I Boleslavsky G Lissitzin Moscow Sicilian Defense
Boleslavsky knows that a good grip on the center almost always guarantees the success of a King-side attack. He therefore plans to anchor a Knight at Q5—so firmly that it can never be driven away. To accomplish this he must do away with two enemy pieces that bear down on that square, a Bishop and a Knight. He lures the Bishop off by a gift of a Pawn, and disposes of the Knight by pinning it and forcing its exchange.
Once Boleslavsky's Knight reaches the magic square Q5, combinations appear out of the air as a reward, and the King-side attack seems to play itself.
This move does many things: it strengthens the center, prevents an attack on the Bishop (and its subsequent exchange) by 7 ... Kt—Kt5, and prepares for a later Pawn storm by P—KKt4 and P—KR4.
An attempt by Black to free himself by 9 ... P—Q4 could lead to this interesting combination: 10 KtxKt, PxKt 11 PxP, PxP 12 Kt X P, Kt X Kt 13 Q X Kt, Q—B2 14 QxR, B—B4 (threatens mate) 15 QxRch, KxQ 16 R—Q2, and White has the better prospects.
10 BxKt
Threatens 12 Kt—Q5, Q—Q1 (if 12 ... QxQ 13 KtxPch wins a Pawn) 13 KtxKtch, and White will win the Queen Pawn.
Prepares for an eventual ... P— Q4, which would free his game.
This powerful move interferes with Black's plans. If Black replies to it with 14 ... QxQ, then 15 RxQ follows and White threatens 16 RxP as well as 16 Kt—B7, QR—B1 18 KtxB, and he has the advantage of two Bishops against Knight and Bishop.
The Queen Pawn is attacked three times, but if White took it this would be the consequence: 15 KtxQP, Kt—K1 16 B—B5, KtxKt 17 BxKt, B—B1 18 Q—Kt4, RxB! 19 RxR (on 19 QxQ, RxR is checkmate) QxQ 20 PxQ, BxR, and Black has won a piece.
This is the position, with White to play:
At this point Boleslavsky has two objects in mind:
(1) Prevent Black from freeing himself by ... P—Q4.
(2) Establish his Knight firmly at the outpost station Q5.
To bring the latter about it is necessary to rid the board of the two black pieces that guard the square Q5, the Bishop at K3 and the Knight.
A brilliant sacrifice which must be accepted. Refusing the Pawn means that Black could never free himself by ... P—Q4. It would also enable White to play 16 Kt—B3 next move (attacking the Queen) and thus gain time for 17 Kt—Q5, establishing a strongly-supported outpost.
17 BxB QxB
One black piece has been disposed of. Now to get rid of the other!
White pins the Knight to keep it from running away. Now he is assured of being able to remove it from the board.
19 BxKt QXB
Now we shall see whether Bole-slavsky's imaginative strategy is justified. He has given up a solid, valuable Pawn for something that is intangible—the unassailable position of his Knight. The Knight, it is true, dominates the board and cannot be driven off, but is that worth a Pawn ?
Black tries to prevent the advance of the adverse King-side Pawns. He intends to meet 21 P—KKt3 with 21 ... Q—R6, while the reply to 21 P—R3 would be 21 ... B—R3 followed by 22 ... B—B5.
A subtle preparatory move. If at once 22 P—KKt3, Q—R6 blockades the Rook Pawn.
This is how things look:
- 23 P—KKt3
The Pawns begin their advance to break up Black's King-side.
If 24 ... QxKtP 25 R—Q2 leaves Black curiously helpless against the threat of 26 R—Kt2 winning the Queen.
Now White intends 26 P—Kt5, Q—Kt2 (if 26 ... Q—R4 27 Kt— B6ch wins the Queen) 27 Kt—B6ch, K—R1 28 P—R5 (threatens to win the Queen by 29 P—R6) PxP 29 R x RP, and the attack on the Rook
Pawn will force Black to give up his Queen.
26 PxP QxP
Threatens annihilation by 29 Kt— B6ch followed by 30 R x Pch.
Black has no defense in 28 ... QxR, as 29 Kt—B6ch wins the Queen, nor in 28 ... B—Kt2 when 29 Kt—K7ch does likewise.
29 RxP! QxKtP
Here too 29 ... BxR is penalized by 30 Kt—K7ch and loss of the Queen.
On 30 ... Q—Kt3, the continuation is 31 Q—R1 (threatens 32 R—Ktl winning the Queen) Q—K3 32 R—R8ch. K—Kt2 33 Q—R7 mate.
The King-side Pawns did an amazing job of opening up files for the benefit of the heavy pieces.
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