SC Week 4/4: Karpov - Uhlmann, Madrid 1973 (Open Files)
" 'Put your rooks on open files’ is a piece of advice every beginner receives, and a very sound piece of advice it is. But like all pieces of sound advice, it can prove to be inadequate or worse."
Michael Stean
Notes and Observations
25 f3 In Karpov - Spassky (Weak Pawns/5), e4 was a semi-outpost square (Outposts/7) supported by the isolated queen’s pawn. Here he just kicks away Uhlmann’s bishop without any problems at all. What is different about this position that makes f3 possible?
Again a lot of the instructive value of this game comes in the notes. Particularly an alternative try for Black at move 26 or 27(… Rc2). Black can double on the 7th too but loses out because he’s a tempo behind. As a result occupying the c-file turns out to be not much use to him.
31 g4, 32 f4 Karpov leaves his king open knowing that Spassky won’t be able to take advantage. One rook and a bishop will not give mate
Reminders
For another example of doubled rooks on the 7th, see Fisher- Petrosian 1971 (Weak Pawns/2).
The importance of the bishop on b5 which covers the base of the open file.
White’s doubled pawns on the g-file are not problematic (Weak Pawns). In fact g4 helps as it prevents Black trying to black the e-file with a …Be4-f5-g6 retreat.
Uhlmann annotates this game in Winning with the French. An ironic title in this case, to be sure, but there are also lots of games in the 3 Nd2 c5 Tarrasch system leading to isolated queen’s pawns.
Yes, straightforward example! Again about an entry point and a minor piece (on an outpost) that makes it impossible for the opponent to contest the file.
ReplyDeleteI liked the little learning point that if black would have gone for an active defence, it is important to make sure your kings has space 'to go up' and doens't get stuck on the 8th file on which it could be constantly checked and/or threatened mate.
They seem pretty straighforward those open files! ;)