Brno: Typical Mistakes & How To Avoid Them (Part Five)

MY round-five game at the Brno Open saw the advantage switch back and forth several times.

The full game can be seen at B5 but here I want to concentrate on what proved to be the decisive moment in the late middlegame.

Spanton (1771) - Per Green (1918)

In the diagram position below White has just played 52.Nb4-a5.

How should Black respond?

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White is a pawn up and has a pair of connected queenside passers. But Black has these reasonably well blockaded, or at least restrained, and has a dangerous central pawn-majority.

The game saw 52...Rc8?, which is meant to add to the restraint of Black's queenside.

However the reply 53.c7! is strong, as the finish showed: 53...Bxc7 54.Rc6+ Kd7 55.Nc5+ Ke8? (better, but still losing, is 55...Ke7) 56.b6 e4+ 57.Ke2 Ra2+ 58.Kd1 Rca8?! 59.bxc7 1-0.

The move ...Rc8 fails to concrete analysis, but it is a mistake that can be avoided by remembering the general rule that passive rook-play, especially when there are few pieces left on the board, is often fatal.

In the diagram position the g8 rook is already actively placed, so Black should strive to find activity elsewhere.

Black's best, according to Stockfish15 and Komodo13.02, is 52...Ra1, when 53.c7 can be met by 53...Rf1+ (53...e4+ is also good), continuing active play with this rook.

The obvious 54.Rf2 can be met by 54...Rxf2+ 55.Kxf2 f4!?, which Stockfish15 reckons wins for Black, although Komodo13.02 calls it completely equal.

Stockfish15 prefers 54.Ke2!? Rxg2+ 55.Kxf1 Rxc2, when both 55.Ke1 and 55.Rb2!? seem to be equal.

Black could also try 52...e4+, when White has to play 53.Kf4 as 53.Kf2? d4 wins for Black.

After 53...Ra1 White has to find another only-move, 54.Rbb2, after which the engines reckon the position is completely equal, eg 54...Rf1+55.Rf2 Rf1 Rfe2 etc.

The moral is that rooks are powerful pieces, but generally can only use that power if actively placed.