Key Concepts of Chess - Pawn Structures Vol.1 and 2
In this two-part course the emphasis will be on typical pawn-structures.
Last time we talked at length about David Bronstein, known as "the man who was not allowed to become world champion by order of the authorities". It is clear from many informal conversations with him as he has made his way west that this has become a major bruise on his soul. Fortunately, we also know Bronstein from the famous tournament book he wrote about the Candidates Tournament in Zurich in 1953.
Much has been said about this in the previous episode. In view of Bronstein's contribution to the Fianchetto variation against the King's Indian, I thought it would be good to return to it.
His brilliant combinations are well known, but that Bronstein was also an excellent strategist has been somewhat underexposed. So I would like to show you the following game - which he played in Zurich 1953 with the "dynamic weakness on d6" against the American Samuel Reshevsky.
In an exemplary manner, Black manages to gain a great positional advantage. Things do not go 100% well after that, but eventually Bronstein gets into a nice position with queens and bishops of opposite colour.
In the diagram position he has a dangerous mating threat, but White is busy chasing the black king with checks. The question now is where best to move the king. What would you play? 43...Ke7, 43...Kf7 or 43...Kg7?
Master Class Vol.10: Mikhail Botvinnik
Our experts show, using the games of Botvinnik, how to employ specific openings successfully, which model strategies are present in specific structures, how to find tactical solutions and rules for how to bring endings to a successful conclusion
This week’s show (for Premium Members only)
