherwise the threat …a5-a4 would slow him down on the queenside.
Black answers with a sacrifice:
12…Ncxe4! 13.Ndxe4 Nxe4 14.Nxe4 f5 15.Nc3
But what now? Black seems to have no suitable follow-up. 15…f4 gives away the e4-square, 15…e4 allows 16.Bd4. Does Black have enough compensation for the pawn?
Well, he does! All he needs to do is to remember the threat-execution rule. After the simple 15…Qe7!! White finds himself in a difficult situation. Suddenly Black threatens to play …f5-f4 followed immediately by …e5-e4. The position is still approximately equal, but it is much easier to play for Black than for White. (I can disclose that all the best moves for White are quite paradoxical: 16.h4, 16.b5, or even 16.Ne4).
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Let us sum up now what the rule "Threat is stronger than its execution" actually means:
- If you threat is immediately decisive, play it now! There is no reason to delay it.
- if your threat is promising but not decisive, it might be good to delay it, as this delay restricts opponents play, as he must prepare for different scenarios.
- Delaying the threat might also help you to find a more suitable moment for its execution.
- For your opponent it is also exhausting and psychologically difficult to wait for the threat to be executed, and therefore delaying your threat might give you a psychological edge.
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