Useless Pieces Zapata

7/30/2019 Useless Pieces Zapata

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FIDE Surveys Alonso Zapata Page 1

Alonso Zapata:

Useless pieces

ConceptThis happens when one or more pieces aretrapped inside a pawn structure or remain

enslaved defending weaknesses. It occurs

frequently in endgame and middle gamesituations. It is rare to see it in the early

stage of the opening. Aim at neutralizing the

strength or activity of the opponent's pieces,

to the point of making them useless. That isa strategic search and an ideal aim for the

competitive chess player. At first, before we

start a game, the nominal value of each ofour pieces is exactly the same as that of our

opponent's pieces. Of course, there is no

advantage for either side, except for White's

having the first move. Once the game starts,it is up to each of us to optimize our

respective positions, with better technical

execution (both strategic and tactical). It is aconstant purpose to keep our pieces more

useful and valuable, in order to attain the

initiative. A next step is when, in addition to

securing an advantage, we neutralize ouropponent and make his pieces useless, avoid

any counterplay and execute a strategy of

tiresome defense. This frequently brings tothe scene a motif that reminds us of our

yearned Zugzwang and of the Domination

theme; in which one side is dynamic and theother becomes a mere spectator. Generally,

when there is a useless piece on the board

(having a useless piece is frequently like

being a piece down!) the total harmony ofthat side's position is harmed, and often the

result of the game turns on that element.

Having a useless piece, with no activity,

which is not contributing to the overall aimsof the position, is a headache. Frequently,

the opponent's attacks become deadly; or the

winning side artfully simplifies the position

by exchanging material, so that the

imbalance between his active pieces and the

opponent's useless ones becomes clearer andthe weakness of the useless piece is

emphasized. Basic strategy: simplify the

position, but let the opponent keep hisuseless pieces. By applying this principle,we will regularly prevail easily. Control of

mobility: How often do we see a bishop that,

because of its limited mobility it resembles apawn and we say that its side has one extra

pawn but one piece less! Or a knight totally

neutralized by the opponent's control of the

squares to which it can move. It is really likebeing a piece down. We are reminded of

endings in which one side has a decisive

advantage, consisting of a knight in adominating central position against a bishop

blocked and trapped by its own pawns; or of

endings in which a powerful bishop in an

open position controls all the possibleescape squares of a trapped knight.

Something similar happens to any other

piece that because of its lack of mobility orfunctionality becomes useless. We also see

it in king and pawns endings in the case of

the opposition or with respect to the concept

of related squares

Example

XIIIIIIIIY9-+-+-+-+09+-mk-+-+-09p+-+-+-+09zPpmK-+N+-09-zP-+-+-+09+-+-+-+p09-+-+-+-zP09+-+-+-sn-0xiiiiiiiiy1.Nd4+


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This is a clear example of Domination; note

that the black knight becomes a useless

piece. Pawns in a6 and b5 soon will fall.

1...Kd7 2.Kb6 Kd6 3.Kxa6 Kd5The counterplay is harmless, by the speed of

"a" pawn.4.Kxb5 Kxd4 5.a6 1:0.

Bishop against useless knight

XIIIIIIIIY9-+-+-+-+09+-+-+k+-09L+-+-+-zp09+-+-+KzpP09-+-+-+P+0

9sn-+-+-+-09-+-+-+-+09+-+-+-+-0xiiiiiiiiy1.Bd3+Similar to the previous example, the black

knight becomes useless and white wins by

using the opposition.

1...Kg7 2.Ke6

The victory is elemental.

2...Kg8 3.Kf6 Kh8 4.Kg6And the black pawns fall. 1:0.

Schweser's composition

Incredible example of useless pieces. This is

a great funny and antique example,composed by Schwers. Apparently black

have a winning position, but white used a

fantastic idea, inspired by the theme of

Zugzwang, where black have to play and

sadly must make himself the "harakiri".

XIIIIIIIIY9rvl-+-+-+09+kzp-sn-+-09-+-+-+Q+0

9zPK+-+p+-09-+-zp-+-+09+-+-+-vL-09-+-+-+p+09+-+-+-+-0xiiiiiiiiy1.a6+! Ka7

1...Kc8?? 2.Qe8#.

2.Qc6!!

XIIIIIIIIY9rvl-+-+-+09mk-zp-sn-+-09P+Q+-+-+09+K+-+p+-09-+-zp-+-+09+-+-+-vL-09-+-+-+p+09+-+-+-+-0

xiiiiiiiiy2...Nxc6 3.Bf2!!XIIIIIIIIY9rvl-+-+-+09mk-zp-+-+-09P+n+-+-+09+K+-+p+-09-+-zp-+-+09+-+-+-+-09-+-+-vLp+09+-+-+-+-0xiiiiiiiiyMarvelous example compound useless

pieces (Zugzwang). White has sacrificedmost of his material, but have just what it


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takes to win! The black figures spectators

and have became authentic decorative

pieces. Black has to play and waste theirmoves becoming "useless", which will lead

to checkmate. 3.Bf2 f4 4.Bg1 f3 5.Bf2.

3...f4 4.Bg1Once the black movements are consumed,the game is over.

4...f3 5.Bf2 g1Q 6.Bxg1 f2 7.Bxf2 Nb4

8.Bxd4+ c5 9.Bxc5# 1:0.

XIIIIIIIIY9rvl-+-+-+09mk-+-+-+-09P+-+-+-+09+KvL-+-+-0

9-sn-+-+-+09+-+-+-+-09-+-+-+-+09+-+-+-+-0xiiiiiiiiy

Queen uselessXIIIIIIIIY9-+-+-+-+0

9+-vL-+-+-09-+-+-+-+09+-+-+-zpp09-+-+-+-mk09+-+-+-+P09-+-+-wqPmK09+-+-+-+-0xiiiiiiiiyThis is a fantastic Kaminer's composition

(1925), with just a four pieces per side and

although White has a disproportionatedisadvantage (a bishop against a queen)

curiously, the queen is a useless piece!

1.Bd6!!+Simple and sufficient. This is an incredible

position Zugzwang, the calamity of having

to play! Other options lost after: 1.Be5 g4

+; 1.Bb8 g4+.

1...Qf4+Nothing to do in view of: 1...Qe1 2.g3+;

1...g4 2.Be7+

2.g3+ Qxg3+ 3.Bxg3# 1:0.

Zapata A. : Velez B.Santo Domingo 2012

XIIIIIIIIY9r+-+-trk+09+p+l+-+p09-+n+p+-+09+L+p+pzp-09-+-zPnsN-+0

9+-zP-+N+-09-zP-+-zPPzP09tR-+-tR-mK-0xiiiiiiiiyIn this example we will see, the typical

problem of ineffective bishop locked in their

own pawns, which is almost like having a

piece down. If White could simplify to onlythe strong knight against the useless bishop

that would be enough to win.

19...g519...Rfe8!? To defend e6 and capture on c6

e6 with bishop.

20.Bxc6 bxc6 21.Nd3

XIIIIIIIIY9r+-+-trk+09+-+l+-+p09-+p+p+-+09+-+p+pzp-09-+-zPn+-+09+-zPN+N+-09-zP-+-zPPzP09tR-+-tR-mK-0xiiiiiiiiyIt is clear that White wants to improve their


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knights on the black weaknesses squares e5

and c5, to attack e6, c6.

21...Rfb8 22.Nfe5 Be8 23.f3 Nd6 24.Rxa8

Rxa8 25.Nc5+Note that the black bishop has an unhelpful

role.25...Ra2 26.Ned3 Nc4 27.b3 Nd2 28.Rxe6

Bf7 29.Rxc6 Ra1+ 30.Kf2 Ra2 31.Ke1

Nb1 32.Ne5

XIIIIIIIIY9-+-+-+k+09+-+-+l+p09-+R+-+-+09+-sNpsNpzp-09-+-zP-+-+0

9+PzP-+P+-09r+-+-+PzP09+n+-mK-+-0xiiiiiiiiyWhite has enhanced the value of its pieces

and "the bishop was quoted limited less and

less".

It threatened Rc8 and Rc7.

32...Ra7 33.Ncd3

The away Nb1 becomes another headache.

33...Rb7 34.Kd1 g4 35.Nc5 Ra7 36.Kc2Na3+ 37.Kb237.Kd3+.

37...gxf3 38.gxf3 Nb538...Kg7 39.Rb6+trapping the knight.

39.Rb6 Nc7 40.Nc6 1:0.

40.Nc6 Ra8 41.Rb7+(41.Ne7++)41...Ne8.

Abreu C. : Zapata A.

Santo Domingo 2012

Useless pieces in the opening phase: this

item is an example. This topic occurred in

the early stage of the opening and it affectedthe remaining of the game.

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.g3 d5 4.exd5 exd5 5.Bg2

Qe7+ 6.Qe2 Nc6 7.Nc3 Qxe2+ 8.Kxe2?

XIIIIIIIIY9r+l+kvlntr09zpp+-+pzpp09-+n+-+-+09+-zpp+-+-09-+-+-+-+09+-sN-+NzP-09PzPPzPKzPLzP09tR-vL-+-+R0xiiiiiiiiyThis error is the cause of all the subsequent

difficulties. 8.Nxe2.

8...Bg4! 9.Re19.Kf1 Nf6+.

9...000 10.Kd1

10.Kf1 Nb4 11.Ne5 Be6 12.Rb1 Nxc2

13.Re2+.

10...Nd4 11.Re3 Nf6Stronger is 11...h5!! I missed this important

tactical resource; the idea was to value

immediately Rh8.

XIIIIIIIIY

9-+ktr-vl-tr09zpp+-+pzpp09-+-+-sn-+09+-zpp+-+-09-+-sn-+l+09+-sN-tRNzP-09PzPPzP-zPLzP09tR-vLK+-+-0xiiiiiiiiyA) 12.Ne2 Nxf3 13.Bxf3 d4 14.Ra3 (14.Rb3

c4+) 14...c4! 15.Bxg4+ hxg4 16.Rxa7(16.Ra4 b5 17.Rxa7 Rxh2 18.d3 Rh1+

19.Kd2 Bb4+ 20.c3 dxc3+ 21.bxc3 Rxd3+

22.Kc2 Re1+) 16...Kb8 17.Ra4 Rxh2 18.d3b5+;


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B) 12.h3 Nxf3 13.hxg4 hxg4 14.Bxf3 gxf3

15.Rxf3 d4 16.Ne4 Rh1+ 17.Ke2 Nh6+

18.d3 f5+

12.h3 Bh5 13.g4 Bg6 14.Ne114.d3 Nxc2 15.Kxc2 d4 16.Re1 dxc3

17.Ne5 cxb2 18.Bxb2 Nd5 19.a3 f6.14...Ne6 15.Ne2 h5 16.f3Note, the marginalized position of

practically all the white pieces.

16...d4 17.Ra3 a6Better was 17...Kb8 18.d3 Bd6+.

18.d3 Bd6 19.Bd2 Nd5+ 20.c4 dxc3

21.bxc3

21.Nxc3 Ndf4 22.Ne4 hxg4 23.Nxd6+ Rxd624.Bxf4 Nxf4 25.fxg4 Nxg2+.

21...c4 22.Ra4 Nb6 23.Ra5 cxd3 24.Nd4

Nf424...Nc4! 25.Nxe6 (25.gxh5 Bxh5) 25...fxe6

26.Rg5 Be8+.

25.Bxf4 Bxf4 26.Bf1 hxg4 27.fxg4 Nd5

28.Rc5+ Kb8 29.Nxd3 Nxc3+29...Bxd3 30.Bxd3 Rxh3+.

30.Rxc3 Rxd4 31.Kc2 Be5 32.Rb1 Rhd8

32...Rf4!+ 33.Rc5 Rd8 34.Rxe5 Rxf1+.

33.Rcb3 b5

XIIIIIIIIY9-mk-tr-+-+0

9+p+-+pzp-09p+-+-+l+09+-+-vl-+-09-+-tr-+P+09+R+N+-+P09P+K+-+-+09+R+-+L+-0xiiiiiiiiy34.Rd1 Bf6 35.Ra3 Ka7 36.Rb3 Kb6

37.Be2 Rc8+ 38.Kb1 a5 39.a3 a4 40.Rb4Rc3 41.Rxd4 Bxd4 42.Bf1 Rxa3 43.Kc2

Ra2+ 44.Kc1

44.Kb1 Rf2.

44...Be3+ 0:1.44...Be3+ 45.Kb1 Rf2+.

Carlsen M. : Anand V.Sao Paulo/Bilbao 2012

XIIIIIIIIY9r+-+n+k+09zp-+-zp-+p09-wqr+p+p+09+-zp-+-+-09-+Pzp-+P+09+P+-+P+N09P+-wQ-+-zP09+-+-tRR+K0xiiiiiiiiy26.Qh6 Nf6 27.Ng5 d3 28.Re5!With the creative idea of isolating the king's

side and force Kh8.28...Kh8Only move. Threat is Nh7. If 28...Qc7

29.Nxe6 Rxe6 30.Rxe6 Qd7 31.Qe3+;

28...Rd8 29.Nxh7! Nxh7 30.Qxg6++.

29.Rd1Black is paralyzed, the black pieces abruptly

became useless.

29...Qa629...Qa5 30.Rxe6 Rxe6 31.Nxe6 Rg8

32.Qe3.

30.a4 1:0.

Safarli E : Grachev B.

Moscow 2011

XIIIIIIIIY9-tr-+-trk+09+-+p+-zpp09p+l+p+-+09+-+-+-+-09-+PzpP+-+09+-+P+-zP-09P+-+R+-zP09+-+N+RmK-0xiiiiiiiiy25...Rxf1+ 26.Kxf1 Rb1


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It's notable the difficulties in coordinating

white's knight and the rook which are about

to become useless figures. It is also true thatthe structure and the central pawns, c4, d3

and e4 on white squares are not helpful to

white. The bishop is strong and the pawn ond4 doesn't allow any counterplay to theknight.

27.Rd2 a5 28.Ke2 e5 29.Nf2

29.Rb2, with the idea of a4 and a3 for a229...Ra1.

29...Kf7 30.Rd1 Rb2+ 31.Rd2 Rb1 32.Rd1

Rb8 33.Rd2 Ke6 34.Nh3

If 34.Nd1 back 34...Rb1.

34...h6With rook paralyzed, defending the weak a6,

also wants to limit the white Knight jumpsand prevent any counterplay. Then goes to

the next level, save space.

35.Kd1 Rb1+ 36.Ke2

Nothing gets 36.Kc2 Rh1 37.Rg2 Ba4+38.Kb2 Rd1 39.Ka3 Bc6 40.Nf2 Rd2+the

black is paralyzed!

36...Ra1 37.Kf2 a4 38.Ng1 a3 39.Nf3 Ba4Several decisive threats looming on a2, as

Rb1b2 followed Bb3.

40.Ne1 Rc1!

Playing against Nc2!

41.Ke2 Kd6Threatening Kc5 via b4 - c3.

42.Nf3 Rb1 43.h4 Rb2With the idea Bb3.

44.c5+ Ke6 45.Ne1 h5! 0:1.White has a sort of zugzwang. There isnothing to do, before the imminent Bb3

45...h5 46.Nf3 Bb3.

Zapata A. : Vasquez R.Mar del Plata 1996

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 g6 5.d4

exd4 6.Nxd4 Bg7 7.Nxc6 bxc6 8.00 Rb88...Bb7.

9.c3 Nf6 10.Re1 00 11.Nd2 Qe7 12.Nb3!?

Re8

12...c5 13.e5.

13.Bf4 Rb7 14.Bg5 Qf8

14...h6 15.e5 hxg5 16.exf6 Qxe1+ 17.Qxe1Rxe1+ 18.Rxe1 Bf8 19.Re8 Rb8 20.h4+.

15.Qf3 Qd6

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xiiiiiiiiyHere, it is very difficult to coordinate a good

plan.

16.Na5 Qe5

Fails 16...Rb8 17.e5 Rxe5 18.Nc4 Rxe1+19.Rxe1 Qd5 20.Bxf6.

17.Bxf6!

Better than: 17.Nxb7 Qxg5 18.e5 Rxe5

19.Nd8! (19.h4?! Rxe1+ 20.Rxe1 Qd221.Re7 Kf8).

17...Qxa5 18.Bb3 Bxf6 19.Qxf6 Rf8

XIIIIIIIIY9-+l+-trk+09+rzpp+p+p09p+p+-wQp+09wq-+-+-+-09-+-+P+-+09+LzP-+-+-09PzP-+-zPPzP09tR-+-tR-mK-0xiiiiiiiiy20.Rad1More accurate is 20.e5! c5 21.Qf4 stopping

c4 and threatening h4h5.

20...c5 21.e5 c4 22.Bxc4 Rxb2 23.Rd3 Qb6

24.Bb3


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24.Qf4.

24...Qxf6 25.exf6 c6?

25...d6 26.Re7 Be6 27.h4.

26.Rd6

XIIIIIIIIY

9-+l+-trk+09+-+p+p+p09p+ptR-zPp+09+-+-+-+-09-+-+-+-+09+LzP-+-+-09Ptr-+-zPPzP09+-+-tR-mK-0xiiiiiiiiyParalyzing the counterplay in the center.26...a5 27.h4 a4 28.Bc4 h5 29.f3 Rc2

30.Re3 Kh7 31.Kh2

XIIIIIIIIY9-+l+-tr-+09+-+p+p+k09-+ptR-zPp+09+-+-+-+p09p+L+-+-zP0

9+-zP-tRP+-09P+r+-+PmK09+-+-+-+-0xiiiiiiiiyThe plan is to bring the king to the square g5

and eventually to h6!

31...Kg8 32.Kh3 Kh7 33.g4 hxg4+ 34.fxg4

Rc1 35.Kg3 Kh6 36.Kf4 Kh736...Rh1 37.Re7 Rxh4 38.Bxf7+.

37.Kg5

Because of the lack of coordination and the

limited game, the black's pieces are useless.

37...Rg1 38.a3 Rg2If: 38...Ra1 39.Re7 Kg8 40.Kh6 Rxa3

41.Bxf7+ Rxf7 42.Kxg6.

39.Be2 Kg8 40.Bd1 Ra2 41.c4 Ba6 42.c5

Bb5 43.Rxd7 Ra1 44.Bc2 Rc1 45.Bxg6+

Rxc5+45...fxg6 46.Rg7+ Kh8 47.Ree7.

46.Kh6

XIIIIIIIIY9-+-+-trk+09+-+R+p+-09-+p+-zPLmK09+ltr-+-+-09p+-+-+PzP09zP-+-tR-+-09-+-+-+-+09+-+-+-+-0

xiiiiiiiiyFinally, concluding the idea of bringing the

king to h6!

46...Bc4 47.Ree7 Ba2 48.g5 Rc3 49.Bh7+

Kh8 50.g6 fxg6 51.Bxg6 1:0.

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Useless Pieces Zapata