There are numerous games in Grand Master play, Master Play and Expert Play where the player has been faced with THE BIG problem ; 2 ways seem to win ! …(or draw).
Many times to the dismay of the attacker, the drawn route has been chosen, and sometimes even the route chosen leads to a surprise turnaround and ends up losing !
The Great Oldbury in his Complete Ency. , and especially Vol.4 which should be studied excessively, layed down many midgame positions ; arranged by theme, in which can be seen examples of the sort.
Indeed, the only way to avoid this embarassing situation is to ‘see clearly’, to the end, ALL tenable variations, when analysing the position from which you believe the opponent has ‘gone off’ track.
Naturally ; thanks Derek !, during this visualization, parameters should be assessed at each and every stage of your visualization and of course ALL of the tricks of the trade should be kept in mind at every stage also (for this, use the time saving method ; Only Richard Pask’s books !!)
Many people, especially these days with the computer help we have, sometimes take for granted Grand Master games, and fail to appreciate that during a position, many variations have been visualized maybe 5, 6 lines or more and up to a depth of 8, 10, 20, 25… moves while always taking into account those tricks of the trade & parameters that could allow a timely escape or win !
To illustrate this topic, which I could transform into a book with the multitude of examples I have collected over time, I would like to put to you the following diagram :
White to play ; and win… well at least not draw, and especially not lose !
This position is rich in positional winning themes, winning themes which don’t, and tactical solutions.
This is the lesson for today ; How do you win with white ?
Basically only 2 moves could really attract the player with the white side ; 19-15 or 25-21…
Let’s look at 25-21, which a player, not really wanting to enage in a 19-15 move, may see as a cleaner win due to a later slip shot into square 2…
Does it work ? At least it could seem cleaner to him…So,
25-21 9-14 (6-10 loses cleanly because after the double exchange go 19-15 18-22 15-10 7x14 24-19 then mop up with a 2x1 into 7 !) 27-23A ‘no way out’…18x27 32x23 6-10 30-25, ‘yes I’ve got him’, 2-6, ‘pfff this or 11-15…he’s in the soup anyway’ ! 25-22 11-15 20-16 ‘trigger is on’ !, 14-18 !!! ‘ !!’what’s this’ !!
What I am saying is that if you want to beat the best, then from back at move 25-21 you should have seen that 8-11 24-20 15x24 and 22-18 wins BUT you should also have spotted this 14-18 exchange which wins for black.
It is only 12 moves in calculation from 25-21 to here, so not so deep or complicated, but there are a lot of contact points : so your vigilance should have been raised.
Naturally along the way, white probably could have spotted this surprising 14-18 move and ran for a draw…BUT what if the draw did not exist…then white would be the one sipping the soup !
The variation could continue :21x14 18x25 16-11 7x16 14x7 15-18 23x14 16x30 7-2 25-29 2x9 29-25 the point (which many of us can see to here from the initial 25-21 and allow us to scent even more the danger), forcing the piece on 31 to the very weak square 27 because of the threat 30-26 ; and which would win for black !
As Derek would say, Burnt fingers…(A nice end game variation shows a king and man holding 2 men and white king parameter ; Derek had a number for this !!)
A. Getting away from the point, but important to mention is that after the start of the line 25-21 9-14 32-28 (varying from 27-23) is very strong but after 18-22 27-23 6-9 13x6 2x9 19-16 12x19 23x16 8-12 30-25 …Ok, we did say that white took 25-21 in search of a quick clean win…This might do, but goes against the initial idea.
Now our attention, after visualizing all of this is turned to 19-15 ; we must see many essential points…
19-15 7-10 24-19 9-14 ? 19-16 12x19 26-22 17x26 30x7 2x11 31-26 10x19 27-23 W Wins, but this shot variation is very simple to see from 19-15
19-15 17-21 26-22 (holding 9 back on 14) 12-16 22-17 16-19 17-14 19x28 31-26 W Wins ( another line that should be seen clearly while checking for counter manoeuvers, and to be taken courageously no matter who the opponent is !)
19-15 17-21 26-22 (holding 9 back on 14) 12-16 22-17 7-10 32-28 15x24 28x19 16-19 31-26 W Wins
19-15 7-10 24-19 17-21 32-28 9-14 26-23 (locking on) 18-22 (the surprise move that you had obviously calculated at 19-15) 25x9 5x14 13-9 !! (and the surprise you had in store for black !) W Wins (some players will carry their visualization right through to the end going on to king etc just in order to be sure to pick up the win, but this execise is easy if you insist on pushing to look for just that one move further as Wiswell used to say…) others would be satisfied here that the position wins for white.
19-15 7-10 24-19 17-22 26x17 18-23 (or 18-22 same play by black) 27-18 9-14 18x9 5x21 13-9 ! again the move you would have calculated back at 19-15, W Wins
So, there you have it. A short study in a given position.
You can trust me, Grandmasters are visualizing this number of lines and in detailed depth in every position that requires these calculations BUT If you force yourself to see through these given variations AND clearly visualize each position at the end of each given run then rapid progress will be achieved.
This same exercise can also be carried out in, for example, Oldbury’s Vol. 4 positions.
By doing this exercise, you will find after a while that you float through mid game positions with ease and win win positions, and draw the drawn ones.
I may post another position shortly if this is received well by our members
Best regards and keep safe
William