Be prepared

Last week I wrote about Cyrus Lakdawala’s new book, which provides an aggressive repertoire based on the solid move 1 d4. This week I focus on what might be termed a companion volume by the experienced chess coach grandmaster Neil McDonald, Coach Yourself (Everyman Chess), which aims to provide a training programme for those who wish to seriously improve their results. McDonald’s book is packed with essential tips on teaching yourself to calculate, honing your feel for the initiative, and practising planning. It is thoroughly recommended for club players or anyone who has decided that it is time to put up a fight against the chess app on their phone. The following game is an excellent illustration of how to seize the initiative by opening lines of attack.
 
Malakhov-Predojevic: Croatian League 2017; Queen’s Pawn Game
 
1 Nf3 d5 2 e3 Nf6 3 c4 e6 4 d4 b6 5 b3 Bb7 6 Bd3 Nbd7 7 0-0 Bd6 8 Bb2 0-0 9 Nbd2 Ne4 10 cxd5 exd5 11 Ne5 Qe7 12 f4 Nxd2 13 Qxd2 Nf6 14 Qe2 Ne4 15 Bxe4 dxe4 16 f5 Qg5 (see diagram 1) Malakhov has to decide how to build up his initiative. The advanced pawn on f5 and aggressively placed knight would indicate a kingside attack as the best plan. However, upon 17 f6 g6! (not 17 … gxf6? 18 Nd7 and Black’s kingside is compromised), it is difficult to see how White can make any progress. The pawn on f6 looks impressive but there is no follow-up. Malakhov found an enterprising rook lift. 17 Rf4 f6 Perhaps Black should try the radical 17 … h5 to stop White’s next. 18 Rg4 Qh6 19 Rg3 Completing an elegant manoeuvre to get the white rook into the forefront of the attack. 19 … fxe5 19 … Bd5 20 Rh3 Qg5 21 Rh5 traps the black queen.