MARK RUBERY CHESS
The ‘Hedgehog formation’ enjoys a sound reputation in chess theory for its resilience and flexibility that is chiefly characterised by its e and d pawns on the third rank. Such pawns guard the four central squares on the fourth rank, each pawn having two ‘quills’-hence the name Hedgehog. The Black strategy is normally to manoeuver constructively while looking for the opportunity to use effectively either the...d5 or ...b5 levers. A sporting analogy would be Mohammed Ali’s ropea-dope technique, where the famous boxer would encourage his opponent to crowd him into a small space, but always with the eye on a decisive counter-attack.
The Russian GM, Segei Shipov, is a great exponent of the ‘Hedgehog formation’ –which can arise either from the black side of the English Opening or Sicilian Defence- and here we see him defeat his opponent almost imperceptibly.
Fridman,D (2500) - Shipov,S (2535) [A30] Berliner Sommer Berlin (4), 1996
1.c4 Nf6 2.Nf3 c5 3.Nc3 e6 4.g3 b6 5.Bg2 Bb7 6.0–0 Be7 7.Re1 d6 8.e4 a6 9.d4 cxd4 10.Nxd4 Qc7 11.Be3 Nbd7 12.f4 Rc8 13.Rc1 Qb8 14.b3 0–0 15.Qe2 Qa8
(This is a typical destination for the queen, which also avoids such tactics as 15...Rfe8? 16 e5! dxe5 17 fxe5 Nxe5 18
Bf4 winning material) 16.Bf2 Rfe8 17.Bf3 h6 18.a4 Bf8 19.e5 dxe5 20.fxe5 Nh7 21.Bxb7 Qxb7 22.Nf3 f5! (The opening of the f file will expose the White king further) 23.exf6 Nhxf6 24.Ne5 Nxe5 25.Qxe5 Bb4 26.Qe2 Rcd8 27.Red1 Rxd1+ 28.Qxd1 Rf8! 29.Qe2 Qc6 30.Be3? (In a difficult position Fridman hastens the end) Nd7! 31.Bf2 Nc5 32.Na2 Nxb3 (Beginning a decisive combination) 33.Rb1 ...Rxf2! 0–1 ( 34 Qxf2 Bc5 or 34 Kxf2 Bc5+ 35 Ke1 Qh1+ 36 Qf1 Qe4+ 37 Qe2 Qxb1+ etc)
During an interview in the magazine New in Chess, Shipov fielded the following questions.
NiC: What do you see as your best result ever?
Shipov:
‘The Complete Hedgehog’-the English version of the book. My tournament results are trivial in comparison with it.
NiC: What was the best game you ever played?
Shipov:
Carlsen-Shipov, Tromso 2006. After it (and winning the tournament) I realised that I couldn’t do anything better as a practical player-and stopped playing in tournaments (well almost).