[Event "Semmering-Baden"] [Site "?"] [Round "0"] [White "Petrov"] [Black "Reshevsky"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D02"] [Opening "Queen's Pawn: 2.Nf3 Nf6"] {A typical game of maneuver} 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. e3 Bf5 5. Bd3 Bxd3 6. Qxd3 dxc4 7. Qxc4 e6 8. Nc3 Be7 9. O-O O-O 10. e4 Nbd7 11. Bg5 h6 12. Bh4 Nb6 13. Qe2 Nfd7 {In accordance with the principle that the side with less freedom should seek piece exchanges} (13... Nh7 { put pressure on White's d-pawn as soon as possible}) 14. Bg3 $1 {Avoidance of piece exchanges can be of great significance in maintaining the intitiative} 14... Bb4 15. a3 Bxc3 16. bxc3 {ACT II: The first part of the middlegame, in which White's advantage takes concrete form, but in which the game takes on a completely closed character White has several advantages. He controls more central space, he has the half-open b-file at his disposal and his Bishop is beautifully placed} 16... Qe7 17. a4 a5 {Black's can't allow the further advance of the White a-pawn. Now, however, the half-open b-file takes on an even greater value, since the Black b-pawn has become backward} 18. Rfb1 Rfc8 19. Ne5 $1 {Threatening to win the b-pawn} 19... Ra6 $8 (19... -- 20. Nxd7 Nxd7 21. Rxb7) (19... Nxe5 20. Rxb6 Ng6 21. Qb2 Ra7 22. Rb1 {also wins the b-pawn}) 20. Nc4 Nxc4 21. Qxc4 Nb6 22. Qd3 Rd8 23. c4 e5 24. d5 (24. Bxe5 $2 Qxe5) 24... f6 25. Rc1 Qc5 (25... -- 26. c5 -- 27. d6) 26. Kf1 $1 Nd7 {Otherwise White will suceed in playing c5 and d6. Black can't exchange pawns without leaving White in full command of the c-file} (26... -- 27. f3 -- 28. Bf2) 27. f3 Qf8 28. Bf2 c5 {ACT III) T he move finishes the first stage of the middlegame. The position is now closed, and on general principles the Knight might be expected to be more valuable than the Bishop. In the present case this is not so: White has 1) The good Bishop 2) can exert positional pressure on the b-file 3) Prepare a breakthrough on the Kingside Now comes a long series of moves which may seem insignificant taken separaetly, but which, seen as a whole, exemplify typical maneuvering technique. White gradually builds up the most favourable arrangement of his pieces, always with the Kingside breakthrough in mind. He can allow himself the luxury of making moves - or even conducting the whole operations - for the sole purpose of gaining time. Meanwhile Black can do absolutely nothing} 29. Be1 b6 30. Bc3 Qd6 31. Ke2 Raa8 32. Kd2 Rf8 33. Kc2 Rf7 34. Re1 Kf8 35. Re2 Kg8 {Black has adopted a passive policy. He has little choice, for the scheme of playing the Knight from d7 to b8 to a6 would allow White an immediate central breakthrough} (35... Nb8 36. f4 $1 exf4 37. e5) 36. Rae1 Re8 37. Kb3 Kf8 38. g3 {White is making steady progress. Hig King is in a safe spot on the Queenside, while the rest of his pieces are now so placed that the important advance Pf4 cannot be long delayed} 38... Ke7 {This allows White to play Pf4 immediately. However, the Black King could not remain on this side of the board much longer. Like his opposite number, he seeks safety on the Queenside} 39. f4 $1 Kd8 (39... exf4 40. e5 $1 fxe5 41. Bxe5 $18) 40. Qf3 Ref8 41. Qg4 Re7 42. f5 {White has made further headway. The Black f-pawn is now fixed, and preparations can begin for the breakthrough by Pg5} 42... Kc7 43. Qf3 Ree8 44. h4 Rh8 45. g4 Reg8 46. Bd2 Qf8 47. Ka3 {White's last few moves have clearly been intended as preparation for Pg5. Now, however, there follows a series of moves which white does not seem to be doing anything in particular} 47... Kd6 48. Rg2 Qa8 49. Reg1 Rh7 50. Rg3 Rgh8 {If white plays Pg5 now, Black would control the open h-file. Thus the g5 breakthrough is temporarily prevented} 51. Rh1 (51. g5 hxg5 52. hxg5) 51... Qc8 52. Rgh3 Qg8 53. Qb3 Qd8 54. Rb1 {Here White could have proceeded with the Pg5 break, but it would have led to the exchange of all four Rooks. Therefore, before committing himself White decides to continue maneuvering in hope of finding a more favourable opportunity} 54... Qa8 55. Rbh1 Qd8 56. Qb5 Qa8 57. R1h2 Qc8 58. Rd3 Qa8 59. Rh1 Rd8 60. Rdh3 Rdh8 61. Kb3 Qc8 62. Kc2 Qa8 63. Kd3 Qc8 64. Be3 Qc7 65. R3h2 Qc8 66. Qb1 Qc7 67. Qg1 Qd8 68. g5 $1 {The beginning of Act IV: After the breakthrough several weak spots in the Black position are exposed to attack At long last White opens a file. As this move threatens both Pg6 winning a Rook and Pgxh6, Black has no option but to take} 68... hxg5 ( 68... -- 69. g6 (69. gxh6 gxh6 70. Rg2 {controlling the g-file})) 69. hxg5 Rxh2 {Black has also placed his pieces to the best advantage, and he can now take off all four Rooks. Nevertheless White retains a strong initiative} 70. Rxh2 Rxh2 71. Qxh2 fxg5 {Black is left with an isolated backward pawn on g7. His gain of pawn is only temporary} (71... Qf8 72. g6 Ke7 73. Qh7) 72. Qh5 Qg8 73. Bxg5 Nf6 74. Qh4 Kd7 75. Ke2 (75. Bxf6 gxf6 76. Qxf6 Qg3+ $11 {perpetual check} ) 75... Ne8 76. Qh2 $1 Qf7 77. Kd3 (77. Qxe5 Qh5+ $19) 77... Kd6 78. Qb2 Qb7 79. Bd2 $1 {ACT V: With this move White prettily forces the win of a pawn. He threatens not only Bxa5 but also Bc3, attacking the e-pawn. Black cannot defend both threats because his Queen cannot leave either b6 or c6 unprotected. White's advantage is now decisive} 79... Nf6 80. Bxa5 Nd7 81. Qb5 Qc7 82. Bd2 Qc8 83. Bg5 Qa8 84. Kc2 Qc8 85. a5 bxa5 86. Qxa5 Qb8 87. Qd8 {In view of the mate threat (Be7) White must allow the exchange of Queens, leaving a Bishop v Knight ending which is easy to win} 87... Qxd8 88. Bxd8 Nf8 89. Bg5 Kc7 90. Kb3 Nd7 91. Be7 Kb6 92. Bd8+ Kb7 93. Kc3 Kc8 94. Be7 Kc7 95. Kd3 { The White King heads for g6 to clinch the win} 95... Kc8 96. Ke3 Kc7 97. Kf3 Kc8 98. Kg4 Nb6 99. Bxc5 Nxc4 100. Bb4 Nb2 101. Kg5 Nd3 102. Kg6 $18 Nf2 ( 102... Nxb4 103. Kxg7) 103. Kxg7 Nxe4 104. f6 Nxf6 1-0