{"id":5,"date":"2018-09-09T01:43:38","date_gmt":"2018-09-09T01:43:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/chessinthelibrary.com\/?p=5"},"modified":"2026-02-26T23:46:43","modified_gmt":"2026-02-27T04:46:43","slug":"hello","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chessinthelibrary.com\/index.php\/2018\/09\/09\/hello\/","title":{"rendered":"Positional Play IN ACTION #2 – Queenside Pawn Storm"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Written by Ryan Yao<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Game Analysis<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. d4 c6 2. Bf4 d5 3. e3 Bf5<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This is a very common response from Black when facing the London System. The move Bf5 is very reasonable: it allows Black to develop the light-square bishop before playing e6, which liberates a usually inactive piece in such positions. In fact, Black will have a very successful opening if White plays 4. Bd3?! to trade off the bishop, as the position will be very symmetrical, and thereby equal, after Black playing e6 and Bd6.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. c4!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This move is a very accurate response. White has to maintain an unbalanced position to keep the advantage, so continuing to build the conventional London structure will be unhelpful. Additionally, c4 allows White to develop an attack on Black\u2019s queenside, particularly on the weak b7 pawn (which should be defended by the light-square bishop, which has moved to the f5 square). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

4\u2026 Qb6 5. Qb3 e6 6. c5! Qxb3 7. axb3 Nd7<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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White has a great initiative here. The move 6.c5! forces the queen trade, but more importantly, opens up the a-file for future attack. The b-file double pawns are also powerful: White can push them all across the board to destroy Black\u2019s queenside defence. Moreover, the deadly f4 dark-square bishop tightly controls the b8-h2 diagonal, which further supports White\u2019s action in the queenside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

8. b4 f6 9. Nf3 g5 10. Bg3 a6 11. b5!?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The move 11. b5!? follows the queenside-pawn-storm plan, but it may be a little bit premature. Black has a forced sequence of moves (11\u2026 cxb5 12.Bxb5 Bxb1 13. Bxd7+ Kxd7 14. Rxb1), which trades many pieces off the board and reduces White\u2019s queenside pressure. A better move here would be 11. Nc3 to prepare for playing b5 next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

11\u2026 Bxb1? 12. bxc6! bxc6 13. Rxb1<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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11\u2026 Bxb1 is a significant positional mistake. It allows White to play bxc6 to create an isolated pawn in the a-file, as well as a vulnerable c6 pawn that is prone to White\u2019s aggression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

13\u2026 h5 14. h3 h4 15. Bh2 Be7 16. Ra1 a5 17. b4<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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White is winning right now. The a5 pawn is under tremendous pressure, and the even more horrifying move b5 is on its way. Black\u2019s pieces have little mobility, and White\u2019s highly active pieces and the crushing pawn storm has almost manifested the victory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

17\u2026 Bd8 18. b5 Ne7<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This is the moment when White can turn the positional advantage into a material advantage [it must be pointed out, however, that the positional move b6 will still be effective, but a tactic will end the game much sooner]. Can you find it? (Hint<\/em>: the tactic is very \u201cquiet\u201d)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

19. bxc6! Nxc6 20. Bb5! Rc8 21. Ba6! Rc7 22. Bxc7<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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White wins an exchange with this quiet, yet fabulous, tactic. Although the game is not finished, it is clear that White can easily take the victory from here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Summary<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For White, it is always important to maintain an unbalanced position, especially in the opening; if not, the game will soon become even, which is very undesirable for White. Additionally, White\u2019s queenside action is exemplary. By opening the a-file, activating pieces and steadily pushing up pawns, White successfully compresses Black\u2019s space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Full Game PGN<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. d4 c6 2. Bf4 d5 3. e3 Bf5 4. c4 Qb6 5. Qb3 e6 6. c5 Qxb3 7. axb3 Nd7 8. b4 f6 9. Nf3 g5 10. Bg3 a6 11. b5 Bxb1 12. bxc6 bxc6 13. Rxb1 h5 14. h3 h4 15. Bh2 Be7 16. Ra1 a5 17. b4 Bd8 18. b5 Ne7 19. bxc6 Nxc6 20. Bb5 Rc8 21. Ba6 Rc7 22. Bxc7 Bxc7 23. O-O Ke7 24. Rfb1 Nb4 25. Bb5 Rb8 26. Bxd7 Kxd7 27. Ra4 Kc6 28. Nd2 Rg8 29. Nb3 Kb5 30. Ra3 g4 31. hxg4 Rxg4 32. c6 a4 33. Nc5 1-0<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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