SC Week 4/3: Andersson - Knaak, Capablanca Memorial 1974 (Open Files)

 "One of the dangers of falling behind in development in the opening is that the enemy rooks will be first on the scene and will take possession of the open files before your own can be scrambled into action."

Michael Stean

Notes and Observations

15 Rfd1, 17 Rd2, 18 Rad1 The position looks almost level coming out of the opening. Then Andersson gets his first rook to the d-file with tempo and doubles whilst Knack is dealing with 16 Qf4, covering the entry point on c7 and the outpost on h6. Within a few moves it doesn’t look level anymore.

Stean’s notes to Black’s 15th (… Qc7), 17th (… f6) and 20th (… Kg8) moves are particular instructive in terms of how an open file could be exploited.

22 Rd7 is perhaps the one 'clever' move White plays in the game. Occupying the 7th rank entry point with gain of tempo is worth delaying the recapture of the bishop for 

Reminders

Don’t forget Stean’s three-point plan for exploiting files which appears in the text after this game.

Kaufeld and Kern’s book of Andersson’s games - Grandmaster Chess Strategy - includes a whole chapter dedicated to exploitation of the d-file.