The Turton Theme

    The fields of problems and of practical games are far removed from each other. Problems are artificial constructions in the form of of a puzzle. The problem has no element of psychology and the idea of a fight is absent. Though they still exist, in our modern world fans to this art form has shrunk in favor of tactical problems taken from actual play. 

    It’s rare when themes from the world of problems occur in practical play, but it does happen. One such instance is the Turton theme which is a kind of doubling (usually involving a Queen and Bishop) in which one piece moves along a line allowing a second to move onto the same line in front of it...this second piece then moves in the opposite direction to the first. Is that clear?! Perhaps a three mover by Otto Wurzbueg will make it clear. I have set it up HERE. 

    The following brevity illustrates the Turton Theme which is one of the earliest and simplest plans which also often occurs in practical play. A Bishop withdraws over a critical square which is to be occupied by the Queen. Thus type of maneuver is frequently sen in the Queen’s Gambit. 

[Event "Semi-Finals USSR Chp, Baku"] [Site "Baku URS"] [Date "1951.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Andre Lilienthal"] [Black "Leonid Shamkovic"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D30"] [Annotator "Stockfish 17"] [PlyCount "37"] [EventDate "1951.05.??"] {D43: Semi-Slav} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. Qb3 Nd7 8. e4 dxe4 9. Nxe4 Qf4 10. Bd3 Be7 11. O-O O-O 12. Rfe1 b6 (12... Rd8 {This defense is well analyzed and this is the usual continuation.} 13. Rad1 b6 14. Bb1 Bb7 15. c5 Qc7 {White has the more active position. Rajkovic,D (2485)-Kosic,D (2515) Budva 1996}) (12... Qc7 13. Bc2 Rd8 14. Rad1 b6 15. h4 Bb7 16. Qe3 c5 {is equal. Galperin,P (2383)-Nomin Erdene,D (2386) Novi Sad 2019}) 13. Bc2 {Although white's advantage is minimla, this is the first phase of the Turton Theme.} Bb7 14. Qd3 {This completes the regrouping of the pieces for the attack. After Shamkovich's careless next move allows the final phase of the attack.} Qc7 {Black quick collapse after this is quite stunning.} (14... Rfd8 {was called for.} 15. Ng3 Nf8 16. Re5 g6 17. Qe2 Bf6 18. Ne4 Bxe5 19. g3 Qxf3 20. Qxf3 Bxd4 {Kobylkin,E (2444)-Paramonov,D (2362) Alushta 2004. White is better and in the game he went on to win.}) 15. Ng3 {[%mdl 32]} Nf6 {At first glance black has covered h7 and his position looks safe, but white already has a decisive advantage.} 16. Ne5 {[%mdl 128]} Rfd8 17. Nh5 {[%mdl 512] With the exception of the Rs *which aren't needed) all of white's pieces are poised for the final attact.} Kf8 (17... Nxh5 {allows mate in 2.} 18. Qh7+ Kf8 19. Qh8#) 18. Qg3 {Althoigh immediate 18.Nxg7 would also win this is the strongest move on the board.} Ne8 (18... Nxh5 19. Ng6+ {wins the Q.}) 19. Nxg7 {[%mdl 512] Black resigned. As before the N cannot be taken.} (19. Nxg7 Bd6 (19... Nxg7 20. Ng6+ {wins the Q.}) 20. Nxe6+ fxe6 21. Qf4+ Kg7 22. Re3 {This Rook lift finishes the game without difficulty. For example...} Kg8 23. Qxh6 Bxe5 24. dxe5 Qg7 25. Qxe6+ Qf7 26. Qh6 Rd7 27. Rg3+ Ng7 28. e6 {etc.}) 1-0