Flank Attack in Chess

Flank Attack. Image | hs8-4rogers2011.wikispaces.com

This game is instructive of an opposite flank attack, which must frequently occur on an intermediate players' chess game.. The basic idea of a flank attack is, 1) to close the central files to avoid surprises, and 2) to ram down with pawns to open some files down the opponent's King. That way, Rooks would have a field day behind the battering rams of pawns.

briskwarlock (1714) vs. deardd (1691)
Let's Play! | Chess.com | 17 May 2014 | 1-0

1. e4 d6 2. d4 e6 3. f4 c6 4. Nf3 Be7 5. Bd3 b6 6. O-O Bb7 7. Nc3 Nd7 8. Ne2 Qc7 9. Be3 f6 10. c4 White assumes the broad center.

10... O-O-O 11. a4 heralds the flank attack.

11... h6 12. a5 g5 Black is also doing its own flank attack. In these kinds of game, it's just a matter which side comes to stab first on the position.

13. axb6 Qxb6 14. Qd2 defends the b2 pawn and the e3-bishop.

14... gxf4 15. Nxf4 e5 16. Ne6 Re8 17. d5 Further closing up the center and ensuring a well-supported central White Knight limiting the White's King range of motion.

17... c5 closing some flanks, too. But White has still the option to scutter the b2 pawn to open the b-file, too!

18. Rfb1 (18. b4 might be good, too. Forcefully opening the Queenside. If 18... Qxb4, then 19. Qc2 where the Black's King and Queen will be put under heavy fire! )

18... Nf8 trying to dislodge the Knight. The Maxim is: When under attack, exchange some pieces to relieve the pressure.

19. Ng7 of course, White avoids it, and attacks the Rook, too.

19... Rd8 20. b4 There you go! Another flank file will be open.

20... Qc7 21. bxc5 dxc5 22. Rxa7 It appears, White has arrived first into the heart of the enemy's fortress. The White Rooks are doing wonderful jobs.

22... Rd6 23. Raxb7 Qxb7 Black was forced to give up the Queen to survive the first wave of assault.

24. Rxb7 Kxb7 25. Bxc5 Rd7 26. Bxe7 Nxe7 27. Nh5 Nfg6 28. Nxf6 Rc7 29. d6 a pawn fork.

29... Rcc8 30. Qb4 +Kc6 31. dxe7 (31. Nd4+ is more flashy. 31... exd4 32. e5 The d3-bishop will be put to good use. Once it can check, the Black King has no where to run. )

31... Nf4 32. Nxe5 +Kc7 33. Qc5+ Kb8 34. Ned7+ Kb7 35. Qb6+ Ka8 36. Qa6#. 1-0