Table of Contents
Foreword Fabiano Caruana 7
Preface 8
Part I Typical structures in the middlegame 13
Chapter 1 The isolated queen's pawn 14
1.1 Introduction 14
1.2 Plan A: kingside attack 27
1.3 Plan B: opening the game by advancing the isolated pawn 36
1.4 Plan C: advancing the isolated pawn in order to fix an enemy pawn on an adjacent file 43
1.5 Plan D: developing activity on the queenside 47
1.6 Plan A for the defending side: simplification of the position 54
1.7 Plan B for the defending side: transformation from an IQP structure to a structure with hanging pawns 60
1.8 Three more games 69
Chapter 2 The Carlsbad structure 76
2.1 Introduction 76
2.2 Plan A: the minority attack 77
2.3 Plan B: attack in the centre with e3-e4 103
2.4 Plan C: kingside attack with both sides castled on the kingside 113
2.5 Plan D: kingside attack with opposite-side castling 120
2.6 Plan E: play in positions with both sides castled on the queenside 126
2.7 Two more games 130
Chapter 3 Symmetrical pawn structures 135
3.1 Introduction 135
3.2 Advantages for the side to move 140
3.2.1 Control of an open file 140
3.2.2 Establishment of an outpost 146
3.2.3 Active deployment of the pieces 152
3.3 Breaking the symmetry as a method of defence 160
3.4 A clash of pawns 166
3.5 Symmetrical pawn structures from various openings 173
Part II Typical methods of play 189
Chapter 4 Restricted mobility in the King's Indian Defence 190
4.1 Introduction 190
4.2 The manoeuvre $$$f3-h4 197
4.3 Pinning the $$$f6 with $$$c1-g5 206
4.4 Playing an early g2-g4 215
4.5 Exchanging pawns with exf5 gxf5, followed by f2-f4/f3 224
4.6 The exchange …$$$g7×$$$c3 230
Chapter 5 Should we exchange the fianchettoed bishop (EFB)? 238
5.1 Introduction 238
5.2 EFB in the King's Indian Defence 238
5.3 EFB in the Dragon Variation 248
5.4 EFB in the Accelerated Dragon 258
5.5 Positional methods of play with white 271
Chapter 6 The d5-square in the Sicilian 284
6.1 Introduction 284
6.2 Boleslavsky's idea 285
6.3 The power of $$$d5 301
6.4 Bishops of opposite colours 310
Part III Exercises and solutions 319
Chapter 7 Exercises 320
Chapter 8 Solutions 347
Index of players 396
