Center blast

Undermining a center is a strategic technique in a chess game, used to weaken or destroy an enemy center. It is found in all stages of a chess game.

	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h
8									8
7									7
6									6
5									5
four									four
3									3
2									2
one									one
	a	b	c	d	e	f	g	h

In the game M. Botvinnik - T. Petrosyan ( match for the world championship , 1963 ), at first glance White has a strong pawn center, which provides them with an advantage in space and greater freedom of maneuver. However, Black has a good way at his disposal - the pawn center, which allows them to get a good game in black squares. 42. ... s5! 43.d5 Ke5 44.Lcf1? Should play 44. X4 K: c4 45.bc Cg6 46.е5 or 45. ... Ks8 46.е5! The sacrifice of a pawn (undermining the pawn chain of Black) White would have the opportunity to activate the pieces and would have every reason to count on a draw. 44. ... Cg6 45.Kpe1 Kc8 46.Ldf2 Rf7 47.Kpd2 Kd6 48.Kf5 + C: f5 49.ef c4! 50.Lb1 b5! The pronounced idea of ​​undermining the white pawn structure on the queenside. The initiative goes completely to black: 51.b4 c3 +! 52.Kr: c3 Ls7 + 53.Kpd2 Kec4 + 54.Kpd1 Ka3 55.Lb2 Kdc4 56.La2 ab 57.ab K: b5 58.La6 Ks3 + 59.Kpc1 K: d5 60.Ca4 Les8 61.Ke1 Kf4 , 0: 1 .

Undermining the center is one of the most effective means of modern opening strategies; in a number of topical openings (for example, the defense of Alekhine , Grünfeld , Pirc-Ufimtsev , Volzhsky Gambit ), Black allows White to create a strong pawn center, and then undermine it with the help of flank pawn operations.