WEBVTT 00:00.870 --> 00:01.600 Hi there. 00:01.620 --> 00:05.890 In this lecture, we see Michael Adams playing against Alexander Vukovic. 00:05.940 --> 00:10.290 This is in the 1994 Teen Masters Open Round six. 00:10.290 --> 00:12.630 So a strong grandmaster with the black pieces. 00:12.760 --> 00:15.030 E-4 from Adams, We have a Sicilian defence. 00:15.060 --> 00:16.830 Might have free descents. 00:16.830 --> 00:19.260 Adams does not shy away from the main line. 00:19.260 --> 00:20.400 Sicilian defense. 00:20.610 --> 00:26.700 We have 96, 93, a six for E, six queens. 00:26.970 --> 00:28.090 This is a very interesting line. 00:28.110 --> 00:29.190 Queen B sex. 00:29.190 --> 00:31.650 And now a nice, interesting move. 00:31.950 --> 00:32.910 A free. 00:33.660 --> 00:40.950 So 96 is played because if Queen Tang's D for the queen is actually trapped of the bishop e free a very 00:40.950 --> 00:42.960 cute opening trap here. 00:43.140 --> 00:46.170 So if the queen has to give herself up, that's hopeless. 00:46.170 --> 00:52.310 So 96 might be free, Queen seven and now G four, B five. 00:52.320 --> 00:55.020 And now space gaining G 597. 00:55.380 --> 00:56.640 Bishop E three. 00:56.940 --> 00:58.050 Bishop B seven. 00:58.200 --> 00:59.070 Bishop D three. 00:59.080 --> 01:04.420 Black doesn't have to try and Castle kingside given these pawns are ready to kind of break through. 01:04.440 --> 01:12.570 We have instead g6h4 Bishop g7h5 and now 97 is played. 01:12.600 --> 01:18.210 There is a slight weakness of the last move here, which can be leveraged for positional means. 01:18.480 --> 01:25.980 And it is now, before we get into that, if Black had castled, then h six might be an idea. 01:27.180 --> 01:35.970 Now, if Black wants to give up the bishop this resulting position white can castle kingside and there's 01:35.970 --> 01:43.530 enough compensation here if Queen tanks C free Bishop D two is interesting here. 01:43.530 --> 01:47.810 How about the knight and skewing the queen and knight and there's no check. 01:47.820 --> 01:48.900 The knight stops the check. 01:48.900 --> 01:50.820 So it's an interesting tactics here. 01:52.410 --> 01:56.860 And Knight takes before he just straightens out the pawns. 01:56.870 --> 01:58.740 You know, what is black doing here? 01:58.740 --> 02:00.390 So let's say Rook, he ain't. 02:00.390 --> 02:05.130 This position should be in White's favor here. 02:06.660 --> 02:11.640 So this position overall with the king over there, one could start to open up things. 02:11.970 --> 02:14.630 So anyway, 97 is tonight. 02:14.640 --> 02:20.160 We have bishop divorced so a strategic kind of bishop exchange safeguarding C free as well from the 02:20.160 --> 02:22.560 possibility of the pawns being doubled. 02:22.590 --> 02:27.160 Bishop takes DD for Knight takes the four black consoles queenside. 02:27.180 --> 02:28.840 White castles queenside. 02:28.860 --> 02:35.310 One thing to bear in mind here, contrasting the two positions, this first rank is more likely to be 02:35.310 --> 02:36.830 clearer than this phone rank. 02:36.840 --> 02:43.170 There's a lot of pawns on this further and getting in the way so white potentially can use resources 02:43.590 --> 02:46.440 from one side of the board to the other, from the kingside to the queenside. 02:46.440 --> 02:47.400 Just bear that in mind. 02:47.400 --> 02:55.020 Here we have Queen B six and Bishop E two protecting the on D for King B eight and our rook h free. 02:55.020 --> 03:04.230 This is demonstrating that use of the third rank rook see ain't and we have Queen h1a very cute looking 03:04.230 --> 03:17.610 move dual purpose so this angle and also this angle batteries like that rook hf8 if king eight H thinks 03:17.610 --> 03:21.270 g why it doesn't have to win a pawn or anything. 03:21.450 --> 03:27.060 This position I can play like this and with advantage with a small edge. 03:27.060 --> 03:30.210 That's possible if one takes the pawn. 03:31.020 --> 03:32.790 The knights holding the rook is one or the other. 03:32.790 --> 03:38.340 Rook black could play 95 and it's a bit messier than the game than it needs to be. 03:38.820 --> 03:41.850 Black is potentially getting some counterplay on the B file. 03:43.260 --> 03:46.410 So anyway, Rook h f a is played. 03:47.910 --> 03:51.360 We have king b19, C five. 03:51.840 --> 03:57.300 Bishop f3b 4/18 Queen Tanks B14 and Bishop G two. 03:57.300 --> 04:01.410 So clearing out that photo rank again and it's good prophylaxis for C free. 04:01.410 --> 04:03.060 It's been secured. 04:03.120 --> 04:04.950 We have 96. 04:04.950 --> 04:11.580 If a four we can actually make use of that rook on H Free Knight takes queen tanks, there's rook free 04:11.580 --> 04:17.850 and this position gets very comfortable after C Free Bishop If one black is on the scrutiny here, white's 04:17.850 --> 04:18.780 pretty solid. 04:19.260 --> 04:24.990 So we have 96 knights, A two queen B six knights. 04:25.020 --> 04:25.950 Be free. 04:27.910 --> 04:29.790 So that whole phone rank is clear. 04:29.800 --> 04:38.290 Now, even the -- on a free we have 97 Queen E one now looking to play for a five. 04:39.390 --> 04:52.870 Rook 58 rookie frame like B five and here -85 is played and it temps black for a combination in this 04:52.870 --> 05:02.170 position which is unsound black should play bishop eight in which case 90 C for Quincy seven. 05:02.890 --> 05:05.980 This position with nine C phrase should be in White's favor. 05:05.980 --> 05:11.200 For example, if we look at this resigning position, which it's really made great use of that third 05:11.200 --> 05:19.540 ranked rook and stands better by here Bishop takes e four is played and there's a slight problem here 05:19.540 --> 05:25.150 with this combination Bishop takes E four, nine takes E four. 05:25.150 --> 05:28.000 So tricky Mickey is activated here. 05:28.090 --> 05:35.440 One thing not to fall into is basically, you know, one has to play the right move here. 05:35.440 --> 05:37.840 If Rook takes E four, this would be a disaster. 05:37.840 --> 05:40.300 Can you see how it's a disaster? 05:41.870 --> 05:44.360 You know, a positional player playing a14 opening. 05:44.360 --> 05:49.370 And these kind of open Sicilians needs to be tactically alert. 05:49.370 --> 05:52.760 And here Knights, a free check would be a crusher. 05:53.780 --> 05:58.520 So one point emphatically made is Rook, take two is checkmate there. 05:58.670 --> 06:05.330 The other point emphatically made as well is if King E one, there's no take C to check and then taking 06:05.330 --> 06:06.230 out the queen. 06:06.230 --> 06:11.300 And you might think, Well, hold on, it's not the end of the story, Rook before it kind of is King 06:11.300 --> 06:17.480 E seven and after Rook takes B six, King takes B six. 06:17.480 --> 06:17.900 Yeah, one. 06:17.900 --> 06:19.970 It's just totally material down. 06:20.450 --> 06:24.680 Just this, this well, significantly material tone at this level. 06:25.520 --> 06:33.200 The exchange black is the exchange up and look at White's pawn the kind of weak So yes there is an alternate 06:33.200 --> 06:34.190 move here. 06:36.680 --> 06:41.450 Which seems to be based on strengthening the position during the opponent's combination. 06:41.990 --> 06:43.580 It's a really great strengthening move. 06:43.610 --> 06:44.810 Can you see what it is? 06:46.420 --> 06:48.460 Well potentially strengthening C for. 06:50.230 --> 06:50.830 Yeah. 06:50.860 --> 06:51.760 See for. 06:54.780 --> 06:56.280 So what does Blake do here? 06:56.310 --> 06:59.160 We have actually nice to have, too. 07:00.030 --> 07:04.740 And now another strengthening move in the in the middle of blacks combination is going wrong. 07:04.740 --> 07:07.920 Blacks combination because whites not taking any bait. 07:08.310 --> 07:11.730 Why is playing this currently a pawn down? 07:11.730 --> 07:13.440 And just please calmly rook c one. 07:13.920 --> 07:16.650 Strengthening C for strengthening C two. 07:18.500 --> 07:21.500 And asking questions. 07:21.500 --> 07:23.210 You know, both lines were attacked. 07:23.990 --> 07:30.860 If Queen takes F2 had been played here, then might a free check. 07:33.190 --> 07:38.230 And yeah this is still kind of. 07:40.520 --> 07:46.000 Potentially problematic if King A1 Black has a tactic. 07:46.010 --> 07:47.210 Can you see what that is? 07:48.430 --> 07:48.670 Yet. 07:48.670 --> 07:50.650 Queen size E three will be vicious 07:53.680 --> 07:57.480 because, you know, if if it's ignored, then D five. 07:57.490 --> 08:00.400 But if it's not ignored, you know black's better than that. 08:00.400 --> 08:01.240 If it's not ignored. 08:01.240 --> 08:03.720 If Queen takes ea frelund 90 to check. 08:03.730 --> 08:05.740 And again, blacks are naughty. 08:05.740 --> 08:13.460 But the thing is, in this line, actually King C one is possible for advantage for white, so it might 08:13.480 --> 08:19.900 take for just taking on C form is a piece up here, but Adams does better with Rook C one. 08:20.840 --> 08:22.400 He avoids that stuff. 08:23.180 --> 08:25.940 He's actually taking out the counterplay from Black's position. 08:26.030 --> 08:34.070 We have 94 and now another strengthening move, which kind of takes out the counterplay of Black's position. 08:34.070 --> 08:38.420 Rook free, just holding the knight with both pieces now. 08:38.420 --> 08:40.070 So one is really frightening. 08:40.070 --> 08:41.510 Queen size F2. 08:41.990 --> 08:44.900 So Knight G4 is played, but now Queen G won. 08:45.230 --> 08:48.560 And there's a big, big tactical problem here. 08:48.560 --> 08:51.010 It's not just that the knight is attacked. 08:51.020 --> 08:56.060 This knight is pinned to the queen, which means Rook be free is actually friends to kind of win the 08:56.060 --> 08:59.450 queen, you know, because if Knight takes then there's Queen takes B six. 08:59.450 --> 09:02.960 So it's chill Frats queen, G4 and rock be free here. 09:03.290 --> 09:10.370 So look at this transformation through a series of strengthening moves during the opponent's combination, 09:10.370 --> 09:13.530 just not taking the material, instead strengthening the position. 09:13.550 --> 09:18.020 And this shows a deeper backfire of the whole combination. 09:18.020 --> 09:22.040 We have King seven So if G takes H five, let's put this on the board. 09:22.040 --> 09:23.660 That would protect the knight. 09:23.930 --> 09:25.400 But then there's rook be free. 09:27.020 --> 09:29.960 So this queen says, Be free. 09:31.190 --> 09:35.420 Otherwise you're a nine times we're just taking the queen will check and this is just hopeless nine 09:35.420 --> 09:41.210 times be free and and we're picking up the knight on B free after first we can take that pawn out and 09:41.210 --> 09:43.460 then take the knight as example. 09:43.460 --> 09:44.390 And that's winning. 09:44.390 --> 09:49.070 So King, a seven is tried, but now it's very safe to take the knight. 09:49.070 --> 09:50.570 Look at these circumstances. 09:50.570 --> 09:51.980 There's no there's no fireworks. 09:51.980 --> 09:54.140 The fireworks have all been taken out. 09:54.740 --> 09:58.310 So Rook C five is played, Queen RD one. 09:58.970 --> 10:05.330 So that's indirectly defending the B Free Knight by looking at the form rook means. 10:06.560 --> 10:08.240 And this threatens mate. 10:08.240 --> 10:14.810 But Adams just takes on D for defending the main France rook takes a five and yeah, white's just the 10:14.810 --> 10:24.890 piece up so the queen's come off check Rook takes B end of game Black resigned so on King takes b8h 10:24.890 --> 10:32.900 takes h takes rook at one White has a big advantage and you might think hold on Kings Russia Why Why 10:32.900 --> 10:36.200 are you showing this kind of tactical game? 10:36.200 --> 10:43.430 Well, Adams plays one E4 positionally and it shows even during what seems to be a promising combination. 10:43.430 --> 10:47.300 How does the positional player shut down a tactical combination? 10:47.300 --> 10:54.170 This is surely a key skill for a positional player to be able to shut down potentially dangerous looking 10:54.170 --> 11:00.380 combinations as well as, you know, amazing use of that third rank, which is a positional advantage 11:00.380 --> 11:05.900 you could consider in the position that it has this flexibility to use resources from one side of the 11:05.900 --> 11:11.240 board to the other to get involved in essentially what looks like tactical prophylaxis, you know, 11:11.310 --> 11:15.380 reinforcing strong, potentially vulnerable points, rather making them strong. 11:15.590 --> 11:26.000 And yeah, the combination it's it's just funny how it's bypassed that one is carrying some potentially 11:26.000 --> 11:29.720 unattended under protected pieces but it's an illusion here. 11:29.720 --> 11:31.010 This just doesn't work. 11:31.010 --> 11:35.420 Bishop thinks E4 just does not work. 11:35.720 --> 11:38.150 It's fun stuff. 11:38.150 --> 11:43.580 So yes, taking here and then this tricky Mikki move C4. 11:45.950 --> 11:49.010 Yeah that's tricky Making is sometimes nicknames as well. 11:49.010 --> 11:50.060 Yeah, it's a tricky move. 11:50.060 --> 12:00.830 It's it's just leading black into a position where there's a material loss with, with white holding 12:01.370 --> 12:02.600 all the counterplay. 12:02.780 --> 12:04.090 So rook fraying. 12:04.100 --> 12:09.860 It's leading to material loss because of subtle reasons here that this knight on a five is actually 12:09.860 --> 12:11.120 supporting be free. 12:11.300 --> 12:12.470 Great stuff. 12:12.470 --> 12:13.910 I hope you enjoyed this one. 12:14.870 --> 12:15.770 Amazing. 12:15.770 --> 12:16.180 I hope. 12:16.310 --> 12:16.940 Yeah. 12:16.940 --> 12:25.190 Inspirational and showing that we can play fun one E4 openings with positional ideas and making use 12:25.190 --> 12:28.520 of extra space and mobility from one side or the other to the other. 12:30.260 --> 12:30.980 And so much.