WEBVTT 00:01.140 --> 00:02.100 Hi there. 00:02.250 --> 00:04.740 In this lecture, we see Michael Adams against John M. 00:04.740 --> 00:11.220 So both grandmasters, this is 1991, the 15 points pointsbet masters open round ten D four from Adams. 00:11.220 --> 00:12.800 We have D five from M's 00:13.590 --> 00:20.910 c469c3956c Saints D five now Saints D five. 00:20.910 --> 00:30.850 Here we have e49c3b takes C five 9 to 3, C takes D four, C takes four. 00:30.930 --> 00:32.810 So let's have a look at the pawn structure. 00:32.820 --> 00:35.280 Black actually has a 2 to 1 pawn majority. 00:35.790 --> 00:38.760 If we split the board in two sections this section. 00:38.760 --> 00:39.210 But why? 00:39.210 --> 00:44.640 It has a majority on this side of the board and it's interesting to consider fundamentally how do we 00:44.640 --> 00:52.950 make these two connected past pawns If we're going to dream about them becoming past pawns, we'd want 00:52.950 --> 01:00.870 to lure this pawn away from E six and we want to lure that one away from F seven, because then both 01:00.870 --> 01:04.830 of these pawns could step up and step up without any interruption. 01:04.830 --> 01:05.950 You can imagine that scenario. 01:05.970 --> 01:13.140 So bear that in mind as a structural plan to try and create to pass pawns in the center, we'd need 01:13.140 --> 01:14.460 to distract these two guys. 01:14.460 --> 01:15.630 These are the blockers. 01:16.530 --> 01:19.650 These two guys are blocking the two pass pawns in the center. 01:19.680 --> 01:25.710 Bear that in mind, because we see a very interesting game which kind of demonstrates this fundamental 01:25.710 --> 01:34.920 plan to pass pawns In the center, we see 96 Bishop D free Bishop before Shaq. 01:34.950 --> 01:36.330 Of course not 1964. 01:36.330 --> 01:38.100 Well, I'll show it. 01:38.120 --> 01:39.900 Nine takes the fall Queen takes the fall. 01:39.900 --> 01:42.510 There's Bishop B five check winning the queen. 01:42.510 --> 01:44.250 So that's not a good idea for black. 01:44.250 --> 01:45.990 So Bishop B for Jack. 01:46.500 --> 01:50.880 Bishop dd two Bishop takes D to check Queen takes DD to Black Castles. 01:50.880 --> 01:58.530 Now, Bishop see to protecting that pawn on D four Queen A five while the Kingston Center simplification. 01:58.830 --> 02:06.240 Maybe John Adams wants to draw queen takes a596a5 Bishop D free A draw of black would be a good result. 02:06.240 --> 02:09.030 Bishop D seven But now King D two This is very nice. 02:09.030 --> 02:11.310 The king kept in the center usefully. 02:11.400 --> 02:14.010 Rook 895. 02:14.200 --> 02:15.810 Now here some interesting choices. 02:15.810 --> 02:26.220 We have Bishop a four It turns out here on detailed analysis that the King on D two is a good way, 02:26.760 --> 02:30.660 as is a good ingredient for black to use to try and equalize. 02:30.660 --> 02:35.730 Bishop A4 doesn't really help blacks cause it seems the nature of the game. 02:35.730 --> 02:37.290 It seems a bit one way. 02:37.710 --> 02:44.910 If Bishop e eight rook hc1 here White's getting a small edge with King E free. 02:44.910 --> 02:52.770 The king is not really a problem on E free here on Rook D eight though this seems to be a critical test 02:53.310 --> 02:59.400 just to play rook d eight Now if white takes on D seven, that's not a good idea. 02:59.400 --> 03:01.560 Black can build up on RD for Elche. 03:01.890 --> 03:06.150 These are now targets and drop ones Dropping off the pawns dropping off. 03:06.150 --> 03:14.640 So imagine this situation and let's say white plays a for a six has a good point to it to play Bishop 03:14.640 --> 03:19.770 B five so say rook one, Bishop B five king E free. 03:19.770 --> 03:26.580 It seems as though blacks should be able to equalize here after F 693, rook 88 and blacks on the way 03:26.580 --> 03:30.480 to equalizing, you can see that the king is a little bit shakier in the center. 03:30.570 --> 03:33.060 And for example, check an F five. 03:33.060 --> 03:36.720 Make sure that white's not getting past pawns in the center. 03:36.720 --> 03:41.010 This is actually isolating White's Queen's pawn and it blacks should be fine. 03:41.010 --> 03:47.190 Taking this a bit further, these are territories which we have just equality after 94. 03:47.190 --> 03:48.360 Check b five. 03:48.630 --> 03:51.580 Yeah, there's no big problem with past pawns in the center. 03:51.600 --> 03:57.960 Now, I wanted to labor this point because actually it does seem as though from this point on it seems 03:57.960 --> 04:00.870 mysteriously simple Whites play. 04:01.050 --> 04:09.660 We have Rook who won 96 pair of knights come off rooks cb1c2 is guarded here. 04:09.660 --> 04:20.820 So what's the problem, Rook C seven rook before Bishop C six king E free rook D eight Rook c one now 04:20.820 --> 04:24.270 rook cc eight and h four. 04:24.360 --> 04:25.590 This gives the idea. 04:25.590 --> 04:35.100 This starts to give the idea that hold on if White can play g4f for f five take away this pawn. 04:36.970 --> 04:43.810 And, you know, think things are starting to be interesting there, that kind of thing. 04:44.170 --> 04:47.410 And there are possibilities of undermining F seven. 04:47.410 --> 04:50.100 If this port creeps up, it's allowed to creep up. 04:50.110 --> 04:51.720 So bear this stuff in mind. 04:51.730 --> 04:58.270 The key goal here to take away these guys, these stoppers of the past -- potential, we have King 04:58.300 --> 04:58.990 of eight. 04:59.290 --> 05:01.960 If H now if h five, there's a target. 05:01.960 --> 05:03.340 Bishop e to g six. 05:03.340 --> 05:06.970 We can play like this Bishop if free and careful with advantage. 05:07.180 --> 05:08.680 So King Fe is played. 05:08.680 --> 05:17.470 We have G 486 and F four and we see this first undermine trying to get rid of this E six, b five, 05:17.470 --> 05:18.280 f five. 05:18.280 --> 05:26.380 We have bishop e eight rook b one protecting that rook A six, e five. 05:28.690 --> 05:31.390 And now things are getting worrying after G five. 05:31.390 --> 05:33.250 There's a worrying idea of f six as well. 05:33.250 --> 05:40.570 We have h text g five, H two, G five and now E takes f five. 05:41.530 --> 05:43.750 So one of the stoppers has gone. 05:44.140 --> 05:45.610 Remember about taking out these guys. 05:45.610 --> 05:47.890 So these guys are two connected pawns. 05:48.520 --> 05:52.150 If Bishop c six though, how does might proceed? 05:53.350 --> 05:55.540 It turns out here a four is strong. 05:55.750 --> 06:03.730 So here if for example king of fate, then F six is leads to winning end games, the king is really 06:03.730 --> 06:04.750 restricted there. 06:04.930 --> 06:06.520 So white can play like this. 06:06.520 --> 06:11.260 Bishop takes B five and these are just winning rook and pawn endings because the king is so restricted. 06:11.260 --> 06:15.730 As example D five Ruby seven King takes D five here. 06:15.730 --> 06:23.830 This is just winning after say, King C seven and an E six is a winning breakthrough because taking 06:23.830 --> 06:28.810 check F seven and the pawn is going to be queening. 06:29.650 --> 06:33.880 So here, if E takes a five, bishop takes out five. 06:33.880 --> 06:36.460 This position is also fun. 06:36.460 --> 06:40.090 More fun for white with these dangerous pawns. 06:40.090 --> 06:43.020 G six can occur here to take out that blocker. 06:43.060 --> 06:45.670 And this scenario look at black's pawns. 06:47.140 --> 06:53.050 Compared to one, black has two extra pawns, but White's pawns, centrally connected, are really strong 06:53.050 --> 06:53.230 here. 06:53.230 --> 06:54.520 For example, check. 06:55.420 --> 06:57.730 And here the king is making progress. 06:58.060 --> 07:02.500 And we've got lots of threats like this D six check D seven. 07:02.500 --> 07:05.620 And we're crashing through here with the pawn. 07:06.400 --> 07:08.230 One of the key parts past pawns. 07:08.230 --> 07:08.800 Yeah, it's. 07:08.800 --> 07:10.450 It's a lot of fun stuff there. 07:10.450 --> 07:12.880 So, anyway, he takes was played here. 07:12.880 --> 07:13.990 Bishop takes up five. 07:13.990 --> 07:17.440 Bishop D, seven F rook, six C, one rook. 07:17.440 --> 07:17.950 Take one. 07:17.950 --> 07:22.840 This possession with rook C seven check G six taking out that stopper. 07:23.620 --> 07:25.720 And here Bishop E six is strong. 07:25.720 --> 07:28.480 And now this position is is really dominating. 07:28.480 --> 07:32.560 For example, here Black's going to be run out of moves. 07:32.560 --> 07:34.690 White's going to scoop up these pawns. 07:34.900 --> 07:40.660 And if King, the king isn't given G seven, then it's pretty much game over. 07:40.660 --> 07:45.130 After Rook our free check, taking out F seven, taking out G seven. 07:45.280 --> 07:46.960 So let's imagine G six. 07:46.960 --> 07:47.530 Here again. 07:47.530 --> 07:51.130 The two connected past pawns in the center are absolutely wonderful. 07:51.310 --> 07:57.290 So we have Bishop dd seven, but now Bishop takes these seven, King takes these seven, the King E4. 07:57.310 --> 07:58.930 Slight inaccuracy here. 07:59.020 --> 08:05.290 G six is pretty dramatic in this position, even though there's F six and it's like challenging one 08:05.290 --> 08:12.580 of the two pawns here, it seems Rook taking eight rook takes out we get another pawns pawn there. 08:12.580 --> 08:15.970 And actually this scenario is in White's favor. 08:15.970 --> 08:25.720 For example d5d6 check and the king's far far away from g eight So Rook G one threatening g seven is 08:25.720 --> 08:26.290 winning here. 08:26.290 --> 08:28.420 So this position is absolutely winning. 08:28.570 --> 08:32.320 We're coming through with the king and then we're going to play rook shape winning. 08:32.500 --> 08:37.570 So anyway, yeah, so but King E four we have rook H eight. 08:39.130 --> 08:39.640 It does. 08:39.670 --> 08:42.970 It would have been a bit trickier if Black had played King E seven. 08:42.970 --> 08:50.730 So this position rook takes C one, rook take 1g6, check King 8d51. 08:50.730 --> 09:00.040 That has the advantage, sure, but black can actually cause a little bit more trouble there if we just 09:00.040 --> 09:01.930 have a look at that again with King E seven. 09:03.010 --> 09:08.530 If Rook hates this would press white after Rook takes eight, rook takes, let's say g six. 09:08.530 --> 09:11.600 There's F six and here the only move. 09:11.620 --> 09:12.100 Why? 09:12.130 --> 09:13.780 Guess what is the only move? 09:13.810 --> 09:19.960 Basically for advantage in a technical sense, the only move would be rook f one for advantage. 09:20.410 --> 09:26.110 Because if e takes a six, this position is not particularly good. 09:26.110 --> 09:28.450 Rookie eight indirectly defending. 09:28.450 --> 09:34.390 If Rook takes King F six check winning the rock that would be check winning the rook. 09:34.390 --> 09:35.590 So what does white do? 09:35.620 --> 09:36.340 Rook a seven. 09:36.650 --> 09:39.890 Then there's check and this position is draw. 09:40.190 --> 09:44.630 So rookie fun with the only move here and this situation. 09:44.720 --> 09:51.590 Sure why it's still in the driving seat with advantage here but you know it's just a bit trickier than 09:51.590 --> 09:57.110 when it needed to be rook tanks before and once on the way context of queening. 09:57.200 --> 10:08.570 So say rook rook for king takes and rook is coming So anyway but rook hey was played this makes things 10:08.570 --> 10:17.270 much more clear cut Rook takes the eight rook takes now this g six this dramatic g6f takes g six if 10:17.270 --> 10:19.430 f six, e takes f six. 10:19.430 --> 10:27.200 The two past pawns here, even though they're separate, they're very strong after D five, g7d6 check 10:27.200 --> 10:28.190 playing time. 10:28.190 --> 10:30.410 That's winning here. 10:30.410 --> 10:34.520 If King f7d7 blacks tied down can't really take on G seven. 10:34.520 --> 10:43.160 This one's going to Queen and here rook D one king The eight king takes F six winning so och so F takes 10:43.160 --> 10:44.060 is played. 10:44.150 --> 10:50.330 We have rook g one and yeah, this situation is amazing. 10:50.330 --> 10:58.880 King d five b4 rook f one rookie to e six check king e seven rook have seven checking eight And now 10:58.880 --> 11:01.760 after King D six black actually resigned. 11:02.150 --> 11:12.200 If rook takes a two that's a good rook takes a two first, then rook seven is actually threatening. 11:12.530 --> 11:13.520 Checkmate. 11:14.420 --> 11:16.430 So say rook C2 that's mating. 11:17.780 --> 11:25.850 And if rook c one let's try rook c1d5a5 rook tanks g7a4. 11:25.850 --> 11:27.080 There's checkmate there. 11:28.670 --> 11:30.380 Yeah, it's trouble. 11:30.830 --> 11:34.960 So yeah, it's all pretty much trouble. 11:34.970 --> 11:35.750 Let's have a look at that again. 11:36.140 --> 11:41.900 If Rook takes G seven now, let's say king for eight here, Rook takes G six again. 11:41.900 --> 11:43.370 This situation with E seven. 11:43.370 --> 11:44.090 Check. 11:44.090 --> 11:49.820 We have rookie six here and this situation King D seven and now. 11:50.060 --> 11:52.760 Yeah, White's crashing through up to eight. 11:53.480 --> 11:54.350 What else? 11:54.530 --> 11:55.580 What does Black do here? 11:55.610 --> 11:56.960 What is black actually do here? 11:56.960 --> 11:59.720 Because we're going to nudge the king away from the rock. 12:00.620 --> 12:01.610 So yes, absolutely. 12:01.610 --> 12:02.750 Winning, you know, be free. 12:02.750 --> 12:05.780 Check taking out that it's hopeless. 12:06.830 --> 12:08.480 So, yes, a fascinating game. 12:08.480 --> 12:16.280 We can see a structural kind of campaign, lucrative, beautiful opportunity, actually, even if we 12:16.280 --> 12:18.020 just look at the pawn structure. 12:18.020 --> 12:20.360 And this is a nice thing about positional chess. 12:21.350 --> 12:26.660 It's like we don't have to you know, we know it's about to rain by looking at the clouds accumulating. 12:26.660 --> 12:33.200 We don't have to take concrete measurements like, you know, scientific instruments to know it's going 12:33.200 --> 12:33.650 to rain. 12:33.650 --> 12:37.760 You know, we get an intuition and here there is an intuition out of the opening. 12:37.760 --> 12:44.930 If we look at the clouds here, how the board split in two sections where one has this majority and 12:44.930 --> 12:53.570 we can even see actually if we entertain imagination that these guys are the stoppers of two central 12:53.570 --> 12:54.740 past pawns. 12:54.980 --> 12:57.230 So two are better than one here. 12:57.530 --> 13:01.220 And when you have one central point, it can be sometimes blockaded. 13:01.220 --> 13:04.460 So it's a nice thematic demonstration. 13:04.460 --> 13:05.120 Actually. 13:05.120 --> 13:10.010 What happened in this game, I don't think Capablanca could have done any better than Adams on this 13:10.010 --> 13:10.490 occasion. 13:10.490 --> 13:20.360 But yeah, Black had some opportunities here to play Rook to a more tactical A six Bishop B five plan. 13:20.360 --> 13:24.260 But the way it's played, yeah, it's like a beautiful one way road game. 13:24.450 --> 13:30.740 This game in my view, showing that structural liberation of the two central past pawns. 13:30.740 --> 13:32.480 So really wonderful stuff. 13:32.480 --> 13:34.040 I hope you enjoyed this as much as me. 13:34.040 --> 13:41.360 This is a really good lesson in handling pawn structure and having very, very exciting ingredients 13:41.360 --> 13:43.490 in mind from a distance. 13:43.640 --> 13:45.170 Look at the clouds forming. 13:45.170 --> 13:48.410 There's going to be rain, there's going to be pass pawns in the center. 13:48.500 --> 13:50.630 OC has so much.