Benidorm Lessons: Danger Can Lurk In Shadows

The following position occurred in my round-nine game.

Black has just castled

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

*****

I played 12.Rc1, 'shadowing' the black queen.

At first glance that may not seem particularly threatening as there are two knights and a pawn between the rook and the queen.

But after Black returned the compliment by shadowing my queen with 12...Rd8, I was able to continue 13.Nd5!, gaining the upper hand.

LESSON: the queen is the most powerful piece on the board, but its very strength can also make it the most vulnerable.