Understanding before Moving 27: A "multi-stage" plan

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5/16/2021 – 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 27th instalment of his ChessBase show "Understanding before Moving", Herman talks about the "multi-stage" plan. | Photo: Tommy Grooten

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In the position below White has a small strategic advantage because he has more space while Black has some weaknesses (including f6 and h6). But White also has a weak pawn on c4, which is typical for many lines of the Nimzo-Indian.

This position arose in an adjourned game between the Alexander Kotov from the Soviet Union and Gudmundur Arnlaugsson (Iceland) at the Chess Olympiad 1954 in Amsterdam. If White wants to win, he will have to work to find an entrance into Black's position.

There are two possibilities, via the g-file or via the "transfer point" h5. At the moment it is not quite clear where the knight on h5 should go and what a queen or a bishop on h5 can do.

Without wanting to think too much ahead, White formulated the first step of a "multi-stage plan". Do you have any idea what maneuvers Kotov thinks he can use to move forward? Try to formulate a winning plan in a schematic way.

This week’s show (for Premium Members only)