One of the most difficult positions for amateur players to take advantage of is the weak square complex. A weak square complex is a group of squares of the same color that can’t be protected by pawns. Since pawns can’t protect them, the bishop of that color becomes extremely important at defending those squares (e.g. in the stonewall, Black’s dark square bishop is gold, and White attempts to exchange it by means of b3 and Ba3, even if it means wasting some time.)
In this kind of position, with a dark or light square bishop missing, one can use the queen to cover those squares. When the queen is placed in a square of the missing bishop, it can have a great influence and help in the defense or attack of those squares.
To exploit these positions, it is important to eliminate the bishop defending the weak squares.
Alexander Alekhine vs. Salomon Flohr (1931)
Black definitely has some weak dark squares (mainly c5 and b6) and has no pawns that can defend those squares. White has great activity and might even have potential for a kingside attack; however, Black is ready to exchange pieces and consolidate (e.g. Rd8, Nxd3, a5, Ba6).
Alekhine, (a great attacking player,) decided to exploit the weak dark squares immediately by
18. Bc5! Trading the important dark square bishop at the best time. It is important to do it now since Black cannot avoid the exchange of bishops, since Bf6? Would lose to Bxf8. Bxc5
19. Nxc5 Qb6 Black used the strategy mentioned above. By using the queen to protect the a7-g1 diagonal, he can cover some of his weaknesses.
20. Qh5 Playing on both sides. Not only he is attacking the knight on e5 (and defending c5 indirectly with the queen), but he is ready to create threats on the kingside. Nd7
21. Be2 White is trying to find a better place for a bishop, and opening the file for the rook at the same time. g6
22. Qg5 White is now using the queen strategy! Black created more weaknesses on the dark squares, which will cost him the game. Nxc5
23. Rxc5 a5 How to keep putting pressure on black?
24. h4! Great move. Not only creating an escape square for the king, but also threatening h5 and h6. Ba6
25. Bf3 f6 Black decides to continue weakening his kingside, since the threat of h5, h6 is too strong.
26. Qe3 Both sides have their queen on a dark square, putting pressure on the same diagonal. Rd8
27. Rxd8 Rxd8
28. e5! White now decides the game f5?? (fxe5 had to be played, but after 29 h5, black is probably still lost.)
29. Rc8! 1-0 Now Qd6 is not possible and Black loses a rook for no compensation.
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