December 22, 2007

You are NOT forced to!

We are always think at certain position it is forced to capture when the truth is the opposite.

When i was a kid, i made mistake almost like the below example several times before i learnt my lesson (the proof that i was no prodigy of course, haha!):

        

            Black to move

Let’s say white just move 1.h4 which is a mistake and we reach the above position. In order to hold position, black should think that he is NOT force to capture the pawn given and move his King instead. 1. … Kf6 for example is a good reply instead of 1. … gxh4 which lost immediately. (This is of course not a good example, but i bet, in blitz sometimes we make it unconciously if we never try to tackle the problem conciously. :P)

Next example. During National Closed 2007, i reached the below position:

        

            White to move

Black just recaptured white’s pawn with his knight: Nxc5. In this situation, we feel forced to take the knight 1. Nxc5 since the other natural option 1. Nc3 is bad in view of 1. … Nd3 2. Rc2 Bf6. However, if we observe more closely and free ourselves from natural “FORCED TO” way of thinking, then we will see 1.Rc3! is a more reliable option. It starts a big pin and threat a3 and b4. One example variation: 1. Rc3! f6 ( 1 … Rc8 2. Rfc1 f6 3. a3! +/=) 2. Rc1 e5 3. f4 ( 3.Nxc5 d4! 4. exd4 exd4 5. Rc4 Rac8=) 3. … exf4 4. exf4 and win.

A Master of course has trained themselves to think properly and consider every option. A strong master calculates forced variations with great accuracy. But, mind you, a stronger one is able to SEE and include the un-forced one in their calculation. Lets see the next example:

        

            Black to move

Above position is taken from Karpov-Kasparov, 9th game of World Chess Championship 1984/85. Kasparov, playing black, tried to hold the position and create a fortress. He thinks that 1. … gxh4 2. gxh4 will make his life easy in order to reach a drawn position since white’s King is a bit hard to penetrate into black position. Karpov has a different way of thinking. He simply didn’t take back! After 1 … gxh4, white simply moved his knight 2. Ng2 gxh3 3. Kxg3. His King has more power to penetrate into black position (although it is still far from easy and need a perfect technique, the idea is very instructive!).

So, like the intermediate move, always consider this option: sometimes, YOU ARE SIMPLY NOT FORCED TO make the move you are thinking you have to! Reconsider! Reconsider!


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