Understanding

Maroczy Structures
First edition 2019 by Thinkers Publishing
Copyright © 2019 Adrian Mikhalchishin & Georg Mohr

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D/2019/137730/7
 Understanding
Maroczy Structures

Adrian Mikhalchishin
& Georg Mohr

Thinkers Publishing 2019

 Key to Symbols

! a good move ⩲ White stands slightly better

? a weak move ⩱ Black stands slightly better
!! an excellent move ± White has a serious advantage
?? a blunder ∓ Black has a serious advantage
!? an interesting move +- White has a decisive advantage
?! a dubious move -+ Black has a decisive advantage
□ only move → with an attack
N novelty ↑ with initiative
⟳ lead in development ⇆ with counterplay
⨀ zugzwang ∆ with the idea of
= equality ⌓ better is
∞ unclear position ≤ worse is
© with compensation for the + check
sacrificed material # mate
 Table of Contents
Key to Symbols ..................................................................................................... 4
Preface ................................................................................................................. 6

PART I – Introduction to the Maroczy ........................................... 9

Chapter 1 – What is the Maroczy Structure? ....................................................... 11

Chapter 2 – Typical Positions .............................................................................. 15
Chapter 3 – History ............................................................................................. 21

PART II – Typical methods of play for White ............................ 31

Chapter 4 – Attack on the queenside .................................................................. 33

Chapter 5 – Attack on the kingside...................................................................... 51
Chapter 6 – A leap to d5 ..................................................................................... 63
Chapter 7 – Withdrawing the knight from the centre .......................................... 91

PART III – Typical methods of play for Black .......................... 107

Chapter 8 – The plan with …e6 and …d5 ........................................................... 111

Chapter 9 – The plan with ...f7-f5...................................................................... 135
Chapter 10 – The plan with ...b7-b5 .................................................................. 171
Chapter 11 – Dark-squared strategy.................................................................. 197

PART IV – Miscellaneous (some general methods) ............... 233

Chapter 12 – Unexpected move 5…Bh6........................................................... 235

Chapter 13 – Capturing …Bg7-xc3! .................................................................. 241
Chapter 14 – Play for the bishop pair ................................................................ 249
Chapter 15 – Playing without light-squared bishop ........................................... 257
Chapter 16 – Classical tactical strike.................................................................. 261

PART V – World Champions and the Maroczy ....................... 267

Index of Games................................................................................................. 291

 Preface
"Geza Maroczy left a strange legacy: the discovery that certain pawn
formations can impose a near decisive cramp on one's opponent."
Robert James Fischer

Aron Nimzowitsch wrote that studying the middlegame in chess means studying
typical positions. Typical positions means typical pawn structures, and studying
pawn structures means studying strategy. Middlegame strategy literature is rather
poor. We have worked hard trying to provide the best possible material with
different colleagues: Isolani Strategy by Alexander Beliavsky/Adrian Mikhal-
chishin/Oleg Stetsko, Hanging Pawns by Adrian Mikhalchishin, and The Center by
Adrian Mikhalchishin/Georg Mohr. Other important books were written by Sergey
Shipov, with his two-volume The Complete Hedgehog, and Ivan Sokolov, with his
series Chess Middlegame Strategies.

So, here is another try at researching typical plans. The authors, both long-term
chess trainers, decided to research ideas that are important in the Maroczy
structure for both sides. The Maroczy structure was played by such greats as Bobby
Fischer, Tigran Petrosian, Bent Larsen and many others.

We would like to present this topic in a slightly different way. Chess players and
also trainers usually do not think as deeply as they should in order to achieve better
results. We would like to present ideas for both White and Black and this book is
written without any bias as to colour.

We hope that our study will help players and readers improve their understanding
of chess. The authors do not imagine that our book will cover every aspect of the
presented topic. Knowledge about this structure is so important and wide that it is
virtually impossible to explain every detail in a single book.

Moreover, there are countless different perspectives on particular problems or

procedures in this structure and we could not take into account every one of them.
However, we have wished to write a book which would offer a 360-degree view of
the Maroczy structure, enable individual study by any aspiring student, and help
trainers in their work. Advice from experienced coaches (we have boldly put
ourselves into this category) is always welcome for successful chess training.
Dear readers, we would like to believe that after you have read this book, you will
make your own contribution with your games and analyses to the development of
this system…

Yours,

Adrian Mikhalchishin and Georg Mohr

 Part I

Introduction to
the Maroczy
What is the Maroczy
Structure?
12 Understanding Maroczy Structures

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 The Maroczy structure is defined first

g6 5. c4 and foremost by White's pawns occupy-
ing both the e4 and c4 squares. The ad-
vanced pawns lead to White gaining a
spatial advantage, but White's pawns
equally pose a problem for himself, as
they limit the activity of the light-
squared bishop and the dark squares
may become weak. Black’s counterplay
may seem to be limited, since White
controls the centre; however, Black can
carry out various pawn advances such
Position after: 5. c4 as ...f7-f5 or ...b7-b5 trying to under-
mine White’s centre. The Maroczy
Above one can see the structure which structure is also defined by Black’s
has been given the name Maroczy. Here pieces, a fianchettoed bishop on g7, a
it has arisen from Simagin's variation of position without a c-pawn (after d2-d4,
the Sicilian Defence, more commonly cxd4), and a knight on c6.
known as the Accelerated Dragon.
As mentioned above, this structure can
After the move 5.c4 White enters the emerge from various different open-
Maroczy Variation; with this move, ings. We know many transpositions
White neglects the development of from the Sicilian and King’s Indian De-
pieces, and instead strives to gain space fences and the English Opening.
in the centre whilst limiting Blacks coun-
terplay. Black, with his last move (4…g6) 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Bd7 4.
has generously given White free rein in Bxd7+ Qxd7 5. c4 Nf6 6. Nc3 g6 7. d4
the centre. This would not have been cxd4 8. Nxd4 Nc6
possible if Black had played the more
conventional 4…Nf6, but Black is not
yielding the centre out of courtesy – he
is looking for a fight!

Rapid development of opening theory

led the Maroczy structure to be at the
forefront of many opening variations,
producing typical positions which we
will analyse later.
Position after: 8... Nc6
Part I. Chapter 1: What is the Maroczy Structure? 13

(see diagram previous page) The King’s Indian Defence:

The Moscow Variation in the Sicilian De- 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6

fence. 5. Nf3 0-0 6. Be2 c5 7. 0-0 cxd4 8.
Nxd4 Nc6
Another way to reach the Maroczy
structure from the same variation:

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Nd7 4. d4

cxd4 5. Qxd4 a6 6. Bxd7+ Bxd7 7. 0-
0 Nf6 8. c4 g6 9. Nc3

Position after: 8... Nc6

Or:

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6

5. Nf3 0-0 6. Be2 Bg4 7. Ng1 Bxe2
Position after: 9. Nc3 8. Ngxe2 c5 9. 0-0 cxd4 10. Nxd4

Or another Sicilian that is popular now-

adays:

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4

Nf6 5. f3 g6 6. c4

Position after: 10. Nxd4

Or:

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6

5. f3 0-0 6. Be3 c5 7. Nge2 cxd4 8.
Position after: 6. c4 Nxd4
14 Understanding Maroczy Structures

1. c4 c5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 d5 4. cxd5

Nxd5 5. g3 Nc6 6. Bg2 Nc7 7. 0-0 e5

Position after: 8. Nxd4

Transpositions from other openings are

also possible. Finally, there are Maroczy Position after: 7... e5
structures with colours reversed, like
this one from the English Opening:
Typical Positions
16 Understanding Maroczy Structures

By studying the typical positions that of play for White”) so he is advised to

regularly occur in the Maroczy structure keep his options open. As a rule, Black
one can learn and design plans for many usually aims to exchange on d4 with the
positions. In the opening Black aims to move ...Nxd4, and this will be followed
immediately put pressure on the d4 by ...Bc6. This “mini plan” both puts
knight with moves such as ...Nc6 and pressure on the centre and fights
...Bg7. At this moment White faces the against White’s space advantage. Black
first turning point in the game: whether will then aim to manoeuvre his knight to
to defend the knight in the centre or re- the queenside starting with the move
treat. If moved back, the knight will usu- ...Nd7. The knight will then, after the
ally go to c2 but other retreats are pos- move …a7-a5, be placed on c5. As soon
sible, such as b3 or e2 (Moscow as possible White should secure his
Variation in the Sicilian Defence). pawns in the centre with f2-f3 and b2-
b3, preparing to play on both flanks,
whilst finding time to move a knight to
the outpost d5. As a rule, Black aims to
exchange the dark-squared bishops.
White defends the knight on d4
White has to solve yet another problem:
Black is usually threatening to play
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 ...Ng4. The possible move h2-h3 un-
g6 5. c4 Bg7 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Nc3 0-0 8. necessarily weakens the defence
Be2 d6 9. 0-0 Bd7 around the white king, while Bxg4 also
has its demerits; it is not to everybody’s
liking to play without the pair of bish-
ops.

Black can also opt for …Ng4 in the fol-

lowing way: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4
cxd4 4.Nxd4 g6 5.c4 Bg7 6.Be3 Nf6
7.Nc3 Ng4!, which exploits the unde-
fended position of the opponent's
knight on d4. After 8.Qxg4 Nxd4
Position after: 9... Bd7 9.Qd1 Ne6 Black somewhat reduces
White’s space advantage; in such posi-
In this position White plays for a spatial tions the exchanges of pieces will al-
advantage. It is too early to decide on a ways favour the side which has less
final plan (see part II “Typical methods space to play with.
Part I. Chapter 2: Typical Positions 17

White retreats the knight to c2 White’s queenside pawns.

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Bishop development to the g2-square

g6 5. c4 Bg7 6. Nc2 Nf6 7. Nc3 0-0 8.
Be2 d6 9. 0-0
Another important decision for White is
connected with the development of the
light-squared bishop. While it is com-
mon to develop this piece to the e2-
square, on occasion White may deploy
the use of a kingside fianchetto.

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 g6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4

Bg7 5. c4 Nf6 6. Nc3 d6 7. g3 0-0 8.
Bg2 Nc6
Position after: 9. 0-0

Following this move White seriously

engages in the fight for the d5-square,
where he attempts to establish a
stronghold for the knight (Nc3-d5). Af-
ter an exchange on d5, the other knight
will take his partner’s place. In order to
carry out this plan, White will need to
spend considerable time, therefore, he
may face some difficulties defending his Position after: 8... Nc6
pawns. Firstly the c4-pawn: White
should be reluctant to play b2-b3 as this This was the favoured method of
will weaken the long diagonal, and so he development used (80 years ago!), by
must defend c4 with pieces. Black will the sixth World Champion Mikhail Bot-
sometimes develop the g8-knight to h6, vinnik, whereas today this system is
where it supports the ...f7-f5 thrust at- rarely seen in practice.
tacking White’s centre. This knight
move also gives a free hand to the dark- There is no advantage in developing the
squared bishop. Black can afford to limit bishop to such a square since on e2 the
the activity of the knight, when the bishop is capable of carrying out a
bishop will have the added option of greater number of useful operations,
capturing the knight on c3, crippling such as safeguarding the weak c4-pawn.
18 Understanding Maroczy Structures

Bishop development to the d3-square

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4

g6 5. c4 Bg7 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Nc3 Ng4
8. Qxg4 Nxd4 9. Qd1 Ne6 10. Rc1
Qa5 11. Qd2 d6 12. Bd3

Position after: 11... Bc6

White now stands at an important

crossroads: should he defend the e4-
pawn with f2-f3, a slower approach
where White will look for queenside ex-
pansion, or with the more aggressive
Bd3, leading to plans connected with
Position after: 12. Bd3 the kingside.

This system is connected with direct ac-

tion on the kingside: White desires to Dark-square strategy (…Qa5 and …g5)
carry out the f2-f4-f5 thrust as soon as
possible, looking for attacking chances
in a tactical confrontation. However, 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4
this way of developing the bishop g6 5. c4 Bg7 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Nc3 Ng4
causes substantial trouble when faced 8. Qxg4 Nxd4 9. Qd1 Ne6 10. Qd2
with the unpleasant ...Nc5 jump, when Qa5 11. Rc1 d6 12. Be2 b6 13. 0-0
to save his light-squared bishop White Bb7 14. f3 g5 15. Rfd1 h5
must spend another tempo retreating
it.

Choosing between f3 and Bd3

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4

g6 5. c4 Bg7 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Nc3 d6 8.
Be2 0-0 9. 0-0 Bd7 10. Qd2 Nxd4 11.
Bxd4 Bc6 Position after: 15... h5
Part I. Chapter 2: Typical Positions 19

The classical variation with ...Qa5 and Capturing cxd5

the attempt to establish a blockade on
the dark-squares. Black will place either
the queen or the bishop on the e5-
square and will aim for breakthroughs
in the centre. Against this blockade
White will seek opportunities on the
queenside with Nd5, b4, etc.

Capturing exd5
1. Nd5 Bxd5 2. cxd5

Position after: 2. cxd5

Yet another typical position. White
holds the pair of bishops and mounts Once Black has weakened his queenside
pressure on the open e-file. Black will with a-pawn or b-pawn manoeuvres
aim to carry out an exchange of dark- White will usually capture cxd5, allow-
squared bishops, leading to an end- ing the bishops to prepare a break-
game with “good knight vs bad bishop”. through along the c-file. Typical end-
The result of the game is usually linked games are closely linked to the
closely with the e-file: as long as Black middlegame. Here we will consider only
can successfully defend the e-file there two endgames, which will demonstrate
are no threats; if White can dominate the vital needs of the opposing sides in
there, however, he will prevail. the Maroczy structure.
20 Understanding Maroczy Structures

Capturing with a piece on d5

Black has what can only be described as

a dream position; a practically invincible
knight, which can only be neutralized if
A classical game (Botvinnik – Toran, White were to sacrifice a rook. The
Palma de Mallorca 1967, which will be knight dominates the bishop, while the
analysed in detail later), presenting a presence of queens in such a position is
fantastic position for White, who has not particularly important. Black has ex-
achieved a considerable spatial ad- changed all the minor pieces except for
vantage, which is only reinforced by the a single pair. This gives the position a to-
absence of minor pieces. Black is com- tally new dimension. The position on
pletely lifeless and must simply wait for the previous diagram without the minor
the e4-e5 advance. This central break pieces turns the evaluation upside
will cause serious changes in the pawn down.
structure, leading to further weakness
in the Black ranks. It is hard to predict
the final outcome, but such a position is A fabulous position for White
generally enough for White to stand vic-
torious. As Black isn’t eager to cooper-
ate in the depressing reality of hoping
for a draw, he will work hard to main-
tain a pair of minor pieces on the board.

A fabulous position for Black

(see diagram next column)

History
22 Understanding Maroczy Structures

Mikhail Botvinnik recalled that he 11. Ne4 Bf7 12. Rc1 Rfd8 13. Nc5
mastered play in positions with the Bxc5
Maroczy pawn structure by studying
fundamental games of the great Akiba This exchange favours Black very much,
Rubinstein, a master of positional play. since Black will continue by placing his
It was only after some years that pawns on the dark squares, when they
Botvinnik found out, to his surprise, that will not now restrict the dark-squared
Mikhail Chigorin, who was as great a bishop.
player as Rubinstein, had also played
the same way, albeit two decades 14. Rxc5 Nce7 15. Qc1 b6 16. Rc2 c5
before and with reversed colours!
Chigorin had also demonstrated the
correct way in which to play. It is quite
amazing that no database or collection
of games has yet been able to produce
a single game played by Geza Maroczy
as White, despite the system having
received the name of the great
Hungarian master…

I Mieses, Jacques Position after: 16... c5

J Chigorin, Mikhail
 Barmen 1905 A typical Maroczy structure. White may
be missing the knight on c3 but has his
pawns placed exactly as in a classical
1. g3 e5 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. d3 d5 Maroczy variation.
5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 Be6 7. Nf3 Be7
8. 0-0 0-0 9. Bd2 Qd7 10. a3 f6 17. h4?

In such positions, it is recommended to

employ wing advances against the
Maroczy structure. The plan should be
to undermine the pawn centre with the
help of f2-f4, b2-b4 or e2-e3 and d3-d4.

Botvinnik recommended here 17. b4

cxb4 18. axb4 a5 19. bxa5 bxa5 20. Qa3
a4 21. Rb1, with unclear and compli-
Position after: 10... f6 cated play. White decided otherwise.
Part I. Chapter 3: History 23

17... Rac8 18. Bc3?

Again, it would be better, according to

Botvinnik, to play 18. b4. Better late
than never!

18... Nc6 19. Kh2 Be6 20. Ng1 Nde7

Position after: 28. Nd2

28... Rcd8

Botvinnik considered 28... Ne5 to be

better, with a significant advantage.

29. b4 Ne5 30. bxc5 bxc5 31. Kh3 h5

Position after: 20... Nde7 32. e3 dxe3?

Here Black has a choice of three typical Botvinnik recommended 32... d3!.
plans:
33. Qxe3 Rd3 34. Qe2 Red8 35. Nc4
A) ...f6 –f5 –f4. Nxc4 36. Rxc4 Qe5 37. Rg1 g6!

B) ...Nd4, Bxd4, ...cxd4, with the open-

ing of the c-file.

C) ...Nd4, Bxd4, ...exd4, with the

opening of the e-file, and then starting
an attack against the weakness on the
e2-square.

In case of options B and C Black should

not hesitate, but should immediately Position after: 37... g6!
move the knight to d4.
38. Qf2 R8d4 39. Rxd4 Qxd4 40.
21. f4 Nd4! 22. Bxd4 exd4 23. Be4 Qa2+?
Bd5 24. f5 Nc6 25. Qf4 Re8 26. Nf3
Bxe4 27. dxe4 Qe7 28. Nd2 It would have been better to exchange
24 Understanding Maroczy Structures

on d4, however, Black would maintain Qb4 13. 0-0 a5 14. Rac1 Be6 15. Qc2
an advantage here as well. a4 16. Nd2 Ra7 17. a3 Qd4 18. Nd1
b6 19. Nf3 Qd7 20. Re1 Bb3 21.
40... c4 41. fxg6 Qd7+ Qd2 Rd8 22. Nc3 h6 23. Bf1 Kh7
24. Bg2 Nb5 25. Ra1 Nd4 26. Rec1
0-1 e5 27. Nxd4 exd4

Rubinstein usually played the move

…Nd4 with somewhat different inten-
tions; his games are hard to place
among classical examples of the
Maroczy structure.

Let us see how the great Akiba invented

this plan for the first time!
Position after: 27... exd4
I Zubarev, Nikolay
J Rubinstein, Akiba 28. Nd1 Re8 29. f4 Qe6 30. Bf3
 Moscow 1925 Rae7 31. Nf2 Bd5 32. Bxd5 Qxd5
33. Re1 Qh5 34. Qd1 Rxe2 35. Rxe2
Qxe2 36. Qxa4 Re6 37. Rb1 Qf3 38.
1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Qd1 Re2 39. Qf1 c4 40. b4 cxd3 41.
Nxd5 5. g3 g6 6. Bg2 Bg7 7. Qb3 Rb3 Rxf2
Nc7 8. Ng5 0-0 9. d3 Nc6 10. Be3
0-1

The first classical game concerning our

topic remains Botvinnik's masterpiece,
played in 1927. The sixth World Cham-
pion was barely 16 years old at the time,
however, he still managed to play the
game in emphatic style. Despite the fact
that the game remained obscure to the
Position after: 10. Be3 wider world, Botvinnik placed it in his
famous book, and Robert Fischer held it
10... Nd4 11. Bxd4 Qxd4 12. Nf3 in high esteem.
Part I. Chapter 3: History 25

I Botvinnik, Mikhail as in many Maroczy positions, has a

J Kholodkevich, Khrisogon space advantage, but does this mean he
 Moscow 1927 is better?

12. Nd5!
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6
5. g3 Here this positional manoeuvre is ap-
plied, and later it becomes typical for
Nowadays this appears rarely in prac- similar situations. “In those years (and
tice. in a couple of years that followed), I em-
ployed this manoeuvre, which I learned
5... 0-0 6. Bg2 Nbd7 7. Nge2 c5 from one of Rubinstein’s games, with
good results” -- Botvinnik.
More logical would be 7...e5, aiming to
block in the g2-bishop. 12... Nxd5 13. exd5

8. 0-0 cxd4 13. cxd5 would be unreasonable since

the c-file offers no squares where White
This move is premature, since Black only can penetrate.
strengthens his opponent’s light-
squared bishop. 13... Nxd4 14. Bxd4 b5 15. Bxg7
Kxg7 16. Qd4+ Kg8 17. cxb5
9. Nxd4 Ne5 10. b3 Bd7 11. Bb2
Nc6 A bit unoriginal and standard, better
and by all means more principled would
have been 17. c5.

17... Bxb5 18. Rfe1

Position after: 11... Nc6

Here we encounter the classical Maro-

czy structure, where White has devel-
oped with a double fianchetto. White, Position after: 18. Rfe1
26 Understanding Maroczy Structures

18... Qd7? 31... Qxe6 32. dxe6 Kg7 33. b7 Bxb7

34. Bxb7 Kf6 35. Bxa6 Kxe6 36.
Black would be better off attacking im- Bc8+
mediately with 18...a5 followed by
19…a4. In reality, Black finds himself 1-0
without any real counterplay.
Prior to Botvinnik other leading players
19. Re3?! also encountered the Maroczy struc-
ture, and in their games they have gen-
It appears as though both players have erated important plans and ideas. Espe-
failed to understand the situation. That cially useful are the plans which they
is quite understandable, this being one chose in the following game.
of the first games featuring the Maroczy
structure. Considerably better and I Tartakower, Saviely
closer to the spirit of the position would J Mieses, Jacques
have been 19. a4 Ba6 20. b4, with the  Vienna 1908
idea of b4-b5.

19... f5 20. a4 Ba6 21. Rae1 Rf7 22.

b4 Bb7 23. b5 a6 24. b6 Rc8 25. a5
Rc5 26. Rc3 Rxc3 27. Qxc3 Rf8 28.
Qe3 Re8 29. Rc1 Rc8 30. Rxc8+
Bxc8

10... Ne8?

Just think about the way grandmasters

could play at that time! Correct is the far
more natural, 10... Nd7.
Position after: 30... Bxc8
11. Bxg7
31. Qe6+!
Better was 11. f4.
White is winning, and soon realized his
advantage. 11... Kxg7 12. Qd2 f5!
Part I. Chapter 3: History 27

I Nimzowitsch, Aron
J Capablanca, Jose Raul
 Karlsbad 1929

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 c5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. d4

cxd4 5. Nxd4 g6 6. e4 Bg7 7. Nc2 0-0
8. Be2 d6 9. 0-0 Nd7 10. Be3 Nc5 11.
Nd4 Bd7 12. Qd2 Rc8 13. Rad1
Position after: 12... f5! Re8?

The correct plan of play against the

pawns at c4 and e4.

13. e5

Stronger is 13. f4, and later 14. Rae1,

increasing the pressure along the e-file.

13... Be6 14. Rad1 Qb6 15. exd6

Nxd6 16. b3 Rad8 17. Qf4 Nf7 18. Position after: 13... Re8?
Na4 Qa5 19. Qe3 Qe5 20. Qxe5+
Nxe5 Preparing to face the possible Nd5 ad-
vance, but better would be 13... Nxd4
followed by ...a7-a5.

14. Kh1?

Correct is 14. b3, with positional play, or

14.f4.

14... Qa5 15. f3 Ne6

Position after: 20... Nxe5 A modern master would continue with

15... Nxd4 16. Bxd4 a6, with the plan
Black gradually equalized and eventu- of developing an initiative on the
ally drew the game. queenside with the advance ...b7-b5.

½-½ (47) 16. Nb3 Qb4

28 Understanding Maroczy Structures

tical way, remaining unaware of the

strategical aspects altogether!

½-½

I Tarrasch, Siegbert
J Rosselli del Turco, Stefano
 Trieste 1923

Position after: 16... Qb4

17. Qc2

A) The trap 17. c5? dxc5 18. Qxd7

Red8 is too obvious.

B) More to the point would be 17. f4

and f4-f5, attacking the knight on e6.

17... Na5! 18. Nxa5 Qxa5 19. Rd5

Nc5 20. Bd2 Qc7 21. Be1 Ne6 22. It is rather curious to examine the case,
b3 Nd4 23. Qd2 Nxe2 24. Qxe2 a6 where such a renowned giant as Dr
25. a4 b5 26. axb5 Bxc3 27. Bxc3 axb5 Siegbert Tarrasch failed to find the way
28. Qd2 bxc4 29. Qh6 f6 30. Rg5 out of the position emerging from the
Maroczy structure.

10. h3?

We surely know that this move weakens

the position in the direct vicinity of the
king, probably not advised.

Stronger is 10. Qd2!

Position after: 30. Rg5 10... Ne8?

Both White and Black have played this We also know this move to be rather in-
important position exclusively in a tac- ferior. The correct move was 10... Nxd4
Part I. Chapter 3: History 29

11. Bxd4 Bc6, with the attack on the

enemy's e4-pawn and so White is in im-
mediate trouble. After 12. f3? White
would have weakened the dark squares
to a irreparable extent. White, there-
fore, he has only 12. Qc2 and 13. Rad1
left, with a minimal advantage.

11. Qd2 f5 12. exf5 gxf5

Position after: 19... Qf6

One full step ahead of his contemporar-

ies was Mikhail Botvinnik, who demon-
strated his famous plan in the following
game: a leap to d4 and capturing with
the e-pawn.

I Lisitsin, Georgy
Position after: 12... gxf5 J Botvinnik, Mikhail
 Leningrad 1932
13. Nxc6?

A totally pointless move. Instead, more

logical would have been 13. f4. Captur-
ing on c6 almost never leads to im-
provements; bringing more Black forces
into the centre of the board is simply
counterintuitive.

13... bxc6 14. Rad1 Nc7 15. Bh6 Ne6

16. Bxg7 Kxg7 17. Bf3 Qe8 18. Ne2
Qg6 19. Qc3+ Qf6
20... Nd4 21. Qd1 Bg4!
(see diagram next column)
With this move Black forces the ex-
With excellent prospects for Black. change of his knight on the d4-square.

0-1 (48) 22. Bxd4 exd4 23. Qd2 Bf8

30 Understanding Maroczy Structures

The position becomes almost conven- transferring his pieces from the e-file to
tional: withdrawing the pieces from the the kingside, while White is completely
e-file, followed by a doubling of the helpless due to the absence of counter-
rooks. play on the queenside.

24. Re1 Re8 25. h4 Bh3 26. Bf3 32. Kh2 Bd6 33. Bh3 Qd8 34. Rab1
Re7 27. Nh2 Rce8 28. Kh1 Be6! Rfe7 35. Ng1 Bc7 36. Na3 Bb7 37.
Bg2 Bxg2 38. Kxg2 Nd5 39. Nc2
Qd6 40. Na3 Ne3+ 41. Kh1 Ng4

Position after: 28... Be6!

Not even in his worst nightmare could Position after: 41... Ng4
Black allow g3-g4.
Black went on to win the game.
29. b3 Nb4 Strangely, one cannot discover a great
deal about the Maroczy structure by
In case of 29... Nc3? White has the tac- studying games of the classics. The only
tical shot 30. e4!. exception being the games of Botvinnik,
who at his time was closer to under-
30. Bg2 Bd5 31. Nf3 Rf7! standing the position than anyone.

Black skilfully manoeuvres with threats, 0-1