Space advantage

- an instructive game -

A. Randjelovic - D. Dimitrijevic, Chess.com 2011.

1. d4 d5
2. c4 e6
3. Nc3 Nf6
Should White make an exchange of the pawns in the center by playing c4xd5?
What are the cosequences after the pawn formation changes?

White would give up his sidepawn (c-Pawn) for Black's central Pawn (on the e-file), which
should be good for White. However, drawback of such exchange is in view of activity and
space advantage, as Black is going to free his c8-Bishop which is strugling for some air with
current pawn formation. In view of space advantage, White is exchanging his fourth-rank
Pawn for the sixth-rank Pawn of Black, which means giving up from the spatial edge.

4. Bg5 c6
5. e3 Be7
At this point we should make an evaluation of the situation in the center. White has two
pawns on the fourth rank, and one on the third, while Black has one on the fifth, and two on
their sixth rank. This means that White has slight advantage in the center, and with it - slight
advantage in space.

6. Nf3 h6
This move is just a usual reaction of intermediate players against the Bishop which pins the
Knight on the flank. It is done usually with a reason to have some flight square for the King,
after he castles. However, there should be awareness of the weakness that such moves is
creating.

What kind of weakness is made with such move, when it is made on the kingside,
where the Black King is planning to castle?

The kingside pawn structure is slightly weakened, which can be proven as critical weakness if
White launches a kingside attack later in the game.

Note! Each pawn-move has its own drawback in view of leaving some squares behind
permanently undefended due to pawn's disability to go back. Therefore: Carefully with the
pawns!

As castled King is the safest behind three in-line pawns on the seventh rank, each pawn-
move around the castled King is slightly weakening his place.

7. Bh4 O-O
Classic Queen's Gambit Declined situation. Now, the oldest White's reaction is Bf1-d3,
aiming to castle afterwards, and only then White is going to plan his further play.

It is far better to anticipate opponent's threats and plans before thinking of your own plan or
just making a move without any thinking.

Black has to solve an issue linked to the activity of pieces and space disadvantage.
What should be his plan, and how White can meet that plan best?
 Black should find a solution for his light-square Bishop, as it is his major problem. Then, as he
has slight disadvantage in view of space, he will have to do something to eliminate White's
better pawn-presence in the center.

In order to do that, Black may think about two possible breakthroughts. One is to push his
e6-Pawn (freeing his c8-Bishop and attacking White's center), and the other is to push his c6-
Pawn (attacking White's center and freeing possible diagonal a8-h1 for his light-square
Bishop). Those are two classical breakthroughs against such pawn formation as White has at
the moment. However, there is only one issue: If the d5-Pawn stays there, it means that
White can meet that breakthrough by capturing Black d5-Pawn (c4xd5), following by another
exchange in the center (d4xc5 or d4xe5), which creates an isolated d5-Pawn in Black's camp.
That outcome is usually not in Black's favor.

The other solution for Black is first to exchange his d5-Pawn for White's c4-Pawn, and only
then to think about breakthroughs.

Now, if Black is going to exchange his d5-Pawn for White's c4-Pawn, it means that the f1-
Bishop is going to c4-square, and maybe it is not needed to move and lose a tempo. Maybe
White can wait for Black to capture on c4. That's why White may think about some other
move, useful one, but not to move the f1-Bishop.

This is the way to start thinking of other White's possibilities, instead of plalying Bf1-d3.

8. Qc2
Suggest one more good "waiting move" for White.

If the c-file is going to be half-open, it may be good to place the Rook at c1-square.

Why the move 8. c5 is not the best?

In that case White will gain more space on the queenside, and will be ready to launch an
attack there with b2-b4-b5. However, there is a general rule of how to react when the
opposing side starts a flank attack while the center is still not locked. The answer is: attack
through the center! Or just: open up the center!

It means that White will give Black a great opportunity to think about advancing his e6-Pawn,
after which there is no tension toward the d5-Pawn. Black would be just fine, if not better.

8... Na6?
Why this move is not so good as Nb8-d7?

If Black wants to play freeing moves like e6-e5 or c6-c5, then his b8-Knight is needed on d7-
square, not on a6 or c7.

9. a3
Moves like this one are usually just played when someone has nothing on his mind. However,
there was an idea with this one.

Following the idea of waiting for d5xc4 and Bf1xc4, what may be the reason to
have the a-Pawn on a3-square? What kind of maneouvre White is hoping to apply
with it?

The idea is to move the Bishop from c4 to a2-square, and after - let's say - Ra1-d1, to create
strong Queen & Bishop's battery after Ba2-b1. That's another classic regrouping in Queen's
Gambit Declined positions.

9... Nc7
10. Rd1
Now, there is a big question of where to place the Rook while White is still waiting for d5xc4
to happen. Streight forward thinking would say that c1-square is more natural as the c-file is
going to be opened after the exchange.

What is the reason to place the Rook on d1-square?

The idea of placing the Rook on d1-square is found after White thought how Black can still try
to free his light-square Bishop and fight against White center. If it is c6-c5 breakthrough,
then the Rook is better on d1-square, eyeing the Black Queen.

10... Nce8?
Nonsens. Black is also waiting for White's Bf1-d3, but his moves are useless and they are
only making Black's position worse, while White is only improving.

11. c5!
Why this move is better now then with Black Knight still on b8-square?

The Knight from b8-square can be developed on d7-square, and prepare fast e6-e5
breakthrough. With the Knight on e8-square, Black's pieces mobility is greatly readuced, plus
they have no easy way to apply the plan of pushing the e6-Pawn (break in the center if your
opponent launches a flank attack).

11... Nh7?
What was Black's idea with such move?

To exchange the Bishops. He is led by the idea of exchanging pieces when there is lack of
space. That's correct strategy.

What is wrong with that strategy in this particular situation?

White is not forced to exchange, and the h7-Knight is only going to prove his own
missplacement.

12. Bg3! Ng5

Another try to exchange.

What White should do?

13. Ne5
Other moves are also solid for White, but this is played in order to show how badly is placed
the g5-Knight. It looks completely missplaced, and Black made two last move with it.

13... Bf6
If Black moves the f7-Pawn to attack the Knight, then earlier h7-h6 move highlights its
drawback of weakening the g6-square!

14. f4 Bxe5
15. dxe5 Nh7
 This is the key moment to stop for a while and just observe. The true power of space
advantage is obvious just after those three Black pieces are spotted and alalysed. Their lack
of mobility is caused by White's spatial domination, especially those two Knights are out of
the game, while completely dead light-square Bishop is only a proof of good anticipation and
opening strategy of White, and irresposible opening play by Black.

16. Bd3
What is the idea of playing Bf1-d3?

White is again anticipating what are Black's option to release his passive forces. The only
Black's break with solid perspective is f7-f6. Now, White is forcing f7-f5 instead, which will
keep Black Knights on bad places for a long time.

16... f5
How White should proceed?

White is going to castle, put the Knight at d4-square (centralizing the Knight), and start
attacking both sides. On the kingside - with b2-b4-b5, as there is lot of space for White
pieces; on the other side Black has some prospects because of the f5-Pawn, but due to
passivity of his minor pieces, any plan which will open up lines will only give White easier
way to victory. That's why White is going to push with an idea to open up the g-file with g2-
g4.

17. O-O b6

Black wants to eliminate c5-Pawn as it is taking much space from his camp.
However, White is not forced to exchange by himself.

How to proceed with White now?

18. Ne2
The Knight is aiming to the d4-square, and is opening the Queen to defend the c5-Pawn.

What can be said about pawn formation if Black plays b6xc5?

Pawn structure favors White, since there will be the backward c6-Pawn of Black, as a main
 weakness.

18... Bd7
19. Nd4 b5
What is Black threatening to do now?

He may want to cement the queenside with next a7-a5. That's why White has to do
something to keep the situation on the queenside open.

20. a4! a6
Even if White would let Black to cement with b5-b4 and a7-a5, in some cases White d3-
Bishop may invide Black queenside and target the c6-Pawn.

However, there is also another solution against 20... b4. That's to play very interesting
move: 21. a5! Temporarely White sacrifices the a-Pawn, but due to lack of space Black
cannot keep the material advantage for a long time. Acutally, after 21...Qxa5 22. Ra1 Qc7
23. Ra4 followed by 24. Rfa1, Black is about to lose both pawns - on the a-file & b-file.

What is the way to improve White pieces before he choses to open the a-file?

21. Ra1
Both Rooks may take the best places before the final strike on the a-file. Even the Queen
may join. All that thanks to the space advantage. Black cannot do the same!

21... Nc7
Make a positional evaluation and compare pieces in order to find strategicly the
best move for White.

22. Be1!
The only piece whithout any activity so far, finally aims to attack from the a5-square!

22... Qe7
23. Ba5 Ra7
White may double or triple his heavy pieces on the a-file, but there is something even
stronger. The idea of taking an initiative on the both flanks!

24. g4! g6
25. Kh1 Kh8
26. Rg1 Rg8
27. Rg3!
Again space advantage is decisive to strenghten the attack. Rook's lifting is the common idea
for the side with more space!
Everything to be more dangerous for Black, there is no only idea of tripleing on the g-file, but
also Rg3-h3 is unpleasant.

27... bxa4
28. Bb6 Rb7
29. Qg2 Ra8
If Rook stays, White may play g4xf5 with material gains.
30. gxf5 gxf5
31. Rg1
Notice how White decided to open up the g-file only when he was assured that there is not
going to be trouble to dominate over the same file.

31... Qf8
Find the way for White to finish the game as soon as possible.

32. Rg7 Rd8

33. Qg6

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