Castling and pawn storming
Considering that it involves the movement of two pieces instead of just one, castling is one of the most peculiar rules of chess. Well, Kings do begin each game on a central file where they are likely to be exposed to attack in the middlegame. By exchanging locations with a Rook, Kings can try to hide near a corner shielded from immediate enemy fire by pawns. Moving those protective pawns forward to encroach upon enemy territory and break down barriers can often be a risky if not suicidal venture.
If your foe has castled, though, you may pawn storm toward him at will without endangering your King. A number of openings have mainline variations in which this occurs. Probably most noteworthy is the Sicilian Defense in which White often castles queenside and Black kingside. Then the race begins, each side hoping to reach the foe’s King first.
As in any race, timing is everything. A few sharp tactics to hasten one’s advance or miscalculations slowing one down can prove decisive. This column’s featured game is a excellent case in point. It took place between 15 yearold Bobby Fischer and Bent Larsen, one of the top non-Soviet players in the world. The event was the Interzonal, a meeting of the best players from each geographic area on Earth. The 21 competitors were hoping to be one of the final six to qualify for the Candidates tournament to select a challenger for the world champion. Few thought the teen would qualify, but he did.
In Fischer’s encounter with Larsen, a Dragon Variation of the Sicilian Defense occurred. Both sides pushed forth their pawns supported by their major and minor pieces. With Larsen threatening to break through, Fischer struck first, sacrificing a Rook for Knight (move 22) to quickly open lines for a successful King attack. Given one extra move, Larsen wouldhave played a 4 attacking the Bishop and followed with a break into the King’s pawn shield. A sit was, Fischer’s pawn protection was untouched and Larsen’s was obliterated.
Congratulations
the Western Pacific Open held in Irvine. Though he entered the last round undefeated, he could only become the champion by getting passed International Master Jack Peters, long established as one of the Golden State’s top players. Fittingly for this article, they fought a Sicilian battle with opposite wing castling and pawns advancing. Sheng arrived first with a beautiful series of tactical moves, breaking down his opponent’s King’s protection. Observe that White’s pawn storm only gained space but failed to open up his foe’s position.
[Peters, Jack - Sheng, Joshua] 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.Bd3 Bc5 6.Nb3 Be7 7.Qg4 g6 8.Nc3 d6 9. Qe2 Nd7 10. Be3 b6 11. f4 Ngf6 12.g4 Bb7 13.g5 Nh5 14.Rg1 0–0 15.f5 Re8 16. f6 Bf8 17.0–0–0 b5 18.Qf2 Qc7 19.Ne2 Nc5 20.Qh4 Rac8 21.Nxc5 dxc5 22.Ng3 c4 23.Be2 c3 24. b3 Bc5 25.Rd3 Bxe3+ 26.Rxe3 Qc5 27.Nf1 Red8 28.Bd3 Rxd3 29.b4 Qxb4 30.Rxd3 Bxe4 31.Rd7 Qb2+ 32.Kd1 Qxc2+ 33. Ke1 Bf3 34.Qd4 Qe2 mate.
Gameof theweek
Robert James Fischer - Bent Larsen Portoroz Interzonal Portoroz, Slovenia (Yugoslavia) 16.08.1958 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be3 Bg7 7.f3 0–0 8.Qd2 Nc6 9.Bc4 Nxd4 10.Bxd4 Be6 11.Bb3 Qa5 12.0–0–0 b5 13.Kb1 b4 14.Nd5 Bxd5 15.Bxd5 Rac8 16.Bb3 Rc7 17.h4 Qb5 18.h5 Rfc8 19.hxg6 hxg6 20.g4 a5 21.g5 Nh5 22.Rxh5 gxh5 23.g6 e5 24.gxf7+ Kf8 25.Be3 d5 26.exd5 Rxf7 27.d6 Rf6 28.Bg5 Qb7 29.Bxf6 Bxf6 30.d7 Rd8 31.Qd6+ 1–0