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LCB, Issue #112 --, Learn the Ways of the Semi-Tarrasch October 01, 2024 |
Learn the Ways of the Semi-TarraschLapoc Chess Board, Issue #112 -- GOTM #82 learn and play online chess The Semi-Tarrasch is a Tarrasch Defense with 3...Nf6 4.Nf3 thrown in. This changes the dynamics of the play dramatically. Black continues with ...c5 as before. The presence of the two Kingside Knights in the center means a different kind of middlegame from a Tarrasch. You are specifically playing for an isolated d-pawn in the Tarrasch Defense. You're counting on this to give you activity. You are trying to avoid getting an isolated d-pawn in the Semi-Tarrasch. This is why ...Nf6 is played before ...c5. You will recapture with the Knight, not the e6-pawn if White takes on d5. As soon as the Knight is in position, you are more than happy to play ...c5 and put the pressure on White's center. 5.cxd5 Nxd5 often follows and White can choose between the continuations, 6.e3, 6.e4 or 6.g3. Each have their own factors to consider. Our Semi-Tarrasch game comes from San Sebastian in 1912. Akiba Rubinstein of Poland faced off against Carl Schlechter of Austria in a Semi-Tarrasch showdown. Play the King's Indian as BlackRubinstein, Akiba - Schlechter, Carl [D41]GotM #82 San Sebastian, 1912 [Connaughton, Ken] 1.d4 Queen's Pawn Game 1...d5 Closed Game 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.c4 Transposing to the Queen's Gambit 3...e6 Taking us to the Declined lines. 4.Nc3 c5
This is now a Semi-Tarrasch. 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.e4 Nxc3 7.bxc3
White has a Grunfeld like formation and Black will use the tried and tested methods to pressurize White on c3 and d4. 7...cxd4 8.cxd4 Bb4+ 9.Bd2 Qa5 10.Rb1 Bxd2+ 11.Qxd2 Qxd2+ 12.Kxd2
White has the edge as his pieces are more developed, with the Queens off his "developed" King is also now an asset. His Rook has an annoying hold on b7, slowing the progress of the Black Bishop. 12...0-0 13.Bb5 a6 14.Bd3 Rd8 15.Rhc1 b5 16.Rc7 Nd7 17.Ke3 White's pieces now centralizing nicely and he has a Rook on the 7th rank. Black's pieces are poor in comparison. 17...Nf6 18.Ne5 Bd7 19.g4
As White's position is now optimal, it's time to expand on the Kingside and get an attack rolling. 19...h6 20.f4 Be8 21.g5 hxg5 22.fxg5 Nh7 23.h4 Schlecter is a resourceful player and he will need all of his chess intellect to keep the mighty Rubinstein at bay. 23...Rdc8 24.Rbc1 If your pieces are worse it's a good idea to trade them off but White will at least keep a Rook on the 7th. 24...Rxc7 25.Rxc7 Rd8
It's necessary to keep the brakes on a possible pawn push in the center, but now White will worry the a6-pawn. The Black Rook and Bishop are very much tied down to their defensive roles. The Black Knight meanwhile only has the unexciting f8 available. 26.Ra7 f6 Necessary to relieve pressure. 27.gxf6 gxf6 28.Ng4 Bh5 29.Nh6+ Kh8 30.Be2 White would love to trade Bishops and eliminate the f7 defender. Black must decline and is forced to play the passive ...Be8. 30...Be8 31.Rxa6
White knows when to relinquish one advantage to gain another. He gives up the 7th Rank to the Black King and takes the a6-pawn, while threatening e6. 31...Kg7 32.Ng4 f5 33.Ra7+ Kh8 34.Ne5 fxe4 35.Bxb5 White has renewed his Nf7+ threat so the Bishop is poison. 35...Nf6 (35...Bxb5 36.Nf7++-) 36.Bxe8 Rxe8 37.Kf4 It's time for the King to join the attack for the decisive effect. He will charge forward now. 37...Kg8 38.Kg5 White's pieces are so superior to their Black counterparts that the King can cheerfully leave the Black passer unattended. 38...Rf8 39.Kg6
And suddenly the end is imminent. Black realizes all is lost and resigns. A beautiful example of winning through advantages in space and activity. (39.Kg6 Nh5 (39...Ne8 40.Nf7 Rxf7 (40...e3 41.Nh6+ Kh8 42.Rh7#) 41.Rxf7 Nd6 42.Rd7 Threatening # with Rd8 of course. 42...Kf8 43.Rxd6 Ke7 44.Rc6+-) 40.Kxh5-+ wins for White of course.) 1-0 Rubinstein, Akiba - Schlechter, Carl [D41] P.S. If you do not have html based email software and you're using a text only system, you may find that the links are only partially highlighted and may not work. If this is the case, simply copy and paste the entire link into the browser and hit Enter. That should get you where you want to go. Comments, ideas, feedback? I'd be stoked to hear from you. Get in touch See you next month. Ken 
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