by Mihail Marin

Video introduction

The queen is the strongest piece in chess. Exchanging it is likely to radically change the situation on the board. We should keep in mind that this type of exchange does not imply simplifying to an endgame. It can lead to a queenless middlegame, too. First thoughts are that exchanging queens favours the side with a material advantage or the player under attack. These are general cases. Things become more interesting if we think of the global piece coordination. Minor pieces lacking stable squares typically require the help of a coordinator, and the queen is perfect for this purpose. There are other interesting nuances, too. As mentioned in the comments to a game below, it is not always important whether we exchange the queens, but how we achieve that. In many situations, exchanging from a position of force can make a difference if compared to banal exchanges. There are cases when the queens' exchange takes place as a result of complex forced operations.

As a disclaimer, I will mention that sometimes, there were interesting aspects of other exchanges, too. I have commented on them, since isolating the mere queens' exchange would have revealed only part of the essence of the fight. I have created the following sections:

• A) Elementary queen exchanges
• B) Exchanging the queens from a position of force
• C) Complex exchange operations

Interactive training videos

Chernin-Marin (Budapest 1993)

Marin-Minasian (Debrecen 1992)

A) Elementary queen exchanges

In the games examined in this chapter, the queens' exchange will have important effects.

In Carlsen,M - Topalov,V 0-1, White seemed to have good compensation for the pawn.

His central pawns look strong and the dark-squared bishop seems to be dominating. However, White's last move, Nf3-d2, was a heavy mistake.

In Anand,V - Kramnik,V ½-½, the queens' exchange seemed improbable in the position below:

Despite his material advantage, Black is in big danger, but Kramnik found a way to induce the queens' exchange and thus save the game.

In Kramnik,V - Kasparov,G ½-½, White seemed to exert annoying pressure.

Even without foreseeing White's main threat, the pressure on c5 and the pin along the c-file are annoying. Kasparov found the most reliable way to simplify to a drawn ending.

Ivanchuk,V - Nakamura,H ½-½ features a few curious mistakes for this level.

This game offers us food for thought regarding the part played by the queen and the consequences of the exchange.
White's next move was sub-optimal and the second one a heavy mistake. They escaped unpunished after Black failed to find the best plan.

B) Exchanging the queens from a position of force

In this chapter, the focus will be on the way the queens' exchange takes place. As any other exchange, it may have static or dynamic consequences. In other words, this exchange can weaken or strengthen structure, or improve or worsen piece placement (whether it is ours or the opponent's). A player should aim to carry out the exchange in the most favourable way. This usually means to force or induce the opponent to do it for ourselves.

We will start with a simple example.

The main question for White in Kasparov,G - Kramnik,V 0-1 was whether to take on d6 or not. Kasparov failed to find the correct answer and lost.

In Carlsen,M - Caruana,F 1-0, White had to find the most profitable way to exchange the queens.

Carlsen successfully solved this first puzzle, but I found a way to improve over his way of exchanging the rooks in the endgame.

In the famous game Fischer,R - Petrosian,T 1-0, the abstract situation was similar.

Petrosian erred on his next move and Fischer punished him impressively.

In Geller,E - Unzicker,W 1-0, timing was the main thing.

The central issue is whether to allow the queens' exchange with ...Qe6. There were situations when this would have absolved Black of any problem but also others when this yielded White a decisive advantage.

Inconsequence deprived White of a win in Anand,V - Leko,P ½-½.

His first move was the simplest of the two winning ones, but the second one was a concession, allowing Black to land on safe territory.

C) Complex exchange operations

The examples included in this section feature already familiar elements, of course. Given the complex nature of the global exchange operation, taking them into account implies certain practical difficulties, though.

In Radjabov,T - Anand,V ½-½, White sacrificed a piece, hoping to get counterplay in a somewhat passive position.

Black avoided the initial trap, but then failed to find the right way to exchange the queens.

In a similar situation occurred in Kramnik,V - Anand,V 0-1, the Indian grandmaster handled the simplifying complications more accurately than in the previous game.

White has just taken the pawn on d4, hoping for some activity. It is unclear what he missed, but Anand proved this to be a big mistake.

In Kasparov,G - Karpov,A 1-0, Black's 32nd move unexpectedly was a decisive mistake in a better position.

There was nothing wrong with taking on b2, but Karpov preferred the passive 32...Rd7. Kasparov's strong answer forced the simplification to a very promising, maybe won, ending.