WEBVTT 00:00.990 --> 00:01.680 Hi there. 00:01.710 --> 00:06.870 In this lecture, we see an absolutely fascinating game showing a minority attack. 00:06.900 --> 00:10.360 This is Loch Fang Wheelie against Britain's Nigel Short. 00:10.380 --> 00:14.610 So two very strong grandmasters, Dutch versus British. 00:15.000 --> 00:17.400 So lockdown winning Dutch grandmaster. 00:17.400 --> 00:24.910 We have this game in the 2010 chorus group eight on one round one D form from when Van Weenie we have 00:25.170 --> 00:31.250 a short play nine of 6c4e6 now nine to free the five. 00:31.260 --> 00:38.790 So we transpose into a Queen's Gambit declined and the exchange variation in C takes d5e tanks D five, 00:39.090 --> 00:40.680 G five, C six. 00:41.160 --> 00:44.770 So we have this cold mad structure. 00:44.790 --> 00:51.360 So the classic minority attack would involve basically sometimes like this to cause structural damage. 00:51.510 --> 00:53.850 So what is the key point about this? 00:54.660 --> 01:01.140 One key point If one achieves this minority attack, there is a backward pawn and an isolated pawn here. 01:01.650 --> 01:05.970 And if things get dissolved, say black tries to play a five. 01:05.970 --> 01:14.220 We also get basically files, we get files, and if we get files, we can get rank pressure. 01:14.220 --> 01:17.130 If we get ranked pressure, we can get targets later. 01:17.130 --> 01:24.660 So bear that in mind, there's an evolution of advantages which could happen and it is shown in this 01:24.660 --> 01:31.710 game and it almost as if the accumulation is also reflecting an amplification of pressure eventually 01:31.710 --> 01:32.940 on the seventh rank. 01:32.940 --> 01:35.970 But to get to the seven Frank, we need to blast through files. 01:35.970 --> 01:41.520 So the minority TAC plays actually a key role in this whole idea in this game. 01:41.520 --> 01:43.370 So we'll see this unravel. 01:43.380 --> 01:47.760 It's very, very interesting how the accumulation of voltages is in this particular game. 01:47.760 --> 01:53.130 It's quite vivid how it links to an increase in amplification of pressure. 01:54.570 --> 02:01.350 So we have C six if Bishop e seven, just for the record, E three this position is fairly standard 02:01.350 --> 02:04.800 looking white could play 95 here. 02:06.550 --> 02:11.650 If Blank is playing quite passively in this kind of Pillsbury bind with the Bishop outside of the pawn 02:11.650 --> 02:14.410 chain should be quite nice for why. 02:14.410 --> 02:18.040 So this position might could even get an attack. 02:18.520 --> 02:23.560 If black's playing passively without sex you might question, you know was c sex essential? 02:23.560 --> 02:25.000 That was my question here. 02:25.240 --> 02:29.290 White can drive through an attack if anything as an example. 02:29.290 --> 02:33.640 So Bishop G five we have C sex being committed to e three. 02:33.640 --> 02:37.390 Bishop e seven we have Queen C two. 02:38.170 --> 02:39.310 So this is interesting. 02:39.340 --> 02:41.050 Trying to get control of the E four square. 02:41.050 --> 02:48.970 If Bishop de Frey there is a potential frame of 94, the bishop could drop back 96. 02:48.970 --> 02:50.560 Well, it does have a small edge. 02:50.560 --> 02:52.750 So Queen C two is a good move though. 02:52.750 --> 03:00.490 Black castles and now Bishop D Free rookie ain't now H Free OC. 03:00.850 --> 03:06.070 We have Knights of Eight and our Bishop F for a five. 03:07.540 --> 03:10.630 So this is an interesting trying to prevent the classic minority attack. 03:10.630 --> 03:16.940 So the problem is as mentioned, if this pawns dissolved, there could be a file which could lead to 03:16.940 --> 03:17.290 a sermon. 03:17.290 --> 03:18.910 Frank, just bear that in mind. 03:19.330 --> 03:26.350 If Bishop de six had, there is an interesting possibility for why it's Castle Queenside, but technically 03:26.350 --> 03:33.010 it seems the best move would be to go for a minority attack with Rook B one and then just be four with 03:33.010 --> 03:33.910 a small edge. 03:33.910 --> 03:36.670 You know, this position is going to be nice for white, so. 03:36.670 --> 03:37.360 Okay. 03:39.550 --> 03:43.960 85 is played here, white consoles, 96, Bishop 82. 03:43.960 --> 03:49.300 And we see actually, this knight isn't given too many possibilities. 03:49.300 --> 03:49.960 It's blunted. 03:49.960 --> 03:52.290 That's a blunted knight on G six right now. 03:52.300 --> 03:58.990 Bishop D six won't takes on D six which secures more comfortably potential Outpost square and C five. 03:59.200 --> 04:06.220 That semi-open file has the outpost square which is quite interesting C five to bear in mind we have 04:06.220 --> 04:09.510 Rook have one and now bishop is six. 04:10.930 --> 04:16.540 If Bishop D seven, you know, we could play like this simply with two rooks together and aim for a 04:16.810 --> 04:17.680 small edge. 04:17.680 --> 04:28.180 So Bishop e six, a free rookie seven here if 97 have a look at this for a moment and g six this position 04:28.180 --> 04:32.170 where bishop at five it should still be a small edge if blank. 04:32.410 --> 04:38.140 Once the bishops exchanged off the lights by bishops, it's still going to be a small edge for white. 04:38.140 --> 04:45.250 This scenario minority attack is causing some structural issues and what has a tactical idea here might 04:45.250 --> 04:49.900 be five in this variation example and even if simplification. 04:49.900 --> 04:54.460 So we're hitting the rook on a three, we can take on a three and yeah, we've got a pleasant enough 04:54.460 --> 04:56.260 position, but it is pretty simplified. 04:56.260 --> 04:57.730 So 97. 04:58.690 --> 05:02.050 Is interesting trying to improve that Nikon G. 05:02.050 --> 05:04.300 Six is not really doing anything in the game. 05:04.480 --> 05:13.030 It's why it's able to take off that night when the opportunity arises for it being favorable to do so. 05:13.150 --> 05:15.010 So that's interesting to consider. 05:15.010 --> 05:17.830 Okay, so rook ab1 rook a eight. 05:18.430 --> 05:24.250 We have B for A takes, a takes, and you can see that we're trying, you know, we're getting fouls 05:24.250 --> 05:30.070 potentially if we get another foul, If we get to fouls, we can literally use an amplification strategy 05:30.070 --> 05:30.940 on the seven francs. 05:30.940 --> 05:33.700 So this in a way, this is all part of amplification. 05:33.700 --> 05:38.260 Even the alt post on C five could help amplify the rooks on the seventh. 05:38.260 --> 05:46.750 If we get rooks on the seventh, Bishop RD seven, we have B five and now 94. 05:46.870 --> 05:54.460 If C five, we can play D tanks here and this position is going to be quite pleasant and as you might 05:54.460 --> 05:55.300 suspect. 05:55.300 --> 06:00.520 So this is a nice blockade score on D four and one. 06:00.520 --> 06:02.680 It's getting a nice advantage there. 06:02.860 --> 06:07.570 If C takes that last we can D five, we can play nine, takes B five and the like. 06:07.570 --> 06:09.160 Square bishop is quite nice here. 06:09.550 --> 06:12.670 This should secure an advantage in its own right. 06:12.760 --> 06:17.050 This position and 95 here. 06:17.350 --> 06:17.950 That's nice. 06:17.950 --> 06:21.370 So 9e4 though is played We have B tanks. 06:22.870 --> 06:25.840 This is better than taking on E four. 06:25.870 --> 06:27.100 This is not going to leave. 06:27.100 --> 06:31.060 This would be a bad idea because the Knights activated on h four. 06:31.060 --> 06:32.170 It's a bad idea. 06:32.560 --> 06:35.200 If the knight gets aggressive, then it's more justified. 06:35.200 --> 06:41.080 In fact, Black has Queen G six here looking to checkmate and then this position is getting scary. 06:41.290 --> 06:42.670 There's no need for this. 06:43.210 --> 06:52.390 So B tanks keep this knights kind of bad bad knights, you know it hasn't got f4 H four so B tank C 06:52.390 --> 06:53.380 six is played. 06:53.380 --> 06:57.610 If Bishop takes six, this position is fairly pleasant. 06:57.610 --> 07:05.230 We can try and play Bishop B five and try and just just have a nice advantage here. 07:05.230 --> 07:10.570 It's the superior minor pieces which give one advantage and the structural damage. 07:10.570 --> 07:17.890 So B tanks is played and now rook B six, so not B seven immediately. 07:17.890 --> 07:18.940 So that's interesting. 07:18.940 --> 07:28.930 There are things like Bishop's eight perhaps we have might take C free if Queen f6, then Knight takes 07:28.930 --> 07:29.830 D five. 07:29.830 --> 07:34.990 So that's another point of rugby six It's preventing that move. 07:34.990 --> 07:40.090 Queen F six it's pinning that C six point So it is prevention. 07:40.090 --> 07:43.690 We start to see prevention ideas. 07:43.690 --> 07:46.030 So that is one of them actually rook these six. 07:46.330 --> 07:48.610 So 8c3 is played. 07:51.250 --> 07:52.390 Just to make that clearer. 07:52.390 --> 07:57.580 So on Queen F 6.65 C text, we're taking the Queen. 07:58.300 --> 08:00.400 So like take C four, it is blank. 08:00.400 --> 08:01.960 We have Queen C free. 08:01.960 --> 08:08.380 So the scene is set for both rooks to land on the seven frank and start amplifying, amplifying pressure 08:08.380 --> 08:10.780 and anoints four nights on C five. 08:10.780 --> 08:11.500 It's going to assist. 08:11.500 --> 08:16.090 Potentially it will have squares to poke into like E six and DD seven. 08:16.450 --> 08:19.090 So just bear this in mind, this thematic idea. 08:19.150 --> 08:22.510 But in the meantime, Black is now threatening. 08:22.510 --> 08:23.650 Bishop takes h three. 08:23.650 --> 08:24.940 We have to prevent that. 08:25.450 --> 08:31.890 We have Bishop takes G six, first Queen six, G six and now the threat is Bishop takes H three. 08:31.900 --> 08:37.150 So you might think, well, that was a strange decision that Knight wasn't doing anything, but this 08:37.150 --> 08:37.840 is good enough. 08:37.840 --> 08:40.360 So King F one preventing Bishop takes H free. 08:41.710 --> 08:43.120 We have six. 08:44.940 --> 08:47.670 So black is preventing 95 there. 08:48.000 --> 08:55.590 If Queen F six is an example 95 and this position is unfortunate for black one, it's getting a nice, 08:55.590 --> 08:57.010 big, juicy advantage here. 08:57.030 --> 09:01.140 So f six now this does weaken that seven. 09:01.140 --> 09:03.990 Frank, bear in mind if we're getting rooks to the seventh. 09:04.170 --> 09:08.010 That's one more door open to the king Rook one. 09:08.250 --> 09:09.780 And we start to see this. 09:10.560 --> 09:12.660 But first again, black is frightening. 09:12.660 --> 09:16.080 Bishop takes H free for queen takes free. 09:16.110 --> 09:17.700 So 91, queen at five. 09:17.700 --> 09:19.620 And now can you see what black is threatening? 09:22.030 --> 09:22.410 Yeah. 09:22.410 --> 09:26.400 You have to see what the opponent's threatening rook takes if pinning that pawn. 09:29.110 --> 09:32.130 Could black have done better than this if Black had tried? 09:32.140 --> 09:33.390 Bishop takes H three here. 09:33.400 --> 09:38.470 By the way, you might be wondering, this isn't such a strong attack. 09:38.470 --> 09:41.050 White can live to tell the tale here. 09:41.050 --> 09:44.200 You know, this is a way of playing it. 09:44.350 --> 09:48.700 And yeah, we're just going to be a piece up for not much compensation for black. 09:48.700 --> 09:58.620 So Queen F five threatens Rook takes E free King G one Queen G five threatens Bishop takes H train OC 09:58.810 --> 10:03.820 So King H two and now Queen F five threatens Queen takes F too. 10:03.820 --> 10:07.510 So we address that night D free Queen E six. 10:07.510 --> 10:11.470 And now there is the possibility molder of Queen six check. 10:11.590 --> 10:16.600 So the king is actually tucked away with King G one preventing that in advance. 10:17.740 --> 10:19.150 Would that really be useful? 10:19.150 --> 10:20.200 Was King G one needed? 10:20.200 --> 10:24.400 And it is one of the best moves, it seems, if Rook be seven. 10:24.400 --> 10:27.430 The point is Queen D six could be handy. 10:27.430 --> 10:33.970 Gain tempo for bishop at five to gain tempo on the B seven rook and why it's more in a rush here and 10:33.970 --> 10:35.410 black could simplify. 10:35.410 --> 10:36.850 You know this position? 10:37.270 --> 10:38.540 Yeah black could simplify. 10:38.560 --> 10:41.410 And if we played Rook 8a7. 10:41.410 --> 10:45.790 This simplification is not going to be a big advantage for us. 10:45.790 --> 10:46.960 It's just a small edge. 10:46.960 --> 10:48.760 So this keeps options open. 10:48.760 --> 10:51.400 King G one without having to be in a hurry. 10:51.400 --> 10:56.680 Responding to tempo gainers we have rook see ain't. 10:58.160 --> 11:01.970 If Queenie thinks we're playing Rock seven hair. 11:02.330 --> 11:08.720 And the thing is, Bishop F5 is not possible Rook Tech C6 so it does confined black without the king 11:08.720 --> 11:09.290 being in check. 11:09.290 --> 11:11.420 There we can take on C six. 11:11.630 --> 11:17.510 So, you know, avoiding the opponent's temper again is is putting more restraints on what the opponent 11:17.510 --> 11:20.090 can do, preventing what the opponent can do. 11:20.300 --> 11:23.180 So okay, so rook C eight rook be seven. 11:23.180 --> 11:25.220 We see this sign that seven. 11:25.220 --> 11:31.490 Frank The advantage is growing into an amplification strategy on the seven Frank Rook have seven. 11:31.490 --> 11:32.630 Rook 8a7. 11:32.630 --> 11:36.710 So the two rooks doubled and you might think they're not doing anything. 11:36.710 --> 11:40.790 But if a knight comes to C five, this becomes more significant that the Queen gets involved, it becomes 11:40.790 --> 11:43.790 more significant, this seven frank pressure. 11:43.790 --> 11:47.270 And we see it growing in this game rather beautifully. 11:47.270 --> 11:54.260 We have Queen b4 rook the eight if rook tanks b seven hp. 11:54.380 --> 12:03.110 So in this position we have rook e seven and queen bee some we can amplify like this and we see now 12:03.110 --> 12:05.540 that black is getting stretched out. 12:07.660 --> 12:14.260 If Queen takes the free here, we just take on K, in fact, and say Queen Black's getting really stretched 12:14.260 --> 12:17.680 out of the night at four and. 12:19.730 --> 12:20.420 Yeah. 12:22.570 --> 12:23.740 Or we could just take it on. 12:24.190 --> 12:27.870 So anyway, you know, this is a disaster here we can just take on. 12:28.120 --> 12:29.560 Yeah, it's a total disaster. 12:31.780 --> 12:32.000 Yeah. 12:32.050 --> 12:35.830 So we can see how the amplification causes major, major issues. 12:35.830 --> 12:38.980 So, Rook, the eight, we have 95. 12:39.010 --> 12:39.820 Queen eight. 12:39.940 --> 12:41.140 Queen Bee six. 12:42.010 --> 12:43.060 H five. 12:44.050 --> 12:47.560 If rook takes B7, Rook takes B7, you might think, Is there enough hair? 12:47.560 --> 12:48.610 There is, actually. 12:48.640 --> 12:50.530 Guess what White has here tactically. 12:50.530 --> 12:54.130 So this tries to free the awkward configuration of the pieces. 12:54.490 --> 12:55.960 But guess what? 12:55.960 --> 13:00.880 Tactical move would exist here for ten points to crowd in the positional efforts. 13:02.200 --> 13:05.560 The outpost can The outpost Knight can take part in amplification. 13:05.560 --> 13:12.040 So even though one of the rooks has left the scene, 96, it's hitting RD eight, it's hitting G seven. 13:12.340 --> 13:14.140 It's helping amplify that rook. 13:15.430 --> 13:16.240 So. 13:17.210 --> 13:20.120 If the queen tanks, we're taking on day. 13:21.320 --> 13:22.140 What does that do? 13:22.160 --> 13:22.620 Rookie. 13:22.650 --> 13:25.340 Ain't we take on G seven dismantling the pawn chain. 13:26.150 --> 13:29.090 So anyway, age five is played now. 13:29.090 --> 13:30.050 Roxy seven. 13:32.080 --> 13:33.580 There were very good moves in this position. 13:33.820 --> 13:35.950 86 is also interesting. 13:37.090 --> 13:44.290 This way of playing it, whether it be eight is a problem because that like sporting rugby and we're 13:44.290 --> 13:46.940 going to win the eight rook, the Queen gives herself up. 13:46.960 --> 13:50.130 This is much better for white, much, much better. 13:50.140 --> 13:55.410 So 96 was also an interesting move here on the eight Frank four targets. 13:56.290 --> 13:59.590 So Rook C seven though is good Rook takes rook takes. 14:00.520 --> 14:04.240 If Queen st c seven you might think, is it enough here? 14:05.140 --> 14:07.450 What can play like this? 14:07.450 --> 14:11.050 This is still an edge in the endgame. 14:11.050 --> 14:15.520 White is so dominant like playing like this and still have an advantage. 14:16.120 --> 14:20.110 But it's more interesting the way the game is played out. 14:20.230 --> 14:26.260 If we keep the Queen's on the board, we can try and make the opponents to crown the positional efforts 14:26.260 --> 14:28.540 more effectively sometimes. 14:28.540 --> 14:31.120 But yeah, this is a way of playing it as well. 14:31.120 --> 14:33.310 But it's nice to keep the Queen's on the board. 14:34.030 --> 14:42.370 Queenie Rook seven Now there was a way of winning a pawn here as well with Rook takes G7 check for 96 14:42.370 --> 14:42.820 check. 14:42.820 --> 14:44.680 But this is more interesting. 14:45.010 --> 14:49.000 Seven In a way, Queen C eights would be seven. 14:49.000 --> 14:50.380 We have Bishop F seven. 14:50.980 --> 14:54.640 If H four, then 96. 14:54.640 --> 14:56.290 This tactic exists again. 14:56.290 --> 14:59.890 If the Queen takes Queen 68 this position we have rook be eight. 14:59.890 --> 15:00.730 It's very awkward. 15:00.730 --> 15:01.570 We're winning material. 15:01.570 --> 15:10.720 How frank if queen a queen C seven and look at this that seven Frank is crushing breaking point of the 15:10.720 --> 15:11.830 positional pressure. 15:12.160 --> 15:19.870 So Bishop F seven we have Queen seven, rook F eight and you might think, well, the amplification 15:19.870 --> 15:21.310 of the seven rankings and that's nothing. 15:21.310 --> 15:22.120 Absolutely nothing. 15:22.120 --> 15:24.250 Surely we can't exploit this. 15:24.250 --> 15:25.530 Actually, we can. 15:25.540 --> 15:32.680 Here is where tactics and combinations to crown of positional play tactics flow from superior positions, 15:32.680 --> 15:34.000 as Bobby Fischer says. 15:34.120 --> 15:38.980 And actually the tactics here for amplification along seven Frank exist. 15:39.670 --> 15:45.970 Can you see what it is we need to break down the doors 97 trying to move the ruck away and you might 15:45.970 --> 15:49.570 think, well, if we move the knight back to C five, then rook our fine. 15:49.720 --> 15:51.850 But tactics exist here. 15:52.360 --> 15:54.670 Guess what we can do with tempo? 15:55.300 --> 15:58.600 Tempo plays a key part here for ten points. 15:58.600 --> 15:59.470 What would you play? 16:01.120 --> 16:01.390 Yeah. 16:01.390 --> 16:02.590 We smashed down the doors. 16:02.590 --> 16:07.640 Night takes f6 check the culmination of White's positional strategy, its amplification on the seventh. 16:07.640 --> 16:13.870 Frank kind of making the books much more effective to get to that sub rank with juicy targets and any 16:13.870 --> 16:14.260 opponents. 16:14.260 --> 16:18.580 KING Especially so rook tanks F seven and they're amazing consequences here. 16:18.820 --> 16:23.320 Queen at five, Rook G seven King and now Queen F seven. 16:24.670 --> 16:26.290 And here the game ended. 16:26.290 --> 16:31.120 Nigel Short resigned here if Rook eights. 16:31.660 --> 16:38.170 One simple method is rook g free, which threatens Queen G seven Checkmate. 16:40.170 --> 16:46.120 And if check Yeah we play King H two and if the queen comes back, that's hopeless. 16:46.140 --> 16:47.940 Queen takes F six, check. 16:47.940 --> 16:50.640 Queen G seven, Queen six, G seven. 16:50.640 --> 16:51.330 Checkmate. 16:51.810 --> 16:55.110 I thought this game is an absolute masterpiece. 16:55.140 --> 17:01.260 Now, usually the palette of players in this course is like Karpov or Adams or Capablanca. 17:01.260 --> 17:09.840 But in this particular theme, this game for me is a very important kind of STEM game conceptually for 17:09.840 --> 17:11.070 the minority attack. 17:11.460 --> 17:18.570 And yes, the Dutch grandmaster showing how things really transition to the seven frank pressure where 17:19.290 --> 17:24.840 and you can have tactics and combinations to celebrate that seven Frank after so the structural damage 17:25.320 --> 17:30.090 leaves Rooks on seventh as well as a knight ready to jump in and knight outpaced on C5 in front of the 17:30.090 --> 17:35.280 backward pawn so very very interesting game example when we talk about accumulation of advantages, 17:35.280 --> 17:40.070 if we look at this for an engine graph, it's like gradual going up with no controversy. 17:40.080 --> 17:45.630 This is a kind of really professional game, not treating chess as gambling, but ruthless logic, as 17:45.630 --> 17:48.270 Karpov likes to say, ruthless logic or petrosian. 17:48.270 --> 17:54.570 We can see the ruthless logic of increasing amplification until bits drop off, basically, until there's 17:54.570 --> 17:58.620 so much positional pressure that concessions are going to be made. 17:58.620 --> 18:01.410 But it's good to be good tactically with combinations. 18:01.410 --> 18:06.810 So when you have these great positions with the pressure, you can see a way to break through that. 18:06.810 --> 18:08.970 There is a breaking point of the opponent's position. 18:08.970 --> 18:14.520 So in this case it was the 97 and Knight takes F six once we reach that positional pressure. 18:14.520 --> 18:21.690 So, yeah, a very, very beautiful game in my view, showing the amazing properties of a minority attack. 18:21.960 --> 18:22.830 Okay. 18:23.730 --> 18:24.630 Have you enjoyed it? 18:24.990 --> 18:26.850 I hope you got some instructive points from it. 18:27.390 --> 18:28.170 There's so much.