Coach Answer Key - Gaining Space
Ten exercises, ordered from clearer space-gaining decisions to more demanding conversion and restriction problems.
Exercise 1
Best move: 1.f4!
Short plan: Prepare e3-e4 and e4-e5, keep the queens on, and use the central space to build a direct attack against the uncastled king.
Critical line: 1.f4! Qa5 2.Qc2! Bc6 3.e4 Qa4 4.Qe2!
Strategic theme: Central space with king in the centre
Why the tempting alternative is inferior: 1.Qb1?! is less energetic; Black can answer ...h4 and meet e4 with ...Nh5, reducing White's momentum.
Difficulty: 1/5
Source mapping: Original Position 163 - J.Hellsten-M.Johansson, Malmö 2001; exercise book/PDF page 329/330; solution book/PDF page 412/413.
Exercise 2
Best move: 1.g4!
Short plan: Gain space on the kingside, discourage ...h5 on favorable terms, and create squares for the pieces behind the pawn chain.
Critical line: 1.g4! Bg6 2.a3 Bd6 3.h4! h5 4.Bxd6
Strategic theme: Winning the race for flank space
Why the tempting alternative is inferior: A waiting move is inferior because Black can play ...h5 and secure the same territory first; the value of the plan is its timing.
Difficulty: 1/5
Source mapping: Original Position 164 - T.Shaked-T.Bildt, Berlin 1997; exercise book/PDF page 329/330; solution book/PDF page 412/413.
Exercise 3
Best move: 1.b4!
Short plan: Drive the active knight away, then follow with a4-a5. The queenside expansion also improves White's bishop and creates long-term pressure on the dark squares.
Critical line: 1.b4! Nxe4 2.dxe4 Ne6 3.a4!
Strategic theme: Space gain with tempo
Why the tempting alternative is inferior: 1.a4?! is slower because it expands without first dislodging the active knight; 1.b4! gains the same space while improving the piece situation immediately.
Difficulty: 2/5
Source mapping: Original Position 165 - M.Chandler-E.Geller, Sochi 1982; exercise book/PDF page 329/330; solution book/PDF page 413/414.
Exercise 4
Best move: 1.Rb1!
Short plan: Prepare b2-b4 and a2-a4 without wasting a tempo. After gaining queenside space, reinforce with b5 and c4-c5 to open files and squares.
Critical line: 1.Rb1! f6 2.b4 Nf7 3.a4 Bxf3 4.Rxf3 b6 5.b5!
Strategic theme: Preparing a pawn storm
Why the tempting alternative is inferior: 1.a3?! is less precise: after ...f6, b4 and ...Nf7, White must spend another tempo protecting the b-pawn before a3-a4.
Difficulty: 2/5
Source mapping: Original Position 166 - J.R.Capablanca-D.Janowski, St. Petersburg 1914; exercise book/PDF page 329/330; solution book/PDF page 413/414.
Exercise 5
Best move: 1.f4!
Short plan: Prepare e4, then e5/e6 when Black is tied down. The space gain softens key squares and gives White better routes for the heavy pieces.
Critical line: 1.f4! Nd7 2.e4 b5 3.Qc3, followed by e5 and, when possible, e6
Strategic theme: Central expansion and square control
Why the tempting alternative is inferior: An immediate 1.e4?! is less coordinated: 1.f4 first broadens control of e5 and supports the next central advance.
Difficulty: 2/5
Source mapping: Original Position 167 - U.Andersson-N.Spiridonov, Sochi 1973; exercise book/PDF page 330/331; solution book/PDF page 413/414.
Exercise 6
Best move: 1.g4!
Short plan: Gain kingside space, then use h-pawn support and the e-pawn to open files toward the king. The advance is justified because Black has difficulty generating counterplay elsewhere.
Critical line: 1.g4! h6?! 2.h4 Nc4?! 3.g5 hxg5 4.hxg5
Strategic theme: Space as a prelude to attack
Why the tempting alternative is inferior: 1.h4?! is less forceful: it does not challenge the kingside structure as directly and gives Black more time to organize against g4-g5.
Difficulty: 3/5
Source mapping: Original Position 168 - J.Hellsten-P.Sinkovics, Gyula 2002; exercise book/PDF page 330/331; solution book/PDF page 414/415.
Exercise 7
Best move: 1.b4!
Short plan: Prepare a2-a4 and b4-b5, taking queenside space and reducing the activity of Black's bishop. If the centre opens, the advanced b-pawn can become a passer.
Critical line: 1.b4! Rc8 2.a4 dxc4 3.Nxc4 Bxc4 4.Qxc4 c5
Strategic theme: Queenside space and a potential passer
Why the tempting alternative is inferior: 1.e4?! is less appropriate because ...dxe4, ...Nxe4 and ...Nf6 let Black hit d4 and organize ...Rc8 before White gains anything lasting.
Difficulty: 3/5
Source mapping: Original Position 169 - F.Gheorghiu-I.Radulov, Budapest 1970; exercise book/PDF page 330/331; solution book/PDF page 414/415.
Exercise 8
Best move: 1.g4!
Short plan: Gain kingside space with tempo against the f6-knight. After the knight retreats, use f4 to claim more territory and open attacking lines.
Critical line: 1.g4! Red8 2.g5 Ne8 3.Ne4 Qb8 4.f4!
Strategic theme: Space gain that displaces a defender
Why the tempting alternative is inferior: 1.e4?! is less promising because ...Rb8 prepares ...Bc8 and ...Nc5, allowing Black to reorganize before White has restricted the kingside.
Difficulty: 4/5
Source mapping: Original Position 170 - A.Khalifman-O.Romanishin, Ischia 1996 (analysis variation); exercise book/PDF page 330/331; solution book/PDF page 414/415.
Exercise 9
Best move: 1.b5!
Short plan: Open a new queenside front so Black cannot defend both sides. If Black captures, c5-c6 becomes a tactical lever and the rook can penetrate on the a-file.
Critical line: 1.b5! axb5 2.c6! bxc6 3.Ra3, with Ra7 next
Strategic theme: Second front against a cramped position
Why the tempting alternative is inferior: 1.Be7?! Qg7 is less constructive: it improves a piece but does not force Black to solve a new problem on the other wing.
Difficulty: 4/5
Source mapping: Original Position 171 - A.Kushmir-N.Gaprindashvili, World Women's Championship (game 8), Riga 1972; exercise book/PDF page 330/331; solution book/PDF page 415/416.
Exercise 10
Best move: 1...g5!
Short plan: Claim kingside space and secure e5 for the knight. Follow with ...Nf7 and ...h5-h4, fixing White's kingside and turning the bishop into a poor piece.
Critical line: 1...g5! 2.O-O-O Nf7 3.Rhe1 h5! 4.Qe3 Qxe3+ 5.Rxe3 Ne5
Strategic theme: Space plus restriction
Why the tempting alternative is inferior: 1...h6?! allows h4 and can open the h-file to White's benefit; ...g5 first is the more useful spatial gain.
Difficulty: 5/5
Source mapping: Original Position 172 - V.Kostsos-A.Mastrovasilis, Greek Team Championship 2005; exercise book/PDF page 330/331; solution book/PDF page 415/416.