Recommended Response

More Priyomes
" Mastering priyomes is a key to success." – A. Suetin 

Priyome is a Russian term used to represent standard maneuvers in positions with certain structure and/or other defining characteristics. In game annotations, moves with exclamation points [!] suggest priyomes.

"Each would-be master should collect his own 'personal pattern bank' of priyomes. Study them and when the same patterns arise during a game apply the priyomes." – A. Suetin

"It is the most important book knowledge about middlegame techniques. They can be described in words, not moves." – A. Soltis

The Advanced Fianchetto

When Black has played ...a6 and …b5, he should always be watchful for the pawn thrust a2-a4. This move aims to force …bxa4, when the second player will be left with some serious queenside weaknesses. In addition, keep in mind that the a1-rook may become active in the process.

White's turn

Looking at the above diagram, we can observe Black played the queenside expansion 8...b5 too early (8...Bg7 was better). Now, after 9.a4! {bringing more firepower on b5 – creating additional weaknesses} he couldn't continue with ...b4, as the b-pawn would become too weak, 9...b4 10.Nd5 Nd5 11.Nc6 Qc7 12.ed5+ leaving him with a less desirable position.

Therefore, he was forced to trade on a4 9...ba4, Breaking up the pawn formation on the queenside and giving White a target to attack in Black's a-pawn. After 10.Na4, White had a slight but secure advantage as seen in the game Kasparov-Georgiev, Sarajevo 2000. 

A similar queenside structure appeared in the encounter between Ivanchuk-Vachier-Lagrave Wijk aan Zee, 2015.

White's turn

In the game, White played 15.a4! b4 Black should always aim to meet a4 with …b4, otherwise he is too weak on the queenside. 16.Nd5 e6 17.Ne3 Bb7 18.Qd2 Qc7 19.0-0-0 with a very comfortable position. Ivanchuk went on to win the game by move thirty, and his 15th move won the most important theoretical novelty for Chess Informant.

Rook's Pawn Thrust

A pawn move like h2-h4 in response to ...g6 or ...Ng6 is one significant pattern that an aspiring chess student should be acquainted with.

Caro-Kann Defense

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 de4 4.Ne4 Nf6 5.Ng3 (D)

White doesn't normally retreat the centralized knight, but trades on f6 – 5.Nf6 ef6 6.Bc4 Bd6 7.Qe2+ gives White a slight edge based on his better structure.

Black's turn

5...h5 {Initiating the corner pawn attack, in response to white's knight flight to g3.} 6.Bg5 The move 6.h4 is recommended, blocking the h-pawn's further advance. 6...h4 7.Bxf6 White should have withdrawn his knight to e2. 7...hg3! 8.Be5 (D) This was probably the position that White aimed for after 6.Bg5.

Black's turn

But, a powerful sudden move struck the board...

8...Rh2! 9.Rh2 Qa5+ 10.c3 On White's 10.Qd2, Black can win by a different blow from his valiant pawn with 10...gf2+!, etc. 10...Qe5+!! A memorable and unexpected queen manuever, enabling the courageous foot soldier to reach its promised land. After 11.de5 gh2 White had to resign the game because of the dual threat to promote into a new Queen.

Chess Task

Let's have a look at our next position below (D)

After White's 5.a4

White on his last move, advanced his a-pawn two squares forward. He is ready to move it up with a4-a5-a6(or axb6) etc., increasing the a-rook's activity. Similarly, the first player initiates a straightforward plan of chasing the light-squared bishop and/or ruining black's queenside pawns as well.

Q1. What is the best way for Black to meet this idea?