Modern Chess Planning by Efstratios Grivas.pdf

First published in the UK by Gambit Publications Ltd 2007

The right of Efstratios Grivas to be identiied as the author of this work has been asserted in accor

dance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

otherwise, be lent, re-sold, hired out or otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other

than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being

imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

ISBN-13: 978-1-904600-68-8

ISBN-10: 1-904600-68-9

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Managing Director: Murray Chandler GM

Chess Director: Dr John Nunn GM

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Contents

Symbols

Introduction

Planning

Tests 1-75

Solutions

Evaluation Table

141

Index of Players

142

Index of Openings

143

Symbols

+ check

++ double check

# checkmate

!! brilliant move

good move

!? interesting move

?! dubious move

? bad move

?? blunder

+- White is winning

± White is much better

; White is slightly better

equal position

0 unclear position

= Black is slightly better

= Black is much better

-+ Black is winning

Ch championship

1-0 the game ends in a win for White

12-12 the game ends in a draw

0- 1 the game ends in a win for Black

(n) nth match game

( D ) see next diagram

The mysterious symbol ;

What does this little chess sign (; or +) actually mean? Its implications are confusing for a lot of

chess-players, who either are too happy to enjoy it or too disappointed to face it! The truth is, as

nearly always, somewhere in the middle: ; is usually the normal consequence of a mutually well

played opening. Naturally, this evaluation can be encountered in every phase of the game. Its obvi

ous meaning is that the player that has this symbol assigned to him enjoys slightly better chances in

the ensuing battle. His advantage is not in itself enough to guarantee victory, but he can aford the

lUXury of making an inaccuracy, in which case the position is usually equalized. It also means that,

if the defending side does not commit any mistakes (slight or serious) then the natural outcome of

the game will be a draw. Should, however, the defending side fail to act appropriately and proceed

with accuracy, then the evaluation of the position will move to ±, meaning that the goal of victory

for the superior side is now closer.

So, that's the secret of this 'mysterious' symbol: the 'right' to an inaccuracy! Maybe this sounds

a little bit paradoxical, but it is much closer to the truth than any other description. Try to under

stand it and beneit as much as possible from its almost mythical signiicance in the world of mod

em chess practice.

Introduction

This book ofers training on a vital subject, the choice of the best available plan.

As is commonly accepted in the chess world, a correct evaluation of the position, a strong plan

and an accurate execution are the three important factors that separate 'the man from the boy'. In a

way, eicient training on the three above-mentioned concepts can help a chess-player mature and

lead him to new successful paths.

With this book I have sought to provide a training guide that will be helpful mostly to players in

the 1500-2200 range -corresponding to lower club level up to those with aspirations for a FIDE ti

tle. Of course, the book may well also be useful for players weaker than 1500, or for those stronger

than 2200, but this is a decision these players should make for themselves!

Before we go on, I have to say that I do not really believe in ratings. I also ind the entire paranoia

that revolves around them pretty much irrelevant. The rating system is supposed to reflect a

player's results during a speciic period of time in the past. This has nothing to do with his future

development and thus we should consider the rating scale as a tool of statistical value. What really

counts is winning important tounaments and championships. Only this can guarantee a chess

player his place in chess history. People remember great chess-players not because of their ratings,

but because of their outstanding achievements.

But anyway, this is a book for training purposes and assessing the reader's approximate chess

strength. It is essential to determine this strength, for knowing exactly where we stand and what we

need to improve, in other words knowing ourselves, is a very serious step towards improving our

chess skills.

The reader may wonder why most of the games in this book (50 out of 75) are mine. Well, this is

a good question and has a good answer: I have been a 'part' of these games, as I played them, and I

can present my thoughts during and ater them. This is an important factor. It would be perhaps eas

ier for an author to present well-known games played by top GMs. However, although that has the

beneit of providing welcome variety, it is hard in such cases to know exactly what was going

through the minds of the players, unless they have provided unusually revealing annotations. I have

therefore opted for a combined approach: 50 examples from my practice and 25 of other, outstand

ing players.

How this Book Works

In this book there are 75 tests, each based around a game. The irst 50 games are mine and are pre

sented in chronological order, so the reader may detect a progression in my play. Starting from

1984 (the year in which I achieved the IM title), there is at least one game from each year, until the

present day. The other 25 games come from my personal archives and are games that I really love

and respect.

In each of these tests, the starting point is the irst diagram. There is a judgement (evaluation) of

the diagrammed position, which helps the reader to understand some important facts about the po

sition itself. A presentation of three possible plans follows. Then the reader must judge which is the

most valuable plan. The best plan receives a maximum of 20 or 30 points. The other, less good,

plans normally receive some points, depending on their actual value. Some of the plans receive no

points at all; they are just bad!

Ater inishing work on the 75 tests, the reader must take a good look at the solutions, where he

can ind the answers to each. In the solutions, the game is analysed until its end, so the reader can

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