De la Bourdonnais and Geller Teach Us How to Exploit a Complex of Squares

Two games, 127 years apart......a Master from France and a Grandmaster from the Soviet Union....the difference in the amount of chess theory between these two Masters is staggering; yet the same concept can be applied to different positions in different eras.

Again, two different openings- the first game started as a Sicilian and became an Advance French; the second game, a King's Indian Defense, played by Geller- the player who played it the best, according to both Bronstein and Botvinnik- (One of the few things these two great players agreed on!)

The first game is annotated by the immortal Paul Morphy. The second game is annotated by another giant of the game- GM Efim Geller.

So, two different games, 127 years apart....different pawn structures.....but how are they similar?

Both have an over-extended Kingside and centre from White.....in both this makes the White king exposed, and in both the weakness of the White squares creates a clear strategic disadvantage for White.

I hope you have enjoyed these two games, and learned something that makes you a better player.

Peace.