GameKnot: Chess related, Poisoned "psychology" secrets,revealed...

Chess related: Poisoned "psychology" secrets,revealed...

From	Message
tactical_abyss 29-Apr-12, 07:51	Poisoned "psychology" secrets,revealed... On the higher chess levels the poisoned pawn variation of the Sicilian is well known to be generally "not"the way to proceed for black with the pawn capture of 8....Qxb2,since it many,many times can and does result in complex positional problems or and/or loss of material later on in the game for black.I can give you many examples of the disadvantage's of "grabbing" that b2 pawn,but to save time i'll just give you two examples where the poisoned pawn variation was played out famously and resulted in a famous GM's only loss using that variation as black.Fisher/Spassky!Game #7 and 11.In game #7,Fisher had material advantage and somewhat comfortable position,but only secured a draw.But in his 11th game,Spassky surprised Fischer and trapped Fischers Queen after Fischer defended weakly.... thus handing Fischer his only loss with the poisoned pawn. Deep computer analysis has shown that with absolute "perfect"play on both sides of the poisoned pawn variation that the game is not a forced draw,but very drawish,indeed. But,and I say BUT,alot of that depends upon the player,his positional and tactical strength abilities and how DEEPLY he has researched the various lines and/or how DEEP the quality of his opening "BOOK" actually is. So,sometimes,its a win or loss based upon how deep one's "book" "runith",how experienced your opponent is with the poisoned(as white)to "follow through"on the advantage and/OR in the game below that I am posting,what I perceive as a combination of whites weaker book depth,possible lack of knowledge by my opponent on this variation and even perhaps a "psychological weapon" I have created relative to the "illusion of advantage"with "tempory"material gain for black in this variation.If my opponent,is,for example,playing alot of games and is in a last minute hurry to get his move in and comes across my 2 pawn advantage or other material advantage,he may resign EARLY,even though he ACTUALLY is NOT LOSING!!!!This is the secret "psychological"advantage and secret that I have titled in my string.Some players will tend to resign early just being a pawn down or two pawns.If one painstakingly researches an opponents past game losses,and "observes" a "trend"that he resigns games almost immediately after some pawn loss,then he/she may very well be a strong candidate for the poisoned pawn variation but as the "VICTIM" of material illusional advantage! Suprising enough,Capahine,even though he is of master strength fell into one or more of the catagories I listed above,and resigned way,way too early.He could have easily drawn this game with just alittle research. Game: game He resigned early on move # 15!Yet,the game is actually very drawish and equal with just a few book moves that I will show you. Now after move #15,white can follow through as: 16.Qc3!,b6 17.Nd6+,Bxd6 18.exd6,Nxg3 19.Nxe6,Qa5 20.Nc7+,Kd8 21.Rb4,Qe5+ 22.Qxe5,Nxe5 23.hxg3!,Rb8 After those ("in book!)moves yet,black only maintains a one pawn advantage but whites position has diminished in positional advantage due to his doubling of the g file pawns and unprotected d pawn which will be scooped up in the game later on. So in summary,the poisoned pawn can be used as a psychological weapon against unwary opponents,even of master strength,for they may resign early if unprepared.But on the flip side it can be a strong disadvantage for black to "grab" that b2 pawn if he,himself,is NOT prepared for the offensive plan that white can proceed with against black.Theoretically reminds me a bit of the Kings Gambit,where black keeps the gambit pawn without returning it,leading to problems....but that is another thread! Hope you enjoy my game above,and rembember,the poisoned pawn variation can work as a true advantage for black,under the "right psychological and tactical conditions"!
tactical_abyss 29-Apr-12, 08:39	In addition,however,let me add to my above post that Fischer was actually very successful using the poisoned pawn variation as black.But most of those success's were in the 1960's.In his famous 1972 match with Spassky,Fischer DID NOT par very well,where it counted the most as the world looked on!Most GM's today do not advise capturing that b2 pawn due to the necessary defensive postering for black to proceed with later in the game.But then these are GM's,not you,me and other GK players.So,with the proper homework on your opponents past and present ongoing games,you can have the 1960's success Fisher did have.Again,I generally stay clear of capturing that b2 pawn,but I reverse that decision under the right conditions on occassion.And the above game is one example of that.

From

Message

tactical_abyss
29-Apr-12, 07:51

Poisoned "psychology" secrets,revealed...

On the higher chess levels the poisoned pawn variation of the Sicilian is well known to be generally "not"the way to proceed for black with the pawn capture of 8....Qxb2,since it many,many times can and does result in complex positional problems or and/or loss of material later on in the game for black.I can give you many examples of the disadvantage's of "grabbing" that b2 pawn,but to save time i'll just give you two examples where the poisoned pawn variation was played out famously and resulted in a famous GM's only loss using that variation as black.Fisher/Spassky!Game #7 and 11.In game #7,Fisher had material advantage and somewhat comfortable position,but only secured a draw.But in his 11th game,Spassky surprised Fischer and trapped Fischers Queen after Fischer defended weakly.... thus handing Fischer his only loss with the poisoned pawn.

Deep computer analysis has shown that with absolute "perfect"play on both sides of the poisoned pawn variation that the game is not a forced draw,but very drawish,indeed.
But,and I say BUT,alot of that depends upon the player,his positional and tactical strength abilities and how DEEPLY he has researched the various lines and/or how DEEP the quality of his opening "BOOK" actually is.

So,sometimes,its a win or loss based upon how deep one's "book" "runith",how experienced your opponent is with the poisoned(as white)to "follow through"on the advantage and/OR in the game below that I am posting,what I perceive as a combination of whites weaker book depth,possible lack of knowledge by my opponent on this variation and even perhaps a "psychological weapon" I have created relative to the "illusion of advantage"with "tempory"material gain for black in this variation.If my opponent,is,for example,playing alot of games and is in a last minute hurry to get his move in and comes across my 2 pawn advantage or other material advantage,he may resign EARLY,even though he ACTUALLY is NOT LOSING!!!!This is the secret "psychological"advantage and secret that I have titled in my string.Some players will tend to resign early just being a pawn down or two pawns.If one painstakingly researches an opponents past game losses,and "observes" a "trend"that he resigns games almost immediately after some pawn loss,then he/she may very well be a strong candidate for the poisoned pawn variation but as the "VICTIM" of material illusional advantage!

Suprising enough,Capahine,even though he is of master strength fell into one or more of the catagories I listed above,and resigned way,way too early.He could have easily drawn this game with just alittle research.

Game:

game

He resigned early on move # 15!Yet,the game is actually very drawish and equal with just a few book moves that I will show you.

Now after move #15,white can follow through as:
16.Qc3!,b6
17.Nd6+,Bxd6
18.exd6,Nxg3
19.Nxe6,Qa5
20.Nc7+,Kd8
21.Rb4,Qe5+
22.Qxe5,Nxe5
23.hxg3!,Rb8

After those ("in book!)moves yet,black only maintains a one pawn advantage but whites position has diminished in positional advantage due to his doubling of the g file pawns and unprotected d pawn which will be scooped up in the game later on.

So in summary,the poisoned pawn can be used as a psychological weapon against unwary opponents,even of master strength,for they may resign early if unprepared.But on the flip side it can be a strong disadvantage for black to "grab" that b2 pawn if he,himself,is NOT prepared for the offensive plan that white can proceed with against black.Theoretically reminds me a bit of the Kings Gambit,where black keeps the gambit pawn without returning it,leading to problems....but that is another thread!

Hope you enjoy my game above,and rembember,the poisoned pawn variation can work as a true advantage for black,under the "right psychological and tactical conditions"!

tactical_abyss
29-Apr-12, 08:39

In addition,however,let me add to my above post that Fischer was actually very successful using the poisoned pawn variation as black.But most of those success's were in the 1960's.In his famous 1972 match with Spassky,Fischer DID NOT par very well,where it counted the most as the world looked on!Most GM's today do not advise capturing that b2 pawn due to the necessary defensive postering for black to proceed with later in the game.But then these are GM's,not you,me and other GK players.So,with the proper homework on your opponents past and present ongoing games,you can have the 1960's success Fisher did have.Again,I generally stay clear of capturing that b2 pawn,but I reverse that decision under the right conditions on occassion.And the above game is one example of that.

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