Exploiting a weak spot

White is to move in this classical position.

White has a weak spot at 38. There is no piece at this important square and no piece can be transported to this square anymore.

Piece 31 and 44 aren’t placed well either. They aren’t part of any formations.

Moreover, white has few moves left. The only sensible move he can play is:

X 34

X 39

Black can exploit the weakness at 38 by a cute little plan. He brings a piece to square 12, after which black threatens with a shot.

2… 3 – 8

3.44 – 40 8 – 12

Black’s threat is 16 – 21 27 x 16 14 – 20 25 x 23 18 x 36. White doesn’t have a sensible defence, for 28 – 22 is punished by 16 – 21 27 x 16 18 x 29 B+2.

The piece at 13 is missing again. White did not have enough patience to exploit this enormous weakness. The game was 1.28 – 22? 19 – 24 2.22 x 13 23 – 29 3.34 x 23 24 – 30 4.35 x 24 20 x 9 =.

White should play quietly:

1.48 – 42!

Several moves can’t be played now.

At 1… 20 – 24 white responds 28 – 22! And after the captures (for example 7 – 11 22 x 13 19 x 8) white wins a piece by 34 – 30 25 x 34 40 x 18.

If black plays 3 – 8 (or 3 – 9) white forces a Coup Philippe: 1… 3 – 8 2.28 – 22! 8 - 13 3.27 – 21! 16 x 27 (after 18 x 27 immediately 34 – 30 etc.) 4.32 x 21 18 x 16 5.34 – 30 25 x 34 6.40 x 7 W+.

1… 7 – 11 2.42 – 37!

Now black doesn’t have any good move left.

2… 11 – 17 is punished by the Harlem shot 3.28 – 22 17 x 28 4.34 – 30 25 x 34 5.40 x 29 23 x 34 6.32 x 25 +, while 20 – 24 and 3 – 8 and 3 – 9 are followed by the same moves as before.

So blacks position is lost.

A classical position with a piece at 25 for black, which gives white extra opportunities. White’s pieces work together well. White’s plan is to inflict damage to the black position.

1.27 – 22 8 – 12

After 1 … 16 – 21 2.34 – 30 25 x 34 3.40 x 18 8 – 12 white has a shot with 4.28 – 23! 19 x 17 5.37 – 31 26 x 28 6.33 x 2 13 x 22 7.2x 30 W+.

Black can’t go to the graveyard (square 29): 1 … 24 – 29 2.33 x 24 20 x29 because of the small Kung Fu shot 3.37 – 31 26 x 37 4.32 x 41 23 x 32 5.34 x 14 9 x 20 6.38 x 27 W+1.

Black can make an exchange to square 30: 1… 24 – 30 2.35 x 24 20 x 29 3.33x24 19 x 30 4.28 x 19 13 x 24 but after 5.32 – 27 white can build a strong central position, although this variation is the best choice for black.

X 22

X 8 3 x 12

Look what happens to the black position! Its defence is weakened severely. Blacks pieces are shattered and thus fail to work together!

4.47 - 42

It is also good to play 4.32 – 27 9 – 14 5.34 – 30 25 x 34 6.40 x 18 12 x 23 because the black position is split once and for all.

4… 16 – 21?

After this move white succeeds in exploiting the blacks split position easily. Let’s look at other moves.

It’s not possible to connect blacks two groups of pieces with 4… 12 – 18? because of the 37 - 31 shot.

The only defense left was 4… 9 – 14 5.32 – 27 with a difficult position. After 5… 23 – 28 6.33 x 22 24 – 29 7.34 x 23 19 x 17 8.37 – 32 blacks position remains split.

X 34

X 18 12 x 23

7.39 – 34

Black has no good reply to prevent 33 – 29 24 x 33 38 x 18 W+1.

White won the game.

This example shows how important it is that your pieces are built in formations, so that they work together.

Black played a move weakening her position.

1… 8 – 13?

Now white takes advantage of the gap at square 8.

2.40 - 35!

White is threatening 34 – 29 23 x 34 39 x 30 25 x 34 43 – 39 34 x 32 37 x 8 13 x 2 31 x 24. If black plays 2… 11 – 17 the same moves give white a shot to king square 2.

The only move left to avoid the threatening combination was 12 – 17 after which white could attack and win blacks outpost with 3.37 – 32!

White has a weak spot: Piece 28 is not supported by a strong centre. Especially the lack of control over square 42 makes white’s position vulnerable. White played 1.43 – 39 so that he could play a sacrifice after 18 – 22. For this reason black didn’t play 18 – 22 but he was mistaken! He overlooked that he could use piece 16 for a shot!

1.43 – 39 18 – 22!

X 28

3.37 – 31

It looks as if white is ok because of the 31 – 27 threat.

3… 24 – 29!!

X 24 19 x 30

5.35 x 24 28 – 33!

6.38 x 29 17 – 21

X 18 12 x 43

With a winning breakthrough.

White is aiming his arrows at black’s weak left wing:

1.34 – 30!

Black has many gaps in his position. Therefore he can’t play 20 – 25? because of 2.28 – 22 25 x 34 3.33 – 29 24 x 33 4.38 x 7 W+.

After 1… 24 – 29 2.33 x 24 20 x 29 white wins the outpost by 3.43 – 39 & 4.39 – 33.

1… 3 - 9 2.27 – 22!

White’s outpost at the graveyard can’t be attacked (12 – 18 30 – 25 +).

2… 24 – 29 3.33 x 24 20 x 29 is met by 4.22 – 18 13 x 33 5.30 – 24 etc. +

Changing 2… 12 – 17 3.22 x 13 6x 17 (or 16 x 7) gives white the forcing opportunity 4.30 – 25! 9 – 14 5.33 – 29 24 x 22 6.32 – 28 choice 7.38 x 9 13 x 4 8.25 x 23 W+1.

The dangling piece at 20 seems to be only temporary, because the change 34 – 30 x 30 is answered by 20 – 25. However, this only seems to be the case. Because of the gaps at his other wing, white can take advantage of the situation playing:

X 34

X 30 3 - 9

2… 20 – 25 gives white a free move he uses for a breakthrough shot 3.48 – 42 25 x 34 4.33 – 29 24 x 31 5.37 x 6

X 27

X 31

X 49

X 3 23 x 32

X 14

And black’s king is caught at the next move!

White’s position is split. Black isolates pieces 25/30/35.

1… 24 – 29!

After 2.37 – 31 21 – 26 white has no temp to make the exchange, so he has to play 3.42 – 37 12 – 17 4.48 – 43 3 – 8! And white is frozen out (43 – 39 is met by 16 -21 27 x 16 17 – 21 16 x 27 29 – 33 38 x 29 23 x 43 B+).

2.48 – 43 21 – 26

3.28 – 22 29 - 33

Even 3 – 8 4.43 – 39 29 – 33 5.39 x 28 16 – 21 would be winning.

X 29 23 x 34

5.30 x 39 16 – 21

X 16 18 x 47