Lesson
White to move. Main line: 1. f4 c5 2. Nf3 g6 3. e3 Bg7 4. d3 e6 5. Be2 Ne7 6. O-O Nbc6 7. e4 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. Be3 Rb8 10. d4 f5 11. e5 cxd4 12. cxd4 Nd5 13. Bc1 Bh6 14. g3 dxe5 15. dxe5 b5 16. Nc3 Qb6+ 17. Kg2 Rd8 18. Nxd5 Rxd5 19. Qb3 Bf8 20. Be3 Bc5 21. Bxc5 Qxc5 22. Rfd1 Ne7 23. Rac1 Qb6 24. Rxd5 Nxd5 25. Qxb5 Qe3 26. Qxb8 Qxe2+ 27. Kh3 Kg7 28. Qxa7+ Kh6 29. Qa3 Kh5 30. Re1 Qf2 31. Qd3 Ba6 32. Qd1 Ne3 33. Rxe3 Bf1+
Black challenges White’s Bird Opening with ...c5, ...g6 and ...f5, then uses the b-file and central pressure to seize the initiative. The rook activity on d8 and d5 makes White’s queen expedition to b5, b8 and a7 dangerous.
After 25.Qxb5 Qe3, Gaprindashvili allows further pawn captures because the white queen is far from its king. The checks ...Qxe2+, ...Kg7 and ...Kh6 prepare the king as an attacking piece while White’s pieces lose coordination.
The decisive sequence 31...Ba6 32.Qd1 Ne3 33.Rxe3 Bf1+ shows the hidden net. White’s rook must take the knight, allowing the bishop check that wins the queen or forces mate. It is a compact lesson in counting escape squares, not just material.