What I wanted to talk about today is the backward pawn. Not so long ago a backward pawn was considered to be a serious weakness. But, more recently several openings have become popular that do have that backward pawn. Most important of those openings is the Sicilian. We are about to see a game Smyslov-Denker that will give you a pretty good idea how the backward pawn can decide the entire strategy for both players.
1.e4
c5
2.Nc3
Harm:Of course, most played here is Nf3, but this can be considered one of the best ways to avoid lots of book knowledge: the closed Sicilian
2...Nc6
3.g3
g6
4.Bg2
Bg7
5.d3
White avoids playing d4. So, the setup is generally more like that of the Kings Indian than the Sicilian. That is usually the main target for Black in the closed Sicilian, control over the d4 square. However, this may be a bit too soon.
5...e6
6.Be3
Nd4
7.Nce2
d6
8.c3
Playing c3 is taking away a bit of the power of the Bishop at g7.
8...Nc6
9.d4
cxd4
10.Nxd4
Important choice for white here. By capturing with cxd4, sharp lines can be avoided. You will note that in that case, both players have an open c-file. While, in the Sicilian, usually black has a semi-open c-file, while white has a semi-open d-file. So, the pawn structure is now alike to many Sicilian lines. Meaning, black will use the c-file to attack on the queenside, while white will use his space advantage to attack on the kingside.
10...Nxd4
11.Bxd4
This is a move that looks logical. But from now on, black will have worries concerning the pawn at d6. Now, most weaker players try to attack and defend the pawn. But, that is not the best plan. It is much better to try to control the square BEFORE the pawn. In this case, the d5 square, because if black were to advance his pawn to d5, he would get rid of the weakness at once. While it may take some time before d6 can be captured, the square d5 is an excellent square for a white piece, preferably a knight.
11...e5
12.Be3
Ne7
Noda: Why is the knight on e7? To keep the (a1-h8) diagonal open? Harm: To support f5 to undermine e4 which is controlling d5.
13.Ne2
0-0
14.0-0
Q:What is Black's next move and why?
A: Be6 control on d5, and supports a possible f5 in the future
14...Be6
15.Qd2
Qc7
Now follows a mysterious looking move, but actually a very fine plan. White wants to play c4, and if black plays b5 to exchange that pawn, he now still has a rook on the a-file so that he can play a4. Black will play f5 to exchange for the e-pawn. White will then have some less control over d5, and perhaps, black could use the semi-open f-file to attack.
16.Rfc1
f5
17.c4
Now, of course not Bxc4?, because that would be followed by b3, and the Bishop is pinned. fxe4, again a very fine move. Of course, the knight is better placed here than at e2. The e4 pawn cannot be protected by black, so he can recapture at will. Bxc4 is still not very good because of Nxe4 followed by Ng5.
17...fxe4
18.Nc3
Now, black plays Nf5. This move is not thematical, but you can see that it is already difficult for black to make a good plan. His bishop at g7 isn't worth more than a pawn, and his centre pawns are a source of concern
18...Nf5
19.Nxe4
Nxe3
20.Qxe3
h6
preventing a possibly annoying Ng5
21.Rd1
Now, if Bxc4, Rac1
21...Rfd8
Black is planning the play the other rook to c8. Still, I think he would have been better off keeping the f-rook at the semi-open file a bit longer, but then again, I am no GM.
22.Rac1
Rac8
23.b3
b6
24.Nc3
Qe7
What is white's next move? Bd5 If the knight is exchanged for the bishop with Nd5, black can still use his Bishop to defend, while the white Bishop is no good to help to attack. Now, white forces an endgame with a bad bishop for black vs. an extremely good knight for white.
25.Bd5
Kh7
26.Bxe6
Qxe6
27.Rd3
Going to double rooks on the d-file.
27...Rc7
28.Rcd1
Rf7
29.Ne4
Bf8
30.Rd5
Qg4
Now, here is an interesting line I would like to show you. White did play differently than this.
31.R1d3
[31.Nxd6
Bxd6
32.Rxd6
Qxd1+
33.Rxd1
Rxd1+
and black has two rooks and can hope to survive.; 31.R5d3
Qe6
Black blunders here with Qe6 because of 33. c5 which causes a loss of an exchange no matter what black does. Still, this is a typical way to get in the final combination. All blacks pieces are locked into place. White can move at will. There is almost bound to be something in those situations. 32.Qd2
Rfd7
33.c5
Noda: That knight is in a very powerful position. Harm: Compared to blacks sorry bishop.]
31...Be7
32.Nxd6
Bxd6
33.Rxd6
Rdf8
34.Qxe5
Rxf2
35.Rd7+
R8f7
36.Rxf7+
Rxf7
37.Rd8
Rg7
38.Qe8
g5
39.Qh8+
Kg6
40.Rd6+
Kf7
41.Qxh6
Qf5
42.Rd1
Qc5+
43.Kg2
Qe7
44.Rf1+
Kg8
45.Qf6
Qe8
46.Qf5
g4
47.Rf2
Qe7
48.Qd3
Rg5
49.Re2
Qf8
50.Qe4
Rg7
51.Qd5+
Qf7
52.Re6
1-0