Middle game tactics: Give more importance to understanding of openings and variations

In the game of chess, played in the present format since the15th century A.D., a number of great players in the past have introduced and successfully explored a variety of openings. Each and every one of those openings and the variations at each point of time they executed have a solid reasoning and belief. As an evolving player in the game of chess, it is absolutely essential that one should gain a good understanding of the various types of openings and their innumerable variations. One should be inquisitive enough to understand the logic behind each type of opening, the reason for the opening, what is the objective or motto behind each move and such other things. Memorizing the series of moves in a variation, especially in the opening stages of the game, that ultimately leads to the middle game would not do any good for an aspiring player to advance in his or her career.

Let me try to explain it with an example. One of the many types of openings that is quite popular among the grandmasters is the Spanish opening or the Ruy Lopez opening. The first couple of moves in this opening are as follows:

1.e4 e5
2.Nf3 Nc6

White’s third move in this opening is Bb5. What I am trying to stress here is that, instead of mechanically going about making this move, one should try to find the reason behind the move or the motive of White. In this case, White, by moving its light-squared kingside bishop to b5, is not only threatening the black knight at c3. It is indirectly attacking the black pawn at e5 by threatening the knight at c3, which is supporting the pawn at e5. In addition, the move has other positive implications as well. By removing the bishop from the first rank, decks are cleared for castling in the kingside. In addition, the light squared bishop is attempting for a pin on the black King by blocking the movement of queen pawn at d7. How black responds and how the game progresses is a different point here. The point I want to stress is that as a chess player, one should know and understand the motive as well as objective of each move played by you as well as by the opponent. In order to widen this knowledge, it is advisable to play and replay the games of the grandmasters and try to understand the logic or reasoning behind those moves.

Let us look at the following game played between two grandmasters in 1992, which would emphasize the importance of understanding the basic opening principles and not sticking to any specific variation or complications.

This game follows the famous Ruy Lopez opening and the first few moves are given hereunder:

1.e4 e5
2.Nf3 Nc6
3.Bb5 a6
4.Ba4 Nf6
5.0-0 b5
6.Bb3 Bb7 (This is Arkhangelsk Defense variation in Ruy Lopez)
7.c3 Nxe4
8.d4 Na5
9.Nxe5 Nxb3
10.Qxb3 Qf6
11.f3 Nc5

The game is interestingly poised and the position at the end of 11 moves is displayed here.

(White to Move)

Black is exerting pressure on the white queen and appears to have an upper hand despite losing a Knight, with his light squared bishop at b7 and Queen at f6 threatening White’s king side.

1.Ng4 …… White introduces a new variation – a bold move discarding
the threat on his Queen
….. Nxb3
2.Nxf6+ Ke7

The position after 13 moves is given hereunder :

(White to move)

The game continues further with White trying out yet another innovative variation as follows:

1.Bg5 ……

Yet another variation from variation; The move axb3 by White followed by Kxf6 by black would have restored parity with the loss of knights on both ends. Instead white decided to protect his Knight and sacrifice his rook at a1.

Nxa1 Black promptly obliged by capturing rook at a1
2.Re1+ Kd6
3.Bf4+ Kc6
4.d5+ Kc5

The position after 17 moves is given below.

(White to move)

The position seems to be awful for White and if given a chance or respite from relentless attack, Black would end up claiming victory is what one gets an impression from the present position.

Go ahead and see how the game proceeded further.

1.b4+ Kc4
2.Na3+ Kxc3
3.Ne4+ Kxb4
4.Rb1+ Kxa3
5.Nc3 …. Voila ! Black resigns sensing defeat.

The position at the end of white’s 22nd move is given below:

This game is an excellent example emphasizing on the importance of understanding the basics and motives of all types of openings and the variations than just memorizing the moves. Black has not done anything wrong, but it is the sheer brilliance of white which brought about this outcome.

Related posts:

1. Middle game tactics: Understanding fundamentals of openings and variations essential
2. Middle game tactics: Do not relax with opposite colored bishops
3. Middle game tactics: Use pawns judiciously; think twice before moving the pawns
4. Middle game tactics: Concentrating on fundamentals is very essential
5. Chess tips: Four things a beginner needs to know in middle game