Alonso Zapata:

Paralysis
Concept
Paralysis is a subtle strategic motive which
is usually in the field of domination and
zugzwang. The idea of this interesting
strategic theme is to constrain the action of
one or several pieces and limit the counter
play and plan of the rival usually hindering
by the weaknesses; until you see it reduced
by the little space for maneuver to the
extreme passivity. If you have it, you will
feel bound as a spectator of a sad end,
seeming that it was been screwed to the
position and a sense of powerlessness
before the upcoming events. The following
example is a curious tragicomedy of
numbness.
Lespersen (1912)

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White to play and saved miraculously!
1.g8B!! Rbf8=
Draw by mutual paralysis! .

Heuecker (1937)

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The following composition never ceases to
amaze me. White to play and win:
1.Kh8!+
The black has been petrified. In the next
move, no way to escape mate!
1...Ne4
1...Nc6 2.Ng6#.
2.Ne6# 1:0.
G. Bogdazarian (1937)

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An admirable example of mutual paralysis
is found in the study of G. Bogdazarian.
1.h8Q! Rh2 2.Kg5 Rh8 3.g7 Kg7 4.f6
Kf8
Stalemate!
Same happens: 4...Kh7 5.Kh5= and Black
is in stalemate!
.

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M. Liburkin (1939)

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I want to share with my kind readers one of
the issues that have impressed me most
about the topic "Paralysis - Domination" is
an inspiring study, where the dynamic
value is greater than the static value. White
plays and wins surprisingly!
1.Bd2 b4 2.Bb4 Kb5 3.Nd6! Kb6 4.Ba5!!

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Subtle and amazing sacrifice!
4...Ka5
4...Qa5 5.Nc4+.
5.Nc4 Kb5 6.Kf4! f5
6...c5 7.d5 f5 8.Kg5 f4 9.f3.
7.Kg5! c5 8.d5! f4 9.f3!
Once black is out of moves, remains
immobility! White dominates the entire
Board. Black is completely paralyzed, total
control of the Queen and the King. It is
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curious, if white would play at this time,

black would win! 1:0.
H. Mattison (1924)

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We find a mutual paralysis worthy of
mention in this composition of Mattison.
1.a4!
The immediate idea 1.Ke2? loses by:
1...Bc5 2.a4 Kc8 3.a5 Kb7 4.Nb6 Bb6
5.ab6 ab6 6.Kd3 Ka6+.
1...a5!
1...Kc8 2.a5 Kb7 3.Nb6= Bb6 4.ab6 ab6
5.Kc3 Ka6 6.Kb4=.
2.Ke2!!

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Ingenious, departs the Bishop from the e1
square!
2...Bg1
2...Ba7 3.Kd3 Kd7 4.Kc4 Kc6 5.Nc7!=,
with a similiar result, like in the study.
2

3.Kd3 Kd7 4.Kc4 Kc6 5.Nc7!

This subtlety is the reason for the idea
King e2!
5...Kc7 6.Kb5 Bb6 7.Ka6!

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Awe and helplessness? It is the sensation
produced by this unusual position!]
7...Kc6 .
M. Liburkin (1949)

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Visualize your objective and go for it! One
of the methods to find plans and moves is
to assume at any given time what would
your opponent do if he played? Analyzing
the position, we can see the critical victory
square; imagine moving the Knight to f7.
How to achieve this?
1.Kf7!! Kb7 2.a8Q Ka8 3.Kg6!
The answer is: get a similar situation, but
with Black's turn!
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3...Kb7
Sad and only move, Black is paralyzed!
4.Nd8 Kb6 5.Nf7+
The idealized victory square.
5...Kb5 6.Nh8+ 1:0.
Vachier Lagrave M. : Ding Liren
Paris/St Petersburg 2013
A surprising game that since virtually the
start of the game, the subject of paralysis
can be felt. Very creative driving by G.M.
M. Vachier Lagrave. An eloquent example
of this powerful strategic motive.
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.h4 h6 5.g4 Be4
6.f3 Bh7 7.e6!? Nf6N
The most common move and probably the
best is 7...Qd6!? 8.ef7 Kf7 or also 7...fe6
8.Bd3 Nf6 (8...Bd3 9.Qd3 Qd6) 9.Ne2 c5.
8.Bf4!
Playing against the Queen on d6!
8...Qb6 9.Nc3!? Qb2 10.Kd2!?
Very original way of playing, Black has
difficulties to coordinate the development.
10...Qb6
10...Qa3; 10...Qb4 11.Nge2 Qa5!? 12.Nc1
fe6 13.Nb3 Qa3.
11.Nge2 a6?!
11...Qa5!? It is definitely more active.
12.Rb1 b5! Counter attack.
12.Rb1 Qa7 13.Na4! b5
Only one.
14.Nc5

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3

Note the passivity of Black Bishop f8 and

Rook h8 that are not playing.
14...Bg8 15.Be5
15.Bh3.
15...fe6 16.Nf4 Nbd7 17.Nd7 Nd7 18.Ng6
Ne5 19.de5 Rh7 20.h5

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It is curious to see the h7 the Rook and the
f8 Bishop seem guests made out of stone
that do not participate in the events.
20...c5 21.f4
Very interesting, directed to the kingside;
observe the Bishop on f8 and Rook on h7
are paralyzed! Curious would be the
original maneuver: 21.Ke3!? c4 (21...Qc7
22.Kf4 (22.c3+) ) 22.Qd4 Qd4 23.Kd4+
and practically the White Bishop f1 and the
Rook h1 would be 2 additional pieces.
21...Bf7 22.Qf3 000 23.Be2 c4 24.a4
It is necessary to open columns to put the
non-used pieces to work!
24...Kc7 25.ab5 ab5 26.Rb5 Qd4 27.Ke1
Ra8 28.Rb1
It also seems sufficient to win 28.Kf1! Ra1
29.Kg2 Rh1 30.Kh1 Bg6 31.hg6 Rh8
32.Qa3+.
28...Ra2 29.c3 Qd2 30.Kf2 Rc2 31.Qe3
Qe3 32.Ke3 Rc3 33.Kd4 Rc2 34.Rhe1
Wins 34.Rb5! Re2 35.Rhb1+.
34...Kc6 35.Rb8 Bg6 36.hg6 Rh8
37.Reb1 Rd2
37...Re2 38.R1b6 Kd7 39.Kc5+.
38.Ke3 Ra2 39.R8b6
Curious position, Black is completely
paralyzed! 39.R8b6 Kc7 40.Kd4! Re2
41.Rb7 Kc8 42.Kc5+. 1:0.
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Topalov V. : Gelfand B.
Linares 2010

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A dramatic situation developed in this
game, Gelfand must make a critical
decision in a very complicated position.]
49...a2?
Error. Last chance to save himself, had to
play: 49...Ke7!! 50.Rh7 (50.Kd5 a2 51.Rh7
Kd8= 52.Kd6 Kc8 53.c6 Kb8 54.c7 Kb7
55.Kd7= (55.Rh8?? Rc3+) 55...Rc3
56.Kd8 Kb6=) 50...Ke6 51.c4 Ke5 52.Ra7
Kd4 53.Ra4 Rh3 54.Kb6 Rb3=.
50.Rh8 Ke7 51.Ra8 Rb2 52.Kc7 Rc2
53.c6 Rb2 54.c4 Rc2 55.Ra6 Rb2 56.c5
Ke6 57.Ra5!!
Very ingenious, at the point of breakdown,
this move is the key to win! It must be
defended "the c5 shield". This Pawn is
vital for victory. 57.Kc8 Kd5 58.c7 Kc5
59.Kd7 Rd2 60.Ke6 Re2=; 57.Ra3 Kd5
58.Ra5 Kc4 59.Kc8 Kb4=.
57...Rc2
57...Kd5 58.Kd7 Rh2 59.c7 Rh7 60.Kc8
Kc6 61.Ra6 Kc5 62.Kb8+.
58.Kb7 Rb2 59.Kc8 Ke7 60.c7 Ke8
61.Ra2!!
The detail missed by Gelfand!
61...Ra2 62.Kb7!
Black was astounded!
62.Kb7 Rb2 63.Kc6+ Note the
importance of the c5 shield! 1:0.

Alekhine A. : Nimzowitsch A.
San Remo 1930
One of the most famous classic games of
this motive.
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.Bd2
Ne7 6.Nb5 Bd2 7.Qd2 00 8.c3 b6?
8...Nbc6; 8...Nd7; 8...f6.
9.f4 Ba6 10.Nf3 Qd7 11.a4! Nbc6
11...c4 12.Nd6 (12.Na3 Qa4) 12...Nc8.
12.b4! cb4
12...c4 13.Nd6.
13.cb4 Bb7 14.Nd6 f5?!
14...a5 15.b5 Nb4 16.Bd3 f5.
15.a5! Nc8
15...ba5 16.b5 Nd8 17.Ra516.Nb7 Qb7 17.a6! Qf7
It does not work: 17...Qe7 18.Bb5 Nb4
19.Rb1+.
18.Bb5!
Already perceive the broad domain of
pressure and White space.
18...N8e7 19.00 h6
19...Rfc8?!
20.Rfc1 Rfc8 21.Rc2 Qe8 22.Rac1

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Note the immobility and the total lack of
counter-play for Black. There is no way to
escape.
27.Ba4!
Threatening b4.
27...b5 28.Bb5 Ke8 29.Ba4 Kd8 30.h4!
Black is running out of moves.
30...Qe8
Paralysis-Zugzwang and the end.
31.b5
There is nothing to do, the material losses
are inevitable. 1:0.

22.Ra3! Rc7 23.Rac3 Rac8 24.Qc1.

22...Rab8 23.Qe3
The simultaneous threats of the Bb5 and
Rooks in the c-column condemn Black to
passivity.
23.Rc3 Rc7 24.R1c2 Rbc8 25.Qc1+.
23...Rc7 24.Rc3 Qd7 25.R1c2 Kf8 26.Qc1
Rbc8

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