Watch
Step 1 · The knight’s road
White to move
r2q1rk1/1bpnbppp/p2p1n2/1p2p3/4P3/1BPP1N1P/PP1N1PP1/R1BQR1K1 w - - 3 12It went to d2 so the bishop could keep c2 free. From d2 it steps back to f1, and on to g3, where it eyes f5 and h5; the c1 bishop is finally free. Black mirrors with …Re8 and …Bf8: the same regrouping from the other side.
The line: 12.Nd2-f1 Rf8-e8 13.Nf1-g3 Be7-f8
Decide
Step 2 · Where is it going?
White to move
r2q1rk1/1bpnbppp/p2p1n2/1p2p3/4P3/1BPP1N1P/PP1N1PP1/R1BQR1K1 w - - 3 12The Breyer position. White’s knight stands on d2.
Where is the d2 knight going?
Quick check
- To f1, then g3 or e3
- To b3
- Nowhere: it guards e4 from d2
Show the correct answer
Correct answer: To f1, then g3 or e3 — Yes. It clears the way for the c1 bishop and reaches the kingside, where the game will be decided.
- To b3 — b3 is the bishop’s square, and a knight there would block it. The road goes through f1.
- Nowhere: it guards e4 from d2 — e4 is guarded by the rook on e1; the knight has better work than sitting on d2.
Your move
Step 3 · The first step
White to move
r2q1rk1/1bpnbppp/p2p1n2/1p2p3/4P3/1BPP1N1P/PP1N1PP1/R1BQR1K1 w - - 3 12Everything is in place: take the first step of the road.
Hint: The knight on d2 has a road to travel. Take the first step.
The move: 12.Nd2-f1
12.Nf1. The knight steps back to go forward: g3 or e3 next, and the c1 bishop breathes. Black cannot punish a slow move in a closed centre.
Also good here
12.a2-a4— Also fine: a4 pokes at b5 first; the knight goes next move.12.Bb3-c2— Also fine: the bishop steps to c2 in advance; Nf1 follows.12.d3-d4— Also fine: opening the centre now is a real plan, and the knight can still travel afterwards. The lesson asks for the road first.
Why not another move?
12.c3-c4— Playable, but it fixes the queenside before the knight has moved; …c5 is comfortable for Black.12.Ra1-b1— Playable, but a waiting move while the knight has a journey to make.
Watch
Step 4 · The mirror
Black to move
r2q1rk1/1bpnbppp/p2p1n2/1p2p3/4P3/1BPP1N1P/PP3PP1/R1BQRNK1 b - - 4 12Black brings the rook to e8, preparing …Bf8: the mirror of your idea. Both sides regroup.
The reply: 12…Rf8-e8
Your move
Step 5 · Finish the road
White to move
r2qr1k1/1bpnbppp/p2p1n2/1p2p3/4P3/1BPP1N1P/PP3PP1/R1BQRNK1 w - - 5 13The knight is on f1. Finish the road.
Hint: The knight on f1 has two good squares. Pick one.
The move: 13.Nf1-g3
13.Ng3. From g3 the knight eyes f5 and h5, and the bishop on c1 can finally come out. The road took three moves and cost nothing.
Also good here
13.Nf1-e3— Also good: from e3 the knight eyes d5 and f5. Either square finishes the road.13.Nf3-g5— Also strong here: the f3 knight and the b3 bishop both hit f7. Sharper than the reroute, but sound.13.a2-a4— Also fine: a4 first; the knight finishes next move.
Why not another move?
13.Nf1-h2— The knight goes backwards to a square that eyes nothing; g3 is the destination.13.Bc1-g5— Playable, but …h6 kicks it and the road stalls; Ng3 first, then the bishop finds a home.
Your move
Step 6 · Bishop first
White to move
r1bq1rk1/2p1bppp/p2p1n2/np2p3/4P3/1BPP1N2/PP3PPP/RNBQR1K1 w - - 1 10Rewind to an earlier moment: Black played …Na5, hitting your bishop before the knight had moved. The road waits until the bishop is safe.
Hint: The bishop is attacked. Save it before starting the knight’s road.
The move: 10.Bb3-c2
10.Bc2. The bishop steps to c2, where it keeps the b1–h7 diagonal: after d4 it guards e4, and later it aims at h7. Now Nbd2–f1–g3 can begin.
Why not another move?
10.Nb1-d2— Playable, but …Nxb3 axb3 and the Spanish bishop is gone for a rim knight. Keep it: Bc2. What follows:10…Na5xb3 11.a2xb310.h2-h3— Playable, but …Nxb3 axb3 gives up the bishop pair for nothing. What follows:10…Na5xb3 11.a2xb310.d3-d4— …Nxb3 axb3 and the centre opens with your bishop pair already gone. What follows:10…Na5xb3 11.a2xb310.a2-a4— …Nxb3 Qxb3 and the bishop has been traded for a knight while a4 achieved little. What follows:10…Na5xb3 11.Qd1xb3
Decide
Step 7 · Why keep it?
White to move
r1bq1rk1/2p1bppp/p2p1n2/np2p3/4P3/1BPP1N2/PP3PPP/RNBQR1K1 w - - 1 10Same board, one question.
Why keep the bishop rather than let …Nxb3 happen?
Quick check
- It keeps the b1–h7 diagonal: after d4 it guards e4 and later aims at h7
- Because …Nxb3 would be check
- Because the knight on a5 is trapped after Bc2
Show the correct answer
Correct answer: It keeps the b1–h7 diagonal: after d4 it guards e4 and later aims at h7 — Yes. The bishop on c2 keeps the b1–h7 diagonal: after d4 it guards e4, and later it aims at h7. Trading it for a rim knight gives Black the bishop pair for nothing.
- Because …Nxb3 would be check — …Nxb3 would not be check. The bishop is worth keeping for what it does, not for a tactic.
- Because the knight on a5 is trapped after Bc2 — The knight is not trapped; it comes back via c6 or c4. The point is the bishop.
On your own
Step 8 · On your own
White to move
r4rk1/2qbbppp/p2p1n2/npp1p3/3PP3/2P2N1P/PPBN1PP1/R1BQR1K1 w - - 3 13The Chigorin: bishop already on c2, knight on d2, and Black’s pieces massed on the queenside with the tension on c5 and e5. Choose White’s move.
Hint: The bishop is safe and the centre holds. Start the knight’s road.
The move: 13.Nd2-f1
13.Nf1. The road again: with the bishop safe on c2 and the centre holding, the knight heads for g3 or e3. Black’s queenside play is slower than it looks.
Also good here
13.d4-d5— Also good: closing the centre first; the knight reroutes behind a closed front.13.Re1-e2— Also fine: a flexible rook move that keeps e4 protected and frees e1.
Why not another move?
13.a2-a4— …cxd4 cxd4 Rfc8 and the c2 bishop has only the queen guarding it: after axb5 comes …Qxc2, with the rook behind to recapture. Opening the queenside helps Black. What follows:13…c5xd4 14.c3xd4 Rf8-c813.b2-b3— …cxd4 cxd4 Rac8 and c3 collapses: the queen and rooks pour onto the c-file. What follows:13…c5xd4 14.c3xd4 Ra8-c813.d4xc5— Playable, but it releases the tension: …Qxc5 and Black’s pieces are freed.13.Bc2-d3— The bishop moves again, to a square where it blocks the d-file; the knight’s road is the plan.
A quick refresher
In the app this position is not part of the lesson itself: it comes back later, as a review, to check that the idea stuck.
Your move
Continue the plan
White to move
r2qrbk1/1bp2ppp/p1np1n2/1p2p3/4P3/1BPP1N1P/PP1N1PP1/R1BQR1K1 w - - 3 12A Zaitsev set-up: Black’s bishop went to b7 and the other back to f8. Your knight is on d2, the bishop on b3 untouched. Continue the plan, or open the centre now.
Hint: Continue the knight’s road, or open the centre with the knight ready to follow.
The move: 12.Nd2-f1 or 12.d3-d4
Nf1 continues the road; d4 opens the centre while the knight can still come to f1 next. Both are the Spanish plan.
Also good here
12.Bb3-c2— Also fine: the bishop steps to c2 ahead of …Na5.12.a2-a3— Also fine: a3 keeps b4 from the knight; the road continues next move.
Why not another move?
12.Nf3-g5— Playable, but …d5! meets it and the knight has to go back; the reroute is the plan.12.a2-a4— Playable, but …Na5 hits the bishop first; Nf1 keeps the manoeuvre going.
What you learned
Bishop to c2 when …Na5 comes, then Nbd2–f1–g3. Slow moves are fine when the centre is closed.
In your next game
In the closed Spanish, after …Na5 play Bc2. Then Nbd2, Nf1 and Ng3 (or Ne3). Play d4 when the knight is on f1 or the centre needs it, not before.