Masterclass with GM Boris Gelfand How to Adjust Preparation During a Game

Masterclass with GM Boris Gelfand How to adjust preparation during a game

August 28, 2020

Full video Boris Gelfand

GM Boris Gelfand is a Soviet-born Israeli chess player. He was awarded the title Grandmaster by FIDE in 1989.

Boris is a six-time World Championship candidate (1991, 1994–95, 2002, 2007, 2011, 2013), he won the Chess World Cup 2009 and the 2011 Candidates Tour- nament, making him a challenger for the World Chess Championship 2012. Although the match with defending champion Viswanathan Anand finished level at 6–6, Gelfand lost the deciding rapid play tiebreak by 2½–1½.

Gelfand has won major tournaments at Wijk aan Zee, Tilburg, Moscow, Lin- ares, and Dos Hermanas. He has competed in eleven Chess Olympiads and held a place within the top 30 players ranked by FIDE from January 1990 to October 2017.

At this Masterclass, Boris explained how to change strategy during the game and the reasons for that. Use this space for Game 1 your notes

Sergey Karjakin – Boris Gelfand World Cup, 2009, Semi-final Italian Game: Two Knights Defense Modern Bishop's Opening

Game: 1. e4—e5 18. Bxd6—cxd6 2. Bc4—Nf6 19. Qxd4—Qg5 3. d3—Nc6 20. g3—Qf5 4. Nf3—Be7 21. g4—h5 5. O-O—O-O 22. Re4—d5 6. Bb3—d5 23. Kh2—Qf3 7. exd5—Nxd5 24. Ree1—hxg4 8. h3—a5 25. Qe3—gxh3 9. a4—Nd4 26. Qxf3—Rxf3 10. Nxd4—exd4 2 7. Rg1—Rxf2+ 11. Re1—Ra6 28. Kxh3—Rxg1 12. Qh5—Nb4 29. Rxg1—Nxc2 13. Na3—Rg6 30. Nb5—Rf3+ 14. Bf4—b6 31. Kg4—Rxd3 15. Qf3—Be6 32. Nd6—Ne3+ 16. Bxe6—fxe6 33. Kf4—Nc40-1 1 7. Qe4—Bd6 Game with Boris’ comments: Use this space for your notes

1. e4 e5

2. Bc4 Very rare line, was surprising for me. Nf6

3. d3 Kc6 I was thinking about c6:

h g f e d c b a Good move, because after 4. Kf3 d5; 5. Bc3 and have many options for Black. I knew that Sergey is a really prepared player at openings and of course he has something in his mind. So I decided to change his preparation and play Kc6.

4. Nf3 Be7 I was not well prepared for this line, but thought it is a playable position. I was sure that Sergey also is not prepared for this line, so I decided just to play the game:

h g f e d c b a 5. O-O O-O Use this space for your notes 6. Bb3 d5 I decided to surprise my opponent. The last time I was prepared this line was probably in 1995.

7. exd5 Nxd5

8. h3 Very logical move.

a5 Another surprise for Sergey.

Note: Tip: Use clickable watch other lines by Boris at 00:08:20 timecodes to go straight to the 9. a4 Nd4 parts of the Masterclass 10. Nxd4 exd4 that are being discussed

11. Re1 1

h g f e d c b a

So now Sergey attacked Kd5 and after that he can take Be7. I was not sure that opening went well for me.

Task: Now take a few minutes to see if you can also find this move.

TIP: watch Evgeniy Miro and Boris Gelfand explain the position at 00:10:00 till 00:12:56 GM Boris Gelfand is a Soviet-born Israeli chess player. He was awarded the title Grandmaster by FIDE in 1989.

At this Masterclass, Boris explained how to change strategy during the game and the reasons for that.

Use this space for Answer: your notes 11. Ra6 — watch the idea behind at 00:12:56: 12. Bxd5 Qd5 13. Rxe7 Rg6 14. g3 Bh3 and Black will mate,

instead 14. g4 Qh5 15. Re4 Qh3 16. g5 f5 and White position is gone:

h g f e d c b a

The best White can do is 14. f3 Bxh3 15. Re2 Qxe3:

so I finished my calculation here. I have 2 pawns for a piece and attack and after

16. Qf1 I have compensation

12. Qh5 It’s a mistake, White should take on d5 and force a draw.

Nb4

13. Na3 Rg6 but I regret this move, Bb4 was better.

14. Bf4 b6 With the idea of Bb7. 15. Qf3 (prevented Bb7 and Bd7, because Use this space for Bxc7)— It’s very critical position your notes and now...

Task: Think, what Black did here.

TIP: Watch Boris’ and Miro’s comments from 00:19:07 till 00:25:22

the answer is waiting for you on the next page, but try to solve it on your own Use this space for Answer: your notes Be6

16. Bxe6 fxe6

17. Qe4 Bd6

18. Bxd6 cxd6

19. Qxd4 Qg5 And now the position for White is lost.

If 20. Qg4 – most natural move, Qf6 21. Qe6 Kd5

4 pieces for Black attacking the White king:

h g f e d c b a

20. g3 Qf5

21. g4 h5

22. Re4 d5

23. Kh2 Qf3

24. Ree1 hxg4

25. Qe3 gxh3

26. Qxf3 Rxf3 27. Rg1 Rxf2+ Use this space for your notes 28. Kxh3 Rxg1

29. Rxg1 Nxc2

30. Nb5 Rf3+

31. Kg4 Rxd3

32. Nd6 Ne3+

33. Kf4 Nc40 3 extra pawns on endgame, so White resigned. Use this space for Game 2 your notes

Boris Gelfand – Vishi Anand World Championship Match (2012), Moscow RUS, round 7, May 20 Semi-Slav Defense: Accelerated Meran Variation (D45)

Game: 1. d4—d5 20. Rfc1—Rab8 2. c4—c6 21. Na4—Ne4 3. Nc3—Nf6 22. Rxc8+—Bxc8 4. e3—e6 23. Qc2—g5 5. Nf3—a6 24. Qc7—Qxc7 6. c5—Nbd7 25. Rxc7—f6 7. Qc2—b6 26. Bxe4—dxe4 8. cxb6—Nxb6 2 7. Nd2—f5 9. Bd2—c5 28. Nc4—Nf6 10. Rc1—cxd4 29. Nc5—Nd5 11. exd4—Bd6 30. Ra7—Nb4 12. Bg5—O-O 31. Ne5—Nc2 13. Bd3—h6 32. Nc6—Rxb2 14. Bh4—Bb7 33. Rc7—Rb1+ 15. O-O—Qb8 34. Kh2—e3 16. Bg3—Rc8 35. Rxc8+—Kh7 1 7. Qe2—Bxg3 36. Rc7+—Kh8 18. hxg3—Qd6 3 7. Ne5—e2 19. Rc2—Nbd7 38. Nxe6 12. Qh5

Nb4

13. Na3 Rg6

14. Bf4 b6

Game with Boris’ comments: Use this space for your notes

1. d4 d5

2. c4 c6

3. Nc3 Nf6

4. e3 e6

5. Nf3 a6 8

a b c d e f g h

6. c5 Nbd7

7. Qc2 b6

8. cxb6 Nxb6

9. Bd2 c5

10. Rc1 cxd4

11. exd4 Bd6 Here the seconds and engine prepared Ka4 for White. With the calculation:

12. Ka4 Kxa4 13. Qc6+ Bd7 14. Qd7 Kd2

After annalyzing it was clear that White has a huge compensation, so the main move is: 14. Ke4 Use this space for 15. Qa3 Kd2 your notes 16. Kxd2 Qe7 1 7. Qxe7 Kxe7 18. b3 Kb6

And then to play this endgame:

a b c d e f g h

Tip: Listen to Boris’ position explanation at 00:52:25

And in the game I decided to play

12. Bg5 O-O

13. Bd3 h6

14. Bh4 Bb7

15. O-O Qb8 But it was better to play Bf4:

16. Rd1 (it’s important to get the rook out of c1).

Anand also was considering this move but didn’t want Ke5 for White.

16. Bg3 Rc8

17. Qe2 Bxg3 20. g3 Qf5

21. g4 h5

22. Re4 d5

23. Kh2 Qf3

24. Ree1 hxg4

25. Qe3 gxh3

26. Qxf3 Rxf3

18. hxg3 Fxg3 is also possible, but can become Use this space for a weakness after your notes

Qd6

19. Rc2 Nbd7

20. Rfc1 8

a b c d e f g h

Instead of Rab8 played in the game Black was better with Rc7.

Tip: Watch other options at 00:58:36

21. Na4 Ne4

22. Rxc8+ Bxc8

23. Qc2 g5 Very bad move for Black. Anand tried to provoke me to take on e4:

a b c d e f g h 24. Qc7 Qxc7 Use this space for your notes

25. Rxc7 f6 8

a b c d e f g h

Task: Now think how you can advance for White?

TIP: Watch Boris’ and Evgeniy’s explanation from 01:06:45

26. Bxe4 dxe4

2 7. Nd2 f5

28. Nc4 Nf6

29. Nc5 Nd5

30. Ra7 Nb4

31. Ne5

Nc2 But Nd6 was stronger.

32. Nc6 Rxb2

33. Rc7 Rb1+

34. Kh2 e3

35. Rxc8+ Kh7 36. Rc7+ Kh8 8 Use this space for 7 your notes

a b c d e f g h

37. Ne5 Another beautiful move was Kd7.

38. Nxe6 16. Bg3 Rc8

17. Qe2 Bxg3

Questions and answers section Questions not covered at the Masterclass

What should be the opening choice in the third game after I lost two games in a row? Should a person play in a comfort zone or should to try some new openings and take risks?

BG: I think it is important to analyze the first 2 games you’ve lost and under- stand what went wrong. Probably your loss has nothing to do with an opening. Probably you did something wrong and can learn how to handle this type of position. Or maybe this opening doesn't match your style and it is time to try something new.

Is it so vitally important to have a personal coach at the level of 2400+ If let's say you have a good self-analysis?

BG: If you can get a good coach it can help you to learn new things and advance quicker. But it is not obligatory if you can learn by yourself.

How are you keeping sharp during the pandemic?

BG: I keep on solving complicated positions, working on openings, middlegames, and endings. I also play some blitz events online and sometimes training games with friends. What to do if one has two moves of relatively equal strength and one cannot decide between which one is better? I read that Karpov chose that based on his opponent. Do you do the same?

BG: It depends on the position. One can decide according to his taste, but we can also consider our opponent, in case we know him well.

The result of doing something one has not previously done is often de- termined by the result of the game. However, I wanted to ask you how to objectively know whether a decision is good or not? I have heard that writing things down is very important to come to the right conclusion. However, that is not a possibility during a game. Then how to approach something like that during a game?

BG: I think it is useful to write down your personal impressions right after the game. Then analyze it alone, with your coach or friend. Then check with an engine. You'll know better if your important decisions were right or not.

How to prepare before a tournament?

BG: It depends on your level. But it is important to get in shape by solving, playing training games, and to decide which openings you will mostly play.

How to study endgames as a practical player?

BG: My new books “Technical decision making” and “Decision making in Heavy piece endings” (written together with Jacob Aagaard) has to be out in a few days. You'll have 650 pages devoted to this subject! 26. Bxe4 dxe4

2 7. Nd2 f5

28. Nc4 Nf6

29. Nc5 Nd5

30. Ra7 Nb4

31. Ne5

Nc2

32. Nc6 Rxb2

33. Rc7 Rb1+

34. Kh2 e3

35. Rxc8+ Kh7

Questions and answers section Questions covered at the Masterclass

00:28:05

How to decide what is the best move? How to choose the best move?

BG: One option is to find the weakest piece and develop it. Another option is to think: does this move improve my position? It’s better than to ask yourself if I’m winning here – if I’m better here or not. Also, it’s good to check several options and compare them.

00:40:15

How to motivate yourself at coronavirus time with lack of over the board games?

BG: It’s really important: ones who spent this time in the most efficient ways will get a huge advantage once tournaments resume. You should find what is interesting for you and you have never had time to study: some openings, books, or endgames. Only inner motivation may push us to work on chess and to enjoy chess. But chess is a beautiful game, so you’ll have a lot of pleasant moments.

00:43:40

Describe a general working day of Boris Gelfand when he was a Master.

BG: I was in school back then. Every day I went through a chess book or a new chess game in my mind: Rubenstein, Geller, Tal. It strongly improves visu- alization skills. When the book was over, I went through it again and again. 01:04:02

Boris, you’re famous for not watching on a board while calculation. How does it help you?

BG: I’m not sure if it helps or destracts me. It’s just a habit.

01:05:45

How to keep concentrated during a game?

BG: It’s a difficult question because it’s very important to be concentrated. Once a position becomes interesting it’s easy to concentrate and go deep into the calculation.

01:13:10

What do you think of online blitz?

BG: I think that bullet is horrible. But playing blitz in certain proportions is nice. You also may try your new openings or ideas while having fun.

01:14:20

How important is the opening knowledge?

BG: Everything should be studied in the right proportions and openings should be learned in connection with middlegames. Also, endgames are very important: they should be balanced. 01:15:26

Do you think we’ll keep beating young grandmaster records? So it will be 10 years old grandmasters and younger)

BG: It’s possible but as we can see: most of the players get their pick around 30. Even Magnus became World Chess Champion at age 22. But now he plays stronger then he used to. Even in the top 50 now there are only 2 players younger than 20, in the top 100 — only 6.

01:17:10

How to get rid of 1-move blunders when your long calculation is good enough?

BG: We should structure our thinking and be careful about the opponent’s replies.

01:18:20

At what level it’s useful to have a personal coach?

BG: It always helps. But now we have many other options, like this masterclass. But personal trainers will help you with your problems. It always has to balance: use internet advantages first. And pay attention to who you work with: modest people are frequently better.

01:20:12

If a player has new moves/line for you: how to choose the next moves?

BG: It depends on the position: in case of the slow opening it’s enough to play decent moves. In sharp openings like Sicilian, the price of every move is high. Just think and play well. 01:22:17

How to choose a move if you cannot calculate?

BG: First, check that you do not blunder anything.

01:25:40

How do you find a good coach?

BG: World of mouth and reputation. Coach also should match you. And do not look for a coach if you’re not inspired to become the best student.

And also — trust people who dare to say “I don’t know” — they are honest with you. Extra materials: to read

Positional Decision Making in Chess. Book by Boris Gelfand and Jacob Aagaard, 2015

Dynamic Decision Making in Chess. Book by Boris Gelfand and Jacob Aagaard, 2017

My Most Memorable Games. Boris Gelfand, 2005

A 70: Benoni. Book by Albert Kapengut and Boris Gelfand, 1998

All books are available at http://www.qualitychess.co.uk/

Read extra:

Black Swan. Book by Nassim Taleb

Grandmaster Chef: Boris Gelfand Article, read here

masterclass.worldchess.com