{"id":142,"date":"2021-05-13T16:00:24","date_gmt":"2021-05-13T16:00:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sandbox.forwardchess.com\/blog\/?p=142"},"modified":"2021-05-16T15:43:09","modified_gmt":"2021-05-16T15:43:09","slug":"attacking-with-g2-g4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/attacking-with-g2-g4\/","title":{"rendered":"Attacking with g2-g4"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em>&#8220;I believe that without the g2-g4 thrust I would never have achieved success as a player and trainer.&#8221;<\/em> &#8211; <strong>GM Dmitry Kryakvin<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a title=\"Attacking g2-g4\" href=\"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/product\/attacking-with-g2-g4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"imageUploaderImg\" src=\"https:\/\/images.chesscomfiles.com\/uploads\/v1\/images_users\/tiny_mce\/ForwardChess\/phpA0Fgje.jpeg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Our BOOK OF THE WEEK is <a title=\"attacking\" href=\"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/product\/attacking-with-g2-g4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong><em>Attacking with g2-g4: The Modern Way to Get the Upper Hand in Chess<\/em><\/strong><\/a> by GM Dmitry Kryakvin.<\/p>\n<p>The g2-g4 thrust is a very important motif in fighting for the initiative. Against an f5-pawn, White opens the g-file. Without an f5-pawn, White can play g4-g5 to kick back the f6-knight &#8211; removing an important defense of the kingside and starting a pawn storm. When g4 is met with &#8230;h6, White can play h4 followed by g5 to open lines. This thrust is so important for fighting for the initiative, that Vukovic categorized it as a &#8216;bayonet&#8217; attack in his classic book &#8216;Art of Attack in Chess&#8217;. <a title=\"attacking\" href=\"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/product\/attacking-with-g2-g4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em><strong>Attacking with g2-g4<\/strong><\/em><\/a> teaches students how to use this weapon in closed openings and annotates dozens of games (organized mostly by opening), showing how to play after this pawn thrust opens lines.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>Chapter 3: Issac Lipnitsky&#8217;s favorite position<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Mikhail Botvinnik not only liked to play g2-g4 himself but also rated very highly Isaak Lipnitsky\u2019s book <em>Questions of Contemporary Chess Theory<\/em>, which contains, besides the majority of the above examples from the games of the sixth World Champion, a particularly beautiful example of the g-pawn battering ram.<\/p>\n<p>Nowadays, the name Lipnitsky says little to the modern reader, but, just as the prematurely deceased Leonid Stein, this was a player with a very interesting, striking style, and great practical strength. He also died tragically early, at just 35.<\/p>\n<p>Lipnitsky won the Ukrainian Champion, regularly qualifier for the final of the USSR Championship, and in 1950 was a silver medallist in this marathon tournament, He had an equal score against Smyslov, Keres, Bronstein, and Tal, drew with Botvinnik and had a win against Petrosian to his credit. In the database, he has only 159 games, but the older generation of Soviet players always pronounced the name Issak Lipnitsky with respect.<\/p>\n<p>The GM\u2019s eternal memorial was the above-mentioned book, which came out in 1956. In John Collins\u2019 book on Bobby Fischer, (a fact unearthed by Yakov Zusmanovich), it is stated that the future American World Champion obtained Lipnitsky\u2019s book when still quite young and virtually slept with it under his pillow! It is a striking textbook on dynamics, the battle for the initiative and the linkage between the opening and the middle game, and was recommended to readers by the great trainer Mark Dvoretsky. Having been reprinted in Dvoretsky\u2019s book, Lipnitsky\u2019s famous position then appeared in many other publications. Here it is.<strong><br \/>\n<\/strong><\/p>\n<div>\n\n<p class=\"rpbchessboard-spacerBefore\"><\/p>\n\n<div id=\"rpbchessboard-6adf632727650-1\" class=\"rpbchessboard-chessgame\">\n    <noscript>\n        <div class=\"rpbchessboard-javascriptWarning\">\n            You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.        <\/div>\n    <\/noscript>\n    <div class=\"rpbchessboard-chessgameAnchor\"><\/div>\n    <script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n        jQuery(document).ready(function($) {\n            var selector = '#' + \"rpbchessboard-6adf632727650-1\" + ' .rpbchessboard-chessgameAnchor';\n            RPBChessboard.renderPGN($(selector), {\"pgn\":\"[Event \\\"?\\\"]\\r\\n[Site \\\"?\\\"]\\r\\n[Date \\\"????.??.??\\\"]\\r\\n[Round \\\"?\\\"]\\r\\n[White \\\"?\\\"]\\r\\n[Black \\\"?\\\"]\\r\\n[Result \\\"*\\\"]\\r\\n[SetUp \\\"1\\\"]\\r\\n[FEN \\\"rnb1k2r\\\/p2p2pp\\\/1p2p3\\\/q1p2p2\\\/2PP4\\\/P1P5\\\/1B1QPPPP\\\/R3KB1R w KQkq - 0 11\\\"]\\r\\n\\r\\n{Here is what Issak Lipnitsky says: \\u2018White\\u2019s bishop on b2 is out of play and his\\r\\nc4-pawn is weak. With his last move 10\\u2026b6 Black clearly declares his plan:\\r\\npressure against the c4-pawn by means on \\u2026Ba6, \\u2026Qa4, \\u2026Nc6-a5. After superficial\\r\\nplay, White can find himself in trouble. Can he force the favorable (for\\r\\nhimself) move \\u2026c5-xd4 $2 Concretely assessing the characteristics of the position,\\r\\nWhite plays} 11. g4 $3 {This move sharply changes the situation. Black already\\r\\nfinds that he cannot besiege the pawn\\u2026 But this move would not enter the dead of\\r\\na player who was bound by dogmatic ideas. After all, the move breaks a number of\\r\\nrules: it neglects development, unlatches an unprepared attack, weakens the\\r\\nking\\u2019s cover, etc. Blindly following those rules, a dogmatic player would\\r\\nprobably play 11.e4, and would later no doubt wonder why \\u2018correct\\u2019 play had not\\r\\nworked out for him. But the whole point is that in this particular position, the\\r\\nabove rules do not govern the position, so constructing one\\u2019s play in accordance\\r\\nwith them is a mistake. The move 11.g2-g4 $3 Is an example of a purely creative\\r\\napproach to the position. But does this concrete, creative decision break chess\\r\\nprinciples $2 Definitely not $1 The concrete characteristics of this position are as\\r\\nfollows: the majority of the Black pieces are located on the queenside and only\\r\\nhis queen is currently in play; the Black kingside has no piece protection. It\\r\\nis obvious that, in such conditions, it favors White to start a sharp battle on\\r\\nthe kingside, where he currently has several pieces available. Thus, with a\\r\\nconcrete approach to the position, one can see that the chess rule which applies\\r\\nmost of all in this position is: strike the blow at the most vulnerable point in\\r\\nthe opponent\\u2019s position.} *\",\"pieceSymbols\":\"native\",\"navigationBoard\":\"scrollLeft\",\"withFlipButton\":true,\"withDownloadButton\":true,\"nboSquareSize\":32,\"nboCoordinateVisible\":true,\"nboTurnVisible\":true,\"nboColorset\":\"original\",\"nboPieceset\":\"cburnett\",\"nboAnimated\":true,\"nboMoveArrowVisible\":true,\"nboMoveArrowColor\":\"r\",\"idoSquareSize\":32,\"idoCoordinateVisible\":true,\"idoTurnVisible\":true,\"idoColorset\":\"original\",\"idoPieceset\":\"cburnett\"});\n        });\n    <\/script>\n<\/div>\n\n<p class=\"rpbchessboard-spacerAfter\"><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"rpbchessboard-spacerBefore\"><\/p>\n\n<div id=\"rpbchessboard-6adf632727650-2\" class=\"rpbchessboard-chessgame\">\n    <noscript>\n        <div class=\"rpbchessboard-javascriptWarning\">\n            You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.        <\/div>\n    <\/noscript>\n    <div class=\"rpbchessboard-chessgameAnchor\"><\/div>\n    <script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n        jQuery(document).ready(function($) {\n            var selector = '#' + \"rpbchessboard-6adf632727650-2\" + ' .rpbchessboard-chessgameAnchor';\n            RPBChessboard.renderPGN($(selector), {\"pgn\":\"[Event \\\"?\\\"]\\r\\n[Site \\\"?\\\"]\\r\\n[Date \\\"????.??.??\\\"]\\r\\n[Round \\\"?\\\"]\\r\\n[White \\\"?\\\"]\\r\\n[Black \\\"?\\\"]\\r\\n[Result \\\"*\\\"]\\r\\n[ECO \\\"A40\\\"]\\r\\n\\r\\n{The position is probably one Lipnitsky reached in analysis (his book does not\\r\\ngive any lead-up moves) or occured in a little-known game &#8211; there is no such\\r\\ngame in the database. It probably arose after} 1. d4 e6 2. c4 Bb4+ 3. Nc3 f5 {&#8211;\\r\\nthis cunning hybrid of the Dutch and the Nimzo-Indian defences was wored out by\\r\\nAlapin and then later played quite often by Keres. Several times, this &#8216;Dutch\\r\\nNimzo-Indian&#8217; was seen in the practice of Botvinnik himself and in our days it\\r\\nis often played by Dmitsky Andreikin. Most likely, the game continued} 4. Nf3\\r\\nNf6 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Ne4 7. Qc2 c5 8. Nd2 Qa5 ({or} 8... Nxd2 {. After this,\\r\\nLipnitsky&#8217;s position almost arose in the game Agababean-Uskova from the 1994\\r\\nMoscow Olympiad, but now instead of 9.Qxd2 Qa5 10.Bb2 b6, there unfortunately\\r\\noccured 9.Bxd2.}) 9. Bb2 Nxd2 10. Qxd2 b6 {We already know that the correct move\\r\\nis} 11. g4 $1 {The psycological strength (not the mention the chess strength $1) of\\r\\nthe blow g2-g4 is so great that nobody is 60 years has thought of trying to\\r\\ndefend Black&#8217;s position. This is despite the white bishop on b2 being cut off\\r\\nand unable to take part in the attack.} 11... Bb7 ({The correct reply is\\r\\nLipnitsky&#8217;s} 11... cxd4 $1 12. cxd4 ({After} 12. gxf5 {Black obtains good\\r\\ncompensation for the pawn with} 12... Qxf5 $5 ({dangerous is} 12... dxc3 $6 13.\\r\\nBxc3 Qxf5 14. Bg2 {and the bishops are opened up}) 13. cxd4 Nc6 14. Rg1 O-O 15.\\r\\nQe3 d5) 12... Qxd2+ 13. Kxd2 fxg4 14. Rg1 h5 15. h3 Nc6 $1 ({Black is not obliged\\r\\nto play} 15... gxh3 $6 16. Bxh3) 16. hxg4 ({Probably better is} 16. Bg2 Bb7 {but\\r\\ndoes Black have any real problems here $2}) 16... Na5 {and who is better $2 There is\\r\\na threat of a fork on b3, and Black&#8217;s plans include pressure on c4 whilst the\\r\\nwhite pieces are still largely on their starting squares. but the development of\\r\\nthe bishop (11&#8230;Bb7) does not lose either. On the contrary, for example, many\\r\\nexamples whom I have invited to look at the position consider that from a\\r\\npractical viewpoint, Black should keep the queens on and fight for the\\r\\ninitiative, without fearing sacrifices. But computer analysis shows that White\\r\\nhas some further unexpected resources $1}) (11... Ba6 $2 12. gxf5 Bxc4 (12... exf5\\r\\n13. Qe3+) 13. Bg2 Nc6 14. fxe6 {with a tremendous attack for White}) (11...\\r\\nfxg4 $2 12. Bg2) 12. d5 (12. Rg1 f4 $1 13. Qxf4 cxd4 14. Qxd4 O-O {White has an\\r\\nextra pawn but a terrible king. The only units in play are the queen and\\r\\nLipnitsky&#8217;s pawn, while Black can attack all the vulnerable points with his\\r\\nactive forced.}) 12... O-O 13. gxf5 exf5 {It is more suitable to take the square\\r\\nfrom the black queen with} 14. a4 $5 ({Lipnitsky here stops calculating after}\\r\\n14. Rg1 {, with an unfavorable assessment for Black, but after} 14... Qa4 {does\\r\\nWhite have anything better than} 15. Bh3 ({or} 15. Qg5 Rf7 16. Qd8+ Rf8) 15...\\r\\ng6 16. Qh6 Qc2 17. Rxg6+ hxg6 18. Qxg6+ {with a draw $2}) 14... d6 15. Rg1 Nd7\\r\\n(15... Kh8 $2 16. Qg5) 16. Qh6 Rf7 17. Bh3 (17. Qxd6 $6 Re8 18. e3 Ne5 {gives Black\\r\\nsplended compensation}) 17... Kh8 18. Qxd6 g6 {How should one play in this\\r\\nirrational position $2 A strong computer confidently advises} (18... Re8 19. Bxf5\\r\\nNe5 20. Be6 Nxc4 21. Qg3 Rfe7 22. Bc1) 19. Rg3 Re8 20. Re3 $5 Rxe3 21. fxe3 {and\\r\\nclaims an advantage for White. Despite the obvious inadequacies of the white\\r\\npawn structure, the threat of e3-e4 outweighs Black&#8217;s pressure against c4 $1 What\\r\\nconclusions can we draw from this analysis $2 Isaak Lipnitsky undoubtedly\\r\\nsuggested the strongest move in the position (11.d5 or 11.Rg1 could transpose),\\r\\nbut his conclusion that White immediately obtains a large advantage of\\r\\ntremendous attack, was clearly premature. Even so, one cannot be amazed that as\\r\\nfar back as 1956, Lipnitsky realized the best defence was the exchange on d4,\\r\\ndespite the fact that it brings alive White&#8217;s bishop on b2. However, we saw\\r\\nabove that even the strongest players in the world often crumbled when faced\\r\\nwith such a blow as g2-g4 in the hands of the sixth World Champion. It would not\\r\\nbe at all easy for Black to find all these variations in the Lipnitsky position,\\r\\neven if it were played by a strong grandmaster. Now let us try to confirm or\\r\\nrefute this with concrete examples, moving seamlessly from the clasics of the\\r\\nsixth World Champion to contemporary theoretical tabiyas, in which White throws\\r\\nforward the pawn from g2 to g4 $1} *\",\"pieceSymbols\":\"native\",\"navigationBoard\":\"scrollLeft\",\"withFlipButton\":true,\"withDownloadButton\":true,\"nboSquareSize\":32,\"nboCoordinateVisible\":true,\"nboTurnVisible\":true,\"nboColorset\":\"original\",\"nboPieceset\":\"cburnett\",\"nboAnimated\":true,\"nboMoveArrowVisible\":true,\"nboMoveArrowColor\":\"r\",\"idoSquareSize\":32,\"idoCoordinateVisible\":true,\"idoTurnVisible\":true,\"idoColorset\":\"original\",\"idoPieceset\":\"cburnett\"});\n        });\n    <\/script>\n<\/div>\n\n<p class=\"rpbchessboard-spacerAfter\"><\/p>\n\n<div><\/div>\n<hr \/>\n<p>Why choose the <a title=\"FC\" href=\"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/product\/attacking-with-g2-g4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Forward Chess<\/strong><\/a> edition? It is cheaper than the physical version and the variations are more efficient to play through on a digital board. You can also use the latest stockfish engine, add your own notes, bookmarks, and much more.<\/p>\n<p><a title=\"attacking\" href=\"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/product\/attacking-with-g2-g4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><em><strong>Learn More: Attacking with g2-g4<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>DID YOU KNOW <\/strong>that <a title=\"FC\" href=\"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/sample\/attacking-with-g2-g4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Forward Chess<\/strong><\/a> offers free book samples for every book we sell?<\/p>\n<p><a title=\"Attacking\" href=\"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/sample\/attacking-with-g2-g4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"imageUploaderImg\" src=\"https:\/\/images.chesscomfiles.com\/uploads\/v1\/images_users\/tiny_mce\/ForwardChess\/phpRY1byW.png\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;I believe that without the g2-g4 thrust I would never have achieved success as a&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":143,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/142"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=142"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/142\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":248,"href":"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/142\/revisions\/248"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/143"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=142"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=142"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forwardchess.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=142"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}