An Idea In Defeat Reflects Into Victory- From Chigorin to Bronstein to Geller

Sometimes an idea or pattern will strike your mind like lightning. You see it and do a double-take: "What was that?" And then you realize you saw it before, but in a different way.

Position 1:

Position 2: 

So, this is the mirror image......

Let me explain:

In his book on Chigorin,

Jimmy Adams explains that a certain idea in the Ruy is ascribed to Bronstein but is actually Chigorin's. 

In Bronstein's book, "200 Open Games",

...we find these two games, played in rounds 12 and 16 of the 1951 USSR Championship. In the first game, against Keres, Bronstein displays this idea of Chigorin, to play b4 once the Black knight has moved to b7. This prevents the knight from activating. Unfortunately, the move was not prepared properly, and when Keres countered with ....a5, the possible pin on the a-file prevented Bronstein from maintaining the pawn on b4, and Black was able to equalize.

Four rounds later, against Geller, Bronstein refined the idea, preceding it with a timely Rb1, which removed the rook from a possible pin on the a-file. Geller was NOT able to remove the b4-pawn, and eventually lost.

There are many ways to get and advantage, and one of them is to prevent an offside piece from coming back into the game.

Bronstein-Keres, USSR Champonsip 1951, Round 12

Bronstein-Geller, USSR Championship 1951, Round 16

It is said that, in sport and in life, you learn more from your losses. Geller learned his lesson!

Twenty seven years later, he was able to implement it, only on the other side of the board. A mirror image of the original!

Geller-MikhalKhishin, USSR Championship, 1978