Icannos/chess_studies huggingface dataset:
[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Exchange Variation of QG"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "12: Open and Half-Open Lines"]
[FEN "r1bq1rk1/pp1nbppp/2p2n2/3p2B1/3P4/2NBP3/PPQ2PPP/R3K1NR w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "0"]
[SetUp "1"]
[Source "Hays Publishing"]
[SourceDate "1964.01.01"]

{ White can force the opening of the c-file by the advance of the b-pawn,
supported by pawn to a4. The eventual exchange bxc6, will always turn out to
White's advantage, for Black will be left with a weakness either in the d-pawn
or the c-pawn.  This attack is known as the Minority Attack. The White
minority (the a-pawn and b-pawn) advances against the Black majority (the
a-pawn, b-pawn and c-pawn). } *
[Event "Ostend"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1907.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Marshall"]
[Black "Burn"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "13: Opening a File"]
[ECO "A46"]
[PlyCount "41"]
[Source "Hays Publishing"]
[SourceDate "1964.01.01"]

{ Early opening of the h-file } 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bf4 Nbd7 4. e3 g6 5. Bd3 Bg7 6. Nbd2 O-O 7. h4 $5 { With obvious intention, and extremely dangerous for
Black. The move is premature, however, as we shall see } 7... Re8 { Black permits the opening of the file and plays for counterattack in the centre } ( 7... h5 { This obtructs White's plan, but on the other hand has two
disadvantages: in the first place, it seriously weakens g5, and secondly
permits White, after due preparation, to open a file by playing Pg4 } ) ( 7... h6 { So as to answer Ph5 with ... Pg6 } 8. h5 g5 { It is perhaps not superflous
to remark that these two lines are not peculiar to the present position. The
defender generally has a choice between such systems } ) 8. h5 $5 Nxh5 $2 ( 8... e5 9. Bg5 exd4 { Opening the e-file with counteraction which would hamper White's activities } ( 9... h6 { the danger of opening the h-file are seen from this off hand game } 10. hxg6 fxg6 11. Bxg6 Re7 12. Bxh6 Bxh6 13. Rxh6 Kg7 14. Rh2 Kxg6 15. Nh4+ Kf7 16. Nf5 Re8 17. Rh7+ Kg6 18. Rg7+ Kxf5 19. Qf3+ Ke6 20. d5+ Nxd5 21. Qf7# ) ) 9. Rxh5 $1 gxh5 10. Bxh7+ Kxh7 $2 ( 10... Kf8 ) 11. Ng5+ Kg6 ( 11... Kg8 12. Qxh5 Nf6 13. Qxf7+ Kh8 14. O-O-O Bf5 15. Rh1+ Bh7 16. Ne6 Rg8 17. Nxd8 Raxd8 18. Ne4 Rgf8 19. Nxf6 exf6 20. Qg6 $18 ) 12. Ndf3 e5 { Now the counterattack comes too late } 13. Nh4+ Kf6 14. Nh7+ Ke7 ( 14... Ke6 15. d5+ Ke7 16. Nf5# ) 15. Nf5+ Ke6 16. Nxg7+ Ke7 17. Nf5+ Ke6 18. d5+ Kxf5 19. Qxh5+ Ke4 20. O-O-O exf4 21. Rd4# 1-0
[Event "Hastings"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1952.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Medina"]
[Black "Lasker"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "13: Opening a File"]
[ECO "C97"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[Source "Hays Publishing"]
[SourceDate "1964.01.01"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Qc7 12. Nbd2 Nd7 13. Nf1 Nb6 14. Ne3 f6 15. b3 Nc6 16. d5 Nd8 17. c4 b4 18. a4 Bd7 19. Nf5 Re8 { On the Queenside and in
the centre the game is completely closed, and if there is still anything to be
done, it must be on the Kingside. The position of Black's f-pawn gives White
an opportunity to open the g-file } 20. g4 $1 Bf8 ( 20... g5 { To keep the g-file closed } 21. h4 { opening the h-file } ) 21. Kh2 Nf7 22. Rg1 g6 { A critical moment. If the Knight retreats then Black plays ... Ph6.
Then when White plays Ph5 Black replies ... Pg5 } 23. g5 $1 { With this sacrifice
White forces his plan through. Such a piece sacrifice is a favourite device
for opening a file. } 23... Qd8 ( 23... gxf5 { Black can hardly afford to take the Knight } 24. gxf6+ Kh8 25. exf5 Bh6 ( 25... Qd8 26. Ng5 Qxf6 27. Qh5 Nxg5 28. Bxg5 ) 26. Bxh6 Nxh6 27. Rg7 ) 24. Qf1 $1 Kh8 ( 24... gxf5 25. gxf6+ Kh8 26. Qg2 Bh6 27. Bxh6 Rg8 28. Bg7+ Rxg7 29. Qxg7# ) 25. Qg2 Ra7 26. Qg3 $1 Be7 27. Nxe7 Qxe7 28. Qh4 fxg5 { givning White a quick finish } ( 28... f5 29. exf5 Bxf5 30. Bxf5 gxf5 31. Qh5 { hopeless for Black } ) 29. Nxg5 Nxg5 30. Bxg5 Qf7 31. Bf6+ Kg8 32. Rxg6+ { Violently opening the g-file } 32... Qxg6 33. Rg1 Qxg1+ 34. Kxg1 Kf7 35. Bd1 Rg8+ 36. Kh2 Ke8 37. Bh5+ Kf8 38. Bd8 1-0
[Event "03"]
[Site "Saltsjobaden izt  ,IZT"]
[Date "1952.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Steiner"]
[Black "Eliskases"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "13: Opening a File"]
[ECO "E81"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[Source "Hays Publishing"]
[SourceDate "1964.01.01"]

{ Various open files } 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 O-O 5. f3 d6 6. Bg5 h6 7. Be3 e5 8. Nge2 c6 9. Qd2 Kh7 10. O-O-O Nbd7 { Positions with one King
castled Queenside and the other castled Kingside, set the players special
problems. both sides feel constrained to attack vigorously, since passive play
by either side will allow the opponent's attack to gather momentum  It is
quite obvioius that in playing for an attack, the first requirement is to get
a file open for the Rooks; but this creates it's own problems. Any attempt to
follow the advance given earlier in this chapter - not to embark on a flank
attack until the centre is closed - would in the present case run into trouble,
for if White play Pd5, Black can open the c-file without more ado. White
therefore maintains the tension in the centre } 11. g4 Qa5 12. h4 ( 12. g5 hxg5 13. Bxg5 { White might not find it easy to complete the opening of the file } ) 12... b5 13. g5 Nh5 $1 { White achives his aim in full, but will have to
be content with a half-open file } ( 13... hxg5 $2 14. hxg5+ ) ( 13... Ng8 14. h5 ) 14. gxh6 Bh8 15. cxb5 cxb5 { Now we can draw up a provisional balance
sheet. White has won a pawn - not as yet a very important pawn - and has
succeeded in half opening the g-file. Black's g-pawn and the Knight at h5,
however, block any further progress in this sector. White has support point at
d5, which may prove very important. Black for his part rejoices in the fully
open c-file } 16. Kb1 Nb6 17. Nc1 Nc4 18. Bxc4 bxc4 19. dxe5 Bxe5 { With these last few moves Black has made distinct progress. The b-file is an
even better file for attacking the White King, and his dark squared Bishop is
now a powerful reinforcement. Ohwever, the sequel will show that there is more
to it than } 20. N1e2 Rb8 21. Bd4 { Shutting out the dangerous Bishop } 21... Bb7 { To prevent White from Nd5 } 22. Ka1 Ba8 23. Rhg1 Rb4 24. f4 $1 { Playing his important trump card } 24... Bxd4 25. Qxd4 Rfb8 26. f5 $1 { White forces open the g-file and suddenly the Ph6 becomes a major element in
the game } 26... Qb6 ( 26... Rxb2 27. fxg6+ fxg6 28. Qxd6 R2b6 29. Qe7+ Kh8 30. Rd7 ) ( 26... gxf5 27. Rg7+ Kxh6 28. Rxf7 Qb6 29. Qd2+ Kg6 30. Rd7 $18 ) 27. fxg6+ fxg6 28. Qxd6 Qxd6 29. Rxd6 Rxb2 30. Nd4 Rf2 31. Rdxg6 { White Rooks have found
each other, and this fact coupled with the gain of a second pawn, means that
the rest is no more than a question of technique } 31... Rd8 32. Ndb5 Rd3 33. Ra6 Rf7 34. Rg5 Ng3 35. Rg7+ Rxg7 36. hxg7 Nxe4 37. Kb2 Nxc3 38. Nxc3 Rd7 39. Nb5 Bd5 40. Kc3 Bf7 41. Nd6 Bg6 42. h5 Bb1 43. Ne8 Rd3+ 44. Kb2 1-0
[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1932.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Davidson"]
[Black "Spielmann"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "13: Opening a File"]
[ECO "A43"]
[PlyCount "36"]
[Source "Hays Publishing"]
[SourceDate "1964.01.01"]

{ The White pawn on h3 gives Black the opportunity to open the g-file } 1. d4 e6 2. Nf3 c5 3. c3 Nf6 4. Nbd2 cxd4 5. cxd4 d5 6. e3 Nc6 7. Be2 Bd6 8. O-O Qc7 9. h3 $2 { Thanks to White's passive handling of this opening, Black already has
the much better of it. His advantages are:  1) His Bishop on d6 more active
than White's on e2  2) His Knight on c6 more active than White's on d2  After
the last move he also has a third advantage - the weakening of White's castled
position. This is all the more serious in that Black has not yet castled, and
so can throw up his Kingside pawns without endgangering his own King. This
sort of thing is an accepted part of opening theory } 9... Rg8 $1 10. Qc2 g5 11. e4 { White reacts in the centre to Black's flank attack } 11... g4 12. hxg4 Nxg4 { The pawn advance has achieved its desired effect - the open g-file } 13. e5 ( 13. exd5 exd5 14. Qxh7 Ne7 15. Qd3 ( 15. Bb5+ Bd7 16. Bxd7+ Qxd7 17. -- O-O-O ) 15... Rh8 ) 13... Ncxe5 $1 14. Qxh7 ( 14. Qxc7 Nxf3+ 15. gxf3 Nf6+ { White is a pawn short } ) 14... Nf6 15. Qh4 Ng6 $1 { This is the sharpest continuation } 16. Qg5 ( 16. Qxf6 Be7 $19 { trapped Queen } ) 16... Nf4 17. Bb5+ Ke7 18. Qh6 Bd7 0-1
[Event "Venice"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1950.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kotov"]
[Black "Golombek"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "13: Opening a File"]
[FEN "r2qnrk1/p1p4p/1pPp1pp1/n2PpN2/4PP2/P1PQB3/6PP/R3K2R w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "37"]
[SetUp "1"]
[Source "Hays Publishing"]
[SourceDate "1964.01.01"]

{ Opening a file by sacrifice of a piece  Opportunities to open a file for the
Rooks by means of a piece sacrifice are naturally very numerous } 1. Nh6+ Kg7 2. f5 $1 g5 3. h4 ( 3. Ng4 h5 4. Nf2 Nb3 { Black would have a
satisfactory position, for if White were to take the Knight he could recapture
with the d-pawn and have a useful square for the other Knight at d6 } ) 3... Nb3 { After this White gets his wish right away - the open h-file } ( 3... Kxh6 4. hxg5+ Kg7 5. g6 Rh8 6. Bh6+ Kg8 7. Qg3 Ng7 8. Bxg7 Kxg7 9. Rh6 $3 Qe7 ( 9... Kxh6 10. g7 Qe8 11. gxh8=Q Qxh8 12. Kf2 ) 10. Ke2 Kf8 11. Rah1 { followed by the opening of the h-file gives White a decisive advantage } ) 4. Rb1 Nc5 5. Bxc5 dxc5 6. Qg3 Kh8 ( 6... Kxh6 { the game ends with a typical Rook file combination } 7. hxg5+ Kg7 8. gxf6+ Kh8 9. Rxh7+ Kxh7 10. Qg6+ Kh8 11. Ke2 ) 7. hxg5 fxg5 8. Ng4 $1 ( 8. Qxe5+ Qf6 ) 8... Nf6 9. Qxe5 Qd6 ( 9... Qe8 10. Nxf6 Qxe5 11. Rxh7# { The power of the h-file } ) 10. Qxd6 cxd6 11. Nxf6 Rxf6 12. Kd2 Re8 13. Kd3 Kg7 14. a4 $1 { The b-file is to be opened as well } 14... Rf7 15. a5 bxa5 16. g4 Rfe7 17. Rhe1 Kf6 18. e5+ dxe5 ( 18... Rxe5 19. Rxe5 Rxe5 20. c7 Re8 21. Rb8 $18 ) 19. d6 1-0
[Event "It"]
[Site "Kemeri (Latvia)"]
[Date "1939.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Flohr"]
[Black "Apsheniek"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Annotator "14: Minority Attack"]
[ECO "D36"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[Source "Hays Publishing"]
[SourceDate "1964.01.01"]

{ The respective opportunities } 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 O-O 6. Nf3 c6 7. Qc2 Nbd7 8. cxd5 exd5 9. Bd3 Re8 10. O-O Nf8 11. Ne5 $2 { This was customary twenty years ago, but it is now established that the
minority attack is White's bestline } ( 11. Rab1 ) 11... Ng4 $2 { This leads to
the removal of two pairs of minor pieces, and helps Black considerably,
enabling him to maneuver with freedom. A waiting game, on the other hand,
would have been dangerous for Black, since then his opponent, in addition to
his Queenside prospects, could choose to make the Kingside his hunting ground,
leading off with Pf4 } 12. Bxe7 Qxe7 13. Nxg4 Bxg4 14. a3 { This is the prelude to Pb4-5 } 14... Rad8 { This move and the next move mark the beginning of a Kingside attack } 15. Rfe1 { A valuable defensive move, which frees the square f1 and takes an option on e4 } 15... Rd6 16. Ne2 Rh6 17. Ng3 Bc8 18. b4 { Now that White has attended to the
defence of his Kingside position, he resumes his advance of the Queenside. He
threatens to open a file at once by playing ... Pb5 } 18... a6 19. Rab1 Qc7 { Black intends to bring his Knight via d7-f6-e4 (the furthest available
square on the half-open file!) } ( 19... Qh4 20. Nf1 { achives nothing } ) 20. a4 Nd7 21. Rec1 Nf6 22. Nf1 Ne4 23. b5 { Both players according to plan } 23... axb5 24. axb5 Bd7 25. Qa2 Qd8 26. bxc6 Bxc6 27. Bb5 Rg6 28. Bxc6 bxc6 { The minority attack is at an end, and Black's weak c-pawn is the result.
Indeed the whole Queenside is completely under White's control. Nevertheless,
as the sequel will show, there is no cause for Black to despair. Hisoperations
in the half-open e-file and on the Kingside in general are beginning to bear
fruit in the form of a menacing attack } 29. Rb2 h5 30. Rbc2 { Putting the weakness under fire } 30... Qd7 { Protecting the c-pawn but also casting an eye towards the White King } 31. Kh1 h4 { Threatening ... Ph3 and envisaging possible Rook sacrifices on g2 } 32. h3 Qf5 33. Nh2 Qg5 34. Ng4 f5 35. f4 Qh5 36. Ne5 Rg3 { Black's c-pawn is doomed, but he threatens to win the White e-pawn in return } 37. Re1 ( 37. Rxc6 Rxe3 38. Qxd5+ Kh7 { Black has threats of ... Re2 and ... Nf2 } ) 37... Rb8 38. Kh2 ( 38. Rxc6 Rxe3 39. Rxe3 Qd1+ 40. Kh2 Rb1 41. Qa8+ Kh7 42. Rh6+ gxh6 43. Qa7+ Kh8 44. Qa8+ { Draw by perpetual check } ) 38... Kh7 39. Nxc6 ( 39. Rxc6 Qe8 40. Rc2 { Black would
have full compensation for the pawn since his pieces are more active } ( 40. Qxd5 Rb2 $1 ) ) 39... Qg6 $1 40. Rg1 ( 40. Nxb8 Rxh3+ 41. gxh3 Qg3+ 42. Kh1 Qxe1+ 43. Kg2 Qg3+ { Black gains at least a pawn } ) 40... Rxe3 41. Nxb8 Qg3+ 42. Kh1 Qxf4 43. Rd1 Ng3+ 44. Kg1 1/2-1/2
[Event "Bucharest"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1953.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Filip"]
[Black "Szabo"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "14: Minority Attack"]
[ECO "D36"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[Source "Hays Publishing"]
[SourceDate "1964.01.01"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 Be7 6. e3 O-O 7. Qc2 Re8 8. Nf3 Nbd7 9. Bd3 Nf8 10. O-O c6 11. Rab1 { Straight for the goal } 11... g6 12. b4 Ne6 13. Bh4 Nh5 ( 13... a6 14. a4 Ng7 15. b5 Bf5 16. bxc6 bxc6 17. Ne5 { White has a distinct pull, thanks to the completion of his minority attack } ) 14. Bxe7 Rxe7 15. Na4 { Black playing ... Pc5 is a possibilty White must always
be prepared with, and it is often a good idea to occupy the c5 square with a
Knight } ( 15. b5 c5 16. dxc5 Nxc5 { White must permit the exchange of Bishops } 17. Be2 $2 Bf5 ) 15... Rc7 16. Rfc1 Nhg7 17. Qb3 Bd7 18. Nc5 ( 18. b5 cxb5 19. Bxb5 Bxb5 20. Qxb5 Rac8 { The open c-file would be of little use to White } ) 18... Be8 19. Rc3 Rac8 20. Rbc1 Ng5 { Black has done everything possible for the defence of his
Queenside, and now deems the moment propitioius for his own counterattack } 21. Nxg5 Qxg5 22. b5 { uncommonly strong } 22... cxb5 23. Nxb7 $1 Rxc3 24. Rxc3 Rxc3 25. Qxc3 Qg4 { In spite of the exchange of all of the Rooks, White's
control of the c-file is now a serious matter. Black has now prevented Qc8 but
now the White Queen threatens to enter at c7 } 26. Nd6 $1 Bd7 27. Qc7 $1 Nh5 ( 27... Qe6 28. Qb8+ Ne8 29. Nxe8 Qxe8 30. Qxa7 ) 28. Bxb5 Qd1+ ( 28... Bxb5 29. Qxf7+ Kh8 30. Qf8# ) 29. Bf1 { With a sound extra pawn and the attack, White must easily win } 29... Qa4 30. Qd8+ Kg7 31. Qe7 Be6 32. Ne8+ Kg8 33. Qd8 Kf8 34. Nc7+ Kg7 35. Nxe6+ fxe6 36. Qe7+ Kh6 37. g4 Ng7 38. Qh4+ Nh5 39. gxh5 g5 40. Qg4 Qxa2 41. Qxe6+ Kxh5 42. Qh3+ Kg6 43. Bd3+ 1-0
[Event "Saltsjobaden"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1948.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Pachman"]
[Black "Ragozin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "14: Minority Attack"]
[ECO "D36"]
[PlyCount "40"]
[Source "Hays Publishing"]
[SourceDate "1964.01.01"]

{ White plays Pb5 too hastily, and Black gets the advantage with ... Pc5 } 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 c6 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Qc2 g6 $1 7. Bg5 Bg7 8. e3 Bf5 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 Nbd7 11. O-O O-O 12. Rab1 Qe7 13. Rfc1 Qe6 14. Nd2 Rfe8 15. Bxf6 Bxf6 16. b4 Rac8 17. b5 $2 c5 $1 18. dxc5 Nxc5 19. Qf1 ( 19. Qxd5 { White overlooked } 19... Bxc3 20. Qxe6 Nxe6 $19 ) 19... d4 20. exd4 Bxd4 { Although equilibrium has not been decisively broken, it is evident
that Black now has the better chances. His pieces are more purposefully placed,
the Bishop being particularly dangerous } 1-0
[Event "Amsterdam"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1950.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Bouwmeester"]
[Black "Euwe"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "14: Minority Attack"]
[ECO "D36"]
[PlyCount "146"]
[Source "Hays Publishing"]
[SourceDate "1964.01.01"]

{ Black makes good use of the half-open e-file } 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Nbd7 5. e3 c6 6. cxd5 exd5 7. Bd3 Be7 8. Qc2 Nh5 { Another method of
using the half open e-file consists of the maneuver ... Ne4. The text is more
direct, as Black rapidly arrives at ... Pf5, starting a minority attack on his
own accoutn } 9. Bxe7 Qxe7 10. Nge2 ( 10. Nf3 Nf4 { unpleasant } ) 10... g6 11. O-O f5 12. Rab1 O-O 13. b4 a6 { Although this move doesn't ultimately
prevent Pb5, it does provide an open a-file which may be important } 14. a4 f4 $1 { Black gets his blow in first } 15. Nxf4 Nxf4 16. exf4 Rxf4 { Now the f-file is half open, with the f-pawn as a target, while the White
d-pawn has beenisolated } 17. Ne2 Rf6 18. b5 axb5 19. axb5 Nf8 20. bxc6 bxc6 21. Rb6 Bd7 { The Queenside action has taken its normal course and achieved
its normal advantages. Against the weakness of Black's c-pawn must be set the
weakness of White's d-pawn. The game is evenly poised } 22. Rfb1 Rf7 23. Qd2 Qh4 24. f3 { A slight loosening } ( 24. Qe3 ) 24... Ne6 25. Qe3 Re7 26. Rb8+ Rxb8 27. Rxb8+ Kf7 28. Qf2 Qh6 29. f4 Ng7 { preventing Pf5 } 30. Bc2 { Losing a vital tempo } ( 30. Rb7 Bf5 31. Rxe7+ Kxe7 32. Qe3+ $11 ) 30... Bf5 31. Bxf5 Nxf5 32. h3 Nd6 { In this sort of situation a Knight on d6
watching both e4 and c4 is a trump for Black } 33. Qf3 Qh4 34. Rb1 Nb5 { In this special case the Knight is even stronger at b5 than at d6, chiefly
because of the weak Whited-pawn } 35. Rd1 Qf6 ( 35... Rxe2 36. Qxe2 Nc3 37. Qe1 $19 ) 36. Rd2 Re4 37. Qf2 h5 38. Rd3 Kg7 39. Rd2 { White can only mark time } 39... Nd6 40. Rd3 h4 41. Rc3 Nf5 42. Kh2 Qe6 ( 42... Qe7 ) ( 42... Nxd4 43. Nxd4 Rxd4 44. Rxc6 Qxf4+ { White has good drawing prospects } ) 43. Rc2 Re3 44. Ng1 { Quite correctly, White offers the pawn against, for if he continues doing
nothing Black can easilty continue to strengthen his position } 44... Nxd4 45. Ra2 g5 ( 45... Qe7 46. Ra7 Qxa7 47. Qxe3 Nb5 48. Qe5+ { White has good chances } ) 46. Ra7+ Kg6 47. Qb2 Qf6 48. Qb7 Qxf4+ 49. Kh1 Qf8 50. Qh7+ Kf6 51. Ra1 Re4 52. Rf1+ Rf4 53. Rxf4+ gxf4 54. Qxh4+ Ke5 55. Qe1+ Kf5 56. Qd1 Qf6 57. Qh5+ Ke6 58. Qe8+ Kd6 59. Qb8+ Kd7 60. Qb7+ Kd6 61. Qb8+ Kd7 62. Qb7+ Ke8 63. Qc8+ Kf7 64. Qd7+ Kg6 65. Qg4+ Kh6 66. Qd1 c5 67. Qc1 c4 68. Qb1 Qe5 69. Qb6+ Kh5 70. Qc5 f3 $1 71. gxf3 Nf5 72. Qc8 Kh4 73. Qg8 Ng3+ 0-1
[Event "Leeuwarden"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1948.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Dijkstra"]
[Black "Kramer"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "14: Minority Attack"]
[ECO "D36"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[Source "Hays Publishing"]
[SourceDate "1964.01.01"]

{ Black plays ... Pa5 to gain time for his Kingside attack } 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 Be7 7. Qc2 Bg4 8. Ne5 Bh5 9. e3 Nbd7 10. Nxd7 Qxd7 11. h3 Bg6 12. Bd3 Bxd3 13. Qxd3 Qe6 14. O-O O-O 15. Rab1 a5 { Preventing Pb4 for the moment, and so gaining time for the Kingside attack.
Curiously enough, this move is hard ever seen in actualpractise } 16. Rfc1 ( 16. a3 a4 ) ( 16. Na4 { premature } 16... b5 17. Nc5 Bxc5 18. dxc5 Ne4 ) 16... Bd6 17. Bxf6 Qxf6 18. Na4 { Resuming the minority attack. As the direct advance of
the b-pawn is not possible. White proceeds to occupy the furthest available
square on the half open file - a device already familar to us. } 18... Rfe8 19. Nc5 Re7 20. a3 g5 $1 { This method of sharpening the struggle on the
Kingside is also typical of this kind of situation. It is very effective here,
because White's Ph3 has weakened his King position } ( 20... a4 21. Qc2 b6 22. Nd3 { induced the weakning of the c-pawn } ) 21. Qd1 ( 21. e4 Bxc5 22. e5 Rxe5 23. dxe5 Bxf2+ 24. Kf1 Qf4 25. Qf3 Qxf3 26. gxf3 Bd4 { Favourable endgame for Black } ) ( 21. -- g4 { the threat } 22. hxg4 Qh4 ) 21... Qg6 22. b4 axb4 23. axb4 f5 24. b5 { White has succeeded in carrying out
his plan, but meanwhile the Black counterattack has assumed decisive
proportions } 24... g4 $1 25. hxg4 fxg4 26. g3 Rf8 27. Nd3 { Succour for the threatened King, but it is too late } 27... Bxg3 28. fxg3 Rxe3 29. Nf4 ( 29. Ne5 Rxg3+ 30. Kh2 Qh5+ $1 31. Kxg3 Qh3# ) 29... Rxg3+ 30. Kh2 Qh6+ 31. Kxg3 Qxf4+ 32. Kh4 { mate in five } ( 32. Kg2 Qf2+ 33. Kh1 Qh4+ 34. Kg1 Qg3+ ) 32... Qh6+ 33. Kxg4 Rf4+ 34. Kg3 Qh4+ 35. Kg2 Qf2+ 36. Kh3 Rh4# 0-1
[Event "Beverwijk"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1950.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kramer"]
[Black "Van Scheltinga"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "14: Minority Attack"]
[ECO "D36"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[Source "Hays Publishing"]
[SourceDate "1964.01.01"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 Nbd7 5. Bg5 c6 6. cxd5 exd5 7. e3 Be7 8. Qc2 O-O 9. Bd3 Re8 10. O-O h6 11. Bh4 Ne4 12. Bxe7 Qxe7 13. Bxe4 ( 13. Rab1 Nd6 $1 14. b4 b5 { Blunting White's minority attack with the
magnificent support point of c4 for the Black pieces. It is fair to conclude
that in such positions it is always a good idea for Black to play a Knight to
d6. White must now modify his Queenside plans in some way } ) ( 13. Rac1 Nd6 14. Na4 { But it is clear that long preparations will be needed before the b-pawn
can be advanced with any hope of profit. } ) 13... dxe4 14. Nd2 Nf6 { This type of position arises frequently from the QGD. The essential difference
between it and the foregoing examples is the advanced position of the Black
e-pawn. This generally betokens a slight imporvement in Black's prospects, for
the e-pawn can be an important element in a Kingside attack, while the strong
square d5 can also be veryuseful } 15. b4 $1 { This advance is possible without preparation } 15... Bd7 ( 15... Qxb4 16. Ncxe4 $44 { White gets good compensation } ) 16. Rfc1 h5 $2 { Black is right to
seek counterchances on the Kingside, but this does not mean that he can leave
his Queenside completely in the lurch } ( 16... Rac8 $1 ) 17. Rab1 h4 { This practically forces the following weakening move } 18. h3 g5 19. b5 { White must hurry, or his Kingside will be overrun } 19... g4 { Black must also push on. It is too late for defence } ( 19... c5 20. dxc5 Qxc5 21. Ncxe4 Nxe4 22. Nxe4 Qxc2 23. Nf6+ $1 Kh8 24. Rxc2 ) ( 19... cxb5 20. Nxb5 Rac8 21. Qb2 a6 22. Nc7 ) 20. hxg4 Bxg4 21. bxc6 bxc6 22. Na4 Nd5 ( 22... Rac8 23. Qc5 { Black would have to enter a bad endgame where he has weak pawns
(can't allow Qg5+) } ) 23. Qxc6 Rad8 ( 23... Qg5 24. Nxe4 { overloaded Re8 } ) 24. Nc5 Bf5 25. Nb7 Qg5 ( 25... Rd7 26. Rc5 ) 26. Nxd8 Rxd8 27. Kh2 Nf6 28. Qc7 Ng4+ 29. Kg1 h3 30. gxh3 $1 { The discovered Check is not as dangerous as White has Qh3 } 30... Ne5+ 31. Kh2 Rxd4 32. Rg1 $2 ( 32. Qxe5 { simpler } 32... Rxd2 33. Rb8+ Kh7 34. Rh8+ Kg6 35. Rg8+ ) 32... Ng4+ 33. hxg4 ( 33. Rxg4 { direct win } 33... Bxg4 34. exd4 Qxd2 35. Rb8+ ) 33... Qh4+ 34. Kg2 Rxd2 35. Qg3 Qxg4 36. Qxg4+ Bxg4 37. Kg3 Bh5 38. Rb8+ Kg7 39. a4 Ra2 40. Rb4 Bg6 41. Rgb1 1-0
[Event "Mar del Plata"]
[Site "Mar del Plata"]
[Date "1945.??.??"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Najdorf"]
[Black "Sanguinetti"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "14: Minority Attack"]
[ECO "D68"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[Source "Hays Publishing"]
[SourceDate "1964.01.01"]

{ Invasion on the c-file } 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Nf3 O-O 7. Rc1 c6 8. Bd3 dxc4 9. Bxc4 Nd5 10. Bxe7 Qxe7 11. O-O Nxc3 12. Rxc3 e5 13. Qb1 e4 14. Nd2 Nf6 15. b4 { The promptness with which White can start
his minority attack results from his 13. Qb1. The question is really whether
Black, in these circumstances, should have played 13. ... Pe4. We do not
propose to argue this point here, as it belongs properly in to the domain of
the openings } 15... a6 16. Rfc1 Bg4 ( 16... Bd7 17. -- Rac8 ) 17. a4 Rad8 { intending ... Rd6 for a Kingside attack } ( 17... Rac8 ) 18. h3 Bh5 $2 { the Bishop can not be spared from the Queenside } ( 18... Bc8 ) 19. b5 axb5 20. axb5 c5 { With this move, which is based on the unprotected position of
the White Knight, Black avoids being left with a weak c-pawn, but he jumps out
of the frying pan into the fire } 21. Nb3 $1 { Black has to open the c-file himself } 21... cxd4 ( 21... b6 22. dxc5 bxc5 23. Nxc5 Qxc5 24. Bxf7+ ) 22. Nxd4 Bg6 ( 22... Rc8 23. Bxf7+ ) ( 22... Nd5 23. Bxd5 Rxd5 24. Rc7 Rd7 25. Rxd7 Qxd7 26. Qxe4 ) 23. Bb3 Ne8 ( 23... Nd5 24. Rc5 ) 24. Qa2 Rd7 25. Qa5 Qd8 26. b6 $1 Rd6 27. Rc8 Qe7 ( 27... Qxb6 28. Qa8 ) 28. Qc5 { full mastery of the open file than this there can not be! } 28... Rd7 29. Ba4 Qxc5 ( 29... Rd6 30. Bxe8 Rxe8 31. Qxd6 { overloaded Queen } ) 30. R1xc5 Re7 31. Rd8 h6 ( 31... Nf6 32. Rcc8 ) 32. Rcc8 f6 33. Rb8 1-0
[Event "Mar del Plata"]
[Site "Mar del Plata"]
[Date "1945.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Najdorf"]
[Black "Stahlberg"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "14: Minority Attack"]
[ECO "D68"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[Source "Hays Publishing"]
[SourceDate "1964.01.01"]

{ The significance of Black's support point at d5 } 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 Nbd7 6. e3 O-O 7. Rc1 c6 8. Bd3 dxc4 9. Bxc4 Nd5 10. Bxe7 Qxe7 11. O-O Nxc3 12. Rxc3 e5 13. Bb3 e4 14. Nd2 Nf6 { This position is
nearly the same as ther previous, except White has played Bb3 instead of Qb1.
This little difference clearly favours Black, since White must spend a tempo
to unblock his b-pawn.  Black's advanced pawn on e4 is more in place here than
in the previous example, and theory has not yet quite overcome the tactical
problems produced by this pawn } 15. Qc2 Bg4 $1 { The best counter to Rc5-e5 winning the e-pawn. Black now threatens Be2-d3 } 16. Re1 $2 ( 16. Rc1 Be2 17. Bc4 ) 16... Kh8 17. a3 Rae8 18. Nf1 $2 { the Knight is no better here than it was on d2 } ( 18. Ba2 -- 19. b4 { more purposeful } ) 18... Be6 19. Bxe6 Qxe6 20. b4 Nd5 { An important
success for Black. The occupation of this support point enables him to work up
a powerful offensive on the Kingside } 21. Rc5 a6 22. Ng3 ( 22. Rb1 f5 23. a4 f4 { no time for White thematics. The Black attack is a long way towards
its consummation, but for that matter the move played is not a lot better } ) 22... f5 23. Qd2 Qh6 $1 24. a4 ( 24. f4 { If White tries to parry the
threat to open the c-file, Black opens the g-file ... the purpose of ... Qh6 } 24... g5 ) 24... f4 25. exf4 ( 25. Nf1 f3 26. Ng3 Qh4 ) 25... Nxf4 26. Re3 Nd5 27. Re2 Qxd2 28. Rxd2 e3 $1 { Now both Rooks have open files } ( 28... Nxb4 ) 29. fxe3 Rxe3 30. Rc1 Nxb4 31. Nf1 Ra3 { This horizontal activity
of the Rooks once they control an open file, has already come to our notice } 32. Re1 Kg8 33. Re7 b6 34. h4 Ra1 35. Rf2 Rxa4 36. Rxf8+ Kxf8 37. Rb7 Nd5 38. Ng3 Rxd4 39. Nf5 Re4 $1 40. Nd6 Re6 41. Rf7+ Kg8 42. Rd7 h6 43. Nf5 Rf6 0-1
[Event "Weston-supre-Mare"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1924.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Znosko-Borovsky"]
[Black "Euwe"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "14: Minority Attack"]
[ECO "B83"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[Source "Hays Publishing"]
[SourceDate "1964.01.01"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Be2 e6 7. O-O Be7 8. Be3 O-O 9. Nb3 a6 10. f4 b5 11. Bf3 Bb7 { This position is entirely
different from those we have been looking at previously, but there is one
essential similarity - the half open c-file, with the possibilty of a minority
attack for Black. We shall soon see that there is considerable degree of
correspondence between the positions } 12. Ne2 { preparing c3 } 12... Na5 { Heading for the furthest available square on the half open file } 13. Nxa5 Qxa5 14. Ng3 Rac8 15. c3 Rfd8 16. Qb3 d5 17. e5 Ne4 { Comparing the Queenside
pawn formations arising from the Queen's Gambit Exchange variation, we come to
the suprising conclusion that apart from unimportant discrepancies, the are
the same with the colours reversed. There are other openings as well which
give rise to the same type of position - notably the French and Caro-Kann
defences.  The strategic plan is now applicable, but the tactical differences
may be considerable. For instance, it is important to notice that in the
present case, White can't start an immediate Kingside attack } 18. Ne2 ( 18. Bxe4 dxe4 19. f5 { Black would then have himself the open d-file at once by ... Rd3 } 19... Rd3 ) 18... Bc5 19. Bxc5 Rxc5 20. Rad1 Rc4 21. Nd4 { Occupying the support point } 21... g6 { Preventing Nf5 .. White should hit out with Pg4 } 22. Kh1 Ba8 { So as to push on with ... Pb4 } 23. Be2 Rc5 24. Qc2 $2 ( 24. Qb4 Qxb4 25. cxb4 Rc7 26. Rc1 $11 ) 24... Qb6 25. a3 a5 26. Bd3 b4 27. axb4 axb4 { The climax of the minority attack } 28. Nb3 ( 28. Qb3 Rb8 $1 ) ( 28. c4 dxc4 29. Bxe4 Bxe4 30. Qxe4 Rcd5 { Black regains his piece with decisive advantage } ) ( 28. Bxe4 dxe4 29. c4 Rcc8 30. Nb3 ( 30. Ne2 b3 31. Qc3 Rxd1 32. Rxd1 Qf2 $1 33. Nc1 e3 34. Rg1 Rd8 ) 30... Bd5 31. Nd2 e3 ) 28... Rcc8 29. Bxe4 dxe4 30. c4 ( 30. Rxd8+ Rxd8 31. Nd4 { better chances } ) 30... Bd5 31. Rd4 Bxc4 32. Rxc4 Qa6 33. Nd2 $2 ( 33. Rc1 { Back rank tactics } 33... Rxc4 34. Qxc4 Qxc4 35. Rxc4 Rd1# ) ( 33. Na5 Rc5 34. Rc1 $15 ) 33... e3 $1 34. b3 exd2 35. Rd1 Rxc4 36. bxc4 Qa3 37. g3 Qc3 38. Qe4 b3 39. Kg2 Qc2 40. Qe2 Qxd1 41. Qxd1 b2 0-1
[Event "Amsterdam"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1950.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Van Scheltinga"]
[Black "Van der Berg"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "14: Minority Attack"]
[ECO "E69"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[Source "Hays Publishing"]
[SourceDate "1964.01.01"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 O-O 5. Nc3 d6 6. Nf3 Nbd7 7. O-O e5 8. e4 c6 9. h3 exd4 10. Nxd4 a5 11. Be3 Nb6 12. b3 a4 { Black intends to open
the a-file and exchange a pair of Rooks - always a good policy in a cramped
position } 13. Qc2 axb3 14. axb3 Rxa1 15. Rxa1 Nfd7 16. Rd1 { There is nothing
to be done on the a-file, so White comes back to the half-open d-file, where
the backward pawn is a welcome target } 16... Qf6 ( 16... Nc5 $2 17. Nxc6 bxc6 18. Bxc5 { pin tactic } ) 17. Nde2 Nc5 18. b4 $1 { In the thick of the fight,
White starts a minority attack - the ultimate aim of which is to produce a
majority attack! } ( 18. e5 Qxe5 19. Bf4 Qf6 20. Bxd6 Bf5 21. Qc1 Nd3 { tactical point against Pe5 } ) 18... Ncd7 19. c5 dxc5 20. bxc5 Na8 ( 20... Nc4 21. Bd4 Qe7 22. Bxg7 Kxg7 23. Na4 Nce5 24. f4 { trapped Knight } ) 21. Bd4 Qe7 22. Bxg7 Kxg7 23. Na4 { The result of the minority attack is that the Black
Queenside is cripple, the d-file is fully open, and that the White Kingside
maority now becomes an important factor } 23... Nc7 24. Nd4 Re8 25. Nb3 { Before White can mobilize his Kingside majority he must thoroughly protect his
vulnerbale minority pawn onc5 } 25... Nf8 26. f4 Rd8 27. Qc3+ Kg8 28. Rxd8 Qxd8 29. Qd4 Qxd4+ 30. Nxd4 Nb5 $2 { After this White assume decisive advantage } ( 30... Be6 31. Nxe6 Nfxe6 32. Bf1 Kf8 { Black can hold } ) 31. Nb3 Be6 32. Na5 Nd7 ( 32... Bc8 33. Nb6 { removing the guard } ) 33. e5 Nd4 34. Nxb7 f6 35. exf6 Nxf6 36. Na5 Nd7 37. Nxc6 Nb3 38. Nd8 Nbxc5 39. Nxc5 Nxc5 40. Nxe6 Nxe6 41. Bd5 Kf7 42. Kf2 Kf6 43. Bxe6 Kxe6 44. Kf3 Kd5 45. Ke3 h6 46. Kd3 1-0
[Event "San Remo"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1930.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Alekhine"]
[Black "Nimzowitsch"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "15: Controlling the Open File"]
[ECO "C17"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[Source "Hays Publishing"]
[SourceDate "1964.01.01"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. Bd2 Ne7 6. Nb5 Bxd2+ 7. Qxd2 O-O 8. c3 b6 9. f4 Ba6 10. Nf3 Qd7 11. a4 Nbc6 12. b4 { Not only spoiling Black's scheme, but also forcing him to show his hand. } ( 12. -- cxd4 { opening the file and taking the initiative by .... Na5-c4
(occupying the furtherest available point on the open file) } ) 12... cxb4 ( 12... c4 { the whole Queen side is blocked, giving White a free hand on the opposite wing } ) 13. cxb4 Bb7 14. Nd6 f5 { According to Alekhine, this is the decisive
strategic misjudgement.  By means of a few strong positional moves, Alekhine
guarantees himself control of the only open file (Kotov) } ( 14... a5 { necessary } 15. Bb5 axb4 16. O-O ) 15. a5 $1 Nc8 ( 15... bxa5 16. b5 Nd8 17. Rxa5 $16 ) 16. Nxb7 Qxb7 17. a6 Qf7 ( 17... Qe7 18. Bb5 $1 Nxb4 19. Rb1 $18 ) 18. Bb5 { Now Black is forced to defend the c6 square with all the men he can, so
as to black the action of the white rooks downs the c-file. If this bastion
falls, then the rooks will break in and wreak destruction along the seventh
and eight ranks } 18... N8e7 19. O-O h6 20. Rfc1 { This initiates the siege of the Black position via the c-file } 20... Rfc8 21. Rc2 Qe8 { Black buttresses the knight on c6 with all the means at his
disposal, so as to prevent the invasion down the c0file. The natural
countermeausure in the fight for an open file - name, the exchange of some
pieces - is unfortunately not available to him. } ( 21... Nd8 22. Rac1 Rxc2 23. Rxc2 Rc8 24. Rxc8 Nxc8 25. Qc3 Ne7 26. Qc7 $18 ) 22. Rac1 ( 22. Ra3 $1 -- 23. Rac3 -- 24. Qc1 ) 22... Rab8 23. Qe3 Rc7 24. Rc3 Qd7 25. R1c2 { The decisive
regrouping! It is very important that the Queen should act from behind the
rooks. In that way it is easiest to penetrate into the enemy position, as the
rooks can invade on squares which are covered by enemy rooks, whereas a queen
would be too valuable to sacrifice (Kotov) } 25... Kf8 26. Qc1 { The tripling
process is complete, and Black is bound hand and foot. Only the King can move,
and he will arrive on the scene too late } 26... Rbc8 27. Ba4 $1 { This threatens to break into the Black defensive lines } 27... b5 28. Bxb5 Ke8 29. Ba4 Kd8 { guarding Rc7 so that the N can move if Pb5 } 30. h4 $22 { The last straw. Black has only his h-pawn and g-pawn left to move. As soon as
these have exhausted their moves, he will have to move ... Qe8 and then Pb6
demolishes hisposition } ( 30. b5 Nb8 ) 1-0
[Event "USSR"]
[Site "Moscow ch-SU"]
[Date "1952.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Botvinnik"]
[Black "Kan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "15: Controlling the Open File"]
[ECO "A30"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[Source "Hays Publishing"]
[SourceDate "1964.01.01"]

{ White masters the d-file by means of a pawn sacrifice } 1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nf6 3. g3 b6 4. Bg2 Bb7 5. O-O g6 6. d3 Bg7 7. e4 O-O 8. Nc3 Nc6 9. Ne1 Ne8 10. Bg5 Nc7 11. Qd2 Nd4 12. Bh6 e6 13. Bxg7 Kxg7 14. Nc2 Nxc2 15. Qxc2 Rb8 16. Rad1 Qe7 17. d4 cxd4 18. Rxd4 Bc6 { In this position, nine out of ten players
would move 19. Rfd1, intensifying the pressure on the backward d-pawn.
Botvinnik selects an entirely different method } 19. e5 $3 { This move involves
a pawn sacrifice which Black is virtually bound to accept, in view of the
positional threat Ne4 - preceded perhaps by the exchange of Bishops. The
Knight would then threaten to penetrate permanently into the Black position on
d6 or f6 } 19... Qc5 20. Qd2 Qxe5 21. Bxc6 dxc6 22. Re1 { Before occupying the
seventh rank, White forces the Black Queen to an unfavourable square } 22... Qf5 23. g4 $1 { Driving the Queen back to f6, so that later on the White Knigt can
gain a tempo by attacking the Queen as it crosses over } 23... Qf3 24. Re3 Qf6 25. Rd7 { Over the years this idea of playing a Rook to the seventh rank has
become a standard objective. It is the consummation of play in an open file } 25... Rfd8 26. Red3 Rxd7 27. Rxd7 Ne8 ( 27... Rc8 28. Ne4 Qf3 29. Nd6 Qxg4+ 30. Kf1 Qh3+ 31. Ke1 $18 { tactic of removing the guard } ) 28. Ne4 { the tempo set up earlier by Pg4 } 28... Qf3 29. Qd4+ Kg8 30. Ng5 c5 31. Nxf3 cxd4 32. b3 ( 32. Nxd4 Nf6 33. Rxa7 Rd8 { Black develops activity.
Recognizing possibilities to reduce opponent's counterplay is a fine art } ) 32... Rc8 ( 32... Nf6 33. Rxd4 Rb7 34. Ne5 g5 35. Kg2 Kf8 36. Rd8+ { Black can not move a finger to help himself } ) 33. Nxd4 Nf6 34. Rxa7 Nxg4 35. Rb7 Rd8 36. Nf3 Rd1+ 37. Kg2 Ra1 38. h3 Nf6 39. Ng5 Rxa2 40. Kf3 $1 ( 40. Rxf7 Ne4 $19 { tactic of removing the guard } ) 40... Rb2 41. Rxb6 { White connected passed pawns must be decisive } 41... h6 42. Ne4 Nd7 43. Rb5 Kf8 44. Ke3 f5 45. Nd2 Ke7 46. c5 Nf6 47. Rb7+ Kd8 48. Nc4 Nd5+ 49. Kd4 Nc7 1-0
[Event "Buenos Aires WCh (12)"]
[Site "Buenos Aires WCh (12)"]
[Date "1927.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Alekhine"]
[Black "Capablanca"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "15: Controlling the Open File"]
[ECO "D64"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[Source "Hays Publishing"]
[SourceDate "1964.01.01"]

{ Open file with support points } 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bg5 Nbd7 5. e3 Be7 6. Nf3 O-O 7. Rc1 c6 8. Qc2 a6 9. a3 h6 10. Bh4 Re8 11. Rd1 b5 12. cxb5 cxb5 13. Bd3 Bb7 14. O-O { Here it is obvious that the open c-file is of
dominating importance. The routine idea of occupying the furthest available
square on the open file is already on the cards; Black can play ... Nb6-c4.
White can hardly occupy c5 just yet, not having played Pb4. From this point of
view, Black is a little ahead. On the other hand, White retains the option of
evicting a Black piece from c4 by playing Pb3. While Black holds the
initiative, however, this may not be an easy matter } 14... Rc8 15. Qb1 Qa5 ( 15... Bxa3 16. bxa3 Rxc3 17. a4 { White simply regains the pawn } ) ( 15... Nb6 { simpler } ) 16. Ne2 Nb6 { The boxed in White Queen offers White the
opportunity to make tactical complications } ( 16... b4 { more prudent } ) 17. Ne5 ( 17. Bxf6 $1 { The Black cramped Queen offers tactics: White removes the guard of h7 } 17... Bxf6 ( 17... gxf6 $1 18. Nf4 Nc4 19. Nxe6 fxe6 20. Bxc4 Rxc4 21. Qg6+ { perpetual check } ) 18. b4 Qxa3 ( 18... Qa4 19. Rd2 Nc4 20. Ra2 -- 21. Qa1 -- 22. Rb1 -- 23. Nc3 ) 19. Bh7+ { the idea behind Bxf6, to remove the guard of
h7 to vacate the d3 square for White's Rooks } 19... Kh8 20. Rd3 Qa4 21. Nc3 $16 { trapped piece } ) 17... Nc4 18. Bxf6 Bxf6 $1 ( 18... gxf6 19. Nxf7 Kxf7 20. Bxc4 Rxc4 21. Qh7+ Kf8 22. Nf4 ) 19. Bh7+ Kf8 20. Nd7+ Ke7 21. Nc5 Qb6 ( 21... Rxc5 $1 22. dxc5 ( 22. b4 Nxa3 $1 23. bxa5 ( 23. Qb3 Qa4 24. Qxa4 bxa4 25. dxc5 g6 { Trapped Bishop } ) 23... Nxb1 24. dxc5 Na3 { Black wins at least a second pawn } ) 22... Nxb2 23. Rc1 Qxa3 $17 { decisive advantage to Black } ) 22. Nxb7 Qxb7 23. Bd3 Rc7 { To double Rooks
and thus extract full value out of his occupaton of c4. However, White can
undermine the Knight with Pb3 } ( 23... Kf8 24. -- Be7 { preventing Pb3 } ) 24. Qa2 $1 Rec8 25. b3 Nd6 26. Qd2 Qb6 27. Rc1 Kd7 28. Rxc7+ Rxc7 29. Bb1 { Exchanging one pair of Rooks, White has just about freed himself. He could,
of cource, play for further exchanges by Rc1, but with this Bishop move he
undertakes an interesting attempt to revive his own winning chances. He
vacates d3 as a round for his own Knight outpost on c5 } 29... Be7 30. Nf4 Kc8 31. Qe2 ( 31. Nd3 Ne4 ) 31... g6 32. Nd3 Ne4 33. b4 { Thr struggle for possession of the outpost reaches it's climax } 33... Rc3 $2 { This move in combination with the next move forms an instructive mistake } ( 33... Nd6 34. Nc5 Nc4 35. e4 $1 { Whtie still keeps the initiative } ) 34. Qb2 Qc7 ( 34... Rc7 { have to lose a tempo } ) 35. Nc5 { interference } 35... Bxc5 36. dxc5 Qe5 37. f4 $1 Qg7 ( 37... Qf6 38. Bxe4 dxe4 39. Rf2 ) 38. Bxe4 dxe4 39. Kf2 Qf6 40. g3 g5 41. Rc1 1-0
[Event "GRONINGEN"]
[Site "GRONINGEN"]
[Date "1946.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Botvinnik"]
[Black "Vidmar"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "15: Controlling the Open File"]
[ECO "E00"]
[PlyCount "117"]
[Source "Hays Publishing"]
[SourceDate "1964.01.01"]

{ Mastery of the 7th rank } 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. g3 dxc4 5. Qa4+ Qd7 6. Qxc4 Qc6 7. Nbd2 Qxc4 8. Nxc4 Bb4+ 9. Bd2 Bxd2+ 10. Nfxd2 Nc6 11. e3 Nb4 12. Ke2 Bd7 13. Bg2 Bc6 14. f3 Nd7 15. a3 Nd5 16. e4 N5b6 17. Na5 Bb5+ 18. Ke3 O-O-O { It is often difficult to draw the line between the middlegame and
the endgame. Here for instance, one might say that it begins to look like an
endgame, with the Queens off; but equally it is true that with all the Rooks
and most of the minor pieces still in play, plenty of middlegame character
remains. The use that is made of the half-open c-file, makes this a very
instructive game for our purpose } 19. Rhc1 Nb8 20. b3 Bd7 { Black is cramped, and therefore should not boject to further exchanges } ( 20... Nc6 21. a4 Nxa5 22. axb5 { The Knight is lost } ) 21. Bf1 Nc6 22. Nxc6 Bxc6 23. a4 { Strictly, this is a minority attack, but it deviates sharply from the
characteristic course taken by the previous examples } 23... Be8 { The threat is Pa5-a6 } 24. a5 Na8 { Not a pretty square for a Knight, but
it does provide an effective square for the c-pawn } ( 24... Nd7 25. a6 b6 26. Rc3 ) 25. a6 b6 26. b4 Kb8 ( 26... c6 27. Bb5 Kc7 { Barring Black's a8 Knight of freedom } ) 27. Rc3 c6 28. Rac1 f6 29. Nb1 Bd7 30. Na3 { Threatening Pb5 to open the c-file } 30... Nc7 31. b5 $1 { By means of pawn sacrifice, White conquers the seventh rank } 31... Nxb5 32. Bxb5 cxb5 33. Rc7 { An interesting position, which provides an excellent
demonstration of the power of a Rook on the seventh rank } 33... Rc8 ( 33... -- 34. Rb7+ Ka8 35. Rcc7 { The immediate threat - the usual result whenever two
Roos get to the seventh rank in the middlegame } ) ( 33... Bc8 34. Nxb5 Rd7 35. Rxd7 Bxd7 36. Nxa7 Kxa7 37. Rc7+ Kxa6 38. Rxd7 { The strength of Black's passed b-pawn could be a saving factor } ) 34. Rb7+ Ka8 35. Rxd7 $1 { A pretty sacrifice of the Exchange, by means of which White
definitely ensures complete mastery of the seventh rank } ( 35. Rxc8+ Bxc8 36. Rxg7 Bxa6 { Black has adeqate compensation } ) 35... Rxc1 36. Nxb5 Rhc8 ( 36... -- 37. Rxa7+ Kb8 38. Rb7+ Ka8 39. Nc7+ ) 37. Rxg7 h6 38. Rxa7+ Kb8 39. Rb7+ Ka8 40. Ra7+ Kb8 41. Rb7+ Ka8 42. g4 { The last few moves were played only
to reach time-control. Now White initiates the final phase. The idea is to
play Ph4-h5, and then to win Black's h-pawn by Rh7 } 42... e5 { Black does not await events. Now White treads a different path to victory } 43. d5 R1c5 44. Ra7+ Kb8 45. Rb7+ Ka8 46. Rxb6 Rb8 { Putting an end once and
for all to the dangerous forays of the White Rook. The Rook has done his job
well and what he has left of the Black position is now an easy prey to the
Knight } 47. Rxb8+ Kxb8 48. a7+ Kb7 ( 48... Ka8 49. d6 { decides the game } ) 49. Nd6+ Kxa7 50. Ne8 Kb6 51. Nxf6 Rc3+ 52. Kf2 Rc7 53. h4 Rf7 54. Nh5 Kc7 55. g5 hxg5 56. hxg5 Rh7 57. Nf6 Rh2+ 58. Kg3 Rh8 59. g6 1-0
[Event "Petersburg"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1914.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Lasker"]
[Black "Tarrasch"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "15: Controlling the Open File"]
[ECO "D30"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[Source "Hays Publishing"]
[SourceDate "1964.01.01"]

{ Bishop and Rooks cooperate to win the open file } 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 c5 3. c4 e6 4. cxd5 exd5 5. g3 Nc6 6. Bg2 Nf6 7. O-O Be7 8. dxc5 Bxc5 9. Nbd2 d4 10. Nb3 Bb6 11. Qd3 Be6 12. Rd1 Bxb3 13. Qxb3 Qe7 14. Bd2 O-O { The position has
various well marked features, such as the isolated d-pawn, and the White
light-square Bishop in fianchetto; the open c-file is not quite such an
overriding characteristic this time. Nevertheless, as the sequel shows, it
still has an important part to play } 15. a4 $3 { The intention is to march this
pawn to the sixth rank where it will undermine the position of the Black
Knight. The result will be that Black will be unable to other sufficient
resistance in the c-file } 15... Ne4 ( 15... Qxe2 16. Re1 Qa6 17. Bf1 { Trapped piece } ) ( 15... Bc5 16. a5 a6 ) 16. Be1 Rad8 { It seems from this
move that Black was not aware of the danger threatening on the c-file.
Otherwise he would have played this Rook to c8 } 17. a5 Bc5 18. a6 bxa6 ( 18... b6 19. Qa4 { White breaks all resistance in the c-file ... followed by Pb4 } ) 19. Rac1 $1 { This is the whole point of the preceding maneuvers. Notice also that
the advance of the a-pawn has made the White light squared Bishop very active,
for the removal of the Black b-pawn has weakened the whole of the long white
diagonal } 19... Rc8 20. Nh4 $1 Bb6 ( 20... -- 21. Bxe4 Qxe4 22. Rxc5 ) 21. Nf5 Qe5 22. Bxe4 Qxe4 23. Nd6 { Tactic based on fork } 23... Qxe2 24. Nxc8 Rxc8 25. Qd5 { Thus White forces a speedy exchange of Rooks, and so reduces his task
to one of technique. } 25... Qe6 26. Qf3 h6 27. Bd2 Ne5 28. Rxc8+ Qxc8 29. Qe4 Nd7 30. Rc1 Qf8 31. Bxh6 { fork tactic } 31... Nc5 32. Qg4 f5 33. Qg6 Qf7 34. Qxf7+ Kxf7 35. Bg5 Nd3 36. Rb1 $1 Ke6 37. b3 Kd5 38. f3 a5 39. h4 Nc5 40. h5 d3 41. Kf1 a4 42. bxa4 Nxa4 43. Bf6 $1 Ke6 44. Bxg7 Kf7 45. Be5 Nc5 46. Rd1 1-0
[Event "Zuerich"]
[Site "Zuerich"]
[Date "1953.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Stahlberg"]
[Black "Taimanov"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "15: Controlling the Open File"]
[ECO "E15"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[Source "Hays Publishing"]
[SourceDate "1964.01.01"]

{ Black finds an unusual way of conquering the c-file } 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. Qa4 Be7 6. Bg2 O-O 7. Nc3 c6 8. Ne5 Qe8 { This serves not
only to defend the c-pawn, but also to prepare ... Pb5 and so to open the
c-file } 9. O-O d5 10. Re1 $2 ( 10. cxd5 { White should have opened the c-file.
Now he is forced into a disadvantageous position } ) 10... b5 11. cxb5 cxb5 12. Qd1 b4 13. Nb1 ( 13. Na4 Bb5 14. Nc5 $132 ) 13... Nc6 14. Nxc6 $2 { Now Black holds all the trumps } ( 14. Bf4 ) ( 14. Nf3 ) 14... Qxc6 15. Nd2 Qb6 { Attacking the d-pawn, forcing White to forgo his intended Pe4 } ( 15... Rac8 16. e4 Qc2 $2 17. Qxc2 Rxc2 18. exd5 ) 16. e3 ( 16. Nf3 Rac8 ( 16... Ne4 17. Bf4 Rac8 { strong pressure in the c-file } ) 17. Bg5 Rc4 ) 16... Rac8 17. Bf1 Rc6 18. Bxa6 Qxa6 19. Nf3 Rfc8 20. Qb3 Ne4 21. Nd2 { White offers two minor
pieces for a Rook, intending thereby to get full possession of the c-file for
himself } ( 21. Bd2 Rc2 22. Rad1 ( 22. Red1 Qe2 ) 22... Qc4 $1 { Complete loss for White } ) 21... Rc2 $1 ( 21... Rxc1 22. Rexc1 Nxd2 23. Rxc8+ Qxc8 24. Qd1 { White obtains some drawing chances } ) 22. Nxe4 dxe4 23. a3 h5 $1 { Now that Black complete control of the c-file, it is a good idea to
take the initiative on another front } 24. d5 R8c4 25. Rd1 { Offering a pawn in order to complete his development. } ( 25. dxe6 Qxe6 26. -- Rxc1 27. Raxc1 Rxc1 ) 25... exd5 26. Bd2 Qf6 27. Rab1 h4 28. Qa4 Qf5 $1 { Prevents the White Queen from hurrying across to the threatened Kingside via d7 } 29. Qxa7 Bf8 30. Qb8 g5 31. gxh4 gxh4 32. Qf4 { leads to a lossed ending } ( 32. Be1 d4 33. Rxd4 Rxd4 34. exd4 e3 $1 ) 32... Qxf4 33. exf4 d4 34. b3 Rc6 35. axb4 f5 36. h3 Ra6 37. Rbc1 Rxc1 38. Rxc1 Ra2 39. Be1 Rb2 40. Kg2 Rxb3 41. Rc8 Rb1 42. Bd2 e3 0-1
[Event "New York"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1924.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Yates"]
[Black "Reti"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "16: Play on the Ranks"]
[FEN "r2r2k1/1p3pp1/1np1p1p1/p3N3/2PPN2q/bP1R4/4QPPP/4R1K1 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "7"]
[SetUp "1"]
[Source "Hays Publishing"]
[SourceDate "1964.01.01"]

{ A sudden raid } 1. Rh3 Qe7 2. Ng5 $3 { White's threat is so formidable that Black resigns } 2... Qxg5 3. Rh8+ Kxh8 4. Nxf7+ 1-0
[Event "Warsaw"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1935.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Marshall"]
[Black "Stoltz"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "16: Play on the Ranks"]
[FEN "2r2rk1/pp1q1ppp/4p3/2Pp4/3Q4/P1R1PP2/1P3P1P/5RK1 b - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "9"]
[SetUp "1"]
[Source "Hays Publishing"]
[SourceDate "1964.01.01"]

{ With a suprising pawn sacrifice, Black prepares a Rook foray on his third
rank  Positionally, White's situation is not at all bad. He has the Queenside
pawn majority, and an open g-file which may have great future possibilities.
For the moment the one feature which overshadows all others is the weakening
of White's King position. This is the background of the following combination } 1... e5 $3 2. Qxe5 Rc6 3. e4 ( 3. Kh1 Qh3 4. Rg1 Qxf3+ ) 3... d4 $1 { This forces
the White Rook along the third rank to an undefended square, and so eliminates
the defence by Pf4 } ( 3... Qh3 4. f4 $1 ) 4. Rd3 Qh3 { now ... Pf4 isn't possible } 5. Rxd4 Rg6+ 0-1
[Event "Bad"]
[Site "Bad"]
[Date "1928.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Capablanca"]
[Black "Mieses"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "16: Play on the Ranks"]
[FEN "1rb1kn2/1p2r1pp/p1p2p2/3p4/N2P4/2RNPP2/PP3KPP/2R5 w - - 0 25"]
[PlyCount "17"]
[SetUp "1"]
[Source "Hays Publishing"]
[SourceDate "1964.01.01"]

{ Positional intermezzo  Capablanca preferred not to push the pawns too early.
The advantage of this rule is exemplified in this position, where the familiar
minority attack is rejected in favour of operations with Knights and Rooks } 25. Rb3 { White wants to provoke ... Pb5 } 25... Nd7 26. g4 b5 27. Nac5 Nb6 ( 27... Nxc5 28. Rxc5 Bb7 29. Nb4 Kd7 ) 28. Nb4 Bb7 29. Nxb7 Rbxb7 30. Rxc6 a5 31. Rxb6 axb4 ( 31... Rxb6 32. Nxd5 { fork tactic } ) 32. Rxb7 Rxb7 33. Rxb4 1-0
[Event "4th match game"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1908.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Tarrasch"]
[Black "Lasker"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "16: Play on the Ranks"]
[FEN "r2q2k1/pppnrpp1/3p3p/1N6/4P3/2Q5/PPP2PPP/3RR1K1 b - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "37"]
[SetUp "1"]
[Source "Hays Publishing"]
[SourceDate "1964.01.01"]

{ Lasker's famous Rook maneuver  White's Nb5 attacks c7 and prepares Nd4-f5. It
will support a dangerous - possibly decisive - Kingside attack. Another
characteristic maneuver for White in such a position, would be to bring a Rook
into strong play along the third rank, but Lasker is one jump ahead } 1... Re5 $1 { Indirect defence of the c-pawn } 2. Nd4 ( 2. Nxc7 $2 Rc5 { fork } ) ( 2. Qxc7 Qxc7 3. Nxc7 Rc8 { trapped piece } ) 2... Rc5 3. Qb3 Nb6 4. f4 { Cutting off the Rooks return to e5. It looks as though the Black Rook foray is
going to be provedpremature } 4... Qf6 5. Qf3 Re8 6. c3 a5 { Support for the Rook } 7. b3 a4 8. b4 Rc4 { Still deeper into the enemy lines } 9. g3 Rd8 { Preparing ... Pc5 } 10. Re3 { Protecting the c-pawn so that the Knight can be dispatched on a Rook hunt } 10... c5 11. Nb5 cxb4 12. Rxd6 { This is the combination which White had hoped
would refute the whole of Black's strategy } 12... Rxd6 13. e5 Rxf4 $1 { The flaw in White's calculation } 14. gxf4 Qg6+ 15. Kh1 { Upset by the total collapse of his plans, White now makes a serious blunder } ( 15. Kf1 ) 15... Qb1+ 16. Kg2 Rd2+ 17. Re2 Qxa2 18. Rxd2 Qxd2+ 19. Kg3 a3 $1 0-1