Malcolm Pein explains why every chess player needs to know what ‘LPDO’ means in today’s Daily Telegraph column, while adding his own ‘one-on-one’ advice into the mix.
Malcolm Pein on…the One-on-One
‘Loose pieces drop off’ was a phrase coined by John Nunn and which every player should be mindful of on every move. Unprotected pieces can often be lost. All my pupils also know the term ‘Beware the one-on-one’, which I use almost as often as unprotected pieces.
A piece attacked once and defended once can also be vulnerable to a tactical operation known as ‘removing the guard.’ This is well illustrated in this sharp encounter from the Julius Baer Polgar Challenge on Chess24.
White’s pawn sacrifice looks like quite good value and dangerous in practice as with a deficit in development Black had no margin for error. The victor was the best female performer in the event.
Lei Tingjie – Zhu Jiner
Polgar Challenge chess24.com
1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e6 3.e4 d5 4.cxd5 exd5 5.e5 d4 6.exf6 dxc3 7.Bb5+ c6 8.Qe2+ Be6 9.Bc4 cxd2+ (Black takes up the challenge. If 9…cxb2 10.Bxb2 gxf6 11.Nf3 is very dangerous for Black, as she has to take on f6. If 9…Qxf6 10.dxc3 Be7 11.Bxe6 Qxe6 12.Qxe6 fxe6 13.Nf3 gives White an enduring edge, as the e6 pawn is weak) 10.Bxd2 Qxf6 11.Nf3 Be7 12.0–0–0 (White has a big lead in development because if 12…0–0 13.Bg5 Bxc4 14.Qxc4 Qe6 15.Qxe6 Bxg5+ 16.Nxg5 fxe6 17.Nxe6 threatening Nc7 is very strong)
See board left. 12…h6 13.Rhe1 0–0 14.Bxe6 Qxe6 15.Qd3 Qd6 16.Qe4!? (16.Qxd6 Bxd6 17.Bxh6 Bc7 18.Be3 Na6 19.a3 is an edge for White, but Black should be all right) 16…Qc5+ 17.Kb1
Test Your Strength
Black had only one move to survive, but it’s a good one. What was it?
17…Bd6? (Allowing White to create a ‘one-on-one’ and win material) 18.Be3 Qb4 19.Rd4 (Black cannot defend her bishop on d6) 19…Qc5 20.Rc1 Qa5 21.Rxd6 Na6 22.Bxh6 1–0
Highlight the space below this line to reveal the answer.
17…Bf6! survives despite Black’s huge development deficit. For example, 18.g4 Na6 19.h4 Rfe8! is good for Black.
