In part 2 of our series on the Italian game, we saw that white can sometimes launch a surprising but deadly attack using the maneuver Nf1-g3, Nh4, Qf3, followed by Nf5 or Nh5.
In part 2, black chose to prepare the d5 advance with Re8 and Be6. After some subsequent mistakes, things became difficult for black, to put it kindly. One question you could ask is: what would happen if black tried to beat white to the punch on the kingside? If white’s knight maneuver to f5 if so effective, why shouldn’t black dispatch a knight to the corresponding square (f4)? Indeed, the move 10… Nh5 is actually the most popular in this position (Be6 and Re8 are close behind).
From here, let’s follow the interesting game Denis Kadric vs. Vitali Golod, Skopje 2013. After Nh5, white proceeded with his maneuver by playing Nf1.
In this position, should white continue his plan with Ng3?
Reveal Solution
Unfortunately, white’s f2 pawn is pinned from afar by the bishop on a7, so this would lose a piece.
Here, white played Be3 to challenge black’s strong bishop, and black brought his knight to f4.
With g5, black makes no secret of his baleful intentions towards white’s king. After some preparation, he hopes to use the g pawn as a lever to open the g file for his rook. Since the g3 square is now safely under white’s control, he finally went ahead with his knight maneuver.
White cannot play Nf5 immediately since black would capture twice on f5, so he played Bc2, bringing another piece to bear on the square.
Black has clearly built up an imposing force on the kingside, but how to continue? If I were white here, two of the moves that would worry me most are 1. the immediate g4 advance and 2. h5, preparing g4.
How would you respond to g4?
Reveal Solution
g4 looks scary because it seems that black is succeeding in opening the g file for his rook. However, white has an instructive follow-up.
How would you respond to h5?
Reveal Solution
It could be argued that h5 doesn’t really help black, since after a subsequent g4, white could use the same N3h4, gxh3, g3 sequence, when all black would have achieved is a pawn on h5 instead of h6.
Here, white also has another response, this one tactical.
Neither of the above direct methods worked out very well for black, and in many ways the strong knight on f5 was to blame. It stands to reason then that black should attempt to remove this thorn in his side. He could do so directly with Bxf5, but this would surrender the two bishops. Since black’s knight on c6 isn’t currently doing much, GM Golod may have reasoned that trading it off for the monster on f5 would be an excellent bargain. He played Ne7 here.
If you were white, what would you do in this position? This is a tough one, so take your time, and try revealing the hint(s) first if you’re stuck.
Reveal Hint 1
White can win a pawn here with a long sequence of forcing moves.
Reveal Hint 2
White began by exchanging on e5 and then on a7. See if you can guess how he continued after that. Keep in mind that the rook on a7 is undefended.
When you think you know the answer, scroll past the image below. Remember, the cat isn’t peeking, and neither should you!
It turns out that black should have acquiesced to giving up the two bishops with Bxf5. The young IM Denis Kadric, who would later become a GM, found a well-calculated sequence of moves which left him with a healthy extra pawn.
To add insult to injury, white now has the opportunity to force a queen trade with Qd4. Since he’s up a pawn here, the queen trade is very desirable.
Since his a7 rook is threatened, black is also forced to take white’s queen (rather than defend his own), which strengthens white’s pawn center. The indiginity!
Black’s only consolation is his active knight on f4, though his position is objectively unenviable. Resignation seems a bit premature, however, so black played on.
White dares black to capture on h3. Should black accept the dare?
Reveal Solution
Unfortunately, taking on h3 would just help white. For example
Instead, black retreated the knight.
Black aims to exchange a pair of pawns (usually a good idea when you’re down material).
Up to this point, white has drifted slightly and given black some real hope of making a draw. Ba2 is a somewhat awkward move; perhaps white wanted to play Rc6, but was worried about Nd4.
Here, white still stands very well. In this position, he decided to go after the b pawn again with Rb6. How many more moves do you think it took him to win the game?
Reveal Solution
It took black only 6 more moves to win.
Hopefully you enjoyed the surprises and plot twists in this uneven game (I certainly did)! In the opening, we saw how black can attempt to launch his own kingside attack in the Italian Game with Nh5-f4, as well as some methods white can employ to combat this attempt. Stay tuned for future articles about other aspects of this venerable opening!
