Bobby's Binds

A combination to create a bind

Najdorf played 12...e5. Among the several alternatives for Black, Fischer noted that 12...Bxg2 13.Kxg2 dxc4 14.Qf3 Nd7 15.Nf5 Rg8+ 16.Kh1 e5 17.Be3 gives White 'a winning bind despite the two Pawn deficit.' The game continued 13.Qa4+ Nd7, where Fischer gave another variation 13...Qd7 14.Bb5 axb5 15.Qxa8 Bd6 16.Rxe4 dxe4 17.Qxe4, to be 'followed by Nf5 with a powerful bind'.

In both variations flagged by Fischer as binds, the Knight settles on f5 after Black's light squared Bishop has been exchanged. On that square the Knight dominates the Black Kingside and is not easily driven away. Knowing this makes it easier to spot Fischer's continuation 14.Rxe4! dxe4 15.Nf5, which led to Black's resignation less than 10 moves later.

Index: Bobby's Binds

1. The best known bind
2. Restraining the opponent's pieces
3. Restraining a backward Pawn
4. Controlling access to an open file and to a diagonal
5. An advanced Knight that can't be exchanged or driven away
6. A combination to create a bind
7. A late middlegame / early endgame bind
8. An endgame bind can be used to draw
9. Restraining a wall of Pawns
10. The bind doesn't always