Understanding before Moving 13: Compensation

by ChessBase
2/7/2021 – Herman Grooten is an International Master, a renowned trainer and the author of several highly acclaimed books about chess training and chess strategy. In the 13th part of his ChessBase show "Understanding before Moving" Herman shows why activity is sometimes more important than material. | Photo: Hans Hoornstra
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Understanding before Moving 13: Compensation

Sometimes chess seems simple, e.g. when you see how a strong player puts his pieces on the right squares, often with an easy and beautiful touch, while the the pieces of his opponent seem helpless and clumsy.
In such positions material is often less important than activity. In the position below the Dutch Grandmaster and former European Junior Champion John van der Wiel reached a strategically won position after sacrificing an exchange. How did he finish the game?

 
J. Van der Wiel - M. Frenken, 2017
White to move

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