Alonso Zapata - Paralysis

FIDE Surveys Alonso Zapata 1

Alonso Zapata:

Paralysis

Concept

Paralysis is a subtle strategic motive which

is usually in the field of domination and

zugzwang. The idea of this interesting

strategic theme is to constrain the action of

one or several pieces and limit the counter

play and plan of the rival usually hindering

by the weaknesses; until you see it reduced

by the little space for maneuver to the

extreme passivity. If you have it, you will

feel bound as a spectator of a sad end,

seeming that it was been screwed to the

position and a sense of powerlessness

before the upcoming events. The following

example is a curious tragicomedy of

numbness.

Lespersen (1912)

XIIIIIIIIY 9-tr-+-vL-mK0 9+-+-+rzP-0 9-+-+-+-+0 9+-+-+-+-0 9-+k+-+-+0 9+-+-+-+-0 9-+-+-+-+0 9+-+-+-+-0 xiiiiiiiiy White to play and saved miraculously! 1.g8B!! Rbf8= Draw by mutual paralysis! .

Heuecker (1937)

XIIIIIIIIY 9-+-+-mk-+0 9+-+-sn-+K0 9-+-sN-+-+0 9+-sn-+-+-0 9-+-+-sN-+0 9+-+-+-+-0 9-+-+-+-+0 9+-+-+-+-0 xiiiiiiiiy The following composition never ceases to

amaze me. White to play and win:

1.Kh8!+ The black has been petrified. In the next

move, no way to escape mate!

1...Ne4

1...Nc6 2.Ng6#.

2.Ne6# 1:0.

G. Bogdazarian (1937)

XIIIIIIIIY 9-+-+-mkl+0 9+-+-+p+P0 9-+-+p+P+0 9+-+-zpP+-0 9-+-+P+PmK0 9+-+-+-+-0 9r+-+-+-+0 9+-+-+-+-0 xiiiiiiiiy An admirable example of mutual paralysis

is found in the study of G. Bogdazarian.

1.h8Q! Rh2 2.Kg5 Rh8 3.g7 Kg7 4.f6

Kf8 Stalemate!

Same happens: 4...Kh7 5.Kh5= and Black

is in stalemate!

.


M. Liburkin (1939)

XIIIIIIIIY 9-+N+-+-+0 9zp-+-+-+-0 9q+p+-zp-+0 9mkp+-+-+-0 9-+-zP-+-+0 9zPP+-+K+-0 9-+-+-zP-+0 9+-vL-+-+-0 xiiiiiiiiy I want to share with my kind readers one of

the issues that have impressed me most

about the topic "Paralysis - Domination" is

an inspiring study, where the dynamic

value is greater than the static value. White

plays and wins surprisingly!

1.Bd2 b4 2.Bb4 Kb5 3.Nd6! Kb6 4.Ba5!!

XIIIIIIIIY 9-+-+-+-+0 9zp-+-+-+-0 9qmkpsN-zp-+0 9vL-+-+-+-0 9-+-zP-+-+0 9zPP+-+K+-0 9-+-+-zP-+0 9+-+-+-+-0 xiiiiiiiiy Subtle and amazing sacrifice!

4...Ka5

4...Qa5 5.Nc4+. 5.Nc4 Kb5 6.Kf4! f5 6...c5 7.d5 f5 8.Kg5 f4 9.f3.

7.Kg5! c5 8.d5! f4 9.f3!

Once black is out of moves, remains

immobility! White dominates the entire

Board. Black is completely paralyzed, total

control of the Queen and the King. It is

curious, if white would play at this time,

black would win! 1:0.

H. Mattison (1924)

XIIIIIIIIY 9N+-mk-+-+0 9zp-+-+-+-0 9-+-+-+-+0 9+-+-+-+-0 9-+-+-+-+0 9+-+-+-+-0 9P+-mK-vl-+0 9+-+-+-+-0 xiiiiiiiiy We find a mutual paralysis worthy of

mention in this composition of Mattison.

1.a4!

The immediate idea 1.Ke2? loses by:

1...Bc5 2.a4 Kc8 3.a5 Kb7 4.Nb6 Bb6

5.ab6 ab6 6.Kd3 Ka6+. 1...a5!

1...Kc8 2.a5 Kb7 3.Nb6= Bb6 4.ab6 ab6

5.Kc3 Ka6 6.Kb4=.

2.Ke2!!

XIIIIIIIIY 9N+-mk-+-+0 9+-+-+-+-0 9-+-+-+-+0 9zp-+-+-+-0 9P+-+-+-+0 9+-+-+-+-0 9-+-+Kvl-+0 9+-+-+-+-0 xiiiiiiiiy Ingenious, departs the Bishop from the e1

square!

2...Bg1

2...Ba7 3.Kd3 Kd7 4.Kc4 Kc6 5.Nc7!=,

with a similiar result, like in the study.


3.Kd3 Kd7 4.Kc4 Kc6 5.Nc7!

This subtlety is the reason for the idea

King e2!

5...Kc7 6.Kb5 Bb6 7.Ka6!

XIIIIIIIIY 9-+-+-+-+0 9+-mk-+-+-0 9Kvl-+-+-+0 9zp-+-+-+-0 9P+-+-+-+0 9+-+-+-+-0 9-+-+-+-+0 9+-+-+-+-0 xiiiiiiiiy Awe and helplessness? It is the sensation

produced by this unusual position!]

7...Kc6 .

M. Liburkin (1949)

XIIIIIIIIY 9k+-+-+-vl0 9zP-+-+-+-0 9-+N+-+K+0 9+-+-+-+-0 9-+-zp-+-+0 9+-+P+-+-0 9-+-+-+-+0 9+-+-+-+-0 xiiiiiiiiy Visualize your objective and go for it! One

of the methods to find plans and moves is

to assume at any given time what would

your opponent do if he played? Analyzing

the position, we can see the critical victory

square; imagine moving the Knight to f7.

How to achieve this?

1.Kf7!! Kb7 2.a8Q Ka8 3.Kg6!

The answer is: get a similar situation, but

with Black's turn!

3...Kb7

Sad and only move, Black is paralyzed!

4.Nd8 Kb6 5.Nf7+ The idealized victory square.

5...Kb5 6.Nh8+ 1:0.

Vachier Lagrave M. : Ding Liren Paris/St Petersburg 2013

A surprising game that since virtually the

start of the game, the subject of paralysis

can be felt. Very creative driving by G.M.

M. Vachier Lagrave. An eloquent example

of this powerful strategic motive.

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.h4 h6 5.g4 Be4

6.f3 Bh7 7.e6!? Nf6N

The most common move and probably the

best is 7...Qd6!? 8.ef7 Kf7 or also 7...fe6

8.Bd3 Nf6 (8...Bd3 9.Qd3 Qd6) 9.Ne2 c5.

8.Bf4!

Playing against the Queen on d6!

8...Qb6 9.Nc3!? Qb2 10.Kd2!?

Very original way of playing, Black has

difficulties to coordinate the development.

10...Qb6

10...Qa3; 10...Qb4 11.Nge2 Qa5!? 12.Nc1

fe6 13.Nb3 Qa3.

11.Nge2 a6?!

11...Qa5!? It is definitely more active.

12.Rb1 b5! Counter attack.

12.Rb1 Qa7 13.Na4! b5

Only one.

14.Nc5

XIIIIIIIIY 9rsn-+kvl-tr0 9wq-+-zppzpl0 9p+p+Psn-zp0 9+psNp+-+-0 9-+-zP-vLPzP0 9+-+-+P+-0 9P+PmKN+-+0 9+R+Q+L+R0 xiiiiiiiiy


Note the passivity of Black Bishop f8 and

Rook h8 that are not playing.

14...Bg8 15.Be5

15.Bh3.

15...fe6 16.Nf4 Nbd7 17.Nd7 Nd7 18.Ng6

Ne5 19.de5 Rh7 20.h5

XIIIIIIIIY 9r+-+kvll+0 9wq-+-zp-zpr0 9p+p+p+Nzp0 9+p+pzP-+P0 9-+-+-+P+0 9+-+-+P+-0 9P+PmK-+-+0 9+R+Q+L+R0 xiiiiiiiiy It is curious to see the h7 the Rook and the

f8 Bishop seem guests made out of stone

that do not participate in the events.

20...c5 21.f4 Very interesting, directed to the kingside;

observe the Bishop on f8 and Rook on h7

are paralyzed! Curious would be the

original maneuver: 21.Ke3!? c4 (21...Qc7

22.Kf4 (22.c3+) ) 22.Qd4 Qd4 23.Kd4+ and practically the White Bishop f1 and the

Rook h1 would be 2 additional pieces.

21...Bf7 22.Qf3 000 23.Be2 c4 24.a4 It is necessary to open columns to put the

non-used pieces to work!

24...Kc7 25.ab5 ab5 26.Rb5 Qd4 27.Ke1

Ra8 28.Rb1

It also seems sufficient to win 28.Kf1! Ra1

29.Kg2 Rh1 30.Kh1 Bg6 31.hg6 Rh8

32.Qa3+. 28...Ra2 29.c3 Qd2 30.Kf2 Rc2 31.Qe3

Qe3 32.Ke3 Rc3 33.Kd4 Rc2 34.Rhe1

Wins 34.Rb5! Re2 35.Rhb1+. 34...Kc6 35.Rb8 Bg6 36.hg6 Rh8

37.Reb1 Rd2

37...Re2 38.R1b6 Kd7 39.Kc5+. 38.Ke3 Ra2 39.R8b6

Curious position, Black is completely

paralyzed! 39.R8b6 Kc7 40.Kd4! Re2

41.Rb7 Kc8 42.Kc5+. 1:0.

Topalov V. : Gelfand B.

Linares 2010

XIIIIIIIIY 9-+-+k+-+0 9+-+-+-+-0 9-+K+-+-+0 9+-zP-+-+-0 9-+-+-+-+0 9zprzP-+-+R0 9-+-+-+-+0 9+-+-+-+-0 xiiiiiiiiy A dramatic situation developed in this

game, Gelfand must make a critical

decision in a very complicated position.]

49...a2? Error. Last chance to save himself, had to

play: 49...Ke7!! 50.Rh7 (50.Kd5 a2 51.Rh7

Kd8= 52.Kd6 Kc8 53.c6 Kb8 54.c7 Kb7

55.Kd7= (55.Rh8?? Rc3+) 55...Rc3 56.Kd8 Kb6=) 50...Ke6 51.c4 Ke5 52.Ra7

Kd4 53.Ra4 Rh3 54.Kb6 Rb3=.

50.Rh8 Ke7 51.Ra8 Rb2 52.Kc7 Rc2

53.c6 Rb2 54.c4 Rc2 55.Ra6 Rb2 56.c5

Ke6 57.Ra5!!

Very ingenious, at the point of breakdown,

this move is the key to win! It must be

defended "the c5 shield". This Pawn is

vital for victory. 57.Kc8 Kd5 58.c7 Kc5

59.Kd7 Rd2 60.Ke6 Re2=; 57.Ra3 Kd5

58.Ra5 Kc4 59.Kc8 Kb4=.

57...Rc2

57...Kd5 58.Kd7 Rh2 59.c7 Rh7 60.Kc8

Kc6 61.Ra6 Kc5 62.Kb8+. 58.Kb7 Rb2 59.Kc8 Ke7 60.c7 Ke8

61.Ra2!!

The detail missed by Gelfand!

61...Ra2 62.Kb7!

Black was astounded!

62.Kb7 Rb2 63.Kc6+ Note the importance of the c5 shield! 1:0.


Alekhine A. : Nimzowitsch A.

San Remo 1930

One of the most famous classic games of

this motive.

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.Bd2

Ne7 6.Nb5 Bd2 7.Qd2 00 8.c3 b6? 8...Nbc6; 8...Nd7; 8...f6.

9.f4 Ba6 10.Nf3 Qd7 11.a4! Nbc6

11...c4 12.Nd6 (12.Na3 Qa4) 12...Nc8.

12.b4! cb4 12...c4 13.Nd6. 13.cb4 Bb7 14.Nd6 f5?! 14...a5 15.b5 Nb4 16.Bd3 f5.

15.a5! Nc8

15...ba5 16.b5 Nd8 17.Ra5- 16.Nb7 Qb7 17.a6! Qf7

It does not work: 17...Qe7 18.Bb5 Nb4

19.Rb1+. 18.Bb5!

Already perceive the broad domain of

pressure and White space.

18...N8e7 19.00 h6 19...Rfc8?!

20.Rfc1 Rfc8 21.Rc2 Qe8 22.Rac1

XIIIIIIIIY 9r+r+q+k+0 9zp-+-sn-zp-0 9Pzpn+p+-zp0 9+L+pzPp+-0 9-zP-zP-zP-+0 9+-+-+N+-0 9-+RwQ-+PzP0 9+-tR-+-mK-0 xiiiiiiiiy 22.Ra3! Rc7 23.Rac3 Rac8 24.Qc1.

22...Rab8 23.Qe3

The simultaneous threats of the Bb5 and

Rooks in the c-column condemn Black to

passivity.

23.Rc3 Rc7 24.R1c2 Rbc8 25.Qc1+. 23...Rc7 24.Rc3 Qd7 25.R1c2 Kf8 26.Qc1

Rbc8

XIIIIIIIIY 9-+r+-mk-+0 9zp-trqsn-zp-0 9Pzpn+p+-zp0 9+L+pzPp+-0 9-zP-zP-zP-+0 9+-tR-+N+-0 9-+R+-+PzP0 9+-wQ-+-mK-0 xiiiiiiiiy Note the immobility and the total lack of

counter-play for Black. There is no way to

escape.

27.Ba4!

Threatening b4.

27...b5 28.Bb5 Ke8 29.Ba4 Kd8 30.h4!

Black is running out of moves.

30...Qe8

Paralysis-Zugzwang and the end.

31.b5

There is nothing to do, the material losses

are inevitable. 1:0.

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Alonso Zapata - Paralysis