Answers.Body: <blockquote>
  <p>when he proceeds with stage 2 by bringing the rook to a file, isn't he
  removing one attacker of the e pawn? Now black's pieces will not be
  tied to the e pawn anymore. So, how is this plan any effective?</p>
  </blockquote>
  <p>Currently black controls the a file with the rook on a8. The whole point of step 1. &quot;tie down black pieces defending e pawn&quot; is to force the a8 rook to give up the a file to defend the e pawn with Re8. Only when that is accomplished can white take over the a file with Ra1. The whole point of having a multi step is achieving the last step. The earlier steps are only necessary because without them the last step cannot be forced.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2020-12-21T11:57:19.633Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2020-12-21T11:57:19.633Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Brian Towers
Body: <pre><code>[FEN &quot;r6k/3q2bp/1p6/2pPp1p1/2P1QpP1/5P2/1P2R2P/2B3K1 w - - 0 1&quot;]
  </code></pre>
  <p>Here Petrosian gives the following 3 step winning plan:</p>
  <p>Stage 1: Tie down the black pieces to defense of the e pawn: 13.Bd2 Re8 14.Bc3 Qd6 15.Re1</p>
  <p>Stage 2: Switch to the a file: 15..h6 Ra1 and then Ra7</p>
  <p>Stage 3: Penetrate into the white squares.</p>
  <p>Now what I don't understand is this: when he proceeds with stage 2 by bringing the rook to a file, isn't he removing one attacker of the e pawn? Now black's pieces will not be tied to the e pawn anymore. So, how is this plan any effective?</p>
  
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2020-12-21T09:19:42.230Z
Comments.Text: Note that step 1 is conducted in order to facilitate the takeover of the a-file. So it's not a goal in and of itself to tie down black to the defense of the e-pawn, it's rather a means to an end. But what is the game you're referring to? I don't recognize it, so maybe you could post a link to the game?
Comments.UserDisplayName: Scounged
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 4.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2020-12-21T13:11:58.857Z
Comments.Text: @Scounged Thanks ,Here's the link:https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1096161
Comments.UserDisplayName: bretlee
Tags: <analysis><strategy><middlegame>
Title: How does his 3 step plan by Petrosian works?
ThreadText: # How does his 3 step plan by Petrosian works?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2020-12-21)
  
  ```
  [FEN "r6k/3q2bp/1p6/2pPp1p1/2P1QpP1/5P2/1P2R2P/2B3K1 w - - 0 1"]
  
  ```
  
  Here Petrosian gives the following 3 step winning plan:
  
  Stage 1: Tie down the black pieces to defense of the e pawn: 13.Bd2 Re8 14.Bc3 Qd6 15.Re1
  
  Stage 2: Switch to the a file: 15..h6 Ra1 and then Ra7
  
  Stage 3: Penetrate into the white squares.
  
  Now what I don't understand is this: when he proceeds with stage 2 by bringing the rook to a file, isn't he removing one attacker of the e pawn? Now black's pieces will not be tied to the e pawn anymore. So, how is this plan any effective?
  
  **Tags:** analysis, strategy, middlegame
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_1**: Note that step 1 is conducted in order to facilitate the takeover of the a-file. So it's not a goal in and of itself to tie down black to the defense of the e-pawn, it's rather a means to an end. But what is the game you're referring to? I don't recognize it, so maybe you could post a link to the game?  
  > **username_0**: @username_1 Thanks ,Here's the link:https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1096161  
  
  ---
  
  ## 1 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_2 on 2020-12-21. Score: 3 | Accepted answer
  
  > when he proceeds with stage 2 by bringing the rook to a file, isn't he
  > removing one attacker of the e pawn? Now black's pieces will not be
  > tied to the e pawn anymore. So, how is this plan any effective?
  
  Currently black controls the a file with the rook on a8. The whole point of step 1. "tie down black pieces defending e pawn" is to force the a8 rook to give up the a file to defend the e pawn with Re8. Only when that is accomplished can white take over the a file with Ra1. The whole point of having a multi step is achieving the last step. The earlier steps are only necessary because without them the last step cannot be forced.
  
  
  ---
  
  