Recently, our guest coach IM Boroljub Zlatanovic published a video lesson for you on “Weak Squares”. In that lesson, Boroljub taught you how to occupy weak squares with your pieces and create an attack against them. If you missed it, you can watch that lesson here.
Continuing with that instructive lesson, Boroljub has prepared another lesson for you on a similar topic – this time, answering the question “What happens when coordinated pieces occupy weak squares?”
Continuing with that instructive lesson, Boroljub has prepared another lesson for you on a similar topic – this time, answering the question “What happens when coordinated pieces occupy weak squares?”
The above question can be metaphorically related to the saying “adding fuel to the fire”. 
Yes, when your pieces are coordinated, occupy the weak squares and you create an attack against these squares, you have “won” already!
Yes, when your pieces are coordinated, occupy the weak squares and you create an attack against these squares, you have “won” already!
Well, it’s easy to say so… but you can learn HOW to do that in reality by watching the game played by IM Boroljub Zlatanovic below:
Mickovic, Slavisa (2132) – Zlatanovic, Boroljub (2371) [A40]
Otvoreno prvenstvo Paracina 2016 Paracin,
22.01.2016
1.d4 g6 2.Nf3 Bg7 3.Bf4 d6 Simply, d6+Nd7+e5 is a very solid method against the so-called “London system”. 4.c3 Nd7 5.e3 e5 6.dxe5?
Black to play
After exchanging on White’s queenside, expanding is simply impossible, so… White stays without any real plan. Soon White will face serious problems. 6…dxe5 7.Bg5 Bf6 [7…f6 8.Bh4 Nh6 is another plan, based on keeping Bh4 out of play.
White to play
Nh6 is going to d6 and Bg7 to h6 or f8 with good prospects] 8.Bxf6 Ngxf6 9.Bc4 Qe7 10.0–0 0–0 11.a4?… another mistake!
Black to play
Advancing pawn (even if possible) will miss its mark! 11…a5! [11…e4! 12.Nd4 c5 13.Nb5 Ne5…
White to play
was even better, but at that moment Black already had contemplated transferring the game to a favourable and comfortable endgame] 12.Nbd2 Nb6 13.Be2 [13.Ba2? Bd7! 14.Bb3 (14.b3 Bc6µ) 14…Bc6µ] 13…Rd8 14.Qc2 Bf5 with the idea of provoking advancing pawns and fixing some of them on light squares.
White to play
15.e4 Bg4 16.h3 Bxf3 17.Nxf3 Rd7 18.Rfd1 with the idea of reducing material; but after exchanging rooks, White will be far from equality.
Black to play
18…Rad8 19.Rxd7 Rxd7 20.Rd1 Rxd1+ 21.Bxd1 Qd6 22.Nd2 Kg7!? White’s pieces are somehow paralysed 23.Be2 [23.Nb1 Nxe4]
Black to play
23…Nxa4! 24.Nc4 Qc6 25.Bd3 Nc5 26.Nxa5 Qd6 27.Be2 b6 28.Nc4 Qe6 29.f3? creating very important weaknesses on e3 and g3.
Black to play
If 29.Nd2 Qa2…
White to play
..is promising, with ideas of Na4 or Qa1-Qe1] 29…b5!! 30.Na3 c6
White to play
30…Qb6? 31.Bxb5 Ncxe4+ 32.Kh2= 31.b4 Qe7!!
White to play
Of course, 31…Na4 looks natural, but Black’s chances are not on the queenside. The c3-pawn is not a weakness, and White can even play c4 at some moment, thereby reducing material. Black wants to transfer Nc5 to the kingside!
32.Kh2 [32.bxc5 Qxc5+ 33.Kh2 Qxa3–+] 32…Ne6 33.Nb1 Nh5–+ Black is winning. Simply by placing pieces on comfortable squares on the kingside, Black will create a decisive attacking set-up. 34.Bf1 Qh4 35.Qd2 Ng5 36.Qe3 Qg3+ 37.Kh1 Nf4 38.Nd2 f6‡ A very funny and instructive position! White is paralysed!
White to play
Any move will lead to the loss of material! 39.Qa7+ Kh6 40.Qe3 [40.Qe7 Qf2 41.Qf8+ Kh5 42.g4+ Kh4 43.Qh6+ Kg3 will lead to an even more amazing final position] 40…Kh5! 41.c4 bxc4 42.Nxc4
Black to play
42…Nfxh3 43.Be2 Qe1+ 44.Kh2 Nf4 winning a bishop. White resigned! 0–1
You can download the PGN of the above game here.
