Holes : Point Count Chess: [-]

Point Count Chess

The Holes after P-N3 (1 of 2)

PCC, Holes. Example #1
The Holes after P-N3 (1 of 2)
(p125-126) Diagram NO.86A to NO.86B Darga v. Toran, 1955

In this example, Black incurs a vulnerable Hole on the Kingside (h6), after:

[1] Advancing his Kingside P-N3 (…g7-g6), to prepare for the Fianchetto of his dark-Bishop;

[2] Fianchettoing his dark-Bishop (…Bf8-g7), so it takes over guard duty of the f6- & h6-squares, from Black’s g-Pawn;

[3] Castling to the Kingside (…O-O);

[4] Losing his Fianchettoed Bg7, in an exchange for White’s Nc3.

The Holes after P-N3 (2 of 2)

PCC, Holes. Example #1
The Holes after P-N3 (2 of 2)
(p126-127) Diagram NO.87A to NO.87B Alekhine v. Brinckmann, 1927

In this example, Black incurs a critical Hole at h6, just like in No.86A, following the advance of his g-Pawn (…g7-g6); the Fianchettoing of his dark-Bishop (…Bf8-g7), followed by its loss (exchanging for a White Knight); combined with Black’s decision to Castle Kingside (…O-O).

However, because Black’s e-Pawn also gets advanced (and lost), Black incurs a Hole at f6 that contributes to a Weak-Square Complex of dark-squares, on the Kingside, leaving Black’s Kingside even more vulnerable than in No.86A.

The Holes after P-KN3

PCC, Holes. Example #2
The Holes after P-KN3
(p156-157) Diagram NO.105A to NO.105B Matanovich v. Kieniger, 1955

This example begins with Black already having incurred the Kingside Holes (f6 & h6), and the fundamental process of their creation shares the same pattern as was seen in No.86 and No.87, where Black Castles Kingside, toward the Kingside Holes, after the advance of his g-Pawn and the Fianchetto of his dark-Bishop.

The main focus of this shorter example is to do with the subtle way in which White takes manages to take-out Black’s Fianchettoed dark-Bishop, prior to taking advantage of those critical Holes in close proximity to the Black King’s stronghold.

Exploiting Holes Despite the Bishop

PCC, Holes. Example #3
Exploiting Holes Despite the Bishop
(p127-128) Diagram NO.88 Pachman v. Najdorf, 1955

This is yet another example of Holes after P-KN3 (like No.86, No.87 & No.105). However, this time it’s White’s turn to incur these Kingside Holes.

The primary focus of this example looks at how Black exploits the Holes at White’s Kingside, despite the presence of White’s King Bishop (in those other three examples, just linked to above, the Fianchettoed Bishop had been taken-out, before the opposing side sent in units to occupy the Holes).

The only other differences are that White’s critical Holes are, of course, at f3 & h3, rather than at f6 & h6, and they come after P-KN3 (though, in this case following White’s g2-g3, instead of Black’s …g7-g6).

Holes in the Center

PCC, Holes. Example #4
Holes in the Center
(p129-130) Diagram NO. xA to NO. xC. Lasker v. Capablanca, 1914

The Hole at Q3 (2 of 2)

PCC, Holes. Example #5
The Hole at Q3 (2 of 2)
(p131-132) Diagram NO.92 Capablanca v. Janowski, 1918