Lesson 8: Restriction and time

Restriction limits mobility. Sometimes it leads to an undesired surplus in time: zugzwang. White has a slight advantage in the example.

[Radulescu suggests Kd6 ! 26. a4 ! a5 ! 27. b3 b6 28. Bf1 Re8 = ]

26. Bf1 a5 27. Bc4 ! Rf8 The mobility of the rook has been restricted. Taimanov tells in a booklet how he only could admire, as 'Dr. Watson', the inteligence of 'Sherlock Holmes' Fischer in the rest of the game. 28. Kg2 Kd6 29. Kf3 Nd7 30. Re3 Nb8 31. Rd3+ Kc7 32. c3 Nc6 33. Re3 Kd6 34. a4 !White has restricted the queenside. Ne7 35. h3 Nc6 36. h4 The intention is the pawn avalanche h5, g4 and g5. h5 Black has to close the kingside. His pawns go to weak squares. 37. Rd3+ Kc7 38. Rd5 f5 The closure of the flank has liberated the rook. 39. Rd2 Rf6 40. Re2 Kd7 41. Re3 g6 42. Bb5 Rd6 43. Ke2 Kd8 ?!

[ Rf6 ! avoids the exchange of rooks. 44. Kd3 Rd6+ 45. Kc4 Rf6 46. Re1 ! The aim is an exchange of moves. Rd6 47. Re2 Rf6 48. Re3 !Zugzwang. Rd6 49. Rd3 and exchange. ]

44. Rd3 Kc7 45. Rxd6 Kxd6 46. Kd3 The king penetrates. Ne7 47. Be8 Kd5 48. Bf7+ Kd6 49. Kc4 Kc6 50. Be8+ Kb7 51. Kb5 Nc8 ! The restriction is not fatal right away due black's threat of mate in one. 52. Bc6+ Kc7 53. Bd5 Ne7 54. Bf7 ! Kb7 55. Bb3 ! Ka7 ! Black stands with his back against the wall. 56. Bd1 Kb7 57. Bf3+ Kc7 58. Ka6 The restriction proceeds. Nc8 59. Bd5 Ne7 60. Bc4 Nc6 61. Bf7 Ne7 62. Be8 !Black has done a little as possible so far. Now he should like to pass, but that is against the rules. He has a surplus in time due to zugzwang. Kd8 Black seems to have a last resource, but Fischer strikes. 63. Bxg6 ! Nxg6 64. Kxb6 Kd7 65. Kxc5 Ne7 66. b4 axb4 67. cxb4 Nc8 68. a5 Nd6 69. b5 Ne4+ 70. Kb6 Kc8

[ Nd6 71. a6 Nc8+ 72. Kc5 Kc7 73. Kd5 and the game is decided at the other flank. ]

71. Kc6 Kb8 72. b6 This great win was the fourth in a series of six. 1-0